cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Varieties of the highly dispersible and hypervariable tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, differ in response to mechanical stress and light across a sharp ecotone.

Premise The drivers of isolation between sympatric populations of long-lived and highly dispersible conspecific plants are not well understood. In the Hawaiian Islands, the landscape-dominant tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, displays extraordinary phenotypic differences among sympatric varieties despite high dispersibility of its pollen and seeds, thereby presenting a unique opportunity to investigate how disruptive selection alone can maintain incipient forms. Stenophyllous M. polymorpha var. newellii is a recently evolved tree endemic to the waterways of eastern Hawai'i Island that shows striking neutral genetic differentiation from its ancestor, wet-forest M. polymorpha var. glaberrima, despite sympatry of these forms. We looked for evidence for, and drivers of, differential local adaptation of these varieties across the range of M. polymorpha var. newellii. Methods For paired populations of these varieties, we compared seedling performance under contrasting light conditions and a strong water current characteristic of the riparian zone. We also conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment and contrasted adult leaf anatomy. Results Results suggest that the riparian zone is harsh and that selection involving the mechanical stress of rushing water, and secondarily, light, led to significant reciprocal immigrant inviability in adjacent forest and riparian environments. The strongest adaptive divergence between varieties was seen in leaves and seedlings from the site with the sharpest ecotone, coincident with the strongest genetic isolation of M. polymorpha var. newellii observed previously. Conclusions These findings suggest that disruptive selection across a sharp ecotone contributes to the maintenance of an incipient riparian ecotype from within a continuous population of a long-lived and highly dispersible tree species.
HER2 joins AKT to inhibit STING immunity.

Activation of the receptor EGFR (ERBB1) occurs in response to viral infections and regulates antiviral immunity. A new study now shows that the receptor HER2 (ERBB2) negatively regulates STING signaling in response to DNA viruses and expands the model and mechanisms by which surface-receptor tyrosine kinases perform important intracellular regulatory functions.
What does the future hold for utility electricity efficiency programs

Abstract This study develops projections of future spending and savings from electricity efficiency programs funded by electric utility customers in the United States through 2030 based on three scenarios. Our analysis relies on detailed bottom-up modeling of current state energy efficiency policies, demand-side management and integrated resource plans, and regulatory decisions. The three scenarios represent a range of potential outcomes given the policy environment at the time of the study and uncertainties in the broader economic and state policy environment in each state. We project spending to increase to $8.6 billion in 2030 in the medium scenario, about a 45 percent increase relative to 2016 spending. In the high case, annual spending increases to $11.1 billion in 2030 and remains relatively flat in the low case ($6.8 billion in 2030). Our analysis suggests that electricity efficiency programs funded by utility customers will continue to impact load growth significantly at least through 2030, as savings as a percent of retail sales are forecast at 0.7 percent in the medium scenario and 0.98 percent in the high scenario.
Repeat Attending Exposure Influences Operative Autonomy in Endocrine Surgical Procedures.

Purpose There is concern that graduating surgery residents are not prepared for independent practice. This study aimed to identify predictors of performance, autonomy, and readiness for independence ratings of trainees by attendings for thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy with respect to repeated resident-attending exposure. We hypothesized that increased exposure with a particular attending increases resident autonomy. Methods All residents and faculty at a single institution performing parathyroidectomy or thyroidectomy were invited to complete an operative performance evaluation at case competition using the Zwisch scale to measure performance and autonomy for individual operative steps. In addition, each survey evaluated the trainee's readiness for practice in a straightforward procedure as a binary variable. Categorical variables were evaluated via Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests and ordinal variables were evaluated with Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Multivariable analysis was conducted with random effects logistic regression, and learning curves were generated for each procedure. Results Operative performance evaluations were obtained from 36 individual learners and 6 faculty members, with a total of 145 evaluations for parathyroidectomy and 116 for thyroidectomy. On bivariate analysis, readiness for practice ratings was significantly associated with increasing chronologic procedure number, but not resident gender or case difficulty. The multivariable model demonstrated that increasing chronologic procedure number, while a significant predictor without accounting for exposure, did not remain a significant predictor of practice-readiness for parathyroidectomy when accounting for resident-attending exposure. Bivariate analysis comparing resident and attending ratings showed no difference between the 2, but there were significant differences in autonomy and performance scores for both groups of raters. Trainees rated by attendings as independence ready completed a median of 7 parathyroidectomies and 5 thyroidectomies. Descriptive learning curves generated serve as a model of the multistate nature that residents undergo when moving from novice to proficiency. Conclusions Not surprisingly, the more operations residents perform with a single attending, the higher their ratings for performance and autonomy from that individual, with increased exposure allowing improved performance with less attending autonomy. By contrast, our data also show that repeated exposure between resident and attending may confound the use of procedural numbers alone when predicting resident ability in the operating room.
A systematic literature review of foreign MNCs’ knowledge transfer in China

