cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cells, Synapses, and Neurotransmitters

This chapter begins with a description of four types of glial cells: oligodendroglia, astrocytes, ependymal cells, and microglia, with their origin and function. It includes a description of myelin both central and peripheral. It then describes the variety of neuronal cell types and the various types of synapses or junctions between the cells and how information both converges onto cells and diverges from them. The mechanics of synaptic transmission is discussed next, detailing the sequential events in the signal transmission from one neuron to another. It contrasts small synaptic vesicles with large dense core vesicles and the differences in transmission using the transmitters in each type. After discussing how neurotransmission is shut off, it begins describing individual transmitters and their receptors, beginning with acetylcholine and including dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, glutamate, and aspartate; gamma amino butyric acid; serotonin; and peptides.
Citizenship and Antisemitism in French Colonial Algeria, 1870-1962

Professor Roberts examines the relationship between antisemitism and the practices of citizenship in a colonial context. She focuses on the experience of Algerian Jews and their evolving identity as citizens as they competed with the other populations in the colony, including newly naturalised non-French settlers and Algerian Muslims, for control over the scarce resources of the colonial state. The author argues that this resulted in antisemitic violence and hotly contested debates over the nature of French identity and rights of citizenship. Tracing the ambiguities and tensions that Algerian Jews faced, the book shows that antisemitism was not coherent or stable but changed in response to influences within Algeria, and from metropolitan France, Europe and the Middle East. Written for a wide audience, this title contributes to several fields including Jewish history, colonial and empire studies, antisemitism within municipal politics, and citizenship, and adds to current debates on transnationalism and globalization.
Retention, direct detection, and quantitation of palladium (II) using high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection

This study demonstrates the use of high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection for the direct detection and quantitation of palladium II. After evaluating the ...
Examining the bleeding incidences associated with targeted therapies used in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

A systematic review was conducted to illustrate the bleeding risks associated with targeted therapies used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Eligible studies included phase II, III, or IV clinical trials using pazopanib, sunitinib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, everolimus, temsirolimus, bevacizumab, axitinib, and/or sorafenib in the setting of mRCC. Types of bleeding event(s), bleeding event frequency, and incidence of thrombocytopenia were collected from the relevant articles. ClinicalTrials.gov was also searched for incidence of "Serious bleeding adverse effects" reported in these trials. The incidences of bleeding events ranged from 1 to 36%, and incidences of thrombocytopenia ranged from 2 to 78%. Available serious bleeding adverse events ranged from 1 to 7%. The highest percentage of bleeding incidences were seen with bevacizumab, while the lowest percentage of bleeding incidences were seen with axitinib. All of the included trials were of high quality per Jadad scoring.
Locomotor differences in mice expressing wild-type human α-synuclein.

Abstract Parkinson's disease manifests as a progressive movement disorder with underlying degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, consequent depletion of dopamine levels, and the accumulation of Lewy bodies in the brain. Because α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein is the major component of Lewy bodies, mouse models expressing wild-type or mutant SNCA/α-Syn genes provide a useful tool to investigate canonical characteristics of the disease. We evaluated a mouse model (denoted M20) that expresses human wild-type SNCA gene. The M20 mice showed abnormal locomotor behavior and reduced species-specific home cage activity. However, the direction of behavioral changes was task specific. In comparison with their control littermates, the M20 mice exhibited shorter grip endurance, and longer times to traverse elevated beams, but they descended the vertical pole faster and stayed longer on the accelerated rod than the control mice. The M20 mice were also impaired in burrowing and nest building activities. These results indicate a possible role of α-Syn in motor coordination and the motivation to perform species-specific behaviors in the presymptomatic model of synucleinopathy.
Blood flow restriction and cuff width: effect on blood flow in the legs.

Much of the literature examining blood flow restriction in the lower body uses cuffs of differing widths. It is currently unknown whether similar relative pressures using cuffs of differing widths elicit the same blood flow response. PURPOSE To examine the hemodynamic responses to relative pressures using two commonly used cuffs (10 and 12 cm). METHODS In a random order over two laboratory visits, one cuff was applied to the right proximal thigh of the participant (men = 17, women = 14), and arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was measured. Ultrasound measures of blood flow, mean blood velocity, peak blood velocity and artery diameter were taken from the posterior tibial artery at rest and during the application of 10% increments of the AOP. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the 10- and 12-cm cuff relating to blood flow (-0·501 ml min-1 , SD 7·9, P = 0·728), mean blood velocity (-0·168 cm s-1 , SD 1·7, P = 0·590), peak blood velocity (0·586 cm s-1 , SD 11·7, P = 0·783) or artery diameter (0·003 cm, SD 0·02, P = 0·476). There was a main effect of pressure for blood flow (P<0·0005), mean blood velocity (P<0·0005), peak blood velocity (P<0·0005) and artery diameter (P = 0·005), with each decreasing with increasing pressures. Peak blood velocity increased to 60% of AOP before decreasing with increased pressure. CONCLUSION As long as relative pressures are applied, cuff width appears to have little to no effect on the blood flow stimulus during blood flow restriction at rest.
5000 Meter Run Performance is not Enhanced 24 Hrs After an Intense Exercise Bout and Cold Water Immersion

