cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meteoric 10Be in soil profiles – A global meta-analysis

Abstract In order to assess current understanding of meteoric 10 Be dynamics and distribution in terrestrial soils, we assembled a database of all published meteoric 10 Be soil depth profiles, including 104 profiles from 27 studies in globally diverse locations, collectively containing 679 individual measurements. This allows for the systematic comparison of meteoric 10 Be concentration to other soil characteristics and the comparison of profile depth distributions between geologic settings. Percent clay, 9 Be, and dithionite-citrate extracted Al positively correlate to meteoric 10 Be in more than half of the soils where they were measured, but the lack of significant correlation in other soils suggests that no one soil factor controls meteoric 10 Be distribution with depth. Dithionite-citrate extracted Fe and cation exchange capacity are only weakly correlated to meteoric 10 Be. Percent organic carbon and pH are not significantly related to meteoric 10 Be concentration when all data are complied. The compilation shows that meteoric 10 Be concentration is seldom uniform with depth in a soil profile. In young or rapidly eroding soils, maximum meteoric 10 Be concentrations are typically found in the uppermost 20 cm. In older, more slowly eroding soils, the highest meteoric 10 Be concentrations are found at depth, usually between 50 and 200 cm. We find that the highest measured meteoric 10 Be concentration in a soil profile is an important metric, as both the value and the depth of the maximum meteoric 10 Be concentration correlate with the total measured meteoric 10 Be inventory of the soil profile. In order to refine the use of meteoric 10 Be as an estimator of soil erosion rate, we compare near-surface meteoric 10 Be concentrations to total meteoric 10 Be soil inventories. These trends are used to calibrate models of meteoric 10 Be loss by soil erosion. Erosion rates calculated using this method vary based on the assumed depth and timing of erosional events and on the reference data selected.
Modeling the Temporal Complexities of Symptoms

Objective : To analyze the temporal aspects of symptoms, including their temporal uncertainty, in order to develop a high-level conceptual data model representation of this domain. Design : A basic tenet of existing temporal models is that events occur not only relative to a particular date or time, but also relative to the time of some other event. The time an event occurs, particularly when the event is a symptom being recalled by a patient or collected by a busy provider, is frequently incomplete or uncertain, and this uncertainty must also be represented in a temporal data model. The object-oriented modeling technique used in this study is becoming popular among U.S. medical informatics standards developers. Results : A conceptual data model for the temporal aspects of symptom data, including temporal uncertainty, has been developed. The object-oriented modeling approach used enables the temporal objects and attributes defined in this model to be inherited by other medical objects, such as problems. Conclusion : The temporal comparators presented here have previously been defined, and may serve as the basis for standardizing the terms used to describe how one event temporally relates to another. In an attempt to achieve domain completeness, this study concentrated more on developing a model that is highly expressive than on developing one that is easily queried. This trade-off in representation versus “queryability” will require further analysis and may require modifications to the underlying model.
The Effect Of Drilling and Soft Tissue Grafting Across Open Growth Plates A Histologic Study

We examined the ability of a soft tissue graft to inhibit the formation of a bony bridge within tunnels drilled across open femoral and tibial growth plates in a canine model. A fascia lata autograft was placed in tunnels drilled across the distal femoral and proximal tibial physes in four skeletally immature dogs. Four additional dogs had a similar procedure performed, but the drill holes were left empty. The growth plates were evaluated at either 2 weeks or 4 months postoperatively using high-resolution radiography and routine histologic study. A bony bridge spanned the growth plate in all nongrafted animals as early as 2 weeks postoperatively. However, the fascia lata autograft prevented bone formation within the tunnels of all grafted animals, which maintained normal growth plate anatomy throughout the length of the study. The results of this study demonstrate that a soft tissue graft of fascia lata placed in drill holes across open growth plates will prevent the formation of a bony bridge. These findings provide basic science support to those clinical studies that report no apparent alteration in growth plate function after the use of intraarticular techniques to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in children and adolescents.
American Muslim Perceptions of Healing: Key Agents in Healing, and Their Roles

American Muslims represent a growing and diverse community. Efforts at promoting cultural competence, enhancing cross-cultural communication skills, and improving community health must account for the religio-cultural frame through which American Muslims view healing. Using a community-based participatory research model, we conducted 13 focus groups at area mosques in southeast Michigan to explore American Muslim views on healing and to identify the primary agents, and their roles, within the healing process. Participants shared a God-centric view of healing. Healing was accessed through direct means such as supplication and recitation of the Qur’an, or indirectly through human agents including imams, health care practitioners, family, friends, and community. Human agents served integral roles, influencing spiritual, psychological, and physical health. Additional research into how religiosity, health care systems, and community factors influence health-care-seeking behaviors is warranted.
Implementation of self-consolidating concrete in caisson construction for the Stalnaker Run Bridge

