cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheology of Dendrimers. 2. Bulk Polyamidoamine Dendrimers under Steady Shear, Creep, and Dynamic Oscillatory Shear

Rheological behavior of the first eight generations of bulk polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, having nominal molecular weights from about 500 to over 116 000, was investigated under steady shear, shear creep, and dynamic oscillatory shear within the temperature range from Tg + 15 °C to Tg + 105 °C. It was found that these dendrimers exhibit (a) constant viscosity at small deformations regardless of the type of stress applied and (b) temperature-/generation-dependent non-Newtonian response at higher shear rates/frequencies. The latter was characterized by finite moduli of elasticity at all generations and by onset of complex-viscosity thinning at some generation-dependent critical temperature and shear frequency. These results represent the first observation of elasticity in one dendrimer family, and they indicate that at rest in bulk these dendrimers collapse, deform, and organize into transient, secondary (i.e., hydrogen)-bonded, quasi-network supramolecular microstructure. They also reveal a distinct c...
Iterative temporal motion planning for hybrid systems in partially unknown environments

This paper considers the problem of motion planning for a hybrid robotic system with complex and nonlinear dynamics in a partially unknown environment given a temporal logic specification. We employ a multi-layered synergistic framework that can deal with general robot dynamics and combine it with an iterative planning strategy. Our work allows us to deal with the unknown environmental restrictions only when they are discovered and without the need to repeat the computation that is related to the temporal logic specification. In addition, we define a metric for satisfaction of a specification. We use this metric to plan a trajectory that satisfies the specification as closely as possible in cases in which the discovered constraint in the environment renders the specification unsatisfiable. We demonstrate the efficacy of our framework on a simulation of a hybrid second-order car-like robot moving in an office environment with unknown obstacles. The results show that our framework is successful in generating a trajectory whose satisfaction measure of the specification is optimal. They also show that, when new obstacles are discovered, the reinitialization of our framework is computationally inexpensive.
An ecdysiotropic factor from brains of Heliothis virescens induces testes to produce immunodetectable ecdysteroid in vitro

A factor extracted from brains of male larvae and pupae of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens, caused immature testes to initiate immunoreactive ecdysteroid production in vitro. High–pressure size–exclusion chromatography removed endogenous ecdysteroids from most extract frac–tions. However, active fractions could only be detected when ecdysteroid (as 20-hydroxyecdysone) was reincorporated into the bioassay medium. The active ecdysiotropin was susceptible to protease degradation. It may be a peptide of approximately 6–12 kD.
Enteric septicemia resistance in blue catfish and three channel catfish strains

Abstract Seven full-sib families in each of three strains of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (mean weight, 10.7 g; SD, 2.6 g) and one family of blue catfish I. furcatus (mean, 10.9 g; SD, 0.4 g) were challenged by immersion with the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of enteric septicemia, to evaluate variation in disease resistance. Blue catfish were resistant to infection and had only 0.7% mortality. Significant (P < 0.001) variation in channel catfish resistance was found among strains, families, and body weights. Red River strain channel catfish were the most resistant (14.9% mortality), followed by Mississippi-select fish (67.1%) and Mississippi-normal fish (72.3%). Mean family mortality of channel catfish ranged from 1.3% in a Red River family to 95.3% in a Mississippi-select family. Although weight had a significant effect on survival, the regression slope of survival on weight was −0.10 (SE, 0.02). Sources of variation in channel catfish mortality adjusted for weight were 67....
Topographic regulation of phosphorylation in giant neurons of the squid, Loligo pealei: Role of phosphatases†

In previous studies of phosphorylation in squid stellate ganglion neurons, we demonstrated that a specific multimeric phosphorylation complex characterized each cellular compartment. Although the endogenous protein profile of cell body extracts (giant fiber lobe, GFL), as determined by Coomassie staining, was similar to that of axoplasm from the giant axon, in this study we show that the protein phosphorylation profiles are qualitatively different. Whereas many axoplasm proteins were phosphorylated, including most cytoskeletal proteins, virtually all phosphorylation in perikarya was confined to low molecular weight compounds (<6 kDa). Because phosphorylation of exogenous substrates, histone and casein, was equally active in extracts from both compartments, failure to detect endogenous protein phosphorylation in cell bodies was attributed to the presence of more active phosphatases. To further explore the role of phosphatases in these neurons, we studied phosphorylation in the presence of serine/threonine and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors. We found that phosphorylation of axonal cytoskeletal proteins was modulated by okadaic acid-sensitive ser/thr phosphatases, whereas cell body phosphorylation was more sensitive to an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, such as vanadate. Inhibition of PTPs by vanadate stimulated endogenous phosphorylation of GFL proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins. Protein tyrosine kinase activity was equally stimulated by vanadate in cell body and axonal whole homogenates and Triton X-100 free soluble extracts, but only the Triton X soluble fraction (membrane bound proteins) of the GFL exhibited significant activation in the presence of vanadate, suggesting higher PTP activities in this fraction than in the axon. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that neuronal protein phosphorylation in axons and cell bodies is modulated by different phosphatases associated with compartment-specific multimeric complexes.
An alternate pathway to long-chain polyunsaturates: the FADS2 gene product Δ8-desaturates 20:2n-6 and 20:3n-3

