cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of rainfall on land cover change over South East Asia: Some observational results

Abstract Global vegetation cover is strongly related to the climatic conditions. Based on the rainfall forecast the productivity of the crops and also the drought conditions are being monitored on routine basis. Since past several decades efforts have been made to understand the role of tropical forcing in the maintenance of general circulation in the atmosphere. It has been found that the low latitude condensation process and lateral coupling with the higher latitude energy is the most important driving force in the tropics. In the present paper, we have studied the variability of rainfall and vegetation in the South East Asian (SEA) region. Nineteen years (January 1982–December 2000) of vegetation and rainfall data have been analyzed for different land cover of SEA and it has been found that the cultivated land controls the variability of rainfall in this region.
A Welfare Analysis of Policy Responses to the Skilled Wage Premium

Abstract I build a model with heterogeneous agents which is consistent both with rising wage inequality across education levels and with an increasing relative number of college graduates. I use the model to investigate the welfare implications of policies which influence the structure of net wages. Each policy affects agents directly through taxes and subsides and indirectly as wages respond to changes in the relative supply of skilled and unskilled workers. I find that as wage inequality grows due to skill-biased technological change, policies which promote a more egalitarian wage structure can become increasingly acceptable to all agents and that for nearly all agents, education subsidies may be preferred to direct transfers as a means of decreasing wage inequality. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: E60, I28, H52.
Structural and magnetic properties of epitaxial SnFe2O4 thin films

Abstract Epitaxial thin films of SnFe2O4 are deposited on sapphire substrate by ablating the sintered SnFe2O4 target with a KrF excimer laser (λ = 248 nm and pulsed duration of 20 ns). X-ray diffraction study reveals that SnFe2O4 films are epitaxial along (222) direction. The optical bandgap of SnFe2O4 film is estimated using transmittance vs. wavelength data and is observed to be 2.71 eV. The presence of hysteresis loop at room temperature in magnetization vs. field plot indicates the ferromagnetic behavior of the film. It is observed that the coercive field and remnant magnetization decrease with increase in temperature.
Nitrogen fixation of red clover interseeded with winter cereals across a management-induced fertility gradient

The incorporation of legume cover crops into annual grain rotations remains limited, despite extensive evidence that they can reduce negative environmental impacts of agroecosystems while maintaining crop yields. Diversified grain rotations that include a winter cereal have a unique niche for interseeding cover crops. To understand how management-driven soil fertility differences and inter-seeding with grains influenced red clover (Trifolium pratense) N2 fixation, we estimated biological N2 fixation (BNF) in 2006 and 2007, using the 15N natural abundance method across 15 farm fields characterized based on the reliance on BNF derived N inputs as a fraction of total N inputs. Plant treatments included winter grain with and without interseeded red clover, monoculture clover, monoculture orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), and clover-orchardgrass mixtures. Fields with a history of legume-based management had larger labile soil nitrogen pools and lower soil P levels. Orchardgrass biomass was positively correlated with the management-induced N fertility gradient, but we did not detect any relationship between soil N availability and clover N2 fixation. Interseeding clover with a winter cereal did not alter winter grain yield, however, clover production was lower during the establishment year when interseeded with taller winter grain varieties, most likely due to competition for light. Interseeding clover increased the % N from fixation relative to the monoculture clover (72% vs. 63%, respectively) and the average total N2 fixed at the end of the first growing season (57 vs. 47 kg N ha−1, respectively). Similar principles could be applied to develop more cash crop-cover crop complementary pairings that provide both an annual grain harvest and legume cover crop benefits.
Mechanism for ordered receptor binding by human prolactin.

Prolactin, a lactogenic hormone, binds to two prolactin receptors sequentially, the first receptor binding at site 1 of the hormone followed by the second receptor binding at site 2. We have investigated the mechanism by which human prolactin (hPRL) binds the extracellular domain of the human prolactin receptor (hPRLbp) using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. We have covalently coupled hPRL to the SPR chip surface via coupling chemistries that reside in and block either site 1 or site 2. Equilibrium binding experiments using saturating hPRLbp concentrations show that site 2 receptor binding is dependent on site 1 receptor occupancy. In contrast, site 1 binding is independent of site 2 occupancy. Thus, sites 1 and 2 are functionally coupled, site 1 binding inducing the functional organization of site 2. Site 2 of hPRL does not have a measurable binding affinity prior to hPRLbp binding at site 1. After site 1 receptor binding, site 2 affinity is increased to values approaching that of site 1. Corr...
Development of a web-based application for agroforestry planning and tree selection

