cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase space methods and path integration: the analysis and computation of scalar wave equations

Abstract The scalar Helmholtz equation plays a significant role in studies of electromagnetic, seismic, and acoustic direct wave propagation. Phase space, or ‘microscopic’, methods and path (functional) integral representations provide the appropriate framework to extend homogeneous Fourier methods to inhomogeneous environments. The two complementary approaches to this analysis and computation of the n -dimensional Helmholtz propagator are reviewed. For the factorization/(one-way) path integration/invariant imbedding approach, the exact solution of the Helmholtz composition equation for the Weyl square root operator symbol is presented in the quadratic case. The filtered, one-way, phase space marching algorithm is examined in detail and compared numerically with wide-angle, one-way, partial differential wave equations formally derived from approximation theory. For the second approach, which directly constructs approximate two-way path functionals, the feasibility of a Monte Carlo (statistical) evaluation of the Feynman/Garrod propagator is discussed.
The developing caudate nucleus in the euthyroid and hypothyroid rat

The basal ganglia are presently implicated in learning, and thyroid deficiency induced neonatally is known to affect mentation. The effects of such a deficiency on the developing causate nucleus might be used to provide insight into structure and function of the normal subcortical brain, as well as possible influences of these extrapyramidal structures on mental retardation. Propylthiouracil was added to the diet of lactating rat dams and observations of the developing caudate nuclei of normal hypothyroid rats were made at 8, 14, 20, 30 and 42 days by using various tissue stains and Golgi-Cox preparations. Seven different types of neurons were distinguished in the caudate nucleus. Differences in the size of cell somata and the varying morphology of axons and dendrites were criteria used to make distinctions. Normally, the nucleus acquires cytoarchitectural complexity during the first three postnatal weeks. Within this period, neuron incidence increases in the caudate neuropil with age while the germinal matrix density decreases. Neuron accumulation reaches a plateau after the third week and cell migration is essentially complete at the end of the first postnatal month as shown by computer analysis of Nissl stained cell counts. Branching of cellular processes, attainment of receptor spines and complexity of the fiber network also appeared during this period. Retardation of structural development with thyroid hormone deficiency was shown by decreased numbers of neurons, inhibition of dendritic arborization, decreased numbers of dendritic spines and a reduced complexity of axonal plexuses. Thyroid deficiency delays cell migration during the first three weeks when compared to age-matched normal controls. The lack of thyroid hormone does not appear to influence the size of neuron somata, and the extent of related dendritic fields, nor does hypothyroidism affect a specific cell type population. Generalized disturbances of caudate nuclear morphological maturation are caused by the deficiency. An apparent compensatory process, including a spurt of neural growth and differentiation, takes place in the period between days 14 and 30 in the deficient animals and a seemingly "normal" caudate cytoarchitecture is seen after the third postnatal week. Quantitative data, however, show that this rapid "catch up" process is inadequate. The developmental imperfection of the caudate nucleus which persists might be a part of the underlying substrate for the mental retardation, disturbed motor performance and perceptual handicaps which are found in the human patient.
Vesicular monoamine transporter concentrations in bipolar disorder type I, schizophrenia, and healthy subjects

Abstract Background: Previous analyses of vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) binding in euthymic bipolar disorder type I (BDI) patients have shown increases of this presynaptic marker in the thalamus and ventral midbrain. To assess the diagnostic specificity of those findings, we compared VMAT2 concentrations between euthymic BDI patients, patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SCH), and age-matched healthy volunteers. Methods: Binding sites for VMAT2 were quantified with (+)-α-[ 11 C]DTBZ (dihydrotetrabenazine) and positron emission tomography. Fifteen euthymic BDI and 12 SCH patients and 15 group-matched healthy controls were studied. [ 11 C]DTBZ tracer transport and binding potentials were examined in the thalamus and ventral midbrain with factorial analyses of variance and post hoc Tukey's honestly significantly different tests. Results: Analysis of variance detected diagnosis effects in binding potentials in both brain regions. Binding of VMAT2 in the thalamus was higher in BDI patients than in control subjects and SCH patients. Conversely, ventral brainstem binding was nearly identical between BDI and SCH patients and were higher than in the control group. Conclusions: The patterns of regional VMAT2 expression, and by extension, the concentration of monoaminergic synaptic terminals, differ between BDI, SCH, and a control group. These findings may relate to both similarities and differences in the presentation or clinical course of these syndromes and require further examination.
Long-wavelength long-lifetime luminophores for cellular and tissue imaging

