cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of training data-based quadratic detectors with application to mechanical systems

Reliable detection of engine knock is an important issue in the design and maintenance of high performance internal combustion engines. Cost considerations dictate the use of vibration signals, measured at the engine block, for knock detection. Conventional techniques use the energy in a bandpass filtered version of the vibration signal as a measure. However, the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the vibration measurements significantly degrades the performance of such bandpass energy detectors. We explore the design and application of more general quadratic detection procedures, including time-frequency methods, to this challenging problem. We use statistics estimated from labeled training data to design the detectors. Application of our techniques to real data shows that such detectors, by virtue of their flexible structure, improve the effective SNR, thereby substantially improving the detection performance relative to conventional methods.
Strategy, structure, and performance of U.S. manufacturing and service MNCs: A comparative analysis

This study analyzes the strategy-structure fit and its effect on the economic performance of 144 U.S. manufacturing and service multinational corporations (MNCs). The results indicate that MNCs, irrespective of being services or manufacturing, choose their organization structure consistent with the theoretical fit prescription for the kind of strategy they are pursuing. However, the strategy-structure fit had no effect on service MNC economic performance. With manufacturing MNCs, mixed results regarding the fit-performance linkage were found. Based on the findings, implications and directions for future research are suggested.
Why Gobies Are Like Hobbits

In the Caribbean waters around Puerto Rico, the blue and white forms of the goby fish live within 23 kilometers of each other yet remain genetically separate populations. This is surprising given that their pelagic larvae survive for 3 weeks and would be predicted to be dispersed by ocean currents over large distances ([Taylor and Hellberg][1]). In their Perspective, [Palumbi and Warner][2] discuss this discovery and comment on how the larvae manage to stay close to home. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/299/5603/107 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5603/51
Gender, Self-control, and Informal Social Control in Adolescence: A Test of Three Models of the Continuity of Delinquent Behavior

Three alternative theories of the continuity of delinquent behavior throughout childhood and into adolescence were evaluated with a series of nested structural equation models in a sample of 840 mi...
Efficient routing and wavelength assignment for reconfigurable WDM networks with wavelength converters

We consider the problem of wavelength assignment in a reconfigurable bidirectional ring network with wavelength converters. We show that for N-node P-port bidirectional rings, a minimum number of /spl lceil/PN/4/spl rceil/ wavelengths are required to support all possible virtual topologies in a rearrangeably nonblocking fashion, and provide an algorithm that meets this bound for connected topologies using no more than /spl lceil/PN/2/spl rceil/ wavelength converters. This improves over the tight lower bound of /spl lfloor/PN/3/spl rfloor/ wavelengths required for such rings given in A. Narula-Tam et al. (2002)] if no wavelength conversion is available. We also provide another algorithm that uses more wavelengths yet requires significantly fewer converters. Both algorithms are then extended to the case of unconnected topologies using at most one additional wavelength. Finally, we develop a method that allows the wavelength converters to be arbitrarily located at any node in the ring. This gives significant flexibility in the design of the networks. For example, all /spl lceil/PN/2/spl rceil/ converters can be collocated at a single hub node, or distributed evenly among the N nodes with /spl lceil/P/2 /spl rceil/ converters at each node.
Multicenter Evaluation of the VERSANT HCV RNA Qualitative Assay for Detection of Hepatitis C Virus RNA

We report the results of a multicenter evaluation of a new assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in human serum or plasma based on transcription-mediated amplification (HCV TMA). Analysis of combined data obtained from 15 independent sites, including 4 sites in the United States and 11 in Europe, by using preproduction kits showed a limit of detection of 9.8 IU/ml and an overall mean specificity of 97.9%. In addition, assay runs and samples were valid consistently (97.8% of assay runs and 98.0% of specimen results). Of the 15 sites that participated in the multicenter evaluation, 2 subsequently carried out additional performance studies with production kits in support of the assay's registration in France. Comparison of the findings from these two sites during the multicenter evaluation and during the registration studies showed an overall improvement in assay performance. A statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement was achieved for both specificity and specimen validity in the registration studies, which were 99.4 and 98.1%, respectively. Combined data from the two sites showed a lower limit of detection of approximately 2.4 IU/ml and an improved assay validity of 100%, although the sample size was too small to show statistical significance at the 0.05 level. In summary, the performance characteristics of HCV TMA indicate that this assay is a reliable tool for the detection of HCV RNA in serum or plasma. Improvement in assay performance has been demonstrated with refinement of assay reagents, instrumentation, and operator experience.
The effects of the polyglutamine repeat protein ataxin-1 on the UbL-UBA protein A1Up.

