cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON INFORMATION-PRESERVING TRANSFORMATIONS

In this paper, we investigate uncertainty-invariant transformations between the Dempster-Shafer theory, possibility theory and probability theory. These transformations are based on a well-justified measure of uncertainty in the Dempster-Shafer theory. The measure is defined as the maximum of the Shannon entropy for all probability distributions that conform to the given belief function.
An application of the stochastic estimation to the jet mixing layer

The linear stochastic estimation is a powerful technique that provides a means of estimating conditional eddies given unconditional two‐point correlation data. This procedure was used to reconstruct estimates of multipoint conditional averages of the dominant structures in the jet mixing layer of Glauser and George (Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on Turbulent Shear Flows, Toulouse, France, 1987). The pseudodynamic evolution of these conditional eddies was systematically compared to the instantaneous velocity fields and the results were quantified in terms of the percentage of the energy captured by the multipoint stochastic estimates. It was found that the single‐point estimates do not yield adequate representations of the instantaneous velocity field, but that two reference points located on opposite sides of the shear layer yield realistic estimates, with little gained by adding more reference points.
Recognizing Macrophage Activation and Host Defense

G.B. Shaw's entreaty, "Stimulate the phagocytes," found its perfect interlocutor in Carl Nathan. Nearly 40 years ago, Nathan discovered macrophages were activated via soluble mediators released from T-lymphocytes—later identified as interferon-γ (IFN-γ)—for killing microbial pathogens. This year's Robert Koch Prize celebrates a lasting legacy for innate immunity.
Fracture and fatigue resistance of Mo-Si-B alloys for ultrahigh-temperature structural applications

Fracture and fatigue-crack growth properties are examined for a series of Mo-Mo3Si-Mo5SiB2 containing alloys, which utilize a continuous a-Mo matrix to achieve unprecedented room-temperature fracture resistance (>20 MPaAm). Mechanistically, these properties are explained in terms of toughening by crack trapping and crack bridging by the more ductile a-Mo phase.
Robot path planning with distance-safety criterion

Euclidean distance is the most popular criterion for robot path planning. However, the shortest path (SP) is dangerous in some cases because such a path drives the robot too close to obstacles. When safety is the main concern, a center-line path (CLP) providing the maximum clearance from obstacles would be preferable over the SP, although the length of a CLP could be considerably longer than that of a SP. Since the SP and CLP are two extremes with respect to the distance and safety criteria, respectively, it would be useful in practice to strike a compromise between the two criteria. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for determining an optimal path with a weighted distance-safety criterion. The method is composed of three parts: (i) construction of a region map by dividing the workspace, (ii) inter-region optimization to determine the entry and departure points of the path in each region, and (iii) intra-region optimization for determining the (optimal) path segment within each region. The region map is generated by using an approximate Voronoi diagram, and the inter- (intra-) region optimization is achieved by using the variational dynamic programming. Although it is developed for 2D problems, our method can be easily extended to a class of 3D problems. Numerical examples are also presented to demonstrate the method.
Recent experience with commercial bank debt reduction: Has the “menu” outdone the market?

Abstract Debt reduction at market terms has been criticized as too expensive from the point of view of the debtor. The recent reduction agreements following the “menu approach” are partially concerted, but they also possess some elements of voluntariness. This raises two issues: (a) what is the conceptual justification for such financial arrangements/ and (b) based on recent evidence, to what extent have these arrangements reduced the cost of debt reduction? In a review of six recent menu-driven debt reduction agreements, we find that the debtors achieved a far better financial result than would have been feasible with simple market buybacks.
The qualitative economics of development control

Abstract This paper examines space supply restrictions and containment policies in the context of a monocentric urban model with several classes. Results are obtained concerning the qualitative effects of such policies on space (i.e., land) values and locations of the various groups.
Coordinated transit signal priority supporting transit progression under Connected Vehicle Technology

