cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Introduction to Stochastic Epidemic Models

A brief introduction to the formulation of various types of stochastic epidemic models is presented based on the well-known deterministic SIS and SIR epidemic models. Three different types of stochastic model formulations are discussed: discrete time Markov chain, continuous time Markov chain and stochastic differential equations. Properties unique to the stochastic models are presented: probability of disease extinction, probability of disease outbreak, quasistationary probability distribution, final size distribution, and expected duration of an epidemic. The chapter ends with a discussion of two stochastic formulations that cannot be directly related to the SIS and SIR epidemic models. They are discrete time Markov chain formulations applied in the study of epidemics within households (chain binomial models) and in the prediction of the initial spread of an epidemic (branching processes).
A comparative assessment of bracket survival and adhesive removal time using flash-free or conventional adhesive for orthodontic bracket bonding: A split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare bracket survival and adhesive removal time between a flash-free and a conventional adhesive for orthodontic bracket bonding. Materials and Methods: Forty-five consec...
Radiographic Assessment for Liver Tumors

Imaging plays a pivotal role in management of benign and malignant liver tumors. A wide range of modalities including both conventional and modern, state-of-the-art imaging techniques provide invaluable information for better management of patients with suspected hepatic tumors. Besides the technique itself, knowledge of characteristics of a particular lesion and appropriate employment of this information to prescribe optimal management are critical. In this chapter, we discuss imaging characteristics of more frequently encountered benign and malignant hepatic tumors.
Beta-glucan-induced trained innate immunity mediates antitumor efficacy in the mouse lung

The innate arm of the vertebrate immune system has classically been regarded as nonspecific and lacking the capacity for adaptive responses, in contrast to the adaptive arm defined by its robust memory responses. Recent high impact work has demonstrated enhanced non-specific responses of innate immune cells to pathogens and malignancy after priming with the fungal cell wall component beta-glucan, a phenomenon termed trained innate immunity (TII). In a pathogen model, the training effect was mediated by epigenetic modifications underlying a metabolic shift to mTOR- and HIF1α-mediated aerobic glycolysis. To investigate whether these same pathways play a role in non-specific enhancement of antitumor responses, we assessed beta-glucan-mediated anti-tumor efficacy in a mouse model of metastatic melanoma. We observed that systemic pretreatment with a particulate beta-glucan significantly diminished the growth of metastatic-like B16 melanoma in the lungs, but not initial tumor cell engraftment. Further, lungs in beta-glucan treated animals had a robust myeloid immune infiltrate, particularly neutrophils and monocytes. Interestingly, initial studies demonstrate that tumor suppressed HIF1α expression, and beta-glucan pretreatment prevented this suppression. These results are consistent with beta-glucan induction of TII, leading to suppression of cancer growth. By extension, TII may modulate the immunogenic nature of the tumor microenvironment, thereby acting as an adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of existing therapies.
A Rebel by Any Other Name: The Onomastics of Disney’s Star Wars Rebels

Set five years before Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Rebels (2014–18) is an animated series focused on a band of smugglers who join the Rebel Alliance. In keeping with Lucas’s Star Wars universe...
Psychosocial Background History of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the psychosocial background history and confounding social factors in pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Study Design We performed a prospective observational cohort study of pregnant women from a dedicated obstetrical OUD clinic. Data collection came from extensive interview sessions regarding psychosocial background events and other social factors that might impact prenatal care. Results From February 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018, 411 pregnant women were evaluated and 294 (72%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 67–76%) reported abuse of which 217 (53%, 95% CI: 48–58%) involved sexual abuse (prior to the age of 13 years in 54% of cases) and 209 (51%, 95% CI: 46–56%) involved cases of other physical abuse. Only 10% reported habitual opioid use for managing chronic pain. Only 9% had a valid driver's license with access to a car making transportation to office visits difficult. Conclusion A history of abuse (mainly sexual and/or physical) appears to be the main precipitating event leading to OUD in our pregnant population. Transportation was the primary social factor limiting access to prenatal care. For primary prevention to be successful in our region, early identification of young women who have experienced abuse needs to occur followed by psychotherapy health care intervention before opioid drugs are used.
Injury Risk Associated With Sports Specialization and Activity Volume in Youth.

