cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delay-Optimal Server Allocation in Multiqueue Multiserver Systems With Time-Varying Connectivities

This paper considers the problem of optimal server allocation in a time-slotted system with N statistically symmetric queues and K servers when the arrivals and channels are stochastic and time-varying. In this setting, we identify two classes of "desirable" policies with potentially competing goals of maximizing instantaneous throughput versus balancing the load. Via an example, we show that these goals, in general, can be incompatible, implying an empty intersection between the two classes of policies. On the other hand, we establish the existence of a policy achieving both goals when the connectivities between each queue and each server are random and either "ON" or "OFF". We use dynamic programming (DP) and properties of the value function to establish the delay optimality of a policy, which, at each time-slot, simultaneously maximizes the instantaneous throughput and balances the queues.
Attentive tracking shifts the perceived location of a nearby flash

Abstract Several studies have shown that the perceived position of a briefly presented stimulus can be displaced by nearby motion or by eye movements. We examined whether attentive tracking can also modulate the perceived position of flashed static objects when eye movements and low-level motion are controlled. Observers attentively tracked two target bars 180° apart on a rotating, 12-spoke radial grating and judged the alignment of two flashes that were briefly presented, one on each side of the grating. Because of the symmetry of the 12-spoke grating, test flashes could be timed so that the rotating grating was always aligned to a standard orientation at the time of the test, while the tracked bars themselves, being only two of the 12 spokes, could probe locations that differed by multiples of 30° ahead of, aligned with, or behind, the test bars. Despite the physical identity of the stimulus in each test—same orientation, same motion—the perceived position of the two flashes strongly depended on the locus of attention: when the test flashes were presented ahead of the tracked bars, a large position shift in the direction of the grating’s motion was seen. If they were presented behind the tracked bars, the illusory displacement was reduced or slightly reversed. These effects of attention led us to suggest an attentional model of position distortions that links the effects seen for motion and for eye movements.
Effects of estrogen and progesterone on plasma lipoproteins and experimental atherosclerosis in the baboon (Papio sp.).

We determined the effect of estrogen and progesterone on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and on arterial lesions in 24 ovariectomized and hysterectomized baboons fed a high-cholesterol/high-saturated-fat diet. These baboons were divided into four groups: untreated control (C); estrogen, 100 micrograms/kg/week injected i.m. (E); progesterone, 3 mg/kg/day (P); and estrogen plus progesterone (E + P). The treatment regimen continued for 18 months. Cholesterol levels in plasma and lipoproteins were measured before hormone treatment and at 3, 10, and 18 months of treatment. Postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was also measured during the treatment. After 18 months of hormone treatment, baboons were necropsied and arterial lesions were measured. Hormone treatment significantly influenced plasma cholesterol (P greater than C greater than [E + P] greater than E) and very low density lipoprotein plus low density lipoprotein (VLDL + LDL) cholesterol (P greater than C greater than [E + P] greater than E), with very little effect on high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. The E + P group had a significantly higher HDL cholesterol concentration than did the P group. The (VLDL + LDL)/HDL cholesterol ratios in the E and E + P groups were significantly lower than those in the P and C groups. LPL activities were significantly lower in the E group compared with those in the E + P and P groups. Hormone treatment significantly influenced lesions in four (innominate, carotid, iliac, and abdominal aorta) of seven arteries. The P group had the most fatty streaks, and the E + P group had the least.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analysis of Vasodepressor Responses to Nociceptin and Nociceptin Analogs in the Systemic Vascular Bed of the Anesthetized Rabbit In Vivo

Background : The heptadecapeptide nociceptin, also known as Orphanin FQ, is a recently discovered endogenous ligand for the opioid-like G-protein-coupled receptor ORL 1.Methods and Results: In the ...
Perioperative safety of Hydrosoft coils

Objective Hydrosoft coils were developed to serve as finishing coils to prevent aneurysmal recurrence at the neck. Initial animal studies were encouraging since some studies showed endothelial healing across the neck without recurrence over time. However, theoretical concerns exist regarding the potential threat to parent vessels as the Hydrosoft coils at the neck expand, as well as whether such coils can be adequately supple to safely serve as a true finishing coil. A retrospective review of the initial clinical experience utilizing Hydrosoft coils from three high-volume centers was performed. Methods Each center was asked to report angiographic (aneurysmal location, aneurysmal maximal size, neck size, incidence of intraprocedural parent vessel thrombosis, coil herniation, aneurysmal rupture as well as Raymond scale and percent occlusion after coiling) and clinical (rupture status, Hunt and Hess grade, incidence of stroke, hemorrhage, vasospasm and hydrocephalus) data on consecutive patients who underwent placement of Hydrosoft coils. Results A total of 141 patients were enrolled. Embolization achieved a Raymond Scale score of I (complete obliteration) in 79 aneurysms (56%), II (residual neck) in 40 aneurysms (28%) and III (residual dome) in 21 aneurysms (15%); in one case the Hydrosoft coil could not be placed. Procedural morbidity and mortality were 2.1% and 1.4%, respectively. No complications were definitively attributed to the use of Hydrosoft coils. There were three cases (2.1%) of parent vessel thrombosis, two of which resolved after intraprocedural administration of thrombolytic agents and did not lead to neurological sequelae. The incidences of intraprocedural or periprocedural aneurysmal rupture (2.1%), cerebral hemorrhage (3.5%), stroke (4.9%), vasospasm (26.2%) or hydrocephalus (31.1%) were comparable to contemporary literature. Conclusion The use of Hydrosoft coils appears to be safe and does not lead to higher complication rates than are currently accepted in the literature. Further prospective studies are required to determine whether the use of Hydrosoft coils results in a lower incidence of aneurysmal recurrence.
STABILIZATION OF THE SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT IN NiTi: AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

