cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Duty‐cycle analysis of a human‐controlled manipulator

The duty cycles of a human-controlled servomanipulator system have been experimentally measured revealing how humans use manipulators to perform tasks. The use of the kinematic ranges, in both joint and Cartesian space is valuable to engineers in the kinematic design of servomanipulators. The working volume of human manipulation presented here is also of interest to designers of prosthetic systems. These results illuminate the relative merits of various system drive configurations. A graphical representation of mechanical power usage, which displays the total operation time as a function of torque and velocity, is presented for each manipulator joint. These data are compared with data representing idealized joint performance resulting in design criteria for quantitative improvements in joint torque and velocity capacities. A generalized method for applying this representation to any robotic system is discussed.
Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Growth by the Dietary Isoprenoids Farnesol and Geraniol

Fruits and vegetables have protective effects against many human cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Isoprenoids are one class of phytochemicals which have antitumor activity, but little is known about their effects on cancer of the pancreas. We tested the hypothesis that isoprenoids would inhibit the growth of pancreatic tumor cells. Significant (60-90%) inhibition of the anchorage-independent growth of human MIA PaCa2 pancreatic tumor cells was attained with 25 microM farnesol, 25 microM geranylgeraniol, 100 microM perillyl amine, 100 microM geraniol, or 300 microM perillyl alcohol. We then tested the relative in vivo antitumor activities of dietary farnesol, geraniol, and perillyl alcohol against transplanted PC-1 hamster pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Syrian Golden hamsters fed geraniol or farnesol at 20 g/kg diet exhibited complete inhibition of PC-1 pancreatic tumor growth. Both farnesol and geraniol were more potent than perillyl alcohol, which inhibited tumor growth by 50% at 40 g/kg diet. Neither body weights nor plasma cholesterol levels of animals consuming isoprenoid diets were significantly different from those of pair-fed controls. Thus, farnesol, geraniol, and perillyl alcohol suppress pancreatic tumor growth without significantly affecting blood cholesterol levels. These dietary isoprenoids warrant further investigation for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment.
Remarriage As A Trigger of Parental Alienation Syndrome

Maladaptive efforts to adjust to remarriage can provoke or exacerbate parental alienation syndrome. The remarried parent, the other parent, the stepparent, and the child each may contribute to the disturbance. Underlying dynamics include jealousy, narcissistic injury, desire for revenge, the wish to erase the exspouse from the childs life in order to make room for the stepparent, competitive feelings between the exspouse and stepparent, the new couples attempt to unite around a common enemy and avoid recognition of conflicts in the marriage, the childs attempt to resolve inner conflict, and parent-child boundary violations. These dynamics are discussed and suggestions for treatment are offered.
Modeling confusion for autonomous systems

Autonomous systems process sensory information to build representations of the external world, which serve as the basis for response decisions. These representations may be characterized by property lists, some of which are not direct sensor measurements, but inferred. Inferred properties are identified by classifiers or pattern recognition devices, which identify the existence of `fuzzy' concepts, such as `flying object.' Fuzzy classifiers assign properties with infinite degrees of existence, represented by numbers on the closed unit interval [0,1], which raises issues not present with classifiers based on binary logic, in which properties either exist or do not. One of these issues is confusion. A system is said to be in a state of confusion when it is generating similar confidence factors for mutually exclusive properties. For example, the fuzzy concepts `civilian' and `military' may be properties of the object class `aircraft,' and a state of confusion exists if confidence factors for these properties are both relatively close. An autonomous system that reacts to aircraft needs an explicit representation of confusion to enable it to decide whether it should react to object instances in their present form or continue data gathering. We discuss approaches to modeling confusion using fuzzy logical operators and present illustrative examples of its application in multi-level classification.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Classifying highly imbalanced ICU data

Highly imbalanced data sets are those where the class of interest is rare. In this paper, we compare the performance of several common data mining methods, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, Classification and Regression Tree (CART) models, C5, and Support Vector Machines (SVM) in predicting the discharge status (alive or deceased, with "deceased" being the class of interest) of patients from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Using a variety of misclassification cost ratio (MCR) values and using specificity, recall, precision, the F-measure, and confusion entropy (CEN) as criteria for evaluating each method's performance, C5 and SVM performed better than the other methods. At a MCR of 100, C5 had the highest recall and SVM the highest specificity and lowest CEN. We also used Hand's measure to compare the five methods. According to Hand's measure, logistic regression performed the best. This article makes several contributions. We show how the use of MCR for analyzing imbalanced medical data significantly improves the method's classification performance. We also found that the F-measure and precision did not improve as the MCR was increased.
CORRELATIONAL SELECTION ON LAY DATE AND LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS: EXPERIMENTAL MANIPULATIONS OF TERRITORY AND NEST SITE QUALITY

