cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocardial contraction-relaxation coupling

Since the pioneering work of Henry Pickering Bowditch in the late 1800s to early 1900s, cardiac muscle contraction has remained an intensely studied topic for several reasons. The heart is located centrally in our body, and its pumping motion demands the attention of the observer. The contraction of the heart encompasses a complex interplay of mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties, and its function can thus be studied from any of these viewpoints. In addition, diseases of the heart are currently killing more people in the Westernized world than any other disease. When combined with the increasing emphasis of research to be clinically relevant, this contributes to the heart remaining a topic of continued basic and clinical investigation. Yet, there are significant aspects of cardiac muscle contraction that are still not well understood. A big complication of the study of cardiac muscle contraction is that there exists no equilibrium among many of the important governing parameters, which include pre- and afterload, intracellular ion concentrations, membrane potential, and velocity and direction of movement. Thus the classic approach of perturbing an equilibrium or a steady state to learn about the role of the perturbing factor in the system cannot be unambiguously interpreted, since each of the parameters that govern contraction are constantly changing, as well as constantly changing their interaction with each other. In this review, presented as the 54th Bowditch Lecture at Experimental Biology meeting in Anaheim in April 2010, I will revisit several governing factors of cardiac muscle relaxation by applying newly developed tools and protocols to isolated cardiac muscle tissue in which the dynamic interactions between the governing factors of contraction and relaxation can be studied.
Spatial Patterns of Structural Brain Changes in Type 2 Diabetic Patients and Their Longitudinal Progression With Intensive Control of Blood Glucose

OBJECTIVE Understanding the effect of diabetes as well as of alternative treatment strategies on cerebral structure is critical for the development of targeted interventions against accelerated neurodegeneration in type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether diabetes characteristics were associated with spatially specific patterns of brain changes and whether those patterns were affected by intensive versus standard glycemic treatment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using baseline MRIs of 488 participants with type 2 diabetes from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes-Memory in Diabetes (ACCORD-MIND) study, we applied a new voxel-based analysis methodology to identify spatially specific patterns of gray matter and white matter volume loss related to diabetes duration and HbA 1c . The longitudinal analysis used 40-month follow-up data to evaluate differences in progression of volume loss between intensive and standard glycemic treatment arms. RESULTS Participants with longer diabetes duration had significantly lower gray matter volumes, primarily in certain regions in the frontal and temporal lobes. The longitudinal analysis of treatment effects revealed a heterogeneous pattern of decelerated loss of gray matter volume associated with intensive glycemic treatment. Intensive treatment decelerated volume loss, particularly in regions adjacent to those cross-sectionally associated with diabetes duration. No significant relationship between low versus high baseline HbA 1c levels and brain changes was found. Finally, regions in which cognitive change was associated with longitudinal volume loss had only small overlap with regions related to diabetes duration and to treatment effects. CONCLUSIONS Applying advanced quantitative image pattern analysis methods on longitudinal MRI data of a large sample of patients with type 2 diabetes, we demonstrate that there are spatially specific patterns of brain changes that vary by diabetes characteristics and that the progression of gray matter volume loss is slowed by intensive glycemic treatment, particularly in regions adjacent to areas affected by diabetes.
Females of the San Jose Scale Rendered Unproductive by Lime-Sulfur

Many workers on the control of the San Jose scale, Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst. have found that some, and often a considerable proportion, of the overwintering scales survive various dormant sprays. Melander (1923), Ackerman (1923), Abbott et al. (1926), and Newcomer & Yothers (1931) reported that number of these scales survived treatment with lime-sulfur.
Diagnostic technology development for NIF by LLNL experimental programs

Summary form only given. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is under construction at LLNL for the Department of Energy Stockpile Stewardship Program. It is used for experiments for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Ignition, High Energy Density (HED) science, and basic science. The ICF and HED programs at LLNL have formed diagnostic research and development groups to institute improvements outside the charter of facility diagnostics. We present data from instrumentation and associated technology that is being developed by these groups. A major portion of our instrumentation work is improvements to detectors and readout systems. We have several efforts related to CCD device development. Work has been done in collaboration with the University of Arizona to back-thinned a large format CCD device (36 mm/sup 2/). We have developed in collaboration with a commercial vendor a large format, compact, Ethernet addressable CCD camera system. We have coupled our large format CCD system to an MK2 Kentech X-ray streak tube leading to improvements in resolution and dynamic range. Similar improvements have been made to the LLNL optical streak camera systems. We also discuss gate-width and uniformity improvements to MCP-based framing cameras. We will also discuss gate-width and uniformity improvements to MCP-based framing cameras. Finally, we present data from single shot high-speed, high dynamic range data link work and discuss technology aimed at improvements of dynamic range for 1-6 GHz high-speed transient measurements from remote locations.
The Formation of Soviet Foreign Policy: Organizational and Cognitive Perspectives

