cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progenesis in Late Eocene populations ofSubbotina linaperta (Foraminifera) from the western Atlantic

MacLeod, N., Keller, G. and Kitchell, J.A., 1990. Progenesis in Late Eocene populations ofSubbotina linaperta (Foraminifera) from the western Atlantic. Mar. Micropaleontol., 16:219-240. It has been argued that the successive appearance of a distinct set of test morphologies by planktic foraminifera represents evidence for the multiple evolution of mechanical optima (Steineck and Fleisher, 1978). However, morphometric, isotopic and biostratigraphic analyses of the globigerine species Subbotina linaperta from Middle-Late Eocene Atlantic Ocean deep sea cores suggests that changes in developmental pathways may also play an important role in planktic foraminiferal evolution. During a period of prolonged and global change in the Middle-Late Eocene marine environment, at least one western Atlantic population ofS. linaperta was characterized by a marked decrease in mean test size that persisted throughout the remainder of this species' teilzone. In addition, this Late Eocene population exhibited anomalous relative abundances and a pronounced change in depth habitat when compared to conspecific populations in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. Quantitative morphometric analyses indicate the observed size reduction to be a secondary result of selection for the ontogenetically accelerated attainment of sexual maturity; a mode of developmentally mediated evolution termed progenesis. The temporal persistence of this progenetically dwarfed population throughout the remainder of the Late Eocene at this locality serves to illustrate the potential of this evolutionary mechanism to produce sustained morphological and ecological changes within populations of marine plankton as well as implying that this population was at least partially isolated from the general circulation of the Gulf Stream during this time interval. In addition, similarities between the nature of phenotypic change in this population and the common anecdotal observation of test size reduction in a number of planktic foraminiferal lineages at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and during the Paleogene-Neogene faunal transition suggest that selection for different developmental patterns may provide an alternative explanation for the reappearance of simple globigerine morphotypes after major planktic foraminiferal extinction events.
Postprandial gastroesophageal reflux in normal volunteers and symptomatic patients

A structurally intact and competent lower esophageal sphincter in the experimental model shortens and becomes incompetent during gastric distention. The aim of this study was to evaluate postprandial reflux as an indirect measure of this volume-induced sphincter shortening and incompetency. Reflux (pH 95th percentile of normal). The prevalence was lower in patients with a structurally intact compared to a defective lower esophageal sphincter (32% vs. 58%; P <0.001). Pathologic postprandial reflux was greater in patients with abnormal compared to normal findings on 24-hour pH study (76% vs. 21%; P <0.001). Patients with a normal 24-hour pH study and postprandial reflux had shorter sphincter lengths (2.33 vs. 2.82 cm; P <0.001) and lower pressures (10.78 vs. 14.24 mm Hg; P <0.005). A hiatal hernia increased the prevalence of postprandial reflux (P <0.001) in all patients (67% vs. 38%) and in the subgroup with a structurally intact sphincter (75% vs. 27%, P <0.001). Postprandial reflux is a dynamic indicator of sphincter competency, and increases as the structural sphincter characteristics deteriorate and is augmented by a hiatal hernia. (J GASTROINTEST SURG 1998;2:342-349.)
Receptor mediated gonadotropin action in gonadal tissues: relationship between blood cholesterol levels and gonadotropin stimulated steroidogenesis in isolated rat Leydig and luteal cells.

Abstract The present studies were performed to evaluate the role of steroid precursors and plasma lipoproteins in gonadal tissue steroidogenesis. Leydig cell suspension isolated from rat testes responded to hCG, Bt 2 cAMP, 8 Br-cAMP and cholera toxin with an increase in testosterone response. Administration of 4-aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (4-APP) reduced the plasma cholesterol and testosterone levels in a time and dose dependent manner. This treatment also reduced the steroidogenic capacity of isolated Leydig cells both under basal conditions and in response to trophic hormone. Different doses of 4-APP up to 25 mg/kg BW and up to 4 days of treatment, however, did not modulate cholesterol and cholesterol ester contents of isolated Leydig cells. 4-APP treatment also had no effect on testis weight, phospholipid content, protein synthesis and energy metabolism in isolated Leydig cells. Similarly, administration of 4-APP (12.5 mg/kg) to PMSG-hCG primed rats beginning on day 3, post hCG, drastically reduced the circulating cholesterol and progesterone levels. Injection of the drug also produced an inhibition in in vitro luteal cell steroidogenesis and a reduction in cellular cholesterol esters and free cholesterol contents. Addition of LDL or HDL to incubation medium reversed the inhibitory effect of 4-APP on luteal cell steroidogenesis while this inhibition persisted in Leydig cells. Injection of rats with Triton-WR-1339 (mg/kgBW) resulted in a 10-fold increase in plasma cholesterol and a contrasting decrease in testosterone levels. This treatment, however, produced no effect on in vitro Leydig cell steroidogenesis or cellular content of cholesterol esters and free cholesterol. It appears that the Leydig and luteal cells process and utilize lipoprotein-delivered cholesterol for steroidogenesis through different mechanism(s). These studies thus demonstrate differential actions and an acute regulatory role of lipoproteins in gonadotropin modulated steroidogenesis in two different gonadal tissue.
Mycorrhizal relationships in bottomland hardwood forests of the southern United States

