cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Debt, Money, and Public Finance

This chapter starts by reviewing various arguments about the possible inter-temporal shifting of the burden of public debt. Within a democratic polity, it is misleading to speak of the state as being indebted, even though the historical record presents us with many instances of indebted monarchs. A democratic state is rather in the position of a financial intermediary, though the relationships among debtors and creditors are governed by political and not market institutions. Under prevailing monetary institutions, moreover, public debt is integrated into contemporary arrangements concerning money and credit.
Combination therapy with androgen deprivation for hormone sensitive prostate cancer: A new frontier.

Abstract Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the standard of care for the last 75 years in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (PCa). However, this approach is rarely curative. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that ADT combined with other agents, notably docetaxel and abiraterone, lead to improved survival. The mechanisms surrounding this improved cancer outcomes are incompletely defined. The response of cancer cells to ADT includes apoptosis and cell death, but a significant fraction remains viable. Our laboratory has demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo that cellular senescence occurs in a subset of these cells. Cellular senescence is a phenotype characterized by cell cycle arrest, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), and a hypermetabolic state. Positive features of cellular senescence include growth arrest and immune stimulation, although persistence may release cytokines and growth factors that are detrimental. Senescent tumor cells generate a catabolic state with increased glycolysis, protein turnover and other metabolic changes that represent targets for drugs, like metformin, to be applied in a synthetic lethal approach. This review examines the response to ADT and the putative role of cellular senescence as a biomarker and therapeutic target in this context.
Abstract TP150: Kinematic Visual Biofeedback is Best When Training Novel Swallowing Behaviors in Dysphagic Patients After Stroke

Introduction: Dysphagia (swallowing impairment) is a common and often life threatening problem after stroke. Submental surface electromyography (ssEMG) visual feedback is a commonly used clinical t...
Challenges with Transition to Adulthood

Transition to adulthood is a vulnerable time for all individuals. Typically, this period is supported by multiple systems, including the home and family environment, educational systems, community programs and participation, and medical care. For individuals who experience TSRDs, these systems are particularly crucial. Even if these systems are all currently in place for an individual—and in many cases, often they are not—it takes a great deal of sophistication to smoothly coordinate these systems. When an individual has a TSRD, these individuals require much more intensive supports as they emerge as young adults. Various professional groups have created guidelines highlighting the importance of thoughtful, comprehensive, and coordinated transition planning, but, all too often, these guidelines are not met. We seek to achieve a high standard level of care for youths with either or both mental health disorders and neurodevelopmental disabilities. This standard applies to a minimum level of community support, care coordination, and psychosocial intervention needed for successful transition, whether the challenges arise from TSRD or ASD, or other mental health or developmental disorders. Integrated treatments are needed in order to appropriately serve the needs of individuals with complex clinical presentations. Regardless of whether challenges are attributable to trauma-inflicted injuries or genetically predisposed biological anomalies, treatment plans and supports should include an individually tailored array of evidence-based and “off-label” practices, tailored to functional assessment of the individual.
The impact of fluid attraction and fluid identity on mental health

AbstractUsing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examined the impact of sexuality factors and satisfaction with partner on stress, anxiety, and depressive sy...
The relationship between adolescent refugees’ attachment patterns and their experiences of trauma

Nearly half of all young refugees experience trauma-related mental health problems. However, protective factors, such as attachment style, may mitigate the impact of traumatic events. This study ex...
Acute Health Effects Related to Non-Occupational Exposure to Insect Repellents

Background/Aim: Emerging and resurging vector-borne diseases in the U.S. contribute to the public health burden of morbidity and mortality. Insect repellents applied on the skin or clothes, prevent...
Structural basis of STING binding with and phosphorylation by TBK1.

The invasion of mammalian cytoplasm by microbial DNA from infectious pathogens or by self DNA from the nucleus or mitochondria represents a danger signal that alerts the host immune system1. Cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS) is a sensor of cytoplasmic DNA that activates the type-I interferon pathway2. On binding to DNA, cGAS is activated to catalyse the synthesis of cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP) from GTP and ATP3. cGAMP functions as a second messenger that binds to and activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING)3–9. STING then recruits and activates tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), which phosphorylates STING and the transcription factor IRF3 to induce type-I interferons and other cytokines10,11. However, how cGAMP-bound STING activates TBK1 and IRF3 is not understood. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of human TBK1 in complex with cGAMP-bound, full-length chicken STING. The structure reveals that the C-terminal tail of STING adopts a β-strand-like conformation and inserts into a groove between the kinase domain of one TBK1 subunit and the scaffold and dimerization domain of the second subunit in the TBK1 dimer. In this binding mode, the phosphorylation site Ser366 in the STING tail cannot reach the kinase-domain active site of bound TBK1, which suggests that STING phosphorylation by TBK1 requires the oligomerization of both proteins. Mutational analyses validate the interaction mode between TBK1 and STING and support a model in which high-order oligomerization of STING and TBK1, induced by cGAMP, leads to STING phosphorylation by TBK1. The cryo-electron microscopy structure of human TBK1 in complex with cyclic GMP–AMP-bound chicken STING reveals a binding mode that suggests that STING phosphorylation by TBK1 requires oligomerization of both proteins.
Melanoma Among Non-Hispanic Black Americans.

