cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic pain states: invasive procedures

Abstract Objective: To provide a review of chronic pain states, focusing on neuroanatomic pathways and their influence on treatment strategies (part 2 of a two-part series). Data Source: A thorough literature review of published articles available in Medline from 1966 to 1996 on the topic of pain management, including diagnosis, pathophysiology, interventions, and treatment. Conclusions: Understanding the pathophysiology of chronic pain and the roleof chemical mediators, such as enkephalins, norepinephrine, serotonin, and substance P, may improve pain management. As a result, pain control measures can target inhibition of the descending pain modulation pathways of the spinal cord, in addition to the peripheral or central actions of traditional analgesics. Fewer ablative surgical interventions are performed for pain control, because they often provide only temporary relief at the expense of significant permanent neurological deficits. However, there are more augmentative procedures now available for the patient with intractable and unresponsive pain, although referral to specialized pain clinics may benefit particularly difficult cases.
Sialomucin Complex (Rat Muc4) Is Regulated by Transforming Growth Factor β in Mammary Gland by a Novel Post-translational Mechanism

Sialomucin complex (SMC, rat Muc4) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein complex consisting of a mucin subunit ASGP-1 (for ascites sialoglycoprotein-1) and a transmembrane subunit ASGP-2, produced from a single gene and precursor. SMC expression is tightly regulated in mammary gland; the level in lactating mammary gland is about 100-fold that in virgin gland. In rat mammary epithelial cells, SMC is post-transcriptionally regulated by Matrigel by inhibition of SMC precursor synthesis. SMC is also post-transcriptionally regulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta). The repression of SMC expression by TGFbeta is rapid, is independent of TGFbeta-induced cell cycle arrest, and does not require new protein synthesis. Unlike Matrigel, TGFbeta does not reduce SMC protein synthesis, as SMC precursor accumulation is equivalent in TGFbeta-treated and untreated cells. Instead, SMC precursor in TGFbeta-treated cells is more persistent and does not become processed as rapidly into mature ASGP-1 and ASGP-2, indicating that TGFbeta disrupts processing of SMC precursor. These results indicate that SMC, a product of normal mammary gland and milk, is regulated by TGFbeta by a novel post-translational mechanism. Thus, SMC is regulated by multiple post-transcriptional mechanisms, which serve to repress potential deleterious effects of overexpression.
Thermomechanical Transitions in Polyphosphazenes.

Abstract : Unoriented and oriented samples of two phosphazene homopolymers with chemical structure (NPX2) sub n, where X = CF3CH2O and p-CH3C6H4O, and three unfilled and filled alkoxy-type polyphosphazene copolymers, plus one filled aryloxy-type copolymer were examined using a Rheovibron viscoelastometer. Measurements were made from -120 C to temperatures above the T(1) transition of the respective polymers. The effects of orientation and repeated temperature cycling through the T(1) transition temperatures were studied. The overall physical behavior of these polyphosphazenes was dominated by changes that occurred through the primary softening dispersion and the so-called mosomorphic or T(1) transition region. The enthalpy of the T(1) transition, and the T(1) temperature were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a function of temperature cycling through the T(1) region. For instance, the change in enthalpy through the T(1) region is about an order of magnitude larger than it is at Tm for the unfilled polyphosphazene homopolymers. The Tg's of the polyphosphazenes were also determined. Density measurements were made on oriented and unoriented specimens using a floatation method. Although an increase in density (and crystallinity) was observed when specimens were cycled through the T(1) transition, no significant difference in density was found between oriented and unoriented materials. Some discussion of the molecular origin of the T(1) mesophase transition is included. (Author)
Social Learning With Bayesian Agents and Random Decision Making

In this paper, we study the effect of randomness in the decision making of agents on social learning. In the addressed system, the agents make decisions sequentially about the true state of nature. Each agent observes a signal produced according to one of two hypotheses, which represents the state of nature. The signals of all the agents are generated independently from the same state. The agents also know the decisions of all the previous agents in the network. The randomness in this paper is modeled by a policy that amounts to random mapping of the beliefs of the agents to the action space. We propose that the agents learn from the decisions of the previous agents and update their beliefs by using the Bayesian theory. We define the concept of social belief about the truthfulness of the two hypotheses and provide results on the convergence of the social belief. We also prove that with the proposed random policy, information cascade can be avoided and asymptotic learning occurs. We apply the random policy to data models that represent the observations by a distribution belonging to the exponential family. We then provide performance and convergence analysis of the proposed method as well as simulation results that include comparisons with deterministic and hybrid policies.
Global scheduling with code-motions for high-level synthesis applications

