cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fieldwork in Indian Religion: Some Notes On Experience and Ethics

Field research in India is always a challenge, especially the investiga tion of religious experience, which has been my area of research. Questions about integrity are relevant ones in the study of religious experience, and more generally the question of integrity is important to explore. What does it mean to "do it right?" For instance, I have had informants share experiences that they have never discussed be fore, and that they value highly. For some, these experiences were the defining moments in their lives, the most cherished and precious moments. How, then, do we treat the experiences of others with integrity? There are many levels to respect, and many ways that data can be misused. A colleague in anthropology told me of the distress of his own advisor, whose work on the hill tribes of Cambodia was used by the U.S. government as a map for bombing during the expansion of the Vietnam War. Here is a gross case of misuse of data, where research led to destruction in the informant's culture. However, in formants can be treated badly in other, more subtle ways. For me, integrity means honoring the religious views of my in formants, not belittling them to their faces (as missionaries and Com munists have done) or behind their backs (like academics who reduce their experiences to economic or political ignorance, pathology or sexual repression). People can be belittled in many ways—they used to be ignorant or benighted and pre-logical savages, now they are puppets of governments or slaves of hegemonic ideas, or hypocritical seekers of power. I respect the religious experiences of my informants by not analyzing and contextualizing them out of existence—which is not a popular position in a field with a liking for sociological models. I consider such reductionism a violation of my informants' trust.
The clinical utility of computer-assisted ambulatory 16 channel EEG

The clinical utility of 16 channel computer-assisted out-patient ambulatory EEG (CO-LTM) was evaluated. The study included patients referred to a community-based service for further diagnostic evaluation using a 16-channel ambulatory monitor. Referring physicians were surveyed to evaluate if the results of their patients' monitoring sessions were associated with a change in their clinical management. Surveys were sent to 45 physicians referring the first 149 patients monitored. 121 surveys (81%) were returned from 31 physicians, a 69% response rate. The monitoring results were associated with non-neurological referrals in 40% of cases, referral for in-patient monitoring in 14%, a change in medication in 23% of cases, and resulted in no change in only 19% of the cases. A follow-up sample of 25 patients confirmed reduced or event freedom in 21, 2 unchanged and 2 unknown. Five of the six patients had had their diagnosis confirmed following video EEG. In conclusion, CO-LTM provides clinically useful information.
Aflatoxin and rubratoxin produced by aspergillus parasiticus and penicillium rubrum when grown independently, associatively, or with penicillium italicum or lactobacillus plantarum

Aspergillus parasiticus andPenicillium rubrum were grown separately, associatively, or in combination withPenicillium italicum, and/orLactobacillus plantarum. A glucose-salts broth and single strength and concentrated grapefruit juice serve as substrates. In the broth medium incubated at 28° C for 7 days, production of aflatoxin byA. parasiticus was enhanced when the culture also containedP. rubrum plusL. plantarum; was unaffected by the presence ofP. italicum; and. was reduced by the presence ofP. rubrum, P. rubrum plusP. italicum, orL. plantarum. Production of aflatoxin in single strength grapefruit juice held at 28 C for 7 days was enhanced whenA. parasiticus grew together withP. rubrum andL. plantarum. Presence of all other cultures or combinations reduced aflatoxin production. Similar results were obtained with concentrated grapefruit juice except that less aflatoxin was produced by all cultures and combinations of cultures. Rubratoxin production in broth was enhanced whenP. rubrum grew in association withA. parasiticus. All other combinations of cultures yielded less rubratoxin than didP. rubrum by itself. In single strength grapefruit juice, presence ofA. parasiticus caused a marked decline in rubratoxin production. Slight increases in yield of rubratoxin were obtained when cultures containedL. plantarum orA. parasiticus plusL. plantarum. Other combinations of cultures neither enhanced nor reduced rubratoxin production. All combinations of cultures enhanced rubratoxin production in concentrated grapefruit juice with the highest yield appearing whenA. parasiticus andL. plantarum grew together withP. rubrum. Production of rubratoxin was similar in single strength and concentrated grapefruit ,juice. Sometimes mixtures of cultures differed in production of aflatoxin and rubratoxin after 3 instead of 7 days incubation.
The Discharge Flow Ripple of an Axial-Piston Swash-Plate Type Hydrostatic Pump

