cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absolute stability in predator-prey models

Abstract An equilibrium of a time-lagged population model is said to be absolutely stable if it remains locally stable regardless of the length of the time delay, and it is argued that the criteria for absolute stability provide a valuable guide to the behavior of population models. For example, it is sometimes assumed that time delays have a limited impact until they exceed the natural time scale of a system; here it is stressed that under some conditions very short time delays can have a marked (and often maximal) destabilizing effect. Consequently it is important that our understanding of population dynamics is robust to the inclusion of the short time delays present in all biological systems. The absolute stability criteria are ideally suited for this role. Another important reason for using the criteria for absolute stability rather than using criteria which depend upon the details of a time delay is that biological time delays are unlikely to be constant. For example, a time delay due to maturation inevitably varies between individuals and the mean may itself vary over time. Here it is shown that the criteria for absolute stability are generally robust in the presence of distributed delays and of varying delays. The analysis presented is based upon a general predator-prey model and it is shown that absolute stability can be expected under a broad range of parameter values whenever the time delay is due to the maturation time of either the predator or the prey or of both. This stability occurs because of the interaction between delayed and undelayed dynamic features of the model. A time-delayed process, when viewed across all possible delays, always reduces stability and this effect occurs regardless of whether the process would act to stabilize or destabilize an undelayed system. Opposing the destabilization due to a time delay and making absolute stability a possibility are a number of processes which act without delay. Some of these processes can be identified as stabilizing from the analysis of undelayed models (for example, the type 3 functional response) but other cannot (for example, the nonreproductive numerical response of predators).
Squamous cell carcinoma of the hard palate.

Abstract From 1932 to 1975, 32 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hard palate were seen at the University of Virginia Hospital. These have been reviewed with regard to race, age, sex distribution, histology and clinical presentation. The results of treatment have been analyzed by stage and mode of therapy. Finally, the time of appearance of local recurrence following initial therapy, the incidence of distant metastases and second primary tumors presented. The authors compare the treatment results obtained between the orthovoltage and supervoltage eras. There has been an improvement in results since the advent of supervoltage and this is especially attributable to improvements in the radiotherapy group. Considering radiotherapy the primary control was 2 6 patients (33%) in the orthovoltage era compared with 9 10 patients (90%) in the supervoltage era.
Lack of association between COMT gene and deficit/nondeficit schizophrenia

Background The dopamine dysregulation hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that positive, negative and cognitive symptoms correlate with cortical/subcortical imbalances in dopaminergic transmission. A functional polymorphism (Val158Met) in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia by its effect on prefrontal dopamine transmission, and its unique impact on prefrontal cognitive and behavioral phenotypes. Cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia have been hypothesized to be associated with hypodopaminergic states. Schizophrenia patients with the deficit syndrome are characterized by primary enduring negative symptoms, impairment on neurocognitive tasks sensitive to frontal and parietal cortical functioning, and poorer functional outcome compared to non-deficit patients.
Applying parallel and distributed simulation to remote network emulation

Many of today's military services and applications run on geographically distributed sites and need to be tested and evaluated under realistic scenarios with many unpredictable factors. A remote network emulation framework called ROSENET is proposed that can meet this requirement by using a remote parallel simulation server to model the wide area network and a local network emulator to provide timely QoS predictions for real world applications. This paper discusses problems faced in applying parallel and distributed simulation technique for the remote network emulation. The experimental results show that timeliness and remote accessibility are main concerns in applying parallel simulation to remote network emulation.
Wnt/β-catenin-responsive cells in prostatic development and regeneration

The precise role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during prostatic development and tumorigenesis is unclear. Axin2 is a direct transcriptional target of β-catenin. Recent studies have shown that Axin2-expressing cells have stem/progenitor cell properties in a variety of mouse tissues. Here, we genetically labeled Axin2-expressing cells at various time points and tracked their cellular behavior at different developmental and mature stages. We found that prostatic Axin2-expressing cells mainly express luminal epithelial cell markers and are able to expand luminal cell lineages during prostatic development and maturation. They can also survive androgen withdrawal and regenerate prostatic luminal epithelial cells following androgen replacement. Deletion of β-catenin or expression of stabilized β-catenin in these Axin2-expressing cells results in abnormal development or oncogenic transformation, respectively. Our study uncovers a critical role of Wnt/β-catenin-responsive cells in prostatic development and regeneration, and that dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in these cells contributes to prostatic developmental defects and tumorigenesis.
On the Optimality of Trunk Reservation in Overflow Processes

