cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding soil processes: one of the last frontiers in biological and ecological research

Soils are one of the great unknown realms on earth, despite decades of extensive research. We still see soils “through a ped darkly”. This opacity in milieu and understanding rewards innovative study, however, as soils are indeed “complex adaptive systems”, and show very sophisticated levels of self-organization. Viewed historically, soil ecological studies have progressed from what major groups of biota are present, what is their biomass, and what major processes occur. More recent studies have delineated multi-trophic interactions, extending both above- and below-ground, as well as specifically-targeted studies of substrates and organisms that are involved in the development and function of suppressive soils. One of the great unknowns in soil ecology is a fuller understanding of the complete array of predatory biota. Soils are teeming with organisms in all three Domains, but are also rife with many viruses infecting Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya, meaning that they need more study in soil processes. Pursuing a more holistic approach including viral biology and ecology may enable us to more capably manage our soils that have supported the biosphere so much over the millennia. Looking into the future, the opportunity to exploit soil biodiversity in the context of ecosystem development should pay considerable dividends. Using chronosequence analysis, the relationships between soil biodiversity and ecosystem function are beginning to be understood. The interplays of aboveground and belowground herbivores on plant function and feedbacks on the attraction of the herbivores’ natural enemies. Finally, management of the plant-soil–microbial-faunal system via varied organic amendments shows possibilities in the study and management of suppressive soils.
EFECTOS MACROECONÓMICOS DEL CONTROL DE PRECIOS: UN ANÁLISIS DE EQUILIBRIO GENERAL A CORTO PLAZO

En este trabajo se construye un modelo simple de equilibrio general para analizar los efectos del control de precios sobre la distribucion del ingreso, el producto y el deficit presupuestal. Se ha dividido a la economia en dos sectores: privado y publico. En el primero, los precios se determinan competitivamente, mientras que en el segundo se fijan de manera exogena por decreto del gobierno. Ademas, los precios del sector publico pueden ser distintos para productores y consumidores. El analisis se desarrolla en el contexto de una economia abierta con tipo de cambio fijo en la que los bienes de consumo importados son sustitutos imperfectos de los nacionales. De esta forma, se ha incorporado al modelo la incidencia del control de precios sobre la balanza comercial. Se identifican los gravamenes (o subsidios) que se imponen a diversos grupos por medio del control de precios. Se construye un equilibrio para una economia que produce diez bienes, cuatro de los cuales estan sujetos a control de precios; posteriormente se ejecutan simulaciones para analizar los efectos de una devaluacion del tipo de cambio sobre los principales indicadores macroeconomicos.
Experimental Study and Analysis of Different Air-Injecting Segment on the Separation Performance of Air-Injected De-Oiling Hydrocyclone

Developing state-of-the-art and separating principle of deoiling hydrocyclones are introduced. By theoretical analysis, the ways to enhance hydrocyclone’s separation efficiency are described. One way is to inject air into the hydrocyclones so as to combine with oil to form oil-gas compound body, and then increase de-oiling efficiency. By means of injecting air into large cone segment, or fine cone segment of the hydrocyclone, experiments were carried out. It is found that the best injecting part is fine cone segment. Further experimental studies were continued for confirming detail part in fine cone segment, which includes one-third segment and two-thirds segment for the sake of research. Results show that the best air-injecting part is the first one-third segment of fine cone segment. This conclusion would be useful for understanding of air-injected de-oiling hydrocyclone’s separating process, and for its design and applications.© 2008 ASME
Using the Forest, People, Fire Agent-Based Social Network Model to Investigate Interactions in Social-Ecological Systems

Wildfire links social and ecological systems in dry-forest landscapes of the United States. The management of these landscapes, however, is bifurcated by two institutional cultures that have different sets of beliefs about wildfire, motivations for managing wildfire risk, and approaches to administering policy. Fire protection, preparedness, and response agencies often view wildfire as a threat to be mitigated or extinguished to protect things that humans value (e.g., houses, and timber), whereas land management agencies and conservation organizations often view wildfire as an essential ecological process for sustaining biodiversity and resilient forests. A lack of coordinated action between these two types of organizations raises the possibility of several management challenges in fire-prone socioecological systems: (1) maladaptive management behaviors (e.g., suppressing wildfires, which then allows fuels to accumulate further) resulting from lack of recognition of interdependencies between fire protection and forest restoration or a sole focus on minimizing property damage; (2) limited opportunities for problemsolving, innovation and collective action resulting from lack of communication among the two types of organizations; and (3) impediments to management at politically and ecologically efficient scales due to lack of coordination across cultural and geographic boundaries.
Dynamic bone imaging in the differential diagnosis of skeletal lesions.

