cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid 3D fabrication of micro-optical components for tailored imaging and sensing applications

The development of two-photon lithographic technologies is enabling the fabrication of 3D structures at sub-micron resolution with optical materials. The freedom allotted by these technologies allows for the fabrication of miniaturized optical systems and complex micro-optical components. Additionally, the ability to rapid prototype micro-optical components with these technologies makes it suitable for providing an option for custom tailored imaging applications that include quantitative imaging modalities. Utilizing such technologies, an advanced approach is taken for the development of a fiberscope for specific imaging applications. Submillimeter freeform shape lenses, aperture, and micro-optical housing are fabricated as distal-end components to replace conventional micro-optical components of an endoscopic platform to enable long- working distance, high-resolution, imaging applications. Beam shapers are also fabricated at the distal ends of optical fibers to reduce the numerical aperture of each illumination fiber, aligning the area of illumination to the area observed by the imager. Optimization of beam shapers serves to provide relatively uniform and non-saturated illumination of the target area. Together, this custom optical system can outperform commercially available equivalents and is an example of how this 3D fabrication technology can offer improved alternatives to conventional micro-optics of today. Moving forward, development and incorporation of more complex micro-optical components, such as diffractive optical elements together with additional 3D printed sensors, can serve to bring quantitative power to further expanding the applicability of new miniaturized imaging and sensing systems. Examples to illustrate capabilities are presented.
The Effect of the Medicaid Expansion on Frequent Emergency Department Use in New York

Abstract Background There is limited evidence on the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on frequent emergency department (ED) use. Objectives To estimate the effect of the ACA Medicaid expansion on frequent ED use in New York. Methods We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases from 2011 to 2016. A consistent and unique patient identifier enabled us to identify ED visits by the same patient across different facilities within the state for each calendar year. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to quantify the policy's effect on frequent ED use (≥ 4 ED visits/year). We included in-state residents 18 to 64 years of age who were covered by Medicaid, private insurance, or were uninsured. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative definitions of frequent use. To validate the findings, a falsification analysis was also conducted using only the 3 pre-expansion years. Results Our study included 14.3 million ED patients with 23.8 million ED visits from 2011 to 2016. Frequent users (7.2%) accounted for 26.6% of all ED visits. The likelihood of frequent ED use declined by 4% among Medicaid beneficiaries (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.96, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.95–0.97) and by 12% for the uninsured (AOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.86–0.89) in the post-expansion period, compared with the pre-expansion period. Private insurance enrollees were 9% more likely to exhibit frequent use in the post-expansion period (AOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.08–1.11). The sensitivity analyses yielded results similar to those of the main model. The falsification analyses revealed small and insignificant year-to-year changes in the 3 pre-expansion years. Conclusion The likelihood of frequent ED use decreased 3 years after New York implemented the ACA Medicaid expansion, particularly for Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured, highlighting the importance of expanding health insurance and provisions tailored at high-need populations.
Numerical and Statistical Methods for Bioengineering: Applications in MATLAB

The first MATLAB-based numerical methods textbook for bioengineers that uniquely integrates modelling concepts with statistical analysis, while maintaining a focus on enabling the user to report the error or uncertainty in their result. Between traditional numerical method topics of linear modelling concepts, nonlinear root finding, and numerical integration, chapters on hypothesis testing, data regression and probability are interweaved. A unique feature of the book is the inclusion of examples from clinical trials and bioinformatics, which are not found in other numerical methods textbooks for engineers. With a wealth of biomedical engineering examples, case studies on topical biomedical research, and the inclusion of end of chapter problems, this is a perfect core text for a one-semester undergraduate course.
Computer-Aided Psychotherapy Technologies

Computer aided psychotherapy addresses the many barriers of access to evidence-based psychotherapy. Programs are either completely computer-based delivered via the Internet or a stand-alone program, or they may be combined with intervention by a therapist. Telepsychiatry is another popular method for delivery of psychotherapy. Self-guided computerized treatment programs have the advantage of translation into several languages, eliminate the barriers of appointment time and location, and offer more anonymity to patients. The majority of self-guided programs utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Studies have demonstrated that these programs result in significant reduction in anxiety and mood symptoms. Self-guided substance use treatment uses motivational interventions to decrease quantity and frequency of drinking. Computer-assisted treatment programs incorporate therapist interventions to clarify skills or tailor treatment approaches. These programs have been effective in treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and mood disorders. Virtual reality therapy has been used in exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and anxiety disorders. Telepsychiatry is an effective delivery mechanism for CBT, and has demonstrated effective treatment of anxiety disorders, with the advantage of facilitating clinician access.
TH‐CD‐207‐07: Prostate Cancer Foci Detection and Aggressiveness Identification Using Multi‐Parametric MRI/MRS and Supervised Learning

