cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a faculty development program for family physicians.

Faculty development programs are frequently conducted for family physicians as a mechanism to train and retrain faculty. However, these programs are rarely subjected to comprehensive evaluations that assess outcomes other than participant satisfaction. This paper describes a comprehensive evaluation study that collected reaction, cognitive and behavioral data on participants in a faculty development program for family physicians. Data were collected using a variety of evaluations strategies and sources of data over a period of time from the first day of the program until 9 months following its completion. Results were consistent across measures and sources and indicated that the participants learned new cognitive content and applied knowledge and skills acquired during the program. Participants, their supervisors and the faculty development program faculty consistently reported high satisfaction with the program. Thus, the evaluation study demonstrated that the program was successful and had the desired i...
Essential roles in synaptic plasticity for synaptogyrin I and synaptophysin I.

Abstract We have generated mice lacking synaptogyrin I and synaptophysin I to explore the functions of these abundant tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins of synaptic vesicles. Single and double knockout mice were alive and fertile without significant morphological or biochemical changes. Electrophysiological recordings in the hippocampal CA1 region revealed that shortterm and long-term synaptic plasticity were severely reduced in the synaptophysin/synaptogyrin double knockout mice. LTP was decreased independent of the induction protocol, suggesting that the defect in LTP was not caused by insufficient induction. Our data show that synaptogyrin I and synaptophysin I perform redundant and essential functions in synaptic plasticity without being required for neurotransmitter release itself.
Design and implementation of a virtual information system for agile manufacturing

In the new and emerging agile manufacturing paradigm, where multiple firms cooperate under flexible virtual enterprise structures, there exists a great need for a mechanism to manage and control information flow among collaborating partners. In response to this pressing need, this paper addresses the design and implementation of an agile manufacturing information system integrating manufacturing databases dispersed at various partner sites. We propose a framework in which: (1) information is modeled in a hierarchical fashion using object-oriented methodology (OOM); (2) information transactions are specified by the workflow hierarchy consisting of partner workflows; (3) information flow between partners is controlled by a set of distributed workflow managers (WM) interacting with partner knowledge bases, which reflect partner specific information control rules on internal data exchange, as well as inter-partner mutual protocols for joint partner communications; (4) the prototype system is accomplished using the World Wide Web based on a client-server architecture. The overall approach and system provides within a dynamic environment, where virtual partnerships are synthesized in response to specific business initiatives, a dynamic and flexible mechanism to support partner information exchange and to keep the dispersed information consistent.
Does cesarean delivery increase the prevalence of adenomyosis? a retrospective review

Abstract Objective: To assess the correlation between cesarean delivery and adenomyosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 200 patients who underwent a hysterectomy for benign pathology at our institution was performed. A systematic review of the surgical histopathology reports for these patients was conducted. The charts of these patients were subsequently reviewed for any previous history of cesarean delivery. The authors then computed the data of this case-control study and calculated an odds ratio. Results: The results of our study were as follows. Of the 200 patients who were included in the study, 64 (32%) were found to have adenomyosis either alone (30/200 or 15%), or in association with leiomyomas (34/200 or 17%). Of these 64 patients with adenomyosis, 19 (24.6%) had a history of cesarean delivery, with a total number of 36 cesarean deliveries performed. Forty-five patients (22.5%) who had not undergone cesarean delivery had the histopathologic diagnosis of adenomyosis. Forty-four patients (22%) had a history of cesarean delivery. The odds ratio for this case-control study was computed at 1.9. Conclusions: The prevalence of adenomyosis reported in the literature is 15–20%. The odds ratio of 1.9 suggests an increased prevalence of adenomyosis in patients with previous cesarean delivery. However, to add power and statistical significance, more data are currently being collected.
Use of electroencephalography (EEG) to assess CNS changes produced by pesticides with different modes of action: Effects of permethrin, deltamethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid, carbaryl, and triadimefon

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is an apical measure, capable of detecting changes in brain neuronal activity produced by internal or external stimuli. We assessed whether pesticides with different modes of action produced different changes in the EEG of adult male Long-Evans rats. The EEG was recorded using two montages (visual cortex referenced to the cerebellum and to the frontal cortex) in unrestrained rats at the time of peak behavioral effects. Pesticides included: permethrin and deltamethrin (Type I and Type II pyrethroids; 2 h), fipronil (single and repeated doses; phenylpyrazole; 6 h), imidacloprid (neonicotinoid; 2 h), carbaryl (carbamate; 0.5 h), and triadimefon (triazole; 1 h), using dosages that produced approximately an ED30 or an ED50-ED80 change in motor activity. Permethrin (43, 100 mg/kg) increased amplitudes or areas (delta, alpha, or gamma bands) in the EEG. Deltamethrin (2.5, 5.5 mg/kg) reduced the amplitudes or areas of the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands, but the changes were not dose-related. A single treatment with fipronil (25, 50 mg/kg, but not 5, 10 mg/kg) decreased gamma band area. Additional changes in the delta, theta, and gamma bands were observed when fipronil (5, 10 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days. Imidacloprid (50, 100 mg/kg) did not alter the EEG. Carbaryl (10, 50 mg/kg) decreased theta area, and decreased delta and increased beta frequency. Triadimefon (75, 150 mg/kg) produced minimal changes in the EEG. The results show that the EEG is affected differently by approximately equipotent doses of pesticides with different modes of action.
Comparison of in vivo and in vitro methods for assessing the effects of bromobenzene on the hepaticmetabolizing enzyme system

