cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bench Study Simulations: Matching Patient Effort to Four Different Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure for Airway Clearance Devices

Background: Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and Oscillating PEP (OPEP) devices (those that incorporate flow interruptions during active exhalation), are airway clearance therapy (ACT) tools used to assist with the removal of secretions from the lungs. During PEP/OPEP therapy, the patient exhales against a fixed-orifice or oscillation mechanism generating pressures ranging from 10 to 20 cm H2O. The AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines for PEP/OPEP instruct patients to sustain exhalation actively, but not forcefully, for 3-4 s creating a pressure above baseline of 10 to 20 cm H2O. We sought to evaluate the characteristics of currently available OPEP devices, and determine the required flow and prerequisite lung volume necessary to generate and sustain the therapeutic pressure. Methods: Four different OPEP devices were studied: Acapella DH, (Smiths Medical), Aerobika (Monaghan Medical Corporation), VibraPEP (Curaplex), and vPEP (D. R. Burton Healthcare) to determine flow requirements to achieve and sustain a pressure of 15 cm H2O. Flow was directed through a TSI flow meter and pressures were measured using a Cecomp pressure gauge. Voltage readings were acquired and exported to an Excel spreadsheet that provided the following calculations; average pressure, average pressure amplitude, average flow and frequency. Device results were compared to the ability of a patient to sustain sufficient pressures/flows. Results: Average pressures (cm H2O): Aerobika: 14.08, Acapella: 14.25, VibraPEP: 14.62, and vPEP: 13.18. Average flow (L/min): Aerobika: 41.9, Acapella: 38.8, VibraPEP: 25.7, and vPEP: 55.3 Calculated exhaled volume (mL) required to sustain pressure for 3.5 s: Aerobika: 2,442, Acapella: 2,265, VibraPEP: 1,498, and vPEP: 3,224. Literature review reveals a mean exhaled tidal volume during OPEP is 33.5 mL/kg, yielding an exhaled volume for a healthy 57 kg patient of 1,909.5 mL. Conclusions: When choosing an OPEP device for ACT, one must take into consideration the patient9s ability to match flow requirement of the device with individual patient physical characteristics to successfully meet the therapeutic objective. Patients that cannot achieve the required flow for 3-4 s may hyperventilate or fail to maintain the prescribed pressures.
Reproducing performance bug reports in server applications: The researchers’ experiences

Abstract Performance is one of the key aspects of non-functional qualities as performance bugs can cause significant performance degradation and lead to poor user experiences. While bug reports are intended to help developers to understand and fix bugs, they are also extensively used by researchers for finding benchmarks to evaluate their testing and debugging approaches. Although researchers spend a considerable amount of time and effort in finding usable performance bugs from bug repositories, they often get only a few. Reproducing performance bugs is difficult even for performance bugs that are confirmed by developers with domain knowledge. The amount of information disclosed in a bug report may not always be sufficient to reproduce the performance bug for researchers, and thus hinders the usability of bug repository as the resource for finding benchmarks. In this paper, we study the characteristics of confirmed performance bugs by reproducing them using only informations available from the bug report to examine the challenges of bug reproduction from the perspective of researchers. We spent more than 800 h over the course of six months to study and to try to reproduce 93 confirmed performance bugs, which are randomly sampled from two large-scale open-source server applications. We (1) studied the characteristics of the reproduced performance bug reports; (2) summarized the causes of failed-to-reproduce performance bug reports from the perspective of researchers by reproducing bugs that have been solved in bug reports; (3) shared our experience on suggesting workarounds to improve the bug reproduction success rate; (4) delivered a virtual machine image that contains a set of 17 ready-to-execute performance bug benchmarks. The findings of our study provide guidance and a set of suggestions to help researchers to understand, evaluate, and successfully replicate performance bugs.
Using a Problem/Case-Based Learning Program to Increase First and Second Year Medical Students' Discussions of Health Care Cost Topics.

Background:The rising costs of health care in the United States are unsustainable and gaps in physician knowledge of how to provide care at a lower cost remains a contributing factor. It has been s...
Applications of Calculators and Computers to Limits.

times regarded as a supplementary tool that affords an alternative and easier method of computation. For example, a student may use a computer to find numerical results to a problem without improving his theoreti cal grasp of the problem. There is, how ever, another point of view. If a student looks at how the computer interacts with the problem he may gain insight into the theoretical aspects of the problem. In this article I will give some examples from the elementary theory of limits to show how a computer or calculator can be used as a motivating, essential device, integrated with the theory.
Controlled Delivery of Immunomodulators from a Biomaterial Scaffold Niche to Induce a Tolerogenic Phenotype in Human Dendritic Cells