Over the last 20 years or so, shape memory alloys have become well known for their ability to undergo large shape changes that traditional metals could never do. One such alloy, NiTi, has been of particular interest due to it’s high efficiency (when compared to other SMA’s) to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. While NiTi is currently used in industry, its use is hindered by an extreme sensitivity to processing techniques. Certain parameters such as alloy composition, annealing procedures and various loading conditions can improve the shape memory effect or completely make it disappear. Many studies have focused on these variables. Of particular interest to this study is the one-way shape memory effect (OWSME) after the NiTi has been cycled (deformation followed by recovery) many times. It is very desirable to find a processing technique that would stabilize the OWSME and make it repeatable after many cycles. This paper explores these parameters in hopes of finding an optimal process to stabilize the shape memory effect in NiTi. Many studies have been conducted examining the cyclic behavior of NiTi. Most common are studies done on pseudoelastic NiTi (1,2,3) and on the two way shape memory effect (TWSME) (4,5,6,7). However, very few have explored these cyclic effects on the OWSME. One study that was conducted on the OWSME used wire samples and carried tests out to 100 cycles (8). It was reported that the recovery strain was reduced to 93.4% and 81% of the total strain when total strains of 6% and 8% were used, respectively over the 100 cycles. (Note, that these values will differ from ours since they used “hard” cycles with a fixed maximum strain where as we used “soft” cycles with a fixed maximum stress.) This displays the degradation of the shape memory effect that hinders NiTi’s use. After this work, another study was performed that investigated a conditioning technique to try to stabilize the shape memory effect (9). Their research recommended that after SME (strain-heat-recover-cool-repeat) cycling the NiTi 30 times at 6% strain, a stable strain range was obtained for strains less than 6%. This was only shown over a very few cycles and in wire samples. It is our hypothesis that some form of “conditioning” may be performed on NiTi after annealing to improve its cyclic shape memory properties. The result will be a protocol that can be applied to NiTi before its service use. In doing so, it is important to define a few performance criteria that are considered indicative of “good behavior” and clarify what will hopefully be stabilized:
Bilateral arterial ducts with isolated left subclavian artery in ventriculo-arterial discordance, ventricular septal defect, and coarctation.

We report an unusual finding in a 5-day-old baby who had had an antenatal diagnosis of ventriculo-arterial (VA) discordance, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and great artery disproportion, suggesting postnatal development of Coarctation of the Aorta. Postnatal echocardiography confirmed VA discordance and VSD, but the arch anatomy was complex and less clear. There was additional sub-aortic stenosis, which had not been fully appreciated antenatally. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under …
Management of synchronous lung nodules in patients with potentially curable head and neck cancer

16503 The presence of a solitary pulmonary nodule in patients with otherwise curable head and neck cancer is a complex clinical scenario. We retrospectively reviewed the management of such patients...
Lack of hospital preparedness for chemical terrorism in a major US city: 1996-2000.

Introduction The [US] Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Act (the WMD Act of 1996) heralded a new wave of spending by the federal government on counter-terrorism efforts. Between 1996 and 2000, the United States of America (US) federal government allocated large sums of funding to the States for bioterrorism preparedness. Distribution of these funds between institutions involved in first-responder care (e.g., fire and safety departments) and hospitals was uneven. It is unknown whether these additional funds had an impact on the level of hospital preparedness for managing mass casualties involving hazardous materials at the local level, including potential terrorist attacks with chemical agents. Objectives (1) To compare 1996 and 2000 measures of preparedness among hospitals of a major US metropolitan area for dealing with hazardous material casualties, including terrorism that involved the use of weapons of mass destruction; and (2) To provide guidance for the improvement of emergency preparedness and response in US hospitals. Methods In July 1996 and again in July 2000,21 hospitals in one major US city were surveyed by questionnaire. A survey was used to assess the amounts of antidote stocks held available for treatment of casualties caused by toxic chemical agents and institutional response capabilities including the number of showers for decontaminating patients, the level of worker protection, and the number of staff trained to decontaminate patients. Results Hospital preparedness for treating and decontaminating patients exposed to toxic chemical agents was inadequate in 1996 and in 2000. From 1996 to 2000, there was no statistically significant change in the lack of hospital preparedness for stocking of nerve agent and cyanide antidotes. Capacity for decontamination of patients, which included appropriate hazardous material infrastructure and trained staff, generally was unimproved from 1996 to 2000 with the exception of an increase of nearly 30% in hospitals with at least one decontamination shower facility. Conclusion Hospitals surveyed in this study were poorly prepared to manage chemical emergency incidents, including terrorism. This lack of hospital preparedness did not change significantly between 1996 and 2000 despite increased funds allocated to bioterrorism preparedness at the local level.
A COMBINED GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOCHRONOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF NIOCALITE FROM THE OKA CARBONATITE COMPLEX, CANADA

