cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Principal–Agent Problem in Finance

The relationship between a principal and the agent who acts on the principal’s behalf contains the potential for conflicts of interest. The principal–agent problem arises when this relationship involves both misaligned incentives and information asymmetry. In asset management, factors contributing to the principal–agent problem include managers’ compensation structures and investors’ tendency to focus on short-term performance. In the banking industry, myriad principal–agent relationships and complex instruments provide a fertile breeding ground for incentive conflicts, many of which were highlighted by the recent financial crisis.
Hybrid simulation for system-level structural response

Abstract Hybrid simulations combine physical and analytical components into a single simulation to evaluate the response of a structure, often under seismic ground motion. This allows an experiment to be conducted in which structural components with complex response can be modeled experimentally and more well-known components can be represented within an analytical model. The coordination software UI-SimCor, developed by the MUST-SIM NEES facility at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, is a hybrid simulation tool which performs the dynamic analysis and other software and hardware coordination tasks for hybrid simulations. In many hybrid simulations, including those that have used UI-SimCor, analytical models with few effective degrees of freedom are typically used. In simulations where system-level behaviors and the response of the analytical components are of importance, a more detailed analytical system is needed. This changeover to a more complex analytical system and increase in general complexity of the hybrid simulation can cause various issues within the UI-SimCor framework. This study discusses the difficulties and issues that arise from having large and complex analytical substructures in hybrid simulation, and the effective mitigation or solutions to those problems.
Minimally invasive surgery for atrial fibrillation

The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been revolutionized over the past two decades through surgical innovation and improvements in endoscopic imaging, ablation technology, and surgical instrumentation. These advances have prompted the development of the less complex and less morbid Cox-Maze IV procedure, and have allowed its adaptation to a minimally invasive right mini-thoracotomy approach that can be used in stand-alone AF ablation and in patients undergoing concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve surgery. Other minimally invasive ablation techniques have been developed for stand-alone AF ablation, including video-assisted pulmonary vein isolation, extended left atrial lesion sets, and a hybrid approach. This review will discuss the tools, techniques, and outcomes of minimally invasive surgical procedures currently being practiced for AF ablation.
Maintaining Atmospheric Mass and Water Balance in Reanalyses

This report describes the modifications implemented into the Goddard Earth Observing System Version-5 (GEOS-5) Atmospheric Data Assimilation System (ADAS) to maintain global conservation of dry atmospheric mass as well as to preserve the model balance of globally integrated precipitation and surface evaporation during reanalysis. Section 1 begins with a review of these global quantities from four current reanalysis efforts. Section 2 introduces the modifications necessary to preserve these constraints within the atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) analysis procedure, and the Incremental Analysis Update (IAU) algorithm. Section 3 presents experiments quantifying the impact of the new procedure. Section 4 shows preliminary results from its use within the GMAO MERRA-2 Reanalysis project. Section 5 concludes with a summary.
A corrected procedure and consistent interpretation for temperature programmed reduction of supported MoO3

Experiments in which bulk MoO3 has been diluted in silica or alumina reveal a “corrected” TPR pattern in which the bulk oxide reduces at the same temperature as the supported crystalline phase. The reduction patterns for diluted bulk MoO3, in conjunction with an XRD study of the reduction process and a recent comprehensive speciation theory have greatly assisted the assignment of peaks for silica and alumina supported samples. A simple interpretation of TPR patterns has been applied with good agreement to the body of MoO3 TPR literature. With consistent interpretation, temperature programmed reduction might be employed with increased confidence to characterize supported MoO3 and perhaps other supported oxides.
Psychological distress among caregivers to heart transplant recipients

To test the hypothesis that family caregivers to heart transplant recipients may experience higher than average levels of distress during the period post-transplant and explore the correlates of distress, 83 caregivers were interviewed 3 times during the first year post-transplant and evaluated on predisposing and psychosocial characteristics. Mean distress was significantly elevated above community norms at initial assessment but subsided as the year progressed. Multiple regression analyses showed that: (a) employment status and caregivers' physical health were strong predictors of post-transplant distress while psychiatric history was not; (b) the burden of caregiving was associated with increased distress early post-transplant but not in later months; and (c) intrapersonal and social support resources early post-transplant were associated with distress both short-term and long-term. Interventions targeted at these environmental and personal factors may be important for minimizing negative effects of the transplant experience on family caregivers.
Dharma and ecology of Hindu communities: sustenance and sustainability. By Pankaj Jain. Farnham, Surrey, U.K.: Ashgate, 2011. 213 pages

Jain, P Dharma and Ecology of Hindu Communities: Sustenance and Sustainability. Ashgate Farnham, Surrey, U.K.; 2011.213 pages, ISBN 978-1-4094-0591-7
Predicting diabetic ketoacidosis in children by measuring end-tidal CO2 via non-invasive nasal capnography.