In this paper, we present a global scheduling technique for synthesis applications. The algorithm accepts a specification containing conditional branches and while-loop constructs and schedules it for a given set of resources. The algorithm performs several types of code motions across different basic blocks and trades off cost with performance. Several real-life examples taken from Numerical Recipes in C are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach. The results indicate that code-motions are very important for achieving significant speed-ups for synthesis applications. >
The Daikon system for dynamic detection of likely invariants

Daikon is an implementation of dynamic detection of likely invariants; that is, the Daikon invariant detector reports likely program invariants. An invariant is a property that holds at a certain point or points in a program; these are often used in assert statements, documentation, and formal specifications. Examples include being constant (x=a), non-zero (x 0), being in a range (a@?x@?b), linear relationships (y=ax+b), ordering (x@?y), functions from a library (x=fn(y)), containment (x@?y), sortedness (xissorted), and many more. Users can extend Daikon to check for additional invariants. Dynamic invariant detection runs a program, observes the values that the program computes, and then reports properties that were true over the observed executions. Dynamic invariant detection is a machine learning technique that can be applied to arbitrary data. Daikon can detect invariants in C, C++, Java, and Perl programs, and in record-structured data sources; it is easy to extend Daikon to other applications. Invariants can be useful in program understanding and a host of other applications. Daikon's output has been used for generating test cases, predicting incompatibilities in component integration, automating theorem proving, repairing inconsistent data structures, and checking the validity of data streams, among other tasks. Daikon is freely available in source and binary form, along with extensive documentation, at http://pag.csail.mit.edu/daikon/.
Direction of Arrival Estimation in Reverberant Rooms Using a Resource-Constrained Wireless Sensor Network

A WSN capable of estimating the direction of arrival (DOA) of an acoustic source can be utilized in building surveillance, habitat monitoring or smart environment applications. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of a WSN that can provide an accurate DOA estimate of a single acoustic source placed in a moderately reverberant room by using only four strictly resource-constrained Berkeley Mica2 motes. We provide experimental results on the performance of our WSN in estimating the DOA of a wideband speech signal placed at different positions in the room. Using the Steered-Response-Power Phase-Transform (SRP-PHAT) algorithm along with an additional refining stage, our WSN can successfully estimate the source DOA at an 89% average success rate when the RMS DOA error margin allowed on the estimates is set to 5deg. Our results show that DOA estimation can be achieved using wireless platforms that are not as powerful as iPAQs or laptops, which were the platforms previously employed in the literature for similar purposes.
A scalable, asynchronous spanning tree algorithm on a cluster of SMPs

Large-scale data science applications require manipulating large graphs distributed across multiple processors. In this paper we present our experimental study of an asynchronous, distributed spanning tree algorithm that handles the challenging random, sparse graphs with billions of vertices. With a constant number of barriers, our implementation scales to 1024 processors on a cluster of SMPs. Our algorithm sheds new light on the design and implementation of graph algorithms on distributed-memory machines.
A highly scalable Restricted Boltzmann Machine FPGA implementation

Restricted BoltzmannMachines (RBMs)— the building block for newly popular Deep Belief Networks (DBNs) — are a promising new tool for machine learning practitioners. However, future research in applications of DBNs is hampered by the considerable computation that training requires. In this paper, we describe a novel architecture and FPGA implementation that accelerates the training of general RBMs in a scalable manner, with the goal of producing a system that machine learning researchers can use to investigate ever-larger networks. Our design uses a highly efficient, fully-pipelined architecture based on 16-bit arithmetic for performing RBM training on an FPGA. We show that only 16-bit arithmetic precision is necessary, and we consequently use embedded hardware multiply-and-add (MADD) units. We present performance results to show that a speedup of 25–30X can be achieved over an optimized software implementation on a high-end CPU.
Calcium Arsenate and Lead Arsenate Sprays with Soybean Flour for Codling Moth Control

This is a report on an investigation initiated in 1934 to provide information on substitutes for lead arsenate in codling moth control. Major emphasis has been placed on commercial calcium arsenate because that arsenical seemed to offer considerable promise of effectiveness under Iowa conditions. Its residues contain no lead and they are easily removed; besides the price of calcium arsenate is somewhat lower than that of lead arsenate. Soybean flour was brought into the investigation as a sticker and spreader in 1937. This paper describes the results obtained in the season of 1939.
A Low Power Ka-Band Receiver Front-End in 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS for Space Transponders

In direct-to-earth or deep space communication links, providing energy is very expensive and therefore it is essential for the link receiver to consume very low power while providing high sensitivity and gain. This paper presents a low power 0.13µm SiGe Ka-band receiver where the current sharing technique is used to reduce the power consumption of the front-end to 5.8mW while providing 17dB of RF-IF conversion gain, double side band noise figure less than 8.9dB across the bandwidth, and -1dB input referred compression point of - 25dBm. Index Terms— SiGe BiCMOS receivers, mm-wave integrated circuits, receiver architecture.
Using Computer‐Mediated Communication (CMC) in Language Teaching

