cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating cumulative ambient concentrations of air pollutants: description and precision of methods used for an epidemiological study.

Abstract Methods for estimating cumulative ambient air pollution concentrations for individuals enrolled in an epidemiological cohort study are described and studied. Monthly interpolations from fixed-site monitoring stations in California to zip code centroids were used. The precision of the interpolation methods for total suspended particulates and ozone was assessed, and fixed-site monitoring stations were used in turn as receptor sites. Actual versus interpolated 2-y mean concentrations did not differ significantly and were correlated with a Pearson correlation coefficient of .78 for total suspended particulates and .87 for ozone. The impact of the change from monitoring total oxidants to ozone on oxidant/ozone cumulations was evaluated, and monthly mean concentrations for total oxidants were compared with ozone for 435 station months during which both pollutants were measured simultaneously. Average concentrations did not differ significantly and were highly correlated (r = 0.94). Exceedance frequenc...
What we mean by meaning: Conceptual integration in gesture analysis and transcription

Determining what a gesture “means” is an intuitive inferential process, which can profit from the application of a formalism which guides analysis. This paper uses a detailed exploration of a single example to illustrate the efficacy of the conceptual integration framework (Fauconnier & Turner, 2002) in organizing and understanding the process of meaning construction, and particularly in helping the analyst to understand the relationship between iconicity and metaphor.
Throughput optimized a-Si/μc-Si tandem solar cells on sputter-etched ZnO substrates

Abstract Recently, Applied Materials has demonstrated the ability to manufacture large area a-Si/μc-Si thin film modules with total area efficiencies of 10% and above. Reducing the production costs is now the key objective for an economic success of this technology. Decreasing the absorber layer thickness or increasing the deposition rate can reduce the cost significantly because the PECVD deposition of the silicon layers is one of the main cost contributors. But this would also reduce the conversion efficiency of amorphous/microcrystalline tandem cells (a-Si/μc-Si TJ cells). Therefore, optimizing TJ cells for maximal productivity requires a careful balancing of layer thicknesses and deposition rates. In this paper we studied the impact of deposition rates and absorber layer thicknesses for top and bottom cells. The reduction of the bottom cell (BC) thickness from 2 μm to less than 1 μm showed only a small impact on the stabilized module efficiency while having a big impact on the productivity of a production line. The influence of the top cell (TC) deposition rate on the other hand results in a big decrease of the efficiency while having only a small impact on the line output. 10.2% stable mini-module efficiency could be achieved with 900 nm BC thickness, reducing the deposition time by 50%.
Belief Condensation Filtering

Inferring a sequence of variables from observations is prevalent in a multitude of applications. Traditional techniques such as Kalman filters (KFs) and particle filters (PFs) are widely used for such inference problems. However, these techniques fail to provide satisfactory performance in many important nonlinear or non-Gaussian scenarios. In addition, there is a lack of a unified methodology for the design and analysis of different filtering techniques. To address these problems, in this paper, we propose a new filtering methodology called belief condensation (BC) filtering. First, we establish a general framework for filtering techniques and propose an optimality criterion that leads to BC filtering. We then propose efficient BC algorithms that can best represent the complex distributions arising in the filtering process. The performance of the proposed techniques is evaluated for two representative nonlinear/non-Gaussian problems, showing that the BC filtering can provide accuracy approaching the theoretical bounds and outperform existing techniques in terms of the accuracy versus complexity tradeoff.
Medical laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa that meet international quality standards

Objectives: A recent survey of laboratories in Kampala, Uganda, demonstrated that only 0.3% of laboratories (3/954) met international quality standards. To benchmark laboratory quality throughout the rest of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), we compiled a list of SSA laboratories meeting international quality standards. Methods: Accrediting bodies were queried via online registries or direct communication in May 2013. Results: There were 380 laboratories accredited to international standards in SSA. Ninety-one percent were in South Africa. Thirty-seven of 49 countries had no laboratories accredited to international quality standards. Accredited laboratory density (per million people) in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana were similar to those in many European countries. Single variable linear regression showed a correlation between accredited laboratory density and health expenditures per person (adjusted R 2 = 0.81, P < .001). Conclusions: Most SSA countries do not have an accredited clinical laboratory. For those that do, there is a strong correlation between country-specific accredited laboratory density and per-capita health expenditures.
Impacts of off-road vehicles on nitrogen cycles in biological soil crusts: resistance in different U.S. deserts