Abstract Dynamic bone imaging differs from routine multiphase bone scintigraphy by the use of time-activity curves (TACs) and quantitation of data. TACs were divided into an arterial plus blood pool phase (first 60 s at 1 frame/s) and a subsequent early bone uptake phase (24 min at 1 frame/min). Ratios of normalized integrals, from analogous regions were calculated to determine whether blood flow was abnormal. A key feature of the technique is the monitoring of the flow proximally and distally to the area of involvement. This was of importance in distinguishing between two diseases producing the same degree of local hyperemia. Dynamic bone imaging was applied to the differential diagnosis of arthritis, septic arthritis, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, tumor, avascular necrosis, Charcot joint, Legg-Perthes (LP) disease, and Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD). Although the method is straightforward, there are technical and clinical factors that may affect interpretation of data. Asymmetries in flow may arise due to injection technique, interfering activity of bladder and/or bowel, vascular abnormalities, AV malformation, and venous backflow. The dynamic study is also sensitive to the effects of various modes of therapy. Consideration must be given to these technical and clinical factors for the avoidance of pitfalls in interpretation of the dynamic study.
Fish behavior and environmental assessment

Studies at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory have evaluated fish behavior and migration in response to gas-supersaturated water, thermal discharge, water-soluble fractions (WSFs) of coal liquids and other environmental stresses. Approaches have included biotelemetry in the field, and avoidance/attraction and predator/prey studies in the laboratory. This article specifically addresses three study examples and integrates the results with those of related studies. Overall, major findings included the following: Thermal discharges (surface water Δts 0->17°C) did not block upstream migration of sonic-tagged adult chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss, formerly Salmo gairdneri) in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. Juvenile chinook salmon avoided thermal discharges in the laboratory when Δts exceeded 9 to 11°C above ambient. However, juvenile salmon were more susceptible to predation at 10 to 20% of the thermal dose causing loss of equilibrium. Radio-tagged adult chinook salmon swam deeper in supersaturated water than in normally saturated water in the Snake River and, thereby, avoided the upper, critical zone. Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) did not always avoid lethal gas levels in the laboratory and some fish died in the test apparatus. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) avoided the WSF of a coal liquid at concentrations causing acute effects but not at those causing chronic effects. Rainbow trout did not avoid coal liquid WSFs although they reportedly avoid the major constituent, phenol, tested as a pure compound. Susceptibility to predation of juvenile rainbow trout did not increase until phenol concentrations reached the acute LC50. A conceptual model to link avoidance and toxicological data for environmental assessment is presented.
ZrO2 promoted with sulfate, iron and manganese: a solid superacid catalyst capable of low temperaturen-butane isomerization

A sulfated oxide of zirconium, iron and manganese is prepared and shown to isomerizen-butane to isobutane at 35°C with rates approximately 2–3 orders of magnitude greater than sulfated zirconia as claimed by workers at Sun Refining and Marketing Company. Temperature programmed desorption of benzene is used to investigate the acidity of this remarkable catalyst. Adsorbed benzene is oxidized to CO2 by the triply promoted oxide catalyst; CO2, SO2 and O2 are found to desorb at 525, 575 and 560°C, respectively. Sulfated zirconia does not adsorb benzene in a similar manner. The results from the temperature programmed desorption of benzene cannot be correlated with then-butane isomerization activity.
Carbon and nutrient contents in soils from the Kings River Experimental Watersheds, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Abstract Soil C and nutrient contents were estimated for eight watersheds in two sites (one high elevation, Bull, and one low elevation, Providence) in the Kings River Experimental Watersheds in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Eighty-seven quantitative pits were dug to measure soil bulk density and total rock content, while three replicate surface samples were taken nearby with a bucket auger (satellite samples) to the same depth as surface pit samples. Results showed that the higher elevation Bull watersheds had significantly greater C, N, and B contents and significantly lower extractable P, exchangeable Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Na + contents (kg ha − 1 ) and lower pH than the lower elevation Providence watersheds. Soil NH 4 + and mineral N contents were high in both the Bull and Providence watersheds and could not be related to any measured soil property or attributed to known rates of atmospheric deposition. Nutrient analyses on satellite samples were comparable to those taken from pits when averaged on a watershed or site (Bull and Providence) scale, but quite variable on an individual grid point basis. Elevated Zn values from the quantitative pit samples suggested contamination by field sieving through a galvanized screen. Had the amount of large rocks within the soil sample not been accounted for with quantitative pit analyses, estimates of fine earth and associated C and nutrient contents (kg ha − 1 ) would have been overestimated by 16 to 43%.
Pioglitazone Inhibits Toll-Like Receptor Expression and Activity in Human Monocytes and db/db Mice

