cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF SURGICAL TRAUMA ON RAT TUNICA ALBUGINEA

AbstractPurpose: Increased TGF-beta 1 protein expression in tunica albuginea has been found to be associated with Peyronie's disease. The present study is designed to investigate whether surgical trauma induces TGF-beta up-regulation and histological changes in rat penis.Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 24) underwent incision and suture repair of the tunica albuginea of the penis. The second group (n = 8) received sham surgery (incision of the penile skin and underlying fascia) as the control group. The trauma-induced group was divided into four subgroups in which the rats were euthanized at 6 hours (n = 6), 1 day (n = 6), 3 days (n = 6), and 8 weeks (n = 6). Two sham-operated (control) animals were also euthanized at each of the above time points. All tunical tissues from the trauma-induced and sham-operated rats were collected and examined histologically using Trichrome and Hart elastic fiber stain. Electron microscopy wa...
The arrow and plott independence conditions

Abstract This paper shows that in a variety of standard economic models the independence axioms of Arrow and Plott are equivalent if social preference is continuous. Therefore, any social choice impossibility theorem that includes continuity of social preference and Arrow's independence axiom in its hypothesis will go through when Arrow's axiom is replaced by the Plott independence axiom. In general, Plott's axiom is much weaker.
An inverse problem for the heat equation

We prove that we can uniquely recover the coefficient of a one dimensional heat equation from a finite set of measurements and provide a constructive procedure for its recovery. The algorithm is based on the well known Gelfand-Levitan-Gasymov inverse spectral theory of Sturm-Liouville operators. By using a hot spot, as a first initial condition, we determine nearly all except maybe a finite number of spectral data. A counting procedure helps detect the number of missing data which is then unraveled by a finite number of measurements.
Diffractive filter design for SLMs in pattern recognition systems

In contrast to imaging and interconnect applications, which require fixed diffractive optical elements, applications such as optical image processing and target recognition require diffractive elements that can be altered dynamically in real-time and, therefore, require the use of spatial light modulators (SLMs). Present SLM technology, however, has limited modulation and space-bandwidth which affects system performance. We present techniques for designing diffractive filters for display on SLMs in coherent and incoherent pattern recognition systems.
Untreated aortic valve stenosis identified at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting: thresholds associated with adverse prognosis

OBJECTIVES: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a Class I indication at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Management of less-than-severe AS in patients undergoing CABG is uncertain however, because the thresholds at which untreated AS impacts long-term outcome are unclear. METHODS: We identified 312 patients who underwent isolated CABG between 1993 and 2006 with mild or moderate AS [aortic valve area (AVA) 1– 2c m 2 ], and matched them to patients undergoing CABG alone during the same period with similar characteristics but without AS (AVA >2 cm 2 ). Long-term survival after CABG and its determinants were analysed using Cox proportional hazards models with AVR as a time-dependent covariate. RESULTS: Late survival was lower in patients with untreated moderate AS (12 years 23 ± 5.1%) versus mild (42 ± 3.8%) or no AS (38 ± 3.3%) (P= 0.01). Adjusting for age, ejection fraction, heart failure, creatinine, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and interval AVR, moderate AS independently predicted higher mortality [hazard rate (HR) 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49–2.73; P< 0.001]; whereas incremental risk was insignificant for patients with mild AS (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.85–1.66; P= 0.33). Further stratification showed that highest late postoperative mortality occurred with an AVA of 1–1.25 cm 2 (adjusted HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.57–3.82; P< 0.001), while risk was intermediate with an AVA of 1.25–1.5 cm 2 (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.28–2.61; P= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Untreated moderate AS is an independent determinant of excess late mortality following isolated CABG, and mortality risk increases with decreasing AVA. Those with moderate-to-severe AS (AVA 1–1.25 cm 2 ) have more than 2-fold greater long-term mortality compared with those without AS. These data define AS severity thresholds for clinical trials aimed at defining whether valve intervention might mitigate this risk.
Neuromuscular Control of Childbirth-Prepared Women During the First Stage of Labor

To evaluate the neuromuscular control of Lamaze-prepared women during the first stage of labor and to identify the factors which influenced control, 94 women were studied. The women were categorized into two groups: class-taught and self-taught. A tool was devised to evaluate neuromuscular control. The study revealed that class-taught women exhibited a significantly higher degree of neuromuscular control, more frequent practice patterns, and a greater ability to make goal-directed statements about their labor than the self-taught women. The data also demonstrated an association between practice and control and goal directedness and control.
Development of molecular simulation methods to accurately represent protein-surface interactions: The effect of pressure and its determination for a system with constrained atoms.

