cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Post-Rapanos Predicament: An Application of the Jurisdictional Determination Form

On June 5, 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued joint guidance (herein the Rapanos Guidance) interpreting the U.S. Supreme Court’s divided Rapanos v. United States decision on the geographic extent of regulatory jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The technical document, “Jurisdictional Determination Form Instructional Guidebook” uses ambiguous language regarding implementation of the guidance manual. Pursuant to the Rapanos guidance, traditionally navigable waters (TNW), relatively permanent tributaries to these waters, and wetlands directly abutting such tributaries are “categorically” jurisdictional, while non-navigable tributaries that are not relatively permanent, wetlands adjacent to such tributaries, and wetlands that are adjacent to but do not directly abut a relatively permanent non-navigable tributary, are jurisdictional only if they have a “significant nexus” to a TNW. A critical issue for permit applications is whether the proposed activity will be subject to a categorical assertion of regulatory jurisdiction, or to a more involved “significant nexus analysis.” The scientific and environmental analyses of permit applications encountering a significant nexus analysis is designed to undergo additional review by the EPA. At the present time, the Guidance is deficient in providing definitive instruction for determining whether a significant nexus is present between a non-navigable tributary with non-permanent flow and a TNW. Our project allowed implementation of the Guidance and involved the installation of 264 miles of pipeline and permit negotiation with three separate Corps districts. Assessment of 483 streams and 189 wetlands was performed using the newly developed Jurisdictional Determination Forms. An interdisciplinary team approach was developed by integrating the knowledge bases of geographers and ecologists. Databases and maps were developed to allow collective assessment of potential waters of the U.S. within the context of the Rapanos ruling. Because of the Guidance’s ambiguity, it was necessary to develop a defensible approach with detailed concepts and terms to adequately implement the Jurisdictional Determination process to the satisfaction of regulators responsible for the implementation of the jurisdictional determination guidance manual.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Solid state coordination chemistry of metal-azolate compounds: Structural consequences of incorporation of phosphate components in the Co(II)/4-pyridyltetrazolate/phosphate system

Abstract The hydrothermal reactions of a cobalt(II) salt and 5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazole in the presence of phosphate provided two three-dimensional materials of the M(II)/azolate/anion family [Co3(4-pt)3(PO4)] (1) and [Co3(H2O)4(4-pt)2(HOPO3)2] (2) (M(II) = Co; azolate = 5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazole or 4-Hpt; and anion = PO43− (1) and HPO42− (2)). The structures are characterized by the incorporation of metal cluster secondary building units (SBU). The structure of 1 features a variant of the common {M3(μ3-O)} sbu with the central bridging ligand provided by a phosphate oxygen rather than the more common oxo- or hydroxy-ligand. These trinuclear units are bridged through the remaining phosphate oxygen donors into chains which are in turn linked through the pyridyltetrazolate ligands into the framework structure. In the case of compound 2, {Co3(H2O)4}6+ linear trinuclear secondary building units are linked to four adjacent clusters through {HOPO3}2− tetrahedra to generate cobalt(II)-hydrogen phosphate layers, which are linked through the 4-pt ligands into the overall framework.
An Exploration of the use of Complete Songs as Auditory Progress Bars

This paper examines the results of a study conducted to determine if Auditory Progress Bars consisting of complete songs of varying duration would allow listeners to accurately estimate the amount of time they were on telephone hold, while at the same time producing acceptable customer satisfactions scores. Previous research by the authors has shown that a subset of auditory progress bars consisting of sinusoidal wave forms in different configurations do indeed allow listeners to accurately estimate time, while other configurations did not. However, this research also showed that all of the tonal auditory progress bars had exceptionally low customer satisfaction scores. The current research demonstrates that auditory progress bars comprised of complete songs produce both accurate hold time estimates and high consumer satisfaction scores. Implications for the design of auditory progress bars and directions for further research are discussed.
Bisubstrate analog inhibitors of 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase: New lead exhibits a distinct binding mode

6-Hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (HPPK), a key enzyme in the folate biosynthesis pathway catalyzing the pyrophosphoryl transfer from ATP to 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin, is an attractive target for developing novel antimicrobial agents. Previously, we studied the mechanism of HPPK action, synthesized bisubstrate analog inhibitors by linking 6-hydroxymethylpterin to adenosine through phosphate groups, and developed a new generation of bisubstrate inhibitors by replacing the phosphate bridge with a piperidine-containing linkage. To further improve linker properties, we have synthesized a new compound, characterized its protein binding/inhibiting properties, and determined its structure in complex with HPPK. Surprisingly, this inhibitor exhibits a new binding mode in that the adenine base is flipped when compared to previously reported structures. Furthermore, the side chain of amino acid residue E77 is involved in protein-inhibitor interaction, forming hydrogen bonds with both 2' and 3' hydroxyl groups of the ribose moiety. Residue E77 is conserved among HPPK sequences, but interacts only indirectly with the bound MgATP via water molecules. Never observed before, the E77-ribose interaction is compatible only with the new inhibitor-binding mode. Therefore, this compound represents a new direction for further development.
Modeling the Lithium Ion Battery

