cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of civil conflict on infant and child malnutrition, Nigeria, 2013

The new millennium brought renewed attention to improving the health of women and children. In this same period, direct deaths from conflicts have declined worldwide, but civilian deaths associated with conflicts have increased. Nigeria is among the most conflict-prone countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially recently with the Boko Haram insurgency in the north. This paper uses two data sources, the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey for Nigeria and the Social Conflict Analysis Database, linked by geocode, to study the effect of these conflicts on infant and young child acute malnutrition (or wasting). We show a strong association in 2013 between living close to a conflict zone and acute malnutrition in Nigerian children, with larger effects for rural children than urban children. This is related to the severity of the conflict, measured both in terms of the number of conflict deaths and the length of time the child was exposed to conflict. Undoubtedly, civil conflict is limiting the future prospects of Nigerian children and the country's economic growth. In Nigeria, conflicts in the north are expected to continue with sporadic attacks and continued damaged infrastructure. Thus, Nigerian children, innocent victims of the conflict, will continue to suffer the consequences documented in this study.
The Relationship Between Districts’ Teacher Salary Schedule Structures and the Qualifications of Their Teacher Staffing Profile

Many school administrators face difficulties hiring teachers with the requisite job credentials and qualifications. In this paper, we argue for the potential of salary structures to influence teacher staffing. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to examine whether restructuring teacher compensation salary schedules is associated with attracting larger shares of teachers with the necessary baseline qualifications for the job (i.e., “highly qualified teachers” or HQT) in anon-collective bargaining state. Fixed effects regression using panel data from 2012-2014 for 80 of SouthCarolina’s public school districts was used to address the purpose of the study. The percent of classes not taught by HQT was found to increase as districts become more backloaded. This provides supporting evidence concerning the benefits of frontloading salary schedules. Additionally, potential drawbacks of frontloading salary schedules should be examined to improve the knowledge base of the potential costs relative to benefits of frontloading salary structures.
Electrostatic interactions in proteins

Electrostatic interactions play a key role in determining the structure, stability, binding affinity and chemical properties, and hence the biological reactivity, of proteins and nucleic acids. The goal of electrostatic calculations is to take the structural information provided by crystallography or NMR and obtain a realistic description of the electrostatic potential distribution ϕ(r), energies and forces. Three problems must be solved to obtain the electrostatic potential distribution: modelling the macromolecular charge distribution; modelling the response of the macromolecule, water and solvent ions; and rapidly and accurately solving the electrostatic equations that determine the potential. The response arises from electronic polarization, reorientation of permanent dipolar groups and redistribution of mobile ions in the solvent. The most common theoretical approaches to modelling this response are briefly described, along with the methods used to obtain potential distributions, energies and forces. A summary of the theory behind application to three broad areas is presented: electrostatic potential distributions, charge (proton and electron) transfer equilibria, and electrostatic contributions to binding energies.
Discovery of proangiogenic CD44+mesenchymal cancer stem cells in an acute myeloid leukemia patient’s bone marrow

Here, we report a unique acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) with both mesenchymal and endothelial potential, which we have named Mesenchymal Cancer Stem Cells (MCSCs). These MCSCs are CD90-CD13-CD44+ and differ from MSCs in isolation, expansion, differentiation, immunophenotype, and cytokine release profile. Furthermore, blocking CD44 inhibited the proliferation and cluster formation of early MCSCs with lower ICAM-1 protein levels. Similar CD90-CD44+ cancer stem cells have been reported in both gastric and breast cancers, which grew in floating spheres in vitro and exhibited mesenchymal features and high metastatic/tumorigenic capabilities in vivo. Our novel discovery provides the first evidence that certain AMLs may be comprised of both hematopoietic and stromal malignant cells. Targeting MCSCs and their cytokine release has potential as a novel therapeutic approach in AML.
Retrofitting solar power plants with thermal energy storage

A thermal energy storage system module has been retrofitted into a validated system-level model of an existing concentrating solar power plant to evaluate the outcome of incorporating energy storage into its operation. The number of solar field loops had to be doubled to provide the proposed thermal energy storage system with heat leftover after delivering the heat demand of the power block. Most power block equipment were unaffected by the energy storage augmentation; however, the capacity of the heat transfer fluid pump was amplified to meet the increased circulation demand in the solar field. As a result of this thermal energy storage augmentation, electric power generation was increased and made more streamlined while idle time was reduced. Formulas to size thermal energy storage systems and solar fields are introduced. Sample results from the validated concentrating solar power plant model operating with and without the proposed thermal energy storage augmentation are presented.
E-012 Endovascular biopsy of vertebrobasilar aneurysm demonstrates differential expression of immunologic genes in polyarteritis nodosa patient