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key innate immune sensors of endogenous damage signals and play an important role in inflammatory diseases like diabetes and atherosclerosis. Pioglitazone (PIO), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonist, has been reported to be an antiinflammatory agent. Thus, in the present study, we examined the antiinflammatory effects of PIO on TLR2 and TLR4 expression in human monocytes exposed to Pam3CSK4 (Pam; TLR2 ligand) and purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS; TLR4 ligand) using flow cytometry and real-time RT-PCR. Monocytes were isolated from healthy human volunteers and pretreated with PIO (1 microM) followed by Pam (170 ng/ml) and LPS (160 ng/ml) challenge. PIO significantly decreased Pam- and LPS-induced TLR2 (-56%) and TLR4 (-78%) expression (P < 0.05). In addition, PIO decreased TLR ligand-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activity (-63%), IL-1beta (-50%), IL-6 (-52%), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(-83%), and TNF-alpha (-87%) compared with control. Next, PIO-treated db/db mice (n = 6/group) showed decreased TLR2 (-60%) and TLR4 (-45%) expression in peritoneal macrophages compared with vehicle control mice (P < 0.001) with associated decrease in MyD88-dependent signaling and nuclear factor-kappaB activation. Data suggest that Pam- and LPS-induced TLR2 and TLR4 expression are inhibited by PIO in human monocytes and db/db mice. Thus, we define a novel pathway by which PIO could induce antiinflammatory effects.
61 BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE ASSESSMENT IN DySTONIA MUBOULORUM DEFORMANS

The assessment of movement disorders necessitates the quantification of abnormal findings. The development of behavior analysis techniques offers a methodology for examining movements. The present study is an attempt to apply behavior analysis techniques to the treatment of disorders. Three patients with Dystonia Musculorum Deformans (age range 16-24y ) were assessed during treatment with artane (8-15mg/d),parsidol (200-400mg/d) (P), tegretol (.4-1.5mg/d) (T) or P+T. The results in one patient are shown. Assessment measures including range of motion, finger dexterity, writing skills, and surface EMG suggests the greatest improvement is on a combination of P+T. This approach suggests that assessment of behavioral changes may provide important information upon which to base clinical decisions. Empirical analysis of behaviors represents a methodology by which treatment efficacy may be quantified and clinical impressions substantiated.
Serial cultivation of epithelial cells from human and macaque salivary glands.

To study the regulation of human salivary-type gene expression we developed cell culture systems to support the growth and serial cultivation of salivary gland epithelial and fibroblastic cell types. We have established 22 independent salivary gland epithelial cell strains from parotid or submandibular glands of human or macaque origin. Nineteen strains were derived from normal tissues and three from human parotid gland tumors. Both the normal and the tumor-derived salivary gland epithelial cells could be serially cultivated with the aid of a 3T3 fibroblast feeder layer in a mixture of Ham’s F12 and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s media supplemented with fetal bovine serum, calcium, cholera toxin, hydrocortisone, insulin, and epidermal growth factor.
Significance of secondary structure predictions on the reactive center loop region of serpins: a model for the folding of serpins into a metastable state.

To address how serpins might fold so as to adopt the mechanistically required metastable conformation we have compared the predicted secondary structures of the reactive center loops (RCLs) of a large number of serpins with those of the equivalent regions of other non-serpin protein proteinase inhibitors. Whereas the RCLs of non-serpin inhibitors are predicted to be loop or β-strand, those of inhibitory serpins are strongly predicted to be α-helical. However, non-inhibitory serpins, which also adopt the metastable conformation, show no consistent preference for α-helix. We propose that the RCL primary structure plays little role in promoting the metastable serpin conformation. Instead we hypothesize that preference for the metastable state results from the incorporation of part of the RCL into β-sheet C, which as a consequence precludes incorporation of the RCL into β-sheet A to give the most stable conformation. Consequently the RCL must be exposed and by default will adopt the most stable conformation in this particular context, which is likely to be an α-helix irrespective of the primary structure. Thus the observed correlation between inhibitory properties in serpins and prediction of α-helix in the RCL may instead reflect a need for alanine residues between positions P12 and P9 for functioning as an inhibitor rather than a structural or mechanistic requirement for α-helix.
The European Revolutions, 1848–1851 – Edited by Jonathan Sperber

The epochal events of 1789, 1917, and, increasingly, 1989 usually receive more respect and coverage than the many European revolutions of 1848–1851. Indeed, in remembering 1848–1851, one frequently...
Economic dispatch advice for the neta balancing mechanism

The New Electricity Trading Arrangements balancing mechanism is introduced. The requirement is to define power injections and response levels to maintain a viable and economic system over the balancing period. The main factors considered are meeting the predicted demand, piecewise linear prices, rate of change limitations, transmission constraints and response requirements for frequency control. The requirement for rapid and robust solution leads naturally to use of linear programming. The problem is predominantly linear, and the paper demonstrates how residual non-linear aspects are handled. The practical needs for an operational tool are discussed.
Aggression is task dependent in the red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus)