This article discusses how new and familiar computer technology tools can be used in a communicative language classroom. It begins by outlining the benefits and challenges of using such technology for language teaching in general, and it describes some sample activities that the author has used. Readers are shown how to implement various computer tools in their own classrooms in order to create a Computer-Mediated Communication environment in a communicative language classroom.
Differential neural representation of oral ethanol by central taste-sensitive neurons in ethanol-preferring and genetically heterogeneous rats

In randomly bred rats, orally applied ethanol stimulates neural substrates for appetitive sweet taste. To study associations between ethanol's oral sensory characteristics and genetically mediated ethanol preference, we made electrophysiological recordings of oral responses (spike density) by taste-sensitive nucleus tractus solitarii neurons in anesthetized selectively bred ethanol-preferring (P) rats and their genetically heterogeneous Wistar (W) control strain. Stimuli (25 total) included ethanol [3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 40% (vol/vol)], a sucrose series (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 M), and other sweet, salt, acidic, and bitter stimuli; 50 P and 39 W neurons were sampled. k-means clustering applied to the sucrose response series identified cells showing high (S(1)) or relatively low (S(0)) sensitivity to sucrose. A three-way factorial analysis revealed that activity to ethanol was influenced by a neuron's sensitivity to sucrose, ethanol concentration, and rat line (P = 0.01). Ethanol produced concentration-dependent responses in S(1) neurons that were larger than those in S(0) cells. Although responses to ethanol by S(1) cells did not differ between lines, neuronal firing rates to ethanol in S(0) cells increased across concentration only in P rats. Correlation and multivariate analyses revealed that ethanol evoked responses in W neurons that were strongly and selectively associated with activity to sweet stimuli, whereas responses to ethanol by P neurons were not easily associated with activity to representative sweet, sodium salt, acidic, or bitter stimuli. These findings show differential central neural representation of oral ethanol between genetically heterogeneous rats and P rats genetically selected to prefer alcohol.
Structural basis of the phospholipid acyltransferase enzyme substrate specificity: a computer modeling study of the phospholipid acceptor molecule.

The activity of the 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine acyltransferase enzyme (E.C. 2.3.1.??) was measured with three radically different acceptor substrates: 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (P-sn-G3PC), 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-2-phosphocholine (P-sn-G2PC), and 1-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (He-sn-G3PC). It was found that the enzyme had similar activity with P-sn-G3PC, the natural acceptor substrate, and with P-sn-G2PC. The enzyme showed no detectable activity toward He-sn-G3PC. These results are much different than would be expected from simple examination of the structures. Computer-assisted molecular modeling was done to study the geometrical configurations and to focus upon the similarities and differences of the three substrate acceptor molecules. Three bond distances were selected as important for enzyme recognition: the distance between the oxygen of the acceptor hydroxyl group and 1) the phosphorus; 2) the nitrogen; and 3) the oxygen bridge to the hydrocarbon chain. There were striking similarities for the bond distances of two of the three acceptor substrates, P-sn-G3PC and P-sn-G2PC. These were the two molecules that were shown to have activity with the enzyme. The bond distances found for the enzymically inactive acceptor substrate, He-sn-G3PC, differed significantly from P-sn-G3PC and P-sn-G2PC. Therefore, this latter molecule probably does not fit into the active site of the enzyme. The modeling data are also consistent with the experimental observation that He-sn-G3PC is not an inhibitor.
Eccentric spheres models of the head

Equations are derived for electric potentials (electroencephalograms) and magnetic fields (magnetoencephalograms) produced by dipolar sources in three eccentric spheres models of the head. In these models, the thickness of the layer representing the skull varies around the model, the thickness of the scalp layer varies, and the electrical conductivity of an eccentric spherical bubble in the brain region varies. Using these equations, it was found that variations in these features of the models have at most only small effects on the general spatial patterns of the electric potentials and the radial component of the magnetic fields. However, some significant effects on the amplitudes were found. The effects of the variations in the skull and scalp layer thicknesses on the field amplitudes were found to be significantly smaller than on the potential amplitudes. The effects on the field amplitudes of the variations in the bubble conductivity were found to be only somewhat smaller than on the potential amplitudes. The effects of variations in these features of the models on source localization accuracy were significantly smaller for inverse solutions using fields than for solutions using potentials. >
Global Linkages and Domestic Politics: Trade Reform and Institution Building in India in Comparative Perspective

This article examines how the World Trade Organization (WTO) affects institutional development and policy responses in India. India is a country traditionally resistant to external pressures but in...
Effect of cholic and hyodeoxycholic acids on metabolism of exogenous cholesterol in mice.

