cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The pig as a source of cardiac xenografts.

The inadequate availability of human donor hearts and other organs has inspired interest in the field of xenotransplantation. Historically, ten attempts to transplant animal hearts into human recipients have been reported. Those who received hearts from nonhuman primates (i.e., baboons and chimpanzees) survived rather longer than did those who received hearts from nonprimates (i.e., sheep and pigs). Nevertheless, current opinion is that the pig is the best candidate as a source of hearts for humans despite the considerable immunologic disparity between the two species. Pigs are available in large numbers and can be bred easily and rapidly. They grow to appropriate sizes and their cardiovascular system is similar to that of humans. Substantial knowledge has been accumulated regarding both genetic engineering and tolerance induction in pigs, two strategies that may help to overcome the existing immunologic barriers. Concern has been raised, however, with regard to the potential for the transfer of a porcine infection with the pig organ to the human recipient. This brief review addresses these and other aspects of the use of the pig as a source of hearts for patients with end-stage cardiac disease.
Multi-Resource Manycast over Optical Burst Switched Networks

We define and investigate the problem of multi-resource manycast over optical burst switched (OBS) networks for supporting distributed computing applications. In multi-resource manycast, each destination has multiple computing resources, and each source generates requests that require multiple resources. For a given request, the problem is to select a set of destinations that have the required available resources and to And routes to these destinations. This problem differs from the traditional manycast problem in that different destinations have different resource availability. The objective is to minimize the resource blocking rate, which results from burst contention in the OBS network and from resource unavailability at the destinations. We investigate various approaches to implement multi-resources manycast over OBS networks, and verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes through simulation.
SpedeSTEM: a rapid and accurate method for species delimitation

We describe a software package (SpedeSTEM) that allows researchers to conduct a species delimitation analysis using intraspecific genetic data. Our method operates under the assumption that a priori information regarding group membership is available, for example that samples are drawn from some number of described subspecies, races or distinct morphotypes. SpedeSTEM proceeds by calculating the maximum likelihood species tree from all hierarchical arrangements of the sampled alleles and uses information theory to quantify the model probability of each permutation. SpedeSTEM is tested here against empirical and simulated data; results indicate that evolutionary lineages that diverged as few as 0.5N generations in the past can be validated as distinct using sequence data from little as five loci. This work enables speciation investigations to identify lineages that are evolutionarily distinct and thus have the potential to form new species before these lineages acquire secondary characteristics such as reproductive isolation or morphological differentiation that are commonly used to define species.
Heavy truck properties significant to pavement damage

Heavy trucks are a primary source of road damage due to the stresses imposed by heavy axle loads. The mechanics of truck-pavement interaction are examined to determine which truck characteristics have the most direct and strong relationship to road damage. Static axle loads are found to be one of the most important factors affecting both rigid and flexible pavement fatigue damage because of the power relationship of load to damage. As a result, the load-sharing capabilities of tandem suspensions are also important. Tandem axle spacing is only significant to performance on rigid pavements and is always beneficial. Dynamic loading effects dependent on road roughness, travel speed, and truck dynamic properties are also quantified. Finally, the relevant tire properties are examined. Tire size and inflation pressure have strong influences on fatigue damage of flexible pavements. Tire construction type (radial and bias) appear to have influences on tracking that may explain the recent problems with accelerated rutting.
Z-source inverter for motor drives

This paper presents a Z-Source inverter system and control for general-purpose motor drives. The Z-source inverter system employs a unique LC network in the DC link and a small capacitor on the AC side of the diode front end. By controlling the shoot-through duty cycle, the Z-source can produce any desired output AC voltage, even greater than the line voltage. As a result, the new Z-source inverter system provides ride-through capability under voltage sags, reduces line harmonics, improves power factor and reliability, and extends output voltage range. Analysis, simulation, and experimental results will be presented to demonstrate these new features.
Descriptive analyses of gait characteristics in Pekin Ducks from hatch to market weight

Abstract The ability to evaluate gait in a commercial poultry setting is an important aspect of assessing physical health and well-being. Previously, it was suggested that gait width or metatarsal adduction (MA) may be indicative of lameness in ducks. However, no published description of normal gait of Pekin ducks currently exists. Thus, our goal was to characterize the range of gait patterns of healthy commercial Pekin ducks. We set out to determine if MA or gait width has an effect on the ducks’ ability to ambulate. We further characterized whether these gait measures are associated with structural abnormalities or tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), or with plasma corticosterone levels. One-day-old hatchlings (n = 110) were obtained and housed in aviary floor pens under environmental conditions that closely adhered to industry standards. Beginning on d 3, weekly footprint analyses were completed. Qualitative analyses revealed that ducks fell into 3 general categories in a normal distribution: wide, middle, and narrow stance. Beginning at d 1, a weekly subset of ducks (n = 10) was weighed and analyzed for pelvic limb structure and presence of gross evidence of TD. On d 1, ducks were randomly selected for dissection. Starting on d 7, ducks (n = 10) were selected across the 3 gait width categories for analyses. Tibial dyschondroplasia is observed in ducks regardless of the degree of MA or width of stance. No significant differences were observed in plasma corticosterone levels regardless of gait width or degree of MA. At this time, we conclude that TD may not be a risk factor in the development of MA, or the converse, that severe MA may not be a risk factor for TD; the presence of MA may not be indicative of lameness or a diminished level of well-being in and of itself. Lastly, we report that our qualitative assessment of gait width is easily performed in any aviary or barn setting, is an indicator of future gait, and this qualitative assessment can be supported by anatomical measures.
A generalized likelihood ratio test to identify differentially expressed genes from microarray data

