cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective electrostatic interactions in mixtures of charged colloids

We present a theory of effective electrostatic interactions in polydisperse suspensions of charged macroions, generalizing to mixtures a theory previously developed for monodisperse suspensions. Combining linear response theory with a random phase approximation for microion correlations, we coarse grain the microion degrees of freedom to derive general expressions for effective macroion-macroion pair potentials and a one-body volume energy. For model mixtures of charged hard-sphere colloids, we give explicit analytical expressions. The resulting effective pair potentials have the same general form as predicted by linearized Poisson-Boltzmann theory, but consistently incorporate dependence on macroion density and excluded volume via the Debye screening constant. The volume energy, which depends on the average macroion density, contributes to the free energy and so can influence thermodynamic properties of deionized suspensions. To validate the theory, we compute radial distribution functions of binary mixtures of oppositely charged colloidal macroions from molecular dynamics simulations of the coarse-grained model (with implicit microions), taking effective pair potentials as input. Our results agree closely with corresponding results from more computationally intensive Monte Carlo simulations of the primitive model (with explicit microions). Simulations of a mixture with large size and charge asymmetries indicate that charged nanoparticles can enhance electrostatic screening of charged colloids. The theory presented here lays a foundation for future large-scale modeling of complex mixtures of charged colloids, nanoparticles, and polyelectrolytes.
Modeling drivers' speech under stress

We explore the use of features derived from multiresolution analysis of speech and the Teager energy operator for classification of drivers' speech under stressed conditions. We apply this set of features to a database of short speech utterances to create user-dependent discriminants of four stress categories. In addition we address the problem of choosing a suitable temporal scale for representing categorical differences in the data. This leads to two modeling approaches. In the first approach, the dynamics of the feature set within the utterance are assumed to be important for the classification task. These features are then classified using dynamic Bayesian network models as well as a model consisting of a mixture of hidden Markov models (M-HMM). In the second approach, we define an utterance-level feature set by taking the mean value of the features across the utterance. This feature set is then modeled with a support vector machine and a multilayer perceptron classifier. We compare the performance on the sparser and full dynamic representations against a chance-level performance of 25% and obtain the best performance with the speaker-dependent mixture model (96.4% on the training set, and 61.2% on a separate testing set). We also investigate how these models perform on the speaker-independent task. Although the performance of the speaker-independent models degrades with, respect to the models trained on individual speakers, the mixture model still outperforms the competing models and achieves significantly better than random recognition (80.4% on the training set, and 51.2% on a separate testing set).
Caste: The emergence of the South Asian social system

Preface Introduction, 1993 An Argument for Eclecticism Intimations of Caste Divine Plan or Racial Antipathy? The 'Occupation' Hypothesis & Some Other Dubious Proposals The Units of the Caste System The Economy of Caste From Clan to Caste The Emergence of the Caste System in South Asia Conclusions & Final Thoughts Bibliography Index.
Surface interaction in the Pt/γ-Al2O3 system IV. Additive effects of CeO2 and MoO3

Abstract The effects of CeO 2 and MoO 3 on the surface interaction in the Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 system were studied by selective chemisorption of CO on Pt to measure the dispersion, sintering and redispersion of PtO 2 on 3.6% CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and 5.3% MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 supports. Chemisorption data of CO on Pt/CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and Pt/MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 reduced at 300 ° C, show that the presence of CeO 2 and MoO 3 increases the dispersion limit (the saturation concentration in the disperssed phase) of PtO 2 on γ-Al 2 O 3 . In each case, the dispersion limit of PtO 2 at 500 ° C is increased about 2–3 fold compared to that in Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 . Temperature programmed reductions of Pt/CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and Pt/MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 by H 2 show that the presence of Pt lowers significantly the temperatures for the removal of capping oxygen anions of CeO 2 and MoO 3 on γ-Al 2 O 3 . All these observations are attributed to the enhanced metal oxide-support interaction in the Pt/CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and Pt/MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts. Reduction at 500 ° C by H 2 generally decreases the amount of CO chemisorption and lowers the surface coverage of Pt on CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and MnO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 . While the sintered Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 can be completely redispersed by heating in O 2 at 500 ° C, the sintered Pt/CeO 2 -γ-Al 2 O 3 and Pt/MoO 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 show only partial redispersion, or none at all, under the same conditions.
Effect of CSF on Bacterial Growth

• The growth patterns of five potentially pathogenic bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes , group B β-hemolytic streptococcus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ) and a commonly encountered, nonpathogenic microorganism ( S epidermidis ) were compared using CSF, trypticase soy broth (TSB), and a phosphate buffer. Each grew less in CSF than in TSB. Escherichia coli was least affected, with a median difference of 2 logarithms between CSF and TSB at 24 hours of growth, whereas S epidermidis was markedly inhibited, with a median difference of 6.85 logarithms. The differences among the remaining four organisms ranged from 3.86 to 5.94 logarithms, all significantly greater than that for E coli. Similar results were obtained at 48 hours of growth. The nonsupport of bacterial growth by CSF may constitute a host defense mechanism. The basis of these observations may be the presence of inhibitors or the absence of nutrients required for bacterial growth in the CSF.
A9 fibroblasts transfected with the m3 muscarinic receptor clone express a Ca2+ channel activated by carbachol, GTP and GDP.

