cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Simulation-Based Process Model for Managing Drone Deployment to Minimize Total Delivery Time

Managers in many countries are exploring innovative solutions for last mile delivery, including using delivery drones. In fact, drone delivery is already improving logistics service in many countries. There are, however, unaddressed nuances when comparing drones with surface vehicles. An assumption often made is that delivery time is independent of delivery processes that are not typically associated with drive time, such as loading. This can be acceptable for comparing alternate types of surface delivery vehicles, but not when comparing surface delivery vehicles with drones. To address this issue, empirical store-to-consumer deliveries are collected from a retail establishment in the United States and used to design and calibrate a discrete event simulation model to match the retailer's delivery process. Using this model, drones are compared with surface vehicles under alternate changes of state. The model is given a range of post hoc tests to further define the dimensions of the model and to generalize it for research applications in multiple contexts.
The millennials have arrived: What the surgeon educator needs to know to teach millennials

Numerous authors have described the millennial generation, defined as a cohort of people born between the early 1980s and late 1990s, as unique from preceding generations, such as Generation X and the baby boomers. Many surgical educators generally belong to elder generations, and there is some concern that intergenerational differences may be source of friction between teacher and learner. There is renewed interest in both addressing pedagogic strategies to train millennial surgery residents and providing the nonmillennial surgeon educator with instruction techniques best suited for millennials. However, surgical educators sometimes encounter or propagate uncertainties, conflicts, or stereotypes regarding millennial characteristics and ideal teaching strategies. We review the relevant literature regarding intergenerational teaching strategies as they pertain to training millennial surgery residents.
Growth of Real GDP and Total Factor Productivity in Asia with an Emphasis on Malaysian Growth

This paper estimates growth models for a panel of 15 Asian countries during 40-plus years from the early 1970s to 2014. The focus then shifts to Malaysia for which an annual time-series model is also estimated for the same time period. Both types of models indicate significant influence of human capital either directly on output growth or on growth through total factor productivity. We find that the lower the development level of a country (i.e., a greater income gap), the greater the total factor productivity growth which therefore permits faster income convergence. There is some evidence of interaction between human capital and the income gap as well which leads to an even bigger impact of human capital on total factor productivity growth. The interaction between human capital and openness produces a greater effect on growth in Malaysia based on the time-series model than its effect based on the panel model. Our results suggest that, barring large external shocks, a continued focus on human capital development should help to prevent growth slowdown in Malaysia over the next 15 years.
Analytical Techniques for Analyzing Probability Distributions: How to Explain That Changes in Elderlies Depression Level Are Uniformly Distributed

In analyzing information about the application domain, it is important to take into account that many real-world processes are probabilistic. In many cases, the corresponding probability distributions are Gaussian (normal)—which makes perfect sense, since such processes are affected by many independent factors and it is known that in such cases, the distributions should be close to normal.
Evaluation of Patient Progress

Opinion concerning the prediction of relapse holds that it is virtually impossible to tell which alcoholics will drink again and which will not. Scientific research has, to a certain extent, supported such opinion, since few reliable predictors of relapse have emerged from controlled studies of patient psychological characteristics.
Associations of observed preschool performance monitoring with brain functional connectivity in adolescence.

Abstract Monitoring one's performance helps detect errors and adapt to prevent future mistakes. However, elevated performance monitoring is associated with increased checking behaviors and perfectionism and is characteristic of multiple psychiatric disorders. Understanding how heightened performance monitoring in early childhood relates to subsequent brain connectivity may elucidate mechanistic risk factors that influence brain and psychiatric outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the association between performance monitoring in preschool-aged children and functional connectivity during adolescence. In the current prospective longitudinal study, we performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis using a dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) seed to assess brain–behavior relationships between observationally coded performance monitoring in preschool-aged children and adolescent functional connectivity (n = 79). We also utilized enrichment analysis to investigate network-level connectome-wide associations. Seed-based analysis revealed negative correlations between preschool performance monitoring and adolescent fc between dACC and orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while a positive correlation was observed between dACC-occipital cortex connectivity. Enrichment analysis revealed a negative correlation between preschool performance monitoring and connectivity between motor (MOT) - cingulo-opercular (CO) and salience (SN) - Reward (REW) and a positive correlation with MOT-DMN, and cerebellum (CB) - motor connectivity. Elevated performance monitoring in early childhood is associated with functional connectivity during adolescence in regions and networks associated with cognitive control, sensorimotor processing and cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortico (CTSC) aberrations. These regions and networks are implicated in psychiatric disorders characterized by elevated performance monitoring. Findings shed light on a mechanistic risk factor in early childhood with long-term associations with neural functioning.
Electro-optic tuning of non-Hermiticity in a silicon microring resonator

We demonstrate a silicon photonic passive PT-symmetric structure operating at an exceptional point, with dynamic mode-splitting tunability enabled by a local heater.
The majoritarian and proportional visions and democratic responsiveness