Abundant evidence suggests that females may engage in mate choice to gain nongenetic (material) benefits from high-quality territories; however, the selective consequences that influence those choices are not well understood. We studied the fitness effects of territory quality and incubation temperature on juvenile lizards in nature. We manipulated territory quality by redistributing rocks between pairs of neighboring home ranges. Rock manipulations set up adjacent plots that were either experimentally improved or reduced in quality. We incubated eggs from field-caught gravid females in each of three temperature treatments in the laboratory (low, medium, and high temperature). Progeny were released in either experimentally improved or reduced-quality plots upon hatching, and the following spring we measured survival as a function of egg size and laying date. We conducted concurrent studies of the thermal environment on experimental territories. Improved territories provided significantly more hours for lizards to behaviorally thermoregulate at their preferred body temperature and also provided nest sites with incubation conditions that were closer to optimal compared with reduced-quality plots. Reduced-quality plots were significantly more variable in quality. Finally, we measured significant correlational selection between egg mass and laying date on manipulated plots in two separate years. Results indicate the influence of environmental variation on correlational selection on life-history traits.
Interferon production during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection of nude and normal mice

SEVERAL reports1–6 have indicated that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of mice or cultured cells is not associated with interferon production. But, as was found later7 the methods used may not have been sensitive enough to detect interferon in tissues of virus infected animals. In contrast to these earlier observations, mice acutely infected with M-P virus, a virus closely related to LCMV (ref. 8), have been reported to produce interferon9. We observed a more intense and prolonged interferon response to a virus inducer in nude athymic mice (Fig. 1) as others10 have with synthetic double-stranded nucleic acids. Therefore, it seemed reasonable to study LCMV infection of nude animals carefully for interferon production in serum and infected organs. Parental strains and nude heterozygotes (Nu/+) were studied as well as the homozygous nude (Nu/Nu) animals. The results presented here indicate that interferon is made in greater quantity and persists longer during infection of Nu/Nu than of parental and Nu/+ mice.
Structured sparse representation with low-rank interference

This paper proposes a novel framework that is capable of extracting the low-rank interference while simultaneously promoting sparsity-based representation of multiple correlated signals. The proposed model provides an efficient approach for the representation of multiple measurements where the underlying signals exhibit a structured sparsity representation over some proper dictionaries but the set of testing samples are corrupted by the interference from external sources. Under the assumption that the interference component forms a low-rank structure, the proposed algorithms minimize the nuclear norm of the interference to exclude it from the representation of mul-tivariate sparse representation. An efficient algorithm based on alternating direction method of multipliers is proposed for the general framework. Extensive experimental results are conducted on two practical applications: chemical plume detection and classification in hyperspectral sequences and robust speech recognition in noisy environments to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Free and almost-free subsemigroups of a free semigroup

A subsemigroup S of a free semigroup F(@S) is almost-free if there is a free subsemigroupT such that [email protected][email protected]?F(@S) and T/S is finite. It is shown that it is decidable whether a subsemigroup generated by a regular subset of F(@S) is almost-free. Sufficient- conditions are given such that if a family F of subsets of F(@S) satisfies these conditions, then it is undecidable for [email protected]?F whether the subsemigroup generated by L is free and also whether it is almost-free.
Continuous stationary phase gradients for planar chromatographic media

Abstract A simple, elegant method for the formation of a continuous stationary phase gradient for use in chromatographic separations is described. Its applicability to separation science is demonstrated using thin-layer chromatography as a test case. Gradient stationary phases were formed on activated High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HP-TLC) plates using a newly developed methodology termed “controlled rate infusion”. Specifically, the SiOH groups on the activated HP-TLC plates were reacted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTEOS) in a time dependent fashion by using a programmable syringe pump to control the rate of APTEOS infusion into the deposition reservoir. The shape (profile) of the gradient was controlled by the rate of infusion and imaged by taking advantage of the concentration-dependent color formation reaction between amine groups and ninhydrin. The advantages of such gradients in optimizing the retention and separation of various components in different mixtures were illustrated using mixtures of (1) four weak acids and bases and (2) three widely used over-the-counter drugs. The separation of the individual components on the gradient stationary phase was clearly improved relative to those on either traditional normal-phase TLC plates or uniformly amine-modified TLC plates. Precise control over component retention and separation was also demonstrated by strategically modifying the steepness of the gradient.
Relationship between objectively measured walkability and exercise walking among adults with diabetes.