The lithium ion battery will be a reliable electrical resource for many years to come. A simple model of the lithium ions motion due to changes in concentration and voltage is presented. The battery chosen has LiCoO2 as the cathode, LiPF6 as the electrolyte, and LiC6 as the anode. The concentration gradient and voltage gradient is linearized in two forms of Fick’s first law of diffusion. The voltage gradient increases the motion of the lithium ions by a factor of 100 compared to the concentration gradient. Possible extensions of this simple model are also addressed.
Synthesis, dual fluorescence, and fluoroionophoric behavior of dipyridylaminomethylstilbenes.

The synthesis, dual fluorescence, and fluoroionophoric behavior of two donor−σ spacer−acceptor (D-s-A) compounds, trans-4-(N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino)methylstilbene (1H) and trans-4-(N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino)methyl-4‘-cyanostilbene (1CN), are reported and compared to that of trans-4-(N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino)methyl-4‘-(N,N-dimethylamino)stilbene (1DPA). To gain insights into the dual fluorescence properties for 1H and 1CN in polar but not in nonpolar solvents, model compounds resulting from a replacement of the stilbene group by alkyl (2R) or xylyl (2X) groups or from a replacement of the dipyridylamino (dpa) group by dianisoleamino (3AA), diethylamino (3EE), methylanilino (3MP), or diphenylamino (3PP) groups also have been investigated. In addition to 1H and 1CN, all four compounds of 3 display dual fluorescence. The locally excited (LE) fluorescence mainly results from the stilbene group and the ICT fluorescence from the through-bond interactions between the amino donor and the stilbene acceptors. In the pre...
Fracture and Fatigue Resistance of Ag/Ta-coated SCS-6/Ti3Al Composites

The effect of a Ag/Ta coating on the fracture resistance of a notched SCS-6 fiber-reinforced Ti 3 Al matrix composite under both static and fatigue loading was investigated. The crack propagation patterns and damage mechanisms under various loading conditions were characterized and compared with the uncoated composite counterparts. The results show that the Ag/Ta-coated composites exhibit typical mode-I failure patterns under both static and fatigue loading, while mixed mode-I & H failure patterns were observed in the uncoated SCS-6/Ti-25-10 composite. Localized interfacial debonding, matrix cracking and fiber fracture in the crack wake were the responsible damage mechanisms for the Ag/Ta-coated SCS-6/Ti-25-10 composite. Extensive interfacial debonding, crack splitting and branching, however, were found to be the dominant mechanisms in the uncoated SCS-6/Ti-25-10 composite.
The Mechanisms and Management of Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema following Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Cardiac surgeons have become more cognizant of the syndrome of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema after cardiopulmonary bypass. Although this syndrome is rare, its occurrence can be catastrophic. This article reviews the current understanding of several factors that have been implicated in the cause of this syndrome and discusses the various options for management of the problem once it has arisen.
Stochastic resonance in threshold devices

We consider the transmission of a periodic signal by noisy threshold devices. A general expression for the input-output characteristic is developed and applied to two particular threshold devices. It is shown that the amplitude of the signal output shows in the subthreshold regime a maximum as a function of the noise strength—the fingerprint of stochastic resonance.
POTENTIAL PERCEPTUAL BASES FOR SUCCESSFUL USE OF A VIBROTACTILE SPEECH PERCEPTION AID

This paper examines the possibility that perception of vibrotactile speech stimuli is enhanced in adults with early and life-long use of hearing aids. We present evidence that vibrotactile aid benefit in adults is directly related to the age at which the hearing aid was fitted and the duration of its use. The stimulus mechanism responsible for this effect is hypothesized to be long-term vibrotactile stimulation by high powered hearing aids. We speculate on possible mechanisms for enhanced vibrotactile speech perception as the result of hearing aid use: (1) long-term experience receiving degraded or improverished speech stimuli results in a speech processing system that is more effective for novel stimuli, independent of perceptual modality; and/or (2) long-term sensory/perceptual experience causes neural changes that result in more effective delivery of speech information via somatosensory pathways.
3D implication logic: Preliminary results

We present preliminary results towards realization of three dimensional material implication logic with monolithically stacked TiO 2 -based memristive devices. As a first step towards our goal we have fabricated and successfully demonstrated resistive switching for top and bottom layer memristors of the bilayer device stack. The 3D aspect of the circuits, which is a main novelty of our work, enables much higher performance of implication logic as compared to planar case. More generally, our research could be applied to digital memories and hybrid programmable logic which would benefit from 3D monolithical integration.
Robust analysis of a mixed-effect model for a multicenter clinical trial