This paper discusses an optimal dynamic policy for a queueing system with M servers, no waiting room, and two types of customers. Customer types differ with respect to the reward that is paid on commencement of service, but service times are exponentially distributed with the same mean for both types of customers. The arrival stream of one customer type is generated by a Poisson process, and the other customer type arrives according to the overflow process of an M/M/m/m queue. The objective is to determine a policy for admitting customers to maximize the expected long-run average reward. By posing the problem in the framework of Markov decision processes and exploiting properties of submodular functions, the optimal policy is shown to be a “generalized trunk reservation policy”; in other words, the optimal policy accepts higher-paying customers whenever possible and accepts lower-paying customers only if fewer than c1 servers are busy, where i is the number of busy servers in the overflow queue. Computational issues are also discussed. More specifically, approximations of the overflow process by an interrupted Poisson process and a Poisson process are investigated.
Confronting the Johnson Administration at War: The Trial of Dr. Spock and Use of the Courtroom to Effect Political Change

The Johnson administration's 1968 decision to indict Dr. Benjamin Spock and four others for conspiracy to aid and abet draft resisters thrilled the antiwar movement because it demonstrated that the government could no longer ignore the growing number of Americans opposed to the Vietnam War. In the months leading up to the trial, expectations ran high as the antiwar movement looked forward to a courtroom confrontation in which they hoped to see the government's policies put on trial. This article argues that the trial did not live up to its billing, however, because the defendants and their attorneys pursued both political and civil libertarian trial strategies that were, in practice, mutually exclusive. Although the trial disappointed the peace movement, its shortcomings warrant renewed attention for the lessons it offers those who again will seek a courtroom confrontation with their governments during wartime.
The M-superfamily of conotoxins: a review

The focus of this review is the M-superfamily of Conus venom peptides. Disulfide rich peptides belonging to the M-superfamily have three loop regions and the cysteine arrangement: CC–C–C–CC, where the dashes represent loops one, two, and three, respectively. Characterization of M-superfamily peptides has demonstrated that diversity in cystine connectivity occurs between different branches of peptides even though the cysteine pattern remains consistent. This superfamily is subdivided into five branches, M-1 through M-5, based on the number of residues in the third loop region, between the fourth and fifth cysteine residues. M-superfamily peptides appear to be ubiquitous in Conus venom. They are largely unexplained in indigenous biological function, and they represent an active area of research within the scientific community.
Individualized diagnosis interventions can add significant effectiveness in reducing human immunodeficiency virus incidence among men who have sex with men: insights from Southern California.

Abstract Purpose In this article, we examine the effectiveness of a variety of HIV diagnosis interventions in recently HIV-diagnosed men who have sex with men (MSM). These interventions use the preventive potential of postdiagnosis behavior change (PDBC), as measured by the reduction in the number of new infections. Empirical evidence for PDBC was presented in the behavioral substudy of the Southern California Acute Infection and Early Disease Research Program. In previous modeling work, we demonstrated the existing preventive effects of PDBC. However, a large proportion of new infections among MSM are either undiagnosed or diagnosed late, and the preventive potential of PDBC is not fully utilized. Methods We derive empirical, stochastic, network-based models to examine the effectiveness of several diagnosis interventions that account for PDBC among MSM over a 10-year period. These interventions involve tests with shorter detection windows, more frequent testing, and individualized testing regimens. Results We find that individualized testing interventions (i.e., testing individuals every three partners or 3 months, whichever is first, or every six partners or 6 months, whichever is first) result in significantly fewer new HIV infections than the generalized interventions we consider. Conclusions This work highlights the potential of individualized interventions for new public health policies in HIV prevention.
Mesial temporal lobe Cho to Cr(PCr) ratio asymmetry in chronic schizophrenics

Abstract Proton magnetic resonance spectra (MRS) were acquired from 1.5×1.5×1.5-cm voxels in the left and right mesial temporal lobes of 20 schizophrenic patients and 20 non-psychiatric comparison subjects. Choline (Cho) to creatine (and phosphocreatine) (Cr(PCr)) ratios were estimated as were the percent gray matter, white matter and CSF contributing to the voxel. The Cho/Cr(PCr) metabolite ratio was significantly lower in the left temporal lobe than in the right temporal lobe for both the schizophrenia subjects and control group. This difference was greater in the schizophrenia subjects. Left temporal lobe gray matter voxel content was significantly higher and white matter content was significantly lower than in the right temporal lobe for both the schizophrenia subjects and control group. This difference was the same for the schizophrenia subjects and control group. Left voxel gray matter and white matter content correlated with Cho/Cr(PCr) metabolite ratios for the schizophrenic subjects but not for the control subjects. No such correlations were noted on the right side. No significant difference was found between Cho/Cr(PCr) in the left temporal lobe or in the right temporal lobe of the schizophrenia subjects vs. the control group.
Model Predictive Control of Swarms of Spacecraft Using Sequential Convex Programming

