cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trouble in Paradise: Mutual Awareness, Teamwork, and Hawaii False Ballistic Missile Alert

At 8:07 a.m. on January 13, 2018, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency transmitted a false ballistic missile alert via cellphone, television, and radio throughout the state of Hawaii. Stating, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,” the alert created widespread panic. Finally, after 38 minutes, a second message was issued, assuring the public that the alert was false. Initial speculation attributed the occurrence to human error in which the emergency officer inadvertently selected the option to elicit an actual alert rather than the mock drill alert. The emergency worker believed the attack to be real due to what he perceived to be a mistake in the means by which the drill was initiated during a shift change. The employee reported that he did not hear the word “exercise” repeated during the drill. Fellow coworkers reported that they had clearly heard the word during the drill. Investigations opened by the Federal Communications Commission, Hawaii House of Representatives, and Hawaii Department of Defense uncovered a critical lack of training and training records management, as well as poor and inconsistent work procedures and processes within both the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, the investigation highlighted a decade of consistent performance issues for work carried out by the emergency officer. This paper will examine the Hawaii Missile False Alarm Incident in greater detail with a focus on the contributing human factors. Specifically, this review presents the many aspects of mutual awareness that were present and addresses how each type plays a critical role in the cooperation and team-specific behaviors carried out within both the crew dynamic and the operations between the two emergency management agencies and their employees.
Parental socialization profiles in Mexican-origin families: Considering cultural socialization and general parenting practices.

Objectives Recognizing that immigrant parents socialize their children in specific ways, the current study examines Mexican-origin families' parental socialization profiles using both parental cultural socialization and general parenting dimensions. We seek to understand how these dimensions interact to form culturally grounded parental socialization profiles in a sample of Mexican-origin parents and adolescents. Method There were 604 adolescents, 595 mothers, and 293 fathers within Mexican-origin families self-reporting on 2 cultural socialization dimensions (respeto, independence) and 4 general parenting dimensions (warmth, hostility, monitoring, reasoning). Adolescent outcomes were assessed 1 year later. Results Latent profile analysis revealed eight parental socialization profiles representing distinct combinations of cultural socialization and parenting dimensions. Relative to other profiles, the Integrative-Authoritative profile (high on socialization toward respeto and independence; high on warmth, monitoring, and reasoning; and relatively low on hostility) was the most common parenting pattern and was also associated with more optimal adolescent outcomes. Conclusion Examining cultural socialization alongside general parenting dimensions can better capture parental socialization strategies among Mexican-origin parents. The various parental socialization profiles that characterize Mexican-origin parents have important implications for adolescent outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Clinical spectrum of adult patients with annular pancreas: Findings from a large single institution cohort.

Abstract Background and aims Annular pancreas (AnnP) is a rare congenital abnormality that results from the presence of a complete or partial ring of pancreatic tissue surrounding the descending portion of the duodenum. While the clinical presentation and management of AnnP in neonates and infants has been well described, the complete spectrum of clinical presentation of AP in adults is not very clear. We aimed to describe the clinical spectrum of presentation and management of adult patients with AnnP. Methods Using the electronic medical record, we identified 198 patients with radiologically and/or surgically confirmed AnnP evaluated at Mayo Clinic between 1995 and 2017. Results The mean age of the study population at diagnosis was 55.1 (±18.3) years (60% female). 60% of patients did not have symptoms attributable to pancreatic disease at the time of diagnosis and were diagnosed incidentally. Computed tomography (CT) was the most common modality (64%) of diagnosis. Among symptomatic patients, abdominal pain (50%), duodenal obstruction (31%) and acute pancreatitis (16%) were the most common symptoms (non-exclusive). While most patients with duodenal obstruction required surgery, all patients with acute pancreatitis could be managed conservatively in the absence of competing indications for intervention. Conclusion AnnP may remain asymptomatic well into adulthood and be incidentally detected on abdominal imaging done for other indications. While surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in patients presenting with duodenal obstruction, a majority of these adult symptomatic patients with AnnP, including those with acute pancreatitis require no further treatment.
Zwischen den Revolutionen 1830 und 1848

Dieses wutende Fazit der deutschen Situation zog August von Platen in einem Epilog, der seinen 1831/32 entstandenen Polenliedern in der postumen Veroffentlichung vorausgeht. Die Zensur hatte die Aufnahme dieser und anderer Zeitgedichte in die letzte Ausgabe seiner Gedichte (1834) zu seinen Lebzeiten verhindert. Die Polenlieder erschienen dann 1839 in den Gedichten aus dem ungedruckten Nachlasse in Strasburg, also im Ausland.
In vitro and in vivo Metabolism of a Potent Inhibitor of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase, 1-(1-Propionylpiperidin-4-yl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)urea