Introduction Few studies have examined melanoma incidence and survival rates among non-Hispanic black populations because melanoma risk is lower among this group than among non-Hispanic white populations. However, non-Hispanic black people are often diagnosed with melanoma at later stages, and the predominant histologic types of melanomas that occur in non-Hispanic black people have poorer survival rates than the most common types among non-Hispanic white people. Methods We used the US Cancer Statistics 2001-2015 Public Use Research Database to examine melanoma incidence and 5-year survival among non-Hispanic black US populations. Results From 2011 through 2015, the overall incidence of melanoma among non-Hispanic black people was 1.0 per 100,000, and incidence increased with age. Although 63.8% of melanomas in non-Hispanic black people were of unspecified histology, the most commonly diagnosed defined histologic type was acral lentiginous melanoma (16.7%). From 2001 through 2014, the relative 5-year melanoma survival rate among non-Hispanic black people was 66.2%. Conclusion Although incidence of melanoma is relatively rare among non-Hispanic black populations, survival rates lag behind rates for non-Hispanic white populations. Improved public education is needed about incidence of acral lentiginous melanoma among non-Hispanic black people along with increased awareness among health care providers.
Meso-Structure Controlled Synthesis of Sodium Iron-Manganese Oxides Cathode for Low-Cost Na-Ion Batteries

A modified co-precipitation method is introduced to synthesize P2-type Na0.67Fe1/4Mn3/4O2 cathode for low-cost Na-ion batteries. The meso-structure of the obtained material is well controlled through regulated cooling after a high temperature calcination process. The material via slow-cooling consists of sphere-like secondary particles with a uniform dispersion while the quenched material exhibits a hexagonal plate-like primary particle without meso-structure. Meso-structure is found to have a distinct effect upon the electrochemical performance of P2-type layered cathode. The slow-cooled sample exhibits a larger capacity and improved cyclability compared with the quenched sample, which is attributed to the larger surface area, reduced surface contamination, and surprisingly higher transition metal redox activity. This work demonstrates that cooling rate plays the key role in controlling the formation of spherical meso-structure for sodium iron-manganese oxides with enhanced electrochemical performance.
Design Methodology for Aeroelastic Tailoring of Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures Using Low-Order Methods

Additively manufactured wings can be aeroelastically tailored, which offers the potential for increased air vehicle efficiency via lighter structures. This paper develops a methodology to design ae...
A Hybrid Qualitative and Quantitative Diagnosis Approach

Parametric faults are detected and isolated using parameter tracking algorithms based on optimization algorithms or filtering techniques (e.g., Kalman filter, particle filter). Online, simultaneous tracking of all parametric faults can fails since there may be too many combinations of parameter values that explain the observed behavior. Hence, a correct diagnosis solution is not obtained. An alternative in the single fault case is to track separately each parametric fault in parallel and choose the one that best explains the observed behavior according to some chosen metric (e.g., mean square error). This approach is feasible but computationally expensive, since there may be too many tracking algorithms running in parallel. We propose using analytic redundancy relations (ARRs) to reduce the number of parametric faults that are tracked simultaneously. ARRs qualitatively point to a set of possible explanations but usually require a large number of sensors to achieve good isolability of fault causes. They induce a fault signature matrix (FSM) that can be derived offline. The parameter tracking algorithms will be instantiated for the faults in the set of possible explanations produced by the ARRs. By combining ARRs with online parameter tracking algorithms we can obtain a good tradeoff between computational effort and fault isolability. We demonstrate our approach by diagnosing faults in a rectifier circuit.
Selection of Primary Output Vectors to Observe Under Multicycle Tests

Test compaction benefits from the use of multicycle tests that have several clock cycles between their scan-in and scan-out operations. For maximum benefit, primary output vectors should be observed during all the clock cycles between the scan operations of a multicycle test. This allows the test to detect all the faults whose fault effects reach the primary outputs, in addition to the ones whose fault effects are latched onto the flip-flops before the scan-out operation. However, for consistency with single-cycle tests for single stuck-at faults, or two-cycle tests for transition faults, only one primary output vector should be observed per test. This can be the last primary output vector of the test, as in the case of single-cycle and two-cycle tests, but other options are more useful, as demonstrated in this article. In particular, this article suggests that the primary output vector to be observed should be selected individually for every test. It also describes a static procedure for selecting a single primary output vector to observe individually for every test based on a given compact multicycle test set and a dynamic test compaction procedure that produces multicycle test sets with this property.
Cervical Disc Replacement.

