cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A framework for multiphysics modeling of natural environments for valuation of privately owned ecosystem services

Modeling of ecosystem services using a multiphysics approach shows promise in detailing the contribution and interaction of constituent underlying processes. Such detail is required to enable ecosystem service valuation based on functional substitutability, whereby the market value of an equivalent engineered system provides a basis of value amenable to international financial accounting norms. One multiphysics package — COMSOL Multiphysics — is used as part of a greater framework to value the ecosystem service of phosphorus removal from stormwater runoff via soil.
Does the presence of hydronephrosis on preoperative axial CT imaging predict worse outcomes for patients undergoing nephroureterectomy for upper-tract urothelial carcinoma?

Abstract Objectives Hydronephrosis at the time of diagnosis of bladder cancer is associated with advanced disease and is a predictor of poorer outcomes. There is, however, limited information addressing whether a similar relationship exists for upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We investigate the prognostic impact of hydronephrosis on preoperative axial imaging on clinical outcomes after radical nephroureterectomy. Materials and Methods The records for 106 patients with UTUC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy at 2 medical centers were reviewed. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) images were evaluated for ipsilateral hydronephrosis by radiologists blinded to clinical outcomes. Association of hydronephrosis with pathologic features and oncologic outcomes after surgery was assessed. Results Sixty-seven men and 39 women with a median age of 69 years (range, 36 to 90) were evaluated. One-third of these patients had muscle invasive disease or greater (≥T2), 44% had high grade tumors, and 3% had lymph node (LN) metastases. At a median follow-up of 47 months (range, 1 to 164), 43% of patients experienced disease recurrence, 18% developed metastasis, and 12% died of their cancer. Thirty-nine patients (37%) had hydronephrosis on preoperative axial imaging; 35% of these patients had ureteral tumors, and 27% had multifocal disease. The presence of hydronephrosis was associated with advanced pathologic stage ( P = 0.03) and disease in the ureter (vs. renal pelvis) ( P = 0.007). Hydronephrosis was a predictor of non-organ confined disease on final pathology (hazard ratio [HR] 3.7, P = 0.01). On preoperative multivariable analysis controlling for age, gender, tumor location, ureteroscopic biopsy grade, and urinary cytology, hydronephrosis was independently associated with cancer metastasis (HR 8.2, P = 0.02) and cancer-specific death (HR 12.1, P = 0.03). Conclusions Preoperative hydronephrosis on axial imaging is associated with features of aggressive disease and predicts advanced pathologic stage for UTUC. Hydronephrosis can be a valuable prognostic tool for preoperative planning and counseling regarding disease outcomes.
Spray atomization and deposition of fiber reinforced intermetallic matrix composites

Fiber reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) and intermetallic matrix composites (IMCs) may be manufactured by several different methods including: liquid metal infiltration, plasma spray and stacked fiber/foil processing. Inspection of the available scientific literature reveals that there are certain advantages as well as limitations associated with these processes, and that these often dictate the ultimate application of the MMCs and IMCs. In addition, fabrication of these types of composites tends to be very labor intensive making them impractical for many applications. As a consequence of these shortcomings that are associated with existing methods for fabricating continuously reinforced IMCs, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility of fabricating IMCs using a spray atomization and deposition approach. In the present investigation, Fe[sub 3]Al[sub 5] and Ni[sub 3]Al were selected as the two matrix materials, and were reinforced with stainless steel and molybdenum wires (respectively). The selection of thin metal wires as a model reinforcement fiber was prompted by the availability and low cost of the wire, relative to the high costs that are typically associated with ceramic fibers such as SiC or Sapphire. In addition, the malleable metal wires will serve to ductilize the notoriously brittle intermetallic matrix materials. Themore » deposited composite materials formed by spray atomization, were studied, paying particular attention to the relevant microstructural characteristics such as density, porosity and the characteristics of the wire/matrix interface.« less
Student and Instructor Perceptions of the Efficacy of Computer-Aided Lectures in Undergraduate University Courses.

Student and instructor perceptions of the effectiveness of computer-aided presentations in a lecture-oriented undergraduate course were investigated in a quasi-experimental design. Control group students received traditional lecture presentations covering two topics, separated by one week. The experimental group received the traditional lecture presentation for the first topic, and viewed the computer-aided presentation for the second. Between-group comparisons of student perceptions of the level of quality of both presentations were conducted as well as testing within group changes across the two presentations. Results indicate that students found the computer-aided presentations to be superior to regular class instruction in the following areas: 1) flow, organization, and clarity of the presented information; 2) ease in following the presentation; 3) preparation of instructor; 4) ability to pay attention; and 5) level of interest of the material. Open-ended interviews revealed that instructors considere...
Chronic plus binge ethanol feeding synergistically induces neutrophil infiltration and liver injury in mice: a critical role for E-selectin.

