cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Realistic cognitive load modeling for enhancing shared mental models in human-agent collaboration

Human team members often develop shared expectations to predict each other's needs and coordinate their behaviors. In this paper the concept "Shared Belief Map" is proposed as a basis for developing realistic shared expectations among a team of Human-Agent-Pairs (HAPs). The establishment of shared belief maps relies on inter-agent information sharing, the effectiveness of which highly depends on agents' processing loads and the instantaneous cognitive loads of their human partners. We investigate HMM-based cognitive load models to facilitate team members to "share the right information with the right party at the right time". The shared belief map concept and the cognitive/processing load models have been implemented in a cognitive agent architecture---SMMall. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the concept, the models, and their impacts on the evolving of shared mental models of HAP teams.
5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA in hepatic VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits.

The halogenated pyrimidine 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) possesses both radiosensitizing and antimetabolite effects through its incorporation as a thymidine analog in replicating DNA. To evaluate the regional advantage for treatment of hepatic malignancy by hepatic arterial infusion, BrdUrd was infused into either the hepatic artery (HA) or a central vein (iv) in 26 rabbits with intrahepatic VX2 tumor. After a 24-hr constant rate infusion of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg/24 hr, the percentage BrdUrd incorporation into the DNA of bone marrow, duodenal mucosa, liver, and hepatic VX2 tumor was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methods. VX2 tumor BrdUrd incorporation was greater by HA than by iv routes (P < 0.001). At doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg/day, HA to iv BrdUrd incorporation ratios for VX2 tumor significantly exceeded those for bone marrow and duodenum (P < 0.05). At appropriate dose rates, hepatic arterial administration of BrdUrd provides a regional advantage for DNA BrdUrd incorporation in the rabbit intrahepatic VX2 tumor.
On formulating strategic problems

An understanding of the development of logico-mathematical structures (LMSs) is needed to explain, predict, and improve the process of formulating a strategic problem, and consequently to improve the formulation of the problem. Based on Piaget's (1974) model of development of a LMS, a model of the development of an LMS for a strategic problem is presented; the relationship between Jungian (Jung, 1924) personality typology and development of LMSs is discussed; and implications for strategic management are given.
Argonaute2 expression is post-transcriptionally coupled to microRNA abundance

Argonaute proteins are essential components of microRNA (miRNA)- and small interfering (siRNA)-mediated post-transcriptional gene-silencing pathways. In mammals, Argonaute2 (Ago2) is the catalytic center of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that recognizes and endonucleolytically cleaves messenger RNAs of complementary sequence. Although Ago2 is essential for RISC activity, the mechanisms regulating Argonaute protein expression are largely unknown. Here we report that Ago2 expression is dependent on miRNA abundance and that unloaded Ago2 protein is unstable. We observed a low level of Ago2 protein in Dicer- or DGCR8-deficent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that could be rescued by reintroduction of the respective cDNAs or by transfection of miRNAs or siRNAs. We found expression of Ago2 protein from a transgene to be similarly regulated, further supporting a post-transcriptional control mechanism. Inhibition of Hsc70/Hsp90 led to decreased Ago2 expression consistent with the reported role of this chaperone complex in RISC assembly. We furthermore found that the degradation of Ago2 was specifically blocked by inhibition of the lysosome, but not the proteasome. Our results illuminate a novel feedback mechanism that post-transcriptionally couples Ago2 protein levels with small RNA abundance with implications for RNA-interference (RNAi) and miRNA function.
Effective dark current suppression with asymmetric MSM photodetectors in Group IV semiconductors

We have demonstrated for the first time, with both simulations and experiments, the application of an asymmetric metal electrode scheme in Group IV metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (MSM-PDs) to effectively lower dark current (I/sub dark/) without sacrificing the photocurrent (I/sub photo/) substantially. A new metric was introduced by normalizing the photocurrent-to-dark current ratio to the input optical power (NPDR) to provide an objective assessment of the detector performance. Improvement of at least 1.4 times in NPDR was obtained with asymmetric MSM-PDs. Finally, the impact of MSM sizing on NPDR was also addressed.
Sulfur isotopic evidence for sources of volatiles in Siberian Traps magmas

Abstract The Siberian Traps flood basalts transferred a large mass of volatiles from the Earth's mantle and crust to the atmosphere. The eruption of the large igneous province temporally overlapped with the end-Permian mass extinction. Constraints on the sources of Siberian Traps volatiles are critical for determining the overall volatile budget, the role of crustal assimilation, the genesis of Noril'sk ore deposits, and the environmental effects of magmatism. We measure sulfur isotopic ratios ranging from − 10.8 ‰ to + 25.3 ‰ Vienna Canon Diablo Troilite (V-CDT) in melt inclusions from Siberian Traps basaltic rocks. Our measurements, which offer a snapshot of sulfur cycling far from mid-ocean ridge and arc settings, suggest the δ34S of the Siberian Traps mantle melt source was close to that of mid-ocean ridge basalts. In conjunction with previously published whole rock measurements from Noril'sk, our sulfur isotopic data indicate that crustal contamination was widespread and heterogeneous—though not universal—during the emplacement of the Siberian Traps. Incorporation of crustal materials likely increased the total volatile budget of the large igneous province, thereby contributing to Permian–Triassic environmental deterioration.
Calculating longitudinal wheel slip and tire parameters using GPS velocity

