cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abundance, distribution, trends, and ownership patterns of early-successional forests in the northeastern United States

Abstract Early-successional forests are ephemeral and distinct forest communities, maintained by disturbance and dominated by small-sized trees and shrubs. These structural and compositional conditions form a unique habitat that is preferred by many wildlife species. Various sources have indicated that there have been declines in early-successional forest area and in the populations of many wildlife species associated with these habitats across the northeast. Results of the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program from four survey occasions were summarized for 11 states in the northeastern United States to identify recent trends in the area of early-successional forests. Early-successional forests were defined as sapling/seedling-size and non-stocked-size timberland. The area of total forest land has remained relatively constant in the northeast; however, the area of early-successional forests has declined since the first forest surveys (ca. 1950). Losses were greater in the coastal states than among interior states. The area of early-successional forest among coastal areas is approaching or below conditions that are estimated to have existed under disturbance regimes occurring prior to European settlement of the northeast; for interior areas, the current area of early-successional forest still exceeds estimated historic conditions. The majority of forest land in the northeastern United States have been privately owned by individuals since European settlement; this ownership pattern has affected forest change more than natural disturbances. Population increases in the northeast over the last 50 years have not resulted in the loss of forest land to residential and associated developments. However, the fragmentation of forest ownerships (i.e. parcelization) into ever smaller ownerships has imposed social and logistic restrictions on forest management options. The creation and maintenance of sufficient early-successional forests to sustain wildlife populations dependent on this habitat will require active intervention and management.
Aryl Aldehydes as Traceless Dielectrophiles in Bifunctional Titanocene-Catalyzed Propargylic C–X Activations

The titanocene-catalyzed construction of all-carbon substituted tertiary centers directly from aromatic aldehydes is described. The starting aldehyde behaves as a traceless functionality in the formation of multiple carbon–carbon bonds through consecutive carbon–heteroatom bond activations. The sequential addition of a metal acetylide and a second carbon nucleophile to the dielectrophilic aldehyde enables the construction of symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,4-diynes in good yields.
Impacts of polystyrene molecular weight and modification to the repeat unit structure on the glass transition-nanoconfinement effect and the cooperativity length scale

The effect of nanoconfinement on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of supported polystyrene (PS) films is investigated over a broad molecular weight (MW) range of 5000−3 000 000 g/mol. Polystyrene MW is shown to have no significant impact on the film thickness dependence of Tg − Tg,bulk. In contrast, a small modification to the repeat unit structure of PS has a dramatic impact on the Tg-nanoconfinement effect. The strength of the thickness dependence of Tg is greater for poly(4-methylstyrene) (P4MS) than for PS and yet much greater for poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) (PTBS). The Tg reduction for PTBS is 47 K below Tg,bulk for a 25 nm thick film, with the onset thickness for confinement effects in PTBS being 300−400 nm. Measurements of the size of cooperatively rearranging regions, ξCRR, in bulk polymer systems at Tg reveal that PS MW has no significant effect on ξCRR unless PS is oligomeric or nearly oligomeric. However, changes to repeat unit structure and diluent addition affect ξCRR values, but not in a ...
Quantitative Structure–Property Relationship Studies on Ostwald Solubility and Partition Coefficients of Organic Solutes in Ionic Liquids

Interactions of solutes with diverse ionic liquid solvents have been investigated by quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) methodology. Ostwald solubility coefficients and partition coefficients of organic solutes in eight different ionic liquids are correlated by molecular descriptors calculated solely from their structures. Two- to four-parameter best multilinear regression models were obtained with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.913 to 0.992. Additionally, several models were obtained with the same descriptors for all eight ionic liquids (ILs). Charge-related type descriptors contributed significantly to most of the models. The QSPR models were validated using the leave-one-out cross validation method.
Local coordination of carbon atoms in amorphous carbon

Amorphous carbon has been studied by $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{1}\mathrm{H}$ NMR with the techniques of static single-pulse excitation, magic-angle spinning, and cross polarization with magic-angle spinning. A spin-lattice relaxation time of 0.7 s was obtained for $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ by progressive saturation. Two different components are seen in the NMR spectrum of $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ in the static sample. These were resolved using a tensor fitting routine with Gaussian broadening functions. The downfield component corresponds to ``${\mathit{sp}}^{2}$-like'' carbon atoms, which comprise 93.6% of the total signal. This component was fit to an axially symmetric shift tensor with ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathrm{?}}$=-28 ppm, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$=209 ppm, and \ensuremath{\sigma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=130 ppm. The remaining upfield component is assigned to ``${\mathit{sp}}^{3}$-like'' carbon atoms. These were fit to a symmetric shift tensor with \ensuremath{\sigma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=62 ppm. The concentration of the dangling bonds, as inferred from spin counting by ESR, is about 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{20}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$. About two thirds of the carbon atoms are not seen in the static NMR measurement because of the high concentration of the unpaired electrons, which leads to severe inhomogeneous line broadening. These carbon atoms are detected under magic-angle spinning by the sidebands, which spread over a range of 2000 ppm. The first moment is located at 130 (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5) ppm. The upper limit of the fraction of hydrogenated carbon is estimated to be 1.5%.
Chinese Hamster Mouse Hybrid Cells Segregating Mouse Chromosomes and Isozymes

