cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of contrast media additives upon ventricular fibrillation thresholds during coronary angiography in ischemic and normal canine hearts

Contrast media additives that bind calcium lower the total dose necessary to induce fibrillation. The method of measuring ventricular fibrillation threshold during coronary arteriography is sensitive and allows dose comparison at volumes relevant to clinical use. We compared two commercial formulations of sodium/meglumine diatrizoate for their effects upon fibrillation threshold in normal and ischemic dog hearts. Even though the formulations differed only by their additives, Hypaque 76 was significantly less fibrillatory than Renografin 76. This was observed at two different doses and in both ischemic and non-ischemic hearts. We conclude that amounts of additives capable of binding calcium should be kept as low as possible in sodium/meglumine diatrizoate formulations that are used for coronary angiography.
Misspecifications in vector autoregressions and their effects on impulse responses and variance decompositions

Abstract This paper investigates the consequences of model misspecifications in vector autoregressions (VARs). We specifically consider the effects of misspecifications on estimated impulse responses and variance decompositions. Assuming the underlying economic system has an ARMA representation, we derive closed-form expressions for the inconsistency in VAR-parameter estimates caused by omitted variables, ignored moving average terms, incorrectly specified lag lengths, or incorrect orthogonalization of innovations. Using these results we derive the inconsistencies for implied impulse responses and variance decompositions. Employing a trivariate economic model, we examine the potential seriousness of these misspecifications in applied work.
MORALITY AND WORK–FAMILY CONFLICT IN THE LIVES OF POOR AND LOW‐INCOME WOMEN

Contemporary understandings of work and family are largely based on middle-class women's experience, whereas poverty and welfare researchers focus on the economic struggles of single female-headed families. This qualitative study examines the cultural and moral forces underlying the tension between paid work and family responsibilities through the experience of poor and low-income women. Interview data reveal that as expected, the conditions of poverty and welfare shape work and family decisions. Yet, choices about work and family entail moral and emotional commitments defined through powerful gendered cultural schemas. Providing financially for children reflects a strong work ethic and moral worth corresponding to a masculine model of individual responsibility privileging self-sufficiency and independence. This is challenged by a shared moral imperative that mother's primary responsibility is the care of children. This examination is important for researchers in understanding the moral and emotional salience of gender in shaping the work and family lives of poor and low-income women.
Zamumo's Gifts: Indian-European Exchange in the Colonial Southeast

Zamumo's Gifts: Indian-European Exchange in the Colonial Southeast Joseph M. Hall, JR. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009 x, 232 pp. ill., maps. (ISBN 9780812241792) In Zamumo's G...
A categorization scheme for critical success factors of lodging yield management systems

Abstract A variety of categorization models have been proposed for the critical success factors (CSFs) of information systems in general, but never specifically for lodging yield management systems (LYMSs). This paper proposes such a categorization model for LYMSs, compares and contrasts the model against other models, and discusses the resulting implications. This work is an extension of a previous work by Griffin (1994) that successfully identified 27 CSFs for LYMSs. To develop the CSF categorization model, 358 users were surveyed on the quality of 27 CSFs. The sample included three lodging yield management systems and 207 properties. The variables that were found to be significantly and substantially related to system success were analysed using common factor analysis with an oblique rotation to develop the categorization scheme. The results indicated that a categorization scheme for critical success factors of lodging yield management system should include the categories of system, user-education, user-traits, organizational support, and external environment. A critical success factor model was developed and proposed for lodging yield management systems. The categorization scheme used to develop this model may help researchers organize and manage their research efforts and help business practitioners with organizing and allocating resources for successful system implementation and operation.
Thermally and Optically Fixable Shape Memory in Azobenzene-Functionalized Glassy Liquid Crystalline Polymer Networks

Thermally and optically fixed shape memory is examined in glassy, azobenzene- functionalized liquid crystalline polymer networks (azo-LCN) in the twisted nematic (TN) geometry. The thermal and optical responses of two materials with a large difference in crosslink density are contrasted. The crosslink density was reduced through the inclusion of a monoacrylate liquid crystal monomer RM23. Reducing the crosslink density decreases the threshold temperature of the thermally-induced shape change and increases the magnitude of the deflection. Surprisingly, samples containing RM23 also allows for retention of a complex permanent shape, potentially due to differentiated thermal response of the pendant and main chain mesogenic units of the azo-LCN material.
After the Ark

Noah's Flood: The Genesis Story in Western Thought by Norman Cohn Yale University Press: 1996. Pp. 150. $30, £19.95
Motivational attribution as prolegomena to armed conflict

Critical appraisal and consideration of the motivational factors of an opposing side are important components in the adoption of a nonviolent attitude towards conflict resolution. This assumption is examined in the contexts of the Persian Gulf War and the Pacific theater of the Second World War. 23 graduate students responded to two narratives.
Mobilization of seed storage lipid by Arabidopsis seedlings is retarded in the presence of exogenous sugars

