cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visualization of Caenorhabditis elegans cuticular structures using the lipophilic vital dye DiI.

The cuticle of C. elegans is a highly resistant structure that surrounds the exterior of the animal1-4. The cuticle not only protects the animal from the environment, but also determines body shape and plays a role in motility4-6. Several layers secreted by epidermal cells comprise the cuticle, including an outermost lipid layer7. Circumferential ridges in the cuticle called annuli pattern the length of the animal and are present during all stages of development8. Alae are longitudinal ridges that are present during specific stages of development, including L1, dauer, and adult stages2,9. Mutations in genes that affect cuticular collagen organization can alter cuticular structure and animal body morphology5,6,10,11. While cuticular imaging using compound microscopy with DIC optics is possible, current methods that highlight cuticular structures include fluorescent transgene expression12, antibody staining13, and electron microscopy1. Labeled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has also been used to visualize cuticular glycoproteins, but is limited in resolving finer cuticular structures14. Staining of cuticular surface using fluorescent dye has been observed, but never characterized in detail15. We present a method to visualize cuticle in live C. elegans using the red fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), which is commonly used in C. elegans to visualize environmentally exposed neurons. This optimized protocol for DiI staining is a simple, robust method for high resolution fluorescent visualization of annuli, alae, vulva, male tail, and hermaphrodite tail spike in C. elegans.
Creep and recovery behavior of kenaf/polypropylene nonwoven composites

This article reports an exploratory study on the creep and recovery behavior of kenaf/polypropylene nonwoven composites (KPNCs), serving as a bio-based substitution for polypropylene (PP) plastics in the automotive industry due to the environmental concern. The creep and recovery behavior of KPNC and solid virgin PP were performed by dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) which allowed it to be studied extensively. The linear viscoelastic limit (LVL) was found at 1 MPa. Two popular creep models, the four-element Burgers (FEB) model and the Findley power law (FPL) model, were used to model the creep behavior in this study. The FEB model was found only appropriate for characterizing short-term creep behavior. In contrast, the FPL model was satisfactory for predicting the long-term creep performance. The long-term creep behavior of KPNC in comparison to virgin PP plastic was predicted using the time-temperature superposition (TTS) principle. The 1-year creep strains were estimated to be 0.32% for KPNC and 1.00% for virgin PP at 40°C. A three-day creep test was conducted to validate the effectiveness of the TTS prediction. KPNC showed a better creep resistance and higher recoverability than the virgin PP, especially in a high-temperature environment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40726.
Development of metabolic systems.

Abstract In the normal adult rodent and primate, arcuate nucleus (ARH) neurons function as conduits for transmitting metabolic hormonal signals into the hypothalamic circuitry that modulates feeding and energy expenditure. We and others have shown that ARH projections do not fully develop until the 3rd postnatal week in the rodent. This is in stark contrast to the nonhuman primate (NHP) in which ARH projections develop during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. This species difference suggests that maternal diet and health are likely key factors for the development of ARH projections in the primate, whereas the postnatal environment (i.e., diet) would be more important in the rodent. Furthermore, pertubations in these circuits during critical periods of development may have long-term consequences on feeding behavior and body weight management. Our group has used a rat model of overfeeding and underfeeding specifically during the postnatal period to begin to investigate the metabolic adaptions that may cause developmental abnormalities in the hypothalamic circuitry. While the overfed animals become obese as adults and the underfed maintain a lean phenotype, both models display low basal insulin and IGFII levels as adults. Furthermore, both models have abnormal expression of several key genes in peripheral metabolic tissue that are suggestive of changes in sympathetic outflow. Human studies show that gestational diabetes can also contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes in children; however, the mechanism is unknown. Since the critical periods for the development of hypothalamic circuits are different between rodents and primates our group has begun studies using NHP model to determine if maternal obesity/diabetes causes abnormalities in the development of metabolic systems, including the brain, in the offspring. To do this we have placed female NHPs on either a control diet or a high fat/calorie diet to induce obesity and diabetes. We have characterized the onset of insulin resistance and hyperleptinemia in these animals over the last 2½ years and have collected offspring. Ongoing studies will investigate the metabolic abnormalities in these offspring.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS FOR MOVING OBJECT STRUCTURE ESTIMATION USING AN UNKNOWN INPUT OBSERVER APPROACH

An application and experimental verification of the online structure from motion (SFM) method is presented to estimate the position of a moving object using a moving camera. An unknown input observer is implemented for the position estimation of a moving object attached to a two-link robot observed by a moving camera attached to a PUMA robot. The velocity of the object is considered as an unknown input to the perspective dynamical system. Series of experiments are performed with different camera and object motions. The method is used to estimate the position of the static object as well as the moving object. The position estimates are compared with ground-truth data computed using forward kinematics of the PUMA and the two-link robot. The observer gain design problem is formulated as a convex optimization problem to obtain an optimal observer gain.
Factorization property of the deuteron