Motivation: Microarray technology emerges as a powerful tool in life science. One major application of microarray technology is to identify differentially expressed genes under various conditions. Currently, the statistical methods to analyze microarray data are generally unsatisfactory, mainly due to the lack of understanding of the distribution and error structure of microarray data. Results: We develop a generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test based on the two-component model proposed by Rocke and Durbin to identify differentially expressed genes from microarray data. Simulation studies show that the GLR test is more powerful than commonly used methods, like the fold-change method and the two-sample t-test. When applied to microarray data, the GLR test identifies more differentially expressed genes than the t-test, has a lower false discovery rate and shows more consistency over independently repeated experiments. Availability: The approach is implemented in software called GLR, which is freely available for downloading at http://www.cc.utah.edu/~jw27c60
Suffering in Silence: Child Sexual Molestation and the Black Church: If God Don’t Help Me Who Can I Turn To?

The invasion by another of a child’s inner self causes greater damage to the soul than perhaps any other type of abuse. Each year an estimated 90,000 children are victims of child sexual abuse. Man...
Group selection or categorical perception

Humans appear to be possible candidates for group selection because they are often said to live in bands, clans, and tribes. These terms, however, are only names for conceptual categories of people. They do not designate enduring bounded gatherings of people that might be “vehicles of selection.” Hence, group selection has probably not been a major force in human evolution.
Global Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Evidence for Decreased Lipid Biosynthesis and Increased Innate Immunity in Uninvolved Psoriatic Skin

Psoriasis is a genetically determined inflammatory skin disease. Although the transition from uninvolved into lesional skin is accompanied by changes in the expression of multiple genes, much less is known about the difference between uninvolved skin from psoriatic patients as opposed to skin from normal individuals. Multiple biochemical and morphological changes were reported decades ago in uninvolved psoriatic skin but remain poorly understood. Here, we show dysregulation of 223 transcripts representing 179 unique genes in uninvolved psoriatic skin, 178 of which were not previously known to be altered in their expression. The proteins encoded by these transcripts are involved in lipid metabolism, antimicrobial defenses, epidermal differentiation, and control of cutaneous vasculature. Cluster analysis of transcripts with significantly altered expression identified a group of genes involved in lipid metabolism with highly correlated gene expression. Promoter analysis showed enrichment for binding sites of three transcription factors; peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor alpha (PPARA), sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBF), and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), suggesting that the coordinate regulation of lipid metabolic genes may be related to the action of these factors. Taken together, our results identify a "pre-psoriatic" gene expression signature, suggesting decreased lipid biosynthesis and increased innate immunity in uninvolved psoriatic skin.
Southern two-lined salamanders in urbanizing watersheds

Forested riparian buffers are an increasingly common method of mitigating the negative effects of impervious surface cover on water quality and wildlife habitat. We sampled larval southern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) in 43 streams, representing the range of impervious surface cover and forested riparian buffer width across Wake County, NC, USA. Larval abundance decreased with increasing impervious surface cover in the upstream catchment, but was not affected by buffer width. This is likely a result of an incomplete buffer system and culverts or other breaches along streams. Larval abundance increased with detritus cover in the stream to a threshold and then decreased as detritus continued to increase. As percent pebble substrate in the stream increased, especially in perennial streams, larval salamander abundance also increased. We suspect salamanders were unable to migrate with the water column during dry periods in intermittent streams with sedimented interstices below the surface, resulting in low abundances. A combination of increased peak flows and sedimentation, reduced base flow, and chemical changes likely reduces the abundance of salamanders in urban and suburban streams. We suggest creation of catchment-wide, unbreached buffers to maintain the integrity of stream habitats in urbanizing watersheds.
Variation in reproductive photoresponsiveness in a wild population of meadow voles

