cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estrogen receptors in uterine plasma membrane.

Abstract In order to assess the subcellular distribution of estrogen-binding components in their native state, plasma membrane and other cell fractions were prepared by quantitative methods from uterine cells in the absence of [3H]-estradiol-17β (E2β). Cells isolated from uteri of ovariectomized rats were disrupted with minimum homogenization in buffered isotonic sucrose with CaCl2 and fractionated using isotonic media throughout. Activities of succinate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase were concentrated in the mitochondria:lysosome(M + L) fraction. Glucose-6-phosphatase occurred predominantly in the microsome-rich (P) fraction. Alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase were found principally in P and crude nuclear (N) fractions, with N also retaining 96% of DNA. Determinations of specific [3H]-E2β binding to cell fractions at equivalent protein levels were conducted by equilibration for 2 h at 4°C. Binding-sites for E2β were present in N > P > M + L > 105,000 g supernates (S). However, by using alternative homogenization procedures known to elicit lysis, fragmentation, and stripping of cell structures, E2β binding-sites as well as 5'-nucleotidase, a plasma membrane marker enzyme, both occurred predominantly in S. Using the more conservative cell disruption and fractionation procedures, plasma membrane subfractions (F2) with densities of 1.13–1.16 were partially purified, principally as smooth membrane vesicles and large “ghosts”, by further centrifugation of N in a discontinuous sucrose density gradient. Activity of 5'-nucleotidase in F2 was enriched to 12 times that of the homogenate. Specific binding-sites for E2β were concentrated in F2 to 23 times homogenate levels. Such binding of E2β in F2 was saturable, with an association constant of 4.3 × 1010 M−1. At saturation, E2β receptors in F2 correspond to 2.0 pmol/mg membrane protein. Ligand specificity of [3H]-E2β binding to F2 was established by negligible competition by 200-fold molar excess of unlabelled estradiol-17α, cortisol, testosterone, or progesterone, whereas E2β and diethylstilbestrol were effective inhibitors. Specific binding of E2β to F2 at 4°C was blocked by prior exposure of membranes to trypsin or to 60°C, but remained essentially undiminished by extraction of membranes with either severely hypotonic or high-salt buffers. In controlled experiments, it was found that only 6–9% of [3H]-E2β-labelled cytosol components became associated with F2 during 2 h incubation at 4°C; the bulk of such adsorbed material was readily extracted by high-salt buffers. Thus, enrichment of F2 in E2β-binding activity cannot be attributed to gross entrapment or adsorption of cytosolic components. These data indicate that high-affinity membrane binding-sites with specificity for E2β must be further considered in investigations of the uterine cell recognition of and response to the hormone.
Structural evolution of a foreland fold-and-thrust belt: the Umbria-Marche Apennines, Italy

Abstract Outcrop-scale structures that record a progressive sequence of deformation can be used to clarify the kinematic evolution of an entire fold-and-thrust belt. The temporal progression of the compressional deformation as reconstructed by means of a mesoscopic structural analysis provides a key for unraveling the kinematic history of the Umbria-Marche Apennines (central Italy). Overprinting relationships at outcrop-scale allow for the recognition of three distinct structural stages which are, in sequence: A, layer-parallel shortening; B, folding; C, thrusting. Individual stages are explained in the framework of a progressive deformation model, where shortening of the sedimentary cover was continuous and occurred during a single contractional episode as a consequence of tip-line folding processes. A comparison of this history with those reported from other fold-and-thrust belts shows that layer-parallel shortening, folding and thrusting are sequentially dominant processes in areas which have experienced compressional deformation.
Drivers of Deforestation in the Lake Victoria Crescent, Uganda

We examined key drivers of deforestation in the Lake Victoria Crescent, Uganda from 1989 to 2009 through a case study approach with a multiple-case design. Nineteen focus groups with local community members and forest officials, archival analysis, and field observation revealed both proximate causes and underlying drivers of deforestation. Proximate causes of deforestation included agricultural expansion into forests, unsustainable extraction of wood forest products, and clearing of forests for nonagricultural uses. Underlying drivers of these proximate causes included policy and institutional factors, economic factors, population growth, technological changes, and changes in culture—each resulting in alienation of local people from forest resources. Alienation of local people, defined as a psychological dispossession of responsibility for forest resources, is posited as the most important underlying driver of deforestation. We discuss the importance of the involvement of local people in the management an...
Tandem duplication within a type II collagen gene (COL2A1) exon in an individual with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia

Abstract We have characterized a mutation in the type II collagen gene (COL2A1) that produces a form of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. The mutation is an internal tandem duplication of 45 base pairs within exon 48 and results in the addition of 15 amino acids to the triple-helical domain of the alpha 1 chains of type II collagen derived from the abnormal allele. Although the repeating (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)n motif that characterizes the triple-helical domain is preserved, type II collagen derived from cartilage of the affected individual contains a population with excessive posttranslational modification, consistent with a disruption in triple-helix structure. The mutation is not carried by either parent, indicating that the phenotype in the affected individual is due to a new dominant mutation. DNA sequence homology in the area of the duplication suggests that the mutation may have arisen by unequal crossover between related sequences, a proposed mechanism in the evolution and diversification of the collagen gene family.
Apolipoprotein E suppresses glial cell secretion of TNFα

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a 299 amino acid protein with multiple biological functions. Initially described in the context of cholesterol metabolism, apoE also has immunomodulatory properties and recent evidence has implicated a role for apoE in neurological disease. One possibility is that apoE, which is the predominant apolipoprotein produced intra-axially, may modify the CNS response to acute and chronic injury. We prepared mixed neuronal-glial cultures from apoE deficient mouse pups and measured secretion of TNFα after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence and absence of human recombinant apoE3 and E4. We demonstrate that preincubation with apoE blocks glial secretion of TNFα in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is independent of any direct effect of apoE on cell viability and is greatest when apoE is preincubated with the cell culture for 24 h.
Engineering Problem Solving: Learning and Practice

The Engineering Problem Solving process has two aspects. It relies on the talent of the designer on the one hand and the efficiency of the problem solving tools on the other. Talent is an attribute of a person. It is very difficult to formalize the talent of an individual, and no satisfactory formalization has been achieved successfully. For this reason only the original designer’s talent and his/her knowledge and experience are available for use during the problem solving process. However, there are several choices and decisions that can be made concerning methods, algorithms, and software packages. After those choices are made the next steps in the problem solving process can be outlined. The problem solving method described in this paper is called a Brief Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (BTIPS) and was developed on the basis of TRIZ (Russian: теория решения изобретательских задач, teoriya resheniya izobretatelskikh zadatch) and TIPS (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and taught at the University of Connecticut (UConn). The application of this method starts with the accurate definition of the problem. The problem has to be properly separated from the environment. Further problem solving choices depend on the knowledge of the designer and include the right sequence of steps, definition of contradictions, choice of solution modules, algorithms, definition of designed systems and subsystems, and choice of elements and objects. There are several further paths to be selected and resulting decisions to be made. Those decisions and the processes following them are described in this paper. The recommendations for the proper path are given and the procedures are discussed. The derivation of the Ideal Solution is described and tests of the solution’s effectiveness and economy are given. The experience gained from teaching one Mechanical Engineering course, three MEM (Management Engineering for Manufacturing) courses at UConn, one graduate course at UConn, one graduate course at the University of Fairfield, and several special non-academic courses for practicing engineers is summarized. Some students’ opinions are analyzed and recommendations for further education and the practice of engineering problem solving are derived. The references to the existing teaching, research, practice, and development studies are quoted. This paper is devoted to the characteristics of BTIPS method. The companion paper [1] is devoted to the characteristics of the software that could be used with the method. TIPS (the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a further development of Altshuller’s theory done by Invention Machine under the leadership of Valery Tsourikov [2]. BTIPS (Brief Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a simplified version of TIPS developed at the University of Connecticut (UConn) especially for teaching purposes, though it is also powerful when applied to engineering practice problems [3].Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Universal stage measurements and transmission electron microscope observations of fractured plagioclase

Abstract At low to moderate temperatures of deformation, fracturing of plagioclase is common. The mechanism of fracturing is generally thought to be either a dislocation assisted process with fractures typically exhibiting some crystallographic regularity or a process of breaking along cleavage planes without the involvement of dislocations. In this study, naturally fractured plagioclase from granodiorites and a gabbro deformed at high strain rates are examined with the transmission electron microscope (TEM) to identify structures at that scale. In addition, fracture orientations are determined with the Universal stage. Some fractures observed in thin section occur parallel to (001) but many are not so simple but are confined to the [112], [1 1 2], [101], [ 1 01] zones. At the TEM scale, dislocation walls or arrays are common in plagioclase. They also occupy the [101], [ 1 01], [112], [1 1 2] zones. Microcracks form when dislocations are pinned in these arrays or when a free dislocation interacts with dislocations within a dislocation wall. In this way, large-scale fractures which develop inherit their crystallographic orientation from the dislocation wall.
Precambrian Columnar Stromatolite Diversity: Reflection of Metazoan Appearance

Columnar stromatolites (organosedimentary structures built by bluegreen algae) show a marked decrease in diversity in the Late Precambrian; this decrease in diversity occurs at approximately the same time as the appearance of metazoans, 600 to 700 million years ago.
FcRL4 acts as an adaptive to innate molecular switch dampening BCR signaling and enhancing TLR signaling

