cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants contributing to estrogen-regulated expression of SK3.

Abstract The rSK3 gene encodes a small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel that is transcriptionally regulated by estrogen. To examine determinants of rSK3 gene expression, the CAP site was defined and the promoter was identified. A 33 bp sequence adjacent to the promoter was shown to act as an enhancer in L6 cells that express SK3 and estrogen receptor α (ERα). The 33 bp enhancer was unable to stimulate transcription in Cos7 cells that do not express SK3 or ERα. However when cotransfected with ERα and stimulated with 17β-estradiol (E2) the enhancer was activated. Interestingly, expression of ERα in Cos7 cells and E2 treatment was sufficient to induce expression of the endogenous SK3 gene. Only Sp1 and Sp3 specifically bound to the enhancer from Cos7 and L6 nuclear extracts, however, ERα increased Sp1s affinity for the enhancer. The data suggest that estrogen regulates SK3 gene expression through interactions between ERα and Sp1.
Asymptotically Constant Solutions of Functional Difference Systems

AbstractWe consider the functional diﬀerence system (A) ∆x i (n) = f i (n;X),1 ≤ i ≤ k, where X = (x 1 ,...,x k ) and f 1 (·;X), ..., f k (·;X) are real-valued functionals of X, which may depend quite arbitrarily on values ofX(`) for multiple values of ` ∈ Z. We give suﬃcient conditions for (A) tohave solutions that approach speciﬁed constant vectors as n → ∞. Someof the results guarantee only that the solutions are deﬁned forn suﬃcientlylarge, while others are global. The proof of the main theorem is basedon the Schauder-Tychonoﬀ theorem. Applications to speciﬁc quasi-linearsystems are included. Keywords: Functional diﬀerence system; Nonsingular; Quasi-linear; Schauder-Tychonoﬀ theorem; SingularMathematics Subject Classiﬁcation (2000): 39A11 1 Introduction Throughout this paper Z is the set of all integers. If mis an integer, thenZ m =n∈ Z n≥ m .We consider the functional diﬀerence system∆x i (n) = f i (n;X), 1 ≤ i≤ k,where X = (x 1 ,...,x k ) : Z → R k and f 1 (·;X), ..., f k (·;X) are real-valuedfunctionals of X. We view X= {X(`)}
Albedo of the Sea Surface

Abstract An experimental study of the albedo of the sea surface for shortwave solar radiation has been carried out on a fixed platform. Fifteen-minute totals of upward and downward irradiances were recorded continuously for four months over a wide range of atmospheric and sea conditions. The resulting albedo values, the ratio of upward to downward irradiance, are expressed in terms of a particularly convenient pair of parameters, sun altitude and atmospheric transmittance (T). The latter is defined as the ratio of observed downward irradiance to the irradiance at the top of the atmosphere and has not been used before in describing albedo. Examples of albedo values are 0.061±0.005 for heavily overcast skies (0.0 0.65) of 0.03 for high sun to as large as 0.45 at sun altitudes 25° and increases to 25% for very low sun attitudes. The effect of wind, through ...
Bayesian analysis of time-domain magnetic resonance signals

Although the discrete Fourier transform remains the dominant means of processing NMR data (l-4), other methods of analyzing time-domain signals exist (5), and there has been recent interest among magnetic resonance scientists in applying alternative analysis techniques in an effort to improve signal-to-noise and resolution of the resulting frequency-domain spectrum. Recently, Bretthorst (6) and Jaynes ( 7) introduced a novel approach to the general time-domain signal analysis problem utilizing the techniques of Bayesian probability theory. Their approach is particularly suited to the class of time-domain signals characteristic of pulsed magnetic resonance spectroscopy, namely, a sum of decaying sinusoids. An especially attractive feature of Bayesian spectrum analysis lies in its ability to integrate out of the parameteroptimization-search procedure many of the parameters that define the model (socalled “nuisance” parameters), This greatly reduces the complexity of the optimization-search process. These nuisance parameters, such as sinusoid amplitude and phase, are then readily estimated, if needed, once the primary model parameters (e.g., frequencies and decay rates) are found via standard optimization-search algorithms. In this communication we demonstrate the application of Bayesian spectrum analysis to a time-domain (Bloch decay) 13C NMR signal from a standard ASTM reference sample of 1,4-dioxane in benzenede. Generally, a substantial amount of prior information is available regarding the “true” signal resulting from an NMR experiment. Making use of this information ought to improve our results. However, simply taking the Fourier transform of the data affords no way to take it into account. This information can be incorporated advantageously into the time-domain analysis, yielding a more powerful parameter determination. In the Bayesian spectrum-analysis and parameter-estimation technique, one analyzes the data in terms of some model which expresses the prior information. The data are fitted to the model using probability theory to obtain the “best” estimated parameters. The residuals are then reviewed to see if there is any coherent characteristic that has not been accounted for in the model. If there is, the model is updated and the entire process repeated until all coherent characteristics are removed from the residuals, that is, until the data accurately map onto the model. The Bayesian analysis gives a simple and elegant interpretation to the model-fitting problem and places the discrete Fourier transform in a new light. When fitting data to a model, the data may be thought of as a vector in an N-dimensional vector space
Robust Cultural Pluralism: An Interview With Professor Richard A. Shweder

