cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Canonical Correction Analysis on Relationship between Yield Traits and Main Quality Traits of Japonica Hybrid Rice in North China

106 crosses derived from10 sterile lines ×20 restorer lines were taken as the materials to study the relationship between the yield traits and the main quality traits by the canonical correlation analysis.The results showed that the relationship between the yield traits and the part of grain quality characters was close.The panicle length and the number of grain per panicle played an important role in the yield traits system and eating value,protein content,chalky rice percentage,fat content,milled rice width,length-width ratio of milled rice,brown rice rate played an important role in rice quality system.The panicle length,seed setting rate had a great effect on quality traits and milled rice rate,length-width ratio of milled rice were susceptible to selection of yield traits.
Review of Lymphadenitis/Lymph node Tuberculosis Following Bacilli Calmette-Guérin Vaccine

Lymphadenitis/lymph node tuberculosis following Bacilli Calmette-Guerin vaccine(BCG) including site investigation, diagnosis, medical treatment and disposal are reviewed at home and abroad in recent years in order to provide strong reference for dealing with lymphadenitis/lymph node tuberculosis after BCG immunization.
Influence of Post-stroke Depression on Early Restore

Objective: To study the influence of PSD (post-stroke depression) on early restore Method: 67 patients with acute stroke were evaluated with HAMD and NFA (neurological function assessment) They were followed for 6 months after discharge Results:The rate of PSD was 37%, most in mild to moderate levels Patients with PSD stayed longer in hospital than those without In follow up, patients with PSD had poor outcome in NFA Conclusion: PSD has negative influence on restore of stroke
Glass Probe Stimulation of Hair Cell Stereocilia

Hair cells are designed to sense mechanical stimuli of sound using their apical stereocilia hair bundles. Mechanical deflection of this hair bundle is converted into an electrical signal through gating of mechano-electric transduction channels. Stiff probe stimulation of hair bundles is an invaluable tool for studying the transduction channel and its associated processes because of the speed and ability to precisely control hair bundle position. Proper construction of these devices is critical to their ultimate performance as is appropriate placement of the probe onto the hair bundle. Here we describe the construction and use of a glass probe coupled to a piezo-electric actuator for stimulating hair bundles, including the basic technique for positioning of the stimulating probe onto the hair bundle. These piezo-electric stimulators can be adapted to other mechanically sensitive systems.
Solving Non-linear Estimation Equations

SUMMARY In this paper we consider the numerical computation of a vector parameter estimate 0 which is a root of a system of unbiased non-linear estimation equations. A sequence {0(r)} is constructed which converges with a probability approaching 1 to 0 from any starting value 0(0). Unlike Newton-type algorithms, the 0(r) do not involve matrices of partial derivatives. Furthermore it can be shown that 0(r) - 0 is of the order Op (n-"2) so that great accuracy is achieved in very few iterations. When the 0(r) do not have closed forms, an approximation is suggested. An alternative and usually simpler way is also found for deriving analytically the expected value of the matrix of partial derivatives in the asymptotic covariance matrix of 0. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated numerically and compared with that of the EM and the Newton-Raphson algorithms. Applications to some well-known statistical problems, including missing data analysis, variance component models, familial correlations and errors-in-variables models are also briefly discussed.
Detained and Distressed: Persistent Distressing Symptoms in a Population of Older Jail Inmates

Distressing symptoms are associated with poor function, acute care use, and mortality in older adults. The number of older jail inmates is increasing rapidly, prompting calls to develop systems of care to meet their healthcare needs, yet little is known about multidimensional symptom burden in this population. This cross-sectional study describes the prevalence and factors associated with distressing symptoms and the overlap between different forms of symptom distress in 125 older jail inmates in an urban county jail. Physical distress was assessed using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Several other forms of symptom distress were also examined, including psychological (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire), existential (Patient Dignity Inventory), and social (Three Item Loneliness Scale). Information was collected on participant sociodemographic characteristics, multimorbidity, serious mental illness (SMI), functional impairment, and behavioral health risk factors through self-report and chart review. Chi-square tests were used to identify factors associated with physical distress. Overlap between forms of distress was evaluated using set theory analysis. Overall, many participants (74%) reported distressing symptoms, including having one or more physical (44%), psychological (37%), existential (54%), or social (45%) symptoms. Physical distress was associated with poor health (multimorbidity, functional impairment, SMI) and low income. Of the 93 participants with any symptom, 49% reported three or more forms of distress. These findings suggest that an optimal model of care for this population would include a geriatrics-palliative care approach that integrates the management of all forms of symptom distress into a comprehensive treatment paradigm stretching from jail to the community.
A Robust Model Predictive Control Algorithm for Stable Nonlinear Plants

Abstract This paper presents a Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm that is robustly stabilizing for a large class of stable nonlinear processes. Model uncertainty is parameterized by a list of possible plants. Robust stability is achieved through addition of constraints that prevent the controller cost function from increasing for every plant in the uncertainty description. Robust stability is proven via a Lyapunov function argument.
Lessons in precision oncology from neoadjuvant endocrine therapy trials in ER+ breast cancer.