Aim: To determine if nasal capnography can be used as a screening tool to predict diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) presenting to the emergency department. Methods: Cross-sectional, prospective, observational study of children with T1DM who presented to the Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Western Australia, over a 12-month period from June 2003 to June 2004. Information on demographic data and T1DM was recorded. Nasal capnography, venous blood gases and urinary analysis were performed on patients. Data were analysed using χ2 tests and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated at different end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) levels to predict presence of DKA. Results: Fifty-eight patients aged 1–18 years (mean 10.7, SD 4.7) were analysed. Thirty-three (57%) were male and 30 (52%) presented with new onset of T1DM. Of the 58 cases, 15 (26%) had DKA, and 11 of these were new T1DM patients. No patients with an ETCO2 > 30 mmHg had DKA (sensitivity 1.0, specificity 0.86). Six patients with an ETCO2 < 30 mmHg did not have DKA. Conclusions: Nasal capnography in conjunction with clinical assessment is predictive of DKA. Further research into this area with larger numbers could help validate ETCO2 as a screening tool for DKA in the emergency department.
Detecting quasiperiodic structures with double diffraction

We study interference patterns of double-diffraction systems with quasiperiodic structures. A quasiperiodic linear array of scatterers converts single delta pulses into a sequence of quasiperiodic pulses. This pulse train is diffracted from a second set of scatterers. We find that the interference pattern after the second diffraction has a pronounced peak if both sets of scatterers have similar quasiperiodic structures. We show that this method can be used for identifying the Fibonacci chain and related quasiperiodic sequences, if the number of scatterers in the first set is at least twice as large as the number of scatterers in the second set, and if the distances among the two sets of scatterers and the detector are all large compared to the size of the sets. This method may provide a methodology for identifying the structure of quasicrystals and quasiperiodic layered materials with a large signal-to-noise ratio.
Steep subthreshold slope nanoelectromechanical field-effect transistors with nanowire channel and back gate geometry

Significant physical challenges remain for CMOS technology to increase Ion and decrease Ioff as transistor dimension and power supply voltages continue downscaling. For Ioff, a physical barrier exists as exhibited in the subthreshold slope SS = |(∂Vg)/(∂lnId)| = ln10·kBT/q, which is limited to > 60 mV/dec at room temperature due to electron thermal distribution. To circumvent this fundamental thermodynamical limit, we have designed the first integration of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) and nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) field effect transistor structure (NW-NEMFET). We have previously demonstrated 0.5 ps intrinsic delay and near ballistic operation in quantum confined semiconductor heterostructure NWFETs with diameters less than 15 nm.[1] The current design uses high performance suspended semiconductor NWs as the conduction channel, while the electrostatic pull-in of the NW towards the gate stack enables abrupt switching to the off-state leading to high frequency, low power nanoelectronics. We show that compared to planar suspended-gate FET (SGFET) design [2], NW-NEMFET allows zero SS with 1015 on-off ratio and near 1 V pull-in voltage (Vpi) due to enhanced 3D capacitive coupling, as well as operation at very-high-frequency (VHF) and even ultra-high-frequency (UHF) due to the NW beams' extremely high aspect ratio and small dimensions. [3] Fabrication and characterization of will be discussed.
Evolution of a spatial allocation system

The evolution of methods of finding the "proper" location of a set of architecturally defined spaces runs into unwarranted complexity as the problem approaches "real world" constraints. The problem strains at its boundaries, produces anomalies, does not respond neatly to modeling, and has not produced any change in the architect's concept of built form. It does puzzle analysts and continues to provide both a methodical challenge and a forum for discussion of some of the underlying meanings of "design".
Process Cheddar Cheese from Plain and Enzyme Treated Retentates

Abstract An effective method for producing process Cheddar cheese utilizing plain and enzyme treated retentates was outlined. Raw skim milk, selectively ultrafiltered at 60 C, was mixed with plastic cream, pasteurized, and homogenized. Then it was blended in a Hobart mixer with ripened Cheddar cheese, and its solids were adjusted with freeze-dried retentates and processed at 75 C for 10min. The product, containing up to 40% retentate, was as acceptable as commercial process cheese. At 80% retentate substitution, process cheese showed an undesirable long-grain texture and bland flavor. Retentates containing small amounts of added food grade fungal protease and lipase preparations stored at 45 C for 24h were made into good quality process cheese. Up to 60% enzyme-treated retentate substitution improved flavor compared to commercial process cheese or to process cheese with 40% plain retentate Double diafiltered retentate additions produced process cheese of poor melting qualities.
Computerized tomography of soft tissue abnormalities

