cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photon production and elliptic flow from a momentum-anisotropic quark-gluon plasma

The emission of real photons from a momentum-anisotropic quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is affected by both the collective flow of the radiating medium and the modification of the local rest frame emission rate due to the anisotropic momentum distribution of partonic degrees of freedom. In this paper, we first calculate the photon production rate from an ellipsoidally momentum-anisotropic QGP including hard contributions from Compton scattering and quark pair annihilation and soft contribution calculated using the hard thermal loop approximation. We introduce a parametrization of the nonequilibrium rate in order to facilitate its further application in yield and flow calculations. We convolve the anisotropic photon rate with the space-time evolution of QGP provided by $3+1\mathrm{d}$ anisotropic hydrodynamics to obtain the yield and the elliptic flow coefficient ${v}_{2}$ of photons from QGP generated at Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC at 2.76 TeV and Au-Au collisions at the RHIC at 200 GeV. We investigate the effects of various parameters on the results. In particular, we analyze the sensitivity of the results to initial momentum anisotropy.
Learning-by-Doing and Preference Discovery in Video Game Play

In this paper we investigate how players learn about their preferences for different modes of play and how this influences their engagement in a popular franchise video game. An important aspect of players' session-level data from a specific generation of the game is that they budget their game time between competitive and non-competitive modes of play. Player behavior over time is consistent with learning and initial competition aversion; shares of time spent in competitive modes tend to drop upon adoption of a new game generation and then rise with time played. To study how the firm can increase player engagement, and to understand preferences for competitive and non-competitive play, we formulate and estimate a structural model that nests Bayesian learning within a multiple-discrete continuous framework. This allows us to explain behavior along the extensive (whether to play a mode) and intensive (how long to play that mode) margins for the multiple modes of play. With this model, we find that users can, broadly speaking, be categorized as high types ("hardcores") who tend to be competition-seeking and are more naturally engaged; and low types ("casuals") who are more likely to be competition-averse and who drop out before learning their true preferences for the modes. We consider actions the firm can undertake to improve consumer engagement--in particular, we perform counterfactual analysis on advertising and console switching (by bundling the game with a new console) policies. We find that low types tend to be more responsive to both policies and primarily respond by increasing usage along the extensive margin. Console switching has a significant positive effect on total play, but causes players to substitute away from competitive levels. This is consistent with the learning framework, where players pay a skill or familiarity "cost" when switching consoles. Finally, we discuss the value of engagement to the firm, both qualitatively and with respect to future purchasing (adoption of a new version).
Optimizing Cancer Rehabilitation through Activity-focused Approaches.

Abstract Objectives This article discusses the effects of cancer on broader domains of health; the evidence and application of activity-focused rehabilitation approaches in rehabilitation populations; and the role of nurses in the promotion of activity-focused rehabilitation. Data Sources Narrative review of rehabilitation literature. Conclusion Cancer impacts activity engagement, community participation, and quality of life. Optimal cancer rehabilitation may lie in adoption and implementation of activity-focused rehabilitation approaches. Recent research suggests that this approach may improve impairments and activity engagement outcomes. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses are critical for screening for activity limitations and participation restrictions and early referral to rehabilitation treatment. Nurses can also educate survivors on the importance of meta-cognitive and self-management strategies to promote engagement in meaningful activities to reduce long-term disability.
Concepts for Development of Autonomous Coal Mine Shuttle Cars

During the last few decades, the mining industry has increasingly turned to autonomous systems in its efforts to modernize and advance mining methods and techniques. Vehicle automation in such complex working environments can play a critical role in improving worker safety and mine productivity. Moreover, as the global demand for minerals continues to increase, such technologies will enable access to deeper and more difficult to mine orebodies. The research reported in this article seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous batch haulage vehicles in the underground coal mining production cycle. By introducing autonomous shuttle cars, the operator can be removed from dusty, noisy, and potentially dangerous conditions and be placed in a relatively safe location, while supervising the machine rather than operating it. This article presents an overview of the approach taken, a description of a lab-scale model and mock mine environment, and preliminary results for autonomous navigation of the prototype shuttle car.
Light-responsive monobodies for dynamic control of customizable protein binding

ABSTRACT Customizable, high affinity protein-protein interactions, such as those mediated by antibodies and antibody-like molecules, are invaluable to basic and applied research and have become pillars for modern therapeutics. The ability to reversibly control the binding activity of these proteins to their targets on demand would significantly expand their applications in biotechnology, medicine, and research. Here we present, as proof-of-principle, a light-controlled monobody (OptoMB) that works in vitro and in vivo, whose affinity for its SH2-domain target exhibits a 300-fold shift in binding affinity upon illumination. We demonstrate that our αSH2-OptoMB can be used to purify SH2-tagged proteins directly from crude E. coli extract, achieving 99.8% purity and over 40% yield in a single purification step. This OptoMB belongs to a new class of light-sensitive protein binders we call OptoBinders (OptoBNDRs) which, by virtue of their ability to be designed to bind any protein of interest, have the potential to find new powerful applications as light-switchable binders of untagged proteins with high affinity and selectivity, and with the temporal and spatial precision afforded by light.
Detection and automated monitoring of oil on the ocean surface (Conference Presentation)