1-(1-Propionylpiperidin-4-yl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)urea (TPPU) is a potent soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor that is used extensively in research for modulating inflammation and protecting against hypertension, neuropathic pain, and neurodegeneration. Despite its wide use in various animal disease models, the metabolism of TPPU has not been well-studied. A broader understanding of its metabolism is critical for determining contributions of metabolites to the overall safety and effectiveness of TPPU. Herein, we describe the identification of TPPU metabolites using LC-MS/MS strategies. Four metabolites of TPPU (M1-M4) were identified from rat urine by a sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method with double precursor ion scans. Their structures were further supported by LC-MS/MS comparison with synthesized standards. Metabolites M1 and M2 were formed from hydroxylation on a propionyl group of TPPU; M3 was formed by amide hydrolysis of the 1-propionylpiperdinyl group on TPPU; and M4 was formed by further oxidation of the hydroxylated metabolite M2. Interestingly, the predicted α-keto amide metabolite and 4-(trifluoromethoxy)aniline (metabolite from urea cleavage) were not detected by the LC-MRM-MS method. This indicates that if formed, the two potential metabolites represent <0.01% of TPPU metabolism. Species differences in the formation of these four identified metabolites was assessed using liver S9 fractions from dog, monkey, rat, mouse, and human. M1, M2, and M3 were generated in liver S9 fractions from all species, and higher amounts of M3 were generated in monkey S9 fractions compared to other species. In addition, rat and human S9 metabolism showed the highest species similarity based on the quantities of each metabolite. The presence of all four metabolites were confirmed in vivo in rats over 72-h post single oral dose of TPPU. Urine and feces were major routes for TPPU excretion. M1, M4 and parent drug were detected as major substances, and M2 and M3 were minor substances. In blood, M1 accounted for ~9.6% of the total TPPU-related exposure, while metabolites M2, M3, and M4 accounted for <0.4%. All four metabolites were potent inhibitors of human sEH but were less potent than the parent TPPU. In conclusion, TPPU is metabolized via oxidation and amide hydrolysis without apparent breakdown of the urea. The aniline metabolites were not observed either in vitro or in vivo. Our findings increase the confidence in the ability to translate preclinical PK of TPPU in rats to humans and facilitates the potential clinical development of TPPU and other sEH inhibitors.
Bridging non-overlapping reads illuminates high-order epistasis between distal protein sites in a GPCR.

Epistasis emerges when the effects of an amino acid depend on the identities of interacting residues. This phenomenon shapes fitness landscapes, which have the power to reveal evolutionary paths and inform evolution of desired functions. However, there is a need for easily implemented, high-throughput methods to capture epistasis particularly at distal sites. Here, we combine deep mutational scanning (DMS) with a straightforward data processing step to bridge reads in distal sites within genes (BRIDGE). We use BRIDGE, which matches non-overlapping reads to their cognate templates, to uncover prevalent epistasis within the binding pocket of a human G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) yielding variants with 4-fold greater affinity to a target ligand. The greatest functional improvements in our screen result from distal substitutions and substitutions that are deleterious alone. Our results corroborate findings of mutational tolerance in GPCRs, even in conserved motifs, but reveal inherent constraints restricting tolerated substitutions due to epistasis. Epistasis effects among amino acids at distal sites within binding pockets can have important impacts on protein fitness landscapes. Here the authors present BRIDGE, which matches non-overlapping sequence reads with their cognate DNA templates.
Skin cancer and skin cancer risk behaviors among sexual and gender minority populations: A systematic review

Background Individuals of sexual and gender minorities may have different lifetime risk of skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation exposure than heterosexual persons. Objective To systematically review the prevalence of skin cancer and behaviors that increase risk of skin cancer among sexual and gender minority populations. Methods We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science, searching for articles through October 18, 2019, that investigated risk of skin cancer and behaviors among sexual and gender minority populations. Results Sexual minority men have a higher lifetime risk of any skin cancer (odds ratio range: 1.3-2.1) and indoor tanning bed use (odds ratio range: 2.8-5.9) compared with heterosexual men, whereas sexual minority women may use indoor tanning beds less frequently than heterosexual women and do not have an elevated risk of lifetime history of skin cancer. Gender-nonconforming individuals have higher lifetime prevalence of any skin cancer compared with cisgender men. Limitations Most variables rely on self-reporting in their original studies. Conclusions Sexual minority men disproportionately engage in use of indoor tanning beds, which may result in increased lifetime risk of skin cancer. Recognition of this risk is important for providing appropriate screening for patients in this population.
Using in utero optical coherence tomography to evaluate changes in murine fetal brain vasculature due to prenatal exposure to teratogens (Conference Presentation)

One of the most common reasons of congenital birth defects is prenatal substance abuse. The severity of the defect depends on the amount of substance abused and the period of gestation during which substance is abused. Although prenatal substance abuse is common during the first trimester, some women continue the abuse well into their second trimester, which is considered the peak period for fetal neurogenesis and angiogenesis. Thus, evaluating the changes in fetal brain vasculature caused by maternal exposure to different teratogens at the second trimester equivalent period is crucial. In this study we use correlation mapping optical coherence angiography (cm-OCA), a functional extension of optical coherence tomography, to image changes in murine fetal brain vasculature caused due to prenatal exposure to ethanol, cannabinoids, or nicotine. Results showed significant vasoconstriction in all three cases.
Rosai dorfman disease: A rare presentation of primary ureteral involvement with concurrent sarcoidosis.

