cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility Of Using Laser-Based Vibration Measurements To Detect Roof Fall Hazards In Underground Mines

One of the primary methods for analyzing roof stability in underground mines is the age-old method of "roof sounding" where a miner taps on the roofand listens for the hollow sound of loose blocks of rock. This paper looks at the feasibility of using noncontact laser-based vibration measurements to detect roof fall hazards with the ultimate vision of improving, expanding and automating procedures for mine roof inspection. Vibration measurements made on loose blocks of rock in underground mines are summarized and compared to estimates of fundamental resonance frequencies for rock slabs of the size responsible for highly hazardous "skin failures." Both laser Doppler vibrometry and full-field interferometric methods are examined and are considered to be feasible methods for detecting anomalous vibrations in loose roofrocks. Results from simple laboratory experiments using laser vibrometry demonstrate some of the proposed application concepts. While considered a challenge to move these techniques from the laboratory to heavy industrial or outdoor environments, the potential for success in the current application is enhanced by the reduced requirements of qualitative analyses.
The distribution of Recent benthic Foraminifera across habitats of Bocas del Toro, Caribbean Panama

We use distributions of Recent benthic foraminifera in Bocas del Toro, Caribbean Panama, to distinguish tropical habitats. Two hundred thirty-seven species occur in 37 samples from substrata of the inner continental shelf (3.7 m) to upper slope (240 m). Cluster analyses of the assemblages primarily differentiate open-ocean from partially restricted, shallow coastal waters, and secondarily differentiate six main habitats with characteristic taxa as follows: shallow lagoon (inner shelf, 10-18 m): Ammonia beccarii, Nonionella atlantica; deep lagoon (inner to shallow middle shelf, 23-35 m): Cancris sagra, Lagenammina atlantica, Reussella minuta; channel (inner to middle shelf, 21-70 m): Bigenerina irregularis, Epistominella vitrea, Hanzawaia concentrica, Reussella spinulosa, Textularia schencki; reef (inner to middle shelf, 6-82 m): Amphistegina gibbosa, Discorbis mira, Eponides antillarum, Hauerina fragilissima, Nodobaculariella casis, Planulina exorna, Pyrgo subspaerica, Quinqueloculina bicornis, Q. collumnosa, Q. lamarckiana, Q. tricarinata, Rotorbinella umbonata, Textularia conica; middle (39 m) to shallow outer (120 m) shelf (excluding middle shelf to upper slope sediments mixed by downshelf transport): Cibicides aff. C. floridanus, C. pachyderma, agglutinated Miliolidae; and deep outer shelf (168 m) to upper slope (235 m): Bolivina lowmani, Cassidulina norcrossi australis, Gyroidina regularis, G. turgida, Uvigerina laevis, U. peregrina. Grain-size analyses show little differentiation of these environments, other than coarse sands of the reef habitat. Distributions of most of the above taxa, except for the reef habitat species, are uncorrelated with grain size and thus are the most useful for paleoenvironmental studies, although the reef taxa should also be useful when comparing samples with similar grain sizes.
Restoration of Antibody-Forming Capacity in Cultures of Nonadherent Spleen Cells by Mercaptoethanol

Populations of mouse spleen cells, without those cells that adhere to glass or plastic, exhibit little or no capacity for formation of antibody to sheep erythrocytes in the Mishell-Dutton culture system. When 5 x 10 -5 M mercaptoethanol is added to the culture medium, the antibody-forming capacity of these nonadherent spleen cells is restored to that of unfractionated spleen cells.
The Spatial Pattern of the Sun-Hurricane Connection across the North Atlantic

The authors define the spatial response of hurricanes to extremes in the solar cycle. Using an equal-area hexagon tessellation, regional hurricane counts are examined during the period 1851–2010. The response features fewer hurricanes across the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and along the eastern seaboard of the United States when sunspots are numerous. In contrast fewer hurricanes are observed in the central North Atlantic when sunspots are few. The sun-hurricane connection is as important as the El Nino Southern Oscillation toward statistically explaining regional hurricane occurrences.
Smokestacks, stagnation episodes, and the regional economic impact of pollution standards

Abstract An empirical model is developed to investigate the role of energy availability and the short run impact of environmental regulations on the level and composition of output and of demand for labor. For a given structure of technology, the model yields the optimum order in which industries should be shut down during an air-pollution episode. The short run policy options relating the tradeoffs between industry and pollution control standards are given, and simulation results are presented.
THE EFFECTS OF THE MOUNT ST. HELENS ERUPTION CLOUD ON FIR (ABIES SP.) NEEDLE CUTICLES: ANALYSIS WITH SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.