Introduction Personalized medicine refers to the practice of tailoring intervention to an individual based on their unique genotypic or phenotypic characteristics. Gene expression analysis of aneurysms compared to normal arteries is difficult because of risks associated with tissue collection. Endovascular biopsy is a low-risk alternative method for collecting endothelial cells from aneurysms and comparing them to the same patient’s non-aneurysmal endothelial cells. Methods A patient with a large, fusiform, partially thrombosed vertebrobasilar artery aneurysm was recruited for research study after institutional review board approval. We used simple endovascular techniques to collect cells from the patient’s vertebrobasilar artery aneurysm and their femoral artery during flow-diverting stent placement. The biopsied cells underwent fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate viable endotheilal cells. Then, RNA was extracted and cDNA libraries generated using the Smart-seq2 protocol on the Fluidigm C1 platform, followed by sequencing using a Illumina HiSeq2500. Gene expression levels were calculated and filtered as read per kilobase per million mapped reads (RPKM). Principal component analysis, differential gene expression analysis, gene ontology and biological pathway analysis was performed to identify candidate genes and expression pathways related to disease pathogenesis and potential medical therapy. Results Flow-diverting stents were placed in the ipsilateral vertebral artery, and the contralateral vertebral artery was occluded using coils. The vertebrobasilar aneurysm continued to grow and the patient suffered worsening mass effect on the brainstem before entering hospice care. Gene expression analysis identified significant differences in human leukocyte antigen gene complex series (HLAs) and interferon signaling exonuclease genes, implicating a strong role for the immune system in the progression of this patient’s aneurysms. In parallel, the patient underwent occipital artery to anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) bypass to treat a separate AICA aneurysm. Histologic evaluation of a resected occipital artery segment demonstrated necrotizing transmural vasculitis compatible with polyarteritis nodosa. Conclusion Endovascular biopsy can be performed to obtain aneurysmal tissue with low risk. Analysis of the collected endothelial cells may yield insight into disease pathogenesis and therapeutic alternatives. Disclosures K. Narsinh: None. K. Narsinh: None. D. McCoy: None. Z. Sun: None. E. Winkler: None. A. Abla: None. D. Cooke: None.
Vibration Test Design with Integrated Shaker Electro-Mechanical Models

Design of multi-shaker tests relies on locating shakers on the structure such that the desired vibration response is obtained within the shaker force, acceleration, voltage, and current requirements. While shaker electro-mechanical models can be used to relate the shaker force and acceleration to voltage and current requirements, they need to be integrated with a structural dynamics model of the device under test. This connection of a shaker to a structure is a substructuring problem, with the structure representing one component and the shaker representing a second component. Here, frequency based substructuring is used to connect a shaker electro-mechanical model to a model of device under test. This provides a straightforward methodology for predicting shaker requirements given a target vibration response in a multi-shaker test. Predictions of the coupled shaker-structure model yield the shaker force, acceleration, voltage and current requirements which can be compared with the shaker capabilities to choose optimal shaker locations.
Hippocrates’ Oath: Commitment and Community

In Hippocrates’ Oath and Asclepius’ Snake: The Birth of the Medical Profession, Thomas Cavanaugh focuses on performative aspects of the taking of the oath which bear upon the formation of that community we identify as the medical profession. In this paper, I suggest that we can go further than Cavanaugh does in identifying what the Hippocratic oath makes possible. Given its particular content and what it communicates, the oath makes possible, to a degree few other oaths could, and in a way which might be significantly impaired by the absence of an oath, the form of community we have come to call the physician-patient relationship. In Section I, I will discuss Cavanaugh’s treatment of the oath’s relationship to the community of medical professionals. In Section II, I discuss at a relatively abstract level the relationship between communication and community. In Section III I show how the oath can additionally constitute the primordial moment in the existence of the physician-patient relationship.
Smaller Drawdowns, Higher Average and Risk-adjusted Returns for Equity Portfolios, Using Options and Power-log Optimization Based on a Behavioral Model of Investor Preferences

We use a power-log utility optimization algorithm based on a behavioral model of investor preferences, along with either a call or a put option overlay, to reverse the negative skewness of monthly Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) index returns and to produce portfolios with smaller drawdowns and far higher risk-adjusted returns than the S&P 500 index. All the optimal portfolios have positively skewed returns, which are preferred by investors. Optimal portfolios containing the call have higher average returns than the S&P 500 index as well as much higher average and risk adjusted returns than portfolios containing the put, except for the most conservative portfolios.
A 26-to-60GHz Continuous Coupler-Doherty Linear Power Amplifier for Over-An-Octave Back-Off Efficiency Enhancement

