cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Tamarix removal on the community dynamics of riparian birds in a semiarid grassland

Invasion of riparian habitats by non-native plants is a global problem that requires an understanding of community-level responses by native plants and animals. In the Great Plains, resource managers have initiated efforts to control the eastward incursion of Tamarix as a non-native bottomland plant (Tamarix ramosissima) along the Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas, United States. To understand how native avifauna interact with non-native plants, we studied the effects of Tamarix removal on riparian bird communities. We compared avian site occupancy of three foraging guilds, abundance of four nesting guilds, and assessed community dynamics with dynamic, multiseason occupancy models across three replicated treatments. Community parameters were estimated for Tamarix-dominated sites (untreated), Tamarix-removal sites (treated), and reference sites with native cottonwood sites (Populus deltoides). Estimates of initial occupancy (ψ2006) for the ground-to-shrub foraging guild tended to be highest at Tamarix-dominated sites, while initial occupancy of the upper-canopy foraging and mid-canopy foraging guilds were highest in the treated and reference sites, respectively. Estimates of relative abundance for four nesting guilds indicated that the reference habitat supported the highest relative abundance of birds overall, although the untreated habitat had higher abundance of shrub-nesters than treated or reference habitats. Riparian sites where invasive Tamarix is dominant in the Great Plains can provide nesting habitat for some native bird species, with avian abundance and diversity that are comparable to remnant riparian sites with native vegetation. Moreover, presence of some native vegetation in Tamarix-dominated and Tamarix-removal sites may increase abundance of riparian birds such as cavity-nesters. Overall, our study demonstrates that Tamarix may substitute for native flora in providing nesting habitat for riparian birds at the eastern edge of its North American range.
A New Infrageneric Classification of Meconopsis (Papaveraceae) Based on a Well-Supported Molecular Phylogeny

Abstract Meconopsis is an herbaceous genus native to the high altitude habitats across the Himalaya and adjacent plateau and mountain areas. Attractive Meconopsis flowers have spurred many European botanists to study the taxonomy of the genus resulting in numerous infrageneric classifications, dating from the first taxonomic revision in the late 19th century until the most recent monograph in 2014. All, however, were morphology-based treatments and largely inconsistent with one another. To investigate the incongruence among the previous taxonomic grouping strategies of the species in Meconopsis and settle the controversies, we employed a well-resolved molecular phylogeny built by analyzing four chloroplast markers (trnL-trnF intergenic spacer, matK, ndhF, and rbcL). We found that the evolutionary relationships revealed by our phylogeny disagreed to varying degrees with any infrageneric relationship suggested by previous authors. Therefore, we propose a revised classification based on our phylogenetic topo...
Interview with Dr. Michael Birkner

In this, our eleventh volume of the Fairmount Folio , I am inaugurating a new segment of the journal, an interview with an established historian. It will mirror a concept begun in our sister publication, The Historian , the journal of the national history honorary, Phi Alpha Theta. This segment is meant to provide wider understanding of the variety of experiences and scholarship found among historians. We hope you will enjoy these interviews.
Abstract 3376: Utilization of Physician Services within the First Month after Hospitalization for Ischemic Stroke

Background: Stroke poses significant burdens on patients, their families, and informal caregivers in the days following hospitalization. Limited data are available assessing patient use of immediate poststroke outpatient services. Service utilization patterns have implications for understanding continuity of care and may affect 30-day mortality and readmission rates, measures being used in other conditions as indicators of the quality and efficiency of hospital-leve care. Objective: To determine physician specialty, frequency, and most common reasons for physician office visits for Medicare beneficiaries within 30 days of hospital discharge after an ischemic stroke. Methods: Data were derived by linking a 5% sample of Part B Medicare data (physician carrier file) with Part A inpatient data. The study cohort included fee-for-service beneficiaries 65+ years of age with a primary discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-9 433, 434, 436) in 2006 with linked in-patient and physician visit data. The 10 most frequent reasons for physician office visits were identified using principal ICD-9 diagnosis codes. Physician specialty was identified using the CMS provider specialty code. Results: Among 10,230 identified ischemic stroke patients, 9,523 were discharged alive and included in the study. Of these patients, 16% were rehospitalized for any cause, 42% had at least one hospital outpatient visit, and 88% had at least one physician office visit within 30 days. Primary reasons for physician office visits included stroke, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure (Table). Internists were seen most frequently, followed by radiologists, cardiologists, and family practice physicians. There were 1,449 visits to neurologists and 1,355 visits to physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians. Conclusion: Almost 90% of Medicare beneficiaries discharged with ischemic stroke were seen in a physician’s office within the first month. Reasons for visits included stroke as well as other cardiovascular conditions and common stroke risk factors. Additional research is needed to determine the accuracy of physician codes for follow-up visits as well as to assess how the utilization of outpatient services within the early recovery period influences 30-day mortality and readmission rates.
Systems and Control Approach to Electro-Thermal Sensing

