cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interpersonal Conflict in Construction: Cost, Cause, and Consequence

AbstractInterpersonal conflict on the job is identified as one of the top occupational job stressors, strongly linked to a reduction in worker psychological and physical health. In addition, interpersonal conflict has been identified as a determinant of work disability, occupational accidents, and other costs related to reduced quality, loss of skilled employees, restructuring inefficiencies, decreased motivation and productivity, absenteeism, and employee turnover. For the construction industry, studies suggest that construction owners and contractors ranked conflict among construction project participants as the highest factor affecting project cost. It is astonishing, in light of this fact, that no research studies exist which attempt to expose the unmistakable financial cost of day-to-day conflict in the construction industry among project participants at the supervisory and trades level. Therefore, the research question being explored is: What are the triggers and consequences of interpersonal confli...
EFFECT OF THERMOCOUPLE WIRE SIZE ON THE COOKING TIMES OF MEAT SAMPLES

The study was designed to determine if two types of thermocouples give the same readings when placed in the same steak and if not, which thermocouple actually gives the more accurate temperature measurement. The larger thermocouple was made of 23 gauge (0.048 cm diam) copper/constantan wire; the smaller, 40 gauge (0.008 cm diam). Results indicate cooking times will be shorter in small steaks if the larger thermocouples are used. There is evidence the larger thermocouples conduct heat into small steaks whereas the smaller thermocouples do not; the smaller thermocouples give a better indication of the internal temperature of the meat than do the larger thermocouples.
Ce and Eu anomalies in zircon as proxies for the oxidation state of magmas

Abstract Chondrite normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of zircons generally have enriched Ce values relative to La and Pr, and depleted Eu values relative to Sm and Gd. High Ce contents in zircon may imply oxidizing conditions (Ce 4+ is more compatible than Ce 3+ ), whereas depleted Eu contents may imply reducing conditions (Eu 2+ does not substitute into the zircon lattice). We report 41 experiments in which temperature, melt composition, and oxygen fugacity ( f O 2 ) were varied in order to explore the details of Ce and Eu incorporation into zircon. Crystals were synthesized in hydrous silicate melts at 10 kbar and 800–1300 °C. Synthetic rock mixes were doped with La + Ce + Pr (±P) or Sm + Eu + Gd and buffered at oxygen fugacities ranging from ∼IW (iron–wustite) to >MH (magnetite–hematite); the run products were analyzed by electron microprobe to obtain crystal/melt partition coefficients. Cerium anomalies increase with higher oxygen fugacities and lower crystallization temperatures. In agreement with other experimental studies, peralkaline melts yield the largest zircon grains but show only modest Ce anomalies even at f O 2 s > MH. The same reason that zircons grown in peralkaline melts are easy to synthesize in the laboratory (these melts are capable of dissolving wt.% levels of Zr before zircon saturation due to high alkali content) makes the melt structure/composition atypical and not representative of most natural magmas. With this in mind, we synthesized zircons in a granitic melt with more modest alkali contents that require geologically plausible Zr contents for saturation. We obtained the following empirical relationship: ln Ce Ce ∗ D = (0 . 1156 ± 0.0050 ) × ln( f O 2 ) + 13 , 860 ± 708 T(K) - 6.125 ± 0.484 where (Ce/Ce ∗ ) D is the Ce anomaly in zircon calculated from partition coefficients, and T is the zircon crystallization temperature in K. Europium anomalies from the same melt composition are more negative at lower oxygen fugacities, but with no resolvable temperature dependence, and can be described by the following empirical relationship: Eu Eu ∗ D = 1 1 + 10 - 0.14 ± 0.01 × Δ NNO + 0.47 ± 0.04 where (Eu/Eu ∗ ) D is the Eu partitioning anomaly and ΔNNO is the difference in log units from the NNO buffer. If both Eu and Ce anomalies in zircons can be used as proxies for the oxidation state of Ce and Eu in the host melts, then it is clear that Eu 2+ and Ce 4+ can coexist in most zircon-saturated magmas. This implies that depletion of Eu melt contents by feldspar crystallization fractionation prior to (or during) zircon crystallization is not required to produce Eu anomalies. Thus, zircon Eu anomalies are a function of the oxygen fugacity and the Eu anomaly of the melt. Cerium anomalies of natural melts are not predicted to be as common because no major rock-forming phase depletes or enriches magmas in Ce compared to neighboring elements La and Pr. Thus, (Ce/Ce ∗ ) D may be most readily applied to constrain the oxidation state of natural melts.
Small flexural oscillations of an initially stretched circular cylinder

Abstract Small flexural oscillations of a circular cylinder initially subjected to a finite extension or compression are studied. The resulting equations are solved for Mooney materials. An approximate frequency expression is calculated for a cylinder with small radius.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase-signaling stimulates Müller glia to proliferate in acutely damaged chicken retina.

