cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of the respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia by synaptic input onto caudal hypothalamic neurons.

Prior results from this laboratory have demonstrated that the respiratory response to hypercapnia is enhanced by microinjection of GABA antagonists or GABA synthesis inhibitors into the caudal hypothalamus of both cats and rats. However, no evidence was found for modulation of the respiratory response to hypoxia by a hypothalamic GABAergic mechanism. The purpose of the present study was to determine if synaptic input other than GABAergic onto caudal hypothalamic neurons affects the respiratory responses to hypoxia. The respiratory (diaphragmatic EMG) responses to hypoxia (10% O2) and hypercapnia (5% CO2) were recorded in anesthetized rats before and after bilateral microinjection of a blocker of synaptic transmission (CoCl2, 100 mM) or an excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist (kynurenic acid, 50 mM) into the caudal hypothalamus. Both hypoxia and hypercapnia elicited increases in tidal diaphragmatic activity and respiratory frequency prior to the microinjections. The respiratory response to hypercapnia was increased (+ 10.5%) after CoCl2 microinjections, which is consistent with prior results obtained with blockade of GABAergic input. Kynurenic acid did not alter the respiratory response to hypercapnia. A new finding was that the respiratory response to hypoxia was diminished after both CoCl2 (−13.0%) and kynurenic acid (−25.0%) microinjections. The results of this study support our prior findings that neurons in the caudal hypothalamus modulate the respiratory response to hypercapnia. In addition, our findings suggest that an excitatory input acting through excitatory amino acid receptors in the caudal hypothalamus modulates the respiratory responses to hypoxia.
Substrate exploitation and resistance to biotic disturbance in the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa and the bivalve Pododesmus macrochisma

To test the hypothesis that epifaunal bivalves are more resistant to biotic disturbance than brachiopods, I evaluated abundances and body size of the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa and the anomiid bivalve Pododesmus macrochisma, which co-occur in the San Juan Islands (Washington State, USA, eastern Pacific). The proportion of bare space correlated with intensity of biotic disturbance had negative effects and surface rugosity had positive effects on abundance of T. transversa. Both rugophilic settlement and post-settlement mortality of juveniles due to biotic disturbance restrict T. transversa to crevices and complex substrates formed by solitary ascidians and giant barnacles. Its juveniles are under-represented on flat substrates, implying lower survivorship than in crevices, where juveniles are common. Abundance of the byssally-cemented bivalve P. macrochisma is negatively affected by rugosity and does not decrease with increasing bare space. P. macrochisma size patterns do not differ between crevices and flat substrates. Flat valves and high post-settlement mobility probably increase its juvenile survivorship under grazing pressure. T. transversa is not able to re-attach after settlement and is thus less resistant to grazing effects than P. macrochisma. This study supports the hypothesis that brachiopods are more negatively affected by biotic disturbance than epibyssate bivalves. Although brachiopods can be less preyed upon by carnivorous predators than epibyssate bivalves, T. transversa is affected more negatively by grazing than P. macrochisma. The evolutionary decline of brachiopod abundance in shallow habitats may represent responses to a heavy pressure on juveniles by grazers that evolved during the Mesozoic.
A power and resolution adaptive flash analog-to-digital converter

A new power and resolution adaptive flash ADC, named PRA-ADC, is proposed. The PRA-ADC enables exponential power reduction with linear resolution reduction. Unused parallel voltage comparators are switched to standby mode. The voltage comparators consume only the leakage power during the standby mode. The PRA-ADC, capable of operating at 5-bit, 6-bit, 7-bit, and 8-bit precision, dissipates 69 mW at 5-bit and 435 mW at 8-bit. The PRA-ADC was designed and simulated with 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The PRA-ADC design is applicable to RF portable communication devices, allowing tighter management of power and efficiency.
OR Forum---A POMDP Approach to Personalize Mammography Screening Decisions

Breast cancer is the most common nonskin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women. Although mammography is the most effective modality for breast cancer screening, it has several potential risks, including high false-positive rates. Therefore, the balance of benefits and risks, which depend on personal characteristics, is critical in designing a mammography screening schedule. In contrast to prior research and existing guidelines that consider population-based screening recommendations, we propose a personalized mammography screening policy based on the prior screening history and personal risk characteristics of women. We formulate a finite-horizon, partially observable Markov decision process POMDP model for this problem. Our POMDP model incorporates two methods of detection self or screen, age-specific unobservable disease progression, and age-specific mammography test characteristics. We solve this POMDP optimally after setting transition probabilities to values estimated from a validated microsimulation model. Additional published data is used to specify other model inputs such as sensitivity and specificity of test results. Our results show that our proposed personalized screening schedules outperform the existing guidelines with respect to the total expected quality-adjusted life years, while significantly decreasing the number of mammograms and false-positives. We also report the lifetime risk of developing undetected invasive cancer associated with each screening scenario.
Visualizing industrial CT volume data for nondestructive testing applications

