cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A mathematical model for incorporating biofeedback into human postural control

Background: Biofeedback of body motion can serve as a balance aid and rehabilitation tool. To date, mathematical models considering the integration of biofeedback into postural control have represented this integration as a sensory addition and limited their application to a single degree-of-freedom representation of the body. This study has two objectives: 1) to develop a scalable method for incorporating biofeedback into postural control that is independent of the model's degrees of freedom, how it handles sensory integration, and the modeling of its postural controller; and 2) to validate this new model using multidirectional perturbation experimental results. Methods: Biofeedback was modeled as an additional torque to the postural controller torque. For validation, this biofeedback modeling approach was applied to a vibrotactile biofeedback device and incorporated into a two-link multibody model with full-state-feedback control that represents the dynamics of bipedal stance. Average response trajectories of body sway and center of pressure (COP) to multidirectional surface perturbations of subjects with vestibular deficits were used for model parameterization and validation in multiple perturbation directions and for multiple display resolutions. The quality of fit was quantified using average error and cross-correlation values. Results: The mean of the average errors across all tactor configurations and perturbations was 0.24° for body sway and 0.39 cm for COP. The mean of the cross-correlation value was 0.97 for both body sway and COP. Conclusions: The biofeedback model developed in this study is capable of capturing experimental response trajectory shapes with low average errors and high cross-correlation values in both the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions for all perturbation directions and spatial resolution display configurations considered. The results validate that biofeedback can be modeled as an additional torque to the postural controller without a need for sensory reweighting. This novel approach is scalable and applicable to a wide range of movement conditions within the fields of balance and balance rehabilitation. The model confirms experimental results that increased display resolution does not necessarily lead to reduced body sway. To our knowledge, this is the first theoretical confirmation that a spatial display resolution of 180° can be as effective as a spatial resolution of 22.5°.
Lack of Association of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Seropositivity With the Progression of HIV Infection in the HERS Cohort

Many studies have chronicled the “epidemiologic synergy” between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HIV adversely affects the natural history of HSV-2 and results in more frequent and severe HSV-2 reactivation. Few longitudinal studies, however, have examined whether HSV-2 is associated with increased HIV plasma viral loads or decreased CD4 counts. The authors estimated the effect of HSV-2 seropositivity on HIV RNA viral load and on CD4 count over time among 777 HIV-seropositive US women not receiving suppressive HSV-2 therapy in the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (1993–2000). Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of HSV-2 on log HIV viral load and CD4 count/mm3 prior to widespread initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Coinfection with HSV-2 was not associated with HIV RNA plasma viral loads during study follow-up. There was a statistically significant association between HSV-2 seropositivity and CD4 count over time, but this difference was small and counterintuitive at an increase of 8 cells/mm3 (95% confidence interval: 2, 14) per year among HSV-2-seropositive women compared with HSV-2-seronegative women. These data do not support a clinically meaningful effect of baseline HSV-2 seropositivity on the trajectories of HIV plasma viral loads or CD4 counts.
Use of unproved cancer treatment by patients in a radiation oncology department: A survey

A survey of patients' use of unorthodox cancer therapies was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology of Montefiore Medical Center and Alben Einstein College of Medicine (The Bronx, New York) in the summer of 1988. Twelve percent of the patients interviewed used unorthodox treatments, including specia1 diets, metabolic therapy, and mental image, while receiving radiation therapy. These patients tended to be white and well educated. None used harmful therapies or refused conventional treatment. These results are consistent with those reported in the literature. Patients view their physicians as an important source of information about their disease and are often willing to discuss unorthodox treatments with their physicians. The authors recommend that physicians discuss the use of unconventional treatments with their patients in a nonjudgmental manner and alert them to any potential risks associated with those treatments. They also suggest that physicians offer patients the opportunity to particip...
A Fuzzy Decision System Using Shoppers' Preferences for Recommendations in E-Commerce Applications

In e-commerce applications, the magnitude of products and the diversity of venders cause confusion and difficulty for common consumers to choose the right product from a trustworthy vender. Although people have recognized the importance of feedbacks and reputations for the trustworthiness of individual venders and products, they still have difficulties when they have to make a shopping decision from a huge number of choices. This paper introduces fuzzy logic into rule definition for preferences of venders and price for products, and designs a novel agent-based decision system using fuzzy rules and reasoning mechanisms to find the right product from a trustworthy vender according to users’ preferences.
Presence and Severity of Cerebral White Matter Lesions and Hypertension, Its Treatment, and Its Control The ARIC Study