Electro-thermal sensors serve as low-cost, highly integrable deflection sensors in scanning probe applications. They also find application as position sensors for nanopositioning applications. These sensors consist of microfabricated silicon structures with integrated heating elements. The dynamics of these sensors are well captured by a feedback model consisting of a linear thermal system and a non-linear memoryless operator.During sensing, the signal being measured perturbs the thermal system. This perturbation can be analyzed to derive the sensing transfer function. This systems approach is particularly well suited for the experimental identification of electrothermal sensors. Moreover, the sensitivity and bandwidth of these sensors can be further enhanced by external feedback, thus illustrating the applicability of feedback control to shape a sensors sensing dynamics.
Ultrasound Detection of Microcalcifications in Surgical Breast Specimens.

Abstract The objective was to evaluate a commercial image processing technique (MicroPure, Canon Medical Systems, Tustin, CA, USA) for detection of microcalcifications in breast surgical specimens. Twenty women scheduled for surgical excision of an area with breast calcifications were enrolled, their surgical specimens underwent grayscale ultrasound (US) and MicroPure examination using an Aplio XG scanner (Canon). Four independent and blinded readers analyzed 54 US and 54 MicroPure digital clips to determine the number of calcifications and scored image quality and artifacts on a 10-point scale. All readers saw significantly more microcalcifications with MicroPure than with US, 14.0 ± 12.0 versus 3.0 ± 3.2 (p
Developmental Boxes: A New Tool for Teaching the Human Life Cycle

A set of developmental box modules was developed to help make cognitive learning of developmental principles easier and more interesting. Organized around Erikson’s developmental stages, but including other theoretical development concepts, each box contains approximately fifty items including artifacts and pictured activities typical or symbolic of a particular developmental task. Also included are books appropriate for use by persons at a particular stage or by parents of children at a particular stage.
Scientific Cosmology and International Orders

Scientific Cosmology and International Orders shows how scientific ideas have transformed international politics since 1550. Allan argues that cosmological concepts arising from Western science made possible the shift from a sixteenth-century order premised upon divine providence to the present order centred on economic growth. As states and other international associations used scientific ideas to solve problems, they slowly reconfigured ideas about how the world works, humanity's place in the universe, and the meaning of progress. The book demonstrates the rise of scientific ideas across three cases: natural philosophy in balance of power politics, 1550–1815; geology and Darwinism in British colonial policy and international colonial orders, 1860–1950; and cybernetic-systems thinking and economics in the World Bank and American liberal order, 1945–2015. Together, the cases trace the emergence of economic growth as a central end of states from its origins in colonial doctrines of development and balance of power thinking about improvement.
Design of Bending Members

In buildings, loads of any kind have to be carried down to the foundation. Dead loads (the weight of the building elements and other permanent fixtures in the building) and live loads (furniture, snow, people, and movable equipment) are usually called gravity loads. Wind and earthquake forces acting against buildings are known as lateral loads. Structural members subjected to loads acting perpendicularly to their longitudinal axis are known as flexural (bending) members. In construction, they are referred to as beams, girders, joists, purlins, etc. Such members constitute the major and minor components of almost all types of structures.
Abstract 3898: Implementation of a Novel Pathway for Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Improves Guidelines Adherence Along With Decreases in Mortality and Readmissions: A Four Years ACAP-HF Analysis

Background: Clinical guidelines for the management of acute decompensated heart Failure (ADHF) have consistently shown a major gap between the national guidelines and their application in the actual management of patients with ADHF. In 2004 a new program “Advanced Cardiac Admission Program” ACAP was developed and implemented at our Institution. The program consists of tools and strategies for implementing guidelines. Methods: 747 patients admitted with ADHF were risk stratified on admission and managed according to our implemented pathway. Implementation feasibility and clinical response were reviewed at 48 months, and compared to published national statistics for hospital performances. Results: Over the past 4 years, B blocker utilization rate at discharge improved from 35% to 76%; p Conclusion: Implementation of a novel pathway for management of acute decompensated heart failure improves guidelines adherence and significantly decreases mortality and readmission rates at four years follow up.
The Early Mother-Child Relationship: A Developmental View of Woman as Mother

The process of becoming a mother is a complex developmental sequence involving a search for a particular identity as a woman. Helene Deutsch gave us a framework for understanding this process. She pointed out its biological and psychological nature and the unique experience it provides, “in which a woman is given the opportunity of experiencing a real sense of immortality and of the victory of life over death.”1 The successful search means a movement from the diffusion of youth to the completeness and reality of adulthood. Interrelationships between the mother and her child, her mate, and her parents must undergo expansion and clarification. Success in this process is made possible by the fact that these relationships, particularly that with her child, will fuel the mother’s own growth.
The effects of balance and gait function on quality of life of stroke patients.