Agroforestry is currently being promoted in the Southeast United States as a land use strategy that can provide additional products and income as well as environmental and conservation benefits. For effective agroforestry planning, landowners and extension agents require information on potential tree and shrub components as well as geographic information for specific sites. The Southeastern Agroforestry Decision Support System (SEADSS) is a web-based application being developed to assist landowners and extension agents in the Southeast United States evaluate potential sites and suitable tree and shrub species for agroforestry planning. SEADSS offers on-line access to county-level spatial information, such as topography, hydrology, soils and land use, which are essential in evaluating potential agroforestry sites and suitable species. SEADSS links a geographical information system component with a subtropical tree/shrub database, which enables the user to query for biophysically suitable and economically and managerially desirable trees and shrubs. Species selection is achieved through Structured Query Language queries that are called and executed using Active Server Pages. When the end user selects a county and location of interest, climate and soil parameters are passed to the database and queries select the trees and shrubs that satisfy the biophysical parameters. Furthermore, the user can narrow the search for appropriate species by selecting particular management, propagation, product and services criteria within the web-based application. Tree and shrub species results are hyperlinked allowing the client to view additional species-specific information including access to documents and photographs. The SEADSS prototype was initially tested by Alachua County, Florida extension agents and will undergo a thorough testing and evaluation phase with a group of Northwest and Central Florida extension agents and landowners. Based on recommendations from targeted end users, SEADSS will be updated and expanded to provide an efficient agroforestry extension and planning tool.
A Nodal Method for Phase Change Moving Boundary Problems

A semi-analytic numerical scheme has been developed to solve the one-dimensional, moving boundary phase change problem with time-dependent boundary conditions. Locally analytic, approximate solutions are developed for the position of the moving boundary, and for temperature distribution. Set of discrete equations are obtained by applying these solutions over space-time nodes, and by imposing continuity of temperature and heat flux. Application of this so-called nodal integral approach to the nonlinear Stefan problem shows that the scheme is O(Δx 2), and that it predicts the position of the moving boundary and the temperature distribution within the domain very accurately. For example, with as little as two nodes in the spatial domain, the location of the moving boundary for the case of an exponentially increasing surface temperature on the boundary, after one dimensionless time unit, is found with an error of less than 1%. In addition to large size nodes in space, this scheme also allows the use of very l...
Atomic Force Microscopy and XRD Analysis of Silver Films Deposited by Thermal Evaporation

Thin films of pure silver were deposited on glass substrate by thermal evaporation process at room temperature. Surface characterization of the films was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Thickness of the films varied between 20 nm and 72.8 nm. XRD analysis provided a sharp peak at 38.75° from silver. These results indicated that the films deposited on glass substrates at room temperature are crystalline. Three-dimension and top view pictures of the films were obtained by AFM to study the grain size and its dependency on various factors. Average grain size increased with the thickness of the deposited films. A minimum grain size of 8 nm was obtained for 20 nm thick films, reaching 41.9 nm when the film size reaches 60 nm. Grain size was calculated from the information provided by the XRD spectrum and averaging method. We could not find any sequential variation in the grain size with the growth rate.
Intrinsic Viscosity of Proteins and Platonic Solids by Boundary Element Methods.

The boundary element (BE) method is used to implement a very precise computation of the intrinsic viscosity for rigid molecules of arbitrary shape. The formulation, included in our program BEST, is tested against the analytical Simha formula for ellipsoids of revolution, and the results are essentially numerically exact. Previously unavailable, very precise results for a series of Platonic solids are also presented. The formulation includes the optional determination of the center of viscosity; however, for globular proteins, the difference compared to the computation based on the centroid is insignificant. The main application is to a series of 30 proteins ranging in molecular weight from 12 to 465 kD. The computation starts from the crystal structure as obtained from the Protein Data Bank, and a hydration thickness of 1.1 A obtained in previous work with BEST was used. The results (extrapolated to an infinite number of triangular boundary elements) for the proteins are separated into two groups: monomeric and multimeric proteins. The agreement with experimental measurements of the intrinsic viscosity in the case of monomeric proteins is excellent and within experimental error of 5%, demonstrating that the solution and crystal structure are hydrodynamically equivalent. However, for some multimeric proteins, we observe strong systematic deviations around -20%, which we interpret as a systematic deviation of the solution structure from the crystal structure. A possible description of the structural change is deduced by using simple ellipsoid model parameters. A method to obtain intrinsic viscosity values for proteins to 1-2% accuracy (better than experimental error) on the basis of a single BE computation (avoiding the need for an extrapolation on the number of surface triangles) is also presented.
Optimizing adaptivity in educational games