When performing molecular dynamics simulations for a system with constrained (fixed) atoms, traditional isobaric algorithms (e.g., NPT simulation) often cannot be used. In addition, the calculation of the internal pressure of a system with fixed atoms may be highly inaccurate due to the nonphysical nature of the atomic constraints and difficulties in accurately defining the volume occupied by the unconstrained atoms in the system. The inability to properly set and control pressure can result in substantial problems for the accurate simulation of condensed-phase systems if the behavior of the system (e.g., peptide/protein adsorption) is sensitive to pressure. To address this issue, the authors have developed an approach to accurately determine the internal pressure for a system with constrained atoms. As the first step in this method, a periodically extendable portion of the mobile phase of the constrained system (e.g., the solvent atoms) is used to create a separate unconstrained system for which the pressure can be accurately calculated. This model system is then used to create a pressure calibration plot for an intensive local effective virial parameter for a small volume cross section or “slab” of the system. Using this calibration plot, the pressure of the constrained system can then be determined by calculating the virial parameter for a similarly sized slab of mobile atoms. In this article, the authors present the development of this method and demonstrate its application using the CHARMM molecular simulation program to characterize the adsorption behavior of a peptide in explicit water on a hydrophobic surface whose lattice spacing is maintained with atomic constraints. The free energy of adsorption for this system is shown to be dramatically influenced by pressure, thus emphasizing the importance of properly maintaining the pressure of the system for the accurate simulation of protein-surface interactions.
An Experimentally Validated Surrogate Fuel for the Combustion Kinetics of S-8, a Synthetic Paraffinic Jet Aviation Fuel

A surrogate fuel designed to emulate the gas phase chemical kinetic combustion phenomena of this target S-8 fuel is formulated in an a priori manner. The surrogate fuel is composed of n-dodecane/iso-octane and its performance is evaluated by the measurement of the same combustion phenomena as the target fuel under identical conditions. The performance of available kinetic models for S-8 surrogates is evaluated by analysis of their computations of this experimental data. Furthermore, an experimental study evaluating the significance of weakly isomerized alkanes as important components for surrogate fuels is presented.
Organization of local axon collaterals of efferent projection neurons in rat visual cortex.

We have studied the laminar origins of local long-range connections within rat primary visual cortex (area 17), by using retrograde tracing of nerve cell bodies with fluorescent markers. Injections throughout the thickness of cortex produce distinct laminar labeling patterns which indicate that a substantial number of cells in layers 2/3, 5, and 6 have wide local axon collateral arbors, while the local arbors of layer 4 cells are much narrower. Double labeling experiments which combined area 17 injections with injections into different projection targets of area 17 (opposite area 17, area 18a, and area 18b) show that many cortico-cortically projecting cells make widespread projections within area 17. In contrast, the overwhelming majority of subcortically projecting cells have narrow collateral arbors within area 17. Anterograde tracing of local projections within areas 17 with the lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin shows an extensive system of horizontally running fibers which terminate in distinct 0.15–0.25 mm wide clusters up to 1.8 mm from the injection site. On horizontal sections the termination pattern resembles a closely spaced lattice. The results indicate that cortico-cortically projecting cells provide for long-range interactions between distant points of the visuotopic map, while subcortically projecting cells mediate information within a cortical column. Interestingly, subcortically projecting cells differ functionally from cortico-cortically projecting cells in that they are not orientation selective (Klein et al., Neurosci. 17:57–78, '86; Mangini and Pearlman, J. Comp. Neurol 193:203–222, '80; Simmons and Pearlman, J. Neurophysiol. 50:838–848, '83). We therefore suggest that cortico-cortically projecting cells with wide collateral arbors are orientation selective and that clustered long-range projections within area 17 connect columns with similar functional specificity.
Observations of soil cutting with blades

Abstract The failure phenomena associated with blade action in soil have been observed with two-dimensional glass box apparatus for different blade configurations and different soil types. The three soils used were (1) a medium-dense, dry Ottawa sand, (2) a silty clay, and (3) a plastic clay. The situation examined were (1) a vertical blade in all soils, (2) a blade inclined 45 deg to the rear in silty clay and plastic clay, (3) an L-shaped blade with horizontal cutting edge in all soils, and (4) a blade inclined 20 deg forward in sand. A series of photographs were taken to show the soil deformations and mode of failure in each case. In sand the failure patterns generally resemble those prescribed by ‘passive earth pressure’ theories, but the failure surfaces did not intersect the soil surface at the angle of 45 - o/2 deg indicated in the theories. After each failure occurred addition blade movement was required before the next one formed. The inclination of these successive failure surfaces decreased due to build up to overburden with blade movement. The soil particle adjacent to the blade remained stationary, the slippage occurring in the soil. In silty clay and plastic clay, passive shear failure occurred for the vertical blade and a tensile failure or splitting due to the uplift for the inclined blade. The passive shear failure sursfaces were approximately plane and slippage of the soil occurred along the blade. The failures were discontinuous and the inclination changed as for the sand. The L -shaped blade initiated a tensile crack and then a shear failure through the rupture zone after the vertical part of the blade came into contact with the soil.
A decision analysis of anesthesia management for cataract surgery

