cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineered VEGF-releasing PEG–MAL hydrogel for pancreatic islet vascularization

Biofunctionalized polyethylene glycol maleimide (PEG-MAL) hydrogels were engineered as a platform to deliver pancreatic islets to the small bowel mesentery and promote graft vascularization. VEGF, a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, was incorporated into the hydrogel to be released in an on-demand manner through enzymatic degradation. PEG-MAL hydrogel enabled extended in vivo release of VEGF. Isolated rat islets encapsulated in PEG-MAL hydrogels remained viable in culture and secreted insulin. Islets encapsulated in PEG-MAL matrix and transplanted to the small bowel mesentery of healthy rats grafted to the host tissue and revascularized by 4 weeks. Addition of VEGF release to the PEG-MAL matrix greatly augmented the vascularization response. These results establish PEG-MAL engineered matrices as a vascular-inductive cell delivery vehicle and warrant their further investigation as islet transplantation vehicles in diabetic animal models.
Parallel discrete molecular dynamics simulation with speculation and in-order commitment

Discrete molecular dynamics simulation (DMD) uses simplified and discretized models enabling simulations to advance by event rather than by timestep. DMD is an instance of discrete event simulation and so is difficult to scale: even in this multi-core era, all reported DMD codes are serial. In this paper we discuss the inherent difficulties of scaling DMD and present our method of parallelizing DMD through event-based decomposition. Our method is microarchitecture inspired: speculative processing of events exposes parallelism, while in-order commitment ensures correctness. We analyze the potential of this parallelization method for shared-memory multiprocessors. Achieving scalability required extensive experimentation with scheduling and synchronization methods to mitigate serialization. The speed-up achieved for a variety of system sizes and complexities is nearly 6x on an 8-core and over 9x on a 12-core processor. We present and verify analytical models that account for the achieved performance as a function of available concurrency and architectural limitations.
Understanding the effects of requirements volatility in software engineering by using analytical modeling and software process simulation

This paper introduces an executable system dynamics simulation model developed to help project managers comprehend the complex impacts related to requirements volatility on a software development project. The simulator extends previous research and adds research results from an empirical survey, including over 50 new parameters derived from the associated survey data, to a base model. The paper discusses detailed results from two cases that show significant cost, schedule, and quality impacts as a result of requirements volatility. The simulator can be used as an effective tool to demonstrate the complex set of factor relationships and effects related to requirements volatility.
On Man and Culture: A Response to J. J. Clarke

ethology? The question, as I put it in Comparative Functionalism, "is not whether we recognize the character of man-as-animal underlying the character of social action; it is, rather, what attributes must be recognized" (Goldschmidt 1966:35). Interestingly, Clarke, in passing, attributes the quality lust to man (1970:547, 551), by which I presume he means something like my dictionary's definition: "to have an eager, passionate, and especially sinful desire, as for the gratification of the sexual appetites or covetousness." As it happens, I am inclined to agree that this is a universal characteristic of man, although I would have chosen a less value-laden word to express the quality. But such agreement is wholly irrelevant; for the point of the problem, as expressed by Boas, is to determine whether this is a universal or
Design of high-Reynolds-number flat-plate experiments in the NTF

The design of an experiment to measure skin friction and turbulent boundary layer characteristics at Reynolds numbers exceeding 1 x 10 to the 9th is described. The experiment will be conducted in a zero-pressure-gradient flow on a flat plate in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). The development of computational codes to analyze the aerodynamic loads and the blockage is documented. Novel instrumentation techniques and models, designed to operate in cryogenic environments, are presented. Special problems associated with aerodynamic loads, surface finish, and hot-wire anemometers are discussed.
Protein and nucleic acid metabolism in fruits. I. Studies of amino acid incorporation during the climacteric rise in respiration of the avocado

Incorporation of (14)C L-valine and (14)C L-leucine into protein of tissue slices of the avocado fruit was relatively high during the early stages of the climacteric rise, declined sharply thereafter, and was virtually absent at the peak. The incorporation of amino acids in the preclimacteric stage was markedly lower than during the early stage of the respiratory rise. By following incorporation in relation to uptake at several concentrations it was established that the results were not a reflection of endogenous dilution. Puromycin was effective as an inhibitor of incorporation but not of oxygen uptake. When respiration was at its maximum there was no protein synthesis. It was concluded, therefore, that the respiratory upsurge characteristic of the climacteric was not related directly to protein synthesis.
Dopamine partial agonist reverses amphetamine withdrawal in rats.