Dead fir needles were collected from standing trees of Abies amabilis in five sites at the margin of the blast zone and located progressively farther from the eruption crater of Mount St. Helens. Scanning electron microscope techniques were used to determine patterns of cuticular melting for these needles and for Abies grandis needles which were heated at specific temperatures for 2 min. Comparisons between cuticular appearances of oven-heated needles and needles from Mount St. Helens were made to determine air temperatures at the collection sites at the time of the eruption. Air temperatures at these sites are estimated to have ranged from about 50 C to about 250 C. Analysis of cuticular sulfur content showed these needles adsorbed little or no volcanic S02 . Conifer needles provided a record of maximum air temperatures during the eruption, and helped reveal the pattern of heat distribution from the eruption cloud. This technique may prove useful for ecological studies in other heat-stressed habitats.
System architecture of a modular direct-DC PV charging station for plug-in electric vehicles

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are an emerging technology in the market and are helping to offset the negative effects of existing transportation methods that primarily rely on fossil fuel sources. As PHEVs are being introduced into the market, renewable energy sources such as solar power are taking a larger part in the energy sector. A need for high efficiency battery charging is required to decrease the amount of time it takes to charge these cars in order for them to become a viable means of transportation. A novel solar carport architecture is proposed that will provide a three port interface to PHEVs, solar panels and the utility grid to create a seamless power flow between the three ports. Current battery chargers rely heavily on AC/DC conversion from the grid to the car battery, however a direct DC/DC interface is made in this solar carport thus increasing the overall efficiency. This paper1 will prove this concept and show the improved performance over available battery charging schemes.
Sudden coronary death: pharmacological interventions for the prevention of ventricular fibrillation

Abstract Sudden coronary death in patients with coronary artery disease remains a major medical problem in most industrialized nations and in most instances is associated with the unexpected development of ventricular fibrillation. Despite the development of new anti-arrhythmic drugs, few, if any, are suitable for long-term prophylactic application and none were developed specifically for the prevention of ventricular fibrillation. This article discusses the importance of the preclinical phase of drug development in an attempt to focus on those electrophysiological mechanisms which superimpore upon a vulnerable myocardium thus leading to the onset of lethal arrhythmias. It is against this background that potentially useful pharmacological interventions must be assessed if specific therapy for the prevention of sudden coronary death is to become a reality.
TRADITIONAL BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES OF THE OJIBWE OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA

The Ojibwe have transitioned over the past 100 years from a woodland people moving with the seasons, to forced confinement on rural reservations, to inner-city poverty. Traditionally, Ojibwe women's knowledge has been passed through the generations orally. Using ethnographic methods, data were gathered on traditional infant feeding practices from Ojibwe women (N = 44). Few of these traditions have been documented previously. Some traditions are similar to other indigenous cultures while others are culturally specific. Understanding traditional breastfeeding practices can provide valuable information for those working with indigenous people in a variety of settings, so that they create services that are consistent with traditional values.
Maximum likelihood estimation of the mean of a multivariate normal population with monotone incomplete data

Abstract Given a two-step, monotone incomplete, random sample from N d ( μ , Σ ) , a multivariate normal population with mean μ and covariance matrix Σ , we consider the problem of deriving an exact stochastic representation for μ , the maximum likelihood estimator of μ . We prove that μ and Σ , the maximum likelihood estimators of μ and Σ , respectively, are equivariant under a certain group of affine transformations, and then we apply the equivariance property to obtain a new derivation of a stochastic representation for μ established by Chang and Richards (2009). The new derivation induces explicit representations, in terms of the data, for the independent random variables that arise in the stochastic representation for μ .
STUDIES ON THE INTERCONVERSION OF CARBOHYDRATE AND FATTY ACID IN HYALOPHORA CECROPIA.

Abstract The interconversion and catabolism of fatty acid and carbohydrate were studied in H. cecropia during pupal-adult development. There was no detectable conversion of (1-C 14 )-palmitate or (1-C 14 )-acetate into carbohydrate (glycogen and trehalose). However, the label from C 14 -glucose was recovered in long-chain fatty acid glycerides. An appreciable quantity of radioactivity from uniform-C 14 -glucose was recovered in glycogen. There was no appreciable difference in the incorporation or the breakdown of palmitate, acetate, or glucose between male and female except that the incorporation of C 14 -glucose into glycogen in the female exceeded that in the male during later developmental stages. A large portion of C 14 -palmitate but only a small amount of C 14 -acetate was incorporated into the neutral fat fraction.
Structure or Predisposition? Exploring the Interaction Effect of Discussion Orientation and Discussion Heterogeneity on Political Participation

Past research on how discussions with non-like-minded others impacts political participation has focused mostly on structural attributes of discussion networks, and—as a result—has produced inconsistent findings. This study, therefore, introduced the concept of discussion orientation—one's willingness to express and listen in political discussion, even when disagreement exists—as a predispositional explanation of the impact of discussion heterogeneity on political participation. Based on the national telephone survey data, during the course of the 2004 election, we find a strong main effect of individual predisposition to express different opinions on political participation. In addition, the link between discussion heterogeneity and political participation is significantly stronger for those respondents who exhibit a willingness to express different opinions during those conversations.
Super-iron nanoparticles with facile cathodic charge transfer