Hybrid cells are readily formed by fusing clonal Chinese hamster cells to fresh, noncultured, adult mouse spleen cells followed by isolation in selective medium. The vast majority of such hybrids retain Chinese hamster chromosomes and isozymes while segregating mouse chromosomes and isozymes. The growth, plating efficiency, ease of karyology, and rapid segregation of mouse markers allows linkage tests in primary clones. Analysis of 13 isozymes showed 12 to be asyntenic and on epair (PGD-PGM2) to be syntenic This system will allow extensive somatic cell hybrid gene mapping in the mouse and permit a comparison of human and mouse linkage relationships.
Stromal elements act to restrain, rather than support, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Sonic hedgehog (Shh), a soluble ligand overexpressed by neoplastic cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), drives formation of a fibroblast-rich desmoplastic stroma. To better understand its role in malignant progression, we deleted Shh in a well-defined mouse model of PDAC. As predicted, Shh-deficient tumors had reduced stromal content. Surprisingly, such tumors were more aggressive and exhibited undifferentiated histology, increased vascularity, and heightened proliferation--features that were fully recapitulated in control mice treated with a Smoothened inhibitor. Furthermore, administration of VEGFR blocking antibody selectively improved survival of Shh-deficient tumors, indicating that Hedgehog-driven stroma suppresses tumor growth in part by restraining tumor angiogenesis. Together, these data demonstrate that some components of the tumor stroma can act to restrain tumor growth.
Influence of immunomodulation on the development of Listeria monocytogenes infection in aged guinea pigs

We investigated the impact of immunomodulation on the development of listeriosis within an aged population of guinea pigs after an intragastric challenge with Listeria monocytogenes. Supplementation with vitamin E for 35 days significantly increased the level of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+), while treatment with cyclosporin A resulted in a 25% decrease of CD8+ T cells. In the animals receiving the low dose (102 CFU) of L. monocytogenes, 50% of the control-group animals became infected. Only 22% of animals receiving the orthomolecular dose of vitamin E became infected, whereas animals that were immunosuppressed had an infection rate of 89%. In the immunosuppressed group three animals (16%) developed listerial infection with a quantifiable bacterial level of 0.3–3 log CFU g−1 of organ in the spleen and liver. In the high-dose study, the population of L. monocytogenes was consistently 1 log CFU g−1 lower in the spleen or liver of the vitamin E-supplemented group, compared with the control and cyclosporin A-treated animals. At day 4, a significant increase in the levels of CD8+ during listerial infection occurred in vitamin E-supplemented animals, suggesting an increased ability to produce CD8+ T cells. The results suggest that immunomodulation of the host can influence listerial infection within an aged population of guinea pigs.
A digital current control for switched reluctance motor drives

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are highly non-linear. Therefore, their control over a wide speed range has unique difficulties. In addition, conventional and classic linear control techniques have limitations. In this paper, a novel digital current control for SRM drives is presented. By treating the system digitally, the controller switches between two pre-defined states to get the desired speed. The proposed control technique does not need any look up tables, is not sensitive to the motor parameter variations, is low cost, and has a wide speed range. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the proposed digital control approach.
Bone Marrow Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Influences the Development of Obesity

Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are elevated in obesity and correlate with body mass index. The increase in PAI-1 associated with obesity likely contributes to increased cardiovascular risk and may predict the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although adipocytes are capable of synthesizing PAI-1, the bulk of evidence indicates that cells residing in the stromal fraction of visceral fat are the primary source of PAI-1. We hypothesized that bone marrow-derived PAI-1, e.g. derived from macrophages located in visceral fat, contributes to the development of diet-induced obesity. To test this hypothesis, male C57BL/6 wild-type mice and C57BL/6 PAI-1 deficient mice were transplanted with either PAI-1-/-, PAI-1+/-, or PAI-1+/+ bone marrow. The transplanted animals were subsequently fed a high fat diet for 24 weeks. Our findings show that only the complete absence of PAI-1 protects from the development of diet-induced obesity, whereas the absence of bone marrow-derived PAI-1 protects against expansion of the visceral fat mass. Remarkably, there is a link between the PAI-1 levels, the degree of inflammation in adipose tissue, and the development of obesity. Based on these findings we suggest that bone marrow-derived PAI-1 has an effect on the development of obesity through its effect on inflammation.
Understanding Inflections and Steps in Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Isotherms in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Adsorption isotherms for CO2 in IRMOF-1 exhibit inflections that grow into pronounced steps at lower temperatures. The isotherm shapes can be predicted by molecular simulations using a rigid crystal structure, indicating that changes in the MOF crystal structure are not responsible for the steps in this system.
Some Thoughts on the Concept of ULD (Ultra Low‐Dosage) Spraying