Although previous research demonstrates that proportionality positively impacts the congruence between the positions of the government and the public after elections, recent work argues and shows that proportionality dampens policy responsiveness in between elections. Why this is true is unclear, however. This paper considers how proportionality matters for policy responsiveness, focusing on two primary suspects: (1) the friction associated with coalitions in proportional systems and (2) the comparatively weaker electoral incentives in those systems. In this paper we first assess the general effect of electoral systems, showing that results are robust across measures, and also that the impact of electoral systems increases exponentially alongside party fragmentation. We then examine two alternative mechanisms at work in proportional systems, and preliminary results point towards the potential importance of government fractionalization in accounting for weakened inter-election responsiveness. In the concluding section we consider implications for our understanding of democratic representation, and also for future research on opinion-policy congruence.
Identification of stolen rare palm trees by soil morphological and mineralogical properties

The San Diego County District Attorney's office requested our help to investigate the theft of palm trees from a private collection of exotic plants. Circumstantial evidence led investigators to the suspect's residence where 33 palm trees were found. Because the victim raised all palms from seed in the same potting mix, we compared morphologic and mineralogic properties of soil samples collected from the root balls of palms that were at the victim's and suspect's residences. Analyses of soil color, reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid, particle size, heavy:light mineral ratios, and mineral speciation of the _2.86 g cm_3 fine sand fraction, indicated that 25 of 33 soil samples collected from palm trees at the suspect's residence were very similar to soil samples from palm trees at the victim's residence. After a pretrial hearing at which the soil evidence was presented, the suspect changed his innocent plea to guilty.
High density optical integration

We review the issues arising in the design of integrated optical "circuits" in structures of high index contrast. Microwave design principles may be called upon for the tentative layout of structures of desired functionality. First and foremost is the issue of radiation. High index contrast waveguides allow very small bending radii, which in turn permit interconnections of closely spaced structures.
Chapter 172 Photoelectron spectroscopy in heavy fermion systems: Emphasis on single crystals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) in heavy fermion systems. The theoretical aspects of single-impurity model (SIM) and its calculational approximations Guunarsson-Schonhammer (GS), non-crossing approximation (NCA), as well as various screening models and new pairing approaches are discussed. This is followed by a summary of NCA predictions for PES. The recent calculations of the periodic Anderson model and its application to photoemission are discussed. The chapter reviews the single-crystal data, both on Ce and Yb compounds, and test for the applicability of SIM in periodic systems. This is followed by a discussion of data that suggests that at least in Ce compounds the 4f states form very narrow, weakly temperature dependent bands, not inconsistent with the periodic Anderson model (PAM). The chapter considers heavy fermions within the 5f series of elements (primarily U) and emphasizes the similarities with and differences from the 4f series.
A Review of Materials Data Infrastructure Projects

Access to digital data and the ability to use it in an integrated computational materials engineering framework are critical needs for materials and manufacturing innovation. Since the start of the Materials Genome Initiative in 2011, several efforts have been launched to develop the resources and protocols necessary for a robust materials data infrastructure. These projects have yielded promising results, while helping to uncover and clarify the challenges that remain. ASM International’s Computational Materials Data Network is active in several of these initiatives, and closely tracks others with similar goals. This presentation reports on the status of CMD Network projects and gives a brief update on many others. It also suggests ways to consolidate efforts and accelerate the development of an infrastructure for ICME.
The Effect of School Desegregation Decisions on Single-Family Housing Prices

Mean price per square foot for single-family residences is computed monthly in two adjacent areas of Memphis, Tennessee, for 180 months. The ratio of the mean prices reflects the time patterns of d...
Blood from Dahm's turnip

Dahm's compression of the table representing a COBOL data declaration, by Knuth, is compressed still further.
Stimulation of human chorionic gonadotropin secretion by glucocorticoids

Abstract The effects of glucocorticoids on hormone secretion by human placenta in organ culture were studied. The addition of cortisol resulted in a fourfold increase in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion over that in untreated cultures after 144 hours' incubation (P
Predicting Cavitation in Sudden Enlargements

In recent years incipient, critical, and choking cavitation levels have been introduced as design criteria for orifices and valves in pipelines. Recent studies have evaluated a fourth level, incipient cavitation damage, for orifices that is applicable to the design of sudden-enlargement energy dissipators. Design data for these four levels are included in the paper. Since cavitation in prototype structures can differ from that predicted by model studies, research has also been directed toward evaluation of scale effects. The existence of scale effects due to pressure, size, and geometry for four levels of cavitation are examined herein and methods and equations for adjusting reference test data to structures of other sizes operating under different pressure conditions are presented. The location and distribution of cavitation pitting on the pipe wall downstream from the sudden enlargement are identified. The pitting is a function of expansion ratio and cavitation intensity.
Development and characterization of a rapid-onset rodent inhalation model of asbestosis for disease prevention.

