cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterochrony repolarized: a phylogenetic analysis of developmental timing in plethodontid salamanders

Disentangling evolutionary shifts in developmental timing (heterochony) is dependent upon accurate estimates of ancestral patterns. However, many classic assessments of heterochronic patterns predate robust phylogenetic hypotheses and methods for trait reconstruction, and therefore may have been polarized with untested ‘primitive’ conditions. Here we revisit the heterochronic modes of development that underlie the evolution of metamorphosis, maturation, and paedomorphosis in plethodontid salamanders. We focus on the tribe Spelerpini, which is a diverse clade that exhibits tremendous variation in timing of metamorphosis and maturation, as well as multiple independent instances of larval form paedomorphosis. Based on morphology and biogeography, early investigators concluded that the most recent common ancestors of plethodontids, and also spelerpines, were large salamanders, with very long larval periods and late maturation times. This prevailing assumption influenced subsequent heterochronic assessments, which concluded that most modern spelerpines (with shorter larval periods) were derived through multiple independent accelerations in larval development. It was also concluded that most occurrences of larval form paedomorphosis in this clade resulted from progenesis (acceleration of gonadal development relative to metamorphosis). By reconstructing the time to metamorphosis on a molecular-based phylogeny of plethodontids, we find that ancestral spelerpines likely had relatively shorter larval periods than previously proposed. Taken together with the credibility interval from our ancestral state estimation we show that very long larval periods are likely derived decelerations, only a few lineages have undergone appreciable accelerations in metamorphic timing, and the remaining taxa have lower probabilities of being different than the ancestral condition (possibly due to stasis). Reconstructing maturation age across nodes concomitant with the evolution of larval form paedomorphosis in one large radiation does not show clear evidence of progenesis, but more likely indicates a case of neoteny (delayed metamorphosis). This study demonstrates cases in plethodontid salamanders where phylogenetic-based character reconstructions reject previously hypothesized ancestral life history conditions. As a result, several prior hypotheses of heterochronic evolution in this family are reversed.
I can't get no job satisfaction: Meta‐analysis comparing permanent and contingent workers

Summary Scholars are concerned that contingent workers experience more adverse psychological job outcomes than permanent employees, but the empirical work on job satisfaction is mixed. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively summarize the potential mean differences in job satisfaction between contingent workers and permanent employees. Meta-analytic results from 72 primary studies (N = 237 856) suggest that compared with permanent employees, contingent workers experience lower job satisfaction (d = −0.21); but when outlying primary studies are removed, the mean difference is small but significant (d = −0.06). Methodological artifacts explain small but significant differences in job satisfaction but do not account for much variance. Moderator analyses support previous findings that contingent workers are not a homogeneous group; some contingent workers (e.g., agency workers) experience lower job satisfaction than permanent employees, whereas the job satisfaction of other contingent workers (e.g., contractors) is similar to permanent employees. The findings have implications for increasing our understanding of job satisfaction by showing that job satisfaction appears to vary by employment type. Practical implications suggest that extending human resource practices to contingent workers may increase their job satisfaction, which has been shown to influence job performance, citizenship behaviors, and turnover. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fingerprinting: bounding soft-error detection latency and bandwidth

Recent studies have suggested that the soft-error rate in microprocessor logic will become a reliability concern by 2010. This paper proposes an efficient error detection technique, called fingerprinting, that detects differences in execution across a dual modular redundant (DMR) processor pair. Fingerprinting summarizes a processor's execution history in a hash-based signature; differences between two mirrored processors are exposed by comparing their fingerprints. Fingerprinting tightly bounds detection latency and greatly reduces the interprocessor communication bandwidth required for checking. This paper presents a study that evaluates fingerprinting against a range of current approaches to error detection. The result of this study shows that fingerprinting is the only error detection mechanism that simultaneously allows high-error coverage, low error detection bandwidth, and high I/O performance.
What Women Bring to the Table...of Leadership

John Gardner, among others, pleads that the world cries out for leadership. But women have in neither traditional nor contemporary managerial and political hierarchies been fairly represented in roles of leadership and power, especially considering that they proverbially "hold up half the sky." The authors explore the research on women and leadership and suggest that it is past time for leadership professionals to recognize, understand, and develop the contributions that women--uniquely or not--bring to the table of leadership.
DiagBridge: Analyzing scan diagnosis data in a yield perspective

In this work, we described a powerful volume diagnosis and yield analysis framework called DiagBridge. DiagBridge enhances volume diagnosis results with sort and design data so as to present the volume diagnosis results in easy-to-understand metrics like yield loss estimation and failure rate estimation. We are already sharing these results with cross-functional teams and seeing various functional teams taking corrective actions to improve yield and reduce yield-limiting factors. Such systems further enables straight-forward comparisons and significantly improves the efficiency in logic yield ramping.
Restrained ion population transfer: a novel ion transfer method for mass spectrometry.

