cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The biomechanics of situational baseball: Execution and perception of left-handed pitchers' simulated pick-off moves to first base

The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth analysis of the pick-off play in baseball. Ten collegiate left-handed pitchers and nine base-runners participated in this study. The pitchers were videotaped with four cameras to derive three-dimensional data while performing deliveries in the directions of first base and home plate in a laboratory setting. Deliveries were performed from flat ground. Differences between these deliveries were measured through ten selected joint and segment angles. The base-runners completed two distinct procedures in which they viewed video footage of left-handed pitchers and estimated the intended delivery direction. Base-runners were subsequently interviewed to determine the reasoning behind their decisions. The pitchers' data revealed differences between delivery types in nearly all of the selected angles (P < 0.01). The base-runners' data demonstrated that their ability to discriminate delivery types improved when allowed more viewing time per trial (P < 0.01). Additiona...
The Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation in Stimulating Effective Corporate Entrepreneurship

This article discusses research that examines the relationship between a firm's entrepreneurial orientation and their overall performance. The authors note that firms that follow a strategy of corporate entrepreneurship are able to pursue growth through new venture opportunities and strategic renewal. Firms that are able to effectively follow this strategy experience sustainable advantages and yield above-average returns. They outline and discuss five dimensions of corporate entrepreneurship including autonomy, innovativness, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness and risk-taking. They examine what implications these strategies have for managers and identify areas of future research.
Novel Silicon Nitride Microstructures Through Processing of Phase Separated Polysilazane Gels

To date, processes used to synthesize to silicon nitride and silicon carbide ceramics from polysilazane preceramic polymers have focused on techniques which seek fully dense monoliths or matrices. An alternative approach, phase separation of polysilazane solutions using appropriate gelation agents, yields infusible preceramic monoliths having controlled two-phase microstructures. Subsequent removal of the solvent phase by supercritical fluid exchange leads to aerogels with defined pore structures. Controlled pore structures were explored as a means of providing diffusional pathways for reactant and product gases during pyrolysis. Resulting changes in the gel microstructure were followed by scanning electron microscopy and surface analysis by nitrogen desorption methods. It was found that micropores present in the unpyrolyzed gels are absent after pyrolysis, but that larger pore structures are maintained.
Negative phototropism in young gametophytes of the fern Schizaea pusilla

Schizaea pusilla is a rare fern that occurs in acidic bogs and is one of the few fern species that maintains a filamentous gametophyte throughout its development. To expand our knowledge of the physiology of this fern, phototropic responses were examined in young gametophytes. In contrast to germ filaments of other fern species, apical protonemata of young gametophytes are negatively phototropic in continuous white, red and blue light at all fluence rates tested. The expression of phototropic curvature is not limited by time since apical protonemata are also negatively phototropic when they are given brief exposures of light and then placed in the dark. In other lower plant groups such as mosses and some algae, the direction of phototropic curvature can change depending on light quality and intensity, but in young gametophytes of Schizaea, negative phototropic curvature was observed in all conditions studied. Blue light is the most effective in promoting the negative phototropic response in Schizaea.
DIFFERENCES IN ILL-STRUCTURED PROBLEM SOLVING ALONG THE ORGANIZATIONAL HIERARCHY

Problems are structured when they are repetitive, routine, and well-defined. Standardized approaches including habit, tradition, standard operating procedures, and sophisticated analytical models are frequently used. Problems are ill-structured when they are novel, one of a kind, unfocused, and complex. Depending on the level in the organization in which the ill-structured problems occur, different problem-solving processes may be utilized. The Dewey and Dewey-Bentley models are proposed as general methodologies for solving operating problems at the lower levels of the organization. Simon's decision-process trichotomy is proposed as a methodology for solving strategic problems at the upper levels of the organization. Allison's three conceptual models are suggested as descriptive frameworks for understanding Simon's decision process. Based upon Allison's work, a normative model of strategic problem solving is developed.
A new fault-tolerant network architecture: a composite banyan network

A new fault-tolerant architecture in multistage interconnection networks, called the composite banyan network, is proposed. The network is constructed by superimposing the reverse banyan network onto the banyan network. Basic building blocks in the composite banyan network are 3/spl times/3 switching elements (SEs) with log/sub 2/N stages. The major advantage of the composite banyan network over the existing networks with 3/spl times/3 SEs is an efficient and fast control algorithm to set up a path between any source and destination pair. Instead of complex numerical calculations, the network can easily generate a primary routing tag and alternate tags through simple binary operations. It is shown that there exist at least two totally disjoint paths between any source and destination pair, which increases the degree of fault tolerance. In order to increase the possibility of some frequently used permutations, a modified network is also proposed. >
A posteriori error estimation and adaptive computation of viscoelastic fluid flow

