cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Oxidative and Antioxidative Enzymes by Trans-Resveratrol

Trans-resveratrol, a phytoalexin produced by a variety of plants, has been shown to inhibit oxidative enzymes in an animal cell system. Its effect on several oxidative and antioxidative enzymes from plants was investigated using in vitro assays. Trans-resveratrol inhibited superoxide dismutase, lipoxygenase, catalase, peroxi- dase, polyphenol oxidase, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase with apparent K I 's of 10, 90, 100, 255, 305, and 350 M, respectively. Trans-resveratrol inhibited lipoxygenase activity more effectively than other lipoxygenase inhibitors, including propyl gallate, ibuprofen, ursolic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, and salicylhydroxamic acid.
Clinical hypnosis with school-age children

Despite the fact that nurses are in key positions to learn and use hypnosis to bolster a child's symptom management, ability to solve problems, or self-esteem, they lack knowledge about the clinical effectiveness of hypnosis. Substantial clinical literature demonstrates that hypnosis effectively reduces anxiety, enhances coping, and has been used successfully to treat behavior disorders, school phobias, and sleep disorders. Hypnosis can effectively reduce a child's anxiety and symptoms and has few side effects when used competently. With education and supervision, nurses can effectively use hypnosis to improve a child's mastery and self-esteem and to reduce severe levels of anxiety.
Retinoic acid enhances lung growth after pneumonectomy.

Abstract Background . We sought to identify the role of retinoic acid (RA) upon lung growth. RA has a role in perinatal lung development, and we hypothesized that exogenous RA would enhance postpneumonectomy compensatory lung growth. Methods . Utilizing the postpneumonectomy rat model, we studied the impact of RA upon contralateral lung growth. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group S underwent a sham left thoracotomy, group P underwent left pneumonectomy, and group R underwent left pneumonectomy with administration of exogenous RA (0.5 μg/g/day intraperitoneally). We then quantitated right lung growth after 10 and 21 days. Lung weight and volume were expressed as a ratio to the final body weight (lung weight and volume indices, LWI and LVI). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was quantitated using Western blot analysis. Cellular proliferation index (CPI) was determined using BrdU immunostaining. Results . LWI, LVI, CPI, and EGFR expression at 21 days were significantly higher in group R versus S and P. At the 10-day interval, both LWI and LVI were significantly higher in group R versus S and P. Conclusions . RA administration markedly enhances lung growth after pneumonectomy, as evidenced by increases in LWI, LVI, and CPI. Upregulation of EGFR expression was associated with these effects.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking and vector-meson dominance

This article is a continuation of our previous work on the rho-..pi.. puzzle. It examines further consequences of the unification of partial conservation of axial-vector current (PCAC) and vector-meson dominance (VMD) in which the pion is a Goldstone state and the rho is a ''dormant'' Goldstone state. Our new picture of the vector mesons does not require an A/sub 1/ meson although such a state is not ruled out. The Weinberg sum rules which provide the raison d'etre for the A/sub 1/ are reexamined. The first Weinberg sum rule can be accommodated without a narrow A/sub 1/ state although some enhancement seems required. Examining the J/sup P C/ = 1/sup + -/ nonet we conclude that a new state, the isoscalar octet partner of the B (1235) should exist around 1.7 GeV assuming ideal mixing. Without a detailed assumption on the mixing angle, its mass should be in the range 1.4 to 1.7 GeV. We also discuss the photon-rho interactions. In the standard VMD picture the predicted rate for rho ..-->.. ..pi.. + ..gamma.. fails by five standard deviations, while in our picture this undesired result is averted.
Intraoperative Ultrasound Guidelines for the Sonographer

Intraoperative ultrasound is increasingly employed in hospitals throughout the country. Involvement with this activity can result in a significant demand on the resources of an ultrasound section a...
A pilot study to determine the effect of tazarotene gel 0.1% on steroid-induced epidermal atrophy.

Background Repeated applications of a corticosteroid can induce epidermal atrophy. This study was performed to investigate whether the adjunctive use of tazarotene gel 0.1% might help to minimize the development of steroid-induced epidermal atrophy. Methods Each of 24 healthy volunteers received the following six treatments (applied 6 days per week for 4 weeks), which were randomized to each of six sites on their forearms: no treatment, tazarotene vehicle, tazarotene vehicle + tazarotene gel 0.1%, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment, diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene vehicle, or diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment + tazarotene gel 0.1%. Results The mean epidermal thickness was increased by 20% (NS) and 62% (P ≤ 0.0005) after applications of tazarotene vehicle and tazarotene gel 0.1%, respectively. Application of diflorasone diacetate reduced the mean epidermal thickness by 43% (P ≤ 0.0005). Concomitant application of tazarotene gel 0.1% with diflorasone diacetate did not entirely prevent atrophy, but was shown to ameliorate 37% of the epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate alone (P ≤ 0.003 compared with steroid monotherapy). Conclusions Tazarotene gel 0.1% significantly reduces epidermal atrophy induced by diflorasone diacetate 0.05% ointment.
Atomic force microscopy at the 100-nm scale: practical, theoretical, and metrological outlook

