cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptation and Coherence: Evolutionary and Dynamical Perspectives on Human Violence

The potential for violence is ubiquitous in human affairs, but the diversity of violence is difficult to understand in terms of an integrated theoretical framework. Evolutionary psychology provides such a framework, and it has had considerable success in identifying the distal causes of human violence. In recent years, another integrative framework for psychology has emerged that adapts the principles and methods of dynamical systems in the natural sciences. Whereas the evolutionary perspective focuses on the basic motives that give rise to diverse mental and behavioral phenomena, the dynamical perspective emphasizes invariant processes such as self-organization and attractor dynamics that underlie the surface structure of human experience. We compare these two perspectives in general terms and with respect to issues of human violence. Because the evolutionary and dynamical accounts are complementary, their respective insights and methods can be integrated to generate a comprehensive model of violence and of human behavior generally.
Scheduling of automated guidence vehicle in a flowshop

Abstract In this paper, a simple flowshop manufacturing system with an automated guided vehicle (AGV) is considered under the frame of discrete event dynamic system (DEDS). The pseudo-linear DEDS model is established by using max-algebra approach and by determining the scheduling strategy of AGV. The model allows for evaluating dynamic behavior of system under a deterministic and circlic production process. Given any fixed time-consuming of processing activities and routing of AGV, the steady-state running rhythm of system can be determined from eigenvalue of the system, i.e., the average weights of the critical circuit of closed-loop network. Therefore, the assessment of static scheduling strategies of AGV can be made by means of evaluating the performance of manufacturing system.
Six-Week High-Fat Diet Alters the Gut Microbiome and Promotes Cecal Inflammation, Endotoxin Production, and Simple Steatosis without Obesity in Male Rats

Energy-dense foods can alter gut microbial diversity. However, the physiological effects of diet-induced microbial changes on the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain debatable. We hypothesized that high-fat intake for 6 weeks would promote intestinal dysbiosis by increasing gram-positive bacteria, inducing the intestinal production of proinflammatory cytokines and subsequent hepatic lipid infiltration in young male rats. Six-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups and fed either a standard rodent chow or a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. Chromogenic endotoxin quantification assays indicate an increase in lipopolysaccharide concentration in the plasma of HFD rats (p = 0.032). Additionally, Western blot analyses of the cecum showed significantly greater protein expression of the transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), (p = 0.037) and the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), (p = 0.042) in rats fed HFD. Linear discriminate analysis of effect size (LEfSe) showed greater abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria in the samples collected from the cecum of HFD rats compared to chow. Consistent with the development of steatosis, the Oil-Red-O-stained area was increased in liver sections from HFD rats. Hepatic triacylglycerol concentrations (p < 0.001) and plasma alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.001) were significantly increased in HFD-fed animals compared to chow. These findings show that a short duration of high-fat consumption can have profound deleterious effects on gastrointestinal health and the inflammatory state of these young male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Psychological Correlates of Change in Emotion Regulation Over 8 Months of Psychotherapy

Emotion regulation corresponds to the individual’s ability to identify and modulate emotional experiences and improvements thereof over the course of psychotherapy are associated with the reduction in psychiatric symptoms across multiple diagnoses. However, the extent to which changes in the capacity for emotion regulation over the course of therapy relate to individual differences in emotion-related self-perceptions, degree of psychiatric distress, and the reasons for seeking psychotherapy remain understudied. This study explored the relations between changes in the capacity for emotion regulation over 8 months of psychotherapy, as defined by all subscales of the Difficulties for Emotion Regulation Scale, trait emotional intelligence and psychological distress. In addition, this study examined whether changes in the capacity for emotion regulation differed between patients reporting at least one regulation treatment goal and those reporting other goals. Data were collected as part of an ongoing program evaluation at an urban community-based mental health clinic. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 74 patients prior to beginning psychotherapy and after completing 8 months of psychotherapy. We found that higher trait emotional intelligence and lower psychological distress were related to improvements in emotion regulation. Moreover, the capacity for emotion regulation, particularly emotional awareness and limited access to emotion regulation strategies, worsened among individuals who reported at least one regulation treatment goal relative to those who reported other goals. As such, an initial phase of psychotherapy that focuses on integrating skills and self-awareness of emotional sensations prior to or in conjunction with embarking on an open-ended exploratory treatment is recommended.
Prenatal light exposure influences gait performance and body composition in bobwhite quail chicks.