Little is known about the relationship between objectively measured walkability and walking for exercise among adults with diabetes. Information regarding walking behavior of adults with diabetes residing in 3 Upstate New York counties was collected through an interview survey. Walkability measures were collected through an environmental audit of a sample of street segments. Overall walkability and 4 subgroup measures of walkability were aggregated at the ZIP level. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis. Study participants (n = 208) were 61.0% female, 56.7% non-Hispanic White, and 35.1% African-American, with a mean age of 62.0 years. 108 participants (51.9%) walked for exercise on community streets, and 62 (29.8%) met the expert-recommended level of walking for ≥150 minutes/week. After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, BMI, physical impairment, and social support for exercise, walking any minutes/week was associated with traffic safety (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15–1.65). Walking ≥150 minutes/week was associated with overall walkability of the community (2.65, 1.22, and 5.74), as well as sidewalks (1.73, 1.12–2.67), street amenity (2.04, 1.12–3.71), and traffic safety (1.92, 1.02–3.72). This study suggests that walkability of the community should be an integral part of the socioecologic approach to increase physical activity among adults with diabetes.
Baxter v. Montana, Libertarianism, and End-of-Life: The Ripe Time for a Paradigm Shift

Baxter v. Montana (2009 WL 5155363 [Mont. 2009]) is a recent decision from the Montana Supreme Court that provides new legal insight into the societal issue of aid in dying. This case involves interests of persons with terminal illness, medical practitioners, law enforcement, legislative and judicial bodies, as well as the citizens of Montana. A summary judgment ruling at the Montana district court level was based almost entirely on a constitutional fundamental rights analysis. In contrast, the Montana Supreme Court affirming decision was based almost entirely on a statutory rights analysis. Both rulings from the Montana courts support the position that licensed prescribers in Montana who provide aid in dying assistance to terminally ill patients have some immunity from criminal prosecution. Each side in the case argued what they believed to be the intents and purposes of the people of Montana. Baxter v. Montana illustrates different methods to determine the will of the people concerning aid in dying and public policy. This case very subtly suggests a paradigm shift may be occurring in aid in dying policy.
Transitions in sensitive period attachment learning in infancy: the role of corticosterone.

Abstract Survival of altricial infants, including humans and rats, depends on attachment to the caregiver — a process that requires infants to recognize, learn, and remember their attachment figure. The demands of a dynamic environment combined with a maturing organism require frequent neurobehavioral reorganization. This restructuring of behavior and its supporting neural circuitry can be viewed through the unique lens of attachment learning in rats in which preference learning is enhanced and aversion learning is attenuated. Behavioral restructuring is well adapted to securing the crucial infant–caregiver relationship regardless of the quality of care. With maturation and the end of the infant–caregiver attachment learning period, the complex interplay of neural structures, hormones, and social behavior coordinates the developing rat's eventual transition to life outside of the nest. Nevertheless, early-life environmental and physiological stressors can alter the resilient nature of this system, particularly with respect to the amygdala, and these changes may provide important clues to understanding the lasting effects of early stress.
Design of a Class D Audio Amplifier IC Using Sliding Mode Control and Negative Feedback

In recent years, class D audio amplifiers are becoming the most feasible solution for low-voltage low- power applications due to their high efficiency property; however, to obtain good linearity for high fidelity systems is still a challenge. This work does not require the triangular carrier signal used in conventional class D audio amplifiers. It is shown that by making use of the sliding mode (SM) control technique along with an extra local feedback loop, the design parameters of a class D audio amplifier can be selected according to the linearity requirements. These techniques are applied in the design of a class D audio amplifier to yield a single-chip low distortion audio amplifier with efficiency above 90% and THD as low as 0.08%. Experimental IC results, using a commercial 0.5- mum CMOS technology verified the theoretical results.
Yttrium-90 infusion: Incidence and outcomes of delivery catheter occlusion

