cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pinceau Organization in the Cerebellum Requires Distinct Functions of Neurofascin in Purkinje and Basket Neurons during Postnatal Development

Basket axon collaterals synapse onto the Purkinje soma/axon initial segment (AIS) area to form specialized structures, the pinceau, which are critical for normal cerebellar function. Mechanistic details of how the pinceau become organized during cerebellar development are poorly understood. Loss of cytoskeletal adaptor protein Ankyrin G (AnkG) results in mislocalization of the cell adhesion molecule Neurofascin (Nfasc) at the Purkinje AIS and abnormal organization of the pinceau. Loss of Nfasc in adult Purkinje neurons leads to slow disorganization of the Purkinje AIS and pinceau morphology. Here, we used mouse conditional knock-out techniques to show that selective loss of Nfasc, specifically in Purkinje neurons during early development, prevented maturation of the AIS and resulted in loss of Purkinje neuron spontaneous activity and pinceau disorganization. Loss of Nfasc in both Purkinje and basket neurons caused abnormal basket axon collateral branching and targeting to Purkinje soma/AIS, leading to extensive pinceau disorganization, Purkinje neuron degeneration, and severe ataxia. Our studies reveal that the Purkinje Nfasc is required for AIS maturation and for maintaining stable contacts between basket axon terminals and the Purkinje AIS during pinceau organization, while the basket neuron Nfasc in combination with Purkinje Nfasc is required for proper basket axon collateral outgrowth and targeting to Purkinje soma/AIS. Thus, cerebellar pinceau organization requires coordinated mechanisms involving specific Nfasc functions in both Purkinje and basket neurons.
Computer modelling of polymer-coated ZnO/Si surface-acoustic-wave and lamb-wave chemical sensors

Abstract Using computer simulation, we examine the responses of two coated-oscillator chemical sensors: a ZnO/Si surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) oscillator and an acoustically-thin ZnO/Si Lamb-wave (plate-wave) oscillator, each coated with one of several organic polymers. In responding to changes in the physical properties of the polymers that would occur upon exposure to chemical vapors, the plate-wave oscilaltor is found to be at least an order of magnitude more sensitive than the SAW oscillator for operation at the same acoustic wavelength.
Bioconcentration, chemical fate, and environmental effects testing under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act†

As of December 31, 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had published 49 Federal Register (FR) notices acknowledging, proposing, or requiring development of bioconcentration, chemical fate, or environmental effects testing data under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These FR notices included 5 Decisions Not to Test (DNTs) that acknowledged industry testing, 19 Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRs) that proposed testing by industry, 9 Notices of Final Rulemaking (NFRs), and 2 Consent Orders (COs) that required industry testing as well as 7 proposed and 7 final Negotiated Testing Agreements (NTAs). Two bioconcentration, 12 chemical fate, and 28 environmental effects tests were submitted to the EPA by industry as a result of issuing DNTs. Industry completed 3 bioconcentration, 86 chemical fate, and 151 environmental effects tests after publication of NTAs. Two bioconcentration, 11 chemical fate, and 14 environmental effects tests were completed as a result of publishing NFRs; 1 chemical fate and 5 environmental effects tests were completed under a CO. As of December 31, 1988, a total of 7 bioconcentration, 110 chemical fate, and 234 environmental effects tests had been completed under TSCA Section 4.
Methylprednisolone and full-dose aprotinin reduce reperfusion injury after cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective: To compare the effects of low- and full-dose aprotinin to methylprednisolone (MPS) in reducing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) release. Deseign: Prospective, randomized, blinded study. Setting: Cytokine Laboratory, pharmacology department, in a university teaching hospital. Participants: Forty adult male human patients scheduled for myocardial revascularization were divided into four groups (n = 10): (1) control; (2) MPS, 1 g IV before CPB; (3) aprotinin-low-dose protocol; and (4) aprotinin-full-dose protocol. Measurements and Main Results: Plasma levels of IL-6 were measured at baseline and 1 and 24 hours after CPB by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Group 1 demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) increased in IL-6 at 1 and 24 hours post-CPB. Groups 2 and 4 demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) reduction of IL-6 at 1 (group 2 only) and 25 (groups 2 and 4) hours post-CPB when compared with group 1 at the same time periods. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that MPS, 1 g before CPB, and full-dose aprotinin, but not half-dose aprotinin, achieve significant reduction in IL-6 release after CPB. These results further suggest that MPS and full-dose aprotinin may reduce reperfusion injury after CPB.
Two-dimensional vector modeling of image random field using artificial neural networks

The problem of 2-D vector modeling of an image random field using a neural network approach is addressed. A new learning scheme is developed using the recursive least squares (RLS) method which can be employed to extract the vector model coefficients. 2-D vector autoregressive models with various causal and noncausal regions of support (ROS) are considered. The proposed scheme is inherently fast and ideally suited for real-time implementations. It does not need any prior statistical knowledge of the image process or any matrix manipulation. Numerical results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed scheme over the conventional parameter estimation methods. >
Falling televisions: The hidden danger for children.

