cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model of social inference processes

This article presents a new model of inference processes in the social perceiver, along with the basis of the model in prior experimental results and in the ACT* cognitive theory. The two stages of the model involve different types of processing: interpretive versus procedural. In the first stage, an inference is performed by general, domain-independent processes guided by a learned inference rule that is selected from long-term memory. In the second, procedural stage, after much experience with a particular inferential domain, an inference process is selected without explicit search, based on a pattern match to the current goal and knowledge state. The inference becomes automatic. Existing experimental evidence supports predictions of the model in both the attribution and attitude domains. Insights and findings of current approaches to inference, including information integration and judgmental heuristics, can be encompassed within the new model in a natural way. Directions for future research applying the model are discussed. Social inferences—those involving attributions, other beliefs, and attitudes—are intrinsic components of many processes of interest to social and cognitive psychologists, including person perception, social judgment, causal attribution, language comprehension, and attitude formation and change (cf. Nisbett & Ross, 1980; Schank & Abelson, 1977; Wyer & Carlston, 1979). This article presents a new model of social inference processes, based on a general theory of cognitive structure and processes and on recent results in social psychology. Existing theoretical approaches to social inference fall into three general categories (Hastie, 1983): Information Integration Theory (N. H. Anderson, 1981), judgmental heuristics (Nisbett & Ross, 1980; Tversky & Kahneman, 1973), and information-processing models (Wyer & Srull, 1980). The relationship of the new model to these current approaches is discussed later in the article. However, current
Ballistic surface diffusion

Abstract The ballistic diffusion of the surface atoms after collisions with high-energy electrons is simulated numerically. The time for the ballistic diffusions of a monolayer under the bombardment of the high energy electron is estimated semi-quantitatively.
The Chromatographic Efficiency of Several Commercially Available Ion Chromatography Columns

Abstract The influence of mobile phase flow rate on the efficiency of six commercially available ion chromatography columns was examined. Optimum performance was achieved at flow rates between 0.3 and 0.7 mL/min. For all but one of the columns studied, the column efficiency versus reduced velocity relationship was similar to the classical Knox-type behavior. Operation at typical use conditions for all the columns examined results in performance which is only 50 to 75% as good as when the columns are operated at the flow rates optimized in terms of efficiency. Such changes in the column efficiency are directly related to the column's ability to effectively resolve sample components.
The indirect effects of maternal emotion socialization on friendship quality in middle childhood.

Emotion development processes have long been linked to social competence in early childhood but rarely have these associations been examined in middle childhood or with relational outcomes. Guided by theories of interpersonal relationships and emotion socialization, the current study was designed to fill these gaps by examining a longitudinal process model indirectly linking emotion development to friendship quality. Data were drawn from 336 children (179 girls, 65% White), their mothers, and their teachers across 3 time points spanning the ages of 5–10 years. A path analysis model was utilized to examine the way in which maternal emotion socialization indirectly affects children’s friendship quality. Results supported the hypothesized model in which maternal emotion socialization strategies used when children were age 5 were associated with changes in friendship quality from ages 7 to 10 via changes in children’s emotion regulation. Findings highlight the importance of emotional processes for relational outcomes in middle childhood.
Monomeric structure of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase in Escherichia coli.

Abstract An investigation of the subunit structure of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.17) from Escherichia coli indicates that this enzyme is a monomer. The enzyme purified to apparent homogeneity is a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 62,000 ± 3,000 and KGlum ≅ 50 μM in the aminoacylation reaction. Analytical gel electrophoretic procedures were used to determine the molecular weight of species exhibiting glutamyl-tRNA synthetase activity in freshly prepared extracts of several strains of E. coli, which had been grown under various nutritional conditions and harvested at different stages of growth. In all cases, glutamyl-tRNA synthetase activity was associated with a protein having about the same molecular weight and KGlum as the purified enzyme. Thus, no evidence of an oligomeric form of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase with a greater affinity for l -glutamate was obtained, in contrast to a previous report of J. Lapointe and D. Soll (J. Biol. Chem.247, 4966–4974, 1972).
Facile synthesis of new carbon-11 labeled conformationally restricted rivastigmine analogues as potential PET agents for imaging AChE and BChE enzymes