Purpose To determine the incidence, cause, and management of microcatheter/delivery device occlusion during Yttrium-90 microsphere infusions. Materials and Methods This is a single institution retrospective chart review of 478 resin based (Sir-Sphere) microsphere treatments in 271 patients, and 378 glass based (TheraSphere) microsphere treatments in 236 patients, performed between June 2001 and October 2012 by 6 attending interventional radiologists. Infusion data collected included type of microcatheter, hepatic artery injected, whether it was the first or subsequent radioembolization, dose given, site of occlusion along the course of the delivery system, type of microsphere, and management. Results Microcatheter and/or delivery device occlusion occured in 11 out of 478 (2.3%) resin based microsphere treatments, and 1 out of 378 (0.3%) glass based microsphere treatments. We found no statistically significant trends regarding the other variables described for investigation. One case resulted in a radiation spill/reportable event, in which the full dose was not able to be given during the treatment session. In the remainder of cases, various techniques were employed to administer the full dose during the treatment session. Conclusion Microcatheter and/or delivery device occlusion is uncommon, but can occur during infusion of Y-90 microspheres. The incidence is significantly higher with administration of resin based microspheres versus glass based microspheres, perhaps in part due to the number of spheres administered. There are techniques to reduce the chances of occlusion, and when occlusion is encountered, there are techniques that may be employed to administer the full dose during the treatment setting.
Circuit and Coil Design for In-Vitro Magnetic Neural Stimulation Systems

Magnetic stimulation of neural tissue is an attractive technology because neural excitation may be affected without requiring implantation of electrodes. Pulsed discharge circuits are typically implemented for clinical magnetic stimulation systems. However, pulsed discharge systems can confound in-vitro experimentation. As an alternative to pulsed discharge circuits, we present a circuit to deliver asymmetric current pulses for generation of the magnetic field. We scaled the system down by using ferrite cores for the excitation coil. The scaled system allows observation using electrophysiological techniques and preparations not commonly used for investigation of magnetic stimulation. The design was refined using a comprehensive set of design equations. Circuit modeling and simulation demonstrate that the proposed system is effective for stimulating neural tissue with electric-field gradients generated by time-varying magnetic fields. System performance is verified through electrical test.
African Americans Views On Health Policy: Implications For The 2004 Elections

ABSTRACT: In the competition for African American voters in the 2004 elections, health policy is likely to be an important issue. Blacks are about twice as likely as whites to say that health care ...
Immune-Activating Properties of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Improve the Outcome in a Model of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia

The Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a cytotoxin expressed by many methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains that cause community-acquired infections (CA-MRSA). Its role in virulence however, is controversial, with clinical data suggesting that PVL-producing strains may cause less severe disease in humans. PVL is capable of lysing human white blood cells, but at sublytic amounts, PVL can activate protective host immunity in the absence of cell damage. The concentration-dependent reactions it elicits from host cells could be the reason for seemingly contradictory results about PVL's role in virulence. We hypothesized that a key to understanding PVL's action on host cells and, possibly, outcomes from infection is the amount of toxin present, a hypothesis previously supported in studies using a low-inoculum skin infection model, where low levels of PVL augmented innate immune resistance to infection. Here, we present additional data supporting this hypothesis using a mouse model of MRSA pneumonia, wherein we found increased virulence of isogenic Δpvl strains and further confirmed PVL's capacity to activate proinflammatory responses from mouse and human neutrophils and pulmonary cells. Activation was measured as the production of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and KC (from human and mouse cells, respectively), as well as the release of antibacterial factors. Conversely, PVL lowered the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) produced in active pulmonary infection, while low doses induced apoptosis, suggesting that PVL also has the capacity to regulate inflammation. Our data indicate that, independent of its cytotoxic effects, PVL also plays an important and positive immunomodulatory role during MRSA infections.
Protective Planning-Horizon Procedures for a Deterministic Cash Balance Problem

The simple cash balance problem is to determine the timing, direction, and magnitude of transfers between a firm's earning asset e.g., bonds and cash balance. Recently, Blackburn and Eppen developed a forward algorithm and limited planning horizon results for a dynamic, deterministic, discrete-time version of this problem. They were able to obtain planning horizons only if an optimal plan for some subproblem included conversion of bonds to cash in the final period and a certain condition on demand was fulfilled. We derive much more general planning horizon results-the transaction is allowed to be conversion of cash to bonds, it need not be in the final period, and the special condition on demand need not be fulfilled. The methodology used is an extension of that developed by Lundin and Morton for the ordinary dynamic lot-size model. Under mild restrictions the planning-horizon procedures derived here can also be shown to be "protective"; that is, any occurring planning horizon will eventually be detected.
Subsidizing the Distribution Channel: Donor Funding to Improve the Availability of Malaria Drugs

In countries that bear the heaviest burden of malaria, most patients seek medicine for the disease in the private sector. Because the availability and affordability of recommended malaria drugs provided by the private-sector distribution channel is poor, donors (e.g., the Global Fund) are devoting substantial resources to fund subsidies that encourage the channel to improve access to these drugs. A key question for a donor is whether it should subsidize the purchases and/or the sales of the private-sector distribution channel. We show that the donor should only subsidize purchases and should not subsidize sales. We characterize the robustness of this result to four key assumptions: the product's shelf life is long, the retailer has flexibility in setting the price, the retailer is the only level in the distribution channel, and retailers are homogeneous.
A 65μA 8MHz On-Chip Oscillator with LDO regulator for low-power handheld SoC applications

