cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Adult physical fitness test results of Panzhihua City from 2009-2010

[Objective]To understand and master the physical condition of adults in Panzhihua City,provide a basis for further improving the nationwide fitness campaign and enhancing the national physique. [Methods]According to the" National physique monitoring program of Sichuan Province ",a certain number of adults were selected for physical fitness test in urban Panzhihua,the results were statistically analyzed. [Results]A total of 624 individuals received physical fitness test,scoring an average of 25.00±5.71,ones of excellent,good,qualified and unqualified accounted for 11.22%,43.43%,26.76% and 18.59%,respectively;the qualified rate of male physique was 86.16%,that of female was 77.31%,male qualified rate was higher than the female(χ2=8.022,P=0.005);the qualified rate of people aged 20-39 years was 75.43%(175/232),84.95%(333/393) of people aged 40-59 years,the latter was higher than the former(χ2=8.724,P=0.003).Population fitness test scores and physical fitness levels of different units of were not statistically different(P0.05). [Conclusion]The qualified rate of the adults' physique in Panzhihua Ciy is at the middle level,with differences between gender and age.It is necessary to provide different fitness guidance services for different populations.
Emergency and elective surgical treatment of abdominal aneurysms; a comparative study.

Rupture is the most frequent cause of death in abdominal aneurysm. Only surgical intervention can prevent death from exsanguination. In view of the high surgical mortality in the presence of perforation, elective resection of abdominal aneurysm is recommended. Advanced age does not contraindicate surgery.
Increased Mortality in Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Medicaid Insurance Awaiting Lung Transplantation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive disease resulting in end-stage lung disease. Lung transplantation (LTx) is an important consideration in these patients. Studies have suggested greater post-LTx mortality among CF patients with public insurance. We evaluated the influence of insurance status on survival among CF patients during their time on the LTx waitlist. Adult LTx candidates diagnosed with CF and listed since the implementation of the lung allocation score, from May 2005 until September 2013, were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Waitlist mortality was compared across projected primary payment type (private insurance or self-pay; Medicaid; Medicare) using Kaplan–Meier functions and Fine–Gray competing-risks survival analysis, accounting for the competing risk of transplantation. 1770 LTx candidates with CF were included in univariate survival analyses, with Medicaid increasing waitlist mortality hazard relative to private insurance (HR 2.28; 95 % CI 1.62, 3.21; p < 0.001) and relative to Medicare (HR 2.23; 95 % CI 1.43, 3.48; p < 0.001). A multivariable competing-risks model confirmed greater waitlist mortality among Medicaid patients relative to private insurance (HR 2.57; 95 % CI 1.56, 4.23; p < 0.001) or patients with Medicare (HR 4.02; 95 % CI 1.98, 8.17; p < 0.001) after adjusting for potential confounders. No differences in waitlist survival were found between Medicare and private insurance. CF patients with Medicaid insurance have higher risk of death while awaiting LTx when compared to patients with Medicare or private insurance. The impact of insurance status on survival in this population begins before LTx and compounds the disparities previously observed in post-transplant outcomes.
Eluxadoline: a promising therapy that raises many questions

In the United States (US) there are three medications currently approved for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-D. The most recent additions, rifaximin and eluxadoline, were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the same day in May, 2015, and were the first therapies approved by the FDA since the approval of alosetron in 2000. Rifaximin, approved for more than a decade for traveler’s diarrhea and since 2010 for the prevention of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy, is well recognized by clinicians and has been used extensively as an off-label treatment for IBS and bloating, as well as for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Eluxadoline, however, represents a unique addition to the IBS-D therapeutic milieu and clinicians are just gaining experience with it since it became available in January of 2016. Eluxadoline is an orally administered, minimally absorbed mixed opioid receptor modulator, acting as a mu (µOR) and kappa opioid receptor agonist and delta opioid receptor (δOR) antagonist (1). It is thought that the µOR agonist component of eluxadoline reduces propulsive gastrointestinal motility and chloride secretion while the δOR antagonist component reduces both abdominal pain and opposes µOR activation, tending to ‘normalize’ bowel function rather than constipate (2). The significance of the kappa OR agonism of eluxadoline remains unknown.
Retention of enzymatic activity by N-terminal domain (1–78) T4-lysozyme: Expression of synthetic DNA in Escherichiacoli

Abstract DNA of 235 b.p. coding for N-terminal domain (1–78) T4-lysozyme was synthesized and cloned by ligating twelve synthetic fragments with a linearized plasmid pUCE8 followed by transformation. On expression in E. coli strain JM103 cells, colonies containing the synthetic DNA were found to be lytic. On purification, clone ptly. 23-5 was found to contain polypeptide (M.W. 10,500), corresponding to N-terminal domain, its dimeric and aggregate form. It was identified by amino acid sequence analysis of the dimeric form.
Measuring and Modeling Attention

