cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical Student Perceptions of Plastic Surgeons as Hand Surgery Specialists

Purpose Plastic surgeons are often not perceived as hand surgery specialists. Better educating medical students about the plastic surgeon's role in hand surgery may improve the understanding of the field for future referring physicians. The purposes of this study were to assess medical students' understanding of hand surgery specialists and to analyze the impact of prior plastic, orthopedic, and general surgery clinical exposure on this understanding. Methods An online survey including 8 hand-related clinical scenarios was administered to students at a large academic medical center. After indicating training level and prior clinical exposure to plastic surgery or other surgical subspecialties, students selected one or more appropriate surgical subspecialists for management of surgical hand conditions. Results A response rate of 56.4% was achieved. Prior clinical exposure to plastic, orthopedic, and general surgery was reported by 29%, 43%, and 90% of fourth year students, respectively. Students generally chose at least 1 acceptable specialty for management of hand conditions with improvement over the course of their training (P = 0.008). Overall, students perceived orthopedic surgeons as hand specialists more so than plastic and general surgeons. Clinical exposure to plastic surgery increased the selection of this specialty for nearly all scenarios (22%-46%, P = 0.025). Exposure to orthopedic and general surgery was associated with a decrease in selection of plastic surgery for treatment of carpal tunnel and hand burns, respectively. Conclusions Medical students have a poor understanding of the plastic surgeon's role in hand surgery. If plastic surgeons want to continue to be recognized as hand surgeons, they should better educate medical students about their role in hand surgery. This can be achieved by providing a basic overview of plastic surgery to all medical students with emphasis placed on hand and peripheral nerve surgery.
Determination of oleandrin in tissues and biological fluids by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid LC-MS/MS method, using a triple-quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometer, was developed for the quantitative determination of oleandrin in serum, urine, and tissue samples. Oleandrin, the major cardiac glycoside of oleander (Nerium oleander L.), was extracted from serum and urine samples with methylene chloride and from tissues with acetonitrile. The tissue extracts were cleaned up using Florisil solid-phase extraction columns. Six replicate fortifications of serum and urine at 0.001 microgram/g (1 ppb) oleandrin gave average recoveries of 97% with 5% CV (relative standard deviation) and 107% with 7% CV, respectively. Six replicate fortifications of liver at 0.005 microgram/g (5 ppb) oleandrin gave average recoveries of 98% with 6% CV. This is the first report of a positive mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of oleandrin in tissue samples from oleander intoxication cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the LC-MS/MS analysis enables it to be the method of choice for toxicological investigations of oleander poisoning.
Compensation of proximal tubule malabsorption in AQP1-deficient mice without TGF-mediated reduction of GFR.

Aim: By crossing aquaporin 1 (AQP1)−/− and adenosine 1 receptor (A1AR)−/− mice, we generated an animal model that combines a proximal tubular absorption defect with absence of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) regulation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The aim of studies in these animals was to determine whether a TGF-induced reduction of GFR is a prerequisite for preventing potentially fatal fluid losses. Methods and Results: In contrast to AQP1 deficient mice, AQP1/A1AR−/− mice were found to have a normal GFR. TGF responses were abolished in these animals, in contrast to AQP1−/− mice in which TGF responses of single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) were left-shifted. Proximal tubule fluid absorption in AQP1/A1AR−/− mice was reduced to levels previously reported for AQP1−/− mice. However, SNGFR was significantly higher in AQP1/A1AR−/− than AQP1−/− mice (10.6 ± 0.8 nL min−1 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 nL min−1). As a consequence of the normal GFR and the reduced proximal reabsorption distal fluid delivery was markedly higher in the double knockout compared with normal or AQP1−/− mice (5.5 ± 0.5 nL min−1 vs. 2.35 ± 0.3 nL min−1 in AQP1−/−). Despite the approximate doubling of distal fluid and Cl delivery, AQP1/A1AR−/− mice have a normal salt excretion, normal arterial blood pressure, and only a small increase in plasma renin concentration. Conclusion: The ability to compensate for proximal tubule malabsorption without a TGF-induced reduction of GFR attests to a remarkable adaptability of distal tubule transport mechanisms.
System Reliability Design Analysis of Propulsion Structures

The reliability of a gas turbine engine structure is affected by the uncertainties in the operating environment (speed, temperature etc.) as well as in the structural properties (material properties, geometries, boundary conditions etc.). A computational method for accurate reliability estimation under such uncertainties is described in this paper. Reliability computation for individual failure modes (burst, LCF etc.) as well as overall system failure is addressed. System failure probability is computed through the union of individual mode failures. The method also provides precise sensitivity information about the effect of each uncertain parameter on the individual failure probabilities as well as on the system failure probability. Such quantitative information helps rational design decisions as well as risk assessment and certification.Copyright © 1993 by ASME
Multi-modality gellan gum-based tissue-mimicking phantom with targeted mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties

This study develops a new class of gellan gum-based tissue-mimicking phantom material and a model to predict and control the elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity by adjusting the mass fractions of gellan gum, propylene glycol, and sodium chloride, respectively. One of the advantages of gellan gum is its gelling efficiency allowing highly regulable mechanical properties (elastic modulus, toughness, etc). An experiment was performed on 16 gellan gum-based tissue-mimicking phantoms and a regression model was fit to quantitatively predict three material properties (elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity) based on the phantom material's composition. Based on these material properties and the regression model developed, tissue-mimicking phantoms of porcine spinal cord and liver were formulated. These gellan gum tissue-mimicking phantoms have the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties approximately equivalent to those of the spinal cord and the liver.
Simulation optimization-based decision support tool for steel manufacturing

Abstract To buffer against increasing global competition and variability in the price of raw materials, steel manufacturers continuously strive to improve operations and lower costs. In this research, we employ a simulation optimization approach to develop a decision support tool to aid in strategic and operational decision-making. Specifically, we investigate work-in-process inventory levels and potential manufacturing process modifications to reduce utilization costs. A simulation model captures the complex nature of the system while an optimizer searches the solution space and sends trial solutions to the simulation for evaluation. Experimentation suggests that significant daily cost savings are possible by modifying current inventory practices and production process capabilities. Overall, the work demonstrates the ability of the solution approach to analyze complex industrial systems and identify potential improvements in a short time frame.
Surface-dependent coagulation enzymes. Flow kinetics of factor Xa generation on live cell membranes.

The initial surface reactions of the extrinsic coagulation pathway on live cell membranes were examined under flow conditions. Generation of activated coagulation factor X (fXa) was measured on spherical monolayers of epithelial cells with a total surface area of 41–47 cm2 expressing tissue factor (TF) at >25 fmol/cm2. Concentrations of reactants and product were monitored as a function of time with radiolabeled proteins and a chromogenic substrate at resolutions of 2–8 s. At physiological concentrations of fVIIa and fX, the reaction rate was 3.05 ± 0.75 fmol fXa/s/cm2, independent of flux, and 10 times slower than that expected for collision-limited reactions. Rates were also independent of surface fVIIa concentrations within the range 0.6–25 fmol/cm2. The transit time of fX activated on the reaction chamber was prolonged relative to transit times of nonreacting tracers or preformed fXa. Membrane reactions were modeled using a set of nonlinear kinetic equations and a lagged normal density curve to track the expected surface concentration of reactants for various hypothetical reaction mechanisms. The experimental results were theoretically predicted only when the models used a slow intermediate reaction step, consistent with surface diffusion. These results provide evidence that the transfer of substrate within the membrane is rate-limiting in the kinetic mechanisms leading to initiation of blood coagulation by the TF pathway.
Schauder's Theorem and Riesz Theory for Compact-like Operators

A well-known theorem of Schauder states that the transpose of a compact operator on a normed space is also a compact operator. This theorem has been generalized to locally convex spaces in several ways [9, w 42, pp. 200-204]. The purpose of the first part of this paper is to present a generalization of this result which is very close in spirit to Schauder's original theorem. Our proof even uses the same tools he used. This shows that the class of operators for which our result holds, a class which properly contains the compact operators, should be investigated further. We do that in the second part of this paper
Monolayer studies of methyl hydroxyhexadecanoates

Abstract The behaviour of a homologous series of methyl hydroxyhexadecanoates at the air/water interface is described and compared to the behaviour of the respective parent acids in an effort to cast further light on the interfacial behaviour of simple molecules containing two different hydrophilic groups. Expansion of the isotherms upon esterification is observed for the 2-, 3-, and 9-hydroxy compounds, the extent of which is interpreted in terms of changes in head group interactions. The 16-hydroxy compounds show anomalous surface pressure and surface potential behaviour which is interpreted as being due to an inversion of the molecule at the interface, i.e., the hydroxyl group acts as the primary group in the methyl ester, whereas it acts as the secondary polar group in the acid.
A novel peptide mimicking the interaction of α-neurotoxins with acetylcholine receptor

A peptide corresponding to residues 26–41 of α-bungarotoxin, and closed by a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues at the amino and C terminal ends of the peptide, was synthesized and the monomeric form was purified. The peptide, which represents the exposed part of the long central loop of the toxin molecule, was examined for binding to acetylcholine receptor. The peptide was shown by radiometric titrations to bind radiolabeled receptor, and radiolabeled peptide was bound by receptor. The specificity of the binding was confirmed by inhibition with the parent toxin. A synthetic analog of the peptide in which Trp-28 was replaced by glycine had very little (10%) of the original activity. Succinylation of the amino groups of the peptide resulted in virtually complete (98%) loss of the binding activity. These results indicate that a shortened loop peptide corresponding to the region 26–41 of α-bungarotoxin exhibits binding activities mimicking those of the parent molecule. In this region, Trp-28, and one or both of Lys-26 and Lys-38, are essential contact residues in the binding to receptor.
Drift Chamber System for a High Rate Experiment

