cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hilbert series of invariants, constant terms and Kostka-Foulkes polynomials

A problem that arose in the study of the mass of the neutrino led us to the evaluation of a constant term with a variety of ramifications into several areas from Invariant Theory, Representation Theory, the Theory of Symmetric Functions and Combinatorics. A significant by-product of our evaluation is the construction of a trigraded Cohen Macaulay basis for the Invariants under an action of SL"n(C) on a space of 2n+n^2 variables.
Analytical techniques for cell fractions. IV. Reorienting gradient rotors for zonal centrifugation

Abstract Liquid density gradients and experimental sample bands have been successfully recovered from a hollow-bowl centrifuge rotor in which a static gradient is reoriented into a radial configuration during acceleration and is subsequently recovered in its original orientation at rest. Analysis of fluid movements in the rotor indicate that very little shearing occurs during gradient reorientation. The reorienting gradient rotor principle makes feasible the construction of high-speed, large-volume rotors suitable for banding nucleic acids and proteins in salt gradients, and for the separation of macromolecules on the basis of their sedimentation rate through density gradients.
Beginning teacher disposition: Examining the moral/ethical domain

Abstract As the push for high-quality teachers continues, many colleges of education, teacher induction programs, and professional development supervisors are left wondering about the role dispositions play in effective teaching. This study seeks to explore the definition of dispositions as teacher professional judgment and professional action in the moral/ethical domain of adult cognition. By assessing beginning teacher judgment both quantitatively and qualitatively, convergence between predicted and observed patterns was found in addition to congruence between teacher judgment and action. Based on the findings of convergence and congruence, implications for teacher education and development are made.
Optimality explanations: a plea for an alternative approach

Recently philosophers of science have begun to pay more attention to the use of highly idealized mathematical models in scientific theorizing. An important example of this kind of highly idealized modeling is the widespread use of optimality models within evolutionary biology. One way to understand the explanations provided by these models is as a censored causal explanation: an explanation that omits certain causal factors in order to focus on a modular subset of the causal processes that led to the explanandum. In this paper, I first argue that the censored causal model approach fails to establish a permanent explanatory role for optimality models in biology and mischaracterizes the explanatory virtues of biological optimality modeling. In addition, I argue that many biological optimality explanations cannot be characterized as censored causal explanations. In response, I propose an alternative approach that analyzes optimality models’ reliance on synchronically representing a system’s constraints and tradeoffs as well as their employment of various kinds of idealization in order to provide equilibrium explanations.
Metabolism of soybean leaves. III. The organic acids produced in short-time photosynthesis.

Abstract 1. 1. The primary organic acids produced in short-term photosynthesis (5–90 seconds) are glyceric acid, 2- and 3-phosphoglyceric acid, and probably diphosphoglyceric acid. 2. 2. The degradation data of these acids suggest that they arise independently by a condensation of 2-carbon units with a 1-carbon unit. The possibility that previous interpretations may have neglected the time factor in the equilibration of carbon dioxide has been shown to be immaterial. 3. 3. The interrelation of these data with current schemes has been discussed.
Evaluating Autism Diagnostic and Screening Tools for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness.

While clear guidelines and best practices exist for the assessment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little information is available about assessing for ASD in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations. CLD populations might be misidentified and under-identified with ASD due to the assessment practices that we employ. Four autism diagnostic tools and six autism screeners were selected and evaluated for their cultural and linguistic responsiveness. Although the evaluation of ASD within CLD populations is highly complex, this study identified the need for improved autism assessment tools and practices. Without the appropriate assessment of these populations, CLD children will likely continue to be misidentified (or not identified at all) and will miss crucial intervention opportunities.
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental net-health benefit: two sides of the same coin.

In recent years, an alternative framework for cost-effectiveness analyses has been growing in popularity. Instead of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for which statistical inference is often difficult, the incremental net-health benefit (INHB), a linear transformation of incremental costs and effectiveness, has been utilized. The linear structure of this statistic allows easy computation and interpretation of confidence intervals, hypothesis tests and acceptability curves. It is often difficult, however, to switch decision-making procedures without first verifying the appropriateness of the new methods. In this paper, we demonstrate the decision-making similarities between the INHB and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and describe how the INHB can be used to clarify inference of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. We also describe the two statistics in terms of the ΔE-ΔC plane, thus allowing both a mathematical and graphical comparison of these similarities. We conclude with a genera...
Advanced IR Imaging Seeker Program

Rockwell has developed under a U.S. Army contract an advanced IR Imaging Seeker System which is compatible with the Hellfire Missile System mission. A technical overview of this program and current status will be presented. The IR imaging seeker was tested during late 1979 and early 1980. This seeker utilizes a Rockwell-developed 1024-element InAsSb/silicon hybrid focal plane array (FPA) operating at 77°K and IR sensitive in the 3.4-4.0 micrometer wavelength region. A multimode tracker provides improved tracking capability for operation against targets in a high clutter background. The payoff for the technology being developed on this program is the ultimate realization of reduced IR seeker cost at equivalent or increased performance to present-day IR Imaging seeker designs.
FPGA Implementation of EM Algorithm for 3D CT Reconstruction

