cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uniform Error Bounds Involving Logspline Models

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses uniform error bounds involving logspline models. Splines are of increasing importance in statistical theory and methodology. The chapter discusses exponential families of densities in which the logarithm of the density is a spline and the corresponding exponential response models. The chapter in each context presents the use of an extension of a key result of de Boor to obtain a bound on the L∞ norm of the approximation error associated with maximizing the associated expected log-likelihood.
Managing an Established Tree Invader: Developing Control Methods for Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) in Maritime Forests

Biological invasions by woody species in forested ecosystems can have significant impacts on forest management and conservation. We designed and tested several management options based on the physiology of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera [L.] Small). Specifically, we tested four treatments, including mastication, foliar herbicide, and fire (MHfolF), mastication and foliar herbicide (MHfol), dormant-stem herbicide and fire (HdorF), and dormant-stem herbicide (Hdor), to determine their efficacy in reducing the density and regeneration of this highly invasive tree species. Mastication treatments were significant in reducing density the first year but not after 3 years. Prescribed fire significantly reduced density combined with previous treatments. Regeneration coverage was highest on those sites with mastication, which was not affected by the addition of prescribed fire. Overall, we found that the most comprehensive treatment (MHfolF) was more effective in reducing density but did not result in a difference in the amount of regeneration after treatment.
Inverse Semigroups with Countable Universal Semilattices

A semilattice E is said to be a countable universal semilattice if E is countable and if every countable semilattice can be embedded in E. The free Boolean algebra on a countably infinite number of generators is used to construct a particular countable universal semilattice which is the semilattice of idempotents of a 2-generated bisimple monoid.
Interactions of Alcohol and Nicotine: CNS Sites and Contributions to Their Co-abuse

The co-abuse of alcohol and nicotine is a serious health issue, affecting millions of individuals. Knowledge of neuronal mechanisms underlying the interactions of alcohol and nicotine that contribute to their co-abuse is lacking. This chapter reviews findings indicating that (1) nicotine increases alcohol drinking, alcohol-seeking behavior, and alcohol relapse; (2) serotonin-3 and nicotinic cholinergic receptors, containing the α4 and α7 subunits, may be common receptors where ethanol and nicotine could interact; (3) the posterior ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens shell, and medial prefrontal cortex are three central nervous system subregions where ethanol and nicotine could interact to promote their co-abuse; and (4) results from human and animal studies support the idea that there are common genetic factors contributing to vulnerability to abuse both alcohol and nicotine. A better understanding of the complex neurobiological underpinnings contributing to the co-abuse of alcohol and nicotine is needed to develop appropriate treatment strategies.
The relationship between subject matter knowledge and teaching effectiveness of undergraduate chemistry peer facilitators

Use of peer instruction and facilitation has surged in undergraduate education at large colleges and universities in recent years. Studies on peer instruction have been directed primarily at student learning gains and affective outcomes among the facilitators. For peer instructors, the relationship between their teaching effectiveness and their foundational content knowledge is assumed but understudied. In an effort to promote instructional coherence (i.e., instructional same-pageness) in the introductory organic chemistry program at the University of Michigan, we observed peer-led study group facilitators’ involvement in their study groups (as teachers of groups of 6–12 students) and in a companion course (as learners) designed to reinforce and enhance their content knowledge. Audiovisual recordings of the facilitators in both the companion course and, for ten of them, leading their study groups, were captured over each of the two week periods covering the topics of stereochemistry and also conformational analysis. Recordings were subsequently coded for topic and correctness in presentation of subject matter. Errors made in either study group or the companion course were investigated for error resolution (corrected or uncorrected), source of error, and propagation of corrected errors. Analysis of recordings revealed that facilitators who have their own errors corrected in the companion course, or observe their peers’ errors corrected in the companion course, correctly describe these concepts in study groups. On examining errors made by facilitators when they are leading study group sessions, a backwards analysis showed consistently that either the topics had not been addressed in the antecedent companion course, or the facilitator was not actively engaged with the discussion when the topics were being discussed. These findings have implications to inform not only our own implementation of peer-led study groups, but also those interested in designing subject matter companion courses for peer leaders in other instructional settings.
Efficacy and Safety of Crisaborole Ointment, a Novel, Nonsteroidal Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) Inhibitor for the Topical Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Children and Adults

AS Paller, WL Tom, MG Lebwohl. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(3):494–503.e6 To assess the efficacy and safety of crisaborole ointment, which is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, for the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis. This study includes the results from 2 identically designed phase 3 clinical trials conducted in the United States that included a total of 1522 individuals who were 2 years of age or older. About 85% of study participants were less than 18 years of age, and 55% of study participants were female. …
Triangulation of Multifactorial Assessment: Bringing Objectivity to Objective Structured Clinical Examination Evaluation