The effect of daily i.p. injections of 0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mmol/kg bromobenzene for 1 week on the activity of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system was measured in the rat by a model substrate assay employing lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) and by a battery of in vitro enzyme assays. The data in this study indicated that repeated pretreatment with bromobenzene for 1 week stimulated a dose-related increase in phase I reactions while inducing phase II reactions at the high dose (5 mmol/kg bromobenzene). The in vivo and in vitro assays showed good agreement.
High order smoothness

All functions considered in this paper will be assumed to be Lebesgue measurable and defined on all of the real line R. In a recent paper [3], T. K. Dutta examined the notion of a generalized smooth function and obtained several interesting results for continuous generalized smooth functions analogous to those obtained for continuous smooth functions in [5] and [8]. The purpose of the present paper is to sharpen the hypotheses of Dutta's results by taking advantage of known results for smooth functions and symmetrically differentiable functions along with a form of a lemma due to Auerbach [1], which is slightly stronger in appearance than that quoted by Dutta [3]. These observations used in conjunction with Dutta's methods generate stronger results than those obtained in [3]. We begin by defining the necessary terms. Let f denote a function and let xoER with f (x0)=a0. If there exist real numbers am, a4 . . . . . a** such that
Randomized clinical trial of activated protein C for the treatment of acute lung injury.

Rationale: Microvascular injury, inflammation, and coagulation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). Plasma protein C levels are decreased in patients with acute lung ...
Network Analysis of Oncogenic Ras Activation in Cancer

To investigate the unregulated Ras activation associated with cancer, we developed and validated a mathematical model of Ras signaling. The model-based predictions and associated experiments help explain why only one of two classes of activating Ras point mutations with in vitro transformation potential is commonly found in cancers. Model-based analysis of these mutants uncovered a systems-level process that contributes to total Ras activation in cells. This predicted behavior was supported by experimental observations. We also used the model to identify a strategy in which a drug could cause stronger inhibition on the cancerous Ras network than on the wild-type network. This system-level analysis of the oncogenic Ras network provides new insights and potential therapeutic strategies.
Cytokine Binding by Polysaccharide−Antibody Conjugates

Cytokine-neutralizing antibodies are used in treating a broad range of inflammatory conditions. We demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were still active when conjugated to high molecular weight polysaccharides. These polysaccharides are hydrophilic, but their size makes them unable to circulate in the bloodstream when delivered to tissues, opening up the possibility of localized treatment of inflammatory conditions. To explore this new class of protein-polysaccharide conjugates, we covalently modified interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibodies with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and carboxymethylcellulose. Rigorous purification using dialysis with a 300 kDa-cutoff membrane removed unconjugated monoclonal antibodies. We characterized the composition of the constructs and demonstrated using molecular binding affinity measurements and cell assays that the conjugates were capable of binding proinflammatory cytokines. The binding affinities of both the unconjugated antibodies for their cytokines were measured to be approximately 120 pM. While all conjugates had pM-level binding constants, they ranged from 40 pM for the hyaluronic acid-(anti-interleukin-1β) conjugate to 412 pM for the carboxymethylcellulose-(anti-interleukin-1β) conjugate. Interestingly, the dissociation time constants varied more than the association time constants, suggesting that conjugation to a high molecular weight polysaccharide did not interfere with the formation of the antibody-cytokine complex but could stabilize or destabilize it once formed. Conjugation of cytokine-neutralizing antibodies to high molecular weight polymers represents a novel method of delivering anticytokine therapeutics that may avoid many of the complications associated with systemic delivery.
Evaluation of the mechanical stability of a megavoltage imaging system using a new flat panel positioner

