cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Software components for parallel multiscale simulation: an example with LAMMPS

Multiscale simulation is a promising approach for addressing a variety of real-world engineering problems. Various mathematical approaches have been proposed to link single-scale models of physics into multiscale models. In order to be effective, new multiscale simulation algorithms must be implemented which use partial results provided by single-scale software. This work considers aspects of software design for interfacing to existing single-scale simulation code to perform multiscale simulations on a parallel machine. As a practical example, we extended the large-scale atomistic/molecular massively parallel simulator (LAMMPS) atomistic simulation software to facilitate its efficient use as a component of parallel multiscale-simulation software. This required new library interface functions to LAMMPS that side-stepped its dependence on files for input and output and provided efficient access to LAMMPS’s internal state. As a result, we were able to take advantage of LAMMPS’s single-scale performance without adding any multiscale-specific code to LAMMPS itself. We illustrate the use of LAMMPS as a component in three different modes: as a stand-alone application called by a multiscale code, as a parallel library invoked by a serial multiscale code, and as a parallel library invoked by a parallel multiscale code. We conclude that it is possible to efficiently re-use existing single-scale simulation software as a component in multiscale-simulation software.
The supply of labor time for mature females

Overall, the evidence indicates that women view their leisure time as a normal good. The responsiveness in supply to changes in asset income is small.
Phase transitions and vacuum tunneling into charge- and color-breaking minima in the MSSM.

The scalar potential of the MSSM may have local and global minima characterized by nonzero expectation values of charged and colored bosons. Even if the true vacuum is not color and charge conserving, the early Universe is likely to occupy the minimum of the potential in which only the neutral Higgs fields have nonzero VEV's. The stability of this false vacuum with respect to quantum tunneling imposes important constraints on the values of the MSSM parameters. We analyze these constraints using some novel methods for calculating the false vacuum decay rate. Some regions of the MSSM parameter space are ruled out because the lifetime of the corresponding physically acceptable false vacuum is small in comparison to the present age of the Universe. However, there is a significant fraction of the parameter space that is consistent with the hypothesis that the Universe rests in the false vacuum that is stable on a cosmological time scale.
Four-component gas/water/oil displacements in one dimension: part II, example solutions

In this article analytical solutions are constructed for a system of conservation laws modeling compositional flow of four components in three phases using the method of characteristics (MOC). Every component partitions between all phases present, and the equilibrium volume ratios of the components in each phase are fixed. Riemann problems modeling the injection of carbon dioxide and water in a depleted oil reservoir are studied, and the sensitivity of the solutions to changes in boundary conditions is analyzed. Finally the MOC solutions are compared to simulated displacements.
Domain decomposition and parallel processing of a finite element model of the shallow water equations

Abstract We present nonoverlapping domain decomposition techniques applied to a two-stage Numerov-Galerkin finite element model of the shallow water equations over a limited-area domain. The Schur complement matrix formulation is employed and a modified interface matrix approach is proposed to handle the coupling between subdomains. The resulting nonsymmetric Schur complement matrices, modified interface matrices as well as the subdomain coefficient matrices are solved using Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient Squared (PCGS) non-symmetric iterative solvers. Various stages of the finite element solution are parallelized and the code is implemented ona four processor CRAY Y-MP supercomputer applying multitasking techniques in a dedicated environment.
Growth hormone-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of a GH receptor-associated high molecular WEIGHT protein immunologically related to JAK2.

Abstract A critical step in growth hormone (GH) signalling is the GH-induced activation of the GH receptor (GHR)-associated tyrosine kinase, JAK2. JAK2 is a 120 kD member of the Janus family of tyrosine kinases, whose other mammalian members include JAK1, JAK3, and TYK2. Using 3T3-F442A murine preadipocytes, we now report detection of a M r ∼ 170 kD protein, referred to as HMW (“high molecular weight”) JAK2, that is specifically reactive in immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments with three independently-derived anti-JAK2 antibodies—two directed at carboxyl-terminal regions of the molecule and one directed at the amino-terminus. Like JAK2, HMW JAK2 is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to GH treatment of cells and is coimmunoprecipitated with anti-GHR serum. Thus, HMW JAK2 is a protein not heretofore described that is immunologically related to JAK2 and is physically and functionally associated with the GHR.
Daily inhibition of postprandial hyperglycaemia with JTT-608, a novel oral antidiabetic agent, ameliorates pancreatic function in neonatally streptozotocin-treated rats.

