cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cool-season turfgrass colony and seed survival in a restored prairie.

Nonnative cool-season turfgrasses are sometimes considered to be invasive species in restored prairies. The method of their invasiveness is poorly understood, as in many cases prairie restoration projects occur where the grasses were formerly planted. Colonies of 10 turfgrass species were placed into two anthropogenic prairies and monitored over a 2-yr period. Colonies of most species, including Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort = Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.., formerly Festuca arundinacea Schreb. var. arundinacea], decreased in size or died due to herbivory and environmental stresses. At one location, fine fescues (Festuca spp.) and colonial bentgrass (A. capillaris L.) colonies remained relatively constant or slightly increased in size, while native velvet bentgrass (A. canina L.) nearly tripled in diameter. A second study compared the seed survival of six turfgrass and three native grass species at the same sites. Germination and dormancy tests were conducted following exhumation at 6,12, and 22 mo. All the turfgrass seeds, with the exception of tall fescue, retained better viability (12-34%) than native grasses (0-1%) after 22 mo in the soil. Our results indicate that nonnative turfgrasses may be poor competitors in restored Upper Midwest prairies and their presence in prairie renovations may be due to previous, intentional introductions.
Role of the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. in the distribution of plant residue nitrogen in a corn (Zea mays)-soil system

Abstract While the benefits of earthworms to crop production are widely acknowledged, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We examined the effects of an anecic earthworm ( Lumbricus terrestris ) on the distribution of plant residue N in a corn ( Zea mays )/soil system. Soil (mixed Ap and B horizons) mesocosms (10 cm diameter, 39 cm deep) were amended with 15 N-labeled corn litter, inoculated with one earthworm per mesocosm (WORM) or none (CTRL), and pre-incubated for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. Earthworms and remaining plant residues were removed and sweet corn grown in the mesocosms in a greenhouse for 3 weeks. Litter, earthworms, shoots, roots and bulk and burrow soil were analyzed for total N and 15 N. Plant and earthworm biomass were also determined. Earthworms had no significant effect on the N content of shoots, roots or bulk soil. Recovery of 15 N ranged from 92.6 to 101.9% in CTRL and 60.2 to 83.2% in the WORM treatment. The 15 N content of bulk soil in the WORM treatment was significantly higher than in CTRL and increased with pre-incubation time. Excess at.% 15 N of burrow soil was 10–100 times higher than in bulk soil. Incorporation of 15 N by shoots and roots was significantly higher in the WORM treatment and increased significantly with pre-incubation time only in the WORM treatment. In WORM mesocosms pre-incubated for 3 weeks, the distribution of added 15 N was 9.8% in litter, 6.5% in plant, 31.5% in soil, 12.0% in earthworms and 39.8% presumably lost as gas; in CTRL mesocosms, the values were 75.7% in litter, 3.2% in plant, 13.7% in soil and 7.4% in presumed gas losses. The activities of L. terrestris altered the distribution of plant residue N significantly, increasing the transfer of N to plants and soil and enhancing losses of N in the gas phase as pre-incubation time increased.
Genes and Linkage Groups in Genetics

IN the flatfishes “mutations” are not uncommon; albinos, piebalds, etc., reversed examples (sinistral individuals of dextral species and dextral individuals of sinistral species), and ambicolorate fish. There are many degrees of ambicoloration, from specimens with a small coloured patch or a few scattered spots on the blind side to others in which the whole blind side is coloured like the eyed side. When ambicoloration is complete, or nearly so, it appears always to be associated with other variations; the migration of the eye is delayed, so that it gets in the way of the dorsal fin as it is growing forward on the head, the scales of the blind side resemble those of the eyed side in structure, the asymmetry of the paired fins is less marked. It is clear that the one thing that holds these variations together is that they are variations towards symmetry, and it is interesting to note that the head, which is the most asymmetrical part of the fish, is the last to be affected; thus it often happens that the whole blind side is coloured except a patch in the orbital region, and that the scales of the blind side are as rough as those of the eyed side except on the head.
The crystal structure of Ta2VC2

Abstract The crystal structure of Ta2VC2 has been determined from X-ray powder photographs. The structure is trigonal, space group D 3d 5 -R 3 m , with a rhombohedral unit cell of a r = 7.481 A , α = 23 ° 27' (hexagonal axes a = 3.045 A , c = 21.81 A ). The unit cell contains 9 close packed metal layers in stacking sequence (hhc)3, or ABABCBCAC. The metal atoms are statistically distributed among point positions 3(a) and 6(c). It was not possible to decide by X-ray diffraction whether the carbon atoms are randomly distributed among the 9 octahedral interstitial sites in 6(c) and 3(b), or whether an ordered sublattice structure is formed. The phase is stable from room temperature to above 26oo °C. The homogeneity range at 1650 ° C varies between the limits (Ta1.80–2.04, V1.20–1.96)C1.74–1.80; the phase is thus substantially deficient in carbon.
News Constructions of Fear and Victim: An Exploration Through Triangulated Qualitative Document Analysis:

A seminar project used the World Wide Web to examine the multiple meanings of fear and victim in various news media to explore the substance of news as well as experiment with using an interactive ...
Body-cathexis and self-esteem.

