cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing design parameters for sets of concentric tube robots using sampling-based motion planning

Concentric tube robots are tentacle-like medical robots that can bend around anatomical obstacles to access hard-to-reach clinical targets. The component tubes of these robots can be swapped prior to performing a task in order to customize the robot's behavior and reachable workspace. Optimizing a robot's design by appropriately selecting tube parameters can improve the robot's effectiveness on a procedure- and patient-specific basis. In this paper, we present an algorithm that generates sets of concentric tube robot designs that can collectively maximize the reachable percentage of a given goal region in the human body. Our algorithm combines a search in the design space of a concentric tube robot using a global optimization method with a sampling-based motion planner in the robot's configuration space in order to find sets of designs that enable motions to goal regions while avoiding contact with anatomical obstacles. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in a simulated scenario based on lung anatomy.
2-(Phenyl­sulfanyl)­aniline

In the title compound, C12H11NS, the aniline and phenyl rings have a skewed conformation with a dihedral angle of 81.31 (7)°. There is a short intra­molecular N–H⋯S contact enclosing an S(5) ring motif. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via N–H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [10-3]. The chains are linked via N—H⋯π and C—H⋯π inter­actions, forming layers parallel to plane (010). No π–π inter­actions are noted between the layers.
Boundaries seen and unseen Resolving Transboundary Groundwater Problems

International groundwater problems represent a distinct and important category of transboundary groundwater problems, but not all transboundary groundwaters are international. This paper considers ...
Characterization of Salmonella Isangi possessing a CTX-M15 ESBL associated with an outbreak in a US Hospital

Over an approximately 50-day period in 2015, an outbreak of CTX-M-15 extended spectrum β-lactamase-(ESBL)-possessing Salmonella Isangi occurred among 19 adult surgical patients and one healthcare worker (HCW) at a large urban tertiary care hospital in the United States. A total of 45 S. Isangi isolates were isolated from stool (35), blood (4), urine (3), respiratory (2), and wound (1) cultures. Phenotypically, all but three isolates demonstrated resistance to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone, and cefepime, and one isolate was resistant to ertapenem. Genotypically, a single CTX-M-15 ESBL was identified in all but three isolates by real-time PCR. Interestingly, two of the CTX-M-15 negative, susceptible isolates were isolated from a single patient who initially had a CTX-M positive, resistant strain. Isolates were clonally related, including both resistant and susceptible strains, as confirmed by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This is the first case of a novel Salmonella outbreak at this hospital, and we believe it to be the first case of an S. Isangi serotype outbreak in the United States.
Rotational spectroscopic studies of C-H · · · F interactions in the vinyl fluoride · · · difluoromethane complex.

Rotational spectra of the normal isotopic species and three 13C isotopologues of the 1:1 complex between vinyl fluoride (CH2═CHF) and difluoromethane (CH2F2) have been measured using 480 MHz bandwidth chirped-pulse Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy in the 6.5–20 GHz region. A structure for this dimer has been determined by fitting the moments of inertia of all isotopologues and confirmed by calculation of Kraitchman single isotopic substitution coordinates. The structure is consistent with that determined by ab initio geometry optimization at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level and has the difluoromethane subunit located on the CHF side of the vinyl fluoride subunit with three C–H···F contacts and with the hydrogen atoms of the CH2F2 straddling the vinyl fluoride symmetry plane.
Colonic Cl channel blockade by three classes of compounds

We compared the potency and inhibitory actions of three different classes of organic acids on a Cl channel derived from colonic enterocyte plasma membrane vesicles. Chloride channels were incorpora...
Rat density monitoring in Shanghai Huating rural

Objective To understand the rat density and population structure in Shanghai Huating rural,and provide scientific evidence for rat control.Methods Rat clip method was employed according to GB / T23798-2009 vector density monitoring methods.Results Totally 21 000 rat clips were placed in Shanghai Huating rural in 2013 and 20 731 clips were effective.Among 252 captured rats,178 were Mus musculus accounting for 70.63%;45 Rattus norvegicus accounting for 17.86%;29 Rattus flavipectus accounting for 11.51%.Conclusion Rat density remains at a higher level in Huating rural.Rats density reduces lower after the control work.
Dissection of the fusion machine of SARS-coronavirus.