DOI: 10.2514/1.G000218 This paper presents a decentralized, model predictive control algorithm for the optimal guidance and reconfiguration of swarms of spacecraft composed of hundreds to thousands of agents with limited capabilities. In previous work, J2-invariantorbitshavebeenfoundtoprovidecollision-freemotionforhundredsoforbitsinalowEarthorbit. This paper develops real-time optimal control algorithms for the swarm reconfiguration that involve transferring from one J2-invariant orbit to another while avoidingcollisions and minimizing fuel. The proposedmodel predictive control-sequential convex programming algorithm uses sequential convex programming to solve a series of approximate path planning problems until the solution converges. By updating the optimal trajectories during the reconfiguration, the model predictive control algorithm results in decentralized computations and communication between neighboring spacecraft only. Additionally, model predictive control reduces the horizon of the convex optimizations, which reduces the run time of the algorithm. Multiple time steps, time-varying collision constraints, and communication requirements are developed to guarantee stability, feasibility, and robustness of the model predictive control-sequential convex programming algorithm.
A Public Dual-Diagnosis Detoxification Unit: Part III: Short-Term Efficacy of Treatment

Despite the frequency of alcohol and drug dependence in mentally ill people, data are not readily available on the detoxification and acute stabilization of psychiatric symptoms in this group. The authors have previously reported on a public dual-diagnosis treatment model for homeless or homeless-prone patients. They now report on a pilot prospective study investigating the efficacy of this short-term treatment in stabilizing psychiatric symptoms. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinicians' Global Improvement (CGI) and Severity Scale (CGS) were used to assess treatment stabilization in alcohol-dependent subjects referred with (n = 12) or without psychiatric disorders (n = 12). The psychiatrically referred group had significantly more psychiatric impairment and symptoms at admission than control subjects, but both groups showed similar progressive improvement in symptoms on hospitalization Days 2, 4, and 6 as assessed by both the BPRS and CGI (23% reduction by Day 6, all Ps < 0.001). These fi...
Limitations of linear remote control over packet drop networks

In this paper we investigate control across stochastic drop-out channels. We seek optimal linear controllers and receivers for mean-square stability that make use of the knowledge of whether a packet is received. We establish a fundamental bound on drop-out probability allowable for stabilization. The main result is a remote stabilization technique that always achieves this bound via acknowledgement from the actuation receiver. Controller information structure and decentralization issues are considered as they may further limit the achievable performance.
The medical marriage: a national survey of the spouses/partners of US physicians.

Abstract Objective To evaluate physician relationships from the perspective of their spouses/partners. Methods Nearly all data on satisfaction with physician relationships come from the perspective of the physician rather than their spouse/partner. We conducted a national study of the spouses/partners of US physicians from August 17, 2011, through September 12, 2011. Responding spouses/partners provided information on demographic characteristics, their own work life, and the work life of their physician partners. Spouses/partners also rated relationship satisfaction and the effect of the work life of their physician partner on the relationship. Results Of the 1644 spouses/partners of physicians surveyed, 891 (54.2%) responded. Most spouses/partners (86.8%) reported that they were satisfied with their relationship with their physician partner. Satisfaction strongly related to the amount of time spent awake with their physician partners each day. Despite their overall satisfaction, spouses/partners reported their physician partners frequently came home irritable, too tired to engage in home activities, or preoccupied with work. On multivariate analysis, minutes spent awake with their physician partners each day was the strongest predictor of relationship satisfaction, exhibiting a dose-response effect. No professional characteristic of the physician partners (eg, hours worked per week, specialty area, and practice setting) other than the number of nights on call per week correlated with relationship satisfaction on adjusted analysis. Conclusion The spouses/partners of US physicians report generally high satisfaction with their relationships. The mean time spent with their physician partners each day appears to be a dominant factor associated with relationship satisfaction and overshadows any specific professional characteristic of the physicians' practice, including specialty area, practice setting, and work hours.
Evidence for an epidemic of myopia