Abstract To utilize cast-in-place self-consolidating concrete (SCC) for caissons on a rural bridge replacement, specifications were first written as guidelines. A mix design was developed and tested in a reusable trial caisson that would simulate field casting conditions. A fresh sampling technique was devised to investigate the distribution of SCC within the trial caisson. Petrographic analysis of hardened samples was done to quantify the amounts of aggregates present at twenty different locations within the trial caisson. The SCC mix design was then successfully used to cast caissons of one of the two bridge abutments, with no major defects detected by cross-hole sonic logging (CSL). Hardened property tests revealed SCC compressive strengths and modulus of elasticity values that were similar to a traditional caisson concrete used on the project, while the total measured shrinkage and the splitting tensile strengths of the field SCC were seen to be lower than those of the traditional caisson concrete.
Bladder Cancer Clusters in Florida: Identifying Populations at Risk

Purpose: Modifiable risk factors for bladder cancer have been identified, ie tobacco and chemical exposure. We identified high risk bladder cancer areas and risk factors associated with bladder cancer clusters in Florida using individual and area based data.Materials and Methods: Spatial modeling was applied to 23,266 early and advanced bladder cancer cases diagnosed between 1998 and 2002 in Florida to identify areas of excess bladder cancer risk. Multivariable regression was used to determine whether sociodemographic indicators, smoking history and proximity to known arsenic contaminated drinking water well sites were associated with bladder cancer diagnosis in a specific area (cluster).Results: A total of 25 clusters were found to have a higher than expected bladder cancer rate, including 13 and 12 of early and late stage disease, respectively. Urban white patients were more likely to live in an advanced bladder cancer cluster. Advanced bladder cancer cluster membership was associated with living in clo...
Virtual-object video compression

A virtual-object compression method is presented in this paper. Object based compression methods are inspired by the publication of the MPEG-4 standard. However, object-based compression methods require several non-trivial processes, many of which continue to pose challenges to many researchers. These processes include but are not limited to: robust multiple object identification and tracking, and shape and texture coding of arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional objects. Therefore, a virtual-object compression method is developed which relaxes the constraints of the many difficult problems that object-based compression methods pose. In the virtual-object compression method, an image sequence is parsed into spatial locations which contain motion and those which do not. Those portions of video which do not contain motion are averaged into one background frame, and those which do contain motion are group into a virtual-object. Both the background and virtual-object are coded independently from one another. This compression method shows an improved performance over 3D wavelet video compression.
Agronomic and environmental implications of enhanced s-triazine degradation

Novel catabolic pathways enabling rapid detoxification of s-triazine herbicides have been elucidated and detected at a growing number of locations. The genes responsible for s-triazine mineralization, i.e. atzABCDEF and trzNDF, occur in at least four bacterial phyla and are implicated in the development of enhanced degradation in agricultural soils from all continents except Antarctica. Enhanced degradation occurs in at least nine crops and six crop rotation systems that rely on s-triazine herbicides for weed control, and, with the exception of acidic soil conditions and s-triazine application frequency, adaptation of the microbial population is independent of soil physiochemical properties and cultural management practices. From an agronomic perspective, residual weed control could be reduced tenfold in s-triazine-adapted relative to non-adapted soils. From an environmental standpoint, the off-site loss of total s-triazine residues could be overestimated 13-fold in adapted soils if altered persistence estimates and metabolic pathways are not reflected in fate and transport models. Empirical models requiring soil pH and s-triazine use history as input parameters predict atrazine persistence more accurately than historical estimates, thereby allowing practitioners to adjust weed control strategies and model input values when warranted.
Assimilation of temperature into an isopycnal ocean general circulation model using a parallel ensemble Kalman filter

Abstract Temperature data from the Tropical Atmosphere and Ocean (TAO) array are assimilated into the Pacific basin configuration of the Poseidon quasi-isopycnal ocean general circulation model (OGCM) using a multivariate ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) implemented on a massively parallel computer architecture. An assimilation algorithm whereby each processing element (PE) solves a localized analysis problem is used. The algorithm relies on a locally supported error-covariance model to avoid the introduction of spurious long-range covariances associated with small ensemble sizes and to facilitate its efficient parallel implementation on a computing platform with distributed memory. Each time data are assimilated, multivariate background-error statistics estimated from the phase-space distribution of an ensemble of model states are used to calculate the Kalman gain matrix and the analysis increments. The resulting cross-field covariances are used to compute temperature, salinity and current increments. The layer thicknesses are left unchanged by the analysis. Instead, they are dynamically adjusted by the model between successive analyses. Independent acoustic Doppler current profiler data are used to assess the performance of the temperature data assimilation. The temperature analyses are also compared to analyses obtained with a univariate optimal interpolation (UOI) algorithm and to a control run without temperature assimilation. The results demonstrate that the multivariate EnKF is both practical and effective for assimilating in situ and remotely sensed observations into a high resolution ocean model in a quasi-operational framework.
PROTEASOME INHIBITORS CAUSE INDUCTION OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS AND TREHALOSE, WHICH TOGETHER CONFER THERMOTOLERANCE IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