The ataxin-1 interacting ubiquitin-like protein (A1Up) contains an amino-terminal ubiquitin-like (UbL) region, four stress-inducible, heat shock chaperonin-binding motifs (STI1), and an ubiquitin-associated domain (UBA) at the carboxyl terminus of A1Up. Although proteins that have both an UbL and UBA domain are thought to play a crucial role in proteasome-mediated activities, few are characterized, except for hHR23A/B. Similar to other UbL-containing proteins, the UbL of A1Up is essential for the interaction of A1Up with the S5a subunit of the 19S proteasome. Importantly, the interaction with the 19S proteasome was disrupted in the presence of the polyglutamine repeat protein, ataxin-1. The UbL domain of A1Up is ubiquitinated by both Lys48-linked and Lys63-linked chains. Intact A1Up is stable, suggesting that ubiquitination of A1Up is important for degradation-independent targeting of A1Up to the 19S proteasome. The UBA domain of A1Up binds polyubiquitin chains and has a role in the stability of A1Up and in the subcellular localization of A1Up. When the UBA domain was deleted, the localization of A1Up was entirely cytoplasmic, and it co-localized with the proteasome. Interestingly, the interaction between A1Up and mutant ataxin-1-(82Q) increased the half-life of A1Up, whereas nonpathogenic wild-type ataxin-1-(30Q) or ataxin-1-(82Q)-A776 did not.
Gender and Organizational Commitment Among Hospital Nurses

This study examines occupational commitment among a sample of female hospital nurses working at a hospital in an urban Florida community. Previous research on work commitment and women is reviewed, and the significance of domestic relations and gender ideology for organizational commitment is discussed. Three categories of variables are used in the analysis: personal characteristics and experience, domestic relations, and gender ideology. The results revealed that organizational commitment among this sample of nurses has significant negative relationships with feminist gender ideology, and the extent to which work interferes with family life and a significant positive relationship with the presence of children. The implications of these findings are reviewed and the prospects of future research concerning organizational commitment among nurses is discussed.
A STFT semiactive controller for base isolated buildings with variable stiffness isolation systems

Abstract A new short time Fourier transformation (STFT) control algorithm is developed for reducing the response of base isolated buildings with variable stiffness isolation systems in near fault earthquakes. The central idea of STFT is to break up the signal into small time segments and Fourier analyze each time segment to ascertain the frequencies that exist in it. For each different time a different spectrum is obtained and the totality of these spectra is the time–frequency distribution. STFT is used to determine the energy spectrum and time–frequency distribution of the earthquake excitation signal. Of particular importance is the tracking of the energy of the earthquake excitation corresponding to the fundamental period of the base isolated building. When the energy of the excitation exceeds a predetermined threshold value the STFT controller varies the stiffness of the isolation system smoothly between minimum and maximum values to achieve response reduction. The main reason for the response reduction is the variation of the fundamental frequency of the base isolated building. Additionally, the STFT control algorithm ensures passivity and energy dissipation during the smooth variation of the stiffness. The STFT algorithm is implemented analytically on a five-story base isolated reinforced concrete building with linear elastomeric isolation bearings and a variable stiffness system located at the isolation level. Several recent near fault earthquakes are considered. It is shown that the controller is effective in reducing the base displacements and interstory drifts without increasing floor accelerations. The novelty of the STFT controller lies in its effective variation of stiffness only a few times to achieve response reduction, which makes it suitable for practical implementation.
Overall self-confidence, self-confidence in mathematics, and sex-role stereotyping in relation to salivary free testosterone in university women.

This study investigated in 40 young university women the possible relationships between levels of testosterone and specific measures of overall self-confidence and self-confidence in approaching mathematics. Correlations of -.43 and -.49 with each measure of self-confidence, respectively, and level of testosterone were found in the portion of the sample displaying normal ovulatory function. There was no correlation (r = .02) between the measures of mathematics and overall self-confidence. 19 women did not display normal ovulatory function. The only significant result for the full sample was a significant correlation of -.73 between scores on the Bern Sex Role Inventory Masculinity and overall self-confidence. The reasons for the high anovulatory percentage are not clear, nor are the associations which anovulation might have with either hormonal levels or the personality characteristics in question.
The Evolution of Multicellularity: A Minor Major Transition?

Benefits of increased size and functional specialization of cells have repeatedly promoted the evolution of multicellular organisms from unicellular ancestors. Many requirements for multicellular organization (cell adhesion, cell-cell communication and coordination, programmed cell death) likely evolved in ancestral unicellular organisms. However, the evolution of multicellular organisms from unicellular ancestors may be opposed by genetic conflicts that arise when mutant cell lineages promote their own increase at the expense of the integrity of the multicellular organism. Numerous defenses limit such genetic conflicts, perhaps the most important being development from a unicell, which minimizes conflicts from selection among cell lineages, and redistributes genetic variation arising within multicellular individuals between individuals. With a unicellular bottleneck, defecting cell lineages rarely succeed beyond the life span of the multicellular individual. When multicellularity arises through aggregati...
New Window on Optical Brain Imaging; Medical Development, Simulations and Applications