Using a simple field-theoretic model we show that, in the zero-binding limit, the relativistic deuteron wave function has a cluster decomposition; i.e., it factors into two separate nucleon wave functions convoluted with a body wave function. The framework of the calculation is a Fock-state expansion at equal time on the light cone. Assuming a quark-interchange mechanism, we then derive the deuteron reduced form factor at large momentum transfer, while recovering the standard impulse-approximation form at small momentum transfer.
Combining collaborative workspaces with tablet computing: Research in learner engagement and conditions of flow

This paper reports on efforts to blend tablet computers with collaborative workspace technologies. An underlying conjecture is that this blend, evaluated with support from Microsoft Research and the National Science Foundation, may help increase learner engagement substantially. The pedagogical logic is that if an instructor can effect a high volume of precise feedback experiences, engagement levels and learning will climb. The intervention needs to afford the teacher a vivid lens on learner processing, and to furnish learners with means to construct representations naturally but electronically. It would also need to furnish means to mediate the rapid flow of those representations and instructor responses to them. These design principles were met with two collaboration workspace technologies and a tablet PC, critical because it allows users to make handwritten representations as one would do with paper and pencil. Results show significant increases in learner engagement that resulted from the tablet PCs/collaborative software combination, based on paper and pencil measurements, electronic engagement measurements, and interviews of faculty and students.
The Consumer Choice of E-Channels as a Purchasing Avenue: An Empirical Investigation of the Communicative Aspects of Information Quality

The vast majority of retail customers use electronic channels (e-channels) to search for product information, but do not complete the purchasing process online. This research investigates the role of information quality in transitioning retail consumers to complete the purchasing process online, thereby replacing physical channels with online channels. This research makes three contributions: 1) it highlights the importance of information quality and its influence on a consumer's choice to use e-channels to purchase online; 2) it supports the premise that high-quality information can convert experience attributes into search attributes; and 3) it identifies four antecedents that increase perceived information quality: higher telepresence, screening capability, channel trustworthiness, and lower cognitive overhead. Data from 309 consumers were analyzed using structural equation modeling and regression. Implications and future research avenues are discussed.
Structure of plane underexpanded air jets into water

An experimental and numerical investigation of the structure of plane underexpanded turbulent air jets in water was conducted to characterize their structure and mixing properties. Measurements included void fraction profiles, static pressure distributions, entrainment rates, and high speed flow visualization. A locally homogeneous flow model was also developed with compressibility effects treated using an effective adapted jet condition. Static pressure measurements confirmed the presence of a shock-wave-containing external expansion region for underexpanded air jets in water, similar to results observed for underexpanded air jets in air. In addition, the plane jets exhibited half-widths (based on void fractions) that were two to three times greater than half-widths (based on scalar properties) observed for single-phase jets. This behavior follows from the strong sensitivity of void fraction to mixing levels due to the large density ratio of the flow. Predictions of void fraction and mass entrainment were encouraging, but performance was found to be sensitive to initial conditions and effects of large-scale unsteadiness near the jet exit.
Depictions of Public Service in Children's Literature: Revisiting an Understudied Aspect of Political Socialization

Objective. Scholars who have investigated depictions of public service in children’s literature have come to a mix of conclusions regarding the portrayal of public figures in children’s literature. We revisit these studies, attempting to answer the question of how public servants are portrayed in children’s literature. Methods. We perform content analysis of 93 books and examine 868 characters for benevolence and competence. Results. We find that public servants are portrayed as no more incompetent or malevolent than other adults in children’s literature. On a few dimensions, we find just the opposite. Furthermore, we find that women in general are portrayed as more benevolent than men, although the same patterns are not found between sexes when examining only those in the public service. Conclusions. If children are developing negative stereotypes of government officials and institutions, these stereotypes do not appear to be formed through their reading of children’s literature. The acquisition of political values and beliefs has been a central research topic in political science for most of the 20th century. Studies have looked at the role of parents (Tedin, 1974; Jennings and Niemi, 1968), the media (Conway et al., 1982), and political events (Sears and Valentino, 1997) in shaping individual political attitudes. Surprisingly, whereas scholars have studied children’s political attitudes for a number of years, few have looked at the role of children’s literature in political socialization. Those studies that have been conducted fail to answer the central question of how governmental actors are portrayed in children’s literature. This paper aims to provide a conclusive answer to this question, eliminating methodological
Reversal of activation of human myofibroblast-like cells by culture on a basement membrane-like substrate.

