cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rolling horizon stochastic optimal control strategy for ACC and CACC under uncertainty

Abstract This paper presents a rolling horizon stochastic optimal control strategy for both Adaptive Cruise Control and Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control under uncertainty based on the constant time gap policy. Specifically, uncertainties that can arise in vehicle control systems and vehicle sensor measurements are represented as normally-distributed disturbances to state and measurement equations in a state-space formulation. Then, acceleration sequence of a controlled vehicle is determined by optimizing an objective function that captures control efficiency and driving comfort over a predictive horizon, constrained by bounded acceleration/deceleration and collision protection. The optimization problem is formulated as a linearly constrained linear quadratic Gaussian problem and solved using a separation principle, Lagrangian relaxation, and Kalman filter. A sensitivity analysis and a scenario-based analysis via simulations demonstrate that the proposed control strategy can generate smoother vehicle control and perform better than a deterministic feedback controller, particularly under small system disturbances and large measurement disturbances.
Pharmacological inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 and insights into postprandial gut peptide secretion.

Pharmacological inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 and insights into postprandial gut peptide secretion
Age, Period, and Cohort Effects

Age, period, and cohort (APC) are the time dimensions that characterize social and demographic phenomena such as birth, death, disease incidence, divorce, suicide, and crime. Among them, cohort receives the largest amount of attention from sociologists due to its close connection with social change. While social change is a major driving force behind cohort differences, cohort replacements also allow the occurrence of social change. Intuitively, it is hard to identify precisely which time dimension is the major driving force behind a given sociohistorical trend because both age and period effects are confounded in the cohort effect. While remarkable progress in APC statistical models has been made, developments in this field are still needed. Keywords: age; cohort; life course; period
The Arrival of Robotics in Spine Surgery: A Review of the Literature.

Study Design.Systematic review.Objective.The authors aim to review comparative outcome measures between robotic and free-hand spine surgical procedures including: accuracy of spinal instrumentation, radiation exposure, operative time, hospital stay, and complication rates.Summary of Background Data.
Association of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 with Death and Atherosclerotic Events in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ­(MCP-1), a marker of inflammation and monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic plaques, is associated with cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Although plasma levels are elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD), associations with reduced kidney function or outcomes in CKD have not been explored. Methods: In this population-based, probability-sampled, longitudinal cohort of 3,257 participants, including 286 (8.8%) patients with CKD, we studied the association of plasma MCP-1 with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albuminuria, death, and intermediate and hard CV outcomes in CKD and non-CKD individuals. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed associations of baseline MCP-1 with all-cause death and atherosclerotic events. Results: MCP-1 was higher in CKD than non-CKD participants (p < 0.001), and negatively associated with eGFR (r = –0.23, p < 0.0001) but not albuminuria in CKD. MCP-1 was associated with pulse wave velocity and coronary artery calcification in non-CKD but not CKD individuals. At 13.5 years, there were 230 (7.7%) deaths and 168 (6.4%) atherosclerotic events in the non-CKD vs. 97 (34.0%) deaths and 62 (27.9%) events in the CKD group (p < 0.001 for each). MCP-1 was associated with death (hazards ratio [HR] 2.0 [1.4–2.9] per log-unit increase) and atherosclerotic events (1.7 [1.0–2.9]) in CKD individuals. The HR for death in CKD remained significant (1.6 [1.1–2.3]) after adjusting for CV risk factors. Conclusions: Although plasma MCP-1 increased with decreased eGFR, it remained an independent risk factor for death in CKD. MCP-1 did not correlate with intermediate CV outcomes, implicating pathways other than atherosclerosis in the association of MCP-1 with death in CKD.
Introduction: The Design Imperative

Design is significant from both managerial and consumer standpoints. The chapter begins with an exploration of the importance of design in the marketplace. Then, the chapter provides a brief history of the design discipline and proposes a definition of “good design.”
Ensemble Monte-Carlo planning: an empirical study

Monte-Carlo planning algorithms, such as UCT, select actions at each decision epoch by intelligently expanding a single search tree given the available time and then selecting the best root action. Recent work has provided evidence that it can be advantageous to instead construct an ensemble of search trees and to make a decision according to a weighted vote. However, these prior investigations have only considered the application domains of Go and Solitaire and were limited in the scope of ensemble configurations considered. In this paper, we conduct a more exhaustive empirical study of ensemble Monte-Carlo planning using the UCT algorithm in a set of six additional domains. In particular, we evaluate the advantages of a broad set of ensemble configurations in terms of space and time efficiency in both parallel and single-core models. Our results demonstrate that ensembles are an effective way to improve performance per unit time given a parallel time model and performance per unit space in a single-core model. However, contrary to prior isolated observations, we did not find significant evidence that ensembles improve performance per unit time in a single-core model.
Psychological Aspects to Consider Within Laser Treatments

