cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sequence effects on choice shifts involving risk

An experiment was run to distinguish the explanatory value of two explanations of choice shifts involving risk. The present research involved manipulation of the sequence of group vs individual decisions. By the logic of the diffusion of responsibility thesis, groups should be riskier than individuals in all cases. According to the cultural value explanation, when the group precedes the individual situation the riskiness or cautiousness of the group decision should not differ from the individual's decision. A factorial design incorporating Kogan and Wallach's choice dilemmas items was utilized. An Individual-to-Group and a Group-to-Individual presentation made up the sequence treatment: 10 male and 10 female groups (five members each) comprised the sex treatment. The results supported the cultural value hypothesis and led to the conclusion that the cultural value hypothesis was of greater explanatory value than the diffusion of responsibility notion even when one is considering only group shifts to risk.
Scenistic methods for training: applications and practice

Purpose – This paper aims to complement an earlier article (2010) in Journal of European Industrial Training in which the description and theory bases of scenistic methods were presented. This paper also offers a description of scenistic methods and information on theory bases. However, the main thrust of this paper is to describe, give suggested uses for, and then to examine the empirical research already conducted on three scenistic methods: skill charting, case‐based modeling and performance templates. The thrust of the research review is to examine the efficacy of each of the three methods.Design/methodology/approach – Following the descriptive information regarding scenistic methods in‐general, each of the three specific methods (see above) are explained in detail as they might be used in training practice. Then, for each method, samples of the extant empirical research attendant to the method is examined.Findings – With regard to the empirical research presented in the paper it is found that in most...
Advanced theory of driven birdcage resonator with losses for biomedical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

A complete time-dependent physics theory of symmetric unperturbed driven hybrid birdcage resonator was developed for general application. In particular, the theory can be applied for radiofrequency (RF) coil engineering, computer simulations of coil-sample interaction, etc. Explicit time dependence is evaluated for different forms of driving voltage. The major steps of the solution development are shown and appropriate explanations are given. Green's functions and spectral density formula were developed for any form of periodic driving voltage. The concept of distributed power losses based on transmission line theory is developed for evaluation of local losses of a coil. Three major types of power losses are estimated as equivalent series resistances in the circuit of the birdcage resonator. Values of generated resistances in legs and end-rings are estimated. An application of the theory is shown for many practical cases. Experimental curve of B(1) field polarization dependence is measured for eight-sections birdcage coil. It was shown that the steady-state driven resonance frequencies do not depend on damping factor unlike the free oscillation (transient) frequencies. An equivalent active resistance is generated due to interaction of RF electromagnetic field with a sample. Resistance of the conductor (enhanced by skin effect), Eddy currents and dielectric losses are the major types of losses which contribute to the values of generated resistances. A biomedical sample for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy is the source of the both Eddy current and dielectric losses of a coil. As demonstrated by the theory, Eddy current loss is the major effect of coil shielding.
Glutamyl-transfer RNA: at the crossroad between chlorophyll and protein biosynthesis

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the key precursor for chlorophyll biosynthesis. It is made in the chloroplast in a process that is dependent on transfer RNA (tRNA), and that involves two main steps. In the first pivotal step, tRNA charged with glutamate (glutamyl-tRNA) (Glu-tRNA) is reduced to glutamate-1-semialdehyde (GSA) in a reaction catalyzed by Glu-tRNA reductase (GluTR). The Glu-tRNA is common to the biosyntheses of both proteins and porphyrins. Glutamate-1-semialdehyde-2,1-amino-mutase (GSA-AM) then catalyzes the conversion of GSA to ALA. The genes that encode these enzymes and glutamate-specific tRNA have now been characterized from a variety of plants, and it has therefore become possible to understand the components and regulation of this essential biosynthetic process in higher plants in considerable detail.
Tentative progress in hemophilia B gene therapy

In 1999 investigators at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University began a trial in which intramuscular AAV–factor IX injections were given to hemophilia B patients. Two of the first 3 patients (treated with 2 × 1011 vector genomes/kg) demonstrated a therapeutic increment of
Data-driven multi-stage multi-objective motion planning of mobile robots, application to near minimum power fuzzy parking

Display Omitted In this paper, the problem of multi-objective trajectory planning is studied for a wheeled mobile robot (WMR) in a crowded environment using a hybrid data-driven neuro-fuzzy system. This approach is composed of two basic stages involving a hard computing through a state space detailed modeling of the system and then a data driven evolutionary neuro-fuzzy system is used for online planning. Typically, a first pre-processing step involves an offline planning generating a large dataset of multi-objective trajectories, optimizing a time-power criterion while including robot, task, and workspace constraints. The discrete augmented Lagrangian is implemented on a decoupled form of the robot dynamics to solve for the resulting non-linear multi-objective optimal control problem. The final state constraint is satisfied with a gradient projection technique. The outcomes of this pre-processing step allow building a genetic neuro-fuzzy inference system to learn and capture the robot multi-objective dynamic behavior. Once this system is trained and optimized, it is used in a generalization phase to achieve online planning. The approach was also applied to the near optimal power fuzzy parking problem. Simulation results showing the effectiveness of the proposal are presented and discussed.
Mucin-type O-Glycosylation during Development *

