cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Individual differences in aggressive and peaceful behavior: new insights and future directions

Consistent individual differences in animal behaviour are an increasingly common focus of research across various behavioural and biological sciences. Such ‘animal personalities’ comprise a diverse repertoire of behavioural tendencies, recently expanding to incorporate the social domain. Aggression and peace, hallmarks of many social systems including that of humans, warrant integration with this literature. Specifically, animal personality research should consider the potential role of stable conflict and post-conflict behavioural tendencies. We focus our discussion primarily on examples in nonhuman primates and humans, but suggest that individual variation patterns are relevant for any social species in which these phenomena exist. In highly gregarious species, an individual’s conflict and post-conflict tendencies can affect the strength and stability of its social bonds. Because social relationships in turn impact survival and reproductive success, we also encourage future work to investigate the ultimate (i.e., fitness-relevant) consequences of individual variation in aggressive and peaceful behaviour.
Four-dimensional MRI using an internal respiratory surrogate derived by dimensionality reduction

This study aimed to develop a practical and accurate 4-dimensional (4D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method using a non-navigator, image-based internal respiratory surrogate derived by dimensionality reduction (DR). The use of DR has been previously suggested but not implemented for reconstructing 4D MRI, despite its practical advantages. We compared multiple image-acquisition schemes and refined a retrospective-sorting process to optimally implement a DR-derived surrogate. The comparison included an unconventional scheme that acquires paired slices alternately to mitigate the internal surrogate's dependency on a specific slice location. We introduced 'target-oriented sorting', as opposed to conventional binning, to quantify the coherence in retrospectively sorted images, thereby determining the minimal scan time needed for sufficient coherence. This study focused on evaluating the proposed method using digital phantoms which provided unequivocal gold standard. The evaluation indicated that the DR-based respiratory surrogate is highly accurate: the error in amplitude percentile of the surrogate signal was less than 5% with the optimal scheme. Acquiring alternating paired slices was superior to the conventional scheme of acquiring individual slices; the advantage of the unconventional scheme was more pronounced when a substantial phase shift occurred across slice locations. The analysis of coherence across sorted images confirmed the advantage of higher sampling efficiencies in non-navigator respiratory surrogates. We determined that a scan time of 20 s per imaging slice was sufficient to achieve a mean coherence error of less than 1% for the tested respiratory patterns. The clinical applicability of the proposed 4D MRI has been demonstrated with volunteers and patients. The diaphragm motion in 4D MRI was consistent with that in dynamic 2D imaging which was regarded as the gold standard (difference within 1.8 mm on average).
A GMM Approach for Dealing with Missing Data on Regressors

Missing data are a common challenge facing empirical researchers. This paper presents a general GMM framework and estimator for dealing with missing values of an explanatory variable in linear regression analysis. The GMM estimator is efficient under assumptions needed for consistency of linear-imputation methods. The estimator, which also allows for a specification test of the missingness assumptions, is compared to existing linear imputation, complete data, and dummy variable methods commonly used in empirical research. The dummy variable method is generally inconsistent even when data are missing completely at random, and the dummy variable method, when consistent, can be less efficient than the complete data method.
Influence of Transplant Center Procedural Volume on Survival Outcomes of Heart Transplantation for Children Bridged with Mechanical Circulatory Support

Transplant center expertise improves survival after heart transplant (HTx) but it is unknown whether center expertise ameliorates risk associated with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) bridge to transplantation. This study investigated whether center HTx volume reduced survival disparities among pediatric HTx patients bridged with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), or no MCS. Patients ≤18 years of age receiving first-time HTx between 2005 and 2015 were identified in the United Network of Organ Sharing registry. Center volume was the total number of HTx during the study period, classified into tertiles. The primary outcome was 1 year post-transplant survival, and MCS type was interacted with center volume in Cox proportional hazards regression. The study cohort included 4131 patients, of whom 719 were supported with LVAD and 230 with ECMO. In small centers (≤133 HTx over study period), patients bridged with ECMO had increased post-transplant mortality hazard compared to patients bridged with LVAD (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12, 0.71; p = 0.006) and patients with no MCS (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19, 0.57; p < 0.001). Interactions of MCS type with medium or large center volume were not statistically significant, and the same differences in survival by MCS type were observed in medium- or large-volume centers (136–208 or ≥214 HTx over the study period). Post-HTx survival disadvantage of pediatric patients bridged with ECMO persisted regardless of transplant program volume. The role of institutional ECMO expertise outside the transplant setting for improving outcomes of ECMO bridge to HTx should be explored.
Sorting Carbon Nanotubes

