cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium accumulation by four cotton varieties.

(...) Field studies were conducted to determine if dry matter production and distribution, and nutrient uptake and distribution are affected by the cultivar of cotton grown under nonirrigated conditions. Four cotton cultivars were compared: Deltapine 90, Stoneville 825, Coker 315, and Paymaster 145. The experiment was conducted on a nonirrigated Decatur silt loam (clayey, thermic, kaolinitic Rhodic Paleudults) and a Norfolk silt loam (fine loamy, thermic siliceous Typic Paleudults) (...)
Increasing Job Satisfaction of Service Personnel

As customer satisfaction is gaining the highest priority among the interest of corporate America′s constituent groups and the economy becomes service‐oriented, more jobs than ever before require customer contacts. Investigates the relationship between employee satisfaction, job tension, role clarity, role conflict and empathetic concern among customer service personnel. Finds that the traditional variables, i.e. role conflict, role clarity, and job tension, do influence job satisfaction as hypothesized. Additionally, identifies empathy, a previously overlooked dimension of employee‐job interactions, as a significant determinant of job tension. Discusses the managerial implications resulting from these relationships.
Do alcohol and marijuana use decrease the probability of condom use for college women

Alcohol and marijuana use are thought to increase sexual risk taking, but event-level studies conflict in their findings and often depend on reports from a limited number of people or on a limited number of sexual events per person. With event-level data from 1,856 sexual intercourse events provided by 297 college women (M age = 18 years; 71% White), we used multilevel modeling to examine associations between alcohol and marijuana use and condom use as well as interactions involving sexual partner type and alcohol-sexual risk expectancies. Controlling for alternative contraception use, partner type, regular levels of substance use, impulsivity and sensation seeking, and demographics, women were no more or less likely to use condoms during events involving drinking or heavy episodic drinking than during those without drinking. However, for drinking events, there was a negative association between number of drinks consumed and condom use; in addition, women with stronger alcohol-sexual risk expectancies wer...
GAD and GABA in an enriched population of cultured GABAergic neurons from rat cerebral cortex.

To study various aspects of GABAergic metabolism in an easily accessible system, dissociated cells from postnatal rat cerebral cortex were cultured in a serum-based medium and characterized morphologically and biochemically. The majority (70–90%) of the neurons were GABAergic as determined by three double-labeling procedures. The specific activity of glutamine synthetase in the cultures was 4–5% of the levels in rat astrocyte cultures and intact rat brain, indicating that glia were a minor component. The developmental increase of GABA levels preceded the increase of GAD activity in both immunocytochemical and biochemical experiments. GABA turnover rates also increased with culture age and were 20–30% of GAD activity. Four anti-GAD antibodies, which recognize GAD subunits with differing molecular masses to varying degrees, were used to stain cultured neurons and make immunoblots. Immunoblots showed that the neurons contained two major subunits of GAD which differed in mass by 2 kDa. All four antibodies immunostained both neuronal perikarya and neurites but one antibody, which on the immunoblots predominantly labeled the GAD protein with the lower molecular weight, showed a somewhat more pronounced punctate staining, possibly indicating a principal localization to neurites.
369 FEVER AND PRESUMED SEPSIS IN INFANTS < 6 MOS. OF AGE

This retrospective study evaluated the differences and outcome of children ≤6 mos. of age admitted with the diagnosis of fever, possible sepsis and apnea; none with foci of serious infection. There were 44 pts. in Gp. A (bacterial negative disease), 6 in Gp. B (bacterial proven disease), 5 in Gp. C (latent disease) and 17 in Gp.D (apnea). Historical information obtained: age, admission temperature, preadmission duration of illness, incidence of GI or URI symptoms, and concurrent family illness. Lab data included: weight, CBC, chest x-ray, CSF analysis, blood cultures and urinalysis and culture. Mean age was Gp. A: 7.1 wks, Gp. B: 13.2 wks, Gp. C: 17.2 wks, Gp. D: 7.8 wks. Mean temperature was similar in gps. A thru C (38.6°C, 39°C, 39.4°C). Pre-admission duration of illness was longer in Gps. B & C. There was no concurrent family illness in Gp. B, vs. 50% in Gp. A. Absolute band counts did not correlate with bacterial disease; 1400/m3 in Gp. A, 900/m3 in Gp. B, 2800/m3 in Gp. C. Absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) were more reliable; Gp. A: 4700/m3, Gp. B: 7600/m3. Discharge diagnoses in Gp. B included 2 UTIs and 4 episodes of sepsis. Gp. A included viral illness (21), URI (6), fever (5), gastroenteritis (4) and others. Gp.C included aseptic meningitis (1), otitis media (2), viral pneumonia (2); all developing after admission. Gp. D included apnea (13), URI (4). The incidence of proven bacterial disease was 8.3% and significant differences in age, preadmission duration of illness, concurrent family illness and ANC were noted.
Characteristics and clinical significance of silent myocardial ischemia in unstable angina.

