cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled trial in travel demand management

This paper presents a trial aimed at reducing parking demand at a large urban employer through an informational campaign and monetary incentives. A 6-week randomized controlled trial was conducted with (N = 2000) employee commuters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all of whom frequently drove to campus. Split into four arms of five hundred each, one group received weekly informational emails highlighting MIT’s various new transportation benefits; a second group received monetary rewards for reducing their frequency of parking; a third group received both interventions, while a control group was monitored with no intervention. The paper aims to examine how behavioral incentives, namely targeted information provision and monetary rewards, can be used independently or in combination to encourage alternatives to drive-alone commuting. Success was measured as the extent to which drivers decreased their frequency of parking and increased their use of alternative modes during and after the campaign. While the combined treatment group contained the highest number of top-performing participants, no statistically significant differences-in-differences were observed amongst the treatment arms compared to the control. A post-experiment survey indicated a widespread increase in awareness of employer transportation benefits, and a much larger stated shift from driving towards transit than was supported by passively-collected data. Survey results suggested that while intent to reduce car use existed, complaints of insufficient quality of transit service and relative convenience of driving suppressed modal shifts. Most importantly, the discrepancy between self-reported and actual behavior change highlights important limitations and biases of survey-based travel behavior research.
Blood Pressure and Marijuana Use: Results from a Decade of NHANES Data

Objectives: After 14 years of no change, new blood pressure (BP) guidelines were released; yet, the impact of marijuana on BP remains unclear. Our objective was to examine the association between marijuana use and BP. Methods: We analyzed data for adults (N = 10,709; mean age 44.8 years; 50.3% men) who completed 2005-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Marijuana use was defined as never (no lifetime use), past (lifetime, not in past 30 days), and current (≥ 1 in past 30 days). Frequency of use was categorized based past 30-day use. BP was categorized as elevated BP, Stage 1 hypertension (HTN-I), or Stage 2 hypertension (HTN-II) based on updated guidelines. Results: Current users had a higher prevalence of elevated BP (19.4%), HTN-I (22.7%), HTN-II (12.9%) than never users (16.1%, 21.4%, and 11.99%) respectively; p = .03). After covariate adjustment, heavy users had 1.80 higher odds of elevated BP than never users (95% CI: 1.13-2.88). There were no statistically significant differences in BP in any other marijuana use category. Conclusions: Driven by heavy use, current users had a higher prevalence of elevated BP than never users. Patients at risk for abnormal BP should use caution when engaging in heavy marijuana use.
Conspiracy Theories and Flat-Earth Videos on YouTube

The advent of digital user-created media platforms such as YouTube has made possible the spread of a wide range of information without the constraints of traditional mass media such as editorial gatekeeping. This democratized user-created media environment provides an outlet for subject matter that would otherwise not receive broad exposure–including material that seeks to discredit specific scientific findings and science as a whole. The present paper examines YouTube videos that advocate the idea of a flat earth and tests for conspiratorial ideation using a version of the Conspiratorial Mentality Questionnaire (Bruder, Haffke, Neave, Nouripanah, & Imhoff, 2013). The research finds that flat-earth videos significantly outnumbered debunking videos, were almost twice as long on average and were more likely to include conspiracy ideation, science denial and religious thought and to reference other social media. On the other hand, debunking videos were more likely to reference established science and enjoyed greater favorability ratings from viewers.
Integrin αvβ5 Internalizes Zika Virus during Neural Stem Cells Infection and Provides a Promising Target for Antiviral Therapy

We perform a CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide screen in glioblastoma stem cells and identify integrin αvβ5 as an internalization factor for Zika virus (ZIKV). Expression of αvβ5 is correlated with ZIKV susceptibility in various cells and tropism in developing human cerebral cortex. A blocking antibody against integrin αvβ5, but not αvβ3, efficiently inhibits ZIKV infection. ZIKV binds to cells but fails to internalize when treated with integrin αvβ5-blocking antibody. αvβ5 directly binds to ZIKV virions and activates focal adhesion kinase, which is required for ZIKV infection. Finally, αvβ5 blocking antibody or two inhibitors, SB273005 and cilengitide, reduces ZIKV infection and alleviates ZIKV-induced pathology in human neural stem cells and in mouse brain. Altogether, our findings identify integrin αvβ5 as an internalization factor for ZIKV, providing a promising therapeutic target, as well as two drug candidates for prophylactic use or treatments for ZIKV infections.
Social Risk Factors for Medication Nonadherence: Findings from the CARDIA Study.