Soluble sugar levels must be closely regulated in germinating seeds to ensure an adequate supply of energy and building materials for the developing seedling. Studies on germinating cereal seeds indicate that production of sugars from starch is inhibited by increasing sugar levels. Although numerous studies have focused on the regulation of starch metabolism, very few studies have addressed the control of storage lipid metabolism by germinating oilseeds. Mobilization of storage lipid by germinating seeds of the model oilseed plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. occurs at a greatly reduced rate in the presence of exogenous glucose or mannose, but not in the presence of equi-molar 3-O-methylglucose or sorbitol. The sugar-insensitive5-1/abscisic acid-insensitive4-101 (sis5-1/abi4-101) mutant is resistant to glucose inhibition of seed storage lipid mobilization. Wild-type seedlings become insensitive to glucose inhibition of storage lipid breakdown within 3 days of the start of imbibition. Growth in the presence of exogenous glucose significantly retards mobilization of seed storage lipid in germinating seeds from wild-type Arabidopsis. This effect is not solely due to the osmotic potential of the media, as substantially higher concentrations of sorbitol than of glucose are required to exert significant effects on lipid breakdown. The inhibitory effect of glucose on lipid breakdown is limited to a narrow developmental window, suggesting that completion of some critical metabolic transition results in loss of sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of glucose on lipid breakdown.
The data void in modeling current and future distributions of tropical species

Conserving biodiversity in the face of climate change requires a predictive ecology of species distributions. Nowhere is this need more acute than in the tropics, which harbor the majority of Earth’s species and face rapid and large climate and land-use changes. However, the study of species distributions and their responses to climate change in high diversity tropical regions is potentially crippled by a lack of basic data. We analyzed a database representing more than 800 000 unique geo-referenced natural history collections to determine what fraction of tropical plant species has sufficient numbers of available collections for use in the habitat or niche models commonly used to predict species responses to climate change. We found that more than nine out of 10 species from the three principle tropical realms are so poorly collected (no20 records) that they are essentially invisible to modern modeling and conservation tools. In order to predict the impact of climate change on tropical species, efforts must be made to increase the amount of data available from tropical countries through a combination of collecting new specimens and digitizing existing records.
Analysis of General-Aviation Aircraft Wing Sections with Drooped Leading Edges

The addition of a leading-edge extension that droops the leading edge of a general aviation aircraft wing, akin to a deployed slat, increases the camber of the wing and thus has the potential to increase its lifting capability during takeoff. The aircraft wing under consideration in this study is that of the Cessna Caravan. An analysis of the root and wing-tip sections and two proposed wing modifications was carried out in order to gain insight into the aerodynamic performance characteristics of the proposed alterations. The single-element original- and modified-wing root and tip sections were analyzed in free air using the two-dimensional Euler/coupled boundarylayer code MSES. A comparison of computed results with experimental data of the airfoils in the same class as those of the Caravan indicated that although MSES overpredicts the lift coefficient it accurately predicts the change in maximum lift coefficient with Reynolds number indicating that MSES could be used to evaluate the relative performance of the airfoils in question. Further analyses suggested that the overprediction of lift is a consequence of the implementation of the transition model in MSES. The two wing modifications, the AOG-series and the JS-series airfoils, showed the potential to increase the lifting capability of the Caravan wing. One significant observation to be made from all of the results on the drooped leading edge is that the increase in camber of the airfoil dramatically increases the nose-down pitching moment of the airfoil. It was also found that the sensitivity of the airfoil to freestream turbulence can also be affected by the proposed wing modifications.
"Acquired" Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Following Early Onset Group B Streptococcal Pneumonia

A newborn baby who presented with neonatal pneumonia due to group B streptococcus and who required artificial ventilation is described. After the infant was weaned from the respirator, increasing respiratory distress led to the diagnosis of posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia.
Emergency Department Patient Knowledge, Opinions, and Risk Tolerance Regarding Computed Tomography Scan Radiation

Abstract Background Computed tomography (CT) scanning use for emergency department (ED) patients has increased exponentially since its inception. Study Objectives This study aimed to determine what patients view as the risk of radiation from CT scans, their risk tolerance and preference for alternative testing, and their opinions about informed consent and malpractice regarding CT scans. Methods A 25-question survey was administered to a random convenience sample of ED patients aged ≥ 18 years by trained research associates. Results There were 487 patients approached to be surveyed; 78 patients were excluded, leaving 409 patients (84.0%) responding. Mean patient age was 40.5 (standard deviation [SD] 16.8) years, and 51.5% were female. Three hundred ninety of 409 (95.4%) believed doctors should explain the risks and benefits of CT, and 316/409 (77.3%) thought an informed consent form should be signed. One hundred seventy-nine of 409 (43.8%) patients recognized that there was more radiation from a CT scan than a single chest x-ray study. Three hundred twenty-four of 409 (79.2%) preferred CT angiography over lumbar puncture to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage. To diagnose appendicitis, 199/409 (48.7%) preferred an ultrasound first even if it meant needing a subsequent confirmatory CT, and 193/409 (47.2%) preferred a CT right away. One hundred sixty-nine of 409 (41.3%) patients would still like to have a CT scan of the head after head trauma even if their physician did not believe the test was indicated. Conclusion This study elucidates patient preference and knowledge regarding CT scans. Overall, patients have a poor understanding of CT scan radiation, and desire to have risks explained to them as informed consent prior to the scan.
Information Literacy in Biology Education: An Example from an Advanced Cell Biology Course