Abstract For post-menopausal women with clinical stage II/III estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) is an under-utilized and low-toxicity alternative to chemotherapy for increasing breast conservation rates. Individual responses to endocrine therapy can also be used to tailor systemic treatment. The Preoperative Endocrine Prognostic Index (PEPI) was developed to identify patients at low risk of relapse after NET so that adjuvant chemotherapy can safely be avoided. In a recent validation study, patients with pathological stage 1 or 2A breast cancers with a Ki67 value of 2.7% or less in the surgical specimen (PEPI = 0) after 16–18 weeks of aromatase inhibitor therapy had a 97% disease free survival after 5.5 years of median follow up. Two approaches are currently underway to extend the PEPI model. The first is to determine whether fulvestrant increases the PEPI-0 rate versus anastrozole, as this would increase the number of patients who could be safely managed without adjuvant chemotherapy. The second is to develop new approaches for tumors that exhibit endocrine therapy resistance identified during NET. Preliminary studies demonstrate that tumors that exhibit AI resistant proliferation in the neoadjuvant setting is often sensitive to palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Serial Ki67 monitoring before surgery is therefore logical approach to tailored use of adjuvant CDK4/6i adjuvant treatment. Finally serial sampling of the tumor inherent in the PEPI approach facilitates the identification of new therapeutic targets, mechanisms of resistance and monitoring of tumor evolution in response to AI therapy.
Comparative Psychology: Some Distinctions from Animal Behavior

Comparative psychology is defined as the application of the comparative method to the study of behaviors of organisms, including man. The method is drawn from and congruent with comparative study in areas such as biology, chemistry, and anthropology. Comparative method for psychology deals with analysis of behaviors by means of a sequence of methodological stages that include four preliminary stages, such as classification of behavior, and two comparative stages. Examples of the use of the comparative method in psychology are given. Comparisons among behaviors are distinguished from comparisons among species.
Insulin Resistance and NAFLD: A Dangerous Liaison beyond the Genetics.

Over the last decade, the understanding of the association between insulin resistance (IR) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has dramatically evolved. There is clear understanding that carriers of some common genetic variants, i.e., the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) or the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) are at risk of developing severe forms of NAFLD even in the presence of reduced or absent IR. In contrast, there are obese patients with “metabolic” (non-genetically driven) NAFLD who present severe IR. Owing to the epidemic obesity and the high prevalence of these genetic variants in the general population, the number of pediatric cases with combination of genetic and metabolic NAFLD is expected to be very high. Gut dysbiosis, excessive dietary intake of saturated fats/fructose-enriched foods and exposure to some chemicals contribute all to both IR and NAFLD, adding further complexity to the understanding of their relationship. Once NAFLD is established, IR can accelerate the progression to the more severe form of liver derangement that is the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
The Elusive Promise of Structural Reform

This Chapter reconsiders the notion of and rationale for ‘structural reforms.’ Structural reforms are changes in labor and product markets as well as wider institutional changes that aim to increase the efficiency with which labor and capital are allocated in the economy, ensuring that these resources go where their contribution to national income is largest. If successful, such changes promote productivity, investment, and growth. Structural reforms are often part of the conditionality accompanying financial assistance, and the assistance offered to Greece since 2010 is no exception; in fact, the package of required structural reforms is quite demanding. But their positive effects are often grossly overestimated; they are uncertain, they accrue only in the long run and will affect (if and when) only potential output. Convergence of actual output to potential output is very slow, at best. So, Greece, having already achieved a lot in terms of structural change, can only benefit marginally from more reforms in the near future. From a wider perspective, it is argued that ‘growth accelerations’ (on which the author has worked with Ricardo Hausmann and Lant Pritchett) are the results of selective, targeted reforms that address the ‘binding constraints’ that an economy faces, the key obstacles to growth rather than broad liberalization and economy-wide reforms. With Ricardo Hausmann and Andres Velasco, the author has identified such binding constraints in various economies. In this light, the author argues that the broad reforms required of Greece are misplaced; in contrast, a better prioritized reform strategy should focus on promoting exports.
Mumun, Proto-Three Kingdoms, and Three Kingdoms in Korea

The Mumun Period in Korea is characterized by the appearance of undecorated pottery, dolmens, and rice agriculture, followed by bronze weapons and mirrors. The Three Kingdoms of Korea are Koguryo in the northern part of the peninsula, Paekje in the west, and Silla in the southeast. These were all expansionist states, but Silla ultimately conquered Koguryo and Paekche, uniting most of the peninsula under its rule.
Pole studios as spaces between the adult entertainment, art, fitness and sporting fields.