This paper discusses an 8MHz square wave oscillator used for a clock signal of the digital core of a mixed signal integrated circuit (IC). The frequency is determined by a bias current that charges a capacitor until it triggers a comparator with a voltage reference as the second input. A low drop out (LDO) voltage regulator is used to supply the oscillator so that variations in the battery voltage do not affect the oscillator.. The circuits have been designed and taped out and the measured results are closed to the SPICE simulated values. The oscillator has very low power consumption of 165 μW which is very attractive for a general handheld device that is operated off of a battery.
SEXUAL FREEDOM AND SEXUAL CONSTRAINT: The Paradox for Single Women in Liaisons with Married Men

Feminist thought characterizes women's sexuality as both a source of freedom and a source of exploitation. Central to the feminist research agenda on women's sexuality is the analysis of strategies that women use to increase their sexual autonomy and reduce their sexual constraints. One such strategy is the sexual liaison between single women and married men. In this article, liaisons between single women and married men are examined from the perspective of the single woman. Data come from intensive interviews with 65 single women who have been or are involved with a married man. Gender norms play a significant role in transforming a platonic relationship into a sexual one, but once a liaison is established those norms can be curtailed. In these liaisons, single women experience greater control over their sexuality than they do in socially approved relationships because they feel freer to repudiate their sexual repressions, to abstain, to have safe sex, and to explore their sexual preferences. The article...
Contact--How Platelets Touch von Willebrand Factor

The initiation of clotting at sites of vascular injury involves the adhesion of platelets to von Willebrand factor (VWF) via the surface glycoprotein GPIba. In a Perspective, Sadler discusses a new structural analysis ( Huizinga et al.) that sheds light on how platelet GPIba interacts with VWF.
Fecal glucocorticoids: a noninvasive method of measuring adrenal activity in wild and captive rodents.

Abstract To determine the utility of fecal corticosteroid concentration as a measure of chronic stress under laboratory and field conditions, we biochemically and physiologically validated a radioimmunoassay for corticosteroids in three rodent species, house mice (Mus musculus), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and red‐back voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). The biochemical validations demonstrated that the assay accurately and precisely measured corticosteroid concentration in the feces. The physiological validation indicated that the assay was sensitive enough to detect the stress associated with (a) brief handling and bleeding of animals, (b) chronic caloric restriction, (c) exposure to a novel environment, and (d) exposure to a novel cold environment. Our results suggest that fecal measurements reflect stress levels experienced by these animals approximately 6–12 h before defecation. Therefore, given a judicious trapping and trap‐monitoring protocol, this assay has considerable utility for measuring th...
Tris­(pyrazol‐1‐yl)­methane (Tpm)

The title compound, C10H10N6, was crystallized from a methylene dichloride solution. Tpm has gained much attention of late as a neutral scorpionate ligand analogue of hydro­tris­(pyrazol-1-yl)­borate. We report here the structure of the free Tpm ligand, which shows a structure typical of a tripodal neutral ligand. The compound crystallizes in a chiral space group despite the fact that it is achiral, ideally C3v.
Singlet oxygen generation of porphyrins, chlorins, and phthalocyanines

The production of singlet oxygen was measured indirectly for three classes of photosensitizers: porphyrins (Photofrin II, TPPS4), chlorins (MACE, DACE), and a phthalocyanine (CASPc). Buffered solutions of sensitizers and singlet oxygen acceptors were irradiated with a CW dye laser and the oxygen depletion was monitored electrochemically with a Clark-type microelectrode. A comparison of oxygen-depletion rate constants and quantum efficiencies yields the order of efficiency of the sensitizers: TPPS4 greater than MACE greater than PII greater than DACE greater than CASPc. For singlet oxygen acceptors the order was: furfuryl alcohol greater than imidazole greater than tryptophan. CHO cell suspensions were also used as acceptors. Here the order of efficiency (per absorbed photon) was PII greater than MACE approximately CASPc. Expressed in terms of oxygen depletion per cell the order was CASPc approximately PII greater than MACE. When performing cell clonogenicity studies the order of efficiencies, expressed as percentage cell kill per unit weight of sensitizer, was CASPc greater than PII greater than MACE approximately DACE. The discrepancy between the efficiencies of sensitizers to generate singlet oxygen and their cytotoxicity was explained in terms of photodegradation (for the chlorins), intracellular localization (for PII), and contributions from a Type I mechanism (for CASPc).
The Consistency of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Predicts Biologic Outcomes for Human Immunodeficiency Virus—Infected Persons in Clinical Trials

