cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil carbon sensitivity to temperature and carbon use efficiency compared across microbial-ecosystem models of varying complexity

Global ecosystem models may require microbial components to accurately predict feedbacks between climate warming and soil decomposition, but it is unclear what parameters and levels of complexity are ideal for scaling up to the globe. Here we conducted a model comparison using a conventional model with first-order decay and three microbial models of increasing complexity that simulate short- to long-term soil carbon dynamics. We focused on soil carbon responses to microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and temperature. Three scenarios were implemented in all models: constant CUE (held at 0.31), varied CUE (−0.016 °C−1), and 50 % acclimated CUE (−0.008 °C−1). Whereas the conventional model always showed soil carbon losses with increasing temperature, the microbial models each predicted a temperature threshold above which warming led to soil carbon gain. The location of this threshold depended on CUE scenario, with higher temperature thresholds under the acclimated and constant scenarios. This result suggests that the temperature sensitivity of CUE and the structure of the soil carbon model together regulate the long-term soil carbon response to warming. Equilibrium soil carbon stocks predicted by the microbial models were much less sensitive to changing inputs compared to the conventional model. Although many soil carbon dynamics were similar across microbial models, the most complex model showed less pronounced oscillations. Thus, adding model complexity (i.e. including enzyme pools) could improve the mechanistic representation of soil carbon dynamics during the transient phase in certain ecosystems. This study suggests that model structure and CUE parameterization should be carefully evaluated when scaling up microbial models to ecosystems and the globe.
AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF HANDWRITING FORGERY USING A FRACTAL NUMBER ESTIMATE OF WRINKLINESS

We investigate the detection of handwriting forged by novices. To facilitate document examination it is important to develop an automated system to identify forgeries, or at least to identify those handwritings that are likely to be forged. Because forgers often carefully copy or trace genuine handwriting, we hypothesize that good forgeries — those that retain the shape and size of genuine writing — are usually written more slowly and are therefore wrinklier (less smooth) than genuine writing. From online handwriting samples we find that the writing speed of the good forgeries is significantly slower than that of the genuine writings. From corresponding offline samples we find that the wrinkliness of the good forgeries is significantly greater than that of the genuine writings, showing that this feature can help identify candidate forgeries from scanned documents. Using a total of eight handwriting distance features, including the wrinkliness feature, we train a neural network to achieved 89% accuracy on detecting forged handwriting on test samples from ten writers.
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Strategies of Identity Construction in Ethnic Media

In this article, I investigate the construction of Latin@ identities within a Spanish language radio station broadcasting to a Latin American audience in the Washington–Baltimore area. I argue that ethnic media such as this radio station provide a channel for the enactment of interests and strategies at different local and translocal scales and that therefore the analysis of discourse and communication processes within such media provides a glimpse into the complexities that underlie identity construction among transnational communities. I focus on the contrast between top-down strategies used by the radio owners, advertisers and other agents to build a Latin@ identity and bottom-up processes of identity negotiation among hosts within the radio. While top-down strategies converge in proposing an image of local Latin@s as a homogeneous, culturally and linguistically united transnational community, concrete identity negotiations among hosts complicate this picture, illustrating potential divisions within such imagined community. I focus on exchanges involving English and Spanish by Spanish- or English-dominant hosts to illustrate diverging perceptions about the significance for identity claims of using hybrid English–Spanish talk and accented or unaccented varieties of English.
Pearls and Pitfalls for the Pediatric Emergency Medical Provider in the Evaluation of Abusive Head Trauma

Abusive head trauma causes significant morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. The diagnosis of abusive head trauma can be difficult. Emergency medical providers frequently have initial contact with patients presenting with abusive head injuries. It is important for emergency medical providers to consider child abuse in the differential diagnosis of head trauma and to know how to perform a comprehensive evaluation when it is suspected. The pearls and pitfalls of diagnosing abusive head trauma are discussed in this article. Information on patient outcomes and the legal responsibilities of the medical provider are also described.
Assessing Equivalent Viscous Damping Using Piping System Test Results

The specification of damping for nuclear piping systems subject to seismic-induced motions has been the subject of many studies and much controversy. Damping estimation based on test data can be influenced by numerous factors, consequently leading to considerable scatter in damping estimates in the literature. At present, nuclear industry recommendations and nuclear regulatory guidance are not consistent on the treatment of damping for analysis of nuclear piping systems. Therefore, there is still a need to develop a more complete and consistent technical basis for specification of appropriate damping values for use in design and analysis. This paper summarizes the results of recent damping studies conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Sex Differences in Human Brain Morphometry and Metabolism: An In Vivo Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography Study on the Effect of Aging