Abstract Background/Purpose: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) recently has reported a significant number of injuries and deaths in the home related to televisions (TV) falling on children. To date, little is known regarding the significance of this mechanism of injury in childhood trauma. The current investigation was designed to examine the risk factors, spectrum of injuries, and operative intervention required in children injured by falling televisions. Methods: The records of all patients 0 to 16 years of age with television-related injuries and entered in the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS) between 1989 and 1999 were reviewed. The authors examined Glascow coma scale (GCS), injury severity score (ISS), length of hospital stay (LOS), major injuries sustained, and operative procedures performed. Fourteen of the children in the PTOS were seen at the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. In these 14 children, a review of the medical records was performed for a detailed description of the accident scenario. Results: Forty-three children sustained television-related injuries during this period. Nearly 56% of these children were ≤ years; 60% were boys. The mortality rate was 11% with 80% of the deaths occurring in children ≤ years. Furthermore, these children sustained the highest ISS and LOS and lowest GCS. The majority of injuries sustained were head injuries followed by extremity fractures. Dressers and standard television stands were common supportive structures from which the television fell and injured the child. Conclusions: These data show that the majority of television-related injuries occur in toddlers (1 to 3 years) who were left unattended at home. The mortality rate was surprisingly high, especially in children ≤ years from subsequent head injuries. Prevention focused on improved public awareness of this danger, and modified design of the standard support structures can decrease the number of injuries, which will benefit children overall. J Pediatr Surg 37:572-575. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Exit Block Around a Junctional Pacemaker

An arrhythmia displaying the phenomenon of exit block around a junctional pacemaker in a patient with atrial tachycardia and complete A-V block at the junctional level is described. The importance of the exit block concept for a rational interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias is discussed.
Victorin Induction of an Apoptotic/Senescence–like Response in Oats

Victorin is a host-selective toxin produced by Cochliobolus victoriae, the causal agent of victoria blight of oats. Previously, victorin was shown to be bound specifically by two proteins of the mitochondrial glycine decarboxylase complex, at least one of which binds victorin only in toxin-sensitive genotypes in vivo. This enzyme complex is involved in the photorespiratory cycle and is inhibited by victorin, with an effective concentration for 50% inhibition of 81 pM. The photorespiratory cycle begins with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), and victorin was found to induce a specific proteolytic cleavage of the Rubisco large subunit (LSU). Leaf slices incubated with victorin for 4 hr in the dark accumulated a form of the LSU that is cleaved after the 14th amino acid. This proteolytic cleavage was prevented by the protease inhibitors E-64 and calpeptin. Another primary symptom of victorin treatment is chlorophyll loss, which along with the specific LSU cleavage is suggestive of a victorin-induced, senescence-like response. DNA from victorin-treated leaf slices showed a pronounced laddering effect, which is typical of apoptosis. Calcium appeared to play a role in mediating the plant response to victorin because LaCl3 gave near-complete protection against victorin, preventing both leaf symptoms and LSU cleavage. The ethylene inhibitors aminooxyacetic acid and silver thiosulfate also gave significant protection against victorin-induced leaf symptoms and prevented LSU cleavage. The symptoms resulting from victorin treatment suggest that victorin causes premature senescence of leaves.
Social pairing and female mating fidelity predicted by restriction fragment length polymorphism similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in a songbird

Female birds often copulate outside the pair-bond to produce broods of mixed paternity, but despite much recent attention the adaptive significance of this behaviour remains elusive. Although several studies support the idea that extra-pair copulations (EPCs) allow females to obtain ‘good genes’ for their offspring, many others have found no relationship between female mating fidelity and traits likely to reflect male quality. A corollary to the good genes hypothesis proposes that females do use EPCs to increase the quality of young, but it is the interaction between maternal and paternal genomes — and not male quality per se — that is the target of female choice. We tested this ‘genetic compatibility’ hypothesis in a free-living population of Savannah sparrows ( Passerculus sandwichensis ) by determining whether females mated nonrandomly with respect to the major histocompatibility complex ( Mhc ). During both the 1994 and 1995 breeding seasons, female yearlings (but not older birds) avoided pairing with Mhc -similar males ( P < 0.005). The Mhc similarity between mates also predicted the occurrence of extra-pair young in first broods ( P < 0.007) and covaried with estimates of genome-wide levels of similarity derived from multilocus DNA fingerprinting profiles ( P = 0.007). The overall genetic similarity between adults tended to predict female mating fidelity, but with less precision than their Mhc similarity ( P = 0.09). In contrast, females appeared insensitive to the size, weight or age of males, none of which explained variation in female mating fidelity. Taken together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that females sought complementary genes for their offspring and suggest either that the benefits of heterozygosity (at the Mhc ) drive female mating patterns or that the avoidance of inbreeding is an ultimate cause of social and genetic mate choice in Savannah sparrows.
The electron spin resonance spectrum of a suicidal fungus

Abstract The electron spin resonance spectrum of a suicidal inositol auxotroph of Neurospora crassa , previously used as a model of cellular aging, exhibits a high-spin Fe(III) signal whose intensity increases as a function of the mutant's “senescence”. Surprisingly, the intensity of the signal is further enhanced by the exogenous antioxidant nordihydroguaiaretic acid, which reportedly decreases the rate of senescence.
Er:YAG laser debonding of porcelain veneers.