Individual variation in reproductive photoresponsiveness has been documented in laboratory colonies of several species of rodents. When maintained on short day lengths, some individuals experience complete gonadal regression, others undergo little if any gonadal regression, and still others show intermediate levels of responsiveness. In the present research, a combination of laboratory and field studies explored the potential importance of this kind of variation for the control of seasonal breeding in a wild population of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). A sample of adult males was trapped in central Pennsylvania during the summer when all were in breeding condition. When exposed to short day lengths in the laboratory, these males showed the entire range of variation in responsiveness noted above and, correlatively, variation in the loss in body weight induced by this treatment. A sample of males trapped in the wild just before the winter solstice showed the same distribution of variation as did the males housed on short day lengths in the laboratory, and thus, as might be expected, a few pregnant and lactating females were also trapped at this time. Longitudinal studies over a 42-wk period revealed that the variation reflects the degree to which the testes regress in response to short-day exposure rather than the rate at which they regress. Finally, studies with laboratory-born voles demonstrated that the variation is independent of age. In total, these studies demonstrate that the variation in reproductive photoresponsiveness previously seen only in laboratory colonies of rodents indeed has relevance for understanding the seasonal control of reproduction in the wild.
The Lived Experience of Students in an Accelerated Nursing Program: Intersecting Factors that Influence Experiential Learning

The goal of this interpretive research study was to articulate the lived experience of students in an accelerated master’s of nursing entry program learning the practice of nursing within a clinical setting. Specific questions in cluded: How did previous life experiences, education, and career choices influence the experience of second-degree students? What were the potential effects on learning of condensing and accelerating the curriculum as is requisite in second-degree programs? Data from small group and individual interviews were collected and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological methods. Akin to the experience of tourists or new immigrants, students were confronted with new physical demands, new equipment, new time patterns, and most importantly, new ways of relating to people, all within a condensed time frame. What stood out most in these students’ accounts was the ubiquitous context of inpatient nursing care in which lives were at stake. A
Evidence for reciprocal origins in Polypodium hesperium (Polypodiaceae): A fern model system for investigating how multiple origins shape allopolyploid genomes

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Many polyploid species are composed of distinct lineages originating from multiple, independent polyploidization events. In the case of allopolyploids, reciprocal crosses between the same progenitor species can yield lineages with different uniparentally inherited plastid genomes. While likely common, there are few well-documented examples of such reciprocal origins. Here we examine a case of reciprocal allopolyploid origins in the fern Polypodium hesperium and present it as a natural model system for investigating the evolutionary potential of duplicated genomes.• METHODS Using a combination of uniparentally inherited plastid and biparentally inherited nuclear sequence data, we investigated the distributions and relative ages of reciprocally formed lineages in Polypodium hesperium, an allotetraploid fern that is broadly distributed in western North America.• KEY RESULTS The reciprocally derived plastid haplotypes of Polypodium hesperium are allopatric, with populations north and south of 42°N latitude having different plastid genomes. Incorporating biogeographic information and previously estimated ages for the diversification of its diploid progenitors, we estimate middle to late Pleistocene origins of P. hesperium.• CONCLUSIONS Several features of Polypodium hesperium make it a particularly promising system for investigating the evolutionary consequences of allopolyploidy. These include reciprocally derived lineages with disjunct geographic distributions, recent time of origin, and extant diploid progenitors.
Magnetization Reversal in Amorphous TbFe Films

Observations under polarized light of magnetization reversal in thin amorphous films of TbFe alloys indicate that the reversal process is initiated at inherent nucleation sites where reverse-magnetized domains appear at fields below coercivity. The nuclei then grow in time until they cover the entire sample. The process of nucleation and growth seems to be dominated by the microstructure, since samples with identical bulk magnetic characteristics (such as composition, hysteresis loop and coercivity) exhibit quite different reversal behavior. This process is also dependent upon the history of magnetization of the sample.
Precaval right renal arteries: prevalence and morphologic associations at spiral CT.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and morphologic associations of precaval right renal arteries at spiral computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 186 arterial phase contrast material–enhanced spiral CT scans of the abdomen (5.0-mm section thickness in 97 scans, 2.5 mm in 89 scans) obtained during a 2-year period to identify patients with precaval right renal arteries. During routine interpretation of CT scans at daily readout, the authors prospectively identified 39 additional patients with precaval right renal arteries. All cases were evaluated for anatomic variants and associated clinical findings. Fisher exact analysis and χ2 analysis were performed to compare the frequency of anatomic variants between patients with and those without precaval renal arteries. RESULTS: Nine of 186 patients had precaval right renal arteries, for a prevalence of 5%. In the 48 patients with precaval renal arteries, 52 precaval arteries were found, of which 48 were accessory a...
A Model of Manufacturer-Driven Governing Mechanisms and Distributor Performance