This research examines the idealized and actual flow-ripple of an axial-piston swash-plate type hydrostatic pump. For the idealized case, a perfect pump is examined in which the leakage is considered to be zero and the fluid is considered to be incompressible. Based upon these assumptions, closed-form expressions which describe the characteristics of the idealized flow-ripple are derived. Both the ripple height and the pulse frequency of the ripple are described for a pump with an even and an odd number of pistons. Next, the actual flow-ripple of the pump is examined by considering the pump leakage and the fluid compressibility and for computing these results a numerical program is used. For both the idealized case and the actual case-a comparison is made between a nine-piston, an eight-piston, and a seven-piston pump. From the idealized analysis it is quantitatively shown that the eight-piston design is less attractive than the nine or seven-piston design; however, the analysis of the actual pump flow reveals that the qualitative difference between all three designs may not be too significant. From a flow ripple point of view, the numerical results of this research show that a pump designed with an even number of pistons may be as feasible as one that is designed with an odd number of pistons. This is an unexpected conclusion.
Neonatal bacterial meningitis

Despite major improvements in infant intensive care, neonatal meningitis remains a devastating disease. Survivors of bacterial meningitis are at high-risk for life-long neurological handicaps, and despite a reduction in mortality, the morbidity of neonatal meningitis has not changed substantially over the last thirty years. A substantial improvement in outcome is unlikely to result from further refinements in ICU technology or new antibiotics. However, recent advancements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of meningitis and the pathophysiology of brain injury in meningitis may provide the opportunity to interrupt the mechanisms that allow bacteria to enter the central nervous system and initiate the inflammatory response. Strategies aimed at modulating the inflammatory response must be chosen carefully, so as not to disrupt normal host responses needed for the infant to recover from the infectious episode.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Glutamine in Higher Plants.

volumes of chilled acetone in a Waring Blendor at Io C. The suspension was filtered with suction at Io C, and the residue sucked dry in a stream of cold air. The operation was repeated, and the coarse powder was sifted through a screen. The resulting powder was stored in a desiccator at Io C. Active extracts of acetone powders were prepared essentially in the manner described by Speck (10). Unless otherwise indicated, the complete reaction system contained: 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), 0.05 M sodium L-glutamate,
Neuroendocrinology: Regulated secretory cells go to the BAR for a bud

Syndromes caused by insufficient secretion of peptide hormones originate either from an inadequate population of endocrine secretory cells or from deficiencies in the secretory process. Two remarkable new studies highlight the importance of PICK1 and ICA69 in creating the protein storage organelles needed for regulated exocytosis, independent of stimulus-secretion coupling.
Gene Transfer: Gene Swapping Craze Reaches Eukaryotes

Recent studies have provided evidence for gene transfers from prokaryotes to eukaryotes and between eukaryotes. The mechanisms and frequencies of these transfers remain the subject of speculation, but the findings provide ample reason to seriously consider interspecies gene transfer as an important evolutionary process in eukaryotes.
Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters: gender differences in factors associated with parent-child communication about sexual topics.

In the United States, nearly half of high school students are sexually active, and adolescents experience high rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Parents can have an important influence on their children's sexual behaviour, but many parents do not talk with their children about sexual topics. Research has shown significant differences in parent-child communication about sexual topics depending on the gender of both the parent and the child. Little is known, however, about the reasons for these gender differences. The purpose of this paper is to describe how factors associated with parent-child communication about sexual topics differ by gender. Data are from a nationwide online survey with 829 fathers and 1,113 mothers of children aged 10 to 14. For each of the four gender groups (fathers of sons, fathers of daughters, mothers of sons, mothers of daughters), we calculated the distribution of responses to questions assessing (1) parent-child communication about sex-related topics, and (2) factors associated with that communication. We used chi-square tests to determine whether the distributions differed and the false discovery rate control to reduce the likelihood of type I errors. With both sons and daughters, fathers communicated less about sexual topics than mothers did. Fathers also had lower levels of many characteristics that facilitate communication about sex (e.g., lower self-efficacy and lower expectations that talking to their children about sex would have positive outcomes). Compared with parents of sons, parents of daughters (both mothers and fathers) talked more about sexual topics, were more concerned about potential harmful consequences of sexual activity, and were more disapproving of their child having sex at an early age. Using a large national sample, this study confirms findings from previous studies showing gender differences in parent-child communication about sexual topics and identifies gender differences in factors that may influence parent-child communication about sexual topics. Interventions designed to support parent-child communication about sexual topics should emphasize to both mothers and fathers the importance of talking to sons as well as daughters. Fathers need particular support to overcome the barriers to communication they encounter.
Assessing uncertainty in extreme events: Applications to risk-based decision making in interdependent infrastructure sectors

Abstract Risk-based decision making often relies upon expert probability assessments, particularly in the consequences of disruptive events and when such events are extreme or catastrophic in nature. Naturally, such expert-elicited probability distributions can be fraught with errors, as they describe events which occur very infrequently and for which only sparse data exist. This paper presents a quantitative framework, the extreme event uncertainty sensitivity impact method (EE-USIM), for measuring the sensitivity of extreme event consequences to uncertainties in the parameters of the underlying probability distribution. The EE-USIM is demonstrated with the Inoperability input–output model (IIM), a model with which to evaluate the propagation of inoperability throughout an interdependent set of economic and infrastructure sectors. The EE-USIM also makes use of a two-sided power distribution function generated by expert elicitation of extreme event consequences.
Novel Pseudotaxis Mechanisms Improve Migration of Straight-Swimming Bacterial Mutants Through a Porous Environment

