cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An interlocked oscillator model for high-frequency firing of the midbrain dopaminergic neuron

Dopamine neurotransmission has been found to play a role in addictive behavior and is impaired in psychiatric disorders. Dopaminergic (DA) neurons display two functionally distinct modes of electrophysiological activity: low- and high-frequency firing. The puzzling feature of the DA neuron is the combination of its high-frequency response to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation coupled with the inability of other treatments to elevate its frequency effectively. We suggest a new computational model that reproduces this combination of responses and accounts for recent experimental data. The model is presented in two morphologies: (1) a reconstruction of a DA neuron and (2) a single compartment that ignores the spatial structure of the neuron. We show that these two model morphologies display very similar patterns. Therefore, an equipotential representation of the DA neuron is sufficient for combining its high- and low-frequency firing. Our comparison of the reconstructed morphology and the one-compartment model suggests that different regions of the neuron contribute differently to the high- and low frequencies. The model suggests how NMDA current restricted to the soma evokes high-frequency oscillations (Fig. ​(Fig.1A)1A) - a recent experimental result. Alternatively, distal NMDA stimulation must span an extensive part of the dendritic tree to evoke the burst. The two distinct patterns of stimulation suggest that the burst may report different cue types, such as saliency and reward. In both cases, the voltage dependence of the NMDA current is central for this capability. Additionally, we introduced a putative potassium current that allows for sustained oscillations under blockade of the calcium-dependent (SK-type) potassium current. Given multiple de- and repolarizing currents that sustain pacemaking, the neuron has two interlocked mechanisms (calcium-dependent and independent; Fig. ​Fig.1B)1B) for producing oscillatory activity. Figure 1 (A) The model switches to high-frequency oscillations at the onset of NMDA receptor stimulation at 500 msec. Dashed is the Ca2+ concentration; Solid is the voltage. The increase in the frequency is based on the reduction in the amplitude of Ca2+ oscillations. ...
A SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF THE JAPANESE JUST‐IN‐TIME TECHNIQUE (WITH KANBANS) FOR A MULTILINE, MULTISTAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

The Japanese “just-in-time with kanban” technique reduces in-process inventory to absolute minimal levels, in concert with the Japanese belief that inventory is an unnecessary evil. Due to the success of Japanese firms that employ this type of system, American firms would like to import this technique and emulate Japanese successes. But this Japanese success may be attributable not only to the just-in-time with kanban technique but also to the production environment in which the technique is employed. This paper simulates the just-in-time with kanban technique for a multiline, multistage production system in order to determine its adaptability to an American production environment that might include such characteristics as variable processing times, variable master production scheduling, and imbalances between production stages. The results have practical implications for those firms considering adoption of the Japanese technique.
RDX degradation using an integrated Fe(0)-microbial treatment approach.

RDX is a persistent and highly mobile groundwater contaminant that represents a major remediation challenge at numerous munitions manufacturing and load-assemblage-package facilities. This work presents proof of concept that permeable reactive iron barriers might be a viable approach to intercept and degrade RDX plumes. Specifically, RDX was rapidly reduced in aquifier microcosms amended with Fe(0) powder, and in flow-through columns packed with steel wool. The rate and extent of RDX degradation in microcosms was enhanced by anaerobic bacteria that feed on cathodic hydrogen (i.e., H2 produced during anaerobic Fe(0) corrosion by water). Apparently, the hydrogenotrophic consortium that exploits Fe(0) corrosion as a metabolic niche participated in the further degradation of heterocyclic intermediates produced by the reaction of RDX with Fe(0). Reductive treatment of RDX with Fe(0) also reduced its toxicity to microorganisms and enhanced its subsequent biodegradability under either anaerobic or anaerobic conditions. Therefore, a combined or sequential Fe(0)-biological treatment approach might improve treatment efficiency.
Biological oxidation of organic constituents in tar-sand combustion-process water.

A study was performed to characterize a sample of reverse-forward, tar-sand combustion process water, and to conduct an initial evaluation of activated sludge treatment of the process water. No pretreatment of the waste water was considered necessary prior to biological oxidation other than addition of ca. 0.006M caustic/L influent to maintain reactor pH in the desired range of 7.0-7.5. The process water was treated successfully by biological oxidation, achieving an 88% reduction of both COD and soluble organic carbon and a 97% reduction of BOD. The disposition of about 150 organic compounds was evaluated and it was shown that a variety of carboxylic acids and aromatic compounds were removed by treatment. Quinolines and certain higher molecular weight carboxylic acids were not removed as effectively as other compounds. These preliminary results should assist in the design of future investigations with tar-sand process water for purposes of optimizing process treatment and improving sample characterization.
SH2 domain-mediated activation of an SRC family kinase is not required to initiate Ca2+ release at fertilization in mouse eggs.

