cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal variation in the reproductive ecology of two parapatric subspecies of Oenothera cespitosa (Onagraceae).

 Premise of the study : Flowering plants that rely on pollinators for most of their reproduction may experience unpredictable and inconsistent availability of effective pollinators throughout their reproductive lifetime. We investigated the reproductive ecology of two subspecies of the tufted evening primrose, Oenothera cespitosa , which occupy geographically and edaphically distinct habitats in western North America: O. cespitosa subsp. navajoensis inhabits sandstone soils on open sites or rocky slopes in the Colorado Plateau and O. cespitosa subsp. cespitosa grows in clay soils on talus slopes and exposed rocky ridges in the western Great Plains and northern Rocky Mountains of the United States.  Methods : Pollen augmentation and selfi ng experiments, fl oral visitor observations, and single-visit effectiveness experiments were conducted over 4 years to examine the breeding system and spatiotemporal variation in pollinator behavior, assemblage, and abundance at different populations for each subspecies.  Key results : Both subspecies of O. cespitosa were self-incompatible and pollen-limited, suggesting that the relative abundance, effectiveness, and movement patterns of different insects as pollinators infl uenced the quality and quantity of seed production in these plants. Medium-sized vespertine hawkmoths ( Hyles lineata , Sphinx vashti ) were effective pollinators when present, as were large matinal bees ( Anthophora affabilis , A. dammersi , Xylocopa tabaniformis androleuca ), whereas small oligolectic Lasioglossum bees primarily functioned as pollen thieves in the evening and morning.  Conclusions : These fi ndings highlight the importance of variability of pollinator composition and abundance in the evolution of plant breeding systems and reproductive success at varying spatial and temporal scales.
Subcellular localization of oxygen defense enzymes in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) root nodules

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) root nodules contain the enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione pathway to minimize oxidative damage. In the present study, fractionation and immunocytochemistry were used to determine the subcellular location of the enzymes of this pathway. All four enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase) were present in the soluble fraction from nodule plant cells and in isolated mitochondria. No activity was detected in peroxisomes. Bacteroids contained glutathione reductase but not the other enzymes of this pathway. Immunogold localization indicated that ascorbate peroxidase was present in the cytosol of infected and uninfected cells but not in the peribacteroid space. Results of immunogold and immunofluorescence studies indicated that monodehydroascorbate reductase was located primarily in the cell wall, suggesting that ascorbate regeneration in the cytoplasm may proceed primarily through the action of dehydroascorbate reductase. The possible roles of monodehydroascorbate reductase in cell wall metabolism are discussed.
Decision-making under severe uncertainty for autonomous mobile robots

The field of robotics is on a growth curve, with most of the growth expected in the areas of personal and service robots. As robots become more prevalent in chaotic home and industrial settings, they will be required to make increasingly independent decisions about how to accomplish their tasks. A key to accomplishing this is the development of techniques to allow robots to handle severe uncertainty. This paper introduces the use of information gap theory as a way to enable robots to make robust decisions in the face of uncertainty, and illustrates this with an example problem.
Some reliability aspects of high temperature ICs

There are many physical mechanisms that can disrupt electrical performance at high temperatures. These mechanisms need to be controlled or eliminated in order for the parts to operate reliably for extended periods of time. Four specific high temperature failure mechanisms are described in this paper. Two of these mechanisms relate to the package - leakage current and wire bond resistance; the other two involve the thin films on the integrated circuit tungsten electromigration and resistor stability.
Making virtual work teams successful: measuring the 'interactive demand' of tasks and fitting it to the demands of technology, people, and structure

Virtual problem-solving teams are becoming a fixture in both the work and educational environments. However, the advent of work teams, particularly within the virtual realm, has posed a number of challenges to the success of these groups. Research has, of yet, failed to identify and understand the myriad number of variables that can affect the performance of a virtual group. One of these concerns the shifting characteristics of the task at hand. Based on a synthesis of available research, including their own, the authors have devised a task typology that gauges the "interactive demand" of specific tasks for group members. Appraising these demand factors in conjunction with the demands of the technology involved, the composition of the group, and the overall structure of the problem-solving situation can aid in determining the processing "energy" required from the limited store possessed by any group. This, in turn, can help planning for the success of these teams.
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus with misleading features of irreversible dementias : A case report

An 85-year-old man presented with the clinical triad (gait instability, dementia, and bladder and bowel incontinence), the ventriculomegaly, and the normal CSF pressure that characterize normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Diagnostic uncertainty was raised by an unusually rapid onset and a lack of initial response to CSF tap tests. Additionally, periodic sharp waves on EEG suggested the possibility of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated a pattern of cerebral hypometabolism typical of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of NPH was supported by delayed improvement following CSF tap tests, and it was confirmed by a dramatic clinical recovery after CSF shunting, resolution of the EEG and PET abnormalities, and a normal brain biopsy. NPH remains one of the few reversible causes of dementia, and the presence of its core features, regardless of rate of onset or ancillary test results, warrants careful consideration of therapeutic intervention.
Ethyl Methanesulfonate-Induced Seed Mutagenesis of Capsicum annuum