Mycorrhizae are important in the functioning of forest ecosystems worldwide, and play a critical role in water uptake, nutrient acquisition, and prevention of feeder root disease. The majority of mycorrhizal research has been conducted on upland sites, especially in coniferous ecosystems and in commercial agricultural production. However, the maintenance and restoration of bottomland hardwood (BLH) forest ecosystems in the southern United States is of increasing concern. Both ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae are present in BLH forests, although the dominance of one or the other type depends primarily on both the tree species and the hydrologic regime. Ectomycorrhizae tend to be more sensitive to flooding, while endomycorrhizal infection can be present even in permanently flooded soils. The mycorrhizae of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), and the oaks (Quercus spp.) have been studied most due to their economic importance. Considerable work is still needed to better understand mycorrhizal relationships in BLH ecosystems and associated trees, both with respect to infectivity and nutrient cycling. Such information may be necessary for restoration of BLH forests on old agricultural fields, or to maintain the productivity of BLH forests after harvest. This paper summarizes studies on mycorrhizae relationships in BLH forests and suggests future work necessary for understanding the role mycorrhizae can have in managing these ecosystems.
The sticky issue of neurosteroids and GABAA receptors

Endogenous neurosteroids and their synthetic analogs (neuroactive steroids) are potent modulators of GABA A receptors. Thus, they are of physiological and clinical relevance for their ability to modulate inhibitory function in the CNS. Despite their importance, fundamental issues of neurosteroid actions remain unresolved. Recent evidence suggests that glutamatergic principal neurons, rather than glia, are the major sources of neurosteroid synthesis. Other recent studies have identified putative neurosteroid binding sites on GABA A receptors. In this Opinion, we argue that neurosteroids require a membranous route of access to transmembrane-domain binding sites within GABA A receptors. This has implications for the design of future neuroactive steroids because the lipid solubility and related accessibility properties of the ligand are likely to be key determinants of receptor modulation.
Optical Control of Speed and Directionality in Engineered Myosin Motors

Engineering molecular motors with dynamically controllable properties will allow selective perturbation of mechanical processes in vivo. We are developing a set of engineered actomyosin motors in which external signals trigger changes in lever arm geometry and mechanics, with predictable effects on motor properties such as directionality, step size, and processivity. Building on earlier protein engineering studies of directionality determinants [1-2], we previously constructed myosin motors that respond to a change in [Ca++] by reversing their direction of motion along the polarized actin filament [3]. Our designs relied on triggering rigid-to-flexible transitions in chimeric lever arms. We have now extended this work by constructing myosins that respond to optical signals, rather than metal ions. Light is a versatile control signal that can be readily modulated in time and space, and is generally orthogonal to cellular signaling. Using structure-guided protein engineering, we have incorporated photoreceptor domains into the lever arms of chimeric myosin motors. We have generated motors that either speed up, slow down, or switch directions in response to illumination. These genetically encoded motors should be directly deployable inside living cells, and may also be useful for controlling directed transport outside of cellular contexts.[1] Tsiavaliaris G, Fujita-Becker S, Manstein DJ. (2004). Nature, 427, 558-561.[2] Liao J, Elting MW, Delp, SL, Spudich, JA, Bryant Z. (2009). J. Mol. Biol, 392, 862-867.[3] Chen L, Nakamura M, Schindler TD, Bryant Z. Submitted.
Optical properties and enhancement factors of the tips for apertureless near-field optics

Resonant excitation of surface plasmons of a metal or metal-coated tip is crucial for achieving high enhancement of an optical signal with apertureless near-field optics. However, it remains a challenge to measure the optical spectrum of a tip with sub-wavelength dimensions. We present a technique based on total internal reflection microscopy to measure the optical properties of tips. A dependence of the optical resonance on the metal deposited is shown for silver-coated and gold-coated tips. These tips were also used to measure the tip-enhanced Raman spectra of silicon and a polymer blend of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) at 514.5 and 647 nm incident wavelengths. Qualitative agreement was observed between the tip-enhanced Raman spectra and the optical resonance of the tip measured with the technique developed.
Rights of public access for outdoor recreation: What does the public know?