Timely response to an oil spill requires continuous areal monitoring of the ocean surface around oil facilities. Polaris Sensor Technologies has tested the Pyxis uncooled microbolometer-based polarimetric camera at the Department of Interior’s Ohmsett test facility for oil spill response over the last several years and has demonstrated excellent performance of detection of multiple types of crude oil, diesel, and kerosene in still water, in waves, during the day and overnight, and even showed strong detection of emulsified oil in waves. Further testing in the Gulf of Mexico and at the Santa Barbara seeps has also been completed. In this paper, we report these test results as well as the Pyxis-based autonomous detection system for continuous monitoring. Finally, we will describe potential operational scenarios, including deployment on fixed, floating, and drone platforms, in which this technology could be exploited for spill recovery operations as well as for automated monitoring.
Justice in Emmanuel Levinas and John Rawls

This paper draws attention to overlooked similarities between John Rawls’s and Emmanuel Levinas’s understandings of justice. Its first part provides a synopsis of each philosopher’s ideas as well t...
MicroCT for Scanning and Analysis of Mouse Bones

The purpose of this Chapter is to present a detailed description of methods for performing bone Micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) scanning and analysis. MicroCT is an x-ray imaging method capable of visualizing bone at the micro-structural scale, that is, 1-100 µm resolution. MicroCT is the gold-standard method for assessment of 3D bone morphology in studies of small animals. As applied to the small bones of mice or rats, microCT can efficiently and accurately assess bone structure (e.g., cortical bone area [Ct.Ar]) and micro-structure (e.g., trabecular bone volume fraction [Tb.BV/TV]). The particular application described herein is for post mortem mouse femur specimens. The material presented should be generally applicable to many commercially available laboratory microCT systems, although some details are specific to the system used in our lab (Scanco mCT 40; SCANCO Medical AG, Bruttisellen, Switzerland).
An Emphasis on Screening to Detect Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Having Undergone the Fontan Procedure in Early Childhood

The Fontan procedure is a surgical procedure for patients with single-ventricle anatomy that results in the flow of systemic venous blood to the lungs without passing through a ventricle. Before the 1970s, most children with single-ventricle anatomy failed to survive into adulthood. With the introduction of the Fontan procedure, and its many modifications, the survival rate of these patients improved exponentially. With patients surviving longer, complications from this procedure are being documented for the first time. Cardiovascular complications are expected early on and are well studied. More serious are the non-cardiovascular complications in patients who survive into adulthood. The biggest entity is Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) which needs thorough monitoring to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). FALD includes chronic passive congestion, liver cirrhosis, and HCC. Once cirrhosis develops, monitoring with annual liver function tests, AFP, and abdominal ultrasonography need to occur to screen for HCC. Patients may need to be evaluated for combined heart-liver transplantation. Strict guidelines need to be developed for monitoring and surveillance of these patients to prevent late-stage complications. Herein, we report a unique case of FALD in a young female presenting two decades after the procedure with variceal bleeding.
Broadband X-ray ptychography using multi-wavelength algorithm

Ptychography is a rapidly developing scanning microscopy which is able to view the internal structures of samples at a high resolution beyond the illumination size. The achieved spatial resolution is theoretically dose-limited. A broadband source can provide much higher flux compared with a monochromatic source; however, it conflicts with the necessary coherence requirements of this coherent diffraction imaging technique. In this paper, a multi-wavelength reconstruction algorithm has been developed to deal with the broad bandwidth in ptychography. Compared with the latest development of mixed-state reconstruction approach, this multi-wavelength approach is more accurate in the physical model, and also considers the spot size variation as a function of energy due to the chromatic focusing optics. Therefore, this method has been proved in both simulation and experiment to significantly improve the reconstruction when the source bandwidth, illumination size and scan step size increase. It is worth mentioning that the accurate and detailed information of the energy spectrum for the incident beam is not required in advance for the proposed method. Further, we combine multi-wavelength and mixed-state approaches to jointly solve temporal and spatial partial coherence in ptychography so that it can handle various disadvantageous experimental effects. The significant relaxation in coherence requirements by our approaches allows the use of high-flux broadband X-ray sources for high-efficient and high-resolution ptychographic imaging.
Mid-Trimester Cervical Length Screening: Effect of Poorly Developed Lower Uterine Segment on Pregnancy Outcome.

