cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wnt1-Cre-mediated deletion of AP-2alpha causes multiple neural crest-related defects.

The AP-2a transcription factor is required for multiple aspects of vertebrate development and mice lacking the AP-2a gene (tcfap2a) die at birth from severe defects affecting the head and trunk. Several of the defects associated with the tcfap2a-null mutation affect neural crest cell (NCC) derivatives including the craniofacial skeleton, cranial ganglia, and heart outflow tract. Consequently, there is considerable interest in the role of AP-2a in neural crest cell function in development and evolution. In addition, the expression of the AP-2a gene is utilized as a marker for premigratory and migratory neural crest cells in many vertebrate species. Here, we have specifically addressed how the presence of AP-2a in neural crest cells affects development by creating a conditional (floxed) version of tcfap2a which has subsequently been intercrossed with mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of Wnt1 cis-regulatory sequences. Neural crest-specific disruption of tcfap2a results in frequent perinatal lethality associated with neural tube closure defects and cleft secondary palate. A small but significant fraction of mutant mice can survive into adulthood, but have retarded craniofacial growth, abnormal middle ear development, and defects in pigmentation. The phenotypes obtained confirm that AP-2a directs important aspects of neural crest cell function. At the same time, we did not observe several neurocristopathies affecting the head and heart that might be expected based on the phenotype of the AP-2a-null mouse. These results have important implications for the evolution and function of the AP-2 gene family in both the neural crest and the vertebrate embryo.
Isolation and characterization of highly purified mosquito oostatic hormone

Oostatic hormone, the hormone that inhibits vitellogenesis in mosquitoes, was purified 7,000-fold with a recovery of 70% from the ovaries of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The purification procedure included heat treatment and chromatography on ion exchange and gel filtration columns. The hormone is a small peptidelike molecule of molecular weight 2,200 at pH 4.5, which aggregates into larger molecular species of trimer and octamer at pH 7.0 as determined by gel filtration. The hormone is positively charged at pH 7.8 and has a low Rf at pH 9.4 on disc gel electrophoresis. Injection of purified oostatic hormone (9 ng) into female mosquitoes inhibited yolk deposition and vitellogenin synthesis. Activity of the oostatic hormone in the mosquito ovary increased rapidly following blood feeding and reached a maximum after 48 h. Oostatic hormone of A. aegypti injected into autogenous Aedes taeniorhynchus inhibited egg development. Repeated injections of dilute oostatic hormone at 24 h intervals partially arrested egg development, resulting in 60% reduction in the number of eggs laid. This hormone does not block release of egg development neurosecretory hormone (EDNH) from the mosquito brain but rather appears to act on the ovary.
Trace element content of surface and subsurface enamel relative to caries prevalence on the west coast of the United States of America

Abstract The enamel of 87 caries-free first premolars of life-long residents of Montana, California and Oregon aged 12–14 years were analysed for strontium (Sr) and fluoride (F) from the surface inwards, using an acid-etch technique on the extracted teeth. The caries prevalence in the individual and in the geographic area was known. There was a gradient in both Sr and F from the surface inward, with a higher concentration in the surface than in the inner enamel. Teeth from the epidemiologically high-caries California area were lower in fluoride than those from the lower-caries Oregon area. The strontium values were the opposite. The Montana individuals with a lower caries index had a lower strontium content, but a very high fluoride content despite the lack of F and Sr in the water supply. When all the samples were grouped, teeth from low-caries individuals had a remarkably similar Sr content (300–400 parts/10 6 ), and a higher F content in the outer (> 400 parts/10 6 ) and inner (> 200 parts/10 6 ) enamel than all the teeth from high-caries individuals. Teeth from those areas with low selenium vs high selenium content in the forage, showed no difference in either F or Sr, but did show a difference in caries prevalence.
Background of the prevention of cardiovascular disease. I. Nutritional, infectious, and alcoholic heart disease.

Cet article se rapporte au beri beri, a la diphterie, a la syphilis, au rhumatisme articulaire aigu, a la rubeole et a l'alcool
Anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder 9 months after perinatal loss

Abstract Objective Perinatal loss (stillbirth after 20 weeks of gestational age or infant death in the first month) impacts one to two infants per hundred live births in the United States and can be a devastating experience for parents. We assessed prevalence of anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) among bereaved and live-birth mothers. Methods We collaborated with the Michigan Department of Community Health to survey Michigan mothers with perinatal death or live birth. We measured symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder and OCD using validated written self-report screens and collected data on maternal demographics, psychiatric history, social support and intimate partner violence. Results A total 609/1400 mothers (44%) participated, returning surveys 9 months postdelivery. Two hundred thirty-two mothers had live birth, and 377 had perinatal loss. In unadjusted analyses, bereaved mothers had higher odds of all four disorders. In logistic regression adjusted for covariates, bereaved mothers still had higher odds of moderate–severe generalized anxiety disorder [odds ratio (OR): 2.39, confidence interval (CI): 1.10–5.18, P =.028] and social phobia (OR: 2.32, CI: 1.52–3.54, P Conclusion Bereaved mothers struggle with clinically significant anxiety disorders in the first year after perinatal loss; improved identification and treatment are essential to improve mental health for this vulnerable population.
Perceived Risk and Risk Reduction Strategies in Study Abroad Programs