Engineering a regulatory phenotype in dendritic cells (DCs) is a potential approach to circumvent an immune response against self-antigens in autoimmunity or alloantigens in allograft rejection. Cell microenvironments influence the differentiation of DC precursors into either proinflammatory/immunostimulatory or tolerogenic/regulatory DCs. Biomaterial-based vehicles can be used to re-engineer cell microenvironments and re-educate the DC phenotype. This study presents the development and validation of a biomaterial-based multicomponent immunomodulatory (MI) scaffold for the purpose of promoting a tolerogenic/regulatory DC phenotype. Glutaraldehyde-crosslinked gelatin microparticles, loaded with specific immunomodulators, were embedded into a porous agarose scaffold. Using the Weibull equation and the Bayesian approach, an empirical mathematical model was derived from the release profile data of "model" molecules. The scaffold design was generated from the model to achieve distinct temporal release profiles of the loaded immunomodulator(s): granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), dexamethasone (DEX), and/or peptidoglycan (PGN). The MI scaffold-treated DCs (MI DCs) showed an increase in the expression of tolerogenic markers such as surface immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT-3) and secreted interleukin-10 (IL-10), with a simultaneous decrease in maturation markers such as CD86 and secreted interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In cell culture studies, these MI DCs were able to suppress T-cell proliferation. This approach is expected to enhance the generation of endogenous regulatory DCs when applied in vivo. This technology serves as a basis for future immunotherapeutic applications in the autoimmunity and allogeneic therapies. It also shows that empirical mathematical modeling can be used to engineer scaffold designs for distinct temporal release of one or more immunomodulators.
Assessment of NASA GISS CMIP5 and Post-CMIP5 Simulated Clouds and TOA Radiation Budgets Using Satellite Observations

In Part I of this study, the NASA GISS Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) and post-CMIP5 (herein called C5 and P5, respectively) simulated cloud properties were assessed utilizing multiple satellite observations, with a particular focus on the southern midlatitudes (SMLs). This study applies the knowledge gained from Part I of this series to evaluate the modeled TOA radiation budgets and cloud radiative effects (CREs) globally using CERES EBAF (CE) satellite observations and the impact of regional cloud properties and water vapor on the TOA radiation budgets. Comparisons revealed that the P5- and C5-simulated global means of clear-sky and all-sky outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) match well with CE observations, while biases are observed regionally. Negative biases are found in both P5- and C5-simulated clear-sky OLR. P5-simulated all-sky albedo slightly increased over the SMLs due to the increase in low-level cloud fraction from the new planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme. Shortwave, longwave, and net CRE are quantitatively analyzed as well. Regions of strong large-scale atmospheric upwelling/downwelling motion are also defined to compare regional differences across multiple cloud and radiative variables. In general, the P5 and C5 simulations agree with the observations better over the downwelling regime than over the upwelling regime. Comparing the results herein with the cloud property comparisons presented in Part I, the modeled TOA radiation budgets and CREs agree well with the CE observations. These results, combined with results in Part I, have quantitatively estimated how much improvement is found in the P5-simulated cloud and radiative properties, particularly over the SMLs and tropics, due to the implementation of the new PBL and convection schemes.
Stakeholder Syndrome: Does Stakeholderism Derail Effective Protections for Weaker Constituencies?

We evaluate stakeholderism in the context of one constituency—workers—by exploring a few key known contributors to workers’ economic disadvantage: concentration and monopsony in labor markets, weak collective action protections for workers, a declining minimum wage, and the harsh reality of outsourced and gig work. After reviewing specific policy proposals in those areas, which we believe have the capacity to shift power and resources to workers, we then evaluate whether stakeholderism can help workers in any way, either by offering a feasible substitute to these policies or by providing a fertile landscape for worker advancement. Because available evidence suggests that corporations will seek to undermine any proposal that meaningfully shifts power and resources to workers, it is unlikely stakeholderism could provide equivalent protections that can actually improve workers’ position; assuming it could, its implementation would be no more feasible than direct regulation. Neither do we believe that stakeholderism can provide a fertile landscape for direct regulation, because corporations are likely to use stakeholderism as a pretext to wield greater political power and to shape the debate in their own favor, thus interfering with direct regulation. Ultimately, given the risks of allowing managers and directors wield stakeholderism in their own interests, political capital should be spent on achieving direct regulation rather than on a stakeholderist corporate governance reform.
An Innovation of Postsurgical Nasal Retainer in a Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patient.