Muller glia in the mature retina have the capacity to become progenitor-like cells in a many different vertebrate classes. The cell-signaling pathways that control the ability of mature Muller glia to become progenitor-like cells remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway in regulating the activity of Muller glia in the chicken retina. In response to acute retinal damage, we found that Muller glia accumulated phosphorylated ERK1/2 and phospho-CyclicAMP Response Element Binding-protein (pCREB), and transiently expressed immediate early genes, cFos and Egr1, that are known to be downstream of MAPK-signaling. Egr1 and pCREB were normally expressed by retinal progenitors in the circumferential marginal zone (CMZ), whereas cFos and pERK1/2 were not. In addition, small molecule inhibitors of MEK (UO126) and the FGF-receptor (SU5402) suppressed the proliferation of Muller glia-derived progenitor-like cells. These inhibitors suppressed the accumulation of Egr1 and pCREB, whereas levels of cFos were unaffected in the glial cells. These findings suggest that Egr1 and pCREB are downstream of the signaling cascade activated by FGF-receptors and ERK1/2. Further, our findings suggest that Egr1 and pCREB may promote glial proliferation. We propose that activation of both the FGF-receptor and ERK1/2-pathway is required for the proliferation and transdifferentiation of Muller glia into progenitor-like cells.
A prospective study of cigarette smoking and the incidence of diabetes mellitus among US male physicians.

Abstract PURPOSE: To determine the association between cigarette smoking and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 21,068 US male physicians aged 40 to 84 years in the Physicians' Health Study who were initially free of diagnosed diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Information about cigarette smoking and other risk indicators was obtained at baseline. The primary outcome was reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: During 255,830 person-years of follow-up, 770 new cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified. Smokers had a dose-dependent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus: compared with never smokers, the age-adjusted relative risk was 2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7 to 2.6) for current smokers of ≥20 cigarettes per day, 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0 to 2.0) for current smokers of P for trend CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data support the hypothesis that cigarette smoking is an independent and modifiable determinant of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Intratarsal Keratinous Cyst - An Emerging Entity

We report two cases of recurrent intratarsal keratinous cysts of the Meibomian gland, a recently described lesion thought to have been previously misdiagnosed. The correct diagnosis can be made based on histopathologic features alone, although expression of cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 in the cyst epithelium is a specific marker of these lesions. Recognition of these lesions, and distinguishing them from other intratarsal cysts that do not recur, is important to guide definitive therapy via full-thickness excision rather than simple incision and drainage.
Matching 2D image lines to 3D models: Two improvements and a new algorithm

We revisit the problem of matching a set of lines in the 2D image to a set of corresponding lines in the 3D model for the following reasons. (a) Existing algorithms that treat lines as infinitely long contain a flaw, namely, the solutions found are not invariant with respect to the choice of the coordinate frame. The source of this flaw is in the way lines are represented. We propose a frame-independent representation for sets of infinite lines that removes the non-invariance flaw. (b) Algorithms for finding the best rigid transform are nonlinear optimizations that are sensitive to initialization and may result in unreliable and expensive solutions. We present a new recipe for initialization that exploits the 3D geometry of the problem and is applicable to all algorithms that perform the matching in the 3D scene. Experiments show that with this initialization all algorithms find the best transform. (c) We present a new efficient matching algorithm that is significantly faster than existing alternatives, since it does not require explicit evaluation of the cost function and its derivatives.
Spectral Characteristics of Rotor Blade/Vortex Interaction Noise

The blade/vortex interaction (BVI) impulsive content of a rotor acoustic signal is shown to appear in the midfrequency range of the power spectrum, between the 5th and 30th harmonics of the blade passage frequency, concentrated at the harmonics of the blade passage frequency. These harmonics exhibit a humped or scalloped shape in this midfrequency spectral region. Increased energy at the harmonics of the shaft frequency appears when the BVI impulsive content demonstrates unsteadiness and blade-to-blade differences in the time domain. The experimental data are interpreted via a mathematical model of a generalized BVI acoustic signal and its power spectrum. This model shows that the power spectrum is scalloped and filtered by a comb function, with the amplitude defined by the impulse amplitude and emission time. The scalloping of the spectrum is related to the emission time of the impulse itself and the spacing of the comb function is related to the repetition time (period) of the impulse. The decay rate of the spectral humps is governed by the inverse of frequency squared. The mathematical model illustrates the characteristics observed in the data and implies that these characteristics are due to blade/vortex interaction activity.
Effects of end-of-life education on baccalaureate nursing students.

