cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating High-Occupancy Toll Lane Operations

Microscopic simulation is critical for evaluating the operation strategies of managed lanes. However, most existing tools are limited in their ability to simulate dynamic tolling strategies of managed lanes, particularly those with multiple segments. Three sets of modeling components are developed in this paper to demonstrate simulation of high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane operations. The first component implements three pricing strategies: responsive pricing; a closed-loop, control-based algorithm; and time-of-day pricing. The second component mimics drivers’ lane choice behaviors in the presence of tolls, and the third represents different toll structures for multisegment HOT lane facilities. An enhanced version of CORSIM, which contains these new modeling components, is validated by simulation experiments involving the 95 Express network in South Florida.
Fatty acid composition of turkey meat as affected by dietary fat, cholesterol and diethylstilbestrol.

SUMMARY— Diethylstilbestrol (DES) increased the total lipid content of turkey breast, thigh and skin whether a corn oil (CO) or hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) diet was consumed. The effect of DES, cholesterol (C) or DES + C was greater with the HCO diet than with the CO diet. The total polyunsaturated acid content of the breast of turkeys on the HCO control diet and on the CO control diet was the same but was greater in the thigh and skin lipids of turkeys on the CO control diet, primarily due to the greater linoleate concentration. The proportion of fatty acid was changed to a small extent by DES, C and DES + C. However, the weight of the fatty acids in unit weight of turkey meat was greatly changed because of the large effect on the total fat content and consequently on the total fatty acid content.
Modification of residents' behavior by preceptor feedback of patient satisfaction.

The authors tested the effect of preceptor feedback to residents of patients’ ratings of perceived art and technical quality of care on residents’ subsequent performances. New ambulatory patients were asked to complete questionnaires measuring satisfaction with physician behavior during initial encounters. Sixty-eight residents were evaluated by 424 patients over a six-month period. Continuing residents with the lowest scores were assigned to a feedback or a non-feedback group. Residents in the feedback group were individually shown their mean scores on each item, as well as scores for all residents, and were then advised of physicians’ behaviors that could increase patient satisfaction. During a subsequent six-month survey of new patients, scores in the feedback group improved more than those in the non-feedback group in art of care, technical quality, and total patient satisfaction (p<0.001).
Melanocortins and the melanocortin 1 receptor, moving translationally towards melanoma prevention

Beginning in the last decade of the twentieth century, the fields of pigment cell research and melanoma have witnessed major breakthroughs in the understanding of the role of melanocortins in human pigmentation and the DNA damage response of human melanocytes to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV). This began with the cloning of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene from human melanocytes and the demonstration that the encoded receptor is functional. Subsequently, population studies found that the MC1R gene is highly polymorphic, and that some of its variants are associated with red hair phenotype, fair skin and poor tanning ability. Using human melanocytes cultured from donors with different MC1R genotypes revealed that the alleles associated with red hair color encode for a non-functional receptor. Epidemiological studies linked the MC1R red hair color variants to increased melanoma risk. Investigating the impact of different MC1R variants on the response of human melanocytes to UV led to the important discovery that the MC1R signaling activates antioxidant, DNA repair and survival pathways, in addition to stimulation of eumelanin synthesis. These effects of MC1R were absent in melanocytes expressing 2 MC1R red hair color variants that result in loss of function of the receptor. The importance of the MC1R in reducing UV-induced genotoxicity in melanocytes led us to design small peptide analogs of the physiological MC1R agonist α-melanocortin (α-melanocyte stimulating hormone; α-MSH) for the goal of utilizing them for melanoma chemoprevention.
Analytical solutions for the specific activities of a traced substance within the component parts of a simulated kidney-ureter system.

Two models for a kidney-ureter system are considered: one model of one vessel in which a traced substance, undergoing exchange between the vessel and an external compartment, is emptying into the ureter; the second model of two approximately parallel, identical vessels in which a traced substance, undergoing exchange between each vessel and an external compartment, is emptying into the ureter. A single impulsive input of label into a vessel is assumed. For mathematical simplicity, the major conditions imposed on each system are: (1) rapid mixing transverse to a vessel axis and no mixing longitudinal to a vessel axis within the plasma; (2) small variation of the specific activity within the plasma in the longitudinal direction to a vessel axis; (3) constant flow rate of urine into the ureter and (4) constant exchange coefficients, tubule flow velocity and traced substance concentrations within individual compartments.
Anion Concentration in Cecal Content of Germ-free and Conventional Mice

SummaryCorrelation between cecal size and the ionic composition of cecal content was determined in conventional mice, germ-free mice, germ-free mice fed with Cl-resin diet, germ-free mice monocontaminated with Clostridium difficile, and conventional mice treated with penicillin. Shrinkage of the cecum is best correlated with increased chloride and bicarbonate concentration; and enlargement of the cecum with decreased concentration. From these findings it was concluded that availability of chloride or permeable anion in the cecal content is the primary factor to control cecal size.
The electroretinogram, the visual evoked potential, and the area-luminance relation

