cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Battery Performance on Total Cost of Ownership for Electric Drive Vehicle

The development of technologies and economies of scale has decreased battery cost for electric vehicle powertrains substantially in the last decade. However, electric vehicles are still pricier compared to vehicles with conventional powertrains. Incentives that promote vehicle electrification for cleaner and more sustainable urban mobility should rely on a holistic cost analysis that considers the life cycle costs of different vehicle technologies. This paper presents a method that estimates the direct Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for different electric vehicle powertrains. The TCO, which include direct and indirect costs, is estimated for three representative urban light duty vehicles: Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Electric Vehicle (EV), and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The TCO includes the present value of: 1) Vehicle retail cost including tax, 2) Lifetime operation cost from the time of vehicle purchase to the time of scrapping, including fueling, maintenance, taxes, insurance, registration and licensing costs, 3) Battery replacement cost, and 4) Time cost. Battery life expectancy is estimated by considering wear data. The results, which are based on vehicle technology characteristics and driver behavior, showed that the TCO for United States, showed that the TCO for EV and PHEV is higher by 24% and 36%, respectively, compared to the HEV. The method provides a better understanding of overall vehicle performance; it facilitates comparisons and supports policies for improved urban mobility.
Dragon Myths and Biblical Theology

A recurrent myth in the Bible about God “slaying a dragon,” primarily in the Old Testament, provides a test case for using the “study of Scripture as the soul of theology” without depending on hist...
Prediction of amorphous structure and stability of P-N and N-CO extended solids under pressure

The amorphous structures of poly-CO, P-N and N-CO extended solids at high pressures were predicted using density functional theory (DFT) and evolutionary algorithms employing variable and fixed concentrations of components methods. Compression of random network of poly-CO up to 45 GPa results in elimination of small rings of the amorphous network. The amorphous structure with stoichiometry N9P was found to be dynamically stable (no imaginary frequencies in phonon-dispersion curve), stable relative transformation to solid nitrogen and phosphorus, but metastable according to convex hull calculations. The amorphous structure of the N-CO extended solid was obtained with various concentrations of N atoms under isotropic compression up to 50 GPa and release of pressure down to 5 GPa calculated using DFT. The higher concentration of CO is found to be favourable for stabilization of an amorphous covalent N-C-O network consisting of chains and a cage of the network. Upon lowering the pressure and decomposition of the compressed extended solid, atoms are disconnected first from the ends of polymeric chains, while rings of random network are sustained almost intact. Results of a calculated Raman spectra are compared with available experimental results.
Inertial confinement fusion development options: Facility characteristics and schedules from a reactor physics viewpoint

The pulsed, localized fusion source in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) permits scale-down of reactor dimensions and fusion yield in development facilities while still maintaining full-scale reactor surface and volume energy loads. Hence, the power and geometric scale of ICF development facilities can be much smaller than comparable magnetic fusion facilities. The power is reduced by reducing both the pulse rate and the target gain; however, full gain and pulse rate experiments of limited duration will be possible. At least three engineering facilities will be required for the development of heavy-ion beam or short wavelength laser driven fusion power. The design and construction times required for large facilities produce a nominal plan with a demonstration (DEMO) plant operating around the year 2018, and a crash plan with DEMO operation in 2009. Fusion breeder development is expected to follow a similar time line, except that a crash (option-limited) plan could succeed as early as the turn of the century.
Design of Muscle Gene Therapy Expression Cassette

The first gene therapy drug approved by the European Regulatory Commission involves the transfer of a therapeutic gene to the muscle by adeno-associated viral vector (AAV). Now, muscle gene transfer is quickly becoming a therapy of choice for muscle and non-muscle diseases. Successful muscle gene therapy requires efficient expression of therapeutic proteins in the muscle without causing any toxicity and side effects. To achieve this, the expression cassette of therapeutic proteins needs to be designed rationally. A typical expression cassette usually contains a promoter to initiate transcription, the coding sequence of a transgene, and a termination signal to terminate transcription. Other cis-regulatory elements can be added into the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions. In this chapter, we review the development of the components of the expression cassette in the context of muscle gene therapy.
Emergency department visits after pancreatoduodenectomy: examining a novel quality metric