Abstract The frequency and duration of transient myocardial ischemia on Holter recordings, analyzed by the compact analog technique, were determined in 41 patients (all men, mean age 54) with unstable angina (33 with angiographic evidence). There were 781 episodes of ischemia: 392 (50%) with ST-segment depression, 242 (31%) with ST elevation, 45 (6%) with ST elevation and depression in different leads, 70 (9%), with pseudonormalization of T waves and 32 (4%) with T-wave augmentation. Ventricular arrhythmias were associated with 18% of the episodes. The mean duration of ischemic episodes was 14 minutes (range 30 seconds to almost 12 hours); most were less than 5 minutes. Only 154 (20%) of the 781 episodes of ischemia were associated with pain. Conversely, 77 episodes of chest pain were not associated with electrocardiographic changes. Analysis of the temporal sequence of heart rate during the development of ischemia (analyzed in 415 episodes) showed that in only 43 (10%) the heart rate at the beginning of ischemia was significantly (>6 beats/min) higher than that at 5 minutes (baseline) before the onset of ischemia. At the peak of the ischemic abnormality, the mean heart rate increase was 10% and returned to baseline at the end of the ischemic episode. The data indicate that 80% of ischemic episodes in unstable angina are silent and over 90% are not triggered by increases in heart rate; apparently increased oxygen demand is an uncommon cause of ischemia in unstable angina. Although most of the episodes were short-lived, some were extremely protracted without the development of myocardial infarction. The findings are of therapeutic significance.
Investigation of Data Locality in MapReduce

Traditional HPC architectures separate compute nodes and storage nodes, which are interconnected with high speed links to satisfy data access requirements in multi-user environments. However, the capacity of those high speed links is still much less than the aggregate bandwidth of all compute nodes. In Data Parallel Systems such as GFS/MapReduce, clusters are built with commodity hardware and each node takes the roles of both computation and storage, which makes it possible to bring compute to data. Data locality is a significant advantage of data parallel systems over traditional HPC systems. Good data locality reduces cross-switch network traffic - one of the bottlenecks in data-intensive computing. In this paper, we investigate data locality in depth. Firstly, we build a mathematical model of scheduling in MapReduce and theoretically analyze the impact on data locality of configuration factors, such as the numbers of nodes and tasks. Secondly, we find the default Hadoop scheduling is non-optimal and propose an algorithm that schedules multiple tasks simultaneously rather than one by one to give optimal data locality. Thirdly, we run extensive experiments to quantify performance improvement of our proposed algorithms, measure how different factors impact data locality, and investigate how data locality influences job execution time in both single-cluster and cross-cluster environments.
Linking Childhood Sexual Abuse and Early Adolescent Risk Behavior: The Intervening Role of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

A robust literature links childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to later substance use and sexual risk behavior; yet, relatively little empirical attention has been devoted to identifying the mechanisms linking CSA to risky behavior among youth, with even less work examining such processes in boys. With the aim of addressing this gap in the literature, the current study examined the indirect effect of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; from age 2 to 12) trajectory group on risky behavior at age 14 (alcohol use & sexual intercourse) via the intervening role of caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Analyses were conducted with a subsample of youth (n = 657 sexual intercourse; n = 667 alcohol use) from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), a multisite prospective study of youth at risk for maltreatment. For boys and girls, there was an indirect effect from CSA to sexual intercourse through externalizing problems. The same pattern emerged for alcohol use, but only for girls. Findings did not support an indirect path through internalizing problems for either boys or girls for either outcome. Findings suggest more focal targets for prevention efforts aimed at maintaining the health and safety of maltreated boys and girls during the adolescent transition.
Histologic Chorioamnionitis and Preterm Delivery

Inconsistent findings linking placental histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) and preterm delivery may result from variations in HCA definition, population studied, and exclusion criteria. This analysis from the 1998-2004 Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health Study (five Michigan communities) includes the first 1,053 subcohort women (239 preterm, 814 term) with completed placental assessments. Multiple HCA definitions were constructed by 1) varying polymorphonuclear leukocytes/high-powered field thresholds and placenta components included and 2) using polymorphonuclear leukocyte characteristics to assign low/high maternal, fetal inflammation stage and grade. In African Americans, HCA was associated with preterm delivery before 35 weeks. The effect size was modest for polymorphonuclear leukocytes/high-powered field thresholds of greater than 10 and greater than 30 (odds ratios (ORs) = 0.8 and 2.0); larger for greater than 100 (OR = 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 7.1); strengthened after excluding medically indicated preterm deliveries (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 2.0, 11.8); and strongest for high maternal/high fetal HCA (OR = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.4, 22.1). These latter HCA criteria also produced the largest effect size in Whites/others (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 0.3, 26.9). Among preterm deliveries before 35 weeks excluding those medically indicated, 12% of Whites/others and 55% of African Americans had high maternal HCA. The authors conclude that HCA definition, exclusion criteria, and race/ethnicity influence the HCA-preterm delivery association and that HCA contributes to preterm delivery-related ethnic disparity.
Case-Based Planning and Execution for Real-Time Strategy Games