Cosmetic treatments have become increasingly popular over the past decade with the advent of new techniques and devices, such as lasers. According to recent statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), there were nearly 11.5 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2006. The majority were nonsurgical with over 2.2 million laser procedures performed for hair removal, skin resurfacing and treatment of leg veins. Approximately 93% of laser skin resurfacing procedures were performed with non ablative techniques.1
Human Adaptations for Mating: Frameworks for Understanding Patterns of Family Formation and Fertility

Reproductive and mating systems vary substantially across modern and traditional human societies. A variety of conceptual tools may be required to explain this variation. This chapter discusses an explanatory framework based on the notion of evoked culture. Evoked cultural differences emerge when behavioral expression of an adaptation is contingent on environmental conditions, such that the behavior of groups exposed to different conditions consequently differs. This chapter has a number of components. First, it offers a brief primer of adaptationist concepts and methodologies within evolutionary biology. Second, it discusses how these methodologies have been used to infer particular adaptations underlying human mating. Third, it examines how some adaptations may have been shaped by selection to be expressed contingently, giving rise to variation. Finally, limitations and potentially useful applications of the evoked culture concept (e.g., illustrated by effects of the contraceptive pill on women’s mate choice) are discussed.
Advanced Numerical Methods for NWP Models

Abstract : The long-term goal of this project is to develop a next-generation global atmospheric numerical prediction model that can take advantage of projected computational processing technology to make efficient, high-resolution global modeling a reality. The Navy Spectral Element Atmospheric Model (NSEAM) uses icosahedral grid structures that employ local spectral elements to generate highly accurate and highly scalable global weather forecasts. NSEAM is expected to allow for the Navy to use global models to predict the weather at resolutions of 25 km and less in the coming years.
The Use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perceptions, Practices, and Barriers

Context Incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into daily routine is essential for patient-centered clinical practice. Secondary school athletic trainers (ATs) may encounter unique barriers...
Neuroimmune Activation Drives Multiple Brain States.

Neuroimmune signaling is increasingly identified as a critical component of neuronal processes underlying memory, emotion and cognition. The interactions of microglia and astrocytes with neurons and synapses, and the individual cytokines and immune signaling molecules that mediate these interactions are a current focus of much research. Here, we discuss neuroimmune activation as a mechanism triggering different states that modulate cognitive and affective processes to allow for appropriate behavior during and after illness or injury. We propose that these states lie on a continuum from a naive homeostatic baseline state in the absence of stimulation, to acute neuroimmune activity and chronic activation. Importantly, consequences of illness or injury including cognitive deficits and mood impairments can persist long after resolution of immune signaling. This suggests that neuroimmune activation also results in an enduring shift in the homeostatic baseline state with long lasting consequences for neural function and behavior. Such different states can be identified in a multidimensional way, using patterns of cytokine and glial activation, behavioral and cognitive changes, and epigenetic signatures. Identifying distinct neuroimmune states and their consequences for neural function will provide a framework for predicting vulnerability to disorders of memory, cognition and emotion both during and long after recovery from illness.
Transnational Mobility and Global Health : Traversing Borders and Boundaries

Transnational Mobility and Global Health spotlights the powerful and dynamic intersections of human movement, inequality, and health. The book explores the interacting political, economic, social, cultural, and climatic drivers of health and migration, proposing innovative ways to enhance global health and care provision in an era of transnational mobility. As health security continues to rise up the agenda in international politics, the book also analyses the political determinants of health and migration. Within the framework of key drivers of unequal mobilities, this book treats interconnected health and migration themes not covered elsewhere under one cover: health tourism, conflict-induced and other vulnerable-population movements, humanitarian crises, human rights, the health-development linkage, migrant health-care, and health-competency education. The book also considers global health vulnerabilities in the wake of climate change, and the biomedical, ethical, and governance challenges of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. Finally, the book suggests ways of evaluating mobility-influenced health outcomes and equity impacts, and explores how the global circulation of health expertise could help to rectify care-provider shortages. The challenges to global health considered in this book are only likely to become more intense as the 21st-Century surge in transnational migration continues. Readers will gain interdisciplinary appreciation for the relevance of health for migration and of migration for global health. Researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers interested in individual and population health, sustainable development, and migration studies will find this book a useful and inspiring guide to contemporary global challenges.
The contribution of drug-related deaths to the US disadvantage in mortality