Chemseddine Mansouri1 and Nasser H. Kashou2,3,4 1CRAN UMR 7039 CNRS-UHP-INPL, Nancy University Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, 2Department of Radiology, Children’s Radiological Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital 3Department of Radiology, Department of Ophthalmology, The Ohio State University Medical Center 4Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, 1France 2,3,4USA
Can We Trust Creativity Tests? A Review of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT)

Dr. E. Paul Torrance, "Father of Creativ- ity," is best known for developing the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). The TTCT was developed by Torrance in 1966. It has been renormed 4 times: in 1974, 1984, 1990, and 1998. There are 2 forms (A and B) of the TTCT-Verbal and 2 forms (A and B) of the TTCT-Figural. However, in the scope of this review, only the TTCT-Figural was examined. The TTCT has been translated into more than 35 languages (Millar, 2002). It has become highly recommended in the edu- cational field and is even used in the corporate world. It is the most widely used test of creativity (Davis, 1997) and is the most referenced of all creativity tests (Lissitz & Willhoft, 1985). Basic information is pre- sented, including purposes, content area, norms, reli- ability, and validity. Strengths and weaknesses of the TTCT, including use of the TTCT in identifying gifted learners and suggestions for further development and improvement, are provided and discussed.
Race/Ethnic Differences in Birth Size, Infant Growth, and Body Mass Index at Age Five Years in Children in Hawaii

Abstract Background: Factors at birth and infancy may increase risk of being overweight in childhood. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of birth size and infant growth (2–24 months) with BMI at age 5 years in a multiethnic population. Methods: This was a retrospective study (using electronic medical records of a health maintenance organization in Hawaii) of singleton children born in 2004–2005, with linked maternal and birth information, infant weights (n = 597) and lengths (n = 473) in the first 2 years, and BMI measures at age 5 years (n = 894). Multiple regression models were used to estimate the association of BMI at age 5 years with birth size and infant growth. Results: Birth weight was positively associated with BMI at age 5 years, adjusting for gestational age, sex, race/ethnicity, and maternal prepregnancy weight, age, education, and smoking. A greater change in infant weight was associated with a higher BMI at age 5 years, though the effect of birth weight on BMI was neither ...
Genetic Variation and Genetic Structuring of a Numerically Declining Species of Darter, Etheostoma moorei Raney & Suttkus, Endemic to the Upper Little Red River, Arkansas

Gene products of 17 putative loci were analyzed to determine the genetic diversity for 85 individuals of Etheostoma moorei Raney & Suttkus, a darter species endemic to Arkansas, that has been subjected to severe habitat and numerical decline. Number of alleles per locus (1.3), heterozygosity (0.048) and polymorphism (25.9%) values were high relative to those of other darter species. Geographic samples did not exhibit isolation-by-distance, which may be associated with repeated extirpation and recolonization events. Of concern is the high number of polyallelic loci in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (26%), indicative of populations undergoing genetic change. Several causative explanations were investigated with founder effect and inbreeding being the most plausible hypotheses. As these populations continue to decline in numbers, loss of genetic diversity appears imminent.
Predator-Mediated Selection on Burst Swimming Performance in Tadpoles of the Pacific Tree Frog, Pseudacris regilla

Two experimental approaches were used to determine if burst swimming speed in Pseudacris regilla tadpoles is subject to selection by predatory garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis. In eight out of 10 experiments in seminatural arenas, fast tadpoles survived snake predation more often than expected (P < 0.01). In videotaped encounters, tadpoles that escaped attacks swam 1.68 times as fast (P < 0.0001) and nearly four times as evasively (P < 0. 05) as those that were captured. Burst swimming speed is clearly important to success at escaping snakes in experimental arenas and, given widespread snake predation on tadpoles, is probably subject to predator-mediated selection in nature.
Capacity bounds in random wireless networks

We consider a receiving node, located at the origin, and a Poisson point process (PPP) that models the locations of the desired transmitter as well as the interferers. Interference is known to be non-Gaussian in this scenario. The capacity bounds for additive non-Gaussian channels depend not only on the power of interference (i.e., up to second order statistics) but also on its entropy power which is influenced by higher order statistics as well. Therefore, a complete statistical characterization of interference is required to obtain the capacity bounds. While the statistics of sum of signal and interference is known in closed form, the statistics of interference highly depends on the location of the desired transmitter. In this paper, we show that there is a tradeoff between entropy power of interference on the one hand and signal and interference power on the other hand which have conflicting effects on the channel capacity. We obtain closed form results for the cumulants of the interference, when the desired transmitter node is an arbitrary neighbor of the receiver. We show that to find the cumulants, joint statistics of distances in the PPP will be required which we obtain in closed form. Using the cumulants, we approximate the interference entropy power and obtain bounds on the capacity of the channel between an arbitrary transmitter and the receiver. Our results provide insight and shed light on the capacity of links in a Poisson network. In particular, we show that, in a Poisson network, the closest hop is not necessarily the highest capacity link.
Chromatographic Quality of Three 99mTc Bone-Imaging Agents