Muscarinic m3 receptor-mediated changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]l) occur by activation of Ca2+ release channels present in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and Ca2+ entry pathways across the plasma membrane. In this report we demonstrate the coupling of m3 muscarinic receptors to the activation of a voltage-insensitive, cation-selective channel of low conductance (3.2 ± 0.6 pS; 25 mm Ca2+ as charge carrier) in a fibroblast cell line expressing m3 muscarinic receptor clone (A9m3 cells). Carbachol (CCh)-induced activation of the cation-selective channel occurred both in whole cell and excised membrane patches (CCh on the external side), suggesting that the underlying mechanism involves receptor-channel coupling independent of intracellular messengers. In excised inside-out membrane patches from nonstimulated A9m3 cells GTP (10 μm) and GDP (10 μm) activated cation-selective channels with conductances of approximately 4.3 and 3.3 pS, (25 mm Ca2+ as charge carrier) respectively. In contrast, ATP (10 μm), UTP (10 μm) or CTP (10 μm) failed to activate the channel. Taken together, these results suggest that carbachol and guanine nucleotides regulate the activation of a cation channel that conducts calcium.
Strategic Analysis for a Technological Service Industry: A Differential Game Model

This paper describes the application of a differential game model in which technological as well as economic strategies are present. Inventory is not considered, so the products of each firm may be thought of as services. The solution concept is the memoryless closed-loop Nash equilibrium, which is computed by numerical approximation. Effects of changes in technology purchase prices, salvage values at the end of the planning horizon and initial production capacities are studied on realistic data. Managerial policies of demand-capacity balance are examined, and the effects of tight controls are observed. Analyses to show the impact of cost-reduction differentials of new technologies are presented. The insights obtained by the use of such a model can be quite significant, and sizable advantages may be gained through their application.
Marginal Play: Sport at the Borderlands of Time and Space

"Marginal play" describes the spilling over of play in games or sport beyond the normal regulatory boundaries that constitute them as play frames. This paper presents a variety of examples of marginal play in sport, and provides a theoretical model of sport-regulation to account for them. To make sense of marginal play, the paper distinguishes three levels at which play is regulated: constitutive rules, procedural rules and strategic plans. This framework makes possible a distinction among three sources of marginal play: normative liminality, empathic engagement and frame violation.
Sources of and Solutions to Problems in the Refinement of Protein NMR Structures against Torsion Angle Potentials of Mean Force

Abstract It is often the case that a substantial number of torsion angles (both backbone and sidechain) in structures of proteins and nucleic acids determined by NMR are found in physically unlikely and energetically unfavorable conformations. We have previously proposed a database-derived potential of mean force comprising one-, two-, three-, and four-dimensional potential surfaces which describe the likelihood of various torsion angle combinations to bias conformational sampling during simulated annealing refinement toward those regions that are populated in very high resolution (≤1.75 A) crystal structures. We now note a shortcoming of our original implementation of this approach: namely, the forces it places on atoms are very rough. When the density of experimental restraints is low, this roughness can both hinder convergence to commonly populated regions of torsion angle space and reduce overall conformational sampling. In this paper we describe a modification that completely eliminates these problems by replacing the original potential surfaces by a sum of multidimensional Gaussian functions. Structures refined with the new Gaussian implementation now simultaneously enjoy excellent global sampling and excellent local choices of torsion angles.
Stability of fast periodic systems with time lags

The stability criterion of R. Bellman et al. (1985) for fast periodic linear systems is extended to systems with time delays. Applying the results of J. Hale (1966), the asymptotic stability criterion for a class of time-lag systems is derived. A comparison to a nondelay case is made, and it is demonstrated that small delays can significantly affect the stability properties of this class of systems. >
Characteristics of Summer and Winter Roost Trees Used by Evening Bats (Nycticeius humeralis) in Southwestern Missouri

