cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-fire forest remnants affect post-fire plant community structure and composition

Abstract The vegetation of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.)-dominated ecosystems in northern Lower Michigan is maintained by large, frequent, stand-replacing fires that often leave unburned forest strips (hereafter called “stringers”) which may persist for decades on the post-fire landscape. Regional fire suppression practices have altered the fire regime, however, and structural variability has been further disrupted by extensive plantations designed to provide habitat for the federally-endangered Kirtland’s warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii Baird). Jack pine plantations lack stringers and other structural heterogeneity found in fire-regenerated forests, and older live trees that comprise stringers are often harvested for timber. However, ecological effects of stringers on adjacent vegetation patterns and processes are poorly understood. We hypothesized that stringers act as post-fire refugia for plant species and provide a prolonged jack pine seed source for reseeding the burned landscape, and thus should be considered for inclusion in ecosystem-based management plans. We sampled data from four post-fire areas of different times-since-fire to investigate effects of stringers on post-fire plant community composition and stand structure. We evaluated plant community composition and compared stand density and age distributions at increasing distances from stringers to determine stringer effects on post-fire regeneration. In several burned areas, ground cover plant communities farthest from stringers differed from those both adjacent to and within stringers; areas burned relatively recently (12 and 32 years post-fire) showed the most pronounced differences. Structurally, several burned areas displayed broader sapling age distributions closer to stringers, suggesting that mature trees in stringers act as a prolonged seed source to the adjacent burned area. Thus, stringers not only influence immediate post-fire heterogeneity by retaining living trees on the burned landscape, but they also continue to provide inputs to the regenerating post-fire forest. Because the Kirtland’s warbler population has recovered, and the warbler’s delisting from endangered status is imminent, our results may be useful for guiding future ecosystem-based, adaptive forest management practices and, more broadly, retention patterns in stand-replacing fire-prone areas.
Measures of Adherence and Challenges in Using Glucometer Data in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Rethinking the Value of Self-Report.

Purpose. The current study compares the relative strength of associations of different adherence measures with glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, while highlighting the challenges in using more objective measures (i.e., glucometer data). Methods. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes ( ) and their caregivers completed a questionnaire measure assessing adolescents’ adherence (Self-Care Inventory (SCI)) to the diabetes regimen. Adolescents’ glucometers were downloaded to determine average blood glucose checks per day, as an objective measure of adherence. A measure of glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)) was obtained as part of adolescents’ regular clinic visits. Results. Adolescents’ self-reported adherence to the treatment regimen was more strongly correlated with HbA1c than caregivers’ reports of adherence. In multivariate analyses, both adolescents’ self-report of adherence and average blood glucose checks per day (obtained via a glucometer) were significant predictors of HbA1c. Challenges to obtaining glucometer data were identified. Conclusions. The findings highlight adolescents’ self-report of adherence using the SCI as a brief and meaningful measure to understand and improve adolescents’ glycemic control, particularly when glucometer data is difficult to obtain.
Examining the effects of contextual variables on living a calling over time

Abstract Grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy, Blustein, Diemer, & Autin, 2016), the current study examined the relations of contextual variables - social status and work volition - to living a calling over time with a diverse sample of employed adults. Participants were surveyed at three time points over six months, with an initial sample size of 601 and mean age of 35.75 years (SD = 11.32 years). Structural equation modeling was used to test for significant, cross lagged effects between the three constructs and test for mediation. Workplace autonomy was also included in the model as a plausible, alternative explanatory construct of living a calling, capturing individual's perceptions of their work environment. Social status was found to significantly predict work volition over time and work volition was found to significantly predict living a calling over time. Additionally, work volition at Time 2 was found to significantly mediate the effect of Time 1 social status on Time 3 living a calling, as well as the effect of Time 1 social status on Time 3 workplace autonomy. These results support core propositions from the PWT as well as previous, cross sectional research in the calling literature. Specifically, over time feeling choice in one's career decision making may predict the ability to live out a calling and be employed in autonomous work environments. Additionally, work volition may be a key reason why individuals from higher social status backgrounds experience more autonomous and fulfilling work. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Cognitive modification for the hearing impaired adolescent: the promise

A pilot study of the effects of the cognitive intervention program Instrumental Enrichment for hearing-impaired adolescents was conducted. Experimental and control groups were contrasted in regard ...
Elastomer dielectric for pulse power

In practice, the use of an elastomer dielectric has allowed us to construct a pulser one order of magnitude smaller than predecessors having the same output characteristics. Additionally, the elastomer dielectric used in pulse power systems leads to improved production techniques and improved system reliability.
On Fractal Electrodynamics