Bacterial locomotion driven by flagella is given directionality by the chemotaxis signal transduction network. In the classic plate assays of migration in porous motility agar, efficient motility is compromised in chemotaxis mutants of diverse bac- teria. Nonchemotactic mutants become trapped within the agar matrix. Suppressor mutations that prevent this entanglement but do not restore chemotaxis, a phenomenon designated pseudotaxis, were first reported to arise for Escherichia coli. In this study, novel mechanisms of pseudotaxis have been identified for the plant-pathogenic alphaproteobacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Mutants with chemotaxis mutation suppressor (cms) mutations that impart enhanced migration in motility agar compared to that of their straight-swimming, nonchemotactic parent were isolated. We find that pseudotaxis in A. tumefaciens occurs most commonly via mutations in the D1 domain of theflagellar hook protein, FlgE, but it can also be found less fre- quently to be due to mutations in the hook length regulator, FliK, or in the motor protein, MotA. Single-cell-tracking studies of cms mutants in bulk medium clearly reveal frequent changes in the direction of swimming, similar to the swimming of strains that are proficient for chemotaxis, but independent of a sensory mechanism. Our results suggest that the tumbling process can be tuned through mutation and evolution to optimize migration through complex, porous environments. IMPORTANCE Chemotaxis sensory networks control direct bacterial motility by modulating flagellar rotary motion, alternating cellular movement between runs and tumbles. The straight-swimming phenotype of chemotaxis-deficient cells yields nonex- panding colonies in motility agar. Enhanced, chemotaxis-independent spreading, dubbed pseudotaxis, has been observed in Escherichia coli mutants. We have identified novel pseudotaxis mutations in Agrobacterium tumefaciens that alter the flagellar hook structure or motor, leading to randomly occurring reorientations observed in single-cell tracking studies in bulk medium. These directional changes allow the cells to migrate more efficiently than the parent strain through the agar matrix, indepen- dently of the chemotaxis process. Thesefindings reveal that tumbling can be tuned for effective navigation in complex porous environments, analogous to the natural habitats for many bacteria, and provide evidence for the strong selective pressure ex- erted by the external environment on the basal pattern of motility, even in the absence of chemotaxis.
The effect of provider- and workflow-focused strategies for guideline implementation on provider acceptance

Background The effective implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) depends critically on the extent to which the strategies that are deployed for implementing the guidelines promote provider acceptance of CPGs. Such implementation strategies can be classified into two types based on whether they primarily target providers (e.g., academic detailing, grand rounds presentations) or the work context (e.g., computer reminders, modifications to forms). This study investigated the independent and joint effects of these two types of implementation strategies on provider acceptance of CPGs.
Emerging players in the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication

Faithful duplication of the genome in eukaryotes requires ordered assembly of a multi-protein complex called the pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) prior to S phase; transition to the pre-initiation complex (pre-IC) at the beginning of DNA replication; coordinated progression of the replisome during S phase; and well-controlled regulation of replication licensing to prevent re-replication. These events are achieved by the formation of distinct protein complexes that form in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Several components of the pre-RC and pre-IC are highly conserved across all examined eukaryotic species. Many of these proteins, in addition to their bona fide roles in DNA replication are also required for other cell cycle events including heterochromatin organization, chromosome segregation and centrosome biology. As the complexity of the genome increases dramatically from yeast to human, additional proteins have been identified in higher eukaryotes that dictate replication initiation, progression and licensing. In this review, we discuss the newly discovered components and their roles in cell cycle progression.
Spacetime stereo: shape recovery for dynamic scenes

This paper extends the traditional binocular stereo problem into the spacetime domain, in which a pair of video streams is matched simultaneously instead of matching pairs of images frame by frame. Almost any existing stereo algorithm may be extended in this manner simply by replacing the image matching term with a spacetime term. By utilizing both spatial and temporal appearance variation, this modification reduces ambiguity and increases accuracy. Three major applications for spacetime stereo are proposed in this paper. First, spacetime stereo serves as a general framework for structured light scanning and generates high quality depth maps for static scenes. Second, spacetime stereo is effective for a class of natural scenes, such as waving trees and flowing water, which have repetitive textures and chaotic behaviors and are challenging for existing stereo algorithms. Third, the approach is one of very few existing methods that can robustly reconstruct objects that are moving and deforming over time, achieved by use of oriented spacetime windows in the matching procedure. Promising experimental results in the above three scenarios are demonstrated.
Bandwidth adaptive snooping

