cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reading Rate and Comprehension: Implications for Designing Computer Technology To Facilitate Reading Comprehension

Abstract The article presents findings from recent research on reading rate, comprehension and subvocal speech. It discusses how computer assisted software could be used to assist readers in developing reading strategies that can help them become more proficient readers. It also discusses implications for software development that takes into account the recent findings on reading rate and subvocal speech.
Unit length as the denominator for quantitation of cell proliferation in nasal epithelia.

Cell proliferation data, generally based on a labeling index (LI), provide a valuable endpoint for assessment of toxic and potentially carcinogenic responses in laboratory animals. Measurement of the LI is time consuming because of the large number of cells that need to be counted to determine the denominator. In respiratory mucosa, the total cell count of the surface epithelia may be altered in response to treatment, either through cell loss or increases in cell number (e.g., hyperplasia). As an alternative to the more conventional LI, the present studies were carried out to assess the value of expressing cell proliferation in nasal epithelia as a unit length labeling index (ULLI), defined as labeled cells per mm of basement membrane. Rats were exposed by inhalation to formaldehyde or methyl bromide, and changes in cell proliferation were determined in the respiratory and olfactory epithelia, respectively, using both total cell count and basement membrane length as denominators. Total cell counts were clearly influenced by treatment, while basement membrane length was not. Both methods revealed similar treatment-induced effects on cell proliferation, and in fact were highly correlated (R greater than or equal to 0.92, p less than 0.001). It was concluded that the ULLI method provides an effective alternative to total cell counts and the LI method. This approach is not influenced by alterations in the total cell population, and has the benefit of being less labor intensive than LI determinations.
The Role of Real Options in Capital Budgeting: Theory and Practice1

Most discussions of capital budgeting take for granted that discounted cash flow (DCF) and real options valuation (ROV) are very different methods that are meant to be applied in different circumstances. Such discussions also typically assume that DCF is “easy” and ROV is “hard”—or at least dauntingly unfamiliar—and that, mainly for this reason, managers often use DCF and rarely ROV. This paper argues that all three assumptions are wrong or at least seriously misleading. DCF and ROV both assign a present value to risky future cash flows. DCF entails discounting expected future cash flows at the expected return on an asset of comparable risk. ROV uses “risk-neutral” valuation, which means computing expected cash flows based on “risk-neutral” probabilities and discounting these flows at the risk-free rate. Using a series of single-period examples, the author demonstrates that both methods, when done correctly, should provide the same answer. Moreover, in most ROV applications—those where there is no forward price or “replicating portfolio” of traded assets—a “preliminary” DCF valuation is required to perform the risk-neutral valuation. So why use ROV at all? In cases where project risk and the discount rates are expected to change over time, the risk-neutral ROV approach will be easier to implement than DCF (since adjusting cash flow probabilities is more straightforward than adjusting discount rates). The author uses multi-period examples to illustrate further both the simplicity of ROV and the strong assumptions required for a typical DCF valuation. But the simplicity that results from discounting with risk-free rates is not the only benefit of using ROV instead of—or together with—traditional DCF. The use of formal ROV techniques may also encourage managers to think more broadly about the flexibility that is (or can be) built into future business decisions, and thus to choose from a different set of possible investments. To the extent that managers who use ROV have effectively adopted a different business model, there is a real and important difference between the two valuation techniques. Consistent with this possibility, much of the evidence from both surveys and academic studies of managerial behavior and market pricing suggests that managers and investors implicitly take account of real options when making investment decisions.
Reliability and Validity of the Brief Behavioral Distress Scale: A Measure of Children's Distress During Invasive Medical Procedures

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of a new observational measure of children's procedure-related distress behaviors, the Brief Behavioral Distress Scale (BBDS), to provide clinicians with an efficient, economical alternative measure that does not depend on continuous interval coding. Methods: Forty-eight randomly selected videotaped invasive medical procedures performed on children (ages 2 to 10 years) with chronic illness were coded with the BBDS and the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress (OSBD). Reliability and validity analyses along with item analysis were conducted. Results: Total distress scores of the BBDS were highly correlated with six of seven concurrent validity measures from multiple sources (i.e., OSBD, parent ratings, two nurse ratings, child self-report, and a physiological arousal measure, heart rate) (range r = .57-.76, p <.001-.0001). A robust association was found between the BBDS distress scores and OSBD total distress scores (r =.72, p <.0001). For two concurrent validity measures, the BBDS demonstrated stronger associations than did the OSBD. Interrater reliability was high for each BBDS distress behavior category. Conclusions: Based on the findings reported, the BBDS is a reliable and valid measure of children's procedure-related distress with functional utility in both research and clinical settings.
A PARALLEL DYNAMIC-MESH LAGRANGIAN METHOD FOR SIMULATION OF FLOWS WITH DYNAMIC INTERFACES