Geometry has played a crucial role in the formulation and understanding of mathematical methods in electromagnetic theory. It was the pioneering work of James Clerk Maxwell and Lord Rayleigh in the nineteenth century that provided the first glimpse into the world of wave interactions with regular Euclidean structures, and led to the solution of canonical scattering problems typical of the early and mid-twentieth century. These problems involved scattering by edges, spheres, and infinite cylinders and the guiding of waves by planar and cylindrical structures of regular cross section. More recently, wave interactions with wedges, ellipsoids, cones, cubes, truncated cylinders, and small groups of these objects have been described using both experimental and numerical methods to attack increasingly complex geometry. In most cases, these more complex objects are either descriptive of simple man-made objects or are elementary approximations to more complicated objects which occur in nature. However, models which accurately display the multitude of scale lengths typical of naturally occurring structures are not well suited to Euclidean description and so fall outside the realm of problems noted above. It is exactly these structures, sometimes denoted variegated, ramified, spiky, tortuous, pathological, wiggly, or wildly irregular, and their interactions with electromagnetic waves which are of interest here.
A Comparison of Blinding and Afternoon Melatonin Injections on the Histology of the Reproductive Organs, Pineal Ultrastructure and Gonadotrophin Hormone Levels in Female Syrian Hamsters

ABSTRACT Late afternoon injections of 25 μg melatonin mimics the effects of blinding on reproductive organ weights and histology in adult female hamsters. Uteri from indole-treated and blinded animals were infantile in appearance; the ovaries of these groups were smooth, brown and devoid of corpora lutea. A prominent feature of the ultrastructure of the pineal from these sexually regressed hamsters was the marked proliferation of smooth agranular endoplasmic reticulum.
Organ culture of pure mouse trophoblast

Abstract A model of pure trophoblastic organ cell culture in vitro consisting of nodules of trophoblastic cells and colonies of individual cells is presented. The importance of pure trophoblastic culture tissue, as described here, lies in the fact that immunologic and biologic properties of such tissue can be defined without confusion due to presence of ot her placental elements. To the best of our knowledge this is the first attempt to produce organ cell trophoblastic culture described in the literature.
A coding theorem for measures

Assuming ZF + DC + AD Moschovakis (see [Ml]) has shown that if there is a surjection π : R → λ from the reals (R = ω^ω in this paper) onto an ordinal λ, then there is a surjection π^* : R → p(λ) from the reals onto the power set of λ. Let us denote by β(λ) the set of ultrafilters on λ. The question was raised whether there is an analog of Moschovakis' Theorem for β(λ), i.e. if there is a surjection from R onto λ, is there one from R onto β(λ)? Martin showed that this cannot be proved in ZF + DC + AD alone because if V = L(R) and λ= ol, there is no surjection of R onto β(λ).
Compartmentation of Microsomal Cytochrome P-450 and 17α-Hydroxylase Activity in the Rat Testis

The adult testis consists of two functionally different tissue compartments: the interstitial tissue which serves in a hormonal role and the seminiferous tubules which function in a reproductive role. In addition to having dissimilar roles in the testis, the two tissues are also characterized by different functional cell types. The interstitial tissue, which is found interspersed between the seminiferous tubules, contains the steroid-producing Leydig cells; whereas the seminiferous tubules are composed of two cell types, the germinal and Sertoli cells. In recent years, an interest has increased as to whether the latter compartment in the testis, i.e., the seminiferous tubules, can also function in a hormonal or steroidogenic role. Such interest has been fostered particularly by the studies of Lacy and associates (1) who have implicated the Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules in an androgen synthetic pathway similar to that found in the Leydig cells. Their evidence is based on studies in which seminiferous tubules separated from interstitial tissue of the rat testis were capable of in vitro synthesis of testosterone from steroid precursors such as pregnenolone and progesterone. Other investigators (2–6) undertaking similar experiments have reported that the seminiferous tubules of the rat testis may account for 10 to 30% of the total testosterone biosynthesis from progesterone.
Stressful life events are associated with perinatal cigarette smoking.

Abstract Perinatal smoking, including smoking during pregnancy and postpartum smoking relapse, is a persistent public health problem. While childhood trauma has been linked to perinatal smoking, less is known about the association with more proximal stressful life events (SLEs). The objective of this study was to examine the association between SLEs that occurred during the year prior to childbirth with perinatal smoking. Using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2009–2011, perinatal smoking was assessed at three time points: (1) three months prior to pregnancy, (2) the last three months of pregnancy, and (3) two to six months postpartum. Survey respondents endorsed up to 13 SLEs (i.e., death of someone close). SLEs were analyzed individually, as well as using a cumulative score (range 0–13). Weighted analyses included unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression. Among those who smoked prior to pregnancy (n = 15,316), 48% (n = 7308) reported quitting smoking during pregnancy. Of those, 44% (n = 3126) reported postpartum smoking relapse. A total of 11 SLEs were associated with smoking during pregnancy and 2 SLEs were associated with postpartum smoking relapse. The odds of continued smoking during pregnancy was 12% higher for each SLE endorsed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 1.15) and this association was attenuated in relation to the odds of postpartum smoking relapse (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.08). SLEs are associated with perinatal smoking. Additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action and to develop interventions specific to the needs of women who experience SLEs.
Common-Knowledge Attacks on Democracy