Fc receptor–like 4 (FcRL4) is expressed on the surface of a subset of memory B cells (MBCs) located at sites of invading pathogens in mucosal lymphoid tissues in healthy individuals. Recently, FcRL4+ MBCs were shown to be greatly increased in number in the peripheral blood of HIV-infected viremic individuals, in whom they are associated with B-cell exhaustion, and in individuals chronically reinfected with malaria. In the present study, we provide evidence that the expression of FcRL4 in human B-cell lines disrupts immune synapse formation and blocks antigen-induced BCR signaling at the point of Syk phosphorylation, blocking downstream activation of PLC-γ2 and Vav and the induction of calcium responses and CD69 expression. FcRL4 functions by ligation-independent mechanisms that require the 3 tyrosine residues in its cytoplasmic domain and involves its phosphorylation and association with the tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2. Remarkably, FcRL4 is concentrated in endosomes after treatment with the TLR9 agonist CpG and enhances signaling through TLR9, as measured by increased expression of CD23. These findings suggest that FcRL4 may act as a molecular switch in B cells to dampen adaptive immune signaling and enhance innate signaling in response to chronic antigenic stimulation.
MAGNETISM IN SMALL VANADIUM CLUSTERS

Using the self-consistent-field molecular-orbital theory and the density-functional approximation, we show that vanadium could become magnetic if its size and dimension were constrained. This is illustrated for vanadium forming clusters with body-centered-cubic (bcc) geometry as well as for linear chains. The magnetic moment of the bcc clusters is found to vanish abruptly as the size increases, while the clusters always retain their moment in the linear-chain configurations. The moments are also found to be finite for large interatomic spacings irrespective of the cluster topology, and tend to vanish when the interatomic distances are reduced. The results are explained by using a simple Stoner criterion.
Residual stresses in electrodeposited nickel monocrystals

Abstract The macrostresses were measured during the deposition of nickel monocrystals in all-sulfate electrolytes, either with no additives or containing coumarin or saccharin. Samples plated in the additive-free bath exhibited a high initial stress which decreased hyperbolically with thickness. The stress variation may be explained in terms of changes in the dislocation density with thickness. It was further found that there was considerable stress relaxation, which occurred almost instantly. Such stress relaxation was not observed in samples plated in the presence of coumarin. Also the stress in these samples did not vary with thickness. The stresses of samples plated in saccharin-containing baths were either zero, compressive or initially tensile becoming compressive with increasing thickness. The results obtained from the samples plated in the additive-containing baths could not be explained in terms of the dislocation density alone.
Improving accuracy in identifying the gastroesophageal junction during laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

Background: Proper construction of an effective fundoplication to control reflux depends on accurate identification of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). In laparoscopic surgery, the accuracy of this GEJ determination is unknown. Methods: In 40 consecutive laparoscopic antireflux procedures, the GEJ location was determined independently by endoscopy and laparoscopy, and the differences were measured. After this was completed, endoscopic examination of the fundoplication was performed. Results: The "laparoscopic" GEJ was identified within 1 cm of the "endoscopic" GEJ in 36 of 40 (90%) patients. In four patients, this difference was greater and the GEJ always higher than determined by laparoscopy. These patients had greater acid exposure and esophageal injury. On two occasions, the fundoplication was reconstructed on the basis of endoscopic findings. Conclusions: With laparoscopy, the surgeon can accurately determine the GEJ location in most patients. In approximately 10%, the GEJ is actually higher than the surgeon believes, and the fundoplication may be created lower than intended. Intraoperative endoscopy helps to identify the GEJ location and evaluate the wrap once completed.
Brownian dynamics study of particles in chemical vapor deposition of aluminum nitride

Abstract Aluminum nitride (AlN) films are commercially grown by chemical vapor deposition. In this process, it has been experimentally observed that AlN nanoparticles are formed in the gas-phase. Although these particles are formed in the vicinity of the hot substrate, they tend to stay away from the hot substrate and are observed to deposit on the cold walls of the reactor. In this study, the trajectories of the AlN particles are simulated with the goal to understand the mechanisms responsible for their motion. A three-dimensional (3D) Lagrangian Brownian dynamics simulator based on the Langevin equation is developed, and coupled with a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver. The model is validated, and then explored for the problem at hand. It is found that thermophoretic forces are primarily responsible for driving the particles away from the hot substrate and depositing them on the cold reactor walls.
Utilization for protein synthesis of leucine and valine compared with their keto analogues