Background and Purpose White matter lesions (WML) may result from cerebral hypoperfusion or ischemia. We investigated the association of WML with blood pressure, hypertension, and its treatment and control. Methods A random sample of 1920 participants aged 55 to 72 years in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) was examined. Spin-density 1.5-T MRI scan images were coded from 0 for normal to 9 for most severe WML. Hypertension was defined as systolic or diastolic pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication. Results The percentages of persons with WML grades 0 through 2 and 3 through 9, respectively, were as follows: normotensive, 92.4% and 7.6%, versus all hypertensive subjects, 83% and 17% (P<.001); and treated controlled hypertensive, 86% and 14%, versus treated uncontrolled hypertensive subjects, 76% and 24% (P=.003). Multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for WML grade ≥3 relative to normotensive subjects was 2.34 (1.71 to 3.20) for all hypertensiv...
Beamspace domain ML based low angle radar tracking with an array of antennas

The problem of estimating the angles of arrival in a low-angle tracking radar environment is treated. To deal adequately with the problems of low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and subbeamwidth angular separation, the authors propose the concept of element space-to-beam-space transformation for the purpose of obtaining significant SNR gain in the angular region in which the signals of interest arrive. An exact expression for the ML (maximum likelihood) criterion in terms of a rank-1 projection operator is derived. In the case of symmetric multipath, this scheme yields closed-form expressions for exact ML estimates. >
Structure of a protein G helix variant suggests the importance of helix propensity and helix dipole interactions in protein design

Six helix surface positions of protein G (Gbeta1) were redesigned using a computational protein design algorithm, resulting in the five fold mutant Gbeta1m2. Gbeta1m2 is well folded with a circular dichroism spectrum nearly identical to that of Gbeta1, and a melting temperature of 91 degrees C, approximately 6 degrees C higher than that of Gbeta1. The crystal structure of Gbeta1m2 was solved to 2.0 A resolution by molecular replacement. The absence of hydrogen bond or salt bridge interactions between the designed residues in Gbeta1m2 suggests that the increased stability of Gbeta1m2 is due to increased helix propensity and more favorable helix dipole interactions.
Towards a politics of interruption: high school design as politically relevant pedagogy

The following essay seeks to highlight the use of engaged qualitative community‐based research in education to respond to conditions of structural inequality. As “the politics of interruption”, the process of creating neighborhood public high schools is centred in community accountability. Responsibility in this mode “interrupts” the resurgence of theories of social disorganization, social isolation, social detachment, and culture of poverty used to stereotype working‐class/low income African American and Latino/a communities.
A Comparison of Other World Perceptions by Near-Death Experiencers and by the Marian Visionaries of Medjugorje

Near-death research has identified another world that consists of two divisions: Cities of Light and a Realm of Bewildered Spirits. In 1981, the apparition of Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to six young people in the village of Medjugorje, Croatia. These young visionaries were shown Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell in visions that were like watching a movie. Two of the visionaries were also physically transported to see these realms. A comparison of their observations of the other world with those of near-death experiencers (NDErs) shows a close similarity between them. The visionaries' observations provide some corroboration for the City of Light and Realm of the Bewildered Spirits elements of the NDE and suggest the possibility of a third division called Hell. Further study of frightening NDEs may reveal whether or not those NDErs who travel to a less than heavenly realm may be going to two separate places instead of one.
Role of the T cell in the genesis of angiotensin II–induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction

Hypertension promotes atherosclerosis and is a major source of morbidity and mortality. We show that mice lacking T and B cells (RAG-1-/- mice) have blunted hypertension and do not develop abnormalities of vascular function during angiotensin II infusion or desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt. Adoptive transfer of T, but not B, cells restored these abnormalities. Angiotensin II is known to stimulate reactive oxygen species production via the nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in several cells, including some immune cells. Accordingly, adoptive transfer of T cells lacking the angiotensin type I receptor or a functional NADPH oxidase resulted in blunted angiotensin II-dependent hypertension and decreased aortic superoxide production. Angiotensin II increased T cell markers of activation and tissue homing in wild-type, but not NADPH oxidase-deficient, mice. Angiotensin II markedly increased T cells in the perivascular adipose tissue (periadventitial fat) and, to a lesser extent the adventitia. These cells expressed high levels of CC chemokine receptor 5 and were commonly double negative (CD3+CD4-CD8-). This infiltration was associated with an increase in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and RANTES in the aorta. Hypertension also increased T lymphocyte production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, and treatment with the TNFalpha antagonist etanercept prevented the hypertension and increase in vascular superoxide caused by angiotensin II. These studies identify a previously undefined role for T cells in the genesis of hypertension and support a role of inflammation in the basis of this prevalent disease. T cells might represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of high blood pressure.
Merging art and explanation in nonlinear Web site design