Abstract Maternal nesting behavior, which includes periods of patterned inattention, provides key elements essential for avian embryonic development, including regulation of temperature and light. For example, avian research consistently shows the importance of prenatal light exposure for several developmental processes; however, this research has primarily focused on artificial light regimens (i.e. 24 hr, 0 hr light). Comparatively less is known about how exposure to naturally occurring light patterns during incubation influence motor performance, body composition (i.e. body mass, bone length), and developmental age (incubation length). Here we conducted two experiments which investigated the effects of prenatal light exposure on developmental age, body composition, and gait performance in 1-day-old bobwhite quail. Experiment 1 investigated crepuscular light exposure during the last two days of incubation under two light duration treatments (2 hr & 6 hr) compared to a 12 hr continuous light schedule. Results indicated crepuscular prenatal light experience extended the incubation period for 2 hr exposed embryos, but not for 6 hr exposed embryos and negatively influenced postnatal body composition and postnatal gait performance when compared to 12 hr continuous light embryos. Experiment 2 examined the influence of prenatal light duration (2 hr vs 6 hr) and light presentation (crepuscular vs sporadic). Results demonstrated sporadic light presentation improved gait performance in 2 hr exposed hatchlings, but not 6 hr exposed hatchlings, improved body composition in 6 hr exposed hatchlings, but not 2 hr exposed hatchlings, and did not alter incubation length when compared to crepuscular light counterparts. This study provides further evidence for the importance of maternally regulated sensory stimulation during the prenatal period on early postnatal motor development.
Leucine Decreases Intramyocellular Lipid Deposition in an mTORC1-independent Manner in Palmitate-treated C2C12 Myotubes

Higher intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) deposition in skeletal muscle is commonly observed in patients with obesity, resulting in mitochondrial damage. Palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, has been ...
Association between E-cigarette use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-asthmatic adults in the USA.

Background Concern about the health impacts of e-cigarette use is growing; however, limited research exists regarding potential long-term health effects of this behavior. This study explored the relationship between e-cigarette use and COPD in a sample of US adults. Methods A secondary data analysis using data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey in the USA was computed to examine associations between e-cigarette use and COPD controlling for conventional cigarette smoking status, past month leisure physical activity and demographic characteristics including age, sex, education, race, marital status and body mass index. Results Significant associations between e-cigarette use and COPD among former combustible cigarette smokers and those who reported never using combustible cigarettes were found. Compared with never e-cigarette users, the odds of having COPD were significantly greater for daily e-cigarette users (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.11-2.03), occasional users (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13-1.80) and former users (OR = 1.46 95% CI: 1.28-1.67). Conclusions Findings from this study indicate a potential link between e-cigarette use and COPD. Further research to explore the potential effects of e-cigarette on COPD is recommended.
The Problem of Scaling in Exponential Random Graph Models

This study shows that residual variation can cause problems related to scaling in exponential random graph models (ERGM). Residual variation is likely to exist when there are unmeasured variables i...
A Deep Ravine Rather Than a Shallow Gap: Many More Bridges Needed to Improve Care of Chronic Hepatitis B in the United States.

ABSTRACT In the United States, improved screening of those who are at highest risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has been a major focus of public health efforts, as has facilitating access to care for those with chronic infection. Despite this, data suggest that less than half of those at risk are tested, and another minority of those who harbor chronic infection receive longitudinal care for the disease. In this study by Tran et al., the authors find that even among those being treated for CHB, a vast minority receive basic testing and screening for staging and complications of CHB.
Unmanned aerial vehicle and its application in Indian Agriculture: A perspective

In India, crop failures are common, unpredictable and difficult to deal due to the sheer scale.Food and nutritional security is a question that needs to be addressed in the context ofenvironmental pollution, water scarcity and climate change, and a viable solution is crucial.Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone can assure a sustainable solution to agriculturethrough its application in soil fertility assessment and mapping; monitoring of plant health,stress identification and mapping, crop insurance, irrigation and drainage planning, resourcemapping, natural hazards damage assessment, and plant protection spray. The nextrevolution in agricultural will be driven by data, which will help to increase agriculturalproduction with minimum harm to the environment and increase profits of farmers. Overall,UAV/drone technology has enormous opportunities to apply it in the field of agriculture withfew challenges which need to be addressed before its actual application in the large field scale.
On Virtual Mass and Wave Drag at Subsonic Speeds

T E SOLUTION FOR the laminar flow field about a flat plate in a uniform stream is well known. However, it is also of interest to study other flows—e.g., ones in which streamwise pressure gradients are present. We shall consider here the compressible laminar radial flow between radial, two-dimensional walls and through an axially symmetric conical nozzle. In particular, we shall concern ourselves with the displacement thickness of the boundary layer. For two-dimensional steady flow, the equation of continuity in polar coordinates is
DNA Repair by Homologous Recombination

Homologous recombination (HR) plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability by repairing complex DNA damage such as DNA double-stranded breaks and interstrand cross-links. Moreover, HR proteins protect stalled replication forks as well as recover stalled or broken forks. The signature reactions of the process are the homology search and DNA strand invasion carried out by the Rad51-ssDNA filament. HR has dual significance for human diseases, especially cancer. Defects in HR lead to elevated cancer predisposition, as exemplified by the BRCA2 tumor suppressor. Additionally, DNA damage-based cancer therapies generate substrates for HR-mediated repair with consequences for the treatment response.
Optimal parameter tracking and control of nonlinear systems with time-varying parameters