Biological soil crusts are an important component of desert ecosystems, as they influence soil stability and fertility. This study examined and compared the short-term vehicular impacts on lichen cover and nitrogenase activity (NA) of biological soil crusts. Experimental disturbance was applied to different types of soil in regions throughout the western U.S. (Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts). Results show that pre-disturbance cover of soil lichens is significantly correlated with the silt content of soils, and negatively correlated with sand and clay. While disturbance appeared to reduce NA at all sites, differences were statistically significant at only 12 of the 26 sites. Cool desert sites showed a greater decline than hot desert sites, which may indicate non-heterocystic cyanobacterial species are more susceptible to disturbance than non-heterocystic species. Sandy soils showed greater reduction of NA as sand content increased, while fine-textured soils showed a greater decline as sand content increased. At all sites, higher NA before the disturbance resulted in less impact to NA post-disturbance. These results may be useful in predicting the impacts of off-road vehicles in different regions and different soils.
Spinal dysraphism associated with OEIS complex: aspects of diagnosis and treatment

Background Associated neurospinal dysraphism in combination with anomalies of the genitourinary tract is well known in children with imperforate anus. There is a broad spectrum of concomittant anomalies with the OEIS Syndrome as the most serious endpoint. OEIS is an acronym for omphalocele, exstrophy (bladder exstrophy/cloacal exstrophy), imperforate anus and spinal defects. At present almost all cases of OEIS are diagnosed prenatally and the patients should be treated at a specialized center with a multidisciplinary team. The complex diagnostic procedures and surgical measures are addressed as well as the difficulties in achieving continence in these patients. Materials and methods We present data of six patients with imperforate anus and spinal dysraphism (4 with meningomyelocele, two with lipomeningocele) currently managed in the spina bifida clinic of the Children’s Hospital of Cologne. Two of them presenting the complete OEIS syndrome symptoms, another two with cloacal exstrophy without omphalocele and two with major renal malformations. Only two of six patients had hydrocephalus. Results
Ultraviolet Interstellar Lines in the Spectrum of pi Scorpii Recorded at 2 Kilometers per Second Resolution

A spectrum of Pi Scorpii has been recorded from 1003 to 1172 A with a maximum SNR of about 20 and a velocity resolution of 2.4 km/s. Three types of H I as well as two discrete H II regions are distinguished in velocity space, allowing independent analyses of physical conditions and abundances for the individual gas components. A direct evaluation of optical depths and column densities across the absorption features is applied for the first time to the dominant ionization stage of Fe, Si, and P. Based on an analysis of the spectrum, it is concluded that all of the Ti II absorption seen toward Pi Sco arises in the warm, neutral intercloud medium while the other elements have their maximum absorption associated with cold clouds. A conservative value of log delta less than -3.4 is inferred for the Ti depletion in the cold clouds, a value more extreme than any integrated, line-of-sight measurement made to date.
Pleistocene glaciation in the southern Lake District of Chile

Relative-age criteria permit deposits of successive Andean glacier advances in the southern Lake District of Chile to be divided into four mappable drift sheets, the oldest two of which overlie Tertiary bedrock along the eastern flank of the Cordillera de la Costa. Only the youngest drift (Llanquihue) is datable by radiocarbon. During the most extensive ice advance of the last glaciation the Lago Llanquihue glacier was about 95 km long and reached an estimated maximum thickness of between 1000 and 1300 m. Glacier equilibrium lines at that time lay about 1000 m below their present level and rose eastward with a gradient of about 5 m/km. Successive ice advances in the Lago Llanquihue basin, which resulted in construction of end moraines and associated outwash plains beyond the lake margin, culminated sometime before about 20,000 yr ago and between 20,000 and 19,000 yr ago. A later readvance, inferred from the sedimentary record of lake-level fluctuations in the basin, had begun by about 15,000 yr ago and culminated shortly after 13,000 yr ago. A comparable, but less-closely dated, record of ice advances is found northwest of Seno Reloncavi and on Isla Chiloe. Deglaciation following the latest advance is likely to have been rapid, for the major glacier lobes fronted on deep water bodies that would have promoted extensive calving.
Measurement of sheath potential and metal surface phenomena at the alcator C plasma edge

Abstract The radial profile of sheath potential (φw) on tungsten surfaces has been measured in the boundary layer of Alcator C plasma using a retarding field energy analyzer. Simultaneous measurement of the electron temperature (Te) and ion temperature (Ti) profiles was also made. The φw, Te and Ti profiles are monotonically decreasing functions of radius but are much steeper on the electron drift side of the probe. Plotted as a function of Ti/Te the normalized sheath potential — eφw/kTe decrease steeply on the electron drift side but increases weakly on the ion drift side. Such a difference in characteristics was not predicted theoretically. Unipolar arcing was found on the tungsten surface examined with a scanning electron microscope. Microscopic craters were formed due to arcing. The surface density of the craters is as high as 1013 cm−2. The density and size of the craters increases with sheath potential. No sheath potential and unipolar arcing were found on the SiC surface.
A prospective study of thiazide use and fractures in women

