cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Revised Sonographic NASCET Index: A New Hemodynamic Parameter for the Assessment of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis

Purpose: A previously described Doppler parameter, the sonographic NASCET index (SNI), was derived to be more directly analogous to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) methodology for assessing carotid artery stenosis. However, this index does not account for complex changes affecting the Doppler waveform. We propose a revised SNI (rSNI) in an effort to improve predicting carotid stenosis. Materials and Methods: 25 carotid bifurcations with stenoses ranging from 40 – 92 % were analyzed. For each vessel, the rSNI and original SNI were calculated. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), rSNI, and original SNI were correlated with angiography using linear regression analysis and relative accuracies were compared at two thresholds. Results: A correlation between rSNI and angiography was found to be significantly better than that between PSV or internal carotid artery-common carotid artery (ICA-CCA) peak velocity ratio and angiography (r² = 0.47 vs. 0.22; r² = 0.47 vs. 0.16). The accuracy of PSV in predicting high-grade stenosis was 68 % and 72 %, compared with 80 % and 88 % for rSNI, at each of two thresholds. The original SNI better correlated with angiography compared to the rSNI (r² = 0.55 vs. 0.47), but with slightly lower accuracy in predicting high-grade stenosis (76 % vs. 80 %). Conclusion: The revised SNI correlates more closely with angiographic stenosis than either the PSV or the ICA-CCA ratio, and is more accurate in predicting high-grade stenosis. However, it is overall comparable to the original SNI, suggesting that the previously unaccounted for effects over the remainder of the cardiac cycle do not significantly improve the ability to sonographically predict significant stenosis.
Performance Comparison of 210 MW CFB Unit Under Two Different Particle Size of Burning Coal

Burning two kinds of coal with different particle size,main working parameters of a domestic 210 MW CFB unit are measured,and tests are performed such as boiler's thermal efficiency,the fraction of fly-ash and slag,and coal consumption rate for electricity supply.The tests show that the coal with more small particle will lead to more fly-ash and higher unburned carbon content in fly-ash,causing an increase of coal consumption rate for electricity supply.According to the analysis of coal consumption deviation,the fraction of fly-ash is the largest factor for the increase of coal consumption rate for electricity supply.
Progress in Study of Transcription Regulation of cAMP Receptor Protein

Transcription regulation by bacterial cAMP receptor protein(CRP) is underatood in structural and mechanical detail.CRP functions in the form of a CRP-cAMP complex,and regulates transcription initiation by binding to specific DNA,located near or within the promoter regions.CRP-cAMP comlex interacts with RNA polymerase,which enchance the ability of RNA polymerase binding with specific DNA.As a result,the trancription is initiated.There are various interac-tions between CRP-cAMP and promoters,which determins the different interactions between CRP-cAMP and RNA polymerase.In this article we also descrided many important roles on the regulation of other matabolism besides the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism.
Anion Exchanger 2 Regulates Dectin-1-Dependent Phagocytosis and Killing of Candida albicans

Anion exchanger 2 (Ae2; gene symbol, Slc4a2) is a plasma membrane Cl-/HCO3- exchanger expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and bone. We have previously shown that Ae2 is required for the function of osteoclasts, bone resorbing cells of the macrophage lineage, to maintain homeostatic cytoplasmic pH and electroneutrality during acid secretion. Macrophages require endosomal acidification for pathogen killing during the process known as phagocytosis. Chloride is thought to be the principal ion responsible for maintaining electroneutrality during organelle acidification, but whether Cl-/HCO3- exchangers such as Ae2 contribute to macrophage function is not known. In this study we investigated the role of Ae2 in primary macrophages during phagocytosis. We find that Ae2 is expressed in macrophages where it regulates intracellular pH and the binding of Zymosan, a fungal cell wall derivative. Surprisingly, the transcription and surface expression of Dectin-1, the major phagocytic receptor for Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Zymosan, is reduced in the absence of Ae2. As a consequence, Zymosan-induced Tnfα expression is also impaired in Ae2-deficient macrophages. Similar to Ae2 deficiency, pharmacological alkalinization of lysosomal pH with bafilomycin A decreases both Dectin-1 mRNA and cell surface expression. Finally, Ae2-deficient macrophages demonstrate defective phagocytosis and killing of the human pathogenic fungus C. albicans. Our results strongly suggest that Ae2 is a critical factor in the innate response to C. albicans. This study represents an important contribution to a better understanding of how Dectin-1 expression and fungal clearance is regulated.
Cliticization feeds agreement: a view from Quechua

