cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ensuring Safety and Providing Challenge: Mothers' and Fathers' Expectations and Choices About Infant Locomotion

Objective. We examined how parents’ expectations about their infants’ crawling ability and crawling attempts in a locomotor task affect parenting choices about ensuring infants’ safety and providing appropriate challenges. Design. Mothers and fathers of 34 11-month-old infants adjusted a ramp to the steepest slopes they thought their infants could safely crawl down, would attempt to crawl down, and they would allow their infants to crawl down independently. Results. Most parents expected their infants to attempt slopes that were steeper than their ability and generally emphasized safety only by permitting infants to crawl down slopes that were within infants’ expected ability. More fathers than mothers displayed parenting choices emphasizing challenge by allowing their infants to attempt slopes beyond their ability. Conclusions. Both mothers and fathers expected infants to attempt impossibly steep slopes, but mothers were more likely to adopt safety-oriented parenting choices. Wide disagreements within dyads and inconsistencies in individual parents’ estimates might increase the chances of infants incurring injuries.
Quantification of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the knee in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis based on pharmacokinetic modeling

Abstract Improved management of arthritis requires a reliable, quantifiable, noninvasive method to monitor the degree of inflammation and therapeutic response during the early phase of the disease. For this purpose, the uptake of Gd-DTPA in the distal femoral physis and synovium in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) was evaluated with a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Employing a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, the theoretical signal enhancement from Gd-DTPA enhanced dynamic 3D gradient-recalled echo (GRE) images was shown to have a simple linear relationship with tissue concentration independent of flip angle. The signal-enhancement patterns for each individual knee were found to be characterized by three pharmacokinetic parameters: k ep (min −1 ), the rate constant; k el (min −1 ), the elimination rate constant; and E R (min −1 ), the initial enhancement rate, which is proportional to the transfer constant K trans (min −1 ). Characteristic patterns were observed in the image signal intensity–time course. The initial enhancement rate, E R , in regions of interest (ROIs) was found to have a wide range of variation: 5 to 38 min −1 over the distal femoral physis and 1 to 10 min −1 in the synovium. The E R of the synovium was correlated with the E R of the distal femoral physis ( P E R of the synovium was correlated to the clinical outcome measures of knee swelling. Further investigation is needed to determine whether wide variations in the pharmacokinetic parameters reflect the degree of disease activity, and whether there are changes in response to therapy. This method can also be applied in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other disorders where T 1 -weighted contrast is used (breast cancer, brain tumors).
Three-dimensional stress and deformation fields around flat and slant cracks under remote Mode I loading conditions

Abstract This paper investigates the phenomenon of slant fracture observed in stable tearing tests of many ductile materials, where an initially flat crack, loaded under remote Mode I conditions, tends to grow into a slant crack and stay in the slant configuration until final fracture. In an effort to identify potential reasons why cracks prefer to grow in a slant manner, three-dimensional finite element analyses of crack-front stress and deformation fields in Arcan-type specimens containing a flat or slant crack are performed under elastic–plastic and remote Mode-I loading conditions. In particular, the crack-tip opening displacement (COD) at a position behind the crack tip, the mean stress, the effective stress, and a constraint factor (defined as the ratio of the mean stress and effective stress) are studied and compared for the two types of cracks. Analysis results reveal several stress/deformation field variations around flat and slant cracks under identical remote loading conditions. First, close to the crack front, the COD of a slant crack is greater than that of a flat crack. Second, at the specimen’s mid-plane, a flat crack leads to a higher constraint value ahead of the crack than a slant crack. Third, the effective stress ahead of a slant crack is greater than that ahead of a flat crack, especially close to the crack front. The above results seem to suggest that slant fracture may be preferred because a slant crack enhances the driving force in the form of a higher near-tip COD value and because a shearing type of failure is promoted in the case of a slant crack compared to a tensile type of failure in the case of a flat crack.
Domain Decomposition: A Blowup Problem and the Ginzburg-Landau Equations

In two of our recent projects, the technique of domain decomposition plays a crucial role in the numerical integration of the partial differential equations. In our problems, the local behavior varies because of the nonlinear and singular nature of the equations. Attempts to introduce different, length scales did not lead to improvement. We found that different forms of the equations have to be used over different subdomains. The first project arises in an effort to determine the profile at the moment of blowup or quenching of a nonlinear heat equation. The second project arises in the investigation of the Ginzburg-Landau equation in the theory of superconductivity.
Replacing iterative algorithms with single-pass algorithms

