cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Leadership Behaviors that Impact General Surgery Junior Residents’ Well-being: A Needs Assessment in a Single Academic Center

OBJECTIVE Emerging literature has started to link leadership with the well-being of team members; however, this link during residency training has not been studied. The objective of this study was to perform a needs assessment to identify leadership behaviors among senior residents and evaluate the impact that these behaviors have on junior residents’ well-being. DESIGN A semi-structured question script was developed and ∼60 minute virtual focus groups were held during protected educational time, until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was performed in the tradition of grounded theory. SETTING This study was performed at Oregon Health & Science University, one of the largest general surgery programs. PARTICIPANTS Participants enrolled in the general surgery residency program from July 2020 to February 2021 were included. 35 general surgery residents participated in the focus groups. RESULTS Two major themes resulted from the data analysis: (1) Effective leadership behaviors and their positive consequences, and (2) Ineffective leadership behaviors and their negative consequences. Effective and ineffective leadership were characterized by the presence or absence of 6 main behaviors: supportive and empowering, team building, management skills, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and teaching. Effective and ineffective leadership positively and negatively impacted residents’ well-being, individual growth, and psychological safety. CONCLUSIONS The results from this study identified leadership behaviors from senior residents and demonstrated that those behaviors have a significant short-term and long-term positive and negative impact on junior residents’ well-being. These results fill a gap in the literature, and can serve as a guide for surgical educators to develop evidence-based leadership curricula.
DISCORDANT RESPONSE OF LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND LP(A) LEVELS TO MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TARGETING PROPROTEIN CONVERTASE SUBTILISIN/KEXIN TYPE 9

Background: Clinical trials of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) demonstrate an unanticipated but significant lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] lowering effect of up to 30%. While the 50-60% reduction in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-C) achieved by PCSK9i is
Application of the Transhipment Model to Development of the Seed Industry in Northeast Brazil

The importance of agriculture in developing economies is reflected in the share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) originating in that sector and in the percent of population working in that sector. Brazil received 19 percent of its GDP from agriculture in 1968, and 60 percent of its population was in agriculture. In contrast, only three percent of GDP came from agriculture in the United States, and only six percent of the population was employed in agriculture. Development of a country's agriculture is dependent on a multitude of factors—not the least of which is availability and use of good seed. Use of high quality seeds increases total yield; allows for more efficient use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation because of greater uniformity, better stands and more vigorous plants; usually results in higher quality produce; requires lower planting rates; and usually reduces weed, disease and soil insect problems. Other inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, technical assistance and credit availability are necessary to achieving a sound agriculture.
Quantificational logic of context

In this paper we extend the Propositional Logic of Context, (Buvac & Mason 1993; Buvac, Buvac, & Mason 1995), to the quantificational (predicate calculus) case. This extension is important in the declarative representation of knowledge for two reasons. Firstly, since contexts are objects in the semantics which can be denoted by terms in the language and which can be quantified over, the extension enables us to express arbitrary first-order properties of contexts. Secondly, since the extended language is no longer only propositional, we can express that an arbitrary predicate calculus formula is true in a context. The paper describes the syntax and the semantics of a quantificational language of context, gives a Hilbert style formal system, and outlines a proof of the system's completeness.
Iqbal and Bad Apples

*In addition to its important implications for federal civil procedure, the Supreme Court’s decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal put the imprimatur of the Supreme Court on a troubling narrative of the excesses carried out by the Bush Administration in the name of fighting terrorism. In this “fewbad-apples narrative,” harsh treatment of detainees—especially in the immediate wake of the attacks of September 11th, but also years later in such places as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Guantanamo Bay detention center, and elsewhere—was the work of a small number of relatively lowranking military and civilian officials who went beyond the limits of the law. The actions of these few bad apples, the narrative goes, were regrettable but not the result of official policy. Actions and statements by both the Bush and Obama Administrations promulgated the few-badapples narrative. Careful parsing of both the complaint and the Supreme Court opinion in Iqbal shows that in dismissing allegations that highranking officials in the Bush Justice Department ordered discriminatory abuse of detainees, the Court accepted that flawed narrative.
Particle Effects in the Geomagnetic Field

The purpose of these two lectures is to summarize present theoretical understanding of the behavior of charged particles and plasma in the geomagnetic field. The summary is necessarily brief, and is at best only a guide to the published literature. It must be understood that the present understanding of particle behavior in the geomagnetic field is in an elementary form. The understanding does not yet provide a theory for particle acceleration and for the aurora and the associated Van Allen radiation belts, nor does it give a unique picture of what gas inflates the geomagnetic field during the main phase of a storm, nor does it give a clear understanding of the geomagnetic tail structure, etc., etc. But the understanding does give a picture of many simpler effects.
Perception: The Ecological Approach