The relation between self-esteem and body-cathexis has been studied extensively (Fisher, 1986). Secord and Jourard (1953) devised a measure of attitudes toward the body by asking people whether they had positive or negative feelings about different body parts. They found positive attitudes were related to self-esteem, although Rosen and Ross (1968) found that this held only for body items rated as important. The present study involved a factor analysis of correlations based on the responses of 32 male and 27 female college students aged 17 to 23 yr. (M = 19.2 yr., SD = 1.2) to Secord and Jourard's body-cathexis scale (and identified 11 factors using a principal components extraction with varimax rotation on SPSSX).' These factor scores were correlated with self-esteem as measured by Coopersmith's (1967) scale (M = 64.8, SD = 20.7). For women, self-esteem scores were correlated with a factor on which loadings were high for waist (loading 0.78), hips (0.75), and weight (0.77) (Pearson r = 0.35, p = .04). Imposing controls for age by using correlation coefficients, self-esteem was also correlated with a factor on which a high loading for distribution of body hair was observed (partial r = 0.41, p = .02). For men, self-esteem scores were correlated with factor scores on which loadings were high for voice (loading 0.78), resistance to illness (O.63), and profile (0.62) (Pearson r = 0.32, p = .04). The associations of self-esteem and body cathexis were different for the college men and women in this study and observed for only a limited number of the factors identified for body cathexis. However, this study needs to be replicated on a larger sample before the conclusions can be regarded as reliable. REFERENCES COOPERSMITH, S. (1967) The antecedents of selj-esteem. San Francisco, CA: Freeman. FISHER, S. (1986) Development and structure ofthe body image. Hillside, NY: Erlbaum. ROSEN, G . M., & ROSS, A. 0. (1968) Relationship of body image to self-concept. 1. consult. clin. Psychol., 32, 100. SECORD, P. F,, & JOURARD, S. M. (1953) The appraisal of body-cathexis. 1. consult. Psychol., 17, 343-347.
Thiophosphorylation of the 130-kDa subunit is associated with a decreased activity of myosin light chain phosphatase in α-toxin-permeabilized smooth muscle

Pretreatment of α-toxin-permeabilized smooth muscle with ATPγS (adenosine 5ʹ-O-(thiotriphosphate)) under conditions resulting in minimal (
Constrained Markov networks for automated analysis of G-banded chromosomes

Automated analysis of chromosome band patterns using probabilistic Markov networks has been reported in previous work. Band patterns are represented as strings of symbols. Inferred from a set of learning strings, a Markov network is a model of intraband and interband relations in these strings. The inference is entirely data-driven and is accomplished using dynamic programming. This paper presents a new model of chromosome band patterns, the constrained Markov network, which is a special case of its predecessor. Substantial experimental evidence of the superiority of the new model over the old is given in terms of equal results in centromere finding and improved results in classification for the 22 autosomes. Furthermore, a method for simplification of constrained Markov networks is shown to be of considerable importance with respect to computational complexity.
Realization of Logical Functions by a Network of Threshold Components with Specified Sensitivity

In the realization of a logical function by a network of threshold components, one important engineering parameter is the tolerances which must be placed on the coefficients and threshold of the individual components. For threshold gates in which the logical ``zero'' corresponds to a constant signal of zero value and in which the coefficients are all positive or all negative, these tolerances are functions only of the gap boundaries of the map realized by the component. A set of theorems is presented that define ``algebraic-like'' operations which provide a means for performing a sequence of symbolic operations on the desired logical function whereby the latter is transformed into a description of a network of threshold components which is its realization. Using these theorems a procedure is given for realizing an arbitrary logical function as a network of threshold components with specified sensitivity.
Changing biocultural perspectives on health in the Andes

New directions toward biocultural approaches to health and illness in Andean peoples have emerged since the original Health in the Andes volume was published in 1981. The reformulation of these perspectives was stimulated in part by the growth of political-economic perspectives in Andean ethnography and by critiques of medical ecology by critical medical anthropologists. This paper provides a brief history of changing biocultural perspectives on Andean health, and contrasts two projects dealing with Andean biology and health carried out in the 1960s and 1980s in the District of Nunoa in Southern Peru. The recent Nunoa research provides one example of a more critical biocultural approach that attempts to integrate perspectives from ecology and anthropological political economy. The utility of the approach is explored through the Nunoa case study, which focused on the reproduction of illness and poverty in Andean households in contexts of social and economic change. Findings of this research are compared with recent work in the Andes to illustrate how a more critical biocultural perspective can better articulate with the diversity of approaches in medical anthropology and Andean health studies.
Light Extinction by Aerosols during Summer Air Pollution