Abstract In this paper, a person-delay-based optimization method is proposed for an intelligent TSP logic that enables bus/signal cooperation and coordination among consecutive signals under the Connected Vehicle environment. This TSP logic, called TSPCV-C, provides a method to secure the mobility benefit generated by the intelligent TSP logic along a corridor so that the bus delay saved at an upstream intersection is not wasted at downstream intersections. The problem is formulated as a Binary Mixed Integer Linear Program (BMILP) which is solved by standard branch-and-bound method. Minimizing per person delay has been adopted as the criterion for the model. The TSPCV-C is also designed to be conditional. That is, TSP is granted only when the bus is behind schedule and the grant of TSP causes no extra total person delay. The logic developed in this research is evaluated using both analytical and microscopic traffic simulation approaches. Both analytical tests and simulation evaluations compared four scenarios: without TSP (NTSP), conventional TSP (CTSP), TSP with Connected Vehicle (TSPCV), and Coordinated TSP with Connected Vehicle (TSPCV-C). The measures of effectiveness used include bus delay and total travel time of all travelers. The performance of TSPCV-C is compared against conventional TSP (CTSP) under four congestion levels and five intersection spacing cases. The results show that the TSPCV-C greatly reduces bus delay at signalized intersection for all congestion levels and spacing cases considered. Although the TSPCV is not as efficient as TSPCV-C, it still demonstrates sizable improvement over CTSP. An analysis on the intersection spacing cases reveals that, as long as the intersections are not too closely spaced, TSPCV can produce a delay reduction up to 59%. Nevertheless, the mechanism of TSPCV-C is recommended for intersections that are spaced less than 0.5 mile away. Simulation based evaluation results show that the TSPCV-C logic reduces the bus delay between 55% and 75% compared to the conventional TSP. The range of improvement corresponding to the four different v/c ratios tested, which are 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.0, respectively. No statistically significant negative effects are observed except when the v/c ratio equals 1.0.
Backwash Ileitis Does Not Affect Pouch Outcome in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis With Restorative Proctocolectomy

Background & Aims There has been controversy over the significance of active inflammation of the terminal ileum (also known as backwash ileitis) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease of indeterminate type for diagnosis and pouch construction. We investigated the impact of backwash ileitis on pouch outcome after restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch anastomosis. Methods Data from patients with backwash ileitis (n = 132) were compared with those from 132 matched controls without ileal inflammation for age, sex, and type of proctocolectomies with ileal pouch construction (1- or 2-stage). We evaluated terminal ileal sections from original colectomies of 2213 patients with either UC or idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease of indeterminate type, collected during a 21-year period, for extent and severity of chronic and active ileitis. Clinical pouch outcomes were assessed through a longitudinally maintained clinical outcome database that systematically catalogued all short-term and long-term pouch complications, including pouchitis, sepsis, impaired long-term pouch survival, and conversion to Crohn's disease. Results Regardless of severity or extent, backwash ileitis was not correlated with any clinical outcome examined, short-term or long-term. Conclusions Ileal inflammation is not a contraindication for restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch construction in patients with UC or idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease of indeterminate type. Ileal inflammation with pancolitis is not a useful criterion for classifying otherwise typical UC as colitis of indeterminate type, because pouch outcomes are not affected.
The Effect of Line Geometry on Void Growth in Thin, Narrow Aluminum Lines

The stress induced growth of individual voids in passivated Al-lines at room temperature was monitored in-situ, without removing the passivation. The kinetics was strongly influenced by variations in line geometry, even over distances of many μm, indicating variations in the stress relaxation as well.
Social and Demographic Characteristics of Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Adults with and Without Children

SUMMARY This is the first study to compare lesbian mothers (n = 150), lesbians without children (n = 236), heterosexual mothers (n = 175), heterosexual women without children (n = 38), gay fathers (n = 40), gay men without children (n = 163), heterosexual fathers (n = 157), and heterosexual men without children (n = 32) on social and demographic characteristics. Demographic differences included age, education, length of relationship, religion, and geographic location. Only 28% of gay fathers and 37% of lesbian mothers had at least one child from their current relationship. For women the most important factor in predicting contact with family of origin was sexual orientation, while for men it was parenting status. More gay and lesbian parents had disclosed their sexual orientation than those without children. Gay fathers reached most milestones in the coming-out process between 2.5 and 4 years later than gay men without children, while lesbian mothers reached all milestones in the coming-out process 3 to 5...
Groups can jeopardize your health: Identifying with unhealthy groups to reduce self-uncertainty

Adolescents often engage in behaviors posing significant risks to their health (e.g., substance abuse, sexual promiscuity). One explanation is that adolescence is a developmental phase characterized by impulsiveness and poor judgment of contingencies and risk. We present an alternative uncertainty-identity theory analysis that focuses on adolescence as a period of identity transition. Adolescents are confronted by significant uncertainty about who they are and how they should behave, and they largely turn to their peers to ground their sense of self. They engage in risky health practices because these behaviors define adolescent groups that provide a highly distinctive sense of self and identity that is validated and imbued with prestige by their peers. We asses empirical support for this analysis, and suggest factors that may protect adolescents from uncertainty-motivated identification with unhealthy groups.
Updates and Practical Approaches to Reproductive Disorders in Reptiles

Reproductive biology and disorders are important facets of captive reptile management and are relatively common reasons for reptiles to present to the veterinarian. Although the factors and conditions for normal reproduction differ between species depending on their natural histories, the general principles and common approaches to disorders are presented in this article. Frequently seen disorders addressed in this review include infertility or lack of conception, follicular stasis, dystocia, and reproductive organ prolapse. This article is divided into sections based on the taxonomic groups, although many of the predisposing factors for and the approaches to these conditions are similar for all the groups.
Sensitivity in active RCfilters

