cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gamma Rays from Ne

The decay scheme of the low-lying excited states of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{22}$ has been investigated by means of a proton gamma-ray coincidence study of the ${\mathrm{F}}^{19}(\ensuremath{\alpha}, p){\mathrm{Ne}}^{22}$ reaction using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer. The excitation energies of the second and third excited states were rechecked and found to be 3.3 and 4.9 Mev, respectively. The results cast considerable doubt on the existence of the previously reported level at 0.6 Mev. For the 1.28-Mev excited state a single transition to the ground state was identified. The second excited state was found to decay principally by a cascade transition through the first excited state, although a weaker crossover transition direct to the ground state was also observed. The third excited state was found to decay through transitions to both the first excited and ground states. A discussion of possible spin and parity assignments by means of the Weisskopf relations is presented.
Commissioning of the Forward Pixel system before the final installation in CMS

I will present the results of the commissioning of the CMS Forward Pixel system, that has been carried out at CERN before the final installation in CMS. The commissioning was meant to check every mechanical and electrical aspect of the system and to verify that the actual performance of the detector, once assembled and with the same power and readout systems that will be used in the final experiment, was still of the same high quality as during the production phase. The Forward Pixel system presents a negligible number of dead channels, lower than 0.04%, and an average noise lower than 120 electrons.
Galileo's stream: A framework for understanding knowledge production

Abstract We introduce a framework for understanding knowledge production in which: knowledge is produced in stages (along a research to development continuum) and in three discrete categories (science and understanding, tools and technology, and societal use and behavior); and knowledge in the various stages and categories is produced both non-interactively and interactively. The framework attempts to balance: our experiences as working scientists and technologists, our best current understanding of the social processes of knowledge production, and the possibility of mathematical analyses. It offers a potential approach both to improving our basic understanding, and to developing tools for enterprise management, of the knowledge-production process.
Correlates of cognitive impairment among patients with heart failure: Results of a multicenter survey

Abstract Purpose Cognitive impairment is an exceedingly prevalent condition among patients with heart failure, independently associated with disability and mortality. However, the determinants of cognitive dysfunction associated with heart failure are still unclear. We assessed the correlates of cognitive impairment among patients with heart failure enrolled in a multicenter pharmacoepidemiology survey. Methods The association with cognition of demographic characteristics, objective tests and measures, medications, and comorbid conditions was assessed in 1511 patients with heart failure who had been admitted to 81 hospitals throughout Italy. Cognitive impairment was defined by a Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test score Results According to multivariate logistic regression modeling, age (per each decade: OR=2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72–2.35), the comorbidity score (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03–1.20), education (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.84–0.2), low serum albumin (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.35–2.34), sodium (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.06–2.29), and potassium levels (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.09–2.29), hyperglycemia (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.02–1.73), anemia (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.09–1.75), and systolic blood pressure levels ≥ 130 mm Hg (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37–0.97) were independently associated with cognitive impairment, after adjusting for potential confounders. Among participants with abnormal laboratory findings on admission, restoration of normal glucose, potassium, and hemoglobin levels during hospital stay was associated with improved cognitive performance at discharge. Conclusions Cognitive impairment among patients with heart failure is associated with several comorbid conditions, some of which are potentially treatable. This highlights the key role of comprehensive approach to the assessment and treatment of patients with heart failure.
iTILLING: A Personalized Approach to the Identification of Induced Mutations in Arabidopsis

TILLING (for Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) is a well-established method for identifying plants carrying point mutations in genes of interest. A traditional TILLING project requires a significant investment of time and resources to establish the mutant population and screening infrastructure. Here, we describe a modified TILLING procedure that substantially reduces the investment needed to perform mutation screening. Our motivation for developing iTILLING was to make it practical for individual laboratories to rapidly perform mutation screens using specialized genetic backgrounds. With iTILLING, M2 seeds are collected in bulk from the mutagenized population of plants, greatly reducing the labor needed to manage the mutant lines. Growth of the M2 seedlings for mutation screening, tissue collection, and DNA extraction are all performed in 96-well format. Mutations are then identified using high-resolution melt-curve analysis of gene-specific polymerase chain reaction products. Individual plants carrying mutations of interest are transferred from the 96-well growth plates to soil. One scientist can complete an iTILLING screen in less than 4 months. As a proof-of-principle test, we applied iTILLING to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants that were homozygous for the mekk1-1 (for MAPK/ERK kinase kinase 1) mutation and also carried a MEKK1 rescue construct. The goal of our screen was to identify mutations in the closely linked MEKK2 and MEKK3 loci. We obtained five mutations in MEKK2 and seven mutations in MEKK3, all located within 20 kb of the mekk1-1 T-DNA insertion. Using repeated iterations of the iTILLING process, mutations in three or more tandemly duplicated genes could be generated.
Population genetic structure of an endangered Utah endemic, Astragalus ampullarioides (Fabaceae)

