cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host-limited dynamics of autoparasitoids.

Abstract Autoparasitoids, an important class of intraguild predators used in classical biological control, have a unique biology. Females develop as primary endoparasitoids of scale insects and whiteflies. Males develop at the expense of conspecific or heterospecific parasitoid prepupae. To evaluate the effect of autoparasitism on host suppression, system stability, and parasitoid coexistence, stage-structured differential equation models are developed and analysed. For a host–parasitoid system, autoparasitism stabilizes host–parasitoid oscillations generated by developmental delays of the parasitoid. In host–autoparasitoid–primary parasitoid systems, a distinction between obligate (i.e. parasitoid only attacks conspecifics for the production of males) and facultative (i.e. parasitoid attacks conspecifics and heterospecifics for the production of males) autoparasitism is drawn. Coexistence between an obligate autoparasitoid and primary parasitoid occurs if and only if the autoparasitoid can invade at lower host densities than the primary parasitoid, and the primary parasitoid can suppress the host to a lower equilibrium density than the autoparasitoid. When coexistence occurs, the primary parasitoid determines the host equilibrium abundance. Interactions between facultative autoparasitoids and primary parasitoids can lead to a priority effect, and, less likely, to coexistence. When coexistence occurs, the invasion of the facultative autoparasitoid into the host–primary parasitoid system raises the equilibrium density of the host. In either coexistence scenario, the invasion of an autoparasitoid can stabilize an unstable host–primary parasitoid system. The analysis concludes by showing that the introduction of an autoparasitoid to a host–primary parasitoid system can improve host suppression in the short-term despite possible long-term disruption.
An open trial of mirtazapine in menopausal women with depression unresponsive to estrogen replacement therapy.

Treatment of major depression in menopausal women is controversial. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) treats mild depression but may not treat more severe depression in this population. Antidepressants are recommended as treatment for major depression in menopausal women, but the specific efficacy of antidepressants has not been examined in menopause-associated depression. Twenty-two perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 40-61 taking stable doses of ERT who met Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) criteria for major depression were accessioned into an open-label clinical trial of mirtazapine. Subjects were treated with 30-45 mg/day mirtazapine for 8 weeks and were assessed every 2 weeks with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. Remission of depression was defined as an HDRS-17 score ≤7 at the week 8 study visit. Sixteen (73%) of the enrolled subjects completed the 8-week study. The median HDRS-...
Myth, Memory, Trauma: Rethinking the Stalinist Past in the Soviet Union, 1953–70. By Polly Jones. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2013. Pp. xii, 362. $65.00.)

The sole “healthy” approach for overcoming “a traumatic past,” Holocaust scholar Dominic LaCapra maintains, “‘turns the lamp’ on the past, acknowledging ‘scars that will not disappear and even woun...
Glioma-produced extracellular matrix influences brain tumor tropism of human neural stem cells

A major obstacle in the treatment of gliomas is the invasive capacity of the tumor cells. Previous studies have demonstrated the capability of neural stem cells (NSCs) to target these disseminated tumor cells and to serve as therapeutic delivery vehicles. Less is known about the factors involved in brain tumor tropism of NSCs and their interactions within the tumor environment. As gliomas progress and invade, an extensive modulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occurs. Tumor-ECM derived from six glioblastoma cell lines, ECM produced by normal human astrocytes and purified ECM compounds known to be upregulated in the glioma environment were analyzed for their effects on NSCs motility in vitro. We found that tumor-produced ECM was highly permissive for NSC migration. Laminin was the most permissive substrate for human NSC migration, and tenascin-C the strongest inducer of a directed human NSC migration (haptotaxis). A positive correlation between the degree of adhesion and migration of NSCs on different ECM compounds exists, as for glioma cells. Our in vitro data suggest that the ECM of malignant gliomas is a modulator of NSC migration. ECM proteins preferentially expressed in areas of glioma cell invasion may provide a permissive environment for NSC tropism to disseminated tumor cells.
Genetic analysis of nif regulatory genes by utilizing the yeast two-hybrid system detected formation of a NifL-NifA complex that is implicated in regulated expression of nif genes.