This paper advocates that cache coherence protocols use a bandwidth adaptive approach to adjust to varied system configurations (e.g., number of processors) and workload behaviors. We propose Bandwidth Adaptive Snooping Hybrid (BASH), a hybrid protocol that ranges from behaving like snooping (by broadcasting requests) when excess bandwidth is available to behaving like a directory protocol (by unicasting requests) when bandwidth is limited. BASH adapts dynamically by probabilistically deciding to broadcast or unicast on a per request basis using a local estimate of recent interconnection network utilization. Simulations of a microbenchmark and commercial and scientific workloads show that BASH robustly performs as well or better than the best of snooping and directory protocols as available bandwidth is varied. By mixing broadcasts and unicasts, BASH outperforms both snooping and directory protocols in the mid-range where a static choice of either is inefficient.
Preferential Policies and the Blurring of Ethnic Boundaries: The Case of Aboriginal Australians in the 1980s:

I argue against the commonly held view that ethnically based preferential policies consistently lead to the construction of well-defined boundaries between collectivities. Using a statistical study of Australia as a case, I demonstrate that preferential programs, under certain conditions, may blur the boundaries between groups. This trend is reflected in the growing number of individuals in the early 1980s who chose to claim an Aboriginal identity in Australian states that increasingly recognized indigenous land claims.
Use of finite element in micromechanics of natural composites

Abstract The finite element method is demonstrated as an analytical method for micromechanics of natural composites. This study illustrates the use of the finite element method to investigate stiffness, transverse modulus, stress concentration, delamination and crack propagation of a single-ply natural composite from constituent properties.
Automated programmable control and parameterization of compiler optimizations

We present a framework which effectively combines programmable control by developers, advanced optimization by compilers, and flexible parameterization of optimizations to achieve portable high performance. We have extended ROSE, a C/C++/Fortran source-to-source optimizing compiler, to automatically analyze scientific applications and discover optimization opportunities. Instead of directly generating optimized code, our optimizer produces parameterized scripts in POET, an interpreted program transformation language, so that developers can freely modify the optimization decisions by the compiler and add their own domain-specific optimizations if necessary. The auto-generated POET scripts support extra optimizations beyond those available in the ROSE optimizer. Additionally, all the optimizations are parameterized at an extremely fine granularity, so the scripts can be ported together with their input code and automatically tuned for different architectures. Our results show that this approach is highly effective, and the code optimized by the auto-generated POET scripts can significantly outperform those optimized using the ROSE optimizer alone.
Cell Biology and Pathology of Podocytes

As an integral member of the filtration barrier in the kidney glomerulus, the podocyte is in a unique geographical position: It is exposed to chemical signals from the urinary space (Bowman's capsule), it receives and transmits chemical and mechanical signals to/from the glomerular basement membrane upon which it elaborates, and it receives chemical and mechanical signals from the vascular space with which it also communicates. As with every cell, the ability of the podocyte to receive signals from the surrounding environment and to translate them to the intracellular milieu is dependent largely on molecules residing on the cell membrane. These molecules are the first-line soldiers in the ongoing battle to sense the environment, to respond to friendly signals, and to defend against injurious foes. In this review, we take a membrane biologist's view of the podocyte, examining the many membrane receptors, channels, and other signaling molecules that have been implicated in podocyte biology. Although we atte...
A Mechanism for IL-10-Mediated Diabetes in the Nonobese Diabetic (NOD) Mouse: ICAM-1 Deficiency Blocks Accelerated Diabetes

Neonatal islet-specific expression of IL-10 in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice accelerates the onset of diabetes, whereas systemic treatment of young NOD mice with IL-10 prevents diabetes. The mechanism for acceleration of diabetes in IL-10-NOD mice is not known. Here we show, by adoptive transfers, that prediabetic or diabetic NOD splenocytes upon encountering IL-10 in the pancreatic islets readily promoted diabetes. This outcome suggests that the compartment of exposure, not the timing, confers proinflammatory effects on this molecule. Moreover, injection of IL-10-deficient NOD splenocytes into transgenic IL-10-NOD. scid/scid mice elicited accelerated disease, demonstrating that pancreatic IL-10 but not endogenous IL-10 is sufficient for the acceleration of diabetes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed hyperexpression of ICAM-1 on the vascular endothelium of IL-10-NOD mice. The finding suggests that IL-10 may promote diabetes via an ICAM-1-dependent pathway. We found that introduction of ICAM-1 deficiency into IL-10-NOD mice as well as into NOD mice prevented accelerated insulitis and diabetes. Failure to develop insulitis and diabetes was preceded by the absence of GAD65-specific T cell responses. The data suggest that ICAM-1 plays a role in the formation of the “immunological synapse”, thereby affecting the generation and/or expansion of islet-specific T cells. In addition, ICAM-1 also played a role in the effector phase of autoimmune diabetes because adoptive transfer of diabetogenic BDC2.5 T cells failed to elicit clinical disease in ICAM-1-deficient IL-10-NOD and NOD mice. These findings provide evidence that pancreatic IL-10 is sufficient to drive pathogenic autoimmune responses and accelerates diabetes via an ICAM-1-dependent pathway.
Sets with partial memberships: a rough set view of fuzzy sets