This article presents a selective review of economic research on attentional choice, taking an observation of Block & Marschak (1960) as its starting point. Because standard choice data conflate utilities and perception, they point out that it is inadequate for research in which attention is endogenous. The review focuses on their thesis that advances in our understanding of attention require modeling of novel choice-based data sets, and corresponding methods of measurement. By way of example, recent attentional research based on measuring and modeling state-dependent stochastic choice data is detailed. Next research steps in relation to strategic attention and the dynamics of learning are outlined. If the thesis of Block & Marschak is valid, engineering of new data sets will become an increasingly essential professional activity as attentional research advances.
It Certification Use by Hiring Personnel

This paper uses the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explore the factors that affect hiring personnel's intention to use IT certification in the hiring process. It demonstrates the usefulness of...
A starch-branching enzyme gene in wheat produces alternatively spliced transcripts

A wheat gene, denoted Sbe1, encoding a type I starch-branching enzyme (SBEI) was isolated from a genomic library and shown to comprise 14 exons distributed over a 5.7 kb DNA region. Analyses of kernel RNA by 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5′-RACE) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated a considerable sequence variation at the 5′ ends of SBEI gene transcripts. DNA sequence alignments between the 5′-RACE products and the Sbe1 genomic DNA indicated that the first two exons and first intron were differentially processed to generate three classes of the mature transcript. One form of the SBEI gene transcript in 12-day old kernels contained the exon I+II+III combination at the 5′ end, whereas other forms differed by inclusion of intron 1 or exclusion of exon II sequences. RT-PCR analysis of Sbe1-uidA::nptII chimeric mRNA produced in transgenic wheat cultured cells confirmed that the isolated Sbe1 was able to produce all three forms of SBEI gene transcripts by alternative splicing of the primary mRNA. The variants of processed Sbe1 mRNA were potentially translated into N-terminal variants of the SBEI precursor with different transit peptide sequences.
Adoptive cell therapy using PD-1 + myeloma-reactive T cells eliminates established myeloma in mice

Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with cancer antigen-reactive T cells following lymphodepletive pre-conditioning has emerged as a potentially curative therapy for patients with advanced cancers. However, identification and enrichment of appropriate T cell subsets for cancer eradication remains a major challenge for hematologic cancers. PD-1+ and PD-1− T cell subsets from myeloma-bearing mice were sorted and analyzed for myeloma reactivity in vitro. In addition, the T cells were activated and expanded in culture and given to syngeneic myeloma-bearing mice as ACT. Myeloma-reactive T cells were enriched in the PD-1+ cell subset. Similar results were also observed in a mouse AML model. PD-1+ T cells from myeloma-bearing mice were found to be functional, they could be activated and expanded ex vivo, and they maintained their anti-myeloma reactivity after expansion. Adoptive transfer of ex vivo-expanded PD-1+ T cells together with a PD-L1 blocking antibody eliminated established myeloma in Rag-deficient mice. Both CD8 and CD4 T cell subsets were important for eradicating myeloma. Adoptively transferred PD-1+ T cells persisted in recipient mice and were able to mount an adaptive memory immune response. These results demonstrate that PD-1 is a biomarker for functional myeloma-specific T cells, and that activated and expanded PD-1+ T cells can be effective as ACT for myeloma. Furthermore, this strategy could be useful for treating other hematologic cancers.
Inherited similarity and contact-induced change in Mayan Languages

Similarity has been cited, generally anecdotally, as a significant factor shaping the outcomes of language contact. A detailed investigation of long-term contact among more than a dozen related Lowland Mayan languages has yielded specific examples of contact-induced language changes that, I argue, were facilitated by the systematic similarities shared by these languages because of genetic relatedness. Three factors that seem to have been particularly relevant in the Mayan case are 1) the high degree of overlap in linguistic structure, which would have allowed significant interlingual conflation, the collapsing of language boundaries at points of similarity between the languages, 2) the paradigmatic interchangeability of particular elements of related languages without the need for adaptation or accommodation, which facilitated the borrowing of various kinds of linguistic material, particularly bound morphemes, that in other contexts have been found to be highly resistant to borrowing, and 3) contact-induced drift, parallel secondary developments in more than one language that were triggered by contact-induced innovations but subsequently proceeded along similar paths of change after contact because of the preexisting structural similarities that the languages shared as a result of their common inheritance. I argue that these processes of change are much less likely, if not impossible, in situations of contact between unrelated languages, and suggest specific ways in which contact between genetically related languages can be qualitatively different from contact between unrelated languages.
Developing Democratic and Transformational School Leaders: Graduates’ Perceptions of the Impact of Their Preparation Program:

As administrative preparation programs ground strategies for developing new genres of school leaders in transformational and democratic communities, of particular interest are the instructional and...
Gold Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescent Theranostics for Real-Time Image-Guided Assessment of DNA Damage and Repair