In this wide ranging interview, Professor Richard A. Shweder from the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago, discusses whether it is or is not possible to be a robust cultural pluralist and a dedicated political liberal at the same time. In this discussion, Professor Shweder offers his insights - based on over 40 years of research - on issues related to the history and re-emergence of cultural psychology; moral anthropology and psychology; the experimental method in psychological investigation and its philosophical basis; contemporary and historical cultural collisions – most notably conflicting representations of female genital surgeries; cultural diversity and inequality; and the dissemination of ideas through open access publishing and Twitter. Professor Shweder ends by offering valuable advice to young researchers in the field of cultural psychology as well as a glimpse into the larger themes of his forthcoming book, which seeks to provide answers to the question of what forms of political liberalism are most compatible with robust cultural pluralism and which are not.
Tactical visualization module

The Tactical Visualization Module (TVM) research effort will develop and demonstrate a portable, tactical information system to enhance the situational awareness of individual warfighters and small military units by providing real-time access to manned and unmanned aircraft, tactically mobile robots, and unattended sensors. TVM consists of a family of portable and hand-held devices being advanced into a next- generation, embedded capability. It enables warfighters to visualize the tactical situation by providing real-time video, imagery, maps, floor plans, and 'fly-through' video on demand. When combined with unattended ground sensors, such as Combat- Q, TVM permits warfighters to validate and verify tactical targets. The use of TVM results in faster target engagement times, increased survivability, and reduction of the potential for fratricide. TVM technology can support both mounted and dismounted tactical forces involved in land, sea, and air warfighting operations. As a PCMCIA card, TVM can be embedded in portable, hand-held, and wearable PCs. Thus, it leverages emerging tactical displays including flat-panel, head-mounted displays. The end result of the program will be the demonstration of the system with U.S. Army and USMC personnel in an operational environment. Raytheon Systems Company, the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command -- Natick RDE Center (SSCOM- NRDEC) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are partners in developing and demonstrating the TVM technology.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advantages of wild diploid Solanum species over cultivated diploid relatives in potato breeding programs

For breeding programs of the tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum), both wild and cultivated diploid relatives are valuable sources of genetic diversity. While both types of germplasm are used in breeding programs, there are several advantages to using wild relatives. Diploid relatives are typically crossed with haploids (2n = 2x = 24) from tetraploid S. tuberosum to improve daylength adaptation. Most haploids are male sterile, so they are typically used as female parents. Cultivated diploids, such as members of the Phureja Group, produce male sterile hybrids when crossed as females to haploids; wild relatives, such as S. tarijense, often produce male fertile hybrids. Tuber yield following crosses of haploids to cultivated or wild relatives is often high. However, cultivated relatives generally produce hybrids with a high set of small tubers; hybrids from wild relatives are variable, but many are similar to cultivars in tuber size and set. While tubers of hybrids from cultivated relatives are typically rough, with deep eyes and raised internodes, those from wild relatives are often smooth. Tuber dormancy in hybrids with cultivated relatives is generally short, while that in hybrids with wild species is longer, allowing for storage over winter. Finally, resistance to several major diseases and stresses has been found in wild species and their hybrids with S. tuberosum haploids. The desirable traits in hybrids are transmitted to tetraploids via unilateral sexual polyploidization (4x × 2x or 2x × 4x crosses in which the diploid parent produces 2n gametes). Wild Solanum species are recommended for use in potato breeding programs as sources of genetic diversity that can be adapted easily following hybridization with S. tuberosum haploids.
Physiology of Bacteria-free Trichomonas vaginalis. VII: Temperature in Relation to Survival and Generation Time.

Conclusions1. Trichomonas vaginalis survives exposure at temperatures near the freezing point for 96 to 144 hours and at 24-2 5 °C for 120 to 154 hours. Exposure to -72 °C for one minute destroys the organisms. 2. The thermal death time for temperatures above 43°C has been recorded. At 50°C it is 4 minutes. 3. The lowest temperature consistent with multiplication is 25°C; the upper limit 41 °C. 4. The minimum time required for cell division is 5 to 8 hours and was observed over a broad range from 34° to 39°C.
A model for occupational safety and health intervention diffusion to small businesses.