The ecological approach to perception is a theoretical perspective on how animals, including humans, can be aware of their surroundings. It emphasizes the relevance of activity to defining the environment to be perceived. Keywords: optic flow; eye; retina; affordances
Adverse action reports against optometrists: perspectives from the National Practitioner Data Bank over 18 years.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this analysis is to describe characteristics of National Provider Data Bank (NPDB) adverse action reports against optometrists. Methods NPDB public use files were analyzed for details of reported optometrist adverse actions from 1991 through 2008. Types of actions, basis for actions, and reporting source were identified, along with geographic and demographic data. Results Between 1991 and 2008, a total of 216 adverse actions against optometrists were recorded nationally. Exclusion from Medicare or another government program accounted for 92% of all reports; the remaining 8% were related to unfavorable privileging decisions. Most cases with identifiable explanations were the result of either defaults on student loans (55%) or charges of fraud and abuse (39%). Over two thirds of all reports originated in just 12 states, and 74% involved younger optometrists (age 30 to 49). Repeat offenses were reported for 38% of sanctioned optometrists. Conclusion NPDB reported adverse actions against optometrists are infrequent but most commonly involve exclusion from Medicare or similar government programs. Student loan default, particularly by younger optometrists, is the single most common cause, followed by allegations of fraud and abuse. Because this national database is permanently archived and widely used by licensing and credentialing bodies, optometrists should endeavor to be ethically responsible and strive to avoid behaviors that mandate such action reports.
Theory of second-generation holographic diffraction gratings

The geometric theory of imaging for spectrometer systems is extended to include those with diffraction gratings produced holographically by the intersection of two sets of spherical wave fronts that have been rendered aspheric through reflection from concave mirrors. Aberration coefficients are derived that reduce to those of conventional holographic grating systems in the appropriate limit, and degrees of freedom for aberration correction are discussed.
Machining and wear relationships in an ordered intermetallic alloy

Abstract There are many commonalities between machining (metal cutting) and sliding friction and wear. Machining (lathe-turning) experiments and ball-on-disk wear experiments have been conducted on a nickel aluminide alloy (IC-218 LZr). The wear tests were performed at room temperature and 923 K (650 °C) using tungsten carbide as the slider material to simulate the cutting tool material. The effects of cutting speed, use of a coolant and type of cutting tool on surface finish, depth of workpiece subsurface damage and cutting chip characteristics are reported. The depth of damage in sliding wear experiments is compared to that for lathe-turning experiments in an attempt to estimate the shear forces on the cut surface. Friction coefficients and wear factors for tungsten carbide sliding on IC-218 LZr depended on the magnitude of the normal force and on the sliding temperature. The wear rate of the nickel aluminide alloy decreased as the temperature increased. The relationships between the observed friction and wear behavior of nickel aluminide and its machining characteristics are discussed.
Determining the effects of ammonia on fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) reproduction.

Abstract Ammonia can cause adverse reproductive and mortality effects in individual fish by interacting with the central nervous system. The last published study that assessed the effects of ammonia on fathead minnow reproduction was a lifecycle study conducted in 1986. Our study's main goal was to re-evaluate ammonia toxicity on fathead minnow Pimephales promelas reproduction using a 20-day fecundity flow-through diluter method. Flow-through diluter systems have been used by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the past as an effective way to estimate acceptable levels of contaminants. There was a significant difference in cumulative egg production among treatments (ANOVA; F = 10.167, p ≤ 0.01, df = 3). All three concentrations of ammonia tested in this study significantly reduced fecundity after 20 days of exposure (Dunnett's, p ≤ 0.05 for each treatment). The lowest un-ionized ammonia concentration (0.06 mg/L at a pH of 7.3 and temperature of 25.1 °C) tested during this study resulted in a 29% decrease in cumulative fecundity. Because all tested ammonia concentrations caused an effect on P. promelas reproduction, the no effect concentration was estimated to be 0.025 mg/L un-ionized ammonia (2.19 mg/L total ammonia–nitrogen). This estimate was determined using the U.S. EPA Toxicity Relationship Analysis Program to calculate the 10% effect concentration of ammonia on P. promelas reproduction. This value is much lower than the previous reported no effect concentration on P. promelas reproduction (0.37 mg/L un-ionized ammonia or 6.43 mg/L total ammonia–nitrogen) as determined from the 1986 study, which was used to determine the ammonia water quality criteria by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Our results should be considered in the next revision of water quality criteria.
Displacement measurements over a wide range utilizing a simple intensity-based fiber optic sensor