Introduction: It has been widely suggested that the prevalence of myopia is growing worldwide, and that the increases observed in East Asia, in particular, are sufficiently severe as to warrant the term “epidemic”. Data in favour of a cohort effect in myopia prevalence are reviewed, with attention to significant shortcomings in the quality of available evidence. Additional factors contributing to myopia prevalence, including near work, genetics and socioeconomic status, are detailed. Materials and Methods: Medline search of articles regarding myopia prevalence, trends and mechanisms. Results: Age-related changes in myopia prevalence (increase during childhood, and regression in the fifth and sixth decades) are discussed as an alternative explanation for cross-sectional patterns in myopia prevalence. There have only been a handful of studies that have examined the relative contribution of longitudinal changes in refraction over life and birth cohort differences on age-specific myopia prevalence as measured in cross-sectional studies. Available data suggest that both longitudinal changes and cohort effects may be present, and that their relative contribution may differ in different racial groups. Conclusions: In view of the relatively weak evidence in favour of a large cohort effect for myopia in East Asia, and the even greater lack of evidence for increased prevalence of secondary ocular pathology, there appears to be inadequate support for large-scale interventions to prevent or delay myopia at the present time. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004;33:21-6
Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor Signaling and Endocytosis Are Linked through a COOH Terminal Activation Motif in the Type I Receptor

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) coordinates a number of biological events important in normal and pathophysiological growth. In this study, deletion and substitution mutations were used to identify receptor motifs modulating TGF-beta receptor activity. Initial experiments indicated that a COOH-terminal sequence between amino acids 482-491 in the kinase domain of the type I receptor was required for ligand-induced receptor signaling and down-regulation. These 10 amino acids are highly conserved in mammalian, Xenopus, and Drosophila type I receptors. Although mutation or deletion of the region (referred to as the NANDOR BOX, for nonactivating non-down-regulating) abolishes TGF-beta-dependent mitogenesis, transcriptional activity, type I receptor phosphorylation, and down-regulation in mesenchymal cultures, adjacent mutations also within the kinase domain are without effect. Moreover, a kinase-defective type I receptor can functionally complement a mutant BOX expressing type I receptor, documenting that when the BOX mutant is activated, it has kinase activity. These results indicate that the sequence between 482 and 491 in the type I receptor provides a critical function regulating activation of the TGF-beta receptor complex.
Using Regression Analysis to Estimate Time Equations

This note presents a simple way to estimate time equations using regression analysis in Excel. The note quickly outlines regression analysis, then presents a real-life case example from the natural gas industry that students can use to gain experience developing and interpreting the results of time equations.Learning Objective:The objective of this note is to present a simple way to estimate time equations using regression analysis in Excel.
Genetic basis of starvation survival in nondifferentiating bacteria.

1) Macromolecular degradation; 2) Escape from starvation; 3) Development of a more resistant cell state
From Santa Barbara To Washington: A Person’s And A Nation’s Journey Toward Portable Health Information

The Santa Barbara County Care Data Exchange recently decided to disband. Because I founded the Santa Barbara Project and went on to lead U.S. health information technology (IT) efforts, it has been suggested that federal health IT policy relied too heavily on the approach used in Santa Barbara. Concerns have been expressed that the U.S. health IT effort rests upon a weak foundation and may be unsustainable. Conversely, the lessons of Santa Barbara were evident to investigators, including myself, long before its termination. These lessons, not the original assumptions and methods used in Santa Barbara, were applied to federal policy.
Complex Methods for Three-Dimensional Magnetic Fields

A typical three-dimensional problem is to find the magnetic field off the end of a finite current multipole, i.e., a circular cylinder of finite length having a cos n? current distribution along its elements. The corresponding two-dimensional problem of finding the magnetic field both inside and outside of such a current 2n-pole of infinite length can be concisely solved by complex methods. This paper describes a way of systematically extending complex methods to three dimensions. The current multipole example is used to illustrate some of the features of the method. The results are given in closed form and involve complete elliptic integrals of all three kinds.
A spectral approach to ill-posed problems for wave equations

In this article, we consider the problem of finding a solution to ill-posed problems for abstract wave equations in a Hilbert space, of the form $$\frac{{\rm d}^{2}u}{{\rm d}t^{2}}\left( t\right) + Au \left(t\right) = 0,\quad t \in \left(0, T\right),\quad u \left(0\right) = 0,\quad u \left(T\right) = u_{0},$$ when A is a general linear selfadjoint operator. We study issues like existence, uniqueness and continuance dependance of data and stability for this problem. Under precise constraint conditions on T, we make such problems well posed and in effect, generalize known results about these equations.
Indexing and search of multimodal information

The Informedia Digital Library Project allows full content indexing and retrieval of text, audio and video material. The integration of speech recognition, image processing, natural language processing and information retrieval overcomes limits in each technology to create a useful system. In order to answer the question how good speech recognition has to be in order to be useful and usable for indexing and retrieving speech recognizer generated transcripts, some empirical evidence is presented that illustrates the degradation of information retrieval at different levels of speech accuracy. In our experiments, word error rates up to 25% did not significantly impact information retrieval and error rates of 50% still provided 85 to 95% of the recall and precision relative to fully accurate transcripts in the same retrieval system.
Efficacy of conservation measures for the American lobster: reproductive value as a criterion