Fasting rats were given [3H]leucine plus [14C]2-ketoisocaproate or [3H]valine plus [14C]2-ketoisovalerate, plus 33 micromol of each compound. The ratio of 14C to 3H (R) in protein 6 h after injection of these isotopes is a measure of the extent to which extracellular keto acid, as compared with extracellular amino acid, serves as the source of the intracellular amino acid used for protein synthesis. R for 2-ketoisocaproate (KIC) vs leucine was 0.45 +/- 0.03 for whole body protein after oral injection and 0.83 +/- 0.02 after iv injection. R values for 2-ketoisovalerate (KIV) vs valine were similar. R, measured in the protein of various organs and in albumin, fibrin, and globin, varied more than twofold. We conclude that at least half of KIC and KIV given orally in this dosage is oxidized in splanchnic organs during first pass but that, nevertheless, these keto acids given orally serve as significant sources of the intracellular amino acids used for protein synthesis in most organs, particularly brain and heart.
Corrosion behaviour of magnetron sputtered α- and β-Ta coatings on AISI 4340 steel as a function of coating thickness

The corrosion behaviour of magnetron sputtered α- and β-Ta coated AISI 4340 steels was studied with potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The coating porosity was observed to decrease with increasing coating thickness. For coatings less than 10 μm thick (α- or β-Ta), porosity was significant and open pores resulted in severe localized corrosion of the steel substrate, coating delamination, and overall coating failure. Additionally, the β-Ta coatings were more susceptible than the α-phase to delamination. As for the 50 and 100 μm thick α-Ta coatings, the electrochemical impedance behaviour was comparable to that of Ta foil, demonstrating the coating viability and corrosion resistance.
Practice and Professional Development-Lead Nurse for Vulnerable Groups in the United Kingdom: An Interview with Ellie Gordon, Bsc Hons, MA, RMN

I had the opportunity to talk with Ellie Gordon, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the UK. It was a privilege to learn more about innovative nursing roles in the UK. Miss Gordon has practiced in many capacities including that of a manager, a senior addiction therapist, a nonmedical prescriber, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, has a Diploma in mental health studies, a Graduate Diploma in Addiction Studies, a Bsc Hons Health Care Studies and a MA Health Care Studies.
Mindfulness Training Alters Emotional Memory Recall Compared to Active Controls: Support for an Emotional Information Processing Model of Mindfulness

Objectives: While mindfulness-based interventions have received widespread application in both clinical and non-clinical populations, the mechanism by which mindfulness meditation improves well-being remains elusive. One possibility is that mindfulness training alters the processing of emotional information, similar to prevailing cognitive models of depression and anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigating the effects of mindfulness training on emotional information processing (i.e. memory) biases in relation to both clinical symptomatology and well-being in comparison to active control conditions. Methods: Fifty-eight university students (28 female, age = 20.1 ± 2.7 years) participated in either a 12-week course containing a "meditation laboratory" or an active control course with similar content or experiential practice laboratory format (music). Participants completed an emotional word recall task and self-report questionnaires of well-being and clinical symptoms before and after the 12-week course. Results: Meditators showed greater increases in positive word recall compared to controls F(1, 56) = 6.6, p = .02). The meditation group increased significantly more on measures of well-being [F(1, 56) = 6.6, p = .01], with a marginal decrease in depression and anxiety [(F(1, 56) = 3.0, p = .09)] compared to controls. Increased positive word recall was associated with increased psychological well-being [r = 0.31, p = .02] and decreased clinical symptoms [r = -0.29, p = .03]. Conclusion: Mindfulness training was associated with greater improvements in processing efficiency for positively valenced stimuli than active control conditions. This change in emotional information processing was associated with improvements in psychological well-being and less depression and anxiety. These data suggest that mindfulness training may improve well-being via changes in emotional information processing.
A piezoelectric immunosensor for the detection of cortisol.

Abstract A piezoelectric crystal immunosensor has been developed for the detection and determination of cortisol. Cortisol antibody was layered onto the gold electrodes of a 10 MHz piezoelectric crystal which was precoated with either protein A or gluteraldehyde. Crystals pre-coated with protein A showed the best results with respect to stability and sensitivity. The sensor was successfully used for the determination of cortisol in standard solutions from 36–3628 μg/L (part per billion). The advantages of the proposed sensor include simplicity, short analysis time, cost effectiveness and selectivity. The results demonstrate the feasibility of cortisol assay in clinical testing and in drug monitoring.
Improving customer reactions to electronic brokered ultimatums: The benefits of prior experience and explanations

Because of the growth of online discount travel intermediaries (e.g., Priceline), researchers have become interested in how customers react to electronic brokered ultimatum bargaining contexts. This paper investigates how characteristics of the customer and characteristics of the bargaining context might ameliorate customers' (a) perceptions of justice; (b) willingness to recommend the intermediary to others; and (c) willingness to repatronize the intermediary. We found that customer familiarity generally improved customer reactions to the electronic intermediary. We found a moderating effect for intermediary explanations in the form of an excuse, as explanations improved customer reactions when offers were rejected, but worsened reactions when offers were accepted.
Self-Consistent Electromagnetic–Thermal Model for Calculating the Temperature of a Ceramic Cylinder Irradiated by a High-Power Millimeter-Wave Beam