Abstract Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare condition with poorly understood pathogenesis at this time. Although it often involves the lymph nodes, it can present nearly anywhere at extranodal sites. Patients are frequently asymptomatic, but surgical debulking is currently the only method of treatment that has shown benefit for patients requiring intervention. This case report discusses a unique presentation of Rosai-Dorfman disease involving the ureter of a 49-year-old woman with known history of sarcoidosis, discovered incidentally on routine CT scan.
Hybrid styles, interstitial spaces, and the digital advocacy of the Salafi feminist

This article examines the online advocacy work of Zainab bint Younus, a Canadian Muslim blogger who identifies herself online as the Salafi Feminist. In 2015, bint Younus curated a series of self-p...
Peripheral kappa opioid receptor activation drives cold hypersensitivity in mice

Abstract Noxious cold sensation is commonly associated with peripheral neuropathies, however, there has been limited progress in understanding the mechanism of cold pain. Transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 channels facilitate the perception of noxious cold at the level of dorsal root ganglia (DRG), where kappa opioid receptors (KOR) are also expressed but have not previously been implicated in cold sensation. Here we identify a new role for KOR in enhancing cold hypersensitivity. First, we show that systemic KOR agonism (U50,488, KOR agonist), significantly potentiates the latency to jump and the number of jumps on the cold plate compared controls at 3°C. Importantly, NorBNI (KOR antagonist) attenuates U50,488-induced cold hypersensitivity. However, the central administration of NorBNI does not block U50,488-induced cold hypersensitivity suggesting that peripheral KOR likely modulate this effect. Furthermore, the peripherally-restricted KOR agonist, ff(nle)r-NH2 also induces cold hypersensitivity. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization, we show that KOR mRNA colocalizes with the transcripts for the cold-activated TRPA1 and TRPM8 channels in DRG. Finally, using calcium imaging in DRG, we show that intracellular calcium release is potentiated during the simultaneous application of a TRPA1 agonist, mustard oil (MO), and a KOR agonist (U50,488), when compared to MO alone. This potentiated calcium response is absent in TRPA1 KO mice. Together our data suggest that KOR-induces cold hypersensitivity through modulation of peripheral TRPA1 channels. These findings indicate that whether activation of peripheral KOR is protective or not may be dependent on the pain modality.
A fast time-stepping strategy for dynamical systems equipped with a surrogate model

Simulation of complex dynamical systems arising in many applications is computationally challenging due to their size and complexity. Model order reduction, machine learning, and other types of surrogate modeling techniques offer cheaper and simpler ways to describe the dynamics of these systems, but are inexact and introduce additional approximation errors. In order to overcome the computational difficulties of the full complex models, on one hand, and the limitations of surrogate models, on the other, this work proposes a new accelerated time-stepping strategy that combines information from both. This approach is based on the multirate infinitesimal general-structure additive Runge-Kutta (MRI-GARK) framework. The inexpensive surrogate model is integrated with a small timestep to guide the solution trajectory, and the full model is treated with a large timestep to occasionally correct for the surrogate model error and ensure convergence. We provide a theoretical error analysis, and several numerical experiments, to show that this approach can be significantly more efficient than using only the full or only the surrogate model for the integration.
Review of Methods for Estimating Construction Work Zone Capacity

Road reconstruction and the resulting work zones are considered as a major source of traffic congestion and delays on freeways. The roadway capacity is decreased as a result of a reduced number of ...
Near Field Communication: Introduction and Implications

Near field communication is an emerging technology that allows objects, such as mobile phones, computers, tags, or posters, to exchange information wirelessly across a small distance. Though primarily associated with mobile payment, near field communication has many different potential commercial applications, ranging from marketing to nutrition, transportation, gaming, and health care. In libraries, near field communication could enhance outreach and existing services such as self-checkout. More importantly, near field communication also serves as a new way to link physical materials with digital information, potentially transforming the way users interact with the information environment. This introduction to near field communication will address its background and functionality, its current and anticipated commercial applications, and its potential effect on libraries, librarians, and library patrons. The authors of the article will also discuss the time frame for mainstream adoption, and the privacy a...
Determination of Loads in the Presence of Thermal Stresses