Increased uptake by stomach, thyroid, and liver incidental to bone scanning suggests that 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4–) and reduced hydrolyzed technetiumtin colloid [99mTc(OH)4 · Sn (OH)2] are radiochemical impurities present in Sn-diphosphonate (EHDP) and Sn-pyrophosphate (PP). The amount of uptake in stomach, salivary glands, and thyroid is due to the presence of pertechnetate and is related to the time interval between preparation and administration. An evaluation of the bone agents 99mTc-EHDP and 99mTc-PP showed increasing amounts of 99mTcO4– during a 5-h interval, while 99mTc-EHDP with stabilizer was unchanged. In contrast, the colloid concentration was the same in all agents tested and did not change with time. Administration of 99mTc-EHDP or 99mTc-PP within 2 h after preparation will reduce the amount of free pertechnetate and improve bone-imaging quality. Our data suggest that a stabilizer should be used when the interval from preparation to administration is expected to exceed 2h.
Influence of Shelterbelts on Success and Density of Waterfowl Nests within the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

Abstract. Shelterbelts are long rows of trees planted in the Great Plains of North America to reduce wind erosion of soil. Shelterbelts alter airflow, creating updrafts on the windward side (updraft zone), slow winds immediately on the leeward side (calm zone), and increased turbulence farther downwind of the shelterbelt (turbulent zone). They also provide hunting perches for avian predators and serve as corridors for mammalian predators. By determining the fate of 247 duck nests located in 27 Waterfowl Production Areas during 2006 and 2007, this study tested the hypothesis that duck nests located close to shelterbelts are more likely to be depredated than nests located in open fields and that nest densities are lower near shelterbelts than in open fields. Nest density in a shelterbelt's calm zone (0.22 nests/ha) was lower than in open fields (1.02 nest/ha). Shelterbelt orientation and porosity to airflow did not affect nest success or nest density. Shelterbelt height did not influence nest density, but n...
Selling Aerospace Technology to the Federal Government

The ability of aerospace corporations to win Government research contracts often depends on the ability of corporate representatives to sell the company's capability to perform a certain type of re...
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF THE PROGENY OF SIX ISOLATES OF DICTYUCHUS MONOSPORUS

SUMMARY Single-spore strains from six isolates of Dictyuchus monosporus exhibited the following types of behavior when mated to their respective parental strains and to tester strains of opposite mating reaction to that of the parental strains: (1) heterothallism, in which one of the strains reacted as male and produced antheridia which became applied to oogonia produced by the female-reacting strain; (2) heterothallism, preceded by homothallism in one of the strains in the region of contact between the paired strains, the homothallic strain reacting as male and the opposing strain as female; (3) homo-heterothallism, in which both strains were homothallic in areas adjacent to one another and both were involved in reciprocal cross reactions. With only one exception, there was no sexual reaction between the male isolates and the single-spore strains derived from them. The reactions of the single-spore strains derived from female isolates and mated to their respective parental strains were varied and differed according to the origin of the strains. Variations in sexual behavior also occurred among single-spore strains from some sporangia.
Changing Ecology of Bacterial Infections as Related to Antibacterial Therapy

The subject of this paper is one I dealt with more than a decade ago at a meeting of the Association of American Physicians [1]. At that time, I reviewed some of the changes in the occurrence and mortality from the major serious bacterial infections as observed at the Boston City Hospital between 1935 and 1957, a period during which we were witnessing the introduction and increasingly widespread use of a succession of new and highly effective antibacterial agents.
Contribution of the oligodendrocyte lineage to CNS repair and neurodegenerative pathologies

The concept of the oligodendrocyte lineage as simply a source of myelinating cells in the vertebrate CNS is undergoing radical revision. Elucidation of the origins of oligodendrocytes in the CNS has led to identification of important signaling pathways, the timing and mechanism of lineage commitments and overlapping as well as redundant functionality among oligodendrocytes. The realization that a significant proportion of the oligodendrocyte lineage cells remain in a proliferative and immature state suggests they have roles other than as a reservoir of myelinating cells. While early studies were focused on understanding the development of oligodendrocytes, more recent work has begun to define the role of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in CNS functionality and the identification of new avenues for neural repair. A relatively unexplored aspect of the oligodendrocyte lineage is their contribution either directly or indirectly to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer's disease. Here we briefly consider the potential role of oligodendrocyte lineage cells as mediators of neural repair and neurodegeneration in the vertebrate CNS. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Oligodendrocytes in Health and Disease'.
Improved Method of Image Procession to Recognition the End of Stick-material

All times,amounts of stick-materials are counted by man.This method is inefficient and veracious.In order to improve efficiency,it is very important to excogitate one method to realize count amounts automatically.This paper puts forward an improved method of outline extraction by study to familiar outline extraction method.Eliminate the influence of filament and object area by outline extraction,partition,closed operation, fine,then get more exact outline curve and figure out outline's roundness degree and stick-material's radius which is an important parameter to recognize stick-materials automatically.The result of program shows that improved method of outline extraction can extract stick-material's outline exactly.
From Diffraction Data to Electron Density