Abstract Computerized tomography (CT) has proved to be of value in the pre-operative evaluation of soft tissue abnormalities. Standard radiographic examinations offer limited information and are used primarily to determine the presence or absence of associated bone involvement. Computerized tomography, however, because of its cross sectional display of muscles, fat, nerves, vessels and bones, is ideally suited to the investigation of soft tissue lesions.
Technical note: business function specification of commercial applications

Commercial application development projects frequently take longer and cost more than their sponsors would wish. One problem area is an uncomfortable "join" between the work of business analysts, responsible for understanding and specifying the business function required, and programmers, responsible for designing and building the implementation on a particular hardware or software platform. Proposed here is a small set of analysis constructs that can be used to specify precisely the business function that a commercial application must implement. The constructs cover data, processes, and user interfaces, but are free of platform-dependent implementation detail. The set of constructs is based on a common structure shared by commercial applications regardless of the business function being implemented. Instances of the constructs can be created to completely specify the business function of a particular commercial application. A separate transformation process can then take place to implement the business function specified on a target platform. The transformation required does not depend on the business function specified, but on which construct is being transformed, on nonfunctional requirements such as performance and security, and on the architecture of the target platform. The constructs allow a better separation of design concerns and provide more precise and complete communication between business analysts and programmers.
Circadian cycles in growth and feeding rates of heterotrophic protist plankton

Growth and feeding rates of four species of planktonic marine heterotrophic protists showed pronounced diel cycles. In most cases, rates were higher during the day and lower at night. However, for the ciliate Strobilidium sp., growth was highest at night. In another ciliate species, Balanion comatum, no day-night difference in growth and feeding rates was found. Maintenance of day-night rate differences during 24-h exposures to continuous darkness demonstrated that most of these protists had circadian cycles. The heterotrophic dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina exhibited a clear irradiance threshold for maintenance of the circadian cycle: day-night differences in growth and feeding rates were observed at irradiances as low as 2.6 × 10−3 µmol photons m−2 s−1 but not at 3.1 × 10−4 µmol photons m−2 s−1. We also studied growth and feeding in transition from complete darkness to culturing in a day : night light cycle in O. marina and found that resetting the circadian cycle in this dinoflagellate temporarily arrested growth and feeding. We suggest that protists use a time-integrated light threshold rather than an instantaneous irradiance to maintain the circadian cell cycle. This allows them to avoid temporary arrests in growth and feeding when they are mixed over depth across the 3.1 × 10−4 µmol photons m−2 s−1 irradiance threshold. Overall, higher rates of feeding and growth during the light period, when phytoplankton are photosynthetically active, may strongly influence predator-prey cycles in the euphotic zone.
Transcatheter closure of a traumatic VSD in an adult requiring an ASD occluder device.

Traumatic ventricular septal defects (VSD) can occur after blunt or penetrating chest trauma or cardiac procedures. There are few publications reporting the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of traumatic VSDs. We report a case of a large VSD resulting from penetrating chest trauma that was not repaired at the initial surgical procedure on the disrupted right ventricle. Because of the late identification of the VSD postoperatively, transcatheter closure after the original surgical procedure was recommended and performed requiring an Amplatzer atrial septal defect occluder device because of defect size and configuration. This case describes the technique and postprocedure imaging leading to a cautionary note regarding VSD closure device techniques. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A comparison of venous blood gases during cardiac arrest.

Previous reports have advocated the use of mixed venous blood gases to estimate arterial pH and as a reflection of tissue acid-based balance. However, true mixed venous samples are difficult to obtain during cardiac arrest as they require a pulmonary artery catheter. The purpose of this study was to determine whether central or femoral venous samples could be used in place of pulmonary artery samples. Blood gases from these sites were drawn at intervals during experimental cardiac arrest in dogs. The PO2, PCO2, and pH from the pulmonary artery samples were strongly correlated with those from the central venous (r = .93, .99, and .99, respectively) and from the femoral venous samples (r = .73, .93, and .97, respectively). There were no significant differences in the pulmonary artery, central, or femoral venous gases. This animal model suggests that femoral and central venous samples mirror true mixed venous blood gases from the pulmonary artery and could be used in their place.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN WHALE EARS

ABSTRACT Ultrasonic echolocation abilities are well documented in several dolphin species, but hearing characteristics are unknown for most whales. Vocalization data suggest whale hearing spans infra- to ultrasonic ranges. This paper presents an overview of whale ear anatomy and analyzes 1) how whale ears are adapted for underwater hearing and 2) how inner ear differences relate to different hearing capacities among whales. Whales have adaptations for rapid, deep diving and long submersion; e.g., broad- bore Eustachian tubes, no pinnae, and no air-filled external canals, that impact sound reception. In odontocetes, two soft tissue channels conduct sound to the ear. In mysticetes, bone and soft tissue conduction are likely. The middle ear is air-filled but has an extensible mucosa. Cochlear structures are hypertrophied and vestibular components are reduced. Auditory ganglion cell densities are double land mammal averages (2000–4000/mm). Basilar membrane lengths range 20–70 mm; gradients are larger than in ...
Comparison of Three Control Methods for an Autonomous Vehicle