Fluorescence detection is the dominant technology for cellular imaging, clinical diagnostics, DNA analysis and drug discovery. In fluorescence microscopy, the fluorophores are subject to photobliching and detectability is limited by cellular autofluorescence. We describe new approach to develop fluorescent probes that display long emission wavelength, long decay times, and high quantum yield and high fluorescence brightness. These luminophores are covalently linked pairs of long-lifetime fluorophores (like metal-ligand complexes) and a short-fluorescence-lifetime and high quantum yield dyes. Using resonance energy transfer (RET) it is possible of obtaining desirable spectral properties and long fluorescence lifetime in covalently linked pairs. The long-lifetime donor results in a long-lived fluorescence component in the acceptor decay. Importantly the emission spectrum of the luminophore is that of the acceptor and quantum yield of the luminophore approaches that of the higher quantum yield acceptor. Such luminophores are suitable for fluorescence measurements in biological samples with the use of real time background suppression to eliminate autofluorescence. We discuss experimental examples based on long lived metal-ligand-complexes and long wavelength acceptors like Texas Red. The emission maxima (spectra) and decay time of such RET tandems can be readily adjusted by selection of the donor, acceptor and distance between them. Such luminophores with long-wavelength emission and adjustable long lifetime can have numerous applications in one-photon and multi-photon cellular and tissue imaging with the use of off-gating the excitation pulse and sample autofluorescence.
Electrochemical behavior of Ce(III) in LiF-BaF2 melts

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of Ce(III) was investigated in the molten LiF-BaF 2 (81 mol.%−19 mol.%) on a molybdenum electrode in the temperature range of 1098–1188 K using cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. It was observed that CeF 3 could be reduced into cerium metal in a reversible one-step process exchanging three electrons (Ce(III)+3e − →Ce(0)) at the operating temperatures on a molybdenum cathode. The electrochemical reduction process was controlled by the diffusion of Ce(III) in the solution. The Ce(III) diffusion coefficients were calculated at different temperatures and the values obeyed the Arrhenius law with an activation energy of 87.5 kJ/mol.
Erythropoietin activates the phosporylated cAMP [adenosine 3'5' cyclic monophosphate] response element-binding protein pathway and attenuates delayed paraplegia after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective Paraplegia remains a devastating complication of complex aortic surgery. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to prevent paraplegia after ischemia reperfusion, but the protective mechanism remains poorly described in the spinal cord. We hypothesized that EPO induces the CREB (cAMP [adenosine 3′5′ cyclic monophosphate] response element-binding protein) pathway and neurotrophin production in the murine spinal cord, attenuating functional and cellular injury. Methods Adult male mice were subjected to 4 minutes of spinal cord ischemia via an aortic and left subclavian cross-clamp. Experimental groups included EPO treatment 4 hours before incision (n = 7), ischemic control (n = 7), and shams (n = 4). Hind-limb function was assessed using the Basso motor score for 48 hours after reperfusion. Spinal cords were harvested and analyzed for neuronal viability using histology and staining with a fluorescein derivative. Expression of phosphorylated (p)AKT (a serine/threonine-specific kinase), pCREB, B-cell lymphoma 2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were determined using immunoblotting. Results By 36 hours of reperfusion, EPO significantly preserved hind-limb function after ischemia-reperfusion injury ( P P = .021) and pCREB ( P = .038). Treatment with EPO induced expression of both of the neurotrophins, B-cell lymphoma 2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, beginning at 12 hours. Conclusions Erythropoietin-mediated induction of the CREB pathway and production of neurotrophins is associated with improved neurologic function and increased neuronal viability following spinal cord ischemia reperfusion. Further elucidation of EPO-derived neuroprotection will allow for expansion of adjunct mechanisms for spinal cord protection in high-risk thoracoabdominal aortic intervention.
Short-term outcomes and long-term impact of a programme in medical education for medical students.

Objectives There is growing appreciation of the value of early preparation of future medical educators. Staff development programmes, conferences and workshops pertaining to the training of educators may be crucial to the pursuit of a school’s larger educational mission to educate students, doctors and scholars and to provide comprehensive knowledge, research, patient care and service. This study examined the efficacy of a 1-week educational intervention aimed at preparing medical students to become effective doctor educators by building skills early in their careers. The study asked whether participation in a 5-day teacher training programme led to increased knowledge of instructional methods, more favourable attitudes towards teaching, and the integration of structured instructional design methods in a student-developed teaching project. Methods A mixed methods research design was employed with quantitative data captured through pre- and post-test inventories, qualitative components captured through written comments, and a 2-year post-intervention survey. Quantitative analyses included pre-/post-intervention repeated measures with calculated effect sizes. Qualitative analysis was conducted using constant comparative methods. Results Subjects demonstrated improved content knowledge and more positive attitudes towards motivation, teaching confidence, teacher roles, varied pedagogy, and use of assessment, instructional planning, and evaluation. Subjects were able to incorporate the programme’s teaching theory and methods into their teaching projects and assessment of peers’ and others’ teaching in their own institutions 2 years post-training. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a well-designed programme for teacher preparation can be pedagogically effective for training medical students to become better educators and that this learning can be incorporated into long-term practice.
Phospholipid methylation: a biochemical signal modulating lymphocyte mitogenesis