Abstract In order to utilize satellite measurements of optical thickness over land for estimating aerosol properties during air pollution episodes the optical thickness was measured from the surface and investigated. Aerosol optical thicknesses have been derived from solar transmission measurements in eight spectral bands within the band λ440–870 nm during the summers of 1980 and 1981 near Washington, DC. The optical thicknesses for the eight bands are strongly correlated. It was found that first eigenvalue of the covariance matrix of all observations accounts for 99% of the trace of the matrix. Since the measured aerosol optical thickness was closely proportional to the wavelength raised to a power, the aerosol size distribution derived from it is proportional to the diameter (d) raised to a power for the range of diameters between 0.1 to 1.0 μm. This power is insensitive to the total optical thickness. Changes in the aerosol optical thickness depend an several aerosol parameters, but it is difficult to ...
Direct digital additive manufacturing technologies: Path towards hybrid integration

In the past decade, additive manufacturing and printed electronics technologies have expanded rapidly on a global scale. As the additive manufacturing techniques have become more capable and affordable, and able to work with a broader range of materials, the machines are increasingly being used to make advanced products at significantly lower costs and risks. The additive manufacturing industry is populated by a broad family of technologies, and the present paper provides an overview of key additive manufacturing technologies and their impact on materials processing, device applications, and future markets. Our R&D efforts on the development of core technologies for the realization of flexible electronics, and 3D microscale structures are also highlighted.
Collective Actors and Corporate Targets in Tobacco Control: A Cross-National Comparison

Cross-national comparative analysis of tobacco control strategies can alert health advocates to how opportunities for public health action, types of action, and probabilities for success are shaped by political systems and cultures. This article is based on case studies of tobacco control in the United States, Canada, Britain, and France. Two questions are addressed: (a) To whom were the dangers of smoking attributed? and (b) What was the role of collective action—grassroots level organization—in combating these dangers? Activists in Canada, Britain, and France moved earlier than the United States did to target the tobacco industry and the state. Locally based advocacy centered on passive smoking has been far more important in the United States. The author concludes that U.S.-style advocacy has played a major role in this country’s smoking decline but is insufficient in and of itself to change the corporate practices of a wealthy and politically powerful industry.
A Relativistic skyrmion and its form-factors

Abstract We introduce a quantization method which treats the translational mode of static soliton solutions in field theory. We apply this method to the Skyrme model and calculate its electromagnetic form factors. The result indicates that the nucleon-recoil effect in elastic scattering is important at momentum transfer Q2>1 GeV2.
The effect of pressure on methane hydration in pure water and sodium chloride solutions

Abstract Traditionally, the effect of pressure on hydrate formation has been described using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, which assumes that only vapor phase volume changes are significant. According to this assumption, equilibrium data for any hydrate former will fit to straight lines with equal slope on a plot of logarithmic pressure versus temperature. But both data and theory shows that this is not true at higher pressures. In this research, equilibrium data of methane hydrate dissociation were measured up to pressures of 70 MPa and at 4 different concentrations of NaCl. These measurements were done using a new experimental technique, Raman spectroscopy, to detect the presence and determine the structure of hydrates. The data show significant deviations from linear Clausius–Clapeyron behavior. Calculations have been done on literature data for methane hydrate and new data. Both the Clapeyron relation and van der Waals and Platteeuw hydrate theory has been used. Both models represent the data well, but show interesting minor deviations at high salt concentration.
Roads to follow: Regulating direct foreign investment

The United States faces a formidable and growing economic challenge from Japan. Over the last decade, the American state has characteristically responded to the loss of domestic market dominance in the manufacturing sector to foreign firms by invoking the principles of free and fair trade in order to delegitimate this foreign competition and legitimate the imposition of trade barriers designed to encourage the investment of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the United States. These tactics have largely succeeded in attracting investment and thus aided domestic employment and the balance of trade. The short-term benefits, however, have been achieved at long-term, unforeseen, undesirable economic and political costs in terms of both the balance of payments and state autonomy. Alternative state responses to the threat posed by Japanese MNCs, while consistent with principles of free trade, challenge the traditional liberal conception of the scope and domain of state behavior and provide more effective policies in achieving both short- and long-term objectives. This article draws on data relating to the treatment of subsidiaries of American automobile manufacturers by European governments with competing indigenous producers in specifying two variables critical to identifying policy alternatives: first, the degree of access granted by the state to foreign firms (limited or unlimited access) and, second, the type of support provided by the state to domestic firms (discriminatory or nondiscriminatory intervention). The analysis suggests that there are four possible policy combinations, which generally reflect the four different postwar state policies pursued by West Germany, France, Britain, and the United States. Of these four, the combination employed by West Germany has proved most effective in pursuing policies consistent with liberal trade principles while reconciling short-term employment and fiscal goals with the broader long-term objectives of sustaining state autonomy and balance-of-payments surpluses in the face of foreign competition. British policies, which have consistently proved the most ineffective, have sacrificed long-term objectives for short-term ones. As a result of structural changes during the 1970s, the American state's chosen policy combination was altered and now replicates the traditional British formula. The United States therefore risks comparable economic and political consequences.
Proteomic profiling of murine oocyte maturation.