While tire parameters are quite important to both current vehicle control systems and proposed future systems, these parameters are subject to considerable variability and are difficult to estimate while driving due to the unavailability of absolute vehicle velocity. This paper details a method of generating longitudinal tire force-slip curves using absolute velocity information from the Global Positioning System (GPS). By combining GPS measurements with measured wheel speeds, the effective tire radius and longitudinal stiffness of the tires can be identified using a simple least-squares regression technique. Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the technique, show that the effective radius can be identified with considerable precision and suggest that the identified longitudinal stiffness exhibits noticeable sensitivity to changes in inflation pressure.
Observations of divergence and upwelling around Point Loma, California

[1] Historical records of near-surface water temperatures in the Southern Californian Bight often show a preferential cooling in the lee of headlands such as Point Dume, Palos Verdes, and Point Loma. At times, this cooler water is associated with an increase in chlorophyll-a as is evident in satellite images of ocean color from the region. Here we combine hydrographic data from a 1 day cruise aboard the RV Roger Revelle (a precursor to the 0304 California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) cruise) with high-frequency (HF) radar (CODAR) measurements, satellite images, and long-term thermistor records of near-surface temperature to identify a small-scale, isolated upwelling in the lee of Point Loma (32.5°N). Associated with the more saline water downstream of the headland are higher nutrient concentrations, an increase in chlorophyll-a concentration, and a bloom of chain-forming diatoms, indicative of a mature upwelling system. It is suggested that this upwelling is not primarily due to local or remote wind forcing but rather to the divergence of the prevailing southerly flow as it passes the Point Loma headland. Time series of surface vorticity calculated from HF radar measurements of sea surface velocity show that as the flow separates from the headland, relative vorticity increases offshore of the cape. Inshore, the time series of divergence/convergence shows a tendency toward divergence at the surface, indicating a preferential upwelling which appears to raise the thermocline, thus resulting in a flux of cold nutrient-rich water to the surface. In the presence of high nutrients and light, photosynthetic organisms bloom in these upwelled waters as they are advected away from the headland and offshore by the prevailing surface currents.
Multi-linguistic collaborative distance learning: from information translation to knowledge translation

A new Video-based Muti-linguistic Collaborative Distance Learning (VMC-DE) was proposed to support knowledge translation by integrating information, translation, interactive learning, knowledge and context into an interactive learning environment. Two types of user interfaces are under development.
Performance analysis of LMS adaptive prediction filters

The conditions required to implement real-time adaptive prediction filters that provide nearly optimal performance in realistic input conditions are delineated. The effects of signal bandwidth, input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), noise correlation, and noise nonstationarity are explicitly considered. Analytical modeling, Monte Carlo simulations and experimental results obtained using a hardware implementation are utilized to provide performance bounds for specified input conditions. It is shown that there is a nonlinear degradation in the signal processing gain as a function of the input SNR that results from the statistical properties of the adaptive filter weights. The stochastic properties of the filter weights ensure that the performance of the adaptive filter is bounded by that of the optimal matched filter for known stationary input conditions. >
Quantitative measurement of two-component pH-sensitive colorimetric spectra using multilayer neural networks

The purpose of this research was to develop a noise tolerant and faster processing approach for in vivo and in vitro spectrophotometric applications where distorted spectra are difficult to interpret quantitatively. A PC based multilayer neural network with a sigmoid activation function and a generalized delta learning rule was trained with a two component (protonated and unprotonated form) pH-dependent spectrum generated from microspectrophotometry of the vital dye neutral red (NR). The network makes use of the digitized absorption spectrum between 375 and 675 nm. The number of nodes in the input layer was determined by the required resolution. The number of output nodes determined the step size of the quantization value used to distinguish the input spectra (i.e. defined the number of distinct output steps). Mathematic analysis provided the conditions for which this network is guaranteed to converge. Simulation results showed that features of the input spectrum were successfully identified and stored in the weight matrix of the input and hidden layers. After convergent training with typical spectra, a calibration curve was constructed to interpret the output layer activity and therefore, predict interpolated pH values of unknown spectra. With its built-in redundant presentation, this approach needed no preprocessing procedures (baseline correction or intensive signal averaging) normally used in multicomponent analyses. The identification of unknown spectra with the activities of the output layer is a one step process using the convergent weight matrix. After learning from examples, real time applications can be accomplished without solving multiple linear equations as in the multiple linear regression method. This method can be generalized to pattern oriented sensory information processing and multi-sensor data fusion for quantitative measurement purposes.
Epitaxial transfer through end-group coordination modulates the odd–even effect in an alkanethiol monolayer assembly