Reproductive value takes into account both current and future value, effectively characterizing the value of an individual to the population. In this study, we use reproductive value as a criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of several conservation measures that have been undertaken or proposed for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in Newfoundland. These measures are slot fishing (i.e. no fishing below or above certain sizes), marine protected areas (MPAs), V-notching, and window fishing (i.e. no fishing within a size window). Reproductive value was estimated by using catch length data available from commercial fisheries and research surveys. We found that MPAs had the greatest effect, followed by V-notching and slot-fishing. MPAs resulted in an average increase of 64.9% in total reproductive value, V-notching an average increase of 18.3%, and slot fishing an average increase of 16.8%. In general, window fishing was not effective unless the size of the window was large. For instance, an average increase of 8.7% in total reproductive value would require a wide window (100 –129 mm). Our results provide a scientific basis for evaluating conservation measures in a way that integrates population demographical information with information from commercial fisheries and research surveys.
Application of hybrid dielectric — Metallic back reflectors to thin film amorphous silicon solar cells

The application of photonic engineering design concepts to photovoltaic devices is not entirely trivial; if anything, it introduces formidable complexity. This paper investigates some of the opportunities afforded by the amalgamation of the two sciences.
Divergent character clines across a recent secondary contact zone in a Hispaniolan lizard

Studies of genetic contact zones provide valuable information regarding the processes of population divergence, adaptation and speciation. In this paper, I examine transitions in morphology, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) haplotypes across a recent secondary contact zone in a Hispaniolan lizard Ameiva chrysolaema. Maximum likelihood cline fitting analyses suggest non-coincidence of cline centers and that the mtDNA cline is significantly displaced to the west of the remaining clines. nDNA and morphological clines are coincident and tend to be associated with the prevailing environmental gradient. The lack of cytonuclear disequilibrium near the center of the contact zone and the non-coincidence of character clines suggest that this zone does not conform to a tension zone model of hybridization; thus, gene flow across the zone does not seem to be impeded. The extremely narrow width of the dorsal scale size cline and the close association of this cline with the steepness of the environmental (precipitation) gradient suggest that this character may be under environmental selection. Taken together, this contact zone appears to be structured by a combination of mtDNA introgression, possibly associated with eastward movement of the zone, and environmental selection on some characters.
Response of a warm temperate peatland to Holocene climate change in northeastern Pennsylvania

Studying boreal-type peatlands near the edge of their southern limit can provide insight into responses of boreal and sub-arctic peatlands to warmer climates. In this study, we investigated peatland history using multi-proxy records of sediment composition, plant macrofossil, pollen, and diatom analysis from a 14C-dated sediment core at Tannersville Bog in northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Our results indicate that peat accumulation began with lake infilling of a glacial lake at ~ 9 ka as a rich fen dominated by brown mosses. It changed to a poor fen dominated by Cyperaceae (sedges) and Sphagnum (peat mosses) at ~ 1.4 ka and to a Sphagnum-dominated poor fen at ~ 200 cal yr BP (~ AD 1750). Apparent carbon accumulation rates increased from 13.4 to 101.2 g C m− 2 yr− 1 during the last 8000 yr, with a time-averaged mean of 27.3 g C m− 2 yr− 1. This relatively high accumulation rate, compared to many northern peatlands, was likely caused by high primary production associated with a warmer and wetter temperate climate. This study implies that some northern peatlands can continue to serve as carbon sinks under a warmer and wetter climate, providing a negative feedback to climate warming.
CONSUMER TRAVEL PATTERNS AND THE CONCEPT OF RANGE1

ABSTRACT An aspect of Central Place Theory—the range of a good—is examined for a variety of business centers within a city. The study is concerned with understanding the orderliness of consumer spatial behavior. Specifically two hypotheses are tested. One, that consumers purchase goods and services at the nearest centers offering these goods and services. Two, that there is not a significant difference in the distances travelled for the same good or service from different sizes of centers. The results of the tests emphasize that less than half of the sample of consumers examined go to the nearest center, and that consumers do travel significantly greater distances to the central business district and to larger centers. It is suggested that the nearest center hypothesis and the concept of range require modification to take into account the fact that consumers do travel farther than is essential to purchase goods and services.
Qualms About the Linearized Expectations Hypothesis and Variance-Bounds Studies of the Interest Rate Term Structure

