cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General moment methods for a class of nonlinear models

This paper deals with the following problems: (1) the development of a general theory which incorporates several methods as special cases; (2) the applicability of moment methods to a class of nonlinear problems, (3) the specification of the class of admissible weighting functions; (4) the estimation of the number of parameters; (5) the elimination of the cutoff error in the analysis of fluorescence decay data.
Optimal gas detector placement under uncertainty considering Conditional-Value-at-Risk

Abstract A stochastic programming formulation considering Conditional-Value-at-Risk (CVaR) is developed for the optimal placement of gas detectors in petrochemical process facilities. A rigorous gas dispersion simulator, FLACS, is used to generate release scenario data for a real process geometry. We consider two problem formulations: minimization of expected detection time and minimization of expected detection time subject to a restriction on CVaR across the scenario set. The extensive form of each stochastic program is formulated in Pyomo and solved using CPLEX. Considering all scenarios, we compare key values and histograms of detection times for both formulations. Minimizing the mean detection time only can lead to optimal detector placements with a good expected behavior, but unacceptable worst-case behavior. The formulations that minimize or constraint CVaR produce sensor placements with significantly better worst-case behavior and fewer scenarios having high detection times. Considering these results, a strong case for the use of optimal sensor placement using stochastic programming considering CVaR is made for improving safety systems.
Generalized Bezout's theorem and its applications in coding theory

This paper presents a generalized Bezout theorem which can be used to determine a tighter lower bound of the number of distinct points of intersection of two or more plane curves. A new approach to determine a lower bound on the minimum distance for algebraic-geometric codes defined from a class of plane curves is introduced, based on the generalized Bezout theorem. Examples of more efficient linear codes are constructed using the generalized Bezout theorem and the new approach. For d=4, the linear codes constructed by the new construction are better than or equal to the known linear codes. For d/spl ges/5, these new codes are better than the known AG codes defined from whole spaces. The Klein codes [22, 16, 5] and [22, 15, 6] over GF(2/sup 3/), and the improved Hermitian code [64, 56, 6] over GF(2/sup 4/) are also constructed.
Financial markets and the political structure of the enterprise

Abstract This paper argues that competitive financial markets disfavor democratic enterprises even assuming such enterprises suffer no allocational deficiencies. This conclusion follows from five assertions: (a) the democratic enterprise requires access to credit markets; (b) access to credit presupposes access to equity markets; (c) the democratic firm's optimal risk level is lower than that desired by stockholders; (d) the risk level assumed by the firm is costly to observe, subject to inaccurate measurement, and contractually unenforceable; and (e) the incentives required to induce stockholder-favorable risk behavior are more costly for democratic firms than for firms with stockholder-accountable management.
Optimal prioritized conflict resolution on a multiple access channel

A multiple access broadcast network (MABN) is a computer network in which there is a single shared communication channel and every network node can receive all messages transmitted over the channel. A major difficulty in using broadcast communication is the issue of access to the channel. The authors deal with the following prioritized conflict resolution problem: a collection of c messages is initially distributed among nodes on an MABN; each message is associated with a value representing its priority or deadline; and it is required that the messages be broadcast in ascending order of this value. This problem is solved by a distributed prioritized conflict resolution algorithm. It is proved that the expected waiting time of the ith network node to transmit is Theta (i+log c), which is optimal. It is also shown that the algorithm runs in the expected linear time, which is optimal in both the number of slots used and the total elapsed time including local processing. >
The Changing Roles of a Surgical Department Chair: Adapting to a Changing Environment

was so honored by Dr Organ's invitation to write this article that I immediately accepted. Then, as I considered this subject-changes in the role of an academic surgical chair| I realized the difficulty I faced. Certainly, any such assessment by me alone is biased by my personal experience and particularly by my incomplete understanding of the roles of an academic surgical chair in the past. Nevertheless, as my wife, Shannon, would be quick to point out, incomplete knowledge of a subject has never stopped me from expounding about it.
Antigone: Myth in change

(1996). Antigone: Myth in change. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 1266-1271.
Red palm oil–supplemented and biofortified cassava gari increase the carotenoid and retinyl palmitate concentrations of triacylglycerol-rich plasma in women