We consider a multicenter clinical trial with treatments as fixed effects and centers and residuals as bivariate and univariate random effects, respectively. There exist situations where it is difficult to justify the conventional normality assumptions for the random components. Following Khatri and Patel (Commun. Stat.-Theory Methods 1992, 21, 21-39), we propose the weighted least-squares (WLS) method and two bootstrap methods, percentile and BCa, that are robust to the departure from normality. Through a simulation study, we compare WLS and bootstrap confidence intervals for the treatment difference. While all three methods give confidence intervals with desired coverage rates, the WLS method gives shorter intervals. We also propose a bootstrap method that is robust to outliers. A numerical example is given to illustrate the methodology.
The impact of adverse childhood experiences on an urban pediatric population.

Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in youth in a low-income, urban community.
SU-FF-I-06: Determination of Optimal KV for Imaging Iodine and Bone in Computed Tomography

Purpose: To determine the kV that will yield optimal contrast to noise ratio (CNR) at a constant patient dose for iodine/ soft tissue and bone/ soft tissuecontrast in head and small body studies. Method and Materials: A head phantom containing water equivalent material and a bone ring to simulate the skull (for head studies) was used to obtain the data. To measure the contrast of iodine to water and bone to water, cylindrical plugs were inserted into the phantom: two plugs contained different dilutions of iodine contrast (Omnipauqe 300mgI/ml), one contained bone equivalent material, and one contained water. This phantom was scanned at kV values ranging from 80 to 140 kV. The contrast was measured as the difference in CT number between the iodine and bone plugs and the water plug. The noise measurements were taken from the water plug. Noise was determined at constant dose (CTDI w), so that the mAs was increased as the kV decreased. Both imagenoise and imagecontrast increased as the kV decreased. The relevant parameter for determining optimal kV is the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) at a constant dose as a function of kV. Results: The optimal kV, within the range of 80 to 140 kV, for the imaging of both iodine and bone is 80 kV. Limitations to this kV selection include the possible presence of increased artifacts in bone imaging, and CT scanner limitations in mAs that might not allow low kV with an adequate level of imagenoise.Conclusion: The common use of 120 to 140 kV in CT scanning may not be optimal for many studies whose primarily objective is the discernment of iodine or bone contrast, such as in brain perfusion studies. The use of lower kV settings may be advantageous in these cases.
A further remark on the logarithmic derivatives of a square matrix

Abstract It is well-known that the logarithmic derivative μ [ A ] of a square matrix A has its value no less than the maximum real part p of the eigenvalues of A and there exist matrices A such that μ [ A ] > p with respect to any norm in C n . The purpose of this note is to show that μ [ A ] can be made equal to p for some operator norm in C n if and only if those eigenvalues of A with maximum real part are simple roots of the minimal polynomials for A .
A codesign environment supporting hardware/software modeling at different levels of detail

Hybrid modeling is a technique that integrates performance and behavioral models within a common simulation. This approach allows behavioral components, containing mixtures of hardware and software, to be evaluated within the context of the system being developed. Hybrid interfaces are required to integrate the behavioral models with the performance models. This paper presents Honeywell's VHDL-based approach to codesign using hybrid modeling. The structure of the hybrid interface is described, and a hybrid interface for a processor model is presented. A four processor Myrinet example is provided to illustrate hardware/software modeling at different levels of detail. We are evaluating our methodology using an internal application.
Compact Thermally Tunable Silicon Wavelength Switch

A wavelength selective photonic switch is developed based on a Si microring resonator using thermo-optic effect. The 10 mum-diameter microring resonator uses single-mode strip Si waveguides of dimension 0.25 mum x 0.45 mum operating at 1.5 mum. Full-width-half- maximum are in the range 0.1-0.2 nm. Ultra wide tunable range (>6.4 nm) was demonstrated. Average rise delay time of 14 mus with low switching power of 3.15 mW has been achieved with 0.2 nm wavelength tuning and 78 mus, 104 mW for 6.4 nm tuning. Input power was observed to have an effect on the tuning time.
Powerful influences: a case of one student teacher renegotiating his perceptions of power relations

Abstract In this case study, a teacher candidate in secondary English develops a power relationship with his mentor teacher that encourages him to interrogate the “frames” he brought to student teaching. This case suggests the importance of (1) both the student teacher’s and cooperating teacher’s prehistories and personal narratives as key texts for explicit study and analysis within the relationship, (2) power relations as a central issue for explicit discussion within the partnership and the context for student teaching, and (3) mentor teacher/teacher candidate tensions as a potential site for mutual learning. These findings suggest the need for a much more deliberate approach to selection and preparation of teachers assuming the role of mentor to student teachers during the field experience.
An improved estimate for thermal stresses in multi-layer assemblies

