cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of multi-paradigm integrating modelling tools for ecological research

Abstract Integrating modelling tools allow different modelling paradigms to coexist and cooperate in the same simulation model. The need for such tools in ecological modelling is due to the high level of complexity of ecological and environmental decision-making problems, their multiple scales of description, the diversity of the available approaches, and the size and heterogeneity of the available datasets. This article discusses problems and perspectives in developing integrating modelling tools and introduces the Simulation Network Interface (SNI), a software package for easy coordination of different existing simulation models. The interface allows the coordination of independent simulation models residing on different machines into higher-level, multi-paradigm, distributed simulation, with minimal recoding efforts of existing models. The interface can also be used to easily provide a remote interface to simulation or data retrieval services running on different architectures. As examples of its application, we describe three ongoing projects using the SNI: (1) the integration of Swarm, an agent-based simulation toolkit, with the Spatial Modelling Environment (SME), a process-based spatial simulation toolkit; (2) the straightforward implementation of a GIS-based spatial data repository for network-based data retrieval and manipulation; and (3) a network-based calibration service for complex simulation models.
Response of erythroid day 3 burst-forming units to endotoxin and erythropoietin.

SummaryWhen the marrow and spleen cells of plethoric mice are cultured with 1.0 unit/ml of limulus-lysate-absorbed Ep, the predominant erythroid progenitor cell assayed is the Day 3 BFU-E. Erythropoiesis by these cells can be studied by enumeration of bursts at 3 days or by 24-hr 59Fe incorporation into heme. Endotoxin markedly increased the number of Day 3 BFU-E in the spleens of these mice and decreased the number in the marrow, but it had little effect on erythropoietic maturation. In contrast, Ep produced differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells resulting in increased splenic CFU-E and a decline in the more primitive erythroid precursor cells.We wish to thank Ms. A. Brockman for excellent technical assistance. Mark J. Koury is the recipient of a research fellowship supported by an NIH Postdoctoral Training Program in Hematology, Grant T32 AM07186. This work was supported in part by Grant AM15555 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, by the Medical Resear...
Using reduced catalysts for oxidation reactions: mechanistic studies of the "Periana-Catalytica" system for CH4 oxidation.

Designing oxidation catalysts based on CH activation with reduced, low oxidation state species is a seeming dilemma given the proclivity for catalyst deactivation by overoxidation. This dilemma has been recognized in the Shilov system where reduced PtII is used to catalyze methane functionalization. Thus, it is generally accepted that key to replacing PtIV in that system with more practical oxidants is ensuring that the oxidant does not over-oxidize the reduced PtII species. The “Periana-Catalytica” system, which utilizes (bpym)PtIICl2 in concentrated sulfuric acid solvent at 200 °C, is a highly stable catalyst for the selective, high yield oxy-functionalization of methane. In lieu of the over-oxidation dilemma, the high stability and observed rapid oxidation of (bpym)PtIICl2 to PtIV in the absence of methane would seem to contradict the originally proposed mechanism involving CH activation by a reduced PtII species. Mechanistic studies show that the originally proposed mechanism is incomplete and that wh...
Free fatty acids, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiometabolic stress.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are non-esterified fatty acids that circulate in the bloodstream predominantly bound to albumin. FFAs are released from adipocyte triglyceride stores by lipolysis and from phospholipids by the action of phospholipases. Release of FFAs, as well as uptake of circulating FFAs by tissues such as skeletal muscle and liver, is regulated by the action of insulin and modulated by adrenergic activity. FFAs represent a significant energy source, being oxidized by myocardium, skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney. Specific FFAs may also directly regulate cellular function, either by exchange with membrane phospholipid fatty acids or in their role as natural ligands of cytoplasmic nuclear receptors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Utilizing data from a prospective cohort study of 3315 German patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary angiography in 1997–2000, Pilz et al. 1 evaluated associations between total fasting FFA, measured using stored blood from the time of angiography, and risk of mortality over 6.9 years. Results had previously been reported for total mortality and cardiovascular mortality at 5.4 years;2 this report evaluates sudden cardiac death (SCD) and includes additional follow-up time. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, medication use, left ventricular function, and levels of C-reactive protein, homocysteine, creatinine, B-type natriuretic protein (BNP), and noradrenaline, higher FFA levels were independently associated with SCD ( P trend = 0.01), with 76% higher risk comparing extreme quartiles [relative risk (RR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–3.00]. Notably, results were very … *Corresponding author: Tel: +1 617 432 2887; fax: +1 617 432 2435; E-mail address : dmozaffa{at}hsph.harvard.edu† doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehm343
Function of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Restriction of Drug Delivery to Invasive Glioma Cells: Findings in an Orthotopic Rat Xenograft Model of Glioma

