cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic master lists: integration of patient records from different databases when unique patient identifier is missing

We show how Bayesian probability models can be used to integrate two databases, one of which does not have a key for uniquely identifying clients (e.g., social security number or medical record number). The analyst selects a set of imperfect identifiers (last visit diagnosis, first name, etc.). The algorithm assesses the likelihood ratio associated with the identifier from the database of known cases. It estimates the probability that two records belong to the same client from the likelihood ratios. As it proceeds in examining various identifiers, it accounts for inter-dependencies among them by allowing overlapping and redundant identifiers to be used. We test that the procedure is effective by examining data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Population Characteristics data set, a publicly available data set. We randomly selected 1,000 cases for training data set--these constituted the known cases. The algorithm was used to identify if 100 cases not in the training data set would be misclassified in terms of being a case in the training set or a new case. With 12 fields as identifiers, all 100 cases were correctly classified as new cases. We also selected 100 known cases from the training set and asked the algorithm to classify these cases. Again, all 100 cases were correctly classified. Less accurate results were obtained when the training data set was too small (e.g., less than 100 records) or the number of fields used as identifiers was too small (e.g., less than seven fields). In a test of performance of the algorithm, when the ratio of testing to training data set exceeds 4 to 1, the accuracy of the algorithm exceeded 90% of cases. As the ratio increases, the accuracy of algorithm improves further. These data suggest the accuracy of our automated and mathematical procedure to merge data from two different data sets without the presence of a unique identifier. The algorithm uses imperfect and overlapping clues to re-identify cases from information not typically considered to be a patient identifier.
Stakeholder Theory and Public Policy: How Governments Matter

The Social Issues in Management Division has had a long history of research into various aspects of governmental influences on business. Recent years, however, have seen stakeholder theory sort of sweep the field, and under a stakeholder theory of capitalism, governments will matter less then they have in the past as stakeholder principles are implemented throughout the corporate world. This article will examine the nature of this claim by discussing problems with the implementation of stakeholder theory and examining the role of public policy in our society.
Impact of reducing agent, temperature, and substrate topology on diastereoselectivity of the intermolecular coupling reactions, or how “free” are cobalt-complexed propargyl radicals?

Applicability of the term “free radical” to organometallic radicals was studied by using the stereoselectivity of radical C–C bond formation as a diagnostic tool. Based on diastereoselectivity data, it was concluded that the reduction of π-bonded, Co2(CO)6-complexed propargyl cations with heterogeneous reducing agents (Zn, Mg) generates “free radicals”, while homogeneous reductants (Cp2Co, Na–Ph2CO) produce “sequestered radicals”, presumably associated with reductant-derived oxidized species. The latter are comparable in molecular volume to the requisite radical species, thus restricting the motion and conformational freedoms of converging, transition metal-complexed propargyl radicals. Diastereoselectivity of intermolecular reactions is determined to be much less sensitive toward temperature variation (Δde = 6–22%) than in intramolecular radical cyclizations (Δde = 106%).
MONEY REINFORCEMENT AND HUMAN OPERANT (WORK) BEHAVIOR: II. WITHIN-SUBJECT COMPARISONS.

In an earlier snidy (Toppen, 1965), empirical work with magninide of reinforcement (mainly with animals) was reviewed, and Toppen reported a between-Ss comparison of the effect of size and frequency of money reinforcement on human operant (work) behavior, confirming the hypothesis that "humans responding to money reward are like other animals responding to ocher cypes of reward. They show greater performance in response to greater magnitude and greater ratio of incidence of reward to units of effort expended" (p. 267). It still remained to be shown whether within-Ss comparisons of reward magnitudes would show similar results. Specifically, the hypothesis to be tested was that the human S will behave like the animal S in response to systematically decreasing-magnitude reinforcement schedules (Pubols, 1960), with reduced performance of work over time, as compared with the performances elicited when such reductions had not occurred in a relatively "effe~tive"~ reinforcement schedule. Under these circumstances the hypothesis would predict at least equally, but possibly better-maintained performance levels over time from increasing-magnin~de schedules starting at the same point, than from the control (sceady-magnitude) group. (It is important to note that the design of the earlier study, as well 'The author is grateful to Robert Fox for assistance in assembling the apparatus and to Donald A. Schumsky for his consultarion on experimental design and analysis of the data. "Effective" here means a reinforcement schedule which will elicit a fairly well and vigorously sustained performance from S for some appreciable extent of time. The reinforcement schedule chosen for the control group was, I assumed, likely to be fairly "effective" for college male students, from experience wirh higher and lower paying schedules actually tesred with such Ss in the earlier study (Toppen, 1965), and further pilot work.
A virtualized environment for teaching IT/CS laboratories