Electronic assemblies may often be approximated as layered structures during their analysis. Therefore, the thermal stresses that develop in bonded layers is of interest in the modeling of reliability of electronic assemblies. At the present time, analytical models of thermal stresses in multilayered assembly, inspired by the classical work of Timoshenko, exist in the literature. The current approaches to modeling bonded layers philosophically follow the derivations of Chenand Nelson (W.T. Chen, 1979) or Suhir (1986). The accuracy of these two modeling approaches depend on assumptions on the "softness or the relative "stiffness" of the bond layers. It is also difficult to extend Chen and Nelson's solution to assembly with more than three layers since the order of governing equation increases upon introduction of additional layers, and the resulting equation is very difficult to solve analytically. Suhir's model yields an accurate solution when the moduli and the thickness of each layer is comparable, as the different layers are assumed to possess the same radius of curvature at a position along the length. The purpose of current paper is to improve the analytical estimates of thermal stresses in multilayered structures that is provided by existing models. The improvement is aimed at providing accurate solutions when the layers are of significantly different thicknesses or moduli. The total thickness of the layers, however, is constrained to be small compared to the length of the structure.
A very low cost, 3-axis, MEMS accelerometer for consumer applications

We report here on a novel 3-axis MEMS accelerometer intended to meet the requirements of a high volume, very low cost sensor in consumer gaming and hand-held applications. In order to balance the performance and cost requirements of such applications, this device achieves 3-axis sensing with a single proof-mass. This accomplishment required significant process, device, and test design novelty. Because of the extreme cost constraints in these markets, this design reexamines the core system trade-offs between single-chip integrated and 2-chip MEMS solutions. A 2-chip solution was chosen in this case. Minimizing package costs lead to the use of chip stacking in an over-molded plastic package. Finally, a sophisticated method of probing the sensor-only die was developed, which allowed the further development of a “no-shake” sensitivity trim algorithm which does not require mechanical stimulation of the device. Based on the design methodologies described here, a very low cost sensor with superior performance was achieved. The acceleration sensitivity achieved is 300mV/g with a noise limited resolution of 150 µg/√Hz. The offset voltage temperature coefficient is less than 0.3mV/degC.
Functions of Several Complex Variables

In this chapter, we shall define holomorphic functions of several complex variables. The essentially local theory given in Chapter 1, §§3, 4 extends to these functions with little effort. We shall then prove two theorems which show that the behavior of functions of n complex variables, with n > 1, is, in some ways, radically different from that of functions of one variable.
Structure of human epoxide hydrolase reveals mechanistic inferences on bifunctional catalysis in epoxide and phosphate ester hydrolysis

The X-ray crystal structure of human soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been determined at 2.6 A resolution, revealing a domain-swapped quaternary structure identical to that observed for the murine enzyme [Argiriadi, M. A., Morisseau, C., Hammock, B. D., and Christianson, D. W. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 10637−10642]. As with the murine enzyme, the epoxide hydrolytic mechanism of the human enzyme proceeds through an alkyl-enzyme intermediate with Asp-333 in the C-terminal domain. The structure of the human sEH complex with N-cyclohexyl-N‘-(iodophenyl)urea (CIU) has been determined at 2.35 A resolution. Tyr-381 and Tyr-465 donate hydrogen bonds to the alkylurea carbonyl group of CIU, consistent with the proposed roles of these residues as proton donors in the first step of catalysis. The N-terminal domain of mammalian sEH contains a 15 A deep cleft, but its biological function is unclear. Recent experiments demonstrate that the N-terminal domain of human sEH catalyzes the metal-dependent hy...
omega-Iodophenyl fatty acids: a convenient method of radioiodination.

A solid-phase radioiodination technique for wiodophenyl fatty acids using ammonium sulfate is described. The radioiodinations are (I) regioselective, (2) high in yield (95%), (3) short in reaction time (I h) and (4) capable of yielding high specific activity products although at lower yields. Purification is exceptionally simple: a single passage through an ion exchange column to remove unreacted *I is all that is required. Syntheses of several w-iodophenyl fatty acids are also described.
Angiotensin II, from vasoconstrictor to growth factor: a paradigm shift.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is today considered as one of the essential factors in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, producing acute, hemodynamic and chronic, pleiotropic effects. Although now it is widely accepted that these chronic effects are important, Ang II was initially considered only a short-acting, vasoactive hormone. This view was modified a quarter of a century ago when Dr. Owens and his group published a paper in Circulation Research with initial evidence that Ang II can act as a growth factor that regulates cell hypertrophy. They showed in series of elegant experiments that Ang II promotes hypertrophy and hyperploidy of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. However, Ang II had no effect on hyperplasia. These findings led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the roles of growth factors and vasoactive substances in cardiovascular pathology and helped to redirect basic and clinical renin-angiotensin system research over the next twenty-five years. Ang II is now known to be a pleiotropic hormone that utilizes multiple signaling pathways to influence most processes that contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, ranging from hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction, cardiac remodeling, fibrosis, and inflammation to oxidative stress.
DNAjig: A New Approach for Building DNA Nanostructures