Abstract Phospholipid methylation in murine T lymphocytes but not B cells was stimulated by mitogenic lectins such as concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin, and the methylation was then returned to the control level by the concomitant activation of phospholipase A2. A parallelism between dose-response curves of concanavalin A for phospholipid methylation and thymidine incorporation was found. Inhibition of either synthesis or degradation of methylated phospholipids resulted in a decrease in the thymidine incorporation. Although prostaglandins such as the E and F series were the main products of arachidonic acid released by phospholipase A2 activation, inhibition of synthesis of these compounds by indomethacin did not reduce the thymidine incorporation significantly. These results suggest that the mitogenesis of murine T lymphocytes is triggered by the activation of both phospholipid methyltransferase(s) and phospholipase A2.
The computer micro-world, knowledge and social planning

Practitioners must begin to recognize that technology encompasses far more than machinery. In fact, computers do not operate on the basis of technical knowledge alone, but rather specific philosophical tenets must be accepted before data processing is possible. Simply put, computers function according to the principles associated with a unique approach to conceptualizing knowledge, sometimes called a "world-view." This world-view, moreover, shapes how behavior is classified and services are delivered. In this paper, the importance of the computer world-view for planning social services is outlined.
PEMFC cathode catalyst contamination evaluation with a RRDE-Acetonitrile

Abstract The effect of C 2 H 2 on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for a commercial Pt/C catalyst was investigated using rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) technique in acidic solution. This study was undertaken to provide insight into the mechanism of C 2 H 2 contamination of the cathodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The cyclic voltammetry results show a high C 2 H 2 coverage on the Pt surface and an almost complete loss of the electrochemical surface area in the presence of 0.14 mM C 2 H 2 . The RRDE was used to measure the ORR polarization curves and H 2 O 2 production in air. The introduction of C 2 H 2 shifts the ORR onset potential in the negative direction by 330 mV, and no limiting current can be observed in the potential scan window. The significant retardation of the ORR is associated with the complete loss of the ECSA, as the adsorption of C 2 H 2 on the Pt sites results in the inhibition of both H UPD and O 2 adsorption. Furthermore, it is proposed that C 2 H 2 adsorption also has an impact on the adsorption configuration of O 2 molecules; the Pauling configuration prevails due to the spatial limitations imposed by the presence of adsorbed C 2 H 2 on Pt. As a result, both the ring-disk and Koutecky-Levich measurements show a shift in the reaction pathway from a 4- to a 2-electron reduction: the H 2 O 2 production increases and the charge transfer number decreases. The ORR rate determining step is observed to be shifted from the first electron transfer to other possible steps. This change is confirmed by the Tafel slope measurement, which increases significantly and is most likely due to the changes in the adsorption energy of O 2 . Nearly complete recovery of the performance is attainable by stopping the C 2 H 2 exposure. The unrecovered performance is attributed to the remaining surface adsorbates.
The effect of noncontingent sensory reinforcement, contingent sensory reinforcement, and response interruption on stereotypical and self-injurious behavior

Three analyses were conducted to assess the effects of different consequent stimuli on the rate of stereotypical and self-injurious behavior performed by two individuals with severe developmental disabilities and dual sensory impairments. An analogue functional analysis documented an undifferentiated pattern of problem behavior across all conditions for Participant 1. Data for Participant 2 indicated an undifferentiated pattern with lower frequencies in the demand condition. Stimuli chosen to compete with the type of sensory stimulation produced by the stereotypy and self-injurious behavior were presented noncontingently during play conditions. Noncontingent presentation of the specially selected stimuli resulted in reductions in stereotypy and self-injurious behavior. Finally, contingent presentation of the same stimuli with and without response interruption was assessed in a demand context. Contingent presentation of the specially selected stimuli plus response interruption resulted in more suppression than contingent sensory stimulus presentation alone. Results are discussed as to competing and concurrent schedules of reinforcement.
The effects of migration on the establishment of networks: caste disintegration and reformation among the Indians of Fiji.

This study examined the effects of type of migration on reformation of caste groups among the Indians of Fiji during 1880-1930. The Indians of Fiji had 5 distinct subcommunities and 3 types of migration context. Data were obtained from interviews among 50 people from suburban rural and urban areas of Vitu Levu island during 1989-90; participant observations during several short-term visits; and historic ethnographic archival research. This article begins with a review of the caste system and migration context followed by theorizing. It then describes the histories of the Fiji Indian groups with specific examples of how migrants reasons prevented or enabled them to establish subcaste groups in Fiji. The focus is on caste-free descendants of indentured workers that arrived in Fiji during 1879-1916 and caste-based descendants of non-labor migrants from Gujarat during 1900-30. It is concluded that the migration histories of indentured workers were very different from the free Gujarati immigrant experiences. The Gujarati community was able to form and maintain family and caste-based migration chains within their migration streams in Fiji. Indentured workers were prevented from reformation of caste groups overseas. The ability to establish and maintain migration chains determines the level of caste-related behavior overseas. The Punjabi community on Fiji was different from the previous 2 subcommunities because of their recruitment as labor from different districts and social groups which resulted in greater assimilation in the host society. Migration context directly affects the level of cultural reformation in the host society.
Pulse-timing observations of Hercules X-1