This study addresses the public's perceptions of their access rights to the New Zealand countryside for outdoor recreation. An interviewer-administered questionnaire survey of 300 Christchurch residents investigated people's knowledge of their access rights, perceptions of access mechanisms, the availability of access information and their experiences of gaining access to land. Whilst individuals are aware of their rights in a general sense, and feel confident they know where they can go, their level of knowledge was found to be low. Findings indicate that knowledge of access rights exerts a strong influence over where people recreate.
The effect of interpersonal communication on women's family role satisfaction

Operating from a Person‐Interpersonal Environment Fit model, this study examines the influence of interpersonal communication on perceived family role satisfaction of the married woman. Three hypotheses are proposed looking at the relationship between Subjective Demand‐Ability Role Fit, Subjective Motive‐Supply Role Flexibility, Subjective Motive‐Supply Disclosure and perceived Family Role Satisfaction. A multiple linear regression is used to explore the predictive power of these variables on the married woman's perceived family role satisfaction. A cross‐sectional survey questionnaire is administered to a random sample of 76 married women living in a midwestern community. Subjective Demand‐Ability Role Fit is found to be a significant predictor of perceived family role satisfaction. This finding suggests that the married women of this sample perceived they are satisfied when their ability to be effective in carrying out family role responsibilities exceeds the perceiving role expectations communicated by...
After Further Deliberation: Cognitive Vulnerability Predicts Changes in Event-Specific Negative Inferences for a Poor Midterm Grade

According to the hopelessness theory of depression (Psychological Review 96:358–372, 1989), individuals with a cognitive vulnerability are at risk for depression because they generate event-specific negative inferences for stressful life events. Although prior studies have found an association between cognitive vulnerability and event-specific negative inferences, conclusions from these studies have been limited by weak correlations and a failure to examine how event-specific inferences change over time. The current study attempted to reconcile and extend prior work using a midterm design (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 43:612–617, 1982, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 52:386–393, 1987, Journal of Abnormal Psychology 102:101–109, 1993). Participants’ event-specific negative inferences for a poor midterm grade were assessed at three time points during a 1-week prospective interval. Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that, if given enough time, the relationship between cognitive vulnerability and event-specific negative inferences becomes robust. Further, event-specific negative inferences on day 3, but not initial event-specific negative inferences, predicted increases in depressive symptoms over the prospective interval. The implications of these results for the cognitive theories of depression are discussed.
Current Status of Src Inhibitors in Solid Tumor Malignancies

Summary. Src is believed to play an important role in cancer, and several agents targeting Src are in clinical development. Design. We reviewed Src structure and function and preclinical data supporting its role in the development of cancer via a PubMed search. We conducted an extensivereviewofSrcinhibitorsbysearchingabstractsfrom major oncology meeting databases in the last 3 years and by comprehensively reviewing ongoing clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov. Results. In this manuscript, we briefly review Src structure and function, mechanisms involving Src that lead to the development of cancer, and Src inhibitors andkeypreclinicaldataestablishingarationaleforclinical application. We then focus on clinical data supporting their use in solid tumor malignancies, a newer arena than their more well-established hematologic applications. Particularly highlighted are clinical trials investigating new biomarkers as well as ongoing studies assessing Src inhibitor activity in biomarker-selected patient populations. We also review newer investigational Src-targeting agents. Conclusions. Src inhibitors have shown little activity in monotherapy trials in unselected solid tumor patient populations. Combination studies and biomarker-driven clinical trials are under way. The Oncologist 2011;16:566–578
Word Length, Prose Difficulty, and Reading Rate

In Study 1, the functional relationship between word length and passage difficulty was determined to be linear from Grade 1 to Grade 17 difficulty levels. A total of 360 passages were studied; the passages were sampled from curriculum materials used in all school levels ranging from Grade 1 to graduate school. Average word length was measured in both character spaces per word and letters per word. The newly developed Rauding Scale was used to estimate passage difficulty. In Study 2, the reading rate of college students was found to decrease from about 315 to 200 words per min. as difficulty increased from about Grade 2 to about Grade 17. However, when measured in standard length words per min. reading rate was approximately constant at about 250–260 words per min. as difficulty increased from about Grade 5 to about Grade 14. These data were interpreted as providing no support for certain current theory relating redundancy to reading rate and eye movements.
Tweeting in defeat: How candidates concede and claim victory in 140 characters

The concession and victory speech is a ritual in American politics, described by Corcoran as a “rite of capitulation,” in which both candidates at the end of an election sanction the legitimacy of the process, agree on the outcome, and start the political transition. Concession and victory speeches emerged as a distinct convention in the television era, but as web services like Twitter take on a larger role in electoral politics, traditions like the concession are being adapted to new formats. The literature has identified a series of substantive and procedural conventions for conceding and claiming victory, but it is unclear how these conventions hold up as technology evolves. An examination of 200 Twitter feeds from congressional, senatorial, and gubernatorial candidates during the 2010 midterm elections shows that while candidates touch some of the traditional concession themes, the procedural rules to concession have not migrated unchanged to the online world.
Compact Model of Current Collapse in Heterostructure Field-Effect Transistors

