cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Bureaucrats Meet Entrepreneurs: The Design of Effective

In many nations, the federal government takes an active role in financing new firms.The focus here is on "public venture capital" initiatives that provide equity or equity-like investments or encourage others to make these investments in new firms.The challenges involved with financing a young, high-technology firm are also examined.The background of the venture capital industry is discussed, focusing on the growth and fluctuations in venture capital investment from World War II to the present. The criteria for venture capital investment and the distribution of the capital are explained.The impact of public venture capital programs is discussed, with research indicating that these programs encourage both outside investment following firm certification and R&D spillovers. The limitations of public venture capital programs are examined, while focusing on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as an example of an effective program.The challenges involved with designing an effective program are discussed, and the design of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) of the Department of Commerce is highlighted.Following a case study of ATP firms, four important recommendations for public venture capital programs are noted.Areas for further research are discussed, as are the limitations of these public programs. (AKP)
Investigating the Impact of Asymptomatic Carriers on COVID-19 Transmission

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel human respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Asymptomatic carriers of the virus display no clinical symptoms but are known to be contagious. Recent evidence reveals that this sub-population, as well as persons with mild and undocumented disease, represent a major contributor in the propagation of this disease. However, this method of transmission frequently escapes detection by public health surveillance systems. Because of this, the currently accepted estimates of the basic reproduction number (ℛ0) of the virus are inaccurate. Further, it is unlikely that a pathogen can blanket the planet in three months with an ℛ0 in the vicinity of 3, as reported (1–6). In this manuscript, we present a mathematical model taking into account asymptomatic and other undocumented carriers. Our results indicate that an initial value of the effective reproduction number could range from 5.5 to 26.5. Results from the first three weeks of the model exhibit exponential growth, which is in agreement with average case data collected from thirteen countries with universal health care and robust communicable disease surveillance systems; the average rate of growth in the number of reported cases is 23.3% per day during this period.
Image-on-Scalar Regression via Deep Neural Networks.

In medical imaging studies, a topic of central interest is the association analysis of massive imaging data with covariates of interest. The difficulty arises from the ultrahigh imaging dimensions, heterogeneous noises, and limited number of training images. To address these challenges, we propose a novel and conceptually straightforward neural network-based image-on-scalar regression model, in which the spatially varying functions of the main effects, individual deviations, and noise variances are all constructed through neural networks. Compared with existing methods, our method can identify a wider variety of spatial patterns, better captures the individual-wise heterogeneity, and is less affected by a small number of individuals. We provide estimation and selection algorithms with theoretically guaranteed asymptotic properties when the number of voxels grows faster than the number of individuals. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method through extensive simulation studies and the analysis of the fMRI data in the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange study and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study.
What’s So Good About the Market?

This chapter is an introduction to market economics—the role of price, market failure, and the trade-off between efficiency and equity, with an emphasis on both the virtues and shortcomings of the market. I assert that it is far easier to understand what the market does wrong than what it does right. Price resolves the basic economic questions of what to produce, how to produce, and how to allocate goods and services. There is an appropriate role for government intervention in the market in instances of market failure, but there may be undesirable effects of government intervention at other times.
Straight leg raise metrics on high‐resolution manometry associate with esophageal reflux burden

BACKGROUND Straight leg raise (SLR) is a provocative maneuver that assesses esophagogastric junction (EGJ) barrier function during high-resolution manometry (HRM). We evaluated the value of SLR in symptomatic reflux patients undergoing ambulatory reflux monitoring. METHODS Adult patients being evaluated for reflux symptoms with esophageal physiologic testing off antisecretory therapy over a 12 month period were studied. Demographics, clinical presentation, HRM studies, and reflux monitoring studies were analyzed. Intra-abdominal and intra-esophageal pressures were extracted at baseline and during SLR from HRM studies. Acid exposure time (AET) was derived from reflux monitoring studies, and EGJ morphology and tone from HRM studies. SLR pressure metrics predicting abnormal AET were evaluated. KEY RESULTS Of 122 patients, 70 (57.4%) had ≥50% peak intra-abdominal pressure increase during SLR (58.0 ± 1.4 years, 75.7% female). Peak intra-esophageal pressure gradient between baseline and SLR predicted pathologic AET when ≥100% (AUC 0.78, sensitivity 71%, specificity 75%, P 6%, but only 23.7% with AET < 4% (P = .01). Peak intra-esophageal pressure gradient ≥100% was most discriminative in identifying abnormal acid burden in type 1 EGJ morphology (P = .005) but trended toward significance in type 2 and type 3 morphology (P = .1). Normal and abnormal EGJ contractile integral did not associate with peak intra-esophageal pressure gradient either collectively or when subdivided by EGJ morphology (P ≥ .2). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES Analysis of intra-esophageal pressure gradients during SLR, a simple HRM maneuver, may augment evaluation of symptomatic GERD, and provide adjunctive evidence supporting GERD.
Golay Pairs Having Larger Swap Sets