SummaryIn the female mouse fed a cholesterol-free diet: (1) supplement of 1% cholesterol did not alter liver or carcass cholesterol levels; (2) 1% cholesterol plus 0.5% cholic acid brought about large increases in liver and carcass cholesterol levels; (3) hyodeoxycholic acid reversed the effect of cholic acid and prevented cholesterol accumulation.
On Reacting to Assertions and Polar Questions

The aim of this paper is to capture the similarities and differences between assertions and polar questions so as to be able to account for the systematic partial overlap that exists in reactions to these speech acts in English and beyond. We first discuss the discourse components we assume, and then define default assertions and default polar questions in a way that allows us to characterize two types of responses to these speech acts, confirming and reversing reactions. The common characteristics of assertions and polar questions are responsible for the fact that both allow these reactions; the differences between the two speech acts explain the different contextual effects confirming and reversing moves have depending on whether they react to an assertion or a polar question. We then examine the distribution of a set of ‘polarity’ particles in Romanian in terms of the notions defined in the rest of the paper, and end with a series of predictions concerning polarity particles across languages.
Electron donor-acceptor complexes: Evaluation of MNDO as a computational tool to probe intermolecular interactions

Donor-acceptor pairs form EDA complexes that exist as conformational isomers exhibiting different ground-state and photochemical properties. We have sought a rapid, general, and accurate quantum mechanical computational method to generate potential energy surfaces that are representative of the donor-acceptor intermolecular interactions at the self-consistent field (SCF) level. The semiempirical molecular orbital (MO) method MNDO has been compared to ab initio methods to assess its behavior with respect to energy, dipole moment and ionization potential shifts. MNDO correctly distinguishes between repulsive and bound EDA complex states at the SCF level and produces potential curves that are smooth and free of spurious minima or cusps. MNDO curves are systematically more repulsive than those for ab initio STO-3G calculations; calculated interaction energies exhibit a mean absolute deviation of 2.90 kcal/mol. MNDO appears to provide a reliable qualitative estimate of the nondispersion portion of the interaction energy. Limitations and errors arising from minimal basis sets, single determinants, and neglect of dispersion are discussed.
Does evidence of inflammation on Papanicolaou smears of pregnant women predict preterm labor and delivery

BACKGROUND Preterm delivery is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. There is evidence that cervicovaginal infection could predispose to preterm labor. This study explored a possible association of evidence of inflammation on an otherwise normal Papanicolaou smear obtained during pregnancy with subsequent preterm labor and preterm delivery. METHODS Using a retrospective matched cohort design, we studied women who gave birth to live singleton infants at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics during a 21-month period. Papanicolaou smears were obtained from 1 to 8 months before delivery and were interpreted in the same cytopathology laboratory. Data pertaining to outcome variables and potential confounding variables were collected from hospital charts. RESULTS Incidence rates were 14.4 percent for labor < 37 weeks' gestation (preterm labor), 12.3 percent for hospitalization for preterm labor, 9.9 percent for delivery < 37 weeks (preterm delivery), 2.6 percent for delivery < 34 weeks, and 7.5 percent for birth weight < 2500 g. On univariate and multivariate analyses, there were no significant differences in any outcome between the 293 women with inflammation and the 284 women without inflammation on Papanicolaou smear. Results were unchanged when the analysis was limited to the 412 women who received no antibiotics during pregnancy. Among the 38 women with a history of preterm labor or preterm delivery, those with cervical inflammation had a higher rate of preterm labor than those without inflammation. CONCLUSIONS In the sample as a whole, there was little evidence that findings of inflammation on Papanicolaou smear constituted a risk factor for preterm labor or preterm delivery. The data suggest that inflammation could be associated with an increased risk in a subgroup of women at higher risk by virtue of their obstetric history.
SODEs and Variational Problems

Second order ordinary differential equations (SODEs) arise in many areas of natural science. A special class of SODEs come from the variational problems of Lagrange metrics (including Finsler metrics). In general, it is impossible to find explicit solutions to a system of SODEs. Thus, one would like to know the behavior of the solutions based on some data of the system. In the early twentieth century, many geometers had made great effort to study SODEs using geometric methods. Among them are L. Berwald [Bw1, 1926; Bw7, 1947; Bw8, 1947], T.Y. Thomas [Th1, 1925; Th2, 1926; VeTh2, 1926], O. Veblen [Ve1, 1925; Ve2, 1929], J. Douglas [Dg1, 1928; Dg2, 1941], M. S. Knebelman [Kn, 1929], D. Kosambi [Ko2, 1933; Ko3, 1935], E. Cartan [Ca, 1933] and S.S. Chern [Ch2, 1939], etc. In this chapter, we will show that every system of SODEs (also called a semispray) can be studied via the associated system of homogeneous SODEs (also called a spray), and every Lagrange metric can be studied via the associated Finsler metric. Therefore, in the following chapters, we will be mainly concerned with sprays and Finsler metrics, rather than semisprays and Lagrange metrics.
Variability of Arctic sea ice thickness and volume from CryoSat-2