We prospectively studied long-term antiretroviral adherence patterns and their impact on biologic outcomes for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants in 2 randomized, multicenter clinical trials. For the period from baseline to month 12 of the study, participants who reported adherence levels of 100%, 80%-99%, and 0%-79% had plasma HIV RNA levels that decreased by 2.77, 2.33, and 0.67 log(10) copies/mL, respectively (P<.001), whereas their CD4 counts increased by 179, 159, and 53 cells/mm(3), respectively (P<.001). Adherence predicted nondetectable HIV RNA levels (<50 copies/mL) at 12 months of follow-up (P<.001). The HIV RNA level was nondetectable in 72% of participants who reported 100% adherence at all 4 follow-up visits, compared with 66%, 41%, 35%, and 13% of participants who reported 100% adherence at 3, 2, 1, or 0 follow-up visits, respectively (P<.001). Nonwhite race was associated with poorer adherence (P<.001), and older age was associated with better adherence (P<.001).
Aluminum in Alzheimer's disease—a testable hypothesis

Abstract In this provocative hypothesis paper Dr. Eugene Roberts suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be caused by the entrance of aluminosilicates into the aging nasal mucosa. While the article is speculative it offers a testable hypothesis with experiments that could be carried out to prove or disprove the theory.
Role of Primary Cilia in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease

Cysts in the kidney are among the most common inherited human pathologies, and recent research has uncovered that a defect in cilia-mediated signaling activity is a key factor that leads to cyst formation. The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that is found on most cells in the mammalian body. Multiple proteins whose functions are disrupted in cystic diseases have now been localized to the cilium or at the basal body at the base of the cilium. Current data indicate that the cilium can function as a mechanosensor to detect fluid flow through the lumen of renal tubules. Flow-mediated deflection of the cilia axoneme induces an increase in intracellular calcium and alters gene expression. Alternatively, a recent finding has revealed that the intraflagellar transport 88/polaris protein, which is required for cilia assembly, has an additional role in regulating cell-cycle progression independent of its function in ciliogenesis. Further research directed at understanding the relationship between the cilium, cell-cycle, and cilia-mediated mechanosensation and signaling activity will hopefully provide important insights into the mechanisms of renal cyst pathogenesis and lead to better approaches for therapeutic intervention.
An Analysis of Processing Procedures: The Adaptable Approach

Archivists view themselves as intermediaries between the creators and users of records. Critical to this role is the archivist's responsibility to process collections, to impose intellectual and physical control on archival and manuscript collections. Few repositories seem to have resources sufficient to keep up with their growing backlog by processing as intensively or as extensively as is necessary. A project carried out at the Institute Archives of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from October 1978 to September 1981 with funding from NEH was intended to help the Institute Archives process its manuscript backlog. The project gave M.I.T. the opportunity to examine its processing procedures and formulate techniques that would make possible the efficient processing of manuscript and archival collections.
Transfer of pectoralis major in arthrogryposis to restore elbow flexion: deteriorating results in the long term.

We present the long-term results of pectoralis major transfer to restore elbow flexion in seven patients (ten procedures). The early results in all the patients were encouraging but with longer follow-up a gradual and progressive flexion deformity was observed with a decrease in the arc of flexion in eight elbows, reaching ≥ 90° in all cases. The results of pectoralis major transfer deteriorate with time due to the development of a recalcitrant flexion deformity of the elbow. With bilateral involvement we now recommend that the procedure be undertaken on one side only to allow the hand to reach the mouth for feeding, while the opposite side remains in extension for perineal toilet.
Epitope Mapping in Multiple Sclerosis Using the ELISPOT Assay

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which an unknown trigger initiates an immune response against brain proteins. This autoaggressive response causes the breakdown of the myelin sheaths that protect nerve axons, leading to impaired nerve conduction and subsequent neurodegeneration that are characteristic of MS. Many studies have attempted to determine the exact target within the brain. However, there appear to be multiple targets, which may change over time. No single study has examined all targets nor looked at how they can change over the course of the disease and whether these changes are related to the course of disease. We have approached this by using the single-cell resolution capability of the enzyme-linked immunospot assay to examine cytokine reactivity in MS patients in response to a very large set of overlapping peptides that span the two major proteins of myelin: myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein. Our goal was to use the enzyme-linked immunospot assay to perform comprehensive epitope mapping in relapsing-remitting MS patients in a longitudinal study to help define the role of myelin responses in disease progression.
Feeding Rate of Thysanoptera Estimated Using 14C Inulin