A new formulation of a class of nonlinear optimal control problems in which the system's parameters are changing arbitrarily with time is presented. A variational technique based on the Pontryagin maximum principle is used to track the time-varying parameters of the system and to calculate the optimal control. The formulation allows online solution for parameters and optimal control calculations by recasting it into the form of an initial-value problem. An application to a nonlinear nuclear reactor in which feedback coefficients and detector time constants are varying is presented. >
Anion-exchange chromatographic behavior of recombinant rat cytochrome b5 : thermodynamic driving forces and temperature dependence of the stoichiometric displacement parameter Z

Abstract The HPLC anion-exchange isocratic retention behavior of the recombinant soluble core of wild type rat cytochrome b5 on Mono Q HR 5/5 was investigated as a function of temperature and sodium chloride concentration at fixed eluent flow-rates. Retention was measured over a range of eluent flow-rates at a specified temperature to determine if true adsorption equilibrium could be approximated by the HPLC method. Apparent Van't Hoff enthalpies of adsorption obtained from the HPLC retention data were positive, indicating an entropically driven spontaneous adsorption process, and were found to decline with increasing ionic strength. The retention results were interpreted in terms of the stoichiometric displacement model to obtain the apparent number of binding sites in the contact region, Z, as a function of temperature and of protein concentration. Z was found to depend significantly on temperature, even under conditions of nearly complete protein recovery, but did not depend on protein concentration at the low loadings studied.
The Feynman-Kac Formula

We have presented the equations of quantum mechanics in Chapter 1. In only a handful of cases, however, do these equations have solutions equal to well-known special functions, or can the spectra be written in closed form. Thus calculations in quantum mechanics are made by some approximate method, such as computing the first few terms in a formal power series. For example, series in coupling constants are known as perturbation theory; the series in Planck’s constant is known as the classical approximation.
Household Survey Data from Developing Countries: Progress and Prospects

Assessing the adequacy of household surveys from developing countries can only be done with reference to the purpose ( s) the data are meant to serve. We assume that the objective of data collection is to support analysis of a wide range of issues concerning household welfare and behavior, especially the prevalence, causes, and effects of poverty in its multiple dimensions. Analyses that address these issues can be arrayed in two dimensions: methodological complexity, which ranges from simple crosstabulations to sophisticated econometric techniques; and specificity of the contribution to knowledge, which ranges from analysis that addresses a specific policy decision in a particular country to general contributions to knowledge on economic development or research methods. A few examples illustrate this typology. Descriptive statistics on participation in a government program by consumption quintile, region, or year are methodologically simple and country/policy-specific. Compilation of such work across many countries to obtain "'stylized facts" is also methodologically simple but contributes to general knowledge of development. Using a specific model of household behavior to estimate the impact of charging higher prices for publicly provided services in a particular country is methodologically complex, yet countryand policy-specific. Rigorous econometric tests of alternative models of household behavior are methodologically complex and contribute to general knowledge beyond application of the method to a particular data set. We discuss the adequacy of household survey data with respect to seven criteria. For some criteria, the threshold for adequacy varies within the two-dimensional methodologyspecificity space.
Enhancement of transforming potential of human insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor by N-terminal truncation and fusion to avian sarcoma virus UR2 gag sequence.

Abstract The human insulinlike growth factor 1 (hIGF-1) receptor (hIGFR) is a transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) molecule which shares high sequence homology in the PTK domain with the insulin receptor and, to a lesser degree, the ros transforming protein of avian sarcoma virus UR2. To assess the transforming potential of hIGFR, we introduced the intact and altered hIGFR into chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). The full-length hIGFR cDNA (fIGFR) was cloned into a UR2 retroviral vector, replacing the original oncogene v-ros. fIGFR was able to promote the growth of CEF in soft agar and cause morphological alteration in the absence of added hIGF-1 to medium containing 11% calf and 1% chicken serum. The transforming ability of hIGFR was not further increased in the presence of 10 nM exogenous hIGF-1. The 180-kDa protein precursor of hIGFR was synthesized and processed into alpha and beta subunits. The overexpressed hIGFR in CEF bound hIGF-1 with high affinity (Kd = 5.4 x 10(-9) M) and responded to ligand stimulation with increased tyrosine autophosphorylation. The cDNA sequence coding for part of the beta subunit of hIGFR, including 36 amino acids of the extracellular domain and the entire transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, was fused to the 5' portion of the gag gene in the UR2 vector to form an avian retrovirus. The resulting virus, named UIGFR, was able to induce morphological transformation and promote colony formation of CEF with a stronger potency than did fIGFR. The UIGFR genome encodes a membrane-associated, glycosylated gag-IGFR fusion protein. The specific tyrosine phosphorylation of the mature form of the fusion protein, P75, is sixfold higher in vitro and threefold higher in vivo than that of the native IGFR beta subunit, P95. In conclusion, overexpression of the native or an altered hIGFR can induce transformation of CEF with the gag-IGFR fusion protein possessing enhanced transforming potential, which is consistent with its increased in vitro and in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation.
A Tool for All Seasons

