cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Quantitative Model of Soil Organic Matter Accumulation During Floodplain Primary Succession

Texture is an important influence on organic matter (SOM) dynamics in upland soils but little is known about its role in riverine soils. We hypothesized that texture might be especially important to SOM accumulation in young alluvial soils. We combined the soil component of the CENTURY ecosystem model, which uses sand, silt, and clay concentration as primary variables, with a simple simulation model of fluvial deposition, and forest production to predict changes in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) during primary succession on floodplains and terraces of the Queets River, Washington. Simulated soil C accumulated to a plateau of about 4000 g m−2 at 110 years, closely matching observed patterns in an empirical chronosequence. Although direct fluvial OM deposition had only a small and short-lived influence on soil C, fluvial silt and clay deposition were an important influence on equilibrium C. The model underestimated soil N by about 35%, which appears to be due to failure of the model to account for N enrichment of an OM pool after its initial formation. These results suggest that basic influences on SOM retention in these young soils are not functionally different than those that apply to upland soils, but occur within highly dynamic physical contexts. Overbank deposition of silt and clay establishes a basic capacity for SOM retention. SOM, in turn, facilitates N retention. In this way, silt and clay are instrumental in propagating N forward from N-fixing red alder (Alnus rubra) stands to mature conifer forests that are frequently N-limited.
Reproductive Status Alters Transcriptomic Response to Infection in Female Drosophila melanogaster

Mating and consequent reproduction significantly reduce the ability of female Drosophila melanogaster to defend against systemic bacterial infection. The goal of the present study was to identify genes likely to inform the mechanism of this post-mating immunosuppression. We used microarrays to contrast genome-wide transcript levels in virgin vs. mated females before and after infection. Because the immunosuppressive effect of mating is contingent on the presence of a germline in females, we repeated the entire experiment by using female mutants that do not form a germline. We found that multiple genes involved in egg production show reduced expression in response to infection, and that this reduction is stronger in virgins than it is in mated females. In germline-less females, expression of egg-production genes was predictably low and not differentially affected by infection. We also identified several immune responsive genes that are differentially induced after infection in virgins vs. mated females. Immune genes affected by mating status and egg production genes altered by infection are candidates to inform the mechanism of the trade-off between mating and immune defense.
Toward the integration of incremental physical synthesis optimizations

In high-frequency microprocessor design, placement plays a significantly different role from that in large ASICs. Not only does it have to find a good global placement solution, placement needs tighter interaction with physical optimizations to improve every picosecond possible. This paper will introduce practical placement techniques that integrate buffering and gate sizing to maximize timing improvement in a standard-cell library based high-performance design flow. Combined with accurate timing models and analysis, these incremental placement techniques simultaneously consider multiple optimization options and make timing-optimal changes under the given timing model. These techniques are equipped with a “Do-no-harm” policy that makes them applicable in incremental optimization frameworks to reform critical subcircuits.
Reconsidering the Strategic Implications of Decision Comprehensiveness

A key question in strategy is whether comprehensiveness enables firms to make better strategic decisions in various environments. I identify two problems hindering efforts to answer this question: past studies have generally theorized about a different dependent variable than they have measured, and they have conflated the concepts of uncertainty, ambiguity, and instability in accounting for environmental moderation. I then reframe the question and propose ways of characterizing organizational information environments so researchers can identify more precisely those real-world contexts across which the value of comprehensiveness varies.
Social Feedback to Infants' Babbling Facilitates Rapid Phonological Learning

Infants' prelinguistic vocalizations are rarely considered relevant for communicative development. As a result, there are few studies of mechanisms underlying developmental changes in prelinguistic vocal production. Here we report the first evidence that caregivers' speech to babbling infants provides crucial, real-time guidance to the development of prelinguistic vocalizations. Mothers of 9.5-month-old infants were instructed to provide models of vocal production timed to be either contingent or noncontingent on their infants' babbling. Infants given contingent feedback rapidly restructured their babbling, incorporating phonological patterns from caregivers' speech, but infants given noncontingent feedback did not. The new vocalizations of the infants in the contingent condition shared phonological form but not phonetic content with their mothers' speech. Thus, prelinguistic infants learned new vocal forms by discovering phonological patterns in their mothers' contingent speech and then generalizing from these patterns.
Calorimetric Calibration of the Electrical Energy Measurement in an Exploding Wire Experiment

A discussion is presented on the requirements and the methods for measuring the current and voltage during the transient discharge of a capacitor bank being employed in an exploding wire experiment. A method is described for accurately calibrating the measured current, voltage, and electrical energy by comparing the calorimetric heating of a resistance element of essentially constant resistance with the electrical energy dissipated in the element. Results show that the accuracy of the energy measurement is about 1–2%.
Association between circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D and colorectal adenoma: A pooled analysis