Although the expectation maximization (EM)-based 3D computed tomography (CT) reconstruction algorithm lowers radiation exposure, its long execution time hinders practical usage. To accelerate this process, we introduce a novel external memory bandwidth reduction strategy by reusing both the sinogram and the voxel intensity. Also, a customized computing engine based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is presented to increase the effective memory bandwidth. Experiments on actual patient data show that 85X speedup can be achieved over single-threaded CPU.
Tocqueville versus Weber

Ajay Mehrotra has afforded us an opportunity to better appreciate and understand the development of state capacity in modern U.S. history. With detailed research findings and a well-organized narrative, he focuses on the elaboration of revenue generation and management systems appropriate and adequate to the growing responsibilities and commitments of the national government in the early twentieth century. It is the burden of Mehrotra' s argument that "bureaucratic professionals" were as important a part of the "fiscal revolution" in modern U.S. politics as were changing governmental structures and evolving events and contingencies. Using World War I as his case study, Mehrotra seeks to refine and extend the narrative of organizational change and the rise of the modern state in the United States. There is much to commend in this contribution. Well written and wholly engaged with a wide array of significant secondary literature on its subject, "Lawyers, Guns, and Public Moneys," mobilizes a considerable amount of
NMR lineshape under the conditions where the exchange time approaches the correlation time

Abstract Using our previously described finite difference method an “exact” calculation for the linewidth of an exchanged collapsed doublet is presented under the conditions where the exchange time approaches the correlation time, conditions for which the standard theory of chemical exchange is not applicable. The model we use is that of two spins on separate molecules and where the linewidths arise from the chemical-shift anisotropy.
The phosphatidylcholine pathway of diacylglycerol formation stimulated by phorbol diesters occurs via phospholipase D activation

Agonist-induced degradation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) is of interest as this pathway of diacylglycerol (DG) generation may provide added opportunities for the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC). In REF52 cells [3H]myristic acid is preferentially incorporated into PC; this, coupled with the use of [3H]choline, allows for quantitation of both the water-soluble and the lipid products generated when PC is degraded. In cells prelabeled with [3H]choline, TPA stimulated a time-dependent release, into the medium, of choline and not phosphocholine or glycerophosphocholine. Treatment of [3H]myristic acid-labeled cells with either phorbol diesters, sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, or vasopressin elicited the formation of labeled phosphatidate (PA) and DG. The temporal pattern of PC hydrolysis in cells treated with TPA is indicative of a precursor (PA)-product (DG) relationship for an enzymatic sequence initiated by phospholipase D. Adding propranolol, a phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor, eliminated TPA-induced DG formation, whereas PA generation was unaffected. From these data we conclude that TPA elicits DG formation from PC by the sequential actions of phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase.
Astoria Fan sediments, DSDP site 174, Cascadia Basin: Hf-Nd-Pb constraints on provenance and outburst flooding

Abstract The Astoria submarine fan, located off the coast of Washington and Oregon, has grown throughout the Pleistocene from continental input delivered by the Columbia River drainage system. Enormous floods from the sudden release of glacial lake water occurred periodically during the Pleistocene, carrying vast amounts of sediment to the Pacific Ocean. Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) site 174, located on the southern distal edge of the Astoria Fan, is composed of 879 m of terrigenous sediment. The section is divided into two major units separated by a distinct seismic discontinuity: an upper, turbidite fan unit (Unit I), and an underlying finer-grained unit (Unit II). Both units have overlapping ranges of Nd and Hf isotope compositions, with the majority of samples having eNd values of − 7.1 to − 15.2 and eHf values − 6.2 to − 20.0; the most notable exception is the uppermost sample in the section, which is identical to modern Columbia River sediment. Nd depleted mantle model ages for the site range from 2.0 to 1.2 Ga and are consistent with derivation from cratonic Proterozoic source regions, rather than Cenozoic and Mesozoic terranes proximal to the Washington–Oregon coast. The Astoria Fan sediments have significantly less radiogenic Nd (and Hf) isotopic compositions than present day Columbia River sediment (eNd = − 3 to − 4; [Goldstein, S.J., Jacobsen, S.B., 1987. Nd and Sr isotopic systematics of river water suspended material: implications for crustal evolution. Earth. Planet. Sci. Lett. 87, 249–265.]), and suggest that outburst flooding, tapping Proterozoic source regions, was the dominant sediment transport mechanism in the genesis and construction of the Astoria Fan. Pb isotopes form a highly linear 207Pb/204Pb–206Pb/204Pb array, and indicate the sediments are a binary mixture of two disparate sources with isotopic compositions similar to Proterozoic Belt Supergroup metasediments and Columbia River Basalts. The combined major, trace and isotopic data argue that outburst flooding was responsible for depositing the majority (top 630 m) of the sediment in the Astoria Fan.
Can common genetic variations combine to produce the long QT syndrome phenotype