Purpose: To develop a non-invasive and quantitative information platform to accurately identify the prostate cancer foci and tumor aggressiveness grade. Methods: 11 patients who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) prior to the surgery were studied. Multi-parametric imaging included extracting T2-map, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) using diffusion weighted MRI, Ktrans using Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI, and 3D-MR Spectroscopy. Each image was composed of approximately 10 slices, which were divided into octants and individually assessed for the presence/absence of tumor by a radiologist. Following the radical prostatectomy, digital images of both the slice specimens and the histopathology slides were obtained. A pathologist reviewed all 223 octants and marked cancerous regions on each and graded them with Gleason score, which served as the ground truth to validate our prediction. Both binary prediction (indolent/aggressive cancer, separated by Gleason = 6) and multi-class prediction (no-cancer, non-aggressive cancer and aggressive cancer) were performed. Adaptive boosting with random under-sampling method was used. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals were collected after repetitions of 10-fold cross-validation. Results: In binary prediction, average AUC value of was 0.77 [0.73, 0.79] with average sensitivity and specificity 79% [74%, 85%] and 74% [70%, 77%], respectively. For the multi-class classification, the average prediction accuracy for the no-cancer class was 97% [91%, 100%], for non-aggressive cancer class was 80% [76%, 83%] and for aggressive cancer class was 65% [59%, 72%]. The overall accuracy was 86% [83%, 88%]. Conclusion: We provided a sophisticated while user-friendly platform using multi-parametric MRI combined with supervised learning to be able to accurately detect cancer foci and its aggressiveness. In addition, our method was non-invasive and allowed for non-subjective disease characterization, which provided physician information to make personalized treatment decision.
White Collar Crimes and Criminals

The commission of wrongs through fraud as well as through force is as old as human society. Although the concept of white collar crime did not come into use in our own society until Sutherland coined it some fifty years ago, sociologists in the early twentieth century recognized a type of criminal who "picks pockets with a railway rebate, . . . cheats with a company prospectus instead of a deck of cards, or scuttles his town instead of his ship. . . ." Thus, Americans' current attention to white collar crime – either in its garden variety forms or in the more special forms associated with the abuse of political power in the nation's capital, or abuse of financial power in the nation's largest city – is a return to long-standing problems and issues in our society.
Contagious Runs in Money Market Funds and the Impact of a Government Guarantee

Despite a vast theoretical literature on contagious behavior of investors, little is known about its empirical evidence in a real financial crisis setting. This paper examines evidence for contagious runs in money market funds during the 2008 financial crisis, drawing on a rich data set tracking U.S. money market funds’ daily flows and their enrollment statuses in the Treasury Department’s Temporary Guarantee Program (TGP). Evaluating the positive externality effect from a peer fund’s enrollment in the TGP on non-enrolled funds, we show that panic-driven runs were contagious across funds. We find that funds’ stability due to their enrollment in the guarantee program spilled over and enhanced daily flows to a non-enrolled fund by $1.8 million (compared to already-enrolled funds). Moreover, we find that retail investors were less likely than institutional investors to return to prime money market funds even after enrollment in the guarantee program, implying that the latter benefited more from the government backstop. Results are germane to policies seeking to rebuild investor confidence in times of financial crisis and reduce the chance of future contagion in this industry.
Field Evaluations of Broadcast and Individual Mound Treatment for Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, (Hymenoptera; Formicidae) Control in Virginia, USA

Field evaluations were conducted to determine efficacy, residual activity, and knockdown potential for fire ant control products. Broadcast granular products (Advion, 0.045% indoxacarb; and Top Choice Insecticide, 0.0143% fipronil) were individually evaluated, and compared with a combination of two products applied together, and with individual mound applications of Maxforce Fire Ant Killer Bait (1.0% hydramethylnon). After application, the greatest percent reduction (90 days) were observed in the Advion/Top Choice combination plots (100.0%), followed by Top Choice alone (96.4%). Advion and MaxForce produced significantly lower foraging reductions at 90 days (61.2% and 27.5% respectively). At the conclusion of the test (day 360), significantly fewer ants were collected in the Advion (777.7), Top Choice (972.8), and combination plots (596.2) than in the control plots (1257.8) ( df 13, F = 8.3, P 0.05). Overall, the efficacy and residual studies suggested that the Advion/Top Choice combination produced both the most rapid reduction in ant foraging and the longest lasting control (90%) at 300 days. When evaluating time to knockdown of foraging populations, the Advion/Top Choice combination also provided the most complete and rapid results by day 7, reducing foraging by 100%. While other products also performed well (75.6 - 95.9% reductions), both the MaxForce and Advion plots had significant increases in foraging at 30-90 days. Overall, foraging knockdown was the most complete in the Avion/Top Choice combination plots at 90 days.
Issues in Symbol Processing

Abstract : The notion of mind as symbol processor is fundamental to artificial intelligence and cognitive science, but some connectionists are now arguing against it. Eliminative connectionism challenges the validity of formal symbol manipulation as a level of mental description. We review some of the claims that have been made, and argue that most connectionist models, especially those constructed by learning algorithms, are operating at the level of pattern classifiers. Their (rather limited) success using non-symbolic representations demonstrates that they have not yet even approached the tasks which symbol processing models attempt to solve. Continued progress in connectionist research may require reimplementation rather than rejection of the symbolic level. (edc)
A system to monitor patient care in a perinatal region.