Laser ablation carbon isotope analysis of robustaustralopithecine teeth provides insights into seasonal variations in ancestral diets, while minimizing damage to precious fossils.
Effect of Taurine Conjugated Bile Salts With and Without Lecithin on Water and Electrolyte Transport in the Canine Gallbladder In Vivo

Because dihydroxy bile salts alter water and electrolyte transport in the intestine, we tested the effects of taurine conjugated bile salts on water and electrolyte transport in the canine gallbladder in vivo. 16.7 mM taurodeoxycholate or taurochenodeoxycholate completely abolished net absorption of water (P
Integrative Mind-Body Medicine as a Treatment for Psychophysiologic Disorders Utilizing the Seven Keys to Treating Stress Illness

Integrative mind body medicine as a treatment for psychophysiologic disorders utilizing the seven keys to treating stress illness
Clearing the cervical spine in multiple trauma victims: A time-effective protocol using helical computed tomography

This study was performed to evaluate helical computed tomography (HCT) as the primary method of initial cervical spine assessment in multiple trauma victims. Prospective evaluation of the cervical spine using HCT and plain film radiography (PFR) was performed in 800 patients with suspected multisystem injuries. With HCT, an average of 32 slices were obtained at 5-mm intervals from the base of the skull to T1 using helical acquisition and a bone algorithm. HCT was performed following cross-table lateral radiographs of the cervical spine in all patients. We compared HCT and PFR for detection of abnormalities and duration of examination and also compared HCT with conventional CT in a subset of patients (N=20) for image quality/lesion detectability. Sixty-eight fractures were identified in 46 patients. HCT prospectively identified 67 fractures (98.5%), and plain films demonstrated 29 fractures (43%). No difference in image quality/lesion detectability was encountered when comparing HCT to conventional CT. HCT of the cervical spine could be completed in 4.5 minutes and added an average of only 8 minutes to the stay of the patient in the CT room. During the time of the study, the overall patient disposition time from the trauma resuscitation area was reduced from 6.5 to 4.5 hours. Rapid and accurate evaluation of the cervical spine is possible with HCT and is recommended as part of the initial imaging protocol in multiple trauma patients.
Influence of alkali-metal cations on silicon exchange and silicon-29 spin relaxation in alkaline silicate solutions

Selective and nonselective inversion NMR experiments were carried out to investigate the dynamics of Si exchange between silicate anions in alkaline silicate solutions. Rate coefficients for the Si exchange between monomer and dimer anions and between monomer, dimer, and cyclic trimer anions were determined as functions of alkali-metal cation size. The largest rate coefficient for Si exchange between monomer and dimer anions occurs for K{sup +}, whereas the largest rate coefficient for Si exchange between monomer, dimer, and cyclic trimer anions occurs for Na{sup +}. Cation size is also found to influence spin-lattice (T{sub 1}) and spin-spin relaxation (T{sub 2}) times.
Glycolysis–respiration relationships in a neuroblastoma cell line

Abstract Background Although some reciprocal glycolysis–respiration relationships are well recognized, the relationship between reduced glycolysis flux and mitochondrial respiration has not been critically characterized. Methods We concomitantly measured the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells under free and restricted glycolysis flux conditions. Results Under conditions of fixed energy demand ECAR and OCR values showed a reciprocal relationship. In addition to observing an expected Crabtree effect in which increasing glucose availability raised the ECAR and reduced the OCR, a novel reciprocal relationship was documented in which reducing the ECAR via glucose deprivation or glycolysis inhibition increased the OCR. Substituting galactose for glucose, which reduces net glycolysis ATP yield without blocking glycolysis flux, similarly reduced the ECAR and increased the OCR. We further determined how reduced ECAR conditions affect proteins that associate with energy sensing and energy response pathways. ERK phosphorylation, SIRT1, and HIF1a decreased while AKT, p38, and AMPK phosphorylation increased. Conclusions These data document a novel intracellular glycolysis–respiration effect in which restricting glycolysis flux increases mitochondrial respiration. General significance Since this effect can be used to manipulate cell bioenergetic infrastructures, this particular glycolysis–respiration effect can practically inform the development of new mitochondrial medicine approaches.
Determination of minor components in mixtures using EXAFS

Abstract An EXAFS spectrum, obtained by taking the difference between a weighted absorptivity spectrum of a known compound and that of a mixture containing this compound, contained information mainly on the remaining phase(s) in the mixture. The optimum weighting factor was that which gave the minimum value of the definite integral of the radial distribution function (RDF). The efficacy of this technique was demonstrated by the easy identification of Cu 2 O, after removal of the CuO contribution, from the spectrum of a mixture of 5% Cu 2 O in a ca. 1 + 1 mixture of CuO and ZnO. The method was also used to probe the minor component(s) of a CuO and ZnO calcined catalyst precursor; these showed features consistent with copper dissolved in the ZnO lattice.
EMPLOYED CAREGIVERS: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ISSUE FOR GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION

The importance of the employed caregiver in the maintenance of functional independence has only recently begun to be recognized. The demographic changes that will shape the next few decades will require a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding caregiving than is currently available in the curricula of existing gerontology programs. By incorporating course offerings aimed specifically at the caregiver role, gerontological education could extend its influence into the business community and attract students from a wide variety of other disciplines. Providing future corporate executives with a basic gerontological education could broaden the scope of gerontology and, ultimately, improve the quality of the lives of older care receivers.
A wavelet-based analysis of fractal image compression

Why does fractal image compression work? What is the implicit image model underlying fractal block coding? How can we characterize the types of images for which fractal block coders will work well? These are the central issues we address. We introduce a new wavelet-based framework for analyzing block-based fractal compression schemes. Within this framework we are able to draw upon insights from the well-established transform coder paradigm in order to address the issue of why fractal block coders work. We show that fractal block coders of the form introduced by Jacquin (1992) are Haar wavelet subtree quantization schemes. We examine a generalization of the schemes to smooth wavelets with additional vanishing moments. The performance of our generalized coder is comparable to the best results in the literature for a Jacquin-style coding scheme. Our wavelet framework gives new insight into the convergence properties of fractal block coders, and it leads us to develop an unconditionally convergent scheme with a fast decoding algorithm. Our experiments with this new algorithm indicate that fractal coders derive much of their effectiveness from their ability to efficiently represent wavelet zero trees. Finally, our framework reveals some of the fundamental limitations of current fractal compression schemes.
The effect of configural orientation on perceived trajectory in apparent motion.

In three experiments, we investigated apparent motion trajectories for stimuli flashed in different locations and at different orientations. It was found that, when stimuli were presented at different orientations, apparent motion trajectories were curved, although these paths were actually circular for only a restricted range of parameters. Curved apparent motion paths were induced by orientation changes in two stimuli that differed in how their orientation was specified. One was a rectangle (orientation-specific contour); the other was a circle (orientation-specific internal patterning). The following variables influenced the extent of apparent curvature seen: (1) the amount of orientation change presented, (2) the orientation of the stimulus symmetry, (3) the salience of configural orientation, and (4) the gender of the observer.
The Equivariant Chern Character for Non-compact Lie Groups

Let G be a topological group, with classifying bundle EG. If M is a topological space with left G-action, the equivariant cohomology ofM , denoted H∗ G(M), is the cohomology of a homotopy quotient MG = EG ×G M . Equivariant cohomology satisfies axioms similar to those of ordinary cohomology: the analogue of the dimension axiom asserts that H∗ G(G/H) ∼= H∗(BH) if H is a closed subgroup of G. If E is an equivariant complex vector bundle over M , then EG = EG×G E is a vector bundle over MG, with Chern character
Sequential enzymolysis of ligament and resultant stress-strain behavior.

Enzymolysis has been used as a technique to elucidate the contributions of the two structural proteins, collagen and elastin, and the matrix ground substance (“mucopolysaccharides”) to the mechanical response of ligamentum nuchae in vitro. Specimens cut from the same ligament were drawn to failure after being subjected to varying sequences of enzyme and/or buffer treatments. Collagenase, hyaluronidase + β-glucuronidase, trypsin, and elastase were employed. The data suggest that the collagen and elastic fiber networks are kept somewhat apart and lubricated by the mucopolysaccharide matrix and that the elastic fiber network constrains the collagen network from slipping viscoelastically at both low and high strain, which thus prevents greater alignment of the collagen fibers and, probably, irreversible changes in the dimensions and microstructure of the tissue under normal physiologic functioning.
In Situ TEM Observation of Dislocation Evolution in Polycrystalline UO2

In situ transmission electron microscopy observation of polycrystalline UO2 (with average grain size of about 5 µm) irradiated with Kr ions at 600°C and 800°C was conducted to understand the radiation-induced dislocation evolution under the influence of grain boundaries. The dislocation evolution in the grain interior of polycrystalline UO2 was similar under Kr irradiation at different ion energies and temperatures. As expected, it was characterized by the nucleation and growth of dislocation loops at low irradiation doses, followed by transformation to extended dislocation lines and tangles at high doses. For the first time, a dislocation-denuded zone was observed near a grain boundary in the 1-MeV Kr-irradiated UO2 sample at 800°C. The denuded zone in the vicinity of grain boundary was not found when the irradiation temperature was at 600°C. The suppression of dislocation loop formation near the boundary is likely due to the enhanced interstitial diffusion toward grain boundary at the high temperature.
Design and Modeling of a Petal-Shape, Conjugated Polymer-Actuated Micropump

