cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma ion heating of an SO2 atmosphere on Io

The Jovian plasma-ion heating of any atmospheric gas over Io is shown to be important for determining the temperature structure and the location of the exobase and for limiting diffusive separation in Io's atmosphere. This is used, along with the plasma supply rate, to estimate an average column of gas over the trailing hemisphere of about 3 x 10 to the 16th SO2/sq cm with exobase at about 1.4 Io radii.
Molecular and cellular defects of skeletal muscle in an animal model of acute quadriplegic myopathy.

Muscle denervation and concomitant high-dose dexamethasone treatment in rodents produces characteristic pathologic features of severe muscle atrophy and selective myosin heavy filament (MyHC) depletion, identical to those seen in acute quadriplegic myopathy (AQM), also known as critical illness myopathy. We tested the hypothesis that defective pre-translational processes contribute to the atrophy and selective MyHC depletion in this model. We examined the effects of combined glucocorticoid–denervation treatment on MyHC and actin mRNA populations; we also studied mRNA expression of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), primary transcription factors for MyHC. Adult female rats were subjected to proximal sciatic denervation followed by high-dose dexamethasone (DD) treatment (5 mg/kg body weight daily) for 7 days. Disease controls included rats treated with denervation alone (DN) or dexamethasone alone (DX). At 1 week the plantaris atrophied by ∼42% in DD muscles. DD treatment resulted in selective MyHC protein depletion; actin protein concentration was not significantly changed. Despite an increase in total RNA concentration in DN and DD muscles, MyHC and actin mRNA concentrations were significantly decreased in these muscles. MyHC mRNA showed a significantly more extensive depletion relative to actin mRNA in DD muscles. Glucocorticoid treatment did not influence a denervation-induced increase in the mRNA expression of the MRFs. We conclude that a deleterious interaction between glucocorticoid and denervation treatments in skeletal muscle is responsible for pre-translational defects that reduce actin and MyHC mRNA substrates in a disproportionate fashion. The resultant selective MyHC depletion contributes to the severe muscle atrophy. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Caliciviruses: A Major Cause of Foodborne Illness

: The public health impact of infections by human caliciviruses (HuCVs) is increasingly being recognized. The Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) are the most common cause of outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis and the most recognized foodborne viral etiologic agents. Factors that contribute to their high burden of infection are low infectious dose, stability in the environment, the diversity of strains, and the lack of long-term immunity to infection or illness. The recent development of sensitive molecular techniques for diagnosis, quantification, and characterization of these agents has led to the recognition of the importance of NLV infection. Future applications of these approaches to understanding modes of transmission and the effectiveness of control measures holds promise for improved understanding of the epidemiology of HuCVs, as well as important control measures for foodborne transmission. This report reviews what is currently known and understood about human caliciviruses regarding foodborne transmission.
Bile acids up-regulate death receptor 5/TRAIL-receptor 2 expression via a c-Jun N-terminal kinase-dependent pathway involving Sp1.

Bile acids up-regulate death receptor 5 (DR5)/TRAIL-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) expression thereby sensitizing hepatocytes to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. However, the precise mechanism by which bile acids enhance DR5/TRAIL-R2 expression is unknown. Although several bile acids enhanced DR5/TRAIL-R2 expression, deoxycholic acid (DCA) was the most potent. DCA stimulated JNK activation and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked DCA-induced DR5/TRAIL-R2 mRNA and protein expression. Reporter gene analysis identified a 5′-flanking region containing two Sp1 binding sites within the DR5/TRAIL-R2 promoter as bile acid responsive. Sp1 binding to one of the two sites was enhanced by DCA treatment as evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies. JNK inhibition with SP600125 also blocked binding of Sp1 to the DR5/TRAIL-R2 promoter. Finally, point mutations of the Sp1 binding site attenuated promoter activity. In conclusion, Sp1 is a bile acid-responsive transcription factor that mediates DR5/TRAIL-R2 gene expression downstream of JNK.
A Two-dimensional Model at the Nucleotide Level for the Central Hairpin of Coliphage Qβ RNA

Abstract We describe the construction and testing of a structural model at the nucleotide level for conformation CH of the central hairpin of genomic RNA from coliphage Qβ. The model was developed with the computer program MFOLD using both optimal and suboptimal predictions. Structural information obtained by electron microscopic analysis of Kleinschmidt spreadings of Qβ RNA was used to guide the modeling. The model was tested in solution with three enzymatic probes: RNase T 1 , RNase T 2 , and RNase V 1 , as well as four chemical probes: dimethylsulfate, diethylpyrocarbonate, kethoxal and 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho- p -toluene sulfonate (CMCT). The structural analyses in solution are consistent with the predicted structural model. The model is also supported by comparative structural analysis with the related coliphage SP. The model provides a structural basis for published biochemical and genetic studies implicating large, long-range structural features in the co-regulation of viral coat and replicase expression. In addition, we show that the read-through region of the viral protein A1 forms a separate structural domain, and we suggest that it functions as a nucleation site that participates in the folding and refolding of the molecule during replication and translation. In addition to the central hairpin, we have analyzed the structure of the viral coat initiation region. Our studies show that the entire region consists of small local hairpins and that 26 nucleotides immediately surrounding the coat initiation codon are single-stranded.
Interrelationships between soil magnesium forms 1