Decreased motivation to work for a natural reward is a sign of amphetamine withdrawal and is thought to be associated with hypofunction of the mesolimbic dopamine system. During withdrawal from repeated amphetamine administration, rats showed reduced responding for a sweet solution in a progressive ratio schedule. Repeated systemic treatment with terguride (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) twice daily during the first four days of amphetamine withdrawal reversed the decrease in responding for the sweet solution. These results suggest that dopamine partial agonists, possibly due to their agonistic-like actions under these conditions, are a potential therapeutic approach for the acute withdrawal stage of the amphetamine addition cycle.
Are children with congenital cardiac malformations at increased risk of deficits in social cognition

In this review, I summarize observations suggesting that social cognition deficits are an important element of the neurodevelopmental morbidities of children with congenital cardiac malformations. Referred to as "theory of mind" deficits, they pertain to the ability to "read" other people, that is, to infer their internal states and thus to interpret their actions appropriately. I also hypothesize that children with such congenital cardiac malformations have difficulty identifying and describing their own internal states, which is referred to as alexithymia. These hypotheses are based on data collected as part of a prospective study of the neurologic outcomes of children with concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connections, or transposition. On a variety of tasks that assess pragmatic language and discourse skills, such as elicited personal narratives, free play with a parent, and written narratives, the children consistently performed below age-expected levels and in ways that suggested the presence of "theory of mind" deficits. Their narratives lacked coherence, failed to include critical information required by a listener, and made infrequent reference to internal states. In ongoing evaluations of the children as adolescents, we are testing these hypotheses more systematically by administering several instruments specifically developed to assess "theory of mind" and alexithymia.
Fully quantum mechanical simulations of gated silicon quantum wire structures: Investigating the effects of changing wire cross-section on transport

We present transport simulations of three-dimensional (3D) silicon quantum wires in which electron-phonon scattering is incorporated via local modifications to the potential encountered by the electron waves. Computing resistance as a function of wire length, we find that the effects of dissipation essentially take hold immediately, and are apparent right from the point at which the wire is long enough to act as a true waveguide.
AN OVERVIEW OF MEMS-BASED MICROPROPULSION DEVELOPMENTS AT JPL

Development of MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) micropropulsion at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is reviewed. This includes a vaporizing liquid micro-thruster for microspacecraft attitude control, a micro-ion emgine for microspacecraft primary propulsion or large spacecraft fine attitude control, as well as several valve studies, including a solenoid valve studied in collaboration with Moog Space Products Division, and a piezoelectric micro-valve.
Effects of antidromic activity in gustatory nerve fibers on taste disc cells of the frog tongue

Antidromic electrical stimulation of the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve of the frog was carried out while recording intracellular potentials of taste disc cells.
Deep thinkers, cognitive misers, and moral responsibility

Moral responsibility is running out of room. Scientific naturalism destroyed the realm of godlike transcendent powers, and recent research on learned helplessness (Martin Seligman, 1975) dragged will power down from the miracle working sphere of moral responsibility and anchored it squarely within the natural environment that shapes our fortitude and lassitude. Now moral responsibility has retreated to its ultimate citadel: the reflective mind. There, with the support of such philosophers as Daniel Dennett and Charles Taylor, moral responsibility has made stubborn stand.
Buckling of Stiffened Thin-Walled Truncated Cones Subjected to External Pressure

The results of external air pressure buckling tests of thin-walled, truncated conical steel shells are presented, along with a description of the equipment developed for the testing program. The testing was conducted in support of Sandia National Laboratories Z-Pinch Inertial Fusion Energy Proof-of-Principle power plant design. Optimized stiffening ring locations were determined by using the finite element method, and were then tested, indicating an experimental improvement in initial buckling pressure of more than 300% over the unstiffened cone. An analytical method of determining buckling pressures of stiffened conical shells is also presented, based on the method of the equivalent cylindrical shell. The results of the analytical method agreed very closely to the finite element method for the stiffened cones, but are 20–40% higher than the experimental results.
An Improved Method of Applying Insecticidal Dusts

This paper describes a method of dispersing insecticidal, or fungicidal, dusts, with liquid adhesives, so that a uniform, controlled dispersion rate may be maintained under varied conditions, and adherence of the finely divided particles of insecticides to foliage may be obtained. The principle involved in this method is such that the process may be used in conjunction with aircraft in combating insects or plant diseases, or it may be adapted for use with relatively slow moving ground equipment of the type generally used in the treatment of truck and orchard crops.
Spectral signature of wave breaking in surface wave components of intermediate-length scale