Mucin-type O-glycosylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification present on membrane-bound and secreted proteins. Aberrations in O-glycosylation are responsible for certain human diseases and are associated with disease risk factors. Recent studies have demonstrated essential roles for mucin-type O-glycosylation in protein secretion, stability, processing, and function. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the diverse roles of mucin-type O-glycosylation during eukaryotic development. Appreciating how this conserved modification operates in developmental processes will provide insight into its roles in human disease and disease susceptibilities.
High-field c-axis magnetotransport of single crystal YbNi2B2C

Abstract We have measured c -axis magnetotransport properties of the tetragonal YbNi 2 B 2 C compound down to 2 K and up to 18 T. Transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistance have been measured with current applied along the c -axis of the tetragonal structure. A well-defined maximum in the magnetoresistance is observed at temperatures below 10 K at approximately 5 T. At higher temperatures the magnetoresistance is always negative and weakens as the temperature is increased.
A fully Bayesian before-after analysis of permeable friction course (PFC) pavement wet weather safety.

Permeable friction course (PFC), a porous hot-mix asphalt, is typically applied to improve wet weather safety on high-speed roadways in Texas. In order to warrant expensive PFC construction, a statistical evaluation of its safety benefits is essential. Generally, the literature on the effectiveness of porous mixes in reducing wet-weather crashes is limited and often inconclusive. In this study, the safety effectiveness of PFC was evaluated using a fully Bayesian before-after safety analysis. First, two groups of road segments overlaid with PFC and non-PFC material were identified across Texas; the non-PFC or reference road segments selected were similar to their PFC counterparts in terms of site specific features. Second, a negative binomial data generating process was assumed to model the underlying distribution of crash counts of PFC and reference road segments to perform Bayesian inference on the safety effectiveness. A data-augmentation based computationally efficient algorithm was employed for a fully Bayesian estimation. The statistical analysis shows that PFC is not effective in reducing wet weather crashes. It should be noted that the findings of this study are in agreement with the existing literature, although these studies were not based on a fully Bayesian statistical analysis. Our study suggests that the safety effectiveness of PFC road surfaces, or any other safety infrastructure, largely relies on its interrelationship with the road user. The results suggest that the safety infrastructure must be properly used to reap the benefits of the substantial investments. Language: en
Dynamo Magnetic Field--induced Angular Momentum Transport in Protostellar Nebulae: The ``Minimum Mass'' Protosolar Nebula

Magnetic torques can produce angular momentum redistribution in protostellar nebulas. Dynamo magnetic fields can be generated in differentially rotating and turbulent nebulas and can be the source of magnetic torques that transfer angular momentum from a protostar to a disk, as well as redistribute angular momentum within a disk. A magnetic field strength of 100-1000 G is needed to transport the major part of a protostar's angular momentum into a surrounding disk in a time characteristic of star formation, thus allowing formation of a solar-system size protoplanetary nebula in the usual 'minimum-mass' model of the protosolar nebula. This paper examines the possibility that a dynamo magnetic field could have induced the needed angular momentum transport from the proto-Sun to the protoplanetary nebula.
The Role of Occupational Interests in State Economic Development Policy-Making

N LIGHT of the lack of persuasive evidence that state economic development policies produce beneficial effects, why do states persist in their adoption? One possible reason may be the strength of interests within the states which combine to advocate such measures. The following analysis explores the role of occupational interests in convincing state policy-makers to adopt policies with dubious effects on the goal of economic growth.
Brief report: Synthesis of ribonucleic acid in oocytes collected from squirrel monkeys and humans following chorionic gonadotropin administration.

The time between administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and follicle aspiration was analyzed for alterations in [3H]uridine incorporation [as an indicator of relative synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA)] of oocytes from squirrel monkeys and humans. There was a significant decline in both the uptake and incorporation of [3H]uridine in squirrel monkey oocytes by 36 hr following hCG administration to the animals, as compared with 16 hr after hCG. Similarly, RNA synthesis diminished in oocytes collected 35 hr after hCG in humans, as compared with 12 hr after hCG. This reduction in RNA synthesis of maturing oocytes is similar to that of other mammalian species. This provides evidence for an increased interval between hCG administration and follicle aspiration in order to recover mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization studies.
2-Propanol dehydration on TiO2(110) : The effect of bridge-bonded oxygen vacancy blocking

