cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ihh controls cartilage development by antagonizing Gli3, but requires additional effectors to regulate osteoblast and vascular development

Indian hedgehog (Ihh) controls multiple aspects of endochondral skeletal development, including proliferation and maturation of chondrocytes, osteoblast development and cartilage vascularization. Although it is known that Gli transcription factors are key effectors of hedgehog signaling, it has not been established which Gli protein mediates Ihh activity in skeletal development. Here, we show that removal of Gli3 in Ihh -null mouse embryos restored normal proliferation and maturation of chondrocytes, but only partially rescued the defects in osteoblast development and cartilage vascularization. Remarkably, in both Ihh -/- and Ihh -/- ; Gli3 -/- embryos, vascularization promoted osteoblast development in perichondrial progenitor cells. Our results not only establish Gli3 as a critical effector for Ihh activity in the developing skeleton, but also identify an osteogenic role for a vasculature-derived signal, which integrates with Ihh and Wnt signals to determine the osteoblast versus chondrocyte fate in the mesenchymal progenitors.
Racial/ethnic differences in perineal, vaginal and cervical lacerations

Objective: To determine if variation exists between ethnicities for risk of perineal, vaginal, and cervical laceration at vaginal delivery. Study design: Retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women who underwent vaginal delivery of a vertex presentation. Predictor variable was ethnicity with outcome variables cervical, vaginal, and second-, third-, or fourth-degree perineal laceration. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to control for confounders. Results: Of the 17,216 who met criteria, Filipino (OR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.64-2.25) and Chinese (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.33-1.92) women were at greatest risk for third- and fourth-degree laceration. Only Filipino (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.57) and other Asian (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.41) women were at slightly increased risk of vaginal laceration. No differences were seen for cervical laceration. Conclusion: Different ethnicities are at widely varying risk of perineal laceration, but little difference exists for vaginal or cervical lacerations. Research into the mechanisms behind this should investigate differences in perineal anatomy.
INVESTIGATION OF NON-SETTLING POLYMERIZABLE INVERSE-EMULSIONS AT LOW SURFACTANT AND HIGH MONOMER CONCENTRATION

ABSTRACT Polymerized inverse-macroemulsions based on acrylamide and the quaternary ammonium dimethylaminoethyl acrylate were studied and were found to be stable for periods exceeding three months. These low or ‘non’ settling inverse-emulsions were produced by blending small amounts of sorbitan fatty acid esters and polyethoxylated sorbitans with ABA-type block copolymeric surfactants based on similar constituents. Inverse-laticies were produced which had a majority of their particle size distribution below 200 nm, with individual means as low as 120 nm. The effect of the aqueous-to-organic phase, the comonomer composition, the synthesis temperature, and the temperature peak for semi-adiabatic syntheses were investigated to elucidate their respective roles in stabilization. The minimum level of surfactant required for stability, under various conditions, was also estimated. The relationship between the stability, particle diameter and transparency of the inverse-latex is discussed.
Diacylglycerol kinase α establishes T cell polarity by shaping diacylglycerol accumulation at the immunological synapse.

Polarization of the T cell microtubule–organizing center (MTOC) to the immunological synapse between the T cell and an antigen-presenting cell (APC) maintains the specificity of T cell effector responses by enabling directional secretion toward the APC. The reorientation of the MTOC is guided by a sharp gradient of the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG), which is centered at the immunological synapse. We used a single-cell photoactivation approach to demonstrate that diacylglycerol kinase α (DGK-α), which catalyzes the conversion of DAG to phosphatidic acid, determined T cell polarity by limiting the diffusion of DAG. DGK-α–deficient T cells exhibited enlarged accumulations of DAG at the immunological synapse, as well as impaired reorientation of the MTOC. In contrast, T cells lacking the related isoform DGK-ζ did not display polarization defects. We also found that DGK-α localized preferentially to the periphery of the immunological synapse, suggesting that it constrained the area over which DAG accumulated. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity was required for the peripheral localization pattern of DGK-α, which suggests a link between DAG and phosphatidylinositol signaling during T cell activation. These results reveal a previously unappreciated function of DGK-α and provide insight into the mechanisms that determine lymphocyte polarity.
Partition configuration for real-time systems with dependencies

We present an analytical framework for formulating partition configuration problems in real-time systems with dependencies, particularly applicable to modeling systems with multiple criticality or security levels. Partition configuration constraints for real-time tasks include affinity and conflict. We also discuss the application of the framework to arbitrary partition schedulers, harmonic partition execution, and round robin partition execution (which is particularly problematic). Our interest is in minimizing end-to-end latency, though the computational complexity of the problem prevents us from finding optimal results. We conclude with some open problems.
Are oxocarbon dianions aromatic