Infection of target cells by enveloped viruses occurs tbrough two pathways. Upon binding to a receptor on the cell surface, the virus enters the cell either through the plasma membrane or via endocytosis through a pH-dependent fusion event with the endosomal membrane.' Coronaviruses (CoVs) enter host cells using both pathways': 2 through the interaction of the S (spike) glycoprotein with the target receptor on the cell surface. Different CoVs use different receptors to bind to cells and enter either at the plasma membrane or via endosomes. Previous work from our lab bas identified murine CEACAMla as a receptor for MHV. SDS-PAGE and liposome flotation analysis showed that either soluble receptor or basic pH (pH 8.0) at 37°C triggers tbe S protein to undergo a conformational cbange that exposes trypsin cleavage sites and a bydropbobic region of the protein that can associate with membranes.' Tbe S protein of CoVs is a type-I viral fusion glycoprotein (VFG),5 related to the fusion glycoproteins of many other enveloped viruses (including gp41 of HIV-I, gp2 of Ebola, HA of Influenza, and F of SV5).6, ? Type-I VFGs contain several conserved domains; two beptad repeats (HR.l and HR2 toward the Nand C-termini of the fusion domain of the protein, respectively), a hydrophobic fusion peptide (FP), and a transmembrane domain (TM). Some of these proteins also contain a membrane-proximal domain (TMP) ricb in aromatic amino acids.' Binding of the S protein of CoVs to a specific receptor induces conformational changes in the S protein, changing it from an inactive pre-fusion state to a fusion-active state. This allows a previously hidden hydrophobic region of the protein, the fusion peptide, to interact with the host membrane. Another conformational change occurs that changes the trimeric S protein into a post-fusion conformation, containing a structure known as a 6-helix-bundle (6HB) which draws the host and viral membranes close together, facilitating membrane fusion and entry. The 6HB is formed through the
Two-Stage 48 V-12 V/6 V-1.8 V Voltage Regulator Module With Dynamic Bus Voltage Control for Light-Load Efficiency Improvement

The two-stage 48 V-12 V-1.8 V voltage regulator module (VRM) structure is gaining more and more attention in high-end server applications. The LLC converter is the preferred choice for the first conversion stage because it provides the isolated 12-V output efficiently, which is then converted to 1.8 V by the multiphase Buck converter. Since the CPU works in sleep-mode most of the time, the light-load efficiency is very important for energy saving. This paper proposes to change the primary side of the LLC converter from the full-bridge (FB) configuration into the half-bridge (HB) configuration dynamically in the light-load condition, so that the output of the LLC dc transformer (DCX) can be changed from 12 to 6 V. This will increase the overall light-load efficiency significantly due to the reduced core loss of the LLC DCX and the reduced switching loss of the multiphase Buck converter. To achieve a fast transition of the bus voltage between 12 and 6 V, the capacitance for the intermediate bus is properly selected and the optimal trajectory control for transition between the FB configuration and HB configuration is proposed. A high-efficiency high-density 48–12 /6 V LLC DCX is designed, and experiments on the two-stage VRM demonstrate that there is a fast transient response and a more than 10% light-load efficiency improvement.
Inflammatory myopathies and lymphoma

The inflammatory myopathies comprise a group of immune-mediated muscle diseases. Lymphoma is a term for a variety of lymphatic system malignancies. Autoimmune diseases and lymphoproliferative malignancies share a complex bidirectional relationship. A causal relationship between inflammatory mypathies and lymphoma has not been established. The diagnosis/treatment of inflammatory myopathy usually precedes the detection/diagnosis of lymphoma. Immune system dysregulation presumably underlies the evolution of lymphoma in patients with inflammatory myopathies. Inflammatory activity with chronic B-cell activation and/or antigen stimulation is deemed the major risk factor for lymphoma in patients with autoimmunity. A "paraneoplastic" phenomenon or the effects of immunosuppressive therapy may be alternative immune-based mechanisms. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia immune system disturbance rarely results in non-hematological autoimmune disease, including inflammatory myopathies.
On Source Dependency Models for Reliable Social Sensing: Algorithms and Fundamental Error Bounds

This paper develops a simplified dependency model for sources on social networks that is shown to improve the quality of fact-finding -- assessing veracity of observations shared on social media. Recent literature developed a mathematical approach for exploiting social networks, such as Twitter, as noisy sensor networks that report observations on the state of the physical world. It was shown that the quality of state estimation from such noisy data, known as fact-finding, was a function of assumptions made regarding the independence of sources or lack thereof. When sources propagate information they hear from others (without verification), correlated errors may arise that degrade fact-finding performance. This work advances the state of the art by developing a simplified model of dependencies between sources and designing an improved dependency-aware estimator to assess veracity of observations, taking into account the observed dependency structure. A fundamental error bound is derived for this estimator to understand the gap in its performance from optimal. It is shown that the new estimator outperforms state of the art fact-finders and, in some cases, yields an accuracy close to the fundamental error bound.
Pioneer Rocketry - 2016 Midwest Rocket Competition

