cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approaching Large-System Limits Faster in Multiuser MIMO with Adaptive Channel Feedback Adjustments

In this paper, we focus on the well-known drawback of per user unitary beamforming rate control (PU2RC) that sum throughput severely degrades with a small number of users due to the mismatch between the actual link quality and channel feedback of users. We propose an adaptive channel feedback adjustment (ACFA) method which estimates the actual link quality by adaptively adjusting user feedback according to the number of scheduled users. Numerical results show that the proposed ACFA considerably increases sum throughput of PU2RC especially when the number of users is small.
Nondestructive measurement of in-plane residual stress in silicon strips

This paper reports the development of a shadow moire technique to measure the in-plane residual stresses of thin, flat strips. This is an extension of prior work on the measurement of in-plane residual stresses in silicon plates and wafers. Phase stepping shadow moir6 and digital image processing techniques are employed to measure the deflections of the silicon plate specimens subjected to three-point-bending at several different loads. The measured deflections over the area of the silicon plates are fitted with an equation represented by a 2-D polynomial. With the theory of thin plates with large deflection, the fitting coefficients are used to extract the in-plane stresses at the different bending load. The residual stress is resolved by linear regression of the in-plane stresses versus bending loads.
Managing scientific data as public assets: Data sharing practices and policies among full-time government employees

This paper examines how scientists working in government agencies in the U.S. are reacting to the “ethos of sharing” government-generated data. For scientists to leverage the value of existing government data sets, critical data sets must be identified and made as widely available as possible. However, government data sets can only be leveraged when policy makers first assess the value of data, in much the same way they decide the value of grants for research outside government. We argue that legislators should also remove structural barriers to interoperability by funding technical infrastructure according to issue clusters rather than administrative programs. As developers attempt to make government data more accessible through portals, they should consider a range of other nontechnical constraints attached to the data. We find that agencies react to the large number of constraints by mostly posting their data on their own websites only rather than in data portals that can facilitate sharing. Despite the nontechnical constraints, we find that scientists working in government agencies exercise some autonomy in data decisions, such as data documentation, which determine whether or not the data can be widely shared. Fortunately, scientists indicate a willingness to share the data they collect or maintain. However, we argue further that a complete measure of access should also consider the normative decisions to collect (or not) particular data.
Comparison of Antihypertensive and Hormonal Effects of Captopril and Propranolol at Rest and During Exercise

Captopril and propranolol were given alone and in combination to 13 hypertensive men and the effects studied at rest (seated, supine and standing) and during exercise. The two drugs were equipotent at rest, and individual patients showed similar blood pressure responses to the two drugs. Both produced slight reduction of urinary aldosterone; when given in combination, both blood pressure and aldosterone were further reduced. During exercise the increase in blood pressure was unaffected by captopril but reduced by propranolol, and there was no correlation between individual responses to the two drugs. It is concluded that the similar effects of the two drugs on resting blood pressure are consistent with their effects on the renin-angiotensin system.
Exploring the hardwired for news hypothesis : how threat proximity affects the cognitive and emotional processing of health-related print news

This study explored how the proximity of threatening health news affects cognition and emotion through a 2 (Proximity: High=Low)4 (Topic) fractional experiment. Fifty-one participants read four news stories about either local or distant health threats, with their heart rate, skin conductance, and corrugator electromyography recorded. Results showed that high-proximity health threats elicited greater heart rate deceleration than did lowproximity health threats, indicating greater allocation of automatic resources to encoding high-proximity threats. Recognition data demonstrated that details from high-proximity health threats were recognized more accurately than details from low-proximity health threats. There were no significant effects of proximity on either skin conductance levels or corrugator activation. These results are discussed in terms of Shoemaker’s (1996) hardwired for news hypothesis and A. Lang’s (2000, 2006) limited capacity model.
A retrospective chart review to identify perinatal factors associated with food allergies

Background: Gut flora are important immunomodulators that may be disrupted in individuals with atopic conditions. Probiotic bacteria have been suggested as therapeutic modalities to mitigate or prevent food allergic manifestations. We wished to investigate whether perinatal factors known to disrupt gut flora increase the risk of IgE-mediated food allergies. Methods: Birth records obtained from 192 healthy children and 99 children diagnosed with food allergies were reviewed retrospectively. Data pertaining to delivery method, perinatal antibiotic exposure, neonatal nursery environment, and maternal variables were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between variables of interest and subsequent food allergy diagnosis. Results: Retrospective investigation did not find perinatal antibiotics, NICU admission, or cesarean section to be associated with increased risk of food allergy diagnosis. However, associations between food allergy diagnosis and male gender (66 vs. 33; p=0.02) were apparent in this cohort. Additionally, increasing maternal age at delivery was significantly associated with food allergy diagnosis during childhood (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.105; p=0.005). Conclusions: Gut flora are potent immunomodulators, but their overall contribution to immune maturation remains to be elucidated. Additional understanding of the interplay between immunologic, genetic, and environmental factors underlying food allergy development need to be clarified before probiotic therapeutic interventions can routinely be recommended for prevention or mitigation of food allergies. Such interventions may be well-suited in male infants and in infants born to older mothers.
Vertical tectonics of the High Plateau region, Manihiki Plateau, Western Pacific, from seismic stratigraphy