Despite aggressive treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is inevitable. The objective of this study was to show that the blood-brain barrier (BBB), through a combination of tight junctions and active efflux transporters in the brain microvasculature, can significantly restrict delivery of molecularly targeted agents to invasive glioma cells. Transgenic mice lacking P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp) were used to study efflux of erlotinib at the BBB. A U87 rat xenograft model of GBM was used to investigate the regional distribution of erlotinib to the tumor, and brain regions surrounding the tumor. The effect of concurrent administration of elacridar on regional tumor distribution of erlotinib was evaluated. We show that erlotinib transport across an intact BBB is significantly restricted due to P-gp- and Bcrp-mediated efflux transport. We then show that the BBB is sufficiently intact in areas of brain adjacent to the tumor core to significantly restrict erlotinib delivery. Inhibition of P-gp and Bcrp by the dual inhibitor elacridar dramatically increased erlotinib delivery to the tumor core, rim, and normal brain. These results provide conclusive evidence of the impact that active efflux at the BBB has on the delivery of molecularly targeted therapy to different tumor regions in glioma. These data also support the possibility that the repeated failure of clinical trials of new drugs for gliomas may be in part due to a failure to achieve effective concentrations in invasive tumor cells that reside behind an intact BBB.
Development of a screening tool to identify female survivors of gender-based violence in a humanitarian setting: Qualitative evidence from research among refugees in Ethiopia.

High levels of gender-based violence (GBV) persist among conflict-affected populations and within humanitarian settings and are paralleled by under-reporting and low service utilization. Novel and evidence-based approaches are necessary to change the current state of GBV amongst these populations. We present the findings of qualitative research, which were used to inform the development of a screening tool as one potential strategy to identify and respond to GBV for females in humanitarian settings. Qualitative research methods were conducted from January-February 2011 to explore the range of experiences of GBV and barriers to reporting GBV among female refugees. Individual interview participants (n=37) included female refugees (≥15 years), who were survivors of GBV, living in urban or one of three camps settings in Ethiopia, and originating from six conflict countries. Focus group discussion participants (11 groups; 77 participants) included health, protection and community service staff working in the urban or camp settings. Interviews and discussions were conducted in the language of preference, with assistance by interpreters when needed, and transcribed for analysis by grounded-theory technique. Single and multiple counts of GBV were reported and ranged from psychological and social violence; rape, gang rape, sexual coercion, and other sexual violence; abduction; and physical violence. Domestic violence was predominantly reported to occur when participants were living in the host country. Opportunistic violence, often manifested by rape, occurred during transit when women depended on others to reach their destination. Abduction within the host country, and often across borders, highlighted the constant state of vulnerability of refugees. Barriers to reporting included perceived and experienced stigma in health settings and in the wider community, lack of awareness of services, and inability to protect children while mothers sought services. Findings demonstrate that GBV persists across the span of the refugee experience, though there is a transition in the range of perpetrators and types of GBV that are experienced. Further, survivors experience significant individual and system barriers to disclosure and service utilization. The findings suggest that routine GBV screening by skilled service providers offers a strategy to confidentially identify and refer survivors to needed services within refugee settings, potentially enabling survivors to overcome existing barriers.
Aqueous Uranium(VI) Concentrations Controlled by Calcium Uranyl Vanadate Precipitates

Elevated concentrations of U in contaminated environments necessitate understanding controls on its solubility in groundwaters. Here, calculations were performed to compare U(VI) concentrations expected in typical oxidizing groundwaters in equilibrium with different U(VI) minerals. Among common U(VI) minerals, only tyuyamunite (Ca(UO2)2V2O8·8H2O), uranophane (Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·5H2O), and a putative well- crystallized becquerelite (Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6·8H2O) were pre- dicted to control U concentrations around its maximum contaminant level (MCL = 0.13 μM), albeit over narrow ranges of pH. Given the limited information available on uranyl vanadates, room temperature Ca−U−V precipitation experiments were conducted in order to compare aqueous U concentrations with tyuyamunite equilibrium predictions. Measured U concentrations were in approximate agreement with predictions based on Langmuir's estimated ΔGf°, although the precipitated solids were amorphous and had wide ranges of Ca/U/V molar ratios. Nevertheless, high initial U concentrations were decreased to below the MCL over the pH range 5.5−6.5 in the presence of newly formed CaUV solids, indicating that such solids can be important in controlling U in some environments.
Self-assembly of methanethiol on the reconstructed Au(111) surface

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of molecular methanethiol $({\text{CH}}_{3}\text{SH})$ adsorption on the reconstructed Au(111) surface in the temperature range between 90 and 300 K in UHV. We find that the simplest thiol molecules form two stable self-assembled monolayer (SAM) structures that are created by distinct processes. Below 120 K, a solid rectangular phase, preserving the herringbone reconstruction, emerges from individual chains of spontaneously formed dimers. At higher adsorption temperatures below 170 K, a close-packed phase forms via dissociative ${\text{CH}}_{3}\text{SH}$ adsorption and the formation of Au adatoms that are not incorporated into the SAM. We show that the combination of a strong substrate-mediated interaction with nondissociative dimerization and temperature activated removal of the Au(111) reconstruction drives the large-scale assembly of molecular ${\text{CH}}_{3}\text{SH}$ into two distinct phases.
Gels and Gel-Derived Glasses in the SiO2 GeO2 System