Abstract The area-luminance relation was investigated in a study of simultaneously recorded electroretinograms and evoked potentials. The stimulus was produced by a dark and white, striped grid which jumped back and forth within a circular field. This method reduced the effectiveness of stray light for producing uncontrolled response components. Large stimulus fields favored large responses at both recording sites, but to a degree which was greater for the electroretinogram. The results were interpreted in terms of the additivity of response and the distribution of retinal elements.
Settlement of inhomogeneous consolidating soils—II: The symmetrically loaded mass

We continue our study of the consolidation of inhomogeneous clay soils with an analysis of the response of a soil mass, whose shear modulus increases linearly with depth, to axially symmetric pressure on its surface. This extends the work reported in Part I on the corresponding one-dimensional problem of a clay column, and generalizes researches of Gibson and coworkers on the elastic model of the soil (i.e., the initial response). Because of great mathematical complexity when Poisson's ratio is allowed to assume arbitrary values, we have confined ourselves (as did Gibson in several of his papers) to variations of the modulus from a zero surface value, this being in reasonable accord with published test results on London clay. The deflection of points within this region, the deflection relative to the central one (that is, the shape of the deformed loading area), as well as the absolute deflection of surface points exterior to the load.
The Influence of Test Context On Item Difficulty

Item analysis techniques commonly assume that item difficulties are stable over varying test contexts. The current emphasis on information-efficiency and individualized selection of items has made ...
Resource-constrained job scheduling with recyclable resources

Abstract In resource-constrained project scheduling problems, resources are typically classified as being either renewable, non-renewable, or doubly-constrained . A new resource classification, recyclable , is introduced. Notation and a generalized problem formulation are developed for resource-constrained job scheduling problems where resources are recyclable. This foundation is then used for studying the single-machine scheduling problem with tooling constraints. For a given set of jobs, the problem is to find the job sequence, tool type quantities, and tool recycling schedule such that the sum of job completion times and quantity of tools allocated are both minimized. Two solution approaches are developed, and examples are used to compare and contrast the approaches. The results indicate that the ‘traditional’ job scheduling approach (i.e. schedule jobs first, then tools) can lead to sub-optimal solutions. Furthermore, by scheduling jobs and tools simultaneously, it may be possible to attain a given level of performance with fewer tools.
Persistence and Responsiveness of Immunologic Memory in the Absence of Secondary Lymphoid Organs

Summary Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) promote primary immune responses by recruiting naive lymphocytes and activated APCs. However, their role in the persistence or responsiveness of memory lymphocytes is unclear. We tested whether memory cells were maintained and could respond to challenge in the absence of SLOs. We found that influenza-specific CD8 cells in the lung acquired a memory phenotype, underwent homeostatic proliferation, recirculated through nonlymphoid tissues, and responded to and cleared a challenge infection in the complete absence of SLOs. Similarly, influenza-specific virus-neutralizing antibody was generated and maintained in the absence of SLOs. Inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) was also formed in the lungs of previously infected mice and may provide a niche for the maintenance of memory cells at the local level. These data show that SLOs are dispensable for the maintenance of immunologic memory and directly demonstrate the utility of local tissues, such as iBALT, in secondary immune responses.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB AML-M1) in the setting of HIV infection and G-CSF therapy: a case report and review of the literature.

Although hematologic dysplasia is common in HIV disease, evolution to AML is unusual. We report a case of AML in a patient with stage-C3 AIDS who had been previously treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). This 41-year-old black man presented with pancytopenia (Hg 8.6 g/dl, Hct 24.3%, platelets 16,000/mm3, WBC 0.6× 103/mm3) and hemoptysis. His peripheral smear manifested 19% blasts. His bone marrow biopsy was hypocellular (20%) with greater than 90% blasts, which were positive for myeloperoxidase and Sudan black B. The blasts were negative for nonspecific esterase. Immunophenotypic analysis by flow cytometry showed the majority of cells to be of myeloid lineage, expressing CD13, and CD45 at low intensity. In addition, there was aberrant expression of CD2 and no expression of CD14 or CD4. The diagnosis of AML-FAB-M1 was made. The patient refused chemotherapy. Of the rare cases of AML in HIV patients previously reported in the literature, the majority were of the monocytic or myelomonocytic subtype. This case is of special interest because of prior G-CSF therapy. In this setting, the relationship between HIV, G-CSF, and subsequent AML is controversial.
Comparison of the potency of MDL 100,907 and SB 242084 in blocking the serotonin (5-HT)2 receptor agonist-induced increases in rat serum corticosterone concentrations: evidence for 5-HT2A receptor mediation of the HPA axis