Chronic plus binge ethanol feeding acts synergistically to induce liver injury in mice, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Here, we show that chronic plus binge ethanol feeding synergistically up-regulated the hepatic expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha and induced neutrophil accumulation in the liver, compared with chronic or binge feeding alone. In vivo depletion of neutrophils through administration of an anti-Ly6G antibody markedly reduced chronic-binge ethanol feeding-induced liver injury. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that hepatic E-selectin expression was up-regulated 10-fold, whereas expression of other neutrophil infiltration-related adhesion molecules (e.g., P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) was slightly up- or down-regulated in this chronic-binge model. The genetic deletion of E-selectin prevented chronic-binge ethanol-induced hepatic neutrophil infiltration as well as elevation of serum transaminases without affecting ethanol-induced steatosis. In addition, E-selectin-deficient mice showed reduced hepatic expression of several proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, compared to wild-type mice, after chronic-binge ethanol feeding. Finally, the expression of E-selectin was highly up-regulated in human alcoholic fatty livers, but not in alcoholic cirrhosis. Conclusions: Chronic-binge ethanol feeding up-regulates expression of proinflammatory cytokines, followed by the induction of E-selectin. Elevated E-selectin plays an important role in hepatic neutrophil infiltration and injury induced by chronic-binge feeding in mice and may also contribute to the pathogenesis of early stages of human alcoholic liver disease. (Hepatology 2013;58:1814–1823)
Secondary Structure of Huntingtin Amino-Terminal Region

Summary Huntington's disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder resulting from polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion (>36Q) within the first exon of Huntingtin (Htt) protein. We applied X-ray crystallography to determine the secondary structure of the first exon (EX1) of Htt17Q. The structure of Htt17Q-EX1 consists of an amino-terminal α helix, poly17Q region, and polyproline helix formed by the proline-rich region. The poly17Q region adopts multiple conformations in the structure, including α helix, random coil, and extended loop. The conformation of the poly17Q region is influenced by the conformation of neighboring protein regions, demonstrating the importance of the native protein context. We propose that the conformational flexibility of the polyQ region observed in our structure is a common characteristic of many amyloidogenic proteins. We further propose that the pathogenic polyQ expansion in the Htt protein increases the length of the random coil, which promotes aggregation and facilitates abnormal interactions with other proteins in cells.
Cultural challenges and barriers through the voices of nurses

cultures. Design. Qualitative description with thematic analysis was used to describe nurses’ perceptions of barriers and challenges in providing culturally competent care. The qualitative component of the study was part of a larger research study that used a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive survey. Participants responded to two open-ended questions about potential challenges and barriers to providing culturally competent health care. Methods. Nurses were recruited in a south-eastern state in the USA. Research surveys were mailed to 2000 nurses throughout the state using a stratified sampling method. Results. Three hundred and seventy-four nurses participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the qualitative description: great diversity, lack of resources, and prejudices and biases. Conclusions. The provision of culturally competent patient- and family-centred care is an ethical imperative and professional mandate. Describing nurses’ perspectives on challenges and barriers to providing culturally competent care is the first step in helping to redesign care delivery practices. Relevance to clinical practice. Challenges to providing culturally competent care included diversity in patient populations, lack of resources to provide culturally competent care and biases/prejudices. Strategies to address these challenges in the areas of nursing education, nursing research and nursing policy were proposed.
Chronic sleep fragmentation induces endothelial dysfunction and structural vascular changes in mice.

Study objectives Sleep fragmentation (SF) is a common occurrence and constitutes a major characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SF has been implicated in multiple OSA-related morbidities, but it is unclear whether SF underlies any of the cardiovascular morbidities of OSA. We hypothesized that long-term SF exposures may lead to endothelial dysfunction and altered vessel wall structure. Methods and results Adult male C57BL/6J mice were fed normal chow and exposed to daylight SF or control sleep (CTL) for 20 weeks. Telemetric blood pressure and endothelial function were assessed weekly using a modified laser-Doppler hyperemic test. Atherosclerotic plaques, elastic fiber disruption, lumen area, wall thickness, foam cells, and macrophage recruitment, as well as expression of senescence-associated markers were examined in excised aortas. Increased latencies to reach baseline perfusion levels during the post-occlusive period emerged in SF mice with increased systemic BP values starting at 8 weeks of SF and persisting thereafter. No obvious atherosclerotic plaques emerged, but marked elastic fiber disruption and fiber disorganization were apparent in SF-exposed mice, along with increases in the number of foam cells and macrophages in the aorta wall. Senescence markers showed reduced TERT and cyclin A and increased p16INK4a expression, with higher IL-6 plasma levels in SF-exposed mice. Conclusions Long-term sleep fragmentation induces vascular endothelial dysfunction and mild blood pressure increases. Sleep fragmentation also leads to morphologic vessel changes characterized by elastic fiber disruption and disorganization, increased recruitment of inflammatory cells, and altered expression of senescence markers, thereby supporting a role for sleep fragmentation in the cardiovascular morbidity of OSA.
Deformations of materials exhibiting noncoaxiality and finite rotations

