cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indoor insect allergens are potent inducers of experimental eosinophilic esophagitis in mice

EE is an emerging disease reported in children and adults of urbanized countries, where indoor insect allergens are major health risk factors. Review of our hospital patient database uncovered that a number of EE patients have hypersensitivity to indoor cat, dog, cockroach, and dust mite allergens. We tested the hypothesis whether inhaled indoor insect allergens are effective inducers of experimental EE. We delivered cat, dog, cockroach, and dust mite allergen extracts intranasally to wild-type and eotaxin-1/2-, CCR3-, and IL-5-deficient mice. Interestingly, wild-type mice exposed to cockroach or dust mite allergens develop a significant increase in the levels of esophageal eosinophils and mast cells compared with saline-challenged mice. The eosinophil numbers in the esophagus of cockroach- and dust mite-exposed mice were 18.3 ± 6.8/mm2 and 33.4 ± 11.1/mm2 compared with 2.3 ± 1.8/mm2 and 2.1 ± 1.2/mm2 in saline-challenged mice. Additionally, we observed an additive effect of these two allergens in inducing esophageal eosinophilia and mastocytosis. Histopathological analysis detected intraepithelial esophageal eosinophilia in mice exposed to both allergens. Furthermore, mice exposed to cockroach and/or dust mite had increased levels of total IgE and antigen-specific IgG1 in the blood and increased esophageal expression of eosinophil-active cytokines (IL-13) and chemokines (eotaxin-1). Notably, mice deficient in eotaxin-1/2, CCR3, and IL-5 showed ablated esophageal eosinophilia following cockroach or dust mite allergen exposure. These data indicate that indoor insect allergens are potent inducers of IL-5 and eotaxin-mediated esophageal eosinophilia. These experimental studies are in accordance with clinical data but may have some limitations inherent to animal models of human disease.
The challenge of an interdisciplinary curriculum: a cultural analysis of a doctoral-degree program in neuroscience

Drawing on data collected through 45 interviews with faculty, doctoral students, and administrators affiliated with an interdisciplinary neuroscience program, I examine the structure of the interdisciplinary graduate curriculum. The data presented here highlight the challenge of such programs. I review the purpose, organization, and content of the interdisciplinary curriculum, noting those challenges that arise. Not only do such programs require collaboration among faculty who traditionally has been highly invested in their individual discipline or department, but they also require an active, deliberate process to foster interdisciplinary integration and student learning.
1573 TRANSCEPHALIC IMPEDANCE AND SERUM CREATINE KINASE BB IN PRETERM INFANTS AS PREDICTORS OF BRAIN DAMAGE

1573 TRANSCEPHALIC IMPEDANCE AND SERUM CREATINE KINASE BB IN PRETERM INFANTS AS PREDICTORS OF BRAIN DAMAGE
The impact of shoulder abduction loading on EMG-based intention detection of hand opening and closing after stroke

Many stroke patients are subject to limited hand functions in the paretic arm due to a significant loss of Corticospinal Tract (CST) fibers. A possible solution for this problem is to classify surface Electromyography (EMG) signals generated by hand movements and uses that to implement Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). However, EMG usually presents an abnormal muscle coactivation pattern shown as increased coupling between muscles within and/or across joints after stroke. The resulting Abnormal Muscle Synergies (AMS) could make the classification more difficult in individuals with stroke, especially when attempting to use the hand together with other joints in the paretic arm. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying the impact of AMS following stroke on EMG pattern recognition between two hand movements. In an effort to achieve this goal, 7 chronic hemiparetic chronic stroke subjects were recruited and asked to perform hand opening and closing movements at their paretic arm while being either fully supported by a virtual table or loaded with 25% of subject's maximum shoulder abduction force. During the execution of motor tasks EMG signals from the wrist flexors and extensors were simultaneously acquired. Our results showed that increased synergy-induced activity at elbow flexors, induced by increasing shoulder abduction loading, deteriorated the performance of EMG pattern recognition for hand opening for those with a weak grasp strength and EMG activity. However, no such impact on hand closing has yet been observed possibly because finger/wrist flexion is facilitated by the shoulder abduction-induced flexion synergy.
Studies of the composition of the ionosphere with a magnetic deflection mass spectrometer

Abstract Small magnetic sector-field mass spectrometers have been flown on the Explorer XXXI Satellite and on several rockets to study the composition of the earth's ionosphere. When calibrated in-flight these instruments measure absolute ion concentrations. Data at 500 km (Explorer XXXI perigee) show 10 different ion species in the 1 to 20 amu mass range with O + dominant. At 3000 km (apogee) H + is dominant and O + is not observed at mid to low latitudes. However in the polar regions, O + may become dominant and H + ions are found to be streaming outward with velocities of 10 to 15 km/sec. These ions constitute the polar wind.
Novel technology for modulating locomotor activity as an operant response in the mouse: Implications for neuroscience studies involving “exercise” in rodents