Conjugated polymers are emerging actuation materials for biomimetic robots and biomedical devices. Most previous research has been focused on the configurations of cantilever beams and linear extenders. However, the diaphragm configuration is needed in many potential applications, such as micro pumps for drug delivery and chemical/ biological analysis. In this paper the design of a conjugated polymer pumping diaphragm is investigated theoretically and experimentally. A petal-shape design is proposed to alleviate the edge constrains. Transfer function models from the actuation voltage to the diaphragm curvature and to the flow rate are obtained. Experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the models. The transfer function models facilitate design optimization and the use of feedback control tools in dealing with the complicated behavior of conjugated polymer actuators.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
[2+2] Cycloaddition reactions of cationic iron vinylidene complexes

Abstract Complexes (Ph3P)(Cp)(OC)Fe+CCR12BF−4 underwent [2+2] cycloaddition reactions witn the imines MeNCHR2 to give the corresponding cationic iron (II) 2-azetinylidene adducts.
Distributional Effects of Social Security: the Notch Issue Revisited

This article provides the first empirical estimates of the effects of the Social Security Abstract benefit notch on lifetime benefits based on actual Social Security records, the 1988 Continuous Work History Sample. The authors'results show that the notch occurred in the context of a maturing social insurance system in which all early cohorts have received very high rates of return. As a group, the 1917-1921 notch cohorts could expect to receive roughly $500 billion (in 1988 dollars) more than if they were paid the same rate of return on their contnbutions that the Social Security system earns on its investedfunds.
The repatriation of culturally unidentifiable human remains

Abstract For nearly two decades, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) left unresolved a complex problem: the fate of Native American human remains that could not be affiliated with federally recognized tribes. In the spring of 2010, the US Department of Interior finally promulgated regulations for the disposition of these remains, providing a pathway for the potential return of 115,000 human remains. This paper presents the work at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) to address culturally unaffiliated human remains in its collection. Since 2008, the DMNS has received three National Park Service NAGPRA grants to consult with 142 tribes on human remains from across the USA. Drawing from the lessons of these consultations, this paper examines the philosophical, logistical, legal, and ethical issues confronting museums as they seek to contend with the quandaries posed by these remains.
Virtue as a skill

Abstract The article argues that a consideration of the idea, common in ancient ethical theory, that virtue is a skill or craft, reveals that some common construals of it are mistaken. The analogy between virtue and skill is not meant to suggest that virtue is an unreflective habit of practised action. Rather what interests ancient ethical theorists is the intellectual structure of a skill, one demanding grasp of the principles defining the field and an ability to reflect on the justification of particular actions. This is brought out with reference particularly to the discussion of virtue as analogous with skill in Plato's early Socratic dialogues. The demands made of the virtuous agent by philosophers who regard virtue as analogous to skill are akin to the demands made by more recent theories of morality which demand that the moral agent be able to reflect on her practices, extract the principles that these depend on, and produce justification when needed. This point about ancient ethical theories enabl...
Phase diagrams and optical properties of binary liquid-crystal systems of cobalt(II) caprylate with a divalent metal caprylate

Phase equilibria in the binary systems of cobalt(II) caprylate with a divalent metal (lead, cadmium, or zinc) caprylate were studied by differential thermal analysis and polarization microscopy, and the concentration and temperature ranges of the existence of liquid crystals and glasses were determined. Continuous or boundary smectic liquid-crystal solutions were found to form in all the systems. The temperature and concentration dependences of the electronic absorption spectra of liquid crystals and glasses in binary systems based on cobalt caprylate were investigated.
The paper chromatography of indole compounds and some indole-containing auxins of plant tissues.

Abstract The Chromatographic behavior of a group of 35 indole compounds has been studied. From a systematic study of solvents, mixtures of the lower alcohols with water were found to give the best general behavior and range of Rf's. The Rf's are strongly influenced by pH. The effects of water content, and of the alkyl radical in the alcohol, are described in detail. The most satisfactory all-round solvent was isopropyl alcohol 8, 28 % aqueous ammonia 1, water 1. A list is given of the Rf's of all the compounds with this solvent and their color reactions with several reagents. The method was utilized to confirm that Avena coleoptiles convert indoleacetonitrile to indoleacetic acid. Sweet corn (var. Country Gentleman) contains indolepyruvic acid in addition to indoleacetic acid. It also contains two other indole compounds having plant growth-promoting activity; though these could not be identified, they apparently differ from all the other compounds studied. The indolepyruvic acid in corn is not a bacterial product. Evidence is summarized which suggests that it may be widely distributed in plant tissues.
Reaction matrix elements for the 0f-1p shell nuclei