Presentation d'un modele pour les grandes deformations qui prend en consideration le developpement de la non-coaxialite et le «spin plastique». Breve discussion de la cinematique de la deformation par un modele de glissement simple. Le comportement anisotrope est ensuite introduit dans le modele en supposant que le plan du cisaillement maximum ne coincide pas avec le plan primaire de l'ecoulement plastique. Determination d'une expression pour le spin plastique, et d'une equation constitutive pour l'ecoulement plastique
Oxidation of Glutathione by [FeIV(O)(N4Py)]2+: Characterization of an [FeIII(SG)(N4Py)]2+ Intermediate

The mechanism of glutathione (GSH) oxidation by a nonheme ferryl species has been investigated. The reaction of [FeIV(O)(N4Py)]2+ (1) with GSH in an aqueous solution leads to the rapid formation of a green intermediate, characterized as the low-spin ferric complex [FeIII(SG)(N4Py)]2+ (2) by UV−vis and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies and by high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Intermediate 2 decays to form the final products [FeII(OH2)(N4Py)]2+ and the disulfide GSSG over time. The overall reaction was fit to a three-step process involving rapid quenching of the ferryl by GSH, followed by the formation and decay of 2, which are both second-order processes.
Assembly and disassembly of magnetic mobile micro-robots towards deterministic 2-D reconfigurable micro-systems

A primary challenge in the field of reconfigurable robotics is scaling down the size of individual robotic modules. We present a novel set of permanent magnet modules that are under 1 mm in all dimensions, called Mag-ÂµMods, for use in a reconfigurable micro-system. The modules are actuated by oscillating external magnetic fields of several mT in strength, and are capable of locomoting on a 2-D surface. Multiple modules are controlled by using an electrostatic anchoring surface, which can selectively prevent specific modules from being driven by the external field while allowing others to move freely. We address the challenges of both assembling and disassembling two modules. Assembly is performed by bringing two modules sufficiently close that their magnetic attraction causes them to combine. Disassembly is performed by electrostatically anchoring one module to the surface, and applying magnetic torques from external sources to separate the unanchored module.
LIFE-SPAN ONTOGENY OF THE PARALLEL-LINES ILLUSION

The magnitude of two assimilative and one contrastive version of the parallel-lines illusion was measured using 72 observers whose ages ranged in years from the teens to the seventies. Only the overestimated assimilative illusion varied significantly with age, producing smaller misestimations in both youth and old age and a maximal distortion in the 50s. This quadratic trend duplicated the adult-age course of the overestimated Muller-Lyer illusion thereby reinforcing the belief that the two are kindred visual anomalies. As with the Muller-Lyer, the ontogeny of the parallel-lines illusion is best explained by age-induced changes in the vigor of contour interactions.
The influence of mixing on the antisolvent induced agglomeration and sedimentation of mineral matter in coal derived liquids

There are several ways to remove minral matter from coal-derived liquids: antisolvent agglomeration and subsequent sedimentation is one. Adding antisolvent to coal liquids causes asphaltenes and/or preasphaltenes in the oil to precipitate. The precipitated asphaltenes then agglomerate the paraticles, increasing the sedimentation rate. The magnitude of this increase depend no the mixing conditions used to dispers the antisolvent in the oil. This article discuss the results of sedimentation experiments performed onthe antisolvent addition to coal liquids, using an x-ray detection system. The system has the capacity of high temperature (up to 315°C) and high pressure (up to 2.75 7 × 106 Pa). The important parameters are the mixing time, the impeller speed, and the antisolvent addition rate. These are studied in detail for the antisolvent Soltrol.
Industry change, environmental scanning and firm strategy: how is the hospitality industry doing?

This paper attempts to argue that proper and well-organized environmental scanning activities could result in accurate predictions of forces driving change within the hospitality industry. The key forces driving change identified in research conducted by the authors under the auspices of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association are reviewed and compared to contemporary headlines regarding the two key forces, safety and security and capacity control. The paper also uses citations of recent industry reports as evidence to support the earlier predicted forces. The authors conclude that the industry failed to react to timely information and is now struggling to overcome key challenges associated with this lack of action.
The science of social interactions on the web