Information literacy skills are critically important for the undergraduate biology student. The ability to find, understand, evaluate, and use information, whether from the scientific literature or from Web resources, is essential for a good understanding of a topic and for the conduct of research. A project in which students receive information literacy instruction and then proceed to select, update, and write about a current research topic in an upper-level cell biology course is described. Students research the chosen topic using paper and electronic resources, generate a list of relevant articles, prepare abstracts based on papers read, and, finally, prepare a “state-of-the-art” paper on the topic. This approach, which extends over most of one semester, has resulted in a number of well-researched and well-written papers that incorporate some of the latest research in cell biology. The steps in this project have also led to students who are prepared to address future projects on new and complex topics. The project is part of an undergraduate course in cell biology, but parts of the assignments can be modified to fit a variety of subject areas and levels.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the Rainbow self-adaptive system

Rainbow is a framework for engineering a system with run-time, self-adaptive capabilities to monitor, detect, decide, and act on opportunities for system improvement. We applied Rainbow to a system, Znn.com, and evaluated its effectiveness to self-adapt on three levels: its effectiveness to maintain quality attribute in the face of changing conditions, run-time overheads of adaptation, and the engineering effort to use it to add self-adaptive capabilities to Znn.com. We make Znn.com and the associated evaluation tools available to the community so that other researchers can use it to evaluate their own systems and the community can compare different systems. In this paper, we report on our evaluation experience, reflect on some principles for benchmarking self-adaptive systems, and discuss the suitability of our evaluation tools for this purpose.
ULTRAVIOLET DEGRADATION IN CAROTENOID PATCHES: LIVE VERSUS MUSEUM SPECIMENS OF WOOD WARBLERS (PARULIDAE)

Abstract Accurate assessment of color is essential in testing the adaptive significance of color variation in avian plumage. Over the past decade, use of objective methods for assessing color has increased, with particular emphasis on ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Researchers have used various source materials, most notably museum specimens, to extend or represent color measurements of individuals in natural populations. Here, we address whether the colors seen in museum specimens accurately represent the colors seen in natural populations. We focus on UV wavelengths and carotenoid-derived colors across 10 species of wood-warblers (Parulidae). Our results indicate an uneven decrease in brightness across the color spectrum, with greater relative decrease in shorter wavelengths in museum specimens. That decrease leads to differences in both hue and chroma between living and museum specimens. The difference from live specimens appears to increase with the museum specimen's age. Our results suggest that cauti...
STRUCTURE OF THE PERIPLAST OF CRYPTOMONAS OVATA VAR. PALUSTRIS1,2

SUMMARY The periplast of Cryptomonas ovata var. palustris is composed of polygonal plates which are delineated by shallow ridges. A small ejectosome is located at each corner of the plate area. The plate areas vary in size; they are smallest at the anterior and posterior ends and are largest in the middle of the cell with an average length of 0.5 μ and of width 0.4 μ. In cross section a plate area is composed of 2 distinct layers, an outer plasma membrane layer with a fine particulate, appearance, and an inner layer consisting of two sheets. The sheets of the inner layer have a striated lattice pattern with a periodicity of about 20 nm. In negatively stained preparations one lattice appears to underlie another at certain angles. Protease digestion removed polygonal shaped inner layer.
Building DIY science equipment

