cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the influence of leaf thickness on canopy reflectance and physiological traits in upland and Pima cotton populations

Many systems for field-based, high-throughput phenotyping (FB-HTP) quantify and characterize the reflected radiation from the crop canopy to derive phenotypes, as well as infer plant function and health status. However, given the technology’s nascent status, it remains unknown how biophysical and physiological properties of the plant canopy impact downstream interpretation and application of canopy reflectance data. In that light, we assessed relationships between leaf thickness and several canopy-associated traits, including normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which was collected via active reflectance sensors carried on a mobile FB-HTP system, carbon isotope discrimination (CID), and chlorophyll content. To investigate the relationships among traits, two distinct cotton populations, an upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 95 lines and a Pima (G. barbadense L.) population composed of 25 diverse cultivars, were evaluated under contrasting irrigation regimes, water-limited (WL) and well-watered (WW) conditions, across three years. We detected four quantitative trait loci (QTL) and significant variation in both populations for leaf thickness among genotypes as well as high estimates of broad-sense heritability (on average, above 0.7 for both populations), indicating a strong genetic basis for leaf thickness. Strong phenotypic correlations (maximum r = - 0.73) were observed between leaf thickness and NDVI in the Pima population, but not the RIL population. Additionally, estimated genotypic correlations within the RIL population for leaf thickness with CID, chlorophyll content, and nitrogen discrimination (r _gij = -0.32, 0.48, and 0.40, respectively) were all significant under WW but not WL conditions. Economically important fiber quality traits did not exhibit significant phenotypic or genotypic correlations with canopy traits. Overall, our results support considering variation in leaf thickness as a potential contributing factor to variation in NDVI or other canopy traits measured via proximal sensing, and as a trait that impacts fundamental physiological responses of plants.
The methylazoxymethanol acetate rat model: molecular and epigenetic effect in the developing prefrontal cortex: An Editorial Highlight for 'Epigenetic mechanisms underlying NMDA receptor hypofunction in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile animals in the MAM model for schizophrenia' on page 320

This Editorial highlights an article by Gulchina and colleagues in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors describe molecular and epigenetic changes in the developing prefrontal cortex of the rats exposed to methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM). They found an NMDAR hypofunction present in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile MAM rats which was associated with abnormal epigenetic regulation of the Grin2b gene. These changes may be related to early cognitive impairments observed in MAM rats and schizophrenia patients.
A real-time demand response market through a repeated incomplete-information game

Abstract Demand Response (DR) programs have been developed to help traditional power market to meet demand specially with increasing penetrations of renewable energies. This paper focuses on application of a game-theoretic framework to model competition between demand response aggregators to sell aggregated energy stored in storage devices directly to other aggregators in a market. This proposed market is cleared in each time interval of a day using a repeated game-theoretic framework. After finding optimal bidding strategies of the aggregators in each time interval, Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) is performed to update the dispatch of generators based on updated demand. Dynamic pricing has been considered in the proposed market framework in two forms: Real-Time Pricing (RTP) in each time interval of a day with updating demand and supply and Time-of-Use (TOU) with demand price-based scheduling through dynamic programing. The proposed method minimizes the fuel consumption and operation costs and optimally schedules the generation in grid's supply side. It also presents optimal prices during different periods simultaneously. Customers in light of the utility's optimal price minimize theirs electricity costs and optimally schedule their power consumption in order to participate in the DR market. The presented model is applied to IEEE 24-bus model.
The association of air pollutants and allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND There has been little investigation regarding air quality and rhinitis in the pathophysiology of upper airway disease. In this study, we assessed the impact of inhalant pollutants (particulate matter 2.5 [PM2.5 ] and black carbon [BC]) on allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) disease severity. METHODS CRS patients with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without polyps (CRSsNP) were identified. Spatial modeling from pollutant monitoring sites was used to estimate exposures for patients meeting the inclusion criteria (total, n = 125; CRSsNP, n = 67; CRSsNP, n = 58). Skin-prick, intradermal dilutional, and in-vitro testing methods were utilized to determine aeroallergen sensitization. Disease severity indicators were measured by modified Lund-Mackay score (LMS), the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), systemic steroid therapy, and number of functional endoscopic sinus surgeries (FESS). RESULTS Thirty-six percent (n = 45) of patients who described rhinitis symptoms demonstrated no reactivity to aeroallergen testing. Sixty-four percent (n = 80) tested positive for at least 1 allergen, with no differences found between CRSsNP and CRSwNP (62.1% vs 67.2%). There were significant differences in air pollutants between patients testing negative and positive for allergies (nonallergic vs allergic: PM2.5 , 11.32 vs 11.07 μg/m3 , p = 0.030; BC, 0.81 vs 0.76 absorbance, p =0.044). Nonallergic CRSwNP demonstrated higher PM2.5 compared with allergic counterparts (11.48 vs 11.09 μg/m3 , p = 0.032). A similar pattern was observed with BC (0.82 vs 0.75 absorbance, p = 0.017). In CRSsNP, BC correlated significantly with SNOT-22 (r = 0.55, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that small inhalant pollutants may contribute to nonallergic symptomatology in patients with and without nasal polyps. Regardless of allergy status, BC may play a role in CRS symptom severity.
VARIETIES OF LEFT RESTRICTION SEMIGROUPS