Abstract On 100 K rutile TiO2(1 1 0) surfaces with 3.5 ± 0.5% surface bridge-bonded oxygen vacancies (BBOV’s), propene formation by dehydration of 2-propanol was monitored by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The BBOV’s were either filled or unfilled when the 2-propanol was dosed. Propene desorption rates exhibit two local maxima, nominally at 350 (LT) and 570 K (HT). The former is not altered by filling BBOV’s while the latter is reduced by factors of 2.5 and 5 when the vacancies are pre-filled with water (H–OH) and alcohol (R–OH), respectively. The HT process is attributed to a reaction of 2-propoxy groups located on surface BBO’s. To account for much of the HT C3H6 yield when BBOV’s are filled before (CH3)2CHOH dosing, we propose a model whereby, during TPD, vacancies form and are filled with 2-propoxy. The factor of two difference between titrating BBOV’s with H2O and alcohols is attributed to stoichiometry; twice as many OH groups form on surface BBO rows when H2O is used so twice as many vacancies are created when OH recombines.
A generalized graphical method for evaluating formation constants and summarizing well-field history

The capacities of a water-bearing formation to transmit water under a hydraulic gradient and to yield water from storage when the water table or artesian pressure declines, are generally expressed, respectively, in terms of a coefficient of transmissibility and a coefficient of storage. Determinations of these two constants are almost always involved in quantitative studies of ground-water problems.
Determination of elastic constants of titanium diboride (TiB2) from first principles using FLAPW implementation of the density functional theory

Abstract First principles computational calculations of anisotropic elastic constants of titanium diboride, TiB 2 , were performed using the implementations of the Hartree–Fock (HF) method and the density functional theory (DFT). TiB 2 has hexagonal crystal structure, thus five independent elastic constants are needed to completely determine its elastic properties including polycrystalline elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio and the elastic anisotropy of the crystal. The HF method employed molecular orbitals constructed from the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). The DFT calculations were based on the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Five independent elastic distortions of the unit cell were employed to determine the anisotropic elastic constants under the unrelaxed and relaxed configurations of Ti and B atoms in the unit cell. The calculation methods as well as the internal atomic relaxations of the elastic cell distortions were found to have a significant effect on the numerical values of elastic constants. Estimations of polycrystalline elastic constants and their comparison with the experimentally determined values were also performed. The agreement of the DFT (FLAPW) calculations including internal atomic relaxations, with the experimental data is very good. The HF calculations overestimated the elastic constants upto around 20%. Elastic anisotropy, the nature of chemical bonding and the electronic charge transfer between constituent atoms in TiB 2 have also been explored to assess the origins of high elastic stiffness of this compound.
Expanding the roles of hospitalist physicians to include public health

Several years after the inception of the hospitalist movement, hospitalist roles have evolved in breadth and sophistication. Although public health is not formally recognized or previously described as an arena for hospitalists, hospitalists are often engaged in public health practice. This article attempts to alert hospitalists to the potential to make contributions to the field of public health and defines the public health skills that can positively affect the lives of their patients and the communities they serve. In a public health role, hospitalists may improve the quality of inpatient care. This article reviews how public health and hospital-based practices have already intersected and proposes further development within this discipline. In our ever-changing health care system, hospitalists play key roles in the central public health domains of assessment, assurance, and policy development. Insightful hospitalists will recognize and embrace these responsibilities in caring for patients and society.
Deconvolution neural networks for ultrasonic testing

In this study, three novel design procedures have been developed in implementing deconvolution using neural network algorithms. The first method is called the Deconvolution Neural Network (DNN), the second method is named the Autoassociative Deconvolution Neural Network (ADNN), and the third method is referred to as the Probabilistic Deconvolution Neural Network (PDNN). The DNN trains the network by employing brute force and by exposing the network to a set of target echoes with and without noise. The ADNN processes the data for signal-to-noise ratio enhancement using an autoassociative neural network, and then applies the deconvolution neural network. The PDNN consists of two processing stages. The first stage estimates parameters using Gram-Charlier approximation to describe the probability density functions corresponding to target echoes and scattering noise. Then, in the second processing block, these parameters are used to classify and detect multiple target echoes. Results obtained in the performance analysis of these algorithms indicate that multiple interfering target echoes can be deconvolved and resolved accurately in the presence of noise.
Gendering Spain's Humanism: The Case of Juan de Lucena's Epístola exhortatoria a las letras

The role that class and ethnicity played in the self-fashioning of the professional men of letters who shaped fifteenth-century Spain's humanist project has been the subject of intense scholarly scrutiny for over fifty years. It was Jose Antonio Maravall who first demonstrated that the so-called letrados had a “conciencia estamental,” a class consciousness derived from their indispensable roles as administrators, advisors, diplomats, and chroniclers in the service of the crown. Subsequent scholarship showed that part of letrado self-consciousness resulted from the hostility of Old Christian noblemen toward these ambitious non-noble, university-trained men, many of them New Christians or conversos. One way in which the aristocracy stigmatized the intellectual pursuits of the letrados was in fact to call those endeavors “Jewish.”
Design of a Lunar Surface Structure. I: Design Configuration and Thermal Analysis