Applications at ultra-low dosage and volume with small, uniform and non volatile droplets were developed when it appeared that their effectiveness was based on a redistribution of the active ingredient on the plant tissues originally not covered by the compound. Preference has been given to a droplet size of 70 microns provided by rotating devices. Volumes of 1 to 8 lit./ha. seem sufficient to control fungi and less mobile insects and 0,1 to 1 lit./ha. for mobile insects. However, dosages can still be reduced according to the strict requirements. The drift hazards of non volatile compounds appear to be less than those existing for aqueous preparations. A careful study of the formulations could further reduce the dangers of environmental contamination and it appears that ultra low-dosage applications merit special attention.
Approximate solutions of the Liouville equation I. A truncation scheme for distribution functions

Abstract The Liouville equation is studied in the domain of validity of linear response theory. The approach is to assume a functional form for the N -body distribution which fits classes of initial distributions exactly. This determines all time-dependent, reduced distribution functions. In the first approximation, the deviation from the exact equilibrium function is assumed to be one-body additive in phase space for all times. The one-body function is fixed by the first equation of the time-dependent hierarchy. This leads to Zwanzig's modification of the linearized Vlasov equation. In the second approximation, we include a two-body additive function and use the first two equations of the hierarchy. With the help of exact identities satisfied by the equilibrium correlations one obtains kinetic equations for the singlet and pair distributions in which the potential has been eliminated and only equilibrium correlation functions appear. In the second approximation, the second and fourth frequency moments of the inelastic scattering function are exact. The resulting truncation scheme is meaningful in any order for both strong short-range forces and for plasmas.
Day-Case Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Childhood: Outcomes from a Clinical Care Pathway

Aim The aim of this study was to report clinical outcomes following the use of a pediatric day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DCLC) clinical care pathway. The pathway was modified in September 2009 and we compare the clinical outcomes before and after this modification. Methods A care pathway for DCLC was introduced in 2008 with emphasis on the day of admission, timing of surgery, choice of anesthetic agents, analgesia, postoperative feeding, mobilization, and pain scoring. Demographic and clinical data were recorded prospectively from January 2008 to January 2012. In September 2009, two modifications were made to the pathway. Induction of anesthesia was changed to total intravenous anesthesia, using propofol (target 4 to 6 µg/mL) and remifentanil (target 3 to 5 ng/mL) and the use of the gaseous anesthetic sevoflurane was eliminated with the aim of reducing the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The postoperative feeding regime was changed from unrestricted to light diet for 72 hours. The rest of the pathway was unchanged. Data before (group 1) and following the modifications (group 2) were compared. Results We admitted 25 children with symptomatic cholelithiasis for DCLC under the care of one surgeon: 12 in group 1 and 13 in group 2. There were no significant differences in age between group 1 (median 13 [range 6 to 15] years) and group 2 (median 15 [9 to 16] years) (p = 0.07). There were no intra- or postoperative complications. The day-case rate increased from 6/12 (50%) in group 1 to 12/13 (92%) in group 2 (p = 0.03). The incidence of PONV reduced from 7/12 (58%) in group 1 to 0/13 in group 2 (p = 0.002). PONV in group 1 resulted in overnight stay (n = 6) and readmission (n = 1). One patient in group 2 had an overnight stay due to poor mobilization. Conclusions Adoption of a DCLC pathway is feasible and safe for children. Emphasis on adequate pain management and avoidance of PONV results in a high rate of day-case surgery equivalent to that achieved in adult practice.
A Study of Community Responses to Drug Problems.

Many programs which are now being developed across the nation are in direct response to community and legislative pressures concerning the abuse of drugs in their jurisdictions. Much of the effort is made toward developing drug education programs for schools, with little regard for total community involvement of adults and youths. Ways must be found to bridge the gap between comprehensive health instruction based on sound principles of curriculum planning and those efforts frequently demonstrated in drug education “crash programs.” A series of workshops held in various regions of a southwestern state may identify logical approaches to bridge this gap. The reactions of workshop participants and the interpretations and impressions of the directors of the programs have provided foundations for developing a total community effort to solve the complex problems related to drugs.The experiences gained from these sessions which have been conducted during the past five years may serve as guidelines for other commu...
Fabrication and characterization of ferroelectric composite ceramics

