cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Item Variances and Median Splits: Some Discouraging and Disquieting Findings

In his response to our article, Baumeister argued that in real data, the confound between mtentem vanance and trait extremity is small (typically m the range of 0 and - 2), and that the danger of artifact associated with the application of median sphts to mtentem vanance is not as senous as our first simulation study would lead one to beheve When we examined a large body of actual personality data, employing personality scales of average reliability and relatively large samples, we found that the average magnitude of the confound was - 15 However, we also found that even a confound as small as - 03 could be associated witii significant differential range restnc- tion of the trait scores within subsamples produced by the median spht (MS) technique We note that several factors, not just the magnitude of the mter- ltem vanance/trait extremity confound, must be considered when assessmg the danger of artifact associated with the MS technique We again conclude that researchers should use die moderated multiple regression (MMR) tech- nique m preference to the MS technique when testing for moderating effects in personahty research
Generalized polynomial chaos and random oscillators

We present a new approach to obtain solutions for general random oscillators using a broad class of polynomial chaos expansions, which are more efficient than the classical Wiener-Hermite expansions. The approach is general but here we present results for linear oscillators only with random forcing or random coefficients. In this context, we are able to obtain relatively sharp error estimates in the representation of the stochastic input as well as the solution. We have also performed computational comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations which show that the new approach can be orders of magnitude faster, especially for compact distributions.
Injection molding of engineering plastics

Abstract : This final report summarizes the findings of a study in injection molding of engineering plastics. Two engineering plastic resins, i.e. unmodified grades of a poly(ether imide) and a poly (2.6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) were thoroughly characterized. The characterization included rheology, thermal properties and P-V-T behavior. The data were employed to predict various microstructural distributions including density, residual stress and birefringence distributions in compression and injection molded specimens of these two engineering plastics. The detailed microstructural distributions were also studied experimentally upon processing the two engineering plastics, employing instrumented machines and industrial practices. The experimental findings were elucidated under the light of the numerical simulation results. Overall, this study should furnish a first order understanding of the microstructure development in articles injection molded from amorphous engineering plastic resins.
Transcriptional characterization of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-mediated osteogenic signaling.

Bone formation is presumably a complex and well-orchestrated process of osteoblast lineage-specific differentiation. As members of the TGFbeta superfamily, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in regulating osteoblast differentiation and subsequent bone formation. Several BMPs are able to induce de novo bone formation. Although significant progress has recently been made about the transcriptional control of osteoblast differentiation, detailed molecular events underlying the osteogenic process remain to be elucidated. In order to identify potentially important signaling mediators activated by osteogenic BMPs but not by non-osteogenic BMPs, we sought to determine the transcriptional differences between three osteogenic BMPs (i.e., BMP-2, BMP-6, and BMP-9) and two inhibitory/non-osteogenic BMPs (i.e., BMP-3 and BMP-12). Through the microarray analysis of approximately 12,000 genes in pre-osteoblast progenitor cells, we found that expression level of 203 genes (105 up-regulated and 98 down-regulated) was altered >2-fold upon osteogenic BMP stimulation. Gene ontology analysis revealed that osteogenic BMPs, but not inhibitory/non-osteogenic BMPs, activate genes involved in the proliferation of pre-osteoblast progenitor cells towards osteoblastic differentiation, and simultaneously inhibit myoblast-specific gene expression. BMP-regulated expression of the selected target genes was confirmed by RT-PCR, as well as by the CodeLink Bioarray analysis. Our findings are consistent with the notion that osteogenesis and myogenesis are two divergent processes. Further functional characterization of these downstream target genes should provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms behind BMP-mediated bone formation.
Reply to Hawthorne

Goodness, rational permissibility, and the like might be gruesome properties. That is to say, they might not well suit causal-explanatory purposes. Or at least, these properties are gruesome for all their normative concepts tell us by themselves. Perhaps hedonists are right and such properties are anything but gruesome, but perhaps instead, the most gruesome-minded ethical pluralists are right-normative concepts by themselves don’t settle the issue. At the end of his marvelous commentary, John Hawthorne depicts the morass of dank possibilities that a “moral realist” must enter when he tries explaining how normative words and thoughts could lock on to some particular causally gruesome property that constitutes being good. Right, I say, and expressivists can direct us around the morass. Then he asks why I avoid the questions that lead moral realists into this morass. But I don’t avoid them; I offer an answer. How do plan-laden terms and concepts pick out properties?l Not all by themselves, in a way that a theory of interpretation can explain on its own. Interpretation might identify a term as plan-laden, as meaning, say, “is the thing to do” in the special sense I stipulated for that phrase. Trivially, if that’s what the term means, then it picks out whatever property constitutes being the thing to do-but what property is that? What property it is, I say, is a question of what to do. It’s a question of what to do in general, of how to live. Come to a full plan for life, and you will have come to a view on what property constitutes being the thing to do. Will you have the answer right? Again, that’s not settled just by interpreting your words and concepts; that again is a question of how to live. It can be answered only in plan-laden terms. Does a term that means “thing to do” pick out the property of holding out maximal prospects for pleasure, as a normative hedonist would claim? That’s a question of whether to go for pleasure and pleasure alone. That is the account I offer. By stipulation, it applies to “plan-laden” terms like “thing to do”-if my stipulations are coherent. Does it apply as well to normative terms like ‘ought’ and ‘good’ in our actual language? I respond in
Algebraic error analysis for surface curvatures and segmentation of 3-d range images