Providing students with productive hands-on laboratory experiences is necessary for the mastery of the course material in both Information Technology and Computer Science curricula. This paper presents a cost-effective laboratory environment for delivering hands-on education and introduces students to virtualization technology.
Winter social behaviour of dark-eyed juncos: Communication, social organization, and ecological implications

This paper reports on winter social behaviour in free-living and captive flocks of dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Visual and vocal signals used by flocked juncos are analysed structurally and functionally. An examination is made of the frequency and form of agonistic behaviour in several social and environmental contexts in an attempt to provide insight into the relationship between junco communication and social organization. A system of classification of signals, based upon the meaning of cues to the signaller, is proposed. Evidence is given to suggest that the behaviour of subordinate, rather than of dominant, individuals controls the operation of the social system in junco flocks. Some ecological implications of junco social behaviour are discussed.
Using Indices of Student Satisfaction to Assess an MIS Program

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a methodology by which management information systems (MIS) alumni evaluations of the content of courses and their satisfaction with an entire MIS program can be used to assess the relevancy of an MIS curriculum. By way of clarification, an MIS program prepares its graduates to be effective in the tasks necessary to design, program, and implement systems that will provide management with timely, accurate, and useful information for decision making. This is in contrast to computer science (CS) programs that prepare their graduates to be knowledgeable in the technical aspects of computer hardware and operating systems software. This study first determines if there were any differences in the evaluations of the content of required MIS courses by alumni based on whether the graduate was using the first year on the job or in oneâ€™s current position as a frame of reference. Then a factor analysis is performed, using the scores earned by specific courses, to reduce the content value of specific courses into specific factors, thus simplifying understanding of the type of learning that is taking place. A factor analysis is performed both for course content scores during oneâ€™s first year on the job and again in oneâ€™s current position. Using a global measure of satisfaction with the entire MIS program, the course content factor scores then are correlated to a studentâ€™s satisfaction with the entire MIS program. This regression analysis is performed once again for both oneâ€™s first year on the job and in oneâ€™s current position. The implications for evaluating the effectiveness of an MIS curriculum are presented and discussed.
Interaction of hydrogen with defects in a-SiO2

Abstract In this paper, the current understanding of the role of hydrogen in passivating and creating defects in irradiated MOS samples is reviewed. The first ab initio calculation of the energies of activation and reaction of the dissociation of H 2 molecules at the E′ 1 defect in α-quartz, and for a simple model for the E′ γ defect in a-SiO 2 is prestented. The effects of various improvements to standard Hartree-Fock theory, including perturbative configuration interaction and improved basis sets, were studied. It is found that the qualitative picture of H 2 dissociation is insensitive to these improvements. The estimates of the energies of reaction and activation in the adiabatic approximation are 0.25 eV and 0.78 eV, respectively. The latter energy is roughly twice the activation energy reported by Li et al. The probable sources of error are explored and it is concluded that quantum effects (zero point energy and tunneling are probably crucial for modeling this dissociation reaction. The first ab initio study of the preferred conformation of the proton in a-SiO 2 and a preliminary semiempirical calculation of the activation energy for proton hopping are also presented.
Fiber-based spectroscopy of 1.55 µm PbS quantum dots coupled to Si microcavities

We use a fiber-taper waveguide to measure the transmission, photoluminescence, photo-darkening, and lifetime from a low density of near-infrared PbS quantum dots integrated with silicon photonic crystal cavities, microdisks, and the taper itself.
Productive Friction: How Conflict in Student Teaching Creates Opportunities for Learning at the Boundary.

Student teaching is contested ground for teacher candidates’ learning. Struggling to implement practises when expectations of university and schools are inconsistent, they experience conflicts between these two worlds. In this article, we conceptualise student teaching as a space where conflicts can be generative for candidates’ learning. We use the idea of productive friction—dissonance experienced by teacher candidates when two or more social worlds conflict that leads to more sophisticated practise—to consider student teaching as a potential boundary space that benefits from diverse perspectives. Drawing on ethnographic data, we contrast the cases of four candidates’ productive and unproductive friction during student teaching. Furthermore, we discuss the qualities of student teaching that can promote productive friction for learning.
Cognitive behavior therapy for negative body image

Subjects were twenty-three normal weight women with disturbed body image, but without eating disorders, who were randomly assigned to either cognitive behavior therapy or minimal treatment. Treatment was provided for six-weeks in a small group format. Cognitive behavior therapy focused on correction of size and weight overestimation, modification of distorted and negative thoughts about physical appearance, and exposure to situations which provoke thoughts about appearance, i.e., treatment dealt with perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of body image disturbance. The minimal treatment condition controlled for information and attention. At posttreatment and follow-up, subjects in cognitive behavior therapy showed greater improvements in size overestimation, body dissatisfaction, and behavioral avoidance, compared to subjects in minimal treatment. The results indicate that cognitive behavior therapy is an effective intervention for disturbed body image in young women.
Patterns of degeneration in the human cochlear nerve