In diazotrophic organisms, nitrogenase synthesis and activity are tightly regulated. Two genes, nifL and nifA, are implicated as playing a major role in this regulation. NifA is a transcriptional activator, and its activity is inhibited by NifL in response to availability of excess fixed nitrogen and high O2 tension. It was postulated that NifL binds to NifA to inhibit NifA-mediated transcriptional activation of nif genes. Mutational analysis combined with transcriptional activation studies clearly is in agreement with the proposal that NifL interacts with NifA. However, several attempts to identify NifA-NifL interactions by using methods such as coimmunoprecipitations and chemical cross-linking experiments failed to detect direct interactions between these proteins. Here we have taken a genetic approach, the use of a yeast two-hybrid protein-protein interaction assay system, to investigate NifL interaction with NifA. A DNA fragment corresponding to the kinase-like domain of nifL was PCR amplified and was used to generate translation fusions with the DNA binding domain and the DNA activation domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4 in yeast two-hybrid vectors. Similarly, a DNA fragment corresponding to the catalytic domain of nifA was PCR amplified and used to generate translation fusions with the DNA-binding domain and the DNA-activation domain of GAL4 in yeast two-hybrid vectors. After introducing appropriate plasmid combinations in yeast cells, the existance of direct interaction between NifA and NifL was analyzed with the MATCHMAKER yeast two-hybrid system by testing for the expression of lacZ and his3 genes. These analyses showed that the kinase-like domain of NifL directly interacts with the catalytic domain of NifA. The biological nitrogen fixation reaction is catalyzed by a complex metalloenzyme called nitrogenase (6, 14). Nitrogenase is composed of two separately purified proteins, both of which are extremely oxygen sensitive. The larger of the two proteins, designated the MoFe protein, has a molecular mass of 230,000 Da (6, 14, 16, 17, 24). The MoFe protein is a tetramer in its biologically active form and is composed of two identical halves, each containing an a-subunit and a b-subunit encoded by the nifD and nifK genes, respectively. The smaller of the two proteins, designated the Fe protein, has a molecular
Retrospective Cost Adaptive Control of Low-Reynolds Number Aerodynamics Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator

*† ‡ § The performance of micro air vehicles (MAVs) is sensitive to flow unsteadiness such as wind gusts, due to their low flight speed and light weight. We investigate the interplay of active flow control and stable flight performance. Specifically, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator, characterized by fast response and non-moving parts, is used to control unsteady aerodynamics under fluctuating free-stream conditions on finite and infinite wings with the SD7003 airfoil geometry at chord Reynolds numbers between 300 and 1000. Feedback control is achieved using a retrospective cost adaptive controller, which adjusts control gains by minimizing a quadratic function of the retrospective performance and requires knowledge of nonminimum-phase (NMP) zeros (i.e., the complex numbers with magnitude greater than one where the transfer function equals zero) of the linearized flow-actuator model. The linearized flow-actuator system with lift as the performance has one real NMP zero, which approaches one as the distance between the actuator and the leading edge, Reynolds number, wing aspect ratio, or voltage increment decreases. At 15° angle-of-attack under modest free-stream fluctuation, DBD actuator commanded by the control law can stabilize lift by adjusting pressure and suction regions on the airfoil surface.
The effects of race-related stress on cortisol reactivity in the laboratory: Implications of the Duke Lacrosse scandal.

The experience of race-related stressors is associated with physiological stress responses. However, much is unknown still about the complex relationship between how race-related stressors are perceived and experienced and potential moderators such as strength of racial identity. This research examines the impact of a real-life stressor and strength of race identity on physiological responses to a social evaluative threat induced in the laboratory. Salivary cortisol measures were collected throughout a stressor protocol. African-American participants were also randomized to one of two conditions designed to promote either racial identification or student identification, before the experimental task. Unexpectedly, a highly publicized real-life racial stressor, the Duke Lacrosse (LaX) scandal, occurred during the course of the data collection. This allowed for pre–post LaX comparisons to be made on cortisol levels. These comparisons showed that across both priming conditions, participants post-LaX had highly elevated cortisol levels that were nonresponsive to the experimental stress task, while their pre-LaX counterparts had lower cortisol levels that exhibited a normal stress response pattern. Furthermore, this effect of LaX was significantly moderated by gender, with women having lower mean cortisol levels pre-LaX but significantly greater cortisol levels than all other groups post-LaX. These results suggest that recent exposure to race-related stress can have a sustained impact on physiological stress responses for African Americans.
Accelerated life tests at higher usage rates

Accelerated life tests are extensively used to provide quickly the information about the life distributions of products. Test units are subjected to elevated stresses which yield shorter lives. For some products whose life is defined by usage, e.g., mileage and cycles, test units are also run at higher usage rates (UR) to compress the test time. This paper presents a method for testing products at both higher stress levels, and UR. Censoring time is pre-determined and fixed, while censoring usage is a function of UR. A UR effect model is proposed to describe the dependence of usage to failure (UTF) on UR. The relationship between UTF, and stress and UR is established, and used to estimate the UTF distribution at design stresses and usual UR. The model parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood method. The best compromise test plans, which choose the UR, stress levels, and sample sizes, are devised by minimizing the asymptotic variance of the estimator of a life percentile at design stresses and usual UR. The efficiency, and sensitivity of the test plans are evaluated. The results show that the test plans are efficient, and robust.
Caloric Consumption in Industrializing Belgium