In an effort to better understand oocyte function, we utilized two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to identify proteins that are differentially expressed during murine oocyte maturation. Proteins from 500 germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II-(MII) arrested oocytes were extracted, resolved on 2D electrophoretic gels, and stained with silver. Analysis of the gels indicated that 12 proteins appeared to be differentially expressed between the GV and MII stage. These proteins were then cored from the 2D gels and identified by mass spectrometry as: transforming acidic coiled-coil protein 3 (TACC3), heat shock protein 105 (HSP105), programmed cell death six-interacting protein (PDCD6IP), stress-inducible phosphoprotein (STI1), importin α2, adenylsuccinate synthase (ADDS), nudix, spindlin, lipocalin, lysozyme, translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), and nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2). Interestingly, PDCD6IP, importin α2, spindlin, and NPM2 appear slightly larger in mass and more acidic on the MII oocyte gel compared to the GV oocyte gel, suggesting that they may be post-translationally modified during oocyte maturation. Given NPM2 is an oocyte-restricted protein, we chose to further investigate its properties during oocyte maturation and preimplantation development. Real-Time RT-PCR showed that NPM2 mRNA levels rapidly decline at fertilization. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis showed that, with the exception of cortical localization in MII-arrested oocytes, NPM2 is localized to the nucleus of both GV stage oocytes and all stages of preimplantation embryos. We then performed one-dimensional (1D) western blot analysis of mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos and found that, as implicated by the 2D gel comparison, NPM2 undergoes a phosphatase-sensitive electrophoretic mobility shift during the GV to MII transition. The slower migrating NPM2 form is also present in pronuclear embryos but by the two-cell stage, the majority of NPM2 exists as the faster migrating form, which persists to the blastocyst stage. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 608–616, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Brainstorming about next-generation computer-based documentation: an AMIA clinical working group survey.

Abstract Computer-based software to record histories, physical exams, and progress or procedure notes, known as computer-based documentation (CBD) software, has been touted as an important addition to the electronic health record. The functionality of CBD systems has remained static over the past 30 years, which may have contributed to the limited adoption of these tools. Early users of this technology, who have tried multiple products, may have insight into important features to be considered in next-generation CBD systems. Objective and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study of the clinical working group membership of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) to generate a set of features that might improve adoption of next-generation systems. The study was conducted online over a 4-month period; 57% of the working group members completed the survey. Results: As anticipated, CBD tool use was higher (53%) in this population than in the US physician offices. The most common methods of data entry employed keyboard and mouse, with agreement that these modalities worked well. Many respondents had experience with pre-printed data collection forms before interacting with a CBD system. Respondents noted that CBD improved their ability to document large amounts of information, allowed timely sharing of information, enhanced patient care, and enhanced medical information with other clinicians (all P Conclusions: The latest generation of CBD systems is being used successfully by early adopters, who find that these tools confer many advantages over the approaches to documentation that they replaced. These users provide insights that may improve successive generations of CBD tools. Additional surveys of CBD non-users and failed adopters will be necessary to provide other useful insights that can address barriers to the adoption of CBD by less computer literate physicians.
Vibrational spectroscopy of neutral complexes of Fe and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Infrared absorption spectra of neutral complexes of iron with benzene, naphthalene, fluorene, pyrene, and coronene in solid Ar at 12 K have been obtained. Supporting calculations of the equilibrium geometries, stabilities, and harmonic vibrational frequencies of these complexes have been carried out using density functional theory (MPW1PW91/6-31+G(d,p) method) using a modified Perdew–Wang exchange and correlation functional/basis set. Our results indicate that the spin multiplicities of the complexes’ electronic ground states are triplets. The calculations show that the iron atom is situated over the six-membered carbon ring of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) ligand. Calculated dissociation energies ( D 0 ) range from 0.52 eV for Fe(coronene) to 2.06 eV for Fe(fluorene). All are substantially less tightly bound than their cationic counterparts. Cationic Fe(PAH) complexes are therefore thought to be more plausible candidates for the carriers of the unidentified interstellar infrared (UIR) emission bands.
Ribonomic Analysis of Airway Epithelial Cell Gene Expression: Identification of Chemokine Transcripts as Targets of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR

sion: Identification of Chemokine Transcripts as Targets of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR C. Stellato1, S. L. Curry1, U. X. Atasoy2, M. Gorospe3, J. Fan1; 1Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 3National Institute of Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD. RATIONALE: We previously identified CCL11/eotaxin as a target of the RNA-binding protein HuR, which associates with adenylate-uridylaterich elements (ARE) in the 3’-untranslated regions (UTR) of mRNAs, promoting mRNA stability and translation of key immune genes. The present array study aims at identifying HuR-regulated genes in resting and cytokine-challenged human airway epithelial cells, which are important players in the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation. METHODS: Following culture of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B with medium or with TNF in combination with IFN or IL-4, cytoplasmic lysates were prepared using procedures that preserve mRNA-protein complexes. HuR-bound target mRNAs were then isolated by immunoprecipitation using specific anti-HuR antibodies and the associated mRNAs eluted, reverse-transcribed, and hybridized to two different array platforms. HuR targets were validated by biotin pull-down assay in which protein extracts were incubated with biotin-labeled RNA probes spanning the 3’UTRs or coding regions of selected targets, followed by HuR Western Blot analysis. RESULTS: A cluster of chemokines including CCL2, CCL8, CCL13, CXCL1, and CXCL2 were among the 15 genes (4% of total gene number) identified on both arrays and validated as specific HuR targets; all of them contained a predicted AU-rich HuR motif. CONCLUSIONS: HuR may regulate the coordinate expression of subsets of epithelial ARE-bearing genes that are functionally related by their participation in the inflammatory cascade. Identification of these genes will reveal the impact of HuR as mediator of inflammation, and shed new light on a novel inflammatory pathway in the posttranscriptional regulation of chemokine expression. Funding: AAAAI/Aventis 2004 Women Physicians in Allergy Junior Faculty Development Award; NIH
Methods for evaluating the regional hydrologic impacts of global climatic changes

Abstract Concern over changes in global climate caused by rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other trace gases has increased in recent years as our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and global climate systems has improved. Yet despite a better understanding of climatic processes, many of the effects of human-induced climatic changes are still poorly understood. The most profound effect of such climatic changes may be major alterations in regional hydrologic cycles and changes in regional water availability. Unfortunately, these are among the least well-understood impacts. This paper reviews approaches for evaluating the regional hydrologic impacts of global climatic changes and presents a series of criteria for choosing among the different methods. One approach — the use of modified water-balance models — appears to offer significant advantages over other methods in accuracy, flexibility, and ease of use. Water-balance models are especially useful for identifying the regional hydrologic consequences of changes in temeprature, precipitation, and other climatic variables. The ability of water-balance models to incorporate month-to-month or seasonal variations in climate, snowfall and snowmelt algorithms, groundwater fluctuations, soil moisture characteristics, and natural climatic variability makes them especially attractive for water-resource studies of climatic changes. Furthermore, such methods can be combined with state-of-the-art information from general circulation models of the climate and with plausible hypothetical climate-change scenarios to generate information on the water-resource implications of future climatic changes.
Boiling at Subatmospheric Pressures with Enhanced Structures

2with negligible incipient superheat, while keeping boiling surface temperatures below 85C. Reduced pressures also resulted in reduction of the heat transfer coefficient with a decrease in saturation pressure. The boiling enhancement structure showed considerable heattransfer enhancementcompared with boilingfrom aplainsurface andalsoincreased thecritical heat fluxlimit. Increased height of the structure decreased the heat transfer coefficient and suggested the existence of an optimum structure height for a particular saturation pressure.
Default Knowledge With Partial Matching

We look at the problem of default reasoning. We discuss some of the key issues which arise in nonmonotonic reasoning. In particular, we discuss the essential fixed point nature of nonmonotonic reasoning and the issue of priority. We introduce a modal like operator to help in the representation of default knowledge. This operator allows for the representation of partial matching. In addition, it concerns itself with possibilities based upon the current state of the knowledge. We investigate this operator in binary logic and approximate reasoning.
Importance of scenic byways in route choice: a survey of driving tourists in the United States