Consider the rather mundane question: what is the distance from point A to point B? Of course, in Euclidean geometry, the answer is trivial, but what if A and B are cities, and we are taking ground transportation? Seeking the optimal path is now more challenging because we must consider terrain conditions. In other words, the optimal path depends on the rate of speed that is possible at each point. This problem is considered isotropic because the rate of speed at each point is independent of direction. It can be solved by using existing single-pass algorithms such as those by Dijkstra (1), Tsitsiklis (2), and Sethian (3). Of course, a more realistic problem also would take into account that the possible speed at a given point also depends on the direction we are traveling (uphill/downhill, with/against traffic, etc.). This is the anisotropic version of the problem and is substantially more complicated. The algorithm of Sethian and Vladimirsky (4) in this issue of PNAS successfully generalizes Sethian's fast marching method (3) to make it the only single-pass algorithm able to solve the anisotropic path planning problem. But in principle, the notion that information is essentially starting from point A, emanating in some sense radially outward from A, and eventually striking the point B is apparent.
Bright and dark regions on Mars: Particle size and mineralogical characteristics based on thermal emission spectrometer data

[1] Emissivity spectra (1670–200 cm−1) from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS-TES) show significant differences between bright and dark surfaces, allowing further investigation of their physical and mineralogical character. TES spectra from bright surfaces (albedo ≥0.2) typically show lower emissivity at high wavenumbers (>1300 cm−1) than that of dark surfaces (albedo <0.2). The opposite behavior is evident in the low wavenumbers (<560 cm−1), where bright surfaces have higher emissivity than dark ones. These trends are consistent with the spectral behavior of silicate materials of varying particle size. The short wavelength feature displayed by TES spectra of bright surfaces is a relatively strong absorption that likely is the result of particle size effects of surface silicate particles ≪100 μm in size. A dust cover index (DCI) is developed that exploits this short wavelength feature, serving to identify surfaces that range from dust-covered to dust-free. As a gauge of surface-obscuring silicate dust that can impact spectral measurements, the DCI is more direct than thermal inertia or albedo measurements. Spectral ratio analysis using emissivity spectra from adjacent bright and dark surfaces is explored as a means of deriving the mineralogy of surface dust. The result shows that the dust is dominated by silicate minerals with indication of a significant plagioclase feldspar component.
Genetic relatedness influences plant biomass accumulation in eelgrass (Zostera marina).

AbstractIn multispecies assemblages, phylogenetic relatedness often predicts total community biomass. In assemblages dominated by a single species, increasing the number of genotypes increases total production, but the role of genetic relatedness is unknown. We used data from three published experiments and a field survey of eelgrass (Zostera marina), a habitat-forming marine angiosperm, to examine the strength and direction of the relationship between genetic relatedness and plant biomass. The genetic relatedness of an assemblage strongly predicted its biomass, more so than the number of genotypes. However, contrary to the pattern observed in multispecies assemblages, maximum biomass occurred in assemblages of more closely related individuals. The mechanisms underlying this pattern remain unclear; however, our data support a role for both trait differentiation and cooperation among kin. Many habitat-forming species interact intensely with conspecifics of varying relatedness; thus, genetic relatedness cou...
Technical challenges in functional neuroimaging

Functional brain imaging using MRI (functional MRI or fMRI) has become an extremely valuable tool for studying function/structure relationships in the human brain in both normal and clinical populations. There are, however, numerous technical challenges that limit the image quality, speed, resolution, and quantitative abilities of existing techniques. This work presents the general goals for optimization in fMRI and several major sources of artifacts and approaches to address those artifacts.
Public policy and technical communication across the curriculum at the Colorado School of Mines

Many engineering students are unprepared to address public policy issues because their education is fragmented: they tend to focus narrowly on technical solutions to closed-end problems in engineering and science courses, and they do not see how technical communication relates to either engineering or public policy. A multidisciplinary approach to professional communication which addresses this fragmentation is discussed. In the four-semester engineering practices introductory course sequence (EPICS) program, students learn professional communication skills by working in groups on 'real world' projects for which industry and government professionals serve as clients. These open-ended problems involve numerous nontechnical constraints, including a variety of public policy issues. Communication skills and the important connections among competent technical analysis, effective communication, and effective policy formation are reinforced and extended in the policy analysis course and senior design sequence, where students are required to consider and articulate the public policy implications of complex technological projects. >
XLP: A Cross-Layer Protocol for Efficient Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks

Severe energy constraints of battery-powered sensor nodes necessitate energy-efficient communication in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, the vast majority of the existing solutions are based on the classical layered protocol approach, which leads to significant overhead. It is much more efficient to have a unified scheme, which blends common protocol layer functionalities into a cross-layer module. In this paper, a cross-layer protocol (XLP) is introduced, which achieves congestion control, routing, and medium access control in a cross-layer fashion. The design principle of XLP is based on the cross-layer concept of initiative determination, which enables receiver-based contention, initiative-based forwarding, local congestion control, and distributed duty cycle operation to realize efficient and reliable communication in WSNs. The initiative determination requires simple comparisons against thresholds, and thus, is very simple to implement, even on computationally constrained devices. To the best of our knowledge, XLP is the first protocol that integrates functionalities of all layers from PHY to transport into a cross-layer protocol. A cross-layer analytical framework is developed to investigate the performance of the XLP. Moreover, in a cross-layer simulation platform, the state-of-the-art layered and cross-layer protocols have been implemented along with XLP for performance evaluations. XLP significantly improves the communication performance and outperforms the traditional layered protocol architectures in terms of both network performance and implementation complexity.
Management scenario evaluation for a large treatment wetland using a spatio-temporal phosphorus transport and cycling model

This paper describes the development of a two-dimensional, spatially distributed model to simulate coupled hydrologic and phosphorus (P) biogeochemical processes in a 147-ha cell of a 1544-ha stormwater treatment wetland designed to help protect the greater Everglades, FL, USA. The model was used to assess the effects of a suite of feasible management alternatives on the long-term ability of the wetland to sustain total P (TP) removal. The spatial and temporal dynamics of TP retention were simulated under historical (1995–2000) conditions, and under assumptions of removal of short-circuiting channels and ditches, changes in external hydraulic and TP loading, and long-term (>20 years) impacts on soil and water column TP dynamics under current and reduced load conditions. Internal hydrology and transport processes were calibrated against measured tracer concentrations, and subsequently validated against outflow discharge and spatial chloride concentration data. Cycling of P was simulated as first-order uptake and release, with different uptake coefficients for open water/sparse submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) areas (0.2 day −1 ) and dense SAV areas (0.4 day−1), and a much lower, uniform release coefficient (1.97 × 10−4 day−1). The calibration and validation of the P model showed good agreement with field measurements of water column TP concentrations measured at the wetland outlet (calibration RMSE = 10.5 gL −1
The skull and pectoral girdle of the parasemionotid fish Watsonulus eugnathoides from the Early Triassic Sakamena Group of Madagascar, with comments on the relationships of the holostean fishes

ABSTRACT Watsonulus eugnathoides (Piveteau, 1935) is a parasemionotid fish from Early Triassic rocks of Madagascar. The skull and pectoral girdle of this holostean are described from new material. The braincase retains a number of primitive chondrostean-like characters such as an open lateral cranial fissure and frequently open vestibular fontanelle, presence of an endochondral intercalar without membranous outgrowths, and fusion between most of the the endochondral bones in the adult, but is otherwise similar to “caturids” such as Heterolepidotus. The dermal skull retains one major, putatively primitive, feature shared with chondrosteans, a preopercular with a broad dorsal edge. The dermal shoulder girdle retains a chondrostean-style clavicle, but the endochondral shoulder girdle is most similar to teleosts among actinopterygians. Watsonulus also has an Amia-style jaw joint. The non-reduced clavicle and dorsally expanded preoperculum are lost in all other non-parasemionotid neopte-rygians (the reductions...
Analysis of Urine to Monitor Exposures to Benzidine, o-Dianisidine, o-Tolidine, and 4, 4′-Methylenedianiline

Abstract Aromatic diamines have great potential for dermal absorption as an exposure route. Also, the body exhibits the ability to reductively cleave an azo dye to its corresponding aromatic diamine. These factors have demonstrated the need for biological monitoring to complement environmental monitoring when assessing occupational exposures to these compounds. This is especially important since certain aromatic diamines are known or are potential human carcinogens. Therefore, a sampling and analytical procedure for the measurement of benzidine, o-dianisidine, o-tolidine, and 4, 4′-methylenedianiline in urine was developed for use in industrial hygiene investigations. After hydrolysis of urine metabolites, the free diamines are isolated using a C18 solid sorbent. The free diamines are eluted, concentrated, and injected into a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Separation is achieved using a C18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and water. Identification and quantitation is achieved by...
Altered ratios of beta-endorphin: beta-lipotropin released from anterior lobe corticotropes with increased secretory drive. I. Effects of diminished glucocorticoid secretion.