It is envisioned that mm-wave wireless technologies will be the key enablers for 5G and beyond-5G wireless revolutions. To maximize the channel capacity, throughput, and frequency diversity, mm-wave wireless standards often mandate channels with GHz bandwidth (BW) over multiple non-contiguous bands. Also, as spectrally efficient highpeak-to-average power-ratio (PAPR) modulations such as OFDMs are widely employed, system dynamic range and linearity have become critical. Moreover, to compensate for the mm-wave path loss and enable diverse MIMO operations, there is an increasing need for complex high-density arrays with high system energy efficiency. These requirements have posed tremendous technical challenges on mm-wave front-ends, in particular PAs.
Green reentry: criminal justice reform for a just energy transition

Efforts to reform the USA's criminal justice system and to slow the effects of a changing climate are often deliberated, but rarely connected. Current legislative action to reduce recidivism—via the First Step Act of 2018—and a landmark proposal to reduce carbon emissions—the Green New Deal—dominate headlines and debate. Community engagement is a critical factor in ensuring these programs address distributive inequities and promote human well-being. In this paper, the authors propose a synergistic potential of strategic action on these two societal issues. An analysis and synthesis of the literature shows that vocational correctional programs in renewable energy emerge as a means to both reduce recidivism and set a path to a low-carbon future. We offer details on successful policies and programs supporting criminal justice reform and climate action and conclude by offering specific recommendations for legislation, hiring practices, and outreach.
Using Progressive Context Encoders for Anomaly Detection in Digital Pathology Images

Whole slide imaging (WSI) is transforming the practice of pathology, converting a qualitative discipline into a quantitative one. However, one must exercise caution in interpreting algorithm assertions, particularly in pathology where an incorrect classification could have profound impacts on a patient, and rare classes exist that may not have been seen by the algorithm during training. A more robust approach would be to identify areas of an image for which the pathologist should concentrate their effort to make a final diagnosis. This anomaly detection strategy would be ideal for WSI, but given the extremely high resolution and large file sizes, such an approach is difficult. Here, we combine progressive generative adversarial networks with a flexible adversarial autoencoder architecture capable of learning the "normal distribution" of WSIs of normal skin tissue at extremely high resolution and demonstrate its anomaly detection performance. Our approach yielded pixel-level accuracy of 89% for identifying melanoma, suggesting that our label-free anomaly detection pipeline is a viable strategy for generating high quality annotations - without tedious manual segmentation by pathologists. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/Steven-N-Hart/P-CEAD.
Advancing Monolayer 2D NMOS and PMOS Transistor Integration From Growth to van der Waals Interface Engineering for Ultimate CMOS Scaling

2D-material channels enable ultimate scaling of MOSFET transistors and will help Moore’s Law Scaling for decades. We demonstrate the state of both n and p-MOSFETs using monolayer TMD channels of sub-1nm thickness and manufacturable CVD, MBE or seeded growth. NMOS devices on transferred MBE MoS 2 using novel contact metal show low variation, one of the lowest reported contact resistances (R c ) of 0.4 kΩ.μm, low hysteresis, and good subthreshold slope (SS) of 77 mV/dec. PMOS devices using CVD WSe 2 show 89 mV/dec SS, best reported for PMOS on grown films, but on-current remains behind NMOS. Transfer-free, area-selective WS 2 transistors achieve 10 μA/μm on-current, highest reported on WS 2 using seeded growth. A new capacitance method is shown to monitor 2D material contact interface quality. Gate-oxide interface engineering through metal seeding and ALD demonstrates that a single 2D channel material can selectively make PMOS or NMOS transistors, alike Si CMOS.
Psychology Within and Without the State.

Psychological research in small-scale societies is crucial for what it stands to tell us about human psychological diversity. However, people in these communities, typically Indigenous communities ...
40 – Gender Considerations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. The two principal forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. Although Crohn's disease and UC generally have a similar incidence in men and women, some studies suggest a slight male predominance in UC and a slight female predominance in Crohn's disease. The etiology of IBD is yet to be determined, but it is likely a combination of environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors. Genetic predisposition appears to be an important factor in its pathogenesis and is likely a complex non-Mendelian inheritance. Certain features of UC and Crohn's disease such as erythema nodosum and ocular manifestations are more likely to occur in women. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ankylosing spondylitis are more common in men. One study of mesalamine for UC maintenance suggested male non-adherence to therapy. Much more work is needed regarding gender differences in clinical presentation of IBD. Some of the areas that this chapter highlights are fertility, osteoporosis, and management of IBD during pregnancy.
Coulometric titration with electrogenerated +2 tin: Determination of iodine, bromine, and various oxidants via iodometry

