cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hybrid dislocation dynamics based strain hardening constitutive model

Abstract In this article, a Hybrid strain-hardening Model for slip driven plasticity is introduced. The model distinguishes between the contributions of glissile and stored dislocations, and polar and non-polar dislocations. The core idea relies on a two step-approach in which all glissile non-polar dislocations on given slip systems are represented by a virtual dislocation loop which evolution is modeled by a dislocation dynamics approach, while transformations of dislocations from glissile to stored, resulting from short-range dislocation–dislocation interactions, are based on phenomenological relations informed by dislocation dynamics simulations on dislocation pair interactions. The constitutive model developed should then allow for a reduction in fitting parameters and should be suitable to predict complex loading. Besides, the Hybrid Model is able to predict dislocation densities for all kinds of populations, including junctions. As a first application, the resulting Hybrid continuum/discrete dislocation density Model is utilized for predicting the stress–strain response of single crystal aluminum as a function of its orientation, slip activity, and junction formation.
Temporal response of photorefractive two-beam coupling to slowly oscillating signals

An important question relevant to any technology, which utilizes the photorefractive effect concerns the response time of the photorefractive medium. For example, it is well- established that barium titanate is very slow to respond to any changes to the pump or signal beam (on the order of 0.1 - 10 a), whereas bismuth silicon oxide (BSO) is faster (on the order of ms), and gallium arsenide (GaAs) is even faster (on the order of microsecond(s) or less). Thus, any technology in which fast response is desirable would preferably utilize GaAs. On the other hand, barium titanate has demonstrated usefulness for use in such technologies as the novelty filter, in which a slow response is preferable. It is, therefore, important that the temporal response of photorefractive materials in a two-beam coupling geometry be analyzed. We have investigated the temporal response of barium titanate to sinusoidal signals, and have characterized that response as a function of oscillation frequency.
Exploring rural community agency differences in Ireland and Pennsylvania

Abstract The role of community agency in the rural community and economic development processes needs to be better understood in America and other advanced, industrialized nations. Community agency is vital to protecting, retaining, and maintaining rural communities. A comparative study was designed to explore the role of community agency in contributing to local well-being in Ireland and America. This role was evaluated through the use of a multiple method framework based on extensive key informant interviews, focus groups, and analysis of household survey data. Overall, the findings indicate social interaction was the most important explanation of community agency, followed by community attachment, social ties/networks, and sociodemographics. Important differences were noted between Irish and Pennsylvania respondents. In both nations, regression models indicated social interaction was the most important factor associated with community agency. Applied policy implications of these findings are advanced.
User Oriented Climatic Information for Planning a Snow Removal Budget

Abstract Many activities associated with the transportation sector are weather sensitive. This study is concerned with highway maintenance activities, specifically snow removal, and the budgeting of same by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). During the 1978–79 winter, IDOT's snow removal budget was exhausted by the end of January, thereby necessitating the procurement of emergency funds. The following year, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) was asked to provide specialized climatic design information that could be used to assist IDOT in its budget planning for snow removal. Snow removal is often accomplished by spreading road salt over snow- and ice-covered roads, thus improving traction and reducing the risk of vehicles skidding along slippery surfaces. This study demonstrates the computation of “salt days,” a user-oriented climatic variable that indicates the number of days when road salt is required. This variable is defined using certain temperature and snowfall criteria. Results o...
Continuous Connectivity, Handheld Computers, and Mobile Spatial Knowledge

As geospatial information seemingly moves from users' personal computers to ‘the cloud’, the use of the phrase ‘geographic technologies’ has increasingly indicated things beyond desktop GIS. With these shifts in the distribution of geospatial data and practices, and the rise of the geoweb as a site of inquiry, new concepts are needed to better understand the conditions of geographic technologies. In this paper I conceptualize one such element of interactivity: Connection. Here, I argue that a logic of continuous connectivity underlies the development of digital spatial media and influences the contemporary production of spatial knowledge. For those lives lived that are presumed to be ‘always connected’, interactions are figured by these connections to digital media. Many of these digital devices (especially mobile ones) become functional only through a series of connections to data and communication networks. For instance, mobile phones are in continuous communication regardless of direct use, ‘listening’...
Cardiovascular Response Measures With Simple Integrated Circuit Amplifiers

Physiological amplifier-recorders often are bulky and difficult to interface with the programming equipment used in cardiovascular conditioning studies. Two amplifiers are described which are small, easily constructed, portable, and interface easily with programming equipment. The amplifiers are constructed from integrated circuit operational amplifiers. A filter is also described which removes 60 Hz interference and attenuates movement artifacts and respiration fluctuations in the output signals of the amplifiers. Two amplifier circuits are described, one for electrocardiogram signals and one for photoplethysmogram signals. Used separately or in combination, these amplifiers can be employed to investigate the conditioning (or functioning) of beat-to-beat heart rate, blood pressure, or particular components or frequencies of the electrocardiogram and photoplethysmogram waves.
Sensitivities of eupnea and gasping to alterations in temperature of in vivo and perfused rat preparations.

