cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disturbance and contrasting patterns of population structure in the brachiopod Terebratulina septentrionalis (Couthouy) from two subtidal habitats

Abstract The population structures of Terebratulina septentrionalis (Couthouy) from exposed upper rock surface and semi-cryptic rock wall habitats at 33 m depth in the Gulf of Maine differ. Over a 3-yr period, population densities were consistently higher in rock wall habitats. Although both populations were dominated by juveniles (1–4 mm shell length), size-frequency distributions constructed from upper rock surface and rock wall populations were significantly different, as a result of a greater frequency of large brachiopods (> 20 mm shell length) in rock wall populations. Prominent modes occurred at 14–15 mm shell length in upper surface populations and at 19–20 mm length in rock wall populations. Recruitment was higher in rock wall habitats where ambient light intensities were significantly lower than on upper rock surfaces. Differences in recruitment are either the result of larval selection for shaded rock walls or differential juvenile mortality between habitats. The larvae of Terebratulina settle on a diverse array of substrata. These include bedrock, sandy polychaete tubes and algae in upper surface habitats and bedrock, calcareous polychaete tubes, and ascidians in rock wall habitats. Individuals attached to polychaete tubes and algae in upper surface habitats do not attain large body size (> 13 mm shell length). It is suggested that these differences in population structure reflect the greater intensity of disturbance in upper surface habitats. For example, the cod, Gadus morhua (Linnaeus), ingests brachiopods attached to algae and polychaete tubes in this habitat. Gastropod predation affects brachiopods in upper surface habitats but not in rock wall habitats. Predation by gastropods and asteroids is not size-specific. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that predation contributed to the decline in the abundance and diversity of articulate brachiopods since the Mesozoic, and suggest that the restriction of recent populations to semi-cryptic rock wall and crevice habitats is, in part, controlled by disturbance.
Bayesian classification using a noninformative prior and mislabeled training data

Abstract The average probability of error is used to demonstrate the performance of a Bayesian classification test (referred to as the Combined Bayes Test (CBT)) when the training data of each class are mislabeled. The CBT combines the information in discrete training and test data to infer symbol probabilities, where a uniform Dirichlet prior (i.e., a noninformative prior of complete ignorance) is assumed for all classes. Using the CBT, classification performance is shown to degrade when mislabeling exists in the training data, and this occurs with a severity that depends upon the mislabeling probabilities. With this, it is shown that as the mislabeling probabilities increase M ∗ , which is the best quantization fineness related to the Hughes phenomenon of pattern recognition, also increases. Notice, that even when the actual mislabeling probabilities are known by the CBT it is not possible to achieve the classification performance obtainable without mislabeling. However, the negative effect of mislabeling can be diminished, with more success for smaller mislabeling probabilities, if a data reduction method called the Bayesian Data Reduction Algorithm (BDRA) is applied to the training data.
Intermediate filament protein synemin is transiently expressed in a subset of astrocytes during development

Synemin, a developmentally regulated protein first described in muscle cells, has recently been recognized as an intermediate filament (IF) protein. Because IF proteins are invaluable markers of cell origin within the nervous system, we were interested in determining the expression pattern of synemin in the brain. Our results show that, during development of the rat cortex, synemin is expressed only in a subpopulation of astrocytic cells expressing GFAP as well as vimentin and nestin. Unlike GFAP, however, synemin is not expressed in mature astrocytes and, unlike vimentin and nestin, synemin is not present in astrocytic precursors before GFAP expression. Taken together with morphological evidence, the time course of synemin expression, as determined by Western blotting, suggests that synemin is expressed in radial glial cells undergoing morphological transformation into astrocytes. Studies of synemin expression in vitro demonstrate that, early in primary culture, the majority of polygonal astrocytes are derived from synemin(+) radial glial cells. With time in culture, however, polygonal astrocytes either stop expressing synemin or are overgrown by cells not expressing synemin. The unique pattern of synemin expression, both in vivo and in vitro, suggests that the use of synemin as a marker will add a new dimension to studies of astrocytic differentiation.
Coordinate Transformations in Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS)

The newly drafted Military Standard on Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) uses the geocentric coordinates as the world coordinates. However, SIMNET and most of the existing simulators use local topocentric or geodetic coordinates as their world coordinates. This paper establishes the coordinate transformations among the different coordinate systems. The orientation representations in different coordinates are also disccessed.
Laws That Refuse To Be Stated: The Post-Sectarian Spiritualities of Emerson, Thoreau, and D. T. Suzuki

Drawing on previously untranslated Japanese articles, this essay reveals the powerful and sustained influence New England transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau exerted on t...
Relationship of Socioeconomic Status, Sex, and Age to Aggression of Emotionally Disturbed Children in Mothers' Presence.