Objectives: Nonadherence to medications has been documented, but the combined effect of social risk factors on medication nonadherence has not been investigated. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a population-based prospective cohort. The sample (N = 1506) included subjects who at Year 20 (2005-06) were taking prescription medications and completed a 4-item Medication Adherence Scale. Social risk factors were education of high school or less, annual household income 3 times higher odds of nonadherence than counterparts with no social risk factors (OR = 3.26 [95% CI 1.72-6.19], p < .001). Conclusion: Low income and chronic stress are associated with medication nonadherence, and the odds of nonadherence increase with the accumulation of social risk factors. Findings may be used to develop risk prediction tools to identify individuals who can benefit from adherence-promoting interventions.
Constraining Dictatorship: From Personalized Rule to Institutionalized Regimes

How do some dictatorships become institutionalized ruled-based systems, while others remain heavily personalist? Once implemented, do executive constraints actually play an effective role in promoting autocratic stability? To understand patterns of regime institutionalization, this book studies the emergence of constitutional term limits and succession procedures, as well as elite power-sharing within presidential cabinets. Anne Meng argues that institutions credibly constrain leaders only when they change the underlying distribution of power between leaders and elites by providing elites with access to the state. She also shows that initially weak leaders who institutionalize are less likely to face coup attempts and are able to remain in office for longer periods than weak leaders who do not. Drawing on an original time-series dataset of 46 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1960 to 2010, formal theory, and case studies, this book ultimately illustrates how some dictatorships evolve from personalist strongman rule to institutionalized regimes.
Synsedimentary tectonics vs paleoclimatic changes across the Aptian-Albian boundary along the Southern Tethyan margin: The panormide carbonate platform case history (NW Sicily)

Abstract The Aptian-Albian boundary is a deeply investigated time interval on the basis of the deep oceanographic, environmental and climatic changes, globally recorded along the sedimentary rock successions. A regional latest Aptian extensional pulse in the Southern Tethyan margin is here envisaged as being responsible for different events of sedimentation and erosion in the Panormide carbonate platform as highlighted by the outcropping sections studied from the NW Sicilian fold and thrust belt. Integrating facies and stratal pattern analysis with backstripping methods has permitted to define the interaction between tectonics and sedimentary factors of the Lower Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates. Based on geometric configuration, lateral facies relationships, and thicknesses variations of the Lower Cretaceous Requienid limestone, is here envisaged a paleophysiography characterised by banks separated by deep channels. The margins of the isolated carbonate platform were oriented towards both the present-day west, where originally the Cala Rossa intraplatform basin developed driven by transtensional movements, and to the present-day east, where the continental slope was spreading. Including subsidence analysis and significance of the top-unconformity of the Requienid limestone a tectonic event at the end of the Aptian was detected as responsible for the fragmentation of the platform in various rotating fault-blocks and reworking of shallow-water carbonates towards the slope. The variable subsidence rates correspond to the different responses, both emersion and drowning, of the various platform-blocks to the extensional tectonics. Paleoceanographic changes, detected around the world during the Aptian-Albian, are well recorded also from the Sicilian sections, where continental clays – as the product of weathering of crystalline rocks – metallic crusts (hardgrounds) and condensed phosphatized pelagic deposits – as the product of sediment starvation, condensation and drowning – cover the Lower Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates respectively in the different faulted blocks of the segmented carbonate platform. Chemical and mineralogical analyses confirm for these deposits an influence in their formation caused by variations in oceanographic and environmental conditions, as increasing of metal ions in the surficial sea-water and high rates of groundwater precipitation. Paleoclimate evaluation reveals changes from the greenhouse arid conditions, developed during the lower Cretaceous and permitting the sedimentation of the shallow-water carbonates, to warm-humid climate condition during the latest Aptian-lower Albian boundary.
ETMA: An Efficient Tool for Event Trees Modeling and Analysis

Event Tree (ET) analysis is a widely used forward deductive safety analysis technique for decision-making at a system design stage. Existing ET tools usually provide Graphical Users Interfaces (GUI) for users to manually draw system-level ET diagrams, which consist of nodes and branches, describing all possible success and failure scenarios. However, these tools do not include some important ET analysis steps, e.g., the automatic generation and reduction of a complete system ET diagram. In this paper, we present a new Event Trees Modeling and Analysis $(\mathcal{E}\mathcal{TMA})$ tool to facilitate users to conduct a complete ET analysis of a given system. Some key features of $\mathcal{E}\mathcal{TMA}$ include: (i) automatic construction of a complete ET model of real-world systems; (ii) deletion/reduction of unnecessary ET nodes and branches; (iii) partitioning of ET paths; and (iv) probabilistic analysis of the occurrence of a certain event. For illustration purposes, we utilize our $\mathcal{E}\mathcal{TMA}$ tool to conduct the ET analysis of a protective fault trip circuit in power grid transmission lines. We also compared the $\mathcal{E}\mathcal{TMA}$ results with Isograph, which is a well-known commercial tool for ET analysis.
Comparison and Harmonization of the Locked-Wheel Skid Tester and the Sideway-Force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine

Skid resistance is a characteristic of a pavement surface that is critical to pavement safety. Skid resistance can be measured with different types of equipment, but because of the differences in the system configurations and the testing methods (fixed slip, locked-wheel, sideway-force, and variable-slip), the measured friction characteristics are not the same. To compare the measurements, analysts have attempted to harmonize measurements to a common scale by integrating the effects of macrotexture and slip-speed on skid resistance. Examples of these efforts include the Penn State model, the Rado Model, the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses International Friction Index (IFI), and the Rolling Resistance, Skid Resistance, and Noise Emission (ROSANNE) Skid Resistance Index (SRI). In the United States, skid resistance is traditionally measured with a locked-wheel skid trailer (LWST), but there has been increasing interest in the use of continuous friction measurement equipment. This paper compares friction measured using a LWST ribbed tire and smooth tire with measurements collected with a Sideway-Force Routine Investigation Machine (SCRIM). The first objective is to evaluate the influence of macrotexture on the friction measured with both devices. The second objective is to compare the friction measurements using orthogonal regression (OR) and derive equations for interconversion between both devices. The findings in this paper establish that the LWST ribbed tire and the SCRIM shared similar sensitivity to changes in microtexture, whereas smooth tire was more sensitive to changes in microtexture. The direction of the OR of both devices produced a greater correlation for the SCRIM and ribbed tire than did the smooth tire. The correlation was increased when the measurements with the SCRIM and smooth tire were converted to 60 km/h using the IFI FR60 conversion. The higher correlation using FR60 conversion provides further support for the dependence of smooth tire friction on macrotexture measurements.
Unhealthy Lifestyle and Gut Dysbiosis: A Better Understanding of the Effects of Poor Diet and Nicotine on the Intestinal Microbiome

The study of the intestinal or gut microbiome is a newer field that is rapidly gaining attention. Bidirectional communication between gut microbes and the host can impact numerous biological systems regulating immunity and metabolism to either promote or negatively impact the host's health. Habitual routines, dietary choices, socioeconomic status, education, host genetics, medical care and environmental factors can all contribute to the composition of an individual's microbiome. A key environmental factor that may cause negative outcomes is the consumption of nicotine products. The effects of nicotine on the host can be exacerbated by poor dietary choices and together can impact the composition of the gut microbiota to promote the development of metabolic disease including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This review explores the contribution of nicotine, poor dietary choices and other unhealthy lifestyle factors to gut dysbiosis.
DSD Characteristics of a Mid-Winter Tornadic Storm Using C-Band Polarimetric Radar and Two 2D-Video Disdrometers

Drop size distributions in an evolving tornadic storm are examined using C-band polarimetric radar observations and two 2D-video disdrometers. The E-F2 storm occurred in mid-winter (21 January 2010) in northern Alabama, USA, and caused widespread damage. The evolution of the storm occurred within the C-band radar coverage and moreover, several minutes prior to touch down, the storm passed over a site where several disdrometers including two 2D video disdrometers (2DVD) had been installed. One of the 2DVDs is a low profile unit and the other is a new next generation compact unit currently undergoing performance evaluation. Analyses of the radar data indicate that the main region of precipitation should be treated as a "big-drop" regime case. Even the measured differential reflectivity values (i.e. without attenuation correction) were as high as 6-7 dB within regions of high reflectivity. Standard attenuation-correction methods using differential propagation phase have been "fine tuned" to be applicable to the "big drop" regime. The corrected reflectivity and differential reflectivity data are combined with the co-polar correlation coefficient and specific differential phase to determine the mass-weighted mean diameter, Dm, and the width of the mass spectrum, (sigma)M, as well as the intercept parameter , Nw. Significant areas of high Dm (3-4 mm) were retrieved within the main precipitation areas of the tornadic storm. The "big drop" regime assumption is substantiated by the two sets of 2DVD measurements. The Dm values calculated from 1-minute drop size distributions reached nearly 4 mm, whilst the maximum drop diameters were over 6 mm. The fall velocity measurements from the 2DVD indicate almost all hydrometeors to be fully melted at ground level. Drop shapes for this event are also being investigated from the 2DVD camera data.
Sirt1 protects against oxidative stress in diaphragm muscles