Abstract Background : Liver injury transforms hepatic stellate cells into myofibroblast (MFB)-like cells. With recovery from injury, MFBs undergo apoptosis, but it is unknown whether they can also revert to quiescence. Aim : To determine whether human (h)MFBs become quiescent if cultured on a basement membrane-like substrate (Matrigel™). Methods : hMFBs obtained from cirrhotic liver were re-cultured on plastic or Matrigel™. Expression of genes of collagen metabolism was assayed before and after transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and Oncostatin M (OSM) stimulation. Results : hMFBs had typical MFB-like morphology, with abundant α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) but no cytoplasmic lipid droplets. hMFBs re-cultured on Matrigel™ reverted to αSMA-negative, lipid droplet-positive quiescent morphology. αSMA, collagen α1(1) (COL1A1) and collagen α2(1) (COL1A2) messages were upregulated in hMFBs cultured on plastic, but suppressed by Matrigel™. The opposite was true for metalloproteinase-1 mRNA. OSM but not TGFβ reduced αSMA mRNA by 30% while TGFβ but not OSM upregulated COL1A1 mRNA by 48%, in hMFBs on plastic. TGFβ and OSM stimulated COL1A1 gene expression in Matrigel™ by 50 and 60%, respectively. Conclusions : Matrigel™ culture de-activates hMFBs yet collagen gene expression still responds to fibrogenic cytokines. The responses of hMFB gene expression to TGFβ and OSM, are regulated differently by the extracellular matrix.
Notch Effect on Stress Rupture Behavior of Ti-24Al-llNb at 650°C

Notch stress rupture behavior of a titanium aluminide Ti3Al alloy, Ti-24Al-11Nb, was investigated. Three axisymetric test bar geometries were used: smooth bar (kt = 1), circular notch (U-notch, kt = 1.6) and British standard notch (V-notch, kt = 4.2). Tests were performed at 650 °C, with a real-time DC potential drop (DCPD) automated data acquisition system continuously monitoring local creep deformation and damage accumulation in the notched specimens. Two microstructures were investigated, an equiaxed grain structure produced by an α2+β heat treatment and a transformed β microstructure produced by a β heat treatment. It was found that the effects of notches on the stress rupture lives are dependent on microstructure, notch geometry, and applied stress level. For the α2+β treated Ti-24Al-11Nb alloy, a U-notch has a notch strengthening effect in the high stress or short life region and a notch weakening effect in the low stress, long life region; a V-notch always has a notch weakening effect. The β treated Ti-24Al-11Nb alloy shows notch weakening effects both for U-notch and V-notch, with V-notch and high stress levels being the most deleterious. The theoretical DCPD response corresponding to a FEM-calculated creep deformation at a given time t was estimated and compared with the real time recorded DCPD changes. This combined DCPD-FEM analysis method provided quantitative information about the relative contributions of creep deformation and damage mechanisms (cavitation, micro- and macro-cracking) to the experimental DCPD curve in a notch stress rupture test.
A New Breakthrough In Linear-system Theory: Kharitonov's Result

Given a real coefficient polynomial D(s), there exist several procedures for testing whether it is strictly Hurwitz (i.e., whether it has all its zeros in the open left-half plane). If the coefficients of D(s) are uncertain and belong to a known interval, such testing becomes more complicated because there is an infinitely large family of polynomials to which D(s) now belongs. It was shown by Kharitonov that in this case it is necessary and sufficient to test only four polynomials in order to know whether every polynomial in the family is strictly Hurwitz. An interpretation of this result in terms of reactance functions (i.e., LC impedances) was recently proposed. These results were also extended recently for the testing of positive real property of rational transfer functions with uncertain denominators. In this paper we review these results along with detailed proofs and discuss extensions to the discrete-time case.
A Microwave System for the Controlled Production of Local Tumor Hyperthermia in Animals

A microwave system was designed and constructed which provides controlled, localized hyperthermia in the tumors of four experimental animals. The components of the system are a 2.45-GHz microwave source, a four-way power-dividing network and reflected power monitor, a temperature-controlled microwave power regulator, and small direct-contact microwave applicators. Adjustment of the temprature control results in elevated temperatures in the centers of tumors which can be maintained to within /spl plusmn/ 0.1/spl deg/C without production of significant whole body hyperthermia.The temperatures at the edges of the locally heated tumors were found to vary within /spl plusmn/1.0/spl deg/C of the center temperature. The system is currently being used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of sustained Iocalized hyperthermia in small tumors implanted subcutaneously in mice.
Hard paths, soft paths or no paths? Cross-cultural perceptions of water solutions

