cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal gene selection for cell type discrimination in single cell analyses

Single-cell technologies characterize complex cell populations across multiple data modalities at un-precedented scale and resolution. Multi-omic data for single cell gene expression, in situ hybridization, or single cell chromatin states are increasingly available across diverse tissue types. When isolating specific cell types from a sample of disassociated cells or performing in situ sequencing in collections of heterogeneous cells, one challenging task is to select a small set of informative markers to identify and differentiate specific cell types or cell states as precisely as possible. Given single cell RNA-seq data and a set of cellular labels to discriminate, scGene-Fit selects gene transcript markers that jointly optimize cell label recovery using label-aware compressive classification methods, resulting in a substantially more robust and less redundant set of markers than existing methods. When applied to a data set given a hierarchy of cell type labels, the markers found by our method enable the recovery of the label hierarchy through a computationally efficient and principled optimization.
Safety and Efficacy of Mechanical Thrombectomy in 2 Cases of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Centennial Patients.

Background Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) became a standard of care for stroke patients after the positive results of 5 randomized trials in 2015. However, elderly patients >65 were excluded from those trials. Recent studies and clinical trials examining the efficacy of MT in patients older than the age of 85 have shown that good outcomes can be achieved with careful patient selection. Case description Two patients older than the age of 100 who presented with stroke were treated with MT. Although the cases were different in baseline neurologic status, surgical history, and gender, both achieved successful procedures. Conclusion We believe that MT in centennials is technically safe and effective and should be considered. In this age group a careful assessment of existing medical condition and a thorough discussion with the family about goals of care is of paramount importance to optimize clinical outcomes.
Predicting Premature Bearing Failure in the Driveline and the Variable Frequency Drive of Cold Test Stands

The cold test stands accommodate different bearing-supported areas, wherever needed to ensure the structural durability of the design. These bearings vary in type and functionality. Some bearings are located along the driveline; others are embedded in the variable frequency drive driving the rotating machinery of the cold test stand, up to the support of the engine crankshaft bearing. The presence of several bearings along the power line makes it a challenge to determine the defect source when it occurs. If the cause of the malfunction is due to the failure of one of the supporting bearings, then a downtime is needed for the engine maintenance and diagnostics. This paper proposes an effective approach for the prediction of premature bearing failure through the analysis of the torque signals and the accelerometers feedback imported from the suspected regions.
The composition of soil-dwelling pathogen communities mediates effects on wireworm herbivores and wheat productivity

Abstract Greater natural enemy diversity generally increases prey mortality. Diversity can be beneficial when natural enemy species occupy distinct niches (complementarity effects) or when diverse communities contain the most impactful species by chance (identity effects). Most research assessing effects of natural enemy diversity focuses on aboveground predators, however, and few studies have assessed whether increased entomopathogen diversity in soil affects belowground herbivores. Here, we assessed effects of entomopathogen richness on herbivore suppression and plant productivity in a system consisting of entomopathogens, wireworm herbivores, and wheat plants. Specifically, in field experiments we varied the richness of four entomopathogen species (two nematodes, two fungi) that attack herbivorous Limonius californicus larvae belowground. We show that the presence of entomopathogens increased wireworm mortality and subsequently increased plant productivity, but a single entomopathogen species, Metarhizium brunneum, had stronger effects than other species (Beauveria bassiana, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and Steinernema carpocapsae). Moreover, entomopathogen communities with M. brunneum consistently produced the strongest effects on prey mortality and plant productivity. Our results suggest that diverse entomopathogen communities increased prey infection more than any single species, indicating complementarity occurred. However, increased plant productivity appeared to be driven by species identify effects. Our study shows that the composition of entomopathogen communities had stronger effects on a pest species than species richness, suggesting that careful selection of entomopathogen species for biological control may be more impactful than promoting entomopathogen diversity.
Genetic and Environmental Indicators of Climate Change Vulnerability for Desert Bighorn Sheep