Background:Sports specialization has become increasingly common among youth.Purpose/Hypothesis:To investigate the relative importance of specialization vs volume of activity in increasing risk of i...
Genetic and functional variation across regional and local scales is associated with climate in a foundational prairie grass

Global change forecasts in ecosystems require knowledge of within-species diversity, particularly of dominant species within communities. We assessed site-level diversity and capacity for adaptation in Bouteloua gracilis, the dominant species in the Central US shortgrass steppe biome. We quantified genetic diversity from 17 sites across regional scales, north to south from New Mexico to South Dakota, and local scales in northern Colorado. We also quantified phenotype and plasticity within and among sites and determined the extent to which phenotypic diversity in B. gracilis was correlated with climate. Genome sequencing indicated pronounced population structure at the regional scale, and local differences indicated that gene flow and/or dispersal may also be limited. Within a common environment, we found evidence of genetic divergence in biomass-related phenotypes, plasticity, and phenotypic variance, indicating functional divergence and different adaptive potential. Phenotypes were differentiated according to climate, chiefly median Palmer Hydrological Drought Index and other aridity metrics. Our results indicate conclusive differences in genetic variation, phenotype, and plasticity in this species and suggest a mechanism explaining variation in shortgrass steppe community responses to global change. This analysis of B. gracilis intraspecific diversity across spatial scales will improve conservation and management of the shortgrass steppe ecosystem in the future.
Ground beef recalls and subsequent food safety performance

Abstract The U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service recalled more than 370 million pounds of meat and poultry products and oversaw 680 Class 1 recalls over 1998–2014. The cost to firms was about $109 million in lost market value ( Pozo and Schroeder, 2016 ). Thomsen and McKenzie (2001) argue that firms internalize the costs of recalls, and Marino (1997) asserts that high food safety costs lead to food safety investment, but no research has examined the impact of recalls on plant food safety performance. Using performance on tests for Salmonella conducted by the Food Safety Inspection Service as a measure of food safety, this article examines the performance on Salmonella tests of ground beef plants with Class 1 recalls. The results show that plants have high Salmonella levels before and during the year of the recall and have much lower levels afterward. The paper also shows that ground beef plants with recalls are less likely to meet the FSIS standard for Salmonella and that the likelihood of failing to meet the standard increases as the standard becomes more stringent.
Characterization of a method to study urodynamics and bladder nociception in male and female mice.

Objectives Abdominal electromyogram or visceromotor response (VMR) elicited by bladder distension is a validated as a measure of bladder nociception in mice, however it is not without its limitations. The aim of this study is to address some of these limitations and validate voiding evoked VMR as a measure of bladder nociception mice. Methods Using both male and female C57BL/6 mice we assessed the VMR response to cytometry- induced voiding before and after instillation of 0.5% acetic acid into the bladder. We then delivered intravesical lidocaine to confirm the VMR response as nociceptive. VMR and correlative cystometric bladder pressures were analyzed. Results We found that the VMR can be evoked by continuous fluid infusion into the bladder of both male and female mice. This response is potentiated after bladder injury and can be attenuated by administration of a local anesthetic, providing strong evidence that this method can be used to evaluate bladder nociception. Further, evaluation of cystometric pressure traces obtained during VMR recording revealed that intercontraction intervals were not altered after bladder injury in either male or female mice. However, we did observe a decrease in peak threshold pressures after bladder injury in female mice, which could be rescued by lidocaine administration. Conclusions In conclusion, this technique can measure the VMR and bladder nociception associated with voiding in both female and male mice. Although confounds still exist with the use of anesthesia, further exploration of non-anesthetized voiding-evoked VMR is warranted.
Ambio's legacy on monitoring, impact, and management of acid rain : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Acidification.

Early studies published in Ambio showed large-scale acidification of lakes in southern Sweden and Norway from acid rain. These studies were important for delimiting various scientific issues and thus for eventually contributing to legislation, which reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and helped to mitigate this major environmental problem. Long-term studies and monitoring in Sweden and Norway and at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire helped guide this legislation in Europe and in the USA.
Esophageal Motility Disorders

Since the first surgical techniques for esophageal motility disorders were described in the early twentieth century, the Atlas of knowledge in regarding its varied pathology has grown immensely. Workup is multimodal using a variety of functional imaging and physiologic tools. Medical management, while typically first line, is mostly ineffective. Over the past several decades, the Heller myotomy has been the cornerstone of surgical therapy. However, now recently with the advent of the endoscopic myotomy, for both achalasia and nonachalasia motility disorders, procedural therapy has seen showing increasing success in the past 10 years. A small subset of patient will have persistent disease despite maximum medical and surgical management and go on to require esophagectomy.
Virtual Equipment System: Expansion to Address Alternate Contexts

Virtual Equipment System (VES) is a body-centric 3D User Interface design framework built to advance the development of interfaces that capitalize on user’s proprioception in immersive environments. In a previous poster paper submitted to HCII last year, we focused on the application of this framework in developing a series of virtually embodied interfaces for adjusting auditory and visual user settings. We outfitted the user with Virtual Equipment that correspond to the user’s sensory organs. For example, by interacting with Virtual Headphones and performing gestures, the user can adjust the audio volume of the system. Similarly, the user can interact with Virtual Goggles to adjust brightness settings.
High-Throughput Phenotyping and Random Regression Models Reveal Temporal Genetic Control of Soybean Biomass Production