Recent years have seen a surge in work on Person Hierarchy Effects (Bejar and Rezac 2009; Georgi 2011; Lochbihler 2009; Nevins 2007, 2011; Oxford 2014; Walkow 2009; Wiltschko 2008). In this paper, I analyze a curious case of such an effect which has been widely discussed in theoretical and descriptive work on the Quechua family (van de Kerke 1996; Lakamper and Wunderlich 1998; Milliken 1984; Muysken 1981; Weber 1976, 1989). In many Quechua languages, objects bearing the feature [Addressee] interact with subject agreement, but 1st person exclusive objects do not, even in the presence of a 3rd person subject. I dub this effect the [Addressee]-driven Subject Marking Anomaly (A-SMA), adapting the terminology of Weber (1976). After showing that object markers in Quechua languages are in fact object clitics, I argue that the A-SMA emerges from the interaction of cliticization with subject agreement: [Addressee] clitics raise above the subject in the clausal hierarchy, thus feeding agreement, but non-[Addressee] clitics do not. The analysis is extended to a related agreement effect involving plural objects in certain Bolivian and Argentine varieties of Quechua.
Mutagenic Analysis of Drinking Water

As recently as ten years ago relatively little was known about organic contaminants in drinking water. The carbon absorption methods (3,12) and other techniques were used to provide an indication of the amount of organic matter in water. However, only a handful of the individual compounds had ever been identified. During the past ten years it has become possible to separate and identify many organic substances in drinking water using techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Nearly 500 compounds have now been positively identified (9,10) and the list of identifications is continuing to grow.
Stable, long-term, spatial memory in young and aged rats achieved with a one day Morris water maze training protocol

Here, we present data demonstrating that a 1 d Morris water maze training protocol is effective at producing stable, long-term spatial memory in both young (3 mo old) and aged (24 mo old) F344xBN rats. Four trials in each of four sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced robust selective search for the platform 1 and 4 d after training, in both age groups. A 1 h ISI protocol did not produce good retention. Also, compressing the trials into just two sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced limited retention in only young rats.
The Communicated Perspective‐Taking Rating System and links to well‐being in marital conflict

Research highlights the importance of perspective taking as a cognitive ability. A growing body of research also suggests that communicated perspective taking (CPT)—or how interactional partners acknowledge, attend to, and confirm each others' perspectives during interactions—enables collaborative sense-making of shared difficulties with significant links to individual and relational health. The purpose of the current study was to further operationalize the construct and to test the relation between CPT and well-being in married couples' (n = 80) conversations about conflict. The Communicated Perspective-Taking Rating System (CPTRS) was developed and tested as a reliable observational system. Findings indicate that husbands' CPT predicted wives' relational satisfaction, and wives' CPT predicted husbands' relational satisfaction. Implications and future applications of the CPTRS are discussed.
Using Ligand-Induced Protein Chemical Shift Perturbations To Determine Protein–Ligand Structures

Protein chemical shift perturbations (CSPs), upon ligand binding, can be used to refine the structure of a protein–ligand complex by comparing experimental CSPs with calculated CSPs for any given set of structural coordinates. Herein, we describe a fast and accurate methodology that opens up new opportunities for improving the quality of protein–ligand complexes using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based approaches by focusing on the effect of the ligand on the protein. The new computational approach, 1H empirical chemical shift perturbation (HECSP), has been developed to rapidly calculate ligand binding-induced 1H CSPs in a protein. Given the dearth of experimental information by which a model could be derived, we employed high-quality density functional theory (DFT) computations using the automated fragmentation quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics approach to derive a database of ligand-induced CSPs on a series of protein–ligand complexes. Overall, the empirical HECSP model yielded correlation coeff...
Indigenous Zoonotic Agents of Research Animals

Laboratory animals have played a major role in advancing biomedical research and will continue to be important for identifying fundamental mechanisms of disease and exploring the efficacy and safety of novel therapies. The health status of these animals can have a direct impact on the validity and value of the research results, as well as on the health and safety of those who work with them. Husbandry practices are established in reputable laboratories to protect both the animals and the personnel that work with them.
Skill-Related Fitness of Undergraduate Kinesiology Students

The purposes of this study were to investigate the skill-related fitness levels of undergraduate kinesiology majors in relation to the general population of college students of the same age, to investigate whether a difference exists between females and males in overall performance, and to examine the relationship between fitness and kinesiology specializations. Undergraduate kinesiology students were assessed using skill-related fitness tests that included scores from power, agility, speed, and balance tests. It was anticipated that undergraduate kinesiology students would possess higher skilled fitness than (or, at a minimum, equal to) the general public; however, the results were ambiguous and also no significant differences were found between female and male performance. Data from this study can serve to update normative population information, to add to the body of knowledge of current fitness levels for this population, and to contribute to the issue of inclusion of fitness standards for kinesiology preprofessionals.
The Persistence of Population III Star Formation

