cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 426: Selective Proteolysis of Apolipoprotein A-I by Secretory Phospholipase A2: New Insights Into sPLA2-dependent Catabolism of HDL

Introduction Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is a pro-inflammatory enzyme that promotes atherogenesis via several mechanisms. One of these mechanisms probably involves high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Previous in vitro studies of HDL modified by sPLA2 showed increased exposure of certain domains of the major HDL protein, apoA-I, without protein fragmentation. Over-expression of sPLA2 in transgenic mice reduced plasma levels of HDL cholesterol due to rapid HDL catabolism. The origin of this enhanced HDL catabolism is unknown. Hypothesis In addition to hydrolysis of HDL phospholipids, sPLA2 can also hydrolyze apoA-I, leading to enhanced catabolism of sPLA2 modified HDL. Methods Human plasma HDL and lipid-free apoA-I were incubated with sPLA2 at 37 oC. The HDL lipids were removed, and the protein integrity was analyzed by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Results Consistent with previous studies, HDL hydrolysis by sPLA2 slightly reduced the particle size without release of protein. SDS PAGE of hydrolyzed HDL showed no significant changes in the protein composition. Interestingly, delipidation of sPLA2-hydrolyzed HDL showed that nearly 10% of apoA-I formed well-defined fragments of 6-15 kDa. Incubation of sPLA2 with lipid-free apoA-I produces very similar fragments, indicating direct action of sPLA2 on apoA-I. Similar incubation of sPLA2 with other HDL proteins, apoA-II and apoC-I, did not lead to proteolysis, indicating enzymatic specificity of sPLA2 for apoA-I. ApoA-I hydrolysis by sPLA2 was Ca-independent and hence, occurred via a different mechanism than the phospholipid hydrolysis by sPLA2 that is Ca-dependent. Mass spectrometry analysis of isolated proteolytic fragments indicated several N-and C-terminal fragments of apoA-I, suggesting at least two cleavage sites in the central domain of apoA-I. Conclusion We have identified a previously unknown proteolytic activity of sPLA2 which is specific to apoA-I and is independent of the apoA-I lipidation. This novel enzymatic activity of sPLA2 helps explain enhanced catabolism of HDL in vivo, and is expected to contribute to the pro-atherogenic action of this pro-inflammatory enzyme.
Radiomic-Based Pathological Response Prediction from Primary Tumors and Lymph Nodes in NSCLC

Abstract Introduction Noninvasive biomarkers that capture the total tumor burden could provide important complementary information for precision medicine to aid clinical decision making. We investigated the value of radiomic data extracted from pretreatment computed tomography images of the primary tumor and lymph nodes in predicting pathological response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation before surgery. Methods A total of 85 patients with resectable locally advanced (stage II–III) NSCLC (median age 60.3 years, 65% female) treated from 2003 to 2013 were included in this institutional review board–approved study. Radiomics analysis was performed on 85 primary tumors and 178 lymph nodes to discriminate between pathological complete response (pCR) and gross residual disease (GRD). Twenty nonredundant and stable features (10 from each site) were evaluated by using the area under the curve (AUC) (all p values were corrected for multiple hypothesis testing). Classification performance of each feature set was evaluated by random forest and nested cross validation. Results Three radiomic features (describing primary tumor sphericity and lymph node homogeneity) were significantly predictive of pCR with similar performances (all AUC = 0.67, p p Conclusion Lymph node phenotypic information was significantly predictive for pathological response and showed higher classification performance than radiomic features obtained from the primary tumor.
Book Review: Banu Subramaniam (2014), Ghost Stories for Darwin: The Science of Variation and the Politics of Diversity

Banu Subramaniam (2014), Ghost Stories for Darwin: The Science of Variation and the Politics of Diversity. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, xiv + 280 pp., US$ 95, (Cloth), ISBN: 978 0 252 09 6595.
Molecular Insights into the Complex Relationship between Capacitance and Pore Morphology in Nanoporous Carbon-based Supercapacitors.