A fiber optic sensor has been developed and tested for static and dynamic strain and displacement measurements. The sensor incorporates an extremely simple design, light source, and detector. The sensor utilizes a continuous piece of multimode optical fiber 'tied' into the shape of a figure of eight which functions as an intensity based optical fiber strain or displacement sensor. It is bonded to a body at two points, one on each side of the loops in the eight. The inherent stiffness of the fiber maintains a constant shape for the sensor throughout a wide range of displacements. Since multimode fiber is used in the construction, a simple LED/PIN diode is used for the light source/detector with a basic amplification circuit for each. The experiments have shown that the sensor is simple to construct, has a linear range of approximately 20 mm extension, and responds to frequencies from the quasi-static into the kilohertz range.
Metal Release and Speciation Changes during Wet Aging of Coal Fly Ashes

Introduction of coal fly ash into aquatic systems poses a potential environmental hazard because of its heavy metal content. Here we investigate the relationship between solid phase transformations, fluid composition, and metal release and speciation during prolonged wet aging of a class C and class F coal fly ash. The class C ash causes rapid alkalinization of water that is neutralized over time by CO2 uptake from air and calcite precipitation. The resulting aqueous metal concentrations are below regulatory limits with the exception of Cr; solubility constraints suggest this is released as chromate. Limited As release is accompanied by no change in solid-phase speciation, but up to 35% of the Zn in the ash dissolves and reprecipitates in secondary phases. Similar processes inhibit Ba and Cu release. In contrast, the class F ash causes rapid acidification of water and initially releases substantial quantities of As, Se, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ba. Arsenic concentrations decline during aging because of adsorption ...
A width-diameter inequality for convex bodies

Abstract A special case of the Blaschke-Santalo inequality regarding the product of the volumes of polar reciprocal convex bodies is shown to be equivalent to a power-mean inequality involving the diameters and widths of a convex body. This power-mean inequality leads to strengthened versions of various known inequalities.
A Comparison of Two Modeling Approaches for Evaluating Wildlife–Habitat Relationships

Studies of resource selection form the basis for much of our understanding of wildlife habitat requirements, and resource selection functions (RSFs), which predict relative probability of use, have been proposed as a unifying concept for analysis and interpretation of wildlife habitat data. Logistic regression that contrasts used and available or unused resource units is one of the most common analyses for developing RSFs. Recently, resource utilization functions (RUFs) have been developed, which also predict probability of use. Unlike RSFs, however, RUFs are based on a continuous metric of space use summarized by a utilization distribution. Although both RSFs and RUFs predict space use, a direct comparison of these 2 modeling approaches is lacking. We compared performance of RSFs and RUFs by applying both approaches to location data for 75 Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) and 39 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) collected at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon, USA. We evaluated differences in maps of predicted probability of use, relative ranking of habitat variables, and predictive power between the 2 models. For elk, 3 habitat variables were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the RSF, whereas 7 variables were significant in the RUF. Maps of predicted probability of use differed substantially between the 2 models for elk, as did the relative ranking of habitat variables. For mule deer, 4 variables were significant in the RSF, whereas 6 were significant in the RUF, and maps of predicted probability of use were similar between models. In addition, distance to water was the top-ranked variable in both models for mule deer. Although space use by both species was predicted most accurately by the RSF based on cross-validation, differences in predictive power between models were more substantial for elk than mule deer. To maximize accuracy and utility of predictive wildlife-habitat models, managers must be aware of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different modeling techniques. We conclude that although RUFs represent a substantial advance in resource selection theory, techniques available for generating RUFs remain underdeveloped and, as a result, RUFs sometimes predict less accurately than models derived using more conventional techniques.
Methods for prediction of steady-state performance for unbalanced regulated 3-phase generators

Based on simultaneous solutions of algebraic equations, resultant values of excitation voltage are obtained for a regulated a-c generator operating under unbalanced conditions. These equations result from a detailed consideration of the reaction to unbalance of the regulator system components. In general, solutions of the equations can be obtained graphically; in some cases, they can be attained analytically. Both methods are applied to representative examples of regulated aircraft generators operating at 400 cycles. Once the excitation voltage is determined for a given unbalance, symmetrical components are applied to obtain voltages and currents. An accuracy of better than 10 per cent is estimated.
Knockdown of HPRT for selection of genetically modified human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