Boiled biofortified cassava containing β-carotene can increase retinyl palmitate in triacylglycerol-rich plasma. Thus, it might alleviate vitamin A deficiency. Cassava requires extensive preparation to decrease its level of cyanogenic glucosides, which can be fatal. Garification is a popular method of preparing cassava that removes cyanogen glucosides. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of biofortified gari to gari prepared with red palm oil. The study was a randomized crossover trial in 8 American women. Three gari preparations separated by 2-week washout periods were consumed. Treatments (containing 200-225.9 g gari) were as follows: biofortified gari (containing 1 mg β-carotene), red palm oil-fortified gari (1 mg β-carotene), and unfortified gari with a 0.3-mg retinyl palmitate reference dose. Blood was collected 6 times from -0.5 to 9.5 hours after ingestion. Triacylglycerol-rich plasma was separated by ultracentrifugation and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection. Area under the curve for β-carotene, α-carotene, and retinyl palmitate increased after the fortified meals were fed (P < .05), although the retinyl palmitate increase induced by the red palm oil treatment was greater than that induced by the biofortified treatment (P < .05). Vitamin A conversion was 2.4 ± 0.3 and 4.2 ± 1.5 μg pro-vitamin A carotenoid/1 μg retinol (means ± SEM) for red palm oil and biofortified gari, respectively. These results show that both treatments increased β-carotene, α-carotene, and retinyl palmitate in triacylglycerol-rich plasma concentrations in healthy well-nourished adult women, supporting our hypothesis that both interventions could support efforts to alleviate vitamin A deficiency.
Body and Claw Size At Autotomy Affect the Morphology of Regenerated Claws of the Sand Fiddler Crab, Uca pugilator

Abstract Sand fiddler crab males, Uca pugilator (Brachyura: Ocypodidae), use their single enlarged claw as a weapon in fights for burrows and as a signal to attract females to burrows. Seventy-three males from a South Carolina marsh were in reared in the laboratory to determine if body size at the time of claw loss affects the morphology of the claw that subsequently regenerates. Thirty-six males were induced to autotomize claws and regenerated new ones. Thirty-seven males retained original claws. Across four molts, males regenerating claws gained more in claw length but less in body width and overall mass than males retaining original claws. The first molt accounted for these differences as males regenerating claws gained relatively little in body size but added much in claw length. Regenerated claws were more slender, having smaller dimensions of the manus relative to claw length. As the manus houses the claw closer muscle, regenerated claws are expected to be less powerful and appear more designed for ...
Effect of water table dynamics on land surface hydrologic memory

The representation of groundwater dynamics in land surface models has received considerable attention in recent years. Most studies have found that soil moisture increases after adding a groundwater component because of the additional supply of water to the root zone. However, the effect of groundwater on land surface hydrologic memory (persistence) has not been explored thoroughly. In this study we investigate the effect of water table dynamics on National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Land Model hydrologic simulations in terms of land surface hydrologic memory. Unlike soil water or evapotranspiration, results show that land surface hydrologic memory does not always increase after adding a groundwater component. In regions where the water table level is intermediate, land surface hydrologic memory can even decrease, which occurs when soil moisture and capillary rise from groundwater are not in phase with each other. Further, we explore the hypothesis that in addition to atmospheric forcing, groundwater variations may also play an important role in affecting land surface hydrologic memory. Analyses show that feedbacks of groundwater on land surface hydrologic memory can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on water table dynamics. In regions where the water table is shallow, the damping process of soil moisture variations by groundwater is not significant, and soil moisture variations are mostly controlled by random noise from atmospheric forcing. In contrast, in regions where the water table is very deep, capillary fluxes from groundwater are small, having limited potential to affect soil moisture variations. Therefore, a positive feedback of groundwater to land surface hydrologic memory is observed in a transition zone between deep and shallow water tables, where capillary fluxes act as a buffer by reducing high-frequency soil moisture variations resulting in longer land surface hydrologic memory.
Shift Work and Labor Productivity in Urban Sewer Construction

Sewer construction in urban areas often has significant impacts on work zone traffic control, traffic flow, and safety. Contractors typically introduce night shifts to meet contract schedule and to reduce traffic congestion. However, there is a lack of understanding of how shift work is associated with labor productivity in sewer construction. This research investigated labor productivity of ten major activities in sewer and drainage construction in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam when these activities were performed in both day and night shifts. Levene’s tests and t-tests were employed to analyze the data and investigate the research hypothesis. Results revealed that four activities were significantly sensitive to shift work and the other six activities were not. Pavement cutting and timber piling activities had higher productivity in day shifts. In contrast, steel sheet piling and manhole concreting were more productive in night shifts. Labor productivity of excavation, formwork installation, rebar fabrication/installation, pipe installation, sand filling, and asphalt pavement was not significantly different between the two shifts. The results were verified by the experienced site managers/engineers through structured interviews. The findings form this paper help contractors effectively manage their sewer projects by allocating resources appropriately to construction activities between the day and night shifts.
Effects of attenuation correction and 3D-reconstruction algorithms on brain lesions detectability