Fuzzy set theory on a universe of granules (crisp sets) are considered. In this setting, the grade of a membership can be interpreted in the most elementary fashion. A grade of 1/2 membership means exactly one half of the granule (in a suitable measure) belongs to the fuzzy set. Based on such views, fuzzy set theoretical operations can be very naturally induced from the classical set theoretical operations; they are called R-operations. Some traditional operations, such as max and min, are R-operations of specific classes of fuzzy sets. The granular view of fuzzy sets provides a new and healthy insight into how fuzzy set theory might be structured.
Chronic Illness in Childhood

The term chronic illness encompasses a variety of specific medical disorders and disease processes and their corresponding medical treatments and prognoses (Sexson & Swain, 1995; Varni & Wallander, 1988). A review of the pediatric research literature reveals that specific chronic illnesses share several common findings across disease processes. First, advancements in medical treatments have increased the survival rates for most pediatric conditions. Second, many childhood chronic illnesses can be cured or managed to the extent that children live to normal expected age ranges. Third, increased survival rates have afforded researchers the opportunity to study the psychosocial variables that influence the disease process in a variety of chronic illnesses. Fourth, psychosocial variables have been found to affect physical health and disease management. Finally, although much more is known about the relationship between psychosocial variables and chronic illness, research directly related to the efficacy of psychological interventions with chronically ill child populations remains limited (Drotar, 1993; LaGreca & Varni, 1993; Stehbens, 1988).
Histone Deacetylase 6 Regulates Bladder Architecture and Host Susceptibility to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a non-canonical, mostly cytosolic histone deacetylase that has a variety of interacting partners and substrates. Previous work using cell-culture based assays coupled with pharmacological inhibitors and gene-silencing approaches indicated that HDAC6 promotes the actin- and microtubule-dependent invasion of host cells by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). These facultative intracellular pathogens are the major cause of urinary tract infections. Here, we examined the involvement of HDAC6 in bladder colonization by UPEC using HDAC6 knockout mice. Though UPEC was unable to invade HDAC6−/− cells in culture, the bacteria had an enhanced ability to colonize the bladders of mice that lacked HDAC6. This effect was transient, and by six hours post-inoculation bacterial titers in the HDAC6−/− mice were reduced to levels seen in wild type control animals. Subsequent analyses revealed that the mutant mice had greater bladder volume capacity and fluid retention, along with much higher levels of acetylated a-tubulin. In addition, infiltrating neutrophils recovered from the HDAC6−/− bladder harbored significantly more viable bacteria than their wild type counterparts. Cumulatively, these changes may negate any inhibitory effects that the lack of HDAC6 has on UPEC entry into individual host cells, and suggest roles for HDAC6 in other urological disorders such as urinary retention.
Insomnia in adults: the impact of earlier cigarette smoking from adolescence to adulthood.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the role of cigarette smoking beginning in adolescence and extending to the fifth decade of life on insomnia at an average age of 43 years in the Children and Adults in the Community Study. METHODS Participants were originally assessed in 1983 and came from a community-based random sample of individuals living in 2 upstate New York counties. Participants were assessed over 7 waves of data collection that spanned approximately 29 years, from mean ages 14.1 years (T2) to 42.9 years (T8). We classified the longitudinal trajectories of cigarette use. Five cigarette use trajectory groups were identified: heavy/continuous smokers, late starters, occasional smokers, quitters/decreasers, and nonsmokers. RESULTS The result of the logistic regression analysis of adult insomnia for the Bayesian posterior probability of the heavy/continuous smokers when compared with the Bayesian posterior probability of nonsmokers was statistically significant-adjusted odds ratio of 3.35 [95% confidence interval (1.06-10.56; P < 0.05)]-after adjustment for control variables. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the importance of heavy chronic smoking as contributing to insomnia. Clinicians should focus their efforts on smoking prevention and treatment of younger individuals, as well as promoting cessation among older adult smokers to decrease the likelihood of insomnia.
Adaptive Sigma Point Filtering for State and Parameter Estimation