BACKGROUND The USA ranks last in life expectancy among high-income countries. Since 2000, excess US mortality has been particularly concentrated in the working ages, which are also the ages hardest hit by the increase in drug deaths. This study measures the effect of drug-related mortality on the gap in life expectancy between the USA and other countries. METHODS Data from the Human Mortality Database and the World Health Organization were combined to construct age-standardized mortality rates for 2000-14 in 12 high-income countries and the USA for seven broad causes of death, including drug use. The contribution of each cause to the difference in life expectancy between the USA and the other 12 countries was estimated. RESULTS In 2014, the increase in drug-related deaths accounted for 10-15% of the US disadvantage in mortality, but with marked differences by age group. For working-age men, the increase in drug-related deaths accounted for up to 38% of the difference. Overall, American mortality is higher than the comparison countries across a wide range of causes. CONCLUSIONS The severity of the drug epidemic appears to be specific to the USA, but it only partly contributes to the American shortfall in mortality.
Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low-risk surgical patients: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a valid option for patients with high or intermediate surgical risk. However, clinical outcomes of TAVR in low-risk patients are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-surgical-risk patients. Methods Electronic database review was conducted for all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared TAVR versus SAVR in low-risk patients. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Results We included 3 RCTs totaling 604 patients (310 TAVR and 294 SAVR). Our results showed no significant difference in mortality between TAVR compared with SAVR (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.22–2.30; P = 0.56), however, there was a significantly increased risk of pacemaker implantation (RR = 7.28; 95% CI = 3.94–13.42; P Conclusions Among low-risk patients, TAVR offered comparable efficacy outcomes and fewer bleeding events compared with SAVR. There were increased risks of pacemaker implantation and PVL associated with TAVR, though lower atrial fibrillation risks.
Pedagogical strategies for integrating SEO into technical communication curricula

Preparing students to understand and practice search engine optimization (SEO) teaches them writing skills, technological literacies, and theoretical background needed to pursue a successful technical communication career. SEO employs a multifaceted skillset, including an understanding of coding, skills in shaping and crafting effective user experience (UX), marketing skills, effective research strategies, and competence in accessibility. We argue that instruction in SEO in undergraduate and graduate programs in technical communication prepares graduates for the interdisciplinary and agile profession they seek to enter and enables them to be successful in positions from information architect to technical editor. Our article details how studying and enacting SEO helps students to develop proficiencies and knowledge central to technical communication pedagogies, including technological literacies, an understanding of the interconnections between human and non-human actors in digital spaces, and the ethical concerns central to work within those spaces. We then detail how SEO can be incorporated into technical communication curricula and share details of client-based projects that can facilitate that integration..
Congress as Public Enemy: Public Attitudes toward American Political Institutions

This timely book describes and explains the American people's alleged hatred of their own branch of government, the US Congress. Intensive focus group sessions held across the country and a specially designed national survey indicate that much of the negativity is generated by popular perceptions of the processes of governing visible in Congress. John Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse argue that, although the public is deeply disturbed by debate, compromise, delicate pace, the presence of interest groups, and the professionalization of politics, many of these traits are actually endemic to modern democratic government. Congress is an enemy of the public partially because it is so public. Calls for reform, such as term limitations, reflect the public's desire to attack these disliked features. But the authors conclude, the public's unwitting desire to reform democracy out of a democratic legislature is a cure more dangerous than the disease.
Scalable Downward Routing for Wireless Sensor Networks Actuation

In this paper, we study the downward routing for network control/actuation in large-scale and heterogeneous wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We propose the opportunistic source routing (OSR), a scalable and reliable downward routing protocol for WSNs. OSR introduces opportunistic routing into traditional source routing based on the parent set of a node’s upward routing in data collection, significantly addressing the drastic link dynamics in low-power and lossy WSNs. We devise a novel adaptive Bloom filter mechanism to effectively and efficiently encode the downward source-route in OSR, which enables a significant reduction of the length of source-route field in the packet header. OSR is scalable to very large-size WSN deployments, since each resource-constrained node in the network stores only the set of its direct children. We present an analytical scalability model and evaluate the performance of OSR via both the simulations and real-world testbed experiments, in comparison with the standard RPL (both storing mode and non-storing mode), ORPL, and the representative dissemination protocol Drip. Our results show that the OSR significantly outperforms RPL and ORPL in scalability and reliability. OSR also achieves significantly better energy efficiency compared with TinyRPL and Drip which are based on the same TinyOS platform as OSR implementation.
Contextualizing the black church: Analysis of newspaper coverage in the Obama–Wright controversy:

This study analyzed the contextualized reporting about the black church in newspaper coverage of the 2008 US presidential primary campaign, during which inflammatory sermons by Reverend Jeremiah Wr...
Apolitical SALT-free Tax Equilibria

