cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
18B. Integrative Solutions for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Pediatrics The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel movements. The diagnosis of IBS is established by the Rome III criteria. IBS afflicts 10% to 15% of the US population (30 million Americans) and is the most common digestive disorder seen in the primary care setting. Patients with IBS have an impaired quality of life and high rate of absenteeism from work with diminished productivity. The utilization of healthcare resources by IBS patients costs an estimated 30 billion dollars annually. The pathophysiology of IBS involves a complex interplay of factors including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, heightened perceived stress, visceral hypersensitivity, inflammatory mediators, dietary triggers, gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and mast cell activation, among others. The conventional treatment of IBS is aimed at controlling symptoms with spasmolytic agents, antidepressants, laxatives, anti-diarrheal agents, and fiber supplements. Patients with IBS often are dissatisfied with the results of therapy and are looking for alternative treatment modalities to integrate into their care. Studies have demonstrated that approximately 50% of patients with IBS utilize at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine noting better control of symptoms. This session will review the evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities that have been proven efficacious for IBS. The program will be organized according to two areas of CAM; mind-body medicine aimed at stress reduction and reduced hyperalgesia and nutritional—including diet, herbal, and nutraceutical supplements. Discussion of the pathophysiology of IBS relevant to each corresponding category of CAM will be reviewed. Mind-body modalities to be presented will include hypnosis, gut-directed hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback, meditation, and acupuncture. Nutritional modalities will include special diets (low FODMAP, lactose-free, wheat-free, elimination diets), herbals (Iberogast, curcumin, Chinese herbals, peppermint oil) and dietary supplements (melatonin, prebiotics, probiotics).
An information centric approach to heterogeneous multi-sensor integration for robotic applications

An autonomous robot's ability to respond intelligently to an unstructured non-static environment is constrained by its ability to sense and interpret its world. The prospective benefits of employing multiple diverse sensors outweigh the potential limitations. Herein, the two most important issues of what to fuse and how to fuse are developed in detail. The former is known as the registration problem, and the latter the fusion problem. The registration procedure is addressed by a comprehensive three-stage process. It is a goal of this work to provide a viable framework towards the real-time interpretation of heterogeneous sensor data for robots.
Naloxone increases pain induced by topical capsaicin in healthy human volunteers

Opioid receptors occur in locations of strategic importance within the central nervous system for modulation of pain. Is pain reduced by ongoing inhibition mediated by activation of these receptors? Experiments to date in which the opioid-receptor antagonist, naloxone, is administered during a painful event have yielded unclear results. Topically applied capsaicin can be used to induce tonic pain of moderate to severe intensity without tissue injury and is an ideal stimulus for studying acute pain modulation. We therefore conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study to investigate the effects of naloxone on capsaicin-induced pain (five men, four women, aged 29 +/- 5 years). Capsaicin (10%) was applied topically and subjects rated pain every 2 min. The subjects were told that any drug given to them could increase, decrease, or not change their pain sensation. Pain plateaued after 20 min. At 26 min subjects received either naloxone or placebo in double-blind fashion. At 56 min subjects received the alternative (placebo or naloxone). In a second session the order of presentation was reversed. The naloxone induced a significant increase in pain compared both to baseline (P < 0.01) and placebo (P < 0.01). The peak effect, reached at 12-20 min after naloxone delivery, was 59% greater than placebo. This experiment suggests that acute pain is actively suppressed by endogenous opioid-receptor activation.
On the numerical solution of two-dimensional potential problems by an improved boundary integral equation method☆

Abstract The use of piecewise quadratic polynomial approximations in the boundary integral equation method for the solution of boundary value problems involving Laplace's equation and certain Poisson equations is described. To illustrate various features of this technique the results of several numerical experiments are presented.
Synthesis and rotational barriers of atropisomers of 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds

Abstract Several 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds were synthesized via a cascade reaction sequence of the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allene precursors. The X-ray structures showed that the two benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties attached via the C5 carbons to the adjacent carbon atoms of the central benzene ring are oriented essentially perpendicular to the central benzene ring. The rates of rotation around the carbon–carbon single bonds attaching the benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties to the central benzene ring are relatively slow, allowing several anti and syn atropisomers to be separated at ambient temperature.
Early Care, Education, and Family Life in Rural Fiji: Experiences and Reflections.

