cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some controllability questions of linear and nonlinear neutral functional differential equations in W/sub 2//sup (1)/

Sharp, easy to test conditions for exact controllability of nonlinear systems of neutral type in the state space W/sub 2//sup (1)/ are formulated. W/sub 2//sup (1)/ is the Sobolev space of absolutely continuous functions x whose time derivatives are square integrable on the interval (-h,0). Also explored are conditions which guarantee that a null-controllable system is also exactly controllable. Criteria for null controllability of linear systems are given. >
Dynamic positioning of mitotic spindles in yeast: role of microtubule motors and cortical determinants.

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, movement of the mitotic spindle to a predetermined cleavage plane at the bud neck is essential for partitioning chromosomes into the mother and daughter cells. Astral microtubule dynamics are critical to the mechanism that ensures nuclear migration to the bud neck. The nucleus moves in the opposite direction of astral microtubule growth in the mother cell, apparently being “pushed” by microtubule contacts at the cortex. In contrast, microtubules growing toward the neck and within the bud promote nuclear movement in the same direction of microtubule growth, thus “pulling” the nucleus toward the bud neck. Failure of “pulling” is evident in cells lacking Bud6p, Bni1p, Kar9p, or the kinesin homolog, Kip3p. As a consequence, there is a loss of asymmetry in spindle pole body segregation into the bud. The cytoplasmic motor protein, dynein, is not required for nuclear movement to the neck; rather, it has been postulated to contribute to spindle elongation through the neck. In the absence of KAR9, dynein-dependent spindle oscillations are evident before anaphase onset, as are postanaphase dynein-dependent pulling forces that exceed the velocity of wild-type spindle elongation threefold. In addition, dynein-mediated forces on astral microtubules are sufficient to segregate a 2N chromosome set through the neck in the absence of spindle elongation, but cytoplasmic kinesins are not. These observations support a model in which spindle polarity determinants (BUD6, BNI1, KAR9) and cytoplasmic kinesin (KIP3) provide directional cues for spindle orientation to the bud while restraining the spindle to the neck. Cytoplasmic dynein is attenuated by these spindle polarity determinants and kinesin until anaphase onset, when dynein directs spindle elongation to distal points in the mother and bud.
Long-Term Outcomes in Multiple Gestations

Children born from a multiple gestation are at increased risk for cerebral palsy, learning disability, and language and neurobehavioral deficits. With the increased incidence of multiple pregnancies and use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), these issues are more commonly affecting parents. Long-term outcomes are a critical part of preconceptual and early pregnancy counseling for parents faced with a multiple gestation or considering ART, and the provider should be well versed on issues surrounding zygosity, gestational age, higher-order multiples, and the effects of options such as multifetal pregnancy reduction.
Asking, listening, and learning: Toward a more thorough method of inquiry in home–school relations

Abstract The article provides a rationale and description of a constructivist parent–teacher approach used to support preservice teachers’ understandings of relationships between home and school. Using a critical theoretical framing of policy, social science, and enacted curriculum, the authors ask readers to consider moving away from proscribed models of home–school relationships to a partnering lens which allows teachers to view their initial communications as a crucial teacher-learning endeavor. With this approach, preservice teachers are constructing their understanding of parents’ views of children, uncovering resources and parents ideals, and empowering themselves to deconstruct/reconstruct images of families in a more just framework.
A hedonic pricing model of lift tickets for US alpine ski areas: examining the influence of crowding

This study applies the hedonic pricing model to lift ticket prices from 2011 for 181 alpine ski areas in the USA. Marginal implicit prices are estimated for a variety of ski area physical characteristics and skier amenities. While controlling for these other attributes, the analysis also investigates crowding effects in alpine downhill skiing. Increased crowding, approximated by additional skiers per hour per acre, is shown to raise lift ticket prices at first, before exerting a negative impact on lift ticket prices at high levels of crowding. The results provide evidence for the existence of both agglomeration and congestion effects in downhill skiing and support previous findings of non- linear crowding effects in other outdoor recreation activities
LDGM codes for channel coding and joint source-channel coding of correlated sources

We propose a coding scheme based on the use of systematic linear codes with low-density generator matrix (LDGM codes) for channel coding and joint source-channel coding of multiterminal correlated binary sources. In both cases, the structures of the LDGM encoder and decoder are shown, and a concatenated scheme aimed at reducing the error floor is proposed. Several decoding possibilities are investigated, compared, and evaluated. For different types of noisy channels and correlation models, the resulting performance is very close to the theoretical limits.
Influence of Temperature on Growth and Peak Oil Biosynthesis in a Carbon-Limited Medium by Pythium irregulare