The article, “Building Research Equipment with Free, Open-Source Hardware”, by Dr. Joshua Pearce [1], that was published in the journal Science three years ago had captured the attention of scientists and non-scientists alike. The advantages of making your own do-it-yourself (DIY) scientific equipment are: 1) customization, 2) shared design promotes a better design as the scientific community can contribute to its design, and last but not least 3) cost-saving. Making DIY scientific equipment has become feasible due to the advancement of 3D printing technology, the highly adaptable microcontroller (e.g. Arduino), and the free and open-source design and software. As a matter of fact, one can even make a 3D printer. In today’s limited funding environment, stretching one’s own funding has been essential to the survival of many laboratories. In the protocol titled “Open Source and DIY Hardware for DNA Nanotechnology Labs” in this issue of Journal of Biological Methods [2], Damase et al. showed us easy and cost-effective ways to build a DIY gel scanner, a horizontal gel mold, and a homogenizer. They also demonstrated how the equipment could be used to perform experiments that are typical for a DNA nanotechnology lab. DIY equipment can reduce lab equipment costs about 50 to 90%. The authors also discussed the applications of 3D printing technology, a process of making 3 dimensional solid objects from a digital file. True to the concept of free and open-source, the 3D printing designs can be found at NIH 3D Print Exchange (3dprint.nih.gov). The NIH 3D Print Exchange was started by the HHS Ignite and HHS Ventures initiatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ HHS IDEA Lab. By allowing detailed designs and models to be freely available to the public, it enables scientists not only to educate the public but also to reproduce and improve the experiments. It will benefit the scientific community for years to come. As technology advances and information begins to flow freely, one will expect the “free and open-source” movement to accelerate. To popularize this movement further, educators may include the building of DIY equipment as part of their curriculum. Also, principal investigators should encourage their trainees about different cost-saving measures to prepare them to do more with less under the current funding situation.
Tensorial computer model of gaze—I. Oculomotor activity is expressed in non-orthogonal natural coordinates

Abstract The central nervous system expresses its function in natural frames of reference. A most conspicuous feature of such frames is their non-orthogonality. Gaze stabilization and, in particular, the sensorimotor transformations performed by the vestibulo-ocular reflex, are prime examples of such general coordinate transformations between and within multidimensional non-orthogonal frames. Since such operations can be described by tensor formalisms in an abstract manner, this methodology is applied here to develop a tensorial computer model of gaze stabilization. The representation of sensorimotor transformations by a reference-frame independent method obviates the necessity to simplify the intrinsic coordinate systems either by a reduction of the dimensionality or by a presumption of orthogonality. The frames of reference intrinsic to vestibulo-ocular reflex transformation (the vestibular semicircular canals and extraocular muscles) as well as the covariant character of the sensory input and the contravariant character of the motor output are physically obvious. A model built on these intrinsic systems of coordinates first serves to quantitate the degree of non-orthogonality in the extraocular muscle system, and thus to demonstrate both the necessity and the applicability of representing them by a formalism suitable for non-orthogonal systems, such as tensor network theory. The actual non-orthogonality of the gaze-stabilization system can be quantitated on the basis of the difference of covariant and contravariant expressions as follows. Tensor network theory describes sensorimotor transformations by employing a covariant embedding procedure. This, however, yields a covariant intention-type motor vector. If the central nervous system were to transmit these sensory-type components directly to the extraocular muscle motor mechanism, an error-angle would occur since covariants do not physically compose the intended movement. The error in every direction of gaze would be zero only if the extraocular muscle system would constitute an orthogonal set of rotation axes. Otherwise, the error, called refraction angle, is a measure of non-orthogonality. The complexity of the quantitation of non-orthogonality is compounded by the fact that these rotation axes change with the moving eye. Calculation of eye movements, executed both by covariant and contravariant vectors from primary and secondary eye positions, is based on the simplest assumption that the central nervous system establishes the covariant-contravariant transformation in the retinal tangent plane. The results quantitate (1) the significant degree of non-orthogonality in the oculomotor system, (2) the degree of sensitivity of non-orthogonality to the direction of eye movement and to the initial eye position. With the degree of non-orthogonality made explicit, the errors inherent in remanent orthogonal treatments are quantitated. Presenting the differences of covariants and contravariants in the form of eye movement trajectories provides experimentally testable predictions.
Process variation and temperature-aware reliability management

In aggressively scaled technologies, reliability concerns such as oxide breakdown have become a key issue. Dynamic reliability management (DRM) has been proposed as a mechanism to dynamically explore the trade-off between system performance and reliability margin. However, existing DRM methods are hampered by the fact that they do not accurately model spatial and temporal variations in process and temperature parameters which have a strong impact on chip reliability. In addition, they make the simplifying assumption that the future workloads are identical to the currently observed one. This makes them sensitive to sudden workload variations and outliers. In this paper, we present a novel workload-aware dynamic reliability management framework that accounts for local variations in both the process and temperature. The reliability estimation, along with the predicted remaining workload is fed to a dynamic voltage/frequency scaling module to manage the system reliability and optimize processor performance. Using a fast on-line analytical/table-look-up method we demonstrate an average error of 1% with up to 5 orders of magnitude speedup compared to Monte Carlo simulation. Experiments on an Alpha-like processor show our DRM framework fully utilizes the available margin and achieves 28.7% performance improvement on average.
PCV5: COST OF TREATMENT AND PREVALENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE COMORBIDITIES AND RISK FACTORS IN THE SEVERE AND PERSISTENTLY MENTALLY ILL