As a member of a delegation of educators, physicians, and lay people to rural Fiji the author shares her experiences and reflections of early care, education, and family life on a small, remote island. She discusses her visits to the village and boarding school, and her interactions with teachers, children, and parents in the early childhood classroom and community. Her understanding of teacher education and preparation, the primary educational system, and curriculum goals and revisions of the country are highlighted.
Mental Maps: Preservice Teachers' Awareness of the World

Abstract The central issue raised in this article relates to teachers' geographic literacy. One aspect of geographic literacy is an individual's knowledge of the world map as represented in a sketch map. This study represents a preliminary effort to assess the cognitive status of preservice social studies teachers' mental maps of the world. Using a Likert Scale to assess the students' sketch maps, a variety of tests were used to analyze the data gathered. In general, all students had problems constructing a mental map of the world. The article concludes with suggestions on ways to improve the mental maps of teachers and students.
No-Ghost Theorem for the Fourth-Order Derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck Oscillator Model

A new realization of the fourth-order derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is constructed. This realization possesses no states of negative norm and has a real energy spectrum that is bounded below. The key to this construction is the recognition that in this realization the Hamiltonian is not Dirac Hermitian. However, the Hamiltonian is symmetric under combined space reflection P and time reversal T. The Hilbert space that is appropriate for this PT-symmetric Hamiltonian is identified and it is found to have a positive-definite inner product. Furthermore, the time-evolution operator is unitary.
The Self-Organization of a Spoken Word

Pronunciation time probability density and hazard functions from large speeded word naming data sets were assessed for empirical patterns consistent with multiplicative and reciprocal feedback dynamics – interaction dominant dynamics. Lognormal and inverse power law distributions are associated with multiplicative and interdependent dynamics in many natural systems. Mixtures of lognormal and inverse power law distributions offered better descriptions of the participant’s distributions than the ex-Gaussian or ex-Wald – alternatives corresponding to additive, superposed, component processes. The evidence for interaction dominant dynamics suggests fundamental links between the observed coordinative synergies that support speech production and the shapes of pronunciation time distributions.
Early warning signals of stochastic switching.

The development of statistical signals for anticipating changes of state (‘regime shifts’) is an active area of research in ecology [[1][1],[2][2]], earth and atmospheric science [[3][3]], and biology [[4][4],[5][5]]. Causes of regime shifts include noise-induced transitions [[6][6]],
Process influences on the microstructural and electrical properties of rapid thermal chemical vapor deposited polysilicon

Single wafer CVD techniques have been gaining popularity in ULSI manufacturing of advanced technologies. Primarily driven by thermal budget reduction considerations, optimization of the electrical parameters of poly-silicon films is critical to maximizing their successful incorporation into the main stream production. In this work we look at the influences of deposition parameters such as temperature, and pressure, on grain structure, crystallographic texture, electrical resistivity, and electrical Tox depletion. We examine the influence of subsequent heat cycles on these fundamental film parameters
Prenatal cigarette smoking: Long-term effects on young adult behavior problems and smoking behavior.

Abstract We examined the long-term effects of prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (PCSE) on the behavior problems and smoking behavior of 22-year-old offspring. The mothers of these offspring were interviewed about their tobacco and other drug use during pregnancy at the fourth and seventh gestational months, and at delivery. Data on the offspring are from interviews at age 22 (n = 608). Behavior problems were measured by the Adult Self-Report (ASR) with the following outcome scales: total behavior problems, externalizing, internalizing, attention, anxiety/depression, withdrawn, thought, intrusive, aggression, somatic and rule breaking behavioral problems. Young adult smoking behavior was measured using self-reported average daily cigarettes, and was validated with urine cotinine. Nicotine dependence was measured with the Fagerstrom Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scale. Regression analyses tested the relations between trimester-specific PCSE and young adult's behavioral problems and smoking behavior, adjusting for demographic and maternal psychological characteristics, and other prenatal substance exposures. Exposed young adults had significantly higher scores on the externalizing, internalizing, aggression, and somatic scales of the ASR. These young adults were also more likely to have a history of arrests. Young adults with PCSE also had a higher rate of smoking and nicotine dependence. Our previous findings of the relations between PCSE and aggressive behavior in early childhood and PCSE and smoking behavior in early adolescence extend into young adulthood.
The Pressure of the Past: Network Imprinting in Intercorporate Communities

This paper extends organizational imprinting theory to networks by examining how the social technology available during the establishment of community-based intercorporate networks continues to inf...
An immunological and electrophoretical comparison of the venoms of the North American Latrodectus spiders

