cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attentional entrainment and perceived event duration

This study considered the contribution of dynamic attending theory (DAT) and attentional entrainment to systematic distortions in perceived event duration. Three experiments were conducted using an auditory oddball paradigm, in which listeners judged the duration of a deviant (oddball) stimulus embedded within a series of identical (standard) stimuli. To test for a role of attentional entrainment in perceived oddball duration, oddballs were presented at either temporally expected (on time) or unexpectedly early or late time points relative to extrapolation of the context rhythm. Consistent with involvement of attentional entrainment in perceived duration, duration judgements about the oddball were least distorted when the oddball occurred on time with respect to the entrained rhythm, whereas durations of early and late oddballs were perceived to be shorter and longer, respectively. This pattern of results was independent of the absolute time interval preceding the oddball. Moreover, as expected, an irregularly timed sequence context weakened observed differences between oddballs with on-time and late onsets. Combined with other recent work on the role of temporal preparation in duration distortions, the present findings allot at least a portion of the oddball effect to increased attention to events that are more expected, rather than on their unexpected nature per se.
Effective levels of tetanus toxin can be made in a production medium totally lacking both animal (e.g., brain heart infusion) and dairy proteins or digests (e.g., casein hydrolysates).

We have developed a fermentation medium for Clostridium tetani that results in the formation of tetanus toxin and contains no meat (e.g., beef heart infusion) or dairy (e.g., casein digest) products, thus obviating the problem of possible prion diseases. Particular preparations of hydrolyzed soy proteins, especially Quest Hy-Soy®, have been found to replace both the meat extract and casein digest components of traditional tetanus toxin production media and to yield even higher toxin titers. The comparison of the traditional versus the new medium has been carried out repeatedly by us and the superiority of our medium has been consistently observed. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such a medium has been devised.
Spreading of Red Sea overflow waters in the Indian Ocean

As a result of its remarkably high salinity and despite its small volume input, remnants of Red Sea Water (RSW) have been identified in the Agulhas Current, over 6000 km distant of their source. This provided the motivation to investigate the long-term mean spreading of RSW throughout the Indian Ocean, using a comprehensive set of observations, taken from the National Oceanographic Data Center archives and from the World Ocean Circulation Experiment Hydrographic Program for the Indian Ocean. After emerging from the Gulf of Aden into the Arabian Sea, RSW spreads predominantly southwestward along the African continental slope, as indicated by strongly inclined isohalines across the Arabian Sea. There is some monsoon variability, so that during the winter monsoon there is more RSW present in the Gulf of Aden and an intensification of southward spreading along the western boundary, between 12° and 5°N. Elsewhere the intermediate depth salinity field of the Indian Ocean appears relatively stationary. Between 5° and 10°S, in the region of the South Equatorial Current, isohalines of the RSW layer become quasi-zonal across the width of the Indian Ocean, only dipping southward toward the western boundary west of 50°E. South of here, there is a strong tongue of RSW spreading southward through the Mozambique Channel and into the Agulhas Current. These conclusions concur with previous localized investigations of intermediate water properties. Using a simple mixing model, the percentage of RSW throughout the Indian Ocean was quantified. It was found that the flux of salt into the Gulf of Aden from the Red Sea is similar to that estimated to cross 32°S in the Agulhas Current. This result implies that all the RSW which is mixed into the interior of the Indian Ocean may eventually be exported at the western boundary. Furthermore, it implies that RSW is the dominant component of the salt budget for the intermediate layer and that input from the Indonesian Seas and via diapycnic processes are small.
Celestial reference frames - Definitions and accuracies

The paper examines the accuracies of the three most prominent celestial reference frames: stellar catalogs, lunar and planetary ephemerides, and radio source catalogs. Among other findings, it is shown that the stellar reference systems presently shows uncertainties up to nearly a tenth of an arcsec. Radio-source catalogs have internal consistencies of 0.001 arcsec or less.
Large-scale high-index-contrast planar lightwave circuits

Large scale optical integration is enabled by high index contrast materials and building blocks. We highlight recent advances in the miniaturization of optical elements and of dense integration of planar lightwave circuits for telecommunications and RF photonic applications.
Impact analysis of process variability on clock skew

This paper presents a methodology for the statistical analysis of clock tree structures. It allows to accurately predict and analyze the impact of process variation on clock skew. The methodology is divided in three phases. The first phase is a topological analysis used to screen non-critical network configurations, which does not require computationally expensive steps such as parasitic extraction and circuit-level simulation. The second phase is a detailed nominal skew computation based on accurate 3D extraction, performed on a small set of configurations identified as critical by the topological analysis. The third phase is a variational analysis of the impact of process variations and design parameters on the clock skew, that might induce timing margin violations. This methodology has been implemented for scan chain analysis and validated on an industrial strength test case.
Realizing an Open Ubiquitous Environment in a RESTful Way