Background and Objectives The removal of porcelain veneers using Er:YAG lasers has not been previously described in the scientific literature. This study was designed to systematically investigate the efficacy of an Er:YAG laser on veneer debonding, possibly without damage to the underlying tooth, and preservation of the veneer integrity. Study Design/Materials and Methods The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was used on 10 flat veneer samples (IPS Empress Esthetic, e.max Press HT) to assess which infrared laser wavelengths transmits through a veneer. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra for a bonding cement (RelyX) were obtained. Consequently, Er:YAG laser energy transmission (wavelength 2,940 nm, 10 Hz repetition rate, pulse duration 100 µseconds at 133 mJ/pulse) through different veneer thicknesses was measured. Twenty-four veneers were bonded to freshly extracted and prepared incisors. The energy necessary for debonding was determined and then the veneers were debonded with the laser. Time needed for total debonding was measured and possible damage to the underlying tooth structure was assessed by light microscopy. Results While the veneer materials did not show any characteristic water absorption bands in the FTIR, the bonding cement showed a broad H2O/OH absorption band. The veneers transmitted between 11.5% and 43.7% of the incident Er:YAG energy with Emax transmitting twice the energy as EE at comparable thicknesses. Initial signs of cement ablation occurred at 1.8–4.0 J/cm2 with the fiber tip positioned at a distance of 3–6 mm from the veneer surface and 133 mJ output energy. All 24 bonded veneers were completely removed with an average removal time of 113 ± 76 seconds. Underlying tooth structure was not damaged. The debonding mainly occurred at the cement/veneer interface. None of the Emax veneers fractured during debonding, while 36% of the EE did. Conclusion Er:YAG laser irradiation effectively debonds porcelain veneers while preserving tooth structure. Maintaining veneer integrity possibly depends on the flexure strength of the veneer porcelain. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:965–974, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The emerging role of the androgen receptor in bladder cancer

Men are three to four times more likely to get bladder cancer than women. The gender disparity characterizing bladder cancer diagnoses has been investigated. One hypothesis is that androgen receptor (AR) signaling is involved in the etiology and progression of this disease. Although bladder cancer is not typically described as an endocrine-related malignancy, it has become increasingly clear that AR signaling plays a role in bladder tumors. This review summarizes current findings regarding the role of the AR in bladder cancer. We discuss work demonstrating AR expression in bladder cancer and its role in promoting formation and progression of tumors. Additionally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting the AR in this disease.
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A VR TASK-BASED TRAINING TOOL FOR CONVEYOR BELT SAFETY TRAINING

Conveyor belts are dangerous to the working environment and the source of many injuries and fatalities that end up costing the industry a lot of money. In order to reduce the injuries that occur on an annual basis, better training techniques are examined. Virtual reality is examined as a way to enhance current training practices that consist mainly of slide show presentations and videos. Virtual reality is examined for task-based training where the user can interact with a working environment safely. The user is given tasks to complete within the virtual environment similar to tasks a worker would have to complete on a day to day basis. The purpose of the program is to be a method of rapidly training younger miners while supplementing on-the-job training practices and ultimately reduce accidents. The model was developed using CAD software and then imported into Deep Creators Right Hemisphere where animations were added and functions were programmed to objects. The users performance is tracked through the use of LISP programming and scores are tallied to judge user performance. The application was tested for quality of information, usability, and learning potential over other training methods. This paper is an expansion of a paper presented at the CONVR 2007 conference at Penn State University, State College, PA, USA on October 22-23, 2007 (Lucas and Thabet, 2007).
Junction solar cells made with molecular beam glow discharge bombardment

The fabrication and characterization of silicon p-n junction solar cells with various glow discharge, unanalyzed, molecular implanted emitter regions is described. Total area simulated air mass one (AM1) power conversion efficiencies without AR coatings or back surface fields are at best 8.2% compared to 9.1% for conventionally implanted or POC13 thermally diffused cells on similar substrates. To achieve optimum performance, Q-switched ruby laser light was incorporated into the molecular implant annealing procedure. Conversion efficiencies greater than 8% were achieved with the four dopants BC13, PC13 AsF3 and POC13. For similar processing, conversion efficiency with BF3 implants was less than those of previous investigations, most likely due to poor crystalline regrowth of the heavily doped emitter regions. Cell quantum efficiency and mesa junction ideality are shown to be similar to those of conventional cells while molecular implant sheet resistance values varied, generally being directly related to the dopant molecular weight.
Getting Physical With the Aortic Valve

