cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regeneration responses to exogenous disturbance gradients in southern Appalachian Picea-Abies forests

Abstract Because of the devastation caused by the combined impacts of the balsam woolly adelgid ( Adelges piceae ; BWA, a non-native insect) and chronic acid deposition, Picea-Abies (spruce-fir) forests are one of the most threatened vegetation communities in North America. Endemic Abies fraseri (Fraser fir), the dominant overstory species in these forests, has experienced near complete overstory mortality as result of the adelgid. Observed forest regeneration patterns suggest high spatial variability, with dense patches of Rubus spp. (blackberry), A. fraseri , and deciduous regeneration repeating across the landscape. To quantify the spatial variability and density of A. fraseri , Picea rubens (red spruce), and deciduous regeneration in these forests, we sampled 60 randomly selected plots within Picea-Abies forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). As a measure of local variability in regeneration, we used regeneration density within 30 1 × 1 m subplots per plot to calculate a coefficient of within-plot variation for each species. Despite the impacts of the BWA and chronic acid deposition, A. fraseri remained an important component of southern Appalachian Picea-Abies forests at elevations above 1750 m. Density of A. fraseri in all size classes was associated with time since disturbance by BWA infestation. On plots where A. fraseri regeneration occurred, its local variability (among 30 subplots) was significantly greater than that of P. rubens or deciduous species. Regression models attributed this local-scale variability in A. fraseri regeneration to the influence of elevation, Rubus spp. cover, B-horizon nitrogen concentration, and O-horizon calcium to aluminum ratio. We propose that co-occurring gradients of BWA-induced mortality and acid deposition have created patches of increased light and nitrogen availability, which have increased competition from ruderal species such as Rubus spp. Additionally, our results suggest that high soil aluminum content relative to calcium may exclude A. fraseri from certain locations, further contributing to the local variability of A. fraseri regeneration.
Peer Disagreement and Two Principles of Rational Belief

This paper presents a new solution to the problem of peer disagreement that distinguishes two principles of rational belief, here called probability and autonomy. When we discover that we disagree with peers, there is one sense in which we rationally ought to suspend belief, and another in which we rationally ought to retain our original belief. In the first sense, we aim to believe what is most probably true according to our total evidence, including testimony from peers and authorities. In the second, we aim to base our beliefs only on objective evidence and argumentation, even if that lowers the probability of their being true. The first principle of rational belief tends to serve the short-term epistemic interests of individuals, while the second tends to serve the long-term epistemic interests of both individuals and groups. The best way to reconcile these principles in cases of peer disagreement is to associate them with two corresponding species of belief, here called perception and opinion.
Constitutive modeling of the material behavior at elevated temperatures and related material testing

Abstract Constant strain rate tests, both in tension and in torsion, were performed on 2618-T61 aluminum alloy at 200°C. The results were compared with those from the creep tests. It was demonstrated that the macroscopically observed material behavior was essentially a consequence of the inherent time dependence of the inelastic strain. Based on the experimental results, the traditional approach and the unified approach for modeling the material behavior at elevated temperatures were compared. The material tests required for the development of the constitutive model and their limitations were also discussed.
Theory and Empowerment in Cultural Consultation Programs

For four years after receiving my Ph.D., I was employed by a large consulting firm. One of our principal clients was the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) high-level radioactive waste repository program at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. As the primary planning and regulatory contractor for their project office in Las Vegas, we wrote and sometimes implemented plans for studies of the Yucca Mountain site and for compliance with environmental regulations. Employees of our firm were as close as possible to being insiders within the project office while not being directly employed by DOE.
Effect of Operating Conditions On Pressure Drop in A Pulse-Jet Cleaned Fabric Filter

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of operating conditions on pressure drop in a pulse-jet cleaned fabric filter. A three-bag, pilot-scale filter was used. Polyester bags with ptfe-laminated surface and untreated surface collected fly ash and limestone dust at 30, 120, and 480 seconds between cleaning pulses to each bag. Tests were conducted using off-line and on-line cleaning. Results were compared to predictions of theoretical models. The models should be used only when sufficient dust is on the fabric to cause model parameters to remain constant.
EXISTENCE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGENERATE MATRIX N FOR ANISOTROPIC ELASTIC MATERIALS

The 6 x 6 real matrix N for two-dimensional deformations of an anisotropic elastic body is extraordinary degenerate when it has three identical complex eigenvalues but only one independent eigenvector. It has been an open question if such an N exists. Isotropic material is the most degenerate material, in the physical sense, of all anisotropic materials. It has three identical complex eigenvalues but has two eigenvectors. This has led most researchers to believe that an extraordinary degenerate material does not exist. We show that it exists. Hence isotropic material is not the most degenerate material in the mathematical sense. In fact the set of extraordinary degenerate materials is probably larger than the set of degenerate materials of which isotropic material is a special case. We also show that N can be extraordinary degenerate for a steady-state motion such as a moving-line discolation. The question whether N can be extraordinary degenerate for surface waves will be addressed in a separate paper.
Trusted virtual domains: toward secure distributed services