ABSTRACT •MOST NURSES MUST DEAL WITH DEATH and dying at some time during their careers; therefore, all nurses should have an understanding of the care people require at the end of life. Many schools of nursing, however, do not require end-of-life issues as a separate subject in the curriculum. •THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES baccalaureate nursing students' experiences during a four-month course in end-of-life issues. •A PROJECT EVALUATED the change in students' perceived comfort level in dealing with a patient who is dying and the patient's family members. AORN J 82 (September 2005) 434–440.
Determination of surface charge density of soils

Abstract A simple and precise method for determination of surface charge density of soils is described. It involves saturating the negative and positive exchange sites with NH+ 4 and NO‐ 3 ions, respectively, removing the excess solution by centrifugation, and determining the ions on the exchange sites by a steam distillation method. Results showed that the concentration and type of saturating ions and the extractant used significantly affected the surface negative charge densities. The average value of surface negative charge densities of 10 surface soils from Iowa, Chile, and Costa Rica by the proposed method agreed closely with that obtained by the original method proposed by Schofield in 1949 (14.6 vs. 13.7 cmol(‐) kg‐1 soil). The advantages of the proposed method are no need for the laborious extraction steps and simplicity of the steam distillation method for determination of NH+ 4 and NO‐ 3 in soil samples.
Astronomical user requirements for IR array technology

The wide availability of 2D arrays of IR detectors has resulted in a profound change in the capabilities and perspectives for IR astronomy. As a consequence, astronomical users of these arrays, in both ground-based and space applications, have placed new and, in some cases, difficult requirements on new IR array detector and multiplexer technology. In this paper the most important of these requirements are listed and discussed.
Fertilizer Nitrogen: Contribution to Nitrate in Surface Water in a Corn Belt Watershed

Measurements of nitrate concentration and relative enrichment in nitrogen-15 were made on samples of the surface waters of a typical Illinois corn belt watershed and the effluent of the subterranean tiles that drain the cropped land in the region. From these measurements, we estimate that at the time of peak nitrate concentration in the spring of 1970 a minimum of 55 to 60 percent of the nitrogen found as nitrate in the surface waters of this watershed originated from fertilizer nitrogen
Abstract ED03-05: Innovative technology development to advance biospecimen science.

In 1998, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the groundwork for a highly successful program focused on innovative technology development to overcome persistent barriers for cancer researchers and clinicians. Unlike other initiatives of the time, the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program solicited only the most cutting-edge ideas, thus restricting its application pool to those projects that had the potential to be truly transformative. By doing so, the program filled a void that no other program at the NCI or NIH filled at the time. In 2005, the IMAT program introduced an additional focus on supporting innovative technology development that uniquely advanced the field of biospecimen science. Technologies supported by this mechanism have seen a disproportionately high level of success. The IMAT program continues to represent a unique resource for highly innovative technology development, but runs alongside several active programs at the NCI for supporting cancer-relevant technologies. The full reauthorization of the IMAT program in fall of 2011 by the NCI for 2012-2013 demonstrates a significant commitment, especially under ever tightening fiscal constraints, to supporting innovative technology development for cancer research and clinical care. The IMAT program utilizes unique funding mechanisms to better support investigators through both the early and advanced stages of technology development over traditional funding mechanisms for exploratory research. Moreover, receipt of an IMAT award offers membership to a truly unique community of investigators that meet annually to share progress and exchange ideas. A variety of IMAT-supported research projects will be highlighted to demonstrate the variety and level of innovation evident in the IMAT portfolio of supported research. Potential projects of interest and identified technology gaps specific to the field of biospecimen science and with relevance to cancer health disparities will also be discussed. Currently available funding opportunity announcements are active with three receipt dates open through September, 2013. Enthusiasm from the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors and NCI leadership for the IMAT program indicates that these solicitations are likely to be active beyond these dates. Technology developers from all fields of research are encouraged to apply. Citation Format: Anthony Dickherber. Innovative technology development to advance biospecimen science. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr ED03-05.
Legal risk in agriculture: right-to-farm laws and institutional change

Abstract This paper develops an economic model of producer and residential-neighbor behavior to investigate the ways producers balance the choice of management practices with the risk of agricultural-nuisance lawsuits. Right-to-farm laws have provided a false sense of security in what is, in fact, a risky situation. An interdependent-behavior model is developed to explain the conditions under which residents will sue and producers will shift costs. The sensitivity of these results to different judicial interpretations of right-to-farm laws and to institutional change is discussed.
Comparative effects of essential and nonessential metals on preimplantation mouse embryo development in vitro.