In this paper, we develop a posteriori error estimates for Finite Element (FE) approximations of viscoelastic fluid flows governed by differential constitutive laws of Giesekus and Oldroyd-B type. We use the general framework developed by Verfurth for constructing residual based a posteriori error estimates for nonlinear equations. Numerical experiments using adaptive computations demonstrating the effectiveness of these error estimates are then presented for three examples. The first two examples are problems with known solutions and the third example is, a benchmark problem, the channel flow with a cylindrical obstacle problem.
Mesenteric pseudoaneurysm resulting from septic embolism

Symptomatic peripheral septic embolism is a rare systemic complication of infective endocarditis. This case report describes abdominal pain secondary to a septic pseudoaneurysm in the distal superior mesenteric artery. Presentation, imaging, surgical intervention, and histologic evaluation are described, and a review of recent literature relating to this phenomenon is outlined.
Prediction of Chemical Vapor Deposition Rates on Monofilaments and Its Implications for Fiber Properties

Deposition rates are predicted in a cylindrical upflow reactor designed for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on monofilaments. Deposition of silicon from silane in a hydrogen carrier gas is chosen as a relevant example. The effects of gas and surface chemistry are studied in a two-dimensional axisymmetric flow field for this chemically well-studied system. Model predictions are compared to experimental CVD rate measurements. The differences in some physical and chemical phenomena between such small diameter (about 150 microns) fiber substrates and other typical CVD substrates are highlighted. The influence of the Soret mass transport mechanism is determined to be extraordinarily significant. The difficulties associated with the accurate measurement and control of the fiber temperature are discussed. Model prediction sensitivities are investigated with respect to fiber temperatures, fiber radii, Soret transport, and chemical kinetic parameters. The implications of the predicted instantaneous rates are discussed relative to the desired fiber properties for both the batch and the continuous processes.
Deposition of Tungsten Silicide Barrier Layers and Tungsten in Rectangular Vias

Diffusion-reaction analysis of a two step process in which a tungsten silicide barrier layer is deposited in a rectangular trench by low pressure dichlorosilane reduction of tungsten hexafluoride followed by a complete tungsten fill by low pressure hydrogen reduction of tungsten hexafluoride reveals that high step coverage and high deposition rate can be readily achieved with logical selection of process parameters. This fact, coupled with the potential for accomplishing these deposition steps in the same single wafer reactor, suggests that this two step process may offer a high throughput alternative to blanket tungsten deposition by silane reduction.
Recent results from the InP homojunction cell module on the LIPS III spacecraft

The flight performance of the NASA Lewis Research Center's indium phosphide homojunction solar cell module on the LIPS III spacecraft is presented. Four n/sup +/-p diffused junction cells, an early product of an InP development program, were flown. The voltage range of the data prohibits determination of the open-circuit voltage or the maximum power point. However, analysis of the 32 months of short-circuit current data reveals a slight increase, not the 4% decrease expected from radiation tolerance studies. This increase may be due to continual cleaning of possible prelaunch dust contamination or changes in data acquisition system calibration. For all cells, the average short-circuit current remains below prelaunch values. >
Expression Analysis of Macrodactyly Identifies Pleiotrophin Upregulation

Macrodactyly is a rare family of congenital disorders characterized by the diffuse enlargement of 1 or more digits. Multiple tissue types within the affected digits are involved, but skeletal patterning and gross morphological features are preserved. Not all tissues are equally involved and there is marked heterogeneity with respect to clinical phenotype. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these growth disturbances offer unique insight into normal limb growth and development, in general. To date, no genes or loci have been implicated in the development of macrodactyly. In this study, we performed the first transcriptional profiling of macrodactyly tissue. We found that pleiotrophin (PTN) was significantly overexpressed across all our macrodactyly samples. The mitogenic functions of PTN correlate closely with the clinical characteristics of macrodactyly. PTN thus represents a promising target for further investigation into the etiology of overgrowth phenotypes.
Scheduling products with bills of materials using an improved Lagrangian relaxation technique

