cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of naltrexone on plasma corticosterone in opiate-naive rats: A central action

Abstract We have previously reported the elevation of plasma corticosterone by i.v. naloxone HC1 (NX). This work has been extended, with the current study, showing a similar effect with naltrexone HC1 (NTX) and that this effect is due to a central action of the drug. Using opiate-naive male rats with chronic i.v. catheters, stereotaxically placed intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula guides where necessary, and sound-attenuated one-way vision boxes, serial blood samples were obtained from conscious unrestrained animals. NTX (5.0, 10.0 or 20.0 mg/kg i.v.) resulted in a significant increase in plasma corticosterone 15 min following injection. I.V. administration of the methylbromide salts of each drug, which do not cross the blood-brain barrier, did not produce this same elevation in hormone level at several doses (0.4, 1.0, 2.0, 10.0 or 20.0 mg/kg). In contrast, ICV injection of either of the quaternary salts (50 μg/10 μl/animal) resulted in an immediate and sustained rise in plasma corticosterone. Results obtained demonstrate that NTX has a similar effect on plasma corticosterone as NX at the appropriate doses and that the effect is a central rather than a peripheral one.
Silicon Microring-Resonator-Based Modulation and Demodulation of DQPSK Signals

We propose ultra-small DQPSK modulators and demodulators based on silicon microring-resonators at 20 Gb/s, which may require chip size of only tens of μm2 . BER of <;10-9; is achieved in back-to-back case.
Performance of an adiabatic cross-flow liquid-desiccant absorber inside a refrigerated warehouse

Liquid-desiccant systems have been extensively studied as a way of reducing the latent load on air conditioning systems. Most of the studies have targeted the removal of moisture from air at ambient conditions. The literature about the use of liquid desiccants in low temperature applications is scarce. In this study, a small-scale liquid-desiccant absorber is installed inside a commercial refrigerated warehouse. Its performance under realistic operating conditions inside a pre-cooling room is analyzed. The results show that the dew point temperature of the air downstream of the absorber is comparable to the evaporator surface temperature suggesting the potential to delay the formation of ice on the cooling coil. An internal heat exchanger is used to lower the temperature of the inlet liquid-desiccant flow to the absorber and the regeneration process is performed using only ambient air. The analysis of the reduction in water and energy consumption for a scaled-up system is also performed.
Engineers and scientists in government service

The problems of civil-service operation, with particular emphasis on the hiring and rating of technical talent, are considered in this article which is based on the author's experience in the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
Deficiency of deoxycorticosterone-binding protein in the hypothalamus of rats resistant to deoxycorticosterone-induced hypertension.

The mechanism of increased salt appetite and subsequent development of hypertension in response to deoxycorticosterone (DOC) administration in Sprague-Dawley rats is unclear. Recently it has been shown that the Long-Evans rat is resistant to DOC. A binding protein to DOC in brain cytosol is described with dissociation constant of 1.70–2.99 × 10−l0M, and relative affinity for various steroids in the following sequence: deoxycorticosterone > corticosterone > aldosterone > progesterone > dexamethasone > testosterone. Brain distribution of this binding protein in Sprague-Dawley rats and Long-Evans rats was compared. Only in the hypothalamus was there a significant deficiency in the deoxycorticosterone-3H binding protein of the Long-Evans rat. Thus presence of this binding protein may be responsible for the ability of deoxycorticosterone to affect behavior by increasing salt appetite which may subsequently lead to hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats. (Endocrinology 94:1541, 1974)
The synthesis of 2-chloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole and (certain related derivatives

The synthesis of 2-chloro-1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (3b) has been accomplished by a condensation of 1-trimethylsilyl-2-chloro-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (1) with 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-D-ribofuranosyl bromide (2) followed by subsequent deacetylation. Nucleophilic displacement of the 2-chloro group from 3b has furnished several interesting 2-substituted-1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazoles. 1-(β-D-Ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (5) and 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole-2-thione (4) were prepared from 3b. Alkylation of 4 furnished certain 2-alkylthio-1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dirnethylbenzimidazoles and oxidation of 4 with alkaline hydrogen peroxide produced 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole-2-one D The assignment of anomeric configuration for all nucleosides reported is discussed.
Patient and family attitudes toward schizophrenia treatment

Patient and family member attitudes toward illness, psychopharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments in schizophrenia, as well as their attitudes toward psychiatric research are reviewed here. The authors’ recent work investigating patient and family member attitudes toward illness, medication, and a new method of receiving medication via surgical implants is also presented. The authors highlight the importance of understanding patient attitudes so that individual treatment plans and new treatments for schizophrenia can be facilitated. The important contribution of family members in caring for their loved ones is also emphasized. Patient participation in biomedical research is also discussed in the context of guiding the treatment of schizophrenia.
The effect of growth hormone on muscle potassium and on extracellular fluid.