In this study, we examine how development status and water scarcity shape people's perceptions of "hard path" and "soft path" water solutions. Based on ethnographic research conducted in four semi-rural/peri-urban sites (in Bolivia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the US), we use content analysis to conduct statistical and thematic comparisons of interview data. Our results indicate clear differences associated with development status and, to a lesser extent, water scarcity. People in the two less developed sites were more likely to suggest hard path solutions, less likely to suggest soft path solutions, and more likely to see no path to solutions than people in the more developed sites. Thematically, people in the two less developed sites envisioned solutions that involve small-scale water infrastructure and decentralized, community-based solutions, while people in the more developed sites envisioned solutions that involve large-scale infrastructure and centralized, regulatory water solutions. People in the two water-scarce sites were less likely to suggest soft path solutions and more likely to see no path to solutions (but no more likely to suggest hard path solutions) than people in the water-rich sites. Thematically, people in the two water-rich sites seemed to perceive a wider array of unrealized potential soft path solutions than those in the water-scarce sites. On balance, our findings are encouraging in that they indicate that people are receptive to soft path solutions in a range of sites, even those with limited financial or water resources. Our research points to the need for more studies that investigate the social feasibility of soft path water solutions, particularly in sites with significant financial and natural resource constraints.
A High Frequency of Beneficial Mutations Across Multiple Fitness Components in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutation-accumulation experiments are widely used to estimate parameters of spontaneous mutations affecting fitness. In many experiments only one component of fitness is measured. In a previous study involving the diploid yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we measured the growth rate of 151 mutation-accumulation lines to estimate parameters of mutation. We found that an unexpectedly high frequency of fitness-altering mutations was beneficial. Here, we build upon our previous work by examining sporulation efficiency, spore viability, and haploid growth rate and find that these components of fitness also show a high frequency of beneficial mutations. We also examine whether mutation-acycumulation (MA) lines show any evidence of pleiotropy among accumulated mutations and find that, for most, there is none. However, MA lines that have zero fitness (i.e., lethality) for any one fitness component do show evidence for pleiotropy among accumulated mutations. We also report estimates of other parameters of mutation based on each component of fitness.
Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: A Systematic Review

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a disorder characterized by amyloid deposition in the walls of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries, arterioles, and less often capillaries and veins of the central nervous system. CAA occurs mostly as a sporadic condition in the elderly, its incidence associating with advancing age. All sporadic CAA cases are due to deposition of amyloid-β, originating from proteolytic cleavage of the Amyloid Precursor Protein. Hereditary forms of CAA are generally familial (and therefore rare in the general population), more severe and earlier in onset. CAA-related lobar intracerebral hemorrhage is the most well-studied clinical condition associated with brain amyloid deposition. Despite ever increasing understanding of CAA pathogenesis and availability of reliable clinical and diagnostic tools, preventive and therapeutic options remain very limited. Further research efforts are required in order to identify biological targets for novel CAA treatment strategies. We present a systematic review of existing evidence regarding the epidemiology, genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of CAA.
Experimental Infection of an Exotic Heterophyid Trematode, Centrocestus formosanus, in Four Aquaculture Fishes

Abstract Centrocestus formosanus, an exotic digenetic trematode that was recently found infecting wild fish in Texas, was evaluated to determine whether it could infect four propagated warmwater fish species. Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, sunshine bass (the hybrid of female white bass Morone chrysops and male striped bass Morone saxatilis), golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas, and fathead minnows Pimephales promelas were experimentally infected with cercariae of C. formosanus. The trematodes were embedded along the gill filament cartilage. Cyst production, cartilage displacement, and hyperplasia of the lamellar epithelium were observed in wet mounts of sunshine bass and fathead minnow gills. These pathological changes also occurred in golden shiners and channel catfish but appeared to be delayed and less pronounced. Histological examination showed that the parasites were encased in cartilage, and distorted areas were evident in the filament cartilage. Because this trematode has the ability to in...
A Perspective on the Construction of Nonsymmetric Uncertainty Intervals

This paper presents a new method for constructing nonsymmetric uncertainty intervals, one that is based on estimates of “expected values” and “variances” associated with deterministic errors that one constructs from estimates of “upper bias limits” and “lower bias limits” for measured variables. On the assumption that upper bias limits and lower bias limits specified by the user correspond to 95 percent confidence intervals for normally distributed deterministic errors, the uncertainty intervals determined by the new method reduce to approximate 95 percent confidence intervals for the true value of the measured variables.
ACCURATE GENOME-SCALE PERCENTAGE DNA METHYLATION ESTIMATES FROM MICROARRAY DATA

DNA methylation is a key regulator of gene function in a multitude of both normal and abnormal biological processes, but tools to elucidate its roles on a genome-wide scale are still in their infancy. Methylation sensitive restriction enzymes and microarrays provide a potential high-throughput, low-cost platform to allow methylation profiling. However, accurate absolute methylation estimates have been elusive due to systematic errors and unwanted variability. Previous microarray preprocessing procedures, mostly developed for expression arrays, fail to adequately normalize methylation-related data since they rely on key assumptions that are violated in the case of DNA methylation. We develop a normalization strategy tailored to DNA methylation data and an empirical Bayes percentage methylation estimator that together yield accurate absolute methylation estimates that can be compared across samples. We illustrate the method on data generated to detect methylation differences between tissues and between normal and tumor colon samples.
Low-frequency amplifiers for PVDF film sensors