Background: There are significant age and sex effects in cognitive ability and brain disease. However, sex differences in aging of human brain areas associated with nonreproductive behavior have not been extensively studied. We hypothesized that there would be significant sex differences in aging of brain areas that subserve speech, visuospatial, and memory function. Methods: We investigated sex differences in the effect of aging on human brain morphometry by means of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging and on regional cerebral metabolism for glucose by positron emission tomography. In the magnetic resonance imaging study, we examined 69 healthy right-handed subjects (34 women and 35 men), divided into young (age range, 20 to 35 years) and old (60 to 85 years) groups. In the positron emission tomography study, we investigated 120 healthy right-handed subjects (65 women and 55 men) aged 21 to 91 years. Results: In the magnetic resonance imaging study, age-related volume loss was significantly greater in men than women in whole brain and frontal and temporal lobes, whereas it was greater in women than men in hippocampus and parietal lobes. In the positron emission tomography study, significant sex differences existed in the effect of age on regional brain metabolism, and asymmetry of metabolism, in the temporal and parietal lobes, Broca's area, thalamus, and hippocampus. Conclusions: We found significant sex differences in aging of brain areas that are essential to higher cognitive functioning. Thus, our findings may explain some of the age-sex differences in human cognition and response to brain injury and disease.
Effectiveness of a central line bundle campaign on line-associated infections in the intensive care unit.

Background Central line–associated bloodstream infections occur commonly and are a potentially preventable source of morbidity in the critical care setting. The purpose of this study was to find a way to decrease central line–associated bloodstream infections. Methods Data were collected from February 1, 2005, to April 31, 2007, on all patients in the critical care unit who had a central venous catheter placed at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, which is a community teaching hospital with 628 beds. After 5 months of baseline data collection, a multidisciplinary team created a central line bundle to be used when placing central venous catheters. A bundle is a protocol put in place to ensure that a procedure is performed using the latest evidence-based techniques. In this case, it included maximal barrier precautions, hand washing, skin preparation with ChloraPrep (Enturia, Leawood, Kan), use of a central line cart, and avoidance of femoral lines. All central lines placed from the time of intervention were placed using the bundle provided. The variables included the number of central lines, number of central line days, and development of a line infection. Results The study period was 24 months, which included 9,938 central line days from a total of 1,395 central venous catheters. The average number of central line–associated bloodstream infections per 1000 catheter days decreased from 5.0 to 0.90 (P Conclusion The implementation of a central line bundle campaign resulted in a significant decrease in line-associated bloodstream infections. Based on our study, we recommend that this protocol be adopted nationwide.
A sediment budget for a small semiarid watershed in southeastern Arizona, USA

article i nfo Article history: A sediment budget was developed for a 43.7 ha and a nested 3.7 ha semiarid, shrub dominated watershed based on hydrologic, geomorphic, erosion, and sediment data collected from 1963 through 2006 on the USDA-ARS Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in the southwestern US. Sediment budgets based on such extensive and intensive field campaigns over several decades are rare. The sediment budget was bal- anced with a high degree of confidence because the study watershed is controlled by an earth dam at the out- let. Although the channel network is well developed and incising in the steeper reaches of the watershed, hillslopes are the dominant source of sediment, contributing 85% of the overall total sediment yield. Erosion and sediment redistribution were driven by highly variable rainfall and runoff during July, August, and September. Sediment transfers are influenced by channel abstractions and the presence of the outlet dam, which created conditions for deposition in the pond approach reach. Although earth dams are ubiquitous throughout the southwestern US, and they can provide a measure of outlet sediment yield, these outlet mea- surements may be insufficient to interpret temporal and spatial variability in watershed sediment dynamics. Identification of dominant processes and sediment sources is critical for determining management actions that will improve rangeland conditions. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Validity and Public Health Implications of Maternal Perception of the Onset of Lactation: An International Analytical Overview

The main objective of this analytical overview is to assess the validity of maternal perception of the onset of lactation (OL) as an indicator of lactogenesis stage II (LS-II). Prospective studies that assessed OL and/or LS-II [based on test-weighing milk volume (MV) and/or breast milk biomarkers (BMB)] were identified. OL is a clearly defined and easily identified event across cultures, with the overwhelming majority of women being able to report when they experience it. Mean OL ranges from 50 to 73 h postpartum across studies and from 1 to 148 h postpartum within studies. The wide range detected within samples is fully consistent with the wide within sample LS-II variability as determined by BMB or MV. Studies have identified similar risk factors for delayed LS-II, such as labor and delivery stress, primiparity and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, regardless of marker used (i.e., OL, MV or BMB). The correlation between OL and MV (r = -0.60) is of similar magnitude to that between OL and BMB (r = 0.50) and that between BMB and MV (r = 0.47-0.69). In conclusion, OL is a valid clinical indicator of LS-II. This has public health relevance because studies have identified delayed OL (i.e., >72 h postpartum) as a risk factor for shorter breastfeeding duration and for greater infant weight loss by d 3 postpartum. Multidisciplinary studies are needed to standardize the definition of OL and to confirm its validity in different sociocultural contexts.
Present tests for detection of snake venom: Clinical applications