OBJECTIVE: It has been estimated that 92% of geriatric psychiatric patients have at least 1 comorbid physical disorder. The baby boomers will be turning 65 by 2011 and over 130 million people will be over 45 by 2050. The severe and persistently mentally population have not been extensively studied concerning comorbidities and physical and behavioral risk factors of cardiovascular disease. We propose to determine the cost of treatment and prevalence of these comorbidities and risk factors in this population. METHODS: We conducted a chart review of all adult inpatients (N = 179) of a state psychiatric hospital during July and August 2000. All subjects had a medical history, physical exam, screening blood tests, ECG and medical service utilization data collected. The cost of treatment and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in our population was compared to a control group of Medicaid recipients matched for age and sex. RESULTS: Subject Characteristics: 47 + 16 years; 113 male; 29% African American, 10% Hispanic. Cardiovascular Disease Comorbidities: 40% ECG abnormalities, 15% Hypertension, 10% Diabetes, 7% Thyroid Dysfunction, 6% CAD. Physical and Behavioral Risk Factors: 69% overweight (BMI> 25), 38% obese (BMI> 30); 18% hyperlipidemia, 67% nicotine & 49% alcohol abuse, 35% chemically addicted. Cost of Treatment: Total cost: $2539 ($2257–$2821), Cost of cardiovascular disease comorbidities: $3889 ($2105–$5673). CONCLUSION: 49% had cardiovascular disease comorbidities. 62% had multiple behavioral and physical risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease in their life time. The sample size limits our ability to make population inferences yet an association between severe and persistently mentally ill patients and a increased risk for cardiovascular disease exists in our group (T = −8.101, df = 356, P < .00001). This association is also evident in the greater cost of treatment $1985 ($1518–$2452) of the severe and persistently mentally ill compared to the control group (T = 4.78, df = 108, P < .00001).
Immediate Postpartum Intrauterine Contraception Insertion

The immediate postpartum period is a favorable time for initiating contraception because women who have recently given birth are often highly motivated to use contraception, pregnancy is excluded, and the hospital setting offers convenience for patients and providers. This article addresses immediate postpartum intrauterine contraception (IUC) insertion for copper and levonorgestrel IUC. Immediate postpartum IUC is safe and effective, with a majority of IUC devices retained at 6 and 12 months. There are increased rates of expulsion, compared with delayed postpartum insertion and interval insertion, which need to be weighed against the risk of patients not returning for postpartum follow-up.
Institutions, Investor Protection, and Corporate Choices in Developing Economies

This paper examines the extent to which differences in legal tradition, judicial efficiency, and investor protection affect debt financing and risk taking across developing economies. We find that firms in common law countries have the highest preference for debt financing while corporations in countries of socialist legal tradition assume the greatest levels of risk. Further, judicial efficiency matters most across developing economies. When legal formalism is high, firms contract more debt, but they are less willing to undertake risky investments. The findings also support the “dark side” to strong creditor rights in bankruptcy, but this “dark side” is sector-dependent.
Obesity and Functioning Among Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In COPD, body composition studies have focused primarily on low BMI. We examined obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) as a risk factor for poor function and longitudinal functional decline. Data from a longitudinal cohort of adults with COPD (n = 1096) and an age- and sex-matched comparison group collected in two in-person visits ∼49 months apart were analyzed. Two measures of functioning were examined: six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Multivariate regression analyses examined relationships of obesity with functioning. Secondary analyses stratified by GOLD classification (GOLD-0/1, GOLD-2, GOLD-3/4). Obesity (53% of COPD cohort) was associated cross-sectionally with 6MWD and SPPB in COPD, and only with 6MWD in the comparison group. Obesity predicted significant functional decline in 6MWD for individuals with COPD (odds ratio (OR) for decline [95% CI] 1.8 [1.1, 2.9]), but not the comparison group. Secondary analyses revealed that the risk of decline was significant only in those with more severe COPD (GOLD 3/4, OR = 2.3 [1.0, 5.4]). Obesity was highly prevalent and was associated with poor function concurrently and with subsequent decline in 6MWD in COPD. Obesity in COPD should be considered a risk not only for more co-morbidities and greater health care use, but also for functional decline.
Resilient Modulus of Recycled Asphalt Pavement and Recycled Concrete Aggregate

The most common recycled construction materials used as unbound base course in pavement construction are recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). This study investigated the mechanical properties of RCA and RAP as unbound base, including the relationships between resilient modulus (Mr) and composition (e.g., particle shape, binder type, aggregate mineralogy, and contamination). The recycled materials were collected from a wide geographical area, covering eight states in the U.S. The Mr tests were conducted following National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) protocol, which measures specimen deflections externally and internally. Power function and NCHRP models were applied to estimate Mr. The NCHRP model was more reliable in capturing Mr dependency on stress state in RCA and RAP. A multiple linear regression model was developed to predict the Mr of RCA (R=0.96) and RAP (R=0.97). There was a high degree of correlation between the predicted Mr and the physical properties of RCA (R=0.89) and RAP (R=0.99).
Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a cadaver to an embalmer.

