cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Our cyborg past: Medieval artificial memory as mindware upgrade

The philosopher and cognitive scientist Andy Clark has argued that humans have always been ‘natural-born cyborgs,’ that is, they have always collaborated and merged with non-biological props and aids in order to find better environments for thinking. These ‘mindware’ upgrades (I borrow the term ‘mindware’ from Clark, 2001) extend beyond the fusions of the organic and technological that posthumanist theory imagines as our future. Moreover, these external aids do not remain external to our minds; they interact with them to effect profound changes in their internal architecture. Medieval artificial memory systems provide evidence for just this kind of cognitive interaction. But because medieval people conceived of their relationship to technology in fundamentally different ways, we need also to attend to larger epistemic frameworks when we analyze historically contingent forms of mindware upgrade. What cultural history adds to our understanding of embedded cognition is not only a recognition of our cyborg past but a historicized understanding of human reality.
Generation of Subnatural Linewidth Biphotons

We describe the generation of time-energy entangled bipotons with a sub-natural linewidth and a correlation time of about 100 ns. We use electromagnetically-induced transparency in a85Rb two-dimensional magneto-optical trap.
Discriminative stimulus properties of intravenous morphine in the rat

Using a single-lever operant task, rats were trained to discriminate between the effects of 1 mg/kg morphine and saline administered intravenously 15 min prior to sessions. Tests of stimulus control indicated that responding appropriate to the morphine training treatment was present at 5 min and persisted for at least 60 min following intravenous administration. Morphine administered intraperitoneally 15 min prior to sessions resulted in dose-related responding with 6 mg/kg producing stimulus control not significantly different from the intravenous training treatment. These results suggest that the discriminative stimulus properties of morphine in the rat are qualitatively similar following intraperitoneal and intravenous administration.
Response of glycosidases in soils to chloroform fumigation

The purpose of this study was to differentiate between biotic and abiontic fractions of four important hydrolases involved in C cycling in soils. Therefore, ten different surface soils, which represent a wide range of physico-chemical properties were fumigated with chloroform for 24 h. The activities of α- and β-glucosidases and α- and β-galactosidases were assayed in these soils and in reference proteins purified from microbial sources before and after chloroform fumigation and in the presence and absence of toluene. Chloroform fumigation decreased the activities of α- and β-glucosidases and α- and β-galactosidases in soils, on average, by 42%, 22%, 43% and 53%, respectively. These results indicated that among the biochemical reactions involved in the degradation of carbohydrates in soils, the hydrolysis of maltose, melibiose and lactose are more inactivated by chloroform fumigation than that involved in the hydrolysis of cellobiose. The activities of all four purified enzyme proteins were decreased after chloroform fumigation, by 7% (β-galactosidase) to 40% (α-glucosidase). Enzyme protein concentrations, calculated for the ten soils were, on average, 3.72, 0.014, 0.027 and 1.56 mg protein kg–1 soil for α- and β-glucosidases and α- and β-galactosidases, respectively. The results suggest that enzyme activity rates do not necessarily correspond to the amounts of enzyme proteins present in a soil, i.e., some enzymes have greater catalytic efficiencies than others. The activity values of the nonfumigated, toluene-treated soils were generally significantly correlated with contents of clay and microbial biomass C.
Closing the Gaps in Texas: The Critical Role of Community Colleges.

This chapter examines the role of community college governance in a P–16 environment. The discussion focuses on development of the initiative, opportunities, and challenges faced in Texas and other states that have P–16 or P–20 systems.
Boundary representation deformation in parametric solid modeling

One of the major unsolved problems in parametric solid modeling is a robust update (regeneration) of the solid's boundary representation, given a specified change in the solid's parameter values. The fundamental difficulty lies in determining the mapping between boundary representations for solids in the same parametric family. Several heuristic approaches have been proposed for dealing with this problem, but the formal properties of such mappings are not well understood. We propose a formal definition for boundary representation. (BR-)deformation for solids in the same parametric family, based on the assumption of continuity: small changes in solid parameter values should result in small changes in the solid's boundary reprentation, which may include local collapses of cells in the boundary representation. The necessary conditions that must be satisfied by any BR-deforming mappings between boundary representations are powerful enough to identify invalid updates in many (but not all) practical situations, and the algorithms to check them are simple. Our formulation provides a formal criterion for the recently proposed heuristic approaches to “persistent naming,” and explains the difficulties in devising sufficient tests for BR-deformation encountered in practice. Finally our methods are also applicable to more general cellular models of pointsets and should be useful in developing universal standards in parametric modeling.
Rotor position estimation in a switched reluctance motor using embedded magnetic field sensors