Sorting of single-wall carbon nanotubes by their electronic and atomic structures in liquid phases is reviewed in this chapter. We first introduce the sorting problem, and then provide an overview of several sorting methodologies, following roughly the chronological order of their development over the past 15 years or so. Major methods discussed include ion-exchange chromatography, density-gradient ultracentrifugation, selective extraction in organic solvents, gel chromatography, and aqueous two-phase extraction. A main focus of the review is on the common mechanisms underlining all sorting processes. We propose that differences in solvation among different nanotube species are the ultimate driving force of sorting, and we corroborate this proposal by presenting analysis on how the differences are realized in electronic-structure-based sorting and atomic-structure-based sorting. In the end, we offer some suggestions on future directions that may grow out of carbon nanotube sorting. In particular, the prospect of expanding the function of DNA/carbon nanotube hybrid to control inter-particle interactions both inside and outside the nanotube is discussed.
Solid-state supercapacitor cell based on 3D nanostructured MnO 2 /CNT microelectrode array on graphite and H 3 PO 4 /PVA electrolyte

Abstract Rapid development of portable consumer electronics has promoted the need for lightweight, flexible, environmentally friendly, high safety, and highly efficient energy storage technology. Herein, we present the fabrication and characterization of three dimensional (3D) nanostructured supercapacitor microelectrode arrays using manganese dioxide and carbon nanotubes (MnO 2 /CNTs) on graphite foil substrate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) solid polymer electrolyte for integration into a solid-state supercapacitor cell, without any additives or binders. A low-cost, hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) process was used to synthesize vertically aligned 3D CNT microelectrode arrays, which act as the current conductors, directly on a flexible, conducting graphite foil current collector. Thin-film MnO 2 deposition on the CNTs was achieved by an electrochemical technique using in-situ reduction of KMnO 4 , without any supporting electrolyte, which provides excellent bonding between the two for enhanced stability. Electrochemical characterization in aqueous electrolyte (KCl) yielded capacitance of 721 mF or 858 F·g − 1 at 1 mV·s − 1 scan rate. After assembling the solid-state supercapacitor cell, we obtained nearly 1.4 F or 830 F·g − 1 at 1 mV·s − 1 in a symmetric configuration. Maximum specific power value of 73.9 kW·kg − 1 and a maximum specific energy of 115.2 Wh·kg − 1 was achieved. The solid-state device exhibits excellent cycling stability with a capacitance loss of only 11% after 3000 cycles. Detailed fabrication and characterization results have been presented.
A Flexible Authorization Architecture for Systems of Interoperable Medical Devices

Robust authentication and authorization are vital to next-generation distributed medical systems - the Medical Internet of Things (MIoT). However, there is yet no good authorization model for real-time multi-channel data from systems of heterogeneous devices providing multiple physiological parameters for clinicians who may change on a minute-by-minute basis. We present a flexible authorization architecture for interoperable medical systems, and an implementation and evaluation in the context of the Medical Device Coordination Framework (MDCF) high-assurance middleware. Our framework is based on the well-studied Attributed Based Access Control model, but we introduce a new method of attribute inheritance that provides more fine-grained access control, supporting multiple different authorization levels for multiple physiological data channels from the same device, and rich and expressive policy specification which facilitates plug-and-play connectivity of devices - most do not require pre-specification of individual permissions. Our architecture is standards-compliant and modular, using the eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML), and Axiomatics Language for Authorization (ALFA) for policy specification, and standalone authorization modules which can be integrated with other platforms such as OpenICE. We stress-test our implementation in a realistic distributed system configuration, and show that the unoptimized system introduces negligible network and storage overhead, and minimal memory and CPU overhead.
Man and Machines in Psychology: Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence

Viewpoints concerning the relationships of man and machines, including the problems of computers as thinking machines, the brain as an intelligent computer, et cetera, are reviewed critically. Various classes of machines are described which are seen as behavioral aids with their inventions, operations, and programs credited to persons.
Intersectin-1s deficiency in pulmonary pathogenesis

Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a multidomain adaptor protein, plays a vital role in endocytosis, cytoskeleton rearrangement and cell signaling. Recent studies have demonstrated that deficiency of ITSN-1s is a crucial early event in pulmonary pathogenesis. In lung cancer, ITSN-1s deficiency impairs Eps8 ubiquitination and favors Eps8-mSos1 interaction which activates Rac1 leading to enhanced lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. Restoring ITSN-1s deficiency in lung cancer cells facilitates cytoskeleton changes favoring mesenchymal to epithelial transformation and impairs lung cancer progression. ITSN-1s deficiency in acute lung injury leads to impaired endocytosis which leads to ubiquitination and degradation of growth factor receptors such as Alk5. This deficiency is counterbalanced by microparticles which, via paracrine effects, transfer Alk5/TGFβRII complex to non-apoptotic cells. In the presence of ITSN-1s deficiency, Alk5-restored cells signal via Erk1/2 MAPK pathway leading to restoration and repair of lung architecture. In inflammatory conditions such as pulmonary artery hypertension, ITSN-1s full length protein is cleaved by granzyme B into EHITSN and SH3A-EITSN fragments. The EHITSN fragment leads to pulmonary cell proliferation via activation of p38 MAPK and Elk-1/c-Fos signaling. In vivo, ITSN-1s deficient mice transduced with EHITSN plasmid develop pulmonary vascular obliteration and plexiform lesions consistent with pathological findings seen in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. These novel findings have significantly contributed to understanding the mechanisms and pathogenesis involved in pulmonary pathology. As demonstrated in these studies, genetically modified ITSN-1s expression mouse models will be a valuable tool to further advance our understanding of pulmonary pathology and lead to novel targets for treating these conditions.
Generation of nanoclusters by ultrafast laser ablation of Al: Molecular dynamics study

The laser ablation of materials induced by an ultrashort femtosecond pulse is a complex phenomenon, which depends on both the material properties and the properties of the laser pulse. A combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and momentum scaling model (MSM) methods is applied to a large atomic system to study the process of ultrafast laser-material interactions, behavior of matter in a highly nonequilibrium state, material disintegration, and formation of nanoclusters (NCs). Laser pulses with several fluences in the range from $500\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{J}/{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ to $5000\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{J}/{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ interacting with a large system of aluminum atoms are simulated. The response of Al to laser energy deposition is investigated within the finite-size laser spot. It is found that the shape of the plasma plume is dynamically changing during expansion. At several tens of picoseconds it can be characterized as a long hollow ellipsoid surrounded by Al atoms and NCs. The time evolution of NCs in the plume is investigated. The collisions between single Al atoms and generated NCs and fragmentation of large NCs determine the fractions of different-size NCs in the plume. The MD-MSM simulations show that laser fluence greatly affects the size distribution of NCs, their polar angles, and magnitude and direction vectors of NC velocities. These results and predictions are consistent, in many aspects, with the experimental data and previous MD simulations.
Association of Accelerometry-Measured Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Events in Mobility-Limited Older Adults: The LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) Study.

BackgroundData are sparse regarding the value of physical activity (PA) surveillance among older adults—particularly among those with mobility limitations. The objective of this study was to examin...
Science Pathways in Education

Barriers and Opportunities for 2-Year and 4-Year STEM Degrees: Systemic Change to Support Students' Diverse Pathways . By National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. (ISBN: 978-0-309-37357-9). Paperback. $54.00. Barriers and Opportunities for 2-Year and 4-Year STEM Degrees is generated from many white papers compiled on a multitude of factors affecting undergraduate STEM student success. The data extracted from these white papers illuminates the numerous influences that can affect STEM degree attainment. The book begins with two overarching questions: (1) Why do so many students who start out pursuing STEM lose interested before degree completion, and (2) How can we improve the quality of the STEM educational experience? The authors go a step further and identify several common barriers to STEM education success: poor advising; not prepared for rigor; stereotypes from faculty or peers; unwelcome environments; and uninspired teaching. Early on in the book, we are re-acquainted with some hopeful facts and figures that are likely familiar. For instance, those holding STEM degrees have higher salaries and lower levels of unemployment than other fields. …
Lower Extremity Tibia and Fibula Shaft Fractures

Tibia and fibula fractures can occur in both high-energy and low-energy mechanisms and are among the most common long-bone fractures. Due to the subcutaneous nature of the medial tibia, this bone is often associated with open fractures. Compartment syndrome is also a concern in patients with tibia and fibula factures. Treatment can range from casting, to intramedullary nailing, to plating, to external fixation depending on the location and type of fracture.
Lipid Clinics as Disease Management Programmes in the United States

Aggressive lipid disorder therapy in both primary and secondary prevention has been shown to reduce progression of coronary heart disease, reduce mortality and clinical events and ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Outpatient cardiac centres, diabetic treatment clinics, multispecialty medical groups, primary care medicine, and health management organisations currently have a unique opportunity to establish cost-effective lipid management programmes. Lipid clinics involve more than drug therapy and formulary management. Lipid clinics fit well within the genre of disease management; they target algorithmically driven therapy to high risk populations using intensive patient education, frequent follow-up and proven behaviour change strategies. Properly planned and organised, lipid clinics significantly enhance therapeutic compliance and lipid goal achievement compared with usual care. Successful lipid clinic operation also requires judicious staffing, sufficient patient volume, efficient referral mechanisms, tracking of outcomes measures, business development skills, and eventual integration with more comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk reduction services. This systematic approach to lipid management and cardiovascular disease risk reduction will afford meaningful opportunities for physician groups and integrated healthcare systems who aspire to reduce the unnecessary burden of premature cardiovascular disease.
What are Non-Crystalline Semiconductors