Background Stroke patients have a lower quality of life than other people. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of balance and gait function of stroke patients on their quality of life. Methods Twenty-seven subjects participated in the experiment. Balance ability was assessed using a SpaceBalance 3D and a Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait function was measured with a Biodex Gait Trainer 2 treadmill system. The quality of life of the subjects was assessed through the Stroke specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL). Results Correlation analysis between balance and quality of life showed that weight bearing distribution and BBS are positive correlated with quality of life. In addition, gait speed, step length of the paretic limb, and step length of the non-paretic limb were also found to be correlated with quality of life. Conclusion Balance and gait function must all be considered in order to improve the quality of life of stroke patients.
Condensins and cohesins - one of these things is not like the other!

ABSTRACT Condensins and cohesins are highly conserved complexes that tether together DNA loci within a single DNA molecule to produce DNA loops. Condensin and cohesin structures, however, are different, and the DNA loops produced by each underlie distinct cell processes. Condensin rods compact chromosomes during mitosis, with condensin I and II complexes producing spatially defined and nested looping in metazoan cells. Structurally adaptive cohesin rings produce loops, which organize the genome during interphase. Cohesin-mediated loops, termed topologically associating domains or TADs, antagonize the formation of epigenetically defined but untethered DNA volumes, termed compartments. While condensin complexes formed through cis-interactions must maintain chromatin compaction throughout mitosis, cohesins remain highly dynamic during interphase to allow for transcription-mediated responses to external cues and the execution of developmental programs. Here, I review differences in condensin and cohesin structures, and highlight recent advances regarding the intramolecular or cis-based tetherings through which condensins compact DNA during mitosis and cohesins organize the genome during interphase.
A CMOS MedRadio Transceiver With Supply-Modulated Power Saving Technique for an Implantable Brain–Machine Interface System

A MedRadio 413–419-MHz inductorless transceiver (TRX) for an implantable brain–machine interface (BMI) in a 180 nm-CMOS process is presented. Occupying 5.29 mm2 of die area (including pad ring), this on–off keying (OOK) TRX employs a non-coherent direct-detection receiver (RX), which exhibits a measured in-band noise figure (NF) of 4.9 dB and $S_{11}$ of −13.5 dB. An event-driven supply modulation (EDSM) technique is introduced to dramatically lower the RX power consumption. Incorporating an adaptive feedback loop, this RX consumes 42-/92- $\mu \text{W}$ power from 1.8-V supply at 1/10-kbps data rates, achieving −79/−74-dBm sensitivities for 0.1% bit error rate (BER). The TX employs a current starved ring oscillator with an automatic frequency calibration loop, covering 9% supply voltage variation and 15 °C–78 °C temperature range that guarantees operation within the emission mask. The direct-modulation TX achieves 14% efficiency for a random OOK data sequence at −4-dBm output power. Wireless testing over a 350-cm distance accounting for bio-signal data transfer, multi-user coexistence, and in vitro phantom measurement results is demonstrated.
Kübler-Ross and the Re-visioning of Death as Loss: Religious Appropriation and Responses.

Fifty years ago, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' On Death and Dying provided a model of dying as stages of coping with impending loss of one's life. She sought to give dying hospital patients a voice; the result gave a new model for speaking about dying and grieving. This paper examines the model and religious appropriations and crticism of her theme of death as loss.
Empiric nasogastric decompression after pancreaticoduodenectomy is not necessary.

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of routine NGT decompression after PD on postoperative outcomes in the era of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. Materials and methods A retrospective review of all patients undergoing PD between January 2015 and October 2017 at our institution was performed comparing routine post-operative NGT decompression versus omission. The incidence of delayed gastric emptying, post-operative pancreatic fistula, hospital length of stay, operative time, 30-day readmission rate as well the time to first oral intake were evaluated. Results Out of 149 patients who underwent PD, 65 maintained post-operative NGT decompression while post-operative NGT decompression was omitted in 84 patients. No differences were noted in delayed gastric emptying rates (both p>0.05). The median length of stay (9 days for NGT group versus 8.5 days for no NGT group) and 30-day readmission rates (13.8% versus 15.5%, respectively) were similar (p=0.781). Compared with patients who had routine post-operative NGT placed, those who had omission of a post-operative NGT had a lower need for reinsertion, shorter time to PO intake, and a lower likelihood of extended length of stay. Conclusions In the era of ERAS protocols, we observed no association between routine post-operative NGT decompression after PD and improved postoperative outcomes.
Environmental Cues Induce Dispersal and Burial in Crawling Water Beetle, Haliplus punctatus (Coleoptera: Haliplidae)