Results are presented from pulse-timing analysis of Hercules X-1, based on satellite observations spanning 7 years. The binary orbital elements are redetermined and the near circularity of the orbit is confirmed with a new 2 sigma upper limit of 0.0003 on the eccentricity. We also report a much improved value of 1.70016779d + or - 0.00000001d for the orbital period, with a 2 sigma upper limit on its rate of change. Observations of transitions into and out of eclipse are used to determine an eclipse half-angle of 24.56 deg + or - 0.03 deg, somewhat smaller than previously reported values. The secular trend toward shorter pulse periods is found to be continuing.
Nucleation, adatom capture, and island size distributions: Unified scaling analysis for submonolayer deposition

We consider the irreversible nucleation and growth of two-dimensional islands during submonolayer deposition in the regime of large island sizes. A quasihydrodynamic analysis of rate equations for island densities yields an ordinary differential equation (ODE) for the scaling function describing the island size distribution. This ODE involves the scaling function for the dependence on island size of {open_quotes}capture numbers{close_quotes} describing the aggregation of diffusing adatoms. The latter is determined via a quasihydrodynamic analysis of rate equations for the areas of {open_quotes}capture zones{close_quotes} surrounding islands. Alternatively, a more complicated analysis yields a partial differential equation (PDE) for the scaling function describing the joint probability distribution for island sizes and capture zone areas. Then, applying a moment analysis to this PDE, we obtain refined versions of the above ODE{close_quote}s, together with a third equation for the variance of the cell area distribution (for islands of a given size). The key nontrivial input to the above equations is a detailed characterization of nucleation. We analyze these equations for a general formulation of nucleation, as well as for an idealized picture considered previously, wherein nucleated islands have capture zones lying completely within those of existing islands.
caTIES: a grid based system for coding and retrieval of surgical pathology reports and tissue specimens in support of translational research

The authors report on the development of the Cancer Tissue Information Extraction System (caTIES)dan application that supports collaborative tissue banking and text mining by leveraging existing natural language processing methods and algorithms, grid communication and security frameworks, and query visualization methods. The system fills an important need for textderived clinical data in translational research such as tissue-banking and clinical trials. The design of caTIES addresses three critical issues for informatics support of translational research: (1) federation of research data sources derived from clinical systems; (2) expressive graphical interfaces for concept-based text mining; and (3) regulatory and security model for supporting multicenter collaborative research. Implementation of the system at several Cancer Centers across the country is creating a potential network of caTIES repositories that could provide millions of de-identified clinical reports to users. The system provides an end-to-end application of medical natural language processing to support multiinstitutional translational research programs.
Assessing Student Performance and Perceptions in Lecture Capture vs. Face-to-Face Course Delivery

Public universities are currently facing a challenge in determining how to deliver quality instruction in the face of severe fiscal constraints. With recent technological advances, courses streamed over the Internet (i.e., lecture capture) are now becoming common. However, little research has been published that specifically examines student performance or perceptions of lecture capture courses.
Revisiting Recurrent Neural Networks for robust ASR

In this paper, we show how new training principles and optimization techniques for neural networks can be used for different network structures. In particular, we revisit the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), which explicitly models the Markovian dynamics of a set of observations through a non-linear function with a much larger hidden state space than traditional sequence models such as an HMM. We apply pretraining principles used for Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) and second-order optimization techniques to train an RNN. Moreover, we explore its application in the Aurora2 speech recognition task under mismatched noise conditions using a Tandem approach. We observe top performance on clean speech, and under high noise conditions, compared to multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) and DNNs, with the added benefit of being a “deeper” model than an MLP but more compact than a DNN.
Short-day treatment alters Douglas-fir seedling dehardening and transplant root proliferation at varying rhizosphere temperatures

We tested effects of shortened day length during nursery culture on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedling development at dormancy release. Seedlings from a 428N source were grown either under ambient photoperiods (long-day (LD)) or with a 28 day period of 9 h light: 15 h dark photoperiods (short-day (SD)). Seedlings were periodically removed from freezer storage from January to May. Sensitivity of plant tissues to cold temperatures was investigated via electrolyte leakage at nine test temperatures ranging from 2 to -40 8C. New root growth was assessed with rhizosphere temperatures of 10, 15, 20, and 25 8C. From 2 to -13 8C, there was no difference between treatments in cold hardiness. However, at or below -18 8C, LD seedlings exhibited higher indices of damage than SD seedlings. The LT50 (temperature at which 50% cell electrolyte leakage occurred) was consistently lower for SD than LD seedlings. Rhizosphere temperature differentially influenced new root proliferation: LD seedlings had greater new root pro- duction than SD seedlings at 20 8C, whereas the opposite response was detected at 10 8C. Our results confirm photoperiod sensitivity of Douglas-fir sources from relatively low (i.e., <458N) latitudes. Increased spring cold hardiness and greater rooting at lower rhizosphere temperatures may improve field performance potential of SD-treated seedlings.
Constant soft tissue distance model in pregnancy