This paper describes a set of techniques developed for the visualization of high-resolution volume data generated from industrial computed tomography for nondestructive testing (NDT) applications. Because the data are typically noisy and contain fine features, direct volume rendering methods do not always give us satisfactory results. We have coupled region growing techniques and a 2D histogram interface to facilitate volumetric feature extraction. The new interface allows the user to conveniently identify, separate or composite, and compare features in the data. To lower the cost of segmentation, we show how partial region growing results can suggest a reasonably good classification function for the rendering of the whole volume. The NDT applications that we work on demand visualization tasks including not only feature extraction and visual inspection, but also modeling and measurement of concealed structures in volumetric objects. An efficient filtering and modeling process for generating surface representation of extracted features is also introduced. Four CT data sets for preliminary NDT are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new visualization strategy that we have developed.
Appraising Social Dilemmas: A Cross-Cultural Study of Sicilians, Sicilian-Americans, and Americans

This study investigated the relationship between age, sex, and culture, and the interpretation of social conflicts involving moral and conventional breaches. The similarities and differences among the patterns of social rule discriminations of children and adults, males and females, and Sicilians, Sicilian-Americans, and Americans were assessed for common and differing factors. Aunique feature of this study was that it investigated the impact of moving from one culture to another on patterns of understanding and resolving social conflicts.
Dialogic pedagogy for social justice: A critical examination

A crucial component of any education, dialogue is viewed by many social justice educators as their primary means towards rectifying social inequalities. Yet the extent to which the particular educational practices they recommend meet the needs or interests of their students who face systemic disadvantage remains unclear. This essay examines claims for and against dialogical pedagogy for increasing social justice. While conceding that dialogue is necessary for developing praxis as a student and participant in society, the essay argues that the prescriptive tone of some educators committed to social justice undermines their capacity for dealing concretely with the needs and interests of those they intend to better serve. The conclusion is drawn that educators committed to increasing equality must develop pedagogical attitudes informed by various educational implications of structural injustice as well as by the specific contexts in which they serve as teachers of both particular skills and content.
Characters of Free Groups Represented in the Two-Dimensional Special Linear Group*

We consider here the problem of determining when two elements in a free group will have the same character under all possible representations of the given group in the special linear group of 2 x 2 matrices with determinant 1. Problems involving the representation of free groups in terms of 2 x 2 matrices with real entries and determinant 1 have been investigated by R. Fricke in connection with certain problems in the theory of Riemann surfaces [2]. Fricke’s main concern is to find those representations which define discontinuous groups of the conformal self-mappings of the upper half-plane. His method is based on arguments in non-Euclidean geometry, and has only recently been made fully rigorous and transparent by Linda Keen [4]. Apart from the analytic problems inherent in Fricke’s method there are several algebraic problems which have been answered by Fricke either incompletely or not at all. It is the algebraic aspects of Fricke’s theory which we shall investigate here. Independently of Fricke’s problems however, the subsequent development may be considered as a straightforward contribution to the representation theory of free groups. We shall consider the following general situation. K will denote a fixed commutative ring with identity of characteristic zero, and SL(2, K) the group of all 2 x 2 matrices with determinant 1 and entries from K. It will be shown that the character of any element in a free group under an arbitrary representation of the group in SL(2, K) can be constructively represented as a polynomial expression with integer coefficients in the characters of certain simple products of the group generators. Two polynomials will represent the same character if and only if they are congruent modulo a member of a certain class of ideals. This will reduce the problem of determining whether two elements have the same character to the problem of determining the structure of these ideals. The structure of the ideals will then be determined for the free groups of rank 1, 2, and for the free group of rank 3 under restricted conditions on K. We shall show that if two elements u, v in a free group F have the same character under all possible * The work for this paper was done while the author was at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and was supported by the National Science Foundation Grant GP-28538. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government. 635
Fidelity and Robustness of Detailed Micromodeling, Simplified Micromodeling, and Macromodeling Techniques for a Masonry Dome