introduction ALTHOUGH the nitrogen-retaining effect of growth hormone (GH) has been known for some time, it has only recently been demonstrated (Glafkides and Bennett, 1951) that potassium is also retained during GH administration. This finding is not unexpected since it is generally agreed that both potassium and nitrogen are retained simultaneously by growing tissues. A more surprising finding by these authors was the fact that in balance experiments sodium excretion is also reduced by GH, as it had not previously been recognized that GH had any effect upon sodium metabolism. As far as the authors are aware there are no data available concerning the effects of hypophysectomy or GH upon the muscle sodium, muscle potassium, or extracellular fluid. In view of the well known effects of target organ hormones, such as testosterone and adreno-cortical steroids, upon electrolyte metabolism, it would be surprising if hypophysectomy did not have some effect.
Effect of Adjuvant Drugs on the Action of Local Anesthetics in Isolated Rat Sciatic Nerves

Background and Objectives There is increasing clinical use of adjuvant drugs to prolong the duration of local anesthetic–induced block of peripheral nerves. However, the mechanistic understanding regarding drug interactions between these compounds in the periphery is quite limited. Accordingly, we undertook this study to determine whether selected adjuvant drugs are efficacious in blocking action potential propagation in peripheral nerves at concentrations used clinically and whether these drugs influence peripheral nerve block produced by local anesthetics. Methods Isolated rat sciatic nerves were used to assess (1) the efficacy of buprenorphine, clonidine, dexamethasone, or midazolam, alone and in combination, on action potential propagation; and (2) their influence on the blocking actions of local anesthetics ropivacaine and lidocaine. Compound action potentials (CAPs) from A- and C-fibers were studied before and after drug application. Results At estimated clinical concentrations, neither buprenorphine nor dexamethasone affected either A- or C-waves of the CAP. Clonidine produced a small but significant attenuation of the C-wave amplitude. Midazolam attenuated both A- and C-wave amplitudes, but with greater potency on the C-wave. The combination of clonidine, buprenorphine, and dexamethasone had no influence on the potency or duration of local anesthetic– or midazolam-induced block of A- and C-waves of the CAP. Conclusions These results suggest that the reported clinical efficacy of clonidine, buprenorphine, and dexamethasone influences the actions of local anesthetics via indirect mechanisms. Further identification of these indirect mechanisms may enable the development of novel approaches to achieve longer-duration, modality-specific peripheral nerve block.
A Mixed-Model Approach to Studying Treatment Outcomes

Abstract The purpose of this study was to utilize a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology to explore treatment outcomes of stuttering treatment. The findings of the study suggested that all four participants made measurable clinical gains, as evidenced by positive changes in speech fluency, stuttering severity, and communication attitudes. The participants’ perceptions of their clinical experiences were explored using semi-structured interviews conducted at the beginning of therapy, the middle of treatment, and at the end of therapy. Results of the qualitative data analysis suggested that the participants reported improvement in their attitudes, feelings, and beliefs about stuttering. In addition, the participants reported an increased sense of control of their stuttering as a result of treatment. Also, the participants reported a belief that therapy was a process still to be worked on following treatment. Finally, participants shared reports of the important impact the clinic had on their lives....
Characterization of limestone reacted with acid-mine drainage in a pulsed limestone bed treatment system at the Friendship Hill National Historical Site, Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract Armoring of limestone is a common cause of failure in limestone-based acid-mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems. Limestone is the least expensive material available for acid neutralization, but is not typically recommended for highly acidic, Fe-rich waters due to armoring with Fe(III) oxyhydroxide coatings. A new AMD treatment technology that uses CO2 in a pulsed limestone bed reactor minimizes armor formation and enhances limestone reaction with AMD. Limestone was characterized before and after treatment with constant flow and with the new pulsed limestone bed process using AMD from an inactive coal mine in Pennsylvania (pH=2.9, Fe =150 mg/l, acidity =1000 mg/l CaCO3). In constant flow experiments, limestone is completely armored with reddish-colored ochre within 48 h of contact in a fluidized bed reactor. Effluent pH initially increased from the inflow pH of 2.9 to over 7, but then decreased to 6 during operation. Limestone removed from a pulsed bed pilot plant is a mixture of unarmored, rounded and etched limestone grains and partially armored limestone and refractory mineral grains (dolomite, pyrite). The ∼30% of the residual grains in the pulsed flow reactor that are armored have thicker (50- to 100-μm), more aluminous coatings and lack the gypsum rind that develops in the constant flow experiment. Aluminium-rich zones developed in the interior parts of armor rims in both the constant flow and pulsed limestone bed experiments in response to pH changes at the solid/solution interface.
Defining core habitat of local populations of the gray treefrog ( Hyla versicolor ) based on choice of oviposition site