A system of 19 large drift chambers has been built and used in an experiment in the FNAL muon beam. The design of the chambers and electronics enabled the system to perform with incident particle rates of up to 107 per second.
Screw fixation of lateral condyle fractures of the humerus in children

Surgical Principles The goal of the metaphyseal compression osteosynthesis is to decrease the consolidation time, and therefore to decrease the risk of loss of valgus of the elbow which is often the consequence of a post-traumatic growth disturbance. The commonly used osteosynthesis with pins is relatively unstable. Although it normally prevents the development of a pseudarthrosis, it does not reliably reduce the consolidation time. Therefore, the loss of the carrying angle of the elbow, as well as the development of a fish tail deformity (see below) cannot be prevented reliably.
Evaluation of search, experience and credence attributes: role of brand name and product trial

Previous researchers have established that brand names are important in determining perceptions of brand quality and attitude towards the product. In this research we investigate the role of brand name in shaping consumers’ evaluation of search, experience, and credence attributes. The findings confirm that, prior to trial, brand name increases consumers’ perception of experience and credence attribute performance evaluations. However, prior to trial, brand name is found not to affect consumers’ perception of search attributes. Trial of the brand is found to reduce (and not eliminate) the advantage branded products have in enhancing consumers’ perception of experience and credence attributes.
Toward a pragmatic program for critical urban ecology

Our essay responds to the critique of Dooling et al. (Urban Ecosystems in press, 2007) of our previously published article “Goal attainment in urban ecology research: a bibliometric review 1975-2004 (Young and Wolf, Urban Ecosystems, 9:179–193, 2006). We identify our critics’ concerns as rooted in a project of deconstruction of scientific inquiry and a redefinition of the boundaries separating academic disciplines from each other and science from society. While we identify important differences with our critics, we largely support this critical project, as evidenced by our previously published empirical research. In exploring the relationship between critical and positivist approaches to urban ecology research and how we might work toward an integration of nature and society in thought and action, we defend pragmatic approaches to empirical research as well as disciplinary projects as legitimate and essential elements of urban ecology research. We argue in favor of theoretical and methodological pluralism. Rather than define urban ecology through exclusionary projects that would limit the scope and significance of urban ecology research, we reaffirm our call for diverse sets of actors inside and outside university settings to engage and support each other in order to develop and strengthen analysis and pursuit of sustainability.
Hepatocyte growth factor promotes tumor growth in a novel in vivo model of human lung cancer.

Significant progress has been made toward identifying growth factors that display autocrine or paracrine effects on the growth of lung cancer cells. Determining the in vivo relevance of specific growth factors on lung tumor formation, however, has not often been demonstrated in laboratory models. Although hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to have mitogenic and motogenic effects on human lung cancer cells in vitro, and to have prognostic importance in patients with lung cancer, the effects of HGF on tumor behavior in vivo remain unknown. We therefore developed an airway tumor xenograft model that allowed us to test the hypothesis that HGF promotes human non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth in vivo. Human airway tumor xenografts were created in Severe Combined Immunodeficient mice by injecting human lung adenocarcinoma cells into human bronchial segments. After determining the optimal times for tumor-cell injection and the time course of tumor growth, we evaluated the effects of HGF on tumo...
Shopping for Bargain-Priced Companies? Avoid Asset Impairment Traps

With the shaky economy, many companies may be available at bargain prices. But new accounting rules can trip you up, warns the author. He explains how to avoid problems and gives solid advice on strategy for today's conditions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are livable elements also restorative

The present study examined whether three elements claimed by Whyte (1980) as making plazas more livable – seating, triangulation, and food – also make plazas more restorative. We manipulated color slides of three plazas for the presence or absence of each element. Sixty participants (23 men, 37 women) rated each plaza, presented in random order, on a five-item restorativeness scale (PRS_5). The scale proved reliable, we found no gender differences in response and found that adding triangulation (sculpture) or adding both sculpture and seats to plazas improved restorativeness, but that plazas with all three elements had lower scores than plazas with two of them. These findings echoed earlier findings for livability. We also examined complexity, because it might affect fascination, preference, and thus restorativeness. Restorativeness and its items did not relate to restorativeness. We found that differences in perceived livability and restorativeness related to two restorative properties: fascination and coherence.
ALPHA GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONE SUBUNIT (α) AFTER LRF IN UNTREATED AND ESTROGEN TREATED GONADAL DYSGENESIS