BACKGROUND: Smaller businesses differ from their larger counterparts in having higher rates of occupational injuries and illnesses and fewer resources for preventing those losses. Intervention models developed outside the United States have addressed the resource deficiency issue by incorporating intermediary organizations such as trade associations. METHODS: This paper extends previous models by using exchange theory and by borrowing from the diffusion of innovations model. It emphasizes that occupational safety and health (OSH) organizations must understand as much about intermediary organizations as they do about small businesses. OSH organizations ("initiators") must understand how to position interventions and information to intermediaries as added value to their relationships with small businesses. Examples from experiences in two midwestern states are used to illustrate relationships and types of analyses implied by the extended model. RESULTS: The study found that intermediary organizations were highly attuned to providing smaller businesses with what they want, including OSH services. The study also found that there are opinion leader organizations and individual champions within intermediaries who are key to decisions and actions about OSH programming. CONCLUSIONS: The model places more responsibility on both initiators and intermediaries to develop and market interventions that will be valued in the competitive small business environment where the resources required to adopt each new business activity could always be used in other ways. The model is a candidate for empirical validation, and it offers some encouragement that the issue of sustainable OSH assistance to small businesses might be addressed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 9999:1-10, 2013. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Language: en
Judgment before principle: engagement of the frontoparietal control network in condemning harms of omission

Ordinary people make moral judgments that are consistent with philosophical and legal principles. Do those judgments derive from the controlled application of principles, or do the principles derive from automatic judgments? As a case study, we explore the tendency to judge harmful actions morally worse than harmful omissions (theomission effect�) using fMRI. Because ordinary people readily and spontaneously articulate this moral distinction it has been suggested that principled reasoning may drive subsequent judgments. If so, people who exhibit the largest omission effect should exhibit the greatest activation in regions associated with controlled cognition. Yet, we observed the opposite relationship: activation in the frontoparietal control network was associated with condemning harmful omissionsthat is, with overriding the omission effect. These data suggest that the omission effect arises automatically, without the application of controlled cognition. However, controlled cognition is apparently used to overcome automatic judgment processes in order to condemn harmful omissions.
On the Performance of Sphere Decoding of Block Codes

The performance of sphere decoding of block codes over a variety of channels is investigated. We derive a tight bound on the performance of maximum likelihood decoding of linear codes on q-ary symmetric channels. We use this result to bound the performance of q-ary hard decision sphere decoders. We also derive a tight bound on the performance of soft decision sphere decoders on the AWGN channel for BPSK and M-PSK modulated block codes. The performance of soft decision sphere decoding of arbitrary finite lattices or block codes is also analyzed.
Dynamic stability of a human standing on a balance board

The neuromuscular system used to stabilize upright posture in humans is a nonlinear dynamical system with time delays. The analysis of this system is important for improving balance and for early diagnosis of neuromuscular disease. In this work, we study the dynamic coupling between the neuromuscular system and a balance board—an unstable platform often used to improve balance in young athletes, and older or neurologically impaired patients. Using a simple inverted pendulum model of human posture on a balance board, we describe a surprisingly broad range of divergent and oscillatory CoP/CoM responses associated with instabilities of the upright equilibrium. The analysis predicts that a variety of sudden changes in the stability of upright postural equilibrium occurs with slow continuous deterioration in balance board stiffness, neuromuscular gain, and time delay associated with the changes in proprioceptive/vestibular/visual-neuromuscular feedback. The analysis also provides deeper insight into changes in the control of posture that enable stable upright posture on otherwise unstable platforms.
Regression Test Selection for AspectJ Software

As aspect-oriented software development gains popularity, there is growing interest in using aspects to implement cross-cutting concerns in object-oriented systems. When aspect-oriented features are added to an object-oriented program, or when an existing aspect-oriented program is modified, the new program needs to be regression tested to validate these changes. To reduce the cost of regression testing, a regression-test-selection technique can be used to select only a necessary subset of test cases to rerun. Unfortunately, existing approaches for regression test selection for object-oriented software are not effective in the presence of aspectual information woven into the original code. This paper proposes a new regression-test-selection technique for AspectJ programs. At the core of our approach is a new control-flow representation for AspectJ software which captures precisely the semantic intricacies of aspect-related interactions. Based on this representation, we develop a novel graph comparison algorithm for test selection. Our experimental evaluation shows that, compared to existing approaches, the proposed technique is capable of achieving significantly more precise test selection.
Therapeutic Targeting of Src Kinase in Myofibroblast Differentiation and Pulmonary Fibrosis