The patterns of neural degeneration of the spiral ganglion were studied in 12 human pathologic specimens and 2 normal neonatal specimens. Morphometric analysis of spiral ganglion cells included the maximum cross-sectional areas of both large (type 1) and small (type II) spiral ganglion cells. The organ of Corti in segments corresponding to the spiral ganglion, was evaluated for the presence or absence of inner (IHC) and outer (OHC) hair cells and supporting cells. The relationship between degeneration of spiral ganglion cells and degeneration in the organ of Corti, the age, sex, duration of deafness, cochlear location and delay between death and fixation was evaluated statistically. Both primary and secondary degeneration of the spiral ganglion were more severe in the basal than apical half of the cochlea. Degeneration of the spiral ganglion was most severe when both IHCs and OHCs were absent in the organ of Corti. No survival advantage was identified for type II ganglion cells as has been previously reported. That is, there was no correlation between the degree of degeneration of the spiral ganglion and the prevalence of type II ganglion cells. In fact, there was more severe degeneration of type II cells when the corresponding organ of Corti was severely degenerated. These findings in the human were compared with animal models of degeneration of the spiral ganglion, and the implications for cochlear implantation were discussed.
Functional Analysis of Recombinant Mutants of Maxadilan with a PAC1 Receptor-expressing Melanophore Cell Line

Maxadilan, a 61-amino-acid vasodilatory peptide, was initially isolated from the salivary glands of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Although its primary sequence has no homology to that of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, maxadilan is an agonist for the PAC1 receptor. A total of 58 substitution and deletion mutants was engineered in an effort to determine which residues were important for receptor activation. The mutants were characterized functionally using an assay based on pigment granule translocation in PAC1-expressing Xenopus laevis melanophores. Substitution of charged residues and proline 43 could alter (but not eliminate) the agonist activity of the mutants. In contrast, we found that several multiple substitution mutants of the predicted β-strand threonine residues became antagonists at the PAC1 receptor. The results suggest that these threonine residues are cooperatively involved in PAC1 activation.
Strategies for information injection for networks estimating emitter location

This paper considers the problem of emitter location in the presence of an adversary able to inject false information, where both the viewpoints of the adversary and locating network are considered. We begin by developing adversary strategies, which focus on degrading and redirecting the locating network. The locating network uses the time difference of arrival (TDOA) method and estimates the emitter location using both nonlinear least squares (LS) and the robust least median squares (LMS). Specifically, we determine the false sensor position the adversary should inject that maximally impacts the locating network by 1) minimizing the network’s accuracy, and 2) redirecting the network’s emitter location estimate. Similarly, we formulate a network’s strategy for detecting the adversary’s injection and develop a detector able to determine its presence under both adversary strategies. We present both theoretical and numerical results illustrating the effectiveness of the developed strategies.
A Variational Method of Robust Fixture Configuration Design for 3-D Workpieces

Fixtures are used to locate and hold workpieces during manufacturing. Because workpiece surface errors and fixture set-up errors (called source errors) always exist, the fixtured workpiece will consequently have position and/or orientation errors (called resultant errors). In this paper, we develop a variational method for robust fixture configuration design to minimize workpiece resultant errors due to source errors. We utilize both first-order and second-order workpiece geometry information to deal with two types of source errors, i.e., infinitesimal errors and small errors. Using the proposed variational approach, other fundamental fixture design issues, such as deterministic locating and total fixturing, can be regarded as integral parts of the robust design. Closed-form analytical solutions are derived and numerical examples are shown. By employing the nonlinear programming technique, simulation software called RFixDesign is developed. This paper presents a new procedure for robust fixture configuration design that contributes especially to fixture designs where deformation is not influential.
The IκBα/NF‐κB complex has two hot spots, one at either end of the interface

IκBα binds to and inhibits the transcriptional activity of NF-κB family members via its ankyrin repeat (AR) domain. The binding affinity of IκBα with NF-κB(p50/p65) heterodimers and NF-κB(p65/65) homodimers is in the picomolar range, and in the cell, this results in long half-lives of the complexes. Direct binding experiments have been performed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) on a series of truncations and mutations in order to understand what regions of the interface are most important for the tight binding affinity of this complex. We previously showed that interactions between residues 305 and 321 of NF-κB(p65) with the first AR of IκBα are critical for the binding energy. Interactions in this region are responsible for more than 7 kcal/mol of the binding energy. Here we show equally drastic consequences for the binding energy occur upon truncation of even a few residues at the C terminus of IκBα. Thus, the interface actually has two hot spots, one at either end of the elongated and large surface of interaction. These results suggest a “squeeze” mechanism that leads to the extremely high affinity of the IκBα•NF-κB complex through stabilization of the ankyrin repeat domain.
SOI LIGBT devices with a dual P-well implant for improved latching characteristics