Abstract Rivastigmine is a newer-generation inhibitor with a dual inhibitory action on both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, and is used for the treatment of AChE- and BChE-related diseases such as brain Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. New carbon-11 labeled conformationally restricted rivastigmine analogues radiolabeled quaternary ammonium triflate salts, (3a R ,9b S )-1-[ 11 C]methyl-1-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyloxy)-2,3,3a,4,5,9b-hexahydro-1 H -benzo[g]indolium triflate ([ 11 C] 8 ) and (3a R ,9b S )-1-[ 11 C]methyl-1-methyl-6-(heptylcarbamoyloxy)-2,3,3a,4,5,9b-hexahydro-1 H -benzo[g]indolium triflate ([ 11 C] 9 ), were designed and synthesized as potential positron emission tomography (PET) agents for imaging AChE and BChE enzymes. The appropriate precursors were labeled with [ 11 C]CH 3 OTf through N -[ 11 C]methylation, and the target tracers were isolated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using a cation-exchange CM Sep-Pak cartridge in 40–50% radiochemical yields decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB), 15–20 min overall synthesis time, and 148–222 GBq/μmol specific activity at EOB.
Io's volcanism influences Jupiter's magnetosphere

Volcanic emissions from Jupiter's moon Io supply plasma to the planet's magnetosphere and lead to its main auroral emissions. New observations show that the main auroral oval expanded and outer emissions brightened in spring 2007. Some studies have suggested that magnetospheric changes such as these could be caused by changes in the incoming solar wind. Bonfond et al. present several lines of evidence—including images from the Hubble Space Telescope and observations of a volcanic plume on Io from the New Horizons probe along with measurements of increased emissions from Jupiter's sodium cloud—that indicate that Io's volcanism controls changes in Jupiter's magnetosphere. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL050253, 2012)
Influence of martensite composition and content on the properties of dual phase steels

A study has been made of the mechanical properties of dual phase (martensite plus ferrite) structures produced when Fe-Mn-C alloys are quenched from the austenite plus ferrite phase field, so as to give a series of alloys with constant ferrite and martensite compositions but varying percent martensites. It is found that the strength of a dual phase structure is dependent on the ferrite grain size and the volume fraction of martensite, and is independent of the composition and strength of the martensite. In agreement with previous work the ductility of these steels is superior to that for standard HSLA steels at the same tensile strength. As shown in a previous paper the strength and ductility as a function of percent martensite are in agreement with Mileiko’s theory of composites of two ductile phases. This theory and the results indicate that the superior ductility of dual phase steels is largely a consequence of the high strength (fine grained), highly ductile (low interstitial content) ferrite matrix.
A simultaneous model for ultrasonic aggregate stability assessment

Abstract Aggregate stability is a difficult to quantify, complex soil property. Ultrasonic processing of soil–water suspensions enables quantifiable and readily reproducible assessment of the level of mechanical energy applied to soil aggregates. Here, we present a method of investigating the stability and comminution of soil aggregates by simultaneously modeling the redistribution of particles throughout any arbitrarily-selected set of soil particle-size intervals as ultrasonic energy is applied to a soil–water suspension. Following model development, we demonstrate its application to 5 particle-size subgroups (0.04–2000 μm) of a Dystroxerept subject to 12 levels of ultrasonic energy between 0 and 5800 J g − 1 (750 mL − 1 ). Laser granulometry was used for particle-size distribution (PSD) analysis, providing precise, non-disruptive measurements of changes in the volume of PSD subgroups in both the microaggregate ( 250 μm; 2 subgroups) fractions throughout ultrasonic treatment. Two groups of aggregates were detected exhibiting significantly ( p p p
The computational energy spectrum of a program as it executes

This paper describes how to interpret a program's performance in terms of its computational energy spectrum. High spikes in the spectrum correspond to important events during execution, such as cache misses, for example, and their positions show when they happen and how they effect other events. The area under the spectrum measures a program's size in terms of the computational action norm, a measure of how efficiently it moves through computational phase space. The distance from one program to another is the area between their action curves. The measured energy spectra for a set of real programs executing on real hardware support the conjecture that the best program generates the least action, the Principle of Computational Least Action.
Empirical investigation of systems development practices and results

Abstract A survey was conducted of 72 information system development projects in 23 major U.S. corporations. The characteristics of the organizations, their system development methodologies, and the information system projects were reviewed. The study focused on the early phases of systems development, especially systems analysis and systems development planning. Early plans and budgets were evaluated with respect to the results of the completed projects. An analysis of the development of these projects provides a summary description of systems development practice as performed in these leading organizations. Included with development practices, the study measured or estimated such aspects of the projects as user satisfaction and development time and cost overruns. The results provide useful insight into system development methodology, cost and time estimating, variables affecting user satisfaction, and the need to iteratively determine user requirements.
Chief ’Ntrepreneur Officers (CNOs) in high‐risk, high‐returns decisions of countries and corporations

Studies five successful chief ’ntrepreneur officers (CNOs) together with one failure. Looks at why the CNO is indispensable. Presents 36 characteristics of CNOs across six groups: eagerly embracing risk, passionately innovating, creating/harnessing disequilibria, empowering the middle management, empowering top management with complementing industry product and participants and with complementing capital products and providers. Uses numerous case studies to demonstrate theory and provide a number of questions and answers.
Endothelium-derived nitric oxide modulates renal hemodynamics in the developing piglet.