Campbell (1986) has shown that the linearized term structure hypothesis can reconcile the conflicting objections to traditional term structure hypotheses raised by Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross (1981). We build a cointegrated model of the nonstationary zero-coupon term structure which imposes the constraints of the Local Expectations Hypothesis (LEH). When we simulate coupon—bearing bond term structure data, we find the linearized excess volatility tests specified by Shiller (1979) and Singleton (1980) are nearly always unreliable. Current practice is to linearize models around ‘duration’ points which result in accurate approximations to yield data, but which also result in unreliable volatility tests.
Salt-Induced Changes in Ion Transport: Regulation of Primary Pumps and Secondary Transporters

Research on salt tolerance is a source of challenging questions about the regulation of ion transport in plants. For example, storage of Na+ in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) vacuoles may involve a complex sequence of events. Within minutes of exposure to NaCl a Na+/H+ antiporter is activated, presumably by a signal transduction event (Garbarino and DuPont, 1989). Several days later, transport by the tonoplast ATPase increases (DuPont and Morrissey, 1991; Matsumoto and Chung, 1988), suggesting that eventually the activity of the primary proton pump is adjusted to the demand created by the secondary active transport. In this paper, recent data on regulation of ion transport in membranes from NaCl-grown plants are reviewed and used as a framework for speculation about the regulation of pumps, symports and antiports in the tonoplast and plasma membrane. The emphasis will be on the tonoplast ATPase and the Na+/H+ antiporter.
Airborne Particulate Matter in Two Multi-Family Green Buildings: Concentrations and Effect of Ventilation and Occupant Behavior

There are limited data on air quality parameters, including airborne particulate matter (PM) in residential green buildings, which are increasing in prevalence. Exposure to PM is associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and since Americans spend almost 90% of their time indoors, residential exposures may substantially contribute to overall airborne PM exposure. Our objectives were to: (1) measure various PM fractions longitudinally in apartments in multi-family green buildings with natural (Building E) and mechanical (Building L) ventilation; (2) compare indoor and outdoor PM mass concentrations and their ratios (I/O) in these buildings, taking into account the effects of occupant behavior; and (3) evaluate the effect of green building designs and operations on indoor PM. We evaluated effects of ventilation, occupant behaviors, and overall building design on PM mass concentrations and I/O. Median PMTOTAL was higher in Building E (56 µg/m3) than in Building L (37 µg/m3); I/O was higher in Building E (1.3–2.0) than in Building L (0.5–0.8) for all particle size fractions. Our data show that the building design and occupant behaviors that either produce or dilute indoor PM (e.g., ventilation systems, combustion sources, and window operation) are important factors affecting residents’ exposure to PM in residential green buildings.
Improving Access to Eye Care among Persons at High-Risk of Glaucoma in Philadelphia — Design and Methodology: The Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project

ABSTRACTPurpose: The Wills Eye Glaucoma Research Center initiated a 2-year demonstration project to develop and implement a community-based intervention to improve detection and management of glaucoma in Philadelphia.Methods: The glaucoma detection examination consisted of: ocular, medical, and family history; visual acuity testing; corneal pachymetry; biomicroscopy of the anterior segment; intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement; gonioscopy; funduscopy; automated visual field testing; and fundus-color photography. Treatment included laser surgery and/or IOP-lowering medication. A cost analysis was conducted to understand resource requirements. Outcome measures included; prevalence of glaucoma-related pathology and other eye diseases among high-risk populations; the impact of educational workshops on level of knowledge about glaucoma (assessed by pre- and post-test evaluation); and patient satisfaction of the glaucoma detection examinations in the community (assessed by satisfaction survey). Treatment outc...
Agglutination of Rabbit Leucocytes by Staphylococcus aureus Toxin

Discussion and SummaryThis report deals with an agglutinating reaction of staphylococcal toxin for rabbit leucocytes. When this test is carried out carefully, the results are clear-cut and remarkably consistent. Except for the fact that the leucocytic suspension is more exacting than a red cell suspension to prepare, the test is as easily and quickly set up and read as a test for bacterial hemolysin.Our experiments demonstrate that there is a definite correlation between the content of leuco-agglutinin and the content of leucocidin in any toxin, also that both activities are destroyed at the same temperature.If we are correct in the interpretation of our results, leuco-agglutinin and leucocidin actually represent two stages of the action of the same toxic substance, and the leuco-agglutinin test, because of its simplicity and its clear-cut quantitative results, may be used to advantage over previous methods for the quantitative determination of leucocidin in staphylococcal toxins.
Energy balance for a sonoluminescence bubble yields a measure of ionization potential lowering.