Abstract Background The objective structured clinical examination is a critical simulation tool used as the gold standard for assessing graduate health students' ability to perform clinically. Often these simulations use assessment/evaluation methods that can be subjective. Methods To minimize subjectivity, one graduate nursing program is triangulating student performance assessment by using case-specific quizzes, standardized patient feedback, and structured observation rubrics. Results Initial evidence finds this composite evaluation provides equitable feedback across cohorts, identifies students struggling didactically and adds precision to remediation. Conclusions Initial findings are suggesting that this approach offers an all-encompassing reflection of clinical and academic performance.
A Numerical Study of the Critical Gas Saturation in a Porous Medium

We use pore‐network simulations to study the dependence of the critical gas saturation in solution‐gas drive processes on the geometric parameters of the porous medium. We show that for a variety of growth regimes (including global and local percolation, instantaneous and sequential nucleation, and mass‐transfer driven processes), the critical gas saturation, Sgc, follows a power‐law scaling with the final nucleation fraction (fraction of sites activated), fq. For 3‐D processes, this relation reads Sgc∼fq0.16, indicating a sensitive dependence of Sgc to fq at very small values of fq.
Quantum Computing: Codebreaking and Beyond

We survey recent developments in quantum algorithms, focusing on resource estimates for breaking cryptographic protocols on a quantum computer, which in turn can be used to derive quantum security parameters for various schemes. We contrast these cryptographic applications with applications based on a quantum computer’s supreme ability to efficiently simulate other quantum mechanical systems.
Interplay of Shadow Price, Phenotype and Alternative Optimal Solutions in Flux Balance Analysis

Abstract Genome-scale metabolic network models (GEMs) have been applied successfully in many applications, and one important application is to predict different growth phenotypes in various genetic and environmental conditions. Phenotype phase plane (PhPP) analysis is a powerful tool that uses flux balance analysis (FBA) with the GEM to provide a global perspective on the genotype-phenotype relationship, which relies on shadow prices of different metabolites to characterize different metabolic phenotypes. In PhPP analysis, the determination and characterization of different phenotypes rely on the concept of shadow price. Despite many successful applications of PhPP analysis, sometimes results obtained based on shadow price alone can be confusing. As shown in this work, for an E. coli core model, two different phenotypes actually share the same set of the shadow prices and will be missed by the PhPP analysis. To find the reason for the existence of such “hidden” phenotypes, we applied a system identification (SID) based framework to analyze the “hidden” phenotypes, and identified that the existence of the alternative optimal solutions to FBA is the root cause of such hidden phenotypes. Using the SID-based framework, we further elucidate the biological meaning of the alternative FBA optima for the E. coli core model.
Degradation and transformation of bisphenol A in UV/Sodium percarbonate: Dual role of carbonate radical anion.

Abstract The bicarbonate and carbonate ions ( HCO 3 − & CO 3 2 − ) will consume hydroxyl radical ( HO • ) to generate carbonate radical anion ( CO 3 • − ) in hydroxyl radical based advanced oxidation processes ( HO • − AOPs ) resulting in reduced oxidation efficiencies of the systems. However, despite the HO • quenching effect of carbonate species, the contribution of CO 3 • − to the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) was observed in UV/sodium percarbonate (UV/SPC). In order to study the performance of UV/SPC for BPA degradation and the role of CO 3 • − in this process, the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of BPA in UV/SPC and in UV/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) were compared at equivalent concentration of H2O2. In this study, the observed degradation rates of BPA by UV/SPC and by UV/H2O2 in Milli-Q water were similar. Variation of the BPA degradation rates in the presence of radical quenchers, tert-butanol and phenol, suggested that both CO 3 • − and HO • contributed to the degradation of BPA in UV/SPC. Second order rate constant of CO 3 • − towards BPA ( k C O 3 • − + B P A = 2.23 × 108 M−1 s−1) and steady state concentrations of CO 3 • − ( [ CO 3 • − ] ss = 2.3 × 10−12 M) and HO • ( [ HO • ] ss = 1.82 × 10−14 M) in UV/SPC were determined with competition kinetics at 1 mM SPC and pH 8.5. The high [ CO 3 • − ] ss observed in UV/SPC compensated for the smaller k C O 3 • − + B P A compared to k H O • + B P A and the consumption of HO • making the degradation rate of BPA in UV/SPC comparable to that in UV/H2O2. Detailed studies on identification of transformation products (TPs) of BPA in UV/SPC revealed that phenol ring and isopropylidene bridge were the main reactive sites of BPA. Degradation pathways were proposed accordingly. The results of kinetic and mechanistic studies provide better fundamental understanding of the degradation of BPA in UV/SPC and HCO 3 − & CO 3 2 − impact on BPA degradation by HO • − AOPs . This also demonstrates potential for CO 3 • − based water purification technologies.
Relationship between early follow-up and readmission within 30 and 90 days after ischemic stroke.