Myofibroblasts are effector cells in fibrotic disorders that synthesize and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). This study investigated the role of the Src kinase pathway in myofibroblast activation in vitro and fibrogenesis in vivo. The profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), induced rapid activation of Src kinase, which led to myofibroblast differentiation of human lung fibroblasts. The Src kinase inhibitor AZD0530 (saracatinib) blocked TGF-β1–induced Src kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of Src kinase significantly reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, a marker of myofibroblast differentiation, in TGF-β1–treated lung fibroblasts. In addition, the induced expression of collagen and fibronectin and three-dimensional collagen gel contraction were also significantly inhibited in AZD0530-treated fibroblasts. The therapeutic efficiency of Src kinase inhibition in vivo was tested in the bleomycin murine lung fibrosis model. Src kinase activation and collagen accumulation were significantly reduced in the lungs of AZD0530-treated mice when compared with controls. Furthermore, the total fibrotic area and expression of α-SMA and ECM proteins were significantly decreased in lungs of AZD0530-treated mice. These results indicate that Src kinase promotes myofibroblast differentiation and activation of lung fibroblasts. Additionally, these studies provide proof-of-concept for targeting the noncanonical TGF-β signaling pathway involving Src kinase as an effective therapeutic strategy for lung fibrosis.
The effect of risk notification on mood in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease

Risk notification was the initial step in a larger study to determine (1) the prevalence of cardiovascular disease as a late effect of mediastinal irradiation, and (2) whether a brief support group intervention would mitigate any negative effects of risk notification. 323 HD survivors attended a 45 minute risk notification session prior to a routine follow-up medical visit. When they arrived at the clinic and following the risk notification session, they completed surveys that included measures of mood dysphoria, sense of coherence, knowledge of late effects of treatment, and demographic factors. Two analytic models were proposed to look at the effects of risk notification: (1) psychosocial state when arriving at the clinic, and (2) psychosocial change in state following risk notification session. Pre-intervention mood distress was not significantly affected by time since the initial diagnosis, age, education, or gender. Person's who worked and those with better coping skills had lower initial mood distress. Knowledge of the late effects of treatment was not related to mood distress. Following the intervention, the more distressed a person was initially, the better the coping skills, the greater the decrease in mood distress. Partnered survivors experienced less of a decrease in distress. Knowledge of the late effects of treatment (regardless of their knowledge of cardiovascular disease as a consequence), did not effect change in mood distress. Findings were contrary to expectations. Findings are consistent with Self-Regulation theory and the Health Belief Model and are not explained by anxiety related to the medical visit itself. Limitations of the study design are discussed. The method through which risks are conveyed can reduce the psychosocial impact of risk notification.
Resistance of sugarcane borer to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), strain (F52-3-R) was developed from F3 survivors of a single-pair mating on commercial Cry1Ab Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn plants in the greenhouse. The susceptibility of a Bt-susceptible and the F52-3-R strain of D. saccharalis to trypsin-activated Cry1Ab toxin was determined in a laboratory bioassay. Neonate-stage larvae were fed a meridic diet incorporating Cry1Ab toxin at a concentration range of 0.0625 to 32 µg g−1. Larval mortality, larval weight, and number of surviving larvae that did not gain significant weight (<0.1 mg per larva) were recorded on the 7th day after inoculation. The F52-3-R strain demonstrated a significant level of resistance to the activated Cry1Ab toxin. Larval mortality of the Bt-susceptible strain increased in response to higher concentrations of Cry1Ab toxin, exceeding 75% at 32 µg g−1, whereas mortality of the F52-3-R strain was below 8% across all Cry1Ab concentrations. Using a measure of practical mortality (larvae either died or gained no weight), the median lethal concentration (LC50) of the F52-3-R strain was 102-fold greater than that of the Bt-susceptible insects. Larval growth of both Bt-susceptible and F52-3-R strains was inhibited on Cry1Ab-treated diet, but the inhibition of the F52-3-R strain was significantly less than that of the Bt-susceptible insects. These results confirm that the survival of the F52-3-R strain on commercial Bt corn plants was related to Cry1Ab protein resistance and suggest that this strain may have considerable value in studying resistance management strategies for Bt corn.
On-pump versus off-pump coronary surgery outcomes in patients requiring dialysis: perspectives from a single center and the United States experience.

Objective Coronary artery bypass graft surgery carries increased risk for patients requiring dialysis compared with other groups. Little data exist comparing outcomes of on-pump and off-pump techniques in dialysis patients. This study compares outcomes of bypass grafting in dialysis patients with these two techniques at a single institution and in the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) database. Methods From March 1997 to April 2004, 37 patients requiring dialysis underwent bypass graft surgery at our institution. On-pump surgery was performed for 16 patients and off-pump surgery for 21. From January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, a total of 3922 patients in the USRDS underwent bypass graft surgery. On-pump surgery was performed for 3382 and off-pump surgery for 540. Comparisons were made between patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump bypass surgery with respect to demographics, risk factors, and outcomes. Univariate analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method, and a multivariate Cox model were used. Results Institutional analysis revealed similar patient demographics, risk factors, use of thoracic artery grafts, and number of distal anastomoses. Outcome analysis was significant for less postoperative atrial fibrillation with the off-pump technique: 37.5% on-pump and 4.8% off-pump ( P = .028). USRDS data revealed all-cause survivals at 1 and 18 months of 87.5% and 59.5% for on-pump versus 88.3% and 61.9% for off-pump procedures ( P = .226). In a comorbidity-adjusted Cox model, off-pump bypass grafting was associated with a 16% reduction in all-cause mortality ( P = .032). Conclusion Off-pump bypass grafting is uncommon in patients in the United States who require dialysis. Off- pump bypass grafting provides a morbidity benefit and is associated with a lower risk of death.
TeleRobotic Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS): Effects of time delay - pilot study