Binary Golay pairs are examined with an interest in finding examples, in which members of the pair can be replaced with other codes sharing the same autocorrelation, but not due to negation and reversal. These are referred to as shared-autocorrelation (or shared- $\rm ACS$ ) Golay pairs. Golay pairs can always formed from other Golay pairs by reversing and/or negating codes in those pairs; the discovery of other possibilities offers the promise of enhanced unpredictability by waveform diversity. A 1998 paper by Djokovic, which lists such pairs at lengths 32 and 40, is used as evidence that such pairs not only exist, but also likely exist in significant numbers. A common structure in these codes is determined, and conditions found for half-codes that can be employed to form larger examples. Furthermore, a necessary condition is found for code lengths allowing these shared- $\rm ACS$ Golay pairs.
Max Cuts in Triangle-free Graphs

A well-known conjecture by Erdős states that every triangle-free graph on n vertices can be made bipartite by removing at most \(n^2/25\) edges. This conjecture was known for graphs with edge density at least 0.4 and edge density at most 0.172. Here, we will extend the edge density for which this conjecture is true; we prove the conjecture for graphs with edge density at most 0.2486 and for graphs with edge density at least 0.3197. Further, we prove that every triangle-free graph can be made bipartite by removing at most \(n^2/23.5\) edges improving the previously best bound of \(n^2/18\).
Mapping temperature-dependent conformational change in the voltage-sensing domain of an engineered heat-activated K+ channel

Temperature-dependent regulation of ion channel activity is critical for a variety of physiological processes ranging from immune response to perception of noxious stimuli. Our understanding of the structural mechanisms that underlie temperature sensing remains limited, in part due to the difficulty of combining high-resolution structural analysis with temperature stimulus. Here, we use NMR to compare the temperature-dependent behavior of Shaker potassium channel voltage sensor domain (WT-VSD) to its engineered temperature sensitive (TS-VSD) variant. Further insight into the molecular basis for temperature-dependent behavior is obtained by analyzing the experimental results together with molecular dynamics simulations. Our studies reveal that the overall secondary structure of the engineered TS-VSD is identical to the wild-type channels except for local changes in backbone torsion angles near the site of substitution (V369S and F370S). Remarkably however, these structural differences result in increased hydration of the voltage-sensing arginines and the S4-S5 linker helix in the TS-VSD at higher temperatures, in contrast to the WT-VSD. These findings highlight how subtle differences in the primary structure can result in large-scale changes in solvation and thereby confer increased temperature-dependent activity beyond that predicted by linear summation of solvation energies of individual substituents.
Kiss1 is differentially regulated in male and female mice by the homeodomain transcription factor VAX1

Regulation of Kiss1 transcription is crucial to the development and function of the reproductive axis. The homeodomain transcription factor, ventral anterior homeobox 1 (VAX1), has been implicated as a potential regulator of Kiss1 transcription. However, it is unknown whether VAX1 directly mediates transcription within kisspeptin neurons or works indirectly by acting upstream of kisspeptin neuron populations. This study tested the hypothesis that VAX1 within kisspeptin neurons regulates Kiss1 gene expression. We found that VAX1 acts as a repressor of Kiss1 in vitro and within the male arcuate nucleus in vivo. In female mice, we found that the loss of VAX1 caused a reduction in Kiss1 expression and Kiss1-containing neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus at the time of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge, but was compensated by an increase in Kiss1-cFos colocalization. Despite changes in Kiss1 transcription, gonadotropin levels were unaffected and there were no impairments to fertility.
Hematopoietic-SLC37A2 deficiency impairs M2 macrophage polarization and accelerates atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice

Macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Our previous study demonstrated that solute carrier family 37 member 2 (SLC37A2), an endoplasmic reticulum-anchored phosphate-linked glucose-6-phosphate transporter, negatively regulates macrophage Toll-like receptor activation by fine-tuning glycolytic reprogramming in vitro. However, whether macrophage SLC37A2 impacts in vivo macrophage inflammation and atherosclerosis under hyperlipidemic conditions is unknown. We generated hematopoietic cell-specific SLC37A2 knockout and control mice in C57Bl/6 Ldlr-/- mice by bone marrow transplantation. Hematopoietic-specific SLC37A2 deletion in Ldlr-/- mice increased plasma lipid concentrations 12-16 wks of Western diet induction, attenuated M2 macrophage activation, and resulted in more atherosclerosis compared to Ldlr-/- mice transplanted with wild type bone marrow. Aortic root intimal area was inversely correlated with plasma IL-10 levels, but not total cholesterol concentrations, suggesting macrophage polarization but not plasma cholesterol was responsible for increased atherosclerosis in bone marrow SLC37A2-deficient mice. SLC37A2 deficiency also impaired macrophage M2 activation induced by IL-4 or apoptotic cells in vitro. In conclusion, our study suggests that SLC37A2 expression is required to support macrophage M2 polarization in vitro and in vivo. In vivo disruption of hematopoietic SLC37A2 accelerates atherosclerosis under hyperlipidemic pro-atherogenic conditions.
Serre’s Condition R k for Sums of Geometric Links