Previous studies have demonstrated that acute stress or ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (oCRH) in vivo, or oCRH in vitro, stimulates release of 8-endorphin over 8-lipotropin from anterior pituitary corticotropes. This occurs despite the predominance of j-Iipotropin in corticotrope peptide stores. In vitro studies with primary anterior pituitary cultures suggested that chronic exposure to oCRH results in a shift towards more P-lipotropin secretion into the media than with short-term exposure. The current studies explored whether increased secretory drive in vivo results in a similar shift towards more 8-lipotropin. We used removal of glucocorticoids by adrenalectomy or metyrapone blockade of corticosterone synthesis, to stimulate endogenous secretion of CRH and vasopressin. Both treatments resulted in shifts of the ratio of 8-endorphin : P-lipotropin in plasma of experimental animals in comparison to the sham-treated control rats. In vitro testing with oCRH of anterior lobe cultures from adrenalectomized or metyrapone-treated rats demonstrated similar effects of these treatments on the ratio of P-endorphin : 8-lipotropin. These changes occurred despite similar ratios of 8-endorphin : 8-lipotropin in anterior pituitary peptide stores. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and P-endorphin are synthesized as part of a larger precursor molecule known as proopionielanocortin (POMC). The anterior pituitary corticotrope processes the C-terminal region of POMC to ACTH and either 8lipotropin (P-LPH) or 8-endorphin, with P-LPH predominating over 8-endorphin as the end product of processing by 2- to 3-fold (I. 2). Despite the predominance of 8-LPH over 8endorphin in the total stores of anterior pituitary corticotropes, we have demonstrated that acute stress or ovine corticotropinreleasing hormone (oCRH) in vitro leads to the preferential release of 8-endorphin over P-LPH from anterior lobe corticotrope in rats (3). A similar preferential release of 8-endorphin over 1-LPH was demonstrated in man following oCRH infusion or electrically-induced seizures, suggesting that P-endorphin predominates over 8-LPH in the releasable pools of corticotropes (4, 5). However, the effects of chronic exposure to CRH on the ratio of 8-endorphin to 8-LPH in the corticotrope’s releasable pools is less clear. Chronic CRH exposure of anterior pituitary primary cell cultures has been shown to have a number of biosynthetic effects which could impact upon releasable pools in the corticotrope. For example, continuous CRH exposure in vitro leads to an increase in ACTH and P-endorphin/B-LPH released into the media over time as well as an increase in
The Impact Of Accounting Scandals On Accounting Students

At no other time in the history of the accounting profession has there been such an impact to the financial reporting function within the capital market structure. The institutions responsible for the financial reporting function are reeling from the fallout of these financial-reporting scandals. “Reports on the collapse of Enron, the bankruptcy of WorldCom, and a growing list of failures and near failures have exposed massive manipulations of financial reporting by management, inexplicable breakdowns in the independent audit process, astonishing revelations of holes in our financial-reporting standards and practices, and studding lapses of corporate governance”. (Sutton, 2002). As Sutton also points out, in this environment, investors and the public have become increasingly skeptical about a system that seems to be out of control. The impact on perceptions of the investing public must also include students studying business and more specifically students studying accounting. This study uses a questionnaire developed by Gramling, et.al. (1996) to study the perceptions of auditing students before and after the above mentioned financial-reporting scandals. Students in two auditing classes, one before the scandals and one after, were given the questionnaire at the beginning of their auditing course. The results show a significant change in student perceptions concerning audit expectation issues after the scandals, but before they studied auditing.
An ontogenically regulated 48-kDa protein is a component of the Na(+)-bile acid cotransporter of rat liver

Recent evidence suggests that the Na(+)-coupled carrier mechanism for bile acids on the hepatocyte basolateral plasma membrane is a polypeptide in the molecular weight range of 48,000-50,000. In this study we used a strategy for the identification and isolation of this transport protein based on the observation that Na(+)-dependent transport activity is abruptly expressed in fetal rat liver just before birth [Suchy et al. Am. J. Physiol. 251 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 14): G665-G673, 1986]. Analysis of basolateral plasma membranes by SDS-PAGE revealed that a protein of apparent molecular weight 48,000 was absent from fetal rat liver on day 19 of gestation, barely detectable on day 20, and thereafter increased progressively with postnatal development. Monospecific, polyclonal antibodies raised against the 48-kDa protein but not preimmune antibodies significantly inhibited the initial rate of Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake by isolated rat hepatocytes. In contrast, Na(+)-independent taurocholate transport and uptake of another anion, 35SO4(2-), were not affected by antibody treatment. When an extract containing the total complement of basolateral proteins was incorporated into asolectin liposomes, Na+ gradient-dependent uptake of taurocholate was observed, including a 2- to 2.5-fold accumulation of substrate above its equilibrium concentration (overshoot). However, if the membrane extract was first selectively depleted of the 48-kDa protein by immunoprecipitation with the anti-48-kDa antibody before reconstitution, Na(+)-dependent stimulation of taurocholate transport was completely abolished. These studies indicate that an ontogenically regulated 48-kDa protein is a component of the basolateral Na(+)-dependent transport system for bile acids.
Mortality of the Cycad Aulacaspis Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Isaria fumosorosea Wize under Laboratory Conditions

The entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea Wize (PFR97® strain, Certis USA, Columbia, MD) was tested as a mortality agent of the cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, at 2 temperatures in the laboratory. First instars of A. yasumatsui were treated with 1 of 4 concentrations of I. fumosorosea (5.4 × 107, 9.9 × 106, 6.4 × 105, or 1.8 × 105 blastospores/ml of water) or a water only control. Following treatment, insects were held at either 20 or 30°C. The highest concentration treatment resulted in the highest mean infection rate at 8 d postapplication (73 ± 4.2% at 30°C; 84 ± 3.7% at 20°C). However, there was no interaction between blastospore concentration and temperature for infection rate. The lowest mortality rate was obtained with the highest concentration of blastospores under 20°C (13 ± 3%). The LC50 at 20° and 30°C were 6.1 × 106 and 5.3 × 106 blastospores/ml, respectively. The LT50 was lower at 30°C than at 20°C for the 3 highest concentrations. The radial growth of the fungus on...
Alternatives to Representative Primacy and Administrative Efficiency

Historically, institutional practices and formal structures have been used to maintain preferred distributions of wealth and power. Advocates of greater democracy may think that decentralization of authority in public institutions, from elected officials and public professionals to citizens, is better than centralization. However, the potential for citizen self-governance is limited in a centralized system characterized by representative primacy, the assumption that elected officials should be the primary or sole decision makers, and administrative efficiency, the assumption that cost-efficient implementation is the central purpose of public administration. Representative primacy and administrative efficiency are supported by the belief of the political/economic elite that the public can be a threat to dominant economic interests. Though it may be argued there are no realistic alternatives to representative primacy and administrative efficiency at the national and state levels, such an argument is more di...
Heparin Cofactor Activities in a Family With Hereditary Antithrombin III Deficiency: Evidence for a Second Heparin Cofactor in Human Plasma

Plasma levels of antithrombin-heparin cofactor, determined by heparin-dependent antithrombin assay, and antithrombin III antigen were measured in 22 members of a large kindred predisposed to venous thrombosis. While 11 members had reduced plasma levels of both antithrombin-heparin cofactor and antithrombin III antigen, the levels of antithrombin-heparin cofactor were always greater than the levels of antithrombin III antigen: 66% (+/- 7%) and 49% (+/- 5%) of normal plasma, respectively. Pooled normal plasma and plasma from one of the affected family members (60% antithrombin-heparin cofactor and 47% antithrombin III antigen) were fractionated by heparin-agarose affinity chromatography. Antithrombin-heparin cofactor, which eluted from heparin-agarose with buffer containing 0.4 M NaCl and did not cross-react with antibody specific for antithrombin III and did not inhibit factor Xa at an appreciable rate in the presence of heparin, was designated heparin cofactor A. Antithrombin-heparin cofactor, which eluted from heparin-agarose with buffer containing 2.0 M NaCl, was functionally and antigenically identified as antithrombin III. The concentrations of heparin cofactor A in normal and patient plasma were similar (4.5 x 10(-7) M), while the concentration of antithrombin III in patient plasma (8.0 x 10(-7) M) was only 50% of normal (1.6 x 10(-6) M). The functional properties of both heparin cofactor A and antithrombin III obtained from patient plasma were normal. From the results of the present study it would appear that the antithrombin-heparin cofactor concentrating measured in patient plasma reflects the combined concentrations of heparin cofactor A and antithrombin III. Since heparin cofactor A does not cross-react with antibody to antithrombin III, the concentration of antithrombin III antigen in patient plasma is thus lower than the concentration of antithrombin-heparin cofactor.
H-EQPE Model and L-Checkpoint Algorithm: A Decision-Guidance Approach for Detecting Hypoglycemia of Diabetes Patients

The authors propose a Hypoglycemic Expert Query Parametric Estimation H-EQPE model and a Linear Checkpoint L-Checkpoint algorithm to detect hypoglycemia of diabetes patients. The proposed approach combines the strengths of both domain-knowledge-based and machine-learning-based approaches to learn the optimal decision parameter over time series for monitoring the symptoms, in which the objective function i.e., the maximal number of detections of hypoglycemia is dependent on the optimal time point from which the parameter is learned. To evaluate the approach, the authors conducted an experiment on a dataset from the Diabetes Research in Children Network group. The L-Checkpoint algorithm learned the optimal monitoring decision parameter, 99 mg/dL, and achieved the maximal number of detections of hypoglycemic symptoms. The experiment shows that the proposed approach produces the results that are superior to those of the domain-knowledge-based and the machine-learning-based approaches, resulting in a 99.2% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 98.8% specificity.
Extraordinary Daisies, Extraordinary Life