The high-power millimeter-wave beams that can be generated by CW gyrotrons represent a promising energy source for rapid high-temperature processing of materials. A program is under way at the Naval Research Laboratory to investigate the heating of ceramic tubes and cylinders using an 83-GHz beam for joining and sintering applications. In this paper, we discuss the scattering and absorption of microwave power by a ceramic cylinder and calculate the resulting temperature profile. The analysis accounts for the temperature dependence of the dielectric properties, an effect that can dramatically alter the microwave coupling during the heating process. In the process under investigation, the cylinder is rotated to promote azimuthally uniform heating so that only the radial dependence of the dielectric properties needs to be included.
The role of deep ocean circulation in setting glacial climates

The glacial cycles of the Pleistocene involve changes in the circulation of the deep ocean in important ways. This review seeks to establish what were the robust patterns of deep-sea water mass changes and how they might have influenced important parts of the last glacial cycle. After a brief review of how tracers in the modern ocean can be used to understand the distribution of water masses, I examine the data for biogeochemical, circulation rate, and conservative tracers during glacial climates. Some of the robust results from the literature of the last 30 years include: a shoaled version of northern source deep water in the Atlantic, expanded southern source water in the abyss and deep ocean, salt (rather than heat) stratification of the last glacial maximum (LGM) deep-sea, and several lines of evidence for slower overturning circulation in the southern deep cell. We combine these observations into a new idea for how the ocean-atmosphere system moves from interglacial to glacial periods across a single cycle. By virtue of its influence on the melting of land-based ice around Antarctica, cooling North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) leads to a cold and salty version of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). This previously underappreciated feedback can lead to a more stratified deep ocean that operates as a more effective carbon trap than the modern, helping to lower atmospheric CO_2 and providing a mechanism for the deep ocean to synchronize the hemispheres in a positive feedback that drives the system to further cooling.
Active contours using a potential field

In most implementations of active contours (snakes), the evolution of the snake depends only on image characteristics in the immediate neighborhood of the current snake points. This is true even when there is little edge data available in the current neighborhood, and even when the boundary of interest may be some distance away in the image. This paper proposes a vector potential field at each point in the image that is derived from the "pull" exerted by all edge points in the image; the pull for a given edge is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the pixel it pulls. This potential field acts as a force, and snake points are moved based on the force at their current location, rather than moving to minimize energy at a candidate position. The resulting algorithm allows edges to influence snake evolution earlier and from a greater distance, and results in faster and better convergence to the final boundary under a variety of image characteristics.
Isolation and Characterization of Bovine Mammary Calmodulin

Bovine mammary gland calmodulin, purified by conventional fractionation procedures, was compared with similarly purified bovine brain calmodulin. Affinity chromatography on W-7 agarose of the crude fractions from mammary gland and brain yielded pure proteins containing one trimethyllysine residue per 16,800 daltons with essentially identical amino acid compositions. Kinetic parameters of these two proteins with respect to their ability to activate phosphodiesterase were determined. The constants for half maximum activation were .39 and .44 nM for bovine brain and bovine mammary gland calmodulins, respectively; both proteins gave similar maximum velocities. Based on the amino acid composition and kinetic data, it is concluded that the two proteins are essentially identical.
The use of contextual information in the reversible compression of medical images

The authors investigate the use of conditioning events (or contexts) in improving the performances of known compression methods by building a source model with multiple contexts to code the decorrelated pixels. Three methods for reversible compression, namely DPCM (differential pulse code modulation), WHT (Walsh-Hadamard transform), and HINT (hierarchical interpolation), employing, respectively, predictive decorrelation, transform decorrelation, and multiresolution decorrelation, are considered. It is shown that the performance of these methods can be enhanced significantly, sometimes even up to 40%, by using contexts. The enhanced DPCM method is found to perform the best for MR and UT (ultrasound) medical images; the enhanced WHT method is found to be the best for X-ray images. The source models used in the enhanced models employ several hundred contexts. >
Maintenance of the mouse type II cell phenotype in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to identify culture conditions for maintenance of isolated mouse type II cells with intact surfactant protein (SP) and phospholipid production. Type II cells were isol...
Short circuit current enhancement of GaAs solar cells using strain compensated InAs quantum dots

