cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Land suitability modeling of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) distribution across sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Shea trees ( Vitellaria paradoxa , synonym: Butyrospermum paradoxum or parkii ) have been botanically recorded in 21 countries across semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa. Dried kernels are the source of shea butter, a stearic/oleic rich edible oil or fat consumed locally, and internationally as an ingredient in the multi-billion dollar cosmetic and confectionary sectors. For millennia shea has been a staple edible oil crop, significantly contributing to nutritional health, livelihoods and the community well-being of women collectors and their families. This research is the first known attempt to predict the potential shea distribution and production using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by combining binary and suitability layers developed from eight parameters: land-use, temperature, precipitation, elevation, fire, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), soil-type and soil-drainage. The model is verified and validated using 302 GPS coordinates of shea trees and distributions developed by USAID West Africa Trade Hub (WATH). The model gives an extensive shea tree suitability area of 3.41 million km 2 across 23 countries with rural population of 112 million, including 18.4 million women collectors. Using conservative estimates, 1.84 billion trees (1.07 billion in high stearin areas) are predicted. Given current population densities, a collected crop of 2.44 million tons of kernels yielding greater than 800 thousand tons of shea butter is estimated (1.63 million tons high stearin kernel). As scientific knowledge on shea expands, the model's suitability criteria can be fine-tuned and climate change, development and urbanization impacts estimated. The suitability model developed is thus useful to governments, non-government organizations, researchers, and industry in planning projects and investments in rural development, climate change, food security and biodiversity through shea production.
Quantitative analysis of the activation mechanism of the multicomponent growth-factor receptor Ret.

Cytokines and growth factors signal by modulating the interactions between multiple receptor components to form an activated receptor complex. The quantitative details of the activation mechanisms of this important class of receptors are not well understood. Using receptor phosphorylation measurements in live cells, as well as mathematical modeling and data fitting, we have characterized the multistep mechanism by which the GDNF-family neurotrophin artemin (ART), together with its co-receptor GDNF-family receptor α3 (GFRα3), brings about activation of the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase through formation of a pentameric signaling complex: ART–(GFRα3)2–(Ret)2. By systematically varying the concentrations of ART and cell-surface GFRα3, we establish both the sequence of steps by which the signaling complex forms and the affinities of all the steps, including the two-dimensional affinities of the steps involving protein-protein interactions between membrane-bound species. Our results reveal the ways in which the individual binary interactions involved in the activation of a multicomponent receptor govern the receptor's functional properties.
Individuals with total knee arthroplasty demonstrate altered anticipatory postural adjustments compared with healthy control subjects.

Background Persons with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have many impairments that may compromise postural control. Most work examining postural control following TKA has focused on static and reactive postural control. Purpose The purpose of this study was to (1) compare anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) between individuals with TKA and healthy controls; and (2) identify possible pre- to postoperative changes in APAs in those undergoing TKA. Methods Ten individuals planning TKA and 10 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. During a standing reaching task, lower extremity muscle activity was measured using electromyography (EMG) onsets and normalized EMG amplitudes, and center of pressure (COP) excursion was measured via a force platform. Other outcome measures included isometric strength of the knee flexors and extensors. Individuals in the TKA group were tested preoperatively, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Controls were also measured 3 times over 6 months. Results There were no pre- to postoperative differences in lower extremity EMG onsets, normalized EMG amplitudes, or COP excursion in those with TKA. When compared to controls, individuals with TKA demonstrated lower EMG amplitudes of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris, whereas EMG onsets and COP excursion did not differ. Individuals with TKA demonstrated lower knee extension torque. Discussion and conclusions It seems that the surgery itself did not alter APAs among individuals with TKA. Potential contributors to the differences in EMG amplitudes in those with TKA compared to controls, such as impaired neural activation or efforts to reduce stress on the involved knee joint, need further investigation.
Multicomponent coating for enhanced oxidation resistance of tungsten

Abstract The development of robust high temperature oxidation resistant coatings for tungsten was evaluated for a Mo–Si–B coating system that was applied by a two step process. The synthesized coating shows a graded structure composed of various amounts of molybdenum and tungsten disilicide as well as an aluminoborosilica top layer. Oxidation tests conducted at 1100–1400 °C demonstrate that the coating provides effective oxidation protection for tungsten. Furthermore, the Mo–Si–B coatings provide an enhanced oxidation resistance compared to that for W–Si–B-coatings or WSi2 coatings.
Student Enthusiasm for Fall Meeting Continues to Rise

Students—undergraduates and grad students—arrived in enthusiastic multitudes from across the globe for the 2012 AGU Fall Meeting ready to share their research, meet one another, meet preeminent authorities and scholars of Earth and space science, and find out how to further their careers.
Erratum: Scanner performance from edge slope and cutoff frequencies [Optical Engineering 35(7), 1993-2004 (1996)]

This PDF file contains the errata for “OE Vol. 36 Issue 08 Paper 601432” for OE Vol. 36 Issue 08
Hydroxyapatite nanoparticle-containing scaffolds for the study of breast cancer bone metastasis.

Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to bone, where it leads to secondary tumor growth, osteolytic bone degradation, and poor clinical prognosis. Hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 (HA), a mineral closely related to the inorganic component of bone, may be implicated in these processes. However, it is currently unclear how the nanoscale materials properties of bone mineral, such as particle size and crystallinity, which change as a result of osteolytic bone remodeling, affect metastatic breast cancer. We have developed a two-step hydrothermal synthesis method to obtain HA nanoparticles with narrow size distributions and varying crystallinity. These nanoparticles were incorporated into gas-foamed/particulate leached poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds, which were seeded with metastatic breast cancer cells to create mineral-containing scaffolds for the study of breast cancer bone metastasis. Our results suggest that smaller, poorly-crystalline HA nanoparticles promote greater adsorption of adhesive serum proteins and enhance breast tumor cell adhesion and growth relative to larger, more crystalline nanoparticles. Conversely, the larger, more crystalline HA nanoparticles stimulate enhanced expression of the osteolytic factor interleukin-8 (IL-8). Our data suggest an important role for nanoscale HA properties in the vicious cycle of bone metastasis and indicate that mineral-containing tumor models may be excellent tools to study cancer biology and to define design parameters for non-tumorigenic mineral-containing or mineralized matrices for bone regeneration.
DETERMINATION OF THE YIELD STRESS OF HYDROCOLLOID DISPERSIONS

The yield stresses of dispersions of guar gum (0.5–2.0% by weight) and gelatinized cornstarch (2.5–5.0% by weight) were measured using several different established experimental methods. The yield stresses in these polysaccharide dispersions result from intermolecular hydrogen bonding and molecular entanglements, thus the higher yield stress and hysteresis effect in guar gum dispersion was interpreted in terms of the greater hydrogen-bonding density and molecular entanglements caused by the more extended chain conformation. The results confirm that there is no one absolute value for the yield stress of the hydrocolloid dispersions and that the viscoelastic characteristics of the test materials influence the shear rate and time dependence of yield stress. Therefore, experimental determination of yield stress must be made relevant to the practical application.
Environmental history in the Mediterranean world: cross-disciplinary investigation of cause-and-effect for degradation and soil erosion

Abstract Environmental history is a multidisciplinary enterprise united by shared interests in ecological change and the complex interactions between people and the environment. Its practitioners include expertise in the natural sciences, in history or archaeology, or in political ecology and related social sciences; but there is no agreement on a common agenda and limited success in bridging methodological and epistemological divisions that impede integrative and interdisciplinary research. World-systems history and environmental history also have overlapping interests in long-term change and matters of sustainability. The Mediterranean world sustained agricultural lifeways across some 8000 years, yet its environment has repeatedly been described as degraded, suggesting conceptual confusion between transformation and destruction. This paper is didactic in purpose and uses landscape histories for the Peloponnese and eastern Spain to show that the impact of recurrent, excessive precipitation events and of reduced quality of land cover are difficult to unravel, because they commonly appear to work in tandem. As a result (a) environmental change cannot be assumed or “predicted”, but must be studied inductively by experts with science skills, and (b) cause-and-effect relationships demand an understanding of ecological behavior, for which humanistic insights are indispensable. Social science models highlight systemic relationships from socioeconomic and structural perspectives, but are less suited to deal with the complexity of environmental change or the contingencies exemplified by human resilience. Near Eastern, Greek and Roman agronomic writings offer elite “voices” that speak to cumulative technological change, scientific understanding, and the context of intensification. Rural voices can be heard through ethnography, and in eastern Spain are extended into the past by archaeology and archival research. In the absence of structural constraints, they reveal collective decision-making with respect to a shifting repertoire of agricultural strategies that take into account market opportunities, demographic growth, finite resources and environmental problems. Such adaptability spells resilience, and “good farming” is culturally embedded as a civic responsibility, both in the ethnographic present and in the older, elite agronomic writings. But if the “moral economy” erodes in the wake of food stress, tax extortion, instability, insecurity, or ideological oppression, there is little incentive to pursue long-term strategies, so that behavior focuses on short-term survival. The context for this dialectic of poor versus good ecological management may be structural, but cause-and-effect in the traditional Mediterranean world ultimately depended on ecological and human resilience. Long-term sustainability is similarly non-predictive. It depends on people, rather than social theory.
Alignment analysis of four-mirror spherical aberration correctors