Summary form only given. Social interactions have always been an important part of human learning and experience. We now know that social interactions are critical in many knowledge and information processes. Research has shown results ranging from influences on our behavior from social networks [Aral2012] to our understanding of social belonging on health [Walton2011], as well as how conflicts and coordination play out in Wikipedia [Kittur2007]. Interestingly, social scientists have studied social interactions for many years, but it wasn't until very recently that researchers are able to study these mechanisms through the explosion of services and data available on web-based social systems. In this talk, I plan to illustrate a model-driven approach to researching social interactions on the Web. Our research methods and systems are informed by models such as information scent, sense making, information theory, probabilistic models, and evolutionary dynamic models. These models have been used to understand a wide variety of user behaviors, from individuals interacting with social bookmarks in Delicious to groups of people working on articles in Wikipedia. These models range in complexity from a simple set of assumptions to complex equations describing human and group behaviors. By using this model-driven approach, we further our understanding of how knowledge is fundamentally constructed in a social context, and a path forward for further social interaction research. An interesting question is whether a machine can assist humans in being creative and inspire a user during the creation of 3D models or a shape in general. One possible means to achieve this is through a design gallery which presents a variety of computed suggestive designs from which the user can pick the ones he likes the best. The ensuing challenge is how to come up with intriguing suggestions which inspire creativity, rather than banal suggestions which stall the design process. In my talk I will discuss about the notion of creative modeling, synthesis of inspiring examples, the analysis of a set, and show a number of recent works that step towards this end.
Group B streptococcus infection rate unchanged by gestational diabetes

Abstract Objective: Group B streptococcal colonization in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including intra-amniotic infection, postpartum endometritis, and neonatal sepsis. We sought to determine whether gestational diabetes increases the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity from group B streptococcal colonization. Methods: Gestational diabetic and nondiabetic women who underwent vaginal or anogenital culture for group B streptococcus colonization in pregnancy were followed up for pregnancy outcome. Antibiotic prophylaxis was not routinely given. Major perinatal morbidity included intra-amniotic infection, endometritis, and neonatal sepsis. Potential confounding variables included induction of labor, cesarean delivery, prematurity, maternal antibiotic use, and prolonged rupture of membranes. Results: We compared 446 gestational diabetic women to 1,046 nondiabetic women for outcome. Overall, 12% were colonized with group B streptococcus, with no difference in colonization rates between gestational diabetic (12%) and nondiabetic (12%) women. There were no differences in intraamniotic infection rates between gestational diabetic and nondiabetic women, whether group B streptococcus positive (16% compared with 13%) or group B streptococcus negative (10% compared with 11%). Likewise, endometritis did not differ (6–9%) regardless of diabetes or group B streptococcus status. Neonatal sepsis was higher in group B streptococcus-positive women overall (3% compared with 1%, odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 1.23, 10.81), but did not differ between diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies. Conclusion: Gestational diabetes does not alter the perinatal morbidity associated with group B streptococcal colonization in pregnancy.
Gastric mucosal damage induced by combination of ethanol and lysophosphatidylcholine

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine on the guinea pig stomach after dosing the animal with 20% ethanol by orogastric intubation. We studied four groups of animals; one control group received saline orogastrically followed by buffer and one test group received saline followed by buffer plus 1 mM lysophosphatidylcholine. Two other groups were challenged with 20% ethanol (5 ml) orogastrically followed by buffer or buffer plus 1 mM lysophosphatidylcholine. Compared to other groups, the stomachs of animals given ethanol followed by lysophosphatidylcholine displayed statistically significant increases in the number of gross hemorrhagic lesions, in back-diffusion of hydrogen ion, in net secretion of sodium ion and in morphologic damage. Transmucosal potential differences in this group were also decreased. We conclude that 90 min after dosing with ethanol, the guinea pig stomach is more susceptible to damage by lysophosphatidylcholine. Our data further suggest that these agents cause mucosal damage by different mechanisms and that the combination acts synergistically.
Primary hepatic myxoid leiomyosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Sarcomas of the adult liver are unusual neoplasms, and can sometimes pose a difficult differential diagnosis. The authors report a myxoid spindle cell tumor arising in the liver of a 26-year-old woman. Histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analysis demonstrated features of smooth muscle differentiation. Neoplastic nuclei were positive for estrogen receptor-β and androgen receptor, but not estrogen receptor-α or progesterone receptor. Based on the large size of the tumor and the presence of conspicuous mitotic activity, the diagnosis of myxoid leiomyosarcoma was made. This case represents the third documented example of this tumor in the liver. The differential diagnosis in relation to this particular site of origin is discussed.
Tolerability and efficacy of L-asparaginase therapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) has been an essential component of multiagent chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood for over 3 decades. There are currently 2 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved formulations of L-ASNase derived from Escherichia coli and 1 non-FDA approved formu
Adrenocortical Responses to the Strange Situation in Infants with Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment Relationships