A bill of materials specifies the sequence in which parts are to be processed and assembled in order to manufacture a deliverable product. In practice, a bill of materials may be quite complex, involving hundreds of parts to be processed on a number of limited resources, making scheduling difficult. This has forced many practitioners to turn to Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and heuristic rules to perform scheduling. These methods are seldom integrated, resulting in unreliable completion times for products and, hence, low customer satisfaction. This paper addresses the issue of integrally scheduling parts that are related through a bill of materials for the purpose of improving the on-time performance of products as well as reducing work-in-process (WIP) inventory. The technique presented here is based on an existing Lagrangian relaxation (LR) approach for the scheduling of independent parts in a job shop. An auxiliary problem formulation with a modified subgradient method is adopted to improve the computation time of the existing LR approach. This improved LR approach allows the bill of material constraints to be considered directly in the problem formulation. >
The Beta-actin Gene in Esocids and Independent Evolution of the Actin Gene Family Members

ABSTRACT The five species in the genus Esox are popular gamefish that form a unique phylogenetic group based on their characteristic duckbill morphology as well as recent molecular data. To better understand the inter-specific relationships in this genus, the beta-actin gene was isolated from each of the five species, and sequence comparisons were carried out for nucleotide and amino acid positions within the gene. Additionally, an internal region of each actin gene family member was sequenced from Esox masquinongy. In contrast to published reports on Takifugu rubripes, where nine actin genes were identified, only six actin genes were detected in the esocids. The similarity and differences between these family members is outlined and the evolution of the actins is discussed. The significant intronic divergence between the actin family members among the five Esox species makes multi-actin gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a potential diagnostic marker for species within a genus, and sug...
An Irrigation Canal as a Lotic Mesocosm: Examining the Relationship between Macroinvertebrate Benthos and Drift

Abstract. We explored the notion that small canals could be good experimental proxies of streams by documenting physiochemical parameters and macroinvertebrate community development in an aridland irrigation canal. Further, we tested the production-compensation hypothesis between benthic invertebrates and invertebrates in the water column (drift). If the hypothesis held, invertebrates in the drift would be low until the benthic carrying capacity was reached; then organisms in the drift would increase as individuals avoided overcrowded conditions in the substrate. In a small, naturalized freshwater canal, we sampled macroinvertebrates in the substrate and those in the drift once every 2 weeks over 170 days (May–October). We placed macroinvertebrates into functional feeding groups (FFG) and examined these groups along with total density and taxa richness. We found no density-dependent relationship either in FFG or total density between the benthos and invertebrates in the drift. Our negative results might i...
Workability and Requests for Flexible Work Arrangements Among Older Adults The Role of a Time and Place Management Intervention

This article investigates the effect of an intervention on the workability of older adults (i.e., the competence, health, and other mental and physical characteristics that workers need to meet the demands of their jobs). We used data from health care workers ( N = 437) who participated in a "time and place management" (TPM) intervention. Although related to flexible work options that aim to give workers more choice and control over the time and place of their work, TPM is conceptually distinct in that it focuses on the processes and guidelines necessary to the successful management of choice and control rather than the options alone. We focused on how the TPM intervention moderated the relationship between age and workability over time, with a particular focus on variation by baseline workability. Our results indicated that the intervention can benefit older workers with low workability.
CEO Succession: A 20 Year Review and Typology

This review conducts a comprehensive analysis, and develops a complete typology of the CEO succession literature. It reviews what is known about the causes of CEO succession, the CEO succession pro...
Topography of Covert Visual Attention in Human Superior Colliculus

Experiments were performed to examine the topography of covert visual attention signals in human superior colliculus (SC), both across its surface and in its depth. We measured the retinotopic organization of SC to direct visual stimulation using a 90° wedge of moving dots that slowly rotated around fixation. Subjects (n = 5) were cued to perform a difficult speed-discrimination task in the rotating region. To measure the retinotopy of covert attention, we used a full-field array of similarly moving dots. Subjects were cued to perform the same speed-discrimination task within a 90° wedge-shaped region, and only the cue rotated around fixation. High-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI, 1.2 mm voxels) data were acquired throughout SC. These data were then aligned to a high-resolution T1-weighted reference volume. The SC was segmented in this volume so that the surface of the SC could be computationally modeled and to permit calculation of a depth map for laminar analysis. Retinotopic maps were obtained for both direct visual stimulation and covert attention. These maps showed a similar spatial distribution to visual stimulation maps observed in rhesus macaque and were in registration with each other. Within the depth of SC, both visual attention and stimulation produced activity primarily in the superficial and intermediate layers, but stimulation activity extended significantly more deeply than attention.
Optical Interconnects for High Performance Data Processing Systems