The endangered Shivwits milkvetch, Astragalus ampullarioides , is a perennial, herbaceous plant. This Utah endemic was federally listed as endangered in 2001 because of its high habitat specifi city and low numbers of individuals and populations. All habitat currently occupied by A. ampullarioides was designated as critical by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2006 as a result of conservation litigation. We used AFLP markers to assess genetic differentiation among the seven extant populations and quantifi ed genetic diversity in each. Six different AFLP markers resulted in 217 unambiguous polymorphic loci. We used multiple methods to examine any changes in population genetic structure in this species over time. Results indicate that A. ampullarioides had much higher gene fl ow among populations in the past, but has since fragmented into regional genetic units. These regions further fragmented genetically, and extant populations have differentiated through genetic drift. Populations had low levels of gene fl ow, even between geographically close populations. Rapid urban development reduces gene fl ow among regions and encroaches on populations of A. ampullarioides and remaining patches of unoccupied habitat. The genetic makeup of each of the extant populations should be carefully considered in management decisions such as population establishment or augmentation.
Hemifusion of giant unilamellar vesicles with planar hydrophobic surfaces: a fluorescence microscopy study

Vesicle adhesion and fusion to interfaces are frequently used for the construction of biomimetic surfaces in biosensors and drug delivery. Ubiquitous in cell biology, vesicle fusion involves the transformation of two separate membranes into one contiguous lipid bilayer. In distinction, the deposition of vesicle membranes to hydrophobic surfaces requires the transformation of a lipidic bilayer into a monomolecular layer – a topologically distinct process termed hemifusion. Here, we used hydrophobically terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on solid surfaces to track the hemifusion of fluorescently labeled giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) at the single vesicle level with video time resolution (≈53 ms). We observed that a dilute monolayer, consisting of lipid extracted from the outer GUV leaflet, spreads outward across the hydrophobic surface from the vesicle adhesion site. Subsequently, bilayer hemifusion occurs by vesicle rupture near the hydrophobic surface, followed by spreading of lipid in a dense monolayer. GUV lipids thus transfer to the SAM surface in two concentric zones: an outer hemifusion zone comprises lipids drawn from the outer GUV leaflet and an inner hemifusion zone comprises lipids from both the inner and outer GUV leaflets and grows at a rate of ≈1000 μm2 s−1 (dA/dt = 970 ± 430 μm2 s−1 in n = 22 independent experiments). This growth rate is quantitatively consistent with the assumption that the spreading of the monolayer is entirely driven by the difference in surface energies of the hydrophobic and the lipid-covered SAM surfaces, which is dissipated by friction of the spreading monolayer on the SAM. Lipid transfer between the inner and outer GUV leaflets occurs via a hemifusion pore that forms early in the process near the membrane contact site. This pore also permits expulsion of water from the GUV interior as the vesicle contracts onto the contact site.
Enabling video annotation using a semantic database extended with visual knowledge

A semantic database has been extended with visual information to enable video annotation. This paper describes a lexical database, WordNet. We show its limitations with respect to describing visual characteristics, and describe an extension to WordNet that contains specific visual information. Having such a semantic database makes video annotation possible for broadcast news: a domain that can cover any topic and involve a wide variety of events, objects and scenes. Combining basic visual analysis techniques and a semantic database containing visual descriptions avoids the problem developing large numbers of specific object and event detectors. Such a semantic database can be of great value for the analysis of multi-modal information. As far as we know, such a database has not been developed before.
Influences of silvicultural manipulations on above- and belowground biomass accumulations and leaf area in young Pinus radiata plantations, at three contrasting sites in Chile

1Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepcion, Cooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Casilla 160-C, Correo 3, Concepcion, Chile 2Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Jordan Hall 3108, Box 8008, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USA 3Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 228 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Cosmological moduli problem in a supersymmetric model with direct gauge mediation

Recently, an interesting class of the direct gauge mediation supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking models are proposed, in which the minimum of the potential of the SUSY breaking field is determined by the inverted hierarchy mechanism. We consider their cosmological implications. In this class of models, SUSY breaking field has a very flat potential, which may have a cosmological importance. Assuming the initial amplitude of the SUSY breaking field to be of the order of the Planck scale, it can be a source of a large entropy production. A special attention is paid to the cosmological moduli problem, and we will see the cosmological mass density of the moduli field can be significantly reduced.
A 53-Year-Old Man With Hemoptysis