Author(s): Mebane, Richard H; Mirocha, Jordan; Furlanetto, Steven R | Abstract: We present a semi-analytic model of star formation in the early universe, beginning with the first metal-free stars. By employing a completely feedback-limited star formation prescription, stars form at maximum efficiency until the self-consistently calculated feedback processes halt formation. We account for a number of feedback processes including a meta-galactic Lyman-Werner background, supernovae, photoionization, and chemical feedback. Halos are evolved combining mass accretion rates found through abundance matching with our feedback-limited star formation prescription, allowing for a variety of Population III (Pop III) initial mass functions (IMFs). We find that, for a number of models, massive Pop III star formation can continue on until at least $z \sim 20$ and potentially past $z \sim 6$ at rates of around $10^{-4}$ to $10^{-5}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$, assuming these stars form in isolation. At this point Lyman-Werner feedback pushes the minimum halo mass for star formation above the atomic cooling threshold, cutting off the formation of massive Pop III stars. We find that, in most models, Pop II and Pop III star formation co-exist over cosmological time-scales, with the total star formation rate density and resulting radiation background strongly dominated by the former before Pop III star formation finally ends. These halos form at most $\sim 10^3$ M$_\odot$ of massive Pop III stars during this phase and typically have absolute magnitudes in the range of $M_\text{AB} = -5 $ to $ -10$. We also briefly discuss how future observations from telescopes such as JWST or WFIRST and 21-cm experiments may be able to constrain unknown parameters in our model such as the IMF, star formation prescription, or the physics of massive Pop III stars.
The Impact of Trade and Investment Agreements on Decent Work and Sustainable Development

This guide provides an analysis of past trade agreements, set within the context of developments in international economic relations. It shows that there can be gains from more trade and economic integration, but that there have also been losers. There are clear dangers to economic and social development from globalisation based on the interest of business alone. These cannot be offset by the inclusion of clauses protecting labour standards in agreements, worthwhile though those may be. Trade unions and others should aim to be involved in all aspects of trade agreements ensuring that governments can regulate their economies and promote economic and social development in the interests of all.
Acute kidney injury, but not sepsis, is associated with higher procedure-related bleeding in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background Bleeding after low-risk invasive procedures can be life-threatening or can lead to further complications in decompensated cirrhosis patients. In unstratified cohorts of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis, the rate of procedure-related bleeding is low despite abnormal coagulation parameters. Our objective was to identify patients with decompensated cirrhosis at a high risk of developing procedure-related bleeding in whom the value of pre-procedure transfusions could be assessed. Methods Hospitalized patients with cirrhosis who developed post-paracentesis hemoperitoneum confirmed by CT scan, from the period of January 2012 to August 2016, constituted the study group. They were compared to patients hospitalized in the same period in whom post-paracentesis hemoperitoneum was suspected but ruled out by CT scan. A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine specifics of the adverse event, patient characteristics and risk factors for bleeding. Results On multivariate analysis, acute kidney injury prior to paracentesis was the only independent predictor of post-paracentesis hemoperitoneum (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.3-13.5, P = .01), independent of MELD score, large volume paracentesis, sepsis, platelets, INR and haemoglobin levels. Conclusions Infection/sepsis is generally considered predictive of bleeding in cirrhosis. Our study suggests that acute kidney injury, and not sepsis, is the most important predictor of post-procedure bleeding in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Although end-stage renal disease is a known cause of bleeding in non-cirrhotic patients, there are no studies establishing acute kidney injury as a risk factor for post-procedure bleeding in cirrhosis. Future studies investigating blood product transfusion needs in cirrhosis prior to procedures should carefully look at patients with acute kidney injury.
Carnitine transport in human intestinal biopsy specimens. Demonstration of an active transport system.

Abstract Although carnitine is present in a variety of foods, the mechanism of its absorption has not been previously studied in humans. We investigated the absorption of carnitine by studying uptake into human intestinal mucosal biopsy specimens. We found evidence of active transport in the duodenum and ileum, but not in the colon. We demonstrated that intracellular concentrations exceeded concentrations in the incubation media at steady states and that uptake against a concentration gradient was abolished by anoxia and by replacement of sodium ion with potassium. Studies of initial rate of uptake over a range of concentrations revealed a curve consistent with a two-component system: a saturable system with a kt of 558 μM and a linear component probably representing passive diffusion. Addition of d-carnitine and l-acetylcarnitine resulted in diminished uptake of l-carnitine, suggesting that these substrates utilize the same transport mechanism. These studies demonstrate the presence of an active intestinal transport system for l-carnitine in human intestinal mucosa.
Full-Cost Pricing and the Illusion of Satisficing

This paper demonstrates that for a multi-product firm with fixed costs, full-cost markup rules impose a constraint on the relationship among product prices that may prevent the firm from achieving satisfactory profits even when satisfactory profits are feasible. For any given cost structure and allocation basis, there always exist well- behaved demand curves such that feasible satisfactory profits cannot be realized using a full-cost pricing strategy. Consequently, there is no guarantee that setting prices via a full-cost pricing strategy will yield a satisfactory profit--even when it is possible to earn satisfactory profits using a different pricing strategy. Factors that might mitigate concerns about full-cost pricing also are discussed.
Robust regression: Testing global hypotheses about the slopes when there is multicollinearity or heteroscedasticity