Anterior cervical disc replacement (arthroplasty) has gained momentum over the past 2 decades. The ball-and-socket prosthesis design of arthroplasty has been shown to simulate normal motion in all 3 rotation planes at the level of surgery and replicates physiologic motion. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has been shown to be a safe and effective surgery over decades; cervical disc replacement counters some secondary effects owing to its preservation of segmental mobility, the potential to reduce adjacent segment degeneration, and the lack of plating or harvesting bone graft. The literature is growing in support of the success and longevity of arthroplasty.
Increased Time between Scheduling Date and Appointment Date Results in Increased No-Show Rates in the Academic Urology Practice

AbstractIntroduction:No-show appointments can weigh heavily on a urology practice’s finances and productivity. Our objective was to investigate if a relationship existed between lag time and no-sho...
A Practical Approach to Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Non-medical Opioid Use: a Focus on the Patient with Cancer-Related Pain

Over the past decade, the perception of prescription opioids changed dramatically. Once considered a savior from all types of pain, with few side effects and no celling dose, opioids are now restricted by many states, health insurance companies, and pharmacies. This narrative review aims to synthesize the latest evidence for managing oncology patients at risk for non-medical opioid use (NMOU). Opioids are effective medications for reducing severe cancer pain, despite their side effects. Screening tools identify high-risk patients, and a nomogram is available, using routine clinical data. Prescription monitoring plans have some evidence for improving selected outcomes; however, the role of UDT remains unclear. Harm reduction measures include de-prescribing of benzodiazepines, opioid rotation, and scheduled rather than PRN dosing. About one in five cancer patients are at risk for NMOU. There are effective strategies for identifying high-risk patients, reducing harm, and providing interdisciplinary psychosocial support.
Contingency plans: an introduction

This introduction offers contingency as a framework for Asian American and minoritarian world-making in the face of ongoing crisis, precarity, and violence. During the time of a pandemic, the Movem...
Graviton and gauge boson propagators in AdSd+1

Abstract We construct the gauge field and graviton propagators in Euclidean AdSd+1 space-time by two different methods. In the first method the gauge invariant Maxwell or linearized Ricci operator is applied directly to bitensor ansatze for the propagators which reflect their gauge structure. This leads to a rapid determination of the physical part of the propagators in terms of elementary functions. The second method is a more traditional approach using covariant gauge fixing which leads to a solution for both physical and gauge parts of the propagators. The gauge invariant parts agree in both methods.
Curcumin nanoparticles as a photoprotective adjuvant

With rising skin cancer rates and interest in preventing photoaging, adjuvants for sunscreens are in high demand. The potential of curcumin has been posited due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound healing properties. In prior studies, curcumin decreased UV-induced inflammation, apoptotic changes in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. However, curcumin's utility has been hindered by poor aqueous solubility and rapid degradation in vivo. To overcome these limitations, we synthesized curcumin nanoparticles (curc-np), which offer sustained topical delivery and enhanced bioavailability. Curc-np and controls were applied to the skin of BALB/c mice prior to UVB irradiation. Twenty-four hours later, mice pre-treated with curc-np showed less erythema, induration and scale compared to controls. Histopathology showed fewer sunburn cells, and TUNEL assay indicated decreased apoptosis in curc-np treated mice. Immunohistochemistry illustrated less p53 expression in skin pre-treated with curc-np. Furthermore, cytokine analysis revealed significantly less IL-6 and significantly greater anti-inflammatory IL-10 in skin of curc-np-treated mice as compared to controls. Taken together, our results reinforce curcumin's established anti-inflammatory effects in the skin and highlight its potential as a photoprotective adjuvant when delivered through nanoparticles. Further investigation alongside sunscreens against UV-induced damage is warranted.
An Investigation of the Mechanism for a Novel Influenza Inhibitor Designed to Target the Import of PB1

A novel inhibitor of PB1 import, referred to here as GM30, previously displayed nuclear retention of viral nucleoprotein (NP), which spurred the question of whether the compound directly or indirectly blocked viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex export. vRNPs are exported from the nucleus via exportin 1 (XPO1). Using verdinexor (VNXR), a direct inhibitor of vRNP export that binds to XPO1 and also blocks nuclear factor kappa B (NF-{kappa}B) export, we found that GM30 does not block nuclear export of NF-{kappa}B. GM30 likewise demonstrated high nuclear retention of NP but not as much as the direct inhibition of nuclear export by VNXR. When the compound was added hours after infection, the compound lost its ability to block nuclear export but VNXR retained its ability to block nuclear export. GM30 is therefore likely an indirect inhibitor of nuclear export because it disrupts the vRNP complex formation and impedes export from the nucleus by reducing nuclear import of PB1.
Widefield Swept-Source OCT Angiography Metrics Associated with the Development of Diabetic Vitreous Hemorrhage: A Prospective Study.