We investigate what it means that the intersection of a variety with a residual intersection has a low-dimensional singular locus. For schemes having Cohen-Macaulay residual intersections, we prove, for instance, that if the intersection of the scheme with one of its geometric residual intersections has a ‘small’ singular locus, then the scheme can be defined by ‘few’ equations locally.
Transdifferentiation in the Nervous System

The normal development of the central nervous system (CNS) is a step-wise process: neural stem cells first differentiate into lineage restricted progenitors then mature into terminal functional cell types. However, phenotypic plasticity also exists and neural cells may convert into an earlier cell type that has more differentiation potential or generate cells of other lineages. Cells of non-neural types may also give rise to neural cells upon spontaneous or more controlled cellular process. These events are now collectively termed as transdifferentiation/dedifferentiation or reprogramming, after rule out alternate explanations, such as contaminating populations of cells, revealed competence, and the normal developmental potential of cells. In this chapter, we will present several examples of transdifferentiation in the CNS and how to identify such phenomenon. We will focus on recent advances in controlled reprogramming in CNS, which will facilitate a better understanding of neural development and differentiation mechanisms, including transcriptional network regulation and posttranscriptional modification. In addition, we will discuss potential clinical relevance of transdifferentiation/dedifferentiation in the CNS with implications of future regenerative medicine in treating neurodegenerative diseases, neural developmental diseases, and cancers.
Public Choice and Tort Reform

This article examines tort law and the tort reform debate through the lens of public choice. The article uses the tools of public choice to explain the development of tort law over the past few decades and its evolution away from efficient rules. The article identifies a supply and demand dynamic for the evolution of expansive tort liability and damages and complex tort law doctrines. On the demand side, the evolution has been driven by the economic interests of plaintiffs' lawyers seeking to expand tort liability and damages. Defense lawyers share an economic interest in this development. Other interests, including insurers, manufacturers, and consumers, are shown to lack either the incentive to oppose these developments or are plagued by collective action problems from preventing them. On the supply side, the provision of expansive tort liability by judges is seen to be consistent with the self-interest of judges seeking power over society and status within the bar and academia. Finding the judicial process an unlikely avenue for tort reform, the article turns to the question of legislative tort reform. Although plagued by many of the same difficulties, legislative tort reform may hold out the possibility of greater consumer and manufacturer influence to counterbalance the interests of lawyers and judges. The article concludes with a model of how tort reform can succeed in the face of these obstacles. This model relies on the Peltzman-Becker model of regulation and points to Governor George W. Bush's success in enacting tort reform in Texas as consistent with the proffered model.
Model-Driven Adaptive Self-healing for Autonomic Computing

Self-healing is a vital property that an autonomic system must possess in order to provide robust performance and survivability. The promise of self-healing depends on other properties that the system should provide, which include self-monitoring and self-configuring. Autonomic systems further require self-healing behavior to adapt to changes in user needs, business goals, and environmental conditions such that self-healing decisions are made dynamically and adaptively according to the system context. In this paper, we propose a model-driven approach that leverages modeling techniques, reliability engineering methodologies, and aspect-oriented development to realize an adaptive self- healing paradigm for autonomic computing.
Investigations into the mechanisms of methamphetamine and oxygen-glucose deprivation -induced neurodegeneration: Implications for autophagy and apoptosis

CHAPTER I: Background and Literature Review 1 THESIS ORGANIZATION 1 PKC IS A KEY MEDIATOR OF MA-INDUCED CELL DEATH IN N27 DOPAMINERGIC NEURONAL CELLS: ROLE FOR AUTOPHAGY AND UPS 1 PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVATION OF PKC IS INVOLVED IN NEURONAL DEATH AFTER OGD IN MOUSE PRIMARY STRIATAL CULTURES 16 REFERENCES 23 CHAPTER II: PKCδ is a key mediator of MA-induced cell death in N27 dopa -minergic neuronal cells: Role for autophagy and UPS 32 ABSTRACT 32 INTRODUCTION 33 MATERIALS AND METHODS 36 RESULTS 43 DISCUSSION 50 REFERENCES 5532 INTRODUCTION 33 MATERIALS AND METHODS 36 RESULTS 43 DISCUSSION 50 REFERENCES 55 CHAPTER III: Proteolytic activation of PKCδ is involved in neuronal death after OGD in mouse primary striatal cultures 82 ABSTRACT 82 INTRODUCTION 83 MATERIALS AND METHODS 84 RESULTS 91 DISCUSSION 96 REFERENCES 10082 INTRODUCTION 83 MATERIALS AND METHODS 84 RESULTS 91 DISCUSSION 96 REFERENCES 100 CHAPTER IV: General Conclusions 116 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 116 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 120 iii
A metaphor and conceptual architecture for software development environments

A conceptual architecture for software development environments (SDEs) is presented in terms of a new metaphor drawn from business enterprises. A metaphor is employed as the architecture is complex, requiring understanding from several perspectives. The metaphor provides a rich set of familiar concepts that strongly aid in understanding the environment architecture and software production. The metaphor is applicable to individual programming environments, software development environments supporting teams of developers, and to large-scale software production as a whole.
Meal skipping linked to increased visceral adipose tissue and triglycerides in overweight minority youth.