OBJECTIVES To identify whether a poorly developed lower uterine segment (PDLUS) observed during cervical length (CL) screening affects the duration of gestation in women with no prior spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study of women with a singleton gestation and no prior sPTB, who underwent transvaginal CL screening at our institution. We excluded women with progesterone exposure, major anomalies, and women delivering elsewhere. Women with PDLUS were compared to those with a measured (normal) CL ≥25 mm. PRIMARY OUTCOME birth gestational age (GA). SECONDARY OUTCOMES sPTB <35 and 37 weeks, hospital evaluation for preterm labor without delivery, delivery indication, and mode. A Cox proportional-hazards survival model considered time from CL scan to delivery. We powered the study to detect a one-half week difference in birth GA. RESULTS We included 270 women with PDLUS and 985 women with normal CL. Mean birth GA was 38.9 ± 2.0 weeks with PDLUS versus 38.7 ± 2.4 weeks with normal CL (p = .10). Women with PDLUS were less likely to experience sPTB <37 weeks (1.1% vs 3.6%; p = 0.04). There was no difference in sPTB <35 weeks (0.8% vs 1.7%; p = .25). Hospital evaluation for preterm labor (17% vs 19%; p = .54), delivery indication, and mode were not different. The hazard ratio for earlier birth in women with PDLUS was 0.67 (95% CI 0.46, 0.98; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS We observed no difference in mean GA at birth; however, PDLUS was protective against sPTB <37 weeks and was associated with a lower hazard ratio for earlier birth.
Restoring the Leadership Balance: WOMEN UNITE

This chapter first reviews the remarkable fact that women, in spite of long-term higher percentages in college graduations, and having been confirmed to lead more effectively than male leaders, only hold 21% of C-suite positions. Foundational reasons for this to occur are considered, from self-deprecation to lack of mentorship, and from excessive competition among one another to relational aggression. The chapter dives into a phenomenon that has been addressed in a different light, but potentially not made entirely clear before: the fact that women oftentimes advocate men in leadership positions. Several reasons for this to be the case are discussed. The chapter next introduces the acronym “WOMEN UNITE” to serve as a support system for women who are eager to restore the leadership balance, and doing so in a consciously and morally responsible way. The elements of this acronym are: Walk your talk; Open your heart; Motivate others; Express your appreciation; Nurture constructive habits; Understand differences; Navigate the path from here onward; Instill values into actions; Tread gently; Excel where it matters.
A multi-fidelity machine learning framework to predict wind loads on buildings

Abstract Large-eddy simulations (LES) can provide accurate predictions of wind loads on buildings, but their high computational cost, and the need to explore all wind directions with a 10° resolution, limits their use in the design process. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) have a low computational cost, but their accuracy can be compromised by the turbulence model and by the model required to retrieve the pressure fluctuations, that ultimately determine the design loads. This study proposes a multi-fidelity machine learning framework that combines computationally efficient RANS, for a large number of wind directions, with more expensive LES, for a small number of wind directions, to provide accurate predictions of the root mean square pressure coefficient at a reasonable computational cost. The training set includes 5 wind directions with a 20° resolution; the test set contains the 5 intermediate wind directions. A bootstrap algorithm, used to generate an ensemble of models, provides confidence intervals that encompass the majority of the LES data for the test directions. These results demonstrate that multi-fidelity machine learning frameworks provide a route to balancing accuracy and computational cost in the prediction of complex turbulent flow quantities.
Distinct Cytokine and Chemokine Dysregulation in Hospitalized Children With Acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome With Similar Levels of Nasopharyngeal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Shedding.

BACKGROUND: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a severe clinical phenotype of SARS-CoV-2 infection that remains poorly understood. METHODS: Hospitalized children <18 years of age with suspected COVID-19 (N=53) were recruited into a prospective cohort study; 32 had confirmed COVID-19, with 16 meeting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control criteria for MIS-C. Differences in nasopharyngeal viral RNA levels, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, and cytokine/chemokine profiles were examined, including after adjustments for age and sex. RESULTS: The median ages for those with and without MIS-C were 8.7 years (IQR 5.5-13.9) and 2.2 years (IQR 1.1-10.5), respectively, (p=0.18) and nasopharyngeal levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA did not differ significantly between the two groups (median 63,848.25 copies/mL versus 307.1 copies/mL, p= 0.66); 75% of those with MIS-C were antibody positive compared to 44% without, p=0.026. Levels of 14 of 37 cytokines/chemokines (IL-1RA, IL-2RA, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18, MCP-1, IP-10, MIP-1α, MCP-2, MIP-1s, Eotaxin) were significantly higher in children with MIS-C compared to those without, irrespective of age or sex (FDR<0.05; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distinct pattern of heightened cytokine/chemokine dysregulation observed with MIS-C, compared with acute COVID-19, occurs across the pediatric age spectrum and with similar levels of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Performance Modeling and Design of Computer Systems: Queueing Theory in Action