Abstract A decades old debate regarding the state and local tax (SALT) deduction component of federal tax policy has received renewed attention in light of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Some have argued that greater economic efficiency is induced when such deductions are abolished. We examine the equilibrium implications of embracing a SALT-free doctrine in which SALT deductions are explicitly prohibited from federal tax code. We find that in the apolitical context of coherent welfare optimization, SALT-free doctrine will decrease, not increase, economic efficiency. Moreover, the presence of SALT deductions can facilitate maximization of federal welfare and relax equilibrium tax burdens on a nation’s citizenry.
Assessing the Relationship between Retail Store Tobacco Advertising and Local Tobacco Control Policies: A Massachusetts Case Study

Objective. This study documents the extent of tobacco ads in retail stores and evaluates its association with the comprehensiveness of local tobacco control policies in the state of Massachusetts, US. Methods. Using a two-stage cluster sampling method, we sampled 419 retail stores across 42 municipalities to assess the presence and count of nine mutually exclusive tobacco ad categories. Tobacco ads by store type and municipality were analyzed using summary statistics and contingency tables. Regression models tested the association between the extent of tobacco ads and local tobacco control policy comprehensiveness. Results. Overall, 86.6% (n = 363) of all the retail stores had tobacco ads. On average, there were 6.7 ads per retail store (SD = 6.61) and 2804 ads across all the retail stores (range = 0 : 32). Retail stores had an average of three different categories of tobacco ads (mean = 2.98, SD = 1.84). Across all retail stores, the most frequent ad categories were power walls (80.0%) and e-cigarette ads (55.8%). Retail stores in municipalities with more comprehensive local tobacco control policies were more likely to have fewer tobacco ads (IRR = 0.92, ) and a lower number of tobacco ad categories (OR = 0.88, ). Conclusion. Municipalities can adopt more comprehensive tobacco control policies to help limit the extent of tobacco retail advertising. This can ultimately reduce smoking in their jurisdiction.
Abstract 147: Screening for Developmental and Injury-Induced Genes That Facilitate Heart Regeneration

The adult mammalian heart has a limited capacity to regenerate upon injury, such as myocardial infarction (MI). MI in adult mouse hearts results in a reduced cardiac function, due to extensive loss...
Doing communication science: thoughts on making more valid claims

As part of this special issue on validity, this essay addresses practices for research in both measurement and methodology through the lens of the philosophy of science. The essay has three primary...
Avalonian arc-to-platform transition in southeastern New England: U-Pb geochronology and stratigraphy of Ediacaran Cambridge "argillite," Boston Basin, Massachusetts, USA

High-precision CA-TIMS 206Pb/238U zircon dates clarify the age and tectonic significance of the Cambridge Formation which is poorly exposed in the Boston Basin, eastern Massachusetts, but transected by ∼50 km of tunnels beneath the mainland and Boston Harbor. The youngest detrital zircon in a sample from the northern Braintree Weymouth Tunnel establishes a maximum depositional age of 584.09 ± 1.98 Ma, consistent with sources in sills of that age in underlying Roxbury Conglomerate. A 551.22 ± 0.20 Ma ash bed from the Mystic Quarry in Somerville, Massachusetts lies near the top of an approximately 5350 m thick, dominantly argillaceous section measured in subsurface cross sections. These were constructed from attitudes reported in pre-1960 tunnels and from mapping logs obtained from tunnels completed decades later during the federally ordered clean-up of Boston Harbor. A 488.58 ± 0.16 Ma aplite sill intruding argillite ∼800 m above the ash bed sets the minimum depositional age on the north side of the Basin. A tighter constraint comes from trilobite-bearing strata of the lower Cambrian Weymouth Formation located south of Boston that overlies the Cambridge Formation without obvious break in the Braintree Weymouth Tunnel. If Cambridge deposition was continuous after 584 Ma, the depositional interval would exceed 40 million years. An estimated ∼20 Ma depositional hiatus seems more likely because the base of the Cambridge Formation appears to define a regional unconformity above which argillite rests variously on magmatic arc-related units of both the 595 to 584 Ma Roxbury Conglomerate and the 597 to 593 Ma Lynn-Mattapan Volcanic Complex. Cambridge deposition set in once arc activity in more northerly “West” Avalonian terranes extending through Atlantic Canada to the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland had given way to wrench faulting and bimodal magmatism. This regime is manifested structurally in Boston-area tunnels by later-reactivated normal faults in which hanging wall blocks of Cambridge argillite were originally downthrown relative to older footwall units. Pyroclastic volcanic textures and thin basaltic flows with soft sediment contacts are present in argillite of the City Tunnel Extension, and whole rock major element and REE compositions reveal mixed terrigenous and volcanic components deposited under marine conditions throughout the Basin. Proposed sources for the latter are voluminous eruptions recorded in the 560 to 550 Ma Coldbrook Group in New Brunswick9s Caledonia terrane.
Black Sociologists and Civic Engagement