Mega-Voltage systems are used in radiation oncology both for external radiation delivery and patient positioning prior to treatment. A pair of portal images compared with digitally reconstructed radiographs is currently the gold standard for positioning but new developments have made possible the use of Mega-Voltage Cone Beam CT for better 3D setup. The non-ideal imaging geometry of the treatment unit has a direct impact on both methods. It led to the use of a reticule attachment as reference for the scale and the isocenter position on the portal images. The reticule has limited precision and occasionally super-imposes anatomical information. As for Cone Beam, the image quality crucially depends on the knowledge of the scan geometry during the acquisition. The reproducibility of the detector position at each angle will affect the image reconstruction and determine how frequently geometrical calibration must be performed. The objectives of this study are to measure the flex of the detector and evaluate its reproducibility. A RID 1640 Perkin Elmer a-Si Flat Panel is installed on a Siemens Primus linear accelerator with a positioner similar the the one used in the Oncor product. Three original methods are used to investigate the behavior in space and time of the imaging system. A reticule and a Plumb Bob tip are placed along the line formed by the isocenter and the source. Their positions projected on the flat panel for different gantry positions are used to calculate the mechanical flex. Projection matrices obtained in a geometrical Cone Beam calibration are also used to quantify the flat panel sagging. Six full sets of data were acquired over a period of 5 months and recorded overall mechanical flexes of 1 and 3 mm for the transversal and longitudinal directions respectively. The absolute magnitude of the flat panel displacement varies slightly with the method used but the discrepancy stays within the laser precision used for alignment. The small standard deviations of the flat panel displacement (< 1 mm) suggest great stability over time and permits the clinical implementation of patient positioning without the reticule. More experiments on the positioner with the complete set of projection matrices need to be performed to characterize the long-term behavior of the system and to determinate how frequently the Cone Beam calibration needs to be done to conserve image quality. Future work will develop a daily QA protocol to detect possible collisions that would bring the Cone Beam imaging system out of geometrical calibration.
Psychoactive Substrates Stimulate Dopamine Transporter Phosphorylation and Down-regulation by Cocaine-sensitive and Protein Kinase C-dependent Mechanisms

Dopamine transporters (DATs) undergo intracellular sequestration and functional down-regulation upon exposure to psychostimulant substrates. To investigate the potential mechanism underlying these responses, we examined the acute in vitro and in vivo effects of amphetamine and methamphetamine (METH) on phosphorylation and down-regulation of rat DAT using wild type and N-terminal truncation mutants. Phosphorylation of DAT assessed by 32PO4 metabolic labeling was increased up to 2-fold by in vitro treatment of rDAT LLC-PK1 cells with amphetamine or METH and was similarly increased in rat striatal tissue by in vitro application or in vivo injection of METH. The dopamine transport blocker (-)-cocaine did not affect DAT phosphorylation but prevented the phosphorylation increase induced by METH. Phosphorylation of DAT induced by METH was also prevented by the protein kinase C blocker bisindoylmaleimide I and was absent in an N-terminally truncated protein that lacks the first 21 residues including 6 serines that also represent the site of phorbol ester induced phosphorylation. Down-regulation of transport induced by METH was also cocaine- and protein kinase C-dependent but was retained in the N-terminal truncation mutant. These results demonstrate that transport or binding of METH stimulates DAT phosphorylation and down-regulation by a mechanism that requires protein kinase C but that METH-induced down-regulation can occur independently of direct transporter phosphorylation. The finding that DAT phosphorylation is stimulated by amphetamines reveals a previously unknown effect of these drugs that is not produced by cocaine and may be related to reinforcement.
Simultaneous imaging of multiple focal planes for three-dimensional microscopy using ultra-high-speed adaptive optics

Traditional white-light and fluorescent imaging techniques provide powerful methods to extract high-resolution information from two-dimensional (2-D) sections, but to retrieve information from a three-dimensional (3-D) volume they require relatively slow scanning methods that result in increased acquisition time. Using an ultra-high speed liquid lens, we circumvent this problem by simultaneously acquiring images from multiple focal planes. We demonstrate this method by imaging microparticles and cells flowing in 3-D microfluidic channels.
Controlling contamination in Mo/Si multilayer mirrors by Si surface capping modifications

The performance of Mo/Si multilayer mirrors (MLMs) used to reflect UV (EUV) radiation in an EUV + hydrocarbon (NC) vapor environment can be improved by optimizing the silicon capping layer thickness on the MLM in order to minimize the initial buildup of carbon on MLMs. Carbon buildup is undesirable since it can absorb EUV radiation and reduce MLM reflectivity. A set of Mo/Si MLMs deposited on Si wafers was fabricated such that each MLM had a different Si capping layer thickness ranging form 2 nm to 7 nm. Samples from each MLM wafer were exposed to a combination of EUV light + (HC) vapors at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) synchrotron in order to determine if the Si capping layer thickness affected the carbon buildup on the MLMs. It was found that the capping layer thickness had a major influence on this 'carbonizing' tendency, with the 3 nm layer thickness providing the best initial resistance to carbonizing and accompanying EUV reflectivity loss in the MLM. The Si capping layer thickness deposited on a typical EUV optic is 4.3 nm. Measurements of the absolute reflectivities performed on the Calibration and Standards beamline at the ALS indicated the EUV reflectivity of the 3 nm-capped MLM was actually slightly higher than that of the normal, 4 nm Si-capped sample. These results show that he use of a 3 nm capping layer represents an improvement over the 4 nm layer since the 3 nm has both a higher absolute reflectivity and better initial resistance to carbon buildup. The results also support the general concept of minimizing the electric field intensity at the MLM surface to minimize photoelectron production and, correspondingly, carbon buildup in a EUV + HC vapor environment.
A method for the analysis of biological transduction phenomena.