Many important phenomena in science and engineering, including our motivating problem of microstructural blood flow, can be modeled as flows with dynamic interfaces. The major challenge faced in simulating such flows is resolving the interfacial motion. Lagrangian methods are ideally suited for such problems, since interfaces are naturally represented and propagated. However, the material description of motion results in dynamic meshes, which become hopelessly distorted unless they are regularly regenerated. Lagrangian methods are particularly challenging on parallel computers, because scalable dynamic mesh methods remain elusive. Here, we present a parallel dynamic mesh Lagrangian method for flows with dynamic interfaces. We take an aggressive approach to dynamic meshing by triangulating the propagating grid points at every timestep using a scalable parallel Delaunay algorithm. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we show that the costs of the dynamic mesh components (triangulation, coarsening, refinement, and partitioning) can be made small relative to the flow solver.
Visualizing Taste Papillae In Vivo with Scanning Electron Microscopy of a High Resolution Cast

A method using polyvinylsiloxane (PVS), a high-resolution dental impression material, to obtain negative images of lingual surfaces is described. Epoxy-resin tongue replicas made from these impressions were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This method has been developed to visualize structural details of the tongue surface of living human beings and laboratory animals. The utility of the method is demonstrated with hamster tongues, which have well-defined fungiform papillae with single taste pores, and human tongues, which have more variable surface structures. Replicas made from PVS impressions of tongues of living hamsters were compared with the same tongues after fixation. The replicas contained much of the detail present in fixed tongues. With SEM, it was possible to identify individual fungiform papillae, which contained depressions with the size and the location of hamster taste pores. Individual papillae could also be recognized in human-tongue replicas, but taste pores could not be identified with certainty. These replicas provide permanent, three-dimensional records of tongue topography that could be used to document changes due to trauma, disease and aging
Phragmen–Lindelöf theorems and the asymptotic behaviour of solutions of quasilinear elliptic equations in slabs

The asymptotic behaviour of solutions of second-order quasilinear elliptic partial differential equations defined on unbounded domains in Rn contained in strips (when n = 2) or slabs (when n > 2) is investigated when such solutions satisfy Dirichlet boundary conditions and the Dirichlet boundary data have appropriate asymptotic behaviour at infinity. We prove Phragmen–Lindelof theorems for large classes of elliptic operators, including uniformly elliptic operators and operators with well-defined genre, establish exponential decay estimates for uniformly elliptic operators when the Dirichlet boundary data vanish outside a compact set, establish the uniqueness of solutions, and give examples of solutions for non-uniformly elliptic operators which decay but do not decay exponentially. Our principal theorems are proven using special barrier functions; these barriers are constructed by considering an operator associated to our original operator.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in the Psychological Treatment of Trauma-Based Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures

Little is known about the types of mental health treatment that are most effective for psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) patients who have high rates of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has proved to be effective in the treatment of PTSD, anxiety states, dissociative symptoms and somatoform disorders. This study, which utilized a non-controlled qualitative multiple revelatory case design, integrates EMDR into the psychological treatment of PNES patients with confirmed trauma experiences. With EMDR targeting trauma and dissociative symptoms in three patients, PNES were extinguished in two. Those patients have remained seizure-free for 12–18 months. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic and molecular analysis of nematode–microbe interactions

Summary Symbiosis, the living together of unlike organisms, such as between microbes and their multicellular eukaryotic hosts, can be categorized as parasitic, commensal or mutualistic. The establishment of symbiosis and the outcome of microbe–host interactions are dictated largely by both microbe- and host-derived factors. Over the last decade, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has provided a facile experimental system to study such interactions, with parasitic interactions being the primary focus. The myriad of genetic and molecular tools available has made C. elegans a powerful model system to interrogate the interactions between a host and its pathogens, and has provided a greater understanding of the molecular underpinnings of these interactions, many of which were found to be conserved across other taxa. Commensal and mutualistic interactions between worms and their microbes, although less studied, have the potential to enhance our understanding of genetic and molecular features underlying host–microbe interactions. Here, we highlight new insights obtained in delineating the signalling pathways that function within and between host cells in combating assaults from extracellular and intracellular pathogens. We also discuss potential new insights that could be gained from further studies into commensal and mutualistic relationships between nematodes and microbes.
A hierarchical multiple-view approach to three-dimensional object recognition

A hierarchical approach is proposed for solving the surface and vertex correspondence problems in multiple-view-based 3D object-recognition systems. The proposed scheme is a coarse-to-fine search process, and a Hopfield network is used at each stage. Compared with conventional object-matching schemes, the proposed technique provides a more general and compact formulation of the problem and a solution more suitable for parallel implementation. At the coarse search stage, the surface matching scores between the input image and each object model in the database are computed through a Hopfield network and are used to select the candidates for further consideration. At the fine search stage, the object models selected from the previous stage are fed into another Hopfield network for vertex matching. The object model that has the best surface and vertex correspondences with the input image is finally singled out as the best matched model. Experimental results are reported using both synthetic and real range images to corroborate the proposed theory. >
Numerical Study of High-Intensity Free-Burning Arc