A technique for estimating feeding rate of Thysanoptera on artificial diet using 14C inulin is described. By feeding second-instar Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) through a membrane and measuring the amount of egested radionuclide, their feeding rate (1.24 ± 0.29 [SD] nanoliters [nl] per insect per h) at 28°C, egestion time (0.5 h), and digestive tract volume (2.54 ± 1.55 [SD] nl per insect) were estimated.
The Research of the Consistency between Public Employment Service Demand and Supply: An Analysis in Terms of both Supply and Demand

This paper closely surrounds the research project that both supply and demand as research object,use factor analysis method extract and define variable,and through three hierarchy observation variable to analyze,step by step.The outcome show that employment service condition should be improved,the demand of employment service policy is the highest,and employment service content remains to be innovative.The analysis is in terms of both sides of supply and demand,so the demand of unemployment people is distinct,and the supply of employment service department is clear.It can provide important reference of effective and efficiency supply of PES.
The rise and fall of innovation in biofuels

A look at the global landscape of biofuel patenting shows that, after surging between 2004 and 2008, the invention of biofuel technologies slowed considerably, and in many countries went into decline. Global trends point to an uncertain future, in particular, for advanced biofuels.
An ensemble model of QSAR tools for regulatory risk assessment

Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) are theoretical models that relate a quantitative measure of chemical structure to a physical property or a biological effect. QSAR predictions can be used for chemical risk assessment for protection of human and environmental health, which makes them interesting to regulators, especially in the absence of experimental data. For compatibility with regulatory use, QSAR models should be transparent, reproducible and optimized to minimize the number of false negatives. In silico QSAR tools are gaining wide acceptance as a faster alternative to otherwise time-consuming clinical and animal testing methods. However, different QSAR tools often make conflicting predictions for a given chemical and may also vary in their predictive performance across different chemical datasets. In a regulatory context, conflicting predictions raise interpretation, validation and adequacy concerns. To address these concerns, ensemble learning techniques in the machine learning paradigm can be used to integrate predictions from multiple tools. By leveraging various underlying QSAR algorithms and training datasets, the resulting consensus prediction should yield better overall predictive ability. We present a novel ensemble QSAR model using Bayesian classification. The model allows for varying a cut-off parameter that allows for a selection in the desirable trade-off between model sensitivity and specificity. The predictive performance of the ensemble model is compared with four in silico tools (Toxtree, Lazar, OECD Toolbox, and Danish QSAR) to predict carcinogenicity for a dataset of air toxins (332 chemicals) and a subset of the gold carcinogenic potency database (480 chemicals). Leave-one-out cross validation results show that the ensemble model achieves the best trade-off between sensitivity and specificity (accuracy: 83.8 % and 80.4 %, and balanced accuracy: 80.6 % and 80.8 %) and highest inter-rater agreement [kappa (κ): 0.63 and 0.62] for both the datasets. The ROC curves demonstrate the utility of the cut-off feature in the predictive ability of the ensemble model. This feature provides an additional control to the regulators in grading a chemical based on the severity of the toxic endpoint under study.
Photonic analog-to-digital converter design optimization through photodiode pulsed response

To optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a photonically-sampled analog-to-digital converter, we simulate and experimentally verify the pulsed laser response of two commercial-off-the-shelf PIN photodiodes with respect to their 3-dB bandwidths. A 12.3-GHz photodiode showed an SNR advantage of 7.19 dB over a 4.6-GHz photodiode.
Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Borylation

Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective borylation of C(sp3)–H bonds has been realized for the first time using chiral acetyl-protected aminomethyl oxazoline ligands. This reaction is compatible with carbocyclic amides containing α-tertiary as well as α-quaternary carbon centers. The chiral β-borylated amides are useful synthons for the synthesis of chiral β-hydroxylated, β-fluorinated, and β-arylated carboxylic acids.
Small firms, new technologies and human resources requirements in Chile

What is the effective impact of the recent wave of technological change on small firms in traditional industries? An empirical survey of small knitwear producers in Chile shows that technological change tends to concentrate heavily on machinery upgrading, while the diffusion of new organizational techniques is lagging. Overall, new technologies seem to have little impact on the skills requirements or training activities of small firms; however, they seem to contribute to a stricter task distribution within the firm, instead of the flatter organizational structure now heralded as 'best practice' for modernizing enterprises. This specificity of the impact of technical change in small firms is important for public policy, and should be considered in the design of appropriate actions in the areas of education and training, technical assistance and institutional support.
The Challenge of Effective Daylighting