We present our estimates of the thickness and volume of the Arctic Ocean ice cover from CryoSat-2 data acquired between October 2010 and May 2014. Average ice thickness and draft differences are within 0.16 m of measurements from other sources (moorings, submarine, electromagnetic sensors, IceBridge). The choice of parameters that affect the conversion of ice freeboard to thickness is discussed. Estimates between 2011 and 2013 suggest moderate decreases in volume followed by a notable increase of more than 2500 km 3 (or 0.34 m of thickness over the basin) in 2014, which could be attributed to not only a cooler summer in 2013 but also to large-scale ice convergence just west of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago due to wind-driven onshore drift. Variability of volume and thickness in the multiyear ice zone underscores the importance of dynamics in maintaining the thickness of the Arctic ice cover. Volume estimates are compared with those from ICESat as well as the trends in ice thickness derived from submarine ice draft between 1980 and 2004. The combined ICESat and CryoSat-2 record yields reduced trends in volume loss compared with the 5 year ICESat record, which was weighted by the record-setting ice extent after the summer of 2007.
Harmonizing the Electricity Sectors Across North America: Recommendations and Action Items from Two RFF/US Department of Energy Workshops

To address a number of the recommendations included in the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Quadrennial Energy Review (QER), Resources for the Future — in concert with DOE, two partners (the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico) and two host institutions (Boise State University and the University of New Mexico) — held two workshops in October 2015, looking at the electricity sectors in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The workshops had several purposes: first, to identify gaps, best practices, and inconsistencies with regulations and electricity system planning across the three large North American countries; second, to inform the creation of legal, regulatory, and policy roadmaps for harmonizing regulations and planning; and third, to bring together individuals who can help implement greater harmonization, and also others who can offer helpful input. The two workshops examined policies, regulations, and planning associated with the electricity sector, and within this sector, environmental regulations (for air pollution, greenhouse gases, and renewables), and regulations and processes associated with the operation and planning of the electricity system, including generation and transmission. This paper summarizes recommendations and observations of workshop participants. The recommendations include action items for DOE, other government agencies in all three countries, research groups, academics, stakeholders, and others, to move toward greater harmonization of policy and planning affecting the electricity system.
Microtubule dynamics decoded by the epigenetic state of centromeric chromatin

Cell division with accurate chromosome segregation is fundamental to cell survival of all organisms. The precise molecular mechanisms that ensure accurate chromosome segregation are still being discovered using a variety of experimental systems and approaches. Microtubule attachment to the kinetochore is a prerequisite for mitotic progression, failure of which activates the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). The dynamic tension generated by interaction of the centromere, kinetochore and microtubules is a key regulator of the SAC. Here, in the context of current literature we discuss our recent observation in fission yeast that epigenetic alterations in centromeric and pericentromeric chromatin can compensate for altered dynamics of kinetochore-microtubule attachment to permit escape from mitotic arrest. A role for the spatial configuration of the centromere to influence the finely tuned regulators of mitotic progression opens up new avenues for research.
Beyond Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter: second-order effects on the wetting of rough surfaces.

The Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter models are almost exclusively used to explain the contact angle dependence of the structure of rough and patterned solid surfaces. However, these two classical models do not always accurately predict the wetting properties of surfaces since they fail to capture the effect of many interactions occurring during wetting, including, for example, the effect of the disjoining pressure and of crystal microstructure, grains, and defects. We call such effects the second-order effects and present here a model showing how the disjoining pressure isotherm can affect wettability due to the formation of thin liquid films. We measure water contact angles on pairs of metallic surfaces with nominally the same Wenzel roughness obtained by abrasion and by chemical etching. These two methods of surface roughening result in different rough surface structure, thus leading to different values of the contact angle, which cannot be captured by the Wenzel- and Cassie-type models. The chemical and physi...
Behavioral Archaeology and the Study of Technology

Loney's (2000) recent paper claims that American archaeologists have paid scant attention to the study of technological, especially ceramic, change. We argue that, in fact, interest in such change processes has grown greatly in recent decades and that Loney has overlooked much relevant literature. We support our general argument with a catalog of recent behavioral research on technological change.
STUDY ON THE REHEATING AND THIXOFORMING OF 7075 ALUMINUM ALLOY CAST BY LIQUIDUS SEMI- CONTINUOUS CASTING