We radio-tracked 13 evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) to 34 trees during the summer of 2003 and 10 evening bats to 29 trees during the winters of 2003 and 2004. We captured males in every month of the year and provide evidence suggesting that females are also year-round residents of southwestern Missouri. These captures extend the known winter range of N. humeralis at least 110 km northeast. Evening bats selected trees in late stages of decay during the summer, but during the winter they selected a higher proportion of live trees. Comparisons of summer and winter trees suggest that habitat characteristics are more important than tree characteristics in explaining variation between roosts used in the two seasons. Winter roost trees were located in areas with lower average tree height and higher densities of trees. Those attributes would likely cause problems with clutter when leaves are on the trees during summer.
Capacity of Nakagami-q (Hoyt) fading channels with channel side information

In this paper, we derive closed-form expressions for the channel capacity of a diversity reception system with maximal-ratio combining (MRC) or postdetection equal-gain combining (EGC) over a slowly varying Nakagami-q (Hoyt) fading channel under different adaptive transmission policies when the channel side information is available at the transmitter and the receiver. We consider the situation that the branches are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). We first derive three different canonical-form expressions for the probability density function (PDF) of the instantaneous combiner output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a weighted sum of gamma PDFs. Then the channel capacity is obtained in different canonical forms as a weighted sum of channel capacities for single-branch systems in gamma fading environments.
Effect of Errors in Body Weight upon Computerized Formulation of Feeding Guidelines for Dairy Cows

Abstract Computerized least-cost rations were simulated for 15 dairy herds from herd-average body weights either reported by Dairy Herd Improvement or by taping heart girths of cows. Differences between simulated rations were predicted for feed costs, intakes of crude protein and net energy, and gain in body weight. Weights reported by Dairy Herd Improvement were 68±37kg per cow less than taped weights. The 360 taped cows averaged 633±39kg body weight. The use of reported mean body weights in the formulation of rations for the milking herd increased predicted intakes of net energy and gains in body weight. The effect upon predicted feed costs and intakes of crude protein was not significant. To compensate for differences in estimations of body weight does not appear to be practical. The error in estimation of body weight is small as compared with other possible errors which affect management decisions.
Vector quantization for classification in a simple network

Summary form only given. We design a generalized Gauss mixture vector quantizer (GMVQ) with an encoder at each sensor and a decoder at the common receiver, minimizing the expected quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) distortion between the original data and the Gauss mixture component, to which it is assigned by the decoder. Each encoder first predicts the index assignment of the other encoder based on its own noisy version of the data. We denote the predicted index of the other encoder by j/sup p/. Then, the encoder assigns its own noisy version to the index i such that the Gauss mixture component associated with the index pair (i, j/sup p/) at the decoder is the one minimizing the expected QDA distortion. The decoder, upon receiving an index from each encoder, maps the received index pair to the mixture component, minimizing the expected distortion. The quantizer is trained using the Lloyd algorithm, by iteratively updating the encoders and the decoder. Each encoder is updated by predicting the index assignments of the other encoder followed by assigning each noisy input vector to the index, minimizing the expected QDA distortion. The decoder is updated by mapping each index pair to the optimum Gauss mixture component followed by the update of the parameters of each Gauss mixture component. We have implemented our algorithm on three different data sets: a mixture of Gaussians, a mixture of Laplacians and a a set of aerial images. For each data set, we observed that the classification performance achieved by our algorithm is very close to the theoretically optimal (Bayes) performance.
Some Methodological Remarks On Transcultural Interviewing On Psychopathology

Methods to make measurement both valid and reliable in a transcultural setting are exemplified from a study done in Goa, India, to examine symptom prevalence in two groups, Christians and Hindus. Access to Goan culture was gained through field consultants, library research, and field observations. The interview instrument consisted of multiple-choice questions on social characteristics, general health status, and symptoms, Two forms, one in Portuguese, the other in Konkani, were made equivalent in meaning by a translation and back-translation. Symptoms were defined within the culture. The Langner scale was used for questions on symptoms. Reliability and validity checks were included in the instrument itself as well as its translation and use. Bilingual physicians and bilingual experts in Goan culture worked in the instrument construction. Bilinguals and monolinguals were pretested and probed. Other steps involved: careful wording of questions, use of redundancy and decentering, provision of context, warning translators against biases and supervising their work, approaching subjects in local ways and through local leaders, and having the instrument administered by a bilingual physician.
Diffusible factors in vertebrate embryonic induction.