Concern over amphibian population declines and loss of terrestrial and aquatic habitat have emphasized the need to define habitat requirements for each stage in a species' life history. The realization that pond-breeding amphibians spend most of their lives in the terrestrial environment suggests the need to protect terrestrial as well as aquatic habitat. Many studies on amphibian populations have focused on emigration from breeding sites to define habitat use; however these studies do not typically elucidate terrestrial activities of adults within the breeding season. We measured colonization rates of artificial pools by gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) at multiple distances from natural breeding ponds. We found a non-random distribution of egg deposition among distances, with 95% of eggs deposited within 15 m of the breeding pond. Additionally, we found that the time to first colonization of artificial pools increased with respect to distance. Our results indicate that adult gray treefrogs may travel up to 200 m within a breeding season, and that multiple breeding ponds may be considered part of a single population. We suggest that a minimum core terrestrial habitat of 60 m surrounding breeding sites is appropriate for protection of local populations of gray treefrogs.
The Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on Market Efficiency: Evidence from Mergers and Acquisitions Activity

One of the main goals of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) is to ensure a greater flow of timely and accurate accounting information to investors. While there has been a lot of criticism of SOX, mostly with regard to compliance costs, very little light has been shed on the impact of SOX on market efficiency. The type of funding (stock vs. cash) used in mergers has been shown to be highly correlated with the level of firm mispricing. We thus use merger data gathered in the pre and post-SOX years to reveal a significant shift from stock type mergers (popular during periods of high misvaluation) to cash type mergers. We use logistic regression analysis to show that the implementation of SOX, resulted in greater reliability of market information, lower levels of mispricing and hence a more efficient market. In addition, our results also provide evidence that the SOX imposed compliance costs are not as burdensome as critics claim.
WiMAX BS Transceiver Based on Cell Broadband Engine

Wordwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)is a technology for broadband wireless access (BWA). It has been approved by ITU as the fourth standard of 3G. In this paper, we propose a base station (BS) transceiver solution for WiMAX orthogonal-frequency division-multiplexing access (OFDMA) mode. Our aim is to provide a reference design of WiMAX OFDMA physical layer (PHY), and moreover to verify the possibility of wireless communication on general IT architecture with multicore. The solution focus on baseband processing and is implemented on Cell Broadband Engine (BE), which is a multicore processor jointly developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba for high performance computing. The real bit-error-rate (BER) test indicates that our solution can achieve satisfied BER performance under most situations.
High‐pressure FTIR studies of gas–polymer interactions

FTIR spectra of cellulose acetate (CA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 35°C have been obtained as a function of carbon dioxide pressure at pressures up to 55 atm in a specially designed FTIR cell. Results indicate that the carbonyl stretching vibrations for CA (1752 cm−1) and PMMA (1731 cm−1) shift to slightly higher wave numbers with increasing pressure. The small shifts suggest dipole–dipole interactions between CO2 and the carbonyl group. In both cases, the shift appears to be linear with pressure. This linearity is interpreted in the framework of the dualmode theory to suggest that gas–polymer interactions occur in the Henry's law dissolution mode.
Simulating the impact of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides on non-target wildlife in irrigated crops

Abstract We present a simulation model for risk assessment of the impact of insecticide inhibitors of cholinesterase (ChE) applied in irrigated agricultural fields on non-target wildlife. The model, which we developed as a compartment model based on difference equations (Δ t = 1 h), consists of six submodels describing the dynamics of (1) insecticide application, (2) insecticide movement into floodable soil, (3) irrigation and rain, (4) insecticide dissolution in water, (5) foraging and insecticide intake from water, and (6) ChE inhibition and recovery. To demonstrate application of the model, we simulated historical and “worst-case” scenarios of the impact of ChE-inhibiting insecticides on white-winged doves ( Zenaida asiatica ) inhabiting natural brushland adjacent to cotton and sugarcane fields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA. Only when a rain event occurred just after insecticide application did predicted levels of ChE inhibition surpass the diagnostic level of 20% exposure. The present model should aid in assessing the effect of ChE-inhibiting insecticides on ChE activity of different species that drink contaminated water from irrigated agricultural fields, and in identifying specific situations in which the juxtaposition of environmental conditions and management schemes could result in a high risk to non-target wildlife.
Calibration of Quadpolarization SAR Data Using Backscatter Statistics

A new technique is described for calibration of complex multipolarization SAR imagery. Scatterer reciprocity and lack of correlation between like- and cross-polarized radar echoes for natural targets are used to remove cross-polarized contamination in the radar data channels without the use of known ground targets. If known targets are available, all data channels can be calibrated relative to one another and absolutely as well. The method is verified with airborne SAR data.
Reciprocal collision avoidance for robots with linear dynamics using LQR-Obstacles