Computer systems design is full of conundrums: Given a choice between a single machine with speed s, or n machines each with speed s/n, which should we choose? If both the arrival rate and service rate double, will the mean response time stay the same? Should systems really aim to balance load, or is this a convenient myth? If a scheduling policy favors one set of jobs, does it necessarily hurt some other jobs, or are these "conservation laws" being misinterpreted? Do greedy, shortest-delay, routing strategies make sense in a server farm, or is what's good for the individual disastrous for the system as a whole? How do high job size variability and heavy-tailed workloads affect the choice of a scheduling policy? How should one trade off energy and delay in designing a computer system? If 12 servers are needed to meet delay guarantees when the arrival rate is 9 jobs/sec, will we need 12,000 servers when the arrival rate is 9,000 jobs/sec? Tackling the questions that systems designers care about, this book brings queueing theory decisively back to computer science. The book is written with computer scientists and engineers in mind and is full of examples from computer systems, as well as manufacturing and operations research. Fun and readable, the book is highly approachable, even for undergraduates, while still being thoroughly rigorous and also covering a much wider span of topics than many queueing books. Readers benefit from a lively mix of motivation and intuition, with illustrations, examples, and more than 300 exercises - all while acquiring the skills needed to model, analyze, and design large-scale systems with good performance and low cost. The exercises are an important feature, teaching research-level counterintuitive lessons in the design of computer systems. The goal is to train readers not only to customize existing analyses but also to invent their own.
LONG-TERM VS. GREEDY ACTION PLANNING FOR COLOR LEARNING ON A MOBILE ROBOT

A major challenge to the deployment of mobile robots is the ability to function autonomously, learning appropriate models for environmental features and adapting those models in response to environmental changes. This autonomous operation in turn requires autonomous selection/planning of an action sequence that facilitates learning and adaptation. Here we focus on color modeling/learning and analyze two algorithms that enable a mobile robot to plan action sequences that facilitate color learning: a long-term action selection approach that maximizes color learning opportunities while minimizing localization errors over an entire action sequence, and a greedy/heuristic action selection approach that plans incrementally, one step at a time, to maximize the benefits based on the current state of the world. The long-term action selection results in a more principled solution that requires minimal human supervision, while better failure recovery is achieved by incorporating features of the greedy planning approach. All algorithms are fully implemented and tested on the Sony AIBO robots.
Efficient Depth Recovery through Inverse Optics

In the case of machine vision … one ought to understand image formation if one wishes to recover information about the world from images.
Multiscale Estimation of Terrain Complexity Using ALSM Point Data on Variable Resolution Grids

Multiscale Kalman smoothers (MKS) have been previously employed for data fusion applications and estimation of topography. However, the standard MKS algorithm embedded with a single stochastic model gives suboptimal performance when estimating non-stationary topographic variations, particularly when there are sudden changes in the terrain. In this work, multiple MKS models are regulated by a mixture-of-experts (MOE) network to adaptively fuse the estimates. Though MOE has been widely applied to one-dimensional time series data, its extension to multiscale estimation is new.
Cloning of the vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase small subunit gene. Characterization of the gene product expressed in Escherichia coli.

During its infectious cycle, vaccinia virus expresses a virus-encoded ribonucleotide reductase which is distinct from the host cellular enzyme (Slabaugh, M.B., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 501-506; Slabaugh, M.B., Johnson, T.L., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 507-514). We have cloned the gene for the small subunit of vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase (designated VVR2) into Escherichia coli and expressed the protein using a T7 RNA polymerase plasmid expression system. After isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside induction, accumulation of a 37-kDa peptide was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and this peptide reacted with polyclonal antiserum raised against a TrpE-VVR2 fusion protein. The 37-kDa protein was purified to homogeneity, and gel filtration of the purified protein revealed that the recombinant protein existed as a dimer in solution. Purified recombinant VVR2 protein was shown to complement the activity of purified recombinant ribonucleotide reductase large subunit, with a specific activity that was similar to native VVR2 from a virus-infected cell extract. A CD spectrum of the recombinant viral protein showed that like the mouse protein, the vaccinia virus protein has 50% alpha-helical structure. Like other iron-containing ribonucleotide reductase small subunits, recombinant VVR2 protein contained a stable organic free radical that was detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The EPR spectrum of purified recombinant VVR2 was identical to that of vaccinia virus-infected mammalian cells. Both the hyperfine splitting character and microwave saturation behavior of VVR2 were similar to those of mouse R2 and distinct from E. coli R2. By using amino acid analysis to determine the concentration of VVR2, we determined that approximately 0.6 radicals were present per R2 dimer. Our results indicate that vaccinia virus small subunit is similar to mammalian ribonucleotide reductases.
Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the transverse colon presenting as dermatomyositis: case presentation and literature review.