Immunologic tests for detection of snake venom and venom antibodies have important clinical applications. Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) provide adequate specificity and sensitivity. The former is much more widely used because it is inexpensive, relatively easy to perform, and uses stable reagents. Some ELISA systems will detect 0.5 ng of venom; however, a sensitivity of 10 to 100 ng is more usual. Minimum running time is 30 to 45 minutes, with longer times, greater sensitivity can be attained. Wound aspirate, serum, and urine are the most suitable materials for venom detection. ELISA has been used for clinical diagnosis of snakebite, to monitor antivenom dose, to study clinical syndromes associated with envenomation, to detect venom in forensic cases, and to evaluate first aid techniques. The indirect ELISA usually is used for detecting and titrating venom antibody. This is potentially useful in epidemiological studies of snakebite incidence, in evaluating potency and paraspecific activity of antivenoms, and in studying response to venom immunogens. Current ELISA systems involving snake venoms have low specificity, and most cannot reliably differentiate venoms of related snakes. Venom antibody detection assays are less satisfactory than those for venom; nonspecific reactions and cross-reactivity are unacceptably high. Methods for improvement of snake venom immunodiagnosis are discussed.
Thermal and haline fronts in the Yellow/East China Seas: Surface and subsurface seasonality comparison

Seasonal variability of surface and subsurface thermal/haline fronts in the Yellow/East China Seas (YES) has been investigated using three-dimensional monthly-mean temperature and salinity data from U.S. Navy’s Generalized Digital Environmental Model (Version 3.0). The density-compensated Cheju-Yangtze Thermal/Haline Front has (northern and southern) double-tongues. The northern tongue is most evident throughout the depth from December to April. The southern tongue is persistent at the subsurface with conspicuous haline fronts. The thermal (haline) frontal intensity of the northern tongue is controlled mainly by the temperature (salinity) variation on the shoreward (seaward) side of the front. The cold water over the Yangtze Bank is influential in generating the southern tongue and intensifying the Tsushima Thermal Front. The year-round Cheju-Tsushima Thermal Front is evident throughout the depth and intensifies from July to December. The northern arc of the Yangtze Ring Haline Front is manifest in spring and is sustained until summer, whereas the southern one is fully developed in summer because of eastward migration of the Yangtze Diluted Water. The area showing strong frontal intensity in the Chinese Coastal Haline Front shifts seasonally north and south along the Zhejiang-Fujian coast. The Generation and evolution of YES fronts are closely associated with YES circulation (inferred from the linkage of the water masses). Moreover, the subsurface temperature/salinity evolution on the fronts in the Yellow Sea differs from that in the East China Sea owing to local factors such as wintertime vertical mixing and a summertime strong thermocline above the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water.
Identification and Characterization of the Dystrophin Anchoring Site on β-Dystroglycan

Dystrophin, the product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene, is tightly associated with the sarcolemmal membrane to a large glycoprotein complex. One function of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex is to link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in skeletal muscle. However, the molecular interactions of dystrophin with the membrane components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex are still elusive. Here, we demonstrate and characterize a specific interaction between β-dystroglycan and dystrophin. We show that skeletal muscle and brain dystrophin as well as brain dystrophin isoforms specifically bind to β-dystroglycan. To localize and characterize the dystrophin and β-dystroglycan interaction domains, we reconstituted the interaction in vitro using dystrophin fusion proteins and in vitro translated β-dystroglycan. We demonstrated that the 15 C-terminal amino acids of β-dystroglycan constituted a unique binding site for the second half of the hinge 4 and the cysteine-rich domain of dystrophin (amino acids 3054-3271). This dystrophin binding site is located in a proline-rich environment of β-dystroglycan within amino acids 880-895. The identification of the interaction sites in dystrophin and β-dystroglycan provides further insight into the structure and the molecular organization of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex at the sarcolemma membrane and will be helpful for studying the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Genetic Counseling for Mental Health Disorders

The sequenced map of the DNA base pairs in the human genome is making it easier to understand the biological pathways involved in mental illnesses and to develop better methods of diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately prevention. This article describes the genetic counseling process for psychiatric disorders, including the use of a family pedigree and predicting genetic inheritance risks based on family history. It also addresses client education issues and the health professionals involved in genetics counseling services. Ethical, legal, and social implications of psychiatric genomics are discussed. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2006; 11(6), 338-343. DOI: 10.1177/1078390305284454
Effect of age on aortic atherosclerosis.