Left restriction semigroups are the unary semigroups that abstractly characterize semigroups of partial maps on a set, where the unary operation associates to a map the identity element on its domain. They may be defined by a simple set of identities and the author initiated a study of the lattice of varieties of such semigroups, in parallel with the study of the lattice of varieties of two-sided restriction semigroups. In this work we study the subvariety . These have already been studied in the ‘plain’ semigroup context, in the inverse semigroup context (in the first two instances) and in the two-sided restriction semigroup context (in all but the last instance). The author has previously shown that in the last of these contexts, the behavior is pathological: ‘almost all’ finite restriction semigroups are inherently nonfinitely based. Here we show that this is not the case for left restriction semigroups, by exhibiting identities for the above varieties and for their joins with monoids (the analog of groups in this context). We do so by structural means involving subdirect decompositions into certain primitive semigroups. We also show that each identity has a simple structural interpretation.
Genetic Ancestry for Sleep Research: Leveraging Health Inequalities to Identify Causal Genetic Variants

Recent evidence has highlighted the health inequalities in sleep behaviors and sleep disorders that adversely affect outcomes in select populations, including African-American and Hispanic-American subjects. Race-related sleep health inequalities are ascribed to differences in multilevel and interlinked health determinants, such as sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and biology. African-American and Hispanic-American subjects are admixed populations whose genetic inheritance combines two or more ancestral populations originating from different continents. Racial inequalities in admixed populations can be parsed into relevant groups of mediating factors (environmental vs genetic) with the use of measures of genetic ancestry, including the proportion of an individual's genetic makeup that comes from each of the major ancestral continental populations. This review describes sleep health inequalities in African-American and Hispanic-American subjects and considers the potential utility of ancestry studies to exploit these differences to gain insight into the genetic underpinnings of these phenotypes. The inclusion of genetic approaches in future studies of admixed populations will allow greater understanding of the potential biological basis of race-related sleep health inequalities.
Evaluation of Antibody Biotinylation Approaches for Enhanced Sensitivity of Single Molecule Array (Simoa) Immunoassays.

In this study, we evaluated the performance of Single Molecule Array (Simoa) immunoassays based on various detection antibody biotinylation approaches. Simoa immunoassays, like other sandwich ELISAs, are highly dependent on the interaction of a biotinylated detection antibody with an enzyme conjugated to streptavidin. Thus, we sought to assess whether different biotinylation reagents can improve the performance and sensitivity of Simoa assays. We selected three proteins, GM-CSF, IFNγ, and IL-2, that are present at ultralow levels in many biological samples. We compared the performance of these Simoa assays by using five different biotinylation reagents and varying the amount of molar fold excess biotin during the biotinylation process. We found that the choice of biotinylation reagent and the molar fold excess biotin can highly affect the performance of the Simoa assays, with differences of up to an order of magnitude in sensitivity. We also tested the performance of bulk ELISAs using the different biotin...
Outcome Effects on Recidivism Among Drug Court Participants

Drug courts were established to reduce recidivism rates for substance-involved offenders who traditionally would have been sentenced to conventional probation supervision. Past research has reporte...
Dendritic cells treated with exogenous indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase maintain an immature phenotype and suppress antigen-specific T cell proliferation