The developing mammal exhibits lower renal blood flow (RBF) and higher renal vascular resistance (RVR) than its adult counterpart. The maturational pattern of renal hemodynamics involves the synchronous increase in RBF and decrease in RVR with age. In spite of consid- erable investigation, the mechanisms involved in the regu- lation of renal hemodynamics in the developing animal remain largely unexplained. Specifically, the role of the vasodilator endotheliumderived nitric oxide (EDNO) in the regulation of developing renal hemodynamics is not known. These experiments examined the intrarenal effect on the renal hemodynamics of the developing piglet and adult pig of the EDNO competitive inhibitor N-nitro-L- arginine methylester (L-NAME) at three doses (50,5, and 3 pg/kg/min). During basal conditions, the developing pig- let exhibited lower RBF and higher RVR than the adult pig. All doses of intrarenal L-NAME produced significant decreases in RBF and increases in RVR in both groups. The 3-pg/kg/min L-NAME dose did not change mean arterial pressure. The developing piglet exhibited signifi- cantly greater changes at all doses. After the 50-pg/kg/min infusion, piglet RBF decreased 45% and adult pig RBF decreased 29%; piglet RVR increased 128% and adult pig RVR increased 51%. After a 5-pg/kg/min infusion, RBF decreased 28% in the piglet and 14% in the adult pig, RVR increased 75% in the piglet compared with 27% in the adult pig. After 3 p/kg/min GNAME, piglet RBF de- creased 29% and adult RBF decreased 9%; RVR increased 47% in the piglet versus 13% in the adult pig. The results of this study suggest that EDNO participates in the regu- lation of basal renal hemodynamics in the developing piglet and adult pig. Furthermore, it appears that EDNO may play a greater role in maintaining basal renal hemody- namics in the developing piglet than in the adult pig. (Pediatr Res 34: 750-754, 1993) Abbreviations
Decreased mRNA Expression of Several Basement Membrane Components in Basal Cell Carcinoma

The biologic factors that control the behavior of basal cell carcinoma are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the altered protein levels of several basement membrane components found in basal cell carcinoma. RNA was isolated from papulonodular basal cell carcinoma, normal human epidermal keratinocytes, and normal human skin, reverse transcribed to cDNA and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction utilizing primers specific for the 230 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPAG1), the 180 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPAG2), the alpha6 and beta4 chains of the alpha6beta4 integrin complex, and the beta3 chain of laminin 5. Southern blots probed with internal oligonucleotides confirmed that each polymerase chain reaction was specific for the basement membrane component amplified. The mRNA expressions of basement membrane components were indistinguishable between normal human epidermal keratinocytes and normal human skin, and subsequent experiments used normal human epidermal keratinocytes as controls. Quantitation of polymerase chain reaction products indicated that all basement membrane specific mRNA were significantly decreased in basal cell carcinoma as compared with normal human epidermal keratinocytes. The mean polymerase chain reaction product intensities were significantly less in the basal cell carcinoma as compared with the normal human epidermal keratinocytes at the following levels: p < 0.001 for alpha6 and beta4 integrins and the beta3 chain of laminin 5; p < 0.01 for BPAG1; and p < 0.05 for BPAG2. Our results demonstrate that decreased protein levels of basement membrane components in basal cell carcinoma are due at least partially to a downregulation of basement membrane mRNA species. We speculate that these alterations may lead to a structurally incompetent basement membrane that facilitates the basal cell carcinoma ability to invade tissues.
Middle childhood, poverty, and adjustment: Does social support have an impact?

The present study evaluated 64 children and their primary caregivers who were living in poverty. The children were administered a stress measure, a social support measure, and a measure of self-esteem. Caregivers completed a stress measure, a measure of child adjustment, and a demographic questionnaire. Social support was not found to moderate the relationship between stress and child outcome. However, social support was found to be one possible mediator of the child's reported stress on their self-esteem. According to the mediating model, enhancing children's social support may positively influence their self-esteem. Greater levels of self-esteem can affect many aspects of children's lives, such as improving school performance and efforts toward achieving goals. Because of the important role that social support can play on children's self-esteem, social support should be actively promoted through school and community groups and organizations, especially with children from disadvantaged economic situations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cardiac pathology in status epilepticus