Thus, although most of the details are not yet understood, it is becoming established that the clinical phenotype produced by a long QT syndrome mutation depends on genetic variations in other genes. In this issue of Heart Rhythm, Tan et al 11 present a similar concept: the clinical phenotype produced by some genetic polymorphisms may be modified by genetic variations in the same gene. Tan et al describe the in vitro behavior of eight common polymorphisms in the sodium channel SCN5A expressed against the background of two different splice variants of SCN5A. Six of the eight polymorphisms showed an abnormal phenotype that depended on the splice variant. The functional abnormality was comparable in magnitude to that seen with diseasecausing mutations. This finding raises many questions. How do different parts of the huge sodium channel protein interact (what is the structural mechanism)? Do common polymorphisms, in the presence of a particular splice variant, cause arrhythmias in the human heart? Can combinations of common, “benign” genetic variations give rise to the full-blown long QT syndrome phenotype? Is this mechanism one of the reasons why a substantial number of patients with indisputable clinical evidence of long QT syndrome elude detection of a “disease-causing mutation”? If a polymorphism in a particular splicing background causes arrhythmias, should it not be reclassified as a mutation? When one perceives the importance of a simple splice variant, one is led to contemplate the mind-boggling array of genetic variations that must occur among individual patients. It is easy to see that “genotype-phenotype mismatch” can result from our failure to appreciate the genotype in all its complexity. It is much harder to see how we will ever understand the nuances of genetic interactions.
Pesticide warehouse fire consequences: experiences from a Danish risk analysis study

Abstract A risk analysis of a pesticide warehouse has been carried out by Riso National Laboratory. The most important risks from the plant were emission of toxic substances released from fires involving large quantities of chemicals, and release of fire-fighting water contaminated with chemical substances. Two areas where more knowledge is required were identified: (i) assessment of environmental effects due to release of ecotoxic substances with the fire-fighting water; and (ii) assessment of the toxicological effects to humans of the fire effluents from a fire involving large amounts of chemical substances. With respect to the latter problem, important research areas are development of methodologies for assessment of the chemical nature and quantitites of the toxic substances that can be generated during the fire course, and also estimation of the effect to humans from inhalation of a complex mixture of fire products. In order to remedy some of the problems, an experimental research project has been initiated, sponsored by the CEC STEP programme. As an example, some results of the work are given in this paper: LC50 values are shown for the combustion atmospheres generated from selected pesticides by the DIN 53 436 furnace. The values are determined by use of an empirical N-gas model.
Synthesis of cyclic hexameric porphyrin arrays. Anchors for surface immobilization and columnar self-assembly.

To investigate new architectures for the self-assembly of multiporphyrin arrays, a one-flask synthesis of a shape-persistent cyclic hexameric array of porphyrins was exploited to prepare six derivatives bearing diverse pendant groups. The new arrays contain 6−12 carboxylic acid groups, 12 amidino groups, 6 thiol groups, or 6 thiol groups and 6 carboxylic acid groups in protected form (S-acetylthio, TMS-ethyl, TMS-ethoxycarbonyl). The arrays contain alternating Zn and free base (Fb) porphyrins or all Zn porphyrins. The one-flask synthesis entails a template-directed, Pd-mediated coupling of a p/p‘-substituted diethynyl Zn porphyrin and a m/m‘-substituted diiodo Fb porphyrin. The porphyrin building blocks (trans-A2B2, trans-AB2C) contain the protected pendant groups at nonlinking meso positions. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a Zn3Fb3 cyclic hexamer containing one thiol group on each porphyrin was prepared on a gold electrode and the surface-immobilized architecture was examined electrochemically. Toge...
Elastic-plastic behavior of elastically homogeneous materials with a random field of inclusions

Abstract A multiphase material is considered, which consists of a homogeneous elastic-plastic matrix containing a homogeneous statistically uniform random set of ellipsoidal elastic-plastic inclusions. The elastic properties of the matrix and the inclusions are the same, but the so-called “stress-free strains”, i.e. the strain contributions due to temperature loading, phase transformations, and the plastic strains, fluctuate. A general theory of the yielding for arbitrary loading (by the stress and by the temperature) is employed. The realization of an incremental plasticity scheme is based on averaging over each component of the nonlinear yield criterion. Usually, averaged stresses are used inside each component for this purpose. In distinction from this usual practice physically consistent assumptions about the dependence of these functions on the component's values of the second stress moments are applied. The application of the proposed theory to the prediction of the thermomechanical deformation behavior of a model material is shown.
Collision-induced transitions between rotational levels