ABSTRACT The study abroad program (SAP) meets the criteria of a risky purchase, namely of being non-tangible, possessing hidden qualities, being expensive and cannot being able to be tested prior to purchase. In fact, SAPs may score highly on a number of risk components, especially financial risk (expensive), psychological risk (anxiety), physical risk (safety), social risk (thought of as foolish) and performance risk (deliver valuable information, have fun, learn). The concept of perceived risk is applied to SAPs, as are risk reducing strategies (RRS) that faculty can employ to make the SAP a much less risky proposition.
Occupational dust exposures in West Texas cotton gins

Total and elutriated dust concentrations were measured by four methods for typical ginning situations. Total and elutriated levels were 0.73 and 0.47 and 0.59 and 0.26 mg/m3 per bale/hr by the gin stands and bale press, respectively. Limited data show the corresponding mass media diameters are 9.2–14.8 and 9.6–18.5 µm.
Perspective on antigen processing and presentation.

Summary: The phenomenon of antigen processing and presentation and the concept that T cells recognize peptides resulting from the partial catabolism of proteins, are relatively new. These concepts were first recognized and developed at a time when lymphocyte immunity − the adaptive system – and cellular immunity, with its major component of activated macrophages, were not perceived as part of one integrated system. To me, it was the fundamental findings on the role of major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules that set the framework for understanding how phagocytes and the antigen presenting cell (APC) system interact with the adaptive cellular system, in a truly symbiotic relationship (1). In this chapter we make a historical review of the developments that, in my biased opinion, led to the understanding of antigen presentation as a central event. I emphasize my own work, placing it in my perspective of how I saw the field moving.
Evaluating Deer Hunters’ Support for Hunting Deer with Dogs

Hunting deer with dogs (dog hunting) has a long tradition in the United States but has created conflict among deer hunters. Our objectives were to determine factors predicting support for dog hunti...
Effects of congenital hypothyroidism on microtubule-associated protein-2 expression in the cerebellum of the rat.

In view of the defective neurotubule assembly observed in congenital hypothyroidism and the striking morphological abnormalities of the cerebellum in this condition, we have investigated the expression of microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) in the cerebellum of rats with congenital hypothyroidism. Analysis included the measurement of immunoreactive MAP2 and its mRNA. In addition, the intracellular distribution of MAP2 was studied by immunostaining of the appropriate histological preparations. The results showed that the developmental increase in MAP2 is delayed in congenital hypothyroidism, but eventually the concentration of this protein reached normal levels in animals with this condition, even if untreated. These abnormalities in the immunoreactive protein are not paralleled by abnormalities in the abundance of MAP2 mRNA, which was not affected by the thyroid status of the animals. In spite of the normalization of the content of the protein, the distribution of MAP2 in the Purkinje cells of hypothy...
Neuroleptic and analgesic interactions upon pain and activity measures

Previous data in rats indicate that while dopamine receptor blockers like haloperidol (HAL) potentiate opiate analgesia, dopamine receptor stimulants like apomorphine reduce cold-water swim (CWS) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) analgesia. Yet recently, HAL and chlorpromazine (CBZ) have been shown to reduce heat and immobilization analgesia. To address these differences, the present study investigated whether HAL (10, 50, 100 microgram/kg) or CPZ (1, 3, 5 mg/kg) would potentiate or reduce the effects of morphine (MOR), CWS, 2-DG and chlordiazepoxide (CDP) upon analgesia and activity. While HAL increased jump thresholds in a dose-dependent manner, CPZ doses exerted erratic effects. MOR analgesia was potentiated by the two higher CPZ doses and by the highest HAL dose. 2-DG analgesia was potentiated by only the highest HAL dose while CDP analgesia was potentiated by the moderate CPZ dose. While all CPZ doses potentiated CWS-induced increases in jump thresholds, the lowest HAL dose reduced this effect. These effects are considered in terms of the analgesic manipulation and its magnitude of effect, the neuroleptic and its dose, the pain test, and possible concurrent effects upon activity.
Directed star decompositions of directed multigraphs

Abstract An ( s,t )-directed star decomposition of a directed multigraph is a partition of the ars into directed stars, each having s arcs into the center and t arcs out of the center. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions for a directed complete multigraph to have an ( s,t )-directed star decomposition. We futher determine necessary abd sufficient conditions for a regular directed symmetric graph to have such a decomposition in which each vertex is the center of the same number of stars.
Cryotherapy of Basal Cell Carcinoma in Oculoplastic Surgery