Abstract This paper investigates the length scale of ocean surface breaking waves in the spectral range of intermediate wavelength components a few centimeters to a few meters long. The spectral properties of wave breaking are examined first with the dissipation function of the wave action density conservation equation. The analysis reveals a strong breaking signature in wave components between 0.15 and 1.5 m long in the form of a quasi-singular behavior of the dissipation function using the present formulation of the wind-generation and breaking dissipation functions. Independent studies of more-direct breaking observations of radar tracking of sea spikes in the past have shown close correlation between sea spikes and scatterers traveling at the speed of surface waves a few meters long and much shorter than the dominant wavelength. This feature of sea-spike properties is consistent with the breaking signature of the dissipation function in similar wavelengths. The intermediate-scale waves are the primary contributor of the ocean surface mean-square slope. The close correlation between the gas transfer rate and the mean-square slope has been demonstrated repeatedly. A better understanding of the wave dynamics of intermediate-scale waves is important for clarification of various gas transfer mechanisms.
An hypothesis for approaching swarms of myxobacteria

Motion picture studies by Reichenbach of swarms of the myxobacteria Chondromyces apiculatus show that a swarm can sense the presence of another at a distance, and that the two swarms will approach each other ( Reichenbach, 1965 ). Our hypothesis for explanation of this behavior assumes the secretion of a diffusible chemotactic attractant by the bacteria, but not in the expected sense that the attractant produced by one swarm directly attracts the other. According to the hypothesis, an isolated swarm retains its integrity through the dynamic balance of random movement outward and chemotactic movement inward. The presence of another swarm nearby upsets this balance by altering the chemical gradient, allowing cell migration in directions in which the gradient is diminished. Thus, the primary mechanism for swarm approach may be random movement which predominates when chemotactic gradients are altered by the presence of a nearby swarm. Using a mathematical model, the swarm behavior predicted by this hypothesis is determined and quantified, including speed of migration, bounds for distance of interaction, swarm fringe activity, and nature of the proposed attractant.
Electrostatic and hydrodynamic orientational steering effects in enzyme-substrate association.

Diffusional encounters between a dumbbell model of a cleft enzyme and a dumbbell model of an elongated ligand are simulated by Brownian dynamics. The simulations take into account electrostatic and hydrodynamic interactions between the molecules. It is shown that the primary effect of inclusion of hydrodynamic interactions into the simulation is an overall decrease in the rate constant. Hydrodynamic orientational effects are of modest size for the systems considered here. They are manifested when changes in the rate constants for diffusional encounters favored by hydrodynamic interactions are compared with those favored by electrostatic interactions as functions of the overall strength of electrostatic interactions. The electrostatic interactions modify the hydrodynamic torques by modifying the drift velocity of the substrate toward the enzyme. We conclude that simulations referring only to electrostatic interactions between an enzyme and its ligand may yield rate constants that are somewhat (e.g., 20%) too high, but provide realistic descriptions of the orientational steering effects in the enzyme-ligand encounters.
Progress in failure analysis of constrained shrinkage cracking in reinforced concretes

Shrinkage-induced cracking in constrained concrete slabs is an important failure mode for concrete structures. Several empirical relations have been reported in earlier studies. This paper develops a mechanics-based relationship for shrinkage-induced cracking through a shear-lag model that can be used to analyze the stress field, crack width, and the final crack spacing for cracked concrete slabs. The present model prediction is observed to be close to the empirical relation based on long-term observations.
Synaptic plasticity: Building memories to last

A series of recent studies has provided long-awaited direct evidence that enduring changes in synaptic strength, presumably underlying the formation of persistent memories, may be encoded in a lasting form as a change in synaptic structure.
Adaptive priorities in brain development: theoretical comment on Pravosudov et al. (2005).

The postnatal period in many organisms is a time of extensive growth, during which a variety of anatomical and physiological systems, all requiring substantial investment, develop concurrently. If nutrition is good and other environmental conditions are favorable during this period, then the organism can invest optimally in each of its developing systems. If, to the contrary, nutrition is poor or the organism experiences other environmental stresses such as cold temperatures or exposure to parasites, then the organism may be forced to sacrifice investment in particular developing systems so that investment in others can be maintained. Evolutionary biologists have theorized that in such cases natural selection favors a set of investment priorities, such that systems essential to the individual’s survival will be given first call on resources, whereas other less important systems are sacrificed (Schew & Ricklefs, 1998). Structures used exclusively in sexual display in particular may be given a low priority for investment (Andersson, 1986). The logic here is that an individual with poorly developed display structures that is able to survive has some chance of reproducing, whereas an individual with a welldeveloped display that is unable to survive has none. Neural systems ought to be subject to investment priorities just as are other anatomical and physiological systems. Such priorities therefore provide a framework for interpreting the results of Pravosudov, Lavenex, and Omanska (2005) in this issue. These authors manipulated posthatching nutrition in Western scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica) and tested effects on hippocampal structure and spatial memory. The nutritional manipulation was fairly severe: Experimental birds were limited to 65% of the food intake of controls from the time they were taken from the nest, at about 7 days’ posthatching, until they were able to feed themselves, an ability that developed gradually between 30 and 75 days. Although severe, the restriction is certainly ecologically relevant, as undernutrition of all levels of intensity, up to and including starvation, does occur in nature. At 1 year of age, the nutritionally deprived birds were sacrificed and found to have hippocampal volumes about 8% lower than controls, with approximately 11% fewer neurons. Telencephalon volumes and overall brain masses did not differ between the two groups. Posthatching nutritional restriction in Western scrub jays thus had a lasting negative effect on brain structures that support spatial memory. Behavioral testing demonstrated that the anatomical difference observed between control and experimental birds correlated with a loss of function. At 6
On the theory of tunnelling in electron and proton transfer reactions