In order to develop more effective tourist information systems for use along scenic byways, it is important to know the characteristics of those people who include the presence of scenic byways in their selections of routes. Gaining a better understanding of these characteristics was the purpose of this study. The data presented here are from a United States (US) survey of the driving tourist's information needs and preferences weighted to be representative of US tourist travelers. The study showed that when planning a route to a destination on an overnight automobile trip, the driving tourist is most concerned with factors related to the actual driving of the route, such as the directness, safety, amount of congestion, and distance. Of secondary importance are factors that make the route entertaining or pleasant to drive, including whether the route is a scenic byway. Analysis of the importance of scenic byways by several demographic factors showed little difference in importance ratings except for age and household income. Examination of importance ratings by trip characteristics showed that the presence of scenic byways in selecting a route was more important for the traveler whose trip purpose is a vacation, who is in the midst of a long distance and duration trip, who will be either camping or staying in a hotel, and who has planned the trip well in advance. These results suggest that scenic byways are an excellent area for the implementation and testing of in-vehicle information systems for the driving tourist.
Designing Polymers to Enable Nanoscale Thermomechanical Data Storage

Nanomechanics has been slow in entering nanotechnology because of extreme conditions resulting from scaling. This is an issue in particular for polymers, although widely used in macroscale applications. Highly repetitive nanoscale deformation cycling in combination with excellent shape retention and thermal stability is demonstrated. While generic principles described are pertinent to a range of applications, this demonstration is made on the example of polymer media in high-density data storage. The information, represented as indents, is written and erased using a heated tip. A high-performance polymer with a flexible aryletherketone backbone is designed with phenylethynyl crosslink chemistry. After optimization ofcrosslink density and topology, unprecedented performance is achieved in all relevant metrics. Demonstrations of endurance and retention are performed at 1 Tb in -2 density, showing 10 8 write cycles using the same tip, 10 3 erase cycles and 3 × 10 5 read cycles of the media, and extrapolated to 10 years of retention at 85 °C.
In Vivo Activation of a Mutant μ-Opioid Receptor by Naltrexone Produces a Potent Analgesic Effect But No Tolerance: Role of μ-Receptor Activation and δ-Receptor Blockade in Morphine Tolerance

Opioid analgesics are the standard therapeutic agents for the treatment of pain, but their prolonged use is limited because of the development of tolerance and dependence. Recently, we reported the development of a mu-opioid receptor knock-in (KI) mouse in which the mu-opioid receptor was replaced by a mutant receptor (S196A) using a homologous recombination gene-targeting strategy. In these animals, the opioid antagonist naltrexone elicited antinociceptive effects similar to those of partial agonists acting in wild-type (WT) mice; however, development of tolerance and physical dependence were greatly reduced. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the failure of naltrexone to produce tolerance in these KI mice is attributable to its simultaneous inhibition of delta-opioid receptors and activation of mu-opioid receptors. Simultaneous implantation of a morphine pellet and continuous infusion of the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole prevented tolerance development to morphine in both WT and KI animals. Moreover, administration of SNC-80 [(+)-4-[(alphaR)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide], a delta agonist, in the naltrexone-pelleted KI animals resulted in a dose-dependent induction in tolerance development to both morphine- and naltrexone-induced analgesia. We conclude that although simultaneous activation of both mu- and delta-opioid receptors results in tolerance development, mu-opioid receptor activation in conjunction with delta-opioid receptor blockade significantly attenuates the development of tolerance.
Effect of oxide vacancies on metal island nucleation

Abstract Point defects on oxide surfaces, presumably oxygen vacancies, are traditionally considered preferential nucleation centers for metal island formation. In a series of first-principles calculations for transition and noble metal nucleation on MgO(1 0 0), we show that the propensity for neutral anion vacancies to nucleate metal islands is strongly element dependent: To the right in a period, where d-shell filling is substantial, vacancies typically inhibit nucleation, whereas the opposite holds for far-left elements. This bears significant implications for the system-specific design of metal–oxide interface properties.
A Combined Active–Passive Soil Moisture Estimation Algorithm With Adaptive Regularization in Support of SMAP