Objective To examine the association of atherosclerosis burden in the survivors of an asymptomatic elderly cohort study and its relationship to other coronary risk factors (specifically, age) by evaluating aortic atherosclerotic wall burden by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods A total of 312 participants in an ongoing observational cohort study underwent cardiac and descending thoracic aorta imaging by MRI. Maximum wall thickness was measured and the mean wall thickness calculated. Wall/outer wall ratio was used as a normalized wall index (NWI) adjusted for artery size difference among participants. Percent wall volume (PWV) was calculated as NWI × 100. Results In this asymptomatic cohort (mean age: 76 years), the mean (SD) aortic wall area and wall thickness were 222 ± 45 mm 2 and 2.7 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. Maximum wall thickness was 3.4 ± 0.6 mm, and PWV was 32% ± 4%. Women appeared to have smaller wall area, but after correcting for their smaller artery size, had significantly higher PWV than men (P = 0.03). Older age was associated with larger wall area (P = 0.04 for trend) with similar PWVs. However, there were no statistically significant associations between standard risk factors, Framingham global risk, or metabolic syndrome status, therapy for cholesterol or hypertension, coronary or aortic calcium score, and the aortic wall burden. Aortic calcification was associated with coronary calcification. Conclusions Asymptomatic elderly in this cohort had a greater descending thoracic aortic wall volume that correlated with age, and women had a significantly increased PWV compared to men. In these survivors, the atherosclerotic aortic wall burden was not significantly associated with traditional risk factors or with coronary or aortic calcium scores or coronary calcium progression. Results suggest that age, or as yet unidentified risk factor(s), may be responsible for the increase in atherosclerosis.
Chondrocyte response to cyclic hydrostatic pressure in alginate versus pellet culture

Cells are often cultured at high density (e.g., confluent monolayer and as pellets) to promote chondrogenic differentiation and to maintain the chondrocyte phenotype. They are also frequently suspended in hydrogels such as agarose or alginate for the same purposes. These culture techniques differ markedly with respect to frequency of direct contact between cells and overall intercellular spacing. Because these factors may significantly affect mechanotransduction, the purpose of this study was to determine if the response of articular chondrocytes to cyclic hydrostatic pressure would depend on the culture condition. Primary articular chondrocytes from young and mature pigs were cultured either as pellets or suspended in alginate beads. Both groups were exposed to dynamic hydrostatic pressure (4 MPa, 1 Hz, 5400 cycles per day) for 7 days. Cell proliferation was unaffected by pressure, but pressurized chondrocytes in pellet culture had significantly greater sGAG content and incorporated [3H]proline at a higher rate than nonpressurized controls. Electron microscopy revealed a fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding pellets, but not cells in alginate. In addition, expression of Connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA was slightly lower in alginate than in pellet cultures and was not significantly altered by loading. Thus, metabolic response of chondrocytes to dynamic hydrostatic pressure was affected by culture technique; chondrocytes cultured as pellets exhibited the classical anabolic response to dynamic hydrostatic pressure, but those in alginate did not. Although cell-ECM interaction could be important, the differential response is not likely attributable to differential expression of Cx43 mRNA.
Enhancement of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection by antisera to peptides from the envelope glycoproteins gp120/gp41.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41) elicit virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAB) and also antibodies enhancing HIV-1 infection (EAB). Several epitopes eliciting VNAB have been defined, the principal virus-neutralizing determinant being assigned to the V3 loop of gp120. To provide a background for a rational design of anti-HIV vaccines, it also appears important to define domains eliciting EAB. This was accomplished by screening antisera against synthetic peptides covering almost the entire sequence of gp120/gp41 for their enhancing effects on HIV-1 infection of MT-2 cells, a continuous T cell line. Many (16/30) of the antisera significantly enhanced HIV-1 in the presence of human complement. Antibodies to complement receptor type 2 (CR2) abrogated the antibody-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection. Antisera to V3 hypervariable loops of 21 distinct HIV-1 isolates were also tested for their enhancing effects on HIV-1IIIB infection. 11 of these sera contained VNAB and 10 enhanced HIV-1IIIB infection. All antisera with virus-enhancing activity contained antibodies crossreactive with the V3 loop of HIV-1IIIB, and the virus-enhancing activity increased with increasing serological crossreactivity. These results suggest that immunization with antigens encompassing V3 loops may elicit EAB rather than protective antibodies if epitopes on the immunogen and the predominant HIV-1 isolate infecting a population are insufficiently matched, i.e., crossreactive serologically but not at the level of virus neutralization.
A Conceptual Analysis of the Draco Approach to Constructing Software Systems