With modern Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometers, ions are created and accumulated exterior to the mass analyzer. The ion accumulation event takes place in a region of higher pressure which allows ions to be thermally cooled before being given kinetic energy and accelerated toward the ICR cell where they are to be decelerated and re-trapped. When gated trapping is used to collect ions in the ICR cell for analysis, mass discrimination can occur due to time-of-flight effects. Also, trapping ions with large axial kinetic energy can decrease the performance of the ICR instrument when compared to the analysis of thermally-cooled ions located at the trap center. Therefore, it is desirable to limit the energy imparted in the ions within the ICR cell as well as minimize time-of-flight effects. The approach presented here for ion transfer called restrained ion population transfer or RIPT provides complete axial control of an ion population throughout the entire transfer sequence from the accumulation region to the ICR cell. This is accomplished by utilization of a number of quadrupole segments arranged in series with independent control of the dc bias voltage applied to each segment of the quadrupole ion guide. This approach circumventsmore » problems associated with time-of-flight effects and minimizes the energy imparted to the ions allowing transfer of the cooled ion packet from the ion accumulation region to the ICR cell. Initial data are presented to illustrate feasibility of restrained ion population transfer. RIPT was also modeled with SIMION 7.0 and simulation results that support our feasibility studies of the ions transfer process are presented.« less
Doing, redoing, and undoing gender: variation in gender identities of women working as police officers

For a study of police women's identities, qualitative data were generated from in-depth interviews with 21 women working in two metropolitan police departments and varying in race, ethnicity, rank, and tenure. Most women identified female-male differences but noted exceptions. Many felt characteristics concentrated among women enhanced job performance, and men's characteristics damaged performance. Several insisted that sex-category differences in key attributes accounting for good police work were nonexistent or minimal. Women do not simply reproduce old female-male stereotypes and the hierarchies that devalue female-associated traits. They fashion complex, positive occupational identities that are not necessarily tied to their sex category. Language: en
Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in combination with other therapies for vitiligo: Mechanisms and efficacies

Vitiligo is a disorder of pigmentation affecting about 1% of the global population. It is a psychologically devastating disease with suboptimal treatment options. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has become a first-line choice for treating generalized disease. In recent years, topical calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin D analogues, antioxidant agents and other therapies have been combined with NB-UVB to improve its efficacy. This article will address what is known about the mechanisms of action of these treatments and how they may complement NB-UVB on a cellular level, as well as offer a comprehensive, evidence-based review of clinical outcomes with combination therapies.
Batistia annulipes and its anamorph, Acrostroma annellosynnema

Batistia annulipes was grown in pure culture. Phialophora-like conidiophores formed in agar cultures derived from isolated ascospores, followed by synnemata of Acrostroma annellosynnema. Synnemata of Acrostroma annellosynnema were also found in nature associated with ascomata of B. annulipes. The conidiophores of A. annellosynnema found in vivo and in vitro were identical to the Phialophoralike conidiophores found in vitro. Although B. annulipes is a highly distinctive ascomycete, the morphological characters of the teleomorph are generalized to such an extent that it is difficult to see relationships for the fungus. That there is a phialidic anamorph in its life-cycle indicates that B. annulipes is not a member of the Xylariaceae and that it should be classified in the Sordariales, where it is placed
Cysteine scanning mutagenesis of the N‐terminal 32 amino acid residues in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli

Using a functional lactose permease mutant devoid of Cys residues (C-less permease), each amino acid residue in the hydrophilic N-terminus and the first putative transmembrane helix was systematically replaced with Cys (from Tyr-2 to Trp-33). Twenty-three of 32 mutants exhibit high lactose accumulation (70-100% or more of C-less), and an additional 8 mutants accumulate to lower but highly significant levels, Surprisingly, Cys replacement for Gly-24 or Tyr-26 yields fully active permease molecules, and permease with Cys in place of Pro-28 also exhibits significant transport activity, although previous mutagenesis studies on these residues suggested that they may be required for lactose transport. As expected, Cys replacement for Pro-31 completely inactivates, in agreement with previous findings indicating that “helix-breaking” propensity at this position is necessary for full activity (Consler TG, Tsolas 0, Kaback HR, 1991, Biochemistry 30:1291-1297). Twenty-nine mutants are present in the membrane in amounts comparable to C-less permease, whereas membrane levels of mutants Tyr-3 → Cys and Phe-12 → Cys are slightly reduced, as judged by immunological techniques. Dramatically, mutant Phe-9 →Cys is hardly detectable when expressed from the lac promoter/operator at a relatively low rate, but is present in the membrane in a stable form when expressed at a high rate from the T7 promoter. Finally, studies with N-ethylmaleimide show that 6 Cys-replacement mutants that cluster at the C-terminal end of putative helix I are inactivated significantly. The results demonstrate that although no residue per se in this region is essential for activity, the structural integrity of the periplasmic half of the first transmembrane helix is important for active lactose transport.
Proinsulin and Specific Insulin Concentration in High- and Low-Risk Populations for NIDDM

Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance have been implicated as risk factors for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Recent data suggest that proinsulin may comprise a large proportion of immunoreactive insulin in subjects with NIDDM and possibly in those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) as well. Increased proinsulin concentrations are thought to be an early indicator of a failing pancreas. We examined proinsulin, insulin (using an assay that does not display appreciable cross-reactivity with proinsulin), and the fasting proinsulin:insulin ratio in 206 nondiabetic Mexican-American (a high-risk population for NIDDM) and 123 nondiabetic non-Hispanic white (a low-risk population for NIDDM) participants in the San Antonio Heart Study, a population-based study of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Mexican-Americans had significantly higher fasting and 2-h proinsulin and insulin levels but similar fasting proinsulin:insulin ratios compared with non-Hispanic whites. After statistical adjustment for age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and glucose tolerance status, Mexican-Americans continued to have higher fasting and 2-h insulin and fasting and 2-h proinsulin concentrations but similar proinsulin:insulin ratios compared with non-Hispanic whites. The fasting proinsulin:insulin ratio was higher in 85 subjects with NIDDM compared with subjects with IGT or normal glucose tolerance (0.31, 0.09, and 0.07, respectively). Thus, nondiabetic subjects from a high-risk population for NIDDM are hyperinsulinemic (using an assay that does not cross-react with proinsulin) and, further, do not secrete more proinsulin relative to insulin itself than do nondiabetic subjects from a low-risk population.
What High School Principals Expect of their Athletics Directors: A National Investigation

(2000). What High School Principals Expect of their Athletics Directors: A National Investigation. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 71, No. 8, pp. 45-49.
THE PRICE PUZZLE AND VAR IDENTIFICATION

In structural VARs, unexpected monetary tightening often leads to the price puzzle, a counterintuitive increase in inflation in the impulse response function. The identification of impulse responses requires at least a minimal set of structural assumptions, and models exhibiting the price puzzle typically use standard assumptions focusing mainly on relationships among contemporaneous disturbances. This note uses a well-established stylized fact, the long lags of monetary policy, to motivate a simple additional identifying assumption. The assumption eliminates a single term in one equation of the reduced form, and with it the price puzzle.
The special action office for drug abuse prevention : drug control during the nixon administration

The creation of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention, during the Nixon Administration , provides a case study in presidential program management. Much has been said and written about the President-as-manager, especially in terms of hands-on program management. The Special Action Office, an outgrowth of the Nixon-Agnew “law and order” campaign, provided close proximity to the President and increased visibility for drug abuse prevention efforts. The SAODAP utilized its focal position to coordinate the many and disparate drug abuse programs of the federal government. Many of these programs derived substantial financial as sistance from SAODAP efforts . However, President Nixon's counter-bureau-cracy philosophy caused the organization to become embroiled in controversy. Although the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention eventually fell from presidential grace, the organization's creation and operation provide further insight into presidential management styles and the view of the Pres...
A Patient- and Family-Centered Care Model Paves the Way for a Culture of Quality and Safety

Over the past 13 years, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has embraced a patient- and family-centered model of care and culture of quality and safety. The authors discuss how their care delivery model and quality and safety efforts reinforce one another, and how they have shaped the organization's practice environment, governance structures, and systems and processes that support care delivery. The authors also discuss key values, structures, and processes that must be upheld to assure the advancement of patient- and family-centered care and quality and safety efforts within an institution.
A biologically based competition model for self-organizing neural networks

This work presents the design of an unsupervised neural network system, CSNN (competitive self-organizing neural network), for pattern recognition and classification. The CSNN model is based on a system of ordinary differential equations, motivated by Volterra and Lotka's models of interacting species in biology. The CSNN features a continuous time system dynamics that is free of auxiliary control mechanisms, complex hard threshold switching functions, or LUT based approaches found in conventional pattern processing. These characteristics are essential for establishing self-organizing properties in unsupervised nets. Due to inherent complexities, attempts to analyze properties and capabilities of this system for pattern processing still remains a challenging task. Research rarely extends beyond the study of system stability, and other issues are essential for characterizing system properties and solution curves of their dynamics. The paper develops a self-organizing scheme for unsupervised neural networks, whose self-organizing properties are implicitly coded within a trajectory structure defined only by ordinary differential equations. The dynamic behavior is well understood and characterized using only the conventional analytical tools in mathematics. The constructed dynamics realizes a fixed finite set of equilibria in any fixed finite dimensional space. The /spl omega/-limit set of all trajectories initiated in its state space is the union of the stored pattern categories, represented as asymptotically stable limit points.
A Comparison of Voting for U.S. Senator and Representative in 1978