We are presently participating in the development of a fascinating new field of solid-state physics. Although glasses have been known for over 10,000 years and during the course of a day you are likely to encounter more noncrystalline than crystalline solids, there is hardly a solid-state textbook which mentions glassy or amorphous materials. The beginning of our field is difficult to pin down. In the 1950’s KOLOMIETS [1] showed that chalcogenide glasses behaved like intrinsic semiconductors and that their electrical conductivity could not be increased by adding dopants. In 1957 SPEAR [2] reported the first drift mobility measurements in vitreous Se and TAUC [3] reported the first studies on amorphous Ge in the early 1960’s. Many more scientists were drawn to our field through the work of OVSHINSKY [4]: the discovery of switching and memory effects in chalcogenide glasses. These as well as optical memory effects, imaging, photodoping, and the reversible photostructural changes suggested possibilities for new applications of noncrystalline semiconductors. These phenomena demonstrated that there was a large field of material science which was virtually unexplored.
Ortho-Skew and Ortho-Sym Matrix Trigonometry

This paper introduces some properties of two families of matrices: the Ortho-Skew, which are simultaneously orthogonal and skew-Hermitian, and the real Ortho-Sym matrices, which are orthogonal and symmetric. These relationships consist of closed-form compact expressions of trigonometric and hyperbolic functions that show that multiples of these matrices can be interpreted as angles. The analogies with trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, such as the periodicity of the trigonometric functions, are all shown. Additional expressions are derived from some other functions of matrices such as the logarithm, exponential, inverse, and power functions. All these relationships show that the Ortho-Skew and the Ortho-Sym matrices can be respectively considered as matrix extensions of the imaginary and the real units.
A Retrospective Review Demonstrating the Feasibility of Discharging Patients Without Opioids After Ureteroscopy and Ureteral Stent Placement.

Abstract Purpose: Efforts have begun to implement nonopioid protocols for outpatient urologic surgery. In this study, we report a retrospective review of the feasibility of implementing a nonopioid...
System Level Power Integrity Analysis with Physics-Based Modeling Methodology

A physics-based circuit modeling methodology is proposed in this paper for system level power integrity (PI) analysis. The circuit model is extracted by following the current paths in the system PDN based on cavity model and plane-pair PEEC models. The modeling methodology connects the footprints of geometry details to the PDN input impedance looking into the system from the IC chip. With further reductions of the physics-based circuit model, an engineering circuit model which explains the hierarchical charge delivery mechanism is proposed. The engineering circuit model reveals the role of PDNs from each level in the system. A commercial PDN system with a complex organic package, high-layer-count printed circuit board, and IC is used to validate the modeling methodology in the paper. The PDN input impedance has a good match with the impedance profile simulated with a commercial PI analysis tool for the system. The engineering circuit model is also validated for the PI analysis. The modeling methodology illustrates the fundamental physics in the PDN charge delivery and can be used for other PI analysis later.
Demography and Condition of Brown Lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) During Cyclic Density Fluctuations Near Barrow, Alaska

We analyzed data collected from 19 428 necropsied brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) collected over a period of 22 years near Barrow, Alaska. Here we report on seasonal and cyclic patterns in reproductive activity of females and males, population structure, adult body size, condition (weight per unit length and body fat), and wounding. We also provide the first detailed information on these characteristics at low population densities. The seasonal pattern of reproduction included short summers (about 2.5 months) with intense reproduction, long winters (about 6.5 months) with moderate reproduction, and virtual cessation of breeding during the short springs and autumns (1.5 months each). Overall sex ratios appeared equal, but the proportion of males decreased during summer. The proportion of immature lemmings increased in late summer and autumn after intense summer breeding, then declined in winter. Adult body weight and condition (weight per unit length) peaked in summer when the food supply also peaked, but body fat, though still minimal, peaked in winter. The greatest incidence of wounding occurred in males, but wounding increased in both sexes during early summer, the period of most intense breeding. As reported previously for arvicoline rodents, a longer summer reproductive season occurred during the low and increase phases, but no change in litter size occurred during the cycle. Contrary to earlier reports, a much lower frequency of pregnancy occurred during the high phase, but later reproductive maturation during the high phase received little support. The sex ratio generally changed little during the course of a population cycle, but the proportion of females did decline during springs when the population increased to high densities. We found a greater proportion of adults during the high and decreasing phases, reflecting the reduced reproduction during those phases. Higher body weights and better condition of adults occurred during high densities. Wounding (fresh scars from bites) also peaked during years with high densities, though only for adult males and non-reproductive females. Overall, it appeared that nutrition strongly influenced seasonal changes in reproduction, population structure, and body condition; predation affected both seasonal and cyclic changes in population structure and survival; and that nutrition, and perhaps social strife, caused cyclic changes in reproduction, survival, and body size.
Fragment-Based Approaches for Supramolecular Interaction Energies: Applications to Foldamers and Their Complexes with Anions.