Abstract I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. —Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854/1991, p. 74)
ON THE EFFECTS OF FLEXIBLE STRUCTURES ON BOUNDARY LAYER STABILITY

The problem studied involves the investigation of a Blasius boundary layer stability over a flexible structure. The mathematical model is composed of the well-known Orr-Sommerfeld equation coupled to a beam equation representing the flexible structure. The compound matrix method is used to solve the resulting system of equations. Results show that the stability of the boundary layer depends strongly on the structural parameters such as the material, the beam thickness and the Young modulus. In particular, high density and structural rigidity materials are found to behave like a rigid surface. On the other hand, low density and structural rigidity materials are found to stabilize the boundary layer. In addition, fluid wall shear stress is found to destabilize the boundary layer at large values. Our results are in good agreement with those published in the literature.
Effect of Confidence Level in Multiple-Choice Test Answers on Reliability and Validity of Scores

The reliability and validity coefficients were computed for a 60-item four-choice test of English vocabulary in which examinees were asked to mark on a three-level scale the degree of confidence wi...
The NIST SPIDER, A Robot Crane.

The Robot Systems Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology has been experimenting for several years with new concepts for robot cranes. These concepts utilize the basic idea of the Stewart Platform parallel link manipulator. The unique feature of the NIST approach is to use cables as the parallel links and to use winches as the actuators. So long as the cables are all in tension, the load is kinematically constrained, and the cables resist perturbing forces and moments with equal stiffness to both positive and negative loads. The result is that the suspended load is constrained with a mechanical stiffness determined by the elasticity of the cables, the suspended weight, and the geometry of the mechanism. Based on these concepts, a revolutionary new type of robot crane, the NIST SPIDER (Stewart Platform Instrumented Drive Environmental Robot) has been developed that can control the position, velocity, and force of tools and heavy machinery in all six degrees of freedom (x, y, z, roll, pitch, and yaw). Depending on what is suspended from its work platform, the SPIDER can perform a variety of tasks. Examples are: cutting, excavating and grading, shaping and finishing, lifting and positioning. A 6 m version of the SPIDER has been built and critical performance characteristics analyzed.
Survey on AIDS-related Knowledge,Behaviors and Associated Diseases Infection Among Drug Users in Qinhuangdao

Objective To understand AIDS-related knowledge, behaviors and infection situation of HIV, HCV and syphilis among drug users in Qinhuangdao so as to provide the scientific data for drawing up HIV prevention measure. Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out among 307 drug users,and the infected state of their HIV, HCV and syphilis were monitored. Results Drug users,who took in heroin, accounted for 46.91%, among of them 24.06% users shared needle; 24.43% of them had Commercial sexual behaviors,the rate of condom use was 28.00% for the last time. The results of investigation indicated that HIV knowledge rate was 84.36%,which affected the occurrence of commercial sexual behaviors markedly(P0.05).The rates of HIV,HCV and syphilis were 0.98%,53.75% and 6.19% respectively,and the concurrent infection of HIV/HCV and syphilis/HCV were 0.33% and 3.58% respectively. The test indicated that it was statistical significance beteen methadone clinics and the rehab centre(P0.05). Conclusion Among drug users,the awareness rate of AIDS related knowledge was higher in Qinhuangdao city and some infected HIV,HCV or syphilis to varying degrees. Qinhuangdao should strengthen the survey of drug users and improve and perfect the functions of methadone clinics and the rehab centre.
The same DRG cells innervate bladder and cervix simultaneouly in rats

Objective To study the innervation between baldder and cervix.Methods The retrograde fluorescent double labeling method was used.A total of seventeen adultfemale Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly assigned into the experimental group(n=12) and the control group(n=5).Propidium Iodide(PI) was injected into the right wall of the cervix of female SD rats and Bisbenzimide(Bb) was injected into the right wall of urinary bladder.Results The fluorescent double labeled neurons were found in the right L6-S2 and L1-L2 dorsal root ganglia(DRG).Conclusion DRG cells at L6-S2 and L1-L2 simultaneously innervate the cervix and the urinary bladder,explaining that the abnormal micturition due to chronic cervicitis may be caused by axis reflex at the level of the peripheral process of DRG cells.
Cure of cervical cancer using 252Cf neutron brachytherapy.