One major aim of studies of vertebrate embryology has been to determine the mechanisms by which signals generated by one group of cells control the fate of neighboring cells, the process generally referred to as embryonic induction (Spemann, 1938; Jacobson, 1986; Gurdon, 1987). Inductive interactions involve two primary components: a signal that is generated by the inducing cell and a receptive system that directly or indirectly controls gene expression in the responding cell (Figure 1). The ligands that constitute inductive signals can be anchored to the cell surface or secreted from cells. Thus, the extent of induction can be controlled by regulating ligand production or by limiting its range of action (Figure 1). The competence of cells to respond to the ligand also contributes to the extent of induction. Competence may be controlled by modifying the expression or function of the appropriate receptors, the intracellular signal transduction pathway, or the transcription of target genes (Figure 1). Inductive signals can also control multicellular pattern if the response of similar cells to different concentrations of the same signal results in different cell fates. In this article we review recent studies on the role of diffusible inductive signals in the differentiation and patterning of cells in vertebrates. We consider induction in broad terms including, as examples, interactions that control the differentiation and patterning of cells within epithelial sheets, as in mesodermal and neural induction; the control of the differentiation of migrating cells such as those of the neural crest and hematopoietic lineages; and the regulation of specific cellular phenotypes, focusing on transmitter choice in neurons (Figures 2 and 3). We also discuss the mechanisms by which the transmission of inducing signals is regulated in the embryo in light of recent studies suggesting that differences in the extent of diffusion of ligands can affect induction processes.
Inscrutable Evil and Scepticism

L'A. part de l'argument que certains philosophes avancent et qui dit que si pour un mal quelconque il n'y a aucune raison qui puisse justifier que Dieu le permette, alors Dieu n'existe pas ; et l'argument conclut que le mal impenetrable constitue l'evidence a premiere vue de la non-existence de Dieu. Toutefois, des penseurs de premier ordre ont recemment avance une strategie qui met en question notre capacite a juger correctement en la matiere : il s'agit de la strategie defensive theiste que l'A. developpe ici sous l'appellation de Scepticisme defensif.
Robust stability and performance via fixed-order dynamic compensation

Two robust control-design problems are considered. The Robust Stabilization Problem in- volves deterministically modeled,bounded butunknown, time-varying parameter variations, while the Robust Performance Problem includes, in addition, a quadratic performance criterion averaged over stochastic disturbances and maximized over the admissible parameter variations. For both problems the design goal is a fixed-order (i.e., reduced- or full-order) dynamic (strictly proper) feedback compensator. A sufficient condition for solving the Robust Stabilization Problem is given by means of a quadratic Lyapunov function parameterized by the compensator gains. For the Robust Performance Problem the Lyapunov function provides an upper bound for the closed-loop performance. This leads to consideration of the Auxiliary Minimization Problem: Minimize the performance bound over the class of fixed-order controllers subject to the Lyapunovofunction constraint. Necessary conditions for optimality in the auxiliary problem thus serve as sufficient conditions for robust stability and performance in the original problem. Two particular bounds are considered for constructing the quadratic Lyapunov function. The first corresponds to a right shift/multi- plicative white noise model, while the second was suggested by recent work of Petersen and Hollot. The main result is an extended version ofthe optimal projection equations for fixed-order dynamic compensation whose solutions are guaranteed to provide both robust stability and robust performance.
A Possibly Interesting Intercorrelation Matrix to Accompany a Varimax Solution

The intercorrelation matrix of Horn's general factor score approximation procedure applied to varimax factors is suggested as of possible interest for factor-analytic interpretation.
Bone modeling: biomechanics, molecular mechanisms, and clinical perspectives

