cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity analysis of the non-linear dynamic response of beams using space-time perturbation modes

The focus of the present work is directed towards the development of an effective reduced basis technique for calculating the sensitivity of the non-linear dynamic structural response of mechanical systems with respect to variations in the design variables. The proposed methodology is formulated within the context of a mixed space-time finite element method, which naturally allows the treatment of initial and boundary value problems. The time dependency of the solutions is implied in the assumed space-time modal shapes, and hence the partial differential equations of motion are directly reduced to a set of non-linear simultaneous equations of a purely algebraic nature. The independent field variables are approximated in terms of perturbations modes or path derivatives with respect to a load control parameter. These modes, extracting information about the kinematic and dynamic behavior of the structural system through the higher order derivatives of the strain and kinetic energies, are appropriate bases for non-linear dynamic problems. The sensitivity derivatives of the field variables are then approximated using a combination of perturbation modes and of their sensitivity derivatives. The resulting computational procedure offers high potential for the effective and numerically efficient sensitivity analysis of dynamic systems exhibiting periodic-in-time response. The proposed methodology is illustrated addressing non-linear beam problems subjected to harmonic loading and the results obtained are compared with those of a full finite-element model.
The Synergistic Effect of Descriptive and Injunctive Norm Perceptions on Counterproductive Work Behaviors

This paper addresses the potentially interactive effects of descriptive and injunctive norm perceptions on an unethical workplace behavior: counterproductive work behavior (CWB) perpetration. We draw on the Focus Theory of Normative Conduct and its conceptual distinction between norm types to refine research on this topic. We also test a person-by-environment interaction to determine whether the interactive effects of these norms for CWB are enhanced among employees reporting a stronger need to belong to social groups (NTB). In two studies, predictors were assessed in an initial survey and the dependent variable was assessed weeks later. Individuals employed across a range of industries served as participants. In Study 1, descriptive and injunctive norm perceptions of CWB interacted to predict CWB perpetration. This finding was replicated in Study 2. Additionally, Study 2 demonstrated that the interaction between the two norm types was especially strong among individuals high in NTB. Results suggest that to decrease CWB perpetration, organizations may profitably leverage the persuasive effects of “social norms marketing” to alter employee perceptions of the typicality and level of approval for CWBs. This is the first study to demonstrate that both descriptive and injunctive norm perceptions predict CWB perpetration. The demonstrated three-way interaction between the two norm types and NTB advances existing theory regarding the cognitive and motivational mechanisms underlying normative social influence.
Guilt experienced by caregivers to individuals with dementia: A concept analysis

Aim To create a comprehensive understanding and definition of guilt in caregivers of individuals with dementia. Through this concept analysis, we hope to empower nurses to more accurately identify guilt in caregivers and tailor interventions to specifically reduce these symptoms of guilt. Background Individuals with dementia are often cared for by relatives, friends and neighbours. Many caregivers express feelings of guilt, increasing the risk of depression and psychological burden. In turn, this impacts their availability to render care. Design Concept analysis according to Walker and Avant (Strategies for theory construction in nursing. Boston, MA: Prentice Hall; 2011). Method A literature search was completed utilising the following databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar for the years 2003-2017. Common definitions and lay usage were also considered. Results The identified critical attributes of guilt experienced by caregivers to individuals with dementia include the following: (a) The expectation of a moral responsibility to care for the individual with dementia; (b) a negative, subjective appraisal of one's own caregiving performance, including neglecting other roles and responsibilities and self-neglect; and (c) a sense of transgression or violation of a moral standard as a caregiver to the individual with dementia. These defining attributes were then applied in three cases: model, borderline and contrary. Pertinent antecedents and consequences to the concept of guilt in caregivers to individuals with dementia were identified. Discussion As a result of the guilt, the caregiver may experience poor mental and physical health, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and a greater sense of caregiver burden. Conclusion A new, comprehensive conceptual definition of guilt in caregivers to individuals with dementia is described. Implications for practice A conceptual definition of guilt in caregivers of individuals with dementia allows nurses to assess and identify caregivers at risk for, or currently experiencing, guilt and help direct caregivers to appropriate interventions and supportive services.
Nondestructive characterization of interfacial microstructures in multilayer semiconductors using synchrotron radiation techniques

Nondestructive and element-specific x-ray techniques have been employed to probe the interfacial microstructures in various multilayer semiconductor systems. Structural information on interfacial roughness, thickness of buried epilayer, correlations of intralayer and interlayer microstructures, atomic density profile and local structures about selected atomic species in the materials were obtained.
HCT related toxicities and mortality in frail recipients.