In many animal species, the propensity for aggression is linked to social context. In social insects, aggressive interactions between colonies are related to the assessment of cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. We investigated how, in the red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, an individual ant’s task environment contributes to its hydrocarbon profile, and how task-specific differences in profiles are linked to aggression. We compared the hydrocarbon profiles of 200 individuals from 4 task groups and 10 colonies, and measured aggression of ants of specific task groups toward non–nest mates of neighboring and distant colonies. We found that task groups can be distinguished by their hydrocarbon profiles. Hydrocarbon profiles are more closely associated with task group membership than with colony identity. Ants of the patroller task group were more likely to be aggressive to non–nest mates than ants of any other task group. There was no correlation between the extent of aggression between task groups and the magnitude of difference in their hydrocarbon profiles. Nearby nests did not differ more in hydrocarbon profile than distant nests. Our results suggest that aggression in P. barbatus is task dependent and is not directly correlated with the magnitude of difference in hydrocarbon profiles.
Activation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) by Inhibitors of Class III Histone Deacetylases: Identification of Sirtuin 1 as a Regulator of the KSHV Life Cycle

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establishes persistent latent infection in immunocompetent hosts. Disruption of KSHV latency results in viral lytic replication, which promotes the development of KSHV-related malignancies in immunocompromised individuals. While inhibitors of classes I and II histone deacetylases (HDACs) potently reactivate KSHV from latency, the role of class III HDAC sirtuins (SIRTs) in KSHV latency remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of inhibitors of SIRTs, nicotinamide (NAM) and sirtinol, on KSHV reactivation from latency. Treatment of latently KSHV-infected cells with NAM or sirtinol induced transcripts and proteins of the master lytic transactivator RTA (ORF50), early lytic genes ORF57 and ORF59, and late lytic gene ORF65 and increased the production of infectious virions. NAM increased the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 as well as the level of the active histone H3 trimethyl Lys4 (H3K4me3) mark but decreased the level of the repressive histone H3 trimethyl Lys27 (H3K27me3) mark in the RTA promoter. Consistent with these results, we detected SIRT1 binding to the RTA promoter. Importantly, knockdown of SIRT1 was sufficient to increase the expression of KSHV lytic genes. Accordingly, the level of the H3K4me3 mark in the RTA promoter was increased following SIRT1 knockdown, while that of the H3K27me3 mark was decreased. Furthermore, SIRT1 interacted with RTA and inhibited RTA transactivation of its own promoter and that of its downstream target, the viral interleukin-6 gene. These results indicate that SIRT1 regulates KSHV latency by inhibiting different stages of viral lytic replication and link the cellular metabolic state with the KSHV life cycle. IMPORTANCE Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causal agent of several malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, commonly found in immunocompromised patients. While latent infection is required for the development of KSHV-induced malignancies, viral lytic replication also promotes disease progression. However, the mechanism controlling KSHV latent versus lytic replication remains unclear. In this study, we found that class III histone deacetylases (HDACs), also known as SIRTs, whose activities are linked to the cellular metabolic state, mediate KSHV replication. Inhibitors of SIRTs can reactivate KSHV from latency. SIRTs mediate KSHV latency by epigenetically silencing a key KSHV lytic replication activator, RTA. We found that one of the SIRTs, SIRT1, binds to the RTA promoter to mediate KSHV latency. Knockdown of SIRT1 is sufficient to induce epigenetic remodeling and KSHV lytic replication. SIRT1 also interacts with RTA and inhibits RTA's transactivation function, preventing the expression of its downstream genes. Our results indicate that SIRTs regulate KSHV latency by inhibiting different stages of viral lytic replication and link the cellular metabolic state with the KSHV life cycle.
Review: Fertility Factors in High Producing Dairy Cows—Which Ones Are Really Important?

Abstract Reproductive management in high producing dairy cows is difficult because many fertility factors determine success. These many factors do not exert themselves with the same influence on fertility. Further, the degree to which each factor can be controlled varies greatly. Organizing fertility factors into groups that reflect their control enables reproductive management teams to focus on the most important factors and to exert positive influence. Factors controlling fertility can be subdivided into three distinct groups that reflect the degree to which each can be controlled. These groups are fertility factors controlled by humans, those controlled by the reproductive system of the cow, and those factors natural (intrinsic) to any herd. The most control can be exerted by factors controlled by humans, and there can be intermediate influence on factors controlled by the reproductive system of the cow. Very little control can be exerted on fertility factors intrinsic to each herd. Management effort should be focused on those factors over which control can be exerted and where there is a high probability of success.
Ceramide Synthesis Correlates with the Posttranscriptional Regulation of the Sterol-Regulatory Element-Binding Protein

Objective— Sterol-regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) regulate transcription of genes of lipid metabolism. Ceramide decreases transcriptionally active SREBP levels independently of intrace...
Analysis of the mechanism of DNA recombination using tangles

The DNA of all organisms has a complex and essential topology. The three topological properties of naturally occurring DNA are supercoiling, catenation, and knotting. Although these properties are denned rigorously only for closed circular DNA, even linear DNA in vivo can have topological properties because it is divided into topologically separate subdomains (Drlica 1987; Roberge & Gasser, 1992). The essentiality of topological properties is demonstrated by the lethal consequence of interfering with topoisomerases, the enzymes that regulate the level of DNA supercoiling and that unlink DNA during its replication (reviewed in Wang, 1991; Bjornsti, 1991; Drlica, 1992; Ullsperger et al. 1995).
A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENT ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY OF THE GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)

