cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A kinetic analysis using fractals of cellular analyte-receptor binding and dissociation.

A fractal analysis is presented for cellular analyte-receptor binding and dissociation kinetics using a biosensor. Data taken from the literature may be modelled, in the case of binding, using a single-fractal analysis or a dual-fractal analysis. The dual-fractal analysis represents a change in the binding mechanism as the reaction progresses on the surface. The predictive relationship developed for the equilibrium constant, K (affinity which is equal to k d /k 1 or 2 ), as a function of the analyte concentration is of particular value since it provides a means by which the affinity may be manipulated. This should be of assistance in cell-surface reactions, drug-candidate optimization and for the design of immunodiagnostic devices. Relationships are also presented for the binding and dissociation rate coefficients as a function of their corresponding fractal dimension, D f or the degree of heterogeneity that exists on the surface, and the analyte concentration in solution. When analyte-receptor binding or dissociation is involved, an increase in the heterogeneity on the surface (increase in D f or D fd as the case may be) leads to an increase in the binding and the dissociation rate coefficients. It is suggested that an increase in the degree of heterogeneity on the surface leads to an increase in the turbulence on the surface owing to the irregularities on the surface. This turbulence promotes mixing, minimizes diffusional limitations and leads subsequently to an increase in the binding and the dissociation rate coefficients. The binding and dissociation rate coefficients are rather sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity, D f and D fd , respectively, that exists on the biosensor surface. The heterogeneity on the surface in general affects the binding and dissociation rate coefficients differently. In general, the analyte concentration in solution has a mild affect on the fractal dimension for binding or the fractal dimension for dissociation. This is indicated by the low values of the exponent in the predictive relationships developed.
An Overview of International Finance: Law and Regulation

This paper is a preliminary draft of a chapter for eventual inclusion in the Handbook of International Economic Law, edited by Andrew T. Guzman and Alan O. Sykes, forthcoming 2006 from Edward Elgar Publishing. The chapter is a survey of the field of international finance from the perspective of law and regulation. Its principal focus is the decision as to what rules to apply in the regulation of banking, securities and sovereign debt - home or host country, or international.
Urinary Incontinence in Pregnancy and the Puerperium

Objective To describe the incidence of urinary incontinence (UI) during pregnancy and the puerperium and to identify potential contributing factors. Design A descriptive correlational design, using participant interviews and reviews of the existing medical records to determine the incidence of UI in pregnancy and the puerperium and to examine relationships between and among several variables. The variables included parity, episiotomy, use of forceps/vacuum extractor, type of anesthesia, prolonged Stage II labor, and race. Data were collected via two personal interviews and review of medical records. The first interview was conducted during the recruitment of each participant; the second was a telephone interview conducted 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Data collected from the medical records included obstetric history, weeks of gestation, and estimated date of delivery. Data were entered into data files for analysis with SPSS 8.0 and summarized with descriptive statistics. Setting A secluded area of a university teaching hospital prenatal clinic. Participants A convenience sample of 50 pregnant women, at least 18 years old, who received their care at a large university hospital prenatal clinic in the southeastern part of the United States. Results First Interview ( N = 50). More than half (62%; n = 31) of the sample reported some degree of involuntary urine loss during their pregnancy. The racial distribution of those reporting UI was the following: white (70%; 21 out of 30); African American (44%; 8 out of 18); Hispanic/Asian (100%; n = 2). Among the participants who experienced UI ( n = 31), 76% ( n = 23) reported that their health care provider never asked if they were experiencing any UI symptoms. Second Interview ( n = 24). Only 48% of the initial participants could be contacted for the second interview because of changes in residence or telephones being disconnected with no forwarding number. Of the women in this sample who reported UI during the first interview (59%; n = 14), 7 (50%) continued to experience UI 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. The 2 remaining participants who reported UI 4 to 6 weeks postpartum (22%) had not experienced UI during pregnancy. Of the participants experiencing postpartum UI, 77% ( n = 7) were white. Almost half of the participants with postpartum UI were ages 35 or older (44%; n = 4). Among the participants reporting episiotomy ( n = 4), 3 (75%) reported having UI 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusions : Study results support the conclusion that childbirth, specifically vaginal birth, is a major factor in developing UI in the early postpartum period. Age, race, and use of episiotomy appear to be contributing risk factors.
Multi-scale models for gene network engineering