Kinetic analysis was investigated for a carbon- limited medium (C/N ratio = 5.0) supporting the growth of the 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5; x-3) (EPA)- accumulating fungal organism Pythium irregulare. The productivity and yield parameters at three temperatures, 14, 21, and 28C, demonstrated growth-coupled synthesis for lipid-free biomass growth and lipid accumulation. For this system, the maximum specific growth rate and theoretical maximum biomass yield based on logistic growth kinetics were used to determine an activation energy of the growth process, Eg, of 36.5 kJ mol -1 . At 14, 21, and 28C, peak lipid yield occurred after culturing for 7, 4, and 3 days, respectively, with peak lipid yields of 8.14, 12.8, and 6.69 g lipid 100 g -1 glucose. At these peak yields, the maximum lipid-free biomass productivity was achieved at the colder 14C temperature as well as an increased con- centration of EPA—10.9 wt%. Despite these enhance- ments, the maximum relative lipid production (PR(FA/B)) was achieved at 21C—19.1%.
Optimized scheduling for data aggregation in wireless sensor networks

The most important issue in wireless sensor networks is energy consumption. To this end, many networking schemes attempt to minimize the amount of data transmitted by using data aggregation. This trades off data freshness for a savings in energy, because reports from sensor nodes that arrive at an aggregating node may have to be held there for some period of time before being reported so that additional reports may reach the aggregator from slower nodes. We propose to use an intelligent timer and some high-level knowledge of the network to implement an efficient aggregation timing control protocol. Our protocol aims to dynamically change the data aggregation period according to the aggregation quality. A request from the data sink will include the maximum latency for a certain number of reports. If this number of reports can be returned in less time than the maximum, then the maximum time will not be reached. If, however, the specified number of responses can be returned in anywhere between zero-time (instantaneous) and the maximum latency, the timing scheme will find the minimum aggregation period that satisfies the sink's request.
Ultrastructural Characterization of Isolated Human Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells. Assessment of Isopycnic Centrifugation

In an experiment to evaluate the merit of isopycnic centrifugation as a method of separating cell types in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, cells have been isolated from four specimens of these tumors and subjected to isopycnic centrifugation in continuous Percoll gradients. Cell types were identified by electron microscopy. The R- (ribosome-rich), T- (tonofilament-rich), and RT- (intermediate) cell types yielded broad bands overlapping extensively with one another, and partially with the bands of leukocytes. The pattern differed for each tumor studied, so that universal density levels separating given cell types could not be found. Isopycnic centrifugation proves less suitable in analyzing cells dispersed from solid tumors than for cells in suspended culture, blood, effusions, etc., probably because of heterogeneous growth conditions of cells in solid tumors.
Muller's Ratchet and the Degeneration of Y Chromosomes: A Simulation Study

A typical pattern in sex chromosome evolution is that Y chromosomes are small and have lost many of their genes. One mechanism that might explain the degeneration of Y chromosomes is Muller's ratchet, the perpetual stochastic loss of linkage groups carrying the fewest number of deleterious mutations. This process has been investigated theoretically mainly for asexual, haploid populations. Here, I construct a model of a sexual population where deleterious mutations arise on both X and Y chromosomes. Simulation results of this model demonstrate that mutations on the X chromosome can considerably slow down the ratchet. On the other hand, a lower mutation rate in females than in males, background selection, and the emergence of dosage compensation are expected to accelerate the process.
Population censuses and changes in housing quality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

In spite of efforts by the British colonial government to improve the social welfare of Tanganyika Territory’s African residents, its housing policy was inadequate. It constructed too few homes and provided those homes with few urban amenities such as electricity, piped water and sanitation. The coming of independence to Tanganyika did not end those policies, so housing shortages increased and service provision continued to lag behind population growth. This paper uses four postcolonial housing and population censuses – from 1967, 1978, 1988 and 2002 – to track changes in housing quantity and quality. It demonstrates that some small improvements in quality have been realized but that many problems remain, especially in the prevalence of pit latrines and increasing reliance on water vendors.
Linear Graph Theory-A Fundamental Engineering Discipline

Current techniques for formulating the mathematical characteristics of physical systems vary greatly from one type to another (mechanical, electrical, thermal, etc.). Of these techniques, those used in electrical network analysis have proven to be the more orderly and generally applicable as evidenced by repeated efforts on the part of the system analyst to establish first an electrical analog of the system in question. This paper presents the basis of an operational concept of system analysis embracing all types of systems, and presents an orderly, sure, and relatively simple basis for extending the discipline of linear graph theory (abstracted form of network theory) to the analysis and synthesis of all types of lumped-parameter systems without the artifice of analogies. It is indicated that these procedures and concepts also provide a means for extending electrical network theory beyond current applications to include systems of multiterminal components.
Use of a Seismic Air Gun to Reduce Survival of Nonnative Lake Trout Embryos: A Tool for Conservation?