The focus of trusted computing efforts to date has been to create islands of trust in a sea of distrust, identifying these islands as dependable domains with a solid base that can be used for building applications upon which critical services depend. The aim of our work is to extend this solid base by building "bridges" among trusted islands, with such goals as enabling meaningful trade agreements between islands, enabling migration of individual island inhabitants, and enabling geography-independent affiliation among inhabitants of different islands.
Midwife-physician collaboration: a conceptual framework for interprofessional collaborative practice.

Introduction Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, collaborative practice has been cited as one method of increasing access to care, decreasing costs, and improving efficiency. How and under what conditions might these goals be achieved? Midwives and physicians have built effective collaborative practice models over a period of 30 years. Empirical study of interprofessional collaboration between midwives and physicians could be useful in guiding professional education, regulation, and health policy in women's health and maternity care. Methods Construction of a conceptual framework for interprofessional collaboration between midwives and physicians was guided by a review of the literature. A theory derivation strategy was used to define dimensions, concepts, and statements of the framework. Results Midwife–physician interprofessional collaboration can be defined by 4 dimensions (organizational, procedural, relational, and contextual) and 12 concepts (trust, shared power, synergy, commitment, and respect, among others). The constructed framework provides the foundation for further empirical study of the interprofessional collaborative process. Discussion The experiences of midwife–physician collaborations provide solid support for a conceptual framework of the collaborative process. A conceptual framework provides a point from which further research can increase knowledge and understanding about how successful outcomes are achieved in collaborative health care practices. Construction of a measurement scale and validation of the model are important next steps.
Outer membrane biogenesis in Escherichia coli, Neisseria meningitidis, and Helicobacter pylori: paradigm deviations in H. pylori

The bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori is capable of colonizing the gastric mucosa of the human stomach using a variety of factors associated with or secreted from its outer membrane (OM). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and numerous outer membrane proteins have been shown to be involved in adhesion and immune stimulation/evasion. Many of these factors are essential for colonization and/or pathogenesis in a variety of animal models. Despite this wide array of potential targets present on the bacterial surface, the ability of H. pylori to vary its outer membrane profile limits the effectiveness of vaccines that use any single one of these components. However, it has become evident that the proteins comprising the complexes that transport the majority of these molecules to the OM are highly conserved and often essential. The field of membrane biogenesis has progressed remarkably in the last few years, and the possibility now exists for targeting the mechanisms by which β-barrel proteins, lipoproteins, and LPS are transported to the OM, resulting in loss of bacterial fitness and significant altering of membrane permeability. In this review, the OM transport machinery for LPS, lipoproteins, and outer membrane proteins are discussed. While the principal investigations of these transport mechanisms have been conducted in Escherichia coli and Neisseria meningitidis, here these systems will be presented in the genetic context of e- proteobacteria. Bioinformatic analysis reveals that minimalist genomes, such as that of Helicobacter pylori, offer insight into the smallest number of components required for these essential pathways to function. Interestingly, in the majority of e-proteobacteria, while the inner and outer membrane associated apparatus of LPS, lipoprotein, and OM protein transport pathways appear to all be intact, most of the components associated with the periplasmic compartment are either missing or are almost unrecognizable when compared to their E. coli
Role of the electronic structure and multielectron responses in ionization mechanisms of diatomic molecules in intense short-pulse lasers: An all-electron ab initio study

We present an all-electron ab initio study of multiphoton ionization (MPI) of diatomic molecules in intense laser pulses using the example of N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, and F{sub 2}, and the theoretical approach of time-dependent density-functional theory with correct long-range potential. The results reveal the importance of the electronic structure and correlated multielectron responses in the ionization mechanism, and make evident inner valence electron contributions to the molecular MPI in strong laser fields.
American Presidential Rhetoric from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush: Another Look at Civil Religion

The period since 1980 in the United States offers an opportunity to reexamine the “American civil religion” hypothesis as put forth by sociologist Robert N. Bellah. In a time of massive changes both domestically and globally, presidential rhetoric on God and country underwent important shifts in substance and style. The author examines several major myths by which Americans have affirmed their identity historically, and how these have informed the rhetoric of presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush. It is argued that popular and highly contested “public faiths” in the United States blending religious and political ideals take diverse forms of expression and vary in the degree to which they approach a civil religion of the sort Bellah imagined. In this recent period, a shift toward religious nationalism is clearly evident.
COUNTERACTING THE RETARDING AND INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF STRONG ULTRAVIOLET ON FUCUS EGGS BY WHITE LIGHT.