Abstract Bone modeling is a mechanically mediated adaptive process for changing a bone's size, shape, or position. Site specific, anabolic and catabolic modeling events are manifestations of overload hypertrophy and disuse atrophy, respectively. Catabolic bone modeling at the periodontal ligament (PDL) surface is the rate-limiting step in tooth movement. In initiating tooth movement, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is expressed in osteoblasts and osteocytes, and osteopontin (Opn) is expressed by osteoclasts and osteocytes. Undermining resorption occurs by recruiting osteoclasts to the site of maximal PDL compression and a paravascular osteogenic response is initiated in widened areas of the PDL: (1) preosteoblast formation at ∼10 hours, (2) peak DNA synthesis at ∼20 hours, (3) maximum rate of mitosis at ∼30 hours, and (4) initiation of bone formation at ∼48 hours. At other skeletal sites, additional genes have been linked to mechanical activation of bone: glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), prostaglandin G/H synthetase (PGHS-2), Msx1 , and c-fos . An intricate series of endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine factors has been described. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) enhances expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and the estrogen receptor beta (ER-β), which are both modulators of mechanical loading. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and the related bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) help control anabolic modeling. Catabolic modeling is mediated by PGE2, IL-1β, and other inflammatory cytokines. Osteoclast differentiation and activation is controlled by genes related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and its receptor (TNFR): colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor (RANK), and RANK ligand (RANKL). Orthodontic aspects of bone modeling are reviewed relative to morphology, biomechanics, neurology, molecular control mechanisms, and the periodontal adaptation to loading. Clinical correlations discussed are orthodontic analgesics, inflammatory cytokines, surgical enhancement of tooth movement, distraction osteogenesis, closure of atrophic defects, periodontal compromise, traumatized periodontium, and systemic disease.
Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity is Inversely Associated with Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness in a Population-Based Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from diet and supplements and prostate cancer aggressiveness among 855 African Americans (AA) and 945 European Americans (EA) in the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Cases were classified as either high aggressive, low aggressive, or intermediate aggressive. TAC was calculated from the vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity of 42 antioxidants measured via food frequency questionnaire. EA reported greater dietary TAC from diet and supplements combined (P 1500 vs. <500 mg vitamin C equivalent/day): 0.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15, 0.67; P-trend < 0.01], 0.28 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.96; P-trend < 0.001), and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.86; P-trend = 0.58), respectively. These associations did not appear to differ between AA and EA. These data suggest that greater intake of antioxidants is associated with less aggressive prostate cancer. Additional research is needed to confirm these results and determine the underlying mechanisms.
Cortical Thickness in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at ∼24 h and ∼3 months post-injury on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI; n = 75) and orthopedic injury (n = 60) cohorts. The mTBI subjects were randomly assigned to a treatment group with atorvastatin or a non-treatment mTBI group. The treatment group was further divided into drug and placebo subgroups. FreeSurfer software package was used to compute cortical thickness based on the three dimensional T1-weighted images at both time-points. Cross-sectional analysis was carried out to compare cortical thickness between the mTBI and control groups. Longitudinal unbiased templates were generated for all subjects and cortical thickness measurements were compared between baseline and follow-up scans in the mTBI group. At baseline, significant reduction in cortical thickness was observed in the left middle temporal and the right superior parietal regions in the mTBI group, relative to the control group (p = 0.01). At follow-up, significant cortical thinning w...
Thermal Requirements for Embryonic and Larval Development of the Alfalfa Weevil in Wisconsin

Embryonie and larval threshold temperatures for development of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) were 10°C (50°F) and 8.9°C (48°F), respectively. Based on an average of 6 constant temperatures, 176 and 205 thermal units above 50°F were required to 1st and 50% hatch, respectively. Outdoors at Arlington, Wisconsin, 168 and 189 thermal units elapsed to 1st and 50% hatch. Averages of 70.6, 140.6, 207.0, and 297.9 thermal units accumulated outdoors above base 48°F for 50% development from eclosion through the 1st to 4th stadia (to prepupa), respectively.
Perceptions of Urologists About the Conversational Elements Leading to Treatment Decision-Making Among Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer Patients

Widespread adoption and use of the practice of shared decision-making among health-care providers, especially urologists, has been limited. This study explores urologists' perceptions about their conversational practices leading to decision-making by newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients facing treatment. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 community and academic urologists practicing in the St. Louis, MO, region. Data were analyzed using a consensus coding approach. Urologists reported spending 30-60 min with newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients when discussing treatment options. They frequently encouraged family members' involvement in discussions about treatment, especially patients' spouses and children. Participants perceived these conversations to be difficult given the emotional burden associated with a cancer diagnosis, and encouraged patients to postpone their decisions or to get a second opinion before finalizing their treatment of choice. Initial discussions included a presentation of treatment options relevant to the patient's condition, side effects, outcome probabilities, and next steps. Urologists seldom used statistics while talking about treatment outcome probabilities and preferred to explain outcomes in terms of the patient's practical, emotional, and social experiences. Their styles to elicit the patient's preferences ranged from explicitly asking questions to making assumptions based on clinical experience and subtle patient cues. In conclusion, urologists' routine conversations included most elements of shared decision-making. However, shared decision-making required urologists to have nuanced discussions and be skilled in elicitation methods and risk discussions which requires further training. Further research is required to explore roles of family and clinical staff as participants in this process.
Insulinase-inhibitory action of metabolic derivatives of L-tryptophan.

ConclusionsMetabolic derivatives of l-tryptophan which produce a hypoglycemic response in rats are effective also as inhibitors of the destruction of insulin by fresh extracts of rat livers and by intact mice.
Accurate Development of Thermal Neutron Scattering Cross Section Libraries

The objective of this project is to develop a holistic (fundamental and accurate) approach for generating thermal neutron scattering cross section libraries for a collection of important enutron moderators and reflectors. The primary components of this approach are the physcial accuracy and completeness of the generated data libraries. Consequently, for the first time, thermal neutron scattering cross section data libraries will be generated that are based on accurate theoretical models, that are carefully benchmarked against experimental and computational data, and that contain complete covariance information that can be used in propagating the data uncertainties through the various components of the nuclear design and execution process. To achieve this objective, computational and experimental investigations will be performed on a carefully selected subset of materials that play a key role in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Development of VIPER: a simulator for assessing vision performance of warfighters