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an intracellular enzyme responsible for catalyzing the rate limiting step of tryptophan catabolism, plays a critical role in immune cell suppression and tolerance. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated depletion of the essential amino acid tryptophan increases susceptibility of T cells to apoptosis, while kynurenine and its downstream metabolites, such as 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid and quinolinic acid, have a direct cytotoxic effect on conventional effector T cells. Additionally, IDO-expressing antigen presenting cells (APCs) induce proliferation of regulatory T cells. When expressed by an APC, the immunosuppressive effects of IDO may act directly on the APC as well as indirectly upon local T cells. One approach to elicit immune tolerance or reduce inflammation therefore is to promote expression of IDO. However, this approach is constrained by several factors including the potential for deleterious biologic effects of conventional IDO-inducing agents such as interferon gamma (IFNγ), and the potential limitations of constitutive gene transfection. Alternatively, direct action of recombinant IDO enzyme supplied exogenously as a potential therapeutic in the extracellular space has not been investigated previously, and is the focus of this work. Results indicate exogenous recombinant human IDO supplementation influences murine dendritic cell (DC) maturation and ability to suppress antigen specific T cell proliferation. Following treatment, DCs were refractory to maturation by LPS as defined by co-stimulatory molecule expression (CD80 and CD86) and major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) expression. Dendritic cells exhibited skewing toward an anti-inflammatory cytokine release profile, with reduced secretion of IL-12p70 and maintained basal level of secreted IL-10. Notably, IDO-treated DCs suppressed proliferation of ovalbumin (OVA) antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the presence of cognate antigen presentation in a manner dependent on active enzyme, as introduction of IDO inhibitor 1-methyl-tryptophan, restored T cell proliferation. Defined media experiments indicate a cumulative role for both tryptophan depletion and kynurenine presence, in the suppressive programming of DCs. In sum, we report that exogenously supplied IDO maintains immunoregulatory function on DCs, suggesting that IDO may have potential as a therapeutic protein for suppressive programming with application toward inflammation and tolerance.
Focusing of Airborne Particles Using Groove-Induced Envelope (GRIP) Flow Air-Microfluidic Concentrator

Monitoring personal exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) necessitates the need for ubiquitous portable PM sensing systems. Most current microfluidic PM detectors will be significantly improved if the particles suspended in the air-stream are focused into a narrow stream. In this paper, we present a novel microfabricated groove-induced envelope flow (GRIP) air-microfluidic PM focusing system. In this device, the horizontal focusing is achieved by enveloping the main flow using clean sheath flow from the sides of the microchannels, while vertical focusing is achieved using grooved structures on top and bottom of the microchannels. The grooves are fabricated using a novel fabrication technique that is compatible with the DRIE fabrication process of other air-microfluidics PM sensors, making it easier to integrate these two components into small air-microfluidic circuits. The performance of this system was evaluated using the opto-gravimetric method. Mono-dispersed polystyrene latex spheres were injected into the GRIP system and subsequently collected on membrane filters attached to the outlet. Epi-fluorescent microscopy was then used to image the distribution of the particles on the filter. The experimental results confirm that the efficiency of the GRIP device for focusing particles in air-microfluidic channels, enabling increased sensitivity and elimination of wall losses in future micro-electro-mechanical-systems PM sensor.
Practical Coding Function Design for Time-Of-Flight Imaging

The depth resolution of a continuous-wave time-of-flight (CW-ToF) imaging system is determined by its coding functions. Recently, there has been growing interest in the design of new high-performance CW-ToF coding functions. However, these functions are typically designed in a hardware agnostic manner, i.e., without considering the practical device limitations, such as bandwidth, source power, digital (binary) function generation. Therefore, despite theoretical improvements, practical implementation of these functions remains a challenge. We present a constrained optimization approach for designing practical coding functions that adhere to hardware constraints. The optimization problem is non-convex with a large search space and no known globally optimal solutions. To make the problem tractable, we design an iterative, alternating least-squares algorithm, along with convex relaxation of the constraints. Using this approach, we design high-performance coding functions that can be implemented on existing hardware with minimal modifications. We demonstrate the performance benefits of the resulting functions via extensive simulations and a hardware prototype.
Advances in anti-G valve technology: what's in the future?

Abstract : Conventional mechanical anti-G valve technology has been overtaken by the performance of modern aircraft and will fall farther behind in new generations of fighters. This paper discusses the fundamental shortcomings of anti-G valves and presents concepts and enhancements potentially available with recently developed servovalves, concepts now under active investigation and development, and closes with an overview of advanced anti-G suit concepts compatible with advanced adaptive servovalves. G suits, Gravity, Reprints, Performance(Human), Acceleration stress, Bang Bang servo.
American 'Reparations' to Germany, 1919-33. Princeton Studies in International Finance, No. 61

Germany paid no net reparations to the Allies, 1919-33. The American capital flow to Germany, first through financial assets devalued in the hyperinflation, and then through loans subsequently repudiated, provided a net capital flow (in excess of reparations) equal to 2.1% of German national income for the period 1919-31.
Barriers to Culturally Competent Health Care

Barriers to culturally competent health care are defined as obstacles or hindrances that make it difficult to obtain or access good health or health care. Despite efforts and goals in the United States and many other countries around the world to reduce or eliminate obstacles, significant disparities continue, especially with what the professional literature refers to as vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations include the following:
Time, Being, and Media

Scannell’s chapter delivers a philosophical debate on the meaning of time (and of being-in-the-world). He therefore uses Heidegger and other phenomenological approaches to understand not only what time is, but more specifically what the times of broadcast radio and television are. This existential-ontological debate includes questions and definitions of free time, of my time, of historical time. Scannell thereby also asks about the past and the present and their relation to the future. He accomplishes this not too small feat through a focus on liveness and the everyday. Throughout the chapter, Scannell links philosophical debates with actual examples.
Services to Blind and Visually Impaired Children and Adults: Who Is Responsible?.