1. Strong dosages (20,000–50,000 ergs per mm. 2 ) of ultraviolet light, predominantly of the wave-length 2537 A, greatly retard and inhibit the development of rhizoids in Fucus eggs irradiated at about 8 hours after fertilization. 2. If white light shines on the eggs after the irradiation by ultraviolet is terminated, the white light causes a considerable degree of recovery from the retarding and inhibiting effects. 3. If strong white light shines on the eggs during the ultraviolet irradiation, its effect is even more marked in protecting the cells from the damaging effects of the ultraviolet.
Reactive oxygen species stimulate central and peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity

Recent studies have implicated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of hypertension and activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Because nitric oxide (NO) exerts a tonic inhibition of central SNS activity, increased production of ROS could enhance inactivation of NO and result in activation of the SNS. To test the hypothesis that ROS may modulate SNS activity, we infused Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinoxyl), a superoxide dismutase mimetic, or vehicle either intravenously (250 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) or in the lateral ventricle (50 microg x kg body wt(-1) x min(-1)), and we determined the effects on blood pressure (BP), norepinephrine (NE) secretion from the posterior hypothalamus (PH) measured by the microdialysis technique, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) measured by direct microneurography, the abundance of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS)-mRNA in the PH, paraventricular nuclei (PVN), and locus coeruleus (LC) measured by RT-PCR, and the secretion of nitrate/nitrite (NO(x)) in the dialysate collected from the PH of Sprague-Dawley rats. Tempol reduced BP whether infused intravenously or intracerebroventricularly. Tempol reduced NE secretion from the PH and RSNA when infused intracerebroventricularly but raised NE secretion from the PH and RSNA when infused intravenously. The effects of intravenous Tempol on SNS activity were blunted or abolished by sinoaortic denervation. Tempol increased the abundance of nNOS in the PH, PVN, and LC when infused intracerebroventricularly, but it decreased the abundance of nNOS when infused intravenously. When given intracerebroventricularly, Tempol also reduced the concentration of NO(x) in the dialysate collected from the PH. Pretreatment with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester did not abolish the effects of intracerebral Tempol on BP, heart rate, NE secretion from the PH, and RSNA suggesting that the effects of Tempol on SNS activity may be in part dependent and in part independent of NO. In all, these studies support the notion that ROS may raise BP via activation of the SNS. This activation may be mediated in part by downregulation of nNOS and NO production, in part by mechanisms independent of NO. The discrepancy in results between intracerebroventricular and intravenous infusion of Tempol can be best explained by direct inhibitory actions on SNS activity when given intracerebral. By contrast, Tempol may exert direct vasodilation of the peripheral circulation and reflex activation of the SNS when given intravenously.
Changes in Young Women's Awareness, Attitudes, and Perceived Barriers to Using Emergency Contraception

Background: In a 1996 survey, most young women ages 13-20 years from an urban, hospital-based clinic and a drug treatment center had inadequate awareness of emergency contraception (EC), and perceived several barriers to its use. Since that time, the FDA has approved two products for EC, media coverage has increased, and phy- sicians have provided more counseling about EC. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the awareness, attitudes, and perceived barriers to using EC among a sample of young women from 1996 with a different sample of women from 2002. Methods: We recruited 139 young women (mean age 16.7 1.8 yrs) from the same adolescent clinic and drug treatment center as the 1996 sample. They had similar demo- graphic characteristics, with the majority (63%) being Afri- can-American or multi-ethnic; 85% had ever been sexually active. They were interviewed using a questionnaire about their sexual and contraceptive history as well as their knowl- edge of and experience with EC. They then watched a 41/2 minute video and received a 5-minute didactic review of EC. Following the educational intervention, participants' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to using EC were assessed. The questionnaire used to guide the inter- views was nearly identical to that used in 1996. Results: Between 1996 and 2002, the percentage of parti- cipants reporting that they had ever heard of EC grew (44% vs. 73%, P 0.001), as well as the percentage reporting that they had ever used EC (4% vs. 13%, P 0.02). Of those participants who had ever heard of EC, fewer 1996 participants knew where to obtain it compared to 2002 parti- cipants (78% vs. 95%, P 0.002) and fewer 1996 par- ticipants knew the correct time limits for use (20% vs. 51%, P 0.001). The above data were collected prior to a didactic review session about EC. After receiving information about EC, the percentage of participants reporting a positive atti- tude toward EC grew between 1996 and 2002 (72% vs. 96%, P 0.001). Young women also had fewer concerns about
Immunohistological and histochemical localization of relaxin in the metrial gland of the pregnant rat.