Muscle contractility is associated to ROS production due to increased mitochondrial activity and activation of NADPH oxidase. The protective mechanisms against excessive ROS generation in muscles constantly active (heart, diaphragm) are elusive. The protein deacetylase SIRT1 promote MnSOD and catalase expression by activating FOXO (1). In skeletal muscle cells. mechanical stretch leads to an EGR1-dependent transcriptional activation of Sirt1 that results in FOXO4 dependent activation of Sod2 (2). In diaphragm muscles from young mice we found an increase of 2-fold in SIRT1 protein and RNA 1h after mechanical stretch SIRT1 protein showed a 3-fold increase of basal levels in aged vs young diaphragms. However, further increase of SIRT1 protein or RNA by stretch was blunted in old diaphragms. EGR1 binding to the Sirt1 promoter was evaluated in stretched and non-stretched diaphragms from young and aged mice. Sirt1 promoter occupancy by EGR1 had a 6-fold increase by stretch in diaphragms from young animals, whereas in old animals was not detectable Our results in stretched cultured muscle cells also showed that higher expression of SIRT1 partially rescues the stretch-induced increase in ROS levels. Our data suggest the existence of two mechanisms involving SIRT1 to prevent oxidative stress due to mechanical loading.
Analyzing Processes behind Web Service Standards Development

Anticipatory standards such as Web service standards are artifacts ‘designed’ by consortium-based standards development organizations. Intricate processes followed to develop anticipatory standards are not well-understood. Recently, the D-S-N model was developed to explain these processes, and suggested that these processes contain cycles of design (D), sense-making (S), and negotiation (N) activities. In this paper, we provide an initial report of a case study that empirically analyzes archival documents of SOAP standard development. Our findings reveal that the D-S-N model is applicable to the Web service standardization process followed at W3C but this model provides only partial explanation of the process, and that design and sense-making are the core activities of the process. Our findings also show that participants spent most of their time discussing technical issues and identifying action items to be performed, large organizations dominated the process, and negotiation is the least frequent activity.
The size-frequency distribution of zodiacal dust band material

Recent observations of the size-frequency distribution of zodiacal cloud particles obtainedfrom the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) cratering record reveal a significant large particle population (100 micron diameter or greater) near 1 AU. While the Solar System Dynamics group at the University of Florida has had much success in modeling the zodiacal cloud from a dynamical standpoint, our work has been limited by the fact that only small particles (25 micron diameter and smaller) have been considered. This was due to the prohibitively large amount of computing power required to numerically analyze the dynamical history of large particles. The recent availability of cheap, fast processors has finally made this work possible. For the first time, we are able to produce models for the components of the zodiacal cloud that include a size-frequency distribution able to match IR observations in multiple wavebands. An analysis of the Solar System dust bands yields a size-frequency distribution in agreement with LDEF, in that large particles are shown to dominate.
Voyager Observations of the Magnetic Field in the Distant Heliosphere

The latitudinal structure of the heliospheric magnetic field during much of the solar cycle is determined by a “sector zone”, in which both positive and negative magnetic polarities are observed, and by the unipolar regions above and below the sector zone. Distinct corotating streams and interactions regions are found primarily in the sector zone during the declining phase of the solar cycle. Within a few AU, the streams and interaction regions are distinct and are related to solar features. A restructuring of the solar wind occurs between 1 AU and ≈15 AU, in which the isolated streams, interaction regions and shocks merge to form compound streams and merged interaction regions (“MIRs”). Memory of the source conditions is lost in this process. In the region between ≈30 AU and the termination shock (the “distant heliosphere”), the pressure of interstellar pickup protons dominates that of the magnetic field and solar wind particles and largely controls the dynamical processes. During 1983 and 1994, corotating streams and corotating interaction regions were observed at 1 AU. Merged interaction regions were observed at ≈15 AU in 1983, but not at ≈45 AU during 1994. This result suggests a further restructuring of the solar wind in the distant heliosphere, but variations from one solar cycle to the next might also contribute to the result. Approaching solar minimum in 1996, the latitudinal extent of the sector zone decreased, and Voyager 2 gradually entered the unipolar region below it. The speed was lower in the sector zone than below it. At Voyagers 1 and 2, the change in cosmic ray intensity is related to the magnetic field strength during each year from 1983 through 1996. The magnetic field strength has a multifractal distribution throughout the heliosphere. This fundamental symmetry of the heliosphere has not been incorporated explicitly in cosmic ray propagation models.
Crystal structure and conformation of linomide [N-methyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1 -methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide]: A novel immunomodulator