Existing approaches to cybersecurity emphasize either international state-to-state logics (such as deterrence theory) or the integrity of individual information systems. Neither provides a good understanding of new “soft cyber” attacks that involve the manipulation of expectations and common understandings. We argue that scaling up computer security arguments to the level of the state, so that the entire polity is treated as an information system with associated attack surfaces and threat models, provides the best immediate way to understand these attacks and how to mitigate them. We demonstrate systematic differences between how autocracies and democracies work as information systems, because they rely on different mixes of common and contested political knowledge. Stable autocracies will have common knowledge over who is in charge and their associated ideological or policy goals, but will generate contested knowledge over who the various political actors in society are, and how they might form coalitions and gain public support, so as to make it more difficult for coalitions to displace the regime. Stable democracies will have contested knowledge over who is in charge, but common knowledge over who the political actors are, and how they may form coalitions and gain public support. These differences are associated with notably different attack surfaces and threat models. Specifically, democracies are vulnerable to measures that “flood” public debate and disrupt shared decentralized understandings of actors and coalitions, in ways that autocracies are not.
One-Loop Fluctuation Entropy of Charge Inversion in DNA

Experiments have revealed correlation-driven behavior of DNA in charged solutions, including charge inversion and condensation. This paper presents calculations of a lattice-gas model of charge inversion for the adsorption of charged dimers on DNA. Each adsorption site is assumed to have either a vacancy or a positively-charged dimer attached with the dimer oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the double helix DNA chain. The entropy and charge distributions of these three species are calculated including the lowest order fluctuation corrections to mean-field theory. We find that the inclusion of the fluctuation terms has a significant effect on the entropy, primarily in the regime where the dimers are repelled from the DNA molecule and compete with the chemical potential in solution.
Comparative Analysis of MPPT Methods for PV System with DC-DC Three-Level Converter

This paper compares four different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods for a photovoltaic system that employs a three-level DC-DC boost converter. The performance of the perturb and observe (P&O), incremental conductance (IC), current sweeping (CS), and extremum seeking (ES) are evaluated using SIMULINK/MATLAB, where real atmospheric conditions are created by changing irradiation and temperature. The results show that the CS has the minimum power oscillation at steady state, but it takes more time to converge. P&O has a fast convergence, while it exhibits more oscillation at steady state. Instead, IC and ES show more moderate combinations of the tracking speeds and steady state oscillations.
Iowa teachers' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of agriculture teacher education programs in addressing teaching standards and criteria

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe perceptions of secondary school-level teachers of agriculture in Iowa regarding the effectiveness of agricultural education teacher preparation programs in addressing education licensure standards and criteria, and subject content in agriculture during teacher preparation. Standards have been introduced in education to serve as guiding principles for the content and procedures in preparing teachers. Formalized standards-based education has been in place since 2001, yet little is known about teacher perceptions regarding standards, particularly in agricultural education. This research study was descriptive, and used quantitative and qualitative data. An online questionnaire was used to survey a census of 96 agriculture teachers who started teaching between 1995 and 2006 in secondary schools in the state of Iowa. Usable data for this study was 62. Teachers perceived agricultural education programs to be generally effective in addressing standards and moderately effective in addressing criteria and the agriculture science subject content. It was also found that teachers perceived standards, criteria, and subject content addressed during preparation to be very important in their teaching profession. The professional development activities teachers attend during teaching were perceived to be moderately influential to their professional development. There was no statistically significant difference between the group of teachers who started teaching before and those who started teaching after standards were introduced on perceived effectiveness, importance, and influence of professional development. Female teachers perceived professional development activities to be more beneficial for their
A Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Soy Nut Butter

BACKGROUND: In 2017, we conducted a multistate investigation to determine the source of an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 infections, which occurred primarily in children. METHODS: We defined a case as infection with an outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 with illness onset between January 1, 2017, and April 30, 2017. Case patients were interviewed to identify common exposures. Traceback and facility investigations were conducted; food samples were tested for STEC. RESULTS: We identified 32 cases from 12 states. Twenty-six (81%) cases occurred in children CONCLUSIONS: This investigation identified soy nut butter as the source of a multistate outbreak of STEC infections affecting mainly children. The ensuing recall of all soy nut butter products the facility manufactured, totaling >1.2 million lb, likely prevented additional illnesses. Prompt diagnosis of STEC infections and appropriate specimen collection aids in outbreak detection. Child care providers should follow appropriate hygiene practices to prevent secondary spread of enteric illness in child care settings. Firms should manufacture ready-to-eat foods in a manner that minimizes the risk of contamination.
Favorable Results of Rituximab in Combination with CHOP in the Front-Line Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma Grade 3.