Multinational corporations (MNCs) have played a key role in China’s economic growth. In the new era after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, MNCs have seen unprecedent...
Screening for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Screening can improve survival for many individuals with premalignant or malignant lesions, particularly those of the gastrointestinal system. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of the most up-to-date recommendations and screening practices for the major cancers of the gastrointestinal system. Each section is formatted to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, screening methods, and recommendations pertaining to each gastrointestinal malignancy. There are no established screening guidelines for esophageal cancer, either squamous cell cancer (SCC) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), in the general population. However, there are recommendations to screen individuals with risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus (BE), and hence EAC, and to continue surveillance protocols in those identified with BE. While there are no guidelines for screening for gastric cancer in the United States given the low incidence of the disease, screening is recommended via upper endoscopy or upper GI series in Japan and Korea given the much higher prevalence of gastric cancer in this population. For colorectal cancer (CRC), which is the most widely screened disease of all the GI malignancies, screening is recommended for average-risk patients starting at age 50 and up to age 75 or until life expectancy is less than 10 years, with a variety of modalities including fecal-based tests, such as fecal occult blood test (FOBT), and endoscopic procedures, such as sigmoidoscopy or, most commonly, colonoscopy. For those at high risk for CRC, periodic screening with colonoscopy is recommended, usually with an earlier starting age and shorter intervals than in the average-risk population. In individuals at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, which includes those with chronic hepatitis B infection and those with cirrhosis, current recommendations are to screen via periodic ultrasonography. For pancreatic cancer, screening is not recommended in average-risk individuals. Screening of high-risk individuals remains controversial.
Understanding and Evaluating the 'Missing' Governance Pillar of Sustainability – The Case of Bulgarian Agriculture

The importance of “good governance” for achieving agrarian sustainability has been increasingly studied in the last two decades. What has been a recent development is the inclusion of governance into (agrarian) sustainability as a new “fourth” pillar. Still there is no consensus on: what is governance sustainability; how to measure governance sustainability; how to integrate governance into the overall sustainability; what are critical factors determining sustainability levels, etc. The goal of this article is to present a holistic framework for defining and assessing the governance sustainability in agriculture and assess the level of governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture at national, sub-sectoral, regional, ecosystem, and farming organization levels. The study has demonstrated that it is possible and important to assess the “missing” Governance Pillar of agrarian sustainability. Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is at a good but close to the inferior level. There is a considerable variation in the level of governance sustainability and application of the principles for good governance in different subsectors, agro-ecosystems, administrative regions, and types of farming organizations. At the current stage, most critical for improving the governance sustainability are progressive changes in: farmers' participation in decision-making, agrarian administration efficiency, administrative services digitalization, the possibility for lands extension, management board external control, level of informal system efficiency, subsidies in income, the extent of CAP implementation, acceptability of legal payments, and land concentration. Suggested and other similar frameworks have to be further discussed, tested, improved and adapted to the specific conditions of agricultural systems and the needs of decision-makers. Accuracy has to be improved through the inclusion of appropriate indicators, improvement of precision of the information, increasing representation of surveyed farms, and experimenting with diverse types of agro-systems.
“Let’s Try It!”: Library Outreach in a Culture of Yes

Column description. The Marketing column features essays about a variety of creative and innovative marketing strategies used to highlight collections or promote services in all types of libraries....
Towards Practical Deployment of a Robotic Mobile System for Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy in Infants

Our research investigates methods and systems to allow for early detection of cerebral palsy in infants and innovative interventions with the goal of improving long-term outcomes. Cerebral Palsy is a development disorder that may be predicted by observing the spontaneous kicking patterns of an infant. Our previous work includes a robotic baby mobile and 3D camera system for detecting and motivating infant kicking motions using the stimuli modalities of the baby mobile. Infant kicking patterns can provide clues that indicate causes for concern for future risk of cerebral palsy. We have also investigated learning baby mobile stimuli preferences of individual infant using a Markov Decision Process to develop an optimal policy. The hypothesis is that the optimal policy will maximize the kicking instances of each infant, which will be beneficial for creating more opportunities to detect kicking abnormalities and also provide encouragement during physical therapy sessions. This work continues our progression by investigating techniques for replacing the 3D RGB camera with a low cost 2D camera, which will improve the practicality of the system for in-home deployment. Additionally, because of the restrictions of the global pandemic, we have developed a baby kicking simulator to test the effectiveness of using a Markov Decision Process to calculate an optimal policy for encouraging increased kicking actions by infants. This technique can be applied to multiple infants, with policies tailored to the preference of each child. In this paper, we describe the techniques for translating the 3D computer vision system to a 2D system and evaluate the accuracy. We also describe the design of the baby kicking simulator and the optimal policies devised by implementing a Markov Decision Process.
Wind direction bias in generating wind roses and conducting sector-based air dispersion modeling.