The liquid fraction of liquidus semi-continuous casting (LSC) 7075 alloy at different temperatures, evolution of the reheating microstructures at different reheating temperatures, thixo- formability and the mechanical properties of thixoforming products were studied. The results show that the best thixoforming temperature is 600-620 ℃ and the liquid fraction 30%-50%. Reheating can turn the rosette-shaped grains into spheroids which are suitable for thixoforming. The best re- heating microstructures can be obtained at about 580 ℃ and the holding time about 15-30 min, or near 600 ℃ and 5-15 min. The good thixoformability of the billet corresponds to 600 ℃ reheating for 15 min. The ultimate strength of products forged in mould is 357.9 MPa, and 468 MPa after T6 treatment. Therefore, Liquidus semi-continuous casting is an efficient way for semi-solid slurry making, and together with its thixioforming are very hopeful for industralization.
Cooling and aseismicity study of the containerized energy storage systems

Containerized energy storage systems integrate all storage components into one or more standard containers. They are movable, easy to installation and compact and hence have a potential for wide-spread applications. This paper presents a study of containerized type energy storage systems from a company limited. The work includes system design of cooling and aseismicity. Thermal simulations and finite element analyses are performed in the Icepak and CAE software, the results show the effectiveness of the design.
An Investigation into the Roles of Gender and Experience as Antecedents to Salesperson Opportunism

This study finds that female salespersons exhibit lower levels of opportunism than male salespersons. While the gender gap appears to close with experience, the role of gender and experience interaction as it relates to opportunism was inconclusive.
Segmental neurofibromatosis and cancer: report of triple malignancy in a woman with mosaic Neurofibromatosis 1 and review of neoplasms in segmental neurofibromatosis.

BackgroundSegmental neurofibromatosis, referred to as mosaic neurofibromatosis 1, patients present with neurofibromas or cafe au lait macules or both in a unilateral segment of the body.PurposeA woman with segmental neurofibromatosis and triple cancer (renal cell carcinoma, mixed thyroid carcinoma, and lentigo maligna) is described and cancers observed in patients with segmental neurofibromatosis are reviewed.MethodsPubMed was used to search the following terms, separately and in combination: cancer, malignancy, mosaic, neoplasm, neurofibroma, neurofibromatosis, segment, segmental, tumor.ResultsMalignancy (13 cancers) has been observed in 11 segmental neurofibromatosis patients; one patient had three different cancers. The most common neoplasms were of neural crest origin {malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (3 patients) and melanoma (3 patients)] and gastrointestinal tract origin [colon (1 patient) and gastric (1 patient)]. Breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and thyroid cancer each occurred in one patient.ConclusionsSimilar to patients with von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis 1, individuals with segmental neurofibromatosis also have a genodermatosis-associated increased risk of developing cancer.
Familial Hemiplegic Migraine With ATP1A2 Mutations

Three children with prolonged hemiplegia following severe unilateral headache and having mutations in ATP1A2 are reported from UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
Beggar thy neighbour, beggar thy neighbourhood

Neighbourhood effects and the economies of housing consumption are, independently, thoroughly researched topics in the urban economics literature. Little has been said, however, about the effects of housing consumption restrictions on the dispersal of neighbourhood effects to different economic groups. At a time of rising public concern about economic inequality, properly understanding the link between housing market restrictions and neighbourhood effects across the income spectrum is of increasing importance. This paper proposes a model to better assess how labour productivity as influenced by neighbourhood effects changes with restrictions in housing consumption. The results of the model show that except in the case where no labour complementarity exists between the high and low-skilled population segments, housing restrictions excluding the poor from the better-off neighbourhoods will lead to welfare losses for both populations.
Not another type of potato: MC1R and the russet coloration of Burmese cats

The Burmese is a breed of domestic cat that originated in Southeast Asia and was further developed in the United States. Variants in melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) causes common coat colour phenotypes in a variety of mammalian species but only limited colour variation in the domestic cat. Known as the extension (E) locus, melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) interacts with the agouti locus to produce the eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments. Recently, a novel reddish coloration, which is termed russet, was identified in the Burmese cat breed. Because this russet Burmese coloration changes with aging, MC1R was suggested as candidate gene. The similar colouration in specific lineages of Norwegian Forest cat known as amber (e) (c.250G>A; p.Asp84Asn) was excluded for this Burmese phenotype. The complete 954-bp coding region of MC1R was directly sequenced in russet Burmese and suspected carriers. A 3-bp deletion (c.439_441del) associated with the deletion of a phenyalanine (p.Phe146del) in the protein sequence was identified. All russet coloured cats were homozygous for the variant, and all obligate carriers were heterozygous, confirming that the deletion segregated concordantly with colouring in Burmese cats from the New Zealand foundation lineage. The variant was not identified in 442 cats from 26 different breeds and random-bred cats. Twenty-six Burmese from the USA did not have the variant. This MC1R variant defines a unique coloration and the second breed-specific MC1R variant in cats. The interactions of the two recessive feline MC1R alleles (E > e, er ) is unknown.
Mobile manipulator dual-trajectory tracking using control variables introduced to end-effector task vector