This paper proposes instrumental ion amplifiers for use with large area Polyvinylidine Diflouride (PVDF) sensors designed to detect rodent motion. The sensor behaves as a pressure-to-voltage converter in series with a parasitic capacitance. Motion signals critical for classifying rodent behavior range from 0.5 Hz to 20 Hz. Amplification on the order of 20 dB is required for the pass-band before digitization. Amplifier A is presently used in art experimental system. This amplifier has slow response time with noticeable drift. Amplifier B is designed to overcome these obstacles. It is more complex but reduces the drift and noise floor, while decreasing the response time. Performance is evaluated with metrics based on low-frequency drift and noise-floor power computed over a 19-hour period and with recovery time from saturation. The comparison shows amplifier B with a faster response and lower drift than amplifier A.
Response to MET Inhibitors in Patients with Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinomas Harboring MET Mutations Causing Exon 14 Skipping

Mutations in the MET exon 14 RNA splice acceptor and donor sites, which lead to exon skipping, deletion of the juxtamembrane domain containing the Cbl E3-ubiquitin ligase binding site, and decreased turnover of the resultant aberrant MET protein, were previously reported to be oncogenic in preclinical models. We now report responses to the MET inhibitors crizotinib and cabozantinib in four patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinomas harboring mutations leading to MET exon 14 skipping, highlighting a new therapeutic strategy for the 4% of lung adenocarcinoma patients whose tumors harbor this previously underappreciated genetic alteration.
Verification of Remotely Sensed Sea Surface Winds in Hurricanes

Abstract Surface winds in hurricanes have been estimated remotely using the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) from the NOAA WP-3D aircraft for the past 15 years. Since the use of the GPS dropwindsonde system in hurricanes was first initiated in 1997, routine collocated SFMR and GPS surface wind estimates have been made. During the 1998, 1999, and 2001 hurricane seasons, a total of 249 paired samples were acquired and compared. The SFMR equivalent 1-min mean, 10-m level neutral stability winds were found to be biased high by 2.3 m s−1 relative to the 10-m GPS winds computed from an estimate of the mean boundary layer wind. Across the range of wind speeds from 10 to 60 m s−1, the rmse was 3.3 m s−1. The bias was found to be dependent on storm quadrant and independent of wind speed, a result that suggests a possible relationship between microwave brightness temperatures and surface wave properties. Tests of retrieved winds' sensitivities to sea surface temperature, salinity, atmospheric thermodyn...
Disruptive design in pre-service teacher education: uptake, participation, and resistance

This paper begins the exploration of disruption as an analytical construct that allows for the investigation of how individual learning and changes in local practice mutually influence the other within a purposefully designed learning context. We seek to describe the types of learning experiences that emerged using disruptive pedagogies and tools within a series of methods courses in an undergraduate elementary teacher education program. The intent of the designed context was to disrupt the traditional practices of teacher education courses by creating a participatory environment where students participated in the creation of course content through their engagement with social media and each other. We define disruption as an innovation that requires students to challenge or change their epistemologies and participation in their learning. This paper addresses a designed disruption that was created in the context of an elementary methods course. The results demonstrated diverse consequences for participants...
Analysis and Interpretation of Accelerometry Data in Older Adults: The LIFE Study

BACKGROUND: Accelerometry has become the gold standard for evaluating physical activity in the health sciences. An important feature of using this technology is the cutpoint for determining moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) because this is a key component of exercise prescription. This article focused on evaluating what cutpoint is appropriate for use with older adults 70-89 years who are physically compromised. METHODS: The analyses are based on data collected from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study. Accelerometry data were collected during a 40-minute, overground, walking exercise session in a subset of participants at four sites; we also used 1-week baseline and 6-month accelerometry data collected in the main trial. RESULTS: There was extreme variability in median counts per minute (CPM) achieved during a controlled bout of exercise (n = 140; median = 1,220 CPM (25th, 75th percentile = 715, 1,930 CPM). An equation combining age, age(2), and 400 m gait speed explained 61% of the variance in CPM achieved during this session. When applied to the LIFE accelerometry data (n = 1,448), the use of an individually tailored cutpoint based on this equation resulted in markedly different patterns of MVPA as compared with using standard fixed cutpoints. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study have important implications for the use and interpretations of accelerometry data and in the design/delivery of physical activity interventions with older adults. Language: en
Recycling of refinery effluents - two case studies in India.

