cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fracture of Laminated and In Situ Niobium Silicide-Niobium Composites

The mechanisms contributing to the fracture resistance of refractory metal intermetallic composites containing a BCC metallic phase (niobium) were investigated using model Nb-Si laminates and in situ composites. The controlling influence of ductile phase yield strength and fracture behavior were investigated by varying laminate processing parameters, and/or altering temperatures and applied strain rates during fracture experiments on all materials. The fracture behavior of “ductile” constituents were found to be influenced by phase grain size, solid solution content, constraint (as influenced by interfacial bond strengths), and the testing condition (high strain rates and low temperatures). The measured fracture resistance, when compared to theoretical models, was shown to be controlled by the “toughness” of the “ductile” phase and independent of the fracture behavior promoted (cleavage and ductile). The loss in ductility due to cleavage by high constraint, high strain rates and/or low temperatures was compensated by high yield and cleavage fracture stresses in order to provide a level of toughening similar to that contributed by ligaments which failed with lower yield stresses and greater strains.
Socio-spatial segregation in China and migrants’ everyday life experiences: the case of Wenzhou

ABSTRACTAlthough internal migration is one of the most frequently discussed aspects of China’s twenty-first century urbanization, much of the research in this area emphasizes megacities. This paper, however, focuses on Wenzhou, a Chinese city that served as a national model for the introduction of small-scale private enterprise in the 1990s. Through a survey of migrants living in the subdistrict of Shuangyu, a settlement dominated by manufacturing workers, this article argues that socio-spatial segregation research should pay more holistic attention to migrants’ use of urban space, beyond simply place of residence. Focusing on how migrants use space in several aspects of their everyday lives, this article contends that Shuangyu is socially and spatially segregated from other parts of the city. Rather than neatly incorporated into the rest of the city, migrant settlement in Wenzhou is both marginalized and independent. We thus theorize Shuangyu’s place in Wenzhou’s new socio-spatial structure as a “city wi...
Palenquero and Spanish: A first psycholinguistic exploration

Linguists who have studied the Afro-Colombian creole language Palenquero — which shares a lexicon highly cognate with Spanish — have noted the introduction of Spanish elements, ranging from conjugated verbs and preverbal clitics to more complex morphosyntactic constructions. The apparent mixing has variously been attributed to decreolization, language attrition, code-switching, interference from Spanish, performance errors, and the possibility that such configurations have been an integral part of Palenquero since its origins. The present study reports the results of experiments conducted in San Basilio de Palenque, to probe Palenqueros’ implicit partitioning of Spanish and Palenquero. The results suggest that the Spanish incursions are not all feasibly characterized as code-switching, and do not meet the criteria for decreolization. The introduction of Spanish elements may be the residual effect of a return to the active use of a language that had lain effectively dormant for many years.
Supportless, Bismuth-Modified Palladium Nanotubes with Improved Activity and Stability for Formic Acid Oxidation

Palladium nanotubes (PdNTs) were synthesized by templated vapor deposition and investigated for formic acid electrooxidation. Annealed PdNTs are 2.4 times more active (2.19 mA/cm2) than commercial carbon-supported palladium (0.91 mA/cm2) at 0.3 V vs RHE. Bismuth modification improved nanotube performance over 4 times (3.75 mA/cm2) vs Pd/C and nearly 2 times vs unmodified PdNTs. A surface Bi coverage of 80% results in optimal site-specific activity by drastically reducing surface-poisoning CO generation during formic acid electrooxidation. The Bi-modified PdNTs are exceptionally stable, maintaining 2 times the area-normalized current density as Pd/C after 24 h at 0.2 V vs RHE. We attribute the enhanced activity and stability of the nanotube catalysts to the presence of highly coordinated surfaces, mimicking a flat polycrystal while retaining high surface area geometry.
An Annotated Bibliography of Journalism Subjects in American Magazines

The war in Europe continued to dominate the articles relating to press and communications for the current quarter. The defeat of Prance by Germany necessitated an additional recasting of news colle...
Marygrace Elson, MD, MME

Marygrace Elson, MD, MME, joins us as guest editor for this issue of Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is focused on topics related to education. Dr. Elson is the Vice-Chair for Education, Residency Program Director, and Clinical Professor, Dr. William C. Keettel Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Iowa.
Stereovision-based target tracking system for USV operations

Abstract A stereovision based methodology to estimate the position, speed and heading of a moving marine vehicle from a pursuing unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is considered, in support of enabling a USV to follow a target vehicle in motion. The methodology involves stereovision ranging, object detection and tracking, and minimization of tracking error due to image quantization limitations and pixel miscorrespondences in the stereo pixel-matching process. The method consists of combining a simple stereovision-matching algorithm, together with a predictive-corrective approach based on an extended Kalman filter (EKF), and use of suitable choices of probabilistic models representing the motion of the target vehicle and the stereovision measurements. Simple matching algorithms perform faster at the expense of potential errors in depth measurement. The approach considered aims to minimize the tracking errors related to such errors in stereovision measurements, thereby improving the accuracy of the state estimation of the vehicle. Results from simulations and a real-time implementation reveal the effectiveness of the system to compute accurate estimates of the state of the target vehicle over non-compliant trajectories subjected to a variety of motion conditions.
Throat Swabs and Sputum Culture as Predictors of P. aeruginosa or S. aureus Lung Colonization in Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