Abstract This paper is divided into two parts. In the first part an algebraic error analysis for the calculated surface Gaussian and mean curvatures of 3-D range images is presented. The error analysis results are used to illustrate the effect of noise on the segmentation of range images using the curvature 8-sign label scheme. In the second part a segmentation procedure for 3-D range images based on conclusions deducted from the first part is proposed. In this procedure, jump edges are first obtained. Then a curvature 3-sign label scheme is used for the segmentation. A simple method is used to check the boundary points between segmentation patches. If a boundary point lies on a planar region it is deleted. In the planarity test we use some of the intermediate results from the first part of the paper. Experimental results and comments are given.
Electromigration in vacuum evaporated Cu films

Abstract Copper is a potential substitute for Al in integrated circuit metallizations because of its lower electrical resistivity and its greater resistance to electromigration damage. Changes in the properties of Al and Cu films when they undergo electromigration stressing are compared. Measurements, carried out in vacuum, were made of the electrical resistance, times to failure, and activation energies. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize topographic changes. It is shown that a careful electrical resistance change method for measuring activation energies for electromigration damage is more reproducible than the time-to-failure method. Cu also shows less films thinning prior to failure than Al. For the same fractional change in electrical resistance, the hillocks on Cu are more crystallographic and the voids are larger and more numerous than in Al.
A platform for three-dimensional on-chip photonics: Multi-bonded Silicon-on-insulator wafers

We propose a novel platform for three dimensional photonics. A double layer 1×12 multimode interference coupler is fabricated on a double-bounded Silicon-on-insulator wafer. Optical characterizations confirm low insertion loss and uniform outputs.
A corkscrew model for dynamin constriction

Numerous vesiculation processes throughout the eukaryotic cell are dependent on the protein dynamin, a large GTPase that constricts lipid bilayers. We have combined X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data to generate a coherent model of dynamin-mediated membrane constriction. GTPase and pleckstrin homology domains of dynamin were fit to cryo-EM structures of human dynamin helices bound to lipid in nonconstricted and constricted states. Proteolysis and immunogold labeling experiments confirm the topology of dynamin domains predicted from the helical arrays. Based on the fitting, an observed twisting motion of the GTPase, middle, and GTPase effector domains coincides with conformational changes determined by cryo-EM. We propose a corkscrew model for dynamin constriction based on these motions and predict regions of sequence important for dynamin function as potential targets for future mutagenic and structural studies.
The strong homogeneity conjecture

The strong homogeneity conjecture asserts that, for any Turing degree, a, there is a jump preserving isomorphism from the upper semilattice of degrees to the upper semilattice of degrees above a. Rogers [3, p. 261] states that this problem is open and notes that its truth would simplify many proofs about degrees. It is, in fact, false. More precisely, let 0 be the smallest degree and let 0(n) be the nth iterated jump of 0, as defined in [3, pp. 254–256].
Which Counts More for Excellence in Childcare Staff: Years in Service, Education Level or ECE Coursework?.

A sample of 81 caregivers in 24 urban centers was observed in interactions with preschool children three‐to‐five years old, in domains of positive and negative socioemotional inputs, language facilitation, concept promotion, and caregiving and cleaning up (of children and of environment).The teachers independently had provided responses to questions about their: number of years of formal schooling, years in childcare, years at the same center, own parenting status, and how many ECE/CD (early childhood education and child development) courses and workshops they had ever taken. Hierarchical stepwise regressions and ANOVAs showed the importance of ECE/CD training. When all positive teacher interactions tallied in the classroom were combined, ECE/CD training accounted for over 62 percent of the variance in teacher inputs. Thus, when interviewing candidates for childcare positions, directors need to verify a candidate's prior ECE/CD training and they need provide supports for staff to obtain ongoing ECE/CD cou...
An in vivo assay for conjugation-mediated recombination yields novel results for Streptomyces plasmid pIJ101

Efficient transmission of circular plasmids in Streptomyces spp. proceeds by an uncharacterized mechanism that requires a cis-acting locus of transfer (clt) and often only a single plasmid-encoded protein. For circular plasmids from other bacteria, site- and strand-specific nicking takes place at the cis-acting oriT locus via the plasmid-encoded relaxase protein prior to single-strand transfer. Using an assay originally designed to demonstrate that conjugative transfer of plasmids containing tandem oriT loci results in the formation of a single composite oriT locus, we show here that an analogous construct involving the pIJ101 clt locus apparently does not undergo such a conjugation-mediated event during plasmid transfer. Our results, which imply that streptomycete plasmids are transferred by a functionally distinct mechanism compared to oriT-containing plasmids, are complementary to other recent evidences that support a novel double-stranded model for streptomycete circular plasmid transfer.
Accessing Knowledge, Information and Resources for Planning and Spatial Decision Support: Introducing the Spatial Decision Support Knowledge Portal