Quality education and rehabilitation programs for blind and visually impaired individuals may be threatened by the philosophy of service to disabled people currently prevailing at the federal level...
From Mendelian inheritance to molecular genomics: a brief appreciation of genetics

Biology is one of many sciences advancing society and the human conquest for knowledge. Its transition from speculation to lifestyle has been a turbulent ride for centuries, but nevertheless, implications for health improvement has only allowed the field to be advocated by more and more people beyond the professions. Revolutionary findings in genetics increased rapidly for either the advancement of knowledge or its promise for medicine, and while its celebration is heard in academia and achievements like Nobel Prizes, many of the details and reasons for these celebrations are not fully understood. In this mini retrospect, I reflect on a fraction of breakthroughs in genetics as a valuable biological tool and the reasons for why there is great appreciation and anticipation in the field today—and tomorrow.
Conceptualizing Appealability: Resisting The Supreme Court’s Categorical Imperative

In federal court, various appealability doctrines govern whether a decision can be immediately appealed. Some doctrines apply to clearer categories of orders, like injunctions. Others apply to more amorphous categories of orders, like the different “final decisions” appealable under multiple interpretations of the final-judgment rule. The Supreme Court has directed courts to decide appealability based only on whole categories of orders, not on the facts of individual cases. But that categorical imperative has not stopped courts from creating varied new categories of orders to deem final-for-appeal. This paper draws on insights from cognitive psychology to understand how courts conceive of categories of orders. Cognitive psychologists have shown that people understand the world using not only “classical categories” based on logical definitions, but also “conceptual categories” based on fuzzier, intuitive concepts of similarity and typicality. This paper approaches appealability as a two-step process—first, categorizing the order and, second, applying the appropriate doctrine. Previous interventions have focused on whether different doctrines use rules or standards at the second step. This paper focuses on the initial categorization step. This paper makes two contributions to the study of federal appealability. First, it maps the appealability doctrines on both a rules–standards continuum and a classical– conceptual categorical continuum. It shows that different applications of the final- judgment rule employ different categorical approaches. Sometimes, when applied to formal final judgments and truly final orders, the final-judgment rule uses classical categories of finality. But in other applications, particularly the finality-for-appeal doctrines, it uses conceptual categories. Second, this paper argues that, despite the Supreme Court’s categorical imperative, courts should employ a flexible conceptual approach to identify new categories of orders that are final-for-appeal. It posits some potential features of those new conceptual categories. Over time, intuitive, conceptual categories could produce more definite classical categories, but only if courts have the opportunity to implement and iterate on them. Shutting down the finality-for-appeal doctrines because of the Court’s categorical imperative would frustrate that development.
Dissecting the Pol II transcription cycle and derailing cancer with CDK inhibitors

Largely non-overlapping sets of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate cell division and RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-dependent transcription. Here we review the molecular mechanisms by which specific CDKs are thought to act at discrete steps in the transcription cycle and describe the recent emergence of transcriptional CDKs as promising drug targets in cancer. We emphasize recent advances in understanding the transcriptional CDK network that were facilitated by development and deployment of small-molecule inhibitors with increased selectivity for individual CDKs. Unexpectedly, several of these compounds have also shown selectivity in killing cancer cells, despite the seemingly universal involvement of their target CDKs during transcription in all cells. Finally, we describe remaining and emerging challenges in defining functions of individual CDKs in transcription and co-transcriptional processes and in leveraging CDK inhibition for therapeutic purposes.
Analysis of Dynamic Graphs and Dynamic Metric Spaces via Zigzag Persistence

We overview recent work on obtaining persistent homology based summaries of time-dependent data. Given a finite dynamic graph (DG), one first constructs a zigzag persistence module arising from linearizing the dynamic transitive graph naturally induced from the input DG. Based on standard results, it is possible to then obtain a persistence diagram or barcode from this zigzag persistence module. It turns out that these barcodes are stable under perturbations of the input DG under a certain suitable distance between DGs. We also overview how these results are also applicable in the setting of dynamic metric spaces, and describe a computational application to the analysis of flocking behavior.
Single cell protein production from food waste using purple non-sulfur bacteria shows economically viable protein products have higher environmental impacts