Background Due to frequent infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, repeated respiratory cultures are obtained to inform treatment. When patients are unable to expectorate sputum, clinicians obtain throat swabs as a surrogate for lower respiratory cultures. There is no clear data in adult subjects demonstrating the adequacy of throat swabs as a surrogate for sputum or BAL. Our study was designed to determine the utility of throat swabs in identifying lung colonization with common organisms in adults with CF. Methods Adult CF subjects (n = 20) underwent bronchoscopy with BAL. Prior to bronchoscopy, a throat swab was obtained. A sputum sample was obtained from subjects who were able to spontaneously expectorate. All samples were sent for standard microbiology culture. Results Using BAL as the gold standard, we found the positive predictive value for Pseudomonas aeruginosa to be 100% in both sputum and throat swab compared to BAL. However, the negative predictive value for P. aeruginosa was 60% and 50% in sputum and throat swab, respectively. Conversely, the positive predictive value for Staphylococcus aureus was 57% in sputum and only 41% in throat swab and the negative predictive value of S. aureus was 100% in sputum and throat swab compared to BAL. Conclusions Our data show that positive sputum and throat culture findings of P. aeruginosa reflect results found on BAL fluid analysis, suggesting these are reasonable surrogates to determine lung colonization with P. aeruginosa. However, sputum and throat culture findings of S. aureus do not appear to reflect S. aureus colonization of the lung.
Applications of synthetic polymeric biomaterials in medicine and biotechnology

There is a wide variety of materials which are used in contact with biological fluids. These materials are known as biomaterials. Many different biomaterials are used clinically, as components of implants or devices for diagnosis or therapy (1,2). Other important uses are in laboratories and in industrial processes. Agricultural and marine applications to animals, birds and fish also exist. The various biomaterials include polymers (fibers, rubbers, molded plastics, emulsions, powders, coatings and fluids), metals, ceramics, carbons, reconstituted or specially treated natural tissues, and composites made from various combinations of such materials (Fig. 1).
Relative Contributions of Endothelin Receptor Subtypes in Chronic Angiotensin II Induced Hypertension.

1 We previously showed that a selective ETA receptor antagonist, ABT627, completely normalized mean arterial pressure (MAP) in rats with chronic Ang II induced hypertension (AIH), indicating that endogenous endothelin (ET-1) plays a critical role in AIH. The goal of these experiments was to determine the relative contributions of ETA and ETB receptor activation to AIH. Male rats were chronically instrumented with arterial and venous catheters for drug injection and direct daily measurements of blood pressure and heart rate. Rats were maintained on high sodium intake, 6 mEq/day. Ang II was infused i.v. at 5 ng/min for 15 days; ET-1 antagonist was given during the middle 5 days. When injected acutely, A192621 (12 mg/kg 2x /day), a selective ETB receptor antagonist, gradually increased MAP over 1 hour in AIH rats but produced a biphasic increase in control rats over the same time. With 5-day dosing, A192621 significantly increased MAP in both AIH rats (130±9 to 158±8 mmHg) and uninfused control rats (110±3 to 129±7 mmHg). A192621 produced a significant decrease in water balance in both groups within 24 hours after start of drug administration, but had no effect on sodium balance. When injected acutely, A182086 (12 mg/kg 2x /day), an ETA/B receptor antagonist, produced a rapid drop in MAP in both groups to baseline levels over 1 hour. With 5-day dosing, A182086 significantly reduced, but did not normalize, MAP in AIH rats (138±3 to 127±7 mmHg). A182086 did not affect MAP in control rats (113±3 to 117±9 mmHg). A182086 did not affect water or sodium balance in either group. In conclusion, blockade of ETB receptors in AIH potentiates hypertension development, most likely through augmentation of ET-1 vasoconstriction. For this reason, ETA/B receptor blockade is less effective than ETA receptor blockade at decreasing MAP in chronic AIH. We found no evidence that ET-1 receptor activation in the kidney plays a role in AIH.
Complications and Management of Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy

The rate of postoperative complications following robotic assisted partial nephrectomy has been reported to range from 5.1 to 33% with major (Clavien ≥3) complications occurring in 1.6–8.2% of patients. The rate of intraoperative complications at the time of robotic assisted partial nephrectomy ranges from 0 to 6.5%. This chapter will aim to discuss the causes, prevention, and management of the more common types of intraoperative and postoperative complications of robotic assisted partial nephrectomy.
The craft of R&D leadership