Objective To investigate the impact of eating frequency on dietary intake, physical activity (PA), metabolic, and adiposity measures in minority youth. Methods This analysis included 185 overweight (≥85th BMI percentile) Hispanic and African-American youth (8-18 years) with the following cross-sectional measures: height, weight, BMI, dietary intake, body composition, metabolic parameters, PA, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Each eating occasion (EO) was defined as ≥50 calories and ≥15 minutes from any previous EO. Participants were dichotomized based on EOs per 24-h into meal skippers <3 EO (MS; n = 27) or normal/frequent eaters ≥3 EO (NFE; n = 158). ANCOVAs were used to assess dietary intakes, metabolic outcomes, adiposity, and PA between eating frequency groups. Results MS compared to NFE consumed 24% fewer calories per 24-h (P ≤ 0.01), 21% more calories per EO (P ≤ 0.01), ate 40% less often (P ≤ 0.01), had 18% higher triglycerides (P = 0.03), and 26% more VAT (P = 0.03), with no differences in PA. Conclusions Although meal skipping was associated with decreased energy intake, it was linked to increased calories per EO and higher triglycerides and VAT, which are strong indicators of deleterious metabolic profiles. These findings elucidate that meal skipping may be associated with increased VAT and related metabolic diseases in high-risk minority youth.
The Relation of Reduced Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide Cytochrome c Reductase Structure to Its Interaction with Cofactors

Abstract Hepatic microsomal TPNH-cytochrome c reductase was purified until it was essentially homogeneous by several criteria. The molecular weight and amino acid composition as well as flavin and cytochrome c-binding properties of the pure enzyme were studied. The particle weight of the enzyme is 81,000, and it contains 1 mole of flavin per 48,000 g of enzyme protein. The enzyme can be inactivated by irradiation with visible light in the presence of 40% saturated ammonium sulfate. The activity is completely restored by addition of FAD or FMN. Titration of the photoinactivated enzyme with FMN reveals that 1 mole of flavin per 40,500 g of protein is required to completely reactivate the enzyme. Kinetic studies of the reactivation process show that it is first order with respect to flavin. At 20° the rate constants are 2.5 x 102 and 1.7 x 104 m-1 sec-1 for FAD and FMN, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters for the activation were also calculated, and they suggest that the apoenzyme is similar energetically to the transition state leading to reactivated holoenzyme. The combined results of amino acid analysis and peptide mapping suggest that the native enzyme is a dimer of identical subunits, each having molecular weights of 40,500. Equilibrium-binding studies show that the dissociation constant for cytochrome c is identical with its Michaelis constant when the equivalent weight of the enzyme is taken as 81,000. No evidence for concentration-dependent dissociation of the enzyme into subunits was found by gel filtration. The Stokes radius of the particle, taken with other molecular parameters, indicated that the axial ratio of the particle is 4.5.
Early IL-17 Production by Intrahepatic T Cells Is Important for Adaptive Immune Responses in Viral Hepatitis

This study was conducted to examine the interactions among the innate and adaptive immune components of the liver parenchyma during acute viral hepatitis. Mice were i.v. infected with a recombinant adenovirus, and within the first 24 h of infection, we found a transient but significant accumulation of IL-17 and IL-23 in the liver. In vivo neutralization of these interleukins alleviated the liver injury. Further investigations showed that IL-17 neutralization halted the intrahepatic accumulation of CTLs and Th1 cells. A majority of the IL-17-producing cells in the liver were γδ T cells. Additionally, intrahepatic IL-17(+) γδ T cells, but not the IFN-γ(+) ones, preferentially expressed IL-7Rα (CD127) on their surface, which coincided with an elevation of hepatocyte-derived IL-7 at 12 h postinfection. IL-7Rα blockade in vivo severely impeded the expansion of IL-17-producing cells after viral infection. In vitro, IL-7 synergized with IL-23 and directly stimulated IL-17 production from γδ T cells in response to TCRγδ stimulation. Finally, type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling was found to be critical for hepatic IL-7 induction. Collectively, these results showed that the IFN-I/IL-7/IL-17 cascade was important in priming T cell responses in the liver. Moreover, the highly coordinated cross talk among hepatocytes and innate and adaptive immune cells played a critical role in anti-viral immunity in hepatitis.
Versatile photonic device fabrication using nonlinear processing in glass with a femtosecond laser oscillator