Abstract Certain widely used wind rose programs and air dispersion models use an overly simple data-transfer algorithm that induces a directional bias in their output products. The purpose of this paper is to provide a revised algorithm that corrects the directional bias that occurs from the aliasing that occurs when the sector widths used to report wind direction data are on the same order of magnitude, but not equal, to the sector widths used in the wind direction summaries. The directional bias issue arises when output products in 16 direction sectors (22.5° each) are produced from wind direction data reported in terms of 36 sectors (10° each). The result directional bias affects the results of simulations of air and surface concentrations using widely applied air dispersion models. Datasets or models with the directional bias discussed here give consistent positive biases (∼30%) for cardinal direction sectors (north, south, east, and west) and consistent negative biases for all of the other sectors (a...
Modeling Free Vibration

tions occur about an equilibrium point. The oscillations may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum or random such as the movement of a tire on a gravel road. More often, vibration is undesirable, wasting energy and creating unwanted sound—noise. Careful designs usually minimize unwanted vibrations. This chapter illustrates the example of the classical pendulum as a mathematical model derived, grounded in, and verified against experimental results, and the process of obtaining qualitative information about its behavior. The chapter demonstrates the behavior of linear oscillators in several domains, and draws some distinctions between the behaviors exhibited by linear and nonlinear models. The concepts of linearity, dimensional consistency, scaling, and some basic ideas of second-order differential equations are used for this purpose. In terms of the behavior of the pendulum itself, the period of the linear model depends only on the pendulum's properties and not on its amplitude of vibration, as is the case for nonlinear models wherein the amplitude is large. For both, the two-mass pendulum and a predator-prey population system, the period of the vibrating system is sensitive to properties of that system—especially for the two-mass pendulum, for which instability occurs for certain combinations of masses.
Global challenges, sustainable development, and their implications for organizational performance

Purpose – This paper aims to propose an effective response by business organizations to the impact of global challenges and sustainable development (SD). It also presents an overview model of organizational performance employing such an approach. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a conceptual work based upon a review of theories, research findings and reports gathered from relevant literature. The review yielded the following research framework: many countries are facing global challenges; these global challenges are affecting business organizations as external factors; SD is a concept employed to address these challenges; SD can be applied in business organizations through corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate governance (CG) and sustainability policy and practices; and embedding CSR, CG and sustainability concepts at a strategic level is an effective response to global challenges. Findings – Global challenges are impacting on business organizations and will continue to do so into th...
Contingencies and metacontingencies: Toward a synthesis of behavior analysis and cultural materialism

A synthesis of cultural materialism and behavior analysis might increase the scientific and technological value of both fields. Conceptual and substantive relations between the two fields show important similarities, particularly with regard to the causal role of the environment in behavioral and cultural evolution. Key concepts in Marvin Harris’s cultural materialist theories are outlined. A distinction is made between contingencies at the behavioral level of analysis (contingencies of reinforcement) and contingencies at the cultural level of analysis (metacontingencies). Relations between the two kinds of contingencies are explored in cultural practices from paleolithic to industrial sociocultural systems. A synthesis of these two fields may offer the opportunity to resolve serious problems currently facing modern cultures.
Force-dependent static dead space of face masks used with holding chambers.

BACKGROUND: Pressurized metered-dose inhalers with valved holding chambers and masks are commonly used for aerosol delivery in children. Drug delivery can decrease when the dead-space volume (DSV) of the valved holding chamber is increased, but there are no published data evaluating force-dependent DSV among different masks. METHODS: Seven masks were studied. Masks were sealed at the valved holding chamber end and filled with water to measure mask volume. To measure mask DSV we used a mannequin of 2-year-old-size face and we applied the mask with forces of 1.5, 3.5, and 7 pounds. Mask seal was determined by direct observation. Intra-brand analysis was done via analysis of variance. RESULTS: At 3.5 pounds of force, the DSV ranged from 29 mL to 100 mL, with 3 masks having DSV of 60 mL. At 3.5 pounds of force, DSV percent of mask volume ranged from 33.7% (Aerochamber, p < 0.01 compared with other masks) to 100% (Pocket Chamber). DSV decreased with increasing force with most of the masks, and the slope of this line was inversely proportional to mask flexibility. Mask fit was 100% at 1.5 pounds of force only with the Aerochamber and Optichamber. Mask fit was poorest with the Vortex, Pocket Chamber, and BreatheRite masks. CONCLUSION: Rigid masks with large DSV might not be not suitable for use in children, especially if discomfort from the stiff mask makes its use less acceptable to the child.
The Role of Radiation and Chemicals in the Induction of Mutations and Epigenetic Changes during Carcinogenesis1