Drawing from relational exchange, dependence, and agency theories the authors explain that it is not only the type of governing mechanisms but also the proper sequencing of them that improves a manufacturer-distributor relationship and performance. Dependence affected relationship continuity positively. Monitoring affected the second order relational norm construct, comprising information sharing and flexibility, positively. Relational norm positively affected relationship continuity. Dependence, relationship continuity, monitoring, and relational norm affected distributor performance positively.
Intelligent tracking in manufacturing

Dynamic scheduling is an important new innovation in manufacturing and supply chain management. However, the success of dynamic scheduling will depend on real-time information. This paper describes intelligent tracking technologies that provide real-time information throughout the supply chain to support keywords a logistics planning and execution.
Irisin and FGF21 Are Cold-Induced Endocrine Activators of Brown Fat Function in Humans

SUMMARY Rediscovery of cold-activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) in humans has boosted research interest in identifying BAT activators for metabolic benefits. Of particular interest are cytokines capable of fat browning. Irisin, derived from FNDC5, is an exercise-induced myokine that drives brown-fat-like thermogenesis in murine white fat. Here we explored whether cold exposure is an afferent signal for irisin secretion in humans and compared it with FGF21, a brown adipokine in rodents. Cold exposure increased circulating irisin and FGF21. We found an induction of irisin secretion proportional to shivering intensity, in magnitude similar to exercise-stimulated secretion. FNDC5 and/or FGF21 treatment upregulated human adipocyte brown fat gene/protein expression and thermogenesis in a depot-specific manner. These results suggest exercise-induced irisin secretion could have evolved from shiveringrelated muscle contraction, serving to augment brown fat thermogenesis in concert with FGF21. Irisin-mediated muscle-adipose crosstalk may represent a thermogenic, cold-activated endocrine axis that is exploitable in obesity therapeutics development.
Cord Formation in BACTEC Medium Is a Reliable, Rapid Method for Presumptive Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex

Serpentine cord formation in BACTEC 12B medium was evaluated as a rapid method for the presumptive identification of M. tuberculosis complex. Kinyoun acid-fast stained smears were prepared from 666 positive BACTEC 12B bottles and examined for the presence or absence of serpentine cording. Cord formation had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 89.2, 99.2, 98.5, and 94.2%, respectively. The evaluation of the presence of cord formation in BACTEC 12B medium is reliable and permits the rapid presumptive reporting of M. tuberculosis.
A Direct Control Scheme to Achieve Maximum Acceleration in Linear Induction Motors

Linear induction machines (LIM) have shown their advantages in high speed propulsion in a variety of industries, such as, military, transportation, and aerospace to name a few. Usage of vector control to achieve maximum speed acceleration/deceleration for linear induction machines has been a focal area of research for the past decade. However, due to the trailing eddy current effects and magnetic asymmetry effects, vector control does not provide nearly the functionality for LIM as it does for rotary induction machines (RIM). Therefore, searching for an adequate control scheme with ease in implementation and low cost is the motivation for this paper. Using finite element analysis (FEA) the relationship between traction force and different ranges of linear speed and excitation frequencies in motoring, generating, and electromagnetic braking regions has been explored. By storing these characteristics in the form of lookup tables which provides excitation frequencies resulting in maximum accelerating and decelerating forces, a closed-loop speed control scheme with fast response has been proposed.
The relationship between parental presence and child sexual violence: evidence from thirteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa

There are compelling reasons to believe that orphans - many millions due to the AIDS epidemic - are more likely to be sexually victimized during childhood. Few studies have empirically investigated sexual violence disparities, and those that do suffer from methodological limitations and limited geographic scope. We used nationally representative data on female adolescents (15-17 years) from 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We built multilevel logistic models to test for an association between the dependent variables (orphanhood and parental absence) and sexual violence, both within countries and pooled across all countries. Approximately 10% of adolescent girls reported past experiences of sexual violence; a third of those victimized were 14 years or younger at the time of their first forced encounter. Paternal orphaning (OR 1.36, p≤0.01), double orphaning (OR 1.47, p≤0.05), and paternal absence (OR 1.28; p≤0.05) were significantly associated with experiencing sexual violence in pooled analyses. Fewer findings reached significance within individual countries. Our findings suggest that the lack of a father in the home (due to death or absence) places girls at heightened risk for childhood sexual abuse; further research identifying pathways of vulnerability and resilience specific to this population is needed. Our findings also indicate that abuse often starts at an early age; thus promising programs should be adapted for younger age groups and rigorously tested.
PLUMAGE-BASED AGEING CRITERIA FOR THE BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS PHOEBASTRIA NIGRIPES