The Manihiki Plateau is an elevated oceanic volcanic plateau that was formed mostly in Early Cretaceous time by hotspot activity. We analyze new seismic reflection data acquired on cruise KIWI 12 over the High Plateau region in the southeast of the plateau, to look for direct evidence of the location of the heat source and the timing of uplift, subsidence and faulting. These data are correlated with previous seismic reflection lines from cruise CATO 3, and with the results at DSDP Site 317 at the northern edge of the High Plateau. Seven key reflectors are identified from the seismic reflection profiles and the resulting isopach maps show local variations in thickness in the southeastern part of the High Plateau, suggesting a subsidence (cooling) event in this region during Late Cretaceous and up to Early Eocene time. We model this as a hotspot, active and centered on the High Plateau area during Early Cretaceous time in a near-ridge environment. The basement and Early Cretaceous volcaniclastic layers were formed by subaerial and shallow-water eruption due to the volcanic activity. After that, the plateau experienced erosion. The cessation of hotspot activity and subsequent heat loss by Late Cretaceous time caused the plateau to subside rapidly. The eastern and southern portions of the High Plateau were rifted away following the cessation of hot spot activity. As the southeastern portion of the High Plateau was originally higher and above the calcium carbonate compensation depth, it accumulated more sediments than the surrounding plateau regions. Apparently coeval with the rapid subsidence of the plateau are normal faults found at the SE edge of the plateau. Since Early Eocene time, the plateau subsided to its present depth without significant deformation.
Characterization of natural, decellularized and reseeded porcine tooth bud matrices

Dental tissue engineering efforts have yet to identify scaffolds that instruct the formation of bioengineered teeth of predetermined size and shape. Here we investigated whether extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules present in natural tooth scaffolds can provide insight on how to achieve this goal. We describe methods to effectively decellularize and demineralize porcine molar tooth buds, while preserving natural ECM protein gradients. Natural tooth ECM composition was assessed using histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of fibrillar and basement membrane proteins. Our results showed that Collagen I, Fibronectin, Collagen IV, and Laminin gradients were detected in natural tooth tissues, and retained in decellularized samples. Second harmonic generation (SHG) image analysis and 3D reconstructions were used to show that natural tooth tissue exhibited higher collagen fiber density, and less oriented and less organized collagen fibers, as compared to decellularized tooth tissue. We also found that reseeded decellularized tooth scaffolds exhibited distinctive collagen content and organization as compared to decelluarized scaffolds. Our results show that SHG allows for quantitative assessment of ECM features that are not easily characterized using traditional histological analyses. In summary, our results demonstrate the potential for natural decellularized molar tooth ECM to instruct dental cell matrix synthesis, and lay the foundation for future use of biomimetic scaffolds for dental tissue engineering applications.
On the stability of the least mean-square inverse process in two-dimensional digital filters

In this correspondence we consider the stability of the Shank's least mean-square inverse design technique for the synthesis of two-dimensional recursive digital filters and show that this process always produces filters satisfying conditions necessary and sufficient for stability in one dimension. We do not answer the complete stability question, but provide a necessary condition in order for this process to generate stable filters.
Metallothionein gene duplications and metal tolerance in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster.

A search for duplications of the Drosophila melanogaster metallothionein gene (Mtn) yielded numerous examples of this type of chromosomal rearrangement. These duplications are distributed widely—we found them in samples from four continents, and they are functional—larvae carrying Mtn duplications produce more Mtn RNA and tolerate increased cadmium and copper concentrations. Six different duplication types were characterized by restriction-enzyme analyses using probes from the Mtn region. The restriction maps show that in four cases the sequences, ranging in size between 2.2 and 6.0 kb, are arranged as direct, tandem repeats; in two other cases, this basic pattern is modified by the insertion of a putative transposable element into one of the repeated units. Duplications of the D. melanogaster metallothionein gene such as those that we found in natural populations may represent early stages in the evolution of a gene family.
Foraging Behavior of Beavers (Castor Canadensis), Plant Secondary Compounds, and Management Concerns