R&D has typically been structured and managed in terms of its maturity on a scale that spans from initial concepts to marketable products. In contrast to a linear, stage-gate process that such a scale implies and for which many management tools have been developed, R&D breakthroughs and disruptive innovation typically emerge from coupled feedback loops and timely decisions in response to unplanned events across the R&D portfolio. The craft of tuning the decision feedback process demands specific leadership attributes of R&D portfolio managers. Decision making and key attributes are discussed.
Innovative Tissue-Engineered and Synthetic Vascular Graft Models for the Treatment of PAD in Small-Diameter Arteries

Current treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) incorporates a variety of methods that aim to restore normal vascular flow in the peripheral arteries. Treatment options to prevent complications such as chronic critical limb ischemia often include autografts, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stents, or synthetic grafts. In small-diameter arteries, such as those located in the lower leg, most of these treatment options often seek to control symptoms instead or trying to restore complete vascularization through the artery. There are design niches to come up with better alternatives to treat long-term complications derived from PAD in the lower limbs. To meet this goal, more research is still needed to dedicate to the treatment of PAD in small-diameter arteries. This review will provide design rationale and results on (a) major clinical breakthroughs in the development of small-diameter tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) and (b) innovative research involving TEBVs and synthetic vascular grafts. This review will also describe the main characteristics of the TEBV and synthetic vascular graft designs presented in these research groups to provide a basis for future research related to the treatment of PAD in small-diameter arteries. Excess fatty deposits within arteries can lead to occlusion in the small arteries below the knee. When this happens, there can be complications involving the loss of movement of the leg and foot. Methods primarily designed to treat larger arteries are commonly used to treat these complications. However, several issues may arise with these methods that often lead to additional treatment costs to patients. New techniques aimed specifically at replacing occluded arteries have been developed in the last few years. The reasoning behind these techniques and the studies that examined them are described in this review.
Design and experimental implementation of a quasi-direct-drive leg for optimized jumping

This paper introduces a novel method for actuator design that exploits electromagnetic motors' torque and speed potential in jumping applications. We proposed a nonlinear optimization process that integrates (a) the control design to obtain the optimal ground reaction force, and (b) the mechanical design to narrow down the choices of motor/gearbox pair. Based on this method, actuators were designed and assembled into a leg prototype with two actuated degrees of freedom. Experiments demonstrated that the leg could achieve a maximum vertical jumping height of 0.62 m (2.4 times of leg length) and maximum forward jumping distance of 0.72 m (2.7 times of leg length).
Sclerotherapy for intramuscular vascular malformations: A single-center experience.

Abstract Background Vascular malformations isolated to skeletal muscles are rare and often debilitating due to pain and very challenging to treat. Multi-modal management options include compression garments, medical therapy, sclerotherapy, and surgical resection. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent sclerotherapy for intramuscular venous malformations (IVM) between 2008 and 2016 was performed. Demographics, indications, and clinical follow-up were analyzed. Results Twenty patients underwent sclerotherapy for IVM. Six males and 14 females underwent 58 procedures. All patients presented with pain and were treated initially with compression garments. Median age at first treatment was 13years (+/− 5.06years). Initial protocol consisted of 2 sclerotherapy procedures with sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) within a 2–3month interval. Median volume of the lesion was 40cm 3 (+/− 28.7), mostly located in the lower extremities (15/20). Median number of treatments was 2 (+/− 1.95). Treatment prior to puberty resulted in a median symptom-free time of 4years (+/− 2.18), while after puberty resulted in a symptom-free time of 2years (+/− 2.28). Two patients had an underlying coagulopathy and were admitted for observation and peri-procedural Lovenox. No procedure related complications were noted with a median follow-up of 4years (+/− 2.27). Conclusion IVMs are rare but can be incapacitating secondary to pain. Sclerotherapy is a useful minimally invasive procedure generally requiring at least two consecutive treatments. Treatment of patients prior to puberty appears to provide a more durable result, and surgical resection may be avoided. Type of study retrospective. Level of evidence IV
Reversible Magnetic Agglomeration: A Mechanism for Thermodynamic Control over Nanoparticle Size

We present a method for the synthesis and precise size control of magnetic nanoparticles in a reversible magnetic agglomeration mechanism. In this approach, nanoparticles nucleate and grow until a critical susceptibility is reached, in which magnetic attraction overcomes dispersive forces, leading to agglomeration and precipitation. This phase change in the system arrests nanoparticle growth and gives true thermodynamic control over the size of nanoparticles. We then show that increasing the alkyl chain length of the surfactant, and hence increasing steric stabilization, allows nanoparticles to grow to larger sizes before agglomeration occurs. Therefore, simply by choosing the correct surfactant, the size and magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles can be tailored for a particular application. With the continuous addition of the precursor solution, we can repeat the steps of nucleation, growth, and magnetic agglomeration indefinitely, making the approach suitable for large scale syntheses.
The Role of the Health Care Provider in Building Trust Between Patients and Precision Medicine Research Programs

Kraft and colleagues identify the importance precision medicine initiatives should place on building trusting relationships with diverse populations; they argue this is necessary in order to achiev...
Programme als quantitative Informationstransformatoren