Chemotherapeutic dosing, is largely based on the tolerance levels of toxicity today. Molecular imaging strategies can be leveraged to quantify DNA cytotoxicity and thereby serve as a theranostic tool to improve the efficacy of treatments. Methoxyamine-modified cyanine-7 (Cy7MX) is a molecular probe which binds to apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)-sites, inhibiting DNA-repair mechanisms implicated by cytotoxic chemotherapies. Herein, we loaded (Cy7MX) onto polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP) to selectively and stably deliver the molecular probe intravenously to tumors. We optimized the properties of Cy7MX-loaded AuNPs using optical spectroscopy and tested the delivery mechanism and binding affinity using the DLD1 colon cancer cell line in vitro. A 10:1 ratio of Cy7MX-AuNPs demonstrated a strong AP site-specific binding and the cumulative release profile demonstrated 97% release within 12 min from a polar to a nonpolar environment. We further demonstrated targeted delivery using imaging and biodistribution studies in vivo in an xenografted mouse model. This work lays a foundation for the development of real-time molecular imaging techniques that are poised to yield quantitative measures of the efficacy and temporal profile of cytotoxic chemotherapies.
Error-Resilient Spintronics via the Shannon- Inspired Model of Computation

The energy and delay reductions from CMOS scaling have stagnated, motivating the search for a CMOS replacement. Spintronic devices are one of the promising beyond-CMOS alternatives. However, they exhibit high switching error rates of 1% or more when operated at energy and delay comparable to CMOS, rendering them incompatible with the deterministic nature of digital implementations. In this paper, we employ a Shannon-inspired model of computation to enhance the tolerance of all-spin logic (ASL)-based implementations to gate-level switching errors. We develop the logic-level path delay reallocation techniques to shape the output error statistics and propose a novel error compensation scheme to achieve $1000\times $ higher tolerance to device-level switching errors while maintaining the classification accuracy of an ASL-based support vector machine (SVM) classifier.
Scaling symbolic evaluation for automated verification of systems code with Serval

This paper presents Serval, a framework for developing automated verifiers for systems software. Serval provides an extensible infrastructure for creating verifiers by lifting interpreters under symbolic evaluation, and a systematic approach to identifying and repairing verification performance bottlenecks using symbolic profiling and optimizations. Using Serval, we build automated verifiers for the RISC-V, x86--32, LLVM, and BPF instruction sets. We report our experience of retrofitting CertiKOS and Komodo, two systems previously verified using Coq and Dafny, respectively, for automated verification using Serval, and discuss trade-offs of different verification methodologies. In addition, we apply Serval to the Keystone security monitor and the BPF compilers in the Linux kernel, and uncover 18 new bugs through verification, all confirmed and fixed by developers.
Microfluidic shear rheology and wall-slip of viscoelastic fluids using holography-based flow kinematics

In this study, we report microfluidic shear rheology and wall-slip using the 3D-resolved flow kinematics obtained from digital holography microscopy (DHM). We computationally reconstruct the recorded holograms to visualize the tracer imbued flow volume in linear microchannels, followed by the implementation of particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) to quantitate spatially resolved velocity fields in 3D. In order to select optimal parameters for DHM-PTV characterization of viscoelastic fluids, we studied the effect of the hologram recording distance, seeding density, and particle size. Using the optimal parameters, we show quantitative characterization of the shear rheology from the velocity fields without any a priori assumptions of wall boundary conditions or constitutive equation. The viscosity vs shear rate data for Newtonian and polyethylene oxide (PEO) solutions could be measured in the range of ≈0.05 to 20 000 s−1 with just three input pressures using sample volumes as low as 20 µl. These data from holographic shear rheometry were found to be in good agreement with computational fluid dynamics simulations and macrorheometry. With respect to the wall-slip, we find that highly viscoelastic PEO solutions can show slip lengths in the order of few microns. Finally, we discuss holographic visualization of particle migration in microfluidic flows, which can limit flow field access, whereas at the same time provide a fingerprint of the suspending fluid rheology.
Brexanolone for postpartum depression

Purpose Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a major depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or within 4 weeks of delivery that may have significant consequences for mother and infant. Antidepressants are used to treat PPD, but their effectiveness may be limited by a slow time to peak effect. Brexanolone is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the management of PPD; its use requires patient participation in a risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) program. This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of brexanolone in PPD. Summary Four completed studies, 1 quasi-experimental study and 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), were reviewed. Females who had moderate or severe PPD during the third trimester or within 4 weeks of delivery and were less than 6 months postpartum at initiation of therapy were included. Improvement in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores was assessed in addition to safety outcomes and scores on other depression rating scales. All studies demonstrated statistical improvement in HAM-D scores from baseline with brexanolone vs placebo use at the end of infusions (ie, hour 60). Results with regard to sustained HAM-D score improvements were mixed in the RCTs at 30-day follow-up. The most frequent adverse events in brexanolone-treated patients were sedation, dizziness, somnolence, and headache. The severe or serious adverse effect of presyncope, syncope, or loss of consciousness was reported by 4% of participants. Conclusion With a rapid onset of action, brexanolone could be considered advantageous over traditional therapies for PPD in patients for whom a rapid response is required due to severity of disease. Significant concerns remain regarding sustained effect and use in patients outside of the clinical trial setting.
A Simplified System Usability Scale (SUS) for Cognitively Impaired and Older Adults