A well-known concern regarding the usual linear regression model is multicollinearity. As the strength of the association among the independent variables increases, the squared standard error of regression estimators tends to increase, which can seriously impact power. This paper examines heteroscedastic methods for dealing with this issue when testing the hypothesis that all of the slope parameters are equal to zero via a robust ridge estimator that guards against outliers among the dependent variable. Included are results related to leverage points, meaning outliers among the independent variables. In various situations, the proposed method increases power substantially.
MRI Evidence of Altered Callosal Sodium in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mild traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with 42 million cases reported annually, increasing the need to understand the underlying pathophysiology because this could help guide the development of targeted therapy. White matter, particularly the corpus callosum, is susceptible to injury. Animal models suggest stretch-induced mechanoporation of the axonal membrane resulting in ionic shifts and altered sodium ion distribution. The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of total sodium concentration in the corpus callosum between patients with mild traumatic brain injury and controls using sodium (23Na) MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury and 10 age- and sex-matched controls underwent sodium (23Na) MR imaging using a 3T scanner. Total sodium concentration was measured in the genu, body, and splenium of the corpus callosum with 5-mm ROIs; total sodium concentration of the genu-to-splenium ratio was calculated and compared between patients and controls. RESULTS: Higher total sodium concentration in the genu (49.28 versus 43.29 mmol/L, P = .01) and lower total sodium concentration in the splenium (which was not statistically significant; 38.35 versus 44.06 mmol/L, P = .08) was seen in patients with mild traumatic brain injury compared with controls. The ratio of genu total sodium concentration to splenium total sodium concentration was also higher in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (1.3 versus 1.01, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Complex differences are seen in callosal total sodium concentration in symptomatic patients with mild traumatic brain injury, supporting the notion of ionic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury. The total sodium concentration appears to be altered beyond the immediate postinjury phase, and further work is needed to understand the relationship to persistent symptoms and outcome.
The Unrealized Health-Promoting Potential of a National Network of Food Pantries

A food pantry distributes free grocery items to individuals who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their household’s needs. There are estimated to be 49,000 food pantries across the coun...
Case study on the use of Comsol Multiphysics for undergraduate aeroacoustic research

The aerodynamic drag imposed by acoustic liners for commercial aircraft is a growing area of research. With the next generation of aircraft being designed for quietness and fuel-efficiency, this is expected to be a continued hot topic for the foreseeable future. There is substantial motivation to use computational techniques to evaluate the acoustic liner system, but the finite element analysis tools necessary are often inaccessible to undergraduates. Many of the mechanical engineering students at the University of Hartford learn the basics of COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software through their coursework in fluid mechanics, and this study aims to leverage this skill into more advanced research. As part of a senior capstone project, a pair of University of Hartford undergraduates will be using COMSOL to determine the acoustic impedance for various liner types and assess methods of determining the skin friction coefficient of the liner. These results will be compared to experimental work conducted over the last few years at the University of Notre Dame and NASA Langley Research Center. Experimental results, including direct drag and more detailed flow measurements, will be presented along with the computational results from COMSOL and a reflection on the ease of use for undergraduate researchers.
Exploring two measures of spatial accessibility to organizational resources in a small city

Research has documented neighborhood-level disparities in organizational resources. Organizational resources may meet residents’ needs because, as social organization theory suggests, they generate...
Adaptive Lessons from Ancient Technologies and Cultures

We have seen a wide range of humanity’s adaptive tools, from biology to behavior. A significant aspect of that behavior is the making and using tools—technology—as our adaptations. The field of archaeology has over a hundred years’ history of investigating these tools, from chipped stones to the finest metalwork. The archaeological record, then, shows us material adaptations of our species for some millions of years, and we may examine that record for lessons useful to the project of permanent space settlement. We can also learn quite a bit about how our ancestors arranged themselves, socially, demographically, and culturally, as adaptively-successful (most of the time) large, bipedal primates originating in Africa but in the last 100,000 years adapting to nearly every Earth biome. Many lessons here will be of great value to those planning space settlement, as it is our ancestors who carried out humanity’s greatest project to date, becoming numerous, global and diverse.
Consideration of a Credibility Assessment Framework in Model-Informed Drug Development: Potential Application to Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Simulation.