This chapter begins by exploring Fourier sums and the Fourier transforms. Fourier transform is the lens-simlating operation that a computer performs to produce an image of molecules in the crystal. The Fourier transform describes precisely the mathematical relationship between an object and its diffraction pattern. The chapter emphasizes forms of these equations and the information they contain. This helps the reader to interpret the equations and to translate them into words and visual images. Afterwards, it represents structure factors and electron density, and shows how the Fourier transform interconverts them. The chapter highlights one-dimensional waves, three-dimensional waves, general features of the Fourier transform, and a short review of the same. It also discusses Fourier mathematics and diffraction. The topics covered include structure factor as a Fourier sum, electron density as a Fourier sum, computing electron density from data, and the phase problem. The chapter describes meaning of the Fourier equations and concludes by presenting a brief summary of the process from data to density.
Concomitant chemoradiotherapy for solid tumors

The treatment of locoregionally advanced solid tumors has been hampered by the inability of currently available therapy modalities to eradicate all tumors cells. This applies to surgery and radiation therapy, which frequently are able to control the bulk of locoregional disease but ultimately do not prevent locoregional recurrence. Similarly, chemotherapy can at times induce locoregional tumor shrinkage, but is unable to successfully eradicate macroscopic disease. On the other hand, chemotherapy can, at least in some tumor types, eradicate micrometastatic systemic disease. In addition, chemotherapy might be able to improve locoregional control rates of surgery and/or radiotherapy if given in sequence or concurrently. Based on this background, combined modality programs have been investigated intensively. For many years, research has focused predominantly on the sequential use of combined modality regimens, i.e., neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. At present, concomitant chemoradiotherapy is increasingly being viewed as a potentially more successful combination of multiple treatment modalities.
Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa

Background South Africa has experienced a tremendous rise in methamphetamine use since the year 2000. Sex trading is a global phenomenon that has been observed in active drug users and has been associated with risks for HIV infection and violence. Objectives This paper describes and examines the correlates of sex trading among active methamphetamine users in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods Through peer referral, 360 (201 male; 159 female) active methamphetamine users were recruited in a peri-urban township. Demographics, sex trading, drug use, trauma, and mental health were assessed by a structured clinical interview and computer survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of sex trading for men and women. Results In the past 3 months, 40% of men and 33% of women endorsed trading sex for methamphetamine or money. Among these, they reported trading with same sex partners (33%), high rates of inconsistent condom use (73%), and incidences of physical (23%) and sexual (27%) assault when sex trading. Increased drug use severity was correlated with sex trading. Women with experiences of violence and trauma were also more likely to trade sex. Conclusions/importance: The results stress a need for linkage to drug treatment, as addiction may be fueling sex trading. Targeted interventions geared towards safe sex practices may reduce risky sexual behaviors. Women need interventions that are attuned to their specific vulnerabilities. More research is needed to explore the experiences of men who have sex with men given their particularly high rates of sex trading behavior.
Current and future perspectives on the treatment of cerebral ischemia.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: After heart disease and combined forms of cancer, stroke is the leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolysis is the only thrombolytic therapy that has been shown to improve patient outcome. Presently, the only antithrombotic drug treatment that has proven effective at improving acute ischemic stroke patient outcome is aspirin administration. Despite these studies, no clinical trials have yet demonstrated a reliably effective pharmacological treatment.Areas covered: We conducted a search of recent drug studies for ischemic stroke on clinicaltrials.gov in addition to a literature search for acute ischemic stroke therapy using PubMed. This review details our findings of recent advancements in the pharmacological treatment of acute ischemic stroke.Expert commentary: We concluded that recent attempts to establish new pharmacological treatment protocols for acute ischemic stroke have had limited success, but many Phase III and Phas...
Developmental differences between newborn and adult mice in response to romiplostim