Super-irons contain the + 6 valence state of iron. One advantage of this is that it provides a multiple electron opportunity to store additional battery charge. A decrease of particle size from the micrometer to the nanometer domain provides a higher surface area to volume ratio, and opportunity to facilitate charge transfer, and improve the power, voltage and depth of discharge of cathodes made from such salts. However, super-iron salts are fragile, readily reduced to the ferric state, with both heat and contact with water, and little is known of the resultant passivating and non-passivating ferric oxide products. A pathway to decrease the super-iron particle size to the nano-domain is introduced, which overcomes this fragility, and retains the battery capacity advantage of their Fe(VI) valence state. Time and power controlled mechanosynthesis, through less aggressive, dry ball milling, leads to facile charge transfer of super-iron nanoparticles. Ex-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy is used to explore the oxidation state and structure of these iron oxides during discharge and shows the significant change in stability of the ferrate structure to lower oxidation state when the particle size is in the nano-domain.
The Formation of Intermediate Lactones During Aminolysis of Diethyl Xylarate

Abstract The aminolysis of diethyl xylarate was found to proceed through intermediate lactones. In dimethyl sulfoxide at 30°C in the presence of etha-nolamine/ the 1,5-diester is rapidly converted into ethyl d, l-xylaro-1,4-lactone, which reacts with the primary amine to give ethyr N-(2-hydroxyech-yl)-d, l-xylaramide. This compound then forms N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-d, l-xylara-mide-2T5-lactone, which in turn reacts with ethanolamine to produce the final product, N,N'-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-d-l-xylaramide. This sequence of reactions was established by 13C NMR spectroscbpy.
Chemical weathering in the foreland of a retreating glacier

Chemical denudation rates and strontium isotope ratios in streams vary substantially and systematically in the foreland of the retreating Bench Glacier in south-central Alaska. To study weathering of young glacier sediments, we sampled 12 streams draining a chronosequence of till and moraine soils derived from Cretaceous metagraywacke–metapelite bedrock. Both sediment age and vegetation cover increase with distance from the glacier. Cation denudation rates decline with increasing distance from the glacier, whereas silica denudation rates increase. Carbonate dissolution and sulfide oxidation account for roughly 90% of the solute flux from the youngest sediments. Biotite alteration accounts for 5–11% of the solute flux; its peak contribution is found in the glacier outlet stream. Silicate weathering is the dominant reaction only in the oldest sediments. In a laboratory dissolution experiment using fresh glacial sediment, carbonate dissolution dominated the solute flux during the first 700 hours, paralleling the behavior of young sediments in the field. In contrast to trends in the field, the silica flux did not increase after the carbonate was exhausted from the reactor. A possible reason for this difference is that establishment of vegetation causes an increase in silicate weathering. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the glacier outlet stream is greater than that in proglacial streams and in bulk rock, due to a greater contribution of biotite weathering in the outlet than in proglacial streams. Strontium isotope ratios decline with sediment exposure age in the proglacial streams, and are consistent with a carbonate source. Because the dominant weathering reactions in the young sediments are of carbonate and sulfide rather than silicate minerals, weathering at the glacier margin is not an important long-term sink for atmospheric CO2.
Band/wheel system vibration under impulsive boundary excitation

Abstract Measurements of band vibration undertaken here show that passage of the butt weld connecting the ends of continuous band over wheels excites vibration in the band/wheel system. A displacement impulse occurs each time the weld initially contacts and separates from the wheels. The excitation is periodic, and it can excite instability. The vibration and stability of the coupled band/wheel system under impulsive boundary displacements are analyzed in this paper. The theoretical and experimental findings show that resonance occurs in the system when the weld passage (impulse) period is an integer multiple of any system natural period.
Editorial: Papers come in many packages!

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Papers come in many packages!” for OE Vol. 32 Issue 10
Distributed and local sensing techniques for face-to-face collaboration

This paper describes techniques that allow users to collaborate on tablet computers that employ distributed sensing techniques to establish a privileged connection between devices. Each tablet is augmented with a two-axis linear accelerometer (tilt sensor), touch sensor, proximity sensor, and light sensor. The system recognizes when users bump two tablets together by looking for spikes in each tablet's accelerometer data that are synchronized in time; bumping establishes a privileged connection between the devices. Users can face one another and bump the tops of two tablets together to establish a collaborative face-to-face workspace. The system then uses the sensors to enhance transitions between personal work and shared work. For example, a user can hold his or her hand near the top of the workspace to "shield" the display from the other user. This gesture is sensed using the proximity sensor together with the light sensor, allowing for quick "asides" into private information or to sketch an idea in a personal workspace. Picking up, putting down, or walking away with a tablet are also sensed, as is angling the tablet towards the other user. Much research in single display groupware considers shared displays and shared artifacts, but our system explores a unique form of dual display groupware for face-to-face communication and collaboration using personal display devices.
Use of fibrin glue to treat a persistent pneumothorax with bronchopleural fistula.