The performance of a general structure for the realisation of a biquadratic transfer function with one amplifier is considered. A general formula for the lower bound on the sensitivity of the Q factor with respect to the amplifier gain is derived.
Chemically Dependent Mothers and Their Children

This study identified a profile of women and children from families in which maternal chemical use was either an obvious or the primary reason for referral to a public child welfare agency. Data was also collected on a comparison group of families with no indication of chemical abuse. Findings indicated that the two groups had similar problems and service needs. The drug abusing group faced more frequent and intense personal, social and environmental problems.
PHA-blastogenesis in relationship to the cell-type and source in acute leukemia

The PHA-responsiveness in cell-culture of mononuclear cells obtained in acute leukemia from different sources, such as blood, bone marrow, lymph-nodes, leukemic pleural effusion and spinal fluid were investigated. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of all but 2 of 28 untreated patients showed extents of blastogenesis from 48 to 90%. The bone-marrow cells of 18 of the 28 patients gave high extents of blast-like cells (52 to 88%) in 5. In fact, the marrow cells of 9 patients showed blast extents only from 1 to 14%, whereas the remaining 4 patients had no marrow-cell transformation at all. Also the lymphocytes from lymph-nodes of 2 patients show low extents of blastogenesis (8.5–12.3%). Again, the mononuclear cells obtained from the spinal fluid in 7 patients affected by meningeal leukemia, and from the pleural effusion in 1 patient did not undergo any blastic transformation. The question arises whether the PHA-responsive cells from the acute leukemia peripheral blood are normal immuno-competent lymphocytes circulating in the blood, independent from the cell type of leukemia. As a consequence, it comes up whether the bone-marrow cells are PHA-responsive in the lymphocytic type of acute leukemia and PHA-nonresponsive in other cell-types of leukemia (myelo-monocytic). Thus, the PHA-cell culture of both the peripheral blood and the bone-marrow cells could aid in recognizing the cell types of leukemia one is dealing with.
ESL Teacher Education Abroad and at Home: A Cautionary Tale.

In this article, we compared teacher attitudes and beliefs about culturally appropriate language teaching resulting from an examination of two groups of preservice teachers. One group of preservice teachers enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) study abroad program in Mexico; the other enrolled in a traditional on-campus ESL program. Our findings indicate that study abroad students gained a more empathetic understanding of language and cultural issues that affect language learners than their on-campus counterparts, but that they also developed some misconceptions about language learning based on their study abroad experience.
Jerry Jurgensen, Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide, on Mintzberg's Managers Not MBAs

Since 2000, Jerry Jurgensen has served as chief executive officer of Nationwide, one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services companies in the world. With an emphasis on financia...
Probabilistic inference for multiple testing

An inferential model is developed for large-scale simultaneous hypothesis testing. Starting with a simple hypothesis testing problem, the inferential model produces a probability triplet (p,q,r) on an assertion of the null or alternative hypothesis. The probabilities p and q are for and against the truth of the assertion, whereas r=1-p-q is the remaining probability called the probability of ''[email protected]?t know''. For a large set of hypotheses, a sequence of assertions concerning the total number of true alternative hypotheses are proposed. The inferential model provides levels of belief without a prior for the sequence of assertions and offers a new multiple comparison procedure (MCP). The proposed method is obtained by improving [email protected]?s fiducial and the Dempster-Shafer theory of belief functions so that it produces probabilistic inferential results with desirable frequency properties. The new multiple comparison procedure is shown to have a comparable performance with other existing MCPs and is favorable in terms of probabilistic interpretation. The proposed method is applied in identifying differentially expressed genes in microarray data analysis.
Finite Element Analysis of Adhesive-Bonded Single-Lap Joints

Finite element analyses were conducted using commercial software ABAQUS to analyze the mechanical behavior of single-lap adhesive-bonded joints. Adhesive was characterized for the stress-strain relation by comparing the apparent shear-strain relations obtained from finite element analysis and experiments following ASTM D 5656 “Standard Test Method for Thick-Adherend Metal Lap-Shear Joints for Determination of the Stress-Strain Behavior of Adhesives in Shear by Tension Loading.” With the established stress-strain relation, two failure criteria using equivalent plastic strain and J-integral were used to predict the failure load for joint specimens following ASTM D 5656 and ASTM D 3165 (Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension Loading of Single-Lap-Joint Laminated Assemblies), respectively. Bondline thicknesses of 0.013”, 0.04”, 0.08”, and 0.12” were used in the investigation. Good correlation was found between the finite element results and the experimental results.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Electric field, permittivity, and strain distributions induced by interdigitated electrodes on electrooptic waveguides