Taking an ethnographic approach, this article examines how pole is taught and embodied within pole studios. Pole studios stand at the nexus of the expansion of pole dance from the field of adult en...
Real-Time Detection of Melatonin Using Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Melatonin is an important hormone whose functions span from regulating circadian rhythm in the brain to providing anti-inflammatory properties in the immune system. Melatonin secretion from the pineal gland is known; however, the mechanism of melatonin signaling in the immune system is not well understood. The lymph node is the hub of the immune system, and melatonin secretion from lymphocytes was proposed to be an important source specifically for regulating cytokine secretion. Methods exist to quantify the concentration of melatonin within biological samples; however, they often suffer from either a lack of selectivity for melatonin over common biological interferences or temporal resolution, which is not amenable to measuring real-time signaling dynamics. Here, we have characterized an electrochemical method for optimal melatonin detection with subsecond resolution using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes. The oxidation peaks detected for melatonin were at 1.0, 1.1, and 0.6 V....
Hand and Wrist Deformities

Pediatric upper extremity problems involving the hand and wrist are varied and range from acquired, traumatic conditions and chronic, congenital conditions. Knowledge of common pediatric hand and wrist deformities will help guide diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.
Holding Blackwater Accountable: Private Security Contractors and the Protections of Use Immunity

Private security contractors who commit crimes abroad enjoy extensive protection from prosecution. When private security contractors discharge weapons without authorization, the U.S. State Department immediately compels them to make official statements regarding the incidents. The statements are made under the threat of job loss, but are subsequently protected by immunity. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s dismissal of United States v. Slough highlights the difficulties prosecutors face in obtaining untainted evidence as a result of these protected statements. The Department of Justice has no control over grants of immunity to private security contractors and they face substantial obstacles in obtaining independent untainted evidence in war zones. As a result, prosecutors in Slough could not gather sufficient untainted evidence to hold employees of the private security firm Blackwater responsible for the homicide of fourteen Iraqi civilians. This Comment suggests the State Department should adopt procedural changes to avoid future challenges associated with compelled statements and allow successful prosecutions of private security contractors.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Clinical Renal Transplantation

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a new technique which is being applied with increasing frequency as a clinical and investigational tool in kidney transplantation. FNAB is a means of sampling cells from the interstitium of the renal cortex in order to analyze the nature of inflammatory and toxic events occurring within the organ (1). The technique is a utilization of our increased understanding of the sequential intragraft events that occur in the rejecting allograft (2–5). FNAB owes its introduction into clinical transplantation to the work of Hayry and Von Willebrand (1, 3–6), who adapted the technique first described for renal transplants by Pasternak (7). Though it is clearly a valuable new adjunct in the diagnostic armamentarium of the transplant physician, its final place in transplant management is yet to be finally determined.
Performance measures: Are we measuring what matters?

Abstract Background: The ultimate intent of healthcare performance measures is to improve health status by stimulating improvements to healthcare quality. This report evaluates how well current performance measurement sets address the leading causes of illness and death in the United States, using the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) as an example. Methods: We assessed whether HEDIS measures exist for the leading causes of illness and death according to five commonly used indices: physiologic cause of death, underlying cause of death, disability-adjusted life years, healthcare expenditures, and missed work days. Results: Fewer than one half of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality are addressed by current measures. Conclusions: The opportunities for using accurate and meaningful measurement for disease prevention and health promotion are substantial, yet this potential remains only partly realized and depends on further expansion of performance measurement efforts.
Extending venous thromboembolism secondary prevention with apixaban in cancer patients: The EVE trial

Background Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) carries a high rate of recurrence and death. Guidelines recommend continued anticoagulation therapy as long as active cancer persists. Apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily is the FDA-approved dose for secondary prevention regardless of VTE causation. Whether this apixaban dose is appropriate for secondary VTE prevention in cancer patients is not clear. The rationale and design of this investigator initiated phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, trial assessing apixaban 2.5 mg vs 5 mg twice daily for 12 months for the secondary VTE prevention in cancer patients (n = 370) who have completed 6 months (but no more than 12 months) of anticoagulation is provided (NCT03080883). Methods/design The primary study objective is to estimate differences in the combined rate of major plus clinically relevant non-major bleeding for apixaban 2.5 mg vs 5 mg twice daily. Secondary efficacy outcome is to assess rates of venous or arterial thromboembolism. Participating centers are chosen from the Academic and Community Cancer Research United (ACCRU) consortium. Conclusion We anticipate these trial results to provide evidence supporting low-dose apixaban as a safe agent for secondary prevention of cancer-associated VTE for patients who have already completed 6-12 months of anticoagulation.
Optimization of Pre-Operative Oral Analgesics in Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