Cold water immersion (CWI) is used by endurance athletes to speed recovery between exercise bouts, but little evidence is available on the effects of CWI on subsequent endurance performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CWI following an acute bout of interval training on 5000 m run performance 24 hrs after interval training, perceived muscle soreness (PMS), range of motion (ROM), thigh circumference (TC), and perceived exertion (RPE). Nine endurance-trained males completed 2 trials, each consisting of an interval training session of 8 repetitions of 1200 m at a running pace equal to 75% of VO2peak, either a control or CWI treatment, and a timed 5000 m run 24 hrs post interval training session. CWI was performed for 12 min at 12 degrees Celsius on the legs. Recovery treatments were performed in a counterbalanced design. Run time for 5000 m was not different between the CWI and control trials (CWI = 1317.33 ± 128.33 sec, control = 1303.44 ± 105.53 sec; p = 0.48). PMS increased significantly from baseline to immediately post exercise (BL = 1.17 ± 0.22, POST = 2.81 ± 0.52; p = 0.02) and remained elevated from baseline to 24 hrs post exercise (POST24 = 2.19 ± 0.32; p = 0.02), but no difference was observed between the treatments. No differences were observed for the interaction between time and treatment for TC (λ = 0.73, p = 0.15) and ROM (λ = 0.49; p = 0.10). CWI performed immediately following an interval training exercise bout did not enhance subsequent 5000 m run performance or reduce PMS. CWI may not provide a recovery or performance advantage when athletes are accustomed to the demands of the prior exercise bout.
Spirituality, Evolution, Creator God:

Evolution raises problems for some Christian beliefs, such as the character of God’s creating act, whether God intervenes in nature’s consistency, God’s purpose in the light of nature’s randomness,...
Can a Citywide Minimum Wage Be an Effective Policy Tool? Evidence from San Francisco

We provide here the first study of the economic impacts of a citywide minimum wage policy - San Francisco's adoption of a minimum wage of $8.50 in early 2004. To estimate the effects of this policy we surveyed and compared medium and small restaurants in San Francisco and in nearby East Bay cities, before and after the new policy. Employers with fewer than ten employees were phased into the policy over a two-year period, creating an additional dimension of comparison. We find that the policy increased pay significantly at affected restaurants and compressed the wage distribution among restaurant workers. We do not detect any employment loss among affected restaurants; this finding is stable across alternative control groups and specifications, including type of restaurant, and location in a tourist zone or area with large immigrant concentrations. On outcomes other than employment, we find heterogeneous responses between full-service and limited-service restaurants. Limited-service restaurants increased prices and employed more full-time workers, while job tenure increased among their workers. We do not detect these effects among full-service restaurants; they did, however, increase their use of tipped workers.
Models of Size and Shape Control in Synthesis of Uniform Colloids and Nanocrystals

We review approaches to explain mechanisms of control of uniformity (narrow distribution) of sizes and shapes in solution synthesis of nanosize crystals and colloid particles. We address aspects of modeling of geometrical features and morphology selection, emerging as results of kinetic processes involving diffusional transport of matter, ranging from nucleation to growth by aggregation and to mechanisms of formation of well-defined shapes.
Using Molecules to Identify the Source of Fruit Fly Invasions

Fruit flies trapped or intercepted as part of inspection and surveillance activities could be the result of resurgent pest populations, incursions from offshore introductions, or intentional releases of sterile flies. Knowing the source of these flies can help a plant protection organization determine how best to respond to an urgent detection and which pathways pose a greater risk of future pest introductions. In this chapter, we review how biological molecules, such as DNA, proteins, and stable isotopes, have been used to estimate the geographic and population source of tephritid fruit flies. The merits and limitations of molecules as source estimators are treated by molecule origin (i.e., nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, allozyme, and isotope) and technique (e.g., endonuclease digestion, DNA sequencing, genomics, biogeochemical) to provide an overview of available methods. The importance of experimental sampling, data interpretation, and data archiving are considered with reference to other insect and non-insect examples. Lastly, a case study of source estimation methods for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), which has been particularly well studied in this respect, is reported based on published work and ongoing studies.
Hegemonic Language Practices in Engineering Design and Dual Language Education