Abstract It is well recognized that deficiencies of essential trace elements during early development can result in structural abnormalities and/or embryonic death. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the concept that small excesses of essential metals can also have negative effects on the developing embryo. We hypothesized that, with respect to toxicity, metals with similar physico-chemical properties would act by similar mechanisms to influence the preimplantation embryo. In the current study we investigated the influence of four essential (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn), and eight nonessential (Cr, Hg, Pb, V, Al, Ag, Cd, As) metals on mouse preimplantation embryonic development. Two cell stage mouse embryos were cultured for 72 h in media containing varying metal concentrations (0.05–200 μM). Embryo cell differentiation and proliferation were respectively assessed by scoring for blastocyst formation and final embryo cell number. Both nonessential and essential metals were embryotoxic at relatively low concentrations. However, in contrast to our expectations, at similar molar concentrations, redox active essential metals were less toxic than non-redox active nonessential metals. These data suggest that direct metal binding to critical membrane sites and/or intracellular ligands, including protein and nucleic acids, may trigger abnormal development and death prior to metal-associated oxidative damage.
The mean and standard deviation of development time

The variability in a population of the onset of a phenophase may be significantly great compared to the mean time or to a practical interest. This is illustrated by flowering of gladiolus and germination of tobacco seed andAlternaria spores. Mathematically, development is conceived to pass through a series of f stages at a rate P, the sum of P to the half-time equals f, and the variance of the times for individual completions is f divided by P2 near the half-time.
Reduced power automata

We describe a class of transitive semiautomata whose power automata are reduced: any two reachable sets of states have distinct behavior. These automata appear naturally in the study of one-dimensional cellular automata.
Laboratory and FEA evaluation of dentin-to-composite bonding as a function adhesive layer thickness

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that microtensile bond strength values are inversely proportional to dentin-to-composite adhesive layer thickness through laboratory mechanical testing and finite element analysis. Method Eighteen noncarious third molars were obtained, and occlusal enamel removed perpendicular to the tooth long axis. Two different adhesive systems were utilized as follows ( n = 3): (1) application of a single layer of Single Bond (3M ESPE Co.) and Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Co.) following the manufacturer's directions; (2) application of one layer of both adhesive systems followed by one additional layer; (3) application of one layer of both adhesive systems followed by two additional layers. A 4 mm build up was fabricated in increments on each tooth sample (Z 100 composite, 3M ESPE). Section measurements were performed and specimens were separated into three adhesive thickness groups per material (40, 40–80 and 80–120 μm) for microtensile testing. The bond strength data (MPa) were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. Maximum principal stresses (MPS) were determined through FEA for three different adhesive layer thicknesses (20, 50 and 100 μm). Results The bond strength data obtained for Single Bond at 0–40 μm presented significantly higher values compared to higher adhesive layer thickness groups. There were no statistical differences among bond strength values for all Clearfil SE Bond adhesive layer thicknesses. FEA modeling indicated that MPS increased as adhesive layer increased. The hypothesis was accepted for the Single Bond only. Significance Correspondence (not tested statistically) between microtensile laboratory testing and FEA model was only observed for Single Bond as increased adhesive layer thickness did not reduce Clearfil SE Bond strength.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in elderly patients

Antipsychotic drugs are widely and increasingly prescribed for neurobehavioral disorders in elderly patients. However, the efficacy of these drugs has not been consistently demonstrated in geriatric populations and there are continuing concerns regarding adverse effects. Among the latter are severe neurological disorders, including neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Although the incidence and mortality of neuroleptic malignant syndrome may have declined with heightened awareness of this disorder and the development of newer drugs, neuroleptic malignant syndrome still occurs in association with the use of antipsychotics. To enhance patient safety and clinical vigilance among practitioners, the authors present a clinical overview of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Adjusting nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in liquid dairy manure through nitrification and chemical phosphorus removal to match crop fertilizer requirements

The objectives of this study are to (1) develop a cost effective treatment strategy to conserve nitrogen (N) in liquid dairy manure by determining the minimum aeration to non-aeration ratios required to conserve N in the manure, and (2) evaluate the suitability of using chemicals to reduce phosphorus (P) concentrations in liquid dairy manure treated as in objective (1) to achieve suitable N:P ratios for crop production.
Sarcoidosis within a renal allograft: A case report and review of the literature

Sarcoidosis is an unusual disorder of unknown etiology. Clinically apparent renal involvement is rare in sarcoidosis. The incidence of recurrence in transplant recipients is unknown with few cases having been reported previously. Herein we report a case of sarcoidosis involving a renal allograft that occurred 3 years after transplantation and provide a literature review.
New Insides on Vaginal Immunity and Recurrent Infections

New Insides on VaginalImmunity and Recurrent Infections Major advances in gene amplification and DNA sequencing technology over the last decade have fundamentally changed our knowledge about the vaginal milieu [1]. Professor Albert Doderlein first reported culturing bacteria from vaginal secretions that were classified in 1928 as Lactobacillus acidophilus, a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic rod-shaped bacteria. Doderlein found that these bacteria produced lactic acid, which in turn inhibited growth of pathogens both in vitro and in vivo.
Treatment of spinal cord compression: A retrospective analysis

Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic disease is a common neurological complication of cancer. The incidence is probably increasing owing to continual advancements in the treatment of cancer that have led to prolongation of life and a greater probability of secondary involvement of the spinal cord. A problem often encountered by the oncologist treating patients with epidural spinal cord compression is the recurrence of compression by metastatic tumor both in and out of the original treatment field. Radiotherapists are often presented with the difficult task of trying to determine the optimal dose/time fractionation with the hope of improving the therapeutic ratio. We have examined the charts of 80 patients treated at the Rhode Island Hospital during the last five years (1975-1980) with myelographic evidence of cord compression in order to determine 1) the recurrence rate of cord compression by metastatic tumor after radiotherapy treatment both in and out of the original treatment field; 2) the influence of various dose/fractionation schedules on the disease-free interval; 3) the percentage of recurrence out of the treatment field that might represent “skipped lesions” at the original time of diagnosis. Our results show 1) that 9 patients (11.3%) experienced recurrence within the original treatment field; 2) that 21 (26.3%) experienced recurrence within the spinal canal, but out of the original treatment field; 3) that 9 of the 21 (42%) cases of recurrence out of the original treatment field occurred within 1 week and thus were determined to be “>Our results show 1) that 9 patients (11.3%) experienced recurrence within the original treatment field; 2) that 21 (26.3%) experienced recurrence within the spinal canal, but out of the original treatment field; 3) that 9 of the 21 (42%) cases of recurrence out of the original treatment field occurred within 1 week and thus were determined to be” at the time of diagnosis; and 4) that there appears to be a dose-response relationship for those patients treated successfully without recurrences who did not have presenting symptoms of complete paraplegia.
The potency–insolubility conundrum in pharmaceuticals: Mechanism and solution for hepatitis C protease inhibitors

Abstract As compounds are optimized for greater potency during pharmaceutical discovery, their aqueous solubility often decreases, making them less viable as orally-administered drugs. To investigate whether potency and insolubility share a common origin, we examined the structural and thermodynamic properties of telaprevir, a sparingly soluble inhibitor of hepatitis C virus protease. Comparison of the hydrogen bond motifs in crystalline telaprevir with those present in the protease–telaprevir complex revealed striking similarities. Additionally, the thermodynamics of telaprevir dissolution closely resembles those of protein–ligand dissociation. Together, these findings point to a common origin of potency and insolubility rooted in particular amide–amide hydrogen bond patterns. The insolubility of telaprevir is shown by computational analysis to be caused by interactions in the crystal, not unfavorable hydrophobic hydration. Accordingly, competing out the particular amide–amide hydrogen bond motifs in crystalline telaprevir with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid yielded a co-crystalline solid with excellent aqueous dissolution and oral absorption. The analysis suggests a generalizable approach for identifying drug candidate compounds that either can or cannot be rendered orally bioavailable by alteration of their crystalline solid phases, in an approach that provides a pragmatic way to attain substantial enhancements in the success rate of drug discovery and development.
GANGRENE OF THE BLADDER DUE TO OVER DISTENTION

ABSTRACTMassive over distention of the bladder in a man caused necrosis of the mucosa and submucosa, which then separated from the muscularis of the bladder. Suprapubic removal of the necrotic tissue followed by prolonged drainage resulted in regeneration of the mucosa. Normal bladder function returned after transurethral resection of the obstructing prostate. Diagnosis of this rare condition is confirmed when necrotic tissue occludes the eyes of catheters so that fluid can be instilled into but not removed from the bladder.
Cash/debt buy-backs and the insurance value of reserves

Abstract The absence of terms of trade contingent instruments in international capital markets, combined with differences in risk aversion between commercial creditors and LDC borrowers, has important consequences for the welfare effects of cash/debt buy-backs. In such circumstances secondary market prices fail to reflect the insurance value reserves have to debtors but not to creditors. Therefore, the country buying back debt with reserves ends up unambiguously worse off even if it succeeds in capturing the full secondary market discount prevailing before the buy-back.
Local Volcano Infrasound and Source Localization Investigated by 3D Simulation