The objective of the 2016 Midwest Rocket Competition was to use an active drag system to control the altitude of the rocket. The rocket was to fly twice, once with the system deactivated then again with the system active. The goal was for the active drag system to get the highest altitude of the second flight to be 75% of the un-deployed flight. The electric system onboard needed to both control the drag system as well as record the data needed to estimate the drag coefficient throughout the flight. At competition the rocket was flown a total of three times and performed as expected. The rocket was able to achieve a reduction of 78% thus placing Pioneer Rocketry third in the competition. The following report details the design and construction of Pioneer Rocketry’s rocket Skybreaker, along with information regarding Pioneer Rocketry’s growth as both an educational and professional organization.
Sustainability: Growing pains

Richard B. Norgaard is troubled by the incrementalism of Jeffrey Sachs's modest new plan for the US economy.
Tracking GPS orbits using KAM theory

This paper discusses attempts to model GPS orbits as KAM tori. KAM tori are formed when weak perturbations on a Hamiltonian system result in perturbed tori structures, in the absence of resonance. These tori are topologically equivalent to “donut” shapes in phase space. Solutions to the unperturbed system persist, but are slightly changed in these tori structures. The potential to model GPS orbits using KAM theory exists, however trajectory following methods need to be modified from their current form. Two numerical algorithms for constructing a KAM torus are explored, and an approach of applying trajectory following methods is investigated. Application of the KAM theorem on GPS operations has huge upside-potential because it would decrease computational burdens. If orbital tori prove to be sufficiently accurate, the validity of the ephemerides will have a much longer useful life. Since the ephemerides of current methods are only useful for several hours, orbital tori need only provide days of stability to decrease operational burdens. This may have the most significant impact on GPS operations in history.
Atlas of Extraosseous Findings Detected by 18F-NaF PET/CT Bone Scan

F-NaF PET/CT is an evolving technique that provides high sensitivity for detection of osseous metastases. In addition to detecting pathological osseous lesions, F uptake is occasionally detected in extraosseous lesions. However, reporting of extraosseous uptake in the literature is limited, and the increasing use of F-NaF PET/CT dictates that interpreting physicians learn to recognize extraosseous findings. An atlas of extraosseous findings detected by F-NaF PET/CT is presented, which includes cases under 2 broad categories: nonneoplastic and neoplastic.
Incisional Nociceptive Input Impairs Attention-related Behavior and Is Associated with Reduced Neuronal Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex in Rats

Editor’s PerspectiveWhat We Already Know about This TopicCognitive capabilities may be impaired in the postoperative periodImpaired cognition may affect the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily livingWhat This Article Tells Us That Is NewIn a rat model of incisional pain, attention was i
The Basic Approach

The purpose of this book is to present some basic principles of evolutionary theory, neurophysiology, and cognitive science and illustrate how they can be brought to bear on some issues that moral philosophers have considered carefully for many years. My hope is that I will convince moral philosophers, as well as others interested in understanding the human condition, that the evolutionary model is a useful one and that there is a great deal of empirical data which can provide insights regarding human nature. This enhanced insight might assist philosophers, humanists, and social and biological scientists who want to frame a view of morality that respects the biological and cognitive nature of the human organism. I will argue that a knowledge of the principles of biological and cognitive development constitutes the is that can be useful in framing a reasonable, attainable, and intuitively satisfying ought. I will examine the factual evidence bearing on a series of issues related to human life, especially reproduction and abortion, and will suggest some reasonable and moral social policies based on this evidence.
Diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the hip in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients: Clinical correlation of physical examination with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE To determine if physical examination can identify avascular necrosis of the hip (AVN) in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients. DESIGN Prospective, blinded population studyResults: Ten of the 176 patients were positive for AVN by MRI. Four subjects had unilateral disease and six had bilateral disease. Five hips (1.4%) in four patients were indeterminate. We evaluated physical examination maneuvers both singly and in combination. Tests done singly generally provided a higher degree of specificity (67-92%) but sensitivities were lower (0-50%) with all p-values ≥0.08. Positive predictive values based on physical exam, were 90% for any single test. Combining all tests gave a high sensitivity (88%) and negative predictive value (98%), but low specificity (34%) and positive predictive value (6%) with p = 0.10. Only two of 16 hips with positive MRI findings showed no abnormalities when all tests were combinedConclusions: This study establishes the limited usefulness of a detailed physical examination of the hip early in the course of AVN. Patients who test negative on physical exam are unlikely to have AVN positive by MRI. Positive findings on physical examination of the hip may help identify patients who need further evaluation by MRI based on overall clinical suspicion.
Compressive line sensing imaging system in a controlled hybrid scattering environment