Telescopes use primary mirrors with spherical shape to reduce the cost of the mirror fabrication and to allow the mirror to operate at fixed elevation. These advantages become significant as the size of the telescope grows. However, the disadvantage of the spherical primary is a large amount of spherical aberration which needs to be corrected. We present an analysis of alignment issues for four-mirror spherical aberration correctors for spherical primary mirror telescopes. The sensitivities of image quality across the field (in terms of spot size) to mirror misalignments are found. These sensitivities are useful in choosing the tolerances for the mechanical assembly holding the corrector. A singular value decomposition of the sensitivity matrix shows the combination of element motions that result in orthogonal aberration modes. Studying these combinations of modes and misalignments can lead to a conceptual understanding of the system, which aids in the initial and operational alignment of the spherical aberration corrector.
Transient Heat Transfer in a Conducting Particle With Internal Radiant Absorption

The objective of the present work is to analyze rigorously the transient heat transfer of an irradiated particle by treating the radiant absorption on a local basis. A new conduction-to-radiation parameter is introduced to characterize the relative importance of heat transfer of an irradiated particle by treating the radiant absorption on a local basis. A new conduction-to-radiation parameter is introduced to characterize the relative importance of heat transfer by conduction as compared with that by radiation. The study on the transient temperature field as a function of conduction-to-radiation parameter establishes a criterion identifying the circumstances where heat transfer by radiation is so predominant that conduction is negligible. The current effort is also directed at developing a convenient method for predicting the transient local maximum temperature and explosion time delay of an intensely irradiated liquid droplet.
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) Growth and Age at Reproductive Maturity

Abstract Growth and age at reproductive maturity are two life-history parameters that add an important temporal component to species conservation, yet such information is seldom available for plethodontid salamanders. We modeled growth and age at maturity for a northern West Virginia population of Green Salamanders, Aneides aeneus, using snout–vent length (SVL) growth intervals from a five-year mark-recapture study. Growth data were fit to the von Bertalanffy and logistic growth interval models and compared using the residual error mean square. The logistic model provided the best fit to the recapture data, indicating that Green Salamanders grow slowly for plethodontids and that it takes 7–8 yr to reach reproductive maturity. Our results revealed that Green Salamanders mature at a later age than most plethodontid species, indicating that the species might have greater generation time and longevity than previously suspected. Our data may offer insight into why the species is sensitive to population decline...
Overview of Gene Delivery into Cells Using HSV‐1‐Based Vectors

This overview describes the considerations involved in the preparation and use of a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) amplicon as a vector for gene transfer into neurons. Strategies for gene delivery into neurons, either to study the molecular biology of brain function or for gene therapy, must utilize vectors that persist stably in postmitotic cells and that can be targeted both spatially and temporally in the nervous system in vivo. This unit describes the biology of HSV-1 along with a discussion covering development of amplicon and genomic HSV-1 vectors. Advantages and disadvantages of current HSV-1 vectors are presented, and HSV-1 vectors are compared with other vectors for gene transfer into neurons.
Outcomes of nonelective weekend admissions for lower extremity ischemia

Objective A "weekend effect" has been demonstrated for a number of diagnoses, including many cardiovascular pathologies. Whether patients with lower extremity ischemia admitted over the weekend have inferior outcomes compared with those admitted on a weekday is unknown. Methods Nonelective admissions for critical limb ischemia (CLI) and acute limb ischemia (ALI) from lower extremity thrombosis or embolism were identified in the 2005 to 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and outcomes were compared based on weekend vs weekday admission by using multiple logistic and linear regression. Results Of the 63,768 patients identified with lower extremity vascular emergencies, 15.4% were admitted during the weekend. Patients admitted on the weekend were less likely to have CLI than those admitted on a weekday (51.2% vs 65.4%; P P P P P P P = .001), and a longer predicted length of stay (10.1 days vs 9.5 days; P P = .10). Conclusions Patients admitted on the weekend for lower extremity vascular emergencies are significantly more likely to experience adverse outcomes, including major amputation, than patients admitted on a weekday, independent of their presenting diagnosis with ALI or CLI. Further investigation into the etiologies of these differences is needed to address this disparity. These data raise questions about the proper staffing models to optimize urgent treatment of lower extremity vascular emergencies.
A Review of On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss

Book reviewed in this article: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler (2005). On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss.
Inverse base-width modulation and collector space-charge-region widening: degrading effects at high current densities in highly scaled BJT's (and HBT's)

Degrading effects on BJT speed performance due to current-induced perturbation of the collector-base junction space-charge region (SCR) prior to base pushout are analyzed and assessed. Inverse base-width modulation (IBWM)/spl minus/a widening of the quasi-neutral base width/spl minus/and collector SCR-width widening (SCRW) in highly scaled BJT's and HBT's are identified as important mechanisms governing device speed degradation at high currents. IBWM, which increases the base transit time, is described analytically to distinguish it from base pushout, or quasi-saturation. MMSPICE simulations of an aggressive SiGe-base HBT technology, supported by measured data, show that the speed (f/sub T/) degradation associated with IBWM is significant at currents well below the onset of base pushout, which underlies the speed degradation of lesser scaled BJT's. Simulations of further scaled devices show that SCRW can be the predominant mechanism of speed degradation at high current densities. >
Sweating and skin blood flow during exercise: effects of age and maximal oxygen uptake.