Study Objective To determine the optimal time to administer pre-operative non-opioid oral analgesics to achieve superior post-operative pain modulation in patients undergoing outpatient minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign disease. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery practice. Patients or Participants Women undergoing benign minimally invasive hysterectomy. Interventions From January 2018 to October 2018, 60 women aged 34-67 years were randomized to treatment (n=30) and control (n=30). Patients in the treatment arm self-administered oral celecoxib, gabapentin, and acetaminophen 3-4 hours prior to surgery, while those in the control arm received these medications in the pre-anesthesia care unit. All patients were administered intravenous nausea and vomiting prophylaxis. Time of oral medication ingestion and orogastric tube placement were collected. Post-operatively, patients were administered intravenous ketorolac and pain scores were assessed on an eleven-point numeric rating scale. Pain medications and anti-emetics were administered as needed prior to discharge. Opioid consumption was collected and converted to oral morphine equivalents (OME). Patients were sent an electronic survey assessing patient satisfaction and surgical recovery score on post-operative day 10. Measurements and Main Results 53 subjects (29 in treatment and 24 in control) were included in the study. Baseline characteristics were balanced between treatment and control arms, with the exception of pre-existing gastro-esophageal reflux which was higher in the treatment group (20.7% vs. 0.0%, p=.026). 24.1% of the treatment arm required OME >50 compared to 41.7% of the control group (p=.174). There were no significant differences in pain score at discharge (p=.234), patient satisfaction (p=.90), or surgical recovery score (p=.189). Conclusion Advanced administration of pre-operative oral analgesia trended towards a decrease in immediate post-operative opioid use when compared to immediate pre-operative administration. Timing of administration had no impact on pain scores, patient satisfaction, or surgical recovery scores. Either technique of administration of pre-operative oral analgesia is acceptable.
A study on impacts of institutions on sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture

Abstract. The interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics framework is applied and assessment made on specific effects of major components of the “external” institutional environment on agrarian sustainability level in different administrative, geographical and ecological regions, subsectors of agriculture, and farms of variousjuridical type and size in Bulgaria. Our study has found out that individual elements of external institutional, market and natural environment affect quite unequally farms of different types, individual subsectors of agriculture, and specific ecological and geographical regions.This type of studies is to be expended and their precision and representation increased. The latter however, requires a close cooperation between all interested parties, and participation of the farmers, agrarian organizations, local and central authorities, interest groups, research institutes and experts, etc. Keywords. Institutional, Market, Natural environment, Governance, Agrarian sustainability, Bulgaria. JEL. Q13, Q12, Q18, D23, E61, H23, L14, L22, L33, L51.
Modified endoscopic Denker approach in management of inverted papilloma of the anterior maxillary sinus

Background Inverted papilloma (IP) is a benign epithelial tumor of the sinonasal cavity that is locally aggressive and has a propensity for recurrence. Tumors involving the anterior maxillary sinus can be challenging to reach endoscopically, and have historically been approached through a Caldwell-Luc or canine fossa trephination. We present a case series of 22 patients with maxillary IPs originating from the anterior wall, which were successfully resected using a modified endoscopic Denker (MED) procedure. This technique enables access to the entire maxillary sinus without the need for a separate transseptal or sublabial incision. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent the MED approach for management of maxillary IPs involving the anterior wall from 2012 to 2018. The demographic data, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, pathology, and surgical outcomes were reviewed. Results Twenty-two patients were identified, including 13 males and 9 females. Eighteen of the 22 patients had prior surgery and all had Krouse stage 3 disease. After a mean follow-up of 24 (range, 4-63) months, only 1 patient (4.5%) developed a recurrence, which was treated successfully with endoscopic resection. Complications included 1 patient with preoperative epiphora who required dacryocystorhinostomy, epistaxis in another, and 1 patient with transient upper lip numbness. No patients developed alar notching or pyriform aperture stenosis. Conclusion The MED technique is highly effective for surgical resection of primary and recurrent maxillary IPs involving the anterior wall, providing complete access to the entire maxillary sinus. In many cases, the MED can obviate the need for an adjunctive sublabial or transseptal incision, while also providing excellent exposure for postoperative surveillance.
Chapter 55 – Mucosal Vaccines: An Overview