AbstractAn igloo-shaped magnesium structure, supported on a sintered regolith, covered by sandbags of regolith shielding, and made using rapid manufacturing technologies is proposed as a potential design of a lunar structure. Also, a thermal analysis is carried out to study the effect of the regolith shielding as well as the sensitivity of such designs to measurement uncertainties of regolith and sintered thermal properties. It is shown that 3-m-thick regolith shielding can insulate the structure regardless of its location on the Moon.
Illness caused by Vibrio damsela and Vibrio hollisae

Vibrio damsela was isolated from six wound infections in otherwise healthy persons. In five of the six cases the wounds were known to have been exposed to salt or brackish water at the time of the injury. Vibrio hollisae was isolated from an index stool culture in nine cases in which no other enteric pathogen was identified. All nine patients had diarrhoea and abdominal pain; one patient had bloody diarrhoea. Six of the nine patients were known to have eaten raw seafood in the five days before they became ill. These data suggest that both V. damsela and V. hollisae can produce diseases with distinct clinical and epidemiological characteristics.
Operative management of hepatic artery aneurysms.

Objective Degenerative hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) are an uncommon pathologic process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the approach to and outcomes of operative management of HAA with open techniques (OTs) and endovascular techniques (ETs). Methods Twenty-one patients who underwent intervention for HAA from January 1, 1992, to January 30, 2015, at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patient presentation, risk factors, and operative approach were reviewed. The primary outcome was operative morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes included long-term survival, patency, and need for reintervention. Results Of the 21 patients, 14 (67%) were men. The mean age of all patients was 66 years (range, 30-85 years), with a mean HAA size of 45 ± 28 mm (12 common hepatic, 5 common and proper hepatic, 3 right hepatic, and 1 accessory left hepatic). Nine patients (43%) had connective tissue disorders. More than half of the patients (63%) had synchronous aneurysms (29% in the aorta, 24% in the splenic and iliac arteries, and 10% in the celiac arteries). Ten patients (48%) were asymptomatic. Right upper quadrant pain was the most common symptom at presentation (43%), followed by transaminitis (5%) and obstructive jaundice (5%). Five patients (24%) presented with rupture (size, 15-40 mm). OT was performed in 17 patients; 4 patients had ET. Fourteen patients (67%) underwent open reconstruction of the common hepatic (n = 10), the common and proper hepatic (n = 2), and the right and left accessory hepatic arteries (n = 1 each). Seven bypasses were performed with saphenous vein, six with Dacron, and one with polytetrafluoroethylene. Endoaneurysmorrhaphy alone, patch, and ligation were performed in one instance each. Postoperative complications occurred in six patients (29%), including hemorrhage, graft thrombosis, common bile duct stricture that required reoperation, duodenal perforation, and enterocutaneous fistula. ET was attempted in five patients; coil embolization was performed in four patients (two of the common and two of the right hepatic arteries). Overall mortality was 14% (6% after elective OT, 40% for emergency OT, 0% for ET). Mean follow-up was 32 ± 46 months. Overall survival was 86% at 5 years. Primary and secondary graft patency was 86% at 5 years. One patient underwent reintervention because of occlusion of saphenous vein graft. Conclusions Open repair remains the mainstay treatment for degenerative HAA repairs to preserve arterial flow to the liver, with notable morbidity and mortality, particularly in the setting of rupture. However, coil embolization may be applied safely in select patients with aneurysms not involving the proper hepatic artery if adequate collateral circulation ensures hepatic perfusion.
Macrophage A2A adenosinergic receptor modulates oxygen-induced augmentation of murine lung injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) causes significant morbidity and mortality. Exacerbating factors increasing the risk of ARDS remain unknown. Supplemental oxygen is often necessary in both mild and severe lung disease. The potential effects of supplemental oxygen may include augmentation of lung inflammation by inhibiting anti-inflammatory pathways in alveolar macrophages. We sought to determine oxygen-derived effects on the anti-inflammatory A2A adenosinergic (ADORA2A) receptor in macrophages, and the role of the ADORA2A receptor in lung injury. Wild-type (WT) and ADORA2A−/− mice received intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (IT LPS), followed 12 hours later by continuous exposure to 21% oxygen (control mice) or 60% oxygen for 1 to 3 days. We measured the phenotypic endpoints of lung injury and the alveolar macrophage inflammatory state. We tested an ADORA2A-specific agonist, CGS-21680 hydrochloride, in LPS plus oxygen-exposed WT and ADORA2A−/− mice. We determined the specific effects of myeloid AD...
Increased Leukotriene and Prostaglandin Release, and Overactivity in the Chronically Ischemic Bladder