The relationship between the biomarker of vitamin D status, 25(OH)D, and risk for colorectal neoplasia is suggestive but equivocal. Questions remain regarding whether there are differential associations between 25(OH)D and colorectal adenoma by gender, colorectal sub-site, or features of baseline and recurrent adenomas. We sought to investigate the relationship between 25(OH)D and both baseline and recurrent adenoma characteristics. This study was conducted among 2074 participants in a pooled population of two clinical intervention trials of colorectal adenoma recurrence. A cross-sectional analysis of 25(OH)D and baseline adenoma characteristics and a prospective study of recurrent adenomas and their characteristics were conducted. There was a statistically significant inverse association between 25(OH)D concentrations and the presence of three or more adenomas at baseline. Compared to participants with 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/ml, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) were 0.99 (0.70–1.41) for those with concentrations of ≥20 and < 30 ng/ml, and 0.73 (0.50–1.06) among participants with levels ≥ 30 ng/ml (p-trend=0.05). Baseline villous histology was also significantly inversely related to 25(OH)D levels (p-trend=0.04). Conversely, 25(OH)D concentrations were not associated with overall colorectal adenoma recurrence, with ORs (95% CIs) of 0.91 (0.71–1.17) and 0.95 (0.73–1.24; p-trend = 0.85). These findings support the concept that the relationship between vitamin D and colorectal neoplasia may vary by stage of adenoma development.
Perceptions of anti-semitism among American Jews, 2000-05, a survey analysis

Despite their high degree of economic, educational, social, and political success, most American Jews in the early 2000s see anti-Semitism as a problem, and significant percentages see anti-Semitism as a very serious problem. How do we explain these perceptions of anti-Semitic threat given the comparative success of Jews in so many aspects of American life? This paper uses annual surveys from the National Survey of American Jews from 2000 through 2005 to address this question. Results indicate a multiplicity of factors affect perceptions of the seriousness of anti-Semitism. Those with a stronger sense of Jewish identity, lower income, and older people are more likely to see anti-Semitism as a very serious problem. Respondents also tend to see anti-Semitism as a more serious threat if they live in states with higher anti-Semitic incidents rates and when use of anti-Semitic terms in the news media increases. The conclusion puts the findings into perspective and suggests what we can learn by studying successful minority groups. Language: en
IGF-II is regulated by microRNA-125b in skeletal myogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of skeletal myogenesis, but our knowledge of the identity of the myogenic miRNAs and their targets remains limited. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel myogenic miRNA, miR-125b. We find that the levels of miR-125b decline during myogenesis and that miR-125b negatively modulates myoblast differentiation in culture and muscle regeneration in mice. Our results identify IGF-II (insulin-like growth factor 2), a critical regulator of skeletal myogenesis, as a direct and major target of miR-125b in both myocytes and regenerating muscles, revealing for the first time an miRNA mechanism controlling IGF-II expression. In addition, we provide evidence suggesting that miR-125b biogenesis is negatively controlled by kinase-independent mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling both in vitro and in vivo as a part of a dual mechanism by which mTOR regulates the production of IGF-II, a master switch governing the initiation of skeletal myogenesis.
Work in Progress - The Worldview of Engineering Students

Worldview is defined as the conceptions, explicit and implicit, of an individual on the limits and workings of his or her world. Research in science education has shown that students' worldviews can affect their ability to learn science. We extend this research to engineering education. In addition to this, we hope to determine if there is a disconnect between the worldview of the established engineering education community and the students entering the community that hinders the ability to recruit and retain students in an era of declining enrollments. To address these questions, we first review existing worldview theories to find components that appear to be relevant to the study of engineering. Secondly, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, we explore the relevant worldview components of four cohorts of students at a medium-sized Midwestern public university: first-year declared engineering students, first-year non-engineering students, senior engineering students, and senior non-engineering students. Results from both these activities were be presented
Optical deflection measurement for characterization of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

Nonintrusive measurement of small out-of-plane motions of microscale structures is critical to the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This paper presents a low-cost deflection measurement system for MEMS structures based on a fiber optic displacement sensor. The system is demonstrated in the characterization of a microwave switch. The deflection system had a demonstrated sensitivity of 290/spl plusmn/32 /spl mu/V/nm over a deflection range of 100 /spl mu/m. The calibration and linearity of the system are described, and the static and dynamic performance is compared to more elaborate systems.
Spore dimorphism in a microsporidan isolate.