SRC family kinases (SFKs) function in initiating Ca 2+ release at fertilization in several species in the vertebrate evolutionary line, but whether they play a similar role in mammalian fertilization has been uncertain. We investigated this question by first determining which SFK proteins are expressed in mouse eggs, and then measuring Ca 2+ release at fertilization in the presence of dominant negative inhibitors. FYN and YES proteins were found in mouse eggs, but other SFKs were not detected; based on this, we injected mouse eggs with a mixture of FYN and YES Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. These SH2 domains were effective inhibitors of Ca 2+ release at fertilization in starfish eggs, but did not inhibit Ca 2+ release at fertilization in mouse eggs. Thus the mechanism by which sperm initiate Ca 2+ release in mouse eggs does not depend on SH2 domain-mediated activation of an SFK. We also tested the small molecule SFK inhibitor SU6656, and found that it became compartmentalized in the egg cytoplasm, thus suggesting caution in the use of this inhibitor. Our findings indicate that although the initiation of Ca 2+ release at fertilization of mammalian eggs occurs by a pathway that has many similarities to that in evolutionarily earlier animal groups, the requirement for SH2 domain-mediated activation of an SFK is not conserved.
Improve variability in carbon nanotube FETs by scaling

Carbon nanotube transistors are shown to have large performance variation due to their diameter variation, which is not acceptable to VLSI technology. We demonstrate that by proper scaling we can reach >2 mA/µm on-state current in 90% of our nanotube devices. More importantly, we demonstrate proper scaling can reduce the current variation by 2 orders of magnitude and mitigate the impact of tube diameter distribution.
Modeling impacts of thaw lakes to ground thermal regime in northern Alaska

In northern Alaska, the ground is largely underlain by permafrost. Many engineering problems in this region can be attributed to the variations of ground thermal regime. Engineering projects such as construction of gas pipelines must be based on a good understanding of ground thermal regime and its interaction with seasonal climate changes. Numerical modeling is used to simulate a multimedia system with transient heat transfer in this research. The system includes a snow cover on the top, a shallow lake in the middle, and soils beneath the lake. The finite-element method is used for the spatial domain solution, and the finite-difference method is used for the temporal domain solution. The model is applied to three sites in northern Alaska for a nine-month period during the winter of 1995–1996. The result reveals the impacts of thaw lake on the ground thermal regime, the formation of the talik, as well as the formation of ice in the lake. The model is verified against field observations. The difference bet...
Utility-driven load shedding for xml stream processing

Because of the high volume and unpredictable arrival rate, stream processing systems may not always be able to keep up with the input data streams - resulting in buffer overflow and uncontrolled loss of data. Load shedding, the prevalent strategy for solving this overflow problem, has so far only been considered for relational stream processing, but not for XML. Shedding applied to XML stream processing brings new opportunities and challenges due to complex nested nature of XML structures. In this paper, we tackle this unsolved XML shedding problem using a three-pronged approach. First, we develop an XQuery preference model that enables users to specify the relative importance of preserving different subpatterns in the XML result structure. This transforms shedding into the problem of rewriting the user query into shed queries that return approximate query answers with utility as measured by the given user preference model. Second, we develop a cost model to compare the performance of alternate shed queries. Third, we develop two shedding algorithms, OptShed and FastShed. OptShed guarantees to find an optimal solution however at the cost of exponential complexity. FastShed, as confirmed by our experiments, achieves a close-to-optimal result in a wide range of test cases. Finally we describe the in-automaton shedding mechanism for XQuery stream engines. The experiments show that our proposed utility-driven shedding solutions consistently achieve higher utility results compared to the existing relational shedding techniques.
Distribution of trans-vaccenic acid and cis9, trans11-conjugated linoleic acid (rumenic acid) in blood plasma lipid fractions and secretion in milk fat of Jersey cows fed canola or soybean oil