This paper analyzes the concepts of software construction embodied in the Draco approach. The analysis relates specific aspects of Draco to particular software engineering (SE) principles and suggests future research needed to extend the approach. The purpose of this analysis is to help researchers understand Draco better and thus to enhance future research.
COBALT: constraint-based alignment tool for multiple protein sequences

Motivation: A tool that simultaneously aligns multiple protein sequences, automatically utilizes information about protein domains, and has a good compromise between speed and accuracy will have practical advantages over current tools. Results: We describe COBALT, a constraint based alignment tool that implements a general framework for multiple alignment of protein sequences. COBALT finds a collection of pairwise constraints derived from database searches, sequence similarity and user input, combines these pairwise constraints, and then incorporates them into a progressive multiple alignment. We show that using constraints derived from the conserved domain database (CDD) and PROSITE protein-motif database improves COBALT’s alignment quality. We also show that COBALT has reasonable runtime performance and alignment accuracy comparable to or exceeding that of other tools for a broad range of problems. Availability: COBALT is included in the NCBI Cþþ toolkit. A Linux executable for COBALT, and CDD and PROSITE data used is available at: ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/agarwala/cobalt Contact: richa@helix.nih.gov
Endogenous circadian rhythm of pulmonary function in healthy humans.

Numerous studies have demonstrated a diurnal rhythm in indices of pulmonary function in both healthy subjects and subjects with asthma, with minima occurring during the night. To determine whether such diurnal changes are caused by an endogenous circadian rhythm or by diurnal alterations in behavior or the environment, we measured indices of pulmonary function throughout a “constant routine” protocol designed to unmask underlying circadian rhythms. After two acclimation days in the laboratory, 10 healthy adults maintained relaxed wakefulness in a semirecumbent posture in a constant environment with low light (10 lux) for 41 h. Measurements of FEV 1 , FEVC, PEF, blood cortisol, and core body temperature (CBT) were performed every 2 h. Results of cosinor analysis of group data aligned to CBT circadian minimum revealed significant circadian variations in FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FEVC, cortisol, and CBT, and lack of significant circadian variations in FEVC and PEF. The ranges (peak to trough) of mean circadian changes in spirometric variables were 2.0‐3.2% of the mesor. The circadian minima of all variables occurred within the usual sleep period (although subjects remained awake). Because of differences in phase relationships between CBT and pulmonary function among subjects, the circadian rhythms within subjects were generally larger than the group average circadian changes, being significant for FEV 1 /FEVC in 5 of 10 subjects and for PEF in 6 of 10 subjects. Sleep deprivation (24 h) failed to cause a significant change in any pulmonary function variable (when controlled for circadian phase). Thus, endogenous circadian rhythms contribute to diurnal changes in pulmonary function in healthy subjects. Numerous studies have demonstrated a diurnal rhythm in indices of pulmonary function. The clearest examples of this phenomenon are the existence of patients with asthma who experience a nocturnal worsening of pulmonary function, asthmatic symptoms, and sleep quality, and the observation of a diurnal variation in the death rate among patients with asthma with the peak occurring during the early morning hours (e.g., [1‐11]). However, such studies were not able to determine whether these diurnal variations are caused by an endogenous circadian rhythm (related to the output of the circadian pacemaker), diurnal alterations in behavior (e.g., activity, meals, posture, or sleep) or diurnal alterations in the environment (e.g., temperature, light, or allergen exposure). To try and separate effects of sleep from effects of circadian rhythms, some studies have used total sleep deprivation,
Automobiles, Trips, and Neighborhood Type: Comparing Environmental Measures

Transportation analysts have long recognized a role for the environment in travel behavior; techniques for incorporating the built environment into travel research remain in active development. This study uses multiple environmental representations to model automobile ownership and travel decisions with a single data set and model structure to test relationships already reported in the literature and to lay the foundation for extending this framework to additional travel modeling. Simple environmental measures, indices generated by factor analysis, and a neighborhood typology derived from cluster analysis of the factors, along with common household measures, are used to find the factors to provide information about travel that the clusters and direct measures do not. Automobile ownership and trips showed the expected relationships, with the former sensitive to sociodemographic factors and the latter sensitive also to the environment. Modes related differently to environmental factors; specifically, walk t...
Intrinsic Radio Variability of Sgr A

We review and summarize the results on the variability of Sgr A* based on the recent monitoring programs with the SMA at 1.3 and 0.87 mm, and the VLA at 2, 1.3 and 0.7 cm. We discuss the flares at 1.3 mm and a cross-correlation of the SMA flux density at 1.3 mm with the VLA data at 1.3 cm. We also present a preliminary result on the double quasi-periodic oscillation (DQPO) in flux density of Sgr A* based on our analysis of radio light curves observed with the VLA at 1.3 cm.
Fault determination for crashes in Vermont: implications of distance from home