Summary form only given. Photonic device fabrication using nonlinear material interactions with near-IR femtosecond pulses has several advantages. Localized, clean, three-dimensional structures can be created in many materials such as metals, semiconductors, and glasses. Very recently, the processing of glass waveguides using pulses directly from femtosecond lasers oscillators, without the need for amplification, has been reported. Oscillators have practical advantages over amplifier systems, and moreover, the higher repetition rate enables faster and more efficient fabrication. Our group has developed a high-power femtosecond Ti:Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ laser oscillator using a novel long cavity design. It can generate pulses of 80 fs width and 4 MHz repetition rate with a maximum energy of 100 nJ at 800 nm, far above the threshold for nonlinear processing in glass. This enables greater flexibility in fabrication parameters, such as irradiation laser power, focus, and processing speed.
Fragility of liquids using percolation-based transport theories: Correlation between limiting slope of the viscosity and non-exponentiality of relaxation

Abstract Transport in super-cooled liquids becomes increasingly heterogeneous with reduction in temperature. This transport is assumed to occur by thermally activated hopping over barriers. At a temperature defined here to be T c , transport becomes percolative rather than diffusive, and, especially for mechanical relaxation, larger energy barriers must be surmounted in order to establish steady-state response. Use of the same distribution of energy barriers at high and low temperatures, but different theoretical approaches to calculate transport properties, relates expressions for the viscosity at high and low temperatures. Such an approach also allows calculation here of an expression relating the limiting slope, m , of the viscosity to the parameters of an assumed log-normal distribution of energy barriers. Careful calculation of the frequency dependence of transport properties in terms of this distribution of energy barriers also allows expression of the non-exponentiality parameter, β , in terms of the same parameters. Analytical calculations of both (within established approximation schemes) allows quantitative comparison between m and β . The analytical results are evaluated using typical frequencies and times from experiment. Agreement between experiment and calculations is fair. Nevertheless, sensitivity of the calculations to uncertainty in the values of the experimentally derived parameters makes it necessary to view the correspondence with caution. It is tentatively concluded that the major component of the curvature of the viscosity with decreasing temperature is indeed the change in transport type, and not changes in structure. Advances in theory as well as application of numerical methods are needed to help to reduce uncertainty in the conclusions.
Immunosuppression in the failing and failed transplant kidney: optimizing outcomes

There is little data to guide clinicians on the optimal management of immunosuppression in patients whose kidney transplant has failed and who have returned to dialysis. Nor is there robust data on whether to perform a transplant nephrectomy. Finally, management of late stage chronic kidney disease, including deciding on dialysis initiation, modality and access planning, must occur simultaneously with efforts aimed at preserving the failing kidney and residual renal function for as long as possible. In this article, we will review the evidence on these topics and suggest areas for improvement.
Dual band dual linear polarization elliptical microstrip ring antenna

An analysis is presented for an aperture coupled microstrip elliptical ring antenna. The results demonstrate that the antenna has a dual resonance and the separation between resonances is controlled by the eccentricity of the ring. The antenna is excited by two independent perpendicular microstrip feeds parallel to the minor and major axis of the elliptical ring and which are located on a dielectric slab below the common ground plane. The orthogonality of the feeds creates two orthogonal linear polarized radiated fields. Theory demonstrates resonant frequencies from 12.0 GHz to 16.5 GHz, VSWR<2, bandwidth of 6%, and isolation of 15-30 dB. The antenna radiates a single main beam with a 3 dB beamwidth of 90/spl deg/ and cross-polarization greater than 30 dB. The elliptical ring antenna is small (D//spl lambda//sub 0/=0.316) at the lower resonance and the two layer design produces a completely planar antenna system which is compatible with microwave and millimeter, MIC, and monolithic MMIC integrated circuits.
What Clinical Social Workers Need to Know: Bio-psycho-social Knowledge and Skills for the Twenty First Century

In this paper, we define clinical social work and the current context of practice. We then discuss social work education, the changes we have noted in the last 10–15 years, including those that have been detrimental to clinical social work training. Most prominent are the de-emphasis of supervision and of psychodynamic theories and practice. Next, we define what we see as essential knowledge and skills for training future clinical social workers. We speculate on what future mental health service needs may be and argue for maintaining a biopsychosocial, and psychodynamic perspective in training and in the practice of clinical social work.
Reduction by Copper Supplementation of Teratogenic Effects of D-Penicillamine

Previous experiments from this laboratory demonstrated that oral administration of D-penicillamine (DPA) throughout gestation produced significant teratogenic effects and low copper concentrations in both maternal and fetal tissues in a dose-related manner. To test the hypothesis that the teratogenicity of DPA was due to induced copper deficiency, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed throughout gestation complete, purified diets containing 5 (control), 50, or 100 micrograms/g (supplemental) copper. One-half of the rats in each group received DPA at 0.83% of the diet. On day 21 of gestation, fetuses were removed and examined for gross malformations. Selected maternal and fetal tissues were analyzed for copper, zinc, iron and manganese. Animals fed the drug and supplemental copper had a very low incidence of fetal resorption (4%) and malformation (4%) compared to a high frequency of resorption (23%) and malformation (21%) in drug-fed nonsupplemented animals. There were no consistent differences in tissue iron, zinc or manganese levels among the groups. Tissue copper concentrations were lowest in the drug-fed, nonsupplemented group; those of the group fed DPA and supplemental copper were higher, but did not reach control values. Thus, there was a correlation between tissue copper levels and the frequency of malformations, supporting our hypothesis that DPA teratogenicity is due at least in part to induced copper deficiency.
Boundary value problems in microcirculatory physiology

Abstract We review the basic equations of microcirculatory transport and exchange and some of the boundary value problems that have been studied using these equations. We then present an entirely new approach to mathematically modelling microcirculatory phenomena intended to describe interactions among very many capillaries over a large region of an organ, and analyze a number of boundary value problems arising from this approach. Attention is focused on capillary-tissue fluid exchange, oxygen transport to tissue and the exchange of small solutes carried in the blood.
Ethnic differences in methacholine responsiveness and word descriptors in African Americans, Hispanic-Mexican Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, and Whites with mild asthma.