In this paper, compact analytical model for the heterostructure field-effect transistor (HFET) current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, accounting for the large-signal dispersion, also referred to as current collapse, is presented. The model is based upon an experimentally established fact that the dispersion is mainly due to carrier trapping at the source and drain sides of the gate edges. In wide-bandgap heterostructures like AlGaN/GaN, the characteristic trapping-generation times are several orders of magnitude longer than the signal period at typical operating frequencies. Thus, the radio frequency signal "sees" an averaged I-V characteristic resulting from carrier trapping-generation. The approach, based on this difference, leads to a compact quasi-steady-state analytical model of the HFET I -V characteristics that can be easily implemented in device-circuit simulators. The model shows close agreement with the experimental data
Collaborative Propensities Among Transnational NGOs Registered in the United States

NGO collaborations and government-NGO relations have become popular subjects of inquiry in public administration. Building on contemporary trends in the field, this exploratory study adopts a transnational governance perspective to examine the collaborative propensities of transna- tional NGOs registered in the United States. Unlike prior scholarship focusing on subnational samples of domestic organizations operating within single sectors of activity, findings are based on a mixed-method analysis of in-depth, face-to-face interviews with top organizational leaders from a diverse sample of 152 transnational NGOs spanning all major sectors of NGO activity. Analysis discovers that leaders' organizations exhibit either an "independent" or an "interdependent" collaborative propensity. As members of global civil society, many transnational NGO leaders are reluctant, if not averse, in their attitudes toward collaboration with actors outside of civil society, particularly government agencies. Leaders of independent transnational NGOs evince concern over the implications of intersectoral collaboration for organizational legitimacy, whereas lead- ers of interdependent transnational NGOs appear to be attracted to the increased funding and recognition that intersectoral collaborations may provide. Further analysis of the perceived benefits and obstacles to collaboration reveals additional insights about the factors influencing leaders' decisions to engage in or not to engage in intersectoral collaboration.
Gene expression profiling revealed novel mechanism of action of Taxotere and Furtulon in prostate cancer cells

Both Taxotere and Capecitabine have shown anti-cancer activity against various cancers including prostate cancer. In combination, Taxotere plus Capecitabine has demonstrated higher anti-cancer activity in advanced breast cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of Taxotere and Capecitabine have not been fully elucidated in prostate cancer. The total RNA from PC3 and LNCaP prostate cells untreated and treated with 2 nM Taxotere, 110 μM Furtulon (active metabolite of Capecitabine), or 1 nM Taxotere plus 50 μM Furtulon for 6, 36, and 72 hours, was subjected to Affymetrix Human Genome U133A Array analysis. Real-time PCR and Western Blot analysis were conducted to confirm microarray data. Taxotere and Furtulon down-regulated some genes critical for cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, transcription factor, cell signaling, and oncogenesis, and up-regulated some genes related to the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation in both cell lines. Taxotere and Furtulon also up-regulated some genes responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance, suggesting the induction of cancer cell resistance to these agents. Taxotere and Furtulon caused the alternation of a large number of genes, many of which may contribute to the molecular mechanisms by which Taxotere and Furtulon inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. This information could be utilized for further mechanistic research and for devising optimized therapeutic strategies against prostate cancer.
At the Court of Chaos: Political Science in an Age of Perpetual Fear

An anonymous late eighteenth century British painting at the Ackland Museum in Chapel Hill portrays “Satan Leaving the Court of Chaos,” a reference to Book II of John Milton's Paradise Lost. In an assertion of demotic power, Satan, “the adversary of God and man,” travels “full fraught with mischievous revenge” from Chaos, where he is most at home, to God's created world in order to corrupt Adam and Eve and induce original sin.Ira Katznelson is Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History, Columbia University (iik1@columbia.edu). This text is a slightly revised version of the presidential address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, August 31, 2006. The program's theme, “Power Reconsidered,” animated the choice of subject. He is particularly grateful to the Program Chairs, Judith Goldstein and Richard Valelly, for their intellectual and instrumental leadership.
Bleeding Is Rarely Good for You