Individuals greater than or equal to 60 yr of age are more susceptible to hyperthermia than younger people. However, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. To gain further insight, we examined the...
Managing Employee Withdrawal During Organizational Change: The Role of Threat Appraisal

This article examines antecedents and consequences of employees’ threat appraisal during organizational change. Positive change orientation and change-related fairness are examined as antecedents of threat appraisal and multiple forms of employee withdrawal as outcomes (intentions to quit, voluntary turnover, and absenteeism). Structural equation results show negative relationships between threat appraisals and positive change orientation (change self-efficacy, positive attitudes toward change, and perceived control of changes) and change-related fairness (distributive, procedural, and interactive). Threat appraisals are positively related to absenteeism and intentions to quit, which predict voluntary turnover. Threat appraisals have differential intervening effects on relationships between the antecedents and outcomes.
A fast multigrid algorithm for mesh deformation

In this paper, we present a multigrid technique for efficiently deforming large surface and volume meshes. We show that a previous least-squares formulation for distortion minimization reduces to a Laplacian system on a general graph structure for which we derive an analytic expression. We then describe an efficient multigrid algorithm for solving the relevant equations. Here we develop novel prolongation and restriction operators used in the multigrid cycles. Combined with a simple but effective graph coarsening strategy, our algorithm can outperform other multigrid solvers and the factorization stage of direct solvers in both time and memory costs for large meshes. It is demonstrated that our solver can trade off accuracy for speed to achieve greater interactivity, which is attractive for manipulating large meshes. Our multigrid solver is particularly well suited for a mesh editing environment which does not permit extensive precomputation. Experimental evidence of these advantages is provided on a number of meshes with a wide range of size. With our mesh deformation solver, we also successfully demonstrate that visually appealing mesh animations can be generated from both motion capture data and a single base mesh even when they are inconsistent.
Enhancing the Detection Sensitivity of Raman Spectroscopy by Utilizing the Effect of Light Localization in Microporous Structures

We propose a novel structure for a very efficient Raman spectroscopy detection of water contaminants. We experimentally prove the significance of light in this structure and demonstrate detection of nanomolar concentrations of pollutants
U.S. National Forests adapt to climate change through Science–Management partnerships

Developing appropriate management options for adapting to climate change is a new challenge for land managers, and integration of climate change concepts into operational management and planning on United States national forests is just starting. We established science–management partnerships on the Olympic National Forest (Washington) and Tahoe National Forest (California) in the first effort to develop adaptation options for specific national forests. We employed a focus group process in order to establish the scientific context necessary for understanding climate change and its anticipated effects, and to develop specific options for adapting to a warmer climate. Climate change scientists provided the scientific knowledge base on which adaptations could be based, and resource managers developed adaptation options based on their understanding of ecosystem structure, function, and management. General adaptation strategies developed by national forest managers include: (1) reduce vulnerability to anticipated climate-induced stress by increasing resilience at large spatial scales, (2) consider tradeoffs and conflicts that may affect adaptation success, (3) manage for realistic outcomes and prioritize treatments that facilitate adaptation to a warmer climate, (4) manage dynamically and experimentally, and (5) manage for structure and composition. Specific adaptation options include: (1) increase landscape diversity, (2) maintain biological diversity, (3) implement early detection/rapid response for exotic species and undesirable resource conditions, (4) treat large-scale disturbance as a management opportunity and integrate it in planning, (5) implement treatments that confer resilience at large spatial scales, (6) match engineering of infrastructure to expected future conditions, (7) promote education and awareness about climate change among resource staff and local publics, and (8) collaborate with a variety of partners on adaptation strategies and to promote ecoregional management. The process described here can quickly elicit a large amount of information relevant for adaptation to climate change, and can be emulated for other national forests, groups of national forests with similar resources, and other public lands. As adaptation options are iteratively generated for additional administrative units on public lands, management options can be compared, tested, and integrated into adaptive management. Science-based adaptation is imperative because increasing certainty about climate impacts and management outcomes may take decades.
Recursive estimation of motion, structure, and focal length

Presents a formulation for recursive recovery of motion, pointwise structure, and focal length from feature correspondences tracked through an image sequence. In addition to adding focal length to the state vector, several representational improvements are made over earlier structure from motion formulations, yielding a stable and accurate estimation framework which applies uniformly to both true perspective and orthographic projection. Results on synthetic and real imagery illustrate the performance of the estimator. >
Is high-speed wireless network traffic self-similar?