Web services have been widely used to support context-aware applications for context information retrieval in a ubiquitous environment. However, most of the existing research efforts in this field only focus on using SOAP web service as an enabling technology. In this paper, we compare REST and SOAP web services for supporting ubiquitous environments. We describe our approaches to deploy an open ubiquitous computing environment using REST style services along with semantic web and mobile technologies. We also discuss an example context-aware application developed for the environment and show how REST style services can contribute in moving ubiquitous computing technologies into the real world.
A Radar Analysis of Urban Snowfall Modification in Minneapolis-St. Paul

AbstractA better understanding of urban snowfall climatology will help to mitigate winter weather hazards in highly populated cities, such as Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota. Winter road maintenance accounts for roughly 25% of Minnesota Department of Transportation maintenance budgets, and state and local agencies spend more than $2.3 billion on snow and ice control operations annually. Urban snowfall has also been shown to enhance health problems and increase mortality rates. Further research on urban snowfall climatology is needed to more accurately diagnose urban regions susceptible to such winter health risks. The winter urban heat island effect has been suggested to reduce snowfall downwind of city centers because of localized energy and moisture flux variations, but previous research lacks spatial detail since it is primarily based on sparse surface observations. This project utilizes radar data for two studies—a 25-event snowfall composite and an individual-event analysis of 13 snow-only events—occ...
Effects of prior context upon lexical access during sentence comprehension.

Abstract The effects of disambiguating prior contexts upon the processing of lexical ambiguities in sentences were investigated. Subjects listened to lexically ambiguous (or unambiguous control) sentences under one of three conditions: a neutral prior context, a disambiguating context occurring immediately prior to the ambiguity, or a disambiguating context occurring in a prior sentence. Subjects monitored for phonemes which occurred immediately after each ambiguous or control word. In the neutral context condition, reaction times were significantly longer following ambiguous words than following their controls. For both the immediate and distant context conditions, the ambiguity-control contrast was not significant The results were interpreted as support for a model of sentence processing in which a prior disambiguating context serves to restrict access to readings for an ambiguous word.
Generation and characterization of a mouse LIGHT specific inhibitor in a murine model of colitis (THER4P.891)

LIGHT (TNFSF14, CD258) is a member of the TNF superfamily that is expressed on activated T cells, immature DCs, macrophages, and NK cells. LIGHT interacts with its receptors (HVEM and LTβR) and is reported to provide co-stimulatory and pro-inflammatory signals to T cells, B cells, DCs, and macrophages. Numerous studies have implicated the pro-inflammatory effects of LIGHT as an important contributor to disease severity in models of inflammatory bowel disease and fibrosis. However, the inhibitors used in many of these studies (e.g. LTβR-Ig and HVEM-Ig) are not specific for LIGHT, and are likely to impact other pathways such as LTαβ and BTLA. Our focus was to develop domain antibodies (dAbs) that specifically block LIGHT-HVEM and LIGHT-LTβR interactions to better understand the therapeutic potential of LIGHT specific blockade. We were able to develop a mouse LIGHT specific inhibitor that potently blockades LIGHT-HVEM and LIGHT-LTβR interactions in vitro. Notably, this dAb had little effect when used as a monotherapy in a murine model of colitis, but when combined with CD40 blockade showed a high degree of efficacy (equivalent to CTLA4-Ig treatment). These data suggest that LIGHT monotherapy may not be sufficient to impact disease severity, but LIGHT blockade may have potential as part of a combination approach.
A gain scheduling approach in decentralized manipulator control using discretized equivalent joint models

A decentralized digital trajectory controller for manipulator arms based on a computer torque approach has been developed and tested. A discretized equivalent model of the continuous manipulator system has been derived and used to design digital feedback and compensation filters for this purpose. Time schedules of parameters of these filters were generated offline when the desired trajectory was planned. A stability analysis has been carried out to determine the effect of deviations of the actual trajectory and model parameters from their normal values on the system stability, and the bounds on these deviations within which the control scheme is stable. The control approach has been tested using a hierarchical multiprocessor architecture and a six-joint PUMA 560 robot arm. The performance of the controller is encouraging and compares favorably with the experimental performance of other tested controllers. >
Amphiphiles modify the properties of detergent solutions used in crystallization of membrane proteins

The effect of the amphiphile heptanetriol on the properties of solutions containing several detergents commonly used for crystallization of membrane proteins was characterized. The critical micelle concentration was found to be relatively unchanged by the presence of the amphiphile. In contrast, the addition of heptanetriol to solutions containing both detergent and polyethylene glycol exhibited significant shifts in the clouding behavior, with the largest shifts being for lauryl dimethylamine oxide. These results suggest that conditions favorable for crystallization of integral membrane proteins can be inferred from the properties of the detergents and amphiphiles.
Statistically undetectable jpeg steganography: dead ends challenges, and opportunities