Abstract A second order equation best described the relationship between exchangeable Mg and both total and acid‐soluble Mg in select temperate and tropical soils. The relationship between acid‐soluble and total Mg was linear. Soil types differ in their Mg contents. On a per unit weight of material bases the finer soil particles contained more than 95 percent of the total soil inorganic magnesium. In tropical soils, as in temperate soils, the total Mg content of surface horizons tends to decrease with severe weathering, soil erosion and movement of soil colloidal particles down the profile.
The Attempt to Standardize Technical and Analytic Competence in Sonography Education

The assessment of clinical, technical, and analytical competence can be a challenging task in sonography education. The assessment process is typically subjective, and because of this, it can be di...
What level of government? Balancing the interests of the state and the local community

The authors describe the cycles of reform that have characterized the evolution of the mental health services system. State and local governments predominated until the 1960s when the community mental health movement introduced the federal government into mental health care financing. The past decade has seen a return shift toward increased state and local control. The authors contend that local interests and innovations are supported best by local government, but central government is needed to maintain equity, protect the larger interests of society, and assure that the most disabled are served.
Detection of subresolution sources of coherent scattering for parametric image formation

This work investigates the performance of speckle statistics parameters to detect coherent scattering with stationary features in echo signals. We focus on the task of parametric image formation for medical applications and the implicit tradeoff between spatial resolution and detection performance. Parameters include the model-free envelope and intensity point-wise SNRs, Nakagami shape parameter m and a Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test T, and the Homodyned-K clustering parameter and the ratio of coherent to incoherent scattering amplitudes. Media with periodic scatterers as a source of coherent scattering embedded in a diffuse scattering background were simulated and mimicked in phantoms. Model-free parameters offered better detection in terms of the parameters' contrast-to-noise ratio with respect to a medium with diffuse scattering conditions. This was observed for a wide range of spatial resolutions of parametric images, scatterer spacing values, and regardless of distorting the periodic array or reducing the scattering power of the periodic scatterers. Poorest performance was achieved with the Homodyned-K parameters, although their physical insight motivates their use when compounding methods are available or for the task of bulk parameter estimation. These results are to be merged with the detection of coherent scattering with non-stationary features and corresponding scatterer structure descriptors, as well as detection of false coherence from low scatterer number densities.
Local Fiscal Dynamics under Old and New Federalisms

Both Republican and Democratic national urban policies hold that federal spending stimulates local activities. This article critiques major normative assumptions informing national urban policies. It analyzes data from 62 Permanent Community Sample cities that suggest weak or insignificant effects of federal programs on local spending. This nonintuitive result is interpreted by introducing four types of local political cultures: Republican, Democratic, ethnic, and New Fiscal Populist. Each responds to inter-governmental grants following its own rules of the game. Selective pursuit or avoidance by cities of intergovernmental grants that are most consistent with local political cultures explains the weak overall effects of grants.
"On the Cobb-Douglas and all that …": the Solow-Simon correspondence over the aggregate neoclassical production function

The debate over the Cobb-Douglas production function has been raging ever since the mathematician Charles Cobb teamed up in 1928 with the economist Paul Douglas and developed this famous model of aggregate production and distribution. This article presents a heretofore unpublished exchange in 1971 over the efficacy of the Cobb-Douglas by two future Nobel Laureates, Robert Solow and Herbert Simon. Solow emerges as the defender of the Cobb-Douglas, and Simon the engaging critic. The correspondence demonstrates that the logical and empirical problems with the Cobb-Douglas were well known by the most advanced minds of mainstream economics. This calls into question the rationale for its continued use as an empirical corroboration of marginal productivity theory.
Crystal structure of Tl2CrO4

Abstract Single crystals of Tl2CrO4 have been prepared by diffusion controlled slow growth in silica-gel medium. The crystal structure has been determined by a three-dimensional X-ray diffraction study. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pmcn, with a = 5.910, b = 10.727, and c = 7.910A. The structure is isomorphous with K2CrO4, Rb2CrO4, and Cs2CrO4.
Measurement of gap junctional communication by fluorescence activated cell sorting

Cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions has played a fundamental role in the orderly development of multicellular organisms. Current methods for measuring this function apply mostly to homotypic cell populations. The newly introduced Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) method, albeit with some limitations, is simple, reliable, and quantitative in measuring the dye transfer via gap junctions in both homotypic and heterotypic cell populations. In the homotypic setting, the result in dye transfer from the FACS method is comparable to the scrape-loading and microinjection methods. Using this FACS method, we observed a decline of cell-to-cell communication in transformed and cancer cells. We also observed a differential degree of communication between two heterotypic cell populations depending on the direction of dye transfer.
Differentially expressed genes in window trials are influenced by the wound-healing process: lessons learned from a pilot study with anastrozole.