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the transverse colon is a rare presentation of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or colonic neoplasm. Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune condition of the skin, muscle, and blood vessels that when associated with malignancy is a true paraneoplastic syndrome but is rarely associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We present a case of primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the transverse colon diagnosed after the presentation of dermatomyositis and review the literature on dermatomyositis and hematologic neoplasm.
On Strongly Interacting Internal Solitary Waves

The Cauchy problem and global well-posedness for a mathematical model of the strong interaction of two-dimensional, long, internal gravity waves propogating on neighboring pycnoclines in a stratified fluid have been studied by Bona, Ponce, Saut, Tom, and others. We show that global well-posedness occurs even when the initial data is rough.
Talk about preschool: patterns of topic discussion and elaboration related to gender and ethnicity

Sixty-six mothers and their 4-year-old children recorded conversations about the children's experiences during a typical preschool day. Each dyad's ethnic background was either Hispanic or Anglo, with similar numbers of mother—daughter and mother—son pairs represented in each ethnic group. Both low- and middle-income dyads participated. The mother—child conversations were analyzed in order to identify the dyads' tendencies to elaborate on discussions of aspects of the school day related to learning, other individuals, and behavioral conduct as a function of the ethnicity of the dyad and the gender of the child. Gender of child was associated with dyads' propensities to devote differing percentages of their total conversational utterances to the discussion of other individuals and behavioral conduct, and interacted with ethnicity to produce different patterns of discussion related to the topic of learning. Mothers of boys used more elaborative utterances in their discussion of learning-related topics than did mothers of girls. Possible implications of these results for children's subsequent school-related attitudes and performance are discussed.
Childlessness among American women

Abstract The rate of childlessness in the United States has increased over the last two decades. Changing or differential rates by different segments of society have important implications for society. Most previous studies have relied on unrepresentative opportunistic samples to identify those segments of society with lower or higher rates of childlessness. These types of samples may misestimate both the number of women planning to remain childless and the magnitude of the correlates of childlessness. The present study uses these previous studies to identify predictor variables, but tests their significance using a recent national representative sample of women in the United States, aged 20–44: Cycle III of the National Survey for Family Growth, collected in 1982. The most important demographic factors are marital status and fecundity status, followed by age, race or ethnicity, education of the respondent, labor force status, and region. Father's education and mother's education are slightly, but not sig...
Is the Grass Greener? Sector Shifting and Choice of Sector by MPA and MBA Graduates

Despite debate about distinctions among employment in the government, nonprofit, and business sectors, little research exists on the likelihood of, or barriers to, movement across sector boundaries. The authors propose and test models explaining individuals' current sector of employment—business, government, or nonprofit—and their sector-shifting behavior. They use survey data from 688 alumni of four schools: two offering MBAs and two offering MPAs. Study results indicate that most respondents have a favored sector when they graduate and remain within that sector for their employment. Results also indicate that this sector preference is influenced by perceived competence in the sectors and individuals' career values. This study shows that sector shifting is tied to sector desires and the strength of protean career orientation. The results are used to address existing claims about careers and to build understanding of influences on perceived sector competence and desires. The discussion informs employers a...
Inactivation of human alpha-globin gene expression by a de novo deletion located upstream of the alpha-globin gene cluster.

Abstract Synthesis of normal human hemoglobin A, alpha 2 beta 2, is based upon balanced expression of genes in the alpha-globin gene cluster on chromosome 16 and the beta-globin gene cluster on chromosome 11. Full levels of erythroid-specific activation of the beta-globin cluster depend on sequences located at a considerable distance 5' to the beta-globin gene, referred to as the locus-activating or dominant control region. The existence of an analogous element(s) upstream of the alpha-globin cluster has been suggested from observations on naturally occurring deletions and experimental studies. We have identified an individual with alpha-thalassemia in whom structurally normal alpha-globin genes have been inactivated in cis by a discrete de novo 35-kilobase deletion located approximately 30 kilobases 5' from the alpha-globin gene cluster. We conclude that this deletion inactivates expression of the alpha-globin genes by removing one or more of the previously identified upstream regulatory sequences that are critical to expression of the alpha-globin genes.
The use of expatriates and inpatriates in Central and Eastern Europe since the Wall came down

Abstract This study reports the results of interviews with key officials of 46 Western European and American multinational subsidiaries and joint ventures in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. The focus of our questions related to the role of expatriates in their operation, strengths and weaknesses of the local staff, and some miscellaneous issues. We found that the key human resource role of the multinational was to expose the local staff to a market economy; to instill world standards of performance; and provide training and functional expertise. Questions are raised as to whether this set of knowledge, skills and expectations can be spread beyond the multinationals to domestic-owned firms and state enterprises. Comparisons and contrasts were also made with the multinationals’ experience in other parts of the world. Finally, four propositions were advanced for future testing.
Angular dependence of exchange anisotropy on the cooling field in ferromagnet/fluoride thin films