We present a method to combine same-resolution measurements of active radar and passive radiometer microwave remote sensing to build a framework for soil moisture estimation in support of the Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) mission. A unified active–passive soil moisture estimation algorithm is developed within a global optimization scheme, using a joint cost function with adaptive regularization, where, unlike traditional methods, both radar and radiometer measurements are utilized at the same time to retrieve soil moisture. Monte Carlo numerical simulations and optimization to retrieve soil moisture are performed for Corn, Soybean, and Grass land-cover types for active-only, passive-only, and active–passive scenarios. These numerical experiments show that the proposed combined active-passive (CAP) soil moisture estimation approach outperforms either the single-sensor technique, particularly for higher vegetation water content (VWC) values $(\text{VWC}>3\ \mbox{kg/m}^{2} )$ . For example, for the case of Corn with VWC of $5\ \mbox{kg/m}^{2}$ , retrieval error is reduced to 0.035 cm $^{3}$ /cm $^{3}$ for the active–passive method from 0.08 cm $^{3}$ /cm $^{3} $ for active scenarios. Furthermore, tests of this new algorithm on the Passive and Active L- and S-band Sensor (PALS) Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02) , as well as the Combined Radar-Radiometer (ComRad) collocated active and passive data, demonstrate the applicability of this method to actual data, even with potentially inaccurate forward models and noisy data. Results indicate that the best soil moisture estimates over a large range of soil moisture (0.04–0.4 cm $^{3}$ /cm $^{3}$ ) and vegetation (0–5 kg/m $^{2} $ ) conditions are achievable when the adaptive regularization parameter $\gamma$ is chosen to give slightly more weight to the radiometer forward model without discarding the complementary radar measurement points.
METHODOLOGICAL AND ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATIONS IN EVALUATING REINFORCEMENT PROGRAMS IN APPLIED SETTINGS1

The extensive use of reinforcement programs in applied settings has led to experimentation that often fails to consider potential problems in design. The logic of the within-subject design is reviewed and specific designs employed in reinforcement programs are discussed. For each design (ABAB, or multiple-baseline design across behaviors, individuals, or situations), effects are discussed that make that design less powerful with respect to demonstrating the effect of the experimental variable. Problems in interpreting results of experiments in this area of inquiry are evaluated from the standpoint of internal and external validity. The issue of control groups is presented with considerations as to situations that require their use. Finally, the assessment strategy for evaluating operant programs is discussed and recommendations are made for measurement of behaviors in addition to the target response.
Electrotherapy and the human voice: a literature review of the historical origins and contemporary applications.

Summary The present article surveys the literature on the electrotherapy treatment for voice disorders from the mid-18th century to World War I (1914–1918) and the post 1970s reappearance of such therapies. The reappearance of electrotherapy as treatment for voice disorders in the past 20 years has been heralded as a major breakthrough. In light of our reading of the scientific literature of the 19th century, it can be shown to repeat many of the presuppositions of electrotherapists of that time. The current resurgence of interest and research in electrical stimulation of the larynx is buoyed by technological innovations analogous to those in the 19th century. Although the current state of research has enhanced our understanding of vocal fold physiology, it does not necessarily provide a new therapeutic approach as a survey of the most recent literature shows.
Health-related risk factors of homeless families and single adults

Using data from two cross-sectional surveys, we examine how homeless adults living with children differ in sociodemographic characteristics, adverse childhood experiences, and addictive and psychiatric disorders from homeless adults who are not living with children. The surveys were conducted in late 1989 and early 1990 in Santa Clara County, California. Women (n=100) and men (n=41) with children were sampled from the two largest family shelters in the County (94% response rate); women (n=169) and men (n=1268) without children were sampled from the three main adult shelters in the County (98% response rate). Adults with children (especially women) were significantly younger, less educated, less likely to have experienced full-time employment, and more likely to have been supported by public assistance before first becoming homeless than adults without children. In addition, adults with children became homeless at younger ages, had been homeless for less time, and were less likely to experience multiple episodes of homelessness. Further differences were found for addictive and psychiatric disorders—adults with children were significantly less likely to enter homelessness with histories of excessive alcohol intake (both men and women) and psychiatric hospitalizations (women only) than adults without children. The distinct risk factor profile of homeless adults living with children renders them a critically important demographic group on which to focus new public health programs and social strategies.
Covariance heterogeneity in nested logit models: Econometric structure and application to intercity travel

Abstract The nested logit model relaxes the ‘independence of irrelevant alternatives’ (IIA) property of the multinomial logit model by grouping alternatives based on their degree of substitution. Alternatives in a nest exhibit an identical degree of increased sensitivity relative to alternatives not in the nest. An assumption maintained in the nested logit is that the degree of sensitivity among nested alternatives is invariant across agents making the choice. This assumption might be untenable in many situations. In this paper, we propose an extension of the nested logit model to allow heterogeneity (across agents) in the covariance among nested alternatives based on observed agent characteristics. We label this model as the COVNL model. The multinomial logit, the nested logit, and the COVNL model are estimated to examine the impact of improved rail service on weekday, business travel in the Toronto-Montreal corridor. The empirical results show that not accounting for covariance heterogeneity in the nested logit formulation leads to a statistically inferior data fit and also to biased model estimates of the effects of level-of-service variables.
Set-based computation of vehicle behaviors for the online verification of autonomous vehicles

We compute the set of all possible behaviors of an autonomous vehicle using reachability analysis. A reachable set is the set of states a system can reach for a given set of initial states, disturbances, and sensor noise values. We consider autonomous vehicles which plan trajectories for a certain look-ahead horizon which are followed using feedback control. While a perfectly followed trajectory might not violate specified safety properties (e.g. lane departures or vehicle collisions), a violating deviation from the planned trajectory might exist. Given the mathematical model of the controlled vehicle and bounds on uncertainty, our approach detects any possible violation. In addition, the approach provides results faster than the time required to finish the planned maneuvers of the autonomous vehicle.
Memoirs of a root canal salesman: the successful implementation of a hospital-wide intravenous insulin infusion protocol.

