cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of characteristics of Michigan workers with work-related asthma exposed to welding

OBJECTIVE To describe the characteristics of subjects with work-related asthma (WRA) secondary to welding exposure. METHODS As part of statewide surveillance, WRA reports were received from health care professionals. These reports were followed up with a telephonic interview using a standardized questionnaire; lung function tests were reviewed, and final assessment regarding the diagnosis was made. RESULTS Welding exposure was the fifth leading cause of WRA (n = 142; age, 43.3 ± 11.4 years; male to female ratio, 94:48). Several workers (n = 72) were nonwelders but all worked around welding fumes. More than a third had predicted forced expiratory volume in one second less than 80% (38 of 106, 35.8%). Most had sought medical treatment (95.8%) and had emergency room visits (n = 86, 60.6%), and several had required hospitalization (n = 50, 36.7%). CONCLUSION Welding exposure is a common cause of WRA. It is seen in workers from different industries engaged in diverse jobs. Spirometry changes are common. Work-related asthma is associated with high morbidity and health care costs.
A novel critical time analysis approach for genetic regulatory networks

The expression levels of certain molecular markers can show signs of the beginning of a disease. Effective treatment of the disease demands the identification of the time point when the probability of the corresponding genetic state reaches a critical value. This paper presents a new methodology which utilizes eigenvalue decomposition of the reaction matrix of the system that enables us to use efficient bisection method for finding the aforementioned critical time point. The results show significant improvement of computational efficiency over existing fine scale models based on Stochastic Master Equations.
Phase-Locked PIV Measurement in the Wake of Model Wind Turbines Under Various Inflow Conditions

This paper focuses on understanding correlative interactions between boundary layer flow structures and the resultant unsteady wake of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) model. Phase-locked Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is employed to measure turbulence statistics such as velocity, turbulence intensity, shear stress, vorticity, and to subsequently identify large-scale coherent flow structures. In the first stage, phase-lock experiments were performed under free-stream flow conditions. Ten consecutive downstream locations up to six rotor diameters from the turbine are captured. Ensemble averaged velocity and vorticity fields reveal that while the identity of tip vortices are maintained over five rotor diameters downstream of the turbine, their strength decays exponentially. When the turbine is placed in the wake of other units, the vortical structures exhibit a rapid decay in both coherence and strength and substantially suppress the wake-vortex and vortex-vortex interactions, playing an important role in the wake recovery. These observations inspire the current investigation using low-speed phase-locked PIV Interactions among the near wall flow structures in a turbulent boundary layer, hub and tip vortices will be investigated in this paper. The model turbine has a 0.108 m hub height, rotor diameter of 0.128 m and tip speed ratio of 4. It is located in a wind tunnel under nearly zero-pressure-gradient and thermally neutrally stratified conditions. A tripped turbulent boundary layer generated by a picket fence located at the inlet has a boundary layer thickness, δ, of 0.55∼0.6 m. Measurements are performed at Re = 3×105, 4×105, and 12 × 105.. To achieve sufficient spatial resolution, two measurement fields are taken at each stream-wise location to cover upper and lower half of the turbines. Measurements locations extend ten diameters downstream. Robust turbulence statistics, such as velocity fluctuations, Reynolds stresses, full budget of turbulent kinetic energy, are computed from large dataset, totaling 400 GBytes.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Involvement, attributions, and consumer responses to rebates

This paper examines effects of both purchasing involvement and product involvement on consumers' responses to rebates. In Part One, the study examines the effects of involvement on consumer responses to a rebate price promotion. Specifically, the study reports that consumers with high levels of purchasing involvement and consumers with high levels of product involvement are more likely to experience satisfaction with a shopping experience involving a rebate and, subsequently, are more likely to express intentions to engage in repeat purchase behavior and word-of-mouth communication about the product. High purchasing involved (but not high product involved) customers are also more likely to use rebates. In Part Two, the study examines effects of involvement on consumer attributions for satisfaction with the price deal and reports that high purchasing involvement is significantly related to a tendency to make internal, rather than external, attributions for satisfaction with a rebate shopping experience. Results of hierarchical moderated regression suggest that consumer responses to the rebate price promotion are moderated by these internal attributions. Implications of the findings for a theoretical understanding of involvement effects on attributions and for the effectiveness of price promotion strategies in the marketplace are discussed.
A Rural Jewish Community in Late Roman Mesopotamia, and the Question of a “Split” Jewish Diaspora