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a conceptual model based on genetic and environmental interactions that could explain a wide range of observations related to the complex, progressive nature of carcinogenesis. As the genetic theory predicts that both mutational and stable epigenetic alterations in a cell could lead to a cancer “phenotype,” the chapter reviews the experimental evidence to determine which one of the mechanisms could best explain the observations. Furthermore, as radiations and chemicals can directly or indirectly induce both permanent (mutational) and reversible (epigenetic) changes in the gene, the chapter describes a potential common interface between physical and chemical carcinogens. There are several genetic and environmental means by which the frequency of cancers could be modulated. The chapter clearly describes genes and chemicals that affect the amount of DNA damaged the quantity and quality of the repair of that damage, and the expression of cells with mutated cells. Evolutionary means to affect the quantity and quality of DNA repair such as genes controlling cell cycle could influence the mutational contribution to carcinogenesis. The chapter also discusses the individual mutations in these three genetic barriers to tumor induction and growth. Epigenetic influences such as repression of DNA repair genes during normal development could also influence mutation and cancer frequencies. Exogenous environmental influences could affect carcinogenic frequencies. It is assumed that both mutational and epigenetic steps could explain the initiation and promotion phases of carcinogenesis respectively. The chapter presents an integrative model to explain both mutational and epigenetic origins of cancer, the two-stage nature of carcinogenesis, and the recessive nature of nonviral cancer phenotypes.
EGFRs mediate chemotactic migration in the developing telencephalon

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) have been implicated in the control of migration in the telencephalon, but the mechanism underlying their contribution is unclear. We show that expression of a threshold level of EGFRs confers chemotactic competence in stem cells, neurons and astrocytes in cortical explants. This level of receptor expression is normally achieved by a subpopulation of cells during mid-embryonic development. Cells that express high levels of EGFR are located in migration pathways, including the tangential pathway to the olfactory bulb via the rostral migratory stream (RMS), the lateral cortical stream (LCS) leading to ventrolateral cortex and the radial pathway from proliferative zones to cortical plate. The targets of these pathways express the ligands HB-EGF and/or TGFα. To test the idea that EGFRs mediate chemotactic migration these pathways, we increased the size of the population of cells expressing threshold levels of EGFRs in vivo by viral transduction. Our results suggest that EGFRs mediate migration radially to the cortical plate and ventrolaterally in the LCS, but not tangentially in the RMS. Within the bulb, however, EGFRs also mediate radial migration. Our findings suggest that developmental changes in EGFR expression, together with changes in ligand expression regulate the migration of specific populations of cells in the telencephalon by a chemoattractive mechanism.
Graphene nanoribbon FETs for digital electronics: experiment and modeling

One-dimensional nanostructures of graphene such as graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) can prove attractive for digital electronics in the form of interband tunneling transistors, as they are capable of high drive currents. Here, we report on the transport properties of p-n junctions formed in GNR field effect transistors (FETs). It is found that the current density in the devices is indeed high; in the 1–1.5 A/mm range have been measured, comparable to Si-MOSFETs and III-V Nitride HEMTs. The observed unique current–voltage characteristics of the double-gated GNR FETs having a lateral p-n junction as their channel is explained by a field-effect model. Due to the lack of sufficiently large bandgap in the 30 nm wide GNR, the device still cannot be turned off completely, but rectification is achieved. The results suggest that the fabrication of tunneling FETs made out of graphene is possible and their characteristics may meet the expectations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synapsis or silence

The XY chromosome pair in mammalian males is sequestered into a transcriptionally dormant chromatin domain before the first meiotic division. New work shows that all chromosomes can suffer the same fate if they don't pair during meiosis, and that this may be part of a surveillance mechanism to protect against aneuploid gametes.
Evolution of a family of N-acetylglucosamine binding proteins containing the disulfide-rich domain of wheat germ agglutinin.