We explore the application of our multilayer Molecules-in-Molecules (MIM) fragment-based method for the study of the energies in supramolecular systems, viz. foldamers and their anion bound complexes. The performance of five different density functional theory (DFT) methods in conjunction with the fragmentation-based method is evaluated against the unfragmented energies for a test set of 5 foldamers (82 to 170 atoms). A systematic protocol has been developed to account for the π···π interactions in such systems in addition to the traditional fragmentation of the system along the backbone comprised of covalently bonded dimer (or trimer) units. We find a significant improvement in the performance of the method on going from a one-layer MIM1 model (errors >10 kcal/mol) to a two-layer MIM2 model (errors 0–2 kcal/mol), due to the incorporation of long-range interactions in the latter approach. Furthermore, we extend the applicability of MIM2 models to determine accurate binding energies of macromolecular recep...
A simulation-based evaluation of warehouse check-in strategies for improving inbound logistics operations

Abstract Inbound logistics is a vital step in warehouse receiving processes and has a direct impact on supply chain cost and performance. As a result of an inefficient check-in operation, the incoming trucks may experience inordinate wait times between arrival and check-in, which in turn leads to unnecessary cost to the company in the form of detention fees (a penalty for holding the truck and driver beyond the agreed upon time) and delayed delivery of subsequent consignments. Moreover, prolonged idling of queuing trucks is not environmentally sustainable as it increases the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), a primary contributor to climate change, in the atmosphere. This research is motivated by a case study of one of the largest consumer goods companies in the US, which pays over a million dollars in detention fees every year. The trucks entering the facility under study encounter an average waiting time of approximately an hour. The primary objective of this paper is to minimize the detention fees paid to the carrier by enhancing the check-in process of the inbound trucks, and the secondary goal is to reduce the CO2 emissions. Different check-in policies (staging area, dynamic dispatching rules, and automated technology) are proposed and compared to the current operations using discrete-event simulation models. The results suggest the adoption of a staging area with dynamic dispatching rule in the short-term as it requires minimal capital investment and achieves substantially lower detention fee and CO2 emission. A more expensive yet superior alternative is the use of automated technology for check-in processing as it eliminates detention fee and reduces the CO2 emissions from the trucks by 80%. The modeling approach and proposed dispatching rules are generic and can be adopted by any facility characterized by long waiting time for check-in and high detention fees.
The Intersection of Academia and Practice: Publishing in Leading U.S. Accounting Organizations' Journals

The Pathways Commission (2012, 30) advocates wide dissemination of "practice-relevant research to practitioners." Likewise, the AACSB (2018) indicates the importance of having an impact on practice...
Assessing the Accuracy of an Outdoor Augmented Reality Solution for Mapping Underground Utilities

AbstractAugmented reality (AR) has been identified as a technique that can enhance information extraction from the virtual world to the real world and improve the access and utilization of informat...
Generating Light with Orbital and Spin Angular Momenta in Silicon Waveguides using Berry's Phase

We utilize out-of-plane waveguides exhibiting Berry's phase to generate guided light carrying angular momentum. The normalized output orbital and spin angular momenta are computed to be 0.85 and 0.15 per photon, respectively, at 1550 nm wavelength.
Exploring New and Modified Rejection-Type Thresholds Using Cricket Snack Crackers

Recently, sensory threshold concepts have been expanded to include affective perceptions of foods and beverages, especially measures of product rejection; however, each threshold interpretation depends largely on the methodology employed. By substituting cricket powder for whole-wheat flour in snack crackers (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), we proposed modifications to two existing threshold methodologies: a modified consumer rejection threshold (M-CRT) using a 2-alternative choice (2-AC) preference test with "no preference" option; and a modified hedonic rejection threshold (M-HRT) based on less-than-neutral hedonic scores according to a one-sample t-test. We also proposed two new concepts: a rejection tolerance threshold (RTT) and an associated rejection range (RR), based on a binomial acceptability question and a probit regression model. These new methods provide more realistic interpretations of rejection-type thresholds based on user-defined allowable rejection levels, or "rejection tolerance" (for RTT), and a model-derived stimulus range (RR) to capture the rejection level of interest while providing flexibility for product formulation. All thresholds were investigated separately for color, flavor, texture and overall perception, elucidating differential sensorial effects of our novel ingredient on the food matrix. We suggest that conducting all demonstrated techniques in a single testing session gives a more expansive view of rejection thresholds while requiring minimal additional resources.
Deep Multimodal Sparse Representation-Based Classification