We compared lesion detectability in the brain images reconstructed with the three-dimensional (3-D) reprojection algorithm, with and without attenuation correction, and with the 3-D ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm with and without post-filtering. For this purpose, three small lesion phantoms with diameters of 3, 5 and 8.6 mm were embedded into the Hoffman brain phantom. The approximate ratio of the activity concentration in the lesions to the surrounding brain gray matter was ranging from 1.5 to 10. We used the high-resolution MDAPET, a prototype 3D-PET camera, to scan the phantoms.
Diurnal patterns of productivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi revealed with the Soil Ecosystem Observatory.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most abundant plant symbiont and a major pathway of carbon sequestration in soils. However, their basic biology, including their activity throughout a 24-h day : night cycle, remains unknown. We employed the in situ Soil Ecosystem Observatory to quantify the rates of diurnal growth, dieback and net productivity of extra-radical AM fungi. AM fungal hyphae showed significantly different rates of growth and dieback over a period of 24 h and paralleled the circadian-driven photosynthetic oscillations observed in plants. The greatest rates (and incidences) of growth and dieback occurred between noon and 18:00 h. Growth and dieback events often occurred simultaneously and were tightly coupled with soil temperature and moisture, suggesting a rapid acclimation of the external phase of AM fungi to the immediate environment. Changes in the environmental conditions and variability of the mycorrhizosphere may alter the diurnal patterns of productivity of AM fungi, thereby modifying soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and host plant success.
Relating perturbation magnitude to temporal gene expression in biological systems

Most transcriptional activity is a result of environmental variability. This cause (environment) and effect (gene expression) relationship is essential to survival in any changing environment. The specific relationship between environmental perturbation and gene expression – and stability of the response – has yet to be measured in detail. We describe a method to quantitatively relate perturbation magnitude to response at the level of gene expression. We test our method using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism and osmotic stress as an environmental stress. Patterns of gene expression were measured in response to increasing sodium chloride concentrations (0, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, and 1.2 M) for sixty genes impacted by osmotic shock. Expression of these genes was quantified over five time points using reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction. Magnitudes of cumulative response for specific pathways, and the set of all genes, were obtained by combining the temporal response envelopes for genes exhibiting significant changes in expression with time. A linear relationship between perturbation magnitude and response was observed for the range of concentrations studied. This study develops a quantitative approach to describe the stability of gene response and pathways to environmental perturbation and illustrates the utility of this approach. The approach should be applicable to quantitatively evaluate the response of organisms via the magnitude of response and stability of the transcriptome to environmental change.
Silicon and Nanoscale Metal Interface Characterization Using Stress-Engineered Superlayer Test Methods

Thin film layers are utilized in emerging microelectronics, optoelectronics, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Typically, these thin film layers are composed of different materials with dissimilar properties. A common mode of failure for thin films is delamination caused by external loading or intrinsic stress present in the materials. To characterize bonded thin film material systems, it is necessary to measure the interfacial fracture toughness. When material thicknesses approach micro- and nanoscales, interfacial fracture toughness measurement is a challenging task. Accordingly, innovative test techniques need to be developed to study interfacial fracture parameters. The ongoing research at Georgia Institute of Technology is developing fixtureless delamination test techniques that can be used to measure interfacial properties of micro- and nanoscale thin films. The single substrate decohesion test (SSuDT) and the single-strip decohesion Test (SSDT) are such fixtureless tests under development. In these tests, a thin film interface material of interest is deposited on a substrate. Then, delamination is driven by a superlayer material on top of the interface material. This superlayer material is sputter deposited and has high intrinsic stress. A deposited release layer material allows for the contact area between the interface material and the substrate to be controlled. These tests differ in geometry, but share the same generic methodology and can be used for a number of material systems over a wide range of mode mixities. This paper presents the methodology and implementation of the SSuDT and SSDT tests and compares results to better understand their scope. A case study of the interfacial fracture toughness as a function of mode mixity for titanium and silicon interface was performed.
EFFECTS OF FOOD SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE TIMING OF NEST INITIATION IN BELTED KINGFISHERS

Numerous food supplementation experiments have tested the hypothesis that timing of reproduction in birds is limited by energy constraints. These studies have generally concluded that food availability is the primary proximate factor affecting the timing of nesting in birds. None of these studies, however, has examined the relationship between food availability and the timing of nesting in piscivorous birds. To determine whether food was the primary proximate factor affecting timing of nest initiation in the piscivorous Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), we conducted a food supplementation experiment from 1993 through 1995; additional descriptive data were collected in 1992. Belted Kingfishers that nested early had heavier nestlings and were more likely to renest, in the event of nest failure, than were late-nesting birds. This indicates a reproductive advantage in early nesting. In 1994 and 1995, when we began the feeding treatment early in the prebreeding season (8 March) and provided enough fish to meet the estimated energy requirements of a pair of kingfishers (90 g/d), nests of supplemented birds were initiated earlier than those of unsupplemented birds as predicted by the energy constraint model. In 1993, when we began the feeding treatment later (20 April) and provided less fish (20-30 g/d), there was no difference in the initiation dates of supplemented and unsupplemented nests. Although these data support the primary prediction of the energy constraint model, two patterns in our data were not explained by this model. First, few unsupplemented nests were initiated early in the breeding season relative to an unmanipulated reference population. Second, no sup- plemented nests were initiated outside the range of nesting dates recorded in our unma- nipulated reference population. Based on these patterns, we argue that variation in arrival time of females on the breeding grounds, coupled with their selection of territories based on food availability, offers a feasible and testable alternative to the energy constraint model. This habitat selection model predicts that food availability influences the location of re- production of individuals, but does not alter the timing of their reproduction. A literature review revealed few data that could distinguish the energy constraint and habitat selection models. We think that it is important to consider the habitat selection alternative before concluding that the results of food supplementation studies support the energy constraint model. We suggest that future studies use spatial and temporal controls to partition variation in nest initiation dates into multiple causes (e.g., energy constraints, habitat selection).
Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Nanophase Ceramics