In response to environmental stipulations and limited fresh water resources, the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Panipat and Essar Oil Ltd. Vadinar had to build water reclamation plants. The plants, which mainly treat refinery effluents, were commissioned in 2006 and 2012, respectively. Advanced multi-barrier systems (including Ultrafiltraion (UF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO)) were employed in order to meet the stringent quality requirements for the recycling of boiler make-up and good results with regard to all the requested standards have been achieved. The Panipat UF membranes have a lifetime of 6 years and rather than integrity, which remains quite good (fibre breakages <0.1‰/year), the main reason for replacement is relatively low permeability (50–60 L/m2\*h\*bar). The operating cost (including membrane replacement) has been calculated as 0.37 EUR/m3 of recycled boiler make-up.
The Cash Balance Controversy

This article provides an overview of cash balance pension plans and of the controversies surrounding them. The article describes the cash balance format and contrasts that format with the traditional defined benefit pension. The article also reviews the legal framework currently governing cash balance plans and discusses the critique and the defense of cash balance arrangements. This article concludes that, as a matter of law, the typical cash balance plan violates the statutory prohibition on age-based reductions in the rate at which participants accrue their benefits. However, as a matter of policy, there is no sound reason to bar cash balance plans nor is there a logical basis for the resentment engendered by the conversion of traditional annuity providing pension plans to the cash balance format. Moreover, the article suggests, the proponents of cash balance plans are correct to contend that such plans permit employers to remain within the defined benefit system rather than debark to the defined contribution universe. As a matter of psychology, the resentment against cash balance conversions, deeply and sincerely held, largely stems from psychological expectations in the continuation of the status quo, rather than any legal or logical entitlement to the continuation of existing pension coverage. In the best of all worlds, this article argues, the proper resolution of the cash balance controversy would be to amend the statutory prohibitions on age-based reductions in benefit accrual rates to legitimate cash balance plans and to permit private ordering between employers and employees (or their unions) to govern such conversions. However, as a matter of politics, the article presents a package of legislative compromises which, given the political realities of the situation, is the best likely outcome of the cash balance controversy.
Hexadentate terephthalamide(bis-hydroxypyridinone) ligands for uranyl chelation: structural and thermodynamic consequences of ligand variation

Several linear, hexa- and tetradentate ligands incorporating a combination of 2,3-dihydroxy-terephthalamide (TAM) and hydroxypyridinone-amide (HOPO) moieties have been developed as uranyl chelating agents. Crystallographic analysis of several {UO2[TAM(HOPO)2]}2– complexes revealed a variable and crowded coordination geometry about the uranyl center. The TAM moiety dominates the bonding in hexadenate complexes, with linker rigidity dictating the equality of equatorial U–O bonding. Hexadentate TAM(HOPO)2 ligands demonstrated slow binding kinetics with uranyl affinities on average 6 orders of magnitude greater than those of similarly linked bis-HOPO ligands. Study of tetradentate TAM(HOPO) ligands revealed that the high uranyl affinity stems primarily from the presence of the TAM moiety and only marginally from increased ligand denticity. Uranyl affinities of TAM(HOPO)2 ligands were within experimental error, with TAM(o-phen-1,2-HOPO)2 exhibiting the most consistent uranyl affinity at variable pH.
Lack of Multiplication of Simian Virus 40 (SV40) in Experimentally Infected Mosquitoes.

SummaryFive species of mosquitoes were tested as possible vectors of SV40 virus. The insects were infected by imbibing a virus-chicken erythrocyte suspension, or by parenteral injection of the virus. There was no evidence of multiplication of the virus in the mosquito, or that any of the species tested could serve as biological vectors.
William George Schneider OC FRSC. 1 June 1915 — 18 February 2013

William George Schneider OC FRS FRSC was an eminent Canadian chemist and science administrator. At the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in Ottawa, he made high-precision measurements relating to the gas laws, to phase changes and to critical phenomena. He showed experimentally the need to reduce the gravitational density gradient in measurements of the critical point and used ultrasonic studies to support the concept of dynamic cluster formation. After a decade, he switched to nuclear magnetic resonance. He did pioneering work on the analysis of high-resolution spectra of protons in organic compounds and on the information that can be derived about intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. These studies were the basis for an influential book, High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance , written with Harold Bernstein and John Pople. Concurrently, he investigated the photoconductivity and semiconductivity of insulating organic crystals, in particular anthracene. He explored the conditions necessary to make accurate measurements and then studied the electronic processes in anthracene. The advent of lasers allowed him, with Boris Stoicheff, to probe more deeply into these processes. This work was of considerable interest to major high-technology companies. Bill rose rapidly through the managerial structure of the NRC and became its president in 1967, serving for 13 years, the longest of any president. After retiring, Bill served for several years with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, two of them as its president, and remained active as a chemical consultant, advising small start-up companies. He died at the age of 97 years in Ottawa.
A Perron-type Theorem on the Principal Eigenvalue of Nonsymmetric Elliptic Operators