Understanding temporal accumulation of soybean above-ground biomass (AGB) has the potential to contribute to yield gains and the development of stress-resilient cultivars. Our main objectives were to develop a high-throughput phenotyping method to predict soybean AGB over time and to reveal its temporal quantitative genomic properties. A subset of the SoyNAM population (n = 383) was grown in multi-environment trials and destructive AGB measurements were collected along with multispectral and RGB imaging from 27 to 83 days after planting (DAP). We used machine-learning methods for phenotypic prediction of AGB, genomic prediction of breeding values, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) based on random regression models (RRM). RRM enable the study of changes in genetic variability over time and further allow selection of individuals when aiming to alter the general response shapes over time. AGB phenotypic predictions were high (R 2 = 0.92-0.94). Narrow-sense heritabilities estimated over time ranged from low to moderate (from 0.02 at 44 DAP to 0.28 at 33 DAP). AGB from adjacent DAP had highest genetic correlations compared to those DAP further apart. We observed high accuracies and low biases of prediction indicating that genomic breeding values for AGB can be predicted over specific time intervals. Genomic regions associated with AGB varied with time, and no genetic markers were significant in all time points evaluated. Thus, RRM seem a powerful tool for modeling the temporal genetic architecture of soybean AGB and can provide useful information for crop improvement. This study provides a basis for future studies to combine phenotyping and genomic analyses to understand the genetic architecture of complex longitudinal traits in plants.
Interprofessional experiences to bridge the medical school to residency transition: a pilot program.

Interprofessional experiences during medical school are often delivered during pre-clinical years, but less is known about the value of clinical students. Our institution implemented a specialty-specific interprofessiona curriculum during Residency Preparation Courses (RPCs) for senior students including didactics, clinical experiences, and a simulated paging curriculum. Our aim was to determine whether this intervention improved perceptions of interprofesiona roles. We distributed anonymous surveys before (pre-survey) and after (post-survey, collected within 2 weeks of course completion) the RPC to 90 students with questions related to interprofessional roles using a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Three months after the start of residency, we sent follow-up surveys inquiring about the usefulness of RPC components (1 = not at all useful, 5 = extremely useful). Response rates were 84.4% pre-survey, 63.3% post-survey, and 41.1% follow-up survey. Post-surveys indicated improvement in self-reported ability in all domains: understanding one's contributions to interprofessional teams (3.9 to 4.4, p < .0001), understanding other team members' contributions (3.9 to 4.4, p < .0001), learning from interprofessional team members (4.2 to 4.6, p = .0002), accounting for interprofessional perspectives (4.2 to 4.6, p < .0001), and co-developing effective care plans (3.9 to 4.4, p < .0001). Follow-up surveys rated clinical experiences as slightly-to-moderately useful (2.3 ± 1.0) and paging curriculum very-to-extremely useful (4.3 ± 1.0). This study demonstrates the value of interprofessional education for advanced students.
A generalized adaptive mathematical morphological filter for lidar data

Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology has become the primary method to derive high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), which are essential for studying Earth's surface processes, such as flooding and landslides. The critical step in generating a DTM is to separate ground and non-ground measurements in a voluminous point LIDAR dataset, using a filter, because the DTM is created by interpolating ground points. As one of widely used filtering methods, the progressive morphological (PM) filter has the advantages of classifying the LIDAR data at the point level, a linear computational complexity, and preserving the geometric shapes of terrain features. The filter works well in an urban setting with a gentle slope and a mixture of vegetation and buildings. However, the PM filter often removes ground measurements incorrectly at the topographic high area, along with large sizes of non-ground objects, because it uses a constant threshold slope, resulting in "cut-off" errors. A novel cluster analysis method was developed in this study and incorporated into the PM filter to prevent the removal of the ground measurements at topographic highs. Furthermore, to obtain the optimal filtering results for an area with undulating terrain, a trend analysis method was developed to adaptively estimate the slope-related thresholds of the PM filter based on changes of topographic slopes and the characteristics of non-terrain objects. The comparison of the PM and generalized adaptive PM (GAPM) filters for selected study areas indicates that the GAPM filter preserves the most "cut-off" points removed incorrectly by the PM filter. The application of the GAPM filter to seven ISPRS benchmark datasets shows that the GAPM filter reduces the filtering error by 20% on average, compared with the method used by the popular commercial software TerraScan. The combination of the cluster method, adaptive trend analysis, and the PM filter allows users without much experience in processing LIDAR data to effectively and efficiently identify ground measurements for the complex terrains in a large LIDAR data set. The GAPM filter is highly automatic and requires little human input. Therefore, it can significantly reduce the effort of manually processing voluminous LIDAR measurements.
Virtual electrode effects in a model of cardiac stimulation