Abstract Background Postoperative emergency department (ED) visits represent fragmented care, are costly, and often evolve into readmission. Readmission rates after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) are defined, while ED visits following PD are not. We examined the pattern of 30-day post-discharge ED visits for PD patients. Methods A quaternary institutional database analysis of adult patients who underwent PD between 2010–2017 was reviewed for ED utilization within 30 days from discharge. Results Of the 1,004 patients who underwent PD, 12% (N = 117) patients sought care in the ED within 30 days from postoperative discharge. The median time to ED presentation was 5 days post-discharge (IQR 3–9). Half of ED visits occurred during nights and weekends (N = 59, 50%). Of ED-utilizing patients, 64% (N = 76) were admitted to the hospital and 29% (N = 34) were discharged from the ED. ED visits were associated with a Clavien-Dindo Classification of 0 in 10.2% (N = 13) of patients, I-II in 62.4% (N = 73), and III-V in 26.5% (N = 31). Discussion Post-discharge ED utilization is a novel quality metric and represents a potential target population for reducing hospital readmissions. Over two-thirds (72%) of ED visits were associated with low acuity complications, and promoting institutional strategies addressing postoperative ED visits may improve patient care and efficient utilization of healthcare resources.
Enhanced carbon dioxide removal from coupled direct air capture–bioenergy systems

Engineered carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technologies—such as direct air capture (DAC) and bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS)—require significant advancements to reduce costs and increase scale without environmental or social harm. Up until this point, advancements in BECCS and DAC technologies have progressed independently of each other, despite the ability of BECCS to provide carbon-negative heat and power to DAC processes. Here, we demonstrate synergistic integration of BECCS and DAC systems decreases costs, increases carbon removal, and extends the impact of scarce biomass resources. We estimate biomass integrated DAC systems can increase net CO2 removal by 109–119% at lower costs than standalone reference systems. If hybrid BECCS–DAC systems were deployed across the US using biomass resources co-located with geologic storage, 1.5 Gt of CO2 could be sequestered annually without long-distance biomass or CO2 transport in 2030. Innovation in the design and implementation of coupled BECCS–DAC systems would have a profound impact on CO2 removal, if realized.
How resource limitations and household economics may compromise efforts to safeguard children during outbreaks

Epidemiological models have been employed with great success to explore the efficacy of alternative strategies at combating disease outbreaks. These models have often incorporated an understanding of age-based susceptibility and severity of outcome, considering how to limit the adverse outcomes or disease burden relative to an age structure. Such models frequently recommend the preferential treatment/vaccination of children or the elderly, demonstrating how prevention of serious disease within these etiological subgroups can provide both protection within the subgroup itself and indirect protection to the broader population. However, it is most frequently the case that these target populations are consumers, rather than providers, of household resources. In areas of the globe where continued health of household members relies on continued provision of resources, these models may fail to provide the most effective overall strategies for health outcomes in both target populations and overall. This is particularly important for tropical diseases impacting rural and low-income areas in which the disease may be endemic or newly emergent, particularly in the wake of natural disasters. We propose a modified epidemiological model with targeted treatment in resource-limited populations. We evaluate the model over a broad parameter space. This model demonstrates how economic limitations may shift the optimal strategy. It may be advantageous to treat populations at lesser direct risk if they are responsible for providing secondary protection to higher-risk population(s) by producing household resources. Evaluation of this model over the parameter space reveals that, in some cases, targeting treatment towards consumers may result in greater numbers of consumer infections. Our results demonstrate how household resource limitation can drastically affect the impact of targeted treatment strategies for limiting epidemics. Depending on the economic circumstances, it is possible that focusing treatment on consumers such as children can produce a counter-intuitive outcome in which more children contract the disease.
An investigation of human brucellosis infection in Qi County of Shanxi Province in 2010-2012

Objective To analyze the status of human brucellosis infection in Qi County.Methods From 2010 to 2012,by using Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT),serological detection was conducted in suspected brucellosis cases and risk populations occupational exposed to Brucella,including livestock traders,slaughters,raisers,milkmaids and veterinary in Qi County.The sex distribution,time distribution,occupation and age distribution were analyzed.Brucella were isolated from patients in acute stage by blood culture,and serotypos were determined by traditional identification method.Results From 2010 to 2012,977 people were examined; 273 people were serological positive(27.9％) ; male[31.6％(232/735)] was higher than female[16.9％(41/242),P ＜ 0.05].March to August were the peak seasons in every yeas.Most of the patients were engaged in farming,aged from 21 to 60 years old.Eleven strains of Brucella Melitensis biotype 3 were isolated in 30 cases of blood culture samples.Conclusions The incidence of human brucellosis is increasing year by year in Qi County.Infected people are mostly young men.It is necessary to strengthen health education,increase the awareness of self protection in order to reduce the occurrence of brucellosis. Key words: Brucellosis; Serology; Infection
External Contextual Factors and Teacher Turnover: The Case of Michigan High Schools

Background/ContextAll organizations face turnover in their workforce; however, in schools high turnover can interfere with the effectiveness and efficiency of the school. While past research has ex...
Stability and change in partisan political identification: Implications for lowering the voting age