The goal of this paper is to determine the steganographic capacity of JPEG images (the largest payload that can be undetectably embedded) with respect to current best steganalytic methods. Additionally, by testing selected steganographic algorithms we evaluate the influence of specific design elements and principles, such as the choice of the JPEG compressor, matrix embedding, adaptive content-dependent selection channels, and minimal distortion steganography using side information at the sender. From our experiments, we conclude that the average steganographic capacity of grayscale JPEG images with quality factor 70 is approximately 0.05 bits per non-zero AC DCT coefficient.
Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin: Optimizing the Dosing Schedule in Ovarian Cancer

The need for effective, well-tolerated, and convenient therapies for patients with advanced ovarian cancer has led researchers to continually refine chemotherapeutic regimens to balance efficacy with safety and tolerability in order to maintain or improve patient quality of life. In this article, we review current strategies for the optimal dosing of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (DOXIL; Tibotec Therapeutics, a division of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., Bridgewater, NJ, http://www.tibotec.com; Caelyx, Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, NJ, http://www.sch-plough.com) in relapsed ovarian cancer. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of recurrent/resistant ovarian cancer in several clinical trials utilizing a dose of 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks. The most common adverse events associated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin treatment in these studies-hand-foot syndrome (HFS, also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) and stomatitis-are schedule and dose dependent, respectively, and do not typically lead to discontinuation of therapy. Several phase II and retrospective studies support the use of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 every 4 weeks (dose intensity of 10 mg/m2 weekly) to optimize clinical efficacy and minimize the occurrence of schedule- and dose-related adverse events in patients with recurrent/relapsed ovarian cancer. Further reductions in dose intensity are necessary for use in combined chemotherapy regimens. Antitumor activity was maintained, with reduced incidences of HFS and stomatitis. Given the chronic course of ovarian cancer, the improved tolerability profile of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 combined with a convenient once-monthly dosing schedule may translate into an improved quality of life for patients with ovarian cancer.
Regression diagnostics to detect nonrandom missingness in linear regression

Missing data is a common problem in regression analysis. The usual estimation strategies require that the data values be missing completely at random (MCAR); if this is not the case, estimates can be severely biased. In this article it is shown that tests can be constructed based on common regression diagnostics to detect non-MCAR behavior. The construction of these tests and their properties when data are missing in one explanatory variable are detailed. Computer simulations indicate good power to detect various non-MCAR processes. Three examples are presented. Extensions to missing data in more than one explanatory variable and to arbitrary regression models are discussed.
Clinical correlation of chromosome 22q11.2 fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis and velocardiofacial syndrome.

Abstract Objective: To identify characteristics associated with microdeletions of chromosome 22q11.2 ascertained by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), cleft palate, or other clinical features of velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS). Design/Setting: Retrospective review of all patients entered at one tertiary-level multidisciplinary cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies panel from January 2000 to December 2003. Patients: The study consisted of 115 patients. The presence or absence of the following clinical features was documented: cleft palate (submucous and overt), VPI, cardiac anomalies, renal anomalies, small stature, characteristic facies, developmental delay, psychiatric dysfunction, and family history. Main Outcome Measure: Correlation between presence or absence of clinical features of VCFS and presence or absence of 22q11.2 microdeletion by FISH analysis. Results: Of the 16 patients (13.9%) who demonstrated 22q11.2 microdelet...
Motivating learning, by Hadfield, J., & Dörnyei, Z.

Reviewed by Maria Villalobos-BuehnerRider Universitymvillalobos@rider.eduThe area of language-learning motivation has experienced a recent increase in studies that develop the dialogue from the wel...
FTIR Imaging for Chemically Sensitive, High Throughput Analysis of Combinatorial Libraries

We are currently developing a method for the analysis of combinatorial libraries that will provide highly detailed, chemically specific information simultaneously from all library members. This method is highly sensitive and can be used in situ and under realistic reaction conditions.
Structural Organization in Self-Assembled Monolayers

Computer simulation molecular dynamics calculations have been used to investigate the behavior of monolayers of long-chain molecules tethered to various substrates. Specifically, we are interested in quasi-two-dimensional overlayers of long-chain thiols that can be prepared by self-assembly from solution on to well-characterized substrates, such as gold or silver. The eventual aim is to understand the extent to which the underlying substrate can influence the chain packing and the ways in which different polar terminal groups can alter the physical properties of the monolayer. The motivation for this study is that it complements experimental programs currently underway to study organic thin films.
Abstract TP56: Insight Into Human Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Acute Stroke: A Voxel-Based MRI Analysis of Tissue Fate