Black sociologists have a long history of correlating their professional and personal lives through civic engagement. This study considers the status of Black sociologists by focusing on their efforts to enhance the life chances and quality of life in the Black community through both political and non-political processes. Informed by research on civic engagement in the Black community and quantitative analyses, this project examines the influence of demographics, professional affiliations, attitudes, and interaction indicators on the time and money donated weekly toward civic engagement for a cadre of 146 Black sociologists. Results show that the amount of time and money contributed toward civic engagement is influenced by: attitudinal variables about civic-mindedness; excitement about the efforts of civic organizations in which Black sociologists are most active; and the breadth of social services offered by those organizations. Although involvement in a national, predominately Black civic organization does not influence civic engagement, older individuals who are most active in Black Greek organizations contribute more time to civic engagement compared with their peers; females who are most active in Black Greek organizations contribute more money to civic engagement than their peers. Implications for strategic civic involvement, policies, and cause competition among Black sociologists are suggested.
An unusual nucleosomal sequence pattern is enriched in mammalian genes

Abstract Nucleosomal DNA sequences generally follow a well-known pattern with ∼10-bp periodic WW (where W is A or T) dinucleotides that oscillate in phase with each other and out of phase with SS (where S is G or C) dinucleotides. However, nucleosomes having a DNA sequence pattern inverse to the conventional one have not been systematically analyzed in eukaryotes. Here, we show that anti-WW/SS nucleosomes are widespread and exhibit a species- and context-specific distribution in the genomes. The enrichment of anti-WW/SS nucleosomes in mammalian genomes is positively correlated with RNA Pol II transcriptional levels, but negatively correlated with the presence of the periodic WW or SS sequence patterns. In addition, chromatin remodeling complexes have an impact on the abundance of anti-WW/SS nucleosomes. The data reveal distinct roles of cis- and trans-acting factors in the rotational positioning of nucleosomes between non-mammals and mammals. Implications of the anti-WW/SS sequence pattern for RNA Pol II transcription are discussed.
Structure of a Stable Interstrand DNA Cross-Link Involving a β-N-Glycosyl Linkage Between an N6-dA Amino Group and an Abasic Site.

Abasic (AP) sites are one of the most common forms of DNA damage. The deoxyribose ring of AP sites undergoes anomerization between α and β configurations, via an electrophilic aldehyde intermediate...
Reaching Spanish-Speakers in Self-Administered Surveys

Decisions on public policy can be affected if important segments of the population are systematically excluded from the data used to drive the decisions. In the US, Spanishspeakers make up an important subgroup that surveys conducted in English-only underrepresent. This subgroup differs in a variety of characteristics and they are less likely to respond to surveys in English-only. These factors lead to nonresponse biases that are problematic for survey estimates. For surveys conducted by mail, one solution is to include both English and Spanish materials in the survey package. For addresses in the US where Spanish-speakers are likely to be living, this approach is effective, but it still may omit some non-English-speakers. Traditionally, including both English and Spanish materials for addresses not identified as likely to have Spanish-speakers was considered problematic due to concerns of a backlash effect. The backlash effect is that predominantly English-speakers might respond at a lower rate because of the inclusion of Spanish materials. Prior research found no evidence of a backlash, but used a twophase approach with a short screener questionnaire to identify the eligible population for an education survey. In this paper, we report on experiments in two surveys that extend the previous research to criminal victimization and health communication single-phase surveys. These experiments test the effect of the inclusion of Spanish language materials for addresses not identified as likely to have Spanish-speakers. Our findings confirm most results of the previous research; however we find no substantial increase in Spanish-only participation when the materials are offered in both languages for addresses that are not likely to have Spanish-speakers. We offer some thoughts on these results and directions for future research, especially with respect to collecting data by the Internet.
Safety and tolerability of fixed-dose combinations of ibuprofen and acetaminophen: pooled analysis of phase 1-3 clinical trials.

An ibuprofen (IBU)/acetaminophen (APAP) fixed-dose combination (FDC) for over-the-counter (OTC) use was developed with the goal of providing the same effective analgesic activity as full doses of t...
Cysteine residues in the C-terminal tail of connexin32 regulate its trafficking.