SUMMARY I describe plumage-based ageing criteria for the Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes and assess the utility of this technique using known-age museum specimens and at-sea observations. First, I quantify the repeatability of the plumage assessments and document that 95%, 95%, and 100% of the inspected specimens were reliably scored into one of three standardised plumage classes. Next, I assess the correspondence between the three plumage classes described here and three age groups: juvenile (0.5 years), immature (0.5–4.5 years), and mature (>4.5 years) birds. Overall, 82%, 68%, and 100% of age class 1, 2, and 3 specimens inspected were juvenile, immature, and mature birds, respectively. Finally, to illustrate the applicability of the ageing criteria, I characterise the monthly age-class composition of the Black-footed Albatross population off southern California (29–35°N, 117–124°W) from February through to December. I surveyed albatross population structure during 19 cruises between August 1996 and April 2000. Overall, 97% of the 294 birds sighted during surveys were aged using the plumage-based criteria. I used hierarchical clustering to identify time periods with similar age-class population composition. This analysis revealed four distinct stages: (1) the incubation period (November–December), characterised by the absence of white-rumped (breeding age) individuals; (2) the chick-brooding period (February– March), characterized by the numerical dominance of juvenile birds; (3) the chick-rearing (April–June) and postbreeding (August–October) period, characterised by the presence of all three age classes with mature birds being numerically dominant; and (4) the period of dispersal from breeding colonies (July), characterised by the absence of juvenile birds and the numerical dominance of mature individuals. These observations are in agreement with previous studies of Black-footed Albatross distributions off the west coast of North America. Despite substantial individual variability in moulting and bursa involution patterns, this study suggests that plumage characteristics can be effectively used to discriminate between different albatross age classes at sea.
Toxicity of Several Insecticides to Two Species of Beneficial Insects on Cotton

Laboratory tests conducted at College Station, Texas, indicated that dieldrin was the least toxic material tested against Hippodamia convergens G.-M. by a petri-dish method and was followed in order of increasing toxicity by endrin, BHC, toxaphene- DDT, dieldrin-DDT, heptachlor-DDT, heptachlor, DDT, parathion and methyl parathion. When applied topically, dieldrin was again the least toxic material, followed in order of increasing toxicity by toxaphene, DDT, and endrin. Toxaphene was the least toxic material tested against adult Orius insidiosus (Say) by confining the insects to treated plants for 2 days, and was Followed in order of increasing toxicity by DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, aldrin, malathion, methyl parathion, and parathion. Toxaphene-DDT was the least toxic of the five insecticide mixtures tested.
Lipogranulomas in non-fatty human livers. A mineral oil induced environmental disease.

Forty-four cases of lipogranulomas (LG) in non-fatty livers (NFL), consisting of 38 biopsies and six autopsy livers, were studied. LG in NFL have a distinct morphologic characteristic and virtually all are attached to or closely associated with the walls of hepatic venules. The reason for this peculiar location remains unexplained. Our data from lipid histochemistry and analysis of lipid extracts from the livers and foodstuffs by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography indicate that LG in NFL most likely represent a reaction to absorbed saturated hydrocarbons, like mineral oil, used widely in the food industry. The incidence of LG is increasing, as evidenced by a 1.7% incidence in 1952–53 compared with 4.6% in 1978–80. LG seldom present a diagnostic problem provided serial sections are examined. An awareness of the characteristic morphology will prevent an extensive granuloma work-up. They appear to be an incidental finding in liver biopsies, and of no clinical significance at present; however, their long-term implication, if any, must await future observations.
Design for new measurement instrument of power frequency magnetic field

For the requirements of flexibility and portability of power frequency magnetic field measurement,a design scheme of power frequency magnetic field measurement instrument which can place with arbitrary postures is proposed. The components in horizontal direction and vertical direction of the power frequency magnetic field are obtained by combining the acceleration sensor with magnetic field sensor in this scheme,and it is unnecessary to put the measurement instrument into leveling operation. The magnetic field measurement instrument is composed of magnetic field sensor module,control and processing module,acceleration sensor module,storage and display module,etc.. The preliminary experiment results show that the scheme is feasible. The problems of horizontal component and vertical component leveling operation needed by the traditional measurement instrument were solved. This measurement instrument has simple structure and flexible operation,and has certain development and application value.
Cyclosporine A immunosuppression drives catastrophic squamous cell carcinoma through IL-22

Immune-suppressed organ transplant recipients (OTRs) can develop catastrophic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), characterized by multiple primary tumors, extensive body surface area involvement, or metastases. There are currently no curative systemic therapies available. We previously showed that IL-22 enhances SCC proliferation. Herein, we examined links between cyclosporine (CSA), IL-22, and SCC in patients, cell lines, and mice with UV light-induced SCC. Eighteen of 114 OTRs developed catastrophic SCC, which was strongly associated with CSA treatment. We found that CSA drives T cell polarization toward IL-22-producing T22 cells, and CSA treatment increased IL-22 receptor in SCC cells. SCC tissue from OTRs showed increased expression of IL-22RA1. CSA potentiated rescue by IL-22 of serum-starved SCC cells; treatment of SCC cells with IL-22 and CSA increased both their migratory and invasive capacity. In a UV-induced model of SCC in SKH-1 immunocompetent mice, treatment with anti-IL-22 antibody reduced tumor number and tumor burden. We found that catastrophic SCC in OTRs is associated with CSA use, which may be acting by favoring T22 polarization. Since anti-IL-22 antibody administration decreased tumor number and tumor burden in vivo, blockade of the IL-22 axis may be developed as a viable therapeutic option for catastrophic SCC.
Stochastic Relaxation Methods for Image Restoration and Expert Systems