Assessments of organisms’ vulnerability to potential climatic shifts are increasingly common. Such assessments are often conducted at the species level and focused primarily on the magnitude of anticipated climate change (i.e., climate exposure). However, wildlife management would benefit from population-level assessments that also incorporate measures of local or regional potential for organismal adaptation to change. Estimates of genetic diversity, gene flow, and landscape connectivity can address this need and complement climate exposure estimates to establish management priorities at broad to local scales. We provide an example of this holistic approach for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) within and surrounding lands administered by the U.S. National Park Service. We used genetic and environmental data from 62 populations across the southwestern U.S. to delineate genetic structure, evaluate relationships between genetic diversity and isolation, and estimate relative climate vulnerability for populations as a function of five variables associated with species’ responses to climate change: genetic diversity, genetic isolation, geographic isolation, forward climate velocity within a population’s habitat patch (a measure of geographic movement rate required for an organism to maintain constant climate conditions), and maximum elevation within the habitat patch (a measure of current climate stress, as lower maximum elevation is associated with higher temperature, lower precipitation, and lower population persistence). Genetic structure analyses revealed a high-level division between populations in southeastern Utah and populations in the remainder of the study area, which were further differentiated into four lower-level genetic clusters. Genetic diversity decreased with population isolation, whereas genetic differentiation increased, but these patterns were stronger for native populations than for translocated populations. Populations exhibited large variation in predicted vulnerability across the study area with respect to all variables, but native populations occupying relatively intact landscapes, such as Death Valley and Grand Canyon national parks, had the lowest overall vulnerability. These results provide local and regional context for conservation and management decisions regarding bighorn populations in a changing climate. Our study further demonstrates how assessments combining multiple factors could allow a more integrated response, such as increasing efforts to maintain connectivity and thus potential for adaptation in areas experiencing rapid climate change.
Metabolic Engineering of Cupriavidus necator H16 for Sustainable Biofuels from CO2

Decelerating global warming is one of the predominant challenges of our time and will require conversion of CO2 to usable products and commodity chemicals. Of particular interest is the production of fuels, because the transportation sector is a major source of CO2 emissions. Here, we review recent technological advances in metabolic engineering of the hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium Cupriavidus necator H16, a chemolithotroph that naturally consumes CO2 to generate biomass. We discuss recent successes in biofuel production using this organism, and the implementation of electrolysis/artificial photosynthesis approaches that enable growth of C. necator using renewable electricity and CO2. Last, we discuss prospects of improving the nonoptimal growth of C. necator in ambient concentrations of CO2.
The Impact of Programming Project Milestones on Procrastination, Project Outcomes, and Course Outcomes: A Quasi-Experimental Study in a Third-Year Data Structures Course

When faced with a large and complex project for the first time, students face numerous self-regulatory challenges that they may be ill-equipped to overcome. These challenges can result in degraded project outcomes, as commonly observed in programming-intensive mid-level CS courses. We have previously found that success in these situations is associated with a disciplined personal software process. Procrastination is a prominent failure of self-regulation that can occur for a number of reasons, e.g., low expectancy of success, low perceived value of the task at hand, or decision-paralysis regarding how to begin when faced with a large task. It is pervasive, but may be addressed through targeted interventions. We draw on theory related to goal theory and problem-solving in engineering education to evaluate the value of explicit project milestones at curbing procrastination and its negative impacts on relatively long-running software projects. We conduct a quasi-experiment in which we study differences in project and course outcomes between students in a treatment (with milestones) and control group (without milestones). We found that students in the treatment group were more likely to finish their projects on time, produced projects with higher correctness, and finished the course with generally better outcomes. Within the treatment group, we found that students who completed more milestones saw better outcomes than those who completed fewer milestones. We found no differences in withdrawal or failure rates between the treatment and control groups. An end-of-term survey indicated that student perceptions of the milestones were overwhelmingly positive.
Neighborhood Risk and Interpersonal Support as Predictors of Parents’ Sense of Community

Parents’ sense of community (SOC) may ease the impact of neighborhood risk on children’s outcomes, but not all parents feel part of a trusted community. In this study, we examined whether parents’ ratings of neighborhood risk and interpersonal support were related to their SOC, and whether interpersonal support moderated the relationship between neighborhood risk and parents’ SOC. Participants included 161 parents (M = 40.25 years; 92.3% female) of minor children who were enrolled in youth mentoring programs. Results indicated that greater interpersonal support and less neighborhood risk was associated with parents’ SOC. Post-hoc analyses showed that living in a neighborhood with gangs and illegal drugs, but not residential instability or living in public housing, was a salient risk factor for lower SOC. Contrary to our prediction, interpersonal support did not moderate the link between neighborhood risk and parents’ SOC. These findings may inform interventions designed to bolster parents’ connectedness to community and ability to promote children’s positive development.
Antenatal Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Vesicle Therapy Prevents Preeclamptic Lung Injury in Mice.