DNA self-assembly is an emerging technique in DNA nanotechnology that holds promise for high impact applications such as in the synthesis of DNA-based nanodevices in medicine, robotics and electronics. Recent advancements in technologies and ideas have spurred new growth in the area. The most significant challenge faced by designers in the field is the lack of algorithmic and software options to aid in the design process, and as a result the scope of synthesis has been restricted to modeling a limited set of shapes in 2D. In this paper, we propose a new design methodology called DNAjig to build DNA nanostructures. The highlights of this method are as follows: i) The construction procedure is based on a novel application of space-filling curves to model the shape of an arbitrary user-specified 2D or 3D object. ii) The method results in a simple, yet recursively constructable design layout that is inherently interlocked. iii) Almost all steps within the proposed design procedure can be automated and we present algorithms and a base-version implementation for the same. Wetlab validation showing the results of self-assembly of our first batch of computer generated 2D models is presented.
Noncoherent decision-feedback multiuser detection

The problem of noncoherent multiuser detection for multipulse modulation over the Gaussian multiuser channel is studied. It is assumed that neither the energies nor the carrier phases of the signals of any of the users are available at the receiver. Previously, a post-decorrelative generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) based detector was proposed as a solution to this problem. In this paper, we introduce the concept of noncoherent decision feedback (DF) that forms the basis for an improved solution to the same problem. The users are detected sequentially in some fixed order, and the decision for a particular user takes advantage of the reduction of uncertainty associated with the signal space resulting from decisions already made for previous users. In contrast to coherent DF, therefore, the feedforward and feedback transformations in the noncoherent case are themselves functions of the matched filter outputs. An efficient implementation of the noncoherent DF detector for M-ary modulation and /spl rho/-dimensional signal space requires O(M/sub /spl rho//) computational complexity per user. Upper and lower bounds on its symbol error probability are obtained. It is shown that significant improvements over the post-decorrelative GLRT-based detector are often possible. Sufficient conditions are obtained which guarantee, without ignoring error-propagation effects, that the high signal-to-noise performance of the DF strategy can be as good as its genie-aided version in which perfect past users' decisions are used.
Haploid all the way: a new style of asexuality revealed in animals

Weeks et al(1) recently reported that they had found a species of mites where the parthenogenetic females are haploid. They show that this is caused by intracellular bacteria that turn genetic haploid males into haploid females. I discuss these findings and attempt to place these observations in evolutionary context.
The seven deadly sins of data mining - and how to avoid them

Summary form only given. Fifteen years ago, the salient features of the known extrasolar planets could be written down on an index card. At present the catalog of extrasolar planets numbers in the thousands, and the rate of detection is increasing rapidly. Highly diverse planets are being identified through a diverse set of observational techniques; photometric transit detection, Doppler radial velocimetry, gravitational microlensing, and direct detection via adaptive optics imaging are all producing discoveries at an increasing rate. In this talk, I will give an overview of the census as currently understood, and I will show how the different detection methods are producing complementary detections. Like many areas in astronomy, exoplanetary detection is facing issues related to “Big Data”. Large online repositories (such as that produced by the Kepler Mission) serve many terabytes of data, much of which has gone analyzed due to the time-consuming algorithms required. The talk will seek to highlight the current issues, and will show how ad-hoc collaborations across the community are being formed to deal with the challenges (and the excitement) of this fast-moving area.
An Experimental Test of a Rationalistic Theory of Deterrence

An experimental game tested a rationalistic theory of compliance to threats, which assumes the following: (1) The greater the credibility of the threat source the more compliant the target (subject). (2) The credibility of the threat source is determined by (a) the cost to the source of carrying out the threat and (b) the target's knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the source's behavior in interacting with other threat targets. The theory was clearly disconfirmed. The results can, however, be explained by assuming that subjects regarded the source as violating the norm of equity. Interestingly, the subjects' postgame assessments of how they would have played in other experimental conditions confirm our original rationalistic theory. This suggests that many people assume that to insist on equity is to rationally pursue one's own self-interest.
Thermal convection in the Earth's mantle: Mode coupling induced by temperature‐dependent viscosity in a three‐dimensional spherical shell

Temperature-dependent viscosity places constraints on the spherical harmonic spectrum of thermal convection in the earth's mantle. Viscosity, being a strong function of temperature, gives rise to quantized feed-back loops among low-order modes in the governing equations. This nonlinear resonance is proposed as the cause of the dominance of a low-order convective pattern in the earth's mantle.
Billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Composition, Abundance, Seasonal Activity, and Developmental Time in Florida