Linomide [N-methyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide] is a new immunomodulator from Phamacia Laboratories, Helsingborg, Sweden. Linomide (LS-2616) has delayed hypersensitivity in rat skin, potentiates mouse natural killer cell activity, and stimulates polyclonal T-cell activation. It has been shown that LS-2616 abolishes the effects of continuous cyclosporine treatment in experimental models. Crystal structure of LS-2616 has been undertaken as a first step in the establishment of a possible structure–function relationship for the drug. Crystals of LS-2616 (C18H16N2O3) obtained from methylene chloride are monoclinic, of space group P21/a with the following crystallographic parameters: a = 8.793(1) A, b = 22.349(3) A, c = 7.808(1) A, β = 92.96(1)°, V = 1532.3(6) A3, ρobs = 1.34 Mg/m3, ρcalc = 1.337 Mg/m3, and Z = 4. The structure was solved with CAD-4 data using MULTAN programs and refined to a final R value of 0.041. The N-methyl carboxamide is in the cis configuration and is turned away from the quinoline ring by 87°. FK506 is a novel 23-membered macrolide lactone which is currently used for bone marrow and organ transplantations. The crystal structure of FK506 has been published. The absolute configuration of FK506 was established as a cis-amide which contains a L-pipecolic acid moiety. Preliminary modeling studies of FK506 with LS-2616 revealed that this cis conformation for the N-methyl carboxamide leads to a lower binding energy than the corresponding trans conformation. The plane of the phenyl group is inclined by 95° to the carboxamide plane. The molecule has the familiar herring-bone type of packing, characteristic of the polyphenyl molecules, stabilized by O–H ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ O and C–H ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ O hydrogen bonds involving the hydroxyl group and the ketone substituents on the quinoline ring and the N-methyl group of the carboxamide.
Occupant Injury Patterns In Side Impacts - a Coordinated Industry/Government Accident Data Analysis

The Accident Data Analysis Task Group of a coordinated government/industry project to develop and compare full-scale with subsystem side impact test procedures investigated four areas of side impact injuries. The Task Group ranked crash configuration modes; established injury categories based on predominant body region injured and vehicle interior component contacted; investigated the relationship between these first and second impact variables; and discussed the role of structural integrity to occupant injury.
A survey of 3,874 routine full-mouth radiographs. I. A study of retained roots and teeth.

Abstract A comprehensive study of 3,874 routine full-mouth radiographs yielded the following findings concerning retained roots and teeth: 1. 1. The incidence of retained roots discovered in routine full-mouth radiographs of all types of patients was close to 20 per cent. Twice as many roots are retained in the maxilla as in the mandible, and over six times as many are retained in posterior areas as in anterior areas. 2. 2. The incidence of retained roots in edentulous jaws was close to 24 per cent, and the incidence of retained and embedded teeth was 2.6 per cent. 3. 3. The over-all incidence of radiolucencies associated with retained roots was over 50 per cent. 4. 4. Of these retained roots, those exposed to the oral cavity were involved with radiolucent areas in 81 per cent of the cases, while roots lying beneath the surface or completely encased in bone had radiolucent areas around them in 20 per cent of the cases. 5. 5. The size of the retained root had no influence on the incidence of associated radiolucent areas. 6. 6. There was no difference in the numbers of radiolucencies between roots found in the maxilla and those found in the mandible, but a markedly higher incidence of involvement was noted in anterior areas as compared to posterior areas. 7. 7. The incidence of retained roots of deciduous teeth which remain in the jaws is extremely small (1.2 per cent). 8. 8. Retention of deciduous teeth occurred in one out of every sixty-three patients. The most frequently retained deciduous tooth was the maxillary cuspid. The significance of these findings is discussed, and the need for comprehensive radiographic examination of all patients is emphasized.
Finding dense and connected subgraphs in dual networks

Finding dense subgraphs is an important problem that has recently attracted a lot of interests. Most of the existing work focuses on a single graph (or network1). In many real-life applications, however, there exist dual networks, in which one network represents the physical world and another network represents the conceptual world. In this paper, we investigate the problem of finding the densest connected subgraph (DCS) which has the largest density in the conceptual network and is also connected in the physical network. Such pattern cannot be identified using the existing algorithms for a single network. We show that even though finding the densest subgraph in a single network is polynomial time solvable, the DCS problem is NP-hard. We develop a two-step approach to solve the DCS problem. In the first step, we effectively prune the dual networks while guarantee that the optimal solution is contained in the remaining networks. For the second step, we develop two efficient greedy methods based on different search strategies to find the DCS. Different variations of the DCS problem are also studied. We perform extensive experiments on a variety of real and synthetic dual networks to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the developed methods.
Determining the Ability of Xenobiotic Metals to Bind a Specific Protein Domain by Electrophoresis

Environmental metals are potentially toxic and can interfere with the metal-binding motifs of various critical proteins. This unit describes an electrophoretic method that can be used to measure the ability of a xenobiotic metal to bind a zinc-finger motif. Information gained using this protocol can lead to the identification of protein targets of metals and shed better light on their mechanisms of action.
Portable tools for image processing instruction