In recent years, the compressive line sensing (CLS) active imaging scheme has been proposed for imaging applications over strong scattering medium. This concept has been demonstrated to be effective in the particle-induced scattering mediums and in the turbulence environment through simulations and test tank experiments. Nevertheless, in many atmospheric and underwater surveillance applications, the degradation of the visual environment may come from both particle scattering (turbidity) and turbulence. We study the CLS imaging system in a hybrid environment consisting of simultaneous particle and turbulence-induced scattering for the first time. A CLS prototype is used to conduct a series of experiments at the Naval Research Lab Simulated Turbulence and Turbidity Environment. The imaging path is subjected to various turbulence intensities and turbidities, which maintained stably over experiment duration. The adaptation of the CLS sensing model to the hybrid scattering environment is discussed. The experimental results with different turbidities and turbulence intensities are presented.
Importance of Exposure Time on DIC Measurement Uncertainty at Extreme Temperatures

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a popular optical method for deformation and strain measurement. At extreme temperatures, it is known that materials emit light in addition to reflecting the light supplied by a light source, and the emitted light can saturate a camera sensor. More recently, a novel variation of DIC, named ultraviolet (UV) DIC, extended the range of temperature further by using a UV bandpass filter to screen out some of the brightest glowing and external UV illumination to provide additional reflected lighting. In principle, for a given optical set-up the temperature range can be extended further by reducing the camera’s sensitivity to light, and exposure time is an instrumental parameter when setting such camera configurations. In this paper, we examine the influence of multiple exposure times on the uncertainty of UV-DIC correlation measurements. Rigid-motion experiments were performed at four different temperatures: room temperature, 1300oC, 1450oC, and 1600oC. At each temperature level, UV images were recorded for DIC at exposure times ranging from 500 μs to 61,000 μs – a range of over two orders of magnitude. The results showed abrupt increases of error at extremely dark or bright exposure times, but at intermediate exposure times the errors of UV-DIC were minimal. A normalized metric was presented in order to give a general guideline when choosing exposure time for camera sensitivity. It is recommended that cameras should be set at a suitable range of exposure time (between 10,000 μs and 40,000 μs for the camera used in this paper) in order to perform meaningful DIC up to 1600oC.
National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotion Battery: Application of Summary Scores to Adults With Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Stroke

Abstract Objective To examine the validity of factor analytically based summary scores that were developed using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotion Battery (NIHTB-EB); (ie, psychological well-being, social satisfaction, negative affect) normative sample in individuals with neurologic conditions. Design Cross-sectional, observational cohort. Setting Community. Participants A total of 1036 English-speaking adults from the National Institutes of Health Toolbox (NIHTB) normative project and 604 community-dwelling adults with neurologic conditions including spinal cord injury (SCI n=209), traumatic brain injury (TBI n=184), and stroke (cerebrovascular accident [CVA] n=211) (N=1640). Intervention Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The NIHTB-EB. Results A series of univariate analyses comparing summary scores across the 4 groups (SCI, TBI, CVA, normative group) were conducted to identify group differences. Base rates (defined as >1 SD toward the problematic direction) were also identified. The normative group demonstrated better emotional functioning characterized by greater social satisfaction and psychological well-being (normative group > SCI, TBI, CVA; P’s Conclusions The NIHTB-EB summary scores demonstrate an increased prevalence of problematic emotions among individuals with 3 neurologic conditions, and might be useful for identifying individuals with similar conditions and potentially in need of psychological support.
Analysis of Historical Transformer Failure and Maintenance Data: Effects of Era, Age, and Maintenance on Component Failure Rates

For several decades, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has maintained a unique database of equipment failure and maintenance data for critical facilities. This article takes a closer look at historical transformer failure and maintenance data, and provides a unique analysis of failure trends. Detailed analysis shows that failure rates for different categories of transformers demonstrate unique trends over time, with equipment age, and with respect to preventative maintenance levels. By analyzing over 144 thousand unit years of operational data, this article paints a more complete picture of component reliability. The data show that careful consideration of detailed failure and maintenance can better upgrade facility design and maintenance decisions, ultimately leading to improved system reliability and reduced operational costs.
Prevention of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Key Clinical Points Prevention of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Falls are common among community-dwelling older adults and can lead to physical injury, psychological harm, or both. Falls...
Simplifying Transforms for General Elastic Metrics on the Space of Plane Curves.

In the shape analysis approach to computer vision problems, one treats shapes as points in an infinite-dimensional Riemannian manifold, thereby facilitating algorithms for statistical calculations ...
Detection of trace drugs of abuse in baby formula using solid-phase microextraction direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (SPME-DART-MS).