Gels and gel-monoliths in the SiO2-GeO2 system were prepared by different procedures using metal alkoxides as starting materials. Several gel compositions with increasing GeO2 were prepared. Crystallization behavior of gels in relation to the preparation procedures, homogeneity, and molecular structure of gels is discussed. Supercritically dried porous gel-monoliths of high silica compositions were densified into glass by sintering at 1280°C.
Supply chain alliances and social dilemmas: bridging the barriers that impede collaboration

Strategic Supply Chain Management (SCM) creates and maintains collective gains through appropriate alliance relationships, which often require initial investments in an uncertain environment. The development of such relationships may be hindered because, as a form of strategic alliance, Supply Chain (SC) alliances are social dilemmas. This paper uses the social dilemma perspective and data gathered from mail survey and case study methodologies to report how strategic SC relationships navigate social dilemmas to collaboratively create and maintain collective gains.
On the optimum synthesis of six-bar linkages using differential evolution and the geometric centroid of precision positions technique

This paper presents a methodology that combines Differential Evolution, an evolutionary optimization scheme, and the Geometric Centroid of Precision Positions technique for mechanism synthesis. Two penalty functions one for constraint violation and one for relative accuracy are employed. The results of the initial application of this methodology were also used in subsequent analysis to considerably improve the desired accuracy level. The developed methodology is applied to the synthesis of six-bar linkages for dwell and dual-dwell mechanisms with prescribed timing and transmission angle constraints. The six-bar mechanism is synthesized using three different approaches as will be described and verified with the presented results.
Exogenous Glucocorticoids Alter Parameters of Early Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a lentivirus, causes progressive immunosuppression and neurologic dysfunction in cats. Glucocorticoids are common therapeutic agents that are also immunosuppressive, and their use might enhance the pathogenic effects of lentivirus infections. Methylprednisolone acetate, a long-acting glucocorticoid, was administered to cats before FIV inoculation, and the course of early infection was monitored. The humoral immune response to FIV was not affected by corticosteroid treatment, but CD8+ cell-mediated antiviral activity was poor in cultures from FIV-infected cats treated with methylprednisolone. Steroid-treated cats had higher plasma viral RNA levels than untreated cats during acute viremia. In contrast, FIV-associated changes in brain stem auditory-evoked potentials were slow to develop in the methylprednisolone-treated cats. Methylprednisolone treatment of cats with established FIV infections appeared to reverse these neurophysiologic changes. These results emphasize the complexity of host-lentivirus interactions and suggest potential advantages and drawbacks of using glucocorticoids in lentivirus infections.
Creep in amorphous metals

Abstract This paper reviews the work on creep behavior of amorphous metals. There have been, over the past several years, a few reviews of the mechanical behavior of amorphous metals. Of these, the review of the creep properties of amorphous metals by Schuh et al. though oldest of the three, is particularly noteworthy and the reader is referred to this article published in 2007. The current review of creep of amorphous metals particularly focuses on those works since that review and places the work prior to 2007 in a different context where new developments warrant.
Mapping of the Alz 50 epitope in microtubule-associated proteins tau

Alz 50 and seven other monoclonal antibodies have been shown to react with both tau and Alzheimer brain proteins of molecular mass 60-70 kDa. The location of some of the epitopes of these antibodies (Alz 50, Tau-2, NP14, Ab 636.7) on the tau molecule is unknown, whereas those of others (Tau 60, Tau 14, Tau-1, Tau 46) have recently been demonstrated in fetal human tau at amino acid residues 60-72, 83-120, 131-140, and 315-352. To determine the location of the unknown epitopes, human tau was digested with chymotrypsin and trypsin, and the bovine microtubule fraction was incubated with chymotrypsin. Comparison of the immunoblots of chymotryptic digested tau with those of untreated preparations showed that the Alz 50 epitope was more sensitive than other tau epitopes to proteolysis. Cleavage of a 3-4 kDa polypeptide from the periphery of tau was sufficient to remove the Alz 50 epitope, but not the epitopes of Tau 46 (C-end) or Tau 60 (N-end). The distribution of the Alz 50 epitope in endogenously degraded, chymotrypsin or trypsin digested tau fragments was different from that of the Tau 46 epitope known to be located within 38 residues from the C-terminus of the tau molecule. Based on these observations Alz 50 epitope was considered to be located within 3-4 kDa of the N-terminus of tau. A comparison of immunoblots of different tau-reactive antibodies showed similarities between Tau 60 and Tau-2, and between Tau 14, Tau-1, NP14, and Ab 636.7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Male reproductive fitness and queen polyandry are linked to variation in the supergene Gp-9 in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta

Supergenes are clusters of tightly linked loci maintained in specific allelic combinations to facilitate co-segregation of genes governing adaptive phenotypes. In species where strong selection potentially operates at different levels (e.g. eusocial Hymenoptera), positive selection acting within a population to maintain specific allelic combinations in supergenes may have unexpected consequences for some individuals, including the preservation of disadvantageous traits. The nuclear gene Gp-9 in the invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta is part of a non-recombining, polymorphic supergene region associated with polymorphism in social organization as well as traits affecting physiology, fecundity and behaviour. We show that both male reproductive success and facultative polyandry in queens have a simple genetic basis and are dependent on male Gp-9 genotype. Gp-9(b) males are unable to maintain exclusive reproductive control over their mates such that queens mated to Gp-9(b) males remain highly receptive to remating. Queens mated to multiple Gp-9(B) males are rare. This difference appears to be independent of mating plug production in fertile males of each Gp-9 genotype. However, Gp-9(b) males have significantly lower sperm counts than Gp-9(B) males, which could be a cue to females to seek additional mates. Despite the reduced fitness of Gp-9(b) males, polygyne worker-induced selective mortality of sexuals lacking b-like alleles coupled with the overall success of the polygyne social form act to maintain the Gp-9(b) allele within nature. Our findings highlight how strong worker-induced selection acting to maintain the Gp-9(b) allele in the polygyne social form may simultaneously result in reduced reproductive fitness for individual sexual offspring.
PD 0332991, a selective cyclin D kinase 4/6 inhibitor, preferentially inhibits proliferation of luminal estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cell lines in vitro

Introduction Alterations in cell cycle regulators have been implicated in human malignancies including breast cancer. PD 0332991 is an orally active, highly selective inhibitor of the cyclin D kinases (CDK)4 and CDK6 with ability to block retinoblastoma (Rb) phosphorylation in the low nanomolar range. To identify predictors of response, we determined the in vitro sensitivity to PD 0332991 across a panel of molecularly characterized human breast cancer cell lines. Methods Forty-seven human breast cancer and immortalized cell lines representing the known molecular subgroups of breast cancer were treated with PD 0332991 to determine IC50 values. These data were analyzed against baseline gene expression data to identify genes associated with PD 0332991 response.
The crustal structure of the axis of the Great Valley, California, from seismic refraction measurements

Abstract In 1982 the U.S. Geological Survey collected six seismic refraction profiles in the Great Valley of California: three axial profiles with a maximum shot-to-receiver offset of 160 km, and three shorter profiles perpendicular to the valley axis. This paper presents the results of two-dimensional raytracing and synthetic seismogram modeling of the central axial profile. The crust of the central Great Valley is laterally heterogeneous along its axis, but generally consists of a sedimentary section overlying distinct upper, middle, and lower crustal units. The sedimentary rocks are 3–5 km thick along the profile, with velocities increasing with depth from 1.6 to 4.0 km/s. The basement (upper crust) consists of four units: 1. (1) a 1.0–1.5 km thick layer of velocity 5.4–5.8 km/s, 2. (2) a 3–4 km thick layer of velocity 6.0–6.3 km/s, 3. (3) a 1.5–3.0 km thick layer of velocity 6.5–6.6 km/s, and 4. (4) a laterally discontinuous, 1.5 km thick layer of velocity 6.8–7.0 km/s. The mid-crust lies at 11–14 km depth, is 5–8 km thick, and has a velocity of 6.6–6.7 km/s. On the northwest side of our profile the mid-crust is a low-velocity zone beneath the 6.8–7.0 km/s lid. The lower crust lies at 16–19 km depth, is 7–13 km thick, and has a velocity of 6.9–7.2 km/s. Crustal thickness increases from 26 to 29 km from NW to SE in the model. Although an unequivocal determination of crustal composition is not possible from P-wave velocities alone, our model has several geological and tectonic implications. We interpret the upper 7 km of basement on the northwest side of the profile as an ophiolitic fragment, since its thickness and velocity structure are consistent with that of oceanic crust. This fragment, which is not present 10–15 km to the west of the refraction profile, is probably at least partially responsible for the Great Valley gravity and magnetic anomalies, whose peaks lie about 10 km east of our profile. The middle and lower crust are probably gabbroic and the product of magmatic or tectonic underplating, or both. The crustal structure of the Great Valley is dissimilar to that of the adjacent Diablo Range, suggesting the existence of a fault or suture zone throughout the crust between these provinces.
Microbiological and clinical effects of topical subgingival antimicrobial treatment on human periodontal disease