SYNOPSIS A microsporidan isolate currently considered to represent a mixed infection of Nosema necatrix Kramer, 1965 and Thelohania diazoma Kramer, 1965 was subjected to cultivation in hosts held at various temperatures. The ratio of the Nosema (monospore) to the Thelohania (octospore) forms at these temperatures was found to vary from 1:1 at 16 C to 1:0 at 32 C. Isolation technics using mechanical, temperature and temporal methods separated monosporous from octosporous forms for inoculation purposes. However, microscopic examination of hosts receiving these inocula revealed the presence of both monospores and octospores. Electrophoretic analysis of monospores and monospore-octospore mixtures indicated equivalent hydrophobic protein spectra. These observations suggest that this isolate has the ability to produce either single spores or spores in groups of eight. This microsporidan was not considered a member of the genus Stempellia since spores in groups of 2 or 4 were not observed. Retention of the name Nosema necatrix Kramer is suggested.
Optimization of the readout electronics for microchannel plate delay line anodes

Many current and future space missions use microchannel plate (MCP) detectors with delay line anode readouts (e.g. FUSE, GALEX and the FUV detector on the upcoming Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope). Delay line anodes are used to measure the position of the centroid of the charge clouds that exit MCP detectors. This is accomplished by measuring the time difference between the arrival of the pulse at both ends of the delay line. The spatial resolution of this position determination is dependent on the accuracy of the temporal measurement. These high frequency pulses (approximately 100 MHz) are usually amplified and directed to constant fraction discriminators (CFDs) whose output pulses start and stop a time to amplitude converter (TAC). This paper reviews the optimization of these circuit elements. It includes the characteristics of various delay line types (serpentine and helical) and their effect on pulse shape. The choice of amplifier filter bandpass and optimum fraction and delay for the CFDs is also presented. Examples are taken from the MCP detectors on the missions mentioned above.
Biomimetic Synthesis of Polycyclic Natural Products from Acyclic Precursors

The study of natural product biosynthesis is a growing and exciting field, but still very mysterious. Nicolaou, Baldwin and Trauner have provided insight into the biological synthesis of some structurally fascinating natural products. This article will discuss the application of successive, biomimetic electrocyclizations for the formation of polycyclic natural products. In addition, the less studied biomimetic formation of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexenes from acyclic precursors will be described. Woodward-Hoffmann rules are well known as an explanatory tool for describing the stereochemistry associated with cycloadditions and electrocyclizations. These rules open a window to understanding the biosynthetic processes that provide complex natural product architectures. 1 A remarkable example from nature is the endiandric acids, a series of natural products isolated in the early 1980’s from an Australian plant. Endiandric acid A and D were isolated from one colony of Endiandra introrsa and endiandric acids B and C were isolated from a different colony of the same species. Black and co-workers were incited to propose a biosynthesis based on a common acyclic precursor and a cascade of non-enzymatic electrocyclizations and cycloadditions. 2 In a beautiful example of biomimetic synthesis, the Nicolaou group reported a total synthesis of the endiandric acids that supported Black’s biosynthetic hypothesis (Scheme 1). 3
Diurnal vocal patterns of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) at Lamanai, Belize

Abstract The majority of the literature describing howling monkeys (Cebidae) has focused on only 2 of 6 species in the genus. These studies have revealed differences in behavior between species and differences within species at different locations. One study has been published describing the vocal patterns of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra). This species appears to differ markedly from previously described Alouatta. In an effort to further distinguish A. pigra from its congeners, we observed the vocal patterns of an additional population of black howler monkeys. This population exhibited a bimodal calling pattern similar to that previously described for A. pigra, but absent in all but one (A. fusca) of the other species in the genus. The bimodal pattern was evident in both the rainy and dry seasons, with peaks in the morning and afternoon. Midday and afternoon calling were significantly reduced in the dry season. We also made a detailed comparison between both populations to examine the function ...
First principles calculations of point defect diffusion in CdS buffer layers: Implications for Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 and Cu2ZnSn(Se,S)4-based thin-film photovoltaics

We investigate point defects in CdS buffer layers that may arise from intermixing with Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) or Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorber layers in thin-film photovoltaics (PV). Using hybrid functional calculations, we characterize the migration barriers of Cu, In, Ga, Se, Sn, Zn, Na, and K impurities and assess the activation energies necessary for their diffusion into the bulk of the buffer. We find that Cu, In, and Ga are the most mobile defects in CIGS-derived impurities, with diffusion expected to proceed into the buffer via interstitial-hopping and cadmium vacancy-assisted mechanisms at temperatures ∼400 °C. Cu is predicted to strongly favor migration paths within the basal plane of the wurtzite CdS lattice, which may facilitate defect clustering and ultimately the formation of Cu-rich interfacial phases as observed by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopic elemental maps in real PV devices. Se, Zn, and Sn defects are found to exhibit much larger activation energies and are not expected to diff...
There is No There There