Several recent studies of Soviet foreign policy formation have sought to bring oganizational and cognitive considerations to bear on the subject. The article evaluation these perspectives and suggests how future research may, through the use of cognit methods of analysis, distinguish formally between different conceptualizations of viet foreign policy formation, thus permitting a more rigorous empirical examination of the organizational issues involved. A model of inference that accounts for organiational and cognitive links between the Soviet press and Soviet foreign policy formation is also constructed; examples are drawn from the items under review. In conclusion the article outlines a research strategy for cumulating knowledge about how the Sov system works, and specifies what the organizational and cognitive frameworks the study of Soviet foreign policy formation may contribute to such a project.
Productive activities and psychological well-being among older adults.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to test whether paid work and formal volunteering reduce the rate of mental health decline in later life. Methods Using four waves of Health and Retirement Study data collected from a sample of 7,830 individuals aged 55 to 66, I estimated growth curve models to assess the effects of productive activities on mental health trajectories. The analytical strategy took into account selection processes when examining the beneficial effects of activities. The analyses also formally attended to the sample attrition problem inherent in longitudinal studies. Results The results indicated that activity participants generally had better mental health at the beginning of the study. Full-time employment and low-level volunteering had independent protective effects against decline in psychological well-being. Joint participants of both productive activities enjoyed a slower rate of mental health decline than single-activity participants. Discussion The results are consistent with activity theory and further confirm the role accumulation perspective. The finding that full-time work combined with low-level volunteering is protective of mental health reveals the complementary effect of volunteering to formal employment. Methodological and theoretical implications are discussed.
Prp31p promotes the association of the U4/U6 x U5 tri-snRNP with prespliceosomes to form spliceosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The PRP31 gene encodes a factor essential for the splicing of pre-mRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell extracts derived from a prp31-1 strain fail to form mature spliceosomes upon heat inactivation, although commitment complexes and prespliceosome complexes are detected under these conditions. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that Prp31p is associated both with the U4/U6 z U5 tri-snRNP and, independently, with the prespliceosome prior to assembly of the tri-snRNP into the splicing complex. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and glycerol gradient analyses demonstrate that while Prp31p may play a role in maintaining the assembly or stability of tri-snRNPs, functional protein is not essential for the formation of U4/U6 or U4/U6 z U5 snRNPs. These results suggest that Prp31p is involved in recruiting the U4/U6 z U5 tri-snRNP to prespliceosome complexes or in stabilizing these interactions. The precise excision of intervening sequences, or introns, from precursor mRNA transcripts (pre-mRNAs) is a critical step in the pathway of gene expression, as evidenced by the resources that the cell invests in the splicing machinery. Five
THE SOCIAL USES OF TELEVISION

Building from the social constructivist view, this paper provides evidence that audience members create specific and sometimes elaborate practical actions involving television in order to gratify particular needs in the context of family viewing. The ethnography of mass communication is recommended as a methodological framework suitable for discovering and documenting these behaviors. Based on findings from systematic participant observation research, and from the pertinent uses and gratifications literature, a typology of the social uses of television, with emphasis on their communicative value, is presented. Mass media are found to be valuable social resources, not unlike language or the occasions for talk, which are particularly useful to the imaginative social member for the construction and maintenance of desired relations at home.
Efficiency bounds for sequential resource allocation auctions

Market-based mechanisms such as auctions have been widely considered for various network resource allocation problems. We consider such a mechanism motivated by dynamic spectrum sharing applications. In this model multiple homogeneous units of a given resource are to be allocated to two agents. We study a sequential second price auction for allocating these resource units. It is well known that such auctions can have inefficient equilibria. For the case of two bidders, we show that the value of the allocation obtained in the unique subgame perfect equilibrium is at least 1 - e-1 of the value of the efficient allocation. Furthermore, we show that this bound is asymptotically tight as the number of goods increases.
Direct integration of the field equations for electroacoustic transducers

Expressions are derived for the electroacoustic fields inside a linear transducer in terms of the volume sources and the fields on the surface of the transducer.
Learning from Inquiry-Based Laboratories in Nonmajor Biology: An Interpretive Study of the Relationships among Inquiry Experience, Epistemologies, and Conceptual Growth