Abstract A system to monitor the quality of perinatal health care in terms of the outcomes of pregnancy has been implemented at the University of Illinois. The computerized system can be extended to other regional networks. The system's design, its analysis and use, its potential impact on patient care, its acceptability to providers, and its costs, confidentiality, reliability, and transferability are discussed in this paper.
Maximizing plating density and efficiency for a negative deposition reaction in a flow battery

Abstract Flow batteries utilizing a plating reaction as the negative reaction are limited in energy capacity by the available void area in the cell stack. Large scale energy storage applications necessitate maximizing the plating density within the flow battery. Six porous negative electrode configurations using conductive and non-conductive materials are considered for use in a hybrid flow battery. Plating results using a Cu–Fe sulfate chemistry demonstrated a plating density in a carbon felt electrode (145 mAh cm−2 at 40 mA cm−2). Two layered electrode configurations were able to achieve 150 mAh cm−2 of plating density: carbon felt with non-conductive felt, and carbon felt-Daramic-carbon felt. Both electrode designs were tested with the all-iron chemistry using shallow charge/discharge cycles. The carbon felt with non-conducting felt electrode configuration maintained a voltaic efficiency of 81% over six cycles.
Pretreatment of Miscanthus x giganteus Using the Ethanol Organosolv Process for Ethanol Production

A two-step procedure involving a dilute-acid presoaking step and an aqueous-ethanol organosolv treatment has been evaluated and optimized for the conversion of Miscanthus x giganteus (MxG). This process allowed for the efficient fractionation of the raw material into a cellulose-rich residue, an ethanol organosolv lignin fraction, and a water-soluble fraction mainly containing hemicellulose sugars. It was found that the presoaking step not only allowed a better recovery of xylans, but also enhanced the dissolution of lignin in the aqueous ethanol and the digestibility of the remaining cellulose by enzymes. The optimized conditions yielded a solid residue containing about 95% of the initial glucans, from which 98% was recovered after 48 h of enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, 71% of the lignin was recovered as ethanol organosolv lignin (EOL), and the recovery of the xylans was equivalent to 73% of the xylose present in the raw Miscanthus.
Surgical complications in bridging to transplantation: the Thermo Cardiosystems LVAD.

Abstract Left ventricular assistance with a number of different devices has been used to successfully bridge patients to cardiac transplantation. Surgical complications or complications related to the device itself, however, may preclude transplantation or lead to death. We report our recent experience with the Thermo Cardiosystems model 14 "HeartMate" left ventricular assist device in 3 patients. The device was implanted for 15 to 95 days. Complications included mediastinitis and peritonitis associated with the device in place before transplantation. and colonic perforation, and a late diaphragmatic hernia after transplantation. Despite these and other minor complications, all 3 patients underwent successful cardiac transplantation. Mechanical support for the right ventricle was not necessary. The Thermo Cardiosystems left ventricular assist device provided excellent support in a range of physiological conditions with no mechanical malfunction despite the surgical complications.
On nonlinear analysis of elastic shells of revolution.

Elastic shells of revolution axisymmetrically loaded analyzed, using multisegment method for solution of boundary value problems governed by nonlinear differential equations
ENZYMATIC OXIDATION OF GALACTOSE-6-PHOSPHATE.

GALACTOSE-6-phosphate (gal-6-P) has been shown to be produced from galactose-1-phosphate (gal-l-P) in the presence of phosphoglucomutase1, demonstrated in eryth-rocytes of patients with galactosaemia2, and oxidized in the presence of purified glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and NADP as indicated by changes in absorbance at 340 mµ (ref. 3). This communication shows that G-6-PD purified from either yeast or human erythrocytes in the presence of NADP converts gal-6-P to 6-phosphogalactonic acid (6-P-gal A).
Influence of sintering conditions and laser radiation on the surface microstructure, chemical composition, and electrical conductivity of CuO/Ag ceramics