This paper presents a novel control system for redundant mobile manipulators to track simultaneously separate mobile platform and end-effector trajectories (dual-trajectory). Control variables D and α are introduced to define the mobile platform trajectory in relation to the end-effector trajectory. This allows direct control of the mobile platform motion relative to the end-effector. Singularity-robust and task-priority inverse kinematics with gradient projection method is used to find best possible least-square solutions for the dual-trajectory tracking while maximizing the whole system manipulability. MATLAB Simulated Wheelchair Mounted Robotic Arm (WMRA) system is used to test and optimize the proposed control system. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the control system in keeping the order of priority between the two trajectories and optimizing the whole system manipulability measure.
The random-walk hypothesis revisited: new evidence on multiple structural breaks in emerging markets

We examine whether stock prices in 18 emerging markets follow random-walk or mean-reversion processes in the presence of sudden and gradual multiple structural breaks. Our tests endogenously determined the structural shifts and are more powerful than either the traditional random-walk (unit root) tests or the single structural break tests. In all emerging markets, we find strong evidence for multiple structural breaks. When we use single break tests, the random-walk hypothesis is rejected. However, when we use tests of double level shifts in the mean and make due allowance for multiple structural breaks, the results are consistent with the random-walk hypothesis in the vast majority of the sampled markets. The evidence proves robust to using price indexes whether denominated in U.S. dollars, in local currencies or in real terms, and also to using fractional integration tests. Our results contradict some previous studies for emerging markets which restrict structural breaks to only one-time shift.
Use of medial axis to find optimal channel designs to reduce mold filling time in resin transfer molding

Abstract In Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process, pre-designed channels branching out like runners from the injection port can be used for faster resin distribution and impregnation as compared to traditional single gate injection to reduce the mold filling time. To search for the optimal channel design for maximum fill time reduction, the Medial Axis (MA) of the part surface is defined. Next, a methodology is developed to search for the topology of the MA using Finite Element based mold filling simulation software. The MA location is corrected for a part with non-homogeneous fabric permeability. Finally, some case studies are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the channel design approach for RTM with the objective of minimizing fill time, when fabricating composite parts that contain complexities in both the geometric features such as compound curvatures and corners and in material properties such as non-homogeneous and highly anisotropic fiber preform permeability.
Ion Pair Chromatograpy: A Critical Prespective

Reversed phase chromatography is one of most popular modes of chromatography in use Ion pair chromatography a subset of reverse phase chromatography even though happens due to ionic interactions needs a reverse phase stationary phase as support Retention of basic analytes on reverse phase columns is the most commonly encountered situation where ion pair chromatography is used Reproducibility problems in gradient elution slow equilibration times are some of the disadvantages of ion pair chromatography for which mixed mode columns can provide the best possible solution In this concise review an attempt has been made to give an overview of all aspects of ion pair chromatography nbsp
Investigation and analysis of Galerina sulciceps poisoning in a canteen.

Introduction: Guizhou Province in China has an abundant resource of wild mushrooms, including numerous poisonous species which contain various toxins. The mortality rate from wild mushroom ...
Business Enterprises Education Program: A Course for Supervisors.

A short course for the training of supervisors of concession or vending stands operating under the Randolph-Sheppard Act was provided on a trial basis in 1972 and 1973 at the University of Tennesse...
Black Women Social Workers in the Great Depression: A Test of Sheltered Labor Market Theory

Sheltered labor market theory proposes that, under favorable public-sector policies, members of an outcast minority group can find relief from discrimination by performing an occupation that delivers social welfare services to a co-ethnic clientele that the majority group seeks to avoid. The present study tests this proposition, examining black women’s employment in social work during the Great Depression. Regression analyses of census data support the theory, suggesting that black women had a sheltered labor market in the social work profession in the North, where official non-discrimination policies in New Deal job creation programs were more scrupulously enforced than in the South. In northern cities, black women’s employment in social work is positively associated with black–white residential segregation as well as with blacks’ employment in public emergency work projects (e.g., the WPA). Thus, consistent with sheltered labor market theory, a minority group’s representation in a social welfare delivery occupation is enhanced by both public-sector economic intervention and the minority’s social and spatial distance from the majority.
Unmasking a Case of Asymptomatic Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT1A) With Vincristine:

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a hereditary demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system that results in sensory and motor dysfunction. CMT includes a spectrum of diseases with different types of mutations in the genes encoding myelin protein, resulting in a variety of dysfunctions in its life cycle. In CMT subtype 1A there is duplication mutation of peripheral myelin protein 22 gene on chromosome 17. Incomplete penetrance, gene-dosage effect, and variable expressivity can attribute to the asymptomatic nature of the disease in some subset of patients. Vincristine administration is contraindicated in patients who are alrea\dy diagnosed with CMT disease. We report a case of asymptomatic CMT disease unmasked only by the neurotoxic effects of vincristine. Genetic testing for a patient with a preexisting family background of inherited diseases before starting vincristine therapy can potentially prevent a disability.
Wee go library.