Assessment of the cyclic electron delocalization of the oxocarbon dianions, CnOn2- and their neutral counterparts CnOn (n = 3−6), by means of structural, energetic, and magnetic criteria, shows that C3O32- is doubly aromatic (both σ and π cyclic electron delocalization), C4O42- is moderately aromatic, but C5O52-, as well as C6O62-, are less so. Localized orbital contributions, computed by the individual gauge for localized orbitals method (IGLO), to the nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) allow π effects to be disected from the σ single bonds and other influences. The C−C(π) contribution to (NICS(0,π) (i.e., at the center of the ring) in oxocarbon dianions decreases with ring size but shows little ring size effect at points 1.0 A above the ring. On the basis of the same criteria, C4O4 exhibits cyclic electron delocalization due to partial occupancy of the σ CC bonds. However, the dissociation energies of all the neutral oxocarbons, CnOn, are highly exothermic.
Battery State of Health Monitoring by Side Reaction Current Density Estimation via Retrospective-Cost Subsystem Identification

This paper introduces a method to estimate battery state of health (SoH) via health-relevant electrochemical features. Battery state of health estimation is a critical part of battery management because it allows for balancing the trade-off between maximizing performance and minimizing degradation. In this paper, a health-relevant electrochemical feature, the side reaction current density, is used as the indicator of battery SoH. An estimation algorithm is required due to the unavailability of the side reaction current density via noninvasive methods. In this paper, Retrospective-Cost Subsystem Identification (RCSI) is used to estimate the side reaction current density via identification of an unknown battery health subsystem that generates the side reaction current density. Simulation results are provided for constant current charge and discharge cycles with different C rates. A current profile for an electric vehicle (EV) going through Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) cycles is also used as the excitation signal during estimation. The simulations show promising results in battery health dynamic identification and side reaction current density estimation with RCSI. NOMENCLATURE j Electrode name, where p stands for the cathode and n stands for the anode. cs Li-ion concentration in the solid phase. [mol=m 3 ] cse Solid-electrolyte interface Li-ion concentration. [mol=m 3 ] J1; j Intercalation current density. [A=m 3 ] J j Total current density. [A=m 3 ] Jsd Side reaction current density. [A=m 3 ] fe; j Potential of electrolyte phase. [V ] fs; j Potential of solid phase. [V ] R j Radius of electrodes. [m] Ds Diffusion coefficient in solid phase. [m 2 =sec 3 ] k e f f Conductivity of electrolyte. [S=m] s e f f Conductivity of solid phase. [S=m] as; j Specific surface area of porous electrodes. [1=m 3 ] i0; j Intercalation exchange-current density. [A=m 2 ] h j Overpotential for intercalation reaction.[V ] aa; j Anodic transfer coefficients of electrochemical reaction. ac; j Cathodic transfer coefficients of electrochemical reaction. F Faraday constant. 96487 [C=mol] R Universal gas constant. 8.314 [J=mol] T Temperature. [K]
Interaction of transient shelf currents with a buoyancy-driven coastal current

Observations on the inner New Jersey shelf (1996) showed that transient wind-driven currents of 3–4-day periods strongly interacted with a buoyancy-driven coastal current (or buoyant plume) originating from the Hudson estuary. In particular, the depth-averaged current fluctuations were amplified in the buoyant water. This phenomenon is studied here using a primitive equation numerical model (SPEM5). Transient (periodic) shelf currents are introduced in the form of incident barotropic shelf waves (BSW). The model domain is an idealized channel with open upstream/ downstream boundaries and the depth exponentially increasing offshore, which allows the BSW propagation through the model domain. In most cases, the wave period is five days. The buoyancydriven coastal current is forced by constant buoyant discharge through a coastal gap. Propagating BSWs reduce the growth of a buoyant anticyclonic bulge at the source region while a coastal current downstream from the source contains more buoyant water with a sharper density gradient in the frontal zone compared to the case without BSWs. The amplitude of vertically averaged transient currents increases in the buoyant layer (for instance, by 20–30% for the inflow density anomaly of 3 to 4 kg m ). This amplification depends on the density anomaly of buoyant inflow. On the other hand, variations in the inflow velocity and/or the net transport do not affect the BSW amplification. The amplification of velocity amplitude is associated with the incident BSW scattering into higher wave modes. The total energy flux should remain approximately the same as BSWs propagate through the domain. The higher modes have lower group speeds and thus their amplitudes should be higher in order to maintain the same energy flux. Such interactions of transient currents with buoyant plumes are important for the mixing processes and the across-shelf exchange on the inner shelf.
Heat capacities of amino acids, peptides and proteins