Thiazide diuretics reduce urinary calcium and may inhibit bone resorption, and hence may help to attenuate age-related bone loss and to lower the risk of osteoporotic fracture. We followed 83 728 women, who were 36–61 years of age at baseline in 1982, for 10 years with biennial mailed questionnaires on which they reported incident fractures, use of thiazide diuretics, and other medical behavioral information. From descriptions of fracture sites and circumstances, 251 hip (proximal femur) and 1594 forearm (distal radius) fractures were identified as low or moderate trauma events. After controlling for age, body mass index, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone use, cigarette smoking and dietary factors, we observed a statistically significant 22% reduction in the risk of forearm fractures among current thiazide users compared with women who reported no thiazide use. Risk appeared to decline with longer duration of use, reaching a 37% reduction in risk among women who had been using thiazides for 8 or more years. For hip fractures, thiazide use was protective among the postmenopausal women (relative risk = 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.48–0.99). We conclude that the potential benefit of thiazide diuretics for osteoporosis should be considered when prescribing antihypertensive treatment.
Instructional behaviors for clearer presentations in the classroom

Teachers spend a considerable amount of classroom time talking to students. Much of this talk revolves around expository presentations of information. Teachers claim the reason for the quantity of teacher talk is to clarify instruction to students. However, discrepancies can exist between what teachers assume are the benefits of their talk and how students learn from such talk. To match students' abilities to learn, teachers must produce clearer instructional presentations. This article proposes the importance of structure in developing sound teacher expository presentations. Nine instructional behaviors based on correlational and experimental research during the past two decades are presented in the form of teacher guidelines to maximise precision and structure in teacher talk in order to facilitate student achievement.
Sexual selection, male morphology, and the efficacy of courtship signalling in two wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Males of the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata (Araneae: Lycosidae), possess a conspicuous male secondary sexual character: dark pigmentation and tufts of bristles on the tibiae of their forelegs. We tested several hypotheses relating to the role of this conspicuous trait in sexual selection. Triad mating experiments suggest that the tufts do not play an obvious role in the operation of sexual selection by either male competition or female choice, as there were no significant differences in the mating success of intact and experimentally shaved males. However, females mated more often with males that initiated courtship first, suggesting that capture of a female’s attention by male signalling may play a critical role. In behavioral experiments that paired a single male with a female in arenas that allowed both visual and vibratory signal transmission during courtship, female receptivity did not vary significantly with the presence or absence of tufts. However, experiments that isolated the visual component of communication (by eliminating vibratory communication) revealed a significant effect of the presence of tufts: females showed receptivity less often to males with tufts removed. Female response to visual signals was much greater in S. ocreata than in its sibling congener, Schizocosa rovneri, which lacks male tufts. We hypothesize that the tufts serve to increase the efficacy of visual displays of S. ocreata, as vibratory communication is constrained by the complex leaf litter habitat of some populations. Such environmental constraints may make visual signalling over distance a critical factor for effective courtship communication, which may in turn strongly influence male fitness.
Impact of Exercise to Improve Gait Efficiency on Activity and Participation in Older Adults With Mobility Limitations: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Definitive evidence that exercise interventions that improve gait also reduce disability is lacking. A task-oriented, motor sequence learning exercise intervention has been shown to reduce the energy cost of walking and improve gait speed, but whether the intervention also improves activity and participation has not been demonstrated. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the impact of a task-oriented, motor sequence learning exercise (TO) intervention and the impact of an impairment-oriented, multicomponent exercise (IO) intervention on activity and participation outcomes in older adults with mobility limitations. The mediating effects of a change in the energy cost of walking on changes in activity and participation also were determined. Design This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting The study was conducted in an ambulatory clinical research training center. Participants The study participants were 47 older adults (mean age=77.2 years, SD=5.5) with slow and variable gait. Intervention The intervention was a 12-week, physical therapist–guided program of TO or IO. Measurements Measures of activity (gait speed over an instrumented walkway; daily physical activity measured with an accelerometer; confidence in walking determined with the Gait Efficacy Scale; and physical function determined with the total, basic lower-extremity, and advanced lower-extremity components of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument [Late-Life FDI]) and participation (disability limitation dimension and instrumental role [home and community task performance] domain components of the Late-Life FDI) were recorded before and after the intervention. The energy cost of walking was determined from the rate of oxygen consumption during self-paced treadmill walking at the physiological steady state standardized by walking speed. An adjusted comparison of activity and participation outcomes in the treatment arms was made by use of an analysis of covariance model, with baseline and change in energy cost of walking added to the model to test for mediation. Tests were used to determine the significance of the mediating effects. Results Activity improved in TO but not in IO for confidence in walking (Gait Efficacy Scale; mean adjusted difference=9.8 [SD=3.5]) and physical function (Late-Life FDI basic lower-extremity component; mean adjusted difference=3.5 [SD=1.7]). Improvements in TO were marginally greater than those in IO for gait speed, physical activity, and total physical function. Participation improved marginally more in TO than in IO for disability limitations and instrumental role. Limitations The older adults were randomized to the intervention group, but differences in baseline measures had to be accounted for in the analyses. Conclusions A TO intervention that improved gait also led to improvements in some activity and participation outcomes in older adults with mobility limitations.
Not an ‘Angel’, not a ‘Whore’: Surrogates as ‘Dirty’ Workers in India