We present the 10-item Simplified System Usability Scale (SUS) for Cognitively Impaired and Older Adults, which we have used in several studies since 2016. The Simplified SUS is a revised version o...
The impact of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on neonatal hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVE To assess Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions for hypoglycemia after the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), followed by implementation of American Academy of Pediatrics recommended hypoglycemia guidelines. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of NICU admissions for hypoglycemia. Eligible subjects were healthy infants >35 weeks gestation transferred to a NICU for hypoglycemia. Infants admitted with other pathologies were excluded. NICU admissions from 3 different 18-month epochs (1 = pre-BFHI; 2 = post-BFHI; 3 = post-BFHI+hypoglycemia guidelines) were compared. RESULTS After implementation of BFHI there was a statistically significant increase in admissions for hypoglycemia (Epoch 2 = 1.23% vs Epoch 1 = 0.55%, p < 0.001). Followed by a decrease in admissions after the implementation of hypoglycemia guidelines (Epoch 2 = 1.23% vs Epoch 3 = 0.76%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION NICU admissions for hypoglycemia increased with the BFHI. Hypoglycemia guidelines decreased NICU admissions, but not to the pre-BFHI baseline.
Failure risk analysis of pipelines using data-driven machine learning algorithms

Abstract Failure risk analysis of pipeline networks is essential for their effective management. Since pipeline networks are often large and complex, analyzing a large number of pipelines is often intensive and time-consuming. This study utilizes recent advances in machine learning to develop a viable alternative to computationally intensive analytical approaches to determine the failure risk of steel oil and gas pipelines. Burst failure risk of pipelines under active corrosion defects is evaluated considering the remaining strength of pipelines with corrosion pit. In the first part of the study, a comprehensive database of pipelines is generated based on information extracted from literature, and true failure pressure is predicted considering variability between predicted burst failure pressure and experimental burst test results. True burst failure pressure is estimated using various design codes in a probabilistic manner. Among the various burst failure prediction models, the DNV RP-F101 model provides the lowest variability in the failure pressure prediction. Therefore, the model is used to generate the probability of failure of pipelines at a burst limit state. Pipelines are classified based on their probability of failures, from low to severe failure risk groups. Then, eight machine learning algorithms are evaluated based on the generated dataset to identify the best failure prediction model. The performance of machine learning algorithms is evaluated on the basis of a confusion matrix and computational efficiency. It shows that XGBoost is the optimal algorithm in predicting the failure and is recommended for future analysis. The computational efficiency of the machine learning algorithm is also compared to the physics-based model. It is revealed that machine learning algorithms can perform a failure risk analysis of pipelines with greater computational efficiency than the physics-based approach. Even the slowest machine learning algorithm is about 12 times faster than the physics-based model.
Is four less than five? Effects of four-day school weeks on student achievement in Oregon

Abstract The achievement impacts of educational input quality have been well documented, but the quantity of exposure to the school environment – as measured by instructional time – also has profound impacts on students. This study examines the achievement impacts of a key instructional time reducing cost savings policy – the four-day school week. Using 3rd through 8th grade test scores from Oregon from 2005 to 2019 in a difference-in-differences analysis, I find that math test scores decrease by between 0.037 and 0.059 standard deviations and reading scores decrease by between 0.033 and 0.042 standard deviations following the switch to the four-day school week. It appears that reductions in time in school, which amount to three to four hours per week, largely drive these achievement declines. Using four-day school week adoption as an instrument for weekly time in school, I find that a one-hour increase in weekly time in school leads to a 0.018 standard deviation increase in math achievement and a 0.006 standard deviation increase in reading achievement. Finally, I compare the cost savings-achievement trade-off of the four-day school week with other traditional cost savings approaches and find that the four-day school week yields a comparable cost savings-achievement trade-off to many of these other interventions.
The Role of Perceived Familial Expectations on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Analysis:

Asian and Latinx emerging adults in the United States typically hold stronger values and expectations regarding their duty to support and respect their families than their White peers. Yet, researc...
CONSERVATION OF THE CIENEGA ENDEMIC, ERYNGIUM SPARGANOPHYLLUM HEMSL. (APIACEAE)