With the goal of achieving bilingualism and biculturalism, dual language education (DL) has a social justice orientation. As the program option with the best track record of closing the achievement gap between Latinx and White students, DL programs can potentially create environments in which learners can develop knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in two languages. In this article, we present findings from a two-year ethnographic study of engineering design curriculum in a K-5 DL program on the U.S.-Mexico border. Our team researched the implementation of a hands-on, highly interactive, inquiry-based STEM curriculum because immigrant emergent bilinguals from border communities are sometimes excluded from these learning opportunities. During the first year of implementation, the STEM curriculum was not taught following DL goals. Essential principles of DL education, including the use of two languages for instruction and equal status for both languages, were not followed. Lack of familiarity with the STEM curriculum and emerging expertise of engineering design explained this decision partially. Due to a dearth of resources, training, and expertise in engineering and in inquiry-based learning, the implementation failed to meet its counterhegemonic potential. In fact, it may have reproduced hegemonic practices that marginalized emergent bilingual Latinx students.
Characteristics of water-foamed asphalt mixture under multiple freeze-thaw cycles: Laboratory evaluation

AbstractA major concern with the application of water-foamed asphalt mixtures is the possible performance degradation caused by the presence of inclusion water during production. Inclusion water le...
Process Management in Unix/Linux

This chapter covers process management in Unix/Linux. It explains the principle of multitasking and introduces the process concept. It uses a programming example to illustrate the principles and techniques of multitasking, context switching and processes. The multitasking system supports dynamic process creation, process termination, process synchronization by sleep and wakeup, process relations and implementation of process family tree as a binary tree, allowing parent process to wait for child process termination. It provides a concrete example of how process management functions work in an operating system kernel. Then it explains the origin of processes in Unix/Linux, from the initial process during booting to INIT process, daemon processes, login processes and sh process for user command execution. Next, it explains the execution modes of processes, transitions from User mode to Kernel mode by interrupts, exceptions and system calls. Then it describes Unix/Linux system calls for process management, which include fork, wait, exec and exit. It explains the relationship between parent and child processes, including a detailed description between process termination and the wait operation by parent process. It explains how to handle orphan processes by the INIT process, including subreaper processes in current Linux, and it demonstrates subreaper process by example. Then it explains changing process execution image by exec in detail, which includes the execve system call, command-line parameters and environment variables. It explains the principles and techniques of I/O redirections, pipes and shows pipe programming by examples. The programming project of this chapter is for the reader to integrate the concepts and techniques of process management to implement a sh simulator for command execution. The sh simulator works exactly the same as the standard sh. It supports executions of simple commands, commands with I/O redirections and multiple commands connected by pipes.
A Normative Database of Neck Muscular Strength and Endurance Capacity

The present study aimed to establish a normative database of the neck muscular strength and the endurance capacity of a healthy population and to explore effects of neck posture, time-of-day (i.e.,...
Acute type I aortic dissection with or without antegrade stent delivery: Mid-term outcomes.

Abstract Objective We determined the effect of antegrade stent delivery in the descending thoracic aorta on short- and mid-term clinical and imaging outcomes for patients who underwent repair of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Methods Outcomes were evaluated for 178 patients who underwent acute type I aortic dissection between 2005 and 2016 (standard repair, n = 115 [64.6%]; antegrade stent delivery, n = 63 [35.4%]). Propensity score match and multivariable analyses were performed to assess outcomes. Results The stent and standard repair groups had similar rates of operative mortality (30-day or in-hospital) (12.7% vs 17.4%, P = .41), persistent stroke (6.3% vs 5.3%, P = .75), and persistent paraplegia/paraparesis (1.6% vs 0.9%, P = 1.0). Propensity score match analysis indicated that the operative mortality rate was higher in the standard repair group (P = .059), which the multivariable analysis confirmed. The persistent stroke rate was nonsignificantly higher in the stent group (P = .66). Persistent paraplegia/paraparesis rates were similar in both groups (P = 1.0), and the overall rates of spinal cord ischemia were nonsignificantly higher in the stent group (P = .18). During follow-up (mean duration, 4.6 ± 3.6 y), computed tomography showed that stented patients more often had remodeling of the descending thoracic aorta (P = .0002) and somewhat more often had remodeling of the thoracoabdominal aorta (P = .13). Stented patients also had fewer subsequent procedures (P = .25). The 3- and 5-year survivals were 73.3% ± 6.9% and 49.9% ± 7.6% in the matched stented group and 66.3% ± 9.4% and 41.6% ± 7.7% in the matched standard group, respectively (P = .015 for overall survival). Conclusions In the short term, antegrade stent delivery was associated with less operative mortality. In the mid-term, promising remodeling of the false lumen was seen in stented patients, as were (nonsignificantly) lower rates of subsequent procedures in the thoracoabdominal aorta. Mid-term survival was also greater in the stented patients.
The Sociocultural and the Sociosituated

