cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agricultural land conversion: Impacts of economic and natural risk factors in a coastal area

Abstract Agricultural land has undergone extensive conversion into residential and commercial uses vulnerable to coastal hazards and other natural disasters. We use interval censored survival models while controlling for endogeneity and spatial dependence to examine the dynamics of agricultural to urban land conversion using parcel-level data from Lee County in Southwest Florida over 1988-2008. The results suggest that flood risks slow down farmland conversion while locational attributes, proxies for farming profitability, and regional economic indicators have expected signs and magnitudes. Spatial model specification indicates positive contagion externalities in land conversion. These findings may be helpful in land use policy design.
Yolk sac size & shape as predictors of first trimester pregnancy outcome: A prospective observational study.

Abstract Objective To determine the value of yolk sac size and shape for prediction of pregnancy outcome in the first trimester. Material and methods 500 pregnant women between 6+0 and 9+6 weeks of gestation underwent transvaginal ultrasound and yolk sac diameter (YSD), gestational sac diameter (GSD) were measured, presence/absence of yolk sac (YS) and shape of the yolk sac were noted. Follow up ultrasound was done to confirm fetal well-being between 11+0 and 12+6 weeks and was the cutoff point of success of pregnancy. Results Out of 500 cases, 8 were lost to follow up, YS was absent in 14, of which 8 were anembryonic pregnancies. Thus, 478 out of 492 followed up cases were analyzed for YS shape and size and association with the pregnancy outcome. In our study, abnormal yolk sac shape had a sensitivity and specificity (87.06% & 86.5% respectively, positive predictive value (PPV) of 58.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.8% in predicting a poor pregnancy outcome as compared to yolk sac diameter (sensitivity and specificity 62.3% & 64.1% respectively and PPV and NPV of 27.3% and 88.7% respectively). The degree of association for both the variables was significant to the level of p Conclusion The presence or absence of yolk sac has a strong predictive value for poor pregnancy outcome. Yolk sac shape was a better predictor of poor pregnancy outcome in terms of higher specificity and negative predictive value as compared to yolk sac diameter.
HEAD UP TILT TABLE TEST: IS IT A USEFUL TEST IN CHILDREN

Aim The aim of the study is to evaluate the usefulness of tilt test in syncopal children. Methods A retrospective study of children who had tilt test between January 1997 and December 2001 in two cardiac centres using case notes and telephonic questionnaires. Results 111 children aged 6 to 18 years underwent tilt test, amongst them 81 were referred with history suggestive of vaso-vagal syncope. 63 were boys and 48 were girls. Test was positive in 33 patients (26 with classical history) who developed symptoms during the test (median time of onset 17 minutes) associated with haemodynamic changes (classified as Mixed 18, Cardioinhibition with asystole 6, Cardioinhibition without asystole 3, Vasodepressor 2 and Chronotropic 2). All recovered immediately after tilting back the table and none needed resuscitation. Test was negative in the remaining 78 patients. Advice regarding extra salt was given to 18 in positive group and 12 in negative group. 13 of 15 from positive group and all 4 from negative group who were prescribed medications (betablocker and/or fludrocortisone) discontinued on subsequent follow-up. Pacemakers were implanted in 3 who had asystole for >10 seconds and complete loss of consciousness. Available information revealed that symptoms improved or resolved (by 4 years) in 18 of 23 test positive patients and in 20 of 42 test negative patients. Conclusion Tilt test is safe, useful in selective cases and may guide treatment options. However for majority of patients where there is a clear history it adds very little.
How do complex animal signals evolve

Animal signals—involving combinations of acoustic, chemical, visual, and behavioral cues—are among the most diverse traits in nature. Testing hypotheses about signal evolution has been hampered by difficulties with comparing highly divergent signals among species. In this Primer, I describe recent advances in capturing signals and studying their evolution. I highlight new findings using an information theory–based approach to quantifying signal variation in the diverse birds-of-paradise. Growing access to signal databases in tandem with development of new analytical tools will open up new avenues for studying the proximate mechanisms and ultimate evolutionary causes of signal variation, both within and among species.
( S )-Sulcatol Is a Pheromone Component for Two Species of Cerambycid Beetles in the Subfamily Lamiinae

Males of several species in the large cerambycid beetle subfamily Lamiine, native to South and North America, are known to produce aggregation-sex pheromones composed of three related structures: the sesquiterpene catabolic product geranylacetone, its corresponding alcohol (known as fuscumol), and the acetate ester of the alcohol (fuscumol acetate). Here, we show that males of two lamiine species native to the eastern USA, Astylopsis macula (Say) and Leptostylus transversus (Gyllenhal) (both tribe Acanthocinini), produce pheromones composed of the structurally related (S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol ([S]-sulcatol). Males of both species also produced 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (sulcatone), and males of A. macula produced trace amounts of (R)-fuscumol acetate. Field experiments demonstrated that both species were attracted by (S)-sulcatol. Sulcatone was not attractive as a single component, nor did it influence attraction of A. macula to (S)-sulcatol, while its effect on L. transversus was unclear. Data from the field experiments, and a separate experiment using traps fitted with a timer mechanism that rotated trap jars, revealed that the two species overlap only slightly in both seasonal and daily flight period, thus minimizing interspecific attraction. Racemic fuscumol acetate and fuscumol antagonized attraction of both species to sulcatol. The identification of sulcatol as a cerambycid pheromone extends the known range of pheromone components in the subfamily Lamiinae.
Variable-density buoyancy-driven turbulence with asymmetric initial density distribution