Thrombocytopenia is frequent among sick neonates. While most cases are transient, some neonates experience prolonged and severe thrombocytopenia. These infants often pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, and may receive large numbers of platelet transfusions. Romiplostim (ROM) is a thrombopoietin (TPO)-receptor-agonist approved for treatment of adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a novel measure of newly produced platelets, which could aid with the diagnostic evaluation of thrombocytopenic neonates. This study had the following two objectives: (1) compare the response of newborn and adult mice to escalating doses of ROM in vivo and (2) assess the correlation between IPF and megakaryocyte (MK) mass in newborn and adult treated and untreated mice. In the first set of studies, newborn (day 1) and adult mice received a single subcutaneous (SC) dose of ROM ranging from 0 to 300 ng/g, and platelet counts were followed every other day for 14 days. Both sets of mice responded with dose-dependent platelet and IPF increases, peaking on days 5-7 post-treatment, but neonates had a blunted response (2.1-fold compared to 4.2-fold maximal increase in platelet counts, respectively). On day 5 post-treatment with 300 ng/g ROM, MKs in the bone marrow (BM) and spleen of adult mice were significantly increased in numbers and size (p < 0.0001 for both) compared to controls. MKs in the spleen and BM (but not liver) of treated neonates also increased in number, but not in size. The immature platelet count (IPC, calculated as IPF x platelet count) was highly correlated with the MK number and size in neonatal and adult BM and spleen, but not neonatal liver. The lack of response of neonatal liver MKs was not due to a cell-intrinsic reduced responsiveness to TPO, since neonatal liver progenitors were more sensitive to murine TPO (mTPO) in vitro than adult BM progenitor. In vivo treatment of newborn mice with high mTPO doses or with higher doses of ROM (900 ng/g) resulted in peak platelet counts approaching 3-fold of controls. Taken together, our data indicate that newborn mice are less responsive to ROM than adult mice in vivo, due to a combination of likely pharmacokinetic differences and developmental differences in the response of MKs to thrombopoietic stimulation, evidenced by neonatal MKs increasing in numbers but not in size. PK/PD studies in human infants treated with ROM are warranted.
Epigenetic profiles associated with major depression in the human brain.

Abstract We conducted an epigenome-wide association study of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in brain-derived DNA using two analytic approaches. DNA methylation data (GSE41826) was used in differential methylation (DM) analyses controlling for age, sex, suicide status, and post-mortem interval; and in weighted gene co-methylation network analyses (WGCNA) in probes mapping to transcription start sites. No probes in the DM analysis survived FDR correction. Nominally significant DM probes were enriched in synaptic function-related genes. WGCNA revealed one module correlated with MDD, enriched in genes associated with mitochondrial function. DM and WGCNA both showed enrichment of genes involved in transcription and DNA binding.
RMTS-a: A scheduling based MAC protocol with frame aggregation for multi-rate radios in an Ad Hoc network

The applications for MANETs have increased rapidly and today MANETs are capable of providing a variety of services. One of the major contributing factors is the availability of radios that are able to adapt to the channel conditions and can transmit at multiple data rates. A common approach for channel access is to employ a CSMA/CA based mechanism. However, these protocols tend to under perform at heavy loads or due to exposed/hidden nodes. One solution to this problem is to use a scheduling based MAC protocol. While transmission scheduling avoids collisions, these approaches often suffer from inefficient utilization of the channel. We investigate extensions to scheduling based MAC protocols that exploit the multirate transmission capability of the radios to increase the utilization of transmission assignments.
Comparing methods for assessing reliability uncertainty based on pass/fail data collected over time

In this article, we compare statistical methods for analyzing pass/fail data collected over time; some methods are traditional and one (the RADAR or Rationale for Assessing Degradation Arriving at ...
Magnetic behaviour of assemblies of interacting cobalt-carbide nanoparticles

Abstract Recent work [1] demonstrated high coercivity and magnetic moment in cobalt carbide nanoparticle assemblies and explained the high coercivity from first principles in terms of the high magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the cobalt carbide nanoparticles. In this work, we comprehensively model the interaction between the nanoparticles comprising the assembly and systematically understand the effect of particle size, distribution of the orientations of the nanoparticles’ magnetocrystalline anisotropy axis with respect to the applied magnetic field, and dipole coupling between nanoparticles on the temperature dependent magnetic behavior of the nanoparticle assembly. We show that magnetocrystalline anisotropy alone is not enough to explain the large hysteresis over the 50 K–400 K temperature range and suggest that defects and inhomogeneity that pin the magnetization could also play a significant role on this temperature dependent magnetic behavior.
The structure of nitrocubane: the last in the series of nitrocubanes

The structure of nitrocubane, C8H7NO2, 1, reported herein, is the last to be reported in a series of nitrocubanes, ranging from mono- to octanitrocubane. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with cell dimensions a = 17.507(5), b = 6.584(2), and c = 5.832(2) A and Z = 4. Thus the nitrocubane molecule possesses a crystallographically imposed mirror plane. Since the nitro group is in the mirror plane, it is coplanar with the C1–C6 bond in the cubane skeleton. As has been found previously, the C1–C6 bond in the cubane skeleton that is coplanar to its attached nitro groups is shortened (1.533(4) compared to an average value of 1.543(2) A for all other cubane C–C bonds). In addition the single substitution of the nitro group into the cubane skeleton causes a tetrahedral distortion which is exhibited by alternating C–C–C angles which are greater than and less than 90°.
The effect of acrylic nails on the measurement of oxygen saturation as determined by pulse oximetry