Electrochemical double layer capacitors, or supercapacitors, are high-power energy storage devices that consist of large surface area electrodes (filled with electrolyte) to accommodate ion packing in accordance with classical electric double layer (EDL) theory. Nanoporous carbons (NPCs) have recently emerged as a class of electrode materials with the potential to dramatically improve the capacitance of these devices by leveraging ion confinement. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying such enhancements are a clear departure from EDL theory and remain an open question. In this paper, we present the concept of ion reorganization kinetics during charge/discharge cycles, especially within highly confining subnanometer pores, which necessarily dictates the capacitance. Our molecular dynamics voltammetric simulations of ionic liquid immersed in NPC electrodes (of varying pore size distributions) demonstrate that the most efficient ion migration, and thereby largest capacitance, is facilitated by nonunifo...
Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men-A Review of the Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important health concern that can significantly affect a man's psychosocial well-being. ED has traditionally been considered a disease of old age; however, contemporary evidence suggests a growing incidence of ED in men younger than 40 years. The process of achieving an erection is multifaceted; there are many potential mechanisms that can be disrupted. It is critical to identify the specific causes of ED before proceeding with potentially costly and invasive therapeutic options. Advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities offer opportunities to identify and manage young men with ED. Aim To provide an update on the prevalence and risk factors of ED in young men and to provide a framework to guide clinicians in identifying and managing the affected young man. Methods Comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to ED in young men. Main Outcome Measures ED in young men was assessed by outlining the prevalence according to recent epidemiologic studies. The pathophysiology, diagnostic considerations, risk factors, and etiologies were reviewed. Results Large multinational studies have estimated the prevalence of ED in young men to be as high as 30%. Several studies have stratified the etiologies of ED into psychogenic and organic causes. Psychogenic etiologies of ED include depression, anxiety, and partner-related difficulties. These patients tend to experience sudden onset of symptoms, with decreased libido and good quality of spontaneous or self-stimulated erections. Organic etiologies include vasculogenic, endocrinologic, neurogenic, iatrogenic, and structural components. These patients usually experience gradual onset of symptoms and a low to normal libido. Conservative treatments such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors continue to be the mainstay treatment. Conclusions ED in young men is an increasingly common condition. A careful diagnostic evaluation should focus on the identification of any underlying etiology to ensure appropriate management of patients. Nguyen HMT, Gabrielson AT, Hellstrom WJG. Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men—A Review of the Prevalence and Risk Factors. Sex Med Rev 2017;5:508–520.
Development and initial implementation of the Dynamic Assessment Treatment Algorithm (DATA)

Given the recent increase in transdiagnostic research, it is important to discern how dimensional models of psychopathology could be used to guide personalized, dynamic assessment and treatment of symptoms. Using the person-specific approach described by Fisher (2015), we devised an initial 4-step algorithm for devising a treatment plan based on modular cognitive behavioral therapy using results obtained from within-person factor analyses and dynamic factor models. Then, we describe the improvement and digitization of the algorithm, termed Dynamic Assessment Treatment Algorithm (DATA). The development, structure, and clinical implications of DATA are discussed.
Exploration of Children’s Test Behavior During iPad-Administered Intelligence Testing:

This study examined recent technological developments in cognitive assessment and how these developments impact children’s test behavior. The study consisted of two groups: one tested with an iPad ...
High Al-Content AlGaN Transistor With 0.5 A/mm Current Density and Lateral Breakdown Field Exceeding 3.6 MV/cm

We report on ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) Al0.7Ga0.3N channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Employing reverse Al composition graded ohmic contact layers and 20 nm Al2O3 gate-dielectric, 250 nm thick Al0.7Ga0.3N:Si channel MOSFETs resulted in the maximum current density of 0.5 A/mm, which is the highest value reported for AlGaN channels with Al composition >0.25. Transistors with a gate-drain spacing ( $L_{\mathrm{ GD}})$ of $1.7~\mu \text{m}$ demonstrated a breakdown voltage ( $V_{\mathrm{ DG}})$ of ~620 V, translating in an average lateral breakdown field of ~3.6 MV/cm. This work establishes UWBG AlGaN as a promising candidate for advanced RF applications.
Risk of Readmission After Uncomplicated Hospitalization After Radical Cystectomy.

Abstract Background Enhanced recovery pathways after radical cystectomy attempt to decrease length of hospitalization, but might increase risk of readmission after discharge. We evaluated the relationship between length of stay and readmission after uncomplicated hospitalization for bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy. Patients and Methods Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified bladder cancer patients who were treated with radical cystectomy from 2011 to 2015. We limited this cohort to those who did not have complications captured while in-hospital, and assessed the proportion readmitted within 30 days of surgery on the basis of length of stay (ie, Results Among 4624 patients treated with radical cystectomy, 1003 (21.7%) were readmitted within 30 days of surgery. Of 1,003 readmitted patients, 503 (50%) experienced a major complication after discharge. Factors associated with an increased risk of readmission included diversion with neobladder, diabetes, prolonged surgical time, and obesity (all P Conclusion In the absence of in-hospital complications after radical cystectomy, shorter hospitalizations were not associated with an increased risk of readmission. These findings emphasize the safety and potential cost savings of enhanced recovery pathways after these complex operations.
Civic Engagement in Food System Governance: A Comparative Perspective of American and British Local Food Movements

Early in his encyclopedic history of how social movement organizations influenced national-level policymaking related to local food in the United States and UK, Hunt quotes from Tocqueville’s Democ...
“CONSIDERABLE STRESS and MISERY”: A first-year music teacher’s experiences:

Preparing, inducting, mentoring, and retaining new music teachers remain concerns in our profession. This article began as a study of first-year music teachers who made regular entries in secure el...
The Portevin-le Chatelier Effect

At sufficiently low average strain rates in dead-weight quasi-static uniaxial stress experiments instabilities appear in the form of a series of successive steps superimposed upon the basic parabola of the large deformation. The first serious study of this phenomenon, in 1923, was that by Portevin and le Chatelier, after whom the phenomenon is now named. An example of this Portevin-le Chatelier effect may be seen in Fig. 7.1 in the present writer’s experiment 1219 for a 99.16% aluminum polycrystal. This experiment, shown in a σ2 vs e plot in Fig. 3.3, is a dead-weight uniaxial tension measurement at a constant stress rate of 4.5 psi sec−1.
Kinetics and Mechanisms of the Oxidation of Gaseous Sulfur Compounds

The problems associated with global climate change in general, and acid rain in particular, have led to a great deal of research on the atmospheric and combustion chemistry of sulfur. Developments over the last decade have led to significant progress in our understanding of the kinetics and mechanisms of the atmospheric oxidation chemistry of natural and anthropogenic sulfur. Rather less effort, however, has been placed on developing an understanding of sulfur combustion kinetics; the emphasis of mitigation research has instead been placed on removal of sulfur from fuels or development of scrubbing techniques to remove SO2 from stack gases.
Soviet-South Korea economic cooperation following rapprochement

The establishment of diplomatic ties between the Soviet Union and the Republic of Korea appears to be not only a cornerstone for peace-keeping in the Korean peninsula but also a catalyst toward improving economic cooperation between the two countries. Unlike other advanced countries, Korea has been actively investing in the Soviet Union since Soviet-Korean rapprochement. But events have overtaken the pace of reform in the Soviet Union. Multiple Soviet problems such as the restructuring of the Union and Republic governments, reorganization of the New Economic Community, and severe discord within the political leadership regarding the approach to reform are entangled with power struggles between the center and the republics. The outcomes of democratization and marketization in the Soviet Union are not certain. Korea is deeply concerned about the success or failure of the Soviet economy because this will influence the extent to which the Korean economy will benefit or suffer.
A VIEW OF THE RecBC AND RecF PATHWAYS OF E. COLI RECOMBINATION

ABSTRACT Two pathways of recombination are proposed using the recB vecC enzyme ExoV: 1, double strand DNA substitution and 2, double strand DNA integration. The RecF pathway is proposed to result in single strand DNA substitution. Further the RecF pathway is proposed to involve recA dependent synapsis of single stranded regions of the chromosome with double stranded regions of exogenote DNA while the RecBC pathways are proposed to involve the opposite. The provisional nature of these proposals is emphasized.
Should we be talking about guidelines with patients? A qualitative analysis in metastatic breast cancer.

217Background: Little data exist on patient perceptions of guideline-based care. This qualitative analysis describes patient and oncologist views on the value of discussing guidelines when making m...
AGING WELL: USING A MULTIDIMENSIONAL WELLNESS FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS

Wellness theory is predicated on the assumption that health is multidimensional and not merely the absence of disease (World Health Organization, 1948). Multidimensional Wellness interventions integrate numerous inter-related domains (e.g. physical, social, emotional, spiritual, occupational) in a manner that is holistic, strengths-based, and focused on cultivating factors that support patients’ health and well-being. Wellness theory is commonly applied in university and workplace settings, and in recent years, multidimensional wellness models have emerged in age-based settings such as continuing care retirement communities (Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, 2018). Compared to other clinical models used with older adults, multidimensional wellness has advantages due to its breadth of focus and connection with person-centered care. In spite of its utility, wellness theory has been largely overlooked in clinical gerontology research. This session will provide two examples of clinical wellness applications designed to improve resilience, mental health and multi-dimensional wellness (First Author, 2016a; Second Author, 2013). A review of wellness theory, including the historical evolution of wellness models and measurement strategies, and the state of applied wellness research will also be presented. Further, wellness dimensions will be operationalized in regard to older adults, with discussion of the dimensions most frequently studied. Finally, the authors will provide practical considerations for how professionals from various backgrounds (e.g. nursing, counseling, social work, occupational therapy) can incorporate a wellness framework into their practice and research (First Author, 2016b; Second Author, 2018).
Brief Report: Visual Perception, Task-Induced Pupil Response Trajectories and ASD Features in Children