The heat capacity is one of the fundamental parameters describing thermodynamic properties of a system. It has wide applications in a number of areas such as polymer chemistry, protein folding and DNA stability. To aid the scientific community in the analysis of such data, I have compiled a database on the experimentally measured heat capacities of amino acids, polyamino acids, peptides, and proteins in solid state and in aqueous solutions.
Lattice QCD and fundamental parameters of the Standard Model

Our present theory for the elemental particles in nature, the Standard Model, consists of 6 leptons and 6 quarks, plus the 4 bosons which mediate the electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces. The theory has several free parameters which must be constrained by experiment before it is entirely predictive. In Nature quarks never appear alone; only bound states of strongly coupled valence quarks (and/or anti-quarks) are detected. Consequently, the parameters governing quark flavor mixing are difficult to constrain by experiment, which measures properties of the bound states. Numerical simulations are needed to connect the theory of how quarks and gluons interact, quantum chromodynamics (formulated on a spacetime lattice), to the physically observed properties. Recent theory innovations and computer developments have allowed us finally to do lattice QCD simulations with realistic parameters. This paper describes the exciting progress using lattice QCD simulations to determine fundamental parameters of the Standard Model.
The transfer point is a novel measure of embryo placement

Abstract Objective To study the relationship between IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes and measures of embryo placement. Design Case–control study. Setting Tertiary care center. Patient(s) Twenty-three patients who underwent two ultrasonography-guided ETs, of which one resulted in a clinical pregnancy and the other did not. Main outcome measure(s) Point of embryo placement normalized to the endometrial cavity length (the transfer point), distance from the point of embryo placement to the uterine fundus, time required for ET, contact with the uterine fundus, and evidence of trauma. Videotaped ETs were quantitatively analyzed. Result(s) From February 1, 2000, to March 31, 2001, videotaped ETs from 23 pairs of pregnant and nonpregnant cycles were identified. Embryo placement was more shallow in pregnancy cycles than in nonpregnancy cycles. The groups did not differ in the absolute distance of embryo placement to the fundus, ovarian stimulation, or other features of the ET. Conclusion The transfer point may serve as a better marker of embryo position than does the absolute distance to the uterine fundus.
Association of specific gravity with dry-matter content and weight of Irish potato tubers.

Specific gravity and dry-matter content determinations were made on 50 tubers of both varieties of Irish potatoes grown at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and at Crossville, Tennessee.
Effective systems engineering on an accelerated schedule

This paper analyzes the tasks and activities that comprise the classic systems engineering (SE) process, addresses the relative time requirements for these activities, and identifies techniques that can be utilized to compress SE time requirements. It is hopeful that this analysis will help engineers to make informed decisions about how to compress the systems development life cycle time requirements and the implications of these decisions.
When Women Ask the Questions: Creating Women's Studies in America

In this text, the author traces the successes and failures of women's studies, 25 years after the establishment of the first women's studies programme. She examines the field's induring impact on the world of higher education and concludes that the rise of women's studies has challenged the university in the same way that feminism has challenged society at large. Setting women's studies in the larger context of American higher education during a century of women's efforts to gain equality in the academic professions, Boxer narrates the history of the field and explores the philosophical and political goal of its practitioners. She examines the present status of women's studies in various types of institutions and traces the impact of a quarter century of feminist scholarship, teaching and academic advocacy since the founding of the first such programme at San Diego State University in 1970. She also comments on the field's increasing international presence. Drawing on experience as a historian, feminist, academic adminstrator and former chair of a women's studies programme, Boxer observes that by working for justice - and for changes necessary to make the attainment of justice a practical possibility - women's studies ensures that women are heard in the processes and places where knowledge is created, taught and preserved. The intellectual transformation behind the emergence of women's studies, Boxer concludes, is one of historic proportions. She asserts that, in common with other great moments in human experience, it has given rise to a flowering of art, literature and science, and to the challenging of previously accepted authorities of text and tradition.
Evaluation of Risk Factors for Rectus Sheath Hematoma

Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) develops due to rupture of epigastric arteries or the rectus muscle. Although RSH incidence rate is low, it poses a significant diagnostic dilemma. We evaluated the risk factors for RSH, its presentation, management, and outcomes for 115 patients hospitalized with confirmed RSH by computed tomography scan between January 2005 and June 2009. More than three-fourth (77.4%) of the patients were on anticoagulation therapy, 58.3% patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥3, 51.3% had abdominal injections, 41.7% were on steroids/immunosuppressant therapy, 37.4% had abdominal surgery/trauma, 33.9% had cough, femoral puncture was performed in 31.3% of patients, and 29.5% were on antiplatelet therapy. Rectus sheath hematoma was not an attributable cause in any of the 17 deaths. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with CKD stage ≥3 (P = .03) or who required transfusion (P = .007). Better understanding of RSH risk factors will facilitate early diagnoses and improve management.
Yttrium-90 microsphere induced gastrointestinal tract ulceration