This paper presents a new approach for estimating the switched reluctance (SR) motor rotor position using a giant magneto resistive (GMR) sensor embedded in the airgap. Recent development with GMR sensors and wavelet theory make this approach possible with advantages over conventional methods of direct shaft measurements using encoders or various sensorless techniques derived from terminal characteristics. This paper proposes a method that evaluates the product of the instantaneous components if the airgap field flux density values across the rotor arc, thereby extracting information on the rotor position using a wavelet decomposition. Results from a detailed finite element analysis of a commercially available SR motor are presented.
Integrating satellite for drought impact assessment in a developed coastal region

This paper presents a new drought assessment method by spatially and temporally integrating the regional water stress index (RWSI) with the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI). With the aid of LANDSAT TM/ETM data, we were able to retrieve the land-use and land-cover (LULC), vegetation indices (VIs), and land surface temperature (LST), and derive three types of TVDI, including TVDI_SAVI, TVDI_ANDVI and TVDI_MSAVI, for the drought impact assessment in a well-developed coastal region, northern China. The classification of four drought impact categories associated with the RWSI values enables us to refine the spatiotemporal relationship between the LST and the VIs in a greater detail. Holistic drought impact assessment between 1987 and 2000 in our study area was carried out by linking RWSI with TVDIs group wise.
The Race Race: Assimilation in America.

Can race and assimilation be taught? Interdisciplinary pedagogy provides a methodology, context, and use of nontraditional texts culled from American cultural history such as from, theater and historical texts. This approach and these texts prove useful for an examination of race and assimilation in America. The paper describes a course that while organized chronologically, used the juxtaposition of varied texts to highlight the complexity of these social issues. By design, this methodology raises questions rather than providing specific answers. The purpose of this course was to encourage students to think critically about their own role in constructing concepts of race.
Non-bonded interactions between proximate phenyl and polyflourophenyl rings? the regiospecific synthesis of the facial tetrafluorojanusene

Abstract Cycloadditions of anthracenes to dibenzobarrelenes, with at least one C 6 F 4 moiety in either reactant, afford the janusenes 2 and 3 , in which phenyl and tetrafluorophenyl rings are disposed in a close facial relationship. Compound 3 , which is formed in a regiospecific manner, exhibits an ultraviolet spectrum that suggests a donor-acceptor interaction between the proximate -C 6 H 4 - and -C 6 F 4 - rings.
A study of catecholamine concentrations in selected renal segments of cats of different ages.

Abstract Renal concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in 19 cats were measured by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Animals of five different age groups (2–4, 6–8, 10–12 and 16–20 weeks and adult animals one year and older) were anesthetized and the kidneys were excised, sectioned into cortical, outer medullary and inner medullary segments, and processed for HPLC. There were no statistical differences in cortical NE concentrations between the 2–4 week and adult age groups, suggesting that peak noradrenergic nerve terminal density in the cortex is achieved at or before 2–4 weeks of age. NE concentration in the outer medulla and DA concentration in the cortex and outer medulla increased from the 2–4 to the 10–12 week age group but did not change significantly in the older animals. There were significant decreases in inner medullary NE and DA concentrations from the 10–12-week to the 16–20-week age group. The decrease in concentration of inner medullary catecholamines in the early postnatal period is consistent with the reported total loss of tyrosine hydroxylase- and dopamine beta hydroxylase-immunoreactive inner medullary nerve terminals at approximately 12 weeks of age.
Educational impact of a psychiatric liaison in the medical intensive care unit: effects on attitudes and beliefs of trainees and nurses regarding delirium.

Objective: Despite high rates and increased risk of mortality, delirium remains underdiagnosed and a minimal focus of formal medical education. This is the first study to examine the educational impact of a psychiatric liaison on beliefs and knowledge about delirium among both nurses and residents. Method: One psychiatrist spent 9 months rounding weekly in the medical intensive care unit, interacting with critical care nurses and internal medicine residents. Preintervention and postintervention surveys were distributed in July 2009 and June 2010, respectively, to staff (critical care nurses: n = 23 and n = 25, respectively; internal medicine residents: n = 31 and n = 23, respectively) and a comparison group (psychiatry residents: n = 29 and n = 23, respectively). Participants responded to 12 statements regarding delirium on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the presurveys and postsurveys for any item when examining all respondents together, as well as psychiatry and internal medicine residents as individual groups. Critical care nurses showed a significant change between surveys for the statements, “Patients with new-onset anxiety or depression in the intensive care unit most commonly have delirium” (17.4% agree presurvey vs 56.0% agree postsurvey, χ2 = 7.62, P = .006) and “Delirium is diagnosed less often than it actually occurs” (100% agree presurvey vs 80% agree postsurvey, χ2 = 5.13, P = .023). Conclusions: Though introduction of a psychiatric liaison was very well received by clinical staff, we did not meaningfully affect the attitudes and beliefs of trainees and nurses regarding delirium. Robust and lasting changes in attitudes regarding delirium may require more intensive efforts involving longer intervention periods, greater rounding frequency, or additional didactic teaching.
Preparation of thermosensitive PNIPAAm hydrogels with superfast response.