We provide a proof for a Perron-type theorem on the principal eigenvalue of nonsymmetric elliptic operators based on the strong maximum principle. This proof is modeled after a variational proof of...
Characterizing non-intermittent faults

A faulty component that behaves consistently over time is said to behave non-intermittently. For any given set of inputs, such a component will always generate the same output. Assuming that components fail non-intermittently is a common simplifying strategy used by diagnosticians, because (1) many real-world devices often fail this way, (2) this strategy removes the need to repeat experiments, and (3) this strategy allows information from independent examples of system behavior to be combined in relatively simple ways. This paper extends the formal framework for diagnosis developed in [7, 12] to allow nonintermittency assumptions. In addition we show how the definitions can be easily integrated into ATMS-based diagnosis engines. Within our formulation, components can be individually assumed to be intermittent or nonintermittent.
Genetic Discovery for Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital heart disease (CHD) behaves like a complex genetic trait in most instances. Recent advances in genomics have provided tools for uncovering genetic variants underlying complex traits that are now being applied to study CHD. Massively parallel DNA sequencing has shown that de novo mutations contribute to ~10 % of severe CHD and implicated chromatin remodeling in pathogenesis. Genome scanning methods for copy number variants (CNVs) identify likely pathogenic genomic alterations in 10 % of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and related single ventricle forms of CHD. The growth and neurocognitive development of children with CHD and those CNVs is worse, and clinical examination is relatively insensitive for detecting those CNVs. In sum, new opportunities for preventing and ameliorating CHD and its comorbidities are anticipated as its genetic architecture is elaborated through the use of state-of-the-art genomic approaches.
Mapping the MIT Campus in Real Time Using WiFi.

This chapter presents the iSPOTS project, which collects and maps data of WiFi usage on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Boston. Instead of simply mapping the locations of WiFi availability, the project is possibly the first to use and analyze log files from the Institute’s Internet service provider and to produce spatial visualizations of the observed activity in real time. The aim is to create a better understanding of the daily working and living patterns of the MIT academic community, which changes due to the emergence of WiFi itself. The MIT wireless IEEE 802.11 network, consisting of 3,000 access points (one of the largest of its kind) offers a privileged environment for this research and, in perspective, can provide a test bed for entire cities. Mapping the MIT Campus in Real Time Using WiFi
Marker Gene Overexpression in Flowers Treated with Resistance Inducers does not Correlate with Protection Against Flower‐Infecting Fungi in Tomato and Blueberry

Flowers can serve as infection courts for specialized and unspecialized plant pathogens, but little is known about the ability of floral tissues to undergo induced resistance (IR) responses against these pathogens. We studied the expression of IR marker genes in tomato and blueberry flowers treated with the inducers methyl jasmonate (MeJA), benzothiadiazole-S-methyl ester (BTH) and 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA). In tomato, spray application of MeJA and BTH (but not INA) to entire plants (leaves, stems and flowers) resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) overexpression of Pin2 (5.2-fold) and PR-4 (5.6-fold) in pistil tissues, respectively. A statistically similar expression was obtained in pistils when flowers were protected from direct spray, indicating a systemic response. In blueberry, where information about IR marker genes is limited, PR-3 and PR-4 orthologs were first identified and characterized using in silico and wet-laboratory techniques. In subsequent induction experiments, INA and BTH induced overexpression of PR-4 in blueberry pistils by 3.2- and 1.8-fold, respectively, when entire plants were treated. In blueberry flowers protected from spray applications, all chemicals applied to vegetative tissues led to significant overexpression of PR-4 (MeJA: 1.4-fold, BTH: 2.9-fold and INA: 1.6-fold), with BTH also inducing PR-3 (1.7-fold). The effect of these responses in protecting flowers was studied by inoculating treated tomato flowers with the necrotroph Botrytis cinerea and blueberry flowers with the hemi-biotroph Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi. In both pathosystems, no significant disease suppression associated with resistance inducer application was observed under the conditions studied. Thus, although IR marker genes were shown to be inducible in floral tissue, the magnitude of this response was insufficient to suppress pathogen ingress.
Flexural Piezoelectric Resonators

Flexural piezoelectric resonators can be broadly classified as being one-dimensional devices, such as bars [1,2, 3, 4], and tuning forks [5], or two-dimensional devices, such as round or square diaphragms [6–8]. Models for the static deflection of piezoelectrically actuated one-dimensional beams are presented in [9, 10], while a lumped-element model for flexural plate-wave resonators is presented in [11]. This chapter focuses on developing lumped-element equivalent circuit models for vibration of continuous one-dimensional and two-dimensional resonators. These models allow the designer to predict various aspects of resonator behavior such as the natural frequency and vibration amplitude of the various vibration modes.
Functional properties of native and tissue-engineered cartilage toward understanding the pathogenesis of chondral lesions at the knee: A bovine cadaveric study.