Background Radiomicrosphere therapy (RT) utilizing yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres has been shown to be an effective regional treatment for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. We sought to determine a large academic institution's experience regarding the extent and frequency of gastrointestinal complications.
Effect of a High-Protein Diet on Kidney Function in Healthy Adults: Results From the OmniHeart Trial

Background Consumption of a diet high in protein can cause glomerular hyperfiltration, a potentially maladaptive response, which may accelerate the progression of kidney disease. Study Design An ancillary study of the OmniHeart trial, a randomized 3-period crossover feeding trial testing the effects of partial replacement of carbohydrate with protein on kidney function. Setting & Participants Healthy adults (N=164) with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension at a community-based research clinic with a metabolic kitchen. Intervention Participants were fed each of 3 diets for 6 weeks. Feeding periods were separated by a 2- to 4-week washout period. Weight was held constant on each diet. The 3 diets emphasized carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat; dietary protein was either 15% (carbohydrate and unsaturated fat diets) or 25% (protein diet) of energy intake. Outcomes Fasting serum creatinine, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Measurements Serum creatinine, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin collected at the end of each feeding period. Results Baseline cystatin C-based eGFR was 92.0±16.3 (SD) mL/min/1.73 m2. Compared with the carbohydrate and unsaturated fat diets, the protein diet increased cystatin C-based eGFR by ∼4 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P Limitations Participants did not have kidney disease at baseline. Conclusions A healthy diet rich in protein increased eGFR. Whether long-term consumption of a high-protein diet leads to kidney disease is uncertain.
Past and future trees: structures for predicting vehicle trajectories in real-time

We propose a data structure that stores previously observed vehicle paths in a given area in order to predict the forward trajectory of an observed vehicle at any stage. Incomplete vehicle trajectories are conditioned against in a Past Tree, to predict future trajectories in another tree structure - a Future Tree. Many use cases in transportation simulation benefit from higher validity by considering historical paths in determining how to route vehicle entities. Instead of assigning static and independent turn probabilities at intersections, the storage and retrieval of historical path information can give a more accurate picture of future traffic trends and enhance the capabilities of real-time simulations to, say, inform mobile phone users of expected traffic jams along certain segments, direct the search efforts of law enforcement personnel, or allow more effective synchronization of traffic signals.
Effect of a clinical pharmacy education program on improvement in the quantity and quality of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis for medically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) recommends unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in medically ill patients. Despite these recommendations, a previous analysis at our institution revealed a low utilization of VTE prophylaxis in medically ill patients. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of a pharmacy-driven education program on the quantity and quality of VTE prophylaxis in medically ill patients. METHODS: An educational program focusing on the importance of VTE prophylaxis in medically ill patients was developed by clinical pharmacists and presented to nurses, pharmacists, and physicians in a 493-bed community teaching hospital. The educational program was conducted between June 2002 and June 2003 and consisted of in-service presentations, newsletters, and quality assurance presentations on VTE prophylaxis. The educational program focused on 4 main points: (1) hospitalized medically ill patients are at risk for developing VTE, (2) how to
Continuous preference trend mining for optimal product design with multiple profit cycles

Product and design analytics is emerging as a promising area for the analysis of largescale data and usage of the extracted knowledge for the design of optimal system. The continuous preference trend mining (CPTM) algorithm and application proposed in this study address some fundamental challenges in the context of product and design analytics. The first contribution is the development of a new predictive trend mining technique that captures a hidden trend of customer purchase patterns from accumulated transactional data. Unlike traditional, static data mining algorithms, the CPTM does not assume stationarity but dynamically extracts valuable knowledge from customers over time. By generating trend embedded future data, the CPTM algorithm not only shows higher prediction accuracy in comparison with well-known static models but also provides essential properties that could not be achieved with previously proposed models: utilizing historical data selectively, avoiding an over-fitting problem, identifying performance information of a constructed model, and allowing a numeric prediction. The second contribution is the formulation of the initial design problem which can reveal an opportunity for multiple profit cycles. This mathematical formulation enables design engineers to optimize product design over multiple life cycles while reflecting customer preferences and technological obsolescence using the CPTM algorithm. For illustration, the developed framework is applied to an example of tablet PC design in leasing market and the result shows that the determination of optimal design is achieved over multiple life cycles. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4026937]
Diversification of andromonoecy in Solanum section Lasiocarpa (Solanaceae): the roles of phenotypic plasticity and architecture