Before I go any further, I must confess that I am a man d’un certain age. Therefore, my responses to new technology are selective and generational. I still favor transactions with other human beings over those with machines. When I was a boy in the early 1950s, almost all transactions were between one human being and another. The one exception for me was the gumball machine at the candy store, around the corner from my apartment building in Washington DC. I didn’t mind the absence of a live vendor in making my purchase. In fact, it was something of a novelty to put a penny in the machine and get a large colored gumball in return. The gumball machine was an early precursor to the plethora of human–machine transactions that large numbers of people engage in today. In fact, on-line ordering has put many a store out of business and threatened the existence of numerous others. Most people have become accustomed to these transactions and don’t miss the exchange with a live person. However, some vendors and service providers have chosen to simulate a live person on the other end of a telephone in the misguided belief (according to me) that the semblance of such a person adds emotional value to what would otherwise be a bloodless transaction. Personally, I prefer the basic machine voice to one that simulates the affect of a human. I find eliciting emotional engagement from a customer through a fake human-to-human exchange to be duplicitous. Of course, these simulations fool no one, and in fact, they become the source of considerable frustration when they don’t deliver what they promise. If things are not going well, the simulacrum usually blames the problem on the customer, claiming that he or she did not specify clearly enough what needed to be accomplished. Sometimes, if the simulacrum’s frustration reaches a high enough level, “she” (or “he”) gracefully bows out of the transaction and turns the customer over to a live operator. However, rather than wait for this moment, I have learned to short-circuit the interaction as soon as it begins by saying “agent,” which is a cue for the machine-human to say, “Okay, I understand you would like to speak with an agent.” Then I get to talk to a real person. As
Optograms and criminology: science, news reporting, and fanciful novels.

A persistent nineteenth-century urban legend was the notion that photograph-like images of the last-seen object or person would be preserved in the eyes of the dead. This popular notion followed technological developments (the daguerreotype and ophthalmoscope) that antedated by decades a basic understanding of retinal physiology. From 1876 to 1877, Boll described photochemical bleaching of the retina and produced a crude retinal image that remained briefly visible after death in an experimental animal. From 1877 to 1881, Kuhne elaborated the processes involved in photochemical transduction, and created more complex retinal images, or "optograms," that were visible after the death of experimental animals under special laboratory circumstances. In 1880, Kuhne reported the first human "optogram" when he examined the eyes following the state execution of a convicted murderer. Although the work of these physiologists increased public interest in "optography" as a potential tool in forensic investigations, Kuhne and his student, Ayres, concluded after an extensive series of investigations that optography would never be useful for this purpose. Nevertheless, because of the prior tantalizing results, optography became a frequent consideration in speculative news reports of sensational unsolved murders, and as a plot device in works of fiction, some quite fantastical. Fictional portrayals included works by Rudyard Kipling and Jules Verne. Despite denouncement of optography for forensic investigations by Kuhne, and by numerous physicians, the general public and mass media continued to press for examination of the retinae of murder victims well into the twentieth century, particularly in high-profile unsolved cases.
Teaching Soft Skills to Business Students An Analysis of Multiple Pedagogical Methods

Recent reports have suggested that many employees in the workforce today lack essential soft skills. This research analyzes the effectiveness of multiple classroom assignments for teaching soft ski...
Determination of seven N-nitrosamine compounds by HS-SPME-GC-MS

Objective:A method was developed for the extraction and detection of seven N-nitrosamine compounds using headspace sampling by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection(HS-SPME-GC-MS).Methods:The concentration of seven kinds of N-nitrosamine compounds including N-nitrosodimethylamine(NDMA),N-nitrosomethylethylamine(NMEA),N-nitrosodiethylamine(NDEA),N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine(NDPA),N-nitrosopiperidine(NPIP),N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine(NDBA),N-nitrosodiphenylamine(NDpheA) by HS-SPME-GC-MS was determined.The influence of the fibers species,ionic strength,pH,extraction time and temperature on the extraction of seven N-nitrosamine compounds were optimized.Results:Under the optimized experimental conditions,the linear ranges of NDMA,NMEA,NDEA,NPIP were 5.0~200.0 ng/ml and those of NDPA,NDBA,NDpheA were 0.5~100 ng/ml.The detection limits of this method for N-nitrosamine compounds range from 0.2 to 2 ng/ml as a function of N-nitrosamine compounds.The average recoveries were 67%~94% and the RSD was 1.8%~14.0%.Conclusion:The described method is simple,rapid,solvent-saving,environmentally beneficial and can be used to obtain satisfactory results.
Odor-induced oscillatory activity in Drosophila CNS.