Progress in nanotechnology and nanoscience requires the appropriate characterization methods for studies of materials and devices at the sub-100 nm scale. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers high- resolution visualization of surfaces and it is often employed for imaging of individual molecules and manipulation of nanometer-scale objects. This method is also widely used for measurements of surface roughness and quantitative examination of technologically important nanoscale-structures. Despite broad applicability of AFM instruments, imaging and probing of mechanical and electric surface properties at the sub-100 nm scale is not yet the routine procedure. Several factors influencing these functions such as geometry of probes, operation modes, detection sensitivity and thermal drift will be discussed in more details. Practical examples of imaging with atomic- and molecular-scale resolution will be given and analyzed from different viewpoints.
Control of microchemical ordering in relaxor ferroelectrics and related compounds

Abstract A review is given of some of the ways to control microchemical domains (due to ordering on the B-sites) in relaxor ferroelectrics and related compounds. Depending on the system, ordering can he controlled by heat treatment, chemical composition and stoichiometry. Specific examples are given of both thermally- and chemically-induced ordering in relaxor ferroelectric and perovskite-related materials.
Options in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis.

PURPOSE: The incidence and duration of chemotherapy-induced emesis,pathophysiology of the emetic response, and antiemetic treatment of options are reviewed. OVERVIEW: Nausea and vomiting are among the most common and debilitating side effects of cancer chemotherapy. If not controlled, these side effects may interfere with the delivery of potentially life-saving treatment. Acute, delayed, and anticipatory nausea and vomiting may be prevented by appropriate antiemetic therapy. Drug selection is based on the emetogenicity of the patient's cancer treatment and potency of the antiemetic agent. Efficacy and safety of the antiemetic regimen are often improved by combining agents with different mechanisms of action. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: By preventing and controlling chemotherapy-induced emesis, clinicians may improve cancer patients' functional status and quality of life significantly. Improved tolerability may lead to greater patient acceptance of chemotherapy and prevent premature withdrawal from or cessation of treatment. Controlling chemotherapy-induced emesis also helps to decrease the direct and indirect costs of managing cancer.
A flow-calorimetric study of the binding of iodine to amylodextrin fractions.

Abstract Acid hydrolyzates of waxy-maize starch were separated to give Fractions I, II, and III [T. W atanabe, and D. F rench , Carbohydr. Res. , 84 (1980) 115–123]. Watanabe and French suggested that Fraction II, which contains approximately 25 d -glucose residues including an α- d -(1→6)-linked branch, has a double helical structure. In the present study, the thermodynamics of binding of iodine to Fractions II and III, and debranched Fraction II (Fraction II′) was measured by isothermal-flow calorimetry. If four binding sites for Fraction II and two for Fractions II′ and III are assumed, the standard free-energy changes, Δ 0 b , for the binding of I 2 are −18.5, −18.8, and −18.4 kJ·(mol I 2 ) −1 , and the enthalpy changes, Δ H b , are −28.4, −24.7, and −26.9 kJ·(mol I 2 ) −1 , respectively. The similarity of these values for the three fractions indicates that the conformation of Fraction II is essentially the same as those of Fractions II′ and III, and that Fraction II, therefore, does not have a double helical structure in solution. The values for Δ G 0 b are ∼15 kJ·mol −1 less negative, and those for Δ H b ∼40 kJ·mol −1 less negative than published values for the starch-I 2 complex. These differences are due to the relatively very short d -glucose chains in the amylodextrin fractions employed in the present work.
Comparison of organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in human breast adipose tissue and serum.

Abstract The presence of organochlorine pesticides, such as p,p’-DDT[2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-l, 1,1-trichloroethane], and of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum and adipose tissue has been reported in many studies over the last four decades. Recently, debate has heightened concerning the link of these compounds to breast cancer. To clarify and resolve this issue, accurate analytical residue data must be obtained. Separation of the organochlorine pesticides from the PCBs in breast tissue is critical to obtaining valid residue data. Based on methods refined in the Analytical Laboratory at Colorado State University, accurate residue levels were established for nine individual PCB congeners and eight organochlorine pesticides. The breast adipose tissue method used was a modification of the Mills et al. and de Faubert Maunder et al. methods. The serum method employed was a modification of the Burse et al. method. Both breast adipose tissue and serum from 36 women were analyzed, and correlations of ...
Effect of nonconservative forces on the neutralization of sputtered and other desorbed ions.