Quantitative analyses of sexual expression show extensive interspecific variation in the strength of andromonoecy (proportions of hermaphroditic and staminate flowers) among Solanum species in the monophyletic section Lasiocarpa. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and inter- and intra-inflorescence architecture in the diversification of andromonoecy within this small clade were analyzed. Four species that represent a range of expression of andromonoecy were examined. Staminate flowers produced within inflorescences ranged from 3% (S. candidum )t o 7% (S. ferox) in weakly andromonoecious species and from 39% (S. pseudolulo) to 60% (S. quitoense) in more strongly andromonoecious species. Manipulation of fruit set on clonal replicates of multiple genotypes demonstrated variation among species for phenotypic plasticity. The strongly andromonoecious species, S. pseudolulo and S. quitoense, were not plastic and produced a large proportion of staminate flowers regardless of fruiting treatment, whereas S. candidum and S. ferox were phenotypically plastic and produced significantly more staminate flowers in the presence of developing fruit. Staminate flower production of all four species varied both within and among inflorescences. A greater proportion of staminate flowers were produced in distal (later produced) inflorescences. Within inflorescences, hermaphroditic flowers occurred in basal positions, whereas staminate flowers, when produced, occurred more distally. This pattern of staminate flower production is qualitatively the same in all species investigated; however, quantitative variation in the transition from hermaphroditic to staminate flower production within and among inflorescences is associated with variation in the strength of andromonoecy. At least three factors have contributed to the diversification of andromonoecy in section Lasiocarpa including the presence or absence of phenotypic plasticity in response to fruit set, quantitative variation in intraand inter-inflorescence architectural effects, and total flower production.
Optimal Sequencing Strategies for Surveying Molecular Genetic Diversity

Two commonly used measures of genetic diversity for intraspecies DNA sequence data are based, respectively, on the number of segregating sites, and on the average number of pairwise nucleotide differences. Expressions are derived for their variance in the presence of intragenic recombination for a panmictic population of fixed size that is at neutral equilibrium at the region sequenced. We show that, in contrast to the slow decrease in variance with increasing sample size, if the recombination rate is nonzero, the asymptotic rate of decrease of variance with increasing sequence length, for fixed sample size, is quite rapid. In particular, it is close to that which would be obtained by sequencing independent chromosome regions. The correlation between measures of diversity from linked regions is also examined. For a given total number of bases sequenced in a particular region, optimal sequencing strategies are derived. These typically involve sequencing relatively few (three to 10) long copies of the region. Under optimal strategies, the variances of the two measures are very similar for most parameter values considered. Results concerning optimal sequencing strategies will be sensitive to gross departures from the underlying assumptions, such as population bottlenecks, selective sweeps, and substantial population substructure.
Wash Away Your Troubles: Examining the Effect of Organization and Information Availability with a Car Wash Cashier Interface

An existing car wash user interface was evaluated and redesigned to improve novice and experienced-user performance by implementing human factors methods. Researchers conducted a heuristic evaluation, user needs, environmental, and task analyses to outline usability issues within the existing system, in addition to critical considerations regarding the redesign. Results revealed five areas of difficulty within the existing system: organization, visibility, visual distractions, system feedback, and error correction. Researchers generated design strategies to mitigate the aforementioned areas of difficulty, and incorporated them into prototype iterations. A/B usability testing was conducted with the prototype iterations to compare novice and experienced-user performance with horizontal and vertical navigation bars containing and excluding price information. Results indicated that overall the revised system was a success, with the horizontal no price iteration being most effective. However, there were severa...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in the United States. Although it is recognized that moderate intensity long-term exercise can decrease the chances of dying from cardiovascular disease by favorably modifying risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance, physical activity also enhances longevity by mechanisms independent of these risk factors. This review briefly summarizes what is known about the inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis and how long-term aerobic exercise can reduce the atherogenic activity of endothelial cells, blood mononuclear cells, and adipose tissue.
Revision of the bee genus Chlerogella (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Part IV: A new species from southwestern Colombia

A new species of the diverse augochlorine bee genus Chlerogella Michener (Halictinae: Augochlorini) is described and figured from southwestern Colombia. Chlerogella anchicaya Engel, Gonzalez, & Hinojosa-Diaz, new species, is similar to C . agaylei Engel and C . materdonnae Engel, both occurring on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador. There are also some similarities with C . eumorpha Engel from the western Andean foothills in northern Ecuador, but differences in rostral length and male terminalia can distinguish these species. Revised couplets are provided to the South American species of Chlerogella to permit identification of the new species.
Remote palpation technology