Abstract: The use of inquiry-based laboratory in college science classes is on the rise. This studyinvestigated how ﬁve nonmajor biology students learned from an inquiry-based laboratory experience.Using interpretive data analysis, the ﬁve students’ conceptual ecologies, learning beliefs, and scienceepistemologies were explored. Findings indicated that students with constructivist learning beliefs tendedto add more meaningful conceptual understandings during inquiry labs than students with positivistlearning beliefs. All students improved their understanding of experiment in biology. Implications for theteaching of biology labs are discussed. 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 986–1024, 2003 Interest in using inquiry-based teaching strategies has increased in recent years as scienceteachers have become more critical about the efﬁcacy of cookbook-type laboratory activities andindeedthepurposes,practices,andlearningoutcomesoflaboratoryingeneral(Wellington,1998).Itisgraduallybeingrecognizedthatwhereascookbooklabscanteachsomelaboratorytechniquesandskills(Hart,Mulhall,Berry,Loughran,&Gunstone,2000)orserveasvisualaidsforconceptsalready studied (Millar, 1998), they are largely ineffective as a tool for teaching science concepts.Asstatedbyoneteacher-researcher,‘‘Inthesamewayasanyscientist,studentswillseewhattheirprior theories lead them to expect. More signiﬁcantly, they will not make the meaning that we asteachers expect them to make of experimental evidence until they have already grasped thetheoretical framework that allows them to ‘see’ the evidence’’ (Hart et al., 2000, p. 659).Therefore, cookbook laboratories may work well as illustrations of concepts already studied andunderstood but it is unlikely they will lead to new conceptual learning.Many deﬁnitions ofinquiry-based labs and inquiry pedagogical models may be adapted to ﬁtthe local context (Keys & Bryan, 2000). The authors of this report consider inquiry to be anycombination of the following activities described as inquiry by the National Science EducationStandards (National Research Council, 1996): observing objects and events, posing questions,
Using citation analysis to explore the collection needs of atmospheric scientists/researchers affiliated with the atlantic oceanographic meteorological laboratory

This article reports on a bibliographic and citation analysis of 79 journal publications from 41 journals produced in a one-year period by atmospheric science researchers in the Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory, an affiliate of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The study used citation analysis to determine the cited publication format, age dispersion, frequency of cited journal titles, and availability of the information resources that researchers publish in and cite, and to determine how well the library supports the needs of these scientists and researchers. This type of analysis can inform collection development decisions and can be used to assess the strength of the library collection. The study found that journal articles represented 77% of all cited references and that 74% of the cited journal titles were available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regional Library. The study also found that the sample set of 2,516 cited journal articles from ...
The Characterization of Polymers under High Pressure Using Raman Spectroscopy

The characterization of polymers under high pressure has become increasingly important because of the expanded number of applications in which polymers are being used. Raman spectroscopy is a unique tool for studying materials in a diamond-anvil cell under pressure because good signal-to-noise spectra can be recorded on minute amounts of material.
$H_{\infty}$ Filtering for Fuzzy Singularly Perturbed Systems

This paper considers the problem of designing H infin filters for fuzzy singularly perturbed systems with the consideration of improving the bound of singular-perturbation parameter epsiv. First, a linear-matrix-inequality (LMI)-based approach is presented for simultaneously designing the bound of the singularly perturbed parameter epsiv, and H infin filters for a fuzzy singularly perturbed system. When the bound of singularly perturbed parameter epsiv is not under consideration, the result reduces to an LMI-based design method for H infin filtering of fuzzy singularly perturbed systems. Furthermore, a method is given for evaluating the upper bound of singularly perturbed parameter subject to the constraint that the considered system is to be with a prescribed H infin performance bound, and the upper bound can be obtained by solving a generalized eigenvalue problem. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Olfactory impairment predicts cognitive decline in early Parkinson's disease

Objective To evaluate the association between baseline olfaction and both cross-sectional and longitudinal cognitive assessments, motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms (NMS), and CSF biomarkers in early Parkinson's disease (PD).
Decomposed multi-objective bin-packing for virtual machine consolidation

In this paper, we describe a novel solution to the problem of virtual machine (VM) consolidation, otherwise known as VM-Packing, as applicable to Infrastructure-asa-Service cloud data centers. Our solution relies on the observation that virtual machines are not infinitely variable in resource consumption. Generally, cloud compute providers offer them in fixed resource allocations. Effectively this makes all VMs of that allocation type (or instance type) generally interchangeable for the purposes of consolidation from a cloud compute provider viewpoint. The main contribution of this work is to demonstrate the advantages to our approach of deconstructing the VM consolidation problem into a two-step process of multidimensional bin packing. The first step is to determine the optimal, but abstract, solution composed of finite groups of equivalent VMs that should reside on each host. The second step selects concrete VMs from the managed compute pool to satisfy the optimal abstract solution while enforcing anti-colocation and preferential colocation of the virtual machines through VM contracts. We demonstrate our high-performance, deterministic packing solution generation, with over 7,500 VMs packed in under 2 min. We demonstrating comparable runtimes to other VMmanagement solutions published in the literature allowing for favorable extrapolations of the prior work in the field in order to deal with larger VMmanagement problem sizes our solution scales to. Subjects Autonomous Systems, Operating Systems
Factors That Influence the Determination of Residual Solvents in Pharmaceuticals by Automated Static Headspace Sampling Coupled to Capillary GC-MS