Objective To examine whether early follow-up with primary care or neurology is associated with lower all-cause readmissions within 30 and 90 days after acute ischemic stroke admission. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who were discharged home after acute ischemic stroke, identified by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, using PharMetrics, a nationally representative claims database of insured Americans from 2009 to 2015. The primary predictor was outpatient primary care or neurology follow-up within 30 and 90 days of discharge, and the primary outcome was all-cause 30- and 90-day readmissions. Multivariable Cox models were used with primary care and neurology visits specified as time-dependent covariates, with adjustment for patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and stroke severity measures. Results The cohort included 14,630 patients. Readmissions within 30 days occurred in 7.3% of patients, and readmissions within 90 days occurred in 13.7% of patients. By 30 days, 59.3% had a primary care visit, and 24.4% had a neurology visit. Primary care follow-up was associated with reduced 30-day readmissions (hazard ratio [HR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72–0.98). Primary care follow-up before 90 days did not reach significance (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.83–1.03). Neurology follow-up was not associated with reduced readmissions within 30 or 90 days (HR 1.05, 95% CI; HR 1.00, 95% CI, respectively). Conclusion Early outpatient follow-up with primary care is associated with a reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions. Early outpatient follow-up may represent an important opportunity for intervention after acute stroke admissions.
Swimming direction of the Glass Catfish, Kryptopterus bicirrhis, is responsive to magnetic stimulation

Throughout evolution, organisms have developed unique strategies to become more competitive in their environment. One unique adaptation is the ability to sense magnetic fields, i.e., magnetoreception. While animals like salmonids, pigeons, eels and sea turtles use magnetoreception to migrate over thousands of kilometers [1-10], non-migratory fish species have also shown evidence of magnetoreception [11, 12]. The freshwater fish, Kryptopterus bicirrhis is known to be sensitive to the Earth9s magnetic field [13-15]. Recently, we have discovered a gene (electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG)) that is expressed in K. bicirrhis9s ampullary organ and is specifically activated in response to magnetic stimuli. This genetic-based magnetoreception has a great potential as a neuromodulation technology and as a valuable tool to study neural behavior from the molecular to network levels [15-17]. However, the mechanism by which magnetoreception manifests and functions is not well understood [18-24]. This work was designed to understand the natural behavior of K. bicirrhis in response to magnetic fields. We capitalized on new concepts of artificial intelligence as well as traditional video tracking algorithms to quantify how K. bicirrhis responds to magnetic stimulation with high spatial and temporal resolution. The results demonstrate that K. bicirrhis placed in a radial maze, consistently swim away from magnetic fields over 20 μT and show adaptability to changing magnetic field directions and locations. This work will be invaluable to further understand the mechanisms and possible cellular interactions of EPG once a knock-out EPG in K. bicirrhis is achieved.
3D Photogrammetry Point Cloud Segmentation Using a Model Ensembling Framework

AbstractThe US Army is paying increased attention to the development of rapid three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction using photogrammetry and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies for creating ...
Delay and Power Expressions for a CMOS Inverter Drivinga Resistive-Capacitive Load

A delay and power model of a CMOS inverter driving a resistive-capacitive load is presented. The model is derived from Sakurai‘s alpha-power law and exhibits good accuracy. The model can be used to design and analyze those CMOS inverters that drive a large RC load when considering both speed and power. Expressions are provided for estimating the propagation delay and transition time which exhibit less than 27% discrepancy from SPICE for a wide variety of RC loads. Expressions are also provided for modeling the short-circuit power dissipation of a CMOS inverter driving a resistive-capacitive interconnect line which are accurate to within 15% of SPICE for most practical loads.
Compact and Reconfigurable Leaky Wave Antenna Based on a Tunable Substrate Integrated Embedded Metasurface

A leaky wave antenna (LWA) based on a substrate integrated embedded metasurface (SIMS) is proposed and simulated. The SIMS is obtained by blind vias in the middle of a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and filling the gap beneath the blind vias with liquid crystals (LC). Different capacitive impedances are obtained by biasing the LC, which impacts the propagation characteristics of the LWA and thus changes its beam angle. A 30° beam steering at 52.5 GHz is achieved according to simulations of the proposed SIMS-LWA. The unique advantages of this LWA include high realized gain, simple mechanism for beam steering, frequency-fixed reconfiguration, non-complex design with much reduced bias lines and control circuits, low cost, low profile, compactness, and mature of LC technology, to name a few.
Sequential General Right Side Fractional Landau Inequalities

We derive uniform and \(L_{p}\) right Caputo–Bochner abstract sequential fractional Landau inequalities over \(\mathbb {R}_{-}\). These estimate the size of second and third iterated right abstract fractional derivatives of a Banach space valued function over \(\mathbb {R}_{-}\).
A Wireless Artificial Mechanoreceptor in 180-nm CMOS

This article presents an implantable low-power wireless integrated system for tactile sensing applications. The reported application-specified integrated circuit (ASIC) uses a low-loss magnetic human body communication channel for both wireless power and data transfer. The chip is hybrid-integrated with an in-house fabricated MEMS capacitive force sensor to form an implantable artificial mechanoreceptor. An on-chip correlated double sampling capacitance to time converter (CTC) consumes 750 nW from a 1.2-V on-chip regulated supply, achieving a 2.0-fF resolution for an input capacitance of 14 pF and a FoM of 49 fJ/c-s while occupying an area of only 0.04 mm2. The CTC has a time-multiplexed mode to interface with four input capacitors. Wireless power management feedback is used to ensure robust operation in the presence of hand gesture changes and process–voltage–temperature variations. The on-chip data transmitter can operate in ON–OFF keying (OOK) or frequency-shift keying modulation formats, where it consumes only $7.8~\mu \text{W}$ in the OOK mode. The 1.62-mm2 chip is fabricated in a standard 180-nm CMOS process and consumes $110.3~\mu \text{W}$ .
The impact of preoperative pelvic pain on outcomes after vaginal reconstructive surgery.