The interconnection of many processors in order to increase the computing power of the ensemble is a growing theme in the data processing industry [1]. These processors may be within modules on a common board, on seperate boards within a common frame, or in seperate frames distributed in a room or building. A key element of this “computer complex” is the network which allows efficient data transfers. These data processing networks are differentiated from data communications networks by a demand for fast data transfer, so that the processors and memory at the nodes can interact in times measured in about 1–1000 machine cycles. Machine cycle times might be from tens to hundreds of nanoseconds, and the amount of data transferred might be measured in Kilobytes [2]. This implies both a fast and a high bandwidth technology for implementing these interconnections, as well as a limited link distance. The VLSI IC technology and associated dense electrical chip packaging which has made such powerful computing nodes possible, also implies a requirement for dense packaging of the optical link adapter, for compatability [3]. The multiprocessor complex has very high requirements on reliability, leading to low tolerance for component failure or erroneous data transmission. Eight year life, with failure rates less than 0.01%/Khr, and link bit error rates less than 1 in 10 15 are not uncommon requirements [4]. The performance and cost of these networks are often determined by the wiring technology chosen, specifically the electronics and opto-electronics of the interfaces at the network's nodes. Optical interconnections are potentially attractive for this application, but the requirements on optical, electrical and associated packaging technologies are significantly different than the technology which has been developed for the data communications applications. [4, 5].
Influence of Ovipositional Resource Quality on Fecundity of the Seedcorn Fly (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

In the presence of ample food and water, host-deprived seedcorn fly, Delia platura (Meigen), females laid half as many eggs during their lifetimes as did flies exposed to germinating lima beans, which provide strong ovipositional stimuli for seedcorn flies. In addition, host-deprived D. platura matured eggs at about half the rate of undeprived flies and took twice as long to begin ovipositing. We conclude that germinating lima beans acted as a strong reproductive “primer” for seedcorn fly females. Seedcorn flies exposed to beans until 2 d after first oviposition and then offered only moist sand as ovipositional sites deposited eggs at half the rate of their undeprived counterparts for 4 d; for the remaining 6 d of the experiment, egg deposition for the host-deprived group rebounded to 22 eggs per d. Although compensations in release rates for well-primed D. platura can occur in a few days, the cumulative effects of depriving D. platura of highly suitable ovipositional sites are pronounced over a lifetime, giving credence to the notion that highly unpreferred host plants might exhibit partial resistance in a no-choice situation.
How does Interest in a Work Task Impact Search Behavior and Engagement

One goal of using simulated work tasks in interactive information retrieval (IIR) experiments is to create a more relevant and interesting search experience for study participants. However, there is not much guidance about how to identify interesting tasks or how interest in a task impacts search behaviors and experiences, which is the purpose of this study. In this study, we created eight work tasks and asked forty participants to rank these tasks from most interesting to least interesting before they came into the lab for an IIR experiment. During the experiment, we asked participants to conduct searches for the two tasks they ranked as most interesting and the two they ranked as least interesting. Participants completed pre- and post-search questionnaires to characterize their interests in the tasks and their search experiences, including engagement. Participants rated their interest, prior knowledge and search experience, and the relevancy of interesting tasks significantly higher than uninteresting tasks. They also predicted these tasks would be significantly less difficult to complete. Participants reported significantly greater engagement with interesting tasks and they spent longer completing these tasks. However, there were no significant differences in participants' search behaviors including number of queries issued, number of SERPs, or number of documents bookmarked. These results provide evidence that our method of assigning tasks to participants that would interest and engage them, at least cognitively, if not behaviorally, was somewhat successful. This method can be used by others conducting laboratory IIR studies.
Book Review: Lessons in Censorship: How Schools and Courts Subvert Students’ First Amendment Rights (Catherine J. Ross)

This book review of Catherine Ross's Lessons in Censorship places issues involving the free speech rights of public school students in the context of family law.
Sildenafil and prostaglandin E_1 treated pulmonary hypertension on piglet model

Objectives To investigate the effects of intravenous sildenafil on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in a piglet model of acute pulmonary hypertension secondary to meconium aspiration,to compare these effects of prostaglandin E1 and the combination of sildenafil and prostaglandin E1. Methods Pulmonary hypertension was induced in 24 piglets by endotracheal instillation of human meconium. Animals were assigned to four groups randomly after meconium aspiration over 2 hours. Each group had six piglets. Group A received no any additional intervention,group B received an infusion of intravenous sildenail 2 mg/kg for 2 hours,group C received continually intravenous infusion prostaglandin E1 20 ng/kg per min for 2 hours,group D received both of what were done in A and B groups. Results All piglets′ pulmonary artery pressure (PAP),pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and the rate of pulmonary-to-systemic vascular resistance (PVR/SVR) increased remarkably after meconium aspiration over 2 hours. There was no further change of the PAP,PVR and PVR/SVR of group A after medicine intervention. Those of group B and D decreased remarkably. The cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) of group B and D increased at the same time. Similar changes were seen in both group B and D. PAP,PVR,PVR/SVR of group C also decreased,but less than those of group B and D. CO and CI in group C were not improved. Conclusions Sildenafil decreases PAP and PVR,improves heart function,unchanges systemic hemodynamics. Its potency is stronger than that of prostaglandin E1 at this experiment dosage. Effects can be augdmented under combination of two drugs.
Learning actions and action verbs from human-agent interaction