In this paper we present a formal approach to reciprocal collision avoidance for multiple mobile robots sharing a common 2-D or 3-D workspace whose dynamics are subject to linear differential constraints. Our approach defines a protocol for robots to select their control input independently (i.e. without coordination with other robots) while guaranteeing collision-free motion for all robots, assuming the robots can perfectly observe each other's state. To this end, we extend the concept of LQR-Obstacles (which is a generalization of Velocity Obstacles to robots with dynamics for collision avoidance among static obstacles) for reciprocal collision avoidance among multiple robots. We implemented and tested our approach in 3-D simulation environments for reciprocal collision avoidance of quadrotor helicopters, which have complex dynamics in 16-D state spaces. Our results show that our approach enables collision avoidance among over a hundred quadrotors in tight workspaces at real-time computation rates.
Behavioral changes in developing mice after prenatal exposure to paroxetine (Paxil)

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct in a randomized, placebo-controlled manner behavioral testing on mice offspring exposed prenatally to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine. Study Design: Forty-one CD-1 mice consumed paroxetine (Paxil, n = 21) or a placebo (n = 20) for 2 weeks before conception and throughout gestation. The daily dose of paroxetine used, 30 mg · kg–1 · d–1, is known to achieve concentrations in the rat serum equivalent to the upper therapeutic level in human beings and to achieve concentrations in the fetal rat brain equivalent to those in the adult mouse. Behavioral testing consisted of multiple tasks during early development, followed by motor, anxiety, reproduction, and depression tasks in the juvenile and adult periods. Results: Offspring in the 2 treatment groups showed no statistical differences in many early development tasks (geotaxis, homing, social play) or in locomotor and exploratory activities throughout development. Performances during a depression task (forced swim), anxiety tasks (elevated plus maze as juveniles and adults), and reproduction revealed no treatment differences. Offspring exposed prenatally to paroxetine had a 15% to 25% increase in separation vocalization (P < .04) and a significant increase in male aggression during cage changing (P < .03). Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to a clinically relevant dose of paroxetine in mice produced no major behavioral alterations but did heighten performance on select anxiety testing in infant offspring and on aggressive behavior in adult males. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1166-71.)
Direct and indirect effects of education on health

In virtually every study by economists considering the determinants of an individual's health, years of schooling has stood out as an important regressor. Yet there is little agreement among economists concerning the mechanisms through which schooling affects health. This study is a first attempt to test for the direct and indirect effects of education on an individual's health. Education is assumed to enhance health directly by, for example, allowing wise use of medical care and indirectly through encouraging healthy habits and caution in the choice of occupation. Evidence from two national surveys indicates that the indirect dominate the direct effects.
Modeling structurally variable regions in homologous proteins with rosetta

A major limitation of current comparative modeling methods is the accuracy with which regions that are structurally divergent from homologues of known structure can be modeled. Because structural differences between homologous proteins are responsible for variations in protein function and specificity, the ability to model these differences has important functional consequences. Although existing methods can provide reasonably accurate models of short loop regions, modeling longer structurally divergent regions is an unsolved problem. Here we describe a method based on the de novo structure prediction algorithm, Rosetta, for predicting conformations of structurally divergent regions in comparative models. Initial conformations for short segments are selected from the protein structure database, whereas longer segments are built up by using three- and nine-residue fragments drawn from the database and combined by using the Rosetta algorithm. A gap closure term in the potential in combination with modified Newton's method for gradient descent minimization is used to ensure continuity of the peptide backbone. Conformations of variable regions are refined in the context of a fixed template structure using Monte Carlo minimization together with rapid repacking of side-chains to iteratively optimize backbone torsion angles and side-chain rotamers. For short loops, mean accuracies of 0.69, 1.45, and 3.62 A are obtained for 4, 8, and 12 residue loops, respectively. In addition, the method can provide reasonable models of conformations of longer protein segments: predicted conformations of 3A root-mean-square deviation or better were obtained for 5 of 10 examples of segments ranging from 13 to 34 residues. In combination with a sequence alignment algorithm, this method generates complete, ungapped models of protein structures, including regions both similar to and divergent from a homologous structure. This combined method was used to make predictions for 28 protein domains in the Critical Assessment of Protein Structure 4 (CASP 4) and 59 domains in CASP 5, where the method ranked highly among comparative modeling and fold recognition methods. Model accuracy in these blind predictions is dominated by alignment quality, but in the context of accurate alignments, long protein segments can be accurately modeled. Notably, the method correctly predicted the local structure of a 39-residue insertion into a TIM barrel in CASP 5 target T0186.
Decision Aid to Technologically Enhance Shared decision making (DATES): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Clinicians face challenges in promoting colorectal cancer screening due to multiple competing demands. A decision aid that clarifies patient preferences and improves decision quality can aid shared decision making and be effective at increasing colorectal cancer screening rates. However, exactly how such an intervention improves shared decision making is unclear. This study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, seeks to provide detailed understanding of how an interactive decision aid that elicits patient’s risks and preferences impacts patient-clinician communication and shared decision making, and ultimately colorectal cancer screening adherence.
Plant-soil feedbacks differ in intact and tornado-damaged areas of the southern Appalachian mountains, USA

Plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) greatly influence forest community structure and diversity. However, it remains unknown how feedbacks change after disturbances. Biotic and abiotic changes reduce soil microbial diversity after a severe disturbance. These post-disturbance changes may create neutral PSF. We examine a) differences in performance of three seedlings of southern Appalachian tree species in same-species and different-species soil and b) whether the relationship differs between intact forest and wind-damaged patches, as well as c) test mycorrhizal colonization rate as a potential mechanism. In April 2011, a severe (EF-3) tornado damaged several thousand hectares of mature secondary mixed pine-oak forest in northeast Georgia, USA. In 2012, we collected soil from the base of mature trees in intact forest and in tornado-damaged patches. Three tree species seedlings were grown in same-species and different-species soil for three months. Height, biomass, and mycorrhizal colonization were compared. Results suggest that PSF are neutral to negative in intact forest. For Nyssa sylvatica Marsh., PSF were less negative in wind-damaged soils. Quercus alba L. exhibited the opposite response. Pinus strobus L. PSF did not differ with wind damage. We found that PSF may be changed by severe wind disturbance, but the nature of the changes depends upon species identity. Multiple soil mechanisms aside from mycorrhizal colonization likely drive disturbance-related PSF changes.
Abstract 1: Oct4 is Re-activated in Smooth Muscle Cells through KLF4/Hif1α and Hydroxymethylation Mechanisms and Plays a Critical Role in Atherogenesis

The pluripotency factor Oct4 is a protein that regulates embryonic stem cell (ESC) totipotency and is the only gene thought to be indispensable for production of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Although there is evidence that Oct4 may be expressed in non-ESC, this is controversial and as yet there is no direct evidence that Oct4 plays a functional role within somatic cells. We demonstrate that Oct4 is markedly induced in cells within atherosclerotic lesions from ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet and within human coronary artery atherosclerotic lesions. We show that smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific conditional knockout (KO) of Oct4 within Western diet-fed ApoE-/- mice resulted in increased atherosclerotic lesion size and other changes consistent with decreased plaque stability. Moreover, using a novel SMC lineage tracing mouse developed in our lab, we also show that lesions from SMC-specific conditional Oct4 KO mice contained far fewer de-differentiated (Acta2-) SMCs likely as the result of impaired SMC de-differentiation and migration from the media into the intima and not to altered proliferation or apoptosis. Further mechanistic studies using in vitro and in vivo Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assays, glycosylation-coupled methylation sensitive qPCR and hMeDIP show that activation of Oct4 within SMCs and within atherosclerotic lsions was associated with hydroxymethylation of the Oct4 promoter and was Klf4- and Hif1α-dependent. In addition, using in situ hybridization/proximity ligation (ISH-PLA) assay developed in our lab we showed hydroxymethylation of the Oct4 promoter within individual SMC-derived cells in atherosclerotic lesions of our SMC-lineage tracing ApoE-/- mice. These results are the first to show that Oct4 plays a direct functional role in regulating phenotypic transitions in somatic cells, and provide molecular mechanisms required for Oct4 re-activation.
Drug Shortages: Causes and Cautions

Drug shortages have increasingly been a problem for pharmacists and clinicians over the past decade. Clinicians need to be aware of the various causes of drug shortages and the issues that may arise as a result, particularly as they relate to medication safety. Numerous resources and strategies are available to mitigate the effects of drug shortages, and clinicians should work with their health care team and the patient to determine the best option when faced with a drug shortage that affects patient care.
Growth and Characterization of Ternary and Quaternary Compounds of Iny(AlxGa1-x)1-yAs on (100) InP

The acquisition of RHEED oscillation information on (100) GaAs substrates is described for use in the growth of “lattice-matched” Iny(A1xGa1-x)1-yAs layers on (100) InP substrates with 0.52 ≤ y ≤0.53 and 0.00 ≤ x ≤1.00. The observed frequency of the RHEED oscillations on GaAs is the same as on InP, however, the measured lattice parameters of the grown layers are less than that of InP. The x-ray diffraction images show that the misfit dislocations perpendicular to the primary flats of 2″ round (100) InP wafers are denser than the parallel ones. Photoluminescence (at 10K) and photoreflectance (at 300K) measurements on a composite layer structure of x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 clearly show six distinct peaks with narrow FWHMs of less than 20 meV. The measured bandgaps increase linearly with the A1 content.
Flexible, stretchable electroadhesives based on acrylic elastomers