Abstract New composites of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (BSTO) and nonferroelectric oxide ceramic composites with lower barium content have recently been formulated. The electronic properties of the materials including the temperature dependent properties of the dielectric constant have been investigated. The materials exhibit reduced dielectric constants, ϵ ', and loss tangents, tan δ, which reduce the overall impedance mismatch and the insertion loss of the device. In addition, the tunability, change in the dielectric constant with applied voltage, is maintained at a sufficiently high level for all dielectric constants of interest. Some initial work on the microwave properties of the materials using a cylindrical TE01 mode-filtered X-band cavity have been investigated. Fourier Transform Raman spectra were taken to provide a compositional analysis of the specimens and to provide insight into the effect of strontium and oxide additives on the structural properties. These properties have been correlated to the electronic ...
Trace elemental composition of Nigerian coal measured by neutron activation analysis

The instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique has been used to determine 17 major, minor, and trace elements in samples of the three major sources of Nigerian coal. The NBS Standard Reference Material, Coal SRM 1632, was also analyzed, for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of the method. The results obtained with it were in good agreement with the NBS certified values. The concentrations of the major elements determined for the Nigerian coal were found to be much lower than the mean values of those reported for coal samples from other parts of the world.
A 3D Ad Hoc Localization System Using Aerial Sensor Nodes

An ad hoc localization system (AHLoS) is necessary at a time or place where global satellite navigation systems are not available and a permanent infrastructure is not needed. Previous work on such systems has typically focused on 2D horizontal navigation, but new applications such as those for unmanned aerial systems (UASs) require a 3D navigation capability. In this paper, we present an AHLoS utilizing aerial nodes in the form of quadrotors or similar platforms in addition to fixed, ground-based nodes to provide a precise 3D positioning capability. The nodes are equipped with ultrawideband devices to be used as ranging sources. Our mathematical analysis and simulated results suggest that the 3D AHLoS is capable of providing high positioning accuracy, most notably, the vertical accuracy that is better than a couple of decimeters for 95% of the time, making it ideal for various UAS applications.
Mass spectrometric methods: an answer for macromolecule analysis in the 1990s

Abstract The field of mass spectrometry is now well developed for solving analytical and structural problems involving substances with molecular weights less than ca. 1000. The future challenge for mass spectrometry is in the area of macromolecule analysis and structural biology. This challenge will be met on two fronts. One is structural analysis of pieces of macromolecules, a task for tandem mass spectrometers. Tandem sector instruments offer sufficient control, reproducibility of results and ease of set-up that they will play a major role in structure studies. When designed to operate with extended array detectors, tandem sector instruments will also offer subpicomole detection limits. The second front is molecular weight measurements. Exciting advances include matrix-assisted laser desorption and electrospray ionization. The need for better means of mass analysis is forecast, and it is suggested that the Fourier transform mass spectrometer can meet the challenge. Success awaits a better understanding of the dynamics of high-mass ions. One route to improved understanding is outlined.
Comparison of Tolbutamide and Insulin Pre-Treatment Prior to Alloxan Induced Diabetes

Summary1) Starvation or glucose plus tolbutamide potentiates the diabetogenic activity of alloxan with increased mortality. 2) Glucose alone or glucose plus insulin protects against alloxan diabetes. 3) Different results obtained with insulin or tolbutamide cannot be explained on the basis of liver glycogen content, blood glucose, or theoretical status of pancreatic activity at time of alloxan injection.
Impact of mesophyll diffusion on estimated global land CO2 fertilization

In C3 plants, CO2 concentrations drop considerably along mesophyll diffusion pathways from substomatal cavities to chloroplasts where CO2 assimilation occurs. Global carbon cycle models have not explicitly represented this internal drawdown and therefore overestimate CO2 available for carboxylation and underestimate photosynthetic responsiveness to atmospheric CO2. An explicit consideration of mesophyll diffusion increases the modeled cumulative CO2 fertilization effect (CFE) for global gross primary production (GPP) from 915 to 1,057 PgC for the period of 1901–2010. This increase represents a 16% correction, which is large enough to explain the persistent overestimation of growth rates of historical atmospheric CO2 by Earth system models. Without this correction, the CFE for global GPP is underestimated by 0.05 PgC/y/ppm. This finding implies that the contemporary terrestrial biosphere is more CO2 limited than previously thought.
Experience with clonidine-naltrexone for rapid opiate detoxification

The use of naltrexone results in an accelerated opiate withdrawal. By combining clonidine with naltrexone, severity of the withdrawal is modified. This paper describes the author's experience with use of this protocol in 55 episodes of opiate detoxification. Commercially available naltrexone (Trexan) and clonidine tablets were used in the setting of a medical detoxification unit. Of 55 detoxifications, 51 were successfully completed. Results confirm the clinical utility of this protocol as evidenced by rapid detoxification, minimal dropout, and induction of naltrexone maintenance.
Integrating Wellness Concepts within a Clinical Supervision Model