One of the most promising ways that games for learning can improve education is by adapting to each child individually. However, it is often difficult to instrument game mechanics so that they can be controlled to promote learning. Furthermore, even if this parameterization is possible, there is little knowledge of how to generate adaptive level progressions that optimize engagement and learning. We have taken the first step towards enabling adaptivity in an educational game for teaching fractions through the automatic generation of levels in a way that allows for multiple axes of mathematical and spatial difficulty to be controlled independently. We propose to expand on this work by developing a framework for representing conceptual knowledge. This framework will keep track of each player's knowledge, generate game levels that are tailored to the player's knowledge and skill level, and create progressions of these levels that allow players to learn new concepts through experimentation. We will compare multiple adaptive concept sequencing algorithms by evaluating their effects on player learning and engagement through multivariate tests with tens of thousands of players.
George W. Holmes Lecture. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: correlative evaluation and therapeutic implications.

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States; estimates range from 120,000 to 150,000 deaths annually. Although usually symptomatic, deep venous thrombosis can be clinically occult, in part due to incomplete obstruction or in part related to duplication, triplication, and fenestration anomalies, primarily of the superficial femoral or popliteal vein. Additionally, pulmonary emboli caused by deep venous thrombosis may be clinically silent. Because of therapeutic implications, especially indications for insertion of inferior vena caval filters, comprehensive assessments of both the disease process (i.e., deep venous thrombosis) and the complication (i.e., pulmonary emboli) are important. Thus, when a pulmonary embolus is the presenting process, correlative assessment of deep venous thrombosis, even in the absence of symptoms or signs in the lower extremity, may be of therapeutic significance. Conversely, when deep venous thrombosis of t...
The role of Brimonidine in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma

Abstract At present, medical therapy is the first line of attack against primary open-angle glaucoma. β-blockers, miotics, sympathomimetics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and prostaglandins have been used with varying degrees of success. The α 2 -agonists, clonidine, apraclonidine, and now brimonidine are powerful inhibitors of aqueous humor production, thereby lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in these patients. Brimonidine is emerging as a potential first-line therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma, with a peak IOP-lowering efficacy comparable to that of timolol, but without timolol's adverse cardiopulmonary side effects. Brimonidine promises to be an important new drug to help meet the therapeutic challenges faced by ophthalmologists in treating glaucoma.
Late Quaternary extent of the West Antarctic ice sheet: New evidence from Ross Sea cores

Ross Sea cores contain diatom floras and have sediment characteristics which suggest that grounded ice filled the Ross Sea embayment to the continental shelf margin during the last, and previous, glacial advances. Each successive advance reworked sediments from the previous interglacial period with older material and compressed them into a firm deposit with reworked (mixed and fractured) microfossils. As the grounding line retreated past each core location, subglacial meltwater, tidal pumping, and marine bottom-water flow winnowed light, less heavily silicified diatoms, leaving a lag of Eucampia balaustium in well-sorted, sandy sediment. Warm-water, open-marine conditions initially prevailed after deglaciation on the northern part of the continental shelf during summers. Open-marine conditions were gradually replaced by the pack-ice cover that today characterizes the Ross Sea continental shelf region.
Abstract 2961: The level of mitochondrial apoptotic priming determines cell fate upon p53 restoration

Using genetically engineered mouse models of cancer, we and others have recently shown that a variety of established tumors require sustained inactivation of the p53 pathway. Reactivation of p53 in established tumors typically results in one of two cell fate decisions: cell cycle arrest or cell death via apoptosis. Since p53 is a transcription factor, one hypothesis that may explain these tumor-specific outcomes is that p53 transcriptionally activates a particular set of genes that is specific to each tumor type, in addition to genes involved in a core p53 pathway. Another possibility is that the level of mitochondrial apoptotic priming in a cell might dictate whether p53 activation promotes cell death or cell cycle arrest. To test this, we derived murine p53-restorable cell lines from three different tumor types: lung adenocarcinoma, sarcoma and lymphoma. Upon restoration of the endogenous Trp53 gene, these cell lines undergo cell cycle arrest (lung and sarcoma) or apoptosis (lymphoma). We hypothesized that this tumor-specific response to p53 restoration could be explained by the level of mitochondrial priming on each specific tumor type, where lymphoma cell lines would be highly primed relative to the lung and sarcoma cell lines. Indeed mitochondrial BH3 profiling demonstrated that lymphoma cell lines were highly primed and this correlated with their apoptotic response to p53 restoration. On the other hand, lung and sarcoma cell lines were poorly primed and this was consistent with their cell cycle arrest phenotype upon p53 restoration. Modulating the expression levels of Bcl2 family members to modulate mitochondrial apoptotic priming was sufficient to change the fate of these cells. Lymphoma cell lines were forced to undergo cell cycle arrest upon p53 restoration by overexpression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 family members Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL. In contrast, lung and sarcoma cell lines were forced to undergo cell death upon p53 restoration when priming was increased by overexpression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family members Bim or Bad. When transplanted subcutaneously, sarcoma cell lines expressing Bad were specifically sensitized to undergo cell death upon p53 restoration whereas cell lines expressing empty vector underwent cell cycle arrest. We are currently carrying out in vivo experiments with lymphoma cell lines and lung cell lines, as well as with autochthonous tumor models and human cell lines to further test our main hypothesis. These findings may offer key insights into the potential use of drugs that restore p53 function. Citation Format: Francisco J. Sanchez-Rivera, Jeremy Ryan, Yadira M. Soto-Feliciano, David M. Feldser, Michael T. Hemann, Anthony Letai, Tyler Jacks. The level of mitochondrial apoptotic priming determines cell fate upon p53 restoration. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2961. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2961
What is the ultimate fate of superoxide anion in vivo