Background: When evaluating vision, it is important to assess not just the ability to read letters on a vision chart, but also how well one sees in real life scenarios. As part of the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WRESP), visual outcomes are assessed before and after refractive surgery. A Warfighter’s ability to read signs and detect and identify objects is crucial, not only when deployed in a military setting, but also in their civilian lives. Objective: VIPER, a VIsion PERformance simulator was envisioned as actual video-based simulated driving to test warfighters’ functional vision under realistic conditions. Designed to use interactive video image controlled environments at daytime, dusk, night, and with thermal imaging vision, it simulates the experience of viewing and identifying road signs and other objects while driving. We hypothesize that VIPER will facilitate efficient and quantifiable assessment of changes in vision and measurement of functional military performance. Study Design: Video images were recorded on an isolated 1.1 mile stretch of road with separate target sets of six simulated road signs and six objects of military interest, separately. The video footage were integrated with customdesigned C++ based software that presented the simulated drive to an observer on a computer monitor at 10, 20 or 30 miles/hour. VIPER permits the observer to indicate when a target is seen and when it is identified. Distances at which the observer recognizes and identifies targets are automatically logged. Errors in recognition and identification are also recorded. This first report describes VIPER's development and a preliminary study to establish a baseline for its performance. In the study, nine soldiers viewed simulations at 10 miles/hour and 30 miles/hour, run in randomized order for each participant seated at 36 inches from the monitor. Relevance: Ultimately, patients are interested in how their vision will affect their ability to perform daily activities. In the military context, in addition to reading road signs, this includes vision with night sensors and identification of objects of military interest. Once completed and validated, VIPER will be used to evaluate functional performance before and after refractive surgery. Results: This initial study was to prove the principle, and its results at the time of this publication were very preliminary. Nine Soldiers viewed visible-day and IR-day VIPER simulations with civilian and military targets, separately, at 10 and 30 miles/hour. Analyses were performed separately for visible and IR, and also aggregated. Only the civilian targets are discussed in this report. At 10 miles/hour, the population detected civilian road signs at an aggregated average of 90.11 ± 64.20 m, and identified them at 26.93 ± 22.27m. At 30 miles/hour, the corresponding distances were 103.03 ± 58.81 and 26.26 ± 8.55, respectively. Conclusion: This preliminary report proves the principle and suggests that VIPER could be a useful clinical tool in longitudinal assessment of functional vision in warfighters.
The assessment and experimental research on the suspending system of the polymer-nanometer composite material

This text proceeded the research to the dispersion of the nanometer material,compared its different dispersion ability in different scattering methods;analyzed the influence of adding the nanometer material to the artesian drilling fluid.The experiment's result indicates,within the scope of certain,the filtration of artesian drilling fluid decreased as the amount of the adding nanometer material increased,while other conditions are the same.
Computational hyperspectral unmixing using the AFSSI-C

We have previously introduced a high throughput multiplexing computational spectral imaging device. The device measures scalar projections of pseudo-arbitrary spectral filters at each spatial pixel. This paper discusses simulation and initial experimental progress in performing computational spectral unmixing by taking advantage of the natural sparsity commonly found in the fractional abundances. The simulation results show a lower unmixing error compared to traditional spectral imaging devices. Initial experimental results demonstrate the ability to directly perform spectral unmixing with less error than multiplexing alone.
The action of halothane on adenylate cyclase.

Halothane, at concentrations of from 1-10 volume %, significantly increased adenylate cyclase activity in rat uterine homogenates. The activation of adenylate cyclase by halothane was not altered by propranolol. The inhibitory effect of this beta adrenergic blocking compound on isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase was not changed by halothane, while the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol, including the maximally effective concentration, was enhanced. The activation of the enzyme by other agonists—prostaglandin E 1 , sodium fluoride, and 59-guanylylimidodiphosphate—was also markedly increased by halothane at each concentration of the agonists tested, including maximally effective concentrations. It is proposed that halothane exerts its action on uterine adenylate cyclase through conformational changes of the catalytic unit, resulting in a higher activity of the enzyme.
Phase I trial of docetaxel/prednisone plus fractionated dose radiolabeled anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) monoclonal antibody 177lu-J591 in patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

5064 Background: Docetaxel remains a standard agent for mCRPC and has radiosensitizing properties. 177Lu-J591 delivered with fractionated dosing leads to less myelosuppression while maintaining eff...
Working Memory Impairments in Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: The Roles of Anxiety and Stress Physiology