Abstract Landfilling of food waste in the United States is a source of unutilized resources and environmental risks. As cities look to divert food waste from landfills, microorganisms may hold the answer. Purple non-sulfur bacteria are a group of microorganisms that can treat and extract resources from food waste to produce a protein supplement for animal feed. This study includes a life cycle assessment to compare four food waste management scenarios: purple non-sulfur bacteria production offsetting soybean meal production, purple non-sulfur bacteria production offsetting fishmeal and carotenoid production, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling (status quo). Purple non-sulfur bacteria offsetting soybean meal production resulted in significantly reduced environmental impacts compared to landfilling. Specifically, the eutrophication impact, land use, and water use for the soybean meal offset scenario were 141 kg N equivalents/day, 96 ha, and 120,000 L/day lower than landfilling, respectively. However, the low value of soybean meal limits the economic viability of this scenario. When high-value fishmeal and carotenoids were the offset products, there was an increase in value of $0.023/kg FW treated over landfill disposal of food waste. Offset fishmeal and carotenoids are not without environmental tradeoffs, most significantly with respect to eutrophication and global warming. This study then demonstrated that determining maximal growth rates to a PNSB photobioreactor, growing PNSB microorganisms on sunlight, and identifying the degree to which PNSB carotenoids can replace carotenoids in fish food were plausible lines of research to improve environmental and/or economic viability of the process. The life cycle assessment developed here can inform decision making for food waste management and guide research to improve purple non-sulfur bacteria production.
Patient and surrogate attitudes via an interviewer-administered survey on exception from informed consent enrollment in the Prehospital Air Medical Plasma (PAMPer) trial

With increased focus on early resuscitation methods following injury to improve patient outcomes, studies are employing exception from informed consent (EFIC) enrollment. Few studies have assessed patients’ opinions following participation in an EFIC study, and none have been conducted within the realm of traumatic hemorrhage. We surveyed those patients and surrogates previously enrolled in the Prehospital Air Medical Plasma (PAMPer) Trial to clarify their opinions related to consent and emergency research. Telephone calls were made between January–June 2019 to all patients who were enrolled under EFIC in the PAMPer study at the Pittsburgh site (169 of the 501 total patients enrolled, May 2014-Oct 2017) and their surrogates. Questions gauging approval of EFIC enrollment were asked before discussion of PAMPer trial outcomes, after disclosure of positive outcomes, and after a hypothetical negative trial outcome was proposed. Of the total 647 telephone calls made, ninety-three interviews, reflecting 70 of 169 patient enrollments, were conducted. This included 13 in which only the patient was interviewed, 23 in which the patient and a surrogate were interviewed, and 34 in which only a surrogate was interviewed. Nearly half (48.4%) of respondents did not recall their personal or family member enrollment in the study. No patients or surrogates recalled hearing about the study through community consultation or being aware of opt out procedures. Patients and surrogates were glad they were enrolled (90.3%), agreed with EFIC use for their personal enrollment (88.17%), and agreed with the general use of EFIC for the PAMPer study (81.7%). Disclosure of the true positive PAMPer study outcome resulted in a significant increase in opinions regarding personal enrollment, EFIC for personal enrollment, and EFIC for general enrollment (all p < 0.001). Disclosure of a hypothetical neutral or negative study outcome resulted in significant decreases in opinions regarding EFIC for personal enrollment (p = 0.003) and EFIC for general enrollment (p < 0.001). Clinical trial participants with traumatic hemorrhagic shock enrolled with EFIC, and surrogates of such participants, are generally accepting of EFIC. The results of the trial in which EFIC was utilized significantly affected patient and surrogate agreement with personal and general EFIC enrollment.
Visual Attention Preference for Intermediate Predictability in Young Children.

How do children allocate their attention? There is too much information in the world to encode it all, so children must pick and choose. How do they organize their sampling to make the most of the learning opportunities that surround them? Previous work shows infants actively seek intermediately predictable information. Here we employ eye-tracking and computational modeling to examine the impact of stimulus predictability across early childhood (ages 3-6 years, n = 72, predominantly Non-Hispanic White, middle- to upper-middle-income), by chronological age and cognitive ability. Results indicated that children prefer attending to stimuli of intermediate predictability, with no differences in this pattern based on age or cognitive ability. The consistency may suggest a robust general information-processing mechanism that operates across the lifespan.
Rotational Enhancement Factor for Nuclear Level Density