e18534Background: Frailty is a state characterized by diminished physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stress, and adversely affects outcomes in older patients with cancer. Geriatric...
The Role of Sleep in the Health and Resiliency of Military Personnel

Regular restorative sleep is an essential component in the maintenance of health and resiliency in military personnel. Profound negative consequences can result from sleep disruption and deprivation. Military service members face unique challenges to restful sleep, especially during deployment. The consequences of sleep deprivation on the functioning of the individual and, in turn, on his or her military unit can be catastrophic. Following deployment, continued sleep disturbance can complicate reintegration back into family, social, and work activities. How military service members and their families become resilient and positively adapt to or recover from the stressors of repeated and dangerous deployments is of great importance to military leaders seeking to optimize the health of the military forces. The role of sleep in psychological resiliency has not been widely considered; however, research suggests that sleep may play an essential role in developing and supporting resiliency. A model for psychological resilience patterned after Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is proposed. Gaps in our understanding of the role of sleep in the health and resiliency of military personnel are discussed.
Opioid Safety and Concomitant Benzodiazepine Use in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Background. Opioid use is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, safety of individual opioids and concomitant benzodiazepine use has not been studied. Objective. To study the epidemiology of opioid and concomitant benzodiazepine use in ESRD population. To study the clinical safety profile of individual opioids in patients on hemodialysis. Design. Retrospective analysis of the U.S. Renal Data System. A comprehensive review of the current literature was performed to update currently used opioid safety classification. Participants. ESRD patients ≥18 years on hemodialysis who were enrolled in Medicare A and B and Part D between 2006 and 2012, excluding those with malignancy. Main Measures. Hospital admission with diagnosis of prescription opioid overdose within 30, 60, and 90 days of prescription; death due to opioid overdose. Results. Annually, the percentage of patients prescribed any opioid was 52.2%. Overall trend has been increasing except for a small dip in 2011, despite which the admissions due to opioid overdose have been rising. 30% of those who got a prescription for opioids also got a benzodiazepine prescription. 56.5% of these patients received both prescriptions within a week of each other. Benzodiazepine use increased the odds of being on opioids by 3.27 (CI 3.21–3.32) and increased the odds of hospitalization by 50%. Opioids considered safe such as fentanyl and methadone were associated with 3 and 6 folds higher odds of hospitalization within 30 days of prescription. Hydrocodone had the lowest odds ratio (1.9, CI 1.8–2.0). Conclusions. Concurrent benzodiazepine use is common and associated with higher risk of hospitalization due to opioid overdose. Possible opioid-associated hospital admission rate is 4-5 times bigger in ESRD population than general population. Current safety classification of opioids in these patients is misleading, and even drugs considered safe based on pharmacokinetic data are associated with moderate to very high risk of hospitalization. We propose a risk-stratified classification of opioids and suggest starting to use them in all ESRD patients.
LITERATURE, LOCALISM, AND LOVE

With devastating wit, the author attempts to nip in the bud a new tendency in literary criticism which consists in promoting the practice of interpretation as a purely disinterested, unpolitical, act of love. The article is woven around three instances of new localist rhetoric in recent works by Stanley Fish, Elaine Marks and John Guillory.
Ivacaftor for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in children under six years of age

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) results from aberrant ion transport due to abnormalities or absence of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a chloride transporter that resides on the apical surface of epithelial cells. A novel class of medications, known as CFTR modulators, specifically target the abnormal protein.Areas covered: Ivacaftor increases the open probability of CFTR located on the cell surface, leading to enhanced chloride transport, and has been shown to improve lung function, weight, and quality of life. We reviewed the sentinel studies that lead to the approval of the use of ivacaftor in people with CF age six months and older with at least one CFTR gene mutation that is responsive to ivacaftor based on clinical trial and/or in vitro data. Children with CF have the greatest potential to benefit from CFTR modulator therapy when it is initiated prior to the development of permanent damage; however, challenges remain regarding use of ivacaftor in the youngest pediatric population.Expert opinion: Ivacaftor is safe and effective CFTR modulator that can be prescribed in children over six months of age with at least one CFTR gene mutation that is responsive to ivacaftor.
TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH NATIVE AORTIC VALVE INSUFFICENCY

Current treatment for severe Native Aortic Valve Insufficiency (NAVI) is surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). For inoperable patients, few treatment options are available and outcomes are poor. NAVI is considered a relative contraindication for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR),
Pyridyl CO2 Fixation Enabled by a Secondary Hydrogen Bonding Coordination Sphere.

Reversible CO2 binders under ambient conditions are of significant interest for multiple applications in sensing and capture technologies. In this paper, a general systematic way to evaluate CO2 re...
Travel Patterns among Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection in California: Does Driving Further for Care Improve Outcomes?