Aim: Chronic glycaemic control, in particular, the control of postprandial hyperglycaemia, is essential for preventing the development of diabetic complications. We therefore evaluated the chronic treatment effect of a new antidiabetic agent, JTT-608 [trans-4-(methylcyclohexyl)-4-oxobutyric acid], in neonatally streptozotocin-treated rats. Methods: The rats were maintained with liquid meal three times a day and treated orally with JTT-608 10 min before each meal for 12 weeks. Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and fasting blood glucose levels were measured at 4-week intervals, and effects of JTT-608 on pancreatic function and diabetic complications were examined after dosing period. Results: The postprandial hyperglycaemia was suppressed by JTT-608 administration, and both HbA1C levels and fasting blood glucose levels were reduced during the experimental period. After the treatment period of 12 weeks, JTT-608 further improved the early insulin secretion and the impaired glucose tolerance after meal loading in the diabetic rats. Also, pathological examination revealed that JTT-608 reduced the incidence of the decrease in immunoreactivity of insulin. In examination of other diabetic complications, JTT-608 ameliorated the reduced motor nerve conduction velocities observed in diabetic rats and inhibited the incidence of cataracts with diabetes. Conclusions: We conclude that a newly developed antidiabetic agent, JTT-608, improves the pancreatic function and prevents the development of diabetic complications by inhibition of daily postprandial hyperglycaemia and could be useful for the treatment of diabetic subjects with impaired insulin secretion.
Rgs1 and Gnai2 Regulate the Entrance of B Lymphocytes into Lymph Nodes and B Cell Motility within Lymph Node Follicles

Signaling by G protein-coupled receptors coupled to Galpha(i) assists in triggering lymphocyte movement into and out of lymph nodes. Here, we show that modulating the signaling output from these receptors dramatically alters B cell trafficking. Intravital microscopy of adoptively transferred B cells from wild-type and Rgs1-/- mice revealed that Rgs1-/- B cells stick better to lymph node high endothelial venules, home better to lymph nodes, and move more rapidly within lymph node follicles than do wild-type B cells. In contrast, B cells from Gnai2-/- mice enter lymph nodes poorly and move more slowly than do wild-type B cells. The Gnai2-/- mice often lack multiple peripheral lymph nodes, and their B cells respond poorly to chemokines, indicating that Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) poorly compensate for the loss of Galpha(i2). These results demonstrate opposing roles for Rgs1 and Gnai2 in B cell trafficking into and within lymph nodes.
Interpolating Sparsely Corrupted Signals in Micrometeorology

In real applications where data acquisition is carried out under extreme conditions, post-processing techniques for systematic corrections are of critical importance. In micrometeorological studies, it is often the case that acquired data contains both missing information and impulse noise due to instrumentation failure, data transmission and data rejection for quality assurance. In this work, we propose a simple algorithm based on an $\ell_{1}-\ell_{1}$ variational formulation that simultaneously suppresses impulse noise and interpolates missing information. Our approach consists of relaxing the objective function in the variational formulation with a strictly convex and continuously differentiable function that depends on a regularization parameter. We solve a sequence of strictly convex optimization subproblems as the regularization parameter goes to zero, converging to the solution of the original problem. Numerical experiments on real micrometeorological datasets are conducted showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Furthermore, a convergence analysis is presented providing theoretical guaranties of our method.
Confidence-Based Multi-Robot Learning from Demonstration

Learning from demonstration algorithms enable a robot to learn a new policy based on demonstrations provided by a teacher. In this article, we explore a novel research direction, multi-robot learning from demonstration, which extends demonstration based learning methods to collaborative multi-robot domains. Specifically, we study the problem of enabling a single person to teach individual policies to multiple robots at the same time. We present flexMLfD, a task and platform independent multi-robot demonstration learning framework that supports both independent and collaborative multi-robot behaviors. Building upon this framework, we contribute three approaches to teaching collaborative multi-robot behaviors based on different information sharing strategies, and evaluate these approaches by teaching two Sony QRIO humanoid robots to perform three collaborative ball sorting tasks. We then present scalability analysis of flexMLfD using up to seven Sony AIBO robots. We conclude the article by proposing a formalization for a broader multi-robot learning from demonstration research area.
In Memoriam: Brian Harold Mason (1917–2009)

Autobiographies of scientists seldom make my must-read list. They are often self-aggrandizing attempts to make the trivial important and the mundane glamorous. It was much to my surprise when Brian...
Prevention of implantation by antiprogesterone.

Abstract If progesterone (P) is indispensable in the protection of normal pregnancy during the pre-implantation period, then treatment with antiP (AP), should prevent implantation. The validity of this premise has been examined in the rat model, using the synthetic steroid: Isoxazol. This AP inhibits the conversion of pregnenolone to P, by inhibiting the enzyme 3β-HSDH. In an earlier study, a single oral dose of 2.5 mg Isoxazol invariably interrupted pregnancy shortly after implantation and 20 mg predictably provoked parturition preterm. In the present study, conducted between days 0 and 4 of the pre-implantation period, a single oral dose of 20 to 100 mg Isoxazol has been administered to spermpositive rats. The controls were treated with vehicle only. At day 4, when the blastocysts are already loosely attached to the endometrium, 40 mg Isoxazol compromised normal implantation, as a rule, and the conceptuses became resorbed. At day 3, when the morulas enter the uterus, this dose had a moderate effect only while 60 mg increased efficacy and 100 mg prevented the implantation of most blastocysts. As in the previous studies a single dose of AP provoked a drastic P withdrawal (Pw). The premise that it was Pw and not some side effect of Isoxazol which intercepted normal implantation was verified by the demonstration that the prevention of the AP-induced Pw, by P treatment, prevented the antifertility action of Isoxazol.
Benzodiazepine receptor binding in cerebellar degenerations studied with positron emission tomography