We discuss the effect of nonconservative forces on ions near surfaces and apply it to recent experimental work of Yu on the sputtering of ${\mathrm{O}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ from Nb and Va. These data displayed a significant deviation from the usual exponential dependence of yield on 1/${v}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. This deviation which occurs at low velocities was partially explained by Lang using a model in which the sputtered ion interacts with a single surface atom via a Morse potential. Although his model suggests that the effective velocity of the ion is larger than that observed it does not explain the full deviation of the effective velocity, which goes through a minimum and then turns up as the observed velocity goes to zero. In our paper we show that just by including a nonconservative force in the Lang model the full deviation can be explained nicely.
Increased dopamine D2 receptor binding and enhanced apomorphine-induced locomotor activity in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice

Abstract Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated possible interactions between opioidergic and dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system. In this study, apomorphine-induced locomotor activity and the D1 and D2 subtype dopamine receptor binding were examined in mice lacking the μ-opioid receptor genes. The ambulatory time, vertical time and total motor distance of locomotor activity were measured after administration of apomorphine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) for a period of 90 min. The autoradiographic studies of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors were conducted using [ 3 H ] SCH23390 and [ 3 H ] raclopride as ligand, respectively. In wild type mice that received apomorphine, 2 mg/kg, i.p., the locomotor activity such as ambulatory time, vertical time and total motor distance were not significantly altered as compared with that of the saline control group. However, the locomotor activity measured was significantly increased in the same dose of apomorphine treated μ-opioid receptor knockout mice between 5 and 40 min after administration. The results obtained also show that the binding of D2 dopamine receptor in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice was significantly higher than that of the wild type in the caudate putamen. However, the binding of the D1 dopamine receptor in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice was not significantly different from that of the wild type. It appears that the apomorphine treated μ-opioid receptor knockout mice showed enhancement in locomotor activity. The enhanced locomotor activity may be related to the compensatory up-regulation of D2 dopamine receptors in mice lacking μ-opioid receptor genes.
Reduced-Order Entry Trajectory Planning for Acceleration Guidance

The acceleration guidance concept is to plan an aerodynamic acceleration proe le that integrates to the desired e nal position and velocity and satise es all vehicleconstraints and to track theacceleration proe le. The longitudinal entryguidanceforthespaceshuttleisaccelerationguidance;adragdecelerationproe lethatintegratestothedesired downrange and satise es the vehicle constraints is planned and tracked primarily by bank-angle adjustments. The kinematics relating the drag proe le to the downrange assume that the entry trajectory is a great circle arc. In this paper we consider lateral as well as longitudinal motion in acceleration planning. Three differential equations that are the kinematic relations between the aerodynamic accelerations and the position and velocity variables with energy as the independent variable are used as the basis for two methods of planning the drag and lateral acceleration proe les. The e rst is simpler and produces a feasible trajectory for a given angle-of-attack proe le. The second requires more computation, but produces an optimal trajectory using both angle-of-attack and angleof-bank variations to control the entry trajectory and has greater capability to shape the entry trajectory. Both methods are demonstrated using an X-33 vehicle model. The optimal method is capable of achieving a specie ed e nal heading angle and adjusting the number of bank reversals.
The Progression of Industrial Hygiene

Abstract Industrial hygiene in the United States began with the work of Alice Hamilton during the first and second decades of the 20th century. After educational efforts initiated at Harvard University in the late 1920s, there was growth stemming from the Social Security Act in the 1930s, with selected states providing services. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists was formed in 1938 and the American Industrial Hygiene Association in 1939. The Second World War and the immediate postwar period provided some growth of industrial hygiene in the private sector. Increased federal legislation addressing the environment called for research, training, and, ultimately, regulation in the 1960s; this set the stage for the landmark Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct) of 1970. In this article, pre-OSHAct and post-OSHAct industrial hygiene regulation and practice are characterized by six distinct periods of time. Each period is described and characteristics of, or implications for, prof...
Factors Associated with Asthma Prevalence among Racial and Ethnic Groups—United States, 2009–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Background. Although the causes of asthma are poorly understood, multiple factors (e.g., genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and lifestyle) have been implicated in the development and exacerbation of the disease, Objectives. To identify the potential predictive factors of current asthma and to assess if the predictive ability of some factors differs by race and ethnicity, Methods. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2009–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to estimate asthma prevalence and to examine the potential predictive factors for asthma (sex, age, educational attainment, household income, obesity, smoking, physical activity, and health insurance) by race and ethnicity, Results. Of the 869,519 adult respondents in the survey, 8.6% reported having asthma. Asthma prevalence for all race/ethnic group was significantly higher among adults with a household income of <$15,000 (13.3%; adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] of 1.9) than those with income of ≥$75,000 (6.8%)....
Equilibrium melting parameters of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The equilibrium melting temperature, volume, and enthalpy and entropy changes on melting of poly(ethylene terephthalate) have been analyzed and heats of fusion have been newly measured with an automated scanning calorimeter to yield the following data: 553°K, 16.9 cm3/mole, 2.69 kJ/mole, and 48.6 J/deg/mole, respectively. A more detailed discussion of annealed samples obtained from etched starting materials shows that the density of the noncrystalline regions may be variable.
Earth science: Proposal with a ring of diamonds.