Understanding the damage and failure mechanisms of masonry structures can help engineers reduce catastrophic failures and fa- cilitate effective restoration and preservation of historical masonry monuments. This can be achieved through a combination of experimental and numerical studies to gain insights on the macrolevel strength-deformation behavior and microlevel defects and crack growth of masonry structures. Although experiments aid in calibration and validation of the numerical model to reduce errors and uncertainties in predictions, the success of the simulations fundamentally depends on the accuracy of the mechanical principles used to represent the heterogeneous masonry assembly. In this paper, three modeling techniques—detailed micromodeling, simplified micromodeling, and macromodeling—are investi- gated,consideringnot onlytheaccuracybutalsotherobustnessof themodelpredictions.In detailedmicromodeling, thebrickunitsandmortar joints are modeled as separate entities. In simplified micromodeling, the bricks and mortar are smeared, homogenized units bonded with zero- thicknessinterfaceelements.Inmacromodeling,themasonrycompositesaresmearedintoahomogenouscontinuum.Linearpropertiesofthese three alternative models are first calibrated by exploiting the modal parameters identified through dynamic experiments conducted on a scaled domespecimeninthelaboratory.The fidelityofthetwomicromodelingandthemacromodelingtechniquesarethenevaluatedbycomparingthe modelpredictionsagainststatic,load-to-failuretestsconductedonthesamescaledmasonrydome.Finally,therobustnessofthethreemodelsto uncertainty in theinput parameters isevaluated.DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000440.©2014 American Society of CivilEngineers. Author keywords: Timbrel vault; Guastavino construction; Test-analysis correlation; Uncertainty quantification; Model calibration; Sensitivity analysis; Homogenization.
Decision support in medicine: lessons from the HELP system.

Abstract Purpose: This report describes an ongoing transition from the help Hospital Information System to help II, a replacement Health Information System built to manage clinical information captured in a variety of medical settings. The focus of the article is on the medical decision support provided by this system and studied by researchers at the University of Utah and Intermountain Health Care (IHC), a large health care organization in Utah, for many years. Methods: Select success features of the original help system's decision support environment are identified and lessons learned are related. Plans for transferring these features to help II are discussed. Results: The article focuses on four features: (1) the importance of easy access to patient data essential for decision support, (2) the commitment to continued measurement and revision of both the logic and the interventional strategy in a decision support application, (3) experience with data mining as a tool for developing decision support tools, and (4) the role of clinical reports in supporting the decision making process.
Sociolinguistics of Ethnicity in Francophone Louisiana

The situation of French in Louisiana and its relationship to ethnicity is often presented in an oversimplified way. Misunderstandings of the terms Cajun and Creole tend to lead to a perception that Louisiana Francophone categories are easy to define or correspond simply to language varieties bearing the same names. In fact, historical changes to both Cajun and Creole identities have led to today’s conflation of terms that belies a much more complex state of affairs featuring considerable linguistic diversity. Furthermore, the focus on these two terms has ignored a third group of Francophones, American Indians. Linguistic fieldwork reveals that Cajuns, Creoles, and Indians all express their identities by manipulating the language differently, but that labels given are not always reliable indicators of the type of French spoken.
Marital Assimilation Among Hispanics: Evidence of Declining Cultural and Economic Incorporation?*

Objective. We document intermarriage patterns between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites over the 1990 to 2000 period in 155 U.S. metropolitan areas and evaluate the effects of spatial, cultural, and economic assimilation on interdecade changes in intermarriage. We hypothesize that changes in Hispanic-white intermarriage during the 1990s reflect changing spatial, cultural, and economic assimilation among U.S. Hispanics. Methods. We use data from the 1990 and 2000 Census Public Use Microdata Samples. Results. Analyses show that intermarriage between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites declined during the 1990s, a result fueled in part by burgeoning immigration of Hispanics, especially Mexicans. The 1990s also ushered in a period of increasing Hispanic segregation from non-Hispanic whites, growing language barriers, and accelerated educational inequality, which also dampened Hispanic-white intermarriage rates. Conclusions. Our results imply that the Hispanic population is at a transition point, if intermarriage rates are an indication, and possibly a new period of retrenchment in the assimilation process.
Cortical Cholinesterases in Alzheimer’s Disease: Anatomical and Enzymatic Shifts from the Normal Pattern

The great majority of cortical cholinesterase activity in the normal brain is expressed in the form of axonal and perikaryal acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The axonal AChE is located within cholinergic axons which arise from the nucleus basalis. These axons convey cholinergic impulses to the AChE-containing cholinoceptive perikarya of the cerebral cortex. Substances such as physostigmine and tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) are potent inhibitors of the AChE along these cholinergic pathways.
Regional Variation in Geniohyoid Muscle Strain During Suckling in the Infant Pig

The geniohyoid muscle (GH) is a critical suprahyoid muscle in most mammalian oropharyngeal motor activities. We used sonomicrometry to evaluate regional strain (i.e., changes in length) in the muscle origin, belly, and insertion during suckling in infant pigs, and compared the results to existing information on strain heterogeneity in the hyoid musculature. We tested the hypothesis that during rhythmic activity, the GH shows regional variation in muscle strain. We used sonomicrometry transducer pairs to divide the muscle into three regions from anterior to posterior. The results showed differences in strain among the regions within a feeding cycle; however, no region consistently shortened or lengthened over the course of a cycle. Moreover, regional strain patterns were not correlated with timing of the suck cycles, neither (1) relative to a swallow cycle (before or after) nor (2) to the time in feeding sequence (early or late). We also found a tight relationship between muscle activity and muscle strain, however, the relative timing of muscle activity and muscle strain was different in some muscle regions and between individuals. A dissection of the C1 innervations of the geniohyoid showed that there are between one and three branches entering the muscle, possibly explaining the variation seen in regional activity and strain. In combination, our findings suggest that regional heterogeneity in muscle strain during patterned suckling behavior functions to stabilize the hyoid bone, whereas the predictable regional strain differences in reflexive behaviors may be necessary for faster and higher amplitude movements of the hyoid bone.
Atomic models by cryo-EM and site-directed spin labeling: application to the N-terminal region of Hsp16.5.