Aquatic insects are known to modify their behavior in response to environmental conditions, but manipulative experiments are necessary to distinguish which environmental cues trigger which behaviors. Understanding these responses is particularly important for arid-land aquatic taxa because ongoing climate change is predicted to make the current extreme abiotic environment even more extreme. Here we conducted a manipulative experiment to determine the behavioral responses of a widespread and common crawling water beetle, Haliplus punctatus (Coleoptera: Haliplidae), to three environmental cues, temperature, conductivity, and water level, and recorded two behaviors, dispersal and burial. We found that increasing water temperature caused animals to bury less and disperse more, but that neither conductivity nor water level affected beetle behaviors. These responses to temperature may have widespread consequences for natural populations.
Reverse transcriptase kinetics for one-step RT-PCR.

Abstract Understanding reverse transcriptase (RT) activity is critical for designing fast one-step RT-PCRs. We report a stopped-flow assay that monitors SYBR Green I fluorescence to investigate RT activity in PCR conditions. We studied the influence of PCR conditions on RT activity and assessed the accuracy of cDNA synthesis predictions for one-step RT-PCR. Nucleotide incorporation increased from 26 to 89 s−1 between 1.5 and 6 mM MgCl2 but was largely unaffected by changes in KCl. Conversely, increasing KCl from 15 to 75 mM increased apparent rate constants for RT-oligonucleotide binding (0.010–0.026 nM−1 s−1) and unbinding (0.2–1.5 s−1). All rate constants increased between 22 and 42 °C. When evaluated by PCR quantification cycle, cDNA predictions differed from experiments using RNase H+ RT (average 1.7 cycles) and RNase H- (average 4.5 cycles). Decreasing H+ RT concentrations 10 to 104-fold from manufacturer recommendations improved cDNA predictions (average 0.8 cycles) and increased RT-PCR assay efficiency. RT activity assays and models can be used to aid assay design and improve the speed of RT-PCRs. RT type and concentration must be selected to promote rapid cDNA synthesis but minimize nonspecific amplification. We demonstrate 2-min one-step RT-PCR of a Zika virus target using reduced RT concentrations and extreme PCR.
Improving Human Nutrition: A Critical Objective for Potassium Recommendations for Agricultural Crops

Potassium (K) is the most abundant cation in intracellular fluid where it plays a key role in maintaining cell function. The majority of K consumed (60–100 mmol day−1) is lost in the urine, with the remaining excreted in the stool, and a very small amount lost in sweat. Little is known about the bioavailability of K, especially from dietary sources. Less is understood on how bioavailability may affect health outcomes. Potassium is an essential nutrient that has been labeled a shortfall nutrient by recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committees. Increases in K intake have been linked to improvements in cardiovascular and other metabolic health outcomes. There is growing evidence for the association between K intake and blood pressure (BP) reduction in adults; hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a major financial burden (US$53.2 billion) to the US public health system and has a significant impact on all-cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence is also accumulating for the protective effect of adequate dietary K on age-related bone loss and glucose control. Understanding the benefit of K intake from various sources may help to reveal how specific compounds and tissues influence K movement within the body, and further the understanding of its role in health.
Solution-focused wellness coaching: a mixed methods, longitudinal study with college students

Research indicates that college students are experiencing mental health challenges of greater severity and frequency. College students present with a variety of wellness-related challenges, resulti...
Reducing ICU Length of Stay: The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Perioperative Pathway in Vestibular Schwannoma

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary perioperative pathway on length of stay (LOS) and postoperative outcomes after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Setting This study was conducted in a tertiary skull base center. Main Outcome Measures The impact of the pathway on intensive care unit (ICU) LOS was evaluated as the primary outcome measure of the study. Overall resource LOS, postoperative complications, and readmission rates were also evaluated as secondary outcome measures. Methods Present study is a retrospective review. Results A universally adopted perioperative pathway was developed to include standardization of preoperative education and expectations, intraoperative anesthetic delivery, postoperative nursing education, postoperative rehabilitation, and utilization of stepdown and surgical floor units after ICU stay. Outcomes were measured for 95 consecutive adult patients who underwent surgical resection for vestibular schwannoma (40 cases before implementation of the perioperative pathway and 55 cases after implementation). There were no significant differences in the two groups with regard to tumor size, operative time, or medical comorbidities. The mean ICU LOS decreased from 2.1 in the preimplementation group to 1.6 days in the postimplementation group (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in overall resource LOS postoperative complications or readmission rates between groups. Conclusion Multidisciplinary, perioperative neurotologic pathways can be effective in lowering ICU LOS in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery without compromising quality of care. Further research is needed to continue to sustain and continuously improve these and other measures, while continuing to provide high-quality care to this patient population.
Diffusion histology imaging differentiates distinct pediatric brain tumor histology.