A disulfide-rich domain, first identified in wheat germ agglutinin, has now been identified in the amino acid and DNA sequences of a large number of other chitin-binding proteins. This 43-residue domain includes eight disulfide-linked cysteines and has been implicated in the binding ofN-acetylglucosamine and its polymers. This study used 12 complementary DNA sequences and 1 amino acid sequence of proteins with one, two, and four copies of this domain to infer a 44-amino acid residue ancestor sequence for this domain, and to derive an evolutionary tree relating these domains in the different proteins. The tree relating these single-domain sequences is divided into two major branches, one consisting of the multidomain dimeric lectins, which we have earlier suggested arose by duplication of a single copy of the disulfide-rich domain, and the other branch consisting of the monomeric chitinases and wound-inducible proteins, which have a single copy of the domain fused to a larger polypeptide. Reference to the three-dimensional structure of WGA and its saccharide complexes shows that the saccharide-binding residues as well as cysteine and glycine residues are conserved among all available sequences. In contrast, many residues at the dimer interface of the domains of WGA are not conserved in those proteins with a single domain, implying that the aggregation state of the domains in these proteins differs from that of the grass lectins. Also, the base compositions of the four-domain and one-domain branches of the tree differ, indicating distinct selective pressures at the level of both protein structure and the gene or its transcript.
Distinct classes of pyramidal cells exhibit mutually exclusive firing patterns in hippocampal area CA3b.

It is thought that CA3 pyramidal neurons communicate mainly through bursts of spikes rather than so-called trains of regular firing action potentials. Reports of both burst firing and nonburst firing CA3 cells suggest that they may fire with more than one output pattern. With the use of whole-cell recording methods we studied the firing properties of rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vitro within the CA3b subregion and found three distinct types of firing patterns. Approximately 37% of cells were regular firing where spikes generated by minimal current injection (rheobase) were elicited with a short latency and with stronger current intensities trains of spikes exhibited spike frequency adaptation (SFA). Another 46% of neurons exhibited a delayed onset at rheobase with a weakly-adapting firing pattern upon stronger stimulation. The remaining 17% of cells showed a burst-firing pattern, though only elicited in response to strong current injection and spontaneous bursts were never observed. Control experiments indicated that the distinct firing patterns were not due to our particular slicing methods or recording techniques. Finally, computer modeling was used to identify how relative differences in K+ conductances, specifically KC, KM, and KD, between cells contribute to the different characteristics of the three types of firing patterns observed experimentally. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Penelope, an Ada verification system

We are investigating the practical application of formal verification methods to Ada programs. Our motivation is the usual one: formal mathematical proof that a program is correct reduces the reliance on ad hoc testing procedures for quality assurance. In addition, the wide availability of Ada compilers makes it possible that formally specified and verified software could be widely used, which would be desirable in itself and would also provide practical data about its costs and benefits.Our specific goals: To accommodate a rich subset of (sequential) Ada—including packages, side effects, access types, exception-raising, and exception-handling—convenient for writing efficient programs.To explore ways of making verification more tractable and therefore more practical by exploiting strategies of interactive, incremental development of program and proof. Experiments are conducted on a running system prototype called Penelope.To provide the verification system with a formal mathematical basis.
Development of terahertz wave microscopes

Terahertz (THz) radiation has tremendous potential for inspection applications. However, due to the diffraction restriction, its spatial resolution is limited by its long wavelength. Near-field technology improves the spatial resolution of THz imaging. Recent developments of near-field THz wave microscopzes are highlighted.
Genetic control of two independently segregating loci in mice to the sequential polypeptide (tyr-ala-glu-gly)n.

Immune responses to the sequential helical polypeptide (Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly)n [(T-A-G-Gly)n] in mice is under the control of at least two separate genes. One gene,Ir-(T-A-G-Gly)-1, which is linked, toH-2 haplotypesb, f, andr, controls the ability to respond and maps to theIA subregion. A non-H-2-linked locus,Ir-(T-A-G-Gly)-2. is responsible for the magnitude of the antibody response, which is expressed as a high, intermediate, or low level of antibody production. The antibody produced is of the IgG class, and does not crossreact even with the closely related sequential helical polymer (Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly)n [(T-G-A-Gly)n]. Immune responsiveness is a dominant trait,i.e., the F1 generations of responder x nonresponder crosses are responders. However, the data obtained with both backcross populations are not easily interpretable. The contribution of the B-cell mitogenic activity of the sequential polymer to activation of suppressor T cells is considered as a possible explanation for the backcross results. The possible role of the Ia. W29 specificity present in the mouse strains responding to both (T-A-G-Gly)n and calf skin collagen type I in modulating responses to the polymers is discussed.
Tip, an Lck-interacting protein of Herpesvirus saimiri, causes Fas- and Lck-dependent apoptosis of T lymphocytes