Abstract The effects of different initial density distributions on the evolution of buoyancy-driven homogeneous variable-density turbulence (HVDT) at low (0.05) and high (0.75) Atwood numbers are studied by using high-resolution direct numerical simulations. HVDT aims to mimic the acceleration-driven Rayleigh–Taylor and shock-driven Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities and reveals new physics that arise from variable-density effects on the turbulent mixing. Here, the initial amounts of pure light and pure heavy flows are altered primarily to mimic the variable-density turbulence at the different locations of the Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities’ mixing layers where the amounts of the mixing fluids are not equal. It is found that for the low Atwood number cases, the asymmetric initial density distribution has limited effects on both global and local flow evolution for HVDT. However, at high Atwood number, both global flow evolution and the local flow structures are strongly affected by the initial composition ratio. The flow composed of more light fluid reaches higher turbulent levels and the local statistics reach their fully-developed behavior earlier in the time evolution. During the late time decay, where most of the flow is well-mixed, all parameters become independent of the initial composition ratio for both low and high Atwood number cases.
Designing bioenergy landscapes to protect water quality

Abstract Practicing agriculture decreases downstream water quality when compared to non-agricultural lands. Agricultural watersheds that also grow perennial biofuel feedstocks can be designed to improve water quality compared to agricultural watersheds without perennials. The question then becomes which conservation practices should be employed and where in the landscape should they be situated to achieve water quality objectives when growing biofuel feedstocks. In this review, we focused on four types of spatial decisions in a bioenergy landscape: decisions about placement of vegetated strips, artificial drainage, wetlands, and residue removal. The appropriate tools for addressing spatial design questions are optimizations that seek to minimize losses of sediment and nutrients, reduce water temperature, and maximize farmer income. To accomplish these objectives through placing conservation practices, both field-scale and watershed-scale cost and benefits should be considered, as many biophysical processes are scale dependent. We developed decision trees that consider water quality objectives and landscape characteristics when determining the optimal locations of management practices. These decision trees summarize various rules for placing practices and can be used by farmers and others growing biofuels. Additionally, we examined interactions between conservation practices applied to bioenergy landscapes to highlight synergistic effects and to comprehensively address the question of conservation practice usage and placement. We found that combining conservation practices and accounting for their interactive effects can significantly improve water quality outcomes. Based on our review, we determine that by making spatial decisions on conservation practices, bioenergy landscapes can be designed to improve water quality and enhance other ecosystem services.
Investigating the Strategy on Path Planning on Aircraft Evacuation Process Using Discrete Event Simulation

Federal Regulation has suggested that all passengers in the airplane should finish the evacuation within 90 s. This research applied a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model to investigate passengers’ evacuation paths and decision-making processes for aircraft evacuation under emergency. ARENA® 14 was used on an Airbus A380 cabin configuration with capacity of 538 as the baseline model. Total evacuation time and the congestion conditions of each gate were used as a measure for the evacuation process. The baseline model was validated using a real world A380 certification evacuation drill. An experiment was conducted based on the modification of the baseline model to investigate the effect of different path planning strategies on total evacuation time. Results suggested that a flight attendant directed approach yielded significantly more efficiency than passenger random exit choosing and switching exits. Practical implications and future study were given at the end of the paper to consider a more realistic and dynamics simulation approach to address this problem.
Rights and territories: A reply to Nine, Miller, and Stilz:

‘Rights and Territories: A Reply to Nine, Miller, and Stilz’ defends the Lockean theory of states’ territorial rights (as this theory was presented in Boundaries of Authority) against the critiques...
Comparison of long-term progestin-based protocols to synchronize estrus prior to natural service or fixed-time artificial insemination in Bos indicus-influenced beef heifers.