Abstract PURPOSE: To compare the trade-offs in cost and preference of various anesthesia management strategies for cataract surgery. METHODS: Six strategies, differing in sedation, local anesthetic, and monitoring approach, were chosen for comparison. For each strategy, potential complications, and conversions to different anesthesia approaches were modeled. A panel of physicians and anesthetists, well versed in the literature and practice of the anesthesia management of cataract surgery, assigned preference values to the strategies and potential outcomes (0 to 1 scale). Probability estimates were obtained from a study of 19,557 cataract surgeries and from the panel. Cost estimates were derived from several sources. The model was analyzed to determine the strategies associated with the highest expected preference and lowest expected cost. RESULTS: The strategy associated with the highest net preference was intravenous sedation with block anesthesia and an anesthesiologist present throughout the case. The expected net preference for this strategy was 19% greater than the net preference for the next most preferred strategy, oral sedation with block anesthesia and an anesthesiologist on call (0.88 versus 0.74), but the expected anesthesia costs per case were much greater ($324 versus $42). Results were sensitive to plausible variation in the preference values assigned to the six initial management strategies and to the cost of topical versus block anesthesia. CONCLUSION: This analysis emphasizes that cost and preference are important considerations when choosing an anesthesia management strategy for cataract surgery. For some surgeries, substantial cost savings may be available for a small change in preference.
Biophysical modeling assessment of the drivers for plankton dynamics in dreissenid-colonized western Lake Erie

Abstract Given that phytoplankton and zooplankton communities have served as key ecological indicators of anthropogenic and other perturbations, a high-resolution Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) based Integrated Compartment Model (FVCOM-ICM) was implemented to investigate plankton dynamics with the inclusion of dreissenid invasion in Lake Erie, particularly in the most productive western basin. After identifying suitable horizontal and vertical resolutions that allowed for accurate depiction of in-lake nutrient concentrations and plankton biomass, we explored how variation in nutrient (phosphorus, nitrogen) loading and dreissenid mussel density could influence plankton dynamics. Our scenario-testing showed that western Lake Erie's phytoplankton community appeared more limited by phosphorus than nitrogen on both seasonal and interannual scales with light limitation occurring in the nearshore and Maumee River plume areas. Dreissenid mussel impacts varied temporally, with phytoplankton communities being highly influenced by dreissenid nutrient excretion at times (under low nutrient availability) and dreissenid grazing at other times (under bloom conditions). It was concluded that the effect of zooplankton predation on phytoplankton was stronger than that of dreissenid mussels, and that multiple algal groups could promote the efficiency of nutrient assimilation and the overall plankton production. Additionally, river inputs and wind-driven water circulation were important by causing heterogeneity in habitat conditions through nutrient advection and vertical mixing, and wind-induced surface waves could result in non-negligible down-wind redistribution of plankton biomass, which increased with wind/wave magnitude.
Collagen/fibrin microbeads as a delivery system for Ag-doped bioactive glass and DPSCs for potential applications in dentistry

Abstract Silver doped bioactive glass (Ag-BG) and Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) have shown promising properties for dental tissue regeneration. This study presents the fabrication and characterization of composite collagen/fibrin microbeads that aimed to incorporate and successfully deliver both Ag-BG and DPSC. Cell viability, cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo, and antibacterial properties of the systems against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans ) and Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) were evaluated. Cell viability and proliferation of DPSCs within the delivery system were found unaltered in both combinations (Beads/DPSCs and Beads/DPSCs/Ag-BG). Our results show that Ag-BG and DPSCs were successfully incorporated and proliferated within the collagen/fibrin microbeads. DPSCs continued to proliferate up to 6-weeks in cell culture but cell differentiation into odontoblast-like cells was observed only in vivo. The beads containing Ag-BG strongly inhibit bacterial growth in the experimental groups (beads alone, Beads/Ag-BG and Beads/DPSCs/Ag-BG). Our data suggests that collagen/fibrin microbead paste could have clinical applicability in the regenerative dentistry field.
Hilbert's “Grundlagen der Geometrie”

A careful analysis is made, in the light of subsequent developments, of the background, content, aim, and influence of the ten German editions of Hilbert's “Grundlagen der Geometrie”. Especial attention is given to the sources of Hilbert's ideas, the critical reactions of contemporary geometers to the first edition, the latter's connections with Hilbert's famous problems, and its role as a model for later axiomatic approaches tho the foundations of mathematics and mathematical physics.
Design optimization of the surface type gamma-ray backscatter soil density gauges using conventional components with the dual-gauge principle