(1970). Relationship of Socioeconomic Status, Sex, and Age to Aggression of Emotionally Disturbed Children in Mothers' Presence. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 116, No. 1, pp. 95-100.
Electronic States of F-Type Centers in Oxide Crystals: A New Picture

A strong case is made to show that the $F$-type color centers in oxide crystals are qualitatively different from the color centers of alkali halides. A semiquantitative discussion is followed by the results of an $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ self-consistent-field calculation for the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ crystal. An oxygen-ion vacancy in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-alumina is a deep electron trap, the ground state of which lies between the two valence bands, unlike the $F$ center of alkali halides whose ground state lies between the valence and conduction bands. The two electrons in the trap are stabilized by a hole.
Breaking up is bad for the heart

Every minute counts in the case of sudden cardiac arrest when the entire body lacks blood flow and oxygen. The brain is most vulnerable, and if the heart cannot be restarted promptly, serious neurological damage can occur within minutes. To date, there are no drugs that when given during treatment of cardiac arrest can improve resuscitation and protect vital heart and brain function. Now, Sharp et al. describe a new mitochondria-targeted therapy that has promise to change how cardiac arrest is treated. Mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, tend to produce free radicals instead of energy when oxygen is lacking. These damaging free radicals can cause cellular injury in vital organs. Mitochondria increase their free radical production by splitting apart in response to lack of oxygen. This split tends to occur when mitochondria encounter dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). Realizing this mechanism, Sharp et al . applied a small-molecule inhibitor of Drp1, called Mdivi-1, to inhibit mitochrondrial splitting during cardiopulmonary resuscitation after cardiac arrest in a mouse model. They found that Mdivi-1 prevented Drp1dephosphorylation, inhibited its transport to the mitochondria, and reduced mitochondrial splitting. Mdivi-1 also decreased the total time needed to restart the heart and improved heart function after resuscitation when measured using echocardiography. Most importantly, Drp1 inhibition improved survival and decreased neurological injury when assessed 3 days later as using a behavioral neurological scoring system developed for mice. This approach requires further verification in animal models prior to translation to humans. However, keeping mitochondria from breaking up during cardiac arrest may be a viable and important preventer of organ damage. W. W. Sharp et al ., Inhibition of the mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 improves survival in a murine cardiac arrest model. Crit. Care Med. 43 , e38–47 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2015/02000/Inhibition_of_the_Mitochondrial_Fission_Protein.47.aspx
Curriculum-based assessment

Curriculum-based assessment (CBA) measures have become a frequently used assessment tool of school psychologists to assess the academic performance functioning of students in the basic skill areas of reading, mathematics, spelling, and written expression. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the different approaches to CBA, with a particular focus on the defining measurement characteristics of each technique. Following this, an illustrative case example is presented that demonstrates how different CBA procedures can be used for (a) making screening and problem-identification/certification decisions, (b) formulating instructional intervention plans, and (c) monitoring progress toward goal attainment and response to instruction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 45–56, 2006.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)- and ent-(−)-Yatakemycin and Duocarmycin SA: Evaluation of Yatakemycin Key Partial Structures and Its Unnatural Enantiomer