Saimiriine herpesvirus-2 (Herpesvirus saimiri) transforms T lymphocytes, including human, to continuous growth in vitro. H. saimiri-induced transformation is becoming an important tool of T-cell biology, including studies of HIV replication. Two proteins of H. saimiri subgroup C, Tip and StpC, are essential for T-cell transformation. In spite of the important role of these proteins, their biological functions and the molecular mechanisms of their action remain insufficiently understood. To further elucidate the effects of Tip on T cells, we transduced T lymphocytes, using an efficient lentiviral gene transfer system, to express Tip in the absence of other H. saimiri proteins. Our results indicate that Tip specifically inhibits IL-2 production by human T lymphocytes. Furthermore, Tip promotes T-cell apoptosis, which appears to be the reason for the observed decrease in IL-2 production. Finally, the apoptotic effect of Tip in T cells is mediated by Fas and requires the presence of active Lck in the cell.
Comparison of Brownian-dynamics-based estimates of polymer tension with direct force measurements.

With the aid of Brownian dynamics models, it is possible to estimate polymer tension by monitoring polymers' transverse thermal fluctuations. To assess the precision of the approach, Brownian dynamics-based tension estimates were compared with the force applied to rhodamine-phalloidin labeled actin filaments bound to polymer beads and suspended between two optical traps. The transverse thermal fluctuations of each filament were monitored with a CCD camera, and the images were analyzed to obtain the filament's transverse displacement variance as a function of position along the filament, the filament's tension, and the camera's exposure time. A linear Brownian dynamics model was used to estimate the filament's tension. The estimated force was compared and agreed within 30% (when the tension $l0.1\text{ }\text{pN}$) and 70% (when the tension $l1\text{ }\text{pN}$) with the applied trap force. In addition, the paper presents concise asymptotic expressions for the mechanical compliance of a system consisting of a filament attached tangentially to bead handles (dumbbell system). The techniques described here can be used for noncontact estimates of polymers' and fibers' tension.
Studies on the Growth Hormone of Plants: IV. On the Mechanism of the Action.

Introduction. -- It has been known for some time that among the higher plants cell elongation as well as tropistic response is governed by a well-defined chemical substance which is secreted by young leaves and by the apical portions of stems.(1,2) The mechanism by which this substance exerts its effect upon plant cells has, however, remained obscure and it is relatively recently that an attack upon this problem has been made.
Cracks in a postdisaster service delivery network

Poor linkage cracks are defined and identified empirically in a postdisaster service delivery network. These cracks exist when essential services are provided only by isolated or peripheral clusters of organizations. Network analysis is used to identify the isolated and peripheral clusters of organizations. Measures of experience in responding to disasters and service capacity are used to identify the organizations whose services are essential in the network. Cracks prevent the network from responding effectively in the aftermath of a disaster. Suggestions are made for using network analysis to identify cracks and to improve planning and coordination in all kinds of service networks.
Clownpants in the classroom? Hypnotizing chickens? Measurement of structural distraction in visual presentation documents

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the structure of entertainment media as a possible foundation for measuring aspects of visual presentations that could enhance or interfere with audience engagement. , – Factors that might account for the large number of negative comments about visual presentations are identified and a method of calculating entropy measurements for form attributes of presentations is introduced. , – Entropy calculations provide a numerical measure of structural elements that account for engagement or distraction. A set of peer evaluations of educational presentations is used to calibrate a distraction factor algorithm. , – Distraction as a consequence of document structure might enable engineering of a balance between document structure and content in document formats not yet explored by mechanical entropy calculations. , – Mathematical calculations of structural elements (form attributes) support what multimedia presentation viewers have been observing for years (documented in numerous journals and newspapers from education to business to military fields): engineering PowerPoint presentations necessarily involves attention to engagement vs distraction in the audience. , – Exploring aspects of document structures has been demonstrated to calibrate viewer perceptions to calculated measurements in moving image documents, and now in images and multimedia presentation documents extending Claude Shannon's early work communication channels and James Watt and Robert Krull's work on television programming.
A Modeling Study of Potential Sources of Curvature in Human Reaching Movements