Mammalian cells and tissues rely on continuous interactions with the structural, physical, and soluble chemical environment to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. This ensures the continuation of proper physiological functions, accurate developmental cues during embryogenesis, containment of chronic pathological changes, and efficient repair of acute injuries. As part of cell regulation, the mechanical status of cells is constantly undergoing adjustment through coordinated responses to changes of intracellular tension imposed by internal and external forces and by encounters with extracellular matrices of varying stiffness.1,2 The role of extracellular proteins in mechanoregulated cell biology has emerged over the last decade in studies of fibrosis—the differentiation of myofibroblasts that express contractile α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) organized into stress fibers. Myofibroblast differentiation requires sustained mechanical tension that in turn is dependent on the stiffness of the extracellular matrix as sensed through integrin adhesion sites in the cell membrane.3 A critical soluble protein required for myofibroblast differentiation is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)4 that is secreted from myofibroblasts and, in an autocrine loop, can stimulate the cell via TGF-β receptors. However, secreted TGF-β binds to the extracellular matrix via a fibronectin splice variant (TGF-β latent complex), making it unavailable to the cell and preventing differentiation.5 In 2007, Wipff et al6 showed that TGF-β availability depends on the matrix …
A realist theory and analysis of utilization

A theory of evaluation use must be contextualized within the venue in which use is expected. Use in policy-making and social programming is analyzed with particular emphasis on shaping realist practice to increase the potential for utilization.
When Transgenes Wander, Should We Worry?

Norman C. Ellstrand Professor of Genetics, University of California, Riverside, California It is hard to ignore the ongoing, often emotional, public discussion of the impacts of the products of crop biotechnology. At one extreme of the hype is self-rightoeus panic, and at the other is smug
Stability of cytotoxic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone conjugate (AN-152) containing doxorubicin 14-O-hemiglutarate in mouse and human serum in vitro: Implications for the design of preclinical studies

Recently, we developed a series of cytotoxic peptide conjugates containing 14-O-glutaryl esters of doxorubicin (DOX) or 2-pyrrolino-DOX (AN-201). Serum carboxylesterase enzymes (CE) can partially hydrolyze these conjugates in the circulation, releasing the cytotoxic radical, before the targeting is complete. CE activity in serum of nude mice is about 10 times higher than in human serum. Thus, we found that the t1/2 of AN-152, an analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) containing DOX, at 0.3 mg/ml is 19.49 ± 0.74 min in mouse serum and 126.06 ± 3.03 min in human serum in vitro. The addition of a CE inhibitor, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), to mouse serum in vitro significantly (P < 0.01) prolongs the t1/2 of AN-152 to 69.63 ± 4.44 min. When DFP is used in vivo, 400 nmol/kg cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238 containing AN-201 is well tolerated by mice, whereas all animals die after the same dose without DFP. In contrast, DFP has no effect on the tolerance of AN-201. A better tolerance to AN-238 after DFP treatment is due to the selective uptake of AN-238 by somatostatin receptor-positive tissues. Our results demonstrate that the suppression of the CE activity in nude mice greatly decreases the toxicity of cytotoxic hybrids containing 2-pyrrolino-DOX 14-O-hemiglutarate and brings this animal model closer to the conditions that exist in humans. The use of DFP together with these peptide conjugates in nude mice permits a better understanding of their mechanism of action and improves the clinical predictability of the oncological and toxicological results.
MPATI: The Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction (1959-1971)

It is 1964 and high in the sky, flying in a figure-eight formation over a 200-mile radius and six Midwestern states, is a plane with a large 24-foot antennae hanging from its belly. Transmitting 24 separate courses recorded ahead of time then played back to member schools in six states, the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction (MPATI) was designed to meet the need of providing educational television to a wider audience. In the late 1950s, the FCC decided that certain channels would be allocated for non-commercial educational use. Schools were bursting with students; teachers were in high demand and educators wanted television classroom instruction to ease their burden. Offering simultaneous programs to schools across the country similar to commercial networks seemed impossible. Hence, the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction, a not-for-profit consortium of educational institutions and television producers, was born.
A power series solution of the traveling-wave tube equations

A solution of the initial value problem for the three-wave formulation of the traveling-wave tube equations is obtained in the form of a series in powers of βCz, whose coefficients are evaluated recursively without solving the determinantal equation.
RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF THE FEET OF MAMMOTH DONKEYS AND THE FINDING OF SUBCLINICAL LAMINITIS