To determine fatty acid distribution in lipid fractions of bovine blood plasma, 24 multiparous Jersey cows at peak lactation were fed a control diet (no supplemental oil, NOS) or the control diet supplemented at 35 g·kg -1 dry matter with canola oil (CAN), soybean oil (SOY), or a mix- ture of equal amounts of canola and soybean oil (MIX) for 4 wk. Plasma lipid fractions were isolated with aminopropyl columns. Fatty acid concentration in the phospholipid (PL), cholesterol ester (CE), and triglyceride (TG) fractions of plasma from cows fed supplemental oil was 142 (+47%), 144 (+57%), and 26 (+72%) µg·mL -1 greater than those of the control group. Oleic acid increased from 153 to 195, 100 to 151, 35 to 53, and 103 to 161 mg·g -1 of total fatty acids in the free fatty acid (FFA), PL, CE, and TG fractions, respectively, when CAN-fed cows were compared with NOS. In contrast, SOY intake increased 18:2n-6 in FFA, PL, CE, and TG fractions from 37 to 55, 327 to 366, 684 to 744, and 42 to 72 mg·g -1 , respectively. In the TG fraction, feeding SOY also increased trans11-18:1 from 40 to 105 mg·g -1 and cis9,trans11-18:2 from 1 to 12 mg·g -1 . Concentration and yield of trans11-18:1 in milk fat were 21 mg·g -1 and 13.7 g·d -1 when feeding NOS, and increased to 45 mg·g -1 and 43.1 g·d -1 in response to SOY. Similarly, concentration and yield of cis9,trans11-18:2 were 5 mg·g -1 and 7.3 g·d -1 , and increased to 13 mg·g -1 and 11.2 g·d -1 in response to SOY. Concentrations of trans-iso- mers in blood plasma and milk fat ranked by treatment reflected linoleic acid intakes, and were greater in SOY-fed cows compared with NOS or CAN-fed cows. Plasma lipid fractions can be used to appraise incomplete biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen.
Exploratory Analysis Of The Readability Of Information Privacy Statement Of The Primary Social Networks

The goal of a privacy policy statement of a web site is to inform users of the policies and procedures of a web-site as it relates to their collection, use, sharing, access, security and use of technology as it relates to collection of data (cookies and web beacons) and disclosure of personally identifiable information when a user visits the web site. In this paper we perform exploratory data analysis of the historical evolution of the readability as well as the reading grade level of the privacy policy statements of Google, Yahoo, Myspace and Facebook. We used the Flesch-Kinkaid, Gunning Fog and SMOG reading grade analysis measures. We gathered summary statistics of the complexity of each privacy statement (count of 3 + syllables words, count of 6 + characters words, count of 20 + word sentences). We conclude that (1) Except for Yahoo.com, these privacy policy statements are currently written for web-users with a minimum of 2 years of college education. This is not the case for most of social networks users. (2) Using Yahoo.com as a benchmark, privacy policy statements can accomplish their goals and maintain a reading grade level of high school education or less. Accordingly, social networks can accomplish their goal of providing clear and concise privacy policy statements without having to complicate the policy statements with too many 3+ syllable words, 6+ characters words and 20+ word sentences. In summary, it is possible to write a legally binding privacy policy statement that is also clear and easy to read.
A Distinct and Parallel Pathway for the Nuclear Import of an mRNA-binding Protein

Three independent pathways of nuclear import have so far been identified in yeast, each mediated by cognate nuclear transport factors, or karyopherins. Here we have characterized a new pathway to the nucleus, mediated by Mtr10p, a protein first identified in a screen for strains defective in polyadenylated RNA export. Mtr10p is shown to be responsible for the nuclear import of the shuttling mRNA-binding protein Npl3p. A complex of Mtr10p and Npl3p was detected in cytosol, and deletion of Mtr10p was shown to lead to the mislocalization of nuclear Npl3p to the cytoplasm, correlating with a block in import. Mtr10p bound peptide repeat-containing nucleoporins and Ran, suggesting that this import pathway involves a docking step at the nuclear pore complex and is Ran dependent. This pathway of Npl3p import is distinct and does not appear to overlap with another known import pathway for an mRNA-binding protein. Thus, at least two parallel pathways function in the import of mRNA-binding proteins, suggesting the need for the coordination of these pathways.
A statistical framework for multiparameter analysis at the single-cell level

Phenotypic characterization of individual cells provides crucial insights into intercellular heterogeneity and enables access to information that is unavailable from ensemble averaged, bulk cell analyses. Single-cell studies have attracted significant interest in recent years and spurred the development of a variety of commercially available and research-grade technologies. To quantify cell-to-cell variability of cell populations, we have developed an experimental platform for real-time measurements of oxygen consumption (OC) kinetics at the single-cell level. Unique challenges inherent to these single-cell measurements arise, and no existing data analysis methodology is available to address them. Here we present a data processing and analysis method that addresses challenges encountered with this unique type of data in order to extract biologically relevant information. We applied the method to analyze OC profiles obtained with single cells of two different cell lines derived from metaplastic and dysplastic human Barrett's esophageal epithelium. In terms of method development, three main challenges were considered for this heterogeneous dynamic system: (i) high levels of noise, (ii) the lack of a priori knowledge of single-cell dynamics, and (iii) the role of intercellular variability within and across cell types. Several strategies and solutions to address each of these three challenges are presented. The features such as slopes, intercepts, breakpoint or change-point were extracted for every OC profile and compared across individual cells and cell types. The results demonstrated that the extracted features facilitated exposition of subtle differences between individual cells and their responses to cell–cell interactions. With minor modifications, this method can be used to process and analyze data from other acquisition and experimental modalities at the single-cell level, providing a valuable statistical framework for single-cell analysis.
Growth and Differentiation Factor-9 Stimulates Progression of Early Primary but Not Primordial Rat Ovarian Follicle Development