We used positron emission tomography with [ 11 C]flumazenil to study gamma-aminobutyric acid type A/benzodiaze-pine receptor binding quantitatively in the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem of 72 subjects, including 14 with multiple system atrophy of the ataxic (olivopontocerebellar atrophy) type, 5 with multiple system atrophy of the extrapyramidal/autonomic (Shy-Drager syndrome) type, 18 with sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy, 15 with dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy, and 20 normal control subjects with similar age and sex distributions. In comparison with data obtained from the normal control subjects, we found significantly decreased ligand influx in the cerebellum and brainstem of multiple system atrophy patients of the olivopontocerebellar atrophy type and in patients with sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy, but not in patients with multiple system atrophy of the Shy-Drager syndrome type. Despite these differences in ligand influx, benzodiazepine binding was largely preserved in the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem in patients with multiple system atrophy of both types as well as those with sporadic or dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy as compared with normal control subjects. The finding of relative preservation of benzodiazepine receptors indicates that these sites are available for pharmacological therapy in these disorders.
Vitamin D for Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: What is the Evidence?

Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in the U.S., particularly among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. These low levels of vitamin D are concerning given increasing evidence that vitamin D may have health benefits beyond skeletal outcomes. Prospective observational studies suggest that higher vitamin D levels are associated with lower risk of incident CRC and improved survival for patients with established CRC, and randomized clinical trials are urgently needed to establish causality. Moreover, there remains a great need to improve prognosis for patients with CRC, and investigating vitamin D as a potential therapy is an attractive option in regards to safety and cost, particularly in this era of expensive and often toxic anti-neoplastic agents. In this review the evidence regarding the activity of vitamin D in CRC will be summarized, spanning preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical studies, and future research directions will be discussed.
An asymmetrically-coordinated 2,3-dimethylpyrazine bridging ligand in the (II,II) binuclear ion, {[RuII(hedta)]2(2,3-Me2pz)}2− (hedta3− = N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate)

[Ru(hedta)(H2O)]− (hedta3− = N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate) reacts with 2,3-Me2pz (2,3-dimethylpyrazine) at 1:1, forming [Ru(hedta)(2,3-Me2pz)]− (1), and at 2:1, forming {[Ru(hedta)]2(2,3-Me2pz)2− (2). Complex 1 is characterized by a RuII/III wave at 0.20 V versus NHE which shifts to 0.31 V upon protonation at N-4. Complex 2 exhibits two waves at 0.19 and 0.27 V from which the corrected comproportionation constant, Kc′ = 5.7, is calculated. The value of Kc′ indicates very poor electronic coupling between RuII/III centers. The origins of the decrease from Kc′ value of 190 for the {[Ru(hedta)]2(pz)}− complex is discussed in terms of (i) differences in orbital overlap due to hindered rotation in the 2,3-Me2pz complex versus the pz case, or (ii) differences in structural distance, orientation or solvation in these complexes. The 1H NMR spectrum of complex 1 exhibits resonances at 2.67 (2CH3), 2.58 (3CH3), 8.01 (H5) and 8.86 (H6) ppm, respectively. The 1H NMR spectrum of complex 2 requires asymmetric coordination of the two [RuII(hedta)]− moieties as shown by non-equivalent resonances: 2.74 (2CH3), 2.68 (3CH3), 8.45 (H5) and 8.55 (H6) ppm, respectively. On the 13C NMR time scale carbons C2 and C3, and C5 and C6 are pairwise equivalent with respective shifts of 155.81 and 166.44 ppm, downfield of the free ligand by 12.99 and 11.69 ppm. There may be a time-dependent reorganization of bonding at the two RuII centers which lengthens and shortens opposite bonds at N-1 and N-4 with k ∼ 10 s−1. This motion will also account for the reduced value of Kc′ for the 2,3-Me2pz complex. The protonated form of 1 migrates to provide η2-coordinated [RuII(hedta)(2,3-Me2pzH)], bound at η2(1,2) (31.5%), less than the 79.7% η2(1,2) plus η2(2.3) species observed for the related pyrazine complex, at equilibrium with the N-1-coordinated complex.
Civilian Indoctrination of the Military: World War I and Future Implications for the Military-Industrial Complex

Introduction The Old Army and the Preparedness Movement The Army and the Psychologists The Army and Vocational Education The Army and Higher Learning The Army and Immorality The Army and Morality Bibliography Index
Atmospheric concentrations and the deposition velocity to snow of nitric acid, sulfur dioxide and various particulate species