This article provides estimates of Belgian food consumption in 1812 and 1846 using a national food balance sheet approach. These estimates are then converted into caloric intakes for adult male equivalents. Despite many accounts of an absolute pauperization of the Belgian population during this period, caloric consumption per equivalent adult male is shown to have merely stagnated between 1812 and 1846. There is indirect evidence that inequality in caloric consumption increased at the same time. Energy cost-accounting exercises reveal that the residual caloric quantity available for physical exertion was minimal for large sections of the population.
Spatial Genetic Structure of a Vector-Borne Generalist Pathogen

Vector-borne generalist pathogens colonize several reservoir species and are usually dependent on polyphagous arthropods for dispersal; however, their spatial genetic structure is generally poorly understood. Using fast-evolving genetic markers (20 simple sequence repeat loci, resulting in a total of 119 alleles), we studied the genetic structure of the vector-borne plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in Napa Valley, CA, where it causes Pierce's disease when it is transmitted to grapevines from reservoir plants in adjacent riparian vegetation. Eighty-three different X. fastidiosa multilocus microsatellite genotypes were found in 93 isolates obtained from five vineyards, resulting in an index of clonal fraction closer to 0 and a Simpson's genotypic diversity index (D) closer to a maximum value of 1. Moderate values of Nei's gene diversity (H(Nei); average H(Nei) = 0.41) were observed for most of the X. fastidiosa populations. The low Wright's index of genetic diversity among populations calculated by the FSTAT software (Wright's F(ST) index) among population pairs (0.0096 to 0.1080) indicated a weak or absent genetic structure among the five populations; a panmictic population was inferred by Bayesian analyses (with the STRUCTURE and BAPS programs). Furthermore, a Mantel test showed no significant genetic isolation by distance when both Nei (r = -0.3459, P = 0.268) and linearized (r = -0.3106, P = 0.269) indices were used. These results suggest that the riparian vegetation from which vectors acquire the pathogen prior to inoculation of grapevines supports a diverse population of X. fastidiosa.
Visualization of viral candidate cDNAs in infectious brain fractions from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by representational difference analysis

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a neurodegenerative and dementing disease of later life, is caused by a viruslike entity that is incompletely characterized. As in scrapie, all more purified infectious brain preparations contain nucleic acids. However, it has not been possible to visualize unique bands that may derive from a viral genome. We here used a subtractive strategy known as representational difference analysis (RDA) to uncover such sequences. To reduce the complexity of starting target nucleic acids, sucrose gradients were first used to select nuclease resistant particles with a defined 120S size. In CJD this single 120S gradient peak is highly enriched for infectivity, and contains reduced amounts of PrP (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 92, 5124-8, 1995). Parallel 120S fractions from uninfected brain were made to generate subtractor sequences. 120S particles were lysed in GdnSCN, and ng amounts of released RNA were purified for random-primed cDNA synthesis. To capture representative fragments of 100–500 ...
The time course and specificity of perceptual deterioration.

Repeated within-day testing on a texture discrimination task leads to retinotopically specific decreases in performance. Although perceptual learning has been shown to be highly specific to the retinotopic location and characteristics of the trained stimulus, the specificity of perceptual deterioration has not been studied. We investigated the similarities between learning and deterioration by examining whether deterioration transfers to new distractor or target orientations or to the untrained eye. Participants performed a texture discrimination task in three one-hour sessions. We tested the specificity of deterioration in the final session by switching either the orientation of the background or the target elements by 90°. We found that performance deteriorated steadily both within and across the first two sessions and was specific to the target but not the distractor orientation. In a separate experiment, we found that deterioration transferred to the untrained eye. Changes in performance were independent of reported sleepiness and awareness of stimulus changes, arguing against the possibility that perceptual deterioration is due to general fatigue. Rather, we hypothesize that perceptual deterioration may be caused by changes in the ability for attention to selectively enhance the responses of relatively low-level orientation-selective sensory neurons, possibly within the primary visual cortex. Further, the differences in specificity profiles between learning and deterioration suggest separate underlying mechanisms that occur within the same cortical area.
Perceived Effectiveness of Cessation Advertisements: The Importance of Audience Reactions and Practical Implications for Media Campaign Planning