This study is the first to report a detailed geochemical investigation and in situ U-Pb ages for niocalite, which occurs within carbonatite from the Bond Zone area of the Oka Carbonatite Complex (Canada). Niocalite is a Nb-disilicate member of the lavenite–cuspidine group. The major element composition of the niocalite studied here is relatively homogeneous with the average formula of: (Na 0.34 Fe 0.06 Mn 0.19 Mg 0.09 Ca 13.40 REE 0.15 Ti 0.02 ) ∑14.25 Nb 2.12 Ta 0.06 (Si 2 O 7 ) 4 O 7.65 F 2.44 . Niocalite is enriched in minor and trace elements [ i.e. , Ta, Ti, and rare earth elements (REEs) up to 4.35 wt.%], with double- and triple-valenced elements ( i.e. , Sr, Y, REEs) substituting at different Ca-occupied lattice sites. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns for niocalite are LREE-enriched (~10 4 times chondrite) and negatively sloped. In addition, niocalite has higher HREE contents compared to those for co-existing apatite from the identical carbonatite sample. This result is expected based on bond valence data because of differing cation sizes. In situ U-Pb ages for niocalite from three carbonatite samples obtained by LA-ICP-MS define a wide range of ages, between ~111 and ~133 Ma. Niocalite from one carbonatite sample yields a bimodal distribution with weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U ages of 110.1 ± 5.0 Ma and 133.2 ± 6.1 Ma, and overlap those of co-existing apatite for the same sample. Two other samples of carbonatite yield weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U ages of 110.6 ± 1.2 Ma and 115.0 ± 1.9 Ma. The geochronological data for niocalite reported here suggests a protracted petrogenetic history for Oka, which corroborates the relatively large range of ages (~20 Myr) previously determined for apatite from the Oka complex. In situ 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratios for niocalite obtained by LA-MC-ICP-MS are variable and range between 0.70314 (±7) and 0.70343 (±8). Based on the combined U-Pb ages, major and trace element abundances, and Sr isotope ratios, the history of niocalite formation cannot be attributed to either simple closed-system fractional crystallization or carbonate-silicate liquid immiscibility. Rather, these are consistent with periodic carbonatite melt derivation from a heterogeneous mantle source, and suggest that some of niocalite investigated here represent cognate crystals.
Competitive Bidding for Marketing Research Services

Is competitive bidding currently an effective means of securing professional marketing research services? Or is this traditional approach in need of reform?This article discusses the advantages and...
Model of Energy Management System Based on Ontology

Ontology is a hotspot of intelligent knowledge modeling.Based on introduction of ontology definition and theory,to improve the model expression ability of ontology,the relative concepts was extended,a modeling method based on extended unified modeling language was proposed.The energy management system was researched in detail.In order to share information between the applications of energy management systems,energy management system and others,an application model framework for energy management system based on ontology was built by extended unified modeling language.
Generalizing Swendsen-Wang for Image Analysis

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods have been used in many fields (physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science) for simulation, inference, and optimization. In many applications, Markov chains are simulated for sampling from target probabilities π(X) defined on graphs G. The graph vertices represent elements of the system, the edges represent spatial relationships, while X is a vector of variables on the vertices which often take discrete values called labels or colors. Designing efficient Markov chains is a challenging task when the variables are strongly coupled. Because of this, methods such as the single-site Gibbs sampler often experience suboptimal performance. A well-celebrated algorithm, the Swendsen–Wang (SW) method, can address the coupling problem. It clusters the vertices as connected components after turning off some edges probabilistically, and changes the color of one cluster as a whole. It is known to mix rapidly under certain conditions. Unfortunately, the SW method has limited ...
Empathy Skill and Critical Consciousness

Linking social work practice with individuals, families, and groups and larger social systems is most often theoretical in attempt. The focus here, however, is on a natural, concrete linkage at the...
Acute Dislocation Superimposed on Chronic RCT