Tensile strain compensation (SC) layers were introduced into GaAs p-i-n solar cells grown with a five-stack of InAs quantum dots (QDs) within the i-region. The effects of strain within stacked layers of InAs quantum dots (QDs) were investigated using high resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD). Analysis of the HRXRD data shows that the average lattice strain is minimized for the optimal SC thickness. One sun air mass zero illuminated current-voltage curves show that SC results in improved conversion efficiency and reduced dark current when compared to uncompensated devices. The strain compensated 5-layer QD solar cell shows a 0.9 mA/cm2 increase in short circuit current compared to a baseline GaAs cell. Quantum efficiency measurements show this additional current results from photo-generated carriers within the quantum confined material.
Influence of Woody Vegetation on Small Mammals in Tallgrass Prairie

ABSTRACT We examined response of small mammals to woody invasion of tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas by sampling sites that ranged from 0 to 100% in woody cover (i.e., frequently burned prairie to unburned closed-canopy gallery forest; woody coverage mapped from satellite imagery). Abundance and biomass of small mammals initially increased with increasing woody vegetation, but then decreased to their lowest level at 100% woody cover. Richness was greatest (an average of seven species) where woody cover was ≤17% and decreased to one species where woody cover was 100%. Abundance of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) increased as woody cover increased from 0 to 62% cover, but decreased in forested sites (100% cover). Abundance of western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis) decreased as woody cover increased; they were not recorded in forested sites. Deer mice (P. maniculatus) were present in sites with no to low levels of woody vegetation, but were absent in sites with moderate to high leve...
Rare nerve lesions of non-nerve sheath origin: a 17-year retrospective series.

Abstract Context.—Peripheral nerve masses are frequently encountered in surgical pathology practice. However, once a peripheral nerve mass is determined not to be a nerve sheath neoplasm, differential diagnostic considerations drop off sharply. Objective.—To review our experience with surgically resected nerve masses. Design.—Retrospective search of pathology database. Rare neoplasms were studied by cytogenetic analysis or gene microarray. Results.—Four hundred fifty-eight cases were identified. After elimination of common lesions (mostly nerve sheath tumors), 37 cases (8%) remained, almost all of which were of non–nerve sheath origin: for example, hemangioma, metastatic neuroendocrine pancreatic carcinoma, meningiomas invading nerve fascicles, and primary extrarenal rhabdoid tumor and Ewing sarcoma of nerve. The latter showed rearrangement of the EWSR1 locus (22q12). The gene expression pattern of an undifferentiated sarcoma, presenting as ropelike nerve enlargement, clustered with malignant peripheral n...
A random slip rate model for earthquake occurrences with Bayesian parameters

Abstract The slip rate along major tectonic faults or subduction zones is assumed to be a random function. Thus, following a major earthquake, a range of slip rates is considered possible, where the mean and coefficient of variation of the slip rate are determined from geologic and geodetic information on the region. A semi-Markovian stochastic model is used to characterize such a sequence of earthquakes. The parameters of the model are estimated using Bayesian statistical methods. The model is applied to earthquakes occurring on the Mexican subduction zone. The results of this model are compared to results obtained from the constant slip rate model previously developed by the authors. With the constant slip rate model, the probability of occurrence of events of a given magnitude or larger than that magnitude reached 1 after a finite time, implying that events of a given size will occur with certainty in a finite period of time. The results from the random stress accumulation model appear to be more reasonable since the model is not forced to reach the maximum stress level as it is with the constant slip rate models. Thus, in the random slip rate model, the probabilities of occurrence of events of a given magnitude or larger approach one asymptotically in time. These probabilities are lower in value and in that respect may be considered to be less conservative than the probabilities obtained from the constant slip rate models. However, they are more realistic and representative of our knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of the event interarrival times and slip rates along major faults.
Southern Mother, Lethal Fetus; or, How Birth Control Makes a Modernist out of Flannery O'Connor

This essay argues that the presence of birth control in a narrative interrupts generic conventions by conditioning modernist subjectivities. The symbolic possibilities of birth control carry the promise and threat of rupture. In the case of Flannery O'Connor's short story “A Stroke of Good Fortune” (1955), these possibilities disrupt both a character's identity and what we might call the identity of an O'Connor text. Critics generally read the story as a failed attempt to portray the Catholic plea against, as O'Connor put it, the “rejection of life at the source.” Recognizing the story's contraceptive disruptions allows us to see it as a modernist text rather than a narrative failure. Reading the story in this light situates modernist aesthetics within larger cultural debates about reproductive rights and civil liberties at the same time that it reveals a surprising statement about contraception. This is not to say that the story rejects contraception as a practice, as might be expected from the pen of the devoutly Catholic O'Connor. Rather, the story derides the claim that birth control is a panacea. “A Stroke” shows that birth control can be used to create oppressive, even Gothic, situations if women do not wield the control denoted by the name.
A Correlation for the Second Interaction Virial Coefficients and Enhancement Factors for Moist Air.