Web site design can successfully merge artistic presentation and technical explanations. This is only possible however if these genres are unified within a general theory of information that nevertheless can manage real differences between genres. A common framework for all information types is found in Carroll's minimalist theory. Successful Web design enables rapid, nonlinear access to information. Such access is critically dependent on home page and subpage summaries. Minimalist theory suggests that effective summaries across genres must incorporate three elements; (A) definitive task questions with (B) answers providing concrete examples to (C) illustrate schematic concepts. Two specific Web sites are compared as examples, one lacking these elements, and one specifically designed to implement them.
Political Resources and Direct State Intervention: The Adoption of Public Venture Capital Programs in the American States, 1974–1990

Discussions of policy formation have reached an impasse with accumulating support for rival theories. We address this impasse by advancing a 'political resource" theory that synthesizes class-, state-centered, neocorporatist and institutional ideas to explain policy formation in advanced capitalist democracies. Political institutions constitute infrastructural resources that condition the instrumental resources of class actors and channel the effects of class mobilization. Capitalists have systemic power by virtue of the state's dependence on private capital accumulation. We use this theory to explain the direct economic intervention of state governments in the U.S. in creating public venture capital programs in the 1970s and 1980s. An event history analysis shows that the adoption of these programs was shaped by a mesocorporatist 'pact" combining capital/labor peak association bargaining with administrative capacities, structural dependence on corporate profits and manufacturing industry, professionalized state legislatures pressured by deindustrialization and the loss of instrumental resources due to declining Federal transfers to state governments. In an era of globalization and economic restructuring, the subnational state has become a centerpoint for industrial policy innovations in pluralistic states like the U.S. *Both of us share equally in this paper., We thank Michael Wallace and Don Grantforproviding some of their data on state economic policies and contexts. We also thank Kurt Schock, Brian
Reaction of Gold's Reagent with Activated Methylene Groups Derived from Esters and Nitroarenes

Abstract A series of esters and nitrotoluenes were reacted with Gold's reagent under basic conditions and were found to produce the corresponding dimethylamino methylenenated product in both cases.
Instrumental access to natural multimodal discourse

Human multimodal communicative behaviors form a tightly integrated whole. We have present a paradigm multimodal analysis in natural discourse based on a feature decompositive psycholinguistically derived model that permits us to accessthe underlying structure and intent of multimodal communicative discourse. We outline the psycholinguistics that drive our paradigm, the Catchment concept that facilitates our getting a computational handle on discourse entities, and summarize some approaches and results that realize the vision. We show examples of such discoursestructuring features as handedness, types of symmetry, gaze-atinterlocutor, and hand ‘origos’. Such analysis is an alternative to the ‘recognition of one discrete gesture out of stylized whole gesturemodels’ paradigm.
Development of Meaning in Life Measurement Tool

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure meaning in life based on Frankl’s theory of logotherapy. Data were collected from August to October, 1999 by means of questionnaires developed by researchers. The subjects were 351 adults living in Busan and Kyoung Nam province. The study was conducted as follows: 1) A conceptual framework was identified based on the extensive review of relevant literatures and interviews with adults and professionals in psychology, philosophy, theology, and nursing. 2) The 76 items, 4points scale were developed. 3) The scale was tested on 351 adults to assess the reliability and validity, and factor analysis was done. 4) 63 items were established based on this testing and ten factors were extracted. These factors were labeled as self-awareness and self-acceptance, futuristic aspiration, valuelessness, purpose in life, contented
Formalizing SMART scheduling

It is well-known that policies which bias towards small job sizes or jobs with small remaining service times perform well with respect to mean response time and mean slowdown. This idea has been fundamental in many system implementations including the case of Web servers, where it has been shown that by giving priority to requests for small files, a Web server can significantly reduce mean response time and mean slowdown [1]. The heuristic has also been applied to other application areas; for example, scheduling in supercomputing centers.
Log and Exponential Functions in Science

This chapter presents projects that help illustrate log and exponential functions in science. The drug concentration and bi-exponential functions project reviews how exponential functions arise in the study of the dynamics of drugs in the body. This project is used for a single dose drug that is introduced into the blood, diffuses into tissue, and is eliminated by the kidneys. The measurement of kidney function by drug concentration project is an empirical one based on drug dynamics or pharmacokinetics. The primary quantities studied are the drug concentration in the blood and in the tissue. These concentrations vary as functions of time. This project ties the real measured concentrations with the theoretical model.
Interstitial water and solute recovery by inner medullary vasa recta

A recent model of volume and solute microvascular exchange in the renal medulla was extended by simulating the deposition of NaCl, urea, and water into the medullary interstitium from the loops of ...
Fragmentation of He 4 , C 12 , N 14 , and O 16 nuclei in nuclear emulsion at 2.1 GeV/nucleon