Abstract Gap junctions (GJs) are formed by the assembly of constituent transmembrane proteins called connexins (Cxs). Aberrations in this assembly of Cxs are observed in several genetic diseases as well as in cancers. Hence it becomes imperative to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying such assembly defect. The polarized cells in the epithelia express Connexin32 (Cx32). The C-terminal tail (CT) of Cx32 orchestrates several aspects of GJ dynamics, function and growth. The study here was aimed at determining if post-translational modifications, specifically, palmitoylation of cysteine residues, present in the CT of Cx32, has any effect on GJ assembly. The CT of Cx32 was found to harbor three cysteine residues, which are likely to be modified by palmitoylation. The study here has revealed for the first time that Cx32 is palmitoylated at cysteine 217 (C217) in cell line derived from prostate tumors. However, it was found that mutating C217 to alanine affected neither the trafficking nor the ability of Cx32 to assemble into GJs. Intriguingly, it was discovered that mutating cysteine 280 and 283, only in combination, blocked the trafficking of Cx32 from the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface. The mutants showed reduced stability due to enhanced lysosomal degradation. Overall, the findings reveal the importance of the two C-terminal cysteine residues of Cx32 in regulating its trafficking and stability and hence its ability to assemble into GJs.
Stability of Distant Satellites of Giant Planets in the Solar System

We conduct a systematic survey of the regions in which distant satellites can orbit stably around the four giant planets in the solar system, using orbital integrations of up to $10^9$ yr. In contrast to previous investigations, we use a grid of initial conditions on a surface of section to explore phase space uniformly inside and outside the planet's Hill sphere (radius $r_{\rm H}$; satellites outside the Hill sphere sometimes are also known as quasi-satellites). Our confirmations and extensions of old results and new findings include the following: (i) many prograde and retrograde satellites can survive out to radii $\sim 0.5r_{\rm H}$ and $\sim 0.7r_{\rm H}$, respectively, while some coplanar retrograde satellites of Jupiter and Neptune can survive out to $\sim r_{\rm H}$; (ii) stable orbits do not exist within the Hill sphere at high ecliptic inclinations when the semi-major axis is large enough that the solar tide is the dominant non-Keplerian perturbation; (iii) there is a gap between $\sim r_{\rm H}$ and $2r_{\rm H}$ in which no stable orbits exist; (iv) at distances $\gtrsim 2r_{\rm H}$ stable satellite orbits exist around Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune (but not Saturn). For Uranus and Neptune, in particular, stable orbits are found at distances as large as $\sim 10r_{\rm H}$; (v) the differences in the stable zones beyond the Hill sphere arise mainly from differences in the planet/Sun mass ratio and perturbations from other planets; in particular, the absence of stable satellites around Saturn is mainly due to perturbations from Jupiter. It is therefore likely that satellites at distances $\gtrsim 2r_{\rm H}$ could survive for the lifetime of the solar system around Uranus, Neptune, and perhaps Jupiter.
Platform for Remote, Multifocal Brain Interventions

ABSTRACT Transcranial focused ultrasound brings precision healthcare to the human brain, delivering focal interventions to deep brain sites without the need for surgeries or systemic drug administrations. The approaches have included neuromodulation and localized delivery of drugs through an intact or temporarily opened blood brain barrier. Clinical translation of these approaches requires a system that can deliver ultrasound into specific brain targets on command. Here, we demonstrate a platform with these features, and validate its function in nonhuman primates. Specifically, we used the system to flexibly modulate two deep brain nuclei—the left and right lateral geniculate nucleus–during visual choice behavior. We found that ultrasound induced a behavioral bias whose polarity depended on the stimulation waveform. Moreover, repeated applications of ultrasound over 39 consecutive behavioral sessions produced no signs of harm to the stimulated circuits. The system can be be applied to diagnose and possibly treat disorders of brain function with a precision and flexibility previously unattainable.
Dismantling the Safety-Net Hospital: The Construction of “Underutilization” and Scarce Public Hospital Care:

Safety-net hospitals are vulnerable to government financing. After the Nixon administration encouraged states to conduct utilization review to identify medical cost savings, federal campaigns again...
Satellite study of natural gas flaring

Global flaring of natural gas remained largely stable from 1995 through 2006, according to the first globally consistent survey of gas flaring, conducted using low-light imaging data from the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Flaring is a widespread method of disposing of natural gas when oil production and processing occurs in remote areas or in areas that lack infrastructure to make use of the gas. The survey results, announced on 30 August, found the amount of annual flaring is in the range of 150 to 170 billion cubic meters (bcm). The survey, commissioned by the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership, noted that 170 bcm is equivalent to 5.5% of total annual global production of natural gas and emits 400 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue

The sections in this article are: 1 Control of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis at The Enzymatic Level
Genetic heterogeneity in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia.