Critical approaches to performance and performativity are often tied to sociocultural discourse marked out by people such as Darwin, Marx and Freud. Yet over the past century of criticism in the Euro-American West, there have been challenges to this ideological framework as its nation-state foundation has been questioned by global systems of power. Concepts of representation have been at the centre of this challenge, and this has impacted our understanding of performance. Early-twentieth-century critics such as Bakhtin, Benjamin and Brecht suggested alterior approaches of the sociosituated that intersected with postcolonial and decolonial critics—from Fanon to Mbembe. This chapter lays the ground for conceptualising what runs unknown and unknowable alongside discourse, where the work of performers takes root.
Pattern Synthesis for Distributed Space-Based Radar

We describe the leadership of Dr. Hans Steyskal in the study of design principles, performance, and technical risks associated with sparse array radar. As envisioned, the radar consists of a network of small, space satellites that function collaboratively as a highly thinned, distributed array radar for detecting and tracking moving objects near the earth surface. Dr. Steyskal devised an adaptation of processing for ground moving target detection suitable for a periodically thinned, vertical, planar 19-element array that rotates during orbit transit. The array grating lobe array pattern introduces periodic concentrations of ground reflected power in the Doppler frequency power spectrum of the array output. Proper selection of the sampling frequency or radar pulse repetition frequency along with a properly designed cancelling filter at the array output was shown to provide substantial improvement in the ratio of target signal to ground clutter signal at the filter output. The results of an iterative approach for the simultaneous design of the sparse array pattern and post array signal processing are provided along with the effects of array yaw, pitch and positional errors on performance. General displaced phase center signaling and processing for periodic and random arrays are described.
Household Food Security and Infant Adiposity.

OBJECTIVES: Food insecurity has been associated with obesity, but previous studies are inconsistent and few included infants. We examined associations between household food security and infant adiposity and assessed the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as effect modifiers. We hypothesized that infants from food-insecure households would have greater adiposity, with attenuation by WIC and SNAP. METHODS: We repeatedly measured 666 infants from the southeastern United States in 2013–2017. We categorized households as high, marginal, low, or very low using the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Outcomes were BMI z score, subscapular and triceps skinfold-for-age z score, the sum of subscapular and triceps skinfolds, the ratio of subscapular and triceps skinfolds, and BMI z score ≥1 (at risk for overweight). We used covariate-adjusted repeated-measures linear and logistic regressions. RESULTS: Of infants, 68.6% were Black and 60.5% had household incomes CONCLUSIONS: In larger and longer studies, researchers should examine food security and adiposity in young children.
Management of upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract Clinical examination and decision-making in the spastic upper limb is a complicated process. This article discusses key principles and strategies for assessment and management of these patients. The main aims of treatment are to improve function, appearance and facilitate caring. Key decision-making factors are the patient's age (with anti-spasticity procedures being preferred in the younger and rebalancing and stabilizations in older patients), degree of spasticity (pure spasticity being treated with neurectomies and contractures with surgical releases) and degree of voluntary control (high voluntary control doing better with rebalancing procedures and stabilizations doing better in those with little voluntary control). With careful planning, good patient selection and appropriate choice of treatment, patients typically experience improved quality of life and benefit from surgical intervention.
Niche ecology in Floristic Quality Assessment: Are species with higher conservatism more specialized?

