cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal isn't good enough

The notion that biological systems come to embody optimal solutions seems consistent with the competitive drive of evolution. It has been used to interpret many examples of sensorimotor behavior. It is attractive from the viewpoint of control engineers because it solves the redundancy problem by identifying the one optimal motor strategy out of many similarly acceptable possibilities. This perspective examines whether there is sufficient basis to apply the formal engineering tools of optimal control to a reductionist understanding of biological systems. For an experimental biologist, this translates into whether the theory of optimal control generates nontrivial and testable hypotheses that accurately predict novel phenomena, ideally at deeper levels of structure than the observable behavior. The methodology of optimal control is applicable when there is (i) a single, known cost function to be optimized, (ii) an invertible model of the plant, and (iii) simple noise interfering with optimal performance. None of these is likely to be true for biological organisms. Furthermore, their motivation is usually good-enough rather than globally optimal behavior. Even then, the performance of a biological organism is often much farther from optimal than the physical limits of its hardware because the brain is continuously testing the acceptable limits of performance as well as just performing the task. This perspective considers an alternative strategy called "good-enough" control, in which the organism uses trial-and-error learning to acquire a repertoire of sensorimotor behaviors that are known to be useful, but not necessarily optimal. This leads to a diversity of solutions that tends to confer robustness on the individual organism and its evolution. It is also more consistent with the capabilities of higher sensorimotor structures, such as cerebral cortex, which seems to be designed to classify and recall complex sets of information, thereby allowing the organism to learn from experience, rather than to compute new strategies online. Optimal control has been a useful metaphor for understanding some superficial aspects of motor psychophysics. Reductionists who want to understand the underlying neural mechanisms need to move on.
Sodium-Electron Spin-Exchange Collisions

A spin-exchange optical pumping experiment to study collisions between sodium atoms and free electrons is reported. In this experiment, electrons in a weak magnetic field were polarized by spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped sodium atoms. The sodium-electron collisions were the principal source of the electron resonance linewidth, and they also produced a shift in the electron resonance frequency. The magnitudes of the linewidth and the frequency shift depend upon the scattering amplitude for sodium-electron collisions, the sodium polarization, and the sodium atom density. The ratio of the frequency shift to the linewidth was 0.03. The sodium polarization was approximately 30%. The electron resonance frequency was lower when the sodium polarization was positive. The measurements of the electron linewidth and the frequency shift agree with theoretical values of the linewidth and frequency shift obtained from the sodium-electron scattering phase shifts which have been recently calculated by Garrett.
Feasibility of Submonolayer ZnTe/ZnCdSe Quantum Dots as Intermediate Band Solar Cell Material System

Abstract Intermediate band solar cells can potentially have an efficiency of ~63% under full solar concentration, but the material systems investigated until now are far from optimum and are fraught with growth related issues such as low quantum dot densities, presence of wetting layers, and strain driven dislocations. Also, incorporation of type-I quantum dots increases carrier recombination rates, resulting in inferior performance. Here, we show that a novel material system with stacked type-II ZnTe-rich submonolayer QDs embedded in ZnCdSe has close to the optimal material parameters required for an intermediate band material system. We have grown structures comprising of as many as 150 layers of QDs that are formed without wetting layers and that have a valence band offset of ~0.8 eV relative to the host with a bandgap of ~2.1 eV. We demonstrate the possibility of intermediate band formation and subsequent absorption of below bandgap photons. Additionally, these structures are expected to have longer radiative lifetimes and to suppress Auger recombinations owing to their type-II nature.
L-DOPA Ropes in tRNAPhe

L-DOPA is the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Here, Moor et al. (2011) report that phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes the misacylation of tRNA Phe by L-DOPA, suggesting that it may contribute to the elevated levels of L-DOPA-containing proteins found in patients treated with this drug.
Localization of the α1 and α2 subunits of the dihydropyridine receptor and ankyrin in skeletal muscle triads

Abstract We have studied the subcellular distribution of the α 1 and α 2 subunits of the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor and ankyrin in rat skeletal muscle with immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling techniques. All three proteins were concentrated in the triad junction formed between the T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum. The α 1 and α 2 subunits of the DHP receptor were colocalized in the junctional T-tubule membrane, supporting their proposed association in a functional complex and the possible participation of the α 2 subunit in excitation-contraction coupling. Ankyrin label in the triad showed a distribution different from that of the DHP receptor subunits. In addition, ankyrin was found in longitudinally oriented structures outside the triad. Thus, ankyrin might be involved in organizing the triad and in immobilizing integral membrane proteins in T-tubules and the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Conditions for detecting the mutagenicity of divalent metals in Salmonella typhimurium.