Cessation television ads are often evaluated with measures of perceived effectiveness (PE) that gauge smokers' reactions to the ads. Although measures of PE have been validated for other genres of public service announcements, no studies to our knowledge have demonstrated the predictive validity of PE for cessation TV ads specifically. We analyzed data from a longitudinal Web survey of smokers in the United States to assess whether measures of PE for cessation TV ads are causally antecedent to cessation-related outcomes. These data consisted of baseline and 2-week follow-up surveys of 3,411 smokers who were shown a number of cessation TV ads and were asked to provide their appraisals of PE for those messages. We found that baseline PE for the ads was associated with increased negative feelings about smoking, increased outcome expectations about the benefits of quitting, increased consideration of the benefits of quitting, increased desire to quit, and increased intentions to quit smoking at follow-up. Results suggest that measures of PE for cessation TV ads can be powerful predictors of likely ad success. Hence, our findings support the use of PE in quantitative ad pretesting as part of a standard regimen of formative research for cessation television campaigns.
Phenology of recruitment and infection patterns of Ascocotyle pachycystis, a digenean parasite in the sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus

In northwest Florida, Cyprinodon variegatus are parasitized by Ascocotyle pachycystis, a digenean parasite that forms metacercarial cysts in the lumen of the bulbus arteriosus. Field experiments revealed that fish accumulated parasites at an uneven rate within the highly seasonal trematode recruitment period. Older (= larger) fish had higher rates of parasite recruitment and higher parasite prevalences and densities (numbers of metacercariae per individual fish) than did younger (= smaller) fish. Nearly all adults were parasitized (prevalence range 70-100%), and parasite densities ranged from zero to 6800 per fish. Parasite distributions were clumped (= aggregated) in fish of all age classes but were less heterogeneous in early juveniles and adults than they were in late juveniles. Parasites affected the population dynamics of sheepshead minnows by causing reduced winter survivorship, as evidenced by an increase in the average size of fish and a decrease in the average infection intensity over the winter.
Cross-scale contradictions in ecological relationships

Not accounting for spatial heterogeneity in ecological analyses can cause modeled relationships to vary across spatial scales, specifically different levels of spatial resolution. These varying results hinder both the utility of data collected at one spatial scale for analyses at others and the determination of underlying processes. To briefly review existing methods for analyzing data collected at multiple scales, highlight the effects of spatial heterogeneity on the utility of these methods, and to illustrate a practical statistical method to account for the sources of spatial heterogeneity when they are unknown. Using simulated examples, we show how not accounting for the drivers of spatial heterogeneity in statistical models can cause contradictory findings regarding relationship direction across spatial scales. We then show how mixed effects models can remedy this multiscaling issue. Ignoring sources of spatial heterogeneity in statistical models with coarse spatial scales produced contradictory results to the true underlying relationship. Treating drivers of spatial heterogeneity as random effects in a mixed effects model, however, allowed us to uncover this true relationship. Mixed effects models is advantageous as it is not always necessary to know the influential explanatory variables that cause spatial heterogeneity and no additional data are required. Furthermore, this approach is well documented, can be applied to data having various distribution types, and is easily executable using multiple statistical packages.
Albumin is a major serum survival factor for renal tubular cells and macrophages through scavenging of ROS

We have previously shown that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an abundant serum lipid that binds with high affinity to albumin, is a potent survival factor for mouse proximal tubular cells and periton...
Structural Changes in the Japanese Supply/Employment Systems of Engineers: Are We Losing or Gaining?

Major changes are occurring in the supply and employment patterns of engineers in Japan. The authors analyze a unique Japanese system of producing doctoral engineers through dissertations instead of coursework; the economic implications of the growing number of engineers employed by the finance/insurance sector, the rigidity in restructuring universities despite the emergence of new disciplines such as information science; and the utilization, assignments, and promotion potential of engineers in the automotive manufacturing industry compared to their counterparts in the United States.
Precision Medicine in the Clinic: Personalizing a Model of Glioblastoma Through Parameterization

In this article, we present an example of how to parameterize a partial differential equation model of glioblastoma growth for individual patients. The parameters allow for a deeper understanding of individual patients which have all been labeled with the same disease based on the tumor growth kinetics.
Tissue-specific regulation of inflammation

Proteins of the complement system are important effectors and modulators of inflammation. The complement cascade is triggered by microbes, tissue debris, and specific antibodies. Serum complement proteins are derived primarily from liver, but extrahepatic complement synthesis is important in homeostasis and in local host defenses. Tissue-specific regulation of expression of complement genes is governed by mechanisms similar to those that regulate other “acute phase reactants.” That is, tissue injury or infection elicit changes in expression of these acute phase proteins, which, although variable in kinetics, magnitude, and direction, are a consequence of an elaborate system of cell-to-cell communication. This communication is mediated via a complex network of cytokines, including the interferons, interleukins, several growth factors, and sex hormones. The cell biological and molecular biological details of these mechanisms are now under active investigation. An understanding in molecular terms of the balance between proinflammatory and counterregulatory forces on complement gene expression should provide new insight into the functions of complement and the design of novel therapies for disorders of inflammation.
Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of p-CuBi2O4 Thin Film Photocathodes