Artificial Intelligence techniques have been successfully applied to several computer games. However in some kinds of computer games, like real-time strategy (RTS) games, traditional artificial intelligence techniques fail to play at a human level because of the vast search spaces that they entail. In this paper we present a real-time case based planning and execution approach designed to deal with RTS games. We propose to extract behavioral knowledge from expert demonstrations in form of individual cases. This knowledge can be reused via a case based behavior generator that proposes behaviors to achieve the specific open goals in the current plan. Specifically, we applied our technique to the W ARGUS domain with promising results.
The spacing effect and metacognitive control.

Research suggests that spaced learning, compared with massed learning, results in superior long-term retention (the spacing effect). Son (2010) identified a potentially important moderator of the spacing effect: metacognitive control. Specifically, when participants chose massed restudy but were instead forced to space the restudy, the spacing effect disappeared in adults (or was reduced in children). This suggests spacing is less effective (or possibly ineffective) if implemented against the wishes of the learner. A closer examination of this paradigm, however, reveals that item-selection issues might alternatively explain the disappearance of the spacing effect. In the current experiments, we replicated the original design demonstrating that an itemselection confound is operating. Furthermore, relative to a more appropriate baseline, the spacing effect was significant and of the same size whether participants’ restudy choices were honored or violated. In this paradigm, metacognitive control does not appear to moderate the spacing effect.
A new, highly water-soluble, fluorescent turn-on chemodosimeter for direct measurement of hydrogen sulfide in biological fluids

A new reaction-based fluorescent reporter for H2S has been developed based on 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate. This reporter shows high selectivity for H2S over other ions and thiols, and can detect H2S directly in serum without additives.
Color Retention in Red Chile Powder as Related to Delayed Harvest

Color retention in chile powder was studied using two mildly pungent long red chile (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars, New Mexico 6-4' and 'NuMex R Naky'. Pods of different maturities were harvested immediately after the first severe fall freeze and again 4 and 8 wk after the freeze. After each harvest pods were dried, ground, and immediately analyzed for color. Powder was stored at 2 degrees C and re-analyzed for color at 4 wk intervals. Color loss in whole pods from the field and the stored powder showed linear and quadratic trends. Initially, delaying harvest resulted in color loss in red chile but color in powder from later harvests was more stable and was retained better after 8 wk storage than powder from the first harvest after the same length of time.
Protecting storage location privacy in sensor networks

Numerous schemes have been proposed to facilitate data collection and provision in sensor networks, among which the Data-Centric Storage (DCS) scheme is an energy-efficient solution and a popular choice for many sensor network applications. However, since each sensor node in the DCS system knows the locations of all storage nodes, the DCS system is extremely vulnerable to security attacks as a single compromised sensor node will expose all the storage locations to the adversary. To address this problem, we propose a randomized storage concealment scheme along with a supplementary storage migration scheme. In the randomized storage concealment scheme, sensor nodes cooperate to forward data towards the storage nodes without keeping explicit storage locations; instead, each sensor node only maintains the IDs of its randomly-picked next-hop nodes towards the storage nodes. This scheme increases the difficulty significantly for the adversary to derive the storage locations. Nevertheless, the protection provided by this scheme degrades gradually as more and more sensor nodes are compromised. Hence, we further introduce a storage migration scheme to supplement the randomized storage concealment scheme, which directs the storage duties to migrate periodically among sensor nodes. Extensive analysis and simulations are conducted to show that the proposed schemes can effectively protect the storage location privacy with modestly added overhead.
Autogenic stories and projective drawings: Tools for the clinical assessment and treatment of severely disturbed and at-risk children

This paper explores the value of autogenic (stimulus-independent) stories and artistic productions in the clinical assessment and treatment of children both at moderate risk and with more severe emotional disturbances. Such stories and productions have proven to be a valuable source of dynamic information about the child and can also serve as a bridge from which the therapist can forge an affective tie and begin a meaningful therapeutic discourse. Several clinical examples are presented to illustrate how these techniques may be used in child diagnosis and treatment.
Adaptive identifier with a self-tuning filter

It is shown that the performance of the adaptive identifier of equation error type can be improved substantially by updating the filter online. It is known that, in the presence of uncertainty, the equation error method would not produce an estimate which has a good fit at low frequencies. To fix the problem, the identification schemes are modified by making filters time varying, and these time varying filters are updated online such that the estimate converges to a value that would be obtained by the output error method. In this way, the effects of the uncertainty are reduced. >
Dielectric Properties of Fruits and Insect Pests as related to Radio Frequency and Microwave Treatments