Abstract Severe hypoxia or ischemia causes an alteration from eupnea to gasping. At body temperatures approximating 37°C in vivo, the frequency of gasping is much less than that of eupnea. However in a perfused juvenile rat preparation, which is maintained at 30–31°C, the frequency of eupnea and gasping is the same. We hypothesized that brainstem mechanisms responsible for the neurogenesis of eupnea and gasping might have different sensitivities to alterations in temperature. In both decerebrate adult rats in vivo and in a perfused juvenile rat preparation, eupnea and gasping had different frequencies at rectal or perfusate temperatures in excess of 34°C, whereas, at lower temperatures, eupnea and gasping had identical frequencies in both preparations. These findings support the conclusion that different brainstem mechanisms underlie the neurogenesis of eupnea and gasping. In addition, these findings have implications for interpretation of results from in vitro mammalian preparations, which are examined at temperatures at which the frequency of eupnea and gasping are indistinguishable.
Cell biology: A fable of too much too fast.

A bacterium and a fungus both use gene sequences that fail to optimize the production of circadian-clock proteins. Two studies reveal different reasons for the advantages of producing less protein.
When Are All Functions from a Groupoid into Itself Endomorphisms or Translations

This paper classifies all groupoids that have the property that every map from the groupoid to itself is either an endomorphism or a multiplication map.
Self-deadlocks in disparate scientific data management systems

In large statistical and scientific data management environments, where mediation architectures are used to integrate disparate and autonomous systems, a new problem - self-deadlock - may cause global transaction failures. In this short paper we briefly examine the reasons causing this problem and identify some algorithms for resolving it.
Analysis of inter-bundle crosstalk in multimode signaling for high-density interconnects

While the increasing demand for smaller packages and low-cost platforms aggressively drives the interconnect density per unit area, crosstalk noise due to capacitive and inductive coupling limits the achievable interconnect density. As an alternative, we investigate multimode signaling where n signals are transmitted by exciting all fundamental modes on a group of n closely coupled lines called a bundle. Even though crosstalk is ideally zero in a single bundle, practical implementation of this idea for a typical input/output (IO) bus requires multiple closely-placed bundles. Thus, inter-bundle crosstalk may be an issue. In this paper, we analyze the inter-bundle crosstalk starting with the analytical expressions for the modal conversion from one bundle to another. Frequency domain simulations for both frequency-dependent and frequency-independent terminations are performed to compare performance vs. density benefits of multi-bundle multi-mode interconnects to those provided by conventional single-ended and differential signaling.
Resistance to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (Hem., Aleyrodidae), in Gossypium thurberi, a wild cotton species

Gossypium thurberi Todaro is a wild cotton species native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern USA. Four years of field studies in California's Imperial Valley revealed consistent very high levels of resistance in G. thurberi against silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, an important pest of cotton in many regions of the world. Naturally developing field infestations in plots of G. thurberi were significantly lower than in plots of the commercial cotton cultivars DP 5415, Siokra L23, and Stoneville 474. Gossypium thurberi has two morphological traits that, in past research, have been associated with lower levels of whitefly susceptibility: smooth- and okra-leaf; however, the levels of resistance observed in G. thurberi were significantly greater than in the cotton cultivar DP 5415, which is a smooth-leaf cotton, and Siokra L23 which, like G. thurberi, has both smooth- and okra-leaf traits. Therefore, the high level of resistance in G. thurberi seems to be due to factors above and beyond smooth- and okra-leaf. Siokra L23, which is among the least whitefly-susceptible cotton cultivars, developed whitefly populations over 30 times those on G. thurberi in all 3 years that Siokra L23 was tested. The difference in whitefly population development between G. thurberi and the other two cotton cultivars was even more striking, up to a 475-fold difference. In contrast to the clear results on naturally developing field infestations, experiments comparing nymphal survival among G. thurberi and commercial cotton cultivars did not detect antibiosis, and both choice and no-choice oviposition experiments did not detect antixenosis. Thus, the mechanisms of resistance in G. thurberi remain unknown.
Domestic Politics and China's Health Aid to Africa