A short-term inhalation model of asbestosis was developed in rodents to examine possible preventive approaches to lung disease. Fischer 344 (F344) rats were exposed for 10 and 20 days to National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) crocidolite asbestos while sham controls were exposed to air only. To determine quantitative biochemical indicators of asbestos-induced lung disease, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were analyzed for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and protein. Total and differential cell counts were performed on cell pellets from BAL. Lungs from additional rats were processed for histopathology, measurement of hydroxyproline, and autoradiography after injection of rats with 3H-thymidine. Exposure to asbestos for 10 and 20 days caused increases in LDH, alkaline phosphatase, and protein in BAL. In contrast, ACE was undetectable in BAL fluids from sham or asbestos-exposed rats. At both time periods, the percentages of polym...
Cerebrospinal fluid and extracellular fluid: their relationship to pressure and duration of canine hydrocephalus.

Fifteen greyhound dogs were made hydrocephalic by the transsphenoidal injection of silicone into the basal cisterns at the level of the tentorial incisura. Six of these animals had ventriculocisternal perfusions 4 weeks later and six at 8 weeks, half at 150 and half at 100 mm H2O. Three 12-week dogs were perfused at 150 mm H2O. Serial sections of brain from the ependyma of the left frontal horn to the overlying pia were counted for14C inulin and3H methotrexate uptake. Tissue concentrations of both markers varied indirectly with distance from ependyma and from pia, and varied directly with perfusion pressure. The data indicate that the diffusional pathway between cere-brospinal fluid (CSF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) can be modified by CSF pressure changes, i.e., CSF flows from the ventricles and subarachnoid space into the extracellular space when CSF pressures are raised. Brain uptake of inulin and methotrexate was significantly increased in the dogs made hydrocephalic 4 weeks prior to perfusion, but was less so in the 8-week hydrocephalics. Uptake of the tracers in three 12-week animals was similar to that found previously in normal dogs at elevated pressures. These findings correspond in location and time to the periventricular lucencies that are seen by computed tomography in human subacute hydrocephalus. They are apparently due to pressure-related changes in the volume of the ECF.
Automatic Tuning and Regulation of Injection Molding by the Virtual Search Method

Methodical specification of process inputs for injection molding is hindered by the absence of accurate analytical models. For these processes, the input variables are assigned either by trial and error, based on heuristic knowledge of an experienced operator, or by statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) methods which construct a comprehensive empirical model between the inputs and part quality attributes. In this paper, an iterative method of input selection (tuning) referred to as the Virtual Search Method (VSM) is introduced that conducts most of the search for appropriate machine inputs in a 'virtual' environment provided by an approximate input-output (I-O) model. VSM applies the inputs to the process only when it has exhausted the search based on the current I-O model. It evaluates the quality of inputs from the search and updates the I-O model for the next round of search based on measurements of part quality attributes (e.g., size tolerances and surface integrity) after each process iteration. According to this strategy, VSM updates the model only when needed, and thus selectively develops the model as required for tuning the process. This approach has been shown to lead to shorter tuning sessions than required by DOE methods.
Plate tectonics through geological time

Geological processes controlled by plate tectonics govern the time-space distribution of key rock assemblages. Stratal components of geosynclinal prisms, igneous provinces of orogenic belts, and regional facies of metamorphic terranes all display patterns controlled by inferred plate motions. Similarities between most Precambrian rock assemblages and Phanerozoic counterparts, coupled with analogies between Precambrian and Phanerozoic apparent polar wander paths, suggest that most surviving crustal rocks of all ages owe their origins to plate-tectonic processes. Archaean crustal blocks resemble collages of oceanic island arcs and volcanic archipelagoes whose tectonic juxtaposition to form cratonic nuclei was probably accomplished by subduction and crustal collision. Thereafter, similar Proterozoic oceanic elements were gradually accreted to growing continental margins and eventually crushed between colliding continental blocks of progressively larger size. Meanwhile, Archaean terranes within the interiors of cratons were generally shielded from further deformation, with their oceanic aspects largely preserved. In time, Phanerozoic oceanic terranes will systematically be destroyed by subduction or modified by incorporation into consolidated continental blocks. Differences between Precambrian and Phanerozoic plate tectonics and related assemblages reflect secular decline in global heat flux of radiogenic origin and progressive growth in the dimensions of cratonic blocks of continental crust.
Linguistic Mediation of Children's Performance in a New Symbolic Understanding Task