To help synthesize and systematically organize the information, knowledge and resources for spatial decision support (SDS), and to help researchers and practitioners engaged in an actual planning process find relevant information and resources for solving their specific planning problems, the SDS Consortium and University of Redlands have developed a conceptual framework for SDS and a collection of SDS resources, hosted on the SDS Knowledge Portal. The conceptual framework includes a set of defined, inter-connected concepts pertaining to planning and spatial decision support, such as planning and decision problem types, application domains, knowledge domains and planning process including phases and steps. This conceptual framework is further used to organize a representative set of SDS resources, such as planning process workflows, methods, tools and models, data sources, case studies, literature, and so forth. The SDS Knowledge Portal facilitates learning of SDS and accessing SDS resources, promotes semantic clarity by adopting a common vocabulary for the user community, and promotes interoperability among SDS resources by using a standard set of concepts to define and classify these resources.
A Lagrangean heuristic for integrated production and transportation planning problems in a dynamic, multi-item, two-layer supply chain

We present a Lagrangean-based decomposition that is used to generate solutions for an integrated production and transportation planning problem in a two-stage supply chain. This supply chain consists of a number of facilities, each capable of producing the final products, and a number of retailers. It is assumed that the retailers' demands are known and deterministic, and that there are production capacity constraints. The problem is formulated as a multi-commodity network flow problem with fixed charge costs which is a NP-hard problem. An alternative formulation is provided whose linear programming relaxation gives tighter lower bounds. The quality of the lower and upper bounds from the Lagrangean decomposition is tested on a large set of randomly generated problems.
Perturbation calculations without H° or H1

Abstract A method for first order calculations which does not require an explicit partitioning of the Hamiltonian into zeroth and first order parts is presented. The method is equivalent to calculations with the Sternheimer potential, except that the potential need not be calculated - only the full Hamiltonian appears in the equations. The method applied to the ground states of H − , He and Li + , for which Eckhart-type open shell functions are employed as the zeroth order functions, and approximate first order functions are computed variationally.
NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS BIAS-REDUCTION TRAINING: IMPACT ON ASSESSORS' AWARENESS

This study is an in-depth investigation of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) bias-reduction training, from the perspective of assessors. The research examined how successful the bias training was in guiding assessors to recognize their biases and to identify actions to be used to reduce the impact of bias on their scoring decisions. The study focused on portfolio video entries to allow for a greater exploration of bias, since assessors are provided with a visual and aural depiction of the candidates and their students.
Complete Phenotypic Characterization of apobec-1 Knockout Mice with a Wild-type Genetic Background and a Human Apolipoprotein B Transgenic Background, and Restoration of Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing by Somatic Gene Transfer of Apobec-1

We have produced gene knockout mice by targeted disruption of the apobec-1 gene. As recently reported by Hirano et al. (Hirano, K.-I., Young, S. G., Farese, R. V., Jr., Ng, J., Sande, E., Warburton, C., Powell-Braxton, L. M., and Davidson, N. O. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 9887-9890), these animals do not edit apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA or produce apoB-48. In this study we have performed a detailed analysis of the lipoprotein phenotypic effects of apobec-1 gene disruption that were not examined in the previous study. We first analyzed the plasma lipoproteins in knockout animals with a wild-type genetic background. Although there was no difference in plasma cholesterol between apobec-1−/−, +/−, or +/+ mice, there was a marked (176%) increase in plasma apoB-100, from 1.8 ± 1.2 mg/dl in apobec-1+/+ mice to 2.7 ± 0.6 mg/dl in apobec-1+/− and 5.0 ± 1.4 mg/dl in apobec-1−/− mice. Plasma apoE was similar in these animals. By fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) analysis, there was a significant decrease in plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in apobec-1−/− mice. We further fractionated the plasma lipoproteins into d
Temporal variability in terrestrially-derived sources of particulate organic carbon in the lower Mississippi River and its upper tributaries

Abstract In this study, we examined the temporal changes of terrestrially-derived particulate organic carbon (POC) in the lower Mississippi River (MR) and in a very limited account, the upper tributaries (Upper MR, Ohio River, and Missouri River). We used for the first time a combination of lignin-phenols, bulk stable carbon isotopes, and compound-specific isotope analyses (CSIA) to examine POC in the lower MR and upper tributaries. A lack of correlation between POC and lignin phenol abundances (Λ8) was likely due to dilution effects from autochthonous production in the river, which has been shown to be considerably higher than previously expected. The range of δ13C values for p-hydroxycinnamic and ferulic acids in POC in the lower river do support that POM in the lower river does have a significant component of C4 in addition to C3 source materials. A strong correlation between δ13C values of p-hydroxycinnamic, ferulic, and vanillyl phenols suggests a consistent input of C3 and C4 carbon to POC lignin while a lack of correlation between these same phenols and POC bulk δ13C further indicates the considerable role of autochthonous carbon in the lower MR POC budget. Our estimates indicate an annual flux of POC of 9.3 × 108 kg y−1 to the Gulf of Mexico. Total lignin fluxes, based on Λ8 values of POC, were estimated to be 1.2 × 105 kg y−1. If we include the total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux (3.1 × 109 kg y−1) reported by [Bianchi T. S., Filley T., Dria K. and Hatcher, P. (2004) Temporal variability in sources of dissolved organic carbon in the lower Mississippi River. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 68, 959–967.], we get a total organic carbon flux of 4.0 × 109 kg y−1. This represents 0.82% of the annual total organic carbon supplied to the oceans by rivers (4.9 × 1011 kg).
Reduction of Brochothrix thermosphacta on beef surfaces following immobilization of nisin in calcium alginate gels