Plate reconstructions show that ancient eruptions of diamond-bearing rocks occurred consistently above a ring-like region of plume-generation zones deep in Earth's mantle. Do such zones remain stationary?
Distances and Riemannian Metrics for Spectral Density Functions

We introduce a differential-geometric structure for spectral density functions of discrete-time random processes. This is quite analogous to the Riemannian structure of information geometry, which is used to study perturbations of probability density functions, and which is based on the Fisher information metric. Herein, we introduce an analogous Riemannian metric, which we motivate with a problem in prediction theory. It turns out that this problem also provides a prediction theoretic interpretation to the Itakura distortion measure, which relates to our metric. Geodesies and geodesic distances are characterized in closed form and, hence, the geodesic distance between two spectral density functions provides an explicit, intrinsic (pseudo)metric on the cone of density functions. Certain other distortion measures that involve generalized means of spectral density functions are shown to lead to the same Riemannian metric. Finally, an alternative Riemannian metric is introduced, which is motivated by an analogous problem involving smoothing instead of prediction.
Person–Environment Interactions and the Shaping of Resilience

The study of resilience in children who have been exposed to violence has led to three important conclusions: (1) That resilience is a complex, somewhat nebulous concept to which researchers have attached various meanings and definitions; (2) that these definitions are influenced to a certain extent by where hypotheses about resilience processes intersect with questions of more general interest to a researcher, such as how abused children or those otherwise exposed to violence keep from behaving poorly; (3) that resilience, defined as it is by a researcher, and studied developmentally, is malleable and responsive to the social environment (Herrenkohl, 2011; Klika & Herrenkohl, 2013; Ungar, 2013). As discussed in the articles of this special issue, questions about definitions, measurement, and data analytic strategies abound in the research literature on resilience. Authors of the five articles examine these issues by way of deep review and critique of published studies. The collection as a whole offers an important statement about the contributions and major advances in research that have occurred over the years, but also the gaps and inconsistencies that make interpretation of findings, at times, exceedingly difficult. Before attending specifically to the content of each review, I provide below a brief summary of just a few of the ‘‘big picture’’ issues that our contributors cover in their individual reports.
Characterization of Leaf Rust Resistance in Hard Red Spring Wheat Cultivars

Oelke, L. M., and Kolmer, J. A. 2004. Characterization of leaf rust resistance in hard red spring wheat cultivars. Plant Dis. 88:1127-1133. Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks., is the most common disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the United States and worldwide. The objective of this study was to characterize seedling and adult plant leaf rust resistance in hard red spring wheat cultivars grown in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and postulate the identity of the seedling leaf rust resistance genes in the cultivars. Twenty-six cultivars, near-isogenic lines of Thatcher wheat that differ for single leaf rust resistance genes, and three wheat cultivars with known leaf rust resistance genes, were tested with 11 different isolates of leaf rust collected from the United States and Canada. The leaf rust infection types produced on seedling plants of the cultivars in greenhouse tests were compared with the infection types produced by the same isolates on the Thatcher near-isogenic lines to postulate which seedling leaf rust resistance genes were present. Seedling leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr10, Lr16, Lr21, and Lr24 were postulated to be present in spring wheat cultivars. Seedling genes Lr3, Lr14a, and Lr23 likely were present in some cultivars but could not be clearly identified in this study. Most of the cultivars had some level of adult plant leaf rust resistance, most likely due to Lr34. Cultivars that had seedling resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr10, or Lr16 had poor to intermediate levels of leaf rust resistance in field plots. Cultivars with combinations of seedling resistance genes Lr16 and Lr24 with additional adult plant resistance were highly resistant to leaf rust.
National Prevalence Rates of Bully Victimization Among Students With Disabilities in the United States

This study examined the prevalence rates of bully victimization and risk for repeated victimization among students with disabilities using the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study and the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 longitudinal datasets. Results revealed that a prevalence rate ranging from 24.5% in elementary school to 34.1% in middle school. This is one to one and a half times the national average for students without disabilities. The rate of bully victimization was highest for students with emotional disturbance across school levels. Findings from this study also indicated that students with disabilities who were bullied once were at high risk of being bullied repeatedly. Elementary and middle school students with autism and high school students with orthopedic impairments were at the greatest risk of experiencing repeated victimization. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Binding of the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus to the Ephrin Binding Surface of the EphA2 Receptor and Its Inhibition by a Small Molecule