Information on dielectric properties of commodities and insect pests is needed in developing thermal treatments for postharvest insect control based on radio frequency (RF) and microwave energy. Dielectric properties of six commodities along with four associated insect pests were measured between 1 and 1800 MHz using an open-ended coaxial-line probe technique and at temperatures between 20 and 608C. The dielectric loss factor of fresh fruits and insects decreased with increasing frequency at constant temperatures. The loss factor of fresh fruits and insects increased almost linearly with increasing temperature at 27 MHz radio frequency, but remained nearly constant at 915 MHz microwave frequency. Both dielectric constant and loss factor of nuts were very low compared to those of fresh fruits and insects. The temperature effect on dielectric properties of nuts was not significant at 27 MHz. The large difference in the loss factor between insects and nuts at 27 MHz suggests possible differential heating of insects in nuts when treated at the same time in a RF system.
Model Abstraction in Dynamical Systems: Application to Mobile Robot Control

To reduce complexity of system analysis and control design, simplified models that capture the behavior of interest in the original system can be obtained. These simplified models, called abstractions, can be analyzed more easily than the original complex model. Hierarchies of consistent abstractions can significantly reduce the complexity in determining the reachability properties of nonlinear systems. Such consistent hierarchies of reachability-preserving nonlinear abstractions are considered for the robotic car. Not only can these abstractions be analyzed with respect to some behavior of interest, they can also be used to transfer control design for the complex model to the simplified model. In this work, the abstraction is applied to the car/unicycle system. Working towards control design, it is seen that there are certain classes of trajectories that exist in the rolling disk system that cannot be achieved by the robotic car. In order to account for these cases, the new concepts of traceability and e-traceability are introduced. This work also studies the relationship between the evolution of uncertain initial conditions in abstracted control systems. It is shown that a control system abstraction can capture the time evolution of the uncertainty in the original system by an appropriate choice of control input. Abstracted control systems with stochastic initial conditions show the same behavior as systems with deterministic initial conditions. A conservation law is applied to the probability density function (pdf) requiring that the area under it be unity. Application of the conservation law results in a partial differential equation known as the Liouville equation, for which a closed form solution is known. The solution provides the time evolution of the initial pdf which can be followed by the abstracted system.
Rapamycin weekly maintenance dosing and the potential efficacy of combination sorafenib plus rapamycin but not atorvastatin or doxycycline in tuberous sclerosis preclinical models

Background Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant tumor suppressor syndrome, characterized by hamartomatous growths in the brain, skin, kidneys, lungs, and heart, which lead to significant morbidity. TSC is caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, whose products, hamartin and tuberin, form a tumor suppressor complex that regulates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Early clinical trials show that TSC-related kidney tumors (angiomyolipomas) regress when treated with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, rapamycin (also known as sirolimus). Although side effects are tolerable, responses are incomplete, and tumor regrowth is common when rapamycin is stopped. Strategies for future clinical trials may include the investigation of longer treatment duration and combination therapy of other effective drug classes.
The nonlinear wave equation for higher harmonics in free-electron lasers

The nonlinear wave equation and self-consistent pendulum equation are generalized to describe free-electron laser operation in higher harmonics; this can significantly extend their tunable range to shorter wavelengths. The dynamics of the laser field's amplitude and phase are explored for a wide range of parameters using families of normalized gain curves applicable to both the fundamental and harmonics. The electron phase-space displays the fundamental physics driving the wave, and we use this picture to distinguish between the effects of high gain and Coulomb forces.
Cellular stress/the unfolded protein response: Relevance to sleep and sleep disorders

Recent transcript profiling and microarray studies are beginning to unveil some of the mysteries of sleep. One of the most important clues has been the identification of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperone, immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP), that increases with sleep deprivation in all species studied. BiP, an ER resident chaperone, is the key cellular marker and master regulator of a signaling pathway called the ER stress response or unfolded protein response. The ER stress response occurs in 3 phases. It is healthy, protective and adaptive when the ER stress is moderate. Failure of the adaptive response leads to the activation of an inflammatory response. When the ER stress burden is great and prolonged, executioner pathways are activated. Collectively this work provides new evidence that modest sleep deprivation induces cellular stress that activates an adaptive response. Aging tilts the response to sleep deprivation from one that is adaptive and protective to one that is maladaptive. Understanding the pathways activated by sleep loss and the mechanisms by which they occur will allow the development of therapies to protect the brain during prolonged wakefulness and specifically in sleep disorders including those associated with aging.
FVB mouse genotype confers susceptibility to OVE26 diabetic albuminuria