Integrated optical interdigitated-electrode devices are used to diffract light and to launch acoustic waves. The electric field and the permittivity and strain tensors induced by a voltage applied to periodic interdigitated electrodes of finite thickness on the surface of an anisotropic electrooptic crystalline waveguide are calculated rigorously. A buffer layer between the electrodes and the waveguide is included in the analysis.
The influence of diffusion and chemical reaction on adsorption kinetics in binary surfactant systems

Abstract A macroscopic transport theory of adsorption kinetics in binary surfactant systems has been developed, taking into account the influence of diffusion as well as bulk and surface chemical reaction. The chemical kinetics involve reaction of a surfactant (solute 1) with either the host liquid or another species present in large excess to form a second surfactant (solute 2), which is also reactive. When the chemical rate equations are “pseudo-first-order” in bulk and surface concentration of surfactant, and there are no energy barriers to adsorption, the transport equations describing subsurface dynamics can be solved analytically. However, when we assume a binary Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm relating surface and subsurface concentrations, we generate a set of coupled, non-linear integral equations which must be solved numerically. These solutions show that, because diffusion increases the surface concentration while chemical reaction ultimately decreases the total amount of surfactant in the system, the surface concentration exhibits a maximum value with time. The position of the maximum, the value of the surface concentration at maximum, as well as the shape of the surface concentration/time curve, are all shown to be sensitive, in varying degrees, to changes in diffusion, chemical reaction, and adsorption parameters. For example, increases in the dimensionless Damkohler number, which is a ratio of chemical reaction to diffusion rates, decrease both the time to maximum, as well as the surface concentration at maximum. The applicability and relevance of this work to situations of technological interest, such as the migration of reactive adhesion promoting species in polymeric resins, is also briefly discussed.
Turbulent Flow in Two-Inlet Channels

The problem of turbulent flows in two-inlet channels has been studied numerically by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the {kappa}-{epsilon} model in a mapped domain. Both the high Reynolds number and the low Reynolds number form were used for this purpose. In general, the former predicts a weaker and smaller recirculation zone that the latter. Comparisons with experimental data, when applicable, were also made. The bulk of the present computations used, however, the high Reynolds number form to correlate different geometries and inflow conditions with the flow properties after turning.
Understanding herb and dietary supplement use in patients with epilepsy.

Summary Objective: To determine the prevalence of herb and dietary supplement use and to provide a comprehensive analysis of factors influencing the use of these products in patients with epilepsy. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires in a selected group of patients who were receiving care at a tertiary epilepsy center. Logistic regression was used to measure the association between the demographic variables and herb and dietary supplement use. In addition, we performed a MEDLINE search for each of the herb and dietary products used by our patients to determine the effect of these products on seizures and on their potential for interactions with other drugs metabolized by the liver. Results: One hundred eighty-seven patients completed the survey. Fifty-six percent of this group of patients with epilepsy used herbs and dietary supplements at the time of the survey. A considerable portion (71%) of these patients reported the use of these products to their physician, and most of them relied on their physicians as the primary source of information. Most of the patients used dietary supplement for health promotion rather than to specifically benefit their epilepsy condition. Approximately one-third of patients used herb or dietary supplements that had the potential to increase seizures (16%) or to interact with hepatically metabolized drugs (19%). The most powerful independent predictors of herb and dietary supplement use were partial epilepsy [odds ratio (OR) 3.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–8.88] and Caucasian race (OR 3.55; 95% CI 1.11–11.34). Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy commonly used dietary supplements along with their antiepileptic medications. The majority of these patients used herb and dietary supplements for health promotion rather than because of dissatisfaction with conventional treatment. It is important that physicians involved in the care of patients with epilepsy routinely inquire about the use of dietary supplements and that they make use of reliable resources to assess the safety of these products with regard to modification of seizure risk and the potential for interactions with antiepileptic drugs.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a baboon, a spider monkey, and a chimpanzee and a review of the literature

Background Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are believed to originate from the intestinal pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal) or their progenitor cells. Spontaneous tumors have been reported in dogs, horses, rhesus, and a chimpanzee and they have been produced experimentally in mice and rats. GISTs represent a diagnostic challenge because they cannot be differentiated from non-lymphoid mesenchymal tumors without using human c-kit (CD117) immunohistochemistry. Methods Three neoplasms were incidental findings at necropsy in the stomachs of a baboon and a spider monkey and in the rectum of a chimpanzee. Results The GISTs were initially diagnosed grossly and histologically with hematoxylin and eosin as leiomyomas. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that all three were c-kit (CD117) positive. Conclusions These are the first reports of GISTs in the baboon and spider monkey and the second in a chimpanzee. The occurrence of GISTs in non-human primates may provide a unique opportunity to study these tumors.
Sec2p mediates nucleotide exchange on Sec4p and is involved in polarized delivery of post-Golgi vesicles.