Abstract Direct-acting serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists increase serum corticosterone in rats by activating receptors of the 5-HT1A or the 5-HT2A/2C subtypes. While involvement of 5-HT1A receptors in activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis is clear, the 5-HT2 receptor subtype—5-HT2A or 5-HT2C—responsible for activation of the HPA axis by direct-acting 5-HT2 receptor agonists has been difficult to determine due to the lack of selective pharmacologic agents. Recently, however, 5-HT2 receptor antagonists with high selectivity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor subtypes have been discovered. The selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL 100,907 and the selective 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB 242084 were used to block the increases in rat serum corticosterone elicited by 5-HT2 receptor agonists with varying degrees of affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. MDL 100,907 was fully effective in blocking the increases in corticosterone concentrations produced by quipazine, DOI, m-CPP and Ro 60-0175, whereas SB 242084 was ineffective or was only marginally effective. Our findings implicate 5-HT2A receptors rather than 5-HT2C receptors in mediating increases in rat serum corticosterone produced by direct-acting 5-HT2 receptor agonists in vivo.
Rehabilitating the chronically ill: A 5-yr follow-up of 341 chronically ill ambulatory medical outpatients

A METHOD for evaluating the functional capacity of ambulatory patients with chronic diseases was described in 1964. [l] A background study which led to this team type of approach appeared elsewhere. [2] Also, patients referred for study from the Medical Care Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital were selected by utilizing a multiphasic screening examination. [3] It was stated that both medical and vocational rehabilitation were most likely to be successful if their planning were based on the determination of each individual’s physical (medical) social, psychological and vocational functional capacities. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) As previously described, each patient accepted for study was given a complete physical examination, with the indicated laboratory studies, X-rays, and specialty consultations. Also, each was given a social evaluation, including a home visit by the clinic social worker, when geographically possible, a psychological evaluation (functional evaluation of personality) psychological testing, and a psychiatric consultation if indicated. In addition, each patient was interviewed by a vocational rehabilitation counselor, assigned to the clinic, who verified the patient’s educational achievement and work record prior to the coordinating conference.
Petascale I/O using HDF-5

Our work is focused on performing Petascale Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of turbulent flows. An essential performance component of these simulations are the restart files, as a single petascale simulation will write on the order of a petabyte. Petascale I/O requires both performance and dataset maintainability, for archival and post processing of the velocity fields for statistics. This paper presents benchmarks and comparisons between a single shared file written using the HDF-5 library and a POSIX compliant I/O library on several top-10 machines and filesystems. It is shown that a properly tuned HDF-5 routine provides strong I/O performance, which coupled with the metadata handling and portability available to the file format, indicates that the lower performance provides a worthy tradeoff. The benchmarks presented were provided from real turbulence simulations and required extensive tuning for different platforms, and in particular, between different file systems (GPFS and Lustre).
Dynamics, hydration, and motional averaging of a loop-gated artificial protein cavity: the W191G mutant of cytochrome c peroxidase in water as revealed by molecular dynamics simulations.

Five molecular dynamics simulations of the W191G cavity mutant of cytochrome c peroxidase in explicit water reveal distinct dynamic and hydration behavior depending on the closed or open state of t...
Is Vector Control Sufficient to Limit Pathogen Spread in Vineyards

Vector control is widely viewed as an integral part of disease management. Yet epidemiological theory suggests that the effectiveness of control programs at limiting pathogen spread depends on a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of a pathosystem. Moreover, control programs rarely evaluate whether reductions in vector density or activity translate into reduced disease prevalence. In areas of California invaded by the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis Germar), Pierce's disease management relies heavily on chemical control of this vector, primarily via systemic conventional insecticides (i.e., imidacloprid). But, data are lacking that attribute reduced vector pressure and pathogen spread to sharpshooter control. We surveyed 34 vineyards over successive years to assess the epidemiological value of within-vineyard chemical control. The results showed that imidacloprid reduced vector pressure without clear nontarget effects or secondary pest outbreaks. Effects on disease prevalence were more nuanced. Treatment history over the preceding 5 yr affected disease prevalence, with significantly more diseased vines in untreated compared with regularly or intermittently treated vineyards. Yet, the change in disease prevalence between years was low, with no significant effects of insecticide treatment or vector abundance. Collectively, the results suggest that within-vineyard applications of imidacloprid can reduce pathogen spread, but with benefits that may take multiple seasons to become apparent. The relatively modest effect of vector control on disease prevalence in this system may be attributable in part to the currently low regional sharpshooter population densities stemming from area-wide control, without which the need for within-vineyard vector control would be more pronounced.
Numerical investigation on chaos in late boundary layer transition to turbulence