An accumulation in cells of unfolded proteins is believed to be the common signal triggering the induction of heat shock proteins (hsps). Accordingly, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, inhibition of protein breakdown at 30°C with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 caused a coordinate induction of many heat shock proteins within 1 to 2 h. Concomitantly, MG132, at concentrations that had little or no effect on growth rate, caused a dramatic increase in the cells’ resistance to very high temperature. The magnitude of this effect depended on the extent and duration of the inhibition of proteolysis. A similar induction of hsps and thermotolerance was seen with another proteasome inhibitor, clasto-lactacystin β-lactone, but not with an inhibitor of vacuolar proteases. Surprisingly, when the reversible inhibitor MG132 was removed, thermotolerance decreased rapidly, while synthesis of hsps continued to increase. In addition, exposure to MG132 and 37°C together had synergistic effects in promoting thermotolerance but did not increase hsp expression beyond that seen with either stimulus alone. Although thermotolerance did not correlate with hsp content, another thermoprotectant trehalose accumulated upon exposure of cells to MG132, and the cellular content of this disaccharide, unlike that of hsps, quickly decreased upon removal of MG132. Also, MG132 and 37°C had additive effects in causing trehalose accumulation. Thus, the resistance to heat induced by proteasome inhibitors is not just due to induction of hsps but also requires a short-lived metabolite, probably trehalose, which accumulates when proteolysis is reduced.
Analytical MOSFET Model with Easily Extracted Parameters

A model for MOSFET's is presented which can accurately represent devices over a wide variety of process parameters, geometries, and regions of operation. The model is analytic in all regions, contains only 5 parameters, and is easily implemented in circuit simulation programs. Threshold shifts due to substrate bias for a wide variety of channel doping profiles can be represented by the unique mathematical function used in the expression for threshold voltage. Each parameter of the model dominates a specific region of the I-V curves, making the parameter extraction process a simpler matter of calculating each parameter from measurements in its own region of dominance. No optimization is needed. Curves generated by the model are compared with data from a specific process. Above threshold and subthreshold Id-Vds, threshold voltage versus substrate bias, and transconductance curves are presented.
Human Apolipoprotein (Apo) B-48 and ApoB-100 Kinetics With Stable Isotopes

The kinetics of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 and apoB-48 within triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and of apoB-100 within IDL and LDL were examined with a primed-constant infusion of (5,5,5-(2)H(3)) leucine in the fed state (hourly feeding) in 19 subjects after consumption of an average American diet (36% fat). Lipoproteins were isolated by ultracentrifugation and apolipoproteins by SDS gels, and isotope enrichment was assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Kinetic parameters were calculated by multicompartmental modeling of the data with SAAM II. The pool sizes (PS) of TRL apoB-48, VLDL apoB-100, and LDL apoB-100 were 17+/-10, 273+/-167, and 3325+/-1146 mg, respectively. There was a trend toward a faster fractional catabolic rate (FCR) for VLDL apoB-100 than for TRL apoB-48 (6.73+/-3.48 versus 5.02+/-2.07 pools/d, respectively, P=0.06). The mean FCRs for IDL and LDL apoB-100 were 10.07+/-7.28 and 0.27+/-0.08 pools/d, respectively. The mean production rate (PR) of TRL apoB-48 was 6.5% of VLDL apoB-100 (1. 3+/-0.90 versus 20.06+/-6.53 mg. kg(-1). d(-1), P<0.0001). TRL apoB-48 PS was correlated with apoB-48 PR (r=0.780, P<0.0001) but not FCR (r=-0.1810, P=0.458). VLDL apoB-100 PS was correlated with both PR (r=0.713, P=0.0006) and FCR (r=-0.692, P=0.001) of VLDL apoB-100 and by apoB-48 PR (r=0.728, P=0.0004). LDL apoB-100 PS was correlated with FCR (r=-0.549, P=0.015). These data indicate that (1) the FCRs of TRL apoB-48 and VLDL apoB-100 are similar in the fed state, (2) TRL apoB-48 PS is correlated with TRL apoB-48 PR, (3) VLDL apoB-100 PS is correlated with both PR and FCR of VLDL apoB-100 and PR of TRL apoB-48, and (4) LDL apoB-100 PS is correlated with LDL FCR.
Calcium Dysregulation in the Aging Brain