Glycoprotein hormones share a common α subunit but each has a β subunit which confers biologic and immunologic specificity. Elevated plasma LH and FSH in hypergonadotropic hypogonadism can be lowered by estrogen therapy, but the change in circulating plasma α with therapy is undefined. We administered 100 ug LRF IV to 7 normal girls 12-18 yrs (Norm) and to 7 patients 12-20 yrs with gonadal dysgenesis (GD) before and during (GD-RX) 9 months of 0.3 rag/day of oral conjugated estrogens and found:
Respiratory disease in very-low-birthweight infants after prenatal thyrotropin-releasing hormone and glucocorticoid

Abstract Although prenatal glucocorticoid treatment reduces neonatal respiratory morbidity, respiratory distress syndrome and chronic lung disease (CLD) develop in many very-low-birthweight infants despite therapy. To investigate the effect of additional prenatal treatment with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), we did a multicentre, blinded, randomised trial. 404 women with threatened preterm delivery at less than 32 weeks' gestation received betamethasone plus TRH (4 doses of 400 μg 8-hourly) or betamethasone plus placebo. 103 infants who were fully treated and of less than 1 500 g birthweight were evaluated during the neonatal period. TRH treatment (55 infants) did not affect the total incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (47% vs 58% in controls) or of severe respiratory distress syndrome (13% vs 25% in controls, p=0·11). CLD (defined as requirement for supplemental oxygen at 28 days after birth) developed in significantly fewer TRH-treated infants (18% vs 44% of controls, p
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS OF CATOSTOMIDS IN LARGE RIVER ECOSYSTEMS: EFFECTS OF DISCHARGE AND TEMPERATURE ON RECRUITMENT DYNAMICS AND GROWTH

Catostomids are among the most widespread and ecologically important groups of fishes in North America, particularly in large river systems. Despite their importance, little information is available on their population demographics and even less is known about factors influencing their population dynamics. The objectives of this study were to describe annual mortality, recruitment variation, and growth of eight catostomid species, and to evaluate the effects of discharge and temperature on year-class strength and growth in Iowa rivers. Catostomids were sampled from 3-km reaches in four nonwadable rivers during June–August 2009. Northern hogsucker, Hypentelium nigricans, golden redhorse, Moxostoma erythrurum, and shorthead redhorse, M. macrolepidotum, typically lived 6–8 years, had very stable recruitment, and had high total annual mortality (i.e., 40–60%). Golden redhorse exhibited the fastest growth of all species. Growth of northern hogsucker and shorthead redhorse was intermediate to the other catostomids. Highfin carpsucker, Carpiodes velifer, quillback, Carpiodes cyprinus, and white sucker, Catostomus commersonii, had high growth rates, low mortality (i.e., 25–30%), and relatively stable recruitment. River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio, and silver redhorse, M. anisurum, had higher maximum ages (up to age 11), slower growth, lower total annual mortality (20–25%), and higher recruitment variability than the other species. Neither discharge nor temperature was strongly related to recruitment of catostomids. In contrast, several interesting patterns were observed with regard to growth. Species (e.g., carpsuckers, Carpiodes spp.) that typically consume prey items most common in fine substrates (e.g., chironomids) had higher growth rates in reaches dominated by sand and silt substrate. Species (e.g., northern hogsucker) that consume prey associated with large substrates (e.g., plecopterans) had much faster growth in reaches with a high proportion of rocky substrates. Temperature was weakly related to growth of catostomids; however, discharge explained a substantial amount of the variation in growth of nearly all species. Results of this study provide important information on the autecology of catostomids that can be used for comparison among species and systems. These data also suggest that connection of rivers with their floodplain is an important feature for catostomids in temperate river systems. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erythrocytes as oral delivery systems for human insulin.

The use of different forms of human red blood cells as oral carrier systems for human insulin in vivo was the subject of this investigation. Male Wistar rats were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (100 mg/kg). Three days after the injection, rats were found diabetic as evidenced by elevated fasted blood glucose concentration (200 mg/dl or higher). Rats received orally one of the following (100 U, 2 ml): an insulin solution, a ghosts-insulin suspension, a vesicles-insulin suspension, a liposomes-ghosts-insulin suspension, or a liposomes-vesicles-insulin suspension. Free carrier suspensions or sodium chloride solution (0.9%) were also given orally as controls. Blood glucose concentration was determined just before administration and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 hr post administration. The results show that all treatment groups, except liposomes-ghosts-insulin, were significantly different statistically from their respective controls (i.e., the free carriers).
Modification of Surface Fluxes from Component Models in Global Coupled Models

Abstract The present generation of global coupled ocean–atmosphere GCMs contains considerable systematic errors both in terms of net surface heat flux and simulated SSTs. Here, a global coupled GCM is used to illustrate how systematic errors in the separate coupled model components (atmosphere and ocean) contribute to the simulations of net surface heat flux and SST when the components are coupled together. Features of the coupled model simulation are a combination of errors in the component models and errors introduced due to the dynamic interaction, both local and nonlocal, between atmosphere and ocean. Various regions and latitudinal zones are examined to determine the processes that produce the net surface heat fluxes and SSTs in the coupled simulation. In the coupled model, a good simulation of net surface heat flux does not always produce a correspondingly accurate simulation of SST. Alterations of surface winds and/or ocean currents can introduce SST errors and consequent compensating surface fluxe...
OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELEASE OF SERUM FIBRINOLYSIN BY SPECIFIC ANTIGEN, PEPTONE, AND CERTAIN POLYSACCHARIDES