Within the area of telerobotic surgery no standardized means of surgically relevant performance evaluation has been established. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program provides a set of standardized tasks that are considered the “gold standard” in surgical skill assessment. We present a methodology for using one of the SAGES FLS tasks for surgical robotic performance evaluation. The TeleRobotic FLS methodology is extendable to two other FLS tasks. Time delay in teleoperation in general and telesurgery in particular is one of the fundamental effects that limits performance in telerobotic surgery. In this pilot study the effect of time delay on the Block Transfer task performance was investigated. The RAVEN Surgical Robot was used in a master/slave configuration in which time delays of 0, 250, 500, and 1000 ms were introduced by a network emulator between the master (Surgeon Site) and the slave (Patient Site). The study included three subjects, each of whom was presented with three of the four conditions. The results show that one subject had a lower error rate with increasing time delay, whereas the other subjects had a higher error rate with increased delay. The subject with the longest average completion time suffered the least performance decrease under time delay.
High environmental relative moldiness index during infancy as a predictor of asthma at 7 years of age.

Background Mold exposures may contribute to the development of asthma, but previous studies have lacked a standardized approach to quantifying exposures. Objective To determine whether mold exposures at the ages of 1 and/or 7 years were associated with asthma at the age of 7 years. Methods This study followed up a high-risk birth cohort from infancy to 7 years of age. Mold was assessed by a DNA-based analysis for the 36 molds that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) at the ages of 1 and 7 years. At the age of 7 years, children were evaluated for allergic sensitization and asthma based on symptom history, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and airway reversibility. A questionnaire was administered to the parent regarding the child's asthma symptoms and other potential cofactors. Results At the age of 7 years, 31 of 176 children (18%) were found to be asthmatic. Children living in a high ERMI value (≥5.2) home at 1 year of age had more than twice the risk of developing asthma than those in low ERMI value homes ( Conclusions Early exposure to molds as measured by ERMI at 1 year of age, but not 7 years of age, significantly increased the risk for asthma at 7 years of age.
Microstructural Evolution of 6061 Aluminum Gas-Atomized Powder and High-Pressure Cold-Sprayed Deposition

Gas-atomized 6061 aluminum powder was used as feedstock for deposition using a high pressure cold-spraying process. The microstructures of the as-received powder and cold spray processed (CSP) ultrafine-grained (UFG) 6061 depositions were characterized by different electron microscopy techniques. It was found that there is segregation of solute elements at the particle grain boundaries, which is increased after cold spraying (CS). Various microstructural features were observed in both directions (parallel and perpendicular) of the CSP layer, including low-angle grain boundaries, clustered-small-cell walls, and dislocation tangle zones. The results also indicated that a combination of different recrystallization mechanisms (i.e., continuous and geometrical) may contribute to the formation of nano and UFG structures during CS.
A multimethod assessment of juvenile psychopathy: comparing the predictive utility of the PCL:YV, YPI, and NEO PRI.

Criminal justice and mental health professionals have long sought a reliable technique for predicting future criminal behavior among juvenile offenders. Among adults, psychopathy measures are highly predictive of future violence (Glover, Nicholson, Hemmati, Bernfeld, & Quinsey, 2002; Harris, Rice, & Cormier, 1991; Hemphill, Hare, & Wong, 1998; Serin, 1996). As such, the utility of psychopathy as a predictor of general and violent recidivism in adults has sparked considerable interest in applying the construct to adolescents. By assessing psychopathic traits, researchers have tried to distinguish between adolescent offenders whose deviant behavior is more transitory and less severe and those with more serious and stable patterns of behavior (Caputo, Frick, & Brodsky, 1999; Kruh, Frick, & Clements, 2005). Measures designed to assess psychopathy in juvenile populations are increasingly used to make decisions in court cases (Viljoen, MacDougall, Gagnon, Douglas, & Crosby, 2009). Such measures may be used to determine whether a youth is tried in juvenile or adult court and whether sentencing focuses on treatment or punishment (Petrila & Skeem, 2003; Seagrave & Grisso, 2002). Little research, however, has examined whether measures of juvenile psychopathy accurately predict long-term recidivism among adolescent offenders. It is therefore imperative to determine whether the various methods for assessing psychopathy in youths predict both short- and long-term recidivism and to what degree these measures overlap in identifying psychopathic youths. The present study examines the relative power of three distinct measures of psychopathy for predicting short- and long-term recidivism in a sample of serious male juvenile offenders. These instruments are described in the next section.
Response of subarctic vegetation to transient climatic change on the Seward Peninsula in north‐west Alaska