We applied a trajectory-based analysis to eye tracking data in order to quantify individualized patterns of pupil response in the context of global-local processing that may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) features. Multiple pupil response trajectories across both global and local conditions were identified. Using the combined trajectory patterns for global and local conditions for each individual, we were able to identify three groups based on trajectory group membership that were thought to reflect perceptual strategy. Results indicated that the proportion of children with ASD was significantly greater in the group demonstrating a local-focus response. This research presents a novel analytic approach to the objective characterization of individualized pupil response patterns that are associated with ASD features.
Perpetual suspects: a critical race theory of Black and mixed-race experiences of policing

Perpetual Suspects, is the result of research completed in 2016 for a PhD thesis. Long’s focus is on the policing experiences of Black and Black mixed-race people in the UK. Long draws on twenty in...
A performative history of STEM crisis discourse: the co-constitution of crisis sensibility and systems analysis around 1970

The STEM crisis discourse enacts a crisis sensitivity that governs the way of thinking and feeling about change in relation to techno-science. This article examines how this crisis sensitivity is h...
Tissue Transfer Techniques in the Management of Urethral Stricture Disease: Flaps and Grafts

The ability to use different flaps and grafts is critical in the successful management of complex urethral strictures. Intimate knowledge of relevant anatomy and principles of tissue transfer are necessary to optimize outcomes. Here, we briefly review these principles and discuss a variety of techniques commonly used by reconstructive urologists depending on stricture length, stricture location, presence or absence of intact corpus spongiosum, and availability of healthy penile skin. We present our algorithms for flap or graft choice and review the pertinent literature supporting their uses.
The Physics of Medicine Program: Development of an Active Learning Curriculum at the Intersection of Physics and Medicine

Over the past 10 years, our physics department has made a concentrated effort toward transformation and growth through the design of courses relevant to students’ career interests in medicine and healthcare. Using an inquiry-based, active learning pedagogy with research-developed curriculum, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of our physics students. This chapter outlines the design, development, and pedagogy of a Physics of Medicine major that has revitalized our physics program and excited students about learning physics.
Analytics-Driven Networking: When the Computer becomes the Network

As the era of 'human-managed networking' passes to 'analytics-driven networking', more and more data about networks, including the constituent flows, is being tracked and retrieved. With networks now needing to be an effective sensor, new methods are being proposed to create and manage this streaming telemetry. While collection of this telemetry is happening at an unprecedented scale, it is unclear if the data is of enough resolution to make real-time decisions needed for fine-grained control, or for the application of new machine learning/artificial intelligence techniques. New techniques are being developed to provide high-precision telemetry as new analytics to take advantage of that are being developed. While telemetry is being used to provide insights about networks, applications want more instrumentation from the currently opaque network. Currently, there is little ability for the applications to interact with the network to exchange information, negotiate performance parameters, discover desired performance metrics, or receive status/troubleshooting information in real time. This talk will share challenges, opportunities and new research in progress, from a science network view, as we evolve the network to an analytics-driven, autonomous system. In addition, the talk with discuss the new nation-scale testbeds being built, with new capabilities, like in-network processing, that could revolutionize how we measure and process end-to-end workflows.
Characterization of graphene/pine wood biochar hybrids: Potential to remove aqueous Cu2.

Abstract Biochar-based hybrid composites containing added nano-sized phases are emerging adsorbents. Biochar, when functionalized with nanomaterials, can enhance pollutant removal when both the nanophase and the biochar surface act as adsorbents. Three different pine wood wastes (particle size
Endoscopic Enteral Access

Various approaches for enteral access exist, but because there is no single best approach it should be tailored to the needs of the patient. This article discusses the various enteral access techniques for nasoenteric tubes, gastrostomy, gastrojejunostomy, and direct jejunostomy as well as their indications, contraindications, and pitfalls. Also discussed is enteral access in altered anatomy. In addition, complications associated with these endoscopic techniques and how to either prevent or properly manage them are reviewed.
PAVER: Locality Graph-Based Thread Block Scheduling for GPUs

The massive parallelism present in GPUs comes at the cost of reduced L1 and L2 cache sizes per thread, leading to serious cache contention problems such as thrashing. Hence, the data access locality of an application should be considered during thread scheduling to improve execution time and energy consumption. Recent works have tried to use the locality behavior of regular and structured applications in thread scheduling, but the difficult case of irregular and unstructured parallel applications remains to be explored. We present PAVER, a Priority-Aware Vertex schedulER, which takes a graph-theoretic approach toward thread scheduling. We analyze the cache locality behavior among thread blocks (TBs) through a just-in-time compilation, and represent the problem using a graph representing the TBs and the locality among them. This graph is then partitioned to TB groups that display maximum data sharing, which are then assigned to the same streaming multiprocessor by the locality-aware TB scheduler. Through exhaustive simulation in Fermi, Pascal, and Volta architectures using a number of scheduling techniques, we show that PAVER reduces L2 accesses by 43.3%, 48.5%, and 40.21% and increases the average performance benefit by 29%, 49.1%, and 41.2% for the benchmarks with high inter-TB locality.
Serious Illness Communication Practices in Glioblastoma: An Institutional Perspective.