With current advances in biological knowledge, the potential exists for engineering novel gene regulatory networks, which allow the timely control of protein expression. Genome projects identify the components of gene networks in biological organisms, gene after gene, and DNA microarray experiments discover the network connections. Yet, the static pictures these experiments give cannot provide insight on the dynamic behavior of gene networks. The large number of components and interactions involved in dynamic gene regulation warrants a quantitative, computational perspective for investigating the dynamic behavior. The challenge lies with the fact that the timescales of phenomena involved in transcription/translation span multiple orders of magnitude. In this paper, multi-scale simulation methods developed to model gene regulatory networks are discussed. Details are provided for modeling biomolecular systems away from the thermodynamic limit and a hybrid algorithm is presented for simulating stochastic systems that contain both discrete and continuous representations. These simulations can provide useful insight for rationally engineering the components and the connections of novel gene network modules. Two examples, the bistable switch and the oscillator, are discussed. These examples demonstrate that ensembles of stochastic trajectories can provide insight into the dynamics of biomolecular interaction networks. This insight can guide the changes needed for the network to exhibit the desired dynamic behavior. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Culture of the Future: Adapting Copyright Law to Accommodate Fan-Made Derivative Works in the Twenty-First Century

Fan-made derivative works based on works of popular culture have a growing importance in twenty-first century culture, and in fact represent the rebirth of popular folk culture in America after a century of being submerged beneath commercial mass-media cultural products. The Internet has enabled what scholar Lawrence Lessig calls a “read/write” culture where ordinary Internet users are empowered to become active creators of culture rather than mere passive consumers. Yet, if this exciting trend is to continue, the copyright laws of the twentieth century must adapt to accommodate the possibilities of the twenty-first. This Note describes the importance of amateur, fan-made derivative works in the new folk culture of the twenty-first century and demonstrates how this culture is under attack by the creators of the popular works to which it pays tribute. It describes how overreaching copyright claims by media companies cast a considerable chilling effect on vibrant new art forms such as fan fiction, fan-made videos, and virtual worlds. Finally, this Note argues that the Copyright Act must be amended to (1) explicitly clarify that non-commercial, transformative works are fair use, (2) ban the use of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) takedown process and automated copyright filters to block this type of content, and (3) provide real penalties to deter copyright owners from abusing copyright law to suppress legitimate, follow-on creativity.
Synthesis and characterization of transiently stable albumin-coated microbubbles via a flow-focusing microfluidic device.

We describe a method for synthesizing albumin-shelled, large-diameter (>10 μm), transiently stable microbubbles using a flow-focusing microfluidic device (FFMD). The microfluidic device enables microbubbles to be produced immediately before insonation, thus relaxing the requirements for stability. Both reconstituted fractionated bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fresh bovine blood plasma were investigated as shell stabilizers. Microbubble coalescence was inhibited by the addition of either dextrose or glycerol and propylene glycol. Microbubbles were observed to have an acoustic half-life of approximately 6 s. Microbubbles generated directly within a vessel phantom containing flowing blood produced a 6.5-dB increase in acoustic signal within the lumen. Microbubbles generated in real time upstream of in vitro rat aortic smooth muscle cells under physiologic flow conditions successfully permeabilized 58% of the cells on insonation at a peak negative pressure of 200 kPa. These results indicate that transiently stable microbubbles produced via flow-focusing microfluidic devices are capable of image enhancement and drug delivery. In addition, successful microbubble production with blood plasma suggests the potential to use blood as a stabilizing shell.
QuARES: A quality-aware renewable energy-driven sensing framework

Abstract Renewable energy technologies have become a promising solution to reduce energy concerns that arise due to limited battery in wireless sensor networks. While this enables us to prolong the lifetime of a sensor network (perpetually), the realization of sustainable sensor platforms is challenging due to the unstable nature of environmental energy sources. In this paper, we propose an adaptive energy harvesting management framework, QuARES, which exploits an application's tolerance to quality degradation to adjust data collection quality based on energy harvesting conditions. The proposed framework consists of two phases: an offline phase which uses prediction of harvested energy to allocate energy budget for time slots; and an online phase to tackle fluctuations in the time-varying energy harvesting profile. We formulate the energy budget allocation problem as a linear programming problem and implemented heuristics to minimize error in data quality at runtime. Our techniques are implemented in a network simulator, QualNet. In comparison with other approaches (e.g., [8] ), our system offers improved sustainability (low energy consumption, no node deaths) during operation with data quality improvement ranging from 30 to 70%. QuARES is currently being deployed in a campus-wide pervasive space at UCI called Responsphere [11] .
Experimental Observations of a Spherical Transparent Cathode Glow Discharge

In this paper, several observations with regard to the nature of the glow discharge in a spherical inertial electrostatic-confinement device are reported. In particular, automated single and double Langmuir probe diagnostics are configured such that the ion-microchanneling phenomenon is directly verified. In addition, these measurements allow for the determination of the ldquostar-to-jetrdquo mode transition and show that microchanneling persists well into jet-mode regime despite its visual appearance. Conclusions about the overall discharge structure may also be drawn from spatial variations in the density and neutrality of the discharge. Finally, I-V characteristics obtained with the double Langmuir probe indicate the presence of energetic electrons inside of the cathode-grid region.
A quasi-static analysis of dextrous manipulation with sliding and rolling contacts