Controllable adhesion is a requirement for a wide variety of applications including robotic manipulation, as well as locomotion including walking, crawling and perching. Electroadhesives have several advantages such as reversibility, low power consumption and controllability based on applied voltage. Most demonstrations of electroadhesive devices rely on fairly rigid materials, which cannot be stretched reversibly, as needed in some applications. We have developed a fast and reliable method for building soft, stretchable electroadhesive pads based on acrylic elastomers and electrodes made of carbon nanotubes. The devices produced were tested pre-deformation and in a stretched configuration. The adhesive force was determined to be in the 0.1 – 3.0 N/cm2 range, depending on the adhering surface. The electroadhesive devices were integrated with pre-stretched dielectric elastomer actuators to create a device in which the adhesion force could be tuned by changes in either the applied voltage or total area.
Using a Hands-On Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition Activity To Teach Catalysis Concepts to K–12 Students

A versatile and transportable laboratory apparatus was developed for middle and high school (6th–12th grade) students as part of a hands-on outreach activity to estimate catalytic rates of hydrogen peroxide decomposition from oxygen evolution rates measured by using a volumetric displacement method. The apparatus was constructed with inherent safety features and is compatible with different types of catalysts, catalyst and peroxide concentrations, and reaction temperatures to enable the design of various experiments. The hands-on outreach activity was created with the aim of building scientific proficiency and stimulating interest in STEM fields among students with limited chemistry background. This activity is designed to be completed in short times (45 min) by students in small groups (3–5 students), where each group measures reaction rates at various activity stations and then gathers as a larger group (∼20 total) to discuss their observations and results and to assess their scientific understanding. A...
A Genetic Programming Approach to Cost-Sensitive Control in Wireless Sensor Networks

In some wireless sensor network applications, multiple sensors can be used to measure the same variable, while differing in their sampling cost, for example in their power requirements. This raises the problem of automatically controlling heterogeneous sensor suites in wireless sensor network applications, in a manner that balances cost and accuracy of sensors. We apply genetic programming (GP) to this problem, considering two basic approaches. First, we construct a hierarchy of models, where increasing levels in the hierarchy use sensors of increasing cost. If a model that polls low cost sensors exhibits too much prediction uncertainty, the burden of prediction is automatically transferred to a higher level model using more expensive sensors. Second, we train models with cost as an optimization objective, called non-hierarchical models, that use conditionals to automatically select sensors based on both cost and accuracy. We compare these approaches in a setting where the available budget for sampling is considered to remain constant, and in a setting where the system is sensitive to a fluctuating budget, for example available battery power. We show that in both settings, for increasingly challenging datasets, hierarchical models makes predictions with equivalent accuracy yet lower cost than non-hierarchical models.
1-Perfect Codes Over Dual-Cubes vis-à-vis Hamming Codes Over Hypercubes

A 1-perfect code of a graph $G$ is a set $C\subseteq V(G)$ such that the 1-balls centered at the vertices in $C$ constitute a partition of $V(G)$ . In this paper, we consider the dual-cube $DQ_{m}$ that is a connected $(m+1)$ -regular spanning subgraph of the hypercube $Q_{2m+1_{_{}}}$ , and show that it admits a 1-perfect code if and only if $m=2^{k}-2$ , $k\ge 2$ . The result closely parallels the existence of Hamming codes over the hypercube. The algorithm for that purpose employs a scheme by Jha and Slutzki for a vertex partition of $Q_{m+1}$ into Hamming codes using a Latin square, and carefully allocates those codes among various $m$ -cubes in $DQ_{m}$ . The result leads to tight bounds on domination numbers of the dual-cube and the exchanged hypercube.
Endovascular Treatment of Vasospasm

Angioplasty has become an important tool in the treatment of symptomatic vasospasm. The recent advent of intra-arterial papaverine infusion for the treatment of vasospasm serves to complement angioplasty. The use of these techniques in the treatment of symptomatic vasospasm is discussed.
Environmental stressors, urban design and planning: implications for human behaviour and health

AbstractUrban and neighbourhood design can moderate the effects of building design on human behaviour and well-being, and vice versa. The interdependence between built environments across scales is critical yet is often poorly understood. This paper overviews several psychological processes linking human behaviour to environmental design, both inside and out. In particular, the paper focuses on two environmental stressors ‒ crowding and noise ‒ in four daily indoor environments: residential, school, work and commuting. These two stressors are often linked and can adversely impact people if improperly designed. Moreover, urban and neighbourhood design can mitigate such negative effects. Key suggestions for practitioners and policy makers include proper acoustic design, easily accessible semi-public or outdoor places and walkable streets. Some illustrations of the nexus between neighbourhood and building design show that the tendency of research traditions in environment and behaviour to focus on one scale ...
Amputation and Prosthesis