Abstract The detrimental impacts of nonnative lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in the western USA have prompted natural resource management agencies in several states to implement lake trout suppression programs. Currently, these programs rely on mechanical removal methods (i.e., gill nets, trap nets, and angling) to capture subadult and adult lake trout. We conducted a study to explore the potential for using high-intensity sound from a relatively small (655.5 cm3 [40 in3]) seismic air gun to reduce survival of lake trout embryos. Lake trout embryos at multiple stages of development were exposed to a single discharge of the seismic air gun at two depths (5 and 15 m) and at two distances from the air gun (0.1 and 2.7 m). Control groups for each developmental stage, distance, and depth were treated identically except that the air gun was not discharged. Mortality in lake trout embryos treated at 0.1 m from the air gun was 100% at 74 daily temperature units in degrees Celsius (TU°C) at both depths. Median mo...
Design of ancillary service markets

Examines the design of bid selection protocols and settlement rules in ancillary service markets. Such markets are typically operated by an independent system operator (ISO) for competitive procurement of reserves that are needed to ensure the secure operation of a competitive electric power system. Reserve types are characterized in terms of response time, and they are downward-substitutable (faster responding reserves can replace slower ones). We explore how this substitutability is accounted for in alternative market protocols and we analyze the efficiency, distributional aspects and incentive compatibility of such protocols.
Strain Rate Response of Cross-Linked Polymer Epoxies under Uni-Axial Compression

The strain rate responses of several cross-linked polymer epoxy materials were investigated under uni-axial compression at low to high strain rates. The properties of the epoxy were tailored through a variety of monomer choices including aromatic, which provide stiff, high glass transition structural materials, and aliphatic, which can form elastomers. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution as well as the chemical functionality of the monomers can be varied to provide further control over the mechanical response. High rate experiments (greater than 1/sec rates) were conducted using a modified split-Hopkinson Pressure bar (SHPB) with pulseshaping to ensure that the compressive loading of the specimen was at constant strain rate under dynamic stress equilibrium. In this paper, moduli and yield strengths as a function of strain-rate of the epoxies are presented and compared in an effort to understand the effect of the different tailoring to their mechanical response.
Automated Fast Screening Method for Cocaine Identification in Seized Drug Samples Using a Portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Instrument

Quick and presumptive identification of seized drug samples without destroying evidence is necessary for law enforcement officials to control the trafficking and abuse of drugs. This work reports an automated screening method to detect the presence of cocaine in seized samples using portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers. The method is based on the identification of well-defined characteristic vibrational frequencies related to the functional group of the cocaine molecule and is fully automated through the use of an expert system. Traditionally, analysts look for key functional group bands in the infrared spectra and characterization of the molecules present is dependent on user interpretation. This implies the need for user expertise, especially in samples that likely are mixtures. As such, this approach is biased and also not suitable for non-experts. The method proposed in this work uses the well-established "center of gravity" peak picking mathematical algorithm and combines it with the conditional reporting feature in MicroLab software to provide an automated method that can be successfully employed by users with varied experience levels. The method reports the confidence level of cocaine present only when a certain number of cocaine related peaks are identified by the automated method. Unlike library search and chemometric methods that are dependent on the library database or the training set samples used to build the calibration model, the proposed method is relatively independent of adulterants and diluents present in the seized mixture. This automated method in combination with a portable FT-IR spectrometer provides law enforcement officials, criminal investigators, or forensic experts a quick field-based prescreening capability for the presence of cocaine in seized drug samples.
Sulfonamide Drugs as Protective Agents Against Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning.

During the last few years we have been interested in the mechanism whereby the subcutaneous injection of various substances such as xanthine, sodium ricinoleate, etc., increases a rat's resistance to the poisonous action of carbon tetrachloride or chloroform. During the course of this investigation, we were led to try the possible effect of oral administration of sulfanilamide on the animal's resistance to carbon tetrachloride. To our considerable surprise, it was found to reduce the mortality rate very markedly. Later experiments confirmed this finding and showed that orally administered sulfanilamide exerted a definite protective action against liver necrosis from acute carbon tetrachloride poisoning.Experimental. Male and female rats, weighing from 200 to 300 g were used. In the individual experiments animals of the same sex and of approximately the same weight were used for control and treated animals. In the experiments recorded in Table I, the sulfonamide drugs were given by stomach tube in doses of...
In Search Of A Theoretical Framework For Reverse Innovations