Exchange anisotropy in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet (FM/AF) films is usually introduced along the cooling field or FM magnetization direction. Here we investigate the dependence of the exchange anisotropy, loop bifurcation, and reversal mechanism on the cooling field direction using vector magnetometry. Three types of samples ($\mathrm{FM}=\mathrm{Fe}$, $\mathrm{Ni}∕\mathrm{AF}=\mathrm{Fe}{\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{F}}_{2}$) have been studied where the AF layer is epitaxial (110), twinned (110), and polycrystalline. With an epitaxial AF which has one spin axis, the cooling field orients the exchange field along the spin axis. Applying the cooling field perpendicular to the spin axis results in bifurcated loops, whose shape evolves with the cooling field geometry and strength. With a twinned AF where there are two orthogonal spin axes, the exchange field direction is along the bisector of the spin axes that encompass the cooling field. With a polycrystalline AF, the exchange field direction is the same as the cooling field. Transverse hysteresis loops show that when the exchange field has a component perpendicular to the applied field, the magnetization reversal occurs by rotation in the direction of the perpendicular component. Our results demonstrate that in fluoride films, the exchange field is established primarily by the AF anisotropy direction, and only to a lesser extent the cooling field or the magnetization direction. The bifurcated loops are due to a distribution of AF anisotropies and large AF domain sizes. Furthermore, the magnetization reversal process is extremely sensitive to the exchange field direction.
Characterization of human fibronectin glycopeptides from cystic fibrosis and control skin fibroblasts.

Abstract Fibronectins isolated from different species and tissue sources are glycosylated differently. We report here a characterization of the glycopeptides of fibronectin isolated from the culture medium of skin fibroblasts from patients with cystic fibrosis together with age-, race-, and sex-matched control subjects. The characterization of this fibronectin is of special interest because it is derived from: ( 1 ) a non-fetal, cellular source; ( 2 ) eight different individuals; and ( 3 ) cystic fibrosis and control individuals. The fibronectin glycopeptides were purified by gel-permeation chromatography and Con A-Sepharose and were analyzed by anion-exchange chromatography and affinity columns of immobilized 5-hydroxytryptamine and lectins. One half of the glycopeptides of skin fibroblast fibronectin were shown to contain biantennary oligosaccharides which were core-fucosylated and partially sialylated. Although the remaining half was a complex mixture of glycopeptides, there was remarkably little inter-individual variation. No difference between cystic fibrosis and control subjects was discernible by the techniques employed here. Unlike the biantennary glycopeptides of human plasma fibronectin, those from skin fibroblast fibronectin were core-fucosylated and less highly sialylated. However, compared to human cellular fibronectin glycopeptides from fetal sources, those from skin fibroblast fibronectin were both more highly fucosylated and sialylated.
Health monitoring on ground-based transit systems

Health monitoring is now a norm for many transit applications, including air transport and automobiles. Yet only in recent years have rail and bus operators realised the benefits of health monitoring systems. Health monitoring on ground-based transit applications can be used to: improve fleet performance; maximise fleet utilisation; and reduce maintenance costs. Yet to realise these benefits, a detailed process of data collection, on-line data analysis, information communication and off-line trending must be performed. The development of such a system should not be underestimated. This paper discusses the development process used by Booz Allen and Hamilton to design and implement health monitoring systems for both railway and bus applications. Specific aspects of the needs analysis, detailed design and test/implementation programme are addressed. This paper also reviews the application of health monitors to two specific transit applications, detailing the system performance improvements and maintenance productivity benefits to be realised.
Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and proliferative responses by human lymphocyte subpopulations separated by sheep erythrocyte rosette formation.

Abstract Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were separated by a combination of rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes and differential density centrifugation into subpopulations of rosette positive (T-enriched) cells and rosette negative (T depleted) cells. These were then tested in vitro for the production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and for incorporation of 3 H-thymidine in response to specific antigens. Both T enriched and T depleted cell populations produced MIF but only T enriched cells exhibited significant antigen-induced 3 H-thymidine incorporation. These findings using a T cell surface marker as the basis for cell separation, a technique which should not alter the B cell surface, confirm an earlier report in which human cells were separated on the basis of surface immunoglobulin, a B cell marker.
Interaction of ribosomal proteins S5, S6, S11, S12, S18 and S21 with 16 S rRNA.