Abstract Biological transduction can be defined as the triggering of a cellular response by the binding of molecules of effector substances to specific cellular sites. An example of biological transduction, analyzed in this report, is the triggering of T-cell proliferation by the binding of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) to specific TCGF-binding sites on responsive T-cells. Sigmoidal or S-shaped curves often result when measurements of biological response are plotted as a function of concentration of effector substance. Such curves suggest that effector molecules must bind a critical number of cellular sites, and this critical number of bound complexes must undergo secondary events (cross-linking, association, internalization, second messenger release, etc.) in order to initiate the biological response. The method described here estimates the critical number of cellular sites (R) and the probability of these secondary events (PS⧸B) as follows: (1) The total number of cellular sites (N) is estimated from binding data, and the probabilities (PB) of effector molecules binding to a site are estimated from response data. (2) The response data are assumed to follow the summed binomial distribution function, which is equated to the incomplete beta function. (3) R and PS⧸B are estimated by applying nonlinear regression to the incomplete beta function. The T-cell data to which the method was applied gave N = 15,000, R = 5, and PS⧸B = 7.22×10-4. These results show that the binding of very few TCGF molecules is required for activation of T-cells and that the probability of the secondary events leading to cell proliferation is much smaller than the probability of TCGF binding to T-cells. The method described can be used to analyze any biological transduction experiments where both binding and biological response data are available.
Models of Membrane-bound Alzheimer’s Abeta Peptide Assemblies

Although it is clear that amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides play a pivotal role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, the precise molecular model of action remains unclear. Aβ peptide forms assemble both in aqueous solution and in lipid membranes. It has been proposed that deleterious effects occur when the peptides interact with membranes, possibly by forming Ca(2+) permeant ion channels. In the accompanying manuscript, we propose models in which the C-terminus third of six Aβ42 peptides forms a six-stranded β-barrel in highly toxic soluble oligomers. Here we extend this hypothesis to membrane-bound assemblies. In these Aβ models, the hydrophobic β-barrel of a hexamer may either reside on the surface of the bilayer, or span the bilayer. Transmembrane pores are proposed to form between several hexamers. Once the β-barrels of six hexamers have spanned the bilayer, they may merge to form a more stable 36-stranded β-barrel. We favor models in which parallel β-barrels formed by N-terminus segments comprise the lining of the pores. These types of models explain why the channels are selective for cations and how metal ions, such as Zn(2+) , synthetic peptides that contain histidines, and some small organic cations may block channels or inhibit formation of channels. Our models were developed to be consistent with microscopy studies of Aβ assemblies in membranes, one of which is presented here for the first time.
Behaviour combination through analogy

Although people can readily use and generate analogies in everyday discourse to relate disparate domains, even most of today's end user programming languages provide no support for creating analogies. Finding ways to represent analogies that allow users to express relations between code fragments via analogy is challenging. Within Agentsheets with VisualAgentalk (AS-VAT) a "programming by analogy" (PBA) mechanism has been developed that allows end users to reuse code between acting agents by creating analogies between them. This mechanism harnesses the intuitive power of analogy to generate and reuse code in a way that hides complicated inheritance issues from end user programmers.
A Discrete-Ordinates Solution for Heat Transfer in a Plane Channel

A recently established version of the discrete-ordinates method is used to develop a solution to a class of problems in the theory of rarefied-gas dynamics where temperature and density effects are coupled. In particular, accurate solutions for the temperature perturbation, the density perturbation, and the heat flux are developed and evaluated for the flow, described by the Bhatnagar, Gross, and Krook model, of a rarefied gas between two parallel plates at which arbitrary and unequal accommodation is allowed. Numerical results are obtained for various choices of the accommodation coefficients and a wide range of the inverse Knudsen number.
The Amino Acid Compositions of Several Wool Fractions as Determined by Paper Chromatography

A paper chromatographic study of the amino acid compositions of several histo logical fractions of wool has been conducted. The fractions considered were epicuticle, cortical cell membranes, paracortex, and regenerated oxidized keratin. Samples of these fractions were hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid, and quantitative analyses of the amino acid content of these hydrolysates were accomplished through a modification of the standard two-dimensional paper chromatographic technique. The epicuticle was found to contain normal amounts of cystine but extraordinarily large quantities of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. In addition to confirming the results of the phosphotungstic acid analyses for cystine reported in a previous paper [14], the chromatographic studies of the paracortex showed large amounts of the basic and small amounts of the dicar boxylic amino acids to be present. The extremely low total of amino acid content found in the cortical cell membranes indicated the possible presence of some nonprotein...
Plasmapheresis improves outcome in postinfectious cerebellitis induced by Epstein-Barr virus.