We report the synthesis of visible-light-active thin films of p-CuBi2O4 utilizing electrodeposition for the first time. Bimetallic films of Cu and Bi were deposited from a single bath onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates and thermally oxidized in air. The effects of deposition parameters such as potential, time, and bath concentration were investigated. In general, the films consisted of interconnected particles roughly 250 nm in diameter and showed an onset of light absorption at 680 nm (1.8 eV). The films were characterized by photoelectrochemical (PEC) techniques in order to provide insight into the critical PEC properties of CuBi2O4 such as flat-band potential, photocurrent stability, and incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE). Despite the narrow band gap and quite suitable band edge positions for PEC H2 generation, the films’ stable calculated AM1.5G photocurrents in N2 degassed Na2SO4 were relatively small (44–55 μA/cm2 at −0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl) due to maximum UV quantum yields of ∼1–2% ...
1997 AEG Student Professional Paper: Undergraduate Division: The Effectiveness of In Situ Limestone Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a common problem in southwestern Missouri and is partly responsible for many contaminated water supplies. Mississippian-aged limestone layers act to buffer the hazardous AMD thus reducing the risk. Five such units were analyzed over a range of four aggregate sizes (Very Fine Gravel, Fine Gravel, Coarse Gravel, and Very Coarse Gravel). As the mean aggregate size decreases, the buffering potential increases. The natural stratigraphy aids in neutralizing the AMD, but natural ground-water flow rates may limit this effect. Neutralization is also hampered by a finite reduction in buffering potential due to repeat exposure. Also, limestone aggregate may be utilized as a control measure for AMD produced in surficial settings such as spoil piles and tailings ponds.
Quality Improvement in Primary Care Clinics

Article-at-a-Glance Background Case studies from Project IMPROVE, the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in primary care, were subjected to a qualitative analysis. Three questions were addressed: How does change in the health care environment affect a quality improvement (QI) process? How does clinic organization influence a QI process? and What is the impact of a QI process on clinic organization? Method Case studies were conducted in 6 clinics that had been randomly selected from the 22 clinics participating in the IMPROVE intervention. The case study data consisted of observations of CQI team meetings, open-ended interviews with 30 informants (team members plus others in the clinics), interviews with IMPROVE consultants, and documentation from the project. The data were analyzed to identify themes and generate concepts, assess and compare the informants' experiences, and develop a conceptual framework stimulated by research and theory literature. Results Change and uncertainty in the health care environment both complicated the QI process and motivated participation in improvement. The smaller clinics appeared to have more difficulty with the QI process because of limited resources and lack of compatibility between the QI approach and their clinic organization. Project IMPROVE had two qualitative effects on clinics: increased awareness of preventive services and application of the CQI method to other problems and issues. Conclusion QI initiatives can help clinics adapt to a changing health care environment and create functioning teams or groups that can address a variety of organization problems and tasks. The process should be flexible to accommodate varying organization structures and cultures.
Role of cytosolic Ca in renal tubule damage induced by anoxia.

Cytosolic free Ca (Caf) was measured in three different preparations of freshly prepared proximal tubules from the rabbit kidney during energy deprivation using fura-2. Isolated perfused tubules, t...
Temporary Abdominal Closure

With the shift in strategy to damage control surgery in general and trauma surgical emergencies, surgeons are increasingly faced with the challenge of managing the open abdomen. These complex, critically ill patients are a unique challenge to the surgeon who must prioritize mainly individualized management strategies based on specific goals of care. Several options are available for the management of the open abdomen. Although primary fascial closure is one important goal of surgery, it is not always achievable nor should it be attempted in all patients. Thorough knowledge of the treatment strategies discussed in detail in this chapter is essential to achieving good patient outcomes. Perhaps more important is to know when to apply various strategies and the specific strengths and weaknesses of each. This will allow the surgeon to confidently approach this complex group of patients.
The Origins of Political Trust in East Asian Democracies: Psychological, Cultural, and Institutional Arguments

While the importance of social and political trust has been well documented, there is a lack of scholarly consensus over where trust originates. This article tests three theoretical arguments – social-psychological, social-cultural, and political institutional – on the origin of political trust against three East Asian democracies (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). The empirical analysis from the AsiaBarometer survey illustrates that political institutional theory best explains the origin of political trust in East Asian cases. Citizens of these East Asian democracies have a high level of political trust when they believe that their governments perform well in management of the national economy and political representation of elected officials. Meanwhile, social-psychological and social-cultural theories explain the origins of social trust, but not political trust. The evidence reveals that socially trusting people are not automatically politically trusting; social trust and political trust originate from different sources and do not transform from one to the other.
Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Stimulate Ruffling and Shedding of Mammalian Cell Plasma Membranes