Purpose. A case of spontaneous pneumothorax with a subsequent bronchopleural fistula (BPF) treated with endoscopically administered fibrin glue is presented. Summary. A 76-year-old white man with a history of a benign lung mass and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was admitted to the hospital with right-sided, anterior, pleuritic chest pain for the past three days and shortness of breath at rest, which worsened during exertion. Initial chest radiograph revealed a right 95% spontaneous tension pneumothorax. A chest tube was immediately placed in the right pleural space, resulting in reinflation of the lung. However, air leaks continued to be present, requiring the need for surgical intervention. The patient required both coronary artery bypass graft surgery and right blebectomy with pleurodesis. Postsurgery, the patient required two pleural chest tubes for the persistence of a BPF. A critical care clinical pharmacist was consulted regarding potential use of an endoscopic fibrin seal. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed, and diffuse bronchiectasis was noted in all right lower respiratory airways. The day after the fibrin sealant was administered, one of the pleural chest tubes was removed because the air leak was significantly reduced in size. The patient was discharged home two days later with a Heimlich chest valve. One week postdischarge, a chest radiograph revealed no pneumothorax. Conclusion. Use of a fibrin sealant injected through a fiberoptic bronchoscope was effective in reducing an air leak associated with a spontaneous pneumothorax and subsequent BPF.
Nomogram for Estimating Creatinine Clearance

Several methods have been published for estimating creatinine clearance from serum creatinine concentrations. Such estimates of creatinine clearance are widely used for dosage adjustments of drugs which are primarily eliminated through the kidneys in patients with reduced renal function. Most of these methods involve the use of equations, requiring a few steps of calculations. A simple and easy-to-use nomogram is presented for estimating creatinine clearance from serum creatinine concentration, plus the age, sex, and bodyweight of the individual patient. This nomogram is based on the linear relationship between creatinine clearance and the reciprocal value of the serum creatinine concentration, where the slope of this relationship is determined by the rate of creatinine production. The rate of creatinine production, however, is related to age, sex, and bodyweight. These physical characteristics are therefore used to scale the slopes of the relationships between creatinine clearance and serum creatinine concentration. The validity of the nomogram was tested in 50 consecutive hospitalised patients for which creatinine clearance was measured. There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.903) between predicted and observed creatinine clearance values.
Superconductivity in the hexaborides

Powder samples of the mixed hexaborides (Y, La)B6 were prepared by borothermal reduction. The superconducting transition temperatures, as measured by static Faraday susceptibility and by Meissner flux expulsion, were observed to range from 6.0 ± 0.1 K for YB6 to 1.6 ± 0.1 K for Y0.5La0.5.5B6. The influence of the impurities ytterbium, cerium, neodymium, iron, barium and calcium was systematically examined. It appears that the very low critical temperature (0.1 K) of LaB6 is due to a small magnetic moment from the lanthanum itself. The change of lattice parameter only exerts a minor influence on the superconductivity.
Photoconductivity of hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Abstract We model the steady-state photoconductivity in hydrogenated amorphous silicon as a function of the energy position and width of the dangling bond states. The model is based on Simmons-Taylor statistics with exponential band tails and trivalent dangling bond states of positive correlation energy; the dangling bond distributions are approximated by peaked double-exponentials. Using the free carrier capture rates of Street, we find three regimes of photoconductivity as a function of generation rate at room temperature. At low generation rate, the recombination traffic is evenly split between electron capture by D +/0 and D 0/- transitions and subsequent hole capture. At intermediate generation rate, the D 0/- transition accounts for ≈70% of the recombination; however, the energy width of the D 0/- level does not control the photoconductivity according to a simple Rose model. And at high generation rate the recombination through band tail states dominates. The model reveals two complexities: first, the power law exponent γ of photoconductivity can remain constant although the dominant recombination channel changes. Second, the crossover between recombination regimes is a strong function of the dangling bond density in the range 10 15 − 10 16 /cm 3 .
Biomimetic synthesis and optimization of cyclic peptide antibiotics

Molecules in nature are often brought to a bioactive conformation by ring formation (macrocyclization)1. A recurrent theme in the enzymatic synthesis of macrocyclic compounds by non-ribosomal and polyketide synthetases is the tethering of activated linear intermediates through thioester linkages to carrier proteins, in a natural analogy to solid-phase synthesis2. A terminal thioesterase domain of the synthetase catalyses release from the tether and cyclization3,4. Here we show that an isolated thioesterase can catalyse the cyclization of linear peptides immobilized on a solid-phase support modified with a biomimetic linker, offering the possibility of merging natural-product biosynthesis with combinatorial solid-phase chemistry. Starting from the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic tyrocidine A, this chemoenzymatic approach allows us to diversify the linear peptide both to probe the enzymology of the macrocyclizing enzyme, TycC thioesterase, and to create a library of cyclic peptide antibiotic products. We have used this method to reveal natural-product analogues of potential therapeutic utility; these compounds have an increased preference for bacterial over eukaryotic membranes and an improved spectrum of activity against some common bacterial pathogens.
Efficient automated algorithm for the sizing of dielectric microspheres using the resonance spectrum