Postinfectious cerebellitis (PIC) is a rare complication of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Whereas its course is usually regarded as self-limited, it can be prolonged and produce considerable residual disability. We report two adults with persistent PIC after EBV infection who demonstrated complete and rapid recovery with a course of plasmapheresis (total plasma exchange [TPE]). ### Case 1. A 20-year-old woman (Case 15 in reference 1) developed fever and myalgia, followed 2 weeks later by onset over 3 days of slurred speech, gait instability, and difficulty judging distances. Examination revealed hypermetric saccadic eye movements, cerebellar dysarthria, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesis, and ataxic gait. She had flattened affect, decreased verbal output and phonemic fluency, perseveration, and poor visual-spatial planning. Results of strength, reflex, and sensory testing were normal. Gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI and EEG were normal. CSF revealed three lymphocytes, normal protein, and glucose. Heterophile antibody was positive; serum EBV titer was 1:896; EBV …
(220) Evaluation of the Effects of Pain and Depression on the Physical Functioning of Continuing Care Retirement Community Residents: Implications for the Treatment of Pain in Older Individuals

Chronic pain is a major obstacle to a satisfying old age. With 35 million persons over age 65 in the U.S., and the number projected to double by 2030, chronic pain in the elderly is becoming a significant public health problem. A longitudinal study of 228 independently living retirement community (CCRC) residents was conducted to explore the relationships between pain, depression, and functional disability. The sample was predominantly age 75–84, the majority were female, and most had completed college. Self-report measures of pain (adaptation of McGill Pain Questionnaire), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and physical functioning (Self-reported physical performance, ADL, IADL, and 3 meter walking speed) were assessed. 79% of the sample reported pain within the past 2 weeks. 50% of these indicated pain limited their activities. Sub-threshold or major depression was diagnosed in 39%, and almost 23% reported both activity limiting pain and sub-threshold or more severe depression while 13% reported freedom from pain and depressive symptoms. For analyses, individuals in the worst quartiles of functional performance and walking speed at baseline were contrasted to all others; for ADL and IADL, those needing help were compared to those independent in activities. In univariate analyses, pain and depression were strongly related to physical performance; depression was related to ADL and walking speed. Multivariate analyses revealed an interaction effect in which the effects of pain depended on depression level. Individuals reporting activity limiting pain and elevated depressive symptoms, sub-threshold, or major depression were over 7 times more likely than non-depressed persons to be in the worst physical performance quarterly. This finding is statistically significant (P < 0.001). While pain and depression affect physical performance, depressive symptoms rather than pain appear more critical. When seeing older patients with pain complaints, thorough evaluation for and treatment of depressive symptoms and disorders are essential.
Blushing as a Function of Audience Size

Almost no experimental analysis of blushing has been done since Darwin's observations in 1872. Forty-eight college women watched a videotape intended to elicit blushing, and a videotape not intended to elicit blushing, but elicit physiological responses. A subject was alone, or with one or four persons present. Blushing, which was measured directly with a photoplethysmograph probe on the cheek, was greater during the blushing than nonblushing stimulation. Blushing increased as audience size increased from one to four, but not from zero to one. Audience size and kind of stimulation interacted statistically. Similar results were obtained with ear coloration, cheek temperature, and skin conductance responses, although confidence levels were lower. Cheek coloration and temperature were significantly correlated during nonblushing stimulation, and the zero and one audience conditions, but not during the four audience condition, when blushing was greatest. These results may be placed within the context of emotional effects of audience size generally, including stuttering and speech disturbance, disruption of learning, and self-reported tension.
Infant regulation of intake: the effect of free glutamate content in infant formulas

Background: We recently discovered that infants randomly assigned to a formula high in free amino acids (extensive protein hydrolysate formula; ePHF) during infancy consumed less formula to satiation and gained less weight than did infants fed an isocaloric formula low in free amino acids (cow milk formula; CMF). Objective: Because ePHF and CMF differ markedly in concentrations of free glutamate, we tested the hypothesis that the higher glutamate concentrations in ePHF promote satiation and satiety. Design: In this counterbalanced, within-subject study, infants ,4 mo of age (n = 30) visited our laboratory for 3 sets of 2 consecutive infant-led formula meals over 3 test days. Infants were fed 1 of 3 isocaloric formulas during each first meal: CMF, ePHF, or CMF with added free glutamate to approximate concentrations in ePHF (CMF+glu). When infants signaled hunger again, they were fed a second meal of CMF. From these data, we calculated satiety ratios for each of the 3 formulas by dividing the intermeal interval by the amount of formula consumed during that particular first meal. Results: Infants consumed significantly less CMF+glu (P , 0.02) and ePHF (P , 0.04) than CMF during the first meals. They also showed greater levels of satiety after consuming CMF+glu or ePHF: satiety ratios for CMF+glu (P , 0.03) and ePHF (P , 0.05) were significantly higher than for CMF. Conclusion: These findings suggest a role of free glutamate in infant intake regulation and call into question the claim that formula feeding impairs infants’ abilities to self regulate energy intake. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00957892. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95:875‐81.
The Democratic Control of the Scientific Control of Politics