A simple, effective strategy was developed and demonstrated to prepare thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel with a superfast response by using an organic solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF), as a foaming agent as well as a precipitation agent during the polymerization/crosslinking in water at room temperature. The superfast response PNIPAAm hydrogel was attributed to the macroporous network and heterogeneous matrix, and it may contribute significantly to the construction of novel intelligent devices in the future.
Vascular access in trauma: Options, risks, benefits, complications

Summary The need to establish vascular access is essential in trauma for shock resuscitation and administering drugs. Peripheral venous access is usually obtained in an appropriate site on an uninjured extremity using large-caliber plastic over-the-needle catheters. Femoral venous access or saphenous vein cutdown may be necessary. Central venous catheters (eg, subclavian, internal jugular) are extremely useful and can also be used for monitoring cardiac filling pressures and venous blood gases. In children 6 years of age or younger, intraosseous infusion via the proximal tibial route may be required.
Modelling of nanoscale ferroelectrics from atomistic simulations

The recent development and use of atomistic approaches have revealed the occurrence of original features in zero- and one-dimensional ferroelectric systems, and have also indicated how properties of such nanostructures dramatically depend on boundary conditions.
A field trial of the effectiveness of a feline Toxoplasma gondii vaccine in reducing T. gondii exposure for swine

A 3-yr field trial was conducted on 8 commercial swine farms in Illinois to determine the effectiveness of a feline Toxoplasma gondii vaccine in reducing the exposure of swine to T. gondii. A vaccine consisting of live bradyzoites of the mutant T-263 strain, capable of preventing oocyst shedding by cats, was used in this study. Each farm was visited 3 times in 1994, 3 times in 1995, and once in 1996. Cats were trapped and inoculated with the T-263 oral vaccine during 1994 and 1995. On each visit, the following samples were collected: blood from pigs, cats, and mice for detection of serum antibodies to T. gondii, feces from cats to detect oocysts, and heart and brain tissues from rodents to determine the presence of T. gondii tissue cysts. The modified agglutination test (MAT), with a positive titer set at the 1:25 dilution, was used to determine serum antibodies. At first capture, 72.6% (61/84) of juvenile cats and 32.6% (31/95) of adult cats had no detectable antibodies (seronegative), indicating no prior exposure to T. gondii when they received their first vaccine. Of these first-time seronegative cats, 58.1% (18/31) of adult and 45.9% (28/61) of juvenile cats were recaptured and received a second dose of vaccine. Changes in the prevalence of T. gondii infection were evaluated from the prevaccination (1992, 1993) to the postvaccination (1996) period. Eleven cats (5%) were detected shedding oocysts between 1994 and 1996, of which 10 (90.1%) shed during 1994. The last detection of oocyst shedding by cats was during the first farm visit in 1995. There was a significant decrease in T. gondii seroprevalence for finishing pigs (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon sign rank test). There was a positive correlation (Spearman's p = 1.0, P < 0.0001) between the change in prevalence in juvenile cats and the change in prevalence in finishing pigs. The seropositivity rate (MAT ≥ 1:25) in mice among all farms decreased from 4% in 1992-1993 to 0% in 1996. The mean prevalence of T. gondii tissue cyst isolation for mice on all farms decreased from 1.1% in 1994, to 0.8% in 1995, and to 0.5% in 1996. The results of this study suggest that the reduced exposure of pigs to T. gondii was due to the administration of the T. gondii vaccine to cats.
Technology-supported cross cultural collaborative learning in the developing world

Technology (especially the Internet) has been touted as an important tool for cross-cultural exchange. In this paper we report on some of the challenges and successes of using a cross-cultural collaborative learning intervention design in rural Himalayan villages using participatory video. We describe some of the unique constraints of designing appropriate educational technology for the developing world, and we propose a fourfold framework to help identify local constraints for the design of such technologies.
Female labor-force participation, occupational choice, and fertility in developing countries

Abstract A model is presented in which female labor-force participation, family size, occupation, and the demand for mother-substitutes are joindy determined under assumptions relevant to the less developed country (LDC) context. The model is tested using (1) household data from the 1970 Puerto Rican Public Use Sample and (2) an intercountry cross-section sample. Evidence is obtained that female potential wages rising pari passu with each other will be positively associated with both labor force participation and fertility. However, it is shown that this pronatalist effect may not hold for potential wage rate rises limited to specific occupations, because of differences in occupation-child-rearing compatibility.
A Kripke-style semantics for R-Mingle using a binary accessibility relation