This is an introduction to “stochastic relaxation” (SR), a highly parallel computational algorithm for various inference and optimization problems. The presentation will be nontechnical and by example, highlighting possible applications to image processing and expert systems. Concerning image processing, SR algorithms have been implemented and numerous experiments have been performed. Although the pictures used so far are quite simple, the restorations and segmentations are extremely good, even at low signal to noise ratios. The application to expert systems is more speculative. SR seems especially well-suited for the combinatorial and statistical matters that arise in expert system problems, but we have not yet experimented in a real problem domain. For concreteness, our discussion will focus on medical diagnosis, an often-chosen prototype problem.
Structure and Properties of Nanocrystalline Zinc Films

We have developed a unique processing technique to fabricate Zinc (Zn) nanocomposites with controlled microstructures. In this method, pulsed laser deposition of Zn in conjunction with a few monolayers of tungsten (W) is used to control the grain size of nanocrystalline composites. The grain size of Zn was controlled by the amount of Zn and the substrate temperature. The Zn islands of lower surface energy nucleate on W-layer of high surface energy, which is also insoluble in Zn resulting in lower interfacial energy. Using this approach, we have fabricated nanocomposites of grain sizes ranging from 30 nm down to 6 nm. The hardness of these nanocrystalline films increases with the decrease in grain size, following approximately Hall–Petch relationship. The most interesting observation is the decrease in hardness below a critical size, which is explained on the basis of grain boundary deformation/sliding. The role of W in grain boundary deformation is of particular interest in strengthening and stabilizing the nanocrystalline composites. The potential of this technique to attain even lower grain sizes is discussed.
Gordon Tullock’s ill-fated appendix: “Flatland Revisited”

In an unpublished appendix to his Organization of Inquiry (“Flatland Revisited”) Gordon Tullock develops and extends ideas from both Ludwig von Mises and Karl Popper. We first discuss these commonalities and extensions, which center on the notions of necessary truth and reciprocity. Then we recover the manuscript history as well as comments from James Buchanan and provide an answer to the question of why the manuscript was never published.
The many faces of prolactin in breast cancer

Prolactin (PRL) is a neuroendocrine polypeptide hormone primarily produced by the lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland of all vertebrates. The physiological role of PRL in mammary glands is relatively certain while its role in breast tumor has been a topic of debate for over 20 years. In this review, the author attempts to briefly summarize the data coming from his laboratory in the past years, focusing on G129R, a PRL receptor (PRLR) antagonist developed by introducing a single amino acid substitution mutation into human PRL (hPRL) at position 129, and a variety of G129R derivatives. The author has proposed two novel ideas for potential use of PRL, not anti-PRL agents, as an adjuvant agent for breast cancer, making it a hormone of many faces.
The effects of 100 dB 1-kHz and 22-kHz tones as punishers on lever pressing in rats

Aversive control is an important yet understudied process of learning. One reason aversive control may be relatively understudied is ethical concerns about painful stimuli (e.g., electric shock). High decibel broad-band noise and 22-kHz vocalizations both demonstrably affect rodent behavior while not necessarily being painful. The goal of this study was to determine if 100-dB 22-kHz-pure tones were differentially more effective in reducing operant response rates in rats. We examined whether 22-kHz pure tones would function as aversive stimuli, specifically as positive punishers. The effects of response-dependent as well as continuously presented 22-kHz and 1-kHz tones on rate of response maintained by variable interval 30-s food deliveries were assessed across several conditions. We found that response rates were lower when tones were presented response dependently than when tones were presented continuously throughout a session. We also found that the lower response rates obtained with response-dependent 22-kHz tones were not significantly different from response rates obtained with response-dependent 1-kHz tones. The primary conclusion of this experiment is that both 1-kHz and 22-kHz tones functioned as punishers, but that the 22-kHz tones were not differentially more effective in reducing response rate.
Controlling Cooperative CO 2 Adsorption in Diamine-Appended Mg 2 (dobpdc) Metal-Organic Frameworks.