The presence of relaxin in uteri, placentae, and ovaries of pregnant rats was studied immunohistologically with fluorescein labeled anti-relaxin serum and confirmed by histological and histochemical techniques. In sections of uteri from day 12 of pregnancy stained with these antisera, the cytoplasm of the granular cells of the mesometrial decidua gave off a yellow-green fluorescence indicating antirelaxin binding. On day 15, 17 and 19, the granular cells of the metrial gland and occasional lakes in near-by vascular lumina fluoresced. No other specific fluorescence was evident in the uteri or placentae. The fluorescent regions of these cells corresponded exactly with the cytoplasmic aggregates of granules in the metrial gland and mesometrial decidua. Histochemical studies of these granules which bound with antirelaxin, revealed a chemical composition congruent with that known for relaxin, and with that of the relaxin-containing granules of human decidual and placental cells. The dissolution of connective tissue fibers, believed to be a main function of relaxin, was observed in the last days of pregnancy within the metrial gland, especially where it borders the mesometrial decidua. These results correlate well with Schaub's discovery of a collagen-degrading substance in the metrial gland. Other actions of relaxin may be explained as secondary to the primary effect of dissolution of collagen. The relaxin-containing cells in the human and in the rat differ only in their localization in the tissue which depends on their phylogenetic adaptation to different placentational needs. The metrial gland cells of the pregnant rat correspond in their function to the basal trophoblastic cells of the human term placenta. The non-menstruating rat has no counterpart for the endometrial granulocytes, but the granular cells in the mesometrial decidua adjacent to the site of implantation correspond to the endometrial granular cells surrounding the implantation site in the human; it is suggested their collagen dissolving action facilitates implantation.
A Short Form of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory for Supervisory Relationships

A 40-item short form of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory is developed to assess the experience of the facilitative conditions in the supervisory relationship. There are five scales, Regar...
Comparative Raman studies of molecular interactions at a dye/polymer and a dye/glass interface

Integrated optical techniques and resonance Raman spectroscopy have been combined to investigate the intermolecular interactions at dye/polymer and dye/glass interfaces. Frequency shifts and intensity changes of bands assigned to the stretching vibrations of the bridged quinoline rings of the cyanine dye chromophore have been utilized to gain insight into the relative strength of adhesive forces at the surface. Polarized Raman measurements were made to determine the orientation of the chromophores on a poly(vinyl alcohol) surface. This was done to assess the possibility of hydrogen bond formation between the ring nitrogen atoms and the polar hydroxyl groups at the surface.
Two Types of Features: An Aristotelian Approach

A certain theory of substance, one that grows out of Aristotelian philosophy but which has adherents today as well, draws a distinction between the features a substance has by instantiating a universal and the features it has by possessing a trope. An adherent of this theory might say that a certain cat is red because it possesses a redness-trope, but that it is a cat because it instantiates the universal CAT. A problem that must be faced by philosophers who hold this sort of view is the following: Which features are which? In other words, which features are the ones had in virtue of trope-possession, and which are the ones had in virtue of instantiation? In this paper I discuss this problem, consider and reject a competing view, and propose my own Aristotelian solution. I also raise and answer an objection.
An elementary proof of convergence to the mean-field equations for an epidemic model

It is common to use a compartmental, fluid model described by a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to model disease spread. In addition to their simplicity, these models are also the mean-field approximations of more accurate stochastic models of disease spread on contact networks. For the simplest case of a stochastic susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) process (infection with recovery) on a complete network, it has been shown that the fraction of infected nodes converges to the mean-field ODE as the number of nodes increases. However the proofs are not simple, requiring sophisticated probability, partial differential equations (PDE), or infinite systems of ODEs. We provide a short proof in this case for convergence in mean-square on finite time-intervals using a system of two ODEs and a moment inequality and also obtain the first lower bound on the expected fraction of infected nodes.
Silica Gel for Enhanced Activity and Hypochlorite Protection of Cyanuric Acid Hydrolase in Recombinant Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Chlorinated isocyanuric acids are widely used water disinfectants that generate hypochlorite, but with repeated application, they build up cyanuric acid (CYA) that must be removed to maintain disinfection. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-treated Escherichia coli cells expressing cyanuric acid hydrolase (CAH) from Moorella thermoacetica exhibited significantly high CYA degradation rates and provided protection against enzyme inactivation by hypochlorite (chlorine). APTES coating or encapsulation of cells had two benefits: (i) overcoming diffusion limitations imposed by the cell wall and (ii) protecting against hypochlorite inactivation of CAH activity. Cells encapsulated in APTES gels degraded CYA three times faster than nonfunctionalized tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) gels, and cells coated with APTES degraded CYA at a rate of 29 µmol/min per mg of CAH protein, similar to the rate with purified enzyme. UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy showed that the higher rates were due to APTES increasing membrane permeability and enhancing cyanuric acid diffusion into the cytoplasm to reach the CAH enzyme. Purified CAH enzyme was shown to be rapidly inactivated by hypochlorite. APTES aggregates surrounding cells protected via the amine groups reacting with hypochlorite as shown by pH changes, zeta potential measurements, and infrared spectroscopy. APTES-encapsulated E. coli cells expressing CAH degraded cyanuric acid at high rates in the presence of 1 to 10 ppm hypochlorite, showing effectiveness under swimming pool conditions. In contrast, CAH activity in TEOS gels or free cells was completely inactivated by hypochlorite. These studies show that commercially available silica materials can selectively enhance, protect, and immobilize whole-cell biocatalysts for specialized applications. IMPORTANCE Hypochlorite is used in vast quantities for water disinfection, killing bacteria on surfaces, and washing and whitening. In pools, spas, and other waters, hypochlorite is frequently delivered as chlorinated isocyanuric acids that release hypochlorite and cyanuric acid. Over time, cyanuric acid accumulates and impairs disinfection and must be removed. The microbial enzyme cyanuric acid hydrolase can potentially remove cyanuric acid to restore disinfection and protect swimmers. Whole bacterial cells expressing cyanuric acid hydrolase were encapsulated in an inert silica matrix containing an amine group. The amine group serves to permeabilize the cell membrane and accelerate cyanuric acid degradation, and it also reacts with hypochlorite to protect against inactivation of cyanuric acid hydrolase. Methods for promoting whole-cell biocatalysis are important in biotechnology, and the present work illustrates approaches to enhance rates and protect against an inhibitory substance.
A technique to produce aluminum color bands for avian research