The inability to obtain sufficient numbers of transduced cells remains a limitation in gene therapy. One strategy to address this limitation is in vivo pharmacologic selection of transduced cells. We have previously shown that knockdown of HPRT using lentiviral delivered shRNA facilitates efficient selection of transduced murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) using 6-thioguanine (6TG). Herein, we now extend these studies to human HPC. We tested multiple shRNA constructs in human derived cell lines and identified the optimal shRNA sequence for knockdown of HPRT and 6TG resistance. We then tested this vector in human umbilical cord blood derived HPC in vitro and in NOD/SCID recipients. Knockdown of HPRT effectively provided resistance to 6TG in vitro. 6TG treatment of mice resulted in increased percentages of transduced human CD45+ cells in the peripheral blood and in the spleen in particular, in both myeloid and lymphoid compartments. 6TG treatment of secondary recipients resulted in higher percentages of transduced human cells in the bone marrow, confirming selection from the progeny of long-term repopulating HPCs. However, the extent of selection of cells in the bone marrow at the doses of 6TG tested and the toxicity of higher doses, suggest that this strategy may be limited to selection of more committed progenitor cells. Together, these data suggest that human HPC can be programmed to be resistant to purine analogs, but that HPRT knockdown/6TG-based selection may not be robust enough for in vivo selection.
Palatal Neurofibroma Associated With Localized Periodontitis

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common form of neurofibromatosis. While typically considered a dermatologic disorder, intraoral signs of neurofibromatosis occur quite commonly. This clinical entity can be confused with periodontitis because of the presence of periodontal pockets. In this report, we present the case of a palatal neurofibroma with radiographic involvement in a patient with NF1.Methods: A 40-year-old female patient was referred from her general dentist to evaluate advanced periodontitis in the maxillary left quadrant. The patient's medical history was significant for a soft tissue lesion excised from her back 11 years previously and diagnosed as a neurofibroma. Subsequent medical examination at that time confirmed a systemic diagnosis of NF1. A comprehensive periodontal evaluation was performed, and panoramic and periapical radiographs were taken. Teeth were tested for vitality. An incisional biopsy was completed for histopathologic examination.Results: The periodontal...
Cyclic nucleotide-gated channel activation is not required for activity-dependent labeling of zebrafish olfactory receptor neurons by amino acids.

The olfactory epithelium of fish is heterogeneous both with respect to the types of receptor cells (ORNs) present and the families of odorant receptors expressed in these cells. As a consequence of this diversity, the transduction cascade(s) activated by odorants has yet to be unambiguously established. In the current study, electrophysiological and activity-dependent labeling techniques were used to assess the role of the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel in zebrafish olfactory transduction. Both amino acid and bile salt odorants elicited robust electrophysiological responses, however, activity-dependent labeling of ORNs could be stimulated only by the amino acid odorants. An adenylate cyclase (AC) activator (forskolin) and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, IBMX) also elicited robust electrophysiological responses; generally larger than the responses elicited by either the amino acid or bile salt odorants. However, neither forskolin alone or a mixture of forskolin and IBMX stimulated activity-dependent labeling. Bathing the olfactory epithelium with forskolin, which presumably increased the intracellular concentration of cAMP, reduced the responses to bile salt odorants to a significantly greater extent than amino acid odorants. Collectively, these findings suggest that the transduction of amino acid input does not rely primarily on cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel activation and that CNG channel activation may be required for the transduction of bile salt input.
In situ determination of cellular DMSP and pigment quotas in a Prorocentrum minimum bloom near the Falkland Islands

Marine phytoplankton play critical roles in the biogeochemistry of open and coastal oceans. However, the impact that individual species have on an ecosystem-wide scale can strongly depend on the production of cellular compounds, especially those that are climatically active such as dimethylsulfide (DMS). Herein, we use sorting flow cytometry to separate a distinct phytoplankton population from four samples taken along the Patagonian shelf near the Falkland Islands. Morphological, genetic, and biochemical analyses demonstrated that three of the sorted samples were dominated by a bloom of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. Cellular quotas of the DMS-precursor dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) ranged from 1.23–4.11 pg cell−1 in the same population at different sampling stations. Causes of this variability may be due to different growth stages of the P. minimum bloom or changes in other environmental variables. Overall, in situ intracellular DMSP concentrations were lower than what would be expected based on previous, culture-based measurements. We demonstrate the difficulties inherent in sorting individual phytoplankton species from natural samples in order to determine in situ species-specific cellular quotas of important biogeochemical compounds.
The cross-section of stock returns and survivorship bias: Evidence from delisted stocks

Abstract This study analyzes the effect of the COMPUSTAT survivorship bias on the explanatory power of book-to-market equity, earnings yield and cashflow yield with respect to realized stock returns during the period from July, 1963 to June, 1978. The COMPUSTAT database is augmented by adding data for firms which are excluded from COMPUSTAT and delisted from the CRSP monthly AMEX-NYSE file within two years of the respective sample selection dates. The results indicate that the explanatory power of these variables is not an artifact of survivorship bias; adding nonsurviving firms to the database causes the coefficient estimates on the variables to be attenuated, but still significant. However, these results suggest that using the COMPUSTAT data alone to study the explanatory power of accounting-based variables may cause the resulting coefficient estimates to be significantly overstated.
Laser-based patterning of gold nanoparticles into microstructures.