252Cf neutron brachytherapy was tested in a feasibility trial for efficacy for cervix cancer therapy vs. high stage radioresistant and subsequently for all stages of disease. Actuarial survival curves were analyzed for 218 patients treated between 1976 and 1983 and followed five to 14 years to the present time. A variety of doses, schedules and methods for brachytherapy was tested during this period, and a dose-response relationship for tumor eradication studied. All treatments were combined with whole-pelvis photon radiotherapy to approximately 45 to 60 Gy. This combination was found effective, particularly if an early implant schedule was used for the Cf implant, followed by whole-pelvis photon radiotherapy. For bulky/barrel shaped low-stage disease in medically fit patients, 252Cf implants were combined with surgery, i.e., extrafascial hysterectomy and was readily usable for treatment without complications and with high cure rates (92% five-year survival). All survivals and outcomes to 13 years match the best results of conventional photon radiotherapy. For all stages better results were observed for bulky, barrel, and advanced-stage tumors, especially for local tumor control, if optimal schedules, doses and implant numbers were used. Knowledge about neutron dose, dose per implant, number of implants and combination with photon beam therapy evolved during the trials. 252Cf represents a new quick acting effective radioisotope for human cancer therapy especially for treatment of radioresistant, bulky and high stage cancers.
Antimicrobial Activity of Cinnamaldehyde, Carvacrol, and Lauric Arginate against Salmonella Tennessee in a Glycerol-Sucrose Model and Peanut Paste at Different Fat Concentrations.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and lauric arginate (LAE) against Salmonella in a low water activity (aw) glycerol-sucrose model and in peanut paste with different fat concentrations. Salmonella Tennessee was inoculated into the model and the low fat (<5%) and high fat (50%) peanut paste adjusted to aw 1.0, 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3 and with or without cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, or LAE. The survival of the bacterium over 3 or 5 days at 25°C was evaluated. Reduced aw alone decreased the viable population over time, with the highest reduction at the lowest aw. In the glycerol-sucrose model, all antimicrobial agents significantly reduced the population over time (P < 0.05) compared with the controls. LAE was more lethal than the essential oil components, reducing the population to undetectable levels by day 2 for all aw. Cinnamaldehyde was more effective than carvacrol at aw 0.5 and 0.3 (2.7- to 2.9-log versus 0.39- to 1.97-log reductions on d...
Comparability of RFLP Results Between Laboratories: AABB/ CAP Survey Data

The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) jointly sponsor a proficiency testing program for parentage and forensic laboratories. This report summarizes data on band size (Kb) and paternity index based on RFLP analysis.
Outer space and cyber space: meeting ET in the cloud

What justifies the astrobiologist's search for post-biological or machine-intelligence in outer space? Four assumptions borrowed from transhumanism (H+) seem to be at work: (1) it is reasonable to speculate that life on Earth will evolve in the direction of post-biological intelligence; (2) if extraterrestrials have evolved longer than we on Earth, then they will be more scientifically and technologically advanced; (3) superintelligence, computer uploads of brains, and dis-embodied mind belong together; and (4) evolutionary progress is guided by the drive toward increased intelligence. When subjected to critical review, these assumptions prove to be weak. Most importantly, evolutionary biologists do not support the idea that evolution is internally directed toward increased intelligence. Without this assumption, justifying the search for ET more intelligent than earthlings is anaemic. Nevertheless, one can still hope that in the near future we will be communicating with new neighbours in the Milky Way. Can sheer hope inspire science?
Repetitive Stresses Generate Osteochondral Lesions in Skeletally Immature Rabbits

Background:The origin of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is unknown. Existing experimental animal models of OCD most frequently involve surgically created lesions but do not examine repetitive stress as a possible cause of OCD.Hypothesis:Repetitive stresses can cause OCD-like lesions in immature animals.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Six juvenile rabbits were subjected to repetitive loading forces of approximately 160% body weight to the right hindlimb during five 45-minute sessions per week for 5 weeks. The contralateral limb was the unloaded control. After 5 weeks, rabbits were euthanized and examined with radiographs, micro–computed tomography, and gross and histopathologic analysis.Results:All 6 rabbits developed osteochondral lesions in loaded limbs on the medial and lateral femoral condyles, while contralateral unloaded limbs did not demonstrate lesions. Loaded limbs developed relative osteopenia in the femoral epiphysis and tibial metaphysis with associated decreased trab...
Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid and Lamotrigine in Absence Epilepsy

Researchers at Seoul National University Bundang and Children’s Hospitals, Republic of Korea evaluated the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of ethosuximide (ESX), valproic acid (VPA), and lamotrigine (LTG) as initial monotherapies for patients with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE).
Comparison of Cognitive-Behavioral, Relaxation, and Self-Modeling Interventions for Depression among Middle-School Students.