Despite the increased strategic importance of reverse innovation, an inspection of the literature suggests that there is still confusion as to what it is, how it is related to, yet distinct from, other types of innovation (e.g., frugal or disruptive innovation), and what factors are needed for it to occur successfully. Best practices and underlying conceptual frameworks appear to be lacking or somewhat scarce in both academic and practitioner literature. In this paper, we propose that reverse innovation shares some common underpinnings with the well-established concept of reverse knowledge transfer. This provides a robust foundation upon which to study the phenomenon of reverse innovation. An added benefit of this perspective is that it enhances the generalizability of research on reverse knowledge transfer. By connecting reverse knowledge transfer and reverse innovation under a general perspective of global competence creation and transfer, we believe we provide a framework that allows all firms, regardl...
Turbulent Density Fluctuations in Thermal Boundary Layers Studied via Molecular Rayleigh scattering

Spectra of air density fluctuations in the thermal boundary layers over a heated flat plate were measured using a molecular Rayleigh scattering setup. A 12 inch X 9 inch size flat plate was heated over a range of temperatures 0°C ≤ ΔT ≤ 170°C using electrical strip heaters. The heated plate was placed in a low-speed wind tunnel in a range of free-stream velocity of 20 ft/s ≤ U0 ≤ 90 ft/s. At first, care was taken to avoid laminar separation bubble at the plate leading edge. The thermal and velocity boundary layers at different streamwise locations were measured using a hot film probe operated in constant current and constant temperature modes. The temperature distribution on the plate was measured by an infra-red camera. In spite of a relatively high level of free-stream turbulent fluctuations, the relatively low plate Reynolds number 1.2e5 ≤ Re ≤ 5.3e5 ensured laminar flow at unheated condition. Progressively increased heating was found to expedite transition to turbulence. To setup the molecular Rayleigh scattering system a large number of obstacles had to be overcome. In addition to the usual steps, such as the removal of dust particles and the use of photo-electron counting electronics to measure low intensity light, an optical layout was created to minimize stray light contamination. Various efforts were made to reduce the effect of tunnel vibration, and an expanded calibration process had to be applied to relate photo-electron arrival rate to air density. The density fluctuations spectra measured in a fully turbulent zone showed fully developed turbulent spectra while those from the transitional zone showed much lower energy content. To validate the Rayleigh measurements, temperature fluctuations spectra were calculated from density spectra, and then compared with temperature spectra measured with a cold-wire probe operated in constant current mode. The spectra from the trailing edge of the plate were found to be in good agreement, while from the leading edge differed. Various lessons learnt are discussed. In spite of being a work in progress it is believed that the present effort is the first measurement of density fluctuations spectra in a boundary layer flow.
Direct determination of sixteen trace elements in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Objective:To develop a accurate method for direct determination of sixteen trace elements in urine by collision cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Methods:After dilution with 0.1%HNO3+200 μg/L Au by a factor of 5,the urine was directly determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using collision cell to eliminate mass spectroscopic interference.Results:The detections of limits were 0.01 0.25 μg/L,the RSD less than 3.3%,recoveries 94.0%~104% and the results of analyzing standard materiel were satisfactory.Conclusion:This method is simple,sensitive and accurate.It can be used for can direct determination of sixteen trace metal elements in urine.
Laser light-scattering system for studying cell volume regulation and membrane transport processes

A simple and relatively inexpensive device utilizing laser light scattering for the study of volume regulatory behavior and membrane transport phenomena in cells cultured on or affixed to a rigid substrate is described in detail. Validation of the method is provided by study of cell types with known volume regulatory responses. The method we describe has numerous advantages over currently available techniques used to monitor cell volume changes. These advantages include 1) the ability to rapidly detect and quantify small cell volume changes on-line, 2) the ability to maintain natural cell morphology, cell surface contacts, and cell-to-cell interactions, 3) the ability to easily control solution temperature and gas and solute composition, and 4) the ability to perform multiple perturbations in a single experiment. The light-scattering system we describe can be modified to allow for simultaneous measurement of light-scattering signals and fluorescence emission from intracellular ion-sensitive probes and membrane potential dyes. In addition, our method may be useful for the study of apical and basolateral membrane transport processes in epithelial monolayer cell cultures.
Detection and evaluation of dyslipoproteinemia.