We describe an efficient algorithm for the sizing of single microspheres having a known index of refraction as a function of wavelength. The algorithm employs a peak-detection routine that determines several resonant frequencies in the radiation scattered from the particle. These measured resonances are then compared with entries from a library of stored resonance locations in order to determine a few neighborhoods within which the size of the particle is likely to lie. A final step finds a local minimum of the cost function within each neighborhood, and the size estimate is determined by selecting the smallest of these local minima. The algorithm has modest computational and memory requirements, and it requires no analysis of complicated features of the resonance spectrum that would call for human intervention. Hence it could be automated for nearly real-time operation using a microprocessor. When applied to the measured resonance spectrum of a fluorescent polystyrene sphere, the algorithm finds the radius with an accuracy limited only by such factors as surface roughness, asphericity, and imperfect knowledge of the refractive index. The algorithm is currently limited to use with first-order resonances.
Defect photoluminescence in polycrystalline diamond films grown by arc-jet chemical-vapor deposition

We have studied a series of sharp photoluminescence emission lines between 1.65 and 1.80 eV in synthetic diamond films. The series of lines is decomposed into a set of parent lines plus vibrational sidebands spaced 24 meV apart. This energy does not correspond to any phonons with high density of states in the diamond crystal. The relative intensities of the main lines exhibit no temperature dependence (between 20 and 160 K), implying ground-state splitting. The narrow linewidth and temperature-independent emission energy imply only weak interaction with the diamond host. The temperature-dependence of the linewidth is well described by thermal broadening. We attribute the emission to optical centers as a consequence of tungsten incorporation into the diamond film. The tungsten originates from the electrode during deposition. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Backtrack programming in welded girder design

The object of engineering design is to satisfy some need of man with the maximization or minimization of some measure of effectiveness of the solution. Common measures of effectiveness are cost, cost-benefit ratio, and profit. In mathematical terminology an object or facility can be described by a list or vector of parameter values. The position of each element in the vector associates it with a particular parameter. The performance of the object or facility and the constraints imposed on the performance are described by a set of equalities and inequalities called the design equations. The effectiveness of the solution is indicated by the value obtained by evaluating an objective function with the design parameter values. The object of the design process is to determine the vector of parameter values, the optimum solution, which satisfies the design equations and maximizes or minimizes, as appropriate, the value of the objective function.There are a number of mathematical procedures which are useful in optimization problems. However, most methods are applicable only to particular classes of problems. The application of linear programming, for example, is limited to problems in which the design variables are involved only in linear relationships. Dynamic programming is applicable to problems in which there is a sequential flow of information. Gradient search methods are useful in many problems, but may lead to incorrect results if the function is not unimodal. Difficulties are encountered also if one or more of the parameters are defined only at discrete values. Backtrack programming, 2,3on the other hand, is generally applicable to optimization problems including those for which more specialized techniques are available. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the application of backtrack programming to the design of welded plate girders.
Three Dimensional (3D) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging Technique for Mapping Porosity in Ceramics

A three dimensional (3D) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging (EPRI) method has been developed to probe the structure and size of pores in ceramic materials. A computer control current source and magnetic field gradient coil assembly were added on the conventional EPR instrument as imaging devices. This added-on facility was tested using a phantom sample having cavities filled with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) particles. Pumice was then used to demonstrate the feasibility of the technique. Porous pumice stone was immersed in a 0.5mM 15N-PDT-water solution to introduce the spin labels into the open volume of the sample. A two-dimensional image was reconstructed from a set of 1-D projections using a filtered back-projection technique. A three-dimensional image was derived from 22 2-D images each constructed by 22 1-D projections. At present, the facility allows a resolution of 69 and 46 μm for 2-D and 3-D imaging.
Oxidation of 7-deazaguanine by one-electron and oxo-transfer oxidants: mismatch-dependent electrochemistry and selective strand scission.