The mammalian Δ6-desaturase coded by fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2; HSA11q12-q13.1) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step for the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. FADS2 is known to act on at least five substrates, and we hypothesized that the FADS2 gene product would have Δ8-desaturase activity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with a FADS2 construct from baboon neonate liver cDNA gained the function to desaturate 11,14-eicosadienoic acid (20:2n-6) and 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-3) to yield 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-3, respectively. Competition experiments indicate that Δ8-desaturation favors activity toward 20:3n-3 over 20:2n-6 by 3-fold. Similar experiments show that Δ6-desaturase activity is favored over Δ8-desaturase activity by 7-fold and 23-fold for n-6 (18:2n-6 vs 20:2n-6) and n-3 (18:3n-3 vs 20:3n-3), respectively. In mammals, 20:3n-6 is the immediate precursor of prostaglandin E1 and thromboxane B1. 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-3 are also immediate precursors of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively. These findings provide unequivocal molecular evidence for a novel alternative biosynthetic route to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in mammals from substrates previously considered to be dead-end products.
Telemanipulation with Time Delays

In this paper we survey the development of the wave variable concept and examine wave-based teleoperation. We study the behavior of force reflecting systems under unknown but constant transmission delays, ranging from periods less than the human reaction time to several seconds. Passive transmission procedures guarantee system stability, but wave reflections and spurious dynamics may interfere with normal operation. Using wave variables for the analysis and implementation, and making appropriate design choices, a system with consistent and predictable behavior is constructed. This design methodology aims to create a virtual tool which accounts for the implicit limitations imposed by the delay. These developments also form the basis for extensions to wave-based prediction and application to variable delays, such as those inherent to Internet-based telemanipulation.
Computations on the Cahn-Hilliard model of solidification

We begin numerical studies of interface migration on the two-dimensional Cahn-Hilliard equation. Our results add evidence to support the connection between this equation and the well-known quasistatic model of solidification. Finite elements coupled with a second-order time discretization scheme are used. The nonlinear systems of equations that arise on each time step are solved by fixed-point iteration, while the linear systems are solved by preconditioned conjugate gradients.
Fear of obesity among adolescent girls

The perceptions concerning weight, dieting practices, and nutrition of 326 adolescent girls attending an upper middle-class parochial high school were studied in relation to their body weight. Underweight or overweight students were those with greater than 10% body weight differential for height. The high school students reported an exaggerated concern with obesity regardless of their body weight or nutrition knowledge. Underweight, normal weight, and overweight girls were dieting to lose weight and reported frequent self-weighing practices. As many as 51% (n = 60) of the underweight adolescents described themselves as extremely fearful of being overweight and 36% (n = 43) were preoccupied with body fat. A distorted perception of ideal body weight was documented, particularly among the underweight students; the greater the underestimation of perceived ideal body weight, the greater the actual deficit in ideal body weight for height of the students (r = .73; P less than .001). Normal weight and overweight girls had better concordance between their actual and perceived ideal body weight for height. The frequency of bingeing and vomiting behaviors was similar among the three weight categories. The data suggest that fear of obesity and inappropriate eating behaviors are pervasive among adolescent girls regardless of body weight or nutrition knowledge.
Employment Opportunities in Rural Areas: Implications for Poverty in a Changing Policy Environment

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, as well as changes in other public programs providing poor households with an economic "safety net," have refocused attention on the issue of poverty in the United States (Levitan, Mangum, and Mangum). Changes in welfare policy at the federal level follow a fifteen-year period of transition and restructuring in U.S. labor markets during which incomes strongly diverged between the "haves" and the "havenots." Marked changes in policy, coupled with long-run transformations in labor markets, make poverty a critical issue (Shapiro). Poverty in U.S. central cities has received significant attention and has influenced the public's perception of who is poor and how to "correct" the poverty problem. However, how we collectively perceive "the poor" does injustice to the problem, oversimplifying a very complex issue. This is true in urban areas and it is particularly the case in rural areas. It is not often recognized that nonmetro areas have higher rates of poverty than do metro areas (Lichter et al.). For example, in 1990, 16.3% of the nonmetro population was in poverty, whereas 12.7% were poor in metro areas (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1991). Rural poor households are also more likely to be chronically poor, have higher proportions of the working poor, and have been historically less dependent on welfare than the urban poor (Fuguitt, Brown, and Beale; Lichter et al.). This article focuses on the ability of rural adults to find adequate jobs to help reduce the likelihood that they or their households are poor. Because the individual's participation in work is such a key factor in the 1996 Act and because of the complexities of analyzing work patterns across poor households of different compositions, this research focuses on the labor market outcomes of individuals. We con-
Advances in Understanding and Treatment of Feline Inappropriate Elimination