The small GTPase Sec4p is required for vesicular transport at the post-Golgi stage of yeast secretion. Here we present evidence that mutations in SEC2 , itself an essential gene that acts at the same stage of the secretory pathway, cause Sec4p to mislocalize as a result of a random rather than a polarized accumulation of vesicles. Sec2p and Sec4p interact directly, with the nucleotide-free conformation of Sec4p being the preferred state for interaction with Sec2p. Sec2p functions as an exchange protein, catalyzing the dissociation of GDP from Sec4 and promoting the binding of GTP. We propose that Sec2p functions to couple the activation of Sec4p to the polarized delivery of vesicles to the site of exocytosis.
Analysis of results of radiation therapy for stage II carcinoma of the cervix

From April 1969 through December 1980, 251 patients with invasive, epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix received radical radiation therapy consisting of a combination of external beam and intracavitary therapy designed to deliver 7000 to 8000 rad to Point A and 6000 to 6500 rad to the pelvic lymph nodes. The disease-free survival at 2, 5, and 10 years for patients with Stage IIA disease was 90%, 76%, and 76%, respectively, whereas for patients with Stage IIB disease it was 77%, 62%, and 59%, respectively. The survival for the entire group at 2, 5, and 10 years was 80%, 65%, and 62%, respectively. Sixty-eight patients had a recurrence within the irradiated volume, for a locoregional recurrence rate of 27% (68/251). In 49 patients complications developed for an overall complication rate of 19.5% (49/251). An analysis of the complications and their degree of severity revealed a correlation with the dose of intracavitary plus external beam therapy given to Point A and to the rectum. The mean dose to Point A for patients with and without complications were 7877 rad (standard error [SE] +/- 95) and 7593 rad (SE +/- 67), respectively. The mean rectal dose for patients with and without intestinal complications were 6767 rad (SE +/- 157) and 6426 rad (SE +/- 78), respectively. The dose difference between patients with and without complications was statistically significant for Point A (P = to 0.0163) but not for the rectal dose (P = to 0.0887). There was no correlation between the bladder dose and urinary complications. Other treatment methods as well as patient and tumor parameters, are being currently analyzed to identify which factors, singly or in combination, may contribute to the development of treatment failures or complications.
High Throughput Engineering to Revitalize a Vestigial Electron Transfer Pathway in Bacterial Photosynthetic Reaction Centers

Photosynthetic reaction centers convert light energy into chemical energy in a series of transmembrane electron transfer reactions, each with near 100% yield. The structures of reaction centers reveal two symmetry-related branches of cofactors (denoted A and B) that are functionally asymmetric; purple bacterial reaction centers use the A pathway exclusively. Previously, site-specific mutagenesis has yielded reaction centers capable of transmembrane charge separation solely via the B branch cofactors, but the best overall electron transfer yields are still low. In an attempt to better realize the architectural and energetic factors that underlie the directionality and yields of electron transfer, sites within the protein-cofactor complex were targeted in a directed molecular evolution strategy that implements streamlined mutagenesis and high throughput spectroscopic screening. The polycistronic approach enables efficient construction and expression of a large number of variants of a heteroligomeric complex that has two intimately regulated subunits with high sequence similarity, common features of many prokaryotic and eukaryotic transmembrane protein assemblies. The strategy has succeeded in the discovery of several mutant reaction centers with increased efficiency of the B pathway; they carry multiple substitutions that have not been explored or linked using traditional approaches. This work expands our understanding of the structure-function relationships that dictate the efficiency of biological energy-conversion reactions, concepts that will aid the design of bio-inspired assemblies capable of both efficient charge separation and charge stabilization.
Sex differences in thermal nociception and morphine antinociception in rodents depend on genotype

It has been appreciated for some time that the sexes can differ in their sensitivity to pain and its inhibition. Both the human and rodent literatures remain quite contentious, with many investigators failing to observe sex differences that others document clearly. Recent data from our laboratory have pointed to an interaction between sex and genotype in rodents, such that sex differences are observed in some strains but not others. However, these studies employed inbred mouse strains and are thus not directly relevant to existing data. We presently examined whether the observation of statistically significant sex differences in nociception and morphine antinociception might depend on the particular outbred rodent population chosen for study. Rats of both sexes and three common outbred strains were obtained from three suppliers (Long Evans, Simonsen; Sprague Dawley, Harlan; Wistar Kyoto, Taconic) and tested for nociceptive sensitivity on the 49 degrees C tail-withdrawal assay, and antinociception following morphine (1-10mg/kg, i.p.). In further studies, three outbred populations of mice (CD-1, Harlan; Swiss Webster, Harlan; Swiss Webster, Simonsen) were bred in our vivarium for several generations and tested for tail-withdrawal sensitivity and morphine antinociception (1-20male, and no significant difference. In a separate study in which the estrous cycle was tracked in female mice, we found evidence for an interaction between genotype and estrous phase relevant to morphine antinociception. However, estrous cyclicity did not explain the observed sex differences. These data are discussed with respect to the existing sex difference and pain literature, and also as they pertain to future investigations of these phenomena.
Spreadsheet analysis of a hierarchical control system model of behavior