I examined how secondary metabolites in trees influenced food selection of beavers, whether selection patterns were consistent with recent theories of plant-defense investment, and whether a chemical extract could be used as a feeding deterrent. I used cafeteria-style experiments to examine beaver food preferences for six species, quaking aspen, willow, mountain alder, white fir, lodgepole pine, and Jeffrey pine; over four treatments, intact stems, stems with leaves removed, a methanol extract from bark, and a methanol extract from leaves. Quaking aspen was significantly preferred across all treatments, Jeffrey pine was significantly avoided across all treatments except the bark-extract treatment, and the bark extract of mountain alder was significantly avoided. Height growth rates and leaf lifespan of experimental trees were locally estimated and were not significantly different between the three deciduous species or the three coniferous species. Beavers selected significantly more deciduous than coniferous species across all treatments except the bark-extract treatment. A regression indicated a stronger relationship in selection of leaf extracts was present for leaf lifespans than height growth rate. In feeding experiments designed to examine the potential of an extract from Jeffrey pine as a repellent, beavers significantly avoided aspen stems painted with extracts from the bark and needles of Jeffrey pine when compared with controls. As a follow up, all aspen at two sites were either left untouched, painted with an extract from Jeffrey pine, or wrapped with chicken wire. The treatments significantly altered beaver food selection. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that food selection is influenced by secondary metabolites, that long-lived leaves are more protected from herbivory than short-lived leaves, and that chemical extracts from trees might be used as feeding deterrents. The greatest potential repellent ex-tracts are from long-lived leaves from slow-growing trees, or bark from species specifically avoided by beavers.
Towards Law as an Artistic Medium: William E. Jones’s Tearoom

Comprised entirely of police surveillance footage initially used to prosecute violators of anti-sodomy laws, William E. Jones’s 2007 film Tearoom embodies the potential value of regarding law itself an artistic medium. The viewing experience it offers contends that when we regard images as artworks, that is, as both a separate, imagined realm and as a specific configuration of materials free of any preordained practical function, we are then most able to grasp law’s dependence on the aesthetic choices of its agents, and in turn, law’s own materiality. Such discernment reflects a more productive relationship between visual art and the law, one founded on symbiosis rather than on decided antagonism or indifference.
Analysis on monitoring results of disinfection quality in nurseries and kindergartens in Gguanlan,Shenzhen city from 2008 to 2012

Objective To learn the status of disinfection quality in nurseries and kindergartens in Guanlan subdistrict of Shenzhen city, to find the problems and put forward the improvement measures. Methods By using retrospective survey, the monitoring data of disinfection quality of nurseries and kindergartens in Guanlan subdistrict from 2008-2012 were collected, and the disinfection quality was analyzed statistically. Results A total of 3 997 samples were detected from 2008-2012, 3 490 samples were qualified, and the total qualified rate of disinfection quality was 87.32%. The annual qualified rate in five years was85.44%, 90.06%, 89.53%, 87.49%, 81.71%, respectively. There was significant difference among the annual qualified rates(χ2=31.889,P0.05), and with a downward trend year by year. The qualified rate of toy was 98.05%, and the object surface was 87.10%, hand of the staff was 76.50%, ultra-violet lamp was 55.14%. The total qualified rate and the qualified rate of the object surface and hand of the staff in spring and summer were higher than the qualified rate in autumn and winter. Conclusion The qualification rate decreased year by year, there are still something to be improved. We must strengthen the sanitation and disinfection guidance in nurseries and kindergartens, by using knowledge and skill training, especially the knowledge of hand hygiene.
Dual-wavelength Ratio Spectrometric Determination of Carmine, Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine in Beverages

A dual-wavelength ratio spectrometric method was presented for the determination of carmine, sunset yellow and tartrazine in fruit-flavored carbonated beverages. According to the spectral characteristics of the pigments, the wavelengths were chosen to be 431 nm and 456 nm for tartrazine detection and 509 nm and 525nm for carmine detection under the disturbance of sunset yellow and 514 nm and 535 nm for sunset yellow detection under the disturbance of carmine. Results showed that the developed standard curves for determining carmine, sunset yellow and tartrazine all exhibited good linearity over the concentration ranges of 0.2 to 80, 0.8 to 90 mg/L and 0.1 to 60 mg/L, respectively. The mean recoveries of 5 replicates of carmine, sunset yellow and tartrazine in orange-flavored Miranda soft drink were 100.5%, 101.1% and 102.4% respectively. This method proved to be simple and convenient and thus deserves to be popularized.
Is a Picture Worth Ten Thousand Words in a Review Dataset