Lean and adipose beef carcass tissues inoculated with Brochothrix thermosphacta (BT) (approx. 4.50 log10 cfu cm-2) were left untreated (U) or treated with 100 micrograms ml-1 nisin (N), calcium alginate (A) or 100 micrograms ml-1 nisin immobilized in a calcium alginate gel (AN). Tissue samples were refrigerated after treatments and bacterial populations and nisin activity were determined at 0, 1, 2 and 7 d. U, A and N treatments of lean and adipose tissues did not suppress bacterial growth ( > 6 log10 cfu cm-2 by day 7) while treatments of lean and adipose tissues with AN suppressed bacteria ( > 2.42 log10 cfu cm-2 by day 7). Bacteriocin titres from both tissues were higher in AN vs N samples after the 7 d incubation. This study demonstrates that immobilization of nisin in a gel may be a more effective delivery system of a bacteriocin to the carcass surface than direct application.
An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Dementia Care Improves Student Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams

Background: Interdisciplinary teams are sometimes used in the provision of health care to populations who present with complicated needs, such as older adults experiencing dementia. Moreover, there is an international consensus that health care students should receive training in interdisciplinary care.Methods: 157 health care students from Xavier University's College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education in Cincinnati, U.S.A. participated in a five-hour symposium on an interdisciplinary approach to treating older adults with dementia. The Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale (ATHCTS; Heinemann et al., 1999) was used to assess student attitudes before and after the symposium.Results: A paired-sample t-test was conducted to compare pre and post-test ATHCTS overall and subscale scores. There was a statistically significant increase in the overall pre-post ATHCTS scores and Quality of Care/Process Subscale scores. There was a significant decrease in the Physician Centrality Subscale scores.Conclusions: The findings suggest that, after the symposium, participants reported more positive overall attitudes about health care teams, and about the quality of care provided by such teams and the teamwork to achieve good patient care. Participants also displayed a decrease in their beliefs about how essential physicians are as leaders of health care teams. These results affirm the use of a brief interdisciplinary educational approach in changing student attitudes about the use of health care teams. Students who develop more positive attitudes about working on an interdisciplinary health care team recognize the team's value and therefore may be more receptive to and effective in working as professional team members in the future.
Dissipation inequalities in nonlinear H/sub infinity /-control

Some results on the problem of disturbance attenuation via measurement feedback, with internal stability, for an affine nonlinear system are summarized and extended. It is shown how some of the simplifying hypotheses considered in earlier analyses of this problem can be weakened. The solution of the problem is shown to be related to the existence of solutions of a pair of Hamilton-Jacobi inequalities in n independent variables, associated with state-feedback and output-injection design. >
Effect of Supplemental Zinc in Either a Corn-Soybean or a Milo and Corn-Soybean Meal Diet on the Performance of Young Broiler Breeders and their Progeny

Abstract Experiments were conducted to examine effects of supplemental Zn on reproductive performance of young broiler breeders (BB) and evaluate the immunocompetence of their progeny. At 20 wk of age, 36 floor pens of 5 male and 30 female BB were fed either a 1) corn soybean meal (CSB) diet; 2) CSB supplemented with ZnO; 3) CSB supplemented with Zn-Met; 4) milo and corn-soybean meal (MCSB); 5) MCSB supplemented with ZnO; 6) MCSB supplemented with Zn-Met. These diets contained 72, 112, 112, 83, 123, and 123 mg Zn/kg of diet, respectively. All progeny received the same unmedicated CSB starter diet, and therefore treatments were derived from the potential carryover of the BB diets. Supplemental Zn in either a CSB or MCSB diet resulted in no differences in egg weight, fertility, hatchability, chick weight, immune response variables, and foot pad scores of BB. The CSB diet increased (P
A new technique for measuring junction capacitance in bipolar transistors

A new methodology for measuring p/n junction capacitance is demonstrated. The method is dc based making it suitable for use in automated high volume measurements. The validity of the technique is supported by both simulated and experimentally measured data.
Arp2/3 complex ATP hydrolysis promotes lamellipodial actin network disassembly but is dispensable for assembly