THE DETERMINATION OF AIR LOADS by strain gage instrumentation on airplanes in flight has been an important method of securing reliable load information. With the advent of high speed flight and its associated problems of aerodynamic heating, the reliability of this method of load determination has been subject to question because superposed on the stresses due to load will be the thermal stresses from a variable and unknown temperature distribution. This paper describes a method for determining loads when thermal stresses are also present. The method takes account of the facts: (1) that the more common types of wire resistance strain gages give an indication of strain with a change in temperature even when the external load is zero; and (2) that the variable temperature in a highly redundant structure, such as a wing, causes internal stresses which are superposed on the stresses due to externally applied loads. The basis of the formulas developed in this report is the same as that used by Gauss for his formulas for numerical integration. In this method when n gages are to be used, it is possible to so place them that the results will be rigorously true when the stress distribution can be described by a polynomial of degree no greater than (2n — 1). In those cases where the stress in a structure can be closely represented by a polynomial, the integration of the stress in this manner can be expected to give adequate accuracy. Some of the formulas given in this paper have the same numerical constants as those Gauss obtained.
Verteporfin without light stimulation inhibits YAP activation in trabecular meshwork cells: Implications for glaucoma treatment

Verteporfin, a photosensitizer, is used in photodynamic therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration. In a glaucoma mouse model, Verteporfin without light stimulation has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) but the mechanism is unknown. Recent studies have shown that Verteporfin inhibits YAP without light stimulation in cancer cells. Additionally, YAP has emerged as an important molecule in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. We hypothesize that YAP inactivation by Verteporfin in trabecular meshwork (TM) may be related to the reduced IOP observed in vivo. As contractility of TM tissues is associated with IOP, collagen gel contraction assay was used to assess the effect of Verteporfin on contractility of TM cells. Human TM cells were embedded in collagen gel and treated with Verteporfin for 48 h. Areas of collagen gel sizes were quantified by ImageJ. To assess the effect of Verteporfin on the expression of YAP, human TM cells were treated with Verteporfin for 24 h and the expression of YAP was determined by Western blotting. To determine the cytotoxic effect of Verteporfin, human TM cells were treated with Verteporfin for 24 h, and then the cell viability was assessed by WST-1. We demonstrated here that Verteporfin (i) abolishes TM cell-mediated collagen gel contraction in a dose-dependent manner, (ii) attenuates expression of YAP and CTGF (connective tissue growth factor, a direct YAP target gene) in a dose-dependent manner, and (iii) has no significant cytotoxicity below 2 μM. Taken together, Verteporfin may facilitate aqueous humor outflow through the conventional outflow system and reduce IOP by inactivating YAP.
Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power: “To place before mankind the common sense of the subject”: Declarations of Principle

As we have seen, the problem of executive power is that it seems to require violations of the law and thus undermines consent. This is a theoretical problem that calls for a practical solution. As lawgiver and executive, Jefferson struggled with the law's inability to meet the demands of political life. As a writer of constitutions, he formulated and reformulated the vesting clauses for the Virginia governor in order to empower the executive but resisted general grants of authority. As wartime governor, he found that he had to work outside the law in order to defend his state against the British as well as to enforce the laws passed by the Virginia legislature, but he also asked the executive council or the legislative branch for retroactive approval of his extraconstitutional actions. Instead of expanding the law in order to accommodate executive prerogative, Jefferson's understanding of executive power requires that executives defend their actions on the grounds that they acted outside the law to achieve the public good. The means by which executives would throw themselves on the people is by a declaration of principle. Jefferson believed that declarations of principle would provide the criteria by which the people could judge executives and thus lessen the likelihood that executives would use necessity to act against the public good. Because declarations would show the principles by which executives would be guided, they could be used to demarcate the limits of executive power while at the same time bringing public opinion to a single point.
Artificial malware immunization based on dynamically assigned sense of self

Computer malwares (e.g., botnets, rootkits, spware) are one of the most serious threats to all computers and networks. Most malwares conduct their malicious actions via hijacking the control flow of the infected system or program. Therefore, it is critically important to protect our mission critical systems from malicious control flows. Inspired by the self-nonself discrimination in natural immune system, this research explores a new direction in building the artificial malware immune systems. Most existing models of self of the protected program or system are passive reflection of the existing being (e.g., system call sequence) of the protected program or system. Instead of passively reflecting the existing being of the protected program, we actively assign a unique mark to the protected program or system. Such a dynamically assigned unique mark forms dynamically assigned sense of self of the protected program or system that enables us to effectively and efficiently distinguish the unmarked nonself (e.g.,malware actions) from marked self with no false positive. Since our artificial malware immunization technique does not require any specific knowledge of the malwares, it can be effective against new and previously unknown malwares. We have implemented a proof-of-concept prototype of our artificial malware immunization based on such dynamically assigned sense of self in Linux, and our automatic malware immunization tool has successfully immunized real-world, unpatched, vulnerable applications (e.g., Snort 2.6.1 with over 140,000 lines C code) against otherwise working exploits. In addition, our artificial malware immunization is effective against return-to-libc attacks and recently discovered return-oriented exploits. The overall run time performance overhead of our artificial malware immunization prototype is no more than 4%.
Type-driven semantic interpretation and feature dependencies in R-LFG