The ovary contains a pool of primordial follicles containing oocytes arrested in meiosis that are the source of developing follicles for the female. Growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of growth factors, and follicles of GDF-9 knockout mice arrest in the primary stage of development. The effect of GDF-9 treatment on the primordial to primary follicle transition and on subsequent follicle progression was examined using a rat ovary organ culture system. Ovaries from 4-day-old rats were cultured under serum-free conditions in the absence or presence of growth factors. GDF-9 treatment caused a decrease in the proportion of stage 1 early primary follicles and a concomitant increase in the proportion of stage 2 mature primary follicles. GDF-9 did not effect primordial follicles or stage 0 to stage 1 follicle transition. GDF-9 also did not influence stage 3 or 4 secondary follicle numbers. Isolated antral follicle granulosa and theca cell cultures were used to analyze the actions of GDF-9. GDF-9 treatment did not directly influence either granulosa or theca cell proliferation. The ability of GDF-9 to influence the expression of another growth factor was examined. GDF-9 treatment increased kit ligand (KL) mRNA expression in bovine granulosa cells after 2 days of culture. Ovaries from 4-day-old rats were also cultured with or without GDF-9 treatment, and total ovary expression of KL mRNA was increased by GDF-9. In summary, GDF-9 was found to promote the progression of early primary follicle development but did not influence primordial follicle development. The actions of GDF-9 on specific stages of follicle development may in part be mediated through altering the expression of KL.
Propagation Characteristics of Sn and Lg in Northeastern China and Mongolia

We present propagation characteristics of the short-period seismic phases Sn and Lg in northeastern China and Mongolia. Three-component broadband and short-period seismograms from the Global Seismic Network station ULN and the Chinese Digital Seismic Network stations BJT, HIA, and MDJ were used in this study. The digital waveforms were bandpass filtered (1.0–5.0 Hz) and were used to rank Sn and Lg amplitudes relative to the Pn and Pg phases. The short-period Sn waveforms exhibit great variability. Efficient Sn propagation is observed in southern Siberia and along the Daxinganling Mountains. Inefficient Sn transmission is found near Lake Baikal and most of northeastern China. Sn does not propagate across Mongolia or the North China Plain. In northeast China, zones of attenuation exist within regions of extension and high heat flow. In Mongolia, severe Sn attenuation suggests the presence of a partially melted uppermost mantle. The zones of inefficient Sn propagation coincide with zones of low Pn velocities (∼7.9 km/sec) determined by Wu et al. (1998). In contrast, the Lg seismic phase has large amplitudes and propagates efficiently for all distances in northeastern China and Mongolia.
Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to increase use of child safety seats.

Abstract Background: In 1998, nearly 600 child occupants of motor vehicles aged younger than 4 years died in motor vehicle crashes. Yet approximately 29% of children aged 4 years and younger do not ride in appropriate child safety seat restraints, which, when correctly installed and used, reduce the need for hospitalization in this age group by 69% and the risk of death by approximately 70% for infants and by 47% to 54% for toddlers (aged 1 to 4 years). Methods: The systematic review development team reviewed the scientific evidence of effectiveness for five interventions to increase child safety seat use. For each intervention, changes in the use of child safety seats or injury rates were the outcome measures evaluated to determine the success of the intervention. Database searching was concluded in March 1998. More than 3500 citations were screened; of these citations, 72 met the inclusion criteria for the reviews. Results: The systematic review process identified strong evidence of effectiveness for child safety seat laws and distribution plus education programs. In addition, community-wide information plus enhanced enforcement campaigns and incentive plus education programs had sufficient evidence of effectiveness. Insufficient evidence was identified for education-only programs aimed at parents, young children, healthcare professionals, or law enforcement personnel. Conclusions: Evidence is available about the effectiveness of four of the five interventions we reviewed. This scientific evidence, along with the accompanying recommendations of the Task Force elsewhere in this supplement, can be a powerful tool for securing the resources and commitment required to implement these strategies.
Prevention of Percutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Electrode Migration: A 15‐Year Experience