Background Pelvic pain is a debilitating condition that is common among women with pelvic floor disorders. Limited information is known about the impact of preoperative pelvic pain on outcomes after vaginal reconstructive surgery. Objective This study aimed to compare the outcomes after vaginal reconstructive surgery between women with and without preoperative pelvic pain. Study Design Baseline and postoperative data were analyzed from the “Outcomes Following Vaginal Prolapse Repair and Midurethral Sling trial.” The multicenter trial involved women with anterior prolapse without symptoms of stress incontinence randomized to receive either a midurethral sling or sham incisions during a vaginal reconstructive surgery. Participants completed the visual analog scale adapted for suprapubic pain and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Preoperative pelvic pain was defined as a response of “5” or greater on pain on the visual analog scale or answering “moderately” or “quite a bit” on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory question, “Do you usually experience pain in the lower abdomen or genital area?” Outcomes and complication rates were compared between women with and without pelvic pain. Results The “Outcomes Following Vaginal Prolapse Repair and Midurethral Sling trial” participants included 112 women with pelvic pain (58 had a midurethral sling and 54 had sham incisions) and 212 women without pelvic pain (105 had a midurethral sling and 107 had sham incisions). Women who had a midurethral sling and pelvic pain were younger than women without pelvic pain (60.3±12.1 vs 65.1±8.6; P=.004). Women who had sham incisions and pelvic pain were more likely of Hispanic ethnicity than women without pelvic pain (27.8% vs 9.4%; P=.002). Patient improvement based on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale did not differ between arms. Women with pelvic pain had greater improvement on the visual analog scale pain scores after a surgical procedure at 3 months (−3.1±2.9 vs −0.4±1.6; P Conclusion Women with preoperative pelvic pain experienced significant improvements in pain and pelvic floor symptoms with vaginal reconstructive surgery and had similar subjective improvement postoperatively compared with women without preoperative pelvic pain. Reassuringly, the performance of a midurethral sling did not have an impact on the results.
NPAS4 regulates the transcriptional response of the suprachiasmatic nucleus to light and circadian behavior.

Summary The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master circadian pacemaker in mammals and is entrained by environmental light. However, the molecular basis of the response of the SCN to light is not fully understood. We used RNA/chromatin immunoprecipitation/single-nucleus sequencing with circadian behavioral assays to identify mouse SCN cell types and explore their responses to light. We identified three peptidergic cell types that responded to light in the SCN: arginine vasopressin (AVP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and cholecystokinin (CCK). In each cell type, light-responsive subgroups were enriched for expression of neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain protein 4 (NPAS4) target genes. Further, mice lacking Npas4 had a longer circadian period under constant conditions, a damped phase response curve to light, and reduced light-induced gene expression in the SCN. Our data indicate that NPAS4 is necessary for normal transcriptional responses to light in the SCN and critical for photic phase-shifting of circadian behavior.
Programmable Metastructures for Directional Light Emission

The ultra-thin optical structures of high-refractive-index materials can be used to control light at the subwavelength scale. In this work, we examine the scattering properties as well as reflection, transmission, and change of light phase in various high-index nanopillars supporting Mie resonances.
The Pulse Method for the Determination of Aircraft Dynamic Performance

In this paper a method is described for evaluating an aircraft dynamic test involving the response of the aircraft to an applied displacement of a control surface. I t is shown that the response can be expressed mathematically by means of a concept called a performance operator and that with selected types of control surface motion of common occurrence the response can be related to the applied displacement more simply by means of a performance function: These two concepts are used extensively by Dr. C. S. Draper and his associates in the Instrumentation Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A general description is given of the performance operator and the performance function, following which a technique is described which permits the performance function of an aircraft to be determined from knowledge of its response to a pulse of less than 1-sec. duration. The performance function of a U.S. Air Force B-25 medium bomber, obtained by this technique, is correlated with the performance function computed from stability derivatives. I t is seen that the conventional analysis gives satisfactory results at low Mach Numbers and in the absence of aeroelastic effects. However, it is anticipated that, at high Mach Numbers and when aeroelastic effects cannot be ignored, experimental techniques such as outlined in this paper will be required to obtain the aircraft performance functions.
Vaccinia Virus Expression System