Addition of oligonucleotides containing 7-deazaguanine (Z) to solutions containing Ru(dmb)32+ (dmb = 4,4‘-dimethyl-2,2‘-bipyridine) produces an enhancement in the oxidative current in the cyclic voltammogram of the metal complex that can be used, through digital simulation, to determine the rate of oxidation of 7-deazaguanine by Ru(dmb)33+. The measured rate constants are about 10 times higher than those for oxidation of guanine by Ru(bpy)33+, even though the redox potential of Ru(dmb)33+/2+ is 200 mV lower. A potential of 0.75 V (vs Ag/AgCl) can therefore be estimated for the oxidation of 7-deazaguanine, which can be selectively oxidized over guanine when Ru(dmb)33+ is the oxidant. The rate of oxidation was much faster in single-stranded DNA, and the difference between rates of single-stranded and duplex DNA was higher than for guanine. The oxidation rate was also sensitive to the presence of a single-base mismatch at the 7-deazaguanine in the order Z·C < Z·T < Z·G ∼ Z·A < single-stranded. The Z·T mismat...
Vision salience and strategic involvement: implications for psychological attachment to organization and job

Managers' perceptions of their involvement in strategic planning were hypothesized to be positively related with their feelings of organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and job involvement. Further, it was also hypothesized that the relationship between strategic involvement and these work-related attitudes would be enhanced to the extent that the managers' felt that a salient strategic vision was guiding the company. We tested these two hypotheses using a sample of upper level managers in a large corporation undergoing a major strategic transformation. With the exception of finding no evidence that vision salience moderated the positive relationship between strategic involvement and job involvement, both hypotheses were supported. With regard to managers' psychological attachment to the organization, the results suggest that there are advantages afforded by involving them in the strategy making process, and that these advantages are magnified to the extent that the involvement occurs within the context of a salient strategic vision.
Genotype-by-diet effects on co-variation in Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL-cholesterol concentration in baboons fed an atherogenic diet.

Both lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity, a biomarker of inflammation, and concentration of its primary associated lipoprotein, LDL, are correlated with adverse coronary outcomes. We previously reported a quantitative trait locus (QTL) corresponding to HSA2p24.3–p23.2 with pleiotropic effects on Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration in baboons fed a basal diet. Here, our goal was to locate pleiotropic QTLs influencing both traits in the same baboons fed a high-cholesterol, high-fat (HCHF) diet, and to assess whether shared genetic effects on these traits differ between diets. We assayed Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL-C concentration in 683 baboons fed the HCHF diet. We used a bivariate maximum likelihood-based variance components approach in whole-genome linkage screens to locate a QTL [logarithm of odds (LOD) = 3.13, genome-wide P = 0.019] corresponding to HSA19q12–q13.2 with pleiotropic effects on Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL-C levels in the HCHF diet. We additionally found significant evidence of genetic variance in response to diet for Lp-PLA2 activity (P = 0.0017) and for LDL-C concentration (P = 0.00001), revealing a contribution of genotype-by-diet interaction to covariation in these two traits. We conclude that the pleiotropic QTLs detected at 2p24.3–p23.2 and 19q12–q13.2 on the basal and HCHF diets, respectively, exert diet-specific effects on covariation in Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL-C concentration.
Coupling and propagation of normal and dysrhythmic gastric slow waves during acute hyperglycaemia in healthy humans

Acute hyperglycaemia in healthy humans disrupts slow wave rhythm similar to that observed in diabetic gastropathy, but hyperglycaemic effects on regional dysrhythmias, power, coupling and propaga- tion are unexplored. Using mucosal mapping, we aimed to demonstrate that hyperglycaemia elicits region-specific tachygastria and evokes slow wave uncoupling between adjacent regions. Catheters with bipolar electrodes were affixed 10.5, 6 and 2 cm from the pylorus during endoscopy with midazolam in 10 healthy humans. Recordings were obtained for 1 h under basal conditions and for 1 h with hyperglycae- mic clamping to 250 mg dL )1 . In basal recordings, proximal and distal slow wave frequencies were sim- ilar (2.91 ± 0.05 vs 2.81 ± 0.09 cycles per minute (cpm)). Tachygastria (>3.6 cpm) was present 1.7 ± 1.1% of the time proximally and 3.3 ± 1.8% distally and localized to one lead 67% of the time. Proximal to distal gradients in signal power and power variability were observed. Coupling between adjacent sites was 78 ± 2% with propagation velocities of 1.3 ± 0.1 cm s )1 . 2 ± 1% of segments showed >50% uncoupling. Hyperglycaemic clamping increased mean proximal (3.18 ± 0.11 cpm) and distal (3.50 ± 0.12 cpm) frequencies and proximal (15 ± 6%) and distal (32 ± 9%) tachygastria (all P 50% uncoupling (P < 0.01). In conclusion, gastric slow waves show stable, highly coupled rhythms under basal conditions. Hyperglyca- emia elicits isolated tachygastrias and uncoupling of normal slow waves that are most prominent distally. These findings provide a foundation for studying slow wave conduction defects in diabetic gastropathy.
Rapamycin Normalizes Serum Leptin by Alleviating Obesity and Reducing Leptin Synthesis in Aged Rats