Abstract Around the globe, governments are experimenting with lowering the voting age to 16-years-old as a way to turn around recent declines in civic participation. However, one concern is that younger voters will be more susceptible to parental and community influence. We used voter records from two U.S. states to explore stability and change in partisan identifications as a function of age in order to assess the likelihood that younger voters are more susceptible to social influences. In general, little evidence was found to suggest that teenagers' partisan identifications are substantially more influenced by families, communities, and historical events than older adults. In a final set of analyses, we examined partisan identification from voter records in Takoma Park, Maryland after it lowered the voting age to 16. To test for an effect of lowered voting age, we compared household voting patterns over time in Takoma Park to those in Maryland and Pennsylvania. A time series analysis did not show any difference between patterns in Takoma Park and patterns in Maryland and Pennsylvania, suggesting that lowering the voting age had no discernable impact on partisan identifications. The paper contributes to the expanding research base indicating that lowering the voting age has no apparent ill-effects on young people or their communities and will increase the political representation of an age cohort that can vote responsibly.
The relative role of solar reflectance and thermal emittance for passive daytime radiative cooling technologies applied to rooftops

Abstract Building roof surfaces can be 30–50 °C hotter than the surrounding air in summer, in turn, warming the air through convective heat flux. Advances in material science have enabled rooftop coatings with solar reflectance as high as 0.96 and emissivity approaching 0.97. We use building energy simulations to isolate how improvements in each rooftop radiative property impacts surface temperatures and heat fluxes. The analysis is conducted for two U.S. cities: Phoenix (a hot and arid city), and Atlanta (a hot humid city). Results show that use of rooftop materials with solar reflectance above 0.9 results in surface temperatures that are always below ambient air temperatures, even when the materials have conventional emissivity values. Specifically, increasing rooftop solar reflectance from 0.2 to 0.96, while fixing emissivity at 0.9, results in a mean reduction in the rooftop temperature of about 10 °C. Furthermore, the high reflectance roof results in a cooling of more than 30 W/m2 during summer for both cities. On the other hand, increasing emissivity from 0.9 to 0.97 had little impact, suggesting that the focus of development efforts should be maximizing solar reflectance, provided thermal emittance values can be maintained at or above 0.9.
Microbiology of orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal abscess in children: Prevalence and characteristics of Streptococcus anginosus group infection.

Purpose: To evaluate the predominant pathogens and clinical course in pediatric patients with orbital cellulitis (OC) complicated by subperiosteal abscess (SPA). Methods: This is a single-center re...
The Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group 2020 Spring Symposium: Is Virtual the New Reality?

Purpose Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) hosted its annual international symposium using a virtual format in May 2020. This report details the experience of hosting a virtual meeting and presents attendee feedback on the platform. Methods and Materials The ROECSG symposium was hosted virtually on May 15, 2020. A postsymposium survey was distributed electronically to assess attendee demographics, participation, and experience. Attendee preference and experience were queried using 3-point and 5-point Likert-type scales, respectively. Symplur LLC was used to generate analytics for the conference hashtag (#ROECSG). Results The survey was distributed to all 286 registrants, with a response rate of 67% (191 responses). Seventeen nonattendee responses were omitted from this analysis, for a total of 174 included respondents. Eighty-two attendees (47%) were present for the entire symposium. A preference for a virtual symposium was expressed by 78 respondents (45%), whereas 44 (25%) had no preference and 52 (30%) preferred an in-person meeting. A total of 150 respondents (86%) rated the symposium as “extremely” well organized. Respondents who had not attended a prior in-person ROECSG symposium were more likely to prefer the virtual format (P = .03). Seventy-eight respondents (45%) reported a preference for the virtual platform for reviewing scholarly work, and 103 (59%) reported a preference for an in-person platform for networking. On the day of the symposium, #ROECSG had 408 tweets and 432,504 impressions. Conclusions The 2020 ROECSG symposium was well received and can serve as a framework for future virtual meetings. Although the virtual setting may facilitate sharing research, networking aspects are more limited. Effort is needed to develop hybrid virtual and in-person meetings that meet the needs of participants in both settings. Social media is a significant avenue for dissemination and discussion of information and may be valuable in the virtual setting.
Curbing Earnings Management: Experimental Evidence on How Clawback Provisions and Board Monitoring Affect Managers’ Use of Discretion

We examine how clawback provisions and board monitoring affect managers’ use of discretion to achieve earnings targets. Using an experiment, we find that when board monitoring is weak, imposing clawback provisions has little impact on the total amount of earnings management activity. This null result arises because, while clawbacks do curb the extent to which managers make accrual estimates in line with their own preferences (accrual earnings management), these provisions also increase managers’ use of discretion when making operational decisions (real earnings management). In contrast, strong board monitoring results in less of both types of earnings management. Our results have important policy implications by demonstrating that, because of the ability to substitute accrual earnings management with real earnings management, mandated clawbacks (in the absence of strong board monitoring) alter how managers use their discretion, whereas strong board monitoring alters how much discretion managers are willing to use.
Correction: Analysis of Dose-Response in Relation to Mechanism of Pulmonary Tumor Induction in Mice