Amputation of a limb is a drastic therapy in cattle and should be considered as a last resort in the treatment of limb injuries. Even though the surgical technique for amputation is simple, the daily limb management, prothesis manufacture, and adaptation of the animal to the prosthesis are difficult and time consuming. Dedication of the owner to the aftercare required for the rest of the animal's life is extremely important. Amputation of a limb with prosthesis application is a method of saving valuable animals for breeding purposes or animals with sentimental value. The author's experience with partial foreleg amputation and prosthesis application in three heifers is reviewed.
Robust Statistical Parity-Time Symmetric Lasers in Fiber Cavities

We demonstrate that many features of PT-symmetric lasing, such as the lower predicted lasing threshold and PT-symmetric phase transition, are sufficiently robust to be observed in a long fiber cavity (>1 km) despite random phase fluctuations.
Lifetime Economic Burden of Rape Among U.S. Adults

Introduction This study estimated the per-victim U.S. lifetime cost of rape. Methods Data from previous studies was combined with current administrative data and 2011 U.S. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey data in a mathematical model. Rape was defined as any lifetime completed or attempted forced penetration or alcohol- or drug-facilitated penetration, measured among adults not currently institutionalized. Costs included attributable impaired health, lost productivity, and criminal justice costs from the societal perspective. Average age at first rape was assumed to be 18 years. Future costs were discounted by 3%. The main outcome measures were the average per-victim (female and male) and total population discounted lifetime cost of rape. Secondary outcome measures were marginal outcome probabilities among victims (e.g., suicide attempt) and perpetrators (e.g., incarceration) and associated costs. Analysis was conducted in 2016. Results The estimated lifetime cost of rape was $122,461 per victim, or a population economic burden of nearly $3.1 trillion (2014 U.S. dollars) over victims' lifetimes, based on data indicating >25 million U.S. adults have been raped. This estimate included $1.2 trillion (39% of total) in medical costs; $1.6 trillion (52%) in lost work productivity among victims and perpetrators; $234 billion (8%) in criminal justice activities; and $36 billion (1%) in other costs, including victim property loss or damage. Government sources pay an estimated $1 trillion (32%) of the lifetime economic burden. Conclusions Preventing sexual violence could avoid substantial costs for victims, perpetrators, healthcare payers, employers, and government payers. These findings can inform evaluations of interventions to reduce sexual violence.
At the end of synthesis: narrowing program candidates

Program synthesis is succeeding in supporting the generation of programs within increasingly complex domains. The use of weaker specifications, such as those consisting of input/output examples or test cases, has helped to fuel the success of program synthesis by lowering adoption barriers. Yet, employing weaker specifications has the side effect of generating a potentially large number of candidate programs. This was not a problem for simpler and smaller program domains, but it is becoming evident that differentiating among many synthesized programs is a challenge that needs addressing. We sketch an approach to mitigate this challenge, requiring less effort from the user while automatically identifying inputs that can differentiate clusters of synthesized programs. The approach has the potential to more cost-effectively narrow the space of candidate programs in a range of synthesis applications.
Abstract 633: Induction of ADCC resistance profoundly alters tumor cell phenotype and stress response

Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is one mechanism by which monoclonal antibodies (mAb) work. In addition to ADCC, mAbs act on their target by causing signal perturbation and complement activation. Cetuximab is an EGFR targeting mAb used to target EGFR overexpression and amplification seen in many types of cancer. While mechanisms of resistance to EGFR targeted therapy have been extensively studied, resistance to ADCC has not, mainly due to the lack of ADCC-resistance models for study. To address this limitation we established a model system for anti-EGFR ADCC using NK92-CD16V effector cells, cetuximab, and the high EGFR-expressing squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431. Continuous A431 exposure to ADCC yielded an ADCC resistant phenotype (ADCCr) that exhibits a stable phenotype in the absence of continued ADCC selection. We have explored: ADCCr cell gene expression profile, NK cell activation, metabolic signature and subsequent RPPA analysis to further understand the causes and properties associated with this resistance. This ADCCr cell line has a distinctive transcriptional profile highlighted by overexpression of histone- and interferon-related genes, reduced sensitivity to antimetabolites, DNA-intercalating and ABC transporter-regulated cytotoxic agents. Intense ADCC selection causes epigenetic modification and stress response characterized by the transcriptional overexpression of PCAF (KAT2B), which initiates histone hyper-acetylation and epigenetic changes, inducing DNA replication arrest, DNA damage and stress responses that activate checkpoint signaling in the cell cycle. The pharmacologic inhibition of KAT2B reverses the ADCCr phenotype. Immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 do not modulate ADCC in this model system. These results shed light on new mechanisms of ADCC resistance and inform future combinatorial treatments for mAb therapy. We are exploring the possibility that stress response mechanisms are responsible for resistance for diverse selection pressures imposed by immune synapse-mediated cytotoxic attack. Citation Format: Dalal S. Aldeghaither, Joseph C. Murray, Sarah M. Roth, Elana J. Fertig, Shaojun Tang, Sandra A. Jablonski, Louis M. Weiner. Induction of ADCC resistance profoundly alters tumor cell phenotype and stress response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 633. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-633
Rights, Reasonableness, and Environmental Harms.