The intentional or unintentional adulteration of baby formula with drugs of abuse is one of the many increasingly complex samples forensic chemists may have to analyze. This sample type presents a challenge because of a complex matrix that can mask the detection of trace drug residues. To enable screening of baby formula for trace levels of drugs, the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was investigated. A suite of five drugs was used as adulterants and spiked into baby formula. Samples were then extracted using SPME fibers which were analyzed by DART-MS. Development of a proof-of-concept method was completed by investigating the effects of the DART gas stream temperature and the linear speed of the sample holder. Optimal values of 350°C and 0.2 mm/s were found. Once the method was established, representative responses and sensitivities for the five drugs were measured and found to be in the range of single ng/mL to hundreds ng/mL. Additional studies found that the presence of the baby formula matrix increased analyte signal (relative to methanolic solutions) by greater than 200%. Comparison of the SPME-DART-MS method to a traditional DART-MS method for trace drug detection found at least a factor of 13 improvement in signal for the drugs investigated. This work demonstrates that SPME-DART-MS is a viable technique for the screening of complex matrices, such as baby formula, for trace drug residues and that development of a comprehensive method is warranted.
Lockdown related travel behavior undermines the containment of SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, unprecedented policies of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders were enacted around the world. Ultimately, the public’s response to announcements of lockdowns - defined here as restrictions on both local movement or long distance travel - will determine how effective these kinds of interventions are. Here, we measure the impact of the announcement and implementation of lockdowns on human mobility patterns by analyzing aggregated mobility data from mobile phones. We find that following the announcement of lockdowns, both local and long distance movement increased. To examine how these behavioral responses to lockdown policies may contribute to epidemic spread, we developed a simple agent-based spatial model. We find that travel surges following announcements of lockdowns can increase seeding of the epidemic in rural areas, undermining the goal of the lockdown of preventing disease spread. Appropriate messaging surrounding the announcement of lockdowns and measures to decrease unnecessary travel are important for preventing these unintended consequences of lockdowns.
An analysis of energy justice programs across the United States

Abstract The energy transition that is developing across the United States is producing both winners and losers. While some individuals, households and communities are reaping the benefits of the move toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy, others are experiencing its adverse effects, such as disruptions to labor markets, higher energy prices, and pollution and health burdens. To address these disparities, policymakers are increasingly calling for energy justice. However, there is scant scholarly literature on either the prevalence or characteristics of energy justice programs that already exist. Here we show that energy justice programs are both quite widespread and diverse across the United States, are most often led by nonprofit organizations rather than government agencies, and, while many share common missions, programs entail unique and often innovative strategies to achieve their objectives. The analysis lends important insights into current energy justice programs, but we argue deeper evaluation is necessary to identify which efforts are efficacious.
Capturing sustainable fashion purchase behavior of Hispanic consumers in the US

Despite the vital role Hispanic consumers play in the U.S. apparel market, research on their sustainable apparel consumption behavior is limited. This study investigated the influence of normative ...
Bayesian Streaming Sparse Tucker Decomposition

Tucker decomposition is a classical tensor factorization model. Compared with the most widely used CP decomposition, the Tucker model is much more flexible and interpretable in that it accounts for every possible (multiplicative) interaction between the factors in different modes. However, this also brings in the risk of overfitting and computational challenges, especially in the case of fast streaming data. To address these issues, we develop BASS-Tucker, a BAyesian Streaming Sparse Tucker decomposition method. We place a spike-and-slab prior over the core tensor elements to automatically select meaningful factor interactions so as to prevent overfitting and to further enhance the interpretability. To enable efficient streaming factorization, we use conditional moment matching and Delta's method to develop one-shot incremental update of the latent factors and core tensor upon receiving each streaming batch. Thereby, we avoid processing the data points one by one as in the standard assumed density filtering, which needs to update the core tensor for each point and is quite inefficient. We explicitly introduce and update a sparse prior approximation in the running posterior to fulfill effective sparse estimation in the streaming inference. We show the advantage of BASS-Tucker in several real-world applications.
Effect of ammonia stripping and influence of contaminants in zinc plating wastewater.

Abstract Because many heavy metals, such as zinc, are used in plating plants, it is important for wastewater treatment technologies to comply with wastewater regulations. In zinc wastewater treatment, zinc is separated from wastewater via hydroxide precipitation. However, ammonia tends to enter the wastewater produced from the plating process and inhibits hydroxide precipitation, which causes difficulties in treating wastewater. In this study, we investigated the effect of ammonia stripping on plating wastewater to remove ammonia, which inhibits wastewater treatment. Based on the results of this study, it was observed that the effectiveness of ammonia removal depends on the pH and air flow rate. It was also found that the presence of zinc increased the ammonia removal effect in most cases. This increase was due to the transformation of some of the precipitated zinc hydroxide in the wastewater into zinc oxide, which afforded an ammonia adsorption effect. After the addition of ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid disodium salt dihydrate (EDTA・2Na), which is a complexing agent, the ammonia removal effect was slightly decreased. This result is attributed to the decrease in the amount of zinc oxide, which occurs due to the complex formation of EDTA with zinc precipitates in the wastewater. Furthermore, the addition of an excess amount of EDTA・2Na increased the concentration of free ammonia in the wastewater and increased the removal effect. Moreover, the effect of ammonia stripping was successfully applied to wastewater obtained from a zinc plating plant, and zinc wastewater treatment was improved with the removal of ammonia. These results indicate that ammonia stripping is effective in zinc wastewater treatment.
Peano dynamics as a model for turbulence and strange nonchaotic behaviour