The authors explore the inherent tradeoff between latching current density and threshold voltage in a typical lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor (LIGBT), which uses a shallow implant and long drive-in to form its P-well. The latching performance of LIGBTs in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates is compared to that of equivalent devices in bulk silicon. Two techniques are proposed for improving the latchup/threshold tradeoff in these SOI devices. Retrograde P-well implants are shown to yield significant improvements while adding little complexity to the fabrication process. Dual P-well implants are shown to effectively decouple the latching current from the threshold voltage, yielding LIGBTs with latching current densities over 1300 A/cm/sup 2/. >
A Hierarchical Framework For High Resolution Facial Expression Tracking

We present a novel hierarchical framework for high resolution, nonrigid facial expression tracking. The high quality dense point clouds of facial geometry moving at video speeds are acquired using a phase-shifting based structured light ranging technique. To use such data for temporal study of the subtle dynamics in expressions and for face recognition, an efficient nonrigid facial tracking algorithm is needed to establish intra-frame correspondences. In this paper, we propose such an algorithmic framework that uses a multi-resolution 3D deformable face model, and a hierarchical tracking scheme. This framework can not only track global facial motion that is caused by muscle action, but fit to subtler expression details that are generated by highly local skin deformations. Tracking of global deformations is performed efficiently on the coarse level of our face model with one thousand nodes, to recover the changes in a few intuitive parameters that control the motion of several deformable regions. In order to capture the complementary highly local deformations, we use a variational algorithm for non-rigid shape registration based on the integration of an implicit shape representation and the Free Form Deformations (FFD). Due to the strong implicit and explicit smoothness constraints imposed by the algorithm, the resulting registration/deformation field is smooth, continuous and gives dense one-to-one intra-frame correspondences. User-input sparse facial feature correspondences can also be incorporated as hard constraints in the optimization process, in order to guarantee high accuracy of the established correspondences. Extensive tracking experiments using the dynamic facial scan of five different subjects demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our proposed framework.
Response of Conventional Steel Stud Wall Systems under Static and Dynamic Pressure

This research effort focuses on the evaluation of existing design standards for cold-formed steel stud walls and the development of retrofit wall systems. Full-scale wall systems are tested under uniform static pressure using a vacuum chamber. The resistance functions obtained are used to model the dynamic behavior of the walls and to predict performance under blast conditions. This paper focuses on defining the static resistance of nonload-bearing steel stud walls with slip track connections and their performance under external explosions. Simple modifications to existing design practice have significantly improved the blast performance of the steel stud walls. Maximum blast resistance is achieved by using steel angles connected to the studs and anchored to the floor and ceiling. The static and dynamic performances of five full-scale steel stud wall systems are presented in this paper.
A computer model of the evolution of specific maximum lifespan

Abstract To answer the question of why organisms have evolved finite and specific maximum lifespans, I have built and experimentally studied a discrete-event simulation model of the evolution of lifespan. Through natural selection, the model evolves an apparent plateau in maximum lifespan, the height of which is a decreasing function of both the intensity of niche fluctuations and specific fecundity. Evolved lifespan is therefore finite (small and essentially constant over accessible time intervals) and specific. Experiments demonstrate that the plateau is not due to group selection. Instead, it occurs because the rate of increase of maximum lifespan by natural selection — in an environment presenting a finite probability that death will occur prior to reaching the genetically specified maximum — is a decreasing function of maximum lifespan itself and asymptotically approaches zero. This supports in part a class of existing hypotheses that finite lifespan is due to an equilibrium between weak selection, as in the model, and various lifespan-decreasing processes, which however were not simulated in the present experiments. Although the model shows that such counter processes are not strictly necessary for the evolution of finite and specific maximum lifespan, my interpretation of the model's correspondence to organic evolution does imply a counter process, a bias in random genetic drift toward shorter lifespan, that is more general than those previously hypothesized.
Replication in an information filtering system

In the Tapestry system developed at Xerox PARC, users provide queries to filter incoming streams of documents. These queries run continuously over a growing database of electronic mail messages, news articles, and other textual documents. In the current implementation, all filter queries for all users run on a single database server. Those documents that match a user's filter query (or queries) are queued up for the user and can be retrieved directly via an RPC interface or, as is typically the case, can be sent to the user via electronic mail. This paper shows that the design of a distributed information filtering service involves challenges not faced in other distributed applications. Replication is needed, not for fault-tolerance or performance but simply for scalability. Of course, once replication is provided, it can be used to increase the fault-tolerance of the system (with some additional work). A new technique called filter-based replication is proposed for deciding what to replicate and where. >
Queer resolutions: 9/11 and Muslim masculinities in New York