The study presents a model describing the response of a two-dimensional slice of myocardium to electrical stimulation. It incorporates a continuous representation of the multicellular, syncytial cardiac tissue based on the bidomain model. Here, the bidomain model is modified by introducing periodic conductivities in both directions to represent the discontinuous electrical properties of the intracellular space. Virtual electrode effects due to the syncytial (collective) behavior of the myocardium are identified together with microscopic virtual electrode effects associated with the local cellular response to the applied electrical stimulus. >
Archives and Informants: Reflections on Juxtaposing the Methods of Anthropology and History

(1992). Archives and Informants. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 28-36.
Collagenase Production by Nematode-Trapping Fungi

A number of species of nematode-trapping fungi, which capture and digest nematodes having keratin and collagen in their cuticles, were tested for the ability to produce extracellular collagenase and keratinase. Collagenase, which is active on ichthyocol, earthworm collagen, and procollagen from chicken embryo fibroblasts, was found in the growth medium of all tested species; keratinase was not found. The enzyme from Arthrobotrys amerospora was concentrated by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 and further purified by adsorption on collagen at 0°C. The collagenase was active over a pH range of 2.5 to 10.0. It was not inactivated by dialysis against ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for 48 h or by the sulfhydryl group inhibitors N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoate. The production of collagenase may aid the fungus to penetrate the cuticle of its prey.
Improving Undergraduate Learning with Computer-Assisted Assessment

AbstractThis article reports two studies on the use of computerized practice tests in an undergraduate education course. In study one, students who took computerized practice exams averaged one-half letter grade higher than students who did not take computerized practice exams, and they exhibited positive attitudes toward their practice experiences. Study two was designed to replicate study one with a different sample and to extend its analysis by examining the influence of both prior academic achievement and number of practice exams taken. Results of study two indicated no relationship between general achievement (as measured by the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT) and number of practice exams taken. However, a positive relationship between the number of practice tests taken and the course grade was found even when SAT scores were controlled. The results are discussed in terms of noninstructional uses of educational technology for improving student achievement.
Differential susceptibility of epithelial cells and fibroblasts of human skin to freeze injury. Report on an improved method for storage of human skin at--196 degrees-C.

Summary Fresh human skin placed in plasma clot culture shows outgrowth of epithelial cells within 3 days followed 3 to 6 days later by fibroblasts. Plasma clot culture of human skin pretreated in medium containing 10% glycerol at 4°C, frozen, and thawed showed outgrowth of fibroblasts only. Using this increased susceptibility of epithelial cells to freeze injury as a criterion, we developed a freezing method in which skin is pretreated with 20 to 30% glycerol at 4°C for 1 to 2 hrs before freezing. Human skin preserved in liquid nitrogen by this method grew out in plasma clot culture very much like fresh skin.
Stratum‐by‐stratum projection of light response attributes by retinal bipolar cells of Ambystoma

The visual system processes light images by projecting various representations of the visual world to segregated regions in the brain through parallel channels. Retinal bipolar cells constitute the first parallel channels that carry different light response attributes to different parts of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Here we present a systematic study on detailed axonal morphology and light response characteristics of over 200 bipolar cells in dark-adapted salamander retinal slices by the whole-cell voltage clamp and Lucifer yellow fluorescence (with a confocal microscope) techniques. Four major groups of bipolar cells were identified according to the patterns of axon terminal ramification in the IPL: 36% were narrowly monostratified (whose axon terminals ramified in one of the 10 strata of the IPL), 27% were broadly monostratified, 19% were multistratified, and 18% bore pyramidally branching axons. By analysing the bipolar cells with narrowly monostratified axon terminals in each of the 10 strata of the IPL, we found that several key light response attributes are highly correlated with the strata in which the cells' axon terminals ramify. The 10 IPL strata appear to be the basic building blocks for attributes of light-evoked signal outputs in all bipolar cells, and several general stratum-by-stratum rules were identified by analysing the broadly monostratified, multistratified and pyramidally branching cells. These rules not only uncover mechanisms by which third-order retinal cells integrate and compute bipolar cell signals, but also shed considerable light on how bipolar cells in other vertebrates process visual information and how physiological signals may shape the morphology and projection of output synapses of visual neurones during development.
The last lecture (2008).

The Last Lecture is a summary of Randy Pausch's presentation at Carnegie Mellon University's last lecture series. This lecture was given after Dr. Pausch, then a computer science professor at the u...
On noncollocated control of a single flexible link

The presence of right half plane (RHP) zeros in the transfer function relating the base torque to the tip position has long been the source of difficulty in noncollocated control of a single flexible link (SFL). In this paper, the authors suggest an alternative noncollocated measurement called the virtual angle of rotation. The authors then show the following. (A) The transfer function with this output does not have any zeros in the open RHP. (B) The zero dynamics arising from this measurement are stable. (C) This distributed system can be stabilized by a finite-dimensional controller in the presence of Rayleigh damping.
Cambios físicos que afectan la sexualidad en la vejez.