The mutagenesis of metals in bacteria, as reported in the literature, can best be described as inconsistent. The authors report that cobalt chloride (Co[sup ++]), ferrous sulfate (Fe[sup ++]), manganese sulfate (Mn[sup ++]), cadmium chloride (Cd[sup ++]), and zinc chloride (Zn[sup ++]) could be reproducibly detected as mutagens in Salmonella strain TA97 when preincubation exposures were made in sterile, distilled, deionized water, or in Hepes buffer in NaCl[sub 2]/KCl[sub 2], rather than the standard sodium phosphate buffer. Co[sup ++] was also mutagenic under standard preincubation conditions. The individual components of Vogel-Bonner medium, i.e., potassium and ammonium phosphates, citrate, and magnesium sulfate, inhibit mutagenesis by these metals. The phosphates and the citrate probably inhibit by chelating the metals, while data are presented to suggest that Mg[sup ++] inhibition of metal mutagenesis is due to competitive inhibition for active transport via the magnesium active transport system in Salmonella. The chelator, diethyldithiocarbamate, inhibited the mutagenicity of Co[sup ++], Fe[sup ++], Zn[sup ++], and Mn[sup ++], but enhanced the mutagenicity of Cd[sup ++]. The results presented show that divalent metals can be detected as mutagens in Salmonella, and that their lack of detection as mutagens is not due to an inherent insensitivity of Salmonellamore » but to their interaction with media components and/or passive and active transport processes.« less
Extended range optical imaging using one and two-dimensional structured illumination

A method is described that uses parallel one or 2-dimensional structured illumination in order to create a light pattern that consists of multiple narrow beam illuminators. The envisioned system uses a range gated, very high power laser, a DLP projection system, and a camera that has the capability to capture an exposure over a very short time (ns). The composite system permits the collection of extended range images with better resolution than possible with typical range gated systems. The performance of the system was explored via simulations that indicate that that in moderately cloudy water the system can achieve good mapping rates with better resolution than traditional range gated imagery where the entire image is obtained at once.
Neuronal NOS-dependent dilation to flow in coronary arteries of male eNOS-KO mice

Flow-induced dilation was examined in isolated coronary arteries of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase knockout mice (eNOS-KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. The basal tone of arteries (percentage of...
Hydrologic impacts of small‐scale instream diversions for frost and heat protection in the California wine country

Though many river studies have documented the impacts of large water projects on stream hydrology, few have described the effects of dispersed, small-scale water projects on streamflow or aquatic ecosystems. We used streamflow and air temperature data collected in the northern California wine country to characterize the influence of small instream diversions on streamflow. On cold spring mornings when air temperatures approached 0°C, flow in streams draining catchments with upstream vineyards receded abruptly, by as much as 95% over hours, corresponding to times when water is used to protect grape buds from freezing; flow rose to near previous levels following periods of water need. Streams with no upstream vineyards showed no such changes in flow. Flow was also depressed in reaches below vineyards on hot summer days, when grape growers commonly use water for heat protection. Our results demonstrate that the changes in flow caused by dispersed small instream diversions may be brief in duration, requiring continuous short-interval monitoring to adequately describe how such diversions affect the flow regime. Depending on the timing and abundance of such diversions in a drainage network, the changes in streamflow they cause may be an important limiting factor to valued biotic resources throughout the region. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Opportunities for innovation in the delivery of interactive retail services

In today's volatile economy, innovation in providing interactive services to consumers through a variety of channels is critical in retailing. Interactive service innovations offer opportunities for retailers by creating new markets or offering new benefits in existing markets. They also pose threats as existing customers encounter new alternatives offered by competitors. This article explores some of the most promising opportunities in interactive retail services; namely, the increasing power of consumers, channel synergies, pre- and post-transaction service, optimal use of resources, and consumer heterogeneity. In discussing these areas of opportunity we identify knowledge gaps and suggest research questions relevant to these gaps that warrant attention. Collectively, these questions offer a research agenda for the topic of interactive retail service innovation.
Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder among women in community mental health aftercare following psychiatric intensive care

Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are prevalent among adults with severe mental illness, but their impact on the psychosocial and physical health-related impairment of women with major mental illnesses is not known. A sample of 35 low-income urban women receiving community mental health services for severe and chronic mental illness was assessed with psychometrically validated structured interview instruments for psychiatric diagnosis, lifetime history of exposure to traumatic stressors, PTSD, substance use, health-related impairment, and complex psychosocial problems. Exposure to multiple types of traumatic stressors was reported by 98% of respondents, and more than half met criteria for lifetime PTSD (44% for current PTSD). Current PTSD prevalence was highest (>56%) when traumatic loss, sexual abuse, physical abuse, traumatic assault, or community violence were reported. A history of childhood sexual abuse or PTSD or both were associated with use of multiple substances and complex psychosocial problems. Assessment and treatment of complex PTSD appears warranted in psychiatric intensive care and community aftercare for women with severe mental illness.
Experimental Robot Musicians

This work discusses the development of robot musicians that perform on real instruments through the usage of mechanical devices such as servomotors and solenoids. Construction of the hardware and programming of the software are discussed, as well as the research innovations linking music, robotics and computer science.
Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 and integrative meniscal repair: influences on meniscal cell proliferation and migration.