The behavior of a free-burning argon arc including the cathode region is investigated from a theoretical perspective. Two-dimensional differential equations describing the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and electrical current density are solved together with Ohm's law and Maxwell's equation for the magnetic field in a cylindrical coordinate system using an iterative finite volume method. Recent data of the radiative losses from an argon plasma in the form of net emission coefficients are used. Simulations are made at various electrical currents for different electrode gaps. Predicted isotherms of the arc are in fair agreement with existing experimental results. Particularly, reasonable profiles of current density at a plane beneath the cathode tip are predicted, even though nonequilibrium behavior in the cathode sheath is neglected. Comparisons of the present current density profile with reported results are made. In addition, the effect of the length scale required in the use of net emission coefficients to model the radiative characteristics of the arc is studied.
Characterizing subdiurnal extreme precipitation in the midwestern United States

Abstract This research establishes a methodology to quantify the characteristics of convective cloud systems that produce subdiurnal extreme precipitation. Subdiurnal extreme precipitation events are identified by examining hourly precipitation data from 48 rain gauges in the midwestern United States during the period 1956–2005. Time series of precipitation accumulations for 6-h periods are fitted to the generalized Pareto distribution to determine the 10-yr return levels for the stations. An extreme precipitation event is one in which precipitation exceeds the 10-yr return level over a 6-h period. Return levels in the Midwest vary between 54 and 93 mm for 6-h events. Most of the precipitation contributing to these events falls within 1–2 h. Characteristics of the precipitating systems responsible for the extremes are derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction stage II and stage IV multisensor precipitation data. The precipitating systems are treated as objects that are identified usin...
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Alters the Metalloprotease Activity of the COP9 Signalosome

ABSTRACT Inhibition of apoptotic death of macrophages by Mycobacterium tuberculosis represents an important mechanism of virulence that results in pathogen survival both in vitro and in vivo . To identify M. tuberculosis virulence determinants involved in the modulation of apoptosis, we previously screened a transposon bank of mutants in human macrophages, and an M. tuberculosis clone with a nonfunctional Rv3354 gene was identified as incompetent to suppress apoptosis. Here, we show that the Rv3354 gene encodes a protein kinase that is secreted within mononuclear phagocytic cells and is required for M. tuberculosis virulence. The Rv3354 effector targets the metalloprotease (JAMM) domain within subunit 5 of the COP9 signalosome (CSN5), resulting in suppression of apoptosis and in the destabilization of CSN function and regulatory cullin-RING ubiquitin E3 enzymatic activity. Our observation suggests that alteration of the metalloprotease activity of CSN by Rv3354 possibly prevents the ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of M. tuberculosis-secreted proteins. IMPORTANCE Macrophage protein degradation is regulated by a protein complex called a signalosome. One of the signalosomes associated with activation of ubiquitin and protein labeling for degradation was found to interact with a secreted protein from M. tuberculosis, which binds to the complex and inactivates it. The interference with the ability to inactivate bacterial proteins secreted in the phagocyte cytosol may have crucial importance for bacterial survival within the phagocyte.
Regulation of Adenovirus Mrna Formation

Publisher Summary This chapter emphasizes the current picture of the regulation of adenoviral gene expression. The large body of work discussed in this chapter amply documents the complexity and intricacy of the regulation of adenoviral mRNA production. The most obvious generalization that can be made concerns the relative roles of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. It seems obvious that transcriptional control must determine when during the productive cycle a particular transcription unit is expressed. However, transcription units that are transcribed in adenovirus-infected cells do not necessarily generate functional mRNA species, a situation exemplified by many cellular transcription units during the late phase of infection. Moreover, a subtle network of posttranscriptional regulatory circuits is superimposed upon transcriptional control mechanisms. These can determine both the nature of the end product generated from a given transcript and the relative concentrations of individual mRNA species that may be processed from that transcript. Thus, the fine tuning of regulation of adenoviral gene expression appears to be largely a posttranscriptional affair.
Personality Changes in Endocrine Disorders

PERSONALITY may be defined as a resultant of internal forces within an individual which affect his relationship to his environment. It may be regarded as a subjective concept and be subdivided into such components as impulse, temperament, character and intelligence1 (1). It is a form of ‘potential energy,’ a summation of attributes which can be brought to bear in the individual's dealings with the world. When it is expressed and becomes kinetic or active, one may designate it as behavior, an objective concept. To evaluate properly the endocrine glands as active causes or even as precursors of personality change, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in any diseasepersonality relationship. These are the structural, the functional and the psychogenic. Structural Mechanism The most fundamental aspect of structure is the constitutional make-up of the individual. His hereditary factors express themselves in certain body types (pyknic or leptosomic) with a resultant predisposition toward one or ...
The Algebraic Revolution That Produced Just One Book