The original formulation of the nuclear level density problem was done by Bethe. At that time, there was no knowledge of deformed nuclei. Bethe specifically assumed that nuclei were spherical. Subsequently, it was discovered that some nuclei were deformed and theoretical works established that a substantial enhancement of nuclear level densities for deformed nuclei relative to nearby spherical nuclei would be expected. Two compilations of nuclear level densities from neutron resonance spacing have failed to find this enhancement. It is pointed out in this presentation that the failures in the compilations to find enhancement are a result of using a spin distribution formula due to Bethe which was derived specifically for spherical nuclei.
Associations between three measures of physical activity and selected influences on physical activity in youth transitioning from elementary to middle school

Abstract Measurement of physical activity is challenging, and objective and subjective methods can be used. The purposes of this study were to apply structural equation modeling in: 1) examining the associations between three distinct measures of physical activity and three factors that are often found to be correlated to physical activity in children, and 2) examining the associations of the combination of three measures with the same correlates in a cohort of youth followed from 5th to 7th grade. A total of 409 children (45% boys) had complete physical activity data derived from accelerometers, self-report by youth, and proxy-report by parents. The potential correlates of physical activity included self-efficacy, physical activity support, and facilities for physical activity. Structural equation models were used to assess the relationship between physical activity and the correlates. The structural equation models examining associations between individual measures of physical activity and selected correlates showed that parent-reported and child self-reported physical activity were associated with parental support for physical activity and self-efficacy. Objectively measured physical activity was associated only with facilities for physical activity. A structural equation model showed that a composite expression of physical activity, based on the inclusion of all three individual measures, was associated with all three correlates of physical activity. In conclusion, combining measures of physical activity from different sources may improve the identification of correlates of physical activity. This information could be used to plan more effective physical activity interventions in children and youth.
Decisions in an Innate Behavioral Sequence

SUMMARY Innate behaviors are comprised of ordered sequences of component actions that progress to satisfy drives. We have characterized the structure of egg-laying behavior in Drosophila in detail and observed that the sequence is not merely comprised of motor acts but also acts of sensory exploration that govern the transitions between component actions. We have identified a cluster of internal sensory neurons that provide information about the progression of the egg during ovipositor burrowing, a behavior necessary for the subterraneous deposition of the egg. These neurons impart sensory feedback that allows burrowing to continue to egg deposition or to abort in favor of further exploration. Diminished activity of these neurons upon completed egg expulsion may initiate the transition to the final phase of egg-laying, allowing the cycle to repeat. Sensory feedback therefore plays a critical role at decision points between transitions affording innate behaviors with an adaptive flexibility.
Variations of stress field and stone fracture produced at different lateral locations in a shockwave lithotripter field.

During clinical procedures, the lithotripter shock wave (LSW) that is incident on the stone and resultant stress field is often asymmetric due to the respiratory motion of the patient. The variations of the LSW-stone interaction and associated fracture pattern were investigated by photoelastic imaging, phantom experiments, and three-dimensional fluid-solid interaction modeling at different lateral locations in a lithotripter field. In contrast to a T-shaped fracture pattern often observed in the posterior region of the disk-shaped stone under symmetric loading, the fracture pattern gradually transitioned to a tilted L-shape under asymmetric loading conditions. Moreover, the model simulations revealed the generation of surface acoustic waves (SAWs), i.e., a leaky Rayleigh wave on the anterior boundary and Scholte wave on the posterior boundary of the stone. The propagation of SAWs on the stone boundary is accompanied by a progressive transition of the LSW reflection pattern from regular to von Neumann and to weak von Neumann reflection near the glancing incidence and, concomitantly, the development and growth of a Mach stem, swirling around the stone boundary. The maximum tensile stress and stress integral were produced by SAWs on the stone boundary under asymmetric loading conditions, which drove the initiation and extension of surface cracks into the bulk of the stone that is confirmed by micro–computed tomography analysis.
Reciprocal associations between affectual, associational, and normative solidarity with parents during children’s early to established adulthood

Intergenerational solidarity has become increasingly important to understand, as close family members mobilize the provision of social support across generations and contribute to family wellbeing. However, less is known about continuity and change in normative (eldercare norms), affectual, and associational solidarity with mothers and fathers as children emerge into full or established adulthood. Therefore, we focused on reciprocal associations between three dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (normative, affectual, and associational) as reported by young-adult children from their early twenties to late thirties. Data were derived from respondents in the Longitudinal Study of Generations: daughters reported about relationships with 291 mother-father pairs and sons reported about relationships with 309 mother-father pairs in 2000, 2005, and 2016. Autoregressive cross-lagged models prospectively predicted mutual influences among the three dimensions of solidarity across daughter-parent and son-parent relationships. In addition, multiple group analysis was conducted to examine the children's gender difference. We found that normative solidarity and emotional closeness with mothers were mutually reinforcing in daughters' and sons' parental relationships. However, normative solidarity predicted emotional closeness with fathers in both daughter-parent and son-parent relationships. The study concludes that sons and daughters establish eldercare norms based on emotional components of solidarity with mothers, and suggest that filial duty is a key reason why mother-child relations become close over the family life course.
Dynamical properties of a minimally parameterized mathematical model for metronomic chemotherapy.