53-year-old black man presented with recurrent episodes of hemoptysis, with 1.5 cups of bright red blood expectorated over a 2-day period. He denied having fever, chest pain, vomiting, night sweats, shortness of breath, or dizziness. He had had a dry cough for several months before admission to the hospital. He also had lost 40 lb from dieting in the past several years. He was being treated for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease. He had a 30-year history of tobacco use, occasional alcohol use, and no IV drug abuse. Clinical examination revealed a pleasant black man not in acute distress. Vital signs were stable: pulse rate, 79 beats/ min; BP, 154/92 mm Hg; and respiratory rate, 21 breaths/min. There was no clubbing or lymphadenopathy. Chest examination revealed scattered crackles at both lung bases. The rest of the physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory investigation showed a hemoglobin level of 14.2 g/dL, a WBC count of 6.0 3 10 3 /mL, and a platelet count of 277 3 10 3 /mL. Prothrombin time was 24.2 s, and international normalized ratio was 0.88. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed active oozing of blood from the left lower lobe bronchus with mildly edematous airways.
Age structure, growth and survival rates of the commercial fish Prochilodus nigricans (bocachico) in North-eastern Ecuador

The bocachico, Prochilodus nigricans, is a commercially important fish distributed throughout the central and western Amazon. Age and growth of this species in eastern Ecuador were determined by otolith and scale increment analyses. For otolith analyses, we used thin sections of the astericus, and clear visualization of annuli required the use transmitted polarized light. Accuracy and precision of age estimation were compared to select the best ageing structure. Precision indices showed that otoliths are more reliable than scales to determine the age of bocachicos. Based on marginal increments analysis, we found that annulus formation in both structures occurs once a year between August and December. Seasonal changes in growth were associated with hydrological cycle of the river. The Ecuadorian Prochilodus at the juvenile–adult stage grew faster (i.e., K = 0.29 for ages 2 and older) than conspecific populations from Bolivia and Brazil (K = 0.5). In addition, annual mortality rate (A = 0. 56) was lower than reported for Prochilodus populations elsewhere in the Amazon. We conclude that this population is presently not overexploited, but conservation and management schemes for this population will need to consider that it is an international, trans-boundary migrant.
The complex structure of hunter–gatherer social networks

In nature, many different types of complex system form hierarchical, self-similar or fractal-like structures that have evolved to maximize internal efficiency. In this paper, we ask whether hunter-gatherer societies show similar structural properties. We use fractal network theory to analyse the statistical structure of 1189 social groups in 339 hunter-gatherer societies from a published compilation of ethnographies. We show that population structure is indeed self-similar or fractal-like with the number of individuals or groups belonging to each successively higher level of organization exhibiting a constant ratio close to 4. Further, despite the wide ecological, cultural and historical diversity of hunter-gatherer societies, this remarkable self-similarity holds both within and across cultures and continents. We show that the branching ratio is related to density-dependent reproduction in complex environments and hypothesize that the general pattern of hierarchical organization reflects the self-similar properties of the networks and the underlying cohesive and disruptive forces that govern the flow of material resources, genes and non-genetic information within and between social groups. Our results offer insight into the energetics of human sociality and suggest that human social networks self-organize in response to similar optimization principles found behind the formation of many complex systems in nature.
An Adaptive Semantic Filter for Blue Gene/L Failure Log Analysis

Frequent failure occurrences are becoming a serious concern to the community of high-end computing, especially when the applications and the underlying systems rapidly grow in size and complexity. In order to better understand the failure behavior of such systems and further develop effective fault-tolerant strategies, we have collected detailed event logs from IBM Blue Gene/L, which has as many as 128K processors, and is currently the fastest supercomputer in the world. Due to the scale of such machines and the granularity of the logging mechanisms, the logs can get voluminous and usually contain records which may not all be distinct. Consequently, it is crucial to filter these logs towards isolating the specific failures, which can then be useful for subsequent analysis. However, existing filtering methods either require too much domain expertise, or produce erroneous results. This paper thus fills this crucial void by designing and developing an adaptive semantic filtering (ASF) method, which is accurate, light-weight, and more importantly, easy to automate. Specifically, ASF exploits the semantic correlation between two events, and dynamically adapts the correlation threshold based on the temporal gap between the events. We have validated the ASF method using the failure logs collected from Blue Gene/L over a period of 98 days. Our experimental results show that ASF can effectively remove redundant entries in the logs, and the filtering results can serve as a good base for future failure analysis studies.
Aircraft/control system simulation

This paper describes an aircraft/control system simulation facility being developed at Kansas State University as part of an NSF "Flexible Embedded Control System Design" laboratory project. The simulation facility will support teaching and research in the design of new and innovative flight control systems for general aviation aircraft. The proposed system includes a navigation and pilot information system based on Global Positioning System (GPS) and data link technology and a health monitoring system (HMS). The purpose of the simulation facility is to provide the capability where designs of this advanced flight system can be evaluated both as individual system elements and as part of the overall system including pilot-in-the-loop studies. As the design progresses and prototypes of the hardware are built, the simulation will permit inclusion of these hardware modules in place of the simulation code.
Long-term change in alcohol-consumption status and variations in fibrinogen levels: the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study