This investigation examines whether a low intermittent dose of rapamycin will avoid the hyperlipidemia and diabetes-like syndrome associated with rapamycin while still decreasing body weight and adiposity in aged obese rats. Furthermore, we examined if the rapamycin-mediated decrease in serum leptin was a reflection of decreased adiposity, diminished leptin synthesis, or both. To these ends, rapamycin (1mg/kg) was administered three times a week to 3 and 24-month old rats. Body weight, food intake, body composition, mTORC1 signaling, markers of metabolism, as well as serum leptin levels and leptin synthesis in adipose tissue were examined and compared to that following a central infusion of rapamycin. Our data suggest that the dosing schedule of rapamycin acts on peripheral targets to inhibit mTORC1 signaling, preferentially reducing adiposity and sparing lean mass in an aged model of obesity resulting in favorable outcomes on blood triglycerides, increasing lean/fat ratio, and normalizing elevated serum leptin with age. The initial mechanism underlying the rapamycin responses appears to have a peripheral action and not central. The peripheral rapamycin responses may communicate an excessive nutrients signal to the hypothalamus that triggers an anorexic response to reduce food consumption. This coupled with potential peripheral mechanism serves to decrease adiposity and synthesis of leptin.
Argumentation Maps: GIS-Based Discussion Support for On-Line Planning

Information technology plays a growing role in planning procedures. A procedure step which has not been supported by specific computer tools up to now, is asynchronous discussions. Such discussions can occur in public participation as well as between planners during plan design. In this paper I introduce argumentation models as a way of structuring debates, and review existing tools for recording argumentation. A limited number of tools support design-related or map-related discussions. Their short-comings for analyzing geographically referenced arguments are discussed. Finally, the concept of ‘argumentation maps’ is described, which combine the strengths of rigorous argumentation modeling and detailed geographic location to support map-based discussions in on-line planning.
Active Selection of Sensor Sites in Remote Sensing Applications

In a data-mining approach, a model for estimation of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from satellite observations is learned using collocated satellite and ground-based observations. For accurate learning of such a spatio-temporal model, it is important to collect ground-based data from a large number of sites. The objective of this project is to determine appropriate locations for the next set of ground-based data collection sites to maximize accuracy of AOD estimation. Ideally, a new site should capture the most significant unseen aerosol patterns and should be the least correlated with the previously observed patterns. We propose achieving this aim by selecting the locations on which the existing prediction model is the most uncertain. Several criteria were considered for site selection, including uncertainty, spatial diversity, similarity in temporal pattern, and their combination. Extensive experiments on globally distributed data over 90 AERONET sites from the years 2005 and 2006 provide strong evidence that sites selected using the proposed algorithms improve the overall AOD prediction accuracy at a faster rate than those selected randomly or based on spatial diversity among sites.
The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2E3 and its import receptor importin-11 regulate the localization and activity of the antioxidant transcription factor NRF2

This study describes a novel regulatory pathway for the master antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2. The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2E3 and its nuclear transport receptor importin-11 coordina...
Postglacial fire, vegetation, and climate history in the Clearwater Range, Northern Idaho, USA

The environmental history of the Northern Rocky Mountains was reconstructed using lake sediments from Burnt Knob Lake, Idaho, and comparing the results with those from other previously published sites in the region to understand how vegetation and fire regimes responded to large-scale climate changes during the Holocene. Vegetation reconstructions indicate parkland or alpine meadow at the end of the glacial period indicating cold-dry conditions. From 14,000 to 12,000 cal yr B.P., abundant Pinus pollen suggests warmer, moister conditions than the previous period. Most sites record the development of a forest with Pseudotsuga ca. 9500 cal yr B.P. indicating warm dry climate coincident with the summer insolation maximum. As the amplification of the seasonal cycle of insolation waned during the middle Holocene, Pseudotsuga was replaced by Pinus and Abies suggesting cool, moist conditions. The fire reconstructions show less synchroneity. In general, the sites west of the continental divide display a fire-frequency maximum around 12,000–8000 cal yr B.P., which coincides with the interval of high summer insolation and stronger-than-present subtropical high. The sites on the east side of the continental divide have the highest fire frequency ca. 6000–3500 cal yr B.P. and may be responding to a decrease in summer precipitation as monsoonal circulation weakened in the middle and late Holocene. This study demonstrated that the fire frequency of the last two decades does not exceed the historical range of variability in that periods of even higher-than-present fire frequency occurred in the past.
Characterization of variables defining hindpaw withdrawal latency evoked by radiant thermal stimuli

We have examined the stability and sources of variation within the nociceptive model of rat hind paw withdrawal from an under-glass radiant stimulus (Hargreaves et al., 1988) using a system where stimulus intensity and floor temperature can be controlled and reproducibly changed. The current study demonstrates that: (i) increased stimulus intensity with a fixed surface temperature is associated with a monotonic decrease in mean response latency and its variance; (ii) for a fixed stimulus intensity, the mean paw withdrawal latency and variance increased as the glass floor temperature is lowered from 30 degrees C to room temperature (25 degrees C). Using subcutaneously-implanted thermocouples and a 30 degrees C glass surface, the subcutaneous paw temperature observed at an interval corresponding to the time at which the animal displayed a paw withdrawal did not differ across multiple heating rates (41-42.5 degrees C). This finding is in agreement with human studies of pain thresholds and C-fiber activity. These studies emphasize the importance of maintaining a fixed surface temperature to reduce experimental variability and the utility of this apparatus across multiple stimulus intensities to define agonist efficacy.
Combined SPHARM-PDM and entropy-based particle systems shape analysis framework.