Purpose To investigate the association among widefield swept-source (SS) OCT angiography (OCTA) metrics and systemic parameters and vitreous hemorrhage (VH) occurrence in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Design Prospective, observational study. Participants Fifty-five eyes from 45 adults with PDR, with no history of VH, followed up for at least 3 months. Methods All patients underwent widefield SS OCTA (Montage 15 × 15 mm and high-definition (HD)-51 line scan) imaging. Images were evaluated independently by 2 graders for quantitative and qualitative widefield SS OCTA metrics defined a priori. Systemic and ocular parameters and widefield SS OCTA metrics were screened using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and logistic or Cox regression for variable selection. Firth’s bias-reduced logistic regression models (outcome, occurrence of VH) and Cox regression models (outcome, time to occurrence of VH) were used to identify parameters associated with VH occurrence. Main Outcome Measures Occurrence of VH. Results Over a median follow-up of 363 days (range, 28–710 days), 13 of 55 PDR eyes (24%) demonstrated VH during the follow-up period. Presence of extensive neovascularizations (odds ratio, 8.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–58.56; P = 0.02), defined as neovascularizations with total area of more than 4 disc diameters, and forward neovascularizations (odds ratio, 5.42; 95% CI, 1.26–35.16; P = 0.02) that traversed the posterior hyaloid face into the vitreous were associated with the occurrence of VH. The presence of flat neovascularizations (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.04–1.01; P = 0.05) confined to the posterior hyaloid face was associated with a lower risk of VH with borderline significance. Similarly, presence of extensive neovascularizations (hazard ratio, 18.24; 95% CI, 3.51–119.47; P Conclusions Widefield SS OCTA is useful for evaluating neovascularizations and their relationship with the vitreous. The presence of forward and extensive neovascularizations was associated with the occurrence of VH in patients with PDR. Larger samples and longer follow-up are needed to verify the risk factors and imaging biomarkers for diabetic VH.
Global Trends in Plastic Surgery on Social Media: Analysis of 2 Million Posts.

Background Plastic surgeons and patients increasingly use social media. Despite evidence implicating its importance in plastic surgery, the large volume of data has made social media difficult to study. Objectives The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of plastic surgery social media content worldwide by utilizing techniques for analyzing large-scale data. Methods The hashtag "#PlasticSurgery" was used to search public Instagram posts. Metadata were collected from posts between December 2018 and August 2020. In addition to descriptive analysis, 2 instruments were created to characterize textual data: a multilingual dictionary of procedural hashtags and a rule-based text classification model to categorize the source of the post. Results Plastic surgery content yielded more than 2 million posts, 369 million likes, and 6 billion views globally over the 21-month study. The United States had the most posts of 182 countries studied (26.8%, 566,206). Various other regions had substantial presence including Istanbul, Turkey, which led all cities (4.8%, 102,208). The classification model achieved high accuracy (94.9%) and strong agreement with independent raters (κ = 0.88). Providers accounted for 40% of all posts (847,356) and included the categories physician (28%), plastic surgery (9%), advanced practice practitioners and nurses (1.6%), facial plastics (1.3%), and oculoplastics (0.2%). Content between plastic surgery and non-plastic surgery groups demonstrated high textual similarity, and only 1.4% of posts had a verified source. Conclusions Plastic surgery content has immense global reach in social media. Textual similarity between groups coupled with the lack of an effective verification mechanism presents challenges in discerning the source and veracity of information.
Multiwavelength anomalous X-ray diffraction for combined imaging of atomic displacement and strain

The X-ray Bragg coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) technique assumes that the structure factor holds constant over the measured crystal. This approximation breaks down for materials exhibiting variations in the unit-cell configuration, such as piezo- and ferroelectrics. In that case, the strain field cannot be reliably determined from the reconstruction because the lattice deformation and the structure factor contribute concomitantly. Proposed here is a solution to this problem achieved by combining Bragg CDI and the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction approach that measures a Friedel pair of reflections at two different photon energies near an absorption edge. Comparing the obtained reconstructions with a parametric model that includes calculating the scattering amplitude as a function of wavelength and the unit-cell configuration, the contributions of the lattice deformation and the structure factor are separated. Simulations of the ferroelectric material BaTiO3 demonstrate the possibility of simultaneous probing of the strain and displacement of the Ti atoms. The proposed method opens up an opportunity to apply coherent X-ray diffraction for nanoscale-resolved 3D mapping of polarization domains in micro- and nanocrystals.
A Policy Mapping Analysis of the U.S. Congressional Approach to Medical Aid-in-Dying.