One of a surgeon's most important tools is a highly developed sense of touch. Surgeons rely on sensations from the finger tips to guide manipulation and to perceive a wide variety of anatomical structures and pathologies. Unfortunately, new surgical techniques separate the surgeon's hands from the surgical site. These techniques include minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopy and thoracoscopy, and new techniques involving robotic manipulators. In these situations the surgeon's perception is limited to visual feedback from a video camera, or gross motion and force feedback through the handles of long instruments. The authors are working to develop new technology to rectify this sensory deficit by relaying tactile information from the surgical site to the surgeon. They have developed a variety of tactile sensors that can be mounted in a probe or surgical instrument. The tactile information provided by these sensors may then be conveyed through the tactile display devices the authors have developed to recreate the tactile stimulus directly on the surgeon's finger tip. By using these remote palpation devices, the surgeon may regain some of the perceptual and manipulative skills present in conventional open-incision surgery. Among the tactile feedback parameters the authors are investigating are force reflection, vibration, and small-scale shape. >
Correlation between intraluminal oxygen gradient and radial partitioning of intestinal microbiota.

Background & Aims The gut microbiota is a complex and densely populated community in a dynamic environment determined by host physiology. We investigated how intestinal oxygen levels affect the composition of the fecal and mucosally adherent microbiota. Methods We used the phosphorescence quenching method and a specially designed intraluminal oxygen probe to dynamically quantify gut luminal oxygen levels in mice. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the microbiota in intestines of mice exposed to hyperbaric oxygen, human rectal biopsy and mucosal swab samples, and paired human stool samples. Results Average Po 2 values in the lumen of the cecum were extremely low ( Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla associated with rectal mucosa, compared with feces. A consortium of asaccharolytic bacteria of the Firmicute and Bacteroidetes phyla, which primarily metabolize peptones and amino acids, was associated primarily with mucus. This could be owing to the presence of proteinaceous substrates provided by mucus and the shedding of the intestinal epithelium. Conclusions In an analysis of intestinal microbiota of mice and human beings, we observed a radial gradient of microbes linked to the distribution of oxygen and nutrients provided by host tissue.
Apparent soil electrical conductivity: applications for designing and evaluating field-scale experiments

On-farm field-scale research has become increasingly common with the advent of new technologies. While promoting a realistic systems perspective, field-scale experiments do not lend themselves to the traditional design concepts of replication and blocking. Previously, a farm-scale dryland experiment in northeastern Colorado was conducted to evaluate apparent electrical conductivity (EC"a) classification (within-field blocking) as a basis for estimating plot-scale experimental error. Comparison of mean-square (MS) errors for several soil properties and surface residue mass measured at this site, with those from a nearby plot-scale experiment, revealed that EC"a-classified within-field variance approximates plot-scale experimental error. In the present study, we tested these findings at a second and disparate experimental site, Westlake Farms (WLF) in central California. This 32ha site was EC"a mapped and partitioned into four and five classes using a response-surface model. Classification based on EC"a significantly delineated most soil properties evaluated (0-0.3 and/or 0-1.2m) and effectively reduced MS error ([email protected]?0.10). The MS's for several soil properties evaluated at the site were then compared with those of an associated plot-scale experiment; most MS's were not significantly different between the two levels of scale ([email protected]?0.05), corroborating results from the Colorado experiment. These findings support the use of within-field EC"a-classified variance as a surrogate for plot-scale experimental error and a basis for roughly evaluating treatment differences in non-replicated field-scale experiments. This alternative statistical design may promote field-scale research and encourage a reversal in research direction wherein research questions identified in field-scale studies are pursued at the plot-scale.
Urges for food and money spill over into motor system excitability before action is taken

Much human behavior is driven by urges. Yet research into urges is hampered by a paucity of tools to objectively index their strength, timing and control. Here we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and concurrent electromyography to examine whether urges for food and money are detectable via motor system excitability. In Experiment 1, we used a naturalistic food paradigm to show that food items that were most strongly wanted elicited the largest motor excitability, even before participants knew which response to make to get them. In Experiment 2a, we replicated the results using money – motor excitability was greater for larger monetary amounts. In Experiment 2b we show that monetary amount does not modulate motor excitability when participants simply observe, without having to take action. As the chief effect occurred prior to the subject knowing which motor response to make, it is not merely related to response preparation, and as the effect was present only when action was required, it is not merely related to increased arousal. Instead, the increased motor excitability likely indexes the degree of motivation a subject has to perform an action. Thus, we have used TMS to demonstrate that urges for food and money ‘spill over’ into the motor system. This is likely mediated by interactions between the limbic system (including the orbital frontal cortex) and the motor system, probably at the level of the basal ganglia. Implications are discussed for theories of embodied cognition and for methodological progress in studying urge control.
LQG/LTR control system design for a low-pressure feedwater heater train with time delay