In preeclamptic pregnancies, a variety of intrauterine alterations lead to abnormal placentation, release of inflammatory/antiangiogenic factors, and subsequent fetal growth restriction with significant potential to cause a primary insult to the developing fetal lung. Thus, modulation of the maternal intrauterine environment may be a key therapeutic avenue to prevent preeclampsia-associated developmental lung injury. A biologic therapy of interest are mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MEx), which we have previously shown to ameliorate preeclamptic physiology through intrauterine immunomodulation. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of MEx to improve developmental lung injury in experimental preeclampsia. Using the heme oxygenase-1 null mouse (Hmox1-/-) model, preeclamptic pregnant dams were administered intravenous antenatal MEx treatment during each week of pregnancy followed by analysis of fetal and postnatal lung tissues, amniotic fluid protein profiles and lung explant/amniotic fluid co-cultures in comparison with control and untreated preeclamptic pregnancies. We first identified that a preeclamptic intrauterine environment had a significant adverse impact on fetal lung development including alterations in fetal lung developmental gene profiles in addition to postnatal alveolar and bronchial changes. Amniotic fluid proteomic analysis and fetal lung explant/amniotic fluid co-cultures further demonstrated that maternally administered MEx altered the expression of multiple inflammatory mediators in the preeclamptic intrauterine compartment resulting in normalization of fetal lung branching morphogenesis and developmental gene expression. Our evaluation of fetal and postnatal parameters overall suggests that antenatal MEx treatment may provide a highly valuable preventative therapeutic modality for amelioration of lung development in preeclamptic disease.
Relationship between Nutrition and Aging

One of the most critical needs in nutritional research at the present time is a knowledge of the levels of intake of various nutrients at specific intervals in the life cycle which will optimize physical and mental development, physiological performance during adulthood, and the retention of health and vigor in senescence. In the past, emphasis had been placed primarily on the establishment of the nutritional requirements of young growing animals. Few efforts have been made to determine whether changes occur in nutritional requirements following growth cessation. This is unfortunate because many age changes in physiological functions may result in increased nutritional needs in later life. In addition, it is generally accepted that intakes moderately above the recommended allowances are optimal for the well-being of an organism. However, a number of studies carried out on animals have demonstrated that longevity was increased when intakes of certain nutrients were lower than the recommended allowances. Therefore, an attempt is made here to review the pertinent literature on (1) the effect of age on nutritional requirements following the cessation of growth and (2) the effect of nutrition on lifespan. This information may provide useful knowledge for the optimal nutrition of the aged and for an understanding of the basic mechanisms of biological aging. Studies concerned with the first problem area heve been carried out principally in human subjects, whereas those with the second area, in animals.
Io, its Atmosphere and Optical Emissions

Io is surrounded by a halo of atoms which radiate in emission lines. This was discovered by groundbased observations in 1973, a year before Pioneer 10 passed through the Jovian system. Earlier optical and radio observers had reported other anomalies associated with Io, and the Pioneer spacecraft discovered an ultraviolet emission cloud around the satellite and a substantial ionosphere. A new field of planetary research is dedicated to integrating these phenomena into a model of Io and of the Jovian environment with which it strongly interacts. Sodium dominates the optical emission cloud around Io. The production rate is very large and has not yet been satisfactorily explained. Sputtering by charged particle bombardment may play an important role. The primary excitation mechanism is the resonant scattering of sunlight. While the sodium cloud is brightest near Io, it extends around the entire orbit and is present at low levels in the general Jovian environment. The ionospheric electron density on Io is comparable to that on Mars, a surprising result since the solar flus is much weaker. Here, again, Io’s charged particle environment may play an important part. The observed electron profiles plus the constraints provided by the emission cloud are consistent with at least two models of Io’s neutral atmosphere.
PSYCHOPATHY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE MORAL/CONVENTIONAL DISTINCTION

In this paper, I attempt to show that the moral/conventional distinction simply cannot bear the sort of weight many theorists have placed on it for determining the moral and criminal responsibility of psychopaths. After revealing the fractured nature of the distinction, I go on to suggest how one aspect of it may remain relevant—in a way that has previously been unappreciated—to discussions of the responsibility of psychopaths. In particular, after offering an alternative explanation of the available data on psychopaths and their judgments of various sorts of norm transgressions, I put forward a hybrid theory of their responsibility, suggesting how they might be criminally responsible, while nevertheless failing to meet the conditions for an important arena of moral responsibility.
Analysis of Mutationally Altered Forms of the Cct6 Subunit of the Chaperonin From Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Cct double-ring chaperonin complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is comprised of eight essential subunits, Cct1p-Cct8p, and assists the folding of substrates such as actins and tubulins. Single and multiple amino acid replacements of Cct6p were constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, including changes of charged to alanine residues and uncharged to charged residues. The replacements were targeted, in part, to residues corresponding to functionally critical regions identified in the published crystal structure of the Escherichia coli chaperonin, GroEL. Here, we report the critical hydrophobic residues and clusters of hydrophilic residues in regions corresponding to those from the apical domain of GroEL implicated in peptide binding and peptide release, and certain residues in the putative equatorial domain implicated in subunit-to-subunit interaction. In contrast to their homologous counterparts in Cct2p and Cct1p, the highly conserved putative ATP binding motifs of Cct6p were relatively amenable to mutations. Our data suggest that the entire Cct6p molecule might be essential for assembly of Cct complex and might participate in binding substrates. However, there appeared to exist a functional hierarchy in ATP binding/hydrolysis among Cct subunits, as suggested by the high tolerance of Cct6p to mutations within the putative ATP binding pocket.
ACTS: A Type System for Object-Oriented Programming Based on Abstract and Concrete Classes