It has been well established that high-speed wireline traffic exhibits self-similar behavior. We study the propagation of self-similarity as wireline traffic is sent through a gateway to a wireless network. We employ a commonly used model for buffering and repacking performed at the gateway, and study the statistics of the output traffic. Both analysis and simulations reveal that the buffer system can produce traffic that has different degrees of self-similarity as compared to the incoming traffic, or even traffic that is no longer self-similar.
Test Generation for Combinational Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) Circuits

In this paper, we present a test generation framework for testing of quantum cellular automata (QCA) circuits. QCA is a nanotechnology that has attracted significant recent attention and shows immense promise as a viable future technology. This work is motivated by the fact that the stuck-at fault test set of a circuit is not guaranteed to detect all defects that can occur in its QCA implementation. We show how to generate additional test vectors to supplement the stuck-at fault test set to guarantee that all simulated defects in the QCA gates get detected. Since nanotechnologies will be dominated by interconnects, we also target bridging faults on QCA interconnects. The efficacy of our framework is established through its application to QCA implementations of MCNC benchmarks that use majority gates as primitives.
Sex Differences and Perceptions of Conflict in Romantic Relationships

The purpose of the present investigation was to replicate and extend what is known about sex differences in conflict management behaviors. In particular, two main questions were addressed in two studies: (1) How do men and women perceive their own and their partner's conflict management behaviors? (2) Is there a relationship between relationship satisfaction and self-partner congruence of perceptions? Consistent with the past literature, the findings indicated that women perceived themselves to be significantly more negative-active in their conflict behaviors than men, whereas men perceived themselves as significantly more positive-passive in their conflict management interactions compared with women. Women showed a greater understanding of their partner's conflict management strategies; their perceptions of men as being more positive-passive, compared with women, were in accord with men's self-perceptions and with the independent judges' ratings of men's conflict behaviors. In addition, consistent with w...
Nanoindentation and contact-mode imaging at high temperatures

Technical issues surrounding the use of nanoindentation at elevated temperatures are discussed, including heat management, thermal equilibration, instrumental drift, and temperature-induced changes to the shape and properties of the indenter tip. After characterizing and managing these complexities, quantitative mechanical property measurements are performed on a specimen of standard fused silica at temperatures up to 405 °C. The extracted values of hardness and Young’s modulus are validated against independent experimental data from conventional mechanical tests, and accuracy comparable to that obtained in standard room-temperature nanoindentation is demonstrated. In situ contact-mode images of the surface at temperature are also presented.
Region flow: a multi-stage method for colonoscopy tracking

Co-located optical and virtual colonoscopy images provide important clinical information during routine colonoscopy procedures. Tracking algorithms that rely on image features to align virtual and optical images can fail when they encounter blurry image sequences. This is a common occurrence in colonoscopy images, when the endoscope touches a wall or is immersed in fluid. We propose a region-flow based matching algorithm to determine the large changes between images that bridge such interruptions in the visual field. The region flow field is used as the means to limit the search space for computing corresponding feature points; a sequence of refining steps is performed to identify the most reliable and accurate feature point pairs. The feature point pairs are then used in a deformation based scheme to compute the final camera parameters. We have successfully tested this algorithm on four clinical colonoscopy image sequences containing anywhere from 9-57 consecutive blurry images. Two additional tabletop experiments were performed to quantitatively validate the algorithm: the endoscope was moved along a slightly curved path by 24 mm and along a straight path by 40 mm. Our method reported errors within 1-5% in these experiments.
Implementation and rejection of industrial steam system energy efficiency measures

Steam systems consume approximately one third of energy applied at U.S. industrial facilities. To reduce energy consumption, steam system energy assessments have been conducted on a wide range of industry types over the course of five years through the Energy Savings Assessment (ESA) program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE). ESA energy assessments result in energy efficiency measure recommendations that are given potential energy and energy cost savings and potential implementation cost values. Saving and cost metrics that measure the impact recommended measures will have at facilities, described as percentages of facility baseline energy and energy cost, are developed from ESA data and used in analyses. Developed savings and cost metrics are examined along with implementation and rejection rates of recommended steam system energy efficiency measures. Based on analyses, implementation of steam system energy efficiency measures is driven primarily by cost metrics: payback period and measure implementation cost as a percentage of facility baseline energy cost (implementation cost percentage). Stated reasons for rejecting recommended measures are primarily based upon economic concerns. Additionally, implementation rates of measures are not only functions of savings and cost metrics, but time as well.
Ultrasound validation of maneuvers to increase internal jugular vein cross-sectional area and decrease compressibility