The effects of language on symbolic functioning were examined using the boxes task, a new symbolic understanding task based on DeLoache's model task. Children (N = 32; ages 2;4–3;8) observed an object being hidden in a stack of four boxes and were then asked to retrieve a similar object in the same location from a set of four target boxes. Each box was identified with a different object sitting on a small ledge in front of it. Language use was manipulated by providing linguistic scaffolding (naming vs. standard) and by using objects to identify the boxes whose names were either known or unknown to the children (familiar vs. language control). Home language environment (monolingual vs. bilingual) and verbal age (measured via the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition) were also examined. Main effects were found for type of object (with familiar objects yielding better performance), home linguistic environment (with bilingualism resulting in better performance), and verbal age. There was also a verba...
Higher-order cycloaddition reactions in synthesis. Asymmetric assembly of the C5C11 segment of the ansa bridge of streptovaricin D

Abstract Auxiliary-controlled, asymmetric Cr(0)-promoted [6π+4π] cycloaddition followed by a ring fragmentation sequence afforded the C5C1 segment of the ansa bridge found in the ansamycin antibiotics streptovaricin C, D and damavaricin D.
A prospective examination of the relationships between PTSD, exposure to assaultive violence, and cigarette smoking among a national sample of adolescents

Abstract Research demonstrates robust associations among posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), exposure to assaultive violence (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, and witnessed violence), and cigarette smoking among adults and adolescents. Whether exposure to assaultive violence confers risk for cigarette smoking over and above the effects of PTSD and non-assaultive traumatic events (e.g., motor vehicle accidents) is unclear. The current study prospectively measured PTSD, assaultive violence exposure, non-assaultive traumatic event exposure, and cigarette smoking three times over approximately three years among a nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 3614, age range 12–17 at Wave 1). Results revealed that multiple exposure to assaultive violence at Wave 1 was a consistent and robust prospective predictor of cigarette smoking at Waves 2 and 3. By contrast, PTSD diagnoses and non-assaultive traumatic event exposures at Wave 1 only predicted cigarette smoking at Wave 2, but not at Wave 3. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Sensory – Motor control of ligaments and associated neuromuscular disorders

The ligaments were considered, over several centuries, as the major restraints of the joints, keeping the associated bones in position and preventing instability, e.g. their separation from each other and/or mal-alignment. This project, conducted over 25 years, presents the following hypothesis: 1. Ligaments are also major sensory organs, capable of monitoring relevant kinesthetic and proprioceptive data. 2. Excitatory and inhibitory reflex arcs from sensory organs within the ligaments recruit/de-recruit the musculature to participate in maintaining joint stability as needed by the movement type performed. 3. The synergy of the ligament and associated musculature allocates prominent role for muscles in maintaining joint stability. 4. The viscoelastic properties of ligaments and their classical responses to static and cyclic loads or movements such as creep, tension-relaxation, hysteresis and strain rate dependence decreases their effectiveness as joint restraint and stabilizers and as sensory organs and exposes the joint to injury. 5. Long-term exposure of ligaments to static or cyclic loads/movements in a certain dose-duration paradigms consisting of high loads, long loading duration, high number of load repetitions, high frequency or rate of loading and short rest periods develops acute inflammatory responses which require long rest periods to resolve. These inflammatory responses are associated with a temporary (acute) neuromuscular disorder and during such period high exposure to injury is present. 6. Continued exposure of an inflamed ligament to static or cyclic load may result in a chronic inflammation and the associated chronic neuromuscular disorder known as cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). 7. The knowledge gained from basic and applied research on the sensory - motor function of ligaments can be used as infrastructure for translational research; mostly for the development of "smart orthotic" systems for ligament deficient patients. Three such "smart orthosis", for the knee and lumbar spine are described. 8. The knowledge gained from the basic and applied research manifests in new physiotherapy modalities for ligament deficient patients. Ligaments, therefore, are important structures with significant impact on motor control and a strong influence on the quality of movement, safety/stability of the joint and potential disorders that impact the safety and health of workers and athletes.
Androgen Excess Produces Systemic Oxidative Stress and Predisposes to β-Cell Failure in Female Mice

In women, excess production of the male hormone, testosterone (T), is accompanied by insulin resistance. However, hyperandrogenemia is also associated with β-cell dysfunction and type 2 diabetes raising the possibility that androgen receptor (AR) activation predisposes to β-cell failure. Here, we tested the hypothesis that excess AR activation produces systemic oxidative stress thereby contributing to β-cell failure. We used normal female mice (CF) and mice with androgen resistance by testicular feminization (Tfm). These mice were exposed to androgen excess and a β-cell stress induced by streptozotocin (STZ). We find that following exposure to T, or the selective AR-agonist dehydrotestosterone (DHT), CF mice challenged with STZ, which are normally protected, are prone to β-cell failure and insulin-deficient diabetes. Conversely, T-induced predisposition to β-cell failure is abolished in Tfm mice. We do not observe any proapoptotic effect of DHT alone or in the presence of H2O2 in cultured mouse and human islets. However, we observe that exposure of CF mice to T or DHT provokes systemic oxidative stress, which is eliminated in Tfm mice. This work has significance for hyperandrogenic women; excess activation of AR by testosterone may provoke systemic oxidative stress. In the presence of a prior β-cell stress, this may predispose to β-cell failure.
Automatic annotation of team actions in observations of embodied agents