To evaluate the effects of the standoff, the same plane was imaged in several patients with a linear array and with the sector scanner, with and without a standoff. Total thicknesses measured with the standoff and the linear array agreed within + 1 mm, while direct contact sector scanning depressed the thickness of overlying tissues by an average of 3.5 mm more than the other two methods. Attenuation coefficients used to calculate attenuation in the various tissue layers were the same as those employed by the NCRP (1983) and Carson (1988) except that skin is added separately here. In dBcm-IMHz -2, they were: skin - 1.5; subcutaneous fat - 0.46; abdominal (skeletal) muscle 0.51; preperitoneal fascia - 0.51; myometrium (smooth muscle) - 0.29. Fig. 1 shows individual measurements of thickness of overlying tissue layers and total overlying tissue thicknesses as a function of maternal weight. Linear regressions are shown as the solid lines. The one case at 97 kg was not included in the linear regressions, because the data suggested that different anatomical relations may exist in this obese case.
Positive sample only learning (PSOL) for predicting RNA genes in E. coli

RNA genes lack most of the signals used for protein gene identification. A major shortcoming of previous discriminative methods to distinguish functional RNA (fRNA) genes from other non-coding genomic sequences is that only positive examples of fRNAs are known; there are no confirmed negatives - only intergenic sequences that may be positive or negative. To address this problem we developed the "positive sample only learning" (PSOL) method. This method can identify the most likely negative examples from an unlabeled set and is therefore able to distinguish putative functional RNA genes from other non-coding sequence. We compare RNA gene predictions using the PSOL method with previous large-scale analyses of the E. coli K12 genome.
Effect of maternal pinealectomy and reverse photoperiod on the circadian melatonin rhythm in the sheep and fetus during the last trimester of pregnancy.

The present study tested the hypothesis that the nocturnal melatonin rhythm in the fetal sheep results from transfer across the placenta of melatonin from maternal circulation. Pregnant ewes were exposed to an artificial reverse photoperiod at about 100 days gestation (n = 6; lights on 10 h, 2200-0800 h PST). This treatment tested for entrainment in the ewe and its fetus of the 24-h pattern of melatonin production from the pineal gland. Other ewes were pinealectomized at 55 days post-breeding (n = 6), and similarly treated. Catheters were implanted and blood samples were collected between 117 and 142 days gestation at two 48-h periods, about every 0.5-4 h, to assess the pattern of melatonin in maternal and fetal circulations. In pineal-intact ewes and their fetuses, melatonin rhythms conformed to the reverse photoperiod, i.e. plasma melatonin concentrations were relatively low during the light period and significantly increased for the duration of darkness. In contrast, maternal pinealectomy abolished the melatonin rhythms in both the ewe and fetus; melatonin concentrations remained at or below the limits of detection. Pineal-intact sheep gave birth about 139 +/- 2 days (mean +/- SE, n = 4) at 1915 +/- 0.7 h and pinealectomized ewes (n = 5 of 6) lambed at 149 +/- 2 days at 0424 +/- 0.5 h. Finally, in lambs (n = 3) born to pinealectomized ewes, typical melatonin rhythms were present within the first week of life. The findings indicate that the maternal pineal gland is responsible for the 24-h pattern of melatonin in the ewe and its fetus during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Optimizing triangle strips for fast rendering

Almost all scientific visualization involving surfaces is currently done via triangles. The speed at which such triangulated surfaces can be displayed is crucial to interactive visualization and is bounded by the rate at which triangulated data can be sent to the graphics subsystem for rendering. Partitioning polygonal models into triangle strips can significantly reduce rendering times over transmitting each triangle individually. We present new and efficient algorithms for constructing triangle strips from partially triangulated models, and experimental results showing these strips are on average 15% better than those from previous codes. Further, we study the impact of larger buffer sizes and various queuing disciplines on the effectiveness of triangle strips.
Workers, worries and welfare states: Social protection and job insecurity in 15 OECD countries