Wellness, considered a multidimensional synergistic concept (Roscoe, 2009) has been viewed as a fundamental component of counseling (Myers & Sweeney, 2005c). As such, wellness concepts integrated within clinical supervision need to be explored. In this article, the authors identify the need for a model of supervision that features wellness concepts, discuss some relevant concepts of wellness in the helping profession, and describe how they can be integrated within a model of clinical supervision. In addition to proposing a model for integrating wellness as a central construct into a clinical supervision, case examples are utilized to illustrate the implementation of this model.
Characterization of a novel PMA-inducible pathway of interleukin-13 gene expression in T cells

Although interleukin 13 (IL-13) is an important mediator of asthma and allergic diseases, the molecular mechanisms regulating IL-13 gene expression are not well understood. This study was designed to define the molecular mechanisms governing IL-13 gene expression in T cells. IL-13 expression was examined in human peripheral blood T cells and in the EL-4 T-cell line by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. An IL-13 promoter deletion analysis was performed using luciferase-based reporter plasmids transiently transfected into EL-4 cells by electroporation. DNA binding factors were investigated using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In contrast to IL-4 expression, which required concomitant activation of calcium- and protein kinase C- (PKC-) dependent signalling pathways, PKC activation alone was sufficient for IL-13 protein secretion in mitogen-primed (but not resting) peripheral blood T cells, and for IL-13 mRNA expression and promoter activity in EL-4 T cells. Promoter deletion analysis localized a phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-sensitive element to a proximal promoter region between -109 and -79 base pairs upstream from the IL-13 transcription start site. This promoter region supported the binding of both constitutive and PMA-inducible nuclear factors in gel shift assays.
Self-focused attention and public speaking anxiety

Abstract While there has been considerable concern for the assessment, correlates, and treatment of public speaking anxiety, little attention has been paid to why dispositional public speech anxiety detrimentally affects public speaking performances. In this study we test the notion that high public speaking anxiety is associated with excessive attention to self, leading to less effective public presentations. Results indicate that highly anxious speakers tend to pay less attention to their environments and have more negative, self-focused cognitions about their performances than low anxious speakers. This increase in attention to self is correlated with poorer speaking performances and lower self-evaluations.
Web Sponsorship and Campaign Effects: Assessing the Difference Between Positive and Negative Web Sites

This 2 × 3 experiment investigated the impact of Web-based political campaigns on viewers. Three distinct sites were created as stimuli: the first is positive about the feature candidate, the second is negative toward his or her opponent, and the third contains both positive and negative messages. Subjects viewed identical Web sites sponsored by the feature candidate and by an interest group. Researchers then tested for potential differences in liking, voting intention, credibility, and apathy. Results show that positive messages lead to higher liking and voting intention. Site sponsorship only makes a difference to credibility of negative information. Additionally, viewers' apathy plays a significant role in political information processing.
Intramolecular vibrational preparation of the unfolding transition state of ZnII-substituted cytochrome c

We show that an intramolecular vibrational excitation provided by the radiationless decay of a covalently bound electronic chromophore can be exploited to drive a protein from its native folded sta...
Lilly lecture 1988. Glucose counterregulation and its impact on diabetes mellitus.

Glucose counterregulation is the sum of processes that protect against development of hypoglycemia and that restore euglycemia if hypoglycemia should occur. In order of importance, the key counterregulatory factors are glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, cortisol, and hepatic autoregulation. These act primarily by increasing hepatic glucose output, initially via breakdown of glycogen and later by gluconeogenesis. In people without diabetes and in people with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, suppression of endogenous insulin secretion during hypoglycemia is also important in permitting full expression of the effects of counterregulation. People with diabetes are more prone to develop hypoglycemia for various reasons (e.g., insulin overdose, skipped meals, and intensive exercise); one that has recently been identified is impaired glucose counterregulation: patients with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes (and to a lesser extent, patients with type II diabetes) lose the glucagon response to hypoglycemia; subsequent development of autonomic neuropathy with concomitant loss of the epinephrine response leads to almost complete paralysis of counterregulation and loss of recognition of hypoglycemia. To make matters worse, an episode of hypoglycemia that causes activation of counterregulation can lead to rebound hyperglycemia (Somogyi phenomenon); if this is improperly treated, brittle diabetes may follow. Thus, abnormalities in glucose counterregulation may predispose to severe hypoglycemia and prevent achievement of optimal glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
Evolutionary computational synthesis of self-organizing systems