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The Complex Causation of Sanction Outcomes

The problem with explaining the role of economic sanctions in international relations is not the lack of plausible explanations, but rather the surfeit of them. Different theories of economic coercion emphasise different variables. These have included multilateral cooperation with the primary sender, the domestic political economy of the target country, the use of military statecraft as a complement to sanctions, the opportunity costs of sanctions to both countries, and the expectations of future conflict between the target and sender countries.
Advances in Understanding and Managing Rosacea: Part 2: The Central Role, Evaluation, and Medical Management of Diffuse and Persistent Facial Erythema of Rosacea

In this article, the second part of a two-part series on rosacea, emphasis will be placed on persistent facial erythema. Despite variations in the intensity of visible redness, persistent facial erythema is a very common and consistent finding among patients with rosacea, including those with presentations classically defined as papulopustular rosacea, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, and in many patients with phymatous rosacea. The underlying mechanisms of rosacea and their correlation with specific clinical features have been discussed in Part 1 and are referred to here where applicable. An overview of cutaneous vasculature, role of alpha-adrenoreceptors, and a discussion of available medical therapies and treatment selection are also presented, including emerging topical options for diffuse and persistent facial erythema of rosacea.
Regeneration of a supported Nafion® catalyst for the double-bond isomerization of octadecenes

Abstract We studied solvent-based regeneration techniques on a commercial Nafion/SiO2 catalyst (SAC-13®, BASF). The test reaction was the double-bond isomerization of octadecenes, which are used in paper sizing agents and drilling fluids. The spent catalyst deactivated from surface coverage of octadecenes and higher-molecular weight oligomers. Polar and nonpolar solvents were tested in both batch and continuous regenerations. Up to 71% of the pore volume and 67% of the surface area were recovered, in the mesoporous regime. Batch and continuous isomerization experiments showed that a threshold quantity of oligomer must be removed, otherwise the activity of the regenerated catalysts does not correlate well with residual oligomer or the acid site concentration, because some solvents could not be completely displaced. The most effective solvent was m-xylene. Some acid sites were never recovered. Diffusional limitations and faster deactivation resulted in lower turnover frequencies in regenerated catalysts, in part due to decreased pore volume and in part because residual oligomer reacted with fresh monomer, such that fewer oligomerization events were necessary to close the pores in subsequent tests.
SPION: Enhanced MR imaging for monitoring Alzheimer?s plaque formation and microglial activation in APP/PS-1 transgenic mouse brain

W report MRI studies in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, which demonstrate the ability of our novel anti-amyloid precursor protein (APP) conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to penetrate the blood-brain barrier to act as a contrast agent for plaque imaging. The conspicuity of the plaques increased from 5.1±0.5 to 8.3±0.2 when the plaque contrast to noise ratio was compared in control AD mice with SPION-treated AD mice. The number of MRI-detected plaques increased from 347 ± 45 in the control AD mice, to 668 ± 86 with SPION treatment. AD is associated with a microglia-dependent neuro inflammation regulated by the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. We therefore treated APP/PS1 mice for one year with a low dose (100 ppm) of either of two trans-stilbene NF-κB inhibitors, resveratrol, or its synthetic analog, LD55. Both trans-stilbenes lowered Aβ plaque density in the cortex, caudoputamen and hippocampus by 70-100%. Optical measurements confirmed that resveratrol reduced average Aβ plaque density by 2.3 ± 0.4-fold. Ex vivo measurements of microglial activation by Iba-1 immunofluorescence showed that resveratrol also reduced average microglial activation by 4.2-fold. The same concentration of our novel trans-stilbene, LD55, produced a significantly larger (p<0.01) reduction in Aβ plaque density than resveratrol (3.1 ± 0.5-fold) as well as a 3.5-fold lowering of microglial activation. We conclude that SPION-enhanced MRI can be usefully applied to studies of AD in Tg mice and that both resveratrol and LD55 are efficient at reducing Aβ plaque burden and concomitantly reducing neuro inflammation in AD. Laurel O. Sillerud, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2013, 3:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0460.S1.002
Constructing happiness in Siberia: Happy People and the ideological potential of the provinces

AbstractThis article examines the representation of Bakhta, a Siberian village, in Dmitrii Vasiukov’s documentary mini-series Happy People (2007) and draws parallels with Vasiukov and Werner Herzog’s Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010) and Mikhail Tarkovskii’s Frozen Time (2014). The characters in these films undergo moral purification in the Siberian taiga, having purged themselves of habits and patterns of thinking associated with city life. The space of Bakhta comes to symbolize simplicity and authenticity associated with provincial life. The article investigates the ambivalence of political meanings attached to Bakhta as the representative space of the Siberian region, as well as a generic provincial space. Bakhta becomes the setting for the constructed image of a heroic Russian trapper, represented as a valiant but humble guardian of Siberian traditions and brave settler of Siberia’s wild expanses. The article explores the connections between the images created in these documentaries and nationa...
Technique and perioperative management of left pneumonectomy in neonatal piglets.