Many biochemical markers for the detection and evaluation of abnormalities in the plasma lipoproteins (the dyslipoproteinemias) have been investigated in the research setting. Derangements of lipoprotein metabolism leading to disease can be identified by screening both patients at high risk for the sequelae of the dyslipoproteinemias as well as the general population. Strategies for the detection and evaluation of the dyslipoproteinemias and the rationale for these strategies are presented.
Unfair and Inactionable: The Case for a Private Cause of Action for Business and Investment Activity Under Pennsylvania 's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law

This Essay will examine the current applicability of the Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) to business and investment practices in the context of predatory lending actions related to business or investment properties. Further, it will present an interpretation of the UTPCPL that may allow for a private cause of action for improper business and investment transactions under the statute’s current construction.
A Distributed Optimization Framework for Localization and Formation Control: Applications to Vision-Based Measurements

Multiagent systems have been a major area of research for the last 15 years. This interest has been motivated by tasks that can be executed more rapidly in a collaborative manner or that are nearly impossible to carry out otherwise. To be effective, the agents need to have the notion of a common goal shared by the entire network (for instance, a desired formation) and individual control laws to realize the goal. The common goal is typically centralized, in the sense that it involves the state of all the agents at the same time. On the other hand, it is often desirable to have individual control laws that are distributed, in the sense that the desired action of an agent depends only on the measurements and states available at the node and at a small number of neighbors. This is an attractive quality because it implies an overall system that is modular and intrinsically more robust to communication delays and node failures.
Equity and Uncertainty in Relational Maintenance

Two explanations for relational maintenance processes center on the constructs of equity and relationship uncertainty. The current study sought to uncover how these two explanations compare when predicting relational maintenance data. Survey data were collected from 219 individuals in romantic relationships. As predicted, both inequity and uncertainty were moderately and negatively related to the use of maintenance strategies. Further, results indicate that future, definition, and mutuality uncertainty are positively related to being underbenefitted, but that being overbenefitted is not related to any of the dimensions of relationship uncertainty. Finally, both inequity and uncertainty predict relational satisfaction as well as the frequency of maintenance enactment, but uncertainty appears to be the stronger and more consistent predictor of both. Implications for combining the two approaches are discussed.
Detection and classification of acne lesions in acne patients: A mobile application

Acne is a common chronic skin disease involving blockage and/or inflammation of hair follicles and their accompanying sebaceous gland. Acne can present as non-inflammatory lesions, inflammatory lesions, or a mixture of both, affecting mostly the face but also the back and chest. Detecting the different types of acne lesions is important in both diagnosis and management. According to acne face mapping, presence of acne in various parts of the face or body has different indications for disease. In this paper, we present several image segmentation methods to detect acne lesions and machine learning methods used to distinguish different acne lesions from each other. Our results illustrated that among texture analysis, k-means clustering, HSV model segmentation techniques, two level k-means clustering outperformed the others with an accuracy of about 70%. In addition, the accuracy of differentiating acne scarring from active inflammatory lesions is 80% and 66.6% for fuzzy-c-means and support vector machine method, respectively. Finally, the performance accuracy of classifying normal skins from detected acnes is 100% using fuzzy-c-means clustering.
Epidermal nerve fiber quantification in patients with erythromelalgia

Importance Erythromelalgia is a clinical diagnosis based on intermittent warmth, erythema, and pain in the distal extremities. One problem facing physicians is how to objectively test for this disease. Given that other painful conditions of the distal extremities (ie, neuropathy related to human immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, or Fabry disease) can be evaluated with a skin biopsy to visualize pathologically decreased densities of the small nerve fibers that innervate the epidermis, one hypothesis is that erythromelalgia could similarly be associated with a loss of epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD). Objectives To examine whether erythromelalgia is associated with a structural loss of small fibers using the ENFD technique and to compare this with functional studies of small nerve fibers. Design, Setting, and Participants In a retrospective study of 52 consecutive patients with erythromelalgia who were seen between September 1, 2010, and September 22, 2015, patients were interviewed and examined and their conditions clinically diagnosed by a board-certified dermatologist at a large tertiary referral center, where ENFD testing became a routine part of evaluating erythromelalgia in 2010. Thus, all 52 consecutive patients were included solely based on their clinical diagnosis of erythromelalgia. For quantification of ENFD, observers were masked to all patient information except for name and clinic number. Main Outcomes and Measures The hypothesis that patients with erythromelalgia would have decreased ENFD was formulated before data collection. Epidermal nerve fiber density, the primary outcome, is a measurement of the density of small nerve fibers within the epidermis. Secondary measures included functional small fiber evaluation, such as autonomic (heart rate, blood pressure, and sweat testing) and subjective testing of pain. Results In this cohort study, 52 consecutively seen patients were identified (female, 42 [80%]; median age, 44 years; age range, 13-82 years). Whereas only 5 of 52 patients (10%) had ENFD at or below the fifth percentile of healthy control individuals, most patients had functional abnormalities of these small fibers; 29 patients (60%) had abnormal sweat test results, 21 (42%) had abnormal pain thresholds, and 20 (38%) had abnormal blood pressure or heart rate control. Conclusions and Relevance Unlike other diseases of the small nerve fibers that cause acral pain syndromes, erythromelalgia is not characterized by loss of ENFD. However, most patients have impaired function of these small fibers. Physicians would benefit from performing functional rather than structural small fiber studies when evaluating erythromelalgia.
Using molecular visualization to explore protein structure and function and enhance student facility with computational tools.