A comparative study of the fragmentation of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{N}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ nuclei, $E=2.1$ GeV/nucleon, has been made by using nuclear emulsion detectors. The interaction mean-free paths (cm) for these nuclei in emulsion are 21.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.7, 13.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5, 13.1 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5, and 13.0 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5, respectively. These data are discussed in terms of optical models and geometrical theories. Fragmentation reactions initiated by $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{N}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ projectiles that exhibit no target excitation, i.e., that possess no low energy particle emission. are selected for special study of projectile fragmentation. The projected angular distributions of $Z=1 \mathrm{and} 2$ secondaries from these interactions are reported, as are the prong-number and charge-multiplicity distributions. The angular distributions are independent of the projectile and exhibit features of limiting fragmentation.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Emulsion exp., $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{N}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ at 2.1 GeV/A; measured mean-free-path lengths; projectile fragmentation reactions; angular, number, and charge multiplicity distributions. Optical and geometrical models; limiting fragmentation.
Design of an Adaptive Singularity-free Control Moment Gyroscope (ASCMG) actuator for agile and precise attitude control of cubesat

Design considerations for agile, precise and reliable attitude control of micro-spacecraft using Adaptive Singularity-free Control Moment Gyroscope (ASCMG) actuators are presented here. A complete dynamics model of a spacecraft with an ASCMG is derived using the principles of variational mechanics, relaxing some assumptions made in prior literature on Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMG). The dynamics so obtained shows the complex nonlinear coupling between the internal degrees of freedom associated with an ASCMG and the spacecraft base body's attitude motion. By default, the general ASCMG model is equivalent to that of a Variable Speed Control Moment Gyroscope without symmetrical rotor and gimbal, and can operate as a CMG by spinning the rotor at constant speed. This dynamics model is then extended to include the effects of multiple ASCMGs placed in the spacecraft bus, and sufficient conditions for non-singular ASCMG cluster configurations are obtained to operate the cluster in CMG mode. The adverse effects of the simplifying assumptions that lead to the standard CMG design, and how they lead to CMG singularities, are described. A bare minimum hardware prototype of an ASCMG using low cost COTS components, is shown. A control scheme for agile and precise attitude pointing control of a cubesat using a finite number of ASCMGs in the absence of external torques, is presented. A Geometric Variational Integration scheme is obtained for this multibody spacecraft for numerical and micro-controller implementation.
Effect of porosity on dynamic mechanical properties of rubber in compression

Abstract Cylindrical samples of different levels of porosity were prepared from a model carbon black filled rubber and tested in compression. Dynamic properties were determined with dynamic loads and dynamic displacements superimposed on static loads. Nonlinear stress-strain curves of porous rubber blocks produced a dependence of dynamic properties on the mode of testing. Both storage and loss moduli as well as tan γ were found to depend on the levels of porosity. The loss modulus was found to increase with higher strain levels in porous samples, while the storage modulus changed because of reduced sample stiffness. The dynamic data was in agreement with the results of Goodrich flexometer tests on porous and solid samples. The results suggest that the introduction of porosity reduces service life of rubber parts by providing stress raisers for crack initiation, rather than through changing the dynamic properties.
Study on Weld Fatigue Evaluation Under Sour Service Environment Using Battelle Structural Stress Method

Risers, pipelines and flowlines for deep water applications are subject to corrosive environments. Especially, in the presence of hydrogen sulfide which makes the field sour, their fatigue performance becomes significantly degraded. In order to quantify the sour degradation effect, a knock-down factor has been introduced. This factor is defined as the fatigue life reduction relative to the in-air fatigue life.Several sets of fatigue test results in sour service environments have been published. These include strip specimens of different sizes, e.g., diameters, wall thicknesses, and arc lengths. Naturally, the knock-down factor must be based upon a statistically valid number of fatigue test results obtained from the same specimen geometry and the same loading conditions tested in air and in sour conditions. Currently, the database available in the open literature is too limited to properly define a knock-down factor. Moreover, there is a great deal of scatter within the database and each test in a sour environment is costly and time consuming. Thus, it is difficult to establish a statistically valid database upon which to base the knock-down factor.A mesh-insensitive structural stress method has been developed by Battelle researchers and has been proven to be highly effective in correlating the fatigue behavior of welded joints. In 2007, the Battelle structural stress based weld fatigue master S-N curve was included in ASME Section VIII Div. 2 because it successfully consolidated more than 800 fatigue test results for weld toe failures onto a single master S-N curve with very little scatter, regardless of specimen shape, size, loading type, and steel alloy [1–2].A knock-down factor is derived by applying the Battelle structural stress method to the existing database for sour environment tests and by using the current in-air database as the reference condition. This approach will reduce the uncertainty in the knock-down factor because it allows a wider range of sour environment data from specimens of different sizes, types, and loading conditions to be combined, while simultaneously reducing scatter. As such, a unified knock-down factor can be determined with greater statistical validity and wider applicability for design recommendations in sour conditions.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Induced Fruit Set of Theobroma cacao by Mistblower Applications of Insecticides