Abstract The mechanism of chaos in late boundary layer transition is a key issue of the laminar-turbulent transition process in a flat plate boundary layer. A careful study on the characteristic of chaos is carried out by high order direct numerical simulation (DNS). The process of flow chaos was originally considered as a result of large background noise and non-periodic spanwise boundary conditions. It was addressed that the large ring structures are affected by background noises first, and then the change of large ring structures affect the small scale vortices quickly, which directly lead to chaos and formation of turbulent flow. However, according to our DNS observation, the loss of symmetry starts from the middle level vortex rings while the top and bottom rings are still symmetric. The non-symmetric structure of second level vortex rings will influence the small scale vortices at the boundary layer bottom quickly. The loss of symmetry at the bottom of the boundary layer quickly spreads to upper level through ejections. This will lead to chaos of the whole flow field. Therefore, the internal instability of multiple level ring structures, especially the middle ring cycles, is the main reason for the process of flow chaos, but not the large background noise.
A Longitudinal Study of the Marriage Role Expectations of College Women: 1961-1984.

The marriage role expectations of female university students enrolled in an introductory marriage and family course at the University of Kentucky in 1961 (N=72), 1972 (N=58), 1978 (N=115), and 1984 (N=81) were compared. The 1972 group was found to be significantly more egalitarian than the 1961 group in overall marriage role expectations and on all subscales except “authority.” The 1978 and 1984 groups were significantly more egalitarian than the 1961 group on overall marriage role expectations and on all seven of the subscales: authority, “homemaking,” “child care,” “personal characteristics,” “social participation,” “education,” and “employment and support.” The 1978 group was significantly more egalitarian than the 1972 group only on authority and homemaking, with no significant differences on the other five subscales or on overall role expectation score. The 1984 group was significantly more egalitarian than the 1972 group only on authority, homemaking, and child care, and was slightly (not satistically significant) more traditional on personal characteristics and social participation. There were no significant differences between the 1978 and 1984 groups on overall expectation or on any of the subscales. In fact, the 1984 group was slightly more traditional on homemaking, personal characteristics, social participation, employment and support, and overall expectations. The data from this study showed the greatest gain in egalitarian trends to be between 1961 and 1972, with a continuation of the trends at a somewhat slower rate of change between 1972 and 1978, and a discontinuation of the trend toward more egalitarian expectations between 1978 and 1984.
Surgery and Staging of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A 14-Year Experience

The aims of this study were to evaluate contemporary outcomes associated with the surgical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and to assess the prognostic value of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and TNM staging for PNETs. The medical records of 73 consecutive patients with PNETs treated at a single institution from January 1992 through September 2006 were reviewed. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method (median follow-up: 43 months). Median patient age was 52 years (range, 19-83 years), and 36 (49%) patients were male. Thirty-three patients had a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (WDT), 26 had a well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (WDCa), and 14 had a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PDCa). Fifty (68%) patients underwent potentially curative resection, and the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate for the entire cohort was 62%. WHO classification and TNM staging system provided good prognostic stratification of patients; 5-year DSS rates were 100% for WDT, 57% for WDCa, 8% for PDCa, respectively, by WHO classification (p < 0.001), and 100% for stage 1, 90% for stage 2, 57% for stage 3, and 8% for stage 4, respectively, by TNM stage (p < 0.001). Among the patients who underwent potentially curative resection, nodal status, distant metastasis, and tumor grade were significant prognostic factors. WHO classification and TNM staging are useful for prognostic stratification among patients with PNETs.
Designing a Control and Containment Device for Cradle-Mounted, Transverse-Actuated Swash Plates

Many axial-piston pumps utilize a swash plate for regulating discharge flow. In this research, the required control and containment forces are examined for a cradle-mounted, axial-actuated swash plate. These forces are described in closed-form for providing the designer with information that is necessary for sizing these critical components within the pump. In this research, it is shown that a proper design of the control device may be used to load the cradle bearings equally during high-pressure operation. While previous research has shown that a transverse-actuated swash plate will tend to dislocate itself from the cradle during high speed and low pressure operation, this research shows that an axial-actuated swash-plate tends to keep the swash-plate well seated within the cradle during all operating conditions. The information presented here is generalized for typical characteristics of swash plates that are used within the industry and is therefore useful for analyzing existing designs as well as new ones.
The relationship between measures of operations efficiency and financial success of truckload motor carriers : an empirical analysis

This research paper examines the statistical relationship between day to day performance and efficiency measures and financial performance in the motor carrier industry. Key findings are that carriers with more miles per tractor per year, a larger average length of haul, more revenue per mile, and more revenue per tractor per week tend to perform better financially as measured in three separate models by operating ratio, return on assets, or return on equity. Unexpectedly, for the eight publicly traded carriers included in the analysis, there was a negative relationship between empty mile percentage and financial performance, indicating that carriers with a higher empty mile percentage have better financial performance. Possible explanations for these counterintuitive results could be due to a focus on better customer service or driver satisfaction causing slight increases in empty miles. Therefore the increased costs resulting from empty miles could be offset by higher revenue or decreased costs in other aspects of the operation. These results suggest that managers should focus not on minimizing empty miles but rather on keeping them within an acceptable range.
Benefit of Nesting a Regional Model into a Large-Scale Ocean Model Instead of Climatology. Application to the West Florida Shelf