This article presents practical adaptive nonlinear filters for recursive estimation of the state and parameter of nonlinear systems with unknown noise statistics. The adaptive nonlinear filters combine adaptive estimation techniques for system noise statistics with the nonlinear filters that include the unscented Kalman filter and divided difference filter. The purpose of the integrated filters is to not only compensate for the nonlinearity effects neglected from linearization by utilizing nonlinear filters, but also to take into account the system modeling errors by adaptively estimating the noise statistics and unknown parameters. Simulation results indicate that the advantages of the adaptive filters make these attractive alternatives to the standard nonlinear filters for the state and unknown parameter estimation in the orbit determination.
Maximizing the Efficiency of a UAV on Perimeter Patrol

We consider a UAV employed in a perimeter patrol mission where m alert stations are to be periodically inspected. This is modeled as a single server servicing m stations arranged uniformly on the circumference of a circle. Thus, the problem of maximizing the throughput of a single server servicing multiple alert stations is addressed. The service time is assumed to be a known fixed constant, S. Messages arrive at each station according to a Poisson process and we assume each queue (at a station) to be a pure loss system with a single/unit buffer. We are interested in the dynamic scheduling of the server, so as to maximize the throughput of the system, where throughput is defined as the (average) number of alerts serviced in unit time. The problem is cast as a semi-Markov decision process with an average reward criterion. We investigate the Bellman equation that gives the optimal policy and exploit an order reduction scheme that reduces the size of the problem from 2 to 2m−1, without any loss in optimality. We also highlight qualitative differences with heuristic and sub-optimal strategies that are commonly espoused in the literature.
Analysis on application for registration of active fractions in Chinese materia medica during 2004—2007

The basic information,including the number of applications,dosage forms,indications,structure types,purification processes,medicinal materials,period of clinical trials,and dealing conclusions for registration of active fractions in Chinese materia medica(CMM) during 2004-2007,was analyzed.The numbers of registration for clinical trials and applications for production during 2004-2007 were 202 and 23,respectively.It could be found that the numbers of registrations of active fractions in CMM declined obviously since 2005 and the dosage form,indication,and purification process of those applications showed a trend of the relative concentration.From aspect of the stage conclusions,the rate of "not to approve" of applications for clinical trials and production were 48.0% and 8.7%,respectively.So,it could be concluded that the studies on the selection of dosage form,indication,and purification process of active fractions in CMM should be further strengthened.
Gender Disparity among Preterm Born Neonates

Introduction : Infants born preterm remain vulnerable to many complications. Objective was to identify gender differences in morbidity and adverse outcomes among premature and low birth weight born babies. Methods : A retrospective chart review of general pediatric clinic records was conducted for children and adolescents who were born premature and survived. Demographic, maternal, family, neonatal and postnatal data were abstracted. The data was then analyzed using a statistical calculator to perform one sample t-test between percentages. Results: Total 160 charts were reviewed. Out of 160, 58.8% males and 41% females were identified. The female babies were born at a higher rate as small for gestational age (SGA) babies, with a birth weight < 10 th percentile (60.8% vs . 39%; p < 0.05), most of the male babies although pre-term were born as appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The incidence of complications associated with prematurity were found to be at a higher rate in male babies including jaundice (63.15% vs. 36.8%; p = 0.0198), metabolic issues (64.2% vs. 35.7%; p = 0.03), and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (60.5% vs. 39.4%; p =0.02). Sepsis was observed in 54% vs. 45.8% ( p = 0.69), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH): 75% vs. 25% ( p = 0.33), hypertension (HTN) 62% vs . 37% ( p = 0.108). Conclusion : Gender related health disparity exists among pre-term born children although does not have a sufficient explanation. Most males, although born AGA, had a higher incidence of prematurity and its sequel requiring intensive healthcare support compared with females.
An open-source real-time UAS flight control prototyping and testing platform with fractional-order horizontal controller example

Safety and reliability are key if unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are to move from research and become an everyday part of our lives. How can safety and reliability be maintained when cost and timeliness are such pressing factors in small UAS development? In this paper, it is shown that with open-source flight control software (provided by the authors), sophisticated testing practices (hardware-in-the-loop) can provide rapid pre-flight verification of experimental control system designs. Using these methods increases the reliability of flight control software developed in many ways if tested properly Both PID and auto-generated PIλD control schemes are compared as examples of flight software under test, and simulated flight performance is shown.
Contemporary Astronomical Thought

In this final chapter, I look briefly at important developments in observational and theoretical astronomy in the contemporary world, with a view to explaining the concerns and philosophical assumptions grounding our understanding, and anticipating how this might develop in the future.
Step-Scan Fourier Transform Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectra of Pharmaceutical Molecules