We have developed a novel, low-cost device designed to monitor and modulate locomotor activity in murine subjects. This technology has immediate application to the study of effects of physical exercise on various neurobiological endpoints, and will also likely be useful in the study of psychomotor sensitization and drug addiction. Here we demonstrate the capacity of these devices to establish locomotor activity as an operant response reinforced by food pellet presentations, and show that schedules of reinforcement can reliably control this behavior. Importantly, these data show that varying degrees of increased locomotor activity (in other words, “exercise”) can be elicited and maintained in mice by manipulating the schedule of reinforcement. Our findings argue that the present technology might reduce the imposition of stress and motivational bias inherent in more traditional procedures for establishing exercise in laboratory rodents, while allowing for true random assignment to experimental groups. As interest in physical exercise as a modulating factor in numerous clinical conditions continues to grow, technologies like the one proposed here are likely to become critical in conducting future experiments along these lines.
Tissue Engineering of Muscles and Cartilages Using Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels

The prevalent nature of osteoarthritis that causes the erosion of joint surfaces and loss of mobility and muscle dystrophy that weakens the musculoskeletal system and hampers locomotion underlies the importance of developing functional replacement or regeneration of muscle and cartilage tissues. Polyelectrolyte gels have high potential as cellular scaffolds due to characteristic properties similar to biological matrixes. A number of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that polyelectrolyte gels are useful for replacement and regeneration of muscle and cartilage tissues. In addition, it was also found that polyelectrolyte gels have high biocompatibility, durability, and resistance to biodegradation. Moreover, polyelectrolyte gels can overcome their drawbacks of mechanical behavior by introducing double network into the gel. This paper reviews the current status and recent progress of polyelectrolyte gel-based tissue engineering for repairs of muscle and cartilage tissues.
Can Basic Individual Differences Shed Light on the Construct Meaning of Assessment Center Evaluations

The construct meaning of assessment center evaluations is an important unresolved issue in I/O psychology. This study hypothesized that Cognitive Ability and personality traits are primary correlates of evaluators' overall assessment ratings (OARs). Meta-analysis results based on 65 correlations indicate the following mean construct-level correlations with OARs: .67 for Cognitive Ability, .50 for Extraversion, .35 for Emotional Stability, .25 for Openness, and .17 for Agreeableness; yielding a multiple R of .84. These findings support our hypothesis and cast light on the construct meaning of assessment center evaluations.
Musical Aptitude Testing: From James McKeen Cattell to Carl Emil Seashore

The purpose of this article is to describe the links between late nineteenth-century psychological research and the early musical aptitude research of Carl Emil Seashore (1866-1949). The primary link was the music-related research of the leader of the mental testing movement during the 1890s, Columbia University psychologist James McKeen Cattell (1860-1944). German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt instructed Cattell in the German scientific tradition, and English researcher Francis Galton encouraged Cattell's research on individual differences and introduced him to statistical methods. During the 1890s, Cattell conducted a longitudinal study, the hypothesis for which was that tests of sensory discrimination ability, including musical discrimination, would correlate with undergraduates' academic grades. After his study failed to produce the expected results, the mental testing movement followed Alfred Binet and Victor Henri of France, and Cattell turned to other activities. However, in the meantime, Cattell infl...
Development of Materials with Enhanced Optical Nonlinearity: Theory and Practice

Abstract Synthetic schemes have been developed for systematically incorporating electroactive it-electron polymer segments together with saturated alkoxy segments into copolymers which exhibit sufficient solubility in common solvents to facilitate characterization and to permit processing of these copolymers into optical quality films. This approach has permitted a rapid survey of the optical nonlinearity of a variety of electroactive structures ranging from phenylpolyenes to ladder-type oligomers. Studies on materials prepared by copolymer synthesis have been correlated with studies of materials with electroactive units incorporated as pendant groups to non-active polymer backbones and with studies of materials where electroactive molecules are incorporated as dopants into non-active polymers to form composite materials. Incorporation of electroactive oligomeric units into polymer systems affords significant advantages in terms of processing and can be adapted to the study of structure/function relations...
Control charts for the detection of a periodic component

Control charts are widely used in manufacturing to distinguish between variation that is inherent to the process and variation that signals a special event or problem. Several control charts have recently been proposed for the detection of a periodic component, but their analysis is limited to a moving span of recent observations. This article develops tests for periodicity that make use of independent information about the variability of the time series. These tests are then used to construct control charts that search for periodicity in a span of recent observations but estimate the variability of the process from a longer span of earlier observations. By employing more of the available information, the new charts are able to detect cyclic disturbances more quickly than the existing charts.
A flexibility coupled hypercube multiprocessor for high level vision