A minimally parameterized mathematical model for low-dose metronomic chemotherapy is formulated that takes into account angiogenic signaling between the tumor and its vasculature and tumor inhibiting effects of tumor-immune system interactions. The dynamical equations combine a model for tumor development under angiogenic signaling formulated by Hahnfeldt et al. with a model for tumor-immune system interactions by Stepanova. The dynamical properties of the model are analyzed. Depending on the parameter values, the system encompasses a variety of medically realistic scenarios that range from cases when (i) low-dose metronomic chemotherapy is able to eradicate the tumor (all trajectories converge to a tumor-free equilibrium point) to situations when (ii) tumor dormancy is induced (a unique, globally asymptotically stable benign equilibrium point exists) to (iii) multi-stable situations that have both persistent benign and malignant behaviors separated by the stable manifold of an unstable equilibrium point and finally to (iv) situations when tumor growth cannot be overcome by low-dose metronomic chemotherapy. The model forms a basis for a more general study of chemotherapy when the main components of a tumor’s microenvironment are taken into account.
Ocena dekohezji łopatki turbiny gazowej metodą tomografii komputerowej

W procesie eksploatacji lotniczych silnikow turbinowych podstawową metodą diagnozowania stanu lopatek wirnikowych jest metoda wizualna (wideoendoskopowa), a wyniki potwierdza sie badaniami metalograficznymi, metodą niszczącą. W artykule omowiono metode – rentgenowską tomografie komputerową (CT) oraz mozliwości jej stosowania do diagnozowania zmian stanu lopatek turbin gazowych, jako metode badan nieniszczących (nDT). Tomografia jest transmisyjną techniką diagnostyczną umozliwiającą uzyskiwanie warstwowych obrazow detalu. Jest ona wykorzystywana w laboratoriach naukowo-badawczych i stosowana w procesie kontroli jakości produkcji. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badan oceny stanu eksploatowanych lopatek turbiny gazowej metodą wizualną oraz rentgenowską tomografią komputerową. Wyniki te zweryfikowano badaniami metodą metalograficzną. Stwierdzono, ze metoda radiograficzna, wygenerowując przestrzenny obraz wnetrza lopatek, umozliwia rozpoznanie rodzaju wad, ich wielkości i umiejscowienia. Ponadto zaprezentowano mozliwości techniczne tomografu V/tome/x m o mocy lampy 300 kV oraz mozliwości obrobki danych w programie do rekonstrukcji VG Studio Max2. Rownolegle prowadzone są prace z lampą do nanotomografii o mocy 180 kV i rozdzielczości do 0,5 μm, szczegolnie przydatną do badan materialow kompozytowych. Evaluation of the decohesion effect on gas turbine blades with use of computer tomography abstract The basic diagnostic method usually applied to assess technical condition of rotor blades is the visual inspection carried out with use of a video endoscope. The outcome of such an inspection is validated by means of destructive tests by investigation of metallographic polished specimen. This paper outlines the innovative technique of Computer Tomography (CT) and presents its applicability and diag- nostic advantages when the method is used for non-De- structive Tests (nDT) aimed at determination how much blades of gas turbines are deteriorated due to the effect of the operational environment. The method is used by research and scientific labora- tories as well as in other fields, including quality control at manufacturing plants. The paper compares results for evaluation of technical condition demonstrated by gas turbine blades and acquired from visual inspections against the ones from investigations by means of Computer Tomography. Finally, the results were validated by investigation of metallographic microsections. It was found out that the X-ray method is capable of produc- ing 3D images for inner spaces of blades and thus enables identification of defect types, their sizes and locations. In addition, the paper presents technical performances of the V/tome/x m tomography with the X-ray tube for 300 kV voltage and capabilities of the VG Studio Max2 software designed for reconstructions of images. In parallel, investigations with the use of a tube for nanotomography for the voltage of 180 kV and resolution of 0.5 μm are also in progress since that type of tube is particularly useful for investigation of composite materials.
When the Pencils Are Blue

As stated in the previous chapter, editors make three distinctive types of edits: content edits, stylistic edits, and form edits. Content edits address what documents say. These edits often affect large-scale decisions about documents, such as whether to accept them for publication, or whether the authors are headed in the appropriate directions. Stylistic edits address how the messages are delivered in documents. These edits focus on the structure, language, and illustration of documents. Finally, form edits address the appearances of documents. In other words, do the documents follow the accepted rules of grammar, punctuation, usage, spelling, and format?
Cellular mechanisms of blood-retinal barrier dysfunction in macular edema.