The idea that age-related cognitive decline is associated with disruption of calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis has been investigated over the past two decades. Much of this work has focused on the hippocampus because hippocampal-dependent memory is age sensitive. It is now well established that Ca(2+)-dependent processes such as susceptibility to neurotoxicity, the afterhyperpolarization amplitude, induction of synaptic plasticity, and long-term potentiation and long-term depression are altered with age. Recent work has identified changes in Ca2+ signaling pathways that may underlie the development of these biological markers of aging. This review considers recent findings concerning interactions between the various Ca(2+)-dependent processes, with special emphasis on the role of altered Ca2+ regulation and disruption of Ca2+ signaling pathways in mediating the expression of biological and behavioral markers of brain aging.
COX-1-derived PGE2 and PGE2 type 1 receptors are vital for angiotensin II-induced formation of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ influx in the subfornical organ

Regulation of blood pressure by angiotensin II (ANG II) is a process that involves the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium. We have shown that ANG-II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and prostaglandin ...
Indigenous Agronomics and Agricultural Development in the Indus Basin

Symbolic anthropology, often preoccupied with expressive systems or classificatory schema, has generally been regarded as having little to contribute to development issues. Here, the symbolic analysis of Punjabi agriculture in Pakistan's Indus Basin reveals an anthropomorphic humoral agronomy used by farmers to make crop production decisions. This agronomy is found to be systemic, coherent, and empirically constituted. Innovations of the green revolution, while productively and conceptually accommodated within this system, have led farmers to consider contervailing hot, crop-centered and cool, soil-centered production strategies. Findings suggest ways in which seed, fertilizer, and water resource development and extension servicing may be pursued, and lead to a general discussion of the uniqueness of the anthropological contribution to development studies and its consistency with participatory approaches.
Exploratory data analysis to identify factors influencing spatial distributions of weed seed banks

Abstract Comparing distributions among fields, species, and management practices will help us understand the spatial dynamics of weed seed banks, but analyzing observational data requires nontraditional statistical methods. We used cluster analysis and classification and regression tree analysis (CART) to investigate factors that influence spatial distributions of seed banks. CART is a method for developing predictive models, but it is also used to explain variation in a response variable from a set of possible explanatory variables. With cluster analysis, we identified patterns of variation with direction of the distance over which seed bank density was correlated (range of spatial dependence) with single-species seed banks in corn. Then we predicted patterns of the seed banks with CART using field and species characteristics and seed bank density as explanatory variables. Patterns differed by magnitude of variation in the range of spatial dependence (strength of anisotropy) and direction of the maximum ...
Diabetic Macrovascular Disease The Glucose Paradox

The cardiology community is awakening to a rampant epidemic of type II diabetes and its common companion, the metabolic syndrome. As the ponderosity of the US population increases, the morbid constellation of obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia (characterized by abundant triglyceride (TG)–rich lipoproteins, low levels of atheroprotective high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and small, dense low-density lipoprotein [LDL] particles) is on the rise.1 Pioneering work from several laboratories has provided us with pathophysiological insight for understanding some of diabetes’ vascular complications. In the face of hyperglycemia, glucose molecules conjugate by a nonenzymatic mechanism with the reactive side chains of the amino acid lysine on protein molecules (Figure). Through a series of well-understood chemical reactions, this nonenzymatic glycation can ultimately generate higher molecular weight condensates known as advanced glycation end products (AGE).2,3⇓ The formation of caramel from sugar provides a simple analogy for this process. Such reactions can be quite pervasive—occurring both inside and outside the cell, chemically modifying and potentially altering the functions not just of proteins, but of lipids and nucleic acids as well. Multiple mechanisms contribute to arterial disease in patients with type II diabetes. A variety of risk factors converge on the artery to promote atherogenesis in individuals with type II diabetes (center). Skeletal muscles may be resistant of insulin action, which decreases the utilization of glucose and free fatty acids, causing hyperglycemia and increased levels of circulating free fatty acids. In the face of the insulin resistance, the pancreas initially attempts to compensate by producing more insulin, yielding hyperinsulinemia, itself a risk factor for arteriopathy. A high burden of abdominal fat presents the liver with elevated levels of free fatty acids through the portal circulation. This excess of free fatty acids will drive the overproduction of TG-rich lipoprotein particles, including VLDL. A …
Making time to write

Clinicians are busy people who must develop strategies for making time to write. With many obligations, their first strategy may be to try to clear the decks to make way for the current project. When writing takes on a more constant challenge, medical writers find themselves wedging writing in between myriad other tasks and commitments. Ultimately, committed writers, with effort and help, find a way to schedule writing as another essential activity in their lives.
The relationship of career decision-making self-efficacy, vocational identity, and career exploration behavior in African American high school students

This study explores the relationship between the social cognitive construct of career decision-making self-efficacy and the outcome variables of vocational identity and career exploration behaviors in a sample of 72 urban African American high school students. The results indicate that higher levels of career decision-making self-efficacy are related to both a more differentiated vocational self-concept and to greater engagement with career exploration activities. Implications for career guidance and future research are discussed.
State dementia registries: Diverse methodologic approaches to a common public health goal