Abstract We have examined the effects of assembly of ribosomal proteins S5, S6, S11, S12, S18 and S21 on the reactivities of residues in 16 S rRNA towards chemical probes. The results show that S6, S18 and S11 interact with the 690–720 and 790 loop regions of 16 S rRNA in a highly co-operative manner, that is consistent with the previously defined assembly map relationships among these proteins. The results also indicate that these proteins, one of which (S18) has previously been implicated as a component of the ribosomal P-site, interact with residues near some of the recently defined P-site (class II tRNA protection) nucleotides in 16 S rRNA. In addition, assembly of protein S12 has been found to result in the protection of residues in both the 530 stem/loop and the 900 stem regions; the latter group is closely juxtaposed to a segment of 16 S rRNA recently shown to be protected from chemical probes by streptomycin. Interestingly, both S5 and S12 appear to protect, to differing degrees, a well-defined set of residues in the 900 stem/loop and 5′-terminal regions. These observations are discussed in terms of the effects of S5 and S12 on streptomycin binding, and in terms of the class III tRNA protection found in the 900 stem of 16 S rRNA. Altogether these results show that many of the small subunit proteins, which have previously been shown to be functionally important, appear to be associated with functionally implicated segments of 16 S rRNA.
Sensitivity of Vehicle Market Share Predictions to Alternative Discrete Choice Model Specifications

When design decisions are informed by consumer choice models, uncertainty in the choice model and its share predictions creates uncertainty for the designer. We take a first step in investigating the variation in and accuracy of market share predictions by characterizing fit and forecast accuracy of multinomial logit, mixed logit, and nested logit models over a variety of utility function specifications for the US light duty new vehicle market. Using revealed preference data for years 2004–2006, we estimate a multinomial logit model for each combination of a chosen set of utility function covariates found in the literature. We then use each of the models to predict vehicle shares for the 2007 market and examine several metrics to measure fit and predictive accuracy. We find that the best models selected using any of the proposed metrics outperform random guessing yet retain substantial error in fit and prediction for individual vehicle models. For example, with no information (random guessing) 30% of share predictions are within 0.2% absolute share error in a market with an average share of ∼0.4%, whereas for the best models 70% are within 0.2% (for the 2007 vehicle market this translates to an error of ∼33,000 units sold). Share predictions are sensitive to the presence of utility covariates but less sensitive to the form. Models that perform well on one metric tend to perform well on the other metrics as well. In particular, models selected for best fit have comparable forecast error to those with the best forecasts, and residual error in model fit is a major source of forecast error.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Clinical pharmacokinetics of pinacidil, a potassium channel opener, in hypertension.

Pinacidil is a potassium channel opener that decreases blood pressure by reducing peripheral arterial resistance. In two multicenter trials, we studied the concentrations and apparent clearance of pinacidil (406 patients) and concentrations of its pyridyl-N-oxide metabolite (147 patients). Responding patients had plasma samples collected hourly for 12 hours on 2 occasions after weeks to months of treatment. Pinacidil dose was titrated from 12.5 to 75 mg b.i.d. The peak concentration of pinacidil and N-oxide and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were proportional to the dose of pinacidil, with an average pinacidil concentration of 268 micrograms/L (1.02 microM) and N-oxide concentration of 172 micrograms/L (0.65 microM) for every 1 mg/kg pinacidil administered. Clearance of pinacidil (Clp = Dose/AUC) was 31 L/hr in patients younger than 45 years and 27 L/hr in those older than 60. Clp was significantly smaller in white patients compared with other races (Clp = 28 vs. 34 L/hr). Clp was significantly less in patients taking hydrochlorothiazide (27 vs. 31 L/hr) and greater in smokers (33 vs. 29 L/hr). Concomitant propranolol use did not influence Clp.
Business outcome-based pricing models for IT services

This paper identifies two trends that are occurring in the IT services industry. First the value proposition of services is shifting towards delivering business outcomes. Second, the shift is causing a serious threat of commoditization to traditional models of IT-focused outsourcing and pure IT cost plays. The authors developed a business outcome-based pricing models for IT services by understanding the causal relationships between business outcomes and IT capabilities. The model aims to balance the IT service providers and clients, exactly minimizing the providers' risk and maximizing the consumers' satisfactory as well. Last, examples of how business outcome-based pricing has been used in different industries.
Molecular evidence that the capacity for endosporulation is universal among phototrophic heliobacteria.