The impact of several experimental parameters on static headspace sampling for volatile impurities is discussed. Figures of merit are provided for some common organic solvents dissolved in dimethylacetamide. The performance is compound specific, but in the best case, detectability is about 0.2 mg/L with the mass spectrometer operating in the scanning mode. Sensitivity improves by about a factor of 50 when single ion monitoring is used. Linearity extends for about 4 orders of magnitude. This system is used to determine acetone as a residual solvent in the sulfonamide antibiotic, sulfamethazine, at levels of 1 to 15 mg/kg with precision of 3 to 5%.
Smith vs. Marx on Business Morality and the Social Interest

Editor’s IntroductionOriginally published in Volume 20, Number 2, Fall 1976, pages 1-6. William Baumol (born 1922) is not only one of the most influential living economists but is also one of the p...
Multiphysics Stimulated Simulation Digital Twin Methods for Fleet Management

The objectives of fleet management are typically readiness, availability, and reduced risk and cost. Of course, data management is essential to handle multiple data streams from many platforms. But the heart of successful, proactive fleet management is the science and engineering behind the interpretive analysis used for each "tail number." That is the focus of the present paper. Science and engineering have generally focused on detecting discrete events, especially early in life, then on deciding when a certain "collection" of those events warrants corrective action (e.g., maintenance). This approach has two serious shortcomings for composite material components. First, composite structures rarely fail from damage initiation; they generally fail from damage accumulation and interaction. Second, the limits on performance (e.g., stiffness, strength, and life) are determined by emergent behavior defined by interactive degradation events (from "the bottom") and by the assembly of extrinsic factors including manufacturing, geometry and morphology, load history, and expected performance (from the top). The present paper discusses a rational engineering approach to real-time "tail number" prognosis of composite structures based on the measurement and science-based interpretation of changes in multi-physical material properties. Examples of the approach will be provided and application paths discussed. Relationships to durability, reliability, risk, and liability will also be identified.
Genetic variation and genetic differentiation among allopatric populations of Megadontomys

Electrophoretic variation and biochemical differentiation were examined among four populations of Megadontomys thomasi from the Mexican states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Hidalgo at 30 structural loci. These relict populations demonstrated low levels of heterozygosity and very low levels of genetic polymorphism. Although the level of genetic differentiation among populations within a subspecies was similar to reports for other rodents, the extent of differentiation among these subspecies was greater than the levels reported for other subspecies of rodents. Estimates of divergence times suggest that Megadontomys has been subdivided for at least 3.0 million years. Cladistic analysis of electromorphs from the subspecies of Megadontomys using Neotoma as an out-group and phenetic analysis both indicate that M. t. thomasi is most closely related to M. t. nelsoni as was suggested by Musser (1964).
HEALTH CARE COST AFTER CARDIAC ARREST IN THE UNITED STATES

We aim to evaluate the health care associated cost of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in the United States. We used the US National Inpatient Sample (2003 to 2012) to identify patients with SCD. Total health care inflation adjusted cost was the primary outcome. Overall, an estimated 1,387,396 patients
A deep study on the nature of channels-collaterals

Objective To investigate how to show the collateral-channels and energy with thermal infrared imager.Methods Channel-collateral system is the gallery of vital energy and message.The visible channel is unnecessary in spreading the energetic message,which can be displayed by the detecting instrument.The thermal imager can detect heat transfer and the temperature rise.Results By using the thermal imager,the paper shows the stomach channel when the Zusanli acupoint is acupunctured,the large intestine channel when the Hegu acupoint is acupunctured and the small intestine channel when the Houxi acupoint is acupunctured.The output of the probe is totally corresponding to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Conclusions The channels are visible to the audience with the thermal imager,which proves that the collateral channel is the resonance gallery of vital energy and information.The result keeps in line with the TCM and proves the scientificalness of the science of channels and collaterals.
Molecular Quantification of Residual Disease in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia After Bone Marrow Transplantation