Stress and anxiety have a negative impact on working memory systems by competing for executive resources and attention. Broad memory deficits, anxiety, and elevated stress have been reported in individuals with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). We investigated anxiety and physiological stress reactivity in relation to visuospatial working memory impairments in 20 children with 22q11.2DS and 32 typically developing (TD) children ages 7 to 16. Children with 22q11.2DS demonstrated poorer working memory, reduced post-stress respiratory sinus arrhythmia recovery, and overall increased levels of cortisol in comparison to TD children. Anxiety, but not physiological stress responsivity, mediated the relationship between 22q11.2DS diagnosis and visuospatial working memory impairment. Findings indicate that anxiety exacerbates impaired working memory in children with 22q11.2DS.
Household and Family in Hispanic Northern New Mexico

Kin terms are normal Eskimo» presenting the classic hourglass aesthetic of bilateral, and partial vertical, symmetry. Thetis, primary kin are assigned unique terms, and lineais are separated from collaterals (see chart). The prefixes bis and tatara are equivalent to the English greatand great great-. Cousin terms are slightly unusual, separating primos (as) hermanos (as) (first cousins) from other primos (as). More distant cousins can be distinguished from each other ( primos (as) segundos (as) etc.) but seldom are. The oldest sibling is sometimes designated hermano ( a ) mayor . Tio (a) applies to all uncles and aunts, without regard to generation, unlike the ordinary English distinction between uncle/aunt and great uncle/aunt. Beyond the '"tatara-" level, lineais are either described or lumped an antecedentes and descendientes . Lateral relatives who are too distant to be located specifically are merely parientes Sometime^ one says "They are familiar , but not familia ," which means roughly "They are some sort of kinsmen, but not really in the family."
Metformin inhibits glucose production in hepatocytes by activating AMPK

M is a first-line anti-diabetic agent taken by 150 million people across the world every year. Metformin has been shown to reduce BMI and improve hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in obese and diabetic patients. Due to these benefits, there has been an increase in its use by obese children. However, its mechanism of action remains only partially understood and controversial. It has been proposed that metformin suppression of glucose production via the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1 increases the AMP/ATP ratio in hepatocytes and is AMPK-independent. However, unachievably high concentrations of metformin were employed in these studies. We found that metformin, via an AMPK-dependent mechanism, suppresses glucose production and gluconeogenic gene expression in primary hepatocytes at concentrations found in the portal vein of animals (60-80 μM) without increasing the AMP/ATP ratio. Interestingly, low concentrations of metformin actually increased cellular ATP levels. Metformin also inhibits gluconeogenic gene expression in the liver of mice when administered orally. Low concentrations of metformin promote the formation of the AMPK αβγ complex, which leads to increased phosphorylation of AMPKα at T172 by LKB1 and reduced dephosphorylation of AMPKα at T172 by protein phosphatase PP2C in in vitro assays, resulting in an increase in net phosphorylation of the α catalytic subunit at T172. Furthermore, the cAMP-PKA pathway negatively regulates AMPK activity through phosphorylation at S485/497 on the α subunit, which in turn reduces net phosphorylation at T172. Since diabetic patients often have hyperglucagonemia, AMPKα phosphorylation at S485/497 is a therapeutic target to improve metformin efficacy.
The Long-Term Benefits of Increased Aspirin Use by At-Risk Americans Aged 50 and Older.

Background The usefulness of aspirin to defend against cardiovascular disease in both primary and secondary settings is well recognized by the medical profession. Multiple studies also have found that daily aspirin significantly reduces cancer incidence and mortality. Despite these proven health benefits, aspirin use remains low among populations targeted by cardiovascular prevention guidelines. This article seeks to determine the long-term economic and population-health impact of broader use of aspirin by older Americans at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Methods and Findings We employ the Future Elderly Model, a dynamic microsimulation that follows Americans aged 50 and older, to project their lifetime health and spending under the status quo and in various scenarios of expanded aspirin use. The model is based primarily on data from the Health and Retirement Study, a large, representative, national survey that has been ongoing for more than two decades. Outcomes are chosen to provide a broad perspective of the individual and societal impacts of the interventions and include: heart disease, stroke, cancer, life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy, and medical costs. Eligibility for increased aspirin use in simulations is based on the 2011–2012 questionnaire on preventive aspirin use of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. These data reveal a large unmet need for daily aspirin, with over 40% of men and 10% of women aged 50 to 79 presenting high cardiovascular risk but not taking aspirin. We estimate that increased use by high-risk older Americans would improve national life expectancy at age 50 by 0.28 years (95% CI 0.08–0.50) and would add 900,000 people (95% CI 300,000–1,400,000) to the American population by 2036. After valuing the quality-adjusted life-years appropriately, Americans could expect $692 billion (95% CI 345–975) in net health benefits over that period. Conclusions Expanded use of aspirin by older Americans with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease could generate substantial population health benefits over the next twenty years and do so very cost-effectively.
Latin American Studies: Health