M.A. Peshkin and A.C. Sanderson's minimum power principle (see IEEE Int. Conf. on Rob. & Autom., p.421-6, April 25-29, 1988) for quasi-static systems is used to combine force and kinematic relationships into a nonlinear mathematical program called the forward object motion problem. Given the joint velocities of the robot's hand and arm, the solution of the forward object motion problem predicts not only the velocity of the object (as determined by kinematic analyses), but also the contact forces. In kinematic analyses one must guess as to the nature of all contact interactions (i.e. sliding, rolling, or separating). The solution of the forward object motion problem definitively determines these interactions and the contact forces as a byproduct of determining the velocity of the manipulated object. >
Display-Relative Calibration for Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Displays

Optical see-through head-mounted displays (OSTHMDs) have many advantages in augmented reality application, but their utility in practical applications has been limited by the complexity of calibration. Because the human subject is an inseparable part of the eye-display system, previous methods for OSTHMD calibration have required extensive manual data collection using either instrumentation or manual point correspondences and are highly dependent on operator skill. This paper describes display-relative calibration (DRC) for OSTHMDs, a new two phase calibration method that minimizes the human element in the calibration process and ensures reliable calibration. Phase I of the calibration captures the parameters of the display system relative to a normalized reference frame and is performed in a jig with no human factors issues. The second phase optimizes the display for a specific user and the placement of the display on the head. Several phase II alternatives provide flexibility in a variety of applications including applications involving untrained users.
Droplet Spectral Broadening in Marine Stratus

Abstract Broadening of the cloud droplet (diameter 50 μm, i.e., drizzle). Broad droplet spectra were most closely associated with drizzle drops. Both the concentration, C, and slope, k, of the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra were theoretically found to affect droplet spectral width. For individual cloud parcels a higher C and lower k each contributed to broader droplet spectra. When mixing among cloud parcels with different updrafts was considered, the predictions deviated especially at larger mean droplet diameters. Variations in updraft velocity result in differences in droplet concentrations ...
Testing Accounting Hypotheses: The Association of Accounting Numbers with Stock Values, 1959-1965

This research is aimed at answering accounting questions by measuring the association between alternative accounting numbers and the value of a company's stock. The model includes a financial reporting period and a subsequent stock holding period, with an assumed investment date connecting the two (all historical). The value of a stock at the investment date is the present value of its dividends during the holding period plus the present value (as of the investment date) of its market value at the end of the holding period. For example, the choice of inventory cost flow assumptions (LIFO or FIFO) is tested with matched samples of companies (one sample using LIFO, one using FIFO). The correlation of reported earnings and stock values in the LIFO sample is compared to earnings/value correlation in the FIFO sample Other accounting issues are addressed in a similar manner, as indicated in the table of contents.As an alternative to measurement of association using least-squares calculations, association was measured using median deviation percentages. For example, if earnings is the accounting number being tested, the median of the deviation of each stock's V/E ratio from the sample mean V/E ratio is taken as the measure of association.
Crowdsourcing functions of the living city from Twitter and Foursquare data

Urban functions are closely related to people’s spatiotemporal activity patterns, transportation needs, and a city’s business distribution and development trends. Studies investigating urban functi...
Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic gas exchange under direct versus diffuse light in evergreen conifer ( Picea pungens ) shoots and broadleaf shrub ( Rhododendron ponticum ) leaves

Recent studies have shown that photosynthesis may increase under diffuse light regimes (e.g., cloud-generated) compared to direct (collimated) irradiance at the canopy and ecosystem levels. Yet, there are few comparative studies for individual species at the branch or leaf level. One of the strongest contrasts in the plant kingdom is the architectural differences between the typical conifer needle-shoot versus the broadleaf leaf habit. Thus, we investigated leaf/shoot photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence under experimental diffuse and direct light regimes for a typical conifer (Picea pungens Engelm.) and broadleaf (Rhododendron ponticum L.) species. Light-saturated photosynthesis (A sat) was 18 and 16 % greater under diffuse compared to direct light in spruce and rhododendron, respectively. Similarly, leaf conductance and transpiration were 42 and 75 %, and 11 and 21 % greater under diffuse light, respectively. The ratio of internal CO2 to ambient CO2 (C i/C a) was 23 % greater in the rhododendron under diffuse, saturating light, while C i/C a was similar in spruce. There were no significant differences in leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, including the quantum yield of PSII or non-photochemical quenching for either species exposed to either direct or diffuse light. Collectively, our data suggest that diffuse compared to direct-beam light increased photosynthetic capacity at both the shoot (conifer) and leaf (broadleaf) levels, and increases were associated with enhanced stomatal opening, not differences in the photosynthetic light reactions. Importantly, the improved stomatal opening under diffuse light was not associated with any corresponding changes in environmental parameters that can strongly influence stomatal behavior, e.g., humidity or temperature.
Variation in the ratio of physical to genetic distance in intervals adjacent to theMla locus on barley chromosome 1H