This study was undertaken to evaluate the microbiological and clinical effects of a subgingivally applied mixture of H2O2-NaCl and NaHCO3 followed by subgingival irrigation with 1% Betadine in the treatment of periodontal disease. 20 adults with moderate to severe periodontal disease were included in a split mouth design study. All patients were given oral hygiene instruction and were subjected to supragingival scaling in all 4 quadrants, and subgingival scaling and root planing of half the dentition. 10 patients were instructed to use the chemical antimicrobial mixture twice a day instead of dentifrice, and also received professional application of the mixture once every 14 days for 3 months in connection with reinstruction in oral hygiene procedures. The remaining 10 patients received oral hygiene instructions combined with professional tooth cleaning without use of chemicals once every 14 days during a 3-month period. The effect of treatment was evaluated by monitoring the subgingival microflora, clinical periodontal parameters, and by computer assisted subtraction analysis of serial standardized radiographs to determine changes in mass of the supporting alveolar bone. The present study revealed that subgingival debridement combined with mechanical plaque control resulted in decreased numbers of subgingival microorganisms including spirochetes and motile rods, and arrested the progressive breakdown of the periodontal tissues. Topical antimicrobial agents used in combination with subgingival scaling further reduced the subgingival microflora and substantially improved early periodontal healing including gain of probing attachment level and gain in radiographic alveolar bone mass during the 12 months of observation. No clinical improvement but a tendency to further periodontal breakdown was found in the unscaled quadrants, even in those which were subjected to a personal application of the topical antimicrobial mixture. This study indicates that professional and personal subgingival application of a mixture of H2O2-NaCl and NaHCo3 will significantly enhance the microbiological and clinical effects of periodontal scaling and root planing. These agents, and the topical mode of antimicrobial therapy seem promising in the management of human periodontal diseases.
Historic fire regime dynamics and forcing factors in the Boston Mountains, Arkansas, USA

We used dendrochronological methods to construct threefire history chronologies in the interior of the Boston Mountains of Arkansas from 281 dated fire scars identified on 86 shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) remnants and trees. We describe and contrast these interior sites with sites on the southern perimeter of Boston Mountains that were documented in an earlier study and examine human, topographic and climatic spatial and temporal controls on these fire regimes. Fire frequency and human population density at the interior sites were positively correlated during an early period (1680‐1880) of low levels of population, but were negatively correlated during a later period (1881‐2000) as human population levels increased to a much higher level. Wide spread fire occurred more often during drought years in the 1700s with fires likely achieving sizes unprecedented during the last century. The early (before 1810) fire scar record showed that fire intervals were about three times longer (MFI = 35 years) at the interior sites than at the perimeter sites. Early transitional (1810‐1830) settlement by Cherokees at population densities under 0.26 humans/km 2 was highly correlated (r = 0.90) with the number of fires per decade in the interior region of the Boston Mountains. Multiple
Polymer Mass Loading of CMOS/MEMS Microslot Cantilever for Gravimetric Sensing

A post CMOS/MEMS fabrication method using inkjet printing of mass sensitive polymer into slotted microcantilevers is explored with the goal of increasing the polymer to cantilever mass ratio. This method involves wicking the dissolved polymer, poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), into a microslot cantilever via a capillary slot running its length using surface tension forces. This is done by jetting into a target well paced at the base of the cantilever. By this method, inkjet printing is made compatible with device scaling to achieve higher mass sensitivities for gravimetric sensing applications and small electrostatic gaps for low noise capacitive actuation and detection. Also, we are able to achieve repeatable sub-nanogram dosing of material onto suspended devices with only a few microns in dimensional widths. Limits of this wicking method are explored on gravimetric arrays with varying microslot aspect ratios. The vertical resonant mode shows higher mass sensitivity than the lateral resonant mode.
Efficient model for computing high-impedance fault generated harmonic propagation effects on radial power distribution feeders

A description is given of the theory and application of an efficient computer model developed for computing the effects of harmonics and noise generated from high-impedance faults placed at arbitrary points on a feeder. By the efficient use of information computed and stored during the first step of the computation, the theory permits exact computation of propagation from any one point to any other point on the feeder using at most nine three-by-three matrix operations, irrespective of the number of sections on the feeder. Also considered are the generation and nature of harmonics and noise in high-impedance faults, their relationship to each other and to the fault power. Procedures for determining the propagation of each of these components using the approach specified are presented together with considerations necessary to computing and combining the effects from several spectral bands. >
Image Processing of Acoustic Microscopy Data to Estimate Textural Scales and Anistropy in Shales

We estimate different statistical measures for quantifying heterogeneity and textures from scanning acoustic microscope images of shale microstructures. The analyzed shales covered a range of depths, kerogen content, and maturity. We observed quantifiable and consistent patterns linking texture, shale maturity, and elastic P-wave impedance. The textural heterogeneity and P-wave impedance and velocity, and density increase with increasing maturity (decreasing kerogen content), while there is a general decrease in textural anisotropy with maturity. We also found a reasonably good match between elastic impedance estimated from SAM images and impedance computed from ultrasonic measurements. The textural anisotropy ranges from 10% to about 70% and tends to decrease with increasing depth and maturity
Small RNAs Add Zing to the Zig-Zag-Zig Model of Plant Defenses