The efficacy of short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation training, and self-modeling interventions for the treatment of depression among middle school students was investigated. Sixty-ei...
Mytilidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) From the Chipola Formation Lower Miocene, Florida

The bivalve family Mytilidae, previously known from the Chipola Formation by only a few, mostly fragmentary specimens referable to three species, proves to be relatively widely distributed throughout the type area of the formation, being most abundant in localities where coral is also present. In this paper, ten species in eight genera are reported from the formation. Included are three new species and one new subspecies.
Coordination and concurrency in multi-engine prolog

We discuss the impact of the separation of logic engines (independent logic processing units) and multi-threading on the design of coordination mechanisms for a Prolog based agent infrastructure. We advocate a combination of coroutining constructs with focus on expressiveness and a simplified, multi-threading API that ensures optimal use available parallelism. In this context, native multi-threading is made available to the application programmer as a set of high-level primitives with a declarative flavor while cooperative constructs provide efficient and predictable coordination mechanisms. As illustrations of our techniques, a parallel fold operation as well as cooperative implementations of Linda blackboards and publish/subscribe are described.
Exposure to human-associated fecal indicators and self-reported illness among swimmers at recreational beaches: a cohort study

Fecal indicator bacteria used to assess illness risks in recreational waters (e.g., Escherichia coli, Enterococci) cannot discriminate among pollution sources. To address this limitation, human-associated Bacteroides markers have been proposed, but the risk of illness associated with the presence of these markers in recreational waters is unclear. Our objective was to estimate associations between human-associated Bacteroides markers in water and self-reported illness among swimmers at 6 U.S. beaches spanning 2003–2007. We used data from a prospectively-enrolled cohort of 12,060 swimmers surveyed about beach activities and water exposure on the day of their beach visit. Ten to twelve days later, participants reported gastroinestinal, diarrheal, and respiratory illnesses experienced since the visit. Daily water samples were analyzed for the presence of human-associated Bacteroides genetic markers: HF183, BsteriF1, BuniF2, HumM2. We used model-based standardization to estimate risk differences (RD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed whether the presence of Bacteroides markers were modifiers of the association between general Enterococcus and illness among swimmers using interaction contrast. Overall we observed inconsistent associations between the presence of Bacteroides markers and illness. There was a pattern of increased risks of gastrointestinal (RD = 1.9%; 95% CI: 0.1%, 3.7%), diarrheal (RD = 1.3%; 95% CI: -0.2%, 2.7%), and respiratory illnesses (RD = 1.1%; 95% CI: -0.2%, 2.5%) associated with BsteriF1. There was no evidence that Bacteroides markers acted as modifiers of Enterococcus and illness. Patterns were similar when stratified by water matrix. Quantitative measures of fecal pollution using Bacteroides, rather than presence-absence indicators, may be necessary to accurately assess human risk specific to the presence of human fecal pollution.
The Return to Literature-Making Doctors Matter in the New Era of Medicine

The rapid explosion of medical knowledge of the 19th and 20th centuries required a transformation in medical education, which, to that point, had been marked by low educational standards. To combat the lack of regulation, the 1910 Flexner Report recommended sweeping reforms. By 1930, students hoping to enroll in a medical school would need to complete courses in chemistry, physics, and biology, leaving little room for the liberal arts.Medicine is once again changing. The impact of artificial intelligence is being felt across all medical fields, and the nature of physicians' jobs in the new landscape of intelligent machines will inevitably also have to change. What will the role of new physicians be? And how should medical education be amended to meet those needs?In 2017, the Georgetown University School of Medicine graduated the first group of students from its Literature and Medicine Track-the first U.S. medical school track dedicated to the study of literature. This Invited Commentary explores the work done in, and the scholarship resulting from, this novel educational program and suggests ways in which literature could be used to prepare future doctors for the evolving demands of the medical field.
Effect of harvest time on the levels of phytochemicals, free radical‐scavenging activity, α‐amylase inhibition and bile acid‐binding capacity of spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Spinach is a green leafy vegetable that is rich in health-promoting compounds. The present study analyzed the levels of phytochemicals and health-promoting properties of spinach harvested at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after planting.; Results: The time of harvest had a significant effect on nitrate levels, which increased from 1909 ± 70.6 µg g-1 (20 days) to 3668 ± 101.3 µg g-1 (40 days) and then decreased to 974 ± 164 µg g-1 (60 days). Lutein and chlorophylls a and b were found to be maximum at 60 days, whereas β-carotene was higher at 50 days. Liquid chromatography/high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC/HR-QTOF-MS) was used to identify 12 flavonoids, and their tentative fragmentation pathways have been proposed. Spinach harvested at 30 and 60 days exhibited significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical-scavenging activities and inhibition of amylase. The levels of total phenolics ranged from 885 ± 35.1 to 1162 ± 112.4 µg g-1 in the samples. In vitro bile acid-binding capacity showed that glycochenodeoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate were bound to maximum levels in all spinach samples.; Conclusion: The harvest time has a major effect on the levels of phytochemicals and health-beneficial properties, which indicates that consumption of both baby and mature spinach will provide maximum health benefits. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.