In this study of surrogate mothers in Gujarat, India, I introduce the concept of ‘sexualised care work’ to describe a new type of care work—commercial surrogacy—that is similar to existing forms of care work but is stigmatised in the public imagination, among other reasons, because of its parallels with sex work. I use the oral histories of the surrogates to examine the accounts they give, justifying their work and resisting stigma. I argue that while the narratives can be seen as a form of resistance, they reinforce the primary identity of these women as dependent mothers rather than independent workers.
Predicting cash flows related to defined benefit plan contributions

Future contributions to defined benefit pension plans are a significant cash flow item that can be difficult to estimate. Funding ratios – pension assets relative to pension liabilities – have long been considered important for estimating cash flows needed for current and future pension contributions (Ballester et al., 1998). However, US GAAP or IFRS funding ratios that companies report in their financial statements may differ from funding ratios used by pension regulators. These regulatory funding ratios may be more useful for predicting future contributions.We investigate whether US regulatory and GAAP funding ratios are different and whether regulatory funding ratios provide useful information for predicting future contributions. For 3,877 firm years from 1995 through 2002, we observe that regulatory and GAAP funding ratios differ by more than 5% for 73% of our sample. We also find that predictions of future contributions are improved by using regulatory funding ratios in addition to GAAP funding ratios. Our results are relevant to accounting standard setters' ongoing review of pension accounting rules.
End-of-life (EOL) issues and options for electric vehicle batteries

Nearly all global players in the auto industry are now producing electric vehicles (EV). Many studies indicated that by year 2020, 6 millions could be sold in US alone and about 11 million worldwide. As the number of EVs increases, there is need to have well-defined end-of-life (EOL) strategy for the batteries removed from EVs as part of collective efforts to transform the auto industry to environmental friendly industry. Recycling has been proposed as the EOL option for the EV batteries, but there are many issues that make recycling less justifiable, this paper lays out those issues and proposes remanufacturing as the alternate and appropriate EOL option. In view of this, the paper details research issues which require thorough studies to make EV batteries remanufacturing feasible and effective.
From triple threat to octopus: reflections on the roles of pediatric division chiefs in the current era.

Division chiefs have a unique opportunity to create a legacy of care, teaching, and research in their specialty. The classic Oslerian “triple threat” is just part of a chief’s mission. We contend that as the financial and administrative aspects of the job have expanded, one needs to be an “octopus chief,” with 8 distinct areas that must be addressed to be an effective leader. By outlining each area, we hope to provide chiefs (new, old, and interim) with opportunities for self-reflection and career development. A division mission statement and strategic plan (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats 1 ) should be developed forclinicalcare,research,andeducation.Thesewillguidedaily decisions and drive accountability to common purposes and should be shared and aligned with the chair. This common vision will guide resource allocation, hiring, and development and will give focus to the eight roles of the “octopus chief.”
Design of shallow p-type dopants in ZnO

Due to the large electronegativity of the oxygen, the ionization energies of acceptors in metal oxides such as ZnO is quite high, making p-type doping a great challenge for the full utilization of ZnO as optoelectronic materials. By analyzing the defect wavefunction characters, we propose several approaches to lower the acceptor ionization energy in ZnO by codoping acceptors with donor or isovalent atoms. We also proposed a universal approach to overcome the doping polarity problem for wide-band-gap semiconductors. This approach can reduce the ionization energies of dopants and the spontaneous compensation from intrinsic defects by effective doping of impurity bands, which can be achieved by introducing passive donor-acceptor complexes or isovalent impurities. The approaches described here for ZnO can be easily extended to other transparent conducting oxides used for solar cell applications.
Risk Factors for Pilot Fatalities in General Aviation Airplane Crash Landings