In this paper, we present a deep sparse representation based fusion method for classifying multimodal signals. Our proposed model consists of multimodal encoders and decoders with a shared fully-connected layer. The multimodal encoders learn separate latent space features for each modality. The latent space features are trained to be discriminative and suitable for sparse representation. The shared fully-connected layer serves as a common sparse coefficient matrix that can simultaneously reconstruct all the latent space features from different modalities. We employ discriminator heads to make the latent features discriminative. The reconstructed latent space features are then fed to the multimodal decoders to reconstruct the multimodal signals. We introduce a new classification rule by using the sparse coefficient matrix along with the predictions of the discriminator heads. Experimental results on various multimodal datasets show the effectiveness of our method.
Virtual reality and embodied experience induce similar levels of empathy change: Experimental evidence

Abstract The theory of psychological proximity implies that individuals should empathize with others more the closer their own experience is to that of the target group. Recent technological developments, namely virtual reality (VR), may help expand our ability to empathize with others by increasing perceived closeness. While some researchers find that virtual reality can elicit empathy, others find mixed results. Building on this previous research, we ask: is virtual reality more effective at eliciting empathy than other empathy-inducing activities, specifically an ‘embodied’ experience? An embodied experience attempts to recreate the experience of the target group to bring the participant closer to the lived experience of the target. To do this, we use an experimental design to compare different activities hypothesized to increase empathy towards a psychically distant group: 1). a virtual reality experience (being virtually present with a woman who must carry water from a distant source to provide for her family), and 2). an embodied experience (carrying water jugs for 10 ​min). Our main findings indicate that both treatments were effective at eliciting attitude change for both water issues and for gendered water issues. VR was not appreciably better at eliciting empathy or donations compared to an embodied experience.
Controlling contamination of milk and reducing udder infection using practical steps in dairy hygiene

Hygienic procedures as practiced on the modern dairy play a primary role in maintaining high standards for quality in milk production and in reducing the incidence of mastitic infections which have become the major economic disease influencing dairy production profits.
No pain, no gain: Sensory neurons heal a sunburn.

Summary In a recent issue of Nature, Hoeffel et al. describe a novel pathway of sterile tissue repair utilizing a mouse model of sunburn. This wound healing pathway is coordinated by sensory neuron-derived TAFA4 that induces IL-10 production from Tim4+ dermal macrophages to prevent sustained inflammation and the emergence of tissue fibrosis.
Why Did This Happen to Me? Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathophysiology of IBD

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, together termed inflammatory bowel diseases, are diseases that affect mostly the large and small intestine. They are characterized by inflammation in the intestine that sometimes is more active and, at other times, stays quiet or in remission. The exact reason why people develop these conditions is not known, but several possible reasons have been proposed. As infants develop over the first 2–4 years of life, they establish a pattern of bacteria in their intestine. This varies between different individuals but there are broad patterns. There are also immune cells that develop in the lining of the intestine that is meant to ignore one’s normal bacteria or “good bacteria” but attack potential invading organisms such as those causing food poisoning or “bad bacteria.” For reasons that are not completely clear, in some individuals the immune cells lose the ability to recognize the bacterial pattern as being normal or your own and start making chemicals called cytokines that lead to inflammation and subsequent damage to the lining. We think that there is a definite contribution of genetics to this; a family history of IBD is one of the strongest risk factors for developing disease in an individual. But there are also additional important contributions from the patterns of bacteria in the intestine; for example, studies have shown that the patterns of bacteria in people developing Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are different from those who do not. Additionally there is also an important contribution of the external environment in influencing both the pattern of bacteria and the immune system response. These may include factors such as smoking, diet, use of antibiotics, and stress or depression. There are approximately 1–1.5 million people in the USA with inflammatory bowel disease, so most people know at least one person with IBD.
The Travel and Tourism Research Association International Conference

The Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) held their 2015 International Conference in Portland, Oregon from 15 to 17 June. The event was spearheaded by the Conference Chair, Jeffery Eislin...
Dual focal adhesion kinase/Pyk2 inhibitor has positive effects on bone tumors: implications for bone metastases.