Eryngium sparganophyllum is an imperiled plant species with a small geographic range in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and is restricted to wetlands known as cienegas. We compiled information on its population status, habitat, life history, and threats to inform conservation and recovery efforts and to guide future research. Of the six historically documented populations, this species has been extirpated at two and remains extant in four. Extractions of groundwater or diversions of spring discharge are the greatest threats, exacerbated by reduced groundwater inflow to cienegas because of regional drought and temperature increases. Eryngium sparganophyllum is locally common in its known sites, but woody encroachment may be a threat, as field data in Arizona reveal the plants to be more abundant in open sun than under tree canopy. Plants flower within their first year and host a wide range of invertebrate visitors. Experimental techniques confirm seed viability with a morphophysiological dormancy; however, patterns of seedling establishment in the wild remain undocumented. Reintroduction at two sites is being implemented and long-term monitoring of survivorship and fecundity of these transplants is necessary to guide future recovery efforts.
Biological Changes in American Women in the Last Fifty Years

Abstract A review of research relative to biological changes in women during the last 50 years can be summarized under four main topics: (1) there are more women than men in the population of America today; (2) women tend to live longer than men; (3) women seem to resist diseases better than men and seem to respond more readily to medical treatment; and (4) women are increasing in most anthropometric measures. It appears that old women and their ailments will be an acute problem for future generations.
Ethanol Influences on Bax Translocation, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation are Modulated by Vitamin E and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Background: This study investigated ethanol influences on intracellular events that predispose developing neurons toward apoptosis and the capacity of the antioxidant α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to modulate these effects. Assessments were made of the following: (i) ethanol-induced translocation of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein to the mitochondrial membrane, a key upstream event in the initiation of apoptotic cell death; (ii) disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as a result of ethanol exposure, an important process in triggering the apoptotic cascade; and (iii) generation of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a function of ethanol exposure. Methods: These interactions were investigated in cultured postnatal day 8 neonatal rat cerebellar granule cells, a population vulnerable to developmental ethanol exposure in vivo and in vitro. Bax mitochondrial translocation was analyzed via subcellular fractionation followed by Western blot, and mitochondrial membrane integrity was determined using the lipophilic dye, JC-1, that exhibits potential-dependent accumulation in the mitochondrial membrane as a function of the MMP. Results: Brief ethanol exposure in these preparations precipitated Bax translocation, but both vitamin E and BDNF reduced this effect to control levels. Ethanol treatment also resulted in a disturbance of the MMP, and this effect was blunted by the antioxidant and the neurotrophin. ROS generation was enhanced by a short ethanol exposure in these cells, but the production of these harmful free radicals was diminished to control levels by cotreatment with either vitamin E or BDNF. Conclusions: These results indicate that both antioxidants and neurotrophic factors have the potential to ameliorate ethanol neurotoxicity and suggest possible interventions that could be implemented in preventing or lessening the severity of the damaging effects of ethanol in the developing central nervous system seen in the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Rezension zu: Vanessa E. Munro, Marina Della Giusta (Hg.): Demanding Sex: Critical Reflections on the Regulation of Prostitution. Aldershot: Ashgate 2008.

Die kontroverse und komplizierte Verbindung, die Sex und Arbeit in der Prostitution eingehen, wird in diesem Band aus okonomischer, juridischer, soziologischer und geschlechtertheoretischer Perspektive untersucht. Dabei werden aktuelle Debatten und Gesetzesvorlagen – vor allem aus Grosbritannien, Frankreich und Schweden – und jungste Bestrebungen im Zuge der New-Labour-Politik, Prostitution und Sexarbeit auf restriktive Weise zu regulieren, kritisch reflektiert. Im Mittelpunkt der Beitrage steht der okonomische Nexus von Angebot und Nachfrage, um den herum sich die Problematik der Prostitution als einer besonderen Form der Arbeit entfaltet. Die interdisziplinare Ausrichtung des Bandes ermoglicht es, die okonomischen Bedingungen und regulativen Praktiken in Bezug auf Sexarbeit jenseits moralischer und ideologischer Debatten zu untersuchen.
A new authentication mechanism for loosely coupled 3G-WLAN integrated networks

Recently, several authentication protocols have been proposed for wireless local area networks (WLANs) to improve security in hotspot public access and corporate networks, and some have been proposed for integrated 3G-WLAN networks. These authentication protocols are based on the extensible authentication protocol and have been directly applied to wireless networks based on their widespread use in wired networks. Depending on the 3G-WLAN architecture and how the WLAN is tied to the 3G network, these protocols could have large latency. Moreover, they do not have mechanisms for authenticating the usage time of a mobile in a WLAN. We first discuss these issues related to existing authentication protocols for a 3G-WLAN integrated network. Then, we propose a new authentication mechanism based on the dual signature concept used in secure electronic transactions that can be used in a loosely coupled architecture. Finally, we present a preliminary evaluation of the energy performance and latency of the existing and proposed protocols.
Infant Visual Perception