Variants of the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis technique were used in conjunction with two-dimensional DNA gel electrophoresis (2-DDGE) to determine the ratio of physical to genetic distance in two genetically defined intervals on barley chromosome 1H.2-DDGE analysis demonstrated that two loci that define a 0.3 cM interval, as determined by hybridization with BCD249, reside on a single 450-kbMluI fragment. This result indicates a maximum ratio of physical to genetic distance in this interval of 1500 kb/cM as compared to 3.7–4.2 Mb/cM for the barley genome as a whole. High molecular weight (HMW) DNA restricted withNotI and probed sequentially with MWG068 and BCD249 yield diffuse bands at approximately 2.8 Mb and 3.0 Mb in the C.I. 16151 and C.I. 16155 parental lines, respectively. These results suggest the maximum ratio of physical to genetic distance in the interval defined by these probes is 7.8 Mb/cM. unique HMW DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) were attributed to the presence of recombination breakpoints. Data from the recombination breakpoint analysis were used to estimate a ratio of physical to genetic distance of 2.5 Mb/cM in theXbcd249.2-Xmwg068 interval and 0.465 Mb/cM in theXbcd249.1-Xbcd249.2 interval. Both physical linkage and recombination breakpoint analysis indicate theXbcd249.1-Xbcd249.2 interval is approximately five-fold smaller, physically, than theXbcd249.2-Xmwg068 interval.
A simplified procedure for obtaining follicle-stimulating hormone from sheep pituitary glands.

Summary1. A short simple method is given for obtaining from sheep pituitary glands a follicle-stimulating hormone preparation of high biological purity and low protein content. This method consists of extracting the glands with saturated sodium chloride solution at 72°C, adjusting the extract to pH 2.5, dialysis of the soluble fraction and recovery of the hormone from the dialyzed fraction by lyophilization or by the use of an anion exchanger. 2. When 5 g eq. were given to male and female hypophysectomized rats for 10 days, only a very small amount of luteinizing activity was found. The fraction insoluble at pH 2.5 contained both follicle-stimulating and luteinizing activities. 3. The results are discussed from the viewpoint that folliclestimulating hormone may exist in pituitary tissue in different forms.
Illinois Shakespeare Festival

cue to enter for the Epilogue, Puck appeared with startling suddenness up through the center of the tree. The only other concession to the idea of changeable scenery occurred at the end when a rough curtain was put up at stage left for the rude mechanicals' play. The broadly comical scenes were done quite effectively with well-timed slapstick farce. For example, in the tragical-comical "scene" of Pyramus and Thisby, Robin Starveling, as Moonshine, held a fake dog with a long tail. The long tail would swish at all the wrong times, lashing Starveling himself as well as the other "actors."
A Low Voltage Ride Through Technology for Direct-drive Wind Turbines Under Unbalanced Voltage Dips

The response of direct-drive wind turbine converters under unbalanced grid conditions is analyzed.A control strategy in this condition is proposed,which coordinates the converter with the DC side Crowbar circuit during unbalanced voltage dips.Since the direct-drive wind turbines exchange full power with grid via converters,the fluctuation of active power caused by unbalanced voltages will lead to DC-link voltage ripples.The control strategy aims to stabilize the active power outputs.The control model is based on the rotating frame,decomposition of positive and negative sequence vectors.The current limit and complexity of the control system are also taken into account.When operating in the vicinity of rated power,wind turbines can pass through unbalanced voltage dips.Simulation results using MATLAB verify the correctness of the proposed control strategy.
DNA repair in the c-myc locus.

We have studied DNA repair after UV damage in the murine c-mvc locus. It appears that a region in B cells upstream of the murine c-myc gene is repaired with a different efficiency in plasmacytoma-resistant DBA/2N mice than in plasmacytoma-susceptible BALB/cAn mice. The region just uptream of c-myc is inefficiently repaired in B lymphoblasts derived from BALB/cAn mice. In contrast, this same region of c-mvc is efficiently repaired in B lymphoblasts derived from DBA/2N mice. DNA fragments located in the coding region of c-myc and in another gene, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), are repaired with equal efficiency in cells from these two strains of mice. It is possible that repair efficiency of the 5′ flank of c-mvc may be involved in tumor susceptibility of the mouse strain.
Extended MHD modeling of tearing-driven magnetic relaxation