The desirability and challenge of developing a completely autonomous vehicle and the rising need for more efficient use of energy by automobiles motivate this research- a study for an optimum solution to computer control of energy efficient vehicles. The purpose of this paper is to compare three control methods - mechanical, hydraulic and electric that have been used to convert an experimental all terrain vehicle to drive by wire which would eventually act as a test bed for conducting research on various technologies for autonomous operation. Computer control of basic operations in a vehicle namely steering, braking and speed control have been implemented and will be described in this paper. The output from a 3 axis motion controller is used for this purpose. The motion controller is interfaced with a software program using WSDK (Windows Servo Design Kit) as an intermediate tuning layer for tuning and parameter settings in autonomous operation. The software program is developed in C++. The voltage signal sent to the motion controller can be varied through the control program for desired results in controlling the steering motor, activating the hydraulic brakes and varying the vehicle's speed. The vehicle has been tested for its basic functionality which includes testing of street legal operations and also a 1000 mile test while running in a hybrid mode. The vehicle has also been tested for control when it is interfaced with devices such as a keyboard, joystick and sensors under full autonomous operation. The vehicle is currently being tested in various safety studies and is being used as a test bed for experiments in control courses and research studies. The significance of this research is in providing a greater understanding of conventional driving controls and the possibility of improving automobile safety by removing human error in control of a motor vehicle.
Pliuvium’s Unholy Trinity: Russian Nationhood, Anti-Semitism, and the Public Sphere after 1905

AbstractThis article focuses on anti-Semitic cartoons published in the right-wing, satirical, illustrated newspaper Pliuvium, which appeared in Russia after the 1905 Revolution. The illustrated journal represented one of the new, far-right media outlets in the wake of the events of 1905 and its editors sought to redefine Russia as a traditional monarchy, home to ethnic Russians. To accomplish this aim, Pliuvium employed caricaturists who drew contrasts between Russians and Jews, turning the latter into the antithesis of the nation. Through close readings of several anti-Semitic images from the newspaper, the author seeks to reveal the broader historical forces contained within them. In the end, these cartoons help us understand the “unholy trinity” comprising the ugly side of Russian nationhood, racism in Russian imperial culture, and the emergence of far-right publics by 1905.
Nutrient distributions and new production in polar regions: parallels and contrasts between the Arctic and Antarctic

Abstract Polar regions are poorly understood components of global biogeochemical cycles. This paper discusses the influences of nitrate and ammonium concentrations on nitrate uptake (and hence new production), particularly with regard to data collected within marginal ice zones in the Arctic and Antarctic. Subsurface ammonium maxima in waters over 150 m are frequently encountered in the Arctic and occasionally in the Antarctic. Such maxima result from the heterotrophic remineralization of organic matter, and because stratified environments occur more frequently in the Arctic, significant concentrations of ammonium accumulate as a result of lower diffusive losses. Causal agents (bacteria vs. Zooplankton) may also be different in the Arctic from those in the Antarctic. Elevated ammonium concentrations significantly reduce nitrate uptake, and it is suggested that this nutrient interaction may play a significant role in controlling new production, particularly in open water regions. The new production of the Southern Ocean is estimated, and it is suggested that the production and flux from the surface layer is significant relative to the world's oceans.
HIV testing in US emergency departments, outpatient ambulatory medical departments, and physician offices, 1992-2010.

In 1993, 2001, and 2006, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released revised recommendations aimed to expand HIV screening in health-care settings, increase the number of people who are aware of their infection, improve the health of those who are infected, and reduce HIV transmission. It is unclear how responsive health-care settings have been on a national level to these three successively revised sets of CDC recommendations. This study estimated the extent of HIV testing in US emergency departments (EDs), outpatient ambulatory medical care departments (OPDs), and physician offices among 13- to 64-year-olds from 1992 to 2010 to determine their responsiveness to CDC recommendations to expand HIV testing. The report includes data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), which are national probability sample surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for CDC. Over the entire st...
Full-Service Schools: A Partnership Between Educators and Professionals in Medicine, Mental Health, and Social Services:

As we enter the 21st century, it is more important than ever to provide comprehensive and integrated educational, mental health, medical, and social interventions. Full-service schools represent a convenient way for students and their families to access these services.
GEMINI spectrograph optics.