Massive catecholamine release resulting in the formation of cardiac contraction bands may represent the cause of death in status epilepticus (SE). We reviewed the cardiac pathology of patients who died during SE to asses for contraction bands. Eight of 11 patients who died during SE had identifiable myocardial contraction bands compared with 5 of 22 control patients (p < 0.05, Fisher's exact t test). These findings delineate a pathological substrate and provide compelling evidence that excessive catecholamine release is the mechanism responsible for death in SE.
Motion of two point vortices in a steady, linear, and elliptical flow

For a pair of point vortices in an inviscid, incompressible fluid in the plane, the relative and absolute motion are determined when the vortices move under the influence of (1) each other, and (2) a steady, linear, and elliptical background flow.
The Shockley-Queisser limit and practical limits of nanostructured photovoltaics

Here we: (1) Briefly discuss the large variation of the so called Shockley-Queisser limit based on the assumptions used to calculate it (choice of incident spectrum, refractive index of the medium on each side of the cell, and the emissivity) and compare existing PV technologies to their theoretical limit. As opposed to many reports that compare the measured V OC with the bandgap as a ratio (V OC /E g ) or a difference (E g ‒V OC ), we show how each technology compares to the maximum possible V OC as determined by a detailed balance calculation (V OC /V OC,Max ). (2) Present a new and simple model based on an integral form of the continuity equation (around an element of the nanostructure) and a novel transit time formulation that illuminates the practical limits and opportunities of nanostructured PV. The model accounts for Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) bulk and interfacial recombination and the effect of reduced electric field strengths on the collection efficiency as a function of the length scale of the nanostructured pn junction. The model shows that for a given material (bulk lifetime, surface recombination velocity, dopant concentration, mobility, etc.) there exists an ideal length scale for nanostructuring. The model shows that in some cases a poor performing bulk material (5% efficient) may be turned into a high performing device (20% efficient). The model also shows the effects of multiple exciton generation.
Ultrastructural immunolocalization of developmental proteins in phloem cell wall regions of Pisum Sativum l. shoot tissue

Abstract The spatial and temporal distribution of 2 antigenic proteins have been examined in shoot apical and internode tissues of pea seedlings in the context of protein expression during cell differentiation. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against the proteins of interest extracted from pea internode tissue and were employed as cytochemical probes. Goat anti-mouse second antibody conjugated with colloidal gold was used for labelling the proteins. A 32-kDa protein appeared as concentrated aggregations in cell wall areas between phloem parenchyma and sieve elements, and in the cell wall junctions between phloem parenchyma cells. A 47-kDa protein was also observed in the cell walls of the phloem tissue only, but was more dispersed. Both the 32-kDa and the 47-kDa proteins were absent from apical tissue. The observation of such specific localizations and the time of their appearance suggests possible developmental roles for the antigenic proteins.
Seinability of Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Their F1, F2, F3, and Backcross Hybrids in Earthen Ponds

Abstract Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus were significantly easier to harvest by seining than channel catfish I. punctatus female channel catfish × male blue catfish F1 and F2 hybrids, channel catfish backcrosses, and blue catfish backcrosses (P < 0.05). The F1 hybrid was significantly easier to catch than channel catfish (P < 0.05). The F3 hybrid was significantly easier to catch than the F2 hybrid, channel catfish, and channel catfish backcrosses (P < 0.05). Individual epistatic recombination loss had a positive effect on percent fish caught in the first seine haul. Channel catfish additive genetic effects had a negative effect on ease of capture by seining. The more channel catfish genes present, the harder the fish was to catch.
An Epilepsy/Dyskinesia-Associated Mutation Enhances BK Channel Activation by Potentiating Ca2+ Sensing

Summary Ca 2+ -activated BK channels modulate neuronal activities, including spike frequency adaptation and synaptic transmission. Previous studies found that Ca 2+ -binding sites and the activation gate are spatially separated in the channel protein, but the mechanism by which Ca 2+ binding opens the gate over this distance remains unknown. By studying an Asp-to-Gly mutation (D434G) associated with human syndrome of generalized epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesia (GEPD), we show that a cytosolic motif immediately following the activation gate S6 helix, known as the AC region, mediates the allosteric coupling between Ca 2+ binding and channel opening. The GEPD mutation inside the AC region increases BK channel activity by enhancing this allosteric coupling. We found that Ca 2+ sensitivity is enhanced by increases in solution viscosity that reduce protein dynamics. The GEPD mutation alters such a response, suggesting that a less flexible AC region may be more effective in coupling Ca 2+ binding to channel opening.
Coupled Dynamic Analysis and Equivalent Static Wind Loads on Buildings with Three-Dimensional Modes