A novel laser beam guided patterning technique for deposition of nanoparticle clusters of various materials on movable substrates and fabrication of microstructures is described. An example of the technique's application, the fabrication of gold microstrips of under 100−150 μm in width, is discussed. Microstrip patterning is achieved by making use of gold thiolate nanoparticles (7−20 nm). The experiments reveal one of the assets of this technique, the in situ manufacturing ability to form gold electrodes on deposited patterns. Such features could be explored for the fabrication of microsensors of varying conducting characteristics.
The role of mast cells in virus-induced inflammation in the murine central nervous system

The mononuclear inflammatory response to Sindbis virus infection of the central nervous system is analogous to the cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. It is dependent on sensitized T cells for initiation, but many of the cells present are nonsensitized bone marrow-derived cells. Tissue mast cells have been shown to be important for the development of the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in the skin where capillary endothelial cells are joined by tight junctions. To determine whether mast cells are also important for the development of an immune-mediated inflammatory response across the endothelial tight junctions of the blood-brain barrier, the development of mononuclear inflammation in the central nervous system of reserpine-treated mice and mast cell-deficient mice (WBB6F1-W/Wv) was studied after infection with Sindbis virus. Three central nervous system compartments, the cerebrospinal fluid, the meninges, and the brain parenchyma, were evaluated for inflammation by counting the number of cells present, by grading the histopathologic lesions, and by labeling infiltrating cells with 125IUDR. By all parameters inflammation was reduced when mice were treated with reserpine or were deficient in mast cells. Antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were depressed and virus clearance delayed in reserpine-treated mice, but not in mast cell deficient mice. It is concluded that the vasoactive amines released by mast cells in the central nervous system play a facilitating role in the development of the inflammatory response to Sindbis virus.
SU-E-T-541: Bolus Effect of Thermoplastic Masks in IMRT and VMAT Head and Neck Treatments

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the bolus effect of thermoplalstic mask on patient skin dose during multi-field IMRT and VMAT treatment. Methods: The clinically approved target contours for five head and neck patients were deformably registered to an anthropomorphic Rando phantom. Two plans: Multifield IMRT plan with 7-9 beams and VMAT plan with 2-4 arcs were created for each patient following same dose constraints. 3mm skin was excluded from PTVs but not constrained during optimization. The prescription dose was 200-220 cGy/fraction. A thermoplastic head and shoulder mask was customized for the Rando phantom. Each plan was delivered to the phantom twice with and without mask. During each delivery, two rectangular strips of EBT3 films (1cm x 6.8cm) were placed across the anterior upper and lower neck near PTVs to measure the surface dose. For consistency films were positioned at same locations for same patient. A total of 8 film strips were obtained for each patient. Film dose was calibrated in the range of 0-400cGy on the day of plan delivery. For dose comparison 3 regions of interests (ROIs) of 1×1 cm2 were selected at left, right and middle part of each film, resulting in 6 point doses at each plan delivery. Results: The films without mask show relatively uniform dose distribution while those with mask clearly show mesh pattern of mask, usually indicating an increase in skin dose. On average the increase in skin dose over all ROIs with mask was 31.9%(±14.8%) with a range of 11.4%- 58.4%. There is no statistically significant difference (p=0.44) between skin dose increase in VMAT (30.8%±15.3%) and IMRT delivery (33.0%±14.9%). Conclusion: Thermoplastic immobilization masks increase surface dose for HN patient by around 30%. The magnitude is comparable between multi-field IMRT and VMAT. Radiochromic EBT3 film serves as an effective tool to quantify bolus effect.
Using theory of change to enhance peace education evaluation

This article brings together concepts and practices from the fields of peace education, conflict resolution, and evaluation. It examines the implementation and evaluations of selected peace education programs conducted by UNICEF to determine if theories of change can be identified and to consider how theories of change may inform the design and evaluation of future peace education programs.
Effect of radiation on creep of polyethylene

An investigation was conducted of the influence of radiation on the creep of polyethylene in tension and compression. The influence of five radiation doses and four stress levels were considered in this study. The tests were conducted for periods of 1000 hr. Even for small doses of radiation, it was found that the creep resistance of the material was increased. However, it should be noted that with decrease in creep deformations, the time to rupture for a given stress will very likely be decreased. In addition, the short-time properties may be adversely influenced by radiation. It is therefore necessary to select the optimum radiation dose based upon a consideration of all the properties. (auth)
Nutrient and Chemical Characterization of Aging Golf Course Putting Greens: Establishment and Rootzone Mixture Treatment Effects