Background: Early, high-quality advance care planning discussions are essential for supporting goal-concordant care among glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Objective: Using mixed methods, we sought to characterize current serious illness (SI) communication practices at our institution. Methods: The electronic medical records of 240 deceased GBM patients cared for at the Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA between 2017 and 2019 were systematically reviewed for documented SI conversations about four domains: prognosis, goals, end-of-life planning, and code status. Patient outcomes and SI conversation characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Standardized interviews about GBM care were held with five clinicians. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded-theory coding to identify emergent themes. Results: Nearly all patients (96%) had at least one documented SI conversation (median: 4, interquartile range [IQR] 2-7), mostly outpatient with medical oncology physicians. Median timing of first SI conversation was 360 days before death. SI conversations were not significantly associated with patient outcomes, including inpatient death and hospice enrollment. Seven themes emerged from clinician interviews: balancing hope and reality, anticipatory guidance, neglect of the "big picture," need for earlier conversations, care coordination, the role of clinical expertise, and communication training. Conclusion: SI conversations were documented early and often in our sample, but their quality was difficult to assess. Contrary to our quantitative findings, interviewees reported that SI conversations were late, infrequent, inadequate, and fragmented across specialties, failing to explore critical issues such as prognosis and functional decline.
Molecular and Cellular Dynamics of Aortic Aneurysms Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptomics

The aorta is highly heterogeneous, containing many different types of cells that perform sophisticated functions to maintain aortic homeostasis. Recently, single-cell RNA sequencing studies have provided substantial new insight into the heterogeneity of vascular cell types, the comprehensive molecular features of each cell type, and the phenotypic interrelationship between these cell populations. This new information has significantly improved our understanding of aortic biology and aneurysms at the molecular and cellular level. Here, we summarize these findings, with a focus on what single-cell RNA sequencing analysis has revealed about cellular heterogeneity, cellular transitions, communications among cell populations, and critical transcription factors in the vascular wall. We also review the information learned from single-cell RNA sequencing that has contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of vascular disease, such as the identification of cell types in which aneurysm-related genes and genetic variants function. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions of single-cell RNA sequencing applications in studies of aortic biology and diseases.
The posterior cranial fossa's dura mater innervation and its clinical implication in headache: a comprehensive review

The pathophysiology of migraines and headaches has been a point of interest in research as they affect a large subset of the population, and the exact mechanism is still unclear. There is evidence implicating the dura mater and its innervation as contributing factors, especially at the posterior cranial fossa. Many modes of innervation have been identified, including the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), superior cervical ganglion, vagus nerve, trigeminal nerve, hypoglossal nerve, and glossopharyngeal nerve. While the exact method of innervation is still under investigation, there is strong evidence suggesting that different types of headaches (migraine vs. occipital vs. cervicogenic) are due to specific nerves and inflammatory mediators that contribute to the dura mater in some way. By understanding how these innervation patterns manifest clinically, the course of treatment can be tailored based on the physiological etiology. Here, we present a comprehensive literature review of the current research regarding the innervation of the dura mater of the posterior cranial fossa and its clinical implications.
Weight loss in primary care: A pooled analysis of two pragmatic cluster-randomized trials.

Objective The aim of this study was to report the results of five weight-loss interventions in primary care settings in underserved patients and to compare the level of pragmatism across the interventions using the Pragmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS-2) tool. Methods Data from 54 primary care clinics (2,210 patients) were pooled from the Promoting Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana (PROPEL) and Rural Engagement in Primary Care for Optimizing Weight Reduction (REPOWER) cluster-randomized trials. Clinics were randomized to one of five comparators: PROPEL usual care, PROPEL combination of in-clinic and telephone visits, REPOWER in-clinic individual visits, REPOWER in-clinic group visits, or REPOWER telephone group visits. Results At 24 months, weight loss (kilograms) was -0.50 (95% CI: -1.77 to 0.76), -3.05 (-4.10 to -2.01), -4.30 (-5.35 to -3.26), -4.79 (-5.83 to -3.75), and -4.80 (-5.96 to -3.64) in the PROPEL usual care, REPOWER in-clinic individual visits, REPOWER telephone group visits, REPOWER in-clinic group visits, and PROPEL in-clinic and telephone visits arms, respectively. At 24 months, percentage of weight loss was -0.360 (-1.60 to 0.88), -3.00 (-4.02 to -1.98), -4.23 (-5.25 to -3.20), -4.67 (-5.69 to -3.65), and -4.69 (-5.82 to -3.56), respectively, in the five arms. The REPOWER in-clinic individual visits intervention was the most pragmatic and reflects the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funding model, although this intervention produced the least weight loss. Conclusions Clinically significant weight loss over 6 months in primary care settings is achievable using a variety of lifestyle-based treatment approaches. Longer-term weight-loss maintenance is more difficult to achieve.
Are Undergraduate GPA and General GRE Percentiles Valid Predictors of Student Performance in an Engineering Graduate Program