Summary We report an approach for determining the structure of macromolecular assemblies by the combined application of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and site-directed spin labeling electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). This approach is illustrated for Hsp16.5, a small heat shock protein that prevents the aggregation of nonnative proteins. The structure of Hsp16.5 has been previously studied by both cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure revealed a roughly spherical protein shell with dodecameric symmetry; however, residues 1–32 were found to be disordered. The cryo-EM reconstruction at 13 A resolution appeared similar to the crystal structure but with additional internal density corresponding to the N-terminal regions of the 24 subunits. In this study, a systematic application of site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy was carried out. By combining the EPR constraints from spin label accessibilities and proximities with the cryo-EM density, we obtained an atomic model for a portion of the Hsp16.5 N-terminal region in the context of the oligomeric complex.
Genetic Structure of the Alpine Grasshopper, Melanoplus alpinus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract Understanding the population dynamics of a montane/alpine grasshopper species with a disjunct distribution may help to clarify the evolutionary mechanisms of the genus Melanoplus during the Pleistocene era. A total of 215 individuals of one such species, Melanoplus alpinus Scudder, was collected from 43 meadows (5 individuals per meadow) in 10 drainages of four mountain ranges in Wyoming and Montana. This sample structure allows for genetic analysis at four spatial scales: among mountain ranges, among drainages within ranges, among meadows within drainages, and within meadows. We examined whether genetic structuring differed among the sampling scales analyzed and whether present isolation between populations of M. alpinus reflects similar historical isolation. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment-length polymorphism analyses were conducted on two mtDNA regions (COI and COII), revealing nine haplotypes among the 215 individuals. DNA sequence analysis of 496 bp of the COI region for 23 in...
Molecular Architecture of T-SR Junctions: Evidence for a Junctional Complex That Directly Connects the Two Membrane Systems

Contraction of all types of muscle fibers is activated by an increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of calcium ions. In the skeletal muscle fibers of vertebrates the calcium required for activation is released rapidly from an internal membrane system, the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In other muscles release from the SR and influx through the surface membrane may contribute in variable proportion to the increase of intracellular calcium needed for myofibrillar activation. Most striated muscle fibers have extensive tubular invaginations of the surface membrane, forming networks called the transverse (T) tubular systems. Individual components are called transverse (T) tubules, even though their orientation is not always transverse to the long axis of the fiber.
EFFECTS OF DELAY OF KNOWLEDGE OF RESULTS IN A LINE-DRAWING TASK.

Previous experimentation has yielded contradictory results regarding the effects of delay of knowledge of results (KR) on the acquisition of a simple motor skill. The present experiment used 3 KR conditions: immediate KR, 30-sec. delay of KR, and no KR in a simple line-drawing task. The results confirmed the previous conclusion of Greenspoon and Foreman that delay of KR interferes with the acquisition of a line-drawing response.
An Empirical Test of Models of Salespersons’ Job Expectancy and Instrumentality Perceptions:

The author reports the results of a study of the motivational implications of the industrial salesperson's personal characteristics and his or her perceptions of the job, the company's organization...
Association of Care in a Medical Home and Health Care Utilization Among Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Objective Sickle cell disease (SCO) is marked by high utilization of medical services. The aim of this study was to determine whether having a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is associated with a reduction in emergency care (ED) utilization or hospitalizations among children with SCD. Methods We collected and analyzed data from parents of 150 children, ages 1 to 17 years, who received care within a large children's hospital. The primary dependent variables were rates of parent-reported ED visits and hospitalizations. The principal independent variable was parent-reported experience with an overall PCMH or its four individual components (regular provider, comprehensive care, family-centered care, and coordinated care). Multivariate negative binomial regression, yielding incident rate ratios (IRR). was used for analysis. Results Children who received comprehensive care had half the rate of ED visits (IRR 0.51, 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.78) and nearly half the rate of hospitalizations (IRR 0.56, 95% confidence interval. 0.33-0.93) compared to children without comprehensive care. No other component of the PCMH was Significantly associated with ED visits or hospitalizations. Children reported to have excellent/very good/good health status had lower odds of ED visits and hospitalizations compared to those reported to be in fair/poor condition. Conclusions Children with SCD reported to experience comprehensive care had lower rates of ED encounters and hospitalizations after controlling for demographics and health status. The overall findings highlight that the provision of comprehensive care - having a usual source of care and no problems with referrals - may provide a strategy for improving pediatric SCD care.
An Endogenous Pathway Preventing Axonal Degeneration Mediated by Schwann Cell — Derived Erythropoietin