The use of electrolytically generated +2 tin as a coulometric titrant has been studied. In a 3 to 4M sodium bromide and 0.2N hydrochloric acid solution, containing 0.2M stannie chloride, the generation of stannous ion is 100% efficient up to a current density of 80 mA/cm2. With this medium iodine and bromine can be titrated coulometrically with errors of about ±0.3% or less. The titration is well suited for the iodometric determination of strong oxidants. Employing stannous ion and bromine for direct and reverse titrations, quinone and hydroquinone have been titrated.
The effect of adaptive sports on employment among people with disabilities

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of adaptive sport in predicting employment for individuals with physical disabilities. Method: This study is cross-sectional. We collected survey data on employment and other covariates including education, age, age at disability onset, veteran status and athletic classification from 140 mobility impaired athletes who play either wheelchair rugby or wheelchair basketball. Results: One hundred and thirty-one participants were studied. Our analysis shows that playing an additional year of adaptive sport is associated with an approximately 4% increase in likelihood of employment. Education and duration of disability are found to be positive predictors of employment, while veteran status and severity of injury are negative predictors of employment. Age of disability onset is not found to be a predictor of employment when other controls are included. Conclusions: This result indicates that a substantial economic benefit would result from increas...
Theory of microwave remote sensing

Active and passive microwave remote sensing of earth terrains is studied. Electromagnetic wave scattering and emission from stratified media and rough surfaces are considered with particular application to the remote sensing of soil moisture. Radiative transfer theory for both the random and discrete scatterer models is examined. Vector radiative transfer equations for nonspherical particles are developed for both active and passive remote sensing. Single and multiple scattering solutions are illustrated with applications to remote sensing problems. Analytical wave theory using the Dyson and Bethe-Salpeter equations is employed to treat scattering by random media. The backscattering enhancement effects, strong permittivity fluctuation theory, and modified radiative transfer equations are addressed. The electromagnetic wave scattering from a dense distribution of discrete scatterers is studied. The effective propagation constants and backscattering coefficients are calculated and illustrated for dense media.
EAD Tag Usage: Community Analysis of the Use of Encoded Archival Description Elements

Encoded Archival Description has been actively implemented for more than 15 years. Research around EAD has focused on implementation and user interaction. Encoding behavior, through the analysis of a sample of finding aids, is presented here to describe the general use of elements and attributes across the EAD structure. In total, 108 repositories submitted up to 15 finding aids for the analysis; 1,136 finding aids comprise the entire sample. Descriptive statistics on element and attribute usage are presented as well as commentary on the overall picture of EAD encoding evident in the sample.
Pharmacoeconomics of inhaled anesthetic agents: considerations for the pharmacist

PURPOSE: Types of economic analyses used for inhaled anesthetic agents, factors to consider in calculating the cost of inhaled anesthetics, limitations of pharmacoeconomic studies of these agents, and strategies for controlling inhaled anesthetic costs are discussed. SUMMARY: Inhaled anesthetic agents comprise a substantial component of drug budgets. Calculation of the cost of administering an inhaled anesthetic should take into consideration the cost per mL, potency, waste, concentration and duration of gas delivery, fresh gas flow rate, molecular weight, and density. The use of newer inhaled anesthetic agents with low solubility in blood and tissue provides a more rapid recovery from anesthesia than older, more soluble agents, and also provides the same level of control of depth of anesthesia at a lower fresh gas flow rate and possibly a lower cost than older agents at a higher fresh gas flow rate. A more rapid recovery may facilitate fast-track recovery and yield cost savings if it allows the completion of additional surgical cases or allows a reduction in personnel overtime expenses. Interpretation of pharmacoeconomic studies of inhaled anesthetics requires an appreciation of the limitations in methodology and ability to extrapolate results from one setting to another. Pharmacists' efforts to reduce anesthetic waste and collaborate with anesthesiologists to improve the use of these agents can help contain costs, but improving scheduling and efficiency in the operating room has a greater potential to reduce operating room costs. CONCLUSION: Much can be done to control costs of anesthetic agents without compromising availability of these agents and patient care.
Specific Examples of Critical Path Analysis

Known applications of critical path analysis that demonstrate its successful predictions in the electrical conductivity of amorphous semiconductors are reviewed. Then complications in its application to the saturated hydraulic conductivity are discussed. The saturation dependence of the hydraulic conductivity is then derived. General tendencies of the dependence of the effective conductivity with disorder in local conductance distributions and with dimensionality of conduction are discussed. The Matheron conjecture from stochastic subsurface hydrology is then placed in context. The chapter concludes with a discussion of why power-law averaging techniques can never reproduce the appropriate behavior of the conductivity in systems with a bimodal distribution of local conductance values.
First-trimester prediction of preterm birth using ADAM12, PAPP-A, uterine artery Doppler, and maternal characteristics.