Short spacer length and high end-group coordination lead to the top network acting as a template for the buried sulfur–gold interface of n-alkanethiols (SH–(CH2)n–OH or SH–(CH2)n–CH3) on gold {111}. Annealing and templating both drive toward a higher sampling of the spatially favorable bridge adsorption sites. The hydrogen-bonded network increases in strength by increasing the number of hydrogens participating per oxygen, from 1.75 to 1.98 for n = 14–30. Higher n leads to better packing (five times for hydroxyl-terminated and seven times for methyl-terminated for n = 14–30) and stability of monolayers, while lower n results in better epitaxial transfer (transfer coefficient ratio = 13.5 for {SH–(CH2)14–OH}/{SH–(CH2)30–CH3}) and actuation. Odd values of n for the hydroxyl-terminated n-alkanethiols lead to lattice spacing of an average of 0.04 ± 0.01 A higher than even values. There is a structural transition in properties around spacer length n = 24–27. Characterization of monolayer assembly through correlation between adatom and network layers provides recursive design principles for actuation and sensing applications.
Effects of errors in the resistive taper on the farfield scattering patterns of strips

Resistive tapers that lower the sidelobes of or place nulls in the scattering patterns of strips have practical limitations. The authors examine the effects of random errors in the resistive taper on the induced current densities in the strip and the resulting errors in the scattering patterns. Random errors in the low-sidelobe resistive taper are shown to cause predictable errors in the induced strip current density and RCS (radar cross section). The large errors in resistivity also occur where the strip current density is smallest, thus mitigating their effects. >
VII.— On the Cranial Osteology of Rhizodopsis.

In a paper by Mr E. W. Binney on the Fossil Fishes of the Pendleton Coal Field, published in 1841, the dentary bone of Rhizodopsis is figured as the “upper jaw of a new species of Holoptychius,” to which, however, he did not attach any specific name. In the same paper its scales are also figured and referred to the same genus. Scales belonging to the same fish were afterwards figured by Professor Williamson under the name of Holoptychius sauroides, and again by Mr Salter, as those of Rhizodus granulatus. Both of these specific names occur under Holoptychius in Agassiz's general list of Ganoids published in 1843, but as they were unaccompanied either by figures or descriptions, it is really immaterial which of them, if indeed either, was applied by him to the fish in question. The authority for the term “sauroides” as applied to the common species of Rhizodopsis , the only species of the genus which is as yet known with certainty, must therefore remain with Professor Williamson. Holoptychius sauroides of Binney and of Messrs Kirkby and Atthey is quite another fish, now also distinguished generically as Strepsodus , and for it the specific name “ sauroides ” is therefore equally valid.
An exact solution for the steady-state thermoelastic response of functionally graded orthotropic cylindrical shells

Abstract We analyze the steady-state response of a functionally graded thick cylindrical shell subjected to thermal and mechanical loads. The functionally graded shell is simply supported at the edges and it is assumed to have an arbitrary variation of material properties in the radial direction. The three-dimensional steady-state heat conduction and thermoelasticity equations, simplified to the case of generalized plane strain deformations in the axial direction, are solved analytically. Suitable temperature and displacement functions that identically satisfy the boundary conditions at the simply supported edges are used to reduce the thermoelastic equilibrium equations to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients, which are then solved by the power series method. In the present formulation, the cylindrical shell is assumed to be made of an orthotropic material, although the analytical solution is also valid for isotropic materials. Results are presented for two-constituent isotropic and fiber-reinforced functionally graded shells that have a smooth variation of material volume fractions, and/or in-plane fiber orientations, through the radial direction. The cylindrical shells are also analyzed using the Flugge and the Donnell shell theories. Displacements and stresses from the shell theories are compared with the three-dimensional exact solution to delineate the effects of transverse shear deformation, shell thickness and angular span.
Synthesis and thermal analysis of sugar based polyesters as candidate of high performance biopolymers