In order to determine the optimal conditions for mutagenesis of Capsicum annuum L., seeds of the cultivar Keystone Resistant Giant no. 3 were treated with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and exposed for 3, 6, and 9 h at 5 degrees C, 10 degrees C, 15 degrees C, and 20 degrees C. Several unique and interesting mutants were generated in this study. In the M1 generation, seeds treated with 1.5% EMS at 20 degrees C for 9 h had the lowest germination percentage among 36 treatments, but the observed differences in germination percentage were not significant. This study suggests that concentration and duration of seed exposure to EMS could be increased to induce even greater number of mutants.
Army Ants Harbor a Host-Specific Clade of Entomoplasmatales Bacteria

In this article, we describe the distributions of Entomoplasmatales bacteria across the ants, identifying a novel lineage of gut bacteria that is unique to the army ants. While our findings indicate that the Entomoplasmatales are not essential for growth or development, molecular analyses suggest that this relationship is host specific and potentially ancient. The documented trends add to a growing body of literature that hints at a diversity of undiscovered associations between ants and bacterial symbionts.
Shear‐induced intracellular loading of cells with molecules by controlled microfluidics

This study tested the hypothesis that controlled flow through microchannels can cause shear-induced intracellular loading of cells with molecules. The overall goal was to design a simple device to expose cells to fluid shear stress and thereby increase plasma membrane permeability. DU145 prostate cancer cells were exposed to fluid shear stress in the presence of fluorescent cell-impermeant molecules by using a cone-and-plate shearing device or high-velocity flow through microchannels. Using a syringe pump, cell suspensions were flowed through microchannels of 50-300 microm diameter drilled through Mylar sheets using an excimer laser. As quantified by flow cytometry, intracellular uptake and loss of viability correlated with the average shear stress. Optimal results were observed when exposing the cells to high shear stress for short durations in conical channels, which yielded uptake to over one-third of cells while maintaining viability at approximately 80%. This method was capable of loading cells with molecules including calcein (0.62 kDa), large molecule weight dextrans (150-2,000 kDa), and bovine serum albumin (66 kDa). These results supported the hypothesis that shear-induced intracellular uptake could be generated by flow of cell suspensions through microchannels and further led to the design of a simple, inexpensive, and effective device to deliver molecules into cells. Such a device could benefit biological research and the biotechnology industry.
Mycotic aneurysm in a turtle hunter: brief review and a case report

Salmonella -associated mycotic aneurysm is a rare, but dreaded, complication of salmonellosis. Immunocompromised and elderly populations are more susceptible to develop this extra-intestinal complication. Salmonella is spread via fecal–oral and vehicle-borne routes. Reptiles, especially small pet turtles, have been linked with an increased risk of Salmonella infection. Diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm is a challenge due to atypical presentations. Recently, widespread use of CT scan imaging to evaluate for unexplained abdominal pain and sepsis has led to early identification of mycotic aneurysms. Antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention are the cornerstones of management. Open surgery has been the gold standard of treatment but is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A relatively new alternative to open surgery is endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). It is comparatively less invasive and is associated with reduced early morbidity and mortality in the setting of mycotic aneurysm. However, there is a risk of late infection. Here, we present a patient with Salmonella mycotic aneurysm initially treated conservatively with antibiotic therapy who later underwent successful interval EVAR with no complications to date. Also included is a brief review of Salmonella -associated mycotic aneurysms. Keywords : Salmonella; mycotic aneurysm; review (Published: 15 June 2015) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2015, 5 : 27229 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v5.27229
Fishing upstream: Firm innovation strategy and university research alliances

This paper examines how innovation strategy influences firms’ level of involvement with university-based research. Our results suggest that firms with internal R&D strategies more heavily weighted toward exploratory activities allocate a greater share of their R&D resources to exploratory university research and develop deeper multifaceted relationships with their university research partners. In addition, firms with more centralized internal R&D organizations spend a greater share of their R&D dollars on exploratory research conducted at universities. In contrast to other external partners, we find evidence suggesting that universities are preferred when the firm perceives potential conflicts over intellectual property. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Britain and the United States: Two Nations Divided by the Same Language (and Different Language Ideologies)