A common goal of state dementia registries is public health disease surveillance for program planning service delivery, and research. Despite this similarity in perspective, methodologic differences involving coverage, diagnostic, and data coding issues distinguish the various registries. Some of these differences include the illnesses, geographic area(s), and population groups covered by dementia registries. Diagnostic differences center on the development and application of case definitions specific to the different types of dementing illness, the thoroughness of accessible sources of medical data, and the standardization of disease staging for the dementias. Competing coding systems for diagnoses exist, but fortunately the coding of procedures is already uniform.A critical step toward facilitating the production of regional or national aggregate statistics and engaging in multisite research studies would be the achievement of enhanced standardization of the data elements and coding systems of public he...
Detecting denial of service attacks using support vector machines

The complexity, openness, and increasing accessibility of the Internet have all greatly increased the risk of information system security availability. A serious type of network attacks is Denial of Service (DoS), which is performed against an information system to prevent legitimate users from accessing the compromised system for service. This paper concerns detecting DoS attacks using Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The key idea is to train SVMs using already discovered patterns (signatures) that represent DoS attacks. Using a benchmark data from a KDD competition designed by DARPA (U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), we demonstrate that highly efficient and accurate classifiers can be constructed by using SVMs to detect DoS attacks. Further, we also perform feature ranking of the DARPA intrusion data to identify the key features that are important to DoS detection.
A pragmatic approach to the design and implementation of a vibrotactile belt and its applications

A human centered pragmatic approach to the design and implementation of a vibrotactile belt is presented in this paper. Based on a) extensive usability feedback we've collected over the past year, and b) a thorough survey of existing design guidelines from the literature, we propose a set of design guidelines for the development of haptic belts that can span seamlessly across various applications. These guidelines cover three important aspects for haptic belts: functionality, performance and usability, which are vital for longitudinal use by end users. Taking a human-centric approach from these design guidelines, we demonstrate the construction of a wirelessly controlled haptic belt design that is versatile, usable and practical. Implementation details of the belt are given, along with a preliminary usability study and a brief review of some of the important application areas of haptic belts. Results from the usability study reveal that participants were very pleased with the proposed haptic belt, and found it to be easy to wear and use.
Emerging Incidence of Enterococcus faecium among Hospital Isolates (1993 to 2002)

Historically, most clinical microbiology laboratories report that 80 to 90% of enterococci are Enterococcus faecalis, whereas E. faecium accounts for 5 to 10% of isolates. At our medical center from 1993 to 2002, we evaluated the percentages of E. faecium among all enterococcal isolates and the percentages of E. faecium isolates that were vancomycin resistant. Over this 10-year period, the percentage of enterococci that were identified as E. faecium increased from 12.7 to 22.2% (P < 0.001) and the proportion of E. faecium that was vancomycin resistant increased from 28.9 to 72.4% (P < 0.001). Both the percentage of E. faecium among the enterococci and the proportion of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium increased significantly over this 10-year period.
PedMerge: merging pedigrees to facilitate family-based genetic statistical analyses

Summary: PedMerge allows users to accurately and efficiently merge separately ascertained pedigrees that belong to the same extended family. In addition to validation checks of pedigree structure, the software provides files in LINKAGE or PEDSYS format that easily allow to be used by a variety of genetic statistical software packages including LINKAGE, SOLAR, SLINK or can be further manipulated with Mega2. Availability: http://sites.google.com/site/rosemarieplaetke/home/s/ pedmerge Contact: rplaetke@alaska.edu
A Revised Classification of the Anthocerotophyta and a Checklist of the Hornworts of North America, North of Mexico

A hornwort classification that recognizes 11 genera, comprising a hierarchy of two classes, three orders, and four families is proposed. The updated checklist of these bryophytes for North America has been expanded from 11 species in three genera to 17 species in five genera. Application of the genus name Anthoceros in the traditional sense is clarified.
Oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment: evidence from human data provided by redox proteomics

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with many known pathological features, yet there is still much debate into the exact cause and mechanisms for progression of this degenerative disorder. The amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced oxidative stress hypothesis postulates that it is the oligomeric Aβ that inserts into membrane systems to initiate much of the oxidative stress observed in brain during the progression of the disease. In order to study the effects of oxidative stress on tissue from patients with AD and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we have developed a method called redox proteomics that identifies specific brain proteins found to be selectively oxidized. Here, we discuss experimental findings of oxidatively modified proteins involved in three key cellular processes implicated in the pathogenesis of AD progression: energy metabolism, cell signaling and neurotransmission, as well as the proteasomal degradation pathways and antioxidant response systems. These proteomics studies conducted by our laboratory and others in the field shed light on the molecular changes imposed on the cells of AD and MCI brain, through the deregulated increase in oxidative/nitrosative stress inflicted by Aβ and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Herbicide coverage in narrow row soybean as influenced by spray nozzle design and carrier volume