Introduction Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are up-regulated in injured and osteoarthritic knee joints. IL-1 and TNF-α inhibit integrative meniscal repair; however, the mechanisms by which this inhibition occurs are not fully understood. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) increases meniscal cell proliferation and accumulation, and enhances integrative meniscal repair. An improved understanding of the mechanisms modulating meniscal cell proliferation and migration will help to improve approaches for enhancing intrinsic or tissue-engineered repair of the meniscus. The goal of this study was to examine the hypothesis that IL-1 and TNF-α suppress, while TGF-β1 enhances, cellular proliferation and migration in cell and tissue models of meniscal repair.
Kinetics of NiFe2O4 Precipitation in NiO

The kinetics of the precipitation of NiFe2O4 from an Fedoped NiO matrix has been studied. Polycrystalline samples were cooled at a constant rate through the solvus temperature, and the various stages of precipitation were monitored by periodically interrupting the cooling to observe the evolving size, distribution, and morphology of the precipitates. The precipitation occurred primarily by homogeneous nucleation and growth. The coherent precipitates have a dendritic morphology with a large interparticle spacing characteristic of fast precipitate growth. Reasonable rates for the nucleation of NiFe2O4 were observed to occur between 850° and 800°C, resulting in a 350° to 400°C undercooling. Preferential nucleation occurred at grain boundaries, but these particles were only twice as long as those nucleated homogeneously. The size and shape of the precipitates are independent of the distance from the surface, indicating that precipitation occurs by a local arrangement of the Ni and Fe cations and the preexisting cation vacancies.
INHIBITION OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE PYRIMIDINE PORTION OF THIAMINE BY ADENOSINE

Moyed, H. S. (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.). Inhibition of the biosynthesis of the pyrimidine portion of thiamine by adenosine. J. Bacteriol. 88:1024-1029. 1964.-The bacteriostatic effects of adenosine and several other purines on Aerobacter aerogenes can be overcome by either thiamine or the pyrimidine portion of thiamine. Adenosine causes almost complete cessation of the synthesis of the pyrimidine and consequently also of thiamine. However, synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein persists in the absence of thiamine synthesis until a three-or fourfold increase has occurred, indicating that A. aerogenes has a surplus supply of either thiamine or the pyrimidine. The failure of cells to continue production of the thiazole portion of thiamine when the synthesis of the pyrimidine is blocked indicates that control over the thiazole is exerted by the thiazole itself rather than by the intact thiamine molecule. Bacteria blocked in the synthesis of the pyrimidine either as the result of mutation or because of inhibition by adenosine excrete an intensely fluorescent, but as yet unidentified, compound. The fluorescent compound bears the nutritional relationship to the pyrimidine characteristic of that between an intermediate and an end product: an excess of the pyrimidine prevents its formation, whereas a deficiency of the pyrimidine greatly stimulates its formation. Adenosine inhibition of the synthesis of the pyrimidine is partially relieved by histidine or succinate. It is suggested that these compounds either bypass the blocked reaction or participate in the detoxification of adenosine.
The Privatization of Security

From ragtag bands of mercenaries to organized and well-funded private military companies, much of the responsibility for providing security for citizenry has been moving from governmental to nongovernmental hands. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of this privatization of security. After summarizing recent trends and supplying a theoretical context, it presents a multifaceted taxonomy of the different types of security privatization, and then proceeds to examine carefully the causes and potential consequences of this pattern. Brief case study evidence illustrates and fleshes out the generalizations presented. Finally, the complexities surrounding responses to security privatization are examined.
Experimental Studies and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Sliding Contact of Metallic Glass

Tribological properties of bulk metallic glass Zr 41.2 Ti 13.8 Cu 12.5 Ni 10.0 Be 22.5 were studied experimentally using a pin/disk geometry without lubrication. Experimental observations were compared with 2D molecular dynamics simulations of amorphous material in sliding contact. The friction coefficient and the wear rate of bulk metallic glass (BMG) depend on normal load and test environment. The sliding of annealed BMG re-amorphizes devitrified material. A mechanically mixed layer is generated during sliding; this layer has enhanced oxygen content if the sliding is in air. The MD simulations show that atomic scale mixing occurs across the sliding interface. The growth kinetics of the mixing process scales with the square root of time. In the simulations, a low density region is generated near the sliding interface; it corresponds spatially to the softer layer detected in experiments. Subsurface displacement profiles produced by sliding and by simulation are very similar and are consistent with the flow patterns expected from a simple Navier-Stokes analysis when the stress state involves both compression and shear.
Ethanol versus gasoline: the contestation and closure of a socio-technical system in the USA.