Experimental measurements of the enhancement factors for mixtures of water vapor and CO2-free air have been made at -20, -10, and +70 °C. The results, coupled with previous experimental enhancement data, have been used to calculate the second interaction virial coefficients, Baw , for water vapor air mixtures from -50 to +90 °C. Within this temperature range, an error analysis shows that the uncertainties in Baw are between 6 and 10 percent. The calculated Baw· values are used in deriving enhancement factors at 10 °C intervals for -50<t<90 °C, at varying pressure intervals from 0.25 to 100 bar. The associated uncertainties are shown as a function of pressure and temperature. The enhancement factors are extrapolated to -80 °C.
Determining the Mechanism of Solution Metallic Nanocatalysis with Solid and Hollow Nanoparticles: Homogeneous or Heterogeneous

Metallic nanocatalysis in solution can take place either on the nanoparticle surface (heterogeneous mechanisms) or in solution by leached atoms or ions from the nanoparticle surface (homogeneous mechanism). So far, it has been difficult to distinguish between the two mechanisms. We have addressed this problem using the model reaction of the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by sodium borohydride (BH) in aqueous solution by metallic nanoparticles. We studied the reaction yield as a function of the free surface area of the nanoparticle after partial poisoning by 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP). Because of the fact both mechanisms will be dependent on the available active surface, we made use of the plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles. For surface catalysis, if the products or intermediates have different dielectric value from that of the reactants, the surface plasmon extinction band would shift in the course of the reaction if solid or hollow plasmonic nanoparticles are used for the catalysis. This is obs...
Working smarter or working harder? Complementary relationship between extent of IS use and nature of IS use

With ever increasing investments in information technologies, organisations still continue to struggle to identify ways to improve technology enabled productivity of their employees. In this paper, we explore the complementary relationship between extent of IS use time spent using IS and post-adoptive IS-use behaviour of individuals. Through a survey of 246 individuals, we provide empirical evidence of complementary role of nature of IS use in influencing performance impacts of IS at the individual level. The contributions of this study to IS value research are two-fold. Firstly, it provides empirical evidence of complementary relationship between antecedents of IS-enabled productivity at the individual level. Secondly, it highlights the significance of nature of IS use in influencing IS-enabled productivity. We provide managerial implications of these significant research findings by discussing how to leverage the value of information systems at the individual level.
Realization and Application on Monitoring Insulator ESDD and NSDD by Optical Technology

In order to monitor the site pollution severity of insulators,an optical sensor monitoring terminal was designed and manufactured.The system was based on the light energy loss theory in dielectric optical waveguide and mathematical modeling of artificial neural networks,and the design was comparatively researched.According to the monitor terminal with optical sensors,the temperature,humidity and solar energy parameters were collected and sent to data monitoring center by GSM or GPR and CDMA data communications module.The equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) and non soluble deposit density (NSDD) could be calculated by the mathematical model in the data center monitoring station.The system was managed by database technology,and could monitor the pollution status on insulators automatically and continuously.The monitoring system has been verified experimentally and operated around the country.The measurement results with the traditional measurement methods are in agreement with the new way.The maximum measurement deviation of ESDD is 5.6%,and the system performance measurement accuracy and immunity meet the requirements of standards.The ESDD and NSDD monitoring system provides an effective means to control the level of transmission and distribution equipment external insulation in real time.
Survey on HBV Infection among Employees of Service Industry in Cangzhou

[Objective]To understand the hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection among employees of service industry in Cangzhou City,and provide evidence for control measures.[Methods]Serum HbsAg of employees from catering and service industry were detected by ELISA from January to December in 2008.[Results] The positive rate of employees from catering industry was 2.70%,that of employees from service industry was 2.17%,the difference was not significant(χ2=2.49,P0.05);male positive rate(2.95%) was higher than female positive rate(2.07%),the difference was significant(χ2=6.48,P0.05).The peak positive rate was male employees ≤30 years old.[Conclusion]Hepatitis B prevention and control should be strengthened in increasing adolescent and people's health knowledge levels and quality.Health and science education should be further enhanced to comprehensively improve the health levels of citizens
How Rent and Urban Verticalization Can Reduce Employment

The literature on economic development in Latin America pays very little attention to urban space and rent. Urban geographers often focus on general questions of urbanism and the spatial distribution of economic activities within and across cities — and pay less attention to whether the structure of cities produces overall economic growth per se. This paper argues that development economists and urban geographers have more to say to each other than might be otherwise supposed — and that the exact form of urbanization has non-trivial effects on poverty in the Third World that have been missed.
Fundamentals of kernel-based machine learning