In the short paper by Heston and Schneiderman that appeared on page 109, SCIENCE, January 30, there is an error at about the middle of column 2. The chemical name for the mustard oil should be "all...
Design and Optimization of Spin-Transfer Torque MRAMs

In this chapter, reviews the basics and modeling of spin-transfer torque magnetic RAM (STT-MRAM) for circuit-level failure analysis. A methodology for analyzing failures in STT-MRAM bit-cells is also presented. The optimization of STT-MRAM bit-cells using the presented framework is then discussed, along with several circuit and array architecture-level failure mitigation techniques. We will show that despite the relatively high write energy in STT-MRAM, large capacity last level caches based on STT-MRAM can be more energy efficient than their SRAM counterparts due to the unique characteristics of STT-MRAM.
On Track: A Database For Evaluating the Outpatient Clinical Experience of Internal Medicine Residency Training

Residents in internal medicine training programs spend an increasing amount of time in the outpatient setting, creating the potential for substantial variability in educational experiences among residents. We developed a data management system (On Track) that combines information on clinical experiences collected from an electronic medical record (EMR) and handheld personal data assistants (PDA). This information is translated into easily interpretable graphics and reports that provide insight into the overall residency curriculum as well as the experiences of individual residents.
Water Quality Management in a Forested Landscape

Forested watersheds produce the highest quality water of any land use. High rates of infiltration prevent surface runoff in most undisturbed temperate forests, resulting in little suspended sediment or dissolved nutrients in streams of forested areas. Suspended sediment from poorly designed logging, especially improperly located or constructed haul roads, is the most important cause of water quality impairment caused by management of forested watersheds. Using best management practices decreases the amount of sediment caused by logging or site preparation by 90%. Occasionally, dissolved nitrate-nitrogen can be found at elevated levels. Generally, elevated nitrate has been found on soils with large amounts of soil organic nitrogen in cool climates where growth of the new forest is not rapid. Air pollution may also contribute to elevated nitrate in streams where nitrogen deposition is high. Keywords: forestry; water quality; harvesting; logging; fertilizer; herbicide; sediment; best management practices
Ensuring data security against knowledge discovery in distributed information systems

This paper contributes strategies that minimize the number of values which should be hidden in an Information System to guarantee that values of attributes containing sensitive information cannot be reconstructed by either Distributed or Local Chase within a Distributed Information System (DIS). The notion of the hidden attribute reconstruction by Knowledge Discovery and corresponding obstruction strategy was introduced in [1] where a minimal number of attribute values are additionally hidden to block the reconstruction of sensitive data by the rules extracted from DIS. The problem is particularly troublesome when locally generated rules restore those additionally hidden attribute values, and form a cycle of implications. The strategies in this paper complement existing Distributed Chase obstruction and work over widely used information systems.
Stoichiometric redox titrations of complex metalloenzymes.

This chapter describes stoichiometric redox titration method and points out difficulties and avoidable pitfalls. This method may provide reliable evidence for a spectroscopically silent redox center in an enzyme, as long as the reduction potential of the center is within the potential range probed. Such centers may consume redox equivalents and thus alter the shape of the titration curves of spectroscopically active centers. Spectroscopically observable stable redox states are commonly viewed as being more important than those which cannot be easily observed, but this need not be the case. Thus, the results of stoichiometric titration studies may be critical for formulating the correct mechanism of catalysis. Finally, despite best efforts, some uncertainty in the results and analysis will inevitably remain. This ultimately translates into some persistent uncertainty regarding the redox/spectroscopic system present in the enzyme.
Biocellion: Accelerating multicellular biological simulation