High-grade pediatric brain tumors exhibit the highest cancer mortality rates in children. While conventional MRI has been widely adopted for examining pediatric high-grade brain tumors clinically, accurate neuroimaging detection and differentiation of tumor histopathology for improved diagnosis, surgical planning, and treatment evaluation, remains an unmet need in their clinical management. We employed a novel Diffusion Histology Imaging (DHI) approach employing diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) derived metrics as the input classifiers for deep neural network analysis. DHI aims to detect, differentiate, and quantify heterogeneous areas in pediatric high-grade brain tumors, which include normal white matter (WM), densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis, and hemorrhage. Distinct diffusion metric combination would thus indicate the unique distributions of each distinct tumor histology features. DHI, by incorporating DBSI metrics and the deep neural network algorithm, classified pediatric tumor histology with an overall accuracy of 85.8%. Receiver operating analysis (ROC) analysis suggested DHI’s great capability in distinguishing individual tumor histology with AUC values (95% CI) of 0.984 (0.982–0.986), 0.960 (0.956–0.963), 0.991 (0.990–0.993), 0.950 (0.944–0.956), 0.977 (0.973–0.981) and 0.976 (0.972–0.979) for normal WM, densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis and hemorrhage, respectively. Our results suggest that DBSI-DNN, or DHI, accurately characterized and classified multiple tumor histologic features in pediatric high-grade brain tumors. If these results could be further validated in patients, the novel DHI might emerge as a favorable alternative to the current neuroimaging techniques to better guide biopsy and resection as well as monitor therapeutic response in patients with high-grade brain tumors.
Religious Involvement and Cognitive Functioning at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Gender in Mid-Life and Older Adults.

Objectives To investigate the association between religious involvement and cognitive functioning at the intersections of race-ethnicity and gender among mid-life and older adults, and to determine if psychosocial factors help explain this relationship. Methods The sample included 14,037 adults aged 50+ from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We utilized measures from the HRS 2010 and 2012 Core interviews and Leave Behind questionnaires and estimated our models using linear regression. Results Compared to individuals who frequently attended religious services, infrequent religious service attendance was related to poorer cognitive functioning. Religiosity was inversely associated with cognitive functioning at baseline, but the relationship varied by race/gender subgroup. Greater religiosity was associated with better cognitive functioning among Black women, but lower cognitive functioning among White men and women. Psychosocial factors did little to explain the inverse association between religiosity and cognitive functioning. Discussion Results suggest the association between religious involvement and cognitive functioning is varied and complex, and largely dependent on important social identities. The findings have important implications for investigating health-protective factors, like religious involvement, using an intersectional perspective.
La città e il sogno

The essay is articulated into a long story that begins with a collection of clues about the origin and functioning of our imagination. Where do the images that have shaped the great urban utopias reside? What relationship exists between invention and entropy (including the “Bataillian” variant of the depanse), what space do free will and technical-scientific determinism have in the project of present and future society? The essay accompanies us in the impossible search for an answer, advancing through the folds of philosophy, art and literature. In other words, it is a story about the limits of reason and the axiomatic nature of knowledge.
Dual acting oximes designed for therapeutic decontamination of reactive organophosphates via catalytic inactivation and acetylcholinesterase reactivation

A conventional approach in the therapeutic decontamination of reactive organophosphate (OP) relies on chemical OP degradation by oxime compounds. However, their efficacy is limited due to their lack of activity in the reactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the primary target of OP. Here, we describe a set of α-nucleophile oxime derivatives which are newly identified for such dual modes of action. Thus, we prepared a 9-member oxime library, each composed of an OP-reactive oxime core linked to an amine-terminated scaffold, which varied through an N-alkyl functionalization. This library was screened by enzyme assays performed with human and electric eel subtypes of OP-inactivated AChE, which led to identifying three oxime leads that displayed significant enhancements in reactivation activity comparable to 2-PAM. They were able to reactivate both enzymes inactivated by three OP types including paraoxon, chlorpyrifos and malaoxon, suggesting their broad spectrum of OP susceptibility. All compounds in the library were able to retain catalytic reactivity in paraoxon inactivation by rates increased up to 5 or 8-fold relative to diacetylmonoxime (DAM) under controlled conditions at pH (8.0, 10.5) and temperature (17, 37 °C). Finally, selected lead compounds displayed superb efficacy in paraoxon decontamination on porcine skin in vitro. In summary, we addressed an unmet need in therapeutic OP decontamination by designing and validating a series of congeneric oximes that display dual modes of action.
A dual formulation of wavefield reconstruction inversion for large-scale seismic inversionDual wavefield reconstruction inversion