The influence of the third harmonic radiation of a YAG: Nd3+ laser on the microstructure, chemical composition, and electrical conductivity of CuO and CuO/Ag ceramic samples subjected to heat treatment under different conditions has been investigated. It has been found that the surface morphology is almost identical for all the samples sintered at the same temperatures. According to the X-ray microanalysis, the ratio of the copper and oxygen concentrations (Cu/O) increases with an increase in the sintering temperature and upon quenching cooling of the samples. It has been shown that laser irradiation changes the micro-structure of the samples, increases the concentration ratio Cu/O, and leads to the inclusion of silver atoms into the lattice of copper oxides. It has been revealed that the temperature dependence of electrical resistance of all the studied samples in the temperature range of 80–300 K has a semiconducting character, and the activation energy of electrical resistance varies in the range from 0.19 to 0.48 eV. The activation energy of electrical resistance decreases with an increase in the sintering temperature of the samples and increases upon their quenching, whereas the laser treatment leads to a weakening of the dependence of the activation energy on the sintering temperature. The deposition of a silver layer before the laser treatment has no noticeable influence on the activation energy. The obtained data can be used to purposefully change the physical properties of compounds formed in the Cu-O-Ag system.
Canine model of surgical stress response comparing standard laparoscopic, microlaparoscopic, and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Abstract Objectives To compare the postoperative stress induced by standard laparoscopic, microlaparoscopic, and hand-assisted laparoscopic (HALS) nephrectomy in an animal model. Methods A total of 39 dogs underwent standard laparoscopic (n = 19), microlaparoscopic (n = 11), or HALS (n = 9) left nephrectomy. The serum cortisol levels were measured preoperatively, at skin closure, and 2, 4, and 6 hours postoperatively. Results Compared with the preoperative level, a sharp rise was noted in the serum cortisol taken at skin closure that correlated with both operative time (P = 0.003) and method (P = 0.009 for HALS versus microlaparoscopy and P = 0.02 for HALS versus standard). HALS had the lowest cortisol increase and shortest operative time, and microlaparoscopy had the greatest cortisol increase and longest operative time (P = 0.03 for cortisol increase, HALS versus microlaparoscopy). Two hours postoperatively, HALS was the only method associated with a continuing increase in cortisol levels (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02 compared with the other methods) and had the greatest cortisol level relative to baseline. The cortisol level decreased at all postoperative points in the other groups. By 4 hours, all methods were associated with similar and falling cortisol levels. Conclusions HALS nephrectomy was associated with a greater operative stress response in the first 2 postoperative hours in dogs compared with standard laparoscopic and microlaparoscopic nephrectomy that was partially ameliorated by the lower intraoperative cortisol production in the more rapid HALS procedure. Microlaparoscopy provided no benefit in terms of reduced surgical stress. The stress differences among the techniques were insignificant by 4 hours postoperatively.
The orientation of mitral cell dendrites.

Abstract Inhibition of mitral cells in the olfactory bulb of the rabbit appears to be mediated through their secondary dendrites in the external plexiform layer. These dendrites can be clearly seen in Nissl-stained paraffin sections when fixation of the bulb has been carried out with Bouin's fluid. An anteroposterior bias in the orientation of the mitral secondary dendrites was found by comparing sections cut in different planes of the bulb. The results suggest that the inhibitory systems which control the mitral cells have a longitudinal orientation in the bulb of the rabbit.
An ORF-2a protein is not present at a significant level in virions of the arterivirus lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus

Abstract MRNA2 of the arteriviruses lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) encodes two proteins that are read in different frames, an about 26 kDa minor envelope glycoprotein and an about 8 kDa protein that lacks N-glycosylation sites and a signal peptide, but possesses a central hydrophobic segment. Recent studies have shown that both proteins of EAV are translated from mRNA 2 in EAV infected BHK cells, that the 8 kDa protein is membrane associated and that small amounts of it are recovered in purified virions (Snijder, E.J., van Tol, H., Pederson, K.W., Raamsman, M.J.B., de Vries, A.A.F., 1999. Identification of a novel structural protein of arteriviruses. J. Virol. 73, 6335–6345). The authors concluded that the 8 kDa protein is another arterivirus envelope protein and designated it E protein. However, we have not detected a significant level of an 8 kDa protein in LDV virions and thus conclude that it is not a structural virion component.
Complementary precursor ion and neutral loss scan mode tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of glycerophosphatidylethanolamine lipids from whole rat retina