This article examines how the Bollywood film New York interrupts some of the dominant gendered and sexualized fictions about 9/11 in US public discourse and by extension, in Indian cinematic and popular discourse about Muslims and citizenship. As several transnational feminist scholars have observed, the monstrously deviant Muslim terrorist, and the heterosexual drama of nationalist domesticity were two key tropes circulated in media discourse following 9/11. My reading explores how New York takes on both these tropes as it works to reintegrate Muslim male subjectivities into the national imaginary. In New York, these dominant 9/11 fictions are worked into the central heterosexual love triangle, which is cinematically consolidated in the shadows of the twin towers, and then swiftly undone by 9/11. I focus on this erotic triangle in order to examine how, why, and to what effect the film provides an unusually ‘queer’ resolution to the love triangle, going against the anticipated heterosexual resolution most...
Meritocracy, Self-Concerns, and Whites' Denial of Racial Inequity

We propose that embracing meritocracy as a distribution rule causes Whites to deny the existence of racial inequity. On this view, Whites who endorse meritocracy seek to regard themselves as high in merit, and maintain this self-view by denying racial privilege. Four studies show that preference for meritocracy better predicts denial of White privilege than anti-Black discrimination (Study 1), that the desire to see the self as meritorious mediates the relationship between preference for meritocracy and denial of privilege (Study 2), that this meritocracy–privilege relationship is moderated by Whites' need to bolster the self (Study 3), and that priming the meritocracy norm reduces perceptions of racial privilege among highly identified Whites (Study 4). Implications for the amelioration of social inequity are discussed.
Analysis of Dual Phase Lag Heat Conduction in Gold Nanoparticle Based Hyperthermia Treatment

This paper addresses the fast-transient heat conduction phenomena of a gold nanoparticle embedded in cancerous tissue in hyperthermia treatment. Dual phase lag model in spherical coordinates was employed and a semi-analytical solution of 1-D non-homogenous dual phase lag equation was presented. Results show that transient temperature depends dramatically on the lagging characteristic time of the surrounding tissue. Temperature predicted by dual phase lag model greatly exceeds that predicted by a classical diffusion model, with either a constant source or a pulsed source. This phenomenon is mainly attributed by the phase lag of heat flux of tissue. The overheating in short time scale and the consequent biological effect needs to be paid more attention in the related study.
Early experiences with KTAU on the IBM BG/L

The influences of OS and system-specific effects on application performance are increasingly important in high performance computing. In this regard, OS kernel measurement is necessary to understand the interrelationship of system and application behavior. This can be viewed from two perspectives: kernel-wide and process-centric. An integrated methodology and framework to observe both views in HPC systems using OS kernel measurement has remained elusive. We demonstrate a new tool called KTAU (Kernel TAU) that aims to provide parallel kernel performance measurement from both perspectives. KTAU extends the TAU performance system with kernel-level monitoring, while leveraging TAU's measurement and analysis capabilities. As part of the ZeptoOS scalable operating systems project, we report early experiences using KTAU in ZeptoOS on the IBM BG/L system.
Dental Caries and Nutrition in Lebanon

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUACARIE DENTAL E NUTRITION IN LEBANON.—Examines pro carie dental esseva executate in 1770 individuos de etates de inter 5 e 85 annos, como parte de un enquete del nutrition in Lebanon. Le prevalentia de carie dental esseva intermedie inter le basse nivellos previemente incontrate in Asia e le alte nivellos incontrate in le Americas. Le consumo medie de sucro esseva equalmente intermedie inter illo in Asia e illo in le Americas. Le debris oral esseva associate con le indices de carie-perdita-plumbage, sed le mesmo non valeva pro le stato nutritive. Le experientia de carie in dentes decidue esseva tanto alte como in certe populationes statounitese, sed le dentes permanente del mesme subjectos esseva relativemente exempte de carie.
Construction of an International Space Transit Vehicle Using the Space Station

*Graduate Student, Department of Astronautical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Conductor, ASTE 527 Space Concepts Studio, Department of Astronautical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, Graduate Thesis Advisor, School of Architecture, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, AIAA Member 1 Construction of an International Space Transit Vehicle Using the Space Station
Classification of multiclassed stochastic images buried in additive noise

The optimal correlation filter for the discrimination or classification of multiclass stochastic images buried in additive noise was designed. We consider noise in images as the (K + 1)th class of stochastic images, so the K class with noise problem becomes a problem of (K + 1) classes: K class without noise plus the (K + 1)th class of noise. Experimental verifications with both low-frequency background noise and high-frequency shot noise show that the new filter design is reliable.
Implementing an elective toxicology course through integration of emergency medicine resident physicians into didactic lectures