FORMATION OF FIBRINOLYSIN FROM ITS INACTIVE PRECURSOR IN SERUM WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: (a) by adding the specific antigen to serum from sensitized guinea pigs; (b) by mixing normal guinea pig serum with peptone, agar, hyaluronic acid, chondroitinsulfuric acid, glycogen, pneumococcal polysaccharides, and heparin. Activation of profibrinolysin by these agents differs from chloroform or streptokinase activation in that it requires the presence of some serum constituent non-precipitable with the euglobulin fraction and destroyed by heating at 56 degrees C. The bearing of these observations on the mechanism of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions is discussed. The findings reported support the concept that proteolysis is part of the process determining the release of histamine and other toxic products. It is suggested that the presence of fibrinokinase may be responsible for the toxicity of serum induced in vitro by a number of agents.
Use of Field-Applied Quality Control Samples to Monitor Performance of a Goulden Large-Sample Extractor/GC-MS Method for Pesticides in Water

Abstract Since 1985, the Goulden large-sample extractor (GLSE) has been used to isolate a broad array of trace-organic contaminants from large volumes of water. In this study, field-applied quality control measures, including matrix and surrogate spikes and blanks, were used to monitor method performance from GLSE extraction through GC-MS analysis. The method was applied to the determination of multiple classes of pesticides isolated from 4- to 112-L filtered surface-water samples. Average recoveries of six surrogate compounds ranged from 84 ± 18% for [2H10]diazinon to 15 ± 13% for 4,4′-[2H8]DDT, the low recoveries for which were largely a result of unmonitored breakdown of this surrogate by the GC injection system. Field-matrix-spike samples were prepared by fortifying 10-L, 35-L, and 110-L filtered surface-water samples with 68 pesticides to amended concentrations of 11-to 50-ng/L each. Recoveries ranged from not detected to greater than 100%. Variability in pesticide recoveries from triplicate 10-L wat...
Skeleton of a Supervisor for Enterprise Information Systems

We describe the key elements of a working program which can assist in the overall management of the information resources of an organization. This program can reason about the relationships between components of an EIS, and concludes that a problem exists when those relationships become abnormal. This program can also reason about the behaviors of the components of an EIS, and concludes that a problem exists when those behaviors are abnormal.
Simultaneous localization and respiration detection of multiple people using low cost UWB biometric pulse Doppler radar sensor

In this paper, we present a low cost ultra wideband (UWB) biometric radar sensor for respiration detection and monitoring applications. By using pulse Doppler radar technology, the developed sensor goes beyond detecting the breathing of a single person as conventional radars do; to simultaneously localizing and monitoring multiple human objects as well. The biometric sensor achieves a high range resolution of 3 mm, which makes it capable of detecting very tiny motions, such as breathing and heartbeat. A high unambiguous Doppler velocity of 9 m/s is obtained by the sensor and makes it an attractive device to monitor and investigate any other human physical activities too. Experiments of detecting the location and respiration characteristic of single and multiple human objects will be discussed.
Properties of a nonisosceles triangular grid planar phased array

An array with a general triangular grid structure (not necessarily isosceles) is considered, and methods of generating such an array are described. An analysis of its properties is presented. It is shown that this array has a grating lobe of -6 dB relative to the main lobe. The necessary conditions to avoid grating lobes are presented, with the conventional rectangular and isosceles triangular grids included as special cases. Furthermore, it is shown that one of the grid dimensions can be extended as compared to that of an isosceles triangular grid. However, when this is done, the optimal, grid area is reduced.
Effect of initial conditions on turbulent reattachment downstream of a backward-facing step

The reattachment of a fully turbulent, two-dimentional shear layer downstream of a backward-facing step has been studied experimentally. The work examines the effect of variations in inlet conditions on the process of reattachment. A series of experiments was conducted in a low-speed wind tunnel using specialized instrumentation suited to the highly turbulent reversing flow near reattachment. Accurate characterization of the time-mean features of the reattaching flows was possible. Assuming linear scaling normalized on distance from reattachment, distributions of normalized pressure coefficient and forward flow fraction, and time-averaged skin friction coefficient appear universal for two-dimensional reattachment, independent of initial conditions and step height, for given duct geometry (area ratio) and for high step-height Reyolds numbers with thin separating boundary layers. The results suggest universal flow structure in the reattachment zone.
Fairness and Trust in Structured Populations