Recent investigations [1-4] revealed the existence of strange, yet nonchaotic attraction in quasi periodically driven oscillators. These are fractal attractors which look topologically similar to the more familiar strange attractors, yet possess negatve Liapunov exponents and are thus nonchaotic. Also recently O. Roessler et al. gave convincing reasons for anticipating new strange chaotic phenomena in four dimensions [5, 6]. Now the simplest quasi periodically forced oscillation have a four-dimensional phase space. Considering that Ruelle, Takens and Newhouse envisage chaos as a sequence of finite number of Hopf bifurcations leading to a totally unstable torus in four dimensions [7] then it is understandable that one may be inclined to speculate on possible cross connections between all these different lines of thought. In what follows we outline a scenario which is similar to a Smale horse shoe [7] and may serve as a prototype for strange, but nonchaotic behaviour. We show that the action of contracting, stretching and special form of twist-folding of the phase space in a way similar but not identical to the horse shoe, leads to a distinct form of dynamics. The invariant set of this dynamics are Cantor-like objects and may be shown to be oriented on a Peano curve-like discrete manifold [8]. The immediate consequence of this picture is that we may anticipate a Poincare map of a system
Effects of atmospheric humidity and temperature on the survival of airborne Flavobacterium.

The survival of airborne Flavobacterium sp. in particle sizes ranging from 1 to 5 μm was significantly influenced by atmospheric temperature. A progressive increase in temperature from −18 to 49 C resulted in increases in death rates of the airborne organism. The lowest death rates were observed in the temperature range of −40 to −18 C, and the highest death rates were observed in the 29 to 49 C range. At 24 C, the survival of airborne Flavobacterium did not appear to be significantly affected by relative humidity ranging from 25 to 99%.
Burkholderiaceae fam. nov.

Burk.hol.de.ri.a' ce.ae. M.L. fem. n. Burkholderia type genus of the family; −aceae ending to denote family; M.L. fem. pl. n. Burkholderiaceae the Burkholderia family. Proteobacteria / Betaproteobacteria / Burkholderiales / Burkholderiaceae Keywords: Burkholderiaceae fam. nov.; Burkholderia; Betaproteobacteria class. nov.; Burkholderiales ord. nov
Glycine 100 in the dinitrogenase reductase of Rhodospirillum rubrum is required for nitrogen fixation but not for ADP-ribosylation.

Abstract Dinitrogenase reductase (Rr2) is required for reduction of the molybdenum dinitrogenase in the nitrogen fixation reaction and is the target of posttranslational regulation in Rhodospirillum rubrum. This posttranslational regulation involves the ADP-ribosylation of Rr2. To study the structural requirements for these two functions of Rr2, i.e., activity and regulation, two site-directed mutations in nifH, the gene encoding Rr2, were constructed and analyzed. The mutations both affected a region of the protein known to be highly conserved in evolution and to be relevant to both of the above properties. These mutants were both Nif-, but one of the altered Rr2s was a substrate for ADP-ribosylation. This demonstrates that the ability of Rr2 to participate in nitrogen fixation can be separated from its ability to act as a substrate for ADP-ribosylation.
Abstract P376: 40-year Population Trends in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Finland

Background: Finland has experienced remarkable changes both in population levels of coronary heart disease risk factors and mortality over the past decades. For the national monitoring of risk factors in major non-communicable diseases, National FINRISK Studies have been implemented from 1972 to 2012. The 40-year changes in CHD risk factors are presented. Methods: Study population included participants aged 30 to 59 years in the series on independent random population samples. Data were collected in five-year intervals in 1972-2012. FINRISK studies so far comprised 53 589 men and women who participated in a health examination, gave a venous blood sample, and filled in questionnaires. Serum total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index were measured using standardized protocol, and smoking status was recorded. Results: Total serum cholesterol decreased remarkably until the year 2007, but has thereafter turned to an increase. Systolic blood pressure has continued to decline over time since 1972, while decrease in diastolic blood pressure has leveled off during last ten years. Smoking prevalence has markedly decreased. Body mass index has increased in the population, yet the significant changes occurred in the earlier survey years, not in past 10 years. These changes in trends are shown in both sexes and all age groups in all geographical locations. Conclusions: After three decades of favorable development, the population risk factor levels showed some increase in total cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure. Some of these changes, such as in total serum cholesterol can be partially explained by unfavorable changes in dietary cholesterol intake. Our findings emphasize the need for continued efforts towards national disease prevention and health promotion.
Hemangio-endothelioma: A discussion of differential criteria with a report of three oral cases☆☆☆