A "shotgun" tandem mass spectrometry (MS) approach involving the use of multiple lipid-class-specific precursor ion and neutral loss scan mode experiments has been employed to identify and characterize the glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (GPEtn) lipids that were present within a crude lipid extract of a normal rat retina, obtained with minimal sample handling prior to analysis. Characterization of these lipids was performed by complementary analysis of their protonated and deprotonated precursor ions, as well as their various ionic adducts (e.g., Na(+), Cl(-)), using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Notably, the application of novel precursor ion and neutral loss scans of m/z 164 and m/z 43, respectively, for the specific identification of sodiated GPEtn precursor ions following the addition of 500 microM NaCl to the crude lipid extracts was demonstrated. The use of these novel MS/MS scans in parallel provided simplified MS/MS spectra and enhanced the detection of 1-alkenyl, 2-acyl (plasmenyl) GPEtn lipids relative to the positive ion mode neutral loss m/z 141 commonly used for GPEtn analysis. Furthermore, the novel use of a "low energy" neutral loss scan mode experiment to monitor for the exclusive loss of 36m/z (HCl) from [M+Cl](-) GPEtn adducts was demonstrated to provide a more than 25-fold enhancement for the detection of GPEtn lipids in negative ion mode analysis. Subsequent "high-energy" pseudo MS(3) product ion scans on the precursor ions identified from this experiment were then employed to rapidly characterize the fatty acyl chain substituents of the GPEtn lipids.
The topographic limits of gravitationally bound, rotating sand piles

Abstract Rubble pile asteroids can attain shapes that are dramatically different from those of rotating, self-gravitating equilibrium fluids. A new numerical technique, called “seed growth,” is demonstrated for calculating three-dimensional bodies that are self-gravitating and rotating, and whose every surface is approximately at a constant angle, ϕ, with respect to the local horizontal. By altering the configuration of cusps, which are points along a constant longitude path where the surface angle changes sign but not magnitude, multiple solution shapes that satisfy the condition that all surface slopes are at a constant angle are possible. Five different cusp configurations are explored here, three of which yield solutions for 20 ° ⩽ ϕ ⩽ 30 ° . Rotational effects are explored, and it is found that for some solution shapes, the ratios of their shortest to longest dimensions, c / a , can fall outside the limits published in the literature for rotating, cohesionless, spheroidal bodies. Solution shapes show some similarities to observed small bodies, such as the saturnian satellite Atlas, the near-Earth Asteroid 1999 KW4, and some contact binary asteroids.
Atmospheric Flight on Venus: A Conceptual Design

A solar-powered aircraft system is proposed for the exploration of Venus. The atmosphere of Venus provides several advantages for flying a solar-powered aircraft. At the top of the cloud level, the solar intensity is comparable to or greater than terrestrial solar intensities. The atmospheric pressure makes flight much easier than on planets such as Mars. Also, the slow rotation of Venus allows an airplane to be designed for flight within continuous sunlight, eliminating the need for energy storage for nighttime flight. These factors make Venus a prime choice for a long-duration solar-powered aircraft. Fleets of solar-powered aircraft could provide an architecture for efficient and low-cost comprehensive coverage for a variety of scientific missions.
Existence and uniqueness of solutions of the inverse dynamics of multilink flexible arms: Convergence of a numerical scheme

The inverse dynamics of flexible manipulators consists in finding the joint torques that drive the end effector of a manipulator along a given trajectory. A proof of the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the inverse dynamics of planar open-chain multilink flexible manipulators and the convergence of an algorithm previously proposed by the second author for the numerical solution of the problem are presented in this article. Higher-order strain terms leading to the geometric stiffness matrix in finite element models are included in the formulation and their influence on the inverse dynamics solution is studied.
Knowledge of rights and wrongs in verbal-discrimination learning

Summary The purpose of this experiment was to determine what information S acquires about right and wrong items in verbal-discrimination learning. Following learning of one list, two groups of Ss were given a new list in which the right items from the first list were retained with new wrong items inserted (R. Cond.). For two other groups new right items were inserted with the wrong items remaining the same as in the first list (Cond. W). Two other groups served as controls, having completely new items on the second list. For each condition, two anticipation intervals were used on the second list (1.5 and 3 sec.). The results showed that under the R Cond. performance was essentially perfect on the second list; even with the short anticipation interval Ss averaged only slightly over one error across 10 trials. Under the W Cond. performance on the second list was initially very high but improvement beyond this point was very slow. With the short anticipation interval under the W. Cond., performance was inferior to the control on later trials although it was initially much superior. The results were interpreted by a frequency-discrimination hypothesis.
Neuroendocrine responses to serotonergic agents in alcoholics.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested a possible deficit in serotonergic function in alcoholism. In order to further assess the serotonergic system in alcoholism, the plasma cortisol and prolactin (PRL) responses following 6-chloro-2-[1-piperazinyl]pyrazine (MK-212), a direct-acting serotonin 2 (5-HT 2 )/5-HT 1C receptor agonist, L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP), a precursor of 5-HT, and placebo were compared in male alcoholics and normal controls. The increase in plasma cortisol following L-5-HTP was significantly lower in the alcoholic subjects compared with the normal controls. The plasma PRL, but not the plasma cortisol response, following MK-212 was also significantly lower in the alcoholics. L-5-HTP had no significant effect on plasma PRL levels in either group. The basal plasma cortisol and PRL concentrations of the alcoholics and normal controls were not significantly different. These data are consistent with previous reports of a serotonergic abnormality in alcoholism.
Application of the principle of calculated risk to scheduling of supplemental irrigation, I. concepts