Knowledge is completely lacking concerning the endocrine physiology of reproduction in marine turtles. A preliminary hormone forcing experiment utilizing immature Chelonia mydas at Mariculture, Ltd., Grand Cayman Island, B.W.I., is described. Gonadotropin from pregnant mare's serum induced marked hypertrophy of testicular and epididymal tissue while sheep luteinizing hormone had no apparent effect on those organs A crude homogenate prepared from sea turtle pituitaries may have caused limited testicular activity. Testosterone-propionate and Estradiol-dipropionate treatment groups showed striking development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. The histology of the testis related to the various treatment groups is also discussed.
The Cold Zone: A Curious Convergence of Tick-Transmitted Diseases

In recent years, investigators have gained an increasing appreciation of the complexity of the Lyme disease transmission cycle with regard to the number of pathogens involved. Babesia microti, a blood parasite that is related to the organism that causes malaria, frequently accompanies the Lyme disease spirochete in the mouse reservoir. Recently, a newly described Ehrlichia species related to Ehrlichia equi has been found to be transmitted by the deer tick. Human infections with these agents alone and in combination are now being described, and the successful treatment of these infections may depend on proper diagnosis. The convergence of these and other organisms on the Lyme disease transmission cycle provides a unique opportunity to study pathogen-pathogen interactions in a naturally occurring model.
Mutation of a Chitinase-Like Gene Causes Ectopic Deposition of Lignin, Aberrant Cell Shapes, and Overproduction of Ethylene

Chitinase-like proteins have long been proposed to play roles in normal plant growth and development, but no mutations in chitinase-like genes have been obtained previously to support this hypothesis. In this study, we have shown that the gene responsible for the elp1 mutation in Arabidopsis encodes a chitinase-like protein (AtCTL1). Mutation of this chitinase-like gene caused ectopic deposition of lignin and aberrant shapes of cells with incomplete cell walls in the pith of inflorescence stems. The AtCTL1 gene was expressed in all organs during normal plant growth and development, but it was not induced by wounding, salicylic acid, pectin fragments, or ethylene. Consistent with its ubiquitous expression pattern, mutation of the AtCTL1 gene affected many aspects of plant growth and development, including exaggerated hook curvature, reduced length and increased diameter of hypocotyls in dark-grown seedlings, and reduced root length and increased number of root hairs in light-grown seedlings. The mutant phenotypes could be rescued partially by ethylene inhibitors, and ethylene production in the mutant was significantly greater than in the wild type. Together, these results suggest that AtCTL1, a chitinase-like gene, is essential for normal plant growth and development in Arabidopsis.
Characterizing VLAN-induced sharing in a campus network

Many enterprise, campus, and data-center networks have complex layer-2 virtual LANs ("VLANs") below the IP layer. The interaction between layer-2 and IP topologies in these VLANs introduces hidden dependencies between IP level network and the physical infrastructure that has implications for network management tasks such as planning for capacity or reliability, and for fault diagnosis. This paper characterizes the extent and effect of these dependencies in a large campus network. We first present the design and implementation of EtherTrace, a tool that we make publicly available, which infers the layer-2 topology using data passively collected from Ethernet switches. Using this tool, we infer the layer-2 topology for a large campus network and compare it with the IP topology. We find that almost 70% of layer-2 edges are shared by 10 or more IP edges, and a single layer-2 edge may be shared by as many as 34 different IP edges. This sharing of layer-2 edges and switches among IP paths commonly results from trunking multiple VLANs to the same access router, or from colocation of academic departments that share layer-2 infrastructure, but have logically separate IP subnet and routers. We examine how this sharing affects the accuracy and specificity of fault diagnosis. For example, applying network tomography to the IP topology to diagnose failures caused by layer-2 devices results in only 54% accuracy, compared to 100% accuracy when our tomography algorithm takes input across layers.
Finding Wholeness: Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose in College

The role of the practitioner/mentor is addressed in relation to college students' search for self, the human spirit, and inner peace. Often the practitioner/mentor is pursuing the same search.
Effect of board and package attributes on solder joint reliability of FCBGA packages based on IPC9701 characterization

The purpose of this document is to present the results of a study to compare the long term solder joint reliability between flip chip ball grid array packages, FCBGA, using eutectic solder balls (63Sn37Pb) and lead free SAC405 solder balls (95.5Sn4.0Ag0.5Cu) under accelerated thermal loading conditions. It draws its conclusions from results obtained from accelerated temperature cycle testing data based on the IPC9701 standard, performance test methods and qualification requirements for surface mount solder attachments. Under similar testing conditions, the results of the study show that (a) lead free solder joints perform better than eutectic solder joints, (b), thermal enabling solutions improve the reliability, and (c) thicker boards reduce the solder joint reliability.
Targeted Dropwindsondes in Complex Terrain