This study explores the role of domestic politics in China’s health-related development assistance to Africa. It identifies domestic politics as a constant, even critical, component in shaping and structuring China’s health aid to Africa. Until the late 1970s, foreign policy considerations determined the volume, direction and terms of China’s foreign aid, but since the 1980s domestic political economy has dominated China’s health aid policy process. China today utilises development assistance for health not only to expand its global influence and improve its international image, but also to serve the market and resource needs of its domestic economic development. An examination of existing policy-making and implementation regimes in health aid highlights the role of bureaucratic politics and other political-institutional variables in affecting the form, substance and effectiveness of foreign aid to Africa. The findings have important implications in China’s willingness and capacity to cooperate with the global donor community in Africa.
Optimal throughput-delay scaling in wireless networks: part I: the fluid model

Gupta and Kumar (2000) introduced a random model to study throughput scaling in a wireless network with static nodes, and showed that the throughput per source-destination pair is Theta(1/radic(nlogn)). Grossglauser and Tse (2001) showed that when nodes are mobile it is possible to have a constant throughput scaling per source-destination pair. In most applications, delay is also a key metric of network performance. It is expected that high throughput is achieved at the cost of high delay and that one can be improved at the cost of the other. The focus of this paper is on studying this tradeoff for wireless networks in a general framework. Optimal throughput-delay scaling laws for static and mobile wireless networks are established. For static networks, it is shown that the optimal throughput-delay tradeoff is given by D(n)=Theta(nT(n)), where T(n) and D(n) are the throughput and delay scaling, respectively. For mobile networks, a simple proof of the throughput scaling of Theta(1) for the Grossglauser-Tse scheme is given and the associated delay scaling is shown to be Theta(nlogn). The optimal throughput-delay tradeoff for mobile networks is also established. To capture physical movement in the real world, a random-walk (RW) model for node mobility is assumed. It is shown that for throughput of Oscr(1/radic(nlogn)), which can also be achieved in static networks, the throughput-delay tradeoff is the same as in static networks, i.e., D(n)=Theta(nT(n)). Surprisingly, for almost any throughput of a higher order, the delay is shown to be Theta(nlogn), which is the delay for throughput of Theta(1). Our result, thus, suggests that the use of mobility to increase throughput, even slightly, in real-world networks would necessitate an abrupt and very large increase in delay.
Tectonic patterns on reoriented and despun planetary bodies

Abstract Several processes may produce global tectonic patterns on the surface of a planetary body. The stresses associated with distortions of biaxial figures due to despinning or reorientation were first calculated by Vening Meinesz [Vening Meinesz, F.A., 1947. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 28 (1), 1–23]. We adopt a mathematically equivalent, but physically more meaningful treatment for distortions associated with rotation. The new approach allows us to find analytic solutions for the general case of stresses associated with distortions of biaxial or triaxial planetary figures. Distortions of biaxial figures may be driven by variations in rotation rate, rotation axis orientation, or the combination of both. Distortions of triaxial figures may be driven by the same mechanisms and/or variations in tidal axis orientation for tidally deformed satellites. While the magnitude of the resulting stresses depends on the adopted elastic and physical parameters, the expected tectonic pattern is independent of these parameters for these mechanisms. Reorientation of the rotation/tidal axis alone is expected to produce normal/thrust faulting provinces enclosing the initial rotation/tidal poles, and thrust/normal faulting provinces enclosing the final rotation/tidal poles. Reorientation of both the rotation and tidal axis results in a wide variety of tectonic patterns for different reorientation geometries. On Europa, the tidal axis reorientation which generally accompanies rotation axis reorientations may provide an alternative explanation for tectonic features that have been interpreted as evidence for non-synchronous rotation. The observed tectonic pattern on Enceladus is more easily explained by a large reorientation (∼90°) of the rotation axis, than by rotation rate variations.
Advanced care planning discussions with adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Although written advanced directives are important, experts say that conversations are more impo r t a n t t h an forms. HOWCAN HEALTHCARE providers talk about vital but frightening topics with patients and their parents? Specifically, how dowe talk to adolescents with cancer about advanced care planning when it is necessary, even in the face of reluctance by patients and families to address these issues? There are important questions that need to be addressed because if the patient can no longer participate in decision making then parents or other family members will be asked to provide substituted judgment on behalf of the patient andmakemedical choices for the patient. Yet, often parents and family members have not had discussions that would clarify the patient's desires. These discussions have been avoided because they are seen as upsetting, depressing and overwhelming. How to get patients and families to participate in these conversations has been a major obstacle since advanced planning was first advocated 20 years ago. What can be done? A new study provides a clear description of how to move forward (Lyon, Jacobs, Briggs, Cheng, & Wang, 2013). The study was a randomized controlled trial of engaging patients with cancer and their families in discussions to identify and share the patients' preferences for hypothetical care plans if the disease progresses. Previous research found that both adolescents with cancer and their families are willing to have advanced care planning discussions and 96% of adolescent patients feel that they have a right to be fully informed about their prognosis (Wiener et al., 2012), however, few studies have provided a roadmap to help initiate or navigate these conversations. The new study provides an approach that resulted in adolescents being better informed about end-oflife options, improved parents' understanding of their child's preferences and more agreement between parents and patients about limiting treatment. These results have the potential to reduce the stress felt by adolescent patients with
Expression and localization of p53 and bcl-2 in healing wounds in diabetic and nondiabetic mice.