Background Perioperative window trials provide an opportunity to obtain intact tumor samples at two different time-points for evaluation of potential surrogate biomarkers. We report results of a pilot trial designed to determine if treatment-mediated changes in gene expression can be detected in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples after 10-d exposure to anastrozole in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer compared with untreated controls. Methods Paired tumor samples (biopsy, surgical) were obtained from 26 postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer. Patients were assigned anastrozole (1 mg/d) for 10 d immediately prior to surgery (13 cases) or no treatment (13 controls). Five hundred two cancer-related genes were examined by the Illumina cDNA-mediated annealing, selection, extension, and ligation, FFPE cDNA array (moderated t -test, P ≤ 0.005). Surrogate biomarkers reflecting changes in gene expression were examined by immunohistochemistry (Wilcoxon rank-based test, P Results Sufficient RNA was available from 19 paired samples (8 controls, 11 cases). Frozen tissue and FFPE showed good correlation (r = 0.82). Within each group, 18 genes, reflecting roles in proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, showed differential expression from biopsy to surgery ( P Conclusions 10-d exposure to anastrozole resulted in dysregulation of 18/502 cancer-related genes, and Ki-67 was reduced in 54% of cases. FFPE samples demonstrated good correlation with frozen samples. However, changes in gene expression and increased Ki-67 in the control group suggest local effects of wound healing may represent a confounding factor in the interpretation of perioperative window trials.
Risk factors for low bone mineral density in children and young adults with Crohn's disease.

Abstract Objective: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a recognized complication of Crohn’s disease (CD). The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for low BMD in pediatric patients with CD. Study Design: One hundred nineteen subjects with CD ranging in age from 5 to 25 years were enrolled. BMD of the lumbar spine was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Growth parameters were assessed by examination. Disease-specific variables and use of selected medications were determined by chart review. Results: Powerful risk factors for low BMD z-score included hypoalbuminemia, exposure to nasogastric tube feeds, total parenteral nutrition, 6-mercaptopurine, and corticosteroids. Corticosteroid dosing at a level >7.5 mg/d, 5000 mg lifetime cumulative dose, or >12 months of lifetime exposure were significant risk factors for low BMD z-score. Weaker but significant associations with low BMD z-scores included measures of disease severity such as pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index, hospital admissions, and length of hospital stay. Site and duration of disease were not predictive. Conclusions: The presence of several clinically available factors was predictive of poor bone mineral status in this sample of subjects with CD. Hypoalbuminemia, corticosteroid exposure, nasogastric tube feeds, total parenteral nutrition, and 6-mercaptopurine were the most powerful risk factors for low bone mineral status. (J Pediatr 1999;135:593-600)
Integrating Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Drug Development

Integration of physiologically relevant in vitro assays at the earliest stages of drug discovery may improve the likelihood of successfully translating preclinical discoveries to the clinic. Assays based on in vitro-differentiated, human pluripotent stem cell (IVD hPSC)-derived cells, which may better model human physiology, are starting to impact the drug discovery process, but their implementation has been slower than originally anticipated. In this Perspective, we discuss imperatives for incorporating IVD hPSCs into drug discovery and the associated challenges.
Receptive Fields of Directionally Selective Units in the Optic Nerve of the Ground Squirrel

These units responded vigorously to stimuli moving entirely across their receptive field centers in one direction (preferred) and not at all when the direction of motion was reversed (null). The directional selectivity was the result of an inhibitory mechanism which prevented responses to null movements. Surrounding each field center was a concentric antagonistic region produced by a second inhibitory mechanism.
Testes of XX→XY chimeric mice develop from fetal ovotestes

The majority of XX in equilibrium with XY chimeric mice develop into fertile males. The sexual differentiation of the gonads in these animals has been examined on days 12-14 postocoitum to determine if their development parallels that of normal testes. It was found that 50% of chimeric fetuses, the proportion predicted to be XX in equilibrium with XY, had neither normal testes nor ovaries. Instead, ovotestes were present, with varying proportions of presumptive ovarian and testicular tissue. On day 12 the ovotestes were organized with testicular tissue in the central region and ovarian tissue at the craniad and/or caudad poles. In the more advanced fetuses there was evidence of regression of the ovarian portion, which would account for the testes found in adults. These results are discussed in light of current theories of sex determination and differentiation and what was previously known about gonads of sex mosaics.
Usefulness of Fragmented QRS on a 12-Lead Electrocardiogram in Acute Coronary Syndrome for Predicting Mortality