Classical economic theory assumes that people are rational and selfish, but behavioral experiments often point to inconsistent behavior, typically attributed to “other regarding preferences.” The Ultimatum Game, used to study fairness, and the Trust Game, used to study trust and trustworthiness, have been two of the most influential and well-studied examples of inconsistent behavior. Recently, evolutionary biologists have attempted to explain the evolution of such preferences using evolutionary game theoretic models. While deterministic evolutionary game theoretic models agree with the classical economics predictions, recent stochastic approaches that include uncertainty and the possibility of mistakes have been successful in accounting for both the evolution of fairness and the evolution of trust. Here I explore the role of population structure by generalizing and expanding these existing results to the case of non-random interactions. This is a natural extension since such interactions do not occur randomly in the daily lives of individuals. I find that, in the limit of weak selection, population structure increases the space of fair strategies that are selected for but it has little-to-no effect on the optimum strategy played in the Ultimatum Game. In the Trust Game, in the limit of weak selection, I find that some amount of trust and trustworthiness can evolve even in a well-mixed population; however, the optimal strategy, although trusting if the return on investment is sufficiently high, is never trustworthy. Population structure biases selection towards strategies that are both trusting and trustworthy trustworthy and reduces the critical return threshold, but, much like in the case of fairness, it does not affect the winning strategy. Further considering the effects of reputation and structure, I find that they act synergistically to promote the evolution of trustworthiness.
Managing heterogeneous wireless environments via Hotspot servers

Wireless communication today supports heterogeneous wireless devices with a number of different wireless network interfaces (WNICs). A large fraction of communication is infrastructure based, so the wireless access points and hotspot servers have become more ubiquitous. Battery lifetime is still a critical issue, with WNICs typically consuming a large fraction of the overall power budget in a mobile device. In this work we present a new technique for managing power consumption and QoS in diverse wireless environments using Hotspot servers. We introduce a resource manager module at both Hotspot server and the client. Resource manager schedules communication bursts between it and each client. The schedulers decide what WNIC to employ for communication, when to communicate data and how to minimize power dissipation while maintaining an acceptable QoS based on the application needs. We present two new scheduling policies derived from well known earliest deadline first (EDF) and rate monotonic (RM) [26] algorithms. The resource manager and the schedulers have been implemented in the HP's Hotspot server [14]. Our measurement and simulation results show a significant improvement in power dissipation and QoS of Bluetooth and 802.11b for applications such as MP3, MPEG4, WWW, and email.
Sexual Identity and Sport

Within two weeks of each other in the spring of 2013, two professional athletes publicly came out as lesbian and gay. Brittney Griner, U.S. university player of the year 2012 and 2013, and first round Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft pick to the Phoenix Mercury, announced that she was a lesbian. Griners’ “announcement” was subtle, and did not gain a lot of press.
Empirical Confirmation of SR

There are obviously many other ramifications of Special Relativity, but as our interest is in the time concept in relativity, the brief survey in the foregoing chapters will suit our purposes. SR is one of the pillars of modern physics. Bondi has said that “...there is perhaps no other part of physics that has been checked and tested and cross-checked quite as much as the Theory of Relativity.”1 According to J. G. Taylor, “as far as special relativity is concerned all has been worked out and tested;” the theory has enjoyed “remarkable successes, and absolutely no failures.”2 Let us review the principal empirical confirmations of the theory.
Developing Structure to Motivate in the Classroom

(1981). Developing Structure to Motivate in the Classroom. The Journal of Business Education: Vol. 56, No. 7, pp. 283-286.
Absolute and relative content of carbon and nitrogen differ by sex in Ceratopteris richardii gametophytes

When habitats are heterogeneous regarding key abiotic factors, and individual organisms have no control over the environment in which they develop, labile sex expression can allow individuals to ad...
Detection of S-nitroso compounds by use of midinfrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

S-Nitroso compounds have received much attention in biological research. In addition to their role as nitric oxide donors, there is growing evidence that these compounds are involved in signaling processes in biological systems. Determination of S-nitrosylated proteins is of great importance for fundamental biological research and medical applications. The most common method to assay biological S-nitroso compounds is to chemically or photochemically reduce SNO functional groups to release nitric oxide, which is then entrained in an inert gas stream and detected, usually through chemiluminescence. We report a method of S-nitroso compound detection using cavity ring-down measurements of gaseous NO absorbance at 5.2 μm. The proposed method, in contrast to the chemiluminescence-based approach, can be used to distinguish isotopic forms of NO. We demonstrated sensitivity down to ∼2 pmol of S14NO groups and ∼5 pmol of S15NO groups for S-nitroso compounds in aqueous solutions. The wide dynamic range of cavity rin...
Could Air Force Space Command benefit from commercial space companies like SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, and Bigelow Aerospace?

If Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) could benefit from new commercial space companies then the development of this new commercial space industry would be increased and the United States national security in space would be strengthened. This paper will cover some of the ways that Air Force Space Command could potentially benefit from new commercial space companies and how these companies could contribute to the United States security in space. Many issues on creating collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial space will be addressed for policy makers to consider. Also how this relationship could be beneficial to both the Department of Defense and the U.S. economy will be defined. SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, and Bigelow Aerospace may be able to help solve some of Air Force Space Command’s biggest issues like assured access to space, operationally responsive space, and streamlining space acquisitions. These companies bring a fresh way of thinking in efficiency, innovation, and cost saving that Air Force Space Command can learn from by taking a few of these ideas and implementing them throughout the MAJCOM. With the continued success of SpaceX they will bring another option for Air Force Space Command in terms of assured access to space, the question for policy makers is what launch success rate must SpaceX demonstrate before they are trusted with a Department of Defense payload? XCOR is currently working on a small satellite pod launcher for their Lynx vehicle which could potentially be used by USAFA cadets and AFIT students in the Astronautical Engineering department to launch student payloads. Virgin Galactic is also developing a small satellite capability and new satellite components could be tested in SpaceShipTwo to see how they react in a weightless environment before they are added to a full scale satellite. Bigelow Aerospace must be examined for national security reasons since this will be the first private space station in history, and the company is currently marketing to any country willing to pay the lease cost. There are still many policy and economic questions that must be answered before a partnership can be established between Air Force Space Command and new commercial space. However, it is clear that these companies could definitely benefit Air Force Space Command.
Technology for Monitoring Construction of Large Section Loess Tunnel of Passenger Dedicated Line

Research purposes: Large section loess tunnels of passenger dedicated lines are generally constructed with using many methods together,such as twin sidewall method,CRD method,CD method and the core bench method.For this kind of construction,the applicable ranges of the conventional construction monitoring method and the current code are limited,so it is necessary to do the study to propose the monitoring items,monitoring way,monitoring method and control reference value for monitoring the large section loess tunnel construction.Research conclusions:Taking monitoring construction of large section loess tunnels of Zhengzhou-Xi'an Passenger Dedicated Line as the background,through the in-situ test and the statistic analyses of the measured data of the 10 tunnels,the conventional method was compared with the non-contact measuring method.After comparing code limit values with the measured data,the monitoring items,monitoring way,monitoring method methods and the control reference values are offered for monitoring construction of large section loess tunnel of passenger dedicated line with using many construction methods together.
ID: 77: FAST-SKELETAL MYOSIN BINDING PROTEIN-C REGULATES SKELETAL MUSCLE CALCIUM SENSITIVITY

Mutations in myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) cause both cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and distal arthrogryposis. There are three isoforms of MyBP-C: slow-skeletal, fast-skeletal, and cardiac (ssMyBP-C, fsMyBP-C, and cMyBP-C, respectively). These isoforms reside within the sarcomere, the functional unit of muscle contraction at the molecular level. However, the function of the three major MyBP-C isoforms remains unclear. The present study is the first to focus on the least characterized isoform, fsMyBP-C, which is expressed in fast- and mixed-type skeletal muscles. To determine the necessity of fsMyBP-C for regulation of contraction in the sarcomere, we generated a conventional fast-skeletal MyBP-C knockout (FSKO) mouse model. We analyzed both structural changes and regulatory function of skeletal muscles from heterozygous (FSKO −/+ ) and homozygous (FSKO −/− ), compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Neither heterozygous nor homozygous FSKO mice exhibited changes in morbidity or mortality relative to WT mice. Molecular analyses revealed a complete knockout of fsMyBP-C in the FSKO −/− skeletal muscles compared to FSKO −/+ and WT mice. Histopathological analyses of both Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles revealed no obvious abnormalities, such as fibrosis or calcification, in either heterozygous or homozygous FSKO mice. Though fiber structure is preserved, we demonstrated that EDL muscles from FSKO −/− mice increases Ca 2+ -sensitivity of force development, suggesting that fsMyBP-C regulates contraction at the molecular level by decreasing Ca 2+ -sensitivity. While others have previously proposed the role of cMyBP-C is to increase Ca 2+ -sensitivity to normalize a Ca 2+ gradient imbalance in the heart, we propose that the role of fsMyBP-C in skeletal muscles is to reduce Ca 2+ -sensitivity of the thin filaments in order to normalize the reversed Ca 2+ gradient imbalance. Despite opposite effects on Ca 2+ -sensitivity, MyBP-C share the same functional role in both cardiac and skeletal muscles. Thus, in addition to elucidating the role of fast-skeletal MyBP-C and its regulation of skeletal muscle contraction, the present study provides insight into the cardiac isoform and its regulation of cardiac contraction.
The extraosseous and intraosseous blood supply of the scaphoid bone.