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) comprises a group of hereditary chondrodysplasias in which there are major anatomic abnormalities of the long tubular bones. The Fairbank and Ribbing types are the most frequently cited types of MED. They are primarily defined radiographically and are autosomal dominant conditions. Recently, MED in one family was shown to map to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 19 and is probably allelic to pseudoachondroplasa. We have tested linkage with six short tandem repeat markers from chromosome 19 to autosomal dominant MED in one four-generation family and to MED in a unique family with three of seven siblings affected and with unaffected parents. Autosomal dominant MED in family 1 was linked with a maximum LOD score, at D19S212, of 3.22 at a recombination fraction ({theta}) of .00. Linkage to chromosome 19 was excluded with MED in the other family, under both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant, with either reduced-penetrance or germ line-mosaicism models. Linkage to candidate genes COL9A1, COL9A2, and COL11A2 was tested and excluded for both genetic models in this family. COL11A1 was excluded under a recessive model. We have confirmed linkage of autosomal dominant Fairbank MED to chromosome 19 and have demonstrated that MED is geneticallymore » heterogeneous. 16 refs., 9 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Glomerular basement membrane: In vitro studies of water and protein permeability

The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is an integral structural component of the glomerular filter, but its contribution to the hydraulic and macromolecular permeability properties of the glomerulus has been the subject of much controversy. We have modified previously reported methods to develop a technique with which to study filtration properties of microgram quantities of isolated GBM in vitro at physiological pressures. Rat glomeruli were sieved, and cells were removed with N-laurylsarcosine and DNase. GBM (150 micrograms; greater than 95% pure) were added to a mini-ultrafiltration cell and consolidated under pressure to form a continuous filter at the base of the cell. Water flux was identical to inulin clearance at applied pressures less than 150 mmHg and increased with progressive increments in the transmembrane pressure. Hydraulic conductivity of GBM was inversely related to the prevailing transmembrane pressure gradient. The hydraulic conductivity depended on albumin concentration in a manner that was not monotonic, with the conductivity being lower at 4 g/dl albumin than at 0 or 8 g/dl. When plasma was utilized as the retentate, the fractional clearance of albumin was over twice that of immunoglobulin G, and the fractional clearance of each protein was much higher than that in the intact glomerulus. On the basis of these results, both the hydraulic and macromolecular permeability of an individual layer of GBM are much greater than that reported for the intact glomerulus. The large quantitative differences between GBM permeability and that of intact glomeruli suggest a major contribution of cellular elements to glomerular permeability properties.
Adsorption-site investigation of Rb/Cu(111) using the x-ray standing-wave method.

We have carried out a back reflection x-ray standing-wave investigation to study the adsorbate-substrate bond length and bonding site for the system Rb/Cu(111). Our low-energy electron diffraction study showed an ordered (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) phase for one monolayer of Rb on Cu(111) (\ensuremath{\theta}=0.25). By measuring both the (111) and (111\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}) Bragg reflections at this coverage, we determine the Rb adsorption to be in the top site. We observe a high degree of order in the Rb overlayer perpendicular to the surface, with large disorder parallel to the surface.
Increasing the flexibility of polyacrylamide gel-slab isoelectric focusing

The flexibility and usefulness of polyacrylamide gel-slab isoelectric focusing is greatly increased by performing separations with glass slides embedded in the gel. After separation, each gel-coated slide can be treated separately; as many as eight individual reactions can be observed after a single electrofocusing or electrophoresis run. Other modifications described include the simultaneous electrofocusing of two different gel compositions and a simple technique for permanent recording which does not require photography.
The rare earth hydrides

Abstract The literature concerning the structures and properties of the rare earth hydrides is reviewed comprehensively. A critical evaluation of published reports is attempted, particularly in those cases where there is disagreement as to experimental results or their interpretation. The studies of various physical and chemical properties are correlated from two points of view: 1. 1. To establish the existence of similarities, differences, or trends exhibited within the class of compounds; and 2. 2. To establish relationships between the properties of a given hydride or group of hydrides so that a clearer understanding of the nature of these compounds will be possible.
Should Europe Worry about Adversarial Legalism

National legal systems are very complicated creatures, resistant to simple generalizations, and in democratic nations, they surely have more shared features than divergent ones. I have argued, however, that compared to other constitutional democracies, policy implementation and dispute resolution in the United States are distinctive in the degree to which those processes are pervaded by adversarial legal contestation.' In response, some observers argue that the rest of the economically developed world is moving inexorably toward convergence with American adversarial legalism, pushed in that direction by more competitive global markets, the weakening of the welfare state, and the growth of transnational European government. That 'convergence' argument raises the broad questions addressed in this essay:
Shuffling toward Parity — Bringing Mental Health Care under the Umbrella