Replication-competent vaccinia virus was used as the vaccine in the campaign to eradicate smallpox. After the disease was eradicated, recombinant vaccinia viruses were created that were capable of expressing foreign genes. This made vaccinia-based systems available for mammalian cell expression of recombinant protein, an advantage of which, like other mammalian expression systems, is authentic posttranslational modification. Generation of recombinant vaccinia also provided an opportunity for developing vaccinia-based vaccines for use against nonpoxvirus diseases. In this respect, recombinant vaccinia virus and recombinant versions of an attenuated derivative, Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) have been extensively studied. Today, there are recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing foreign antigens in phases I–III clinical trials relating to viral, bacterial, parasitic and cancer-related diseases, and a licensed veterinary vaccine. Key Concepts: Smallpox was eradicated following a vaccination campaign in which live vaccinia virus was used as the vaccine. Foreign genes can be inserted into the vaccinia virus genome to create recombinant vaccinia virus strains. The vaccinia virus expression system allows for mammalian cell expression of recombinant protein, an advantage of which is authentic post-translational modification. Recombinant vaccinia can deliver vaccine antigens and evoke potent cell-mediated and humoral responses specific to the inserted gene. Vaccination with recombinant organisms can confer protection against viral, bacterial, parasitic and cancer-related diseases. Keywords: vaccinia virus; recombinant virus; expression system; viral vector; vaccine
Childhood Aggression and Violence

Violence, especially that committed upon, by, and within the young, has become a primary issue in American culture over the past decade. The 1960s, with their political manifestations of violence, including the assassinations of three important political leaders and the maiming of a fourth, civil demonstrations in the name of racial and social equality, and massive protests against governmental policies of conscription and foreign military intervention, provided the nation with a focus on its native traditions of violence and social upheaval which the superficial quietude of the 1950s had obscured.
The Laplace Transform

This chapter presents an efficient and powerful method for solving the differential equations that govern electrical networks and many other problems of engineering and applied science. The method, which originated in work of O. Heaviside1 dating from the 1890s, consists in transforming the differential equations, according to certain rules, into corresponding algebraic equations. The latter are then solved algebraically and the solutions to the original differential equations are obtained from them by Heaviside’s rules.
Guest Editor's introduction: Computer graphics in medicine and biology

In this special issue of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, we recognize the new relationship between computers and the medical and biological professions. Computers-particularly through their graphics capabilities- are revolutionizing nearly every aspect of these fields. Here, we present a sampling of recent achievements in computer graphics: techniques that let researchers and doctors see the human body and its processes, enabling more precise, more effective diagnosis and treatment. The articles included are briefly summarized. The topics covered include: the use of computer graphics for visualizing or reconstructing surfaces seen in cross-sectional scans as contours; several algorithms for producing vector or raster drawings of space-filling models formed as the union of spheres, as well as other, smoother surfaces; second-generation stereotactic system that improves on the speed, image resolution, accuracy, and patient comfort of past and current systems; a mathematical framework for the representation and display of the discrete surfaces of such structures; a way to calculate a hologram by the superposition of the Fresnel pattern from the individual planes of a CT scan; and computer graphics tools under development for processing multidimensional cardiovascular data.
Simplification of analysis in discrete time leaky-bucket rate-based control schemes

The analysis and simulation of a buffered leaky bucket scheme are provided in discrete time which is representative of an ATM environment, where a fast packet switching technique is used based on the virtual connection of small fixed size packets called cells. Given the assumptions on the cell arrival process, the token generated process and the cell transmission process respectively, a general four dimensional leaky bucket model is described. A one dimensional Markov chain model is established to greatly simplify the analysis and simulation of leaky-bucket rate-based control systems.
Progress and challenges in probing the human brain

Perhaps one of the greatest scientific challenges is to understand the human brain. Here we review current methods in human neuroscience, highlighting the ways that they have been used to study the neural bases of the human mind. We begin with a consideration of different levels of description relevant to human neuroscience, from molecules to large-scale networks, and then review the methods that probe these levels and the ability of these methods to test hypotheses about causal mechanisms. Functional MRI is considered in particular detail, as it has been responsible for much of the recent growth of human neuroscience research. We briefly review its inferential strengths and weaknesses and present examples of new analytic approaches that allow inferences beyond simple localization of psychological processes. Finally, we review the prospects for real-world applications and new scientific challenges for human neuroscience.
Inactivated measles virus vaccine. I. Stability of vaccine prepared in chick embryo tissue cultures.