Previous research has shown that both foreign and out-of-state drivers are at a safety disadvantage when compared with local drivers. But what defines "local"? This paper examines the effect of distance from home with regard to fault in crashes. With the estimate of the distance between drivers' homes and crash locations, the effect of increased distance from home on crash fault determination was tested with 5 years of data from the Vermont state crash database. A set of logistic regression models showed that greater distances from home increased the odds of fault for drivers, particularly in single-vehicle crashes. The odds increased further when distance interacted with variables such as road geometry, vehicle ownership, and poor road surface condition compared with distance that was held constant. Increased distance from home alleviated effects of certain factors that have been shown to be hazardous in previous research. Holding distance constant, being a nonowner, and driving on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or during summer increased one's odds of fault; however, as distance increased, the effects of these conditions decreased odds of fault. This phenomenon, although present, was markedly less influential in two-vehicle crashes. Overall, drivers more than 50 mi from home were predicted to have increased odds of fault of about 50% to 200% compared with local drivers.
PeV-scale dark matter as a thermal relic of a decoupled sector

Abstract In this letter, we consider a class of scenarios in which the dark matter is part of a heavy hidden sector that is thermally decoupled from the Standard Model in the early universe. The dark matter freezes-out by annihilating to a lighter, metastable state, whose subsequent abundance can naturally come to dominate the energy density of the universe. When this state decays, it reheats the visible sector and dilutes all relic abundances, thereby allowing the dark matter to be orders of magnitude heavier than the weak scale. For concreteness, we consider a simple realization with a Dirac fermion dark matter candidate coupled to a massive gauge boson that decays to the Standard Model through its kinetic mixing with hypercharge. We identify viable parameter space in which the dark matter can be as heavy as ∼1–100 PeV without being overproduced in the early universe.
Addicted.pregnant.poor

Public and political responses to drug abuse during pregnancy have varied along with perceptions of addict mothers. Moral panic over the 1980s ‘crack baby’ produced an array of criminal justice and...
Audibilization: Data Analysis by Ear

As molecular dynamics simulations continue to grow in size and complexity, new techniques are needed to rapidly identify regions of data likely to benefit from further analysis. Audibilization, the conversion of data to sound, facilitates this task by taking advantage of the user's innate ability to identify anomalies in patterns of sound. Audibilization also complements visualization of a molecular simulation by allowing the user to easily correlate changes in numerical quantities with changes in the overall structure of the molecular system. Here we present three examples highlighting the utility of audibilization in the analysis of three different molecular simulations. First, we present a simulation of liquid water in which the lengths of the O-H bonds are calculated at each time step and audibilized. Interestingly, we find that anomalies in the pattern of bond vibration are due to intermolecular interactions but do not correlate with the formation of hydrogen bonds. Next, we present a simulation of the rupture of a gold nanowire. Here we audibilize the nanowire potential energy and illustrate that sharp changes in this value coincide with important structural events such as the formation of monatomic chains and dislocations. Finally, we present a simulation of single-stranded DNA passing through a nanogap. Here the bond angle is audibilized and used to illustrate the conformational changes of each base as it passes through the nanogap. This simulation also illustrates the use of more advanced audibilization techniques such as the multiplexing of audibilized signals and the weighting of certain segments of data relative to others.
Mobile phone use among Medical Reserve Corps coordinators and volunteers: an exploratory study.

Objective: To better understand how mobile phones can be used during emergency response, this study identifies a) current mobile phone use among Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers and coordinators in their daily lives and during response; b) challenges for mobile phone use during response; and c) areas for capacity building. Design: In 2012, 459 MRC volunteers and coordinators responded to a 35-question survey conducted online through SurveyMonkey. Respondents were asked how they use their mobile phones in their daily lives and during response, and how they would like to use them during response. Frequencies were calculated using SurveyMonkey and Excel. Main outcome measures: Respondents reported frequent and varied mobile phone use in their daily lives, with 99 percent of respondents owning a phone, 82 percent texting, and 87 percent of smartphone owners using apps. Although 80 percent of respondents who had been deployed used mobile phones during response, use of sophisticated mobile phone features was low; only 10 percent accessed emergency preparedness apps and 23 percent browsed the Internet for emergency response information. Respondents indicated a desire to use more features during response, such as emergency preparedness apps (72 percent) and e-mail to send or receive response instructions (80 percent). Conclusion: Results indicate that given access to mobile technology and training, emergency responders would like to increase their mobile phone use during response. Implications of these findings show a need for organizations to improve their support of mobile phone use.
Miniature Mercury Contact Switches For Instrument Temperature Control.