Abstract A study of deposition velocities to snow was conducted during the 1982–1983 and 1983–1984 winters at the University of Michigan Biological Station in northern Michigan. Weekly measurements were made of dry deposition rates to snow and the atmospheric concentrations of the depositing species. SO 2 , with an average concentration of 2.2 ppb, was the dominant atmospheric sulfur containing species. NO 2 , with an average concentration of 1.8 ppb, was the dominant atmospheric nitrogenous species. NO − 3 deposition was due primarily to HNO 3 , which averaged 0.2 ppb. The HNO 3 deposition velocity averaged 1.4cm s −1 . The SO 2 deposition velocity varied with temperature, averaging 0.15 cm s −1 for samples with appreciable exposure time above − 3°C, and 0.06 cm s −1 for samples which remained below an ambient temperature of −3°C. Deposition velocities of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + and NH + 4 were 2.1, 1.5, 0.44, 0.51 and 0.10cm s −1 , respectively. The mass median diameters of these species were 4.4, 2.7, 1.8, 0.9 and 0.46 μm, respectively.
Robyn J. Barst, MD.

On April 19, 2013, Robyn J. Barst – wife to Sam, mother to Nomi and Lindsey, grandmother to Tobias, physician to many adults and children with pulmonary hypertension, and a friend and colleague of mine for more than 25 years – passed away at her home in Scarsdale, New York after a protracted illness. She was 62 years old. I can't recall exactly when I first met Robyn, but I will never forget when we last collaborated. It was only a few months ago, in February of this year, at the Fifth World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension, held in Nice, France. Robyn had been on the organising committee of the previous four symposia, and we had shared the primary responsibility and workload for the fourth symposium, held in Dana Point, CA, USA, but Robyn was too ill to travel for the most recent meeting. Despite the rapid deterioration in her condition, she organised a teleconference with the two task forces to which she had been assigned, and spent over 8 hours over a 2-day period on the phone with her colleagues, giving her usual insight and providing suggestions for future directions. Everyone in that conference …
Alief in Action (and Reaction)

I introduce and argue for the importance of a cognitive state that I call alief . An alief is, to a reasonable approximation, an innate or habitual propensity to respond to an apparent stimulus in a particular way. Recognizing the role that alief plays in our cognitive repertoire provides a framework for understanding reactions that are governed by non-conscious or automatic mechanisms, which in turn brings into proper relief the role played by reactions that are subject to conscious regulation and deliberate control. Certain complex actions are of direct or indirect service under certain states of the mind, in order to relieve or gratify certain sensations, desires, and whenever the same state of mind is induced, however feebly, there is a tendency through the force of habit and association for the same movements to be performed, though they may not then be of the least use. Charles Darwin ' The principle of servicable associated Habits ' ( Darwin, 1898 , p. 28).
Comparison of ultralow specific on-resistance UMOSFET structures

Summary form only given. The authors describe three novel UMOSFET structures, called the accumulation, inversion, and extended trench field-effect transistors (ACCUFET, INVFET, EXTFET). The principal difference between these structures and the conventional UMOSFET is that the trench (UMOS) gate extends all the way down to the n/sup +/ substrate. A detailed comparison of all the UMOSFET structures has been performed. Two-dimensional numerical simulations using PISCES have demonstrated that a specific on-resistance approaching 100 mu Omega -cm/sup 2/ can be obtained for devices capable of supporting 25 V. For experimental verification, devices were made using a six-mask process and SF/sub 6//O/sub 2/ RIE (reactive ion etching) to form trenches with gate oxide thickness ranging from 260 to 900 AA. The measured specific on-resistances of the experimentally fabricated devices with a gate oxide thickness of 720 AA were found to be 125, 195, and 245 mu Omega -cm/sup 2/ for the ACCUFET, EXTFET, and INVFET structures. >
A spatial analysis of cumulative habitat loss in Southern California under the Clean Water Act Section 404 Program

Abstract Habitat loss is the leading cause of biodiversity reduction in the world today, with wetlands having experienced especially large losses in the United States and elsewhere. Using remote sensing and GIS techniques, this study quantified cumulative habitat loss in two Southern California watersheds associated with Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, primarily for developments, issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1984 to 2002. While the majority of habitat loss occurred outside of explicitly 404-authorized developments, non-explicitly authorized development represented a substantial fraction of observed habitat loss. The spatial distribution of habitat loss and 404 permits were analyzed statistically. In almost all cases, percent habitat loss was significantly correlated with variables representing 404 authorizations. These correlations may indicate the presence of incidental authorizations, suggesting that 404 authorizations within the study area may have indirectly facilitated nearby development (i.e., growth-inducing impacts). This study expanded the use of remote sensing, GIS, and spatial statistics for the purpose of regulatory-driven cumulative impact assessment. Until resource agencies quantify cumulative impacts in a spatially explicit manner and analyze those data statistically, there can be little rigorous scientific basis for formulating regulatory or policy decisions regarding cumulative impacts.
A wave treatment of the continuous cathode crossed-field amplifier