The sentential calculus E-Mingle (EM) is obtained by adding the axiom scheme A->(A-*A) to the Belnap-Anderson system E of Eelevant Implication. We shall here presume that EM has been explicitly axioma tized as in [2], and shall cite various theorems of EM listed there by name, e.g., Transitivity. EM has a model theory in terms of Sugihara matrices, as was discovered by Meyer [9]1. Here, however, is presented a model theory using Kripke's device of model structures with a binary accessibility relation. The prin? cipal point of departure from Kripke is the consideration of models which allow sentences to be simultaneously both "true" and "false". When the basic results here were first obtained back in 19692 there was no need to explicitly mention that the semantics presented used a binary accessibility relation. That was surely a part of the ordinary meaning of the phrase "Kripke-style semantics". But since then the work of Eoutley and Meyer (cf. [13]) and others has shown how to extend Kripke-style semantics to allow for ternary accessibility relations. This has been particularly fruitful in the case of the relevance logics, and [13] its successors contains completeness results for various of these logics, including E and EM (cf. also [4]). It must be frankly confessed that the ingenuity and the power of the ternary semantics were so overwhelming to this author they caused delay until now of full publication of the binary semantics for EM. There had been at first the vain hope that the binary semantics could be extended to the other relevance logics, and then with the success of the ternary approach the binary semantics became to appear old-fashioned and special.
Axonal transport of TNF-α in painful neuropathy: distribution of ligand tracer and TNF receptors

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key player in peripheral nerve injury. In the inflammatory chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of sciatic neuropathy, upregulation of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein at the site of nerve injury has been associated with pain. We now report the distribution of endogenous TNF-alpha protein and its receptors along normal and CCI-injured sciatic nerves, and within the corresponding lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Using Western blotting, TNF-alpha was found to be distinctly increased at the injury site, as well as in the axons just distal to the corresponding DRG. The TNF-alpha signal between the injury site and DRG (midaxonal) was induced between 2 and 5 days post-CCI, suggesting activation of TNF-alpha axonal transport. Endogenous TNF-alpha was localized in small-diameter, presumably nociceptive, and large-diameter, presumably mechanoceptive, DRG sensory neurons in both normal and CCI animals. Intraneural microinjection of biotin-labeled TNF-alpha showed specific axonal uptake at the injection site, as detected by avidin-biotin-peroxidase histochemistry, and confirmed by co-localization with neurobiotin tracer. In control animals, fast retrograde transport of biotinylated TNF-alpha to both L4 and L5 DRG neurons was apparent 6 h following injection. TNF receptors TNFRI and TNFRII co-localized with biotinylated TNF-alpha tracer along the nerve trunk, suggesting that TNF-alpha transport may be receptor-mediated. In animals with CCI neuropathy, uptake of biotinylated TNF-alpha by neuronal soma was inhibited. Instead, there was signal accumulation in the axons immediately distal to the DRG, and TNFRI and RII were increased at this same anatomic location. These findings highlight a dynamic process of TNF-alpha protein and receptor regulation throughout the peripheral neural axis that bears on both the normal function of DRG neurons and the pathogenesis of painful neuropathies.
Encoded combinatorial libraries for the construction of cyclic peptoid microarrays.

A “one bead two compound” approach to the synthesis of encoded cyclic peptoid libraries is reported.
Negotiating Roles and Meaning while Learning Mathematics in Interactive Technology-Rich Environments.

The authors examined how undergraduate students negotiated roles and developed a shared understanding of mathematics while working together on computer-based modules. The subjects were videotaped while working on these modules and their computer output was simultaneously collected on a separate videotape. Examination of the data tentatively suggests ways pairs of students approach academic work and ways they interact as they process and organize knowledge. This study builds on an exploratory study the authors conducted that generated a set of research questions addressing the nature of learning in interactive technological environments.
Candidate Urinary Biomarker Discovery in Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: A Proteomic Approach

Purpose: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction may either worsen and require surgery, improve or remain stable. It may take upward of 3 years for the natural history to unfold. Urinary proteome analysis using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry has been shown to differentiate between normal infants and those with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We sought to confirm these findings using liquid chromatography/nano-spray mass spectrometry to examine the urinary proteome in patients with unilateral grade IV ureteropelvic junction obstruction compared to age matched healthy infants.Materials and Methods: Urine specimens were obtained from 21 healthy infants with normal maternal/fetal ultrasound and 25 infants with grade IV unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Specimens were prepared using standard methods and subjected to liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Normalized data were annotated using the IPA® knowledge platform.Results: There were 31 proteins significantly diff...
Aging Parent-Adult Child Coresidence Further Evidence on the Role of Parental Characteristics

Several recent studies have concluded that coresidence between aging parents and their adult children is caused by the children's dependency needs, whereas parental characteristics are irrelevant. We argue that these studies are based on samples that contain insufficient proportions of elderly parents who possess the characteristics that eventuate in coresidence. Such elders, however, represent a large and important segment of the elderly population. Data from the National Long-Term Care Survey, a sample of Medicare beneficiaries, indicate that the probability of coresiding with children is elevated by parents' advanced age, failing health, and absence of a spouse. At the same time, children's characteristics (marital status and employment status) are also important predictors of coresidence.
The Effects of Parental Depression and Parenting Practices on Depressive Symptoms and Metabolic Control in Urban Youth with Insulin Dependent Diabetes