While textual reviews have become prominent in many recommendation-based systems, automated frameworks to provide relevant visual cues against text reviews where pictures are not available is a new form of task confronted by data mining and machine learning researchers. Suggestions of pictures that are relevant to the content of a review could significantly benefit the users by increasing the effectiveness of a review. We propose a deep learning-based framework to automatically: (1) tag the images available in a review dataset, (2) generate a caption for each image that does not have one, and (3) enhance each review by recommending relevant images that might not be uploaded by the corresponding reviewer. We evaluate the proposed framework using the Yelp Challenge Dataset. While a subset of the images in this particular dataset are correctly captioned, the majority of the pictures do not have any associated text. Moreover, there is no mapping between reviews and images. Each image has a corresponding business-tag where the picture was taken, though. The overall data setting and unavailability of crucial pieces required for a mapping make the problem of recommending images for reviews a major challenge. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations indicate that our proposed framework provides high quality enhancements through automatic captioning, tagging, and recommendation for mapping reviews and images.
Harvesting Body Motion Energy

Human’s body motion is considered as the most abundant sources for energy especially for powering wearable, implantable and personal electronics. In this chapter, TENGs designed for harvesting body motion energy are introduced, each of which has its own unique design and advantages. The earliest work is integrated rhombic structured TENGs that can be used as a self-powered backpack. And then, flexible materials such as fabrics and papers are used for developing wearable and portable TENGs. The body motion energy can also be harvested by TENGs with special structure designs, such as single-electrode (SE) TENG for conveniently utilizing human skin as one triboelectric layer, and sliding freestanding-triboelectric-layer (SFT) TENG for high efficient energy harvesting. These TENGs will open new opportunities of developing wearable and portable TENG-based self-powered systems. In the last two decades, the popular usage of cell phone based personal electronics is fast growing and it is reaching every corner of our life for the purpose of health monitoring, behavior sensing and security. With the drastic drop in energy consumption of the small electronic devices, it is feasible to use the energy harvested from body motion for power small electronic devices. However, body motion is irregular both in amplitude and frequency. Especially, body motion is in the range of low-frequency of sub-10 Hz or sub Hz. Therefore, efforts have been devoted to harvest mechanical energy from body motion since the invention of TENG. For body motion energy harvesting, the TENGs used include traditional integrated structure based TENGs and paper based TENGs and sliding freestanding-triboelectric-layer mode TENGs (SFT). This chapter is to systematically introduce these approaches.
Electoral Messages from the District: Explaining Presidential Support in the U.S. House of Representatives

Legislators are highly sensitive to those parts of their reelection constituencies whose support is least solid. Therefore, out-party members of Congress should be more supportive of the opposing party's president when that president enjoys greater electoral support among the legislators' reelection constituencies. This hypothesis is tested in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 1980s and 1990s. The hypothesis is supported, even with controls for the ideology of the member and the political orientation of the district. The findings suggest legislators have a sophisticated view of their districts and perceive electoral messages from the voting patterns of their constituents. The results also imply that presidential success is conditioned by the forces that operate in the congressional election context.
The aqueous humor is capable of generating and degrading H2O2.

PURPOSE. To determine the ability of the aqueous humor to generate and degrade H 2 O 2 , the effect of environmental factors such as oxygen tension and temperature, and the constituents contributing to the observed results. METHODS. Aqueous humor was carefully removed from bovine eyes within 3 hours of death. Standard and new techniques were used to follow H 2 O 2 degradation and formation. Catalase activity was measured by H 2 O 2 decomposition. usually at 100 μM and 10 mM H 2 O 2 , and in some cases by O 2 generation. RESULTS. Bovine aqueous humor generated and degraded H 2 O 2 . The generation of H 2 O 2 was minimal at 0°C but increased as temperature increased, so that at 37°C at 3 hours, approximately 90 μM H 2 O 2 was observed. Degradation was more complex. At 0°C, only a slow rate of degradation was observed. At 25°C, it was more rapid, and a steady state between generation and degradation was observed at approximately 30 μM. However, at 37°C, starting with 100 μM H 2 O 2 , degradation was initially rapid, but then generation became predominant and H 2 O 2 , concentration increased to more than 100 μM in 3 hours. No H 2 O 2 was generated in the absence of O 2 , and H 2 O 2 production increased with increasing O 2 , tension. Both low and high molecular weight components contributed to the degradation, but synthesis was completely dependent on low molecular weight constituents. Ascorbic acid and metal ions such as Cu + made a major contribution to H 2 O 2 production. Catalase may be the macromolecular component responsible for aqueous H 2 O 2 decay, as evidenced by H 2 O 2 degradation, inhibition by boiling or 3-aminotriazole, and the approximate correspondence between oxygen generation and H 2 O 2 degradation. CONCLUSIONS. The results indicate that the aqueous humor is capable of producing levels of H 2 O 2 that have been shown previously to cause cataract in organ culture. Changes in aqueous humor metal ion content and concentration of oxygen level have profound effects on H 2 O 2 concentration and may effect lens viability. The variation in published H 2 O 2 levels may in part be the result of the conditions under which the aqueous humor was obtained, stored, and used for assay. The observed steady state H 2 O 2 concentration of 1 μM in fresh aqueous from bovine eyes must be maintained by the metabolism of surrounding tissues as well as intrinsic components capable of degrading H 2 O 2 .
Seismic Shaking in the North China Basin Expected From Ruptures of a Possible Seismic Gap