Feline inappropriate elimination is the number one behavioral reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters and has historically been the most commonly reported feline problem addressed by behavior professionals. Veterinarians are hence challenged to uncover the underlying motivation for this behavior so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and an effective treatment plan implemented. Before a behavioral diagnosis can be made, underlying medical disease must be addressed, making a comprehensive physical evaluation imperative. After all medical issues have been addressed, a behavior diagnoses list is made based on detailed historical information obtained from the cat owner. A distinction is first established between marking and inappropriate toileting, according to elimination postures described by the owner and the social relevance of the sites of inappropriate eliminations. Next, inadequacies of the litter box management are identified and subsequent aversions and preferences, including litter box aversion, substrate aversion, location aversion, substrate preference, and location preference, can be diagnosed. The practitioner should be cognizant of the fact that anxiety from the environment and social conflict may play a major role in both marking and inappropriate toileting behaviors. Once both the medical and behavioral diagnoses are established, a treatment plan catered to the individual cat, owner, and household environment can be formulated. This should include acceptable forms of marking when indicated, appropriate litter box management and hygiene, reduction of environmental stressors, including resolution of social conflict in multicat households, proper treatment and restricted access to soiled areas, pheromone application, and, when indicated, anxiolytic drug therapy.
High-risk ECG patterns in ACS—Need for guideline revision

The current guidelines advocate distinct approaches (urgent reperfusion therapy) to patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) presenting with ST elevation (STE) versus patients without STE on their electrocardiogram (ECG). This is based on the paradigm that STE represents ongoing transmural ischemia due to an acute occlusion of an epicardial coronary artery whereas the significance of other ECG findings is more contentious. The role of urgent coronary angiography in patients without STE is less clear and initial stabilization with conservative treatment is recommended. However, in some cases the distinction between STEMI and non-STE-ACS is difficult. Acute occlusion of a coronary artery may cause less than the current recommended threshold STE. On the other hand, many patients may have STE secondary to nonischemic etiology. In many patients with non-STE-ACS the coronary artery is not completely occluded at the time of presentation and there are rapid fluctuations in the severity of ischemia and hence, dynamic changes are observed in the ECG. Several ECG patterns associated with particular coronary anatomy and high-risk prognosis have been identified. Patients with ACS presenting with these high-risk patterns should probably be referred for coronary angiography with the possibility of urgent intervention with the goal of prevention of ischemic complications, rather than for immediate myocardial salvage, as in classic STEMI.
The privilege study

• We evaluated the impact of the Texas limited privilege statute, enacted in 1979, through a questionnaire study of 121 lay persons, 79 patients receiving psychiatric outpatient treatment, and 84 psychiatrists. An almost equal percentage of lay persons and patients knew or guessed correctly that the statute existed (26% v 27%), but only 45% of the psychiatrists knew or guessed correctly that it had been enacted. Lay persons indicated that they might disclose more to a psychiatrist or psychologist if they had statutory protection, but only a few of the patients said they would have sought treatment earlier or would have disclosed more had they known of a privilege statute. Patients reported that they relied more heavily on their psychiatrists' ethics than on the statute to protect their privacy.
A 28nm poly/SiON CMOS technology for low-power SoC applications

This paper presents a state-of-the-art 28nm CMOS technology using conventional poly gate and SiON gate dielectric (Poly/SiON) with best-in-the-class transistor performance, SRAM SNM (static noise margin), MOM capacitance density and mismatch, and ULK (k=2.5) interconnect. The ION are 683 and 503 uA/um (at I OFF = 1nA/um, V DD =1V) for the n- and p-MOSFET, respectively. (With normalized t OX and V DD , these values are higher than prior publication by 5%/15%). The 6T-SRAM is aggressively scaled to &#60;0.124um2 with SNM of 193mV at 1.0V and 144mV at 0.7V. The via and metal resistances, and the metal-line RC time constants are competitive and well controlled. The characteristics for the RF passive components (MOM capacitor, varactor, and inductor) are also excellent.
Functional Analysis of Three Arabidopsis ARGONAUTES Using Slicer-Defective Mutants