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to determine which maneuvers result in greatest cross-sectional area (CSA) of the internal jugular vein (IJV) and reduce collapsibility as measured by ultrasound during simulated venipuncture. Methods A total of 52 healthy adult volunteers were prospectively studied in an academic emergency department. Cross-sectional area of the IJV was recorded at baseline, with Valsalva, hepatic pressure, and a combination of hepatic pressure plus Valsalva. Subjects were studied in supine and Trendelenburg. Measurements were repeated using pressure applied to the ultrasound transducer to simulate venipuncture and evaluate degree of IJV collapse. Repeated measures analysis of variance models were used to assess the effects of the maneuvers on the diameter equivalent of the cross-sectional area (CRADE). Results With simulated venipuncture, both Valsalva and Trendelenburg position were significantly (P Conclusions All maneuvers with the exception of hepatic pressure led to a statistically significant increase in IJV CSA as compared with baseline with and without simulated venipuncture. Valsalva was the only maneuver, when used alone or in combination, to increase the CSA by greater than 50% and prevent collapse by 50% or more under simulated venipuncture.
Isostasy and Flexure of the Lithosphere

When I first began graduate work in geophysics nearly 30 years ago, there was, thankfully only a small body of written material I needed to read and comprehend prior to diving into my own research. Much has happened since then, and I often wonder how new graduate students today come up to speed in their areas of specialization. The answer is now obvious for any students undertaking research in broadly-defined areas involving lithospheric flexure and isostasy: they simply read Tony Watts' new book.
Selective effects of N-acetylcysteine stereoisomers on hepatic glutathione and plasma sulfate in mice☆

Abstract Administration of 1200 mg/kg N -acetyl- l -cysteine to mice apparently increased the rate of glutathione synthesis resulting in prolonged elevation of the hepatic glutathione pool. At 3 hr, peak glutathione concentrations nearly doubled. The fraction of glutathione in the oxidized state remained at normally low values over this period. The l isomer also significantly increased plasma and urinary concentrations of inorganic sulfate. Plasma concentrations nearly doubled at their peak and urinary excretion over 24 hr rose some threefold above control. Consistent with the known stereoselectivity of many biological processes, the unnatural d isomer of N -acetylcysteine failed to increase hepatic glutathione. Liver concentrations remained similar to control suggesting that the d isomer was unable to increase the rate of glutathione synthesis. The d isomer further differed from its l enantiomer in failing to increase the plasma concentration and the urinary excretion of inorganic sulfate. Congruent with these observations, much more N -acetyl- d -cysteine (47% of dose) was recovered unchanged in 24 hr urine than N -acetyl- l -cysteine (6.1% of dose). These findings are of toxicologic interest because they identify the N -acetylcysteine stereoisomers as a pair of agents that may be useful in separating biologic effects of sulfhydryls that are related primarily to their physical properties (i.e. reduction, radical scavenging) from those that accrue from their ability to increase glutathione and sulfate availability in vivo .
Does it matter how we refer to individuals with substance-related conditions? A randomized study of two commonly used terms

Objective Stigma is a frequently cited barrier to help-seeking for many with substance-related conditions. Common ways of describing individuals with such problems may perpetuate or diminish stigmatizing attitudes yet little research exists to inform this debate. We sought to determine whether referring to an individual as "a substance abuser" vs. "having a substance use disorder" evokes different judgments about behavioral self-regulation, social threat, and treatment vs. punishment. Method A randomized, between-subjects, cross-sectional design was utilized. Participants were asked to read a vignette containing one of the two terms and to rate their agreement with a number of related statements. Clinicians (N=516) attending two mental health conferences (63% female, 81% white, M age 51; 65% doctoral-level) completed the study (71% response rate). A Likert-scaled questionnaire with three subscales ["perpetrator-punishment" (alpha=.80); "social threat" (alpha=.86); "victim-treatment" (alpha=.64)] assessed the perceived causes of the problem, whether the character was a social threat, able to regulate substance use, and should receive therapeutic vs. punitive action. Results No differences were detected between groups on the social threat or victim-treatment subscales. However, a difference was detected on the perpetrator-punishment scale. Compared to those in the "substance use disorder" condition, those in the "substance abuser" condition agreed more with the notion that the character was personally culpable and that punitive measures should be taken. Conclusions Even among highly trained mental health professionals, exposure to these two commonly used terms evokes systematically different judgments. The commonly used "substance abuser" term may perpetuate stigmatizing attitudes.
Magnetite Fe3O4 Nanocrystals: Spectroscopic Observation of Aqueous Oxidation Kinetics†

Low-temperature oxidation of aqueous magnetite nanoparticles to maghemite has been monitored via the loss of near-IR optical absorbance. The kinetics closely follows the diffusion in a sphere model as suggested by previous literature reports. The temperature dependence of the diffusion constant is described by an Arrhenius equation with an activation energy of 21.0 kcal/mol. No intermediate optical spectra are observed, which confirms the extremely local nature of the optical transitions. A careful search for photooxidation establishes a small upper limit for the possible increase in the diffusion constant under illumination.
Opportunistic Peer-to-Peer Mobile Cloud Computing at the Tactical Edge