Recognizing and annotating the occurrence of team actions in observations of embodied agents has applications in surveillance and in training of military or sport teams. We describe the team actions through a spatio-temporal correlated pattern of movement, which can be modeled by a Hidden Markov Model. The hand-crafting of these models is a difficult task of knowledge engineering, even in application domains where explicit, natural language descriptions of the team actions are available. The main contribution of this paper is an approach through which the library of HMM representations can be acquired from a small number of hand annotated, representative samples of the specific movement patterns. A series of experiments, performed on a dataset describing a real-world terrestrial warfare exercise validates our method and shows good recognition accuracy even in the presence of noisy data. The speed of the recognition engine is sufficiently fast to allow real time annotation of incoming observations.
Abstract B19: Pentostatin facilitates fully MHC-disparate murine mini-transplantation

Reduced-intensity conditioning regimens prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RIC allo-HSCT) contain cytotoxic agents to create marrow space for donor cells and rely on graft-vs-leukemia effect for curative potential. Pentostatin is in the same class of chemotherapeutics as the purine analog fludarabine, which is commonly used in RIC allo-HSCT. However, pentostatin has a unique mechanism of action that targets adenosine deaminase and may allow for selective targeting of lymphocytes. We hypothesize that pentostatin can be used as an alternative to fludarabine in an MHC-disparate murine setting (stringent model). We compared the immune effects of pentostatin (1 mg/kg/d) and fludarabine (100 mg/kg/d) alone to each in combination therapy with cyclophosphamide (50 or 100 mg/kg/d). BALB/c mice were treated with a three-day regimen followed by transplantation of B6 bone marrow. Combination PC or FC were each more effective at depleting and suppressing splenic T cells than either agent alone; however, the PC regimen was synergistic in depleting host CD4 + T cells (p + T cells (p Surprisingly, recipients in both cohorts rejected the graft. We then reasoned that the rejection was mediated by host immune reconstitution. Indeed, CD4 + T cells of BALB/c mice rebounded to 22.4% (p 6 cells in HBSS, 6.0 ∗ 10 6 for P, 15.7∗10 6 for F, 1.9∗10 6 for XRT). We successfully developed a more immunodepletive regimen by intensification of cyclophosphamide therapy to 14 days with P or F administered every 3 days. In this model, PC demonstrated approximately a 75-fold decrease in CD4 + cells two weeks after the end of treatment (8.3 × 10 6 v. 0.12 × 10 6 , p 6 , p + cells). The 14-day regimen also allowed for engraftment in both PC and FC, with 93% of PC–treated and 57% of FC-treated cohorts achieving >5% donor chimerism (p In conclusion, pentostatin facilitates engraftment in stringent, fully-MHC disparate model, therefore we posit it can be used as a fludarabine alternative in a reduced-intensity human transplant setting. Citation Information : Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(7 Suppl):B19
Monte Carlo approach to the analysis of the rotational diffusion of wormlike chains

Synopsis A Monte Carlo analysis is presented which establishes a relationship between the rotational diffusion coefficients and the flexibility (persistence length, P) of short, wormlike chains. The results of this analysis are presented in terms of experimentally observable quantities; namely, the rotational relaxation times for the field-free decay of optical anisotropy. The pertinent theoretical quantity is R, defined as the ratio of the longest rotational relaxation time of a wormlike chain to the transverse rotational relaxation time of a rigid cylinder having the same axial length (L) and segmental volume. R, so defined, is essentially independent of the axial ratio of the cylinder for any value of LIP within the range of validity of the present analysis (axial ratio > 20; 0.1 < L/P < 5). It is pointed out that P can be determined with reasonable accuracy even in the absence of a precise knowledge of the local hydrodynamic radius of the chain.
Severe mental illness increases the risk of death from coronary heart disease or stroke.

Are people with severe mental health illness at increased risk of death from coronary heart disease, stroke or cancer? Osborn DPJ, Levy G, Nazareth I, et al . Relative risk of cardiovascular and cancer mortality in people with severe mental illness from the United Kingdom’s General Practice Research Database. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007; 64 :242–9. ### ![Graphic][1] Design: Retrospective cohort study. ### ![Graphic][2] Setting: General Practice Research Database (GPRD), covering 741 practices in the UK; June 1987 to April 2002. ### ![Graphic][3] Population: 46 136 people with ⩾1 diagnosis of severe mental illness (SMI) made after age 18 years and 300 426 people who had never been diagnosed with SMI (6 selected randomly for each person with SMI) identified from the GPRD. SMI was defined as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder or other non-organic psychoses (identified based on Read and Oxford Medical Information System codes); people with organic psychoses (for example, alcohol, drug-induced) were excluded. Only people with at least 6 months’ data of sufficient quality were included. ### ![Graphic][4] Prognostic factors: Severe mental illness. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif
In Defense of Change Processes