Once one has enriched LFG's formal machinery with the linear logic mechanisms needed for semantic interpretation as proposed by Dalrymple et. al., it is natural to ask whether these make any existing components of LFG redundant. As Dalrymple and her colleagues note, LFG's f-structure completeness and coherence constraints fall out as a by-product of the linear logic machinery they propose for semantic interpretation, thus making those f-structure mechanisms redundant. Given that linear logic machinery or something like it is independently needed for semantic interpretation, it seems reasonable to explore the extent to which it is capable of handling feature structure constraints as well. R-LFG represents the extreme position that all linguistically required feature structure dependencies can be captured by the resource-accounting machinery of a linear or similiar logic independently needed for semantic interpretation, making LFG's unification machinery redundant. The goal is to show that LFG linguistic analyses can be expressed as clearly and perspicuously using the smaller set of mechanisms of R-LFG as they can using the much larger set of unification-based mechanisms in LFG: if this is the case then we will have shown that positing these extra f-structure mechanisms is not linguistically warranted.
Characteristic dopper echocardiographic pattern of mitral inflow velocity in severe aortic regurgitation

In symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation, left ventricular diastolic pressure increases rapidly, often exceeding left atrial pressure in late diastole. This characteristic hemodynamic change should be reflected in the Doppler mitral inflow velocity, which is the direct result of the diastolic pressure difference between the left ventricle and left atrium. Mitral inflow velocity was obtained by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography in 11 patients (6 men, 5 women: mean age 53 years) with severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation and compared with normal values from 11 sex- and age-matched control subjects. The following Doppler variables were determined: velocity of early filling wave (E), velocity of late filling wave due to atrial contraction (A), E to A ratio (E/A), deceleration time and pressure half-time. In severe aortic regurgitation, E and E/A (1.13 m/s and 3.3, respectively) were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than normal (0.60 m/s and 1.5, respectively). Deceleration time and pressure half-time (117 and 34 ms, respectively) were significantly shorter (p less than 0.001) than normal (203 and 59 ms, respectively). Late filling wave velocity (A) was not statistically different in the two groups, although it tended to be lower in the patient group (0.39 versus 0.50 m/s). Diastolic mitral regurgitation was present in eight patients (73%). M-mode echocardiography of the mitral valve, performed in 10 patients, showed that only 3 (30%) had premature mitral valve closure. In symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation, the Doppler mitral inflow velocity pattern is characteristic, with increased early filling wave velocity (E) and early to late filling wave ratio (E/A) and decreased deceleration time of the E wave.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neurogenesis and epilepsy in the developing brain

Multiple studies have highlighted how seizures induce different molecular, cellular, and physiologic consequences in an immature brain as compared to a mature brain. In keeping with these studies, seizures early in life alter dentate granule cell birth in different, and even opposing, fashion to adult seizure models (see Table 1). During the first week of rodent postnatal life, seizures decrease cell birth in the postictal period, but do not alter the maturation of newborn cells. Seizures during the second week of life have varied effects on dentate granule cell birth, either causing no change or increasing birth, and may promote a mild increase in neuronal survival. During the third and fourth weeks of life, seizures begin to increase cell birth similar to that seen in adult seizure models. Interestingly, animals that experienced seizure during the first month of life have an increase in cell birth during adulthood, opposite to the reported decrease in chronic animals experiencing a prolonged seizure as an adult. Children have more ongoing cell birth in the dentate gyrus than adults, and markers of cell division are further increased in children with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. There are clear age-dependent differences in how seizures alter cell birth in the dentate gyrus both acutely and chronically. Future studies need to focus on how these changes in neurogenesis influence dentate gyrus function and what they imply for epileptogenesis and learning and memory impairments, so commonly found in children with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Restoring longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands: Effects of restoration treatments on natural loblolly pine regeneration