ABSTRACT Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Sphenophorus spp.) are common pests whose damage is often misdiagnosed on turfgrass in the United States. Consequently, Florida turfgrass managers have been struggling to satisfactorily control billbug outbreaks. Thus, we sought to determine the species complex, abundance, seasonality, and fecundity of key Sphenophorus spp. from field collections, and quantify duration of developmental and daily activity periods through greenhouse rearing tests. From January 2006 to December 2007, > 18,000 adults of 10 different Sphenophorus spp. were collected from four linear pitfall traps on each of two golf courses in north central and two courses in southern Florida. Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden was the most abundant species, making up >94% of all specimens collected from three of the four golf courses (80.9% of all specimens collected). Adults were active and mature eggs were present in female ovaries nearly every week of the year. Adults were nocturnal. S. v...
Stress effects on the neural substrates of motivated behavior

Exposure to stress has profound, but complex, actions on motivated behavior and decision-making. These effects are central to core symptoms of a number of psychiatric disorders that are precipitated or augmented by stress, such as depressive disorders and substance use disorders. Studying the neural substrates of stress's effects on motivation has revealed that stress affects multiple targets on circuits throughout the brain using diverse molecular signaling processes. Moreover, stress does not have unitary effects on motivated behavior, but differences in the intensity, duration, intermittency, controllability and nature of the stressor produce qualitatively and quantitatively different behavioral endpoints. Unsurprisingly, the results of neuroscientific investigations into stress and motivation often open more questions than they resolve. Here we discuss contemporary results pertaining to the neural mechanisms by which stress alters motivation, identify points of contention and highlight integrative areas for continuing research into these multifaceted complexities.
The challenge of mapping between two medical coding systems.

ABSTRACT Objective: Deployable medical systems patient conditions (PCs) designate groups of patients with similar medical conditions and, therefore, similar treatment requirements. PCs are used by the U.S. military to estimate field medical resources needed in combat operations. Information associated with each of the 389 PCs is based on subject matter expert opinion, instead of direct derivation from standard medical codes. Currently, no mechanisms exist to tie current or historical medical data to PCs. Our study objective was to determine whether reliable conversion between PC codes and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes is possible. Methods: Data were analyzed for three professional coders assigning all applicable ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes to each PC code. Inter-rater reliability was measured by using Cohen's κ statistic and percent agreement. Methods were developed to calculate κ statistics when multiple responses could be selected f...
CFD Simulation of a Supersonic Steam Ejector for Refrigeration Application

Supersonic steam ejectors are widely used in many industrial applications, for example for refrigeration and desalination. The experimental evaluation of the flow field inside the ejector is relatively difficult and costly due to the occurrence of shock after the velocity of the steam reaches over the sonic level in the ejector. In this paper, numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the detailed flow field inside a supersonic steam (water vapor being the working fluid) ejector. The commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solver ANSYS-Fluent and the mesh generation software ANSYS-ICEM are used to predict the steam performance during the mixing inside the ejector by employing two turbulence models, the k-ω SST and the k-e realizable models. The computed results are validated against the experimental data. The effects of operating conditions on the efficiency of the ejector such as the primary fluid pressure and condenser pressure are studied to obtain a better understanding of the mixing process and entrainment. Velocity contours, pressure plots and shock region analyses provide a good understanding for optimization of the ejector performance, in particular how to increase the entrainment ratio.© 2015 ASME
A 23,000-year microscopic charcoal record from Anderson Pond, Tennessee, USA

Charcoal records of past fires are important for reconstruction of palaeoenvironments and palaeoclimate, particularly when compared with pollen records of past vegetation, but such records are scarce in the southeastern US. To address the question of how fire activity changed from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) into the Holocene as vegetation changed, we chose a site in central Tennessee for which a pollen record exists back to 23,000 cal yr BP. We developed a new microscopic charcoal record based on point counting of microscopic charcoal fragments on pollen slides from Anderson Pond studied by Hazel Delcourt (1979). The record we produced spans the interval from the LGM to recent and is directly tied to the original pollen record. Charcoal:pollen ratios and charcoal area concentrations are high during the late glacial and track the coniferous pollen record from the LGM to the late glacial, at which point spruce and jack pine pollen markedly diminished along with fire activity. From around 15,000 cal yr BP to the beginning of the middle Holocene, charcoal indices are low. High fire activity began around 8200 cal yr BP, and remained high from ca. 8200–5000 cal yr BP, an interval broadly corresponding to the Mid-Holocene Warm Period (MHWP). The evidence of higher fire activity during the MHWP is coincident with increased percentages of indeterminate pollen grains that are interpreted to signal drier conditions. Charcoal area concentrations declined following the MHWP. Viewed against the original pollen record, the patterns in microscopic charcoal abundance from the LGM to recent at Anderson Pond argue for the strong influence of vegetation as well as climate in driving fire occurrence in eastern temperate North America.
Aspects of the Cultural Background of Premarital Pregnancies in Denmark