Objective To examine long-term associations between change in alcohol-consumption status and cessation of alcohol use, and fibrinogen levels in a large, young, biracial cohort. Design Analysis of covariance models were used to analyse participants within the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA) cohort who had fibrinogen and alcohol use data at year 7 (1992–1993; ages 25–37) and year 20 examinations. Setting 4 urban US cities. Patients 2520 men and women within the CARDIA cohort. Main outcome measures 13-year changes in alcohol use related to changes in fibrinogen. Results Over 13 years, mean fibrinogen increased by 71 vs 70 mg/dL (p=NS) in black men (BM) versus white men (WM), and 78 vs 68 mg/dL (p Conclusions In this young cohort, compared with the participants who never drank, those who became/stayed drinkers had smaller increases, while those who quit drinking had the highest increase in fibrinogen over 13 years of follow-up. The results provide a novel insight into the mechanism for the established protective effect of moderate alcohol intake on cardiovascular disease outcomes.
Computational Investigation of Irregular Wave Cancelation Using a Cycloidal Wave Energy Converter

The ability of a Cycloidal Wave Energy Converter (CycWEC) to cancel irregular deep ocean waves is investigated in a time integrated, inviscid potential flow simulati on. A CycWEC consists of one or more hydrofoils attached eccentri cally to a shaft that is aligned parallel to the incoming wave s. The entire device is fully submerged in operation. A Bretsch neider spectrum with 40 discrete components is used to model an irregular wave environment in the simulations. A sensor pla ced up-wave of the CycWEC measures the incoming wave height and provides a signal for the wave state estimator, a non-cau sal Hilbert transformation, to estimate the instantaneous fre quency, phase and amplitude of the irregular wave pattern. A linear control scheme which proportionally controls hydrofoil pi tch and compensates for phase delays is adopted. Efficiency for the d esign Bretschneider spectrum shows more than 99% efficiency, while non-optimum, off design operating conditions still m aintain more than 85% efficiency. These results are in agreement with concurrent experimental results obtained at a 1:300 sc ale.
Characterization and Annealing of Sputtered AlN Films for Piezoelectric Resonators

Sputtered A1N films developed for piezoelectric resonators are extremely chemically reactive. As-sputtered films react with boiling water resulting in a complete loss of the AIN bond structure. Experiments to determine the effect on chemical stability of annealing the sputtered films at 1000 °C, indicate annealing in an oxidizing gas leads to partial oxidation of AlN. Annealing in an inert gas prevents oxidation but does not protect the films from attack by boiling water. Annealing in a reducing gas followed by annealing in an inert gas renders A1N films stable in boiling water. A1N film structure and composition have been studied via Refractive Index, XRD, SIMS, SEM, AES, XPS and FTIR evaluations.
Progression of clinical deterioration and pathological changes in patients with Alzheimer disease evaluated at biopsy and autopsy.

Objectives To quantify the progression of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and microglial activation in the cortex and white matter of patients with Alzheimer disease evaluated at both biopsy and subsequent autopsy and correlate these changes with the progression of neurologic impairment. Setting Academic referral center for patient with Alzheimer disease. Patients Four patients meeting the clinical criteria for Alzheimer disease, enrolled in a pilot study for the evaluation of response to intracerebroventricular administration of bethanechol chloride. The patients were followed up until death occurred and autopsy was performed. Results All 4 patients had progressive deterioration from the time of biopsy to autopsy (9-11 years). Pathological investigations showed a striking increase in the density of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in 2 of 4 patients from biopsy to autopsy, and a significant increase in microglial activation in 1 of 4 cases. Severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy varied significantly among patients, 1 of whom displayed striking amyloid deposition with associated subcortical white matter atrophy. Conclusions These unique data demonstrate that the progressive neurologic impairment in Alzheimer disease is accompanied by a significant increase in senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle counts in the frontal cortex and, possibly in some patients, by increased microglial cell activation. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy was associated with significant white matter disease.
Collaborative Learning Enhances Critical Thinking

The concept of collaborative learning, the grouping and pairing of students for the purpose of achieving an academic goal, has been widely researched and advocated throughout the professional literature. The term “collaborative learning” refers to an instruction method in which students at various performance levels work together in small groups toward a common goal. The students are responsible for one another’s learning as well as their own. Thus, the success of one student helps other students to be successful.
Arrow’s General Impossibility Theorem and Five Collective Choice Rules: Pareto, Condorcet, Plurality, Approval Voting, and Borda