The use of computational models in drug development has grown during the past decade. These model-informed drug development (MIDD) approaches can inform a variety of drug development and regulatory decisions. When used for regulatory decision making, it is important to establish that the model is credible for its intended use. Currently, there is no consensus on how to establish and assess model credibility, including the selection of appropriate verification and validation activities. In this article, we apply a risk-informed credibility assessment framework to physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation and hypothesize this evidentiary framework may also be useful for evaluating other MIDD approaches. We seek to stimulate a scientific discussion around this framework as a potential starting point for uniform assessment of model credibility across MIDD. Ultimately, an overarching framework may help to standardize regulatory evaluation across therapeutic products (i.e., drugs and medical devices).
An Empirical Evaluation of Deployed DPI Middleboxes and Their Implications for Policymakers

Middleboxes are commonly deployed to implement policies (e.g., shaping, transcoding, etc.) governing traffic traversing ISPs. While middleboxes may be used for network management to limit the impact of bandwidth-intensive applications, they may also be applied opaquely to limit access to (or degrade) services that compete with those offered by the network provider. Without regulation or accountability, such practices could be used to raise the barrier to entry for new technologies, or block them entirely. Further, by breaking end-to-end system design principles, these practices can have negative side-effects on reachability, reliability and performance. This paper presents evidence of deployed middlebox-enabled policies that provide differential service to network applications affecting subscribers of T-Mobile US, Boost Mobile, and others. We used rigorous controlled experiments and statistical analysis of the performance of popular online services to identify traffic differentiation. The observed policies include throttling bandwidth available to video and audio streaming, transcoding video, and selectively zero-rating traffic such as video and music streaming. Such policies may violate the “No Throttling” and/or “No Unreasonable Interference” provisions of the Open Internet Order [15] (OIO), and potentially violate rules in different jurisdictions. Some of these policies were not transparent to consumers and/or were presented in misleading ways, violating the transparency requirement of the OIO. We recommend that providers concerned about traffic loads use application-agnostic techniques to throttle, thus meeting the “reasonable network management” clause of the OIO. Such policies are also easy for consumers to understand, thus providing better transparency. We find that the observed policies are implemented using deep packet inspection (DPI) and simple text-matching on the contents of network traffic, potentially leading to misclassification. We validate that misclassification occurs, causing unintentional zero-rating or throttling. For example, video-specific policies can arbitrarily apply to non-video traffic, providing another example of “Unreasonable Interference” barred in the OIO. In fact, we show that current approaches to implementing network management policies are fundamentally vulnerable to unintentional behavior; i.e., the DPI-based approach to network management cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. We recommend that the specific implementations of DPI-based throttling be made public to improve transparency. Further, we recommend that policymakers and net- work operators adopt alternative rules and approaches to network management that avoid such flaws and vulnerabilities. Last, network management policies currently lack auditing provisions, and we argue that this hinders enforcement and compliance with rules. Further, network providers’ policies evolve over time, requiring constant vigilance. We recommend that regulators incorporate auditing technologies such as those presented in this work as part of future policies.
Beyond Stiffness: Collagen Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreas Regeneration.

This commentary highlights the article by Ruggeri et al that reports the importance of discoidin domain receptor 1 in tissue homeostasis in pancreatic injury and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pathogenesis.
Collaboration Among Agents of a Human System to Create Distributed Value

AbstractPurpose: This article presents a model that the author calls the Collaborative Enterprise (CE). It serves as a general framework for thinking about all collaborations.Distinguishing feature...
Spatial anxiety mediates the sex difference in adult mental rotation test performance

Mental rotation ability is associated with successful advances in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and occupations. Meta-analyses have shown consistent sex disparities in mental rotation, where men outperform women on one measure of mental rotation ability, the Mental Rotations Test (MRT). Spatial anxiety, or the fear and apprehension felt when completing a task that requires spatial thinking, was proposed as a mechanism explaining the relation between sex and mental rotation test performance. This study modified the Spatial Anxiety Scale (SAS) to include questions about how anxious individuals feel when they must mentally rotate items to accomplish a task (e.g., playing Tetris). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess the factorial structure of the modified spatial anxiety scale. Three factor loadings were extracted representing the ability to navigate, mentally rotate objects, and visualize objects. Furthermore, we analyzed the role of spatial anxiety and trait anxiety as potential mediators of the relation between participant sex and mental rotation performance. Spatial anxiety partially mediated the link between the sex of the participants and the MRT performance controlling for trait anxiety. Only navigation and mental rotation anxiety significantly mediated the relation between participant sex and mental rotation performance. We posit spatial anxiety as a barrier to efficient and accurate spatial thinking, and suggest that reducing spatial anxiety has the potential to improve spatial skills and reduce sex differences in mental rotation test performance. To ascertain this, an experimental design can determine whether a reduction in spatial anxiety causes changes in mental rotation test scores.
Utilizing Reinforcement Learning to Autonomously Mange Buffers in a Delay Tolerant Network Node