RCT is the key problem after shoulder dislocation in the “older” patient. Combined lesions (RCT+capsular-ligamentous complex) are largely associated with repetitive dislocations. Determination of RCT (pre-existing vs. dislocation associated) is difficult in most patients. No standard therapeutic regimen can be recommended regarding the literature. Conservative treatment is suggested in cases with asymptomatic partial RCT. Goal of surgical treatment is reconstruction of shoulder function by repair of RCT and reestablish shoulder stability.
Deterring Unethical Behavior in Online Labor Markets

This study examines how codes of conduct, monitoring, and penalties for dishonest reporting affect reporting honesty in an online labor market setting. Prior research supports the efficacy of codes of conduct in promoting ethical behavior in a variety of contexts. However, the effects of such codes and other methods have not been examined in online labor markets, an increasingly utilized resource that differs from previously examined settings in several key regards (e.g., transient workforce, lack of an established culture). Leveraging social norm activation theory, we predict and find experimental evidence that while codes of conduct and monitoring without economic penalties are ineffective in online settings, monitoring with economic penalties activates social norms for honesty and promotes honest reporting in an online setting. Further, we find that imposing penalties most effectively promotes honest reporting in workers who rate high in Machiavellianism, a trait that is highly correlated with dishonest reporting. In fact, while in the absence of penalties we observe significantly more dishonest reporting from workers who rate high versus low in Machiavellianism, this difference is eliminated in the presence of penalties. Implications of these findings for companies, researchers, online labor market administrators, and educators are discussed.
Cyberbullying and Social Media: Information and Interventions for School Nurses Working With Victims, Students, and Families.

Social media has become an increasingly prevalent fixture in youths’ lives, with over 90% of teenagers reporting daily usage. These online sites and applications have provided many positive opportu...
Role of mTORC2 and nitric oxide in bladder cancer invasion.

504Background: In the United States, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer, with an estimated 79,000 new diagnoses and 17,000 deaths in 2017, and the eleventh most common cancer worldwide. The key driver of bladder cancer stage progression is tumor cell invasion which has limited response to current chemotherapy options and hence, newer therapies directed against invasion are key to improving the treatment of bladder cancer. Our laboratory has identified mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) as a driver of bladder cancer cell invasion. We have also recently shown that arginine, the nitric oxide (NO) precursor, is implicated in bladder cancer progression. We evaluated the interaction between these two pathways to promote invasion. Methods: Expression of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (iNOS and eNOS) in FFPE tissue sections of progressive disease was assessed by IHC and correlated with histopathology, progression and stage based on moderate to strong expression (2+, 3+...
School Art in an Era of Accountability and Compliance: New Art Teachers and the Complex Relations of Public Schools

Concern regarding the static nature of school art curricula has caused some higher educators to question what happens when graduates of art education programs transition from being preservice teachers associated with the university to in-service teachers working in schools. Why is it that graduates do not seem to be fulfilling their roles as the change-makers many hope they will be? In this article, I offer insights gleaned through work with new, in-service art teachers in a qualitative research study to suggest that school art practices as implemented by beginning art teachers are shaped in part by forces of accountability and compliance that are pervasive in current school contexts. My analysis attempts to shift the focus of concern from the individual actions of beginning art teachers to the regulatory nature of the audit culture in public schools and its productive effects with regard to school art.
Refractory Materials, Specialty

Publisher Summary Markets served by specialty refractories include the production of ferrous and nonferrous metals and glasses as well as the processing of chemicals and ceramics. Products used in these markets range from kiln furniture, crucibles, and nozzles to pouring shrouds, tundishes, and wear-resistant parts. Refractory and ceramic components containing cordierite as a major constituent are generally used where low thermal expansion and good thermal shock resistance are required. Ceramic grade zirconia is used in a wide variety of applications. Refractoriness, thermal-shock resistance, and resistance to molten-metal erosion make zirconia ceramic a useful material for tundish nozzles and other specialty parts in the casting of molten steel and for foundry crucibles. Zirconia ceramics have found unique application in areas other than in high-temperature environments. The axial thermal expansion of β eucryptite is highly anisostropic, with positive expansion in the a crystallographic direction and negative expansion in the c direction. Useful ceramic products can be developed from β eucryptite and β eucryptite–silica solid-solution compositions by controlling stresses and stress-relief mechanisms caused by the anisotropic thermal expansion.
On a Problem Suggested by A.D. Wentzell

In our works [1], [2], [3] we proved the Holder continuity of solutions to uniformly elliptic or uniformly parabolic second-order equations with measurable coefficients. We also proved the Harnack inequality and established Aleksandrovtype estimates for solutions. These results were largely used in the theory of nonlinear equations and their applications. An interesting feature of these results is that we treat nondegenerate elliptic and nondegenerate parabolic equations separately and, to some extent, differently.
Innovative approach to determine overall survival (OS) benefit for orphan diseases using case match control analyses (CMCA): The PROPEL experience of pralatrexate in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