ABSTRACT Postoperative nasal asymmetry is a notable problem following primary cleft lip repair and cleft rhinoplasty in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Postsurgical nasal retainer could play an essential role in maintaining the corrected position of the nose during the healing process. However, the manufactured retainers are usually not affordable, nor individualized. The authors report the efficacy of our custom-made postoperative nasal retainer, made from an oxygen nasal cannula, acrylic resin, and orthodontic wire made of stainless steel, in a patient with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Evaluation of shoulder balance in early onset scoliosis after definitive fusion and comparison with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis shoulder balance

STUDY DESIGN The Children Spine Study Group registry was queried for early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients who had final definitive spinal fusion after their scoliosis was managed with either growing rods or VEPTR. The Harms Study Group registry was queried for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who had definitive fusion OBJECTIVE: The goal is to assess shoulder alignment in EOS patients after a definitive fusion and how these radiographic outcomes relate to the more familiar situation of post-definitive fusions shoulder alignment in AIS patients. BACKGROUND EOS is a challenging pathology to manage. Numerous components are important in the success of spinal surgery for this population. Shoulder balance is a one of the components that is easily seen by the patient. Recently, the importance of its relationship to patient satisfaction has received greater attention. METHODS Sample size: n = 145 (EOS (n = 34) and AIS (n = 111)). Shoulder balance parameters (SBP) of clavicular angle (CA), coracoid height difference (CHD), clavicular tilt angle difference (CTAD), and clavicle-rib cage intersection difference (CRID) measurements were measured from the reviewed radiographs and documented pre-definitive, post-definitive and 2-year follow-up measures. Shoulder balance parameters were compared between EOS and AIS cohorts at documented intervals. RESULTS EOS mean pre-definitive fusion SBPs (CA, CTAD, CRID, CHD) were significantly higher compared to AIS, p = 0.004, 0.003, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively. Significant post-definitive fusion corrections were noticed for CTAD (0.01), CHD (0.01), nearly significant CA (0.07), non-significant CRID in EOS patients. In AIS patients, no significant corrections were noticed for CA, CTAD, CHD and but significant for CRID (0.02). At post-definitive and 2-year follow-up, CA, CRID, CHD were not significant between cohorts, but CTAD (< 0.01) was significantly higher in EOS cohort at final follow-up. CONCLUSION Post-definitive and 2-year follow-up shoulder balance for EOS patients was not significantly different from AIS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
A Robust Non-Permanent Magnet Five-Phase Synchronous Reluctance Traction Motor

While interior permanent magnet machines are an attractive option for traction applications, rare-earth magnets face several challenges. On the other hand, synchronous reluctance motor is able to offer a non-permanent magnet alternative. This paper proposes the a robust non-permanent magnet five-phase synchronous reluctance motor. The torque capability of this type of motor can be improved by utilizing harmonic current injection. The machine topology, system configuration, rotor structure selection are illustrated and discussed. The electromagnetic performance and effect of the harmonic current component are verified by finite element analysis, which shows that the torque capability of the proposed five-phase synchronous reluctance motor can be significantly improved. Additionally, the proposed reluctance motor exhibits a robust structure and is suitable for high-speed and high-temperature operation.
4 The Economic and Regulatory Impact of Evidence-Based Medicine on Radiology

US healthcare expenditures have nearly continuously increased over the past 40 years, not only in real dollars, but also in almost every other measurable term. If current rates of increase were to continue, long-term growth in medical spending would eventually consume all growth in per capita income and in 30 years, more than one third of the US gross domestic product (GDP) would be devoted to healthcare costs. According to some analyses, much of the stagnation of standard of living of the working-class can be explained by the continued rise in medical costs, without which American working families would continue to enjoy a rising standard of living. Most other industrialized countries routinely use cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) to improve the value of medical care, decreasing both inappropriate underutilization and overutilization. Example of overutilization: self-referral. From 2001 to 2006, the volume of CT imaging performed at in-office facilities owned by radiologists rose by 85%. The volume of imaging performed at in-office facilities in which nonradiologist referring clinicians had a financial stake rose by 263%. Some physician groups have had success both lowering costs and improving quality. Whatever their organizational structure, the so-called accountable care organizations tend to have certain elements in common: physicians and hospitals tend to have a close working relationship, most of them use electronic medical record systems to track and improve care, and they generally encourage a culture of restrained spending and collaboration with competitors for the benefit of patients. The two main thrusts of policy makers’ efforts are (1) to pay for appropriate care that, based on the evidence, is most likely to improve health outcomes, and (2) to encourage providers to work more closely together to make sure that evidence-based care is provided consistently and efficiently. Ideas that are taking root include decreasing reimbursement, using third parties to help decrease inappropriate imaging, and changing the reimbursement incentive structure. The recently enacted US healthcare reform statute has two main priorities: to expand coverage and control costs. While the coverage provisions of the act have received the majority of the attention in the press, the second priority of the statute, that of cost control, probably has more potential to affect radiologists and other physicians. The challenge has been issued to the medical community, including radiology, to move evidence-based imaging (EBI) from a theory or a collection of anecdotes to one that can be effectively implemented on a broad scale.
Identification of Residues of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G Protein-coupled Receptor Contributing to α-Factor Pheromone Binding