Cryotherapy was an effective modality in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma in the eyelid and periorbital area and cured 93% of the 29 lesions in 25 patients. This method was especially advantageous in patients with blood clotting disorders; those with medical contraindications to, or who refused, classical surgery; patients who had prior radiation or surgery; patients with the basal cell nevus syndrome or xeroderma pigmentosa; and in patients with medial canthal tumors. Experimental cryotherapy in the albino rabbit showed their lacrimal system is not adversely affected by freezing in the temperature range required for tumor death.
Variable chronic partial ureteral obstruction in the neonatal rat: A new model of ureteropelvic junction obstruction1

Variable chronic partial ureteral obstruction in the neonatal rat: A new model of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Background Congenital ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is a common developmental anomaly. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the renal consequences of congenital UPJ obstruction, we have developed a new model of variable partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in the neonatal rat. Methods Rat pups were subjected to sham-operation, complete UUO, or variable partial UUO within the first day of life. After 14 or 28 days, the relative number of glomeruli, cell proliferation, tubular apoptosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were quantitated in histologic sections. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined after 28 days of partial or complete UUO. Results Following 70% to 75% reduction in ureteral diameter, renal growth from 14 to 28 days was reduced by 60%, and the number of glomeruli decreased by 50%. Renal pelvic diameter increased in proportion to the severity of obstruction following 14 days of partial UUO, and by 28 days, was maximally dilated regardless of the luminal diameter. Renal proliferation was increased, while tubular apoptosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were less severe 14 days following partial UUO than in complete UUO. GFR was reduced by 80%, and proteinuria developed following 28 days of partial UUO. Conclusion Renal function is impaired by chronic ipsilateral partial UUO, which reduces the number of nephrons, and leads to progressive renal pelvic dilatation. Tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis develop prior to significant renal pelvic dilatation. Correlation of clinically measurable parameters with renal morphometry or imaging studies in this model may lead to new approaches to the management of congenital UPJ obstruction. 1 See Editorial by Peters, p. 371.
'Marker swap' plasmids: convenient tools for budding yeast molecular genetics

One-step gene disruption constructs for disruption of HIS3, LEU2, TRP1 or URA3 with each of the other three markers have been constructed. All of these constructs have been tested and found to effectively convert markers either in gene disruptions or on plasmids. The 'swapped' strains allow the unambiguous genetic analysis of synthetic phenotypes with multiple genes, even if the original gene disruptions were made with the same marker. They also allow introduction of multiple plasmids in a single transformant, even if the original plasmids had the same marker, and allow transformation of plasmids into strains containing gene disruptions made with the same marker that is on the plasmids. These 'marker-swap' plasmids therefore eliminate the need for much subcloning to change markers. Marker-swapped alleles are acceptably stable mitotically and meiotically for most applications.
Micro/nanotribological characterization of PDMS and PMMA used for BioMEMS/NEMS applications

Abstract Tribology is the primary cause of concern for various micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) and biological applications of MEMS/NEMS (BioMEMS/NEMS) due to failures resulting from high adhesion and friction. Polymers are gaining significant importance due to their myriad advantages over conventional silicon-based components and the related micromachining techniques. Micro/nanotribological characterization of polymers is therefore essential. Adhesion and friction of single crystal silicon with native oxide layer and two polymers—poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA)—are studied and their dependence on rest time, relative humidity and sliding velocity is evaluated. Contact angle measurements and Laplace force calculations show that both PDMS and PMMA are highly hydrophobic and unlike silicon, their adhesive force is independent of rest time and relative humidity. Coefficient of friction for both polymers is lower than that for silicon. Velocity dependence studies indicate higher energy dissipation and localized melting for PMMA at high velocities. The PDMS sample absorbs asperity impacts and hence friction is lower for PDMS even at high velocities. Overall, owing to their highly hydrophobic surfaces and low friction PDMS and PMMA are ideally suited for use in micro/nanodevices that operate in varying environmental conditions and at high relative sliding velocities.
Lagrangian Analysis and Prediction of Coastal Ocean Dynamics