7521Background: The challenges in conducting randomized studies in orphan diseases poses limitations on our ability to identify the most promising treatments. Randomized studies in this setting can...
Hygromorphic living materials for shape changing

Abstract In nature, a variety of materials respond to relative humidity changes in the environment and transform in shape. Nature does so to harvest the energy of humidity gradient and convert this into motion for its own survival. In this article, we first summarize hygromorphic actuators across different scales in nature, analyzing transformation types and mechanisms; we then introduce our research on living hygromorphic materials. We will discuss the model of shape-changing matrix composite, mechanisms of the transformation, the tools to engineer a biohybrid actuator with bacteria, and an application example.
Cue combinatorics in memory retrieval for anaphora

Many studies have shown that memory retrieval for real-time language processing relies on a cue-based access mechanism, which allows the cues available at the retrieval site to directly access the target representation in memory. An open question is how different types of cues are combined at retrieval to create a single retrieval probe ("cue combinatorics"). This study addresses this question by testing whether retrieval for antecedent-reflexive dependencies combines cues in a linear (i.e., additive) or nonlinear (i.e., multiplicative) fashion. Results from computational simulations and a reading time experiment show that target items that match all the cues of the reflexive are favored more than target items that mismatch these cues, and that different degrees of mismatches slow reading times in comparable amounts. This profile is consistent with the predictions of a nonlinear cue combination and provides evidence against models in which all cues combine in a linear fashion. A follow-up set of simulations shows that a nonlinear rule also captures previous demonstrations of interference from nontarget items during retrieval for reflexive licensing. Taken together, these results shed new light on how different types of cues combine at the retrieval site and reveal how the method of cue combination impacts the accessibility of linguistic information in memory.
Delight and Frustration: Using Personal Messages to Understand Motivation:

Engaging undergraduate students in internalizing motivation theories is challenging. They live the concepts but have trouble applying their experiences to understanding the dynamics of motivation t...
Corn Rootworm: Small Insect, Big Impact

Corn rootworm can cause devastating effects to corn yields. The focus of this lesson is the ongoing research of scientists as they work to combat the resistance of corn rootworm to control measures. The importance of this research in developing Insect Resistance Management strategies is discussed.
A New Approach for Modeling Dissipation due to Breaking in Wind Wave Spectra

AbstractA robust spectral dissipation term for wind waves has long been a goal of detailed-balance spectral modeling and is represented by many different approximations in spectral models of random...
The Effect of Frailty and Patient Comorbidities on Outcomes After Acute Subdural Hemorrhage: A Preliminary Analysis.

Background Frailty is associated with worse outcomes across a variety of neurosurgical diseases. However, its effect on acute subdural hemorrhage (aSDH) outcomes is unclear. The goal of this study is to compare 3 measures of frailty with the gold standard (i.e., initial Glasgow Coma Scale [iGCS] score) for predicting outcomes after aSDH. Methods Patients who presented between January 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively identified based on International Classification of Diseases codes for aSDH. Patients' modified Frailty Index (mFI), temporalis muscle thickness (TMT), and age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were calculated. Primary end points were death and discharge home. Results Of 167 patients included, the mean age was 63.4 ± 1.9 years, the average CCI was 3.4 ± 0.2, mFI was 1.4 ± 0.1, TMT was 7.1 ± 0.2 mm, and iGCS score was 11.9 ± 0.3. Sixty-nine patients (41.3%) were discharged home and 32 (19.2%) died during hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, decreasing iGCS score (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74–0.96; P = 0.0112) and midline shift (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.08–1.50; P = 0.0048), but not age or frailty, predicted mortality. In addition to iGCS score (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10–1.44; P = 0.0011), lower CCI (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.14–0.74; P = 0.0071) and larger TMT (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.16–5.99; P = 0.0210) independently predicted increased rates of discharge home. mFI was not independently associated with either primary end point in multivariate analysis. Conclusions iGCS score predicts both mortality and discharge location after aSDH better than do age or frailty. However, CCI and TMT, but not mFI, are useful prognostic indicators of discharge to home after aSDH. The iGCS score should continue to be the primary prediction tool for patients with aSDH; however, frailty may be useful for resource allocation, especially when nearing discharge.
Fatty Pancreas: An Underappreciated Intersection of the Metabolic Profile and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Although the prevalence of pancreatic cancer is increasing, treatment strategies remain limited, and success is rare. A growing body of evidence links pancreatic cancer to pre-existing metabolic disorders, including, but not limited to, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. An infrequently described finding, fatty pancreas, initially described in the context of obesity in the early 20th century, appears to be at the crossroads of type 2 diabetes and obesity on the one hand, and the development of pancreatic cancer on the other. Similarly, other conditions of the pancreas, such as intrapancreatic mucinous neoplasms, also seem to be related to diabetes while increasing the subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer. In this review, the author explores the diagnostic criteria for, and prevalence of, fatty pancreas and the potential link to other pancreatic conditions, including pancreatic cancer. Diagnostic limitations, and areas of controversy are also addressed, as are potential therapeutic approaches to fatty pancreas intended to reduce the subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer.
Stewart-Williams and Halsey argue persuasively that gender bias is just one of many causes of women’s underrepresentation in science