BACKGROUND. Lytic bone metastases occur frequently in cancer patients and present major clinical issues including lack of effective therapies. The mechanism of lytic bone metastases involves interactions between tumor cells, bone matrix, and bone cells. Both focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Pyk2 are implicated in the biology and physiology of bone and cancer. METHODS. The efficacy of PF-562,271 was evaluated using MDA-MB-231 cells implanted in the tibia of nude rats. The drug was administered orally at a dose of 5 mg/kg, 7 days per week for 28 days. Serum and urine biomarkers, imaging, and histologic techniques were deployed to monitor tumor take rate, disease progression, and response to therapy. RESULTS. The compound was well tolerated. Both compound-treated groups demonstrated significant and similar increases in osteocalcin and cancellous bone parameters. Radiographic evaluation of tumor-bearing tibiae revealed tumor expansion in nontreated rats compared with a decrease in tumor growth and signs of bone healing in rats treated with PF-562,271. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis revealed that the majority of bone resorption at the tumor site was performed by osteoclasts of rat origin. CONCLUSIONS. The oral administration of PF-562,271 at a dose of 5 mg/kg suppressed the growth and local spread of intratibial tumors and restored tumor-induced bone loss. The unique ability of PF-562,271 to both curb tumor growth and safely increase bone formation may be an effective therapy for many cancer patients with bone metastases and cancer-associated osteoporosis. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Substantial hydrogen solubility in olivine and implications for water storage in the mantle

WATER plays an important role in geodynamic processes in the Earth's upper mantle: for example, hydrogen (as water) affects the amount and composition of magma generated by partial melting1 and a trace amount of hydrogen ( ∼0.001 wt% water) can markedly weaken the dominant upper-mantle mineral, olivine2,3. Migration of hydrogen ions may be responsible for the anomalously high electrical conductivity of the asthenosphere4. The quantitative importance of hydrogen in mantle processes must depend on how much water or hydrogen can be stored in nominally anhydrous olivine, and on where hydrogen resides in the olivine lattice. Here we report the results of hydrothermal experiments on olivine single crystals, which show that at 1,573 K and 50–300 MPa, olivine can accommodate as much as 0.0034 wt % water. Hydrogen solubility depends on hydrogen fugacity and oxygen fugacity to the first and the one-half powers, respectively, indicating that hydrogen ions are associated with either oxygen interstitials or magnesium vacancies. Extrapolation of our data to a depth of ∼ 100 km under oceanic areas yields a substantial hydrogen solubility (0.03 wt % water), demonstrating that olivine may indeed be a primary sink for hydrogen in the upper mantle.
Functional activity and regulation of human beta 2-adrenergic receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The recently cloned human beta-adrenergic cDNA and several mutated forms have been expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes by injection of RNA made from the cDNA under the control of the bacteriophage SP6 promoter. The cDNA and gene of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor possess the unusual feature of having a second upstream ATG (-101 base pairs) and a 19-codon open reading frame 5' to the initiator methionine codon of the receptor (Kobilka, B. K., Dixon, R. A. F., Frielle, T., Dohlman, H. G., Bolanowski, M., Sigal, I. S., Yang-Feng, T. L., Francke, U., Caron, M. G., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 46-50). RNA lacking this upstream AUG and open reading frame was translated approximately 10-fold more efficiently both in an in vitro rabbit reticulocyte system and in oocytes. Injected oocytes but not water injected controls expressed typical beta 2-adrenergic receptors as assessed by ligand binding (450 fmol/mg membrane protein) and catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase (approximately 20 fold). Moreover, these receptors displayed typical agonist-induced homologous desensitization when oocytes were incubated with isoproterenol at room temperature for 3-24 h. Among a series of mutations, truncations of the membrane-anchored core of the receptor eliminated receptor binding and cyclase stimulating activity. In contrast, disruption of one of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation sites or removal of the serine/threonine-rich carboxyl terminus had little or no effect on these functions or on the extent of agonist-induced desensitization relative to that observed with native receptor. These studies validate the beta 2-adrenergic nature of the cloned human beta-adrenergic cDNA, document the utility of the Xenopus oocyte system for studying functional and regulatory properties of receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase, and suggest the possibility that elements in the 5' untranslated region of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor RNA may regulate its translation in vivo.
Evolving water management institutions in Mexico

[1] Mexico's water management institutions are undergoing a gradual but dramatic change that corresponds to other changes in Mexican society. Implementing these changes has led to the creation of new institutions, including river basin councils, state water commissions, aquifer management committees, and water user associations. Established institutions such as the National Water Commission have accepted new roles. Some of these changes can be considered to be superficial, but this institutional change is impressive. Successful practices can be identified. These include the transfer of the management of large irrigation districts to the users, the periodic practice of establishing a national water plan, the cautious approach to private sector participation in water supply and sanitation, and the national registry of water use. Remaining challenges include weak river basin and aquifer management organizations, overexploitation of key aquifers, polluted surface water, and the inability of water markets to facilitate intersectoral water transfers.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease) presenting with polymicrobial brain abscess: Case report

✓ A 26-year-old man presented with expressive aphasia, weakness of the right arm, and anemia but there was no family history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Computerized tomography (CT) of the head demonstrated an enhancing left frontal mass, which was aspirated and on culture yielded multiple organisms. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae identified in both lungs by chest radiography, CT, and angiography were treated with coil embolization. Treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae and prolonged surveillance are necessary to prevent future neurological complications.
Conscripted physician services and the public's health.