Better outcomes at high-volume surgical centers have driven regionalization of complex surgical care. In turn, access to high-volume centers often requires travel over longer distances. We sought to characterize travel patterns among patients who underwent a hepatectomy. The California Office of Statewide Health Planning database was used to identify patients who underwent hepatectomy between 2005 and 2016. Total distance traveled and whether a patient bypassed the nearest hospital that performed hepatectomy to get to a higher-volume center were assessed. Multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with bypassing a local hospital for a higher-volume center. Overall, 13,379 adults underwent a hepatectomy in 229 hospitals; only 26 hospitals were high volume (> 15 cases/year). Median travel time to a hospital that performed hepatectomy was 25.2 min (IQR: 13.1–52.0). The overwhelming majority of patients (91.6%) bypassed the nearest providing hospital to seek care at a destination hospital. Among patients who bypassed a closer hospital, 75.5% went to a high-volume hospital. Outcomes at destination hospitals were improved compared with nearest hospitals (incidence of complications: 20.4% vs. 22.9% %; failure-to-rescue: 7.1% vs 10.9%; mortality 1.5% vs. 2.6%). Medicaid beneficiaries (OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.56–0.85) were less likely to bypass the nearest hospital to go to a high-volume hospital; additionally, Medicaid patients were less likely to undergo hepatectomy at a high-volume hospital independent of bypassing the nearest hospital (OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.48–0.76). Among the 3703 patients who underwent hepatectomy at a low-volume center, 2126 patients had actually bypassed a high-volume hospital. Among the remaining 1577 patients, 95% of individuals would have needed to travel less than 1 additional hour to reach a high-volume center. Roughly, one-quarter of patients undergoing hepatectomy received care at a low-volume center; nearly all of these patients either bypassed a high-volume hospital or would have needed to travel less than an additional hour to reach a high-volume center. Travel distance needs to be considered in policies and healthcare delivery design to improve care of patients undergoing hepatic resection.
Inferring competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions in cancer

To understand driving biological factors for cancer, regulatory circuity of genes needs to be discovered. Recently, a new gene regulation mechanism called competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions has been discovered. Certain genes targeted by common microRNAs (miRNAs) "compete" for these miRNAs, thereby regulate each other by making others free from miRNA regulation. Several computational tools have been published to infer ceRNA networks. In most existing tools, however, expression abundance, collective regulation, and groupwise effect of ceRNAs are not considered. In this study, we developed a computational pipeline named Crinet to infer cancer-associated ceRNA networks addressing critical drawbacks. Crinet considers lncRNAs, pseudogenes, and all mRNAs as potential ceRNAs and incorporates a network deconvolution method to exclude the amplifying effect of ceRNA pairs in terms of ceRNA regulation. We tested Crinet on breast cancer data in TCGA. Crinet inferred reproducible ceRNA interactions and groups, which were significantly enriched in cancer-related genes and processes. We validated our results using protein expression benchmarks. Crinet outperformed other tool predicting gene expression change in knockdown assays, and showed better performance for antibodies following miRNA transfection. Top high-degree genes in the inferred network included known suppressor/oncogene lncRNAs of breast cancer showing the importance of non-coding RNA9s inclusion for ceRNA inference.
A Framework to Guide Medical Students’ Role in COVID-19: The Pandemic as a Catalyst for Crystallization of Professional Identity Formation

A physician’s duty to care for patients and to care for self are in significant tension during epidemics. Especially when the infectivity and fatality of the epidemic remains unclear, the internal professional identity of a physician in training is challenged. There are various elements of moral significance that medical students may reflect on in the context of professional identity formation (PIF). These elements include: 1) the duty to treat concept, 2) societal role expectations, 3) beneficence, 4) distributive justice, 5) balancing risks and benefits and 6) faculty role modeling. Licensed physicians and those in training will balance multiple perspectives to make their personal decisions as to how to approach the pandemic and define their own role in it. During times of pandemics, when the entire physician workforce is called upon to help with the emerging crisis, positive role models emerge and that invisible pedagogy profoundly influences PIF of medical students. Physicians in training balance the values of altruism and self-care in their decision making. COVID-19 since its first recognition in December 2019 has caused major disruption of medical educational activities in the United States. The role of medical students during such crises can vary greatly depending on their level of training, competence and their evolving professional identities. Given the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis, many will act in solidarity with patients and colleagues. PIF may remain abstract to students throughout much of their medical training, but it becomes concrete during epidemics in which students personally confront deepened awareness of what it means to be a physician. The concept of PIF rapidly crystallizes into tangible thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and actions. This article elaborates on a framework consisting of six moral elements that guides one’s decision in contributing to pandemic relief efforts and posit that a crisis accelerates the rapid crystallization of PIF in medical students (Figure 1). These decisions must still allow room for individual conscience and students may take the six elements of moral significance into consideration when determining their role. The epidemic becomes a “giant leap” in PIF. Regardless of which decision students make, the way trainees reflect on their participation and choose to approach this novel COVID-19 pandemic marks a pivotal moment in each medical student’s academic career and PIF journey.
Art and Connectivity