Nutrient retention and dynamics with time in turfgrass sand-based rootzone mixtures (RZMs) are not well documented. This study was conducted to determine chemical properties of putting greens as impacted by (i) RZM, (ii) establishment (EST), and (iii) putting green age. United States Golf Association (USGA) specification greens were constructed and established with creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) sequentially from 1997 to 2000. Treatments included two RZMs [i.e., 80:20 (v-v) sand and sphagnum peat mixture and an 80:15:5 (v-v-v) sand, sphagnum peat, and soil] and two EST procedures (i.e., accelerated vs. controlled). The accelerated treatment received 2.6-, 3.0-, and 2.6-fold N, P, and K, respectively, when compared with the controlled treatment during the EST year. Soil samples were taken and analyzed annually. The RZM generally had no effect on soil chemical properties during the EST year or beyond. All but five of the chemical properties investigated were significantly greater for the accelerated treatment compared with the controlled during the EST year. Soil pH in the accelerated treatment was lower than the controlled treatment, pH 6.7 vs. 7.4. Establishment treatments did not have an effect on chemical properties beyond the EST year, except for Brayl-P. All soil chemical properties investigated, excluding pH and available K, decreased after the EST year, but began to increase several years later.
An opportunistic prediction-based thread scheduling to maximize throughput/watt in AMPs

The importance of dynamic thread scheduling is increasing with the emergence of Asymmetric Multicore Processors (AMPs). Since the computing needs of a thread often vary during its execution, a fixed thread-to-core assignment is sub-optimal. Reassigning threads to cores (thread swapping) when the threads start a new phase with different computational needs, can significantly improve the energy efficiency of AMPs. Although identifying phase changes in the threads is not difficult, determining the appropriate thread-to-core assignment is a challenge. Furthermore, the problem of thread reassignment is aggravated by the multiple power states that may be available in the cores. To this end, we propose a novel technique to dynamically assess the program phase needs and determine whether swapping threads between core-types and/or changing the voltage/frequency levels (DVFS) of the cores will result in higher throughput/Watt. This is achieved by predicting the expected throughput/Watt of the current program phase at different voltage/frequency levels on all the available core-types in the AMP. We show that the benefits from thread swapping and DVFS are orthogonal, demonstrating the potential of the proposed scheme to achieve significant benefits by seamlessly combining the two. We illustrate our approach using a dual-core High-Performance (HP)/Low-Power (LP) AMP with two power states and demonstrate significant throughput/Watt improvement over different baselines.
Determination of ethanol in ionic liquids using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography

The application of ionic liquids (ILs) as nonderivatizing solvents for the pretreatment and regeneration of cellulose is a growing area of research. Here we report the development of a rapid and simple method for the determination of residual ethanol content in two hydrophilic ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. The method utilizes headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography at elevated extraction temperatures, resulting in rapid equilibration times. The effect of IL water content on the ethanol extraction efficiency is presented. Recovery experiments carried out in real samples gave recoveries ranging from 96.8 to 98.2%.
Effect of particle size on surface-coating enhancement of pool boiling heat transfer

Abstract The enhancement of pool boiling heat transfer by copper-particle surface coatings is experimentally investigated, using the wetting dielectric fluid FC-72. In one technique, loose copper particles are placed on a heated copper surface to provide additional vapor nucleation sites in the cavities formed at particle-surface and particle–particle contact points, thereby enhancing boiling performance over a polished surface. This ‘free-particle’ technique is benchmarked against the more traditional technique of sintering a fixed layer of copper particles to the surface to enhance boiling heat transfer performance. The effect of particle size on the heat transfer performance is studied for particle diameters ranging from 45 μm to 1000 μm at a constant coating layer thickness-to-particle diameter ratio of approximately 4. The parametric trends in the boiling curve and the critical heat flux are compared between the two techniques, and the dominant boiling mechanisms influencing these trends are compared and contrasted. High-speed visualizations are performed to qualitatively assess the boiling patterns and bubble departure size/distribution, and thus corroborate the trends observed in the boiling curves. The measured wall superheat is significantly lower with a sintered coating compared to the free-particle layer for any given particle size and heat flux. Performance trends with respect to particle size, however, are remarkably similar for both enhancement techniques, and an optimum particle size of ∼100 μm is identified for both free particles and sintered coatings. The free-particle technique is shown to offer a straightforward method to screen the boiling enhancement trends expected from different particulate layer compositions that are intended to be subsequently fabricated by sintering.
Control variates for monte carlo analysis of nonlinear statistical models, II: raw moments and variances

Appoximations and Monte Carlo methods for evaluating the statistical properties of estimators for nonlinear—model parameters are discussed in Swain and Schmeiser (1984), where low—order polynomial approximators are used as control variates. Here, these control variates are specialized and applied to the raw marginal moments and the variance matrix of the parameter estimators. As an example, a catalytic—reaction model is studied empirically, with emphasis on the relationship between the control weights and variance reduction obtained. In this example, as well as in many others, the generalized variance of the estimator of the mean is reduced by orders of magnitude.
Molecular phylogenetics and historical biogeography of Hawaiian Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae).