Abstract The dual-gauge principle has been optimized for conventional gauge components by varying the four parameters of gamma-ray source energy, source collimation length, source-detector separation and detector efficiency spectrum in a prototype gauge to obtain a maximum quality factor. Quality factors obtained from over 400 dual-gauge combinations ranged from 0.019 to 1.344, indicating that dual-gage quality is strongly dependent on gauge design. The significance of rigid, stable construction to overall gauge performance is indicated. Optimum dual-gauge designs were achieved with quality factors at least four to five times larger than commercial gauges using the air-gap nomograph calibration.
Reconciling The Requirements Of The Science Team And The Spacecraft Engineering Team With A Realizable Optical System

Problems in the development of a suitable optical system for the imaging science payload of an interplanetary space probe are considered, taking into account the characteristics of the three categories of optical systems from which the engineer selects his system. These categories include the Catoptric or all mirror optical system, the Dioptric or all refracting optical system, and the Catadioptric system which combines elements of the other two categories. Examples of equipment selection and development in the preparation of a number of interplanetary space missions are discussed.
An Analysis of Potential Legal Liability Incurred Through Audit Expert Systems

The introduction of expert systems technology into the audit environment has opened a new avenue of auditor legal liability. This paper examines the potential impact expert systems will have on auditor liability. The presentation of this new avenue of auditors' legal liability explores both the potential for litigation under failure of auditor/expert system collaboration to yield prudent decisions and the failure to use an available expert system. The risks evolving from failure to use an available expert system include the possibility that the system could be used against the auditor in the courtroom. While case law will ultimately determine the bounds of this liability, this paper acquaints the reader with the important legal issues involved and the varied outcomes that could emerge. It should also be noted that while the specific example presented in this paper relates to the audit profession, the legal concepts are of equivalent concern to other professions enduring broad implementation of expert systems.
The distribution of hexokinase compared to cytochrome oxidase and acetylcholinesterase in the somatosensory cortex and the superior colliculus of the rat

The distribution of hexokinase, a general glycolytic enzyme, was compared to that of cytochrome oxidase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the somatosensory cortex and the superior colliculus of the rat. The vibrissal barrel fields of the adult rat contain high hexokinase and cytochrome oxidase activity and low AChE activity. In the superior colliculus, hexokinase activity was highest in cell layers and discrete foci of intense activity were observed in the deep grey layer. This distribution was different from that of both cytochrome oxidase and AChE in this structure.
Higher Aliphatic Aldehyde Polymers. V. Cyclic Trimers of C9 to C12, Normal Aliphatic Aldehydes

Abstract Cyclic trimers of n-nonaldehyde (NA), n-decaldehyde (DA), n-undecaldehyde, (UA) and n-dodecaldehyde (DDA) were prepared by reacting the individual aldehydes with protic or Lewis acids. Higher aliphatic aldehydes whose long paraffinic chains dominate the general properties of these compounds do not trimerize readily the trimers, when formed, are purified with difficulty. The cyclic trimers, characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, are exclusively the cis isomers and commonly exist in all equatorial conformations. The melting behavior of the cyclic trimers was studied by DSC. The melting endotherms and the enthalpies of fusion increase with increasing chain length. Although the melting temperatures of the cyclic trimers are similar to the melting range of the side-chain crystallization of the corresponding crystalline isotactic polyaldehydes, the transition peaks of the trimers are single peaks and much sharper than the corresponding polymer peaks.
Modeling of Complex Flows and Heat Transfer

This paper presents the numerical modeling of complex flows and heat transfer. The Finite Analytic method is used to discretize the transport equations. The diagonal Cartesian method is proposed to model fluid flows and heat transfer over complex geometries. A three-dimensional channel flow with conjugate heat transfer is simulated. By the diagonal Cartesian method and 5-point Finite Analytic scheme, a grooved channel flow and flow in a casting bank at different Reynolds numbers are modeled. Simulations by both the diagonal Cartesian method and the traditional saw-tooth Cartesian method indicates the diagonal Cartesian method improves the modeling of flows, due to the more accurate approximation of complex boundaries. Heat transfer in two-dimensional finned compact heat exchanger is also studied. An improved heat exchanger is proposed based on the numerical prediction of heat transfer.
New zero-voltage-switching half-bridge DC-DC converter and PWM control method

This paper presents a new half-bridge isolated dc-dc converter topology associated with a new PWM control method to achieve zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of all switches. Switching losses and losses related to transformer leakage inductance are significantly reduced, which provides converter with the potential to operate at higher efficiency and higher frequency. The principle of operation and features of proposed topology are illustrated and experimentally verified.
Plasmapheresis as a steroid saving procedure in bullous pemphigoid.