Abstract Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) metrics are used to assess the conservation value of natural areas based on the composition of their plant communities. FQA is based on coefficients of conservatism (C-values). C-values are regional, expert-assigned values, which range from 0 to 10 to reflect a taxon’s fidelity to high quality natural areas and its relative tolerance to modern human impacts. Approximately half of FQA publications assert without evidence that plant species with lower C-values are more generalist, whereas species with higher C-values are habitat specialists. The connection between specialization and C-values has never been investigated. Our primary objective was to test the claim that ecological specialization is associated with C-values. We first used the “theta (θ) method,” based on species co-occurrences, to estimate niche width for 274 species in 598 wetlands, grasslands, and forests in Illinois, USA. As a secondary proxy for niche width, we counted the habitat preferences of all Illinois vascular taxa listed from the Illinois Plant Information Network (ILPIN). For θ in grasslands and wetlands, and for ILPIN habitat counts, the lowest and highest C-values were associated with greater ecological specialization, whereas species with low to intermediate C-values were the most generalist. In forests, we found weaker, negatively linear relationships between C-values and θ, indicating that species with a high conservation value (i.e. conservative) were the most specialized. However, when shrub and canopy layers were combined with the herbaceous layer data in forests, we did not find an association between C-values and specialization. We also reanalyzed the data to determine the effect of non-native species on the relationship between niche width and C-values because non-native species, by default, receive C-values of 0. Removing non-native species from the analyses did not influence our conclusions. Both methods to measure specialization suggested there is a weak relationship between C-values and ecological specialization. Our findings support the common claim that some conservative species are more specialized than species with intermediate or low C-values. However, we found the general C-value and specialization relationship is more complex than assumed by many FQA publications because if it exists, it is not necessarily linear, i.e., species with low C-values are often specialists. Specialization and niche width could be latent components of C-values, but FQA users should avoid defining species conservatism by niche and specialization.
Synthesis and Appraisal of Natural Drug-Polymer-Based Matrices Relevant to the Application of Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent Coatings.

Cardiovascular diseases are becoming a leading cause of death in the world, and attention is being paid to develop natural drug-based treatment to cure heart diseases. Curcumin, ginger, and magnolol are pharmaceutically active in many ways, having properties including anticoagulation, antiproliferation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, and may be used to synthesis coatings for drug-eluting stents to treat cardiovascular diseases. In the present investigation, a degradable polymer with varying molecular weights was used as a drug carrier to control the degradation of polymer; three different natural drugs such as curcumin, magnolol, and ginger were used owing to their reported pharmacological properties. The results of in vitro measurements of all three natural drugs released from drug-loaded polymeric films showed an initial burst release followed by a sustained release for up to 38 days of measurement. On the other hand, different levels of hemocompatibility were observed by varying concentrations of natural drugs in human erythrocytes. As per the ASTM F756 standard, ginger having low concentration showed optimum hemocompatibility with regard to the drug-eluting stent application as compared with magnolol and curcumin concentrations, which showed suboptimal hemocompatibility and fall in the range of mild-to-severe blood toxicity category. The structure of the coating films was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with results suggesting that there was no chemical bonding between the polymer and drug. Thus, according to this study, it can be concluded that after more detailed in vitro testing such as hemocompatibility tests and platelet adhesion testing, ginger can be a better candidate as a drug-coating material for drug-eluting stent applications.
Revenue Evaluation of Grid-scale Battery Storage in Zhejiang under Different Operating Schemes

Grid-scale stand-alone battery storage system draws increasing attention worldwide in recent years for its flexibility as well as decreasing cost. Up to date, electricity spot markets in China are under construction while market rules for storage system need to be designed aiming for a healthy environment for storage system development. In this paper, how grid-scale stand-alone battery storage station can participate in Zhejiang spot market and related bidding strategies are discussed. Expected monthly revenue for an actual battery storage station in Zhejiang under different bidding schemes are calculated based on actual clearing results from Zhejiang spot market, the monthly revenue is then transformed into an approximation of the storage station lifetime revenue. Results show that it is difficult for grid-scale battery storage station to recover its investment through spot energy market alone and the regulation market is much more appealing compared to energy market under current market rules in Zhejiang.
A history of the Society of Urologic Oncology

This narrative of the history of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) presents the story of the founding and development of this organization and the creation and establishment of its initiatives and programs. It includes a description of how "Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations" came to be designated as its "official journal", thus commemorating the anniversary of the Journal's twenty-five years of publication.
Radar-based Dataset Development for Human Activity Recognition

Human activity recognition (HAR) is an important research problem and considerable efforts have been made in the past two decades to develop successful solutions. Datasets developed for HAR serve as a baseline for evaluating new HAR algorithms and play a pivotal role in advancing the research efforts in this domain. Hundreds of datasets have been developed by various researchers which focus on different types of motions and activities [1]. In this context, most of the efforts have been invested in developing the datasets which contain either the video or clips of 2D images of different types of motions. Due to the advent of 3D sensors, modern datasets also contain the information of the motion as well as the depth [2].
Transcending Internalism: On the Historiography of Technology in the United States