OVE26 (OVE) diabetic mice on the inbred strain FVB are a valuable model of diabetic nephropathy that excretes the highest amount of urine albumin of all diabetic mouse models. Crossing of OVE mice to C57BL6 or DBA2 mice reduced albuminuria 17-fold in F1 diabetic offspring without reducing diabetes. When comparing renal histology of OVE mice on the FVB background to F1 C57BL6 crosses, we found that the F1 kidneys had significantly smaller glomeruli, much less albumin accumulation in tubules, reduced mesangial matrix expansion, and less interstitial fibrosis. A genome scan of 108 OVE-positive N2 offspring for albuminuria revealed one significant peak on chromosome 11 and nearly significant peaks on chromosomes 9, 13, and 19. Homozygosity for the FVB genotype for peaks on chromosomes 11, 13, or 19 increased albuminuria. Homozygosity for the chromosome 9 peak reduced albuminuria. Combined homozyogosity for the peaks on chromosomes 11, 13, and 19 increased albuminuria over 12-fold and accounted for >70% of the difference between OVE mice on the FVB vs. the F1 background. These loci contain sequences important to susceptibility to diabetic albuminuria.
Review: Properties of sperm and seminal fluid, informed by research on reproduction and contraception

Forensic DNA testing is grounded in molecular biology and population genetics. The technologies that were the basis of restriction length polymorphism testing (RFLP) have given way to PCR based technologies. While PCR has been the pillar of short tandem repeat (STR) methods and will continue to be used as DNA sequencing and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are introduced into human identification, the molecular biology techniques in use today represent significant advances since the introduction of STR testing. Large forensic laboratories with dedicated research teams and forensic laboratories which are part of academic institutions have the resources to keep track of advances which can then be considered for further research or incorporated into current testing methods. However, many laboratories have limited ability to keep up with research advances outside of the immediate area of forensic science and may not have access to a large university library systems. This review focuses on filling this gap with respect to areas of research that intersect with selected methods used in forensic biology. The review summarizes information collected from several areas of the scientific literature where advances in molecular biology have produced information relevant to DNA analysis of sexual assault evidence and methods used in presumptive and confirmatory identification of semen. Older information from the literature is also included where this information may not be commonly known and is relevant to current methods. The topics selected highlight (1) information from applications of proteomics to sperm biology and human reproduction, (2) seminal fluid proteins and prostate cancer diagnostics, (3) developmental biology of sperm from the fertility literature and (4) areas where methods are common to forensic analysis and research in contraceptive use and monitoring. Information and progress made in these areas coincide with the research interests of forensic biology and cross-talk between these disciplines may benefit both.
Application of Fuzzy Cognitive Map for the Development of Scenarios: A Case Study of Wind Energy Deployment

In the present era characterized by uncertainty, innovation and change, scenario planning is an increasingly popular way to look at future environments because of its usefulness in times of uncertainty and complexity. Scenario planning outlines the possible futures, stimulates strategic thinking about the future and helps to overcome thinking limitations by presenting multiple futures. Developing Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM)-based scenarios is a very new approach. FCM is based on causal cognitive map which is an accepted intuitive method. This approach combines the benefits of both qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study FCM-based scenarios are developed for the deployment of wind energy in a developing country to illustrate the usefulness of this approach. This study also describes the utilization of various tools proposed in the scenario planning literature to select and validate FCM-based raw scenarios. Moreover, a comparison of FCM-based scenario development approach with other prominent quantitative scenario development techniques is also presented in this chapter.
Increasing the strength and bioactivity of collagen scaffolds using customizable arrays of 3D-printed polymer fibers.

Tendon is a highly aligned connective tissue which transmits force from muscle to bone. Each year, people in the US sustain more than 32 million tendon injuries. To mitigate poor functional outcomes due to scar formation, current surgical techniques rely heavily on autografts. Biomaterial platforms and tissue engineering methods offer an alternative approach to address these injuries. Scaffolds incorporating aligned structural features can promote expansion of adult tenocytes and mesenchymal stem cells capable of tenogenic differentiation. However, appropriate balance between scaffold bioactivity and mechanical strength of these constructs remains challenging. The high porosity required to facilitate cell infiltration, nutrient and oxygen biotransport within three-dimensional constructs typically results in insufficient biomechanical strength. Here we describe the use of three-dimensional printing techniques to create customizable arrays of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) fibers that can be incorporated into a collagen scaffold under development for tendon repair. Notably, mechanical performance of scaffold-fiber composites (elastic modulus, peak stress, strain at peak stress, and toughness) can be selectively manipulated by varying fiber-reinforcement geometry without affecting the native bioactivity of the collagen scaffold. Further, we report an approach to functionalize ABS fibers with activity-inducing growth factors via sequential oxygen plasma and carbodiimide crosslinking treatments. Together, we report an adaptable approach to control both mechanical strength and presence of biomolecular cues in a manner orthogonal to the architecture of the collagen scaffold itself.
A Measurement-Based Model for Outdoor Near-Ground Ultrawideband Channels