Objective: To summarize key metabolic results from use of the Yale Insulin Infusion Protocols (IIPs), as well as the primary barriers to their implementation. To offer practical suggestions for ove...
Masking Vegetable Bitterness to Improve Palatability Depends on Vegetable Type and Taste Phenotype

Consumption of dark green vegetables falls short of recommendations, in part, because of unpleasant bitterness. A laboratory-based study of 37 adults was used to determine bitter and hedonic responses to vegetables (asparagus, Brussels sprouts, kale) with bitter masking agents (1.33 M sodium acetate, 10 and 32 mM sodium chloride, and 3.2 mM aspartame) and then characterized by taste phenotype and vegetable liking. In repeated-measures ANOVA, aspartame was most effective at suppressing bitterness and improving hedonic responses for all sampled vegetables. Among the sodium salts, 32 mM sodium chloride decreased bitterness for kale and sodium acetate reduced bitterness across all vegetables with a tendency to increase liking for Brussels sprouts, as release from mixture suppression increased perceived sweetness. Participants were nearly equally divided into three 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) phenotype groups. Those tasting the least PROP bitterness (non-tasters) reported least vegetable bitterness, and the additives produced little change in vegetable liking. Aspartame persisted as the most effective bitter blocker for the PROP tasters (medium, supertasters), improving vegetable liking for the medium tasters but too much sweetness for supertasters. The sodium salts showed some bitter blocking for PROP tasters, particularly sodium acetate, without significant gains in vegetable liking. Via a survey, adults characterized as low vegetable likers reported greater increase in vegetable liking with the maskers than did vegetable likers. These results suggest that bitter masking agents (mainly sweeteners) can suppress bitterness to increase acceptance if they are matched to perceived vegetable bitterness or to self-reported vegetable disliking.
A collection of parallel linear equations routines for the Denelcor HEP

This paper describes the implementation and performance results for a few standard linear algebra routines on the Denelcor HEP computer. The algorithms used here are based on high-level modules that facilitate portability and perform efficiently in a wide range of environments. The modules are chosen to be of a large enough computational granularity so that reasonably optimum performance may be insured. The design of algorithms with such fundamental modules in mind will also facilitate their replacement by others more suited to gain the desired performance on a particular computer architecture.
Improved Chemical Kinetics Numerics for the Efficient Simulation of Advanced Combustion Strategies

The incorporation of detailed chemistry models in internal combustion engine simulations is becoming mandatory as local, globally lean, low-temperature combustion strategies are setting the path towards a more efficient and environmentally sustainable use of energy resources in transportation. In this paper, we assessed the computational efficiency of a recently developed sparse analytical Jacobian chemistry solver, namely ‘SpeedCHEM’, that features both direct and Krylov-subspace solution methods for maximum efficiency for both small and large mechanism sizes. The code was coupled with a high-dimensional clustering algorithm for grouping homogeneous reactors into clusters with similar states and reactivities, to speed-up the chemical kinetics solution in multidimensional combustion simulations. The methodology was validated within the KIVA-ERC code, and the computational efficiency of both methods was evaluated for different, challenging engine combustion modeling cases, including dual fuel, dual direct-injection and lowload, multiple-injection RCCI, direct injection gasoline compression ignition (GDICI), and HCCI engine operation using semi-detailed chemistry representations. Reaction mechanisms of practical applicability in internal combustion engine CFD simulations were used, ranging from about 50 up to about 200 species. Computational performance for both methods was observed to reduce the computational time for the chemistry solution by up to more than one order of magnitude in comparison to a traditional, dense solution approach, even when employing the same high-efficiency internal sparse algebra and analytical formulations. This confirms that consideration of detailed chemistry is not a bottleneck anymore, allowing use of larger and more refined meshes. Further research that focused on algorithms for fast and efficient advection with a large number of species is suggested.
Testing visual acuity in the emergency department: A simple method of correcting refractive error by using the hand-held ophthalmoscope

The assessment of visual acuity is an important part of the emergency ophthalmologic examination. The ability to distinguish refractive error from other etiologies of decreased visual acuity is necessary to adequately evaluate visual function. A readily available source of corrective lenses can be found in the hand-held ophthalmoscope. These lenses can be used to identify and quantitate refractive errors and assist in identifying serious ocular pathology.