Context.—Most pilots survive airplane crash landings in small airplanes. Factors associated with pilot death have not been well studied.Objective.—To identify factors associated with fatalities in general aviation airplane crash landings.Design.—Case-control study.Setting.—The United States.Subjects.—All pilots in general aviation crash landings of airplanes with 10 seats or fewer, from 1983 through 1992.Main Outcome Measure.—Pilot death.Results.—Pilots died in 437 (5.2%) of 8411 crash landings. A fire or explosion on the ground was strongly associated with pilot death (relative risk [RR], 20.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.5-26.9), adjusted for pilot age, pilot flight hours, type of landing gear, and the filing of an instrument flight plan. Pilots who failed to use both lap belt and shoulder harness were more likely to die (adjusted RR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.8-25.5), as were those who used only the lap belt (adjusted RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.2), compared with pilots who used both restraints.Conclusion.—Pilots may be able to reduce their risk of death in a crash landing by using lap and shoulder restraints.
Lysophosphatidylcholine Promotes P-Selectin Expression in Platelets and Endothelial Cells: Possible Involvement of Protein Kinase C Activation and Its Inhibition by Nitric Oxide Donors

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), an atherogenic lysophospholipid contained in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), has been shown to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC). Since PKC activators are suggested to elicit rapid P-selectin expression in platelets and endothelial cells, we examined whether LysoPc promotes P-selectin expression in platelets and P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells via a mechanism involving PKC activation. LysoPc, but not phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is a major phospholipid component in native LDL, significantly upregulated P-selectin on cat platelets by flow cytometric analysis. This P-selectin upregulation by LysoPC was significantly attenuated by two PKC inhibitors, 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) and N,N,N-trimethylsphingosine, and by two NO donors, CAS1609 and sodium nitroprusside. Submicellar concentrations of LysoPc significantly activated PKC in platelets, and this was inhibited by either UCN-01 or CAS1609. LysoPC, but not PC, significantly increased adherence of autologous cat polymorphonuclear leukocytes to coronary vascular endothelium, which was also markedly attenuated by UCN-01 and by CAS1609. LysoPC induced P-selectin expression on the surface of cat coronary vascular endothelium as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. These results suggest that LysoPC, an atherogenic lysophospholipid contained in oxidized LDL, rapidly induces P-selectin expression in both platelets and endothelial cells at least partially via PKC activation. Furthermore, NO-generating agents may inhibit P-selectin upregulation by LysoPC. Since P-selectin may play an important role in initiating atherosclerosis, our data provide further insight into the mechanism of early stages of atherogenesis and of NO-mediated inhibition of atherosclerosis.
Focus Issue: Spiky Signalers from the Sea

This week’s issue of Science ’s STKE complements the special issue of Science featuring the Sea Urchin Genome. With new insights gleaned from the 814-Mb genome of the California purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and its estimated 23,000 genes, this organism holds many secrets to help us understand cell signaling and the evolution of regulatory systems in biology. Two STKE Perspectives discuss signal transduction during early development in the sea urchin.
Temporal Predicate Detection Using Synchronized Clocks

Advances in clock synchronization techniques allow an approximated global time in ubiquitous environments. This paper presents an event stream- based online algorithm that fuses the data reported from the processors in such a network to detect time-based predicates. The algorithm has low space, time, and message complexities. The paper also considers the detection of simultaneous events as a special case.
Interphase mass transfer for laminar concurrent flow of carbon dioxide and water between parallel plates

Interphase mass transfer between carbon dioxide gas and water has been investigated. The physical model used was the laminar concurrent flow of gas and liquid in a wide rectangular channel. Because of the high aspect ratio employed, the model was effectively one of parallel plates of infinite width. Three methods of solving the equations of change—the eigensolution method, the boundary layer theory, and penetration theory—were used to compute the diffusion coefficient of carbon dioxide in water from the experimental data. Calculated values of diffusion coefficients from the penetration theory checked well with those from the eigensolution method, but the values computed from the integrated boundary layer equation were about 10% higher. Results from the eigensolution agreed within 5% with the data of other investigators in the temperature range of 20° to 30°C.
Automated discovery and optimization of large irregular tensegrity structures

Tensegrities consist of disjoint struts connected by tensile strings which maintain shape due to pre-stress stability. Because of their rigidity, foldability and deployability, tensegrities are becoming increasingly popular in engineering. Unfortunately few effective analytical methods for discovering tensegrity geometries exist. We introduce an evolutionary algorithm which produces large tensegrity structures, and demonstrate its efficacy and scalability relative to previous methods. A generative representation allows the discovery of underlying structural patterns. These techniques have produced the largest and most complex irregular tensegrities known in the field, paving the way toward novel solutions ranging from space antennas to soft robotics.
Doxepin Rinse Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Acute Oral Mucositis Pain in Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiotherapy With or Without Chemotherapy: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial (NCCTG-N09C6 [Alliance])