Abstract The fern genus Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae) is represented in the Hawaiian Islands by 18 endemic taxa and one non-endemic, native species. The goals of this study were to determine whether Dryopteris in Hawai’i is monophyletic and to infer the biogeographical origins of Hawaiian Dryopteris by determining the geographical distributions of their closest living relatives. We sequenced two chloroplast DNA fragments, rbcL and the trnL-F intergenic spacer (IGS), for 18 Hawaiian taxa, 45 non-Hawaiian taxa, and two outgroup species. For individual fragments, we estimated phylogenetic relationships using Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony. We performed a combined analysis of both cpDNA fragments employing Bayesian inference, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood. These analyses indicate that Hawaiian Dryopteris is not monophyletic, and that there were at least five separate colonizations of the Hawaiian Islands by different species of dryopteroid ferns, with most of the five groups having closest relatives in SE Asia. The results suggest that one colonizing ancestor, perhaps from SE Asia, gave rise to eight endemic taxa (the glabra group). Another colonizing ancestor, also possibly from SE Asia, gave rise to a group of five endemic taxa (the exindusiate group). Dryopteris fusco-atra and its two varieties, which are endemic to Hawai’i, most likely diversified from a SE Asian ancestor. The Hawaiian endemic Nothoperanema rubiginosum has its closest relatives in SE Asia, and while the remaining two species, D. wallichiana and D. subbipinnata, are sister species, their biogeographical origins could not be determined from these analyses due to the widespread distributions of D. wallichiana and its closest non-Hawaiian relative.
The evolution of food-producing glands in eusocial bees (Apoidea, Hymenoptera)1

A food-producing role for cephalic exocrine glands has arisen independently in both taxa of highly eusocial bees, Apis and Meliponini. With several exceptions, there is little evidence that food is produced by glands of solitary bees or by most bees at lower levels of sociality. We suggest that this association with sociality is due to four adaptive features of these glands: (1) food from the glands allows feces from queens and larvae to have a small volume, (2) the queen's fecundity can be increased, (3) nutrient recovery via cannibalism can be facilitated, and (4) rearing of emergency replacement queens is accelerated. Acceleration of the rearing of other castes and of queens in the normal process of colony fission is not clearly an advantage ascribed to these glands. Trophic eggs produced by meliponine colony workers are analogous to the secretions from food-producing glands in Meliponini and Apis workers.
Efficient stochastic algorithms on locally bounded image space

Abstract Stochastic relaxation algorithms in image processing are usually computationally intensive, partially because the images of interest comprise only a small fraction of the total (digital) configuration space. A new locally bounded image subspace is introduced, which is shown rich enough to contain most images which are reasonably smooth except for (possibly) sharp discontinuities. New versions of the Gibbs Sampler and Metropolis algorithms are defined on the locally bounded image space, and their asymptotic convergence is proven. Experiments in image restoration and reconstruction demonstrate that these algorithms perform more cost-effectively than the standard versions.
Polymeric electro-optical channel waveguide fabricated by lithography and wet chemical etching

Electro-optical channel waveguide is fabricated using an optical nonlinear polymer developed by doping dye organic molecules in a host polymer system and followed by an electric field poling step. A single-mode polymeric electrooptical channel waveguide is modeled using the BeamProp. Photolithography followed by wet chemical etching is used to fabricate the polymeric channel waveguide. A fabrication process is described. Results from a systematic evaluation of the film and waveguide physical and optical properties using AFM, profilometer, ellipsometer and the Maker Fringe technique is presented.
Immediate consequences of respiratory events in sleep disordered breathing.