This paper emphasises the significance of Syriac evidence for the history of the Jewish Diaspora, and then focuses on an episode in the Syriac Lives of the Eastern Saints by John of Ephesus, which records the demolition by the local Christians of the synagogue of a Jewish community established in a village in the territory of Amida. The significance of this story is explored in two inter-related ways. Firstly, there is the relevance of Syriac-speaking Christianity which, like Judaism, was practised on both sides of the Roman-Sasanid border. Secondly, the article suggests that the presence of Jewish communities in those areas of the Roman empire where Syriac or other dialects of Aramaic were spoken complicates the recently-proposed conception of a “split” Jewish Diaspora, of which a large part was unable to receive rabbinic writings because it knew only Greek. But for Jews living in areas where Aramaic or Syriac was spoken, there should have been no major linguistic barrier to the reception of the rabbinic learning of either Palestine or Babylonia.
The influence of diagnosis and treatment choice

This exploratory study examined breast cancer patients' psychosocial and functional status at the time of diagnosis and during the initial phase of treatment. The purpose was to better understand the impact of diagnosis and treatment on patients' physical state and psychosocial well-being. A convenience sample was drawn from a population of newly diagnosed stage 1 and 2 breast cancer patients undergoing either modified radical mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation. Subjects completed instruments designed to measure uncertainty, quality of life, functional status, and reaction to diagnosis on two separate occasions: at the time of diagnosis, but before treatment selection and then approximately 8 weeks after surgery. Data obtained from 52 subjects indicated that patients' perceptual uncertainty and various aspects of their functional status declined over the initial course of treatment, but that quality of life was unaffected. The results also showed no relationship between type of breast cancer treatment and patients' uncertainty, quality of life, and functional status. Mastectomy and lumpectomy patients also responded in similar ways to the cancer diagnosis. Both groups experienced the same amount of distress and used conformational coping strategies to similar degrees. Clinical implications are discussed and recommendations are made for future research.
Taste responses in wild and domestic guinea pigs.

Abstract Responses of male wild (Cavia aperea) and domestic (C. Porcellus) guinea pigs to stimuli representing the taste qualities sweet, salty, sour and bitter were monitored in two bottle choice tests. Wild cavies showed statistically significant preferences for .008–.25 M NaCl and .001–.031 M sodium saccharin and rejected 1.0 M NaCl and .063 M citric acid. Domestic cavies' acceptances of solutions preferred by the wild form were lower on first series of presentations but increased to the level of C. aperea upon representations. C. porcellus rejected citric acid (.031 M), NaCl (.5 M) and sucrose octaacetate (.001 M) at concentrations not rejected by the wild type. Wild cavies did not reject SOA at any concentration and neither type rejected quinine sulfate. Absence of bitter rejection was postulated to be an adapatation useful to some herbivores. Changes in acceptance data over time and the interference of position preference with responses to solutions suggested the major difference between types to be the wild cavies' greater readiness to orient to stimulus cues.
The major APN transcript of the alveolar type II epithelial cell originates from a unique upstream promoter region.

Abstract Aminopeptidase N (APN, EC 3.4.11.2) is an ectopeptidase expressed in lung at the apical surface of alveolar type II epithelial cells. Its expression is upregulated during fetal lung development. To begin to understand the regulation of APN expression during lung development, we used the rapid modification of cDNA ends (RACE) to clone the 5′ end of the major APN transcript in rat lung and alveolar type II cells. The cloned sequence revealed a unique 135 bp untranslated exon which genomic cloning and restriction mapping indicated was located more than 14 kb upstream from the coding sequence. A 172 bp genomic fragment flanking the untranslated exon produced a high level of expression of a reporter gene in transient transfection assays using a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. The DNA fragment includes elements known to be important for expression of lung specific proteins, including the surfactant-associated proteins A, B, and C and the Clara cell specific protein. Comparison of the APN genomic sequences and gene structure from human and rat suggests that the exon present in the rat lung transcript may result from the use of a previously uncharacterized APN promoter.
Chemical storage of solar energy—The Flood-Förland-Lindemann hypotheses and the decomposition of pyrosulfate ions

Abstract The endothermic decomposition of metal pyrosulfate in molten phase to produce metal sulfate and sulfur trioxide gas is an important chemical energy storage reaction. A chemical reaction engineering analysis of certain literature data was carried out to obtain a model for the decomposition and the rate constant as a function of temperature. The analysis indicates that the rate controlling reaction event is the cation-anion interaction of K+ and S2O7−2 ions to form KS2O7−1, simultaneously polarizing the latter to weaken the SOS bridge and release SO3. Based on this view transition state theory was applied and yielded an expression for the rate constant in essential agreement with experimental data. A preliminary model for a pilot-scale reactor is presented.
Thermal and mechanical properties of short‐segment block copolyesters and copolyether–esters

The effects of chain structure and processing variables on the microstructure and linear viscoelastic behavior of a series of copolyether–ester block polymers are described. In addition, the random copolyester analogs of the hard block are examined. The ester segments are composed of two isomers, poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) (PTMT) and poly(tetramethylene isophthalate) (PTMI), which possess significantly different crystallization kinetics. The ratio of PTMT to PTMI in the series has been systematically varied to alter the crystallizability without changing the chemical composition. The results of differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle x-ray diffraction, and dynamic mechanical characterization are presented. Copolymerization of a second ester shortens the average sequence length of the first ester, resulting in melting-point depression for crystals of the first polyester and substantial lowering of the dynamic mechanical storage modulus above the glass transition of the intercrystalline phase. The melting-point depression may be predicted by using Flory's model for random copolymers, but the calculated heats of fusion are significantly lower than those obtained from diluent melting-point depression.
Pregnancy, gestation and parturition in free-ranging tana river crested mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus).