ABSTRACT The ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase A2 (EphA2) is an entry receptor for Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) that is engaged by the virus through its gH/gL glycoprotein complex. We describe here that natural ephrin ligands inhibit the gH/gL-EphA2 interaction. The effects of point mutations within EphA2 demonstrated that KSHV gH/gL interacts with EphA2 through a restricted set of the same residues that mediate binding of A-type ephrins. Two previously described inhibitors of the EphA2 interaction with ephrin A5 also inhibited binding of KSHV gH/gL to EphA2. The more potent of the two compounds inhibited KSHV infection of blood vessel and lymphatic endothelial cells in the micromolar concentration range. Our results demonstrate that interaction of KSHV with EphA2 occurs in a fashion similar to that of the natural ephrin ligands. Our data further indicate a new avenue for drug development against KSHV. IMPORTANCE Our study reports two important findings. First, we show that KSHV engages its receptor, the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2, at a site that overlaps the binding site of the natural ephrin ligands. Second, we demonstrate that KSHV infection of target cells can be blocked by a small-molecule inhibitor of the viral glycoprotein-EphA2 interaction. These findings represent a novel avenue for the development of strategies to treat KSHV-associated diseases.
A fast algorithm for solving CFIE of EM scattering

In this paper, we apply the adaptive integral method (AIM) to the solution of the combined field integral equation (CFIE) and study the convergence behavior of AIM as applied to the electric field integral equation, the magnetic field integral equation and CFIE. The memory requirement and computational complexity of the AIM solution of CFIE are O(N/sup 1.5/) and O(N/sup 1.5/logN) for 3D surface scattering problems. The numerical results demonstrate that the AIM solution of CFIE is efficient for the analysis of scattering from arbitrarily-shaped 3D conducting structures.
Correlation of a signal with an amplitude-distorted form of itself

In comparing a signal f(t) with its amplitude-distorted form g(f(t)) , where g(\cdot) is a monotonically increasing function of its argument, one is led to consider the correlation function \begin{equation} R(s) \triangleq \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dtg (f(t))f(t-s). \end{equation} A rigorous proof is given of the inequality R(s) \leq R(O) . Generalizations are presented for the cases of finite domains and of signals defined in two-dimensional space.
Race of Ratee and Anonymity of Rater: A Study Comparing Students with Practitioners as Performance Appraisers:

123 students and 123 nonstudent supervisors viewed videotapes which displayed four supposed subordinate supervisors, two African Americans and two Caucasians, who individually described their respective performances during the past year. After being told either that the supposed subordinates would or that they would not have access to the performance rating, the subjects rated the performance of those subordinate supervisors. While anonymity of rater and race of rater had no evaluative effect on the performance ratings given by the nonstudent subjects, the student subjects gave higher ratings when they believed that their ratings would be made public. Also, the nonstudent subjects' ratings differed as a function of whether they worked closely with others of another race and as a function of the frequency with which they actually discussed performance evaluations with their own subordinates.
Analysis of Clinical Interventions and the Impact of Pediatric Pharmacists on Medication Error Prevention in a Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVE Research has shown that the potential risk for medication errors within the pediatric inpatient population is about 3 times as high as for adults; however, there is limited information regarding the impact of a pediatric pharmacist's contribution to decreasing medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs). The purpose of this study was to record and analyze all interventions during a 2-month time span in a pediatric teaching hospital to determine the benefit of having a pediatrics-trained clinical pharmacist on the floor. METHODS Pediatric pharmacists prospectively collected data for all interventions and medication errors made between July 1 and August 31, 2010. The pediatric hospital comprises 87 beds, and data were collected during the influx of new pediatric resident interns on the general pediatric ward and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. RESULTS During the study period, 1315 interventions were recorded, which is an average of 21 interventions per day. Most interventio...
Pressure excursions in transient film boiling from a sphere to a subcooled liquid

Abstract The maximum pressure excursions which occur in the vapor film enveloping a very hot solid sphere of nearly constant temperature which is suddenly exposed to a pool of stagnant and subcooled liquid are analytically evaluated along with related quantities. Generalized predictions for the film pressure's frequency of oscillation and maximum excursion are presented in graphical and approximate equation forms. The sphere surface temperature drop is estimated in an approximate manner and is shown to become appreciable when the liquid's subcooling exceeds a threshold value.
Wood Microsites at Timberline-Alpine Meadow Borders: Implications for Conifer Seedling Regeneration and Alpine Meadow Conifer Invasion