Summary Understanding the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climatic warming is a challenge because of the complex interactions of climate, disturbance, and recruitment across the landscape. We use a spatially explicit model (ALFRESCO) to simulate the transient response of subarctic vegetation to climatic warming on the Seward Peninsula (80 000 km2) in north-west Alaska. Model calibration efforts showed that fire ignition was less sensitive than fire spread to regional climate (temperature and precipitation). In the model simulations a warming climate led to slightly more fires and much larger fires and expansion of forest into previously treeless tundra. Vegetation and fire regime continued to change for centuries after cessation of the simulated climate warming. Flammability increased rapidly in direct response to climate warming and more gradually in response to climate-induced vegetation change. In the simulations warming caused as much as a 228% increase in the total area burned per decade, leading to an increasingly early successional and more homogenous deciduous forest-dominated landscape. A single transient 40-y drought led to the development of a novel grassland–steppe ecosystem that persisted indefinitely and caused permanent increases in fires in both the grassland and adjacent vegetation. These simulated changes in vegetation and disturbance dynamics under a warming climate have important implications for regional carbon budgets and biotic feedbacks to regional climate.
Decomposing Income, Earnings, and Wage Differentials A Reformulation of Method

A reformulation of the widely used method for decomposing income, earnings, and wage differentials is undertaken in this article. This new formula is derived from the assumptions of the theory of discrimination that has motivated most of the empirical work on the subject. Unlike previous the decompositions, the method presented here yields separate terms representing the monetary advantage discrimination confers on whites and the monetary disadvantage to blacks.
Using compliant membranes for dynamic flow stabilization in microfluidic systems

This paper presents a simple and novel device to stabilize a fluctuating fluid flow in microfluidic systems. The device consists of a microchannel and several compliant membranes in series on one or more walls of the channel. Vibrations of the compliant membranes are used to remove fluctuations in an incoming flow, resulting in nearly constant outlet flow rates and inlet pressures. A lumped-parameter model was developed to simulate the device operation. Testing of prototype devices demonstrates that the device is able to stabilize a pulsating flow by a flow rate stabilization ratio up to 20.
Interprofessional Education at Seton Hall University

Over the last 3 years, The School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) at Seton Hall University has embarked on implementing an Interprofessional Education (IPE) framework to educate students in 5...
Improving drought tolerance in maize: a view from industry

Significant yield losses in maize (Zea mays L.) from drought are expected to increase with global climate change as temperatures rise and rainfall distribution changes in key traditional production areas. The success of conventional crop improvement over the past 50 years for drought tolerance forms a baseline against which new genetic methods must be compared. Selection based on performance in multi-environment trials (MET) has increased grain yield under drought through increased yield potential and kernel set, rapid silk exertion, and reduced barrenness, though at a lower rate than under optimal conditions. Knowledge of the physiology of drought tolerance has been used to dissect the trait into a series of key processes. This has been complemented by genetic dissection through the identification of QTL associated with these same traits. Both have been used to identify suitable organ- and temporal-specific promoters and structural genes. Phenotyping capacity has not kept pace with the exponential increase in genotypic knowledge, and large-scale managed stress environments (MSE) are now considered essential to further progress. These environments provide ideal settings for conducting massively parallel transcript profiling studies, and for validating candidate regions and genes. Genetic and crop physiological models of key processes are now being used to confirm the value of traits for target environments, and to suggest efficient breeding strategies. Studies of gene to phenotype relationships suggest that most putative drought tolerance QTL identified thus far are likely to have limited utility for applied breeding because of their dependency on genetic background or their sensitivity to the environment, coupled with a general lack of understanding of the biophysical bases of these context dependencies. Furthermore, the sample of weather conditions encountered during progeny selection within the multi environment testing of conventional breeding programs can profoundly affect allele frequency in breeding populations and the stress tolerance of elite commercial products. We conclude that while gains in kernels per plant can be made by exploiting native genetic variation among elite breeding lines, improvements in functional stay-green or in root distribution and function may require additional genetic variation from outside the species. Genomic tools and the use of model plants are considered indispensable tools in this search for new ways of optimizing maize yield under stress. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
NV-Heaps: making persistent objects fast and safe with next-generation, non-volatile memories