Complementary to studies that provided the first yatakemycin total synthesis resulting in its structure revision and absolute stereochemistry assignment, a second-generation asymmetric total synthesis is disclosed herein. Since the individual yatakemycin subunits are identical to those of duocarmycin SA (alkylation subunit) or CC-1065 (central and right-hand subunits), the studies also provide an improvement in our earlier total synthesis of CC-1065 and, as detailed herein, have been extended to an asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-duocarmycin SA. Further extensions of the studies provided key yatakemycin partial structures and analogues for comparative assessments. This included the definition of the DNA selectivity (adenine central to a five-base-pair AT sequence, e.g., 5‘-AAAAA), efficiency, relative rate, and reversibility of ent-(−)-yatakemycin and its comparison with the natural enantiomer (identical selectivity and efficiency), structural characterization of the adenine N3 adduct confirming the nat...
Optimizing airline passenger prescreening systems with Bayesian decision models

The Transportation Security Agency provides airline security in the United States using a variety of measures including a computer based passenger prescreening system. This paper develops Bayesian decision models of two prescreening systems: one that places ticketed passengers into two classifications (fly and no-fly), and a three classification system that includes potential flight. Using a parameterized cost structure, and the expected monetary value decision criteria, this paper develops optimal levels of undesirable personal characteristics that should place people into the various categories. The models are explored from both the government perspective and the passenger's perspective.
Single-photon quantum-nondemolition detectors constructed with linear optics and projective measurements

Optical quantum-nondemolition devices can provide essential tools for quantum information processing. Here, we describe several optical interferometers that signal the presence of a single photon in a particular input state without destroying it. We discuss both entanglement-assisted and nonentanglement-assisted interferometers, with ideal and realistic detectors. We found that the existing detectors with 88% quantum efficiency and single-photon resolution can yield output fidelities of up to 89%, depending on the input state. Furthermore, we construct expanded protocols to perform quantum-nondemolition detections of single photons that leave the polarization invariant. For detectors with 88% efficiency, we found polarization-preserving output fidelities of up to 98.5%.
Photoperiodic regulation of gametogenesis and gonadal growth in the sea star Pisaster ochraceus

A photoperiod regime 6 mo out of phase between December 1978 and August 1980 resulted in gametogenesis, gonadal growth, and spawning in laboratory-maintained sea stars [Pisaster ochraceus (Brandt)] 6 mo out of phase with individuals in the field or laboratory on normal celestial photoperiods at Santa Cruz, California (USA). The seasonal fluctuation of pyloric cecum size also was shifted when the sea stars were held on the out-of-phase photoperiod regime. Phase shift of all these events was evident within 6 to 9 mo. Long daylengths (or short nightlengths) in spring and summer apparently synchronize or entrain the initiaion of gametogenesis and gonadal growth in fall.
En-Squared Power Based Optical Design for Holographic Storage Systems

The Fourier transform lens consisting of an aspherical element is analyzed in terms of the supportable number of pixels by formalizing an en-squared-power ratio as a function of the Nyquist aperture ratio and aberrations.
Ionic debris assessment of various EUVL systems

Debris generation in EUV sources is a real threat to the lifetime of collector optics. Debris measurements in these sources are of immense importance to enable source suppliers to estimate collector lifetime. Ion debris measurements performed so far are not consistent and in part incomplete. To verify lifetime claims from different EUV source suppliers, SEMATECH, which is leading this investigation, has collaborated with and provided funding to the Center for Plasma Material Interactions (CPMI) at the University of Illinois to build a fully calibrated and standardized spherical sector electrostatic energy analyzer (ICE). This device is capable of measuring ion debris flux in absolute units. In addition to ion flux, the detector is also capable of identifying different ion species present in the plasma, which can be discriminated based on energy-to-charge ratio. The lifetime of collector optics is calculated using the measured ion flux. This device was fabricated for SEMATECH with the sole aim of traveling to different EUV source suppliers' sites around the world and collecting ion debris data. SEMATECH has measured ion debris from different EUV sources around the world, using a 1 to 14keV ion energy range under different source operational conditions (chamber pressure, pinch frequency, pinch power, angle). These measurements identify the need for debris mitigation in all the EUV sources investigated under this project. They also give source suppliers an opportunity to improve and optimize the performance of their respective sources. The information on absolute ion fluxes is an advantage to source suppliers, allowing them to design and develop effective debris mitigation schemes, which can again be tested for their effectiveness using the ion diagnostic tool. As the debris consists of ions and neutrals, the next logical step is to develop a standardized neutral detector to measure the flux and energy distribution of neutrals present in EUV plasma sources. Taking into account both ions and neutral fluxes, more definitive conclusions on the performance of a EUV source can be made and better collector lifetime estimation models can be derived. The Illinois Calibrated ESA (ICE) tool is now part of the SEMATECH "Flying Circus" equipment set.
Minimizing Ohmic Loss in Future Processor IR Events