In a careful statistical analysis of 651 775 patients undergoing elective noncardiac, non-neurological, noncarotid surgery in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database between 2005 and 2009, Kamel and colleagues1 have reaffirmed that bleeding is bad, and that more bleeding is worse, at least in the intraoperative period. Patients who received >4 units of packed red blood cells or whole blood had an ≈2.5-fold increased risk of a subsequent stroke or Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), independent of a multitude of other risk factors. The relationship between blood loss and postoperative MI or stroke was related to the severity of bleeding: For each unit of intraoperative transfusion with packed red blood cells or whole blood, the risk was reported to increase by ≈1.1-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.13). In a sensitivity analysis reported in their Discussion section, these results were unchanged when “limited to large intraoperative transfusions in patients without baseline anemia.” Article see p 207 This study must be interpreted in the context of another study from the NSQIP dataset. Glance and colleagues2 reported that a 1- to 2-unit intraoperative blood transfusion was not significantly associated with cardiac or neurological complications in an analysis limited to 10 100 patients who underwent general, vascular, or orthopedic surgery. The adjusted risk of cardiac complications (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.95) was not inconsistent with the findings of Kamel and colleagues. But, in this report, the risk of central nervous system complications was actually insignificantly lower (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.34–1.38) in patients who received 1 to 2 units of intraoperative blood. These 2 studies, put together, indicate that a lot of bleeding is bad and a little bit is probably not good. The authors acknowledge some of the limitations of their study design. …
The Evolution of Identities in the Process of Studying Differences: A Personal Narrative

This article begins with the researcher's story of incarceration as a Japanese American during World War II. It sets the stage for understanding the conflicted search for identity that has become i...
The making of new deal Democrats : voting behavior and realignment in Boston, 1920-1940

"Why is "The Making of New Deal Democrats" so significant? One of the major controversies in the study of American elections has to do with the nature of electoral realignments. One school argues that a realignment involves a major shift of voters from one party to another, while another school argues that the process consists largely of mobilization of previously inactive voters. The debate is crucial for understanding the nature of the New Deal realignment. Almost all previous work on the subject has dealt with large-scale national patterns which make it difficult to pin down the precise processes by which the alignment took place. Gamm's work is most remarkable in that it is a close analysis of shifting voter alignments on the precinct and block level in the city of Boston. His extremely detailed and painstaking work of isolating homogeneous ethnic units over a twenty-year period allows one to trace the voting behavior of the particular ethnic groups that ultimately formed the core of the New Deal realignment." Sidney Verba, Harvard University"
Effect of cell‐seeded hydroxyapatite scaffolds on rabbit radius bone regeneration

Highly porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds were developed as bone graft substitutes using a template coating process, characterized, and seeded with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). To test the hypothesis that cell-seeded HA scaffolds improve bone regeneration, HA scaffolds without cell seeding (HA-empty), HA scaffolds with 1.5 × 10(4) BMSCs (HA-low), and HA scaffolds with 1.5 × 10(6) BMSCs (HA-high) were implanted in a 10-mm rabbit radius segmental defect model for 4 and 8 weeks. Three different fluorochromes were administered at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after implantation to identify differences in temporal bone growth patterns. It was observed from fluorescence histomorphometry analyses that an increased rate of bone infiltration occurred from 0 to 2 weeks (p < 0.05) of implantation for the HA-high group (2.9 ± 0.5 mm) as compared with HA-empty (1.8 ± 0.8 mm) and HA-low (1.3 ± 0.2 mm) groups. No significant differences in bone formation within the scaffold or callus formation was observed between all groups after 4 weeks, with a significant increase in bone regenerated for all groups from 4 to 8 weeks (28.4% across groups). Although there was no difference in bone formation within scaffolds, callus formation was significantly higher in HA-empty scaffolds (100.9 ± 14.1 mm(3) ) when compared with HA-low (57.8 ± 7.3 mm(3) ; p ≤ 0.003) and HA-high (69.2 ± 10.4 mm(3) ; p ≤ 0.02) after 8 weeks. These data highlight the need for a better understanding of the parameters critical to the success of cell-seeded HA scaffolds for bone regeneration.
Internally resonant surface waves in a circular cylinder