In RNA-directed silencing pathways, ternary complexes result from small RNA-guided ARGONAUTE (AGO) associating with target transcripts. Target transcripts are often silenced through direct cleavage (slicing), destabilization through slicer-independent turnover mechanisms, and translational repression. Here, wild-type and active-site defective forms of several Arabidopsis thaliana AGO proteins involved in posttranscriptional silencing were used to examine several AGO functions, including small RNA binding, interaction with target RNA, slicing or destabilization of target RNA, secondary small interfering RNA formation, and antiviral activity. Complementation analyses in ago mutant plants revealed that the catalytic residues of AGO1, AGO2, and AGO7 are required to restore the defects of Arabidopsis ago1-25, ago2-1, and zip-1 (AGO7-defective) mutants, respectively. AGO2 had slicer activity in transient assays but could not trigger secondary small interfering RNA biogenesis, and catalytically active AGO2 was necessary for local and systemic antiviral activity against Turnip mosaic virus. Slicer-defective AGOs associated with miRNAs and stabilized AGO-miRNA-target RNA ternary complexes in individual target coimmunoprecipitation assays. In genome-wide AGO-miRNA-target RNA coimmunoprecipitation experiments, slicer-defective AGO1-miRNA associated with target RNA more effectively than did wild-type AGO1-miRNA. These data not only reveal functional roles for AGO1, AGO2, and AGO7 slicer activity, but also indicate an approach to capture ternary complexes more efficiently for genome-wide analyses.
True Energy-Performance Analysis of the MTJ-Based Logic-in-Memory Architecture (1-Bit Full Adder)

The use of spin-transfer torque (STT) devices for memory design has been a subject of research since the discovery of the STT on MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Recently, MTJ-based computing architectures such as logic-in-memory have been proposed and claim superior energy-delay performance over static CMOS. In this paper, we conduct exhaustive energy-performance analysis of an STT-MTJ-based logic-in-memory (LIM-MTJ) 1-bit full adder and compare it with its corresponding CMOS counterpart. Our results show that the LIM-MTJ circuit has no advantage in energy-performance over its equivalent CMOS designs. We also show that the MTJ-based logic circuit requiring frequent MTJ switching during the operation is hardly power efficient.
MOBAS: identification of disease-associated protein subnetworks using modularity-based scoring

Network-based analyses are commonly used as powerful tools to interpret the findings of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a functional context. In particular, identification of disease-associated functional modules, i.e., highly connected protein-protein interaction (PPI) subnetworks with high aggregate disease association, are shown to be promising in uncovering the functional relationships among genes and proteins associated with diseases. An important issue in this regard is the scoring of subnetworks by integrating two quantities: disease association of individual gene products and network connectivity among proteins. Current scoring schemes either disregard the level of connectivity and focus on the aggregate disease association of connected proteins or use a linear combination of these two quantities. However, such scoring schemes may produce arbitrarily large subnetworks which are often not statistically significant or require tuning of parameters that are used to weigh the contributions of network connectivity and disease association. Here, we propose a parameter-free scoring scheme that aims to score subnetworks by assessing the disease association of interactions between pairs of gene products. We also incorporate the statistical significance of network connectivity and disease association into the scoring function. We test the proposed scoring scheme on a GWAS dataset for two complex diseases type II diabetes (T2D) and psoriasis (PS). Our results suggest that subnetworks identified by commonly used methods may fail tests of statistical significance after correction for multiple hypothesis testing. In contrast, the proposed scoring scheme yields highly significant subnetworks, which contain biologically relevant proteins that cannot be identified by analysis of genome-wide association data alone. We also show that the proposed scoring scheme identifies subnetworks that are reproducible across different cohorts, and it can robustly recover relevant subnetworks at lower sampling rates.
Inhibitory Control of Saccade Generation Mediated by Various Oculomotor Regions in Response to Reading Difficulty

Cognitive influences on saccade patterns during reading have been well documented, indicating that difficulties often result in prolonged fixation duration, shortened forward saccade length, and increased regressive saccades.1 Nevertheless, the underlying neural mechanisms of the observed effects are not yet understood. A commonly accepted behavioral hypothesis suggests that the process of saccade generation in reading is triggered by the completion of certain psycholinguistic events, such as the completion of word identification or at least the execution of a familiarity check on the foveated words.2 Several studies conducted in our laboratory have shown that increasing the difficulty of identifying the fovated words (i.e., degrading word stimuli or replacing normal words with random letters) does not prolong the overall latency of all following saccades. Analyzing the frequency distributions of the durations of critical fixations (those on which the difficulty occurs) indicates that the cancellation or delay of saccades only begins at about 175–225 msec after the fixation onset.3,4 Thus, the oculomotor mechanism for saccade generation actually proceeds normally, unaffected by cognitive difficulty, until some later time when the detected difficulty can exert an inhibitory influence on saccade generation. In this report, we present results from two studies by Yang and McConkie,5 using gaze-continent display change during saccades. In these studies, people read continuous text from a computer display while their eye movements were recorded. The normal text was replaced with an alternative stimulus pattern during randomly selected saccades, with normal text returning during the following saccade, thus occasionally producing an inappropriate stimulus pattern for a single fixation. We then observed the effect of the abnormal stimulus patterns on the time, direction, and length of the following saccade.
Beta-carotene and human health: A review of current research