In general, message passing multiprocessors suffer from communication overhead between processors and shared memory multiprocessors suffer from memory contention. Also, in computer vision tasks, data I/O overhead limits performance. In particular, high level vision tasks, which are complex and require nondeterministic communication, are strongly affected by these disadvantages. This paper proposes a flexibly (tightly/loosely) coupled hypercube multiprocessor (FCHM) for high level vision to alleviate these problems. A variable address space memory scheme in which a set of adjacent memory modules can be merged into a shared memory module by a dynamically partitionable hypercube topology is proposed. The architecture is quantitatively analyzed using computational models and simulated on the Intel’s Personal SuperComputer (iPSC/I), a hypercube multiprocessor. A parallel algorithm for exhaustive search is simulated on FCHM using the iPSC/I showing significant performance improvements over that of the iPSC/I.
Achievement Motivation as a Function of Assimilation and Differentiation Needs

Building upon Optimal Distinctiveness Theory (Brewer, 1991), we propose that students will exhibit increased self-regulatory persistence and performance to satisfy their needs for assimilation and differentiation. In Study 1, undergraduates rated the importance of 16 achievement-related tasks (e.g., studying for examinations, class participation). A within-persons hierarchical linear model revealed that the more students perceived enacting these behaviors as satisfying their assimilation or differentiation needs, the more important they considered such behaviors to be. In Study 2, we manipulated assimilation or differentiation motives and provided students with false information that success on a word task was associated with either fitting in or standing out. As predicted, participants in the need for assimilation condition performed better and spent more time on a task allegedly associated with fitting in. By contrast, participants in the need for differentiation condition performed better and spent mor...
Procoagulant activity in kidneys of normal and bacterial lipopolysaccharide–treated rabbits

Procoagulant activity in kidneys of normal and bacterial lipopolysaccharide–treated rabbits. Fibrin formation in the kidney is frequently associated with clinically–significant renal dysfunction. We therefore measured and characterized the procoagulant activity (PCA) which is present in normal kidneys and in kidneys of rabbits with the Shwartzman phenomenon induced by two injections of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; E. coli LPS 055:B5,25 µg/kg and 50 µg/kg administered 24 hrs apart with rabbits sacrificed 12 hrs after the second injection). PCA was measured in sonicated tissue by one–stage coagulation assay. In normal kidneys the amounts of PCA in the inner medulla, outer medulla and inner cortex were 18.2 ± 3.2, 44.1 ± 3.8 and 78.5 ± 5.7 percent, respectively, of that in the outer cortex (N = 31). Glomeruli (purified by the iron oxide magnetic method to greater than 95 percent homogeneity) contained 21.6 ± 8.8 arbitrary units/µg protein compared with tubular fragments which contained 13.9 ± 2.6 U/µg protein (N = 9). In LPS-treated rabbits PCA (in units/µg) increased in outer cortex from 33.7 ± 3.9 (control) to 73.4 ± 10.4 (LPS, P
Analysis of actin filament bundle dynamics during contact formation in live epithelial cells.

The actin cytoskeleton is an integral component of the cell-cell adherens junction complex. We used fluorescence labeling of actin filaments and time-lapse laser scanning confocal microscopy to investigate the functional relationship between the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and formation of adherens junctions in live epithelial cells. Rhodamine-phalloidin was loaded into cultured cells by wounding epithelial monolayers in the presence of fluorescent analog. Rhodamine-phalloidin was incorporated into the actin filaments in stress fibers, circumferential bundles, and marginal bundles. Cells containing labeled actin filaments appeared physiologically normal since the rates of migration, rates of pseudopodial protrusion/retraction, ability to form contacts, and sensitivity to cytochalasin B were equivalent to non-loaded, control epithelial cells. Marginal actin bundles initially formed as bow-shaped bundles that were observed to straighten as the bundles flowed rearward and away from the free cell edge. When lamellae from adjacent cells made contact, rearward flow of marginal bundles ceased and the bundles started to disassemble with higher frequency. Next, we observed the formation of arc-like bundles at the edges of contacting cells, a position suggestive of a role in lateral expansion of the contact. During later stages of contact formation, new actin bundles assembled along the length of the expanding cell-cell boundary. These newly formed bundles are likely to participate in the establishment of the initial cadherin/actin cytoskeleton linkage and eventually form the circumferential bundles at the cell-cell adherens junction. Additionally, indirect immunolocalization studies characterized the location of myosin-II. A model is presented describing the function of the spatial and temporal dynamics of actin filament bundles and myosin-II activity in the formation of adherens junctions. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 43:296–309, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Far-infrared characterization of AlAsGaAs superlattice structure

Abstract Far-infrared reflectance spectra of two AlAsGaAs superlattices with different periods are reported from 100 to 450 cm −1 . We analyze the data with superlattice optical theory in the long-wavelength, low-absorption limit to yield superlattice layer thickness and period. Our results agree with X-ray data and are at least as precise, although there may be a small systematic difference.
Perfusion MRI of the human brain with dynamic susceptibility contrast: gradient-echo versus spin-echo techniques.