Background: Follicular lymphoma grade 3 has a natural history that is more akin to that of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The addition of rituximab to standard CHOP has resulted in improved response and survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Information about outcomes in follicular lymphoma grade 3 is lacking. Methods: A single institution retrospective review of patients with follicular grade 3 lymphoma evaluated at the UTMDACC from 1999 to 2004. Patients were located from the UTMDACC lymphoma database. All patients were initially treated with R-CHOP. Results: Forty-five patients were identified: 51% male, 47% ≥60 years, and 87% follicular grade 3b. The LDH was elevated in 24%, ECOG performance status was >1 in 2%, and >1 site of extranodal involvement was present in 10%. Stage distribution was 11% stage I, 11% stage II, 42% stage III, and 36% stage IV, bulky disease (>7cm) was present in 11%, and B symptoms occurred in 13%. Beta-2 microglobulin was elevated in 57% with values >3 μg/dL in over 50%. IPI distribution was: 46% IPI Low, 38% LI, 11% IH, and 4% IPI High. Overall response rate was 100% with 96% complete responses. Relapse rate by IPI category was 24% for Low IPI, 18% for IPI LI, and 40% for IPI IH, and 100% for the two patients with High IPI. With median follow-up of 33 months, three year failure-free survival (FFS) is 73% (95% CI: 59 to 87%). One patient died (2%) with an overall survival (OS) at three years of 97% (95% CI: 93 to 100%). Conclusion: The addition of rituximab to CHOP provided a high response rate and excellent early survival in this group of mostly good prognosis patients. Relapses were still seen; longer follow-up is needed.
Min Tian. The Use of Asian Theatre for Modern Western Theatre: The Displaced Mirror.

Min Tian’s book explores the archive to collect evidence of encounters – or lack thereof – with Asian performing arts by prominent Occidental practitioners. It examines the “founding fathers of mod...
The effect of remote patient monitoring on discharge outcomes in post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients.

ABSTRACT Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a lifesaving procedure for patients with coronary artery disease but ranks highest (13.5%) for preventable hospital readmissions and second highest in average Medicare payment ($8,136) per readmission. Care transitions after hospital discharge warrant exploration to improve outcomes. The purpose of this brief report was to compare the effect of remote patient monitoring (RPM) on 30-day outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries after isolated CABG surgery. Results demonstrated no statistically significant difference in 30-day readmission (p = .568) or emergency department encounters (p = .785) between groups. However, time to achieve a cardiology follow-up appointment decreased from 19.8 to 13.7 days (p = .062) in the RPM group. Although the findings were not statistically significant, this study demonstrated a reduction in CABG readmissions and timely provider follow-up with RPM. In addition, study findings contribute to the body of nursing knowledge and support the need for further studies to identify high-risk CABG patients who may benefit from RPM after hospital discharge.
THE INFLUENCE OF DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND BASIN HISTORY ON THE TAPHONOMY OF MAMMALIAN ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE BARSTOW FORMATION (MIDDLE MIOCENE), CALIFORNIA

The Barstow Formation in the Mojave region of California was deposited in an extensional-basin setting of the Basin and Range province and preserves diverse middle Miocene mammalian assemblages. Six facies associations represent the dominant depositional environments in the basin, which changed through time from alluvial-fan and playa-dominated settings to floodplains and spring-fed wetlands. The majority of fossil localities and specimens occur in later-forming facies associations. We analyzed the taphonomic characteristics of fossil assemblages to test whether basin-scale facies associations or locality-scale facies exert more control on the preservational features of mammalian assemblages through the formation. We documented the facies settings of 47 vertebrate localities in the field in order to interpret depositional setting and the mode of accumulation for fossil assemblages. We evaluated skeletal material in museum collections for taphonomic indicators, including weathering stage, original bone-damage patterns, hydraulic equivalence, and skeletal-element composition. We evaluated four alternative modes of accumulation, including attritional accumulation on the land surface, accumulation by fluvial processes, carnivore or scavenger accumulations, and mass-death events. The majority of localities represent attritional accumulations at sites of long-term mortality in channel-margin, abandoned-channel, poorly drained floodplain, and ephemeral-wetland settings. Skeletal-element composition and taphonomic characteristics varied among facies, indicating an important role for depositional setting and landscape position on fossil-assemblage preservation. We find that locality-scale facies have a greater influence on the taphonomic characteristics of fossil assemblages; the taphonomy of each facies association is influenced by the facies that compose it. The facies composition and distribution within facies associations change through the formation, with a greater variety of depositional settings forming later in the history of the basin. Heterogeneous landscapes present more settings for fossil accumulation, contributing to the increase in fossil occurrence through the depositional history of the formation.
Trends in Medicare Reimbursement, Use Rates, and Overall Expenditure for Skin Cancer Procedures: 2012-2017