Description of purpose: The NA-MIC SPHARM-PDM Toolbox represents an automated set of tools for the computation of 3D structural statistical shape analysis. SPHARM-PDM solves the correspondence problem by defining a first order ellipsoid aligned, uniform spherical parameterization for each object with correspondence established at equivalently parameterized points. However, SPHARM correspondence has shown to be inadequate for some biological shapes that are not well described by a uniform spherical parameterization. Entropy-based particle systems compute correspondence by representing surfaces as discrete point sets that does not rely on any inherent parameterization. However, they are sensitive to initialization and have little ability to recover from initial errors. By combining both methodologies we compute reliable correspondences in topologically challenging biological shapes. Data: Diverse subcortical structures cohorts were used, obtained from MR brain images. Method(s): The SPHARM-PDM shape analysis toolbox was used to compute point based correspondent models that were then used as initializing particles for the entropy-based particle systems. The combined framework was implemented as a stand-alone Slicer3 module, which works as an end-to-end shape analysis module. Results: The combined SPHARM-PDM-Particle framework has demonstrated to improve correspondence in the example dataset over the conventional SPHARM-PDM toolbox. Conclusions: The work presented in this paper demonstrates a two-sided improvement for the scientific community, being able to 1) find good correspondences among spherically topological shapes, that can be used in many morphometry studies 2) offer an end-to-end solution that will facilitate the access to shape analysis framework to users without computer expertise.
International Survey on Evaluation and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Recommendations regarding evaluation and management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) remain incompletely defined. This survey assesses: how providers across the world diagnose, evaluate, and treat EoE and how educational activities affect management. A web-based survey was sent to the members of World Allergy Organization, American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. A χ2 analysis compared responses based on personal and practice demographics and participation in educational activities. Of the 200 respondents, 68.5% were from the United States. The majority were allergists, who require biopsy to diagnose EoE, perform allergy testing, and obtain follow-up biopsy after treatment. The following variables had significant differences: (1) US practitioners were more likely to test for immediate-type hypersensitivity to foods and obtain follow-up endoscopic biopsies after the initial treatment; (2) Practitioners encountering patients with EoE more frequently were more likely to ask about personal and family history of atopy, test for immediate-type hypersensitivity to aeroallergens and foods, and recommend follow-up biopsy after treatment; and (3) Practitioners who participate more often in EoE workshops were more likely to perform patch testing for foods, while attendance at EoE lectures increased EoE management confidence. Diagnostic and management strategies differ based on practice location, EoE patient load, and participation in educational activities. Practitioners who attend more EoE lectures are more confident managing EoE.
A wavelet and filter bank framework for phonetic classification

We present a wavelet and filter bank framework for context-independent phonetic classification with the aim of extending the work towards a full speech recognition system. The framework addresses the limitations of the Fourier analysis stage commonly used for short-time spectral representation of speech signals. Also, previous research pertaining to wavelet analysis for speech processing mostly makes use of off-the-shelf wavelets and dyadic-based signal decomposition. Our framework provides more flexibility by taking advantage of the relationship between wavelet transforms and filter banks, and using two filter design techniques as well as 'rational' wavelets. On the standard 39 phone TIMIT classification task, we achieve 22.9% error rate on the core test set using rational filter banks and 4-fold aggregation. This is improved to 18.5% when combined with multiple classifiers defined over non-wavelet acoustic measurements.
Application of Differential Display RT‐PCR and EST/Microarray Technologies to the Analysis of Gene Expression in Response to Drought Stress and Elimination of Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn and Peanut

Aflatoxin contamination in the field is known to be influenced by numerous factors. Drought and high temperatures are conducive to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination. This article will review the application of new molecular tools to study host resistance to
Role of Imaging in the Pretreatment Evaluation of Common Gynecological Cancers

Different treatment options are available for patients with gynecological cancers. Imaging plays an important role in assessment of patients with common cancers involving uterine body, cervix and ovaries, from detection to evaluation of the extent of disease. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of cross-sectional imaging techniques in treatment stratification and overall management of patients with endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancers. Several imaging techniques used are described, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), MRI and PET/CT. Specific imaging appearances of the most common uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers are discussed. Imaging findings corresponding to the 2009 revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging of gynecologic malignancies are also described. In the multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with gynecologic malignancies, the role of the radiologist has become central for accurate diagnosis and evaluation of extent of disease to achieve better treatment selection and planning.