Discrete relaxation events in reversed-field pinch relevant configurations are investigated numerically with nonlinear extended magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling, including the Hall term in Ohm's law and first-order ion finite Larmor radius effects. Results show variability among relaxation events, where the Hall dynamo effect may help or impede the MHD dynamo effect in relaxing the parallel current density profile. The competitive behavior arises from multi-helicity conditions where the dominant magnetic fluctuation is relatively small. The resulting changes in parallel current density and parallel flow are aligned in the core, consistent with experimental observations. The analysis of simulation results also confirms that the force density from fluctuation-induced Reynolds stress arises subsequent to the drive from the fluctuation-induced Lorentz force density. Transport of the momentum density is found to be dominated by the fluctuation-induced Maxwell stress over most of the cross section with viscou...
Quantification and characterization of grouped type I myofibers in human aging

Introduction: Myofiber type grouping is a histological hallmark of age-related motor unit remodeling. Despite the accepted concept that denervation-reinnervation events lead to myofiber type grouping, the completeness of those conversions remains unknown. Methods: Type I myofiber grouping was assessed in vastus lateralis biopsies from Young (26 ± 4 yrs, n = 27) and Older (66 ± 4 yrs, n = 91) adults. Grouped and ungrouped type I myofibers were evaluated for phenotypic differences. Results: Higher type I grouping in Older vs. Young was driven by more myofibers per group (i.e. larger group size) (p < 0.05). In Older only, grouped type I myofibers displayed larger cross-sectional area, more myonuclei, lower capillary supply, and more sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase I (SERCA I) expression (p < 0.05) than ungrouped type I myofibers. Discussion: Grouped type I myofibers retain type II characteristics implying that conversion during denervation-reinnervation events is either progressive or incomplete. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A 3-Dimensional Object Recognition Method Using Relationship of Distances and Angles in Feature Points

In recent years, human support robots have been receiving attention. Especially, object recognition task is important in case that people request the robots to transport and rearrange an object. We consider that there are four necessary properties to recognize in domestic environment as follows. (1) Robustness against occlusion. (2) Fast recognition. (3) Pose estimation with high accuracy. (4) Coping with erroneous correspondences. As conventional object recognition methods using 3-dimensional information, there are model-based recognition methods such as the SHOT and the Spin Image. The SHOT and the Spin Image do not satisfy all four properties for the robots. Therefore, to satisfy the four properties of recognition, we propose a 3-dimensional object recognition method by using relationship of distances and angles in feature points. As per our approach, the proposed method achieves to solve problems of conventional methods by using not only the feature points but also relationship between feature points. To achieve this purpose, firstly, the proposed method uses a curvature as a feature in a local region. Secondly, the proposed method uses points having high curvature as feature points. Finally, the proposed method generates a list by listing relationship of distances and angles between feature points and matches lists.
Subjective randomness as statistical inference

Abstract Some events seem more random than others. For example, when tossing a coin, a sequence of eight heads in a row does not seem very random. Where do these intuitions about randomness come from? We argue that subjective randomness can be understood as the result of a statistical inference assessing the evidence that an event provides for having been produced by a random generating process. We show how this account provides a link to previous work relating randomness to algorithmic complexity, in which random events are those that cannot be described by short computer programs. Algorithmic complexity is both incomputable and too general to capture the regularities that people can recognize, but viewing randomness as statistical inference provides two paths to addressing these problems: considering regularities generated by simpler computing machines, and restricting the set of probability distributions that characterize regularity. Building on previous work exploring these different routes to a more restricted notion of randomness, we define strong quantitative models of human randomness judgments that apply not just to binary sequences – which have been the focus of much of the previous work on subjective randomness – but also to binary matrices and spatial clustering.
Nano-modified Polymer Concrete: A New Material for Smart and Resilient Structures

Polymer concrete (PC) is a type of concrete where polymer binder replaces cement. PC has been used in field applications since the 1950s. Specifically, PC has been widely used for precast architectural facade, underground utilities, manholes, machine foundations, bridge deck overlays and closures, and other applications. PC is characterized by high compressive and tensile strengths and superior durability compared with conventional Portland cement concrete. However, the use of PC is limited due to its relatively higher cost than conventional concrete. This paper suggests that a significant change in PC can take place by incorporating a very limited amount of nanomaterials (below 2% of carbon nanotubes or alumina nanoparticles by weight of the resin). Incorporating such small amount of nanomaterials will result in significant improvement in mechanical properties of PC including strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. We also show that incorporating 2.0 wt.% of pristine carbon nanotubes can result in significant improvement in ductility and can allow self-sensing capabilities of PC. The significance of using nanomaterials is fundamental and will open doors for using PC as a material for smart and resilient structures under extreme loadings.
Who's Who of Pulmonary Hypertension: Redefining Classification to Advance Precision Care.