Most common peripheral neuropathies are characterized by distal axonal degeneration, rather than neuronal death. The pathways that mediate axonal degeneration and neuronal death are likely to be diverse. In this chapter, we describe a novel, endogenous pathway that prevents axonal degeneration. We show that in response to axonal injury, peri-axonal Schwann cells release erythropoietin (EPO), which via binding to EPO receptors on neurons prevents axonal degeneration. We demonstrate that the relevant axonal injury signal that stimulates EPO production from surrounding glial cells is nitric oxide. In addition, we show that this endogenous pathway can be therapeutically exploited by administering exogenous EPO in vivo and in vitro. Our data suggest that EPO prevents axonal degeneration, and may therefore be therapeutically useful in a wide variety of human neurological diseases characterized by axonopathy.
Personalized Medicine for Coagulopathies

Abstract The concept of personalized medicine evolved several centuries ago and Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 370 bc ) once stated “…It’s far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has…”. The present working definition of personalized medicine based on The Personalized Medicine Coalition document on The Case for Personalized Medicine states “…The molecular methods that make personalized medicine possible include testing for variation in genes, gene expression, proteins, and metabolites, as well as new treatments that target molecular mechanisms. Test results are correlated with clinical factors – such as disease state, prediction of future disease states, drug response, and treatment prognosis – to help physicians individualize treatment for each patient…”.
Unpacking the impact of engineering entrepreneurship education that leverages the Lean LaunchPad Curriculum

The role of entrepreneurship in engineering education has undergone a substantial transformation over the last several years. Engineering entrepreneurship has evolved from the traditional business school model, focusing on business skills and business plans, to include cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset to enhance engineers' professional formation. Engineering programs are incorporating entrepreneurship into both formal and informal learning through the integration of formal courses, pitch competitions, mentorship, start-up weekends, and maker-spaces into student offerings. While it is becoming generally accepted that entrepreneurship education requires active student-learning pedagogies, assessment of student learning in relation to these pedagogies is still evolving. Of the few existing engineering entrepreneurship assessments, most have broadly assessed students' perceptions of business skills and knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude towards entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial intent. However, with the considerable amount of variance in course content and instruction, further comparative research in controlled entrepreneurship education environments is needed to accurately assess student outcomes. The recent widespread adoption of the Lean LaunchPad Curriculum and Business Model Canvas has recently provided engineering programs with straightforward, common curriculum and pedagogical approaches, as well as an opportunity for targeted assessment across institutions. Prior to the Lean LaunchPad curriculum, there was no consensus on introductory entrepreneurship content and delivery for non-business students. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the Lean LaunchPad curriculum and pedagogy on undergraduate students with regard to self-efficacy, behavior, and knowledge. In this study, entrepreneurial self-efficacy was measured using a validated survey from existing entrepreneurship research. Additionally, a validated entrepreneurial behavior inventory was used to assess entrepreneurial behavior, as opposed to measuring behavioral traits and attitudes. To examine entrepreneurial knowledge, students were asked to complete open-ended survey questions to determine how they would pursue a new venture at different stages of development. The preliminary results of these surveys are discussed in this paper in an effort to better understand the impact of the Lean LaunchPad Curriculum on student outcomes.
Joyce’s Blinders: An Urban Ecocritical Study of Dubliners and More

In this chapter, Joseph Kelly discusses how the boys’ trip around Dublin city in "An Encounter" takes them into four distinct parts of the city, what urban ecologists call “natural areas” or geographic sections that divide a city into what Robert Park calls a “mosaic of little worlds that touch but do not penetrate” (Robert E. Park, Ernest W. Burgess, and Roderick D. McKenzie, The City (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1967), 40–43). Focused in part on the methodologies of the Chicago School and the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research and their approaches to studying modern cities, Kelly invites us to see Dublin through the lens of what he calls “urban ecocriticism,” and he notes that Joyce was a keen observer and analyzer of urban life and the oppressive forces it breeds; but he also acknowledges that the methods used to analyze urban life often distort and obscure the largest segment of the twentieth-century city—the city’s poor—and studying these methods as they are pronounced in Dubliners and Ulysses reveals Dublin’s distinct exploitation of her poor.
Revisiting Sticht: The Changing Nature of the Relationship Between Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension Among Upper Elementary and Middle School Students Over the Last 50 Years

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the relationship between listening comprehension and reading comprehension to determine if environmental factors might be contributing to a possible change in the equalization age for these two comprehension modalities from what was theorized by Thomas Sticht. The study employed a counterbalanced design to measure the listening and reading comprehension of 223 fourth, 347 sixth, and 368 eighth grade students. The authors administered the Reading Comprehension sub-test of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test Fourth Edition to measure both reading and listening comprehension. Mean reading scores significantly exceeded mean listening scores at grades 4, 6, and 8. In addition, the results indicate a significant relationship between listening comprehension and proficient reading. The potential influence of environmental factors on the reading/listening relationship is discussed.
Color-Change Detection Activity in the Primate Superior Colliculus.