Residual disease remains a major problem in the treatment of human neoplasia. To effectively monitor minimal leukemic activity after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), we used a competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification technique to quantify expression of the characteristic bcr-abl fusion message in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Quantitative results were obtained between the 0.001% and 0.1% level in control experiments. This represents a significant advantage over cytogenetic and Southern blotting techniques routinely used to diagnose CML, which may not be sensitive below the 1% level. To illustrate the potential clinical usefulness of the quantitative PCR strategy, we compared results of bcr-abl messenger RNA expression with those obtained using cytogenetic and Southern blotting techniques, in a study of consecutive BM and peripheral blood (PB) samples from two CML patients at high risk for relapse after BMT. One patient received a syngeneic transplant during the chronic phase of the disease and relapse was apparent at the molecular level 4.5 months after BMT, while the patient was in complete clinical remission. The second patient was treated with an allogeneic BMT during the accelerated phase of the disease. A slow, but progressive decrease in bcr-abl expression was observed during the first 12 months after BMT, and expression was undetectable thereafter. Our results indicate that the competitive PCR technique can be used to monitor disease activity in patients at high risk of relapse, while the patients are in complete clinical remission, which should facilitate the early detection of relapse or the identification of progressive disappearance of leukemic activity. The approach used may serve as a model for the study of residual disease in an increasing number of other hematologic malignancies that express cancer-specific RNAs.
Management of human papillomavirus-associated genital lesions in men.

A total of 155 men with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated genital lesions were studied to evaluate therapy for obvious and subclinical lesions. The treatment methods were selected according to type, location, size, and number of lesions. Seventy-three percent of all patients were successfully treated by the initial therapy. Eighty men with minimal disease had a significantly lower treatment failure rate than 75 men with multiple lesions (15 versus 40%; P less than .001). The type of lesions (classical condyloma versus other HPV-associated lesions), visibility (obvious condylomata versus subclinical lesions), and location did not significantly influence the cure rate (P greater than .05). Seventy-six percent of treatment failures were evident at the first follow-up examination. After a follow-up time of 1 year, 95% of men with obvious condylomata and 93% of men with subclinical lesions were disease-free. The results indicate that obvious and subclinical HPV-associated lesions in men may be successfully controlled by one or more treatment modalities adapted to the particular needs of the patient.
The Tyrosine Kinases pp561ck and pp59fyn are Activated in Thymocytes Undergoing Positive Selection

Developing T cells undergo distinct selection processes that determine the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire (1). Positive selection involves the differentiation of thymocytes bearing self-MHC TCR to mature T cells (2). In order to study the potential involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the mechanism of positive selection we have analyzed the activation of pp56lck and pp59fyn in thymocytes from transgenic mice expressing a unique TCR (anti-HY +H2Db)(3). Thymocytes undergoing positive selection (H2Dd) displayed high specific kinase activity for pp56lck and pp59fyn as compared with thymocytes from nonselecting mice (H2Dd). Furthermore,the increase in kinase activity is found selectively in the CD4+CD8+ subpopulation of thymocytes, where the selection process is believed to occur (4,5). These data suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation is part of the intracellular signals involved in MHC I-driven positive selection from CD8+CD4+ to CD8+CD4- cells.
Drug Products and Photocarcinogenesis

Most safety tests are designed to determine whether an agent, such as a drug or chemical, will adversely affect some normal physiological component or process. In contrast, most photobiological safety tests seek to determine whether a chemical can amplify the known noxious effects of an external agent, ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Tests for phototoxicity, for example, determine whether suberythemal doses of radiation will produce acute damage in the presence of the test agent: such tests are always preceded by a determination that the agent alone does not produce such damage. It is understood that higher doses of UVR (or, in some cases, different radiation spectra) are capable of producing erythema in the absence of the test agent, but for testing purposes the effects of low doses of UVR are regarded as the “normal” state against which toxic effects are to be evaluated. Tests for photoallergic properties may go even further in altering the reference “normal” state, by imposing various forms of trauma at either initiation or elicitation stages. The justification for introducing external trauma in a photobiological safety test is the assumption that some exposure to environmental UVR is virtually inevitable; thus an agent which can intensify trauma induced by UVR is capable of intensifying a “normal” and expected biological response.
Programmable Liquid Crystal Elastomers Prepared by Thiol–Ene Photopolymerization

The spontaneous conversion of a flat film into a 3-D shape requires local programming of the mechanical response. Historically, the ability to locally program the mechanical response of high strain (>30%) liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) has been limited to magnetic or mechanical alignment techniques, which limits spatial resolution. Recently, we reported on the preparation of LCEs capable of 55% strain with spatial control of the mechanical response at scales as small as 0.01 mm2. Here, we report a distinct formulation strategy to realize programmable stimulus-response in LCEs. Photopolymerization of thiol–ene/acrylate formulations yields materials that exhibit large reversible strain up to 150%. The photopolymerization reaction is extremely rapid, reducing preparation time from days to minutes. The mechanical behavior of these materials can be tuned by varying cross-link density. Spatial and hierarchical programming of the director profile is demonstrated, enabling 3-D shape change, including twisti...
Present Trends and Future Directions in “Leukocyte Labeling”