Biological phenotypes of interest commonly result from complex, multicellular systems. From hundreds of cells that determine micro-environments to the billions of cells that make up complex organs. At the same time cellular and molecular biologists have unveiled intricate details on the intracellular processes that drive cell behavior and decision-making. Bridging this gap, between microscopic and macroscopic scales, is a critical challenge in systems biology. One potentially powerful tool is multiscale agent based modeling. With this strategy, discrete agents, such as cells, are computationally modeled on a high-resolution grid, which represents the extracellular space. However, the computational complexity can often force modelers to use low-resolution approximations of the biological system. To this end, we have developed Biocellion, a multicellular modeling framework that takes advantage of high-performance parallel computing. Biocellion relieves the modeler of common, yet complex computational problems allowing for computational efficiency and scaleability over multiple cores and machines. In this presentation, we will present the details of this new modeling platform in the context of two examples that demonstrate the computational power and flexibility of Biocellion. First, we will describe the implementation of an epidermal skin model described in the literature. We will demonstrate how Biocellion can be used to produce significant speed up of the simulation. This improved performance gives us the ability to increase the size and complexity of the model, which is important in simulating clinically relevant systems. Secondly, we will describe the use of Biocellion in modeling and design of microfluidic chips for the study of budding yeast. This study demonstrates the ability for Biocellion to quantitatively describe systems with complex geometries at the micrometer length scale. Finally, we will discuss future plans for Biocellion to help foster adoption in the community and provide high performance computing solutions to new, multicellular modeling challenges.
Infectious disease: A germy world-food-borne infections in 2009.

The recent outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium, associated with peanut butter and products containing it in the US and Canada, highlights our ongoing susceptibility to food-borne infections despite advanced food production systems. As the globalization of food resources continues, how can we control outbreaks and minimize their effect on health?
Facilitated versus non-facilitated online case discussions: comparing differences in problem space coverage

The facilitator plays a key role in guiding students’ efforts during case discussions. However, few studies have compared differences in learning outcomes for students participating in facilitated versus non-facilitated discussions. In this research, we used “problem space coverage” as a learning measure to compare outcomes between facilitated (F) and non-facilitated (NF) online case-based discussions. In general, results demonstrated both greater and deeper problem space coverage during facilitated discussions. More specifically, students in the facilitated discussions tended to discuss more aspects of the problem space in more detail, and spent more time on relevant instructional design issues and related solutions than students in the NF discussions. Overall, results illustrate the role of discussion in addressing the targeted problem space during case-based learning while underscoring the role of the facilitator in enabling that coverage.
The value iteration method for countable state Markov decision processes

This paper deals with Markov decision processes with a countable state space. We demonstrate that a single, relatively simple condition suffices to guarantee that the value-iteration method converges and that an optimal policy can be computed via this method, once the existence of a solution to the average cost optimality equation has been established via any of the many available sets of existence conditions.
SOME CLASSICAL MUSLIM VIEWS OF THE INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM

Apres un bref rappel du systeme de caste dans la tradition hindoue, l'A. presente les approches des intellectuels musulmans de la periode moderne : Ibn Khurradādhbih, al-Mutahhar ben ahir al-Maqdisī, al-Mas'ūdī, al-Khwārazmī, al-Bīrūnī, Abū Sa'īd Gardīzī, Sharīf al-Zamān Tāhir Marvazī et al-Sharīf al-Idrīsī. Leur connaissance des castes est plus proche des sources de la tradition hindoue qu'elle ne l'etait supposee. Ces auteurs, sauf quelques exceptions, n'ont pas constate l'importance religieuse des castes et ne donnent pas a cette forme hierarchique une base theologique. Leur comprehension est influencee par leur connaissance des ideaux et pratiques sociaux de l'Iran pre-islamique
The Effects of Mind-Body Therapies on the Immune System: Meta-Analysis

Importance Psychological and health-restorative benefits of mind-body therapies have been investigated, but their impact on the immune system remain less defined. Objective To conduct the first comprehensive review of available controlled trial evidence to evaluate the effects of mind-body therapies on the immune system, focusing on markers of inflammation and anti-viral related immune responses. Methods Data sources included MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO through September 1, 2013. Randomized controlled trials published in English evaluating at least four weeks of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, or Yoga that reported immune outcome measures were selected. Studies were synthesized separately by inflammatory (n = 18), anti-viral related immunity (n = 7), and enumerative (n = 14) outcomes measures. We performed random-effects meta-analyses using standardized mean difference when appropriate. Results Thirty-four studies published in 39 articles (total 2, 219 participants) met inclusion criteria. For inflammatory measures, after 7 to 16 weeks of mind-body intervention, there was a moderate effect on reduction of C-reactive protein (effect size [ES], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 1.12), a small but not statistically significant reduction of interleukin-6 (ES, 0.35; 95% CI, −0.04 to 0.75), and negligible effect on tumor necrosis factor-α (ES, 0.21; 95% CI, −0.15 to 0.58). For anti-viral related immune and enumerative measures, there were negligible effects on CD4 counts (ES, 0.15; 95% CI, −0.04 to 0.34) and natural killer cell counts (ES, 0.12, 95% CI −0.21 to 0.45). Some evidence indicated mind-body therapies increase immune responses to vaccination. Conclusions Mind-body therapies reduce markers of inflammation and influence virus-specific immune responses to vaccination despite minimal evidence suggesting effects on resting anti-viral or enumerative measures. These immunomodulatory effects, albeit incomplete, warrant further methodologically rigorous studies to determine the clinical implications of these findings for inflammatory and infectious disease outcomes.
Role of Alpha-Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acidand EDTA as Oxidants in Model Systems