Abstract The material presented and discussed in this report serves to correlate and supplement our knowledge of angiomatous tumors. The characteristics of the endothelioma are pointed out, and the differential criteria and growth characteristics of the hemangio-endothelioma are described. Three case reports of oral hemangio-endotheliomas are presented in detail. According to the interpretation which is placed upon the histogenesis of the endothelial cell, the endothelial tumor may be regarded as a structure of mesoblastic origin. The histogenetic classification of angiomatous tumors, however, is less useful than the morphologic because it is difficult to demonstrate the actual origin of endothelial cells. It is preferable to study the morphologic characteristics of the cell for identification. The number and character of cells and spaces are important diagnostic aids in the classification of blood tumors. Among others, the vacuolization of cells and the formation of abortive capillary spaces are distinguishing features of the hemangio-endothelioma. Clinically, the hemangio-endothelioma is a relatively benign growth, but it should be regarded as possessing malignant possibilities. The relative chronicity in the course of the neoplasm is considered, but this should not be an absolute factor in determining benignity. It is difficult to remove a hemangio-endothelioma because of its manner of infiltrative growth. Dense relatively avascular types are indicative of greater metastasizing ability. Trauma seems to play an important role in its growth, and repeated unsuccessful attempts at removal are known to invite metastatic lesions. The hemangio-endothelioma is amenable to proper surgery. This method of treatment seems to be the most acceptable. Even though the tumor is a relatively avascular growth, however, the danger from hemorrhage should not be taken lightly. In the future, roentgen and radium therapy may prove of benefit, but for the present neither has been extensively used nor given a satisfactory trial.
Insights on Dust Grain Formation and Destruction Provided by Gas-Phase Element Abundances

The abundances of free atoms and ions relative to hydrogen in the interstellar medium indicate how thoroughly different elements have condensed into solid form. Large contrasts in these depletions disclose differences in how tightly various elements are bound to the grains. While most grain nuclei probably form within astrophysical sites where densities are large, a substantial amount of the accretion of heavy elements must occur within interstellar clouds. Interstellar shocks created by supernova explosions or perhaps collisions of clouds destroy or significantly erode the grains. This viewpoint on the formation and destruction of grains is supported by the decrease in the severity of depletions in regions of lower than normal density or parcels of gas moving at high velocity. While depletions in gas away from the plane of the galaxy generally imitate the behavior of low density regions in the plane, mild anomalies for some elements may exist.
Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and sterile inflammation: The mechanism of protection of Chlorogenic acid

Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is characterized by extensive necrotic cell death and a sterile inflammatory response. A recent report suggested that a therapeutic intervention with chlorogenic acid, a dietary polyphenolic compound, protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury by inhibiting the inflammatory injury. The purpose of this letter is to discuss a number of reasons why the protective mechanism of chlorogenic acid against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity does not involve an anti-inflammatory effect and provides an alternative explanation for the observed protection.
Combining Symbolic Model Checking with Uninterpreted Functions for Out-of-Order Processor Verification

We present a new approach to the verification of hardware systems with data dependencies using temporal logic symbolic model checking. As a benchmark we take Tomasulo's algorithm [10] for out-of-order instruction scheduling. Our approach is similar to the idea of uninterpreted function symbols [4].We use symbolic values and instructions instead of concrete ones. This allows us to show the correctness of the machine independently of the actual instruction set architecture and the implementation of the functional units. Instead of using first order terms as in [4], we represent symbolic values with a new compact encoding. In addition, we apply some other reduction techniques to the model. This significantly reduces the state space and allows the use of highly efficient symbolic model checkers like SMV instead of special decision procedures. The correctness of the method has been proven formally with the PVS theorem prover.
Capacity of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Pile Sections

Information needed to compute the nominal strengths of various pile cross sections that are subjected to combined compressive thrust and bending moments is presented, with examples of moment-thrust interaction diagrams for several typical kinds of pile sections. The components of the factor of safety are examined, with particular emphasis on the reliable strength of the pile section. The use of a "strength reduction factor," a multiplier that is less than 1.0, to establish a reliable or minimum expected failure load that is somewhat lower than the nominal failure load to be expected from an ideal member is discussed. This strength reduction factor may vary with the number of piles in an individual footing and should be higher for piles that can be inspected than for those that cannot be inspected after completion. Precast piles and piles that are cast in permanent metal cylinders are examples of members that can be inspected to different extents, while piles cast-in-place in unlined holes or that have the liner pulled out of the hole after the concrete is cast are examples of members that cannot be easily inspected after construction.
PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY Summary of a Round Table