The treatment of skin cancers represents a growing share of healthcare expenditures. At the same time, Medicare reimbursement rates for physician services have declined with respect to inflation. The objective of this study was to describe the economic effects of declining Medicare reimbursement for skin cancer procedures. In this ecological study, we used the Medicare Physician Supplier and Other Provider Public Use File (POSPUF) to analyze trends in Medicare reimbursement rates, use rates, and overall Medicare expenditures for skin cancer procedures from 2012 to 2017. We adjusted reimbursement rates for inflation by converting payment amounts into units of 2017 dollars. From 2012 to 2017, overall inflation-adjusted Medicare expenditure on skin cancer procedures increased 9%. Over this time period, inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement rates declined for each procedure class, with the exception of shave excision. Concurrently, the use rate of Mohs micrographic surgery increased 23%, while the use rate for all other skin cancer procedure classes declined. In summary, this study describes trends suggesting declining Medicare reimbursement rates have been associated with increasing use rates for higher cost skin cancer procedures. Clinicians and policy makers should collaborate to develop value-based payment models that incentivize patient outcomes rather than procedural volumes.
Corrigendum: Hypochromism in Two Low-Energy Transitions of B2 (B2u) Symmetry in the Electronic Spectrum of the Carbazole Crystal

In L. Nakhimovsky and R. Fuchs, Hypochromism in Two Low-Energy Transitions of B2 (B2u) Symmetry in the Electronic Spectrum of the Carbazole Crystal, Volume 473, 2007, Pages 87–102, the author recog...
Efficient energy transfer in phenyl-ethynyl-linked asymmetric BODIPY dimers

Abstract Three asymmetric boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dimers were synthesized via coupling of a BODIPY monomer with a meso-phenyl ethynyl group substituent to the different monomers with an iodine atom at the second position of the BODIPY core. The dimers were characterized by 1H, 13C, and 11B, 19F NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Density functional theory calculations show minimal conjugation between the two BODIPY units in the dimers due to a large dihedral angle between the BODIPYs and the linker. Absorption and fluorescence measurements of monomeric and dimeric compounds in dichloromethane indicated highly efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer between two BODIPY units (in which the meso-phenyl containing BODIPY unit act as the donor while the other BODIPY unit is the acceptor) and large Stokes shifts. In particular, the dimer with the styryl BODIPY unit absorbs light in a wide range of the spectrum (325 nm–690 nm) with emission in the near IR region. The ethynyl thiophene linked dimer showed the highest ﬂuorescence quantum yield (76%) of all three dimers investigated in this study.
Riders on the storm

The author of The Inheritance Cycle, a wildly popular young adult series, is back with his first adult sci-fi. This hallucinatory space opera is a perfect reminder that we need to look beyond our current troubles.
Squamous cell carcinoma

As the name implies, squamous cell carcinomas derive from the cutaneous epithelium, often as a result of exposure to environmental carcinogens such as ultraviolet light, arsenic, or ionizing radiation.
Lead Pollution, Demographics, and Environmental Health Risks: The Case of Philadelphia, USA

Lead (Pb) soil contamination in urban environments represents a considerable health risk for exposed populations, which often include environmental justice communities. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), Pb pollution is a major concern primarily due to extensive historical Pb-smelting/processing activity and legacy use of Pb-based paints and leaded gasoline. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) organized and/or compiled community-driven soil sampling campaigns to investigate Pb content in surface soils across Philadelphia. Using these data (n = 1277), combined with our own dataset (n = 1388), we explored the spatial distribution of Pb content in soils across the city using ArcGIS. While assessing Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP)-code level data, we found strong correlations between factors, such as the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels (% EBLL) and % minority population as well as between % EBLL and % children in poverty. We developed a "Lead Index" that took demographics, median measured Pb-in-soil content, and % EBLLs into account to identify ZIP codes in need of further assessment. Our results will be used to help lower the Pb-exposure risk for vulnerable children living in disproportionately burdened communities.
Combinations of the Transfection Methods

As soon as two transfection methods seemingly different in mechanism of enhancement have been discovered, one obvious test to do is to see if both methods can be effective together on the same material, with the proviso of course that such a test would be both formally and practicably feasible. That is, one would like to know if a second method can be used to enhance the enhancement, so to speak, due to the first method. Theoretically, one could propose that two transfection methods operating through different mechanisms, and without any necessary antagonisms between them, and giving respectively a-fold and b-fold enhancements, when used together on the same material, where the number of potentially infective viral NA molecules and potentially viral NA-susceptible cells are non-limiting, would give ab-fold enhancement.
The Cognitive Management of E-Testimony