The concept of tunnelling in the theory of electron and proton transfer reactions has recently been questioned on the ground that the situation is a nonstationary one. It has been suggested that time-dependent perturbation theory should be applied to obtain the quantum mechanical transition probability. We have done this for a square barrier. The result for most reactions is the same as obtained by the WKB approximation.
Functional surface modifications of a high capacity layered Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 cathode

With an aim to enhance the electrochemical performances of the high capacity layered oxide solid solution Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 cathode, its surface has been modified with 2 wt.% Al2O3, 2 wt.% RuO2, and 1 wt.% Al2O3 + 1 wt.% RuO2. The bare samples and the surface-modified samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), charge–discharge measurements in lithium cells, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface-modified samples exhibit much improved electrochemical performances, particularly the 1 wt.% Al2O3 + 1 wt.% RuO2 coated sample exhibiting the highest discharge capacity and rate capability. Specifically, the Al2O3 + RuO2 coated sample delivers ∼280 mAh g−1 at C/20 rate with a capacity retention of 94.3% in 30 cycles and ∼ 160 mAh g−1 at 5 C rate. The superior electrochemical performances of the Al2O3 + RuO2 coated sample are attributed to the suppression of SEI layer formation and the facilitation of fast electron transfer and lithium ion diffusion channels as evident from the EIS and XPS data.
Brief Report: Cognitive Control Helps Explain Comorbidity Between Alcohol Use Disorder and Internalizing Disorders

Objective:Alcohol use and internalizing problems frequently co-occur. Cognitive control has been implicated in their etiology, but no studies have tested whether this construct helps explain the co-occurrence of these disorders.Method:A total of 1,313 undergraduate students completed assessments of cognitive control, negative emotionality, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. Structural equation models examined the extent to which overlap between AUD and internalizing problems was explained by variance specific to cognitive control and negative emotionality, as well as variance shared by both constructs.Results:Symptoms of AUD and internalizing disorders were modestly correlated (depression: r = .16; anxiety: r = .14). Variance specific to cognitive control explained a significant proportion of the correlation between AUD and both depression and generalized anxiety (depression: 19%; generalized anxiety: 18%), as did variance common to cognitive control ...
Toxicity of metabolites of dieldrin, photodieldrin, and endrin in the cockroach

Major metabolic products of dieldrin, endrin, and photodieldrin were identified in the American cockroach, and their toxicities were tested in the male German cockroach. Among dieldrin metabolites tested, F-1 the major fecal metabolite in rats, was most toxic to the German cockroach. The most toxic metabolite of endrin was 3-hydroxyendrin. The toxic endrin metabolite to the rat, 12-ketoendrin, was not so toxic to the German cockroach. The most consistent major metabolic product of photodieldrin, U-1, which is identical to the major urinary metabolite in the rat, was less toxic and slower-acting than photodieldrin against the German cockroach, indicating that this major metabolic product is not the actual toxicant in this species.
Effect of Rutin on Increased Capillary Fragility in Man.

ConclusionsAt least in certain cases, rutin appears to have the property of decreasing capillary fragility in subjects in whom this fragility is initially increased. In this effect it resembles hesperidin.
Path-isomorphic networks

Two source-sink (directed) networks are called path-isomorphic if there exists a bijection π between their arc sets that preserves (simple) source-sink directed paths. Although path-isomorphic networks need not be isomorphic (they need not even have the same number of nodes), we show that several properties are preserved. For example, suppose N and N′ are path-isomorphic. Then, N is acyclic if and only if N′ is acyclic. B is the arc set of block of N if and only if π(B) is the arc set of a block of N′. Also, D is the arc set of a dicomponent of N if and only if π(D) is the arc set of a dicomponent of N′. In addition, we prove a dipath version of Whitney's well-known 2-isomorphism theorem for a special class of networks, which includes the acyclic networks.
Acetaminophen plus a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug decreases acute postoperative pain more than either drug alone.