A variety of forces aligned at the turn of the last century to make ethyl alcohol — what is today known as ethanol — inefficient and uneconomical as a fuel alternative. Rather than a case of inevitable technological unfolding, the transition from King Coal to Big Oil was a sociologically contingent event. As a controversy study, this paper seeks to avoid the reductionist tendencies of past historical analyses of fuel. The author also seeks to redress a fundamental gap within the STS literature on the subject of automobile/fuel socio-technical systems, where the story of ethyl alcohol remains conspicuously absent. Among studies that examine how/why the automobile became locked in, little is said about ethyl alcohol, even though, as this paper details, it remained part of the fuel landscape well into the 20th century. The paper begins with an overview of the landscape developments of fuel during the later decades of the 19th century. Attention then turns to examining the various factors that went into shapi...
Multiple sites for the initiation of microtubule assembly in mammalian cells

Abstract The pattern of microtubule regrowth in mammalian fibroblast and epithelial cells has been examined by immunofluorescence of cytoskeletal preparations with antibody to tubulin. After reversal of treatment with colcemid, vinblastine or low temperature, microtubules appear to grow simultaneously from several distinct initiation sites located within 5 μ of the nucleus of mouse and human fibroblasts. Each site initiates the growth of 10–30 microtubules. More than 70% of the mouse fibroblasts have between 5 and 10 initiation sites with an average of 8. The human fibroblasts have an average of 5 sites per cell. The average number and numerical distribution of sites per fibroblast cell are not affected by time of exposure to colcemid or the concentration of colcemid applied to the cells. Multiple microtubule initiation sites are also observed during the process of microtubule depolymerization. In addition to growth from these complex initiation sites, microtubules appear to grow singly from the perinuclear region of human fibroblasts. The regrowth of individual microtubules from the perinuclear region is especially prominent in epithelial cell lines from rat kangaroo and pig. These epithelial lines have only a single complex initiation site per cell. Two classes of complex initiation sites can be distinguished in microtubule regrowth experiments in human and mouse fibroblasts after exposure to griseofulvin. Microtubules first grow extensively from a single distinct site, which has approximately 20 microtubules growing from it and may be the centriole or centriolar pair. Subsequently, microtubules regrow from other perinuclear complex initiation sites. It thus appears that at least three distinct classes of initiation sites can be observed in mammalian cells: primary sites, which regrow microtubules first after griseofulvin treatment; secondary sites, which are distinct perinuclear sites and recover from griseofulvin treatment more slowly than the primary sites; and tertiary sites or sites of growth of single microtubules, also located near the cell nucleus.
Stage-Specific Effects of Androgens and Estradiol-17beta on the Development of Late Primary and Early Secondary Ovarian Follicles of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) In Vitro

An in vitro system was used to analyze the effects of sex steroids on the development of primary (late perinucleolar stage) and early secondary, previtellogenic (early cortical alveolus stage) ovarian follicles of coho salmon cultured for up to 21 days. Late perinucleolar-stage follicles increased significantly in size after 7 days of treatment with low concentrations of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), a nonaromatizable androgen. An androgen receptor antagonist (flutamide) inhibited this growth-promoting effect, and the highest concentration resulted in atresia of follicles, implicating androgens as survival factors at this stage. Testosterone (T) was less effective than 11-KT in promoting growth, but blocking aromatization with exemestane resulted in a growth response similar to that of 11-KT. Estradiol-17beta (E2) had no effect on growth at this stage. After 21 days of culture, E2 was the most potent steroid in increasing the number of follicles containing cortical alveoli and the number of cortical alveoli within those follicles. At the early cortical alveolus stage, low doses of E2 promoted growth and strongly stimulated synthesis of cortical alveoli, actions that were inhibited by an estrogen receptor antagonist (tamoxifen). 11-KT displayed moderate growth-promoting effects, and 11-KT and T stimulated moderate to substantial increases in abundance of cortical alveoli. This study shows that the predominant role of androgens is the promotion of growth of late perinucleolar-stage follicles, while E2 stimulates both the growth and accumulation of cortical alveoli in early cortical alveolus-stage follicles.
Location estimation accuracy in wireless sensor networks

The peer-to-peer nature of a wireless sensor network presents the opportunity for accurate and low-configuration sensor location estimation. Range measurements are made between pairs of sensors, regardless of their a priori coordinate knowledge. This paper quantifies via the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) variance limits on location estimators which use measured time-of-arrival (TOA) or received signal strength (RSS). An extensive campaign measures TOA and RSS in a 44-device multipoint-to-multipoint indoor network for input into maximum-likelihood estimators (MLE) of location. RMS location errors of 1.2 and 2.2 m are demonstrated using TOA and RSS, respectively.
Finite element solution of the forward imaging problem associated with time- and frequency-domain measurements of photon migration