This paper explores the the justificatory status of etestimony, the electronic transmission of testimony through such electronic media as e-mail, the web, instant messaging, and file-sharing. I argue that e-testimony introduces complexities in justification and cognitive management generally which should be of special interest to epistemologists and cognitive scientists. In contrast to ordinary non-technology mediated testimony, e-testimony is an impoverished stimulus. Users have to assess the epistemic and non-epistemic risks of accessing e-testimony with very little supporting information. This raises the cognitive overhead of such judgments. The paper explores mechanisms for reducing this cognitive overhead and more effectively managing e-testimony, including automated filtering and automated censorship of the incoming e-testimony stream. It is argued that such solutions may not reduce cognitive load, since epistemic responsibility still resides with the individual recipient of e-testimony.
Interface for digital medical image databases

The paper presents an Internet-based software architecture for medical imaging research. An implementation for access of a digital database of screen mammography is discussed. Some experiments demonstrate the usefulness of this implementation in a study for segmentation of mammograms as part of a computer-aided decision framework.
Evaluation of using dog as an animal model to study the fraction of oral dose absorbed of 43 drugs in humans.

Purpose. To conduct a retrospective evaluation of using dog as ananimal model to study the fraction of oral dose absorbed (F) of 43drugs in humans and to briefly discuss potential factors that mighthave contributed to the observed differences in absorption. Methods. Mean human and dog absorption data obtained under fastedstate of 43 drugs with markedly different physicochemical andpharmacological properties and with mean F values ranging from 0.015 to1.0 were obtained from the literature. Correlation of F values betweenhumans and dogs was studied. Based on the same references, additionalF data for humans and rats were also obtained for 18 drugs. Results. Among the 43 drugs studied, 22 drugs were virtuallycompletely absorbed in both dogs and humans. However, the overallcorrelation was relatively poor (r2 = 0.5123) as compared to the earlier ratvs. human study on 64 drugs (r2 = 0.975). Several drugs showed muchbetter absorption in dogs than in humans. Marked differences in thenonliner absorption profiles between the two species were found forsome drugs. Also, some drugs had much longer Tmax values andprolonged absorption in humans than in dogs that might be theoreticallypredicted. Data on 18 drugs further support great similarity in F betweenhumans and rats reported earlier from our laboratory. Conclusions. Although dog has been commonly employed as ananimal model for studying oral absorption in drug discovery anddevelopment, the present study suggests that one may need to exercise cautionin the interpretation of data obtained. Exact reasons for the observedinterspecies differences in oral absorption remain to be explored.
Toward Molecular Imaging with Xenon MRI

Biosensors that include xenon as the signal source dramatically increase the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging and may have extensive clinical application.
INSTABILITIES IN FLUIDIZED BEDS

▪ Abstract This paper reviews recent advances in our understanding of the origin and hierarchy of organized flow structures in fluidized beds, distinction between bubbling and nonbubbling systems, and stages of bubble evolution. Experimental data and theory suggest that, at high particle concentrations, the particle-phase pressure arising from flow-induced velocity fluctuations decreases with increasing concentration of particles. This, in turn, implies that nonhydrodynamic stresses must be present to impart stability to a uniformly fluidized bed at very high particle concentrations. There is ample evidence to support an argument that, in commonly encountered gas-fluidized beds, yield stresses associated with enduring particle networks are present in the window of stable bed expansion, where the particles are essentially immobile until bubbling commences. However, some recent data on gas-fluidized beds of agglomerates of cohesive particles suggest that there exists a window of bed expansion where the bed ...
Molecular cloning and sequence of a cholesterol-repressible enzyme related to prenyltransferase in the isoprene biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract Differential hybridization and molecular cloning have been used to isolate CR39, a cDNA which hybridizes to a 1.2-kilobase (kb) mRNA in rat liver. The level of CR39 mRNA was increased seven- to ninefold over normal levels by dietary cholestyramine and mevinolin and decreased about fourfold compared with normal levels by cholesterol feeding or administration of mevalonate. Similar changes in the mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and HMG-CoA synthase were observed under the various conditions. In vitro translation of either CR39 hybrid selected RNA or 1.2-kb CR39 RNA generated by an SP6 in vitro transcription system produced a polypeptide of 39,000 daltons. As deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a full-length CR39 cDNA, the rat CR39 polypeptide contained 344 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 39,615. The predicted amino acid composition and submit molecular weight of the rat CR39 were very similar to those of prenyltransferases isolated from chicken, pig, and human. The sequence of amino acid residues 173 through 203 in the rat CR39 polypeptide showed that 17 out of 30 matched an active-site peptide of avian liver prenyltransferase. Thus, alterations in the rate of cholesterogenesis resulted in the coordinate regulation of three mRNAs encoding HMG-CoA reductase, HMG-CoA synthase, and CR39, the latter being tentatively identified as prenyltransferase.
Structure and Evolution of the 22 February 1993 TOGA COARE Squall Line: Numerical Simulations