Die zweite Theorie, die als Basis in dieser Arbeit benutzt wird, ist die der abstrakten Interpretation von Programmiersprachen. Sie entstand aus der Vereinigung der Datenflusanalyse und der denotationellen Semantik [AH87]. Der dafur verwendete Formalismus stammt vom der denotationellen Semantik und liefert eine saubere formale Grundlage fur statische Programmanalysen.
Crimes of Passion: The Regulation of Interracial Sex in Washington, 1855-1950

This Article explores the regulation of interracial sex and marriage in the state of Washington from its time as a territory through the first half of the twentieth century. Drawing on local records rather than canonical cases, the Article's main thesis is that, although the criminal bans on the practice were short-lived, Washingtonians used legal mechanisms to discourage and penalize interracial families in much the same way. The result of these efforts may not have been prison time; but, lawyers and judges regularly used the law to ensure that wealth and property remained in the hands of whites rather than racial minorities. In doing so, the legal system became an effective deterrent to interracial relationships, perpetuating existing notions of race that privileged whiteness over other racial groups.
Non-Heme Diiron Model Complexes Can Mediate Direct NO Reduction: Mechanistic Insight into Flavodiiron NO Reductases.

Flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs), a common enzyme family found in various types of pathogenic bacteria, are capable of reducing nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O) as a protective detoxification mechanism. Utilization of FNORs in pathogenic bacteria helps them survive and proliferate in the human body, thus causing chronic infections. In this paper, we present a new diiron model complex, [Fe2((Py2PhO2)MP)(OPr)2](OTf), with bridging propionate ligands (OPr−) that is capable of directly reducing NO to N2O in quantitative yield without the need to (super)reduce the complex. We first prepared the diferric precursor and characterized it by UV–vis, IR, NMR and Mossbauer spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and mass spectrometry. This complex can then conveniently be reduced to the diferrous complex using CoCp2. Even though this diferrous complex is highly reactive, we have successfully isolated and characterized this species using X-ray crystallography and various spectroscopic techniques. Most i...
Intravenous Antiplatelet Therapy Bridging in Patients Undergoing Cardiac or Non-Cardiac Surgery Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Abstract Background The effect of perioperative bridging therapy on risks of ischemic cardiac events and major bleeding complications in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains undefined. Methods We report on 60 consecutive patients between 2010 and 2017 who required cardiac (CS; n = 15) or non-cardiac (NCS; n = 45) surgeries following PCI at our institution. Short-acting intravenous (IV) antiplatelet (APT) bridging with eptifibatide, tirofiban and cangrelor were instituted after DAPT interruption. Results All patients were men with multiple atherosclerosis risk factors. An acute coronary syndrome indication (56.7%) was the most common PCI indication in the CS and NCS groups. Drug-eluting stents were used in 93.33% and 95.56% of the above groups, respectively. The median duration from PCI to CS and NCS were 11.17 and 18.25 months, respectively and 38.33% of all surgeries were performed within 6 months of the index PCI. Most patients were on background aspirin (83.33%) and clopidogrel (81.67%) and median duration of DAPT interruption was 7 days. Median duration of perioperative IV APT bridging was 3 days for CS and 5 days for NCS groups. In the CS group, two patients (13.33%) had non-fata myocardial infarction (MI), and four (26.67%) had clinically significant bleeding. No patients had perioperative stent thrombosis. In the NCS group, one patient (2.22%) had stent thrombosis; four (6.67%) had myocardial infarction, and five (11.11%) clinically significant bleeding. Conclusions Despite using IV APT as bridging therapy during perioperative DAPT interruption in post-PCI patients, postoperative cardiac events and bleeding complications can still occur.
Shifting characteristics of nonmedical prescription tranquilizer users in the United States, 2005–2014

Abstract Background Benzodiazepine overdose rates have increased in the US, largely from concomitant use of other drugs such as opioids. Studies are needed to examine trends in prescription tranquilizer (e.g., benzodiazepine) use—with a particular focus on use of other drugs such as opioids—to continue to inform prevention efforts. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2005–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a repeated cross-sectional, nationally representative probability sample. Trends in past-year nonmedical tranquilizer use and trends in demographic and other past-year substance use characteristics among nonmedical users were examined (N = 560,099). Results Prevalence of nonmedical tranquilizer use remained stable from 2005/06 through 2013/14 at 2%. Prevalence of past-year heroin use and heroin use disorder both more than doubled among nonmedical tranquilizer users between 2005/06 and 2013/14 (Ps 50 between 2005/06 and 2013/14 from 7.9% to 16.5% (P Conclusions Characteristics of nonmedical tranquilizer users are shifting, and many shifts are related to past-year nonmedical prescription opioid use and heroin use. Prevention needs to be geared in particular towards older individuals and to those who use opioids nonmedically.
A Badge of Slavery: How Private Prisons are Unconstitutional Under the Thirteenth Amendment