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone, alpha-factor (WHWLQLKPGQPMY), and Ste2p, its G protein-coupled receptor, were studied as a model for peptide ligand-receptor interaction. The affinities and activities of various synthetic position-10 alpha-factor analogs with Ste2p expressing mutations at residues Ser47 and Thr48 were investigated. All mutant receptors were expressed at a similar level in the cytoplasmic membrane, and their efficacies of signal transduction were similar to that of the wild-type receptor. Mutant receptors differed in binding affinity (Kd) and potency (EC50) for gene induction by alpha-factor. One mutant receptor (S47K,T48K) had dramatically reduced affinity and activity for [Lys10]- and [Orn10]alpha-factor, whereas the affinity for Saccharomyces kluyveri alpha-factor (WHWLSFSKGEPMY) was increased over 20-fold compared with that of wild-type receptor. In contrast, the affinity of [Lys10]- and [Orn10]alpha-factor was increased greatly in a S47E,T48E mutant receptor, whereas the binding of the S. kluyveri alpha-factor was abolished. The affinity of [Lys10]- and [Orn10]alpha-factor for the S47E,T48E receptor dropped 4-6-fold in the presence of 1 m NaCl, whereas the affinity of alpha-factor was not affected by this treatment. These results demonstrate that when bound to its receptor the 10th residue (Gln) of the S. cerevisiae alpha-factor is adjacent to Ser47 and Thr48 residues in the receptor and that the 10th residue of alpha-factors from two Saccharomyces species is responsible for the ligand selectivity to their cognate receptors. Based on these data, we have developed a two-dimensional model of alpha-factor binding to its receptor.
Model Error Sensitivity Reduction Technique for Discrete-Time Systems

The main drawback of using optimal control theory is the sensitivity to modeling errors. In this paper, a model error sensitivity reduction method is presented for discrete-time systems in an effort to solve the sensitivity to modeling error. The result is a decentralized control concept consisting of a collection of subsystem controllers, each independently charged with a subset of the system states. The resulting controllers are robust in the sense of having low sensitivity to errors in the parameters of the modeled system.
AutOMathic blocks: supporting learning games for young blind students

The AutOMathic Blocks system has been developed to help young blind students in the acquisition of elementary math skills. Through the use of Braille labeled blocks, a plastic grid, a touchpad device and any computer, the system has been defined to aid the young student in this most important domain of education. Without these basic skills, students have a much higher probability of not being able to enter math related professions.
Algorithms for Daubechies Wavelets

This chapter presents algorithms to calculate transforms with wavelets introduced by Ingrid Daubechies. In contrast to Haar’s simple-step wavelets, which exhibit jump discontinuities, Daubechies wavelets are continuous. As a consequence of their continuity, Daubechies wavelets approximate continuous signals more accurately with fewer wavelets than do Haar’s wavelets, but at the cost of intricate algorithms based upon a sophisticated theory. Therefore, to ease the transition from Haar wavelets to Daubechies wavelets, the present material postpones to a subsequent chapter the theoretical considerations that led to such wavelets, and focuses first upon a description of algorithms to calculate the Daubechies wavelet transform. Some logical derivations involve matrix algebra.
The assay of catalases and peroxidases.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the assay of catalases and peroxidases are: (1) catalase assay by disappearance of peroxide; (2) method for crude cell extracts; (3) direct spectrophotometric assay of catalase and peroxidase in cells and tissues; and (4) peroxidase assay by spectrophotometric measurements of the disappearance of hydrogen donor or the appearance of their colored oxidation products. Two methods are described for the catalase assay by disappearance of peroxide are: ultraviolet spectrophotometry and permanganate titration. Ultraviolet spectrophotometryis a method devised, on the basis of the absorption curves for peroxide solutions, for determining the activity of catalase by direct measurements of the decrease of light absorption in the region 230 to 250 mμ caused by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase. In the case of method for crude cell extracts, oxygen evolution caused by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is measured with the conventional manometric technique. Peroxidase assay by spectrophotometric measurements of the disappearance of hydrogen donor or the appearance of their colored oxidation products includes the guaiacol test and the pyrogallol test.
Ground-Water Problems in New York and New England