All feet of 10 clinically sound mammoth donkeys (Group I) were radiographed to determine the appearance of the distal phalanx. The distal phalanges had blunted to concave-shaped dorsal solar margins which varied in appearance from slight to pronounced. The distal phalanges of the forefeet were wider than those of the hindfeet, and also were positioned a greater distance from the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall. The greater distance between the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall and the distal phalanges seemed related to the presence of a periosteal-like bony proliferation on the dorsum of the distal phalanx. This bony proliferation occurred in those distal phalanges which also had radiographic findings consistent with pedal osteitis. Next, all feet of 5 additional mammoth donkeys (Group 11) that were to be necropsied for various reasons, were examined similarly to Group I, necropsied and found to have laminitis. Only 2 of these 5 donkeys had been lame; only one had rotation of the distal phalanges (in the forefeet). Radiographic data from the 4 donkeys without rotation seemed most similar to that found in those Group I donkeys which had periosteal reactions on their distal phalanges. Conclusions from this study were that: 1) feet of mammoth donkeys have some anatomic differences from those of domestic horses, 2) subclinical laminitis and pedal osteitis can occur in mammoth donkeys, 3) rotation of the distal phalanx occurs in some, but not all laminitic donkeys, 4) laminitic changes may be more pronounced in their fore than in their hindfeet, and 5) additional studies of donkeys need to be done, examining both proven normal and confirmed laminitic feet. Veterinary Radiology & Uttrasound, Vol.
Developmental toxicity of dextromethorphan in zebrafish embryos/larvae.

Dextromethorphan is widely used in over-the-counter cough and cold medications. Its efficacy and safety for infants and young children remains to be clarified. The present study was designed to use the zebrafish as a model to investigate the potential toxicity of dextromethorphan during the embryonic and larval development. Three sets of zebrafish embryos/larvae were exposed to dextromethorphan at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf), 48 hpf, and 72 hpf, respectively, during the embryonic/larval development. Compared with the 48 and 72 hpf exposure sets, the embryos/larvae in the 24 hpf exposure set showed much higher mortality rates which increased in a dose-dependent manner. Bradycardia and reduced blood flow were observed for the embryos/larvae treated with increasing concentrations of dextromethorphan. Morphological effects of dextromethorphan exposure, including yolk sac and cardiac edema, craniofacial malformation, lordosis, non-inflated swim bladder, and missing gill, were also more frequent and severe among zebrafish embryos/larvae exposed to dextromethorphan at 24 hpf. Whether the more frequent and severe developmental toxicity of dextromethorphan observed among the embryos/larvae in the 24 hpf exposure set, as compared with the 48 and 72 hpf exposure sets, is due to the developmental expression of the Phase I and Phase II enzymes involved in the metabolism of dextromethorphan remains to be clarified. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, nevertheless, revealed developmental stage-dependent expression of mRNAs encoding SULT3 ST1 and SULT3 ST3, two enzymes previously shown to be capable of sulfating dextrorphan, an active metabolite of dextromethorphan.
Fault Diagnosis as a Graph Coloring Problem

A method is presented for converting problems in fault diagnosis into ones involving coloring (labeling) the nodes of a graph. It is shown that many concepts and results of graph theory have direct counterparts in fault diagnosis. Specific fault diagnosis problems examined include exercising tests, fanout free networks, test point insertion, sensitized paths, and fault test generation. A number of examples are included.
Living and searching in the world: object-based state estimation for mobile robots

Mobile-manipulation robots performing service tasks in human-centric indoor environments has long been a dream for developers of autonomous agents. Tasks such as cooking and cleaning require interaction with the environment, hence robots need to know relevant aspects of their spatial surroundings. However, unlike the structured settings that industrial robots operate in, service robots typically have little prior information about their environment. Even if this information was given, due to the involvement of many other agents (e.g., humans moving objects), uncertainty in the complete state of the world is inevitable over time. Additionally, most information about the world is irrelevant to any particular task at hand. Mobile manipulation robots therefore need to continuously perform the task of state estimation, using perceptual information to maintain the state, and its uncertainty, of task-relevant aspects of the world. Because indoor tasks frequently require the use of objects, objects should be given critical emphasis in spatial representations for service robots. Compared to occupancy grids and feature-based maps often used in navigation and SLAM, object-based representations are arguably still in their infancy. In my thesis, I propose a representation framework based on objects, their 'semantic' attributes, and their geometric realizations in the physical world.
Effects of Needs and Need Satisfaction on Subjective QOL

This chapter describes the effects of needs and need satisfaction on subjective well-being.
Switching to Swift: instructional issues and student sentiment

Swift is a new programming language recently introduced by Apple as an alternative to Objective-C. Its release raises a number of significant questions for faculty who currently use Objective-C in the classroom, especially those who teach Mobile Application development using iOS. This paper 1) gives a brief introduction to some of the significant language features that may impact the use of Swift in the classroom, 2) weighs some of the pros and cons of changing curriculum to use Swift rather than Objective-C, and, most importantly, 3) identifies student responses to Swift's syntax and semantics in comparison to several other contemporary languages.
Lattice computation of the decay constants of B and D mesons.