Abstract We developed a technique to produce metal (aluminum) color bands, in response to concerns about leg injuries caused by celluloid-plastic color bands applied to Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii). The technique involves color-anodized aluminum bands (unnumbered blanks and federal numbered bands), with auto pin-striping tape and flexible epoxy sealant, to create a variety of solid, half- and triple-split colors. This allows for hundreds of unique, high-contrast color combinations. During six consecutive years of application, these colored metal bands have resisted color fade compared to conventional celluloid-plastic bands, and have reduced leg injuries in the flycatcher. Although not necessarily warranted for all color-banding studies, these metal bands may provide a lower-impact option for studies of species known to be impacted by plastic color bands.
qNVRAM: quasi non-volatile RAM for low overhead persistency enforcement in smartphones

The persistent storage options in smartphones employ journaling or double-write to enforce atomicity, consistency and durability, which introduces significant overhead to system performance. Our in-depth examination of the issue leads us to believe that much of the overhead would be unnecessary if we rethink the volatility of memory considering the battery-backed characteristics of DRAM in modern-day smartphones. With this rethinking, we propose quasi Non-Volatile Memory (qNVRAM), a new design that makes the DRAM in smartphones quasi non-volatile, to help remove the performance overhead of enforcing persistency. We assess the feasibility and effectiveness of our design by implementing a persistent page cache in SQLite. Our evaluation on a real Android smartphone shows that qNVRAM speeds up the insert, update and delete transactions by up to 16.33×, 15.86× and 15.76× respectively.
Theory of ρ - ω interference in π+π− production

Abstract The Coleman-Glashow model for ρ - ω mass mixing permits unambiguous analysis of recent π + π − production data. We confirm production phase predictions of a Regge model with exchangge degenerate trajectories. We explain the anomalous rho width observed in colliding beam reactions.
The Promise and the Reality of U.S. Tax Administration

This Essay was written for a symposium entitled The Delicate Balance: Revenue Authority Discretions and the Rule of Law, held in Prato, Italy on September 23-24, 2010. The purpose of the symposium was to consider how different countries approach and think about delegations of decision-making authority to tax administrators, and the implications of such delegations. The Essay addresses the U.S. experience with delegating administrative discretion to Treasury and the IRS. In the Essay, I relate U.S. tax administration to administrative law doctrine and practice more generally. I link the courts’ willingness to accept congressional delegations as constitutionally permissible to the Administrative Procedure Act and the courts’ interpretation thereof. I identify three key ways in which U.S. tax administration deviates from general administrative law doctrine. Finally, I offer preliminary thoughts regarding the broader implications of those deviations. Essays from the symposium were published as a collection by IBFD in THE DELICATE BALANCE: TAX DISCRETIONS AND THE RULE OF LAW (Chris Evans, Judith Freedman, & Richard Krever eds., 2011).
Antennal Sensory Organs of Two Melanophila Species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Examination of the antennae of Melanophila drummondi Kirby and Melanophila acuminata DeGeer reveal a new type of sensory structure containing sensilla basiconica. The distal lobes of antennal annuli 3–11 of M. drummondi and annuli 4–11 of M. acuminata possess a slit structure which contains from 15 to more than 60 sensilla basiconica. The location of these organs with respect to antennal position during flight, and their ability to stain when treated with aqueous crystal violet dye suggest their probable role as chemoreceptors. A campaniformtype organ was also found on the lateral regions of the antennal annuli of the female M. acuminata. Between 20 and 30 of these organs were present on either side of the annulus. These organs were absent from the male M. acuminata antennae. The possible function of this organ as a temperature receptor is discussed.
Reply to "Comment on `Theory of atomic structures including electron correlation. V."'