The impact of open boundary conditions on the dynamics and accuracy of a regional West Florida Shelf model is addressed. A ROMS-based model nested in monthly climatological temperature and salinity and in the North Atlantic HYCOM model is implemented. The model results of these nesting implementations are compared to altimetry, in situ temperature time series, and ADCP and high-frequency (HF) radar currents. A significant improvement of the model results is found using the boundary conditions of the HYCOM model over the climatology. The ageostrophic nature of the LC is studied and the benefit using the velocity and surface elevation boundary conditions is shown.
GRASSMANN ANGLES OF CONVEX POLYTOPES.

Abstract : Using integration over Grassmann manifolds a family of numerical characteristics is associated with every convex polytope or polyhedral cone; special cases of the new characteristics are the much studied 'solid angles,' 'angle deficiencies,' and 'exterior angles'. Euler-type equations are established for the new entities, explaining the similarities previously noted in the special cases. (Author)
Cancer Prevention in Populations High At-Risk for the Development of Oral Cancer: Clinical Trials with Black Raspberries

It is estimated that oral cancers will present with more than 400,000 new cases worldwide, establishing this malignancy as the sixth most common cancer globally. In association with the “field” effects of these epithelial neoplasias, oral cancers are marked by high frequencies of local invasion and recurrence, and 5-year survival times of less than 60% depending upon the stage of the initial lesion. Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that a decreased oral cancer incidence is associated with lifestyle changes, including diminished exposure to alcohol and tobacco and increased dietary incorporation of fruits and vegetables. Food-based approaches to cancer prevention, including dietary exposure to black raspberries, emphasize the potential for complex mixtures of bioactive food components to inhibit several processes and mechanistic states within a multistep oral carcinogenesis archetype. Both pre-clinical and clinical models of black raspberry administration have demonstrated a striking capacity of black raspberries and their derivatives to specifically modulate gene transcriptional profiles in a manner that favors oral cancer prevention strategies.
Evaporation-based drying rate of forage: effects of desiccants and crop density

The application of chemical desiccants to lucerne and red clover after cutting is studied from the standpoint of increasing the drying rate in relation to pan evaporation. Significant increases in the evaporation-based drying constant are found on both first and second cuttings of these crops, but the savings of a full day's drying time is expected only for second-cut lucerne in the north-eastern U.S. climate. The effect of crop density on drying rate is also studied. In conjunction with a theoretical analysis, it is determined that the drying constant varies as γ-0.65, where γ is the areal density. The evaporation-based drying constant is then related to crop yield and the ratio of cutting width to windrow width.
Adaptive algorithms to mitigate inefficiency in greedy geographical routing

This letter presents theoretical basis and practical algorithms for mitigating inefficiency in greedy geographical routing, which has great application potential in large scale ad hoc networks, such as sensor nets. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed algorithms' effectiveness and the capability to provide different efficiency-overhead tradeoffs.
Adult stem cells from bone marrow (MSCs) isolated from different strains of inbred mice vary in surface epitopes, rates of proliferation, and differentiation potential

For reasons that are not apparent, it has been difficult to isolate and expand the adult stem cells referred to as mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSCs) from murine bone marrow. We developed a protocol that provides rapidly expanding MSCs from 5 strains of inbred mice. The MSCs obtained from 5 different strains of mice were similar to human and rat MSCs in that they expanded more rapidly if plated at very low density, formed single-cell‐derived colonies, and readily differentiated into either adipocytes, chondrocytes, or mineralizing cells. However, the cells from the 5 strains differed in their media requirements for optimal growth, rates of propagation, and presence of the surface epitopes CD34, stem cell antigen-1 (Sca1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). The protocol should make it possible to undertake a large number of experiments with MSCs in transgenic mice that have previously not been possible. The differences among MSCs from different strains may explain some of the conflicting data recently published on the engraftment of mouse MSCs or other bone marrow cells into nonhematopoietic tissues. (Blood. 2004;103:1662-1668)
Retrospective examination of injuries and physical fitness during Federal Bureau of Investigation new agent training

Background A retrospective examination was conducted of injuries, physical fitness, and their association among Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) new agent trainees.
SYTO dyes and EvaGreen outperform SYBR Green in real-time PCR