This paper describes a set of portable tools developed for teaching image processing at Washington State University. The tools consist of an ANSI-C library of basic image processing functions specifically designed to make it easy for a novice user to add their own image processing functions, a Visual C++ version of the library with an integrated Windows interface, a collection of example images demonstrating the effects of the various algorithms and concepts of image processing, and several interactive applications developed for various windowing platforms to allow students to interactively experiment with and discover image processing. It is important to note that in addition to being useful for teaching image processing, these tools are useful for motivating students in a rich variety of fields. >
From R&D to strategic knowledge management: transitions and challenges for national laboratories

The past two decades have witnessed unprecedented changes to national laboratories as they have adjusted to globalized and technology based competition. These transitions are reviewed in the context of how Canada’s National Research Council has progressed from an internally oriented R&D organization into a more externally focused innovation organization, now coping with the challenges of strategic knowledge management. The paper traces the steps and paradigms involved in this transition and offers some commentary on the extent of the corporate cultural learning that has been required to effect these changes.
Functional response of Pteromalus cerealellae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on the cowpea weevil, Callosbruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), and interaction between parasitism and cowpea varietal susceptibility

Laboratory studies were carried out to determine the functional response of the parasitoid, Pteromalus cerealellae (Boucek) to cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) hosts, and the relationship between parasitism and cowpea variety susceptibility to the weevil. The attack response of P. cerealella to weevil larvae was best described by a type III functional response using an egg limitation model. The mean attack rate (a) of the parasitoid was estimated as 1.7 and the upper limit of the response was 24 weevil larvae per individual parasitoid within a 48-h period. The results also showed that cowpea varieties resistant to weevil infestation supported fewer weevil progeny and facilitated a greater suppression of the weevil by the parasitoid. The parasitoid progeny index, a measure that compares the number of the parasitoid progeny to the number of the beetle progeny was higher in cowpea weevil resistant varieties than in susceptible varieties. Additionally, the presence of P. cerealellae resulted in reduced weight losses of cowpea caused by the weevil infestation in both susceptible and resistant varieties.
Transjugular Retrograde Cannulation of the Portal Vein via Patent Ductus Venosus: Alternative Access for Endovascular Hepatic Interventions

The use of the patent ductus venosus via a transjugular approach to access the portal system for endovascular treatment of hepatic vascular anomalies in three infants is reported. Two patients had an arterioportal fistula, and one had a rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma. All patients underwent arteriography followed by embolization of the vascular anomalies without complications. This alternative route is technically simpler and likely safer than transarterial and transhepatic approaches.
Regeneration of Transgenic Skeletal Muscles with Altered Timing of Expression of the Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Muscle Regulatory Factor MRF4

In regenerating muscle cells, muscle regulatory factor (MRF) 4 is normally the last of the four MRFs to be expressed. To analyze how the timing of MRF4 expression affects muscle regeneration, we compared regeneration after local freeze injury of muscles from wild-type mice with muscles from transgenic mice in which MRF4 expression was under control of an ∼1.6-kb fragment of the myogenin promoter. Three days after injury, masseter and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in wild-type mice expressed little or no MRF4 mRNA; whereas these muscles in transgenic mice expressed abundant MRF4 mRNA from both the transgene and the endogenous gene. Thus, MRF4 up-regulation was accelerated in transgenic compared to wild-type regenerating muscles, and expression of the transgene appeared to activate, perhaps indirectly, expression of the endogenous MRF4 gene. At 11 days after injury, regeneration, as measured by cross-sectional area and density of regenerated fibers, was significantly impaired in transgenic TA compared to wild-type TA, whereas at 19 days after injury both transgenic and TA muscle fibers had fully recovered to preinjury values. Regeneration of masseter muscles, which normally regenerate much less completely than TA muscles, was unaffected by the transgene. Thus, the timing of MRF4 up-regulation, as well as additional muscle-specific factors, can determine the progress of muscle regeneration.
An Eclipse-based environment for molecular simulation

Etomica is an extensible framework for conducting molecular simulations, and it comprises an API and a graphical IDE based on the Eclipse framework. It is written almost entirely in Java, and presently comprises about 1200 classes. In this paper we describe the general structure of the Etomica API, and discuss how we have integrated it into the Eclipse framework. Topics discussed include the design of the simulation framework and the handling of OpenGL graphics that permit real-time visualization of the simulations.
An approximate planning model for distributed computing networks