While both subjective measures and quantitative metrics play an important role in admissions decisions, quantitative metrics areamenable to critical analysis using the tools of academic analytics. The hypotheses that motivated this study are: 1. Can anapplicant’s undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and scores on the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) be used toaccurately predict the performance of the applicant in a graduate mechanical engineering program? 2. Is a single construct based onthese quantitative predictive metrics valuable tool in efficiently making admissions decisions? This study analyzed the relationshipbetween quantitative predictive metrics, available at the time of application to a mechanical engineering graduate program, andquantitative performance assessments measured at the thesis defense. The sample includes 92 students graduating with MS degreesin mechanical engineering from a private university in the United States. The input variables include UGPA, and percentiles for theverbal, quantitative, and written sections of the GRE. The performance metrics were obtained at the thesis defense. They aregraduate grade point average, months to graduation, peer-review publication rating, and advisor determined performance rating.Each variable was normalized and the relationship between the predictive metrics and the performance metrics was analyzedstatistically. Regression models were created for each performance metric and for a weighted sum of all the performance metrics.The dominant predictors are the UGPA and the score on the quantitative section of the GRE. A quantitative application rating is found to be 5 times the normalized UGPA plus four times the normalized score on the quantitative section of the GRE.Quantitative metrics account for one fifth of the variance in the performance metrics. The Quantitative Application Rating—asingle construct based on the quantitative predictive metrics studied—aids in making admissions decisions.
Psychic conflict and moral development.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes three studies from the early experimental literature studies in which children served as subjects and psychic conflict. It emphasizes procedures, measures, and outcomes and focuses on mechanistically flavored methodologies that could profitably be put to use in studying moral judgment and development phenomena. It also focuses on how Piaget made use of the concept of conflict in his theory of cognitive development. It focuses on the topic of moral development. The implication of conflict in moral development theory is examined, starting with Piaget's own seminal work in the area. The use of moral dilemmas is examined, particularly as popularized by the work of Lawrence Kohlberg. The chapter describes an attempt to use some objective measures to test certain predictions drawn from Nunner-Winkler's theory.
Multiscale Stochastic Volatility for Equity, Interest Rate, and Credit Derivatives: Interest Rate Models

In this chapter we illustrate the role of stochastic volatility in the case of interest rate products traded in fixed income markets . Our main example is pricing of bonds when the interest rate is defined in terms of a Vasicek model. As in the previous chapters, we use a two-factor stochastic volatility model and show how one can derive bond price approximations in the regime of separation of time scales. Market bond pricing data are often quoted in terms of the yield curve corresponding to the effective or continously compounded interest rate for the bond as a function of time to maturity. We show how the bond price approximation gives a flexible way of parameterizing this yield curve, also called the term structure of interest rates. The stochastic volatility Vasicek model that we consider here is introduced in Section 12.1 and we carry out the asymptotic expansion for the associated bond price in Section 12.2. The bond price approximation leads to a particular form for the yield curve and we discuss this and calibration issues in Section 12.2.8. The Vasicek example illustrates how our singular and regular perturbation approach easily generalizes to typical problems in the fixed income market. There are many other interest rate products and also interest rate models that can be analyzed in our framework, and we comment on some of these. In Section 12.4 we use the CIR model and in Section 12.3 a quadratic model for the interest rate.
Portrait of Marilynne Robinson

it just falls apart in your hands if you do that. Anyway, I had that expe rience behind me, and then I was living in France, and France is one of those places that we have an enormously elaborate set of assumptions about. I knew that I was not living in a country anyone had ever described to me. It was that same feeling that I had been told wrong. So I started reading about French law and French sociology, and all kinds of things, and again sort of making another model of reality so that I could get rid of the one I had been given that was wrong. Even Housekeeping is written, I think, from the point of view of very great agnosticism as far as accepting the importance or the reality of all kinds of things that people take to be important and real.
A theoretical study on using PVDF in the acoustic micropump for biomedical applications

Theoretical description to prove that PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride), in bimorph configuration, is an appropriate material as an actuator in the acoustic micropump is discussed. PZT actuation is promising due to its simple structure, high output power density and high actuation strength. The pumping action of the acoustic micropump is related to the maximum pressure fluctuation inside the pump chamber. Larger value of maximum vibrational displacements required to achieve higher pressure fluctuation. The maximum thickness of commercially available PVDF films is limited to 110 μm, and even for large value of excitation voltage the change in thickness of a single layer of PVDF film is not sufficiently large to produce enough vibrational displacement to excite high-amplitude standing wave inside the micropump chamber.
Infusing Passion and Context into the Traditional Curriculum Through Experiential Learning