Objective Examine relationships between parental depressive symptoms, affective and instrumental parenting practices, youth depressive symptoms and glycemic control in a diverse, urban sample of adolescents with diabetes. Methods Sixty-one parents and youth aged 10–17 completed self-report questionnaires. HbA1c assays were obtained to assess metabolic control. Path analysis was used to test a model where parenting variables mediated the relationship between parental and youth depressive symptoms and had effects on metabolic control. Results Parental depressive symptoms had a significant indirect effect on youth depressive symptoms through parental involvement. Youth depressive symptoms were significantly related to metabolic control. While instrumental aspects of parenting such as monitoring or discipline were unrelated to youth depressive symptoms, parental depression had a significant indirect effect on metabolic control through parental monitoring. Conclusions The presence of parental depressive symptoms influences both youth depression and poor metabolic control through problematic parenting practices such as low involvement and monitoring.
Timely Activation of Budding Yeast APCCdh1 Involves Degradation of Its Inhibitor, Acm1, by an Unconventional Proteolytic Mechanism

Regulated proteolysis mediated by the ubiquitin proteasome system is a fundamental and essential feature of the eukaryotic cell division cycle. Most proteins with cell cycle-regulated stability are targeted for degradation by one of two related ubiquitin ligases, the Skp1-cullin-F box protein (SCF) complex or the anaphase-promoting complex (APC). Here we describe an unconventional cell cycle-regulated proteolytic mechanism that acts on the Acm1 protein, an inhibitor of the APC activator Cdh1 in budding yeast. Although Acm1 can be recognized as a substrate by the Cdc20-activated APC (APCCdc20) in anaphase, APCCdc20 is neither necessary nor sufficient for complete Acm1 degradation at the end of mitosis. An APC-independent, but 26S proteasome-dependent, mechanism is sufficient for complete Acm1 clearance from late mitotic and G1 cells. Surprisingly, this mechanism appears distinct from the canonical ubiquitin targeting pathway, exhibiting several features of ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation. For example, Acm1 degradation in G1 requires neither lysine residues in Acm1 nor assembly of polyubiquitin chains. Acm1 was stabilized though by conditional inactivation of the ubiquitin activating enzyme Uba1, implying some requirement for the ubiquitin pathway, either direct or indirect. We identified an amino terminal predicted disordered region in Acm1 that contributes to its proteolysis in G1. Although ubiquitin-independent proteasome substrates have been described, Acm1 appears unique in that its sensitivity to this mechanism is strictly cell cycle-regulated via cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylation. As a result, Acm1 expression is limited to the cell cycle window in which Cdk is active. We provide evidence that failure to eliminate Acm1 impairs activation of APCCdh1 at mitotic exit, justifying its strict regulation by cell cycle-dependent transcription and proteolytic mechanisms. Importantly, our results reveal that strict cell-cycle expression profiles can be established independent of proteolysis mediated by the APC and SCF enzymes.
Three-dimensional stellarator codes

Three-dimensional computer codes have been used to develop quasisymmetric stellarators with modular coils that are promising candidates for a magnetic fusion reactor. The mathematics of plasma confinement raises serious questions about the numerical calculations. Convergence studies have been performed to assess the best configurations. Comparisons with recent data from large stellarator experiments serve to validate the theory.
Differences in protein mobilization between ventral and dorsal parts of white epaxial muscle from fed, fasted and refed white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The effect of starvation-refeeding on protein mobilization in the lateral line, lateral (midway between lateral line and dorsum) and dorsal parts of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmonlanus) white epaxial muscle (type IIB) were compared by measuring muscle cross-sectional fibre areas. Effects on red (type I) and pink (type IIA) muscle were also studied. Fish starved throughout the experiment (5 weeks) showed a uniform response, i.e. the cross-sectional fibre area decreased at all sampled locations in the white muscle as well as in red and pink muscle. Fibre size in fish refed for 3 weeks after 2 weeks of fasting (S/F) was reduced mainly in the dorsal region of the white muscle. Starvation for 3 weeks after 2 weeks of initial feeding (F/S) also reduced fibre size mainly in the dorsal regions of the white muscle and in the pink muscle. The results indicate that in sturgeon exposed to short periods of low food availability, protein is utilized preferentially from trie more dorsal regions of the white epaxial muscle and from pink muscle. Protein in white muscle located closer to the lateral line and in red muscle seems to be spared. With the onset of refeeding, protein deposition occurred rapidly in pink muscle, but was delayed significantly in the dorsal part of the white muscle.
Some Aspects of the Thermal History of Lunar Glass