A 160-km-long seismic gap, which has not been ruptured over ~8000 year, was identified recently in North China. In this study, we use a dynamic source model and a newly available high-resolution 3-D velocity structure to simulate long period ground motion (up to 0.5 Hz) from possibly worst-case rupture scenarios of the seismic gap. We find that the characteristics of the earthquake source and the local geologic structure play a critical role in controlling the amplitude and distribution of the simulated strong ground shaking. Rupture directivity and slip asperities can result in large amplitude (i.e., >1 m/s) ground shaking near the fault, whereas long duration shaking may occur within sedimentary basins. In particular, a deep and closed Quaternary basin between Beijing and Tianjin can lead to ground shaking of several tens of cm/s for more than 1 minute. These results may provide a sound basis for seismic mitigation in one of the most populated regions in the world.
A role for neutrophils in asthma exacerbations.

A recent study has found that rhinovirus-induced exacerbation of asthma is in part mediated by the release of neutrophil extracellular traps and double-stranded DNA by neutrophils in the airway.
Operator training for preferred manipulator trajectories in a glovebox

We consider the problem of operator comfort levels with manipulator trajectories in heavily constrained, co-robotic environments. To reduce anxiety and improve user comfort, a trajectory learning system is trained using a set of specified environmental features associated with a waste sorting task. A Trajectory Preference Perceptron was used to learn desired operator feature weights via iterative suboptimal but improved trainer feedback thus relieving the operator of the burden of providing optimal feedback. The object feature weights are stored and updated to handle a fluid environmental scene. A pool of robotics students spanning a range of experience from novice undergraduates to doctoral candidates provided qualitative results to evaluate the method's effectiveness.
Comparison of Anti-Epileptic Drug Levels in Different Cases of Sudden Death

Sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) in epilepsy is identified as death in an epileptic individual with no anatomic cause found at autopsy. SUDS appears to be associated with subtherapeutic levels of anticonvulsants. Sudden death with no demonstrable cause at autopsy accounts for 5% to 30% of deaths in epileptic individuals. In the majority of cases, however, the cause of death in epileptic individuals can be demonstrated at autopsy. We examined the anti-epileptic drug concentrations in decedents who died as a direct result of epilepsy and compared these findings with those from a control population of epileptic patients who died suddenly due to some unrelated cause. This retrospective study was conducted on all deaths involving patients with epilepsy examined at the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner office from 1986–95. Out of 115 total cases the underlying cause of death was epilepsy in 60 cases—52 cases of SUDS and 8 deaths caused by an accident precipitated by a seizure. In 44 cases death was unrelated to the decedent's epilepsy. In 11 cases the contribution of epilepsy to death could not be determined. Published articles on SUDS report subtherapeutic anti-epileptic medication levels in 63% to 94% of cases. We found subtherapeutic drug levels in 69% of the 52 cases of SUDS, in 75% of the 8 cases where a seizure precipitated an accident causing death, and in 34% of the control population. The incidence of subtherapeutic anticonvulsants is significantly greater in patients dying as a direct result of their epilepsy than in those dying of an unrelated cause.
Evaluation of pulmonary artery wall properties in congenital heart disease patients using cardiac magnetic resonance

Abstract Congenital heart disease patients (CHD) with complex right heart disease are often left with residual lesions that result in right ventricular (RV)-pulmonary artery (PA) dysfunction post surgery. The appropriate timing of re-intervention to correct these lesions is difficult to determine due to lack of suitable quantifiable diagnostic techniques. The PA wall (material) properties characterize the mechanical behavior of the PAs and thus, contribute significantly to the RV-PA function. Therefore, the arterial wall properties of the main PA (MPA), left PA (LPA), and right PA (RPA) of three CHD subjects with normal RV-PA function and anatomy were quantified using retrospective pressure-diameter data as input to a constitutive (material) model. Intra-vessel (MPA vs branched PAs) and inter-subject variability was observed in the wall properties and consequently, the arterial wall compliance and stress-stretch characteristics. The LPA was least compliant in comparison to the MPA and RPA. Also, the circumferential and axial stress in the PAs increased with the subject's age. Therefore, monitoring the wall properties of the individual PAs may provide valuable longitudinal (time-dependent) information on disease progression of CHD patients.
A Generic Model Of Predicting Probability Of Success-Distress Of An Organization: A Logistic Regression Analysis