Plant small RNAs play important roles in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation, with ongoing work demonstrating their functions in diverse pathways. Their roles in defense responses are a topic of active investigation, particularly the rich set of micro (mi)RNAs that target disease resistance genes such as nucleotide binding/leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) genes. The miRNA-NB-LRR interactions result in the production of phased, secondary small interfering (phasi)RNAs, and phasiRNAs function in both cis and trans to propagate negative regulatory effects across additional members of the target gene family. Yet, while phasiRNAs have the capacity to trigger targeted decay of specific targets, both in cis and trans, their functional relevance in NB-LRR regulation remains largely a matter of speculation.
Improving English Language Instruction through Collegiality Among Foreign and Thai English Teachers

The arrival of foreign teachers to teach English language is gradually increasing every year in Thailand. The international schools recruit foreign teachers to teach English along with Thai teachers. The prime purpose of the study is to identify collegiality among foreign and Thai English teacher to improve English language instruction. In Thailand, collegiality lacks proper understanding in its applicability in schools that offer English as a foreign language. A survey has been conducted in K12 bilingual schools among foreign teachers and Thai teachers to identify the level of collegiality. The seven major dimensions for collegiality have been considered for the study viz. joint planning & assessment, mutual trust & respect, talking about practice, observing each other, sharing ideas & resources, mentoring each other and working on curriculum. The mean value for all seven dimensions indicates that there is a moderate level of collegiality present among foreign and Thai teachers. The two dimensions (joint planning & assessment and mutual trust & respect) are having high level of collegiality, where other dimensions ranked in moderate level. The results of ANOVA reveals that there is a high level of significant differences exists among HOD, foreign teacher and thai teacher in practicing collegiality. Based on multiple comparisons test, it is found that there is a high level of significant differences exists among HOD and foreign teachers, where as similarities of perception found among HOD and local Thai teachers. And there is a diversified perception among foreign teachers, when tested based on nationality. Keywords: English language instruction, teacher collegiality, foreign teacher, Thai teacher.
Ground effects from underground explosions

For equivalent TNT energy yields of 180 pounds to 19.2 kilotons at distances of 0.3 to 3200 kilofeet, a yield scaling law of W 0.75 is indicated. Maximum earth particle displacements satisfy an exponential attenuation function of the form: A = C W 0.75 D − n × 10 − k f 0.8 D where A is maximum earth particle displacements in centimeters, C is a constant, W is yield in tons, D is distance from detector to source in feet, n is a wave propagation constant, k is a constant and f is the visually dominant frequency in cps of the measured pulse on the seismogram. For distance of 0.3 to 9.8 kilofeet, C is 104.57, n is 2, and k is 1.75 × 10-6; from 9.8 to 525 kilofeet, C is 100.6, n is 1, and k is 1.83 × 10-6; from 525 to 3200 kilofeet C is 10-2.82, n is 0.5, and k is 7.6 × 10-7. The frequency exponent in the 525 to 3200 kilofeet range is negligible since the maximum displacements were observed to occur near one cps. Stations on desert alluvium recorded displacements 2 to 4 times greater than indicated by the above scaling functions.
Sovereign Debt and Economic Growth in the European Monetary Union

Specifically, this work aims to identify the magnitude by which government debt as a percentage of GDP has affected economic growth in the EMU. This topic is of importance to the EMU as debt crises such as the outstanding one in Greece are not unforeseeable in other highly indebted nations such as Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. Thus, relevant information on the magnitude by which increases in debt-to-GDP ratios are adversely affecting economic growth across the union is necessary. The claim that sovereign debt is in fact having a negative effect on economic growth in the EU makes reference to the work of Checherita and Rother (2010) of the European Central Bank. This study finds that elevated sovereign debt has a non-linear negative impact on GDP-per-capita growth starting at the 90%-100% threshold. Their research also suggests that the negative growth effect of high government debt might be linear starting at the 70%-80% threshold. The contribution of the research done here is to update and further the body of work on this topic by addressing the magnitude by which sovereign debt has affected economic growth in the EMU.
Social identity, cross-cutting cleavages, and explaining the breakdown of interethnic cooperation:

This article expands upon Fearon and Laitin’s seminal Explaining Interethnic Cooperation, a paper that formalized an explanation for how ethnic groups achieve cooperation through the use of in-group policing strategies that yield a more stable and substantively convincing equilibrium than tit-for-tat (spiral) reprisals by each side. This article expands the Fearon and Laitin framework in two ways. First, it generalizes their basic framework of two equally sized groups to an arbitrary number of arbitrarily sized groups. Second, the article expands the framework to allow for multiple interacting dimensions of identity. The paper uses this generalized framework to endogenize social identity into the formal model using a global games approach, in which there is uncertainty over which stage game will be played based on which dimension of identity is triggered by context.
The Theory of the New Class

It once seemed so simple. In the Traditional Class Theory of the social sciences, politics in capitalist democracies constituted a democratic class struggle (Anderson and Davidson, 1943). The classic statement of this theme came from Seymour Martin Lipset, who noted that while parties in advanced democracies have often renounced the idea of class conflict, their policy appeals and their bases of support show they have different class constituencies. Viewed in very broad terms, “parties are primarily based on either the lower classes or the middle and upper classes” (1981, p. 230).
Feminization, the New University Environment, and the Quest for a Sociology for People