Abstract This experiment was designed to evaluate breeding strategies involving natural service or fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in Bos indicus-influenced beef heifers (n = 1456) when there were field-type management conditions. Body weights and reproductive tract scores (RTS; Scale 1–5) were obtained for heifers before assignment to one of five treatments: 1) Non-synchronized control exposed for natural service (NS), n = 299; 2) melengestrol acetate + natural service (MGA + NS; 0.5 mg/heifer/d), n = 295; 3) 14-d controlled internal drug release insert + natural service (CIDR + NS), n = 289; 4) 14-d MGA-prostaglandin F2α (PG) + FTAI, n = 295; or 5) 14-d CIDR-PG + FTAI, n = 278. Fertile bulls were placed in pastures with heifers of the three NS treatment groups for a 65-day period which began 10 days after progestin treatments (MGA or CIDR) ended. Heifers in FTAI treatment groups were administered PG (25 mg, IM) 16 days after CIDR removal or 19 days following MGA withdrawal, respectively, and FTAI was performed at 66 (CIDR-PG) or 72 h (MGA-PG) after PG. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 μg, i.m.) was administered at FTAI. Pregnancy status was determined at the end of a 65-day breeding period. Pregnancy rates on Days 21 and 65 of the breeding period differed among treatment groups based on pre-treatment pubertal status (P ≤ 0.02) and body weight (P ≤ 0.05) but did not differ by group. These data highlight the need for continued research efforts to improve reproductive management of Bos indicus-influenced females.
Flipd App Reduces Cellular Phone Distractions in the Traditional College Classroom: Implications for Enriched Discussions and Student Retention:

Cellular phone distractions inhibit faculty delivering and students learning the curriculum by reducing student attendance and active engagement. Arguably, cellular phone usage during precious clas...
Postpyloric Balloon Occlusion to Increase Technical Success during Pediatric Percutaneous Gastrostomy/Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement

Gastric distension through insufflation is a key step in creating a safe percutaneous window during gastrostomy/gastrojejunostomy (G/GJ) placement; however, poor or incomplete gastric distention can occur, despite the use of glucagon, and lead to rapid egress of air from the stomach into the duodenum. This report describes the adjunctive technique using postpyloric balloon occlusion in 29 patients to maximize gastric insufflation during G/GJ tube placement after failure of conventional methods. Balloon occlusion was successful in salvaging 23 of 29 (79.3%) of G/GJ tube placements without any complications.
Stability diagram and blow-out mechanisms of turbulent non-premixed combustion

Abstract This study is concerned with investigating the stability limits and physical mechanisms of flame blow-out in non-premixed combustion through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. By applying expressions for fuel/air equivalence ratio and strain rate to diffusion flames, stability conditions are derived that arise from modulating fuel- and air-flow rates in combustors. One-dimensional flame calculations are performed to construct a stability diagram, and three distinct stability limits are identified that are associated with strain-induced extinction, fuel-lean extinction and fuel-rich extinction. Experimental data are examined to verify these stability limits, and large-eddy simulations of a swirl-stabilized combustor are performed to computationally explore these stability boundaries, showing good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Rutting performance of flexible pavements using new energy-based potentials

Abstract A new energy-based approach is presented for the prediction of rutting performance in flexible pavement systems. The underlying modeling approach is developed based on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes with new state variables introduced to account for the meso-structural changes in the internal structure arrangement due to grain boundary sliding. The model is simplified and implemented in a pavement analysis framework for the evaluation of the model performance in the rutting prediction using a series of well-documented data of well quality controlled WesTrack pavement sections. Densification behavior is observed in measured rutting data during the initial age of each pavement section. A simplified densification model is introduced based on its correlation with in-place air void content. The energy-based plastic model associated with the densification model effectively captured the rutting behavior of all three gradation groups used in the WesTrack project. The result of the analysis shows that the model accurately captures the rutting tendencies observed in flexible pavement sections with decreasing rate of accumulation of plastic deformation over the pavement life due to the aging effects. The mechanism of rutting development can be effectively explained by the present models supported by precise predictions of all the details of initial densification behaviors and seasonal variations during the test period in the WesTrack project.
Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in Football

Shoulder and elbow injuries are extremely prevalent in football. Common shoulder injuries include shoulder instability/labral tears, acromioclavicular sprains/separations, rotator cuff injuries, pectoralis major injuries, and fractures. Common elbow injuries include dislocations and ulnar collateral ligament sprains. Many injuries can be managed during the season, with possible off-season surgery if needed. This chapter describes the evidence available for managing these injuries during the season, as well as describes some methods and recommendations to assist in management.
Signaling restraint: international engagement and rebel groups’ commitment to international law

Approximately 20% of contemporary rebel groups have expressed commitment to international law and signaled their intention to exercise restraint during wartime. Which rebel groups make these commit...
Thickness-Dependent Study of High- Performance WS 2 -FETs With Ultrascaled Channel Lengths