Deployment of wireless devices with transceivers in close proximity to the ground has become increasingly attractive for a wide range of applications such as distributed sensor networks and broadband tactical communications. Furthermore, the use of ultrawideband (UWB) signals is attractive for these communications due to their robustness and their suitability for precision ranging and localization. For the development and performance simulation of such systems, accurate channel models are required. The current paper thus presents details of an extensive measurement campaign for near-ground UWB propagation channels and a channel model-based thereon. The measurements were performed with a self-built channel sounder based on arbitrary waveform generation at the transmitter, high-bandwidth sampling oscilloscope at the receiver, and synchronization via electro-optical connections. Various combinations for the antenna height at transmitter and receiver, ranging from 10 cm to 2 m above ground, were measured. We find that the pathloss coefficient ( $\gamma$ ) depends significantly on the Tx–Rx antenna heights, while shadowing variance ( $\sigma^2$ ) and rms delay-spread ( ${\tau}_{rms}$ ) shows smaller dependence. The pathloss shows a slight dependence on frequency; the frequency-dependent pathloss exponent ( $\kappa$ ) increases as antennas get closer to the ground. We also found a linear dependency of the rms delay-spread on distance for various antenna height configurations measured. Statistical distributions of all parameters including $\gamma$ , ${\tau}_{rms}$ , $\sigma^2$ , and $\kappa$ are extracted from the measurements. Results are verified by comparing with a second measurement campaign.
Raman spectroscopy of iron molybdate catalyst systems: Part III. IN SITU studies of supported and bulk catalysts under reaction and redox conditions

Abstract Raman spectra of both supported and unsupported Fe/Mo/O catalysts of the type used for the partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde were obtained while this reaction was proceeding over the catalyst surface. No changes in band locations or relative peak intensities associated with these mixed metal oxides were detected in the presence of reactant and product species. Moreover, no spectral features which could be attributed to adsorbed species could be detected under reaction conditions. Band intensities in the Raman spectra were related to the extent to which the catalysts were reduced; fully oxidized catalysts were stronger Raman scatterers than partially reduced catalysts. Although differences in color were noted between fresh and used catalysts, the Raman and Mossbauer spectra of these catalysts were identical. Calcination of used catalysts in an oxygen environment at 500 °C was sufficient to restore partially reduced catalysts to their original fully oxidized states.
Modeling Delamination in Composites via Continuum Interfacial Displacement Discontinuities

A method for performing delamination simulation within finite element analyses, based on continuum level interfacial displacement discontinuities, is presented. The method is based on an existing model that enables exponential evolution of the interfacial compliance, resulting in unloading of the tractions at the interface after delamination occurs. Results compare the proposed approach with the cohesive element approach and Virtual Crack Closure Techniques (VCCT) within the ABAQUS ® finite element software. Selection of optimal parameters for analysis with ABAQUS ® /Standard is discussed with respect to Mode-I delamination using a double cantilever beam model. Great care must be taken with respect to selection of the control parameters and mesh size in the cohesive and VCCT approaches in order to obtain a reliable solution. In contrast, the proposed continuum approach exhibits minimal sensitivity to its parameters, thus simplifying delamination problem solution.
Rotavirus NSP1 Associates with Components of the Cullin RING Ligase Family of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases

ABSTRACT The rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP1 acts as an antagonist of the host antiviral response by inducing degradation of key proteins required to activate interferon (IFN) production. Protein degradation induced by NSP1 is dependent on the proteasome, and the presence of a RING domain near the N terminus has led to the hypothesis that NSP1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase. To examine this hypothesis, pulldown assays were performed, followed by mass spectrometry to identify components of the host ubiquitination machinery that associate with NSP1. Multiple components of cullin RING ligases (CRLs), which are essential multisubunit ubiquitination complexes, were identified in association with NSP1. The mass spectrometry was validated in both transfected and infected cells to show that the NSP1 proteins from different strains of rotavirus associated with key components of CRL complexes, most notably the cullin scaffolding proteins Cul3 and Cul1. In vitro binding assays using purified proteins confirmed that NSP1 specifically interacted with Cul3 and that the N-terminal region of Cul3 was responsible for binding to NSP1. To test if NSP1 used CRL3 to induce degradation of the target protein IRF3 or β-TrCP, Cul3 levels were knocked down using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) approach. Unexpectedly, loss of Cul3 did not rescue IRF3 or β-TrCP from degradation in infected cells. The results indicate that, rather than actively using CRL complexes to induce degradation of target proteins required for IFN production, NSP1 may use cullin-containing complexes to prevent another cellular activity. IMPORTANCE The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays an important regulatory role in numerous cellular functions, and many viruses have evolved mechanisms to exploit or manipulate this pathway to enhance replication and spread. Rotavirus, a major cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children that causes approximately 420,000 deaths worldwide each year, utilizes the ubiquitin-proteasome system to subvert the host innate immune response by inducing the degradation of key components required for the production of interferon (IFN). Here, we show that NSP1 proteins from different rotavirus strains associate with the scaffolding proteins Cul1 and Cul3 of CRL ubiquitin ligase complexes. Nonetheless, knockdown of Cul1 and Cul3 suggests that NSP1 induces the degradation of some target proteins independently of its association with CRL complexes, stressing a need to further investigate the mechanistic details of how NSP1 subverts the host IFN response.
Fire Smoke Damage and Fire Protection Design Countermeasures