In this study, spin-echo and gradient-echo-based perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are systematically compared with respect to their application in the human brain. Six healthy subjects were evaluated with both techniques consecutively and injected twice with a gadolinium-based contrast agent. In accordance with theoretical predictions and with previous animal experiments, the spin-echo-based technique shows a markedly reduced appearance of large vessels. The intersubject standard deviations of the two methods are similar but smaller for the spin-echo technique in small regions adjacent to large vessels. Therefore, the sensitivity of the two acquisition methods for evaluating pathologic abnormalities may be similar despite the higher contrast-to-noise ratio of the gradient-echo-based technique. The gray-to-white matter ratio of the regional cerebral blood flow of the spin-echo method is closer to previous nuclear medicine measurements than that of the gradient-echo method. Our measurements indicate that spin-echo-based perfusion MRI is more representative of capillary perfusion than gradient-echo measurements. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;12:381-387.
Analyzing rigidity with pebble games

How many pair-wise distances must be prescribed between an unknown set of points, and how should they be distributed, to determine only a discrete set of possible solutions? These questions, and related generalizations, are central in a variety of applications. Combinatorial rigidity shows that in two-dimensions one can get the answer, generically, via an efficiently testable sparse graph property.We present a video and a web site illustrating algorithmic results for a variety of rigidity-related problems, as well as abstract generalizations. Our accompanying interactive software is based on a comprehensive implementation of the pebble game paradigm.
The stress field at the base of a port in a cylindrical pressure vessel

Abstract The stress field at the base of a port hole in a cylindrical pressure vessel is presented. The analysis shows the stresses to be singular in this neighborhood with a singularity strength of the order 0·198. Moreover, locations of possible fatigue crack initiation are identified.
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF FAMILIAL ERYTHROPHAGOCYTIC LYMPHOHISTIOCYTOSIS

Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FEL) is a rare condition with a life expectancy of 8 weeks from onset of illness. Successful treatment is unknown. A 4 week old male presenting with fever, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly with liver failure, and pancytopenia was diagnosed as FEL on the basis of bone marrow, spleen, and liver biopsies. The tissues showed predominance of histiocytes and immunoblasts with hemophagocytosis. Viral etiology was excluded. Post mortem examination of the liver and spleen of a male sibling with a similar clinical course was identical with the findings in our patient. Supportive care with blood products, high dose decadron and splenectomy improved the clinical status minimally. Data suggested immunologic suppression with decreased T helper and increased T suppressor activity (T4=15.4; T8=32.2; T4/T8=0.4). Based on the premise that FEL represents dysfunction of T cell control of monocytes, the experimental drug Cyclosporin A (Sandoz) was used to control this apparent immunologic phenomenon. The patient is now surviving with normal hematologic and hepatic parameters at 10 months after diagnosis. There is no significant myelosuppression or renal toxicity using Cyclosporin A (10mg/kg/d) and prednisone (0.5mg/kg/d). Cerebral atrophy on CAT scan (demonstrated prior to experimental treatment) persists unchanged. Cyclosporin A appears to be an effective treatment of familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Quantum field theory in (0 + 1) dimensions

We show that many of the key ideas of quantum field theory can be illustrated simply and straightforwardly by using toy models in (0 + 1) dimensions. Because quantum field theory in (0 + 1) dimensions is equivalent to quantum mechanics, these models allow us to use techniques from quantum mechanics to gain insight into quantum field theory. In addition, working in (0 + 1) dimensions considerably simplifies the mathematics, allowing the physical concepts involved to be exhibited more clearly.
Effects of Resistant Potato Starches on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Function

The gastrointestinal functions of fiber include stool bulking, increased stool frequency and decreased gastrointestinal transit time. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of two resistant potato starches (RS4) on bowel movement frequency and gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy individuals. Biscotti and Koolaid , fortified at 30 g/d of fiber from RS4a or RS4b, and control foods, were incorporated into the diets of healthy individuals (n 22) for 15-day periods in a three-phase, randomized, crossover design with 7-day washouts. Participants completed a daily diary of bowel movement frequency andgastrointestinal symptom intensity,with “0” being free of symptoms, “1” mild symptoms and “10” severe symptoms, throughout each treatment period. Daily bowel movement frequency showed a trend to increase from the control period 0.89 0.50 to 1.01 0.58 (p 0.06) for RS4a, and 1.01 0.53 (p 0.11) for RS4b. Mean participant symptom score showed no significant differences in bloating between treatments (Control: 0.47 0.81; RS4a: 0.64 1.26; RS4b: 0.69 0.99). A increase in flatulence was found for both RS4a (1.95 1.69; p 0.05) and RS4b (1.96 1.08; p 0.05) compared to the control (1.25 1.01) with no difference between RS treatments. Cramping was an uncommon symptom (Control: 0.33 0.61; RS4: 0.45 1.14; RS2: 0.36 0.63), aswas intestinal noise (Control: 0.24 0.35; RS1: 0.37 0.87; RS2: 0.22 0.33) with no significant differences between treatments. The intake of resistant potato starch at 30 g per day is well tolerated with only mild flatulence reported as a symptom.
Palladium Monolayer and Palladium Alloy Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