The basic governing equations of geophysical fluid dynamics have been known for many years, but how meaningful these equations are to our understanding of coastal and open oceans depends crucially on the accuracy of constitutive equations that relate the internal and external forces acting on these bodies of water. Field measurements, whether Eulerian or Lagrangian, have played and continue to play a central role in two important aspects of geophysical fluid dynamics. First, the data collected often point to the presence of various stable and coherent structures, eddies, or streams, whose study naturally becomes the focus of analytical and computational efforts. Second, the availability of good data serves to calibrate how the response of bodies of water to forces should be modeled. This book provides a substantial collection of well- written articles on how Lagrangian data are collected, analyzed, and eventually assimilated into models.
Mesoscale Phase-Field Modeling of Charge Transport in Nanocomposite Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A phase-field model is developed to investigate the influence of microstructure, thermodynamic and kinetic properties, and charging conditions on charged particle transport in nanocomposite electrodes. Two sets of field variables are used to describe the microstructure. One is comprised of the order parameters describing size, orientation and spatial distributions of nanoparticles, and the other is comprised of the concentrations of mobile species. A porous nanoparticle microstructure filled with electrolyte is taken as a model system to test the phase-field model. Inhomogeneous and anisotropic dielectric constants and mobilities of charged particles, and stresses associated with lattice deformation due to Li-ion insertion/extraction are considered in the model. Iteration methods are used to find the elastic and electric fields in an elastically and electrically inhomogeneous medium. The results demonstrate that the model is capable of predicting charge separation associated with the formation of a double layer at the electrochemical interface between solid and electrolyte, and the effect of microstructure, inhomogeneous and anisotropic thermodynamic and kinetic properties, charge rates, and stresses on voltage versus current density and capacity during charging and discharging.
The Effect of Liver Concentrate and Aureomycin Upon the Growth of Chicks

Abstract Aureomycin was reported (Stokstad and Jukes, 1950) to increase the growth of chicks fed a ration containing all the known nutritional factors, although the mechanism of the growth response was obscure. Liver preparations have also been reported to increase the growth of chicks (Novak et al., 1948; Combs et al., 1950; Sunde et al., 1950; McGinnis et al., 1952; Menge et al., 1952) and it seemed desirable to determine whether the growth response of aureomycin could also be produced by a liver preparation. The basal ration used contained the following in grams per 100 grams; methanol extracted soybean oil meal, 45.0; calcium carbonate, 2.5; mineral mixture (Kratzer et al., 1949), 2.5; soybean oil, 2.5; calcium phosphate (dibasic), 2.0; vitamin mixture (Kratzer et al., 1949), 2.0; fish oil (2250A-300D), 1.0; choline chloride concentrate (25% active), 0.8; DL methionine, 0.15; alpha tocoperol, 0.002; pteroylglutamic acid, 0.00005; biotin, 0.00002; vitamin B12, 0.000001 and . . .
Event‐related fMRI of tasks involving brief motion

The assessment of brain function by blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for tasks involving motion near the field of view is compromised by artifacts arising from the motion. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that these artifacts can be reduced by acquiring the average response from a brief stimulus (a "single-trial," or "event-related," paradigm) as opposed to alternating blocks of repeated task with rest (a "block-trial" paradigm). The basis of this technique is that the NMR signal changes from neuronal activation are delayed relative to the motion due to a slow hemodynamic response. By acquiring the average response from a brief stimulus, motion-induced signal changes occur prior to neuronal activation-induced signal changes, and the two can thus be distinguished. This technique is applied to the tasks of speaking out loud, swallowing, jaw clenching, and tongue movement. Functional activation maps derived from the single-trial paradigm contain significantly less artifact than functional activation maps derived from a more traditional block-trial paradigm.
Macroscopic FE model for tracing the fire response of reinforced concrete structures

A macroscopic finite element model for tracing the fire response of reinforced concrete (RC) structural members is presented. The model accounts for critical factors that are to be considered for performance-based fire resistance assessment of RC structural members. Fire induced spalling, various strain components, high temperature material properties, restraint effects, different fire scenarios and failure criteria are incorporated in the model. The validity of the numerical model is established by comparing the predictions from the computer program with results from full-scale fire resistance tests. Case studies are conducted to demonstrate the use of the computer program for tracing the response of RC members under standard and design fire exposures. Through the results of the case studies, it is shown that the fire scenario has a significant effect on the fire resistance of RC columns and beams. It is also shown that macroscopic finite element models are capable of predicting the fire response of RC structural members with an adequate accuracy for practical applications.
Simple models predicted 10-year fracture risk in older women as accurately as more complex FRAX models

Source Citation Ensrud KE, Lui LY, Taylor BC, et al. A comparison of prediction models for fractures in older women: is more better? Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:2087-94. 20008691
Teaching requirements engineering to undergraduate students

Requirements engineering, an integral part of the life of a software engineer, often receives little or no attention in the education of a computer science student. We report on our experiences in constructing an innovative curriculum that utilizes a three tier model of learning that provides students with hands-on experience on the various facets of requirements elicitation and management. This curriculum can be integrated into an existing course on software engineering, software requirements or the senior capstone experience. We believe our experience will be of use to other computer science and software engineering programs that are aiming at introducing requirements in the undergraduate curriculum.
Prominence Formation by Thermal Nonequilibrium in the Sheared-Arcade Model