Abstract The dropwindsonde (or dropsonde) is a frequently utilized tool in geophysical research and its use over ocean and flat terrain is a reliable and well-established practice. Its use in complex terrain, however, is complicated by signal acquisition challenges that can be directly related to the ground target location, local relief, and line of sight to flight tracks relevant to the observation sought. This note describes a straightforward technique to calculate the theoretical altitude above ground to which a ground-targeted dropsonde will provide data for a given airborne platform. It is found that this height HCq can be calculated from expected airborne platform horizontal velocity Uag, mean dropwindsonde vertical velocity Ws, the relevant barrier maximum HB, and the horizontal distance from the target area to the barrier maximum DB. Here, HCq is found to be weakly dependent on release altitude through Ws. An example from the Terrain-induced Rotor Experiment (T-REX) is used to show that for modern...
Intergenerational Factors in Pregnancy Outcome

In general, clinicians and epidemiologists studying reproductive outcomes seem to regard pregnancy merely as an acute situation lasting about 280 days. This common idea places attention primarily on events occurring during pregnancy itself, such as exposure to infectious and chemical agents, physiological and anatomical abnormalities, inadequate diet, abnormal weight gain, pregnancy-induced hypertension, abruptio placenta, and placenta previa. As a result there has been relatively little interest in intrinsic maternal host factors, with some exceptions such as maternal diabetes and other overt maternal chronic diseases. This contrasts with epidemiological studies of various chronic adult diseases, such as hypertension, coronary disease, and various cancers, where the disease is considered at least partly to be related to life-style factors accumulated over a long period of time. There is now substantial evidence that important maternal host factors that influence reproductive outcome are present by the time a woman’s first pregnancy occurs, and that some of these host factors are the end result of long-term processes probably occurring over more than one generation.
Profiling of optical waveguide flames

Determination of the temperature field of flames produced on optical waveguide (OWG) burners is essential to the analysis of SiO2-GeO2 glass formation and deposition processes during OVD. Burner design modifications are reflected in the flame temperature profile and can be related to changes in the OVD deposition efficiency. Highly sensitive laser-based optical techniques can be used to obtain spatially and temporally resolved temperature measurements without perturbing the flame as has been observed when utilizing thermocouple probes. The measurement method which has been investigated at Corning Is thermally assisted fluorescence (THAF) spectroscopy.1 THAF has been used previously to probe premix flames and diffusion jets.2
Oviposition and Development of Euxesta stigmatis (Diptera: Otitidae)

Euxesta stigmatis Loew, preferred silk tips for oviposition ( P < 0.5) over other parts of corn plants. Most oviposition occurred during daylight hours, but peaked between 1100 and 1800 hours (EST). Few eggs (12–17%) deposited at the leaf base completed development, whereas eggs laid inside the tassel did not develop. Highest percentage of adult emergence was from com ears (41–83%). Development from egg to adult was longer on seed corn, Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer’ 305, 35–37 d, than on sweet com, Zea mays L. ‘Silver Queen’, 30–32 d. Development times did not vary with seasons or sex, but development of different stages of E. stigma tis was the shortest at 30°C (egg-adult, 28.2 d).
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: a clinical conundrum

Patients negative for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are categorized as having atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and are associated with an increased risk for complement mutations and poorer prognosis compared with typical HUS. However, STEC identification is limited by the natural history of HUS. The current study is aimed at identifying HUS patients with poor outcomes based on the presence or absence of diarrhea (D) or Shiga toxin (S). A single-center retrospective review (2003–2012) of 42 HUS patients (follow-up 31.3 ± 38.7 months) was carried out. HUS was managed clinically with supportive treatments such as dialysis, plasma therapy, and eculizumab. There was no significant difference in the D+S+ (31 %), D+S− (50 %) and D−S− (19 %) groups in the outcome variables of chronic kidney disease stages I–II (100 % vs 81 % vs 67 %) and proteinuria at follow-up (20 % vs 12.5 % vs 33.3 %), hospitalization duration (16.0 ± 8.7 vs 18.1 ± 9.5 vs 23.7 ± 12.9 days); dialysis requirement (50 % vs 81 % vs 66.7 %), and dialysis duration (10.2 ± 1.9 vs 33.3 ± 72.8 vs 10.3 ± 8.1 days). There was no significant difference in study outcomes in STEC+ (59 %) versus STEC– (41 %) groups. Genetic testing was performed in 12 % of HUS patients based on age, recurrent HUS, familial HUS, persistently low C3, or prolonged dialysis, and 80 % of the patients tested were positive for genetic mutations. Our study does not show poorer outcomes in STEC− HUS. Indications and the cost-effectiveness of genetic testing, eculizumab, and plasmapheresis in STEC− HUS need to be evaluated further.
Molecular and Multimodality Imaging in Cardiovascular Disease