The smoke is one of the main factor leading to dead in the building fire,a more systematic description and summary of harmful gas,and Propose recommendations to smoke control design in the construction.
Fast Beam Measurement of Hydrogen Fine Structure

Hydrogenic atoms play a special role in physics and metrology since they are the only atomic systems whose properties can presently be calculated with confidence and high precision. This dual role is well illustrated by the history of fine structure measurements in the hydrogen atom. Figure 1 shows the fine structure of the n=2 state of hydrogen as deduced from the pioneering measurements of Lamb and co-workers in the ‘50’s.I The two independent intervals shown each have their own special significance. The 22S1/2, and 22P1/2 states are separated by the Lamb shift interval & which is due almost entirely to the radiative corrections of Quantum Electrodynamics. Precision measurements of this interval are one of the best tests of this fundamental theory of physics.2 On the other hand, the fine structure interval ΔE between the 22P1/2 and 22P3/2 states depends only weakly on QED and can therefore be calculated unambiguously in terms of the fine structure constant α. Experimental determinations of ΔE can be used by metrologists to improve the precision with which α and other fundamental constants are known.3
Microfluidic Platforms for Quantitative Biology Studies in Model Organisms

The use of lab-on-chip tools has been adopted in a wide variety of scientific fields. Hundreds of applications that speed up, miniaturize, or enable otherwise unfeasible assays have emerged in the last couple of decades [1, 2]. The microfluidic toolbox offers several advantages which make it a very attractive resource for biological studies: reduced sample volume, control of spatiotemporal chemical compositions, streamlined assays, precise and predictable fluid flow regimes, portability, and integration with sensors, actuators, controllers, and automation systems [1–3]. The main drive of the field has thus far focused on the development of microfluidic tools that replace conventional methods with proof-of-principle applications. However, widespread adoption of these technologies for fundamental research is still in progress. Microfluidics has nonetheless had a significant impact in fundamental biological studies with model organisms [4, 5]. In this article, we provide an overview of the current state of the field, the impacts of microfluidics in model organism research, and the outlook, challenges, and opportunities for the future.
Visualizing Homeland Remembering 9/11 and the Production of the Surveilling Flâneur

The following analysis approaches the 9/11 Memorial through the lens of a moving methodology, which is grounded in the intersections of critical rhetorical theory and visual ethnography. An intersectional methodological approach takes seriously movement, affect, and aesthetics as primary modes of understanding in situ communication and reveals that the National 9/11 Memorial works affectively and viscerally to constitute the surveilling flâneur, a security-conscious consumer subjectivity who is mobilized through the temporal, horizontal, and vertical vectors of the site. Ultimately, I suggest that the Memorial’s affective dimensions position the habitus of the surveilling flâneur as reflective of larger discourses about freedom in a post-9/11 culture.
Wet process and exfoliation of clay in epoxy

A new approach for the preparation of epoxy-clay nanocomposite (ECN) was developed based on utilization of water remains in the clay treatment as a carrier to improve clay dispersion and intercalation/exfoliation. A novel type organoclay was prepared by combining short and long chain molecule intercalants. The short chain intercalant provides the functionality ready to interact with the polymer, while the long one helps keep clay layers apart from each other. The micro- and nano-structures, physical and mechanical properties, and fire resistance of ECN were studied. The results indicated that the use of wet process and clay modification facilitates the dispersion intercalation/exfoliation of clay, the interaction between clay and epoxy, and subsequently improves ECN mechanical properties and fire resistance. The drying, grinding and screening steps in the preparation of organoclay could be eliminated, thereby reducing energy consumption. This method allows the solvent free in the preparation of ECN, which requires considerable time and cost for solvent removing. This also reduces ECN’s environmental impact.
Satellite system for tactical MILSATCOM applications