A critical summary of Ong CK, Seymour RA, Lirk P, Merry AF. Combining paracetamol (acetaminophen) with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: a qualitative systematic review of analgesic efficacy for acute postoperative pain. Anesth Analg 2010;110(4):1170-1179.
The pediatric-modified total neuropathy score: a reliable and valid measure of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children with non-CNS cancers

Background Neurotoxicity is a common side-effect of cancer treatment, but no scales have been validated for the pediatric population. The objective of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the pediatric modified-Total Neuropathy Scale (ped-mTNS) to measure chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in school-aged children.
Human cocaine-seeking behavior and its control by drug-associated stimuli in the laboratory.

Second-order schedules of drug self-administration were developed to incorporate the effects of drug-related environmental stimuli into an animal model of drug abuse, making it more similar to human situations. Ironically, little is known about how human subjects behave under these schedules. In this study, human volunteers with a history of cocaine use worked on a second-order schedule in which every 100th lever response produced an auditory–visual brief stimulus (2 s). The first stimulus produced after 1 h was extended to 10 s and paired with an intravenous injection of cocaine (25 mg). Up to three injections were allowed per session. In different phases of the experiment, presentation of the brief stimulus was discontinued and/or saline solution (placebo) was injected instead of cocaine. Injections of cocaine were found to maintain responding even when the brief stimulus was not presented. Placebo injections alone did not maintain responding. In contrast, the brief stimulus maintained high levels of responding under placebo conditions, even though self-reports indicated that subjects could clearly discriminate that they were not receiving cocaine. These results demonstrate that drug-related environmental stimuli can maintain persistent drug seeking during periods of drug unavailability. As this procedure directly measures the effects of stimuli on drug seeking, it may provide a valuable complement to indirect measures, such as self-reports of craving, that are often used with human subjects. The similarity of the response patterns in humans and animals also supports the use of second-order schedules in animals as a valid model of human drug seeking.
The relevance of situation awareness in older adults’ cognitive functioning: a review

Age-related declines in cognition may have detrimental effects on older adults’ ability to complete everyday activities that young- and middle-aged individuals perform automatically. Theories of cognitive aging have found deficits in older adults’ fluid intelligence, capacity for inhibition, number of processing resources, and speed of processing, and in recent years, studies have proposed cognitive strategies to ameliorate these declines. However, few strategies directly train the cognitive strategies necessary to improve performance in dynamic environments and physical activities. One such strategy may be the enhancement of situation awareness, the capability to perceive and understand one’s environment. Although the term has typically been applied to pilots and other expert performers, situation awareness may also be relevant to cognitive aging, where older adults’ perception and comprehension of their environment become critical to everyday functioning and physical activities. If older adults’ situation awareness can be facilitated, then it may be possible to reduce the impact of age-related cognitive declines, allowing older adults to successfully participate in dynamic situations and sports where the environment is constantly changing (e.g., driving and tennis). The following review outlines cognitive deficits in aging, details their relation to situation awareness, and discusses how training in situation awareness may reduce cognitive declines.
Time estimation and production in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).

The ability to accurately perceive the passage of time relies on several neurocognitive abilities, including attention, memory, and executive functions, which are domains commonly affected in persons living with HIV disease. The current study examined time estimation and production and their neurocognitive correlates in a sample of 53 HIV+ individuals with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), 120 HIV+ individuals without HAND, and 113 HIV− individuals. Results revealed a moderate main effect of HAND on time estimation and a trend-level effect on time production, but no interaction between HAND and time interval duration. Correlational analyses revealed that time estimation in the HIV+ group was associated with attention, episodic memory and time-based prospective memory. Findings indicate that individuals with HAND evidence deficits in time interval judgment suggestive of failures in basic attentional and memory processes. (JINS, 2015, 21, 175–181)
Reconciling longwall gob gas reservoirs and venthole production performances using multiple rate drawdown well test analysis

Abstract Longwall mining is an underground mining method during which a mechanical shearer progressively mines a large block of coal, called a panel, in an extensive area. During this operation the roof of the coal seam is supported only temporarily with hydraulic supports that protect the workers and the equipment on the coal face. As the coal is extracted, the supports automatically advance and the roof strata cave behind the supports. Caving results in fracturing and relaxation of the overlying strata, which is called “gob.” Due its highly fractured nature, gob contains many flow paths for gas migration. Thus, if the overlying strata contain gassy sandstones or sandstone channels, gas shales or thinner coal seams which are not suitable for mining, then the mining-induced changes can cause unexpected or uncontrolled gas migration into the underground workplace. Vertical gob gas ventholes (GGV) are drilled into each longwall panel to capture the methane within the overlying fractured strata before it enters the work environment. Thus, it is important, first to understand the properties of the gas reservoir created by mining disturbances and, second, to optimize the well parameters and placement accordingly. In this paper, the production rate-pressure behaviors of six GGVs drilled over three adjacent panels were analyzed by using conventional multi-rate drawdown analysis techniques. The analyses were performed for infinite acting and pseudo-steady state flow models, which may be applicable during panel mining (DM) and after mining (AM) production periods of GGVs. These phases were analyzed separately since the reservoir properties, due to dynamic subsidence, boundary conditions and gas capacity of the gob reservoir may change between these two stages. The results suggest that conventional well test analysis techniques can be applicable to highly complex gob reservoirs and GGVs to determine parameters such as skin, permeability, radius of investigation, flow efficiency and damage ratio. The insights obtained from well test analyses can be used for a better understanding of the gob and for designing more effective gob gas venthole systems.
Standardizing the Process for Developing Simulation-based Experiences: Initial Inquiry to Follow-up