The risk of acquiring tuberculosis varies according to occupation and is high among funeral-home workers.1 Embalmers are at particularly high risk for reactivity on tuberculin skin testing.2 The increased risk may be due to exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the embalming process, which involves the aspiration of blood and other body fluids from the cadaver, resulting in the generation of potentially infectious aerosols. To our knowledge, however, the transmission of M. tuberculosis from a cadaver to an embalmer, with the subsequent development of active tuberculosis, has not been described. DNA fingerprinting by restriction-fragment–length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis can be useful in . . .
Assessing caregivers’ needs in the workplace: A pilot study

ABSTRACTThe present study asked whether a brief survey that targets caregivers in the workplace can identify patterns of relationships between a caregiver’s strain arising from managing work and direct care activities and either his/her characteristics or the characteristics of the specific caregiving activities performed. The survey contained three sections: demographic information, subjective and objective state of the caregiver, and knowledge and use of caregiving services. As expected, reported strain was found to increase as time devoted to caregiving also increased. Less emotional strain was experienced by caregivers who were aware of referral services offered by the employer and used direct care services available in their communities. Lower strain was exhibited by males and caregivers of increasing age. The findings of the present study, which mostly replicate those of larger-scale studies, support the commonly held belief that knowledge and use of direct care services can be beneficial to caregivers.
Employing (1 − ε) dominating set partitions as backbones in wireless sensor networks

For a random geometric graph G(n, r) of minimum degree δ, we introduce an efficient algorithm for selecting (δ + 1) backbones with disjoint node sets that are each independent (1 − e) dominating sets of G. The backbone node sets are determined by a graph coloring algorithm employing only the topology (not the geometry) of G(n, r), and the backbone links are selected with link lengths in a narrow window between r and 2r and further to form a planar graph backbone. For large vertex sets (n = 1600, 3200) the resulting backbones are shown to each cover typically over 99% of the vertices of G (i.e. e < 0.01), with about 30% being fully dominating, which is consistent with the ¼ constant approximation factor algorithm proposed recently in [23] for the domatic partition problem in Unit Disk Graphs. We establish experimentally by measures of node degrees, link lengths, and interior triangular face counts that each individual backbone has most of the coverage behavior and routing convenience of the triangular "perfect packing" lattice. We further show for each sample G(n, r) that the relatively few vertices not covered by all (δ + 1) backbones are covered by most of the backbones. Hence backbone rotation in a wireless sensor network would reach all sensors (vertices) sufficiently frequently. Our novel backbone generation algorithm confirms experimentally the existence of these (δ + 1) backbones in a random geometric graph, and provides an efficient topologically based centralized algorithm for determining the backbones. We also point out that our novel backbone construction method is flexible such that any efficient coloring algorithm can be plugged into it. In this paper, we experiment with several coloring algorithms: Smallest Last, Largest First, Lexicographic, Radial Sweep and Random and we compare their respective performance. Our emphasis is, however, on SL since it offers robust properties and interesting expected behavior. We also experiment with several random node distributions: uniform, skewed and normal in both unit square and disk of which we also discuss the results.
The Two-Point Correlation Function of Ringed Galaxies

We calculate the two-point correlation function for a sample of ringed galaxies. Results are similar to that of general field galaxies. We also find evidence that these galaxies form very large scale structures.
Abstract B39: PI3K therapy-induced adaptive mitochondria reprogramming fuels metastatic traits

Abstracts: AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; November 30-December 3, 2015; Austin, TX Tumors rewire cell metabolism and autophagy to adapt to environmental stress conditions, including hypoxia, starvation and oxidative stress. Such adaptive reprogramming includes a switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, use of glutamine as fuel instead of glucose and increased biosynthesis of lipids and nucleotides. Although these processes promote resistance to apoptosis and support biomass expansion, they are also energetically inefficient, making it unclear how transformed cells accomplish highly energy-demanding tasks, including invasion and metastasis. Scattered evidences suggest that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation may be important for cancer traits, including stemmness, tumor repopulation and drug resistance. We recently demonstrated that targeting of the universal cancer node phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) induces extensive bioenergetics and transcriptional reprogramming in tumor cells, paradoxically culminating with preservation of homeostatic mitochondrial bioenergetics, opposing permeability transition and tumor cell death. Here we sought to understand how tumors adapt to molecular therapy as it pertains to tumor progression. Our results show that PI3K inhibitors used in the clinic induce global changes in activation of growth factor receptor kinases, reactivation of Akt and mTOR signaling, and dramatically increased tumor cell invasion. This involves the trafficking of energetically active mitochondria to the cortical cytoskeleton of tumor cells, supporting membrane lamellipodia dynamics, heightened turnover of focal adhesion complexes and increased velocity and distance of random cell migration. Furthermore, a single dose of PI3Ki increased liver metastasis after intrasplenic-injection of tumor cells in mice. Mechanistic studies pinpoint the role of Akt, mTOR, mitochondrial Hsp90s, the autophagy initiating complex ULK1/FIP200 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the adaptive response to PI3Ki. Blocking oxidative phosphorylation by targeting mtHsp90s prevented the repositioning of mitochondria to sites of cell movements, impaired membrane dynamics and suppressed tumor cell invasion. Our results suggest a potential drawback for PI3K therapy, namely the increased risk of metastasis in patients. Targeting mitochondrial reprogramming is feasible, and could provide a novel therapeutic strategy to limit disease dissemination. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: M. Cecilia Caino, Dario C. Altieri. PI3K therapy-induced adaptive mitochondria reprogramming fuels metastatic traits. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B39.
Helicon Wave Sources and HDPs