This study examines the goals of medical aid-in-dying (MAID) legislation introduced to the US Congress from 1994–2020 using a policy mapping analysis approach. Using congress.gov, we identified 98 ...
Scaling-up a fragment-based protein-protein interaction method using a human reference interaction set.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are essential in understanding numerous aspects of protein function. Here, we significantly scaled and modified analyses of the recently developed all-vs-all sequencing (AVA-Seq) approach using a gold-standard human protein interaction set (hsPRS-v2) containing 98 proteins. Binary interaction analyses recovered 20 of 47 (43%) binary PPIs from this reference set, comparing favorably with other methods. However, the increase of 20X in the interaction search space for all-vs-all sequencing analysis in this manuscript resulted in numerous changes to the method required for future use in genome-wide interaction studies. We show that standard sequencing analysis methods must be modified to consider the possible recovery of thousands of positives among millions of tested interactions in a single sequencing run. The PRS data was used to optimize data scaling, auto-activator removal, rank interaction features (such as orientation and unique fragment pairs), and statistical cutoffs. Using these modifications to the method, AVA-Seq recovered >500 known and novel PPIs, including interactions between wild-type fragments of tumor protein p53 and minichromosomal maintenance complex proteins 2 and 5 (MCM2 and MCM5) that could be of interest in human disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mental Aerobics: Just for the Fun of It

She entered her classroom holding a huge sheet cake with candles burning. With her encouragement, the whole class sang, "Happy birthday dear Isaac. . . . " She put the cake on the front table, lifted it to an angle so all seventy-five students could see the picture of the sewing machine drawn on it, then selected a student to come up and blow out the candles. It was October 27, Isaac Merritt Singer's (1811-1875) birthday, and the party provided the instructor a platform for discussing how Singer, in 1851, developed and patented a sewing machine that had a spring presser foot-and-feed synchronous with the needle action, thus permitting continuous and curved stitching. During the first part of the class, students enjoyed cake and punch and were treated to a short history of the sewing machine.
Depth of field implementation with OpenGL

This paper presents a post rendering technique for simulation of the depth of field effect using OpenGL. The effect of depth of field is widely used in photography to make the main subjects prominent by blurring foreground and background subjects. Simulating this lens effect does not require complex computation and can be achieved instantly. This paper reviews the concept of depth of field and presents a method for building a filter that blurs the out-of-focus area by constructing a simple lens model.
Implications of psychological contract breach: A perceived organizational support perspective

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the assumed direct and indirect effects of psychological contract breach (breach) on supervisor‐rated employee behaviors of in‐role performance, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) directed at an individual (OCBI), and OCB directed at the organization (OCBO). The assumed indirect effects are to be investigated with psychological contract violation (violation) as a mediator of these relations. In addition, perceived organizational support (perceived support) is to be examined as a moderator of the same relations.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was administered to 1,013 employees working in the USA and hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling.Findings – The results indicate that: breach is negatively related to supervisor‐rated in‐role behavior, OCBI, and OCBO; breach is positively related to violation and that violation in turn is negatively related to supervisor‐rated in‐role behavior, OCBI, and OCBO; and perceived support can strengthe...
Self-pollinated crop breeding: concepts and successes.

Self-pollinated crop breeding has changed greatly from the time of plant domestication to present. Classical breeding procedures have been developed, but are rarely employed in their original form. Modifications have been adopted as well as various combinations of these classical procedures are used as appropriate in given situation for a particular crop. The topic of breeding self-pollinated crops is quite broad, and is discussed in the following sections as: 1) successes of breeding self-pollinated crops, 2) equipment modernization, 3) impact of recurrent selection, 4) implementation of rapid generation advance, 5) a recent contribution from cytogenetics, and 6) a contribution from cereal technology.
Modeling Fracture in Laminated Automotive Glazing Impacted by Spherical Featureless Headform

Laminated glass consisting of two soda lime glass plies adhered by a polyvinyl butyral interlayer (PVB) is used for automotive glazing. This paper describes the application of a dynamic, nonlinear finite element method toinvestigate the failure modes of a laminated glass subjected to low-velocity impact with a spherical headform. Crack type, crack location and crack initiation time are evaluated using the maximum principal stress and J-integral criterion. Failure occurred due to lexural stresses and not bearing stresses. The first crack always initiated at the center of the outer impacted ply and PVB interface, and later on the exterior surface of the inner ply. The PVB thickness and velocity of impact had little or no effect on the first crack initiation.
Insulin Pump Management