Abstract The importance of climate warming on forests is recognized worldwide and has increased attention on the significance of both timberline advance and alpine meadow invasion by forests. Successful seedling regeneration in alpine meadows depends on availability of suitable substrates, or microsites, for seedling establishment. We sought to determine whether wood microsites (i.e., nurse logs), which are regeneration sites in Pacific Northwest subalpine forests, promoted regeneration at timberline-alpine meadow borders. To determine the ecological role of wood microsites, we examined mechanisms forming wood microsites; compared density, survival, and percent nitrogen content of seedlings growing on wood microsites to adjacent soil substrates; and compared substrate moisture, temperature, and percent nitrogen content. Wood microsites, at 13 of 14 randomly selected sites, were characterized by highly decayed downed wood (> 75% decay class five) originating from tree fall (66%), snow avalanches (17%), for...
On the relative influence of convection in serpentine flow fields of PEM fuel cells

In polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, power losses associated with slow reaction kinetics and mass-transport limits can be strongly influenced by convective flow characteristics. Specifically, convection in the form of channel bypass may be utilized to simultaneously increase reactant concentration and reduce product concentration in the catalyst layer, thus reducing the activation and mass-transport overpotentials. An analytical model is developed here to predict the flow pattern and pressure field in general single-serpentine flow field geometries. The model predicts that a significant portion of the total flow through the fuel cell can occur as in-plane convective flow through the gas diffusion layer under realistic operating conditions. Further, by comparing the in-plane rates of diffusive and convective transport it is found that the dominant mechanism depends on the geometric and material parameters of the flow field. In particular, it is found that the relative influence of convection depends highly on in-plane permeability of the gas diffusion layer and channel length, and is relatively independent of gas diffusion layer thickness. By designing fuel cells to utilize enhanced in-plane convection, it is suggested that losses associated with low oxygen content as well as liquid water buildup in the catalyst layer can be reduced.
Responses of Old-field Mice (Peromyscus Polionotus) to Consecutive Days of Live Trapping

ABSTRACT We investigated causes of body mass loss associated with consecutive days of live trapping of old-field mice (Peromyscus polionotus) on four small mammal trapping grids in central Florida USA from Mar. 2003 to Dec. 2004. Body mass of P. polionotus declined when live trapped for two consecutive days. Mean mass losses were recorded in all seasons and were significantly different in spring and summer. Temperatures inside live traps were higher than ambient temperatures. Mean number of sunflower seeds ingested was not different between day one and day two of capture, and the total number of sunflower seeds consumed explained a small amount of the variation in body mass loss. Our results suggest that sunflower seeds are not a good source of water necessary to maintain a constant body mass in P. polionotus live trapped on consecutive days, and mass loss is influenced by a combination of seasonal temperature fluctuations and physiological condition of trapped individuals.
Teaching NeuroImages:Locked-in syndrome resulting from traumatic basilar artery occlusion following clivus fracture

A 67-year-old previously healthy man presented after head-first collision into a wall. Glasgow Coma Scale score on arrival was 11, but quickly deteriorated to 3. CT angiography and diagnostic angiogram demonstrated proximal basilar artery (BA) occlusion with nearby longitudinal clivus fracture ([
Enterprise data center governance using Web 2.0 portal and services integration

As the growth of IT spending has trended down to the mid-single digits in recent years, the IT services industry has continued to focus on productivity improvement to take out costs. While innovations in new service business and delivery models are keys to margin growth, service quality is ever more important to protect the client base. This paper reports end-to-end current practices in the enterprise hosting business, which is by far the largest revenue source in the overall IT services industry. The current preeminent problem is how data centers can be consolidated to host large numbers of servers economically. It is found that the scalability challenge is primarily a governance bottleneck. Research focus has been placed on streamlining the on-boarding processes with visual accountability of the delivery roles and collaboration with clients. It is shown how Web 2.0 technologies can be utilized in a new governance model for both productivity and quality improvements.
Programmatic risk balancing

_- Abstract. A lifecycle risk management decision- support tool developed for NASA space systems is used to assess and visualize risk in a research and applications program. This paper presents the first tool demonstration and assessment for balancing programmatic risk. The NASA program for case study has a principal goal development of geospatial information products for decision-support systems. Risk balancing is performed by selecting optimal combinations of risk controls, such as planning activities, assessments, research and applications projects. Marginal benefits are measured in terms of residual risk. Relative differences in risk impact and control effectiveness provide an indication of program integration across science, technology and applications. Results are preliminary. Sensitivity analysis suggests that at implementation, prioritization and coordination with government agencies are mitigations yielding the greatest marginal benefit towards requirements attainment. At introduction of projects, establishing performance characteristics yields the greatest marginal benefit. The framework helps strategy design, execution, integration and prioritization. -
The role of drinking severity on sex risk behavior and HIV exposure among illicit drug users.