This chapter is an overview of the section that follows, dealing with mucosal vaccines against bacterial and viral infections of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and the mouth and infections of veterinary importance. Various strategies have been developed for enhancing mucosal immunization through the use of adjuvants, delivery systems, bacterial or viral vectors, DNA vaccines, and vaccines produced in edible plants. Passive immunization and systemic vaccination against mucosal infections are also discussed.
Flying-Capacitor Voltage-Balancing Control in Five-Level Active Neutral-Point-Clamped (A-NPC) Converters Using Phase-Disposition PWM

A new control technique for five-level active neutral-point-clamped (A-NPC) inverters is proposed in this paper. The introduced method is based on a set of simple and effortless logic-variables and logic-equations. It actively balances the voltage of the flying-capacitor (FC) at its requisite value, and controls the 5-level A-NPC converter’s synthesized voltage according to phase-disposition pulse-width-modulation (PD-PWM) strategy. These logic-variables and equations are derived using the instantaneous measurements of output current and FC’s voltage. The regulation of the FC’s voltage at its reference operating level and generating the commanded voltage-levels of PD-PWM modulator at output with the less computational requirements are the control targets. The logic-equations and the proposed active balancing technique are validated using the experimental results which are obtained from the prototype of a five-level A-NPC inverter.
Eating on the go in Italy: between cibo di strada and street food

This article provides an initial assessment of the emergence of what Italians now call street food, in English. The relatively new and fashionable expression in a foreign language refers to the con...
Plant biodiversity in residential yards is influenced by people’s preferences for variety but limited by their income

Abstract Residential yards are a unique component of the urban environment and harbor high cultivated plant biodiversity; however, why and how people create yards with so many plant species is not well understood. To investigate this pattern, we studied the relationships between residents’ preferences, income, and yard plant biodiversity in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA where most of the urban vegetation is intentionally cultivated. We conducted in-person interviews, distributed written surveys, and inventoried the biodiversity (i.e., genus and species richness) of ornamental herbaceous flowering plants and lawn plants in residential yards located in neighborhoods across income levels. We found that 95% of surveyed residents valued having ‘plants that create variety in the yard’ (‘variety’ left open to interpretation) and that 47% of interviewed residents expressed an emotional connection to variety. On average, general plant variety was more important to residents than high plant biodiversity (i.e., a specified type of variety), but they also exhibited a preference for neat monoculture lawns lacking in biodiversity and other types of variety. Residents’ preferences for general plant variety, and biodiversity specifically, were not necessarily reflected in their yards. Higher income households had greater flowering plant variety in terms of number of different flower colors, inflorescence types, and genera, but lower lawn species biodiversity due to a reduction in weedy species. Overall, our study shows that most residents in this region prefer plant variety in their yards more than biodiversity specifically, and that people with higher incomes can better achieve these preferences.
Use of Real-World Evidence for Regulatory Approval and Coverage of Medical Devices: A Landscape Assessment.

Abstract Objectives To enhance the generalizability of the evidence it reviews, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has encouraged manufacturers to expand the submission of real-world evidence (RWE). The extent to which this evidence, which is generated outside of research settings, can support decision making remains unclear. We described the current use of RWE for medical devices, assessed manufacturers’ challenges in generating and using it for regulatory and coverage decisions, and identified opportunities to expand its use. Methods We conducted 27 solo and group interviews with FDA officials and representatives of device manufacturers, payers, and health technology assessment organizations. All interviews used a semistructured protocol and were transcribed to allow thematic analysis. Results Accessing and linking real-world data sources, identifying unique devices, capturing longitudinal data, limited staff expertise, and uncertain return on investment have hampered efforts to use real-world data. Many companies in our sample were conducting research using real-world data, but none had submitted RWE as the primary evidence supporting a premarket approval. FDA guidance was helpful, but regulatory requirements remained ambiguous and examples of successful regulatory decisions based on RWE were limited. Payers mainly used RWE to supplement experimental evidence in coverage decisions, evaluated both types of evidence in similar ways, and had concerns about the rigor of RWE. Conclusions Technical challenges may slow efforts to generate and use RWE in the near term. Additional regulatory guidance and examples, greater use of rigorous study designs and analytic methods, and continued stakeholder engagement could accelerate the use of RWE.
Extramedullary Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Presenting as a Subcutaneous Penile Mass.

Primary penile malignancy is a rare occurrence in the United States, with squamous carcinoma being the most common aetiology. Non-squamous penile cancers are scarcely reported in the literature. We present a unique case of a 65-year-old male with a history of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) previously in remission complaining of a painless subcutaneous bump on the base of the penis. Biopsy with histological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the recurrence of WM. This novel case illustrates an unusual presentation of the disease after being successfully managed with chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an asymptomatic individual. There is only another reported case in the literature of a patient with a similar presentation. We highlight the clinical features and presentation of this condition, including a consensus for the approach and management of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the penis.
Behavior of potentially toxic elements from stoker-boiler fly ash in Interior Alaska: paired batch leaching and solid-phase characterization.