Recognizing that undergraduate students can benefit from analysis of 3D protein structure and function, we have developed a multiweek, inquiry-based molecular visualization project for Biochemistry I students. This project uses a virtual model of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) to guide students through multiple levels of protein structure analysis. The first assignment explores primary structure by generating and examining a protein sequence alignment. Subsequent assignments introduce 3D visualization software to explore secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Students design an inhibitor, based on scrutiny of the enzyme active site, and evaluate the fit of the molecule using computed binding energies. In the last assignment, students introduce a point mutation to model the active site of the related COX-2 enzyme and analyze the impact of the mutation on inhibitor binding. With this project we aim to increase knowledge about, and confidence in using, online databases and computational tools. Here, we share results of our mixed methods pre- and postsurvey demonstrating student gains in knowledge about, and confidence using, online databases and computational tools. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(4):318–328, 2017.
MDL: a language for binding UI models

The model-based approach to UI design and synthesis is complicated by the need to bind behavior that is specified in one model to corresponding behavior in another model. In the Mastermind project, the problem concerns the binding of user-task and presentation models. We designed a powerful task language called MDL, and we compile MDL models into code that reifies the structure of a task model. The structural symmetry between models and code allows binding to be performed at many levels of granularity. We believe that such flexibility is required for model-based approaches to gain widespread acceptance.
Changes in sexual function among midlife women: "I'm older… and I'm wiser"

AbstractObjective:Women experience a variety of changes at midlife that may affect sexual function. Qualitative research approaches can allow a deeper understanding of women's experiences. We conducted 20 individual interviews and three focus groups among sexually active women aged 45 to 60 years (t
Clinical Application of Indocyanine Green Angiography

FLOWER, elsewhere in this monograph, has reviewed the fluorescence characteristics of indocyanine green (ICG) and the filter combinations and film best suited for ICG angiography. KOGURE and co-workers (1970) first studied infrared absorption angiography utilizing intra-arterial injections of ICG in monkeys. Flower & Hochheimer (1973, 1974, 1976) further perfected ICG angiography so that intravenous injections could be utilized. This development permitted the practical clinical testing of the dye which is noted for its low incidence of side effects and toxicity. Flower & Hochheimer (1976) have continued their studies and made available the ICG fluorescein angiography camera for the examination of a series of patients with pigmented fundus tumors, retinal vascular and macular disorders. The present report summarizes our experience in approximately 150 consecutive patients with these conditions.
Modeling Quantitative Acoustic Microscopy for Layered Coatings

Multilayered ceramic and metallic coatings are receiving much attention for applications to improve the resistance to wear of surfaces. To assure the integrity of such coatings, quantitative nondestructive techniques are needed to determine the properties of coating materials and to evaluate the bonding quality of the interface between the coating and the substrate.
In vitro studies of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia.

Abstract In a prospective study, 16 of 52 patients treated with conventional doses of beef lung heparin developed thrombocytopenia (platelet counts less than 100 × 109/l). Plasmas available from eight of these 16 patients failed to aggregate platelets from normal donors in the presence of heparin. Of five patients tested, plasma obtained from one patient during heparin therapy caused increased serotonin release when compared to plasma obtained before heparin therapy. Plasma from four other patients did not show increased serotonin release. Complement fixation studies were negative in these five patients. The essentially negative tests for heparin-dependent antibody formation suggest that frequently the etiology of the heparin-associated thrombocytopenia may not be immunologic.
Suicide Among American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Canadian Aboriginal Youth: Advancing the Research Agenda

(1996). Suicide Among American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Canadian Aboriginal Youth: Advancing the Research Agenda. International Journal of Mental Health: Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 11-32.
Cadaver skin allografts and transmission of human cytomegalovirus to burn patients.

BACKGROUND The potential role of cadaver skin as a vehicle for CMV transmission to burn patients has never been clearly defined. We sought to determine if a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-positive cadaver allograft transmits CMV infections to CMV-seronegative burn patients. STUDY DESIGN All patients in this study were CMV seronegative on admission. They received CMV-seronegative blood products, and cadaver allografts for temporary wound closure and management without regard to the donor's CMV serum status (positive or negative). RESULTS Of 493 patients admitted from 1989 to 1993, 22 were CMV seronegative on admission and required cadaver allografts for their burn wounds. Five (22.7 percent) of 22 patients seroconverted during hospitalization: one of five had CMV pneumonia develop, two had CMV viruria develop, and three had persistent fever, abnormal liver enzymes, and diarrhea not ascribable to bacterial or other viral agents. CONCLUSIONS Cytomegalovirus infections result from using CMV-seropositive cadaver allografts on seronegative burn patients.
The future of occupational hygiene education and research.