A lattice calculation of the pseudoscalar decay constant of heavy-light mesons is reported. Results are obtained (in the quenched approximation) from lattices at {beta}=6.3 through a procedure that interpolates between the static approximation of Eichten and the conventional (``heavy`` Wilson fermion) method. The previously observed discrepancy between these two approaches has been resolved: we find the scaling quantity {ital f} {radical}M to be significantly smaller than previous calculations had indicated (e.g., at {beta}=6.0); in addition, we discuss a modification which is required in normalizing the conventional amplitude to correct for large-{ital am} lattice errors. This change guarantees that {ital f} {radical}M will smoothly approach its value in the static limit. From the numerical interpolation of the static and intermediate-mass results, we find, in units of MeV, {ital f}{sub {ital B}}=187(10){plus_minus}34{plus_minus}15, {ital f}{sub {ital B}{ital s}}=207(9){plus_minus}34{plus_minus}22, {ital f}{sub {ital D}}=208(9){plus_minus}35{plus_minus}12, and {ital f}{sub {ital D}{ital s}}=230(7){plus_minus}30{plus_minus}18, where the first error is statistical and the second two are estimates of systematics due to (1) fitting and large-{ital am} effects and (2) scaling. The ratios are better determined: {ital f}{sub {ital D}}/{ital f}{sub {ital D}{ital s}}, {ital f}{sub {ital B}}/{ital f}{sub {ital B}{ital s}}, {ital f}{sub {ital B}}/{ital f}{sub {ital D}}, and {italmore » f}{sub {ital B}{ital s}}/{ital f}{sub {ital D}{ital s}} are all 0.90 within a total error of less than 0.05.« less
Continous time autonomous air traffic control for non-towered airports

The majority of reported near mid-air collisions that involve a general aviation aircraft (GA) occur in the vicinity of non-towered airports. In this paper, we propose a concept for air traffic collision prevention for GA aircraft, which can be modeled as a continuous-time Markov decision process (CTMDP). The problem is equivalent to controlling independent homogeneous multi-agents under communication or resource constraints. We outline a methodology that leverages the structure of the problem to efficiently solve it despite the large state space. Finally, we present simulation results for aircraft operating under the optimized policies in the traffic pattern.
A Way to Simplify Truth Functions

(1955). A Way to Simplify Truth Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 62, No. 9, pp. 627-631.
Are perinatal autopsy rates satisfactory

OBJECTIVE To determine perinatal autopsy rates and whether any maternal or obstetric factors affect consent for autopsy. DESIGN Ascertainment of perinatal autopsy rates between 1990 and 1993 for three categories of perinatal deaths: termination of pregnancy for antenatally diagnosed anomalies; fetal deaths and still-births; and neonatal and post-neonatal deaths. A case-control study matched deaths for which consent for autopsy was refused with the next death in the same category for which consent was given. SETTING A tertiary maternity hospital in South Australia. RESULTS The autopsy rate for pregnancies terminated for fetal abnormalities was 92.4% (171/185) and for intrauterine death was 87.7% (264/301); the rates in these two groups were higher for registrable births (gestation > 20 weeks) than non-registrable births. The overall autopsy rate in liveborn babies was 58.8% (80/136), the neonatal autopsy rate being 59.6% (68/114). No significant differences were found with regard to gestational age at birth, maternal gravidity and parity, employment, health insurance or marital status, or, among liveborn babies, postnatal age, between the autopsy and non-autopsy groups. CONCLUSIONS Perinatal autopsy rates are higher than rates in adults but are lower in registrable births than the recommended 75%. Consent for autopsy is the limiting factor. There is a need for a clearer definition of perinatal autopsies, and perinatal autopsy rates, to take into account non-registrable deliveries.
Autoregulation of renal and splanchnic blood flow following infra-renal aortic clamping is mediated by nitric oxide and vasodilator prostanoids.

OBJECTIVE This study examines the hypothesis that nitric oxide and vasodilator prostanoids contribute to the autoregulation of renal artery and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow following infra-renal aortic clamping. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Renal and SMA artery blood flow were measured in anesthetized rats. The rats received bolus injection of saline carrier, L-NAME (25 mg/kg) or indomethacin (15 mg/kg) prior to sham or infra-renal aortic occlusion. In vivo blood flow was measured 1, 30 and 60 minutes during aortic occlusion and 1, 30, and 60 minutes following release of the aortic cross clamp. RESULTS Aortic occlusion transiently increased SMA blood flow but did not alter renal artery blood flow. Aortic clamp release resulted in a 40% decrease in both SMA and renal artery blood flow. L-NAME or indomethacin pretreatment decreased both SMA and renal artery blood flow at 60 minutes following infrarenal aortic occlusion. Indomethacin decreased SMA blood flow at 1 minute following unclamping of the aorta and L-NAME decreased SMA blood flow at 30 and 60 minutes following aortic clamp release. Both L-NAME and indomethacin markedly decreased renal artery blood flow at all time periods following aortic clamp release. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that renal and splanchnic vascular beds utilize endogenous vasodilator eicosanoids and nitric oxide to maintain blood flow during cross clamping and unclamping of the infra-renal aorta.
Saint and Sinner: Women in Christianity