The effects of four widely employed “antioxidants” on iron-mediated hydroxyl radical formation and lipid peroxidation were studied in aqueous model systems. Iron and copper served as catalysts for the reactions which oxidized ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol and reduced oxygen. Ferrous ion spontaneously reduced oxygen to O−2 (su-peroxide anion radical) which led to OH (hydroxyl radical) and H2O2 generation and lipid peroxidation. Precipitation or sequestration of iron greatly depressed these oxidative events. Complexation by EDTA and citric acid, however, formed catalytically active iron chelates. The concomitant increase in iron solubility explained the substantial enhancement of iron-driven redox reactions by EDTA and citric acid.
Phenotypic plasticity in nest departure calls: weighing costs and benefits

In birds, male song has been extensively studied, but female vocalizations have received little attention. Females of several North American species produce a unique vocalization, the nest departure call (NDC), upon leaving nests. Producing NDCs has costs due to acoustical properties that make nests easy to locate by predators. Thus, NDCs must also have benefits that balance or outweigh costs, and females should modulate call production as costs and benefits change. We explored whether female song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, adjust calling rate to reflect differential costs and benefits of calling induced by male presence, male quality (measured by body mass and song complexity), nest predator presence and nest height. Results suggest that calls benefit females by promoting male nest guarding and that females display adaptive plasticity in call production. Specifically, calling rate increased when the male was present, and male nest guarding increased when females gave an NDC. Females called less in the presence of a model nest predator, probably because the perceived costs of predator attraction outweighed the benefits of male recruitment. Conversely, females with heavier mates called more, perhaps because the efficacy of male nest guarding increases with mass. In addition, females called more from elevated nests in the presence of the predator and decreased calling later in the day. Male song complexity failed to predict calling rate, suggesting that this sexually selected trait does not reflect direct benefits gained by producing an NDC. Plasticity in calling probably exists because context-appropriate communication elevates fitness, whereas contextual mistakes in the decision to communicate result in fitness declines.
Investigating a stepped ultrasonic phased array transducer for the evaluation and characterization of defects

Previous work has led to the design, simulation, and development of a linear phased array transducer. The intention of the array is to be used as a non-destructive ultrasonic device to monitor and evaluate the health of a given specimen. The phased array has been manufactured and tested for the detection and characterization of defects on a target. The array was fabricated with a four-row "stepped" design with four wires to transfer data and one wire for grounding. The "stepped" design allows for the interrogation of a larger region using time delays and beam sweeping without the use of additional electrical channels. The array was designed to be utilized in a water immersion environment with about one inch between the array and the target specimen. An OmniScan MX system was used to operate the phased array and perform real-time linear and sectorial scans on a set of rectangular plates. S-scans allow for beam sweeping over an angle range as well as adjustments for time delays and a true-depth display. The array was operated with sixteen active elements and an angle range of 0 to 30 degrees. The phased array was tested with a variety of targets and was used to investigate and characterize different types of defects such as cracking, warping, and corrosion. The ability of the phased array to distinguish between defect types as well as resolve defect size was evaluated.
Speckle Tracking-Derived Myocardial Tissue Deformation Imaging in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: Differences in Strain and Strain Rate between Donor and Recipient Twins

Objectives: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a complex disorder with altered cardiovascular loading conditions that affects both donors and recipients. My
Evolving core conditions ca. 2 billion years ago detected by paleosecular variation

Abstract Paleomagnetic data provide one of the few probes available to interrogate early evolution of the core. Here we apply this probe by examining the latitudinal dependence of paleosecular variation (PSV) data derived from high-quality paleomagnetic data collected from Proterozoic and Neoarchean rocks. These data define a Neoarchean geomagnetic field that was more dipolar than that during Proterozoic times, indicating a change in core conditions. The signals observed may reflect a change in forcing of the dynamo and an early onset of inner core growth. We propose a model that links evolution of the core, mantle and crust in three principal phases: (i) Before approximately 3.5 Ga, an entirely liquid core may not have hosted a geodynamo. If heat transport was sufficient across the core–mantle boundary, however, a geodynamo could have been generated. If so, sources in the shallow outer core could have been more important for generating the dynamo relative to deeper convection, resulting in a field that was less dipolar than that generated in later times. (ii) Cooling of the lower mantle between ca. 2 and 3.5 billion years ago was promoted by deep subduction and possibly coincided with inner core growth. The geodynamo during this episode was deeply-seated producing a highly dipolar surface magnetic field. (iii) After ca. 2 billion years ago, continued subduction led to large-scale core–mantle boundary compositional and heat flux heterogeneity. With these changes, shallow core contributions to the geomagnetic field grew in importance, resulting in a less dipolar field.
End group analysis accounts for the low molecular weight observed in the 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane-Pt complex catalyzed hydrosilylation copolymerization of α, ω-dienes and 1,3-dihydridotetramethyldisiloxane