Pulse oximetry (Spo2) is a simple, noninvasive method that is widely used to determine oxygen saturation in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Artificial acrylic nails have recently become fashionable to strengthen and lengthen nails. This study investigates the effect of unpolished acrylic nails on the measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Data were collected during a 3-month period. Thirty women, average age 32 years (range 18 to 61 years), were recruited at a high-volume nail salon in northwestern Pennsylvania. A baseline pulse oximetry reading was obtained on each subject's natural, unpolished fingernail using a Nellcor N-20/N-20P portable pulse oximeter (Nellcor Incorporated, Hayward, California). A licensed nail technician applied the acrylic compound to the same finger. After the compound had hardened in approximately 5 minutes, a second reading was obtained on the unpolished acrylic nail. The mean pulse oximetry reading at baseline was 97.33% and after acrylic nail application, 97.58%. Using a paired Student's t test, no statistically significant differences existed between readings. This study demonstrates that unpolished acrylic nails do not affect pulse oximetry measurements of oxygen saturation. Patients may not need to remove unpolished acrylic nails before surgery.
Electromagnetic Energy and Food Processing

The use of electromagnetic energy in food processing is reviewed with respect to food safety, nutritional quality, and organoleptic quality. The effects of nonionizing radiation sources such as microwave and radio-frequency energy and ionizing radiation sources, e.g. radioactive cobalt-60 and caesium-137, on the inactivation of microbes and nutrients are compared with those of conventional heating processes both in terms of their kinetic behavior and their mechanisms of interaction with foods. The kinetics of microwave and conventional thermal inactivation are considered for a generalized nth-order model based on time and temperature conditions. However, thermal inactivation effects are often modeled by 1st-order kinetics. Microbial and nutrient inactivation by ionizing sources are considered for a 1st-order model based on radiation dose. Both thermal and radiation resistance concepts are reviewed and some typical values of radiation resistance are given for sensitive vegetative bacterial cells, yeasts, and molds and for resistant bacterial spores and viruses. Nonionizing microwave energy sources are increasingly used in home and industrial food processing and are well-accepted by the American public. But, despite recent Food and Drug Administration approval of low and intermediate ionizing radiation dose levels for grains and other plants products and the fact that irradiated foods are sold in more than 20 countries of the world, public fears in the U.S. about nuclear energy may limit the role of ionizing radiation in food processing and preservation and may also limit the use of nuclear fuels as an alternate source of electrical energy.
Altering Physical Activity Influences Insulin Responses to Glucose Ingestion in Healthy Adults.

This study determined if varying physical activity (PA) the day prior to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) differentially influenced postprandial glucose and insulin kinetics. Fifteen healthy, young adults participated in three OGTT trials the morning after performing 50% (LOW), 100% (HABITUAL), or 150% (HIGH) of their habitual PA (determined by 7-day pedometry). Trials were randomized and separated by at least 1-wk. For each OGTT trial, blood glucose and insulin were measured after an overnight fast and at 30-min intervals for 2 h following ingestion of the glucose beverage. Between-trial differences were analyzed using a general linear model with repeated measures. Subjects successfully achieved the desired percentage of habitual steps prior to each trial: LOW: 51±5%, HABITUAL: 99±6%, and HIGH: 149±9%. Fasting blood glucose and glucose total area under the curve (AUC) did not differ between trials. Serum insulin AUC was lower (p
Organizational Indigestion: Managerial Capacity as a limit to Acquisitive Growth

Acquisitions represent the primary means of external organizational growth; however, research suggests that acquisitions often fail. We develop theory and measures related to managerial capacity th...
Economic hardship, positive affect, and marital processes over middle years:

Family economic hardship (FEH) can negatively impact the quality of marital relationships, and research has shown that increased distress of husbands and wives at least partially mediates this asso...
High-dimensional Mixed Graphical Model with Ordinal Data: Parameter Estimation and Statistical Inference

We consider parameter estimation and statistical inference of high-dimensional undirected graphical models for mixed data comprising both ordinal and continuous variables. We propose a flexible model called Latent Mixed Gaussian Copula Model that simultaneously deals with such mixed data by assuming that the observed ordinal variables are generated by latent variables. For parameter estimation, we introduce a convenient rank-based ensemble approach to estimate the latent correlation matrix, which can be subsequently applied to recover the latent graph structure. In addition, based on the ensemble estimator, we develop test statistics via a pseudo-likelihood approach to quantify the uncertainty associated with the low dimensional components of high-dimensional parameters. Our theoretical analysis shows the consistency of the estimator and asymptotic normality of the test statistic. Experiments on simulated and real gene expression data are conducted to validate our approach.
Sequential local mesh refinement solver with separate temporal and spatial adaptivity for non-linear two-phase flow problems