This article examines popular beliefs about language in Britain and the United States within a language ideology framework. With particular reference to Silverstein's discussion of second-order indexicality, it argues that language varieties in Britain and the United States are differently ideologized in such a way as to foreground social class groups in Britain and ethnic groups in the United States. This difference gives rise to characteristically different kinds of national language controversy. American and British images of a spoken standard language are not only quite different but also occupy a pivotal position in their respective ideological systems. In America, a leveled variety is imagined as standard and mainstream, while in Britain an elite classmarked variety is commonly imagined as standard. Each type of standard, while imagined as a neutral reference point, sets up a pattern of structural oppositions that foregrounds and stigmatizes the codes indexing "nonmainstream" groups in the United States and "lower-class" groups in Britain.
Surface Modification for Protein Resistance Using a Biomimetic Approach

In recent years the immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on surfaces has proved to be one of the most attractive methods to prevent biological fouling of surfaces. We have developed a paradoxical biomimetic PEGylation strategy that exploits the adhesive characteristics of proteins secreted by marine mussels—one of nature’s most notorious foulers. Linear PEGs were coupled to peptides containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), an unusual amino acid which is found in high concentration in these so-called mussel adhesive proteins. Using surface plasmon resonance, we have demonstrated enhanced resistance to protein adhesion on gold substrates modified with the DOPA-containing PEGs.
Marsh Collapse Thresholds for Coastal Louisiana Estimated Using Elevation and Vegetation Index Data

ABSTRACT Couvillion, B.R. and Beck, H., 2013. Marsh collapse thresholds for coastal Louisiana estimated using elevation and vegetation index data. In: Brock, J.C.; Barras, J.A., and Williams, S.J. (eds.), Understanding and Predicting Change in the Coastal Ecosystems of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 63, pp. 58–67, Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Forecasting marsh collapse in coastal Louisiana as a result of changes in sea-level rise, subsidence, and accretion deficits necessitates an understanding of thresholds beyond which inundation stress impedes marsh survival. The variability in thresholds at which different marsh types cease to occur (i.e., marsh collapse) is not well understood. We utilized remotely sensed imagery, field data, and elevation data to help gain insight into the relationships between vegetation health and inundation. A Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset was calculated using remotely sensed data at peak biomass (Au...
Dietary Advice for Melanoma: Not Ready for Prime Time

There have been few studies on dietary factors in the development of melanoma for a number of reasons. By their nature, dietary studies can be subject to a great deal of misclassification, tending to make results null, given that the misclassification is usually nondirectional. Second, most dietary studies are looking for protective factors rather than risk factors. However, the article accompanying this editorial by Wu et al, 1 entitled, “Citrus Consumption and Risk of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma,” has overcome many of the previous deficiencies in studying the role of diet in melanoma etiology and yet hasfoundthatcitrusconsumption,butnotsupplementalvitaminC,is a risk factor for the development of melanoma. The study found a dose-response relationship for overall citrus consumption more than twice a week, compared with less than twice a week. Consumption of citrus fruits and juices more than 1.6 times per day resulted in a risk for developing melanoma of 1.36 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.63). The rationale for the association between consumption ofcitrusandthedevelopmentofmelanomaisbasedonthepresenceof psoralens and furocoumarins in citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit. Thesesubstancesarepotentialcarcinogens,asfoundinbothmiceand humans. 2-4 Psoralens and furocoumarins interact with ultraviolet (UV)lighttostimulatemelanomacellstoproliferate. 5 Althoughthere werenosignificantinteractionsbetweenUVexposureandcitrusconsumption found in this study, the association appeared to be stronger among those with a higher susceptibility to sunburn as a child or adolescent,thosewithmoreblisteringsunburns,andthosewhospent more time in the direct sunlight with higher annual residential UV flux. In addition, the association was stronger among obese individuals and those who exercised little. Thestudyhasmuchstrength.Therationaleisclear,thestudywas large, and data were collected prospectively. This study demonstrates
Data Mining in Astronomy

Scientific databases are growing in size at such a pace where the traditional techniques for analysis and visualization of the data are no longer adequate in explaining the scientific phenomena actually being captured in the data. Data mining methods are being employed to supplement traditional analysis and visualization techniques to uncover complex patterns deeply imbedded within the ever-growing volumes of observations. This chapter will attempt to stimulate the readers understanding of how data mining methods are being used to uncover some of the mysteries of the universe. The gains being made to uncover complex astronomical phenomena have been largely related to the ability to mine large-scale databases of deep space observations. The chapter will conclude with a review of some of the daunting challenges and opportunities facing professional astronomers and how computational and observational techniques combine in the attempt to reveal the age old questions of how the heavens were formed.
Shortcut evaluation of ΔT and QΔT for the synthesis of heat integrated distillation sequences