The venoms used in this study were lyophilized homogenates of venom glands taken from mature female Latrodectus mactans mactans, L. variolus, L. bishopi and L. geometricus. Qualitative neutralization tests showed that 0.25 ml of the commercial antivenin “Lyovac” protected mice from the lethal effects of a minimum of 5 LD50 of each of the venoms. Micro double-diffusion tests, using “Lyovac”, were carried out on agar covered microscope slides. The venoms of L. mactans mactans and L. variolus formed 8 precipitation lines, while those of L. bishopi and L. geometricus formed 7 and 5 lines respectively. The venom proteins of each of the venoms were fractionated by disc electrophoresis. Eight major fractions were separated from L. mactans mactans, L. variolus and L. bishopi venom and 6 from the venom of L. geometricus. Each venom had a distinct electrophoretic pattern.
A P300-based EEG-BCI for spatial navigation control

In this study, a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) based on the P300 oddball paradigm has been developed for spatial navigation control in virtual environments. Functionality and efficacy of the system were analyzed with results from nine healthy volunteers. Each participant was asked to gaze at an individual target in a 3×3 P300 matrix containing different symbolic navigational icons while EEG signals were collected. Resulting ERPs were processed online and classification commands were executed to control spatial movements within the MazeSuite virtual environment and presented to the user online during an experiment. Subjects demonstrated on average, ∼89% online accuracy for simple mazes and ∼82% online accuracy in longer more complex mazes. Results suggest that this BCI setup enables guided free-form navigation in virtual 3D environments.
Evaluation of Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma

Detection of visual field progression is of critical importance in the management of patients with glaucoma; however, there is no agreed upon set of criteria for the definition of progression. The most commonly utilized method of progression detection in clinical practice may be subjective assessment of serial visual fields. Event-based and trend-based approaches to the analysis of serial visual field data are quite powerful and used in clinical practice and in clinical research. Recent advances in analysis of visual field progression are discussed in this review article.
Experiential tourism standards: the perceptions of rural tourism providers

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study of the perceptions of a group of rural Kansas tourism providers to a set of 20 experiential tourism standards. The results of this exploratory study are examined and discussed in the context of current experiential tourism literature and implications for future research are discussed. Finally, implications for management practice are reviewed and discussed.
Arousal and Affective Responses to Writing Styles.

Although arousal measures have been employed to predict responses to television programs and music, they have not been used previously to evaluate print media. In this study, skin conductance response (SCR) and a mood scale were used to measure physiological and affective responses to three factors of newswriting style: narrative vs. traditional; direct quotations vs. paraphrased statements; and active vs. passive verbs and adjectives. News stories about the mass suicides in Guyana were used as stimulus materials. Narrative style generated the strongest SCR responses. Narrative style, direct quotations, and active verbs and adjectives interacted to produce the most positive affective responses. The study raises a number of questions about the nature of responses to reading.
Role of Angiotensin Type 2 Receptors in Vasodilation of Resistance and Capacitance Vessels

Angiotensin II (Ang II), the major effector component of the renin-angiotensin system, has an important regulatory role in cardiovascular and renal function. Ang II exerts its actions by binding with equal affinity to angiotensin type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors.1 The predominant receptor subtype found in the vasculature of adults is the AT1 receptor. Ang II activation of AT1 receptors induces vasoconstriction, cellular proliferation, tissue growth, renal sodium retention, sympathetic nervous system stimulation, and aldosterone secretion, the integrated response of which leads to increased blood pressure.1 The AT2 receptor is expressed in large quantities in the fetus and decreases markedly after birth but is still present in low amounts in adult tissues.1,2 AT2 receptors are upregulated under conditions associated with cardiovascular tissue damage, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and hypertension.3 The relatively low expression level of AT2 receptors compared with that of AT1 receptors is a major reason why the actions and cell signaling mechanisms of AT1 receptors are well characterized compared with those of AT2 receptors. Ang II binding to AT2 receptors activates a counterregulatory pathway whereby …
Analysis of Simultaneous Multiwavelength Anomalous Diffraction for phasing protein crystals

Macromolecular crystallography is a burgeoning field bridging the disciplines of biological chemistry, physics and material science. The diffraction of protein crystals is frequently required by pharmaceutical companies during the drug development process. Both intensity and phase of diffracted x-rays are required to solve a new crystal structure. Phases can be determined using the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction method (MAD). Simultaneous MAD (SMAD) has been proposed to significantly reduce the length of synchrotron data collection leading to faster structure determination. Analysis of MAD images collected at the peak and edge wavelengths reveal overlapping HKL reflections.
Quantized control with differential pulse code modulation