In this short note, we describe the de­ sign and construction of several modifi­ cations of miniature mercury contact switches for use in laboratory tempera­ ture control applications. Commercial contact switches, or contact thermome­ ters as they are commonly called, are limited in their application because of their large size. The units which we present here are much more compact and are thus suitable for a wider range of applications. The limitations of the miniature contact switches in their present configurations are also dis­ cussed.
Laboratory Evaluation of Alsystin Against the German Cockroach (Orthoptera: Blattellidae): Effects on Immature Stages and Adult Sterility

Diets containing alsystin (=BAY SIR 8514) were fed to nymphs and adult females of Blattella germanica (L.). The effects of the chemical were evaluated on the basis of nymphal mortality, adult sterility, and oothecal development. When six diet concentrations ranging from 0.0312 to 1.0% (AI) were fed to nymphs at ages 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, and mortality was recorded weekly for 4 weeks, percent mortality increased over time, with a high degree of mortality (73 to 100%) occurring in nearly all age groups at all concentrations at 3 weeks post treatment. At 4 weeks post treatment, significant ( P = 0.05) mortality (80 to 100%) occurred in all age groups at all concentrations. Molting abnormalities were common among nymphs in all age groups; nymphs so affected eventually died. Alsystinat diet concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0% (AI) were fed to newly eclosed adult female roaches to observe effects on fecundity and maturation of oothecae. Diets of 0.5 and 1.0% (AI) completely inhibited the hatch of nymphs from oothecae; total hatch from oothecae of females on the 0.25% diet was only 6.0%. In addition to inhibition of hatch, alsystin affected the appearance and normal development of oothecae. Most oothecae (70%) of roaches on the 1.0% diet were shriveled when first formed; deformities were negligible at lower concentrations. Discoloration of oothecae from the normal chestnut brown to black occurred in 50 and 70% of oothecae produced by females on the 0.25 and 0.5% (AI) diets, respectively.
Automobile Remote Diagnosis System Development and Application Research

Introduces the definition and current status of automobile diagnosis system.Showing the remote diagnosis system's major structure,and explicitly clarifies the software and hardware needed in establishing the remote diagnosis system.Then the article emphasizes the application of remote diagnosis system in after sales maintenance,Automobile remote diagnosis technology for development to provide a frame of reference.
Injective choosability of subcubic planar graphs with girth 6

Abstract An injective coloring of a graph G is an assignment of colors to the vertices of G so that any two vertices with a common neighbor have distinct colors. A graph G is injectively k -choosable if for any list assignment L , where | L ( v ) | ≥ k for all v ∈ V ( G ) , G has an injective L -coloring. Injective colorings have applications in the theory of error-correcting codes and are closely related to other notions of colorability. In this paper, we show that subcubic planar graphs with girth at least 6 are injectively 5-choosable. This strengthens the result of Lužar, Skrekovski, and Tancer that subcubic planar graphs with girth at least 7 are injectively 5-colorable. Our result also improves several other results in particular cases.
Self-assembly of P22 protein cages with polyamidoamine dendrimer and inorganic nanoparticles

Protein cage based nanoarchitectures hold great potential in the fields of energy, catalysis, and bio-applications owing to their ability to tune material’s properties in a benign biomimetic approach. We demonstrate the self-assembly of bacteriophage P22 using inorganic nanoparticles and dendrimers for the first time. Inorganic nanoparticles (iron oxide, CoFe2O4, and Au) and polyamidoamine serve as model systems for rigid and soft linker materials, respectively, to induce P22 assembly via electrostatic interaction. We observed distinctly different packing of P22 using nanoparticles as compared to the polyamidoamine polymer. Notably, the ratio of nanoparticle: P22 and ligand packing on the nanoparticle surface are dominant controls for this assembly. The best results are obtained at 6.5:1 nanoparticle:P22 number ratio in the presence of 50 mM NaCl, pH = 6. In contrast, dense area assembly of P22 is observed at 8:1 polyamidoamine:P22 number ratio with 1 M NaCl (pH ∼ 7.5) for the dendrimer.
The role of aesthetic emotion in R. G. Collingwood's conception of creative activity