Mean gestation for seven free-ranging Tana River crested mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus) is 180 days (SE = 4.49). All females showed postconception sexual swellings after the first 2 months of pregnancy, and two of the seven copulated with males at this time. One birth was observed; observations of a second infant began less than 1 hr after birth. Details of parturition are given, with responses of group members to the events. Adult and juvenile females showed more sustained interest in the new infants than adult or juvenile males.
Effect of coal ash on the performance of alloys in simulated oxy-fuel environments

Abstract Oxy-fuel combustion can increase efficiency and reduce pollution from coal power plants. To study material performance in an oxy-fuel environment, both Fe- and Ni-based alloys were exposed to simulated oxy-fuel environments at 750 °C for long terms up to 6300 h. The effects of ash and gas compositions (SO 2 , CO 2 , H 2 O and O 2 ) on the performance of alloys were studied. Results from these tests are used to address the role of CO 2 , steam, and ash in the long-term corrosion performance of alloys. Detailed results are presented on weight change, scale thickness, internal penetration, microstructural characteristics of corrosion products, and cracking of scales for the alloys. Oxide scales were studied by synchrotron nano-beam X-ray diffraction. An incubation period and a propagation period were observed for ash corrosion. Before incubation time, alloys gain weight. After incubation time, localized corrosion damages the protective scales, alloys lose weight and corrosion rates dramatically increase. Since the incubation time can be over 4000 h, long-term test results are more helpful in evaluating the alloy performance in an oxy-fuel combustion environment with ash than the results from a short-term test. The mechanism of ash corrosion is also discussed.
Cardiac transplantation: An eight-year experience

From June 1985 to June 1993, a total of 199 orthotopic (2 retransplanted) and one heterotopic cardiac transplants were performed in patients whose ages ranged from 17to 66(average 53)years. There were 175 (87.5%) males and 25 (12.5%) females. The aetiology of end-stage heart disease included: ischaemic heart disease 138 (69%); idiopathic cardiomyopathy 53 (26.5%); valvular disease 7 (3.5%); and adriamycininduced cardiomyopathy in 2 (1%). At the time of surgery, 56 (26.5%) patients were in United Network for Organ sharing (UNOS) Status I (ICU, intra-aortic balloon other assists, inotropic support) and 144 (72%) were UNOS Status II. The majority of donors were local or within the state. Two immunosuppressive protocols have been utilised, viz., conventional triple drug therapy and OKT3 induction. The mean rejection has been 2.5 episodes/patient. The majority of these episodes, (72 %) occurred within the first three months. Of the 1.8 infectious episodes per patient, opportunistic organisms predominated with a 98 per cent recovery. We have experienced 53 postoperative deaths. Currently, 147 (73.5%) recipients are alive and well. Our one-year actuarial survival is approximately 82per cent, the five year figure being 64 per cent. Tampa General Hospital is, at present, one of the most active cardiac transplant centres in the USA. Our eightyear experience has allowed us to mature through our learning curve to become an established, successful cardiac transplant program.
IDIOPATHIC HYPOPARATHYROIDISM WITH MENTAL DETERIORATION: EFFECT OF TREATMENT ON INTELLECTUAL FUNCTION

IDIOPATHIC hypoparathyroidism, though rare, is a disease with many interesting aspects. The characteristics of the disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism were described by Albright and Ellsworth (1) in 1929. Additional important clinical and pathological observations were presented by Albright and associates (4) in a rather full review of the subject in 1939. The essential considerations in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism were clarified by McLean (10) in 1941. Of particular interest are the severe cerebral changes so frequently associated with this condition. Psychotic reactions have been observed in idiopathic parathyroid insufficiency (8) as well as in the postoperative type (9). The concomitant occurrence of intracerebral calcification, convulsions, and mental deterioration has been emphasized by Eaton et al (5, 6). Barr, MacBryde, and Sanders (2), and others (14), have shown that increased intracranial pressure and papilledema may accompany parathyroid tetany. The relationship of these ...
Combined radical retropubic prostatectomy and rectal resection.