Use of differential pulse code modulation to provide quantization of control and measurements in a closed-loop control system is examined. Expressions are derived for the quantization error and estimation error and for a stable state transition matrix these errors are shown to be stable. Simulation results are presented that demonstrate that the quantized control performance compares favorably with the unquantized optimal control solution.
Resampling variance estimation for complex survey data

In this article, I discuss the main approaches to resampling variance es- timation in complex survey data: balanced repeated replication, the jackknife, and the bootstrap. Balanced repeated replication and the jackknife are implemented in the Stata svy suite. The bootstrap for complex survey data is implemented by the bsweights command. I describe this command and provide working examples. Editors' note. This article was submitted and accepted before the new svy boot- strap prefix was made available in the Stata 11.1 update. The variance estimation method implemented in the new svy bootstrap prefix is equivalent to the one in bs4rw. The only real difference is syntax. For example,
Cyclic GMP-specific Phosphodiesterase-5 Regulates Motility of Sea Urchin Spermatozoa

Motility, chemotaxis, and the acrosome reaction of animal sperm are all regulated by cyclic nucleotides and protein phosphorylation. One of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) substrates ...
Retrotransposon-Gene Associations Are Widespread Among D. melanogaster Populations

We have surveyed 18 natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster for the presence of 23 retrotransposon-gene-association alleles (i.e., the presence of an LTR retrotransposon sequence in or within 1,000 bp of a gene) recently identified in the sequenced D. melanogaster genome. The identified associations were detected only in the D. melanogaster populations. The majority (61%) of the identified retrotransposon-gene associations were present only in the sequenced strain in which they were first identified. Thirty percent of the associations were detected in at least one of the natural populations, and 9% of the associations were detected in all of the D. melanogaster populations surveyed. Sequence analysis of an association allele present in all populations indicates that selection is a significant factor in the spread and/or maintenance of at least some of retroelement-gene associations in D. melanogaster.
An efficient algorithm for running max/min calculation

We present a novel algorithm for calculating the running maximum or minimum value of a one-dimensional sequence over a sliding data window. The new algorithm stores a pruned ordered list of data elements that have the potential to become maxima or minima across the data window at some future time instant. This algorithm has a number of advantages over competing algorithms, including balanced computational requirements for a variety of signals and the potential for reduced processing and storage requirements for long data windows. We show through both analysis and simulation that for an L-element running window, the new algorithm uses approximately three comparisons and O(log L) memory locations per output sample on average for i.i.d. signals, independent of the signal distribution.
MEASUREMENT OF AGE AND GROWTH RATE IN THE CRUSTOSE SAXICOLOUS LICHEN CALOPLACA TRACHYPHYLLAUSING14C ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract Abstract: Sections of the crustose saxicolous lichen, Caloplaca trachyphylla, were dated using14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The data show a strong linear dependence of radial position on time (r=0·993), suggesting a constant radial growth rate. This specimen had averaged a marginal growth rate of 1·48 mm/year. Extrapolation of the growth curve yields a thallus age of 20 years. These data demonstrate the feasibility of using AMS technology to precisely date lichen tissues and determine growth rates of lichen thalli.
Opine catabolic loci from Agrobacterium plasmids confer chemotaxis to their cognate substrates

Opines are carbon compounds produced by crown galls and hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively. These novel condensation products of plant metabolic intermediates are utilized as nutritional sources by the Agrobacterium strains that induced the growths. Thus, opines are thought to favor the propagation of agrobacteria in the tumorsphere. Certain Agrobacterium strains were chemoattracted to opines. The chemotactic activities to octopine, to nopaline, to mannopine, and to agrocinopines A + B were dependent on the type of the Ti plasmid present in the bacterium. The determinants for chemotaxis to these opines were localized to the regions of the octopine- and nopaline-type Ti plasmids coding for transport and catabolism of that opine. An insertion in accA, which encodes the periplasmic binding protein for agrocinopines A + B, abolished chemotaxis while an insertion in accC, which encodes a component of the transport system, and an insertion in accF, which encodes a function required for agrocinopine catabolism, did not affect chemotaxis to this opine. Thus, transport and catabolism of these opines are not required for the chemotactic activity. Analyses of subclones of the acc region confirmed that accA is the only gene required from the Ti plasmid for chemotaxis to agrocinopines A + B.
Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Other Viral Infections in Children After Liver Transplantation