Finite element (FEM) predictions of the solution to the forward imaging problem are presented. In this study, the forward imaging problem consisted of predicting time-dependent photon migration measurements from information regarding the presence, location, geometry, and optical properties of a single heterogeneity obscured within a uniform, homogeneous random medium. FEM solutions which predict time-domain measurements of emitted light, I(t), suggest that the successful use of these measurements in an inverse imaging algorithm may be limited in the range of heterogeneity volumes and optical properties by factors such as the source/detector geometry. Two dimensional plots of fluence rate, (Phi) (p,t), illustrate the physical basis of photon migration as described by particle, photon density wave, and optical wave transport theories. FEM solutions which predict frequency-domain measurements of phase-shift, (Theta) (f), and modulation, M(f) illustrate the physical basis of interfering photon density wave measurements for detection and localization of a single absorber.
Hristo the 'Terrible', Stoitchkov the misunderstood: a biographical sketch of Bulgaria's most famous athlete.

Several scholars, journalists and players have described Hristo Stoitchkov as an obnoxious and racist individual. Based on interviews with him and people who have coached him and evolved as players under his mentorship, this essay will challenge those assumptions. Stoitchkov’s achievements at FC Barcelona and in the World Cup are well known to many soccer historians, biographers and aficionados. Therefore, his accomplishments as a player will not be the focus of this piece. Instead, this biographical essay will focus on Stoitchkov’s contribution to the development of young players and his coaching career in the US, Spain, South Africa and Bulgaria.
Rocks Along the Road to the Control of HBV and HCC

Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the best human vaccines ever developed; it is safe, cheap, and highly immunogenic, stimulates long lasting protective efficacy, and is the first human cancer vaccine. Remarkably, HBV vaccine works even when administered to newborns, timing which is necessary because of mother to infant transmission. Countrywide HBV immunization programs were initiated in Taiwan and Thailand in the 1980s. HBV vaccine has been part of the WHO global immunization since 199x and with at-birth immunization programs in xxx countries resulting in major declines in acute sequelae of HBV infection. Of far greater significance, HBV vaccination prevents hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its use is reducing mother to infant transmission, the driving force behind the HBV carrier state worldwide. These benefits are just being realized since decades elapse between perinatal transmission at birth and the onset of HCC decades later. Studies in Taiwan and Thailand are showing declines in HCC incidence as a result of country wide at-birth HBV immunization programs initiated in the 1980s. Many investigators from many countries have contributed to the understanding of HBV and its role as the major cause of HCC. This article briefly summarizes the work of my University of Washington laboratory in Taipei, Taiwan where I lived and worked from 1972 and 1986 because of the very high HBV carrier rates of HBV in Taiwan. During those 14 years we discovered vertical transmission, its timing and mechanism, and the predictive value of HBeAg. We went on to establish the efficacy of HBIG for prevention of vertical transmission. In later studies we established the efficacy and timing of HBV vaccine and HBIG and HBV vaccine in combination for optimum preventive efficacy. Of greatest significance, our studies showed that chronic HBV infection is the commonest cause of HCC. Worldwide, mothers are the driving force behind the infections that lead to HCC because the HBV carrier state is inversely proportional to the age of the infant when infected. We were able persuade WHO to adopt HBV as the 7th immunogen in the EPI, its global infant immunization program. In some ways enormous progress has been made but measured against its potential, progress in most countries, including the United States has been far too slow.
On the occurrence of linear groups in proteins.

Linear groups—polypeptide conformations based on a single repeating ϕ,ψ-pair—are a foundational concept in protein structure, yet how they are presented in textbooks is based largely on theoretical studies from the early days of protein structure analysis. Now, ultra-high resolution protein structures provide a resource for an accurate empirical and systematic assessment of the linear groups that truly exist in proteins. Here, a purely conformation-based survey of linear groups shows that only three distinct ϕ,ψ-regions occur: a diverse set of extended conformations mostly present as β-strands, a broad population of polyproline-II-like spirals, and a tight cluster that includes the highly populated α-helix and the conformationally-similar but much less populated 310-helix. Rare, short left-handed α-/310-helical turns with repeating ϕ,ψ-angles occur, but none are longer than three residues. Misperceptions dispelled by this study are the existence of 2.27- and π-helices as linear groups, the existence of specific ideal ϕ,ψ-angles for each linear group, and the existence of a substantive difference in the ϕ,ψ-preferences for parallel versus antiparallel β-strands. This study provides a concrete basis for updating and enhancing how we think about and teach the basics of protein structure.
Modular automatic test equipment design for on-platform diagnostics