This article argues that infusing experiential education into the traditional law school curriculum can improve law students' learning. Experiential learning can help feed students' souls by nourishing the passions and values that directed them toward law school, provide context for doctrinal learning that will both engage students and help them learn more effectively and assist in providing two-way feedback and assessment for what students are actually learning in the classroom. These effects can help avoid the decline in engagement so typical of the second and third year law student experience. The article provides concrete examples and suggestions for how and when to incorporate experiential learning.
DETERMINATION OF RESTRAINT EFFECTIVENESS - Airbag Crash Test Repeatability

Thirty-three airbag-equipped Mercury cars were crash tested at three different test laboratories in order to determine the repeatability of test results in the proposed FMVSS 208 procedure. Nine Hybrid-II crash dummies were used. There were significant inconsistencies in results from the three testing agencies; by comparison, the different dummies caused little or no difference in test results; there was a large component of test variability due to uncontrolled and generally unknown factors operating in each test crash. /GMRL/
Controllability issues in flapping flight for biomimetic micro aerial vehicles (MAVs)

We explore controllability in flapping flight for micro aerial vehicles (MAVs), inch-size robots capable of autonomous flight. Differently from previous work, we focus on a MAV with very limited wing kinematics and simple input control schemes. In particular, in the first part we show how an MAV provided with a pair of wings, each with a single degree of freedom and passive rotation, can still ensure controllability. This is obtained by combining two ideas. The first idea is to parameterize wing trajectory based on biomimetic principles, i.e. principles that are directly inspired by observation of real insect flight. The second idea is to treat flapping flight within the framework of high frequency control and to apply averaging theory arguments in order to prove controllability. The results obtained set flapping flight as a compelling example of high frequency control present in nature, and shed light on some of the reasons of superior maneuverability observed in flapping flight. Then, in the second part we show that controllability is still guaranteed even when the wing-thorax dynamics is included and the electromechanical structure is driven by a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme where only its amplitude, period and duty cycle are controllable on a wingbeat-by-wingbeat basis. However, in this case our modeling clearly shows some tradeoffs between controllability and lift generation efficiency, which seem consistent with observations in real insect flight.
Mammals at the Crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe

Located in both East and West, in Europe and Asia, Turkey is also more or less perched at the termination of the Rift Valley that stretches south through the Middle East and the length of eastern Africa. It is poised at the intersection of the three classic Old World biogeographic zones: the Ethiopian (African), the Palearctic (Europe and north Asia), and the Oriental (south and south-east Asia). At various times in the past shifting geographic and environmental circumstances made contact between these large and distinctive regions possible, and faunal interchange took place. Turkey, along with some adjacent areas like Arabia, holds the key to understanding a major aspect of life in the Old World as mammalian faunas came to acquire a modern quality. This well-produced edited volume is a detailed report of fossil sites in the Sinap Formation. Sinap, about 37 km northwest of Ankara, and from which fossils have been known since 1951, is one of several areas in Turkey that provide important information on mammals at various times in the Miocene. After a chapter of historical introduction the book is arranged in two sections. The first and smaller part sets out the geological and geochronological framework, and the second section—the bulk of the book—describes and discusses the mammalian paleontology in a systematic fashion from insectivores through artiodactyls. A final chapter is a detailed analysis and discussion of the impact of Hipparion immigration into the region, as a reflection of the more general arrival of equids into the Old World. The historical chapter by Sevket Sen is a very interesting one. Histories of exploration are relatively rare in such monographs, or indeed elsewhere, though the historical context of sites is nearly always fascinating and can be important. In this case it essentially forms a history of Turkish mammalian paleontologists and of paleontology in the country. Sen’s lively and vigorous review does not shrink from giving a quite critical account of paleontological political conflicts within Turkey, as well as alluding to the tensions that can develop between indigenous scientists and outside investigators. J Mammal Evol (2008) 15:63–65 DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9051-9
Introductory Econometrics: Monte Carlo Simulation

Anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin. John von Neumann The one thing about Monte Carlo is that it never gives an exact answer. Stanislaw Ulam Introduction The chapters in the first part of this book make clear that regression analysis can be used to describe data. The remainder of this book is dedicated to understanding regression as a tool for drawing inferences about how variables are related to each other. The central idea in inferential statistics is that the data we observe are just one sample from a larger population. The goal of inference is to determine what evidence the sample provides about the relationship between variables in the population. This chapter explains how we will use the computer to draw random samples to evaluate the performance of a variety of sample-based statistics. We will review basic theory behind random number generation with computers, offer a simple example of Monte Carlo simulation, and introduce a Monte Carlo simulation Excel add-in. Like regression analysis, Monte Carlo simulation is a general term that has many meanings. The word “simulation” signifies that we build an artificial model of a real system to study and understand the system. The “Monte Carlo” part of the name alludes to the randomness inherent in the analysis: The name “Monte Carlo” was coined by [physicist Nicholas] Metropolis (inspired by [Stanislaw] Ulam's interest in poker) during the Manhattan Project of World War II, because of the similarity of statistical simulation to games of chance, and because the capital of Monaco was a center for gambling and similar pursuits. […]
Changes in ruminal and fecal particle weight distribution of steers fed coastal bermudagrass hay at four levels.