Abstract The concepts associated with applying the principle of calculated risk to irrigation scheduling are discussed. The basis for a general model for making daily decisions is formed by combining information relating crop production and available soil moisture with economic data and weather forecast data within a probability framework. The required inputs for such a model are discussed with respect to origin and form necessary to make the model operational. The resulting model makes each irrigation scheduling decision an attempt toward partial optimization of resource use and resulting economic gains or losses.
A novel method of preparing stable zein nanoparticle dispersions for encapsulation of peppermint oil

Zein is a group of alcohol-soluble maize proteins and is typically dissolved in 70–80% aqueous ethanol before dispersion into water to precipitate zein as nanoparticles, which can simultaneously encapsulate various lipophilic compounds co-dissolved in aqueous ethanol. However, strategies are needed to prevent the precipitation of hydrophobic zein nanoparticles at a wide pH range and the use of flammable ethanol in the industrial production. The objective of this work was to replace ethanol with nonflammable propylene glycol to prepare zein nanoparticles and stabilize nanoparticles using gum arabic (GA). Nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm were produced using a stir plate, and GA prevented their precipitation at pH 3.0–8.0. Both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions contributed to the adsorption of GA on zein nanoparticles, with the former being more significant at a lower pH corresponding to a higher surface load. Encapsulation of peppermint oil in zein nanoparticle-GA complexes did not significantly change particle dimension and dispersion stability. The gradual release of peppermint oil from freeze-dried samples was observed at pH 2.0–8.0, reaching complete release in a shorter time at a lower pH. The established method may enable the preparation of stable zein nanoparticles for various applications in the food industry.
Significant changes in VLDL-Triacylglycerol and glucose tolerance in obese subjects following ten days of training

We characterized the effect of ten days of training on lipid metabolism in 6 [age 37.2 (2.3) years] sedentary, obese [BMI 34.4 (3.0) kg · m−2] males with normal glucose tolerance. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed prior to and at the end of the 10 d of training period. The duration of each daily exercise session was 40 min at an intensity equivalent to ˜75% of the age predicted maximum heart rate. Blood measurements were performed after an overnight fast, before and at the end of the 10 d period. Plasma triacylglycerol was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced following exercise training (2.15 ± 0.29 vs. 1.55 ± 0.28 mmol · l−1). Very low density lipoprotein-triacylglycerol was also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced (1.82 ± 0.3 vs. 1.29 ± 0.29 mmol · l−1). No significant changes in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were observed as a result of training. Following training fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin were significantly reduced [Glucose: 5.9 (0.2) mmol · l−1 vs. 5.3 (0.22) mmol · l−1 (p < 0.05); Insulin 264.3 (53.8) ρ · mol · l−1 vs. 200.9 (30.1) ρ · mol · l−1, p = 0.05]. The total area under the glucose curve during the OGTT decreased significantly (p < 0.05). These preliminary data suggest that short-term exercise, without concomitant loss of body mass, induces favorable changes in plasma triacylglycerol, and very low density lipoprotein-triacylglycerol and glucose tolerance but has no effect on high density lipoproteincholesterol.
Sequence of centromere separation: Occurrence, possible significance, and control

Abstract This review describes the existence of a phenomenon, sequential separation of centromeres, in mitotic cells of various species including both animals and plants. Critical observations at metaanaphase show that the centromeres of chromosomes in a given genome do not separate into two sister units randomly, but that there is a genetically controlled, nonrandom, species-specific sequence which is independent of the length of the chromosome or the position of the centromere. A stricter control appears to exist for late-separating than for early-separating chromosomes. At early stages of metaanaphase several chromosomes initiate onset of separation simultaneously or in rapid succession, but late-separating chromosomes are better defined in their sequential position. The effect of Colcemid on the sequence of separation is minimal. It is proposed that aneuploidy in humans and other organisms may result from out-of-phase separation of a given chromosome. With the exception of chromosome No. 16, it appears that very early- or very late-separating centromeres are involved in human trisomies more often than those in between. Perhaps one function of centromeric heterochromatin is the control of centromere separation. The amount of such chromatin shows a positive correlation with the timing of separation of the centromeres. Superimposed upon this quantitative influence is the qualitative aspect, as discussed for various genomes. This suggestion explains a lack of extremely large quantities of heterochromatin near the centromere. Its existence in the form of homogeneously staining regions distal to the centromere, as in some cancer cells or in sex chromosomes, seemingly has no influence on the separation of centromeres. A brief discussion of centromere separation errors in human disease is provided, and suggestions for further studies are made.
Pressure and shear stress distributions of an elastomer constrained by a cylinder of finite length