Stewart-Williams and Halsey provide an unusually broad synthesis of the enormous literature on gender gaps in hiring, letters of recommendation, mathematical and spatial abilities, email appointmen...
Non-Fourier-based magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) techniques allow non-invasive measurements of metabolites from multiple voxels. Currently, most MRSI data are processed using Fourier-based reconstruction due to its simplicity. However, the major limitations of Fourier-based MRSI are low spatial resolution and low detection sensitivity, leading to relatively low adoption into the clinical workflow. Non-Fourier-based MRSI techniques have been developed to overcome these limitations by incorporating prior information beyond the acquired MRSI data. This chapter describes basic principles of MRSI data reconstruction and an overview of various non-Fourier based MRSI techniques, including compartment-based reconstructions based on the concept of spectral localization by imaging (SLIM), constrained and parameterized reconstruction, and spatiospectral correlation (SPICE). In addition, the performance and features of each reconstruction technique are demonstrated on simplified simulated MRSI data.
The SONET interface and network applications

The author presents some of the basics behind the SONET interface and some of the applications of the interface in the telecommunications network. Particular emphasis is placed on the basic signal and the multiplexing method. The effect of the SONET interface on the lightwave equipment and digital crossconnect systems is discussed. >
Thiazolidinedione treatment and constitutive-PPARγ activation induces ectopic adipogenesis and promotes age-related thymic involution

Age-related thymic involution is characterized by reduction in T cell production together with ectopic adipocyte development within the hematopoietic and thymic niches. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is required for adipocyte development, glucose homeostasis and is a target for several insulin-sensitizing drugs. Our prior studies showed that age-related elevation of PPARgamma expression in thymic stromal cells is associated with thymic involution. Here, using clinically relevant pharmacological and genetic manipulations in mouse models, we provide evidence that activation of PPARgamma leads to reduction in thymopoiesis. Treatment of aged mice with antihyperglycemic PPARgamma-ligand class of thiazolidinedione drug, rosiglitazone caused robust thymic expression of classical pro-adipogenic transcripts. Rosiglitazone reduced thymic cellularity, lowered the naive T cell number and T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) indicative of compromised thymopoiesis. To directly investigate whether PPARgamma activation induces thymic involution, we created transgenic mice with constitutive-active PPARgamma (CA-PPARg) fusion protein in cells of adipogenic lineage. Importantly, CA-PPARgamma transgene was expressed in thymus and in fibroblast-specific protein-1/S100A4 (FSP1(+)) cells, a marker of secondary mesenchymal cells. The CAPPARgamma fusion protein mimicked the liganded PPARgamma receptor and the transgenic mice displayed increased ectopic thymic adipogenesis and reduced thymopoiesis. Furthermore, the reduction in thymopoiesis in CA-PPARgamma mice was associated with higher bone marrow adiposity and lower hematopoietic stem cell progenitor pool. Consistent with lower thymic output, CAPPARgamma transgenic mice had restricted T cell receptor repertoire diversity. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of PPARgamma accelerates thymic aging and thymus-specific PPARgamma antagonist may forestall age-related decline in T cell diversity.
e-Education as a State Service to Citizens of Different Ages

The paper concentrates on the life-long education. The rapidly changing world is a challenge for both individuals and states as the performance of the work-force is one of the most important factors of any state’s long term success in both financial and social sectors. The paper proposes an e-education system that should be funded by the state and exposed to all citizens in order to constantly upgrade their skills. It is a state service targeted to individuals of different ages as an alternative to the massive education targeted exclusively to the young people. The paper also outlines the model of such system and suggests the way it can be built.
IT Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Role of Knowledge Acquisition

The knowledge-based view of the firm has motivated a rich stream of research on how social factors impact knowledge acquisition by firms. More recently, information systems research has seen an increasing interest in the effect of social influences on software assimilation. This paper combines these two streams to examine the impact of social influences on software assimilation within the firm, using knowledge acquisition as a mediating variable. A square structural equation model using formative constructs is developed. In this study of small and medium firms, we investigate the assimilation of three different software systems that support manufacturing. Data has been collected and is currently being analyzed. Results would be discussed at the conference.
Development of Advanced Battery Systems for vehicle Applications

The Advanced Battery Business Unit (ABBU) of Johnson Controls, Inc. is developing several promising advanced battery technologies including flow-through lead-acid, zinc/bromine, and nickel hydrogen. The flow-through lead-acid technology, which is being developed under Department of Energy (DOE) sponsorship, is progressing towards the fabrication of a 39 kWh battery system. Recent efforts have focused on achieving the aggressive specific energy goal of 56 Wh/kg in 12 volt module form. Recent DOE sponsored work in the zinc/bromine program has focused on the development of a proof-of concept 50 kWh electric vehicle system for a light van application. Efforts in the nickel hydrogen program have focused on reducing system cost in order to make the life-time premium market and EV market possible targets. The status and future direction of each of these programs are summarized.
Effects of dietary lipids on recovery from mucosal injury.