In this chapter, we consider early visual perception and its development. We begin by reviewing theories of perceptual development, tracing the influences of historically important concepts that frame contemporary scientific efforts. We consider evidence about basic visual sensitivities that support perceptual knowledge in infancy, including visual acuity and sensitivity to contrast, orientation, pattern, color, and motion. From these foundations, we assess initial capabilities and developmental trends in several important domains: visual perception of space and depth, objects, and faces. In a concluding section, we argue that there is a consistent overall picture emerging from research: Visual perception depends heavily on inborn and early maturing mechanisms, although evidence also suggests roles for learning, especially in calibration and tuning. Besides surveying research on early visual abilities, we use it to illustrate several general themes in perceptual development: the multiple levels of explanation required to understand perception; the interactions of hardwired abilities, maturation, and learning; and the methods that allow assessment of early perception. These themes all have broad relevance for research in cognitive and social development. Keywords: color vision; face perception; infant perception; object perception; perceptual development; space perception; theories of perception; visual development
Designing E-Collaboration Technologies to Facilitate Compensatory Adaptation

This article argues that e-collaboration technologies often pose obstacles to effective communication in complex collaborative tasks. The reason presented is that typically those technologies selectively suppress face-to-face communication elements that human beings have been designed by evolution to use extensively while communicating with each other. It is argued that technology users invariably react to those obstacles by engaging in compensatory adaptation, whereby they change their communicative behavior in order to compensate for the obstacles. The article concludes with a call for more research on how e-collaboration technologies can be designed to facilitate compensatory adaptation.
Ecological interface design: Military C2 and computer network defense

Approximately 25 years ago the ecological interface design approach to developing decision making and problem solving support was formalized in the context of process control work domains. Here we review its sources of inspiration and its subsequent application to two alternative work domains: military command & control and computer network defense. The discussion is organized according to the analytical tools and principles of design that characterize the approach. A representative evaluation is summarized; these results illustrate the potential of this framework for improving overall human-machine system performance.
CNC machining plastic injection mold plates in the classroom

After finishing their undergraduate education many Mechanical Engineering graduates join industry and design parts that require computer-numeric-control (CNC) machining, but too few graduates have the know- how to actually use a CNC machine to produce a complex CNC part. If students were more familiar with the process of programming, fixturing, and running a CNC machine, many of the manufacturing difficulties and costs could be avoided in the design phase. In order to address this issue a CNC machining course has been developed that requires students to design and machine plastic injection mold plates for an interesting, unique 3D part. Plastic injection molding was chosen for it's prevalence in industry and for the many interesting design constraints that must be overcome when designing for injection molding. This work shows an innovative, structured, small group approach to teaching the computer aided drafting, machine shop, and design skills necessary to achieve better production part designs.
Adsorption of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide on Pd(lll)

Abstract The adsorption of NO 2 on Pd(111) was studied by using HREELS and TPD. NO 2 adsorbs molecularly at 110 K in a μ-N,O nitrito bonding geometry. The assignment of this bonding geometry is made by comparison of the vibrational data obtained in this study with IR measurements of the NO 2 symmetric and asymmetric stretching frequencies of a bridge-bonded nitro palladium complex. Chemisorbed NO 2 dissociates upon heating to 180 K (at low coverages) into NO(a) and O(a). Below θ NO 2 = 0.25 ML, NO 2 desorption is not detected; NO 2 adsorption is irreversible. Above θ NO 2 = 0.25 ML, reversible NO 2 adsorption occurs with adsorptio energies of 14 and 16 kcal mol −1 as determined by desorption activation energies. NO adsorption on Pd(111) was also studied by HREELS and TPD, in order to further understand NO 2 dissociation. The NO TPD data agree well with other studies of NO on Pd(111) with desorption activation energies of 38, 21, and 20 kcal mol −1 . For saturation coverages of NO at 100 K, two NO species are observed with N-O stretching modes at 1575 and 1735 cm −1 . These species are assigned as NO bonded at bridge and atop sites, respectively. We also note the lack of measureable adsorption of N 2 O on Pd(111) at 100 K.
Relict conifers from the mid-Pleistocene of Rhodes, Greece

The mid-Pleistocene Kolymbia Flora of Rhodes, Greece occurs in the Lindos Bay Clay facies group of the Rhodes Formation and was deposited in a marine setting at about a depth of 200 m. Recorded in the flora are the youngest presence of Glyptostrobus in the eastern Mediterranean, an extinct species of Pinus very similar to the modern relict Pinus canariensis, and a new species of the disjunct Cedrus. These taxa indicate that some relict plant taxa existed on Rhodes later than previously recognised. The late presence of Taxodiaceae in the eastern Mediterranean may demerit its usefulness for determining the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary. The finding of Liquidambar, Zelkova and Fagus in the flora supports the idea of Rhodes, and possibly the eastern Mediterranean, as a refugium during the mid-Pleistocene. Similar fossil assemblages should be found in adjacent Turkey because the Lindos Bay Clay records an extensive marine transgression probably resulting from graben tectonics that lead to the ultimate separati...
A Comment on Uncertainty and Household Decisions

In this short paper we reformulate and extend Sandmo’s (3) well known analysis of “capital risk” to include the effects of savings uncertainty on both the savings decision and the labor-leisure decision.
Evidence for nearly true Fröhlich superconductivity in a gel made from decomposing liquid metal-ammonia solutions at −33°C

Abstract The high conductivity observed in a gel made from decomposing liquid metal-ammonia solutions at −33°C probably arises from charge density waves sliding nearly freely along capillaries of the non-decomposed solution extending one-dimensionally through a network of the decomposition product.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled with quadrupole/orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry for protein discovery, identification, and structural analysis.