I discuss two popular but apparently contradictory theses: T1. The democratic control of science – the aims and activities of science should be subject to public scrutiny via democratic processes of representation and participation. T2. The scientific control of policy, i.e. technocracy – political processes should be problem-solving pursuits determined by the methods and results of science and technology.
Copper and nickel partitioning with nanoscale goethite under variable aquatic conditions

Metal contaminated sediments can be toxic to aquatic organisms and are common in human-dominated ecosystems, which results in metals being a leading cause of ecosystem impairment. Bioavailability of metals is influenced by their affinity for dissolved and solid-phase ligands, including iron (Fe) oxyhydroxides, which have been hypothesized to reduce metal toxicity in sediments. The authors examined the adsorption kinetics of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) with goethite (α-FeOOH) and characterized the influences of solute metal concentration, pH, ionic strength, and humate concentration on steady-state partitioning of the metals with goethite under conditions representative of natural aquatic environments. Copper and Ni readily adsorbed to goethite, and steady-state partitioning was achieved within 2 h. Although ionic strength had no effect on metal partitioning, adsorption of Cu and Ni to goethite was enhanced by alkaline pH and reduced by competition with humate. Because distribution coefficient (KD) values for Cu and Ni from the present study are comparable to values measured in natural systems, the authors hypothesize that goethite may contribute significantly to the adsorption of both Ni and Cu to particles in the environment. The authors suggest that incorporating binding by Fe oxides in metal bioavailability models should be a priority for improving risk assessment of metal-contaminated oxic sediments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1705–1710. © 2015 SETAC
Analysis of latency in secure wireless sensor networks with key predistribution

The problem of modeling latency in a convergecast wireless sensor network secured using various key predistribution schemes is addressed in this paper. The proposed analysis for latency follows a queuing-theoretic approach, wherein traffic occurs as a Poisson process in time distributed uniformly across a deployment area. The proposed approach is employed to analytically evaluate the latency performance of two significant key predistribution schemes available in literature. In addition, the effect of adversary attack on latency is studied, wherein the attack is modeled as compromising a random subset of sensor nodes in the network. The analytical results obtained thus are verified by simulation studies.
Drug Retention during Animal Inhalation Exposure by FT-IR Spectroscopy

A unique analytical method for the determination of the amount of volatile drug retention by animals during inhalation exposure experiments was developed and evaluated. A large-volume collection system was used to collect and store all exhaled air from the animal. The collected air was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy with the use of a Nicolet 5SXB spectrometer and a Spectra-Tech Inc. 10-m long-path gas cell. The developed technique was evaluated with the use of bis-(trifluoromethyl) disulfide (TFD) administered to adult sheep. Control experiments confirmed the system's ability to capture 100% of the administered compound. It was observed that the sheep retained an average of 4.4 mg of this compound per kg of body weight during a 10-min exposure period at an air concentration of 5.0 mg per L. After quantitative analysis, compounds exhaled by the animal were concentrated by passing the collected air through a series of dry-ice and liquid-nitrogen-cooled traps. FT-IR analysis of the collected concentrated products indicated that TFD did not undergo chemical decomposition to form trifluoromethyl sulfide during the exposure experiment. The exposure system and the analytical method developed can be used with both large and small animals.
Self-reported functional status in osteoarthritis of the knee in a rural southern community: The role of sociodemographic factors, obesity, and knee pain

Objective. This study examined the roles of socio-demographic factors (age, race, gender, education, marital status), obesity, and severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and knee pain on self-reported functional status. Methods. The sample included 1,272 African-American and Caucasian individuals, aged 45 years or older, from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Analysis of variance was used to assess variation in mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores by the above variables. Results. Mean HAQ scores differed by severity of radiographic knee OA and knee pain, obesity, and all demographic factors (P < 0.0001), except race. Only age, female sex, obesity, and knee pain severity were independent effects (P < 0.0009). Disability associated with knee pain varied by both radiographic knee OA severity and obesity. Conclusions. Knee pain severity was more important than radiographic knee OA severity in determining disability. Obesity was independently associated with disability and compounded disability from knee pain. Studies of disability in knee OA should include assessment of obesity, severity of radiographic knee OA, and severity of knee pain, as well as their interactions.
Evolutionary computation methods for helicopter loads estimation

The accurate estimation of component loads in a helicopter is an important goal for life cycle management and life extension efforts. This paper explores the use of evolutionary computational methods to help estimate some of these helicopter dynamic loads. Thirty standard time-dependent flight state and control system parameters were used to construct a set of 180 input variables to estimate the main rotor blade normal bending during forward level flight at full speed. Evolutionary computation methods (single and multi-objective genetic algorithms) optimizing residual variance, gradient, and number of predictor variables were employed to find subsets of the input variables with modeling potential. Clustering was used for composing a statistically representative training set. Machine learning techniques were applied for prediction of the main rotor blade normal bending involving neural networks, model trees (black and white box techniques) and their ensemble models. The results from this work demonstrate that reasonably accurate models for predicting component loads can be obtained using smaller subsets of predictor variables found by evolutionary-computation based approaches.
Metabolism of carotenoid analogs in humans.