The present studies were conducted to determine if diets containing a large amount of fat stimulate the regeneration of damaged intestinal mucosa in the presence or absence of essential fatty acid deficiency. To simulate injury, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given methotrexate, 2.5 mg/kg body wt, subcutaneously for 3 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last methotrexate injection, rats were placed on diets containing either 0%, 1%, or 10% safflower oil. Mucosal weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, maltase, sucrase, lactase, alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and fatty acids were all determined 3 and 12 days after methotrexate. Crypt-cell production rates were also determined. Essential fatty acid deficiency was confirmed in the 0% safflower oil group, in which triene-tetraene ratios were >0.4. Mucosal weight, deoxyribonucleic acid, protein content, and villus height were all greater in the 1% safflower oil group than in the 0% group at 12 days. In the ileum, 1-h thymidine incorporation was greater in the 0% safflower oil group than in the other two groups. No differences in any of the parameters studied were observed between the 1% and 10% groups. These results suggest that diets deficient in essential fatty acids may impair the recovery of intestinal mucosa from injury.
Motion coordination of underwater vehicle-manipulator systems subject to drag optimization

A motion coordination algorithm for an autonomous underwater vehicle-manipulator system (UVMS) is proposed. This algorithm generates the desired trajectories for both the vehicle and the manipulator in such a way that the total drag effect on the system is minimized. Resolution of kinematic redundancy of the system is performed at the acceleration level so that this algorithm can be incorporated into the system dynamics. The dynamics of the UVMS is modeled using quasi-Lagrange approach. A state-space formulation of the system along with a model-based controller design for a trajectory following task is also presented. The results from computer simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of this proposed method in reducing the drag on the system.
Signal Detection in Continuous Time

In the preceding chapters we have presented the basic principles of signal detection and estimation, assuming throughout that our observation set is either a set of vectors or is a discrete set. Throughout this analysis a key role was played by a family of densities {pθ; θ ∞ Λ} on the observation space, either through the likelihood ratio in hypothesis testing, through the computation of an a posteriori parameter distribution in Bayesian estimation, or through the study of MVUEs and MLEs in nonBayesian parameter estimation. This necessity of specifying a family of densities on the observation space is the primary reason for restricting our observation sets in the way that we have done. In particular, as we have seen, all the problems considered thus far have been treated using the ordinary probability calculus of probability density functions and probability mass functions.†
Economic ideology and Japanese industrial policy: The Ideology of Japanese developmentalism

Until very recently, the economic ideology that inspired Japanese industrial policy has been largely neglected in social science discussions in English-speaking countries (but see Pyle 1974). It was widely believed that the Japanese experience of economic development had little intellectual foundation. Not only does every educated person in North America know that Western mainstream economics is largely irrelevant to the study of Japanese-type economies, even specialists in Japanese studies believe that neither academic nor government economists played a major role in Japan's high-growth strategy. Academia in general has long indulged in what Saitō Seiichirō (1981:298) calls “a fallacious contrast between the prosperity of the Japanese economy and the desolation of Japanese economics.” These perceptions may be correct in the sense that neoclassical economics has not exerted any notable influence on Japanese development. Academicians, however, have neglected the fact that a group of Japanese economists represented by Arisawa Hiromi (1896–1988), Nakayama Ichirō (1898–1980), and Tōbata Seiichi (1899–1983), who belonged to the generation educated before World War II, played a very important role in the state's policy making. These economists helped the nation to establish an urgent agenda, to identify the future direction of economic development, and to build a theoretical framework for Japan's industrial policy in the context of international pressures and domestic turmoil from the 1930s to the 1960s. Their major propositions, reflected in successive state policies, constituted the core of what Japanese economist Kanamori Hisao (1985:127) calls “ Jissen-ha economics” (the economics of actual fighting) – the logic of Japanese industrial policy.
Use of Electromagnetic Models in the Optimal Control of Large Space Antennas

A general approach to the optimal control of large space antennas based on their RF/structural characteristics is described. The approach consists of defining a cost functional based on the degradation of the RF performance of the antenna and using the structural model as the dynamic system. The method is applied to the design of an optimal controller for a 55-m, wraprib offset-fed antenna. Simulation results show that control energy consumption is reduced to approximately one third of the energy used to achieve the same RF performance with traditional control strategies.
Accident cost saving and highway attributes