Synthesis and characterization of polyesters based on isosorbide/isoidide derived AB-monomers were reported. The homopolymers were prepared respectively by melt polycondensation of isosorbide 2(4-carbomethoxybenzoate), isosorbide 5(4-carbomethoxybenzoate) and isoidide (4-carbomethoxyphenyl ether). The chemical structure and properties of the synthesized polyesters were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. It was found that these renewable bio-based thermoplastics present promising high Tg and excellent crystallinity. By increasing the maximum temperature attained in the polymerization, the molecular weight of polyesters went up with their increased Tg. Because of their thermal stability, it provides the opportunity of melt processability of those homopolymers, which is often the major challenge arising from processing biopolymers on industrial scale. Meanwhile, the monomers can also be used as backbone modifier for many commercial polymers such as PET or PLA etc. Those high performance copolyesters with their processing versatility could be utilized in many different applications such as hot filling food packaging, implantable catheters and orthopedic prosthesis. In this article, transesterification of isosorbide 5(4-carbomethoxybenzoate) with PET was done and showed the Tg of PET could be raised by adding a small amount of those sugar derived AB monomers.
Tools and Approaches for an End-to-End Expression Array Analysis

Microarray experiments can appear daunting because the considerations called for in their analysis cover several fields of research. To understand the data microarrays generate some knowledge of classical statistics and recent complexity theory are useful while emerging computational techniques such as XML directed workflows could aid in managing the data. These considerations are called for because as experimental tools, microarrays (arrays) exemplify the recent trend in biological research towards high dimensionality datasets. Until recently observations were made on only a few variables at a time and these were used to support or refute hypotheses, but high dimensionality datasets are generated by observing a very large number of variables (e.g. gene expression measurements) at the same time. The number of expression measurements made on arrays is not only high, but notably high when compared to the size of a typical sample population. This combination of high dimensionality and asymmetry leads to large datasets and fundamental problems when using standard approaches to interpret the data. An end-to-end approach is a general framework in which to place some useful considerations when planning an analysis. The framework described here explores the origins of signal and several sources of variance, approaches to representing high-throughput data, the statistical considerations when modeling array data and the software tools that can aid in carrying out the analysis.
Carving the Nation: Zimbabwean Sculptors and the Contested Heritage of Aesthetics

Amid the world’s highest inflation, political chaos, rampant corruption, regular public health disasters, extraordinary personal suffering, and international critique, Zimbabwe still retains a cultural life struggling to survive. Indeed, one particular “product” of this southern African country retains international allure: its art. Zimbabwean stone sculptors are well known in international art markets, and prior to the current troubles, tourists and art dealers alike were their key consumers and disseminators. With its extraordinary international success, it is appropriate to speak of a Zimbabwean stone sculpture movement.
Optical feedback signal for ultrashort laser pulse ablation of tissue

Abstract An optical feedback system for controlled precise tissue ablation is discussed. Our setup includes an ultrashort pulse laser (USPL), and a diagnostic system utilizing analysis of either tissue fluorescence or plasma emission luminescence. Current research is focused on discriminating hard and soft tissues such as bone and spinal cord during spinal surgery using either technique. Our experimental observations exhibit considerable spectroscopic contrast between hard and soft tissue, and both techniques offer promise for a practical diagnostic system.
Challenges and Opportunities of Public Health Research in Nepal

Humans have evolved over thousands of years and have adapted to overcome daily life challenges and periodic pandemics. In particular, human well-being has made great strides in the 20th century by preventing, detecting and responding to health issues. The overall successes in health, such as controlling smallpox, polio and cholera should be commended, but the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS, threats of Ebola, malaria, tuberculosis, and other epidemics, including those like the occasional cholera outbreak in our own backyard will keep us honest about our previous successes. As countries advance in social and economic developments, health status and issues evolve as a result of changing lifestyles, demographics, climate change and epidemiological transitions. For example, while infectious diseases are still a main cause of death in developing countries like Nepal, the paradigm has slowly shifted towards four major chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, as a result of longevity due to the cautious global fight against selective infectious diseases.
Reproductive processes in sponges: a critical evaluation of current data and views

The nature of a number of fundamental processes occurring during reproduction in sponges still remains in doubt. Among the more significant of these are: the true status of sponges described as dioecious, namely whether some are actually successive hermaphrodites; the origin of oogonia, which have recently been claimed to be derived from choanocytes; the origin and mechanism of formation of large spermatogenic masses; the specific pathway leading to fertilization taken by sperm cells within the sponge tissue of viviparous species; the role played during larval metamorphosis by somatic cells which are incorporated into embryos; the cell lineage of choanocytes which form flagellated chambers during larval metamorphosis; the specific relationship of somatic growth and dormancy to gametogenesis; the role of budding and fragmentation in population maintenance; the role, if any, of gemmules in dispersion. It is considered mandatory that new techniques be developed in order to further elucidate these and other r...
Effect of oral calcium carbonate on urinary excretion of Ca, Na and Mg in advanced renal disease.