See Article by Zhu, Gonzaga-Jauregui, and Welch et al Since inception in 1973, the World Health Organization group classification system for pulmonary hypertension (PH) has provided researchers and clinicians an evolving framework from which to investigate, diagnose, and treat patients with a diverse collection of pulmonary vascular diseases.1 The original schema distinguished primary PH from secondary; primary encompassing contemporary classifications of idiopathic, familial, and drug-induced PH.2 A second form took the general shape recognized by present-day practitioners: defining World Health Organization groups 1 to 5 based on similarities in pathological findings, hemodynamic characteristics, and management.1 Subsequent iterations have maintained a comparable structure with additions and changes paralleling scientific advancement. The definitions are widely accepted worldwide, and consequently used daily in practice by clinicians, as inclusion/exclusion criteria for clinical research, and in the labeling of new therapeutics for the treatment of PH. The disorders comprising World Health Organization group 1 or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are characterized by an arterial vasculopathy of the pulmonary circulation, with mutual features including luminal obliteration, loss of distal arterioles, and endothelial dysfunction with prominent vasoconstriction.3 Although the entities in group 1 PAH share a common final pathology, ongoing research has …
Mechanisms of physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiomyocytes exit the cell cycle and become terminally differentiated soon after birth. Therefore, in the adult heart, instead of an increase in cardiomyocyte number, individual cardiomyocytes increase in size, and the heart develops hypertrophy to reduce ventricular wall stress and maintain function and efficiency in response to an increased workload. There are two types of hypertrophy: physiological and pathological. Hypertrophy initially develops as an adaptive response to physiological and pathological stimuli, but pathological hypertrophy generally progresses to heart failure. Each form of hypertrophy is regulated by distinct cellular signalling pathways. In the past decade, a growing number of studies have suggested that previously unrecognized mechanisms, including cellular metabolism, proliferation, non-coding RNAs, immune responses, translational regulation, and epigenetic modifications, positively or negatively regulate cardiac hypertrophy. In this Review, we summarize the underlying molecular mechanisms of physiological and pathological hypertrophy, with a particular emphasis on the role of metabolic remodelling in both forms of cardiac hypertrophy, and we discuss how the current knowledge on cardiac hypertrophy can be applied to develop novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or reverse pathological hypertrophy.
Epidemiology of Hip and Groin Injuries in Collegiate Athletes in the United States

Background:Hip and groin pain is a common complaint among athletes. Few studies have examined the epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes across multiple sports.Purpose:To des...
Challenges of comprehensive taxon sampling in comparative biology: Wrestling with rosids

Using phylogenetic approaches to test hypotheses on a large scale, in terms of both species sampling and associated species traits and occurrence data-and doing this with rigor despite all the attendant challenges-is critical for addressing many broad questions in evolution and ecology. However, application of such approaches to empirical systems is hampered by a lingering series of theoretical and practical bottlenecks. The community is still wrestling with the challenges of how to develop species-level, comprehensively sampled phylogenies and associated geographic and phenotypic resources that enable global-scale analyses. We illustrate difficulties and opportunities using the rosids as a case study, arguing that assembly of biodiversity data that is scale-appropriate-and therefore comprehensive and global in scope-is required to test global-scale hypotheses. Synthesizing comprehensive biodiversity data sets in clades such as the rosids will be key to understanding the origin and present-day evolutionary and ecological dynamics of the angiosperms.
Learning in dynamic simulation games; using performance as a measure

In a dynamic simulation game portraying a multiplier-accelerator investment problem, there are major differences between high and low performers; high performers voice specific concerns for future states of the system, while low performers are less likely to think about the future. Planning, especially incorporating the deceptive nature of feedback, is necessary in systems that exhibit diverging long and short term behaviors. A comparison of game results with written reports shows that there is a positive relationship between performance and understanding of the game. These results are contrary to previous research where performance and understanding have been unrelated (Broadbent et al. 1978, 1986), but can be explained by the added complexity of non-linear feedback tasks with shifts in loop dominance. Such tasks are, in contrast to simple regression model tasks, non-routine and therefore verbal and behavior aspects of decision makers’ mental models correspond.
Nonlinear Random Response of Ocean Structures Using First- and Second-Order Stochastic Averaging