Abstract Background Although commonly performed in adult swine, unilateral pneumonectomy in piglets requires significant modifications in the surgical approach and perioperative care because of their smaller size and limited physiological reserve. Methods Nineteen neonatal piglets underwent a left pneumonectomy. They were allowed 5-7 d of preoperative acclimation and nutritional optimization. Preoperative weight gain and laboratory values were obtained before the time of surgery. A “ventro-cranial” approach is adopted where components of the pulmonary hilum were sequentially identified and ligated, starting from the most ventral and cranial structure, the superior pulmonary vein. The principle of gentle ventilation was followed throughout the entire operation. Results The median age of the piglets at the time of surgery was 12 (10-12) d. The median preoperative weight gain and albumin level were 20% (16-26%) and 2.3 (2.1-2.4) g/dL, respectively. The median operative time was 59 (50-70) min. Five of the first nine piglets died from complications, two from poor preoperative nutritional optimization (both with Conclusions Successful outcomes for unilateral pneumonectomy in piglets require special attention to preoperative nutritional optimization, gentle ventilation, and meticulous surgical dissection. Preoperative weight gain and albumin levels should be used to identify appropriate surgical candidates. The “ventro-cranial” approach allows for a technically straightforward completion of the procedure.
Accounting for Professional Accountants' Dysfunctional Knowledge Sharing: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

ABSTRACT: Investigating how and why accounting professionals share useless and harmful knowledge challenges designers of accounting systems and organizational leaders. In this paper, we extend self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the influence of financial incentives on (1) harmful, and (2) masked, i.e., organizationally useless, knowledge sharing (KS) among accounting professionals (n = 428) by adapting measures from SDT to the professional accounting context. Although self-disclosed dysfunctional KS is infrequent in our sample, the results indicate that, consistent with the predictions of our extension of SDT, accountants with higher controlled (higher autonomous) motivation are more (less) influenced by financial incentives and engage in more (less) dysfunctional KS. Data Availability: Contact the authors.
Non-invasive Assessment of Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxygen Metabolism in Neonates during Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Feasibility and Clinical Implications

The neonatal brain is extremely vulnerable to injury during periods of hypoxia and/or ischemia. Risk of brain injury is increased during neonatal cardiac surgery, where pre-existing hemodynamic instability and metabolic abnormalities are combined with long periods of low cerebral blood flow and/or circulatory arrest. Our understanding of events associated with cerebral hypoxia-ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remains limited, largely due to inadequate tools to quantify cerebral oxygen delivery and consumption non-invasively and in real-time. This pilot study aims to evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) intraoperatively in neonates by combining two novel non-invasive optical techniques: frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). CBF and CMRO2 were quantified before, during and after deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in nine neonates. Our results show significantly decreased CBF and CMRO2 during hypothermic CPB. More interestingly, a change of coupling between both variables is observed during deep hypothermic CPB in all subjects. Our results are consistent with previous studies using invasive techniques, supporting the concept of FD-NIRS/DCS as a promising technology to monitor cerebral physiology in neonates providing the potential for individual optimization of surgical management.
Screening for Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: Methodology and Current Practice Recommendations

Hypertension requires urgent, uniform, and consistent attention across all frontiers of pediatric health care not only because of established links between the onset of hypertension during one’s youth and its sustenance throughout adulthood, but also because of the sequelae associated with the disease’s trajectory, such as cardiovascular disease, end organ damage, and decreased quality of life. Although national guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pediatric hypertension have been available for nearly 40 years, knowledge and recognition of the problem by clinicians remain poor due to a host of influencing factors. The purpose of this article is to explicate key issues contributing to the inaccurate measurement of blood pressure and misclassification of hypertension among children and to present strategies to address these issues.
Design,Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Alkyl Persulfide Precursors

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a biologically important signaling molecule that exerts diverse roles in various physiological processes. However, recent reports indicate that much of the biological activities associated with H2S may be attributed to hydropersulfides (RSSH) and polysulfides (RSSnR). Although the presumed biological utility of RSSH is predicted to be based on their unique chemistry, the fundamental chemistry and biological role of RSSH are still poorly understood. This is mainly due to the instability of RSSH under physiological conditions. Few methods have been developed to produce RSSH however they are associated with several limitations. For example, reaction of an alkyl disulfide with H2S is a common method for RSSH generation, but this approach requires high concentrations of reactants and the reaction initiates a complex equilibrium that makes it difficult to analyze RSSH exclusively. In another approach, a compound containing an activated disulfide bond has been developed to spontaneously rearrange under physiological conditions producing RSSH. Recently, 9-fluorenilmethyl disulfide derivatives of cysteine thiols have also been developed for RSSH generation. To advance our understanding of the role of RSSH in biology, it is critical to develop new precursors that can cleanly and reliably produce RSSH under biological conditions. Here, we will present novel precursors that produce RSSH under physiological conditions, and other methods that may offer more spatio-temporal control of RSSH release.
On projectile motion with quadratic drag force