Four insecticides and spray intervals were used in studying flower development and fruit set on Theobroma cacao L. Carbaryl inhibited abscission of the flowers and allowed an increase in total fruit set while malathion, dieldrin, and dimethoate were progressively more detrimental than the water-sprayed check. Mechanical pollination by mistblower turbulence increased fruit set proportionally to application frequency.
Benjamin Apthorp Gould and the Founding of the Argentine National Observatory

The nineteenth century witnessed the first major change in astronomy since the birth of the science in antiquity. With the exception, in the eighteenth century, of William Herschel's great work in the course of which he speculated on the origin, composition and shape of the universe itself, man's concern with the heavens had been limited to plotting and cataloguing the positions and the movements of the stars and planets. The entire history of astronomy had consisted of more and more accurate observations of the solar system and the stars within our own galaxy, although only the haziest notions of the shape and size of that “island universe” were entertained by thoughtful astronomers.
Toward a More Just Approach to Poverty Simulations.

Poverty simulations are a promising approach to engaging college students in learning about poverty because they provide direct experience with this critical social issue. Much of the extant schola...
Properties of the Hydrolase that Catalyzes Removal of the Blocked NH2-Terminal Amino Acid Residues from Polypeptides

Acylpeptide hydrolase catalyzes the removal of the terminal blocking group together with the first amino acid residue of a peptide substrate: Acyl – AA1 - AA2 - AA3… AAn → Acyl - AA1 + AA2 - AA3… AAn The enzyme purified from human red cells has no detectable acetylase or carboxypeptidase activity. The enzyme activity is most conveniently assayed by use of blocked amino acid p-nitroanilides as substrates, or by the appearance of a new, free amino group in a peptide substrate1.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

Adult tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were identified almost five decades ago. Their self-renewal ability, differentiation multipotency, and anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties suggest potential roles in tissue responses in diseases, and tissue remodeling and repair. However, how MSCs participate in pathophysiological processes and to what extent MSCs can be applied as immunomodulatory therapeutic agents remain incompletely understood. This article provides an overview of current research activities on the biology of MSCs, their regulation, and their therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases and allotransplantation.
Overall green efficiency enhancement with manufacturing process optimization in KMO

The environmental, health and safety (EHS) approaches have increasingly gained significance in formulating development model for technology and manufacturing system. As part of an ever-evolving global society in the 21st Century, a more contemporary model of sustainable development as an improvement in the quality of life from social and economic development without deteriorating natural resources and environment stewardship needs to be adopted. We strive to meet these challenges through a number of approaches and strategies: Utility optimization: The green facilities are design, construct and maintain the buildings and operations into one that invest in sustainable development opportunities give quick paybacks including those which will reduce cost over the long term. Strategic planning to incorporate the auto triggering as well monitoring such as Proactive Excursion Management System(PEMS) Maintained System (PdM) and Building Management System (BMS) which include a layered architecture of devices with functionality required for continuous operations, monitoring system. Few key initiatives which drive the Energy & Waste Optimization such as; 1. Cooling Tower Optimization. Cooling tower operations can be optimized by controlling the ratio of the quantity of water evaporated to the quantity of water discharged and determine cycles of concentration from Dew point and temperature. 2. Electrical System efficiency. The entire system included electricity NUB capacity utilization improvement and Equipment/system efficiency 3. Water Conservation included DI water use reduction at Deflux process; Multimedia filter backwash water reduction and RO reject water to the tank for multimedia etc.
Chloride Threshold Levels in Clad 316L and Solid 316LN Stainless Steel Rebar

Initiation of corrosion on reinforcing bars occurs when a critical chloride concentration is achieved. A universal value for the chloride concentration that causes depassivation has not been agreed upon for carbon steels due to a variety of experimental factors. The chloride threshold depends on the rebar material, rebar surface condition, testing environment, method of detection, definition of depassivation, and method of expression of results. However, most data for carbon steel points to a Cl/OH molar ratio 24) than carbon steel at all potentials investigated (-200, 0.00, and +200 mV vs. SCE). The chloride threshold for 316L clad rebar was highly dependent on defects and the method used to seal the cut end, which exposes the carbon steel core. At best, it was similar to that of solid stainless steel and at worst, it was less than that of carbon steel rebar, owing to elevation in potential due to galvanic coupling between a defective clad layer and the exposed carbon steel core.
Rapid evolution of an established feral tilapia (Oreochromis spp.): the need to incorporate invasion science into regulatory structures