Electrocardiographic signs of a non–ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are nonspecific, and therefore the diagnosis of NSTEMI during acute coronary syndromes (ACS) depends mainly on cardiac biomarker levels. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) represents myocardial conduction abnormalities due to myocardial infarction (MI) scars in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the time of appearance of fQRS during ACS has not been investigated. It was postulated that in patients with ACS, fQRS on 12-lead electrocardiography occurs within 48 hours of presentation with NSTEMI as well as ST elevation MI and that fQRS predicts mortality. Serial electrocardiograms from 896 patients with ACS (mean age 62 ± 11 years, 98% men) who underwent cardiac catheterization were studied. Four hundred forty-one patients had MIs, including 337 patients with NSTEMIs, and 455 patients had unstable angina (the control group). Serial electrocardiograms were obtained every 6 to 8 hours during the first 24 hours after the diagnosis of MI and the next day (
The existence of oligosaccharides in bovine and ovine submaxillary mucins

Abstract Treatment of bovine and ovine submaxillary mucins with alkaline sodium borohydride converted all of the carbohydrate side-chains into dialyzable fragments. However, 10% and 22% of the hexosamine of native ovine submaxillary mucin (OSM) and bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM), respectively, was not reduced to aminodeoxy-hexitol by alkaline sodium borohydride after 120 h. Most of the hexosamine that was resistant to alkaline borohydride was present in newly described oligosaccharides. The β-elimination of the carbohydrate side-chains from the serine and threonine residues of the protein core was shown to be 95% quantitative when applied to BSM and OSM.
Comparative cardiac anatomy of the reptilia. I. The chambers and septa of the varanid ventricle.

Examination of the cardiac anatomy of lizards of the family Varanidae revealed that much of the previous literature contained basic errors both in description and interpretation. These are corrected and terminology of various authors is standardized. The varanid ventricle is similar to that of most other lizards in not being elongated, in having the base at right angles to the longitudinal axis, and in having the vertical septum weakly developed. However, it is not a typical lacertilian heart in that it has a number of characteristic ophidian features such as a muscular cone surrounding the cavum latero-dorsale and a prominent twisting of the cava. It lacks a gubernaculum cordis and a cartilaginous rod in the septum aortico-pulmonale, both of which are present in many non-varanid lizards, but seldom occur in snakes. The location of the heart is more posterior in the body than is true of other lizards.
Computer simulation of transport in thin films

The effect of microstructure on the electrical transport behavior of polycrystalline ma-terials has been investigated by means of both experiment and computer simulation. The experiment was carried out by measuring the resistances of model thin film mi-crostructures. It was found that the topology of the microstructure significantly influ-ences the transport characteristics. The results were compared to the prediction of the current analytical theory (Brick-Layer model), and observed to be in significant dis-agreement. To overcome the limitation of this analytical theory, a computational meth-odology was developed to simulate the steady-state electrical transport. Comparison of the simulation results with the experiments shows good agreement. In investigating the transport behavior of polycrystalline films having grain boundary of high resistance, grain size and morphology are found to have two effects on the conduction process. First, they can lead to an increase in the length of the equipotential contours due to the fact that they follow the preexisting grain boundary. Second, the large grains can serve to shunt the flux pass adjacient smaller grains. Both of these effects lead to a decrease in the total resistance as the microstructure departs from a regular Brick-Layer type struc-ture.
Subduction hinge migration

Abstract It has been argued that back-arc tectonics is controlled principally by the “absolute” motion of the overriding plate and the migration of the hinge of the downgoing plate. Thus, hinge migration (rollback) is fundamentally important to understanding the geodynamics of back-arc regions, but even rates of hinge migration are unknown. The rate of hinge migration can be estimated if the rate of back-arc extension and the motion of the overriding plate are known. Rates of rollback in a hotspot reference frame range from near zero in the case of the New Hebrides Arc, to 50–70 mm/a at the South Sandwich Arc, and may be as high as 100 mm/a at the Tonga Trench, but the hinge is actually advancing along the Izu-Bonin Trench, as evidenced by the fact that there is no significant active extension behind the Izu-Bonin Arc. The rate of hinge advance increases from north to south along the Izu-Bonin Trench, and correlates well with the dip of the subducted slab. Active spreading in the Mariana Trough may be attributed to a rate of hinge advance which is lower than the rate of retreat of the Philippine plate. All of the possible motions of overriding plates and subduction hinges which might give rise to back-arc opening are represented among the examples considered. Thus, there is no unique circumstance in which back-arc extension occurs. Finally, there appears to be no clear correlation between hinge motion and the age of the subducted lithosphere.
Another Note on Polynomial vs Rational Approximation

LetEbe a subspace ofC(X) and letR(E)=g/h:g, h?E; h>0}. We make a simple, yet intriguing observation: if zero is a best approximation toffromE, then zero is a best approximation toffromR(E). We also prove that if {En} is dense inC(X) then for almost allf(in the sense of category)formula]That extends the results of P. Borwein and S. Zhou who proved it for the case whenEnis the space of algebraic or trigonometric polynomials of degreen.
Are Multinational Corporations Superior Investment Vehicles for Achieving International Diversification