Ultrascaled WS2 field-effect transistors (FETs) fabricated on exfoliated multilayer channels with excellent ON-state and OFF-state performance are reported. Recorded high ON-state current ( ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ ) and ultralow contact resistance ( ${R}_{C}$ ) were achieved in a double-gated FET at a scaled overdrive voltage ( ${V}_{OV}\boldsymbol = {V}_{GS}\boldsymbol -{V}_{TH}$ ), reaching >600 ( $\boldsymbol \mu \text{A}/\boldsymbol \mu \text{m}$ ) normalized to footprint at ${V}_{DS}\boldsymbol =1$ V and ${V}_{OV}\boldsymbol =2$ V with a ${R}_{C}~\sim ~500$ ( $\Omega \times \mu \text{m}$ ). We report statistics of more than 50 FETs with varying channel lengths, showing excellent OFF-state behavior with small threshold voltage ( ${V}_{TH}$ ) variations, near-ideal subthreshold slope (SS), and small drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL). Various channel thicknesses ( ${T}_{CH}$ ) ranging from 2.1 to 7 nm were carefully evaluated in terms of short channel effects (SCEs) and ON-state current, and a WS2 body thickness of 2.1 nm (three layers, the thinnest in our statistics) shows the best performance in both ON-state and OFF-state.
Single-Cell Spatial Proteomics Analyses of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reveal Tumor Heterogeneity and Immune Architectures Associated with Clinical Outcome

There is increasing evidence that the spatial organization of cells within the tumor-immune microenvironment (TiME) of solid tumors influences survival and response to therapy in numerous cancer types. Here, we report results and demonstrate the applicability of quantitative single-cell spatial proteomics analyses in the TiME of primary and recurrent human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors. Single-cell compositions of a nine patient, primary and recurrent (n=18), HNSCC cohort is presented, followed by deeper investigation into the spatial architecture of the TiME and its relationship with clinical variables and progression free survival (PFS). Multiple spatial algorithms were used to quantify the spatial landscapes of immune cells within TiMEs and demonstrate that neoplastic tumor-immune cell spatial compartmentalization, rather than mixing, is associated with longer PFS. Mesenchymal (αSMA+) cellular neighborhoods describe distinct immune landscapes associated with neoplastic tumor-immune compartmentalization and improved patient outcomes. Results from this investigation are concordant with studies in other tumor types, suggesting that trends in TiME cellular heterogeneity and spatial organization may be shared across cancers and may provide prognostic value in multiple cancer types.
Impact of Postoperative Infections on Readmission and Resource Use in Elective Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND Efforts to reduce postoperative infections have garnered national attention, leading to practice guidelines for cardiac surgical perioperative care. The present study characterized the impact of health care-acquired infection (HAI) on index hospitalization costs and postdischarge health care utilization. METHODS Adults undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or valve operations were identified in the 2016 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Infections were categorized into bloodstream, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, surgical site, or urinary tract infections. Generalized linear or flexible hazard models were used to assess associations between infections and outcomes. Observed-to-expected ratios were generated to examine interhospital variation in HAI. RESULTS Of an estimated 444,165 patients, 8% had HAI. Patients with HAI were older, had a greater burden of chronic diseases, and more commonly underwent CABG/valve or multivalve operations (all P < .001). HAI was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 4.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.67 to 4.40), non-home discharge (odds ratio 3.48; 95% CI, 3.21 to 3.78), and a cost increase of $23,000 (95% CI, $20,900 to $25,200). At 90 days, HAI was associated with greater hazard of readmission (1.29; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.35). Pulmonary infections had the greatest incremental impact on patient-level costs ($24,500; 95% CI, $23,100 to $26,000) and annual cohort costs ($121.8 million; 95% CI, $102.2 to $142.9 million). Significant hospital level variation in HAI was evident, with observed-to-expected ratios ranging from 0.17 to 4.30 for cases performed in 2018. CONCLUSIONS Infections after cardiac surgery remain common and are associated with inferior outcomes and increased resource use. Interhospital variation in this contemporary cohort emphasizes the ongoing need for systematic approaches in their prevention and management.
Quality-Aware Distributed Computation and User Selection for Cost-Effective Federated Learning