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the elementary process in which a molecule in a quantum state ψ “collides” with another molecule (or atom) and changes its quantum state to ψ′. Contrary to many other studies of collisions in which the main interest is in scattering, that is, the change of translational energy and the deflection of the path, the chapter is concerned with the change of the internal molecular state from ψ to ψ′. It considers only changes in the rotational states of molecules where the energy change is smaller than, or at most of the order of, kT at room temperature. Very often for polyatomic molecules the change of rotational energy in a collision is much smaller than kT and a rather weak intermolecular interaction is sufficient to cause the transition ψ to ψ′. Therefore, many of the “collisions” discussed in the chapter are not of the head-on type but are subtle encounters, in which one molecule simply passes another with a rather large distance (typically 10∼ 20 Angstrom) between them. The elementary process is studied to the extent that the probabilities of the transitions ψ to ψ′ can be calculated for all possible ψ′ for a given initial condition of the collision (that is, the wave function of the collision partner, the relative velocity, and the impact parameter).
Predicting the evolution of fuel nitrogen from various coals

Nitrogen release from most coal types occurs by three mechanisms: tar shuttling, HCN production from char-N, and combustion of char-N. This modeling study extends FLASHCHAIN to characterize the first two N-release mechanisms for heating rates from 5 to 10 4 K/s, temperatures to 1550 K, pressures from vacuum to several atmospheres, and 13 coals of rank from sub-bituminous through low volatile bituminous. Based primarily on the accuracy of predicted tar yields, the agreement among predicted and observed evolution histories of tar-N, HCN, and char-N and the nitrogen contents of tar is within experimental uncertainty throught this domain. Under conditions of rapid heating, tar shuttling is the only mechanism for nitrogen release as long as tar is being expelled, but for slower heating conditions, it is overlapped by HCN production from char-N. The predictions correctly depict the rank dependence of nitrogen evolution, exhibiting a broad maximum for hv bituminous coals before falling off for low volatility coals. Tar shuttling is almost entirely responsible for this trend. Also, the predicted nitrogen contents of tar increase throughout primary devolatilization as cumulative tar yields grow, in accord with measured values. HCN production from char-N has an extremely broad thermal response that is well represented with a very broad distribution of activation energies. Predicted char-N and HCN evolution histories for numerous coals based on the same energy distribution are within experimental uncertainty of observed levels for several coal types, although indications that HCN production becomes slower for coals of progressively higher rank are also considered.
Uniqueness and Stability of Action Potential Models during Rest, Pacing, and Conduction Using Problem-Solving Environment

Development and application of physiologically detailed dynamic models of the action potential (AP) and Ca2+ cycling in cardiac cells is a rapidly growing aspect of computational cardiac electrophysiology. Given the large scale of the nonlinear system involved, questions were recently raised regarding reproducibility, numerical stability, and uniqueness of model solutions, as well as ability of the model to simulate AP propagation in multicellular configurations. To address these issues, we reexamined ventricular models of myocyte AP developed in our laboratory with the following results. 1), Recognizing that the model involves a system of differential-algebraic equations, a procedure is developed for estimating consistent initial conditions that insure uniqueness and stability of the solution. 2), Model parameters that can be used to modify these initial conditions according to experimental values are identified. 3), A convergence criterion for steady-state solution is defined based on tracking the incremental contribution of each ion species to the membrane voltage. 4), Singularities in state variable formulations are removed analytically. 5), A biphasic current stimulus is implemented to completely eliminate stimulus artifact during long-term pacing over a broad range of frequencies. 6), Using the AP computed based on 1–5 above, an efficient scheme is developed for computing propagation in multicellular models.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Protects Transplanted Mouse Livers Against Storage/Reperfusion Injury: Role of Vasodilatory and Innate Immunity Pathways

Abstract Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a role in microcirculatory and immunomodulatory responses after warm ischemia/reperfusion. We hypothesized that eNOS is essential to maintain microcirculation, attenuate macrophage infiltration and decrease graft injury after liver transplantation. Liver transplantation was performed after 18 hours of cold storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution from wildtype and eNOS-deficient (B6.129P2-Nos3tm/Unc/J) donor mice into wildtype mice. Serum ALT, necrosis by histology, apoptosis by TUNEL, and macrophage infiltration by immunostaining against F4/80 antigen were determined 2 to 8 hours after implantation. Hepatic microcirculation was investigated after 4 hours by intravital confocal microscopy following injection of fluorescein-labeled erythrocytes. After sham operation, livers of wildtype and eNOS-deficient mice were not different in ALT, necrosis, apoptosis, macrophage infiltration, and microcirculation. After transplantation, ALT increased >3 times more after transplantation of eNOS-deficient livers than wildtype livers. Necrosis was >4 times greater, and TUNEL and F4/80 immunostaining in nonnecrotic areas were 2 and 1.5 times greater in eNOS-deficient donor livers, respectively. Compared with wildtype and eNOS sham-operated mice, sinusoidal blood flow velocity increased 1.6-fold after wildtype transplantation, but sinusoidal diameter was not changed. After transplantation of eNOS-deficient livers, blood flow velocity and sinusoidal diameter decreased compared with transplanted wildtype livers. These results indicate that donor eNOS attenuates storage/reperfusion injury after mouse liver transplantation. Protection is associated with improved microcirculation and decreased macrophage infiltration. Thus, eNOS-dependent graft protection may involve both vasodilatory and innate immunity pathways.
Preservation of premetamorphic oxygen isotope ratios in granitic orthogneiss from the adirondack mountains, New York, USA