Las personas pueden tener una sexualidad activa en la vejez. Aqui se describen los cambios por envejecimiento que influyen sobre el sexo. En el hombre hay una disminucion de la libido y de la rigidez del pene, aumento del estimulo peneano directo para alcanzar la ereccion, disminuye la fuerza expulsiva eyaculatoria, y se prolonga el periodo refractario. Sin embargo, la urgencia eyaculatoria disminuye, lo que protege de eyaculacion precoz y facilita un coito prolongado. El exceso de alcohol y las enfermedades como hipertension, diabetes y deficit de vitamina B12 afectan la sensibilidad peneana. La enfermedad vascular es la primera causa de disfuncion erectil, e incluye la enfermedad arterial oclusiva y el escape venoso peneano. En la mujer la libido disminuye por factores multiples; si no hay reemplazo hormonal la menopausia produce cambios involutivos en los organos urogenitales, como atrofia vaginal y disminucion de la lubricacion, esto es menor en las mujeres sexualmente activas. La capacidad sexual y la sensacion en el clitoris permanecen intactas; el orgasmo permanece hasta edad muy avanzada pero es menos explosivo.
Orthogonal Polynomials from a Complex Perspective

Complex function theory and its close companion — potential theory — provide a wealth of tools for analyzing orthogonal polynomials and orthogonal expansions. This paper is designed to show how the complex perspective leads to insights on the behavior of orthogonal polynomials. In particular, we discuss the location of zeros and the growth of orthogonal polynomials in the complex plane. For some of the basic results we provide proofs that are not typically found in the standard literature on orthogonal polynomials.
Relative strength of thoracic vertebrae in axial compression versus flexion.

Abstract Background context Noninvasive strength assessment techniques are the clinical standard in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures, and the efficacy of these protocols depends on their ability to predict vertebral strength at all at-risk spinal levels under multiple physiological loading conditions. Purpose To assess differences in vertebral strength between loading modes and across spinal levels. Study design/setting This study examined the relative strength of isolated vertebral bodies in compression versus flexion. Methods Destructive biomechanical tests were conducted on 30 pairs of donor-matched, isolated thoracic vertebral bodies (T9 and T10; F=19, M=11; 87+5 years old, max=97 years old, min=80 years old) in both uniform axial compression and flexion using previously described protocols. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans were taken before mechanical testing and used to obtain bone mineral density (BMD) and "mechanics of solids" (MOS) measures, such as axial and bending rigidities. Results Compressive strength was higher than flexion strength for each donor by 940+152N (p t test), and vertebral strengths in the two loading modes were moderately correlated (adjusted R 2 =0.50, p Conclusions The results of this study are important in designing clinical test protocols for assessing vertebral fracture risk. Because vertebral body flexion and compressive strength are not strongly correlated and flexion strength is significantly less than compressive strength, it is imperative to investigate a patient's spinal structural capacity under bending loading conditions. Furthermore, our work suggests that clinicians using QCT-based measures should perform site-specific strength assessments on each at-risk spinal level. Future work should focus on improving the accuracy of densitometric measures in predicting vertebral strength in flexion and also on examining same- versus adjacent-level strength assessment for radiographic techniques with lower X-ray dosage, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
A usability analysis of municipal government websites in Alabama

This study uses a heuristics-based content analysis to determine the extent to which municipal government websites comply with basic usability and accessibility best practices. We applied this technique to 129 official websites for Alabama cities. Most of the sites had substantial navigation problems; for example, 91.4% failed to use a breadcrumb trail to help users recall their location within the site's organizational structure. This study has implications for developers tasked with developing a site that conveys credibility and thus attracts the attention of companies that bring jobs to and produce jobs in the city. In an article currently in preparation, we explore both our study's results and its implications in greater detail.
Analytical Study of Hugoniot in Unidirectional Fiber Reinforced Composites

Abstract : A theory based on flow across a selected control volume is developed to predict the Hugoniot of a shock moving along the longitudinal direction of a unidirectional fiber reinforced composite. From this theory the Hugoniot of a composite may be calculated from the equations of state of its constituents. The shear force along the matrix-fiber interface can also be computed. A sample calculation using polyethylene as matrix and beryllium as fiber has been made. The calculated shock Hugoniot is not far from linear. (Author)
Infrared Emission Spectroscopy of HBr

Abstract The vibration-rotation emission spectrum of HBr was recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer. Line positions for the 1-0 and 2-1 bands were measured for both H 79 Br and H 81 Br. A pure rotation emission spectrum of HBr was also obtained, and rotational lines for v = 0 were measured. The two sets of data, when combined with previously measured submillimeter-wave pure rotational transitions, yielded a set of improved rotational constants for H 79 Br and H 81 Br.
Application of variable-structure output feedback control to active front steering for understeer and oversteer conditions