Federated learning (FL) allows machine learning (ML) models to be trained on distributed edge computing devices without the need of collecting data from a large number of users. In distributed stochastic gradient descent which is a typical method of FL, the quality of a local parameter update is measured by the variance of the update, determined by the data sampling size (a.k.a. mini-batch size) used to compute the update. In this paper, we study quality-aware distributed computation for FL, which controls the quality of users’ local updates via their mini-batch sizes. We first characterize the dependency of learning accuracy bounds on the quality of users’ local updates over the learning process. It reveals that the impacts of local updates’ quality on learning accuracy increase with the number of rounds in the learning process. Based on these insights, we develop cost-effective dynamic distributed learning algorithms that adaptively select participating users and their mini-batch sizes, based on users’ communication and computation costs. Our result shows that for the case of IID data, it is optimal to select a set of users with the lowest communication costs in each round, and select more users with a larger total mini-batch size in a later round. We evaluate the proposed algorithms using simulation results, which demonstrate their efficiency.
Medication adherence interventions that target subjects with adherence problems: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Inadequate medication adherence is a pervasive, under-recognized cause of poor health outcomes. Many intervention trials designed to improve medication adherence have targeted adults with adherence problems. No previous reviews have synthesized the effectiveness of medication adherence interventions focused on subjects with medication adherence difficulties. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized findings from medication adherence intervention studies conducted among adults with medication adherence difficulties. Methods Primary research studies were eligible for inclusion if they tested an intervention designed to increase medication adherence among adults with documented adherence difficulties and reported medication adherence behavior outcomes. Comprehensive search strategies of 13 computerized databases, author and ancestry searches, and hand searches of 57 journals were used to locate eligible primary research. Participant demographics, intervention characteristics, and methodological features were reliably coded from reports along with medication adherence outcomes. Effect sizes for outcomes were calculated as standardized mean differences, and random effects models were used to estimate overall mean effects. Exploratory dichotomous and continuous variable moderator analyses were employed to examine potential associations between medication adherence effect size and sample, intervention, and methodological characteristics. Results Data were extracted from 53 reports of studies involving 8243 individual primary study participants. The overall standardized mean difference effect size for treatment vs. control subjects was 0.301. For treatment pre- vs. post-intervention comparisons, the overall effect size was 0.533. Significantly larger effect sizes were associated with interventions incorporating prompts to take medications than interventions lacking medication prompts (0.497 vs. 0.234). Larger effect sizes were also found for interventions that linked medication taking with existing habits compared to interventions that did not (0.574 vs. 0.222). Effect sizes were largest among studies that measured adherence by pill counts or electronic event monitoring systems. Analysis of study design features identified several potential risks of bias. Statistically significant publication bias was detected, but adherence effect sizes were not significantly associated with other risks of bias. Conclusions These findings document that interventions targeting individuals with medication adherence problems can have modest but significant effects on medication-taking behavior. The findings support the use of behavioral strategies such as prompts and linking medications to habits to increase medication adherence in adults with adherence challenges. Face-to-face interventions appear to be critical for patients who have experienced past problems with medication adherence.
Leading cost accounting students on a journey from naïve analysis to realistic analysis - A probabilistic systems thinking

This paper is intended to meet two objectives. First, we believe the current financial crisis demands that we assess how effectively our current curriculum develops our cost accounting students' ability to think probabilistically and assess risk. This requires a paradigm shift in how they are taught probabilistic thinking. And second, we share exercises authors have used to expand cost accounting students' ability to think probabilistically. In the current paradigm, cost accounting students are taught to think of cost and forces affecting costs with certainty. There is no probabilistic analysis of the risks and uncertainty in these costs estimates. Students have learned to do sensitivity analyses. However, this paper explores Simulation Modeling, in which cost and the forces influencing costs are treated as random variables. The student learns to think probabilistically. The resulting cost estimate is a distribution, which exposes the risks and uncertainty in this cost to a much greater degree than sensitivity analysis does.
Computer processed 99mTc-DTPA studies of renal allotransplants

In order to refine the diagnostic possibilities of the radionuclide renal study in transplated patients and to compensate for the nonspecificity of the /sup 131/I-hippuran study in some situation, /sup 99m/Tc-DTPA was used simultaneously for imaging and time-activity curves. For these curves to be significant, appropriate background subtraction had to be made with a simple computer-processing method. The results obtained have shown that it is possible to distinguish marked acute tubular necrosis from milder degrees, thus affording a prognostic index in the immediate postoperative period, when the hippuran data are often nonspecific. Further, the diagnosis and follow-up of acute rejection episodes can be improved by the DTPA processed curves. Although these curves when examined individually do not show a specific pattern for rejection, they may reveal striking evolutionary changes when compared to the previous studies, even when the hippuran curves are unchanged. The physiologic basis for the differences between the two time-activity curves may be related to the differential handling of the two radiopharmaceuticals by the kidney.
Metal/dielectric high-reflectivity facet coating for semiconductor lasers

This study shows a simple solution to achieve high-reflectivity coatings on edge-emitting lasers by using metal/dielectric mirrors. Results show improved threshold, DQE, thermal characteristics, and wavelength stabilized operation.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Gold–Olefin Complexes

Gold catalysts have been used at an increasing frequency to facilitate a wide variety of organic transformations in synthetic organic chemistry. Among these, the functionalization of CC multiple bonds (alkenes or alkynes) in the presence of gold catalysts are some of the most important strategies utilized for the construction of CC, CO and CN bonds. A majority of these reactions are believed to proceed via gold-bound alkene (olefin) or alkyne intermediates. This chapter highlights some of the recent developments on the syntheses of gold-olefin complexes and their spectroscopic data and structural features. In addition, gold mediated inter- and intra-molecular nucleophilic addition reactions of nitrogen, oxygen or carbon nucleophiles to olefins are discussed. Reaction mechanisms of these nucleophilic addition reactions, in which goldolefin adducts have been proposed as intermediates, are also presented. Keywords: alkenes; gold; homogeneous catalysis; π-complexes; nucleophilic additions; reaction mechanisms; transition metals
Coordination Challenges for Autonomous Spacecraft