The Adirondack Mountains, New York, expose a diverse group of Proterozoic igneous rocks that were metamorphosed to granulite facies conditions during the Ottawan phase of the Grenville orogeny. Oxygen isotope data for seventy whole rock samples of gabbroic to granitic meta-igneous rocks, primarily from the charnockite suites from the Tupper and Saranac sheets in the central Adirondacks, demonstrate a correlation between δ^(18)O_(wr) and major element composition within continuous, mappable, meta-plutonic units. No such relationship is seen among nonconsanguineous granitoids. Variations in mineral δ^(18)O values and large differences in δ^(18)O between rocks with nonconsanguineous protoliths but similar bulk composition demonstrate that these rocks were not infiltrated by, or isotopically equilibrated through, a pervasive metamorphic fluid. Values of δ^(18)O for mineral separates preserve generally high temperature fractionations indicative of dominantly closed-system retrograde exchange. Values of δ^(18)O_(wr) in Adirondack orthogneisses were not significantly shifted during granulite facies metamorphism and were dominantly controlled by processes active during premetamorphic magmatism. Values of δ^(18)O_(wr) may thus serve as a petrogenetic indicator, allow discrimination of rock units, and serve as a source constraint for meta-igneous rocks. Fayalite meta-granites with low δ^(18)O values can be discriminated from surrounding granitoids having high δ^(18)O values. A record of assimilation in the evolution of differentiated granitic units is preserved. The preservation of primary igneous δ^(18)O values in granulite facies orthogneiss imposes constraints on the synmetamorphic and postmetamorphic fluid history of the Adirondack Highlands. Oxygen isotopic compositions at the hand-sample scale have been preserved through granulite-facies metamorphism. Fluid absence or low fluid/rock ratios on a regional scale are indicated.
Uncertainty quantification for cooperative target tracking

Historically tracking systems have provided limited quantitative data such as approximate range, speed, and trajectory. Today's tracking systems are now being tasked with accurately quantifying a broader range of dynamic state variables (e.g., absolute and relative position, orientation, linear and angular velocity/acceleration, spin rate, trajectory, angle of attack, angle of impact) for high-speed test articles. This information is needed to demonstrate that the required test conditions are achieved, to develop, validate, and apply predictive models, and to document a system's response to a test environment. Few existing and emerging optical tracking methods accurately provide the dynamic state variables. Even fewer quantify the measurement uncertainty. Past measurement error estimates have been either qualitative or lacked the rigor needed to accurately validate and apply predictive models. This presentation will discuss tracking options and approaches for characterizing tracking measurement uncertainty.
The effect of discussions about advance directives on patients' satisfaction with primary care.

BACKGROUND: Discussions of end-of-life care should be held prior to acute, disabling events. Many barriers to having such discussions during primary care exist. These barriers include time constraints, communication difficulties, and perhaps physicians’ anxiety that patients might react negatively to such discussions.
Applying modified Weibull failure theory to bimaterial specimen under thermal loading