This paper deals with the dynamic response of nonlinear elastic structure subjected to random hydrodynamic forces and parametric excitation using a first- and second-order stochastic averaging method. The governing equation of motion is derived by using Hamilton's principle, taking into account inertia and curvature nonlinearities and work done due to hydrodynamic forces. Within the framework of first-order stochastic averaging, the system response statistics and stability boundaries are obtained. Unfortunately, the effects of nonlinear inertia and curvature are not reflected in the final results, since the contribution of these nonlinearities is lost during the averaging process. In the absence of hydrodynamic forces, the method fails to give bounded response statistics, and the analysis yields stability conditions. It is the second-order stochastic averaging which can capture the influence of stiffness and inertia nonlinearities that were lost in the first-order averaging process. The results of the second-order averaging are compared with those predicted by Gaussian and non-Gaussian closures and by Monte Carlo simulation. In the absence of parametric excitation, the non-Gaussian closure solutions are in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation. On the other hand, in the absence of hydrodynamic forces, second-order averaging gives more reliable results in the neighborhood of stochastic bifurcation. However, under pure parametric random excitation, the stochastic averaging and Monte Carlo simulation predict the on-off intermittency phenomenon near bifurcation point, in addition to stochastic bifurcation in probability.
Economic Expansion, Industrialization, and Dutch Disease Economics in the Context of International Monetary Economics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some new results on certain problems of international monetary economics within a unified simple model. It discusses the results in terms of some real world experiences. The theory is developed in the hope of explaining some experiences in Japan and other countries. The chapter also discusses the basic framework and the workings of an international monetary economy under fixed and flexible exchange rates, using the diagrammatical apparatus developed by Drabicki-Takayama. The chapter discusses the pattern of shifts of the production possibility curve and discusses the sources of such shifts. It presents the classification of economic expansion.
Animal welfare in slaughter plants

There are five basic causes of animal welfare problems in slaughter plants. They are: 1) Poorly designed or improper stunning and handling equipment. 2) Distractions which impede animal movement, such as sparkling reflections on a wet fioor, air hissing, high-pitched noise or air drafts blowing down the race towards approaching animals. These distractions can ruin the performance of a well designed system and cause animals to become excited. When this happens, prodding will be required to make them move. 3) Lack of employee training and poor supervision of employees by management. 4) Poor maintenance of equipment and facilities, such as malfunctioning stunners or worn, slick fioors which cause animals to slip and fall. 5) Poor condition of animals arriving at the plant, such as cripples and sick animals. Another problem is pigs and cattle from excitable genetic lines which are more likely to become agitated during handling. To maintain a high standard of welfare, all five problem areas must be addressed. A survey of 29 Canadian slaughter plants indicated that 27% had excellent non-slip fioors and 21% had slick fioors which would cause animals to slip. Twenty-four percent had high pitched motor noise or hissing air exhausts that caused animals to balk. Air drafts blowing down the race towards approaching animals were a problem in 9% of the plants. Air drafts will often impede animal movement.
Tangled Roots and Ramifications: The Early Histories of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder

This chapter provides a historical context and overview of a burgeoning mental health service crisis and public health problem. The diagnostic confusion between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder (TSRD), particularly Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) has undermined the credibility of professionals in the field, and contributes to challenges in professional-caregiver collaboration to meet the needs of children and youth with these conditions. We first compare and contrast the early histories of ASD and RAD and how those histories have overlapped and intertwined over time. Interestingly, as Bettelheim, Kanner, and others endeavored to understand autism and its causes, Rene Spitz and other investigators were simultaneously describing the impact of severe, institutional neglect on children’s development. We next discuss how perceived stigma associated with these conditions have waxed and waned, and more importantly, how perceived stigma seems to have influenced patterns of help-seeking behavior. The chapter is not a comprehensive history of ASD and TSRD, but an attempt to understand their confused and entwined histories. We hope that this understanding will put us in a better position to suggest some potential ways of dealing with this problem.
Evolving patterns of care in the management of stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumors: Data from the California Cancer Registry.

4558 Background: Standard options for the management of stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) following radical orchiectomy include active surveillance, retroperitoneal lymph node disse...
Reality and Medicine

This chapter is where the audience is introduced to what the blind-spot in medicine has missed: human existence. Bodies are there, but humans exist; humans are being there. Two dimensions of human being—the concrete world of existence and the abstract world of bodies—are carefully introduced and compared. The world of medical science, with its objective observations, manipulation, and control, takes as its object the material or corporeal body (Korper). The concrete body is the one that is lived (Leib). Humans can be understood through their concrete experience. Efforts to do so are directed at their existence.
Differences in Applied Redox Potential on Cathodes Enrich for Diverse Electrochemically Active Microbial Isolates From a Marine Sediment.