We investigated the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) on Pd monolayers on various surfaces and on Pd alloys to obtain a substitute for Pt and to elucidate the origin of their activity. The activity of Pd monolayers supported on Ru(0001), Rh(111), Ir(111), Pt(111), and Au(111) increased in the following order: Pd/Ru(0001) < Pd/Ir(111) < Pd/Rh(111) < Pd/Au(111) < Pd/Pt(111). Their activity was correlated with their d-band centers, which were calculated using density functional theory (DFT). We found a volcano-type dependence of activity on the energy of the d-band center of Pd monolayers, with Pd/Pt(111) at the top of the curve. The activity of the non-Pt Pd2Co/C alloy electrocatalyst nanoparticles that we synthesized was comparable to that of commercial Pt-containing catalysts. The kinetics of the ORR on this electrocatalyst predominantly involves a four-electron step reduction with the first electron transfer being the rate-determining step. The downshift of the d-band center of the Pd “skin”, which consti...
Surface heat flow measurements at the Puhimau hot spot

The Puhimau hot spot, on Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, was thermally mapped using new high‐output thermopile heat flow sensors. This thermal geophysical technique allows rapid measurement of surficial heat flow, especially in regions of high heat flux where shallow burial depths can be used. Heat flow measurements ranged from 200 to 275W/m2 over the central portion of the Puhimau hot spot. Analysis of the heat flow data combined with other geophysical measurements suggests that the Puhimau hot spot could be caused by a shallow and perhaps still molten body of magma beneath the local area. These geophysical measurements, along with a proposed shallow scientific drillhole, can provide valuable evaluation of geophysical techniques for locating magma bodies in the crust.
Estimating missing data: an iterative regression approach.

The problem of missing data is common in all fields of science. Various methods of estimating missing values in a dataset exist, such as deletion of cases, insertion of sample mean, and linear regression. Each approach presents problems inherent in the method itself or in the nature of the pattern of missing data. We report a method that (1) is more general in application and (2) provides better estimates than traditional approaches, such as one-step regression. The model is general in that it may be applied to singular matrices, such as small datasets or those that contain dummy or index variables. The strength of the model is that it builds a regression equation iteratively, using a bootstrap method. The precision of the regressed estimates of a variable increases as regressed estimates of the predictor variables improve. We illustrate this method with a set of measurements of European Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic human postcranial remains, as well as a set of primate anthropometric data. First, simulation tests using the primate data set involved randomly turning 20% of the values to "missing". In each case, the first iteration produced significantly better estimates than other estimating techniques. Second, we applied our method to the incomplete set of human postcranial measurements. MISDAT estimates always perform better than replacement of missing data by means and better than classical multiple regression. As with classical multiple regression, MISDAT performs when squared multiple correlation values approach the reliability of the measurement to be estimated, e.g., above about 0. 8.
Estimating the Information and Technology Development Index (IDI) Using Nighttime Satellite Imagery

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has developed a tool known as the Information and Communication Technology Development Index (IDI) for measuring the development of countries as information societies. They found a close correlation between IDI and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of countries. In this paper on the basis of this relationship we have tried to create a 30 arc-second grid of IDI. At first a disaggregated map of total economic activity was created from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) merged radiance-calibrated nighttime image of 2006 and the LandScan population grid of 2006. The GDP per capita was then calculated and an attempt was made to create the IDI grid. However, at the 30 arc-second resolution the GDP per capita was found to be less in the city centers than in the areas surrounding the city centers. Thus an estimated IDI grid at 30 arc-second resolution could not be created based on the relationship between GDP per capita and official IDI. Therefore, the finest resolution at which the estimated IDI map was created was at the state level for the South-East Asian countries. In a future endeavor, we intend to create an IDI grid of much finer resolution.
ROTATIONAL DISSIPATION DURING MICROSPHERE IMPACT

In this study the dissipative effects due to microsphere rotation in the presence of adhesion during contact were investigated by means of mathematical analysis and numerical simulation. Three sources of rotational moments were considered: a moment about the mass center of the tangential contact force, a moment associated with the material rolling deformation and another with the peeling of the adhesion bond. The latter two are couples proximate to the contact region. A numerical model based on the results of the mathematical analysis was used to simulate the two-dimensional normal and oblique impact of a microsphere. The results show that the magnitude of rolling deformation and adhesion bond peeling moments are proportional to a power of the contact radius. Consequently, because of the small radius of microspheres, the effect of rotational dissipation due to these moments can be neglected. For example, when predicting microsphere rebound during impact, only the moment of the tangential force needs to be considered when considering microsphere rotation.
Partial plan recognition with incomplete information