Many bankruptcy prediction models have been created over the years using a mix of variables derived mostly from accrual-based accounting statements and were industry specific. The primary issue with using a model comprised of accrual-based variables is that firm management can manipulate different components and make the balance sheet and income statement misleading (Wanuga 2006). Thus, firms appear financially healthy yet unable to meet the day-to-day cash flow needs of the firm; these financial issues are less likely to be hidden in the cash flow statement (Sharma 2001). In this study, we use a binary regression model with theoretically supported variables obtained from the cash flow statement to forecast firm success versus distress. Of particular interest, we examine firms representing 85 industries using firm data during and immediately following the greatest recession in United States history (Fieldhouse 2014; Lee 2014). The model is generic in the sense that it can be used to predict the probability of success-distress of any entity using the three major financial statements. We find that the overall model correctly classifies organizations 90.290 percent of the time.
Repeated Morphine Produces Sensitization to Reward and Tolerance to Antiallodynia in Male and Female Rats with Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy

Paclitaxel is a cancer chemotherapy drug with adverse effects that include chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) as well as depression of behavior and mood. In the clinical setting, opioids are often used concurrently with or after chemotherapy to treat pain related to the cancer or CINP, but repeated opioid exposure can also increase the risk of opioid abuse. In this study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the hypothesis that repeated 3.2-mg/kg doses of morphine would induce tolerance to its antinociceptive effects in a mechanical sensitivity assay and increased expression of its abuse-related rewarding effects in an assay of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS). Three weeks after four injections of vehicle or 2.0 mg/kg of paclitaxel, the initial morphine dose–effect curves were determined in both assays. Subsequently, rats were treated with 3.2 mg/kg per day morphine for 6 days. On the final day of testing, morphine dose-effect curves were redetermined in both assays. On initial exposure, morphine produced dose-dependent antiallodynia in the assay of mechanical sensitivity, but it produced little or no rewarding effects in the assay of ICSS. After 6 days of repeated treatment, morphine antiallodynia decreased, and morphine reward increased. Females exhibited greater morphine reward on initial exposure than males, but repeated morphine eliminated this sex difference. These results suggest that repeated morphine may produce tolerance to therapeutically beneficial analgesic effects of morphine but increased sensitivity to abuse-related rewarding effects of morphine in subjects treated with paclitaxel.
Abstract 126: Diabetes Influences Circulating FAS in Patients With Carotid Artery Stenosis

Plasma lipid abnormalities associated with diabetes are thought to contribute to atherogenesis and overall cardiovascular morbidity. Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS), an essential multiunit enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, was recently found to circulate in the plasma (pFAS). Since FAS is essential for the lipogenic functions of the liver and adipose tissue, and its tissue expression is altered in the setting of diabetes, we sought to evaluate whether pFAS is a biomarker for arterial occlusive disease in diabetic patients. To test this hypothesis, we compared the activity of pFAS in the fasting serum in a relatively homogenous group of 15 diabetic (DM) and 15 non-diabetic (NDM) patients who are undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We also evaluated pFAS in 15 additional control patients who have no evidence of arterial occlusive disease. Among selected patients, DM patients were more likely to have hypertension and receive metformin compared to NDM patients (P 2 =0.4, P=0.03). These findings suggest pFAS activity is altered in DM patients with carotid artery stenosis, and correlates with specific plasma lipid profiles suggestive of overall cardiovascular morbidity.
Screw-Dislocated Nanostructures

Nanostructures grown by screw dislocations have been successfully synthesized in a range of materials, including thermoelectric materials, but the impact of these extended crystallographic defects on thermal properties of nanostructures had not been known. In this chapter, thermal transport in nanowires storing screw dislocations is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. The inherent one-dimensionality and the combined presence of a reconstructed surface and dislocation yield ultralow thermal conductivity values. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggest that the large dislocation strain field in nanowires may play a key role in suppressing the thermal conductivity of thermoelectric nanomaterials further to enhance their thermoelectricity.
Oxide Nanostructures for Energy Storage

Solving energy issues is one of the greatest challenges in the twenty-first century. Energy storage is critical as it plays an important role in almost every aspect of energy application. Batteries and electrochemical capacitors are the most widely used energy storage devices, such as in portable devices, power tools, electric vehicles, and smart grids. However, devices with better performance, such as higher energy density, longer cycle life, and faster charge/discharge rate, are still desired. Novel materials are crucial to achieve these goals. In view of this, nanostructured materials offer great promise because of the unusual properties from their small dimensions and the combination of bulk and surface properties to the overall behavior. In this chapter, the effect of nanostructures on various oxide materials in batteries/capacitors will be discussed. In general, nanostructured materials significantly enhance the power capability of both batteries and capacitors. Moreover, cycle life and energy density are also improved for many oxides, especially those with conversion reactions.
STIMULATING AND ABLATIVE TREATMENT FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