IR events are periods in time when processors draw a high level of steady state operating current. During IR events, ohmic losses occur in the power delivery path. To minimize these ohmic losses, conventional systems use parallelism to reduce the resistance of the power delivery path. As operating currents continue to increase, however, additional remedies may be required to maintain acceptable ohmic losses. We show how a processor with integrated step down converters can be used to reduce the ohmic loss in its power delivery path. In a 130nm technology node, our integrated solution can reduce the delivery path ohmic loss by 32.8%.
PANAMANIAN DEMOCRACY ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER INDEPENDENCE: PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS

The Republic of Panama provides a fascinating case study for the examination of democratic development in a “developing” country. Like many countries, Panama has a history of colonialism, late independence, and politico-economic dependence. Uniquely, however, Panama is a Western Hemisphere nation that experienced neo-colonialism for most of its “independence” in the 20th century, owing to the enormous US presence. The Canal Zone represented a US enclave that magnified US military, economic and political power to such an extent that from 1903 to 1979 Panama could be said to have been sovereign in name only. Thus, Panama represents a case study in the developing world where we can observe the influence of both domestic and external factors on the process of democratic development.
Lectin-modified microchannels for mammalian cell capture and purification

There is a need for cell purification strategies suitable for handling small cell populations (tens to thousands of cells). We present here a novel strategy for small scale cell purifications using lectin-modified microchannels. Mammalian cells can be selectively captured in lectin-modified channels and eluted with a solution of the lectin's inhibiting sugar. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, two cell lines with different binding affinities to the lectin Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) were combined at various ratios and introduced into SNA-modified microchannels. After incubation and washing, enrichments of approximately ten-fold were obtained for the SNA-binding cell type. The results demonstrate the potential of this miniaturized device for manipulation and purification of limited quantities of cells.
Application of the Branch and Bound Technique to Some Flow-Shop Scheduling Problems

The branch-and-bound technique of Little, et al. and Land and Doig is presented and then applied to two flow-shop scheduling problems. Computational results for up to 9 jobs are given for the 2-machine problem when the objective is minimizing the mean completion time. This problem was previously untreated. Results for up to 10 jobs, including comparisons with other techniques, are given for the 3-machine problem when the objective is minimizing the makespan.
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an underappreciated ventricular dysfunction

Object Neurogenic stunned myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with a wide spectrum of reversible left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and includes a subset of patients with a pattern of apical akinesia and concomitant sparing of basal segments called “tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.” Methods After obtaining institutional review board approval, the authors retrospectively identified among all patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic’s Neurological Intensive Care Unit between January 1990 and January 2005 those with aneurysmal SAH who had met the echocardiographic criteria for tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. Among 24 patients with SAH-induced reversible cardiac dysfunction, the authors identified eight with SAH-induced tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. All eight patients were women with a mean age of 55.5 years (range 38.6–71.1). Seven patients presented with a poor-grade SAH, reflected by a Hunt and Hess grade of III or IV. Four patients underwent aneurysm clip application, and four under...
Two-person zero-sum stochastic games

Two-person zero-sum stochastic games with finite state and action spaces are considered. The expected average payoff criterion is introduced. In the special case of single controller games it is shown that the optimal stationary policies and the value of the game can be obtained from the optimal solutions to a pair of dual programs. For multichain structures, a decomposition algorithm is given which produces such optimal stationary policies for both players. In the case of both players controlling the transitions, a generalized game is obtained, the solution of which gives the optimal policies.
Nurses' use of tuition waivers: One university's experiences