Within the overall theme of women and the feminine in world religions this essay focuses on the role of women in Christianity, with particular emphasis on Roman Catholicism. The juxtaposition of “saint” and “sinner” in its title illustrates the complexity and equivocity of Christianity’s attitude towards women. Like most other religions, Christianity has a longstanding and ingrained ambivalence if not overt hostility toward women and the feminine. This ambiguity is enshrined in the dominance of two symbols of femininity in Christian history: Eve the primordial sinner and Mary the paradigmatic saint. Christianity inherits the Hebrew myth of Eve as one who is “created second and sinned first” (Gen 2:22; 3:6) and develops it into an anthropology in which woman is doubly subjected to man, in two respects, by nature (“created second”) and by punishment (“sinned first”). By contrast, Mary is exalted as the Mother of God, in whom the twin ideals of womanhood---virginity and motherhood---are perfectly realized. C...
Noninvasive Monitoring of Lung Function During Mechanical Ventilation

Noninvasive monitoring can greatly enhance decision-making and clinical approaches to the respiratory failure patient. Newer microprocessor systems will calculate, present, and trend derived data such as airway resistance and lung-thorax compliance. These changes characterize the degree of lung dysfunction and parallel abnormalities in gas exchange.
Deadly Connections: Afghanistan under the Taliban

Al-Qa'ida (Arabic for “the foundation” or “the base”) is the most lethal terrorist group in modern history. The attacks it conducted on September 11, 2001 killed almost 3,000 people, far and away the bloodiest single terrorist attack ever. The movement has also conducted or supported dozens of other terrorist attacks, backed a range of ferocious Islamist insurgencies that have killed tens of thousands, and promulgated a violent ideology that glorifies violence in the name of God. Al-Qa'ida is often portrayed as an organization that lacks a state sponsor. Terms like “postmodern” and “networked” are regularly used to characterize the movement and to suggest that it does not depend on any state for its survival. However, from May 1996 until the end of the 2001, al-Qa'ida was based in Afghanistan and enjoyed tremendous support from the ruling Taliban regime there. Mullah Omar and other Taliban leaders provided al-Qa'ida with a haven from which it could launch attacks, train recruits for a variety of jihads , and otherwise conduct its struggle against the United States, moderate Arab regimes, and other governments it opposed. Al-Qa'ida did not depend on the Taliban for its survival, but the Taliban's support proved vital for many of the organization's achievements. By any sensible definition of state sponsorship, the Taliban's Afghanistan qualifies as a highly energetic and enthusiastic sponser.
Silicon Carbide Power Devices

Silicon has long been the dominant semiconductor of choice for high-voltage power electronics applications. However, wide bandgap semiconductors, particularly SiC and GaN, have begun to attract much attention. The superior physical properties of these semiconductors offer a 10-35 times lower intrinsic carrier concentration, 4-20 times higher electric breakdown field, 3-13 times higher thermal conductivity, and 2-2.5 times larger saturated electron drift velocity , when compared to silicon. This chapter gives an account of the silicon carbon (SiC) power devices, focusing on transistors thyristors and material challenges. It also discusses the physics of operation of major 2 or 3-terminal homojunction devices that are applicable to SiC. To quantify the performance enhancement possible with SiC and GaN, several unipolar and bipolar figures of merit have been proposed. The chapter presents an analysis of these figures of merits, highlighting the advantages of SiC over its counterparts. High-voltage power rectifiers are generally categorized into two classes such as the unipolar Schottky rectifier and the bipolar p-i-n junction rectifier. Whether a unipolar or a bipolar rectifier is preferred depends on many device parameters, such as reverse blocking voltage, forward current density, maximum allowable reverse current density, operating temperature, and switching frequency. The chapter describes these characteristics illustrating the difference between these two rectifiers. It also discusses power transistors and power thyristors, highlighting the major challenges faced in process of creation of desired SiC alloy composition.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Basilar Invagination

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) was first reported to be linked to basilar impression in 1942. Secondary basilar impression results from skeletal diseases and resultant bone softening, as is frequently seen in OI, Paget disease, Hurler syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia, Hajdu–Cheney syndrome and achondroplasia. The majority of OI patients with basilar invagination (BI) present with severe physical disability and advanced symptomatic BI. Several radiological modalities are utilized to confirm the diagnosis and aid in pre-operative planning. The general goals of nonsurgical management in OI are to decrease the incidence of fractures and increase mobility and independence. If symptomatic BI is present, however, only surgical decompression and stabilization can halt the progression of deficits and potentially reverse them. In this chapter, we outline a review of the diagnosis, management and outcome for patients with OI and BI.
Receipt of recommended services among patients with selected disabling conditions and diabetes.