Mobile computing capabilities of the hand-held mobile devices are important for war fighters at the tactical edge to efficiently process their in-situ sensory data about the surrounding environment, so as to maintain situational awareness. Mobile cloud computing is generally applied to augment such capabilities of mobile devices, but has been limited to the interaction between the back-end cloud infrastructure, which availability, however, could be limited due to the dynamic network characteristics at the tactical edge. In this paper, we develop a novel theoretical framework to exploit the potential of peer mobile devices on mobile cloud computing, when they opportunistically move into the communication range of each other. Our proposed framework aims to adaptively configure the computational workload allocations among mobile devices, by considering both the energy consumption and timeliness of computational task execution. Probabilistic methods are adopted to quantitatively estimate the opportunistic network transmission delay and ensure that the computational results could be delivered back to the task initiator on time. Extensive trace-driven simulation results show that our proposed framework could significantly improve the mobile cloud computing performance, while reducing the energy consumption of such computing, compared to the existing schemes.
Abstract 1665: Autophagy is a survival mechanism in mediating resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors in castrate resistant prostate cancer cells.

Introduction and Objective: Macro-autophagy is associated with drug resistance in various cancers and can function as an adaptive response to maintain cell survival under metabolic stresses, including androgen deprivation. Our hypothesis was: 1) autophagy is a cellular mechanism that confers resistance to the androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI), enzalutamide (MDV-3100) therapy and 2) blocking autophagy circumvents this survival mechanism to improve therapeutic response. Materials and methods: To determine if autophagy was activated, we examined expression levels of LC3-I/II using Western Blotting in prostate cancer (CaP) cell lines, LNCaP, C4-2B, and CWR22 stably over-expressing LC3-GFP. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to quantify and visualize autophagy and to analyze cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Clonogenic assays were employed to evaluate cell survival. Enzalutamide (ENZA) and biclutamide were used as androgen receptor inhibitors. SiRNA to AMPK was transfected with Lipofectamine 2000. Results: Androgen deprivation or treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, ENZA or biclutamide induced autophagy in androgen-dependent and in castration resistant CaP (CRPC) cell lines. The autophagic cascade triggered by AR blockage, correlated with the increased LC3-II/I ratio and ATG-5 expression. Autophagy was observed in a subpopulation of C4-2B cells that developed insensitivity to ENZA after sustained exposure in culture. Using flow cytometry and clonogenic assays we showed that inhibiting autophagy with clomipramine or hydroxychloroquine increased apoptosis and significantly impaired cell viability. This autophagic process was mediated by AMPK activation and the suppression of mTOR through Raptor phosphorylation (Serine 792). Finally, si-RNA targeting AMPK significantly inhibited autophagy and promoted cell-death in CaP cells acutely or chronically exposed to ENZA or androgen deprived culturing condition, suggesting that autophagy is an important survival mechanism in CRPC cells. Conclusion: These novel data support autophagy as an important mechanism of resistance to the androgen receptor signaling inhibitor in CRPC. Antiandrogen mediated autophagy is dependent on the activation of AMPK pathway and the suppression of mTOR pathway. Blocking autophagy pharmacologically or genetically significantly impairs prostate cancer cell survival, implying the therapeutics potential of autophagy inhibitors in the antiandrogen resistance setting. Citation Format: Hao G. Nguyen, Joy C. Yang, Hsing-Jien Kung, Allen C. Gao, Christopher P. Evans. Autophagy is a survival mechanism in mediating resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors in castrate resistant prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1665. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1665
Effect of zinc on cytochrome oxidase activity.

Summary1. Excess dietary zinc resulted in lowered growth, hemoglobin concentration and cytochrome oxidase activity in the rat. 2. The addition of copper to the zinc diet increased growth and hemoglobin, but to sub-optimum levels, whereas the cytochrome oxidase activity was raised to a greater than normal level. 3. A highly significant correlation was found between hemoglobin level and cytochrome oxidase activity. 4. The inhibitory effect of zinc was not due to the presence in the homogenate of free zinc ions, since the in vitro addition of inorganic zinc to normal rat hearts in amounts equivalent to that found in the zinc-toxic hearts had no effect on the activity of cytochrome oxidase.
Investigation on hazard of tobacco dust in a cigarette factory in Hangzhou

Objective:To investigate the pollution distribution of tobacco dust in cigarette manufacturing industries and the critical control point to tobacco dust hazard.Methods:The site labor hygiene was investigated and the concentrations of tobacco dust at workplace were monitored.Results:The concentrations of tobacco dust at a short term exposure ranged from the detection limit to 21 mg/m3.The median of concentration was 6.6 mg/m3 and the qualified rate was 40%.The maximum concentration of tobacco dust was 5.2 times exceeded the standard.Conclusion:Use of the blow-sweep cleaning at workplace could lead to the level of tobacco dust exceed the standard.Suck-sweep cleaning is suggested to replace the blow-sweep cleaning at the cigarette manufacturing workplace.
Serotype,Virulence Gene and Resistance of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Isolated from Different Resources