International portfolio diversification is advantageous to the investor from a risk reduction viewpoint. Investing in MNCs and direct investing in foreign firms are 2 methods of diversifying internationally. Two issues are examined in this paper: Are there barriers to direct international diversification by investors? Do MNCs enjoy certain unique economic and financial advantages? Positive responses to both of these questions indicate that MNCs are in fact superior investment vehicles for achieving international diversification.
English-and Spanish-Language Media Coverage of Immigration : A Comparative Analysis

Objective. We apply economic theories of news to explain differences between Englishand Spanish-language newspaper coverage of immigration. Methods. Using content analysis and contextual data, we examine newspaper coverage of immigration as a function of economic incentives of news organizations and the language of the newspaper outlet. Results. The results indicate that Spanish-language news outlets generate a larger volume of coverage and more positive coverage of immigration when compared to English-language news outlets. Conclusions. This specific topic is important and politically relevant because of the potential implications variability in media coverage of this issue hold for public opinion on immigration. Increasingly, scholars studying the news media are focusing on demandside explanations of news content (Hamilton, 2004; Mullainathan and
Molecular and structural basis of hemagglutination in mengovirus

Abstract The molecular and structural basis of mengovirus hemagglutination (HA) was investigated by the comparison of nucleotide sequences of the entire capsid coding regions of an HA + variant, two HA − mutants, 205 and 280, and two HA + revenants of 205. The mutants were selected after acridine mutagenesis of mengovirus-37A, a heat-stable and HA + variant that is neurotropic in mice. HA + revertants of mutant 205 were isolated from brain tissue of mice inoculated with mutant 205. The nucleotide sequences were determined by consensus RNA sequencing using genomic RNA templates from purified virions. Two nucleotide differences were observed in the VP1 coding region of the RNA genomes of mutants 205 and 280 in comparison to the RNA sequences of 37A and the revenants. Interpretation of these data predict substitutions of two consecutive amino acids at residues 1231 (K to R) and 1232 (P to S) of VP1 which form part of the H-I loop of VP1 found at the icosahedral fivefold axis. Analysis of the amino acid substitutions in the context of the three-dimensional structure of the mengovirus-M capsid indicated that hemagglutination most likely involves residues found at the icosahedral fivefold axis and probably does not involve the residues that form the putative cellular receptor binding site (the “pit”). Eleven amino acid differences were observed between the structural proteins of mengovirus-M and 37A, five in VP1, three in VP2, and three in VP3.
A Weakly Nonlinear Primitive Equation Baroclinic Life Cycle.

Abstract A weakly nonlinear baroclinic life cycle is examined with a spherical, multilevel, primitive equation model. The structure of the initial zonal jet is chosen so that the disturbance grows very slowly, that is, linear growth rate less than 0.1 day−1, and the life cycles of the disturbance are characterized by baroclinic growth and followed by barotropic decay. It is found that if the disturbance grows sufficiently slowly, the decay is baroclinic. As a result, the procedure for determining this weakly nonlinear jet is rather delicate. The evolution of the disturbance is examined with Eliassen-Palm flux diagrams, which illustrate that the disturbance is bounded at all times by its critical surface in the model's middle and upper troposphere. The disturbance undergoes two large baroclinic gtowth/barotropic decay life cycles, after which it decays by horizontal diffusion. At the end of the first cycle, the zonally averaged zonal flow is linearly stable, suggesting that the disturbance growth during th...
Designing and evaluating glanceable peripheral displays

Peripheral displays are an important class of applications that improve our ability to multitask. Increased knowledge on how to design and evaluate glanceable peripheral displays can lead to better support for multitasking. We will contribute a set of guidelines for designing glanceable peripheral displays, using the wealth of abstraction techniques (e.g., change detection, feature extraction), design variables (e.g., color, shape), and design characteristics (e.g., dimensionality, symbolism) available. We will contribute an evaluation framework that clearly defines peripheral displays, metrics for evaluating their success, and guidelines for selecting evaluation methods. These contributions will improve peripheral displays that enable users to manage multiple tasks through low-effort monitoring.
A physical picture of the mechanism of turbulent heat transfer from the wall

The present work investigates the correlation between the velocity and the temperature field in wall turbulence using direct numerical simulation of turbulent channel flow and plane Couette flow in conjunction with a Lagrangian method. Characteristic length scales for heat transfer are calculated for fluids with Prandtl numbers between 0.1 and 100. Structures of larger scales are found to contribute to the transport of heat as the distance from the wall increases. Turbulent Prandtl numbers are then calculated, showing that the turbulent Prandtl number is a function of the distance from the wall, but it does not depend on the fluid Prandtl number for high Prandtl numbers.
Variability in effect of climate change on rain-on-snow peak flow events in a temperate climate