Samples of digesta from the ruminal upper strata (RUS) and feces (F) were taken from four ruminally cannulated steers fed Coastal bermudagrass hay (78% NDF) in the long form to evaluate the effects of feeding level and time postfeeding on particle breakdown. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square with 18-d periods. Treatments based on previous intakes were set at 50, 70, 90 and 110% (3.1, 4.4, 5.5 and 6.7 kg/d, respectively) of feed consumed per animal and fed at 12-h intervals. Samples were taken at 2, 6 and 12h postfeeding and wet-sieved. Dry matter weight distribution of total recovered particles was used to partition RUS and F digesta among percentages of large (greater than 4.0 mm), medium (greater than 4.0 and less than or equal to 1.0 mm), small (less than 1.0 and greater than or eual to .125 mm) and fine (less than .125 and greater than or equal to .0027 mm) particles. With increasing feeding level, the percentage of medium RUS particles increased linearly (P less than .02), whereas the percentage of fine RUS particles decreased linearly (P less than .01). Increased time postfeeding resulted in a linear decrease in the percentage of large RUS particles (P less than .01), a linear increase in the percentage of small RUS particles (P less than .01) and in a quadratic increase in the percentage of fine RUS particles (P less than .01). Percentage of medium RUS particles remained unchanged. Increasing feeding level resulted in linear increases in mean RUS (P less than .01) and F (P less than .02) particle sizes. Percentages of RUS and F material passing through a 1.0-mm sieve averaged 52.8 and 88.8%, respectively. Animal-to-animal variation in proportions of RUS and mixed reticuloruminal particles was not entirely removed by rumination and was still reflected in the percentages of F particles. Factors such as particle entrapment in the fiber mat, reticular sedimentation, changes in specific gravity, swelling and hydration capacity, reticuloruminal motility and amount of digesta exiting per contraction appear to be more important than particle size reduction in the regulation of the passage of digesta from the reticulorumen.
Case studies of infant development in two guenons, the Wolf's guenon Cercopithecus pogonias wolfi and Allen's swamp monkey Allenopithecus nigroviridis, at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Much of what is known about development in cerco-pithecine primates is derived from studies of baboonsPapio sp and macaques Macaca sp. Two closely spacedbirths at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo enabled us to de-scribe the development of single infants representing twolittle-studied species: the Wolf’s guenon Cercopithecuspogonias wolﬁ and Allen’s swamp monkey Allenopithe-cus nigroviridis. Chance provided controls for variablesknown to affect mother–infant relations including envir-onmental quality, maternal parity and experience, andinfant gender. We examined the development of infantbehaviour and spatial independence over the ﬁrst year oflife. The infants exhibited developmental trends similarto those reported for other guenons. Both infants werelargely capable of feeding themselves by their thirdmonth. Both infants gradually spent more time awayfrom their mothers as they aged and both played adominant role in regulating proximity relationships withtheir mothers from their ﬁrst month. Several proximitymeasures indicate that the Allen’s swamp monkey at-tained spatial independence more rapidly than the Wolf’sguenon, a result that could be owing to the higher levelsof aggression within the Wolf’s guenon group. In addi-tion to informing husbandry practices for guenon breed-ing groups, these data demonstrate the power of zoos forcontributing basic information of this nature.Key-words: Allen’s swamp monkey; infant develop-ment; maternal proximity; mother–infant relations;parental aggression; Wolf’s guenon; zoo research.
Airport surveillance radar design for increased air traffic

Air traffic volume has been increasing at a fast rate. To compensate for projected increases, the terminal air traffic control (ATC) operations must increase throughput. An important element of the ATC system is the airport surveillance radar (ASR), which needs innovative design alternatives. Air traffic safety and capacity over a wide range of severe weather conditions, such as wind shear and microburst, must be significantly increased. In congested airports, operations must be supported on closely spaced runways, requiring a one- to two-second update interval with one- to two-milliradian azimuth accuracy. The paper presents a candidate design for an ASR which incorporates advanced technology concepts for phased-array antennas with active elements and data processing capabilities. A moderate update interval of two seconds is assumed.