Abstract Objectives. To present our experience with a small series of men who underwent simultaneous radical retropubic prostatectomy and rectal resection. Methods. Three men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were found to have concurrent rectal tumors requiring resection. All three men underwent non-nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy and abdominoperineal resection (APR) or low anterior resection (LAR) of the rectum at the same operation. In the 2 patients undergoing APR, the levators were approximated posterior to the urethra, and the bladder was secured to the pubis. The patient undergoing LAR had urinary diversion stents placed and a diverting transverse loop colostomy. Results. All 3 patients had excellent return of urinary continence. One patient required reoperation in the early postoperative period for small bowel adhesiolysis and stoma revision. Another patient had a mild rectal anastomotic stricture and a bladder neck stricture; both were successfully treated with a single dilation. No other significant complications occurred in these patients. Conclusions. Radical retropubic prostatectomy can safely be performed with partial or complete rectal resection in a single operation. A few minor modifications of the standard radical retropubic prostatectomy in this setting are suggested.
Valine metabolism in vivo: Effects of high dietary levels of leucine and isoleucine

The short-term effects of feeding rats high levels of L-leucine or L-isoleucine on valine metabolism in vivo have been investigated. Consumption of a low-protein diet containing an additional 5% of leucine resulted in depression within one hour of the plasma concentrations of isoleucine, valine, alpha-keto-beta-methylvalerate, and alpha-ketoisovalerate. Concurrently with these changes in blood branched-chain amino acids and branched-chain ketoacids was a rapid increase (51%) in whole-body L-[1-14C]-valine oxidation. Studies with intragastrically administered leucine solutions indicated that the depressions in blood concentrations of valine occurred over the same time period as the stimulation in valine oxidation. In contrast, consumption of a low-protein diet containing an additional 5% of isoleucine had no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of leucine, valine, and alpha-ketoisocaproate; a significant (P less than 0.01) depression in the plasma concentration of alpha-ketoisovalerate was observed three hours after the diet containing excess isoleucine had been consumed. In contrast to the results obtained with excess leucine, consumption of excess isoleucine had no significant effect on the rate of valine oxidation in vivo. As part of an effort to explain the leucine-induced depletion of plasma valine and stimulation of valine oxidation, liver and muscle branched-chain aminotransferase and liver branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase activities were measured. Consumption of excess leucine had no significant effect on either muscle or liver aminotransferase activities, but was associated with a greater than two-fold increase in hepatic dehydrogenase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Toward a Java based infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have recently emerged as a promising platform for civilian tasks and public interests, such as merchandise delivery, traffic control, news reporting, natural disaster management, mobile social networks, and Internet connectivity in third-world countries. Looking forward, the exciting potential of UAVs is accompanied with significant hurdles that call for broad and concerted interdisciplinary research, with diverse focuses on real-time system design, energy efficiency, safety and security, programmability, robotics and mechanical design, among others. This poster proposes an open-source and extensible software infrastructure for UAVs.
Vaginal misoprostol vs. concentrated oxytocin plus low-dose prostaglandin E2 for second trimester pregnancy termination.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol for mid-trimester pregnancy termination.Results: Interim analysis of the first 30 (15-misoprostol, 15-concentrated oxytocin) women demonstrated that the 2 groups were similar with regard to indication for delivery, gestational age, and demographic characteristics. Misoprostol was associated with a lower success rate (67 vs. 87%, P =. 2), a longer induction-delivery interval (22 h vs. 18 h, P =. 09), a higher rate of retained placenta requiring curettage (27 vs. 13%, P =. 65), and a higher live birth rate (50 vs. 0%, P =. 006).Conclusions: Compared to a regimen of concentrated oxytocin plus low-dose prostaglandin E2, misoprostol administered as vaginal tablets in a dose of 200 μg q 12 h is not satisfactory for mid-trimester pregnancy termination in an unselected population.Methods: This randomized trial compared misoprostol, 200 μg per vaginum q 12 h to a protocol of concentrated oxytocin plus low-dose vaginal prostaglandin E2 suppositories (10 mg q...
Kinetics of the Non-Catalytic Water Gas Shift Reaction in Supercritical Water

A kinetic analysis of the noncatalytic water gas shift reaction in a supercritical water medium was investigated using a specially designed 383 mL Haynes Alloy 230 tubular reactor at a constant pressure of 24.12 ± 0.04 MPa, water to carbon monoxide molar feed ratios of 5 to 37 moles of water per mole of carbon monoxide, and at temperatures varying from 768 to 1,048 K. The carbon monoxide concentration in the effluent gas reached a minimum of one mole-percent at 1,048 K, which corresponds to a 98% carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide conversion. Using global first-order kinetics a frequency factor of 105.76 ± 1.42 s−1 and an activation energy of 139.8 ± 24.5 kJ/mol was determined. It was also found that the developed kinetic rate model closely fits the experimental reaction data, with a coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.95, over a wide range of temperatures and reactant concentrations.
Designing compartmentalized hydrogel microparticles for cell encapsulation and scalable 3D cell culture