Abstract In this study a numerical cloud model is used to simulate the three-dimensional evolution of an oceanic tropical squall line observed during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment and investigate the impact of small-scale physical processes including surface fluxes and ice microphysics on its structure and evolution. The observed squall line was oriented perpendicular to a moderately strong low-level jet. Salient features that are replicated by the model include an upshear-tilted leading convective region with multiple updraft maxima during its linear stage and the development of a 30-km scale midlevel vortex and associated transition of the line to a pronounced bow-shaped structure. In this modeling approach, only surface flukes and stresses that differ from those of the undisturbed environment are included. This precludes an unrealistically large modification to the idealized quasi-steady base state and thus allows us to more easily isolate effects of ...
Comparison of the penumbra between focused and nondivergent blocks—Implications for multileaf collimators

The penumbra from a 10-MV x-ray beam has been measured using various field-shaping blocks located in the normal blocking tray position and compared to the penumbra of the adjustable photon jaws of the machine. The results showed that the penumbra was substantially degraded by these blocks only for field sizes greater than 15 x 15 cm2 and at the depth of maximum dose, dmax. At depths of 11 cm or greater, there was a significant difference only for the same range of field sizes in the 80% to 50% dose region. There was no significant difference at these depths for either the 95%-50% or the 90%-50% dose regions. No significant difference was observed between the use of lead and tungsten blocks and also between lead blocks with a straight edge and those with either an 0.5-mm or a 1-mm step in the face. Since the width of the 95% dose relative to the 50% dose is of greatest interest clinically, straight-edged blocks are as effective as divergent blocks in most situations. These results imply that the design and complexity of a multileaf collimator can be greatly simplified from a double focusing device to one that is single focusing in the plane orthogonal to the leaves.
Strain Softening and Rate Effects on Soil Shear Strength in Modeling of Vertical Penetration of Offshore Pipelines

Offshore pipelines play a vital role in the transportation of hydrocarbon. In deep seas, pipelines laid on the seabed usually penetrate into the soil a certain amount. These pipelines might experience significant lateral movement during the operational period. The resistance to lateral movement depends on vertical penetration and berm formation around the pipe. Vertical penetration is a large deformation problem. Finite element modeling of vertical penetration of offshore pipeline in soft clay seabed in deep water is presented in this study. The modeling was performed using ABAQUS finite element software. Soil was modeled in an Eulerian framework and the pipe in a Lagrangian framework. Strain softening behavior and strain rate effects on undrained shear strength of clay was incorporated in ABAQUS FE software using user subroutines written in FORTRAN. The variation of undrained shear strength with depth is also considered. The results are compared with centrifuge test results and also with available solutions.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Scattering of low energy ions from surfaces at 180

Abstract Coaxial impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (CAICISS), for which the scattering angle of the ions is almost 180°, is a promising new development for the determination of the atomic structures of crystalline surfaces. The primary advantage of this experimental configuration is that the scattering geometry is simpler than that for ion scattering at other angles. Since the backscattered particle nearly retraces the trajectory of the incident projectile, any target atom that participated in a shadowing interaction will also be involved in blocking. This double interaction causes large variations in both the scattering cross section and the position of the critical angle for scattering angles near 180° that must be considered when interpreting experimental data.
Predicting site index of plantation loblolly pine from biophysical variables

Concerns of the effect of climate change on forest productivity have impelled the need to accurately predict forest productivity from climate, physiographic and edaphic variables (biophysical variables). We fitted and evaluated random forest models and nonlinear least squares regression models for predicting plantation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) site index from biophysical variables. Tree and stand location data were provided by the Virginia Tech Forest Modeling Research Cooperative. Climate data for each stand location were computed using the Oakridge National Laboratories’ daily surface weather prediction models, while soils data were extracted from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service SSURGO GIS database using GIS data extraction techniques. Separate models were fitted for non-intensively managed (Non-IMP) and intensively managed (IMP) loblolly pine plantations. Variable selection methods in both modeling approaches showed that the number of biophysical variables that were important in predicting site index of IMP loblolly pine was smaller than the number for Non-IMP stands. The non-parametric random forest models had better fit and prediction statistics than the least squares parametric models but exhibited the potential to give illogical predictions under extrapolation. Site index predictions from both modeling approaches exhibited a regression towards the mean.
Kinetics of the Growth of Anthracene Nanoparticles

Abstract Nanocrystals of anthracene were formed by “solvent shifting”—reducing the solute solubility by changing the ratio of two components of a binary solvent. Dispersions of slowly‐growing nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 100 to 1000 nm were prepared in an acetone/water binary solvent. A model of the growth was developed that described the rapid initial increase in particle size over several minutes, followed by much slower growth over several hours to days. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of particle size could be described well using this model. UV–VIS and fluorescence spectra suggest that the anthracene particles are crystalline, and exist in equilibrium with molecular anthracene in solution.
Structure and Reactivity of Bis(silyl) Dihydride Complexes (PMe3)3Ru(SiR3)2(H)2: Model Compounds and Real Intermediates in a Dehydrogenative C−Si Bond Forming Reaction