A modular design for portable automatic test equipment used for on-platform diagnostics is described. The hardware and software architecture of the design are described in detail. The design comprises a core module that houses a processor and the primary instrumentation, measurement, and stimulus hardware of the test equipment. The design also includes an application module that provides platform-specific hardware capabilities and an interface to the system that is being tested. Modularity allows for the test equipment to be easily adapted for use on a wide variety of weapon systems and vehicles. The addition of optional wireless capability further enhances the portability and usability of the automatic test equipment when performing on-platform diagnostic tests and procedures. The test equipment is used in conjunction with a host computer that provides a user interface to the operator and directs the test equipment in interacting with the unit under test. The test equipment can also interact with or be directed by an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual running on the host computer. Communication between the test equipment and the host computer can be abstracted or encrypted as necessary, such that data transmissions are secure and accurate. When combined with vehicle health management systems, test program sets, and other automatic test equipment, the described design helps facilitate a two-level maintenance philosophy for military equipment and fleet vehicles.
On a Direct Approach for the Solution of Linear Space-Invariant 2-D Differential Convolution Models

2-D differential convolution operators in a rectangular discrete domain are modelled as linear differential matrix equations of the form Х(t) = Σ AjX(t)Bi + F(t), where the coefficient matrices Ai ∈ IR(MxM),Bi ∈ IR(NxN) and F(t) ∈ IR(MxN) is a piecewise continuous function matrix of t. Under some periodicity assumptions an analytical solution method is presented making use of the 2-D discrete Fourier transform (DFT). For most general problems an iterative computational method founded in the Peano-Baker series is proposed.
Scapulothoracic Muscle Strength Changes Following a Single Session of Manual Therapy and an Exercise Programme in Subjects with Neck Pain.

Introduction Scapulothoracic muscle weakness has been associated with neck pain (NP). Little evidence exists regarding lower trapezius (LT), middle trapezius (MT) and serratus anterior (SA) strength in this population. LT strength changes have been observed following thoracic manipulation in healthy subjects. The purpose of the present study was to examine scapulothoracic strength changes following cervical manipulation in subjects with NP. Methods Twenty-two subjects with NP and 17 asymptomatic control (AC) subjects underwent strength testing of the LT, MT and SA using a hand-held dynamometer. Subjects with NP were treated with passive intervertebral neck manipulation and neck range of motion exercises. The AC group received no intervention. Strength testing was repeated after manipulation, then 48 and 96 hours later. Change scores were calculated for strength over time. Paired t-tests were done for strength change between painful and non-painful sides in the NP group. Independent t-tests were done for strength change between the NP group and AC group. Results There was no significant difference between groups for age, gender, hand dominance or body mass index. Mean (standard deviation) symptom duration for subjects in the NP group was 43.27 (62.71) months. There was no significant difference in strength change over time between painful and non-painful sides in the NP group for any muscle; however, there was a significant difference in strength change over time between those in the NP group and AC group for the LT (p < 0.01), SA (p < 0.01) and MT (p < 0.01). Discussion Scapulothoracic muscle strength improvements were observed in both extremities following passive intervertebral neck manipulation and neck range of motion exercises. Improvements lasted up to 96 hours following manipulation, even though no strengthening exercises were prescribed. Conclusions Manipulation and range of motion should be considered as a component of intervention programmes for patients with NP and scapulothoracic muscle weakness. Future studies should compare manipulation alone to exercise alone to determine impact on strength. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Musculoskeletal Care Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Osteoarthropathy in a moose (Alces alces) from Utah

Abstract Moose (Alces alces) are known to suffer from a wide range of diseases including osteoarthropathies. An Alces specimen collected in 1989 from Summit County, Utah shows four separate occurrences of osteoarthropathy: 1) extensive remodeling of the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and lesser changes in the other cervical vertebrae; 2) massive bony overgrowth on the right calcaneus, whereas the left calcaneus appears free of disease; 3) osteoarthritis in the weight-bearing joints of the pelvis; and 4) a fracture in the right femur. The osteoarthritis in the weight-bearing joints is not atypical for an individual of its age, estimated at 6.0 to 7.5 years. However, infection is a more likely cause for the changes to the bones in the neck and hock. Trauma in the hind limb would be necessary to have caused the fracture in the femur. This individual lived with its ailments long enough for the architecture of its bones to be dramatically affected. Present-day northern Utah is an ecosystem with a paucity o...
Human Coronavirus-Associated Influenza-Like Illness in the Community Setting in Peru

We present findings describing the epidemiology of non-severe acute respiratory syndrome human coronavirus-associated influenza-like illness from a population-based active follow-up study in four different regions of Peru. In 2010, the prevalence of infections by human coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63, or HKU1 was 6.4% in participants with influenza-like illness who tested negative for influenza viruses. Ten of 11 human coronavirus infections were identified in the fall-winter season. Human coronaviruses are present in different regions of Peru and are relatively frequently associated with influenza-like illness in Peru.
Sudden onset of spinal cord infarction after a hemodialysis session in an elderly hemodialysis patient