Abstract Convergence failure and slow convergence rates are among the biggest challenges with solving the system of non-linear equations numerically. Although mitigated, such issues still linger when using strictly small time steps and unconditionally stable fully implicit schemes. The price that comes with restricting time steps to small scales is the enormous computational load, especially in large-scale models. To address this problem, we introduce a sequential local mesh refinement framework of temporal and spatial adaptivity to optimize convergence rate and prevent convergence failure, while not restricting the whole system to small time steps, thus improving computational efficiency. Two types of error estimators are introduced to estimate the spatial discretization error, the temporal discretization error separately. These estimators provide a global upper bounds on the dual norm of the residual and the non-conformity of the numerical solution for non-linear two phase flow models. The mesh refinement algorithm starts from solving the problem on the coarsest space-time mesh, then the mesh is refined sequentially based on the spatial error estimator and the temporal error estimator. After each refinement, the solution from the previous mesh is used to estimate the initial guess of unknowns on the current mesh for faster convergence. Numerical results are presented to confirm accuracy of our algorithm as compared to the uniformly fine time step and fine spatial discretization solution. We observe around 25 times speedup in the solution time by using our algorithm.
BG-4 from Bitter Gourd ( Momordica charantia ) Differentially Affects Inflammation In Vitro and In Vivo

BG-4 isolated from bitter gourd has been reported for anti-cancer properties. The objective was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of BG-4 in vitro and in vivo. Comparative study of the anti-inflammatory properties of BG-4 in vitro and in vivo was conducted on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophages, and on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. BG-4 reduced the production of pro-inflammatory markers in LPS-activated macrophages. On the other hand, intraperitoneal administration of BG-4 in DSS-induced colitis led to colon shortening, elevated neutrophils infiltration and myeloperoxidase activity, presence of blood in the stool, and loss of body weight, with differential systemic and local effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo. The results demonstrated that BG-4 differentially affected inflammation in vitro and in vivo.
Lone-Pair-Induced Chirality in Polyoxotungstate Structures: Tin(II) Derivatives of A-Type XW9O34n- (X = P, Si). Interaction with Amino Acids

Tin(II) tungstophosphate and tungstosilicate derivatives [SnII3(α-PW9O34)2]12- (1), [SnII3(α-SiW9O34)2]14- (2), and [SnII3(β-SiW9O34)2]14- (3) have been prepared by reaction of tin(II) sulfate with Na8H[A,β-PW9O34]·24H2O, Na10[α-SiW9O34]·xH2O, and Na10[β-SiW9O34]·26H2O, respectively. Oxidation of 1 with Br2 yields [(HOSnIVOH)3(PW9O34)2]12- (1‘). The new heteropolyanions were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Crystals of Cs11H[SnII3(PW9O34)2]·14H2O (anion 1) are triclinic, space group P1, with lattice constants a = 12.904(3) A, b = 18.059(3) A, c = 21.618(3) A, α = 111.68(2)°, β = 94.04(2)°, γ = 101.41(1)°, V = 4531.5(14) A3, Z = 2. Crystals of Cs12.5H1.5[SnII3(α-SiW9O34)2]·24.5H2O (anion 2) are triclinic, space group P1, with lattice constants a = 13.101(5) A, b = 18.140(7) A, c = 21.367(8) A, α = 111.54(4)°, β = 92.22(4)°, γ = 102.98(2)°, V = 4561(3) A3, Z = 2. Both 1 and 2 have structures in which three SnII cations are sandwiched ...
A predicted Francisella tularensis DXD-motif glycosyltransferase blocks immune activation.

Pathogens enhance their survival during infections by manipulating host defenses. Francisella tularensis evades innate immune responses, which we have found to be dependent on an understudied gene ybeX (FTL_0883/FTT_0615c). To understand the function of YbeX, we sought protein interactors in F. tularensis subsp. holarctica live vaccine strain (LVS). An unstudied Francisella protein co-immunoprecipitated with recombinant YbeX, which is a predicted glycosyltransferase with a DXD-motif. There are up to four genomic copies of this gene with identical sequence in strains of F. tularensis pathogenic to humans, despite ongoing genome decay. Disruption mutations were generated by intron insertion into all three copies of this glycosyltransferase domain containing gene in LVS, gdcA1-3. The resulting strains stimulated more cytokines from macrophages in vitro than wild-type LVS and were attenuated in two in vivo infection models. GdcA was released from LVS during culture and was sufficient to block NF-κB activation when expressed in eukaryotic cells. When co-expressed in zebrafish, GdcA and YbeX were synergistically lethal to embryo development. Glycosyltransferases with DXD-motifs are found in a variety of pathogens including NleB, an Escherichia coli type-III secretion system effector that inhibits NF-κB by antagonizing death receptor signaling. To our knowledge, GdcA is the first DXD-motif glycosyltransferase that inhibits NF-κB in immune cells. Together, these findings suggest DXD-motif glycosyltransferases may be a conserved virulence mechanism used by pathogenic bacteria to remodel host defenses.
Smart Thermosensitive Copolymer Incorporating Chitosan-Zinc-Insulin Electrostatic Complexes for Controlled Delivery of Insulin: Effect of Chitosan Chain Length.

This work was designed to optimize the thermosensitive copolymeric depot-based system for delivering insulin at a controlled rate for a prolonged period following a single subcutaneous injection. T...