Resnik and colleagues argue that (1) influential theories of justice like utilitarianism and libertarianism fail to provide specific guidance on issues pertaining to the distribution of environment...
Modeling and Measuring Scale Attraction Effects: An Application to Charitable Donations

Charities seeking donations typically employ an “appeals scale,” a roster of suggested amounts presented to potential donors, along with an “Other” category. Yet little is known about how the amounts comprising appeals scales affect whether a donation is made and, if so, jointly exert “pull” on its magnitude. Availing of multi-year panel data and a field experiment, we develop a model accounting for individual level donation incidence, amount, and appeals scale attraction effects. The model incorporates heterogeneity across donors in both upward and downward scale point attraction, as well as in donation patterns (e.g., seasonality), and accommodates multiple operationalizations of internal and external referents to summarize the effects of prior donation history and scale points, respectively. Overall results suggest that scale points do exert substantial attraction effects; that these vary markedly across donors; that they are in fact referent-based effects; that donors are more easily persuaded to give less than more; and that, while all scale points exert pull, influence wanes with distance. The modeling framework applies not only in donation contexts, but whenever an ordered categorical scale is used to collect data regarding an underlying latent response.
Can Reducing Income Inequality Decouple Economic Growth and CO2 Emissions

In the past two decades, income inequality has steadily increased in most developed nations. During this same period, the growth rate of CO2 emissions has declined in many developed nations, cumula...
Religion and the Extension of Trust

The ability to cooperate with others, both individuals and institutions, is an essential social function built on trust. We explore the competing religious logics that shape the radius of trust, placing emphasis on communicated values in the social context of the congregation. Using cross-sectional data from American adults, we show the effects of religious beliefs that augment risk, values that demand outreach, and practices that capture experience with collective action. With a survey experiment, we show that priming different religious styles (inclusive of beliefs, values, and outreach) shifts the propensity to trust government and the social other in expected ways. In this way, we attempt to make sense of previous variant findings by suggesting that religious influence is dynamic and dependent on the religious style choices communicated to congregants.
Comet data collections

Various collections of comet observational material are discussed in terms of developing a data base. Emphasis is placed on observational material buried in the archives of the older observatories.
The Role of International, Regional and National Organizations

Standards appear to be an innate, hard-wired faculty of a living brain and have been around for as long as there have been brains. The world of commerce is awash with standards. Modern commerce in the food industry is both local and international in nature. Worldwide consumers are used to being able to obtain food products which are not locally grown or are not in season. They are critical of freshness, quality and safety. The development of and adherence to standards benefits everyone. Standards provide the framework for uniformity of quality and safety of products in commerce. They reduce cost and increase the efficiency of production. Internationally recognized standards open borders and markets for the free transport of food stuffs around the world. This chapter highlights several of the largest and most commonly recognized standards development organizations that are critical to the facilitation of trade of food products.
Influence of solution treatment on tensile properties of Sr-modified Al-Si-Mg alloys

An investigation has been conducted to determine the influence of solution heat treatment parameters on T6 properties of unmodified and Sr-modified A356.2 alloys. The effects of solution temperature and time were studied with ASTM B-108 test bars cast in sand molds and in permanent molds. The microstructural changes occurring during heat treatment have been investigated by metallographic and image analysis techniques. The results indicate that the effect of Sr modification is to increase the spherodization rate and lower the coarsening rate of Si particles. Silicon particle characteristics are strongly influenced by the solution temperature. Extremely high coarsening rates can be obtained at temperatures greater than 560C. Solution treatment at these temperatures, however, has a detrimental effect on mechanical properties because of grain boundary melting. It has been established that solution times can be reduced significantly in modified samples. Increasing the solution temperature from 540C to 550C enhances the strength properties.
Agriculture as a Managed Ecosystem: Implications for Econometric Analysis of Production Risk

Managed ecosystems are complex, dynamic systems with spatially varying inputs and outputs that are the result of interrelated physical, biological, and human decision making processes. There is a growing recognition by the scientific community that principles from the biological, physical, and social sciences must be integrated to understand and predict the behavior of complex biological and human systems such as managed ecosystems. This recognition is evidenced by recent federal government research initiatives on biocomplexity by the National Science Foundation, and on human dimensions of climate change by agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Agricultural ecosystems are arguably the most important and pervasive managed ecosystems. Understanding and predicting the behavior of agroecosystems is critically important for a number of leading public policy issues. These issues include the environmental and human health consequences of agroecosystems, and the impacts of climate change on the global food supply.