Objective To estimate the efficiency of first-trimester ADAM12, PAPP-A, uterine artery Doppler and maternal characteristics in the prediction of preterm birth (PTB).
Performance Characteristics of the World Wide Web

The Web is a distributed client-server system on a scale greater than any other. Its large scale and increasingly important role in society make it an important object of study and evaluation. In recent years a large literature on the performance of the Web has developed. At the time of writing (1999) there are workshops, conferences, journals, and books whose focus is on of performance evaluation of the Web—encompassing protocols, servers and clients [1,2,3,4,5,28].
An Empirical Examination of the Influence of Organizational Culture on Knowledge Management Practices

Knowledge management to facilitate the creation, storage, transfer, and application of knowledge in organizations has received wide attention in practice and research in the past several years. Often cited as a significant challenge in knowledge management practices is the issue of organizational culture. Although many studies raise the issue of organizational culture's influence on knowledge management success, few investigate the way in which this influence manifests itself. This paper aims to explore how organizational culture influences knowledge management practices. Using a case study method, we examine the cultural values and knowledge management approaches within a large global information services company and one of its knowledge communities. The findings highlight the influence of culture on the use of knowledge management technologies and the outcomes of such use.
Extraction and identification of barbiturates

Abstract The principles and practice of the application of fractional extraction to the isolation and identification of drugs and their metabolic products have been discussed with special reference to the barbiturates. The measurement of partition coefficients in dilute solutions (about 5 μg./ml.) with the aid of ultraviolet spectrophotometry is described, and implemented as an aid in identification by the presentation of original data for a dozen common barbiturates and several other common drugs. It is suggested that refinement and extension of the data and technique should make this a more and more useful tool in both toxicological and research investigations.
Ultraviolet light stability of composite resins

Abstract The ultraviolet light color stability of seven commercial composite resins was evaluated after 1, 8, and 15 days of exposure. Color differences between exposed and unexposed specimens stored for identical time periods were determined. Samples exposed to ultraviolet light showed large changes in Munsell Hue and Chroma, with smaller but significant changes in Value. Unexposed samples showed small changes in the Munsell components in some cases opposite those observed for the exposed samples. Statistical analysis showed that although significant color changes were observed, brands of composite resins could not be distinguished by length of storage in the dark. Time of exposure was a significant variable at 24 hours and 8 days. At 15 days a number of composite resins did not undergo additional significant color change. Scanning electron microscope showed a significant roughening of the surface of exposed composites with resin breakdown and exposure of the composite filler.
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for January–March 1996

Abstract Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 212 earthquakes that occurred during the first quarter of 1996. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical earth structure represented by a whole mantle shear velocity model SH8/U4L8 of Dziewonski and Woodward (1992, in: H. Emert and H.-P. Harjes (Editors), Acoustical Imaging , Plenum Press). A new model of anelastic attenuation of Durek and Ekstrom (1996, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. , 86: 144–158) is used to predict the decay of the waveforms.
Non-dimensional surge tank analysis

A computer program for surge tank analysis, which gives a complete history of the water level in the tank and the fluid velocity in the pressure conduit from the time of initiation of value closure, is described and presented. The governing equations are solved by third-order Runge–Kutta procedure and losses in head in the pressure conduit and surge tank constriction. A major aspect in the paper is the non-dimensional from of the governing parameters, facilitating the use of the program in preliminary design situations.
Stereotyping in a Traditional Society and its Implications for School Psychologist Referral Patterns: The Case of the Negev Bedouin

The present report describes the psycho-educational services referral pattern in the school system serving both a permanent Bedouin town A and its vicinity in Israel’s Negev desert. The subjects of the study were students in the school system in A between the years 1997 to 2002 (with additional data from 2004). The total number of referrals to school psychologists, referrals according to the tribe membership of the referred and individual tribe base-rates in the school population are discussed along with the traditional, collectivist and hierarchical society concepts. It is observed that despite the X tribe’s lower percentages in the school population (8 percent of the total 2,694 students) the tribe’s members are over-represented among the referrals to psychological interventions (13.3 percent of 346). In addition, they are the most referred group in absolute terms. The existence and the use of stereotypes among the asli and the fellaheen Bedouin are reported. The implication for the rates of psychologic...
Two-Step Hypothesis Testing When the Number of Variables Exceeds the Sample Size

Medical images and genetic assays typically generate data with more variables than subjects. Scientists may use a two-step approach for testing hypotheses about Gaussian mean vectors. In the first step, principal components analysis (PCA) selects a set of sample components fewer in number than the sample size. In the second step, applying classical multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) methods to the reduced set of variables provides the desired hypothesis tests. Simulation results presented here indicate that success of the PCA in the first step requires nearly all variation to occur in population components far fewer in number than the number of subjects. In the second step, multivariate tests fail to attain reasonable power except in restrictive, favorable cases. The results encourage using other approaches discussed in the article to provide dependable hypothesis testing with high dimension, low sample size data (HDLSS).
A quantitative assessment of eye alignment in cats after corpus callosum transection.