The communication requirements for continuous MILSATCOM service can be met by augmenting the current and planned MILSATCOM systems with a functionally simple, low-cost, maneuverable, user-dedicated satellite constellation for tactical applications (TACSAT) whose payloads are under direct control of the theater Commander in Chief (CINC). A perspective on moderately hardened, low-cost SHF and EHF satellites that have minimal impact on the ground infrastructure to satisfy such missions is presented. The communication and coverage requirements of the theater CINCs are discussed, followed by an SHF versus EHF comparison. Four different SHF payloads (including an enhanced DSCS replenishment) and two EHF payloads are evaluated. The spacecraft systems to integrate these payload options, including the spacecraft, launch vehicles, and ground segment, are addressed. Parametric trade studies of communication capacity and satellite life/maneuverability are presented. Ground segment operational scenarios based on a computer simulation of ground mobile forces (GMF) network for a given connectivity are presented. The various architectures proposed are analyzed and compared by generating a figure-of-merit unit per 1 MHz transponder capacity for each option. >
Scale-Limited Lagrange Stability and Finite-Time Synchronization for Memristive Recurrent Neural Networks on Time Scales

The existed results of Lagrange stability and finite-time synchronization for memristive recurrent neural networks (MRNNs) are scale-free on time evolvement, and some restrictions appear naturally. In this paper, two novel scale-limited comparison principles are established by means of inequality techniques and induction principle on time scales. Then the results concerning Lagrange stability and global finite-time synchronization of MRNNs on time scales are obtained. Scaled-limited Lagrange stability criteria are derived, in detail, via nonsmooth analysis and theory of time scales. Moreover, novel criteria for achieving the global finite-time synchronization are acquired. In addition, the derived method can also be used to study global finite-time stabilization. The proposed results extend or improve the existed ones in the literatures. Two numerical examples are chosen to show the effectiveness of the obtained results.
Improved mappint of the Lake Agassiz Herman strandline by integrating geological and soil maps

Several discontinuous, segmented strandlines that mark the former shores of Lake Agassiz can be found in eastern North Dakota. These strandlines are difficult to map and correlate because of their segmented nature. Better mapping would benefit researchers working on a number of problems involving Lake Agassiz including dating the strandlines, reconstructing the lake's history, and calculation of asthenosphere viscosity beneath the Lake Agassiz basin. Elongated soil delineations representing beach-indicative soils with a north-northwest trend and extending from currently mapped areas of the Herman strandline were identified on Grand Forks County soil maps. This information was combined with the geologic map of Grand Forks County in an attempt to better define the location of the Herman strandline in the southern part of the county. This approach worked well, and it is recommended that similar studies be attempted on other Lake Agassiz strandlines in North Dakota and the surrounding area.
Abstract 307: The Presence of an Adrenergic System in Perivascular Adipose Tissue

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is under recognized for its importance in blood pressure regulation. Visceral adipocytes reportedly contain catecholamines. Adipocytes in PVAT are directly adjacent to the blood vessels they surround and therefore the production, release and/or reuptake of catecholamines may significantly affect vascular tone. We hypothesize that an adrenergic system is present in PVAT. Glyoxylic acid staining revealed the presence of catecholamines in the cytosol of mesenteric PVAT adipocytes. Dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine were quantified by HPLC in rat aortic PVAT, brown fat, mesenteric PVAT and retroperitoneal fat with NE being the most abundant at concentrations of 731.9, 815.0, 668.7 and 73.2 ng/g from each tissue, respectively. Two key enzymes in catecholamine synthesis; tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase, were located to PVAT adipocytes by immunohistochemistry. The norepinephrine transporter (NET) was detected on mesenteric PVAT adipocytes by confocal microscopy using ASP+ (2μM), a fluorescent NET substrate. Uptake of ASP+ was blocked by the NET specific inhibitor nisoxetine (10μM) (see figure). These data show that PVAT contains all of the elements of an adrenergic system and may contribute to vascular and adipose function in health and disease.
Subtypes of suicide attempters based on longitudinal childhood profiles of co-occurring depressive, anxious and aggressive behavior symptoms

Because suicide attempts are multi-determined events, multiple pathways to suicidal behaviors exist. However, as a low-frequency behavior, within group differences in trajectories to attempts may not emerge when examined in samples including non-attempters. We used longitudinal latent profile analysis to identify subtypes specific for suicide attempters based on longitudinal trajectories of childhood clinical symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and aggression measured in 2nd, 4th-7th grades) for 161 young adults (35.6% male; 58.6% African American) who attempted suicide between ages 13-30 from a large, urban community-based, longitudinal prevention trial (n = 2311). Differences in psychiatric diagnoses, suicide attempt characteristics, criminal history and traumatic stress history were studied. Three subtypes emerged: those with all low (n = 32%), all high (n = 16%), and high depressive/anxious, but low aggressive (n = 52%) symptoms. Those with the highest levels of all symptoms were significantly more likely to report a younger age of suicide attempt, and demonstrate more substance abuse disorders and violent criminal histories. Prior studies have found that childhood symptoms of depression, anxiety and aggression are malleable targets; interventions directed at each reduce future risk for suicidal behaviors. Our findings highlight the link of childhood aggression with future suicidal behaviors extending this research by examining childhood symptoms of aggression in the context of depression and anxiety.