ABSTRACTPurpose: Chronic ischemia has been shown to alter bladder contractility. We studied the roles of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase products in ischemia induced bladder overactivity in the rabbit.Materials and Methods: A total of 28 male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into 2 groups. In group 1 atherosclerotic occlusion of the iliac arteries was induced by balloon endothelial injury, followed by a short period of a high cholesterol diet. Group 2 received a regular diet alone. After 12 weeks blood flow measurements and cystometry were performed. Bladder tissues were processed for enzyme immunoassay of leukotrienes and prostaglandins (PGs), Western blotting of COX and lipoxygenase, isometric tension measurement and histology.Results: Atherosclerotic occlusion of the iliac arteries significantly decreased bladder blood flow. Moderate ischemia caused bladder overactivity, while severe ischemia inhibited bladder contractions. Ischemia increased leukotriene B4, E4 and C4 release by 141%, 132% ...
Issues Involved in Providing Quality and Optimal Care for the Cancer Patient in the Era of Cost Containment

With increasing emphasis on cost containment in the health care field there is legitimate concern that the quality of medical care provided by health professionals and hospitals will deteriorate. There is no area of medicine where this fear is more evident than in the care of the patient with malignant disease. Treatment is often palliative, making quality difficult to evaluate and the costs of therapy and supportive care are among the highest in the health care arena. In the future it can be anticipated that the conflict between cost and the provision of quality/optimal care for the patient with or suspected to have cancer will increase.
Controlled Lagrangians and the stabilization of mechanical systems. II. Potential shaping

For pt.I, see ibid., vol.45, p.2253-70 (2000). We extend the method of controlled Lagrangians (CL) to include potential shaping, which achieves complete state-space asymptotic stabilization of mechanical systems. The CL method deals with mechanical systems with symmetry and provides symmetry-preserving kinetic shaping and feedback-controlled dissipation for state-space stabilization in all but the symmetry variables. Potential shaping complements the kinetic shaping by breaking symmetry and stabilizing the remaining state variables. The approach also extends the method of controlled Lagrangians to include a class of mechanical systems without symmetry such as the inverted pendulum on a cart that travels along an incline.
Impact of premorbid hypertension on haemorrhage severity and aneurysm rebleeding risk after subarachnoid haemorrhage

Objective Arterial hypertension (HTN) is a risk factor for subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). We aimed to assess the impact of premorbid HTN on the severity of initial bleeding and the risk of aneurysm rebleeding after SAH. Design Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study of all SAH patients admitted to Columbia University Medical Center between 1996 and 2012. Results We enrolled 1312 consecutive patients with SAH; 643 (49%) had premorbid HTN. Patients with premorbid HTN presented more frequently as Hunt–Hess Grade IV or V (36% vs 25%, p Conclusions Premorbid HTN is associated with increased severity of the initial bleeding event and represents a significant risk factor for aneurysm rebleeding. Given that aneurysm rebleeding is a potentially fatal—but preventable—complication, these findings are of clinical relevance.
An Investigation of the Aerosol Indirect Effect on Convective Intensity Using Satellite Observations

The effect of the environment on individual clouds makes it difficult to isolate the signal of the aerosol indirect effect, particularly at larger spatial and temporal scales. This study uses observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), CloudSat, and Aqua satellites to identify convective cloud systems in clean and dirty environments. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol index is collocated with radar precipitation features (RPFs) from TRMM and congestus cloud features (CFs) from CloudSat. The Interim ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) is interpolated to identify the environmental profile surrounding each feature. Regions in Africa, the Amazon, the Atlantic Ocean, and the southwestern United States are examined. TRMM features in the Africa and Amazon regions are more intense and have higher lightning flash rates under dirty background conditions. RPFs in the southwestern United States are more intense under clean background conditions. The Atlantic region shows little difference in intensity. The differences found in the mean thermodynamic profile for RPFs forming in clean and dirty environments could explain these differences in convective intensity. Congestus identified with CloudSat show smaller differences between clouds forming in clean and dirty environments in Africa and the Amazon. Congestus in clean environments have higher reflectivities and generally larger widths, but no trend is seen in cloud-top height. The signal of the aerosol indirect effect is so smallthatitis very difficulttodetectconfidentlyusingthese methods.Theenvironment mustbe consideredin any study of the aerosol indirect effect, because important environmental changes can occur as aerosols are introduced to an air mass.
Analog Chips And Intelligent Vehicles

This paper studies the prospects for analog VLSI chips and intelligent vehicles. Intelligent vehicles will require depth calculation segmentation, motion and recognition. These sensory processing tasks are expected to be met by analog chips. The most significant factor in the choice between analog and digital approaches to sensory processing in intelligent vehicles will be the cost of mass production.
IκB Kinase Activity Drives Fetal Lung Macrophage Maturation along a Non-M1/M2 Paradigm