The inheritance mechanism facilitates incremental modification and is the basis for the many advantages and popularity of the object oriented paradigm. The overloading of inheritance to describe different relationship requires a semantic model to facilitate “safe” redefinition between classes. Current approaches use type systems to ensure “safe” redefinitions, and are not capable of handling all the different uses of inheritance naturally. This paper develops a uniform type system built on a hierarchy which distinguishes between abstract and concrete classes. We show how such a structure on the hierarchy can be exploited to describe all common uses of inheritance in a natural way. Finally, we develop the formalism to define abstract and concrete classes and their relationships; and the type system along with the static type checker and the semantic model to interpret type safety.
Therapeutic play activities: building cohesion and socialization among nursing home residents.

Abstract This article outlines a series of activities developed from the adult play and geriatric therapy literature. The purpose of this article is to introduce therapeutic play activities developed for use with nursing home residents. The activities are intended to increase residents' socialization, generate interpersonal and emotional dialogue among residents, and foster individual creativity. The activities were introduced in a pilot study in two Midwestern nursing homes. A one-year follow-up indicates that cohesion and socialization were maintained among group participants. Therapeutic play activities are presented in an effort to foster the utilization of the activities by nursing home, gerontological, and mental health professionals.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycan and laminin immunoreactivity on cultured astrocytes: relationship to differentiation and neurite growth

Extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by Schwann cells is known to promote growth of several types of neurites (Ard et al., 1987). Whether a similar material produced by astrocytes may be available to promote neurite growth during CNS development is now open to question. The present study was undertaken to define conditions under which cultured astrocytes deposit the ECM components laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), and to relate this deposition to the ability of astrocytes to support neurite growth. The use of 2 different culture media permitted the growth of astrocytes either with or without these ECM components. Neonatal rat cortical astrocytes were cultured by the method of McCarthy and de Vellis (1980) and studied by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Astrocytes grown in serum-containing medium for 5 or 9 d after subculturing were shown to have fibrillar patches of ECM containing both HSPG and laminin immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity for the 2 molecules was usually colocalized. In contrast, astrocytes subcultured for 5 d in defined medium showed no immunocytochemical staining for either laminin or HSPG and had no ECM visible in EM. Formation of stellate processes was increased when cells were grown in defined medium compared with that seen in serum-containing medium, and growth of the population was slower. In 3 other conditions, attainment of stellate morphological differentiation by the astrocytes was correlated with diminution in immunostaining for ECM components. (1) In older cultures (30-42 d after subculturing), stellate, mitotically quiescent cells showed relatively little HSPG or laminin immunoreactivity. (2) Cultures initially maintained in serum-containing medium and then converted to defined medium lost much of their immunoreactivity for ECM components and developed longer processes. (3) When neurites from fetal rat dorsal root ganglion explants grew across monolayers of astrocytes in serum-containing medium, diminution of ECM immunostaining and development of stellate processes were seen in areas directly contacted by the neurites. ECM-containing laminin and HSPG did not appear to be necessary for neurites to interact with astrocytes. In defined medium, in which no ECM was detected, dorsal root ganglion neurites were found in contact with astrocyte surfaces rather than on the rat tail collagen substratum on the culture dish.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Growth of polycrystalline GaAs for solar cell applications

Films of polycrystalline GaAs have been grown on foreign substrates by the metal-organic process. The main objective was to produce films with as large a grain size as possible, so that high-efficiency photovoltaic devices may eventually be fabricated from such thin film/substrate structures. At 973 K the average grain size was less than 1 µm, and was unaffected by the choice of substrate. Increasing the deposition temperature to 1123 K, while maintaining all other conditions the same, resulted in grains as large as 10 to 20 µm in diameter. Grain sizes as large as 10 µm could be obtained by precoating the substrates with thin films of evaporated gold or tin. However, both of these methods gave films that were discontinuous. A two-step procedure in which the films were nucleated at 873 K prior to growth at 1123 K yielded continuous films with an average grain size of 5 µm. Schottky barrier solarc ells fabricated from these films exhibited short-circuit current densities as high as 15.7 mA/cm2, even though the highest conversion efficiency (AMO, uncoated) was only 1.3 percent because of the low fill factor (0.28).
A self-consistent relativistic APW method with the spin-orbit interaction treated as a perturbation

A simple method for including spin-orbit corrections in self-consistent relativistic APW band structure calculations is presented in which the spin-dependent part of the APW matrix is treated as a perturbation. The solution of the spin-independent problem is used in a way that requires little additional time or coding to include spin. The full calculational procedure is discussed and calculations of spin-orbit splitting in TaC are described to illustrate the method.
Cell-type-specific recognition of allogeneic cells by alloreactive cytotoxic T cells: a consequence of peptide-dependent allorecognition.