Abstract Although the nursing literature documents the benefits of collaboration between academic and practice settings, the benefits of rewarding clinical preceptors and their organizations has not been examined. In Fall 1996, a large urban public university in New England implemented a program awarding tuition waivers to individual preceptors and clinical agencies who had made significant contributions to the education of nursing students. Three years after implementation, the program was evaluated to determine the extent nurse preceptors and clinical agencies used tuition waivers to assist nurses to enroll in a degree-granting program. Slightly more than one third (36.6 per cent) of the 82 vouchers awarded for a course waiver of tuition and fees were used by 24 nurses. Of the 24 nurses, 12 (50 per cent) were matriculating in the University degree-granting program when they used the voucher. Only one nurse, however, who took her first course on the campus with a voucher, subsequently enrolled in the graduate nursing program during the study period. J Prof Nurs 17:147-150, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Health risk assessment for toxic emissions from a manufacturing facility

This paper presents the risk associated with the release of toxic chemicals from a manufacturing facility, following the State of California's approach to risk assessment. The facility emits five toxic substances from eight stacks. The building downwash is considered during dispersion calculations. The zone of impact, identified using a risk criteria (i.e. excess cancer risk of 10 in a million), is located in the southeast quandrant from the plant. The size of the impact area is 3.3 km2. The cancer and non-cancer effects are considered for chromium (VI), benzene, formaldehyde, gasoline vapors, methylene chloride, and selenium using the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association Guidelines. No significant non-cancer effects are found due to the emissions. The maximum calculated risk is 1.197×10-5 and is an extremely conservative value. Analysis shows that the use of realistic assumptions for exposure duration and unit risk factors during the risk calculations could reduce the zone of impact to 0 km2.
Positron emission tomography in schizophrenic patients with and without neuroleptic medication

Positron emission tomography using [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose was performed in nine chronic schizophrenic patients both when medication-free and when medicated with neuroleptics. Total brain cortex, temporal cortex, and basal ganglia glucose use was significantly increased with medication; however, there was no change in anterior/posterior metabolic gradients.
Fluorescent/ultraviolet absorbing ester derivative formation and analysis of eicosanoids by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Abstract A method is described for the quantitative analysis of eicosanoids (arachidonic acid metabolites, nee, prostaglandins) by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography following formation of the ester derivative with p -(9-anthroyloxy)phenacyl bromide. The lower limit of detection of the eicosanoid ester is 280 pg (ultraviolet—254 nm) and approximately 50 pg (fluorescence 249 emission, 413-nm cutoff). We separated the esters of seven common eicosanoids by reverse-phase chromatography with acetonitrile and water. Thromboxane B 2 chromatographs as two species and coelutes with PGF 2α . Separation of all others is adequate, including the three metabolites of prostacyclin (6-keto-PGF 1α , 6-keto-PGE 1 , 13,14-dihydro-6,15-diketo-PGF 1α ). We obtained good correlation between radioimmunoassay and derivative analysis of standard 6-keto-PGF 1α extracted from lactated Ringer's solution with standard technique, as well as 6-keto-PGF 1α quantitation from tissue culture medium that had contained pulmonary endothelial cells. This method should be applicable to analysis of eicosanoids extracted from biological matrices.
Agarose Surface Coating Influences Intracellular Accumulation and Enhances Payload Stability of a Nano-delivery System