The continuous cathode crossed-field amplifier, a device characterized by high eificiency and low phase pushing, is considered in terms of wave theory. Based on analytical treatments that have appeared in the literature, a plasma propagation constant is postulated and correlated with observed experimental results. From this, a qualitative concept of mode coupling is dxawn which has proven to be of great value in understanding crossed-field devices and in predicting the characteristics of newly designed tubes. Following a brief section devoted to the crossed-field diode, the experimental observations which led to the theory are presented, culminating in a coupling-of-modes picture of the interaction which is similar to the familiar beam tube treatment. Relationships necessary for checking the theory are given and attention is paid to several important observations affecting design.
A novel link prediction algorithm for reconstructing protein–protein interaction networks by topological similarity

Motivation: Recent advances in technology have dramatically increased the availability of protein–protein interaction (PPI) data and stimulated the development of many methods for improving the systems level understanding the cell. However, those efforts have been significantly hindered by the high level of noise, sparseness and highly skewed degree distribution of PPI networks. Here, we present a novel algorithm to reduce the noise present in PPI networks. The key idea of our algorithm is that two proteins sharing some higher-order topological similarities, measured by a novel random walk-based procedure, are likely interacting with each other and may belong to the same protein complex. Results: Applying our algorithm to a yeast PPI network, we found that the edges in the reconstructed network have higher biological relevance than in the original network, assessed by multiple types of information, including gene ontology, gene expression, essentiality, conservation between species and known protein complexes. Comparison with existing methods shows that the network reconstructed by our method has the highest quality. Using two independent graph clustering algorithms, we found that the reconstructed network has resulted in significantly improved prediction accuracy of protein complexes. Furthermore, our method is applicable to PPI networks obtained with different experimental systems, such as affinity purification, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA), and evidence shows that the predicted edges are likely bona fide physical interactions. Finally, an application to a human PPI network increased the coverage of the network by at least 100%. Availability: www.cs.utsa.edu/~jruan/RWS/. Contact: Jianhua.Ruan@utsa.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Intimate Partner Violence, Maternal Sensitive Parenting Behaviors, and Children's Executive Functioning.

OBJECTIVE: Despite knowledge that intimate partner violence (IPV) can negatively affect children's socioemotional and behavioral development, less is known about the impact of IPV on children's cognitive development, including whether it influences their executive functioning (EF). The goal of the current study was to address this gap in the literature, by examining the association between IPV that occurs early in life and EF at school entry. This study also allowed for the investigation of maternal sensitive parenting behaviors as a possible mediator of this relation. METHOD: Using longitudinal data from a socioeconomically and racially diverse sample of families (n = 154), we investigated the association between IPV measured when children were 24, 30, and 36 months old and their EF when they were 60 months old. We also tested whether maternal sensitive parenting behaviors (measured when children were 24, 36, and 60 months old) mediated this association. RESULTS: Results indicate that, even after controlling for a number of family- and child-level covariates, IPV occurring early in children's lives was negatively associated with their EF at school entry. This relation was mediated by maternal sensitive parenting behaviors, such that higher levels of IPV were associated with lower levels of sensitive parenting behaviors, which in turn were positively associated with children's EF. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to a limited body of literature that links IPV and children's cognitive functioning, and suggest that intervention efforts aimed at improving children's EF may want to simultaneously consider IPV and maternal sensitive parenting behaviors. Language: en
El problema del actor clave

A procedure is described for finding sets of key players in a social network. A key assumption is that the optimal selection of key players depends on what they are needed for. Accordingly, two generic goals are articulated, referring to key player problem in positive (KPP-1) and negative (KPP-2) terms. KPP-1 is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of optimally diffusing something through the network by using the key players as seeds. KPP-2 is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of disrupting or fragmenting the network by removing the key nodes. It is found that off-the-shelf centrality measures are not optimal for solving either generic problem, and therefore new measures are presented.
Testicular Asymmetry and Adolescent Varicoceles Managed Expectantly

Purpose: Adolescent varicocele is often associated with testicular asymmetry. Depending on the degree of asymmetry, some physicians will recommend surgery. However, given the possibility that asynchronous growth may be transient, others advocate for a period of observation. We reviewed our outcomes in such patients who were initially treated expectantly.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our pediatric varicocele database. We analyzed the outcomes of patients presenting for evaluation of varicocele who were followed with serial testicular volume measurements using scrotal ultrasound or ring orchidometry and who had at least a 6-month interval between measurements. Fisher's exact test was used to compare groups based on initial and final testicular asymmetry.Results: We identified 181 patients (median age 13.8 years) who were followed expectantly. Serial volume measurements had been obtained at a median interval of 12 months (interquartile range 8 to 21) between first and most recent visits....
Is breastfeeding fair? Tensions in feminist perspectives on breastfeeding and the family.