The design and operation of a novel UV-MALDI ionization source on a commercial QqoaTOF mass spectrometer (Applied Biosystem/MDS Sciex QSTAR Pulsar) is described. Samples are loaded on a 96-well target plate, the movement of which is under software control and can be readily automated. Unlike conventional high-energy MALDI-TOF, the ions are produced with low energies (5−10 eV) in a region of relatively low vacuum (8 mTorr). Thus, they are cooled by extensive low-energy collisions before selection in the quadrupole mass analyzer (Q1), potentially giving a quasi-continuous ion beam ideally suited to the oaTOF used for mass analysis of the fragment ions, although ion yields from individual laser shots may vary widely. Ion dissociation is induced by collisions with argon in an rf-only quadrupole cell, giving typical low-energy CID spectra for protonated peptide ions. Ions separated in the oaTOF are registered by a four-anode detector and time-to-digital converter and accumulated in “bins” that are 625 ps wide....
Lump-Sum Markets for Air Traffic Flow Control With Competitive Airlines

Air traffic flow control during adverse weather conditions is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration in today's air traffic system, although it is the individual airlines that are in the best position to assess the costs of disruptions to scheduled operations. To improve the efficiency of resource allocation, a market mechanism is proposed that enables airlines to participate directly in the flow control decision-making process. Since airlines can be expected to behave strategically, a lump-sum market mechanism is used for which existence of a Nash equilibrium and a bound on the worst case efficiency loss have been shown for agents that anticipate the effects of their own bids on resource prices. The convergence properties of this mechanism are studied for a two-player game with linear utilities, which reveals that restricting the airline bid update step-size can result in a wider range of stable bidding processes. The mechanism is then applied to an air traffic flow control scenario for multiple airports in the northeastern United States, which demonstrates the feasibility of performing market-based resource allocation within the time horizon for reliable weather predictions.
A true multimedia client

A true multimedia device is emerging that might become a powerful tool in the age of converged communication; computing, and content (CCC). Communication, computing, and content are converging, but this convergence's process has the characteristic of people viewing the converged space through the viewpoint of their own area. Thus, it's not uncommon to see CCC dominated by one area. The most interesting example is that of phones. People started realizing that mobile phones are powerful and are likely to become a dominant CCC device. Computing people got into action and now we see an increasing number of computer-like phones appearing. These devices often have full keyboards for interfacing with the Internet and email. What's equally interesting is that the purpose of these devices is to browse the Internet, in addition to email, and even receive documents.
Mild hyperphenylalaninemia: to treat or not to treat

One of the issues to be resolved in phenylketonuria is whether patients with mild hyperphenylalaninemia need treatment, or in other words, in what patients treatment needs to be started. Do patients need treatment when phenylalanine concentrations in blood are >360 μmol/L or >600 μmol/L? This paper reviews the literature on the outcome of untreated patients with mild hyperphenylalaninemia to try to determine whether outcome is normal. The paper concludes that there is, in fact, only one paper that can be used to answer this question. Therefore, the question is whether we may rely on one paper to draw conclusions or whether more research is necessary to determine whether all patients with phenylalanine concentrations >360 μmol/L or all patients with phenylalanine concentrations >600 μmol/L require treatment.
Salmonella bacteremia in the first year of life

THE INCIDENCE of nontyphoidal Salmonella infection is greater in the first year of life than at any other time? Infected infants demonstrate a highly variable clinical picture, ranging from asymptomatic stool carriage'-' to severe bloody diarrhea, bacteremia, and metastatic infection. 3 Previous studies ~-7 have shown a low (4 to 13%) incidence of bacteremia in nonepidemic infections in patients less than one year of age, although nursery outbreaks have been associated with a higher incidence of bacteremia. 8. ~ The predisposing factors, clinical correlates, and consequences of Salmonella bacteremia in children under one year of age have not been adequately identified. Accordingly, we analyzed the course and outcome of such infants with Salmonella infection seen in a recent three year period at this hospital.
Dietary patterns in association with postpartum weight retention