Despite overall improvements in health, the persistence of inequality in health outcomes of the poorest segments of most Latin American societies and inequitable access to health care resources has provided rich territory for social scientists. This article examines the state of, and trends within, social and behavioral science research in Latin America over the last 20–30 years, selecting the most common research themes tackled by these disciplines. Our definition of health includes health status of individuals and as it refers to the health-seeking behavior of those individuals. The main themes are the breadth and depth of historical, sociological, and economic studies of the contact era when European and indigenous American populations first became acquainted. Ethnomedicine, including folk and popular medicine, the integration of traditional and official health systems, and the study of ethno-botany, have provided interesting and productive areas for many anthropologists and sociologists. Economists and political scientists have examined the range of health reforms that are currently on-going in the region. All this research is conducted in the context of major changes in social relations as a result of globalization, urbanization, high migration flows, and other changes reflected in the health transitions across the continent.
Downward dog becomes fit body, inc.: A content analysis of 40 years of female cover images of Yoga Journal

Abstract The present analysis investigated temporal trends in physical appearance attributes and attire worn by female cover models of Yoga Journal magazine between the years 1975–2015. Covers featuring a single female model (N = 168) were coded for: pose activity, amount of body visibility, perceived body size, body shape, breast size, skin exposure, and revealing or form-fitting attire. When collapsed across all decades, the majority of cover models was actively posed with high body visibility, rated as at most low normal weight, possessed either a “thin/lean” or “skinny/boney” body shape, and were “flat-chested” or “small-breasted”. Greater body visibility, pose activity, thinness/leanness, skin exposure, and form-fitting attire were featured on more recent years’ covers. Findings suggest that the female “yoga body” conforms to the contemporary thin- and-toned media fitness ideal, particularly recently, which may promote objectified body competence, an unhealthy drive for leanness, and dissuade higher weight women from considering yoga practice.
The Impact of Imperfect Information on Prices and Qualities: Evidence from the Housing Market

This study empirically investigates how imperfect information on prices, qualities and search costs affect prices and qualities. We build on a comprehensive dataset on the housing market that encompasses detailed buyer-specific information on mortgages, income and residential status before moving as well as house and neighborhood characteristics of houses they bought. Based on a housing demand model, we find that incomplete information on quality and higher search costs explain an average increase in house prices by $27,800. Moreover, imperfect information on market prices increases prices by $7,900. Less informed buyers also purchase houses with less desirable qualities which explains a price reduction of $19,171. Hence, less informed buyers spend on average $16,529 ($27,800 $7,900-$19,171) more on houses due to imperfect information on prices and qualities. Our study provides insights to the policy debate on imperfect information on prices and qualities, i.e., incomplete information can lead to higher prices and lower qualities.
Analyzing spread of influence in social networks for transportation applications

The spread of influence on social networks has been extensively studied but has been primarily demonstrated on large networks such as author collaboration networks. It is not clear how well these approaches translate to real-world social networks comprised of users discussing region-specific topics related to transportation. This work attempts to utilize the concept of influence in social media to identify the individuals who exert the most influence on transportation-related topics. The work describes a web-accessible system that enables a user to select transportation-related topics and then retrieve in real-time the most influential potential influential individuals and/or organizations on Twitter with respect to that specific topic. Influence is quantified using two simple measures of influence, the number of Twitter mentions and the number of retweets of a message. The locations of these influential entities are then indicated on a web-accessible front-end using Google Maps. Such a tool can eventually be used for many purposes including limiting misinformation and encouraging acceptance of a new transportation products or service.
The "Black-and-White Cookie" Sign - A Case Series of a Novel Ultrasonographic Sign in Gastric Outlet Obstruction.

Author(s): Cohen, Allison; Foster, Mark; Stankard, Brendon; Owusu, Maxine; Nelson, Mathew | Abstract: Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a rare condition occurring as a consequence of numerous processesthat prevent gastric emptying. Presenting symptoms of GOO are non-specific and include nausea, vomiting, epigastric discomfort and decreased appetite. The diagnosis of GOO is often challenging. Emergency physicians must have a heightened awareness of GOO to ensure proper diagnosis and rapid treatment. Although the gold standard for diagnoses of GOO is endoscopy, many patients are identified by computerized tomography imaging. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapid and non-invasive technique for evaluating patients in the emergency department. Previous literature has validated the use of ultrasound in diagnosing various intra-abdominal pathologies including bowel obstructions and appendicitis; however, there is limited research on evaluating gastric disease.1 We report three cases of GOO diagnosed with the “black-and-white cookie” sign on POCUS.