Outside of Asia exotic tilapiine fishes (Trewavas 1983) were not imported directly as native genetic resources from Africa but arrived as transits from third or fourth party sources. Founder populations of exotic tilapia species may be morphologically and meristically distinct in Africa but are still reproductively compatible due to their relatively recent divergence. As a result, feral tilapias have hybridized and introgressed in aquaculture settings before escaping to the wild. Reproductively viable hybrids have resulted, making the use of conventional systematics based upon external morphometric characterizations for species determinations useless. Microsatellite DNA marker studies of 139 tilapia from 10 locations (6 feral, 4 in culture) in southern California, USA, were conducted. Genetic similarities to a worldwide tilapia genetic database were compared by formulating a neighbor-joining dendrogram. The hypothesis that the pattern found arose by chance was tested by bootstrap resampling of 4 microsatellite loci at the 95% level of significance. A significant number of bootstrap re-samples showed that a tilapia species in aquaculture and a feral Colorado River tilapia population were 'monophyletic', meaning they originated from a single source relative to the total variation in the data. A significant number of bootstrap re-samples grouped these two populations with the reference populations of Oreochromis niloticus taken worldwide. This 'niloticus' group was found significantly distinct from a second large grouping that included all of the other California tilapia samples and a large group of O. mossambicus reference samples taken from a worldwide database. Any regulatory structure attempting to control movements of exotic tilapias based upon discerning 'species' using morphometric and meristic measurements of tilapias is inadequate. California, for example, does not permit O. niloticus for aquaculture, but the genetic signature for this species exists in feral stocks collected from the wild in California. There are likely many other places where a certain tilapia `species' are not permitted but the genetic material exists in established wild stocks within its political jurisdiction. It is recommended that a system of ecotypes (code names) based upon presence of unique DNA microsatellite markers be developed to label and regulate feral tilapia strains, and that hybrid strains be collected into a 'registry' of species based upon unique DNA markers. Such a registry could be used by regulators to better manage exotic tilapias and aquaculture developments.
One-step synthesis and size control of tin/indium (Sn/In) nanowires by surfactant-assisted chemical reduction methods in aqueous solutions

Abstract One dimensional tin/indium (Sn/In) nanowires have been synthesized through a surfactant assisted chemical reduction method in aqueous solutions at low temperature (∼0 °C). Synthetic parameters such as stirring speed, injection rate of reducing agent, and alloy ratio were used to control the size and aspect ratio of the resulting nanowires. It was observed that the diameter of the nanowires was around 70 nm for all the synthesis conditions that were studied, whereas the length of the nanowires can be controlled in the range of 400 nm to 2 μm. The morphology and structure of the Sn/In nanowires were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and their thermal properties were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Structure analysis indicated that the Sn/In nanowires were mainly composed of InSn4 and Sn; whereas no In3Sn phase was observed in the nanowires. DSC results confirmed the structures of the Sn/In nanowires that were measured through XRD and indicated that the nanowires started to melt at a relatively low temperature around 118 °C. Finally, a growth mechanism based on the reaction and structural evolution was proposed to explain the nanowire formation and growth process.
The Atomic Structure of the Liquid-Vapor Interface of a Metal: An Example of the Influence of Strong Density Dependence of the Interatomic Potential

Experimental studies and Monte Carlo simulations have established that the atomic structure of the liquid-vapor interface of a simple metal is significantly different from that of a Lennard-Jones system. In the latter the density along the normal through the interface (the longitudinal density distribution) monotonically decreases from the liquid to the vapor side of the interface; near the triple point of the system this variation in density occurs over a range of two to three atomic diameters [1]. In the former the longitudinal density distribution shows stratification on the liquid side of the interface and decreases rapidly, within a fraction of an atomic diameter, to the gas density on the vapor side of the interface [2,3]. The differences between the atomic structures of the liquid-vapor interfaces of a simple metal and the Lennard-Jones fluid can be traced to the different forms of the interatomic potential energy functions in the two cases. The potential energy of a Lennard-Jones system is rather accurately represented as a sum of density independent pair interactions. In contrast, the potential energy of a metal is strongly density dependent. In the pseudopotential representation the potential energy of a metal has two terms; a sum of density dependent pair interactions and a density dependent one body potential, it is the electron density dependence of the one body potential that is most important in a region where the liquid is inhomogeneous, as in the liquid-vapor interface. In a homogeneous liquid metal the one body potential is constant everywhere and, although it dominates the binding energy of the system, has no influence on the atomic distribution.
Neural underpinnings of maladaptive decision-making in addictions