Collective choice rules are used to aggregate individual preferences among alternatives in order to determine group preference. Marketers frequently measure and aggregate customer preferences for product design. They have traditionally used aggregation rules like the plurality method, the Condorcet method, approval voting, the Borda method, and the utilitarian method. While marketers have extensively utilized these rules, only recently have they paid some attention to the strengths and weaknesses of these rules. Arrow has investigated the desirable properties of aggregation rules. This article presents Arrow’s conditions that a desirable preference aggregation method should satisfy and his “General Impossibility Theorem.” Five methods of preference aggregation are then evaluated in the light of Arrow’s theorem.
Global analysis of protein expression and phosphorylation levels in nicotine-treated pancreatic stellate cells

Smoking is a risk factor in pancreatic disease; however, the biochemical mechanisms correlating smoking with pancreatic dysfunction remain poorly understood. Strategies using multiplexed isobaric tag-based mass spectrometry facilitate the study of drug-induced perturbations on biological systems. Here, we present the first large-scale analysis of the proteomic and phosphoproteomic alterations in pancreatic stellate cells following treatment with two nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands: nicotine and α-bungarotoxin. We treated cells with nicotine or α-bungarotoxin for 12 h in triplicate and compared alterations in protein expression and phosphorylation levels to mock-treated cells using a tandem mass tag (TMT9plex)-based approach. Over 8100 proteins were quantified across all nine samples, of which 46 were altered in abundance upon treatment with nicotine. Proteins with increased abundance included those associated with neurons, defense mechanisms, indicators of pancreatic disease, and lysosoma...
The supercharged 1.3 L engine of the Volkswagen polo coupe G 40 record car

Caracteristiques du moteur de 1,3 l de l'automobile Volkswagen Polo Coupe G40. Suralimentation par compresseur volumetrique. Cette automobile a battu deux records internationaux
Aquatic insect β‐diversity is not dependent on elevation in Southern Rocky Mountain streams

SUMMARY 1. Relatively high b-diversity among aquatic insect communities inhabiting high-elevation streams is most commonly presumed to result from increased dispersal limitation between isolated mountaintop ‘islands’. However, these elevational patterns of b-diversity have been predominately drawn from observed changes in community composition along single-thread channels, where the downstream increase in habitat size and hydrologic connectivity provides potential alternative explanations. 2. In this study, we applied an alternative conceptual ‘tributary model’ to ask whether patterns of aquatic insect b-diversity in similar-sized, hydrologically disconnected streams showed a similar elevational gradient in diversity patterns as previously reported for conceptual ‘mainstem model’ studies. Aquatic insects were sampled from 24 low-order, montane streams that are tributaries to larger rivers in three adjacent catchments spanning c. 2000–3500 m in elevation. We used relative abundance data to quantify two types of b-diversity: (i) community turnover-b, or the change in local diversity among adjacent streams along the elevational gradient within each catchment, and (ii) community variation-b, or the change in local diversity among all streams within three elevation zones combined across catchments. 3. Our results provided evidence of no relationship between b-diversity and elevation in aquatic insect communities in small montane streams. Community turnover-b was found to be consistently high among sites within catchments and displayed no significant trend across the elevational gradient for any catchment. Community variation-b showed a nonlinear response to elevation, with sites in the high-elevation and low-elevation zones having similarly high community variation-b compared to sites in the mid-elevation zone. 4. Our ‘tributary model’ results provide the first evidence that b-diversity among small, isolated streams can have similar turnover rates across broad elevational gradients. Our results also show similar patterns of b-diversity among low- and high-elevation tributaries, suggesting that dispersal limitation is not restricted to high-elevation streams.
OT-08DISTINCT BRAIN LINEAGE AND STROMAL GENE EXPRESSION PATTERNS IN WNT, SHH, GROUP 3 AND GROUP 4 MOLECULAR SUBGROUPS OF PEDIATRIC MEDULLOBLASTOMA.