Explores the benefits of using user models for plan recognition problems in a real-world application. Self-interested agents are designed for the prediction of resource usage in the UNIX domain using a stochastic approach to automatically acquire regularities of user behavior. Both sequential information from the command sequence and relational information such as system's responses and arguments to the commands are considered to typify a user's behavior and intentions. Issues of ambiguity, distraction and interleaved execution of user behavior are examined and taken into account to improve the probability estimation in hidden Markov models.
User Focus and Simulation Improve Predictions of Piracy Risk

Piracy is an increasingly costly and violent threat to commercial shipping and other vessels off the Horn of Africa. However, because pirates operate in small vessels that cannot navigate or attack in high seas or winds, pirate activity is highly sensitive to environmental conditions. The US Naval Oceanographic Office provides an operational forecast of the pirate threat; counterpiracy forces use this forecast to allocate their efforts over several million square miles. The most recent version uses simulation to model the effects of pirate behavior in interaction with winds, waves, and currents over time to forecast the geographic distribution of the pirate threat. As part of the development of the pirate behavior model, one author traveled to Bahrain to interview counter-piracy forces. We then used carefully designed simulation experiments to identify the variables that are most influential in determining the distribution of predicted pirate activity. The results confirmed the importance of elements of the pirate behavior model that were derived from our operator interviews, informed decisions regarding operational settings for key parameters, and generated insights to guide future updates to the model and intelligence-gathering efforts. The resulting model uses our recommendations, including alternate pirate search patterns. It has been operational since March 2011 and is briefed daily to the senior leadership of US Naval Forces Central Command.
Physical Exercise Affects Attentional Orienting Behavior through Noradrenergic Mechanisms

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), a commonly used animal model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, exhibit little habituation of the orienting response to repeated presentations of a nonreinforced visual stimulus. However, SHRs that have access to a running wheel for 5, 10, or 21 days exhibit robust habituation that is indistinguishable from normo-active rats. Two days of exercise, in comparison, is not sufficient to affect habituation. Here we tested the hypothesis that the effect of exercise on orienting behavior in SHRs is mediated by changes in noradrenergic function. In Experiment 1, we found that 5, 10, or 21 days of access to a running wheel, but not 2 days, significantly reduced levels of the norepinephrine transporter in medial prefrontal cortex. In Experiment 2, we tested for a causal relationship between changes in noradrenergic function and orienting behavior by blocking noradrenergic receptors during exercise. Rats that received propranolol (beta adrenergic/noradrenergic receptor blocker) during 10 days of exercise failed to exhibit an exercise-induced reduction in orienting behavior. The results inform a growing literature regarding the effects of exercise on behavior and the potential use of exercise as a treatment for mental disorders.
A sparse conformal retrodirective array for UAV application

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are highly mobile units that can be employed as safe and efficient communication relays for various surveillance, reconnaissance, and other tactical missions. However due to their small size, these platforms are extremely payload and power limited and demand system features such as being extremely lightweight and capable of real-time beamforming. Retrodirective arrays can automatically create and maintain high gain communication links with a target without any complex beamforming hardware or processing. This paper develops and presents a conformal sparse retrodirective array. The sparse design combined with the beneficial beamforming properties of a retrodirective array alleviates the amount of circuitry required, leading to a more efficient system and a promising candidate for UAV applications. Measured monostatic and bistatic patterns demonstrate proper operation of the proposed system.
A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne

Infantile acne is a rare occurrence. It is more common in boys and predominately occurs on the cheeks in infants between the ages of 1 and 16 months. Clinically, the lesions range from comedones to inflammatory papulopustules to cysts. Successful therapies include topical tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide and topical and oral erythromycin. For more serious cases, oral isotretinoin (Accutane) has been reported to successfully treat recalcitrant infantile cystic acne. We describe two additional patients with infantile cystic acne treated successfully with oral isotretinoin. The dose of isotretinoin used ranged from 0.2 mg/kg/day to 1.5 mg/kg/day. The treatment duration varied from 5 to 14 months. Careful monthly monitoring is recommended because of the many side effects reported with isotretinoin. Practical tips for the administration of oral isotretinoin in infants are reviewed.
Aging and human performance.