A formaldehyde-inactivated, alum adsorbed measles virus vaccine prepared from virus propagated on CE tissue cultures was stable for 1 year at 5° C. Vaccine stored under these conditions stimulated an antigenic response in guinea pigs which was not significantly different from that of freshly prepared vaccine. The magnitude of serum-antibody titers was slightly greater when vaccine prepared from CE tissue cultures was compared with one from DK tissue cultures.
The Terwilliger Algebra of a 2-Homogeneous Bipartite Distance-Regular Graph

Let ? denote a 2-homogeneous bipartite distance-regular graph with diameter D?3 and valency k?3. Assume that ? is not isomorphic to a Hamming cube. Fix a vertex x of ?, and let T=T(x) denote the Terwilliger algebra of T with respect to x. We give three sets of generators for T, two of which satisfy the relations of the quantum universal enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra sl(2). We then describe the simple T-modules. We give a pair of canonical bases for each simple T-module, and we give the overlap function for these bases in terms of a basic hypergeometric function. Finally, we give two generators for the center of T.
Transposition of the Pulmonary Veins

The seriousness of incomplete transposition of the pulmonary veins has probably been underestimated in the past. Data on 11 patients is presented, including 10 with associated atrial septal defects. Common symptoms were dyspnea, fatigability, and frequent respiratory infections. Examination revealed no cyanosis, widely split second sound, soft systolic murmur and middiastolic murmur at the apex. One third demonstrated a presystolic murmur of medium pitch. The electrocardiographic and radiographic features were characteristic of atrial septal defects. There were no specific vascular shadows in any of our patients. Catheterization data were also characteristic of atrial septal defects. There was an inverse relationship between the right atrial pressure and systemic index. Anomalous pulmonary veins were entered during the right heart catheterization in 6 of the 10 patients catheterized. Seven patients have had atrioseptopexy to close the septal defect and to direct the blood from the anomalously draining vei...
Flexible Sensors Based on Radiation-Induced Diffusion of Ag in Chalcogenide Glass

In this paper, previous work on chalcogenide-glass (ChG)-based radiation sensors is extended to include the effects of mechanical strain and temperature stress on sensors formed on a flexible polymer substrate. We demonstrate the feasibility of producing inexpensive flexible radiation sensors, which utilize radiation-induced migration of ${\rm Ag}^{+}$ ions in germanium selenide ( ${\rm Ge}_{20}{\rm Se}_{80}$ ) films to produce a decrease in resistance of several orders of magnitude between surface electrodes. This change in resistance can be related to total ionizing dose to give an instantaneous readout of radiation exposure. The ChG films are inherently flexible and this, along with an extremely simple device fabrication process at or near room temperature, allows inexpensive sensor structures to be fabricated on lightweight pliable polymeric substrates such as polyethylene napthalate (PEN). Test samples were irradiated with ionizing radiation (UV light and $^{60}$ Cobalt gamma rays). Irradiated samples were subjected to both tensile and compressive stress, and elevated operating temperatures. Stress and exposure to increased ambient temperature had little effect on device resistance. Analysis of the experimental data is supported by the results of COMSOL simulations that model radiation-induced lateral Ag diffusion in ChG.
Vitiated ethane oxidation in a high-pressure flow reactor

Abstract Vitiated combustion processes offer the potential to improve the thermodynamic efficiency in hydrocarbon-fueled combustion systems, providing a subsequent decrease in energy-specific CO2 emissions along with a decrease in the emission levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. The present work comprises an experimental and modeling study of vitiated ethane oxidation in a high-pressure flow reactor, with pressures of 1–6 bar, O2 mole fractions of 3.5–7.0%, temperatures of 1075–1100 K and 15–18 mole.% H2O. Time-history measurements of species are used to characterize the overall rate of reaction and track the fuel-carbon through intermediate and product species. A one-dimensional mixing-reacting model that accounts for partial oxidation during reactant mixing is used in conjunction with a detailed kinetic mechanism. Changes in competing pathways due to variations in pressure and O2 mole fraction give rise to the complex pressure dependence seen in the experiments.
Radioimmunoassay of cytidine 3',5' monophosphate (cCMP). I. Development of the assay.

Abstract A method is presented for the production of reagents for a radioimmunoassay for cCMP. cCMP was succinylated at the 2′0 position with [1,4 14C] succinic anhydride, and the monosuccinyl cCMP coupled to Keyhole limpet hemocyanin and injected into rabbits. Antibodies to cCMP were produced that showed minimal crossreactivity with other cyclic nucleotides. Monosuccinyl cCMP was coupled to tyrosine methyl ester, then labeled with 125I, and used as the radiolabeled ligand in the immunoassay of cCMP. By use of this assay, the concentration of cCMP in various tissues of rat and guinea pig have been determined.
Holocene sea level database for the Atlantic coast of the United States