Objective. There is little asthma research that compares ethnic differences in airway responsiveness and word descriptors among African Americans, Hispanic-Mexican Americans, Asian–Pacific Islanders, and Whites. Thus, identifying ethnic differences in symptom descriptors and airway responsiveness may improve health outcomes by educating health professionals about treatment decisions that are culturally and ethnically sensitive. Methods. Specific Inclusion criteria—forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) ≥ 70% predicted normal; provocative concentration causing a 30% fall in FEV1 (PC30) ≤ 8 mg/ml for methacholine (MCh), using only a β2- inhaler, and self-reported ethnicity of African American, Hispanic-Mexican American, Asian–Pacific Islander, or White. Serial pulmonary function test (PFT) and Borg, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Ethnic Word Descriptors (EWDs) were collected. Results. One hundred eighteen consented, 106 completed procedures, and 90 had a positive PC30 and were enrolled. Asian–Pacif...
Current and emerging medical therapies for glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy in which there is a characteristic acquired loss of retinal ganglion cells, at levels beyond normal age-related baseline loss, and corresponding atrophy of the optic nerve. Although asymptomatic in its earlier stages, the disease is nevertheless one of the leading global causes of irreversible blindness. Although elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the most important risk factors and lowering of IOP is the only proven treatment so far, the definition of glaucoma has evolved from a disease caused by increased IOP to one characterised by an IOP-sensitive, progressive optic neuropathy. In recent years, safer and better tolerated topical medications have been developed to control IOP more effectively, thereby limiting the need for surgery. New research has also noted the importance of diurnal IOP variation as a critical risk factor for progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and subsequent visual field loss. Moreover, new discoveries have furt...
Remembering Emotional Experiences: The Contribution of Valence and Arousal

Emotional experiences can be described by two factors: valence (how negative or positive) and arousal (how calming or exciting). Although both dimensions appear to influence memory, they may do so via distinct mechanisms. The amygdala likely plays a specific role in modulating memory for arousing experiences, whereas non-amygdalar networks may be instrumental in enhancing memory for non-arousing positive or negative events.
Dynamics of Market Power and Concentration Profiles

Abstract This paper examines some of the economic and econometric issues that arise in attempting to measure the degree of concentration in an industry and its dynamic evolution. A general axiomatic basis is developed. We offer new measures of concentration over aggregated periods of time and provide a sound statistical basis for inferences. Concentration is one aspect of the problem of measuring “market power” within an industry. Modern economic analysis of antitrust issues does not focus only on the level of concentration, but still must examine the issue carefully. We contrast concentration at a point in time with a dynamic profile of change in the distribution of shares in a given market. Our methods are demonstrated with an application to the US steel industry.
Phase Space Analysis of Multibody Systems Using Lie-Transforms Approach

An approach is proposed here to explore the phase space of multibody systems. Perturbation solution of the time evolution equations of reduced order models. is found using Lie-Transform perturbation theory. These equations can be used to find the relative equilibria. Stability of these equilibria can then be determined. A coupled planar two-body system example is given.
Mythe, Politique et Histoire: Le Mythe De Mande Katawa Chez Les “Luluwa” Du Kasayi

En Novembre 1985, a l'occasion de la finale de la Coupe du Zaire des clubs champions opposant Tshinkunku de Kananga a Bilima de Kinshasa, la “UNE” de la rubrique sportive du quotidien de Kinshasa Salongo decrivait ainsi la mobilisation des habitants de Kananga:L'hallali de guerre resonna: toutes les vieilles sorcieres des BakwaKatawa et Bena Mutombo accoururent “nues” a l'appel du grand chefKalamba pour immoler Bilima.Ce reportage, qui passa presqu'inapercu, avait pourtant un caractere hautement symbolique puisqu'il traduisait une realite devenue banale: la division de fait du groupe ethnique “Luluwa,” qui avait cent ans d'existence, en deux groupes distincts, les Bakwa Katawa et les Bena Mutombo.Ce constat nous poussa a en savoir davantage sur les origines du groupe ethnique usager du Ciluba appele “Luluwa,” sur les influences que le groupe a subies, la stabilisation de sa denomination, le moment privilegie de la creation de ce groupe, et enfin la dynamique de sa scission en deux groupes presque antagonistes. Notre hypothese de travail est que l'administration coloniale n'a pas cree de toutes pieces un groupe ethnique ex nihilo; elle a mis en place un cadre et des institutions qui ont permis l'elargissement de l'identite ethnique existante a un ensemble plus grand. Il en est resulte un “centre“ et une “peripherie.” Le centre comprend les descendants de Mande Katawa (Bena Kapuku, Bena Mande, Bena Mukadi, et Bena Mukangala), les descendants de Ntiite Maloba, et ceux de Muena Mushilu; ces clans entourent en quelque sorte la ville de Kananga. La “peripherie” comprend tous les clans qui ont en commun l'eloignement geographique de la ville de Kananga, et done un acces un peu tardif a la modernite.
Cramer-Rao bounds and Monte Carlo calculation of the Fisher information matrix in difficult problems