For three decades, oxidative stress and the role of reactive oxygen species in biology have been extensively studied. Recently, a new interest in these areas has emerged with the discovery of superoxide reductases, a family of familiar bacterial metalloenzymes whose heretofore unknown function has now been apparently revealed. In a series of experiments utilizing genetic, molecular biological, and biochemical methods, these enzymes have been shown to be physiologically competent at removing superoxide. The role of these enzymes and their biological relationship to the well-known superoxide dismutases is discussed.
Purification and Characterization of Myosin-15, the Molecular Motor Mutated in DFNB3 Human Deafness

Stereocilia are mechanosensitive organelles projecting from the surface of inner ear hair cells that detect nanometer deflections induced by sound, gravity or head movement. Unconventional myosin-15 (encoded by Myo15) is hypothesized to regulate stereocilia development by delivering cargoes such as whirlin and Eps8 to their tips. Whether myosin-15 actually functions as a transporter remains untested and little is known regarding its activity, structure and regulation within the highly specialized stereocilia compartment.We have characterized the biochemical kinetics of a subfragment-1 (S1) like truncation of mouse myosin-15, comprising the catalytic ATPase/actin binding domain plus two IQ light chain binding sites. Expression of the recombinant S1 fragment in Sf9 insect cells required co-expression of multiple molecular chaperones in order to recover significant quantities of active protein. Unlike most unconventional myosin classes, the IQ regions of myosin-15 did not bind calmodulin with high affinity; instead preferentially associating with essential (MYL6) and regulatory (MYL12A) light chains that typically partner with myosin-2 isoforms. Single molecule TEM confirmed that the purified S1 was correctly folded and monomeric. The S1 fragment was mechanically active and moved actin filaments at ∼170 nm·s−1 in a gliding motility assay. A powerstroke displacement of 7.8 nm was measured by optical trapping. Transient kinetics revealed that ATP binding to myosin-15 was slow and weak (K1k2 = 0.17 μM−1s−1, 1/K1 = 1898 μM), and that ADP release (∼12s−1) was the rate-limiting step; indicating the predominant steady-state intermediates for myosin-15 would either be with ADP, or no nucleotide bound. Both states bind strongly to actin, suggesting that myosin-15 could be capable of longer-range processive motility if oligomerized in vivo. These data enable future kinetic and structural studies to investigate how deafness-associated mutations targeted within the ATPase ultimately disrupt stereocilia function.
Getting Students to Talk in the Online Course

What kinds of questions might we pose to actually get students discussing? Too many instructors forget about the importance of discussion assignments, which leads to a lull in student-student interaction. Michelle Everson shares her experiences in generating good discussion.
Adverse Respiratory and Cardiovascular Events Attributed to Timolol Ophthalmic Solution, 1978–1985

Between September 1978 and December 1985, 450 case reports of serious respiratory and cardiovascular events and 32 case reports of death attributed to ophthalmic timolol were received by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects. Two hundred sixty-seven patients (55%) experienced a cardiac arrhythmia or a bronchospasm-related event. The median age was 68 years (n = 365). Fifty-five percent of the patients were women and 45% were men (n = 41). Of the 212 persons for whom medical history was provided, 129 (61%) had respiratory disease, 65 (31%) had cardiovascular disease, 13 (6%) had other illnesses, and five (2%) had no underlying illness. Of the 318 patients for whom data on duration of drug use were available 106 (33%) experienced their adverse event within one week of beginning timolol therapy: 73 (23%) had their events on the first day of therapy. Of 192 patients for whom information was available 177 (92%) improved after the drug was discontinued.
Detection and Genotyping of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum by Oligonucleotide Microarray

Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum are the most frequently identified protozoan parasites causing waterborne disease outbreaks. The morbidity and mortality associated with these intestinal parasitic infections warrant the development of rapid and accurate detection and genotyping methods to aid public health efforts aimed at preventing and controlling outbreaks. In this study, we describe the development of an oligonucleotide microarray capable of detecting and discriminating between E. histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, G. lamblia assemblages A and B, and C. parvum types 1 and 2 in a single assay. Unique hybridization patterns for each selected protozoan were generated by amplifying six to eight diagnostic sequences/organism by multiplex PCR; fluorescent labeling of the amplicons via primer extension; and subsequent hybridization to a set of genus-, species-, and subtype-specific covalently immobilized oligonucleotide probes. The profile-based specificity of this methodology not only permitted for the unequivocal identification of the six targeted species and subtypes, but also demonstrated its potential in identifying related species such as Cryptosporidium meleagridis and Cryptosporidium muris. In addition, sensitivity assays demonstrated lower detection limits of five trophozoites of G. lamblia. Taken together, the specificity and sensitivity of the microarray-based approach suggest that this methodology may provide a promising tool to detect and genotype protozoa from clinical and environmental samples.
Carbon Footprint and Sustainability of Agricultural Production Systems in Punjab, India, and Ohio, USA

Sustainability of agricultural systems depends on their carbon (C) footprint, and the Coutput:Cinput ratio. Thus, this study was conducted with the objectives to: (i) assess the agricultural C emissions in relation to predominant farming systems in Punjab, India, and Ohio, USA; (ii) evaluate C-use efficiency of production systems; and (iii) determine the relative sustainability of agronomic production systems as determined by their C footprints. The data collated on C-based input into the soil for predominant crops for both regions included the amounts of fertilizers (N, P, K), herbicides and pesticides used for each crop annually, tillage methods, cropland area, total production of each crop, area under different farming systems, water-management practices (e.g., tubewell irrigation), and total number of livestock. These data were used to compute C equivalent (CE) per hectare of input and output, and the relative sustainability indices as a measure of the C-production efficiency. There existed a linear r...
Occupational Therapy within the Primary Health Care Team

If disabled and elderly people are to become members of the community and not be relegated to an institutional existence, community health care services have to be developed in order to support the...
A generalized Euclidean algorithm for geometry theorem proving

In the first part of this paper, we present an algorithm that computes an unmixed-dimensional decomposition of a varietyV. EachVi in the decompositionV=V1U...UVm is given by a finite set of polynomials which represents the generic points of the irreducible components ofVi. The basic operation in our algorithm is the computation of greatest common divisors of univariate polynomials over extension fields given by regular chains. No factorization is needed. In the second part, this algorithm is applied to geometry theorem proving. We show that it can be used for deciding whether geometry statements are generically true or whether they are true under given nondegeneracy conditions. If a geometry statement is generically true, the simplest nondegeneracy condition with respect to a lexicographical degree ordering can be constructed by means of our algorithm.
Functional measure for quantum gravity

We derive the functional measure for quantum gravity by reducing to independent degrees of freedom in the light-cone gauge. We use the recently developed functional techniques devised to handle field theories with second-class constraints in order to analyze quantum gravity quantized along null planes, where it has been shown that all eight dependent components of the metric may be explicitly functionally eliminated, leaving only two unconstrained variables. Using our result, we confirm the result of Fradkin and Vilkovisky for the functional measure for quantum gravity, though we disagree with several other authors who have different measures.
Dual-lumen catheters: quality control tests for radiopacity.

A protocol utilizing a single-point densitometer was developed for the quality control (Q.C.) of the radiopacity of dual-lumen radiographic catheters where x-rays generated at 80 kVp are typically used. Catheter contrast, defined as the difference between catheter radiopacity and background optical density (O.D.) when an aluminum plate is imaged, forms the basic Q.C. parameter. When a given catheter is repeatedly measured, catheter contrast varies with a standard deviation of 0.013 O.D. units. The effects of minor background O.D. variations on contrast are significant, but empirically correctable. A variation in measured contrast of approx. 0.01 O.D. units is observed per 10 kVp energy variation. Aluminum plate thickness has a significant effect on the results; however, other details of the protocol geometry are less important. Variations due to catheter orientation were examined and imaging of packaged catheters was demonstrated.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Possesses Two Functional Homologues of Escherichia coli Endonuclease III