SummaryThe effect of oral calcium carbonate on serum levels and urinary excretion of calcium sodium and magnesium was evaluated in 10 patients with advanced renal disease. A rise in serum calcium which was observed in all patients was associated with increased urinary excretions of calcium, sodium and magnesium, suggesting that common reabsorptive mechanism(s) are underlying the renal handling of these ions also in advanced renal disease. A decrease in serum magnesium which was noticed in all patients could be explained by a decreased intestinal absorption, an increased urinary loss, or both.This study was partly supported by a Grant FR-51 from the General Clinical Research Centers Program of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
Design and Performance of a Laboratory Air-Blast Sprayer

Air-blast sprayers of the type represented by the Bean Speed Sprayer® are used for 73% of pesticide applications to Florida citrus, according to Simanton (1962).
Metabolism of Trimethoprim in Man and Measurement of a New Metabolite: A New Fluorescence Assay

Urinary concentrations of trimethoprim (TMP) and its metabolites were measured in eight healthy subjects after oral administration of 160 mg of TMP in two tablets of Septra@ (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Improved procedures for extraction of polar metabolites and for enzymic cleavage of conjugated products were applied. The 1-oxide and conjugates of demethylated metabolites were found in substantially higher concentrations than those previously reported. A new metabolite, the 3-oxide of TMP, was identified, and urinary levels of this product were also measured.
International Studies in the 1970s

E. H. Carr (1958: 5) has suggested that "when the human mind begins to exercise itself in some fresh field, an initial stage occurs in which the element of wish or purpose is overwhelmingly strong, and the inclination to analyze facts and means weak or nonexistent." Whatever the validity of this statement in the development of other disciplines, it describes the growth of international relations, especially in its formative years, as a discipline between the two world wars (Thompson, 1960; Fox, 1968: 1-35). Although the study of international relations has always had a normative element, and the study of causes and resolution of conflict has been of continuing concern to students of international relations, the focus both of teaching and research has shifted, especially since World War II. The study of international relations has passed through three stages which may be characterized as utopian, realist, and behavioral or, stated differently, normative, empirical-normative, and
Enhancement of light absorption in subwavelength plasmonic slits by optical microcavities

We show that a compact structure consisting of multiple optical microcavities on both the entrance and exit side of a subwavelength plasmonic slit can greatly enhance the absorption cross section of the slit.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and agonist inhibit cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1) transcription

Fibrates are widely used hypolipidemic drugs that regulate the expression of many genes involved in lipid metabolism by activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of peroxisome proliferators and PPARalpha on the transcription of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids in the liver. When cotransfected with the expression vectors for PPARalpha and RXRalpha, Wy14,643 reduced human and rat cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1)/luciferase reporter activities by 88% and 43%, respectively, in HepG2 cells, but not in CV-1 or CHO cells. We have mapped the peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) to a conserved sequence containing the canonical AGGTCA direct repeats separated by one nucleotide (DR1). This DR1 sequence was mapped previously as a binding site for the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) which stimulates CYP7A1 transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed no direct binding of in vitro synthesized PPARalpha/RXRalpha heterodimer to the DR1 sequence. PPARalpha and Wy14,643 did not affect HNF-4 binding to the DR1. However, Wy14,643 and PPARalpha/RXRalpha significantly reduced HNF-4 expression in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that PPARalpha and agonist repress cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity by reducing the availability of HNF-4 for binding to the DR-1 sequence and therefore attenuates the transactivation of CYP7A1 by HNF-4.
Analyse the monitoring results of hygiene of the public place in Haizhu district of Guangzhou from 2005 to 2011

Objective For providing scientific basis of strengthening the management of public hygiene,it is necessary to analyse the monitoring results of hygiene of the public places in Haizhu district of Guangzhou from 2005 to 2011.Method According to "Rules of Hygiene monitoring for Public Places","Standard test for public places","Standards for public places" and "Standards for Supplies in public places",we had analysed the monitoring data collecting from 6 764 places with various types from 2005 to 2011.Results The pass rate of 14 894 air samples was 71.90%.The pass rate of 38 929 public health products was 96.36%.Waiting rooms of public transport had the the highest pass rate (96.15%),while the hospital waiting rooms had the lowest pass rate of 28.30%.Wind speed pass rate was the highest of 99.59%,while lumination pass rate (83.54%) was the lowest.Health products of hair and beauty shop had the highest pass rate of 98.49%.Products of entertainment place had the lowest pass rate of 87.35%.Public health supplies of the entertainment places had the highest pass rate of coliform bacteria test(97.99%),but the lowest pass rate in mold test (83.00%).Conclusion The results indicated that it is nessary to keep public places ventilated,cleaned and disinfected in order to guarantee the health of public.
Head rotation during upright tilt increases cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity.