Application of energy conservation between input sound and the microplasma which forms at the moment of sonoluminescence places bounds on the process, whereby the gas is ionized. Detailed pulsed Mie scattering measurements of the radius versus time for a xenon bubble in sulfuric acid provide a complete characterization of the hydrodynamics and minimum radius. For a range of emission intensities, the blackbody spectrum emitted during collapse matches the minimum bubble radius, implying opaque conditions are attained. This requires a degree of ionization $g36%$. Analysis reveals only $2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}/\mathrm{atom}$ of energy available during light emission. In order to unbind enough charge, collective processes must therefore reduce the ionization potential by at least 75%. We interpret this as evidence that a phase transition to a highly ionized plasma is occurring during sonoluminescence.
Management of Persistently Low Heart Rate

Please read the following vignette and watch the video clip (Fig 1). Figure 1. A 39-2/7-weeks' gestation infant is delivered via cesarean delivery for persistent fetal bradycardia. The amniotic fluid is clear. A limp, apneic infant is handed to the neonatal team. The infant is warmed, dried, and stimulated, and the airway is opened. Thirty seconds after birth, the heart rate is undetectable, and positive pressure ventilation is started at a rate of 60. The heart rate remains undetectable after 15 seconds of positive pressure ventilation; the team opens the mouth, repositions the head, and reapplies the mask. Sixty seconds after birth, there is still no heart rate. Which of the following options will optimize the performance depicted in the video? 1. Depress the sternum to one-half the anterior-posterior diameter. 2. Discontinue coordination of ventilation and chest compressions. 3. Increase oxygen concentration to 100%. 4. Lift thumbs off the chest between compressions. 5. Provide compressions via the 2-finger technique. Correct Response C. Increase oxygen concentration to 100%. Ventilation is the most …
Constructing a Collaborative Critique-Learning Environment for Exploring Science Through Improvisational Performance:

This exploratory design experiment investigates Black male youth’s participation in a science-learning environment designed to conceptualize the practice of critique as improvisational performance....
Cholera Surveillance in Haizhu District of Guangzhou City during 2006—2008

[Objective]To understand the pollution state of fishery products and external environmental water the existence state of Vibrio cholera in for discovering the case of cholera promptly and providing scientific basis for prevention and control of cholera.[Methods]The active monitoring,special survey and other methods were adopted to perform monitoring on patients with diarrhea,external environmental water,fishery products,food and focus groups in Haizhu District during 2006-2008.[Results]Totally 9180 samples were collected variedly in 3 years,and V.cholera were found in 11 samples,total positive rate was 0.12%.The positive rate of V.cholera was 0.05%,0.02% and 0.01% respectively,and the positive rates of water were 1.85%,1.5%,1.22% respectively during 2006-2008.The positive rates of fishery products were 0.43% in 2008,there were no positive samples in 2006 and 2007;the positive monitoring rate of the patients with diarrhea and high risk population was 0.10% in 2007,with no positive samples in 2006 and 2008.Test's results of food were negative.There were totally 4 cholera outbreaks in 3 years with 1 case in each,and serotypes showed that O139 group accounted for the majority.[Conclusion]There is V.cholera in external environmental water and fishery products in this district.It is necessary to enhance monitoring to understand their pollution timely,so as to take appropriate measures to prevent and control the occurrence and spread of cholera
Status of rice production,marketing and purvey in China

The historical change and developing status of rice production,consumption,stock and trade in China were summarized,and purvey situation and market of rice in both China and abroad were analyzed.
Evaluation of conjugated linoleic acid and dietary antibiotics as growth promotants in weanling pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a growth promotant in weanling swine. Weanling pigs (n = 192; 7.6 kg and 29 d of age) were randomly assigned to four treatments that were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial. Concentrations of dietary CLA (0 or 0.6%) and antibiotics (+/-) constituted the main effect variables. Dietary CLA treatments consisted of a 1% addition of an oil containing 60% CLA isomers or 1% soybean oil, and dietary antibiotic treatments were antibiotics or no antibiotics. The experimental diets were fed for 9 wk in four phases (1, wk 1; 2, wk 2 and 3; 3, wk 4 through 6; and 4, wk 7 through 9), after which all pigs were fed identical medicated diets for the duration of the finishing phase. Live weights were recorded at wk 17 postweaning and at marketing to determine any residual effects of dietary treatments on finisher ADG and days to market. Medicated diets fed during phases 1 and 2 contained 55 mg carbadox/kg; during phase 3 contained 299 mg tilmicosin/kg; and during phase 4 contained 110 mg tylosin and 110 mg sulfamethazine/ kg. Pigs fed medicated diets had higher overall ADG than pigs fed unmedicated diets for wk 0 through 9 (P < 0.03). Gain:feed (G:F) was greater for pigs fed medicated diets than for pigs fed unmedicated diets during phase 1 (P < 0.03) and for the duration of the nursery phase (P < 0.03). There were no effects of CLA on ADG, ADFI, or G:F. There were no residual effects of nursery CLA or antibiotics on finisher ADG and days to market. Blood samples collected from a subset of pigs (n = 72) at the completion of phases 2, 3, and 4 were assayed for serum IGF-I and antibody concentrations to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS-V) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. There was a tendency for pigs fed medicated diets to have greater IGF-I concentrations than pigs fed unmedicated diets at the completion of phase 4 (P < 0.06). Pigs fed CLA had greater antibody titers (P < 0.02) to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae at d 63 than pigs fed diets without CLA. These results indicate that feeding 0.6% dietary CLA did not enhance growth performance in weanling swine and that the use of dietary antibiotics can increase production efficiency in nursery pigs. Furthermore, there were no interactions between CLA and dietary antibiotics on the variables addressed in this study.
Reggio Emilia Inspired Learning Groups: Relationships, Communication, Cognition, and Play