Although enrichment cultures for anoxygenic phototrophic heliobacteria commonly contain sporulating cells, once strains of heliobacteria are obtained in pure culture, they all but cease to sporulate. In fact, some species of heliobacteria have never been observed to sporulate. Thus, despite their phylogenetic connection to endospore-forming bacteria, the question of sporulation capacity in heliobacteria remains open. We have investigated this problem using PCR and Southern hybridization as tools and show here that all recognized species of heliobacteria tested, as well as several unclassified strains, contain homologs to the ssp genes of Clostridium and Bacillus species, genes that encode key sporulation-specific proteins. It can therefore be concluded that as a group, heliobacteria are likely all to be endospore-forming bacteria in agreement with their phylogenetic placement within the ‘low GC’ Gram-positive bacteria.
Alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis following traumatic brain injury in mice

Clinical and experimental data show that traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced cognitive changes are often manifest as deficits in hippocampal-dependent functions of spatial information processing. The underlying mechanisms for these effects have remained elusive, although recent studies have suggested that the changes in neuronal precursor cells in the dentate subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus might be involved. Here, we assessed the effects of unilateral controlled cortical impact on neurogenic cell populations in the SGZ in 2-month-old male C57BL6 mice by quantifying numbers of dying cells (TUNEL), proliferating cells (Ki-67) and immature neurons (Doublecortin, Dcx) up to 14 days after TBI. Dying cells were seen 6 h after injury, peaked at 24 h and returned to control levels at 14 days. Proliferating cells were decreased on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides at all the time points studied except 48 h after injury when a transient increase was seen. Simultaneously, immature neurons were reduced up to 84% relative to controls on the ipsilateral side. In the first week post-TBI, reduced numbers of Dcx-positive cells were also seen in the contralateral side; a return to control levels occurred at 14 days. To determine if these changes translated into longer-term effects, BrdU was administered 1 week post-injury and 3 weeks later the phenotypes of the newly born cells were assessed. TBI induced decreases in the numbers of BrdU-positive cells and new neurons (BrdU/NeuN) on the ipsilateral side without apparent changes on the contralateral side, whereas astrocytes (BrdU/GFAP) were increased on the ipsilateral side and activated microglia (BrdU/CD68) were increased on both ipsi- and contralateral sides. No differences were noted in oligodendrocytes (BrdU/NG2). Taken together, these data demonstrate that TBI alters both neurogenesis and gliogenesis. Such alterations may play a contributory role in TBI-induced cognitive impairment.
Thoughts on “Probability Values and Human Values in Evaluating Single-Sex Education”

In her commentary on single-sex instruction in the United States, Liben (2015) puts the research on gender-segregated instruction in the context of values and the larger social and political processes affecting decisions about schooling. In this paper, I elaborate on her history of the research and social issues surrounding gender and achievement. In response to her point that educational decisions involve more than empirical evidence, I describe investigations of knowledge utilization that illuminate the processes by which policymakers and practitioners make school policy decisions, and I offer guidance to social scientists who want their research to be considered in such decisions. Social science research could go beyond issues of gender-based instruction to articulate some of the processes involved in different classroom and school contexts as well as some of the ways in which pedagogy could be adapted to the needs of individual children.
Pharmacological activity of metal binding agents that alter copper bioavailability

Iron, copper and zinc are required nutrients for many organisms but also potent toxins if misappropriated. An overload of any of these metals can be cytotoxic and ultimately lead to organ failure, whereas deficiencies can result in anemia, weakened immune system function, and other medical conditions. Cellular metal imbalances have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and infection. It is therefore critical for living organisms to maintain careful control of both the total levels and subcellular distributions of these metals to maintain healthy function. This perspective explores several strategies envisioned to alter the bioavailability of metal ions by using synthetic metal-binding agents targeted for diseases where misappropriated metal ions are suspected of exacerbating cellular damage. Specifically, we discuss chemical properties that influence the pharmacological outcome of a subset of metal-binding agents known as ionophores, and review several examples that have shown multiple pharmacological activities in metal-related diseases, with a specific focus on copper.
Plasma androgens, progestins, and prolactin in hirsutism.

Abstract Blood samples were obtained from 158 hirsute women for determination of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS), testosterone (T), progesterone (P), 17α-hydroxy-progesterone (17P) and prolactin (PRL). The percent frequency of elevated level of these hormones in hirsute women was: DS: 35%, T: 55%, P: 25%, 17P: 53% and PRL: 6%. The mean (± SE) levels of DS (2.36 ± 0.1 μg/ml) and T (714 ± 21 pg/ml) in hirsute women were elevated, both in the pre- and postovulatory phases; while 17P in hirsute women was decreased in the postovulatory phase (1.59 ± 0.48 ng/ml) and increased in the preovulatory phase (1.51 ± 0.18 ng/ml) when they were compared with their respective controls. PRL in postovulatory hirsute women was also lower (12.0 ± 1.1 ng/ml) than the control. Sixty patients were subjected to a 2-wk dexamethasone (DXM) suppression test to determine the source of androgen excess. The results of DXM suppression test suggested that the sources of androgen excess in hirsute women were: ovarian: 33%, adrenal: 25%, mixed (ovarian plus adrenal): 35%, and none: 7%. The results also suggested that excess progestins in hirsute women were attributed to either ovarian (P) or adrenal (17P) hypersecretion. Correlation analysis between these hormones showed a significant ( P