The two dominant, linearly independent surface-wave modes in a circular cylinder, which differ only by an azimuthal rotation of ½π and have equal natural frequencies, are nonlinearly coupled, both directly and through secondary modes. The corresponding, weakly nonlinear free oscillations are described by a pair of slowly modulated sinusoids, the amplitudes and phases of which are governed by a four-dimensional Hamiltonian system that is integrable by virtue of conservation of energy and angular momentum. The resulting solutions are harmonic in a particular, slowly rotating reference frame. Harmonic oscillations in the laboratory reference frame are realized for three special sets of initial conditions and correspond to a standing wave with a fixed nodal diameter and to two azimuthally rotating waves with opposite senses of rotation. The finite-amplitude corrections to the natural frequencies of these harmonic oscillations are calculated as functions of the aspect ratio d/a (depth/radius). A small neighbourhood of d/a = 0.1523, in which the natural frequency of the dominant axisymmetric mode approximates twice that of the two dominant antisymmetric modes, is excluded. Weak, linear damping is incorporated through a transformation that renders the evolution equations for the damped system isomorphic to those for the undamped system.
Reproduction in Northern Populations of the Ridgenose Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Abstract We describe the reproductive biology of northern populations of Crotalus willardi using data gathered from four long-term field studies, histological examination of museum specimens, and literature records. Spermiogenesis occurs summer to early autumn. All male C. willardi examined contained sperm in the vas deferens (June–September) and had enlarged kidney sexual segments (June–October). Parturition occurs from late July through August (n = 17). Postpartum females appear to remain reproductively inactive prior to hibernation. Secondary yolk deposition (vitellogenesis) commences in the late spring or early summer, one or more years after parturition. Ovulation and fertilization probably occur early in the spring, followed by 4–5 months gestation. Copulation occurs in midsummer to early fall (n = 10). Repeated observations of marked females over several years, proportion of adult gravid females (60% Crotalus willardi obscurus, 40% Crotalus willardi willardi, 51% pooled), observations on captive an...
On Diana Chang's “Four Views in Praise of Reality”

(1990). On Diana Chang's “Four Views in Praise of Reality”. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 211-215.
Demographic and psychosocial variables associated with good and bad perceptions of social media use

Social Exchange Theory suggests that adults evaluate good and bad consequences of social relationships they experience, so the present study expected them to also report good and bad perceptions of social media, with perceptions varying according to demographic and psychosocial characteristics. Study participants included 201 working adults (74.6% women; 90.0% Caucasian; mean age?=?44.8 years) who completed online surveys to report demographics (gender, age, children, work hours, health problems), psychosocial variables (anger, self-esteem, job satisfaction, family support, friend support), and perceptions of good and bad consequences of using social media. ANCOVAs to examine demographic variables revealed that good perceptions of social media were most reported by younger individuals, and bad perceptions of social media were reported most by younger individuals and those with health problems. Multiple regression analyses to examine psychosocial variables revealed that good perceptions of social media were reported most by angry individuals with strong friend support, and bad perceptions of social media were reported most by angry individuals with low self-esteem. One interpretation of present results is that individuals use social media as a coping behavior to release anger and gather social support, although it may also produce social criticism, feeling left out, and reduced self-esteem. Examined variables associated with perceptions of social media among an adult sample.Good and bad perceptions were reported most by younger individuals.Bad perceptions were reported most by those with health problems.Good perceptions were reported most by angry individuals with strong friend support.Bad perceptions were reported most by angry individuals with low self-esteem.
A Review of “American Photojournalism Motivations and Meanings”

The history of photojournalism has been documented in many texts in various ways. However, Claude Cookman approaches the history with a fresh perspective while analyzing how photojournalism has cha...
Review of Contemporary Approaches to Fatigue Damage Analysis

A review of current methods for fatigue damage analysis employing smooth specimen materials data for predicting the service life of components and structures subjected to variable loading will be presented. It is written for the beginner in this area of fatigue damage analysis rather than for experienced practitioners. Special emphasis is placed on the detailed elements of the analysis, as well as the overall pattern for synthesizing these elements into a working computer-based program.
Correct asymptotic λ behavior of the partial-wave amplitude

The asymptotic λ behavior of the analytically continued partial-wave amplitude is commonly given (incorrectly) asO(λ −1/2 exp [−Γλ]. This result is exorcised by a careful study of the past Regge literature. The original (correct) result ofO(λ −1/2 exp [−Γλ] is resurrected, and the conditions under which it is valid, as well as its implications, are carefully discussed.
Empirical Studies of Functional Decomposition in Early Design

This paper explores functional decomposition in early design. In the first part of this study, we explore how the three most common methods (top-down, energy-flow, enumeration) affect concept generation for novice design teams (n=25). We found that nearly all the features in the final concept could be mapped to the function diagram, though not all the functions mapped to the actual concept. This suggests that there is not much change in system functionality between these two phases, despite being separated by a few weeks. We also found that teams who used top-down and energy-flow performed nearly the same, and teams who used enumeration performed worse than those who used energy-flow. Based on these results, we recommend using either top-down or energy-flow, but not enumeration in early design. We also observed that teams used the diagramming process to reach a consensus and support team communication. The second part of this study evaluates design reports (n=78) from industry engineers taking a distance learning design course. Even though roughly half of the reports used functional decomposition, there was no correlation between using functional decomposition and final design quality as measured by various grade components. We also observed that half of the function diagrams were tree diagrams. This supports prior findings that a top-down, tree-based approach is more intuitive for engineers. Together, these results suggest that functional decomposition is helpful for team communication, but show no direct correlation with design outcome. We also recommend training strategies for teaching decomposition based on differences between the two datasets.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
A Deep Neural Network Speaker Verification System Targeting Microphone Speech