Among the many methods that have been proposed for the synthesis of distillation sequences that minimize cost, a recent one by Andrecovich and Westerberg (1983) has attracted our attention because of the potential applicability this approach can have in a variety of cases. The authors use the quantity Q..delta..T, which is the product of the reboiler duty Q and the temperature difference ..delta..T between the top and the bottom of a column, and the available utility temperatures to establish lower bounds on the cost either of single separation tasks (using multieffect distillation) or of several separation tasks (sequences of simple and multieffect columns are used). In the method it is assumed that the distillation sequences for a problem can be specified. This is true when we deal with sharp splits, but if we are also to consider sloppy splits, we have essentially an infinite number of alternatives, and the method does not give a way to choose or define the separation tasks. However, it is not inherently restricted to pure splits. Also, the method is based on the assumption that the product Q..delta..T is constant, which is not exactly correct, especially if the key components are not close boilers. Amore » disadvantage of all methods of the above type is the large computational effort they require. For instance, to find the ..delta..T's, iterative bubble point calculations have to be done at the top and the bottom of each column. If Q, ..delta..T, and their product were available from simple algebraic equations, the method would be significantly accelerated and it would possibly allow for product or recycle purity optimizations. Here we present simple expressions to evaluate these quantities.« less
Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Exercise Behavior among Nontraditional College Students

Abstract This study examined the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) to understanding exercise behavior among a sample of nontraditional college students at a southwestern university. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. The independent variable was stage of exercise behavior change. The dependent variables analyzed were exercise efficacy expectations, decisional balance (i.e., pros and cons), and the processes of change. Six hundred and eighty students (mean age = 27.45 ± 8.2 years, 62.0% female, 85.9% Caucasian) representing various disciplines on campus (e.g., education, engineering) completed valid and reliable questionnaire packets during regularly scheduled classes. Fifty-nine percent of the sample were sedentary or exercised irregularly (precontemplation [PC], contemplation, or preparation stages), whereas 17% were in the action stage (A, regularly active <6 months) and 23% were in the maintenance stage (M, regularly active ≥6 months). Results revealed that all of the TT...
Process Evaluation of the Project SHINE Intervention for African American Families An Integrated Positive Parenting and Peer Monitoring Approach to Health Promotion

This study describes the process evaluation of Project SHINE, a randomized family-based health promotion intervention that integrated parenting and peer monitoring for improving sedentary behavior, physical activity, and diet in African American families. Adolescent-parent dyads (n = 89) were randomized to a 6-week behavioral, positive parenting, and peer monitoring skills intervention or a general health education comparison condition. Process evaluation included observational ratings of fidelity, attendance records, psychosocial measures, and qualitative interviews. Results indicated that the intervention was delivered with high fidelity based on facilitator adherence (>98% of content delivered) and competent use of theoretically based behavior change and positive parenting skills (100% of ratings >3 on a 1-4 scale). Although only 43% of peers attended the "bring a friend" session, overall attendance was high (4.39 ± 1.51 sessions) as was the retention rate (88%). Parents in the intervention condition reported significant improvements in communication related to adolescents' engagement in health behaviors both on their own and with peers. These findings were supported by qualitative themes related to improvements in family communication and connectedness. This study provides an innovative example of how future family-based health promotion trials can expand their process evaluation approaches by assessing theoretically relevant positive parenting variables as part of ongoing monitoring.
Supply Chain Management and Logistics : Innovative Strategies and Practical Solutions

SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY AND COORDINATION Supply Chain Frameworks: A Constant in the Midst of Change Tan Miller Future Research on Multiobjective Coordinated Scheduling Problems for Discrete Manufacturing Enterprises in Supply Chain Environments Jun Pei, Xinbao Liu, Wenjuan Fan, Athanasios Migdalas, and Panos M. Pardalos SUPPLY CHAIN NETWORK OPTIMIZATION Integrated Production/Distribution/Routing Planning for Supply Chain Networks: A Review Lei Lei, Rosa Oppenheim, Lian Qi, Hui Dong, Kangbok Lee, and Shengbin Wang Increasing the Resiliency of Local Supply Chain Distribution Networks against Multiple Hazards Sarah G. Nurre, Thomas C. Sharkey, and John E. Mitchell Nested Partitions for Large-Scale Optimization in Supply Chain Management Weiwei Chen and Leyuan Shi INVENTORY MANAGEMENT IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN A Schedule-Based Formulation for the Cyclic Inventory Routing Problem Zhe Liang, Rujing Liu, and Wanpracha Art Chaovalitwongse An Application of an Inventory Model for Production Planning Paveena Chaovalitwongse, Pakpoom Rungchawalnon, and Kwankeaw Meesuptaweekoon FINANCIAL DECISIONS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN A Game of Competitive Investment: Overcapacity and Underlearning Jian Yang, Yusen Xia, and Junmin Shi A Multiperiod Multiclass High-Speed Rail Passenger Revenue Management Problem Ying Qin, Zhe Liang, Wanpracha Art Chaovalitwongse, and Shaozhong Xi
The rise of catchword “被 bei -XX”