We have constructed a database of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) observations for the Atlantic coast of the United States. The database contains 492 index points, which locate the position of RSL in time and space, and 344 limiting dates, which constrain the minimum or maximum limit of former sea level. The majority of the index points in the database are from 6 ka BP to present, with only 7% older than 6 ka BP. Spatially, index points are distributed between Maine and South Carolina, but there is an absence of data from Georgia and the Atlantic coast of Florida. The database is sub-divided into 16 regions based on the distance from the former Laurentide Ice Sheet and are classified depending upon their susceptibility to compaction. The index points and limiting data demonstrate that RSL did not exceed present (0 m) during the Holocene except potentially in regions 1 and 2 (Eastern Maine and Southern Maine). Rates of RSL change were highest during the early Holocene and have decreased over time, due to the diminishing response of the Earth’s mantle to glacial isostatic adjustment and reduction of ice equivalent meltwater input. Along the Atlantic coast of the United States the linear rate of RSL rise prior to 4 ka BP ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 mm a−1, compared to 0.6–1.8 mm a−1 from 4 ka BP to AD 1900. The database suggests minimal (<0.3 mm/yr) changes in these rates of RSL rise during the late Holocene. Deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet caused the spatial variability captured by the database. The maximum rate of late Holocene (and ongoing) RSL rise occurred in mid-Atlantic regions (New Jersey and Inner Delaware) because of collapse of the peripheral forebulge.
A novel copper (i) mediated, symmetrical coupling procedure for alkyl, aryl, benzyl, and thiophenyl dihalides

A comparative study of Li2CuCl4 vs Li2CuCl3 mediated mono-coupling reactions of dihalide substrates with allylmangnesium bromide is reported. Higher yields were obtained with Li2CuCl3 and the following trends in halide reactivity were observed Br > Cl for alkyl, aryl, and thiophenyl dihalides. and benzyl halide > phenyl halide. Utilizing these trends, a symmetrical coupling procedure for alkyl. aryl benzyl and thiophenyl dihalides, simply carried out by combining the dihalide with metallic magnesium and Li2CuCl4 is reported
Unexpectedly Lengthened N-H.Co Hydrogen Bonds?

Low-temperature crystal structures of QuinH+Co(CO)4-, 1 (QuinH+ = quinuclidinium), (DABCO)H+Co(CO)3P(p-tolyl)3-, 2, and (DABCO)H+Co(CO)3PPh2(p-tolyl)-, 3 (DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclooctane), 2 and 3 as their acetonitrile solvates, demonstrate that these salts exhibit intermolecular N−H···Co hydrogen bonding between the cation and anion components. NMR and IR data demonstrate the persistence of these interactions in toluene solution. Such solution-state data, which examine solvated ion pairs, suggest little difference between these salts and the corresponding previously reported salts (DABCO)H+Co(CO)3L- (4, L = CO; 5, L = PPh3). However, in the solid state, the N−H···Co hydrogen bonds in 1−3 are some 0.1−0.15 A longer than would be predicted from consideration of the structures of 4 and 5 and the aforementioned similarity to 4 and 5 in solution. In previous reports we have shown that major steric or electronic changes to the anion or cation have resulted in substantial changes (0.15−0.3 A) in the N···Co [H···...
Components of longevity: developmental and genetic responses to differential childhood mortality.

Abstract Childhood disease may have far-reaching effects on adult longevity in high mortality populations. It was earlier reported from demographic analysis of 19th century New England communities that survivors of high-fatality childhood epidemics lived significantly longer than their unstressed counterparts. As part of a broader survey of agricultural families of western Massachusetts, these data indicate that elevated child mortality is associated with an increase in the average age at death of survivors. This paper examines this selection process and the problem of heritable longevity using cohort data selected from historical epidemics. A series of tests of the selection hypothesis in which an attempt is made to control demographic covariates suggest that widespread childhood infectious disease strengthens survivors in a developmental manner. Whether such episodes also eliminate less fit individuals according to a simple selection model could not be determined. The influence of family formation variables on child loss, and behavioral (fertility) responses to childhood epidemics in these communities are also considered.
Wave trapping with shore absorption

Surface waves trapped over naturally gentle seabed topographies near coasts may decay in time due to energy absorption at the shore. The decay rate is computed in terms of the shore reflection coefficient for round islands and for seabed depth varying only normally to a straight beach, as in laboratory channels. This decay rate is liable to be considerably larger than that due to energy leakage to the open sea, but is still relatively small, since it is proportional to (frequency)-1. The resonant response of such modes may therefore still be important.
Predictive fit for natural exponential families

SUMMARY The paper examines predictive distributions, concentrating on measuring their fit to the true distribution by average Kullback-Leibler divergence. The notion of an 'averaged bootstrap' predictive distribution is introduced. This predictive distribution is shown to be asymptotically superior to the estimative distribution, in terms of average KullbackLeibler divergence, when the true distribution is in a natural exponential family. Smallsample results are presented for the Poisson and binomial distributions which suggest that the bootstrap distribution performs well in these cases.
Electrochemical Concentration of Carbon Dioxide from an Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide Containing Gas Stream

An electrochemical cell utilizing an anion exchange membrane was used to separate oxygen and to concentrate carbon dioxide from a mixed gaseous stream. Carbon dioxide concentration was achieved from a gaseous stream composed of 49.3% carbon dioxide and 50.7% oxygen. A volumetric ratio of 3.56:1 carbon dioxide to oxygen evolution was observed. Oxygen separation occurs through reversible oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. Carbon dioxide separation occurs through homogeneous reactions between gas-phase CO2 and electrochemical reaction products on one side of the membrane to form carbonate and bicarbonate ions and neutralization of those ions on the other side of the membrane by electrochemical reactions. Current densities reached a maximum of 6 mA/cm 2 at a cell potential of 1.2 V. Although this approach is not efficient enough to utilize for CO2 capture for fossil energy applications at this time, more active electrocatalysts and thinner ion-exchange membranes could improve the efficiency in the future, and it may be suitable for other applications such as removal of CO2 from breathing air.
Smooth Feedback, Global Stabilization, and Disturbance Attenuation of Nonlinear Systems with Uncontrollable Linearization