This article compares voting for U.S. senator and representative in 1978. Analysis of data from the Center for Political Studies 1978 Election Study reveals that incumbents were better known and more positively evaluated than challengers, but House incumbents enjoyed a much greater advantage than Senate incumbents. The invisibility of most House challengers was a serious obstacle to accountability in House elections. Senate challengers were much more visible to the electorate. In addition, ideology and party identification had a greater impact on evaluations of Senate candidates than on evaluations of House candidates. Evaluations of House incumbents appear to have been based largely on frequent positive contacts between voters and their representative. As a result, ideological voting was more prevalent in Senate elections than in House elections.
The Effects of Knowledge of Instructional Goals on Observations of Teaching and Learning.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the perceptions of observers who are informed of the proximal goals of instruction differ from those who are not so informed. Music education majors (N = 120) viewed one of three randomly assigned stimulus tapes. Each stimulus tape contained seven teaching episodes. Subjects wrote brief statements about their observations and rated the quality of the teaching while they watched each of the episodes. Half the subjects (n = 60) were informed of the instructional goals addressed in each of the episodes; the remaining subjects (n = 60) were not so informed. Observers' written statements were classified according to topic, depth, and evaluative quality. Subjects not informed of the instructional goals wrote significantly more teacher-directed, inferential, and positive statements than did the subjects who were informed of the instructional goals. In both observation conditions, 80% of the written observations pertained to the teachers, and only 14% pertained t...
A Low-Power, 6-bit Time-Interleaved SAR ADC Using OFDM Pilot Tone Calibration

A low-power analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that exploits communication system resources for continuous self-calibration is presented. The proposed converter employs a time-interleaved array of successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs. The inter-channel offset mismatches are adjusted by a calibration loop that utilizes the outputs of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) block of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver. The 6-bit prototype ADC, fabricated in a 0.18-mum CMOS technology, achieves an SNDR of 35.4 dB with a power consumption of 6.58 mW at 200 MS/s.
The beta error and sample size determination in clinical trials in emergency medicine

In the analysis of a clinical trial an investigator may fail to discern a statistically significant difference in outcome between control and experimental groups, when in fact one exists. Failure to demonstrate such a difference when it actually exists is known as "type II" error, and its probability of occurring is termed "beta." The purpose of our study was to determine the distribution of beta errors in negative trials in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians (JACEP) (1972-1979) and Annals of Emergency Medicine (1980-1984). All negative comparative clinical trials appearing in JACEP and Annals from volume 1 (1972) to volume 13 (1984) were surveyed and were eligible for inclusion in the study. A trial was defined as negative if the investigator specifically stated that there was no significant difference in outcome between the experimental and control groups. For each negative trial the following parameters were calculated: beta error, based on the sample size used and the difference determined to be important to detect clinically; sample size required to detect a clinically meaningful difference as determined by the authors of this study; and minimum true difference that had to be detected in the trial at a beta equal to 0.20, to discern a statistically significant result. For the 13 years surveyed, we found 21 endpoints in 14 negative trials that were analyzable. Only one of the trials (7.1%) addressed the issues of beta errors and sample size determination. In the remaining 13 negative trials, the calculated beta error ranged from .60 to .97. For the endpoints analyzed, a sample size of up to 450 times larger than that used would have been required to detect a clinically important difference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparing clinical and microbiological methods for the diagnosis of true bacteraemia among patients with multiple blood cultures positive for coagulase‐negative staphylococci

We assessed the accuracy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical criteria as well as other microbiological methods for the diagnosis of coagulase-negative staphylococci bacteraemia. The CDC clinical criteria had low accuracy, which can be improved by speciation, particularly if the patient had more than two positive blood cultures.
Genetic Characterization of Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Viruses from Latin America

Abstract Very virulent infectious bursal disease viruses (vvIBDVs) were detected in phenol inactivated bursal samples obtained from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.After nucleotide sequence analysis of the hypervariable region of VP2 gene, the vvIBDVs from Brazil and Venezuela exhibited all of the 14 nucleotide changes that are conserved in the European UK-661 and most other vvIBDV strains. However, the vvIBDV from the Dominican Republic presented 11 nucleotide changes that are conserved in vvIBDV strains. After phylogenetic analysis, the Latin American strains were found to be related to other vvIBDV strains from Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, Brazilian and Dominican vvIBDVs clustered in two separate subgroups, while the vvIBDVs from Venezuela were closely related to other strains from other parts of the world. By deduced amino acid sequence, the three conserved amino acid residues in vvIBDV strains (222 Ala, 256 Ile, and 294 Ile) were confirmed in the Latin American viruses, and one am...
Establishing coding conventions for computer science courses