In a healing wound, inflammatory cells undergo apoptosis immediately beneath the leading edge of migrating epithelium. A potential mediator of this apoptosis pattern is p53, a protein with antiproliferative effects. Another protein, bcl-2, is antagonistic to p53 and prevents apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and location of p53 and bcl-2 mRNA and protein in healing wounds of normal and genetically diabetic mice. At various time points, full-thickness skin wounds from nondiabetic and diabetic mice were evaluated for p53 and bcl-2 by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Apoptosis patterns were also determined using the TUNEL method. Messenger RNA for p53 and bcl-2 were quantitated by competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Protein and mRNA for p53 were expressed in the leading edge of migrating epithelium, with apoptosis patterns closely following those of p53 production. p53 mRNA levels decreased soon after wounding, but after a few days, levels increased to greater than baseline. bcl-2 was localized to the wound epithelium, but relative amounts tended to oppose levels of p53, i.e, when p53 increased, bcl-2 decreased and vice versa. Wounds in diabetic animals showed a delayed onset of p53 mRNA expression but had persistently greater levels for longer periods of time. bcl-2 mRNA expression was further delayed in diabetic mice and did not develop to levels as high as p53. Production of both proteins was delayed, consistent with the mRNA expression. Our data show that immediately after wounding, bcl-2 increases and p53 decreases to allow for the cellular proliferation that is required for tissue repair. Over time, bcl-2 levels decrease while p53 levels increase to shut down the inflammatory process and down-regulate the proliferative response. Diabetic animals appear to lose the indirect relationship between p53 and bcl-2. This loss may contribute to the altered apoptosis patterns observed in diabetic healing.
Are one or two dangerous? Diphenoxylate-atropine exposure in toddlers.

Lomotil® (Pfizer Inc., New York, NY) (diphenoxylate-atropine) is said to be potentially toxic to toddlers with exposure to as little as one to two tablets. A review of the data on diphenoxylate-atropine poisonings from the American Association of Poison Control Centers annual reports, review articles, and case series disputes this view. Fatalities associated with diphenoxylate-atropine have been reported in toddlers after repetitive or incorrect dosages. Fortunately, trends in pediatric diphenoxylate-atropine ingestions are decreasing. We review the management, trends, and current concepts regarding pediatric diphenoxylate-atropine ingestions.
The Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Induces the Inflammatory Factor Interleukin-8 following Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

Diseases associated with Chlamydia infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy, are due to inflammation-mediated tissue damage and scarring that occur after chronic or repeated infections. The inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) is produced by Chlamydia-infected cells through an endogenous mechanism of activation, independent of soluble factors in the supernatant. The host signaling pathways necessary for this response are not understood, but the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) has been shown to be activated at similar times as IL-8 mRNA up-regulation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the MAPK pathways necessary to induce the endogenous IL-8 response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection of epithelial cells. IL-8 induced by infection with C. trachomatis L2 was shown to be dependent on ERK and independent of p38 and Jun N-terminal MAPK by use of chemical inhibitors of the signaling pathways. Persistent ERK activation during IL-8 mRNA production at 24 h postinfection was necessary to maintain the response. C. trachomatis serovar D also induced IL-8 in an ERK-dependent manner. We concluded that IL-8 induced during infection of epithelial cells is dependent on continual activation of ERK by C. trachomatis.
Impact of placement of inductive fault current limiters on synchronized operations of generators

Judicious placement of inductive fault current limiters (IFCLs) in isolated power systems can increase the robustness of generator synchronization during and after short-circuit faults, while also improving continuity of power to the system loads. Our work defines optimal placements of IFCLs so as to protect the synchronization of multiple generators, and it defines the proper trip settings for the IFCLs so that they coordinate well with each other, and with the system's circuit breakers. Our work considers both radial and ring bus structures, but not mesh structures. The IFCL placement technique is demonstrated in a power network containing four buses in a ring arrangement. The system receives power from two main turbo-generators (36 MW each) and two auxiliary turbo-generators (4 MW each). In this system, the optimal locations for the IFCLs were found to be near the bus ties of the two larger generators. Further, the placement strategy for locating IFCLs in a power system with ring structure is developed. For this arrangement, fault currents were limited for all fault conditions while assuring maximum availability of power to the loads. Coordination between the IFCLs and the system circuit breakers is analyzed for IFCLs in these locations, and verified by simulation results.
Material matters: assessing the effectiveness of materials management IS