The goal of my research is to design agents that learn from human-agent interaction. Specifically, I am interested in acquisition of procedural, conceptual and linguistic knowledge related to novel actions from humanagent collaborative task execution.
Predictors of medication adherence: fact or artifact

Numerous studies have examined socio-demographic, psychosocial, and other factors as potential contributors to poor adherence. Variability exists in the strength and consistency of findings. We speculated that the method of measuring adherence might be a factor in the variability in identification of predictor variables. We examined the identification of predictors of adherence by method of measurement in two randomized, controlled trials of adherence interventions. Both studies used the Aardex Medication Event Monitor and the Morisky Self-Report Scale. Twenty-one days of baseline data from 698 subjects were examined in relation to measures of depression, functional status, perceived therapeutic efficacy, number of co-morbidities, and socio-demographic indices. Analysis included Spearman rho, Pearson r, and multiple logistic regression. Differences in the identification of predictors between adherence measurement methods were identified. These data support the hypothesis that different measurement methods yield different predictors of adherence.
Effects of dipyridamole on heart muscle mitochondria.

Previously reported beneficial effects of dipyridamole on "damaged" mitochondria have not been confirmed in these experiments. Dipyridamole, in fact, has specific stimulatory or inhibitory effects on mitochondrial respiration depending on which segment of the electron transport chain is predominant. It is postulated that dipyridamole inhibits respiration by accepting electrons from NADH, thus competing with the main electron transport pathway for electrons. The drug is also capable of interacting with a highenergy intermediate when succinate is the substrate, resulting in an "uncoupling-like" action.
Cross-Cultural Sex Differences in Post-Conflict Affiliation following Sports Matches

The nature of ancestral human social structure and the circumstances in which men or women tend to be more cooperative are subjects of intense debate. The male warrior hypothesis proposes that success in intergroup contests has been vital in human evolution and that men therefore must engage in maximally effective intragroup cooperation [1-3]. Post-conflict affiliation between opponents is further proposed to facilitate future cooperation [4], which has been demonstrated in non-human primates [5] and humans [6]. The sex that invests more in post-conflict affiliation, therefore, should cooperate more. Supportive evidence comes from chimpanzees, a close genetic relative to humans that also engages in male intergroup aggression [7]. Here we apply this principle to humans by testing the hypothesis that among members of a large community, following a conflict, males are predisposed to be more ready than females to repair their relationship via friendly contact. We took high-level sports matches as a proxy for intragroup conflict, because they occur within a large organization and constitute semi-naturalistic, standardized, aggressive, and intense confrontations. Duration or frequency of peaceful physical contacts served as the measure of post-conflict affiliation because they are strongly associated with pro-social intentions [8, 9]. Across tennis, table tennis, badminton, and boxing, with participants from 44 countries, duration of post-conflict affiliation was longer for males than females. Our results indicate that unrelated human males are more predisposed than females to invest in a behavior, post-conflict affiliation, that is expected to facilitate future intragroup cooperation.
Spectral anomaly detection with machine learning for wilderness search and rescue

In wilderness search and rescue missions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may be deployed to collect high-resolution imagery which is later reviewed by a first responder. The volume of images and the altitude from which they are taken makes manually identifying potential items of interest, like clothing or other man-made material, a difficult task. For this reason, we created a program that automatically detects unusually-colored objects in aerial imagery in order to assist responders in locating signs of missing persons. The program uses the Reed-Xiaoli (RX) spectral anomaly detection algorithm to determine which pixels in an image are anomalous and then generates an "anomaly map" where brighter pixels signify greater abnormality. While the RX algorithm has previously been proposed for search and rescue missions, up until now it has not been evaluated in a high-fidelity setting with real responders and real equipment. We tested the program on 150 aerial images taken over the Blanco River area in Hays County, Texas after the May 2015 flooding and demonstrated the results at a workshop on flooding hosted by Texas A&M's Center for Emergency Informatics. Early feedback from responders suggests that RX spectral anomaly detection is a valuable tool for quickly locating atypically-colored objects in images taken with UAVs for wilderness search and rescue.
Gathering the Potawatomi Nation: Revitalization and Identity