Abstract The shell-model reaction matrix elements for the 0f-1p shell are calculated and tabulated. The matrix elements consist of two parts; the bare reaction matrix elements and the renormalizations due to core polarizations which are both calculated with the Hamada-Johnston nucleon-nucleon potential. The core polarizations are evaluated for two cases; first for a 40Ca core and then for a 48Ca core. As a preliminary test, these matrix elements have been compared with available empirical effective interactions and used to calculate (i) the spectra of the valence particles of 42Ca, 42Sc, 50Ca, 50Sc and 50Ti, (ii) the changes of single-particle (hole) levels such as the changes of single-neutron levels from 41Ca to 49Ca and (iii) the 0 f 7 2 −0 d 3 2 particle-particle states of 38Cl and the corresponding particle-hole states of 40K. In general, the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental values, and the core polarization effects are usually of great importance.
Manufacture of High Performance Polarizing Beam Splitter for Projection Display Applications

The manufacture and measured performance of a high-performance visible polarizing beam splitter of the Li Li type is described.
Actuator placement from degree of controllability criteria for regular slewing of flexible spacecraft

Abstract An important unresolved problem in the attitude and shape control of future large flexible spacecraft is the determination of appropriate locations throughout the flexible vehicle for placement of control system actuators. In a separate work a definition of the degree of controllability was generated for this purpose when the control objective was to return the spacecraft to the desired equilibrium configuration after any disturbance. In some potential space missions the objective will require angular slewing maneuvers of a flexible structure. The optimum actuator locations should be significantly different for this objective. In this paper, concepts of the degree of controllability of a control system for performing standard maneuvers are developed from basic physical considerations, and then numerical methods for generating the degree of controllability are developed. These results offer the control system designer a method of evaluating the effectiveness of candidate actuator distributions. The method is shown to take on a relatively simple form when spacecraft modal coordinates are used.
Worst-case growth rates of some classical problems of combinatorial optimization

A method is presented for determining the asymptotic worst-case behavior of quantities like the length of the minimal spanning tree or the length of an optimal traveling salesman tour of n points in the unit d-cube. In each of these classical problems, the worst-case lengths are proved to have the exact asymptotic growth rate of $\beta _n^{{{(d - 1)} / d}} $, where $\beta $ is a positive constant depending on the problem and the dimension. These results complement known results on the growth rates for the analogous quantities under probabilistic assumptions on the points, but the results given here are free of any probabilistic hypotheses.
The radiopacity of ingested medications

We investigated prospectively the radiopacity of 312 pills found on a university hospital formulary by first radiographing them through 15 and 25 cm of water to duplicate the radiodensity of the human body. The pills that were radiodense through water were studied in a human cadaver model, and their densities were quantified by computed tomography (CT). Thirty-five of 312 pills were radiopaque in 15 cm or more of water, and 23 of these pills were radiopaque on a plain radiograph when placed in the stomach of a cadaver. Common mnemonics used to identify radiopaque pills were found to be incomplete and inadequate. Chloral hydrate, iron-containing preparations, calcium carbonate, iodinated compounds, acetazolamide, busulfan, and potassium preparations were consistently radiopaque. Antihistamines, phenothiazines, and tricyclic antidepressants demonstrated varying radiopacity. There was varying radiopacity among the same medications made by different manufacturers. The presence of an enteric coating did not assure that the pill would be radiopaque. Merely radiographing a pill that has been placed on a standard radiograph cassette will make pills that are actually radiolucent in the body appear radiopaque. This test cannot be used to predict radiopacity in vivo. Visibility when radiographed through 15 cm or more of water and a CT radiodensity of more than 1,300 Hounsfield units are predictors of the radiopacity of a pill in the stomach of a cadaver model on a standard KUB radiograph. Variables, such as the size of the patient, the arrangement of pills in the stomach, air contrasting a pill, and the specific composition of the enteric coating or the pill matrix, affect the radiodensity of pills. A routine radiograph of the abdomen taken in cases of coma or unknown drug overdose will have limited clinical value. If the specific medication has been shown to be radiopaque, a radiograph may confirm a diagnosis of drug ingestion or assess the efficacy of a gastric emptying procedure.
Numerical solution of integral equations with logarithmic-, Cauchy- and Hadamard-type singularities

This study presents an extension of the piecewise quadratic polynomial technique to solve singular integral equations with logarithmic- and Hadamard-type singularities. For completeness and continuity, the evaluation of the weights for logarithmic-, Cauchy- and Hadamard-type singularities are given explicitly. Numerical results concerning logarithmic- and Hadamard-type singular integral equations are compared with the known solutions. The solution of Cauchy-type singular integral equations was discussed in detail in a previous study by Miller and Keer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal UAV Sensor Management and Path Planning for Tracking Multiple Mobile Targets