Background Bullous pemphigoid is an immunobullous disease affecting predominantly older patients. In severe cases, high-dose corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressants are often needed long term to control the disease. These can be associated with serious side-effects in this patient population. Objective To evaluate the benefit of plasmapheresis as a steroid saving agent in a cohort of 10 patients. Results Plasmapheresis was effective as a steroid saving therapy. All patients went into remission with a lower daily dosage of oral prednisone at 3 and 6 months postplasmapheresis. Two patients had side-effects from therapy that, while significant, did not interfere with long-term improvement in their disease. Eight patients had circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies reactive with bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, and three of these had circulating antibodies reactive with bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 on Western immunoblot. Conclusions Plasmapheresis was an effective steroid sparing therapy in these patients. Due to its high cost and potential morbidity, plasmapheresis should not be recommended as routine therapy for bullous pemphigoid, but it is a useful adjunct in resistant cases.
Thinking about Culture

I have a confession to make. I don't really get the "Sociology of Culture." I write these words painfully aware that Sociological Forum is generally regarded as being among the most "cultural" of the major soci ology journals. Our esteemed editor and fearless leader, the inimitable Karen Cerulo, is a prominent sociologist of culture. In fact, on a few occasions, I myself have been described as a "cultural sociologist." That's flattering. It puts me in admirable company. But I am not sure what it means.
Effect of heat, radiation and pH on mouse mammary tumor cells.

Abstract Experiments were done in vitro with cells derived from a C3H mouse mammary adenocarcinoma (MADCAP-37) to determine the influence of pH and sequencing on hyperthermia induced radiosensitization. The heat treatment was one hour at 42.5°C in a precision controlled water bath. The heat treatment did not significantly reduce cell survival. Five Gy of x radiation was given at variable intervals from two hours before to two hours following heating. Survival curves under acid pH (6.4–6.7) and alkaline pH (7.2–7.4) were obtained for selected intervals, corresponding to points of interest in the sequencing study. Survival was greater for irradiation alone at acid pH than at alkaline pH. The greatest cell killing occurred when irradiation and hyperthermia were given simultaneously at either alkaline or acid pH. At alkaline pH, survival increased as the interval increased between heating and irradiation. At acid pH, radiation survival remained low for as much as two hours following heating. If tumors are at acid pH, the greatest differential effect should be obtained for irradiation following heating because cells at alkaline pH (normal) had approximately 10 times greater survival. Vascular changes caused by heating might alter that response.
Constructing Elementary Teachers' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practical Knowledge Through an Inquiry-Based Elementary Science Course

This study examines inservice elementary school teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and practical knowledge toward inquiry-based science instruction and the influence of an inquiry-based elementary science course on teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and practical knowledge regarding inquiry. Both surveys and a case study were administered to the 14 elementary school teachers before and after completing a three-credit elementary science methods course that was inquiry-based. The findings showed that the teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and practical knowledge about inquiry were clearly influenced by the course. Through this course, the teachers developed fairly positive beliefs and attitudes that promoted inquiry instruction. The majority of participants also improved their knowledge and skills of conducting inquiry as they successfully practiced inquiry-instruction in their science teachings.
Native bees mediate long-distance pollen dispersal in a shade coffee landscape mosaic

Coffee farms are often embedded within a mosaic of agriculture and forest fragments in the world's most biologically diverse tropical regions. Although shade coffee farms can potentially support native pollinator communities, the degree to which these pollinators facilitate gene flow for native trees is unknown. We examined the role of native bees as vectors of gene flow for a reproductively specialized native tree, Miconia affinis, in a shade coffee and remnant forest landscape mosaic. We demonstrate extensive cross-habitat gene flow by native bees, with pollination events spanning more than 1,800 m. Pollen was carried twice as far within shade coffee habitat as in nearby forest, and trees growing within shade coffee farms received pollen from a far greater number of sires than trees within remnant forest. The study shows that shade coffee habitats support specialized native pollinators that enhance the fecundity and genetic diversity of remnant native trees.
Beyond the Circumplex Model: I. A Moratorium on Curvilinearity†

The developmental history of Olson's Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems, and companion measure, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), are reviewed with respect to structure, definition, and theory. Cohesion and adaptability are analyzed as multivariate constructs consisting of linear variables that interact in a confounding, systemic fashion. The theory of curvilinearity — the idea that the model's two key dimensions of cohesion and adaptability form a curvilinear rather than linear relationship with effective family functioning — is rejected.
Planning an efficient closed-loop supply chain network: a unified single-phase approach