The newest type of High Density Plasma (HDP) is produced by the helicon wave source (HWS). This source requires a magnetic field of 50–1000G and is excited by an RF antenna, as in an ICP. The magnetic field has three functions: a) it increases the skin depth, so that the inductive field penetrates into the entire plasma; b) it helps to confine the electrons for a longer time; and c) it gives the operator extra adjustments to vary the plasma parameters, such as the density uniformity. The antenna launches a wave, called a helicon wave, that propagates along B with a phase velocity comparable to that of a 50–200 eV electron. The wave causes very efficient ionization , so that experiments are often done with densities in the mid-1013 cm-3 range, though such high densities are not usable for semiconductor processing. Nonetheless, HWS densities tend to be an order of magnitude higher than the 1011 cm-3 densities typical of ICPs. Until recently , it was not known why HW sources are so efficient . Initially, it was thought that cool electrons could catch the wave and surf on it up to the wave velocity, thus speeding up to where their ionization cross section was at its peak.
Phosphorus Recycling in Five Shallow Lakes

Phosphorus recycled from lake sediments is a most important nutrient source for midsummer algae blooms in very shallow northcentral lakes with depths from 2 to 7 meters. A study of the Fairmont Lakes in southern Minnesota conducted over a period of several years has produced extensive data on phosphorus budgets and time-series measurements of phosphorus concentrations which infer or prove that extensive release of phosphorus from the sediments occurs in midsummer. The in-situ evidence presented herein includes measurements of: (1) Phosphorus content in a major storm runoff event; (2) phosphorus depletion after spring snowmelt runoff; (3) phosphorus content in midsummer runoff compared to lake phosphorus content; (4) midsummer phosphorus stratification in the lake; and (5) relationship between temperature stratification and phosphorus stratification dynamics.
Direct replications of Ottati et al. (2015): The earned dogmatism effect occurs only with some manipulations of expertise

Abstract The Earned Dogmatism Hypothesis is that social norms entitle experts to behave in a close-minded fashion, and therefore that manipulations which increase perceived expertise reduce open-minded cognition. This manuscript reports direct replications of three key experiments reported by Ottati et al. 2015 in this journal in support of the Earned Dogmatism Hypothesis. Consistent with the original findings, it was found that dogmatic behavior is considered substantially more appropriate for experts relative to novices (d = 0.45 [0.35, 0.55] over all replications and original study). In addition, it was confirmed that when participants envision themselves as experts they predict they will be more close-minded (d = − 0.54 [− 0.64, − 0.44]). Unfortunately, replications involving manipulation of expertise through task difficulty showed little to no effect on open-minded cognition (d = 0.00 [− 0.21, 0.21] for easy/difficult recall task; d = − 0.02 [− 0.21, 0.17] for easy/difficult trivia task). The balance of evidence suggests that the Earned Dogmatism Hypothesis is currently well-supported only for prospective manipulations of expertise that require participants to predict their social behaviors. [Ottati, V., Price, E. D., Wilson, C., & Sumaktoyo, N. (2015). When self-perceptions of expertise increase closed-minded cognition: The earned dogmatism effect. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 61, 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2015.08.003 ].
Genotyping-by-sequencing identifies date palm clone preference in agronomics of the State of Qatar.

Understanding the genetic diversity in a crop population is key to its targeted breeding for desired traits, such as higher yields, better fruit quality and resistance to disease and changing climates. Date fruits represent a major crop in the Middle East and are key to achieving future food independence in arid countries like Qatar. We previously determined the genome of the date palm Phoenix dactylifera and showed that date palm trees world-wide divide into two distinct subpopulations of Eastern and Western origins. Here we applied a resource of SNPs from 179 commercially available date fruits to assess the genetic diversity of date palm trees grown in the State of Qatar. We found that palm trees in Qatar are mainly of Eastern origin, and that their genetic diversity doesn’t associate with regions of the State. Together with targeted genetic assays, our resource can be used in the future for date palm cultivar identification, to aid selecting suitable cultivars for targeted breeding, to improve a country’s date palm genetic diversity, and to certify the origin of date fruits and trees.
Matching habitat choice and plasticity contribute to phenotype-environment covariation in a stream salamander.