Buildings with either complex geometric shapes or structural systems with noncoincident centers of mass and resistance, or both, may undergo three-dimensional ~3D! coupled motions when exposed to spatiotemporally varying dynamic wind loads. To capture the dynamic load effects, this paper presents a framework for the analysis of 3D coupled dynamic response of buildings and modeling of the equivalent static wind loads ~ESWLs!. This framework takes into account the correlation among wind loads in principle directions and the intermodal coupling of modal response components. The wind loading input for this scheme may be derived either from multiple point synchronous scanning of pressures on building models or through high-frequency force balance ~HFFB! measurements. The ESWL for a given peak response is expressed as a linear combination of the background and resonant loads, which respectively reflect the fluctuating wind load characteristics and inertial loads in fundamental modes of vibration. The nuances of utilizing HFFB measurements for buildings with 3D coupled mode shapes are elucidated with a focus on the evaluation of the generalized forces including mode shape corrections, the background and resonant responses, and the associated ESWLs. Utilizing a representative tall building with 3D mode shapes and closely spaced frequencies, the framework for the analysis of coupled dynamic load effects and modeling of 3D ESWLs is demonstrated.
WebGraph: a framework for managing and improving performance of dynamic Web content

The proportion of dynamic objects has been growing at a fast rate in the World Wide Web. In the e-commerce environment, these objects form the core of all web transactions. However, because of additional resource requirements and the changing nature of these objects, the performance of accessing dynamic Web contents has been observed to be poor in the current generation Web services. We propose a framework called WebGraph that helps in improving the response time for accessing dynamic objects. The WebGraph framework manages a graph for each of the Web pages. The nodes of the graph represent weblets, which are components of the Web pages that either stay static or change simultaneously. The edges of the graph define the inclusiveness of the weblets. Both the nodes and the edges have attributes that are used in managing the Web pages. Instead of recomputing and recreating the entire page, the node and edge attributes are used to update a subset of the weblets are then integrated to form the entire page. In addition to the performance benefits in terms of lower response time, the WebGraph framework facilitates Web caching, quality-of-service (QoS) support, load balancing, overload control, personalized services, and security for both dynamic as well as static Web pages. A detailed implementation methodology for the proposed framework is also described. We have implemented the WebGraph framework in an experimental setup and have measured the performance improvement in terms of server response time, throughput, and connection rate. The results demonstrate the feasibility and validates a subset of the advantages of the proposed framework.
The relative importance of monetary and fiscal policies in selected African countries

This paper examines the relative importance of monetary and fiscal policies in ten African countries using a trivariate vector autoregressive (VAR) model. The analysis is undertaken with annual data from 1960 to 1990 in logarithms first difference form. In five of the ten countries, our empirical results support the monetarist position that monetary policy is more important than fiscal policy. On the other hand, the Keynesian position that fiscal policy is more important than monetary policy is confirmed in the other five countries of the sample. The results of this study suggest that a particular economic philosophy cannot be generalized for African countries. These results may therefore prove useful not only to policy-makers but also to those interested in building macroeconomic models which may have implications for aggregate-demand management.
Data standards to support health information exchange between poison control centers and emergency departments.

Objective Poison control centers (PCCs) routinely collaborate with emergency departments (EDs) to provide care for poison-exposed patients. During this process, a significant amount of information is exchanged between EDs and PCCs via telephone, leading to important inefficiencies and safety vulnerabilities. In the present work, we identified and assessed a set of data standards to enable a standards-based health information exchange process between EDs and PCCs. Materials and methods Based on a reference model for PCC–ED health information exchange, we (1) mapped PCC–ED information exchange events to clinical documents specified in the Health Level Seven (HL7) Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) Standard, and (2) mapped information types routinely exchanged in PCC–ED telephone conversations to C-CDA sections. Results Four C-CDA document types were necessary to support the PCC–ED information exchange process: History & Physical Note, Consultation Note, Progress Note, and Discharge Summary. Information types that are commonly exchanged between PCCs and EDs can be reasonably well represented within these C-CDA documents. Conclusions A standards-based health information exchange process between PCCs and EDs appears to be feasible given a set of clinical data standards that are required for EHR certification in the USA, although the proposed approach still needs to be validated in actual system implementations. Such a process has the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of PCC–ED communication, ultimately resulting in improved patient care outcomes.
Discrete Event and Hybrid System Simulation with SimEvents

A new simulation product for discrete event and hybrid systems is overviewed and some examples of application areas where it can be used are brie y described.
On the use of ideal binary masks for improving phonetic classification

Ideal binary masks are binary patterns that encode the masking characteristics of speech in noise. Recent evidence in speech perception suggests that such binary patterns provide sufficient information for human speech recognition. Motivated by these findings, we propose to use ideal binary masks to improve phonetic modeling. We show that by combining the outputs of classifiers trained on the traditional MFCC features and this novel speech pattern, statistically significant improvements over the baseline MFCC based classifier can be achieved for the task of phonetic classification. Using the combined classifiers, we achieve an error rate of 19.5% on the TIMIT phonetic classification task using multilayer perceptrons as the underlying classifier.
Post-operative radiation therapy for advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer

Between 1985 and 1999, 43 patients with locally-advanced, resectable oropharyngeal cancer were treated with combined surgery and post-operative radiation therapy (RT) at Oregon Health and Science University. Five patients (12 per cent) had Stage III disease and 38 patients (88 per cent) had Stage IV disease. All patients had gross total resections of the primary tumour. Thirty-seven patients had neck dissections for regional disease. RT consisted of a mean tumour-bed dose of 63.0 Gy delivered in 1.8-2.0 Gy fractions over a mean of 49 days. At three- and five-years, the actuarial local control was 96 per cent and the actuarial local/regional control was 80 per cent. The three- and five-year actuarial rates of distant metastases were 41 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively. The actuarial overall survival at three- and five-years was 41 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively. The actuarial rates of progression-free survival were 49 per cent at three-years and 45 per cent at five years. Combined surgery and post-operative RT for advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer results in excellent local/regional control. This particular group of patients experienced a high-rate of developing distant metastases.
Predicting ecological and phenotypic differentiation in the wild: a case of piscivorous fish in a fishless environment

Environmental variation drives ecological and phenotypic change. How predictable is differentiation in response to environmental change? Answering this question requires the development and testing of multifarious a priori predictions in natural systems. We employ this approach using Gobiomorus dormitor populations that have colonized inland blue holes differing in the availability of fish prey. We evaluated predictions of differences in demographics, habitat use, diet, locomotor and trophic morphology, and feeding kinematics and performance between G. dormitor populations inhabiting blue holes with and without fish prey. Populations of G. dormitor independently diverged between prey regimes, with broad agreement between observed differences and a priori predictions. For example, in populations lacking fish prey, we observed male-biased sex ratios, a greater use of shallow-water habitat, and larger population diet breadths as a result of greater individual diet specialization. Furthermore, we found predictable differences in body shape, mouth morphology, suction generation capacity, strike kinematics, and feeding performance on different prey types, consistent with the adaptation of G. dormitor to piscivory when coexisting with fish prey and to feeding on small invertebrates in their absence. The results of the present study suggest great potential in our ability to predict population responses to changing environments, which is an increasingly important capability in a human-dominated, ever-changing world. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114, 588–607.
Dosimetric comparison between IMRT delivery modes: Step-and-shoot, sliding window, and volumetric modulated arc therapy - for whole pelvis radiation therapy of intermediate-to-high risk prostate adenocarcinoma

THIS STUDY WAS PERFORMED TO EVALUATE DOSIMETRIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CURRENT INTENSITY MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY (IMRT) DELIVERY MODES: Step-and-shoot (SS), sliding window (SW), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Plans for 15 prostate cancer patients with 10 MV photon beams using each IMRT mode were generated. Patients had three planning target volumes (PTVs) including prostate, prostate plus seminal vesicles, and pelvic lymphatics. Dose volume histograms (DVHs) of PTVs and organs at risk (OARs), tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs), conformation number, and monitor units (MUs) used were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The TCPs were 0.99). Doses to all critical structures were higher on average with SW method compared to SS, but insignificant. NTCP values were lowest for VMAT in all structures excepting bladder. Normal tissue volumes receiving doses in the 20-30 Gy range were reduced for VMAT compared to SS. Percentage of MUs required for VMAT to deliver a comparable plan to SS and SW was at least 40% less. In conclusion, similar target coverage and normal tissue doses were found by the three compared modes and the dosimetric differences were small.
A molecular mechanism for aberrantCFTR-dependent HCO3– transport in cystic fibrosis

Aberrant HCO(3)(-) transport is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with aberrant Cl(-)-dependent HCO(3)(-) transport by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). We show here that HCO(3)(-) current by CFTR cannot account for CFTR-activated HCO(3)(-) transport and that CFTR does not activate AE1-AE4. In contrast, CFTR markedly activates Cl(-) and OH(-)/HCO(3)(-) transport by members of the SLC26 family DRA, SLC26A6 and pendrin. Most notably, the SLC26s are electrogenic transporters with isoform-specific stoichiometries. DRA activity occurred at a Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) ratio > or =2. SLC26A6 activity is voltage regulated and occurred at HCO(3)(-)/Cl(-) > or =2. The physiological significance of these findings is demonstrated by interaction of CFTR and DRA in the mouse pancreas and an altered activation of DRA by the R117H and G551D mutants of CFTR. These findings provide a molecular mechanism for epithelial HCO(3)(-) transport (one SLC26 transporter-electrogenic transport; two SLC26 transporters with opposite stoichiometry in the same membrane domain-electroneutral transport), the CF-associated aberrant HCO(3)(-) transport, and reveal a new function of CFTR with clinical implications for CF and congenital chloride diarrhea.
CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE KOREAN VERSION OF THE CUMBERLAND ANKLE INSTABILITY TOOL.