We recently proposed the use of deep neural networks (DNN) in place of Gaussian Mixture models (GMM) in the i-vector extraction process for speaker recognition. We have shown significant accuracy improvements on the 2012 NIST speaker recognition evaluation (SRE) telephone conditions. This paper explores how this framework can be effectively used on the microphone speech conditions of the 2012 NIST SRE. In this new framework, the verification performance greatly depends on the data used for training the DNN. We show that training the DNN using both telephone and microphone speech data can yield significant improvements. An in-depth analysis of the influence of telephone speech data on the microphone conditions is also shown for both the DNN and GMM systems. We conclude by showing that the the GMM system is always outperformed by the DNN system on the telephone-only and microphone-only conditions, and that the new DNN / i-vector framework can be successfully used providing a good match in the training data. Index Terms: Deep neural networks, Microphone data, Speaker recognition, i-vectors
Hölder estimates for the $$\bar \partial - equation$$ in some domains of finite typein some domains of finite type

We obtain Holder estimates for the\(\bar \partial - equation\) on some domains of finite type in ℂn using proper mapping techniques. The domains considered are domains of finite type in the sense of D’Angelo and are defined by local coordinate expressions satisfying certain algebraic geometric conditions which prevent the existence of complex analytic varieties in the boundary of the domain. Using a proper mapping which is given by the finite type condition and which carries all the information about the intrinsic geometry of the boundary, we transform the finite type points into strongly pseudoconvex ones. At these strongly pseudoconvex points we compute an explicit solution using the Henkin integral formula and we obtain estimates that we are able to pull back to the original domain. We achieve this by exploiting the branching behavior of the proper mapping. We also construct some biholomorphic numerical invariants associated with some of the domains under consideration.
Efficacy of self-control and patience interventions in adolescents

ABSTRACTSelf-control and patience are character strengths predictive of positive developmental outcomes, but few interventions targeting their growth have been tested in adolescents. Moreover, interventions based on the limited-strength model of self-control have received considerable criticism, but few studies have tested moderation of interventions by motivational variables fundamental to computational and process models of self-control. To correct this deficiency, we tested the ability of three interventions—using one’s nondominant hand, engaging in cognitive reappraisal exercises, and tracking one’s schedule—to increase self-control and patience in 355 high school students (mean = 16.0 years; 59% female). The nondominant hand and schedule tracking conditions were found to increase self-control, patience, and well-being only when the perceived difficulty was low. Results suggest that the limited-strength model of self-control is insufficient and underscore the explanatory power of computational and pro...
Legal Aspects and Litigation in Aquatic Lifesaving

The material in this chapter is from insight gained from reviewing a series of several hundred legal cases in the United States [1]. Whenever someone experiences a drowning episode at a public or private facility at which the public believes lifesavers should be present and have an obligation to ensure safety, the potential for a lawsuit exists. In the USA, lifesavers and the owners of facilities frequently have lawsuits brought against them when a patron drowns or survives after a drowning episode but with permanent disability. Much of the problem results from unrealistic expectations on the part of the plaintiff. In other cases, the facility and lifesavers, clearly, are not providing the optimum environment to ensure safety.
Fuel Efficiency Benefit for Electrified Vehicles from Advanced Spark-ignition Engine Technologies

Worldwide fuel consumption regulations are becoming more and more stringent. As a result, car companies are looking at a wide portfolio of component technologies, including engines, transmissions, and electrification. This study examined fuel consumption reductions offered by a collection of advanced spark-ignition (SI) engine technologies using full-vehicle simulations. High-fidelity engine models were developed to simulate Variable Valve Lift (VVL), Turbocharging and Downsizing (T), and Gasoline Direct Injection (DI) technologies in an incremental manner through an accumulative technology pathway. Measurements from these models were used to build full-vehicle simulations for each of the technologies across a spectrum of vehicle powertrain configurations with increased electrification. Each vehicle component was algorithmically sized to meet common performance criteria to ensure uniformity and comparability. The effects of vehicle hybridization and electrification on the technology fuel reductions while transitioning from conventional to mild, full, and plug-in hybrid configurations were investigated. Conventional vehicles were found to attain the highest overall benefits, while mild and full hybrid vehicles attained lower benefits. A negative correlation was found between engine technology benefit and vehicle hybridization. Over the pathway, cycles, and configurations investigated, average benefits for DI were found to be 8.0%; VVL, 3.4%; Turbocharging and downsizing, 9.7%; and downsizing from 1.6 L to 1.2 L, 2.7%.
Modeling dependent demand arrivals within an open-access scheduling system