In this paper the optical system design of one of the spectrograph instruments to be employed in the General Excitation Mechanisms in Nightglow project is described. The instrument has a high throughput with a numerical aperture equivalent to f/1.7 and covers the spectral range from 255 to 327.5 nm. A 3-deg line in the object space is imaged onto a two-dimensional intensified CCD array with spatial and spectral resolutions at least matching those of the detector.
Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: examining the contributions of sensory over-responsivity and anxiety

Abstract Objectives Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk for sleep problems. Previous research suggests that sensory problems and anxiety may be related to the development and maintenance of sleep problems in children with ASD. However, the relationships among these co-occurring conditions have not been previously studied. The current study examined the interrelations of these symptoms in a large well-characterized sample of children and adolescents with ASD. Methods The current study examined the relationships among sleep problems, sensory over-responsivity, and anxiety in 1347 children enrolled in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network. The primary measures included the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Short Sensory Profile. Results In bivariate correlations and multivariate path analyses, anxiety was associated with all types of sleep problems (ie, bedtime resistance, sleep-onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, and night wakings; p 0.01 to p 0.001; small to medium effect sizes). Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) was correlated with all sleep problems in bivariate analyses ( p 0.01 to p 0.001; small effect sizes). In multivariate path models, SOR remained significantly associated with all sleep problems except night awakenings for older children, while SOR was no longer significantly associated with bedtime resistance or sleep anxiety for younger children. Conclusions Children with ASD who have anxiety and SOR may be particularly predisposed to sleep problems. These findings suggest that some children with ASD and sleep disturbance may have difficulties with hyperarousal. Future research using physiological measures of arousal and objective measures of sleep are needed.
Beyond a transmission model of communication

Elbers grapples with two persistent issues in psychology: (a) the role of the adult and the child in development, and (b) depictions of competence as “context specific” or “generalized.” Elbers' entrenchment in a transmission model of meaning undermines his portrayal of the child as an active participant in development. Furthermore, his characterization of competence as something “in the head” of the individual hinders his attempts to contextualize competence. We outline a framework informed by Vygotsky, Bakhtin, and others, which depicts both the formation and the functioning of mental processes (or competence) as fundamentally interactive. Mental functions arise in social interactions in which all participants accommodate each other, thus obviating the question of who is active or passive in the interaction. Furthermore, the social interactive origins of mental functioning impose a social context on all “competencies.” Such a framework facilitates movement away from the dilemmas which Elbers cogently raises.
Sight, Sound, and Knowledge: Michael Polanyi’s Epistemology as an Attempt to Redress the Sensory Imbalance in Modern Western Thought

The author argues that Michael Polanyi’s philosophy of science can be understood as an (unconscious) attempt to recapture elements of experience largely forgotten or repressed in modernity. Specifi...
Partial purification and properties of a non-ligandin (3H) 3-methylcholanthrene binding protein from liver cytosol.

Abstract (3H) 3-Methylcholanthrene binds in vivo to a macromolecule in addition to the previously reported binding to ligandin in liver cytosol. The properties of this second molecule are identical to those of the glucocorticosteroid receptor (Binder II) through 400 fold purification over the cytosol proteins (elution position from DEAE-Sephadex A-50 columns, molecular weight by gel filtration and pI value by isoelectrofocusing). The carcinogen, probably a metabolite, binds very strongly or covalently to the macromolecule in vivo , but non-covalently in vitro in the absence of microsomes. Large amounts of unlabeled carcinogen administered in vivo do not compete significantly with subsequent (3H) dexamethasone binding to the hormone receptor fraction in vitro . Methylcholanthrene and dexamethasone do not compete for binding sites in vitro on isolated unlabeled Binder II leading to the conclusion that the glucocorticosteroid receptor and the methylcholanthrene binding protein are distinct entities.
Beneficial Catalytic Immunity to Aβ Peptide

We review attempts to treat Alzheimer disease with antibodies that bind amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) and the feasibility of developing catalytic antibodies for this purpose. Naturally occurring immunoglobulin M (IgM) class antibodies that hydrolyze Abeta and inhibit Abeta aggregation were identified. The production of these antibodies increases as a function of age, ostensibly reflecting an attempt by the immune system to protect against the deleterious effect of Abeta accumulation in old age. A search for catalytic antibodies in a library of human immunoglobulins variable (IgV) domains yielded catalysts that hydrolyzed Abeta specifically at exceptionally rapid rates. The catalytic IgVs contained the light-chain variable domains within scaffolds that are structurally reminiscent of phylogenetically ancient antibodies. Inclusion of the heavy-chain variable domain in the IgV constructs resulted in reduced catalysis. We present our view that catalytic antibodies are likely to emerge as more efficacious and safer immunotherapy reagents compared to traditional Abeta-binding antibodies.
Contributions of the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex to incentive cue responding