Objectives Percutaneous spinal cord stimulation electrodes have a propensity to migrate longitudinally, which is a costly complication that often compromises therapeutic effect. After implementing simple changes to our percutaneous electrode anchoring technique, we no longer encounter this migration. The current retrospective study updates previously reported results. Materials and Methods We retrospectively examined data in a consecutive series of patients in whom we had secured a new percutaneous electrode by injecting < 0.1 cm3 of adhesive into the silicone elastomer lead anchor. From 1998 through 2006, we used whichever anchor was supplied with each lead until we observed one case of migration through a short anchor; thereafter, we used a long, tapered anchor exclusively. From 2007 through 2013, we further modified our technique by adding a fascial incision to accommodate the tip of the anchor and by increasing the strength of our suture material. Results In the first series of 291 patients, followed through July 2007 (mean 4.75 years, range 1.1–9.0 years), 4 (1.37%) experienced electrode migration requiring surgical revision. Only one lead had moved with respect to its anchor; the other three anchors remained securely bonded to their leads. No migration (0.00%) occurred in the second series of 142 patients, followed through 2013 (mean follow-up 2.86 years, range 0.10–5.45 years). Conclusion Improvements to our simple, inexpensive technique apparently have eliminated the most common complication of spinal cord stimulation.
Decision Making with an Uncertain Utility Function

In this paper we shall consider sequential decision problems in which the decision maker (DM) is uncertain about his utility function. In problems of this type, learning about the utility function from observations and experiences realized during the sequential process is an important consideration when the DM tries to choose his decisions in an optimal fashion. Such problems are known as problems of adaptive utility.
Seasonal and Stochastic Factors in Water Planning

A transshipment model of water resources in a region is formulated which incorporates the seasonal variations in water uses and the stochastic characteristics of water supplies. The basic model is structured using nonlinear costs (by separable programming) for the objective function and solved for various combinations of annual or seasonal periods for water supply and demand, and deterministic or stochastic water supplies. Two levels of wastewater treatment are also specified corresponding to 1977 and 1983 requirements of PL 92-500. The results of the model runs give optimal allocations of water from the available sources to meet use sector requirements over a planning horizon from 1975 to 2020. The total minimum cost of water supply and wastewater treatment is reduced by taking into account seasonality of water requirements. Incorporating the stochastic nature of supplies generally results in a shift to more reliable but higher cost sources. A comparison of the model solutions indicates that improved sizing and timing of facilities can be achieved considering the stochasticity of water supplies and seasonality of water uses.
Sexual abuse of children--a primer for physicians

Sexual abuse of children is a problem that can present to any physician at any time. This article provides basic information about child sexual abuse and instructs physicians how to respond to abuse victims in a professionally responsible way that assures that the child is supported and protected. Legal definitions, prevalence, epidemiology, evaluation approaches, psychological problems, interviewing, the physical examination, sexually transmitted diseases, and management issues are discussed with emphasis on the physician's role. Finally, prevention is mentioned as the only real solution to this problem.
Atypical Amygdala Response to Fear Conditioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract Background Anxiety is the most common comorbid psychiatric concern in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can cause significant functional impairment. Fear conditioning tasks offer a useful neurodevelopmental model for anxiety, yet there are no published neuroimaging studies of fear conditioning using ASD samples. Methods Twenty adults diagnosed with ASD and 19 healthy adult control subjects completed a standard fear conditioning and extinction paradigm while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. A burst of air on the base of the neck was the unconditioned stimulus. Participants returned 1 day later for scanning during an extinction recall phase. A priori regions of interest were analyzed with a familywise error correction rate Results All regions of interest demonstrated significantly greater response to threat than safe conditions during initial fear acquisition. Compared with age-matched control subjects, the ASD group showed a significantly decreased differential response to threat versus safe cues in right amygdala during the initial fear acquisition phase and decreased response in left amygdala during the first run of extinction recall on the second day of scanning. Conclusions Symptoms of severe anxiety in ASD may arise from atypical neural mechanisms especially related to the differentiation of threat versus safe cues. An inability to effectively identify safety contexts may underlie chronically increased levels of anxiety in many individuals diagnosed with ASD.
Understanding Photophysical Interactions of Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes with Porphyrin Chromophores

Donor–acceptor complexes of porphyrins and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are noncovalently assembled using oligonucleotide DNA, and their photophysical interactions are studied for light-harvesting. Five cationic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridynium-4-yl)porphyrins with a free-base (H2T4) or metal ions at the core (MT4, M = Zn2+, Pt2+, Pd2+, and Cu2+) are explored as donor chromophores as they exhibit species-unique optical signatures, such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, or both. These porphyrins are examined for their abilities to interact with semiconducting carbon nanotubes after photoexcitation. We find that carbon nanotubes efficiently quench the emission properties of porphyrins via charge transfer, which is confirmed by the quenching of singlet oxygen emission generated by porphyrins. Phosphorescence lifetime measurements reveal that the lifetime in the triplet states is largely constant in porphyrins interacting with both DNA alone and DNA-coated SWCNTs, suggesting th...
Mo-W Interdiffusion and the Influence on Potassium Bubbles in W Lamp Wire

The effects of Mo contamination on the microstructure of lamp-grade tungsten wire are investigated in this study. Mo is often used as the mandrel material in the coiling of lamp filaments, and when utilized during high temperature heat treatments significant amounts of Mo can diffuse into the W. In this study, W-Mo diffusion couples were prepared and heat treated at temperatures of 2500°C and above to intentionally contaminate the W with Mo. After dissolution of the Mo and additional high temperature heat treatments of the W, equiaxed grains were observed in the W and excessive porosity was also observed. Explanations for these microstructural changes are discussed. Microprobe data were also obtained to quantify interdiffusion between the W and Mo.
The midterm elections--high stakes for health policy.