Characterizing multiagent problem spaces requires understanding what constitutes a multiagent problem or where multiagent system technologies should be applied. Here, we explore the multiagent problems involved in distributed spacecraft missions. While past flight projects involved a single spacecraft in isolation, over forty proposed future missions involve multiple coordinated spacecraft. We present characteristics of such missions in terms of properties of the phenomena being measured as well as the rationale for using multiple spacecraft. Then we describe the coordination problems associated with operating different types of missions and identify needed technologies.
Immunoprecipitation as a means of purification for analysis with mass spectrometry

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates a number of ways for preparing recombinant corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein (CRF-BP) for analysis with matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALD-MS) using immunoprecipitation. Immunoprecipitation is used as a specific method of trapping ligands for further analysis, such as in immunoassays or immunoblotting that can detect fmol amounts of proteins. MALD-MS can be used in combination with immunoprecipitation procedures to detect proteins without further purification. Gel electrophoresis is used to monitor the efficiency of immunoprecipitation. The amount of CRF-BP precipitated can significantly increase in the presence of serum or carrier IgG. However, to obtain MALD spectra of CRF-BP in the presence of carrier IgG or serum, sufficient CRF-BP must be immunoprecipitated to allow dilutions that sufficiently reduce the concentration of the IgG and its degradation products relative to that of CRF-BP.
Seasonal reproductive anatomy and sperm storage in pleurocerid gastropods (Cerithioidea: Pleuroceridae)

Life histories, including anatomy and behavior, are a critically understudied component of gastropod biology, especially for imperiled freshwater species of Pleuroceridae. This aspect of their biol...
Messages about sexuality: an ecological perspective

The goal of this two-part study was to identify the perceived influence of sexuality messages from parents, peers, school and the media – four microsystems within the Ecological Model – on emerging adult US college women's sexual attitudes. Findings suggest that parents were the most likely source of the message to ‘remain abstinent until marriage’, and participants reported this message as being more influential when coming from school than from the media. The school and the media were the most likely sources of the messages to ‘be safe and use protection’ and to ‘use birth control so you don't get pregnant’. College women reported that the message to ‘use protection’ influenced their sexual behaviour more, however, when it came from their parents than from school, and more when it came from school than from the media. These results have implications for future prevention programming. Specifically, with respect to these messages, and without generalising beyond these data, parents and school appear to be...
Status of immunotherapy: Current and future

Allergen immunotherapy has been used for more than 90 years for the management of allergic disorders, including seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and hymenoptera sensitivity. In a 1998 article in the Journal, Norman reviewed the past and present status of immunotherapy. In this issue of the Journal he provides an overview of recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of action of immunotherapy and potential future directions. What is striking to me after reading these reviews and other related articles is that the actual practice of immunotherapy has not changed much. Recent safety and efficacy studies have not demonstrated a substantial change in the risk/benefit ratio of immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic disorders. Yet our understanding of how immunotherapy works on an immunologic basis has dramatically increased. Why is there such a disparity in the translation of our basic science knowledge of this treatment modality to the nuts and bolts of giving immunotherapy to patients? One potential reason for this disparity is that the practice guidelines for immunotherapy are not universally followed. Aaronson and Gandhi, in this issue, report the results of an e-mail survey of more than 1700 allergists asking about incorrect injections administered in their offices. Almost 60% of respondents reported that in the last 5 years a patient had received an injection meant for another patient. Seventy-four percent of respondents stated that patients in their practices had received an incorrect amount of vaccine. These errors, all too common, resulted in a spectrum of adverse reactions, including local reactions, systemic reactions (some of which led to emergency department care, hospital admissions, or both), and a fatality. Bernstein et al conducted a 12-year survey of fatal reactions to allergen immunotherapy injections between 1990 and 2001. Their results reported in this issue of the Journal showed that the rate of fatalities per immunotherapy injection has not changed much over the last 15 years. They estimated that fatal reactions occurred at a rate of 1
High pressure study of the normal and superconducting states of the layered pnictide oxide Ba1−xNaxTi2Sb2O with x = 0, 0.10, and 0.15

Here we present a systematic study of the effects of pressure on the superconducting and spin/charge density wave (SDW/CDW) transitions of Ba1 xNaxTi2Sb2O (xD 0, 0.10, and 0.15) by means of resistivity measurements. For xD 0 and 0.10, external pressure results in a decease of the SDW/CDW transition temperature Tc; however, no measurable change is observed for the xD 0:15. The pressure effect on the superconducting transition temperature is different for all three samples. For BaTi2Sb2O (xD 0), Tc increases significantly from 1.2 K at zero pressure to 2.9 K at 16.1 kbar. The 10% Na-doped sample shows an initial Tc increase up to 4.2 K with pressure which saturates at higher pressure values. For higher Na concentrations (xD 0:15), Tc continuously decreases with increasing pressure. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
Metabolic role for yeast DJ-1 superfamily proteins