The behavior of a hierarchy of control systems can be simulated with an electronic-spreadsheet. Each control system is a column of three cells representing the reference signal, perceptual signal, and output variable of the system. All of the control systems are closed-loop, the input to each system being a function of its output. The circular references in the spreadsheet are resolved through iterative recalculation. When the parameters of each control system (amplification and slowing factors) are set to appropriate values, all control systems in the hierarchy continue to match perceptual signals with reference signals. A three-level hierarchy with four systems at each level is simulated in the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet model makes it possible to observe the dynamic behavior of the control systems as they correct for the effects of environmental disturbance and changes in higher order reference signals. It is possible to “reorganize” the system by changing the perceptions controlled by systems at different levels of the hierarchy. The user can also test to determine the variables being controlled by the system.
Active transportation to school over 2 years in relation to weight status and physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine potential benefits of active commuting to school on measures of weight status and physical activity in a sample of youth. Research Methods and Procedures: A cohort of students from seven elementary schools was measured four times--in the fall and spring of fourth grade (N = 1083) and fifth grade (N = 924). Participants were classified as active (walking, biking, or skateboarding to school almost every day for baseline analyses or at least 2 d/wk for analyses of consistent active commuting) or non-active commuters to school. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. Height, weight, and skinfolds were objectively assessed. RESULTS: Boys who actively commuted to school had lower BMI (p DISCUSSION: Walking and cycling to school may contribute to preventing excessive weight gain, or leaner children may walk or cycle to school. KW: SR2S Language: en
Quantifying Protein-Protein Interactions of Peripheral Membrane Proteins by Fluorescence Brightness Analysis

Fluorescently labeled proteins that are found both in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane, such as peripheral membrane proteins, create stratified fluorescent layers that present a challenging environment for brightness studies with fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy. The geometry of each layer along with fluorescence and brightness contributions from adjacent layers generates a convoluted raw brightness that conceals the underlying brightness of each individual layer. Because the brightness at a layer establishes the oligomeric state of the fluorescently labeled protein at said layer, we developed a method that connects the experimental raw brightness with the physical brightness at each layered compartment. The technique determines the oligomerization in each compartment from an axial intensity scan through the sample, followed by a fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy measurement at each layer. We experimentally verify the technique with H-Ras-EGFP as a model system and determine its oligomeric state at both the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we study the oligomerization of the Gag matrix domain of Human T-lymphotropic virus Type 1. The matrix domain targets the Gag polyprotein to the plasma membrane where, subsequently, viral assembly occurs. We determine the oligomerization of matrix in the cytoplasm and observe the onset of protein-protein interactions at the membrane. These observations shed light on the early assembly steps of the retrovirus.
We Won't Be Fooled Again: Teaching Critical Thinking via Evaluation of Hoax and Historical Revisionist Websites in a Library Credit Course

ABSTRACT At Central Michigan University, librarians teach multiple sections of an eight-week, one-credit research skills class to hundreds of undergraduate students each semester. While the main focus of the course is to teach students how to find, use, and properly cite library resources, librarians also address critical thinking skills by designing lessons to teach World Wide Web organization and how to analyze the information found via search engines. Showing student's obvious hoax sites about “tree octopi” and “male pregnancy” introduces the concepts of critical thinking and Website analysis. Most students quickly refute the information on such sites. However, students have a more difficult time assessing social, historical, or political revisionist Web sites' validity. Contrasting those claims with evidence accepted by international courts, historians, and scientists is useful in pointing out the flaws of seemingly well documented but one-sided revisionist sites. There are dangers in exposing student...
Stability and convexity in plasticity

The postulates of stability in the small and in the large for isothermal time-independent materials,Drucker [1], are considered and modified to become applicable to material behavior such as considered byPhillips andSierakowski [2]. With the modified postulates the loading surfaces are shown to be convex. An alternate discussion of convexity, based on an analysis of the material behavior and not on the stability postulates is also given. It is also shown thatDrucker's postulate of stability in the large might not be valid even for the classical strain-hardening idealization commonly used in plasticity.
Enhanced resolution and sensitivity in fluorescence fluctuation measurements using multi-modal data acquisition and global analysis