Abstract We study the pressure and shear stress response of an elastomer constrained by, and adhesively bonded to, a rigid cylinder of finite length and subject to different end boundary conditions. We find that the pressure and shear distributions are very sensitive to the compressibility of the elastomer as well as the aspect ratio of the cylinder. Notably, a slight change in the Poisson's ratio ν has a profound effect on the pressure transmissibility of elastomers. Through this principle, we also propose using such geometries to measure the Poisson's ratio of elastomers, which is vital for engineers or designers who model the mechanical behavior of elastomers (e.g., rubbers or gels).
Development and testing of an object-oriented model for adaptively managing human disturbance of least tern (Sternula antillarum) nesting habitat

Abstract Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area is one of only four known natural nesting sites for least terns ( Sternula antillarum ) on the South Carolina coast, and more than 20,000 people visit the 3-mile stretch of beach each nesting season since it opened to the public in 2008. We developed a simulation model for the adaptive management of human disturbance on nesting habitat for least terns, which is described using the ODD (Overview, Design Concepts, and Details) protocol. The simulation uses the Questions and Decisions (QnD) system framework, an object-oriented modeling approach that emphasizes interactions among key ecological and social components. The model is designed to explore the potential results of management actions and identify key indicators for future monitoring. Initial model parameters were developed from existing literature, expert opinion and on-site ecological observations as few baseline data were available for the recently opened site. In addition, substantial uncertainty surrounded the nesting behavior of least terns related to productivity levels, responses to human disturbance, and overwash tides. In order to test model assumptions and performance, parameters are assigned stochastic probability distributions made explicit to wildlife managers and can be updated as additional monitoring data become available. Simulation results suggest that Botany Bay colonies are at significant risk of collapse. Monte Carlo simulations of the model ( n = 500) show that current management practices result in a median productivity of 0.08 fledglings per breeding adult, well below the minimum productivity threshold of 0.13 needed to encourage site fidelity. But closing one particular section of beach during the nesting season would result in a global median productivity of 0.26. A sensitivity analysis identified one variable in particular as important to monitor for reducing uncertainty in model results: the duration of tern defense response from human disturbance and the variation of this response among spatial units. These simulation results are intended to initiate an ongoing and adaptive monitoring program for improving colony productivity at the site.
Systemic delivery of TLR9-activating/STAT3-blocking oligonucleotides induces leukemia regression

Meeting abstracts Inhibition of transcription factors (TF) that drive tumor progression and immune evasion, such as STAT3, remains a challenge for pharmacological drugs. Blocking STAT3 binding to DNA using specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (dODN) provides an alternative targeted inhibitory
The Opossum Problem: Implications for Human-Wildlife Competition over Plant Foods

The Opossum Problem refers to the infrequent presence of opossum remains, relative to raccoon and squirrel remains, in sites in the eastern United States. The presence or absence of opossum remains...
Memory-induced misperceptions of going concern risk by experienced auditors in a multi-client environment

This study examines whether an audit evaluation of contextually similar evidence pertaining to a second client affects memory-induced perceptions of the initially evaluated client. Prior research suggests that the experienced auditors’ use of task-specific knowledge to process contextually similar evidence sets for two clients makes them susceptible to fragile memory associations between the evidence set and its source client. Fragile associations increase the auditors’ susceptibility to misattributing evidence to a client potentially resulting in improper audit assessments of the client. Auditors evaluated evidence for two similarly positioned companies with dissimilar operational weaknesses and then provided going concern risk perceptions of the client evaluated first. Risk perceptions related to the threat posed by negative trends that were either strongly or weakly connected with the first client’s condition. Strongly connected trends were perceived as less threatening after the evaluation of the second company, while weakly connected trends were perceived as more threatening.
Outness and relationship satisfaction in same‐gender couples

Self-disclosure of sexual orientation, or outness, is a fundamental feature of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) experience, yet little is known about how outness impacts same-gender relationship satisfaction. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with 15 same-gender couples, the complexities of navigating a stigmatized identity in a homonegative society emerged, including (a) characteristics of outness, (b) the influence of coupling on an individual’s outness, and (c) the impact of outness on same-gender relationship satisfaction. Findings suggest that for GLB persons, outness is a developmental skill, an expression of identity and values, as well as a resilience strategy for managing discrimination and gay-related stress that influences, though does not singularly determine, relationship satisfaction. Implications for clinical practice and future research suggestions are presented.
Pollen, plant macrofossils and microvertebrates from mid-Holocene alluvium in east-central Iowa, USA: Comparative taphonomy and paleoecology