Reward-seeking behavior is controlled by neuronal circuits that include the basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area. Using a discriminative stimulus (DS) task in which an intermittently presented cue (DS) directs rats to make an operant response for sucrose, we previously demonstrated that dopamine receptor antagonism in the NAc reduced reinforced cue responding, whereas general inactivation of the NAc increased behavioral responding in the absence of the cue. Because they send major glutamatergic projections to the NAc, the BLA and mPFC may also contribute to reward-seeking behaviors modulated by the NAc. In this study we compare the effects of BLA and mPFC inactivation on rats' performance of a DS task. BLA inactivation by combined GABA(A) and GABA(B) agonists impaired cue responding with minimal effects on operant behavior in the absence of cues. Dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) inactivation also inhibited cue-evoked reward-seeking. In contrast, ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) inactivation disinhibited responding to unrewarded cues with less influence on reinforced cue responding. These findings demonstrate that the BLA and dmPFC facilitate cue-evoked reward-seeking, whereas, in the same task the vmPFC exerts inhibitory control over unrewarded behaviors.
Release of a drug from a dosage form

The complete interpretation and use of absorption, distribution, and excretion data depend upon an understanding of the mechanism of release of the drug from the dosage form and then on the ability to utilize this information to predict its effect in vivo . An analog computer program suitable for using blood versus time data as an input and producing the in vivo dosage form availability versus time pattern as its output has been developed, tested on synthetic problems, and used to analyze published blood data for a sustained-release form and a multiple-dosage regimen of sulfaethylthiadiazole (SETD) and solution, capsule, and tablet forms of acetylsalicylic acid. Similar programming ideas have produced a program able to predict, for known systems, the effect of changes in the in vivo release patterns on the absorption, distribution, and excretion picture.
Differential sensitivity of human glioblastoma LN18 (PTEN-positive) and A172 (PTEN-negative) cells to Taxol for apoptosis

Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor in humans and an average survival of glioblastoma patients hardly exceeds 12 months. Taxol is a plant-derived anti-cancer agent, which has been used in the treatments of many solid tumors. Deletion or mutation of phosphatase and tension homolog located on chromosome ten (PTEN) occurs in more than 80% of glioblastomas. We examined the sensitivity of human glioblastoma LN18 (PTEN-positive) and A172 (PTEN-negative) cells to Taxol for induction of apoptosis. Wright staining showed morphological features of apoptosis after treatment with different doses of Taxol for 24 h. Significant amount of apoptosis occurred in LN18 cells after treatment with 25 nM Taxol, while in A172 cells only after treatment with 50 nM Taxol. Western blotting with an antibody that could specifically detect activation or phosphorylation of Akt (p-Akt) did not show any p-Akt in LN18 cells but an increase in p-Akt in A172 cells. Activation of Akt in A172 cells could be reversed by pre-treatment of the cells with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, indicating involvement of PI3K activity in this process. Apoptosis occurred with an increase in Bax:Bcl-2 and mitochondrial release of cytochrome c into the cytosol leading to activation of mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade. Taxol did not cause upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key mediator of angiogenesis, in LN18 cells but substantial upregulation of VEGF in A172 cells. After treatment with Taxol, increases in p-Akt and VEGF could maintain survival and angiogenesis, respectively, in PTEN-negative glioblastoma. As a single chemotherapy, Taxol might be more efficacious in PTEN-positive glioblastoma than in PTEN-negative glioblastoma. Thus, our study showed differential sensitivity of PTEN-positive and PTEN-negative glioblastoma cells to Taxol.
SIPs: solar irradiance prediction system

There is high interest in up-scaling capacities of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. However, variability and uncertainty in power output is a major concern and forecasting is, therefore, a top priority. Advancements in forecasting can potentially limit the impact of fluctuations in solar power generation, specifically in cloudy days when the variability and dynamics are the largest. We propose SIPS, Solar Irradiance Prediction System, a novel sensing infrastructure using wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to enable sensing of solar irradiance for solar power generation forecasting. In this paper, we report the findings of a deployment of a hierarchical WSN system consisting of 19 TelosB nodes equipped with solar irradiance sensors, and 5 MicaZ nodes equipped with GPS boards, deployed in the vicinity of a 1 MW solar array. We evaluate different irradiance sensor types and the performance of different novel prediction methods using SIPS? data and show that the spatial-temporal cross-correlations between sensor node readings and solar array output power exists and can be exploited to improve prediction accuracy. Using this data for short-term solar forecasting for cloudy days with very high dynamics in solar output power generation - the worst case scenario for prediction - we get an average of 97.24% accuracy in our prediction for short time horizon forecasting and 240% reduction of predicted normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) compared to state-of-the-art methods that do not use SIPS data.
A Path Planning Method for Robotic Belt Surface Grinding