Materials management information systems (IS) are designed to enhance decision-making performance by lowering costs, increasing turnover, and improving service. Because of the large investment that these systems represent, companies have developed several ways to evaluate their effectiveness. The most direct approach is to assess the effects of the system on materials management performance outcomes such as inventory costs, turnover, and fill rates. The more common approach is to assess effectiveness via substitute measures, such as user perceptions and usage statistics. A laboratory experiment was conducted to examine the relationships between materials management performance, user satisfaction, and system usage. The three measures were recorded as subjects performed a purchasing task using an materials management IS. Correlations among the three measures suggest that although satisfaction and usage are closely associated with performance, the relationships among the measures are not sufficiently strong to warrant their use as interchangeable measures of effectiveness.
A Study of Graphical and Tabular Displays and Their Interaction with Environmental Complexity

Since most interactive systems use either graphical or tabular displays, this experiment contrasts the effectiveness of the two displays in making the production scheduling decision in low and intermediate levels of environmental complexity. The study concludes that tabular aids outperform the graphical aids in environments with low complexity, replicating an earlier study. In intermediate complexity environments, the graphical aids outperform the tabular aids. These findings may resolve many conflicts in the literature on data displays.
Speech Convergence with Animated Personas

A new dimension of speaker stylistic variation was identified during human-computer communication: the convergence of users' speech with the text-to-speech (TTS) heard from an animated software partner. Twenty-four 7-to-10-year-old children conversed with digital fish that embodied different TTS voices as they learned about marine biology. An analysis of children's amplitude, durational features, and dialogue response latencies confirmed that they spontaneously adapt basic acoustic-prosodic features of their speech 10–50%, with the largest adaptations involving utterance pause structure and amplitude. Children's speech adaptations were bi-directional, and dynamically readaptable when introduced to a new software partner's voice. In the design of future conversational systems, the spontaneous convergence of users' speech could be exploited to guide it within system processing bounds, thereby enhancing robustness. The long-term goal of this research is the development of predictive models of human-computer communication to guide the design of next-generation conversational interfaces, in particular ones that are adaptive and focused on audio exchanges in mobile usage contexts.
Postconditioning scopolamine administration selectively influences generalized auditory-cue fear conditioning

Under some conditions, a postconditioning injection of scopolamine hydrobromide reduces contextual fear conditioning but has no effect on auditory-cue fear conditioning. This finding is consistent with the idea that contextual fear conditioning and auditory-cue fear conditioning are mediated by different processes. Recently, however, we (Rudy & Pugh, in press) have reported that generalized auditory-cue fear conditioning is sensitive to many of the same manipulations that affect contextual fear conditioning. We now report that a posttrial injection of scopolamine has no effect on conditioned fear to the auditory cue paired with shock but does result in rats’ showing more generalized auditory-cue fear. The effect of scopolamine on generalized auditory-cue fear, however, was eliminated by preexposing the rats to the auditory cue prior to conditioning. These results suggest that central cholinergic systems contribute to consolidation of a specific memory representation of an auditory experience. They also support the view that auditory-cue fear conditioning depends on two independent processes—one that constructs a representation of the stimulus, and another that associates the representation with the aversive outcome.
Male treefrogs in low condition resume signaling faster following simulated predator attack

Current models indicate that an organism’s sensitivity to risk may be heavily influenced by the trade-off between current and future reproduction. Individuals that have fewer future reproductive opportunities are expected to show more risky behavior as they have less to lose if captured by a predator (the asset protection principle). In this study, we examined the effects of age and physical condition on risk taking behavior during sexual signaling in the gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) to test the prediction that older and poor condition males will take greater risks than their younger or higher-condition counterparts. In accordance with these predictions, we found that males in low physical condition resumed signaling activity more rapidly following a simulated predator attack than their higher-condition counterparts, although this effect was only apparent in one of two study years. Further, males that resumed calling early did not offset their risk of detection by predators via reduced calling effort. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find age to be a significant predictor of risk taking in male signaling behavior. We conclude with a discussion of possible explanations for the discrepancy observed between years and highlight the potential reproductive consequences of variation in risk taking behavior.
Can Work Sampling Lower Construction Costs

The results of a feasibility study related to the development of a Cost/Construction Methods Improvement Program at the Forked River Nuclear Generating Station are presented. The model is based upon a systems approach to methods improvement whereby data from work sampling, stopwatch, and time-lapse photography studies are integrated to locate and describe in detail various barriers to improved construction productivity. Three important principles around which a cost improvement program should be modeled are presented. The problem identification phase that relies on work sampling is explored. The data collection procedures are presented in detail. The program utilizes the crew approach that focuses data collection efforts on several crews as opposed to the tour approach that samples an entire site or building area. The advantages of this approach are highlighted. Procedures for developing and analyzing detailed categories, work characterization charts, management-related categories and labor utilization factors are described.
Oxidation products of doubly trimethylene-bridged tetrabenzyl p-phenylenediamine paracyclophane.