Background: Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) can contribute to obesity development in women of reproductive age. Few studies have examined the association between postnatal diet and PPWR. Objective: We examined both PPWR and substantial PPWR (≥4.55 kg) in association with the following dietary patterns: the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED) and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). Design: Women (n = 1136) in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (2005–2007) self-reported their prepregnancy and postpartum weights at ∼4, 7, 10, and 14 mo. Dietary patterns were calculated from a food-frequency questionnaire administered ∼4 mo postpartum. Linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations for repeated measurements were used to examine PPWR and substantial PPWR, respectively, in association with the dietary patterns with adjustment for energy intake, breastfeeding, age, education, smoking, and marital status. Results: At 14 mo postpartum, the mean (±SD) PPWR was 1.1 ± 6.7 kg, and 22.4% of women had substantial PPWR. Although the change in PPWR over time seemed to differ by diet quality 4–7 mo postpartum, no differences were ultimately observed in the total mean PPWR or probability of substantial PPWR across aMED and AHEI-2010 categories during the rest of the follow-up (P > 0.12). Instead, PPWR and substantial PPWR were associated with total energy intake (at ∼7–14 mo postpartum: 0.97 kg/1000 kcal (95% CI: 0.40, 1.55 kg/1000 kcal); OR: 1.25/1000 kcal (95% CI: 1.03, 1.52/1000 kcal), respectively]. Conclusions: Postpartum diet quality assessed by 2 patterns was not associated with weight retention. Total energy intake, regardless of the diet composition, plays a more important role in weight retention.
Future Options for the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in Nigeria

The lack of health care infrastructure and prevalence of infectious disease in Nigeria exacerbate the growing problem of diagnosing and treating chronic kidney disease. Nigeria should place more emphasis on chronic kidney disease education, screening, and prevention; propagation of acceptance of peritoneal dialysis over hemodialysis; subsidization of renal replacement costs; and advancement of the national renal transplantation program.
Systems perspectives on mRNA processing

The application of genomic technologies to the study of mRNA processing is increasingly conducted in metazoan organisms in order to understand the complex events that occur during and after transcription. Large-scale systems analyses of mRNA-protein interactions and mRNA dynamics have revealed specificity in mRNA transcription, splicing, transport, translation, and turnover, and have begun to make connections between the different layers of mRNA processing. Here, we review global studies of post-transcriptional processes and discuss the challenges facing our understanding of mRNA regulation in metazoan organisms. In parallel, we examine genome-scale investigations that have expanded our knowledge of RNA-binding proteins and the networks of mRNAs that they regulate.
The formation of foetal and adult haemoglobin in cell cultures of neonatal calf marrow.

Summary Neonatal erythroid cells in the bovine respond to erythropoietin in vitro with a pari passu increase in the synthesis of both foetal and adult haemoglobins. With marked stimulation the effect upon the latter predominates. The conditions of cell culture, however, promote the formation of a protein with chromatographic characteristics of foetal gamma-globin subunits, quite independently of the presence of erythropoietin or of haem synthesis. The results suggest that erythropoietin might be assigned a significant although indirect role in the gradual switchover of haemoglobin types during development.
P01-223-Recovery of cognitive functioning in patients with co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence during early remission from an acute mood episode

Introduction Preliminary data suggest that patients who suffer from both bipolar disorder (BD) and alcohol dependence (AD) may be more vulnerable to cognitive dysfunction than patients with a single diagnosis, especially during periods that are clinically unstable. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive recovery of dually-diagnosed patients during remission from an acute mood disturbance. Aim The study aimed to replicate our previous comparison of cognitive functioning between BD patients with and without AD, while on the inpatient unit, and to extend this investigation in a longitudinal design post-discharge. Method Fifty-five adult inpatients with bipolar I disorder completed a neuropsychological battery, mood measures and substance abuse measures upon discharge from the hospital and at a 3 month follow up. Analyses provided group comparisons on these measures between patients who presented with co-occurrence of AD (n = 21) in the year prior to hospital admission and patients without a Substance Use Disorder (SUD; n = 34). Results Compared to patients without SUD, dually-diagnosed patients scored significantly more poorly on measures of visual memory, verbal memory and executive functioning both at hospital discharge and follow-up. They also exhibited more limited recovery of these functions over the course of this period. Mood symptoms decreased in both groups from discharge to follow up. Conclusions Patients with co-occurring BD and AD may suffer from more severe cognitive dysfunction and less favorable recovery of cognitive deficits than BD patients without SUD over the course of remission from a mood episode.
Position-related capacity for differentiation of limb mesenchyme in cell culture.

Abstract A quantitative comparison (i.e., number of cartilage nodules) of cartilage differentiation was made between micromass cell cultures prepared with cells from different locations (core vs periphery) within prechondrogenic chick wing buds. Wing bud core cells in micromass culture exhibit a greater developmental bias toward cartilage differentiation than periphery cells from the same limbs. In addition, myogenic cells appear more frequently in cultures prepared from wing bud periphery than in those prepared from core tissue. Therefore a stage 23–24 wing bud is not a homogeneous population of multipotential mesenchymal cells. Instead, a stage 23–24 wing bud contains two classes of cells, each characterized by a bias for either cartilage or muscle differentiation, and a third class of uncharacterized mesenchymal cells.