Insulin remains among the few FDA-approved therapies for pediatric T2DM to date. Although traditionally used for management of type 1 diabetes, pump-delivered insulin therapy can improve glycemic control for pediatric T2DM in a cost-effective manner.
Identification of static distribution load parameters using general regression neural networks

This paper explains the motivation for and use of a general regression neural network to map temporal load class distribution data into static LOADSYN load parameters. Simulated data generated by LOADSYN is used as a training set. A general regression neural network (GRNN) is trained to achieve LOADSYN functionality, and a method is outlined for further associating the load parameters with temperature, time of day, day of week, and customer type. >
New Eye-Tracking Techniques May Revolutionize Mental Health Screening

Visually-guided behavior recruits a network of brain regions so extensive that it is often affected by neuropsychiatric disorders, producing measurable atypical oculomotor signatures. Wang et al. (2015) combine eye tracking with computational attention models to decipher the neurobehavioral signature of autism.
Cross Coupled Iterative Learning Control of Dissimilar Dynamical Systems

Cross Coupled Iterative Learning Control (CCILC) has previously been applied to contour tracking problems with planar robots in which both axes can be characterized as similar systems; having similar dynamics and identical hardware. However, there are many repetitive applications in which dissimilar systems cooperate to pursue a primary performance objective. This paper introduces a novel framework to couple dissimilar systems while applying Iterative Learning Control (ILC), showing the ability to noncausally compensate for a slow system with a fast system. In this framework, performance requirements for a primary objective can more readily be achieved by emphasizing an underutilized fast system instead of straining a less-capable slow system. The controller is applied in simulation and experimentally to a micro-Robotic Deposition (μRD) manufacturing system to coordinate a slow extrusion system axis and a fast positioning system axis to pursue the primary performance objective, dimensional accuracy of a fabricated part. Experimental results show a 30 % improvement in fabrication dimensional accuracy with only marginal changes in actuator effort in the slow system, as compared to independently controlled axes.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Authors reply to commentary by Dolmans

The authors would like to thank Dr. Dolmans for her thoughtful commentary on our study examining residents’ use of external information during self-assessment of their performance (Plant et al. 2012). In her piece entitled ‘‘Self-assessment and dialogue: can it improve learning?’’, Dr. Dolmans (2012) discusses the importance of dialogue in the self-assessment process. As she points out, residents in our study had the opportunity to discuss their performance during facilitated debriefings immediately following a simulation exercise and some took the initiative to discuss their experiences with peers outside of the formal learning activity. These dialogues undoubtedly provided external information and an opportunity for active interpretation of information, crucial aspects of self-assessment (Sargeant et al. 2010). Interestingly, the study interview itself allowed for a dialogue between the interviewer and interviewee and may have affected the self-assessment process as well. While the interviewer did not provide any formal feedback, the social interaction of the interview allowed the residents to monologue and reflect on their performance. Our study demonstrates that it may be impossible to examine self-assessment in action without affecting the process itself. Dr. Dolmans also comments on the good correlation between the residents’ selfassessment scores immediately after the simulation exercise and the observers’ ratings of their performance. The residents’ completed their first self-assessment after the group debriefing and their scores may, in part, reflect the feedback they received during the group debriefing. This leads Dr. Dolman’s to comment that the debriefing may improve the ‘‘accuracy’’ of their self-assessment and to question why the subsequent video review made them less accurate. We agree that the effect of video review on this process is an interesting area for further investigation. In this study, however, we avoided drawing any conclusions
Relationship between stress and pain in work-related upper extremity disorders: the hidden role of chronic multisymptom illnesses.

Background Pain and fatigue are commonly associated with work-related upper extremity disorders. Occasionally these symptoms persist beyond a reasonable healing period. One potential explanation for prolonged symptom expression is the concurrent development of a stress-mediated illness or CMI (Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness). In such a scenario, the chronic regional pain and other symptoms that the individual is experiencing would be attributable to the CMI rather than to tissue damage or a biomechanical dysfunction of the upper-extremity. Methods This article critically reviews the case definitions of the new class of CMI disorders and evaluates the existing evidence supporting centrally mediated physiological changes (e.g., sensory hypervigilance, dysautonomia) that manifest as symptoms of pain and fatigue in some individuals experiencing chronic stressors. Results While explanations for prolonged pain and fatigue have historically focused on mechanisms involving peripheral pathology or psychiatric explanations, ample evidences support the role of altered Central Nervous System function in accounting for symptom manifestation in CMI. Conclusions A model is presented that unites seemingly disparate findings across numerous investigations and provides a framework for understanding how genetics, triggering events, stressors, and early life events can affect CNS activity. Resultant symptom expression (e.g., pain and fatigue) from central dysregulation would be expected to occur in a subset of individuals in the population, including a subset of individuals with work-related upper extremity disorders. Thus when symptoms such as pain and fatigue persist beyond a reasonable period, consideration of CMI and associated assessment and interventions focused on central mechanisms may be worthwhile. Am. J. Ind. Med.
The Role of Emotional Commitment in Relationship Marketing: An Empirical Investigation of a Loyalty Model for Casinos:

This study examines the antecedents and consequences of commitment to hotel casinos targeting local customers. To accomplish this goal, a model of loyalty was developed and tested to understand the...
Guard Cell and Tropomyosin Inspired Chemical Sensor

Sensors are an integral part of many engineered products and systems. Biological inspiration has the potential to improve current sensor designs as well as inspire innovative ones. This paper presents the design of an innovative, biologically-inspired chemical sensor that performs “up-front” processing through mechanical means. Inspiration from the physiology (function) of the guard cell coupled with the morphology (form) and physiology of tropomyosin resulted in two concept variants for the chemical sensor. Applications of the sensor design include environmental monitoring of harmful gases, and a non-invasive approach to detect illnesses including diabetes, liver disease, and cancer on the breath.
Uniformly aligned full-length membrane proteins in liquid crystalline bilayers for structural characterization.

High-resolution solid-state NMR spectra of three full-length membrane proteins uniformly aligned in lipid bilayers between glass slides are observed at high magnetic field. The resolution of the specific amino acid labeled samples shows promise for large membrane protein structure determination utilizing aligned samples and shows resonance patterns known as PISA wheels. The tilt angles of the transmembrane helices are extracted from the resonance patterns in PISEMA spectra.
Influence of Pretreatment on Lanthanum Nitrate, Carbonate, and Oxide Powders

Structural modifications during thermal pretreatment of La(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}, La{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}, and La{sub 2}O{sub 3} is reported. Diffuse reflectance, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and BET surface area measurements were used in the characterizations. Studies were performed in the presence and absence of O{sub 2}, resulting in different products for the thermal modifications.
Abstract 474: The essential role of Giα2 in prostate cancer progression

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Basic and clinic research data have suggested that signaling of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is amplified in malignant prostate tumors and facilitates the transition of primary cancer cells to the androgen independent stage. Oxytocin (OXT) is a neurohypophyseal peptide hormone that regulates normal prostate functions. However, the information is very limited about the effect of OXT on prostate cancer progression. The effect of OXT is mediated by a GPCR that promiscuously activates multiple G-proteins including Gqα and Giα. Recently, we have shown that OXT receptor (OXTR) is the primary target of OXT in androgen independent prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3). Moreover, activated OXTR has been shown to promote migration of PC3 cells via a pertussis toxin (PTx) sensitive Gi/o-protein dependent mechanism. In the present study, OXTR was shown to be increased in advanced prostate cancer tissues when compared with normal prostate tissues. Expression of OXTR protein is detected in DU145 and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines but not in the immortalized prostate epithelial cells (RWPE1). OXT treatment (100 nM) inhibited the foskolin (5 µM) induced cAMP accumulation in PC3 cells, as indicated by the cAMP luciferase reporter assay. This data has provided direct evidence that supports the involvement of Giα in the OXTR signaling in PC3 cells. There was no difference in expression of Giα isoforms (Giα1-3) at the mRNA level between normal (PrEC, RWPE1 and RWPE2) and prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC3, and PC3M). However, western blot analysis showed that Giα2 is the only Giα family member detectable in PC3 cells. PTx (100 ng/ml) has been shown to abolish the OXT-induced migration of PC3 cells. Overexpression of PTx resistant Giα2, but not wild type Giα2, restored the effect of OXT in PTx pretreated PC3 cells. Accordingly, genetic silencing of Giα2 expression by siRNA eliminated the OXT-induced migration of PC3 cells. Unexpectedly, knock down Giα2 also inhibited the EGF (3 ng/ml) induce migration of PC3 and DU145 cells. In conclusion, Giα2 may play an essential role in prostate cancer metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 474. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-474
Structural developments during the gel to glass transition

Abstract In the sol-gel process of preparing glasses, metal-organic compounds are mixed in the liquid state, reacted and slowly solidified to form gels. The gels are then heated, lose water and organics, and shrink to some final specific volumes which frequently are identical to those of melt-formed glasses of similar chemical compositions. This paper is concerned with the development of structures during the gel to glass transition.
THE INFLUENCE OF ENCEPHALOMYOCARDITIS (EMC) VIRUS INFECTION ON POTASSIUM TRANSPORT IN L CELLS.