In order to effectively communicate with Earth from deep space there is a need for network automation similar to that of the Internet. The existing automated network protocols, such as TCP and IP, cannot work in deep space due to the assumptions under which they were designed. Specifically, protocols assume the existence of an end-to-end path between the source and destination for the entirety of a communication session and the path being traversable in a negligible amount of time. In contrast, a Delay Tolerant Network is a set of protocols that allows networking in environments where links suffer from high-delay or disruptions (e.g. Deep Space). These protocols rely on different assumptions such as time synchronization and suitable memory allocation. In this paper, we consider the problem of autonomously avoiding memory overflows in a Delay Tolerant Node. To that end, we propose using Reinforcement Learning to automate buffer management given that we can easily measure the relative rates of data coming in and out of the DTN node. In the case of detecting overflow, we let the autonomous agent choose between three actions: slowing down the client, requesting more resources from the Deep Space Network, or selectively dropping packets once the buffer nears capacity. Furthermore, we show that all of these actions can be realistically implemented in real-life operations given current and planned capabilities of Delay Tolerant Networking and the Deep Space Network. Similarly, we also show that using Reinforcement Learning for this problem is well suited to this application due to the number of possible states and variables, as well as the fact that large distances between deep space spacecraft and Earth prevent human-in-the-loop intervention.
Economic Trends in Milk Pricing and Marketing

This paper discusses several contemporary issues relating to the pricing and marketing of milk and dairy products. We begin at the consumer side of the marketing system, looking at trends in consumption of dairy products and their implications for dairy farmers. We then turn to farm milk pricing institutions, separately examining the current status and fate of the dairy price support program and federal milk marketing orders. Finally, we discuss an assortment of other issues that will influence farm milk prices during the next ten years
El periodismo literario del conflicto en Colombia: Olga Behar, El clan de los doce apóstoles y María T. Ronderos, Guerras recicladas

El conflicto armado en Colombia ha generado un flujo de material periodistico y literario que intenta entender y reflexionar sobre la violencia que permea el pais. Contar los hechos se ha convertido en un deber, y analizarlos a la luz de la verdad, en una responsabilidad. Este ensayo analiza dos obras representativas del periodismo literario que han generado impacto en la opinion publica y que a la vez han develado asuntos de trascendencia en el acontecer nacional en los anos recientes: El clan de los doce apostoles de Olga Behar (Icono, 2011) y Guerras recicladas: una historia periodistica del paramilitarismo en Colombia de Maria Teresa Ronderos (Aguilar, 2014). El objetivo es explorar las tecnicas narrativas que utilizan las autoras para generar conciencia critica sobre uno de los movimientos que tuvo mayor impacto en el conflicto armado en Colombia, el paramilitarismo. Se analizan las tecnicas narrativas a partir de los conceptos studium y punctum planteados por Roland Barthes en Camera Lucida como estrategias discursivas para transmitir un mensaje poderoso sobre la realidad colombiana.
Trends in shaken baby syndrome diagnosis codes among young children hospitalized for abuse

Objective To investigate national trends of SBS diagnosis codes and how trends varied among patient and hospital characteristics. Methods We examined possible SBS, confirmed SBS, and non-SBS abuse diagnosis codes among children age three and younger who were hospitalized for abuse between 1998 and 2014 using a secondary analysis of the National Inpatient Sample, the largest US all-payer inpatient care database (N = 66,854). A baseline category logit model was used based on a quasi-likelihood approach (QIC) with an independent working correlation structure. Results The rate (per 100,000 census population of children age 3 and younger) of confirmed and possible SBS diagnosis codes was 5.4 (± 0.3) between 1998 and 2014, whereas the rate of non-SBS abuse was 19.6 (± 1.0). The rate of confirmed SBS diagnosis codes increased from 3.8 (± 0.3) in 1998 to 5.1 (± 0.9) in 2005, and decreased to 1.3 (± 0.2) in 2014. Possible SBS diagnosis codes were 0.6 (± 0.2) in 1998, increasing to 2.4 (± 0.4) in 2014. Confirmed SBS diagnosis codes have declined since 2002, while possible SBS diagnosis codes have increased. All abuse types were more frequent among infants, males, children from low-income homes, and urban teaching hospitals. Conclusions We investigated seventeen-year trends of SBS diagnosis codes among young children hospitalized for abuse. The discrepancy between trends in possible and confirmed SBS diagnosis codes suggests differences in norms for utilizing SBS diagnosis codes, which has implications for which hospital admissions are coded as AHT. Future research should investigate processes for using SBS diagnosis codes and whether all codes associated with abusive head injuries in young children are classified as AHT. Our findings also highlight the relativity defining and applying SBS diagnosis codes to children admitted to the hospital for shaking injuries. Medical professionals find utility in using SBS diagnosis codes, though may be more apt to apply codes related to possible SBS diagnosis codes in children presenting with abusive head injuries. Clarifying norms for SBS diagnosis codes and refining definitions for AHT diagnosis will ensure that young children presenting with, and coded for, abusive head injuries are included in overall counts of AHT based on secondary data of diagnosis codes. This baseline data, an essential component of child abuse surveillance, will enable ongoing efforts to track, prevent, and reduce child abuse.
Short report on research trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of telehealth interventions and remote brain research in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of face-to-face (F2F) therapeutic interventions and neuroimaging assessments for children with autism spectrum disorder has been disrup...
Increased mGlu5 mRNA expression in BLA glutamate neurons facilitates resilience to the long-term effects of a single predator scent stress exposure