We describe here designs of compartmentalized hydrogel microparticles with a tunable extracellular matrix (ECM) support for cell encapsulation and scalable 3D cell culture. The microparticles, rapidly formed by a one-step, multi-fluidic electrostatic spraying technique (>10000 min−1), have a uniform spherical shape, a nearly monodisperse size distribution and controlled compartmentalization. They not only have a high surface area for mass transfer but also offer defined space and essential ECM support for various scalable and efficient 3D cell culture, co-culture and microtissue production applications.
The Process of Occupational Desegregation

Research has shown that occupational segregation by sex is one of the determinants of male‐female earnings differences. Some claim that occupational segregation is the major cause but others suggest that intra‐occupational earnings differences are more important. This study examines the truth of this.
Renewable energy simulation

This paper attempts to shed light on many aspects of renewable energy simulation. Since the subject of renewable energy is quite large, this paper limits its scope to electrical generation for grid connected systems.
Planning interactive implant treatment with 3-D computed tomography

Treatment planning for dental implants presents special challenges to the dentist. The authors review the conventional radiographic and non-radiographic methods for the assessment of the implant site. A new dental interactive treatment planning program under development at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry Department of Periodontics is described.
Scanning electron microscopic characterization of bovine coronavirus plaques in HRT cells.

Summary The ecology of cytopathic expression of bovine coronavirus (BCV) in HRT-18 cells was analyzed within virus-induced plaques by scanning electron microscopy. Virus replication was cytocidal for many HRT-18 cells, a function enhanced in the presence of trypsin. A monolayer of cells remained that imparted a characteristic turbidity to the plaque. These structurally normal, lysisresistant cells did not stain with fluorescent antibodies specific for BCV antigens, failed to adsorb virus particles or mouse erythrocytes in contrast to the susceptible cells. The survival of cells in the plaque interior reflects a non-productively infected population with evidence of viral persistence.
Volatile and Nonvolatile Components in Hami Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract Hami melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Winchosen) flesh was extracted and the extract analysed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry, resulting in identification of 42 volatile components. Twenty-four components were newly reported in Cucumis melo, including a series of four diacetate esters. Nonvolatile components quantified in Hami melon flesh include fructose, glucose, sucrose and ascorbic acid.
Impact of interpersonal and ego‐related stress on restrained eaters

Objective This study examined the impact of different types of stress, one interpersonal and two ego-related versus a control condition, on the eating behavior of individuals with varying degrees of dietary restraint. Method Eighty-two females were randomly assigned to one of three manipulations or a control group, and then all groups completed an ice cream taste test. Results A significant interaction revealed that for participants with higher restraint, those in the stressful manipulations ate significantly more than participants in the control group. Further, the pattern of consumption based on restraint for the interpersonal group differed from the other three conditions. In the interpersonal group, the greater the restraint, the more participants ate, whereas in the other three conditions, the pattern was reversed although not significantly so. Discussion Findings are discussed in terms of the role that interpersonal stress plays in the eating behavior of dieters and potential implications regarding the development of eating disorders. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 411–418, 2000.
Autonomy, Interdependence, and Moral Governance: Pluralism in a Rocking Boat

Drawing on key themes in the work of Sir Geoffrey Vickers, this article outlines the need for a moral perspective that can address the pluralistic social realities of the dawning 21st century. The trends of globalism and localism are traced out against the material advances that our technologies make possible and the often conflicting moral claims to a share of that wealth that our distinct but increasingly interdependent cultures make inevitable. We have come to see these moral claims as entitlements of membership in society and have designed an array of institutions that we hold responsible for their fulfilment. This status quo, however, is systemically unstable, unsustainable, and, therefore, morally unjustifiable. To achieve an acceptable form of stability (in terms of human systems, the virtuous mean between chaos and stagnation), we must, at the very least, learn to manage both conflicting moral claims and conflicting standards of morality—we must develop a system of moral governance that can enable...
Nantucket Pine Tip Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Infestation Rates Related to Site and Stand Characteristics in Nacogdoches County, Texas

Twenty-two pine stands with a variety of site and stand characteristics and management strategies were analyzed using discriminant analysis to determine factors which influence Nantucket pine tip moth infestations. A whole-tree sequential sampling scheme designed to estimate absolute infestation rates (±5%) was used. An 8% infestation rate was used as the dividing line between high and low tip moth infestations. A sequential sampling program was used in the field to estimate populations. Absolute infestation rates ( p ˆ ± 5 % ), were obtained through random selection of pines for whole-tree sampling. Four equations were developed which gave 91% correct classification of initial data. The discriminating variables included site preparation intensity, pine height, pine age, site index, soil texture at 61 cm depth, depth of A horizon multiplied by soil texture code, and depth of clay.
Why physicians should share PDA/smartphone findings with their patients: a brief report.