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted intense interest for use in living systems and environmental applications. GO's compatibility with mammalian cells is sometimes inferred from its low cytotoxicity, but such conclusions ignore non-lethal effects that will influence GO's utility. Here we demonstrate, with rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, profound plasma membrane (PM) ruffling and shedding induced by GO using confocal and live cell fluorescence microscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. These membrane structures contain immunoglobulin E receptors, are resistant to detergents, and lack detectable fluorescence labeling of F-actin and fibronectin. The formation of these membrane structures correlates with a loss of contact inhibition between RBL cells. We observe similar cellular responses towards GO for NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. These findings reveal a previously unreported cellular response towards foreign nanomaterials. Membrane ruffling and shedding raise fundamental questions about how GO interacts with the PM, as well as its potential to modulate cellular mechanosensing for tissue engineering, stem cell differentiation, and other biomedical applications.
The inside view of an oscillating pipe

A pipe conveying fluid is a model problem in fluid–structure interactions and nonlinear dynamics. Several experimental and theoretical studies exist on this problem and very rich nonlinear dynamics have been observed including super- and subcritical instabilities as well as various routes to chaos. Despite all the existing studies, we had not yet seen the fluid inside an oscillating pipe as the pipe undergoes different types of flow-induced instabilities. But the wait is over.
Laser Initiation of Fe(II) Complexes of 4-Nitro-pyrazolyl Substituted Tetrazine Ligands

The synthesis and characterization of new 1,2,4-triazolyl and 4-nitro-pyrazolyl substituted tetrazine ligands has been achieved. The strongly electron deficient 1,2,4-triazolyl substituted ligands did not coordinate Fe(II) metal centers, while the mildly electron deficient 4-nitro-pyrazolyl substituted ligands did coordinate Fe(II) metal centers in a 2:1 ratio of ligand to metal. The thermal stability and mechanical sensitivity characteristics of the complexes are similar to the conventional explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate. The complexes had strong absorption in the visible region of the spectrum that extended into the near-infrared. In spite of having improved oxygen balances, increased mechanical sensitivity, and similar absorption of NIR light to recently reported Fe(II) tetrazine complexes, these newly synthesized explosives were more difficult to initiate with Nd:YAG pulsed laser light. Specifically, the complexes required lower densities (0.9 g/cm3) to initiate at the same threshold utilized ...
Self-gauged fiber-optic micro-heater with an operation temperature above 1000°C

We report a fiber-optic micro-heater based on a miniature crystalline silicon Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) fusion spliced to the endface of a single-mode fiber. The silicon FPI, having a diameter of 100 μm and a length of 10 or 200 μm, is heated by a 980 nm laser diode guided through the lead-in fiber, leading to a localized hot spot with a temperature that can be conveniently tuned from the ambient temperature to >1000°C in air. In the meantime, using a white light system operating in the 1550 nm wavelength window where the silicon is transparent, the silicon FPI itself also serves as a thermometer with high resolution and high speed for convenient monitoring and precise control of the heater temperature. Due to its small size, high temperature capability, and easy operation, the micro-heater is attractive for applications in a variety of fields, such as biology, microfluidics system, mechanical engineering, and high-temperature optical sensing. As an example, the application of this micro-heater as a micro-boiler and micro-bubble generator has been demonstrated.
Using The Interactive Graphic Syllabus In The Teaching Of Economics

Syllabus is essentially a concise outline of a course of study, and conventionally a text document. In the past few decades, however, two novel variations of syllabus have emerged, namely “the Graphic Syllabus” and “the Interactive Syllabus”. Each of these two variations of syllabus has its own special advantages. The present paper argues that there could be devised a new combined version of the two mentioned variations, called “the Interactive Graphic Syllabus”, which can potentially bring us the advantages of both at the same time. Specifically, using a well-designed Interactive Graphic syllabus can bring about many advantages such as clarifying complex relationships; causing a better retention; needing less cognitive energy for interpretation; helping instructors identify any snags in their course organization; capability of being integrated easily into a course management system; appealing to many of learning styles and engaging students with different learning styles. In addition to the introduction of the notion of the Interactive Graphic Syllabus, in order to put this idea into action in the context of economics, the present paper takes advantage of the visual “big picture” of intermediate macroeconomics that has already been proposed by Moosavian (2016a). The present paper describes a web-page that contains a web-based interactive graphic of the aforementioned macroeconomics visual “big picture”. It is argued that this graphic can be used as a cyber-resource to technologically support the above-mentioned visual “big picture”, which comprises twenty-seven interrelated macroeconomic diagrams, and gives some details on the types of their relationships. Furthermore, it provides numerous internet links to other relevant instructional resources offered by well-known universities, allowing the students to somehow zoom in the macroeconomics “big picture”. Moreover, this web-page provides roughly one hundred links to short instructional videos. More interestingly, it responds interactively, if one hovers over a particular diagram, by highlighting the routes through which the final macroeconomic general equilibrium is affected by any change in that particular diagram. The interactive graphic went online on 10/30/2015 at the URL http://zeytoonnejad.com/macrobigpic.aspx and is still under minor modification.
Visible Light Communication Module: An Open Source Extension to the ns3 Network Simulator With Real System Validation