Summary The frequency of rain-on-snow (ROS) hydrologic events, which produce high runoff volumes and lead to large-scale flooding and avalanching, are likely to change in the future as the types and timing of precipitation change. The relationship between ROS precipitation events and peak daily flow events ⩾1-year return were examined for historical and future runoff affected by climate change within the Santiam River Basin, Oregon. Historical streamflow records and modeled historical and future streamflow projections were analyzed for three sites across three elevation zones defined by the dominant precipitation types; rain, rain and snow transition, and snow. The results illustrate that, across elevation zones, historical peak daily flows ⩾1-year return have a high frequency (>60%) of association with ROS. The historical association between peak daily flows and ROS is highest within the transient rain and snow elevation band (350–1100 m), with 80% and 100% of ⩾1 and ⩾5-year return peak flows associated with ROS, respectively. In a future with increased air temperature due to climate change, our results indicate that a decrease in the frequency of high peak flow ROS events will occur in the low and middle elevation zones while the frequency of ROS associated peak flows will increase in high elevation areas. The transition of winter precipitation from snow to rain is predicted to increase peak daily flows
Biologically plausible detection of amorphous objects in the wild

The problem of amorphous object detection is investigated. A dataset of amorphous objects, Panda bears, with no defined shape or distinctive edge configurations is introduced. A biologically plausible amorphous object detector, based on discriminant saliency templates, is then proposed. The detector is based on the principles of discriminant saliency, and implemented with a hierarchical architecture of two layers. The first computes a feature-based top-down saliency measure tuned for object detection. The second relies on a similar saliency measure, but based on saliency templates, selected from the responses of the first layer. This architecture is shown to have a number of interesting properties for amorphous object detection, including the ability to detect objects characterized by the absence of features, and an interpretation as discriminant blob detection. Extensive experimental evaluation shows that it substantially outperforms state-of-the-art approaches for non-amorphous object detection, such as deformable parts models, sparse coded pyramid matching, detection based on the bag-of-features architecture, and the Viola and Jones approach. This brings into question some currently popular beliefs about object detection, which are discussed.
Asymmetric Coupled Transmission Lines in an Inhomogeneous Medium

Terminal characteristic parameters for a uniform coupled-line four-port for the general case of an asymmetric, inhomogeneous system are derived in this paper. The parameters (impedance, admittance, etc.) are derived in terms of two independent modes that propagate in two uniformly coupled propagating systems. The four-port parameters derived are of the same form as those obtained for the symmetric case resulting in similar port equivalent circuits for various circuit configurations considered by Zysman and Johnson. The results obtained should be quite useful in designing asymmetric coupled-line circuits in an inhomogeneous medium for various known applications.
Investigation of the mechanistic basis for ferrocene activity during the combustion of vinyl polymers

The influence of ferrocene on the flammability and smoke generation behavior and thermal characteristics of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVC) was examined in order to understand the basis of ferrocene's activity as a flame-retardant and smoke-suppressant additive. Ferrocene increased char formation in PVC by 20–60% while increasing the limiting oxygen index (O.I.) by 15–19%. Little char was found either with or without ferrocene in PVA, which had little improvement in O.I. Visible smoke was significantly decreased by ferrocene in PVA and in PVC of low to moderate molecular weight, but was unchanged in high molecular weight PVC. O.I. of PVC appeared to vary with molecular weight of the polymer. Thermogravimetric analyses and thermal degradation experiments showed that ferrocene promotes early weight loss and crosslinking in PVC. This effect is coincidental with the formation of ferricenium cation, which was identified by its visible spectrum and which may be a possible catalyst. Smoke inhibition of PVA by ferrocene occurs predominantly through gas-phase processes, while in PVC evidence and analogy for activity in both the gas phase and condensed phase are found.
Efficient Power Management Based on Application Timing Semantics for Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes Efficient Sleep Scheduling based on Application Timing (ESSAT), a novel power management scheme that aggressively exploits the timing semantics of wireless sensor network applications. We present three ESSAT protocols each of which integrates (1) a lightweight traffic shaper that actively shapes the workload inside the network to achieve predictable timing properties over multiple hops, and (2) a local scheduling algorithm that wakes up nodes just-in-time based on the timing properties of shaped workloads. Our ESSAT protocols have several distinguishing features. First, they can save significant energy with minimal delay penalties. Second, they do not maintain TDMA schedules or communication backbones; as such, they are highly efficient and suitable for resource constrained sensor platforms. Moreover, the protocols are robust in highly dynamic network environments, i.e., they can handle variable multi-hop communication delays and aggregate workloads involving multiple queries, and can adapt to varying workload and network topologies. Our simulations showed that DTS-SS, an ESSAT protocol, achieved an average node duty cycle 38-87% lower than SPAN, and query latencies 36-98% lower than PSM and SYNC
An analytic model for minority-carrier transport in heavily doped regions of silicon devices