INTRODUCTION Vestibular activation of semicircular canals has been linked to increased activity of parasympathetic neurons and has been proposed as a contributing factor to orthostatic intolerance. However, the functional consequences of head yaw rotation during orthostasis on human autonomic function have not been documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of voluntary head rotation on autonomic function during upright tilt. METHODS ECG, beat-by-beat finger arterial pressure, respiratory rate, PetCO2, and cerebral blood flow velocity were recorded in 10 healthy subjects. Subjects were studied supine and during two separate 5-min periods of upright tilt to 70 degrees with and without continuous head yaw rotation (180 degrees at 0.25 Hz). Breathing frequency was controlled strictly at 0.25 Hz during each trial and data were analyzed in both time and frequency domains. Cross-spectral techniques (transfer functions) were used to assess cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity and dynamic cerebral autoregulation. RESULTS Head rotation during upright tilt increased transfer function magnitude between systolic pressure and R-R interval at the low frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) from 8.1 +/- 2.3 to 10.4 +/- 1.6 ms x mmHg(-1) (p = 0.04), but did not affect estimates of vagal-cardiac efferent activity or cerebral blood flow velocity, hemodynamic oscillations, or dynamic cerebral autoregulation. CONCLUSIONS Increased cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity in conjunction with preserved cerebral autoregulation suggests that head rotation during upright tilt is unlikely to trigger orthostatic instability in normal, healthy humans.
Adenosine formation and energy status during hypoperfusion and 2-deoxyglucose infusion

The relationship between adenosine (Ado) formation and cytosolic energy status was studied in isolated guinea pig hearts during hypoperfusion plus norepinephrine infusion (0.6 nmol/min) and in isolated rat hearts during 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) infusion. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) was used to measure phosphate concentrations, and both phosphorylation potential (expressed as \[ATP]/[ADP\]\[Pi\]) and energy charge [expressed as (([ATP] + 1/2[ADP])/([ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP]))] were calculated as indexes of cytosolic energy status. Both progressive flow reductions and increasing length of exposure to 2-DG led to progressive decreases in energy charge and phosphorylation potential. In both cases, steady-state Ado release first increased then declined despite a continued fall in energy status. Inosine release followed a similar pattern. This biphasic pattern of Ado release vs. energy charge is similar to the pattern seen in in vitro studies of cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase, supporting the hypothesis that Ado formation in vivo is regulated by the influence of energy status on this enzyme. However, Ado release in vivo peaked at an energy charge much higher (0.997) than that observed in vitro (0.60-0.86). It is therefore probable that the inhibition of Ado formation in the perfused heart occurs via factor(s) in addition to energy charge.
The American Dual Economy

Abstract:I describe the American economy in the twenty-first century as a dual economy in the spirit of W. Arthur Lewis. Similar to the subsistence and capitalist economies characterized by Lewis, I distinguish a low-wage sector and a finance, technology, and electronics (FTE) sector. The transition from the low-wage to the FTE sector is through education, which is becoming increasingly difficult for members of the low-wage sector because the FTE sector has largely abandoned the American tradition of quality public schools and universities. Policy debates about public education and other policies that serve the low-wage sector often characterize members of the low-wage sector as black even though the low-wage sector is largely white. This model of a modern dual economy explains difficulties in many current policy debates, including education, health care, criminal justice, infrastructure, and household debts.
Career Opportunities: Connecting Design Students With Industry

Abstract Given an era of rapid advances in communications and graphic techniques, students of design need exposure to the hectic, highly competitive world of design – well before their student days are over. Is the design hub of New York a closed circuit among industries led by alumni from private colleges and universities? Are student opportunities and career outcomes significantly different depending on the type of institution they attend, rather than the type of degree they earn? In looking at five design institutions in New York City (New York City College of Technology (CUNY), Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY), Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and Cooper Union, two public, two private not-for profit and one private for profit) this study investigates college efforts to connect design students with industry, and hopes to shed light on the unique challenges students attending NYC public colleges face within college and upon graduation as they establish careers. Representatives from five colleges were contacted and asked to respond to a brief survey, consisting of six questions relating to what their schools do to connect students with industry. Everyone contacted responded, and the surveys were followed up with informal phone conversations.
Thorstein Veblen and the Enrichment of Evolutionary Naturalism

(2007). Thorstein Veblen and the Enrichment of Evolutionary Naturalism. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 1198-1199.
Measuring the Channels of Monetary Policy Transmission: A Factor-Augmented Vector Autoregressive (Favar) Approach

There is more consensus on the effects of monetary policy than its transmission mechanism. Two channels of transmission mechanisms are the conventional interest rate channel and the credit channel. I investigate the channels of monetary policy transmission in the U.S. using the factor-augmented vector autoregressive (FAVAR) models developed by Bernanke, Boivin & Eliasz (2005). The newly developed FAVAR approach allows the researcher to include all relevant macroeconomic variables in the model and analyze them. Therefore, the FAVAR models span a larger information set and generate better estimates of impulse response functions than the commonly used vector autoregressive (VAR) models that utilize only 4–8 variables. I include 154 monthly U.S. time series variables for the period 1970–2014. The findings support the existence of the credit channel in the U.S. The conclusion remains the same when the nonborrowed reserve operating regime (October 1979–October 1982) is removed from the sample period.
Effect of reflex testing by pathologists on molecular testing rates in lung cancer patients: Experience from a community-based academic center.