Why talk about art? Isn’t globalization largely a matter of trade, geoeconomics and geopolitics? This is what it looks like in accounts of globalization with metrics of global trade, foreign trade as share of GDP and global production networks. These metrics dominate reports of the IMF, World Bank and UN agencies, but they are not part of ordinary social experience. Most people’s experience of globalization is through the Internet, media, movies, music, fashion, sports, travel and ‘world events’ such as the Olympics, World Cups and tournaments.
Mobility‐As‐A‐Service for Resilience Delivery in Power Distribution Systems

Inspired by the opportunities provided by the Industry 4.0 technologies for smarter, risk‐informed, safer, and resilient operation, control, and management of the lifeline critical networks, this study investigates mobility‐as‐a‐service for resilience delivery during natural disasters. Focusing on effective service restoration in power distribution systems, we introduce mobile power sources (MPSs) as the restoration technology of the future, the mobility of which can be harnessed for spatiotemporal flexibility exchange and effective response and recovery during disasters. We present automated decision‐making solutions that coordinate the MPSs utilization with repair crew (RC) schedules taking into account constraints in both energy and transportation networks. When integrated, the suggested technology aided by the proposed optimization models will have the potential to disrupt the current practice in boosting the resilience and operational endurance of the mission‐critical systems and services during disasters, ultimately resulting in an enriched social welfare and national security.
Fire frequency impacts soil properties and processes in sagebrush steppe ecosystems of the Columbia Basin

Abstract Increased fire frequency in semi-arid ecosystems can alter biochemical soil properties and soil processes that underpin ecosystem structure and functioning, thus threatening native plant communities and the species that rely on them. However, there is much uncertainty about the magnitude of change as soils are exposed to more fires, because soil recovery and changes in fire severity following a first fire mediate the impact of successive fires on soil properties. With this study we aim to evaluate how increased fire frequency affects soil biochemical properties (i.e. soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil structure and mineral N) and processes (i.e. microbial and enzymatic activity) in a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem located in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion, Washington, USA. During 2016, we collected soils from once (2012), twice (2003 and 2012), and thrice (2003, 2007, and 2012) burned areas, enabling us to test the hypothesis that increasing fire frequency will exacerbate the impact of fire on soil properties and processes. Our study yielded three main results: (1) fire reduced the total soil C concentration and soil C in aggregates relative to unburned soil, but only when soil was exposed to fire once (i.e. the most recent fire), (2) compared to the unburned soils, SOM contents, enzyme activity and microbial CO2 respiration were suppressed in the once and thrice burned soils, but not in the twice burned soils, and (3) fire increased NO3−-N contents across the once and twice burned sites, and reduced enzyme activity associated with N cycling in the thrice burned sites. Taken together, our findings suggest that a one-time fire in this shrub dominated semi-arid ecosystem significantly changes soil biochemical attributes and microbially driven processes. With sufficient time between fires, these structural and functional properties can partially recover, and this may persist even after a second fire, but recovery is limited when a third fire creates an additional disturbance at a shorter time interval. Furthermore, while soil C pools and microbial decomposition processes were able to recover with sufficient time, greater soil resource availability prevailed in soil across all fire frequencies, indicating that fire is likely to promote invasion and reduce ecosystem stability, even when other soil properties recover.
The Bamboo Ceiling: A Network Perspective on Why East Asians are Underrepresented in Leadership

In the United States, Asians appear disproportionately underrepresented in leadership roles, a puzzling phenomenon known as the “Bamboo Ceiling.” We advance a social network explanation for this ph...
The Enigma of Soil Nitrogen Balance Sheets

Publisher Summary During the past years, many attempts have been made to draw up nitrogen balance sheets for both cropped and uncropped soils. In general, these attempts have met with only mediocre success because quantitative data is usually not available for some of the items that enter into the calculations. On the expenditure side of the balance sheet, accurate values for the nitrogen removed in harvested crops and in animals are commonly available. After the balance sheet has been drawn up, income and outgo seldom balance, even though account has been made of all known soil nitrogen gains and losses. Usually all of the nitrogen that went into the system has not been recovered. Only on rare occasions does income exceed outgo, if all of the nitrogen added by legumes is excluded. This failure of nitrogen balance sheets to balance constitutes the enigma of discussion. In a broad sense, all items that enter into the nitrogen balance sheet are involved; in other words, there are several enigmas. Such a discussion of nitrogen balance sheets should help to explain why recoveries of nitrogen in the crop are often only 50 percent of that added as fertilizer. The chapter tabulates the nitrogen balance sheet for the United States.
Wideband Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radios in Weakly Correlated Non-Gaussian Noise