The flexible contact and machining with wide strip are two prominent advantages for the robotic belt grinding system, which can be widely used to improve the surface quality and machining efficiency while finishing the workpieces with sculptured surfaces. There lacks research on grinding path planning with the constraint of curvature. With complicated contact between the contact wheel and the workpiece, the grinding paths for robot can be obtained by the theory of contact kinematics. The grinding process must satisfy the universal demands of the belt grinding technologies, and the most important thing is to make the contact wheel conform to the local geometrical features on the contact area. For the local surfaces with small curvature, the curve length between the neighboring cutting locations becomes longer to ensure processing efficiency. Otherwise, for the local areas with large curvature, the curve length becomes shorter to ensure machining accuracy. A series of planes are created to intersect with the target surface to be ground, and the corresponding sectional profile curves are obtained. For each curve, the curve length between the neighboring cutting points is optimized by inserting a cutter location at the local area with large curvatures. A method of generating the grinding paths including curve length spacing optimization is set up. The validity is completely approved by the off-line simulation, and during the grinding experiments with the method, the quality of surface is improved. The path planning method provides a theoretical support for the smooth and accuracy path of robotic surface grinding.
Pancreatic alpha cell function in trauma

In a group of 20 consecutive patients hospitalized with severe traumatic shock, mean plasma glucagon levels averaged 328±65μμg/ml, significantly above the normal fasting levels. Insulin concentration was normal, and plasma glucose levels averaged 188 (±14) mg/100 ml, significantly above normal. Insulin-glucagon molar ratio was low in 17 of the 20 patients. In three patients undergoing major surgery without associated hypotension, glucagon concentrations did not rise comparably. Hyperglucagonemia without a proportional rise in insulin may be the usual islet cell response to severe trauma and possibly could contribute to survival.
Do Football Helmets Reduce Acceleration of Impact in Blunt Head Injuries

Several recent studies suggest that acceleration of the head at impact during sporting activities may have a detrimental effect on cognitive function. Reducing acceleration of impact in these sports could reduce neurologic sequelae. OBJECTIVE: To measure the effectiveness of a regulation football helmet to reduce acceleration of impact for both low- and moderate-force impacts. METHODS: An experimental paired study design was used. Male volunteers between 16 and 30 years of age headed soccer balls traveling approximately 35 miles per hour bareheaded and with a helmet. An intraoral accelerometer worn inside a plastic mouthpiece measured acceleration of the head. The helmet also had an accelerometer placed inside the padding. For more forceful impacts, cadaver heads, both with and without helmets, were instrumented with intraoral (IO) and intracranial (IC) accelerometers and struck with a pendulum device. Simultaneous IO and IC accelerations were measured and compared between helmeted and unhelmeted cadaver heads. The main outcome was mean peak acceleration of the head and/or brain associated with low- and moderate-force impacts with and without protective headgear. RESULTS: Mean peak Gs, measured by the mouthpiece accelerometer, were significantly reduced when the participants heading soccer balls were wearing a helmet (7.7 Gs with vs 19.2 Gs without, p = 0.01). Wearing a helmet also significantly lowered the peak Gs measured intraorally and intracranially in cadavers subjected to moderate-force pendulum impacts: 28.7 Gs with vs 62.6 Gs without, p
adhA in Aspergillus parasiticus is involved in conversion of 5'-hydroxyaverantin to averufin.

Two routes for the conversion of 5′-hydroxyaverantin (HAVN) to averufin (AVF) in the synthesis of aflatoxin have been proposed. One involves the dehydration of HAVN to the lactone averufanin (AVNN), which is then oxidized to AVF. Another requires dehydrogenation of HAVN to 5′-ketoaverantin, the open-chain form of AVF, which then cyclizes spontaneously to AVF. We isolated a gene, adhA, from the aflatoxin gene cluster of Aspergillus parasiticus SU-1. The deduced ADHA amino acid sequence contained two conserved motifs found in short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases—a glycine-rich loop (GXXXGXG) that is necessary for interaction with NAD+-NADP+, and the motif YXXXK, which is found at the active site. A. parasiticus SU-1, which produces aflatoxins, has two copies of adhA (adhA1), whereas A. parasiticus SRRC 2043, a strain that accumulates O-methylsterigmatocystin (OMST), has only one copy. Disruption of adhA in SRRC 2043 resulted in a strain that accumulates predominantly HAVN. This result suggests that ADHA is involved in the dehydrogenation of HAVN to AVF. Those adhA disruptants that still made small amounts of OMST also accumulated other metabolites, including AVNN, after prolonged culture.
Dendritic Spine Geometry: Functional Implication and Regulation

Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on dendritic shafts where most excitatory synapses are located. Recent advances in imaging technologies have given us great insight into the function of spines as biochemical compartments. Here we review recent evidence suggesting that the geometry of dendritic spines controls postsynaptic calcium signaling and is bidirectionally regulated during synaptic plasticity.
Retention of p63 in an ER-Golgi intermediate compartment depends on the presence of all three of its domains and on its ability to form oligomers