8098 Background: IASLC/CAP and NCCN guidelines recommend molecular testing for non-squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. Testing is usually performed upon request by medical onco...
Relationship Intervention for Inmates and Their Partners: Bringing Couples Together Before Release.

The aim of this intervention study was to examine the impact of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program on inmates and their partners with the programming goal to reduce the negative im...
Achieving a Graded Immune Response: BTK Adopts a Range of Active/Inactive Conformations Dictated by Multiple Interdomain Contacts.

Summary Capturing the functionally relevant forms of dynamic, multidomain proteins is extremely challenging. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a kinase essential for B and mast cell function, has stubbornly resisted crystallization in its full-length form. Here, nuclear magnetic resonance and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry show that BTK adopts a closed conformation in dynamic equilibrium with open, active conformations. BTK lacks the phosphotyrosine regulatory tail of the SRC kinases, yet nevertheless achieves a phosphotyrosine-independent C-terminal latch. The unique proline-rich region is an internal "on" switch pushing the autoinhibited kinase toward its active state. Newly identified autoinhibitory contacts in the BTK pleckstrin homology domain are sensitive to phospholipid binding, which induces large-scale allosteric changes. The multiplicity of these regulatory contacts suggests a clear mechanism for gradual or "analog" kinase activation as opposed to a binary "on/off" switch. The findings illustrate how previously modeled information for recalcitrant full-length proteins can be expanded and validated with a convergent multidisciplinary experimental approach.
Krapf, Johann Ludwig (1810–1881)

Johann Ludwig Krapf, who worked many years for the Church Missionary Society in eastern Africa, was also one of the earliest significant Swahili scholars. Krapf was the first known European to reduce Swahili to Latin characters, as well as the first to compose a Swahili grammar in English. While Krapf distinguished himself as a scholar of Swahili, he also studied and wrote about several other African languages, including Ethiopian languages such as Oromo and Shoa and East African languages like Kirabai.
Single-angle reflectance spectroscopy to determine the optical constants n and k: considerations in the far-infrared domain.

Single-angle infrared (IR) reflectance spectroscopy is a proven and effective method for determining the complex optical constants n and k of condensed matter. The modern method uses a Fourier transform IR spectrometer to record the quantitative reflectance R(ν) spectra followed by application of the Kramers–Kronig transform (KKT) to obtain the complex optical constants. In order to carry out the KKT, it is essential to measure the reflectance spectra to as high and low a frequency (wavenumber) as possible. Traditionally, the reflectance spectra of solid specimens consist of large (typically>10 mm diameter) polished single-crystal faces free of defects or voids. The requirement of a large polished face, however, is not a realistic expectation for many synthetic, geologic, or rare specimens where the size is usually small and the morphology can vary. In this paper we discuss several improvements and considerations to both the hardware and far-IR measurement protocols that lead to more accurate R(ν) values and thus to more accurate n/k values, especially for small (millimeter-sized) specimens where the R(ν) spectrum is concatenated from multiple independent R(ν) spectra from overlapping hardware/spectral domains. Specifically, the improved hardware and analyses introduced here include the following: (1) providing a set of far-IR calibration standards; (2) custom-designing and manufacturing low reflectivity, stray-light reducing sample masks for small specimens; (3) minimizing stray light interaction between the sample mask, the interferometer Jacquinot stop, and the detector; (4) optimizing the methods to “splice” together the spectra from independent domains; (5) discussing what methods one can use to obtain or calculate the important R(0 cm−1) value; (6) using a quartic relationship to extrapolate from the measured R data to R(0); and (7) accounting for the limiting effects of diffraction for the spot size at the sample mask and detector for millimeter-sized specimens, especially at the very long wavelengths. These seven considerations are all highly interconnected and are discussed in turn, as well as their strong interdependencies. This paper presents a holistic approach for determining reliable n/k values of millimeter-sized samples using single-angle reflectance in the mid- and far-IR.
Mapping Communication Infrastructure Theory Onto Twitter: Network Integration and Neighborhood Storytelling