Abstract The primate superior colliculus (SC) is a midbrain structure that participates in the control of spatial attention. Previous studies examining the role of the SC in attention have mostly used luminance-based visual features (e.g., motion, contrast) as the stimuli and saccadic eye movements as the behavioral response, both of which are known to modulate the activity of SC neurons. To explore the limits of the SC’s involvement in the control of spatial attention, we recorded SC neuronal activity during a task using color, a visual feature dimension not traditionally associated with the SC, and required monkeys to detect threshold-level changes in the saturation of a cued stimulus by releasing a joystick during maintained fixation. Using this color-based spatial attention task, we found substantial cue-related modulation in all categories of visually responsive neurons in the intermediate layers of the SC. Notably, near-threshold changes in color saturation, both increases and decreases, evoked phasic bursts of activity with magnitudes as large as those evoked by stimulus onset. This change-detection activity had two distinctive features: activity for hits was larger than for misses, and the timing of change-detection activity accounted for 67% of joystick release latency, even though it preceded the release by at least 200 ms. We conclude that during attention tasks, SC activity denotes the behavioral relevance of the stimulus regardless of feature dimension and that phasic event-related SC activity is suitable to guide the selection of manual responses as well as saccadic eye movements.
Benign cystic teratomas in postmenopausal women.

Postmenopausal benign cystic teratomas occurred in 16 women in a 6-year period. In this group the incidence of malignancy was 19%, and the incidence of bilaterality was 20%. Marked collagenization of the tissue of the teratoma indicated an “end-stage” process. The high incidence of malignancy in this group of patients is an indication for vigorous surgical staging for extent of disease.
Rewiring Yarrowia lipolytica toward triacetic acid lactone for materials generation

Polyketides represent an extremely diverse class of secondary metabolites often explored for their bioactive traits. These molecules are also attractive building blocks for chemical catalysis and polymerization. However, the use of polyketides in larger scale chemistry applications is stymied by limited titers and yields from both microbial and chemical production. Here, we demonstrate that an oleaginous organism (specifically, Yarrowia lipolytica) can overcome such production limitations owing to a natural propensity for high flux through acetyl–CoA. By exploring three distinct metabolic engineering strategies for acetyl–CoA precursor formation, we demonstrate that a previously uncharacterized pyruvate bypass pathway supports increased production of the polyketide triacetic acid lactone (TAL). Ultimately, we establish a strain capable of producing over 35% of the theoretical conversion yield to TAL in an unoptimized tube culture. This strain also obtained an averaged maximum titer of 35.9 ± 3.9 g/L with an achieved maximum specific productivity of 0.21 ± 0.03 g/L/h in bioreactor fermentation. Additionally, we illustrate that a β-oxidation-related overexpression (PEX10) can support high TAL production and is capable of achieving over 43% of the theoretical conversion yield under nitrogen starvation in a test tube. Next, through use of this bioproduct, we demonstrate the utility of polyketides like TAL to modify commodity materials such as poly(epichlorohydrin), resulting in an increased molecular weight and shift in glass transition temperature. Collectively, these findings establish an engineering strategy enabling unprecedented production from a type III polyketide synthase as well as establish a route through O-functionalization for converting polyketides into new materials.
Effect of oxygen partial pressure on grain-boundary transport in alumina

Abstract The oxidation of the bond coat in a thermal barrier coating results in the formation of a protective alumina scale. Such scales experience large gradients in oxygen partial pressure ( P O 2 ) during formation, but it is unclear how P O 2 affects grain-boundary (GB) transport in alumina. To study the effect of P O 2 on GB kinetics in alumina, the rate of oxygen penetration was measured at 1400 °C over a wide range of P O 2 . This was accomplished using a novel reduction experiment using nickel aluminate spinel particles. The results indicated that the dependence of the boundary transport on P O 2 is mainly due to the driving force, namely the gradient in P O 2 across the alumina. Point-defect models were then invoked to interpret the measurements, and it was found that transport in an alumina scale is controlled by extrinsic defects.
Displaced Persons and Returning Mothers: Flannery O’Connor, Pedro Almodóvar, and the Post-Fascist Baroque