Purpose Protein therapeutics often require repeated administrations of drug over a long period of time. Protein instability is a major obstacle to the development of systems for their controlled and sustained release. We describe a surface modification of nanoporous silicon particles (NSP) with an agarose hydrogel matrix that enhances their ability to load and release proteins, influencing intracellular delivery and preserving molecular stability.
Functional levels of mitochondrial anion transport proteins in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The effect of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (i.e., NIDDM; type 2 diabetes) on the levels of functional mitochondrial anion transport proteins has been determined utilizing a chemically-induced neonatal model of NIDDM. We hypothesized that moderate insulin deficiency exacerbated by the insulin resistance, which is characteristic of NIDDM, would cause changes in mitochondrial anion transporter function that were similar to those we have previously shown to occur in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (i.e., IDDM; type 1 diabetes) (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 280: 181–191, 1990). Our experimental approach consisted of the extraction of the pyruvate, dicarboxylate and citrate transport proteins from the mitochondrial inner membrane with Triton X-114 using rat liver mitoplasts (prepared from diabetic and control animals) as the starting material, followed by the functional reconstitution of each transporter in a proteoliposomal system. This strategy permitted the quantification of the functional levels of these three transporters in the absence of the complications that arise when such measurements are carried out with intact mitochondria (or mitoplasts). We found that experimental NIDDM did not cause significant changes in the extractable and reconstitutable specific (and total) transport activities of the pyruvate, dicarboxylate, and citrate transporters. These results are in marked contrast to our previous findings obtained using rats with IDDM and negated our hypothesis. The present results, in combination with our earlier findings, allow us to conclude that insulin plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial anion transporter function. Accordingly, in this model of NIDDM, where the level of insulin is not profoundly deficient, transporter function is unaltered, whereas in IDDM, where a profound insulinopenia exists, transporter function is altered. Furthermore, the present studies suggest that in the neonatal model of NIDDM the three mitochondrial transporters investigated are neither affected by, nor are they the sites of the well documented hepatic post-receptor insulin resistance which is characteristic of this disease.
Prevalence of CKD in the United States: a sensitivity analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004.

Background Estimates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States using the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data set 1999-2004 indicate that 13.1% of the population (26.3 million people based on the 2000 census) has CKD stages 1 to 4. Study Design We performed sensitivity analyses to highlight assumptions underlying these estimates and illustrate their robustness to varying assumptions. Setting & Participants NHANES 1999-2004 was a nationally representative cross-sectional continuous survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized US population. Our sample included participants 20 years and older. Reference Test Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 defined from the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation; albuminuria defined as persistence of urinary albumin-creatinine ratio greater than 30 mg/g. Index Tests We compared prevalence estimates using the MDRD Study equation with 2 other GFR estimating equations (equation 5 by Rule et al from the Mayo Clinic Donors study; Cockcroft-Gault equation adjusted for body surface area and corrected for the bias in the MDRD Study sample), and sex-specific cutoff values to define albuminuria. Results We found CKD stages 1 to 4 prevalence estimates ranging from 11.7% to 24.9%, a more than 2-fold difference resulting in population estimates of 25.8 million to 54.0 million people using 2006 population estimates. Considering only stages 3 and 4, which are not affected by the choice of cutoff values to define albuminuria, prevalence estimates ranged from 6.3% to 18.6%, resulting in population estimates of 13.7 million to 40.3 million people, a nearly 3-fold difference. Limitations NHANES 1999-2004 is a cross-sectional survey and allows for GFR and albumin-creatinine ratio estimates at 1 point in time. NHANES does not account for seniors in long-term care facilities. Conclusions Although CKD prevalence is high regardless of varying modeling assumptions, different assumptions yield large differences in prevalence estimates.
Non‐11p Constitutional Chromosome Abnormalities in Wilms' Tumor Patients

The incidence in Wilms' tumor patients of constitutional chromosome defects other than those involving the short arm of chromosome 11 was examined using data on 5,854 patients registered in the National Wilms Tumor Study. Trisomy 18 and Turner syndromes were found to occur at higher rates than expected based on chromosome surveys of newborns. Four patients were reported to have trisomy 18; all of these patients were over 5 years of age at the time of diagnosis of Wilms' tumor and none survived longer than six months. Four patients were reported to have Turner syndrome; these patients are currently doing well and have all survived at least 3 years following diagnosis. Two of the Turner patients and one of the trisomy 18 patients had horse-shoe kidneys; we speculate that this renal anomaly may contribute to the higher rates of tumor in these patients. No clear pattern was found among patients with other chromosome defects, although two patients had defects involving 2q37.
All About Analytics

To understand and be successful with analytics, it is important to be precise in understanding what analytics means, the different targets or approaches that companies can take to using analytics, and the drivers that lead to the use of analytics. For companies that use advanced analytics, the keys to success include a clear business need; strong, committed sponsorship; a fact-based decision making culture; a strong data infrastructure; the right analytic tools; and strong analytical personnel in an appropriate organizational structure. These are the same factors for success for business intelligence in general, but there are important nuances when implementing advanced analytics, such as with the data infrastructure, analytical tools, and personnel. Companies like Amazon.com, Overstock.com, Harrahâ€™s Entertainment, and First American Corporation are exemplars that illustrate concepts and best practices.
On the theory of sandwich panels in the reference state