We studied 51 consecutive pediatric patients for the frequency and morbidity of viral infections after liver transplantation. The incidence of primary (67%) and reactivation (48%) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections and reactivation (88%) cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was comparable to that seen in adult transplant recipients. However, fewer pediatric than adult transplant recipients experienced primary CMV infection (P less than .01). Five (38%) of 13 CMV infections were symptomatic and included hepatitis, pneumonitis, enteritis, and mononucleosis. Two of 14 patients with primary EBV infection subsequently developed, at two months and two years after initial infection, an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative syndrome, and one of 10 patients with reactivated EBV infection developed a possible EBV-associated febrile encephalopathy. Other viruses causing infection in these children included herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and rotavirus.
Suppression of 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase Messenger RNA Concentration, Protein Expression, and Enzymatic Activity during Human Ureteral Obstruction

Prostanoids produce significant effects in the ureter, particularly in response to obstruction. Ureteral obstruction is associated with increased prostanoid synthesis via cyclooxygenase induction; however, prostaglandin degradation mediated by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) has not been evaluated in the ureter. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PGDH steady-state mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity are altered in the human ureter during obstruction. Human ureteral segments from patients undergoing donor nephrectomy (normal segments) or ureteral stricture repair (obstructed segments) were obtained with proper informed consent. We evaluated PGDH steady-state mRNA relative to ribosomal protein S26 reference gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Vistra Green fluoroimaging. We determined PGDH protein content relative to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by immunoblotting and PGDH localization by immunohistochemistry. PGDH enzymatic activity was determined by measurement of conversion of 15-hydroxy- to 15-keto-prostaglandin using thin layer chromatography separation. We found that PGDH mRNA and protein were decreased 4- to 6-fold, and enzyme activity was decreased >3-fold in obstructed human ureter relative to normal controls. PGDH was localized to the urothelial cells, with little or no expression in smooth muscle. Our results indicate that PGDH mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity are suppressed in the human ureter during obstruction. Increased concentrations of prostanoids subsequent to ureteral obstruction seem to be due to decreased degradation as well as increased synthesis. Modulation of prostanoid degradation may have therapeutic relevance in obstructive disorders of the ureter.
Clinical pathology approaches to hepatic injury

Testing the blood for evidence of hepatic damage and dysfunction frequently involves measuring several blood constituents simultaneously to screen for disease. While useful, this approach occasionally leads to apparent disparities between the blood test results, and the results of other diagnostic tests such as histology. In part, these perceived discrepancies may stem from a lack of appreciation for tissue, cellular, and molecular factors that affect the appearance of hepatic disease biomarkers in the blood. Further confusing the matter is that in some instances the mechanisms responsible for the appearance of diagnostic compounds in blood are only partially understood. Many of the known factors that affect hepatic biomarkers are similar to those affecting other tissue markers, while others are unique to the liver, such as those involved with cholestasis. Disease conditions can also cause misleading results by affecting tissue concentrations of test compounds, hepatic mass, and the clearance rate of compounds from the blood. Knowledge of the factors affecting the blood concentrations of biomarkers, as well as investigations into the mechanisms behind changes to hepatic biomarker concentrations, may allow for a better interpretation of blood test results and fewer inconsistencies between diagnostic results.
Method to compute the stress-energy tensor for the massless spin 1 2 field in a general static spherically symmetric spacetime

A method for computing the stress-energy tensor for the quantized, massless, spin $\frac{1}{2}$ field in a general static spherically symmetric spacetime is presented. The field can be in a zero temperature state or a nonzero temperature thermal state. An expression for the full renormalized stress-energy tensor is derived. It consists of a sum of two tensors both of which are conserved. One tensor is written in terms of the modes of the quantized field and has zero trace. In most cases it must be computed numerically. The other tensor does not explicitly depend on the modes and has a trace equal to the trace anomaly. It can be used as an analytic approximation for the stress-energy tensor and is equivalent to other approximations that have been made for the stress-energy tensor of the massless spin $\frac{1}{2}$ field in static spherically symmetric spacetimes.
Effects of selective type I and II adrenal steroid agonists on immune cell distribution

Adrenal steroids exert their effects through two distinct adrenal steroid receptor subtypes; the high affinity type I, or mineralocorticoid, receptor and the lower affinity type II, or glucocorticoid, receptor. Adrenal steroids have well known effects on immune cell distribution, and although both type I and II receptors are expressed in immune cells and tissues, few data exist on the relative effects mediated through these two receptor subtypes. Accordingly, we administered selective type I and II adrenal steroid receptor agonists to young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats for 7 days and then measured immune cell distribution in the peripheral blood and spleen. Results were compared with those of similar studies using the naturally occurring glucocorticoid of the rat, corticosterone, which binds both type I and II receptors. The majority of the well characterized effects of adrenal steroids on peripheral blood immune cells (increased neutrophils and decreased lymphocytes and monocytes) were reproduced by th...
Shape-memory polymers for microelectromechanical systems