Abstract A standard operating process for assessment, design, and follow-through of simulation-based education was developed to improve simulation experiences and optimize customer and staff satisfaction in a large multidisciplinary simulation center. Information is provided to describe development and implementation of a standard operating process for a large multidisciplinary simulation center. The Model for Improvement, a continuous improvement method, is the framework used to systematically describe the design, implementation, and monitoring of the standard operating process. A standard operating process is essential for success when high volumes and multiple disciplines are doing simulation-based education in a large simulation center. Utilization of a process for helping new and recurrent customers develop simulation-based education within a continuous improvement framework can increase both efficiency and the satisfaction of customers and simulation faculty and staff.
On quantum neural computing

Abstract This paper examines the notion of quantum neural computing in the context of several new directions in neural network research. In particular, we consider new neuron and network models that lead to rapid training, chaotic dynamics in neuron assemblies, models of attention and awareness, cytoskeletal microtubule information processing, and quantum models. Recent discoveries in neuroscience that cannot be placed in the reductionist models of biological information processing are examined. We consider some characteristics of a quantum neural computer. We show that information is not a locally additive variable in a quantum computation; this property may be used to examine the nature of biological information structures.
Multiple treatment algorithms for successful outcomes in venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Background We sought to determine the outcomes in patients presenting with venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Methods Prospectively collected data from 67 patients between October 2003 and December 2007. The average age was 31 years (range, 16–54); the 37 males and 30 females presented on average 9.2 months (range, 1 month–6 years) after acute thrombosis. Four treatment algorithms were utilized. Results In group 1, 3 patients presented with acute occlusion and received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and immediate first rib resection with scalenectomy (FRRS). One vein rethrombosed and was treated by intravenous tPA postoperatively. In group 2, 39 patients presented with stenotic subclavian veins an average of 22 weeks after their initial thrombosis, all of whom underwent FRRS followed by a venogram 2 weeks postoperatively: 25 had a tight stenosis and underwent venoplasty with anticoagulation; 13 had patent, nonstenotic subclavian veins, and 1 patient required tPA and venoplasty owing to rethrombosis. Two patients had their subclavian vein thrombose after venoplasty and were treated with anticoagulation, tPA, and venoplasty. In group 3, 11 patients presented with intermittent venous obstruction without thrombosis and underwent FRRS; 3 underwent venograms because of concerns of residual stenosis, 2 of whom required venoplasty postoperatively. Finally, in group 4, 14 patients presented with occluded subclavian veins and underwent FRRS with long-term anticoagulation. Eleven have recanalized at an average of 6 months (range, 2–12). Conclusion Overall, 64 of 67 patients have patent subclavian veins after a median follow-up of 10 months, and all patients are asymptomatic for a success rate of 96%. Tailored treatment algorithms including FRRS, postoperative venograms with or without intervention, and the use of long-term anticoagulation seems to be required in this complicated group of young patients to achieve optimal results.
Crystallography and luminescence of divalent osmium complexes green osmium emitters and possible evidence for d-orbital backbonding

The preparation, photophysics, and solid-state structures of three osmium cored complexes are reported. The osmium complexes take the general form of [OsCl(N–N)(L–L)(CO)] þ hexafluorophosphate where N stands for a derivative of 1,10-phenanthroline and L stands for a phosphine type ligand. The emission of the complexes is shown to be blue shifted to the osmium emission of Os(bpy) 2þ 3 . The emissions of the various complexes range from yellow (560 nm) to yellow-green (550 nm) to green (520 nm). The quantum yields vary between 60% and 75%. The complexes show lifetimes that are much longer than expected with ranges of 6.5–38 ls. Crystallographic results show that the carbonyl is trans to a phenanthroline nitrogen and the chloro ligand is trans to phosphorus. A discussion will be presented as to the nature of the bonding in these complexes based upon the data from the crystallography.
Molecular cloning and expression of a hexameric Drosophila heat shock factor subject to negative regulation