Single oral doses (100 �imol) in peanut oil of 4,4'-dimethoxy-$-carotene, ethyl f3-apo-8'-carotenoate, and fi- apo-8'-carotenal were administered to healthy adult male subjects (n = 4-6). Blood samples were taken frequently thereafter, and serum carotenoids and retinoids were analyzed by HPLC. The metabolism ofthe three analogs was very different; 4,4'-dimeth- oxy-f3-carotene was oxidized at the 4 and 4' positions but ap- parently not cleaved, whereas ethyl f3-apo-8'-carotenoate was not detectably metabolized, and fl-apo-8'-carotenal was extensively converted to its corresponding acid, alcohol, and fatty acyl ester and detectably converted to retinyl ester and possibly to two shorter fi-apocarotenals. Serum concentrations of endogenous retinoids and carotenoids, except as noted above, were not af- fected in any case. Kinetically, the maximum serum concentra- tions, areas under the curve, and mean sojourn times for the three analogs differed by 50-, 270-, and 5-fold, respectively. For any given analog, however, the fractional standard deviations for these parameters were only 0.2-0.5. Am J C/in Nutr 1992;56:433-9.
Children at Risk: Their Health Insurance Status by State

Objective. To inform policymakers and child health advocates about children’s health insurance coverage in each state as Congress debates proposals to restructure the Medicaid program amidst declining employer-based dependent health insurance coverage. Methods. Multiple years of data from the March supplement of the Current Population Surveys were pooled to yield more reliable estimates of changes in children’s health insurance coverage in each state from 1987 to 1993. Results. Overall, the number of uninsured children grew by nearly 1 million between 1987 and 1993. The proportion of infants and children <7 years old without health insurance declined; the proportion of uninsured children between the ages of 7 and 22 increased. Between 1987–1990 and 1991–1993, six states experienced a significant increase in the number of uninsured children, only two states experienced a significant decrease in the number of uninsured children, although no progress was found in reducing the number of uninsured children in 43 states. Between 1987–1990 and 1991–1993, the proportion of children covered by employer-based private insurance decreased significantly in three-fourths of the states and the proportion of children with Medicaid coverage increased significantly in four-fifths of the states. Conclusions. In a period of fast-declining employer-based health insurance coverage for dependents, Medicaid expansions have worked to moderate the surge in the number of children without health insurance. Of the 30 million children without private health insurance in 1993, nearly 18 million were insured by Medicaid. As policymakers debate the future of the Medicaid program, they must consider seriously its role as the country’s largest insurer of children’s health and its efficacy as a vital safety net for the nation’s children. children, insurance, Medicaid, access, state.
The hydration of phospholipids and its biological significance

Abstract The difference between the physical properties of water near the surface of certain materials and the same properties of solution water has been known for some time. The idea that this difference may also apply to the surfaces of biomolecules, cells, and tissues and, thus, may be involved in the structure/function relationships of these biological entities has only recently been appreciated. The purpose of this review is to discuss the nature of this water-surface interaction as it relates to biology and medicine, to illustrate some of the methods by which this water is studied and, perhaps most importantly, to inspire the reader to consider how this “bound water” concept might be applied to his or her research. Such research would include transport across membranes, lateral movement along the cell surface, and lipid-protein interactions, as well as many metabolic processes, both normal and pathological. Although the emphasis in this review is on the interaction of water with phospholipids, it is the author's experience that bound water is rapidly being accepted as a useful concept in the study of other macromolecular processes, such as radiation damage in DNA and bioenergetic mechanisms in proteins.
Crosstalk-Free Widesense Nonblocking Multicast Photonic Switching Networks

We analyze crosstalk-free widesense nonblocking multicast multi-log networks. Widesense nonblocking strikes a balance between strictly nonblocking and rearrangeably non- blocking both in terms of cost-effectiveness and route establishment efficiency. The problem is important as cost-effective and efficient crosstalk-free multicast photonic switching networks are likely to play an important role at the optical Internet core in the future. Particularly, for the first time in the literature we derive conditions for the d-ary multi-log network to be crosstalk-free multicast widesense nonblocking under the window algorithm for any given window size. Several interesting by-products follow from our approach and result. Firstly, our result allows for computing the best window size minimizing the fabric cost, showing that the multi-log network is a very good candidate for crosstalk-free multicast switching architectures. Secondly, our analytical approach - partly based on applying the celebrated Konig-Egevary theorem - also gives a much simpler proof of the known case when the network is not required to be crosstalk-free. Thirdly, for window sizes of 1 and dn, we re-discovered known results for the multi-log multicast networks under the so-called fanout constraints.
Reliability-Based Turbo Detection