This article examines a model of the domestic political economy of subjective employment insecurity in advanced industrial societies. Based on data on people's attitudes toward their job as well as levels of and kinds of social protection collected in 15 OECD countries, it shows that there are distinct manifestations of job insecurity that are affected differently by distinct aspects of social protection programs. While the analysis shows that social protection measures reduce employment insecurity, it also reveals that overall levels welfare state generosity do not have any systematic effect on whether workers feel secure. The article's findings suggest the need to decompose the different components of employ- ment insecurity as well as disaggregate national systems of social protection when examining the impact of welfare states on job insecurity.
Stress and Adaptation Among Male and Female Single Parents

The reconciliation of work and family demands places unusual stress on many single-parent families. Using a 1995 random sample of single fathers (n = 346) and single mothers (n = 364) in military communities, we explored the relationship between gender and the ability of parents to manage work and family responsibilities. Using ANOVA and discriminant function analyses, we found no gender differences in the proportion of single parents who perceived they were successful at managing family and work responsibilities. However, there were significant gender differences in how men and women use supportive, financial, and organizational resources and how each parent adapts to the inherent demands of competing work and family roles.
Regulation of Soybean Nodulation Independent of Ethylene Signaling

Leguminous plants regulate the number of Bradyrhizobium- or Rhizobium-infected sites that develop into nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Ethylene has been implicated in the regulation of nodule formation in some species, but this role has remained in question for soybean (Glycine max). The present study used soybean mutants with decreased responsiveness to ethylene, soybean mutants with defective regulation of nodule number, and Ag+ inhibition of ethylene perception to examine the role of ethylene in the regulation of nodule number. Nodule numbers on ethylene-insensitive mutants and plants treated with Ag+ were similar to those on wild-type plants and untreated plants, respectively. Hypernodulating mutants displayed wild-type ethylene sensitivity. Suppression of nodule numbers by high nitrate was also similar between ethylene-insensitive plants, wild-type plants, and plants treated with Ag+. Ethylene insensitivity of the roots of etr1-1 mutants was confirmed using assays for sensitivity to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and for ethylene-stimulated root-hair formation. Additional phenotypes of etr1-1 roots were also characterized. Ethylene-dependent pathways regulate the number of nodules that form on species such as pea and Medicago truncatula, but our data indicate that ethylene is less significant in regulating the number of nodules that form on soybean.
Sustained depression of the resting metabolic rate after massive weight loss

To assess potential long-term effects of weight loss on resting metabolic rate (RMR), the RMRs of seven obese women were measured by indirect calorimetry before weight loss, during a protein-sparing modified fast, and for 2 mo while at a stable reduced weight. Body composition was also determined at each interval. RMR significantly decreased 22% (p less than 0.01) with initiation of the modified fast. RMR values during the modified fast and during the maintenance diet at stable reduced weight were not different and all were significantly lower than the prediet RMR. Loss of lean tissue could not account for the decrease because changes in RMR per fat-free mass paralleled the total RMR reduction. A sustained decrement in RMR accompanied weight loss and persisted for greater than or equal to 8 wk despite increased caloric consumption and body weight stabilization.
On the Iwasawa decomposition of a symplectic matrix

We consider the computation of the Iwasawa decomposition of a symplectic matrix via the QR factorization. The algorithms presented improve on the method recently described by T.-Y. Tam in [Computing Iwasawa decomposition of a symplectic matrix by Cholesky factorization, Appl. Math. Lett. (in press) doi:10.1016/j.aml.2006.03.001].
Structural-Acoustic Analysis of Automobile Passenger Compartment

Besides the performances of handling, stability, ride comfort, power and fuel economy, the sound pressure levels in the automobile passenger compartments heavily influence the customer’s purchasing decision. The interior acoustics of automobile passenger compartment was analyzed in this paper. The frequency response analysis was performed on the vehicle body due to road roughness. The frequency response of vehicle body’s output spectrum, nodes’ velocity is used as the boundary condition of the acoustic cavity. With boundary element method and acoustic transfer vector method, the panel acoustic contribution was analyzed. By modifying the stiffness, damping or mass of the corresponding panel, the acoustic pressure levels at the driver’s and passenger’s ear were decreased.
SOI substrate removal for SEE characterization: Techniques and applications

Techniques for removing the back substrate of SOI devices are described for both packaged devices and devices at the die level. The use of these techniques for microbeam, heavy-ion, and laser testing are illustrated.
Distribution of Bacteria Detected from Blood Culture of Pediatric Patients and Analyses of Antibiotic Resistance

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in blood culture of pediatric patients and observe the antibiotic resistance of these bacteria in order to provide the reference for clinical antimicrobial agents usage. METHODS The blood samples of pediatric patients were cultured with blood culture apparatus. Siemens Autoscan 4 was used to identify the bacteria and conduct the drug resistance test. RESULTS From the 2286 blood samples received,we identified 197 strains of pathogens in which Gram-positive cocci accounted for 71.1% and Gram-negative bacilli for 28.9%.Niether strains of Gram-postive bacteria were found resistant to vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS Gram-postive bacteria are the main pathogens detected from the blood culture of pediatric patients. Multiresistant strains are common.We should recognize drug sensitive test results and the indication of antibiotics application to reduce the occurrence of bacterial resistance.
Composting and Formation of Humic Substances