Abstract Historical land use and management practices in the southeastern United States have resulted in the dominance of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on many upland sites that historically were occupied by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). There is currently much interest in restoring high quality longleaf pine habitats to such areas, but managers may also desire the retention of some existing canopy trees to meet current conservation objectives. However, fast-growing natural loblolly pine regeneration may threaten the success of artificially regenerated longleaf pine seedlings. We evaluated the establishment and growth of natural loblolly pine regeneration following different levels of timber harvest using single-tree selection (Control (uncut, residual basal area ∼16 m2/ha), MedBA (residual basal area of ∼9 m2/ha), LowBA (residual basal area of ∼6 m2/ha), and Clearcut (complete canopy removal)) and to different positions within canopy gaps (approximately 2800 m2) created by patch cutting at two ecologically distinct sites within the longleaf pine range: Fort Benning, GA in the Middle Coastal Plain and Camp Lejeune, NC in the Lower Coastal Plain. The density of loblolly pine seedlings was much higher at Camp Lejeune than at Fort Benning at the end of the first growing season after harvesting. Following two growing seasons, there were no significant effects of canopy density or gap position on the density of loblolly pine seedlings at either site, but loblolly pine seedlings were taller on treatments with greater canopy removal. Prescribed fires applied following the second growing season killed 70.6% of loblolly pine seedlings at Fort Benning and 64.3% of seedlings at Camp Lejeune. Loblolly pine seedlings were generally less than 2 m tall, and completeness of the prescribed burns appeared more important for determining seedling survival than seedling size. Silvicultural treatments that include canopy removal, such as patch cutting or clearcuts, will increase loblolly pine seedling growth and shorten the window of opportunity for control with prescribed fire. Therefore, application of prescribed fire every 2–3 years will be critical for control of loblolly pine regeneration during restoration of longleaf pine in existing loblolly pine stands.
Quaternary lavas from the southern Cascades, western U.S.A.

A series of basaltic and andesitic lavas from three centers in the Cascades (Lassen, Medicine Lake, Mt. Shasta) have been investigated. The lavas are weakly porphyritic, containing phenocrysts of plagioclase, augite, and olivine or orthopyroxene; these phases are also found in the groundmass. Titanomagnetite is a groundmass phase in most lavas but it appears to be absent in some. A sub-calcic augite is found in the groundmass in some of the basic lavas. Orthopyroxenes are present only in the salic lavas and show an increase in calcium with increasing iron. The range in composition shown by both phenocryst and groundmass plagioclase is very similar except that the phenocrysts extend to slightly more calcic compositions. The residual glasses in many of the lavas have a rhyolitic composition. However, only those from the Shasta andesites have normative salic constituents that plot near the ternary minimum in the Ab-Or-Qtz system at 500 bars. Both chemical and mineralogical data allow the lavas of the different centers to be distinguished from one another. The most likely origin for the orogenic lavas of the Cascades is by partial melting of the upper mantle.
The evaluation of clinical efficacy and longevity of home bleaching without combined application of In-office bleaching

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whitening efficacy and longevity of home bleaching. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 patients were divided into either experimental group (Opalescence F; 15% carbamide peroxide) or control group randomly. The patients in experimental group were instructed to wear individual trays applied with bleaching gel for 2 hours a day for 4 weeks. Any treatments weren't applied to the patients in control group. The color measurements of central incisors, lateral incisors & canines of upper and lower arch were recorded at base line, immediately after the finishment of treatmemt (4 weeks), 8 weeks and 12 weeks using Colorimeter (Chroma Meter, 2600d Konica Minolta co.) and Vitapan classical shade guide (Vita Zahnfabrik). Results: A significantly stronger color change was observed for overall teeth samples in experimental group immediately after treatment (at 4 weeks) compared to ones in control group ( p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between baseline and 8 weeks or 12 weeks separately though color rebouncing phe- nomenon occurred as time went by (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The clinical effecacy and longevity of home bleaching without combined application of in-office bleaching was observed through this experiment. (J Kor Acad Cons Dent 2010;35(5):387-394.) ABSTRACT 서론
Oral communication competency and teacher certification in the U.S.: Reality and recommendations

This article reports the results of a national survey of state teacher certification directors conducted by a subcommittee of the Committee on Assessment and Testing of SCA. Results indicate that there is a lack of uniformity among states on standards and means of assessing communication competence. Seven recommendations are made for ways in which SCA can play a stronger role in serving as an advocate for the importance of oral communication competence in teacher education.
Whither the PRI? Explaining voter defection in the 1988 Mexican presidential elections

Abstract Based on a nationwide Gallup poll conducted in Mexico in May 1988, we study voters who said that they had voted for Mexico's ruling party (the Institutional Revolutionary Party—PRI) in 1982 but would not in the July 1988 presidential election. By means of logistic regression, we argue that the intended behaviour of these self-identified PRI defectors is best explained by their judgements about the prospects for the political regime's institutions and by their view of candidate Carlos Salinas's personal qualities. Defection was not explained, however, by the demographic characteristics or life circumstances of voters nor by their attitudes about specific policy issues nor by their views about the performance of the country's economy.
CONCEPTUAL DEPENDENCY AND ITS DESCENDANTS