Problems of global asymptotic stabilization and disturbance attenuation are addressed for a class of highly nonlinear systems that are comprised of a lower dimensional zero-dynamics subsystem and a chain of power integrators perturbed by a nontriangular vector field. It is shown in this paper that global stabilization and disturbance attenuation are solvable by smooth state feedback if one takes full advantage of the characteristics of the system in the feedback design to dominate the nonlinearity rather than to cancel it. A systematic design procedure which is based upon, but generalizes, the recent technique of adding a power integrator is developed for the explicit construction of the smooth controllers. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the key features of the proposed nonlinear control schemes.
The Effect of Endoscopic Injections of Dextranomer Based Implants on Continence and Bladder Capacity: A Prospective Study of 31 Patients

ABSTRACTPurpose: A prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of dextranomer based implants as a new bulking agent for endoscopic treatment of pediatric structural incontinence.Materials and Methods: A total of 33 children and adolescents 5 to 18 years old with severe incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence (exstrophy-epispadias in 13, neuropathic bladder in 16, bilateral ectopic ureters in 4) were enrolled in the study. All but 1 patient wore diapers. Preoperative evaluation consisted of medical history, pad test, urine culture, urinary tract ultrasound and videourodynamics. This evaluation was repeated 6 months and 1 year after treatment and then on a yearly basis. Of the patients 14 had 2 and 1 had 3 treatment sessions to achieve a definitive result. At each evaluation the patient was considered cured—dryness interval of 4 hours confirmed by pad test, significantly improved—minimal incontinence requiring no more than 1 pad a day with less than 10 gm. leakage during pad test; and no fur...
Collective Bargaining and Community College Faculty: What Is the Wage Impact?

Studies that measure the impacts of collective bargaining on the salary of faculty in two-year colleges are limited. Most studies of faculty unions have used data that combine faculty in both two-year and four-year institutions. Recent work has demonstrated that past estimates of the impacts of unions on full-time faculty salaries in higher education suffer from multiple data, methodological, and statistical problems. This paper addresses these deficiencies, and the results support the claim that collective bargaining increases faculty salaries in two-year institutions, though by less than previously documented.
Analyzing reflection on/for action: A new approach

In this paper the authors provide a summary of educational thinkers’ conceptualizations of the process, characteristics, purposes, and outcomes of reflection in education. Furthermore, they describe the process of conceptualizing a developmental continuum for analyzing reflective thinking, reflective communication, and cognitive processes of teacher candidates. They present the Developmental Continuum of Reflection on-/for-Action Rubric (DCRo/fA Rubric) and discuss the approach they used in testing and refining the instrument. The purpose of the DCRo/fA Rubric is twofold: First, to analyze the reflective dimensions evident in candidates’ work samples they develop during coursework and student teaching such as reflections on lessons, classroom observations, digital stories, or philosophies on education. And second, to analyze the level of sophistication of the dimensions of reflection within artifacts for the purpose of assignment revision and to allow teacher educators to identify the dimensions of reflec...
Solubility, stability, physicochemical characteristics and in vitro ocular tissue permeability of hesperidin: a natural bioflavonoid.

Purpose Hesperidin holds potential in treating age-related macular degeneration, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this study, constituting the first step towards efficient ocular delivery of hesperidin, was to determine its physicochemical properties and in vitro ocular tissue permeability.
Ethylene epoxidation in a catalytic packed-bed membrane reactor

Abstract The performance of different membrane reactors for the epoxidation of ethylene was compared with that of a conventional fixed-bed reactor (FBR), under identical overall reaction conditions, using a cesium-doped silver catalyst supported on α-alumina. Two packed-bed membrane reactor configurations were used, one using oxygen as permeate with ethylene flowing over the catalyst bed (PBMR-O), and the other using ethylene as permeate with oxygen flowing over the catalyst bed (PBMR-E). The study of the FBR showed that high oxygen/ethylene ratio increases ethylene oxide selectivity. The behavior of the membrane reactor was different depending on the configuration, with the PBMR-O exhibiting smaller and the PBMR-E larger ethylene oxide selectivity, as compared to the FBR. While maintaining the overall reaction conditions fixed, ethylene oxide production in the membrane reactor could be increased further by manipulating the residence time of the reactants over the catalyst bed, and the maximun value was obtained for the largest possible residence time. The results demonstrate the operational flexibility and potential attractiveness of membrane reactors, since local reactant concentrations and residence times can be tuned to optimize reactor performance.