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in children, comprising distinct molecular subgroups that differ in neuroanatomical predilection, clinical characteristics and overall survival. Here we compare genetic brain lineage and stromal immune profiling in N = 558 pediatric medulloblastomas against N = 426 adult glioblastomas. The medulloblastoma cohort included N = 114 SHH (20%), N = 34 WNT (6%), N = 156 Group 3 (28%), and N = 254 Group 4 (46%). Genetic brain lineage analyses revealed WNT and SHH medulloblastoma to be distinctly astrocytic and astroglial; more similar to adult mesenchymal/classical glioblastoma than other pediatric medulloblastoma. In contrast, Group 4 was distinctly neuronal and oligodendrocytic; more similar to adult proneural/neural glioblastoma than other pediatric medulloblastoma. Interestingly, Group 3 demonstrated no brain lineage enrichment-unlike any other pediatric or adult brain tumor subtype-suggesting a non-CNS etiology for this subgroup known for distinctive large-cell anaplastic histology, aggressive behavior, and uniquely high incidence of metastatic disease. Analysis of stromal immune signatures revealed significant macrophage-specific enrichment in WNT and SHH, but not Group 3 and 4 tumors. These myeloid signatures were characteristic of M2-polarized macrophages, unlike adult glioblastomas, which enriched in both M1 and M2 signatures. While myeloid responses in adult glioblastoma were predictive of poor overall survival, the opposite was true in pediatric medulloblastoma-with improved survival in children with robust immune responses. These data demonstrate that medulloblastoma subtypes display distinct brain lineages and share greater similarities to adult glioblastomas than other pediatric medulloblastomas, further supporting distinct cellular origins for each subtype. Furthermore, innate immune responses were distinctive between subtypes and, in contrast to adult tumors, predictive of good outcomes, suggesting prognostic significance of immune responses differs in children versus adults. Taken together, these findings highlight the distinctiveness of medulloblastoma subtypes with important clinical implications for the design of future targeted molecular therapy and immunotherapy trials in pediatric and adult brain tumor patients.
Jean Epstein's documentary cinephilia

ABSTRACTWhile Jean Epstein's film theory and practice attempts to navigate the often antithetical impulses of experimentation with the cinematic medium and the documentation of reality, both are governed by his cinephilia. Through his engagement with the image as a real or imagined spectator, Epstein insists upon the site of reception as the nexus through which we come to understand the world transformed by film. Both Epstein's visual virtuosity and his tendency towards documentary investigation find a conduit for complex expression through the close-up in particular. In light of surveying the ways in which he discusses the merging of spectator and spectated, this article then highlights the ways Epstein mobilizes close-ups in two films with apparently opposite impulses, Cœur fidele/Faithful Heart (1923), which is usually noted for its visual experimentation, and Finis terrae (1929), which deals as much with documenting a more primitive lifestyle among the group of islanders on Ouessant as it does with te...
Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation for the Design of Bio- Inspired Micro Air Vehicle Wings

Many biological flyers have evolved to employ flexible wing structures to augment aerodynamic performance. Since Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) operate in the same flight regime, man-made wing designs have incorporated flexible structures in an attempt to achieve similar enhancements. Quantifying the performance effects of these flexible structures, however, requires simulation of the complex fluid-structure interaction between the wing and the surrounding air. One common approach to this problem involves coupled high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA), using three-dimensional solid elements. Because using these methods is computationally expensive, simulations are often performed only after a baseline design has been chosen. In response to the high computational cost, some simulations use reduced fidelity methods such as modelling the structure as a single torsion / bending beam or simplifying the aerodynamic model to an analytical model. Many of these simplified methods cannot react to or predict three dimensional surface deformation which can substantially affect the flow around the wing. This paper presents a fluid-structure interaction method for evaluating stationary flexible wings that both models the effects of three-dimensional deformation and is efficient enough to be utilized at the conceptual design stage. The method utilizes an advanced potential flow model for the calculation of aerodynamic loads and a three-dimensional simplified frame/shell finite element model for evaluating the structural response. Combining these two methods considerably reduces the computational cost, and allows for the rapid evaluation of wing performance for a range of operating conditions and structural definitions. Topics discussed in this paper include the formulation of the fluid-structure interaction model, an example trade study performed using the method, and comparisons with the results of higher-fidelity models formulated for this paper and from the literature.
Exploring the Role of Eddy Momentum Fluxes in Determining the Characteristics of the Equinoctial Hadley Circulation: Fixed-SST Simulations

AbstractThe influence of eddy momentum fluxes on the equinoctial Hadley circulation is explored using idealized simulations on an equatorial beta plane in which the sea surface temperature (SST) distribution is fixed. By comparing simulations run in a wide-domain configuration, in which large-scale eddies are present, to simulations in which the model domain is too narrow to permit baroclinic instability, the role of large-scale eddies in determining the characteristics of the Hadley circulation is elucidated. The simulations also include an explicit representation of deep convection, allowing for an evaluation of the influence of convective momentum transport on the zonal-mean circulation.The simulated eddy momentum fluxes are much weaker in the narrow-domain configuration than in the wide-domain case, and convective momentum transport is found to be of secondary importance. As a result, many characteristics of the narrow-domain Hadley circulation are well described by axisymmetric theory and differ from...
Career Adaptability and Subjective Well-Being in Unemployed Emerging Adults: A Promising and Cautionary Tale

Unemployment is associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and disconnection among emerging adults. Given the greater risk of unemployment for emerging adults (13.2% in the United Sta...
Studies on Predator-Prey Interactions Between Amblyseius hibisci and Oligonychus punicae (Acarina: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae) Under Greenhouse Conditions