For more than a decade now [i.e., ca. 1983], historians of technology in the United States have been engaged in a collective historiographic endeavor to generate a "conceptual framework" or set of "organizing themes" that would finally give some coherence to the history of technology as an academic endeavor. Yet, as constructive and thought-provoking as these debates have been, they have generally failed to appreciate the degree to which "internalism" has been the field's dominant intellectual force. Once the presence of this birthmark in all its subsequent variation is recognized, the historiographic debate takes on a different caste. It suggests not that the field has failed to coalesce, not that it has floundered for want of a coherent conceptual framework. On the contrary, it testifies to the power that the internalist perspective continues to wield in the field, at the same time that it gives signs of renewed challenges. This prospect then opens for consideration several historiographic questions that so far have not been adequately addressed: What are the theoretical implications of the notion of a "history" of "technology"? Why has the internalist perspective persisted so long in the field? What have been the interpretive consequences, especially of its tendency to abstract from the political economy? How would one characterize "good" history of technology?
A Unified Framework for Estimation in Lognormal Models

Lognormal models have broad applications in various research areas such as economics, actuarial science, biology, environmental science and psychology. In this article, we summarize all the existin...
The Banach manifold of measures and the Lagrange multipliers of statistical mechanics

Using a Banach manifold structure on the space of finite positive measures it is shown that all critical points of the Gibbs/information entropy are grand canonical equilibria when the constraints are scalar, and local equilibria when the constraints are integrable functions. This provides a rigorous derivation of equilibrium and local equilibrium Gibbs measures via Lagrange multipliers.
Sex Differences in Symptom Phenotypes Among Older Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Clinicians make a medical diagnosis by recognizing diagnostic possibilities, often using memories of prior examples. These memories, called exemplars, reflect specific symptom combinations in individual patients, yet most clinical studies report how symptoms aggregate in populations. We studied how symptoms of acute myocardial infarction combine in individuals as symptom phenotypes and how symptom phenotypes are distributed in women and men. Methods In this analysis of the SILVER-AMI Study, we studied 3041 patients (1346 women and 1645 men) ≥75 years old with acute myocardial infarction. Each patient had a standardized in-person interview during the acute myocardial infarction admission to document the presenting symptoms, which enabled a thorough examination of symptom combinations in individuals. Specific symptom combinations defined symptom phenotypes and distributions of symptom phenotypes were compared in women and men using Monte Carlo permutation testing and repeated subsampling. Results There were 1469 unique symptom phenotypes in the entire SILVER-AMI cohort of acute myocardial infarction patients. There were 831 unique symptom phenotypes in women, as compared with 819 in men, which was highly significant, given the larger number of men than women in the study (p Conclusions Older patients with acute myocardial infarction have enormous variation in symptom phenotypes. Women reported more symptoms and had significantly more symptom phenotypes than men. Appreciation of the diversity of symptom phenotypes may help clinicians recognize the less common phenotypes that occur more often in women.
Spectrophotometric determination of cyanide in biological materials.

The analytical methods currently used for the determination of cyanide in biological materials are the aeration method with the Prussian blue (ferricyanide) reaction [1] and some microdiffusion methods [2,3]. The methods are dependent on color reactions, the procedures are either time-consuming or cumbersome, and the results are of questionable accuracy. A method using the ultraviolet light absorption characteristics of a cyanonickelate complex was developed by Scoggins [4] for the accurate identification and quantitation of cyanide in aqueous solution. This method was found to be readily adaptable for the determination of cyanide in biofluids and tissues. The resulting cyanide-nickel complex which formed rapidly was found to be stable and could be quantitated readily. This paper presents a method to detect cyanide in biological materials by a spectrophotometric procedure.
Aging of cells in culture

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses experimental results obtained using fibroblast-like cells that give some indications of the possible mechanisms that limit the division capacity of normal cells in culture. It focuses on the newer cell-culture models involving cells that retain differentiated functions in culture and their possible contribution to determining the relationship between in vitro and in vivo cellular aging. The in vitro growth of normal somatic cells is characterized by an inherent limitation of their proliferative potential. The number of population doublings a cell strain can undergo is a distinct phenotypic characteristic independent of the chronological age of the culture. Although there is evidence that specific additions to the culture medium—such as hydrocortisone and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)—may extend the proliferative capacity of human and bovine cells, respectively, they ultimately cease division. The population-doubling level of the cultures at the time of hydrocortisone or FGF addition is critical in obtaining the maximum lifespan extension. The lower the population doubling level of the culture when treated, the larger the cumulative number of population doublings accrued. The remarkable consistency of normal cells in culture to express a limited in vitro replicative lifespan, which is inversely related to the age of the donor from which the cell culture was initiated, has led to their utilization as models for cellular aging.
Psoriasis is associated with a greater risk of incident venous thromboembolism: the Iowa Women's Health Study