This paper describes an approach to the design of Active Front Steering (AFS) based on Variable-Structure Output Feedback Control (VSOFC) with integral action to enhance vehicle stability during understeer and oversteer conditions. We determine the understeer and oversteer behaviour of the vehicle and we change the AFS control strategy based on the understeer and oversteer behaviour of the vehicle so that the road wheel steering angle is in the ideal position to provide the intended steering angle. The control law ensures not only that the vehicle trajectory follows a desired reference trajectory but also that its convergence rate can be specified. Finally we present simulation results to demonstrate the potential benefits of the control strategy under different driving scenarios.
Comparison of three porcine restenosis models: the relative importance of hypercholesterolemia, endothelial abrasion, and stenting

BACKGROUND Porcine models of post-angioplasty restenosis commonly rely on hypercholesterolemia, endothelial abrasion, and intracoronary stenting to induce neointimal thickening. Although stenting clearly induces marked thickening, the influence of pre-stenting endothelial abrasion, and pre- and post-stenting hypercholesterolemia, on the degree and nature of post-stenting neointimal thickening is not clear. In order to assess this influence, we compared the quantity and quality of neointimal thickening in three stented swine restenosis models. METHODS Twenty-three Hanford miniature swine completed one of three protocols. Model A animals (n = 9) were fed a cholesterol-raising diet, underwent endothelial abrasion of the left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex (CFX) coronary arteries after 2 weeks on this diet, had balloon-expandable tantalum coil stents placed in the right coronary artery (RCA), LAD, and CFX after 9 weeks on the diet, and were killed 4 weeks later (total of 13 weeks on diet). Model B animals (n = 7) were also fed the cholesterol-raising diet, underwent stenting after 5 weeks on the diet, and were killed 4 weeks later (total of 9 weeks on diet). Model C animals (n = 7) were fed normal swine food, underwent stenting, and were killed 4 weeks later. Endothelial abrasion was not performed in models B and C. RESULTS Quantitative angiography revealed no significant differences between models in the change of minimal lumen diameter (mm +/- SD) of stented vessels from post-stenting to pre-sacrifice (LAD: 1.05 +/- 0.74, 0.75 +/- 0.62 and 1.05 +/- 0.34; CFX: 1.00 +/- 0.65, 0.83 +/- 0.51 and 1.17 +/- 0.38; RCA: 0.99 +/- 0.35, 0.20 +/- 0.34, and 0.94 +/- 0.80 for models A, B, and C, respectively; all P = NS). Likewise, morphometric analysis showed no differences in percentage area stenosis (% +/- SD) over the same time (LAD: 55 +/- 15, 44 +/- 24, and 42 +/- 16; CFX: 54 +/- 12, 55 +/- 17, and 40 +/- 15; RCA: 39 +/- 20, 34 +/- 11, and 26 +/- 13 for models A, B, and C, respectively; P = NS). The neointima in each model predominantly consisted of smooth muscle cells and collagen matrix. CONCLUSIONS The degree and nature of coronary artery neointimal thickening 4 weeks after stenting in normolipemic swine are similar to those in stented swine after 9 weeks on a high-cholesterol diet or 13 weeks on a high-cholesterol diet and early endothelial abrasion. The insertion of an intracoronary stent appears to be the major stimulus to neointimal thickening in these swine models of post-angioplasty restenosis.
Role of satellite cells in altering myosin expression during avian skeletal muscle hypertrophy

This study examined whether satellite cells express an embryonic isoform of myosin upon fusion with hypertrophying muscle fibers. Anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle hypertrophy was induced in adult chickens by weighting one wing. One and 7 days of wing-weighting produced significant increases in ALD muscle wet weight and in the number of mature fibers expressing ventricular-like embryonic (V-EMB) myosin. V-EMB myosin expression could be an event during regeneration of fibers injured by overload or part of the hypertrophy process itself. Although there was an increase in both the number of damaged fibers and the number of mature fibers expressing embryonic myosin after wing-weighting, results from this study suggest that these two events were not necessarily related. The apparent health of fibers expressing V-EMB myosin and the lack of correlation between the numbers of damaged and V-EMB myosin positive fibers (r = 0.20) suggest that embryonic myosin expression in mature fibers was likely a feature of the hypertrophy process itself. The appearance of V-EMB myosin in mature fibers 1 day after wing-weighting suggests that the change in myosin expression did not involve satellite cells since 24 hr is too short a time to permit more than limited satellite cell fusion. The relationship between satellite cells and embryonic myosin expression was examined more closely by labeling dividing satellite cells and their progeny with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, and then colocalizing labeled myofiber nuclei and embryonic myosin in consecutive transverse sections of hypertrophied ALD muscle. One week of wing-weighting resulted in marked increases in myofiber nuclear labeling index and myofiber nuclear density compared to contralateral control. V-EMB myosin was not expressed uniformly throughout individual fibers, but rather in discrete regions of varying length. Many V-EMB myosin positive regions had a higher labeled nuclear density than V-EMB myosin negative regions indicating that V-EMB myosin expression was associated with an accumulation of satellite cell progeny in a restricted area. However, it was also clear that satellite cell progeny were not the sole source of V-EMB myosin since labeled nuclei were completely absent from 41% of the V-EMB positive regions. Furthermore, the presence of new nuclei did not result in obligatory expression of embryonic myosin because many V-EMB negative regions had a high labeled nuclear density. Thus, recently incorporated nuclei arising by satellite cell division are implicated as one, but not the sole source of embryonic myosin in hypertrophying muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Antonelli matrix and the reciprocal Slutsky matrix