This paper argues that prisoners held in private penal institutions may successfully challenge the constitutionality of private prisons under the Thirteenth Amendment. To prove a Thirteenth Amendment claim against private prisons, a plaintiff must first demonstrate that: 1) private prisons are not included in the crime exception and 2) that private prisons are equivalent to slavery, involuntary servitude or a “badge of slavery.” Furthermore, this paper promotes a two-part test, which seeks to aid potential plaintiffs and courts in articulating what constitutes a “badge of slavery.” The “Badge of Slavery” test analyzes whether: 1) The controlling party had extensive control over the subjected party; and 2) whether the subjected party profits from that control. Lastly, this paper puts forth a hypothetical to further demonstrate how the badge of slavery test can be used to illustrate the unconstitutionality of private prisons.
Impact of supplement withdrawal and wheat middling inclusion on bone metabolism, bone strength, and the incidence of bone fractures occurring at slaughter in pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine if supplement withdrawal (omission of dietary vitamin and trace mineral premixes and 2/3 of inorganic P) 28-d preslaughter and the feeding of wheat middlings (dietary concentrations of 5, 15, or 30% from weaning to 16 kg, 16 to 28 kg, and 28 kg to slaughter, respectively) affect bone metabolism, bone strength, bone density, and the incidence of bone fractures at slaughter in pigs. Crossbred barrows (n = 64) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (with or without supplement withdrawal, and with or without wheat middlings). Serum was collected on d 0, 14, and 27 of the preslaughter withdrawal period to determine changes in the concentrations of osteocalcin, an indicator of bone formation, and pyridinoline, an indicator of bone resorption. The serum osteocalcin and pyridinoline concentrations on d 14 and 27 were analyzed as change from the d-0 concentration. At slaughter, radiographs of the lumbar vertebrae and of the right and left femurs were taken to determine the incidence of bone fractures. Third metacarpal bones were analyzed for bone mineral density, peak load, ultimate shear stress, and percent ash. Supplement withdrawal increased (P < 0.05) serum osteocalcin and pyridinoline concentrations, indicating an increase in osteoblast activity and bone resorption. Supplement withdrawal decreased (P < 0.01) bone mineral density, peak load, ultimate shear stress, and percent ash of the metacarpal bones. Dietary wheat middling inclusion did not alter bone quality. Neither supplement withdrawal nor wheat middling inclusion affected the incidence of bone fractures at slaughter. The results of this study indicate that removing inorganic P, vitamin premix, and trace mineral premix for 28 d preslaughter increases bone turnover and decreases bone quality.
Ethnic Differences in Perceptions of Alzheimer’s Disease: Implications for Seeking Assistance in Caring for an Ill Parent

Purpose: To examine ethnic differences in ratings of 1) condition severity, 2) need for medical assistance, and 3) likelihood of hiring a Healthcare Advocate (HCA) for an ill, elderly parent as a function of 1) parent’s cognitive state (Alzheimer’s disease [AD] or cognitively healthy), 2) parent’s physical malady (hip fracture or heart attack), and 3) distance (near or far from the parent), with an emphasis on the interaction between ethnicity and cognitive state. Method: Nine-hundred-seventy-four individuals who identified as White, Black, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander read a hypothetical vignette about an older man. The man’s physical malady (heart attack or hip fracture), cognitive state (AD or no AD), and physical distance from a close family member were manipulated in the vignette. Participants rated the severity of the medical condition and their likelihood of hiring an HCA. Results: Black and Asian/Pacific Islander participants did not differ from White participants on any outcomes. Unlike White participants, Hispanic participants did not rate the older man’s condition as more severe and were not more likely to seek assistance when he had AD than when he was cognitively healthy. Conclusion: Ethnic differences in perceptions of AD may be less extensive than previously thought. The medical severity of AD did not appear to be recognized among the Hispanic participants in our sample, suggesting that culturallysensitive AD education may be particularly important in this subgroup.
No sólo de esperanza vive la poesía

La dadiva. Elkin Restrepo. Biblioteca Publica Piloto de Medellin, Publicaciones Especiales, 1991.
Normal Basidiocarp Development of Gloeophyllum (Lenzites) saepiarium in Culture

Developmental stages and associated microstructural features of abnormal basidiocarps typically formed by Gloeophyllum saepiarium in culture are described and compared with those observed in nature...
Jus Ad Bellum, Natural Law, and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The 2003 Invasion of Iraq violated the natural law just war standards of the Western Tradition. The disregard for Just War violated the United States Constitution and damaged the American Republic. Just War standards should be upheld and are vital for the United States to have a rational and effective national security and foreign policy.
Big Data Exploration Via Automated Orchestration of Analytic Workflows.

Large-scale data exploration using Big Data platforms requires the orchestration of complex analytic workflows composed of atomic analytic components for data selection, feature extraction, modeling and scoring. In this paper, we propose an approach that uses a combination of planning and machine learning to automatically determine the most appropriate data-driven workflows to execute in response to a user-specified objective. We combine this with orchestration mechanisms and automatically deploy, adapt and manage such workflows across Big Data platforms. We present results of this automated exploration in real settings in healthcare.
Genetic markers in human semen. II: quantitation of polymorphic proteins.