Ultrafine-grained ceramics have been synthesized by the production of ultrafine (2–20 nm) particles, using the gas-condensation method, followed by their in-situ, ultra-high vacuum consolidation at room temperature. These new nanophase ceramics have properties that are significantly improved relative to those of their coarser-grained, conventionally-prepared counterparts. For example, nanophase rutile (TiO2) with an initial mean grain diameter of 12 nm sinters at 400 to 600°C lower temperatures than conventional powders, without the need for compacting or sintering aids. The sintered nanophase rutile exhibits both improved microhardness and fracture characteristics. These property improvements result from the reduced scale of the grains and the increased cleanliness of the particle surfaces and the subsequently-formed grain boundaries. Research completed on the synthesis, characterization, and properties of nanophase ceramics is reviewed and the potential for using the nanophase synthesis method for engineering new and/or improved ceramics and composites is considered.
Variation in the moisture regime of northeastern interior Alaska and possible linkages to the Aleutian Low: inferences from a late-Holocene δ18O record

Analyses of oxygen and carbon isotopes in bulk carbonate and Chara-stem encrustations, X-ray diffraction, and sediment composition from Keche Lake offer new information on climatic change over the past ~3,400 years in northeastern interior Alaska. The δ18O and δD values of water samples from the lake and its inlet streams suggest that evaporation plays an important role in determining the isotopic composition of Keche Lake water at present. However, evaporative enrichment does not appear to be a major driver of the pronounced fluctuations in the bulk-carbonate δ18O record on the basis of comparison with Chara-δ18O values. The δ18O values of bulk carbonate in the Keche Lake sediments vary by up to 10 ‰ over the past 3,400 years, with maximum values of −12 ‰ around 3,400 cal BP and between 2,100 and 1,500 cal BP. High δ18O peaks are associated with sediments dominated by quartz, feldspar, and clay minerals suggesting the influence of detrital carbonate. Multi-millennial patterns of δ18O variation at Keche Lake appear to be linked with changes in watershed and sediment-depositional processes, which may be driven by varying moisture abundance associated with the position of the Aleutian Low (AL). The increasing trend of carbonate δ18O from 3,400 to ~2,100 cal BP probably reflects the increasing importance of a westerly AL, and the high frequency of δ18O spikes ~2,100–1,500 cal BP may have resulted from the prevalence of a westerly AL position. Predominance of a westerly AL likely increased snowfall and winter temperature in the region. Such conditions would have promoted soil erosion and thermokarst activity during spring snowmelt, resulting in episodic large influxes of detrital carbonate to Keche Lake and elevating bulk-carbonate δ18O. Over the past 1,500 years, bulk-carbonate δ18O remained relatively high at Keche Lake but variation was much less pronounced than before. A broad δ18O peak centered ~400 cal BP may be related to enhanced winter moisture during the Little Ice Age, although our chronology is inadequate for a rigorous assessment of this interpretation. This study contributes a new δ18O record and offers additional information on past moisture-regime shifts associated with changing atmospheric-circulation patterns.
CF45-1, a Secreted Protein Which Participates in Dictyostelium Group Size Regulation

Developing Dictyostelium cells aggregate to form fruiting bodies containing typically 2 x 10(4) cells. To prevent the formation of an excessively large fruiting body, streams of aggregating cells break up into groups if there are too many cells. The breakup is regulated by a secreted complex of polypeptides called counting factor (CF). Countin and CF50 are two of the components of CF. Disrupting the expression of either of these proteins results in cells secreting very little detectable CF activity, and as a result, aggregation streams remain intact and form large fruiting bodies, which invariably collapse. We find that disrupting the gene encoding a third protein present in crude CF, CF45-1, also results in the formation of large groups when cells are grown with bacteria on agar plates and then starve. However, unlike countin(-) and cf50(-) cells, cf45-1(-) cells sometimes form smaller groups than wild-type cells when the cells are starved on filter pads. The predicted amino acid sequence of CF45-1 has some similarity to that of lysozyme, but recombinant CF45-1 has no detectable lysozyme activity. In the exudates from starved cells, CF45-1 is present in a approximately 450-kDa fraction that also contains countin and CF50, suggesting that it is part of a complex. Recombinant CF45-1 decreases group size in colonies of cf45-1(-) cells with a 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) of approximately 8 ng/ml and in colonies of wild-type and cf50(-) cells with an EC(50) of approximately 40 ng/ml. Like countin(-) and cf50(-) cells, cf45-1(-) cells have high levels of cytosolic glucose, high cell-cell adhesion, and low cell motility. Together, the data suggest that CF45-1 participates in group size regulation in Dictyostelium.
Estimation of a Common Odds Ratio