Because sources of volcano infrasound are shallow or aerial, infrasound observations can provide valuable information on eruption dynamics (Fee and Matoza, 2013). In addition to extracting eruption source parameters, higher precision source localization becomes feasible for volcano infrasound, because characteristic wavelengths of volcano infrasound are short (34–340 m for 10–1 Hz sound) compared with associated seismic wavelengths. Such high‐resolution source location makes it possible to differentiate active vents in a multivent system (Ripepe et al. , 2007; Jones et al. , 2008; Johnson et al. , 2013) and to track surface flow phenomena such as pyroclastic flow or rock avalanche (Yamasato, 1997; Ripepe and Marchetti, 2002; Moran et al. , 2008; Ripepe et al. , 2009). High precision accuracy in source location can be achieved by deploying sensors in a local range (e.g., <10 km radius). One benefit of using a local network is to reduce time‐varying propagation effects such as wind and atmospheric temperature variability. Because infrasound sensors are typically deployed on the flanks of volcanoes where topography is pronounced, interaction of infrasound with topography between source and receiver may have a significant effect on propagation physics on a local scale. For example, it was shown that sound diffraction at a volcano crater rim can significantly distort infrasound waveforms (Kim and Lees, 2011). Scattering along the source–receiver topography can cause nonisotropic radiation patterns of infrasound across the recording network (Matoza et al. , 2009; Kim et al. , 2012; Lacanna and Ripepe, 2013; Lacanna et al. , 2014). Even though the importance of near‐source topography on volcano infrasound propagation has been documented, comprehensive modeling of the problem and verification of the result by real field data are slight. In many cases, modeling was performed in a 2D domain that cannot represent realistic volcanic topography, and/or field observations were limited in azimuthal …
How to measure indirect genetic effects: the congruence of trait-based and variance-partitioning approaches.

Indirect genetic effects (IGEs), which occur when phenotypic expression in one individual is influenced by genes in another conspecific individual, may have a drastic effect on evolutionary response to selection. General evolutionary models of IGEs have been developed using two distinct theoretical frameworks derived from maternal effects theory. The first framework is trait-based and focuses on how phenotypes are influenced by specific traits in a social partner, with the strength of interactions defined by the matrix � . The second framework partitions total genetic variance into components representing direct effects, indirect effects, and the covariance between them, without identifying specific social traits responsible for IGEs. The latter framework has been employed more commonly by empiricists because the methods for estimating variance components are relatively straightforward. Here, we show how these two theoretical frameworks are related to each other and derive equations that can be used to translate ¯
Coexpression of connexin45 with connexin43 decreases gap junction size

In the human heart, ventricular myocytes express connexin43 (Cx43) and traces of Cx45. In congestive heart failure, Cx43 levels decrease, Cx45 levels increase and gap junction size decreases. To determine whether alterations of connexin coexpression ratio influence gap junction size, we engineered a rat liver epithelial cell line that endogenously expresses Cx43 to coexpress inducible levels of Cx45 under stimulation of the insect hormone, ponasterone A. In cells induced to express Cx45, gap junction sizes are significantly reduced (by 15% to 20%; p < 0.001), an effect that occurs despite increased levels of junctional connexons made from both connexins. In contrast, coexpression of Cx40 with Cx43 does not lead to any change in gap junction size. These results are consistent with the idea that increased Cx45 expression in the failing ventricle contributes to decreased gap junction size.
Receptor-coated porous silicon resonators for enhanced sensitivity of vapor detection

We present microscale silicon resonators with nanoscale pores for increased surface area, which are capable of providing enhanced sensitivity in vapor sensors. Increased mechanical stability and detection performance are also achieved by keeping parts of the resonating device nonporous and adding a receptor coating. We demonstrate improvements up to 165% and 654% in resonator sensitivity to isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for partially-porous silicon resonators and receptor-coated partially-porous silicon resonators, respectively, as compared to nonporous silicon resonators.
The phenology of plant invasions: a community ecology perspective

Community ecologists have long recognized the importance of phenology (the timing of periodic life-history events) in structuring communities. Phenological differences between exotic and native species may contribute to the success of invaders, yet a general theory for how phenology may shape invasions has not been developed. Shifts toward longer growing seasons, tracked by plant and animal species worldwide, heighten the need for this analysis. The concurrent availability of extensive citizen-science and long-term datasets has created tremendous opportunities to test the relationship between phenology and invasion. Here, we (1) extend major theories within community and invasion biology to include phenology, (2) develop a predictive framework to test these theories, and (3) outline available data resources to test predictions. By creating an integrated framework, we show how new analyses of long-term datasets could advance the fields of community ecology and invasion biology, while developing novel strategies for invasive species management. Although we focus here on terrestrial plants, our framework has clear extensions to animal communities and aquatic ecosystems as well.
Adolescent Co-occurring Disorders Treatment: Clinicians' Attitudes, Values, and Knowledge

This study examined community-based clinicians’ (N = 294) attitudes, background/experiences, values, and knowledge relating to issues of co-occurring disorders, which occur at a high rate among adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Study results reveal that clinicians self-rate their clinical values and attitudes at or above the expected level of competency, but they concede that their skill and knowledge levels are not adequate. Comparison measures reveal that employment setting conditions, geographic region, hours worked per week, and strongly held convictions about the importance of integrated mental health and substance use disorders service delivery distinguish clinicians’ co-occurring disorders knowledge levels. Implications are offered.
Hydrogen Exchange and Macromolecular Dynamics