Real-time PCR can be carried out using either probes or DNA dyes. SYBR Green has been used the most, but it suffers from several drawbacks. Numerous other DNA dyes are commercially available, but with limited structural information. Dye behavior in real time PCR is difficult to predict, so empirical data are needed. In the work described here, a panel of 23 different DNA dyes--including green, orange, and red SYTO dyes, EvaGreen, and SYBR Green--were evaluated with respect to their performance in real time PCR. Data were analyzed for reaction inhibition, effects on amplicon melting temperature, fluorescent signal strength, and reaction efficiency. This is the first report of reaction efficiency using alternatives to SYBR Green. Results indicated substantial variation in performance even within the SYTO dye family. EvaGreen and the SYTO dyes 13, 16, 80, and 82 performed better than SYBR Green in general, and high reaction efficiencies can be achieved using these dyes. Empirical data were generated for 23 DNA dyes. This paper confirms and extends previous findings that among commercially available DNA dyes, EvaGreen and certain SYTO dyes are the most desirable alternatives to the commonly used SYBR Green in real-time PCR.
ACQUISITION OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE FROM THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT

An outbreak of antibiotic-associated colitis that occurred on a ward of a Michigan hospital during February-April, 1984, was studied by bacteriophage-bacteriocin typing. Stools from the seven involved patients yielded Clostridium difficile isolates of types B1537 or Cld7;B1537. C. difficile was recovered from 31.4% of environmental cultures obtained on the ward, and the majority of isolates were types B1537 or Cld7;B1537. When the ward was disinfected with unbuffered hypochlorite (500 parts per million (ppm) available chlorine), surface contamination decreased to 21% of initial levels and the outbreak subsequently ended. Phosphate buffered hypochlorite (1,600 ppm available chlorine, pH 7.6) was even more effective; its use resulted in a 98% reduction in surface contamination. These findings suggest that environmental contamination with C. difficile is important in the epidemiology of antibiotic-associated colitis, and that hypochlorite is effective in eliminating C. difficile from the hospital environment.
Transmission system vulnerability assessment based on practical identification of critical relays and contingencies

Relay margin can be applied as a direct tool to evaluate relay status during system disturbances. Based on the practical dynamic security assessment criteria for relay margin, we propose the relay margin ratio and the relay staying time ratio which provide more valuable information than relay margin for relay status evaluation. Motivated by the need of considering relay tripping for contingency evaluations, the most possible tripping severity which incorporates the possibility of relay tripping to evaluate contingency severity is proposed. The relay margin ratio and relay staying time ratio are applied to identify the most critical relays for each contingency based on which the most possible tripping severity is obtained to identify the most critical contingencies in transmission systems. These two inherently related procedures together compose a framework to assess the transmission system vulnerability. Numerical test results are presented using a 23-bus test system.
Ultrasound velocity criteria for vertebral origin stenosis.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Despite remaining an important cause of posterior circulation stroke, the non-invasive diagnosis of vertebral artery origin (VAo) stenosis is problematic. We here examine peak systolic velocity (PSV) criteria for the diagnosis of VAo stenosis and assess if the PSV ratio at the origin to the distal segments improves diagnostic accuracy. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of patients studied by catheter cerebral angiography and extracranial Duplex ultrasonography. The angiographic degree of stenosis, PSV at the VAo, proximal vertebral artery (VA1), and intra-foraminal (VA2) segment were recorded. We calculated the VAo/VA1 and VAo/VA2 PSV ratio. A receiver operator curve was obtained (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) was compared for three different diagnostic criteria: PSV VAo, VAo/VA1, and VAo/VA2 PSV ratio. RESULTS A total of 386 vertebral arteries were angiographically examined and VAo stenosis 50-99% was found in 36 (9%) vessels. The PSV VAo was the most accurate diagnostic parameter with an AUC .821 ± .052 (SE) (CI: .72, .92). A PSV of 114 cm/second maximized sensitivity (71%) and specificity (90%). CONCLUSION Our results support the use of PSV as a diagnostic criterion for VAo stenosis compared to a PSV ratio of VAo/V1 and VAo/V2.
Controlling your costs

Player, S. and D. E. Keys, Editors. 1995. Activity-Based Management: Arthur Andersen's Lessons from the ABM Battlefield (New York: MasterMedia Limited). McNair, C.J. and the CAM-I Cost Management Integration Team. 2000. Value Quest: Driving Profit and Performance by Integrating Strategic Management Processes (Bedford, TX: CAM-I).
Is Cosmic Speed-Up Due to New Gravitational Physics?