Abstract The use of reduced drift nozzles that produce larger droplet sizes that are less prone to drift will likely be required for use of future postemergence herbicide applications in soybean in the USA. Experiments to evaluate the effect of reduced drift spray nozzles on spray solution coverage were conducted in the field in Indiana. Air induction extended range (AIXR) and turbo TeeJet air induction (TTI) nozzles that produce extremely coarse to ultra coarse droplets were compared to extended range (XR) and Turbo TeeJet (TT) nozzle that produced fine to coarse droplets. Each nozzle was evaluated for spray coverage at 94 and 140 l ha−1 spray volumes using water sensitive cards. Precipitation varied between site years and resulted in differences in soybean canopy development and spray solution coverage. Coverage was greater at the top of the canopy than at the bottom of the soybean canopy as expected. An interaction occurred at the top and middle of the canopy in which the AIXR and TTI nozzles had similar coverage between the two spray volumes, whereas the XR and TT nozzles had greater coverage at 140 l ha−1 carrier volume than 94 l ha−1 carrier spray volume. Spray solution coverage at the bottom of the canopy, where target weeds would be, was similar between all nozzle types. Coverage was greater at the bottom of the canopy at 140 l ha−1 spray volume than with the 94 l ha−1 carrier volume. Spray volume has a greater influence on coverage than spray nozzle type and AIXR and TTI nozzles are less prone to coverage differences due to spray volume than the XR and TT nozzles.
Data Mining and Knowledge Management for Marketing

The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of using knowledge management and data mining for supporting marketing decisions. It shows how the data mining techniques and tools can extract hidden purchase patterns that can help to make better decisions by the marketers. Practically, knowledge management and data mining techniques are really useful for marketing especially for organizations which have huge amount purchase transactions. Knowledge management and data mining also can help to increase the profit because of the correct decisions made by marketers. The paper also shows how knowledge management and data mining can be used to provide better answers from huge amount of data of customers and purchase transactions.
Complex Social Consequences of Self-Knowledge

Psychology theories disagree on the most effective self-presentation strategies—some claim possessing positive illusions is best, whereas others claim accuracy is best. The current experiments sugg...
Cultural Intelligence Trajectories in New International Students: Implications for the Development of Cross-Cultural Competence

Despite considerable research, a major challenge today is to define and assess the development of cross-cultural competence. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of cultural compe...
Unidirectional Alignment of Block Copolymer Films Induced by Expansion of a Permeable Elastomer during Solvent Vapor Annealing

One challenge associated with the utilization of block copolymers in nanotechnology is the difficulties associated with alignment and orientation of the self-assembled nanostructure on macroscopic length scales. Here we demonstrate a simple method to generate unidirectional alignment of the cylindrical domains of polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene, SIS, based on a modification of the commonly utilized solvent vapor annealing (SVA) process. In this modification, cross-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is physically adhered to the SIS film during SVA; differential swelling of the PDMS and SIS produces a shear force to align the ordered domains of SIS in the areas covered by PDMS. This method is termed solvent vapor annealing with soft shear (SVA-SS). The alignment direction can be readily controlled by the shape and placement of the PDMS with the alignment angle equal to the diagonal across the rectangular PDMS pad due to a propagating deswelling front from directional drying of the PDMS by...
Correlation of Phenotypic Profiles Using Targeted Proteomics Identifies Mycobacterial Esx-1 Substrates

The Esx/WXG-100 (ESAT-6/Wss) exporters are multiprotein complexes that promote protein translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane in a diverse range of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacterial species. The Esx-1 (ESAT-6 System-1) system mediates virulence factor translocation in mycobacterial pathogens, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although several genes have been associated with Esx-1-mediated transport and virulence, the contribution of individual Esx-1 genes to export is largely undefined. A unique aspect of Esx-1 export is that several substrates require each other for export/stability. We exploited substrate “codependency” to identify Esx-1 substrates. We simultaneously quantified changes in the levels of 13 Esx-1 proteins from both secreted and cytosolic protein fractions generated from 16 Esx-1-deficient Mycobacterium marinum strains in a single experiment using MRM/SRM targeted mass spectrometry. This expansion of measurable Esx-1 proteins allowed us to define statisti...
Comparison and thinking on tracing historical source and contemporary understanding of Chinese materia medica toxicity

The toxicity of Chinese materia medica(CMM) is one of cores of the property theory of CMM.From the perspective of history,the literature source of the understanding on CMM toxicity was traced;The traditional and contemporary understanding about the meaning and classification of CMM toxicity was compared and analyzed;The ideas on CMM toxicity with the feature of tradition,experience,objectivity,the integrity of the concept,and some of the controllability were proposed;The theory and practice of traditional Chinese medicines should be combined in order to effectively integrate and apply various modern scientific and technical methods,and create new ideas about toxicity studies of CMM,which has the important significance on the comprehensive understanding about CMM toxicity,strengthening the research on CMM toxicity,and promoting the safety of CMM in clinical use.
Expression of basement membrane and endothelial cell adhesion molecules in vascular malformations of the brain: preliminary observations and working hypothesis.