We report synthesis and investigation of doubly trimethylene-bridged tetrabenzyl-p-phenylenediamine 1(Bz) in its singly and doubly charged redox states. The singly oxidized monoradical cation, which is a mixed-valence (MV) system with directly interacting charge-bearing units, shows broad and solvent-sensitive intervalence bands consistent with class II compounds according to the Robin–Day classification. The doubly oxidized diradical dication of 1(Bz) exists in the spin-paired singlet state with thermally accessible triplet state. It has similar conformations as the other dimeric p-phenylenediamines, such as derivatives 1(Me) and 1(Et), in both the solid-state and solution phases. The successful isolation of the single-crystalline 1(Bz)2+ diradical dications with two different in nature counteranions, relatively highly coordinating SbF6– and weakly coordinating carborane [undecamethylcarborane HCB11Me11– (CB–)], reveals the distinct effect of the nature of counterions on the structural features of diradi...
Improving Fault Images Using a Directional Laplacian of a Gaussian Operator

Fault picking is a critical, but a resource intensive tool for seismic interpretation. In a bid to improve fault imaging in seismic data, we have applied a directional Laplacian of a Gaussian (LoG) operator to sharpen fault features within a dissimilarity volume. We compute an M by M matrix of the distance-weighted coherence values that fall within a 3D analysis window about each voxel. The eigenvectors of this matrix define the orientation of planar discontinuities while the corresponding eigenvalues determine whether these discontinuities are significant. If a plane is detected, the eigenvectors define a natural coordinate system for smoothing. We rotate the data to the new coordinate system and apply the sharpening operator. We find that our proposed algorithm improves the faults image by sharpening such features and suppressing some of the noise within. The reliability and robustness of the technique is tested on real data from New Zealand.
System and State in International Politics: A Computer Simulation of Balancing in an Anarchic World

The relationship between state behavior and system behavior has occupied the attention of scholars and practitioners of international politics for hundreds of years. The predominant assumption of state behavior is that states act in their self-interest; this is their best guarantee of survival in an anarchic world. But most observers feel that system equilibrium is not possible in a world of such states; some additional element is necessary to preserve the main characteristics of the system. In this paper, a computer simulation is used to investigate (a) whether in a world of self-interested states, system-level behavior that acts to preserve or restore equilibrium will emerge, and (b) whether this is sufficient to preserve most of the actors in the system.
SEX RATIO VARIATION IN A PARASITIC WASP I. REACTION NORMS.

To understand genetic and phenotypic constraints on the sex ratio in a parasitic wasp that attacks fly pupae, I carried out a laboratory study of sex ratio variability in five strains of Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). I manipulated the environment through combinations of temperature and day length, and the numbers of females that attack a group of hosts. The change of phenotype in each strain over the range of environmental conditions describes the norm of each reaction for that strain, and measures how a strain responds to environmental variation to create phenotypic variability. Sex ratio in parasitic wasps is a complex trait that has several components-the numbers of eggs laid by an ovipositing wasp and the fraction of eggs that are fertilized (female). Further, sex ratio may be influenced by a female's reaction to other females exploiting the same hosts (superparasitism). I found no strain-environment interactions in either sex ratio or fecundity when I varied environmental conditions. Although strains differed in sex ratio and fecundity, all strains produced a more female-biased sex ratio and had higher fecundity when temperature and day length increased. Sex ratio and fecundity were phenotypically correlated, and strains with greater fecundity also produced a more female-biased sex ratio. All strains facultatively shifted sex ratio toward a higher fraction of males with increasing female density, despite apparent differences in superparasitism among strains. Males and females survived equally during development, so that mortality differences among strains and across environments could not account for sex ratio variability. This study indicates that sex ratio variability among strains is constrained by the correlation between sex ratio and fecundity, and that strains display similar facultative shifts in sex ratio as female density increases because sex ratio shifts are insensitive to differing levels of superparasitism.
A Approch to Marginal Analysis in Marketing Decision-making