The prevailing wisdom is that improving patient access to physician services is essential to promoting the public's health. This article suggests that, ironically, one effect of the 2010 federal health reform legislation may be to discourage physicians from serving the statute's intended beneficiaries, thereby exacerbating the access problem. The article examines several potential approaches to addressing this problem, comparing — from legal and policy perspectives — strategies based on legal conscription of physician services versus strategies that instead would rely on incentivizing physician participation in serving otherwise access-impaired populations. The author argues in favor of the latter approach rather than one based on use of governmental force.
Insulin-like growth factor I mediates high-fat diet-induced adipogenesis in Osborne-Mendel rats

To determine if high-fat (HF) diet-induced changes in adipose tissue cellularity are associated with the presence of paracrine growth factor(s) that alter preadipocyte proliferation, Osborne-Mendel...
Erythrocytosis associated with a myomatous uterus

Abstract The sixth instance in which a myomatous uterus apparently caused erythrocytosis has been reported. Complete and permanent relief from the increased red-cell mass and from the corresponding elevation of hemoglobin level was obtained in this and the other 5 cases by surgical removal of the myomatous tumors. No common gross or microscopic characteristic was found in the 5 specimens we were able to study personally. Three theories are mentioned to explain the pathogenesis of this condition. An effective plan for proper study of such a case is outlined.
A feature-based developmental model of the infant brain in structural MRI

In this paper, anatomical development is modeled as a collection of distinctive image patterns localized in space and time. A Bayesian posterior probability is defined over a random variable of subject age, conditioned on data in the form of scale-invariant image features. The model is automatically learned from a large set of images exhibiting significant variation, used to discover anatomical structure related to age and development, and fit to new images to predict age. The model is applied to a set of 230 infant structural MRIs of 92 subjects acquired at multiple sites over an age range of 8-590 days. Experiments demonstrate that the model can be used to identify age-related anatomical structure, and to predict the age of new subjects with an average error of 72 days.
CRÍTICA DEL CONCEPTO DE EXERGÍA

La exergia es un concepto que, desde su invencion hace sesenta anos, ha ido ganando popularidad y extendiendose mas alla de las aplicaciones de Ingenieria. Sin embargo, un estudio a profundidad del concepto revela la existencia de problemas e inconsistencias, tanto de tipo teorico como de aplicacion. En este articulo se discuten seis problemas identificados: notacion ambigua, estados de referencia ambiguos, aplicabilidad a procesos reales, redundancia con respecto a otras propiedades termodinamicas, inconstencia entre los conceptos de exergia y de trabajo perdido, y la aplicabilidad de los resultados del analisis exergetico. Se proponen posibles caminos de solucion para estos problemas, siendo el quinto el de mas dificil solucion porque requiere redefinir que es la exergia.
Effects of growth hormone–releasing hormone on visceral fat, metabolic, and cardiovascular indices in human studies

Increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with reductions in endogenous GH secretion, possibly as a result of hyperinsulinemia, increased circulating free fatty acid, increased somatostatin tone, and reduced ghrelin. Reduced GH may, in turn, further exacerbate visceral fat accumulation because of decreased hormone-sensitive lipolysis in this depot. Data from multiple populations demonstrate that both reduced GH and increased VAT appear to contribute independently to dyslipidemia, increased systemic inflammation, and increased cardiovascular risk. The reductions in GH in states of visceral adiposity are characterized by reduced basal and pulsatile GH secretion with intact pulse frequency. Treatment with GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) provides a means to reverse these abnormalities, increasing endogenous basal and pulsatile GH secretion without altering pulse frequency. This review describes data from HIV-infected individuals and individuals with general obesity showing that treatment with GHRH significantly reduces visceral fat, ameliorates dyslipidemia, and reduces markers of cardiovascular risk. Further research is needed regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment modality.
Iontophoretic application of calcitonin gene-related peptide produces a slow and prolonged excitation of neurons in the cat lumbar dorsal horn.

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was applied by iontophoresis onto physiologically characterized neurons. CGRP (20–100 Na) activated both wide-dynamic-range ( 5 8 ) and low-threshold mechanoreceptive units ( 3 12 ), but had no effect on nociceptive-specific neurons ( 0 4 ). The excitation was of slow onset (30 s to 3 min) and prolonged duration (up to 10 min). In none of the tested units did CGRP cause inhibition. The slow and prolonged action suggests a neuromodulatory role for CGRP in spinal cord sensory processes.