AbstractLittle is known about the pathogenesis and subsequent cellular biologic behaviour of human cerebral vascular malformations. Innovative therapeutic strategies will depend on more fundamental understanding of structural and functional lesion biology. We have freeze-processed four specimens of arteriovenous malformation (AVM), two cavernous malformations (CM), and resected cortex from one case of Sturge-Weber disease (SWD) for immunohistochemical studies. Probes of vascular maturity and cellular adhesion were examined[ including Factor 8 related antigen (F8RAG), laminin, fibronectin, and adhesion molecules VCAM, ELAM and ICAM-1 (CD 54). Sections of the same lesions were permanently fixed and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin, and MOVAT Pentachrome stain for identification of vascular wall structures. A double antibody staining battery was utilized with ultraviolet fluorescent microscopy, and was analysed by an observer blinded to the antibody and lesion type. All malformations showed strong expres...
The Number of Permutations with Exactlyr132-Subsequences IsP-Recursive in the Size!

Proving a first nontrivial instance of a conjecture of Noonan and Zeilberger we show that the numberSr(n) of permutations of lengthncontaining exactlyrsubsequences of type 132 is aP-recursive function ofn. We show that this remains true even if we impose some restrictions on the permutations. We also show the stronger statement that the ordinary generating functionGr(x) ofSr(n) is algebraic, in fact, it is rational in the variablesxand1Â?4x. We use this information to show that the degree of the polynomial recursion satisfied bySr(n) isr.
Abstract 4222: Targeting HMGA2 suppresses GBM stemness, invasion and tumorigenicity

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) causes the majority of brain tumor-related deaths in the United States. The high invasiveness of GBM prevents complete surgical resection, allowing tumor recurrence. The lack of curative treatment highlights a dire need to develop specific targeted therapeutics. Identifying and targeting novel molecular markers in glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) thought to be critical for tumor invasion and recurrence could lead to development of better therapies. HMGA2, a non-histone transcriptional modulator, is a regulator of normal and cancer stem cells. The significance of HMGA2 as a potential therapeutic target in GBM has not been investigated. We found increased HMGA2 expression in a subset of primary human GBM tumors, in multiple patient-derived GBM neurosphere and adherent cell lines, and in the mesenchymal subgroup of GBM in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-lowered HMGA2 protein levels and significantly reduced invasion and clonogenicity of GBM cell lines in transwell invasion and soft agar colony formation assays. Pharmacological inhibition of HMGA proteins using the DNA minor-groove binding drug Netropsin significantly inhibited growth of the U-87 MG GBM cell line (P Citation Format: Harpreet Kaur, Marianne Hutt-Cabezas, Isabella Taylor, Laura Asnaghi, Fausto Rodriguez, Brent A. Orr, Charles G. Eberhart, Eric H. Raabe. Targeting HMGA2 suppresses GBM stemness, invasion and tumorigenicity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4222. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4222
Purification of Plutonium Chloride Solutions via Precipitation and Washing

Pyrochemical operations at Los Alamos Plutonium Facility use high temperature melts of calcium, sodium, and potassium salts in the plutonium metal purification process. Aqueous chloride operations recover the remaining plutonium from the residue salts, generating copious quantities of corrosive aqueous waste while occupying a large area of the facility. To minimize these problems, an alternative flow sheet was tested in which dissolved salts were precipitated and washed to remove interstitial chloride before further processing in aqueous nitrate operations. Results of the tests will be discussed from the perspective of chloride removal, plutonium recovery, filterability, and waste minimization.
BRONCHOMALACIA AND TRACHEOMALACIA

Tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia are a loss of cartilaginous support of the trachea and large airways. This can occur as a congenital defect or as a result of acquired disease processes. The loss of cartilaginous support leads to airway obstruction upon expiration. Symptoms of dyspnea and cough result from tracheobronchomalacia. Diagnosis is best performed by bronchoscopy but improvements in computed tomography has made radiographic diagnosis easier. Treatment varies from various means of stenting the airway to surgical correction.
The Corporate Social Responsibilities of Financial Institutions for the Conduct of Their Borrowers: The View from International Law and Standards