Abstract Like most living cells, the L strain of mouse fibroblast was found to maintain a high potassium and low sodium internal environment. In growth medium (5 m M [K] e and 120 m M [Na] e ) the [K] i was 142 m M and the [Na] i 28 m M . 1 The influence of the [K] e on the [K] i and [Na] i was also investigated. Unidirectional K fluxes in normal and encephalomyocarditis virus-infected L cells were investigated, using a filtration technique and K 42 . Early in the course of infection, while the [K] i remained constant, both the K efflux and influx increased. This increase in the steady state fluxes of K occurred before the appearance of new intracellular virus but during a period in which the biochemical activity and morphological organization of the infected cell was changing. Later, but before the major release of new virus or the appearance of gross permeability changes, the [K] i fell. This phenomenon appears to be due to a failure of the cell's concentrative ability to balance the increased K efflux.
Residual uncertainty in three-dimensional reconstruction using two-planes calibration and stereo methods

A necessary goal in the calibration of any instrument is an indication of how well the particular device performs. In the specific case where a camera system is used in the process of three-dimensional reconstruction or stereopsis, geometric measures of the accuracy, precision, and repeatability of 3-D point measurements give a quantitative evaluation of the success of that algorithm. This paper presents an experimental performance analysis of a traditional calibration algorithm as applied to the problem of three-dimensional vision. The study begins with an analysis of the algorithm in a single camera or monocular system. Monocular analysis concludes with a derivation of error boundaries under different geometric constraints. Showing how this residual error propagates from the component monocular systems into a three-dimensional reconstruction, a binocular analysis derives the desired performance monitors. The paper concludes with a geometric interpretation of the results.
Sexual selection in the socorro isopod, Thermosphaeroma thermophilum (cole) (Crustacea: Peracarida)

Abstract Females and parental males commonly discriminate among potential mates. Male discrimination is often assumed to be lacking in species with non-parental males. However, male competition in these species may favour male discrimination since indiscriminate matings may waste time and energy. Males in such species should attempt to maximize their fertilization rates; females in such species should mate only with males able to enhance female reproductive success. Males of the Socorro isopod, Thermosphaeroma thermophilum , engage in precopulatory guarding, preferring larger, more fecund females and females near a reproductive moult. Males also guard post-moult females. Large males prevail when usurping or resisting usurpation, and guard large females. Females may choose mates by selective resistance to insemination attempts.
Analysis of variance of customer balances for a family of stochastic service networks

The coefficient of variation of counts of customers in nodes of all members of an equivalence class of stochastic service networks is computed for three classes of arrival processes: i) Poisson arrivals of individual customers, ii) Poisson arrivals of fixed and random sized batches of customers, and iii) fixed times of arrivals of constant and random sized batches of customers. Time-variable expressions of means, variances, and coefficients of variation are computed in terms of arrival process parameters, nodal linkages within networks, and residence time distributions of customers in nodes. Coefficients of variation are compared and indices of traffic congestion are computed for member networks within an equivalence class. Use of these indices are an efficient means of rapidly evaluating design parameter changes on performance of networks within an equivalence class.
Early tissue response to citric acid–based micro‐ and nanocomposites

Composites based on calcium phosphates and biodegradable polymers are desirable for orthopedic applications because of their potential to mimic bone. Herein, we describe the fabrication, characterization, and in vivo response of novel citric acid-based microcomposites and nanocomposites. Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) was mixed with increasing amounts of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles or microparticles (up to 60 wt %), and the morphology and mechanical properties of the resulting composites were assessed. To investigate tissue response, nanocomposites, microcomposites, POC, and poly(L-lactide) were implanted in osteochondral defects in rabbits and harvested at 6 weeks for histological evaluation. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed increased surface roughness of microcomposites relative to nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of both types of composites increased with increasing amounts of HA (8-328 MPa), although nanocomposites with 60 wt % HA displayed the highest strength and stiffness. Based on tissue-implant interfacial assessments, all implants integrated well with the surrounding bone and cartilage with no evidence of inflammation. Both nanocomposites and microcomposites supported bone remodeling; however, nanocomposites induced more trabecular bone formation at the tissue-implant interface. The mechanical properties of citric acid-based composites are within the range of human trabecular bone (1-1524 MPa, 211 ± 78 MPa mean modulus), and tissue response was dependent on the size and content of HA, providing new perspectives of design and fabrication criteria for orthopedic devices such as interference screws and fixation pins.
Free convective flow from a heated vertical wall immersed in a thermally stratified environment

Abstract Free convective flow along a heated vertical wall immersed in a thermally stratified environment is studied using Lie group theory. The symmetries admitted by the governing system of boundary layer equations are identified along with the admitted classes of temperature stratifications. The cases of both prescribed wall temperature and prescribed wall heat flux are considered. The resulting similarity variables, the reduced systems of equations and their corresponding solutions, are presented for each class of temperature stratification. Specific solutions illustrating the different classes are provided.