We examined the role of ATP hydrolysis by the Arp2/3 complex in building the leading edge of a cell by studying the effects of hydrolysis defects on the behavior of the complex in the lamellipodial actin network of Drosophila S2 cells and in a reconstituted, in vitro, actin-based motility system. In S2 cells, nonhydrolyzing Arp2 and Arp3 subunits expanded and delayed disassembly of lamellipodial actin networks and the effect of mutant subunits was additive. Arp2 and Arp3 ATP hydrolysis mutants remained in lamellipodial networks longer and traveled greater distances from the plasma membrane, even in networks still containing wild-type Arp2/3 complex. In vitro, wild-type and ATP hydrolysis mutant Arp2/3 complexes each nucleated actin and built similar dendritic networks. However, networks constructed with Arp2/3 hydrolysis-defective mutants were more resistant to disassembly by cofilin. Our results indicate that ATP hydrolysis on both Arp2 and Arp3 contributes to dissociation of the complex from the actin network but is not strictly necessary for lamellipodial network disassembly.
Growth and Development of Tetracycline-Resistant Chlamydia suis

Tetracycline (TET) is a front-line antibiotic for the treatment of chlamydial infections in both humans and animals, and the emergence of TET-resistant (Tet(r)) Chlamydia is of significant clinical importance. Recently, several Tet(r) chlamydial strains have been isolated from swine (Sus scrofa) raised in production facilities in Nebraska. Here, the intracellular development of two Tet(r) strains, R19 and R27, is characterized through the use of tissue culture and immunofluorescence. The strains grow in concentrations of up to 4 microg of TET/ml, while a TET-sensitive (Tet(s)) swine strain (S45) and a strain of the human serovar L2 (LGV-434) grow in up to 0.1 microg of TET/ml. Although inclusions form in the presence of TET, many contain large aberrant reticulate bodies (RBs) that do not differentiate into infectious elementary bodies. The percentage of inclusions containing typical developmental forms decreases with increasing TET concentrations, and at 3 microg of TET/ml 100% of inclusions contain aberrant RBs. However, upon removal of TET the aberrant RBs revert to typical RBs, and a productive developmental cycle ensues. In addition, inclusions were found that contained both C. suis R19 and Chlamydia trachomatis L2 after sequential infection, demonstrating that two biologically distinct chlamydial strains could both develop within a single inclusion.
On efficient learning and classification kernel methods

Improving learning and classification efficiency has become increasingly important for machine learning. If the traditional RBF kernel is adopted, the learned kernel-based classifier usually delivers better performance by engaging a large training dataset. However, such a high performance comes at the expense of costly learning and classification complexities, which grow drastically with the training size N. To overcome this curse of dimensionality, we propose a so-called TRBF kernel(with finite intrinsic degree J) which approximates the RBF kernel. The contributions of this paper are as follows. First, the optimal classification efficiency attainable is shown to be J′ ≈ J. To improve learning efficiency, we propose a fast PDA algorithm with learning complexity linearly growing with N. We adopt pruned-PDA (PPDA) to improve the accuracy by removing harmful “anti-support” vectors from the training set. Experiments on ECG dataset showed that TRBF-PPDA delivers nearly optimal performance with very low power.
Distances between traveling salesman tours

Two metrics, based respectively on k-OPT and 2-OPT, for measuring the distance between traveling salesman tours are considered and their relationship worked out.
SoC Issues for RF Smart Dust

Wireless sensor nodes are autonomous devices incorporating sensing, power, computation, and communication into one system. Applications for large scale networks of these nodes are presented in the context of their impact on the hardware design. The demand for low unit cost and multiyear lifetimes, combined with progress in CMOS and MEMS processing, are driving development of SoC solutions for sensor nodes at the cubic centimeter scale with a minimum number of off-chip components. Here, the feasibility of a complete, cubic millimeter scale, single-chip sensor node is explored by examining practical limits on process integration and energetic cost of short-range RF communication. Autonomous cubic millimeter nodes appear within reach, but process complexity and substantial sacrifices in performance involved with a true single-chip solution establish a tradeoff between integration and assembly.
Creativity in the Classroom: Schools of Curious Delight

Preface: Why Creativity in the Classroom? Part I: Understanding Creative People and Processes 1. What is Creativity? 2. Models of the Creative Process 3. Theories of Creativity: The Individual 4. Theories of Creativity: Systems in Context 5. Creative People Part II: Creativity and Classroom Life 6. Teaching Creative Thinking Skills and Habits 7. Creativity in the Content Areas: Language Arts, Social Studies and the Arts 8. Creativity in the Content Areas: Science, Math, and General Teaching Strategies 9. Motivation, Creativity, and Classroom Organization 10. Assessing Creativity Appendix: Problem-Finding Lessons References Author Index Subject Index a
Warming, competition, and Bromus tectorum population growth across an elevation gradient

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is one of the most problematic invasive plant species in North America and climate change threatens to exacerbate its impacts. We conducted a two-year field experiment to test the effect of warming, competition, and seed source on cheatgrass performance across an elevation gradient in northern Utah. We hypothesized that warming would increase cheatgrass performance, but that warming effects would be limited by competing vegetation and by local adaptation of cheatgrass seed sources. The warming treatment relied on open top chambers, we removed vegetation to assess the effect of competition from neighboring vegetation, and we reciprocally sowed cheatgrass seed sources from the three study sites. We quantified performance with per capita growth rate and its components (emergence, survival, and fecundity). The main effect of the warming treatment was significant and positive only at high elevation, where warming triggered a three- to six-fold increase in population growth rate. At...
Phylogenetic incongruence in the Drosophila melanogaster species group.