Composting and the formation of humic substances are highly studied but also highly variable and surprisingly poorly understood processes. Compared to the general biological breakdown of organic matter, of which composting is a part, composting is generally thought of as a controlled, aerobic, and highly energetic process that rapidly degrades biologically utilizable organic matter and turns it into relatively stable organic material similar to soil humus. Composting results in the stabilization of organic matter, including destruction of many plant and animal pathogens, concentration of most nutrients, micronutrients, and metals, and some additional changes in their chemical forms. Nutrients can be made either more or less plant-available by the process of composting. Composting is currently important as a way of avoiding the high ecological and financial cost of landfilling some types of organic wastes, and compost products supply an increasing amount of organic soil builders for the horticultural and landscaping industries. Though they contain all necessary plant nutrients in some concentration, most composts are not generally considered as a fertilizer for nutrient-poor soil unless additional nutrients are added in a more plant-available form. The main widely demonstrated positive impacts of compost amendment to soil include improving soil tilth, water-holding capacity, structure, and disease suppression.
Amber: decoupling user data from web applications

User-generated content is becoming increasingly common on the Web, but current web applications isolate their users' data, enabling only restricted sharing and cross-service integration. We believe users should be able to share their data seamlessly between their applications and with other users. To that end, we propose Amber, an architecture that decouples users' data from applications, while providing applications with powerful global queries to find user data. We demonstrate how multi-user applications, such as e-mail, can use these global queries to efficiently collect and monitor relevant data created by other users. Amber puts users in control of which applications they use with their data and with whom it is shared, and enables a new class of applications by removing the artificial partitioning of users' data by application.
Cross Talk Inhibition Nullified by a Receiver Domain Missense Substitution.

ABSTRACT In two-component signal transduction, a sensor protein transmitter module controls cognate receiver domain phosphorylation. Most receiver domain sequences contain a small residue (Gly or Ala) at position T + 1 just distal to the essential Thr or Ser residue that forms part of the active site. However, some members of the NarL receiver subfamily have a large hydrophobic residue at position T + 1. Our laboratory previously isolated a NarL mutant in which the T + 1 residue Val-88 was replaced with an orthodox small Ala. This NarL V88A mutant confers a striking phenotype in which high-level target operon expression is both signal (nitrate) and sensor (NarX and NarQ) independent. This suggests that the NarL V88A protein is phosphorylated by cross talk from noncognate sources. Although cross talk was enhanced in ackA null strains that accumulate acetyl phosphate, it persisted in pta ackA double null strains that cannot synthesize this compound and was observed also in narL + strains. This indicates that acetate metabolism has complex roles in mediating NarL cross talk. Contrariwise, cross talk was sharply diminished in an arcB barA double null strain, suggesting that the encoded sensors contribute substantially to NarL V88A cross talk. Separately, the V88A substitution altered the in vitro rates of NarL autodephosphorylation and transmitter-stimulated dephosphorylation and decreased affinity for the cognate sensor, NarX. Together, these experiments show that the residue at position T + 1 can strongly influence two distinct aspects of receiver domain function, the autodephosphorylation rate and cross talk inhibition. IMPORTANCE Many bacterial species contain a dozen or more discrete sensor-response regulator two-component systems that convert a specific input into a distinct output pattern. Cross talk, the unwanted transfer of signals between circuits, occurs when a response regulator is phosphorylated inappropriately from a noncognate source. Cross talk is inhibited in part by the high interaction specificity between cognate sensor-response regulator pairs. This study shows that a relatively subtle missense change from Val to Ala nullifies cross talk inhibition, enabling at least two noncognate sensors to enforce an inappropriate output independently of the relevant input.
Parenting, Socioeconomic Status Risk, and Later Young Adult Health: Exploration of Opposing Indirect Effects via DNA Methylation

A sample of 398 African American youth, residing in rural counties with high poverty and unemployment, were followed from ages 11 to 19. Protective parenting was associated with better health, whereas elevated socioeconomic status (SES) risk was associated with poorer health at age 19. Genome-wide epigenetic variation assessed in young adulthood (age 19), was associated with both SES risk and protective parenting. Three categories of genes were identified whose methylation was associated with parenting, SES risk, and young adult health. Methylation was a significant mediator of the impact of parenting and SES risk on young adult health. Variation in mononuclear white blood cell types was also examined and controlled, showing that it did not account for observed effects of parenting and SES risk on health.
Labor and Employment Law Issues in the Daimler-Chrysler Merger