The DJ-1 superfamily comprises a mysterious assortment of proteins whose functions have been surprisingly difficult to elucidate. These diverse proteins are present in most organisms and are often associated with stress response; however, the biochemical mechanisms of only a few have been clearly established. Interest in this superfamily has been driven primarily by the involvement of human DJ-1 in rare forms of heritable parkinsonism (1). In addition, human DJ-1 is a weak oncogene (2) and has also been implicated in ischemia-reperfusion injury (3), making it an appealing target for understanding multiple diseases at the molecular level. Consequently, several model systems have been used to study the function of DJ-1 and its homologs, with an emerging consensus that animal DJ-1 is protective against oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by modulating the activities of multiple cytoprotective pathways (4). However, the details of DJ-1’s mechanism are actively debated, even after years of study. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has four homologs of DJ-1 (Hsp31, Hsp32, Hsp33, and Hsp34), the latter three of which are ∼99% identical to each other at the amino acid level. Therefore, this venerable model system presents some peculiar technical challenges to the study of DJ-1 superfamily proteins. The comprehensive study by Miller-Fleming et al., reported in PNAS, addresses these complications and finds that the S. cerevisiae Hsp31 minifamily plays a key role in the transition of proliferating yeast cells through diauxic shift then into a nonproliferative state known as stationary phase (5). The authors report that yeast Hsp31 family proteins are candidate upstream modulators of target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1), an important kinase that regulates nutrient sensing and cell proliferation and has been implicated in the function of human DJ-1 as well. Miller-Fleming et al. provide both a wealth of new data and a set of testable hypotheses that promise to drive the study of yeast Hsp31 proteins in the future.
Cross Talk of Combined Gene and Cell Therapy in Ischemic Heart Disease Role of Exosomal MicroRNA Transfer

Background— Despite the promise shown by stem cells for restoration of cardiac function after myocardial infarction, the poor survival of transplanted cells has been a major issue. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1) is a transcription factor that mediates adaptive responses to ischemia. Here, we hypothesize that codelivery of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) with a nonviral minicircle plasmid carrying HIF1 (MC-HIF1) into the ischemic myocardium can improve the survival of transplanted CPCs. Methods and Results— After myocardial infarction, CPCs were codelivered intramyocardially into adult NOD/SCID mice with saline, MC-green fluorescent protein, or MC-HIF1 versus MC-HIF1 alone (n=10 per group). Bioluminescence imaging demonstrated better survival when CPCs were codelivered with MC-HIF1. Importantly, echocardiography showed mice injected with CPCs+MC-HIF1 had the highest ejection fraction 6 weeks after myocardial infarction (57.1±2.6%; P =0.002) followed by MC-HIF1 alone (48.5±2.6%; P =0.04), with no significant protection for CPCs+MC-green fluorescent protein (44.8±3.3%; P =NS) when compared with saline control (38.7±3.2%). In vitro mechanistic studies confirmed that cardiac endothelial cells produced exosomes that were actively internalized by recipient CPCs. Exosomes purified from endothelial cells overexpressing HIF1 had higher contents of miR-126 and miR-210. These microRNAs activated prosurvival kinases and induced a glycolytic switch in recipient CPCs, giving them increased tolerance when subjected to in vitro hypoxic stress. Inhibiting both of these miRs blocked the protective effects of the exosomes. Conclusions— In summary, HIF1 can be used to modulate the host microenvironment for improving survival of transplanted cells. The exosomal transfer of miRs from host cells to transplanted cells represents a unique mechanism that can be potentially targeted for improving survival of transplanted cells.
Calcium-based dendritic excitability and its regulation in the deep cerebellar nuclei

The deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) convey the final output of the cerebellum and are a major site of activity-dependent plasticity. Here, using patch-clamp recording and two-photon calcium imaging in...
Alfred Werner’s expanded legacy: Anion and metal ion coordination in an unsymmetrical, octaamido cryptand

Abstract An unsymmetrical cryptand host, 1, was synthesized by a simple three-step strategy using two basic building blocks, tren and 2,6-diacetylpyridine, with ethylenediamine as a connecting fragment. The cryptand, originally synthesized as a host for anions, binds both anions and metal ions as observed crystallographically for the chloride, dihydrogen phosphate, and nickel(II) complexes. The host consists of two bridges containing a single diamidopyridine group plus a third, longer bridge containing two diamidopyridine groups linked through the ethylene spacer. In the chloride complex, the anion is held within the relatively planar simple tetraamidopyridine macrocyclic unit by four hydrogen bonds. In the dihydrogen phosphate complex, the host is diprotonated, and the two single diamidopyridine spacers fold so that the pyridines stack with π–π interactions. The longer tetraamido dipyridine bridge forms a rounded “handle” in the opposite direction with a tetrameric cluster consisting of two linked dihydrogen phosphate ions and two water molecules inside the circular handle. The new host shows only moderate binding affinity toward most of the anions tested in DMSO-d6. In its doubly deprotonated form, the cryptand forms a nickel(II) complex, in which the metal ion is held in a pincer-like fashion by one of the diamidopyridine units in the longer chain.
The Volcanology of Venera and VEGA Landing Sites and the Geochemistry of Venus