The existence of solar prominences—cool, dense, filamented plasma suspended in the corona above magnetic neutral lines—has long been an outstanding problem in solar physics. In earlier numerical studies we identified a mechanism, thermal nonequilibrium, by which cool condensations can form in long coronal flux tubes heated locally above their footpoints. To understand the physics of this process, we began by modeling idealized symmetric flux tubes with uniform cross-sectional area and a simplified radiative-loss function. The present work demonstrates that condensations also form under more realistic conditions, in a typical flux tube taken from our three-dimensional MHD simulation of prominence magnetic structure produced by the sheared arcade mechanism. We compare these results with simulations of an otherwise identical flux tube with uniform cross-sectional area, to determine the influence of the overall three-dimensional magnetic configuration on the condensation process. We also show that updating the optically thin radiative loss function yields more rapidly varying, dynamic behavior in better agreement with the latest prominence observations than our earlier studies. These developments bring us substantially closer to a fully self-consistent, three-dimensional model of both magnetic field and plasma in prominences.
METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING DISTANCE MATRICES AND THE INVERSE EIGENVALUE PROBLEM

Abstract Let D 1 ∈ R k×k and D 2 ∈ R l×l be two distance matrices. We provide necessary conditions on Z∈ R k×l in order that D= D 1 Z Z T D 2 ∈ R n×n be a distance matrix. We then show that it is always possible to border an n×n distance matrix, with certain scalar multiples of its Perron eigenvector, to construct an (n+1)×(n+1) distance matrix. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for two principal distance matrix blocks D 1 and D 2 be used to form a distance matrix as above, where Z is a scalar multiple of a rank one matrix, formed from their Perron eigenvectors. Finally, we solve the inverse eigenvalue problem for distance matrices in certain special cases, including n=3,4,5,6 , any n for which there exists a Hadamard matrix, and some other cases.
Immunohistochemical Studies of Peters' Anomaly

Peters' anomaly is a congenital abnormality that affects mainly the posterior cornea. The pathogenesis is unclear. By immunohistochemical methods, the authors determined the presence of extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, laminin, and collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI, in seven corneal buttons from five patients with Peters' anomaly. Type III collagen was the only protein absent in either the pathologic or normal human corneas. Compared with normal controls, the stromal lamellae in Peters' anomaly corneas were more irregular and more closely packed. In addition, the fibronectin staining was markedly enhanced in all seven Peters' anomaly corneas. Staining with collagen type VI was also mildly increased. These results suggest that extracellular matrix elements such as fibronectin may be important factors in this developmental disorder.
Properties of a UV-sensitive neurospora strain defective in pyrimidine dimer excision

Abstract The UV-sensitive Neurospora strain uvs-2 is known to resemble the excision-defective uvr mutants of E. coli K12 in being both excision-defective and highly UV mutable. As shown in this report, the uvs-2 strain also resembles the uvr mutants in its ability to remain photoreactivable when held in the dark for 2 h between UV-irradiation and photoreactivating light exposure, and in its maintenance of the same spontaneous deletion rate as wild type strains. Unlike the E. coli uvr mutants, however, this strain is sensitive to ionizing radiation and shows an increase in survival when held for 2 h in distilled water before plating (liquid-holding recovery [LHR]). The strain is three times more sensitive to X-rays than the wild type strain. It is also sensitive to nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Sensitivity to UV, X-rays and MNNG appears to be under the control of a single gene. These properties suggest that the repair defect in the Neurospora uvs-2 mutant is different from those of the uvr mutants of E. coli K12.
α-amylase inhibitors in Triticum aestivum: Purification and physical-chemical properties

Abstract Two α-amylase inhibitors in aqueous extracts of wheat flour have been resolved by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. α-Amylase inhibitor I, the major inhibitor, was homogeneous by disc gel electrophoresis. It had a MW of 20 000 daltons and an isoelectric point of 6·7. α-Amylase inhibitor II had two minor contaminants when analysed by electrophoresis. These inhibitors were classified as typical wheat albumin proteins. A third α-amylase inhibitor was discovered when it was observed that an albumin protein which is found only in Triticum aestivum varieties of wheat could also inhibit pancreatic α-amylase. All three of these inhibitors could be distinguished by their characteristic electrophoretic mobilities.
Information Asymmetries in Consumer Credit Markets: Evidence from Payday Loans

This paper tests for incentive and selection effects in a subprime consumer credit market. We estimate the incentive effect of loan size on default using sharp discontinuities in loan eligibility rules. This allows us to estimate the magnitude of selection from the cross-sectional correlation between loan size and default. We find evidence of advantageous incentives and adverse selection. For a given borrower, we estimate that a $100 increase in loan size decreases the probability of default by 3.7 to 4.2 percentage points, a 20 to 23 percent decrease from the mean default rate. The incentive effect is more than o ffset by adverse selection into larger loans. Borrowers who choose $100 larger loans are 6.9 to 8.0 percentage points more likely to default than borrowers who choose smaller loans. Taken together, our results are consistent with the idea that information frictions lead to credit constraints in equilibrium.
A review of oceanic salt-fingering theory