Background: Reperfusion is characterized by initial restriction of blood supply followed by subsequent vascular restoration and concomitant reoxygenation of downstream tissue. In spite of mitigatin...
Abstract 4432: Pancreatic normal duct epithelial and cancer cells express an autocrine catecholamine loop that is activated by the α3, 5 and 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in developed countries. Smoking is an established risk factor for this malignancy but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous reports have provided evidence that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and beta-adrenergic receptors (α-ARs) stimulate the growth and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. But a potential cooperation of these two receptor families in the regulation of pancreatic cancer has not been studied to date. Using two pancreatic cancer cell lines and immortalized pancreatic duct epithelia in vitro, our current data show, that all three cell lines synthesized and released the catecholamine neurotransmitters noradrenaline and adrenaline upon exposure to nicotine and that this activity was regulated by the α3, 5 & 7-nAChRs. In accord with the established function of these catecholamines as α-AR agonists, nicotine-induced cell proliferation was blocked by the α-AR antagonist propranolol. Nicotine-induced proliferation was also abolished by the α7-nAChR antagonist α-bungarotoxin and catecholamine production in response to nicotine was blocked by α3, 5 or 7-nAChR gene knockdown. Moreover, our results show that the nicotinic agonists acetylcholine, nicotine, and its nitrosated carcinogenic derivative NNK induced the phosphorylation of CREB, ERK, Src and AKT and that those responses were inhibited by the beta-blocker, propranolol. Our findings identify this hitherto unknown autocrine catecholamine loop as an important regulatory cascade in pancreatic cancer that may prove a promising new target for cancer intervention. Supported by R01CA042829 and R01CA130888 with the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4432. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4432
Influence of the Gate Bias and Temperature on Positive Charge Generation in TFT Gate-Quality Amorphous Silicon Nitride Films

We report on the illumination time dependence of the generation of positive charge in gate-quality nitrogen-rich amorphous silicon nitride films subjected to sub-bandgap illumination at different temperature in vacuum. The influence of film thickness and gate bias applied during illumination on the generation of positive charge is also described. We have found that a stretched-exponential function, which characterizes dispersive charge transport in silicon nitride, gives the best description of our experimental results.
Recurrent inguinal hernia.

The incidence of recurrent hernia after surgical repair, which is the ultimate criterion of the efficacy of current methods of management, is far higher than is often believed. Reasons for lack of agreement among various authors are studied, and possible causes for recurrence are explored.
The Call to Social and Political Action

The national mood of hostility towards change was strong in England after the French Revolution. There were fears that any deviations from the norms were precursors of further destructive revolutionary action. If changes were needed it was not the institutions that should be altered but the individuals and the society made up of those individuals. Furthermore, all social reforms should be carefully controlled. The best way of doing this, believed contemporary Britons, was to establish associations that conformed to strict patterns of organization, with modes of behavior and leadership directed by so-called responsible members of society — such as bishops and government officials — who could be trusted not to stray too far from established norms.
Meta-metallic coils and resonators: Methods for high Q-value resonant geometries

A novel method of decreasing ohmic losses and increasing Q-value in metallic resonators at high frequencies is presented. The method overcomes the skin-depth limitation of rf current flow cross section. The method uses layers of conductive foil of thickness less than a skin depth and capacitive gaps between layers. The capacitive gaps can substantially equalize the rf current flowing in each layer, resulting in a total cross-sectional dimension for rf current flow many times larger than a skin depth. Analytic theory and finite-element simulations indicate that, for a variety of structures, the Q-value enhancement over a single thick conductor approaches the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth if the total number of layers is greater than one-third the square of the ratio of total conductor thickness to skin depth. The layer number requirement is due to counter-currents in each foil layer caused by the surrounding rf magnetic fields. We call structures that exhibit this type of Q-enhancement “meta-metallic.” In addition, end effects due to rf magnetic fields wrapping around the ends of the foils can substantially reduce the Q-value for some classes of structures. Foil structures with Q-values that are substantially influenced by such end effects are discussed as are five classes of structures that are not. We focus particularly on 400 MHz, which is the resonant frequency of protons at 9.4 T. Simulations at 400 MHz are shown with comparison to measurements on fabricated structures. The methods and geometries described here are general for magnetic resonance and can be used at frequencies much higher than 400 MHz.
The Challenge and Opportunity for MOOCs for Teaching Writing