Recently, we provided the first direct evidence that the determinant recognized by some alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) clones included an endogenous peptide antigen(s), which could be derived by cyanogen bromide cleavage of cytoplasmic proteins. The studies outlined in this report provide three important findings which confirm and extend our previous results. First, the description of peptide-dependent Kb-specific alloreactive CTL clones is now extended to clones isolated from several responders primed with allogeneic EL4 tumor cells. This indicates that the previously reported results were not unique to the original EL4-primed responder. Second, we establish that peptide-dependent Kb-specific alloreactive CTL clones can be identified after priming with normal allogeneic spleen cells. Thus, induction of peptide-dependent CTL clones is not a unique property of EL4 tumor cells. These results suggest that peptide plays an important role in formation of the allogeneic determinants recognized during graft rejection. Third, these studies reveal that a number of alloreactive CTL clones exhibit cell-type-specific recognition of allogeneic murine target cells. This is consistant with the possibility that some CTL clones recognize peptide antigens that are limited in their tissue distribution. The mechanisms and implications of these findings are discussed.
Character and image recognition and image retrieval using the Boltzmann machine

ABSTRACT In this paper, we will discuss two applications of the Boltzmann machines. We ll first briefly review the theory of theBoltzmann machine; then, we will report the results of using a software simulation of the Boltzinann machine. The softwarecan learn 1,000 characters (19x19) in less than 10 seconds, and learn 4,000 characters (19x19) in less than one minute; it canalso recognize one ofthe 4,000 characters ( 19x19) less than 0.5 seconds. We will also report our results ofiinage retrieval.Key words: Boltzmaim machine, image recognition, pattern recognition, character recognition, Hopfield MOde!, Neural netlearning , imageretrieval, content-based, artificial intelligence. 1. INTRODUCTION A Boltzmaim machine defines a Markov chain[1}. A Bolizmann machine[2, 3] is a stochaslic neunil network in which each neuron has certain probability to be 1. The probability of a neuron to be 1 is determined by the so called Boltzmann distribution. Thecolleclion ofthe neuron states, x(x1,x2,...,x),
Not just graphene

Read the news, flick through a journal, or browse the internet: it's impossible to ignore a certain hexagonal monolayer. But there's more to carbon than just graphene.
Differential IL-6 and VEGF secretion in adult and neonatal mesenchymal stem cells: role of NFkB.

Abstract Stem cells have shown promise for the treatment of end organ ischemia. NFkB has been demonstrated to regulate growth factor secretion in human adult bone marrow stem cells (aBMSCs). We hypothesized that: (1) NFkB is an important mediator in aBMSC and neonatal BMSC (nBMSC) VEGF and IL-6 secretion; and (2) inhibition of NFkB will result in a decrease of VEGF and IL-6 in nBMSCs. BMSCs were plated and exposed to TNF (50 ng/ml) or LPS (100 ng/ml), with or without NFkB or IKK inhibition. VEGF and IL-6 were measured via ELISA in 24-h supernatants. Inhibition of NFkB and IKK both demonstrated a decrease in VEGF (p
Interface waves along an anisotropic imperfect interface between anisotropic solids

First and second order asymptotic boundary conditions are introduced to model a thin anisotropic layer between two generally anisotropic solids. Such boundary conditions can be used to describe wave interaction with a solid-solid imperfect anisotropic interface. The wave solutions for the second order boundary conditions satisfy energy balance and give zero scattering from a homogeneous substrate/layer/substrate system. They couple the in-plane and out-of-plane stresses and displacements on the interface even for isotropic substrates. Interface imperfections are modeled by an interfacial multiphase orthotropic layer with effective elastic properties. This model determines the transfer matrix which includes interfacial stiffness and inertial and coupling terms. The present results are a generalization of previous work valid for either an isotropic viscoelastic layer or an orthotropic layer with a plane of symmetry coinciding with the wave incident plane. The problem of localization of interface waves is considered. It is shown that the conditions for the existence of such interface waves are less restrictive than those for Stoneley waves. The results are illustrated by calculation of the interface wave velocity as a function of normalized layer thickness and angle of propagation. The applicability of the asymptotic boundary conditions is analyzed by comparison with an exact solution for an interfacial anisotropic layer. It is shown that the asymptotic boundary conditions are applicable not only for small thickness-to-wavelength ratios, but for much broader frequency ranges than one might expect. The existence of symmetric and SH-type interface waves is also discussed.
Induction of the McCollough effect II: two different mechanisms.