The Fisher information matrix summarizes the amount of information in the data relative to the quantities of interest. There are many applications of the information matrix in modeling, systems analysis, and estimation, including confidence region calculation, input design, prediction bounds, and "noninformative" priors for Bayesian analysis. This paper reviews some basic principles associated with the information matrix, presents a resampling-based method for computing the information matrix together with some new theory related to efficient implementation, and presents some numerical results. The resampling-based method relies on an efficient technique for estimating the Hessian matrix, introduced as part of the adaptive ("second-order") form of the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) optimization algorithm.
TQM at the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is committed to total quality management. Describes the genesis of the TQM effort in the administrations of the University and in the Wharton School’s MBA curriculum which has been developed using TQM principles. Describes these early activities, together with their growing impact on the deployment of TQM to other schools and areas in the University.
Adaptive Responses to Cold in Arterial Smooth Muscle from Heterothermic Tissues of Marine Mammals

PERIPHERAL heterothermy is essential for temperature regulation in many boreal, aquatic or subarctic mammals and birds. Dissipation of heat to the environment is controlled by changes in blood flow to peripheral tissues. Seal flippers are a typical example in which both the skin and deep tissues are normally maintained at temperatures near those of the surrounding water (1°–5° C)1 but which may serve as heat dissipators when the seal bears a positive heat load. The tissues of a seal flipper are thus able to function normally through a temperature range as large as 35° C while the central or core body temperature is regulated within the narrow range typical of mammals. The present investigation was designed to determine if vascular smooth muscle in several species of seals is functional at temperatures near freezing and whether differences exist between central and peripheral vascular smooth muscle.
Fuzzy decision making with data: Applications to statistics

This paper investigates the use of fuzzy data in a fuzzy decision problem. An optional decision is a decision function from the data into the set of actions with maximum membership in some fuzzy set. Fuzzy estimation is when the set of actions and the states of nature are identical. Fuzzy hypothesis testing is when an action states that the state of nature belongs to one of two disjoint sets. Under general assumptions a class of optional decisions is identified.
Approaches for Reducing Carbon-14 Stack Emissions from Korean CANDU® Nuclear Power Plant

Relatively high carbon-14 emissions, which occurred at Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant during 1998 and 1999, made the site staff to implement several operational improvements: (1) restriction of the maximum in-service time of moderator ion exchange (IX) resin columns to 80 days, (2) discontinuation of the practice of re-using ‘used’ IX resin columns for removing the gadolinium nitrate at star-up, and (3) reduction of the frequency and volume of the moderator cover gas purging through increased O2 additions to the cover gas. In this way, the emission rates returned to normal levels during the remainder of 1999 and 2000. To optimize the use of the moderator IX resin column, the special surveillance was carried out at Wolsong Unit 3. This showed that only the 14C stack emission data were a practical indicator for exhaustion of IX resin column. From this data, a criterion was derived: IX resin column can be put in service for 100 days unless a 14C emission rate higher than about 20GBq-month-1 (0.4Ci-month-1) take...
Studies on autogeny in natural populations of Culex pipiens. 3. Midsummer preparation for hibernation in anautogenous populations.

In a local population of Culex pipiens in Boston, ovarian diapause was studied with reference to the condition of presumptive ovarian follicles; the presence of follicular relics, stored sperm, and hypertrophic fat; and readiness to feed. Anautogenous C. pipiens first entered ovarian diapause Boston during the 2nd week of August, somewhat after the larval population began to decline. Two weeks later, the first mosquitoes with enlarged fat bodies appeared. During September such fat mosquitoes did not feed upon blood, but thereafter became hematophagous. Ovarian diapause was disrupted during October. Thus, ovarian diapause appears to be a transient condition that precedes hypertrophy of the fat body. Diapause-stage follicles apical to follicular relics were common throughout August and thereafter. However an anomolous seasonal distribution suggests that this finding is not an indication of hibernation by parous mosquitoes.
Cholinesterase isoenzymes in rabbit ocular tissue homogenates.