This paper proposes a reliability-based turbo detection scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with frequency-selective fading. The proposed scheme performs iterative successive soft interference cancellation (SSIC) with a block decision-feedback equalizer (BDFE). To minimize the negative impacts of error propagation in SSIC, we propose a new group-wise reliability-based ordering scheme, where neighboring symbols that severely interfere with each other are clustered into the same group, and for each group, more "reliable" symbols are detected before less "reliable" ones. The symbol reliability is measured by using the symbol a priori probability, which is a unique byproduct of the turbo detection and can be obtained with little overhead. The reliability information is updated iteratively as the turbo detection progresses, and this leads to a dynamic ordering scheme that is unavailable in conventional ordered successive interference cancellation (OSIC) schemes. Simulation results show that extra performance gain is obtained at a very small ordering cost, and the reliability-based turbo detection can achieve a performance that is only 0.5 dB away from the optimum maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) detection.
Dynamometer Power Output Measurements of Miniature Piezoelectric Actuators

Piezoelectric bending actuators are an attractive option for driving microrobots due to their light weight, scalability, ease of integration, and high bandwidth. However, the only existing energy or power output measurements for piezoelectric bending actuators have been extrapolated from dc values or unloaded ac values, and are most likely overestimates. For microrobot applications such as flapping flight, accurate measures of power density are critical for design variables. In this paper, to properly measure the energy output of a 10-mg piezoelectric actuator, a custom dynamometer is designed and constructed to directly measure the power output at various frequencies and conditions. The dynamometer can simulate resonance with a tunable resistive (damping) load at frequencies from 1 to 100 Hz. It was found that due to low internal damping and fracture limits, actuators cannot be run in the damping matched condition at high fields (>1mum). Using the device, energy output per cycle at a drive field of 1.6 V/mum was measured to be a maximum of 19.1 muJ/cycle (232-mu m amplitude, 30 Hz), giving a delivered energy density per cycle of 1.89 J/kg. Internal actuator damping was measured at 1 V/mum to account for an energy loss of only 0.21 muJ per cycle (232-mu m amplitude, 30 Hz). These results are the first measurement of real power output of a piezoelectric bending actuator operating in real-world conditions (at ac and driven by high fields), and demonstrate power output measurement techniques that are applicable to other miniature actuators that are designed for operation in resonance.
The influence of magmatic differentiation on the oxidation state of Fe in a basaltic arc magma

Subduction zone basalts are more oxidized than basalts from other tectonic settings (e.g., higher Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe), and this contrast may play a central role in the unique geochemical processes that generate arc and continental crust. The processes generating oxidized arc magmas, however, are poorly constrained, although they appear inherently linked to subduction. Near-surface differentiation processes unique to arc settings might drive oxidation of magmas that originate in equilibrium with a relatively reduced mantle source. Alternatively, arc magmas could record the oxidation conditions of a relatively oxidized mantle source. Here, we present new measurements of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from a single eruption of Agrigan volcano, Marianas, in order to test the influence of differentiation processes vs. source conditions on the Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe ratio, a proxy for system oxygen fugacity (fO{sub 2}). We determined Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe ratios in glass inclusions using {mu}-XANES and couple these data with major elements, dissolved volatiles, and trace elements. After correcting for post-entrapment crystallization, Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe ratios in the Agrigan melt inclusions (0.219 to 0.282), and their modeled fO{sub 2}s ({Delta}QFM + 1.0 to + 1.8), are uniformly more oxidized than MORB, and preserve a portion of the evolution of this magma from 5.7 to 3.2 wt.%more » MgO. Fractionation of olivine {+-} clinopyroxene {+-} plagioclase should increase Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe as MgO decreases in the melt, but the data show Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe ratios decreasing as MgO decreases below 5 wt.% MgO. The major element trajectories, taken in combination with this strong reduction trend, are inconsistent with crystallization of common ferromagnesian phases found in the bulk Agrigan sample, including magnetite. Rather, decreasing Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe ratios correlate with decreasing S concentrations, suggesting that electronic exchanges associated with SO{sub 2} degassing may dominate Fe{sup 3+}/{Sigma}Fe variations in the melt during differentiation. In the case of this magma, the dominant effect of differentiation on magmatic fO{sub 2} is reduction rather than oxidation. Tracing back Agrigan melts with MgO > 5 wt.% (i.e., minimally degassed for S) along a modeled olivine fractionation trend to primary melts in equilibrium with Fo{sub 90} olivine reveals melts in equilibrium with the mantle beneath Agrigan at fO{sub 2}s of {Delta}QFM + 1 to + 1.6, significantly more oxidized than current constraints for the mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges.« less