Semen evidence is almost always present in cases involving sexual assault. The typing of genetic markers in this evidence material can be very valuable in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes. In many cases the victim of the assault cannot identify the assailant and in these cases genetic information gained from the semen can be used to include or exclude potential suspects. Even when the victim can identify the assailant, genetic typing information can provide important independent corroborating evidence. It is therefore clear that more extensive genetic characterization of semen evidence would be beneficial.
Design Considerations for Orbital Transport Systems

Earth-orbital transport systems noting configurations, cost, capabilities, operational requirements, etc
Assessing and Managing Security Risk in IT Systems: A Structured Methodology

Assessing and Managing Security Risk in IT Systems: A Structured Methodology builds upon the original McCumber Cube model to offer proven processes that do not change, even as technology evolves. This book enables you to assess the security attributes of any information system and implement vastly improved security environments.Part I delivers an overview of information systems security, providing historical perspectives and explaining how to determine the value of information. This section offers the basic underpinnings of information security and concludes with an overview of the risk management process. Part II describes the McCumber Cube, providing the original paper from 1991 and detailing ways to accurately map information flow in computer and telecom systems. It also explains how to apply the methodology to individual system components and subsystems.Part III serves as a resource for analysts and security practitioners who want access to more detailed information on technical vulnerabilities and risk assessment analytics. McCumber details how information extracted from this resource can be applied to his assessment processes.
Boilerplate and Consent

In Margaret Jane Radin’s book, BOILERPLATE: THE FINE PRINT, VANISHING RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW, Radin argues that boilerplate is a social problem leading to normative and democratic degradation. In his review of Radin’s book, Omri Ben-Shahar outlines two approaches to regulation by boilerplate. He labels the first as “autonomism” which asks “how such one-sided dictation of terms by firms fits within a liberal account of good social order, of democratic control and participation, and of individual autonomy.” The second way of viewing regulation-by-boilerplate is “to ask how it affects the well being and satisfaction of consumers who buy products co-packed with boilerplate.” According to Ben-Shahar, boilerplate apologists believe that boilerplate is welfare-enhancing because it reduces transaction costs and presumably, prices. Therefore, he argues, boilerplate is what consumers want anyway — a generalization that Radin disputes. More importantly, it ignores the larger questions raised by Radin’s book regarding the limits of consent – Even assuming that consumers want boilerplate, how much does that matter? Or, to put it differently, Are there limits to consent? Are there some things to which we, as a civilized society, should not permit consumers to consent? This Essay does not attempt to answer those questions. Rather, it posits that they are unanswerable without a better, more nuanced definition of consent – one that takes into account contracting realities such as contracting environment, contract presentment, the nature of rights affected, and the burdens created by boilerplate.
NEW MAP LOCATION OF ilvO IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

ABSTRACT Mutations in ilvO , the operator site for operon A of the ilv region of E. coli K-12, are reported to cause a cis dominant derepression of the operon A gene products and to map between ilvC and ilvA . Studies reported here demonstrate that the F25 episome which does not carry the region between ilvC and ilvA but only ilvE, ilvD and a part of ilvA , can transfer ilvO genetic material. Also, genes of operon A on the F25 episome respond normally to a derepression signal. It is proposed that ilvO is on the F25 episome. Five-point crosses demonstrate that mutations in ilvO map nearer to ilvE than to ilvA . Considering this and other evidence, it is proposed that the gene order in the ilv region is CADEO, not COADE, with transcription and translation in operon A being from ilvE to ilvA not ilvA to ilvE . It is confirmed that mutations in ilvO cause a cis dominant derepression of the operon A gene products but it is also noted that mutations in ilvO lead to the appearance of an AHAS activity more resistant to inhibition by valine than that of the present O + strain.
Ovulation Induction with Pulsatile LHRH

Shortly after LHRH was iso1ated, characterized and synthesized, clinical application to disorders of reproduction and sexual development was initiated. The early experiences with LHRH administered once or twice daily for induction of ovulation were largely unsuccessful.[1,2] The elucidation of the pulsatile release of LHRH by Knobil and colleagues [3] potentiated use of the agent in a physiologic manner and led to the development of successful ovulation induction regimens and pubertal maturation strategies.[4,5] The clinical efficacy of pulsatile LHRH therapy is currently well-documented and it has become an alternative therapy of choice for ovulation induction in patients with suspected hypothalamic suppression.[6–9] Pulsatile LHRH has been reported to be effective in widely variable circumstances including variations in means of administration,[6–9] routes of administration[6,9,10], dosages[6,7], and underlying disease states.[4,11] This paper will review the current experience of LHRH used for ovulation.
(sd) 2 states in Be-12