ABSTRACT Since the advent of levodopa in the 1960s, medication has been the mainstay of treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, dyskinesias and motor fluctuations develop in up to 80% of patients with PD treated with levodopa for more than 5 years. Thus, chronic treatment with medication coupled with advancing disease results in severe disability for many patients. Surgical therapies offer symptom relief for a subset of these patients. Surgical interventions for PD have been practiced for decades, beginning with lesions geared at eliminating activity in specific basal ganglia structures. Renewed surgical interest in the 1980s was stimulated by a long history of medical failures and increased safety of ablative procedures. The development of deep brain stimulation in the 1990s offered even greater interest in the surgical treatment of movement disorders, by providing a reversible and bilateral surgical means of treatment. This chapter examines the therapeutic mechanisms associated with surgical treatment of PD, describes clinical indications for surgery, and discusses the efficacy and complications of procedures.
The Biological Satellite

Need for Biological Satellite is reviewed. It is concluded that the long term problems of weightlessness and radiation exposure cannot be investigated except by satellite flight. Subjects and measuring techniques are discussed. Critical design limitation are reviewed both from the standpoint of the animal subject and from the design of life support and re-entry equipment. Artist’s conceptions of three different vehicles with experiments of varying complexity are shown as suggestions for a suitable research program.
The Interactions among Time Urgency, Uncertainty, and Time Pressure

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the tempo of life has continually accelerated (McGrath & Kelly, 1986). At the close of the twentieth century, life revolves ever more around the clock, especially in Western cultures Rifkil, in his book Time Wars (1987), proposes that computers are contributing to an exponentially accelerating time orientation. Computer hardware operations can be carried out as fast as billionths of a second, and this capability has set new temporal standards of organizational effectiveness and efficiency. This accelerated time orientation affects every aspect of a work organization. Perhaps the most substantial challenge facing employees as a result of this time orientation is trying to choose between alternative courses of action while under this time pressure. It is likely that time pressure does not affect everyone in the same way. It may prove challenging to one individual and debilitating to another. In fact, temporal orientation has been recognized as one of the fundamental parameters of individual differences (Bluedorn & Denhardt, 1988).
Silicon Photonics Integration for Future Generation Optical Network

The high power of photonic elements is now impeding the scalability of silicon photonic-based platforms. We show approaches based on novel materials as well as novel multiplexing approaches that alleviate this scalability challenge and enable large scale silicon photonic systems.
Certifiably optimal sparse principal component analysis

This paper addresses the sparse principal component analysis (SPCA) problem for covariance matrices in dimension n aiming to find solutions with sparsity k using mixed integer optimization. We propose a tailored branch-and-bound algorithm, Optimal-SPCA, that enables us to solve SPCA to certifiable optimality in seconds for $$n = 100$$ s, $$k=10$$ s. This same algorithm can be applied to problems with $$n=10{,}000\,\mathrm{s}$$ or higher to find high-quality feasible solutions in seconds while taking several hours to prove optimality. We apply our methods to a number of real data sets to demonstrate that our approach scales to the same problem sizes attempted by other methods, while providing superior solutions compared to those methods, explaining a higher portion of variance and permitting complete control over the desired sparsity. The software that was reviewed as part of this submission has been given the DOI (digital object identifier) https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2027898 .
Explaining the forces underpinning grammaticalization paths: The progressive-to-imperfective shift in three varieties of Spanish

We provide an account of the synchronic variation between the use of the Simple Present marker [Verb -a ] and the Present Progressive marker [ estar + Verb -ndo ] in the expression of the habitual reading in Modern Spanish. Results from an acceptability judgment task in three distinct dialectal varieties (Rioplatense Spanish, Iberian Spanish, and Mexican Altiplano Spanish) show: (a) the presence of variation across dialects, (b) that this variation is constrained by a grammaticalization path, the Progressive-to-Imperfective shift, and (c) that a generalization process is already underway in all three different dialects but at different degrees of progress: more conservative in the Rioplatense and Iberian varieties, and less so in the Mexican Altiplano one. Specifically, our results show that whereas the Simple Present is the preferred form to express the habitual reading, the Present Progressive marker is already available to convey this reading in the three dialectal varieties. However, in Rioplatense Spanish and Iberian Spanish, this use is restricted to contexts that independently satisfy the presuppositional content of estar – the auxiliary in the Present Progressive periphrasis [ estar + Verb- ndo ] –, which requires the existence of alternative situations at which the prejacent does not hold. This restriction appears to be eroding in Mexican Altiplano Spanish, which is manifested as a loss in the context-dependence of the Present Progressive marker.
Flight-by-flight spectrum development