Marketing decison-makers need consider the market and economic conditions well to produce the right decisions.With the mathmatical and probability analytical methods,the paper proves the value of marginal analysis in marketing decison-making.It proves its congruity with the maximum expected profit.
Biodiversity and Its Characteristics of Bryophytes in Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area

In order to completely understand bryophytes species,distribution and ecological environment of the Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area,the bryophytes from January to November,2013 were investigated. The study included the comparing of bryophyte species,floristic components and habitat conditions in the nine main scenic spots. The results showed that there are 115 bryophytes belonging to 61 genera in 39families in this area. Among them 31 liverworts belong to 19 genera in 15 families and 84 mosses belong to 42 genera in 24 families. The East Asiatic element is the most dominant element of this local flora(40. 40%),followed by North Temperate element(22. 22%) and Tropical Asian element(12. 12%). It implied that the bryoflora of this area has a transitional characteristic from sub-tropic to northern temperate zone.The bryophyte community in Qianjiang Scenic Spot and Lingzhu Scenic Spot has the richest species diversity,indicating they have suitable habitat. It was suggested that the protection of bryophytes and their habitats in Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area should be further enhanced.
Acute renal failure in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery in a community hospital.

INTRODUCTION Acute renal failure (ARF) following cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) is a major complication that increases postoperative morbidity and mortality. Recognizing patients at risk for ARF may lead to modified operative techniques, preoperative drug choice, or improved informed consent. The study objective was to identify and confirm preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for ARF following CTS in a community-based population. METHODS A retrospective analysis of the medical records of all patients who underwent CTS at a community hospital between December 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 was conducted. Off-pump CTS patients, patients younger than 18 years, and patients with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis prior to surgery were excluded. Data collected included preoperative creatinine concentration, sex, diabetes status, prior myocardial infarction, preoperative medication, hypertension, cross-clamp time, and perfusion time. Analyses included Pearson chi2 and t test for comparison of demographics. Logistic regression was used for calculating odds ratios along with confidence intervals both in the univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS Of the 2556 patients who underwent CTS, 477 (18.7%) developed ARF postoperatively and 43 (1.7%) developed ARF requiring dialysis. Independent risk factors included preoperative creatinine concentrations > 1.3 mg/dL, type I diabetes, male sex, hypertension, and preoperative diuretics. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms several variables that predict ARF in patients undergoing CTS in a community-based setting. It is the first to show an independent association between preoperative diuretics and postoperative ARF
Effect of Ovulation and Hormonal Treatment on the in Vitro Response of Rabbit Oviducts to Prostaglandins E1 and F 2 α **Supported by World Health Organization Contract 73039.

Rabbit oviductal circular muscle isometric contractile response was measured in relation to treatment with prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) and prostaglandin F 2 α ( P G F 2 α ). PGE 1 (1 μg/ml) inhibition of the contractile response of the rabbit oviduct to field stimulation was increased in the proximal isthmus after ovulation. Estrogen and progesterone, in doses known to alter ovum transport, did not affect the response of the oviduct to PGE 1 . In comparison to the response ofestrous tissues, the stimulatory effect of P G F 2 α on the isthmus was decreased 24 hours after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) Treatment with estrogen and progesterone did not affect these postovulatory changes. The response of the ampullary-isthmic junction to P G F 2 α was significantly reduced 72 hours after administration of HCG. Neither ovulation nor steroid treatment affected the response of the ampulla to P G F 2 α . Changes in the sensitivity of the oviduct to prostaglandins after ovulation may be necessary for successful ovum transport.
Characterization of toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) expression on airway nerves