An orientation-specific chromatic aftereffect was observed when a single colored grating was used as an induction stimulus. The magnitude of the aftereffect was compared to that obtained when alternating orthogonal gratings in complementary hues were used as induction stimuli. The two-stimulus condition produced a stronger aftereffect than a single-stimulus condition. This facilitation was also obtained when a colored plain square with no grating was substituted for the second colored grating in the two-stimulus condition. The results suggest that the McCollough effect involves adaptation of two different mechanisms, one which is orientation-specific and one which is not.
The impact of Parkinson’s disease on sequence learning: Perceptual pattern learning and executive function

The current study examined the contribution of brain areas affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) to sequence learning, with a specific focus on response-related processes, spatial attentional control, and executive functioning. Patients with mild PD, patients with moderate PD, and healthy age-matched participants performed three tasks-a sequence learning task with a spatial pattern that was incidental to response selection, a spatial cuing task, and neuropsychological tests of executive function. Whereas moderate PD patients failed to show significant sequence learning, mild PD patients performed comparably with controls. Neither group of PD patients was impaired in the control of spatial attention. Sequence learning was correlated with neuropsychological measures of executive function but not with the ability to control spatial attention. These results suggest that the contribution of the brain areas affected by PD to sequence learning extends beyond motor learning to include the learning of perceptual patterns and involves executive function, including cognitive flexibility and set shifting.
The Influence of Monetary Incentives on Goal Choice, Goal Commitment, and Task Performance

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which monetary incentives influence goal choice, goal commitment, and task performance. It is hypothesized that the explanation for incentive effects on goals and performance is in their influence on mediating events. A model attempting to explain the process of goal choice, work motivation, and performance in terms of cognitions is presented. Subjects were recruited for 5 days of part-time employment in a simulated organization to perform a clerical data transfer task. The 130 subjects were assigned randomly to 7 experimental conditions differing in terms of the magnitude of incentive offered for various levels of performance. The quantity and quality of performance was recorded daily and research questionnaires were administered at different times during their employment. Results provide support for the model presented and therefore suggest that the process of goal choice and commitment is central to understanding how incentives influence goals, motivation, and performance. The model provides a useful basis for investigating the relationships between organizational context and employee cognitions and for integrating goal setting with expectancy theory. The findings and future research issues are discussed.
Handheld threat object identification performance of 2-D visible imagery versus 3-D visible imagery

This research determines if there is an improvement in human observer performance, identifying potential weapons or threat objects, when imagery is presented in three dimensions instead of two dimensions. The potential improvement in performance is quantified by evaluating the change in the N50 cycle criteria, for this task and target set. The data suggests that as much as a 30% improvement in range capability may result from using 3-D imagery. The advent of affordable, practical, and real-time 3-D displays has led to a desire to evaluate and quantify the performance trade space for this application of the technology. Imagery was collected using a dual-camera stereo imaging system. A series of eight different resolutions were presented to observers in both 2-D and 3-D formats. The set of targets consisted of 12 handheld objects. The objects were a mix of potential threats or weapons and possible confusers. For example, a cellular telephone and a hand grenade are two such objects. This target set is the same target set used in previously reported research that determined the N50 requirements for handheld objects for both visible and infrared imagers.
The Comparative Effects of Continual and Rotational Systems of Grazing on the Carotene Content of Permanent Pasture Herbage and of the Milk Produced Therefrom

Summary A study was made of the relation of continual and rotational systems of grazing to the carotene content of the herbage of improved Bermuda grass pastures and of the milk produced by respective groups of cows grazing thereon. The system of grazing effected no marked and consistent difference in either the concentrations or the variations of the carotene in the herbage. The carotene concentrations and fluctuations of the milk revealed no differences that could be ascribed to the system of grazing. The quantitative changes in the carotene ingested were reflected in the carotene values of the milk during the spring and the fall when the concentrations in the milk were at a “sub-ceiling” level, but this did not hold true during the summer, since the values of the milk apparently were at “ceiling” level.
A Silicon‐29 NMR Study of Adduct Formation in Organosilanes