In the transition to a clean-energy future, CO2 separations will play a critical role in mitigating current greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating conversion to cleaner-burning and renewable fuels. New materials with high selectivities for CO2 adsorption, large CO2 removal capacities, and low regeneration energies are needed to achieve these separations efficiently at scale. Here, we present a detailed investigation of nine diamine-appended variants of the metal–organic framework Mg2(dobpdc) (dobpdc4– = 4,4′-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylate) that feature step-shaped CO2 adsorption isotherms resulting from cooperative and reversible insertion of CO2 into metal–amine bonds to form ammonium carbamate chains. Small modifications to the diamine structure are found to shift the threshold pressure for cooperative CO2 adsorption by over 4 orders of magnitude at a given temperature, and the observed trends are rationalized on the basis of crystal structures of the isostructural zinc frameworks obtained from i...
Long-Term Complications of Ventricular Assist Devices

Heart failure is a common and growing cause of death in the Western world. Mechanical cardiac assist devices are being used with increasing frequency to treat this disorder. Results are have been promising. Continuous-flow pump technology has largely replaced the older pulsatile-flow technology. However, continuous-flow devices have several long-term potential complications that occur after the initial perioperative implantation which still limit their use. The commonest potential complications include pump thrombosis, the need for pump replacement, stroke, thromboembolic events, bleeding, and infection. The etiology of these complications is becoming increasingly well understood. This chapter will review these complications, their etiology, and treatment.
Evaluation of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Suppression following Cutaneous Use of Topical Corticosteroids in Children: A Meta-Analysis.

Background/aims A meta-analysis was performed to determine the likelihood of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression following short-term cutaneous treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical corticosteroids (TCS) in pediatric patients. Methods All published pediatric clinical trials evaluating TCS use with pre- and post-treatment HPA axis assessment by cosyntropin stimulation testing were included. Results Of 128 eligible trials, 12 were selected for meta-analysis with a total of 522 participants. There were 20 observed cases of HPA axis suppression (3.8%, 95% CI 2.4-5.8). The percentage of HPA axis suppression with low- (classes 6-7), medium- (classes 3-5) and high-potency (classes 1-2) TCS use was 2% (3 of 148 patients, 95% CI 0.7-5.8), 3.1% (7 of 223 patients, 95% CI 1.5-6.3), and 6.6% (10 of 151 patients, 95% CI 3.6-11.8), respectively. Conclusion There is a low rate of reversible HPA axis suppression with the use of mid- to low-potency TCS compared to more potent formulations. In pediatric clinical practice, the limited use of mid- to low-potency TCS is rarely associated with clinically significant adrenal insufficiency or adrenal crisis. In the absence of signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, there is little need to test the HPA axis of these patients.
Dietary Supplements for Osteoarthritis

A large number of dietary supplements are promoted to patients with osteoarthritis and as many as one third of those patients have used a supplement to treat their condition. Glucosamine-containing supplements are among the most commonly used products for osteoarthritis. Although the evidence is not entirely consistent, most research suggests that glucosamine sulfate can improve symptoms of pain related to osteoarthritis, as well as slow disease progression in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Chondroitin sulfate also appears to reduce osteoarthritis symptoms and is often combined with glucosamine, but there is no reliable evidence that the combination is more effective than either agent alone. S-adenosylmethionine may reduce pain but high costs and product quality issues limit its use. Several other supplements are promoted for treating osteoarthritis, such as methylsulfonylmethane, Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Zingiber officinale (ginger), but there is insufficient reliable evidence regarding long-term safety or effectiveness.
The Intensification of the Professoriate

According to the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF), university professors work long hours. In their 1998 survey, the majority of faculty reported that they worked over fifty hours a week (54.8% for males, 52.8% for females). This average is more than ten hours greater than the non-academic workers in the United States at the time. Jacobs (2004) notes that professors began working longer hours in the 1990s with the rise in public criticism regarding the actual hours professors spent in classrooms. Further, many universities began to increase their level of expectations for faculty research. Technology has also drastically altered the nature and amount of work professors do on a weekly basis. E-mail has become such an integral part of a professor´s work that it has drastically increased the amount of time that professors work from home.
Computable Learning, Neural Networks and Institutions

After showing the positive role that an institution can play in the learning process, we motivate the intuition for why-in the context of a major change in the environment-the more rigid and strictly specialized an institution is, the longer and more complex the learning process will be of any actor subject to the by-now obsolete institution. In particular, the inductive adaptation of economic actors (firms in our setting) to a new environment (such as the one caused by transition to a market economy) is slowed by the very existence of some institution or organizational setting that had emerged in the original environment as a superior tool of induction.
T Cell Heterogeneity and Lymphoid Cell Populations in Normal Humans and Rheumatoid Arthritis Probed by Partitioning