Changing nature of groundwater problems in area; problems involve estimates of how changes in stream regimen affect groundwater conditions, relative practicability of developing surface water and groundwater for particular needs, measurement of surface discharge to indicate amounts of groundwater available; examples are Ipswich River drainage basin in Massachusetts and Blackstone River valley and Pawcatuck River drainage basin in Rhode Island.
RCS jet failure identification for the space shuttle

Abstract A software technique for onboard detection and identification of hard failures and leaks of the shuttle orbiter reaction control subsystem jets during the orbital flight phase is presented. The method uses only the gimbal angle and linear velocity measurements available from the orbiter inertial measurement unit. Uncoupled steady-state constant covariance extended Kalman filters with residual traps are employed for rotational and translational state estimation, and generalized likelihood techniques are used for failure identification. Rigid body simulations indicate station-level identification times of 1.2 seconds for primary jet hard failures and less than 70 seconds for primary jet leaks.
Documentation and Acceptance Testing

Many IT organizations are faced with the ongoing issue of good product documentation. Documentation has been classically defined as having two components: user documentation and technical documentation. User documentation consists of the necessary instructions required for users to operate and maintain the system. Technical documentation, on the other hand, contains detailed information about the inner components of the product itself. Technical documentation should be designed to provide developers with the ability to support and maintain the system from a programming and engineering perspective.
Functional Evaluation of the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the function of the ankle joint during walking before and after Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR). Nine patients (six males and three females) with an average age of 65 years, scheduled for unilateral total ankle replacement for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively in a gait analysis laboratory. Arthroplasty patients showed reduced range of motion at the ankle compared to normal controls. Postoperative arthroplasty subjects had significantly improved external ankle dorsiflexion moment, the moment that affects the plantarflexor muscles, when compared to their preoperative status. The moment in arthroplasty patients was increased, indicating improved function of the ankle joint.
Non-Gaussian clutter modeling and application to radar target detection

The performance of a Gaussian receiver in non-Gaussian clutter is significantly inferior to that of an optimum receiver for the detection of weak targets. Knowledge of the clutter distribution is a key element to obtaining improved performance. This requires the specification of a suitable multivariate non-Gaussian probability density function (PDF) for the clutter. Spherically invariant random vectors (SIRVs) are used for the characterization of non-Gaussian clutter data. The Ozturk (Rangaswamy et al. 1993; Ozturk and Dudewicz 1992) algorithm, an efficient technique for approximating univariate distributions, is extended to the case of multivariate SIRV distributions. The performance of a novel adaptive non-Gaussian receiver, which utilizes the Ozturk algorithm, is evaluated for a K-distributed clutter example. This receiver shows significant improvement over the Gaussian receiver and closely matches the performance of the K-distributed receiver.
Building Positive Behavior Support Systems in Schools: Functional Behavioral Assessment

A widely used practitioner guide and text, this book presents a blueprint for meeting the challenges of severe problem behavior in grades PreK-8. It shows how to provide effective behavior support for the 1-5% of students who require intensive, individualized intervention. Case examples illustrate step-by-step procedures for identifying student needs using functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and designing, implementing, and evaluating team-based behavior support plans (BSP). The book also describes how to build school- and district-wide capacity to conduct FBA-BSP. Reproducible forms and worksheets are included; purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. New to This Edition: * Incorporates current FBA-BSP research and best practices. * Chapters on developing district-wide capacity; FBA apps and software; applications for academic problems; and early childhood settings. * Increased attention to FBA-BSP as a Tier III intervention within a multi-tiered framework. See also the authors' less intensive intervention for moderate problem behavior: Responding to Problem Behavior in Schools, Second Edition: The Behavior Education Program. Also available: Dr. Hawken's training DVD, The Behavior Education Program: A Check-In, Check-Out Intervention for Students at Risk, which demonstrates the BEP in action. Deanne A. Crone, PhD, is Research Associate at the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon. She has directed several research and training grants addressing behavior disorders, positive behavior support, and functional behavioral assessment. Dr. Crone has presented her work on function-based support locally, regionally, and nationally, and has conducted workshops with a variety of professionals, including school psychologists, administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals. With Leanne S. Hawken and Robert H. Horner, she is coauthor of Responding to Problem Behavior in Schools, Second Edition.
Induced chirality of the light-harvesting carotenoid salinixanthin and its interaction with the retinal of xanthorhodopsin