Many physicians use PDAs/smartphones in the presence of their patients. But how do patients perceive this behavior? This study tested the hypothesis that participants with increased knowledge about medical applications of PDAs/smartphones have more positive perceptions of physicians using them. The authors assigned 250 patients and/or family members in medical or pharmacy waiting rooms at 2 universities to either the control group or the treatment group. The treatment group viewed a brief presentation about how and why physicians use PDAs/smartphones, whereas the control group received no new information. All participants completed a survey about their knowledge (7 items) and perceptions (13 items) of physician use of PDAs/smartphones. The treatment group showed more favorable perceptions (p < .05) on 5 out of 13 survey items. In addition, in the control group, those who showed “high knowledge” had more favorable perceptions (p < .05) on 8 out of 13 survey items compared with control group participants wi...
Virtual Source Dynamics

As discussed in Sect. 7.1 the model of the virtual source describes the spatial emission of the proton beam starting from a point source in front of the irradiated target. The temporal characteristics of the proton emission have been discussed theoretically and are supported by experimentally gained arguments in several publications [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The acceleration of the protons takes place on a picosecond timescale. Additionally, it was shown that the proton beam has an intrinsic velocity chirp [2, 3]. This means that energetic protons are accelerated first followed by the slower ones. For pump–probe experiments (e.g. proton imaging) the short acceleration time is more relevant since after a few millimeter the proton bunch is temporally stretched due to the broad energy distribution (cf. Sect. 9.3). Nevertheless, from the change of the emission characteristics for different proton energies, the temporal evolution of the acceleration field can be estimated even if no quantitative time scale can be given. In a previous experiment at the Max-Born-Institute [3] a fluctuation of the proton beam pointing was observed with a magnifying Thomson spectrometer. This phenomenon was also observed in the proton “streak deflectometry” experiments described in Chap. 12. Thus, a further experiment was applied, combining the advantages of both experiments—a continues energy dependent detection of several well separated parts of the proton beam.
Spatially variable natural selection and the divergence between parapatric subspecies of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta, Pinaceae)

 Premise of the study: Plant populations arrayed across sharp environmental gradients are ideal systems for identifying the genetic basis of ecologically relevant phenotypes. A series of fi ve uplifted marine terraces along the northern coast of California represents one such system where morphologically distinct populations of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ) are distributed across sharp soil gradients ranging from fertile soils near the coast to podzolic soils ca. 5 km inland.  Methods: A total of 92 trees was sampled across four coastal marine terraces ( N = 10–46 trees/terrace) located in Mendocino County, California and sequenced for a set of 24 candidate genes for growth and responses to various soil chemistry variables. Statistical analyses relying on patterns of nucleotide diversity were employed to identify genes whose diversity patterns were inconsistent with three null models.  Key results: Most genes displayed patterns of nucleotide diversity that were consistent with null models ( N = 19) or with the presence of paralogs ( N = 3). Two genes, however, were exceptional: an aluminum responsive ABC-transporter with F ST = 0.664 and an inorganic phosphate transporter characterized by divergent haplotypes segregating at intermediate frequencies in most populations.  Conclusions: Spatially variable natural selection along gradients of aluminum and phosphate ion concentrations likely accounted for both outliers. These results shed light on some of the genetic components comprising the extended phenotype of this ecosystem, as well as highlight ecotones as fruitful study systems for the detection of adaptive genetic variants.
Memristor Device Engineering and CMOS Integration for Reconfigurable Logic Applications

This chapter reviews the application of memristive devices as reconfigurable switches. First, the fundamental performance metrics (power consumption, endurance, switch speed, IV nonlinearity, CMOS compatibility, ON/OFF ratio, etc.) of memristors as switches are discussed. Device engineering approaches including fabrication techniques, choice of materials, and geometry engineering are then reviewed. Finally, hybrid memristor/CMOS circuits that integrate CMOS with memristive devices as reconfigurable switches are presented.
Proton radiotherapy for pediatric central nervous system germ cell tumors: early clinical outcomes.