Salivary cortisol levels were assessed in 19-month-old infants following the Ainsworth Strange Situation procedure. 38 infants participating in Project Steep at the University of Minnesota served as subjects. Project Steep is a longitudinal intervention program designed to promote healthy parent-child relationships and to prevent emotional problems among children born to mothers who are at high risk for parenting problems. Following the Strange Situation, saliva samples were collected and assayed for cortisol, a steroid hormone frequently examined in studies of stress. Behavior during the Strange Situation was coded by trained coders, and attachment classifications were determined for each infant. Cortisol concentrations did not differ between the 6 Avoidant/Resistant (A/C) and 17 Securely Attached (B) toddlers. Toddlers (n= 11) who were classified as having Disorganized/Disoriented (Type D) attachments exhibited higher cortisol concentrations than toddlers in the traditional (ABC) classifications. Results of this study were consistent with a model of stress reactivity that conceptualizes the organization of coping behaviors as a factor that mediates physiological stress responses.
Microcomputer-based estimation of psychophysical thresholds: The Best PEST

A new, maximally efficient technique for measuring psychophysical thresholds (Pentland, 1980) has been implemented on the microcomputer. This PEST (parameter estimation by sequential testing) technique is the most efficient sequential parameter estimation technique possible, given that the form of the psychometric function is known. The technique is similar to but faster and more accurate than other staircase procedures and may be applied whenever staircase techniques are applicable. The “Best PEST” is easily implemented on the micro-computer; a BASIC program for the Apple II which does so is presented. The Best PEST is compared with other staircase procedures, including one recently implemented on a micro-computer (Corwin, Kintz, & Beaty, 1979).
Punctal occlusion and topical medications for glaucoma.

We studied the effects of punctal occlusion on the intraocular pressures of patients treated with topical medications for glaucoma. Silicone punctal plugs were used to occlude the inferior punctum of one eye in each of 19 patients treated with identical antiglaucoma eyedrops in both eyes. The intraocular pressures before and after punctal occlusion were compared. The eyes with the punctal plugs showed a statistically significant (P
Insights into the relation between mRNA and protein expression patterns: I. Theoretical considerations.

Translation is a central cellular process in every organism and understanding translation from the systems (genome-wide) perspective is very important for medical and biochemical engineering applications. Moreover, recent advances in cell-wide monitoring tools for both mRNA and protein levels have necessitated the development of such a model to identify parameters and conditions that influence the mapping between mRNA and protein expression. Experimental studies show a lack of correspondence between mRNA and protein expression profiles. In this study, we describe a mechanistic genome-wide model for translation that provides mapping between changes in mRNA levels and changes in protein levels. We use our model to study the system in detail and identify the key parameters that affect this mapping. Our results show that the correlation between mRNA and protein levels is a function of both the kinetic parameters and concentration of ribosomes at the reference state. In particular, changes in concentration of free and total ribosomes in response to a perturbation; changes in initiation and elongation kinetics due to competition for aminoacyl tRNAs; changes in termination kinetics; average changes in mRNA levels in response to the perturbation; and changes in protein stability are all important determinants of the mapping between mRNA and protein expression.
Sperm and the Proton Channel

The transition from quiescence of the sperm in the epididymis to capacitation in the female reproductive tract depends on alkalinization of the intracellular milieu. A recent study underscores the role of a particular proton channel in the process of alkalinization.
Equity markets and computational intelligence

I propose a new characterization of the types of problems for which computational intelligence (CI) tends to be used, namely the identification of approximate abstractions. I then suggest that equity markets provide a challenging example for CI. Because markets are inherently adaptive, they pose a more difficult problem than traditional CI domains. I discuss my experience teaching a CI class that took the development of stock trading systems as a theme. A simple genetic algorithm to generate a trading strategy was developed as a class example. Although the astonishingly good results it achieved were due at least in part to data snooping, a simple unevolved version of the same strategy was almost as profitable. Yet it too had subtle data snooping problems—showing how difficult it is to avoid data snooping entirely, especially in adaptive domains.
Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) Signaling via Differential Activation of Activin Receptor-like Kinases 2 and 5 during Cardiac Development ROLE IN REGULATING PARASYMPATHETIC RESPONSIVENESS

Little is known regarding factors that induce parasympathetic responsiveness during cardiac development. We demonstrated previously that in atrial cells cultured from chicks 14 days in ovo, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) decreased parasympathetic inhibition of beat rate by the muscarinic agonist, carbamylcholine, by 5-fold and decreased expression of Gαi2. Here in atrial cells 5 days in ovo,TGFβ increased carbamylcholine inhibition of beat rate 2.5-fold and increased expression of Gαi2. TGFβ also stimulated Gαi2 mRNA expression and promoter activity at day 5 while inhibiting them at day 14 in ovo. Over the same time course expression of type I TGFβ receptors, chick activin receptor-like kinase 2 and 5 increased with a 2.3-fold higher increase in activin receptor-like kinase 2. Constitutively active activin receptor-like kinase 2 inhibited Gαi2 promoter activity, whereas constitutively active activin receptor-like kinase 5 stimulated Gαi2 promoter activity independent of embryonic age. In 5-day atrial cells, TGFβ stimulated the p3TP-lux reporter, which is downstream of activin receptor-like kinase 5 and had no effect on the activity of the pVent reporter, which is downstream of activin receptor-like kinase 2. In 14-day cells, TGFβ stimulated both pVent and p3TP-lux. Thus TGFβ exerts opposing effects on parasympathetic response and Gαi2 expression by activating different type I TGFβ receptors at distinct stages during cardiac development.
Channel Coordination When Retailers Compete