Eye alignment was measured in cats using a technique involving projection of retinal landmarks, determination of receptive field separation in binocular units and measurement of ganglion cell density. This technique has an accuracy of 20′ of arc. Using this technique, we determined that alterations in eye alignment occur following surgical transection of the corpus callosum in cats. These changes are first observed two weeks after surgery and are still present ten months later.
Identifying Essential Instructional Components of Literacy Tutoring for Struggling Beginning Readers

This study examined the components of a one-on-one literacy tutoring model to identify the necessary and sufficient elements for helping struggling beginning readers. The tutoring components of interest included word work using manipulative letters, written word work, and a generalization component. Reading assessment data from 100 first-grade students, randomly assigned to four tutoring conditions and a control group, were analyzed. Following the treatment period, groups were evaluated on phonological awareness, sight word knowledge, decoding, and word attack. Results indicated that children who received all of the tutoring components performed better than those in the control condition across all four reading performance indicators under consideration.
Chemoreception for fat: do rats sense triglycerides directly?

Abstract Rats given a choice between fluid containing 0.1–0.5% triglyceride oil and the same fluid without oil, generally preferred the fluid containing oil. Several experiments indicate that this preference is based on the detection of impurities rather than triglycerides per se. Rats preferred crude triolein to a greater degree than they did highly purified triolein or corn oil. Rats did not show any preference for or aversion to tristearin, a fat that does not decompose as readily as triolein. Rats that have been trained to avoid a dilute suspension of triolein, also avoided an aqueous extract of triolein. Since rats that had been trained to avoid triolein oil also avoided corn oil, it seems likely that different oils may possess similar impurities. Since training rats to avoid mineral oil did not reduce preference for triolein, these substances may have different flavors. It is proposed that rats use fat decomposition products to detect the presence of fats in foods.
Whole-arm tactile sensing for beneficial and acceptable contact during robotic assistance

Many assistive tasks involve manipulation near the care-receiver's body, including self-care tasks such as dressing, feeding, and personal hygiene. A robot can provide assistance with these tasks by moving its end effector to poses near the care-receiver's body. However, perceiving and maneuvering around the care-receiver's body can be challenging due to a variety of issues, including convoluted geometry, compliant materials, body motion, hidden surfaces, and the object upon which the body is resting (e.g., a wheelchair or bed). Using geometric simulations, we first show that an assistive robot can achieve a much larger percentage of end-effector poses near the care-receiver's body if its arm is allowed to make contact. Second, we present a novel system with a custom controller and whole-arm tactile sensor array that enables a Willow Garage PR2 to regulate contact forces across its entire arm while moving its end effector to a commanded pose. We then describe tests with two people with motor impairments, one of whom used the system to grasp and pull a blanket over himself and to grab a cloth and wipe his face, all while in bed at his home. Finally, we describe a study with eight able-bodied users in which they used the system to place objects near their bodies. On average, users perceived the system to be safe and comfortable, even though substantial contact occurred between the robot's arm and the user's body.
What's cookin?: a platform for remote collaboration

What's Cookin'? is a collaborative cooking system that helps people create meals together even when they're apart. It is a collection of augmented kitchen tools, surfaces, and computational representation of meals. Cooking is a social, shared, and sensory experience. The best meals bring friends together and engage all of our senses, from the sizzling of sauteing onions to the texture of toasted bread. Our tool allows people to cook together in a remote, synchronous, collaborative environment by mirroring the social, shared, and sensory nature of the cooking experience. It is particularly suited for collaborations that involve multiple parallel processes that work in isolation but also intersect at various times throughout the collaboration, most notably in assembling the meal.
The crystal structure of K3Cu(NO2)3

Abstract The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group D162h-Pbnm with cell constants of a = 21.70(4), b = 18.94(4) and c = 10.88(2) A. The unit cell volume, observed and calculated densities are, respectively, 4471.66 A3, 2.46(2) g cm−3 and 2.44 g cm−3. There are 16 molecules of Kt3Cu(N02)5 in the unit cell and the anions crystallize in the lattice as four independent Cu(NO2)53- species located at positions (c) of the space group. Molecularly, they are identical in pain inspite of being crystallographically independent from one another. One Cu(NO2)53- species is bound through the nitrogen of three NO−2 ligands and by two in a symmetrical, bidentate fashion (i.e., The other type of Cu(N02)53- species present in the lattice contains all modes of coordination of NO−2 when bound to a single metal center. That is, there are two monodentate CuNO2 bonds, two monodentate CuONO bonds and one symmetrical, bidentate attachement of the type described above. There are eight crystallographically independent potassium ions in the lattice: four sit at general positions while the other four are found at mirror planes. The coordination around the potassium ions is irregular and determined primarily by packing considerations dictated by the anions. The coordination number of the potassiums vary considerably and the exact number of ligands around each depends on the length of the radius one is willing to consider reasonable for bonding. Details are discussed in the text.
Phenobarbital-Elicited Activation of Nuclear Receptor CAR in Induction of Cytochrome P450 Genes