Purpose Painful oral mucositis (OM) is a significant toxicity during radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to test the efficacy of doxepin hydrochloride in the reduction of radiotherapy-induced OM pain. Patients and Methods In all, 155 patients were randomly allocated to a doxepin oral rinse or a placebo for the treatment of radiotherapy-related OM pain. Patients received a single dose of doxepin or placebo on day 1 and then crossed over to receive the opposite agent on a subsequent day. Pain questionnaires were administered at baseline and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes. Patients were then given the option to continue doxepin. The primary end point was pain reduction as measured by the area under the curve (AUC) of the pain scale using data from day 1. Results Primary end point analysis revealed that the AUC for mouth and throat pain reduction was greater for doxepin (−9.1) than for placebo (−4.7; P < .001). Crossover analys...
Comparison of crisp and fuzzy character neural networks in handwritten word recognition

Experiments comparing neural networks trained with crisp and fuzzy desired outputs are described. A handwritten word recognition algorithm using the neural networks for character level confidence assignment was tested on images of words taken from the United States Postal Service mailstream. The fuzzy outputs were defined using a fuzzy k-nearest neighbor algorithm. The crisp networks slightly outperformed the fuzzy networks at the character level but the fuzzy networks outperformed the crisp networks at the word level. This empirical result is interpreted as an example of the principle of least commitment. >
Data-based approach for the control of a class of nonlinear affine systems

In this paper, a data-based output feedback control method is developed for a class of nonlinear affine systems. This method requires little prior knowledge about the system. It does not need to know or to build the mathematical model of the system. We introduce a fast sampling technique to measure the output signal, which contains information about the plant. The zero-order hold (ZOH) and the control switching techniques are also applied for information collection. Then, the feedback gain matrix is calculated and adjusted according to these sampled data. Computer simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of this data-based control method.
On the consistency of a class of traffic flow models

This note discusses a recently discovered internal inconsistency of a class of higher-order traffic flow models. It shows that this class of models are mathematically consistent, and that the supposed internal inconsistency is not part of their intrinsic property. Rather, it is a result of insisting on the universality of a special conservation law and imposing incompatible solutions on a system of equations.
Does visual word identification involve a sub-phonemic level?

The phonological codes activated in visual word recognition can be thought of minimally as strings of discrete and unstructured phoneme-like units. We asked whether these codes might additionally express a letter string's phonological form at a featural or gestural level. Specifically, we asked whether the priming of a word (e.g. sea, film, basic) by a rhyming non-word would depend on the non-word's phonemic-feature similarity to the word. The question was asked within a mask--prime--target--mask sequence with both brief (57 ms in Experiments 1 and 2) and long (486 ms in Experiment 1) prime durations. Non-word primes that differed from their targets by a single phonemic feature (initial voicing as in ZEA, VILM, PASIC) led to faster target lexical decisions than non-word primes that differed by more than a single phonemic feature (e.g. VEA, JILM, SASIC). Visual word recognition seems to involve a sub-phonemic level of processing.
Rewarding Effects of Optical Stimulation of Ventral Tegmental Area Glutamatergic Neurons

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons play roles in reward and aversion. The VTA has three major neuronal phenotypes: dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic. VTA glutamatergic neurons--expressing vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGluT2)--project to limbic and cortical regions, but also excite neighboring dopaminergic neurons. Here, we test whether local photoactivation of VTA VGluT2 neurons expressing Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) under the VGluT2 promoter causes place preference and supports operant responding for the stimulation. By using a Cre-dependent viral vector, ChR2 (tethered to mCherry) was expressed in VTA glutamatergic neurons of VGluT2::Cre mice. The mCherry distribution was evaluated by immunolabeling. By confocal microscopy, we detected expression of mCherry in VTA cell bodies and local processes. In contrast, VGluT2 expression was restricted to varicosities, some of them coexpressing mCherry. By electron microscopy, we determined that mCherry-VGluT2 varicosities correspond to axon terminals, forming asymmetric synapses on neighboring dopaminergic neurons. These findings indicate that ChR2 was present in terminals containing glutamatergic synaptic vesicles and involved in local synaptic connections. Photoactivation of VTA slices from ChR2-expressing mice induced AMPA/NMDA receptor-dependent firing of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens. VTA photoactivation of ChR2-expressing mice reinforced instrumental behavior and established place preferences. VTA injections of AMPA or NMDA receptor antagonists blocked optical self-stimulation and place preference. These findings suggest a role in reward function for VTA glutamatergic neurons through local excitatory synapses on mesoaccumbens dopaminergic neurons.
Abnormal renal development in the Os/+ mouse is intrinsic to the kidney