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been touted as alternative approaches to face-to-face teaching and the design of learning spaces. MOOCs allow teachers to rearrange traditional classroom activities and use technologies sometimes in new and different ways to provide new ways of teaching. Recently, they have been implemented for the teaching of writing to provide greater access to these courses. I examine the possibilities and challenges of using these technologically-enhanced spaces for teaching composition. I first discuss the differences in the designs of MOOCs and how these approaches were applied to teaching writing. Based on my own participation in composition MOOCs as well as a variety of other MOOCs since 2008, I introduce three composition MOOCs, which although designed as L1 courses, involved thousands of participants with varying backgrounds from all over the world. I discuss how these MOOCs responded to challenges and how the participants could negotiate their own learning, such as by choosing which assignments they wanted to complete or determining how much peer review they wanted. I conclude that these courses demonstrate how MOOCs have created new learning spaces that can influence face-to-face approaches to teaching writing.
Getting older, getting better? Towards understanding positive personality development across adulthood

This chapter addresses the question whether and, if so, how personality matures across adulthood. To this end, we first clarify the terminology and integrate the different notions of positive personality development in an overarching framework. This framework proposes that there are two different types of positive personality development: adjustment and growth. Adjustment involves desirable change toward an individual’s greater functionality in the face of developmental tasks and social norms, indexed by characteristics such as Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability. Growth involves transcending functionality for oneself and striving toward insight and improving the common good, indexed by personality characteristics such as Openness and personal growth. Adjustment and growth are associated with differences on many levels of psychological functioning. We review empirical findings that reveal different lifespan trajectories for adjustment and growth: whereas adjustment on average increases across most of the adult lifespan, growth tends to remain stable or even decrease after midlife. We delineate contextual and personal predictors and mechanisms that drive these two positive lifespan trajectories of personality. Finally, we discuss avenues for future research such as accounting for sociocultural factors and individuals’ goals to better understand how adjustment and growth can be promoted.
A revival of Indian summer monsoon rainfall since 2002

A significant reduction in summer monsoon rainfall has been observed in northern central India during the second half of the twentieth century, threatening water security and causing widespread socio-economic impacts. Here, using various observational data sets, we show that monsoon rainfall has increased in India at 1.34 mm d−1 decade−1 since 2002. This apparent revival of summer monsoon precipitation is closely associated with a favourable land–ocean temperature gradient, driven by a strong warming signature over the Indian subcontinent and slower rates of warming over the Indian Ocean. The continental Indian warming is attributed to a reduction of low cloud due to decreased ocean evaporation in the Arabian Sea, and thus decreased moisture transport to India. Global climate models fail to capture the observed rainfall revival and corresponding trends of the land–ocean temperature gradient, with implications for future projections of the Indian monsoon. Since ∼1950, a significant reduction in Indian monsoon rainfall has been observed. Here, it is shown that land–ocean temperature contrasts have produced more favourable monsoon conditions since 2002, reviving summer monsoon rainfall over India.
Chemical Interaction among Termite-Associated Microbes

Bacteria and fungi in shared environments compete with one another for common substrates, and this competition typically involves microbially-produced small molecules. An investigation of one shared environmental niche, the carton material of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus, identified the participants on one of these molecular exchanges. Molecular characterization of several termite-associated actinobacteria strains identified eleven known antimicrobial metabolites that may aid in protecting the C. formosanus colony from pathogenic fungal infections. One particular actinobacterial-derived small molecule, bafilomycin C1, elicited a strong chemical response from Trichoderma harzianum, a common soil saprophyte. Upon purification and structure elucidation, three major fungal metabolites were identified, t22-azaphilone, cryptenol, and homodimericin A. Both t22-azaphilone and homodimericin A are strongly upregulated, 123- and 38-fold, respectively, when exposed to bafilomycin C1, suggesting each play a role in defending T. harzianum from the toxic effect of bafilomycin C1.
Identification of a "VTE-rich" population in pediatrics - Critically ill children with central venous catheters.

Abstract Background The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rising among inpatients in US hospitals, especially among kids with central venous catheters (CVCs) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Objectives To identify a sub-group of “VTE-rich” population among PICU children, and to assess the effect of VTE on morbidity and mortality. Methods Data was extracted from a multicenter Virtual PICU Database, or VPS, for children with a CVC and presence of a VTE. The primary outcome variable was all cause mortality and secondary outcome measure was prolonged mechanical ventilation. Primary diagnoses and Pediatric risk of mortality 2 (PIM 2) score were also recorded. Results The database identified 158,299 PICU patients who had a CVC. A total of 1602 patients had VTE (103 per 10,000 PICU patients). Multivariate analysis showed increased risk of VTE in patients who were Conclusions Critically ill children with CVC have a significant risk of developing VTE. Identification of the above “VTE-rich” population may aid in design of clinical trials aimed at prevention of VTE among hospitalized PICU children.
Ripple Effects, Long-Run Relationship and Dynamic Corrections among Interest Rate Swap Spreads