The concept of variational collapse is based on the form of a variational trial wave function and not solely on its energy. In particular, a variational calculation is said to suffer from variational collapse when a trial wave function intended to represent an excited state takes on the character of one or more states of lower energy as the energy of the trial wave function decreases. In view of this, we repeat our claims that certain calculations published by Nicolaides and Beck suffered from variational collapse, and consequently the results of these calculations do not represent the non-closed-shell many-electron theory of Sinano\ifmmode \check{g}\else \v{g}\fi{}lu.
Combining Content Analysis and Assessment of Exposure through Self-Report, Spatial, or Temporal Variation in Media Effects Research

ABSTRACTAn interest in media effects is in most cases an interest in the effects of various types or instances of media content. The more information that researchers capture about such content, the more meaningful inferences about effects can be. Therefore, approaches to media effects research in which researchers first analyze the content of interest and then study impact of exposure to instances of such content has much to recommend them. One such approach is to analyze content to which a given population is likely to be exposed and then, in a survey, identify which instances of that content the respondent has (or likely has) seen. Another approach is to identify differences in media content (ideally identified via content analysis) by geographic unit, and use multi-level analyses to look at associated or prospective differences in outcomes. Another approach is via experiment: experimenters can characterize populations of messages via content analysis, and can sample either message exemplars of particu...
Computation methods of perforation coefficient of reinforced concrete structure impacted by penetration projectiles

To study the perforation of projectile into reinforced concrete slab,the function mechanisms of the structural elements including concrete,hooped reinforcement and longitudinal reinforcement were stressedly investigated,the statuses of deformations and forces were also analyzed,and accordingly the new computational model of perforation was established.By use of the model,the resistances of the projectile and perforation block were gained,the dynamic equations of the projectile and the perforation block were proposed,and the perforation coefficients of concrete structures and reinforced concrete structures were solved combined with the definition.By calculating and analyzing,it is showed that the higher the penetration depth,the lower the perforation coefficient,and that the perforation coefficient increases with the diameter of the projectile.By comparison with the current empirical formulae,the proposed means of perforation coefficients based on the rationality of the computation method were validated.The result is accurately reliable,which has broad scale effect.
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

Ciguatera fish poisoning is the most common form of toxin-related food poisoning in the United States. Originating from dinoflagellates living on coral reefs, it is spread up the food chain and affects humans who ingest the ciguatoxic fish. Ciguatera is primarily endemic in tropical regions of the world. It is a self-limiting disease that presents with characteristic gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms. Recent advances in testing procedures and symptom recognition has improved ciguatoxin identification and clinical management. However, there is still a need for better diagnostic, preventive, and reporting protocols to more accurately study and understand this diverse and temporarily debilitating clinical syndrome.
A Survey of Some Results on Subnormal Operators

In this paper some results on subnormal operators will be presented. Some of these results are to be found in my book Subnormal Operators [7], hereafter referred to as SO. In addition some of the developments that have taken place since that book was written will also be discussed.
A checklist and assemblage comparison of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma

We present a checklist of 47 ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, USA. Surveys conducted in 2015 recaptured 67% of all historically collected species and add 12 new county records including the new state records of Pheidole tetra and Solenopsis aurea . We demonstrate the importance of sampling multiple habitats for species inventories as forests and grasslands contained compositionally unique ant assemblages. We also report an absence of the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, at all sampling locations despite its occupation of the surrounding area and the southern half of the state. Combined, these results highlight the importance of protected land in conserving regional fauna and add to our understanding of the biodiversity in Oklahoma.
Identification of a Residue (Glu60) in TRAP Required for Inducing Efficient Transcription Termination at the trp Attenuator Independent of Binding Tryptophan and RNA.