A computational approach for the design of self-organizing systems is proposed that employs a genetic algorithm to efficiently explore the vast space of possible configurations of a given system description. To generate the description of the system, a two-field based model is proposed in which agents are assigned parameterized responses to two “fields,” a task field encompassing environmental features and task objects, and a social field arising from agent interactions. The aggregate effect of these two fields, sensed by agents individually, governs the behavior of each agent, while the system-level behavior emerges from the actions of and interactions among the agents. Task requirements together with performance preferences are used to compose system fitness functions for evolving functional and efficient self-organizing mechanisms. Case studies on the evolutionary synthesis of self-organizing systems are presented and discussed. These case studies focus on achieving system-level behavior with minimal explicit coordination among agents. Agents were able to collectively display flocking, exploration, and foraging through self-organization. The proposed two-field model was able to capture important features of self-organizing systems, and the genetic algorithm was able to generate self-organizing mechanisms by which agents could form task-based structures to fulfill functional requirements.
Central skeletal sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic disease

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that histologically typically shows non-caseating granulomas. The most common radiologic finding is hilar and mediastinal adenopathy. Patients with widely disseminated disease may show involvement of the peripheral appendicular skeleton in 1–13% of such cases. A primary skeletal presentation without other manifestations typical of the disease is rare. We present a case of sarcoidosis in a middle-aged Caucasian man in whom the disease presented with widespread lytic lesions in the axial skeleton and long bones, mimicking metastatic disease. There was no involvement of the peripheral skeleton, skin or lungs.
A Checklist of Hospitalization Criteria for Use With Children

Each year in the U.S. more than 130,000 children are hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. The decision to hospitalize a child is based on a complex set of factors. In this study, a 12-item checklist of criteria for hospitalization adapted by the authors was tested for its ability to predict hospitalization in a cohort of 389 children between the ages of two and 12 who were evaluated for either inpatient or outpatient treatment. Eighty-seven (22 percent) of the children were subsequently hospitalized. In 95 percent of the cases, the checklist was able to correctly predict whether the patient was hospitalized. A shorter checklist of six items was also able to predict the subsequent form of treatment in 95 percent of the cases. Although such checklists cannot take the place of informed clinical decisions, they can serve as a guide to decision making, especially for inexperienced mental health workers, and as a tool for utilization review when treatment decisions are questioned.
INFUSING GERONTOLOGICAL CONTENT INTO CURRICULA: EFFECTIVE CHANGE STRATEGIES

This paper presents a review of curriculum-change literature with a special focus on curricular infusion and an analysis of curriculum-change strategies. These strategies were used by 62 social work education programs involved in the national gerontological infusion project supported by the John T. Hartford Foundation. Best practices to achieve gerontological infusion in foundation courses are identified. Curriculum-change strategies that focus on involving all faculty members appear to be strongly supported by the curriculum-change literature and positive outcomes, as shown by the results of the study reported in this paper. The training of faculty and field instructors, the involvement of the foundation faculty as a whole in changing foundation curriculum, and the encouragement of faculty by accepted academic leaders to complete the infusion process, all appear to be key in successfully achieving this kind of curriculum change.
Predicting the effect of residual stress on fatigue crack growth

Abstract Fatigue crack growth from a hole with a pre-existing compressive residual stress is simulated using two-dimensional elastic–plastic finite element analyses. The analyses allow a determination of the crack opening stress as the crack propagates through the residual stress, from which the effective stress intensity factor range ΔKeff and the fatigue crack growth is predicted. Results from these simulations are compared with experimental data and to predictions made using a conventional superposition of the elastic stress intensity factor. The crack closure-based methodology resulted in predictions which compared well with the experimental data, while the results using superposition were nonconservative. Predictions from the closure-based method are highly dependent on the da/dN = f(ΔKeff) constitutive relationship used, highlighting the need for experimental methods to reliably measure this correlation.
The effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on left ventricular systolic function at rest: Evidence for preoperative subclinical myocardial ischemia

Successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves exercise-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but its potential for improving resting LV function remains controversial. To assess the influence of CABG on LV function at rest, 31 CAD patients without previous myocardial infarction were studied before and 6 months after CABG by radionuclide angiography after all cardiac medicines were withdrawn. No patient had angina or ischemic electrocardiographic changes at rest. In 27 patients with patent bypass grafts, CABG significantly increased LV ejection fraction during exercise (47 +/- 11% before to 63 +/- 9% after operation, p less than 0.001), indicating reduction in exercise-induced LV ischemia. Moreover, LV ejection fraction at rest also increased (55 +/- 9 to 60 +/- 8%, p less than 0.001), with 20 of 27 patients manifesting an increase compared with preoperative values. Eleven of these 20 patients had apparently normal LV function at rest (ejection fraction and regional wall motion) before CABG. LV regional ejection fraction was computed by dividing the LV region of interest into 20 sectors. Regional analysis indicated that improved ejection fraction at rest after CABG occurred in regions developing ischemia during exercise before CABG. In 4 patients with occluded grafts, the ejection fraction at rest was unchanged by CABG globally (59 +/- 8 to 58 +/- 9%, difference not significant) and regionally. Thus, LV global and regional function at rest improved after successful CABG, even in patients with normal global LV ejection fraction and no visually detectable wall motion abnormality before surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Self‐Socialization of Gender in African American, Dominican Immigrant, and Mexican Immigrant Toddlers