Recent studies on Chinese language use show that the rapid development of Internet communication in China has created a new linguistic variety, Chinese Internet language (CIL). Marked with innovations and catch words, CIL is officially branded as 平民化 pingminhua (‘grassroots,’ ‘ordinary’), 低门槛 dimenkan (‘low-standard,’ ‘vulgar’) ( Language Situation in China 2012: 205). Nevertheless, the new usages in CIL have attracted tremendous attention; prominent among them is the usage of 被 bei - XX. In Modern Chinese grammar, bei is a preposition followed by an agent ( bei + agent + verb) in passive sentences. However, since the news broke out that Prisoner Li Guofu died in a prison hospital and was announced as “a suicide” by the administration in 2008, the usage of 被自杀 bei zisha (to be presumably murdered) started to appear in the Internet and was soon analogized; consequently, numerous new usages of bei -XX swept through the media like wildfire. Taking the grammaticalization approach (Hopper and Traugott 2003), this study intends to explore the semantic changes, linguistic features, and grammatical role of bei in the bei -XX construction. It examines the historical development of bei in the grammaticalization process and evaluates previous and recent analyses associated with it. Drawing on data from China’s national annual reports entitled 《中国语言生活状况报告》 Language Situation in China (2005 to 2013) and online CIL publications, the study proposes an alternative analysis of bei in the bei -XX construction and predicts that this new bei will become an established prefix in the Chinese language and, further, create large word families with bei -XX as the blueprint.
Cyberbullying Among Adolescents: A General Strain Theory Perspective

Cyber bullying has become more pervasive as a result of advances in communication technology such as email, text messaging, chat rooms, and social media sites. Despite the growth in research on cor...
Development and application of a decision support tool for biomass co-firing in existing coal-fired power plants

Abstract Biomass co-firing has the potential to be a low-cost source of renewable energy that can utilize the existing infrastructure of coal-fired power plants, while reducing the overall environmental impact. Though there are technical barriers to the development of co-firing operations, including the lower calorific value and higher chlorine content of the biomass compared to coal, several systems have shown the ability to do so successfully. Applying the lessons learned from such systems to site-specific conditions in a systematic way could greatly benefit the industry. This study uses aggregated information regarding various combustion technologies, pre-treatment technologies, and available biomass feedstocks to generate a decision support tool for energy providers that will help identify economic, environmental, and social impacts of developing site-specific biomass co-firing projects at existing coal-fired power plants. The tool was verified using an existing case study and demonstrated for an existing power plant, which also served to provide general observations for similar situations. For the area studied, co-firing using 5% biomass substitution over a 20 year project life was found to be an economical option for renewable energy generation and reduced emissions. The expense of raw biomass had the largest impact on the life-cycle project cost. Torrefied pellets had the highest plant-gate cost, as compared to dried and pelleted biomass. However, the biomass pretreatment method was highly sensitive to the substitution amount and project life.
Image processing for the automatic alignment at the national ignition facility

The Automatic Alignment system in the National Ignition Facility is responsible for aligning 192 laser beams using camera sensor images. This paper reviews some of the image processing algorithms that generate the crucial alignment positions.
Acute hypotension related to sepsis in the obstetric patient.

SUMMARY While infections are a common complication of pregnancy, bacteremia and septic shock are relatively rare. Efforts to prevent serious bacterial infections are the most effective means of minimizing maternal and fetal morbidity. Screening for first trimester asymptomatic bacteriuria, prompt and thorough evaluation of suspected bacterial infections, and conscientious intrapartum assessment can have a significant impact in decreasing localized bacterial infections. The prompt recognition and institution of antimicrobial therapy in women suspected of having systemic infections is of paramount importance in reducing the incidence of serious maternal morbidity and mortality. Initial efforts in the treatment of sepsis should be directed at intravascular volume expansion in an effort to improve myocardial performance and tissue oxygenation. Inotropic agents occasionally may be necessary; however, they should be used with caution and only after adequate volume expansion has been provided. Adequate antimicrobial therapy requires treatment with multiagent therapy, providing coverage for the wide variety of genital tract pathogens.
Abstract 427: Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibition Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension and Endothelial Dysfunction