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in a subset of individuals exposed to a trauma with core features being increased anxiety and impaired fear extinction. To model the heterogeneity of PTSD behavioral responses, we exposed male Sprague–Dawley rats to predator scent stress once for 10 min and then assessed anxiety-like behavior 7 days later using the elevated plus maze and acoustic startle response. Rats displaying anxiety-like behavior in both tasks were classified as stress Susceptible, and rats exhibiting behavior no different from un-exposed Controls were classified as stress Resilient. In Resilient rats, we previously found increased mRNA expression of mGlu5 in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC) and CB1 in the amygdala. Here, we performed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine the subregion and cell-type-specific expression of these genes in Resilient rats 3 weeks after TMT exposure. Resilient rats displayed increased mGlu5 mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the infralimbic and prelimbic regions of the PFC and increased BLA CB1 mRNA. These increases were limited to glutamatergic cells. To test the necessity of mGlu5 for attenuating TMT-conditioned contextual fear 3 weeks after TMT conditioning, intra-BLA infusions of the mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator MTEP were administered prior to context re-exposure. In TMT-exposed Resilient rats, but not Controls, MTEP increased freezing on the day of administration, which extinguished over two additional un-drugged sessions. These results suggest that increased mGlu5 expression in BLA glutamate neurons contributes to the behavioral flexibility observed in stress-Resilient animals by facilitating a capacity for extinguishing contextual fear associations.
The relationship between contact and attitudes: Reducing prejudice toward individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Increases in intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) diagnoses coupled with higher rates of inclusion in school and community settings, has created more opportunities for exposure and integration between those with IDD and the mainstream population. Previous research has found that increased contact can lead to more positive attitudes toward those with IDD. The current study further investigated this impact of contact on attitudes by examining the influence of the quality and quantity of contact on both explicit and implicit levels of prejudice, while also considering potential mediation via intergroup anxiety and implicit attitudes. Based on past research and theory, we predicted that contact (especially quality contact) would have a strong relationship with explicit and implicit positive attitudes toward individuals with IDD. In the present study, 550 people completed a survey and short task that measured their level of contact with individuals with IDD across their lifetime, their current attitudes toward these individuals, and other constructs that are thought to influence this relationship. Multiple regression analyses suggested consistent links between higher quality of contact and lower levels of prejudice toward individuals with IDD at both the explicit and implicit levels. After controlling for quality of contact, higher quantity of contact was either not significantly associated with our measures of prejudice or was, importantly, associated with higher levels of prejudice. Additional analyses support intergroup anxiety and implicit positive attitudes as significant mediators in the associations between quality of contact and the various dimensions of explicit prejudice. Thus, it would seem that it is the quality of interpersonal interactions that is most strongly related to positive attitudes toward individuals with IDD, making it crucial to take care when developing inclusion opportunities in community settings.
A New Species of Arenga (Palmae)

Confusion over two, morphologically similar species of Arenga (Palmae) is resolved. The well-known A. engleri is shown to be endemic to Taiwan, and a new species, A. ryukyuense is described from the Ryukyu Islands.
Autonomic nervous system arousal and cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder

Levy B. Autonomic nervous system arousal and cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2012: 00: 000–000. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Objective: Previous theories about the etiology of cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder (BD) emphasized trait factors such as neurological impairment. State factors, other than mood symptoms, that may exacerbate functional deficits have not yet been considered. The purpose of this study was to examine autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal following cognitive challenge. The study compared patients with BD and healthy controls (HC) in physiological measures and neuropsychological test scores. Methods: Thirty euthymic patients with BD and 22 HC completed the study. Participants completed mood [Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)], anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), and substance abuse (Drug Abuse Screening Test–20 item and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) measures. They were connected to an electrogram, a sensitive thermometer for measuring finger temperature, and electrodes that measure galvanic skin response. After a five-min baseline measurement in a restful state, participants completed a computerized neuropsychological battery (CNS Vital Signs). Results: The group with BD reported significantly more mood symptoms (BDI-II, t = 3.71, p < 0.001; YMRS, t = 6.73, p < 0.001) and scored higher on a measure of trait-anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, t = 2.91, p < 0.001) than HC. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed higher arousal on all physiological measures in the BD group relative to HC at baseline [F(3,48) = 13.1, p < 0.001] and during cognitive testing [F(3,48) = 11.3, p < 0.001]. The increase in physiological arousal from a restful state to the time of testing was higher for the BD group [F(3,37) = 8.06, p < 0.001]. With respect to cognitive data, HC scored higher than patients with BD across the measures of memory (F = 8.5, p < 0.001), sustained (F = 9.5, p < 0.001) and complex (F = 2.7, p < 0.04) attention, processing speed (F = 10.0, p < 0.001), reaction time (F = 7.8, p < 0.001), cognitive flexibility (F = 19.7, p < 0.001), working memory (F = 10.8, p < 0.001), and social acuity (F = 5.7, p < 0.01), with partial eta-squared from 0.18 to 0.62. Correlational analysis revealed significant associations between various cognitive test scores and changes in physiological arousal from baseline to testing (−0.59 ≤ r ≤ 0.22). Conclusions: Relative to HC, patients with BD experience larger changes in ANS arousal between a restful baseline and cognitive testing, and achieve lower cognitive test scores. Further research is needed to determine whether acute physiological symptoms of anxiety directly compromise cognitive functioning in BD.
Construction dispute mitigation through multi-agent based simulation and risk management modeling