This article advances a self-socialization perspective demonstrating that children's understanding of both gender categories represents an intergroup cognition that is foundational to the development of gender-stereotyped play. Children's (N = 212) gender category knowledge was assessed at 24 months and play was observed at 24 and 36 months. Higher levels of gender category knowledge and, more specifically, passing multiple measures of knowledge of both gender categories at 24 months was related to increases in play over time with gender-stereotyped toys (doll, truck), but not gender-stereotyped forms of play (nurturing, motion). In contrast to the long-standing focus on self-labeling, findings indicate the importance of intergroup cognitions in self-socialization processes and demonstrate the generalizability of these processes to a diverse sample.
Impact of First Language Loss on Grammar in a Bilingual Child

I followed a young bilingual Puerto Rican Spanish-English speaking child during a 2-year period (ages 4 years 7 months to 6 years 5 months). Spanish language samples were collected periodically while the child interacted with a familiar adult and analyzed for evidence of grammatical errors and reduction in morphosyntactic complexity. The child's use of various communicative strategies was also assessed. These included code switching and the use of general Spanish reference words (e.g., locatives, demonstrative pronouns) and phrases. Results suggest a progressive reduction of morphological and syntactical complexity in Spanish. The observed errors tended to affect mainly Spanish inflectional morphology (e.g., verb agreement errors, gender agreement errors). The incidence of syntactic errors such as incorrect word order in the production of noun phrases was low. The child also presented a variety of strategies that aided her in communicating effectively. When the data were contrasted to previous research on...
Self-Assembled Matrix by Umbilical Cord Stem Cells

Corneal integrity is critical for vision. Corneal wounds frequently heal with scarring that impairs vision. Recently, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (cord stem cells) have been investigated for tissue engineering and therapy due to their availability and differentiation potential. In this study, we used cord stem cells in a 3-dimensional (3D) stroma-like model to observe extracellular matrix organization, with human corneal fibroblasts acting as a control. For 4 weeks, the cells were stimulated with a stable Vitamin C (VitC) derivative ±TGF-1. After 4 weeks, the mean thickness of the constructs was ~30 m; however, cord stem cell constructs had 50% less cells per unit volume, indicating the formation of a dense matrix. We found minimal change in decorin and lumican mRNA, and a significant increase in perlecan mRNA in the presence of TGF-1. Keratocan on the other hand decreased with TGF-1 in both cell lineages. With both cell types, the constructs possessed aligned collagen fibrils and associated glycosaminoglycans. Fibril diameters did not change with TGF-1 stimulation or cell lineage; however, highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans associated with the collagen fibrils
Targeted ROTational magnetic resonance angiography (TROTA).

An MR angiographic method is presented in which a rotating 2D slice is centered on and targets a region or vessel of interest. Collecting a series of slices rotating about the center of the targeted region yields projection data sufficient for the calculation of 3D volumetric data of the region using conventional backprojection reconstruction techniques. These volumetric data depict the internal structure of the vessel and can be processed and displayed with multiplanar reformation, maximum intensity projections, and 3D rendering algorithms. The rotational angiographic acquisition preserves the high temporal resolution of 2D-MR digital subtraction angiography with the added benefit of 3D reformatting and display. The method is explained in detail and results from phantom and human experiments are presented. Magn Reson Med, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Production and comprehension in aphasia: Gains and pitfalls in using macrostructure tasks in Aesop's fables

AbstractMacrostructures provide the global meaning of a text. Using Aesop's fables, the main goal of this study has been to identify the advantages and limitations in using the macrostructure tasks of retell, summary, lesson, and gist as clinical tools in understanding 16 patients with mild-to-moderate aphasia. Results suggest that all of the macrostructure tasks are important in determining the production skills of patients with aphasia. Comprehension, on the other hand, is best determined through the macrostructure tasks of retell and lesson. In addition to the language processing skills of patients with aphasia, macrostructures also provide a cognitive picture of how patients manipulate information from stories (i.e., reducing information, making inferences, and generalizing didactic information). Inherent limitations, however, are seen when interpreting possible reasons why patients with aphasia are unable to perform some of these tasks. Given that the potential gains of using macrostructure tasks out...
Neurotrophin Effects on Survival and Expression of Cholinergic Properties in Cultured Rat Septal Neurons under Normal and Stress Conditions