Abstract Background : In obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, immediate physiological consequences of events have a dual role: censoring artifacts and gauging physiological significance. Newer airflow monitors may have changed the relative importance of these functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and hierarchy of occurrence of oxygen desaturation, EEG arousal and heart rate changes as immediate consequences of respiratory events. Methods : Thirty-nine sleep apnea patients underwent polysomnography with airflow detection by nasal cannula. Eighty events/subject were randomly selected and evaluated for 4% oxygen desaturation, EEG arousal and heart rate increase. Results : Of apneas, 78% caused desaturation, 63% arousal, and 73% heart rate increase. Of hypopneas, 54% caused desaturation, 47% arousal, and 55% heart rate increase. Of events with mildest amplitude reduction 25% caused desaturation, 42% arousal, and 42% heart rate increase. Consequences overlapped but did not occur hierarchically: each occurred alone and in all combinations. Conclusion : No single consequence occurred after every event; thus none can be used to corroborate airflow reduction as non-artifactual without missing events corroborated by other consequences. As different consequences validate non-hierarchical sets of respiratory events, we propose there is need to capture all changes in breathing in obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome before examining their role in clinical outcome.
Novel information theoretic and Bayesian approach to fMRI data analysis

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a powerful technique for studying the working of the human brain. This overall goals of the project are to devlop a novel method for the analysis of fMRI data in order to discover the activation of a network of regions involving most likely the hippocampus, parietal cortex and cerebellum as a person is navigating in a virtual environment. Spatially sensitive voxels are extracted by selecting voxels that have high mutual information. Each of these extracted voxels is then used to create a response curve for the stimulus of interest, in this case spatial location. Following the voxel extraction stage, the set of extracted voxel time series would be treated as a population and used to predict the location of the subject at any randomly selected time in the experiment. The population of voxels essentially "votes" with their current activity. The approach used for prediction is the Bayesian reconstruction method. The ability to predict the location of a subject in the virtual environment based on brain signals will be useful in developing a physiological understanding of spatial cognition in virtual environments.
Attending to Learn and Learning to Attend for a

Our motivation is to create a robotic creature, Mertz, that `lives' among us daily and incrementally learns from and about people through long-term social interaction. One of Mertz's main tasks is to learn to recognize a set of individuals who are relevant to the robot through ongoing human-robot interaction. We present an integrated framework, combining an object-based perceptual system, an adaptive multi-modal attention system and spatiotemporal perceptual learning, to allow the robot to interact while collecting relevant data seamlessly in an unsupervised way. Our approach is inspired by the coupling between the human infants' attention and learning process. We implemented a multi-modal attention system for the robot that is coupled with a spatiotemporal perceptual learning mechanism, which incrementally adapts the attention system's saliency parameters for different types and locations of stimuli based on the robot's past sensory experiences. We conducted and described results from a six-hour experiment where the robot interacted with over 70 people while collecting various data in a public space.
Optimization of emitter cap growth conditions for InGaP/GaAs HBTs with high current gain by LP-MOCVD

The effect of emitter cap growth conditions on the common-emitter current gain of InGaP/GaAs HBTs, grown by LP-MOCVD, has been studied. This work shows that the material quality of a carbon-doped base is highly dependent on the emitter cap growth. The emitter cap growth effectively serves as a source of thermal stress. This stress on the base during the emitter and cap growth causes the formation of carbon-related defects in the base that increase the base recombination and reduces the current gain. Atomic force microscopy is used to identify these carbon-related defects. Gain improvements of about 40% have been achieved by optimizing the emitter cap growth conditions to reduce the thermal stress.
Effects of thermal environment on structural frequencies: Part II – A system identification model

Abstract In civil structures such as bridges the changes in vibration characteristics such as modal frequencies are often used to detect damage for structural health monitoring. These vibration characteristics, however, change not only due to structural damage but also due to changes in the environmental conditions such as temperature variations. For structural health monitoring using modal frequencies, it is much desirable to be able to estimate the structural frequencies as a function of structural temperatures which can be conveniently measured. In this paper, we develop an approach to establish this modal frequency and bridge body temperature relationship. The subspace system identification-based approach, combined with input data filtering to capture trends introduced by seasonal changes in the temperature, is used to develop an approach to obtain this bridge body temperature–frequency relationship. Utilizing the simulated data for two types of bridge structures, the approach is exhaustively tested for its reproduction and generalization performances over different thermal regimes that are encountered in practice.
On the study of applications of solar thermal energy for mobile homes

Abstract A great deal of work has been done in the study of applications of solar thermal energy for conventional site-built houses; however, little effort has been directed to the study of these applications for mobile homes although they account virtually for a large portion of low cost single family homes. Mobile homes are different from the conventional home and building in configuration, structure, arrangement and cost. The concept and criteria of designing a solar space heating/cooling system for mobile homes differs somewhat from that of a conventional site-built house or building. The mobile home is a low-cost housing. The solar system developed for mobile homes should be really low in cost before it can appeal to the mobile home community. This paper presents the unique characteristics of mobile homes and their impacts on the design/selection of its solar space heating/cooling system and system for supplying domestic hot water. A typical model mobile home is selected for investigation of the solar system design for four representative climatic regions (cool, temperate, hot-humid and hot-arid) of this country. Economical feasibility study is also discussed. A low-cost solar collector is suggested and its estimated performance is presented.