OBJECTIVES: I identify major theoretical and practical contributions to aging and human performance as reflected primarily in the pages of Human Factors. BACKGROUND: Populations worldwide are aging. True experimental work on aging is not possible because age levels cannot be manipulated. Sophisticated theoretical frameworks and modeling techniques are required to reach valid inferences about age effects and age changes. METHOD: Citation analysis was used to identify articles in Human Factors dealing with age or aging and to rank them for citation impact. RESULTS: Special issues on aging were followed by increased publication rates for articles on age or aging, particularly in the 1990s. Most-cited articles deal primarily with age and driving. CONCLUSIONS: Applied contributions rely on improved measurement of performance and on methodological advances, including simulation and modeling. Design changes that provide environmental support for declining cognitive, perceptual, and psychomotor abilities can serve as a powerful intervention for maintaining and improving older adult performance. Training is also a robust way to improve performance at both the basic ability level and the level of task performance. Human factors specialists can improve quality of life for an aging population. APPLICATIONS: Guidelines for older users are now being developed by standards bodies and are implemented in domains such as Web design. Much of the focus of human factors research has been on improving efficiency in the performance of aging adults in the workforce, but reducing errors and increasing comfort and satisfaction in health-related activities should receive greater attention. Language: en
Editorial Comment: Cerebellar Ataxia, Vertical Supranuclear Gaze Palsy, Sensorineural Deafness, Epilepsy, Dementia and Hallucinations in an Adolescent Male

The authors describe a case of Niemann-Pick disease type C, which features many typical findings. The history of difficulty with vertical gaze beginning at 2 years of age and the confirmation of a vertical supranuclear gaze palsy at 13 years, together with cerebellar dysfunction, epilepsy, cognitive decline, sensorineural hearing loss and spasticity should have pointed immediately to Niemann-Pick disease type C as the most likely diagnosis. It is not clear from the protocol if the patient had splenomegaly or if imaging studies were performed to seek evidence of organomegaly. If splenomegaly was present, the diagnosis would be confirmed for
Sexual cannibalism and mate choice decisions in wolf spiders: influence of male size and secondary sexual characters

Sexual cannibalism may influence expression of elaborate male traits by either reinforcing or opposing sexual selection. Male Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) wolf spiders (Lycosidae) have tufts of bristles on the first pair of legs that may function as a condition-indicating signal trait. We paired virgin and previously mated adult females with males under seminatural conditions (laboratory containers with leaf litter). For males encountering virgin females, probability of attempted premating cannibalism varied with male size, body condition, tuft size, fluctuating asymmetry of tufts (FA) and female size (larger females attacked smaller males and males in poor condition with smaller, more asymmetrical tufts). Probability of successful cannibalism varied with the relative size of both sexes and female body condition, but not male tuft size (smaller males were cannibalized by larger females in better condition). Males with larger tufts (relative to body size) were more likely to mate, but no other traits (male or female) were associated with mating success. Postmating cannibalism risk was associated with female size and age, and male size, body condition and tuft size (larger, older females cannibalized smaller males in poor condition with smaller tufts). For males paired with previously mated females, probability of cannibalism was influenced by size of both sexes and male tuft size (larger females cannibalized smaller males with smaller tufts). While no morphological characteristics (male or female) influenced the probability of second matings, recently matured females were more likely to mate twice. Results suggest that both mate choice and sexual cannibalism can impose reinforcing directional selection on male size and secondary sexual characters.
Suspended Polymer Photonic Crystal Networks

We demonstrate a suspended polymer photonic crystal architecture with an in-plane photonic bandgap and enabling high-Q nanocavities. Employing this architecture, we implement a waveguide-coupled cavity drop filter with sub-nanometer spectral resolution.
Post-transcriptional regulation of hepatic NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase by thyroid hormone: independent effects on poly(A) tail length and mRNA stability.

Thyroid hormone [triiodothyronine (T3)] positively regulates NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (P450R) mRNA expression in rat liver, with P450R transcription initiation being a key regulated step. T3 is presently shown to have significant posttranscriptional effects on P450R expression. T3 increased the size of cytoplasmic P450R mRNA by 105 nucleotides 12 h after T3 treatment, followed by a return to basal levels at 24 h. Primer extension analysis and Northern hybridization with 5untranslated region probes revealed no change in P450R mRNA 5 structure with T3 treatment. By contrast, RNase H analysis revealed a transient, T3-induced increase in P450R mRNA poly(A) tail, from 100 to 205 A. This increase in P450R polyadenylation, detectable in the nucleus 8 h after T3 treatment and in the cytoplasm at 12 h, was transient and was reversed by 16 h, when the T3-induced accumulation of cytoplasmic P450R mRNA was near maximal. Actinomycin D blocked the increase in P450R poly(A) tail and the induction of P450R mRNA, indicating a requirement for ongoing gene transcription for both T3 responses. T3 treatment destabilized P450R mRNA in rat liver in vivo, as shown by the T3-dependent 6-fold decrease in cytoplasmic P450R mRNA half-life, from a basal value of 16 h in uninduced liver to 2.5 h, measured 24 h after T3 administration. These findings demonstrate that T3 increases nuclear polyadenylation of P450R RNA as a transient, early regulatory response and that this response is temporally dissociated from the subsequent decrease in cytoplasmic P450R mRNA stability.
Service failure and recovery in using technology-based self-service: effects on user attributions and satisfaction