In this chapter we discover why the algebraic revolution of the 1920s–1930s produced only one book, “Moderne Algebra” by Van der Waerden.
Language Mediation in an L3 Classroom: The Role of Task Modalities and Task Types

Pedagogical tasks in language learning settings promote learner–learner interaction and provide second language (L2) learners with opportunities to process authentic input and produce output (Philp, Adams, & Iwashita, 2014). During these interactions, learners use their language repertoire to mediate their output (Swain & Lapkin, 2000). Although language mediation has been investigated in various L2 settings, few studies have explored the mediating functions of the languages of plurilingual learners from a sociocultural perspective. The current case study examined the specific mediating functions of language sources (i.e., first, second, and third language) in the oral and written modalities during different types of pedagogical tasks among four students learning French as a third language (L3) in Mexico. Data sources included interactional turns produced during task completion and one-on-one interviews. The findings indicated that task modalities and task types impact the specific mediating functions of the L1 and L3. In addition, the quantity of L1 mediation appeared to be impacted by the learners' linguistic proficiencies. Implications for foreign language pedagogy are presented
Importance of age, sex and body habitus in the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy from the precordial electrocardiogram in childhood and adolescence.

The electrocardiographic records of 849 normal individuals between the age of 1 and 16 years were studied, and the arithmetic sum of the voltages SV2 and RV5 were calculated. Values considerably in excess of those usually quoted were found to exist in this age group, the mean being 38.0 mm ± 9.7 and the range 15 mm to 65 mm. A new set of means and standard deviations for this index have been prepared. Variations in these values are evident with advancing age, and these appear to be related to sex. Whereas there is no difference in voltages between the sexes in children under the age of 11 years, over this age the females present values which become progressively smaller with the advance of puberty (both in relation to their previous values and to the values found in males), reaching a mean level 17 mm lower than that of the males by the age of 16 years. The males show no significant difference in voltage after and before the age of 11 years, while the females do. The possible causes for these trends have been briefly discussed. As a result of this study and in contradistinction to adult experience it is considered unwise to rely on precordial voltage alone as an index of left ventricular hypertrophy unless the SV2 + RV5 value is greater than 60 mm in children less than 11 years of age, or greater than 55 mm in females and 65 mm in males past 11 years of age.
Single element ultrasonic imaging of limb geometry: an in-vivo study with comparison to MRI

Despite advancements in medical imaging, current prosthetic fitting methods remain subjective, operator dependent, and non-repeatable. The standard plaster casting method relies on prosthetist experience and tactile feel of the limb to design the prosthetic socket. Often times, many fitting iterations are required to achieve an acceptable fit. Use of improper socket fittings can lead to painful pathologies including neuromas, inflammation, soft tissue calcification, and pressure sores, often forcing the wearer to into a wheelchair and reducing mobility and quality of life. Computer software along with MRI/CT imaging has already been explored to aid the socket design process. In this paper, we explore the use of ultrasound instead of MRI/CT to accurately obtain the underlying limb geometry to assist the prosthetic socket design process. Using a single element ultrasound system, multiple subjects' proximal limbs were imaged using 1, 2.25, and 5 MHz single element transducers. Each ultrasound transducer was calibrated to ensure acoustic exposure within the limits defined by the FDA. To validate image quality, each patient was also imaged in an MRI. Fiducial markers visible in both MRI and ultrasound were used to compare the same limb cross-sectional image for each patient. After applying a migration algorithm, B-mode ultrasound cross-sections showed sufficiently high image resolution to characterize the skin and bone boundaries along with the underlying tissue structures.
RMS RESPONSE OF INITIALLY BUCKLED BEAMS SUBJECTED TO RANDOM TIME DEPENDENT UNIFORM PRESSURE

The effect of an initial buckle on the RMS response of a beam under a wide-band stationary random loading having a constant power spectrum and zero mean is investigated approximately by means of the equivalent linearization method. Deflections and stresses are found to vary from those of the static buckled beam to those of the straight unbuckled beam with increasing loading spectral density. Computer simulations of nonlinear beam response obtained by numerical integrations of the equations of motion yield reasonably similar RMS response and further indicate similar numbers of stress reversals for buckled and unbuckled beams.
HF/Alcohol Preparation of Wafers for the Reduction of Haze in Low Temperature Si Epitaxy by Remote Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition

The use of an aqueous HF dip as the final ex situ cleaning step following a modified RCA clean before growth of epitaxial Si layers by Remote Plasma-enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RPCVD) has been found to cause haze. Two approaches have been employed to eliminate the haze: addition of alcohol to lower the surface energy of the HF solution, and the application of the HF solution by a spin etch technique. We have studied final ex situ treatments with water/HF, ethanol/HF and methanol/HF solutions applied by both dip and by spin methods, and their effects on haze in low temperature Si homoepitaxy by RPCVD. The ratios of solvent to 49% HF (aq) were 40:1, 10:1 and 5:1. Surface carbon and oxygen levels, as measured by Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) after the HF solution treatments were found to be comparable for the alcohol/HF and water/HF dips. For the spin application, methanol/HF resulted in higher surface carbon coverage than for ethanol or water HF solutions. Epitaxial silicon films, 2000–4000A thick, were grown on the wafers at 450°C using RPCVD. Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements showed elevated levels of oxygen and carbon contamination at the epi-substrate interface to result when the wafers were treated with water/HF solutions rather than alcohol/HF, but no advantage was observed for the spin versus the dip technique. Films which were cleaned by water/HF exhibited patterns of haze over the wafer surface showing flow lines where the liquid drained from the surface for both dip and spin applications. The alcohol/HF solutions resulted in substantial reduction in haze for the dip application and elimination of haze for the spin application.
Specific Factors Influence Postconcussion Symptom Duration among Youth Referred to a Sports Concussion Clinic.

Objective To identify the clinical factors that influence the duration of postconcussion symptoms among youth referred to a sports concussion clinic. Study design A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate several potential predictors of symptom duration via a Cox proportional hazards analyses. The individual postconcussion symptom scores were highly correlated, so these symptoms were analyzed in the statistical model as coefficients derived from principal component analyses. Results Among 1953 youth with concussion, 1755 (89.9%) had dates of reported symptom resolution. The remainder (10.1%) were lost to follow-up and censored. The median time to recovery was 18 days (range 1-353 days). By 30 days, 72.6% had recovered; by 60 days, 91.4% had recovered; and by 90 days, 96.8% had recovered. Several variables in a multivariate Cox model predicted postconcussion symptom duration: female sex ( P P = .02, HR = 1.13), loss of consciousness ( P = .03, HR = 1.18), anterograde amnesia ( P = .04, HR = 1.15), premorbid headaches ( P = .03, HR = 1.15), symptom components from the day of concussion (emotion, P = .03, HR = 1.08), and the day of clinic evaluation (cognitive-fatigue, P P P = .05, HR = 1.08; arousal-stimulation, P = .003, HR = 1.1). In univariate analyses, greater symptom scores generally predicted longer symptom durations. Worsening of symptoms from the day of concussion to the day of clinic evaluation also predicted longer recovery ( P Conclusions Several factors help to predict protracted postconcussion symptom durations among youth referred to a sports concussion clinic.
Economics of Different Crop Rotations in New York

The 1996 Federal Agriculture and Improvement Act decouples support payments from acreage so grain producers must now devise rotations based on market prices. Economic analysis of rotation studies can identify profitable rotations. The objective of this study was to determine short-term economic consequences of three rotations: (i) continuous corn (Zea mays L.), (ii) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-corn, and (iii) soybean-wheat/red clover (Triticum aestivum L./Trifolium praetense L.)-corn. Field-scale trials were conducted from 1993 to 1996 on four farms in New York, and participating farmers performed field operations. Rotated corn yielded greater (140 bulacre) than continuous corn (127 bulacre), whereas soybean and wheat yielded 47 and 55 bulacre, respectively. The soybean-corn rotation had greater net returns ($101/acre) than the continuous corn rotation ($78/acre), despite net returns of $54/acre for soybeans, because rotated corn had greater net returns (%149/acre) than continuous corn. Wheat had negative net returns (-$40/acre) so the soybean-wheat/clover-corn rotation had the lowest net return ($54/acre). Harvesting and marketing of wheat straw would increase net returns of the soybean-wheat/clover-corn rotation to $84/acre. Sensitivity analysis for an 800-acre farm indicated that a soybean-corn rotation had the greatest whole-farm return at 1987 to 1996 New York prices ($55 721). Continuous corn had the lowest whole-farm return ($16 848). With the decoupling of support payments from acreage, New York grain farmers should adopt the soybean-corn rotation to maximize profit. New York grain farmers who market the wheat straw should consider the inclusion of wheat/clover on some of the soybean-corn acreage because close to maximum profit can be achieved while reducing potential pest problems.
Feeding tests with some algin products.

ConclusionsThe data indicate that these algin products are free from any deleterious substances which adversely affect health when fed at levels which are at least 10 times higher than when used in foods or pharmaceutical products. The difficulties experienced with feeding the higher levels seem to be due, at least in greater part, to the physical texture imparted to the diets fed. This should not be a problem in the commercial use of the product. The data indicate that the three algin products which were tested are wholesome.
The problem-oriented postmortem examination and record: an educational challenge.