other crop acres attracted about 45,000 people to farms. Balancing all of these trends against population pressure and the influence of unknown factors, the farms of the State lost about 200,000 by migration alone during the 30's. This migration of 200,000 failed by 100,000 of taking all the population increase from farms. Possibly other resources than crops were available for the support of the extra 100,000. Off-the-farm employment, not included as a variable in this problem, very likely has made it possible for the North Carolina population to continue to expand. 4. Adjustment of correlation coefficients for regional variation has very little effect on the multiple and partial correlation coefficients. A possible exception is the case of R201.2345 for the total population. Note also the big change in the corresponding regression coefficient, bol. However, in this connection, it is interesting to study Table 3, showing a comparison between the four regions in the case of youth migration. By correlation analysis, we were able to account for nearly 80 percent of the variance in net migration in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain areas, but only from 48 to 57 percent in the Tidewater and Mountain areas, respectively. In the Piedmont and Tidewater areas, population pressure was more highly correlated with net migration than was change in crop acres; but in the Mountains and the Coastal Plain areas, change in crop acres was more important.
GPS Code Tracking Using a Sampling Importance Resampling Particle Filter

Carrier (BOC) modulated signal. Since the associated correlation function is multi-modal, the standard early/late delay lock loop (DLL) can lock onto false peaks producing erroneous range estimates. It has been shown that the SIR particle filter can determine the correct code correlation peak, even with only two correlators. In this paper, additional correlator measurements are optimally integrated into the particle filter, further improving phase estimation. The SIR particle filter is shown to outperform the Kalman filter and the “bump-jump” method in low signal-to-noise environments.
The Nonrandom Distribution of Foraging Honey Bees Between Apiaries

How distance affects the distribution of forging honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.) was studied without having the results confounded by variation in the food supply. In the first experiment colonies were positioned at two locations 1,925 feet apart in a low-bush blueberry ( Vaccinium lamarckii Camp) field; in the second experiment the colonies were 800 feet apart in an apple orchard. Bees from each apiary were distinguished by either genetic markers or radioactive phosphorus. The ratio of bees from one apiary to bees from the other was determined at various distances between the two apiaries. In both experiments the ratio or bees from Apiary A to bees from Apiary B increased significantly as the distance to Apiary A decreased. Regression analysis showed that this was due to both an increase in bees from Apiary A and a decrease in bees from Apiary B. Therefore, but are not distributed at random in the area between apiaries, but, relative to the food supply, forage in greater numbers close to their hive.
Identification and Control Evaluation of Occupational Hazards in A Compact Energy-saving Lamp Production Line

[Objective] To understand the existed occupational hazards and the extent of it in a compact energy-saving lamp production line,so as to raise the focus of occupational disease prevention,through identification and control evaluation of occupational hazards.[Methods] The methods of occupational hygiene investigation and occupational hazards detection in workplace were adopted to evaluate the construction project.[Results] The major existed occupational hazards in production were mercury,molybdenum,carbon monoxide,sulfur dioxide,and so on.The detection results were comprehensively evaluated,except for the treatment procedure of wasted lamp,the other procedures were qualified.[Conclusion]The control measures of occupational hazards in the construction project are feasible.
Respiratory distress syndrome--update 1982

Despite the many advances in therapy, respiratory distress syndrome remains the major pulmonary problem of the newborn infant. In this article the recent progress in the understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of respiratory distress syndrome is summarized and some new trials of treatment are discussed.
Creatine Supplementation Does Not Prevent the Development of Alcoholic Steatosis.

Background Alcohol-induced reduction in the hepatocellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM):S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio impairs the activities of many SAM-dependent methyltransferases. These impairments ultimately lead to the generation of several hallmark features of alcoholic liver injury including steatosis. Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the final reaction in the creatine biosynthetic process. The liver is a major site for creatine synthesis which places a substantial methylation burden on this organ as GAMT-mediated reactions consume as much as 40% of all the SAM-derived methyl groups. We hypothesized that dietary creatine supplementation could potentially spare SAM, preserve the hepatocellular SAM:SAH ratio, and thereby prevent the development of alcoholic steatosis and other consequences of impaired methylation reactions. Methods For these studies, male Wistar rats were pair-fed the Lieber-DeCarli control or ethanol (EtOH) diet with or without 1% creatine supplementation. At the end of 4 to 5 weeks of feeding, relevant biochemical and histological analyses were performed. Results We observed that creatine supplementation neither prevented alcoholic steatosis nor attenuated the alcohol-induced impairments in proteasome activity. The lower hepatocellular SAM:SAH ratio seen in the EtOH-fed rats was also not normalized or SAM levels spared when these rats were fed the creatine-supplemented EtOH diet. However, a >10-fold increased level of creatine was observed in the liver, serum, and hearts of rats fed the creatine-supplemented diets. Conclusions Overall, dietary creatine supplementation did not prevent alcoholic liver injury despite its known efficacy in preventing high-fat-diet-induced steatosis. Betaine, a promethylating agent that maintains the hepatocellular SAM:SAH, still remains our best option for treating alcoholic steatosis.
Legacy of abuse in a sacred profession: another call for change.