Failure of a thermally loaded bimaterial specimen was investigated in this research. A high-stress gradient due to thermal loading occurs around the free edge of the interface of the bimaterial specimen. This high-stress gradient plays an important role in the failure of the specimen. The Weibull failure theory has been shown to be unable to account for high-stress gradients in externally loaded bimaterial specimens. The objective of this work is to develop a weight function method to calculate the effective stress intensity factors in the vicinity of a high-stress gradient in a thermally loaded bimaterial specimen, and to develop a modified Weibull failure theory to handle the high-stress gradient. It was found that the modified Weibull failure theory generated monotonous trends for the probability of failure with respect to increasing Weibull moduli, as demonstrated in the literature.
Head-to-head comparison of serial soluble ST2, growth differentiation factor-15, and highly-sensitive troponin T measurements in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objectives This analysis aimed to perform a head-to-head comparison of 3 of the promising biomarkers of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in heart failure (HF)—soluble ST2 (sST2), growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, and highly-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT)—and to evaluate the role of serial measurement of these biomarkers in patients with chronic HF. Background sST2, GDF-15, and hsTnT are strongly associated with CV outcomes in HF. Methods This post-hoc analysis used data from a study in which 151 patients with chronic HF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction were followed up over 10 months. At each visit, N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), sST2, GDF-15, and hsTnT were measured and any major CV events were recorded. Results Baseline values of all 3 novel biomarkers independently predicted total CV events even after adjusting for clinical and biochemical characteristics, including NT-proBNP, with the best model including all 3 biomarkers (p l 0.001). Adding serial measurement to the base model appeared to improve the model's predictive ability (with sST2 showing the most promise), but it is not clear whether this addition is a unique contribution. However, when time-dependent factors were included, only sST2 serial measurement independently added to the risk model (odds ratio: 3.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.37 to 9.67; p = 0.009) and predicted reverse myocardial remodeling (odds ratio: 1.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 1.43; p = 0.01). Conclusions In patients with chronic HF, baseline measurement of novel biomarkers added independent prognostic information to clinical variables and NT-proBNP. Only serial measurement of sST2 appeared to add prognostic information to baseline concentrations and predicted change in left ventricular function. (Use of NT-proBNP Testing to Guide Heart Failure Therapy in the Outpatient Setting (PROTECT)]; NCT00351390 ).
An essay on 'combined' time series processes

Abstract Scholars have focused a lot of attention on the characteristics of political time series. For the most part, research addresses whether series are integrated or stationary, that is, whether change lasts indefinitely or decays. However, at least some our theories imply series that are neither purely integrated nor stationary, but combine the two processes instead. While statistical theory tells us that such “combined” processes are integrated in the long run, we do not know much about their statistical properties over finite time. This article considers these processes. To assess the effects of combining integrated and stationary processes, a basic simulation is used. The analyses indicate that it can be difficult to detect integration in combined series over finite time, particularly as the rho and weight of the stationary component are increased. If we do suspect that a time series is combined, we nevertheless can explicitly model the process using error correction technology where the equilibrium component is itself integrated. The modeling strategy offers us evidence of persistence — and insight into the nature of a process — that standard diagnostic tests may not.
On the impossibility of blind deconvolution for geometrically decaying subspace sparse signals

Blind deconvolution is an ubiquitous non-linear inverse problem in applications like wireless communications and image processing. This problem is generally ill-posed since signal identifiability is a key concern, and there have been efforts to use sparse models for regularizing blind deconvolution to promote signal identifiability. The identifiability of the sparse blind deconvolution problem is analyzed herein under assumptions of geometric decay of the channel and canonical sparsity of the source, and the ill-posedness is quantified by lower bounding the Hausdorff dimension of the unidentifiable signal set. The approach involves lifting the deconvolution problem into a rank one matrix recovery problem and analyzing the rank two null space of the resultant linear operator. An important conclusion of the paper is that the structural restriction of geometric decay of the channel vector with canonical sparsity of the source, occurring naturally in multi-hop channel estimation, is insufficient for signal identifiability in blind deconvolution, even if the canonical-sparse support is known.
Molecular analysis of p53 and k-ras in lung carcinomas of coal miners

Thirty-three cases of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) from the archives of National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study were studied for mutational alterations in p53 and K-ras using PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and PCR-oligonucleotide probe hybridization techniques. Mutations of the p53 were observed in 4 smokers (19%) and one in a never smoker (8%). Two polymorphisms in smokers were detected at codon 213, a common site for sequence variation. Among the smokers the p53 mutations were in the heavy smokers. In never smokers there was only a single p53 mutation and two K-ras mutations. In never smokers the frequency of K-ras mutations was similar (17%) in smokers, but one never smoker had two K-ras mutations. Mutations of p53 were more frequent in adenocarcinomas (27%) and they were AT-->GC transitions. Four of 11 (36%) adenocarcinomas were found to have K-ras codon 12 mutations, and one adenocarcinoma had two K-ras mutations. There were two large cell undifferentiated carcinomas with p53 mutation and one with a K-ras mutation. Two of the 16 squamous cell carcinomas were positive for p53 mutation, while no K-ras mutations were found in this group. The results of these preliminary studies indicate a moderately different mutational spectrum of p53 and K-ras in coal miners independent of cigarette smoking. The mutational spectrum observed in this study of coal miners with heavy cigarette smoking history suggest a protective effect of coal mine dust in preventing abnormal mutations induced by chemical carcinogens in cigarette smoke or reactive oxygen species. These limited preliminary studies provide insight into the possibility of accurately measuring changes in etiologic markers to unravel the uncertainties of cancer in coal miners.
Early Pubertal Timing as a Vulnerability to Depression Symptoms: Differential Effects of Race and Sex