Abstract Magellan images confirm volcanic interpretations of television panoramas and geochemical data obtained by Venera and VEGA landers. Magellan and Venera/VEGA data are consistent with mafic volcanic compositions at all seven landing sites, although such compositions were proven at only three sites. Rock analyses show an unexpectedly high fraction of potassium-rich lavas. If the seven Venera and VEGA samples are approximately representative of the upper crust, just 10 km of the average material distributed globally would contain as much potassium as contained in Earth's continental and oceanic crust. Despite the likelihood that Venus' crust is overwhelmingly mafic, in terms of highly incompatible elements it may represent the differentiated magmatic equivalent of Earth's granitoid continents and of the Moon's anorthositic highlands. Although associated tectonic and petrogenetic aspects of lunar and Venusian crustal genesis were different, crust-forming processes on both objects (and possibly early terrestrial continent formation) may have involved cataclysmic partial melting of large fractions of these planets' mantles. A fairly mafic alkaline character of Venus' crust is attributed to a generally anhydrous, carbonated composition of Venus' mantle, which contrasts with a generally uncarbonated and variably hydrated composition of Earth's mantle. Aside from this important difference, Venus' mantle is geochemically almost identical to Earth's and is distinct from all other planetary objects for which compositional data exist. The compositional similarity of the mantles of Venus and Earth implies that the combined geochemical effects of nebular condensation, planetary accretion, and core formation were not substantially different for these planets.
Monitoring the pregnant mare in the ICU

Abstract The clinician treating a critically ill pregnant mare essentially has 2 patients, the mare and the fetus. This paper describes ways of monitoring the condition of the fetus and treatments that may be implemented in an effort to improve the probability of fetal survival and successful parturition. The clinician, in concert with the owner, should have a plan developed for management of the pregnancy should the fetus or dam be severely threatened and intervention, such as induction of parturition or cesarian section, becomes necessary.
Decomposition of methanol on oxygen-modified Fe(100) surfaces: I. The effect of high temperature oxygen modification

Abstract Decomposition of methanol on the clean and oxygen-modified Fe(100) surfaces has been studied, using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS). The Fe(100) surface was modified by adsorption of O2 at 113 K, heating to 923 K, followed by cooling back to 113 K. Chemisorbed O atoms following this treatment are located on four-fold hollow sites. These preadsorbed O atoms selectively poison the decomposition of methanol into CO, which dominates on the clean Fe(100) surface, and open up a new reaction pathway which results in the formation of formaldehyde. The decomposition of CH3OH involves a stable methoxy intermediate for both decomposition products. The thermal stability of the methoxy increases as the O coverage is increased. The presence of preadsorbed four-fold hollow O atoms reduces the amount of methoxy which can be formed on the surface, poisoning the surface for the decomposition of methanol. A mechanism for the decomposition reaction on clean and modified Fe(100) surfaces which accounts for these observations is proposed.
Judging the probability of a contingent loss: An empirical study*

. This paper reports the results of research in which experienced auditors interpreted the criteria of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 (SFAS 5): Accounting for Contingencies. The research focuses on two issues: (1) the nature and degree of consensus in the auditors' interpretations, and (2) the extent to which these interpretations depend upon the type of contingent loss. Forty-five experienced auditors (managers, principals, and partners) from “Big 8” CPA firms responded to a research instrument that elicited their interpretation of SFAS 5 probability criteria. Our analysis focuses upon the thresholds between the “remote” and “reasonably possible” criteria and between the “reasonably possible” and “probable” criteria. Our results indicate: (1) threshold means of 0.16 and 0.68, respectively; (2) more auditor consensus for the first threshold than for the second; (3) the first threshold was significantly lower than indicated by previous research; and (4) the thresholds were generally not dependent upon the type of contingent loss.
eBay Ethics Simulating Civility Today, for the ‘Digital Democracies’ of Tomorrow

In their efforts to construct a stable and secure digital marketplace eBay designers may have also created a workable template for an efficient neo-liberal social enclave. At one level, the business ethic on the internet’s largest auction site has the appearance and feel of honest, timely commodity exchange. With all the panoptic controls now in place, it is difficult to do otherwise, lest one risk being banned from eBay altogether. This article describes the key features of eBay’s user interface and argues that particularly in digital contexts, top-down (i.e. corporate, quasi-governmental, administrative) entities can very effectively enhance their abilities to rationalize and control an otherwise seemingly democratic, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer situation. The study also highlights important relationships between the concepts of citizen, consumer, and socio-political actor today, and speculates into the significance these various roles might play in a full-fledged digital democracy of tomorrow.