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and related fluctuation spectroscopy and microscopy methods have become important research tools that enable detailed investigations of the chemical and physical properties of molecules and molecular systems in a variety of complex environments. When analyzed successfully fluctuation measurements often provide unique information that is otherwise difficult to measure, such as molecular concentrations and interaction stoichiometry. However, information recovery via curve fitting of fluctuation data can present challenges due to limited resolution and/or problems with fitting model verification. We discuss a new approach to fluctuation data analysis coupling multi-modal fluorescence measurements and global analysis, and demonstrate how this approach can provide enhanced sensitivity and resolution in fluctuation measurements. We illustrate the approach using a combination of FCS and fluorescence lifetime measurements, here called τFCS, and demonstrate the capability to recover the concentration of two independent molecular species in a two component mixture even when the species have identical diffusion coefficients and molecular brightness values. This work was partially supported by NSF grants MCB0817966 and DMR0907435.
FUSEDAT: a software package for fusion and data association and tracking with multiple sensors

Multisensor tracking and data fusion deals with combining data from various sources to arrive at an accurate assessment of the situation. Difficulties in performing multisensor tracking and fusion include not only ambiguous data, but also disparate data sources. In this paper, a software package called FUSEDAT which deals with tracking and data association with multiple sensors is described. FUSEDAT is implemented in the MATLAB environment and is portable to different platforms that support MATLAB. This software package provides a simple yet flexible environment for multitarget multisensor tracking and fusion. It is intended for rapid system prototyping and performance evaluation.
The DExH Box Helicase Domain of Spindle-E Is Necessary for Retrotransposon Silencing and Axial Patterning During Drosophila Oogenesis

Transposable selfish genetic elements have the potential to cause debilitating mutations as they replicate and reinsert within the genome. Therefore, it is critical to keep the cellular levels of these elements low. This is especially true in the germline where these mutations could affect the viability of the next generation. A class of small noncoding RNAs, the Piwi-associated RNAs, is responsible for silencing transposable elements in the germline of most organisms. Several proteins have been identified as playing essential roles in piRNA generation and transposon silencing. However, for the most part their function in piRNA generation is currently unknown. One of these proteins is the Drosophila melanogaster DExH box/Tudor domain protein Spindle-E, whose activity is necessary for the generation of most germline piRNAs. In this study we molecularly and phenotypically characterized 14 previously identified spindle-E alleles. Of the alleles that express detectable Spindle-E protein, we found that five had mutations in the DExH box domain. Additionally, we found that processes that depend on piRNA function, including Aubergine localization, Dynein motor movement, and retrotransposon silencing, were severely disrupted in alleles with DExH box domain mutations. The phenotype of many of these alleles is as severe as the strongest spindle-E phenotype, whereas alleles with mutations in other regions of Spindle-E did not affect these processes as much. From these data we conclude that the DExH box domain of Spindle-E is necessary for its function in the piRNA pathway and retrotransposon silencing.
The rise of large-scale imaging studies in psychiatry

From the initial arguments over whether 12 to 20 subjects were sufficient for an fMRI study, sample sizes in psychiatric neuroimaging studies have expanded into the tens of thousands. These large-scale imaging studies fall into several categories, each of which has specific advantages and challenges. The different study types can be grouped based on their level of control: meta-analyses, at one extreme of the spectrum, control nothing about the imaging protocol or subject selection criteria in the datasets they include, On the other hand, planned multi-site mega studies pour intense efforts into strictly having the same protocols. However, there are several other combinations possible, each of which is best used to address certain questions. The growing investment of all these studies is delivering on the promises of neuroimaging for psychiatry, and holds incredible potential for impact at the level of the individual patient. However, to realize this potential requires both standardized data-sharing efforts, so that there is more staying power in the datasets for re-use and new applications, as well as training the next generation of neuropsychiatric researchers in “Big Data” techniques in addition to traditional experimental methods. The increased access to thousands of datasets along with the needed informatics demands a new emphasis on integrative scientific methods.
Child and adolescent psychiatry for the future: challenges and opportunities.