ABSTRACTMany currently proposed seismic inversion techniques that focus on robustness with respect to the background model choice are not appropriate for large-scale 3D applications, and the method...
New insights on evapotranspiration and water yield in crop and forest lands under changing climate

Abstract Forest lands are sometimes thought to increase evapotranspiration (ET) and decrease water yield (WYLD) more than those of croplands, especially in the semi-arid subtropical and tropical regions. Using the US-EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)’s Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) model along with Mann Kendall statistics (τ) and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, I compared ET and WLYD between a cropland and a forest land in a humid subtropical region – Yazoo River basin (YRB), Mississippi, USA – under the changing climate. Results show that no temporal trend of ET was found over the past 50-year (1966 to 2015) and future 50-year (2021 to 2070) climate conditions, but a significant increasing trend (τ = 0.403, p
Non-contact measurement of angle of view between the inspected surface and the thermal imager

Abstract The angle of view between inspected object and thermal imager influences the values of temperature measured by infrared thermography. This happens because the emissivity depends on the angle of radiation, and because the apparent temperature measured is influenced by that angle of view combined to thermal imager’s field of view. Therefore, it is necessary to know the angle of view during thermographic inspection, which is generally not feasible due to safety reasons. This paper develops a method of measuring the angle of view with no contact with the inspected object, by employing laser distance meters, commonly available in the market.
Existence of travelling-wave solutions to a coupled system of Korteweg–de Vries equations

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide a mathematical proof of the existence of smooth solitary travelling waves for a coupled system of Korteweg–de Vries type equations { u t + u x x x + ( u p v p + 1 ) x = 0 , v t + r v x + v x x x + ( u p + 1 v p ) x = 0 , where u = u ( x , t ) , v = v ( x , t ) are real-valued functions and r , x , t ∈ R . We follow a variational approach by characterizing travelling waves as minimizers of some functional under suitable constraints. Using the modern methods in the calculus of variations (the concentration-compactness principle of P. L. Lions), we prove that any minimizing sequence for the variational problem converges strongly, after an appropriate translation, to a minimizer.
Distributed robust frequency regulation of smart power grid with renewable integration

This paper investigates distributed frequency regulation of multi-machine power systems with renewable integration. The key challenge is to completely compensate the uncertainties induced by renewable energy. We integrate different grid components to achieve robust frequency regulation: the battery is used to filter out high-frequency components of renewable energy, demand response is utilized to deal with their medium-frequency components and conventional synchronous generators are exploited to handle their low-frequency components. The proposed distributed controllers are based internal model principle and its induced stability is formally analyzed.
Comparison of Maxwellian and bi-Maxwellian expansions with Monte Carlo simulations for anisotropic plasmas

The authors studied the extent to which Maxwellian and bi-Maxwellian series expansions can describe plasma flows characterised by non-Maxwellian velocity distributions. The problem they considered was the steady-state flow of a weakly ionised plasma subjected to homogeneous electric and magnetic fields, and both polarisation and hard-sphere collision models were used. Monte Carlo simulations provided a basis for determining the adequacy of a given series expansion. They found that, in general, the bi-Maxwellian-based 16-moment expansion for the velocity distribution function is better suited to describing anisotropic plasmas than the Maxwellian-based 20-moment expansion. They also found that for large electric fields the distribution function displays toroidal and bean-shaped characteristics, depending on the collision-to-cyclotron frequency ratio.
Solute segregation and brittle fracture in an alloy steel

Using an Sb doped Ni-Cr steel as a model material, the mechanism of intergranular brittle fracture was studied by means of tests on smooth, notched, and precracked specimens, in conjunction with statistically analyzed, selected area Auger electron spectroscopy.The critical local stress for fracture of a grain boundary was determined as a function of the Sb concentration on that boundary. The Sb effect can be understood in terms of its influence on cohesive energy, which controls the plastic work associated with brittle fracture. The results indicate that the optimum method for assessing embrittlement behavior of such a steel with minimum ambiguity is to use a notched specimen at a fixed test temperature in the appropriate temperature range for that material. The conditions which govern brittle crack nucleation in steel and the factors which influence the plastic work are discussed.
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Simulation in a CDMA with the Conventional Sliding Correlator

A relatively new software package has emerged that facilitates the modeling of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) systems. The Signal Processing Worksystem with Block Oriented Software Simulator (SPW/BOSS) by Comdisco [1] provides the flexibility of an open architecture and the strength of a vast component library. It was used extensively in this paper to generate models and simulate Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems. The upcoming examples feature data sources and spreading mechanisms designed with individual Pseudo-Noise (PN) sequence generators with different polynomial orders, channels containing Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN), and receivers made up of Conventional Sliding Correlators (CSC) that are used as test beds to measure model integrity and performance trends. Contained within the CSC is a local PN generator with a sequence that matches the targeted transmitter, except for a possible phase shift. Further complexity is added to the models by studying the "near-far" problem associated with CDMA systems. These effects are simulated in software by altering the amplitudes of the transmitted signals. Simulation results are compared to analytical predications.
Clustering of neonatal deaths in Bangladesh: results from the Projahnmo studies