Beta-carotene research has progressed rapidly in the past few years. New techniques have allowed accurate measurements of beta-carotene concentrations in plasma, tissues, and diet. New animal models, stable isotope techniques, and human depletion and repletion experiments are leading an explosion in the information about beta-carotene utilization in humans. These advances are leading to a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the influence of beta-carotene on human health. This review summarizes important new developments in beta-carotene research, and provides an interpretation of how these results reflect the impact of beta-carotene and human health.
Prognostication in MF: From CBC to cytogenetics to molecular markers

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and extramedullary hematopoiesis leading to progressive bone marrow failure, severe anemia, constitutional symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, and thrombosis. MF can arise following a history of polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET), or can present de novo as primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The disease course is variable with median survival ranging from months to years. Clinical and biological features such as advanced age, leukocytosis, anemia, transfusion dependence, and elevated inflammatory markers can impact prognosis in patients with PMF. Cytogenetic abnormalities and molecular markers such as JAK2 V617F, ASXL1, and CALR mutations have also been identified as prognostic variables. Several different scoring systems have been developed based on these prognostic factors. In this review, we will discuss the clinical, biological, molecular, and cytogenetic prognostic factors that have been identified in PMF, and the current prognostic models that have been developed to guide treatment decisions.
Synchronization can Control Regularization in Neural Systems via Correlated Noise Processes

To learn reliable rules that can generalize to novel situations, the brain must be capable of imposing some form of regularization. Here we suggest, through theoretical and computational arguments, that the combination of noise with synchronization provides a plausible mechanism for regularization in the nervous system. The functional role of regularization is considered in a general context in which coupled computational systems receive inputs corrupted by correlated noise. Noise on the inputs is shown to impose regularization, and when synchronization upstream induces time-varying correlations across noise variables, the degree of regularization can be calibrated over time. The resulting qualitative behavior matches experimental data from visual cortex.
Is Aristotle’s Response to the Argument for Fatalism in De Interpretatione 9 Successful?

The goal of this paper is to figure out whether Aristotle’s response to the argu ment for fatalism in De Interpretatione 9 is a success. By “response” it is meant not simply the reasons Aristotle offers to highlight why fatalism does not accord with how we conduct our lives, but also the solution he devises to block the argument for fatalism. This paper finds that a) Aristotle’s argument for fatalism is essentially bivalence plus that the truth of a proposition implies necessity, b) that Aristotle’s solution is to restrict bivalence, c) that this solution is coherent, and d) that while this solution does not rule out the possibility of fatalism, it does succeed in blocking the argument for fatalism offered within chapter 9.
Explaining Couple Cohesion in Different Types of Gay Families

This Internet-based study used data from a convenience sample of 176 gay men in current partnerships to examine differences in outness, cohesion, and relationship quality between three types of gay male couples: first cohabiting partnerships, repartnerships, and gay stepfamilies. Also, we tested whether relationship quality mediated the link between outness and cohesion and the moderating role of type of relationship. Results showed that those in first cohabiting partnerships had the lowest levels of relationship quality and cohesion, whereas those in gay stepfamilies reported having the highest levels of relationship quality and those in repartnerships reported the highest levels of cohesion. For all couples, the link between outness and cohesion was partially mediated by relationship quality, and this was moderated for those in repartnerships.
Effects of high glucose on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in addition to its growth-promoting effects on endothelial cells, can also increase vascular permeability and monocyte migration. It has therefore been im...
Sensori-motor integration in the primate superior colliculus

Abstract The sudden onset of a novel stimulus usually triggers orienting responses of the eyes, head and external ears (pinnae). These responses facilitate the reception of additional signals originating from the source of the stimulus and assist in the sensory guidance of appropriate limb and body movements. A midbrain structure, the superior colliculus, plays a critical role in triggering and organizing orienting movements and is a particularly interesting structure for studying the neural computations involved in the translation of sensory signals into motor commands. Auditory, somatosensory and visual signals converge in its deep layers, where neurons are found that generate motor commands for eye, head and pinna movements. This article focuses on the role of the superior colliculus in the control of saccadic (quick, high-velocity) eye movements with particular regard to three issues related to the functional properties of collicular neurons. First, how do neurons with large movement fields specify accurately the direction and amplitude of an eye movement? Second, how are signals converted from different sensory modalities into commands in a common motor frame of reference? Last, how are the motor command signals found in the superior colliculus transformed into those needed by the motor neuron pools innervating the extraocular muscles?
Ovarian Steroids and Cognitive Function

The ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone, not only govern reproductive events in mammalian females but also influence an array of other processes. Of particular clinical interest is the potential of ovarian steroids to facilitate storage of new memories and to protect neurons from various threats. Research during the past decade confirms that estrogen and progesterone influence the biochemical, electrical, and structural properties of neurons in brain regions that subserve learning and memory. These mechanisms form the biological foundations for the complex effects of ovarian steroids on cognitive functions in various species, including humans. Despite significant progress in our understanding of the roles of hormonal factors in cognitive function and neuronal survival, the value of hormone replacement as a treatment and deterrent for cognitive impairments associated with age, disease, and injury remains uncertain as we enter the new century.
Automated monitoring reveals extreme interindividual variation and plasticity in honeybee foraging activity levels

Workers in many eusocial insect species show a phenomenon sometimes referred to as ‘elitism’, in which a small proportion of individual workers engaged in a task perform a disproportionately large fraction of the work achieved by the colony as a whole. This phenomenon has not been well studied for foraging behaviour in honeybees ( Apis mellifera ) because detailed observational studies of foraging activity have been limited by the difficulty of successfully tracking large numbers of individual workers. Here, we used radio frequency identification technology to monitor honeybee flight behaviour automatically and generate lifetime flight activity records for large numbers of individuals from multiple colonies. We observed a consistent skew in activity levels of honeybee foragers, similar to that reported in many other social insects. However, this skew was a consequence of modulation of foraging activity by environmental and social factors rather than the existence of a distinct group or subcaste of elite foragers. Individual responses to experimental manipulation of the foraging workforce confirmed that activity level was flexibly adjusted according to colony needs. These results demonstrate that elitism in insect societies can arise as the extreme of a stable spectrum of individual behavioural activity that allows the colony to respond easily to unexpected needs rather than relying on responses of a rigidly defined subgroup of workers.
Medium- and Long-Range Forecasting

Abstract In contrast to short and extended range forecasts, predictions for periods beyond 5 days use time-averaged, midtropospheric height fields as their primary guidance. As time ranges are increased to 3O- and 90-day outlooks, guidance increasingly relies on statistical techniques using autocorrelation fields rather than numerical weather prediction (NWP) products as the primary prediction tool. The basis for the medium-range 6- to 10-day forecast is a mean 500 mb height and anomaly field for the forecast period, derived from a mix of output from two different numerical models, with some statistical and subjective modification added if desired. The monthly or 30-day outlook is based on a subjectively constructed mean 700 mb prognostic map based on available NWP mean height and anomaly fields out to 10 days, the appropriate 700 mb 1-month lag auto-correlation field, and subjective use of teleconnection and empirical orthogonal function patterns for consistency. A quantitative midtropospheric height and...
Projection pursuit learning

A learning model based on a nonparametric statistical technique, projection pursuit regression, is studied. Projection pursuit is a nonparametric statistical technique to find interesting low-dimensional projections of high-dimensional data sets. Projection pursuit regression approximates a function of q variables by a sum of nonlinear functions of linear combinations of the q variables, which is related to current neural network models. A training algorithm for projection pursuit learning, called backfitting, is investigated. An example of the application of this model is demonstrated. >
Quinidine pharmacokinetics in patients with cirrhosis or receiving propranolol.

Abstract Quinidine pharmacokinetics (half-life, volume of distribution, and clearance) as well as protein binding were evaluated following a single 200 mg. oral dose of quinidine sulfate in eight control patients, in eight patients with moderate to severe cirrhosis, and in seven patients receiving 40 to 400 mg./day of propranolol. Patients with cirrhosis had a significantly longer quinidine half-life (9 ± 1 hr; p Therefore in patients receiving propranolol, quinidine levels may be higher than expected shortly after dosage, and therefore a potential for transient toxicity exists in these patients. Maintenance quinidine dosage may have to be reduced in patients with moderate to severe hepatic cirrhosis, but not in patients receiving propranolol. Total quinidine concentration measurement underestimate free quinidine concentrations in most cirrhotic patients.
A Pilot Study of Estradiol Followed by Exemestane for Reversing Endocrine Resistance in Postmenopausal Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND Endocrine resistance is a frequent complication, and strategies to reverse it are a high research priority for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that is hormone receptor positive. Preclinical data suggest re-exposure to estrogen induces tumor regression in tamoxifen-resistant tumors. We conducted a pilot study to determine whether short-term estradiol exposure would reverse endocrine resistance and resensitize tumors METHODS Postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive MBC whose disease had progressed after receiving at least one prior endocrine therapy were eligible for the study. Patients were initially treated with 6 mg/day estradiol, and those who had not progressed after 3 months were then switched to exemestane. RESULTS Thirteen patients were evaluable for toxicity and response. No grade 3 or 4 toxicities were observed. Of the 13 patients who initiated estradiol therapy, 6 patients (46%) had not experienced disease progression at month 3 and were switched to exemestane. On exemestane, disease progression was documented in five patients, with one having stable disease as best response. Median progression-free survival for all patients was 4.8 months (range: 0.6-9.5 months). CONCLUSION Treatment with an estrogen prior to resuming antiestrogen treatments was not effective at reversing hormone resistance; however, low-dose estradiol treatment had measurable clinical activity with minimal toxicity and should be considered as a therapeutic option for hormone-refractory MBC.
Permeability estimation from transient vadose zone pumping tests in shallow coastal-plain sediments