Two semi-logarithmic regression models are developed to estimate accident rates and accident costs, respectively, for rural non-interstate highways in the state of Iowa. Data on 21,224 accidents occurring between 1989 and 1991 on 17,767 road segments are used in the analysis. Seven road attributes of these road segments are included as predictor variables. Applying the resulting regression models to a rather typical highway upgrade situation, the present value of the accident cost saving is computed. The sensitivity of the estimated cost saving to values for fatal, personal injury, and property damage only accidents is tested. Because factors other than road characteristics greatly influence accident costs, the models developed in this research explain a limited amount of the variance in these costs among road segments. Results of the analysis indicate that the most important attribute associated with accident costs is average daily traffic per lane, followed by conditions requiring passing restrictions and the sharpness of curves. Varying the values for the three categories of accidents shows that results are far more sensitive to the value of personal injuries than fatalities. The feasibility of using predictive models of accident costs in benefit-cost analyses of highway investments is demonstrated.
The Sexual Habitus of Transgender Men: Negotiating Sexuality Through Gender

In this article, the authors consider how trans men’s decisions about physical body modifications impact their sense of themselves as gendered and sexual actors. Based on interviews with 74 trans m...
Breakdown of Mucin as Barrier to Digestive Enzymes in the Ischemic Rat Small Intestine

Loss of integrity of the epithelial/mucosal barrier in the small intestine has been associated with different pathologies that originate and/or develop in the gastrointestinal tract. We showed recently that mucin, the main protein in the mucus layer, is disrupted during early periods of intestinal ischemia. This event is accompanied by entry of pancreatic digestive enzymes into the intestinal wall. We hypothesize that the mucin-containing mucus layer is the main barrier preventing digestive enzymes from contacting the epithelium. Mucin breakdown may render the epithelium accessible to pancreatic enzymes, causing its disruption and increased permeability. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of mucin as a protection for epithelial integrity and function. A rat model of 30 min splanchnic arterial occlusion (SAO) was used to study the degradation of two mucin isoforms (mucin 2 and 13) and two epithelial membrane proteins (E-cadherin and toll-like receptor 4, TLR4). In addition, the role of digestive enzymes in mucin breakdown was assessed in this model by luminal inhibition with acarbose, tranexamic acid, or nafamostat mesilate. Furthermore, the protective effect of the mucin layer against trypsin-mediated disruption of the intestinal epithelium was studied in vitro. Rats after SAO showed degradation of mucin 2 and fragmentation of mucin 13, which was not prevented by protease inhibition. Mucin breakdown was accompanied by increased intestinal permeability to FITC-dextran as well as degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4. Addition of mucin to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro protected against trypsin-mediated degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4 and reduced permeability of FITC-dextran across the monolayer. These results indicate that mucin plays an important role in the preservation of the mucosal barrier and that ischemia but not digestive enzymes disturbs mucin integrity, while digestive enzymes actively mediate epithelial cell disruption.
A Temperature-Compensated Gallium Nitride Micromechanical Resonator

A GaN bulk acoustic wave resonator is presented in this letter, showing fundamental thickness-mode resonance at 2.18 GHz, with a quality factor ( Q ) of 655 and a coupling coefficient ( \({k_{t}}^{2}\) ) of 1%. The resonator is integrated with an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT); the integrated resonator/HEMT structure is coated with a silicon dioxide (SiO2) passivation layer. It is shown that a 400-nm-thick SiO2 layer reduces the temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of the GaN-based resonator by >50%, while improving Q and \({k_{t}}^{2}\) of the fundamental thickness-mode resonance. The effect of SiO2 passivation layer is studied on \({k_{t}}^{2}\) , Q , and TCF of the device. Furthermore, the effects of temperature and input RF power on the resonator performance are characterized.
Active open-loop control of particle dispersion in round jets

The objective of this study was to perturb vortex ring structures forming in the near field of a round air jet to modify the dispersion of solid particles in the flow. A jet with Reynolds number based on exit diameter of 1.9×10 4 was loaded with 55-μ diameter glass beads and forced axially with an acoustic speaker. Forcing waveforms were either single or double frequency. Results from flow visualization, laser Doppler anemometry, and quantitative mapping of particle number density show that significant modifications to local particle concentration and dispersion could be achieved
The Earth in Turmoil: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Their Impact on Humankind

A common complaint among Earth scientists is that much of the public at least if undergraduates satisfying distribution requirements are any indication does not share our fascination with the Earth. However, we generally believe that if we could convey the essence of the Earth sciences, even the most jaded student driving toward an MBA (and BMW) could somehow be excited by the grandeur and elegance of the planets workings. Support for this (perhaps unduly) optimistic view can be found from Sieh and LeVays superb popular account of active tectonic processes. The book takes a virtual field trip across the United States, visiting sites including the Cascadia subduction zone, the San Andreas fault, the Long Valley caldera, the Basin and Range, New Madrid, and Hawaii. At each site, readers are treated to a vivid description of the visible features, an incisive explanation of the tectonics at work, and an entertaining account of how both scientists and local people have been affected.