The university changed during the 1960s and 1970s as a result of the demand for Black studies programs: the idea of an academic program that openly took sides in a cause or for a group became accepted. Women followed suit: the organization Sociologists for Women in Society grew out of protests at the ASA. The SWS was successful in achieving its goals of raising the proportion of women on sociology faculties and of faculty studying gender and inequality issues, and the organization provided a model of a less hierarchical and closed sociology. But gender studies remained largely outside the key journals and lacked acknowledgment by older male sociologists. These changes were accompanied by rapidly increasing number and proportion of women graduate students.
Rolling contact fatigue life of finish hard machined surfaces ☆: Part 2. Experimental verification

A rolling contact fatigue life model encompassing crack initiation life and crack propagation life was developed in Part 1 of two companion papers. This paper concerns the experimental verification of the developed life model. The specimens were machined by using various machining conditions and at two different cutting tool conditions: new and worn tools. The experimental results indicate that tool wear, as well as the machining conditions, greatly influences the micro-hardness and residual stress distribution below the machined surface and thus the rolling contact fatigue life. Tool wear induces a highly variable change in fatigue life depending on the machining conditions. The predicted lives by the developed life model show good agreement with the experimental lives, although the experimental lives of the specimens show significant variation.
Loan Fair Value Approaches Revisited

In this paper we discuss practices for fair value estimation of banking book items. While fair value principles are not new they have gained in importance recently with new accounting regulations (e.g., IFRS 9) and banks are also considering market best practices to disclose banking book valuations focusing on market implied views rather than potentially biased internal views. A core part of the fair value estimation is the extraction of the risk-neutral market implied view on risk spreads using either directly observable or approximate market spreads. Such extraction can be based on the available credit markets and one can either extract a spread or premia directly from the market or start with a real-world model of credit risk as the basis and add a market induced risk premia. In the latter case there is the benefit of relating real-world expected loss models to risk-neutral. Regardless of approach - using the actual spread or risk premium extracted from the market in discounting of cash flows is of course central in fair value and the foundation of the market valuation principle. As for the bulk of the banking book items there are no active quote markets the fair value estimation often uses the discounted cash flow principle similar to bonds. Loans may however have rating or credit state dependent cash flow features that require a valuation using a state transition matrix setting. Similarly, loans may be exposed to statistical prepayment models that require adjustments to simple bond valuation schemes. In our valuation scheme we strip the cash flows of financial engineering valued embedded options and value such embedded optionality separately. This definition of the valuation cash flows is consistent with the new regulation for interest rate risk in the banking book which is an advantage as such banking book cash flows should already be available in banks.
The contributions of Sidney J. Blatt: a personal and intellectual biography

Sidney J. Blatt was a major figure in psychology and psychoanalysis. As a psychoanalyst, he was both a master clinician and a leading researcher in personality theory, personality development, psychopathology, personality assessment, and psychotherapy. Best known for his two-configurations model of personality, he was the author or coauthor of more than 250 articles and 18 books and monographs. This paper describes his three main contributions to our understanding of personality, both normal and abnormal, and clinical change: the two-configurations model, the cognitive morphology of mental representation, and the theory of internalization. The implications of these three concepts for psychotherapy research are delineated. Also discussed in this paper are the formative experiences, personal and intellectual, that influenced his ideas. Early experiences of loss are highlighted as crucial to Blatt's understanding that some experiences of depression, and therefore some aspects of personality development and functioning, are rooted in relational issues, not only loss but attachment more generally, rather than in issues of guilt, self-criticism, and self-definition..
Molecular Insights into Gelation of Di-Fmoc-l-Lysine in Organic Solvent–Water Mixtures

Despite significant interest in molecular gels due to their intriguing structure formation through self-assembly and their stimuli-responsive behavior, our understanding of the gel formation mechanism of a low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG) is incomplete. Here, we report a combined experimental and computational study on a LMWG, di-Fmoc-l-lysine, that has two aromatic moieties and multiple hydrogen bond donors and acceptors. Gelation in various organic solvent–water mixtures was obtained through the solvent-triggered technique. We show that an approach based on approximate cohesive energy density derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations can capture the experimental solubility trend of LMWGs in different organic solvents. Furthermore, DFT calculations indicate parallel and helical structures to be the preferred structural motifs for gelator dimers. We believe that these motifs can potentially lead to fiber formation as observed with microscopy. Our work provides a relatively simple yet ef...
A Frequency Tunable 360° Analog CMOS Phase Shifter With an Adjustable Amplitude