Drosophila melanogaster and its close relatives are used extensively in comparative biology. Despite the importance of phylogenetic information for such studies, relationships between some melanogaster species group members are unclear due to conflicting phylogenetic signals at different loci. In this study, we use twelve nuclear loci (eleven coding and one non-coding) to assess the degree of phylogenetic incongruence in this model system. We focus on two nodes: (1) the node joining the Drosophila erecta–Drosophila orena, Drosophila melanogaster–Drosophila simulans, and Drosophila yakuba–Drosophila teissieri lineages, and (2) the node joining the lineages leading to the melanogaster, takahashii, and eugracilis subgroups. We find limited evidence for incongruence at the first node; our data, as well as those of several previous studies, strongly support monophyly of a clade consisting of D. erecta–D. orena and D. yakuba–D. teissieri. By contrast, using likelihood based tests of congruence, we find robust evidence for topological incongruence at the second node. Different loci support different relationships among the melanogaster, takahashii, and eugracilis subgroups, and the observed incongruence is not easily attributable to homoplasy, non-equilibrium base composition, or positive selection on a subset of loci. We argue that lineage sorting in the common ancestor of these three subgroups is the most plausible explanation for our observations. Such lineage sorting may lead to biased estimation of tree topology and evolutionary rates, and may confound inferences of positive selection.
3-D simulations of dense plasma focus with ALEGRA

We have carried out 2D and 3D simulations of a dense plasma focus device using Sandia National Laboratories' ALEGRA-HEDP code. We model the setup, rundown and pinch phases of the device and obtain predictions of fusion neutron yield as a function of machine parameters. Due to particle effects not modeled the by the code, we expect simulations to predict lower fusion neutron yields than those seen in experiments. We consider options for predicting these nonthermal effects as a function of machine parameters.
Exact results and scaling properties of small-world networks

We study the distribution function for minimal paths in small-world networks. We derive its general form, which we verify numerically, and also discuss its scaling properties. Using the general form of this distribution function, we derive exact expressions for the average minimal distance l and its variance sigma(2). Finally, we study the limit of large system sizes and obtain some approximate results.
Parasitism of Stagmomantis carolina (Mantodea: Mantidae) by Masiphya confusa (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Field collections and laboratory observations document for the first time nymphal Stagmomantis carolina (Johannson) (Mantodea: Mantidae) as a host of Masiphya confusa Aldrich (Diptera: Tachinidae). In Washington County, MS, field parasitization rates of nymphal mantids in old-field sites exceeded 80% in late summer and were associated with a delay in maturation of parasitized nymphs. Laboratory rearings and dissections indicated that early-stage parasites had entered at the lateral mesothorax and were free-moving in the host thorax, with late-stage larvae attached to the inner wall of the fifth abdominal segment. A sclerotized airhole was present at the attachment site and exit holes for the mature larvae were in the area of the second abdominal segment. When attached, the parasite was encased in a sac and a sclerotized respiratory funnel was formed. After parasite emergence, the host typically died within 24 h, although some host individuals survived for up to 29 d and some individuals fed and partially molted after parasite emergence under ambient conditions. Pupation of parasites under ambient conditions occurred in the soil in September and October, with subsequent emergence in the following May.
Improving Policy Gradient Estimates with Influence Information

In reinforcement learning (RL) it is often possible to obtain sound, but incomplete, information about influences and independencies among problem variables and rewards, even when an exact domain model is unknown. For example, such information can be computed based on a partial, qualitative domain model, or via domain-specific analysis techniques. While, intuitively, such information appears useful for RL, there are no algorithms that incorporate it in a sound way. In this work, we describe how to leverage such information for improving the estimation of policy gradients, which can be used to speedup gradient-based RL. We prove general conditions under which our estimator is unbiased and show that it will typically have reduced variance compared to standard unbiased gradient estimates. We evaluate the approach in the domain of Adaptation-Based Programming where RL is used to optimize the performance of programs and independence information can be computed via standard program analysis techniques. Incorporating independence information produces a large speedup in learning on a variety of adaptive programs.
β-Functionalized Push–Pull opp-Dibenzoporphyrins