The stakes for health policy in the 2010 congressional elections are higher than they have ever been. The political parties are polarized. Policy divisions are deep. The challenges of implementingthe Affordable Care Act (ACA) are enormous. The outcome of the 2010 congressional elections may well determine whether this landmark legislation succeeds or fails. Whatever the electoral outcome, the political battle over health care reform will continue into the 2012 presidential elections and probably beyond. The evidence of party polarization is overwhelming (see table).1 A majority of both parties ended up voting for the original Social Security Act, although Republicans had . . .
The parameters of suspension optimization design based on the steering stability characteristics

In order to study the effect of the suspension parameters on the steady turning characteristics,a whole vehicle model of a mini car was established by applying the ADAMS / Car software and the steering stability was tested for comparing the results of test and simulation to verify the correctness of the virtual prototype model. It was found that the low value of understeer degree by evaluating the steady turning characteristics of the vehicle is the main reason for low score. To solve the problem of the understeer degree and to improve the steering stability,the first three key influencing factors were determined by the sensitivity analysis. The impact of suspension parameters on the vehicle steering stability was analyzed. Optimization and simulation were conducted by considering the understeer degree with the suspension kinematics characteristics. After optimization,the side slip angle was increased by three times under the same lateral acceleration; the value of camber angle is decreased from- 0. 5 ~ 3. 0 degree to 0. 5 ~ 2. 5 degree,and the front-rear sideslip angles' difference is increased from 0 ~ 0. 5 degree to 0 ~ 1. 5 degree. The optimization results show that the steering stability characteristics is effectively improved.
The Comparative Diagnostic Features of Canine and Human Lymphoma

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are a heterogeneous family of lymphoid malignancies that are among the most common neoplasms of both dogs and humans. Owing to shared molecular, signaling, incidence, and pathologic features, there is a strong framework supporting the utilization of canine lymphoma as a comparative, large animal model of human NHL. In alignment with the biologic similarities, the current approach towards the diagnosis and classification of canine lymphoma is based upon the human World Health Organization guidelines. While this approach has contributed to an increasing appreciation of the potential biological scope of canine lymphoma, it has also become apparent that the most appropriate diagnostic philosophy must be multimodal, namely by requiring knowledge of microscopic, immunophenotypic, and clinical features before establishing a final disease diagnosis. This review seeks to illustrate the comparative similarities and differences in the diagnosis of canine lymphoma through the presentation of the microscopic and immunophenotypic features of its most common forms.
The Role of Prehydrolysis in the Preparation of Zirconia—Silica Aerogels

Prehydrolysis of an 'unreactive' precursor, typically a silicon alkoxide, has long been used to promote homogeneous mixing in sol-gel syntheses of mixed oxides. Studies of single oxide preparations teach that sol-gel parameters, partiularly water concentration, have a profound effect on product properties. However, relatively little attention has been given to the effects of sol gel parameters in the prehydrolysis step of a mixed oxide preparation. In this work, we use a set of 50 mol% zirconia-50 mol% silica aerogels to showthat varying the prehydrolysis ratio over the mixed range 0.00 to 3.22 mols/mol provides a fine degree of control over over the mixed oxides' textural and acidic properties.Furthermore, we demonstrate that the improvements in mixed oxide homogeneity associated with prehydrolysis
Brain connectome modularity in weight-restored anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder

Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) frequently co-occur, and have several overlapping phenomenological features. Little is known about their shared neurobiology. The aim of the study was to compare modular organization of brain structural connectivity. Method We acquired diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data on unmedicated individuals with BDD (n = 29), weight-restored AN (n = 24) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 31). We constructed connectivity matrices using whole-brain white matter tractography, and compared modular structures across groups. Results AN showed abnormal modularity involving frontal, basal ganglia and posterior cingulate nodes. There was a trend in BDD for similar abnormalities, but no significant differences compared with AN. In AN, poor insight correlated with longer path length in right caudal anterior cingulate and right posterior cingulate. Conclusions Abnormal network organization patterns in AN, partially shared with BDD, may have implications for understanding integration between reward and habit/ritual formation, as well as conflict monitoring/error detection.
Magnetic Cobalt Ferrite Nanocrystals For an Energy Storage Concentration Cell