Robust evidence supports that girls and boys who experience early pubertal timing, maturing earlier than one’s peers, are vulnerable to developing symptoms of depression. However, it has yet to be clarified whether early pubertal timing confers vulnerability to African American as well as to Caucasian adolescents and whether this vulnerability is specific to depressive symptoms or can be generalized to symptoms of social anxiety. In previous studies, one race or one sex was examined in isolation or sample sizes were too small to examine racial differences. Our longitudinal study consisted of a sample of 223 adolescents (Mage = 12.42, 54.3 % female, 50.2 % African American, and 49.8 % Caucasian). At baseline, depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and pubertal timing were assessed by self-report. Nine months later, we assessed depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, body esteem, and stressful life events that occurred between baseline and follow-up. Analyses indicated that early pubertal timing interacted with stressful life events to predict increased symptoms of depression, but only for Caucasian girls and African American boys. Results were found to be specific to depressive symptoms and did not generalize to symptoms of social anxiety. Additionally, there was a significant positive indirect effect of pubertal timing on symptoms of depression through body esteem for Caucasian females.
Predicting deterioration in previously healthy infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Objective. To estimate the incidence of clinical deterioration leading to intensive care unit transfer in previously healthy infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection hospitalized on a general pediatric unit and, to assess the hypothesis that history, physical examination, oximetry, and chest radiographic findings at time of presentation can accurately identify these infants. Study Design. A virology database was used to identify and determine the disposition of all children ≤1 year of age admitted to the Children9s Hospital at Strong (CHaS) with RSV infection during the 1985 to 1994 respiratory seasons. Index patients were all previously healthy, full-term infants admitted initially to the general inpatient services at CHaS or Rochester General Hospital, a second University of Rochester teaching hospital, whose clinical deterioration led to transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). These infants were matched retrospectively (for year and date of infection, sex, chronologic age, and race) with two hospitalized controls who did not require PICU transfer. Chest radiographic findings, respiratory rate (RR), O2 saturation, and presence of wheezing at time of presentation to the emergency department (ED) were compared. Results. During the study years, 542 previously healthy, full-term infants were admitted to the general pediatric unit at CHaS with proven RSV infection. Ten (1.8%; 95% confidence interval, 0.9%, 3.4%) were transferred subsequently to the PICU, primarily for close monitoring of progressive respiratory distress. Data for these patients and 7 patients transferred from Rochester General Hospital to the PICU at the CHaS were compared with those for control patients. The mean RR in the ED (63 vs 50), and O2 saturation in the ED (88% vs 93%) were modestly abnormal in cases compared with controls. Wheezing on examination at time of presentation and chest radiographic findings did not differ between the two groups. A RR >80 and an O2saturation 97% for predicting subsequent deterioration. Each parameter, however, had a sensitivity ≤30%. Conclusion. Clinical deterioration requiring PICU admission is an uncommon occurrence in previously healthy infants admitted to a general pediatric inpatient unit with RSV infection. Extreme tachypnea and hypoxemia were both associated with subsequent deterioration; however, only a small proportion of patients who clinically deteriorated presented in this way. The clinical usefulness of these parameters, therefore, is limited. respiratory syncytial virus, deterioration, healthy infants, prediction.
What's wrong with predistribution

Lane Kenworthy questions whether predistribution is up to the task of ensuring a fair distribution of incomes and says that the best way to tackle the squeeze in wages is through good old-fashioned public insurance.
A Machine Learning Approach to Improving Dynamic Decision Making

Decision strategies in dynamic environments do not always succeed in producing desired outcomes, particularly in complex, ill-structured domains. Information systems often capture large amounts of data about such environments. We propose a domain-independent, iterative approach that a applies data mining classification techniques to the collected data in order to discover the conditions under which dynamic decision-making strategies produce undesired or suboptimal outcomes and b uses this information to improve the decision strategy under these conditions. In this paper, we formally develop this approach and illustrate it by providing detailed examples of its application to a chronic disease care problem in a healthcare management organization, specifically the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In particular, the proposed iterative approach is used to improve treatment strategies by predicting and eliminating treatment failures, i.e., insufficient or excessive treatment actions, based on information that is available in electronic medical record systems. We also apply the proposed approach to a manufacturing task, resulting in substantial decision strategy improvements, which further demonstrates the generality and flexibility of the proposed approach.
Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Adolescents’ Competence and the Balance of Adolescent Autonomy and Adolescent and Parent Well-Being in the Context of Type 1 Diabetes