An experiment was conducted in the greenhouse on seedlings of Persea indica Spreng to determine the ability of the predaccous mite Amblyseius hibisci (Chant) to suppress populations of the phytophagous mite Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) both in the presence and in the absence of pollen as an alternate food. On the predator-free check plants, the prey population underwent 4 fluctuations in abundance over a 46-wcek period; the magnitude of the initial fluctuation was considerably higher than subsequent fluctuations. It was concluded that this population was regulated by the condition of its food supply. On the plants having predators but no pollen, the prey population during the first 2 fluctuations reached peaks as high as those on the predator-free plants, although the leaves showed slightly less damage. The greatest effect of the predator in the absence of pollen occurred after the second peak of prey abundance; the prey population continued to decline while that on the predator-free plants underwent a third fluctuation. However, the predator population then declined to low numbers and subsequently did not respond numerically to a third fluctuation in prey abundance that occurred concurrent with the fourth fluctuation on the predator-free plants. On the plants receiving periodic applications of pollen, the prey population density peaked at less than half that on the trees without pollen, and declined sooner, after which no further significant increases occurred. It was thus demonstrated that alternate food increased the intensity of predation because it accelerated the rate of increase of the predator. The greater numbers of predators produced by pollen feeding more than offset the lower rate of prey consumption per individual predator.
COMPARISON OF TRUNK AND LOWER EXTREMITY MUSCLE ACTIVITY AMONG FOUR STATIONARY EQUIPMENT DEVICES: UPRIGHT BIKE, RECUMBENT BIKE, TREADMILL, AND ELLIPTIGO®

Background Stationary equipment devices are often used to improve fitness. The ElliptiGO® was recently developed that blends the elements of an elliptical trainer and bicycle, allowing reciprocal lower limb pedaling in an upright position. However, it is unknown whether the muscle activity used for the ElliptiGO® is similar to walking or cycling. To date, there is no information comparing muscle activity for exercise on the treadmill, stationary upright and recumbent bikes, and the ElliptiGO®.
Twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation (TOIMS): long term observations in the management of chronic partial cervical radiculopathy.

PURPOSE To display the long term observations noted on using Twitch-Obtaining Intramuscular Stimulation (TOIMS) in the management of myofascial pain from chronic partial cervical radiculopathy. METHODS Included in the study were forty consecutive patients with chronic neck and upper limb pain who failed standard treatments. They received TOIMS during 1/92 through 6/95. Control patients were those who received standard treatments (StdRx) only. TOIMS patients had longer symptom duration and more chronic electromyographic findings at C5 and C7 levels on the symptomatic side than the StdRx patients. Test patients received TOIMS in a bilateral multisegmental, multiradicular distribution on a 1-2 weekly basis for 23.9 +/- 21.5 treatments. The follow-up rate was 82.5% for TOIMS and 35% for StdRx. Follow-up occurred at 28.6 +/- 9.1 months after the last TOIMS treatment and at 32.2 +/- 4.3 months after the initial contact for the StdRx patients. Main outcomes measured were pain reduction and return to work. RESULTS For those able to be followed 45.5% of the TOIMS patients chose TOIMS as very effective for pain control, whereas only 10% of the StdRx had similar opinions for conventional treatments. More of the TOIMS patients also had lower pain levels and were working compared to StdRx patients. CONCLUSIONS Observations suggest TOIMS to have potential value in the long-term management of partial cervical radiculopathy related myofascial pain.
Diet and Blood Pressure: The High and Low of It

Hypertension is a global public health problem. Roughly one billion people worldwide are estimated to have clinically significant elevations in blood pressure (BP) with about 50 million of them in the United States (World Health Statistics 2015. WHO, Geneva, 2015). Hypertension, in turn, is the most important of 67 risk factors for worldwide risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, renal disease, and all-cause mortality (Lancet, 380, 2224–60, 2012). BP is significantly affected by nutrition which is the subject of this chapter.
Independent Wheel Effects in Real Time Estimation of Tire-Road Friction Coefficient from Steering Torque

Abstract Improvement of control technologies and increased public acceptance of active systems on vehicles has led to greater implementation of safety critical assistance systems in production vehicles. However, the estimate of tire friction coefficient utilized within these systems is often obtained using only data from inertial sensors in which the tire friction is weakly represented. In contrast, skilled human drivers utilize steering torque to obtain a sense of the surface friction. In theory, this approach can also be utilized with electric power steering or steer-by-wire technologies, but there are significant challenges in obtaining and interpreting data from the steering system including the signal characteristics of steering torque measurements and the well-known problem of practical measurement of tire slip angles. More importantly, a problem often lost in modeling assumptions is in left/right asymmetry of the steering torques. The work presented in this paper illustrates the weak signal-to-noise ratio for steering torque in carefully controlled experiments and demonstrates that the lumped-axle assumption may lead to poor estimates of the front axle peak force value when attempting to predict it at slip angles less than those required for full saturation of both wheels.
An Examination of the Influence of Veteran Status on Offense Type Among an Inmate Sample