Purpose To report early clinical outcomes for children with central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors treated with protons; to compare dose distributions for intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), three-dimensional conformal proton radiation (3D-CPT), and intensity-modulated proton therapy with pencil beam scanning (IMPT) for whole-ventricular irradiation with and without an involved-field boost. Methods and Materials All children with CNS germinoma or nongerminomatous germ cell tumor who received treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1998 and 2007 were included in this study. The IMRT, 3D-CPT, and IMPT plans were generated and compared for a representative case. Results Twenty-two patients were treated with 3D-CPT. At a median follow-up of 28 months, there were no CNS recurrences; 1 patient had a recurrence outside the CNS. Local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 100%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. Comparable tumor volume coverage was achieved with IMRT, 3D-CPT, and IMPT. Substantial normal tissue sparing was seen with any form of proton therapy as compared with IMRT. The use of IMPT may yield additional sparing of the brain and temporal lobes. Conclusions Preliminary disease control with proton therapy compares favorably to the literature. Dosimetric comparisons demonstrate the advantage of proton radiation over IMRT for whole-ventricle radiation. Superior dose distributions were accomplished with fewer beam angles utilizing 3D-CPT and scanned protons. Intensity-modulated proton therapy with pencil beam scanning may improve dose distribution as compared with 3D-CPT for this treatment.
An agile approach to managing open educational resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that pointing to patterns of change in the adoption and institutionalization of educational resources, the appropriateness of traditional heavy and front‐loaded planning and management regimes is challenged in favor of alternative Agile Methods.Design/methodology/approach – Starting from the simple observation that the original introduction of Course Management Systems to support online learning was ad hoc and evolutionary, rather than planned at an enterprise level, the paper points to the conflict between, and offers a solution for, open and decentralized resources and traditional teaching, learning, support, and management. By developing a logic to decentralization, a number of managerial strategies to improve agility are provided that address the changing nature of the university from one fundamentally designed to control, to one positioned to influence and adapt under the assumptions of change.Findings – It is found that many components of the university...
The effect of an ion generator on indoor air quality in a residential room

Ion generators charge particles with a corona prior to their removal on collector plates or indoor surfaces and also emit ozone, which can react with terpenes to yield secondary organic aerosol, carbonyls, carboxylic acids, and free radicals. This study characterized the indoor air quality implications of oper- ating an ion generator in a 27 m 3 residential room, with four different test room configurations. Two room configurations had carpet overlaying the original flooring of stained/sealed concrete, and for one configuration with and without carpet, a plug-in air freshener was used as a terpene source. Measurements included airborne sampling of particulate matter (0.015-20 lm), terpenes and C1-C4 and C6-C10 aldehydes, ozone concentrations, and air exchange rates. When the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system was not operating (room air exchange rate = � 0.5/h), the use of the ion generator in the presence of the air freshener led to a net increase in ultrafine particles (<0.1 lm). Also, increased concentrations of ozone were observed regardless of air freshener presence, as well as increases in formaldehyde and nonanal, albeit within measurement uncertainty in some cases. Thus, it may be prudent to limit ion generator use indoors until evidence of safety can be ascertained.
Crystal and molecular structure and spectral properties of bromosbis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) perchlorate

Abstract The crystal and molecular structure of green [Cu(phen)2Br]ClO4, which contains a distinct Cu(phen)2Br+ cation and a separate perchlorate anion, was determined. The stereochemistry of the cation is a five-coordinate trigonal bipyramidal arrangement of four nitrogen atoms from the two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and one bromide ion. The crystal and molecular symmetry has a two-fold axis parallel to the b axis through the copper, bromine and chlorine atoms. The copper to nitrogen distances are 2.091 A for the equatorial positions and 1.985 A for the axial positions. The bromide ion occupies the remaining equatorial position at a distance of 2.496 A from the copper. The Cu(phen)2Br+ cation has equatorial angles of 120° between one nitrogen on each phenanthroline and the bromide. This cation most closely resembles a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement when compared with the five-coordinate copper(II) complexes which have been reported.
Attachment, attention, and cognitive control: Attachment style and performance on general attention tasks

Three studies examined the effects of attachment style on performance in non-attachment-related attention tasks; one study also assessed the effect of priming memories of experiences of attachment security or insecurity on attentional performance in a flanker task. In Study 1, participants performed a psychological refractory period (PRP) task assessing their ability to switch attention rapidly from one decision to another; in Studies 2 and 3 they performed a flanker task assessing their ability to resist distracters. Avoidant attachment predicted better performance on both tasks, and the effects remained even after controlling for neuroticism, general anxiety, and BIS/BAS scores. Study 3 showed that thinking in detail about a past experience of insecurity eliminated avoidant participants’ superior performance. In sum, avoidant people are generally skilled at regulating their attention, even on non-attachment-related tasks, but their performance is hampered by reminders of experiences of insecurity.
Out of the Confusion of Tongues: A Unified Database Programming Paradigm

Data-intensive applications are calling for (1) significant performance improvement in data processing, and (2) lowered entries for domain expertise to create higher value. Pursuing a database approach to the challenges, the paper presents an automated database extension mechanism, which allows one to seamlessly program application level workflows, and computations to be pushed down to (heterogeneous) database systems, in one programming language. We thus greatly ease the job of implementing scalable data intensive computations, with multiple databases as the computation platform.
Communicating CSR: Case Study of Japanese Food Industry