Asymmetry in knowledge and power between (1) physicians and patients and (2) physician educators and their students creates a climate for possible abuse in both sets of relationships. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Bifidobacterium longum spp. infantis

Abstract Bifidobacterium longum spp. infantis 35624, originally isolated from the ileal mucosa of an individual free of gastrointestinal disease has been shown to survive transit through the gastrointestinal tract and to exert potent antiinflammatory effects in vivo in animal models. Other homeostatic effects, such as an enhancement of gut barrier function have also been demonstrated and of relevance to potential clinical indication, this organism has also been shown to accelerate intestinal transit and diminish visceral hypersensitivity. Not surprisingly, therefore clinical trials have focused on irritable bowel syndrome where consistent and clinically meaningful benefits have been demonstrated.
Application of advanced technology to build a vibrant environment on planet mars

In order to make Mars a better planet, in this paper, photo-dissociation technology, mathematical modeling, and a series of chemical reaction methodology have been proposed to create a vibrant ecosystem and balance the atmosphere on Mars. Since CO2 is a stable compound, breaking it down into C and O2 always is challenging, but exciting thought. Interestingly, my recent research revealed that photo-dissociation by utilizing UVV (laser) could be an exciting technology to split CO2 into C + O2 since the theoretical reaction suggested that the production of C + O2 channel from CO2 photo-exciting technology releases the energetic level threshold of C(3P2) + O2(X3∑ g − ) that can be detected by ultraviolet laser pump-probe spectroscopy. Subsequently, a mathematical model for creating of ocean on Mars by breaking its substantial polar ice has been performed considering algorithms for surface and coordinate between the barotropic momentum and continuity equations, and interestingly the calculation suggested that it is very much possible to flow ocean on Mars surface to meet its water demand. Subsequently, proposed series of chemical reaction technology suggested that implementation of carbonator looping and plasma reaction paths can convert photo-dissociated carbon (C) into N2 and NH3 to enrich Mars’ soil in order to grow vegetation as well as to create a balance ecosystem in Mars eventually. Finally, sustainable green technology has been proposed for the development of Mars to be a complete balanced planet to deliver all basic and modern needs to run daily life smoothly. Thus, implication of chemical reaction technologies along with sustainable development plans can indeed make the Mars a vibrant environment to live there in clean and green.
Simplicial Models and Topological Inference in Biological Systems

This article is a user’s guide to algebraic topological methods for data analysis with a particular focus on applications to datasets arising in experimental biology. We begin with the combinatorics and geometry of simplicial complexes and outline the standard techniques for imposing filtered simplicial structures on a general class of datasets. From these structures, one computes topological statistics of the original data via the algebraic theory of (persistent) homology. These statistics are shown to be computable and robust measures of the shape underlying a dataset. Finally, we showcase some appealing instances of topology-driven inference in biological settings, from the detection of a new type of breast cancer to the analysis of various neural structures.
Visuomotor Coordination: From Neural Nets to Schema Theory

In much of control theory, the system to be controlled is represented by an n-dimensional vector, representing for example the position and momentum of key components. In this paper, we look at the adaptive control of systems which cannot be well-defined in such terms. Here, the system to be controlled is the body of a human, animal, or robot in interaction with a complex world made up of diverse objects. We shall study controllers which represent this world by a family of ‘schemas’, and which embed their computations in layers of highly-parallel computing elements. We particularly note the flexibility of ‘schema-asemblages’ as representations when compared to n-vectors; and the way in which identification algorithms within each (motor) schema can provide important tools for adaptive control.
The Development of Charity: Jurisprudential Lessons from History

This article describes the ancient legal practices, codified in Biblical law and later rabbinical commentary, to protect the needy. The ancient Hebrews were the first civilization to establish a charitable framework for the caretaking of the populace. The Hebrews developed a complex and comprehensive system of charity to protect the needy and vulnerable. These anti-poverty measures, including regulation of agriculture, loans, working conditions, and customs for sharing at feasts, were a significant development in the jurisprudence of charity. The article begins with a brief history of ancient civilizations, providing context for the development of charity by exploring the living conditions of the poor. The second half of the article provides a searching analysis of the rabbinic jurisprudence that established the jurisprudence of charity. This ancient jurisprudence is the root of the American modern philanthropic idea of charitable giving exemplified by modern equivalent provisions in the United States Tax Code.However, the author normatively concludes that American law has in recent times deviated from these practices to the detriment of modern charitable jurisprudence. A return to the wisdom of ancient jurisprudence will improve the effectiveness of modern charity and philanthropy.