We develop an approximate planning model for a distributed computing network in which a control system oversees the assignment of information flows and tasks to a pool of shared computers, and describe several optimization applications using the model. We assume that the computers are multithreaded, and have differing architectures leading to varying and inconsistent processing rates. The model is based on a discrete-time, continuous flow model developed by Graves [Oper Res 34 (1986), 522–533] which provides the steady-state moments of production and work-in-queue quantities. We make several extensions to Graves' model to represent distributed computing networks. First, we approximately model control rules that are nonlinear functions of the work-in-queue at multiple stations through a linearization approach. Second, we introduce an additional noise term on production and show its use in modeling the discretization of jobs. Third, we model groups of heterogeneous computers as aggregate, “virtual computing cells” that process multiple tasks simultaneously, using a judiciously selected control rule. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.
Direct Evaluation of Pituitary Thyrotropin Reserve Utilizing Synthetic Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone1

ABSTRACT Serum TSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay before and after giving synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) to normal subjects and to patients with thyroid or pituitary disease. Normal individuals responded to TRH with reproducible dose-related increments in serum TSH. Females tended to show a greater response to a given dose of TRH than did males, but sex dependent differences were usually not significant. Daily testing with TRH blunted the TSH response; alternate day testing showed less blunting in preliminary studies. Hyperthyroid patients had undetectable baseline TSH levels; seven of nine failed to respond to TRH. Patients with primary hypothyroidism had an exaggerated response to TRH. Treatment with dexamethasone suppressed their elevated baseline TSH levels but not the response to TRH. Euthyroid patients with pituitary lesions were tested with TRH and were found to have intact TSH reserve in most cases. In general, pituitary surgery or radiation obliterated the response to TRH...
3.5.4 An Economical Approach to Conducting Assessments of Systems Engineering Capability

The INCOSE SECAM and EPIC SE-CMM have been used to measure systems engineering process or capability maturity within industry and Government. Both models have been the subject of a “merger” effort that resulted in the release in August 1997 of EIA/IS 731–1 Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM), draft Version 0.5; Version 1.0 is expected to be released in the first half of 1998. The “standard” methods of conducting assessments using the first two models (the “merged” model assessment method has not yet been released) is usually of four or five days duration, depending upon the model selected. This length of time presents an economic hardship to many business entities and perturbs the activities of the programs involved for approximately a week. This paper describes a structured, economical approach to conducting assessments in two days. Specific cost savings are presented based upon previously conducted “standard” assessments and more recently conducted “mini-assessments”, termed “Progress Measures”, using this economical approach. The “mini-assessment” method, termed a “Progress Measure Assessment Method”, can be used with any of the above three models of systems engineering capability, or concurrently with two or more of them should a business entity desire to assess their systems engineering capability in different ways.
Mechanism and specificity of human α-1,3-fucosyltransferase V

Human α-1,3-fucosyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of the l-fucose moiety from guanosine diphosphate−β-l-fucose (GDP−Fuc) to acceptor sugars to form biologically important fucoglycoconjugates, i...
Integrating commercial and residential pickup and delivery networks: A case study

Abstract This paper presents a strategic analysis of the network design problem faced by pickup and delivery companies operating in metropolitan areas and serving two or more classes of customers. The focus is on a division that treats commercial and residential customers separately, a situation motivated by their respective geographic densities and the size and frequency of their demand. In constructing driver work areas, it is necessary to take into account expected demand, vehicle capacity, time on the road, and the aspect ratio of the individual territories. This leads to a capacitated clustering problem with side constraints that has been the subject of intense research over the last decade. Based on a previously developed column generation algorithm, a case study was conducted involving several scenarios that integrate the two networks to determine the extent of the resulting benefits. To no surprise, the analysis showed that a significant reduction in fleet size can be achieved when the two networks are either partially or fully combined. It also showed that small reductions with respect to current practice are possible when they are separately maintained with the added benefit that the geometry of the resultant clusters satisfies certain desirable properties with respect to their contours and aspect ratios.
Citizens’ perceptions of police service and police response to community concerns

Research on citizens’ perceptions of the police has previously found that citizen demographics, contact with police, and neighborhood context influence perceptions. The current study includes all three of these categories of variables, but also introduces a new variable: citizens’ perception of contact between the police and other citizens in their neighborhood. Survey responses were collected from 426 citizens in a Midwestern city. The analysis indicates that citizens’ perception of police–citizen contact is the strongest factor influencing citizen's perceptions of the police.
Morphology of epicuticular wax on primary needles of Pinus radiata seedlings

Abstract A light, transmission and scanning electron microscope study of the adaxial surface of primary needles of 10-week-old Pinus radiata D. Don revealed rows of wax tufts across the cuticular ridges. The tufts consist of aggregations of tubiforms of wax, and cover clusters of pores from which they appear to have been exuded. The density of wax tufts increased near the stomatal pores, where the morphology of the wax changed from tubiform to amorphous as the primary needle matured.
Transcatheter Vascular Occlusion: The Gianturco‐Grifka Vascular Occlusion Device in Infants and Children