Primary benefits of having an established coding convention for computer science courses and across a computer science curriculum include better student experiences through enhanced code quality and improved assessments of programming assignments. Despite these benefits, formal conventions in academe are rarely established because they require significant time and effort to coordinate agreement, specify unambiguously, and enforce adherence. Participants will engage in guided collaboration and hands-on development of coding conventions for their classes and academic programs. Presenters will provide informational resources, supply foundational content, share their experiences and insights, and facilitate collaboration and exchange of ideas for the development and ongoing management of coding standards appropriate to the academic setting.
High School Compliance with Title IX

A group of female students filed suit against their high school, claiming that the school had violated Title IX by not providing adequate opportunities to participate in athletic activities or adequate access to facilities.
A Foreign Book Pest Enters Boston

A tropical Anobiid, Catorama species, inflicted severe damage to a large shipment of books from Honolulu to Boston. Larvae have been active and have fed for at least seven weeks in Massachusetts at room temperatures, and the possibility of infestation of heated libraries throughout the city is advanced as adequate justification for a thorough carbon bisulphide treatment of the infested stock.
A local sampling approach to anisotropic metric-based mesh optimization

This work presents an output-based anisotropic mesh optimization algorithm that builds on previous work of Yano. The distinguishing new feature is a simple error sampling approach for determining the convergence rate tensor of the error on a single element in a finite-element discretization. This approach does not require refinement of the element, nor any additional solves or residual evaluations. Instead, all calculations take place on the original mesh, using fine-space adjoint projections that reflect the extra resolution introduced by a sampled refinement option. The sampling is efficient and relatively simple to implement as it does not require mesh manipulation. Results for various cases demonstrate that the mesh optimization adds resolution and creates anisotropy as expected, and that it performs well compared to uniform refinement strategies and heuristic anisotropy detection methods.
Blood Transfusions in Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians who believe that transfusion of blood products is forbidden by God. They claim a biblical basis for this belief and are convinced that eternal life in heaven will be lost if they are transfused. Even in an emergency they will refuse a transfusion, often leading to a conflict between the patient’s rights and the physician’s responsibilities. The derivation of their biblical interpretation is explored followed by a medicolegal discussion and potential means to avoid conflict altogether.
Parametric generation and amplification in micro-structured fibers

We observe significant amplification and beam correlation in micro-structured fibers via cascaded four-wave mixing and parametric amplification.
Analysis on Power Dissipation in Two-Level Voltage Source Converters Under Different Modulation Strategies

In recent years voltage source converters(VSC) are applied in many power systems step by step,however relatively higher power dissipation is the main obstacle to its applications.Firstly,the constituents of power dissipation in voltage source converter(VSC) are analyzed and the method to calculate these constituents is proposed,on this basis mathematical analysis and derivation of power dissipation in VSC under typical pulse-width modulation(PWM) strategies such as sinusoidal PWM,space vector PWM and optimized PWM are performed,and the power dissipation in VSC is simulated by electromagnetic simulation software PSCAD/EMTDC.The impacts of PWM strategies and switching frequency are validated by results from mathematical analysis and simulation and from the viewpoint of optimized power loss the switching frequency of 1050Hz is recommended and it is pointed out that at present optimal PWM strategy is the modulation mode with lowest power loss.
UV Irradiation of Shell Eggs: Effect on Populations of Aerobes, Molds, and Inoculated Salmonella typhimurium.

The effects were investigated of 254-nm UV radiation on populations of Salmonella typhimurium, aerobes, and molds on the shells of eggs. In the first experiment, the CFU of attached S. typhimurium cells on unwashed clean shell eggs were determined after 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 min of UV treatment (620 μW/cm 2 ) on both ends of the egg. All UV treatments significantly reduced S. typhimurium CFU (P <.01). UV treatment (620 μW/cm 2 ) in 1-min alternating light and dark cycles for 5 min (three light and two dark) was compared to 0, 3, and 5 min of UV treatment. No significant differences in microbial populations were observed among light and dark cycles and the other UV treatments. In a subsequent experiment, the same UV treatments were utilized to evaluate photoreactivation. After UV exposure, eggs were exposed to 1 h of fluorescent light or I h of darkness or cultured immediately. S. typhimurium CFU were significantly (P <.01) reduced by the UV treatments. However, no significant differences between microbial populations exposed to UV treatment and UV radiation plus photoreactivation were detected. For studies of aerobic bacteria and molds, different UV treatment times (0, 15, and 30 min) at the intensity of 620 μW/cm 2 and different intensities (620, 1350, and 1720 μW/cm 2 ) for 15 min were evaluated. Mold CFU per egg were either 0 or 1 for all UV treatments and a 99% reduction of CFU of aerobic bacteria per egg were observed for all UV treatments. It appears from these studies that UV light can significantly reduce populations of S. typhimurium, aerobes, and molds on shell eggs.
Socialization Strategies for Involuntary Clients