A series of stable complexes, (PMe3)3Ru(SiR3)2(H)2 ((SiR3)2 = (SiH2Ph)2, 3a; (SiHPh2)2, 3b; (SiMe2CH2CH2SiMe2), 3c), has been synthesized by the reaction of hydridosilanes with (PMe3)3Ru(SiMe3)H3 or (PMe3)4Ru(SiMe3)H. Compounds 3a and 3c adopt overall pentagonal bipyramidal geometries in solution and the solid state, with phosphine and silyl ligands defining trigonal bipyramids and ruthenium hydrides arranged in the equatorial plane. Compound 3a exhibits meridional phosphines, with both silyl ligands equatorial, whereas the constraints of the chelate in 3c result in both axial and equatorial silyl environments and facial phosphines. Although there is no evidence for agostic Si−H interactions in 3a and 3b, the equatorial silyl group in 3c is in close contact with one hydride (1.81(4) A) and is moderately close to the other hydride (2.15(3) A) in the solid state and solution (ν(Ru···H···Si) = 1740 cm-1 and ν(RuH) = 1940 cm-1). The analogous bis(silyl) dihydride, (PMe3)3Ru(SiMe3)2(H)2 (3d), is not stable at ...
Do roadshows work?: examining the effectiveness of just be

Outreach programs communicating the importance and diversity of computing to K-12 students are essential to improving attitudes toward computing. However, the effectiveness of outreach programs, and roadshows in particular, has only recently come under study. Just Be is an outreach roadshow program at Indiana University. It directly addresses stereotypical attitudes towards computing. This paper demonstrates, through statistical analysis of surveys given to college students who participated in a Just Be presentation prepared for high school students, that the Just Be roadshow effectively shifts attitudes for the better.
Period-peak analysis of the EEG with microprocessor applications

Abstract This paper describes the development and evaluation of a period-peak algorithm for background analysis of the clinical electroencephalogram (EEG). The procedure is a time-domain method which is harmonious with manual interpretation of the EEG tracing. Conceptually the algorithm functions in 2 modes. Major counts are detected by successsive baseline crossings in the period analysis mode. Presence of superimposed activity between major-counts induces a transition to the peak-detection mode. In this manner, period-peak analysis is capable of detecting the simultaneity of slow base-waves and relatively fast superimposed activity in the EEG. Preliminary studies have been conducted in which the analysis results of this procedure were compared to those of other EEG algorithms. In general, the period-peak algorithm offered less bias towards either end of the EEG spectrum. Subsequent to testing of a FORTRAN version, the period-peak algorithm has been implemented in assembly language on a dedicated microprocessor system for on-line analysis of EEG data.
Complement fixation for study of placental-type alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract Preparations of human placental alkaline phosphatase differing in specific enzyme activities were compared by microcomplement fixation assays using monospecific antisera. While both specific enzyme activity and complement fixation units increased 15,000-fold upon purification, the ratio between these units remained constant. Separation of an alkaline phosphatase preparation into ‘A’ and ‘B’ forms by ampholine isoelectric focusing indicated that these forms also possessed the same ratio of immunoreactive enzyme protein to enzyme activity. The correspondence of complement fixation units with specific enzyme activity indicates that complement fixation with monospecific antisera can be used to analyze structural differences among alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes.
MOBILITY OF SURFACTANTS IN AND BETWEEN ADSORBED MONOLAYERS

Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the lateral interdiffusion of ionic surfactants in adsorbed monolayers and their exchange between two contacting monolayers were measured under varying conditions of temperature and humidity. Measured interdiffusion coefficients at 25 °C were of order (1−10) × 10-9 cm2/s, and exchange half-times were of order 1 h (even longer for totally dry conditions). These low diffusion and exchange rates result from the complex rate-limiting interdependence of different migrating surfactant molecules and their counterions. The rate-limiting factors to both diffusion and exchange were found to be (1) steric constraints, i.e., the need to conserve the packing density or average molecular area when molecules move or exchange positions, (2) electroneutrality constraints, i.e., the need to maintain local electroneutrality at all places at all times, (3) confinement constraints in trapped monolayers, i.e., mild (low pressure) compressive confinement seems to have only a small e...
α-Hydroxydimethylacetal formation from aminoketones using hypervalent iodine

Abstract Various β-aminoketones were converted into the α-hydroxydimethylacetal using either o-iodosylbenzoic acid or (diacetoxy) iodobenzene (KOH/CH3OH) without oxidation at 1°, 2° or 3°, amino groups or at sulfur in the case of a morpholino group.