Economic incentives, government regulations and customer perspective on environmental consciousness (EC) are driving more and more companies into the product recovery business, which forms a reverse supply chain. The combination of traditional/forward supply chain and reverse supply chain is called a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC). A supply chain involves three stages of planning, viz., strategic, tactical and operational. Strategic planning primarily deals with the design (what products should be processed/produced in what facilities etc) of the supply chain that is typically a long-range planning performed every few years when a supply chain needs to expand its capabilities (Pochampally and Gupta, 2005). Tactical planning involves the optimization of flow of goods and services across the supply chain and is typically a medium-range planning performed on a monthly basis. Finally, Operational planning is a short-range planning that deals with the day-to-day production planning and inventory issues on the factory floor. In this paper, we formulate a single-phase linear physical programming model in designing a closed-loop supply chain. This model when solved addresses simultaneously the critical issues, mentioned above, in the strategic and tactical planning of a CLSC
Use of the Real Estate Market to Establish Light Rail Station Catchment Areas

Considerable literature reports the price effects of light rail transit accessibility on residential properties built principally for owner-occupants. Few studies show the relationship between light rail transit and rental apartment building values; those that have done so have evaluated outcomes within narrow bands of distance from light rail transit stations. The present study closes some of this gap in the research. The association between TRAX, the light rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority serving Salt Lake County, Utah, and the value of rental apartment buildings in bands a distance from light rail stations of 0.25 mi out to 1.5 mi was estimated. When structural, neighborhood, and location characteristics were controlled for, a positive relationship between TRAX station proximity and rental apartment building values was found to 1.25 mi but not beyond. The implications of these findings are offered.
Constructing Spatial Meaning Spatial Affordances in Museum Design

Informal education in museums is structured through movement in space. This article summarizes a range of research that examines the role of spatial layout in shaping the ways in which visitors explore, engage, and understand museums and museum exhibitions. It is demonstrated that behavior patterns are systematically linked to spatial characteristics of access and visibility. Furthermore, it is suggested that these patterns of access and visibility construct a spatial discourse that flows in its own right, although not entirely separate from the curatorial message.
The Relationship of Vitamin B12 Content to Methionine Biosynthesis in Turkey Poult Liver Homogenates

Abstract While there is adequate evidence supporting the idea that vitamin B12 is involved in labile methyl group synthesis in vivo (Stekol and Weiss, 1950; Gillis and Norris, 1951; and Kratzer, 1953), there are few publications indicating a similar role in animal tissue preparations. Oginsky (1950), using livers of vitamin B12 deficient rats, found decreased methionine synthesizing ability when compared to normal rat livers. However, she used homocystine as the one-carbon unit acceptor and choline or betaine as the one-carbon unit donor. Since it is now doubtful that vitamin B12 plays a role in transmethylation from choline or betaine (Gillis and Norris, 1951), she probably observed de novo synthesis of the methionine methyl group in her undialized preparation. Recently Dinning (1961) reported that a vitamin B12 deficiency reduced methionine synthesis from formate and homocysteine in chick liver homogenates. Unfortunately, neither of these workers measured vitamin B12 in their liver preparations and …
A Delicate Balance — Pharmaceutical Innovation and Access

Even with many new therapeutic options, the proportion of health care spending devoted to retail prescription medications remains about the same as it was in 1960. Relying on competitive markets to set drug prices and encourage innovation seems to be working.
Helping Others to Find Long-Term and Short-Term Mates: A Test of Inclusive Fitness, Reciprocal Altruism, and Parental Investment Theories

Individuals prefer helping some people more that others when it comes to finding a mate, and these preferences depend on whether long- or short-term mates are considered. Study 1 (N = 108) examined three theoretical frameworks (inclusive fitness, reciprocal altruism, and parental investment) for understanding why individuals would be more willing to help some individuals find mates instead of others. College participants reported how willing they were to help different types of individuals (e.g., sister, stranger) find a mate. When considering willingness to help others find a long-term mate, people preferred kin over nonkin, supporting an inclusive fitness model. However, when considering willingness to help others find short-term mates, people preferred helping people their own age, supporting a reciprocal altruism model. Study 2 (N = 143) replicated this age-cohort effect. Although rates of willingness to help others find mates were generally low, people were more likely to help others find a long-term...
Multilayer Structures: Atomic Engineering in its Infancy

Thin film deposition processes were understood to be “atom by atom” in nature very early in the development of the appropriate synthesis technologies. This understanding undoubtedly resulted in a leap of imagination to a time when the atomic positions of chemically specific species necessary to achieve a scientific result, or to fulfill a technologically significant need, could be theoretically determined and then experimentally realized—in a word, engineered. Hence “atomic engineering” requires that we know which atoms go in which places for a given reason, and further that we be able to achieve physically the desired result in a systematic and reproducible manner. In this paper a perspective on materials engineering is given as background for a discussion of atomic engineering—now and in the future. The current status of multilayer science and technology will then be reviewed in this context. Important opportunities are discussed and a short summary is presented.
Course Management System: Moodle

Moodle stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is an open source learning management system (LMS). This means Moodle is available free of charge to anybody under the terms of the General Public License. Moodle provides a platform to facilitate interaction and create a dynamic learning environment for face-to-face classroom and blended course formats, as well as online courses.
Biological Control of Panonychus ulmi (Acarina:Tetranychidae) by Amblyseius fallacis (Acarina:Phytoseiidae) on Apple: a Prey-Predator Model