Transcription of the tryptophan (trp) operon in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by an attenuation mechanism. Attenuation is controlled by the trpRNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP). TRAP binds to a site in the 5' leader region of the nascent trp transcript in response to the presence of excess intracellular tryptophan. This binding induces transcription termination upstream of the structural genes of the operon. In prior attenuation models, the role of TRAP was only to alter the secondary structure of the leader region RNA so as to promote formation of the trp attenuator, which was presumed to function as an intrinsic terminator. However, formation of the attenuator alone has been shown to be insufficient to induce efficient termination, indicating that TRAP plays an additional role in this process. To further examine the function of TRAP, we performed a genetic selection for mutant TRAPs that bind tryptophan and RNA but show diminished termination at the trp attenuator. Five such TRAP mutants were obtained. Four of these have substitutions at Glu60, three of which are Lys (E60K) substitutions and the fourth of which is a Val (E60V) substitution. The fifth mutant obtained contains a substitution at Ile63, which is on the same β-strand of TRAP as Glu60. Purified E60K TRAP binds tryptophan and RNA with properties similar to those of the wild type but is defective at inducing termination at the trp attenuator in vitroIMPORTANCE Prior models for attenuation control of the B. subtilis trp operon suggested that the only role for TRAP is to bind to the leader region RNA and alter its folding to induce formation of an intrinsic terminator. However, several recent studies suggested that TRAP plays an additional role in the termination mechanism. We hypothesized that this function could involve residues in TRAP other than those required to bind tryptophan and RNA. Here we obtained TRAP mutants with alterations at Glu60 that are deficient at inducing termination in the leader region while maintaining tryptophan and RNA binding properties similar to those of the WT protein. These studies provide additional evidence that TRAP-mediated transcription termination at the trp attenuator is neither intrinsic nor Rho dependent.
Ethical Considerations in Electronic Monitoring of the Cognitively Impaired

Cognitive impairment afflicts an estimated 16 million people in the United States. Wandering is a concerning behavior associated with cognitive impairment, as it may threaten patient safety. The risks posed by wandering place severe burdens on both professional and informal caregivers, as well as law enforcement institutions throughout the United States. As such, location trackers that could reduce this burden have become increasingly prevalent. As with many assistive technologies, the substantial promise of location trackers is counterbalanced by potential pitfalls with respect to loss of privacy and autonomy. This article reviews the ethical issues raised by electronic monitoring of cognitively impaired persons, with the goal of transcending a narrow focus on decisional capacity in favor of a patient-centered framework that is applicable and adjustable at different stages of cognitive decline. Balancing the ethical principles of beneficence and respect in treating cognitively impaired persons goes beyond the necessary step of evaluating decision-making capacity to include partnering with families, caretakers, and cognitively impaired individuals who wander in a collaborative coalition of care. An approach emphasizing the individual needs of patients and caretakers is best suited to finding solutions that implement tracking technologies in ways that both protect and empower the cognitively impaired.
Pirates, Politicians, and Urban Intellectuals: Toward a Cultural History of the Atlantic Frontier

Recent scholarship has tended to treat early literature about the Atlantic world separately from investigations of actual sea voyages. This chapter argues for a more integrated approach that focuses on connections between maritime communities that outfitted and sailed ships; scholars, cosmographers, and mathematicians who gathered and codified information about the Atlantic world; and major patrons of Atlantic voyages, including privy councilors with a strategic interest in privateering and exploration. It argues that interactions between these cohorts, often deliberately promoted by major figures at the royal court, produced a growing body of detailed knowledge and technical expertise related to navigation and conditions on the ocean’s distant shores. In addition to direct observation and experience, this knowledge and expertise required a variety of specific skills normally possessed by different social groups, ranging from linguistic analysis by humanist scholars to metallurgical science, new forms of mathematics, experimental agriculture, and a sharp eye for profitable commodities and trading opportunities characteristic of merchant factors. The chapter examines how individuals who differed widely in their social status, educational backgrounds, and occupations collaborated in the development of a distinctive culture of Atlantic exploration.
Phospho-Regulation of Soma-to-Axon Transcytosis of Neurotrophin Receptors.

Summary Axonal targeting of signaling receptors is essential for neuronal responses to extracellular cues. Here, we report that retrograde signaling by target-derived nerve growth factor (NGF) is necessary for soma-to-axon transcytosis of TrkA receptors in sympathetic neurons, and we define the molecular underpinnings of this positive feedback regulation that enhances neuronal sensitivity to trophic factors. Activated TrkA receptors are retrogradely transported in signaling endosomes from distal axons to cell bodies, where they are inserted on soma surfaces and promote phosphorylation of resident naive receptors, resulting in their internalization. Endocytosed TrkA receptors are then dephosphorylated by PTP1B, an ER-resident protein tyrosine phosphatase, prior to axonal transport. PTP1B inactivation prevents TrkA exit from soma and causes receptor degradation, suggesting a "gatekeeper" mechanism that ensures targeting of inactive receptors to axons to engage with ligand. In mice, PTP1B deletion reduces axonal TrkA levels and attenuates neuron survival and target innervation under limiting NGF ( NGF +/− ) conditions.
Alternatives to the Familiar Format