Imaging with In-111-labeled leukocytes has become an established clinical method for the detection of focal inflammatory lesions in many medical centers but has been rejected by others because of the technical complexities of the labeling procedure. Gaining knowledge of the in vivo migratory pattern of the different leukocyte populations and subtypes in health and disease remains an important goal(1), particularly in the field of immunology. Techniques for examining the in vivo distribution of lymphocytes, monocytes and the eosinophils are still under development, and differences in migratory patterns of mononuclear subtypes remain to be explored. This paper attempts to summarize recent progress in the techniques of harvesting and labeling leukocytes and suggests possible directions for future research.
Optical Manipulation of Thermally Generated Microbubbles in a Liquid

The behavior of thermally generated microbubbles in the presence of a weakly focused laser beam is theoretically studied by developing an equivalent force model. Possible applications of these bubbles are also discussed.
Characterizing spring emergence of adult Halyomorpha halys using experimental overwintering shelters and commercial pheromone traps

To improve our understanding of adult Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) overwintering biology and to better inform models of its population dynamics, its temporal pattern of spring emergence was investigated using experimental overwintering shelters in screened cages within protective structures. In 2012, plastic shelters containing 100 adults were deployed in unheated, unlighted buildings, and adjacent woodlots in Virginia, USA. In 2013 and 2014, wooden shelters containing 300 paint-marked adults were deployed in pairs in six woodlots across Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, USA; one in a closed cage and one in a cage with the top removed, enabling emerged adults to be counted or to disperse, respectively. In 2013 and 2014, pheromone-baited and non-baited pyramid traps encircled the shelters at each site. Regular counts of adults that emerged into the closed cage and of marked and ‘wild’ (unmarked) adults captured in traps were conducted from February or March through early July. In 2012, emergence patterns from shelters in buildings and woodlots were very similar and matched those recorded from woodlots in 2013 and 2014. In all years, a small peak of emergence occurred in about mid-April, a larger and more prolonged peak was observed between mid-May and early June, and emergence ended by early July. Of the 449 H. halys adults captured in traps between 2013 and 2014, only three were marked individuals from shelters in the open cage, suggesting that adults emerging from overwintering sites may require a dispersal flight before responding to pheromone-baited traps. In 2013 and 2014, respectively, 98 and 93% of captures were in pheromone-baited traps, but there was no correlation between the weekly number of adults that emerged from shelters in the closed cages and captures in traps.
Abstract P026: Relationship Between Antihypertensive Adherence and Emergency Department Blood Pressure

Background: Blood pressure is often uncontrolled in the Emergency Department (ED), but the contribution of medication non-adherence to this is not known. Methods: Three hundred ED patients with hypertension were enrolled from June 2012 to April 2013 to evaluate the association of antihypertensive adherence (measured by serum assay and by survey) with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the ED. Presence of anti-hypertensive medications in the blood was detected using a previously validated mass spectrometric assay. Adherence was defined as the ratio of detected to prescribed antihypertensive medications (1=completely adherent, 0=completely non-adherent, 12 indicates some degree of non-adherence). Spearman’s rho was used to evaluate correlation of the assay and ARMS. A single BP was measured by research staff using an oscillometric cuff with the patient in a seated position. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between adherence and SBP, adjusting for age, sex, race, insurance, literacy/numeracy, education, and comorbid conditions. Missing numeracy for 18 subjects was imputed. Results: Three participants failed to meet inclusion criteria. Remaining 297 patients were 59.1±11.2 (SD) years old, 53.9% female, 62.3% White, 37.7% diabetic, and 24.6% had chronic kidney disease. Patients were prescribed a median of 2 medications (interquartile range 1 to 3, maximum 5). Mean SBP was 136.7±24.2 mmHg. By the assay, 214 (72.1%) patients were adherent, 59 (19.9%) partially non-adherent, and 24 (8.0%) completely non-adherent. By ARMS, 65 (21.9%) were adherent, 232 (78.1%) were non-adherent (rho=-0.23, p Conclusions: In this preliminary study, antihypertensive adherence measured by a mass spectrometry assay was associated with lower SBP among patients in the ED. The assay may be a useful tool for future research.
Oxidative Stress Induces Disruption of the Axon Initial Segment.