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be split along two distinct lines. The first touches on the nature of corporate personality and is rooted in domestic law regulating enterprises specifically and legal persons generally. The second touches on the nature of the rights of individuals and is rooted in international law (and sometimes domestic constitutional law) defining the scope of the human rights of individuals and the consequential obligations of states and legal persons. Both conversations intertwine though they tend to operate autonomously. In both cases, however, the traditional focus of corporate responsibility has focused on the relationship between an operating company and its direct effects on individuals, society and the environment. But increasing attention has been paid to indirect compliance through private intermediaries—the financial institutions which provide operating capital to enterprises. This article considers the corporate social responsibilities of financial institutions, including sovereign wealth funds, for the conduct of their borrowers. The focus will be the extent of any duty or responsibility of lenders to ensure that their borrowers comply with CSR obligations (or alternatively conforms to international human rights standards) as a core aspect of their own CSR obligations (or alternatively of their responsibility to respect human rights). Section II examines the general regulatory framework. There are two aspects that are relevant. The first is to understand the scope and character of the legal norms that may be applied to enterprises generally with respect to their operations that might be understood as CSR-human rights related in nature. The second is to consider the range of non-legal normative governance rules that might apply. In the process it will be important to distinguish between a CSR based regulatory approach and a human rights based approach. Section III considers the application of these norms to financial institutions. This requites distinguishing between those obligations that apply to the internal operations of financial institutions generally, and those obligations that apply to the financial institution’s obligations with respect to its lending activities, that is with respect to its relationship with its borrowers. The essay ends with a brief examination of recent cases in which financial institutions undertook such a responsibility, and the ways in which that obligation was undertaken.
Automated Extraction of Wind Data from Archived ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) Weather Reports

Wind loads for use in structural design are based in part on extre me value analysis of historical wind speed data for the location of interest. In some cas es wind direction data are also required to characterize the directionality of the l ocal wind climate. The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), a network of about 1000 standardized weather stations throughout the United States, is a good source of such local wind speed and direction data. In order to facilitate more widespread use of AS OS wind data for structural engineering purposes, this paper presents procedures a nd software for (a) extraction of peak gust wind data from archived ASOS reports, (b) ex traction of thunderstorm observations from archived ASOS reports, (c) classifica tion of wind data as thunderstorm or non-thunderstorm to enable separate statistical analys is of these distinct types of winds, and (d) construction of data sets separated by specif ied minimum time intervals to ensure statistical independence. These procedures ar e illustrated using ASOS data from three stations near New York City over a period of about 20 years.
Morphological evaluation of Day 8 embryos developed during induced aluteal cycles in the mare.

Abstract A novel in vivo model utilizing serial administrations of PGF 2α to induce aluteal cycles in the mare was used to evaluate the effects of progesterone-deprivation on the morphology of in vivo preimplantation embryos. We hypothesized that equine embryos produced during induced aluteal cycles (AL) would be developmentally affected, characterized by earlier embryo stage at collection, smaller embryo diameter, and lower quality grade, compared with those collected on the same day post-ovulation from control cycles during diestrus (high progesterone; > 4 ng/mL). Seven cyclic mares with a median age of 6.5 years (range 3–16) were utilized in a crossover design. Mares in estrus were artificially inseminated to a fertile stallion and randomly assigned to control or AL groups. Mares received either saline solution (control mares) or PGF 2α (AL mares), twice daily on days 0, 1, and 2 and once daily on days 3 and 4. Serial blood samples were collected daily during estrus and until the day of embryo collection 8 days after ovulation. Mares were monitored until they returned to estrus, and artificially inseminated. Mares were switched to the opposite treatment group only after a successful embryo collection occurred during the previous cycle. Only cycles that produced embryos were used for analyses. No significant rise in progesterone was observed in the AL group with mean concentrations of plasma progesterone remaining 2α were able to prevent significant rises in plasma progesterone, thus inducing aluteal cycles characterized by a progesterone-deprived environment for developing embryos. Embryos collected from induced aluteal cycles were adversely affected as demonstrated by a lower quality grade, smaller diameter and earlier embryo stage at collection when compared to control embryos.
Exercise and Nutritional Concerns

Recommended nutritional practices for optimal health, weight loss and maintenance, and sports performance for everyone are still being currently debated. Diabetes adds additional elements to managing exercise effectively and ensuring that the body has adequate nutrients and fuels to perform optimally. Nutritional recommendations differ somewhat based on an individual’s goal for exercising with diabetes, which may focus on diabetes and overall health benefits, weight control, athletic performance, or a combination of these. Healthy eating and a higher fiber intake will benefit health, but individuals with diabetes must also understand the impact the types and quantities of carbohydrates and other macronutrients have on their glycemic control. Weight loss and maintenance are best accomplished through lifestyle changes that include both improvements in diet and greater physical activity participation. Athletic performance and physical activity participation are greatly affected by nutrition, including adequate intake of macronutrients to replete muscle glycogen, micronutrients to optimize metabolism, water and other fluids to maintain hydration, and more. Nutritional best practices and recommendations are given in all of these areas in this chapter.