In preterm infants, exposure to inflammation increases the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic, developmental lung disease. Although macrophages are the key cells that initiate lung inflammation, less is known about lung macrophage phenotype and maturation. We hypothesized that fetal lung macrophages mature into distinct subpopulations during mouse development, and that activation could influence macrophage maturation. Expression of the fetal macrophage markers CD68, CD86, CD206, Ym1, fibrinogen-like protein 2, and indolamine-2, 3-dioxygenase was developmentally regulated, with each marker having different temporal patterns. Flow cytometry analysis showed macrophages within the fetal lung were less diverse than the distinctly separate subpopulations in newborn and adult lungs. Similar to adult alveolar macrophages, fetal lung macrophages responded to the TLR4 agonist LPS and the alternative activation cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Using a macrophage-specific constitutively active IκB Kinase transgenic model (IKFM), we demonstrated that macrophage activation increased proinflammatory gene expression and reduced the response of fetal lung macrophages to IL-4 and IL-13. Activation also increased fetal lung macrophage proliferation. Fetal IKFM lungs contained increased percentages of more mature, CD11b(low)F4/80(high) cells that also expressed higher levels of the alternative activation markers CD204 and CD206. Development of fetal lung macrophages into mature alveolar macrophages may therefore include features of both proinflammatory and alternative activation paradigms.
PLAAC: a web and command-line application to identify proteins with prion-like amino acid composition

Summary: Prions are self-templating protein aggregates that stably perpetuate distinct biological states and are of keen interest to researchers in both evolutionary and biomedical science. The best understood prions are from yeast and have a prion-forming domain with strongly biased amino acid composition, most notably enriched for Q or N. PLAAC is a web application that scans protein sequences for domains with prion-like amino acid composition. Users can upload sequence files, or paste sequences directly into a textbox. PLAAC ranks the input sequences by several summary scores and allows scores along sequences to be visualized. Text output files can be downloaded for further analyses, and visualizations saved in PDF and PNG formats. Availability and implementation: http://plaac.wi.mit.edu/. The Ruby-based web framework and the command-line software (implemented in Java, with visualization routines in R) are available at http://github.com/whitehead/plaac under the MIT license. All software can be run under OS X, Windows and Unix. Contact: ude.demssamu@gnik.revilo or ude.tim.iw@nimda_tsiuqdnil
Epithelial and mesenchymal hamartomatous changes in a mature port-wine stain: morphologic evidence for a multiple germ layer field defect

The port-wine stain (PWS) is a congenital cutaneous venulocapillary malformation of unknown pathogenesis. Many patients with facial PWS develop thickening with cobblestoning and nodularity during adult life. The histologic correlates of this maturational change are poorly documented and its mechanisms remain unclear. In this case study we present new histologic observations that may elucidate this phenomenon. An extensive PWS on the face of a 75-year-old man exhibited gross thickening with cobblestoning and nodularity. Histologic examination revealed not only the expected vascular abnormalities, but also a number of widely distributed epithelial, neural, and mesenchymal hamartomatous changes. Epithelial changes included epidermal nevus, sebaceous trichofolliculoma, and basaloid follicular hamartoma. Changes of connective tissue nevus, smooth-muscle hamartoma, neural hamartoma, and subcuticular hamartoma were also noted. The complex hamartomatous changes observed in the PWS of this patient involved multiple germ lines and were distributed in a widespread pattern. These changes not only offer an explanation for the skin thickening and nodularity of this patient, but also suggest a genetically determined, multilineage developmental field defect in the pathogenesis of this lesion. Further studies of other patients are necessary to understand the full implications of these findings in the late stage of PWS.
DAF-5 is a Ski oncoprotein homolog that functions in a neuronal TGFβ pathway to regulate C. elegans dauer development

An unconventional TGFβ superfamily pathway plays a crucial role in the decision between dauer diapause and reproductive growth. We have studied the daf-5 gene, which, along with the daf-3 Smad gene, is antagonized by upstream receptors and receptor-regulated Smads. We show that DAF-5 is a novel member of the Sno/Ski superfamily that binds to DAF-3 Smad, suggesting that DAF-5, like Sno/Ski, is a regulator of transcription in a TGFβ superfamily signaling pathway. However, we present evidence that DAF-5 is an unconventional Sno/Ski protein, because DAF-5 acts as a co-factor, rather than an antagonist, of a Smad protein. We show that expressing DAF-5 in the nervous system rescues a daf-5 mutant, whereas muscle or hypodermal expression does not. Previous work suggested that DAF-5 and DAF-3 function in pharyngeal muscle to regulate gene expression, but our analysis of regulation of a pharynx specific promoter suggests otherwise. We present a model in which DAF-5 and DAF-3 control the production or release of a hormone from the nervous system by either regulating the expression of biosynthetic genes or by altering the connectivity or the differentiated state of neurons.
Forming a Solid Foundation for Patient Education Through Collaboration