ABSTRACTReadings of the aesthetic attitudes of twentieth-century European fascism, from Adorno to Sontag, have established that certain models of art and culture tend to characterise and support systems of authoritarian violence in late modernity. This paper suggests Flannery O’Connor’s “The Displaced Person” and Pedro Almodovar’s Volver as examples of a contemporary baroque aesthetic that emerges in the retreating shadow of state-level attempts to purify or regiment humanity. These artists demonstrate the capacity of the baroque to respond to systemic histories of domination and erasure by insisting on the uncontrollable vibrancy of the material world, the inescapable tangles of relationship, and the embarrassing, frightening, and potentially liberating condition of the embodied human.
Biological analysis of Carreau nanofluid in an endoscope with variable viscosity

In this article, the problem of peristaltic transport of Carreau nanofluid with variable viscosity and heat source/sink through an inclined endoscope is debated. Nanofluid including the thermophoresis and Brownian motion effects are employed in the formulation of problem. Further the effects of wall properties and partial slip conditions are accounted. The problem is simplified under long wavelength and low Reynolds number approximations. Numerical computations are performed for velocity, temperature, concentration and heat transfer coefficient. Graphs reflecting the impacts of various physical parameters on flow properties are analyzed. It is notable that viscosity parameter gives rise to fluid velocity. Brownian diffusion parameter on temperature has qualitatively similar influence to that of thermophoresis parameter and Prandtl number. Nanoparticles mass transfer behaves oppositely for Brownian and thermophoresis parameter.
Lupus and Perioperative Complications in Elective Primary Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty

Background The number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (herein, lupus) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasing. There is disagreement about the effect of lupus on perioperative complication rates. We hypothesized that lupus would be associated with higher complication rates in patients who undergo elective primary THA or TKA. Methods Records of more than 6.2 million patients from the National Inpatient Sample who underwent elective primary THA or TKA from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed. Patients with lupus (n = 38,644) were compared with those without lupus (n = 6,173,826). Major complications were death, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, pneumonia, and acute renal failure. Minor complications were wound infection, seroma, deep vein thrombosis, hip dislocation, wound dehiscence, and hematoma. Patient age, sex, duration of hospital stay, and number of Elixhauser comorbidities were assessed for both groups. Multivariate logistic regression models using comorbidities, age, and sex as covariates were used to assess the association of lupus with major and minor perioperative complications. The alpha level was set to 0.001. Results Among patients who underwent THA, those with lupus were younger (mean age, 56 vs. 65 years), were more likely to be women (87% vs. 56%), had longer hospital stays (mean, 4.0 vs. 3.8 days), and had more comorbidities (mean, 2.5 vs. 1.4) than those without lupus (all p Conclusions Lupus is an independent risk factor for major and minor perioperative complications in elective primary THA but not TKA.
Millimeter-Wave System-on-Chip Applications from Space Explorations to Contactless Connectivity

This paper highlights a wide range of (sub)-mm-Wave system-on-chip (SoC) applications from space exploration to contactless connectivity. Passive and active SoCs developed at UCLA and NCTU, including heterodyne-radiometer, spectrometer processor, and multiband radio/radars, will be exemplified as cost/weight/energy-effective ways to explore astrophysics and earth/planetary sciences. Multi-Giga-bit/sec contactless connectors based on mm-Wave radios have also been successfully developed and commercialized to replace highperformance mechanical connectors/cables for smartphones, electrical cars, and data centers. Techniques to augment range and bandwidth efficiency according to PAM-4 modulations and flexible plastic waveguide are also reviewed with design and test results.
Pilot Study: Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacist Patient-Specific Medication Recommendations for Diabetes Mellitus Therapy to Family Medicine Residents.

Pharmacists have demonstrated effectiveness in managing diabetes mellitus (DM) and lowering hemoglobin A1C (A1C) through direct patient management. Often patients with diabetes and elevated A1C may not be able to come into the clinic for separate appointments with a pharmacist or for diabetes education classes. A novel way that pharmacists can assist in improving the control of patients’ diabetes and improve prescriber understanding and the use of medications for diabetes is by providing medication recommendations to medical residents prior to the patient’s appointment with the medical resident. The results of this pilot study indicate that the recommendations provided to family medicine residents and implemented at the patient’s office visit helped to lower A1C levels, although the population size was too small to show statistical significance. This pilot study’s results support performing a larger study to determine if the pharmacist’s recommendation not only improves patient care by lowering A1C levels but if it also helps improve medical resident’s understanding and use of medications for diabetes.
Guaiazulene revisited: a new material for green-processed optoelectronics