This study tests the ripple effects, long-run convergence, and dynamic correlation structures of swap spreads of varying maturities. The study employs the ARDL bounds-testing approach and the asymmetric DCC methodology on daily data spanning 15 years. The results largely support the presence of the ripple effect and the long-run convergence of swap spreads of differing maturities. However, there are significant variations in the strength and speed of adjustment towards long-run equilibrium relationship among diverse maturities. Most pairs of swap spreads exhibit strong, symmetric, highly persistent, and time-varying dynamic co-movements, suggesting interdependence and information flow among the swap spreads of varied maturities.
Modeling expertise and adaptability in virtual operator models

Abstract To advance construction machine design and testing, model-based design and virtual operator models (VOMs) can be used to explore machine designs virtually. However, current VOM efforts have been restricted to mimicking known trajectories, recorded from actual machine operations. Previous work developed a VOM to use in closed-loop simulation with an excavator model. To advance the utility of model-based machine testing, the fidelity of the VOM was enhanced along three lines: 1) representation of expert work cycle operation, 2) adaptation to changes in work site environment and 3) adaptation to changes when operating different machines. To represent expertise, work cycle task overlap was modeled – a hallmark of expert human operator performance. A mental model was developed to adapt to changes in the work site environment. Finally, the VOM was generalized to adapt to changes in excavator dimensions, eliminating the need for time intensive “tuning” typical of trajectory-dependent models. Three case studies demonstrated task overlap modeled productivity gains typical of expert operators, VOM control outputs adapted as trench depth and pile height increased, and the VOM adapted to different excavator models automatically. An additional case study compared VOM results to human-recorded data. This work advances the ability to integrate human expertise and adaptability in virtual operator modeling, resulting in a more realistic simulation of operations.
Effects of Halogen and Hydrogen Bonding on the Electronics of a Conjugated Rotor

The electronic properties of a pyrazine-containing arylene ethynylene unit are influenced by hydrogen bond and halogen bond donors that are held in proximity of the pyrazine rotor. These interactions are evident with iodine- and bromine-centered halogen bonds and O–H- and C–H-based hydrogen bonds. Bathochromic shifts of UV–vis and fluorescence signals are the best indicators of this intramolecular attraction. The effects can be attenuated in solvents that are less favorable for intramolecular halogen or hydrogen bonding, such as 2-propanol, and amplified in solvents that are supportive, such as toluene. Intramolecular attractions promote planarity in the pyrazine ethynylene system, likely increasing the effective conjugation of the unsaturated backbone. Additionally, computations at the B3LYP and M062X levels of theory using 6-311++G(2d,p) and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets suggest that the Lewis acidity of the halogen and hydrogen atoms influences electronic behavior even in the absence of conformational constra...
Carpal Pronation and Supination Changes in the Unstable Wrist.

Background Little is known about changes in scaphoid and lunate supination and pronation following scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) injury. Information on these changes may help explain why some SLIL reconstructions have failed and help in the development of new techniques. Purpose To determine if following simulated SLIL injury there was an increase in scaphoid pronation and lunate supination and to determine if concurrently there was an increase in the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) force. Materials and Methods Scaphoid and lunate motion were measured before and after sectioning of the SLIL and two volar ligaments in 22 cadaver wrists, and before and after sectioning of the SLIL and two dorsal ligaments in 15 additional wrists. Each wrist was dynamically moved through wrist flexion/extension, radioulnar deviation, and a dart-throwing motion. Changes in the ECU force were recorded during each wrist motion. Results Scaphoid pronation and lunate supination significantly increased following ligamentous sectioning during each motion. There were significant differences in the amount of change in lunate motion, but not in scaphoid motion, between the two groups of sectioned ligaments. Greater percentage ECU force was required following ligamentous sectioning to achieve the same wrist motions. Conclusion Carpal supination/pronation changed with simulated damage to the scapholunate stabilizers. This may be associated with the required increases in the ECU force. Clinical Relevance In reconstructing the SLIL, one should be aware of the possible need to correct scaphoid pronation and lunate supination that occur following injury. This may be more of a concern when the dorsal stabilizers are injured.
A31 Session 9: Women’s Health

Objectives To summarize natural history of fibroadenoma and review evidence for role of cryoablation in the treatment of fibroadenoma. Findings Fibroadenoma is the most common benign solid mass in young women. Treatment can range from watchful waiting, surgical resection or minimally invasive intervention. Despite reassurance of the benign natural history, a majority of women elect surgical resection that is associated with a higher cost of care. In addition, surgical resection can result in undesirable intraparenchymal and aesthetic scarring. An alternative treatment option for fibroadenomas smaller than 4 cm is minimally invasive intervention with image-guided cryoablation that is efficacious and safe. Additional benefits include lower cost of care, excellent cosmesis and high patient and physician satisfaction with the procedure. Conclusion Current evidence demonstrates cryoablation is a safe and effective treatment for fibroadenomas. Cryoablation should be considered as an option for women desiring definitive treatment for fibroadenomas smaller than 4 cm.
Eco and the Text of the Communist Manifesto