症例は, 慢性腎不全のため外来維持血液透析を行っている74歳男性. 左前腕尺骨神経鞘腫切除術のため入院中であった. 術後8日目, 通常通り血液透析が施行され, その終了約2時間後に突然上腹部に帯状の疼痛が出現した. その後両下肢のしびれを自覚し次第に両下肢筋力低下を呈するようになり数時間後には両下肢弛緩性麻痺となった. 翌日には腹部の疼痛は消失したが, 両下肢弛緩性麻痺は持続しTh8レベル以下の解離性知覚障害, 直腸障害, 腱反射消失を認めた.突然の発症, 対麻痺, 解離性知覚障害から脊髄障害が疑われ, MRIでTh8-Th12レベルにT1強調画像 (T1) でiso intensity, T2強調画像 (T2) でhigh intensityの病変を認め脊髄梗塞と診断した. アルガトロバン, グリセリンの投与を開始し, 高気圧酸素療法を行った. 発症後7日よりリハビリを開始したが症状の回復には乏しく, わずかに足尖を伸展できるようになったのみで固定した. 脊髄梗塞は臨床上まれな疾患であるが, 近年MRIの普及によりその画像所見・経時変化などの報告が散見されるようになってきた. しかし, 透析患者における脊髄梗塞の合併の報告は未だ少ない. 今回われわれは, 典型的な発症様式およびMRIの経時的変化を示した脊髄梗塞の1例を経験したので報告する.
Photofission product yields of 238U and 239Pu with 22-MeV bremsstrahlung

Abstract In homeland security and nuclear safeguards applications, non-destructive techniques to identify and quantify special nuclear materials are in great demand. Although nuclear materials naturally emit characteristic radiation (e.g. neutrons, γ-rays), their intensity and energy are normally low. Furthermore, such radiation could be intentionally shielded with ease or buried in high-level background. Active interrogation techniques based on photofission have been identified as effective assay approaches to address this issue. In designing such assay systems, nuclear data, like photofission product yields, plays a crucial role. Although fission yields for neutron-induced reactions have been well studied and readily available in various nuclear databases, data on photofission product yields is rather scarce. This poses a great challenge to the application of photofission techniques. In this work, short-lived high-energy delayed γ-rays from photofission of 238U were measured in between linac pulses. In addition, a list-mode system was developed to measure relatively long-lived delayed γ-rays from photofission of 238U and 239Pu after the irradiation. Time and energy information of each γ-ray event were simultaneously recorded by this system. Cumulative photofission product yields were then determined using the measured delayed γ-ray spectra.
Choosing appropriate comparison group participants in studies of veterans: Characteristics of orthopedically injured and uninjured Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Research addressing deployment-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is fairly complex due to a high prevalence of comorbid conditions, multiple exposures, and the lack of acute medical records. Therefore, there is a need for a well-defined, matching comparison group. This study compared deployment-related characteristics, everyday functioning, and cognitive performance in recently deployed veterans who had not sustained any injuries with those who had orthopedic injuries during deployment, but who were without a history of TBI. Method: Participants included 45 individuals who had been deployed and who were without injuries and a group of 27 individuals who reported at least one orthopedic injury during deployment. The Mayo–Portland Adaptability Inventory–4, Community Integration Questionnaire, Veterans RAND 36 Item Health Survey, Brief Pain Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist–Civilian (PCL-C) were used to assess daily function...
Correlation of KIR3DS1 alleles,environmental factors with the progression of HIV-1 infection in HIV/AIDS patients

Objective:To evaluate the correlation of KIR3DS1 alleles,environmental factors with the progression of HIV-1 infection in Chinese population.Methods:In total,86 cases of newly reported HIV/AIDS were recruited from people receiving voluntary counseling and testing(VCT).KIR3DS1 genes was assessed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).Meanwhile,questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the environmental information.Results:Cox regression analysis showde that,compared with non-antivirus treatment group,the risk ratio(RR) of antivirus treatment was 0.217(95%CI =0.098～0.480).Conclusion:Antivirus treatment can delay the progression to AIDS,and KIR3DS1 gene may potentially be associated with slower progression to AIDS in Chinese population.
Female Offenders, HIV Peer Programs, and Attachment: The Importance of Prison-Based Civilian Staff in Creating Opportunities to Cultivate Prosocial Behaviors:

As women commit to a conventional lifestyle, the bond of attachment becomes a fundamental component in sustaining the desistance process. If weak attachments in the community cannot be replaced or enhanced with the cultivation of strong conventional attachments while incarcerated, female offenders will leave prison without a supportive network. Strong social networks and a high level of social capital are essential for female offenders to reintegrate successfully; if social bonds are constructed before release, there is a greater chance of maintaining a crime-free lifestyle. One way to cultivate strong bonds of attachment during incarceration is through prison-based programming. This qualitative study, based on the narratives of 49 female offenders, examines the potential for inmates to form prosocial attachments with staff in two HIV prison-based peer programs in New York State. Strong attachments were formed between the inmates and civilian staff during incarceration, maintained upon release, and served to reinforce the establishment of bourgeoning conventional identities. The dedication and commitment of the civilian staff, and the support they provided to the inmates, was essential to achieving both rehabilitative and reintegrative goals.
Tolerance to, and symmetrical cross-tolerance between, cannabionol and 295-1295-1295-1