Electron microprobe examination revealed that glassy lunar fragments had inclusions as well as boundaries between mineral glasses of different compositions. Glassy lunar spherules showed detectable heterogeneity less marked than that of the fragments. The room-temperature refractive indices and densities of the spherules are changed by heat-treating them at 500 to 700 C. The large increases (as much as 2% in density and 0.7% in index of refraction) are difficult to explain on the basis of classical glass-transition phenomena alone unless extremely rapid cooling rates are assumed. Further, the spherules darkened significantly when they were heated in air or a medium vacuum above 625 C.
Artificial neural networks for linkage analysis of quantitative gene expression phenotypes and evaluation of gene × gene interactions

Using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and selected gene expression phenotypes from 14 CEPH (Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain) pedigrees provided for Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 (GAW15), we analyzed quantitative traits with artificial neural networks (ANNs). Our goals were to identify individual linkage signals and examine gene × gene interactions. First, we used classical multipoint methods to identify phenotypes having nominal linkage evidence at two or more loci. ANNs were then applied to sib-pair identity-by-descent (IBD) allele sharing across the genome as input variables and squared trait sums and differences for the sib pairs as output variables. The weights of the trained networks were analyzed to assess the linkage evidence at each locus as well as potential interactions between them. Loci identified by classical linkage analysis could also be identified by our ANN analysis. However some ANN results were noisy, and our attempts to use cross-validated training to avoid overtraining and thereby improve results were only partially successful. Potential interactions between loci with high-ranked weight measures were also evaluated, with the resulting patterns suggesting existence of both synergistic and antagonistic effects between loci. Our results suggest that ANNs can serve as a useful method to analyze quantitative traits and are a potential tool for detecting gene × gene interactions. However, for the approach implemented here, optimizing the ANNs and obtaining stable results remains challenging.
Modeling the adoption patterns of new healthcare technology with respect to Continuous Glucose Monitoring

This paper develops a model that explains trends and relationships between factors that affect the adoption patterns of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for diabetes patients, hoping ultimately to develop a predictive tool that can inform stakeholders (patients, doctors, insurance companies, and CGM device manufacturers) about the long-term economic prospects associated with this emerging technology. To describe the methodological approach, we have adopted an agent-based framework due to the large number of independent decision makers involved in CGM adoption. After studying the industry, we have identified the principle stakeholders in healthcare as patients, physicians, device manufacturers, and insurance providers, who interact with one another in complex ways, with the nature of the interaction being highly asymmetric. The model is instantiated as an agent-based simulation using the freeware NetLogo to be implemented as a web-based application. Agent creation and representation are supported with data that reflects the dynamic relationships found within the healthcare industry between the principle continuous glucose monitoring stakeholders. A broader impact of this work is that it provides a design methodology and solutions for constructing these models for systems with multiple independent decision-makers.
Downlink capacity of hybrid cellular ad hoc networks

Augmenting cellular networks with shorter multihop wireless links that carry traffic to/from a base station can be expected to facilitate higher rates and improved spatial reuse, therefore potentially yielding increased wireless capacity. The resulting network is referred to as a hybrid network. However, while this approach can result in shorter range higher rate links and improved spatial reuse, which together favor a capacity increase, it relies on multihop forwarding, which is detrimental to the overall capacity. In this paper, our objective is to evaluate the impact of these conflicting factors on the overall capacity of the hybrid network. We formally define the capacity of the network as the maximum possible downlink throughput under the constraint of max-min fairness. We analytically compute the capacity of both one- and two-dimensional hybrid networks with regular placement of base stations and users. While almost no capacity benefits are possible with linear networks due to poor spatial reuse, significant capacity improvements with two-dimensional networks are possible in certain parametric regimes. Our simulations also demonstrate that in both cases, if the users are placed randomly, the behavioral results are similar to those with regular placement of users.
The Practice of Promise and Contract

This chapter defends an instrumental justification of contract law. The reason to have contract law is to make possible socially beneficial transactions that otherwise would not occur. The chapter thus rejects corrective justice accounts of contract (whether grounded in promisees’ expectation or reliance interests) and the idea that the point of contract law is to enforce the moral obligations of promisors. A strong connection between contract and promise is nonetheless defended. The basic role of contract law is to support the practice of the making and keeping of promises and agreements, and encourage its use. This makes performance or something just as good the natural remedy. The chapter argues that much economic analysis of contract remedies is myopic in that it either assumes what has to be justified (that promisees are entitled to the value of performance) or unjustifiably focuses on individuals transactions, rather than the practice as a whole.
Hybrid Approach for Multi-Objective Combinatorial Optimization in Search of Greener Aircraft