In xanthorhodopsin, a retinal protein-carotenoid complex of Salinibacter ruber, the carotenoid salinixanthin functions as a light-harvesting antenna in supplying additional excitation energy for retinal isomerization and proton transport. Another retinal protein, archaerhodopsin, has been shown to contain a carotenoid, bacterioruberin, but without an antenna function. We report here that the binding site confers a chiral geometry on salinixanthin in xanthorhodopsin and confirm that the same is true for bacterioruberin in archaerhodopsin. Cell membranes containing these rhodopsins exhibit CD spectra with sharp positive bands in the visible region where the carotenoids absorb, and in the case of xanthorhodopsin a negative band at 536 nm, as well as bands in the UV region. The carotenoid in ethanol has very weak optical activity in the visible region of the spectrum. Denaturation of the opsin upon deprotonation of the Schiff base at pH 12.5 eliminates the induced CD bands in both proteins. In one of these proteins, but not in the other, the carotenoid binding site depends entirely on the retinal. Hydrolysis of the retinal Schiff base of xanthorhodopsin with hydroxylamine eliminates the induced CD bands of salinixanthin. In contrast, hydrolysis of the Schiff base in archaerhodopsin does not abolish the CD bands of bacterioruberin. Thus, consistent with its antenna function, the carotenoid binding site interacts closely with the retinal only in xanthorhodopsin, and this interaction is the major source of the CD bands. In this protein, protonation of the counterion with a decrease in pH from 8 to 5 causes significant changes in the CD spectrum. The observed spectral features suggest that binding of salinixanthin in xanthorhodopsin involves the cyclohexenone ring of the carotenoid and its conformational heterogeneity is restricted.
Effects of neuropharmacological agents on microsomal membrane: Influence on deoxyribonucleic acid-membrane interactions in vitro

Abstract Over 20 neurotropic drugs were tested for their ability to interact with microsomal membrane and for their influence on membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) associations in vitro . About 85% of the compounds tested altered the density of the membrane in caesium chloride equilibrium density gradients, the macroscopic appearance of the membrane band, and the extent of DNA binding. In three out of five cases studied in greater detail, the decrease in membrane density was correlated with a reduced protein content of the membrane. Theoretical significance and potential practical applications of these observations are considered.
Penetration of Methylene Blue into Living Cells

IN NATURE of June 16, 1928 (vol. 121, p. 939), Irwin has commented adversely on certain quotations of my results on the penetration of methylene blue into living cells. It seems important, therefore, to direct the attention of readers of NATURE to subsequent findings made by me.
Transcription factor NF-E2 is required for platelet formation independent of the actions of thrombopoietin/MGDF in megakaryocyte development.

Abstract Despite the importance of blood platelets in health and disease, the mechanisms regulating their formation within megakaryocytes are unknown. We generated mice lacking the hematopoietic subunit (p45) of the heterodimeric erythroid transcription factor NF-E2. Unexpectedly, NF-E2 −/− mice lack circulating platelets and die of hemorrhage; their megakaryocytes show no cytoplasmic platelet formation. Though platelets are absent, serum levels of the growth factor thrombopoietin/MGDF are not elevated above controls. Nonetheless, NF-E2 −/− megakaryocytes proliferate in vivo in response to thrombopoietin administration. Thus, as an essential factor for megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production, NF-E2 must regulate critical target genes independent of the action of thrombopoietin. These findings provide insight into the genetic analysis of megakaryocyte maturation and thrombopoiesis.
International research ethics education.

Nearly 20 years ago, a series of trials evaluating short-course zidovudine for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) provoked global controversy when the sponsors were accused of ethical double standards—conducting research on vulnerable developing country populations that would not be permitted in high-income countries.1 Following this controversy, and responding to underrepresentation of developing countries in these debates, the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a grants program to support masters-level, socioculturally relevant training in research ethics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Since the program began, the volume of research in LMICs and the funds devoted to global health have expanded substantially.2,3 The majority of the research is still sponsored by institutions based in high-income countries, including pharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies like NIH, and private foundations. Some of the increase in LMIC-based research results from greater funding for diseases that affect people in these countries; some is a result of private companies seeking lower costs and patients naive to treatment.2,4 New challenges have emerged, as LMICs increasingly must address the dual burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. New technologies, including wide-spread access to mobile phones and the decreasing cost of genomic analysis, have expanded the scope of research. Ethical controversies continue to arise, tarnishing the reputation of global health research and, in some countries, halting research altogether. In the face of these changes, grantees, program staff, and outside experts conducted a collaborative self-assessment of the Fogarty International Center program 12 years after its inception. Fourteen articles present this extensive evaluation.5,6 The authors examine the state of research ethics in LMICs, summarize the lessons learned, identify future needs, and attempt to chart a way forward to address them. Despite significant progress, the mission of building research ethics capacity in LMICs is not finished. However, the landscape of research and research ethics is substantially different than in 2000. New approaches are needed to build on what has been achieved and respond to new challenges.
The NRL layered ocean model