Guided by communication infrastructure theory (CIT), this study examined residents’ integration to the neighborhood storytelling network and its association with neighborhood storytelling. The ego networks of the local ties of 350 residents and their timelines were obtained from Twitter’s search application programming interface (API). Residents’ integration to the neighborhood storytelling network was operationalized as network size and network density. The results show that both network size and network density positively predicted neighborhood storytelling. When local ties were classified into types, residents who followed more geo-ethnic media accounts and other local residents participated more in neighborhood storytelling.
Acceptability of self-collecting oropharyngeal swabs for sexually transmissible infection testing among men and women

In 2016, the rate of USA gonorrhoea and chlamydia cases increased by 18.6% and 6.9% respectively. Most people infected are asymptomatic and are not treated immediately, which negatively affects sexually transmissible infection (STI)/HIV rates. Men and women were asked to provide self-collected oropharyngeal specimens for STI testing (n = 79). Over 75% reported the collection of the swab was 'easy' or 'very easy' to use; 90% were willing to test for STIs at home in the future. Self-collecting oropharyngeal swabs for STI testing is acceptable among men and women. Future research should test the effect of self-collecting pharyngeal swabs on STI testing behaviours and results.
An Expansion of the User Support Services for the Research Computing Group at the University of Colorado Boulder

In any research computing (RC) environment, the role of the user support group is a combination of education, consulting, and outreach. As this role is the most public-facing of a research computing group's team, it is important to ensure an excellent level of support is provided to users. The Research Computing group at the University of Colorado (CURC) Boulder maintains a large-scale computing cluster with several hundred active users, among other services, and has done so since 2011. The user support group at CURC provides a variety of services intended to support these users. This paper describes those services the CURC group provides, as well as explores the various ways that these services have been improved in 2018-19. The impact on users is also assessed.
Heart Failure, a Growing Global Health Concern: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiology in a Poor Resource Setting Country, Haiti

Background The epidemiology of HF (Heart Failure) has been extensively researched in the western world, its incidence and prevalence in the developing world has not been well characterized. Haiti is a one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and notably with a total 4 cardiologists for a population of 8 million. We report a systematic review of the evidence on the incidence and prevalence of Heart Failure and their etiologies in Haiti over the last 20 years. Our goal is to strengthen current knowledge on the epidemiology of HF in a resource poor setting. This will be helpful in making further recommendations regarding future investigations in the development of a more effective tailored approach to Haiti's population that can very well serve in other similar settings. Methods A systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was performed. The literature search was carried up until January 9, 2018, referring to PubMed, Medline and EMBASE. Results We could identify and screen 167 potentially eligible publications through the databases. Based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 studies for a total of 558 patients were included in this analysis: one (1) prospective cohort study and (1) one retrospective cohort study. Conclusion Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy was the leading cause of heart failure and women are predominantly affected with the caveat of not having any catheterization laboratory in the country as a diagnostic tool. Tailored multilevel interventions are needed to decrease health disparities and help in the diagnosis, classification and management of heart failure in poor resource settings like Haiti.
Distributions in the constant-differentials Pólya process

Abstract We study a class of unbalanced constant-differentials Polya processes on white and blue balls. We show that the number of white balls, the number of blue balls, and the total number of balls, when appropriately scaled, all converge in distribution to gamma random variables with parameters depending on the differential index and the amount of ball addition at the epochs, but not on the initial conditions. The result is obtained by an analytic approach utilizing partial differential equations. We present a martingale formulation that may provide alternatives.
Sustained neuronal and microglial alterations are associated with diverse neurobehavioral dysfunction long after experimental brain injury.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause progressive neurodegeneration, sustained neuroinflammation and chronic neurological dysfunction. Few experimental studies have explored the long-term neurobehavioral and functional cellular changes beyond several months. The present study examined the effects of a single moderate-level TBI on functional outcome 8 months after injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact injury and followed for changes in motor performance, learning and memory, as well as depressive-like and social behavior. We also used a novel flow cytometry approach to assess cellular functions in freshly isolated neurons and microglia from the injured tissue. There were marked and diverse, sustained neurobehavioral changes in injured mice. Compared to sham controls, chronic TBI mice showed long-term deficits in gait dynamics, nest building, spatial working memory and recognition memory. The tail suspension, forced swim, and sucrose consumption tests showed a marked depressive-like phenotype that was associated with impaired sociability. At the cellular level, there were lower numbers of Thy1+Tuj1+ neurons and higher numbers of activated CD45loCD11b+ microglia. Functionally, both neurons and microglia exhibited significantly higher levels of oxidative stress after injury. Microglia exhibited chronic deficits in phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria, and increased uptake of myelin and dying neurons. Living neurons showed decreased expression of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density (PSD)-95, along with greater numbers of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-positive autophagosomes and increased mitochondrial mass that suggest dysregulation of autophagy. In summary, the late neurobehavioral changes found after murine TBI are similar to those found chronically after moderate-severe human head injury. Importantly, such changes are associated with microglial dysfunction and changes in neuronal activity.