The synthesis of a series of β-functionalized push-pull dibenzoporphyrins was realized. These porphyrins display subtle push-pull effects, demonstrating the exceptional tunability of their electronic and electrochemical properties. The UV-vis spectra of these porphyrins show unique absorption patterns with shouldered Soret bands and extra absorptions in the Q-band region. Stronger electron-withdrawing groups display more significant bathochromic shifts of the Soret bands. The fluorescence spectra of these porphyrins show strong near-IR emission bands (600-850 nm). In particular, fluorescence quenching effect was observed for pyridyl carrying push-pull porphyrin 4c in the presence of an acid. TFA titration study of 4c using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy reveals that the fluorescence quenching can be mainly attributed to the protonation of the pyridyl groups of 4c. The versatile synthetic methods developed in this work may open a door to access a large number of functionalized organic materials that are currently unavailable. The structure-property studies provided in this work may provide useful guidelines for the design of new generations of materials in dye-sensitized solar cells, in nonlinear optical applications, as fluorescence probes, as well as sensitizers for photodynamic therapy.
A Family Law Residency Program?: A Modest Proposal in Response to the Burdens Created by Self-Represented Litigants in Family Court

The explosion of self-represented litigants in family court has placed extraordinary burdens on judges, court administrators, lawyers, and the litigants themselves. Further, the legal profession has increasingly come to realize that more needs to be done to prepare lawyers for the practice of law than the traditional law school curriculum and bar admission process provide. This article addresses each of these issues by proposing a family law residency program, modeled on medical residencies, as a means to provide both needed legal services to family law litigants of modest means and needed practice oriented training to new lawyers.
Unraveling the Closed-End Funds Pricing Puzzle: Some New Evidence

We review the empirical results and some of the important explanations that have been advanced for the anomalous pricing of closed-end funds and conclude that none of the theories, either individually or collectively provide a sufficient explanation for the pricing of closed-end funds and thus the puzzle remains unsolved. We investigate additional evidence on the pricing of closed-end funds using data from 1994:2002 by exploring the relationship between closed-end fund discount and five explanatory variables. The results suggest that there is significant relationship between fund discount and fund family.
Vibrational State-Resolved Study of the O- + D2 Reaction: Low-Energy Dynamics from 0.25 to 0.37 eV

We present a study of the particle transfer reaction between O- and D2 at three collision energies between 0.25 and 0.37 eV. Over this range, the product flux distributions extend over the full range of scattering angles, indicative of collisions in which the atoms remain in close proximity for a significant fraction of a rotational period. The vibrational state populations show the onset of a population inversion, although the partitioning of available energy remains essentially constant at 30%. Vibrationally resolved product angular distributions show that the products formed in the ground vibrational state are distributed with forward and backward peaks, while products excited to v‘ = 1 are forward peaked. At the lowest collision energy of 0.25 eV, a sharp backward peak in v‘ = 0 appears and provides evidence for the critical role that collinear collisions play in traversing the OD-·D saddle point, where bending motion leads to electron detachment. The low-energy dynamics are controlled by the competit...
Asymptotic Geometry Representation for Complex Configurations

The strand-Cartesian approach provides many advantages for complex moving-body flow simulations, including fully-automatic volume grid generation, highly scalable domain connectivity, and high-order accuracy. The purpose of this work is to evaluate methods of handling small-scale features, such as sharp corners and ridges, with strand grids by smoothing the geometry, thus allowing strands to preserve orthogonality regardless of the corner or edge concavity and acuteness. Specifically, we investigate surface smoothing as a function of mesh refinement, creating an “asymptotic geometry”. Results provided qualitatively demonstrate superior strand grid meshing compared to previous methods.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids. V.

Highly unsaturated fatty acids, carrying more than 4 nonconjugated double bonds, that were prepared from cuttle fish oils, changed their structure from non-conjugated polyene to conjugated polyene, that is, to cis-cis-trans conjugated triene structure, when heated at about 200°C under interruption of air and also to conjugated diene form, when heated at 250°C.The produced triene gave the absorption maxima at 266, 277 and 287.5mμ and changed easily their structure to conjugated diene form, when heated at more than 230°C, where by absorption maximum was recognized at 236mμ.The compounds that carry conjugated triene structure were monomeric and distillable at 155167°C/0.01mmHg and were easily isomerized to conjugated polyene by 21% KOH-glycol, whereas the conjugated diene bearing compounds were polymeric and were hardly isomerized by alkali.But when highly unsaturated fatty acids were heated under the condition of diluted solutions (mixed with microcrystallinewax), the produced conjugated diene and triene were both monomeric and distillable at 158165°C/0.01mmHg.
The Vaporization Enthalpies and Vapor Pressures of Some Primary Amines of Pharmaceutical Importance by Correlation Gas Chromatography

Vapor pressures, vaporization, and sublimation enthalpies of several pharmaceuticals have been evaluated by a combination of correlation chromatography experiments, differential calorimetry measurements with existing literature values. The compounds investigated and their properties include 1-adamantylamine [ΔcrlHm(Tfus)/kJ·mol–1 = (7.3 ± 0.2); Tfus/K = (477.4 ± 0.9); ΔlgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (59.9 ± 2.5); ΔcrgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (∼59.9 ± 3.5); p(l)/Pa = (21 ± 1); p(cr)/Pa = (11.5 ± 2.1)]; 1-adamantyl-ethanamine, [ΔlgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (68.7 ± 3.7); p(l)/Pa = (3 ± 1)]; α,α-dimethylphenethylamine [ΔlgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (60.2 ± 2.6); p(l)/Pa = (35 ± 4)]; trans 2-phenylcyclopropylamine [ΔlgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (60.3 ± 2.1), p(l)/Pa = (28 ± 5)]; 1-dodecanamine [ΔcrgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (118.3 ± 1.8); p(cr)/Pa = 1.6 ± 0.1]; and 1-tetradecanamine [ΔcrgHm(298.15 K)/kJ·mol–1 = (134.5 ± 2.1); p(cr)/Pa = 0.12 ± 0.04]. Vapor pressure equations also derived from vapor pressure—retention time cor...
Crystal structure of λ exonuclease in complex with DNA and Ca(2