Abstract We describe the portable scalable implementation of the NRL Layered Ocean Model (NLOM). Scalability is based primarily on the tiled data parallel parallel programming paradigm. This is sufficiently general that the actual technique used on a given machine to obtain scalability can be selected at compile time from: (i) data parallel, (ii) SPMD message passing, (iii) autotasking, or (iv) SPMD message passing between multi-processor autotasked systems. The code is thus portable onto all machine types likely to be used by ocean modelers.
Implicit coordination in firefighting practice: design implications for teaching fire emergency responders

Fire emergency response requires rapidly processing and communicating information to coordinate teams that protect lives and property. Students studying to become fire emergency responders must learn to communicate, process, and integrate information during dangerous, stressful, and time-sensitive work. We are performing an ethnographic investigation that includes interviews with experienced fire emergency responders and observations of team burn training exercises with students. We distill salient components of firefighting practice, which are relevant to the design of fire emergency response education systems. We derive design implications for systems that teach fire emergency responders to deal with issues surrounding the communication and integration of fireground information: the mixing of communication modalities, the distribution of information acquisition sources to create information differential and uncertainty, and audible clues.
CULTURAL MODELS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIAL WORK AND ANTHROPOLOGY STUDENTS

This study employed a unique theoretical approach and a series of participant-based ethnographic interviewing techniques that are traditionally used in cognitive anthropology to examine and compare social work and anthropology students' cultural models of the causes of domestic violence. The study findings indicate that although social work students and anthropology students share understandings of a general model of domestic violence, social work students agree on distinctive elements of this model that anthropology students do not. These findings are important in better understanding the role social work education plays in developing social workers' understandings of the roots of domestic violence.
Implementing fair bandwidth allocation schemes in hose-modelled VPN

The virtual private network (VPN) provides customers with predictable and secure network connections over a shared network infrastructure. The recently proposed hose model for VPNs has desirable properties in terms of greater flexibility and better multiplexing gain. However, the 'classic' fair bandwidth allocation scheme introduces the issue of low overall utilisation in this model; furthermore, when the VPN links are established, the VPN customers cannot manage their VPN resources by themselves dynamically. The authors propose a fluid hose-modelled VPN, and based on this model they develop an idealised fluid fair bandwidth allocation scheme to improve the performance of the VPN. With the proposed scheme, they achieve two goals: maximising the overall throughput of the VPN; and providing a mechanism that enables the VPN customers to allocate the bandwidth according to their own requirements, thus achieving the predictable QoS performance. Based on deficit round robin (DRR), a transmission scheduling scheme for output buffer switches, a novel scheme, two-dimensional deficit round robin (2-D DRR), is developed to approximate/realise the idealised fluid fair bandwidth allocation scheme for the hose-modelled VPN. The simulation results also show that the 2-D DRR can improve the overall throughput without compromising fairness and implementation complexity.
A new tolerance modeling and analysis methodology through a two-step linearization with applications in automotive body assembly

Abstract This paper presents a new tolerance modeling and analysis methodology through a two-step linearization with applications in automotive body assembly. The first step is to establish, for every single component in the assembly, a linear relationship between the deviation input at locating sources, and the deviation output at any user-defined key product/process characteristic (KPC) points on the component. The second step is to linearize the relationship between the first step output (at component level) and the final assembly deviation output (such as gaps and flushness). The novelty of the two-step linearization method is in its ability to separately linearize the geometric relationship at component and assembly levels, eliminating the need to linearize the nonlinear, multicomponent assembly relationships analytically or numerically. The statistical models for position tolerances are studied, as frequently occur in automotive body assembly (that is, pin + hole locating). A case study is presented to demonstrate the new method. The limitation of the new method is discussed along with examples of nonlinearizable assemblies. The linearized tolerancing method presented is advantageous to the traditional Monte Carlo simulation in its computational efficiency, thus enabling advanced manufacturing process syntheses such as tolerance allocation and optimization, and assembly sequence optimization.
Generalization of value-based attentional priority

Attention is the mechanism by which important or salient stimuli are selected for perceptual and cognitive processing. Which stimuli are attended has important implications for effective goal-directed behaviour, survival, and well-being. A growing body of evidence suggests that reward-predicting stimuli capture attention involuntarily. In previous studies, value-based attentional priority has been observed only when the formerly reward-related stimuli themselves were presented as targets or distractors. Here we show that stimulus–reward associations learned in one task generalize to different stimuli that share a defining feature (colour) in another task. Our results reveal a broad and flexible role for reward learning in modulating attentional priority.
Anticonflict effects of buspirone and chlordiazepoxide in pigeons under a concurrent schedule with punishment and a changeover response