Wideband signals can be subjected to various types of non-Gaussian and impulsive noise. Such non-Gaussian noise may cause degradation in the detection performance of conventional wideband signal detection methods, such as the periodogram-based approach. In addition, the signal detection probability can be further reduced due to possible correlation among the noise samples. Under such non-Gaussian noise conditions, we formulate a wideband signal detection method for cognitive radios (CRs) based on a locally-optimal (LO) Neyman-Pearson (NP) detector by assuming a weakly correlated noise model with known parameters. The corresponding decision statistic is expressed in the frequency-domain, allowing to detect the spectral activities within the sensed band of interest. The proposed detector is shown to reduce the impact of correlated non-Gaussian noise on the detection performance. We compute the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of the proposed wideband LO-NP detector and show its superior performance, compared to existing wideband detectors under correlated noise conditions.
Real convolutional codes, time-varying errors and Kalman error-correction for fault tolerance and communication systems applications

Real convolutional codes, used in fault-tolerant signal processing applications and in communications systems with time-varying channel behavior, can be decoded by smoothed Kalman predictors. In either case, when syndromes exceed thresholds set by normal background noise, time-varying Kalman filter weights are applied to correct transient errors. >
Role of protease-activated receptors 2 (PAR2) in ocular infections and inflammation

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) belong to a unique family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are cleaved at an activation site within the N-terminal exodomain by a variety of proteinases, essentially of the serine (Ser) proteinase family. After cleavage, the new N-terminal sequence functions as a tethered ligand, which binds intramolecularly to activate the receptor and initiate signaling. Cell signals induced through the activation of PARs appear to play a significant role in innate and adoptive immune responses of the cornea, which is constantly exposed to proteinases under physiological or pathophysiological conditions. Activation of PARs interferes with all aspects of the corneal physiology such as barrier function, transports, innate and adoptive immune responses, and functions of corneal nerves. It is not known whether the proteinase released from the microorganism can activate PARs and triggers the inflammatory responses. The role of PAR2 expressed by the corneal epithelial cells and activation by serine protease released from microorganism is discussed here. Recent evidences suggest that activation of PAR2, by the serine proteinases, play an important role in innate and inflammatory responses of the corneal infection.
Analytical solutions for laminar fully developed flows in double-sine shaped ducts

Fully developed, constant property, laminar flows in double-sine shaped ducts are considered. This cross section represents a limiting inter-plate channel geometry in plate heat exchangers. Accurate analytical solutions based on the Galerkin integral method are presented. Heat transfer with both T and H1 thermal boundary conditions is analyzed; they simulate the most fundamental practical heating/cooling applications. Velocity and temperature distributions, along withfRe, Nu T , andNu H1 results for flows in double-sine ducts of different aspect ratios (1/8 ≤γ ≤ 8) are presented. Effects of the relative cross-sectional geometry and thermal boundary conditions are delineated. A comparison of the thermal-hydraulic performance with that of other compact channel geometries is made. The results suggest an optimum (Nu/fRe) performance in a double-sine duct of aspect ratio near unity.
Prevention of obesity by dietary resveratrol: how strong is the evidence?

Obesity is a pandemic problem worldwide. Dietary polyphenolic compounds show promise in preventing obesity. Resveratrol (RSV), one of the most extensively studied polyphenol compounds, has been shown to exert anti-obesity effects in various animal studies and also in several human studies. The fat-lowering effects of RSV may result from its ability to inhibit adipogenesis, suppress lipogenesis, stimulate lipolysis, promote apoptosis and increase fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis; as well as the recently demonstrated induction of the browning of white adipose tissue. These anti-obesity effects of RSV likely depend on its ability to activate AMP-activated protein kinase, a key enzyme regulating cellular energy metabolism. Consumption of fruits such as berries, grapes and nuts, which contain high levels of RSV and other polyphenols, might help to reduce obesity.
Crystal structure, phase stability, and magnetism in Ni3V.