Bacteriophage λ exonuclease (λexo) is a ring-shaped homotrimer that resects double-stranded DNA ends in the 5'-3' direction to generate a long 3'-overhang that is a substrate for recombination. λexo is a member of the type II restriction endonuclease-like superfamily of proteins that use a Mg(2+)-dependent mechanism for nucleotide cleavage. A previous structure of λexo in complex with DNA and Mg(2+) was determined using a nuclease defective K131A variant to trap a stable complex. This structure revealed the detailed coordination of the two active site Mg(2+) ions but did not show the interactions involving the side chain of the conserved active site Lys-131 residue. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of wild-type (WT) λexo in complex with the same DNA substrate, but in the presence of Ca(2+) instead of Mg(2+). Surprisingly, there is only one Ca(2+) bound in the active site, near the position of Mg(A) in the structure with Mg(2+). The scissile phosphate is displaced by 2.2 A relative to its position in the structure with Mg(2+), and the network of interactions involving the attacking water molecule is broken. Thus, the structure does not represent a catalytic configuration. However, the crystal structure does show clear electron density for the side chain of Lys-131, which is held in place by interactions with Gln-157 and Glu-129. By combining the K131A-Mg(2+) and WT-Ca(2+) structures, we constructed a composite model to show the likely interactions of Lys-131 during catalysis. The implications with regard to the catalytic mechanism are discussed.
Dissimilarity Breeds Contempt: Ethnic Paternalism, Foreigners, and the State in Pas-de-Calais Coalmining, France, 1920s

Recently, historians have begun to illuminate further the role that ethnicity played in integrating immigrants into mining societies. Ethnicity, they show, shaped foreign−native relations in complex ways. Migrant culture and local norms both affected the assimilation process. This essay, focusing on France’s premiere coalfield of Pas-de-Calais during the 1920s, a period of mass influx of Polish laborers, explores employers’ often underappreciated influence over inter-ethnic relations, and it reveals the far-reaching effects of managerial policies. Management’s ethnic paternalism influenced, though often unintentionally, relations between Poles and French miners and officials. Employer strategies to manage Poles led natives to see themselves as distinct from and even superior to immigrants. Beyond the workplace, employers used ethnic notions to attract and control Poles, yet in doing so they highlighted the dissimilarities between Poles and Frenchmen. Ultimately, coal companies reinforced foreigners’ isolation from local society and roused the suspicions of officials, who strictly policed the Polish community.
Determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oil by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Objective A method was developed for the determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH16) in edible oil by isotope dilution gas chromatography- mass spectrometry(GC- MS). Methods The isotope internal standards were added into the samples of edible oil,then heated in alkali solution for saponification. The target compounds of PAH16 were extracted by hexane,adsorbed and purified by neutral silica gel column,and detected by GC- MS. Results The 16 kinds of PAHs showed good linearity between concentration and peak area(r 0. 999). The detection limits of Naphthalene,Acenaphthylene,Acenaphthene,Fluorene,Phenathrene,Anthracene,Fluoranthene,Pyrene were 0. 2 μg / kg,while those of Benz[a]anthracene,Chrysene,Benzo[b]fluoranthene,Benzo[k]fluoranthene,Benzo[a]pyrene,Indeno[1,2,3- cd]pyrene,Dibenz [a,h]anthracene,Benzo[g,h,i]perylene were 0. 5 μg/kg. The recoveries were 85.7% ~125. 0%,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs) were 0. 9% ~ 9. 8%. Conclusion The method is quick and accurate for detection of PAH16 in edible oil.
Analysis of photosynthesis in green algae through mutation studies.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews developments in some areas of comparative studies of higher plant photosynthesis with a stress on the ecological and adaptive aspects of the process. Through photosynthesis, the final end organic product obtained is carbohydrates that can be represented by the equation: H2O+CO2 + light CO2 + (CH2O). The different component processes of photosynthesis directly depend on one or more of the environmental factors. The rate of the overall process of photosynthesis, thus, exhibits a great dependence on all major physical variables of the external environment and is more sensitive to environmental changes than any other growth process. The variance of ecological habitats necessitates that the native plants commit adaptations that would lead to efficient photosynthetic processes in that habitat. The presence of differences in photosynthetic characteristics does not necessarily mean the occurrence of adaptations. Photosynthetic efficiency is a broad term that may mean different things depending on the environment under consideration. Quantitative adaptations in plants occur because of variance in available light intensities and thermal ranges of the native habitat.