This paper explores channel coordination by a manufacturer that sells through competing retailers and that treats these retailers equally, as required by the Robinson-Patman Act. The authors show that, in general, there exists no single two-part tariff with a constant per-unit charge that will duplicate the behavioral results i.e., prices, quantities, and channel profits that are obtained by a vertically integrated system; that is, the channel cannot be coordinated except in the trivial cases of identical or noncompeting retailers. However, an appropriately specified quantity-discount schedule will enable the channel to earn the same profits generated by a vertically integrated system. Conditions are derived under which a manufacturer will prefer to offer various two-part tariffs with constant per-unit charges instead of the channel-coordinating quantity-discount schedule. The authors also establish the existence of a menu of two-part tariffs that mimics all results of a vertically integrated system. However, only under stringent conditions will retailers select the appropriate tariff from the menu. When these conditions are not satisfied, the channel is worse off than in the case of a single, second-best tariff. It is also demonstrated that under a wide range of parametric values the manufacturer will prefer to offer the second-best two-part tariff rather than a menu of two-part tariffs that could maximize channel profits.
Integrated Trajectory Planning, System Modeling, and Control Design for Optimized Motor Selection

In addition to a well-designed and tuned control system and a properly designed mechanical system, accurate motion control in industrial machines heavily depends on trajectory planning and the appropriate selection of the motors controlling the axes of the machine. A model-based design approach to properly select a motor prior to building a prototype is proposed in this paper. Additionally, a trajectory planning approach is proposed and demonstrated to improve position control accuracy of industrial machines. The proposed motor selection process and trajectory planning approach are demonstrated via modeling and simulation of a commonly used planar robot (H-Bot).Copyright © 2012 by ASME
StarHPC — Teaching parallel programming within elastic compute cloud

The advancement of computer technology and the increasing complexity of research problems are creating the need to teach parallel programming in higher education more effectively. In this paper we present StarHPC, a system solution that supports teaching parallel programming in courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Techology. StarHPC prepackages a virtual machine image used by students, the scripts used by an administrator, and a virtual image of the Amazon Elastic Computing Cloud (EC2) machine used to build the cluster shared by the class. This architecture coupled with the no-cost availability of StarHPC allows it to be deployed at other institutions interested in teaching parallel programming with a dedicated compute cluster without incurring large upfront or ongoing costs.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Tungsten Disulphide Solid Lubricant Nanocomposite Coatings on Rolling Element Bearings

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has the potential to provide highly conformal coatings with precise control of thickness. This article describes the application of ALD nanocomposite containing ZnF2 in WS2 matrix solid lubricant coatings on fully assembled rolling element bearings. The torque behavior of the coated bearings was studied during oscillatory contacts and after exposure to vibration. The coatings exhibited a hexagonal layered structure with predominant preferentially orientated (002) basal planes. These basal planes when sheared imparted very low running torque values of ∼ 0.5 mN· m in dry nitrogen. The outer race, inner race, and ball surfaces showed WS2 transfer film protection on the native coating necessary to achieve low torque in dry nitrogen. Structural (re)ordering of the basal and prismatic planes with multiple random and branched orientations was observed through the thickness of the transfer films. There was no evidence of uniformly aligned c-axis perpendicular-orientated basal planes ...
Initial experience with two-incision laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Abstract Background To introduce the 2-incision technique for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and report our experience with 25 consecutive patients. Newer applications of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques have been touted as revolutionary. Methods We have introduced a technique for LAGB that uses 2 skin incisions: 1 incision in the right upper quadrant (2.5 cm) that accommodates 2 trocars (11 and 5 mm) through which the dissection and implantation of the band were undertaken, and a 0.5-cm incision in the left upper quadrant for the 5-mm videoscope. The band reservoir was placed in a subcutaneous pocket through the upper quadrant incision. Previously, we used a standard 5-incision technique: 2 in the right upper quadrant, 2 in the left paramedian, and 1 in the subxyphoid area to retract the liver. The data from 25 consecutive 2-incision LAGB procedures (October 2007 to April 2008) were compared with the data from 19 consecutive standard 5-incision LAGB procedures (July 2007 to October 2007). The data are presented as mean ± SD. The t test was used to compare the mean values, and P Results The mean estimated blood loss in the 2-incision LAGB was 54 ± 2 mL compared with 17 ± 1 mL in the standard technique ( P = .040). The mean operating time for the 2-incision LAGB was 119 ± 1 minutes compared with 103 ± 1 minutes for the standard technique ( P = .047). No mortality or procedure-related complications (e.g., erosion, slippage) occurred in the 2 groups. Conclusion Two-incision LAGB is feasible; however, it is associated with an increased operating time and blood loss. The operating time and blood loss might improve with standardization of the operative technique and introduction of newly designed flexible tip instruments. Additional prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to assess the efficacy and benefit of the 2-incision technique versus the standard technique.
Pediatricians' Practices and Attitudes Regarding Breastfeeding Promotion