The emergence of new physical media such as optical wireless and the ability to aggregate these new media with legacy networks motivate the study of heterogeneous network performance, especially with respect to the design of protocols to best exploit the characteristics of each medium. We consider visible light communications (VLC), which is expected to co-exist with legacy and future radio frequency (RF) media. While most of the research on VLC has been done on optimizing the physical medium, research on higher network layers is only beginning to gain attention, requiring new analyses and tools for performance analysis. To meet this need, we have developed a new ns3-based VLC module that can be used to study VLC-RF heterogeneous networks via simulation. The proposed ns3 module has been developed based on existing models for intensity modulated LED signals operating as lighting units transmitting to optical receivers at indoor scales (meters). These models and the corresponding simulation model are validated using a test bed implemented with a software-defined radio system, photo detector, phosphor-converted “white” LEDs, and under PSK and QAM modulation. Two scenarios are used in the validation of the VLC module: 1) using a receiver placed normal to the transmitter with varying range; and 2) using a receiver with a fixed range with varying angle of acceptance. Results indicate good correspondence between the simulated and actual test bed performance. Subsequently, we demonstrate how the VLC module can be used to predict the performance of a hybrid Wi-Fi/VLC network simulated using the ns3 environment with UDP, TCP, and combined network traffic.
Taking an IME History and Conducting the Examination

The independent medical examination contains both a history and a physical examination, both of which are to be comprehensive. To be fully prepared, efficient, and complete, the IME physician should focus on the 4 Cs or core principles: clarification of purpose, complete preparation, content, and communication. Clarification of purpose refers to the understanding of what the IME is to address and the questions or issues that the requesting party needs clarification. Complete preparation requires the IME physician to review past medical records and other information sent prior to the evaluation, so that they can better explore with the examinee gaps or discrepancies in the medical records or items about the injury, illness, or treatment that are unclear. Content refers to the mechanistic performance of history taking and physical examination, each of which needs to be comprehensive and specific to the benefit system or jurisdictional rules that govern the circumstances.
Examining Wikipedia With a Broader Lens: Quantifying the Value of Wikipedia's Relationships with Other Large-Scale Online Communities

The extensive Wikipedia literature has largely considered Wikipedia in isolation, outside of the context of its broader Internet ecosystem. Very recent research has demonstrated the significance of this limitation, identifying critical relationships between Google and Wikipedia that are highly relevant to many areas of Wikipedia-based research and practice. This paper extends this recent research beyond search engines to examine Wikipedia's relationships with large-scale online communities, Stack Overflow and Reddit in particular. We find evidence of consequential, albeit unidirectional relationships. Wikipedia provides substantial value to both communities, with Wikipedia content increasing visitation, engagement, and revenue, but we find little evidence that these websites contribute to Wikipedia in return. Overall, these findings highlight important connections between Wikipedia and its broader ecosystem that should be considered by researchers studying Wikipedia. Critically, our results also emphasize the key role that volunteer-created Wikipedia content plays in improving other websites, even contributing to revenue generation.
Some mathematical tools for decision making under partial knowledge

We motivate situations in which knowledge can take different forms. Depending upon the form of the available knowledge (data), appropriate mathematical tools for analysis are considered. These include subjective probabilities, lower probabilities, the Choquet integral, random sets, measure-free representation of conditionals (rules), and rule-based procedures.
A Modified Phase-Field Model for Quantitative Simulation of Crack Propagation in Single-Phase and Multi-Phase Materials

Abstract A quantitative phase-field model based on the regularized formulation of Griffith’s theory is presented for crack propagation in homogenous and heterogeneous brittle materials. This model utilizes correction parameters in the total free energy functional and mechanical equilibrium equation in the diffusive crack area to ensure that the maximum stress in front of the crack tip is equal to the stress predicted by classical fracture mechanics. Also, unlike other phase-field models, the effect of material strength on crack nucleation and propagation was considered independent of the regularization parameter. The accuracy of the model was benchmarked in two ways. First, the stress and strain fields around the crack tip in single-phase ZrB2 were compared with the analytical solutions in classical linear elastic fracture mechanics. Second, the crack path and force–displacement responses were examined against experimental results for concrete in the form of fracture of L-shaped plate and wedge splitting tests. To demonstrate the capability of the model in multi-phase materials, crack propagation was simulated for laminates composed of alternating layers of ZrB2 and carbon. The results showed that the proposed modifications in the phase-field model were necessary to predict crack deflection along carbon layers similar to the experimental observations.
Dynamically-Spaced Geo-Grid Segmentation for Weighted Point Sampling on a Polygon Map Layer (Short Paper)