Angiotensin (Ang) II produces hypertension, endothelial dysfunction as well as vascular hypertrophy. mTOR is a key regulator of cell growth and protein synthesis, however the contribution of mTOR to hypertension and endothelial dysfunction produced by Ang II has not been previously elucidated. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that mTOR contributes to the hypertension and endothelial dysfunction produced by Ang II. C57Bl/6 mice were infused (via osmotic minipump) with vehicle or rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR; 2 mg/kg/d) for 10 days following which mice were then infused with Ang II (1000 ng/kg/min) plus vehicle or rapamycin for 14 subsequent days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured on Days -10, 0, and 14 using tail-cuff plethysmography and vascular function was examined in carotid arteries (in vitro) on Day 14. Ang II infusion produced a significant degree (P 0.05) on SBP (eg, SBP: 110±6 vs. 116±9 mmHg, on Day 0 and Day 14 of co-infusion of rapamycin plus Ang II, respectively). Rapamycin alone or vehicle infusion had no effect (P>0.05) on blood pressure during Day -10 through Day 0. In terms of endothelial responses, acetylcholine-induced relaxation was impaired (P
Interpersonal communications skills for dental hygiene students: a pilot training program.

PURPOSE The educational preparation of most oral health professionals specifically has not addressed professional-patient interaction skills. The purpose of this pilot research project was to determine if the Carkhuff model of communication skills training would improve the interpersonal communication skills of junior dental hygiene students. METHODS The pilot training program was designed to assess and improve interpersonal communication skills using an experimental pretest-posttest design. In Spring 1990, twenty-four baccalaureate dental hygiene students were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group completed twenty (20) hours of interpersonal skills training based on Carkhuff's Human Resources Development Model. Video demonstrations, patient simulations, and role modeling were used to enhance learning and retention. Data were collected using three instruments: 1. "Acting" patient video interviews were evaluated by three independent raters to assess change in skilled behaviors. 2. A self-report instrument and a scenario/response option questionnaire were completed to examine change in knowledge of communication skills. 3. A self-report emotional empathy score determined the effects of training on the dimension of empathy. These instruments were administered pretraining, post-training, and one year later to assess differences in behavior, knowledge, and empathy due to the training and maturation. Data analysis included a two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures, frequency distributions, means, standard deviations, and Chronbach's coefficient alpha. A Mann Whitney U-test also was calculated to examine the differences in the distribution of the change scores over time. RESULTS Post-train results demonstrated significant differences in knowledge but not in behavior. One-year retention scores showed a significant improvement (p<.01) in both knowledge and behavior by the experimental group when compared to the control group. Empathic responsiveness was not related to the training since both groups progressed modestly but at different rates over the 15-month project. CONCLUSIONS It is important that dental hygiene practitioners have the requisite interpersonal skills to facilitate the partnership between each patient and client in attaining and maintaining optimal oral health. The results of this pilot study support the recommendation that interpersonal communication skills training become an integral part of the dental hygiene curriculum. However, further studies on this aspect of education should be completed in order to verify the results of this study and provide further support for changes in the education and socialization process of dental hygiene professionals.
A Literature Review on Collaborative Problem Solving for College and Workforce Readiness

The literature and the employee and workforce surveys rank collaborative problem solving (CPS) among the top 5 most critical skills necessary for success in college and the workforce. This paper provides a review of the literature on CPS and related terms, including a discussion of their definitions, importance to higher education and workforce success, and considerations relevant to their assessment. The goal is to discuss progress on CPS to date and help generate future research on CPS in relation to educational and workforce success.
Dependence of equilibrium Griffith surface energy on crack speed in phase-field models for fracture coupled to elastodynamics

Phase-field models for crack propagation enable the simulation of complex crack patterns without complex and expensive tracking and remeshing as cracks grow. In the setting without inertia, the crack evolution is obtained from a variational energetic starting point, and leads to an equation for the order parameter coupled to elastostatics. Careful mathematical analysis has shown that this is consistent with the Griffith model for fracture. Recent efforts to include inertia in this formulation have replaced elastostatics by elastodynamics. In this brief note, we examine the elastodynamic augmentation, and find that it effectively causes the Griffith surface energy to depend on the velocity of the crack. That is, considering two identical specimens that are each fractured by a single crack that grows at different velocities in the two specimens, it is expected that the final equilibrium configurations are nominally identical; however, the phase-field fracture models augmented with elastodynamics achieve final configurations—in particular, the Griffiths surface energy contributions—that depend on the crack velocity. The physical reason is that the finite relaxation time for the stresses in the elastodynamic setting enables the cracked region to widen, beyond the value observed in the quasistatic setting. Once the crack widens, the “no-healing” condition prevents it from relaxing even after the specimen reaches equilibrium. In phase-field models, crack width in the reference configuration is unrelated to the physical opening of the crack but is instead a measure of Griffiths surface energy. This observation suggests that elastodynamic phase-field fracture models should not be used in settings where the crack velocity is large.
A novel curcumin derivative for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy

Neuropathy is a common complication of long-term diabetes. Proposed mechanisms of neuronal damage caused by diabetes that are downstream of hyperglycemia and/or loss of insulin signaling include ischemic hypoxia, inflammation and loss of neurotrophic support. The curcumin derivative J147 is a potent neurogenic and neuroprotective drug candidate initially developed for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions associated with aging that impacts many pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Here, we demonstrate efficacy of J147 in ameliorating multiple indices of neuropathy in the streptozotocin-induced mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Diabetes was determined by blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels and efficacy of J147 by behavioral, physiologic, biochemical, proteomic, and transcriptomic assays. Biological efficacy of systemic J147 treatment was confirmed by its capacity to decrease TNFα pathway activation and several other markers of neuroinflammation in the CNS. Chronic oral treatment with J147 protected the sciatic nerve from progressive diabetes-induced slowing of large myelinated fiber conduction velocity while single doses of J147 rapidly and transiently reversed established touch-evoked allodynia. Conduction slowing and allodynia are clinically relevant markers of early diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain, respectively. RNA expression profiling suggests that one of the pathways by which J147 imparts its protection against diabetic induced neuropathy may be through activation of the AMP kinase pathway. The diverse biological and therapeutic effects of J147 suggest it as an alternative to the polypharmaceutical approaches required to treat the multiple pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to diabetic neuropathy.
Management of Membranous Nephropathy in the PLA2R Era.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) occurs when circulating antibodies permeate the glomerular basement membrane and in the subepithelial space, form immune complexes with epitopes on podocyte membranes. One dominant antigen on podocytes is the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), accounting for
Mechanisms of Subthalamic Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Changes in neuronal firing in the subthalamic nucleus have emerged as one of the cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease. A central role for this region in Parkinson’s disease can be inferred from the success of subthalamic lesions in non-human primates (Bergman et al., 1990) and of subthalamic deep brain stimulation (Kumar et al., 1998) in alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Recordings in humans with Parkinson’s disease during stereotaxic surgery have revealed that subthalamic neurons have a markedly increased rate of firing with increased bursting (Hutchinson et al., 1998). The principal mechanism leading to this effect has been traditionally considered to be a decreased inhibitory input from the external pallidum (Albin et al., 1989). However, several experimental data suggest that this explanation is not sufficient for understanding how dopamine depletion leads to subthalamic dysfunction (Chesselet and Delfs, 1996; Hassani et al., 1996; Levy et al., 1997). It is likely that changes in the activity of other subthalamic inputs, coupled with reactive changes in subthalamic receptors and/or transduction pathways, need to be taken into account to understand this key feature of Parkinson’s disease. Increased activity of subthalamic neurons can be modeled in rats with a unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway (Kreiss et al., 1997; Hassani et al., 1996). Therefore, this model can be used to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms induced in the subthalamic nucleus by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Here we review recent studies conducted in our laboratory to examine the changes induced by chronic dopamine depletion in the subthalamic responses to local drug administration.
Thurneysen, Rudolf (1857–1940)

Rudolf Thurneysen (March 14, 1857–August 9, 1940) made significant contributions to the study of comparative Indo-European, especially Celtic and Italic. As one of the greatest scholars of Celtic studies, he did extensive work on early Irish literature and was a pioneer in the study of early Irish law.
Electrophysiology and Phototropism

Plants continually gather information about their environment. The conduction of bioelectrochemical excitation is a fundamental property of living organisms. Cells, tissues, and organs transmit electrochemical signals over short and long distances. The sensitive membranes in phloem cells facilitate the passage of electrical excitations in the form of action potentials. We have created a unique electrophysiological workstation that can effectively register this electrical activity in real time. It allows basic properties of electrical communication in green plants to be established. Our workstation has very high input impedance and a resolution of 0.01 ms. Excitation waves in higher plants are possible mechanisms for intercellular and intracellular communication in the presence of environmental changes. Ionic channels, as natural nanodevices, control the plasma membrane potential and the movement of ions across membranes regulating various biological functions. Some voltage-gated ion channels work as plasma membrane nanopotentiostats. Blockers of ionic channels, such as tetraethylammonium chloride and ZnCl2, stop the propagation of action potentials in soybean induced by blue light and inhibit phototropism in soybean plants. Voltage-gated ionic channels control the plasma membrane potential and the movement of ions across membranes regulating various biological functions. These biological nanodevices play vital roles in signal transduction in higher plants. Tetraethylammonium chloride and ZnCl2 block K+ and Ca2+ ionic channels. These blockers inhibit the propagation of action potentials induced by blue light, and inhibit phototropism in soybean plants. The irradiation of soybean plants at 450 ± 50 nm induces action potentials with duration times of about 1 ms and amplitudes around 60 mV. The role of the electrified interface of the plasma membrane in signal transduction is discussed.
Efficient Optimization of Large Wind Farms for Real-Time Control