The type II membrane protein p63 is a resident protein of a membrane network interposed between rough ER and Golgi apparatus. To study the retention of p63, mutant forms were expressed in COS cells and the intracellular distribution determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Investigation of chimeric constructs between p63 and the plasma membrane protein dipeptidylpeptidase IV showed that protein sequences from all three domains of the p63 protein are required to achieve complete intracellular retention. Mutational analysis of the 106-amino acid cytoplasmic tail of p63 revealed that the NH2-terminal 23 amino acids are necessary for retention. When p63 was solubilized with Triton X-100 and subjected to centrifugation at 100,000 g, it formed large, insoluble oligomers, particularly at neutral pH and below. A comparison of the behavior of wildtype and mutant p63 proteins in this assay revealed a perfect correlation between the formation of large oligomers and correct intracellular retention. These results suggest that self-association may be a major mechanism by which p63 is retained between the rough ER and the Golgi apparatus.
Deep-UV optical gain in AlGaN-based graded-index separate confinement heterostructure

We propose AlGaN-based GRaded-INdex Separate Confinement Heterostructure as a candidate for electrically pumped deep-UV semiconductor laser. Strong compositional fluctuations were introduced in the active region (75 nm-thick Al0.72Ga0.28N film grown by RF Plasma- assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy) to obtain net modal optical gain peaked at 257 nm in excess of 80 cm −1 . We measured an optical gain threshold of 14 µJ/cm 2 . Because of polarization-doping of the compositionally graded AlGaN regions, which automatically leads to the formation of p-i-n junction, these results pave the way for lasing under electrical injection.
Properties of posterior composites: Results of round robin testing for a specification

• Objectives. Seven sites participated in the round robin testing of five dental composites in order to evaluate specific testing protocols for use in a specification for posterior composites. • Methods. The flexure strength, flexure modulus, solubility in water, and opacity after soaking in water and ethanol, were evaluated for five commercial dental composites at the seven different sites. Samples were either aged for one day or seven days before testing. • Results. Although they were not without problems, the results were supportive of including in a specification a test for solubility in water as well as one for flexural strength and flexural modulus. The specification would be similar to that described by ISO 4049, but based upon the results of this study, an increase in the acceptable values for two of these tests was suggested. The results of this study also demonstrated that despite following an identical protocol and using materials from identical batches, significant variations in absolute values were obtained among the Test sites. However, there was generally good agreement among the sites in the relative ranking of the materials. • Significance. These results provide a strong rationale for the inclusion of one or two standard materials in a specification designed to evaluate composites suggested for use in posterior teeth.
Information Systems for Social Reporting

Social accounting currently involves developing information about economic and social consequences of organizational activities. Two important questions are unanswered by current practice: how does management know what to report? and how is the information to be developed? Systematic scanning provides an agenda of public issues and an assessment of trends. Performance indicators can then be constructed for internal and/or external reporting purposes.
Spreading the word: the proliferation of research using social networks

This poster presents the initial findings of an approach used to analyze a faculty member's direct and relevant indirect networks in order to develop connections with academic peers of similar research interests to expand the visibility and awareness of the faculty member's research through the use of an online collaborative group. It is anticipated that by developing this group, where sharing of publications and ideas is promoted, that the faculty member will increase their virtual research footprint through the awareness and referencing of their publications.
Theoretical model of the effect of combined glenohumeral bone defects on anterior shoulder instability: a finite element approach.

The presence of either a Hill–Sachs or a bony Bankart defect has been indicated as a possible cause of subluxation and anterior shoulder dislocation. Previous studies investigated only the effects of isolated humeral or glenoid defects on glenohumeral instability. We investigated the effects on shoulder stability of both glenoid and humeral defects in the glenohumeral joint. A computer-based finite element approach was used to model the joint. A generic model was developed for cartilage and bone of the glenoid and humerus, using previously published data, and experiments were analyzed using static analysis with displacement control in the anterior-inferior direction. Simulations were run with a 50-N compressive load in the presence of both isolated and combined defects to analyze reaction forces and distance to dislocation. The distance to dislocation for normal joint was 13.6 mm at 90° abduction, which reduced to 9.7, 0, and 0 mm for largest isolated humerus defect, glenoid defect, and certain combined defects, respectively. For combined defects, stability ratio was decreased to 0% from 43%. Our results suggest that in the setting of combined bone defects, stability may be reduced more than what is known for isolated defects alone. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 601–607, 2013
The Impact on India of Trade Liberalization in the Textiles and Clothing Sector

We analyze the impact of the elimination of textile and clothing (T&C) quotas in 2005 on India. Our simulations suggest that while Indian exports of T&C will continue to expand in the presence of the safeguards on China, they will be affected adversely once these safeguards are lifted. We argue that India could emerge much stronger and expand its trade in T&C at a much faster pace, if some of the key domestic structural weaknesses are overcome.