Abstract Objectives To design, implement, and evaluate an elective clinical toxicology course through the integration of emergency medicine physicians into case-based lectures to pharmacy students. Design An introductory clinical toxicology course with an emphasis on overdose prevention, overdose patient diagnosis/assessment, and general medical management approaches was developed. Interprofessional interaction opportunity for pharmacy students was provided through integration of emergency medicine resident physicians into didactic lectures. Case-based lectures were created and delivered throughout the course to illustrate the application of the general toxicology knowledge to patient care. Assessment The outcome of the course design and implementation were assessed through students’ self-assessment survey, standard course evaluation, and overall course grades from class students. Conclusion Students perceived the integration of emergency medicine resident physicians as beneficial. The course design promoted students to value different viewpoints, and the method of content delivery helped them to develop real world professional skills through interprofessional interactions. The course survey, evaluations, and overall course grades demonstrated that the course met its predefined educational outcome.
Seasonal burning of juniper woodlands and spatial recovery of herbaceous vegetation.

Abstract Decreased fire activity has been recognized as a main cause of expansion and infilling of North American woodlands. Pinon-juniper (Pinus-Juniperus) woodlands in the western United States have expanded in area 2–10-fold since the late 1800s. Woodland control measures using chainsaws, heavy equipment and prescribed fire are used to restore big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) steppe plant communities and reduce woody fuel loading. Immediate objectives in the initial control of pinon-juniper are; (1) recovery of perennial herbaceous species to restore site composition, structure and processes (resilience) and resist invasion and dominance by invasive annual grasses (resistance) and (2) reducing woody fuel accumulations. Spanning a 7 year period (2006–2012), we compared herbaceous recovery following cutting and prescribed fire on three sites in mid and late succession western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis spp. occidentalis Hook.) woodlands in southeast Oregon. Treatments were untreated controls, partial cutting followed by fall broadcast burning (SEP), clear-cut and leave (CUT), and clear-cut and burn in winter (JAN), and spring (APR). Cover of herbaceous species was measured in three zones; interspace, litter mats around tree stumps (stump), and beneath felled trees. In interspace zones of all treatments, comprising between 51% and 63% of site areas, perennial bunchgrasses dominated two sites and co-dominated with invasive annual grasses at one site after treatment. Burning in the JAN treatments, when fuel moisture and relative humidity were high and temperatures cooler, reduced disturbance severity in stump and felled tree zones, which maintained perennial herbaceous understories and prevented or limited the presence of invasive annuals. Burning felled juniper in SEP and APR treatments resulted in moderate to high fire severity in stump and felled tree zones. At two sites, these fires consumed all fuel up to the 1000-h fuel class, largely eliminated herbaceous perennials, and created islands within treatments that enhanced annual grass invasion and dominance. To maintain or boost site resilience and resistance following control of late successional woodlands, reducing pinon-juniper fuels by burning in winter provides managers with a low-impact option for conserving sagebrush steppe.
Pharmacogenomics and Cancer Therapy: Somatic and Germline Polymorphisms

Pharmacogenomics has the potential to not only impact the pharmacokinetics of an anticancer drug but also the tumor response, or pharmacodynamics. This chapter focuses on the most up-to-date clinical trials involving pharmacogenomics and anticancer therapy. A brief introduction of drug development and the difference between somatic and germline DNA mutations sets up the chapter for understanding the progress which has been made in regard to individualized cancer therapy. Although researchers and healthcare practitioners have realized the potential of pharmacogenomics for several years, it has only been until recently that genotype-guided, prospective clinical trials have been done. Validating these biomarkers and genetic associations is vital to translating pharmacogenomics into clinical practice. This chapter highlights the advancements that have been made with key examples such as tamoxifen and CYP2D6, erlotinib and EGFR, vemurafenib and BRAF, and many others.
High-resolution 3-D microwave breast imaging using spatial prior constraints with variable strength

We investigate an inverse scattering algorithm that exploits spatial prior information for high resolution microwave breast imaging in 3D. Spatial prior information is incorporated into the distorted Born iterative method (DBIM) in the form of variable-strength soft constraints. The algorithm uses sparse matrices, which makes it computationally efficient. We test the performance of the algorithm by imaging a realistic 3D numerical breast phantom using a simulated dipole array. We demonstrate that, in contrast to conventional DBIM, the algorithm preserves the boundaries between tissue types and accurately estimates the tissue dielectric properties in the different tissue regions. improving property estimation. We also show that different levels of dielectric properties heterogeneity in the breast tissues can be captured in the reconstructed image by varying the strength of the spatial prior constraints.
Dynamic Interactions between Cancer Cells and the Embryonic Microenvironment Regulate Cell Invasion and Reveal EphB6 as a Metastasis Suppressor