Wind turbines in a wind farm typically operate individually to maximize their own performance regardless of the impact of aerodynamic interactions on neighboring turbines. Properly coordinating turbines, by operating some turbines suboptimally, within a wind farm has the potential to improve overall wind farm performance. Computing the optimal control strategy under varying atmospheric conditions can be computationally intense for large wind farms. As wind power farms increase in size and related models become more complex, computationally efficient algorithms are needed to perform real-time optimization and control. This study proposes a distributed optimization framework and computationally efficient wake steering wind farm control strategy that uses the yaw angle of a turbine to alter the behavior of a turbine wake and minimize turbine interactions. This computational efficiency allows the strategy to be feasible for real-time control.
Alternative Database Designs for the Distribution Common Information Model

The Distribution Common Information Model (CIM) offers a means for interoperable distribution system applications. Adoption has been slow in part because of the steep learning curve, and the mismatch between CIM's object-oriented schema and widely-used relational database schemas. We evaluated alternative database technologies, and tested a triple-store database with SPARQL queries on a set of IEEE distribution test feeders. These alternative queries were much simpler to design and use, so they should help lower one of the important barriers to CIM adoption. An open-source platform has been provided for other developers to work with CIM in this way. One goal is to more rapidly develop interoperable ADMS and DERMS applications. Another use is to convert feeder models between commercial CIM-compliant products and research software like GridLAB-D and OpenDSS.
A unit cell model for gas-liquid pseudo-slug flow in pipes

Abstract Pseudo-slug flow is a subset of intermittent flow which has not been properly understood and modeled. However, this flow pattern is widely encountered in oil and gas production and transportation, driving the needs for proper modeling efforts. A new pseudo-slug unit cell model is proposed in this paper. The proposed model modifies the existing slug unit cell model by accounting the continuous gas passage, slippage, and interfacial momentum exchange in the pseudo-slug body. Pseudo-slug characteristics (length, velocity, and body holdup) reported in literature are incorporated through ad-hoc closure relationships. These closures remain to be improved in the future. Overall, the proposed model produces more accurate pressure gradient and film holdup (HLF) predictions compared to two state-of-the-art models which generally treat pseudo-slug as slug flow (TUFFP Unified model and OLGAS 7.3.5®).
Design of an Interactive Simulation Environment for Arrays of Cardiac Cells

The electrical activity of cardiac cells is complex and their collective action difficult to visualize. Understanding what is happening, overall and cell by cell, requires detailed simulation. Here the design of such a simulation is defined by a list of required tasks. An example of the performance of such a simulation is presented, and its time to completion is measured.
Electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes are systemically transported and distributed upon esterification to complex lipids

Electrophilic nitro-fatty acids [NO2-FAs (fatty acid nitroalkenes)] showed beneficial signaling actions in preclinical studies and safety in phase 1 clinical trials. A detailed description of the pharmacokinetics (PK) of NO2-FAs is complicated by the capability of electrophilic fatty acids to alkylate thiols reversibly and become esterified in various complex lipids, and the instability of the nitroalkene moiety during enzymatic and base hydrolysis. Herein, we report the mechanism and kinetics of absorption, metabolism, and distribution of the endogenously detectable and prototypical NO2-FA, 10-nitro-oleic acid (10-NO2-OA), in dogs after oral administration. Supported by HPLC-high-resolution-MS/MS analysis of synthetic and plasma-derived 10-NO2-OA-containing triacylglycerides (TAGs), we show that a key mechanism of NO2-FA distribution is an initial esterification into complex lipids. Quantitative analysis of plasma free and esterified lipid fractions confirmed time-dependent preferential incorporation of 10-NO2-OA into TAGs when compared with its principal metabolite, 10-nitro-stearic acid. Finally, new isomers of 10-NO2-OA were identified in vivo, and their electrophilic reactivity and metabolism characterized. Overall, we reveal that NO2-FAs display unique PK, with the principal mechanism of tissue distribution involving complex lipid esterification, which serves to shield the electrophilic character of this mediator from plasma and hepatic inactivation and thus permits efficient distribution to target organs.
Compound brushing

This paper proposes a conceptual model called compound brushing for modeling the brushing techniques used in dynamic data visualization. In this approach brushing techniques are modeled as higraphs with five types of basic entities: data, selection, device, renderer, and transformation. Using this model, a flexible visual programming tool is designed not only to configure/control various common types of brushing techniques currently used in dynamic data visualization, but also to investigate new brushing techniques.
Narratives of democracy in post-war France:

Loyalists of France’s Third Republic presented the regime as heir to France’s revolutionary tradition and as such the bearer of a set of undying principles: liberty, equality, and fraternity. This ...