The 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane−Pt complex (Karstedt catalyst) facilitates copolymerization of α,ω-dienes, such as 1,7-octadiene or 1,5-hexadiene, with 1,3-dihydridotetramethyldisiloxane. Spectroscopic analysis of the copolymers indicates the presence dimethylsiloxy and either 2-octenyl or 2-hexenyl end groups. Apparently, the catalyst not only facilitates the hydrosilylation reaction of 1,3-dihydridotetramethyldisiloxane with terminal C−C double bonds but also catalyzes the isomerization of terminal alkenes to internal alkenes, which are not reactive.
Induction of epithelial neoplasms by local application of N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine and N-nitrosobis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine*

The local carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) and N-nitrosobis(2-acetoxypropyl)amine (BAP) in Syrian golden hamsters was elucidated by weekly application to the cheek pouch, lip and vaginal epithelium. The tumor type and incidence in BHP- and BAP-treated hamsters, respectively, was as follows: trichoepitheliomas of the lip, 80 and 90%; cheek pouch papillomas, 10 and 0%, and vaginal papillomas, 80 and 70%. Other lesions were recorded in the perineum, rectum and external urethral ostium and could have been due to a local effect of these nitrosamines. In addition, internal organ tumors were observed with each compound and were possibly caused by absorption of the carcinogens.
Stability and Support Operations: History and Debates

U.S. military doctrine has recently elevated stability and support operations (SASO) to be a mission on par with the traditional combat missions, offense and defense. The new doctrinal approach to SASO represents a revolutionary change in the military's raison d’etre; now the armed forces’ job is not only to win battles, but to create space for political negotiations and accords through the provision of controlled, nonviolent environments and other forms of military assistance to civilians. This article puts this change into context, looking at the American military's history of SASO and the longstanding debates about the military's priorities and roles.
Introducing computer literacy in human services education

Summary A definition of computer literacy is provided which incorporates both functional literacy and a professional or mastery level of computer literacy in human services. Ramifications for human services curriculum development is explored along with a discussion of resource issues, including that of faculty development. An introduction to the sections of this volume and the individual manuscripts is also provided.
Protein kinase Cdelta is activated by caspase-dependent proteolysis during ultraviolet radiation-induced apoptosis of human keratinocytes.

The elimination of ultraviolet (UV) radiation-damaged keratinocytes via apoptosis is an important mechanism for the protection of the skin from sunlight, an ubiquitous environmental carcinogen. Due to the pleiotropic nature of UV radiation, the molecular mechanisms of UV-induced apoptosis are poorly understood. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of enzymes critically involved in the regulation of differentiation in the epidermis, and is associated with the induction of apoptosis by ionizing radiation in other cell types. In normal human keratinocytes, the induction of apoptosis by UV exposure correlated with generation of the catalytic domain of PKCδ in the soluble fraction. In contrast, phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate caused translocation of PKCδ from the soluble to the particulate fraction without inducing apoptosis. The effect of UV radiation on PKCδ was isoform specific, as UV exposure did not stimulate the cleavage, or effect the subcellular distribution of any other PKC isoform. The soluble, catalytic domain of PKCδ induced by UV exposure was associated with an increase in soluble PKCδ activity. Proteases of the caspase family are activated during UV-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of caspases blocked the UV-induced cleavage of PKCδ and apoptosis. In addition, inhibition of PKC activity specifically inhibited UV-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes, without affecting the G0/G1cell cycle block induced by UV exposure. These results indicate that PKC activation is involved in the UV-induced death effector pathway of keratinocytes undergoing apoptosis, and defines a novel role for this enzyme in epidermal homeostasis.
Variations of aerosols at Izmir, Turkey determined by neutron activation analysis

Abstract This paper presents analyses of airborne particulates measured during February and July 1975 at Izmir, Turkey. Izmir is an interesting site for aerosol analyses because it is one of the largest industrial and residential centers in Turkey and because it exhibits large variations in meteorological conditions. Enrichment factors for the Izmir aerosols are compared with those determined at Jungfraujoch, Switzerland and Van, Turkey. The air over Izmir is considerably more dirty in comparison to that in Jungfraujoch and Van, both of which are rated clean by international standards. The TSP amount increases when Izmir is under the influence of the Basra Low (due to long-range transport of desert dust) and when its lower atmosphere is stable.
A Single B1 Subunit Mapped to Mouse Chromosome 7 May Be a Common Component of Na Channel Isoforms from Brain, Skeletal Muscle and Heart