The structural phase stability and magnetism of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}$V are investigated using an all-electron total-energy local-(spin)-density approach for its cubic (L${1}_{2}$), tetragonal (${\mathrm{DO}}_{22}$), and hexagonal (${\mathrm{DO}}_{19}$) crystal structures. In agreement with experiment, the paramagnetic ${\mathrm{DO}}_{22}$ structure is found to be the most stable phase. The L${1}_{2}$ structure shows a ferromagnetic instability with a magnetic moment of 1 ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ per formula unit. An important role is found for the second-neighbor d-d coupling in determining the electronic structure and the observed crystal structure.
Electrical Signs of New Membrane Production during Cleavage of Rana pipiens Eggs

Rana pipiens eggs dividing normally in diluted Ringer's solution show an increase in transmembrane potential inside negative, a decrease in resistance, and no change in total surface membrane capacitance at the appearance of a division furrow. Furrows of eggs in solutions with the tonicity of full Ringer develop partially, then regress so that the surface is again spherical. The potential and resistance changes are greater and substantial increases in capacitance occur when furrowing is so inhibited. It is proposed that the electrical changes at division are due to the introduction of new plasma membrane, between the blastomeres, having selective permeability to K and a low resistance compared to the outer spherical membrane. A narrow gap between blastomeres limits current flow through new membrane during normal division. A direct exposure of new membrane to the bathing medium when furrowing is disrupted results in larger changes in potential and resistance and permits the capacitance of new membrane to be detected.
Effects of lesions in central thermosensitive areas on thermoregulatory responses in rat

Abstract Behavioral and autonomic responses elicited by ambient heat were tested before and after lesioning five thermosensitive areas previously localized in the rat brain. Lesions in the PO/AH area, where local warming elicits prone body extension, markedly reduced or abolished extension but had no effect on locomotion, grooming, or tail vasodilation. Lesions in the posterior hypothalamus, where local warming induces grooming, and lesions in the septum, medial midbrain, and dorsomedial medulla, where local warming evokes locomotion, had no significant effects on thermoregulatory responses except for reduced body extension following midbrain lesions, which may have interrupted the efferent path from PO/AH thermosensors. It was concluded that extension is predominantly dependent on PO/AH thermosensors and/or integrative interneurons, while locomotion, grooming, and vasodilation are controlled by input from peripheral and central sensors. The present and earlier data from the rat are less consistent with a relatively localized general integrating mechanism producing a unitary output signal to thermoregulatory effectors than with a spatially distributed network of specific paths from sensors to separate response mechanisms, where summation of inputs may occur.
Determination of Tissue to Blood Partition Coefficients in Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Studies

The partition coefficient between tissue and blood used in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling analysis was investigated using the concept of clearance. New equations were derived and compared with previously reported equations in constant intravenous infusion and bolus injection methods. The importance of differentiating arterial from venous blood is discussed.
Effect of sample size on the microwave heating rate : oil vs. water

It is generally believed that oil samples heat faster in a microwave oven than do water samples of the same mass. For sufficiently large and thich samples this conventional wisdom is indeed correct, but this trend can be far from true in smaller samples. In a commercially-made home microwave oven, we observed that with decreasing sample size the heating rate of a water sample increases much faster than that of an oil sample. At 50 g the heating rate of a water sample is several times greater than that of an oil sample. Additionally, in studies of cylindrical samples in a customized oven having a unidirectional microwave source, the heating rate of water samples smaller than 2.4 cm in radius is greater than that of oil samples and is a strongly oscillatory increasing function of decreasing sample radius. Combining Maxwell's theory of microwave penetration and the heat conduction equation, we show that this previously unreported oscillatory heating behavior results from the added power absorbed by samples due to resonant absorption of microwaves. The added power arises from standing waves produced by internally reflected microwaves. This effect is small for oil because only 3% of the microwave power is reflected at an oil-air interface. On the other hand, 64% is reflected at a water-air interface, which causes strong resonant heating. Our findings might prove to be useful for future consumer food product development or oven design.
Functional representation as design rationale

The functional representation (FR) framework, which captures the causal component of a design rationale (DR), is described. FR encodes the designer's account of the causal processes in the device that culminate in achieving its function. The representation makes explicit the components' roles in the causal process. The limitations of FR as a design rationale and the limitations of the current repertoire of representational primitives in FR for capturing the causal component are discussed. >
The Actor-Oriented Transfer Perspective and Its Contributions to Educational Research and Practice

Although any mainstream thought is subject to theoretical challenges, the challenges to the mainstream cognitive perspective on transfer have had an unfortunate divisive effect. This article takes a pragmatic view that transfer perspectives are simply designed objects (Plomp & Nieveen, 2007), which provide different information for different purposes. Specifically, this paper compares one alternative approach—the actor-oriented transfer perspective—with the mainstream cognitive perspective on transfer, by examining the points of compatibility and tension across 5 dimensions. As a result, a space is opened up to explore 3 issues that are particularly well suited to an actor-oriented transfer approach: (a) how students interpret transfer situations, (b) the socially situated nature of transfer processes in classrooms, and (c) how contextual-sensitivity can play a productive role in the transfer of learning. Exploring the benefits and trade-offs of various approaches allows for greater understanding of the c...
Large-scale magnetohydrodynamic density-wave structures in the Andromeda nebula