Populations optimize the match of phenotype to environment by localized natural selection, adaptive phenotypic plasticity, and habitat choice. Habitat choice may also be achieved by several mechanisms, including matching habitat choice, where individuals distribute themselves based on self-assessment of the phenotype-environment match. Matching habitat choice is a relatively untested concept, but one that could advance our understanding of the interplay of movement ecology and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Morphology of the salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus differs in riffles and pools, the dominant habitats in headwater streams where this species occurs. Specifically, individuals found in riffles have shorter limbs than those found in pools. Here, we used 4 yr of spatially explicit capture-mark-recapture data from three streams to test the contributions of phenotypic plasticity and matching habitat choice to this phenotype-environment covariation. We quantified morphological variation in G. porphyriticus with size-corrected principal component (PC) scores and assessed phenotype-environment match based on the difference between habitats in these PC scores. We found that both phenotypic plasticity and matching habitat choice contribute to phenotype-environment covariation in G. porphyriticus. The phenotypes of individuals that switched habitats (i.e., riffle→pool, pool→riffle) changed to become better matched to the recipient habitat, indicating a plastic response to local habitat conditions. Consistent with matching habitat choice, individuals were also more likely to switch habitats if their initial phenotype was a better match to the alternative habitat, independent of subsequent changes in morphology due to plasticity. Realized performance, survival adjusted for the likelihood of remaining in each habitat, was higher in individuals with phenotypes matched to each habitat than in those with mismatched phenotypes, but performance was generally lower in riffles than pools, suggesting that other factors influence the use of riffles. Our results underscore the value of considering how matching habitat choice interacts with other mechanisms that allow organisms to maximize performance when faced with environmental heterogeneity. More broadly, our study shows that it is important to account for movement in any study of the causes or consequences of intraspecific trait variation, a challenge that may require novel research approaches and experimental designs.
Contributions to Previous Efforts to Study Consumers over Their Life Span

The life course paradigm can address consumer issues in an innovative way. Nearly every form of consumer behavior that is influenced by previous life experiences or future expectations and is time- and context-dependent can be studied within the life course framework. Thus, consumer behaviors may be viewed as duration-dependent mental and overt activities or patterns, where development and change in such cognitions and behaviors represent events; they can be considered with respect to the length of time a consumer has been in a particular consumption state and the contexts in which he or she is embedded. Furthermore, because the various disciplinary approaches to life course research are complementary (Sherrod and Brim 1986), the life course paradigm could be used as an overarching conceptual framework to help integrate the various perspectives employed in previous studies and interpret findings to enhance understanding.
Cortisol reactivity and depressive symptoms in pregnancy: The moderating role of perceived social support and neuroticism.

Perinatal depression negatively impacts mother-infant health and well-being. Previous work has linked cortisol reactivity to perinatal depressive symptoms, but moderating effects including social support and neuroticism, have not been studied. Forty-nine pregnant women (9-30 weeks' gestational age; GA) provided saliva samples in response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and to awakening (cortisol awakening response, CAR), and completed questionnaires on perceived social support, personality, and depressive symptoms. Two hierarchical logistic regressions, one including the TSST response and one including the CAR as predictor variables, suggest that cortisol reactivity, social support from the baby's father, and neuroticism contribute to depressive symptoms, controlling for GA (both p < .01). Significant statistical interactions among predictors of pregnancy depressive symptoms were, however, only found in the model using the CAR. Findings highlight the importance of considering biopsychosocial interactions in studies predicting perinatal depressive symptoms.
Irony Man: Augmenting a Social Robot with the Ability to Use Irony in Multimodal Communication with Humans

Interpersonal communication is often full of irony and irony related humor, which can shape the quality of a conversation and how conversation partners perceive each other. If social robots were able to integrate irony in their communication style, their human conversation partners might perceive them as more natural, credible, and ultimately more attractive and acceptable. In order to explore this assumption, we first describe an approach to transform non-ironic inputs on-the-fly into multimodal ironic utterances. Irony markers are used to adapt language, prosody and facial expression. We argue that doing this allows to dynamically enrich a robot's spoken language with an expression of socially intelligent behavior. We then demonstrate the feasibility of our approach by reporting on a user study, which compares an ironic version of a robot with a non-ironic version of the same robot in a small talk dialog scenario. Results show that participants are indeed able to correctly identify a robot's use of irony and that a better user experience is associated with an ironic robot version. This is an important step for dynamically shaping a robot's personality and humor, and to increase perceived social intelligence.