This report outlines the Problem-Oriented Medical Record system introduced by Lawrence Weed and describes the Problem-Oriented Postmortem Examination and Record system now in use in the Department of Pathology of the Emory University School of Medicine. This new format is compared with the traditional autopsy report. The advantages of the problem-oriented system, and its educational value to both clinicians and pathologists, are stressed.
Rev. of Self-Projection: The Director's Image in Art Cinema, by LINDA HAVERTY RUGG

Linda Haverty Rugg's book is an innovative approach to the intersection of autobiography studies and film. Focusing on art cinema—film intended for a limited, knowledgeable audience in which the di...
Lagrangian Hotspots of In-Use NOX Emissions from Transit Buses.

In-use, spatiotemporal NOX emissions were measured from a conventional powertrain transit bus and a series electric hybrid bus over gradients of route kinetic intensity and ambient temperature. This paper introduces a new method for identifying NOX emissions hotspots along a bus route using high fidelity Lagrangian vehicle data to explore spatial interactions that may influence emissions production. Our study shows that the studied transit buses emit higher than regulated emissions because on-route operation does not accurately represent the range of engine operation tested according to regulatory standards. Using the Lagrangian hotspot detection, we demonstrate that NOX hotspots occurred at bus stops, during cold starts, on inclines, and for accelerations. On the selected routes, bus stops resulted in 3.3 times the route averaged emissions factor in grams/km without significant dependence on bus type or climate. The buses also emitted 2.3 times the route averaged NOX emissions factor at the beginning of ...
Urban Microbiomes and Urban Agriculture: What Are the Connections and Why Should We Care?

A large percentage (~50 %) of the global human population lives in urban systems. The transition from largely rural to urban lifestyles began gradually, but has accelerated. Given the magnitude of anthropogenic changes in the Earth system as a whole and concerns about resource availability and continued population growth, questions about the sustainability of urban systems have become a focal point for a variety of research and civic efforts, including programs promoting urban agriculture as a means to provide local food sources and to better manage critical nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The last decade or so has also witnessed a remarkable transformation in our understanding of the centrality of microbes for virtually all aspects of human life and wellbeing. However, this transformation has not yet been incorporated into a fuller understanding of the biology and ecology of urban life. Research on microbial assemblages (or microbiomes) in the built environment, particularly building interiors, has provided compelling examples of the importance of microbes, but these results provide at most an incomplete picture of microbial distribution and activity in urban systems. For example, though very little is known about microbial interactions with urban agriculture, the success of urban agriculture and its potential to contribute to urban sustainability will depend in part of incorporating new knowledge about soil and plant microbiomes to optimize production and to minimize some of the adverse effects of agriculture in traditional settings (e.g., greenhouse gas emission, nitrogen and phosphorus eutrophication). To that end, this review defines and provides examples of the microbiome concept and the significance of microbiomes in urban systems; it also identifies large knowledge gaps and unanswered questions that must be addressed to develop a robust and predictive understanding of urban biology and ecology.
Questionnaire survey and analysis of pest control workers in Tianjin, China

Objective To address the current issues of pest control operation(PCO) and pest control workers in Tianjin, Chinaand to promote the specialized and standardized development of PCO companies in Tianjin.MethodsA questionnaire surveywas conducted in 165 pest control workers who were trained in 2010-2011 to address their general concerns and to determinetheir awareness of pest control knowledge. One pest control worker was randomly selected from each PCO company.Results The pest control workers in Tianjin had a young age structure; there were still some workers with low educational levels; theworkers had short lengths of service and low wage levels. The PCO companies in Tianjin are small in size, have small marketcoverage and distinct regional characteristics, severe price competition in the low end market, and low degree of specialization.Some companies sought short term profits and had no operation standardization. The pest control workers in Tianjin had arelatively high awareness of fly and rodent control knowledge but a relatively low awareness of mosquito and cockroach controlknowledge, and their awareness of integrated control of insect borne diseases was particularly low.ConclusionThe PestManagement Association must regulate and provide professional training of pest control workers, and establish the principle thatchemical control is only part of the integrated pest management. It is necessary to promote category specific regulations forpesticides, adaptation of relevant regulations and standards, quality control of third part service, establishment of liabilityinsurance, etc., so that the PCO companies are transformed into pest management professional companies and are moreenvironment friendly, specialized, and institutionalized.
Mirrored patterns of lateralized neuronal activation reflect old and new memories in the avian auditory cortex