Social work practice with involuntary clients has lacked specific strategies for accomplishing both mandated and client-developed goals. Socialization and contracting strategies based on reactance ...
NITROGEN MINERALIZATION IN A TUSSOCK TUNDRA SOIL

The effects of substrate quality, temperature, and moisture on nitrogen mineralization from a tussock tundra soil were examined with laboratory soil incubations utilizing both air-dried samples and field-moist intact cores. The potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) was highly correlated to both total soil nitrogen (positively) and the carbon/nitrogen ratio (negatively). All soil horizons exhibited a net nitrogen mineralization even at a high carbon/nitrogen ratio of 92. It was concluded that field-moist intact soil cores provide a more reliable estimate than the air-dried samples of both PMN and the mineralization rate under standard laboratory conditions. There was no significant effect of moisture tension (0.0 to 0.4 bars) on net nitrogen mineralization. The average Q/sub 10/ (temperature effect) for net nitrogen mineralization was 2.5. Based on this study and others, it was concluded that temperature through its effect on nitrogen mineralization plays an important role in controlling plant productivity in these naturally nitrogen-deficient tundra ecosystems.
Mixed Lumped and Distributed Circuits in Wideband Bandpass Filter Application for Spurious-Response Suppression

Mixed lumped and distributed circuits (MCs) have been analyzed and applied in a wideband bandpass filter (BPF) synthesis procedure for spurious-response suppression. First, an MC is proposed and compared with the conventional commensurate line. With the even–odd mode analysis, the MC is decomposed into an inverter and the shunt stubs on the two sides, which finds its lowpass equivalent circuit. Then, constant and frequency mapping functions, simply formed by two basis functions, are derived to link the MC and its lowpass equivalent circuit. With this technique, the lowpass prototype filter can be mapped to its BPF counterpart. Finally, the BPF design variables are obtained by comparing the input admittances of the even/odd mode in the MC or the shunt stubs to the basis functions. A fifth-order ladder type BPF has been implemented following the proposed procedure. The experimental results accurately predict both wide passband and spurious-response rejection band.
Loss of the transcriptional repressor Rev-erbα results in increased oxidative phosphorylation and reduced fatty acid utilization in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Preterm newborns with immature lungs receive life-saving supplemental oxygen. This treatment has improved survival rates but can also be toxic. Hyperoxia impairs lung development, causing long term respiratory and neurodevelopmental consequences. There are no therapeutic targets for supplemental oxygen toxicity. We have previously shown that exposure to hyperoxia (95% O2/5 % CO2) for 24 hours reduced levels of the transcriptional repressor and metabolic regulator, Rev-erbα, in mouse lung fibroblasts. We hypothesized that loss of Rev-erbα alters metabolism and substrate utilization in a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) model. To test this, knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) MEF were grown to 80% confluency. Oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos), glycolysis, and substrate utilization were measured using a Seahorse XF24 Bioanalyzer. Rev-erbα KO MEF had increased oxphos compared with WT. Levels of glycolytic extracellular acidification were unchanged. Mitochondrial to nuclear DNA copy number ratios, measured by determining the levels of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 over nuclear hexokinase 2, by PCR, were also unchanged. This demonstrated that increased oxphos was not caused by mitochondrial biogenesis. Rev-erbα KO MEF exhibited increased expression of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase and transketolase mRNA. These enzymes provide metabolic intermediates to glycolysis as part of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and may increase the amount of pyruvate available for oxphos. Rev-erbα KO MEF additionally exhibited a reduced dependency on fatty acids and glutamine. Reduced dependency on fatty acids may be related to a four-fold increase in expression of acyl-CoA synthetase 6 compared with WT. This enzyme is known to provide acyl-CoA for triacylgylceride synthesis in neurons, but whether it directs acyl-CoA to or away from beta oxidation in MEFs is unclear. In conclusion, loss of Rev-erbα increases oxphos and reduces fatty acid dependency in MEFs. We speculate that loss of Rev-erbα transcriptional repression causes upregulation of enzymes governing oxphos and acyl-CoA utilization for energy.
Multioctave supercontinua and subcycle lightwave electronics [Invited]