Objective. Public awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding is expected to increase during and after the national, federally funded Best Start Breastfeeding Promotion Campaign. It is anticipated that this will result in more breastfeeding-based interactions between families and pediatricians. The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted a survey of its members to identify their educational needs regarding breastfeeding to assist in the design of appropriate information programs. Method. An eight-page, self-administered questionnaire was sent to 1602 active Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Results. The response rate was 71%. Breastfeeding, as the exclusive feeding practice for the first month after birth, was recommended by only 65% of responding pediatricians; only 37% recommended breastfeeding for 1 year. A majority of pediatricians agreed with or had a neutral opinion about the statement that breastfeeding and formula-feeding are equally acceptable methods for feeding infants. Reasons given for not recommending breastfeeding included medical conditions with known treatments that did not preclude breastfeeding. The majority of pediatricians (72%) were unfamiliar with the contents of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. The majority of pediatricians had not attended a presentation on breastfeeding management in the previous 3 years; most said they wanted more education on breastfeeding management. Conclusion. Pediatricians have significant educational needs in the area of breastfeeding management. breastfeeding, education, pediatricians, survey.
Oddity performance in preschool children at risk for mental retardation: Transfer and maintenance☆

The oddity performance of five preschool children at risk for mental retardation was facilitated by increasing the number of nonodd elements in a visual array. A combination intrasubject reversal and multiple baseline across subjects design indicated the internal validity of interventions designed to enhance the perceptual salience and consequent stimulus control of the odd stimulus. Results demonstrate that transfer and maintenance of oddity learning can be obtained even with individuals for whom correct oddity responding is uncommon. The typically poor performance of young and developmentally delayed children as compared to nondelayed children on tasks such as the oddity task may be attributable to a lower sensitivity to relational information.
CHANGING DELAY DISCOUNTING IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMPETING NEUROBEHAVIORAL DECISION SYSTEMS THEORY: A REVIEW

Excessively devaluing delayed reinforcers co-occurs with a wide variety of clinical conditions such as drug dependence, obesity, and excessive gambling. If excessive delay discounting is a trans-disease process that underlies the choice behavior leading to these and other negative health conditions, efforts to change an individual's discount rate are arguably important. Although discount rate is often regarded as a relatively stable trait, descriptions of interventions and environmental manipulations that successfully alter discount rate have begun to appear in the literature. In this review, we compare published examples of procedures that change discount rate and classify them into categories of procedures, including therapeutic interventions, direct manipulation of the executive decision-making system, framing effects, physiological state effects, and acute drug effects. These changes in discount rate are interpreted from the perspective of the competing neurobehavioral decision systems theory, which describes a combination of neurological and behavioral processes that account for delay discounting. We also suggest future directions that researchers could take to identify the mechanistic processes that allow for changes in discount rate and to test whether the competing neurobehavioral decision systems view of delay discounting is correct.
Calpa: a tool for automating selective dynamic compilation

Selective dynamic compilation systems, typically driven by annotations that identify run-time constants, can achieve significant program speedups. However, manually inserting annotations is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires careful inspection of a program's static characteristics and run-time behavior and much trial and error in order to select the most beneficial annotations. Calpa is a system that generates annotations automatically for the DyC dynamic compiler. Calpa combines execution frequency and value profile information with a model of dynamic compilation cost and dynamically generated code benefit to choose run-time constants and other dynamic compilation strategies. For the programs tested so far, Calpa generates annotations of the same or better quality as those found by a human, but in a fraction of the time. The result was equal or-better program speedups from dynamic compilation, but without the need for programmer intervention.
Developmental Origin of Fat: Tracking Obesity to Its Source

The development of obesity not only depends on the balance between food intake and caloric utilization but also on the balance between white adipose tissue, which is the primary site of energy storage, and brown adipose tissue, which is specialized for energy expenditure. In addition, some sites of white fat storage in the body are more closely linked than others to the metabolic complications of obesity, such as diabetes. In this Review, we consider how the developmental origins of fat contribute to its physiological, cellular, and molecular heterogeneity and explore how these factors may play a role in the growing epidemic of obesity.
Effects of posture on dynamic back loading during a cable lifting task