The diversity of microbially-mediated redox processes that occur in marine sediments is likely underestimated, especially with respect to the metabolisms that involve solid substrate electron donors or acceptors. Though electrochemical studies that utilize poised potential electrodes as a surrogate for solid substrate or mineral interactions have shed some much needed light on these areas, these studies have traditionally been limited to one redox potential or metabolic condition. This work seeks to uncover the diversity of microbes capable of accepting cathodic electrons from a marine sediment utilizing a range of redox potentials, by coupling electrochemical enrichment approaches to microbial cultivation and isolation techniques. Five lab-scale three-electrode electrochemical systems were constructed, using electrodes that were initially incubated in marine sediment at cathodic or electron-donating voltages (five redox potentials between -400 and -750 mV versus Ag/AgCl) as energy sources for enrichment. Electron uptake was monitored in the laboratory bioreactors and linked to the reduction of supplied terminal electron acceptors (nitrate or sulfate). Enriched communities exhibited differences in community structure dependent on poised redox potential and terminal electron acceptor used. Further cultivation of microbes was conducted using media with reduced iron (Fe0, FeCl2) and sulfur (S0) compounds as electron donors, resulting in the isolation of six electrochemically active strains. The isolates belong to the genera Vallitalea of the Clostridia, Arcobacter of the Epsilonproteobacteria, Desulfovibrio of the Deltaproteobacteria, and Vibrio and Marinobacter of the Gammaproteobacteria. Electrochemical characterization of the isolates with cyclic voltammetry yielded a wide range of midpoint potentials (99.20 to -389.1 mV versus Ag/AgCl), indicating diverse metabolic pathways likely support the observed electron uptake. Our work demonstrates culturing under various electrochemical and geochemical regimes allows for enhanced cultivation of diverse cathode-oxidizing microbes from one environmental system. Understanding the mechanisms of solid substrate oxidation from environmental microbes will further elucidation of the ecological relevance of these electron transfer interactions with implications for microbe-electrode technologies.
Recent Advances in Gate Driver Integrated Circuits for Wide-Bandgap FETs: Manufacturers introduce gate drivers for squeezing the best performance out of WBG devices

With the many well-known attributes of wide-bandgap (WBG) power devices, especially silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) FETs, the WBG adoption has been growing constantly for the past few years. Lately, with significant improvements in reliability and commercial availability, several manufacturers have taken SiC- and GaN-based products to production. Market data from research firms, such as Yole and IHS, show that this trend will continue to rise during the next five to 10 years.
Differential determinants and reasons for the non- and partial vaccination of children among Nigerian caregivers.

Abstract Background Vaccination has saved millions of lives. However, the vaccination rate in Nigeria remains low. We differentiate reasons for incomplete vaccination by status: not- and partially- vaccinated, and examine the association between sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and reasons for incomplete vaccination. Methods Data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 was analyzed. The logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and incomplete vaccination according to different reasons. Results The most common reason for non-vaccination is that caregivers have no faith in immunization (27.0%), followed by lack of awareness of the need for immunization (26.0%) and the perception that the place where immunization is given is too far/inconvenient (24.3%). The most common reason for partial vaccination is that caregivers thought the children had already been fully immunized (44.8%), followed by the inconvenient location for immunization (15.3%) and supply-side issues such as shortage of vaccine stock and absence of vaccinators (14.4%). Among caregivers whose children are never vaccinated, a lower level of education is correlated with more likelihood of having no faith in immunization and poorer households are more likely to state a lack of awareness of the need for immunization need and an inconvenient place as the reasons for non-vaccination. Among caregivers whose children are only partially vaccinated, educated and wealthier caregivers are more likely to state that they thought their children were fully vaccinated, while poorer caregivers tend to give an inconvenient immunization place as the reason for incomplete vaccination. Supply-side barriers are not systematically correlated with educational attainment or wealth level of caregivers. Conclusion Barriers to vaccination are different according to vaccination status: not- and partially- vaccinated, as is the association between sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and reasons for incomplete vaccination. The policy to increase vaccination take-up should take these differentials into consideration.
Computational Characterization of Abelian Groups

A language-invariant characterization of abelian groups is obtained by showing that a group is abelian if and only if there is a finite machine which can compute any term in the group, in one pass of the variables.
Analyzing the duration of IPOs from offering to listing using the Cox proportional hazards model

This study examines the duration from the offering to the listing of IPOs issued on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) during the period lasting from 1995 to 2017. First, we analyze two regulatory regimes and identify that the listing process has improved under the SECP regime which eventually reduces the duration to listing. Second, this study explores the factors that contribute to a listing duration including the quality of an IPOs, price discovery, proportion of legal entity owned shares, market sentiment, the underwriter’s prestige, the age of the firm and the financial performance. Subsequently, we apply the Cox proportion hazards model to identify the determinants that affect the duration of IPOs. Third, this study extends the analysis to examine the importance of the regulatory regime and issuing year through frailty effects. Fourth, to examine the determinants of IPOs duration to listing we use the Extreme Bounds Analysis. Lastly, this study compares the findings with Brooks and Guo (2009) to identify and contrast the factors associated with IPO duration for developed and emerging economies. Moreover, this study confirms that the regulatory regime, offer price, ROA, price discovery mechanism, and hot activity period are the significant factors influencing the duration of IPOs in the Pakistani capital market.