Proteins of rabbit ocular tissue homogenates were separated by discelectrophoresis and analyzed for cholinesterase. By the use of specific substrates and selective inhibitors it is shown that true cholinesterase is largely present in ocular tissue with a small amount of nsChE also present. The number of isoenzymes (bands) varies with a given tissue.
Scientists Debate Geoengineering at European Geosciences Union Meeting

Recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and others have presented forecasts of a warmer world and cautioned that some forms of geoengineering might be necessary to deal with climate change in an emergency situation. A debate about geoengineering the climate, held at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly on 1 May, explored whether any geoengineering techniques should be considered; if so, which might be acceptable; and what circumstances could necessitate their use. Also discussed was whether potential unintended repercussions from geoengineering could be worse than the problem.
Parent Material and Topography Determine Soil Phosphorus Status in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Phosphorus (P) availability in terrestrial ecosystems depends on soil age, climate, parent material, topographic position, and biota, but the relative importance of these drivers has not been assessed. To ask which factor has the strongest influence on long- and short-timescale metrics of P availability, we sampled soils across a full-factorial combination of two parent materials [quartz diorite (QD) and volcaniclastic (VC)], three topographic positions (ridge, slope, and valley), and across 550 m in elevation in 17 sub-watersheds of the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico. VC rocks had double the P content of QD (600 vs. 300 ppm; P < 0.0001), and soil P was similarly approximately 2× higher in VC-derived soils (P < 0.0001). Parent material also explained the most variance in our two other long-timescale metrics of P status: the fraction of recalcitrant P (56% variance explained) and the loss of P relative to parent material (35% variance explained), both of which were higher on VC-derived soils (P < 0.0001 for both). Topographic position explained an additional 10–15% of the variance in these metrics. In contrast, there was no parent material effect on the more labile NaHCO3- and NaOH-extractable P soil pools, which were approximately 2.5× greater in valleys than on ridges (P < 0.0001). Taken together, these data suggest that the relative importance of different state factors varies depending on the ecosystem property of interest and that parent material and topography can play sub-equal roles in driving differences in ecosystem P status across landscapes.
Effects of acrylamide given during gestation on dopamine receptor binding in rat pups.

Abstract Acrylamide (20 mg kg ) was administered by gavage to time-pregnant Fischer 344 rats daily from day 7 to day 16 of gestation. Acrylamide did not affect the number, size, or body weights of litters obtained but did decrease the [3H]spiroperidol binding in striatal membranes of 2-week-old pups. This effect could not be seen at 3 weeks of age. Scatchard analysis showed that acrylamide changed the affinity as well as the number of dopamine receptor sites. There were no signs of maternal toxicity in dosed mothers as evaluated by their body weights or general appearance.
If the fox knows many ways to forage, the modeller cannot be a hedgehog: Reflections on the use of wildlife foraging models to understand criminal target search

How do foxes choose where to pounce? The meadow behind my house is covered in dense brush, with rock outcroppings sparsely covered with a thin layer of blueberry and juniper. Foxes sun themselves on one of the outcrops, in direct view of our house. I often watch them. This is easy because, although our house is in a village, the village is small, surrounded bywild areas, and the foxes are used to people (1 year, a pair set up their den under a neighbour’s porch).We regularly find foxprints in our vegetable patch, their scats on the paths, and their odour in the air. I have seen their kits. I have also seen them spring on prey. They stand very still, then suddenly launch themselves up, and dive head first onto a vole, mouse, chipmunk, or other rodent. But why there and not elsewhere? The foxes follow a regular pattern, so I can tell you where I am likely to see them. I am most likely to see a fox, or her signs, near our house, on the above-mentioned outcropping, in the blueberry fields, and on trails I have cut. Their regularity also tells me when andwhere I am unlikely to see them: they do not sun themselves in themorning, for example, and never under our apple tree. Animal foraging provides a useful hypothetical model of offender target search. It is certainly a good starting point in our search for an answer. Some basic similarities are clear: a fox will pounce on prey where the prey and fox converge in time and space, and no one is about to protect the prey. The same convergence underlies the creation of crime events: offender and target converge in time and space in the absence of someone whose presence thwarts the offender (Felson, 2006). But it is worth keeping in mind why my foxes are easier to study than offenders. I am a casual observer of foxes. If I were a field biologist, with the appropriate licence, I would capture several of the foxes, fix them with tiny tracking devices, and follow them with the GPS built into the devices (EuroGIS-GPS, 2012; Telemetry Solutions, 2014). Incorporating a vertical accelerometer would show when the fox leaps on prey. Pouncing is analogous to the offender’s crimes, and the traces
Digital control system design for a unique nonlinear MIMO process using QFT technique

A 19-input, 106-output thermal process is closed-loop-stabilised to meet time- and frequency-domain performance criteria. A unique nonlinear process modelling technique is used to transform several nonmeasurable process parameters into two 'state-dependent linear variables' (gain and dominant pole location) with quantified uncertainty. A linear equivalent model set with quantified uncertainty is amenable to the quantitative feedback theory (QFT) design technique, and the analogue multiloop compensation was developed using QFT. Because the system primarily functions as a regulator, a simplified MIMO system decoupling method, specific to this type of process, was developed and demonstrated. The resulting digital control system is in operation on the Uranium Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation Demonstration System at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.