Substance use disorders have been linked with the propensity to make maladaptive decisions, and individuals with addictions persist in harmful and even destructive behaviors despite negative consequences, often against their own desires to resist. Suboptimal choices can reflect problems in decision-making, which requires the integration of various neural functions (Rangel et al., 2008). Of particular interest is reward valuation, a process by which an individual computes and compares the values of alternatives in order to select the most advantageous option (Kable and Glimcher, 2009). Reward valuation is subject to modulation by various factors, such as the timing of reward receipt (Ainslie, 1992), the risk and uncertainty involved (Huettel et al., 2006), internal signals, including autonomic (Critchley et al., 2013) and affective responses (Phelps et al., 2014), environmental cues (Wilson et al., 2004), and social influences (Sanfey, 2007). These factors produce predictable choice biases in healthy individuals (Kahneman and Tversky, 1979), but subjective valuation and how it guides choice is disordered in addiction (Monterosso et al., 2012; Platt et al., 2010). The present review focuses on departures from normative choice behavior in individuals with addictions, and how these problems are linked to abnormalities in brain function. The review begins with an overview of the neurobiology of reward-based decision-making, focusing on mesocorticolimbic and corticostriatal circuitry, and then presents a description of three general paradigms that are used in addiction research to assess decision-making. The rest is organized around specific modulators of reward value: temporal delay, uncertainty, and internal and external factors. Each section briefly presents certain relevant tasks, information regarding how addicts perform on these tasks, and the brain structures and neural circuitry involved. Although there is a wealth of preclinical literature on this topic, the present review is limited to human neuroimaging research on decision-making. Finally, the implications and potential future directions of these areas of exploration are discussed.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage with Intraventricular Extension—Getting the Prognosis Right Early

Background: Early accurate outcome prognostication for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and accompanying intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is often challenging1. Acute hydrocephalus often contributes to a poor clinical exam 2 and can portend significant morbidity and mortality3. Accordingly, the inpatient neurologist may feel inclined to recommend limitations of care for an ICH patient admitted with a large IVH burden and poor exam. Case presentation: We present a patient with significant intraventricular hemorrhage and minimal intracerebral hemorrhage who deteriorated rapidly to coma after presentation. Despite this exam, an initially non-functioning diversion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and temporary halt of further attempts of CSF diversion in the setting of an early “do not resuscitate order”, our patient gradually improved and with supportive ICU care and rehabilitation, was able to communicate and ambulate with assistance at 12 weeks. Conclusion: Patients with ICH with IVH do have the capacity to improve dramatically even with relatively conservative management. Unless previous limitations of care exist, we recommend that early judgments of prognosis for patients with ICH and/or IVH should be delayed for at least 72 hours until the patient’s clinical trajectory over time is better understood.
Exploring the effects of longstanding academic-community partnerships on study outcomes: A case study.

While sustained academic and community partnerships can improve relationships between research partners, they could also influence study outcomes. Research on this issue is limited. We conducted a trial (2010-15) to test two implementation strategies for an evidence-based intervention to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at community organizations in Los Angeles (N = 17). For both strategies, trained community health advisors (CHAs) recruited Filipino Americans (N = 673) who were non-adherent to CRC screening guidelines. The main study outcome was CRC screening status of participants at 6-month follow-up. This case study compares outcomes among organizations that had participated in our prior effectiveness trial and new organizations with which we had no prior relationship. Using multilevel logistic regression with multiple imputation for missing outcomes, we compared CRC screening rates among previous versus new partners controlling for study condition and organizational, CHA and participant characteristics. Screening rates were substantially higher among participants of previous versus new partner organizations in unadjusted analysis (77% versus 55%, OR 2.8, p = 0.12), after adjusting for organization-level variables (81% versus 42%, OR 7.5, 95% CI [2.0-28.7], p = 0.003) and after additionally adding CHA and participant level factors to the model (79% versus 47%, OR 5.9, CI [1.3-27.3], p = 0.02). Analyses using complete cases and assuming not-screened for missing outcomes indicated similar differences in screening rates (30 and 33 percentage points, respectively). Study outcomes that are achieved with long-term community partners may not be generalizable to new partners. However, inclusion of new community partners is important for external validity of dissemination efforts in community settings. NCT01351220 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Discovery of 6-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)quinoline-8-carboxamide negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5.

Abstract Based on previous work that established fused heterocycles as viable alternatives for the picolinamide core of our lead series of mGlu5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs), we designed a novel series of 6-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)quinoline-8-carboxamide mGlu5 NAMs. These new quinoline derivatives also contained carbon linkers as replacements for the diaryl ether oxygen atom common to our previously published chemotypes. Compounds were evaluated in a cell-based functional mGlu5 assay, and an exemplar analog 27 was >60-fold selective versus the other seven mGlu receptors. Selected compounds were also studied in metabolic stability assays in rat and human S9 hepatic fractions and exhibited a mixture of P450- and non-P450-mediated metabolism.
A Pragmatic Introduction to Secure Multi-Party Computation

Secure multi-party computation (MPC) has evolved from a theoretical curiosity in the 1980s to a tool for building real systems today. Over the past decade, MPC has been one of the most active resea...
The new drug approvals of 1990, 1991, and 1992: trends in drug development.