In this paper, we present an optimal sensor manager and a path planner for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to geo-localize multiple mobile ground targets. A gimbaled camera with a limited field of view (FOV) and a limited range is used to capture targets, whose states are estimated using a set of Extended Kalman Filters (EKFs). The sensor management is performed using a dynamic weighted graph and a Model Predictive Control (MPC) technique, determining the optimal gimbal pose that minimizes the overall uncertainty of target states. A UAV path planner that maximizes a novel cost function is employed to support the sensor management. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed sensor manager and the path planner.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Analysis of factors associated with durable remission of diabetes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Abstract Background Data on the durability of remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after gastric bypass are limited. Our purpose was to identify the rate of long-term remission of T2DM and the factors associated with durable remission. Methods A total of 177 patients with T2DM who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from 1993 to 2003 had 5-year follow-up data available. T2DM status was determined by interview and evaluation of the diabetic medications. Patients with complete remission or recurrence of T2DM were identified. Results Follow-up ranged from 5 to 16 years. Of the 177 patients, 157 (89%) had complete remission of T2DM with a decrease in their mean body mass index from baseline (50.2 ± 8.2 kg/m 2 ) to 31.3 ± 7.2 kg/m 2 postoperatively (mean percentage of excess weight loss 70.0% ± 18.6%). However, 20 patients (11.3%) did not have T2DM remission despite a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 58.2% ± 12.3% ( P 5-year) resolution of T2DM was greatest in the patients who originally had either controlled their T2DM with diet (76%) or oral hypoglycemic agents (66%). The rate of T2DM remission was more likely to be durable in men ( P = .00381). Weight regain was a statistically significant, but weak predictor, of T2DM recurrence. Conclusion Early remission of T2DM occurred in 89% of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. T2DM recurred in 43.1%. Durable remission correlated most closely with an early disease stage at gastric bypass.
Estrogen Receptors α and β Exhibit Different Estradiol and Estrogen Response Element Binding in the Presence of Nonspecific DNA

Abstract Estrogen receptors (ER) α and β bind estradiol (E 2 ) and estrogen response element (ERE) DNA sequences with high affinities. The different migration of ER–ERE complexes in the presence or absence of nonspecific DNA suggests that DNA may affect ER conformation and function. We measured the rate of E 2 –ER association and specific ER–ERE binding capacity (ERE-SBC) in the presence or absence of nonspecific DNA. Whereas DNA did not alter the rate of E 2 –ERα association, both ERE-containing and plasmid DNA decreased the rate of E 2 association with ERβ. Poly(dI-dC) decreased ERE-SBC of ERα, but did not affect the ERE-SBC of ERβ. Salmon sperm genomic DNA decreased the ERE-SBC of ERα, but increased the ERE-SBC of ERβ. We speculate that interaction of ER with genomic DNA may contribute to ER activation and play a role in the observed differences in transcriptional activity of ERα and ERβ.
Elastomeric optical elements with deformable surface topographies : applications to force measurements, tunable light transmission and light focusing

Abstract We fabricated and characterized three elastomeric optical devices whose optical properties are controlled by distorting the surface topographies of the elastomeric elements. In the force sensor, an applied force distorts the retroreflective corner cube surface pattern increasing the transmissivity of the device. The magnitude and the location of the force can be related to the intensity of the transmitted light. In the thermal light valve, the corner cube topography is distorted thermally; the transmissivity is controlled by the amount of heat delivered to the device. In the elastomeric Fresnel lens, heating of the elastomer results in defocusing of light passing through the lens.
Vaccine Delivery by Carbon Nanotubes

Novel nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, are under active investigation for potential use in biomedical applications. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, researchers describe antigen-antibody interactions and immune responses using peptide-carbon nanotube conjugates.
Comparison of fiberoptic endoscope and Quinton tube esophageal biopsies in esophagitis

Endoscopic examination and biopsy are among the best techniques to establish the diagnosis of early, mild, reflux esophagitis. A comparison of biopsy specimens obtained with the fiberoptic endoscope and the Quinton tube was made in 22 patients to determine their adequacy for evaluation of esophagitis. The fiberoptic endoscope biopsies from all 22 patients were inadequate for complete evaluation, while the Quinton tube biopsies were ideal in 18 of 22 patients and useful in all 22.
Reticular modification of somatosensory cortical recovery function.

Abstract This study tested in the cat the effects on somatosensory cortical recovery of prior stimulation of the reticular activating system. Recovery was measured by paired “conditioning” and “test” stimuli. Responses to the second stimuli at short separations, i.e. , 20–50 msec, which were absent or very small in control conditions, were sharply augmented by reticular stimulation and the curves became biphasic instead of monotonic. Additional observations and comparison with previous findings led to the following conclusions and suggestions: 1. 1. The effect of reticular stimulation on the recovery function was exerted at the thalamic relay. 2. 2. There appear to be at least two reticular mechanisms influencing the recovery function. They affect different portions of the recovery curve. 3. 3. The reticular mechanisms affecting response amplitude are at least partially independent of the mechanisms mediating early recovery effects. 4. 4. Reticular mechanisms may be of importance for determining the differences in somatosensory recovery previously reported by us in psychiatric disorder.