THE ROUND TABLE covered two principal topics: first, external diseases of the eye, especially in relation to infection and to lid and conjunctival lesions; and, second, growth and development of the eye with stress upon eye movements, refractive errors, and strabismus. External diseases of the eye are often primary, but pathology in this area frequently is found to reflect systemic illness. LID Various glands of the lid were defined and the pathology of each reviewed. In the fibrous tarsal portion of the lid lies the Meibomian gland, the sebaceous secretion of which prevents the spillage of tears and protects the lid margin. The acute inflammation is usually staphylococcal, and tends to persist to produce a granuloma surrounded by fibrous tissue. A chronic chalazion consists of round, epithelial and giant cells without acid-fast organisms. Heat may be useful initially in the acute stage; however resolution is slow and usually terminates in a hard, persistent nodule. The removal of the chronic chalazion is by curettage. The glands of Zeiss are the sebaceous glands for the lash follicles. By contrast, infection of these results in a self-limited disease, hordeolum or stye, which drains itself spontaneously or may require local incision. Rarely are there complications following a hordeolum. Some individuals are more susceptible to repeated infections, and prevention remains an unsolved problem. The sweat glands of the lid, or glands of Moll, may form simple cysts on the lid margins which rupture easily. The lacrimal glands in the upper part of the lid are seldom involved in an inflammatory process, except occasionally in mumps or sarcoid.
An Adaptive Numerical Integration Algorithm for Simplices

A globally adaptive algorithm for numerical multiple integration over an n-dimensional simplex is described. The algorithm is based on a subdivision strategy that chooses for subdivision at each stage the subregion (of the input simplex) with the largest estimated error. This subregion is divided in half by bisecting an edge. The edge is chosen using information about the smoothness of the integrand. The algorithm uses a degree seven-five integration rule pair for approximate integration and error calculation, and a heap for a subregion data structure. Test results are presented and discussed where the algorithm is used to compute approximations to integrals used for estimation of eigenvalues of a random covariance matrix.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a technique to noninvasively create electrical fields (E-fields) inside the body. These fields can depolarize neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) leading to the firing of action potentials.
Coding and processing of electrosensory information in gymnotiform fish

Studies of the electrosensory system of gymnotiform fish have revealed principles of neuronal coding and processing of information which also characterize more advanced systems, such as vision and audition in higher vertebrates. 1. Animals may have different classes of receptors adapted to code different variables within a given modality, and the separation of their central projections provides the basis for independent initial processing of these variables by higher-order neurones. 2. These separate pathways, however, eventually converge at the level of still higher-order neurones which are adapted to 'recognize' particular spatial and temporal constellations, or patterns, of the stimulus variables conveyed by these pathways. 3. As different stimulus patterns may control different forms of behavioural responses, corresponding neuronal structures can be identified which are adapted to recognize specific patterns. Neurones at an early level of pattern discrimination may still show very general response properties, whereas neurones closer to the ultimate control of a given behaviour show more specific response properties. These latter are less sensitive to stimulus features which are irrelevant to the control of the behaviour, and they code relevant features more purely and with higher acuity than do lower-level neurones. 4. The acuity of stimulus discrimination displayed by some high-order neurones may rival that observed at the behavioural level. This high sensitivity is achieved through pooling and integration of information supplied by large populations of less-sensitive receptors and lower-order neurones.
Predictors of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Following Abdominal Surgery

Study objective To determine how risk factors could be combined to best predict the development of a postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) following abdominal surgery. Design Prospective model-building study. Logistic regression models were developed using significant risk factors identified in the univariate analysis. Setting Four midwestern hospitals. Patients Convenience sample of 400 patients who underwent abdominal surgical procedures between January 1993 and August 1995. Measurements and results Multicriteria outcome for postoperative pulmonary complication used to collectively assess atelectasis and pneumonia. Twenty-three risk factors were assessed. Six risk factors were identified as independent by logistic regression: age > or = 60 years (adjusted odds ratio [Adj OR], 1.89); impaired preoperative cognitive function (Adj OR, 5.93); smoking history within the past 8 weeks (Adj OR, 2.27); body mass index > or = 27 (Adj OR, 2.82); history of cancer (Adj OR, 2.23); and incision site-upper abdominal or both upper/lower abdominal incision (Adj OR 2.30). Conclusions These results provide a framework for identifying patients at risk of developing a PPC following abdominal surgery. A reliable and valid risk index could be used clinically to guide preoperative and postoperative pulmonary care and target limited resources for patients at risk.