Short-term, field-scale transient vadose zone pumping tests were performed on several wells at the Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina. A total of 18 vacuum extraction tests were conducted in shallow coastal-plain vadose zone sediments, which yielded 38 data sets for analysis. Data collected during these tests were analyzed using two different modified Hantush-Jacob models to estimate the physical properties of the unsaturated sediments. The first model used was a commercially available software package used to estimate aquifer properties. This model assumed the test fluid (air) to be incompressible. The second model used was provided by Clemson University and accounted for the compressibility of the test fluid. This model was used primarily to provide confirmation of results from the first model. Comparisons between the results of the two models showed that both produced similar estimates of permeability for a given data set. Results from the analysis of the 38 data sets showed that the radial air permeability values ranged from 4.7 to 84.0 d. Vertical air permeability values were found to range from 0.93 to 11.7 d. The permeability values for the overlying semiconfining layer ranged from 2.7 1010 to 2.01 d. The results from these tests can be used to establish a general range of air permeabilities for shallow coastal-plain vadose zone sediments.
Helminths of 10 Species of Anurans from Honshu Island, Japan

Two hundred and sixteen anurans representing 10 species (Bufo japonicus, Rana japonica, Ra. limnocharis, Ra. nigromaculata, Ra. ornativentris, Ra. porosa, Ra. rugosa, Ra. tagoi, Buergeria buergeri, andRhacophorus schlegelii) and 3 families were collected on Honshu Island, Japan, between 1994 and 1999 and examined for helminths. Gravid individuals of 5 species of Trematoda, Diplodiscus japonicus, Glypthelmins rugocaudata, Haematoloechus sibiricus, Mesocoelium brevicaecum, and Polystoma ozakii, 2 species of Cestoda, Cylindrotaenia japonica, Ophiotaenia ranae, 10 species of Nematoda, Amphibiocapillaria bufonis, Cosmocerca japonica, Cosmocercoides pulcher, Meteterakis japonica, Oswaldocruzia insulae, Os. socialis, Pharyngodon polypedatis, Rhabdias incerta, Rhab. nipponica, and Spiroxys japonica, and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus lucidus, were recovered. Six new host records are reported. Rhabdias montana and Rhab. polypedates are proposed as synonyms of Rhab. nipponica.
Abstract P2-13-08: Initial experience with an ambulatory extended recovery program for patients undergoing mastectomy