Energy-storage concentration cells are based on the concentration gradient of redox-active reactants; the increased entropy is transformed into electric energy as the concentration gradient reaches equilibrium between two half cells. A recyclable and flow-controlled magnetic electrolyte concentration cell is now presented. The hybrid inorganic–organic nanocrystal-based electrolyte, consisting of molecular redox-active ligands adsorbed on the surface of magnetic nanocrystals, leads to a magnetic-field-driven concentration gradient of redox molecules. The energy storage performance of concentration cells is dictated by magnetic characteristics of cobalt ferrite nanocrystal carriers. The enhanced conductivity and kinetics of redox-active electrolytes could further induce a sharp concentration gradient to improve the energy density and voltage switching of magnetic electrolyte concentration cells.
Movement of Nitrogen through an Agricultural Riparian Zone: 1. Field Studies

Forested riparian areas are believed to be important for reducing nonpoint source pollutants. These areas along streams, lakes, and wetlands have been reported to trap sediment and nutrients and enhance denitrification. Past research on the effectiveness of riparian areas has been based on existing forests rather than restored areas. An experiment using the paired-watershed design was established in northeastern Connecticut during 1992 to determine the water quality effects of reforestation on a riparian zone currently cropped in maize. Water quality fluxes in precipitation, overland flow, soil solution, groundwater, and streamflow were determined. Results indicate that this 35 m wide riparian zone had little attenuating influence on N concentrations in groundwater based on NO 3− N concentrations and NO 3− N:C1 ratios. The primary N flux to the stream was in the groundwater. Denitrification did not appear to be a major process operating in this system. Reforestation of this riparian buffer should result in improved surface and groundwater quality.
Interpreting State Constitutions: A Jurisprudence of Function in a Federal System

Interpreting State Constitutions examines and proposes a solution to a problem central to contemporary debates over the enforcement of civil liberties: how courts, government officials, and lawyers should go about interpreting the constitutions of the American states. With the Supreme Court's retreat from the aggressive protection of individual rights, state courts have begun to interpret state constitutions to provide broader protection of liberties. This development has reversed the polarity of constitutional politics, as liberals advocate unimpeded state power while conservatives lobby for state subordination to a constitutional law controlled centrally by the Supreme Court. James A. Gardner here lays out the first fully developed theory of subnational constitutional interpretation. He argues that states are integral components of a national system of overlapping and mutually checking authority and that the purpose of this system is to protect liberty and defend against federal domination. The resulting account provides valuable prescriptive advice to state courts, showing them how to fulfill their responsibilities to the federal system in a way that strengthens American constitutional discourse.
Overactive Bladder: Neurogenic

Neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by urinary urgency usually accompanied by urinary frequency. Urgency urinary incontinence may or may not be present. The term neurogenic OAB should be reserved for patients with a neurologic injury or disease state that leads to OAB symptoms. The initial assessment of patients with neurogenic OAB should include a comprehensive history and physical exam, including a focused neurologic exam. In most cases, a urodynamic evaluation should be conducted to provide a baseline functional assessment and to identify potential threats such as high-pressure storage and subsequent upper tract risk. In order to provide a comprehensive assessment, urodynamics for patients with neurogenic OAB should include a cystometrogram, electromyography, pressure flow study, post-void residual urine measurement, and fluoroscopy when available. Special precautions should be taken for patients at risk for autonomic dysreflexia during bladder filling. Treatment modalities for neurogenic OAB include behavioral changes, OAB medications, various forms of neuromodulation, and augmentation cystoplasty in refractory cases.
Unstable resonators for high power diode pumped alkali lasers

The high gain Diode Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL) system will require an unstable resonator with high Fresnel number and high output coupling to achieve excellent beam quality. Coupling of the diode pump and laser radiation fields is dramatic in the DPAL system. Merging flow field analysis of the gain medium with wave optics resonator simulations requires new techniques. We develop a wave-optics simulation of confocal, positive-branch unstable resonators for the DPAL gain media to assess the limitations on far field beam quality. The design and analysis of the DPAL resonator and the influence of spatial variations in gain medium on far field beam quality are developed. The relative advantages of longitudinal and transverse flow geometries to beam quality are evaluated. A systematic study of the influence of gain medium aberrations, flow geometry, magnification, and resonator design on far field beam quality is reported.
Postoperative thrombocytopenia: why you should consider antiplatelet therapy?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review addresses the role of platelets in perioperative ischemic complications involving the brain, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract, and long-term survival in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Importantly, findings of several recent clinical studies will be discussed with emphasis on platelet activation and leukocyte inflammatory responses as important mediators of vascular microthrombosis and ischemic injury. RECENT FINDINGS Our recent findings suggest that in some patients, the hemostatic balance during and after surgery may shift toward a hypercoagulable state and contribute to acute organ failure. SUMMARY For over 6 decades, major postoperative complications after cardiac surgery have remained unchanged. The potential influence of microthrombosis involving platelets has been underappreciated and use of perioperative antiplatelet therapy remains very limited - primarily because of a culture of fear of bleeding.
On salience and signaling in sender–receiver games: partial pooling, learning, and focal points