This study evaluated spinal loads associated with lifting and hanging heavy mining cable in a variety of postures. This electrical cable can weigh up to 10 kg per metre and is often lifted in restricted spaces in underground coal mines. Seven male subjects performed eight cable lifting and hanging tasks, while trunk kinematic data and trunk muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were obtained. The eight tasks were combinations of four postures (standing, stooping, kneeling on one knee, or kneeling on both knees) and two levels of cable load (0 N or 100 N load added to the existing cable weight). An EMG-assisted model was used to calculate forces and moments acting on the lumbar spine. A two-way split-plot ANOVA showed that increased load (p < 0.05) and changes in lifting posture (p < 0.05) independently affected trunk muscle recruitment and spinal loading. The increase in cable load resulted in higher EMG activity of all trunk muscles and increased axial and lateral bending moments on the spine (p < 0.05). Changes in posture caused more selective adjustments in muscle recruitment and affected the sagittal plane moment (p < 0.05). Despite the more selective nature of trunk EMG changes due to posture, the magnitude of changes in spinal loading was often quite dramatic. However, average compression values exceeded 3400 N for all cable lifting tasks.
Influence of Ascorbic Acid on Selenium Nutrition in the Chick

Experiments were conducted to determine the nature of the effect of dietary ascorbic acid on selenium nutrition in the chick. Results showed that ascorbic acid resulted in increased activities of the selenium-containing enzyme glutathione peroxidase in plasma, accompanied by an apparent reduction in the dietary selenium requirement of the vitamin E-deficient chick. The ascorbic acid contents of plasma, liver, kidney and adrenals were not affected by selenium or vitamin E deficiencies, indicating that selenium-vitamin E deficient chicks are not rendered scorbutic. Ab sorption experiments using ligated duodenal loops or oral doses indicated that dietary ascorbic acid promoted the enteric absorption of selenium but did not affect the absorption of vitamin E. These results support the hypothesis previously reported that factors which inhibit the oxidation of dietary selenium promote its absorption and, perhaps, its post-absorptive utilization in metabolically active components of the cell. J. Nutr. 106: 958-966,1976.
Performance Analysis of Mobile Agents in Mobile Distributed Information Retrieval System – A Quantitative Case Study

The traditional client/server-based distributed system design paradigm demonstrates deficiencies in the mobile computing environment because it relies on network connectivity and reliable communication. The advances in mobile agent technology alleviate these problems. The execution autonomy of mobile agents relaxes the requirement on network connectivity and provides opportunities for conserving energy. To the best of our knowledge, in spite of the large body of research in the application and exploitation of agent-based technology, a quantitative comparison of systems implemented using the client/server and agent-based models is still missing and issues related to the energy efficiency of mobile agents remain unexplored. In this paper, we present a quantitative performance evaluation of these two models in terms of response time, energy consumption, and communication cost.
Molecular-orbital experiments

Molecular orbitals (MO) are theoretical entities created to describe probability functions of bonding electrons in molecular groups. Whereas one-electron wave functions that describe atomic orbitals have been measured for decades by spectrographic techniques, bonding electrons in molecules have been less discrete objects to measure directly. The ultimate hopes of those engaged in applied MO theory in the field of mineral physics ride on being able to deduce the nature of bonding electrons precisely. A new application of the so-called Penning ionization principle may make these hopes realizable; it offers the first opportunity to obtain by direct measurement quantitative electron densities within the outer orbitals. Called a Penning ionization electron spectroscopy (PIES) technique, this potentially major breakthrough in molecular orbital studies was developed by Koichi Ohno, Hideki Mutoh, and Yoshiya Harada of the University of Tokyo. As described recently, the results of the University of Tokyo group have shown that “ … a spectroscopic technique can provide information about individual molecular orbitals and that … [the technique] … is most sensitive to the outer most orbitals” (Chemical and Engineering News, August 1, 1983).
MUTATION INDUCTION IN THE MALE RECOMBINATION STRAINS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

One group of the second chromosome lines isolated from a southern Texas population of Drosophila melanogaster, which has been known to show relatively high frequencies of male recombinations, was found to increase the frequency of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations from a control frequency of 0.18% to 1.63%. The second group, which showed a very much reduced frequency of male recombinations, was found to cause a slight increase to 0.48%, although it was not statistically significant. The first group was also tested for the recessive lethal mutation frequency in the second chromosome; the frequency increased from a control frequency of 0.28% to 2.82%. Mapping of a portion of the sex-linked lethals indicated a distribution along the entire X chromosome, although there was a tendency of clustering towards the tip of the X chromosome. One sex-linked lethal line so far tested was found to be associated with an inversion (approximate breakpoints, 14A–18A). It was suggested that the element causing male recombination might be similar to the hi mutator gene studied earlier by Ives (1950).