Nativist and constructivist approaches to the study of development share a common emphasis on characterizing beginning and end states in development. This focus has highlighted the question of preservation and transformation—whether core aspects of the adult end state are present in the earliest manifestations during infancy. In contrast, a developmental systems approach emphasizes the process of developmental change. This perspective eschews the notions of objective starting and ending points in a developmental progression and rejects the idea that any particular factor should enjoy a privileged status in explaining developmental change. Using examples from motor development and animal behavior, we show how a developmental systems framework can avoid the pitfalls of the long and contentious debate about continuity versus qualitative change.
Paleoecology of Suspension-Feeding Echinoderm Assemblages from the Upper Ordovician (Katian, Shermanian) Walcott-Rust Quarry of New York

The Walcott-Rust Quarry echinoderm fauna lived at the base of a carbonate ramp in moderately deep water (Benthic Assemblage 5 of Boucot and others) below wave base for all or most storms but within the photic zone. The inhabitants of the soft substrate were buried rapidly by distal carbonate turbidity currents or mudflows. Because of the episodic sedimentation, the organisms were opportunistic. The suspension-feeding echinoderms include nine crinoids, a rhombiferan, and a paracrinoid. They occur with a variety of filter-feeding bryozoan colonies, a few brachiopods, and numerous trilobites. Most suspension-feeding echinoderms were attached by small holdfasts to hard shelly substrates. Some of these substrates lay on the seafloor, whereas others may have been elevated when the larvae settled. Other types of holdfasts are distal stems that are tightly and permanently coiled around crinoid stems, open distal stem coils that lay on the substrate or were wrapped around soft objects, and recumbent stems running along the seafloor. The echinoderms occupied levels from the seafloor to almost a meter above it, whereas the bryozoans and brachiopods ranged from the seabed to a maximum height of about 10 cm. The sizes of the echinoderm food grooves and comparisons with their modern analogues along with filtration theory indicate that they ate food particles that were mostly larger than those taken by bryozoans. In general, the different taxa of suspension-feeding echinoderms living at the same elevation above the seafloor collected food particles of different maximum sizes and different mean sizes; however, they overlapped greatly with respect to smaller food items. The various crinoid species were able to feed at different ranges of ambient current velocities, which also tended to separate them ecologically. Crinoids having narrow food grooves were restricted to feeding on small food particles but they caught food items over a wide range of current velocities; the converse is also true, which suggests an evolutionary or behavioral tradeoff. As in most Ordovician crinoid communities, predation was comparatively low. Regenerated arms in crinoids reflect predation on about 1.8% of the individuals in the fauna and the most likely fossilized culprits are trilobites and straight nautiloids. Competition for space and attachment sites within and between species of the Walcott-Rust Quarry crinoid and rhombiferan assemblages does not seem to have been significant in regulating their ecological structure. Comparison with shallow-water crinoid assemblages of roughly the same age demonstrates that the Walcott-Rust Quarry faunas were less diverse and less complex. This could be caused by one or more of the following conditions that affected the Walcott-Rust fauna: lower average current velocities, the episodic sedimentological disturbances, higher suspended sediment content in the water, and softer substrates.
The genetics of human obesity

The heritability of obesity has long been appreciated and the genetics of obesity has been the focus of intensive study for decades. Early studies elucidating genetic factors involved in rare monogenic and syndromic forms of extreme obesity focused attention on dysfunction of hypothalamic leptin-related pathways in the control of food intake as a major contributor. Subsequent genome-wide association studies of common genetic variants identified novel loci that are involved in more common forms of obesity across populations of diverse ethnicities and ages. The subsequent search for factors contributing to the heritability of obesity not explained by these 2 approaches ("missing heritability") has revealed additional rare variants, copy number variants, and epigenetic changes that contribute. Although clinical applications of these findings have been limited to date, the increasing understanding of the interplay of these genetic factors with environmental conditions, such as the increased availability of high calorie foods and decreased energy expenditure of sedentary lifestyles, promises to accelerate the translation of genetic findings into more successful preventive and therapeutic interventions.
Tillage effects on soil degradation, soil resilience, soil quality, and sustainability