Introduction The rapid advances in information technologies, in combination with today's internet technologies (wired and mobile), not only have profound impacts on our daily lifestyles but also have substantially altered the long-term prospects of humanity. In this era of big data , diversified types of raw datasets with huge data-size are constantly collected from wired and/or mobile devices/sensors. For example, in Facebook alone, more than 250 million new photos are being added on a daily basis. The amount of newly available digital data more than doubles every two years. Unfortunately, such raw data are far from being “information” useful for meaningful analysis unless they are processed and distilled properly. The main purpose of machine learning is to convert the wealth of raw data into useful knowledge. Machine learning is a discipline concerning the study of adaptive algorithms to infer from training data so as to extract critical and relevant information. It offers an effective data-driven approach to data mining and intelligent classification/prediction. The objective of learning is to induce optimal decision rules for classification/prediction or to extract the salient characteristics of the underlying system which generates the observed data. Its potential application domains cover bioinformatics, DNA expression and sequence analyses, medical diagnosis and health monitoring, brain–machine interfaces, biometric recognition, security and authentication, robot/computer vision, market analysis, search engines, and social network association. In machine learning, the learned knowledge should be represented in a form that can readily facilitate decision making in the classification or prediction phase.
A thermal conductivity and electromotive force measurement system for nuclear fuels and materials

Abstract The development of advanced nuclear fuels requires detailed understanding of their transmutation and micro-structural evolution. Alloy fuels have the advantage of high thermal conductivity and improved characteristics in fuel-cladding chemical reaction. However, information on thermodynamic and thermophysical properties is limited. The objective of this work was to develop an experimental system, integrated with thermal conductivity measurement capability to measure the thermodynamic properties of solid materials, from which an understanding of their phase change(s) can be determined. With the coupled system, both thermal conductivity and electromotive force (EMF) may be measured. In order to validate the system, the apparatus was employed to measure the EMF of several materials. As an initial calibration test, the EMF of Chromel was measured from 100 °C to 800 °C and compared with theoretical values. Subsequent EMF measurements were made for pure iron, iron-nickel alloy, and ANSI 1018 carbon steel rods. The measured phase transition temperatures were compared with the corresponding alloy equilibrium phase diagrams. The results indicate that the system is able to determine material phase change based on EMF measurement. In the future, this prototype system is to be adapted for hot-cell use on irradiated samples.
Separation of rotational and translational segmental momentum to assess movement coordination during walking

This investigation presents an analysis of segmental angular momentum to describe segmental coordination during walking. Generating and arresting momentum is an intuitive concept, and also forms the foundation of Newton-Euler dynamics. Total segmental angular momentum is separated into separate components, translational angular momentum (TAM) and rotational angular momentum (RAM), which provide different but complementary perspectives of the segmental dynamics needed to achieve forward progression during walking. TAM was referenced to the stance foot, which provides insight into the mechanisms behind how forward progression is achieved through coordinated segmental motion relative to the foot. Translational and rotational segmental moments were calculated directly from TAM and RAM, via Euler's 1st and 2nd laws in angular momentum form, respectively, and are composed of the effects of intersegmental forces and joint moments. Using data from 14 healthy participants, the effort required to generate and arrest momentum were assessed by linking the features of segmental angular momentum and the associated segmental moments to well-known spatiotemporal and kinetic features of the gait cycle. Segmental momentum provides an opportunity to explore and understand system-wide dynamics of coordination from an alternative perspective that is rooted in fundamentals of dynamics, and can be estimated using only segmental kinematic measurements.
Comics and the Modern Library Catalog: New Rules for Breaking the Rules

ABSTRACTScholarly and curricular uses of comics extend to many disciplines in higher education, resulting in increased demand for institutional access to such materials. Despite nearly twenty years of justification in the literature for inclusion of such materials in libraries, there are not widely adopted conventions or models for engaging in the business of a comics collection. At San Diego State University, this presented an opportunity to pioneer new modes of access, from cataloging and organization to storage and retrieval. This article explores the process of making a collection of floppy comics accessible alongside a theoretical discussion of cataloging shortcomings and opportunities.
Identity, scale and soccer supporter groups: the case of the Timbers Army

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to examine how Timbers Army members collectively construct and present their supporter group identity through an awareness of and interaction with soccer and supporter culture at different socio-geographic scales. Central to this is a strong attachment to and with place – most specifically to the city of Portland, Oregon, where the team is based. Using participant observation and interviews, we explore how the group’s identity evolved in a country without a history of soccer support. The findings illustrate how individuals and collectives come to view themselves and their locality within a globalized world through processes of glocalization and relativization. Soccer and its attenuate supporter culture(s) are perfect arenas for exploring social identity and the fuzziness of geographic borders within global–local interactions due to the global appeal yet highly specific local manifestations of soccer support.