A discrete-time, population model describing biological control of the spider mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), by the phytoseiid mite, Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) on apple is described. Discussed are features of development, consumption, oviposition, mortality and dispersal for each species. Also included is a spatial component for within tree variation in population densities which is used to compute stochastic features of encounter and consumption. Validations of the model with field derived data are presented.
Intra-abdominal haematoma

A previously healthy 65-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath and bilateral leg swelling. Electrocardiography revealed atrial fibrillation and the patient was started on warfarin along with enoxaparin. Five days later, the patient began to develop right upper quadrant abdominal pain in the same region where he was receiving 70 mg subcutaneous enoxaparin twice …
Gender-Specific Conflicts among Urban African-American Youth: The Roles of Situational Context and Issues of Contention

ABSTRACTThe literatures on violence among young men and young women have highlighted the importance of situational context. However, few studies have compared disputes that do not result in violence with those that do, and even fewer have been positioned to investigate the role situational context may play across gender in accounting for these outcomes. Drawing on recent scholarship on gender and violence, this research explores the situational contexts of youth conflicts among African-American adolescent boys and girls. Using a large sample of narrative accounts of 153 violent and nonviolent conflicts, we examine how youth describe the issues of contention in their conflicts, how these relate to the situational contexts in which conflicts emerge, and similarities and differences in the antecedents, contexts, and extent of male and female violence.
Feministyczne Obce, wspomnienia z marginesów. Doświadczenie karaibskiej „feministki” w zachodnim feminizmie

Badaczki feministyczne z krajow rozwijających sie przez dlugi czas pisaly o napieciu miedzy feminizmami Zachodnimi a feminizmami krajow rozwijających sie. Zachodnie feministki czesto przedstawiają kobiety z krajow rozwijających jako poddaną opresji monolityczną grupe z „trzeciego świata”. W niniejszym artykule zakladam, ze wladza zakorzeniona w tego rodzaju przedstawieniach niejawnie kategoryzuje kobiety ze świata rozwijającego sie jako „inne” i tym samym umozliwia zachodnim feminizmom określanie, czyja wiedza jest odpowiednia w kontekście rozwijania feministycznej epistemologii. Podkreślam rowniez, ze dla rozwoju nauki feministycznej konieczne jest uznanie, ze feministki z kazdego zakątka świata posiadają wiedze i doświadczenie, ktore powinny byc postrzegane jako wartościowy wklad w feminizm. W swoim artykule stawiam pytanie o to, czy moze dojśc do zmiany w sposobach wytwarzania wiedzy feministycznej, zmiany umozliwiającej przekroczenie obecnych ograniczen i wprowadzenie solidarności w praktyki feministyczn.
Rehabilitation Outcome of Individuals with Nontraumatic Myelopathy Resulting from Spinal Stenosis

AbstractA study was undertaken of 46 patients (19 cervical and 27 lumbar) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit following surgical decompression for myelopathy or cauda equina syndrome resulting from spinal stenosis (SS). Individuals with SS represented 16 percent of all spinal cord injury (SCI) admissions. When compared to patients with traumatic SCI, patients with SS were significantly (t-test, p <.01 ) older (mean age 68 versus 39 years), more frequently retired/unemployed (89 percent versus 43 percent), more often married (57 percent versus 36 percent) and less often male (54 percent versus 82 percent) but with similar ethnicity. Significant (p<-01) Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) changes for the SS patients were noted after rehabilitation in the categories of self-care, sphincter control and mobility/locomotion. Additionally, outcome comparisons with a group of traumatic SCI patients who had similar motor function revealed similar lengths of stay, discharge FIM scores and discharge-t...
Design of a dual-hormone model predictive control for artificial pancreas with exercise model

The Artificial Pancreas (AP) is a new technology for helping people with type 1 diabetes to better control their glucose levels through automated delivery of insulin and optionally glucagon in response to sensed glucose levels. In a dual hormone AP, insulin and glucagon are delivered automatically to the body based on glucose sensor measurements using a control algorithm that calculates the amount of hormones to be infused. A dual-hormone MPC may deliver insulin continuously; however, it must avoid continuous delivery of glucagon because nausea can occur from too much glucagon. In this paper, we propose a novel dual-hormone (DH) switching model predictive control and compare it with a single-hormone (SH) MPC. We extended both MPCs by integrating an exercise model and compared performance with and without the exercise model included. Results were obtained on a virtual patient population undergoing a simulated exercise event using a mathematical glucoregulatory model that includes exercise. Time spent in hypoglycemia is significantly less with the DH-MPC than the SH-MPC (p=0.0022). Additionally, including the exercise model in the DH-MPC can help prevent hypoglycemia (p < 0.001).
Design considerations for 50G+ backplane links