The familiar format was one of a number of different literary styles adopted by popularizers of science in the first half of the nineteenth century. Many authors, especially women, felt comfortable utilizing it, and felt it well served their intended audience of children and potential teachers (including mothers). But there were other audiences to reach, as well as authors who were not predisposed to writing in a conversational style. This chapter surveys examples of both of these.
Estimating the sound speed of a shallow-water marine sediment from the head wave excited by a low-flying helicopter

The frequency bandwidth of the sound from a light helicopter, such as a Robinson R44, extends from about 13 Hz to 2.5 kHz. As such, the R44 has potential as a low-frequency sound source in underwater acoustics applications. To explore this idea, an experiment was conducted in shallow water off the coast of southern California in which a horizontal line of hydrophones detected the sound of an R44 hovering in an end-fire position relative to the array. Some of the helicopter sound interacted with seabed to excite the head wave in the water column. A theoretical analysis of the sound field in the water column generated by a stationary airborne source leads to an expression for the two-point horizontal coherence function of the head wave, which, apart from frequency, depends only on the sensor separation and the sediment sound speed. By matching the zero crossings of the measured and theoretical horizontal coherence functions, the sound speed in the sediment was recovered and found to take a value of 1682.42 ...
Recent trends in the synthesis of high-silica zeolites

ABSTRACTNovel zeolites continue to be synthesized using organic structure directing agents in combination with unconventional choices of inorganic conditions. The latter include synthesis in concentrated fluoride media, synthesis in concentrated hydroxide media, synthesis in the presence of germanium, and synthesis with high concentrations of boron. Post-synthetic treatments of germanosilicates with the ADOR method have resulted in fully intact zeolites that cannot be obtained through direct synthesis. Unusual compositions of known frameworks have been obtained through topotactic condensation of layered precursors. Coupled with the appropriate choice of inorganic conditions, the use of new SDA molecules has also produced materials with known frameworks but with amazingly small crystal dimensions that are less than 10 nm. The preparations of once “exotic” materials are now being performed with commercially available or easily prepared organic structure directing agents. In some instances methods have been ...
Shaping low-thrust trajectories with thrust-handling feature

Abstract Shape-based methods are becoming popular in low-thrust trajectory optimization due to their fast computation speeds. In existing shape-based methods constraints are treated at the acceleration level but not at the thrust level. These two constraint types are not equivalent since spacecraft mass decreases over time as fuel is expended. This paper develops a shape-based method based on a Fourier series approximation that is capable of representing trajectories defined in spherical coordinates and that enforces thrust constraints. An objective function can be incorporated to minimize overall mission cost, i.e., achieve minimum Δ V . A representative mission from Earth to Mars is studied. The proposed Fourier series technique is demonstrated capable of generating feasible and near-optimal trajectories. These attributes can facilitate future low-thrust mission designs where different trajectory alternatives must be rapidly constructed and evaluated.
An Automated Approach to Luminescence Lifetime and Intensity Titrations

An apparatus is described for the automated collection of luminescence emission decay curves over a wide range of analyte concentrations. The decay curves allow for determination of the excited-state lifetime or calculated steady-state intensity of a luminophore as a function of the analyte concentration. The data presented here demonstrate the use of the apparatus for pH titrations.
Overview: Carnegie Mellon University master of software engineering program

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) decided to offer a professional master of software engineering (MSE) degree program beginning in the fall of 1989. The program is a joint effort between the School of Computer Science and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI).
Diversity Considerations in Assessing Social Skills

Evidence generally supports a situationally specific view of social skill competence. This perspective contends that behavior is specific to a particular situation, and therefore deficits in social skills are transient depending on the situational context (Meier & Hope, 1998). Therefore, when assessing social skill competency it is important to note that any observed behavior cannot necessarily be generalized from one situation to another. Many factors serve to influence social competence level such as unique environmental characteristics of a certain setting, characteristics of each particular person, and characteristics of those observing the behaviors of that person. This argument is especially relevant when taking into consideration diversity issues within the context of social skills assessment and treatment.
Assessing the validity of police integrity scale in a comparative context

The current study examines the validity of the police integrity measure created by Klockars et al. (1997, The measurement of police integrity. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. pp. 65–...
Constitutive interoperability

Commitments have recently emerged as a valuable abstraction for characterizing interactions among autonomous agents at the level of their business relationships. Traditionally, interoperation is approached from the standpoint of data exchange or of messaging. We use commitments to characterize interoperability in high-level terms: at the level of the communications among agents. Specifically, two agents are interoperable if their commitments align. Drawing upon Kant's famous distinction, we distinguish between two kinds of interoperability, constitutive and regulative. Constitutive interoperability takes into account solely the meaning of messages whereas regulative interoperability also takes into consideration message order, occurrence, and data flow. We present a language for specifying agents constitutively and a decision procedure for determining their interoperability.