We present the results of numerical calculations of the influence of air drag force, quadratic in speed, on the values of such characteristics of projectile motion as maximum height, maximum range of projectile, total flight time, final speed and two parameters which characterize the asymmetry of flight trajectory. It is found that deviations from the idealized case of free projectile motion for one part of these characteristics increase with increasing of the initial angle of throwing, whereas for the other they decrease. The greatest deviations are observed for maximum range. We also consider the properties of optimal launch angle and low- and high-angle firing. We conclude that such predictions as the asymmetry of the projectile trajectory, the decrease in the total flight time and the optimal launch angle in comparison with the values of these quantities for the case of free projectile motion, as well as the peculiarities of low- and high-angle firing, can only be made on the basis of numerical analysis.
Binaural Interaction in the Cat Inferior Colliculus: Comparison of the Physiological Data with a Computer Simulated Model

Many low frequency cells in the inferior colliculus (IC)have been shown to be sensitive to differences in the time of arrival of sound to the two ears, thereby suggesting that they are involved in sound localization. Most studies of this phenomenon have employed dichotically presented sinusoids with variable delays in the onset of the tone to one ear with respect to the other (Rose, Gross, Geisler, and Hind, 1966: Moushegian, Rupert, and Stillman, 1971). For many IC neurons the discharge rate as a function of interaural delay is cyclic with a period equal to that of the stimulating frequency. The repetitive cycling nature of these interaural delay curves indicates that these neurons are sensitive to changes in interaural phase created by the delays. That this is so is indicated by the finding that a stimulus which creates an orderly and continuously changing interaural phase difference independent of the stimulus onset, i.e. a binaural beat stimulus, yields results similar to those obtained by the interaural delay method (Kuwada, Yin, and Wickesberg, 1979). The response of these phase sensitive cells often modulates above and below the level of firing for monaural stimulation alone.
Supplemental fat in high-energy rations for lactating cows: effects on intake, digestion, milk yield, and composition

Supplemental fats (SF) have special value in the diets of dairy cows with superior productive ability, because the high energy density of SF allows greater energy consumption and direct transfer of the fatty acids (FA) of the SF to milk fat; this increases metabolic efficiency. Some SF, especially oils with a high degree of unsaturation, disturb ruminal fermentation, decrease fiber digestibility, and lower milk fat test; however, oilseeds (e.g., whole cottonseed) can be fed without observable ruminal inhibition, probably because of a slow release of the oil into ruminal contents. A number of commercial fat supplements are available that have little effect on ruminal fermentation and are highly digestible postruminally. A product of the calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids was shown to have a NE for lactation of more than three times that of corn. As the emphasis in milk pricing formula changes from milk fat to milk protein, there is greater concern regarding the propensity of fat supplements to decrease milk protein (casein) percentage. In two studies, a supplement of ruminally protected lysine and methionine largely prevented the reduction in casein percentage that occurred with feeding SF, indicating that the amino acid profile of undegraded dietary protein is important with regard to preventing the lower casein percentage. Combining fat supplements that are slowly released in the rumen with those that are inert in the rumen will allow maximal use of SF.
Charles Hartshorne's Interpretation of Human Immortality

Abstract This article is a study of Charles Hartshorne's neoclassical or process interpretation of human immortality. After presenting Hartshorne's criticisms of other notions of human immortality (specifically personal immortality and social immortality), the author then discusses the metaphysical principles underlying Hartshorne's claim that human immortality can only be in the form of “being remembered by God”. These principles are: God as the recipient of values, the immortality of the past, and personhood as a series of events rather than a substantial self. Given certain difficulties and ambiguities in Hartshorne's own version of human immortality and other considerations not accounted for satisfactorily in Hartshorne's position, the author suggests that Hartshorne could be more open to the notion of personal immortality.
Emerging EZH2 Inhibitors and Their Application in Lymphoma

Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) is histone methyltransferase and catalyzes the methylation of histone 3 lysine 27, a mark of transcriptional repression. Various studies have elucidated the complex role of EZH2 in both normal biology and tumorigenesis. Here, we critically review the emerging role of EZH2 in malignancies, the development of small molecule inhibitors of EZH2, and their application in lymphoma. Activating mutations and overexpression of EZH2 are found in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). As a result, several EZH2 inhibitors have been developed and entered clinical investigation. Tazemetostat, first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor, demonstrated enhanced clinical activity in mutant follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. With the early activity noted by tazemetostat in B cell lymphomas, the role of EZH2 inhibition in NHL is becoming more evident. This can be leveraged in future rationale combinations to enhance the activity of EZH2 inhibitors.
Biomechanical Comparison of C1 Lateral Mass-C2 Short Pedicle Screw-C3 Lateral Mass Screw-Rod Construct Versus Goel-Harms Fixation for Atlantoaxial Instability.