PurposeTo determine the mechanism of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) dysfunction in human and experimental specimens using immunocytochemistry. Methods Extravascular albumin was localized in clinical specimens and retinas from transgenic mice that overexpress vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the photoreceptors. Transgenic mouse retinas were also labeled with Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin-B4 (GSA), a lectin that binds to endothelial cells. Results The BRB is established by the presence of tight junctions between the retinal vascular endothelial (RVE) cells and the RPE cells and by a paucity of intraendothelial cell vesicles. When BRB breakdown occurs in human ocular disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, or cystoid macular edema, staining for extravascular albumin reveals leakage through the tight junctions, an upregulation of intraendothelial vesicles, and permeation of RVE or RPE cells that have undergone degenerative changes. VEGF, in addition to inducing neovascularization (NV), promotes vascular leakage. In VEGF transgenic mice, BRB failure is confined to the outer retina, the area where NV occurs. GSA binds to the luminal and abluminal surfaces of RVE cells in new and established vessels and to intraendothelial vesicles and interendothelial cell junctions in areas of vascular leakage. Conclusion BRB dysfunction may be mediated by leakage through the tight junctions of RVE or RPE cells, by trans-endothelial vesicular transport, or by permeation of RVE or RPE cells that have undergone degenerative changes. GSA may be a useful marker to assist in recognizing open tight junctions and an increase in intraendothelial cell vesicles, which are indicative of BRB failure.
Parameter estimation for target tracking with uncertain sensor positions

This paper investigates the problem of estimating parameters necessary to predict the trajectory of a maneuvering acoustic target using passive sensors of uncertain position. A batch oriented maximum a-priori (MAP) estimation scheme is used to determining both the sensor movement and the target trajectory from the data. A typical simulation is presented, and the results show that the algorithm permits estimation of the sensor positions along with that of the target trajectory.
Impacts of Trades in an Error-Correction Model of Quote Prices

In this paper we analyze and interpret the quote price dynamics of 100 NYSE stockswith varying average trade frequencies. We specify an error-correction model for the logdifference of the bid and the ask price, with the spread acting as the error-correctionterm, and include as regressors the characteristics of the trades occurring between quote observations, if any. We find that short duration and medium volume trades have the largest impacts on quote prices for all one hundred stocks, and that buyer initiated trades primarily move the ask price while seller initiated trades primarily move the bid price. Trades have a greater impact on quotes in both the short and the long run for the infrequently traded stocks than for the more actively traded stocks. Finally, we find strong evidence that the spread is mean reverting.
An Algorithmic Approach to Mechanical Hip Pain

Background As our understanding of hip pathology evolves, the focus is shifting toward earlier identification of hip pathology. Therefore, it is vitally important to elucidate intra-articular versus extra-articular pathology of hip pain in every step of the patient encounter: history, physical examination, and imaging.
Operator behavior in a dynamic visual signal detection task

The effects of changes in signal-to-noise ratio (SIN) and feedback state on the operator’s detection behavior, particularly derived operator thresholds, were investigated using a discrete visual signal. It was found that: (1) the operator behaves as if he has established different thresholds as a function of S/N; (2) his decision thresholds are relatively independent of the presence or absence of feedback; and (3) the operator will change his threshold accordingly for a change from one S/N to another. A model of the operator’s behavior, which introduced the concept of “operator” noise. yielded predictions of detection and false alarm probabilities which were extremely close to the observed values.
Variation in low-frequency estimates of sound levels based on different units of analysis

The measurement and analysis of underwater sound is a complicated process because of the variable durations of contributing sources and constantly changing water column dynamics. Because the ambient sound distribution does not always follow a Gaussian structure and may be nonstationary in time, analysis over an extended period is required to accurately characterize the data. Utilizing recordings from the Indian Ocean, the temporal variation in ambient sound including transient signals was examined using multiple processing window lengths and subsampling intervals. Results illustrate the degree of uncertainty in sound levels based on different units of analysis. The average difference between sound level estimates in the 10–30 Hz band due to subsampling was 2 dB and as high as 4 dB. The difference in the full band (5–110 Hz) was as high as 6 dB. Longer averaging windows (200 vs 60 s) resulted in larger variations over different subsampling intervals. This work demonstrates how sampling protocols within a single dataset can influence results and acknowledges that comparative studies at the same location but with different sampling protocols can be substantial if signal processing parameters are not statistically accounted for to confirm interpretation of results and observed trends.