X 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 RESEARCH TOPIC 1 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT 5 1.3 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 7 1.4 ORGANIZATION 9 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.1 CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES 11 2.1.1 Changes in the Construction Industry 11 2.1.2 Claims in the Construction Industry 11 2.1.3 Contractual Determination of Construction Claims 12 2.1.4 Construction Dispute Resolution Mechanisms 12 2.2 MULTI-AGENT BASED SIMULATION 17 2.2.1 Distributed Artificial Intelligence 17 2.2.2 Multi Agent Systems (MAS) 19 2.3 RISK MANAGEMENT MODELING 26 2.3.1 Risk Management 26 2.3.2 Principle of Insurance 27 2.3.3 Perspectives of Insurance Pricing 28 2.3.4 Theory of Options Pricing 28 2.3.5 Construction Industry and Insurance 31 3.0 LOGICAL INDUCTION IN CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES 32
CYSTEINE PROTEINASE ACTIVITY IN JUMBO SQUID (DOSIDICUS GIGAS) HEPATOPANCREAS EXTRACTS

Jumbo squid specimens were captured, dissected, and the hepatopancreas was freeze dried for the extraction of proteolytic enzymes. An autolysis experiment conducted at 25C showed two peaks with maximum proteolysis at pH 3 and 5. The proteinase activity of the extract was measured using azocasein, BANA, Z-PAAFC and Z-AAAFC substrates. Activity of the extract with azocasein (pH 5) had a maximum at 55C and increased threefold with the inclusion of cysteine or DTT. The proteinase activity remained at least at 60% of the original after 45 h at 4C in the pH range of 3–8. Activity was inhibited 70–85% when extracts were treated with cysteine proteinase specific inhibitors. The proteinases extracted from jumbo squid hepatopancreas are mainly of the cysteine type and have significant activity towards a cathepsin L specific substrate. The understanding of proteinases from this tissue could have implications for quality control of jumbo squid food products.
Comparison of phospholipid indicators of fetal lung maturity in the amniotic fluid of the monkey (Macaca mulatta) and baboon (Papio papio)

Abstract The pregnancies of two subhuman primate species, the monkey (Macaca mulatta) and the baboon ( Papio papio ), were examined to determine if either is a model for human fetal lung development as reflected in amniotic fluid studies. From the data, we suggest that the pregnant rhesus monkey is a model for the study of human lung development. The biochemical pathways for surfactant are the same; the concentrations of lecithin in amniotic fluid correspond closely; there is a parallel rise in L/S ratios which correspond, and the lecithin acyl ester structures and their changes during gestation are very similar. The presence of chronic stress is associated with acceleration of maturation of the surfactant systems of the lung. Although there are some analogies in baboon pregnancy, important differences in lecithin pathway timing and lecithin acyl ester structures make extrapolation to the human subject less tenable. Ligation of the monkey fetal trachea in the second trimester results in oligohydramnios without apparent lung distention. At delivery, the normal changes with age in surfactant biochemistry are not found in the amniotic fluid but are present in lung-bronchial tree washes.
Measuring college students' reading comprehension ability using cloze tests

Recent investigations challenge the construct validity of sustained silent reading tests. Performance of two groups of post-secondary students (e.g. struggling and non-struggling) on a sustained silent reading test and two types of cloze test (i.e. maze and open-ended) was compared in order to identify the test format that contributes greater variance in reading comprehension. One hundred participants were recruited from students enrolled in a preparatory course for a high-stakes statewide reading examination. Our results suggest that all three measures have good concurrent validity. There was no evidence that open-ended cloze performance was more related to verbal ability than any other reading measure. Maze performance did the best job at discriminating between our struggling and non-struggling readers. Implications for reading comprehension assessment in post secondary-aged adults are discussed.