Breastfeeding is widely acknowledged to have health benefits for mothers and infants. Because it is sex-specific, it challenges the feminist principle of gender-neutral childbearing. Various feminist theories addressing breastfeeding from the perspective of gender ideology, cultural feminism, and history are reviewed and contrasted. Employment and race disparities are addressed within feminist contexts. Feminist health activism is suggested as a unifying perspective. J Hum Lact. 24(2):206-212.
Tetracycline Resistance Due to Ribosomal Protection Proteins

There have been 11 ribosomal protection genes identified which code for cytoplasmic proteins that protect the ribosomes from the action of tetracycline in vitro and in vivo and confer resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline to the host. The ribosomal protection proteins are thought to interact with the base of h34 protein, within the ribosome, causing an allosteric disruption of the primary tetracycline binding site(s). This releases the tetracycline molecules from the ribosome and allows the ribosome to return to its normal posttranslocational conformational state, which was altered by the binding of tetracycline. Glycylcyclines compete with tetracycline for ribosomal binding sites because they have either identical or overlapping sites on the ribosome and have the same mode of action as tetracycline. The differences in host range may be partially due to the type of element that each gene is associated with. This may be relevant because conjugative transposons, in general, have less host specificity than do plasmids and are able to be transferred to unrelated species and genera. The ribosomal protection genes are associated with plasmids, transposons, and conjugative transposons. Conjugative transfer appears to be influenced by the flanking sequences which correlate with the location of the Tn916-Tn1545 family inserted into the chromosome.
Maximinus Thrax And The Politics Of Race In Late Antiquity

The anonymous Epitome de Caesaribus (25.1) introduces the emperor C. Julius Verus Maximinus (235–8 CE) for the first time as ‘Maximinus Thrax’. This is now a generally acceptable name for the emperor, despite the fact that it appears only once, here in the fourth century. So iconic is this geographical label, however, that the curious treatment of his origins by the most detailed sources, Herodian and the Historia Augusta, can be obscured. While both state that his birthplace was Thrace, they also point out that his origins were racially mixed. Herodian, a contemporary historian, calls Maximinus the son of mixobarbaroi, ‘mixed-barbarians’; a century and a half later, the Historia Augusta, in a long, largely fanciful biography, calls him a semibarbarus, a ‘half-barbarian’. His brief rule was therefore remembered as inaugurating a precedent that would come to plague the empire for decades: an emperor of dubious, even mongrel origins, elected by the troops, would bring cruelty and chaos to the state. This article considers how the Historia Augusta in particular used racial terms to highlight the difference between the legitimate rule of the senate and the illegitimate subversion of its authority by a half-barbarian from the periphery of the empire. This racial profile was fully formed only in the fourth century and is reflected in a range of other sources, demonstrating that contemporary political concerns brought to the fore debates on the dangers of racial mixing.
Evidence for sensory nerve involvement in cutaneous reactive hyperemia in humans.

To study the involvement of local sensory nerves in reactive hyperemia, laser-Doppler measurements of skin blood flow were recorded in locally anesthetized and untreated forearm sites in eight volunteers after 90, 180, and 360 seconds of arrested forearm blood flow. The reactive hyperemia increased in magnitude and duration in response to increasing occlusion periods. However, maximum postocclusion flows in the untreated site of 31 +/- 5%, 38 +/- 6%, and 49 +/- 5% (mean +/- SEM) flux were significantly greater than the 14 +/- 3% (P < .005), 20 +/- 4% (P < .005), and 25 +/- 5% (P < .001) flux seen in the anesthetized sites. The duration of the hyperemia was also shortened from 139 +/- 26 seconds in the untreated site to 61 +/- 17 seconds (after the 360-second occlusion, P < .02) in the anesthetized sites. The anesthesia did not alter the increase in local blood flow induced by intradermally injected calcitonin gene-related peptide. Topically applied capsaicin induced a localized increase in blood flow that was unaffected by anesthesia and a surrounding flare that was abolished by the treatment. The results show that local anesthesia can significantly inhibit reactive hyperemia by a mechanism that does not alter the vasodilation induced by exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide or the localized capsaicin-induced release of vasodilators from sensory nerves. Indomethacin was also found to be effective in suppressing reactive hyperemia. The evidence suggests that postocclusion reactive hyperemia in human forearm skin is mediated by a local reflex involving sensory nerves and a cyclooxygenase product, probably a vasodilator prostaglandin.
Specifying the non-specific factors underlying opioid analgesia: expectancy, attention, and affect

Rationale Psychological processes such as expectancy, attention, and affect directly influence clinical outcomes. These factors are grouped together as “nonspecific” factors, or placebo effects, in the medical literature, and their individual contributions are rarely considered. The pain-reducing effects of analgesic treatments may reflect changes in these psychological factors, rather than pure drug effects on pain. Furthermore, drug effects may not be isolated by drug vs. placebo comparisons if drugs interact with relevant psychological processes.
Ypi1, a Positive Regulator of Nuclear Protein Phosphatase Type 1 Activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) has an essential role in mitosis, acting in opposition to the Ipl1/Aurora B protein kinase to ensure proper kinetochore-microtubule interac...
Hierarchyless Simplification, Stripification and Compression of Triangulated Two-Manifolds