The constantly increasing need for I/O bandwidth push electrical backplane links to data rates of 50Gb/s and above. Although board materials have improved significantly, backplane links are increasingly limited by signal attenuation while suffering from ISI, jitter, device noise and cross-talk. In this paper we summarize these limitations, and show possible directions to cope with them in order to further extend the achievable data rate.
Parallelization in software systems used in wireless sensor networks and Internet of Things: Case study: Middleware systems

In the Internet of Things (IoT) architecture, middleware is the component that creates a bridge between the heterogeneous sensor nodes and the software applications. One aspect among many others that determine the efficiency, performance, and functionality of middleware is parallelizability. Parallelizability refers to how ready the software is to utilize multicore architecture. The problem in general has been studied recently. This paper presents a study that examines the middleware software systems that have been widely used in IoT and wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. The examination gives us an idea of how well the software takes advantage of the hardware's multicore technology. The study is conducted on the source code of three open source middleware systems containing 1.07 million lines of code and almost 5k files. Each system is analyzed and the inhibitors to parallelization are detected and presented. The most prevalent inhibitors are pointed out to show the developers of IoT middleware systems what they should focus on when refactoring and improving their products. A historical trend over the last five years concerning the presence of inhibitors in the source code is also presented. The study suggests some techniques for refactoring the source code to improve the parallelizability of the systems as well.
Membership Set Estimation – An Alternative Approach to System Identification

Abstract Bounds on the magnitude of the noise or on the energy of the noise lend themselves to the formulation of system identification as a membership set estimation problem. In the case of energy bounded noise, a recursive algorithm for constructing a sequence of ellipsoids containing the true parameter vector is constructed. Convergence properties of the estimator are established. The relation between the convergence of the sequence of ellipsoids and convergence in the probabilistic sense is discussed. Furthermore, our approach demonstrates that the convergence of the unstable modes is superior to that of the stable modes (Fogel, 1979). The formulation of parameter set estimation in the bounded noise case yields algorithms which are capable of ignoring redundant data. A sequence of ellipsoids are updated with each measurement. Only data points which reduce the size of the ellipsoids are actually used in the update. Thus an efficient procedure for discarding redundant data in system identification is obtained (Fogel and Huang, 1982). Convergence analysis and identifiability condition in the set estimation context are obtained.
Reporting War in 140 Characters: How Journalists Used Twitter During the 2014 Gaza–Israel Conflict

Because Twitter may facilitate interconnectedness among diverse actors—elite and nonelite, inside and outside of a given national community—it can potentially challenge traditional war journalism that has typically been elite-oriented and nationally oriented. The present study examined this potential during the 2014 Gaza–Israel conflict. Based on a content analysis of Twitter messages by Israeli and international journalists, the study suggests that in wartime journalists on Twitter may have agency that can manifest in retweeting critical messages—not necessarily in the language of their national community—and conversing with people outside official power circles. However, institutional, cultural, and national forces still seem dominant, as particularly reflected in messages by journalists who are members of one of the conflicting parties. “Mr. Gates” on Twitter may have more agency than he had decades ago, but seems constrained by virtual national boundaries. By showing the extent of journalists’ agency and constraints, the study advances our understanding of war journalism in the digital age.
IgH isotype-specific B cell receptor expression influences B cell fate.

Abstract Ig heavy chain (IgH) isotypes (e.g., IgM, IgG, and IgE) are generated as secreted/soluble antibodies (sIg) or as membrane-bound (mIg) B cell receptors (BCRs) through alternative RNA splicing. IgH isotype dictates soluble antibody function, but how mIg isotype influences B cell behavior is not well defined. We examined IgH isotype-specific BCR function by analyzing naturally switched B cells from wild-type mice, as well as by engineering polyclonal Ighγ1/γ1 and Ighe/e mice, which initially produce IgG1 or IgE from their respective native genomic configurations. We found that B cells from wild-type mice, as well as Ighγ1/γ1 and Ighe/e mice, produce transcripts that generate IgM, IgG1, and IgE in an alternative splice form bias hierarchy, regardless of cell stage. In this regard, we found that mIgμ > mIgγ1 > mIge, and that these BCR expression differences influence respective developmental fitness. Restrained B cell development from Ighγ1/γ1 and Ighe/e mice was proportional to sIg/mIg ratios and was rescued by enforced expression of the respective mIgs. In addition, artificially enhancing BCR signal strength permitted IgE+ memory B cells—which essentially do not exist under normal conditions—to provide long-lived memory function, suggesting that quantitative BCR signal weakness contributes to restraint of IgE B cell responses. Our results indicate that IgH isotype-specific mIg/BCR dosage may play a larger role in B cell fate than previously anticipated.