A method of developing the design flight-by-flight sequenced stress spectrum at any location within the primary airframe structure is presented. The procedure commences with the applicable procurement specifications for the aircraft and concludes with the detail's local stress spectrum suitable for fatigue and fracture mechanics analyses or testing. The stress spectrum is created within a computer program that utilizes input data comprising mission profiles, structural location data, libraries of load factor exceedance data, balanced external load conditions, and corresponding internal loads solutions. The output consists of the spectrum in tabular form and the time trace graphs of the stress amplitude. Included is a typical spectrum developed for a variable geometry bomber with terrain-following capability, and discussion as to load sequence effects and the structural internal loads solutions necessary to describe the stress trace on a mission-by-mission basis. Finally, the system-generated spectrum is discussed in terms of its effect on fatigue and fracture mechanics analysis.
Understanding analyst effectiveness in requirements elicitation: A gestalt fit perspective

Analyst effectiveness has been viewed as a critical success factor for information systems development (ISD) projects, especially for the requirements elicitation phase. Prior literature on “analyst effectiveness” has primarily focused on examining (and understanding) the specific set of capabilities an analyst needs to possess in order to be effective. We argue that such an assumption may not necessarily provide us with a comprehensive view of this critical issue, as capabilities of an analyst are necessary but not a sufficient condition leading to their effectiveness. Consistent with this view, in this paper we propose a fit perspective, and argue that analyst effectiveness is dependent on a fit between the contextual factors and the analyst’s capability. Specifically, the manuscript argues for two gestalt fit constructs: analyst-project fit and analyst process fit for understanding analyst effectiveness, and explicates on the nature of the gestalt fit. Further drawing on the two gestalt perspective, we also propose a resourcing strategy, which may be used by organization and ISD project managers in recruiting suitable analysts for their projects.
Board Political Connections and Financial Fraud: The Case of Business Groups in South Korea

Are firms more likely to commit financial fraud when they are politically connected? Despite scholarly efforts to disentangle the roots of financial fraud, we know little about how firm’s commissio...
An Analysis of “Request It” Print Delivery Service in the Alma Library Management System and Its Impact on Physical Browsing in a Midsized Private Academic Library

The ability to browse a circulating library collection has been shown to be an important component of access and discovery for library patrons. While we are unable to definitively identify all time...
Multimodal deep representation learning for protein interaction identification and protein family classification

Protein-protein interactions(PPIs) engage in dynamic pathological and biological procedures constantly in our life. Thus, it is crucial to comprehend the PPIs thoroughly such that we are able to illuminate the disease occurrence, achieve the optimal drug-target therapeutic effect and describe the protein complex structures. However, compared to the protein sequences obtainable from various species and organisms, the number of revealed protein-protein interactions is relatively limited. To address this dilemma, lots of research endeavor have investigated in it to facilitate the discovery of novel PPIs. Among these methods, PPI prediction techniques that merely rely on protein sequence data are more widespread than other methods which require extensive biological domain knowledge. In this paper, we propose a multi-modal deep representation learning structure by incorporating protein physicochemical features with the graph topological features from the PPI networks. Specifically, our method not only bears in mind the protein sequence information but also discerns the topological representations for each protein node in the PPI networks. In our paper, we construct a stacked auto-encoder architecture together with a continuous bag-of-words (CBOW) model based on generated metapaths to study the PPI predictions. Following by that, we utilize the supervised deep neural networks to identify the PPIs and classify the protein families. The PPI prediction accuracy for eight species ranged from 96.76% to 99.77%, which signifies that our multi-modal deep representation learning framework achieves superior performance compared to other computational methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multi-modal deep representation learning framework for examining the PPI networks.
Finite Element Analysis of Six Transcortical Pin Parameters and Their Effect on Bone-Pin Interface Stresses in the Equine Third Metacarpal Bone.

Objective The objectives of this study were to validate a finite element model of the equine distal limb transfixation cast and to determine the effect of six transcortical pin parameters on bone–pin interface (BPI) stresses in the third metacarpal bone. Study Design A transfixation cast finite element model was developed from a computed tomography scan of the third metacarpal bone and modelled pin elements. The model was validated by comparing strain measured around a 6.3-mm transfixation pin in the third metacarpal bone with the finite element model. The pin parameters of diameter, number, location, spacing, orientation and material were evaluated by comparing a variety of pin configurations within the model. Results Pin diameter and number had the greatest impact on BPI stress. Increasing the diameter and number of pins resulted in lower BPI stresses. Diaphyseal pin location and stainless-steel pins had lower BPI stresses than metaphyseal location and titanium alloy pins, respectively. Offset pin orientation and pin spacing had minimal impact on BPI stresses during axial loading. Conclusion The results provide evidence that diameter and number are the main pin parameters affecting BPI stress in an equine distal limb transfixation cast. Configurations of various pin size and number may be proposed to reduce BPI stresses and minimize the risk of pin related complications. Further refinement of these models will be required to optimize pin configurations to account for pin hole size and its impact on overall bone strength.