Eco in the Manifesto follows some of the cultural factors that determine the text at hand, its style, its rhetoric, its many historical evolutions included—such cultural events function as words when reading in a semiotic mode. We read the Manifesto appreciating its rhetorical gags, and forget how these are carefully prepared signs that unfold in words as composites of the text. What significs and later semiotics taught us, namely to be attentive for the unfolding of meanings, is repeated when the Manifesto text comes onstage. Its challenge is in the multiple meanings of words used in the text, is in where it hits the reader most, is in where it causes questions and raises doubts. Apart from its genuinely poetic capacity to invent memorable metaphors, Eco shows how the Manifesto remains a masterpiece of political (but not only political) oratory, and it ought to be studied at school along with Cicero’s Invectives against Catiline and Mark Antony’s speech over Julius Caesar’s body in Shakespeare, especially as it is not impossible, given Marx’s familiarity with classical culture, that he had in mind these very texts when writing it. The notion of text as act needs a completion of the traditional emphasis on words, and perhaps even signs! There are no texts without words and/or signs—but that is not all, and there is more, Marx would have said.
RAT VIRUS AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE. IV. THE AGED HAMSTER.

Abstract In 12- to 18-month-old hamsters which had been inoculated with rat virus at 5 days of age, the following changes were observed: 1. 1. Odontogenic “tumors” were present within the body of the mandible and about the apical portions of the incisors in the maxilla. 2. 2. The roots of the first molar were thickened by a large number of concentric layers of osteocementum. No true periodontal membrane was present. The roots were separated from the surrounding alveolar bone by a thin band of connective tissue. 3. 3. In all of the animals the roots of the second molars were short, thick, and composed largely of an osteocementum. Severe periodontal involvement with loss of half or more of the surrounding alveolar bone occurred in one half of the animals. 4. 4. The third molars, with the exception of those engulfed by the odontogenic “tumors” or growths, demonstrated severe alveolar bone loss, which resulted in exposure of approximately three-fourths of the root length. The apical third of the root was bulbous and consisted of many concentric layers of osteocementum. In the control animals the findings were as follows: 1. 1. Odontogenic growths were never seen. 2. 2. Periodontal disease was not a common finding, but it did occur in 10 per cent of the animals. The periodontal lesions, when seen, were limited to the interproximal areas and were associated with gross impaction of hair, food, and debris. 3. 3. The roots, with the exception of the apical portion, were covered with a thin, uniform layer of noncellular cementum. The apical portion of the root was covered by an osteocementum but lacked concentric layers and was not bulbous.
Intrinsic and extrinsic control of the balance between stem cell self-renewal and differentiation

Stem cells in adult tissues have the capacity to self-renew and generate differentiated progeny that replenish lost or damaged cells. Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells (GSCs) are an effective ...
Influences of temperature and oxygen upon habitat selection by bullfrog tadpoles and three species of freshwater fishes in two Alabama strip mine ponds

We studied the annual distributions of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and four aquatic vertebrates in two relatively young ponds (Road Pond and Strip Mine Pond) formed by strip mining operations in Alabama. On the basis of the limnological data, Road Pond was classified as warm polymictic and Strip Mine Pond as warm monomictic. In Strip Mine Pond, the summertime distribution of fish (bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus) was clearly related to oxygen availability, with fish avoiding severely hypoxic or anoxic water found at depths >2 m. However, bullfrog tadpoles commonly occurred in water at depths ≥ 2 m, where the PO2 was at or below their critical O2 tension. Tadpoles occurring at these depths switched from facultative air-breathing to obligate air-breathing and may have been using these depths as a refugium. In Road Pond, fishes (fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, and golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas) congregated during summertime in shallower waters. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles preferred the deeper portions of Road Pond. The contrasting distributions of tadpoles in the two ponds are potentially explainable on the basis of predation pressure.
Some Zeta Functions Attached to Γ\G/K

In an epochal paper [28] Selberg introduced his famous trace formula, and to a lattice Γ in G= SL(2, R) and a finite-dimensional unitary representation T of Γ he assigned a certain remarkable analytic function ZΓ(•, T) (of one complex variable) whose zeros, for example, capture both topological and spectral properties of the space form Γ\G/K where K= SO(2). ZΓ(•, T), now called the Selberg zeta function, satisfies a functional equation s → 1 → s (involving Harish-Chandra’s c-function) and, up to finite exceptions involving the possible occurrence of complementary series representations of G in L 2 (Γ\G), Z Γ(•,T) satisfies a Riemann hypothesis: its “nontrivial” zeros have real part equal ½.
The Evasive Enemy: Insights into the Virulence and Epidemiology of the Emerging Attaching and Effacing Pathogen Escherichia albertii