This study examines how the Japanese food industry responded to the food education law of 2005 through corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication. No previous study has examined factory visits and food education of the Japanese food industry as social responsibility activity in the light of the new food education law in Japan. Corporate websites of all the food companies categorized in the food industry in Japan were examined during the period 2009 December to 2010 March: A total of 275 companies, 139 publicly traded and 136 unlisted. Examined were the availability of factory visits, CSR reports, and food education lessons conducted at schools. Unlike a positive report from a study conducted by the government, the majority of the Japanese food industry appears to be struggling to meet the social needs of food education and has failed to establish effective CSR communication channels with stakeholders. This study contradicts a government survey report and reveals the food industry did not appear to respond well to the food education law. The industry, however, may have engaged in an implicit CSR approach considering the positive outcomes of the national movement of food education, promoted by the food education law.
A non-coding RNA within the Rasgrf1 locus in mouse is imprinted and regulated by its homologous chromosome in trans.

Background Rasgrf1 is imprinted in mouse, displaying paternal allele specific expression in neonatal brain. Paternal expression is accompanied by paternal-specific DNA methylation at a differentially methylated domain (DMD) within the locus. The cis-acting elements necessary for Rasgrf1 imprinting are known. A series of tandem DNA repeats control methylation of the adjacent DMD, which is a methylation sensitive enhancer-blocking element. These two sequences constitute a binary switch that controls imprinting and represents the Imprinting Control Region (ICR). One paternally transmitted mutation, which helped define the ICR, induced paramutation, in trans, on the maternal allele. Like many imprinted genes, Rasgrf1 lies within an imprinted cluster. One of four noncoding transcripts in the cluster, AK015891, is known to be imprinted. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we demonstrate that an additional noncoding RNA, AK029869, is imprinted and paternally expressed in brain throughout development. Intriguingly, any of several maternally inherited ICR mutations affected expression of the paternal AK029869 transcript in trans. Furthermore, we found that the ICR mutations exert different trans effects on AK029869 at different developmental times. Conclusions/Significance Few trans effects have been defined in mammals and, those that exist, do not show the great variation seen at the Rasgrf1 imprinted domain, either in terms of the large number of mutations that produce the effects or the range of phenotypes that emerge when they are seen. These results suggest that trans regulation of gene expression may be more common than originally appreciated and that where trans regulation occurs it can change dynamically during development.
Evolution of Structurally Disordered Proteins Promotes Neostructuralization

Protein structure is generally more conserved than sequence, but for regions that can adopt different structures in different environments, does this hold true? Understanding how structurally disordered regions evolve altered secondary structure element propensities as well as conformational flexibility among paralogs are fundamental questions for our understanding of protein structural evolution. We have investigated the evolutionary dynamics of structural disorder in protein families containing both orthologs and paralogs using phylogenetic tree reconstruction, protein structure disorder prediction, and secondary structure prediction in order to shed light upon these questions. Our results indicate that the extent and location of structurally disordered regions are not universally conserved. As structurally disordered regions often have high conformational flexibility, this is likely to have an effect on how protein structure evolves as spatially altered conformational flexibility can also change the secondary structure propensities for homologous regions in a protein family.
Use of isothiocyanates for suppression of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri ), pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa), and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the herbicidal activity of five aliphatic (ethyl, propyl, butyl, allyl, and 3-methylthiopropyl) and three aromatic (phenyl, benzyl, and 2-phenylethyl) isothiocyanates (ITCs) on Palmer amaranth, pitted morningglory, and yellow nutsedge. All ITCs were applied to soil at 0, 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 nmol g−1 of soil and incorporated. All ITCs had a deleterious effect on Palmer amaranth and pitted morningglory emergence. LC50 values for Palmer amaranth emergence inhibition from aliphatic and aromatic ITCs ranged from a low of 32 nmol g−1 of soil for phenyl ITC to a high of 941 nmol g−1 of soil for propyl ITC. Pitted morningglory was slightly more tolerant than Palmer amaranth to each of the ITCs, with LC50 values for emergence ranging from 347 to 2,855 nmol g−1 of soil for 3-methylthiopropyl and butyl ITC, respectively. Yellow nutsedge was the most tolerant of the three species, with LC50 values for ethyl, butyl, benzyl, and 2-phenylethyl being great...
Improving Information Literacy Skills through Learning To Use and Edit Wikipedia: A Chemistry Perspective

Our students rely on Wikipedia on their mobile devices or laptops, since it is an extremely rich and broad resource. This article overviews the Chemistry content on Wikipedia and how students can learn to use it effectively as an information resource, critically evaluating content, and learning key information literacy skills. We also discuss how students’ information literacy skills can be improved through a class project where students edit Wikipedia articles. Through such projects, students may begin to appreciate where and how chemical information is generated, gathered, developed, and shared in the real world.