This study examined whether intrafamily discrepancies in perceptions of the adolescent's competence and independence were associated with autonomy and well-being for adolescents and parents. The ways in which mothers and fathers consistently differed from their adolescent across measures of independence and competence regarding Type 1 diabetes, a stressful context for families, were examined with the latent discrepancy model. A sample of 185 adolescents (mean age = 12.5 years, SD = 1.3), their mothers, and participating fathers completed measures of the adolescent's independence in completing diabetes tasks, problems with diabetes management, adherence to the medical regimen, measures of well-being, and metabolic control. The latent discrepancy model was conducted via structural equation modeling that generated latent discrepancies from the adolescent for mothers and fathers. Both mothers and fathers viewed the adolescent's competence more negatively than did the adolescent. These discrepancies related to more parental encouragement of independence and adolescent autonomy but also to poorer metabolic control and poorer parental psychosocial well-being. The results are interpreted within a developmental perspective that views discrepancies as reflecting normative developmental processes of autonomy but as being associated with disruptions in well-being in the short term.
Does Reflux Have a Causative Role in Laryngomalacia

Laryngomalacia is the most prevalent laryngeal anomaly in infants, with approximately 60% of cases of neonatal stridor attributable to this disorder [1]. As a pathologic condition, it is defined by abnormal laryngeal dynamics in which supraglottic collapse occurs with inspiration. Although congenital in nature, it typically manifests in a delayed fashion, becoming most noticeable approximately 2-4 weeks after birth. This delayed phenomenon is poorly understood, but it may be in part due to the Bernoulli Effect produced by a natural increase in the respiratory flow rates of older infants, which then creates sufficient negative intra luminal pressure to cause collapse of a congenitally flaccid larynx.
Queuing networks with multiple closed chains: theory and computational algorithms

In this paper a recent result of Baskett, Chandy, Muntz, and Palacios is generalized to the case in which customer transitions are characterized by more than one closed Markov chain. Generating functions are used to derive closed-form solutions to stability, normalization constant, and marginal distributions. For such a system with N servers and L chains the solutions are considerably more complicated than those for systems with one subchain only. It is shown how open and closed subchains interact with each other in such systems. Efficient algorithms are then derived from our generating function representation.
Breakdown Delay Times for Subnanosecond Gas Discharges at Pressures Below One Atmosphere

With a RADAN 303-A pulser (a rise time of 150 ps and a maximum voltage of 150 kV into matched load), fast breakdown in argon and air is investigated. An oil-filled coaxial transmission line is coupled with a lens to a biconical section and a radial millimeter-size gap operated at subatmospheric pressure. Diagnostics include capacitive voltage dividers which allow the determination of voltage across and current through the gap with a temporal resolution defined by the digitizer (20 Gs/s, 6 GHz) used. A scintillator-photomultiplier combination with different metal absorber foils and a temporal resolution of 2 ns is used as X-ray detector to obtain a rough energy spectrum of the X-rays and electrons in the range of 10-150 keV. Discharges are characterized by runaway electrons over much of the pressure range, with a strong excitation and ionization layer at the cathode surface, and ldquofree-fallrdquo conditions with negligible gaseous ionization for the rest of the gap. High-energy electrons (> 60 keV) are observed up to atmospheric pressure. Time-to-breakdown curves versus pressure have been measured for different applied voltage rise times. They resemble Paschen curves with a steep increase toward low pressure and a slow increase toward high pressure. The major experimental findings and particularly the time-to-breakdown curves are confirmed using simple force-equation modeling. Monte Carlo calculations simulating collisional ionizations and developing electron avalanches in three dimensions have been used to verify and explain the experimental results.
Kinetic analysis of a family of cotransport models.

Abstract The kinetic properties of a family of cotransport models are studied. The most general model allows the substrate and activator to bind in a random fashion to the transporter (iso random bi-bi mechanism). The other models require an ordered binding sequence (iso ordered bi-bi mechanism) and differ according to the order and symmetry of the binding events at the two membranes faces. In all cases it has been assumed that the translocation of the carrier is the rate-limiting step in the transport process. It is demonstrated that under zero trans, equilibrium exchange and infinite trans experimental conditions the usual kinetic parameters K m and V can be expressed as simple functions of the activator concentration and a minimal set of model dependent constants with well defined kinetic interpretations. Kinetic criteria for distinguishing between the various models are established. The incorporation of the effects of membrane potential into the flux equations is also treated with the aid of certain simplifying assumptions. The usefullness of the concept of ‘effective charge’ for non mobile carrier mechanisms is emphasized.
Robinson Annulations of Sterically Hindered α-Carbomethoxycyclohexanones

Abstract In conjunction with our interest in the synthesis of quassinoids such as bruceantin1 (1), we required a synthesis of a tricyclic intermediate bearing a functionalized angular methyl group at C-8. One approach which we considered involved the Robinson annulation2 of a bicyclic β-ketoester 2 and methyl vinyl ketone to obtain the tricyclic enone 3. The major obstacle in such an approach involved the Aldol condensation step in the annulation process in which an enolate at C-11 must condense with a highly substituted carbonyl group at C-9. There are conflicting reports in the literature on the success of similar condensations,3,4 and we elected to test the feasibility of this approach.