The Andromeda galaxy (also referred to as M31 or NGC 224) shows approximately axisymmetric large-scale structures which are identified here with fast magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) density waves in a simple theoretical model characterized by a rotating composite system of a massive spherical halo (dark matter included), a stellar disc and a magnetized gas disc. For fast MHD density waves inside the Lindblad resonance, enhancements of stellar and gas surface mass densities as well as the azimuthal magnetic field are all roughly in phase. Based on this analysis and considerations of radiation processes in a magnetized interstellar medium, the observed overall correlation of annulus structures of M31 at many electromagnetic wavelengths can be naturally explained. In particular, the enhanced magnetic field (inferred from the synchrotron radio continuum) tends to align roughly along the magnetic torus of M31 as revealed by radio polarization studies. From observational estimates of physical parameters, the composite system of M31 is found to be quite stable – a fact that may account for the observed low global star formation rate in M31.
Corporate Repurchase Decisions Following Mutual Fund Sales

This paper examines managerial response to widespread selling by mutual funds. We study the effect on share repurchases of liquidity-based price pressure measured by mutual fund transactions caused by capital outflows. Firms whose shares undergo widespread selling by funds experiencing large outflows are more likely to repurchase their own shares, controlling for the effect of returns on share repurchases. The empirical results suggest that firms act as buyers of last resort and provide price support for their own shares.
Laboratory wear investigation of resin posterior denture teeth.

Abstract This investigation compared the wear resistance of three "improved" resin posterior denture tooth formulations with two conventional products on a mechanical toothbrush abrasion machine. The ability of the teeth to resist this type of abrasion was evaluated by determination of the weight loss during 339 hours of brushing with firm nylon bristle toothbrushes. All brands exhibited negligible loss, with the conventional brands performing better than the "improved" formulations.
Counting nodal domains in Riemannian manifolds

The number of nodal domains associated to eigenfunctions of the Laplacian are counted. Asymptotic estimates are derived as the eigenvalues approach infinity. Earlier results by other authors are improved and generalized.
Sequences necessary for trans-splicing in transiently transfected Brugia malayi

Abstract Many genes in parasitic nematodes are both cis- and trans-spliced. Previous studies have demonstrated that a 7 nt element encoded in the first intron of the Brugia malayi 70 kDa heat shock protein (BmHSP70) gene was necessary to permit trans-splicing of transgenic mRNAs in embryos transfected with constructs encoding portions of the BmHSP70 gene. Here we demonstrate that this element (the B. malayi HSP70 trans-splicing motif, or BmHSP70 TSM) is necessary and sufficient to direct trans-splicing of transgenic mRNAs derived from two genes naturally containing this motif. Mutations introduced into any position of the BmHSP70 TSM abrogated its ability to direct trans-splicing. Transgenic mRNAs derived from embryos transfected with constructs containing promoters and associated downstream domains from two normally trans-spliced genes that lack a BmHSP70 TSM homologue (the B. malayi 12 kDa small subunit ribosomal protein (BmRPS12) gene and the B. malayi RNA-binding protein (BmRBP1) gene), were not trans-spliced. Transfer of the BmHSP70 TSM into the first intron of the BmRPS12 gene rendered it competent for trans-splicing. Insertion of the BmHSP70 TSM into the single intron of the BmRBP1 gene did not render it trans-splicing competent. However, tagged constructs of the full-length BmRBP1 gene were trans-splicing competent. An analysis of the first exons and introns of over 200 trans-spliced B. malayi genes found homologues for the BmHSP70 TSM in roughly 25%. Thus, while the BmHSP70 TSM is necessary and sufficient to direct trans-splicing in some genomic contexts, independent trans-splicing signals are employed by other genes.
An age-structured model for the spread of epidemic cholera: Analysis and simulation

Abstract Occasional outbreaks of cholera epidemics across the world demonstrate that the disease continues to pose a public health threat. Traditional models for the spread of infectious diseases are based on systems of ordinary differential equations. Since disease dynamics such as vaccine efficacy and the risk for contracting cholera depend on the age of the humans, an age-structured model offers additional insights and the possibility of studying the effects of treatment options. The model investigated is given as a system of hyperbolic (first-order) partial differential equations in combination with ordinary differential equations. First, using a representation from the method of characteristics and a fixed point argument, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a solution to our nonlinear system. Then we present a finite difference approximation to the model and study the effect of high and low rates of shedding of cholera vibrios on the dynamics of the spread of the disease. The simulations demonstrate the explosive nature of cholera outbreaks that is observed in reality. The contrast of results for high and low rates of shedding of vibrios suggest a possible underlying cause for this effect.
Creating resilient children and empowering families using a multifamily group process