The oligosyndactylism (Os/+) mouse, is a genetic model for oligomeganephronic congenital renal hypoplasia. To define the abnormality in renal development and to determine whether the abnormality is kidney autonomous, we examined kidneys from newborn and 21- and 63-day-old Os/+ and wild-type (+/+) mice, obtained metanephric kidneys from embryonic day 12 (E12) Os/+ and +/+ embryos, and compared growth and development of the metanephroi in vitro. Kidneys from newborn Os/+ mice were smaller than those from newborn +/+ mice and contained fewer glomeruli per midsagittal section. Following birth, kidneys from Os/+ mice manifest compensatory growth of glomeruli and proximal tubules. Metanephroi from E12 Os/+ and +/+ embryos were comparable in size. However, during 4 days in culture, growth and development of metanephroi from Os/+ embryos were visibly reduced compared with metanephroi from +/+ embryos. Expression of B cell leukemia/lymphoma gene 2 (bcl-2), the absence of which is known to result in congenital renal hypoplasia, was detected in the Os/+ mouse kidneys. We conclude that the renal abnormality in Os/+ mice is intrinsic to the kidney and does not result from the absence of bcl-2 expression.
Strategic Groups: Comparing Cognitive and Objective Approaches

This research compares two different approaches to identifying strategic groups, a cognitive approach, which reflects the perceptions of managers competing in the industry, and an objective approach, which reflects objective product-market characteristics. While there has been much recent research suggesting that managerial cognitions will differ from economic "facts" in a market, there has been little direct comparison of the two. We do this in the context of the Markstrat2 simulation game. We compare groups identified by these approaches, and then use these groups to predict competitive actions and firm performance. The data suggest marginal agreement between cognitive and objective groups. We find no systematic differences between cognitive and objective groups in predicting action or performance, but instead discover that relatively simple grouping procedures do better at predicting action, while relatively complex grouping procedures do better at predicting performance.
With the First Pick...: Teaching American Political Development Through a Presidential Fantasy Draft

Over 40 million people worldwide play fantasy sports. It is a one billion dollar industry, has grown over 60% in the last four years (fsta.org), and has even spawned its own hit television show, “The League.” Additionally, fantasy sports are especially popular among college students (Seifried, et al. 2007). I use the core principle of fantasy sports — the draft — to teach about American political development and the US presidency. Fantasy Presidents provides students a fun way to learn these topics, providing a friendly competition that encourages students to research various aspects of the presidency. It also provides the platform for an insightful follow-up assignment.
Nanoscale patterns produced by ion erosion of a solid with codeposition of impurities: The crucial effect of compound formation

We advance a theory of ripple formation on the surface of an initially elemental material that is subjected to concurrent oblique-incidence impurity deposition and normal-incidence ion bombardment. The theory applies when the target atoms and impurities react to produce a chemical compound, as in many experiments that have been carried out in which the target material is silicon and the impurities are metallic. We show that the formation of a compound can destabilize a surface that would otherwise be stable. If ripples do form, they are oriented with their wave vector parallel to the projected impurity deposition direction and they propagate counter to the deposited flux. Our theory also predicts how the ripple wavelength behaves for impurity fluxes just above the threshold value necessary for ripple formation.
Optimizing ultrafast illumination for multiphoton-excited fluorescence imaging.

We study the optimal conditions for high throughput two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) and three-photon excited fluorescence (3PEF) imaging using femtosecond lasers. We derive relations that allow maximization of the rate of imaging depending on the average power, pulse repetition rate, and noise characteristics of the laser, as well as on the size and structure of the sample. We perform our analysis using ~100 MHz, ~1 MHz and 1 kHz pulse rates and using both a tightly-focused illumination beam with diffraction-limited image resolution, as well loosely focused illumination with a relatively low image resolution, where the latter utilizes separate illumination and fluorescence detection beam paths. Our theoretical estimates agree with the experiments, which makes our approach especially useful for optimizing high throughput imaging of large samples with a field-of-view up to 10x10 cm2.
Emerging health care technologies for space medicine and the NSBRI Smart Medical Systems team