Salt-fingering is a potentially important mechanism for mixing different water-masses in those parts of the ocean where warm salty waters overlie cooler fresher. This review surveys advances in salt-fingering theory as they pertain to ocean mixing. Basic equations are presented along with steady, maximum buoyancy-flux and fastest-growing finger solutions. Attempts to quantify theoretically finger-induced fluxes of heat, salt and buoyancy, and to understand staircase formation and maintenance, are described. Also considered are the confounding influences of internal wave shear and strain, and intermittent internal-wave shear-driven turbulence, which are present in the ocean but in few theories. Finally, outstanding theoretical questions about the role of salt fingers in the ocean are raised.
Scattering of plane SH-waves by cylindrical canals of arbitrary shape

Abstract A boundary method is used to solve numerically the problem of scattering and diffraction of SH -waves by cylindrical canals of arbitrary shape in a homogeneous, linear, elastic, and isotropic half-space. A least-square technique has been employed to solve this problem. Results are obtained using a multiple expansion in terms of Henkel's functions. Displacements and stresses near and in the canal wall have been investigated and a comparison with known exact and approximate solutions for SH -wave motion has been studied. Numerical results for displacement and stress amplitudes for different geometries are presented. The stress and displacement amplitudes in the canal wall and on nearby ground surface change rapidly from one point to another. The higher excitation frequencies lead to greater complexity of the computed motions. For grazing and nearly grazing incidences, a shadow zone is developed behind the canal.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders occur in 6% to 8% of all pregnancies, are the second leading cause of maternal death, and contribute to significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. This is a problem not only in inpatient settings, as ambulatory and home-care nurses are increasingly being called upon to monitor women who are at high risk and may have hypertensive disorders. To prevent hypertension-induced problems in pregnant women, nurses must have strong assessment, advocacy, and counseling skills. Nurses also must provide care based on the latest national standards as described in this article.
Modulation of expression and cell surface binding of members of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily during retinoic acid-induced osteoblastic differentiation of multipotential mesenchymal cells.

We have evaluated the effects of retinoic acid as a differentiating agent on two pluripotential mesenchymal stem cell lines, the mouse cell line C3H-10T1/2 (10T1/2), which has the capacity to differentiate in vitro into myoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts, and the rat cell line ROB-C26 (C26), which can, in culture, give rise to adipocytes, myoblasts, and osteoblasts. Retinoic acid (10(-6) M) reduces the incidence of myoblast and adipocyte formation and induces or increases alkaline phosphatase expression and responsiveness to PTH, two indicators of the osteoblastic phenotype. Because transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) superfamily members, including the different TGF beta isoforms and the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), are thought to play a role in regulating bone and cartilage formation, and because exogenous TGF beta and BMP-2 have already been found to modulate osteoblastic differentiation of C26 and 10T1/2 cells, we evaluated the endogenous expression of these factors in b...
Sympathetic innervation and function in reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy have posttraumatic pain disproportionate to the injury and spreading beyond the distribution of any single peripheral nerve. We examined sympathetic neurocirculatory function and the role of sympathetic postganglionic nerve traffic in maintaining the pain in 30 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Most had had the condition for more than 1 year, and 14 had undergone sympathectomy for the pain. Positron emission tomographic scanning after administration of 13 N-ammonia was used to assess local perfusion, and 6-[ 18 F]fluorodopamine was used to assess sympathetic innervation. Rates of entry of norepinephrine in the regional venous drainage (spillovers) and regional plasma levels of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (the immediate product of the rate-limiting enzymatic step in norepinephrine biosynthesis) and dihydroxyphenylglycol (the main neuronal metabolite of norepinephrine) were measured with and without intravenous trimethaphan for ganglion blockade. 13 N-Ammonia-derived radioactivity was less on the affected side than on the unaffected side, whereas 6-[ 18 F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity was symmetrical. Thus, perfusion-adjusted 6-[ 18 F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity was higher on the affected side. Norepinephrine spillover and arteriovenous increments in plasma levels of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine and dihydroxyphenylglycol did not differ significantly between affected and unaffected limbs, although 4 patients had noticeably less norepinephrine spillover and smaller arteriovenous increments in plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol on the affected side. Trimethaphan decreased the pain in only 2 of 12 nonsympathectomized patients. The results indicate that patients with chronic unilateral reflex sympathetic dystrophy have decreased perfusion of the affected limb, symmetrical sympathetic innervation and norepinephrine synthesis, variably decreased release and turnover of norepinephrine in the affected limb, and failure of ganglion blockade to improve the pain in most cases. These findings suggest augmented vasoconstriction, intact sympathetic terminal innervation, possibly impaired sympathetic neurotransmission, and pain usually independent of sympathetic neurocirculatory outflows.
New 40Ar/39Ar ages reveal contemporaneous mafic and silicic eruptions during the past 160,000 years at Mammoth Mountain and Long Valley caldera, California