The $^{10}\mathrm{Be}$(t,p${)}^{12}$Be reaction has been studied with 15- and 17-MeV triton beams. At 17 MeV, angular distributions were measured for five low-lying states, and disorted-wave Born-approximation calculations were used to analyze the data. Contributions from $^{10}\mathrm{Be}$(g.s.)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}(sd${)}^{2}$ and complete 1p-shell wave functions were investigated. Comparsion is made with (sd${)}^{2}$ states in $^{14}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{16}\mathrm{C}$.
Fair Housing in the US and the UK

This paper examines the differences between fair housing law and practice in the US and the UK. Both nations have faced issues associated with the rapid growth of minority populations in urban centers and challenges associated with discrimination in housing. The paper finds that the US could learn from the UK experience with 'indirect discrimination' and the UK could learn from the US experience with testing for housing discrimination.
Conceptualizing a narrative simulation to promote dialogic reflection: using a multiple outcome design to engage teacher mentors

Experienced teachers, tasked with mentoring, often find themselves inundated with large amounts of didactic information as they prepare for guiding new interns. In an effort to develop training that would both prepare new mentors and revitalize experienced mentors, a state Educational Professional Standards Board enlisted the help of instructional designers to develop an innovative online course. The focal point of the course design is a narrative simulation, embedded with standards-based information, that provides user-selected, multiple outcomes as decision points to support dialogic reflection. Theoretical and practical considerations for conceptualizing this multiple outcome strategy, quality review components and design specifications are discussed.
Elastic Anisotropy of Clay

Elastic anisotropy of shale is mainly controlled by the intrinsic anisotropy of individual clay minerals as well as by the textural alignment of grains, pores, and fractures. One of the major challenges in predicting the elastic anisotropy of shales, while using rock physics models, is that the elastic properties of rock-forming clay minerals are poorly known. Since it is impossible to find single and large enough clay crystals for acoustic measurements and ab initio calculations are still incomplete, few data exist on the elastic moduli of clay minerals.
What is addiction? Age-related differences in the meaning of addiction

In a sample of families from a midwestern community study of cigarette smoking, we examined adolescents' and adults' definitions of "addiction", and related these definitions to their perceived addictiveness of cigarette smoking. Both adolescents and adults viewed addiction as multi-faceted, including both appetitive aspects and compulsive aspects. However, for adolescents, the two dimensions were equally important to the overall meaning of addiction, whereas for adults, the compulsive dimension was more important than was the appetitive dimension. The two dimensions of addiction were related to the perceived addictiveness of smoking, but differently for adolescents and adults. For adolescents, the appetitive dimension was a significant predictor whereas, for adults, the compulsive dimension was significant (and appetitive scores were predictive only at high levels of endorsement of the compulsive factor). These findings have potential implications for prevention programs for adolescents. Adolescents may perceive messages about "addiction" as communicating that the behavior in question has appetitive value in addition to a potential for inducing loss of control, and this may weaken the effectiveness of these messages.
Distinct gating modes determine the biphasic relaxation of NMDA receptor currents

Following brief stimulation, macroscopic NMDA receptor currents decay with biphasic kinetics that is believed to reflect glutamate dissociation and receptor desensitization. We found that the fast and slow decay components arise from the simultaneous deactivation of receptor populations that gate with short and long openings, respectively. Because individual receptors switched infrequently between gating modes, the relaxation time course was largely determined by the proportion of channels in each gating mode at the time of stimulation.
Multiple glass transitions of block polymers

Abstract High molecular weight, block copolymers of styrene, butadiene and isoprene were prepared in tetrahydrofuran solution by anionic polymerization techniques employing sodium-α-methylstyrene initiation. Selected samples were characterized by dilute solution techniques and found to be genuine block copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and little composition heterogeneities. The multiphase nature and the mechanical response of the polymers were investigated by torsion pendulum analyses. The two phase nature of the styrene-butadiene block copolymers was evident from the two glass transitions characteristic of the individual segment types, polystyrene and polybutadiene. The purity of the phase separations was indicated by the invariance of the butadiene Tg with copolymer composition and the equality of the mechanical response of two copolymers with identical compositions but inverted monomer sequences, i.e. ABA versus BAB. Variations in the magnitude of the butadiene loss peak and the step character of the log modulus/temperature curves were also determined as functions of the composition. Some effects of macrophase size were observed by comparing the mechanical behaviour of a physical blend of homopolymers with a block copolymer of the same composition. The temperature variation of the modulus was greatly affected above the butadiene Tg. The compatibility of similar soft segments, polybutadiene and polyisoprene was also investigated. Block terpolymers of styrene, butadiene and isoprene were compared to a physical mixture of styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers. Although the blending of the two soft diene segments in the physical mixture was substantial, it was not as complete as that obtained through terpolymerization where some indication of the effect of segment position on the blending was also noted.
Streptozotocin prevents development of nitrosamine-induced pancreatic cancer in the Syrian hamster.