A procedure was developed with pigeons to extend the experimental analysis of punished behavior and the effects of anxiolytic drugs. Under this procedure the completion of a fixed-ratio requirement on a changeover key switched between two variable-interval schedules of reinforcement that were programmed on a second response key. Under one schedule, correlated with a green keylight, key pecks produced only food; under the second schedule, correlated with a red keylight, key pecks produced both food and electric shock. Pigeons were switched into the component with shock if they did not enter that component within 5 min. Parameter values of the variable-interval schedules were manipulated systematically and the effects of two clinically active anxiolytic drugs, buspirone and chlordiazepoxide, were examined. Responding was suppressed during the component with shock (punishment) and, under non-drug conditions, pigeons infrequently switched into the punishment component; changeover responses occurred rapidly when switched into the punishment component. Both buspirone (0.1–3.0 mg/kg) and chlordiazepoxide (3.0–30 mg/kg) increased punished responding at doses that had little effect on unpunished responding;d-amphetamine (0.3–5.6 mg/kg), which was studied only under one parameter of the variable-interval schedule, produced greater decreases in rates of punished responding than in unpunished responding. Changeover responses were increased only moderately by the anxiolytic drugs when the punishment schedule was added to a 3-min variable-interval schedule and the alternate schedule was a 1-min variable-interval schedule without punishment; the amount of time spent in the punishment component, however, increased two-fold at the higher doses of chlordiazepoxide. When these conditions were reversed and punishment was added to the variable-interval 1-min schedule, time spent in the punishment component increased and changeover responses out of the punishment component decreased, particularly following chlordiazepoxide. Anxiolytic drugs appear to attenuate the aversiveness of stimuli correlated with punishment, but the degree of attenuation is controlled by other conditions prevailing in the presence of those stimuli.
The Cow-Path Game: A competitive vehicle routing problem

This work considers multi-vehicle systems in which self-interested, mobile agents compete to capture a target that has been distributed on a ring. In the scenarios studied, agents face the added difficulty of having minimal sensing capabilities and limited knowledge of where the target is located. We consider strategic algorithms that allow agents to effectively make decisions and plan trajectories in these settings. Specifically, we characterize equilibria strategies for a search game in which two cows compete to find a patch of clover located somewhere on the unit ring. Throughout, we motivate the work using the example of taxi drivers that compete with one another to garner fares in a busy urban landscape.
Oxidative stress and redistribution of glutamine synthetase in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with domoic acid toxicosis.

Summary The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress and glutamine synthetase (GS) redistribution occur in domoic acid (DA) toxicosis in California sea lions (CSLs, Zalophus californianus ). Sections of archived hippocampi from seven control and 13 CSLs diagnosed with DA toxicosis were labelled immunohistochemically for GS and for two markers of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 3-nitrotyrosine (NT). The distribution and intensity of labelling were compared with the pathological changes seen in haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Increased expression of MDA and NT occurred in neurons of the hippocampal formation of CSLs with lesions consistent with DA toxicosis. The degree of oxidative stress was not affected significantly by the chronicity or severity of hippocampal damage. In six out of seven CSLs with chronic effects of DA toxicosis, in addition to the normal glial distribution of GS, GS expression was very strong in some neurons of the subiculum. However, neuronal GS labelling was also seen in one control CSL, an effect that may have been due to previous exposure to DA. GS expression in neurons was associated with decreases in GS labelling in neighbouring glial cell processes. DA toxicosis therefore induces increased expression of markers of oxidative stress in neurons consistent with oxidative stress contributing to the initial DA insult and also the epilepsy that often develops in chronic DA toxicosis. GS redistribution occurred primarily in chronic DA toxicosis, perhaps leading to alterations of the glutamine–glutamate–GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) cycle and contributing to the excitotoxicity and seizures often seen in DA toxicosis.
Numerical Modeling of the Turbulent Supersonic Flow over a Backward Facing Step

The flow over a backward facing step is a classic problem in applied aerodynamics. Among many other applications, backward facing steps are often used for ignition and stabilization of the flame in a scramjet engine. In this study, the steady two-dimensional viscous supersonic turbulent flow over a backward facing step was calculated using FLUENT. The one-equation Spalart and Allmaras turbulence model was employed for the turbulent flow simulation. The free stream Mach number was 2. The simulated flow field is in good qualitative agreement with flow visualizations, pressure and temperature measurements and theoretical predictions. The boundary layer ahead of the step turns through the right angle over the corner. Then a separation occurs below the corner on the step wall. The numerical results indicate that the separation point is positioned on the step face, below the corner. The overexpansion at the corner is balanced by a lip-shock. This phenomenon was observed in experimental measurements, in flow visualizations and is also obtained in the present numerical calculation.© 2004 ASME