A key aspect of the Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum is a learning group approach that fosters social and cognitive development. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a Reggio Emilia inspired learning group approach works for children with and without disabilities. This study gives insight into how to form an appropriate learning group including the effective ratio between children with and without disabilities, the teacher expertise required and other supporting strategies for children with special needs to function more positively in a learning group approach. This study employed both qualitative and quantitative data analysis to code selected videotaped learning group sessions. Findings indicated that across the five children, four children developed in the areas of relationship, communication, and play skills. Children within the learning group exhibited increased interest, inclusion, friendship, and empathy toward both children with special needs. In addition, facilitating high quality learning groups requires intentional planning, reflection, and engagement from children and teachers.
Carbon nanotube resonator sensors for remote sensing systems

The paper presents our on-going research on the development of carbon nanotube resonator sensors for chemical and, potentially, biological applications. The sensor transducer mechanism is based on changes of resonant frequency of an electromagnetic resonator coated with carbon nanotubes. We have developed carbon nanotube resonator sensor prototypes and found that the sensor is sensitive to both polar (NH/sub 3/) and non-polar gases (He, Ar, N/sub 2/, and O/sub 2/). In addition, we have recently demonstrated that the carbon nanotube resonator sensor is sensitive to organic solvents. This finding suggests that the carbon nanotube resonator sensors can be used to develop biosensors. The carbon nanotube resonator sensor platform has the potential to be incorporated in a wireless remote sensing system.
Regulating Cyber Operations Through International Law: In, Out or Against the Box?

A great deal has been written about the international legal regulation of cyber operations with respect to the use of force (jus ad bellum), in situations of armed conflict (jus in bello) and during times of peace. International lawyers have offered their expertise on how and in what ways international law should respond to the challenges and opportunities raised. The approaches have generally, although not exclusively, fallen into two separate categories. Either the underlying issues presented by cyber operations can be addressed by existing rules and international legal structures, or cyber operations present something so fundamentally new that a whole new set of rules and structures is required. A third approach suggests that existing structures may in fact be up to the challenge of cyber operations, but that in order to be effective, the discipline must reject those parts of itself that are incompatible with this new subject matter—in effect, going against existing doctrine in an effort to address the regulatory demands presented. Which of these three approaches—“in,” “out” or “against” the box—is the right one? A critical examination of existing law, policy and practice in this area yields interesting, if not entirely satisfying, answers.
Microscale fracture mechanisms of a Cr3C2-NiCr HVOF coating

Abstract Thermal spray coatings, often composed of heterogeneous, multiphase microstructures, may, consequently, exhibit complex fracture behavior. For such coating structures, conventional mechanical evaluation methods fail to isolate the contribution of microstructural features to the overall fracture behavior. For this reason, this study employed focused ion beam machined (FIB) microcantilever beams and FIB sectioning methods to study the fracture mechanisms important at the scale of the heterogeneous Cr 3 C 2 -NiCr thermal spray coating. We found three fracture modes, namely, intergranular matrix fracture, matrix/carbide interfacial fracture, and carbide cleavage. By comparison, microindentation-induced cracks, the frequency of crack deflection around carbides is significantly more prevalent at this much larger crack dimension. This mechanistic variation provides some insight into the specific role and limitations of the microcantilever beam technique for fracture characterization of composite microstructures.
Abstract 15068: Atenolol versus Losartan in Marfan Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Aortic root dissection is the leading cause of death in Marfan syndrome. Beta-adrenergic blockers have been proposed as a preferred agent in Marfan syndrome to reduce aortic complicatio...