In this paper we explore the algorithmic space in which stripification, simplification and geometric compression of triangulated 2-manifolds overlap. Edge-collapse/uncollapse based geometric simplification algorithms develop a hierarchy of collapses such that during uncollapse the reverse order has to be maintained. We show that restricting the simplification and refinement operations only to, what we call, the collapsible edges creates hierarchyless simplification in which the operations on one edge can be performed independent of those on another. Although only a restricted set of edges is used for simplification operations, we prove topological results to show that, with minor retriangulation, any triangulated 2-manifold can be reduced to either a single vertex or a single edge using the hierarchyless simplification, resulting in extreme simplification. The set of collapsible edges helps us analyze and relate the similarities between simplification, stripification and geometric compression algorithms. We show that the maximal set of collapsible edges implicitly describes a triangle strip representation of the original model. Further, these strips can be effortlessly maintained on multiresolution models obtained through any sequence of hierarchyless simplifications on these collapsible edges. Due to natural relationship between stripification and geometric compression, these multi-resolution models can also be efficiently compressed using traditional compression algorithms. We present algorithms to find the maximal set of collapsible edges and to reorganize these edges to get the minimum number of connected components of these edges. An order-independent simplification and refinement of these edges is achieved by our novel data structure and we show the results of our implementation of view-dependent, dynamic, hierarchyless simplification. We maintain a single triangle strip across all multi-resolution models created by the view-dependent simplification process. We present a new algorithm to compress the models using the triangle strips implicitly defined by the collapsible edges.
Forced Secularization in Soviet Russia: Why an Atheistic Monopoly Failed

Under communism, the Russian religious landscape consisted mainly of two competitors—a severely repressed Russian Orthodox Church and a heavily promoted atheist alternative to religion called “scientific atheism.” Under these circumstances, one might expect the rapid spread of religious disbelief, but the intensity of the atheist campaign originated from official mandate and not popular appeal. In turn, scientific atheism never inspired the Russian population and grew increasingly uninspired as Soviet officials created a monopoly “church” of scientific atheism in hopes of replacing persistent religious beliefs and practices. This article is dedicated to explaining why Communists could not successfully convert the masses to atheism. The findings provide evidence that systems of belief require more than simply the power of promotion and coercion to become accepted.
Stealthy edge decoy attacks against dynamic channel assignment in wireless networks

Dynamic channel assignment algorithms allow wire- less nodes to select their communication channels based on the state of the network to reduce interference between the nodes and improve the overall network performance. They have been shown to outperform static channel assignment policies and thus are playing a critical role in Software Defined Networks (SDNs). In this paper, we examine the security of dynamic channel assignment algorithms against stealthy decoy attacks in which the attacker induces channel conflicts on a selective set of edges. When an edge is attacked, the victim nodes search for and switch to a different channel to use, possibly causing their neighbors to switch as well. As the effect of the attack propagates through the network, the performance of the network is severely degraded. The decisions of which edges to attack and what channels to use in creating conflicts are the solutions of various Markov Decision Processes (MDP) problems in which the attacker's goal is to maximize the number of conflicts in the network subject to an attack cost. We apply approximate policy iteration methods to identify suboptimal, albeit efficient, attack policies. Our results show that our exposed attack policy outperforms other attack policies and adapts to the cost of the attack
Compact monopole antennas for ultra-wideband in the band of 10–45GHz: Holes effects

New forms and designs monopole printed antennas such circular, triangular, rectangular and others were investigated for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) applications with low cost and low profile. The antennas have a symmetric and uniplanar geometry and a single microstrip transition. The size is about (40×40mm2) and can be used from 10GHz to 45GHz for (S11<-10dB). Small rectangular holes with different dimensions printed to these antennas are examined. Simulated reflection coefficient curves are provided along with beam pattern and gain.
The Current and Projected Taxpayer Shares of US Health Costs

Objectives. We estimated taxpayers’ current and projected share of US health expenditures, including government payments for public employees’ health benefits as well as tax subsidies to private health spending.Methods. We tabulated official Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services figures on direct government spending for health programs and public employees’ health benefits for 2013, and projected figures through 2024. We calculated the value of tax subsidies for private spending from official federal budget documents and figures for state and local tax collections.Results. Tax-funded health expenditures totaled $1.877 trillion in 2013 and are projected to increase to $3.642 trillion in 2024. Government’s share of overall health spending was 64.3% of national health expenditures in 2013 and will rise to 67.1% in 2024. Government health expenditures in the United States account for a larger share of gross domestic product (11.2% in 2013) than do total health expenditures in any other nation.Conclusions...
Modular Sum-Defined Irregular Colorings

In the sum-defined vertex-distinguishing edge coloring described in Chap. 1, the colors are selected from sets of the type [k] = { 1, 2, …, k} for an integer k ≥ 2. There is also a sum-defined vertex-distinguishing edge coloring whose colors are chosen instead from the sets \(\mathbb{Z}_{k}\) of integers modulo k for integers k ≥ 2.
Abel Summability for a Distribution Sampling Theorem