Chondral lesions frequently occur in different topographic locations of the knee. This study evaluated the functional properties among the articulating surfaces of the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints, and whether neo-cartilage engineered using chondrocytes from different knee locations would reflect these differences. The biomechanical properties of bovine cartilage isolated from eight locations within the tibiofemoral (medial and lateral condyle, medial and lateral tibial plateau) and patellofemoral joints (medial and lateral trochlea, medial and lateral patella) were examined. Tensile Young's moduli (tensile moduli) and aggregate moduli of the medial condyle were lower than those of the medial tibial plateau (6.11 ± 0.89 MPa vs. 7.19 ± 1.05 MPa, p = 0.04 and 354.4 ± 38.3 kPa vs. 419.4 ± 31.3 kPa, p = 0.002, respectively). Patella tensile and compressive moduli were lower than the trochlea (4.79 ± 2.01 MPa vs. 6.91 ± 2.46 MPa, p = 0.01 and 337.4 ± 37.2 kPa vs. 389.1 ± 38.3 kPa, p = 0.0005, respectively). Furthermore, chondrocytes from the above locations were used to engineer neo-cartilage, and its respective properties were evaluated. In neo-cartilage, medial condyle tensile and aggregate moduli were lower than in the medial tibial plateau (0.96 ± 0.23 MPa vs. 1.31 ± 0.31 MPa, p = 0.02, and 115.8 ± 26.0 kPa vs. 160.8 ± 18.8 kPa, p = 0.001, respectively). Compared to trochlear chondrocytes, neo-cartilage formed from patellar chondrocytes exhibited lower tensile and compressive moduli (1.16 ± 0.27 MPa vs. 0.74 ± 0.25 MPa, p < 0.001, and 109.1 ± 24.0 kPa vs. 82.5 ± 18.1 kPa, p < 0.001). A significant degree of disparity in biomechanical properties of the opposing articular surfaces was detected; the medial condyle and patella exhibited inferior properties compared to the opposing medial tibial plateau and trochlea, respectively. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2452-2464, 2017.
Aerosol administration increases the efficacy of oseltamivir for the treatment of mice infected with influenza viruses

Oseltamivir is an influenza neuraminidase inhibitor that along with supportive therapy has shown to help critically ill patients infected with H7N9 and H1N1pdm influenza virus strains to recover from disease. The standard of care recommends the administration of oseltamivir via oral route which represents difficulties in patients with gastrointestinal complications. Here we tested the use of aerosol administration of oseltamivir to treat mice infected with influenza A/H7N9 virus or influenza A/H1N1pdm virus and directly compared this approach to the standard of care, oral administration. Using nose only delivery of aerosolized oseltamivir we observed a significant increase in efficacy of the treatment compared to oral administration characterized by reduced body weight loss, increased survival rate and dose sparing. The preclinical data presented here supports the possibility of using this approach in clinical settings.
Constructing Leadership Development:Pedagogies of Women’s and General Leadership Development

In this study, we analyze descriptions of women’s and general leadership development programs to make transparent the pedagogies that construct how women and general audiences learn to lead. Extant...
Hospice or community network? Choices in end-of-life care in Jamaica.

Aim Now considered a subspecialty of medicine and nursing, palliative care is a critical aspect of healthcare at the end of life. National and international healthcare agencies typically attribute its slow or haphazard growth in developing countries to various resource constraints. However, this study provides evidence of the substantial and widening gap between policy advocacy and patient choices in end-of-life care. It does so by establishing the incentives and risks that underlie decision-making by patients and providers against the relative scarcity of palliative care and hospices in these countries. Methods Jamaica offers an illustrative case. It shares the socioeconomic conditions and isolated provision of hospice and palliative care that remain prevalent in many developing countries. Empirical information was collected from all Jamaican hospices, along with agency and media reports, for comparative institutional analysis. Results Financial and infrastructural challenges hamper hospice expansion and integration into formal healthcare systems in developing countries. Yet, other equally vital considerations are too often neglected. These include the high transaction costs of decision-making, which account for limited hospice accessibility, affordability, and efficiency, particularly to underserved populations. Risk and payoff calculations by patients and their families as well as hospices and their providers lead to two strategic options in maximizing hospice value and/or minimizing transaction costs in end-of-life care. Conclusion Policy formulation and advocacy for hospice and palliative care should match aggregate demand. The socio-cultural milieu of care is critical and should be equally considered. Otherwise, providing and expanding free or subsidized palliative care at the end-of-life stage can become cost-inefficient relative to robust family and grassroots community networks.