Abstract Inverted demand models which describe deflated price changes in terms of quantity changes can be formulated by means of the Antonelli matrix or the reciprocal Slutsky matrix. The two approaches differ with respect to the price deflator and the role of the Divisia volume index.
Definition of a gastric emptying abnormality in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms may be prominent in anorexia nervosa. This study is an investigation of the gastric emptying of solid and liquid meal components in 16 female patients (mean age 20.0 years, range 14–40 years) who met accepted psychiatric diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. The results were compared with those of gastric emptying studies in 10 normal females of ideal body weight (mean age 25.4 years, range 20–35), 13 normal persons (12 males), and six patients (mean age 12 years, range 9–14 years) with weight loss (<90 percent ideal body weight) secondary to Crohn's disease with no psychiatric symptoms. A dual-isotope technique using chicken liver intracellularly labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) bound to sulfur colloid as the solid-phase marker, and indium-111 (111In)-labeled water as the liquid-phase marker was used. Gastric emptying was monitored for 2 hr by gamma camera. In 13 of the 16 anorexia nervosa patients (80%), gastric emptying of solids was slower than the range in the two groups of normal subjects, and mean gastric emptying was significantly slower (P<0.05) than in the weight-loss patients. Liquid emptying (water) in anorexia nervosa was normal and similar to the control groups studied. In 11 of the anorexia nervosa patients with delayed gastric emptying, intramuscular metoclopramide, 10 mg, significantly (P<0.05) accelerated the mean gastric emptying from 60 through 120 min after the meal. We conclude that in anorexia nervosa patients who are symptomatic and seeking medical care: (1) gastric emptying of solids is significantly delayed when compared with female subjects of similar age and normal body weight and with patients of less than 90% ideal body weight but without psychiatric disorder; (2) these data are consistent with an antral motility disturbance, either primary or secondary; and (3) metoclopramide, a gastric prokinetic agent, accelerates (delayed) gastric emptying.
Conditions Under Which Nitrogen Can Limit Steady-State Net Primary Production in a General Class of Ecosystem Models

Human activity is drastically altering global nitrogen (N) availability. The extent to which ecosystems absorb additional N—and with it, additional CO2—depends on whether net primary production (NPP) is N-limited, so it is important to understand conditions under which N can limit NPP. Here I use a general dynamical model to show that N limitation at steady-state—such as in old-growth forests—depends on the balance of biotically controllable versus uncontrollable N inputs and losses. Steady-state N limitation is only possible when uncontrollable inputs (for example, atmospheric deposition) exceed controllable losses (for example, leaching of plant-available soil N), which is the same as when uncontrollable losses (for example, leaching of plant-unavailable soil N) exceed controllable inputs (biological N fixation). These basic results are robust to many model details, such as the number of plant-unavailable soil N pools and the number and type of N fixers. Empirical data from old-growth tropical (Hawai’i) and temperate (Oregon, Washington, Chile) forests support the model insights. Practically, this means that any N fixer—symbiotic or not—could overcome ecosystem N limitation, so understanding N limitation requires understanding controls on all N fixers. Further, comparing losses of plant-available N to abiotic inputs could offer a rapid diagnosis of whether ecosystems can be N-limited, although the applicability of this result is constrained to ecosystems with a steady-state N cycle such as old-growth forests largely devoid of disturbance.
The response of tree squirrels to fragmentation: a review and synthesis