[Objective]To investigate the serotype,virulence gene and resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from different resources,and provide basis for foodborne diseases control caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. [Methods]The isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were grouped to serotype by using serum agglutination test,TDH and TRH gene were detected by PCR,and the resistance was tested by disc diffusion method. [Results]There were 35 strains in 6 serotypes(O4,O3,O2,O11,O5,O1) isolated from aquatic product,without dominant microflora.No TDH gene and TRH gene were detected.While 22 isolated from poisoned patients could be divided into 3 serotypes(O3,O4,O1),with O3 accounting for 81.8%,positive rate of TDH gene was 77.3% and TRH of 13.6%.Susceptibility test results showed that the isolates were partly resistant or all resistant to penicillins,cephalosporins and sulfonamides,and sensitive to others. [Conclusion]Difference exists in serotype and virulence gene between isolates from aquatic product and poisoned patients,and the isolated strains are susceptible to avariety of commonly used antibiotics.
The uncertainty evaluation for the determination of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in drinking water by gas chromatographic method

Objective To establish the method of uncertainty evaluation for determination of chloroform,carbon tetrachloride,Bromodichloromethane,chlorodibromomethane and tribromethane in drinking water by automatic headspace capillary gas chromatography method,assess the quality of the measurement results.Methods According to GB/T 5750.8-2006,the mathematical model was established,quantitative component of uncertainty was analyzed in the measurement process,combined standard uncertainty and expanded uncertainty were calculated.Results When Chloroform content was 5.88 μg/L,U was 0.42 μg/L,k=2;Carbon tetrachloride content was1.98 μg/L,U was 0.18 μg/L,k=2;Bromodichloromethane content was 12.60 μg/L,U was 0.72 μg/L,k=2;chlorodibromomethane content was 6.00 μg/L,U was 0.36 μg/L,k=2;tribromethane was 5.55 μg/L,U was 0.38 μg/L,k=2.Conclusion Curve fitting and standard solution offered by uncertainty are the main sources of uncertainty in measurement,This method is suitable for volatile halocarbons in drinking water of uncertainty.
[Treatment of children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome with rituximab].

Objective To investigate the effects of rituximab (RTX) in children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. Method Five cases of children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome seen from May 2012 to February 2013 in whom only steroid plus calcineurin inhibitor was effective and the disease recurred on reduction of dose were enrolled into this study, including 3 males and 2 females. Calcineurin inhibitors were stopped and steroids was changed to full dose. After the general condition improved, RTX was given at a dose of 375 mg/m2, once a week for a total of three times for one course. After urine protein became negative for five days, the dose of steroid was changed to 2 mg/kg every other day, thereafter the dose was reduced by 5 mg per every 2 weeks, until discontinuation. After regular monitoring, when peripheral blood B cells were ≥ 3%, a second RTX was added. Result Urine protein was negative in 2-7 days in 5 patients after the first RTX treatment. Before treatment B lymphocytes in peripheral blood was 7.8% to 13.0% and after the first course of RTX treatment decreased to 0 in the first 6 to 8 months at the beginning of recovery, while in the first 7 to 10 months to 3.3%-6.1%, after a second RTX was given, B lymphocytes were reduced to 0, but in two cases (cases 1 and 3)B lymphocytes rose again at 16 and 17 months, in the first 17 and 18 months rose to 4.16% and 4.17%, RTX was given once again respectively. B lymphocytes were reduced to 0 again. Currently the 5 patients continued to be negative for urine protein, maintaining remission for 12 to 20 months. RTX infusion had no significant side effects, and side effects of steroid and calcineurin inhibitor disappeared. Conclusion In children with steroid-dependent and only calcineurin inhibitor effective nephritic syndrome, relapse may still occur after improvement of nephrotic syndrome, after the first RTX treatment, regular monitoring of B lymphocytes, RTX supplementary treatment in advance can help discontinuation of steroids and immunosuppressive agents and maintain remission. Key words: Antigens, CD19; B-lymphocytes; Immunosuppressive agents; Recurrence
Novel PC miniature board

This abstract is to showcase the smallest SoC platform design with 4×2.5 inch board size. You can imagine this board as a name card size. The main intention of this prototype is to enable a new desktop form factor design based on Intel latest essential platform which is Baytrail-Mobile/Desktop. The board design will incorporate lowest platform power solution, golden hardware that can be used for multiple OS. This prototype is a reference design to ODM/OEM to enable lowest pricing product and accelerate the product into market. This new form factor is appropriate for some channels, Mini PC usage, IoT and embedded application.