This paper investigates the use of shape-memory polymer thin films in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). shape-memory polymers possess the capacity to recover large-strain deformations by the application of heat and are candidates for small-scale transduction. The key advantages of shape-memory polymers are their low material/fabrication cost coupled with their simplicity of integration/operation. In the present study, shape-memory polymers are spin coated onto a standard Si wafer and polymerized by thermal annealing. The thermomechanics of strain storage and recovery in the polymer films are studied using instrumented microindentation. The sharp microindents demonstrate full recovery at all load levels, establishing the feasibility of microscale actuation. The microindentation response of the polymer film is shown to depend on temperature and the cooling cycle during indentation. In turn, the subsequent recovery behavior of an indent depends on the thermal history during indentation. Indents performed at higher temperatures are larger in size, but have smaller stored strain energy compared to indents performed at low temperature. The larger stored strain energy in low temperature indents results in lower shape recovery temperatures. The effects of indentation temperature and load are systematically investigated to provide a framework for the use of shape-memory polymers in microsystems. Application of shape-memory polymers is demonstrated through the development of an active microfluidic reservoir. The reservoir was created by indentation at the end of a microfluidic channel and was activated by local heating. The collapse of the filled reservoir caused the motion of fluid down the microfluidic channel.
Flexibility and the theory of the firm

Abstract The object of this paper is (1) to bring together and integrate the various concepts of flexibility found in the economic literature, (2) to “flesh out” the meaning of various aspects of flexibility and their implications, thereby bridging the gap between the existing highly abstract theories and the empirical facts, and (3) in the process to give a rich and comprehensive enough description of an industry to stimulate further theoretical as well as empirical work. The study tries to combine inductive and deductive reasoning, using empirical observations based on indepth interviews with manufacturers in the metalworking industry in the United States and Sweden.
NMR in Industrial Process Control and Quality Control

NMR is well suited to a variety of process control (PC) and quality control (QC) applications, although there are few examples of the former in the literature. Both high-resolution and low-resolution approaches have been used for PC/QC NMR applications; the latter dominate in popularity for a variety of practical reasons and are usually based on low-field magnets that are not capable of high-resolution performance. The most common type of low-field, low-resolution PC/QC NMR applications are based on time-domain behavior, utilizing a suitable analysis of the free induction decay or echoes in order to separate responses from components with different T2 characteristics. The most popular types of PC/QC NMR applications have been in the food processing/agriculture area, e.g., determining fat, water, or oil contents of food materials or products. Applications in the chemical industry include characterizing polymers according to a variety of characteristics (e.g., crystallinity, viscosity, extent of polymerization) that can be correlated empirically with NMR characteristics. The range of applications is growing, and one can expect dramatic growth in this area during the next few years.
A survey of systems for detecting serial run-time errors: Research Articles

This paper evaluates the ability of a variety of commercial and non-commercial software products to detect serial run-time errors in C and C++ programs, to issue meaningful messages, and to give the line in the source code where the error occurred. The commercial products Insure++ and Purify performed the best of all the software products we evaluated. Error messages were usually better and clearer when using Insure++ than when using Purify. Our evaluation shows that the overall capability of detecting run-time errors of non-commercial products is significantly lower than the quality of both Purify and Insure++. Of all non-commercial products evaluated, Mpatrol provided the best overall capability to detect run-time errors in C and C++ programs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid Solidification by Plasma Deposition

Rapid solidification processes (RSP) have been reviewed. The structural refinement one may obtain via RSP and the consolidation methods which need to be utilized have also been reviewed. The merits of low pressure plasma deposition (LPPD) or rapid solidification by plasma deposition (RSPD) as a means of combining both the atomization and consolidation steps of RSP is highlighted. The applications and challenges of RSPD are discussed.
Naturally Occurring Species Specific Inhibitor of Human Prothrombin in Lupus Erythematosus.