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the region above 2000 cm−1 provides valuable information on absolute configuration or conformation of chiral molecules.1 Conventionally, VCD spectra in this region have been measured with dispersive instruments, since the high Fourier frequencies resulting from the rapid motion of a moving mirror in a conventional Fourier transform spectrometer may deteriorate the VCD signal. Step-scan FT-VCD, however, has no such difficulty (there is no Fourier frequency) and has advantages over dispersive VCD in terms of noise level, resolution, spectral coverage and repeatability. 2, 3 We have recently investigated a number of molecules of pharmaceutical interest using step-scan FT-VCD above 2000 cm−1. These molecules include S-(-)-propranolol, (S)-4-isobutyl-α- methylphenylacetic acid (ibuprofen) and (S)-6-methoxy-a-methyl-2-naphthalene- acetic acid (naproxen). The FTIR and VCD spectra have been measured and interpreted by comparison with ab initio calculations of geometry, vibrational frequency and intensity for a group of low-energy conformers of each compound. For the VCD spectra, intensities have been calculated with the locally distributed origin gauge (LDO) model and the vibronic coupling VCD theory.4
Pulse: Finding Meaning in a Massacre Through Gay Latinx Intersectional Justice

In the early morning hours of June 12, 2016, a hate-filled man calmly opened fire on the patrons of the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando, Florida. Over the next three hours, he killed 49 men and women who had been celebrating Latin Night at the gay club. Fifty-three persons were wounded. The Orlando community, if not the world, was shaken to the core by the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history. As we mourned in Orlando, we also leapt into action, made contributions to families and survivors, grabbed onto community as a life raft, and struggled to find meaning in this massacre. To honor the victims and survivors of Pulse, this article offers a critical inquiry into violent hate crimes as well as a constructive vision of the predicates for intersectional justice. As its point of departure, the article asks two questions: why a gay nightclub and why Latin Night? The answers to those questions are revelatory. At the intersection of the gay and Latinx communities is the unfinished business of remedying historic subordination and dismantling divisions constructed of fear, hatred, and privilege. From this perspective, the article critiques interstructured systems of subordination – particularly those burdening sexuality, gender identity, race, and ethnicity – that make hate crimes like Pulse possible.From a constructive perspective, the article suggests that, just as forms of oppression are related, so are forms of justice. The Pulse massacre pierced the conscience of the community and illustrated ways relationships of respect can form in a heterogenous public. Drawing its inspiration from the victims and survivors of the massacre, the article recommends predicates for social healing, necessary political action for immigration reform and LGBTQ legal protections, and forms of remembrance that celebrate intersectional justice.
Non-surgical extraction of right atrial mass by AngioVac aspiration device under fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance

Right-sided cardiac masses are commonly encountered. We present a challenging case of a right atrial thrombus in a patient who had a high surgical risk for open removal. AngioVac aspiration device, under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy guidance, was successfully used to remove the thrombus. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was discharged home. Our case confirms the safety and efficacy of this procedure for treatment of unwanted intracardiac and intravascular masses in patients who are not candidates for conventional therapies of surgery or thrombolytics.
Ribonuclease E: Chopping Knife and Sculpting Tool

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Chao et al. (2017) investigate the important role of the low-specificity endonuclease RNase E in shaping the transcriptome of a bacterial pathogen by functioning as both a degradative enzyme and an RNA maturase.
Structural health monitoring of compression connectors for overhead transmission lines

Two-stage aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) compression connectors are extensively used in US overhead transmission lines. The connectors are made by crimping a steel sleeve onto a steel core and an aluminum sleeve over electrical conducting aluminum strands. The connectors are designed to operate at temperatures up to 125°C, but their performance is increasingly degrading because of overloading of lines. Currently, electric utilities conduct routine line inspections using thermal and electrical measurements, but these methods do not provide information about the structural integrity of connectors. In this work, structural health monitoring (SHM) of compression connectors was studied using electromechanical impedance (EMI) analysis. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-5A was identified as a smart material for SHM. A flexible high-temperature bonding layer was used to address challenges in PZT integration due to a significant difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of PZT and the aluminum substrate. The steel joint on the steel core was investigated because it is responsible for the ultimate tensile strength of the connector. Tensile testing was used to induce structural damage to the joint, or steel core pullout, and thermal cycling introduced additional structural perturbations. EMI measurements were conducted between the tests. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) of EMI was identified as a damage index. The use of steel joints has been shown to enable SHM under simulated conditions. The EMI signature is sensitive to variations in structural conditions. RMSD can be correlated to the structural health of a connector and has potential for use in the SHM and structural integrity evaluation.
Discrete Maximal Functions and Ergodic Theorems Related to Polynomials

We describe a series of results on the boundary of harmonic analysis, ergodic and analytic number theory. The central objects of study are maximal averages taken over integer points of varieties defined by integral polynomials. The mapping properties of such operators are intimately connected with those of certain exponential sums studied in analytic number theory. They can be used to prove pointwise ergodic results associated to singular averages defined in terms of polynomials both in the commutative and non-commutative settings.
The strategic value of human factors engineering in control room modernization