Review of: Gathering the Potawatomi Nation: Revitalization and Identity, by Christopher Wetzel.
The therapeutic discharge: An approach to dealing with deceptive patients

Abstract Objective Patients with factitious disorder or malingering behaviors pose particular problems in acute care settings. We sought to describe a manner to effectively discharge these patients and keep further harm, iatrogenic or otherwise, from being inflicted. Method Once an indication has been identified, the therapeutic discharge can be carried out in a stepwise fashion, resulting in a safe discharge. We outlined how to prepare for, and execute, the therapeutic discharge, along with preemptive consideration of complications that may arise. Results Consequences for the patient, physicians, and larger healthcare system are considered. Conclusion The therapeutic discharge is a safe and effective procedure for patients with deception syndromes in acute care settings. Carrying it out is a necessary element of psychiatric residency and psychosomatic medicine fellowship training.
Do Auditors Overemphasize Contextual Benchmarks? Archival Evidence on Contrast Effects in Auditors’ Assessment of Client Risk

As part of planning and performing financial statement audits, auditors must assess their clients’ risk. Assessed risk permeates the audit process, driving decisions regarding client retention, audit pricing, the extent of audit testing, and the nature of auditors’ written opinions. Although auditors aim to assess each client’s risk independently, prior research suggests that individuals draw on their idiosyncratic experiences and environments for benchmarks against which to contrast the case at hand. These “contrast effects” may skew auditors’ perceptions of risk, particularly if they rely on unrepresentative benchmark firms. I provide archival evidence consistent with this prediction. Using a large sample of public firms, I find that after controlling for clients’ actual risk, auditors more strictly constrain the use of discretionary accruals, are more likely to issue going concern opinions, and charge higher audit fees when clients appear riskier in the context of other clients audited by the same practice office. The reverse is true for clients that appear less risky in the context of other clients audited by the same practice office.
Transcriptomic changes in an animal-bacterial symbiosis under modeled microgravity conditions

Spaceflight imposes numerous adaptive challenges for terrestrial life. The reduction in gravity, or microgravity, represents a novel environment that can disrupt homeostasis of many physiological processes. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly clear that an organism’s microbiome is critical for host health and examining its resiliency in microgravity represents a new frontier for space biology research. In this study, we examine the impact of microgravity on the interactions between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri, which form a highly specific binary mutualism. First, animals inoculated with V. fischeri aboard the space shuttle showed effective colonization of the host light organ, the site of the symbiosis, during space flight. Second, RNA-Seq analysis of squid exposed to modeled microgravity conditions exhibited extensive differential gene expression in the presence and absence of the symbiotic partner. Transcriptomic analyses revealed in the absence of the symbiont during modeled microgravity there was an enrichment of genes and pathways associated with the innate immune and oxidative stress response. The results suggest that V. fischeri may help modulate the host stress responses under modeled microgravity. This study provides a window into the adaptive responses that the host animal and its symbiont use during modeled microgravity.
Pages to Come: Utopian Longing and the Merging of the Detective Story with the Artist’s Novel in Alice Notley’s Disobedience

This chapter examines how Alice Notley forges a utopian poetics from an unlikely fusion of the hard-boiled detective genre with the kunstlerroman, or artist’s novel. Lagapa contends that Notley draws on the detective novel to depict the utopian imagination: a detective’s sudden illumination into a mystery, as Ernst Bloch has argued, is equivalent to gaining utopian insight. The artist’s novel likewise yields a glimpse into the utopian, for its narrative also records an epiphany, leading to new a work of art and, potentially, a better future. Finding inspiration in the skeptical, acerbic figure of the hard-boiled detective, Notley herself experiences an artistic breakthrough, creating a disobedient poetics whose negative properties lead to a utopian discovery in the unwritten pages of her book.
Receptors make the pathway choice for protein degradation

Damaged or aggregated proteins and organelles accumulate with age and contribute to various age-related pathologies including Alzheimer, Parkinson or Huntington diseases. In eukaryotic cells, there are 2 major pathways for degradation of the cytoplasm: The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) and macroautophagy/autophagy. Both pathways can share the characteristic of initiating the process by ubiquitination of the substrate, but they utilize different ubiquitin receptors. In a paper described in a punctum in this issue, Lu et al. used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to demonstrate that the decision to use a particular pathway is made through a mechanism that depends on the receptors rather than the specific type of substrate ubiquitination.
Imaginary Engagement, Real-World Effects: Fiction, Emotion, and Social Cognition:

Prior research has shown that cumulative written fiction exposure is correlated with (Mar, Oatley, Hirsch, de la Paz, & Peterson, 2006; Mar, Oatley, & Peterson, 2009) and 1-time exposure to literar...
Outcomes of Buccinator Treatment With Botulinum Toxin in Facial Synkinesis

ImportanceThe buccinator, despite being a prominent midface muscle, has been previously overlooked as a target in the treatment of facial synkinesis with botulinum toxin. ObjectiveTo evaluate outco...
The Economic Organization of Extended Family Households by Race or Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status

This study examines differences in the amount of economic support or mutual benefit derived from extended family living arrangements by studying differences in monetary contributions to essential household expenditures across family units in extended family households. Using the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation, multivariate regression and selection models are estimated to assess racial differences in family contributions toward household expenses in extended family households. Extended family households have very unequal monetary contributions toward household rent and utilities, although Hispanics have less unequal monetary contributions when compared with other racial groups. Hispanic and Asian extended family households experience decreasing inequality in financial contributions as the income of each family increases, whereas no relationship between financial contributions and income is found for Whites or Blacks. This suggests a different cultural orientation to extended family living arrangements for Asians and Hispanics when compared with non-Hispanic Whites.
Energy and power savings assessment in buildings via conservation voltage reduction

This paper evaluates the potential energy and power savings from application of Conservation Voltage Reduction to buildings with load diversity. Slow and fast voltage change experiments were performed to develop regression models with which the conservation voltage reduction energy and power factors were evaluated on a subject building. Least mean squares algorithm was used for the estimation of these parameters. The experimental results of 6 months of recordings captures not only the enforced voltage changes but also the existing voltage deviations on a feeder, weather conditions and load patterns.
Communities and networks: using social network analysis to rethink urban and community studies

Communities are complex. How to study communities as an academic discipline appears to be even more complex. Sociologists, anthropologists, geographer, and urban studies scholars have had a rich hi...
Role of the visual environment in the formation of receptive fields according to the BCM theory.

Publisher Summary The Bienenstock, Cooper, and Munro (BCM) theory of synaptic plasticity models the development of orientation selectivity and binocular interaction in primary visual cortex, and has successfully reproduced kitten visual deprivation experiments. To better compare the consequences of the BCM theory with experiment, the original abstraction of the visual environment is replaced in this chapter by real visual images. Circular regions from the left and right retinas covering the same visual space are used to generate input to a single BCM neuron. The lateral geniculate nucleus is assumed to simply relay signals generated in the retina to the visual cortex. Each ganglion selects an antagonistic center-surround receptive field generated by a difference of two Gaussians, and ganglion cell activity is restricted to be positive. This extension allows the BCM neuron to be trained and tested with static real two-dimensional images. The visual environment is represented by 24 gray scale natural images, which can be shifted across the artificial retinas. In this environment, the BCM neuron develops receptive similar to simple cells found in primary visual cortex. It displays adjacent excitatory and inhibitory bands, when tested with spot stimuli, and orientation selectivity when tested with bar stimuli.
Absence of one component of spectrin adenosine triphosphatase in hereditary spherocytosis

The stimulation by calcium and magnesium of ATPase activity of isolated ghosts, of water-soluble protein (spectrin), and of residual vesicles, derived from normal erythrocytes and from hereditary spherocytes (H.S.), has been measured. The ATPase activity found in normal water-soluble protein (WSP) at low levels of calcium (0.1-2.0 mM) is essentially absent in H.S. water-soluble protein, but the ATPase activity with magnesium and with high levels of calcium (60-100 mM) is the same in H.S. and normal WSP. Compared to normal, H.S. ghosts have increased Mg2+-stimulated activity. This increased activity is retained by the sedimentable vesicles ("residue") after extraction of the ghosts with 0.025 mM EDTA. The Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase associated with the calcium pump is not significantly different in H.S.
Sampling, preservation, enumeration and biomass of marine protozooplankton

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the commonly used methods in marine studies. Although the chapter is directed primarily toward marine protozooplankton assemblages, many of the methods cited in the chapter may be modified, such as by using buffers, for application to freshwater organisms. There are many reasons to sample the protozooplankton. These organisms perform a number of functions in pelagic ecosystems. They are major grazers of bacteria and phytoplankton and are important nutrient recyclers. Forms such as plastidic ciliates, which contain functional chloroplasts or whole algal cells, are primary producers. As prey for higher order consumers, nano- and microzooplankton constitute a trophic link between the microbial loop and the classical metazoan food web. A quantitative evaluation of any of these functions requires accurate estimates of the numerical abundance and biomass of nano- and microzooplankton. To estimate abundance and biomass, it is necessary to collect—usually preserve—and enumerate the target organisms. With the exception of the sarcodines, collection methods are similar for the majority of nano- and microzooplankton taxa. Techniques of preservation and enumeration may differ for the nano- and microzooplankton, and in some cases are taxon-specific, depending on the objectives of the individual study. Alternatively, live counting may be done for some protozooplankton taxa.
Understanding the development of folk-economic beliefs.