SummaryFractions were prepared by 0 to 33% saturation with ammonium sulfate from the sera of two patients with lupus erythematosus who had circulating anticoagulants. The fractions prolonged the prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times of human but not bovine or canine plasma and inhibited the conversion of human but not bovine prothrombin to thrombin by “product 2.” The findings suggest that the circulating anticoagulants are species specific inhibitors of prothrombin.
Illuminating Photoswitchable Catalysis

Through the realization of conceptually new approaches aimed at controlling chemical reactions using light, the field of photoswitchable catalysis has seen rapid development over the past three decades. Although many photoswitchable catalysts are heterogeneous and utilize photosensitive surfaces, such as TiO2 and CdSe, significant attention has also been directed toward homogeneous analogues, primarily by capitalizing on the steric changes that accompany the E → Z photoisomerizations of azobenzene or stilbene derivatives. More recently, photochromic diarylethene moieties have been used to switch the intrinsic catalytic activities and selectivities through alteration of the steric and electronic properties displayed by a supporting ligand. In addition to detailing the aforementioned advances, this perspective summarizes other important developments in photoswitchable catalysis and offers a viewpoint on the future outlook of the field.
THE CONVERGENCE ANALYSIS OF CONVEX FUNCTION BY USING MEAN METHOD

Zheng Quan etc present a mean method for solving unconstrained optimization problems in [1]-[3], if the objective function is continuous, prove convergence of the mean method. If we assume the objective function f(x) is convex in a bounded closed set Ω .in this paper, we discuss the linear convergence of the mean method for solving unconstrained optimization problems.
Foreword: Twenty-Eighth Annual Corporate Law Symposium: Rethinking Compliance

The University of Cincinnati College of Law devoted its 28th Annual Corporate Law Center Symposium to compliance. It was a timely choice, coinciding not only with an explosion of sector regulation in recent years but also with shifting market realities for legal employment and legal education. The contributions to this issue of the Cincinnati Law Review reflect an exuberant spirit that embraces, rather than shirks from, the challenges of these times. Collectively, the contributions rethink the implementation and teaching of compliance and advance specific recommendations on how to improve both. We will have to leave the debate over harmonizing compliance regimes to the comparativists. For now, this issue is a worthy start for re-conceptualizing compliance.
How Informative are the Plastic Surgery Residency Websites to Prospective Applicants

Objective To evaluate the comprehensiveness of plastic surgery program websites. Design American Medical Association interactive database was accessed for the list of integrated plastic surgery programs, in June 2015. Since then, 67 plastic surgery program websites were accessed and searched for the presence or absence of 31 criteria, which were further grouped into 5 categories: First, program contact information; second, training and research; third, program setup; fourth, benefits and facilities; and fifth, information for applicants. Programs were categorized based on US census bureau designated regions, and number of residency positions available. One-way ANOVA test was used for comparison. Results Only 25% (17) program website had information available on more than two-thirds (21 or more of 31) of the criteria. The 3 least factors commonly available by program websites were: operative log (10%), contract (10%), and information on night float (25%). The 3 most commonly available factors included: coordinator information (92%), number of residents (92%), and comprehensive faculty list (88%). Less than 50% of the programs provided information regarding fellowship opportunities, active and previous research projects, and operative logs. There was no difference in amount of information on program websites when analyzed for program size or program geographic location. Conclusion Programs should consider revising their websites to include aforementioned 31 criteria. This would make applicants and potential resident physicians better informed of the programs before the interview process such that they would be more likely to apply to only those programs that match their specific aspirations.
What makes moral dilemma judgments “utilitarian” or “deontological”?

The distinction between utilitarianism and deontology has become a prevailing framework for conceptualizing moral judgment. According to the principle of utilitarianism, the morality of an action depends on its outcomes. In contrast, the principle of deontology states that the morality of an action depends on its consistency with moral norms. To identify the processes underlying utilitarian and deontological judgments, research in psychology and neuroscience has investigated responses to moral dilemmas that pit one principle against the other (e.g., trolley dilemma). However, the interpretation of responses in this paradigm is ambiguous, because the defining aspects of utilitarianism and deontology, outcomes and norms, are not manipulated. We illustrate how this shortcoming distorts interpretations of empirical findings and describe an alternative approach that overcomes the limitations of the traditional paradigm.
The Multigroup and Cylindrical Geometry Formulation of the Fully Coupled Sn/Monte Carlo Method

A hybrid method that iteratively couples Sn and Monte Carlo regions of the same problem has been developed. The method results in a general and relatively efficient method of coupling the two regio...
T4 Inductance extraction and compact modeling of inductively coupled interconnects in the presence of process variations