Habitat fragmentation is often considered a major threat to biodiversity; however, our understanding of how fragmentation impacts populations is poor. Identifying appropriate models for such studies is difficult. Tree squirrels are dependent on mature forests for food, cover and nests; these are habitats that are being fragmented rapidly and that are easily defined by humans. Squirrels represent excellent models for study of fragmentation. The literature on tree squirrels was reviewed to glean data on density and home-range size in forest fragments. Sufficient data were available on four species (Sciurus carolinensis, S. niger, S. vulgaris, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Density was negatively related to fragment size for S. carolinensis and S. niger and marginally so for T. hudsonicus. Sciurus vulgaris did not exhibit this relationship. Home-range size was analysed for three species of Sciurus and was positively related to forest fragment size for S. carolinensis and S. niger. Again, only S. vulgaris did not to show this relationship. Sciurus vulgaris is rarely found in small forest fragments and is believed to be especially sensitive to fragmentation; other tree squirrels appear to be sensitive to fragmentation in more subtle ways. Home range compaction provides a mechanism by which densities may increase in small fragments. The demographic consequences resultant from the high densities of squirrels found in small woodlots are not known but may explain the forest damage, avian nest predation and reduced diversity often cited to occur in woodland fragments.
Controls and schedule-induced behavior

The selection of appropriate controls to establish a phenomenon is often as much art as science. A control is initially selected on the basis of a particular alternative explanation of the data. Since there are few rules for developing alternative explanations, controls are limited to those explanations entertained by a particular experimenter. As in the case of styles in art, the experimenter's training, medium of expression, theoretical orientation, and exposure to the "public" through reviews, reading habits, and friendships will all contribute to the controls employed. Furthermore, as a control becomes popular, its use may become tenuously related to its original justification. In the extreme, a control procedure may serve primarily as a badge that identifies the experimenter as a member of the particular fraternity of scientists producing work that the current "public" will buy. Thus, one decade's critical control may become another decade's historical relic. Given the lack of abstract criteria for good controls, several related steps are required to settle on an appropriate procedure. One must first attain agreement on the nature of the experimental phenomenon and its likely causation, then determine what alternative causal elements are potentially important, and finally choose how the effects of these alternative causal elements should be measured. As a result of this complexity, there may be a number of competing procedures in evaluating new and complex phenomena, each associated with a particular group of researchers. Such is certainly the case for the phenomenon of schedule-induced behavior, as Roper's (1981) recent article amply documents. Roper (1981) points out several measures and at least five controls that have been used to establish the presence of schedule-inducedbehavior. Though Roper's (1981) consideration of the various measures and controls for schedule-induced behavior is interesting and important, he did not provide a comprehensive definition of schedule-induced behavior or a general framework for evaluating alternative control procedures. Given the content of his article, it is clear that Roper's focus is on postreward
An historical perspective on governmental accounting education

This paper presents a senior governmental accounting educator’s perspectives on how governmental accounting education has changed over the past 35 years and what we can expect for the future. Having begun my academic career during the 1970s, a period of turmoil and debate about the deficient state of governmental accounting, I look at how events of this period influenced my personal decision to specialize in governmental accounting education and how those events led to a path of dramatic improvement in governmental accounting standards, practice, and education. Key trends in governmental accounting education are discussed along with major changes in practice guidance over the years that have challenged textbook authors and faculty in staying abreast of change. The paper identifies many governmental accounting educators who have made significant contributions to governmental accounting and auditing policy and encourages current educators to seek ways to participate in the policy-making process. Finally, the paper discusses the future outlook for governmental accounting education and concludes that governmental accounting educators are well positioned to contribute to achieving the recently released recommendations of the Pathways Commission (2012).
Non-O blood type is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism after radical cystectomy.

Objective To evaluate the association of blood type (non-O vs O) with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. Methods From 1980 to 2005, we identified 2076 consecutive patients with RC for whom blood type was available in 2008 (96.7%). We evaluated the association of blood type with postoperative VTE using logistic regression, controlling for patient age, tumor, and nodal stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, body-mass index (BMI), and number of lymph nodes removed at surgery. Results A total of 865 of 2076 patients (41.7%) had O blood type, 1143 (55.0%) were non-O, and 68 (3.3%) were missing. Median follow-up was 11.1 years, during which time VTE developed in 216 patients (10.4%). No significant differences were noted between those with O vs non-O blood type regarding patient age (median 69 years vs 69, P = .87), ECOG ( P = .69), BMI (median 27.5 vs 28.1, P = .12), tumor stage ( P = .97), pN+ status (15.6% vs 15.2%, P = .79), or number of nodes removed (median 9 vs 8, P = .43). On multivariate analysis, non-O blood type was associated with a nearly two-fold increased risk of VTE (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, P = .007). Conclusion Non-O blood type was independently associated with an increased risk of VTE after RC. These patients should be counseled accordingly, and may benefit from increased perioperative prophylaxis.
Magnetic Field Measurements near Mars.

During the encounter between Mariner IV and Mars on 14-15 July, no magnetic effect that could be definitely associated with the planet was evident in the magnetometer data. This observation implies that the Martian magnetic dipole moment is, at most, 3 x 10^(-4) times that of the earth.