We report the cloning of the transcriptional activator of heat shock genes, HSF, from Drosophila. The predicted sequence of Drosophila HSF protein is surprisingly divergent from that of yeast HSF, except in regions important for DNA binding and oligomerization. A segment of the DNA binding domain of HSF bears an intriguing similarity to the putative DNA recognition helix of bacterial sigma factors, while the oligomerization domain contains an unusual arrangement of conserved hydrophobic heptad repeats. Drosophila HSF produced in E. coli under nonshock conditions forms a hexamer that binds specifically to DNA with high affinity and activates transcription from a heat shock promoter in vitro. In contrast, when HSF is expressed in Xenopus oocytes, maximal DNA binding affinity is observed only after heat shock induction. These results suggest that Drosophila HSF has an intrinsic affinity for DNA, which is repressed under nonshock conditions in vivo.
Prenatal ethanol exposure alters neurotrophic activity in the developing rat hippocampus

Extract made from hippocampus of rat pups exposed prenatally to an ethanol-supplemented diet was found to contain more neurotrophic activity at postnatal day 21 than that from animals exposed to control diets, when quantified in a dorsal root ganglion bioassay. This apparent upregulation was specific to hippocampal extract (cerebellar and forebrain/midbrain extracts were also assessed), and to this age (P1, P7, P14 and P60 extracts were also tested). It was suggested that this upregulation may be indicative of, or secondary to, trauma resulting from fetal ethanol exposure. It is speculated that such departures from the normal developmental timetable could contribute to anomalies seen in the fetal alcohol syndrome.
The Influence of a Right-to-left Cardiac Shunt on Lidocaine Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of lidocaine were studied in 1-2-month-old lambs with surgically created, intracardiac right-to-left shunts (RLS) and in age-matched control lambs. Shunts were prepared by anastomosing the pulmonary artery to the left atrial appendage to achieve arterial oxygen saturation of 65-75%. Catheters were implanted both in the right atrium for drug infusion and in the ascending aorta for blood sampling. Lidocaine, 1 mg/kg, injected as a rapid bolus, or 12 mg/kg, injected as a continuous infusion over 15 min, was delivered into the right atrium. Serial samples of arterial blood were obtained every 2.5 s for 1 min following the bolus injection and up to 4 h following the continuous infusion. Samples were analyzed for lidocaine by gas chromatography. Peak arterial whole blood concentration of lidocaine in the shunted animals was 37.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms/ml compared to 21.1 +/- 0.1 microgram/ml in the control animals; P less than .01. The peak arterial concentrations during the lidocaine infusion were 12.6 +/- 3.5 micrograms/ml in the RLS and 5.8 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml in the controls. Total body clearance of lidocaine was decreased in the shunted animals to 30.7 +/- 13.2 ml.kg-1.min-1 from 68.1 +/- 12.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 in the control animals; P less than .001. The steady-state volume of distribution was also decreased in the shunted animals, 1.0 +/- 0.2 l/kg versus 2.0 +/- 0.7 l/kg in the controls; P less than .02. To induce convulsions 4.75 +/- 0.46 mg/kg of lidocaine was required in the shunted animals and 7.37 +/- 0.44 mg/kg in the control animals (P less than .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Correction of thin cirrus effects in the 0.4- to 1.0-um region using the 1.375-um cirrus-detecting channel

Using spectral imaging data acquired with the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) from an ER-2 aircraft at 20 km altitude during various field programs, it was found that narrow channels near the center of the strong 1 .38-jim water vapor band arevery effective in detecting thin cirrus clouds. Based on this observation from AVIRIS data, a channel centered at 1 .375im with a width of 30 nm was selected for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) for remote sensing of cirrus clouds from space. The sensitivity of the 1 .375-jim MODIS channel to detect thin cirrus clouds during the day time is expected to be one to two orders of magnitude better than the current infrared emission techniques. As a result, much larger fraction of the satellite data is expected to be identified as being covered by cirrus clouds. In order to make better studies of surface reflectance properties, thin cirrus effects must be removed from satellite images. We have developed an empirical approach for removing/correcting thin cirrus effects in the 0.4 - 1.0 j.tm region using channels near 1 .375 tim. This represents a step beyond the detection of cirrus clouds using water vapor absorption channels.
Introduction to IBM Cognos 8 business intelligence

As organizations look to turn data into information for improved decision making, Business Intelligence is the number one agenda item over CIOs for the third straight year, as cited by Gartner.
Self-similarity in quantum dynamics

We have developed a renormalization transformation, based on the existence of higher-order nonlinear resonances in the double-resonance model, that gives good predictions for the extension of the wave function in that system due to nonlinear resonance overlap. The double-resonance model describes the qualitative behavior, in local regions of the Hilbert space, of many quantum systems with two degrees of freedom whose dynamics is described by a nonlinear Hamiltonian but a linear Schr\"odinger equation.
Longitudinal relations between children's sleep and body mass index: the moderating role of socioeconomic risk