Objectives The current study examined how drinking severity among injection and non-injection drug users is associated with sex risk behaviors and risk of HIV exposure. Method The study is a secondary analysis of an investigation of risk factors among drug users in Baltimore known as the NEURO-HIV epidemiologic study. Participants (N = 557) completed an interview, self-reported 30-day alcohol use, lifetime injection and non-injection drug use, and provided blood samples to screen for HIV. Participants were grouped into one of three drinking severity conditions: abstinent (no reported alcohol use in prior 30 days), moderate alcohol use (≤30 drinks for females, or ≤60 drinks for males), or problematic alcohol use (>30 drinks for females, or >60 drinks for males). Drinking severity groups were significantly different on lifetime injection drug use, heroin injection, snorting/sniffing cocaine, and smoking crack. Results Logistic regression analyses found problematic alcohol users to be more likely than alcohol abstainers to inject drugs before or during sex (AOR = 5.78; 95% CI = 2.07–16.10), and more likely than moderate alcohol users to use alcohol before/during sex (AOR = 4.96; 95% CI = 2.09–11.81), inject drugs before/during sex (AOR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.29–6.80), and to be HIV+ among Black participants (AOR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.14–6.49). Conclusions These results outline the necessity for research and clinical intervention among this population to reduce sex risk behaviors and potential HIV exposure, while highlighting the need to examine drinking severity as a predictor of sex risk behaviors. (Am J Addict 2013; 22:239–245)
An efficient, fault-tolerant protocol for replicated data management

A data management protocol for executing transactions on a replicated database is presented. The protocol ensures one-copy serializability. i.e., the concurrent execution of transactions on a replicated database is equivalent to some serial execution of the same transactions on a non-replicated database. The protocol tolerates a large class of failures, including: processor and communication link crashes, partitioning of the communication network, lost messages, and slow responses of processors and communication links. Processor and link recoveries are also handled. The protocol implements the reading of a replicated object efficiently by reading the nearest available copy of the object. When reads outnumber writes, the protocol performs better than other known protocols.
Feedback Linearizable Feedforward Systems: A Special Class

The problem of feedback linearizability of systems in feedforward form is addressed and an algorithm providing explicit coordinates change and feedback given. At each step, the algorithm replaces the involutive conditions of feedback linearization by some, easily checkable. We also reconsider type II subclass of linearizable strict feedforward systems introduced by Krstic and we show that it constitutes the only linearizable among the class of quasilinear strict feedforward systems. Our results allow an easy computation of the linearizing coordinates and thus provide a stabilizing feedback controller for the original system among others. We illustrate by few examples including the VTOL.
Statement of the Space Science Working Group

The Space Science Working Group (SSWG) is a consortium of universities and institutions represented by scientists and governmental relations officers. Its members are concerned about the health of the U.S. space program, particularly university-based research in the space sciences. The SSWG is administered through the Association of American Universities. For each of the last 6 years, the SSWG has attempted to bring to the attention of the U.S. Congress and the Administration issues of concern to the university space science community regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) budget and the U.S. space program. Most recently, these issues have included the severe erosion of the space science research base at universities, the lack of space flight opportunities, and the inability to initiate new science programs. The SSWG supports a return by this nation to position of leadership in the space sciences, and we believe that the continued involvement of universities is essential to the U.S. space research enterprise.
Diverse Naked Clusters of the Heavy Main-Group Elements. Electronic Regularities and Analogies

Wade's rules provide valuable guidelines regarding geometric-electronic interrelations for over two dozen types of polyhedra among (1) Zintl ions of the group 14 and 15 elements isolated from nonaqueous solvents and (2) numerous anionic clusters of particularly in and Tl found in “neat” alkali-hypo electronic, open-shell, and centered clusters and in networks are also described.
Recombination lifetime and performance of III-V compound photovoltaic devices

High-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) devices are based both on the III-V compound and silicon semiconductor technologies. The III-V semiconductors are more efficient than silicon for concentrator technology when the incident flux exceeds about 200 Suns. These devices are of both single- and multijunction configurations, the latter being primarily feasible by the epitaxial growth of combinations of binary and ternary compounds. Work has focused on semiconducting materials in the GaAs and Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As series, although other III-Vs have recently been developed for PV applications. The role of the minority-carrier lifetime and mobility in high-efficiency devices is discussed. The state-of-the-art of current popular materials is reviewed. >
Suggestibility and source monitoring errors: blame the interview style, interviewer consistency, and the child's personality

Sixty children were forced to confabulate or given misinformation about a simulated crime. Higher suggestibility in the forced confabulation group than in the suggestive group occurred even after 1 week. Interview source errors in the forced confabulation group were higher for confabulations when asked by the same person, but for control items when asked by a different person. Interview source errors in the suggestive group were higher for confabulations when asked by a different person, but for control items when asked by the same person. Confabulations were misattributed to the video by the forced confabulation more than the suggestive group. However, both groups mistakenly believed they had previously discussed control true-event items. Suggestibility was high when imaginative and dissociative children were forced to confabulate. Control false-event items were misattributed to the interview by compliant children and to the video by imaginative children in the forced confabulation group. Shy children in the forced confabulation group misattributed confabulations to the video, whereas distractible children in the suggestive group misattributed control false-event items to both sources. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple branches of ordered states of polymer ensembles with the Onsager excluded volume potential