We show that cosmic acceleration can arise due to very tiny corrections to the usual gravitational action of general relativity, of the form ${R}^{\ensuremath{-}n}$ with $ng0.$ This model eliminates the need for a nonzero cosmological constant or any other form of dark energy, attributing a purely gravitational origin to the acceleration of the universe.
Stabilization of relative equilibria

Discusses the problem of obtaining feedback laws to asymptotically stabilize relative equilibria of mechanical systems with symmetry. We show how to stabilize an internally unstable relative equilibrium using internal actuators. The methodology is that of potential shaping, but the system is allowed to be underactuated, i.e., have fewer actuators than the dimension of the shape space. The theory is illustrated with the problem of stabilization of the cowboy relative equilibrium of the double spherical pendulum.
Lead carbonate, a new fast, heavy scintillator

The authors describe the scintillation properties of lead carbonate (PbCO/sub 3/), a newly discovered, heavy (6.6 g/cm/sup 3/), inorganic scintillator. Its fluorescence decay lifetime, measured with the delayed coincidence method, is described by a sum of three exponentials. The emission spectrum peak is centered at a wavelength of 475 nm and drops to less than 10% of its peak value at 370 nm and 580 nm. The authors were unable to obtain an optical quality crystal of pure PbCO/sub 3/, but when a 3 mm cube of a cerussite (a naturally occurring mineral form of PbCO/sub 3/) is excited with 511 keV photons, a photopeak with a 42% full width at half maximum is observed at approximately 9% the light output of a bismuth germanate (BGO) crystal with similar geometry. The light output increases rapidly with decreasing temperature, plateauing at twice the light output of BGO at approximately -40 degrees C. The short fluorescence lifetime, high density, and reasonable light output of this new scintillator suggest that it would be useful for applications where high counting rates, good stopping power, and nanosecond timing are important, such as medical imaging and nuclear science. >
Deep Circulation in the South Atlantic Induced by Bottom-Intensified Mixing over the Midocean Ridge*

Abstract The deep circulation in the South Atlantic is studied through numerical experiments, using an oceanic general circulation model based on z coordinates. The new feature of these numerical experiments is that diapycnal mixing is idealized as strong bottom-intensified mixing on both sides of the midocean ridge; elsewhere diapycnal mixing is set at a low background value. The bottom-intensified diapycnal mixing induces strong equatorward (poleward) flow along the western (eastern) slope of the midocean ridge. In addition, the strong vertical gradient of diapycnal mixing rate induces downwelling in the basin interior and intensifies the upwelling near the axis of the midocean ridge. The strong ridge-following currents induce anticlockwise circulation in both the eastern and western deep basins, and such circulation is opposite to the classical Stommel–Arons circulation. This study indicates that bottom topography, strong mixing over the midocean ridge, and strong localized mixing associated with overf...
Stability region analysis for uncertain nonlinear systems

We propose a method to compute provably invariant subsets of the region-of-attraction for the asymptotically stable equilibrium points of uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems. We consider uncertainties that can be modeled as perturbations to a nominal system where perturbations obey polynomial bounds on semialgebraic sets containing the equilibrium point. The main computational tool is the sum-of-squares optimization.
Nonlinear Pitch Decay of a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Structure

Model tests were conducted on three generic floating wind turbine systems in 2011, and reported in a series of papers at OMAE 2012. These tests were conducted at the MARIN facility in the Netherlands, by a consortium of universities, government research organizations and industry. As part of the testing program, decay tests in platform pitch were conducted with and without wind. It was found that for spar and semi-submersible type structures, resonant pitch motion was damped due to wind in storm sea conditions.The nonlinear decay motion of a floating wind turbine platform is modeled using a one degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillation equation about a mean offset angle. Attention is paid to the turbine thrust coefficient and its variability with respect to oncoming flow speed, which in turn is affected by the structure pitch motion. The equation of motion reveals that the mean offset position has an important role in the stiffness, damping and consequently the natural period of pitch motion. Several important dimensionless parameters are introduced.The paper discusses a simple thrust model for an offshore wind turbine based on rudiments of blade element theory. Using the simplified thrust coefficient formulation, the increase in platform pitch damping due to wind is formulated. Experimental data reported from prior tests described above show good agreement with the theoretical model.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Determination of Flux Control Coefficients from transient metabolite concentrations.

Flux Control Coefficients have been used in the analysis of metabolic regulation for quantifying the effect of an enzyme on the overall steady-state flux. However, the experimental determination of these coefficients is very time-consuming, involving either determining the individual enzyme kinetics or perturbing the enzyme activity by genetic or other means. We developed a methodology that enables the determination of the Flux Control Coefficients from transient metabolite concentrations without knowing kinetic parameters. The transient states can be generated by changing the incubation conditions or adding the initial substrate. This approach is suitable for investigating metabolic regulation in vivo or multiple enzyme systems in vitro. It is particularly helpful if used in conjunction with n.m.r. measurements. The approach is based on a relationship between transient metabolite concentrations and the Flux Control Coefficients. The methodology has been improved from our previous results, and it is illustrated by three examples with simple pathway topologies.
Practical Protocols for the Preparation of Highly Enantioenriched Silyl Ethers of (R)-3-Hydroxypentan-2-one, Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Macrolide Antibiotics

Methacrolein is transformed in three steps to (R)-3-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxypentan-2-one or (R)-3-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxypentan-2-one, compounds which serve as building blocks for the construction of macrolide antibiotics. The route is practical, highly enantioselective, and easily scaled.
Reducing pollution at five critical points of shale gas production: Strategies and institutional responses