Metastatic dissemination drives the high mortality associated with melanoma. However, difficulties in visualizing in vivo cell dynamics during metastatic invasion have limited our understanding of these cell behaviors. Recent evidence has revealed that melanoma cells exploit portions of their ancestral embryonic neural crest emigration program to facilitate invasion. What remains to be determined is how embryonic microenvironmental signals influence invasive melanoma cell behavior, and whether these signals are relevant to human disease. To address these questions, we interrogated the role of the neural crest microenvironment in dictating the spatiotemporal pattern of melanoma cell invasion in the chick embryo using 2-photon time-lapse microscopy. Results reveal that both permissive and inhibitory neural crest microenvironmental signals regulate the timing and direction of melanoma invasion to coincide with the neural crest migration pattern. These cues include bidirectional signaling mediated through the ephrin family of receptor tyrosine kinases. We demonstrate that EphB6 reexpression forces metastatic melanoma cells to deviate from the canonical migration pattern observed in the chick embryo transplant model. Furthermore, EphB6-expressing melanoma cells display significantly reduced metastatic potential in a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) metastasis assay. These data on melanoma invasion in the embryonic neural crest and CAM microenvironments identify EphB6 as a metastasis suppressor in melanoma, likely acting at the stage of intravasation. Implications: This article links cellular metastasis to behaviors observed in the ancestrally related embryonic neural crest and demonstrates the powerful influence of the embryonic microenvironment in regulating cell migratory behavior. Mol Cancer Res; 12(9); 1303–13. ©2014 AACR .
Pineal Cell Proliferation in the Mouse.

SummaryIn mice killed 2 days after birth, pineal parenchymal cells had a high proliferative rate as indicated by the large number of labeled nuclei. At 21 days, DNA synthesis occurred in less than 1% of the cells and by one month it had essentially ceased. The rate of DNA synthesis was lower in pineal parenchymal cells than in any other tissue of the adult mouse studied except for neurons of the central nervous system. No DNA synthesis was seen after injections of estrogen and progesterone in ovariectomized mice.
Using the NLRB as a Resource

Many unions blame the National Labor Relations Board and Act for the mem bership decline experienced by United States unions. Such a position is danger ous, because it deprives unions of a useful t...
Spectra and structure of gallium compounds. Part VI. Infrared and Raman spectra of trimethylgalliumtrimethylphosphine

Abstract The infrared (50–4000 cm −1 ) and Raman (50–3500 cm −1 ) spectra of (CH 3 ) 3 GaP(CH 3 ) 3 have been recorded for the solid state at the temperature of boiling liquid nitrogen. The spectra have been interpreted on the basis of C 3v molecular symmetry and a complete vibrational assignment except for the methyl torsional modes is presented. A modified valence force field model has been utilized in calculating the frequencies and potential energy distribution. The calculated potential constants for the adducts are compared to those previously reported for the Lewis acid and the Lewis base moieties and the differences are shown to be consistent with structural changes upon adduct formation. Extensive coupling has been observed between the Ga-P stretching mode and the PtC 3 and GaC 3 deformational modes. Substantial coupling is also observed between the PC 3 and the GaC 3 rocking motions. The magnitude of the Ga-P stretching force constant is found to be much smaller (0.88 mdyn A −1 ) than that reported for (CH 3 ) 3 PGaH 3 and the difference possibly reflects the relative stabilities of the donor-acceptor bond in the two complex species. The fact that none of the A , modes appear as doublets in the spectra, nor are any of the E modes split except for the GaC 3 antisymmetric stretch, which is believed to be due to the two isotopes of gallium, indicates that there is only one molecule per primitive cell sitting on a C 3v or C 3 site. A rhombohedral space group such as R 3m( C 5 3v ) is consistent with these observations.
Analysis on the mental health status and its related factors of the grade one senior high school students in the key high schools in Zhangjiagang