These studies tested the hypothesis that survival-promoting effects of neurotrophins on basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are enhanced under stress. Septal neurons from embryonic day 14–15 rats exposed for 10–14 d to neurotrophin [nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), or neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), each at 100 ng/ml] showed a two- to threefold increase in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, with little evidence of synergistic interactions. Neurotrophins produced no significant increase in the survival of total or acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive neurons at moderate plating density (1200–1600 cells/mm 2 ). However, with very low plating densities (2–28 cells/mm 2 ) BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4 (but not NGF) increased total neuronal survival, and BDNF increased survival of AChE-positive neurons. NGF and BDNF enhanced ChAT activity and survival of cholinergic neurons after a 24 hr hypoglycemic stress, even when added 1 hr after stress onset. All four tested neurotrophins increased total neuronal survival after hypoglycemic stress. These results suggest that neurotrophins are important for preservation of central cholinergic function under stress conditions, with different neurotrophins protecting against different stresses. The stress-associated survival-promoting effects of neurotrophins were not limited to the cholinergic subpopulation.
An efficient block preconditioner for Jacobian‐free global–local multiscale methods

In this paper, we develop a block preconditioner for Jacobian-free global–local multiscale methods, in which the explicit computation of the Jacobian may be circumvented at the macroscale by using a Newton–Krylov process. Effective preconditioning is necessary for the Krylov subspace iterations (e.g. GMRES) to enhance computational efficiency. This is, however, challenging since no explicit information regarding the Jacobian matrix is available. The block preconditioning technique developed in this paper circumvents this problem by effectively deflating the spectrum of the Jacobian matrix at the current Newton step using information about only the Krylov subspaces corresponding to the Jacobian matrices in the previous Newton steps and their representations on those subspaces. This approach is optimal and results in exponential convergence of the GMRES iterations within each Newton step, thus minimizing expensive microscale computations without requiring explicit Jacobian formation in any step. In terms of both computational cost and storage requirements, the action of a single block of the preconditioner per GMRES step scales linearly as the number of degrees of freedom of the macroscale problem as well as the dimension of the invariant subspace of the preconditioned Jacobian matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the Trail of a White Whale: Sequel

I offer a lengthy rationalization and an apologia pro vita sua for dreaming up, playing, experimenting with, and theorizing about games in various applications.
A Mathematical Model for the Estimation of Heart Volumes from Indicator Dilution Curves

The estimation of ventricular volumes by indicator dilution methods is subject to errors resulting from incomplete mixing and nonuniform sampling. A mathematical model is proposed which theoretically permits calculation of these errors. The model allows for nonuniform distribution of indicator in the ventricle and for nonuniform representation of the end-diastolic volume (EDV) in the systolic ejectate. It is assumed that the concentration of indicator and the flow at a given cross section of the aorta are uniform but not necessarily the same at a different cross section, or at different times during the cardiac cycle. In respect to the validity of the popular formula, EDV = SV/l-K (K = average residual fraction), it was shown that the conditions traditionally believed to be satisfying for accurate measurements of EDV are neither sufficient nor necessary. Less restrictive alternative conditions sufficient for accurate measurements are proposed.
Effects of Exposure to Part-time Faculty on Community College Transfer

Over the past several decades, one of the most significant changes in the delivery of postsecondary education involves the dramatic increase in the use of contingent or part-time faculty. Although the increased use of part-time faculty within higher edu- cation makes sense from an administrative point of view, its use does not come without criticism. With community colleges representing a more convenient, affordable, and flexible educational option for a number of students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, examining how exposure to part-time faculty relates to students' academic goals represents an important area of inquiry. This study draws from social and human capital frameworks and uses hierarchical generalized linear modeling (HGLM) to examine how exposure to part-time faculty relates to community college students' likelihood of transferring to a four-year college or university. Findings suggest that students tend to be significantly less likely to transfer as their exposure to part-time faculty increases.
Heterogeneous modulation for trading-off energy balancing with bandwidth efficiency in hierarchical sensor networks

With power efficiency and lifetime awareness becoming critical design concerns in wireless sensor networks (WSN), it has become essential to exploit the physical layer characteristics at the system deployment stage. This paper focuses on how certain physical layer attributes can affect both the lifetime and the end-to-end delay in a hierarchical WSN. We present a heterogeneous modulation scheme and report its impact on the spatial distribution of energy dissipation and the resulting network lifetime. Moreover, we study how this heterogeneous modulation scheme affects the end-to-end delay due to inherent trade-offs in power efficiency and bandwidth efficiency of the different modulation schemes.
Supervision The Importance and Interaction of Competency Benchmarks and Multiculturalism

The authors provide reaction to the Major Contribution (MC) “Multicultural Clinical Supervision and Benchmarks: Empirical Support Informing Supervision Practice and Supervisor Training.” The article begins with an overview reaction to the MC. Following this, each of the four articles that compose the MC are discussed. The reactions provide both a contextual response to the articles as well a response to the central theme of the MC—that is, the intersection of supervision, multiculturalism, and the competency benchmarks.