For comparing two proportions from stratified samples, one approach is via inference on the odds ratio. The various point and interval estimators of a common odds ratio from multiple 2 × 2 tables are reviewed in this paper, with particular emphasis on the point estimators, their asymptotic properties, and what is known about finite-sample properties. Based on research to date, the conditional maximum likelihood and Mantel-Haenszel estimators are recommended as the point estimators of choice. Confidence interval methods have not been studied as well, but there is a method associated with the Mantel-Haenszel estimator that is a good choice. There is the possibility of improvement in the finite-sample properties of these estimators. However, further work is needed before one of these modifications can be recommended for general use.
Are Mealtime Best Practice Guidelines for Child Care Centers Associated with Energy, Vegetable, and Fruit Intake?

Abstract Background: Mealtime best practices for obesity prevention in child care have been developed from experimental studies and expert opinion. Our objective was to describe adherence to best practices in child care centers and to evaluate the association between mealtime practices and children's dietary intake. Methods: We conducted an observational study of 349 preschoolers, ages 36 to 72 months, from 30 child care centers in Cincinnati, Ohio (November 2009 to January 2011). Trained observers recorded providers' behaviors related to six mealtime best practice recommendations and documented children's intake (n = 60 group lunches). General linear mixed models were used to evaluate the association between practice use and children's total energy (caloric consumption) and fruit and vegetable consumption. Results: Adherence to individual mealtime best practices was variable (0%–77%). Staff sitting with children at lunch was associated with lower energy intake and higher vegetable intake. Staff eating so...
Aligning Incentives with Equity: Employee Stock Options and Rule 10b-5

When the Internet boom was in full swing and the stock markets skyrocketed to new levels, companies new and old used stock options to attract and retain employees. Implicit in those options was the promise that employees could participate in the growth of a company's value. However, as the scandals involving WorldCom, Enron, and Global Crossing demonstrate, corporate managers were not always honest with employees or public investors about the company's true value. Public investors can seek civil remedies for securities fraud through a private action under the Securities and Exchange Commission's Rule 10b-5. The Rule's purchase or sale requirement, however, has been interpreted to exclude employees who receive their options through a group plan rather than through individual negotiation. Employees who individually negotiate for an employment package including options are deemed to have purchased their options; employees who receive their options through a group plan are deemed to not have purchased them. This formalistic disparity favors executives, managers, and other high-level employees who individually negotiate for their employment contracts; employees who receive their options en masse are left out in the cold. This article argues that distinguishing between employees based on their method of obtaining stock options is wrong, both as a matter of doctrine and policy. The doctrinal distinction between negotiated options and groups plans is based on an outmoded theory about employment contracts - a theory that, in the past, deemed employer pension promises to be a mere gratuity. An employer's offer of stock options - just like health benefits - is a binding contract once the employee accepts that offer by working. On a policy level, employees who receive their options through a group plan are, in fact, more likely than their individual-negotiation counterparts to need the antifraud protections that Rule 10b-5 affords. Although employees may have certain informational advantages over outside investors, they are often just as susceptible to managerial fraud. The possibilities of employee strike suits or the chilling of option grants are not sufficiently important to warrant the elimination of antifraud security. And other legal avenues, such as contract law or ERISA, do not provide the same protections as Rule 10b-5. Ultimately, the article concludes that all employees should be able to pursue relief under Rule 10b-5 for fraud that materially affects the value of their options.
Learning Mathematics: A Community Collaboration

This article provides a “snapshot” of a service learning activity in an elementary school with prospective elementary teachers of a southern public university in a mathematics content course on arithmetic for elementary teachers. The activity involves constructing equivalent fractions by understanding the importance of the whole in fractions using arts and crafts. This article explores the service-learning activity incorporated in the math content course to give meaningful interpretation of abstract mathematics to prospective teachers.
Behavior and Biology of Monoctonus paulensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasite of Dactynotine Aphids