Transcatheter interventional procedures have become increasingly important for the treatment of congenital heart defects. Several devices are available for use in the United States; each device is effective for only a limited number of defects. Thus, there remains a need for additional safe and effective transcatheter occlusion devices. We developed a new transcatheter device that consists of a nylon sack attached to an end-hole catheter. A wire is advanced through the catheter into the sack. The wire coils, filling the sack, occluding the vessel, and providing transmural pressure to maintain the sack position. Prior to releasing the device, it may be repositioned, removed, or exchanged for a different size device. The device is available in four sizes (3, 5, 7, and 9 mm). We evaluated this device in an animal model, occluding subclavian and carotid arteries, and surgically created aortopulmonary shunts. All vessels were occluded completely without complication. This device can occlude a tubular patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), aortopulmonary collateral, arteriovenous fistula, aneurysm, synthetic graft, vessel supplying a tumor, or other vascular structure. The device received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and we have used the device to occlude various cardiovascular defects including: PDA, aortopulmonary collateral vessels, and intrapulmonary arteriovenous malformations. The results have been excellent. There are only two limitations to using the device; an 8Fr sheath is needed to deliver the device, and the vessel must be long enough for the sack to contact firmly against the vessel wall. When compared to other occlusion devices, this device has several advantages: the ability to reposition the device or remove it prior to release, several different sizes, and the device conforms to many vascular shapes making it another important tool in the transcatheter armamentarium.
Providing a supported online course on parallel computing

Learning the principles of computational modeling and parallel computing requires more than a short workshop. Workshops generally run from a few hours to a few days and are therefore limited in the amount of material that can be covered. In addition, it is more difficult for participants to retain large amounts of new material under the time pressures of a workshop. Deeper understanding of such complex materials can come from more traditional academic courses. Yet, many institutions either lack the expertise or the curriculum flexibility to offer such courses. In the spring of 2013 we offered the equivalent of a full semester course entitled Applications of Parallel Computing as an open, online course in an effort to address these issues. The course was offered over a period of thirteen weeks using materials captured from the University of California Berkeley course CS267. Enrollment was initially limited to 345 students. Creating and implementing the course involved decisions in several areas: design of the instructional materials, creating an environment to run programming assignments, support mechanisms for the large number of students taking the course, and automatic grading of assignments. In this session, we will present a summary of the experience in addressing these questions along with an evaluation of the course outcomes.
Thermally activated energy and flux flow Hall effect of Fe1+y(Te1-xSx)z

Thermally activated flux flow (TAFF) and flux-flow Hall effect (FFHE) of Fe(Te,S) single crystal in the mixed state are studied in magnetic fields up to 35 T. Thermally activated energy (TAE) is analyzed using conventional Arrhenius relation and modified TAFF theory which is closer to experimental results. The results indicate that there is a crossover from single-vortex pinning region to collective creep pinning region with increasing magnetic field. The temperature dependence of TAE is different for $H\ensuremath{\parallel}ab$ and $H\ensuremath{\parallel}c$. On the other hand, the analysis of FFHE in the mixed state indicates that there is no Hall sign reversal. We also observe scaling behavior $|{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{xy}(H)|=A{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{xx}{(H)}^{\ensuremath{\beta}}$.
The Asia CrisisCauses, Policy Responses, and Outcomes

This paper tells the story of the Asian financial crisis by addressing four questions: What were the causes of the crisis, how did the crisis unfold, what were the policy responses, and what have been the outcomes? The paper takes the view that none of these questions can be understood without appreciating the fundamental vulnerabilities that left authorities without effective tools to counter sudden capital outflows. The pattern of output decline suggests that these vulnerabilities, particularly weaknesses in domestic financial systems, played a larger role than tight monetary policy in determining outcomes.
Accuracy of information as a mediator of IT and quality of healthcare

Hospital administrators, healthcare providers and healthcare delivery systems strive to provide safe and quality care for patients in very complex environments. Information technology (IT) has been taunted as a way to reduce medical errors while increasing the overall quality of healthcare in organisations that provide these services. This study investigates how clinical IT may impact the quality of healthcare in healthcare institutions through the effect of accuracy of information for the clinical decision making of registered nurses. Key informant method was used with a survey mailed and email. Response rate was 21.4%. A principal finding is that IT affects accuracy of information as well as the quality of healthcare in hospitals. Our analysis is an early investigation and guide to future research that helps to facilitate the accumulation of knowledge of the effects of the implementation of IT in healthcare organisations.