In this article, the authors focus on three particularly salient sets of issues that face the field of child and adolescent psychiatry as a sub-specialty of general psychiatry today—those related to workforce, public perception, and professional identity. In an article directed at the general psychiatrist, the authors present possibilities for refocusing the activities of the child and adolescent psychiatrist to emphasize consultative and collaborative roles. The authors embrace working in systems of care with communities and families as partners. Finally, they discuss the training implications of such shifts in professional identity, and the need to maintain the centrality of a scientifically-based developmental biopsychosocial formulation.
SURVIVAL OF DUCK PLAGUE VIRUS IN WATER FROM LAKE ANDES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SOUTH DAKOTA

An isolant of duck plague herpesvirus from the Lake Andes Refuge outbreak was seeded in raw and filter-decontaminated water from two locations on the refuge, held at 4 C, and assayed for infectivity intermittently over a period of 2 mo. From an initial level of about 105 PFU per ml, infectivity in the filtered samples uniformly dropped to about 104 PFU per ml. Infectivity in the raw samples declined much more rapidly; infectious virus remaining at the end of 2 mo (ca. 101 PFU per ml) was only about 0.01% of that originally seeded.
The Significance of Folate Binding Proteins in Folate Metabolism

Various aspects of folate metabolism in the microorganism and in the multicellular organism call for functional, specific folate binding proteins. These folate binding protein functions would include extracellular, intercellular, and intracellular folate transport, distribution, and storage.
The rheology of suspensions of porous zeolite particles in polymer solutions

We present data and predictive models for the shear rheology of suspended zeolite particles in polymer solutions. It was found experimentally that suspensions of zeolite particles in polymer solutions have relative viscosities that dramatically exceed the Krieger–Dougherty predictions for hard sphere suspensions. Our investigations show that the major origin of this discrepancy is due to the selective absorption of solvent molecules from the suspending polymer solution into zeolite pores. The effect raises both the polymer concentration in the suspending medium and the particle volume fraction in the suspension. Consequently, both the viscosity of the polymer solution and the particle contribution to the suspension viscosity are increased. We propose a predictive model for the viscosity of porous zeolite suspensions by incorporating a solvent absorption parameter, α, into the Krieger–Dougherty model. We experimentally determined the solvent absorption parameter by comparing viscosity data for suspensions of porous and nonporous MFI zeolite particles. Our results are in good agreement with the theoretical pore volume of MFI particles.
Exploring the impact of polyproline II (PII) conformational bias on the binding of peptides to the SEM-5 SH3 domain.

The left-handed polyproline II helical structure (PII) is observed to be a dominant conformation in the disordered states of protein and small polypeptide chains, even when no prolines are present in the sequence. Recently, in work by Ferreon and Hilser, the energetics associated with Ala and Gly substitutions at a surface exposed proline site were determined calorimetrically by measuring the binding energetics of Sos peptide variants to the C-terminal Src Homology 3 domain of SEM-5. The results were interpreted as a significant conformational bias toward the bound conformation (i.e., PII), even when the ligand is unbound. That study was not able to determine, however, whether the conformational bias of the peptides could be explained in terms other than that of a PII preference. Here, we test, using a computer algorithm based on the hard sphere collision (HSC) model, the notion of whether a bias in the unbound states of the peptide ligands is specific for the PII conformation, or if a bias to any other region of (φ, ψ) space can also result in the same observed binding energetics. The results of these computer simulations indicate that, of the regions of (φ, ψ) modeled for bias in the small peptides, only the bias to the PII conformation, and at rates of bias similar to the experimentally observed rates, quantitatively reproduced the experimental binding energetics.
Raman intensity measurements of single-walled carbon nanotube suspensions as a quantitative technique to assess purity

A method to assess the purity of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) bulk samples based on Raman spectroscopy is reported. The new method has higher reproducibility and quantitative precision than those previously used. It consists of measuring the G-band intensity of liquid suspensions of SWCNT samples as a function of solid concentration. A simple equation is proposed in which one of the two adjustable parameters is the SWCNT purity. The method has been applied to a series of samples of similar characteristics, but varying quality. The results are compared to those obtained on the same series of samples using standard analytical techniques, including electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and optical absorption.
Determinants of blood pressure response to low-salt intake in a healthy adult population

Although the beneficial effects of lowering salt intake in hypertensive patients are widely appreciated, the impact of promoting dietary salt restriction for blood pressure (BP) reduction at the population level remains controversial. The authors used 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring to characterize the determinants of systolic BP (SBP) response to low-salt intake in a large, relatively healthy Amish population. Patients received a high- and low-sodium diet for 6 days each, separated by a 6- to 14-day washout period. Variance component analysis was used to assess the association of several variables with SBP response to low-salt diet. Mean SBP was 0.7 ± 5.8 mm Hg and 1.3 ± 6.1 mm Hg lower on the low-salt compared with the high-salt diet during daytime (P=.008) and nighttime (P<.0001), respectively. SBP response to a low-salt diet was significantly associated with increasing age and pre-intervention SBP, in both daytime and nighttime, while the association with female sex and SBP response to cold pressor test (CPT) was significant only during nighttime. Our results suggest that salt reduction may have greater BP-lowering effects on women, older individuals, individuals with higher SBP, and individuals with higher SBP response to CPT.