Abstract Background Receiving recommended services for patients with diabetes is associated with improved outcomes and reduced morbidity. People with diabetes who also have a condition associated with disability represent one group that is at risk for health disparities. Objective To examine service utilization among persons with selected disabling conditions and diabetes, compared to those without. Methods 2007–2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Full-Year Consolidated files, medical conditions files, and the 1996–2012 pooled linkage files were merged for this analysis. This analysis focused on five selected conditions that are associated with disability: Visual impairment and blindness, spinal cord injury, intellectual disability, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy. Unadjusted and adjusted rates of receipt estimated using various multivariable regression techniques. Results The proportion with diabetes was higher among those with a selected condition (12.1%) than without (7.1%). Respondents with a selected condition were more likely to have a foot exam; for all other services, the rate of receipt across the two groups was similar. Controlling for other factors, having a selected condition was only a significant factor for foot exams (AOR 1.49, 1.07–2.07). Different factors, but not having a selected condition, were associated with the receipt of each additional service. Conclusions In general, individuals received the full complement of recommended diabetes management services at a low rate, whether or not they had one of the selected disabling conditions. The comparison results indicated few disparities in diabetes management services among those with selected conditions compared those without these conditions, excepting foot exams, which were more common in the group with a disabling condition.
Stage-specific effects of Notch activation during skeletal myogenesis

Muscles do much more than enable the body to move; they are also important organs involved in the metabolism. Conditions ranging from muscular dystrophy to insulin resistance result from problems that affect muscle tissue. Hence, understanding the signaling mechanisms that regulate how muscles develop and work will be critical to improving muscle-related health conditions. To form and repair muscles, muscle progenitor cells develop (or differentiate) into new muscle cells, which then fuse to form muscle fibers. A signaling pathway involving a protein known as Notch regulates how cells communicate during development, and has been shown to play a key role in muscle progenitor cells. However, it was not known what role Notch signaling plays in the differentiated muscle cells. Bi, Yue et al. have now studied genetically modified mice in which Notch signaling could be manipulated in certain types of cells. In mice with increased Notch signaling in both their newly differentiated muscle cells and muscle fibers, any unfused muscle cells were forced to return to an undifferentiated state, a process called dedifferentiation. This led to the muscles wasting away and resulted in the mice dying young. By contrast, in mice that only experienced activated Notch signaling in their muscle fibers, no dedifferentiation was seen. However, aged and dystrophic muscles in these mice regained the ability to contract and regenerate. Bi, Yue et al. hope that these findings will transform into new strategies to activate or inactivate Notch signaling at different stages of muscle development or regeneration. This could help to repair muscles under various disease conditions.
Walter White(ness) lashes out: Breaking Bad and male victimage

ABSTRACTThis essay situates the television show Breaking Bad (BB) and its critical reception in the context of American politics following the economic and political events of 2008. Reading the show as an allegory, I demonstrate that it offered a pathway for viewers to maintain investments and commitments to a toxic, white masculinity threatened by 2008’s economic and political dislocations. Taking the show up for its capacity to allegorize the human experience, Breaking Bad’s critically acclaimed status among viewers from widely divergent political positions suggests that the investment in raced and gendered ideas of individual freedom crosses partisan lines, indicating that American national identity and white masculinity share a mutually sustaining incoherence. Understanding the cultural roots of American victimage evident in post-2008 America helps explain how BB distinguished itself from similar masculine “anti-hero” dramas.
Protocol for autonomous landing of unmanned air vehicles on research vessels

The growing availability of robotic platforms and open-source software presents a striking opportunity for the advancement of scientific instrumentation. Multirotors are particularly versatile platforms which offer some clear advantages for marine-based research missions including mapping and surveying of coastal, glacial, or marine features, photogrammetry, remote atmospheric or water sample collection, specimen tracking, and rare-event monitoring. The Olin College Intelligent Vehicle Laboratory has been actively developing on multirotor platforms to autonomously perform these missions, with special focus on photogrammetric and breath condensate sample collection from cetaceans.
Fertility preservation and decisional regret in young breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal analysis.

106Background: Fertility is important to many young breast cancer survivors (YBCS), who face difficult decisions on whether to undergo fertility preservation prior to treatment. Because few longitudinal data assessing decisional regret are available, the objectives of this study were to assess longitudinal changes in decisional regret on fertility preservation following breast cancer diagnosis; determine if fertility preservation treatment decisions are related to decreased decisional regret. Methods: From 3 academic breast cancer programs, 169 YBCS younger than age 45 were recruited at diagnosis between 2009 and 2012 and followed prospectively for ovarian function. Participants completed questionnaires on fertility preservation choices and the Decisional Regret Scale (DRS) during study visits every 6 months for up to 5 years. DRS is scored 0 (no regret) to 100 (highest regret). DRS was dichotomized as none versus any decisional regret. Generalized linear models estimated the change in DRS over time and t...
Modeling capacitor derating in power integrity simulation

In this work, we propose a simulation methodology that incorporates derating models of decoupling capacitors for power integrity analysis. The construction of the derating models of decoupling capacitors is based on the impedance measurement and curve fitting method. Three approaches of impedance measurement are compared and the most accurate one is selected to build the derating models. The curve fitting method converts the measured impedance into circuit models. A library file containing the derating models is generated such that it can be repeatedly used for different products at various design cycles. The derating library takes into account the operation conditions such as temperature and DC bias as well as the vendor information. The proposed simulation methodology with the derating library achieves high accuracy, which is demonstrated through correlations with measurements.