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality (NM) tends to be clustered within a small subset of mothers households and/or geographical areas. Knowledge of the maternal and newborn factors associated with NM can help identify high-risk mothers and guide the targeting of intervention programmes. METHOD: Data from pregnancy history surveys conducted as part of the Project for Advancing the Health of Newborns and Mothers (Projahnmo) in Sylhet and Mirzapur districts of Bangladesh were used to investigate risk factors for NM. We analysed data from babies born between 2001 and 2005 in the control clusters of the Projahnmo trials. Generalised linear mixed models were applied to quantify the heterogeneity among mothers and to investigate factors that contribute to this heterogeneity. RESULTS: There was an indication of correlation among siblings outcomes. Neonates whose preceding sibling had died as a neonate in the mothers lifetime pregnancy history were more likely (up to 1.9 times) to die than those with a living sibling. Factors that varied at the child and mother levels as well as the preceding siblings outcome explained a large proportion (60% in Sylhet and 70% in Mirzapur) of the between-mother variation in NM. CONCLUSION: The preceding siblings outcome may be a surrogate for genetic and other maternal health factors such as nutrition infection or environmental factors that were not measured within Projahnmo. Further research into these factors is required in order to explain the variation in the risk for NM. (c) 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
PRELIMINARY MIXTURE DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR RECYCLED ASPHALT MATERIALS

This paper summarizes the findings of a study to evaluate the strength, fatigue, and elastic characteristics of recycled asphalt pavement materials and to develop a preliminary mixture design procedure. Mixtures with different types and amounts of additives for three recycling projects in Texas were evaluated. The primary method of evaluation was the static and repeated-load indirect tension test. Estimates of tensile strength, resilient elastic characteristics, and fatigue characteristics were obtained. A preliminary mixture design procedure was formulated which was based on the results of this study and standard tests on the mixture and extracted asphalt and a review of pertinent literature and past experience. The objective of this preliminary design procedure is to allow engineers to begin routinely to design mixtures involving recycled, deteriorated asphalt cements. Preliminary findings indicate that recycled asphalt mixtures can be treated through the addition of asphalt or reclaiming agents to produce a material which exhibits satisfactory engineering properties as measured by laboratory tests on both laboratory-prepared specimens and field cores. A preliminary mixture procedure which can be used to design recycled mixtures is presented. Future work will lead to modifications of this procedure. However, at present it is felt that the procedure is practical and capable of being used routinely. (Author)
Intra-seasonal and inter-decadal variability in ENSO impacts on the Pacific Northwest

Across the western United States, seasonal-scale El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnections have been extensively described. Less attention has been paid to spatial and temporal details of these relationships that might be particularly important to managers and decision makers. Here, we explore intra-seasonal relationships between the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and average temperature, wet-day temperature, overall precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, and rain/snow partitioning at 138 Global Historical Climatology Network weather stations across the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Results of this study indicate that ENSO influences were generally more pronounced along the coast and in the northern Idaho/western Montana region than in the lee of the Cascades. There was a distinct seasonality in response, with stronger correlations in the late winter (February–March) than in the autumn (October–November) or mid-winter (December–January). The fraction of stations demonstrating correlations to SOI has changed over time, with a trend towards greater spring teleconnections in recent decades.
Using a genetic algorithm to break Alberti Cipher

This project was initiated as a continuation of the Morelli, Walde and Servos International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools article, "A Study of Heuristic Approaches for Breaking Short Cryptograms," forthcoming in 2004. My study is an investigation into the expanded use of Genetic Algorithms in decryption, particularly with the polyalphabetic Alberti Cipher. The Alberti Cipher was created by Leon Battista Alberti in 1467, and is considered in many ways to be the backbone of modern encryption. Alberti, a Renaissance Man to rival Da Vinci, created the first polyalphabetic cipher. Polyalphabetic ciphers encrypt using more than one alphabet and cannot be solved by letter frequency analysis. So, for a given letter, say 'e' it would be replaced by different letters each occurrence. This differs from simple substitution cipher where a given letter always receives the same substitute, because each consecutive letter in the Alberti cipher is encrypted using a different alphabet than the one proceeding it.
A Statistical Test of a Neutral Model Using the Dynamics of Cytonuclear Disequilibria