Pursuing “greener aircraft” with lower emissions and noise than today’s commercial transport aircraft has become an important effort across government, industry and academia. A commonly held perspective of pursuing greener aircraft is that a broad suite of new technologies and, potentially, new aircraft configurations provide the means to attaining a greener aircraft rather than incremental improvements to existing designs. Determining the appropriate combination, or portfolio, of technologies requires a method that can both sort through the myriad possible combinations of available technologies and aircraft configurations along with determining the size and dimensions of the best aircraft for a given selection of technologies. Characterizing an aircraft as “greener” requires consideration of several different metrics (e.g. carbon emissions – as measured by fuel burn, NOx emissions) along with basic economic considerations (e.g. required yield or ticket price). This combination of features makes this a multi-objective aircraft design optimization problem with both discrete and continuous design variables. This paper presents a hybrid multi-objective algorithm and demonstrates its ability to find solutions for a constrained multi-objective mixed discrete nonlinear programming problem. The algorithm hybridizes Genetic Algorithm with a gradient-based sequential quadratic programming algorithm in a manner that seems to overcome the demerits of these two algorithms when used independently. Applied to the greener aircraft problem, the algorithm seeks to arrive at the best trade-offs between representative environmental and economic metrics. The paper also describes the aircraft sizing tool used to evaluate the objective function values. While the detail and fidelity of the aircraft sizing model limits the quality of the results, the application suggests that the hybrid algorithm does have promise to assist decision-makers in choosing the appropriate technology portfolio.
Overt and Relational Victimization Among Children with Frequent Abdominal Pain: Links to Social Skills, Academic Functioning, and Health Service Use

OBJECTIVES: Chronic abdominal pain is linked with school absenteeism and diminished social competence; yet, little is know about the extent to which negative peer encounters contribute to symptoms and functioning in youth with abdominal pain. This study compared children with frequent abdominal pain with a pain-free control group on measures of overt and relational victimization and examined the link between abdominal pain and school-related functioning. METHODS: Participants were 60 children with frequent abdominal pain and 60 gender- and age-matched peers. Child, peer, and teacher reports were used to assess abdominal pain, peer victimization, use of school medical services, social skills, and academic competence. RESULTS: Children with frequent abdominal pain experienced higher levels of victimization than their pain-free peers, with boys in the pain group rated highest in overt victimization. For children in the pain group, overt and relational victimization made incremental contributions to outcomes and moderated the link between pain- and school-related functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Overt and relational victimization may increase risk of concurrent adjustment problems among youth with frequent abdominal pain; thus, it may be useful to assess peer relationships when working with this population. Language: en
Non-human animals and process theodicy

I argue that that the suffering of non-human animals poses some potentially knotty difficulties for process theodicy. To respond satisfactorily to the problem of evil as it involves animals, process theists will, I argue, need either to defend some form of consequentialism or make a number of potentially plausible but certainly contestable empirical claims. I begin this internal critique by explaining the nature of the process response to the problem of evil. I explain how process thought can respond with reasonable effectiveness to the general problem of the suffering of non-human animals while highlighting the special difficulty predation might be thought to pose for the process thinker. Then, I elaborate alternative consequentialist and non-consequentialist process accounts of divine goodness in the face of the harm to non-human animals caused by predation. After summarizing my analyses in the conclusion, I underscore the costs associated with these alternatives. Process philosophers and theologians have advanced a response to the problem of evil that is arguably less open to challenge on its own terms than any available alternative. And a number of process theists have been especially vocal philosophical and theological defenders of the interests of non-human animals.1 I argue here that that the harms undergone by non-human animals deserve greater attention than they have heretofore received from process philosophers and theologians concerned with the problem of evil, and that the suffering of non-human animals poses some knotty difficulties for process theodicy.2 To respond satisfactorily to the problem of evil as it involves animals, process theists will, I argue, need either to defend some form of consequentialism -which process philosophers themselves have criticized and which is, in any case, subject to serious objections - or to make a number of potentially plausible but certainly contestable empirical claims. I begin this internal critique by explaining the nature of the process response to the problem of evil. I proceed to explain how process thought can respond with reasonable effectiveness to the general problem of the suffering of
Locally generated bone slurry accelerated ankle arthrodesis.

Background:Reported ankle fusion healing times vary between 7 to 72 weeks. High non-union and delayed union rates have led to an increased use of bone graft and bone graft substitutes. It was our goal to see if addition of a bone slurry could accelerate the rate of healing.Materials and Methods:We compared the radiographic healing after ankle arthrodesis in two groups of patients treated over 3 years with and without a ‘bone slurry.’ In group one, a slurry of bone particles was generated with a low-speed burr and left in the joint before internal fixation. Group two had similar fixation but no bone slurry. Two reviewers, blinded to the presence or absence of slurry, studied magnified digital radiographs at 6 and 12 weeks. The percentage of the joint bridged by bone was recorded for each and the groups were averaged. Groups were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum.Results:There were 32 patients in group one and 22 in group two. Groups were similar in age, gender and diagnosis. At 6 weeks, group one had 94.1% ...
Thermopower of Molecular Junctions: An ab Initio Study