In monolingual humans, language-related brain activation shows a distinct lateralized pattern, in which the left hemisphere is often dominant. Studies are not as conclusive regarding the localization of the underlying neural substrate for language in sequential language learners. Lateralization of the neural substrate for first and second language depends on a number of factors including proficiency and early experience with each language. Similar to humans learning speech, songbirds learn their vocalizations from a conspecific tutor early in development. Here, we show mirrored patterns of lateralization in the avian analog of the mammalian auditory cortex (the caudomedial nidopallium [NCM]) in sequentially tutored zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata​) in response to their first tutor song, learned early in development, and their second tutor song, learned later in development. The greater the retention of song from their first tutor, the more right-dominant the birds were when exposed to that song; the more birds learned from their second tutor, the more left-dominant they were when exposed to that song. Thus, the avian auditory cortex may preserve lateralized neuronal traces of old and new tutor song memories, which are dependent on proficiency of song learning. There is striking resemblance in humans: early-formed language representations are maintained in the brain even if exposure to that language is discontinued. The switching of hemispheric dominance related to the acquisition of early auditory memories and subsequent encoding of more recent memories may be an evolutionary adaptation in vocal learners necessary for the behavioral flexibility to acquire novel vocalizations, such as a second language.
A radioisotopic investigation of the contamination of screws and tissues by screwdrivers; a study in applied metallurgy.

1. Radioisotopic techniques were used to assess the amount of contamination of orthopaedic screws by screwdrivers. Drivers made of five alloys were tested on screws made of four metals. 2. Two factors were found to be involved in this contamination: metallic transfer, and flaking of large pieces of the tip of the screwdriver by tire cutting action of the screw slot against the driver. 3. Quantitative results show much variation and do not allow definite conclusions. However, we tentatively suggest that, of the screwdrivers tested, an AISI 420 stainless-steel screwdriver seems slightly preferable to others in handling AISI 316 and titanium screws; cobalt-chromium-nickel-tungsten drivers might prove useful in handling cobalt-chromium-molybdenum serews. Further research, especially with the goal of decreasing metallic transfer by lubrication, is needed.
H1N1 Prevention Behaviors in Australia: Implications from an Extended Health Belief Model

As of May, 2009, a total of 43,700 cases of H1N1 flu have been confirmed in Australia (Australian Government 2010) and, even though the H1N1 pandemic has subsided (World Health Organization, 2010), disease prevention remains critical, as H1N1 is unlikely to be the last worldwide pandemic. Motivating disease prevention actions can be a challenge, which is why a goal of this paper is to provide insight into doing so. We focus here on Australia for H1N1 prevention perceptions and behaviors. However, the implications are applicable to many disease prevention situations worldwide.
Clinical Outcomes and Survivorship of Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Does Surgical Approach Matter?

Abstract Background Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been shown to be an effective procedure to treat isolated lateral compartment osteoarthritis with excellent long-term survivorship. Whether a medial parapatellar approach or a lateral parapatellar approach is superior in lateral UKA is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in intermediate-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing lateral UKA through a lateral vs medial parapatellar approach. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 65 patients who underwent lateral UKA with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Fifty-two patients (80%) had a lateral approach and 13 (20%) a medial parapatellar approach. Patient demographics, preoperative and postoperative radiographic findings, need for revision surgery, Knee Society Score, and range of motion were assessed. Results Overall survivorship was 94% at a mean of 82 months; with the sample size available for study, there was no difference in survivorship between the groups. There was no difference in Knee Society Score or revision to total knee arthroplasty (5% vs 7%, P = 1.000) between the medial and lateral approach groups. Comparatively, the lateral approach group did have significantly greater postoperative flexion (123.6° vs 116.5°, P = .006) and greater improvement in flexion from preoperative measurements (3.0 vs −8.0°, P = .010). Conclusion Although our sample size was small, we could not demonstrate a difference in revision rates or clinical outcome scores when comparing a lateral or a medial approach with lateral UKA at intermediate-term follow-up. A lateral approach did have greater postoperative flexion, but its clinical significance remains undetermined.
Regulating Cyber Threats in the Financial Services Industry: Chapter 3

Three critical questions are outlined in this chapter. First, what are cyber risks and how do these risks affect the capital and credit markets, national securities, commodities and derivatives exchanges, banking and payments systems as well as other systemically important financial intermediary services? Second, if financial markets are a critical infrastructure resource that resemble a kind of commons might cyber risks be understood as systemic risks? If cyber risks constitute systemic risks, what impact might these risks have on financial markets? Finally, have proposed solutions effectively mitigated the systemic risk concerns that cyber risks engender? This chapter outlines principles governing the development of cyber risk regulation. It focuses, however, on hackers and others who seek to disrupt securities and commodities exchanges, banking institutions, and payment systems. Because these businesses are publicly traded companies competing in capital markets to attract investors, it is unlikely that these institutions will be motivated to reveal risk exposures if the sole reward is protecting the public good. This chapter evaluates the contributions of industry-initiated and federal agency-proposed solutions to the growing cyber risks that threaten domestic and international financial institutions.
Dynamics of Silicon Nanoparticle Synthesis by Pulsed Laser Ablation