Multioctave supercontinua provide a unique resource for ultrafast optical science, offering advanced tools for time-resolved spectroscopy, frequency comb technologies, nonlinear microscopy, and lightwave engineering. The physical scenarios that enable the generation of such ultrabroadband wave packets are not always easy to describe in terms of standard models of ultrafast nonlinear optics; their properties are often unusual, and their nonlinear dynamics are much more than meets the eye. To adequately understand these new electrodynamics and to identify scenarios whereby multioctave supercontinua can coherently add up yielding subcycle field waveforms, some basic concepts and models of ultrafast nonlinear optics have to be revisited. Originally intended to refer to a rapid buildup of the spectral bandwidth of ultrashort laser pulses propagating, as waveguide modes or as free beams, in media with a third-order optical nonlinearity, within the past decade, the term “supercontinuum generation” has been seamlessly extended, thanks to its all-embracing character, to include very-high-order and nonperturbative nonlinear optical processes and now applies to ultrabroadband field waveform generation in the ultraviolet and x-ray ranges, as well as high-harmonic attosecond and zeptosecond supercontinua. This paper offers a brief overview of this rapidly growing field of research.
High-Pressure Behavior of C2I2 and Polymerization to a Conductive Polymer

Crystalline diiodoacetylene (C2I2) was synthesized and then studied under high-pressure conditions using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman/infrared spectroscopies, and first-principles calculations. At ∼0.3 GPa, the starting tetragonal (P42/n) phase, which is stabilized by donor–acceptor interactions, transforms into a new orthorhombic structure (Cmca) that is more densely packed and analogous to the low-temperature phase of acetylene. Above approximately 4 GPa, compressed C2I2 molecules in the Cmca structure begin to polymerize to form a predominantly sp2 amorphous carbon network that maintains a significant fraction of C–I bonds. Transport measurements reveal that the polymeric material is electrically conducting. The magnitude of the electrical conductivity is similar to Br-doped polyacetylene and undoped trans-polyacetylene at 8 GPa and 1 atm, respectively. Elemental analyses performed on recovered samples show that the iodine concentration varies with specific processing conditions. Optimization o...
H-2 GENE COMPLEX REGULATION OF MACROPHAGE-LYMPHOCYTE INTERACTIONS IN ANTIBODY RESPONSES IN VITRO

The genetic restrictions regulating the efficient interactions among antigen-bearing macrophages and syngeneic and allogeneic murine lymphoid cells in development of secondary antibody responses to a T cell-dependent antigen in vitro have been investigated. Immune spleen cells develop secondary antibody responses preferentially when stimulated in vitro with antigen on macrophages syngeneic to the macrophages used to immunize the spleen cells in vivo. These genetic restrictions governing efficient macrophage-lymphoid cell interactions in secondary antibody responses are antigen-specific, controlled by the I-A subregion of the H-2 complex and are operative at the level of the immune T cell. The implications of these genetic restrictions in regulation of antibody responses are briefly considered.
Enzyme-responsive progelator cyclic peptides for minimally invasive delivery to the heart post-myocardial infarction

Injectable biopolymer hydrogels have gained attention for use as scaffolds to promote cardiac function and prevent negative left ventricular (LV) remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI). However, most hydrogels tested in preclinical studies are not candidates for minimally invasive catheter delivery due to excess material viscosity, rapid gelation times, and/or concerns regarding hemocompatibility and potential for embolism. We describe a platform technology for progelator materials formulated as sterically constrained cyclic peptides which flow freely for low resistance injection, and rapidly assemble into hydrogels when linearized by disease-associated enzymes. Their utility in vivo is demonstrated by their ability to flow through a syringe and gel at the site of MI in rat models. Additionally, synthetic functionalization enables these materials to flow through a cardiac injection catheter without clogging, without compromising hemocompatibility or cytotoxicity. These studies set the stage for the development of structurally dynamic biomaterials for therapeutic hydrogel delivery to the MI.
Multi-region assessment of pharmaceutical exposures and predicted effects in USA wadeable urban-gradient streams

Human-use pharmaceuticals in urban streams link aquatic-ecosystem health to human health. Pharmaceutical mixtures have been widely reported in larger streams due to historical emphasis on wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP) sources, with limited investigation of pharmaceutical exposures and potential effects in smaller headwater streams. In 2014-2017, the United States Geological Survey measured 111 pharmaceutical compounds in 308 headwater streams (261 urban-gradient sites sampled 3-5 times, 47 putative low-impact sites sampled once) in 4 regions across the US. Simultaneous exposures to multiple pharmaceutical compounds (pharmaceutical mixtures) were observed in 91% of streams (248 urban-gradient, 32 low-impact), with 88 analytes detected across all sites and cumulative maximum concentrations up to 36,142 ng/L per site. Cumulative detections and concentrations correlated to urban land use and presence/absence of permitted WWTP discharges, but pharmaceutical mixtures also were common in the 75% of sampled streams without WWTP. Cumulative exposure-activity ratios (EAR) indicated widespread transient exposures with high probability of molecular effects to vertebrates. Considering the potential individual and interactive effects of the detected pharmaceuticals and the recognized analytical underestimation of the pharmaceutical-contaminant (unassessed parent compounds, metabolites, degradates) space, these results demonstrate a nation-wide environmental concern and the need for watershed-scale mitigation of in-stream pharmaceutical contamination.
Examining the impact of a play-based middle school physics program

The Playground Physics program combines informal, play-based, embodied learning experiences to support middle school students’ engagement with and motivation to learn about complex and abstract phy...
Soluble Receptors Affecting Stroke Outcomes: Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Tools.