T.H. Schindler, R.T. George, and J.A.C. Lima, Eds. New York, NY: Springer, 2015, 247 pages, $159 Dr. Schindler and 28 expert coauthors have written a 12-chapter textbook on molecular and multimodality imaging of cardiovascular disease. The text provides a well-written discussion of the technical
Preeclampsia, of mice and women

Preeclampsia (PE) is a devastating disorder of pregnancy that affects up to 8% of pregnant women in the United States. The diagnosis of PE is made by the presentation of new-onset hypertension, ≥140 mmHg systolic blood pressure (BP) or ≥90 mmHg diastolic BP, and either proteinuria or another accompanying sign/symptom, such as renal insufficiency, thrombocytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, pulmonary edema, or cerebral/visual. These signs can occur suddenly and without warning. PE that presents before 34 wk of gestation is considered early onset and carries a greater risk for perinatal morbidity/mortality than late-onset PE that occurs at or after 34 wk of gestation. At this time there is no cure for PE, and the only effective treatment is delivery of the baby and placenta. If allowed to progress to eclampsia (PE with neurologic involvement), seizures will occur and possibly death through stroke. PE also carries the risk of significant fetal and neonatal morbidity/mortality in addition to long-term health risks for mother and child. Despite significant research efforts to accurately predict, diagnose, and treat PE, a cure eludes us. Elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms that can cause PE will aid in our ability to accurately prevent, manage, and treat PE to avoid maternal and fetal losses. Intense research efforts are focused on PE, and the mouse has proven to be a useful animal model for investigating molecular mechanisms that may hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of PE in women.
Synthesis of NaTi2(PO4)3 by the Inorganic–Organic Steric Entrapment Method and Its Thermal Expansion Behavior

Crystalline pure NaTi2(PO4)3 (NTP) powder was synthesized at 700°C using a simple and low energy, hybrid inorganic–organic, steric entrapment method. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and ammonium phosphate dibasic ((NH4)2HPO4) dissolved in water, whereas titanium (IV) isopropoxide (Ti[OCH(CH3)2]4) hydrolyzed in water. Ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) was used as a polymeric entrapper and hydrolysis of the Ti source was hindered by its dissolution in isopropyl alcohol. The resulting NTP powder was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller nitrogen absorption, and particle size analysis. Furthermore, C, H, N were measured by the classical Pregl-Dumas method. The thermal expansion behavior in all {hkl} pole directions was also determined by in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation and was found to be in agreement with other published studies.
The credibility of expert witnesses in patent claim construction: the need to amend Rule 52 under Teva Pharmaceuticals v. Sandoz, Inc.

There has been much scholarly attention devoted to the policy implications of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Teva Pharmaceuticals v. Sandoz, Inc., in which the Court held that district court findings regarding the credibility of expert witnesses testifying in patent claim construction are findings of fact subject to clear error deference on appeal. However, no attention has been paid to the underlying problem implicated by the Teva decision: what precisely is factual about a credibility assessment? Unlike other judicial determinations traditionally afforded clear error deference, no legally operable definition of “credibility” currently exists. This Note argues that the Supreme Court of the United States should clarify how district court judges and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should arrive at determinations of expert credibility under the new clear error requirements of Teva. The best solution is for the Supreme Court to amend Rule 52 by providing specific credibility criteria to evaluate expert testimony in patent claim construction. This proposal will both give district court judges a reference point to include in their claim construction orders, and provide a solid basis for clear error review that the Federal Circuit cannot simply set aside on appeal.
e-mentoring for software engineering: a socio-technical perspective

Mentoring is one of the most effective pedagogical tools, holding great promise for software engineering education. When done badly, however, it can lead to dysfunctional inter-personal relationships and may turn off mentees from careers in software engineering. In this qualitative interview-based study we examine how socio-technical dimensions of software impact the formation of social ties important for satisfying two goals of mentorship, building technical skill and interpersonal development. We find that mentees working on user facing, interdependent software form a balance of ties that facilitate both goals, while mentees working on non-user facing software mostly form ties important for building technical skill. Work practices that create opportunities for unstructured contact between mentees and community members, such as code review in a mentee cohort, can help to overcome this imbalance. Our findings have important implications for task definition in software engineering e-mentoring program schemes.
Flipped Learning in Synchronously-Delivered, Geographically-Dispersed General Chemistry Classrooms

In synchronously-delivered, multisite classrooms, the physical separation between distance students and instructors may create a perceived divide that negatively affects learning. Building on prior experience in flipping organic chemistry in single-site face-to-face (F2F) classes, we decided to extend our approach to multisite, synchronously delivered general chemistry courses. Our thought was to narrow the perceived instructor–student divide in distance teaching by using the flexible in-class time that flipping affords to increase the number of positive teacher/distance-student interactions. In this effort, we gradually developed a technique called “bridging questions,” through which the instructor becomes more familiar with student interests and then connects those interests to chemistry topics discussed in class. Despite anticipating overall positive results, actual consequences were mixed: after flipping the class, evaluation scores and positive feedback increased slightly. However, the mean final exa...
Fluid and flexible minds: Intelligence reflects synchrony in the brain's intrinsic network architecture