The extraosseous and intraosseous blood supplies of the scaphoid were determined in eleven human specimens by gross dissection, examination under a dissecting microscope, clearing by the method of Spalteholz, and microangiography.The extraosseous arteries of the scaphoid originated from the radial a
Glycolipid activators of invariant NKT cells as vaccine adjuvants

Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are a subpopulation of T lymphocytes with unique phenotypic properties and a remarkably broad range of immune effector and regulatory functions. One subset of these cells, known as invariant NKT cells (iNKT cells), has become a significant focus in the search for new and better ways to enhance immunotherapies and vaccination. These unconventional T cells are characterized by their ability to be specifically activated by a range of foreign and self-derived glycolipid antigens presented by CD1d, an MHC class I-related antigen presenting molecule that has evolved to bind and present lipid antigens. The development of synthetic α-galactosylceramides as a family of powerful glycolipid agonists for iNKT cells has led to approaches for augmenting a wide variety of immune responses, including those involved in vaccination against infections and cancers. Here we review the basic background biology of iNKT cells that is relevant to their potential for improving immune responses, and summarize recent work supporting the further development of glycolipid activators of iNKT cells as a new class of vaccine adjuvants.
Disease Modeling and Simulation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses disease modeling and simulation. A rust epidemic model should not represent the finale of a research project on epidemiology. As a part of the modeling process, setting a well-defined objective for building that model is requisite to the success of the effort. However, with advances in computer technology, the assembly of detailed models may become a relatively easy process and may lead to more available resources for researching the biology relevant for modeling. This may also mean more time for model evaluation and experimentation and for research on the modeling process itself, as it relates to different end users. Models are potentially powerful tools in the research process; they expand the inductive and deductive abilities by removing the task of dealing with detail and by stressing clarity in conceptualization. The chapter discusses the systems analysis aspect of modeling that should be a part of every project on epidemiology. Modern epidemiology is quantitative and requires input from many nontraditional disciplines; this interdisciplinary requirement of rust epidemiology benefits from a move toward quantification and holism.
Expandable vs Static Cages in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Radiographic Comparison of Segmental and Lumbar Sagittal Angles.

Background One criticism of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is the inability to increase segmental lordosis (SL). Expandable interbody cages are a relatively new innovation theorized to allow improvement in SL. Objective To compare changes in SL and lumbar lordosis (LL) after TLIF with nonexpandable vs expandable cages. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who were ≥18 years old and underwent single-level TLIF between 2011 and 2014. Patients were categorized by cage type (static vs expandable). Primary outcome of interest was change in SL and LL from preoperative values to those at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively. Results A total of 89 patients were studied (48 nonexpandable group, 41 expandable group). Groups had similar baseline characteristics. For SL, median (interquartile range) improvement was 3° for nonexpandable and 2° for expandable (unadjusted, P = .09; adjusted, P = .68) at 1 month postoperatively, and 3° for nonexpandable and 1° for expandable (unadjusted, P = .41; adjusted, P = .28) at 1 year postoperatively. For LL, median improvement was 1° for nonexpandable and 2° for expandable (unadjusted, P = .20; adjusted, P = .21), and 2° for nonexpandable and 5° for expandable (unadjusted, P = .15; adjusted, P = .51) at 1 year postoperatively. After excluding parallel expandable cages, there was still no difference in SL or LL improvement at 1 month or 1 year postoperatively between static and expandable cages (both unadjusted and adjusted, P > .05). Conclusion Patients undergoing single-level TLIF experienced similar improvements in SL and LL regardless of whether nonexpandable or expandable cages were placed.
Sudden death risk stratification in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy using old and new tools: a clinical challenge.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) remains a clinical challenge.Areas covered: Currently, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), severity of heart failure symptoms according to NYHA classification, and morphology and duration of the QRS complex guide device management in these patients with implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and/or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. Recently, the results of a randomized trial stirred some controversy regarding the utility of ICD in NIDCM patients, however, a subsequent meta-analysis confirmed prior findings of the survival-prolonging benefit of device therapy. Newer risk markers, like late gadolinium enhancement in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) detecting myocardial fibrosis, are encouraging in improving risk stratification in these patients. Furthermore, resurgence of an old tool, the electrophysiology study (EPS), and technical advances in genetics ...
Tunable Mechanochemistry of Lithium Battery Electrodes

The interplay between mechanical strains and battery electrochemistry, or the tunable mechanochemistry of batteries, remains an emerging research area with limited experimental progress. In this report, we demonstrate how elastic strains applied to vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), a widely studied cathode material for Li-ion batteries, can modulate the kinetics and energetics of lithium-ion intercalation. We utilize atomic layer deposition to coat V2O5 materials onto the surface of a shapememory superelastic NiTi alloy, which allows electrochemical assessment at a fixed and measurable level of elastic strain imposed on the V2O5, with strain state assessed through Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Our results indicate modulation of electrochemical intercalation potentials by ∼40 mV and an increase of the diffusion coefficient of lithium ions by up to 2.5-times with elastic prestrains of <2% imposed on the V2O5. These results are supported by density functional theory calculations and demonstrate how mech...