Si nanoparticles have been synthesized by ablating a Si target in Ar with 355 nm laser radiation. The nanoparticle size distribution has been determined in real time by laser-induced time of flight mass spectrometry. Under these conditions, nanoparticles that are formed in 1.0 and 2.0 Torr of background Ar gas exhibit log-normal size distributions with most probable diameters of 2.6 and 3.0 nm, respectively. The speed distribution of the nanoparticles has been determined by varying the time delay between the ablation and photoionization lasers. The results indicate that the most probable speed of the nanoparticles, after formation and a 25 mm drift in background Ar, is 100 m/s. Finally, there is a deviation of the size distribution from the log-normal distribution at small nanoparticle sizes. This is attributed to multiple ionization of the nanoparticles. Confirming evidence for multiple ionization is provided by the atomic and mass spectra which show peak broadening due to Coulomb explosion.
Diffusion The Crucial Process in Many Aspects of the Biology of Bacteria

The basis of all motion in biology is diffusion. The movement may be as simple as the diffusion of a precursor from the point of formation to an enzyme that processes it; it may be as complex as the mechanism of Chemotaxis or muscle contraction. The movements of nutrients up to a cell or a collection of cells is probably the first thing that comes to mind when one considers bacterial ecosystems. Diffusion is also relevant to the movement of microorganisms and nutrients through slimes and gels in natural ecosystems. Of course, in microbiology there are practical applications of diffusion, such as the assay of antibiotic concentrations, in which diffusion, among other factors, controls the size of the zone of inhibition.
The flavin of chromatium cytochrome C-552.

Abstract A flavin obtained from Chromatium cytochrome c -552 has been purified and characterized with respect to its neutral and acid absorption spectra, fluorescence-pH relationship, and behavior on partition and molecular exclusion chromatography. The chromatographic results are consistent with a flavin adenine dinucleotide type structure. Neutral and acid absorption spectra taken after degradation of the flavin to the riboflavin level differ in the near UV from those of riboflavin and are similar to those of flavins modified in the dimethylisoalloxazine ring system, such as the histidyl-riboflavin obtained from mammalian succinate dehydrogenase. However, cytochrome c -552 flavin when at the riboflavin level and histidyl-riboflavin are quite dissimilar when compared fluorometrically and by molecular exclusion chromatography.
Aging and Lymphatic Contractility: Current Status

Aging impairs lymph flow, which is crucial for fluid and macromolecule homeostasis, fat absorption, and immunity. Aging of the lymphatic system is grossly understudied and may be contributory to many of the aging-related diseases of the elderly. We evaluated aging-associated changes in adult (9 months) and aged (24 months) isolated rat thoracic ducts (TDs) and mesenteric lymphatic vessels (MLV) and demonstrated that there was decreased amplitude, frequency, tone and pumping in aged TDs and MLVs as compared to their adult counterparts. Differences in contractile behavior of aged isolated MLV and those observed in situ suggest an important regulatory involvement of some cellular elements in the immediate environment of aged MLV. We identified mast cells lining MLV and demonstrated a greater degree of basal activation of mast cells in aged mesentery. We also identified increased superoxide and peroxynitrite radicals and other signs of oxidative stress in aged MLV as compared to adult. These studies provided first ground for understanding of some of the mechanisms responsible for impairment of lymphatic function associated with aging.
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Iron Metabolism

Over the last fifteen years, much insight has been gained into the processes that determine how iron will be transported and utilized in cells and animals. Regulation of iron metabolism is important because iron is required for function of numerous proteins such as hemoglobin, but excess iron can react with oxygen species to generate free radicals and oxidative damage. Many human diseases are caused by insufficient or excess iron uptake, including iron deficiency anemia, a major health problem throughout the developing world, and hemochromatosis, an inherited iron overload syndrome that leads to serious disease in the Western world (1). Because iron is both indispensable and potentially toxic, virtually all cells and organisms regulate uptake and utilization of iron. The regulation of many iron metabolism proteins, including ferritin and transferrin receptor depends upon binding of iron regulatory proteins to RNA stem-loops found within the transcripts that encode these proteins.
The Respiratory Burst and Cellular Ion Homeostasis

The respiratory burst of phagocytic cells uses electron transfer to produce a series of highly reactive toxic oxygen metabolites. This process is accompanied by a complex pattern of ion redistribution between the cell and its environment and among subcellular compartments. The relationships between ion fluxes and the respiratory burst have been under intensive investigation in recent years, spurred by the rapidly progressing elucidation of the NADPH oxidase complex responsible for the burst and by the introduction of several fluorescent indicators facilitating the study of intracellular ion transients.