The practice of occupational hygiene, with our four-step model for effective practice, relies on expertise in many disciplines that range from biology (anticipation and recognition), through chemistry and physics (evaluation), to engineering (control). I have great concern that our field, in teaching and research, is moving rapidly away from engineering and toward biology. In this commentary I give evidence for this trend and the forces that I think are driving it, discuss its implications for worker health and safety, and make a plea for the continued importance of engineering controls as a central tenet of our field. It may just be that I am becoming a curmudgeon in my advancing years, but having spent my career as an academic teaching and doing research in occupational hygiene (OH), I am viewing trends in OH education and research with increasing alarm. We all believe in and practice the OH model that, when I was a student, had three phases but now has four—anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control. For simplicity, I will revert to the old model, which folds anticipation into recognition. In simple layperson’s terms, what we do under this model is recognize potential workplace hazards, evaluate hazards of concern, and control those hazards that are deemed to present an actual danger to workers (in public health terms this is primary prevention). The skills required to complete each step vary and range from biology in the recognition phase, chemistry and physics in the evaluation phase, and engineering in the control phase. Our students who pursue careers as practitioners must have some level of competence in each of these phases. It follows that OH academic programs must have faculty with strengths across this spectrum, but my perception and the point of this commentary is that most, if not all, academic OH programs are consciously and deliberately abandoning OH engineering and moving resolutely toward biology. What is the evidence for this claim? First we can look at the research interests of the current OH faculty. The NIOSH
The validity of self-reported hypertension and correlates of hypertension awareness among blacks and whites within the stroke belt.

Hypertension surveillance activities increasingly are relying on information obtained by self-report. However, limited information is available concerning the validity of such data, especially among populations residing within the stroke belt. We used interview information and blood pressure measurements from the South Carolina Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Project to determine the validity of self-reported hypertension and the correlates of hypertension awareness among 2,210 whites and 704 blacks who participated in the program in 1987. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of self-reported hypertension were 79%, 91%, 76%, and 93% among white women; 82%, 88%, 79%, and 89% among black women; 62%, 91%, 75%, and 85% among white men; and 72%, 89%, 78%, and 85% among black men, respectively. Groups with highest sensitivity included women, persons older than age 39 years, and those who had seen a physician for preventive care within the last year. Correlates of hypertension awareness included an older age, visit to a physician for preventive care, and a family history of high blood pressure. Among hypertensive blacks, overweight persons were substantially more likely than nonoverweight persons to be aware of their hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 4.6, 95% confidence intervals [Cl] = 1.9, 10.7 in black women and OR = 4.4, 95% Cl = 1.0, 17.9 in black men). The validity of self-reported hypertension was relatively high in all race-sex groups. There is a need to increase hypertension awareness among hypertensive blacks who are not overweight.
Helium-Cooled Solid Breeder Blanket for ITER

This paper summarizes the latest results of a design study of a helium-cooled solid breeder blanket for ITER. Attractive features of this design include the following : 1) There is a significant de...
A Simple Device for the Scintillation Counting of Aqueous Solutions of Calcium-45 and other β -Emitting Isotopes

THE methods at present available for counting calcium-45 by conventional liquid scintillation techniques, such as those of Carr and Parsons1, Sarnat and Jeffay2 and Humphreys3, make it possible to count large quantities of low specific activity calcium at efficiencies of 50 per cent or more. However, these methods are laborious and timeconsuming because of the lengthy chemical processing required to produce a calcium salt which will dissolve in the toluene-based scintillator mixture. Methods involving the use of hyamine for the direct solution of tissues or aqueous solutions in toluene4–6 are much quicker, but are only capable of counting very small quantities of calcium at lower efficiency; they are also subject to quenching errors. The use of plastic scintillator fibres or beads and anthracene crystals by Steinberg7–9 made it possible to count directly colourless aqueous solutions of calcium-45; however, the efficiency, except with anthracene, was low, and the sample and scintillator materials could only be recovered with difficulty. Plastic scintillator systems consisting of a vial10 and a flow cell11 are capable of counting calcium-45 in aqueous solutions without any corrections for quenching, but their capacity is 1 ml. or less and their efficiency only of the order of 6 per cent.
Dnn-Based Voice Activity Detection Using Auxiliary Speech Models in Noisy Environments