Background: TLR7 detects viral single-stranded RNA and triggers an antiviral immune response. We have shown TLR7 agonists acutely relax human and murine airways through nitric oxide production. Objective: To characterize TLR7 expression and signaling pathways in the lung. Methods: Whole mount murine lungs and deceased-donor human trachea and esophagi were immunofluorescently labeled with antibodies against TLR7, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the neuronal marker PGP9.5. Images were obtained with an LSM780 laser-scanning confocal microscope. TLR7 function was assessed in the airways of C57Bl/6 wild-type and MyD88 knockout mice in an organ bath. Airways contracted with methacholine (10 µM) were treated with TLR7 agonist R837 (10-300 µM). Some airways were treated with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin (10 µM). Results: TLR7 was expressed on subsets of airway nerves, but not airway smooth muscle. TLR7 was also expressed on esophageal nerves that project to the trachea, pleura and primary bronchi. nNOS colocalized with TLR7 staining on airway nerves and on the esophageal-tracheal nerve plexus. TLR7 agonist R837 dose-dependently relaxed pre-contracted wild-type and MyD88 knockout murine airways equally. TLR7 agonist-mediated relaxation was unaffected by treatment with actinomycin. Conclusions: Airway parasympathetic nerves and nerves originating in the esophagus coexpress TLR7 and nNOS. TLR7-expressing esophageal nerves may correspond to nitric oxide-producing nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerves. Airway nerves are implicated as the source of TLR7-induced nitric oxide production. Funding Source: This project was supported by NIH grants HL121254, HL124165, HL113023, AR061567, ES017592.
Targeting the Nrf2-Heme Oxygenase-1 Axis after Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background Injury to cells adjacent to an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is likely mediated at least in part by toxins released from the hematoma that initiate complex and interacting injury cascades. Pharmacotherapies targeting a single toxin or pathway, even if consistently effective in controlled experimental models, have a high likelihood of failure in a variable clinical setting. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and multiple other proteins with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, and may be a target of interest after ICH. Methods Studies that tested the effect of HO and Nrf2 in models relevant to ICH are summarized, with an effort to reconcile conflicting data by consideration of methodological limitations. Results In vitro studies demonstrated that Nrf2 activators rapidly increased HO-1 expression in astrocytes, and reduced their vulnerability to hemoglobin or hemin. Modulating HO-1 expression via genetic approaches yielded similar results. Systemic treatment with small molecule Nrf2 activators increased HO-1 expression in perivascular cells, particularly astrocytes. When tested in mouse or rat ICH models, Nrf2 activators were consistently protective, improving barrier function and attenuating edema, inflammation, neuronal loss and neurological deficits. These effects were mimicked by selective astrocyte HO-1 overexpression in transgenic mice. Conclusion Systemic treatment with Nrf2 activators after ICH is protective in rodents. Two compounds, dimethyl fumarate and hemin, are currently approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis and acute porphyria, respectively, and have acceptable safety profiles over years of clinical use. Further development of these drugs as ICH therapeutics seems warranted.
Newton’s Theocentric Cosmogony and Hume’s Cometary ‘Seeds’

In this chapter, I argue that central to Newton’s cosmogony is his conviction that, in the most accurate interpretations of Moses’ history of creation in Genesis and of the crucial core of yet unfulfilled prophecies in the book of Revelation, God’s plan for natural and human history (the ‘world politick’ and the ‘world natural’)2 is extensively revealed to the ‘wise’. Firstly, I analyse Newton’s notion of the best method of interpreting the literal words of scripture within the context of his initial foray into ‘world making’ in his correspondence with Thomas Burnet, author of Sacred Theory of the Earth.3 Second, I trace Newton’s developed view of the future of this earth during the prophesied millennium and the ‘final Consummation of All Things’. The prophesies of the end of this world are an integral part of Newton’s cosmogony because implicit in his conjectural role for comets sn the ‘reformation’ of world systems as an eternal cycle of birth and destruction, of ‘new heavens and a new earth’. Third, I examine how Newton’s biblical literalism (as he describes it in private correspondence, manuscripts and conversations) and how his published hints about its possible implications (e.g., the cyclical nature of the cosmos and the possible eternality of the cycles of birth and decay) is emphatically promoted in public by William Whiston. Fourth, I analyse how the religious sceptic, David Hume, makes explicit the implicit heterodoxy of the cosmogony of these Newtonian exegetes.
Sex differences in lifespan extension with acarbose and 17‐α estradiol: gonadal hormones underlie male‐specific improvements in glucose tolerance and mTORC2 signaling

Interventions that extend lifespan in mice can show substantial sexual dimorphism. Here, we show that male-specific lifespan extension with two pharmacological treatments, acarbose (ACA) and 17-α estradiol (17aE2), is associated, in males only, with increased insulin sensitivity and improved glucose tolerance. Females, which show either smaller (ACA) or no lifespan extension (17aE2), do not derive these metabolic benefits from drug treatment. We find that these male-specific metabolic improvements are associated with enhanced hepatic mTORC2 signaling, increased Akt activity, and phosphorylation of FOXO1a - changes that might promote metabolic health and survival in males. By manipulating sex hormone levels through gonadectomy, we show that sex-specific changes in these metabolic pathways are modulated, in opposite directions, by both male and female gonadal hormones: Castrated males show fewer metabolic responses to drug treatment than intact males, and only those that are also observed in intact females, while ovariectomized females show some responses similar to those seen in intact males. Our results demonstrate that sex-specific metabolic benefits occur concordantly with sexual dimorphism in lifespan extension. These sex-specific effects can be influenced by the presence of both male and female gonadal hormones, suggesting that gonadally derived hormones from both sexes may contribute to sexual dimorphism in responses to interventions that extend mouse lifespan.