Abstract The author presents a model for prevention and early intervention using a multifamily group counseling process to increase the resiliency of children and to empower families living with multiple stressors in high-risk environments.
Analysis of moisture-induced stresses in an FRP composites reinforced masonry structure

It has been shown in many studies that fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite laminates can be used to effectively strengthen structures constructed by unreinforced masonry units. For practical application of this reinforcement method, the long-term interface bonding degradation due to moisture and temperature environmental effects needs to be addressed further. In this study, a finite-element modeling procedure for analyzing moisture-induced stresses in a multi-layered structure constructed with distinct permeable materials was developed. The modeling procedure was used to analyze moisture-induced stresses in a concrete block reinforced with a unidirectional glass-epoxy FRP composite laminate partially covering one lateral surface. The nonlinear humidity transport properties of both the concrete and FRP materials were taken into account in the analysis, and the convergence issue of the interfacial shear stress components associated with the free edge effect was addressed by the use of the submodeling technique. It was demonstrated that the moisture-induced stresses at the FRP-concrete interface critical to structural integrity could be determined for any time instant. The results showed that the interfacial stresses increased with the increase of the humidity diffusion time and monotonically approached the stress level at the steady-state condition of the humidity diffusion. It was also shown that the analysis by assuming constant humidity transport properties resulted in a significant underestimation on the maximum interfacial stresses. The current finite-element analysis procedure provides a general method for determining moisture-induced stresses in a multi-layered permeable structure. It can be used to aid with the design of FRP-masonry structures or other similar structures for minimizing interfacial stresses induced due to the mismatch of moisture swelling properties of the constituent materials.
Free classification of regional dialects of American English

Abstract Recent studies have found that naive listeners perform poorly in forced-choice dialect categorization tasks. However, the listeners’ error patterns in these tasks reveal systematic confusions between phonologically similar dialects. In the present study, a free classification procedure was used to measure the perceptual similarity structure of regional dialect variation in the United States. In two experiments, participants listened to a set of short English sentences produced by male talkers only (Experiment 1) and by male and female talkers (Experiment 2). The listeners were instructed to group the talkers by regional dialect into as many groups as they wanted with as many talkers in each group as they wished. Multidimensional scaling analyses of the data revealed three primary dimensions of perceptual similarity (linguistic markedness, geography, and gender). In addition, a comparison of the results obtained from the free classification task to previous results using the same stimulus materials in six-alternative forced-choice categorization tasks revealed that response biases in the six-alternative task were reduced or eliminated in the free classification task. Thus, the results obtained with the free classification task in the current study provided further evidence that the underlying structure of perceptual dialect category representations reflects important linguistic and sociolinguistic factors.
Characterization of acetylene terminated sulfone (ATS) resin. II. Thermal analysis of the resin

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the cure and post-cure reactions of an acetylene terminated sulfone (ATS) resin mixture and pure fractions from that mixture were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal stabilities were measured by programmed thermogravimetry under helium, and oxidative stabilities using isothermal thermogravimetry in air. Microstructural changes accompanying the cure reaction were identified using infrared spectroscopy. Early products of thermal degradation were trapped for identification and quantitative analysis using the technique of sub-ambient thermal volatilization analysis. We found that glass transition temperatures increase with crosslink density in the resin, that oxygen is able to copolymerize or couple with the polyenes to produce peroxides or hydroperoxides (respectively) which subsequently decompose to form terminal alcohols on the polyene, that weight loss in air at 600°F is an oxidative process that is insensitive to resin crosslink density, and that sulfone functionality constitutes the thermal weak link in the ATS resin system.
Acculturation and eating attitudes in adolescent girls: a comparative and correlational study.

The relationship of culture and socioeconomic status (SES) to eating attitudes in a nonclinical group of 138 Hispanic females, ages 16-18 is investigated. The instruments used included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), a 40-item self-rated scale that assesses abnormal eating attitudes, a rationally derived 15-item scale measuring degree of acculturation to American culture, and the Hollingshead-Redlich two-point measure of SES. The Hispanic subjects' EAT results were compared to those from a large group of predominantly white, Southern adolescent girls. Although the Hispanic group was similar on their EAT scores to the Southern group, there was a significant correlation between acculturation and higher EAT scores. There was a positive but nonsignificant correlation between SES, both current and projected, and higher EAT scores. The results support the relationship suggested by various investigators between cultural factors and a higher incidence of eating disorders. They fail to support the hypothesized relationship between higher SES and vulnerability to these disorders.