We undertook a 40 Ar/ 39 Ar study of young mafic and silicic lavas at Mammoth Mountain and the Long Valley caldera (east-central California) to better understand the frequency of these eruptions and the magmatic plumbing system that drives them. Our results show that most of Mammoth Mountain, a lava-dome complex straddling the southwestern topographic rim of the caldera, consists of trachydacite lavas erupted at ca. 68 ka. These ages and new 29- and 41 ka ages for trachydacite lavas in the northwest quadrant of the caldera indicate that these silicic lavas are considerably younger than previously thought. Mafic lavas vented widely in the western third of the caldera in the past 190,000 years, suggesting that this area has not been underlain by large bodies of silicic magma during this interval, as such magma would have prevented the rise of the denser basaltic magma. We identify four eruptive sequences over the past 190,000 years: the western moat sequence (∼190–160 ka), the Mammoth sequence (∼120–58 ka), the northwest caldera sequence (∼41–29 ka), and the Inyo chain sequence (∼9 ka–present). In each eruptive sequence mafic and silicic lavas erupted contemporaneously from spatially associated vents. This suggests that intrusion of alkali basalt into the shallow crust led to the silicic eruptions. If the seismic unrest and deformation of the past three decades is a result of basalt injected beneath Mammoth Mountain and perhaps the western third of the caldera, then there is the possibility of spatially associated small-volume silicic eruptions, which would typically be considerably more explosive. In the past 40,000 years, eruptions have occurred along a N-S linear trend less than 10 km wide, limiting the zone subject to volcanic hazards. Our data bear on Pleistocene glaciation in the region. Ages of 162 ± 2 ka and 99 ± 1 ka for bracketing mafic lava flows better constrain the age of the Casa Diablo till. Our results provide equivocal support for a suggested anticorrelation between volcanism and glaciation for the past 800,000 years in eastern California (Glazner et al., 1999).
METASTABLE SYSTEMS AS RANDOM MAPS

Metastable dynamical systems were recently studied [Gonzalez-Tokman et al., 2011] in the framework of one-dimensional piecewise expanding maps on two disjoint invariant sets, each possessing its own ergodic absolutely continuous invariant measure (acim). Under small deterministic perturbations, holes between the two disjoint systems are created, and the two ergodic systems merge into one. The long term dynamics of the newly formed metastable system is defined by the unique acim on the combined ergodic sets. The main result of [Gonzalez-Tokman et al., 2011] proves that this combined acim can be approximated by a convex combination of the disjoint acims with weights depending on the ratio of the respective measures of the holes. In this note we present an entirely different approach to metastable systems. We consider two piecewise expanding maps: one is the original map, τ1, defined on two disjoint invariant sets of ℝN and the other is a deterministically perturbed version of τ1, τ2, which allows passage between the two disjoint invariant sets of τ1. We model this system by a position dependent random map based on τ1 and τ2, to which we associate position dependent probabilities that reflect the switching between the maps. A typical orbit spends a long time in one of the ergodic sets but eventually switches to the other. Such behavior can be attributed to physical holes as between adjoining billiard tables or more abstract situations where balls can "leap" from one table to the other. Using results for random maps, a result similar to the one-dimensional main result of [Gonzalez-Tokman et al., 2011] is proved in N dimensions. We also consider holes in more than two invariant sets. A number of examples are presented.
Developing new proficiencies for human resource and industrial relations professionals

Abstract Enhancing the effectiveness of human resource and industrial relations professionals requires developing during their education and training the proficiencies they must be able to demonstrate when they enter the labor market. These proficiencies reflect their ability to combine traditional content and acquired skills in creative ways that add value to their employers. Implementing a proficiencies approach requires identifying the needed proficiencies, assessing the effectiveness of master's degree programs in producing these proficiencies, and identifying gaps to be filled. A qualify function deployment process is used to assess the leveraging power of content knowledge and acquired skills in developing these proficiencies.
Cost-Sensitive Universum-SVM

Many applications of machine learning involve analysis of sparse high-dimensional data, where the number of input features is larger than the number of data samples. Standard classification methods may not be sufficient for such data, and this provides motivation for non-standard learning settings. One such new learning methodology is called Learning through Contradictions or Universum support vector machine (U-SVM) [1, 2]. Recent studies [2-10] have shown U-SVM to be quite effective for such sparse high-dimensional data settings. However, these studies use balanced data sets with equal misclassification costs. This paper extends the U-SVM for problems with different misclassification costs, and presents practical conditions for the effectiveness of the cost sensitive U-SVM. Finally, several empirical comparisons are presented to illustrate the utility of the proposed approach.
The posterior superior temporal sulcus is sensitive to the outcome of human and non-human goal-directed actions