Introduction: An ambulatory surgical program has been introduced at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for patients undergoing select procedures that require a single overnight stay. The aim of this study was to review the initial experience with this program for patients undergoing mastectomy and to determine the rate and cause of unanticipated hospital admission. Methods: All patients undergoing mastectomy with or without implant based reconstruction from March 2013 to February 2014 inclusive were entered into the Ambulatory Extended Recovery (AXR) program and data were recorded in a prospectively maintained AXR database. Data on patient demographics, type of procedure performed, and whether the patient remained on the AXR program were extracted. Electronic Medical Records were reviewed for all patients who required hospital admission in order to determine the reasons for this. Results: 926 consecutive patients (905 female, 21 male) requiring mastectomy with or without implant based reconstruction were entered into the AXR program during this one-year period (mean age was 51 years, range 21-90). The procedures performed were as follows: bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (n=433, 46.8%); bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction (n=48, 5.2%); unilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (n=255, 27.5%); and unilateral mastectomy without reconstruction (n=190,20.5%), with or without axillary procedures. Reconstructive procedures deemed suitable for the AXR program included tissue expander or permanent implant insertion only. 861 of 926 patients (93%) remained on the AXR program and were discharged following overnight stay. 62 patients (6.7%) (61 female, 1 male) did not complete the AXR program and required hospital admission (mean age, 52 years; range, 22-81). 3 additional patients (0.3%) required hospital admission on occasions that the AXR unit was at maximum capacity. Reasons for admission are shown in Table 1. Of the 26 patients with postoperative hematoma, 17 were brought back to the Operating Room for definitive management and 9 patients were treated conservatively. Following admission, most patients (52 of 62, 83.9%) were fit for discharge after 1 day. Of the remaining 10 patients, 9 were discharged after 2 days and 1 after 5 days. Conclusion: Unilateral and bilateral mastectomy, with or without implant based reconstruction, is safely performed in the setting of an AXR program. Only a small minority of patients will subsequently require hospital admission, most commonly for management of postoperative hematoma or inadequate pain control. Citation Format: Aidan T Manning, Danielle Cassella, Stacy Ugras, Beverly Tseng-Reyes, Lisa Sclafani. Initial experience with an ambulatory extended recovery program for patients undergoing mastectomy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-13-08.
Stress and sleep reactivity: a prospective investigation of the stress-diathesis model of insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To prospectively assess sleep reactivity as a diathesis of insomnia, and to delineate the interaction between this diathesis and naturalistic stress in the development of insomnia among normal sleepers. DESIGN Longitudinal. SETTING Community-based. PARTICIPANTS 2,316 adults from the Evolution of Pathways to Insomnia Cohort (EPIC) with no history of insomnia or depression (46.8 ± 13.2 y; 60% female). INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Participants reported the number of stressful events they encountered at baseline (Time 1), as well as the level of cognitive intrusion they experienced in response to each stressor. Stressful events (OR = 1.13; P < 0.01) and stress-induced cognitive intrusion (OR = 1.61; P < 0.01) were significant predictors of risk for insomnia one year hence (Time 2). Intrusion mediated the effects of stressful events on risk for insomnia (P < 0.05). Trait sleep reactivity significantly increased risk for insomnia (OR = 1.78; P < 0.01). Further, sleep reactivity moderated the effects of stress-induced intrusion (P < 0.05), such that the risk for insomnia as a function of intrusion was significantly higher in individuals with high sleep reactivity. Trait sleep reactivity also constituted a significant risk for depression (OR = 1.67; P < 0.01) two years later (Time 3). Insomnia at Time 2 significantly mediated this effect (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that premorbid sleep reactivity is a significant risk factor for incident insomnia, and that it triggers insomnia by exacerbating the effects of stress-induced intrusion. Sleep reactivity is also a precipitant of depression, as mediated by insomnia. These findings support the stress-diathesis model of insomnia, while highlighting sleep reactivity as an important diathesis. CITATION Drake CL, Pillai V, Roth T. Stress and sleep reactivity: a prospective investigation of the stress-diathesis model of insomnia.
XPS analysis of combustion aerosols for chemical composition, surface chemistry, and carbon chemical state.

Carbonaceous aerosols can vary in elemental content, surface chemistry, and carbon nano-structure. Each of these properties is related to the details of soot formation. Fuel source, combustion process (affecting formation and growth conditions), and postcombustion exhaust where oxidation occurs all contribute to the physical structure and surface chemistry of soot. Traditionally such physical and chemical parameters have been measured separately by various techniques. Presented here is the unified measurement of these characteristics using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the present study, XPS is applied to combustion soot collected from a diesel engine (running biodiesel and pump-grade fuels); jet engine; and institutional, plant, and residential oil-fired boilers. Elemental composition is mapped by a survey scan over a broad energy range. Surface chemistry and carbon nanostructure are quantified by deconvolution of high-resolution scans over the C1s region. This combination of parameters form...
Fashioning the feminine self in “prosumer capitalism”: Women's work and the transnational reselling of Western luxury online

Through ethnography and interviews, this article examines the social media–based transnational reselling of Western luxury by Chinese women through the lens of gendered transnational prosumption. Linking prosumption to debates on the feminization of labor, it analyzes the paradoxical implications that neoliberal global capitalism's demand for more agentive and participatory prosuming female subjects have for international feminist politics. Disrupting the boundaries between the commercial or public and personal, virtual and physical, and work and consumption, transnational mobile middle-class Chinese women have “reinvented” prosumption as a cultural, technological, and economic solution to the contradictions that inhere in competing demands of different gender regimes. In their hands, prosumption becomes a gendered response to the tensions inherent to China's Post-Socialist modernity, allowing some women more choices, autonomy, flexibility, and mobility through the strategic performance of gendered identi...
F-16 Wing Structure Lifecycle

Abstract The most widely used military aircraft in existence today, the Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon, has provided a standard baseline for small fighter jet lifecycle structural integrity studies. Due to the high stress environment of combat flight, the lifecycle analysis of the F-16 provides key insight into design considerations for future aircraft. The United States Air Force is already using the analysis done on the F-16 Falcon on newer fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 to carry over the lessons learned from this very successful programme. In this analysis, real-life data collected from twenty years of the Air Force’s Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP) is reviewed to highlight the most important advances in the structure of the F-16. In order to focus on the most stressed part of the aircraft, the analysis is only done on the wings. First, the F-16 crack database (CIRE) is reviewed to find the most common locations on the wing where cracking occurs. Next, certain exceptional cases are considered in order to understand unusual behavior. Then, the most detrimental cracks are analyzed to discuss potential risks if minimal repairs are done. After this, the design repairs for permanently reversing and preventing future cracks are reviewed to show effectiveness. Finally, predictions are made on the lifecycle and future areas of structural concern for the F-16 wing.