The reactions of a series of methyl‐and phenylsilanes containing one or more electronegative groups such as chloro, triflate (OTf), trifluoroacetate, and trifluoroethoxy with the base HMPA were investigated with 29Si NMR and conductivity titrations in both methylene chloride and acetonitrile solvents. Formation of both five‐coordinate adduct and four‐coordinate electrolyte (such as Me3Si(HMPA)+OTf−) was observed for some of the strongly electron attracting groups, whereas only adduct formation was observed for the chloro group. Electrolyte formation is also favored by an increase in the base to acid mole ratio and the more polar acetonitrile. The effect of the Si–H bond on the Lewis acidity of organosilanes in intermolecular adduct formation was documented and is believed to be a result of bond strengthening steric effect.
Cross-borehole Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Tomographic imaging (Hounsfield, 1974) has revolutionized medical X-ray diagnostics and is now a valuable technique in many areas of science. In geophysics, tomographic images have been constructed from both seismic and electromagnetic measurements (Anderson and Dziewonski, 1984; Dines and Lytle, 1979). The usual method of tomographic inversion is backprojection of line integral data along straight raypaths. Electric currents do not typically flow in straight paths, consequently for imaging of electrical resistivity, a different method of inversion is necessary. We use a method which is a finite element numerical code based on a least-squares inversion technique. This inversion scheme has been evaluated with computer simulations for its usefulness for imaging resistivity distributions from current and voltage data collected along two boreholes. Here we report on results using field measurements to map cross borehole electrical resistivity in a plane 8 m wide and 20 m long. Previous work on the inversion of geophysical resistivity data is exemplified by the work of Tripp et al. (1984) and LaBrecque and Ward (1988). Tripp formulated a nonlinear inversion technique to adjust the resistivity of a set of blocks, each of fixed size, shape and position to fit a surface sampling of voltage and current. The geometry of the model must be specified in advance and can not be determined by the data. LaBrecque and Ward have studied the inversion of borehole to borehole data. However, their work is limited to a specific geometry; a single prismatic anomaly in a homogeneously resistiye background.
Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Parkinson's Disease in the Philadelphia Community – A Cross Cultural Comparison (P06.071)

Objective: To develop strategies for reducing PD treatment disparities, we aimed to understand knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about PD across different racial/ethnic groups. Background Traditionally underserved minorities with Parkinson9s disease (PD) are at an increased risk of delayed PD diagnosis. Of those diagnosed, only a small proportion receives treatment compared to Caucasians. Design/Methods: We conducted ten focus groups of six to eight Caucasian, African-American and Chinese older adults at senior centers in Philadelphia. This was followed by a survey of knowledge and attitudes about PD and PD treatment among senior center members and individuals attending PD support groups as a comparison group. Major themes were identified from the focus groups, and compared by race/ethnicity. ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to assess differences in PD knowledge and attitudes. Potential confounders were controlled for in multivariate regression analyses. Results: Focus group participants included 23 Caucasian, 35 African-American and 16 Chinese older adults while 62 Caucasian, 47 African-American and 45 Chinese individuals completed the survey. Common themes across race/ethnicity about PD were: fear, loss of independence, hopefulness for a cure, and worry about becoming a burden to family. Unique themes were mistrust in the healthcare system and language as barriers to care among African Americans and Chinese, respectively. Significantly more Caucasians (61%) and African-Americans (65%) than Chinese (34%) older adults correctly understood that medications can improve symptoms of PD (p = 0.011). Furthermore, 46% of the Chinese agreed that PD is a natural result of aging, compared to 24% of African Americans and 5.3% of Caucasians (p Conclusions: Overall, knowledge in the community about PD was relatively low across all groups. Several racial/ethnic differences in barriers to care identified in both focus groups and survey responses may partly explain PD treatment disparities. Supported by: The Parkinson Council. Disclosure: Dr. Pan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stutzbach has nothing to disclose. Dr. Reichwein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dahodwala has nothing to disclose.
Malliavin's calculus and stochastic integral representations of functional of diffusion processes †

If F is a Frechet differentiable functional on is a Brownian motion, and clark's formula states that where is the measure defining the Frechet derivative of F at b.In this paper we extend Clark's formula to the more general class of weakly H-differentiablefunctionals, and we give a simple proff based on Malliavin's calculus. again using Malliavin calculus techniques, we also derive Haussmann's stochastic integral representation of a function F(y) of the diffusion process In doing this, we show that is weakly H-differentiable if m and have bounded, continuous, first derivatives in y.
The life cycle and behaviour of Macrocheles boudreauxi Krantz12

At 20°C, Macrocheles boudreauxi completes its development in 88.5–110.5 hours, and the haploid males (n=5) complete their development 6–9 hours before the females. Longevity ranges from 31–49 days for females and 41–55 days for males. All active stages, with the exception of the nonfeeding larva, prey upon nematodes. The association of M. boudreauxi with bark beetles appears to be one of phoresy and not predation. The previously unknown larva is described. Zusammenfassung Zur Lebens- und Verhaltensweise der Raubmilbe Macrocheles boudreauxi Krantz (Acar.: Mesostigmata) Bei 20°C vollendete M. boudreauxi ihre Entwicklung in 88,5 bis 110,5 Stunden, wobei die haploiden Mannchen (n = 5) um 6–9 Stunden eher fertig waren als die Weibchen. Die Lebensdauer betrug 31–49 Tage bei den Weibchen und 41–55 Tage bei den Mannchen. Alle aktiven Stadien, mit Ausnahme der nichtfressenden Larven, lebten rauberisch von Nematoden. Die Assoziation von M. boudreauxi mit Borkenkafern scheint auf Phoresie und nicht auf Ernahrung gegrundet zu sein. Die bislang unbekannte Larve wird beschrieben.
Variability of large-crack fatigue-crack-growth thresholds in structural alloys