In the strong or radical sense, the creation of a work of art succeeds, as Kant said, in exhibiting originality that is exemplary and unteachable. The creative artist generates new and valuable outcomes. He or she accomplishes this in a way that is neither predictable before it occurs nor traceable to prior rules-to prior necessary and sufficient conditions. ' Thus, how a creator knows precisely which element (color, line, texture, image, melody, harmonic support, etc.) to select and which to reject during the creative act seems answerable only after the fact, and then only in terms of our judgment that what was selected works within the finished whole. And we face a puzzle when we try to look within the subtleties and complexities of creative processes and wonder how an artist worked out the outcome. R. G. Collingwood faced this puzzle because he affirmed the strong view of creativity, although in a different form, and because he tried to explain what happens in creative processes in art. The difference in the form in which he assumed radical creativity lies in what is ordinarily called "the expression theory of art." The criticisms that have been directed toward this theory, although various, fail to address the subtleties of Collingwood's version of it. This is not the place to develop this point. Yet it is important to make it in the context of the puzzle of the artist's selections and rejections that infuse the creative act, because one of the subtleties of Collingwood's conception of art as the expression of emotion centers on the claim that "bad art" results when an artist attempts to express and fails. In this paper, we will examine two comments in Collingwood's The Principles of Art that illuminate what he meant or, in his terms, "was trying to mean."2 It is likely that he did not clarify this to himself and he may not have fully recognized its value in accounting for the artist's awareness of when he or she goes wrong or makes a right choice in the act of creating. These comments concern the role of aesthetic emotion in the awareness an artist has of the propriety or impropriety (the truth or corruption) of what is being expressed as it is being expressed. We shall offer two claims about the function of aesthetic emotion: (1) Collingwood suggests that the term "aesthetic emotion" has two senses, general (applying to all instances in which imaginative expression occurs) and specific (applying uniquely to the individual character of each imaginative expression), and (2) the first sense of aesthetic emotion indicates a way in which it, in the context of its second sense, can function as a guide during and at the completion of an artist's activity of expressing him or herself imaginatively.
The Role of Early Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in a Not-So-Typical Presentation of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

Abstract Background Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) can be extremely helpful in identifying unexpected diagnoses that can significantly alter treatment options. The diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) may be difficult to identify. Case Report We describe a 47-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with atypical features of TCM. Her clinical features included being a premenopausal woman with mild chest pain with a lack of identifiable emotional or physical stressors or significant electrocardiographic changes. Initial findings on FoCUS were consistent with TCM, with these findings replicated on repeat bedside echo performed in the ED by the cardiology fellow. A subsequent comprehensive echo showed marked improvement of the TCM pattern within 24 hours. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? TCM may present in younger women or men, without obvious preceding physical or emotional stressors and with nonspecific ECG findings. FoCUS performed in the ED may suggest a diagnosis of TCM in patients with chest pain or dyspnea of uncertain etiology. The performance of FoCUS, as highlighted by this case report, can lead to timely intervention and follow-up of a variety of cardiac conditions.
Procter & Gamble: Cost of Capital

To assess whether a company should enter the household-products market, Procter and Gamble's weighted average cost of capital is computed. Clorox's cost of capital is also computed as a check on the P&G estimate. This case emphasizes the conceptual as well as the mechanical aspects of computing cost of capital for a company with homogeneous business risk and stable capital structure.
Chromium-Nickel Phase Diagram

An investigation of the Cr-Ni System has revealed that there exists a eutectoid transformation at about 1180°C. The transformation in chromium implied by the eutectoid reaction was detected at about 100°C below its melting point. Associated with the eutectoid transformation, a metastable transition structure has been found.
Characterization of the Natural and Radiation Induced Modification of Histones

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the characterization of the natural and radiation-induced modification of histones. It highlights the feasibility of analyzing both natural and induced modifications of histone proteins by ESI–MS. In the model experiments described in the chapter, irradiation of angiotensin and histone H2B in the presence of excess thymine resulted in a dose-dependent increase in species with mass increments consistent with the formation of thymine adducts. The results support experimental approach to the analysis of the covalent cross-linking of DNA and histones in model nucleosomes. By comparison with control histone fractions that have not been irradiated, it will be possible to recognize the presence and extent of DNA–protein interactions by the incremental mass increase observed in the ESI mass spectra.
Doctoral Programs in the Age of Research 2.0

This objective of this chapter is to examine the impact of Web 2.0 on the doctoral program. PhD students face different challenges relative to doctoral students of even a decade ago. This chapter deals with the challenges the students face with particular emphasis on the challenges posed by the necessity to deal intensely with electronic research and to collaborate in an electronic based environment. The characteristics of present day doctoral students (referred to as generation of Gen Y, i.e., those born between 1982 and 2000) are discussed. This chapter then deals with the five key forces that drive Web 2.0. The chapter proceeds to provide an overview of how these forces impact and impinge on the process of going through a doctoral program. The author develops a matrix of which aspects of Web 2.0 PhD students need to be conversant with at each stage of the doctoral program. Illustrative examples are provided for clarification on the issues discussed.
Is more surgery better for patients with gallbladder cancer? A survival analysis of extended versus simple cholecystectomy.

e15615Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare cancer; the minority of patients have resectable tumor at diagnosis. Based on retrospective, single-institution data, extended cholecystectomy (...