In this paper we use cytonuclear disequilibria to test the neutrality of mtDNA markers. The data considered here involve sample frequencies of cytonuclear genotypes subject to both statistical sampling variation as well as genetic sampling variation. First, we obtain the dynamics of the sample cytonuclear disequilibria assuming random drift alone as the source of genetic sampling variation. Next, we develop a test statistic using cytonuclear disequilibria via the theory of generalized least squares to test the random drift model. The null distribution of the test statistic is shown to be approximately chi-squared using an asymptotic argument as well as computer simulation. Power of the test statistic is investigated under an alternative model with drift and selection. The method is illustrated using data from cage experiments utilizing different cytonuclear genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster. A program for implementing the neutrality test is available upon request.
1‐(4‐Acetylphenyl)‐2‐Phenylethane from Potassium 2‐Phenethylthyltrifluoroborate and 4‐Bromoacetophenone

Trimethyl borate Phenethylmagnesium chloride Potassium hydrogen fluoride Potassium 2-phenetrifluoroborate 4-Bromoacetophenone Triphenylphosphine Palladium acetate Keywords: acetylphenyl phenylethane; bromoacetophenone; potassium organotrifluoroborates; cross-coupling; alkylboron reagents; palladium catalyst; potassium alklytrifluoroborate; aryl electrophile; safety; waste disposal
Phylogenetic Profiling for Probing the Modular Architecture of the Human Genome

Information about functional connections between genes can be derived from patterns of coupled loss of their homologs across multiple species. This comparative approach, termed phylogenetic profiling, has been successfully used to infer genetic interactions in bacteria and eukaryotes. Rapid progress in sequencing eukaryotic species has enabled the recent phylogenetic profiling of the human genome, resulting in systematic functional predictions for uncharacterized human genes. Importantly, groups of co-evolving genes reveal widespread modularity in the underlying genetic network, facilitating experimental analyses in human cells as well as comparative studies of conserved functional modules across species. This strategy is particularly successful in identifying novel metabolic proteins and components of multi-protein complexes. The targeted sequencing of additional key eukaryotes and the incorporation of improved methods to generate and compare phylogenetic profiles will further boost the predictive power and utility of this evolutionary approach to the functional analysis of gene interaction networks.
Long-term durability, tissue regeneration and neo-organ growth during skeletal maturation with a neo-bladder augmentation construct

Aims: To comparatively evaluate bladder regeneration following 80% cystectomy and augmentation using a synthetic biopolymer with autologous urothelial and smooth muscle cells (autologous neo-bladder augmentation construct [construct]) or autotransplantation of native bladder (reimplanted native urinary bladder [reimplant]) in canines. Materials & methods: Voiding function, urodynamic assessment and neo-organ capacity-to-body-weight ratio (C:BW) were assessed longitudinally for a total of 24 months following trigone-sparing augmentation cystoplasty in juvenile canines. Results: Within 30 days postimplantation, hematology and urinalysis returned to baseline. Constructs and reimplants yielded neo-organs with statistically equivalent urodynamics and histology. Linear regression analysis of C:BW showed that constructs regained baseline slope and continued to adapt with animal growth. Conclusions: Constructs and reimplants regained and maintained native bladder histology by 3 months, capacity at 3–6 months and ...
Effect of emitting electrode number on the performance of EHD gas pump in a rectangular channel

Abstract Previous studies have shown that electric field in the form of corona wind can be used for gas pumping. It has also been shown that the maximal volume flow rate can be achieved by an optimal design and arrangement of electrode(s) involved. In this study, the number of emitting electrodes has been considered for its effects on the pump performance. To seek the relation between the electrode number and pump performance, an EHD gas pump with three configurations (4, 12, and 28 emitting electrodes) is critically evaluated by experimental measurements and numerical simulations.
Performance characteristics of different solving strategies in multivariate mixed models

Abstract Scope and optimization strategies for solving mixed linear models with PEST (general purpose package for multivariate prediction and estimation) are investigated on the basis of three multivariate problems with system sizes of 4116, 30 016 and 472 252 equations. A univariate model with 1 813 168 equations was run to assess the performance of PEST with large problems. Where a sub-matrix of the mixed model equations was solved simultaneously computing time was reduced to around 1% if compared with complete Gauss-Seidel iteration on data. With the possibility of different incidence matrices for each trait in multivariate models no precorrection of data is required but regressions can be added to the model without much penalty in processing time. Overrelaxation may improve the rate of convergence by 25% and setting a “ceiling” for the number of iterations for the simultaneous part reduced the CPU time by 11%. Cholesky transformation further reduced CPU time between 30 and 50% depending on the required accuracy. The largest system was an animal model for milk yield of nearly 900 000 cows resulting in 1.8 million equations which required 26 Mb of memory during the solving process taking 37 min per round on a SUN 4 workstation.