Phenobarbital (PB) increases metabolic capability of hepatocytes by its ability to activate numerous genes encoding various xenochemical-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s and specific transferases. More than 35 years since PB induction was first reported, the key nuclear receptor CAR that mediates the induction has now been identified, and the molecular/cellular mechanism involving multiple signal transduction pathways has begun to be unraveled. In response to PB exposure, CAR in the cytoplasm translocates into the nucleus, forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor, and activates the PB response enhancer element leading to the concerted induction of numerous genes.
Regulation of Type I Collagen mRNA by Amino Acid Deprivation in Human Lung Fibroblasts

The steady state levels of α1(I) collagen mRNA are decreased by retinoic acid and prostaglandin E2. These effector substances decrease the uptake of A system amino acids. We examined the effect of amino acid deprivation on the steady state levels of α1(I) collagen in human lung fibroblasts. Maintenance of fibroblasts in amino acid-free medium decreased α1(I) collagen mRNA levels by 29% at 24 h and 78% at 72 h. Frequent refeeding of cultures with amino acid-free medium resulted in more rapid decreases in intracellular amino acids and in α1(I) collagen mRNA levels. The decrease in α1(I) collagen mRNA levels was mediated by decreases in mRNA stability as assessed by a half-life determination using actinomycin D and by decreases in the rate of transcription as assessed by nuclear run-on assay. Treatment of fibroblasts with medium containing amino acids resulted in rapid restoration of α1(I) collagen mRNA levels. This increase in α1(I) collagen mRNA expression required protein synthesis as determined by cycloheximide sensitivity and was inhibited by prostaglandin E2. These data indicate that α1(I) collagen mRNA levels are sensitive to alterations in the amount of intracellular amino acids and suggest a potential mechanism whereby α1(I) collagen accumulation may be regulated independent of inflammatory mediators following lung injury.
Tribal relationships of Bartholomaea (Flacourtiaceae)

Bartholomaea has remained of uncertain tribal affinities within Flacourtiaceae since its description, having been allied by various authors with the tribes Casearieae or Scolopieae. However, scanning electron microscope examination of floral morphology has uncovered characters that indicate a relationship withNeopringlea andTrimeria of tribe Homalieae.
Possible impacts of sequestration on federal research

U.S. federal research and development (R&D) activities could be reduced by up to $57.5 billion, or 8.4%, through 2017 because of automatic reductions in U.S. federal funding, referred to as sequestration, that are set to begin in January 2013 under the 2011 Budget Control Act. That is according to a 27 September analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). If defense R&D is pulled from the equation, sequestration could cut nondefense R&D by $50.8 billion, or 17.2% through that same time period, according to AAAS. Under an equal allocation scenario, the Department of Energy could lose $4.6 billion for R&D over that time period, the National Science Foundation could lose $2.1 billion for R&D, and NASA could lose $3.5 billion, according to the analysis, which also notes that states could be hit hard by decreased federal R&D spending. Congressional leaders currently are looking into how to avoid sequestration. For more information, see http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2012/0928sequester.shtml.
Sun-Pointing-Error Correction for Sea Deployment of the MICROTOPS II Handheld Sun Photometer

Handheld sun photometers, such as the MICROTOPS II (manufactured by Solar Light, Inc.), provide a simple and inexpensive way to measure in situ aerosol optical thickness (AOT), ozone content, and water vapor. Handheld sun photometers require that the user manually point the instrument at the sun. Unstable platforms, such as a ship at sea, can make this difficult. A poorly pointed instrument mistakenly records less than the full direct solar radiance, so the computed AOT is much higher than reality. The NASA Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) Project has been collecting maritime AOT data since 1997. As the dataset grew, a bias of the MICROTOPS II data with respect to other instrument data was noticed. This bias was attributed to the MICROTOPS II measurement protocol, which is intended for land-based measurements and does not remove pointing errors when used at sea. Based upon suggestions in previous literature, two steps were taken to reduce pointing errors. First, the measurement protocol was changed to keep the maximum (rather than average) voltage of a sequence of measurements. Once on shore, a second screening algorithm was utilized to iteratively reject outliers that represent sun-pointing errors. Several versions of this method were tested on a recent California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) cruise, and were compared to concurrent measurements using the manufacturer-supplied protocol. Finally, a separate postprocessing algorithm was created for data previously gathered with the manufacturer-supplied protocol, based on statistics calculated by the instrument at the time of capture.
Expression of differentiated function by mineralizing cultures of chicken osteoblasts.