We previously identified two distinct genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae redoxyendonuclease (SCR1 and SCR2) which possess a high degree of sequence similarity to Escherichia coli endonuclease III [Augeri, L., Lee, Y. M., Barton, A. B., and Doetsch, P. W. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 721-729]. The proteins encoded by SCR1 and SCR2 were overexpressed in E. coli and purified to apparent homogeneity. Both proteins recognized and cleaved DNA substrates containing dihydrouracil, 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5N-methylformamidopyrimidine (FaPy-7-MeGua), and abasic sites but not DNA substrates containing uracil or 8-oxoguanine. Purified Scr2, but not Scr1, possesses spectral properties which indicate the presence of an iron-sulfur center. Kinetic parameters for Scr1 and Scr2 were determined by using an oligonucleotide containing a single dihydrouracil. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of Scr1 and Scr2 suggests that Scr2 bears an iron-sulfur motif, while Scr1 does not have this motif. However, Scr1 has a long, positively charged N-terminus that could be a mitochondrial transit sequence. Targeted gene disruption of SCR1 and SCR2 produced a double mutant that had no detectable enzymatic activity against the dihydrouracil-containing substrate. Northern blot analysis showed that SCR1 was induced by menadione, but SCR2 was not. These results indicate that although Scr1 and Scr2 are both functional homologues of E. coli endonuclease III, they differ from each other with respect to their amino acid sequences and inducibility by DNA damaging agents, suggesting that their precise biological roles may be different.
Subordinate imitation of supervisor behavior: The role of modeling in organizational socialization

Abstract Social Learning Theory predictions regarding imitation of work behavior models with specific social characteristics were tested. Data were collected from 141 pairs of lower-level supervisors (subordinates) and their direct superiors in seven organizations. All participants described their own supervisory leadership style, and subordinates also described the competence, reward power, and success within the organization of their superiors, their own self-esteem, and the behavior reward contingencies of their organizations. Results provided support for the Social Learning Theory predictions. The degree of behavior similarity displayed by subordinates and their direct superiors was positively correlated with subordinates' perceptions of their superiors' success and competence. However, behavior similarity was unrelated to perceptions of superior reward power. Further analyses indicated that the correlations between perceived superior characteristics and behavior similarity were significantly moderated by subordinate self-esteem and that behavior reward expectancies could be considered to be intervening variables only when analyzing the influence of model success. Results are discussed in terms of a cognitive motivational framework for analyzing socialization processes.
Control of water intake in thermally dehydrated rats.

Abstract Male rats were thermally dehydrated by exposure without water to an environmental temperature of 40°C for 0–4 hr or to environmental temperatures of 25–40°C for 4 hr. Water intake was then measured for 2 hr or a blood sample was taken to determine the effect of heat exposure on body water status. Evaporative water loss and water intake increased with increased duration and severity of heat exposure. Heat exposure significantly increased plasma osmolality and plasma sodium concentration and significantly decreased plasma potassium concentration. Hematocrit and plasma protein concentration increased slightly but not significantly with heat exposure. The increases in water intake in association with increases in evaporative water loss, plasma osmolality and plasma sodium concentration with no significant increases in hematocrit or plasma protein concentration indicates that the thirst induced by thermal dehydration is primarily osmotic in nature. Water intake equal to about 50% of the evaporative plus urinary water loss reduced plasma osmolality and sodium concentration to control levels, removing the stimulus to drink before the water loss was replaced.
Designing croquet's TeaTime: a real-time, temporal environment for active object cooperation

Underlying Croquet is an object-oriented semantics based on active objects that have the capability of temporal reflection. That is, each object is aware and in direct control of its behavior in time. Croquet also directly supports replication of computation, allowing computation to be moved close to the point of interaction on demand, while maintaining a consistent view of behaviors that can scale to include thousands of nodes. In the talk, we'll highlight the main concepts of TeaTime, which provides that semantic model, and also talk about some of the interesting implementation issues involved in realizing the TeaTime semantics.
Increasing Students In-Class Engagement through Public Commenting: An Exploratory Study

Student engagement is a pervasive and persistent goal for educators. In previous work we have reported that activities like public real-time commenting on videos can enhance student participation and engagement [4]. However, these events occur over a limited period of time. Thus a more challenging question is how to increase and sustain student engagement. In this paper we describe the iterative development of Class Commons, a public commenting system with which students can post questions/comments that are shared through a public display in the classroom. The system was used in a senior undergraduate class in the spring semester of 2009. Our findings suggest that students were interested in this system. Students with different self-construal (independent vs. interdependent) appropriate this system for slightly different purposes. In the long run, we speculate that by having the teacher involved more in using this system (responding more quickly, helping structuring the discussions), it has potential for promoting sustained student engagement.
A New Model for Providing Cell-Free DNA and Risk Assessment for Chromosome Abnormalities in a Public Hospital Setting