Objective:To investigate the current status of mental health and its influence factors among the senior high school students of grade one in the key senior high schools,and to provide information for outlining intervention measures.Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with MHT and EMBU for the senior grade one students who chosen by cluster sampling from a local key high school.Results: There were total 285 students took part in this survey.The scores of MHT and EMBU showed that the total incidence of mental disorder was 1.8%.Of which,53.7% of students have the problem of anxiety to study,self-accusation(18.4%),hypersusceptibility(16.5%),somatization(16.2%)and anxiety to people(10.3%).An exceptional for the solitary tendency,the scores for female students were all significantly higher than male students.The scores of anxiety and solitary tendency among students lodging at school were significantly higher than the others.The scores of anxiety to study,solitary tendency and somatization gradually decreased with the raising of the academic record.The parents′ emotional support and understanding negatively correlated with each score of MHT,self-accusasion and terror tendency were excluded.The parents′ over-penalty,over-intervention,denial and over-protection positively correlated with each score of MHT,especially the somatization and impulse tendency.Conclusion:Mental health disorders,such as anxiety to study,among grade one students of senior high schools were not optimistically.The anxieties of students closely correlated with their parents' parenting style.The intervention of students′ mental health problems needs the combined efforts of family,school and society.
The Research and Application for Information multiplexing technology of Reservoir Dispatching Automation System

The traditional construction method of reservoir dispatching automation system and the project demand are introduced,the design principles of field sensor information multiplexing technology are put forward,the design and realization of 4-20ma、ModbusRTU、pulsing signal multiplexing technology are expounded,the solutions for attenuation,imitating malfunction and controlling the impulse signal in RS-485 bus are described in detai1 based on engineering experience. The field application shows the design is reasonable and the operation is stable.
Investigation on defense capability and information needs of Haze / fog in Changping District,Beijing

Objective To understand haze related knowledge,defense capability and information needs among Changping residents in Beijing. Methods A total of 1961 people were selected from the elderly( 60 years),occupational groups and students by stratified cluster random sampling method. Results The hazerelated knowledge and health behavior among different groups were different: in terms of mask wearing,clearing and replacement,the awareness rates of the elderly were 79. 2% and 67. 8%,which were higher than that of both occupational groups( 65. 8%,49. 1%)and students( 54. 7%,45. 9%). The elderly maintains higher awareness rates of relevant knowledge concerning indoor air quality maintenance and health behavior such as"reasonable opening windows in haze"than those of occupational groups and students. On the issues of outdoor behaviors in haze such as reducing going out and outdoor exercises and mask wearing,the formation rates of health behavior of occupational group were 80. 1%,90. 2%,65. 9%,significantly higher than that of the elderly( 79. 2%,80. 6%,48. 6%) and students( 74. 6%,83. 4%,54. 6%). "Government prevention and control measures"was the information they wanted to know firstly. Changping TV was their most important way to obtain the haze prevention and control information,accounting for 43. 7%. The ways they hoped to obtain the prevention and control information of haze were TV, network, mobile phone newspaper, accounting for 70. 8%,58. 0% and 35. 1%, respectively. Different populations hoped to have different ways to get the prevention and control information of haze. Conclusion The residents in Changping District had certain defenses capability of haze,but related health knowledge and behavior were still to be improved. Different targeted prevention health education of haze should be carried out for different people. In addition to publicizing government control measures,personal preventive measures of hazewere the core work.
Closed-Form Expressions for I/O Simultaneous Switching Noise Revisited

Closed-form expressions to estimate power supply noise due to the simultaneous switching of I/O drivers are revisited in this brief. It is shown that existing closed-form expressions share a common limitation and underestimate noise with up to 83% error in advanced nanoscale technologies with fast signal rise/fall times. This characteristic is investigated, both quantitatively and qualitatively. New closed-form expressions are developed for the signals with fast transition times. Results demonstrate that the proposed closed-form expressions exhibit an average error of 3.3% as compared with SPICE simulations, and enhance the accuracy of the existing expressions by up to 79.4%.
Ferguson on Facebook

In 2014, media outlets deemed political satirist John Oliver's show the best of the year. Described as "the online water-cooler," his show has become a talking point for many on social media. In this study, we tested the effects of such political comedy and the influence of social pressure in a simulated Facebook environment (N?= 189). Participants in this experiment were asked to view a video clip from Oliver's show (high or low salience topic) and in two of the four conditions, a series of Facebook comments contradicting Oliver's views (as a form of social pressure) were provided. Results support a message-consistent persuasive effect of political comedy for both high and low salience issues but finds that message-incongruent commentary reduces this persuasive effect. Thus, the current study provides further insight regarding persuasive effects of sharing political information on social media and new opportunities for exposing entertainment seekers to politics. We tested the effects of political comedy in a simulated Facebook environment.We examined social pressure in a simulated Facebook environment.Participants in the experiment were asked to view political comedy on social media.Results show a message-consistent persuasive effect of political comedy.Message-incongruent commentary on social media reduces persuasion effects.
Food Emulsions: Principles, Practices, and Techniques, Third Edition

Continuing the mission of the first two editions, Food Emulsions: Principles, Practices, and Techniques, Third Edition covers the fundamentals of emulsion science and demonstrates how this knowledge can be applied to control the appearance, stability, and texture of emulsion-based foods. Initially developed to fill the need for a single resource co