A major advance in our understanding of the immune system has resulted from our ability to subdivide immune cells into several populations based on surface markers and functional characteristics. In the case of lymphocytes, T cells regulate antibody production and mediate “cellular immunity”, B cells produce antibody, and “null” cells (not B or T) some of which act as “killer” cells against a variety of target cells without the requirement for prior immunization. Further understanding has come from the development of monoclonal antibodies that distinguish helper/inducer T cells from those with suppressor/cytotoxic activity [1]. More recently, these T cell subpopulations have been further subdivided into subsets with newer antibodies. Partitioning in two-polymer aqueous phase systems has been useful both to analyse lymphocyte heterogeneity and to subfractionate and partially purify lymphocyte subpopulations based on surface properties [2]. In the case of lymphocytes, studies using charge-sensitive phase systems show that humans [3] rats [4] and mice [5] have the same basic partitioning behaviour of the major subpopulations: B cells have a low partition ratio (P), T cells have an intermediate P value and the null cells have the highest ratio.
Infrared Studies of the Interaction of Methanol with Cun, Agn, and Aun

Methanol (Me) adsorbs intact on copper, silver, and gold clusters at 70 K to form the complexes Cu{sub n}Me{sub m}, Ag{sub n}Me{sub m}, and Au{sub n}Me{sub m}, respectively. The infrared photodissociation spectra of the deuterium-substituted complexes M{sub n}(CD{sub 3}OH){sub m} and M{sub n}(CD{sub 3}OD){sub m} (M{sub n} = Cu{sub 3-11}, Ag{sub 3-22}, and Au{sub 3-13}) have been recorded in the 9-11 {micro}m region. The methanol C-O stretching band frequency is invariant with cluster size and depends only slightly on the metal of which the underlying cluster is composed, indicating that local interactions are responsible for the shift from the gas-phase value and that these interactions are similar for methanol adsorbed on clusters of all three metals. Progressive blue shifts of the depletion bands of Ag{sub n}Me{sub m} and Au{sub n}Me{sub m} with increasing m indicate a strong interaction among methanol ligands in these species.
Diagnosis and Phase-Oriented Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

During the past decade, there has been increasing research and clinical interest in the diagnostic entity of post-traumatic stress disorder. A number of factors have contributed to interest in the phenomenology of traumatic reactions to stress. Publication of the DSM-III criteria for this disorder (American Psychiatric Association Press, 1980), systematic studies of the long-term consequences of exposure to traumatic events in war (Egendorf, Kadushin, Laufer, Rothbart, & Sloan, 1981; Figley, 1978; Laufer, Yager, Frey-Wouters, & Doneallan, 1981; Sonnenberg, Blank, & Talbot, 1985; Wilson, 1987), advances in the understanding and treatment of stress disorders in civilian populations (Horowitz, 1986; Horowitz, Marmar, Weiss, DeWitt, & Rosenbaum, 1984; Marmar, Horowitz, Weiss, Wilner, & Kaltreider, 1988), research on the effects of psychic trauma in children (Frederick, 1984; Terr, 1983), and advances in the measurement of post-traumatic stress disorder (Keane, Malloy, & Fairbank, 1984; Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez, 1979; Malloy, Fairbank, & Keane, 1983; Weiss, Horowitz, & Wilner, 1984; Wilson & Krauss, 1985) have stimulated further inquiry.
Recent Developments in U.S. Cyberlaw

This article surveys recent developments in domestic U.S. law relating to key issues in Internet (or Cyber) Law. Rapid technological advances have posed serious challenges to traditional legal doctrines and approaches relating to (for example) fundamental issues of privacy, freedom of speech and expression, and protection against unwarranted governmental intrusion. How has the law responded to these key challenges? Since the United States lacks a comprehensive legislative structure addressing these issues, most of the recent developments have come in the form of judicial decisions.
Big Data-Driven Innovation: An Empirical Research on Sustainable Development of Business Model

With the emergence of new information technologies and application models, the global data volume has exploded and humanity has entered the “big data” era. The hidden business value behind the huge data is bound to bring more innovation opportunities to firms. How to fully tap the commercial value of big data so as to shape the core competitiveness has become a key issue that firms urgently need to address. In view of this, this paper draws on existing researches at home and abroad, combining resource-based theory, dynamic capability theory, together with manager cognitive theory, to discuss: How does big data drive business model innovation? By the research object of 180 businesses, this study obtained relevant data through questionnaire survey; SEM method is adopted to empirically test the theoretical model and related hypotheses; conclusions are drawn: resource integration ability bears a significant positive impact upon business model Innovation; Real-time insight and forecasting capabilities exert a significant positive impact on business model innovation; In-depth analysis capabilities cast a significant positive impact upon business model innovation. This paper reveals the relationship between the impact of big data capabilities on business model innovation and its internal mechanism through empirical research. It opens the “black box” of the relationship between big data and business model innovation; it renders a new perspective for the research of big data and business model innovation. Based on the research results, this study puts forward some suggestions providing certain reference for the practice of businesses.