Objective. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) offers highly accurate noninvasive screening for Down syndrome. Incorporating it into routine care is complicated. We present our experience implementing a novel program for cfDNA screening, emphasizing patient education, genetic counseling, and resource management. Study Design. Beginning in January 2013, we initiated a new patient care model in which high-risk patients for aneuploidy received genetic counseling at 12 weeks of gestation. Patients were presented with four pathways for aneuploidy risk assessment and diagnosis: (1) cfDNA; (2) integrated screening; (3) direct-to-invasive testing (chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis); or (4) no first trimester diagnostic testing/screening. Patients underwent follow-up genetic counseling and detailed ultrasound at 18–20 weeks to review first trimester testing and finalize decision for amniocentesis. Results. Counseling and second trimester detailed ultrasound were provided to 163 women. Most selected cfDNA screening (69%) over integrated screening (0.6%), direct-to-invasive testing (14.1%), or no screening (16.6%). Amniocentesis rates decreased following implementation of cfDNA screening (19.0% versus 13.0%, P < 0.05). Conclusion. When counseled about screening options, women often chose cfDNA over integrated screening. This program is a model for patient-directed, efficient delivery of a newly available high-level technology in a public health setting. Genetic counseling is an integral part of patient education and determination of plan of care.
Exploiting a dimeric silver transmetallating reagent to synthesize macrocyclic tetracarbene complexes

A dimeric macrocyclic tetra-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) silver complex was synthesized and shown to successfully extend transmetallation of polydentate NHCs beyond bidentate NHCs. The silver complex was utilized in the preparation of a variety of monomeric tetra-NHC complexes ranging from early first row to late third row transition metals in moderate to high yield for a total of nine examples of transmetallation. Among these complexes are rare examples of silver transmetallation with first row transition metals: chromium, iron, and cobalt. Additionally, the first examples of tetracarbenes on chromium and gold are reported. All compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, ESI-MS, and spectroscopic techniques.
DynaStream: Adaptive Overlay Management for Peer-to-Peer Video Streaming

A number of mesh-based peer-to-peer video streaming systems have been proposed, however, they have not paid careful attention to the impact of the number of data streams on streaming quality. In this paper, we first explore the effect of the choice of the number of data streams to the streaming quality. We propose a simple, practical, and fully distributed mechanism, Loss Rate Window, that maintains the overlay topology adaptive to peers’ uplink bandwidth and network fluctuation. The mechanism allows each node to make an entirely local decision to adaptively control the right number of data streams to support on its uplink without explicitly knowing or measuring its uplink bandwidth. This mechanism is general, and can be applied to any kind of mesh-based peer-to-peer video streaming system to improve the quality of the video streaming service.
Introduction: challenges to finding a cure for HIV infection.

Purpose of reviewRenewed interest has emerged to address the latent reservoir of HIV to achieve a cure.Recent findingsThe integrated proviral genome is a fundamental component of the retroviral replication cycle. The establishment of latently infected CD4+ lymphocytes, and perhaps other as yet poorl
Can Medicare prospective payment survive the ICD-9 CM disease classification system?

The Medicare prospective payment system represents a fundamental change in hospital payment. The diagnosis-related group (DRG) patient classification scheme serves as the modifier of payment for this system. The DRG definitions are, in turn, based on the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Deficiencies in the ICD-9-CM coding system directly affect the equity of the Medicare payment system. A review of the ICD-9-CM system identifies three principal problems: the inability of the system to reflect clinically important patient attributes adequately; the use of outcome, rather than approach, to code surgical procedures; and the blurring of clinical specificity by the adoption of certain coding rules. If these deficits in coding specificity are not corrected, it is unlikely that DRGs will adequately distinguish clinically unique types of patients. This inability to differentiate among patients threatens to undermine the equity of Medicare payments. Physicians must become more aware of disease coding and more involved in its development and implementation.
Bacterial pneumonia in immunocompromised patients

Immunocompromised patients develop infections resulting from a wide range of organisms. The most commonly encountered type of infection is bacterial in origin. Many of the infections are community-acquired pneumonias in which most of the infections are caused by organisms that typically produce disease in the healthy person. Hospital-acquired pneumonias are particularly serious, being caused by the highly virulent gram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus. Immunocompromised patients frequently have indwelling intravascular catheters. These catheters may become infected and seed the lung with septic emboli, producing a hematogenous pneumonia. Underlying conditions and therapy increase the risk for aspiration in the immunocompromised patient. These aspirations can result in the development of an aspiration pneumonia and lung abscess formation. The majority of pneumonias resulting from Legionella and Nocardia occur in immunocompromised patients.
Ataxia-telangiectasia as a model system for studies of radiation protection mechanisms.

Patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), a human autosomal recessive genetic disease, are uniformly hypersensitive to ionizing radiation as measured by colony-forming ability and by chromosomal aberrations. Obligate heterozygotes, i.e., parents of AT patients, are slightly more radiosensitive than normal humans in terms of both colony-forming ability and chromosomal aberrations formed in G2. Thus, this system not only furnishes a model system to study factors that are responsible for radioresistance in normal human beings, but is also a unique tool for determining the role of gene dosage on radiation-induced cell killing. Because AT cells seem to be hypomutable to ionizing radiation, they also can be used to study the relationship between radiosensitivity and mutability and, therefore, carcinogenesis. Isolation of the defective gene that causes hypersensitivity in AT cells and its counterpart in normal cells should lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of radiation effects and how they can be prevented in human beings.
Treating depression in the context of marital discord: Outcome and predictors of response of marital therapy versus cognitive therapy*

Forty five couples in which both partners were complaining of marital discord and in which the wife met DSM-III diagnostic criteria for either major depression and/or dysthymia participated in 15–20 treatment sessions. Couples were randomly assigned to marital therapy (BMT, n=15), individual cognitive therapy for the depressed wife (CBT, n=15), or wait-list control group (WL, n=15). Women in both cognitive therapy and marital therapy experienced significantly greater reductions in depressive symptomatology than did women in the wait-list control group. In addition women in marital therapy had significantly greater increases in marital adjustment than either women in cognitive therapy or women in the wait-list condition. Of special importance in this report, and complimenting our earlier work, were process analyses which indicated that reductions in level of depression among wives in the marital therapy condition were mediated by increases in marital adjustment. Further, exploratory analyses suggested that pre-therapy levels of marital variables and dysfunctional cognitions could predict differential response to marital therapy and cognitive therapy.
Ultra high energy neutrino–nucleon cross section from cosmic ray experiments and neutrino telescopes

Abstract We deduce the cosmogenic neutrino flux by jointly analysing ultra high energy cosmic ray data from HiRes-I and II, AGASA and the Pierre Auger Observatory. We make two determinations of the neutrino flux by using a model-dependent method and a model-independent method. The former is well-known, and involves the use of a power-law injection spectrum. The latter is a regularized unfolding procedure. We then use neutrino flux bounds obtained by the RICE experiment to constrain the neutrino–nucleon inelastic cross section at energies inaccessible at colliders. The cross section bounds obtained using the cosmogenic fluxes derived by unfolding are the most model-independent bounds to date.
The Maximum Size of Standardized and Internally Studentized Residuals in Regression Analysis

Abstract Shiffler (1988) showed that the magnitude of the largest Z score in a univariate data set is bounded above by . Similar bounds hold for standardized and internally studentized residuals in regression analysis. The implications of these bounds for outlier identification in regression do not appear to be widely recognized. Many regression textbooks contain recommendations for residual analysis that are not appropriate in light of these results.
Lunar heat flow experiments: Science objectives and a strategy for minimizing the effects of lander-induced perturbations

Abstract Reliable measurements of the Moon's global heat flow would serve as an important diagnostic test for models of lunar thermal evolution and would also help to constrain the Moon's bulk abundance of radioactive elements and its differentiation history. The two existing measurements of lunar heat flow are unlikely to be representative of the global heat flow. For these reasons, obtaining additional heat flow measurements has been recognized as a high priority lunar science objective. In making such measurements, it is essential that the design and deployment of the heat flow probe and of the parent spacecraft do not inadvertently modify the near-surface thermal structure of the lunar regolith and thus perturb the measured heat flow. One type of spacecraft-related perturbation is the shadow cast by the spacecraft and by thermal blankets on some instruments. The thermal effects of these shadows propagate by conduction both downward and outward from the spacecraft into the lunar regolith. Shadows cast by the spacecraft superstructure move over the surface with time and only perturb the regolith temperature in the upper 0.8 m. Permanent shadows, such as from thermal blankets covering a seismometer or other instruments, can modify the temperature to greater depth. Finite element simulations using measured values of the thermal diffusivity of lunar regolith show that the limiting factor for temperature perturbations is the need to measure the annual thermal wave for 2 or more years to measure the thermal diffusivity. The error induced by permanent spacecraft thermal shadows can be kept below 8% of the annual wave amplitude at 1 m depth if the heat flow probe is deployed at least 2.5 m away from any permanent spacecraft shadow. Deploying the heat flow probe 2 m from permanent shadows permits measuring the annual thermal wave for only one year and should be considered the science floor for a heat flow experiment on the Moon. One way to meet this separation requirement would be to deploy the heat flow and seismology experiments on opposite sides of the spacecraft. This result should be incorporated in the design of future lunar geophysics spacecraft experiments. Differences in the thermal environments of the Moon and Mars result in less restrictive separation requirements for heat flow experiments on Mars.