I introduce an extension of the Lewis–Skyrms signaling game, analysed from a dynamical perspective via simple reinforcement learning. In Lewis’ (Convention, Blackwell, Oxford, 1969) conception of a signaling game, salience is offered as an explanation for how individuals may come to agree upon a linguistic convention. Skyrms (Signals: evolution, learning & information, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010a) offers a dynamic explanation of how signaling conventions might arise presupposing no salience whatsoever. The extension of the atomic signaling game examined here—which I will refer to as a salience game—introduces a variable parameter into the atomic signaling game which allows for degrees of salience, thus filling in the continuum between Skyrms’ and Lewis’ models. The model does not presuppose any salience at the outset, but illustrates a process by which accidentally evolved salience is amplified, to the benefit of the players. It is shown that increasing degrees of salience allow populations to avoid sub-optimal pooling equilibria and to coordinate upon conventions more quickly.
Branding and the risk management imperative

In an increasingly risky socioeconomic environment, management needs to proactively consider brand-related risks. To understand brands as tools for risk management, they need to understand four types of brand risk: brand reputation risk, brand dilution risk, brand cannibalization risk and brand stretch risk.
The colon and rectum as inductor sites for local and distant mucosal immunity.

The principles governing the induction of local mucosal immune responses are not completely understood. This is due in part to the lack of practical methods for the quantitation of specific IgA antibodies in secretions on local mucosal surfaces. Most current techniques, which rely upon the use of washes of the excised gut1, the products of intestinal gavage in vivo 2, or peripheral blood lymphocytes3, give only a summary of these responses. To evaluate the effect of vaccines intended for mucosal application, it is important that secretory immune responses be measured at the specific sites which are relevant to protection.
Multi-User Gesture Recognition Using WiFi

WiFi based gesture recognition has received significant attention over the past few years. However, the key limitation of prior WiFi based gesture recognition systems is that they cannot recognize the gestures of multiple users performing them simultaneously. In this paper, we address this limitation and propose WiMU, a WiFi based Multi-User gesture recognition system. The key idea behind WiMU is that when it detects that some users have performed some gestures simultaneously, it first automatically determines the number of simultaneously performed gestures (Na) and then, using the training samples collected from a single user, generates virtual samples for various plausible combinations of Na gestures. The key property of these virtual samples is that the virtual samples for any given combination of gestures are identical to the real samples that would result from real users performing that combination of gestures. WiMU compares the detected sample against these virtual samples and recognizes the simultaneously performed gestures. We implemented and extensively evaluated WiMU using commodity WiFi devices. Our results show that WiMU recognizes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 simultaneously performed gestures with accuracies of 95.0, 94.6, 93.6, 92.6, and 90.9%, respectively.
Complement and Disease States

Publisher Summary This chapter describes discussions held in a workshop organized to highlight results of experiments conducted to study complement and disease states. The complement system consists of nine serum proteins designated Cl to C9 that interact in limited proteolytic reactions to effect immune lysis, generation of factors critical to the inflammatory mechanism, and enhancement of phagocytosis. Several genetically determined biosynthetic defects in the complement system were described in the workshop. It was observed that hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) results from a defect in synthesis of Cl inhibitor. Discussion of the pathogenesis of edema in patients with HANE included a report of generation of a factor that enhances vasopermeability in EDTA plasma of HANE patients. A patient with a defect in C3 catabolism and undue susceptibility to pyogenic infections was also discussed in the workshop. Immunochemical studies of serum from patients with deficient C5 function revealed a C5 antigen that was quantitatively and qualitatively normal.
Turkey: An Overview

Situated in the Middle East, Turkey has taken off both economically and politically over a decade ago. Though the think tank industry in the country is relatively new and is limited to centralized bureaucracy, an increase in the number of civil organizations has led to more involvement in policy areas. The Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), a foreign policy think tank in Turkey, works on a variety of issues, including Turkey–European Union relations, the Kurdish issue, and interaction with neighbors, so that Turkey’s foreign policy can be implemented more strategically. It is also aimed at diversifying research in foreign policy and informing the public. The challenges facing think tanks in Turkey include political polarization and human resources management.
Cooling Technology for High Performance Computers: Design Applications

A perspective and review of the current state-of-the-art in cooling for high performance computers is provided. The trend towards higher power dissipation at both chip and module level is discussed, along with the corresponding need to reduce internal and external thermal resistance. The nature of the multi-chip module (MCM) cooling problem is discussed. The evolution of the IBM Thermal Conduction Module cooling design is described, along with examples of other recent high performance MCM cooling designs providing low thermal resistance(s). The relative package cooling effectiveness of these designs is presented in terms of “package thermal resistivity.”