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease, afflicting approximately 2% of the U.S. population1. The condition is characterized by autoimmune dysregulation, and systemic inflammation2. As such, psoriasis can serve as a model for studies of mechanisms of chronic inflammation2. Recently there has been considerable interest in whether systemic inflammation is a risk factor for VTE, as inflammation is associated with a procoagulant state3, 4. Most research exploring this relation has been observational, and has utilized blood markers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines. Results have been mixed, but overall suggestive of a positive association between inflammatory markers and VTE4. There has also been active inquiry into whether medical conditions characterized by chronic systemic inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis5, 6, psoriasis6–8 and inflammatory bowel disease9–11, may be associated with elevated VTE risk. To date, studies of psoriasis and VTE include 2 case-reports8, a medical record-linkage study based on hospital admissions and deaths6, and a prospective cohort of the entire Danish population from 1997 through 20067. We used data from the Iowa Women's Health Study (IWHS) to test the hypothesis that psoriasis is associated with elevated risk of incident VTE, after adjustment for several potentially confounding variables.
A New Class of Energy Based Control Laws for Revolute Robot Arms: Tracking Control, Robustness Enhancement and Adaptive Control

A new class of joint level control laws for all-revolute robot arms is introduced in this paper. The analysis is similar to the recently proposed energy Lyapunov function approach [1, 2], except that the closed loop potential function is shaped in accordance with the underlying joint space topology. By using energy Lyapunov functions with the modified potential energy, a much simpler analysis can be employed to show closed loop global asymptotic stability and local exponential stability. When Coulomb and viscous friction, and model parameter errors are present, a sliding-mode-like modification of the control law is proposed to add a robustness enhancing outer loop. Adaptive control is also addressed within the same framework. A linear-in-the-parameters formulation is adopted and globally asymptotically stable adaptive control laws are derived by replacing the model parameters in the non-adaptive control laws by their estimates.
REIMPLANTATION RESPONSE IN ISOGRAFTED RAT LUNGS - ANALYSIS OF CAUSAL FACTORS

The function of transplanted lungs may be critically impaired in the early postoperative period by the reimplantation response. Several factors of the transplantation procedure, such as disruption of hilar structures (hilar stripping), stenotic anastomoses, and graft ischemia, are considered to cause this reimplantation response. In this study the individual contributions of these factors have been analyzed in rats, after isogeneic transplantation or hilar stripping of left lungs. Marck’s technique for orthotopic transplantation of the left lung in rats was refined so that an 85% postoperative survival rate was achieved. Transplanted and hilar-stripped lungs were investigated by lung perfusion scintigraphy and chest roentgenography at regular intervals up to 168 days after operation. Macroscopic and histologic morphology was examined at corresponding intervals. Our results show that perfusion and ventilation of lung grafts are independently affected by distinct factors of the transplantation procedure. Hilar stripping did decrease graft perfusion transiently. Permanent decrease of perfusion was found to be caused by stenosis of the anastomosed pulmonary artery. Hilar stripping also unpaired ventilation, by causing interstitial and alveolar edema. After transplantation, edema and consequent impairment of ventilation were aggravated by graft ischemia, proportionally to its duration. Our improved technique for transplantation of left lungs in rats provides a new opportunity for investigating the immunologic problems of lung transplantation.
Gilding the Lily: A Variant of the Nelder-Mead Algorithm Based on Golden-Section Search

We propose a variant of the Nelder-Mead algorithm derived from a reinterpretation of univariate golden-section direct search. In the univariate case, convergence of the variant can be analyzed analogously to golden-section search. In the multivariate case, we modify the variant by replacing strict descent with fortified descent and maintaining the interior angles of the simplex bounded away from zero. Convergence of the modified variant can be analyzed by applying results for a fortified-descent simplicial search method. Some numerical experience with the variant is reported.
Nonlinear identification of process dynamics using neural networks

In this paper the nonlinear identification of process dynamics encountered in nuclear power plant components is addressed, in an input-output sense, using artificial neural systems. A hybrid feedforward/feedback neural network, namely, a recurrent multilayer perceptron, is used as the model structure to be identified. The feedforward portion of the network architecture provides its well-known interpolation property, while through recurrency and cross-talk, the local information feedback enables representation of temporal variations in the system nonlinearities. The standard backpropagation learning algorithm is modified, and it is used for the supervised training of the proposed hybrid network. The performance of recurrent multilayer perceptron networks in identifying process dynamics is investigated via the case study of a U-tube steam generator. The response of representative steam generator is predicted using a neural network, and it is compared to the response obtained from a sophisticated computer model based on first principles. The transient responses compare well, although further research is warranted to determine the predictive capabilities of these networks during more severe operational transients and accident scenarios.
A Model of Market Power in Customer Markets