This chapter, which is part of a book exploring various issues that can arise in multinational corporate deals, explores the labor issues implicated in the Daimler-Chrysler merger. The potential combination of two major firms raises a host of labor and employment issues, especially when those companies are located in countries with very different legal regimes. These issues become especially acute when multiple unions, with different approaches to labor relations, represent workers. The role that unions play in the workplace can often force companies to take extra steps and consider alternate strategies, in both the pre- and post-merger time periods. Even when there are no unions on the scene, legal protections for individual employees require companies to tread very carefully when considering how to restructure their operations and workforces. Further complicating these issues are the substantial differences that can exist between countries’ approach to labor and employment regulation. The Daimler-Chrysler merger is an apt example of this issue because the United States’ and Germany’s approaches to labor relations, and to a lesser extent other employment laws, are near-polar opposites of each other. These types of differences can make an international merger quite complex and require employers, employees, and unions involved in such a transaction to be mindful of the many potential legal pitfalls that accompany a merger and its aftermath.
Comments on “Opportunity cost: A reexamination”: A case in point of no free lunch

As anyone reading this symposium knows very well by now, Ferraro and Taylor (2005) and Potter and Sanders (2012) have sparked a debate about the definition of opportunity cost (OC). This is, of cou...
Numerical Simulation of Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Nanofluids

The goal of this paper is to model the behavior of the nanofluids so that their performance can be evaluated analytically and computationally. We consider analytical models that describe molecular viscosity ∝, thermal conductivity k, density �, specific heat c p and th e coefficient of thermal expansionfor a nanofluid in terms of volume fractionof nanoparticles, size of the nanoparticles (e.g radius of the nanoparticle, rp), size of the base fluid molecule (e.g. radius of the liquid molecule, rf ) and the temperatu re T. In order to validate these analytical models, we study numerically the natural convection heat transfer in a closed pipe using the commercially available CFD software FLUENT 6.0, since the experimental data is available for this configuration. In par ticular, we study the natural convection flow field in two configurations of L/D=0.5 and L/D=1.0, where L is the length of the pipe and D is the diameter. For nanofluids, we consider the suspensions of Al 2O3 and CuO particles in water. Three cases with vol ume fraction � = 0, 1% and 4% for both Al 2O3 and CuO are considered. It is assumed that the nanoparticles of Al 2O3 or CuO are uniformly suspended in water; there is no aggregation of nanoparticles in the fluid medium. It is shown that the use of experiment ally measured values of k, or the kinetic model of k, gives better correlation with experimental data for heat transfer compared to the Maxwell model of k. Nomenclature
A META–ANALYSIS OF MORTALITY AND MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS FOLLOWING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE IMPLANTATION VERSUS SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT FOR SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS

The purpose of this meta–analysis is to compare the post–procedural outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for severe aortic stenosis. Seventeen studies (n=4710) comparing TAVI (n=2288) and SAVR (n=2422) were included. End points
Optimizing vitamin D naming conventions in computerized order entry to support high-value care.

Objective To reduce wasteful ordering of rare 1,25-OH vitamin D lab tests through use of a noninterruptive decision support tool. Materials and Methods We conducted a time series quality improvement study at 2 academic hospitals. The titles of vitamin D tests and the order in which they appeared in search results were changed to reflect the purpose and rarity of the tests. We used interruptive time series analyses to evaluate the changes we made. Results The estimated number of monthly tests ordered at the 2 hospitals increased, by 24.8 and 14.2, following the introduction of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) (both P < .001). When we changed the titles of the tests, the estimated number of monthly tests decreased at the 2 hospitals, by 22.1 and 11.3 (both P < .001). The search order did not affect test utilization. Discussion Changing catalog names in CPOE systems for infrequently used tests can reduce unintentional overuse. Users may prefer this to interruptive or restrictive interventions. Conclusion CPOE vendors and users should refine interfaces by incorporating human factors engineering. Health care institutions should monitor test utilization for unintended changes after CPOE implementation.
Towards Note-Level Prediction for Networked Music Performance.

The Internet allows musicians and other artists to collaborate remotely. However, network latency presents a fundamental challenge for remote collaborators who need to coordinate and respond to each other’s performance in real time. In this paper, we investigate the viability of predicting percussion hits before they have occurred, so that information about the predicted drum hit can be sent over a network, and the sound can be synthesized at a receiver’s location at approximately the same moment the hit occurs at the sender’s location. Such a system would allow two percussionists to play in perfect synchrony despite the delays caused by computer networks. To investigate the feasibility of such an approach, we record vibraphone mallet strikes with a high-speed camera and track the mallet head position. We show that 30 ms before the strike occurs, it is possible to predict strike time and velocity with acceptable accuracy. Our method fits a second-order polynomial to the data to produce a strike-time prediction that is within 10 ms of the actual strike, and a velocity estimate that will enable the sound pressure level of the synthesized strike to be accurate within 3 dB.
Dietary advice to lower cardiovascular risk.

Dietary advice to lower fat and salt intake and increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and fiber produces modest improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. More intensive counseling yields greater effects.