The are many exciting and emerging health care technologies for space medicine. One new research effort promoting and supporting the development of such technologies is the Smart Medical Systems (SMS) team of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). The team plans to work collaboratively with other research groups within the NSBRI and NASA, and within the larger academic, industrial and government communities to develop an intelligent, integrated medical system to assist in the delivery of quality health care for space travel, including exploration class missions. Research topics to be supported by the SMS team tentatively include (a) novel medical and surgical techniques, (b) novel sensor development, (c) advanced drug synthesis and delivery systems, (d) robotic medical assistance, (e) automated medical data systems and (f) automated decision support and training. An overview of the NSBRI, the rationale behind the formation of the SMS team, some of the emerging technologies, and the opportunities and challenges are outlined in this
A novel highly electrically conductive silver paste

A novel highly electrically conductive silver paste is prepared. With the addition of suitable reactive components and the appropriate binder composition, good interconnection between the silver particles is established during the curing process of the silver paste, which enhances its electrical conductivity. The composition, reaction mechanism, morphology of the silver particles and performance of the silver pastes are discussed.
Structure of DnmZ, a nitrososynthase in the Streptomyces peucetius anthracycline biosynthetic pathway

The anthracyclines are a class of highly effective natural product chemotherapeutics and are used to treat a range of cancers, including leukemia. The toxicity of the anthracyclines has stimulated efforts to further diversify the scaffold of the natural product, which has led to renewed interest in the biosynthetic pathway responsible for the formation and modification of this family of molecules. DnmZ is an N-hydroxylating flavin monooxygenase (a nitrososynthase) that catalyzes the oxidation of the exocyclic amine of the sugar nucleotide dTDP-l-epi-vancosamine to its nitroso form. Its specific role in the anthracycline biosynthetic pathway involves the synthesis of the seven-carbon acetal moiety attached to C4 of l-daunosamine observed in the anthracycline baumycin. Here, X-ray crystallography was used to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of DnmZ. Two crystal structures of DnmZ were yielded: that of the enzyme alone, solved to 3.00 A resolution, and that of the enzyme in complex with thymidine diphosphate, the nucleotide carrier portion of the substrate, solved to 2.74 A resolution. These models add insights into the structural features involved in substrate specificity and conformational changes involved in thymidine diphosphate binding by the nitrososynthases.
The Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition During Vertebrate Development: A Model for Reprogramming

Cellular transitions occur at all stages of organismal life from conception to adult regeneration. Changing cellular state involves three main features: activating gene expression necessary to install the new cellular state, modifying the chromatin status to stabilize the new gene expression program, and removing existing gene products to clear out the previous cellular program. The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is one of the most profound changes in the life of an organism. It involves gene expression remodeling at all levels, including the active clearance of the maternal oocyte program to adopt the embryonic totipotency. In this chapter, we provide an overview of molecular mechanisms driving maternal mRNA clearance during the MZT, describe the developmental consequences of losing components of this gene regulation, and illustrate how remodeling of gene expression during the MZT is common to other cellular transitions with parallels to cellular reprogramming.
659. Precision Genome Engineering in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using CRISPR/CAS9

Site-specific nucleases are engineered to create a double-stranded DNA break at a defined genomic locus. Subsequent repair of these DNA breaks by the cellular endogenous DNA repair pathways can then be exploited to create genetically modified cell lines. Genes can be knocked out, disease relevant mutations introduced, or proteins can be tagged for subsequent monitoring in differentiation assays and high throughput small molecule screens. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the potential to differentiate into any somatic cell in the body. Importantly, they can be derived from both normal individuals, as well as from patients. The combination of these two technologies allows investigators to create custom modified cell lines harboring site specific genetic changes of interest relevant to their field of study. Here, we present two examples of precise and efficient genome editing without the use of antibiotic selection using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in iPSCs. First we demonstrate the steps involved in the creation of a knockout (SARM1) iPSC line. Second, we outline the workflow for creating a custom iPSC line that has been tagged with a fluorescent protein at the endogenous locus (CHAT).
Inside directors, risk aversion, and firm performance

Abstract Prior literature provides mixed evidence on managerial risk aversion. Using a sample of 1737 large US firms from 1996 to 2005, we find a negative association between the insider ratio and firm risk. Upon further analysis, we show that firms with a greater insider ratio are also likely to have more conservative CEO compensation and investment policies. Analysis of CEO compensation policies indicates that firms with a greater insider ratio offer lower equity based compensation, lower vega and lower total compensation to their CEOs. Also, firms with a greater insider ratio tend to invest more in tangible assets such as plant and equipment and have lower intangible investments. Consistent with these boards instituting conservative policies, we find that firms with a greater insider ratio perform better when they operate in highly volatile environments. Overall, this study suggests that high-insider boards are more conservative in policy initiation and that such boards are valuable in firms with greater operating uncertainties.