Background The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) is a valid and reliable patient reported outcome used to assess the presence and severity of chronic ankle instability (CAI). The CAIT has been cross-culturally adapted into other languages for use in non-English speaking populations. However, there are no valid questionnaires to assess CAI in individuals who speak Korean. Purpose The purpose of this study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the CAIT, for use in a Korean-speaking population with CAI. Study design Cross-cultural reliability study. Methods The CAIT was cross-culturally adapted into Korean according to accepted guidelines and renamed the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool-Korean (CAIT-K). Twenty-three participants (12 males, 11 females) who were bilingual in English and Korean were recruited and completed the original and adapted versions to assess agreement between versions. An additional 168 national level Korean athletes (106 male, 62 females; age = 20.3 ± 1.1 yrs), who participated in ≥ 90 minutes of physical activity per week, completed the final version of the CAIT-K twice within 14 days. Their completed questionnaires were assessed for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results For bilingual participants, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC2,1) between the CAIT and the CAIT-K for test-retest reliability were 0.95 (SEM=1.83) and 0.96 (SEM=1.50) in right and left limbs, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.92 and 0.90 for the CAIT-K in right and left limbs, respectively. For native Korean speakers, the CAIT-K had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.89) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1 = 0.94, SEM=1.72), correlation with the physical component score (rho=0.70, p = 0.001) of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin score was 0.87. Conclusions The original CAIT was translated, cross-culturally adapted, and validated from English to Korean. The CAIT-K appears to be valid and reliable and could be useful in assessing the Korean speaking population with CAI.
Late bleeding and neurological sequelae after HeartMate II left ventricular assist device: risk factors from the prequel.

Patients with end-stage heart failure have a very poor prognosis with standard medical therapy, with survival rates as low as 25% at 1 year and 8% at 2 years [(1)][1]. For those who qualify, heart transplantation is the therapy of choice, but it is often delayed because of the critical shortage of
After Copenhagen, Some Lessons from Rome

In his 2010 Message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Benedict XVI devoted his remarks to ecological concerns, offering a new perspective on the moral implications of today’s environmental problems. This essay explores the ways in which this document may offer guidance to secular environmentalists.
The Cytochrome P450 System in Disease States—A Brief Review

This chapter briefly discusses the cytochrome P450 system in several disease states, including heart, liver, and kidney failure.
First Principle Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Simulation for SOFCs

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely utilized experimental method for fundamental mechanism understanding and diagnosis of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). However, EIS experimental results are in general interpreted using equivalent circuit model method. When EIS response induced by very complicated multi-physics processes in SOFC is approximated with a simple equivalent circuit, it will inevitably lead to ambiguity. In this research, first principle EIS simulation method is developed to link multi-physics processes of a button cell to EIS response. The EIS modeling method is validated using experimental data from open literature. The validated EIS model is employed to investigate SOFC performance. Simulation results indicate that EIS response contains a plethora of SOFC behavior information that collectively contributed by intrinsic SOFC material property, porous microstructure, as well as operating conditions. The simulation method developed in this research can be potentially utilized for interpretation and de-convolution of experimental EIS results.© 2010 ASME
Mycology and Indoor Air Quality

Fungi are widespread in our environment. During the past decade, concern has increased about the quality of air at home, in workplaces, and in public buildings. Although fungi should not grow indoors owing to potential health problems, many cases of fungal contamination in indoor environments exist. Outdoor fungal propagules enter homes and buildings through doors; windows; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; and the clothing and footwear of occupants. Fungal spores, metabolites, and mycotoxins have affected the health of some individuals. The laboratorian should be aware of fungal contamination in indoor environments.
Installment Credit Before 1870

Neither cash sale nor barter were adequate means for bringing a growing number of high-priced durable goods to the American consumer. The employment of installment credit facilitated the growth of a mass market for such products and provides an example of the utilization of an old commercial technique for a new purpose.
ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT PROBLEM BROUGHT ABOUT BY ±500kV DC TRANSMISSION PROJECT IN CHINA

In recent years the construction of ±500kV DC power transmission project in China develops rapidly and the subsequence electromagnetic environment problem becomes one of the main factors influencing the development and construction of power networks. Based on the measured results of electromagnetic environments of existing ±500kV DC power transmission projects in China, the electromagnetic environment problem brought about by domestic ±500kV DC power transmission projects is summarized in the aspects of field effect, audible noise, radio and television interferences, the potential of grounding poles and so on. Some suggestions are given for the existing striking problems, such as carefully choosing the location to arrange the coverter station, the screening of strong noise sources, noise reduction measures including noise isolation and absorption, rationally choosing the shape and structure of grounding poles in converter stations, etc.
Reasoning about Provenance with OWL and SWRL Rules.