Persistent, user-defined objects present an attractive abstraction for working with non-volatile program state. However, the slow speed of persistent storage (i.e., disk) has restricted their design and limited their performance. Fast, byte-addressable, non-volatile technologies, such as phase change memory, will remove this constraint and allow programmers to build high-performance, persistent data structures in non-volatile storage that is almost as fast as DRAM. Creating these data structures requires a system that is lightweight enough to expose the performance of the underlying memories but also ensures safety in the presence of application and system failures by avoiding familiar bugs such as dangling pointers, multiple free()s, and locking errors. In addition, the system must prevent new types of hard-to-find pointer safety bugs that only arise with persistent objects. These bugs are especially dangerous since any corruption they cause will be permanent.We have implemented a lightweight, high-performance persistent object system called NV-heaps that provides transactional semantics while preventing these errors and providing a model for persistence that is easy to use and reason about. We implement search trees, hash tables, sparse graphs, and arrays using NV-heaps, BerkeleyDB, and Stasis. Our results show that NV-heap performance scales with thread count and that data structures implemented using NV-heaps out-perform BerkeleyDB and Stasis implementations by 32x and 244x, respectively, by avoiding the operating system and minimizing other software overheads. We also quantify the cost of enforcing the safety guarantees that NV-heaps provide and measure the costs of NV-heap primitive operations.
On the operation configuration of SiGe HBTs based on power gain analysis

The power gain difference, under different device stability conditions, between common-emitter (CE) and common-base (CB) bipolar junction transistors (BJT) is analyzed comprehensively. The analysis reveals that the CB configuration offers higher maximum available power gain than the CE configuration in the device's high operation frequency range, while the inverse relation holds in the very low frequency range. In the intermediate frequency range, the base resistance value, mainly affected by the base doping concentration, determines which configuration offers higher maximum stable power gain (MSG). These analyses have explicit implications on the operation configurations of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). Employing a typical doping profile of Si bipolar junction transistors with a trapezoidal Ge profile in SiGe HBTs usually results in a larger base resistance than the emitter resistance. For these devices, the CE configuration exhibits higher MSG than the CB configuration. Employing a higher base doping concentration than the emitter with a box-type Ge profile considerably reduces the base resistance and thus favors the CB configuration for power amplification in this frequency range. The analysis are quantitatively verified with simulation and measurement results from SiGe HBTs of representative Ge and base doping profiles.
Assessment of orthostatic blood pressure: measurement technique and clinical applications.

ABSTRACTBackgroundOrthostatic hypotension, a decline in erect blood pressure, is the result of an impaired hemodynamic response to an upright posture or a depletion intravascular volume. The measurement of orthostatic blood pressure can be done at the bedside and therefore is easily applied to sever
An immunoglobulin C kappa-reactive single chain antibody fusion protein induces tolerance through receptor editing in a normal polyclonal immune system.

Understanding immune tolerance mechanisms is a major goal of immunology research, but mechanistic studies have generally required the use of mouse models carrying untargeted or targeted antigen receptor transgenes, which distort lymphocyte development and therefore preclude analysis of a truly normal immune system. Here we demonstrate an advance in in vivo analysis of immune tolerance that overcomes these shortcomings. We show that custom superantigens generated by single chain antibody technology permit the study of tolerance in a normal, polyclonal immune system. In the present study we generated a membrane-tethered anti-Igκ–reactive single chain antibody chimeric gene and expressed it as a transgene in mice. B cell tolerance was directly characterized in the transgenic mice and in radiation bone marrow chimeras in which ligand-bearing mice served as recipients of nontransgenic cells. We find that the ubiquitously expressed, Igκ-reactive ligand induces efficient B cell tolerance primarily or exclusively by receptor editing. We also demonstrate the unique advantages of our model in the genetic and cellular analysis of immune tolerance.
Medical Robotics and Computer-Integrated Surgery

The impact of computer-integrated surgery (CIS) on medicine in the next 20 years will be as great as that of computer-integrated manufacturing on industrial production over the past 20 years. A novel partnership between human surgeons and machines, made possible by advances in computing and engineering technology, will overcome many of the limitations of traditional surgery.
Influence of the interstimulus interval on temporal processing and learning: testing the state-dependent network model

The ability to determine the interval and duration of sensory events is fundamental to most forms of sensory processing, including speech and music perception. Recent experimental data support the notion that different mechanisms underlie temporal processing in the subsecond and suprasecond range. Here, we examine the predictions of one class of subsecond timing models: state-dependent networks. We establish that the interval between the comparison and the test interval, interstimulus interval (ISI), in a two-interval forced-choice discrimination task, alters the accuracy of interval discrimination but not the point of subjective equality—i.e. while timing was impaired, subjective time contraction or expansion was not observed. We also examined whether the deficit in temporal processing produced by short ISIs can be reduced by learning, and determined the generalization patterns. These results show that training subjects on a task using a short or long ISI produces dramatically different generalization patterns, suggesting different forms of perceptual learning are being engaged. Together, our results are consistent with the notion that timing in the range of hundreds of milliseconds is local as opposed to centralized, and that rapid stimulus presentation rates impair temporal discrimination. This interference is, however, decreased if the stimuli are presented to different sensory channels.
Automatic Speech Attribute Transcription (ASAT) - The Front End Processor