Effective use of daylight in buildings is a fundamental consideration for minimizing the carbon impacts of the built environment and for creating indoor environments that support the comfort, performance and well-being of building occupants. Highly glazed, “transparent” facades have become iconic images for buildings promoted as “sustainable,” “green,” or “high-performance,” but these designs often fail to capture the claimed energy savings and may be thermally and visually uncomfortable. Little guidance exists for designers to examine how human-factors objectives such as daylight sufficiency, visual comfort and view should be defined, measured, and evaluated in context with whole-building energy objectives to establish confidence that goals for project performance can be realized after value engineering, construction, commissioning and occupancy. The integration of facade technologies, controls, and other building systems with occupant needs and the reality of building operations is a complex task, which requires a comprehensive and continuous approach. This book argues that effective daylighting requires the development of strategies and methods that acknowledge the needs and behaviors of building occupants as a critical determinant of long-term energy performance. The book defines effective daylighting with specific energy and human-factors performance objectives. It presents a range of promising daylighting design strategies and discusses them in context with simulation-based workflows and project case studies. Finally, the book presents and discusses the ongoing evolution of the glazing, shading and light control technologies and systems that underlie daylight solutions, and the applicability of emerging methodologies for optimizing and validating daylighting performance.
Thin film In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As Schottky diodes for rectification and photodetection of 28.3 THz radiations

THz and IR detections have generated tremendous interests lately due to their safe non-intrusion nature, and thus have a wide applicability in medical, security, and x imaging. In this work, thin film Au-In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As Schottky device are fabricated for 28.3 THz detection. The schematic of the device is shown in Fig. 1, consisting of the thin film Schottky diode and a bowtie antenna. This device structure and design enables dual detection processes; rectification and photodetection. For rectification, a reduced capacitance and a reduced series resistance [1] are achieved by having a small contact area of 140 nm × 140 nm and by using a thin film of 30 nm, which is thinner than the depletion width in the diode [2]. Simultaneously, the thin film allows hot electrons to be generated in both electrodes; resulting in a net photocurrent with the application of DC voltage. The ability to have a simultaneous detection processes result in a relatively high responsivity, which is important for imaging quality.
Pullback Attractor Crisis in a Delay Differential ENSO Model

We study the pullback attractor (PBA) of a seasonally forced delay differential model for the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); the model has two delays, associated with a positive and a negative feedback. The control parameter is the intensity of the positive feedback and the PBA undergoes a crisis that consists of a chaos-to-chaos transition. Since the PBA is dominated by chaotic behavior, we refer to it as a strange PBA. Both chaotic regimes correspond to an overlapping of resonances but the two differ by the properties of this overlapping. The crisis manifests itself by a brutal change not only in the size but also in the shape of the PBA. The change is associated with the sudden disappearance of the most extreme warm (El Nino) and cold (La Nina) events, as one crosses the critical parameter value from below. The analysis reveals that regions of the strange PBA that survive the crisis are those populated by the most probable states of the system. These regions are those that exhibit robust foldings with respect to perturbations. The effect of noise on this phase-and-parameter space behavior is then discussed. It is shown that the chaos-to-chaos crisis may or may not survive the addition of small noise to the evolution equation, depending on how the noise enters the latter.
Incarcerated Right Lateral Trocar-Site Hernia as a Rare Complication of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Abstract Background: Trocar-site hernia (TSH) is an uncommon complication following laparoscopic surgery and a potential cause of significant morbidity if bowel incarceration or strangulation occur...
Total penile reconstruction: A systematic review

Summary Background Phalloplasty poses a unique challenge to the plastic and reconstructive surgeon. The development of advanced microsurgical techniques has greatly augmented the range of surgical approaches available. Methods A systematic review of the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases was performed to identify clinical studies of total penile reconstruction published within the last 10 years using the search algorithm: “(phallus or penis or penile) and (reconstruction or phalloplasty or transplant)”. Results The primary literature search retrieved 1400 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were selected for review. The radial forearm free flap is the preferred technique for total phalloplasty; however, other techniques including the fibular osteocutaneous flap, anterolateral thigh flap, latissimus dorsi flap, scapular free flap, and abdominal flap are described. Background, indications, and preoperative and postoperative care are also discussed. Conclusions Total penile reconstruction can provide functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial benefits to the patient. Use of the radial forearm free flap has been proposed as the gold standard; however, the wide range of potential complications associated with phalloplasty warrants an individualized approach to each patient.