Science and engineering are information intensive collaborative enterprises which have their own complex and rapidly evolving processes for creating, discovering, and analyzing digital artifacts. To support multiple contexts (Virtual Organizations), infrastructure must provide general purpose mechanisms for reasoning about processes and data. This paper considers one important aspect of this problem, recording and reasoning about provenance. The Open Provenance Model (OPM) provides a case study for how to use Semantic Web technology and rules to implement semantic metadata. This paper discusses a binding of the OPM written in OWL, with rules written in SWRL. These standards are useful, but cannot implement the entire OPM. However, the use of RDF enables the development of “hybrid” systems that use OWL, SWRL, and other semantic software, interoperating through a shared space of RDF triples.
Single-aperture patch antenna with pattern control

Microstrip patch antennas are common for GNSS applications due to their low profile, small size, ease of fabrication, and low cost. Typically, the radiation characteristics of a single-element patch antenna are fixed, with an inability to electronically control the radiation characteristics in azimuth and elevation. This paper presents a single-aperture (i.e., single-element) GNSS patch antenna that can electronically control the radiation characteristics, by placing an area of high directivity with a commensurate area of low directivity in a particular direction that may be useful for interference suppression. Here, the performance of a circular four probe-fed GPS L5 patch antenna over a circular ground plane is illustrated with an amplitude and phase control subsystem for pattern control. The overall design approach is outlined and supported with computational electromagnetic model (CEM) simulations and measured results. The fabrication of the antenna is illustrated and the measured results at the component level and anechoic chamber radiation characteristics are presented to illustrate the pattern control aspects of the antenna. Gain (i.e., directivity) suppression is achieved at, above, and below the horizon in the commanded null direction, with gain suppression at the horizon varying from 4–13 dB and null depth varying from 22–35 dB. This control has a major advantage by controlling the radiation characteristic to allow for mitigation of interfering signals at, above, and below the horizon.
2015 Cross-Domain Deterrence Seminar Bibliography

In November 2015, the Center for Global Security Research, NSO, and Global Security program jointly sponsored a seminar investigating questions related to cross-domain deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. At the seminar, experts were asked to moderate discussion based on the four topics below. For each of these topics, we have compiled a short list of literature that will help analysts develop a baseline understanding of the issue.
Research Beyond Humans and Vertebrates

Many of my research efforts have focussed on developing new approaches for evaluating muscle and nerve disorders, and accordingly, most of the work has involved human subjects and animals (mostly mice and rats). However, a number of years ago, we began to seek out “analogues” or model media that would potentially substitute for performing measurements in people. The goal here had not been to avoid doing human or animal-based research, but rather to attempt to answer some questions about how our methods worked—questions that were difficult to answer using live humans or animals in vivo. We played around with all sorts of materials—even, weirdly, balsa wood soaked in saline—but eventually decided to try something more obvious and far more relevant: steak. Or more specifically flank steak, since this cut of meat from a cow abdomen has relatively uniform thickness, is very flat, has relatively little fibrous tissue or other inclusions, and, perhaps most importantly, also has a very prominent primary muscle fiber orientation that is readily observable with the naked eye.
MeV-level electron and gamma ray sensitivites of modern far ultraviolet sensitive microchannel plate detectors

The Jovian system is the focus of multiple current and future NASA and ESA missions, but dangerously high radiation levels surrounding the planet make operations of instruments sensitive to high energy electrons or gamma rays problematic. Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have been the detectors of choice in planetary ultraviolet spectrographs for decades. However, the same properties that give these detectors high response to vacuum ultraviolet photons also make them sensitive to high energy electrons and gamma rays. The success of ultraviolet investigations in the Jovian system depends on effectively shielding these MCP detectors to protect them as much as possible from this withering radiation. The design of such shielding hinges on our understanding of the response of MCP detectors to the high energy electrons and gamma rays found there. To this end, Southwest Research Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated in 2012-13 to measure the response of a flight-spare microchannel plate detector to a beam of high energy electrons. The detector response was measured at multiple beam energies ranging from 0.5-2.5 MeV and multiple currents. This response was then checked with MCNP6, a radiation transport simulation tool, to determine the secondary gamma rays produced by the primary electrons striking the detector window. We report on the measurement approach and the inferred electron and gamma sensitivities.