The 3 larval stages of Monoctonus paulensis (Ashmead) are illustrated and briefly described. Deposition of the parasite egg occurs within the fused thoracico-abdonmnal ganglia of the host. A temporary paralysis of the host is induced by the parasite's attack. Development of the parasite from egg to adult requires 14-15 days at 21.1°C. The pupal period is about 6 days. The adult parasite emerges through an exit hole cut between the siphunculi around the caudal end of the host mummy. The belief is expressed that a closer relationship probably exists between Monoctonus and the genera Ephedrus and Praon than has previously been accepted. It is suggested that a more intensive investigation of diverse characters is needed before true relationships within this group can be established.
The Use of a Pediatric Migraine Practice Guideline in an Emergency Department Setting.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a standardized pediatric migraine practice guideline in the emergency department (ED).MethodsMigraine Clinical Practice Guideline (MCPG) was created in collaboration with the Division of Pediatric Neurology and Pediatric Emerge
Metallurgical and Electrochemical Characterization of the Corrosion of AZ31B-H24 Tungsten Inert Gas Weld: Isolated Weld Zones

The corrosion behavior of a magnesium (Mg) alloy, AZ31B-H24, joined by tungsten inert gas welding was investigated. The corrosion rates and morphology were characterized for each weld zone in isola...
Sexual Behavior and AIDS Knowledge Requirements of Floating Population in Hotel Service of Kunshan City

[Objective]To understand the sexual behavior,attitude towards HIV infected patients and AIDS knowledge requirements of floating population in Kunshan City[Methods]Totally 400 migrants were selected from 5 three-star hotels,5 four-star hotels,1 five-star hotel for structural questionnaire survey.[Results]The most of migrants were sexually active,the proportion of using condoms during the intercourse with their sexual partners was not high.Their knowledge levels about AIDS were low,the total awareness rate of AIDS was 51.00%.Only 27.25% of them were willing to work with workers infected with HIV.[Conclusion]It is necessary to establish conventional mechanism of health education about AIDS on the floating population,to strengthen AIDS knowledge education and behavior intervention,and reverse the discrimination attitude in the floating population,to build good aspect on AIDS prevention in the whole society.
Researching progress in green oxidation technology of organic substance

In a situation that people pay more and more attention to the environment protection, the development of “the environmently friendly”oxidiation technology has become a tendency. The green oxidation method is the update and development of the traditional chemistry thinking, It reviewed the present researching progress and development trends of the green oxidiation technology.
Licensed Professional Counselors’ Perceptions of Pastoral Counseling in the African American Community

This study utilized a phenomenological theory to evaluate the perceptions held by licensed professional counselors regarding pastoral counseling conducted in African American communities in the southeastern United States. The study was designed to build a deeper understanding of how licensed professional counselors conceptualized the African American pastor's role. To evaluate those perceptions, the researcher analyzed data collected from face-to-face interviews. The findings from this qualitative data analysis study revealed that the licensed professional counselor's perceptions of pastoral counseling are jaded by several factors that divide the two professions: lack of training, poor communications, and misconception of the level of professionalism in the church. These are just some of the results from the study. Moreover, the results of this study (a) can offer direction to pastors in selecting individual professional development goals to better prepare themselves and (b) can add perspective to the design of collaboration programs between counselors and pastors.
Contrasting Effects of Specific Lymphokines on the Survival of Hippocampal Neurons in Culture

The hypothesis that there is an ongoing “dialogue” between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system has gained momentum in recent years. For example, it has been demonstrated that neuropeptides released by cells of glial and neuronal origin can affect immune function (Ballieux and Heijnen, 1987; Araujo et al., 1990). Conversely, it is apparent that mediators of the immune system can alter CNS function, at least under certain circumstances (Bailleux and Heijnen, 1987; Dinarello and Mier, 1987; Farrar et al., 1987; Weigent and Blalock, 1987; Araujo et al., 1990; Blatteis, 1990). In view of this communication between the CNS and the immune system, recent studies have attempted to characterize various immunomodulators and their respective roles in the CNS.
Basilar Membrane Response Measured in Damaged Cochleas of Cats

A variety of techniques have been used in the past to measure the vibrations of the basilar membrane in different animals (Bekesy, 1947, stroboscopic microscope; Johnstone and Boyle, 1967, Mossbauer effect; Wilson and Johnstone, 1972, 1975, capacitive probe; Kohiloffel, 1972, fuzziness detection). The present method utilizes an interferometric technique with high sensitivity. Basilar membrane vibrations were measured in cats utilizing this technique.
Abstract LB-274: Microenvironment mediates the efficacy of Cabozantinib in prostate cancer