This article reviews the development of a patient and family education program through the collaboration of a broad range of people and departments at the University of Virginia Health System. The implementation of a patient education materials repository, and a Web site developed to provide information on effective patient communication across cultures, are described, along with activities designed to promote health literacy at the Health System and in the community.
Of Barfights and Gadflies: Attitudes and Practices Concerning Extra Credit in College Courses

has been negligible, even though the practice is common and controversial. Faculty (n = 145) and students (n = 525) at two northeastern universities were surveyed regarding their use of and views toward extra-credit assignments tin undergraduate courses. In our sample, between 12% and 22% of courses provided an opportunity for extra credit in the previous semester, 50% of the students were offered extra-credit opportunities in at least one course. Faculty were much more likely than students to view extra credit negatively; students were far more ready to endorse its routine offering. The most frequently cited disadvantage of extra credit was that it encourages a lax or irresponsible attitude. The advantage most frequently cited by students was that it provides a second chance; the most popular advantage for faculty was that it allows exploration of a topic in greater depth. Underlying views on perceived fairness and student evaluation are linked to these findings.
Potential Land Use Implications of a Global Biofuels Industry

Abstract in HTML and technical report in PDF available on the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change website (http://mit.edu/globalchange/www/).
Oral Steroids for Acute Radiculopathy Due to a Herniated Lumbar Disk: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Oral steroids are commonly used to treat acute sciatica due to a herniated disk but have not been evaluated in an appropriately powered clinical trial. Objective To determine if oral prednisone is more effective than placebo in improving function and pain among patients with acute sciatica. Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted from 2008 to 2013 in a large integrated health care delivery system in Northern California. Adults (n=269) with radicular pain for 3 months or less, an Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score of 30 or higher (range, 0-100; higher scores indicate greater dysfunction), and a herniated disk confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging were eligible. Interventions Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive a tapering 15-day course of oral prednisone (5 days each of 60 mg, 40 mg, and 20 mg; total cumulative dose = 600 mg; n = 181) or matching placebo (n = 88). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was ODI change at 3 weeks; secondary outcomes were ODI change at 1 year, change in lower extremity pain (measured on a 0-10 scale; higher scores indicate more pain), spine surgery, and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores (0-100 scale; higher scores better). Results Observed baseline and 3-week mean ODI scores were 51.2 and 32.2 for the prednisone group and 51.1 and 37.5 for the placebo group, respectively. The prednisone-treated group showed an adjusted mean 6.4-point (95% CI, 1.9-10.9; P = .006) greater improvement in ODI scores at 3 weeks than the placebo group and a mean 7.4-point (95% CI, 2.2-12.5; P = .005) greater improvement at 52 weeks. Compared with the placebo group, the prednisone group showed an adjusted mean 0.3-point (95% CI, −0.4 to 1.0; P = .34) greater reduction in pain at 3 weeks and a mean 0.6-point (95% CI, −0.2 to 1.3; P = .15) greater reduction at 52 weeks. The prednisone group showed an adjusted mean 3.3-point (95% CI, 1.3-5.2; P = .001) greater improvement in the SF-36 PCS score at 3 weeks, no difference in the SF-36 PCS score at 52 weeks (mean, 2.5; 95% CI, −0.3 to 5.4; P = .08), no change in the SF-36 MCS score at 3 weeks (mean, 2.2; 95% CI, −0.4 to 4.8; P = .10), and an adjusted 3.6-point (95% CI, 0.6-6.7; P = .02) greater improvement in the SF-36 MCS score at 52 weeks. There were no differences in surgery rates at 52-week follow-up. Having 1 or more adverse events at 3-week follow-up was more common in the prednisone group than in the placebo group (49.2% vs 23.9%; P Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with acute radiculopathy due to a herniated lumbar disk, a short course of oral steroids, compared with placebo, resulted in modestly improved function and no improvement in pain. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00668434
Emotional intelligence, personality, and gender as factors in disordered eating patterns

We examined the hypotheses that proposing higher levels of emotional intelligence (ability test and self-report) and lower neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness associate with lower levels of disordered eating. In a correlational study, 126 Israeli college students completed two measures of emotional intelligence, a brief five-factor personality test, demographic data questionnaires, and questionnaires assessing food preoccupation, namely, the Body Weight, Image and Self-Esteem Scale and the Appearance Schema Inventory. Results suggested that ability emotional intelligence is associated with disordered eating beyond gender and personality. Self-reported emotional intelligence did not associate with any of the outcomes after controlling for personality. Implications and applications are briefly discussed.
Simultaneous in vivo spectral editing and water suppression