Tolerance to, and symmetrical cross-tolerance between, cannabinol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinnol (THC) occurs in rabbits which uniquely exhibit behavioral convulsions with THC.
Investigation of full and partial ground effects on a flapping foil hovering above a finite-sized platform

The full and partial ground effects on the lift generation of a flapping airfoil in normal hovering mode are investigated numerically using the discrete vortex method in two dimensions. To achieve full ground effect, the airfoil of chord c is made to hover above the center of a finite-sized platform of length 10c. We have observed the force-enhancement, force-reduction, and force-recovery regimes at low, medium, and high ground clearances in line with the existing literature. This paper puts special focus on partial ground effect when the airfoil is hovering near the edge of the platform. Lift-modifying mechanisms not previously observed under full ground effect have been discovered. When stroke reversal occurs near the edge of the platform, a relatively stationary strong vortex may form above the platform edge. This strong vortex can either increase or decrease the instantaneous lift force on the airfoil depending on the position of the airfoil relative to the platform edge. Also, the platform edge may lead to the formation of an additional vortex pair which increases the instantaneous lift force as the airfoil sweeps past the edge under suitable conditions. Lastly, the platform edge can lead to the formation of a reverse von Karman vortex street that extends well below the stroke plane under suitable geometric arrangements.
Examining the utilisation and usefulness of social support for mothers with young children with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACTBackground Social support has been described as a vital resource for families with children with disability. Although the benefits of social support have been described, little is known about the utilisation patterns in families of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method In a community sample of 78 American families with children (2–6 years) with ASD, this study examined the utilisation and usefulness of social support. Child, family, and service variables related to social support were explored.Results Mothers of children with ASD reported using a combination of formal and informal supports, and these were perceived to be helpful. Sociodemographic variables, child behaviour problems, satisfaction with the autism diagnostic process, and access to information about ASD predicted social support utilisation.Conclusion Social support utilisation varies as a function of different child, family, and service variables. Understanding these variables may help professionals guide families ...
The Role and Load of the Athletic Training Clinical Education Coordinator

Context: The position of clinical education coordinator has been identified as a required one in athletic training education. However, the literature has yet to address the job responsibilities of clinical education coordinators and the commensurate work load/release time needed to accomplish these responsibilities in athletic training education. Objective: To determine the current practices of clinical education coordinators in athletic training program, their current load compensation, whether or not they feel their load compensation is appropriate, and what their ideal load compensation should be. Design: Mixed methods. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited education programs. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 120 clinical education coordinators. Main Outcome Measure(s): A survey was administered including both quantitative and qualitative questions. Quantitative data were analyzed statistically and qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive appr...
Is relativism really self-refuting?

Contrairement au consensus contemporain au sein de la philosophie analytique qui consiste a rejeter le relativisme pour son incoherence, l'A. montre que la these relativiste ne succombe ni sous le coup de l'auto-contradiction ni sous les problemes d'auto-referentialite. Soulevant la question de la verite absolue et du caractere relatif du relativisme, l'A. adopte le modele semantique de la logique modale afin de demontrer la coherence de la notion de verite-dans-sa-structure. Definissant le relativisme-de-la-verite-epistemique a la limite de la recherche, l'A. propose plusieurs solutions au probleme de la tenabilite de la structure absolue face au relativisme global
Toward Understanding Trust: A Response to Adams and Miskell.

Purpose: Trust is a key component of successful schools. Although scholars widely agree that trust is multifaceted, there is less agreement about the number and nature of these factors. In the Octo...
Association of Concentric Left Ventricular Hypertrophy With Subsequent Change in Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Volume: The Dallas Heart Study.

BackgroundIn the conventional paradigm of the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy, a thick-walled left ventricle (LV) ultimately transitions to a dilated cardiomyopathy. There are scant dat...
Autophagy Dysregulation in ALS: When Protein Aggregates Get Out of Hand.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. One of the key pathological hallmarks in the disease neurons is the mislocalization of disease-associated protein accompanied by the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates of disease proteins as well as interacting proteins due to defective protein quality control. This apparent imbalance in the cellular protein homeostasis could be a crucial factor that causes motor neuron death in the later stages of life in patients. Autophagy is a major protein degradation pathway that is involved in the clearance of protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Abnormalities in autophagy have been observed in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS. In this review, we discuss the contribution of autophagy dysfunction in various in vitro and in vivo models of ALS. Furthermore, we look closely at the cross-talk between autophagy and other cellular stresses implicated in ALS pathogenesis and the therapeutic implications of regulating autophagy in ALS.