The authors of this article suggest that the slight but consistent posture-dependent curvature of the spatial paths in the kinematic transformation between intrinsic and extrinsic coordinates may result in a systematic curvature of movements initially planned as straight-line trajectories toward the target. A kinematic planning model is presented that takes into account the anisotropy of the intrinsic and extrinsic transformation and tends to avoid movements that require excessive joint rotations by introducing slight deviations from a straight-line trajectory. Preliminary simulations showed reasonably good agreement with experimental data, especially considering that the current model is strictly based on kinematics. A quantitative analysis showed that the strategy used in the model achieves a favorable compromise between straight-line movements and angular joint changes: By slightly increasing the spatial length of the movement (i.e., by introducing curvature), an individual can greatly reduce the total amount of joint rotation required to produce the movement.
Auditory Stimulation Dishabituates Olfactory Responses via Noradrenergic Cortical Modulation

Dishabituation is a return of a habituated response if context or contingency changes. In the mammalian olfactory system, metabotropic glutamate receptor mediated synaptic depression of cortical afferents underlies short-term habituation to odors. It was hypothesized that a known antagonistic interaction between these receptors and norepinephrine s-receptors provides a mechanism for dishabituation. The results demonstrate that a 108 dB siren induces a two-fold increase in norepinephrine content in the piriform cortex. The same auditory stimulus induces dishabituation of odor-evoked heart rate orienting bradycardia responses in awake rats. Finally, blockade of piriform cortical norepinephrine s-receptors with bilateral intracortical infusions of propranolol (100 μM) disrupts auditory-induced dishabituation of odor-evoked bradycardia responses. These results provide a cortical mechanism for a return of habituated sensory responses following a cross-modal alerting stimulus.
Considering the Gendered Nature of Constrained Behavior Practices Among Male and Female College Students

Previous research suggests that individuals engage in a variety of constrained behaviors to protect themselves from potential victimization. Although research controls for gender and constrained behaviors in fear of crime models, few studies consider constrained behaviors through a gendered lens. Using university survey data as an exploratory case study, this article hypothesizes that men and women use different types of constrained behaviors and, using factor analysis, constructs a gender-sensitive typology of four distinctive types of constrained behaviors. The results suggest that women are more likely to engage in all four types of constrained behaviors and that a variety of gender differences in behavioral responses to fear in crime are apparent when comparing across the four categories.
Nuclear magnetic resonance study of molecular interactions with phosphatidyl choline

Abstract 220 MHz NMR spectra of egg phosphatidyl choline (P.C.) in benzene were obtained. The effect of iodine, tetraphenylboron (TPB) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on the polar head-group proton signal and the bound water signal was observed. An upfield shift of the proton head group signal was noted for iodine and TPB. All three substances caused line width narrowing. The bound water signal was affected differently by the three substances. The strength of the interaction with the lipid increased in the order DNP
Response of the ke test to NCI/NTP-screened chemicals. III. Complementary value of ke in screening for carcinogens

The value of using a physico-chemical carcinogen-screening test, the ke test, in conjunction with the Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay (the Ames test) and/or structural alerts of reactivity (the S/A test), is analyzed on the basis of the response of the three tests to 171 chemicals of known rodent carcinogenicity. The Ames test is widely used to screen chemicals for potential carcinogenicity; however, its relatively low sensitivity (proportion of true positives among carcinogens tested) has prompted a search for complementary tests that increase sensitivity without an unacceptable decrease in specificity (proportion of true negatives among non-carcinogens tested). The S/A test is a structural analysis based on recognition of chemicals groups likely to react with DNA. The S/A test does not complement the Ames test well, because of the high similarity of responses (dependence) between these two tests. The ke test measures the affinity of a test chemical for electrons, and has a sensitivity and specificity comparable to the Ames test. The ke test is shown in this work to complement both the Ames test and the S/A test. Addition of the ke test to either the Ames test or the S/A test results in a substantial decrease in false negatives and an approximately equal increase in false positives, which is a trade-off that would be desirable in all but the least risk averse situations. The S/A and ke battery has a sensitivity of > 0.9, and could be applied to untested chemicals without any biological testing. In view of these observations, it is proposed that the ke test be considered in developing future strategies to optimize the screening of potential carcinogens in the most cost-effective manner.
High-Resolution X-Ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy at the Advanced Light Source

X-ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy (X-PEEM) is a full-field imaging technique where the sample is illuminated by an x-ray beam and the photoemitted electrons are imaged on a screen by means of an electron optics. It therefore combines two well-established materials analysis techniques - photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) and x-ray spectroscopy such as near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. This combination opens a wide field of new applications in materials research and has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate simultaneously topological, elemental, chemical state, and magnetic properties of surfaces, thin films, and multilayers at high spatial resolution. A new X-PEEM installed at the bend magnet beamline 7.3.1.1 at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) is designed for a spatial resolution of 20 nm and is currently under commissioning. An overview of the ongoing experimental program using X-PEEM in the field of materials research at the ALS is given by elemental and chemical bonding contrast imaging of hard disk coatings and sliders, field emission studies on diamond films as possible candidates for field-emission flat-panel displays, and the study of dewetting and decomposition phenomena of thin polymer blends and bilayers.
Differential development of tolerance to the functional and behavioral effects of repeated baclofen treatment in rats

Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor agonist, has been used clinically to treat muscle spasticity, rigidity and pain. More recently, interest in the use of baclofen as an addiction medicine has grown, with promising preclinical cocaine and amphetamine data and demonstrated clinical benefit from alcohol and nicotine studies. Few preclinical investigations, however, have utilized chronic dosing of baclofen, which is important given that tolerance can occur to many of its effects. Thus the question of whether chronic treatment of baclofen maintains the efficacy of acute doses is imperative. The neural substrates that underlie the effects of baclofen, particularly those after chronic treatment, are also not known. In the present study, therefore, rats were treated with either a) vehicle, b) acute baclofen (5 mg/kg) or c) chronic baclofen (5 mg/kg, t.i.d. for 5 days). The effects of acute and chronic baclofen administration, compared to vehicle, were assessed using locomotor activity and changes in brain glucose metabolism (a measure of functional brain activity). Acute baclofen significantly reduced locomotor activity (horizontal and total distance traveled), while chronic baclofen failed to affect locomotor activity. Acute baclofen resulted in significantly lower rates of local cerebral glucose utilization throughout many areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, caudate putamen, septum and hippocampus. The majority of these functional effects, with the exception of the caudate putamen and septum, were absent in animals chronically treated with baclofen. Despite the tolerance to the locomotor and functional effects of baclofen following repeated treatment, these persistent effects on functional activity in the caudate putamen and septum may provide insights into the way in which baclofen alters the reinforcing effects of abused substances such as cocaine, alcohol, and methamphetamine both in humans and animal models.
Ultrastructural aspects of the cytoplasmic origin and accumulation of oil in olive fruit (Olea europaea)

The development of oil bodies and oil droplets in fruits of olive was examined at the ultrastructural level. Both oil bodies that form in young fruits and oil droplets that develop with fruit maturation are cytoplasmic bodies. The formation of the small oil bodies occurs in localized regions of the cytoplasm. These bodies are closely associated and fuse together, forming a small oil droplet that protruded against and indented the vacuolar membrane. As the fruit matures, new oil bodies appear to form and fuse with the oil droplet, resulting in the formation of a single large oil droplet of about 30 μm in diameter in most mature mesocarp cells. The cytoplasmic region where the oil bodies formed had a granulate, ultrastructural appearance, and cytoplasmic components such as membranes and ribosomes were noticeably absent in these regions. The granulate material coated the oil bodies and oil droplets, and appeared as a thin, compressed band between the round inner surface of the droplets and the indented tonoplast. We suggest that this granulate material is involved in the synthesis of the oil and, with enlargement of the oil bodies, this coat becomes thinner in regions where they are closely associated, resulting in zones where confluence of the oil occurs.
Calculation of Forces on the Aluminum Heat Shield Produced by Eddy Currents during Discharge of a Superconducting Cyclotron Magnet

The superconducting magnet in our 500 MeV cyclotron contains a (liquid nitrogen cooled) aluminum heat shield within the cryostat, and when, after more than two years of operation, the cryostat was disassembled, it was discovered that the outer surface of the heat shield had collapsed inward, thereby compressing the underlying super-insulation tightly against the can containing the liquid helium and coil. Consideration of the resultant geometry of the heat shield indicated that the collapsing force was produced by eddy currents generated in the aluminum either during discharge of the magnet or else when one of the radial support links happened to break. These forces have been calculated under both conditions, and the procedures used for these calculations are presented here together with the results. We conclude that the collapse of the heat shield was most probably caused when, on one occasion, the dump resistor accidentally burned out thereby producing an exceptionally fast discharge of the magnet.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults

Despite advances in treatment, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a common cause of respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support and is associated with significantly high rates of morbidity and mortality. To date, the only treatment shown to increase survival rate in patients with ARDS is the use of supportive mechanical ventilation using low tidal volumes. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a therapy that has been used in severe cases of ARDS when patients fail to improve with traditional management. Recent literature shows varying mortality rates for the use of ECMO for ARDS; however, the literature suggests that transfer of patients to an ECMO center for treatment using specific criteria and indications may improve outcomes. Further research is needed regarding the timing of the initiation of ECMO, standardization of therapy, and which type of ECMO reduces morbidity and mortality rates in patients with ARDS.