Study design A biomechanical in vitro study using human cadaveric spines. Objective The aim of this study was to compare atlantoaxial stability and stiffness of a C1 lateral mass - C2 short pedicle - C3 lateral mass screw-rod construct versus C1 lateral mass - C2 pedicle screw-rod construct. Summary of background data The C1 lateral mass - C2 pedicle screw-rod construct provides excellent atlantoaxial fixation, but C2 pedicle screw placement is associated with risk of vertebral artery injury. The use of shorter C2 pedicle screws may mitigate the risk of vascular injury but may result in reduced C1-C2 stabilization. Extending C1 lateral mass - C2 short pedicle screw-rod construct with C3 lateral mass screws may mitigate the risk of vascular injury without compromising C1-C2 fixation. Methods Seven cervical spines were tested with internal control experimental design in the following sequence: intact state, and following creation of type II odontoid fracture, the specimen was instrumented with C1 lateral mass - C2 pedicle screw fixation (C2PED), C1 lateral mass - C2 short pedicle screw fixation (C2SPED), and C1 lateral mass - C2 short pedicle - C3 lateral mass screw fixation (C2SPED-C3LM). For each condition, the angular stiffness and range of motion (ROM) with 1.5-Nm load in flexion/extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and right/left axial rotation (RAR/LAR) were quantified. Results Instrumented conditions demonstrated significantly lower C1-C2 angular ROM and greater stiffness than the intact state. Compared with C2PED, C2SPED-C3LM demonstrated significantly lower C1-C2 ROM during FE and LB, significantly greater C1-C2 stiffness in flexion and right/left LB, similar C1-C2 ROM and stiffness in RAR/LAR, and similar stiffness in extension. C2SPED-C3LM demonstrated significantly greater atlantoaxial stabilization in the sagittal and coronal planes than C2PED construct. Conclusion Compared with C2PED, C2SPED-C3LM may be a suitable alternative surgical strategy for atlantoaxial instability that provides superior atlantoaxial fixation. Level of evidence N/A.
Evolutionary Heuristic A* Search: Heuristic Function Optimization via Genetic Algorithm

The performance and efficiency of A* search algorithm heavily depend on the quality of the heuristic function. Therefore, designing an optimal heuristic function becomes the primary goal of developing a search algorithm for specific domains in artificial intelligence. However, it is difficult to design a well-constructed heuristic function without careful consideration and trial-and-error, especially for complex pathfinding problems. The complexity of a heuristic function increases and becomes unmanageable to design when an increasing number of parameters are involved. Existing approaches often avoids complex heuristic function design: they either trade-off the accuracy for faster computation or taking advantage of the parallelism for better performance. The objective of this paper is to reduce the difficulty of complex heuristic function design for A* search algorithm. We aim to design an algorithm that can be automatically optimized to achieve rapid search with high accuracy and low computational cost. In this paper, we present a novel design and optimization method for a Multi-Weighted-Heuristics function (MWH) named Evolutionary Heuristic A* search (EHA*) to: 1) minimize the effort on heuristic function design via Genetic Algorithm (GA), 2) optimize the performance of A* search and its variants including but not limited to WA* and MHA*, and 3) guarantee the completeness and optimality. EHA* algorithm enables high performance searches and significantly simplifies the processing of heuristic design. We apply EHA* to two classic AI search problems: the Blocks World and the Sliding Tile Puzzle. Our experiment result shows that EHA* 1) is capable to choose an accurate heuristic function that provides an optimal solution, 2) can identify and eliminate inefficient heuristics, 3) is able to automatically design multi-heuristics function, and 4) minimize both the time and space complexity.
Optimising pelvic fracture stabilisation in obese victims.

Stewart and Khan’s overview on the clinical connection between a life-threatening pelvic fracture and the obesity pandemic highlights an important issue that is seldom considered in US emergency departments.[1][1] While the application of a commercial pelvic circumferential compression device may
Straightforward reductive routes to air-stable uranium(III) and neptunium(III) materials.

Studies of trivalent uranium (U3+) and neptunium (Np3+) are restricted by the tendency of these ions to oxidize in the presence of air and water, requiring manipulations to be carried out in inert conditions to produce trivalent products. While the organometallic and high-temperature reduction chemistry of U3+ and, to a much smaller extent, Np3+ has been explored, the study of the oxoanion chemistry of these species has been limited despite their interesting optical and magnetic properties. We report the synthesis of U3+ and Np3+ sulfates by utilizing zinc amalgam as an in situ reductant with absolutely no regard to the exclusion of O2 or water. By employing this method we have developed a family of alkali metal U3+ and Np3+ sulfates that are air and water stable. The structures, electronic spectra, and magnetic behavior are reported.