Within an open-access scheduling system, there is an associated risk of managing the clinic's capacity with the expected daily demand. This involves a process of limiting the likelihood of no-shows with prescheduled appointments, while ensuring there are enough available slots for same-day appointment requests. A preliminary discrete-time, discrete-space, stationary infinite-horizon Markov decision process (MDP) model is used to study the impact that batch arrivals have on an open-access scheduling system. The model will assist pediatric dental care providers in determining whether or not to accept batch appointments, where patient demand is dependent on one another. The underlying assumption is that the number of patients within the batch appointment is equal to half of the clinic's total capacity. The objective is to maximize clinic's revenue, while also maintaining timely access to care for patients.
Reaching the Individual: EU Accession, NGOs, and Human Rights

Can human rights institutions influence individual behavior? This article tests the ground level effectiveness of two strategies that aim to eliminate discrimination: a powerful, top-down combination of incentives and norm promotion and a bottom-up NGO-based effort. The study uses a hard case, that of discrimination against the Roma (commonly known by the disfavored term “Gypsies”), spans three towns, Murska Sobota and Novo mesto in Slovenia and Cakovec in Croatia, and includes altogether 606 subjects. Levels of discrimination are estimated via trust games played with money, which are particularly appropriate because the Roma are widely stereotyped as cheaters and thieves. The findings suggest that the EU accession process, widely regarded as a strong incentive-based and norm promoting rights change mechanism, may not substantially reduce discrimination on the ground. Instead, they suggest that ground level organizing aimed at improving relations between Roma and non-Roma helps reduce discrimination.
Growth, structure, and electronic properties of nonpolar thin films on a polar substrate: Cr 2 O 3 on ZnO (0001) and ZnO (000 1 ̄ )

The growth and geometric and electronic structures of ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ layers on the polar ZnO surfaces were characterized to determine how polar substrates can influence the properties of nonpolar films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), reflection high energy electron diffraction, low energy electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and x-ray reflectivity (XRR) were employed to characterize the growth mode, film quality, and interfacial electronic properties. Chromium oxide growth on ZnO $(000\overline{1})$ and $(0001)$ followed the same trends: two-dimensional growth with initial disorder followed by the formation of epitaxial ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3} (0001)$. Despite the initial disorder, HRTEM and XRD/XRR measurements on thicker films revealed an abrupt interface with the ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ lattice extending all the way to the interface. This indicates that above a critical thickness of 10--15 $\mathrm{Cr}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Cr}$ repeat units, the entire film reorganizes into an ordered structure. It is postulated that the oxygen remained ordered throughout the growth but that the chromium initially filled interstices randomly in the oxygen sublattice, which allowed the film to eventually grow with a well-defined epitaxial relationship with the substrate. The polar interfaces showed a small band offset that decayed with increasing film thickness, suggesting that the compensating charges at the interface may partially migrate to the film surface. No evidence of formal changes in the Cr oxidation state at the interfaces was seen. On the other hand, statistical analyses of UPS valence band spectra revealed an enhanced density of states near the valence band edge for ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ on ZnO $(0001)$, consistent with stabilization of the positive interface by filling surface electronic states. In contrast, no significant valence band differences were observed between bulk ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and thin ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ layers on ZnO $(000\overline{1})$, suggesting a different charge compensation mechanism on the negative surface. The potential impact of these findings on the surface properties of chromium oxide thin films is discussed.
Differences in BCL11A SUMOylation Are Associated with Differences in γ-Globin Expression in Primary Erythroid Cells.

Abstract 458 Increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels associated with acute erythropoietic stress in man and experimental baboons have been proposed to result from increased commitment of early progenitors that preferentially express γ-globin to the terminal erythroid differentiation pathway. The increased propensity of early progenitors to preferentially express γ-globin has been hypothesized to be due to the presence of trans-acting factors favoring γ-globin expression. Because increased HbF in response to acute erythropoietic stress does not occur in transgenic human β-globin gene locus mouse models, investigation of the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon requires the use of a primate model system. We investigated the role of DNA methylation and the trans-acting factor BCL11A in the mechanism responsible for increased HbF in a primary cell culture system designed to mimic conditions associated with acute erythropoietic stress. Erythroid progenitor cells (EPC) derived from CD34+ baboon bone marrow (BM) cells cultured in Iscove9s medium containing 30% fetal bovine serum supplemented with 2 U/ml Epo, 200ng/ml SCF, and 1uM dexamethasone express high levels of γ-globin (0.47+ 0.09 γ/γ+β; n=6). Bisulfite sequence analysis performed to determine whether changes in DNA methylation of 5 CpG residues within the 59 γ-globin promoter regions were associated with increased γ-globin expression showed that DNA methylation levels were similar in BM erythroid cells from normal baboons expressing very low levels of HbF ( Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.