This report documents osteoblast differentiation in vitro, as demonstrated by the 50–100× increase of proteins which are known markers of the osteoblast phenotype. Collagen type I and osteocalcin synthesis and accumulation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and matrix calcification show similar temporal relationships that are analogous to those seen during in vivo bone development. Chicken embryonic osteoblast progenitor cells were selected by initial growth at low densities in minimal medium. Upon subcultivation into nutrient-enriched medium at higher cell densities, near homogeneous populations of osteoblasts were obtained as demonstrated by the greater than 80% enrichment of cells positive for alkaline phosphatase activity. A comparison was made between cells grown in the presence or absence of 10 mM β-glycerolphosphate (β-GPO4), a chemical stimulant of matrix calcification, as a function of time. Cultures treated with β-GPO4 showed visible calcification at Day 12 when culture monolayers became confluent. By Day 30, numerous large foci of calcification were visible and a 20-fold increase in calcium (Ca) content was observed. In contrast, untreated cultures had only a 3-fold increase in Ca content with many smaller diffuse areas of calcification. DNA, RNA, and total protein levels were nearly identical between the two cultures, indicating that β-GPO4 had no marked effect on either cell proliferation or transcriptional activity. The major collagen type produced by either culture was type I, with no detectable type III as determined by CNBr peptide mapping and delayed reduction analysis. Alkaline phosphatase activity showed a rapid ∼50-fold induction by Day 18 and remained elevated in control cultures. However, cultures treated with β-GPO4 demonstrated a rapid 80% decline of enzyme activity after 18 days. In contrast, total osteocalcin levels showed a 100-fold induction by Day 18 and remained elevated in both control and β-GPO4-treated cultures throughout the time period examined. While the overall levels of osteocalcin were the same in β-GPO4-treated and untreated cultures, 2- to 5-fold more osteocalcin was associated with the more mineralized matrices of the β-GPO4-treated cultures. In order to confirm the association of osteocalcin with areas of mineralization, co-localization of mineral to osteocalcin and collagen was carried out by combining vital labeling with tetracycline and immunofluorescent staining with anti-osteocalcin and anti-collagen antibodies. Both collagen and osteocalcin showed strong localization with areas of mineralization. This culture system defined the expression of specific markers of osteoblast function during differentiation and their relationships to matrix calcification. Thus, these osteoblast cultures provide a unique model in which to study the regulation of bone-specific proteins and genes during osteoblast differentiation and matrix calcification.
Significance of the dispersed-phase viscosity on the simple shear flow of suspensions of two-dimensional liquid drops

The significance of drop-fluid viscosity on the effective rheological properties and on the dynamics of the microstructure of mono-disperse suspensions of two-dimensional liquid drops with constant interfacial tension is investigated by means of numerical simulations at vanishing Reynolds number, using the boundary integral method for Stokes flow. Three important features of the numerical method are the computation of the doubly-periodic Green's function and associated stress tensor by tabulation and interpolation, the iterative solution of a deflated integral equation for the interfacial velocity, and the repositioning of the drop interfaces at close proximity to avoid artificial coalescence. In the first part of the simulations, the interaction of two intercepting drops in simple shear flow is studied in an extended range of conditions, and the results are used to quantify the behaviour and develop insights into the physics of dilute systems. In the second part of the simulations, the motion of a random suspension of 25 drops repeated periodically in the two spatial directions is studied at the areal fraction Φ = 0.30, drop fluid to ambient fluid viscosity ratio λ = 1 or 10, and drop capillary number Ca = 0.10 or 0.30, a total of four combinations
Using internship experience to evaluate a new program in eScience librarianship

This research project explores the role of internships in a new curriculum designed to educate eScience librarians. Experiential learning was identified early on in the IMLS-funded project as a necessary aspect to give students field exposure to information-related developments of cyberinfrastructure-enabled science. Nine students were tasked to fill out a daily survey that captured their experience at academic and research libraries, field research stations, and national and discipline-based research centers. Analysis of these accumulated "diary" entries is underway to identify learning outcomes of the eSLib program, particularly two required, data-oriented courses the students mastered in the first year of the program. The analysis will also aggregate and trace longitudinally student skill application throughout the summer. Evaluation of student experience should enhance understanding of the relation between the eScience Librarianship program and what is needed by institutions tasked with managing data produced by computer and network-enabled scientists.