Administration of the nitrosamine carcinogen N-nitroso-bis (2-oxopropy 1) amine (BOP) by subcutaneous injection (5 mg/kg/week) led to the development of invasive pancreatic ductular adenocarcinoma in 100% of normal Syrian hamsters by 24 weeks. Pretreatment of a second group of hamsters with the beta-cell toxin streptozotocin in a diabetogenic dose (50 mg/kg i.p × 3) completely prevented the development of pancreatic cancer when BOP was subsequently administered. The mechanism of blockade by streptozotocin is unknown. This study suggests the potential importance of the endocrine pancreas in exocrine pancreatic carcinogenesis.
Stretching a surface in a rotating fluid

A surface is stretched in a rotating fluid. The solution to the governing set of nonlinear differential equations depends on a parameter λ which is the ratio of the rotation rate to the stretching rate. Perturbation solutions for small and large λ compare well with exact numerical integration.
Activation of the sensory current in salamander olfactory receptor neurons depends on a G protein-mediated cAMP second messenger system

Olfactory receptor neurons respond to odor stimulation with an inward cationic current. Under whole-cell patch clamp, individual, isolated olfactory receptors were exposed to pharmacological agents known to interact with distinct enzymes in a putative second messenger cascade, and their response to odors was measured. IBMX prolonged the odor-evoked current and also reduced its amplitude. cAMP and cGMP induced a current electrically identical to the odor current, but the current showed desensitization only with cAMP. GTP-gamma-s prolonged and GDP-beta-s interfered with the odor-evoked current. The long latency seen in the odor response appears to be mainly due to the loading of the G protein and secondarily to the requirement for cAMP accumulation. The main source of the response decay appears to be cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis.
Electron spectroscopic study of the interaction of coadsorbed CO and D2 on Rh(100) at low temperature

The continued investigation of the CO/D2/Rh(100) system, utilizing Δφ, UPS, XPS, and ELS, is reported. When CO is predosed, followed by D2 exposures, the coadsorbed species are segregated and weakly interacting. However, when D2 is predosed, followed by CO exposures, the coadsorbed species are intimately mixed and strongly interacting, resulting in a more weakly bound form of CO(a). Heating to 175 K desorbs some D2 and causes conversion of the CO to the commonly observed strongly bound form. These results are compared to the CO/H2/Ni(100) system and a model is suggested to account for the differences.
Characterizing Uncertainty in Fish Stock Assessments: the Case of the Southern New England–Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder

Abstract The reauthorization of the Magnuson–Stevens Act requires specification of scientific uncertainty associated with stock assessments. The scientific uncertainty associated with stock assessments of southern New England–mid-Atlantic winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus is considered as a case study. Focus is placed upon the uncertainties associated with the assumptions, assertions, and choices (AACs) made in the stock assessment analysis. Two classes of AACs are discussed. The first class involves AACs that characterize the population dynamics of the stock; these AACs include the unit stock assumption, the problem of dealing with retrospective patterns, the method of averaging fishing mortality across cohorts to yield an annual value for fishing mortality, and the equilibrium structure of the stock. The second class of AACs is related to the choice of methods used to determine whether the stock is overfished; these AACs involve focusing on the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxy rather th...
Combined effects of ammonia and manganese on astrocytes in culture.

Ammonia has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and astrocytes appear to be the primary target of ammonia neurotoxicity. Recent work has shown that manganese also plays a role in the pathogenesis of HE and causes astrocyte morphologic and functional changes similar to ammonia. We therefore investigated whether a combination of these compounds could produce additive/synergistic effects. Cultured astrocytes treated with 5 mM ammonia (NH4Cl) along with 100 μ M manganese acetate (MnAc) for 3 h showed a 55–65% increase in free radical production over ammonia or manganese alone (P < 0.05). There was also a 50% decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψ m ) at 24 h following treatment with NH4Cl (5 mM) plus MnAc (50 μ M) Pt< 0.05), as compared to ammonia or manganese alone. Astrocytes treated with ammonia or manganese alone for 24 h showed no cell death, as determined by LDH release and light microscopic examination. However, cultures treated with ammonia plus manganese showed 80–90 necrotic cell death as estimated by light microscopy and 59 cell death as determined by LDH release. LDH release by ammonia plus manganese was blocked by the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (25 units/ml) as well as by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-argininemethyl ester (500 μ M). In conclusion, ammonia plus manganese exert additive/synergetic effects on the induction free radicals, mitochondrial inner membrane depolarization and cellular integrity, which may contribute to the tissue injury associated with chronic forms of HE.
Analyses of multivariately determined community matrices using cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling

Linear discriminant analysis was used to compute the p-variate MACARTHUR-LEVINS and Density Overlap measures of niche overlap between all pairs of 24 passerine bird species. The overlap values for the species pairs were then organized into a community matrix for each approach. The relationships inherent in the community matrices were structured by cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling. Cluster analysis identified the highly related species groups whereas multidimensional scaling demonstrated community wide relationships. In particular, the scaling approach clearly delineated shrub density and ground cover gradients.