An LQG/LTR control system design is formulated for a nuclear reactor feedwater heater train with output time delay. This approach involves factoring the feedwater heater train plant into nonminimum and minimum-phase components to allow the design of a robust controller for the minimum-phase component of the plant using the LQG/LTR technique. The nonminimum phase component takes the form of an all-pass filter containing the RHP zeroes of the first-order approximation of the time-delay component. Using this nonminimum phase all-pass filter, certain singular-value multiplicative error bounds can be established to obtain a stable control system when using the LQG/LTR design technique on the minimum-phase component of the plant. Novel analysis methods using singular values are integrated into the conventional singular-value performance and stability robustness analysis procedure. These methods allow computation of the maximum allowable time delay before instability occurs for both SISO and MIMO (single-input-single-output and multiple-input-multiple-output) control systems. >
Movement planning and movement execution: What is in between?

Although the model proposed by Thelen and co-authors provides a detailed explanation for the processes underlying reaching, many aspects of it are highly speculative. One of the reasons for this is our lack of knowledge about transformation of a hand movement plan into joint movements. The leading joint hypothesis (LJH) allows us to partially fill in this gap. The LJH offers a possible explanation for the formation of movement and how it may be represented in memory. Our explanation converges with the dynamic model described in the target article.
Water Vapor Layers in STORM-FEST Rawinsonde Observations*

Abstract The STORM-FEST (Fronts Experiment Systems Test) rawinsonde data were analyzed to determine the abundance and characteristics of moist layers within the troposphere. A moist layer was defined as a local maximum in relative humidity with lower relative humidity air above and below. Moist layers under the criteria occur in over half the soundings with an average location between 600 and 500 mb and an average thickness of approximately 120 mb. The layers also appeared to be more nearly aligned with isentropic, rather than isobaric, surfaces. Compositing of relative humidity profiles with a layer at approximately the same level showed an increase in lapse rate at the top of moist layers indicating that the layers are contained by dynamic mechanisms. In addition, there was no diurnal cycle to the characteristics of the layers. These factors suggest a close relationship between the layers and large-scale dynamics. An examination of spatial continuity suggests a horizontal scale of a few hundred kilomete...
The relationship between voice climate and patients' experience of timely care in primary care clinics.

BACKGROUND Aspects of the patient care experience, despite being central to quality care, are often problematic. In particular, patients frequently report problems with timeliness of care. As yet, research offers little insight on setting characteristics that contribute to patients' experience of timely care. PURPOSE The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between organizational climate and patients' reports of timely care in primary care clinics and to broadly examine the link between staff's work environment and patient care experiences. We test hypotheses about the relationship between voice climate--staff feeling safe to speak up about issues--and reported timeliness of care, consistency in reported voice climate across professions, and how climate differences for various professions relate to timely care. METHODOLOGY We conducted a cross-sectional study of employees (n = 1,121) and patients (n = 8,164) affiliated with 37 clinics participating in a statewide reporting initiative. Employees were surveyed about clinics' voice climate, and patients were surveyed about the timeliness of care. Hypotheses were tested using analysis of variance and generalized estimating equations. FINDINGS Clinical and administrative staff (e.g., nurses and office assistants) reported clinics' climates to be significantly less supportive of voice than did clinical leaders (e.g., physicians). The greater the difference in reported support for voice between professional groups, the less patients reported experiencing timely care in three respects: obtaining an appointment, seeing the doctor within 15 minutes of appointment time, and receiving test results. In clinics where staff reported climates supportive of voice, patients indicated receiving more timely care. Clinical leaders' reports of voice climate had no relationship to reported timeliness of care. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Our findings suggest the importance of clinics developing a strong climate for voice, particularly for clinical and administrative staff, to support better service quality for patients.
Waiting for a miracle.