Therapeutic targeting of the epithelial compartment alone in prostate cancer has resulted in unfavorable outcomes, including the development of resistance. Cabozantinib (XL184), a small molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinases including c-MET and VEGFR2 has been shown to decrease tumor growth and metastasis. Our working rationale is that therapeutic strategies that target the prostate tumor microenvironment would have improved outcomes compared with those that solely target the cancer epithelia. Cabozantinib is demonstrated to have a role in inhibiting osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and thereby limit prostate cancer (PCa) bone lesions, as determined by technetium-99 bone scan. However, the ultimate survival benefit of castrate resistant prostate cancer patients treated with cabozantinib has not born out in recent clinical trials for PCa patients with bone metastasis. In this study, utilizing various pre-clinical xenograft mouse models, prostate epithelial cell lines and human and mouse prostate fibroblasts, we investigated the effect of cabozantinib on prostate tumor microenvironment and delineated the cellular targets of cabozantnib. We found that cabozantinib affects prostate stromal cells at a significantly lower concentration compared with epithelial cells in vitro. We found that human cancer associated fibroblasts pre-treated with cabozantinib induced a significantly increased tumor growth in the intra-tibial mouse model of growth in the bone microenvironment. Further, in a novel and surprising discovery, we found that cabozantinib alters the immune microenvironment by reducing the M1 macrophages. However, cabozantinib depleted both basal and luminal epithelial progenitor cells in vivo. Taken together, we found that cabozantnib can have a tumor potentiating role by limiting M1 macrophages, yet the down regulation of carcinoma associated fibroblasts and associated epithelial progenitors could suggest interesting combination therapies. A lower dose of cabozantnib with traditional anti-proliferative therapies, like taxanes or radiation is supported by the pre-clinical experiments. Citation Format: Manisha Tripathi, Srinivas Nandana, Sandrine Billet, Edwin M. Posadas, Leland W.K. Chung, Neil A. Bhowmick. Microenvironment mediates the efficacy of Cabozantinib in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-274.
Analyzing Single-Molecule Protein Transportation Experiments via Hierarchical Hidden Markov Models

To maintain proper cellular functions, over 50% of proteins encoded in the genome need to be transported to cellular membranes. The molecular mechanism behind such a process, often referred to as protein targeting, is not well understood. Single-molecule experiments are designed to unveil the detailed mechanisms and reveal the functions of different molecular machineries involved in the process. The experimental data consist of hundreds of stochastic time traces from the fluorescence recordings of the experimental system. We introduce a Bayesian hierarchical model on top of hidden Markov models (HMMs) to analyze these data and use the statistical results to answer the biological questions. In addition to resolving the biological puzzles and delineating the regulating roles of different molecular complexes, our statistical results enable us to propose a more detailed mechanism for the late stages of the protein targeting process.
Physiological Responses of Intestinal CTP: Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase and its Interaction with Lipophilic Drugs

Because of the importance of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to biologic membrances, its synthesis has been studied extensively in many different cell systems. De novo PC synthesis is composed of a series of 3 enzymes in which choline is phosphorylated, condensed with CTP and finally transferred to diacylglycerol. It is the second step, mediated by CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (PCT) (EC 2.7.7.15), which has been proposed by a number of workers to be rate limiting in this pathway (1–4). This enzyme has been found in both cytosol and microsomes (5). It has been proposed that the microsomal form of the enzyme provides the substrate for the terminal step in the pathway of PC synthesis while the cytosolic form acts as a reservoir (1,6).
Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria-resistant infections: epidemiology, clinical issues and therapeutic options

In the last decade, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of multidrug resistant Gram-negative (MDRGN) bacterial pathogens, both in Italy and worldwide, with Enterobacteriacae (mostly Klebsiella pneumoniae ), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii being the major threats in clinical practice. Inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy of severe infections caused by MDR Enterobacteriacae has been associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. However, a careful selection of patients who may receive empirical treatment covering MDR Enterobacteriacae is important to avoid the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The aim of this review is to describe the mechanism of resistance, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical issues, and therapeutic options for MDRGN pathogens.
ALLOSTERIC REGULATION OF BRAIN TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE BY SUBMICROMOLAR CALCIUM

ABSTRACT Using an EGTA-treated, dialyzed rat midbrain tryptophan hydroxylase (TP-OH) preparation, we observed sigmoidal velocity functions with respect to both tryptophan (TP) and tetrahydrobiopterin (PH4) when cosubtrate was maintained at subsaturating levels. Calcium, acting as a positive effector of TP-OH in submicromolar concentrations converted the sigmoidal substrate velocity function to a hyperbolic one. Lithium in concentrations equimolar to those of calcium, acting as a negative effector, increased the sigmoidicity of the substrate velocity function. Equimolar concentrations of calcium, cofactor, and substrate were saturating, suggesting a multi-site enzyme.
Defect evolution in heavy ion irradiated nanotwinned Cu with nanovoids

Abstract Epitaxial nanotwinned Cu film with abundant nanovoids surrounding domain boundaries was subjected to Kr ++ ion irradiation inside a transmission electron microscope at various dose rates. Irradiation-induced defect clusters distributed preferentially near domain boundaries during the early stage of radiation. Meanwhile, the pre-existing nanovoids continuously shrank. This study suggests that the defect network enabled by the unique combination of nanotwins and nanovoids may significantly enhance the radiation tolerance of metallic materials.
The Gender Risk–Severity Paradox for Alcohol Use Disorder From Adolescence Through Young Adulthood:

A large proportion of the public health costs of alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be accounted for by a small percentage of severe cases with a chronic course starting in adolescence and persisting into adulthood. However, chronicity may be a less effective marker of AUD severity in women than men due to a gender risk-severity paradox wherein comparable levels of risk exposure yield more co-occurring problems for women than men with AUD. To model this paradox, we compared trajectories of alcohol and drug use problems, depression symptoms, and antisocial behavior from ages 17 to 29 in men and women with a persistent, desistent, or no history of AUD. Problems followed a quadratic trajectory (i.e., increases followed by decreases), with gender and AUD chronicity moderating age-related change. Specifically, persistent and desistent courses differentiated the severity of problems more effectively in men while chronicity had less utility for differentiating AUD severity in women.
The social context of U.S. built landscapes

In this paper, we present a quantified, GIS-based analysis of the relationship between urban morphological patterns and racial, ethnic, and household characteristics. We want to understand how the built landscapes of American cities differ in sociological terms—for example, are some more prone to racial concentration or prevalence of particular family types? Since many built landscape types are relatively recent and rapidly growing, this analysis can inform current debates about sprawl and inequality. We examined six diverse U.S. metropolitan regions: Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Portland, and Sacramento, joining census block data with built landscape patterns mapped in GIS through aerial imagery analysis. We find that a large portion of our six metropolitan regions consists of patterns that can be characterized as sprawl—patterns that are often manifestations of a desire for separation. This separation has significant equity implications because resources—services, amenities, schools, parks, tax base, etc.—are not evenly distributed. Further, two of our patterns (Rural Sprawl and Upscale Enclave), which are growing rapidly and most often occur on the urban fringe, have the least diverse demographics across all six metro areas. These landscapes are also by far the least dense, leading to a range of negative environmental impacts. Older built landscape types (Urban Grids, Rectangular Block Grids, and Degenerate Grids) are denser and relatively diverse. These have lower rates of occupancy in most urban areas, indicating an opportunity to house additional residents in relatively well-located, well-connected, and diverse central portions of metropolitan regions.
James Casey: Extrapolating from Early Modern Iberia

James Casey researches regional variation in lineal descent, consanguinity, and patterns of inheritance as they alternately impede or impel state formation. Joined by a spirit of capitalism, a market economy, and the division of labor, lineal descent, consanguinity and patterns of inheritance each had a role to play as drivers of state formation, and markers of progress toward social complexity. To the degree that kinship bands persisted, they acted simultaneously as an impediment to autonomous household formation, and to formal state formation. As Casey contends, changes in family organization underlay changes in social organization. Building upon this insight, as this tenth chapter describes, precipitating ecological drivers and concomitant evolutionary consequences cannot be absented when explaining the historical transition from consanguineous tribe to genetically diversified state.
Intrusos del espacio y el tiempo

Entre los dias 24 y 27 de mayo de 2018, tuvo lugar la 85 Conferencia de la red Trans Europe Halles en las instalaciones de uno de sus miembros, el proyecto ZAWP, en Bilbao. De acuerdo a la filosofia de ZAWP, la conferencia llevo por titulo: Mientras Tanto. Space-Time intruders. Palabras clave: Red Trans Europe Halles, proyecto ZAWP, Bilbao. Space-time intruders Abstract: Between the 24th and 27th of May 2018, the 85 Trans Europe Halles Network Conference was held at the premises of one of its members, the ZAWP project, in Bilbao. In accordance with the philosophy of ZAWP, the title chosen for the conference was Mientras Tanto [Meanwhile]. Space-Time intruders. Keywords: Trans Europe Halles Network, ZAWP project, Bilbao. Articulo recibido: 18/10/2018// Articulo aceptado: 27/10/2018
Anticipating Future Performance Using the Current Earnings Expectation Path

The earnings expectation path describes how expectations about earnings change as information is revealed to the market during the quarter. Prior research documents that the various earnings expectation paths are differentially associated with current period abnormal returns, presumably because different expectation paths lead to varied investor expectations about future firm performance. Given this inference, we test for and find a significant relation between the current quarter's earnings expectation path and the subsequent quarter's (1) total earnings news, (2) earnings surprise, and (3) abnormal returns. We form portfolios based on firms' current-quarter earnings expectation paths that earn size-adjusted hedge portfolio returns during the subsequent quarter of 5.3% and during the subsequent year of 8.4%. Combining our earnings expectation path strategy with a post earnings announcement drift strategy and a return momentum strategy earns hedge portfolio returns of 9.5% and 16.7% over the next quarter and year, respectively.