Wee Go Library is a custom-designed mobile storage unit that houses twenty-two books that were harvested from Little Free Library® containers in Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota, USA, and then al...
The conundrum of combustible clean energy: Sweden's history of siting district heating smokestacks in residential areas

Abstract Communities may wish to source their energy locally to improve resilience in volatile energy markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support regional economies. Biomass and waste incineration offer one method that has been broadly adopted in European and Asian countries, particularly in combination with district heating systems. Yet, combustion and the placement of affiliated smokestacks often pose contentious planning obstacles for local communities. Learning from Sweden's example, this research maps where smokestacks are placed in relation to land uses, finding that residential areas comprise nearly 20% of the surrounding land uses within a quarter mile of district-heating associated smokestacks. The research concludes with policy-oriented recommendations for planning district heating.
How the FDA Ensures High-Quality Generic Drugs.

We want to assure all stakeholders of the rigorous approval process that supports the FDA's commitment to ensuring the high quality of generic drugs marketed in the United States.
Voter turnout and opposition performance in competitive authoritarian elections

Abstract This study examines the relationship between voter turnout in competitive authoritarian elections and the performance of opposition parties. Because the individuals most likely to abstain from voting in such elections are opponents to the regime, increases in voter turnout rates should be positively correlated with increases in opposition vote shares. Evidence from 61 competitive authoritarian elections in the post-Cold War era supports this expectation: higher voter turnout is associated with more votes for the opposition. This relationship holds under a variety of circumstances, even when taking into account differences in electoral misconduct from one competitive authoritarian election to the next. Data from recent state-level elections in Malaysia reveal a similar pattern. By showing that opposition parties tend to fare better when voter turnout rates are higher, this study contributes to our understanding of voting dynamics and opposition performance in non-democratic contexts.
Survey of Special Algebraic Systems

This chapter presents a survey of special algebraic systems. An algebraic system with a single internal associative composition law is called a semigroup. Associative systems that have a unit element are called monoids. A group is an algebraic system ( G , □), where the internal composition law is associative, there exists a unit element, and every element possesses an inverse. The inverse of a product of any two group elements is the product of their inverses in reverse order. Any automorphism, which can be expressed as a conjugation by some element of G , is called an inner automorphism of G . All other automorphisms are called outer automorphisms. A conjugation can be considered as an action of the group G on itself. A group with only non-Abelian proper normal subgroups is called semisimple.
Institutions and Economic Growth: An Empirical Assessment of the Post WW II Era

This paper uses data from an on-going project, the Societal Infrastructures and Development Project (SID) to examine the determinants of wealth. The analysis focuses on institutions (economic, legal and political) and national contexts (education, geography, natural resources). The data enhancements generated by SID make it possible to employ a panel format to analyze 157 countries from 1950-2004. Using cross-sectional, time-series analysis we find that measures of human capital, rule of law, democracy, openness to trade, and natural resources are key variables in explaining the difference in income levels across countries and time; measures of geography and the degree to which the government is involved in a country’s economy are insignificant.
Achieving Moderate Pressures in Sealed Vessels Using Dry Ice As a Solid CO2 Source

Herein is presented a general strategy to perform reactions under mild to moderate CO2 pressures with dry ice. This technique obviates the need for specialized equipment to achieve modest pressures, and can even be used to achieve higher pressures in more specialized equipment and sturdier reaction vessels. At the end of the reaction, the vials can be easily depressurized by opening at room temperature. In the present example CO2 serves as both a putative directing group as well as a way to passivate amine substrates, thereby preventing oxidation during the organometallic reaction. In addition to being easily added, the directing group is also removed under vacuum, obviating the need for extensive purification to remove the directing group. This strategy allows the facile γ-C(sp3)-H arylation of aliphatic amines and has the potential to be applied to a variety of other amine-based reactions.
Mechanisms of persistence by small DNA tumor viruses

Virus infection contributes to nearly 15% of human cancers worldwide. Many of the oncogenic viruses tend to cause cancer in immunosuppressed individuals, but maintain asymptomatic, persistent infection for decades in the general population. In this review, we discuss the tactics employed by two small DNA tumor viruses, Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), to establish persistent infection. We will also highlight recent key findings as well as outstanding questions regarding the mechanisms by which HPV and MCPyV evade host immune control to promote their survival. Since persistent infection enables virus-induced tumorigenesis, identifying the mechanisms by which small DNA tumor viruses achieve latent infection may inform new approaches for preventing and treating their respective human cancers.