In this paper we discuss the design and implementation of the ASAT front end processing system, whose goal is to convert the speech waveform into a range of measurements and parameters which are then combined to form probabilistic attributes. The ASAT front end processing module utilizes a range of spectral and temporal speech parameters as input to a set of neural network classifiers to create sets of attribute probability lattices, based on either single frames or blocks of frames (segments). We test this architecture by using the 14 Sound Patterns of English (SPE) features as speech attributes. Without balancing the training data, the detection accuracies of 4 of the SPE features are above 90%, 2 features obtain between 80% and 90% detection accuracy, and 8 features have detection accuracies below 80%. With a novel method of balancing the feature training data, the performance of the neural networks improved significantly, with 6 features having detection accuracies above 90% and the remaining 8 features with detection accuracy above 80%.
Development and comparison of trunk traps to monitor movement of Halyomorpha halys nymphs on host trees

Halyomorpha halys Stal (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) has recently become a major orchard pest in the Mid-Atlantic, USA. Large H. halys populations can develop on wild tree hosts adjacent to orchards, posing an ongoing threat to fruit. Adults and nymphs feed on tree fruit, causing economic injury. Understanding the seasonal patterns of nymphal host use among trees at the orchard-woodland interface may aid the development of integrated pest management strategies for this pest. In laboratory and field experiments, modified versions of published trap designs – ‘Circle’, ‘Hanula’, ‘M&M’ (after Moeed & Meads) traps – were compared for their effectiveness for capturing H. halys nymphs walking up and down tree trunks. In the laboratory, second instars were released at the top and bottom of ailanthus (tree of heaven), Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), logs and captures were recorded after 24 h. Circle and M&M traps, respectively, were most effective for capturing nymphs walking up and down. In the field, traps were deployed on ailanthus trees next to apple orchards and captures were recorded weekly from 24 July to 11 September 2013. As in the laboratory, Circle and M&M traps captured the greatest number of upward- and downward-walking nymphs. Hanula traps were least effective in both experiments. In the field, 88% of total captures were of nymphs walking up trees. This was at least partially explained by behavioral assays in the laboratory demonstrating that nymphs exhibited negative gravitaxis and positive phototaxis. Stage-specific trends in captures of instars walking up during field sampling were observed. These results suggest that trunk traps can be used to address important ecological questions about seasonal patterns of host use by H. halys nymphs.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Terminating in Multiple Myeloma: Report of Two Cases

Two cases of multiple myeloma (MM) developed late in the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). An 81-yr-old white female developed, after 6 yr of CLL, IgAk MM with sheets of plasma cells abutting sheets of lymphocytes in the bone marrow, multiple pathologic fractures, and 0.26 g/24 free k light chains in the urine. A 74-yr-old white male developed, after 16 yr of CLL, k light chain MM with 20% plasma cells in the bone marrow, multiple panthologic fractures, and 3.7 g/24 hr free k light chains in the urine. In both cases the CLL had responded well to intermittent low-dose chlorambucil therapy, but the MM failed to respond to cyclic melphalanprednisone therapy. A review of 105 cases of CLL seen at the Geisinger Medical Center failed to turn up any other cases of MM developing during the course of CLL. The suggestion that there is an increased prevalence of MM in CLL is an attractive one because both diseases are B cell neoplasms and because of the increased frequency of asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathies in CLL found by others.
Molecular models of birnessite and related hydrated layered minerals

Birnessite and other charged layered manganese oxide minerals exhibit interlayers with variable cation-water behavior that controls many environmentally important cation exchange, adsorption, and redox processes. The occurrence of birnessite phases as fine-grained materials with corresponding high-surface areas makes them effective in controlling soil sediment and groundwater compositions, but difficult to structurally characterize using conventional analytical methods. Molecular simulations provide an alternative approach in which many details of bulk and interlayer structure can be ascertained to supplement and interpret the experimental findings. Classical and electronic structure methods are used to evaluate Na-, K-, and Ba-birnessite phases. Computational results compare favorably with structures obtained by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and difference electron Fourier mapping of the interlayer region. Based on the analysis of the 1 ns atomic trajectories, dynamics of water molecules is enhanced in the interlayer of K-birnessite relative to the limited motion of water molecules and cations in the other birnessite phases. Molecular dynamics simulations of rancieite, a complex layered manganese oxide having octahedral vacancies, indicate multiple sites for Ca 2+ in the interlayer. In addition to manganese layer charge and layer structure, the hydration enthalpy for the interlayer cation affects the structure and dynamics of the interlayer in birnessite minerals.