Despite significant investigation of fly ash spills and mineralogical controls on the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from fly ash, interactions with the surficial environment remain relatively poorly understood. We conducted 90-day batch leaching studies with paired analysis of supernatant and solid-phase mineralogy to assess the elemental release and transformation of fly ash upon reaction with aquatic media (18 MΩ cm−1 water and simulated rainwater). The fly ash in this study, collected from the University of Alaska Fairbanks stoker-boiler power plant, is high in unburned carbon (~20% LOI) and highly enriched in several PTEs relative to the upper continental crust. Supernatant concentrations of oxyanion-forming elements (e.g., As, Se, Mo, Sb) remained relatively low and constant, suggesting equilibrium with the solid phase, possibly ettringite [Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12•26H2O], which is known to incorporate and sorb oxyanion-forming PTEs and was identified by X-ray diffraction. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) results failed to capture important temporal trends. Lead and Ba supernatant concentrations consistently exceeded drinking water standards, as well as others upon exposure to simulated physiological solutions. Seven-day experiments with dissolved organic matter-isolate solutions indicated that for certain elements, liberation was influenced by carbon concentration and/or the identity of the isolate. Overall, this paired approach can serve as a model for future studies, bridging existing gaps between batch leaching and single-element mineralogical, sorption, or speciation studies.
Addressing the Challenges Ahead in High Energy Density Physics and Inertial Fusion

High-energy-density (RED) physics has emerged as one of the frontiers of plasma science for the 21 st century. While this area of study dates back to the early years of the nuclear weapons program, the cessation of underground nuclear weapons testing and the initiation of Science Based Stockpile Stewardship in the early 1990 ‘s launched an era in which focused laboratory experimentation is challenging the fidelity of our theoretical understanding of the interaction of matter and radiation in some of the most extreme regimes ever produced in the laboratory. As a result, this area of research has been thrust to the forefront of scientific discovery. The ability to create, control, and diagnose such extreme states of matter is not only vital to the Stockpile Stewardship Program but is also advancing our fundamental understanding of the visible universe. In this presentation I will discuss what I see as some of the most compelling and challenging questions in HED science and the pursuit of inertial fusion, and how the NNSA is preparing to meet these challenges.
MEMS Enabled Asymmetric Slab Waveguide for Continuously Tunable Filter

This paper proposed a MEMS-enabled asymmetric slab waveguide integrated with a concave diffraction grating on a silicon-on-insulator platform to make a continuously tunable filter. The designed tunable filter could continuously filter three different channels at different wavelengths.
Proteolytic and Fibrinolytic Activity of Serum Activation by Streptokinase and Staphylokinase Indicating Dissimilarity of Enzymes

1. The fibrinolytic and proteolytic activity of serum plasminogen, activated by Streptokinase and Staphylokinase and measured by clot lysis and casein digestion, was studied in the following species of animals: human, cow, dog, horse, monkey, pig, rabbit, rat, and chicken. 2. A significant difference in fibrinolytic and proteolytic activity of serum plasminogen (activated by staphylokinase) was observed in three animal species: monkey, horse, and human. The significance of this observation is briefly discussed.
The Valuation of Used Capital Assets During Time Periods Exhibiting Alternative Degrees of Demand for Industrial Machinery and Equipment

The purpose of this study is to construct a valuation model for used capital assets during time periods exhibiting alternative degrees of de­ mand for industrial machinery and equipment. A data base containing approximately 45,000 new, used, and salvage price data was analyzed for the three diverse demand years of 1973, 1976, and 1980. The data base encompassed most of the standard specifications of industrial machinery and equipment utilized by business enterprises in var­ ious industries. The results indicate that the rela­ tionships among new current value, used current value, and salvage value are relatively constant over the diverse demand years. In addition, the results demonstrate that machine tools appear to retain the highest relative used value in the industrial ma­ chinery and equipment field; whereas medical and laboratory testing equipment possess a minimal used value due to the extreme technological changes in that field.
A comparison of social interactions between preschool students from Spanish speaking homes and preschool students from English speaking homes

This study examined the differences between preschool students from Spanish speaking homes and preschool students from English speaking homes in the areas of classroom conduct, social skills, and teacher-child relationship quality, as rated by their teachers. Data were taken from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project (EHSRE), a longitudinal study beginning in 1996. Participants in the current study included 1,034 parents, 1,034 children, and 743 teachers. Significant results revealed that students from Spanish speaking homes were rated more positively in the areas of classroom conduct and teacher-child relationship quality than students from English speaking homes. Analyses of sex differences yielded significant results, indicating that females were rated more positively than males in the areas of classroom conduct, social skills, and teacher-child relationship quality. Finally, classroom quality and receptive language scores accounted for some of the variance in the home language groups on the measures of classroom conduct and teacher-child relationship quality. The need for future research and implications for the social development of English learners are discussed.
Effect of noise on chaotic fuzzy mappings