Abstract Pollen, plant macrofossils, and micromammals are commonly used in paleoecological interpretations, but rarely are found associated because of distinctly separate taphonomic pathways into the fossil record. The Lilienthal local biota, dating between 5920 ± 60 and 6300 ± 80 14 C B.P., is a rare exception as the site contains all three proxies juxtaposed in alluvium, impounded upstream from a fossil log near the headwaters of Mud Creek, east-central Iowa, U.S.A. A variety of taphonomic processes can strongly influence the composition of fossil assemblages. This paper compares the taphonomic framework for each fossil group, interprets the paleoecologic signal from each, and then compares the three interpretations. Pollen and plant macrofossils are found in organic silts, indicating deposition in a quiet water environment. Microvertebrates ordinarily occur in sand-sized sediments and show evidence of fluvial transport. Despite these different pathways, all Lilienthal assemblages indicate that a largely closed mesic deciduous forest grew along Mud Creek in mid-Holocene time. Therefore, a narrow north–south ecotone must have existed between the forest and tall-grass prairie biomes in eastern Iowa. This robust data set provides a detailed picture of the paleoecology and paleogeography of this past environment.
Industrialization and Population Pressure in Eighteenth-Century Flanders

During the century preceding the beginning of modem industrialization, several regions of Europe experienced an impressive growth in traditional rural handicrafts and, concurrently, an acceleration in their rate of population growth. What were the relationships between what I call "proto-industrialization" and the acceleration of population growth during this period? In eighteenth-century Flanders, particularly after 1740, we find an increased rate of growth in the output of the part-time (seasonal) rural linen industry which had settled there since the Middle Ages. First of all, there is a prima facie case for the argument that industrial growth was induced and promoted by population growth. Evidence for this relationship is found in the writings of numerous contemporaries pointing out that rural work, outside agriculture proper, was a necessity for the support of a large fraction of the peasants. The highest levels of rural industrialization in Flanders were found in areas with the highest population density and land fragmentation. Further changes in the eighteenth century in terms of population growth, land fragmentation and industrialization only reinforced these contrasts. It is easily shown that the rural industry was in the hands of the most impoverished peasants; those who were closest to the margin of subsistence. Probate inventories show that the looms and spinning wheels were concentrated in the hands of those peasants who owned or farmed the smallest parcels of land.1 Finally, studies by Belgian scholars show a higher and rising baptismmarriage ratio in the industrial areas and a lower and falling age of first marriage while there was apparently no significant long run change in mortality rates. Since this evidence is equally consistent with the hypothesis that population growth was stimulated by the growth of rural industry as with the hypothesis that population change itself led to the growth of handicrafts, there is a need to use somewhat more rigorous methods of analysis to derive statements of causation. To study in greater detail the interaction of population and the economy, focus is brought to the separate geographic-economic areas that compose Flanders. The largest urban centers did not show rapid industrialization or demographic growth. On the contrary, there was even an important population decline in the first
Pulmonary barriers to pneumonia and sepsis

In a new role for an ion transporter, Na+-K+-Cl− cotransporter-1 may regulate the lung endothelial and epithelial barriers and consequently modulate the host response to pneumonia and sepsis.
Divisible Tasks and Pooling Performance in Groups

Groups and individual Ss worked on two problems which were a composite of simpler, self-contained sub-problems (phases) taken from the SCAT. If appropriately organized, groups could work on two or ...
Integration Operator Design for Real-Time Digital Simulation

This paper presents a design technique for integration operators which allows the simulation time step to be chosen independent of the system eigenvalues while guaranteeing stability of the simulation. The technique is particularly useful for the real-time simulation of stiff systems where critical constraints are often imposed on the simulation increment. A significant savings in computation time can be realized with this technique when compared with conventional methods for simulating stiff systems. Examples are presented which illustrate the stability and accuracy properties of this design method.
Domains of attraction of walking and running attractors are context dependent: illustration for locomotion on tilted floors

There is a general consensus that gaits of humans and animals can be considered as spatio-temporal patterns emerging via self-organization. In line with synergetics, a theory of pattern formation and self-organization founded by Haken, an amplitude equation model for human run-walk gait transitions is presented. The model allows for a definition of two distinct attractors representing walking and running. In particular, the size of the two attractors in the space of locomotion speed can be determined as a function of the model parameters. Furthermore, the model parameters can be estimated based on data from walking experiments on treadmills. The approach is illustrated for data reported in the literature on walking experiments involving tilted floors. It is shown that attractor size depends on the floor inclination, which suggests that in general the domains of attraction of walking and running attractors are context dependent. In particular, they depend on floor inclination. In other words, a pattern formation model is presented that describes how sensory feedback about environmental conditions may impact gait control.
Using CITIDEL to develop and share class plans

This demonstration will illustrate the use of existing and proposed tools in CITIDEL for finding existing resources to integrate into a course and for developing well structured descriptions of class and laboratory activities for sharing with the computing community.