Efforts to speed the development and review of new drugs have increased sharply in recent years. This report, which is the third in a series on trends in drug development, examines the new drug approvals of 1990, 1991, and 1992. During the 3-year study period, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 79 new drugs, 74 of which met the Center for the Study of Drug Development's definition of a new chemical entity (NCE). Of the 74 NCEs, 36 (49%) were considered by the FDA to represent notable therapeutic gains and were selected for "priority" review (i.e., drugs rated 1P, 1A, 1AA, and 1B), and 38 (51%) were considered to represent little or no gain and received "standard" reviews (i.e., drugs rated 1S and 1C). Investigational new drug application (IND) filing and new drug application (NDA) submission dates on all 74 drugs were obtained from responses to our manufacturer surveys as well as from FDA and public sources. The mean length of the clinical phase (IND filing to NDA submission) was 6.1 years and that of the review phase (NDA submission to approval) was 2.6 years. Of the 74 NCEs, 43 (58%) were available in foreign markets at least 1 year before U.S. approval, with a mean of 5.6 years of foreign marketing. In general, 1990 to 1992 figures are similar to those in the last half of the 1980s.
Thermodynamic analysis of multivalent binding of functionalized nanoparticles to membrane surface reveals the importance of membrane entropy and nanoparticle entropy in adhesion of flexible nanoparticles

We present a quantitative model for multivalent binding of ligand-coated flexible polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) to a flexible membrane expressing receptors. The model is developed using a multiscale computational framework by coupling a continuum field model for the cell membrane with a coarse-grained model for the polymeric NPs. The NP is modeled as a self-avoiding bead-spring polymer chain, and the cell membrane is modeled as a triangulated surface using the dynamically triangulated Monte Carlo method. The nanoparticle binding affinity to a cell surface is mainly determined by the delicate balance between the enthalpic gain due to the multivalent ligand–receptor binding and the entropic penalties of various components including receptor translation, membrane undulation, and NP conformation. We have developed new methods to compute the free energy of binding, which includes these enthalpy and entropy terms. We show that the multivalent interactions between the flexible NP and the cell surface are subject to entropy–enthalpy compensation. Three different entropy contributions, namely, those due to receptor–ligand translation, NP flexibility, and membrane undulations, are all significant, although the first of these terms is the most dominant. However, both NP flexibility and membrane undulations dictate the receptor–ligand translational entropy making the entropy compensation context-specific, i.e., dependent on whether the NP is rigid or flexible, and on the state of the membrane given by the value of membrane tension or its excess area.
Theoretical Limits of Nanoparticle Optical Manipulation

Efficient translation of nanoparticles using optical tweezers (OT) is critical in OT-based methods such as micro- and nano-assembly. We investigate the limits of OT nanoparticle manipulation, achieving record lateral translation speeds of ~ 0.17 mm/s.
Park-and-Ride Choice Behavior in a Multimodal Network with Overlapping Routes

This study estimates a discrete choice model from on-board survey data for park-and-ride (PNR) user’s station choice, and finds that users prefer a higher proportion of their trip time spent on tra...
Testing the interactive effects of flooding and salinity on tidal marsh plant productivity

Abstract Tidal wetlands support plant communities that facilitate carbon storage, accrete soil, and provide habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species. Climate change is likely to alter estuaries through sea-level rise and changing precipitation patterns, although the ecological responses are uncertain. We were interested in plant responses to physiological stress induced by elevated water salinity and flooding conditions, which may be more prevalent under climate change. . We used a greenhouse experiment and factorial flooding (1, 12, 24, and 48 % time) and salinity (0, 5, 15, 30 PSU) treatments to evaluate the productivity responses of three emergent herbaceous species (Carex lyngbyei, Triglochin maritima, and Argentina pacifica) common to tidal marshes of the Pacific Northwest, USA. We measured weekly changes in plant height and final above and belowground biomass for all species after 10 weeks. Increased salinity reduced final above and belowground biomass significantly in all three species, with A. pacifica responding the most, followed by C. lyngbyei and T. maritima. Increased flooding also reduced total biomass in A. pacifica and T. maritima. There was a significant response in C. lyngbyei aboveground biomass and A. pacifica height to the flooding-salinity interaction. These results indicate emergent plant community composition may change in response to novel climate conditions in estuaries, driven by distinct physiological tolerances to salinity and flooding, and highlight the importance of considering multiple climate drivers when projecting ecosystem change. This may be especially true for estuaries that currently have prolonged freshwater phases like those in the Pacific Northwest.