Prior studies have demonstrated that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) is involved in analyzing the intentions underlying actions and is sensitive to the context within which actions occur. However, it is debated whether the pSTS is actually sensitive to goals underlying actions, or whether previous studies can be interpreted to suggest that the pSTS is instead involved in the allocation of visual attention towards unexpected events. In addition, little is known about whether the pSTS is specialized for reasoning about the actions of social agents or whether the pSTS is sensitive to the actions of both animate and inanimate entities. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated activation in response to passive viewing of successful and unsuccessful animate and inanimate goal-directed actions. Activation in the right pSTS was stronger in response to failed actions compared to successful actions, suggesting that the pSTS plays a role in encoding the goals underlying actions. Activation in the pSTS did not differentiate between animate and inanimate actions, suggesting that the pSTS is sensitive to the goal-directed actions of both animate and inanimate entities.
Multi-Mechanism Reliability Modeling and Management in Dynamic Systems

Reliability failure mechanisms, such as time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB), electromigration, and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), have become a key concern in integrated circuit (IC) design. The traditional approach to reliability qualification assumes that the system will operate at maximum performance continuously under worst case voltage and temperature conditions. In reality, due to widely varying environmental conditions and an increased use of dynamic control techniques, such as dynamic voltage scaling and sleep modes, the typical system spends a very small fraction of its operational time at maximum voltage and temperature. In this paper, we show how this results in a reliability ";slack"; that can be leveraged to provide increased performance during periods of peak processing demand. We develop a novel, real time reliability model based on workload driven conditions. Based on this model, we then propose a new dynamic reliability management (DRM) scheme that results in 20%-35 % performance improvement during periods of peak computational demand while ensuring the required reliability lifetime.
Dynamically Optimal After-Tax Grain Storage, Cash Grain Sale, and Hedging Strategies

This article utilizes a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model that considers the state variables of (a) before-tax income, (b) grain storage, (c) quantity of futures position, (d) value of futures position, (e) wheat price, and (f) basis level. Decision variables are monthly cash grain sales and futures market transactions. In comparing the post-sample performance of SDP to other marketing strategies over a four-year period, SDP resulted in $5,961 to $25,021 more wealth than the other strategies considered. Also, these other strategies yielded a standard deviation of after-tax income that was 30% to 621% greater than that from the SDP framework.
Cognitive models of discourse comprehension for narrative generation

Recent work in the area of narrative generation has sought to develop systems that automatically produce experiences for a user that are understood as stories. Much of this prior work, however, has focused on the structural aspects of narrative rather than the process of narrative comprehension undertaken by readers. Cognitive theories of narrative discourse comprehension define explicit models of a reader’s mental state during reading. These cognitive models are created to test hypotheses and explain empirical results about the comprehension processes of readers. They do not often contain sufficient precision for implementation on a computer, and thus, they are not yet suitable for computational generation purposes. This dissertation employs cognitive models of narrative discourse comprehension to define an explicit computational model of a reader’s comprehension process during reading, predicting aspects of narrative focus and inferencing with precision. This computational model is employed in a narrative discourse generation system to select content from an event log, creating discourses that satisfy comprehension criteria. The results of three experiments are presented and discussed, exhibiting empirical support for the computational reader model and the results of generation. This dissertation makes a number of contributions that advance the state-of-the-art in narrative discourse generation: a formal model of narrative focus, a formal model of online inferencing in narrative, a method of selecting narrative discourse content to satisfy comprehension criteria, and implementation and evaluation of these models.
Connecting phenological predictions with population growth rates for mountain pine beetle, an outbreak insect

It is expected that a significant impact of global warming will be disruption of phenology as environmental cues become disassociated from their selective impacts. However there are few, if any, models directly connecting phenology with population growth rates. In this paper we discuss connecting a distributional model describing mountain pine beetle phenology with a model of population success mea- sured using annual growth rates derived from aerially detected counts of infested trees. This model bridges the gap between phenology predictions and population viability/growth rates for mountain pine beetle. The model is parameterized and compared with 8 years of data from a recent outbreak in central Idaho, and is driven using measured tree phloem temperatures from north and south bole aspects and cumulative forest area impacted. A model driven by observed south-side phloem temperatures and that includes a correction for forest area previously infested and killed is most predictive and generates realistic parameter values of mountain pine beetle fecundity and population growth. Given that observed phloem temperatures are not always available, we explore a variety of methods for using daily maximum and minimum ambient temper- atures in model predictions.