This study examines service failure and recovery in using technology-based self-service (TBSS) systems to determine the effects of a variety of relevant factors on negative customer/user attributions to the service provider, to employees who try to help in recovery, and to the technology itself, as well as the effects on customer/user satisfaction with the failure/recovery experience. The findings show that immediate recovery of TBSS failures reduces negative attributions and increases customer/user satisfaction with the experience, as does a low-anxiety environment around the kiosk. Technology error (as opposed to user error) decreases user satisfaction. Employee assistance decreases negative attributions to the employee but increases negative attribution to the technology. Some interactions were found among the experimental factors that are also meaningful.
The State of Special Education in Catholic Schools

Catholic educators in recent years have worked to increase their schools’ capacity to provide special education services to more students. The expansion of federal programs to support students with special needs has aided in dealing with this issue, but it has also exacerbated problems. The exacerbation comes from the increased focus on both the needs of children and the inability of the schools to respond positively as often as they would like. The aid comes in the form of some governmental assistance as well as increased financial support from local sources. However, the demand for services continues to exceed the resources available to respond. This paper explores the current dimensions of this situation.
Prediction of clathrate structure type and guest position by molecular mechanics.

The clathrate hydrates occur in various types in which the number, size, and shape of the various cages differ. Usually the clathrate type of a specific guest is predicted by the size and shape of the molecular guest. We have developed a methodology to determine the clathrate type employing molecular mechanics with the MMFF force field employing a strategy to calculate the energy of formation of the clathrate from the sum of the guest/cage energies. The clathrate type with the most negative (most stable) energy of formation would be the type predicted (we mainly focused on type I, type II, or bromine type). This strategy allows for a calculation to predict the clathrate type for any cage guest in a few minutes on a laptop computer. It proved successful in predicting the clathrate structure for 46 out of 47 guest molecules. The molecular mechanics calculations also provide a prediction of the guest position within the cage and clathrate structure. These predictions are generally consistent with the X-ray a...
Dynamic Defined-Contribution Pension Design with Adverse Selection and Moral Hazard

We study voluntary defined-contribution pension contracts with the incentive problem of early retirement and low contributions over time. Agents are free to retire, quit a plan and choose between plans. The fluctuation of labor productivity throughout working life and the length of working life are private information. The optimal contract can be implemented through transfers (sometimes negative) and contribution deductions from agents' pensions over time. The optimal contract features a punishment phase, an accumulation phase and a retirement phase. We find that the amount of pension is higher under the optimal contract than under laissez faire. Working agents enjoy higher consumption, contribute less, and retire later. The result is robust to different environments.
Coastal Maya Obsidian Tool Use and Socio-Economy in the Late Postclassic-Early Spanish Colonial Period at San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Microscopic use-wear analysis of the obsidian artifacts recovered from Late Postclassic-Early Spanish Colonial occupations at the site of San Pedro yields useful information for interpreting Maya socio-economic activities. Obsidian traded into the community was used for a variety of tasks with emphasis placed on subsistence and domestic manufacture associated with marine resources, including intermittent and contingent crafting. Trade in obsidian and marine resources likely provided San Pedro community members access to inland economic networks and enabled the acquisition of resources not found on the caye. Microwear on chert and obsidian tools indicates relative stability in the traditional lives of the San Pedro Maya in the 15th–17th centuries a.d. Although the San Pedranos likely suffered to some degree from coastal raiding and the introduction of epidemic diseases by the Spaniards, their off-shore location provided them some protection from the upheaval experienced by the Maya in mainland communities.
On the Influencing Factors of Evacuation and the Countermeasures in High-rise Buildings

Starting from the existing problems in current high-rise buildings,this paper emphatically discusses on the possible influences of system such as indicatory sign in buildings after fire,and puts forward the corresponding solutions.
"Knock-your-socks-off" service.

The author compares customer service in industry and health care and explains what goes into delivering exceptional customer service.
Environmentally Assisted Cracking Measurements in Structural Aluminum Alloys Under Accelerated Test Conditions

Environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) of aluminum alloys in corrosive atmospheres is an important maintenance and safety issue for U.S. Department of Defense assets. EAC initiation and propagation of cracks is influenced by the complex interactions of load, environment, and alloy properties. Traditional environmental fracture testing conducted under immersion or constant humidity conditions may produce results that are different than measurements collected under thin electrolyte layers or droplets formed during atmospheric exposure. In addition, most standard methods do not provide instantaneous measures of crack velocity that can be used to identify specific environmental conditions that promote cracking. Improved assessment of EAC susceptibility and the conditions that promote cracking of aluminum alloys has been accomplished with an autonomous, in situ measurement system that can be used in accelerated corrosion test chambers and outdoor exposure sites. Continuous measurements of crack length through...