A simple analytic description of the minority-carrier current injected into typical diffused (or ion-implanted) heavily doped regions of silicon bipolar devices is derived. The effects of energy-bandgap narrowing, majority-carrier degeneracy, Auger recombination, a doping-density gradient, and surface recombination are accounted for tractably by using key approximations. Numerical solutions of the minority-carrier continuity equation support the model and facilitate the evaluation of the model parameters, which follow directly from the doping-density profile. The accuracy of the model is within the bounds of uncertainty emanating from present equivocal characterizations of bandgap narrowing and of Auger carrier lifetimes.
Sex, Personality, and Sustainable Consumer Behaviour: Elucidating the Gender Effect

Sustainable consumer behaviour—behaviour motivated or influenced by social and/or environmental considerations—is an important topic in public policy and consumer psychology. Research on the antecedents of sustainable consumer behaviour has found a robust “gender effect”: women are more likely than men to express concern about consumption’s broader impacts and to act upon those concerns. The mechanisms underlying the gender effect have not been well elucidated. At the same time, more limited research has found that sustainable consumer behaviour is also influenced by personality: more agreeable and more open consumers are more likely to place importance on and to act on social and environmental concerns. Separate research in personality psychology has shown that women tend to be more agreeable than men. The authors integrate these findings to propose and test a model in which personality mediates the effect of sex on sustainable consumer behaviour. The personality differences mediating this effect are the same ones elsewhere subsumed within “gender” differences. Our findings clarify the mechanisms underlying the observed sex effect, confirm the utility of personality constructs in clarifying differences in consumer attitudes and behaviours, and have compelling implications for public policy.
Dynamical core model intercomparison project: Tracer transport test cases

Three-dimensional advection tests are required to assess the ability of transport schemes of dynamical cores to model tracer transport on the sphere accurately. A set of three tracertransport test cases for three-dimensional flow is presented. The tests focus on the physical and numerical issues that are relevant to three-dimensional tracer transport: positivity preservation, inter-tracer correlations, horizontal – vertical coupling, order of accuracy and choice of vertical coordinate. The first test is a three-dimensional deformational flow. The second test is a Hadley-like global circulation. The final test is a solid-body rotation test in the presence of rapidly varying orography. A variety of assessment metrics, such as error norms, convergence rates and mixing diagnostics, are used. The tests are designed for easy implementation within existing and developing dynamical cores and have been a cornerstone of the 2012 Dynamical Core Model Intercomparison Project (DCMIP). Example results are shown using the transport schemes in two dynamical cores: the Community Atmosphere Model finite-volume dynamical core (CAM-FV) and the cubed-sphere finite-volume MCore dynamical core.
Room temperature fabrication and patterning of highly conductive silver features using in situ reactive inks by microreactor-assisted printing

Highly conductive silver was fabricated at room temperature using in situ reactive silver precursor inks by microreactor-assisted printing without any post-processing. Reactive silver nanoinks, synthesized in situ from the microreactor, were directly delivered onto glass and polymeric substrates without any surface treatment to form a highly dense and uniform silver feature. The distribution of the reactive silver nanoinks can be controlled simply by adjusting the flow rate of the continuous flow system. Silver lines were fabricated using the in situ reactive precursors delivered via a micro-channel applicator. The electrical conductivity of the silver film and feature were measured to be around 3.3 × 107 (S m−1), corresponding to about half of the conductivity of bulk silver. The functionality of the silver line was confirmed through the operation of LEDs. This study demonstrates the possibility to fabricate patterned silver features at room temperature from in situ nanoinks without the aid of any post-processing.
Increasing US mortality due to accidental poisoning: the role of the baby boom cohort

Aims In this study we examine whether the recent, sharp increase in mortality in the U.S. due to accidental poisoning since the year 2000 is the result of the aging of the baby boom cohort, or instead, a historical trend apparent among decedents of all ages. Design We conducted an age-period-cohort analysis using data from the U.S. Vital Statistics and the U.S. Census covering the period 1968-2007. Setting and Participants The United States population aged 15-64. Participants: The increase in mortality due to accidental poisoning since the year 2000 stems primarily from a historical period effect across all ages for whites, but results in large part from a rate spike in the baby boom cohort among blacks. For all demographic groups baby boomers had higher odds of death due to accidental poisoning than the cohorts that came before them and after them. Historical influences acting across all ages led to an increase in accidental poisoning mortality that was almost tenfold for whites and threefold for blacks over the study period. Conclusions While the recent, sharp increase in accidental poisoning mortality stems in part from the aging of the baby boom cohort, substantially more of the increase results from influences unique to recent years that have affected all age groups. These results point to the need to bolster overdose prevention programs and policies as the historical increase in accidental poisoning mortality appears to continue unabated. Language: en
Fast localization of radio frequency emitters using wireless sensor networks