We study the branches of equilibrium states of rigid polymer rods with the Onsager excluded volume potential in two-dimensional space. Since the probability density and the potential are related by the Boltzmann relation at equilibrium, we represent an equilibrium state using the Fourier coefficients of the Onsager potential. We derive a non-linear system for the Fourier coefficients of the equilibrium state. We describe a procedure for solving the non-linear system. The procedure yields multiple branches of ordered states. This suggests that the phase diagram of rigid polymer rods with the Onsager potential has a more complex structure than that with the Maier–Saupe potential. A study of free energy indicates that the first branch of ordered states is stable while the subsequent branches are unstable. However, the instability of the subsequent branches does not mean they are not interesting. Each of these unstable branches, under certain external potential, can be made metastable, and thus may be observed.
Raman and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy studies of changes in lipid content and composition in hormone-treated breast and prostate cancer cells

Increasing interest in the role of lipids in cancer cell proliferation and resistance to drug therapies has motivated the need to develop better tools for cellular lipid analysis. Quantification of lipids in cells is typically done by destructive chromatography protocols that do not provide spatial information on lipid distribution and prevent dynamic live cell studies. Methods that allow the analysis of lipid content in live cells are therefore of great importance. Using micro-Raman spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy, we generated a lipid profile for breast (T47D, MDA-MB-231) and prostate (LNCaP, PC3) cancer cells upon exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and synthetic androgen R1881. Combining Raman spectra with CARS imaging, we can study the process of hormone-mediated lipogenesis. Our results show that hormone-treated cancer cells T47D and LNCaP have an increased number and size of intracellular lipid droplets and higher degree of saturation than untreated cells. MDA-MB-231 and PC3 cancer cells showed no significant changes upon treatment. Principal component analysis with linear discriminant analysis of the Raman spectra was able to differentiate between cancer cells that were treated with MPA, R1881, and untreated.
Evaluations of Mesoscale Models' Simulations of Near-Surface Winds, Temperature Gradients, and Mixing Depths.

Mesoscale meteorological models are being used to provide inputs of winds, vertical temperature and stability structure, mixing depths, and other parameters to atmospheric transport and dispersion models. An evaluation methodology is suggested and tested with simulations available from four mesoscale meteorological models (Fifth-Generation Pennsylvania State University‐National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model, Regional Atmospheric Modeling System, Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System, and Operational Multiscale Environmental Model with Grid Adaptivity). These models have been applied by others to time periods of several days in three areas of the United States (Northeast, Lake Michigan area, and central California) and in Iraq. The authors’ analysis indicates that the typical root-mean-square error (rmse) of hourly averaged surface wind speed is found to be about 2‐3 m s21 for a wide range of wind speeds for the models and for the geographic regions studied. The rmse of surface wind direction is about 508 for wind speeds of about 3 o r4ms 21. It is suggested that these uncertainties in wind speeds and directions are primarily due to random turbulent processes that cannot be simulated by the models and to subgrid variations in terrain and land use, and therefore it is unlikely that the errors can be reduced much further. Model simulations of daytime mixing depths are shown to be often within 20% of observations. However, the models tend to predict weaker inversions than are observed in interfacial layers capping the mixing depth. The models also underestimate the vertical temperature gradients in the lowest 100 m during the nighttime, which implies that the simulated boundary layer stability is not as great as that observed, suggesting that the rate of vertical dispersion may be overestimated. The models would be able to simulate better the structure of shallow inversions if their vertical grid sizes were smaller.
Exploring well-being among US Hispanics/Latinos in a church-based institution: a qualitative study

Major theories informing conceptions of psychological well-being draw heavily from Western-centric perspectives, which often neglect culturally bound frameworks. We investigated how U.S. Hispanics/Latinos conceptualize well-being, how psychosocial and behavioral aspects may increase well-being, and how psychosocial stressors may impact positive emotional states. Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino adults were recruited from a church in an urban city in the U.S. and invited to participate in focus groups. Two groups of women (n=19) and one group of men (n=8) participated. The importance of harmonious social relationships emerged as a theme with the central family unit as the fundamental force influencing long-lasting emotional well-being. Additional correlates of well-being included: faith/religiosity; physical health; self-love and -esteem; effective/open communication with family and friends; and financial security. Programs aimed at increasing well-being may need to be adapted before administration in Hispanics/Latinos to include a heightened focus on interpersonal factors. Delivery in religious institutions may also be particularly beneficial.