The fatigue threshold of large cracks is known to show substantial variations due to microstructural variability in structural alloys. The ΔKth variations are dependent on the stress ratio (R); they are extremely large at low R ratios, e.g., R 0.8). The origins of these large variations due to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms are examined by theoretical analyses. First, an intrinsic fatigue crack growth (FCG) threshold model is developed for structural alloys by considering the cyclic slip process at the crack tip. Second, the effects of extrinsic mechanisms such as residual plastic stretch, crack deflection, fracture-surface roughness, and oxide wedging are considered both individually and concurrently in order to delineate their relative contributions to threshold variability. The theoretical results indicate that the intrinsic threshold depends on the elastic properties, magnitude of the Burgers vector, yield stress, and Taylor factor (i.e., texture), but is independent of the R ratio or the maximum applied stress intensity factor, Kmax. The large variability of ΔKth at low R ratios and their corresponding dependence on Kmax appear to arise from various crack closure mechanisms. Applications of the threshold models to structural alloys show good agreement between theory and experimental data from the literature for steels, Ti, Al, Ni, Cu, Nb, and Mo alloys.
Optimal Foraging in Peromyscus Polionotus: the Influence of Item-Size and Predation Risk

Predictions of optimal foraging theory were tested for Peromyscus polionotus in the laboratory and in two field experiments in which seed item-size was manipulated. In the laboratory, handling times for millet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts were determined. Additionally, energy/handling (E/h) time values were calculated and seed preference experiments were conducted. Mice showed a clear preference for the seeds more profitable in terms of E/h. Seed preference experiments were also conducted in the field to determine the relative influence of optimal foraging and predation risk in diet choice. In the first of the two field experiments, behavioral strategies to reduce predation vulnerability could not influence differential seed selection. As predicted, the mice again showed a preference for the more profitable seed type. In the second experiment, animals were presented with conflicting demands because foraging on a more abundant, but less preferred, seed type afforded the animal an increased ability to avoid predators. Presented with this opportunity to reduce the risk of predation, the animals shifted their preference to the safer, but less profitable food. This shift in seed preference was accompanied by predation-risk-reducing changes in spatial foraging patterns.
A framework to integrate design for reliability and maintainability in modular product design

This paper presents a framework to optimise reliability and maintainability (R&M) of a product through modular design. A structured process is developed for incorporating three types of R&M metrics into the modular design. These metrics are failure potential and simplicity of module architecture, maintainability and maintenance commonality between the components, and serviceability of the module. In addition to reliability and maintainability, cost of modularisation is also taken into account for modules selection purpose. The metrics of modularisation costs are cost of interface to join the components, assembly resources requirements, and cost of reusability of modules. We use fuzzy logic and the goal programming models for developing the modular design. An example is presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology.
Tricks of the Trade: Sexual Health Behaviors, the Context of HIV Risk, and Potential Prevention Intervention Strategies for Male Sex Workers

ABSTRACT Sex work is a significant risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM); however, there is a dearth of knowledge about how to reduce risk in this group. MSM sex workers (N = 32) completed a semistructured qualitative interview and a close-ended quantitative assessment. Analyses focused on themes relevant to intervention development. Participants reported an average of 46 male sex partners in the prior 12 months; 31% of participants were HIV-infected. Male sex workers frequently used substances during sex and had elevated levels of psychological distress. Qualitative findings suggest that trauma-informed mental health and substance abuse treatment, ready access to HIV/STI testing and treatment and condoms/informational materials, support groups to address isolation/loneliness, skill-building for risk reduction with sex partners, and paid incentives as add-ons to effective behavior change interventions may be valuable intervention components. Targeting ...
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTELLIGENT INTERFACE TO A COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS FLOW-SOLVER CODE

Researchers at NASA Lewis are currently developing an 'intelligent' interface to aid in the development and use of large, computational fluid dynamics flow-solver codes for studying the internal fluid behavior of aerospace propulsion systems. This paper discusses the requirements, design, and implementation of an intelligent interface to Proteus, a general purpose, 3-D, Navier-Stokes flow solver. The interface is called PROTAIS to denote its introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) concepts to the Proteus code.