Molecular nanojunctions may support efficient thermoelectric conversion through enhanced thermopower. Recently, this quantity has been measured for several conjugated molecular nanojunctions with gold electrodes. Considering the wide variety of possible metal/molecule systems-almost none of which have been studied-it seems highly desirable to be able to calculate the thermopower of junctions with reasonable accuracy and high efficiency. To address this task, we demonstrate an effective approach based on the single particle green function (SPGF) method combined with density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP and PBE0 energy functionals. Systematic good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained; indeed, much better agreement is found here than for comparable calculations of the conductance.
TRANSPLACENTAL TRANSMISSION AND ABORTION IN COWS ADMINISTERED NEOSPORA CANINUM OOCYSTS

Neospora caninum infection is a common cause of bovine abortion. One method by which cattle can acquire infection is through ingestion of oocysts; however, this has not yet been proved to cause transplacental infection or abortion. In this study, 19 cows, pregnant between 70 and 176 days, were administered 1,500 to 115,000 oocysts through an esophageal tube. Seventeen of the cows became seropositive, indicating acquisition of infection, whereas 8 negative control cows remained seronegative (P < 0.001). Offspring were examined using serology, histology, immunohistochemistry, parasite isolation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Six offspring were infected and 1 of them was aborted. The aborted fetus had typical lesions and positive immunohistochemistry and PCR for N. caninum. All 6 cows with infected offspring had continuously rising antibody titers, whereas 10 of 11 infected cows with uninfected offspring had falling titers after an early apex. The risk of transplacental transmission was increased by later exposure times during gestation and by the dose of oocysts (P < 0.01 for the 2 combined variables). The lowest dose of oocysts, when administered after the 160th day of gestation, caused transplacental infection in 1 of 2 animals. This study demonstrates that infection with N. caninum oocysts can cause transplacental transmission and abortion in cattle.
What is the prognostic value of a zero calcium score

Despite remarkable advances in knowledge and technology, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. Thus, the search continues for more effective ways to diagnose heart disease early, and hopefully prevent more cardiac deaths. More than 30 years ago, Diamond and Forrester ([1][1])
SEPARATION OF NEUROTOXIN AND HEMOLYSIN OF CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI.

SummaryGel filtration through Sephadex G-100 was used to achieve a high degree of separation of the neurotoxin from the hemolysin of a crude concentrated culture filtrate of C. tetani. Recovery of the neurotoxin was complete but only 20% of the hemolysin was recovered. The fraction with maximum neurotoxic activity was essentially free of hemolysin while a thousand-fold increase in ratio of hemolytic units to neurotoxin was detected in the fraction with maximum hemolytic activity.
Techniques of Marking Insects with Micronized Fluorescent Dust with Especial Emphasis on Marking Millions of Lygus hesperus for Dispersal Studies

In the past decade micronized fluorescent dusts have become commercially available at low cost. Nine of these pigments produced by Helecon Luminescent Pigments, Radelin Division, U.S. Radium Corp., Morristown, New Jersey, were tested to evaluate their effectiveness in marking 8 insect species. Pigments no, 2267, 1757, and 1953 were found to be far superior to the others tested in marking the selected species. Because there are no human safety problems involved, and detection equipment is relatively inexpensive, the pigment can be a useful tool in entomological research. Pigment no. 2267 was widely tested in the field. It was used in marking millions of Lygus hesperus Knight adults in 19 dispersal studies while manipulating the environment to control Lygus movements. This paper gives an evaluation of marking and adherence qualities of the dusts and techniques and equipment used in these marking studies.
Dynamic Isomerization of a Supramolecular Tetrahedral M4L6 Cluster1

The bis-hydroxamate ligand isophthal-di-N-(4-methylphenyl)hydroxamate (E) forms tetrahedral clusters of the type M4E6 (M = Ga(III), Fe(III)). The syntheses of these and several other tetrahedral metal clusters have illustrated a general approach to the design of supramolecular metal clusters based on incommensurate coordination number interactions. In each case, rigid spacers separate bidentate units and preclude formation of metal coordination species other than the one targeted. For the Ga4E6 cluster described here each vertex is a chiral metal center (Δ or Λ) that generates clusters with T (ΔΔΔΔ or ΛΛΛΛ), C3 (ΔΔΔΛ or ΛΛΛΔ), or S4 (ΔΔΛΛ) symmetry. The rigid ligand spacer is bimodal, accommodating either mixed or homochiral metal centers at either end, but locks in the chirality of the complex once formed. Therefore all three isomers are seen in solution and their interconversion, although still on the NMR time scale, is significantly slower than isomerization of similar unimolecular hydroxamate complexe...
Promoting Our Students: Examining the Role of School Leadership in the Self-Advocacy of At-Risk Students.

The purpose of this research is to describe how an alternative school leader taught at-risk students and their parents to advocate for students’ educational interests and how this affected students...