Green-processed conjugated materials can reduce the cost of optoelectronic devices and simultaneously minimize their ecological footprint. Here, we use both solution and vapor phase chemistry to oxidatively polymerize the natural hydrocarbon dye, guaiazulene, yielding the more functional material poly(guaiazulene). We chemically characterize oligomers of poly(guaiazulene) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel-permeation chromatography, laser-desorption ionization mass spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. The optical properties of poly(guaiazulene) oligomers are studied via electronic structure calculations and are contrasted to those of standard poly(azulene). We show that poly(guaiazulene) films synthesized from the vapor phase exhibit enhanced optical properties compared to counterparts synthesized in solution. Collectively, this work outlines a green reaction process that consists of a single step and uses earth-abundant reagents to yield a hitherto unreported polymer for optoelectronic applications.
What Is the Role of Bariatric Surgery in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its inflammatory subtype, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, are closely correlated with obesity. There are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, total body weight loss of >7% is associated with histologic improvement or even complete resolution of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Observational cohort studies have found that nonalcoholic steatohepatitis improves after both sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. However, the lack of randomized trials has made medical societies reluctant to recommend bariatric surgery as a treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
GPS Orbits and Baseline Experiments: Mini-Mac/TI Comparisons

Major changes in the Cooperative International GPS Network (CIGNET) tracking hardware took place in 1989. Prior to 1989, the CIGNET solely consisted of TI-4100 receivers except for the Mini-Mac receiver at Tsukuba. In January, 1989, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) installed Mini-Mac 2816AT receivers at Mojave, Westford and Richmond which, with the Tsukuba receiver, brought the network to an almost equal number of TI and Mini-Mac receivers. Simultaneous operations of TI and Mini-Mac receivers were conducted by the NGS at the three U.S. sites for a period of several weeks. Using this simultaneous data set in addition to the other CIGNET data, an investigation has been conducted into the compatibility of the all-TI and the mixed receiver configuration. The preliminary results have verified the existence of a 1 ms time tag discrepancy in the Mini-Mac data reported by others, however, a 2.5 cm unresolved discrepancy was found on the short TI to Mini-Mac baseline at Mojave. When the discrepancy in GPS time was corrected, several meter RMS orbit differences were found; however, the 1400 km test baseline between Onsala and Tromso demonstrated less than two parts in 108 agreement between the two cases. The results also demonstrated the existence of a change in Tromso antenna position from the location previously reported.
Prediction of ozone from sulphur and nitrogen dioxides in ambient air

Using a linear regression equation, derived from the ambient air monitoring data, accurate predictions were reported earlier (Prediction of Ozone from Sulphur and Nitrogen Dioxides in Ambient Air, part I; Regression Analyses) for the concentration of O3 based on the combined concentrations of NO2 and SO2. The study was extended to check the applicability of this linear regression equation for the prediction of O 3 concentrations under varying solar radiation conditions. On sunny days when a steady state concentration of O3 (during a photostationary state) can be reached this equation proves helpful in predicting the O3 concentrations. On rainy days a qualitative fit is seen between the predicted and observed O3 concentrations possibly because of the higher water solubility of O3 than NO2.
Deoxyribonucleic acid photoreactivating enzyme from Escherichia coli. Purification and properties.

Abstract DNA photoreactivating enzyme has been purified from Escherichia coli B and from induced cells of an E. coli strain containing a lysogenic bacteriophage carrying the gene for photoreactivation. The final preparations appear homogeneous by the criteria of presence of one band after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels under nondenaturing conditions and of constant specific activity in enzyme fractions eluted from hydroxylapatite. The enzyme has an apparent monomer molecular weight between 40,000 and 46,000 and tends to aggregate in solution. The pH optimum under the present assay conditions is 7.2. The action spectrum for photoreactivation by the purified enzyme has a maximum in the same region and the same spectral shape as the action spectrum obtained for E. coli cells in vivo.
Reduced-density-matrix descriptions for linear and non-linear coherent electromagnetic interactions

A reduced-density-matrix description is developed for linear and non-linear electromagnetic interactions of quantized electronic systems in the presence of environmental decoherence and relaxation phenomena. Applications of interest include many-electron atomic systems (in electron-ion beam interactions, gases, and high-temperature plasmas) and semiconductor materials (bulk crystals and nanostructures). Time-domain (equation-of-motion) and frequency-domain (resolvent-operator) formulations are developed in a unified manner. The standard Born (lowest-order perturbation-theory) and Markov (short-memory-time) approximations are systematically introduced within the framework of the general non-perturbative and non-Markovian formulations. A preliminary semiclassical treatment of the electromagnetic interaction is introduced. Compact Liouville-space operator expressions are derived for the linear and the general (n’th order) non-linear electromagnetic-response tensors, allowing for coherent initial electronic excitations and for the full tetradic-matrix form of the Liouville-space self-energy operator representing the environmental interactions. It is emphasized that quantum-coherent many-body interactions cannot be adequately treated as environmentally induced phenomena.