Let F(w)be an L2 function with compact support on [-σ,σ]; let T = π/σ and f(t) be the Fourier transform of F(w). Then the well-known sampling theorem says $${\text{f}}\left( {\text{t}} \right) = \sum\limits_{{\text{n}} = - \infty }^\infty {{\text{f}}\left( {{\text{nT}}} \right)\frac{{\sin \sigma \left( {{\text{t}} - {\text{nT}}} \right)}} {{\sigma \left( {{\text{t}} - {\text{nT}}} \right)}}},$$ where convergence is uniform in ℝ1. If F(w) is now a distribution with compact support on [-σ,σ] the Fourier transform is still a function but the series does not converge necessarily. However it is shown, under mild conditions of F(w), that the series is Abel summable, i.e. $${\text{f}}\left( {\text{t}} \right) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{{\text{r}} \to l^ - } \sum\limits_{{\text{n}} = - \infty }^\infty {{\text{r}}^{\left| {\text{n}} \right|} \,{\text{f}}\left( {{\text{nT}}} \right)\frac{{\sin \sigma \left( {{\text{t}} - {\text{nT}}} \right)}} {{\sigma \left( {{\text{t}} - {\text{nT}}} \right)}}}$$ where the convergence is uniform on bounded sets in ℝ1.
Prior Probabilities

In decision theory, mathematical analysis shows that once the sampling distribution, loss function, and sample are specified, the only remaining basis for a choice among different admissible decisions lies in the prior probabilities. Therefore, the logical foundations of decision theory cannot be put in fully satisfactory form until the old problem of arbitrariness (sometimes called "subjectiveness") in assigning prior probabilities is resolved. The principle of maximum entropy represents one step in this direction. Its use is illustrated, and a correspondence property between maximum-entropy probabilities and frequencies is demonstrated. The consistency of this principle with the principles of conventional "direct probability" analysis is illustrated by showing that many known results may be derived by either method. However, an ambiguity remains in setting up a prior on a continuous parameter space because the results lack invariance under a change of parameters; thus a further principle is needed. It is shown that in many problems, including some of the most important in practice, this ambiguity can be removed by applying methods of group theoretical reasoning which have long been used in theoretical physics. By finding the group of transformations on the parameter space which convert the problem into an equivalent one, a basic desideratum of consistency can be stated in the form of functional equations which impose conditions on, and in some cases fully determine, an "invariant measure" on the parameter space.
From research measurements to application: Bridging the gap; Overview of practical and scientific measurements in nutrition

Abstract Research that advances the practice of poultry nutrition covers a wide range, including fundamental studies that explore mechanisms in cells or a small number of birds and applied research that determines product yield in authentic production facilities. Ultimately, the applied research informs the economic analysis necessary for implementation of novel nutritional strategies or products. Nutritional controversies arise from applied research experiments that were not designed and interpreted based on the realities learned from mechanistic work. The experimental design and measurements selected for comparing nutrient sources or setting nutrient recommendations should be informed by underlying mechanistic information, such as the relative priorities of cells and tissues for the nutrient and the shape of the dose response relationship across a wide range of added dietary levels of the nutrient. Integrating mechanistic and applied research provides more robust results that can be used across wider ranges of diets and husbandry conditions.
Thromboplastinase, a New Enzyme Which Destroys Thromboplastin

SummaryThromboplastinase, a new enzyme of bacterial origin has been reported and its preparation and mode of action described. To our knowledge, this is the only enzyme which is apparently specific for thromboplastin. The split of a phosphorus moiety, apparently necessary for thrombo-plastic activity has been correlated with enzyme action. The theoretical and practical implications of these observations are discussed.
Comparison of Detailed Electron Fluid Model Formulations for Non-equilibrium Plasma Simulations

The plasma sheath near a probe surface is a non-neutral, non-equilibrium flow. Two implementations of a non-neutral detailed model electron fluid are compared in this study. Both formulations derive from the electron conservation laws and the electrostatic Poisson equation, but differ in the usage of the Poisson equation. The first implementation (detailed formulation) uses the Poisson equation to compute electron density from the plasma potential. The second implementation (Poisson-consistent formulation) explicitly solves the Poisson equation for potential. Both formulations are incorporated as part of a hybrid fluid Particle In Cell computational code, which is used for simulation of the axisymmetric plasma flow in the sheath near a Faraday probe. The two implementations produce markedly different results for the extent of the sheath. The Poisson- consistent formulation is in good agreement with the collisionless Bohm sheath solution, but the detailed formulation predicts more compact sheaths. The Poisson-consistent formulation is more computationally sensitive: the ion distribution must be primarily at speeds greater than the Bohm velocity to avoid spurious pseudo-presheath structures. The Poisson-consistent formulation also requires nearly 50% more time than the detailed formulation to complete a simulation. Differences between the Poisson-consistent formulation and the detailed formulation may stem from differing techniques to compute a non-linear term in electron density.