Soluble receptors are widely understood to be freestanding moieties formed via cleavage from their membrane-bound counterparts. They have unique structures, are found among various receptor families, and have intriguing mechanisms of generation and release. Soluble receptors’ ability to exhibit pleiotropic action by receptor modulation or by exhibiting a dual role in cytoprotection and neuroinflammation is concentration dependent and has continually mystified researchers. Here, we have compiled findings from preclinical and clinical studies to provide insights into the role of soluble/decoy receptors, focusing on the soluble cluster of differentiation 36, the soluble cluster of differentiation 163, and soluble lipoprotein-related protein 1 (sCD36, sCD163, and sLRP1, respectively) and the functions they could likely serve in the management of stroke, as they would notably regulate the bioavailability of the hemoglobin and heme after red blood cell lysis. The key roles that these soluble receptors play in inflammation, oxidative stress, and the related pharmacotherapeutic potential in improving stroke outcomes are described. The precise pleiotropic physiological functions of soluble receptors remain unclear, and further scientific investigation/validation is required to establish their respective role in diagnosis and therapy.
A general, simple, robust method to account for measurement error when analyzing data with an internal validation subsample

Background: Measurement errors in terms of quantification or classification frequently occur in epidemiologic data and can strongly impact inference. Measurement errors may occur when ascertaining, recording or extracting data. Although the effects of measurement errors can be severe and are well described, simple straight forward general analytic solutions are not readily available for statistical analysis and measurement error is frequently not acknowledged or accounted for. Generally, to account for measurement error requires some data where we can observe the variables once with and once without error, to establish the relationship between the two. Methods: Here we describe a general method accounting for measurement error in outcome and/or predictor variables for the parametric regression setting when there is a validation subsample where variables are measured once with and once without error. The method does not describe and thus does not depend on the particular relation between the variables measured with and without error, and is generally robust to the type of measurement error, for example nondifferential, differential or Berkson errors. Results: Simulation studies show how the method reduces bias compared to models based upon variables measured with error alone and reduces variances compared to models based upon the variables measured without error in the validation subsample alone. Conclusion: The proposed estimator has favorable properties in terms of bias and variance, is easily derived empirically, and is robust to different types of measurement error. This method should be a valuable tool in the analysis of data with measurement error.
Evaluation of Stroke Patients in Intensive Care Settings

This chapter discusses evaluation of stroke patients in intensive care settings. The treatment of stroke begins with evaluation of the stability of the patient's vital signs which dictates supportive care necessary to prevent acute complications. The major airway concerns are adequacy of airway protection, ventilation, and gas exchange. All stroke patients should be given supplemental O 2 initially. A quick physical assessment of respiratory function includes observation of the quality and rate of the respirations. Hypotension is detrimental and should be treated aggressively. The presence of hypotension suggests the possible presence of a serious complication such as myocardial ischemia or infarction, sepsis, or brainstem dysfunction from ischemia or compression. Volume expansion with normal saline or albumin is the first line treatment. Computed tomography (CT) is sensitive for distinguishing acute hemorrhage from pale infarction. This distinction is crucial for appropriate early management. Conditions requiring emergent surgical intervention such as an epidural, subdural, or intraparenchymal hematoma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage are easily detected by head CT. The presence of any of these findings should prompt early discussion with neurosurgery.
Development of a Direct Evaporator for the Organic Rankine Cycle

This paper describes research and development currently underway to place the evaporator of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system directly in the path of a hot exhaust stream produced by a gas turbine engine. The main goal of this research effort is to improve cycle efficiency and cost by eliminating the usual secondary heat transfer loop. The project’s technical objective is to eliminate the pumps, heat exchangers and all other added cost and complexity of the secondary loop by developing an evaporator that resides in the waste heat stream, yet virtually eliminates the risk of a working fluid leakage into the gaseous exhaust stream. The research team comprised of Idaho National Laboratory and General Electric Company engineers leverages previous research in advanced ORC technology to develop a new direct evaporator design that will reduce the ORC system cost by up to 15%, enabling the rapid adoption of ORCs for waste heat recovery.