Chaotic mappings in the space of fuzzy sets induced by mappings of the underlying reference set are investigated. Different fuzzification schemes are considered and their impact on the resultant iterated fuzzy set, under a quadratic mapping, is studied numerically. The fuzzy set mapping is described in terms of the mapping of level cuts, resulting from the resolution theorem for fuzzy sets. In the two-dimensional case a generalized notion, given as a fuzzy set, of the Hausdorff dimension is formulated. An example, based on the Henon mapping, is provided.
Effects of neuropeptide Y at sympathetic neuroeffector junctions.

Publisher Summary Evidence for the existence of these three cotransmitters—norepinephrine(NE), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—has come from studies showing that they are located in sympathetic nerves and that they can be released under appropriate conditions. In addition, the application of each transmitter mimics a phase of sympathetic nerve stimulation and each phase can be blocked with appropriate antagonists. Earliere studies included the perfused mesenteric arterial bed of the rat and the nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell. Both preparations were set up and utilized as previously described. The release of mediators was induced by periarterial nerve stimulation of the mesenteric arterial bed or depolarization with high K + (50 mM) of the PC12 cell. Nerve stimulation of the perfused mesenteric arterial bed resulted in the release of NE, ATP, and NPY. The release of NE was inhibited by NPY and NPY analogues. The ability of NPY to inhibit the evoked release of NE from the perfused mesenteric arterial bed of 8- to 10-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHRs) was attenuated compared with WKY rats while the postjunctional potentiation of the contractile effect induced by nerve stimulation or the exogenous administration of NE or ATP was enhanced. These results are consistent with alterations in the normal function of NPY playing a role in the development of hypertension in the SHR.
Graphing and Linear Systems

This chapter describes graphing and linear systems. It presents graph ordered pairs. As linear equations in two variables have solution sets made up of ordered pairs, the graphs of those solution sets are examined. To graph an ordered pair, one needs two real number lines—one associated with the first coordinate and one associated with the second coordinate. The rectangular coordinate system is built from two number lines oriented perpendicular to each other. The horizontal number line is exactly the same as real number line and is called the x -axis. The vertical number line is also the same as our real number line with the positive direction up and the negative direction down. It is called the y - axis. The point where the two axes intersect is called the origin. The axes divide the plane into four quadrants that are numbered I through IV in a counter clockwise direction.
Phorbol ester induces both gene expression and phosphorylation of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump

Regulation of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump in the cell is of critical importance in maintaining calcium homeostasis. Since protein kinase C is known to regulate functions of cellular proteins by direct phosphorylation or by inducing their gene expression, we investigated the possible involvement of protein kinase C in the regulation of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. The Ca2+ pump was isolated by immunoprecipitation from [32P]orthophosphate-labeled cultured rat aortic endothelial cells grown in the absence or presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C. PMA treatment of cells led to a rapid increase in the phosphorylation level (1.3-fold) within 5 min and a further increase to 2.9-fold after 3 h. Prolonged PMA treatment also induced the accumulation of the Ca2+ pump mRNA, followed by increased levels of the pump protein. The peak level of the pump mRNA induction occurred at 4 h and was 8-20-fold higher than the control culture without PMA. The rate of the Ca2+ pump protein accumulation was slower, reaching a maximum of 3.5-fold after 6 h. Induction of the pump mRNA was suppressed by the protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine and by down-regulation of protein kinase C. Inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol didecanoate also failed to mimic the PMA effect. These results suggest that the induction of Ca2+ pump expression is mediated by a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, since the induction of the Ca2+ pump mRNA was blocked when cycloheximide and PMA were added together, this suggests that newly synthesized protein factor is needed to produce the mRNA induction. Our results suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of the Ca2+ pump in endothelial cells. At the protein level, it modifies the Ca2+ pump by phosphorylation, and at the gene level, it stimulates the expression of its mRNA and thereby increases the amount of the pump protein.
The Constitution, Aliens Control Act, and Xenophobia: The Struggle to Protect South Africa's Pariah-the Undocumented Immigrant