Despite all the evidence, Joan clung to "false" hope for her father-with a surprising result.
Macroergonomic Principles of Automated Performance Measurement

Retail associate productivity has increased dramatically over the last 15 years with the use of ever more sophisticated scanners and point of sale (POS) terminals. Data warehouses enable businesses to store remarkable detail about each transaction. Analyses of these data tend to focus on the items sold and money collected. However, if these systems also collect timestamp data of important events during transactions retailers would then have the basis for measuring associate activity.This paper discusses the macroergonomic principles that must guide the design of cashier performance measurement systems in the retail setting. Following these guidelines leads not only to increased manager effectiveness, but also to more accurate measurement of activity. It can also improve associates morale and the likelihood of incenting desirable and productive behaviors. These principles are generalizable to other domains in which automated performance measurement takes place.
Computer Text Shading Algorithm Based on Perception of Luminance

With raster display systems, images on a monitor show jaggedness, because they are defined by integer coordinates of the monitor. This jaggedness is called an aliasing effect. To reduce this, engineers developed algorithms. One well-known algorithm is supersampling. This is accomplished by sampling at a higher resolution and reducing the sampled data to a lower resolution. We overlaid arrays of a 3times3 matrix on a text (supersampling) and reduced each array to a pixel on a monitor. In this process, engineers determined the level of the pixel luminance-intensity linearly to the number of elements painted in each array. Instead of using such direct, linear transformation, we determined the level of brightness, not the level of the pixel intensity, to produce better shading. Brightness, not luminance, is subjective. We created nine sets of gray levels based on this algorithm. We ran two experiments to choose the optimal gray-level set. In Experiment 1, participants chose the more legible of two letters sha...
CANCER OF THE CERVIX UTERI; GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Cervical cancer is primarily a local disease. Regional and distant metastases do not occur as often as one might expect. It' is of utmost importance that the primary tumor be treated adequately. In selecting therapy the likelihood of metastasis to regional lymph nodes is an important factor since such extension has a direct bearing on prognosis.
Data confidentiality and integrity

The root cause of most security vulnerabilities is memory corruption. Previous research focused on preventing memory corruptions attackers use to change the program's intended control-flow. As these protections become more refined and widely deployed, attackers will resort to non-control data attacks. Non-control data attacks do not divert the intended control-flow, but simply read or write data in unintended ways by abusing a temporal or spatial memory safety error or a type error. A recent example of this is the HeartBleed bug where a buffer overflow allows an attacker to read the server's private key. This example shows that non-control data attacks can be just as damaging as control-flow hijack attacks. Data Confidentiality and Integrity (DCI) augments the C programming language with a small set of annotations which allow the programmer to select protected data types. The compiler and runtime system prevent illegal reads and writes to variables of these types. The programmer selects types that contain information such as password lists, cryptographic keys, or identification tokens. Allowing the programmer to choose the protected data reduces overhead. Total memory protection mechanisms have been proposed, but have not been widely adopted due to prohibitively high overhead. With DCI, the programmer can specify the subset of security critical data and only pay the protection overhead cost of that subset --- rather than all the data in the program. Our prototype shows the practicality of our approach. It effectively protects benchmarks and large programs.
Grouped regression analysis—A sedimentologic example

When sample data are divided into groups, and observations consist of the independent variable xand associated dependent variable y,a logical form of analysis is “grouped regression.” This statistical technique allows testing of the relationship between the two variables and assessment of how the relationship is affected by the grouping. A sedimentologic example illustrates the usefulness of such a technique in classifying environments of deposition based on the size of quartz grains and the quartz content.
Genetic analysis of eight breast-ovarian cancer families with suspected BRCA1 mutations.

BRCA1 is a breast cancer-related tumor suppressor gene located on human chromosome 17q21. Inherited mutations in BRCA1 are thought to be responsible for approximately half of all inherited breast cancer and to confer increased risk for ovarian, colon, or prostate cancer. Studies of affected families and population-based studies have provided some information on the prevalence of BRCA1 mutations in Caucasian U.S. and European populations as well as on the penetrance of these mutations. We review the available data on the epidemiology of breast cancer with specific reference to BRCA1. In addition, we describe the genetic analysis of one large family with multiple affected individuals now known to harbor a BRCA1 germline mutation but initially identified by genetic linkage analysis. This family is presented as a model of the challenges that can be encountered in genetic analysis of familial forms of cancer. To this end, we compare the outcome of analysis before and after the identification of a mutation that predisposes family members to early-onset breast and ovarian cancers. We describe seven additional families with evidence of linkage between breast cancer and genetic markers in the BRCA1 region. Each of these families generated a 2-point LOD (i.e., logarithm of the odds) score greater than 1.18 for at least one polymorphic marker flanking BRCA1. These families have formed the basis of our efforts to characterize BRCA1 mutations. First-pass mutation analysis using the single-strand conformation polymorphism approach failed to identify any mutations in the seven families. We consider the possible reasons for the apparent low mutation-detection efficiency.