The axon initial segment (AIS), the domain responsible for action potential initiation and maintenance of neuronal polarity, is targeted for disruption in a variety of central nervous system pathological insults. Previous work in our laboratory implicates oxidative stress as a potential mediator of structural AIS alterations in two separate mouse models of central nervous system inflammation, as these effects were attenuated following reactive oxygen species scavenging and NADPH oxidase-2 ablation. While these studies suggest a role for oxidative stress in modulation of the AIS, the direct effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) on the stability of this domain remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that oxidative stress, as induced through treatment with 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a spontaneous ROS/RNS generator, drives a reversible loss of AIS protein clustering in primary cortical neurons in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition of both voltage-dependent and intracellular calcium (Ca2+) channels suggests that this mechanism of AIS disruption involves Ca2+ entry specifically through L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and its release from IP3-gated intracellular stores. Furthermore, ROS/RNS-induced AIS disruption is dependent upon activation of calpain, a Ca2+-activated protease previously shown to drive AIS modulation. Overall, we demonstrate for the first time that oxidative stress, as induced through exogenously applied ROS/RNS, is capable of driving structural alterations in the AIS complex.
Collective Emotions in Warfare

Emotions are little favored in current explanations of the causes of war. If they are referred to at all, it is only indirectly and casually. Frequently used concepts such as prestige, honor, and morale are directly linked to emotions, but this link is seldom investigated. Even if emotions are mentioned directly, they are unlikely to be indexed or theorized. For example, the emotion of humiliation is often mentioned in studies of quarrels, feuds, vendettas, and wars. But rarely do such studies see this emotion as part of the process of causation. Fear of opponents is another emotion that is often mentioned, but again is seldom part of the central argument. Most serious studies of warfare seem to presume that although emotions are present among the opposing groups, they are not a significant causal force. Most explanations of the causes of war and peace are dominated by a ‘realist’ ideology. This view assumes that human behavior is motivated by ‘objective’, that is, nonemotional elements, and that conscious calculation of material benefits and losses figures prominently in the instigation of war. In this article, we will not argue against the importance of objective motives and calculation in human affairs, but will try to frame the realist view within a larger perspective that includes both emotional and nonemotional elements.
Multiplane Deconvolution in Orthographic Ultrasonic Transmission Imaging

Orthographic ultrasonic transmission imaging has received renewed interest and demonstrated significant potential clinical applicability during the past few years. The ultrasonic camera developed at SRI for the Orthopaedic Clinic of the University of Muenster in West Germany is an example of a real-time ultrasonic transmission imaging system. Using a spatially and temporally incoherent method of insonification, which eliminates diffraction artifacts and smoothly blurs out-of-focus structures, the SRI camera produces sharply focused images within the focal plane. Although well-focused images can be obtained in orthographic transmission imaging, the overlapping of out-of-focus structures frequently detracts from image quality. To overcome this difficulty and to extend the applicability of ultrasonic transmission imaging, we proposed to apply image-processing techniques to remove out-of-focus structures through multiplane deconvolution. We used a linear model for the imaging process and investigated different algorithms for the multiplane deconvolution. Our simulation results show that an algorithm based on the minimum mean square error appears to be the most effective. We have also applied the algorithm to improve the images collected with an experimental ultrasonic transmission imaging system. In this paper, we briefly describe the principles of multiplane deconvulution and present simulation and experimental results that illustrate its effectiveness in improving the image quality.
Adaptation of the GRAAL model of Glass Reactivity to accommodate non-linear diffusivity

Abstract The empirical GRAAL (Glass Reactivity with Allowance for the Alteration Layer) model, developed to capture the essential corrosion behavior of nuclear waste glasses, was modified in a simple manner by raising the unitless diffusion term by a power factor p. With values of p > 1.0, the diffusivity is a non-linear, power function of the altered layer thickness. The modified model, GRAALP, was used to fit the long-term alteration data for a series of sodium borosilicate glasses reported by Gin et al. J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 358 (2012) 2559 where glass alteration is dominated by growth of the hydrolysis layer. The optimal value for the parameter p was found to vary significantly and could be correlated with glass composition. A value of p = 3.0 was found to be most suitable for the glasses containing both Ca and Al, while p = 2.6 was more appropriate if Ce was present in the glass. For glasses without Ca, the optimal fit to the data followed the original GRAAL model with p = 1.0. In the absence of Al, glasses containing Ca and/or Zr were not as easily characterized. These findings point to a relationship between the residual alteration rate and glass composition. Elements present in the contacting solution may also play a similar role but for this data set only pure water was used. A power law dependence of diffusivity on local water content is proposed which can partially account for the formation of an altered layer with a relatively sharp interface with the pristine glass. The empirical models do not account for the removal of oxide species due to hydrolysis and the associated influx of water and this, in combination with a diffusivity dependent on local water content, may be required to understand the results of depth profiling studies.
Hybrid Nugget Diameter Prediction for Resistance Spot Welding