In this tutorial, we will shed some light on an inductive extraction and compact modeling of inductively coupled interconnects, especially in the presence of unavoidable fabrication variations in the technology of 90 nm and below. The tutorial consists of two parts. The first part of the tutorial will describe the existing partial element equitant circuit (PEEC) based inductance extraction methods, and compact modeling techniques of inductively coupled interconnect circuits by means of second-order model order reduction techniques. For the inductive extraction part, we will review the concepts of partial inductances, PEEC extraction methods and latest susceptance-based inductance extraction and modeling. For the inductive modeling part, we will review the existing second-order model order reduction techniques and present the latest balanced truncation based second order model order reduction techniques. The second part of this tutorial will present a few of existing modeling and simulation approaches of interconnect circuits in the presence of process variations. We will review the latest model order reduction techniques of interconnects considering process variations. Those approaches include the parametric model order reduction by multi-dimension moment matching, interval-valued based reduction approaches, the sampling space based reduction methods and the statistical spectrum based approaches. We will give several specific examples for statistical spectrum based approaches and compare them with some existing approaches.
Sustaining system coordination in outsourcing the maintenance function of a process having a linear failure rate

ABSTRACTAn increasing trend in manufacturing is the outsourcing of maintenance and repair activities to an external contractor. An outsourced maintenance contract is presented that details the costs, timing, and possible bonuses for maintaining uptime thresholds and covers both minimal corrective repairs and regularly scheduled preventive replacements. By negotiating an incentive-based maintenance contract, the manufacturer and contractor can achieve system coordination, a mutually beneficial relationship that maximizes system profit. We study the sensitivity of system coordination to the expected cost of minimal corrective process repairs. For a manufacturing process with a linear failure rate, we develop a complete characterization of the intervals for the expected cost of repair and the corresponding contract parameters wherein system coordination is guaranteed for any expected cost of repair that occurs within the interval.
Do Salespeople Compete Ethically? Salespeople Say “Yes,” Customers Say “No”: An Extended Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of competition in sales, little is known about how competition effects the ethical behaviors of salespeople. This study examines the relationship between competitive psychological climate, ethical psychological climate, and the ethical behavior of salespeople directed at their customers during sales interactions. Using a unique dyadic data set, this study is interested in salesperson ethical intentions from the salesperson’s perspective and salesperson ethical behavior as perceived by their customers. The results of the dyadic study provide insight into the perceptions of salespeople and their customers in regard to ethical behaviors. Looking at the differences and similarities from a dyadic perspective offers interesting implications for both researchers and managers into what salespeople plan to do and how their customers perceive what actually happened.
The utility of thrombus aspiration for NSTEMI: déjà vu of aspiration for primary PCI.

The presence of heavy thrombus burden at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow-up [(1)][1]. Distal embolization of thrombus can lodge in the
The Romantic Imagination and Astronomy: On All Sides Infinity / Eternity’s Sunrise: The Imaginative World of William Blake

Dometa Wiegand Brothers’s The Romantic Imagination and Astronomy: On All Sides Infinity is an engaging study of the influence of contemporary advances in astronomy on eighteenth- and nineteenth-cen...
Task Performance and Situation Awareness with a Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Display:

Training can be expensive, dangerous, or impractical for certain situations. Virtual reality (VR) technology could be utilized to reduce the negative aspects of real-life training and the consequen...
Technology Assessment: Cloud Service Adoption Decision

Cloud computing emerged in its current form in the last decade and quickly became popular as it offers a different way to develop, implement, and maintain and pay for IT services in compare with the traditional on-premise approach [42]. The fast-growing adoption of cloud computing is attributed to the benefits it offers to firms over the on-premise environment, like sharply reduced capital expenditure and upfront investment, increased speed to market, more flexible costs and capacity: use it and pay for it when you need it only, cheaper disaster recovery solutions, access to the latest technologies, and more efficient collaboration of global teams [5, 41].
Efficacy of sonication-assisted sieving on Quaternary pollen samples

Debris in archaeological pollen samples can obscure pollen grains during microscopic analysis. When attempting to remove debris smaller than 10 microns from a pollen sample, screen openings can be ...
Upland Chert Gravel in the Emporia, Kansas Vicinity: New Exposures, Observations, and Stratigraphic review

Upland chert gravel deposits are common on high terraces, hilltops, and drainage divides across much of southeastern and east-central Kansas. Recent building and landscaping excavations have revealed chert gravel in several parts of northwestern Emporia on or near the divide between the Neosho and Cottonwood drainage basins. Assuming a late Pliocene age for highest chert gravel yields an average incision rate of ∼1.3 cm per 1000 years. Chert gravel is typically found on high terraces and drainage divides north of eastwest flowing stream valleys and west of north-south trending streams, which suggests regional crustal tilting downward to the south and east as a plausible mechanism to explain this widespread valley asymmetry. Much confusion surrounds the stratigraphy of upland chert gravel deposits on a regional basis. Improved age information and reconstruction of paleodrainage would be necessary to establish stratigraphic relationships of upland chert gravel deposits among the various drainage basins.