We investigate the use of a wireless sensor network for identifying the direction of a radio frequency (RF) transmission. Specifically, we consider the combined use of time difference of arrival (TDOA) and beamforming techniques to steer a beam in the desired direction and enhance radio frequency (RF) direction finding and follow-on signal reception. The TDOA lines-of bearing are calculated using a combination of the Cross-Ambiguity Function to calculate the actual time difference and the Newton-Raphson technique to focus the beamforming efforts. A Least Mean Squares (LMS) adaptive beamforming algorithm is then used to localize the target for further prosecution. Simulations indicate considerable improvement can be achieved using this combined method.
Chemistry and mineralogy of Fe‐containing oxides and layer silicates in relation to plant available iron

Abstract This paper is a review of the structures, surface properties and reactions of Fe‐containing minerals (either natural or applied materials) which influence the availability of Fe to plants. The implications of these reactions to soil testing and plant‐growth studies are also discussed. The predominant Fe‐containing minerals in calcareous soils are Fe oxides (principally goethite, hematite and ferrihydrite) and layer silicates. Dissolution of Fe‐containing minerals occurs as a surface reaction. Therefore, the rate of mobilization of Fe under Fe‐stress conditions is dependent on the particle size distribution, crystallinity and concentration of surface Fe hydroxyls of these minerals. It has been shown that availability of indigenous soil Fe to plants is related to the quantity of amorphous Fe oxides in soils. The long‐term success of solid‐phase Fe amendments to soils is dependent on the reactive surface areas (i.e., the concentration of active surface‐Fe sites), the continued exposure of new active...
Traveling waves, propagation failure, and anisotropy for spatially discrete reaction diffusion equations

In this paper recent work on traveling wave solutions of spatially discrete reaction diffusion equations is presented. This includes results on propagation failure and lattice induced anisotropy for traveling wave or plane wave solutions in higher-space space dimension reaction diffusion equations of bistable type.
Geochemical characterization and redox signals from the latest Barremian to the earliest Aptian in a restricted marine basin: El Pui section, Organyà Basin, south-central Pyrenees

Abstract The Organya Basin located in the south-central Spanish Pyrenees developed in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula mainly during a Barremian to early Albian phase, when Iberia rifted and rotated counter-clockwise away from Europe. Extension was followed by strong subsidence in the basin resulting in the development and accumulation of carbonate platforms and deeper-water hemipelagic sediments. Here we present the multiproxy results of a high-resolution lithostratigraphic and geochemical study of the lowest 85 m of the El Pui section in the Organya Basin, Catalunya, Spain. The sequence comprises series of limestone and marlstone interbeds spanning the latest Barremian and the earliest Aptian. Our results show that intermittent dark limestone and marlstone layers associated with extremely low diversity and scarce benthic fauna, low bioturbation index (0–3) and high TOC (up to 1.7 wt.%), indicate recurrent oxygen-deficient conditions within the lowest 31 m of the section and more uniform oxygenation in the upper 54 m. SEM analyses reveal high abundance of calcareous nannofossils as the source of carbonate throughout the section. EDS analyses confirmed the presence of clastics (mainly aluminum silicates) in the matrix. Sustained high primary productivity was the result of constant supply of nutrients, especially biolimiting elements (P, Fe), from terrestrial fluxes as indicated by excellent linear correlation with Al, Si and Ti. δ 13 C org values within the high TOC intervals show excursions of up to 2.0‰ suggesting important isotopic changes in the carbon reservoir. Relative high enrichment of Ni, and minor of U and Cr with respect to the average shale concurrent with high Ni/Co ratios, and punctuated high U/Th values, suggest the existence of intermittent reducing benthic conditions in these intervals. However, V is depleted, indicating that reducing conditions were weak with the absence of an anoxic/euxinic phase. In the present study we document that basin physiography along with the nature of the adjacent geologic terranes surrounding the Organya Basin induced sustained nutrient supply, thereby enhancing constant productivity, which intensified OM respiration in the water column. Density stratification may have also temporarily exacerbated oxygen deficiency (without an anoxic phase) that enhanced OM preservation from the late Barremian to the earliest Aptian.
Measuring surface potential components necessary for transmembrane current computation using microfabricated arrays

This study was designed to test the feasibility of using microfabricated electrodes to record surface potentials with sufficiently fine spatial resolution to measure the potential gradients necessa...
Pathology of the Umbilical Cord

The allantoic duct arises at about the 16th day postconception, as a rudimentary outpouching of the caudal portion of the yolk sac (see Fig. 5.4 in Chap. 5). Normally, there is complete obliteration of the allantoic duct at 15 weeks’ gestation. A remnant, which connects the umbilicus to the bladder, persists as the median umbilical ligament. Occasionally, the duct persists as a minute connection to the fetal bladder. Allantoic duct remnants may be found in estimated 15% of umbilical cords and for unknown reasons; they are more common in males. In most cases they do not have connections with the fetal bladder.
Affective equality: love, care and injustice

Affective equality: love, care and injustice, by Kathleen Lynch, John Baker, and Maureen Lyons, Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, 289 pp., £19.99, ISBN-13: 978-0-230-21249-7 (hardback), 97...