Abstract Resistance spot welding (RSW) is one of the critical joining methods in sheet metal-based industries. The nugget size is a crucial factor, which determines the stoutness of final products. In this research, we present a hybrid prediction method based on a theoretical physical model and a machine learning method (i.e., spline-based interpolation). The theoretical physical model expects to show relatively higher precision in prediction; however, it needs an expert knowledge to find proper dynamic parameters (e.g., resistance and heat energy) of the model. On the other hand, the machine learning model is likely to find the model automatically. However, it seems to be overfitted for the specific training dataset (especially with inconsistent RSW dataset) and it needs massive datasets. To overcome these data inconsistency and hidden physical patterns, this paper proposes a hybrid method based on the theoretical model and the interpolation with the spline method. The theoretical physical model builds a mathematical model for the nugget growth and its formation. The spline-based interpolation method analyzes the correlation between the input parameters (e.g., stack-up characteristics, welding force, welding current, and welding time) and the output parameter (i.e., nugget diameter). The experiment results show that the proposed hybrid method provides more meaningful prediction than the existed prediction algorithms with the RSW dataset and can be an error-data endurable method.
Influence of a physical education teacher’s perceived age on high school pupils’ perceptions of effectiveness and learning:

Few studies have focused on the issues older physical education (PE) teachers encounter which may limit their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a PE teacher’s...
A Learning System Design Based on Digital Technology Utilization

Digital technology in Indonesia, especially in Manado, begin to grow very rapidly followed by the availability of adequate technology market, better financial economy, and high enthusiasm from the local people, mostly academic educators. Supported by the existence of network based technology, it is mostly expected that the process of transferring information and learning in classroom will be easier and no longer become great problem in the future. People will acceptdigital technology not as a threat, but cultivate and utilize them for the improvement of human civilization, while keep maintaining respect to traditional learning and manual opinions and analysis because after all those concepts are merely the best. This paper based on author experience, observations, and reviews, offers solutions to utilize digital technology for developing aneffective learning process. The research methods are literature study, analysis taken from personal experience, system design, and future implementation. The results of this research givesperspective to design a learning system in a proper way, using digital technology individually or integrated, which will also support research activities and improve good digital technology products designed and produced by people of Indonesia and other Nations.
Ti3Ga and αTi interdiffusion between 660° and 860°C

Diffusion experiments were conducted in vacuum with bimetallic couples of the Ti3Ga (α2) composition and unalloyed α titanium. The gallium-composition profiles after various timetemperature exposures were determined by microprobe analyzer transverses and evaluated by established techniques. Results from this evaluation include the definition of the α to α +α2 and the α + α2 to α2 phase boundaries for the Ti−Ga system and the determination of the interdiffusion coefficients for gallium in the α Ti and Ti3Ga (α2) phases. The interdiffusion coefficients were found to conform to the relationships: $$\tilde D_{\alpha Ti} = 4.4 \times 10^{ - 4} \exp [ - (43.4 \pm 4.7)10^3 /RT]cm^2 /\sec $$ $$\tilde D_{\alpha Ti_3 Ga} = 7.4 \times 10^{ - 5} \exp [ - (43.8 \pm 10.7)10^3 /RT]cm^2 /\sec $$
Physician Perspectives on Fertility Preservation Discussions with Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Results from a Multihospital Health Care System.

Ten percent of new breast cancer diagnoses occur in premenopausal women, and oncologic therapies may compromise fertility. Thus, fertility preservation discussions (FPDs) and referral to fertility specialists are imperative prior to initiation of therapy. A previous retrospective chart review showed 45% FPD rates at our institution. The aim of this study is to investigate physician perspectives and limitations regarding FPD. An electronic survey was distributed to 30 surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists across ten regional hospitals. Questions addressed provider demographics, and barriers to and facilitators of FPD. The survey response rate was 63.3%. Only 31.6% of physicians reported “always” documenting FPD. Respondents opined that the physician prescribing systemic therapy was the most appropriate person to provide FPD. Patient age, treatment with chemotherapy, and patient desire for FPD were more likely to increase FPD (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.0001, respectively). The majority of physicians (84.2%) expressed intent to increase FPD rates. Fertility preservation is an integral aspect of breast cancer care, requiring thorough discussion and clear documentation. This study identified that physicians believe the medical oncologist is the most appropriate person to have FPDs with patients and that empowering patients to bring up fertility concerns may improve rates of FPDs. Education of physicians and patients about fertility preservation techniques is likely to improve FPDs.