Geo-grid algorithms divide a large polygon area into several smaller polygons, which are important for studying or executing a set of operations on underlying topological features of a map. The current geo-grid algorithms divide a large polygon in to a set of smaller but equal size polygons only (e.g. is ArcMaps Fishnet). The time to create a geo-grid is typically proportional to number of smaller polygons created. This raises two problems - (i) They cannot skip unwanted areas (such as water bodies, given about 71% percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered); (ii) They are incognizant to any underlying feature set that requires more deliberation. In this work, we propose a novel dynamically spaced geo-grid segmentation algorithm that overcomes these challenges and provides a computationally optimal output for borderline cases of an uneven polygon. Our method uses an underlying topological feature of population distributions, from the LandScan Global 2016 dataset, for creating grids as a function of these weighted features. We benchmark our results against available algorithms and found our approach improves geo-grid creation. Later on, we demonstrate the proposed approach is more effective in harvesting Points of Interest data from a crowd-sourced platform.
Can Osteoarthritis Predict Mortality

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal condition. Due to the aging population and rising obesity worldwide, the projected increase in osteoarthritis is expected to be substantial. Since osteoarthritis has been associated with disability and many chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, it is important to consider its impact on mortality.
Self-woven nanofibrillar PEDOT mats for impact-resistant supercapacitors

Here, we demonstrate a nanoengineering strategy that leads to an impact-resistant electrode for flexible energy storage devices such as supercapacitors resulting in state-of-the-art electrochemical performance. A template-less direct vapor synthesis produces a mat of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) 1D nanostructures. A nucleation-controlled self-weaving mechanism is supported enabling rapid synthesis of an electrochemically active flexible electrode in a single step from the vapor phase. Nanofibres self-assemble and “weave” in situ into a micrometer thick porous fibrillar mat characterized by a horizontally-directed interwoven nanofibrillar orientation. A nanofibrillar PEDOT mat is characterized by high conductivity (334 S cm−1), capacitance (164 F g−1) and flexibility (stable upon bending) as well as impact-resistance properties enabling it to withstand an impact energy density of 125 kJ m−2 and to continue storing energy. After a single 125 kJ m−2 mechanical impact, a symmetric electrochemical capacitor composed of nanofibrillar PEDOT mats is cycled for 11 000 times with 80% capacitance retention. After forty 125 kJ m−2 impacts, capacitance degrades by 6% and 1D electrode architecture remains.
Computers and Special Education: What Do Special Educators Have to Know?

This article presents a course design for preparing special educators to use microcomputer technology and attendant software. The theoretical base for such a course is found in the laws surrounding special education wherein learners with exceptionalities are to be prepared to be productive members of society based on their individual strengths and needs. A set of competencies that will enable special educators to use microcomputers and various forms of software are presented. In addition to the competencies, a course outline is presented, including outcome activities to lead special educators to be competent users of technology.The time to prepare special educators to use technology as a tool is now. This is most evident when one examines the impact the inclusion movement is having on education and the mandates of the various federal and state statutes regarding the education of exceptional learners.
Relative sensitivity to climate change of species in northwestern North America

Abstract Climate change affects plants and animals in myriad ways and to different degrees. Therefore, managing species in the face of climate change will require an understanding of which species will be most sensitive to future climatic changes and what factors will make them more sensitive. The inherent sensitivity of species to climate change is influenced by many factors, including physiology, life-history traits, interspecific relationships, habitat associations, and relationships with disturbance regimes. Using a combination of scientific literature and expert knowledge, we assessed the relative sensitivity to climate change of 195 plant and animal species in the northwestern North America. We found that although there were highly sensitive species in each of the taxonomic groups analyzed, amphibians and reptiles were, as a group, estimated to be the most sensitive to climate change. Not surprisingly, we found that the confidence that experts had in their assessments varied by species. Our results also indicate that many species will be sensitive to climate change largely because they depend on habitats that will likely be significantly altered as climates change. Although to date, many climate impact assessments for species have focused on projecting range shifts, quantifying physiological limits, and assessing phenological shifts, in light of our results, a renewed emphasis on the collection of basic natural history data could go a long way toward improving our ability to anticipate future climate impacts. Our results highlight the potential for basic information about climate-change sensitivity to facilitate the prioritization of management actions and research needs in the face of limited budgets.