Abstract Soil degradation, decrease in soil's actual and potential productivity owing to land misuse, is a major threat to agricultural sustainability and environmental quality. The problem is particularly severe in the tropics and sub-tropics as a result of high demographic pressure, shortage of prime agricultural land, harsh environments, and resource poor farmers who presumably cannot afford science based recommended inputs. Tillage methods and soil surface management affect sustainable use of soil resources through their influence on soil stability, soil resilience, and soil quality. Soil stability refers to the susceptibility of soil to change under natural or anthropogenic perturbations. In comparison, soil resilience refers to soil's ability to restore its life support processes after being stressed. The term soil quality refers to the soil's capacity to perform its three principal functions e.g. economic productivity, environment regulation, and aesthetic and cultural values. There is a need to develop precise objective and quantitative indices of assessing these attributes of the soil. These indices can only be developed from the data obtained from well designed and properly implemented long-term soil management experiments conducted on major soils in principal ecoregions.
Purification of chloroplast DNA using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

A simple and efficient method of extracting purified chloroplast DNA is described. Chloroplasts are isolated in a high-salt buffer, and lysed with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The DNA is extracted with chloroform and precipitated. This rapid procedure has been successful for a taxonomically diverse group of plants, and eliminates many of the time-consuming or expensive steps involved in other protocols. As a result, it may be a useful procedure to try prior to resorting to more complex alternatives.
Human interaction with policy flight simulators

Policy flight simulators are designed for the purpose of exploring alternative management policies at levels ranging from individual organizations to national strategy. This article focuses on how such simulators are developed and on the nature of how people interact with these simulators. These interactions almost always involve groups of people rather than individuals, often with different stakeholders in conflict about priorities and courses of action. The ways in which these interactions are framed and conducted are discussed, as well as the nature of typical results.
Derivation of primary sequences and secondary structures of rev responsive element from HIV-1 infected mothers and infants following vertical transmission.

We have characterized the primary RRE sequences of HIV-1, including in vivo genetic variation and functional motifs required for Rev–RRE interactions as well as evaluated the RNA secondary structures of RRE derived from five mother–infant pairs following vertical transmission. Multiple (157) RRE sequences derived from mother–infant pairs showed that primary nucleotide sequences of RRE were highly conserved with a low degree of viral heterogeneity following vertical transmission. We found that the RRE sequences from mothers and infants folded and retained all the essential stem–loop formation required for Rev–RRE interactions. More importantly, a primary 9-nucleotide (5′-CACTATGGG-3′) RRE sequence in the stem–loop B that is required for optimal Rev recognition and must be presented as a stem–bulge–stem structure was highly conserved in most of the sequences. The domains required for RRE–host protein interactions were also conserved in most of the RRE sequences. Taken together, the primary RRE sequences in the context of secondary structures were maintained and the Rev–RRE interaction domains were conserved following vertical transmission, which is consistent with a crucial role of RRE in HIV-1 pathogenesis.
The relation between gender schemas and adults' recall of stereotyped and counterstereotyped televised information

The relation between adults' gender-related personality characteristics and memory for gender-stereotyped and counterstereotyped televised information was examined. Eighty middle-class undergraduates, equally divided by gender (92% Caucasian and 8% minority groups), viewed a television program that presented two plots: one was traditionally gender-stereotyped and the other was counterstereotyped. Three weeks after viewing, students answered questions assessing their recall of stereotyped and counterstereotyped information that had been presented in the television program. Masculinity and femininity scores were also assessed. Results indicated that gender aschematic adults recalled more counterstereotypical information than did gender schematic adults. Results were interpreted within an information processing model.
Relapsing pneumococcal meningitis: isolation of an organism with decreased susceptibility to penicillin G.

UNTIL RECENTLY, p n e u m o c o c c i i s o l a t e d f r o m h u m a n b e i n g s w e r e u n i f o r m l y h i g h l y s e n s i t i v e to penici l l in. Beg inn ing in 1967, a few p n e u m o c o c c i wi th dec reased suscept ib i l i ty to penic i l l in G were isolated f r o m p a t i e n t s , t h e m a j o r i t y o f w h o m h a d r e c e i v e d penic i l l in G on mul t ip le occas ions . 1, 2 W e isolated a p n e u m o c o c c u s with dec reased suscept ibil i ty to penici l l in G , f rom a pa t i en t wi th sickle cell a n e m i a and meningi t i s . A f t e r initial i m p r o v e m e n t , cl inical s igns of men ing i t i s r ecur red associa ted wi th repea ted isolat ion of p n e u m o c o c c i f rom blood and cereb rosp ina l fluid. Re lapse occu r r ed despi te u n i n t e r r u p t e d t r e a t m e n t with h igh doses of penic i l l in G. W e be l ieve t he re lapse was due in par t to decreased suscept ib i l i ty o f t he p n e u m o c o c c u s to peri ici l l in G.
ADOLESCENCE AS CULTURAL TOOLKIT: High School Debate and the Repertoires of Childhood and Adulthood