Since the fall of the apartheid regime and the dawn of a promising democratic government, immigrants1 from neighboring southern African countries have increasingly sought entry into South Africa.2 Awaiting these immigrants, in stark contrast to their expectations of social and legal security, is a harsh climate of xenophobia.3 South Africa, burdened by the need to repudiate the violent history of the apartheid regime and to transform into a democratic society, has had little patience to address the needs of immigrants. A confluence of factors has created a hostile environment for immigrants. These factors include: a culture of violence cultivated by the apartheid regime; current domestic problems which test South Africa's resources; the public's unrealistic expectations of post-apartheid South Africa, which are reinforced by the government's Reconstruction and Development Program;4
Simulation of SOI transistor circuits through non-equilibrium initial condition analysis (NEICA)

The simulation of circuits containing silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors encounters specific difficulties mainly due to the presence of the insulated body nodes, i.e., connected by high impedance connections with the rest of the circuit. These high impedance connections cause the charges stored in transistor body nodes to change at much slower rates than the normal operation of the circuit. Therefore the short term operation of a circuit will be strongly dependent on the state of the SOI transistor body charge, which in turn depends on the activity of the transistor during thousands of the previous cycles: the history effect. The presence of high impedance connections has another adverse effect on the simulation of such circuits: circuit matrices become severely ill-conditioned, thus slowing down or even compromising the convergence of the initial DC solution. In this paper, we are introducing the novel non-equilibrium, initial condition analysis (NEICA), as the preferred initialization method for circuits containing SOI devices. This method allows the user full control of the initial state of the SOI devices, preserves full insight into the physical phenomenon, and leads to a well-conditioned and thus reliable transient analysis initialization problem. The method is easily implemented in most existing circuit simulation programs and facilitates other important applications beyond the analysis of SOI transistor circuits. ESD analysis, and simulation of the effects of charged particles hitting circuits, are just two such examples.
Soil microbial responses to nitrogen addition in arid ecosystems

The N cycle of arid ecosystems is influenced by low soil organic matter, high soil pH and extremes in water potential and temperature that lead to open canopies and development of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). We investigated the effects of N amendment on soil microbial dynamics in a Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa shrubland site in southern Nevada USA. Sites were fertilized with a NO3-NH4 mix at 0, 7, and 15 kg ha-1 yr-1 from March 2012 to March 2013. In March 2013, biocrust (0-0.5 cm) and bulk soils (0-10 cm) were collected beneath Ambrosia canopies and in the interspaces between plants. Biomass responses were assessed as bacterial and fungal SSU rRNA gene copy number and chlorophyll a concentration. Metabolic responses were measured by five ecoenzyme activities (EEA) and rates of N transformation. By most measures, nutrient availability, microbial biomass and process rates were greater in soils beneath the shrub canopy compared to the interspace between plants, and greater in the surface biocrust horizon compared to the deeper 10 cm soil profile. Most measures responded positively to experimental N addition. Effect sizes were generally greater for bulk soil than biocrust. Results were incorporated into a meta-analysis of arid ecosystem responses to N.
CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE AND GENE REGULATION

Abstract The packaging of DNA in chromosomes presents obstacles to the action of gene regulatory proteins and polymerases on their natural chromatin substrates. We critically assess previously existing ideas for how these obstacles may be overcome, and then summarize a recently proposed model and discuss its implications.
A hierarchical classification scheme for computationally efficient damage classification

AbstractThis article presents a methodology for data mining of sensor signals in a structural health monitoring (SHM) framework for damage classification using a machine-learning-based approach called support vector machines (SVMs). A hierarchical decision tree structure is constructed for damage classification and experiments were conducted on metallic and composite test specimens with surface mounted piezoelectric transducers. Damage was induced in the specimens by fatigue, impact, and tensile loading; in addition, specimens with seeded delaminations were also considered. Data were collected from the surface mounted sensors at different severities of induced damage. A matching pursuit decomposition (MPD) algorithm was used as a feature extraction technique to preprocess the sensor data and extract the input vectors used in classification. Using this binary tree framework, the computational intensity of each successive classifier is reduced and the efficiency of the algorithm as a whole is increased. The...
Spectral properties of helical quantum wires

Abstract The spectrum of states of a helical quantum wire has been investigated theoretically. Eigenstates were found using an exact method based on alternating-direction implicit (ADI) evolution in imaginary time, for a wavefunction defined at discrete points in occupation number space and a nearest-neighbor interaction. A helical wire is a special case of a one-dimensional superlattice with an infinitesimal glide symmetry and associated glide-momentum quantum number. The continuous symmetry prevents the appearance of band gaps. Energy eigenstates have unquenched angular momentum--angular momentum increases with glide momentum. Band anharmonicity and angular momentum nonlinearity demonstrate effects of centrifugal acceleration.
A stochastic petri net with applications to modelling occupancy times for concurrent task systems

A random Petri net model is presented and analyzed. The model has application to systems involving concurrency.