The current study examines the relationship between military service and criminal behavior of veterans, both combat and non-combat, compared to non-veterans using a nationally representative sample of inmates. Specifically, this study examines the relationship between veteran status and crime type among inmates in state and federal institutions. While the relationship between military service and criminal behavior of veterans has received considerable attention, many have failed to differentiate between veterans who have seen combat versus those who have not. Therefore, a subsample of veterans who experienced combat during their military service is examined to better inform our understanding how combat experience might influence this relationship. Multiple counterfactual methods, including propensity score matching, were used on data from the Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004. Some significant differences exist in the types of offenses committed based on veteran status and combat experience, but in some cases contrary to expectations. Veterans were more likely to have committed a violent offense, but less likely to have committed drug offenses; whereas, combat veterans were more likely to commit a drug offense and less likely to commit a violent offense than non-combat veterans. Policy implications and recommendations for future research are explored.
Abstract 8: GTPase-Activating Protein for Rho Associated with FAK (GRAF) Regulates Cardiomyocyte Membrane Integrity

Cardiac myocytes are unique in their requirement to sustain continuous repetitive contraction in the setting of intense mechanical stress while simultaneously maintaining high membrane integrity for an appropriate electrical gradient. The consequence of failure of the membrane repair response has been highlighted in recent reports linking cardiomyocyte membrane fragility with cardiac degeneration in patients as well as in their analogous mouse models. Herein, we describe a novel role for GTPase activator for Rho associated with Focal Adhesion Kinase (GRAF) in regulating cardiomyocyte membrane integrity. We previously published that disruption of GRAF in Xenopus laevis resulted in progressive skeletal muscle degeneration. We now show that GRAF-depleted tadpoles exhibit defective cardiac formation and function. Interestingly, damage of muscle cells in vivo and in vitro led to a translocation of GRAF to the sarcolemma, suggesting that GRAF may be an important component of the cardiac membrane repair machinery. To further explore this possibility, we generated GRAF hypomorphic mice that exhibit greater than 99% reduction of endogenous GRAF expression. While GRAF deficient mice show normal Mendelian birth distribution and are viable, they exhibit a modest skeletal muscle pathology. Although baseline cardiac integrity was not compromised in GRAF deficient mice, treatment either with cardiotoxin or intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol led to elevated cardiomyocyte membrane damage (assessed by Evan’s blue dye uptake) in GRAF deficient compared to control mice (19% vs 2% of myocytes within afflicted ventricular area for cardiotoxin, 18% vs 8% for isoproterenol respectively). Moreover, cultured GRAF null myocytes exhibited a significantly attenuated membrane resealing response following laser-mediated disruption compared to GRAF-containing control cells as assessed by accumulation of the membrane impermeable dye, FM-143. As well, the survival rate after injury of GRAF-deficient cells was markedly attenuated (20% vs 85% in control cells). While cardiac cell membrane damage is likely a frequent and important event, the repair process is currently understudied, and this is the first report to implicate a Rho regulator in this response.
A computational model for face location based on cognitive principles

The human face is an object that is easily located in complex scenes by infants and adults alike. Yet the development of an automated system to perform this task is extremely challenging. This paper is concerned with the development of a computational model for locating human faces in newspaper photographs based on cognitive research in human perceptual development. In the process of learning to recognize objects in the visual world, one could assume that natural growth favors the development of the abilities to detect the more essential features first. Hence, a study of the progress of an infant's visual abilities can be used to categorize the potential features in terms of their importance. The face locator developed by the authors takes a hypothesis generate and test approach to the task of finding the locations of people's faces in digitized pictures. Information from the accompanying caption is used in the verification phase. The system successfully located all faces in 44 of the 60 (73%) test newspaper photographs.
Mathematical Modeling of Normal and Cancer Stem Cells

Stem cells are fundamental to tissue maintenance and repair; they also play a critical role in cancer development and in determining the outcomes of cancer treatment. This review explores recent mathematical and computational models that address stem cell dynamics in the context of normal tissue regulation and cancer. Quantitative approaches have yielded significant insight into the processes of tissue regulation in normal hierarchically organized tissues. Modeling of cancer stem cells has also illuminated important mechanisms involved in cancer initiation and progression. In particular, mathematical studies have been instrumental to our current understanding of the role of stem cells in cancer therapy, resistance, and relapse. The use of quantitative methods to understand stem cell behavior has greatly expanded in recent years. In the future, mathematics will be an increasingly important and necessary tool necessary to fully unravel the complexity of stem cell dynamics.