Developmental psychology can shed light on (1) the intuitive systems that underlie folk-economic beliefs (FEBs), and (2) how FEBs are created and revised. Boyer & Petersen (B&P) acknowledge the first, but we argue that they do not seriously consider the second. FEBs vary across people (and within a person), and much of this variation may be explained by socialization, social context, and social learning.
Use of consciousness-enhancing medications in the traumatic brain injury patient

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients often experience an altered level of consciousness for some period of time, and deeply altered levels of consciousness may be classified as comatose or vegetative states. Some patients do not fit either of these categories, due to some level of preservation of self-awareness, and are defined as being in a minimally conscious state; patients may progress to this state from coma or vegetative state after a TBI. Understanding the criteria for each of these altered states is important for prognostication purposes. While a large proportion of patients with prolonged coma after a TBI will “awaken” within 1 year, many researchers have focused on utilization of pharmaceutical agents to hasten recovery of consciousness due to the propensity for complications and other deleterious issues associated with prolonged coma. However, as with all medications, the medications used have a side-effect profile that could certainly play a harmful role in recovery. In addition, limited data are available to suggest that these medications actually do aid TBI patients in their recovery. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the available evidence for conscious-enhancing medications for this use.
Dark Soliton and Cnoidal Wave Frequency Combs in Microresonators by Second Harmonic Generation

We study dark solitons and cnoidal waves frequency combs generated by second harmonic generation in microresonators. We obtain stable dark solitons and cnoidal waves when fundamental frequency and second harmonic in oppositely dispersive regimes.
Counter examples for unmatched projector/backprojector in an iterative algorithm

It is rather controversial whether it is justified to use an unmatched projector/backprojector pair in an iterative image reconstruction algorithm. One common concern of using an unmatched projector/backprojector pair is that the optimal solution cannot be reached. This concern is misleading and must be clarified. We define a figure-of-merit in the image domain as the distance between the reconstructed image and the true image, as the normalized mean-squared-error (NMSE). The NMSE is used to determine whether an unmatched matched projector/backprojector pair can provide a better image than a matched projector/backprojector pair. Hot and cold lesion’s contrast-to-noise ratio is also used as an alternative secondary figure-of-merit for algorithm comparison. Computer-generated counterexamples are used to test the performance for matched and unmatched projection/backprojection pairs for different reconstruction algorithms. The projectors are ray-driven, and the backprojectors are ray-driven and pixel-driven. For the attenuation-free data examples, the unmatched pixel-driven backprojector outperforms the matched ray-driven backprojector. For the attenuated data example, the matched ray-driven backprojector performs better. The ray-driven backprojector can be slightly improved by using an attenuation coefficient that is larger than the true one; in this case the backprojector becomes unmatched. Unmatched projector/backprojector pairs are fairly flexible. If the backprojector is properly chosen, good results can be obtained. However, we have not found a general rule to select a good backprojector.
Planar Vehicle Dynamics Using Bicycle Model

There is a limit to which a vehicle will remain directionally stable during a steering maneuver. Vehicle configuration factors like position of center of gravity and vehicle state factors like velocity and steer angles have a huge influence on the stability of a vehicle in motion. A lot of investments are made during a vehicle design process to make it stable and safe for occupants, which include study of dynamics of the vehicle configuration. This study of dynamics can be achieved by studying the equations of motion for that vehicle configuration and by performing actual road tests which could be expensive sometimes. Thus, the bicycle model discussed further is a quick and inexpensive way to analyze a vehicle configuration for its stability. Along with stability, the model can provide useful information like velocity vectors, yaw rates for a given input wheel torques, and steer angles. The model is developed by deriving equations of motion for a simple two-wheel vehicle setup. The paper discusses in detail the process of deriving equations for a bicycle model and the way in which various factors affect the vehicle turn responses.
On the characterization of linear habit formation

Habit formation models are widely used in macroeconomics and finance. However, little work has been done to characterize habit formation. In this paper, we provide a simple axiomatic foundation of linear habit formation models that satisfy the Markov (or memoryless) property. We also provide a method to characterize a general class of time-nonseparable but additive models that satisfy the Markov property.