Human intelligence has been conceptualized as a complex system of dissociable cognitive processes, yet studies investigating the neural basis of intelligence have typically emphasized the contributions of discrete brain regions or, more recently, of specific networks of functionally connected regions. Here we take a broader, systems perspective in order to investigate whether intelligence is an emergent property of synchrony within the brain's intrinsic network architecture. Using a large sample of resting-state fMRI and cognitive data (n = 830), we report that the synchrony of functional interactions within and across distributed brain networks reliably predicts fluid and flexible intellectual functioning. By adopting a whole-brain, systems-level approach, we were able to reliably predict individual differences in human intelligence by characterizing features of the brain's intrinsic network architecture. These findings hold promise for the eventual development of neural markers to predict changes in intellectual function that are associated with neurodevelopment, normal aging, and brain disease.
Food-induced reinforcement is abrogated by the genetic deletion of the MT1 or MT2 melatonin receptor in C3H/HeN mice.

Abstract Palatable food is known for its ability to enhance reinforcing responses. Studies have suggested a circadian variation in both drug and natural reinforcement, with each following its own time course. The goal of this study was to determine the role of the MT 1 and MT 2 melatonin receptors in palatable snack food-induced reinforcement, as measured by the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm during the light and dark phases. C3H/HeN wild-type mice were trained for snack food-induced CPP at either ZT 6 – 8 (ZT: Zeitgeber time; ZT 0 = lights on), when endogenous melatonin levels are low, or ZT 19 – 21, when melatonin levels are high. These time points also correspond to the high and low points for expression of the circadian gene Period1 , respectively. The amount of snack food (chow, Cheetos®, Froot Loops® and Oreos®) consumed was of similar magnitude at both times, however only C3H/HeN mice conditioned to snack food at ZT 6 – 8 developed a place preference. C3H/HeN mice with a genetic deletion of either the MT 1 (MT 1 KO) or MT 2 (MT 2 KO) receptor tested at ZT 6 – 8 did not develop a place preference for snack food. Although the MT 2 KO mice showed a similar amount of snack food consumed when compared to wild-type mice, the MT 1 KO mice consumed significantly less than either genotype. We conclude that in our mouse model snack food-induced CPP is dependent on time of day and the presence of the MT 1 or MT 2 receptors, suggesting a role for melatonin and its receptors in snack food-induced reinforcement.
The Rapid Prediction of Carbapenem Resistance in Patients With Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia Using Electronic Medical Record Data.

Background The administration of active antibiotics is often delayed in cases of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteremia. Using electronic medical record (EMR) data to rapidly predict carbapenem resistance in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia could help reduce the time to active therapy. Methods All cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia at Mount Sinai Hospital from September 2012 through September 2016 were included. Cases were randomly divided into a "training set" and a "testing set." EMR data from the training set cases were reviewed, and significant risk factors for carbapenem resistance were entered into a multiple logistic regression model. Performance was assessed by repeated K-fold cross-validation and by applying the training set model to the testing set. All cases were also reviewed to determine the time to effective antibiotic therapy. Results A total of 613 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia were included, 61 (10%) of which were carbapenem-resistant. The training and testing sets consisted of 460 and 153 cases, respectively. The regression model derived from the training set correctly predicted 73% of carbapenem-resistant cases and 59% of carbapenem-susceptible cases in the testing set (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 59%; positive predictive value, 16%; negative predictive value, 95%). The mean area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of the K-fold cross-validation repeats was 0.731. Patients with carbapenem-resistant infections received active antibiotics significantly later than those with susceptible infections (40.4 hours vs 9.6 hours, P < .0001). Conclusions A multiple logistic regression model using EMR data can generate rapid, sensitive predictions of carbapenem resistance in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia, which could help shorten the time to effective therapy in these cases.
From the ground-up: role of usability and aesthetics evaluation in creating a knowledge-based website for the u.s. army corps of engineers

Government agency websites are places where both tacit and implicit organizational knowledge is managed. To maximize benefits to the organization, these websites must be tailored not only to meet immediate employee needs, but they should also be aesthetically pleasing enough to keep workers engaged and interested in exploring and sharing information. Usability testing allows users to interact with websites and give vital feedback. Knowledge acquired during the usability testing process can be used to improve the information architecture of the website and its content. Preferences for aesthetic features can be gauged simultaneously. This study included usability and aesthetics tests with federal employees who interact with the Natural Resources Management Gateway, a complex information-rich website, on a regular basis. The study clarified the relative importance of both usability and aesthetic features on employee satisfaction and identified the most preferred home page design. Involvement of employees in early design stages of knowledge management systems is strongly advised.