Water suppression is typically performed in vivo by exciting the longitudinal magnetization in combination with dephasing, or by using frequency-selective coherence generation. MEGA, a frequency-selective refocusing technique, can be placed into any pulse sequence element designed to generate a Hahn spin-echo or stimulated echo, to dephase transverse water coherences with minimal spectral distortions. Water suppression performance was verified in vivo using stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) localization, which provided water suppression comparable with that achieved with four selective pulses in 3,1-DRYSTEAM. The advantage of the proposed method was exploited for editing J-coupled resonances. Using a double-banded pulse that selectively inverts a J-coupling partner and simultaneously suppresses water, efficient metabolite editing was achieved in the point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) and STEAM sequences in which MEGA was incorporated. To illustrate the efficiency of the method, the detection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was demonstrated, with minimal contributions from macromolecules and overlying singlet peaks at 4 T. The estimated occipital GABA concentration was consistent with previous reports, suggesting that editing for GABA is efficient when based on MEGA at high field strengths.
Linear Programming Algorithms for Sparse Filter Design

In designing discrete-time filters, the length of the impulse response is often used as an indication of computational cost. In systems where the complexity is dominated by arithmetic operations, the number of nonzero coefficients in the impulse response may be a more appropriate metric to consider instead, and computational savings are realized by omitting arithmetic operations associated with zero-valued coefficients. This metric is particularly relevant to the design of sensor arrays, where a set of array weights with many zero-valued entries allows for the elimination of physical array elements, resulting in a reduction of data acquisition and communication costs. However, designing a filter with the fewest number of nonzero coefficients subject to a set of frequency-domain constraints is a computationally difficult optimization problem. This paper describes several approximate polynomial-time algorithms that use linear programming to design filters having a small number of nonzero coefficients, i.e., filters that are sparse. Specifically, we present two approaches that have different computational complexities in terms of the number of required linear programs. The first technique iteratively thins the impulse response of a non-sparse filter until frequency-domain constraints are violated. The second minimizes the 1-norm of the impulse response of the filter, using the resulting design to determine the coefficients that are constrained to zero in a subsequent re-optimization stage. The algorithms are evaluated within the contexts of array design and acoustic equalization.
SupportScreen: A Model for Improving Patient Outcomes

As demands on physician time mount, and patients and families increasingly expect accommodation and understanding of their specific, personal situations, care providers must boost efficiency and mini mize the expense of their clinic processes and draw on connections with community resources. Third-party payors may also expect that the biopsychosocial needs of patients and families be addressed as an essential part of cancer care. Quality of care, cost, patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, safety, and allocation of limited resources are all related to the identification and effective management of the psychosocial elements of cancer care. Experts suggest that health care has lagged far behind other industries in using technology to improve efficiency, and slow adoption of this technology means that critical information about the biopsychosocial needs of patients fails to reach the right professionals in a timely way. Systematic and automated screening can promote physician control in managing time, the efficiency of the clinical encounter, and rapid triage to other pro fessionals and community resources. (JNCCN 2010;8:496–504)
Military Operations and Media Coverage: The Interplay of Law and Legitimacy

This chapter explores the challenges of carrying out military operations in an age that combines instant, round-the-clock news and Internet coverage with heightened attention to international law compliance and legitimacy. Media coverage of military operations not only informs the public about the events of conflicts near and far, but also plays a significant role in the determinations and perceptions of the success, legitimacy and lawfulness of military operations. With legitimacy at the heart of every military operation and international law compliance a centerpiece of the media and advocacy discourse, planning and execution of military operations does and must continue to incorporate both facts and perception about law and legitimacy into every aspect of decision-making. Finally, transparency has become the new buzzword with regard to United States operations — whether targeted strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles, detention operations or other actions. The legal and policy debates regarding transparency add an additional layer of complexity to this interplay between law, legitimacy and success and introduce challenging questions about where to find the right balance between the needs of the military in planning and executing operations and the needs and demands of the public and the press for information.
The value system of a university research group.

pressure to seek opportunities abroad has been greatly reduced. In Ireland, in Scandinavia, and even in Germany there is much less pressure to migrate from demographic causes than a generation ago. The lower birth rates now prevailing in Southern Europe assure that pressure from this source will also shortly recede in that region, especially in Italy, where the birth rate is now quite low, lower even than in France, the classic country of depopulation, and much lower than in the United States. In peace, the major continuing reservoir of "normal" overseas migration in Western Europe is the underemployed rural populations of Southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and to a less extent the Netherlands. This reservoir is declining, but its need for an outlet still poses one of Europe's most pressing economic problems. At least for the next ten years it should furnish the basis for continued overseas migration, until such time as further economic development, on the one hand, and demographic trends, on the other, may have resolved the problems of population pressure in these countries as they have in much of Northwest Europe.
MANAGING LATEX ALLERGY IN PATIENTS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS

The new and important problem of latex allergy deserves the attention of all health care professionals and institutions. Latex products we use every day may cause serious consequences for patients and coworkers. All providers must develop a plan for protecting allergic patients and staff from latex exposure, and for managing allergic reactions should they occur.