Two separate meta-analyses concluded that across nonexperimental studies of children and adolescents, there was consistent evidence of a negative association between short sleep duration and body mass index (BMI). Since 2008, a number of studies have not only provided additional evidence on relations between sleep and BMI but have also pushed the field forward by documenting longitudinal relations and, therefore, direction of effects, between multiple sleep parameters and BMI. Findings from longitudinal work suggest that insufficient and poor-quality sleep may be a contributing factor to the epidemic of youth who are overweight and obese. In a prospective longitudinal study with nearly 2000 children, Seegers et al found that a 1-hour decrease in parent-reported time in bed at age 10 years was a significant risk factor for obesity at age 13 years. Other longitudinal research found that shorter parentand child-reported sleep duration at ages 8 to 11 years predicted higher zBMI, but only for boys in the sample. Most recently, ElSheikh et al included actigraphic-assessed and subjectively reported sleep and used latent growthmodeling to examine relations between sleep and BMI from late childhood into early adolescence. Contrary to the findings of Storfer-Isser et al, results of this study were significant only for girls in the sample and suggested that child-reported sleep problems at 9 predicted higher BMI at age 11 years, whereas shorter objectively assessed sleep minutes predicted more growth in BMI over those 2 years. However, it is also worth noting that not all prior investigations have found significant longitudinal relations between BMI and sleep. Araujo et al examined the association between self-reported sleep duration and zBMI in a sample of more than 1000 adolescents. After accounting for zBMI at age 13 years, sleep duration did not predict zBMI at age 17 years. It is possible that through a more nuanced examination of the conditions under which the influence of sleep on BMI is heightened or buffered, a better understanding of inconsistencies across samples and studies will be gained. One factor that may moderate the relations between sleep and BMI is socioeconomic and family-level risks. Several individual risk factors have been shown in prior studies to be associated with both
Ground beef patties prepared from brisket, flank and plate have unique fatty acid and sensory characteristics

We hypothesized that unique ground beef products could be formulated from brisket, flank, and plate primals. Primals were taken from 4 USDA Select carcasses from conventionally produced cattle, selected at random in a commercial packing plant. Lean and fat trims were separated, and ground beef was formulated from each primal to contain 10, 20, or 30% total fat. Brisket patties contained higher proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids and less saturated fatty acids than flank patties. There were no differences in n-6 or n-3 fatty acids across primal type or fat level. After cooking, brisket patties had higher bloody/serumy and fat-like descriptor values than flank patties. Plate patties generated higher amounts of lipid-derived volatiles than patties from the brisket or flank. Brisket patties generally had higher amounts of pleasant headspace volatiles whereas the plate relied more heavily on Maillard-derived volatiles than flank patties. We conclude that individual primals can be used to formulate ground beef with unique compositional and flavor characteristics.
S-adenosylmethionine decreases the peak blood alcohol levels 3 h after an acute bolus of ethanol by inducing alcohol metabolizing enzymes in the liver.

Abstract Introduction An alcohol bolus causes the blood alcohol level (BAL) to peak at 1–2 h post ingestion. The ethanol elimination rate is regulated by alcohol metabolizing enzymes, primarily alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1). Recently, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) was found to reduce acute BALs 3 h after an alcohol bolus. The question, then, was: what is the mechanism involved in this reduction of BAL by feeding SAMe? To answer this question, we investigated the changes in ethanol metabolizing enzymes and the epigenetic changes that regulate the expression of these enzymes during acute binge drinking and chronic drinking. Methods Rats were fed a bolus of ethanol with or without SAMe, and were sacrificed at 3 h or 12 h after the bolus. Results RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that SAMe significantly induced ADH1 levels in the 3 h liver samples. However, SAMe did not affect the changes in ADH1 protein levels 12 h post bolus. Since SAMe is a methyl donor, it was postulated that the ADH1 gene expression up regulation at 3 h was due to a histone modification induced by methylation from methyl transferases. Dimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2), a modification responsible for gene expression activation, was found to be significantly increased by SAMe at 3 h post bolus. Conclusion These results correlated with the low BAL found at 3 h post bolus, and support the concept that SAMe increased the gene expression to increase the elimination rate of ethanol in binge drinking by increasing H3K4me2.
Further activities of Committee on Status and Needs in Hydrology (AGU)

The September 1963 issue of Transactions, American Geophysical Union, gave prominent attention to the formation and early activities of the Committee on Status and Needs. The Committee remains active as the recipient of a grant from the National Science Foundation, winch was given for studies to advance the science of Hydrology.