Voice activity detection (VAD) is essential for automatic speech recognition (ASR) in noisy environments. Deep neural network (DNN)-based VAD is more powerful than previous types. In the fields of ASR and speech enhancement, to improve the performance of DNNs, in addition to spectral features, auxiliary features are used because these features are effective for adapting DNNs to a target environment. To improve the performance of DNN-based VAD further, this paper proposes two types of auxiliary feature based on auxiliary speech models. The first is activation of non-negative matrix factorization and the second is acoustic score of ASR acoustic models. These features give auxiliary information to DNNs in the same way as ASR and speech enhancement do. Experimental results for noisy VAD tasks demonstrated that DNN-based methods outperformed one of the most effective conventional methods and that both auxiliary features improved performance, with the second feature being better than the first one.
Towards a Narrative of Sustainability, Genetic Engineering, Responsibility and Technological Pragmatism

The guiding thesis for this book is that out of the narrative crisis created by the conflicting optimistic and pessimistic philosophies of technology, a new narrative of sustainability is emerging. In this final chapter I argue that the recent development of planetary boundary theory marks a major advance in fulfilling the duty of comparative futurology, and that it provides a context for evaluating genetic engineering in agriculture. In very broad terms, these three elements, an ethics of responsibility, planetary boundary theory, and a pragmatic philosophy of technology, can make significant contributions in building a narrative of sustainability. The chapter concludes by placing advances in agricultural biotechnology within the context of a precautionary ethics and comparative futurology, as exemplified by planetary boundary theory. Given that the earth’s population is predicted to grow to more than 10 billion people over the next century while global environmental problems like climate change intensify, it seems difficult to imagine we can fulfill our duties to future generations without innovations like genetic engineering in agriculture. However, if emerging technologies are going to help create a more just and sustainable future, we must move beyond the conflict between the progressive and pessimistic narratives and continued to construct a narrative of sustainability.
The misunderstood nineteenth century U.S. press agent

Abstract Analysis of press coverage of nineteenth century American press agents indicates that, although press agents worked in a variety of sectors, their primary motivation was profit, their main strategy was media relations, and their tactics often relied on hype or outright lying. These characteristics would appear to support previous descriptions of press agentry, yet the research also shows that the press was more ambivalent toward press agents than previously assumed and that press agents’ strategies and tactics may have been more sophisticated than previously understood. A number of early practitioners of press agentry are identified for further study.
Enrichment post-library preparation enhances the sensitivity of high-throughput sequencing-based detection and characterization of viruses from complex samples

Sequencing-based detection and characterization of viruses in complex samples can suffer from lack of sensitivity due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, low titer, small genome size, and contribution of host or environmental nucleic acids. Hybridization-based target enrichment is one potential method for increasing the sensitivity of viral detection via high-throughput sequencing. This study expands upon two previously developed panels of virus enrichment probes (for filoviruses and for respiratory viruses) to include other viruses of biodefense and/or biosurveillance concern to the U.S. Department of Defense and various international public health agencies. The newly expanded and combined panel is tested using carefully constructed synthetic metagenomic samples that contain clinically relevant amounts of viral genetic material. Target enrichment results in a dramatic increase in sensitivity for virus detection as compared to shotgun sequencing, yielding full, deeply covered viral genomes from materials with Ct values suggesting that amplicon sequencing would be likely to fail. Increased pooling to improve cost- and time-effectiveness does not negatively affect the ability to obtain full-length viral genomes, even in the case of co-infections, although as expected, it does decrease depth of coverage. Hybridization-based target enrichment is an effective solution to obtain full-length viral genomes for samples from which virus detection would fail via unbiased, shotgun sequencing or even via amplicon sequencing. As the development and testing of probe sets for viral target enrichment expands and continues, the application of this technique, in conjunction with deeper pooling strategies, could make high-throughput sequencing more economical for routine use in biosurveillance, biodefense and outbreak investigations.
Experimental and observational studies on alcohol use and dietary intake: a systematic review

The scientific literature on links among alcohol use, total energy intake, cardiometabolic disease and obesity is conflicting. To clarify the link between alcohol use and cardiometabolic health, this systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42016039308A) uses PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to synthesize how alcohol use affects dietary intake (carbohydrate, fat and protein intake) in humans. A search of Google Scholar, PsycINFO and PubMed from June 2016-March 2019 yielded 30 qualified studies. Experimental and observational studies allowed for inferences about effects of a single drinking occasion and of frequent drinking, respectively. Alcohol quantities were standardized according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. On average, methodological quality of the studies was medium strength. Results indicated that a single occasion of light and moderate drinking as well as frequent light and moderate drinking were linked to greater fat and protein intake, albeit the majority of studies did not detect differences in dietary intake due to these drinking behaviours. Frequent heavy drinking, on the other hand, was linked to less carbohydrate intake in the majority of studies. Overall, alcohol use does not appear to uniformly affect diet but instead appears to affect intake of specific macronutrients in a dose-dependent manner, most consistently decreasing carbohydrate intake with heavier use.