Abstract This paper surveys representation and processing theories arising out of conceptual dependency theory. One of the primary characteristics of conceptual dependency was the notion of a canonical form, built out of a small number of primitive representations. Although the notion of primitives has largely been lost in subsequent work, many other of the basic notions of CD have remained. In particular, the idea of building representations around inferential capabilities has prevailed in this family of research. The result is a set of representational structures, all of which are highly knowledge-intensive. The use of these structures in various processing theories has led to knowledge-based theories of language understanding, planning, reasoning and other tasks, which have contrasted sharply with the traditional search-oriented approaches used in other systems.
Muscle carnitine in hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

Weakness is common in both hyper- and hypothyroidism, and skeletal muscle L-carnitine may play a role in this regard, as suggested by studies indicating abnormal levels of carnitine in serum and urine of patients with thyroid dysfunction. Skeletal muscle samples were obtained for carnitine analysis from control subjects, and from hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients before and after treatment. There was a significant reduction in carnitine, especially the esterified portion, in hyperthyroid individuals, with a return to normal as euthyroid status was regained. In hypothyroid patients, there was a trend for carnitine to be lower than normal and for improvement once euthyroid status was attained. Our data indicate that muscle carnitine levels are affected by both hypo- and hyperthyroidism. A decrease in muscle carnitine in both conditions may contribute to thyroid myopathy. Muscle Nerve, 2005
Surface Tension Actuators Droplets in Microchannels

A unified model is presented for the velocity of discrete droplets in microchannels actuated by surface tension modulation. Specific results are derived for the cases of electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD), dielectrophoresis (DEP), continuous electrowetting (CEW), and thermocapillary pumping (TCP). This treatment differs from previously published works by presenting one unified analytic model which is then simply applied to the specific cases of EWOD, CEW, DEP and TCP. In addition, the roles of equiliubrium contact angle and contact angle hysteresis are unambiguously described for each method. The model is shown to agree with experimental and theoretical results presented previously, predicting fluid velocities for a broad range of applications in digitized microfluidics.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Reducing bias in pelvic floor disorders research: Using directed acyclic graphs as an aid†‡

Aims The aim of most pelvic floor disorders (PFD) research is to obtain an unbiased effect estimate and to make causal inferences. New developments in epidemiologic research, including the use of causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), have shown that traditional analytical strategies for research can be inadequate, leading to unintended consequences such as introducing additional bias. Although DAGs have been proven to be useful in other medical fields, their use has been limited in PFD research. The aim of this paper is to introduce DAGs and then demonstrate their application in PFD research. This paper will also illustrate how relying purely on statistical techniques can lead to pitfalls in reducing bias in research studies. Methods/Results DAGs are a graphical epidemiologic tool that provide a method to select for potential confounders and minimize bias in the design and analysis of research studies. We start by providing an introduction to DAGs. We then describe six scenarios in PFD research in which DAGs can be helpful: (1) identifying appropriate confounding variables for adjustment; (2) identifying potential over-adjustment when conditioning on a mediator; (3) identifying unintended confounding due to inappropriate adjustment; (4) identifying unintended selection bias due to inappropriate adjustment; (5) planning analyses in cross-sectional studies; and (6) using DAGs as a framework to help plan data collection and analyses in PFD research. Conclusions We demonstrate how the application of DAGs as an aid to PFD research can help to decrease bias and discuss the insights and implications for study design and analytical approaches. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:115–120, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Green HPC: From Nice to Necessity

As power consumption of supercomputers grows out of control, energy efficiency will move from desirable to mandatory.
Organizational ethics: A stacked deck

The astute manger should be aware that, in organizations, the deck is frequently ‘stacked’ against higher levels of ethical behavior. This deck stacking occurs because of socialization processes, environmental influences, and the organization hierarchy. As a result of bosses using hierarchical leverage to take the ethical dimension of decision-making away from subordinates, the stage is set for a they-made-me-do-it defense of their moral integrity by these subordinates if and when violations of ethical norms come to light. There is also at work, however, an I-made-them-do-it situation in which professionals who prefer to ‘nest’ in the more technical aspects of their work ‘delegate’ — upward — to their bosses ethical decision-making. Understanding these dynamics is crucial in an age which is especially sensitized to the ethical facet of organizational behavior.
Statistical characteristics of the electric and magnetic fields and their time derivatives 15 m and 30 m from triggered lightning