Abstract Control room modernization is one of the most challenging and complex upgrade projects that a nuclear power plant can undertake. It can have almost as big an impact on operations as, for example, turbine replacement. The challenges of migrating an analog control system to a distributed control system are already well known and a number of nuclear utilities have embarked upon various levels of effort to upgrade some of the systems in the control room. When planning for control room upgrades, plants have to deal with a multitude of engineering, operational, and regulatory impacts. This will inevitably include several human factors considerations, such as workstation ergonomics, viewing angles, lighting, seating, new interaction modalities, new communication requirements, and new concepts of operation. In helping nuclear power utilities to deal with these challenges, the United States Department of Energy researchers located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have developed research-based human factors design and evaluation methods to be used in the development of end-state concepts for modernized control rooms and to manage the various phases of the upgrade life cycle. The methodology includes interactive sessions with operators in INL's Human System Simulation Laboratory, three-dimensional modeling to visualize control board changes and operator-system interaction, and development of human-system prototypes to evaluate various aspects of proposed modifications. This methodology has been applied at a number of U.S. nuclear power plants where modernization projects are underway, including Exelon's Braidwood and Byron plants, and Arizona Public Service's Palo Verde plant. It was demonstrated that including this methodology in the plant's engineering process helps to ensure an integrated and cohesive outcome that is consistent with human factors engineering principles and provide substantial improvement in operator performance.
The Role of Norepinephrine and Beta-2-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation in the Modulation of Th1, Th2, and B Lymphocyte Function

The most important function of the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the peripheral autonomic nervous system, is to affect modestadjustments in many different cellular activities in the body to maintain homeostasis. With this function of the sympathetic nervous system in mind, a long-term goal of my research is to achieve a better understanding of the role the sympathetic nervous system plays in maintaining immune homeostasis. An immediate goal is to understand the mechanism by which stimulation of the lymphocyte-associated β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) by norepinephrine or a pharmacologic agonist modulates lymphocyte function in vitro.By achieving this immediate goal, we plan to use these data to rationally design in vivomodels to study the mechanisms by which the sympathetic nervous system affects immune system function in normal and disease states.
Photoinduced Single Electron Transfer from Strained Rings

Evidence is presented for the existence of one-electron carboncarbon bonds. Molecules containing this very reactive moiety, which is generated photochemically by single electron transfer, have been studied in detail.
Surgeon-Led Imaging Review for Patients with Periampullary Disease: An Important Aspect of the Preoperative Consultation.

Abstract Background: The perceived benefit of utilizing patients' own imaging studies as a preoperative educational tool has not been studied. Methods: Pancreaticobiliary surgeons reviewed key find...
Trapped in Amber: The New Materialities of Memory

The term ‘obsolescence’ has in recent years re-entered the vocabulary of the art world, memory studies and new media historians. In the process, it has significantly changed its meaning and enlarged its semantic and evaluative range, even signifying something like heroic resistance to relentless new-ness or superficial novelty, even becoming the badge of honour for all that is no longer useful (for capitalism, for appropriation, for instrumental objectification). Anyone engaged with ‘found footage’ films, with home movies or our analogue cinematic legacy knows that the strategic use of obsolescence lies in the fact that it is a term that inevitably associates with both capitalism and technology. Hence obsolescence is of special interest in the context of contemporary cinema, since it provides a counterweight – the materiality of memory, and the methodology of media archaeology – to the immateriality and virtuality of the digital. But the obsolescence of celluloid also gives us a kind of ‘fossil record’ of what has become of the filmic ‘medium’ when we see it in the broader context of the ‘geological’ time of media, and as part of the ‘archival’ turn that memory studies have taken in the 21st century.
Conceptualization of basic concepts in the context of state management by development of environmental state

The content of concepts «nature», «human nature», «nature of the state» and «nature of society» are analyzed. It is substantiated that the dualistic view of the nature of man and state should be redefined in the context of a broader interpretation of the meaning and scope of the concept of «human nature», from which the concept of «nature of the state» is constructed in a derivative way.It has been shown that statehood is due to centripetal tendencies, the hierarchy of integrative subordination relations in society, and state administration, which may have a coercive character. The nature of society is most clearly represented in local and public self-governance and represents a completely different, centrifugal tendency. The latter, in its extreme manifestations, may even acquire a separatist and autonomous character of statehood. Such a contradiction in the interaction of the state and society, that is, the unity and struggle of centripetal and centrifugal tendencies, inherent in a social organism, originally laid down in the nature of society.It is proved that moving are not only epistemological, subjective limits of understanding of the concepts of «human nature» and «nature of the state». There are also dynamic ontological, objective boundaries described by the above concepts of phenomena, since evolutionarily human nature is not primitive and definitely given by evolution.