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Nomenclature 3 HX Chemistry 4 HX Rate and Structural Dynamics 5 Applications: Macromolecular Dynamics 6 Applications: HX Labeling 7 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
TID testing of ferroelectric nonvolatile RAM

The test results of measurements performed on two different sizes of ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) suggest the degradation is due to the low radiation tolerance of sense amplifiers and reference voltage generators which are based on commercial CMOS technology. This paper presents TID testing of 64Kb Ramtron FM 1608 and 256Kb Ramtron FM 1808.
Heart Rate Variability and Feeding Bradycardia in Healthy Preterm Infants During Transition From Gavage to Oral Feeding

Abstract Healthy preterm infants, 32 to younger than 34 weeks postconceptional age, (n = 81) were randomly assigned to standard care or semidemand protocols for making the transition from gavage to oral feeding. Experimental infants showed less autonomic arousal (decreased low-frequency [LF] and decreased high-frequency [HF] power) when using a pacifier before feeding compared with control infants. During oral feeding, control infants showed an increase in the sympathetic to parasympathetic balance (LF/HF) from the prefeeding period, whereas LF/HF for experimental infants did not change significantly. In the 48 hours after achieving full oral feeding, control infants had significantly more feeding bradycardia episodes than experimental infants. The semidemand protocol that included use of a pacifier before oral feeding, opportunity to feed orally up to eight times per day, and use of infant behavior to begin and end feedings resulted in the autonomic balance of the experimental infants being more stable as they learned to feed orally.
Interconnect estimation without packing via ACG floorplans

ACG (Adjacent Constraint Graph) is a general floorplan representation. The refinement of constraint graphs gives not only an efficient representation but also a representation sharing the advantage of adjacency graphs. As most edges in an ACG are between modules that are close to each other, the physical distance of two modules can be measured without packing by the shortest path between them on the ACG. Experimental results verified this relationship and possible approaches for interconnect planning are discussed.
MYC and the Art of MicroRNA Maintenance

MYC is a noncanonical transcription factor that binds to thousands of genomic loci and affects >15% of the human transcriptome, with surprisingly little overlap between MYC-bound and -regulated genes. This discordance raises the question whether MYC chooses its targets based on their individual biological effects ("a la carte") or by virtue of belonging to a certain group of genes (on a "prix fixe" basis). This review presents evidence for a prix fixe, posttranscriptional model whereby MYC initially deregulates a select number of microRNAs. These microRNAs then target a broad spectrum of genes based solely on the presence in their 3' UTRs (untranslated regions) of distinct "seed" sequences. Existing evidence suggests that there are significant microRNA components to all key MYC-driven phenotypes, including cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, metabolism, angiogenesis, metastasis, stemness, and hematopoiesis. Furthermore, each of these cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic phenotypes is likely attributable to deregulation of multiple microRNA targets acting in different, yet frequently overlapping, pathways. The habitual targeting of multiple genes within the same pathway might account for the robustness and persistence of MYC-induced phenotypes.
Upper Aerodigestive Tract Carcinoma

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a component of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that there were 484,628 new cases of upper aerodigestive tract carcinoma worldwide in 2002 [1]. The IARC also estimated that there were 261,784 deaths due to this cause in 2002 [1].
Spatial covert attention increases contrast sensitivity across the CSF: support for signal enhancement☆

This study is the first to report the benefits of spatial covert attention on contrast sensitivity in a wide range of spatial frequencies when a target alone was presented in the absence of a local post-mask. We used a peripheral precue (a small circle indicating the target location) to explore the effects of covert spatial attention on contrast sensitivity as assessed by orientation discrimination (Experiments 1-4), detection (Experiments 2 and 3) and localization (Experiment 3) tasks. In all four experiments the target (a Gabor patch ranging in spatial frequency from 0.5 to 10 cpd) was presented alone in one of eight possible locations equidistant from fixation. Contrast sensitivity was consistently higher for peripherally- than for neutrally-cued trials, even though we eliminated variables (distracters, global masks, local masks, and location uncertainty) that are known to contribute to an external noise reduction explanation of attention. When observers were presented with vertical and horizontal Gabor patches an external noise reduction signal detection model accounted for the cueing benefit in a discrimination task (Experiment 1). However, such a model could not account for this benefit when location uncertainty was reduced, either by: (a) Increasing overall performance level (Experiment 2); (b) increasing stimulus contrast to enable fine discriminations of slightly tilted suprathreshold stimuli (Experiment 3); and (c) presenting a local post-mask (Experiment 4). Given that attentional benefits occurred under conditions that exclude all variables predicted by the external noise reduction model, these results support the signal enhancement model of attention.
Comparison of Two Optimal Control Strategies for a Grid Independent Photovoltaic System