ABSTRACT The diarrheic attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogen Escherichia albertii was first isolated from infants in Bangladesh in 1991, although the bacterium was initially classified as Hafnia alvei. Subsequent genetic and biochemical interrogation of these isolates raised concerns about their initial taxonomic placement. It was not until 2003 that these isolates were reassigned to the novel taxon Escherichia albertii because they were genetically more closely related to E. coli, although they had diverged sufficiently to warrant a novel species name. Unfortunately, new isolates continue to be mistyped as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) owing to shared traits, most notably the ability to form A/E lesions. Consequently, E. albertii remains an underappreciated A/E pathogen, despite multiple reports demonstrating that many provisional EPEC and EHEC isolates incriminated in disease outbreaks are actually E. albertii. Metagenomic studies on dozens of E. albertii isolates reveal a genetic architecture that boasts an arsenal of candidate virulence factors to rival that of its better-characterized cousins, EPEC and EHEC. Beyond these computational comparisons, studies addressing the regulation, structure, function, and mechanism of action of its repertoire of virulence factors are lacking. Thus, the paucity of knowledge about the epidemiology, virulence, and antibiotic resistance of E. albertii, coupled with its misclassification and its ability to develop multidrug resistance in a single step, highlights the challenges in combating this emerging pathogen. This review seeks to synthesize our current but incomplete understanding of the biology of E. albertii.
Multi-Spectral Satellite Image Analysis for Feature Identification and Change Detection VAST Challenge 2017: Honorable Mention for Good Facilitation of Single Image Analysis

Satellite images are helpful in remote sensing of land features. However, such multi-spectral images cannot be displayed using readily available imaging tools. We developed a tool in Processing that is able to read in multi-spectral images and display each band as a grayscale image. This tool also allows for mapping of any of the bands to red, green or blue channel of the displayed image. In this paper, we describe how such tool can be used in identifying land features as well as assist in finding changes over time. We used our tool to successfully solve the VAST challenge 2017 mini-challenge 3.
Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (PIPJ) Arthrodesis with a Poly-etheretherketone (PEEK) Implant

The relevant pathomechanics that have led to digital contracture have already been discussed in a comprehensive manner in previous chapters. The focus of this case presentation is dedicated to the treatment of the deformity via arthrodesis as mediated with a poly-etheretherketone (PEEK) implant. The material merits of PEEK provide significant advantages over traditional Kirschner wires (K-wires) which are detailed within this chapter. In addition to the material advantages, we will highlight the benefits and techniques for the use of a contemporary implant that we have been using since 2012. The implant is a two-component design that enhances stability and reliability of digital arthrodesis. Although more costly, clinical outcomes have been more successful and consistent as compared to the percutaneous technique. The market has been flooded with digital implants that have emerged in recent years with many implants gaining significant acceptance. Although there are significant differences in these implants, the fact remains that if the cheap and simple K-wire approach was adequate, then why have so many implants emerged and remained relevant?
Electron Reflectometry for Measuring Nanostructures on Opaque Substrates.

Here, we present a method for measuring dimensions of nanostructures using specular reflection of electrons from an electronically opaque surface. Development of this method has been motivated by measurement needs of the semiconductor industry [International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors 2.0. Metrology (http://www.itrs2.net, accessed 5 January 2017, 2015); Vaid et al., J. Micro/Nanolithogr., MEMS, MOEMS 13, 041410 (2014); Bunday, Proc. SPIE 9778, 97780E–97780E-34 (2016); Bunday et al., Proc. SPIE 10585, 105850I (2018)], and it can also be more broadly applicable to any periodic, pseudoperiodic, or statistically stationary nanostructures or nanopatterns on an opaque substrate. In prior work [Friedman et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 123106 (2017); Wu et al., U.S. patent 9,390,888 (12 July 2016)], it was demonstrated through the presentation of proof of concept experiments and simulated examples that Reflective Small Angle Electron Scattering (RSAES) can meet certain dimensional metrology requirements of the semiconductor industry. In RSAES, an entire reflected scattering pattern is measured, with the scattered electrons being of primary interest. Later, in the process of further simulating RSAES, it was serendipitously discovered that dimensional measurements using reflected electrons might be greatly simplified by Electron Reflectometry (ER), whereby the intensity of the specularly reflected electron beam is measured and the scattered beams are ignored [Friedman and Wu, U.S. patent application 2019/0057834 A1 (21 February 2019)]. This innovation may allow faster and cheaper development and deployment or at the very least provide an alternate pathway to exploit the phenomenon of reflected electrons for the dimensional measurements. Here, we discuss how ER complements existing dimensional measurement techniques and show simulated applications with an emphasis on defect detection and linewidth measurements.