We develop a model for studying dynamic competition in environments with frictions that lead to partial lock-in of customers to products. The dynamic aspects associated with customer retention and acquisition introduce pricing incentives that do not exist in more traditional, static product markets. The proposed model, while highly stylized, maintains certain symmetry properties that allow us to obtain equilibrium existence and uniqueness. We then study the comparative statics of the model and derive a closed-form relationship between average equilibrium markups and the Herfindahl index. We illustrate how the model can be used by analyzing mergers in such a dynamic environment.
Permeabilization of ultraviolet-irradiated chinese hamster cells with polyethylene glycol and introduction of ultraviolet endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus

Chinese hamster V-79 cells were made permeable by treatment with polyethylene glycol and then incubated with a Micrococcus luteus extract containing ultraviolet-specific endonuclease activity. This treatment introduced nicks in irradiated, but not in unirradiated, deoxyribonucleic acid. The nicks remained open for at least 3 h; there was no loss of endonuclease-sensitive sites, and no excision of dimers as measured by chromatography was detected. In addition, there was no increase in ultraviolet resistance in treated cells. This suggests that the absence of a significant amount of excision repair in rodent cells is due to the lack of both incision and excision capacity.
Organization of the Chorion Genes of BOMBYX MORI, a Multigene Family. II. Partial Localization of Three Gene Clusters.

Chorion genes of the inbred stock Ascoli have been localized to three linked clusters by analysis of testcross progeny. Electrophoretic variants screened by isoelectric focusing served as markers. The clusters are designated Ch 1, Ch 2, and Ch 3. The gene order is Ch 1-Ch 2-Ch 3-Y, with relative map distances of approximately 0.4 m.u. for Ch 1-2, 3.3 +/- 0.9 m.u. for Ch 2-3, and 21 m.u. for Ch 3-Y. In a separate testcross using different markers, two chorion regions were localized 2.3 m.u. and 3.1 m.u. from p. These markers could not be assigned to Ch 1, 2, or 3 because there is at present no test for allelism in this system.
Closing Achievement Gaps: Revisiting Benjamin S. Bloom's “Learning for Mastery”

The problem of achievement gaps among different subgroups of students has been evident in education for many years. This manuscript revisits the work of renowned educator Benjamin S. Bloom, who saw reducing gaps in the achievement of various groups of students as a simple problem of reducing variation in student learning outcomes. Bloom observed that teaching all students in the same way and giving all the same time to learn—that is, providing little variation in the instruction—typically results in great variation in student learning. Students for whom the instructional methods and amount of time are appropriate learn well, and those for whom the methods and time are less appropriate learn less well. Bloom believed that all students could be helped to reach a high criterion of learning if both the instructional methods and time were varied to better match students' individual learning needs. In other words, to reduce variation in the achievement of diverse groups of students and have all students learn w...
Morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic characterization of Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite isolated from the European honey bee, Apis mellifera

Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite originally described from Apis cerana, has been found to infect Apis melllifera and is highly pathogenic to its new host. In the present study, data on the ultrastructure of N. ceranae, presence of N. ceranae-specific nucleic acid in host tissues, and phylogenetic relationships with other microsporidia species are described. The ultrastructural features indicate that N. ceranae possesses all of the characteristics of the genus Nosema. Spores of N. ceranae measured approximately 4.4 x 2.2 μm on fresh smears. The number of coils of the polar filament inside spores was 18-21. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) signals specific for N. ceranae were detected not only in the primary infection site, the midgut, but also in the tissues of hypopharyngeal glands, salivary glands, Malpighian tubules, and fat body. The detection rate and intensity of PCR signals in the fat body were relatively low compared with other examined tissues. Maximum parsimony analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene sequences showed that N. ceranae appeared to be more closely related to the wasp parasite, Nosema vespula, than to N. apis, a parasite infecting the same host.
Using Laboratory Experiments to Build Better Operations Management Models

1. Introduction. 2. A Short History of Laboratory Experiments in Economics. 3. Established Good Practices for Experimental Design. 4. Inventory Ordering with Stochastic Demand: The Newsvendor Problem. 5. Supply Chain Coordination. 6. Procurement. 7. Future Trends. References.
The Impact of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Affective Learning and Cognitive Control

Research on meditation has examined many variables across a wide range of techniques. Research on loving-kindness meditation has investigated its impact on affective variables, but has not yet investigated its impact on cognition. The present study investigated the impact of loving-kindness meditation on an affective variable not yet examined in the literature—affective learning—as well as cognition. Participants were randomly assigned to a control condition or a three-session, loving-kindness meditation training. Our results suggest that the beginning stages of loving-kindness meditation training impact the tendency to learn to associate positivity with neutral stimuli and cognitive control. We discuss the implications of our findings and potential directions for future research.