This brief presents a new vector sum phase shifter topology utilizing a current mode ${R}$ - ${C}$ poly phase filter along with several current steering variable gain amplifiers. The phase shifter performs all the tasks of vector generation, gain control, and vector summation in a single block (phase shifter core) to save power and area. The phase shifter core provides 360° of continuous phase tuning with an adjustable amplitude while consuming only 0.063 mm2 of on-chip area. The phase shifter can generate a signal with a tunable phase and magnitude in a phased array, thereby providing a better control over the beamwidth and sidelobe levels. The circuit is frequency reconfigurable, and its center frequency can be tuned within 26–28 GHz with an instantaneous bandwidth of 3 GHz. The phase shifter, fabricated in 130-nm CMOS technology, occupies an area of 0.284 mm2 (excluding the pads) and consumes 27 mW of power. The phase shifter’s RMS phase and gain errors for 64 measured phase states are less than 2.6° and 0.31 dB, respectively, within the 3-dB bandwidth. The measured IP1dB and IIP3 are larger than −9.8 and 0 dBm, respectively. This phase shifter is a good candidate for automotive radar as well as 5G applications.
Grasping for resilience: A review of: Tourism and resilience: individual, organisational and destination perspectives, by C. Michael Hall, Girish Prayag, and Alberto Amore, Bristol, UK, Channel View Publications, 2018, 189 pages, £24.95/$34.95/€29.95 (paperback), ISBN-13: 978-1-84541-629-4

Although carrying a 2018 publication date, Hall, Prayag and Amore's review of resilience theory and thinking in the context of tourism came out in mid-2017, which made it the first book ever publis...
Discontinuation of surgical versus nonsurgical clinical trials: an analysis of 88,498 trials.

BACKGROUND It has been previously reported that over 20% of surgical trials will be discontinued prematurely raising ethical and financial concerns. Previous studies have been limited in scope owing to the need for manual review of selected trials. To date, there has been no broad analysis comparing surgical and nonsurgical registered clinical trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS ClinicalTrials.gov was queried October 7, 2017 for all US trials from 2005 to 2017. Trials were assigned to surgical or nonsurgical groups by automated sorting. The sorting algorithm was validated by comparison with manual assignments made by blinded investigators. Comparisons were made between trial status, funding sources, and trial design. The reasons for discontinuation were examined and tabulated. RESULTS The database search yielded 82,719 nonsurgical and 5779 surgical trials after automatic assignment. The algorithm for assignments had an overall accuracy of 87.99% and a positive likelihood ratio of 6.09 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.093. Significant differences existed in trial status (nonsurgical versus surgical: completed: 55.51% versus 39.49%, P < 0.001 and discontinued: 11.07% versus 15.97%, P < 0.001). Discontinuation due to poor recruitment was more commonly cited by surgical trials (44.65% versus 34.74% P < 0.001). Industry funding predicted discontinuation for all trials (odds ratio 1.63 P < 0.001) and surgical trials independently (OR 1.25 P = 0.041). Patient enrollment, reporting results, and NIH funding were all protective against discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Surgical trials are more likely to prematurely discontinue than nonsurgical trials. Industry funding independently predicts trial discontinuation. Poor recruitment is a major cause of early trial discontinuation for all trials and is more pronounced in surgical trials.
Perceived need for care and mental health service utilization among college students with suicidal ideation

Objective: This study aimed to identify correlates of service utilization and perceived need for care among college students with suicidal ideation. Participants: Respondents were recruited from in...
Amblonyx cinerea (Oriental clawless otter)

Lung biopsies from 1♀ and l♂ animals were furnished through the courtesy of Dr. Murray L. Johnson.
Transition to adult care in sickle cell disease: A longitudinal study of clinical characteristics and disease severity

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic blood disorder in which mortality has increased for adolescents and young adults (AYA). Procedure A longitudinal analysis of medical records was conducted to describe the clinical course among AYAs (ages 12-27 years) during transition to adult care. Measures included sociodemographic, complications, SCD severity (modified pediatric SCD severity index), comorbidities, and transfer. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify subgroups with distinct severity trajectories and chi-square and unpaired Student t test to explore subgroup differences were used. Results Overall, 339 AYAs (97% black, 56% male, 69% hemoglobin SS) had 10 848 clinic, 3840 hospital, and 3152 emergency department visits. Complications included vaso-occlusive crises (80%) and acute chest syndrome (41%). Comorbidities included depression (19%) and anxiety (14%). Most AYAs transferred to adult care (n = 220) at 19 years. Fourteen AYAs died, 10 within seven years from transfer. GBTM identified both stable and increasing severity trajectory groups: stable-low (n = 31, 23%), stable-medium (n = 61, 46%), stable-high (n = 6, 4.5%), low-increasing (n = 13, 10%), and medium-increasing (n = 22, 17%). AYAs with increasing severity (25%) were older, lived closer to the clinic, and had higher risk for SCD complications and comorbidities. They had fewer pediatric clinic visits; however, they were more likely to transfer and remain longer in adult SCD care. Conclusions Whereas most AYAs had stable severity, nearly a quarter had increasing severity, over time. AYAs with increasing severity had more complications, were more likely to transfer to adult care, and demonstrated higher and longer adult SCD care utilization compared with AYAs with stable severity.