Although adolescence was once treated as a distinct stage of development with distinctive behaviors, values, and beliefs, this model, in its strong form, has increasingly been discarded. Increasingly, scholars have come to recognize that adolescent identity, behavior, and culture are socially constructed, drawing upon disparate sources. Extending and elaborating this perspective, I suggest that adolescence represents a transitory temporal period in which young people draw upon behavioral repertoires characteristic of both adulthood and childhood, while creating cultural traditions that are recognizably distinctive to the period. During these years childhood behaviors have not been fully discarded as inappropriate for impression management, while behaviors of adults, as they are understood, are seen as self-enhancing. That those in the teenage years select from both pools of behaviors leads members of this age group to seem simultaneously adult and childish, and problematic in their boundary crossing. The expectations of adults both encourage and disparage drawing from these behavioral pools, dependent on assessments of situational appropriateness. To explore the process by which adolescents draw on alternate cultural toolkits to create selves and cultures that are self-satisfying and socially appropriate, I examine the domain of high school debate through ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews.
LHAP: A lightweight network access control protocol for ad hoc networks

Abstract Most ad hoc networks do not implement any network access control, leaving these networks vulnerable to resource consumption attacks where a malicious node injects packets into the network with the goal of depleting the resources of the nodes relaying the packets. To thwart or prevent such attacks, it is necessary to employ authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized nodes can inject traffic into the network. We propose LHAP, a hop-by-hop authentication protocol for ad hoc networks. LHAP resides in between the network layer and the data link layer, thus providing a layer of protection that can prevent or thwart many attacks from happening, including outsider attacks and insider impersonation attacks. Our detailed performance evaluation shows that LHAP incurs small performance overhead and it also allows a tradeoff between security and performance.
Tissue engineering strategies for skeletal repair.

Keywords tissueengineering.bone.cartilage.scaffolds.bioreactorsIntroductionThere is a strong medical need for biological tissue graftsthat could reestablish the structure and function of skeletaltissues lost to congenital abnormalities, trauma, and disease.Both the prosthetic devices and autologous tissue grafts aremost helpful in providing the necessary tissue structure, butthey each have serious limitations [1]. Tissue engineeringoffers potential to grow fully biological substitutes of nativetissues, through the individual and combined use of cells,biomaterial scaffolds, and culture systems [2–5].The Potential of Bioengineered Human TissuesIn its most complex incarnation, tissue engineering involvesthe in vitro generation of living, functional tissue grafts bycultivation of cells on biomaterial scaffolds (designed toserve as a template for tissue formation) in bioreactors(providing environmental control and physical signaling).The design of tissue engineering systems has been guidedby biological principles and the need to provide native-like(biomimetic) environments in order to unlock the fullbiological potential of the cells (Fig. 1). Variations of thisapproach resulted in engineered cartilage, bone, andosteochondral grafts [2–4] for implantation studies inanimal models and eventual translation into clinical use.One recently developed approach enables the in vitrocultivation of living human bone grafts customized to matchthe exact anatomical features of the speciﬁc defect, usingthe patient’s own cells (Fig. 2). Importantly, engineeredtissues also ﬁnd application for in vitro screening of cellsand regulatory factors and construction of disease models[6]. Furthermore, engineering a tissue under controllableconditions brings new insights into the progression of tissuedevelopment and identiﬁcation of the underlying factorsand mechanisms. This knowledge can then also be used todevelop therapeutic modalities that involve mobilizationand regulation of the host’s cells by bioactive acellularimplants.SummaryBioengineered culture platforms can provide tight environ-mental control and the physiological transport and signal-ing, enabling study of cartilage/bone development,regeneration, and disease under conditions that predict thehuman in vivo context [2–4, 6]. The ﬁeld of bone andcartilage tissue engineering holds signiﬁcant potential forproviding clinically relevant tissue grafts for restoring jointfunction. These grafts can be personalized using imaging-guided techniques and the patient’s own cells. As our abilityto grow mechanically functional bone and cartilage graftshas progressed, efforts are focusing at tissue interfaces,vascularization of bone, stratiﬁcation of cartilage, and“conditioning” of grafts to better tolerate the inﬂammatoryenvironment of an osteoarthritic joint.
Passage of methoxychlor in milk and reproductive organs of nursing female mice; 1. Light and scanning electron microscopic observations

Abstract To determine whether the pesticide methoxychlor can be excreted in milk, lactating mouse dams received 14 daily intraperitoneal injections of either sesame oil, or 10.0 μg of 17- β estradiol, or 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 mg of technical grade methoxychlor. At 15 days, suckling female pups were sacrificed and the effects of the chemicals in milk on the morphology of the immature reproductive tract were examined. The stimulatory changes in both the vagina and uterine horns indicate that the estradiol or methoxychlor doses were excreted in milk and remained biologically active in the suckling mice. Although the stimulatory changes from estradiol or methoxychlor were similar, the higher methoxychlor doses produced some cellular atypia in uterine horns. The possible consequences of early stimulatory influence of methoxychlor on adult reproductive organs are discussed in the text.