Today, treatment of mental disorders is increasingly part of the medical mainstream. But Sherry Glied and Richard Frank write that some glaring exceptions remain.
Counting and double-counting in project appraisal

The welfare base of project appraisal must include efficiency and distributional considerations: in addition the number of uncompensated losers should count. It is not possible to avoid using subjective distribution weights. The imputation approach is currently the most useful way of deriving explicit weights from policy-makers. Some of the hazards of interpreting revealed weights when there are three social objectives in the criterion deciding projects are explained.
Behavior of T7 RNA Polymerase and Mammalian RNA Polymerase II at Site-specific Cisplatin Adducts in the Template DNA

Transcription-coupled DNA repair is dedicated to the removal of DNA lesions from transcribed strands of expressed genes. RNA polymerase arrest at a lesion has been proposed as a sensitive signal for recruitment of repair enzymes to the lesion site. To understand how initiation of transcription-coupled repair may occur, we have characterized the properties of the transcription complex when it encounters a lesion in its path. Here we have compared the effect of cisplatin-induced intrastrand cross-links on transcription elongation by T7 RNA polymerase and mammalian RNA polymerase II. We found that a single cisplatin 1,2-d(GG) intrastrand cross-link or a single cisplatin 1,3-d(GTG) intrastrand cross-link is a strong block to both polymerases. Furthermore, the efficiency of the block at a cisplatin 1,2-d(GG) intrastrand cross-link was similar in several different nucleotide sequence contexts. Interestingly, some blockage was also observed when the single cisplatin 1,3-d(GTG) intrastrand cross-link was located in the non-transcribed strand. Transcription complexes arrested at the cisplatin adducts were substrates for the transcript cleavage reaction mediated by the elongation factor TFIIS, indicating that the RNA polymerase II complexes arrested at these lesions are not released from template DNA. Addition of TFIIS yielded a population of transcripts up to 30 nucleotides shorter than those arrested at the lesion. In the presence of nucleoside triphosphates, these shortened transcripts could be re-elongated up to the site of the lesion, indicating that the arrested complexes are stable and competent to resume elongation. These results show that cisplatin-induced lesions in the transcribed DNA strand constitute a strong physical barrier to RNA polymerase progression, and they support current models of transcription arrest and initiation of transcription-coupled repair.
BrainSpace: Relating Neuroscience to Knowledge About Everyday Life

Knowledge about the brain and the human nervous system ultimately relates to human thought, perception, and behavior. People use natural languages like English to talk about “common sense” concepts, but the brain processes that produce them are described in a highly technical vocabulary. BrainSpace tries to relate technical concepts in anatomy and chemistry to a general body of common sense knowledge, Open Mind Common Sense. It uses the novel inference technique of Blending, to perform joint inference between technical neuroscience knowledge and common sense knowledge, and vice versa. The current paper reports preliminary results showing that BrainSpace’s inference organizes concepts such as the “visual brain,” “dynamic brain,” and deep brain stimulation in an intuitively plausible manner, indicating that it can serve as a foundation for interpreting more specific experimental and medical data.
Incorporating security components into database courses

This paper describes information security topics to be presented in a course that provides instruction on the principles of database technology. Besides the customary coverage of securing the contents of databases (which is often presented in most courses of this type) we propose that is necessary to include instruction on other topics, such as securing the DBMS software, patch and version management of the DBMS application itself, issues and best practices surrounding security of database enable applications, impact of the security of the underlying Operating System on the security of the DBMS and the data it contains, impact of network security on the secure usage of DBMS systems and the impact of security issues facing web and application servers that may be closely coupled to the database. The use of projects with and without lab support will be a final discussion point. The topics itemized above should be present in all introductory database course. More advanced courses, should find more extensive coverage of these topics which should often be elaborated through the use of projects and accompanying labs.
Measuring plutonium concentrations in respirable dust

C. J. Johnson et al. (Science 193:488 (1976)) separated the respirable fraction of surface dust by ultrasonic dispersion and water sedimentation. This probably resulted in respirable fractions that included particulates too large to fall within the respirable size range, and reasons for believing this is the case are given. It is pointed out that all of the Pu outside is virtually in the respirable size range. Sampling by vacuum and collection by impaction is suggested as a way of measuring the content of Pu actually associated with respirable dust particles. A reply by C. J. Johnson, R. R. Tidball, and R. C. Severson is included. (DLC)