While the public and governments debate the advisability of engaging in shale gas production, the United States has proceeded to develop its resources with an accompanying remarkable increase in natural gas production. The development of shale gas has not been without problems, and some countries have decided that shale gas production should not proceed until more is known about the accompanying health issues and environmental damages. From experiences in the United States, careful consideration of five critical points relating to shale gas production can form the basis for developing strategies for reducing discharges of pollutants: (1) casing and cementing, (2) handling wastewater, (3) venting and flaring, (4) equipment with air emissions, and (5) seismic events. For each strategy, institutional responses to markedly reduce the risks of harm to people and the environment are identified. These responses offer state and local governments ideas for enabling shale gas resources to be developed without sacrificing public health and environmental quality.
The Consistency of Mandatory and Voluntary Management Earnings Forecasts and Implications for Analyst and Investor Information Processing

In this study we examine whether managers' voluntary forecasts of future earnings are consistent with the implicit forecasts of future earnings that underlie a specific mandatory accrual, the valuation allowance. This accrual relies heavily on managerial estimation and is also based, in part, on managers’ private, forward-looking information. Thus, it provides an ideal setting to investigate the interplay between voluntary and mandatory financial disclosures. By examining the consistency between the voluntary and mandatory forecasts, we are also able to provide insight into whether the predictable accrual-related bias in voluntary earnings forecasts carries over into the mandatory forecast embedded in the valuation allowance. We then investigate whether the biased voluntary earnings guidance helps analysts and investors more accurately interpret the information in valuation allowance changes about future earnings expectations. To increase the power of our tests we utilize a sample of loss firms, which frequently record valuation allowances to fully or partially offset deferred tax assets.We first document that more than 62 percent of our sample of loss firms report valuation allowance changes and management earnings guidance that convey the same basic information about future earnings (i.e., either both forecast profit or both forecast loss). Thus, these voluntary and mandatory forecasts are largely consistent with each other. We then provide evidence that managers provide overly pessimistic forecasts for observations whose valuation allowance changes signal bad news about future earnings, but overly optimistic forecasts for observations whose valuation allowance changes signal strong good news about future earnings. Finally, our results suggest that managers' biased earnings forecasts actually help analysts and investors more accurately interpret the information about future earnings in valuation allowance changes. Our findings provide new insights into actions managers can take to improve investor and analyst processing of financial statement-based tax information.
A Method for Determining Many Body Wavefunctions

We present a procedure for obtaining trial wavefunctions for use in Quantum Monte Carlo simulations that have both smaller statistical errors and improved expectation values, compared to commonly used functions. Results are presented for the ground states of H-, Li-, Be2+, Be and Ne, and ground and excited states of He.
Understanding the Reactivity of Pd0/PR3-Catalyzed Intermolecular C(sp3)–H Bond Arylation

Mechanistic details pertaining to the Pd0/PCy3-catalyzed intermolecular arylation of a terminal β-C(sp3)–H bond aryl amide substrate (SM = EtCONH-Ar, where Ar = C6H5, C6F5 and CONH-Ar is a directing group (DG)) in the presence of CsF base were elucidated. Key mechanistic features of this reaction are (1) oxidative addition of the aryl halide PhI to Pd0/PCy3, (2) deprotonation of SM by CsF to form DG′ = [EtCON-Ar]Cs+ for subsequent coordination to intermediate I–PdII(PCy3)Ph (the substantially lower pKa of the EtCONHC6F5 in comparison to EtCONHC6H5 is instrumental for the presence of a larger population of the reactive deprotonated amides for Ar = C6F5), (3) “Cs2–I–F” cluster formation upon external (the second) CsF molecule approach to the active site of the I–PdII(PCy3)Ph(DG′) intermediate, (4) “Cs2–I–F cluster” assisted β-C(sp3)–H bond activation via a concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD) mechanism, and (5) reprotonation of the amide directing group to facilitate the C(sp3)–Ph reductive elimination....
Obesity epidemic: impact from preconception to postpartum

The obesity epidemic is on the rise throughout the USA and the world. Not only does it affect the general population but it also specifically poses unique threats to a woman’s life in the antepartum, peripartum and postpartum periods. An increased BMI is associated with worse perinatal outcomes, including higher rates of preeclampsia (and other hypertensive disorders), macrosomia, other neonatal morbidities and gestational diabetes. Isolated maternal obesity and additional maternal diabetes predispose the infant to potential adult disease through fetal programming. This review of the literature examines the effects of obesity on a woman’s life, outlining complications beginning with preconception through the postpartum period.
Vitamin E and Epilepsy

The value of D-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E 400 IU/day) as an adjunct therapy for drug resistant epilepsy is reported from The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Canada.