[1] We present a statistical analysis of the salient characteristics of the electric and magnetic fields and their derivatives at distances of 15 m and 30 m from triggered lightning strokes that lowered negative charge to ground. Return stroke current and current derivative characteristics are also presented. The measurements were made during the summers of 1999 and 2000 at Camp Blanding, Florida. Lightning was triggered to a 1 to 2 m strike object at the center of a 70 m × 70 m metal-grid ground plane that was buried beneath a few centimeters of soil. The strike object was mounted on the rocket launching system that was located below ground level in a pit. The experiment was designed (1) to minimize the influence of the strike object on the field and field derivative waveforms and (2) to eliminate potential distortions of the field and field derivative waveforms both due to ground surface arcing and due to the propagation of the field being over imperfectly conducting ground. Measurements were made on about 100 return strokes, although not all field quantities were successfully recorded for each stroke. We present histograms and parameters of statistical distributions for the following 28 waveform characteristics: current peak, risetime, and width; current derivative peak, risetime, and width; return-stroke electric field change and field pulse width at 15 m and at 30 m; electric field derivative peak, risetime, and width at 15 m and at 30 m; magnetic field peak, risetime, and width at 15 m and at 30 m; and magnetic field derivative peak, risetime, and width at 15 m and at 30 m. We compare our results with those from previous studies. From this comparison we infer, among other results, that for strikes to our buried metal-grid ground plane the current risetime and width are, on average, smaller than for strikes to concentrated grounding electrodes (vertical ground rods).
RCI-1, a GSH-Deficient Mutant of Escherichia coli B: Response to Oxidants and Thiol-Reacting Compounds

The concentration of glutathione (GSH) in bacteria is many-fold less than in mammalian cells except forEscherichia coli, where the GSH level is similar to that of mammalian tissues. On the basis of our observation that GSH in a B strain, ATCC 29682, was reduced (>80%) by exposure to oxidants while a K-12 strain (AB 1157) was minimally affected (<20%), we constructed a B strain GSH-deficient mutant that exhibited antioxidant enzyme activities similar to the wild strain. We successfully transduced thegsh A:: Tn10Km allele from JTG-10, a GSH-deficient K-12 strain, to ATCC 29682, the GSH-sufficient B strain. Compared with ATCC 29682, the growth of the GSH-deficient B mutant, designated RCI-1, was more sensitive to the presence of thiol-reactive chemicals. However, no difference was found between GSH-sufficient and -deficient strains in lethality following exposure to the same thiol-reactive chemicals. Thus, GSH inE. coli B is important in maintaining growth in the presence of oxidants but does not affect oxidant lethality.
Intermediate-temperature mechanical properties of Ni–Si alloys: oxygen embrittlement and its remedies

Abstract With good corrosion resistance, reasonable room-temperature ductility, and excellent strength up to temperatures of 700 °C, Ni3Si-based alloys show considerable potential for structural applications. The Ni–Si alloys used for acid-corrosion resistance suffer from a dynamic environmental embrittlement when tested at intermediate temperatures around 600 °C. To assess these Ni–Si alloys for elevated-temperature structural application, the mechanical properties of these alloys strengthened by Ni3Si precipitates were systematically evaluated at different temperatures in various test environments. Oxygen was identified as the embrittling species responsible for the low ductility and premature fracture of the Ni–Si alloys. A strong dependence of elongation and fracture mode on strain rate was observed. Based on the understanding of the embrittlement mechanism, some unique approaches for improving the intermediate-temperature ductility, strength and fabricability of Ni–Ni3Si alloys were identified: reactive element doping (such as Zr and Y) to change the grain boundary chemistry; preoxidation to form adherent oxide layers; and thermomechanical processing to tailor the grain structure/shape. Some other properties such as creep resistance and weldability of these alloys were also briefly evaluated and are discussed in this paper.
What do regulators do? Dynamic behavior of resource managers in the North Pacific Halibut Fishery 1935–1978

Abstract Most of the literature in resource economics is normative, focusing on questions such as: how should the use of resources be regulated? Little attention has been paid to exactly what regulators actually do in practice. This paper develops and estimates a model of regulatory behavior. We model the regulators' objective structure, as well as the mechanism regulators use to select policy instruments to achieve their objectives. We estimate the model using the North Pacific Halibut Fishery as a case study, allowing computation of the basic structural parameters as well as implicit weights in the regulators' objective function as revealed by their actual decisions.
Crashworthiness of automotive steel midrails: Thickness and material sensitivity

Abstract The automotive midrail is the main load carrying/energy absorbing component in a frontal vehicle crash. Three separate midrails, from three different manufacturers, each of a different size class of vehicle, and each with different crush modes, were found to exhibit the same sensitivity to variations in material thickness and stress-strain properties. From the results it was determined that a general design guideline for crashworthiness could be stated as: For every 10% change in thickness there is approximately a 14% change in energy absorption capability for a crushing midrail, while for every 10% change in material strength there is approximately a 7·3% change in energy absorption capability. The proposed design guideline can be used to help determine suitable modifications to make a structure more crashworthy and, additionally, to determine how manufacturing variations may affect the crashworthiness of a vehicle.