This paper presents two optimal control strategies for a grid independent photovoltaic system consisting of a PV collector array, a storage battery, and loads (critical and non-critical loads). The first strategy is based on Action Dependent Heuristic Dynamic Programming (ADHDP), a model-free adaptive critic design (ACD) technique which optimizes the control performance based on a utility function. ADHDP critic network is used in a PV system simulation study to train an action neural network (optimal neurocontroller) to provide optimal control for varying PV system output energy and loadings. The second optimal control strategy is based on a fuzzy logic controller with its membership functions optimized using the particle swarm optimization. The emphasis of the optimal controllers is primarily to supply the critical base load at all times, thus requiring sufficient stored energy during times of less or no solar insolation. Simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed optimal controllers with the conventional priority control scheme. Results show that the ADHDP based controller performs better than the optimized fuzzy controller, and the optimized fuzzy controller performs better than the standard PV-priority controller.
Collision free paths in joint space for robotic manipulator

The problem of path planning for robotic manipulators in the presence of obstacles is addressed. It is shown that when viewed in joint space rather than in Cartesian space the complex problem becomes significantly simpler. The problem is illustrated by the example of a two-link planar manipulator in the presence of three fixed obstacles in a two-dimensional Cartesian space. >
Do Planetary Wave Dynamics Contribute to Equable Climates

AbstractViable explanations for equable climates of the Cretaceous and early Cenozoic (from about 145 to 50 million years ago), especially for the above-freezing temperatures detected for high-latitude continental winters, have been a long-standing challenge. In this study, the authors suggest that enhanced and localized tropical convection, associated with a strengthened paleo–warm pool, may contribute toward high-latitude warming through the excitation of poleward-propagating Rossby waves. This warming takes place through the poleward heat flux and an overturning circulation that accompany the Rossby waves. This mechanism is tested with an atmosphere–mixed layer ocean general circulation model (GCM) by imposing idealized localized heating and compensating cooling, a heating structure that mimics the effect of warm-pool convective heating.The localized tropical heating is indeed found to contribute to a warming of the Arctic during the winter. Within the range of 0–150 W m−2 for the heating intensity, th...
DNA strand breakage by bivalent metal ions and ionizing radiation

Purpose: To investigate mechanisms of DNA breakage via the interaction of bivalent metal ion, thiol reducing agent and ionizing radiation, in •OH scavenging abilities comparable to those in cells.Materials and methods: We measured the effects of 10 min exposure to 200 μM Fe2+ vs. Fe3+ on the induction of single (SSB) and double (DSB) strand breaks in unirradiated and oxically irradiated SV40 DNA, in aqueous solution containing 75 or 750 mM glycerol and/or 5 mM glutathione (GSH).Results: Fe2+ or GSH alone produced little DNA damage. However, their combination produced a dramatic increase in the production of both SSB and DSB. Experiments with ferric ion suggest that it produces DNA damage only after partial reduction to ferrous by GSH. Induction efficiencies for SSB in the presence of Fe2+/GSH showed additivity of the effects of radiation alone with those from Fe2+/GSH. However, the corresponding induction efficiencies for DSB demonstrated a 2.5-fold enhancement.Conclusions: Our results are consistent with...
Development of an enhanced human gastrointestinal epithelial culture system to facilitate patient-based assays

Objective The technology for the growth of human intestinal epithelial cells is rapidly progressing. An exciting possibility is that this system could serve as a platform for individualised medicine and research. However, to achieve this goal, human epithelial culture must be enhanced so that biopsies from individuals can be used to reproducibly generate cell lines in a short time frame so that multiple, functional assays can be performed (ie, barrier function and host–microbial interactions). Design We created a large panel of human gastrointestinal epithelial cell lines (n=65) from patient biopsies taken during routine upper and lower endoscopy procedures. Proliferative stem/progenitor cells were rapidly expanded using a high concentration of conditioned media containing the factors critical for growth (Wnt3a, R-spondin and Noggin). A combination of lower conditioned media concentration and Notch inhibition was used to differentiate these cells for additional assays. Results We obtained epithelial lines from all accessible tissue sites within 2 weeks of culture. The intestinal cell lines were enriched for stem cell markers and rapidly grew as spheroids that required passage at 1:3–1:4 every 3 days. Under differentiation conditions, intestinal epithelial spheroids showed region-specific development of mature epithelial lineages. These cells formed functional, polarised monolayers covered by a secreted mucus layer when grown on Transwell membranes. Using two-dimensional culture, these cells also demonstrated novel adherence phenotypes with various strains of pathogenic Escherichia coli . Conclusions This culture system will facilitate the study of interindividual, functional studies of human intestinal epithelial cells, including host–microbial interactions.