Abstract A β1 subunit associated with one or more isoforms of brain voltage-sensitive Na channels has previously been cloned, sequenced and expressed. Northern and Western blot analyses have suggested that homologues to this protein are expressed in skeletal muscle and heart. Here, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/cloning reveals that transcripts encoding identical β1 subunit ORFs are expressed in adult rat brain, skeletal muscle and heart. Heterologous co-expression of β1 with brain (RIIA) and skeletal muscle (μ1) α subunits caused a stabilization of normal, rapidly inactivating (mode 1) gating relative to anomalous, non-inactivating (mode 2) states and a negative shift in steady state inactivation. Chromosome mapping of the β1 subunit showed a single locus (Scn1b) in mouse chromosome 71.8 cM (± 1.2 cM) distal to D19F11S1h and 0.9 cM (± 0.9 cM) proximal to Pkca. This locus is in the region of the mouse mutant "quivering," characterized by a variety of neurological disorders and muscle paralysis. A mutation in a single β1 subunit forming functional complexes with multiple Na channel isoforms could underlie these deficits.
Structure in the energy dependence of ν

Abstract The energy dependence of the number of neutrons per fission is discussed for 233 U, 235 -U, 238 U and 239 Pu in view of recent measurements. Several basic assumptions are made which lead to better analytic representation than the previously assumed straight-line functions.
Effects of Increasing Frequency of Contraction on the Force Velocity Relation of Left Ventricle

The effects of increasing the frequency of contraction on the mechanics of left ventricular contraction were studied in nine canine preparations in which filling pressure was controlled. Increasing the contraction rate produced significant increases in maximum contractile element velocity and maximum wall tension in isovolumic beats, and this augmentation of contraction was evident despite an abbreviation of systole.
The osmium isotopic composition of organic-rich marine sediments

Abstract The osmium (Os) concentration and 187 Os/ 186 Os ratio of several recent, marine, organic-rich sediment samples from three widely separated sites have been measured. Os concentrations range from 0.095 to 0.212 ppb and 187 Os/ 186 Os ratios range from 8.2 to 8.9. The calculated fraction of hydrogenous Os exceeds 78% in all samples. Thus, the 187 Os/ 186 Os ratio of these samples reflects Os isotopic composition of seawater. The small range in measured 187 Os/ 186 Os ratio indicates that the Os isotopic composition at these sites is fairly homogeneous. The large magnitude of the Os burial flux at these sites indicates the Os burial in association with organic-rich sediments is an important sink in the marine cycle of Os. These data also suggest that ancient organic-rich sediments may provide a record of past variations in the Os isotopic composition of seawater.
The ERAD Inhibitor Eeyarestatin I Is a Bifunctional Compound with a Membrane-Binding Domain and a p97/VCP Inhibitory Group

Background Protein homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has recently emerged as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Disruption of ER homeostasis results in ER stress, which is a major cause of cell death in cells exposed to the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib, an anti-cancer drug approved for treatment of multiple myeloma and Mantle cell lymphoma. We recently reported that the ERAD inhibitor Eeyarestatin I (EerI) also disturbs ER homeostasis and has anti-cancer activities resembling that of Bortezomib. Methodology and Principal Findings Here we developed in vitro binding and cell-based functional assays to demonstrate that a nitrofuran-containing (NFC) group in EerI is the functional domain responsible for the cytotoxicity. Using both SPR and pull down assays, we show that EerI directly binds the p97 ATPase, an essential component of the ERAD machinery, via the NFC domain. An aromatic domain in EerI, although not required for p97 interaction, can localize EerI to the ER membrane, which improves its target specificity. Substitution of the aromatic module with another benzene-containing domain that maintains membrane localization generates a structurally distinct compound that nonetheless has similar biologic activities as EerI. Conclusions and Significance Our findings reveal a class of bifunctional chemical agents that can preferentially inhibit membrane-bound p97 to disrupt ER homeostasis and to induce tumor cell death. These results also suggest that the AAA ATPase p97 may be a potential drug target for cancer therapeutics.
Effects of intersensor correlation on data fusion

The effect of intersensor correlation (ISC) on data fusion is discussed. ISC may have a detrimental effect on the performance of data fusion, in particular if the sign of the correlation coefficient is unknown and unaccounted for. Numerical studies in the literature verify the ISC effects. Using the Gaussian distribution, an analytical framework is developed to explain how ISC affect the fusion performance. Means for reducing the ISC in the fusion are also discussed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.