Abstract The present work can be considered as an extension to layered plates of the theory of plates in the reference state formulated by Habip in [1] and [2], and as a refinement of the contributions to the theory of sandwich plates by Eringen in [3] and by Yu in [4] and [5]. A variational procedure, used by Yn in [6], is extended to derive the equations of motion and the boundary conditions of sandwich panels subjected to large displacements and large angles of rotation. Each layer of the sandwich panel is of different thickness and of a different anisotropic material having one plane of elastic symmetry. The transverse shear and transverse normal strains as well as the inertia and thermal effects are included in the analysis. The equations of motion are simplified for sandwich panels having membrane facings. The linearized version of the final equations is discussed.
Compression testing of metallic glass at small length scales: Effects on deformation mode and stability

Abstract Size effects on plastic deformation of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass were examined using microcompression specimens with diameters ranging from 200 nm to 3.6 μm. Shear banding is shown to be more stable at this length scale than in macro-scale testing because of a smaller specimen to load frame stiffness ratio. A change in deformation mode from discrete strain bursts to more continuous deformation including both localized and non-localized contributions was observed at low strains in specimens less than 300 nm in diameter. A linear relationship was observed between the magnitude of the strain burst and the specimen diameter. A model for the superposition of strain from individual flow defects, consistent with the observed behavior, is presented. Extrapolation of this data indicates that a critical shear band nucleus length of 11 nm is required for successful flow localization. This limit has important implications for the development of strengthening and toughening strategies.
Multivariate Bayesian Regression Approach to Forecast Releases from a System of Multiple Reservoirs

This research presents a model that simultaneously forecasts required water releases 1 and 2 days ahead from two reservoirs that are in series. In practice, multiple reservoir system operation is a difficult process that involves many decisions for real-time water resources management. The operator of the reservoirs has to release water from more than one reservoir taking into consideration different water requirements (irrigation, environmental issues, hydropower, recreation, etc.) in a timely manner. A model that forecasts the required real-time releases in advance from a multiple reservoir system could be an important tool to allow the operator of the reservoir system to make better-informed decisions for releases needed downstream. The model is developed in the form of a multivariate relevance vector machine (MVRVM) that is based on a sparse Bayesian regression model approach. With this Bayesian approach, a predictive confidence interval is obtained from the model that captures the uncertainty of both the model and the data. The model is applied to the multiple reservoir system located in the Lower Sevier River Basin near Delta, Utah. The results show that the model learns the input–output patterns with high accuracy. Computing multiple-time-ahead predictions in real-time would require a model which guarantees not only good prediction accuracy but also robustness with respect to future changes in the nature of the inputs data. A bootstrap analysis is used to guarantee good generalization ability and robustness of the MVRVM. Test results demonstrate good performance of predictions and statistics that indicate robust model generalization abilities. The MVRVM is compared in terms of performance and robustness with another multiple output model such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN).
Increase in ACC Oxidase Levels and Activities During Paradormancy Release of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia Esula) Buds

The plant hormone ethylene is known to affect various developmental processes including dormancy and growth. Yet, little information is available about the role of ethylene during paradormancy release in underground adventitious buds of leafy spurge. In this study, we examined changes in ethylene evolution and the ethylene biosynthetic enzyme ACC oxidase following paradormancy release (growth induction). Our results did not show an obvious increase in ethylene during bud growth. However, when buds were incubated with 1 mM ACC, ethylene levels were higher in growing than non-growing buds, suggesting that the levels of ACC oxidase increased in growing buds. Real-time qPCR indicated that the transcript of a Euphorbia esula ACC oxidase (Ee-ACO) increased up to threefold following growth induction. In addition, a 2.5- to 4-fold increase in ACO activity was observed 4 days after decapitation, and the Ee-ACO accounted for 40 % of the total ACO activity. Immunoblot analyses identified a 36-kD Ee-ACO protein that increased in expression during bud growth. This protein was highly expressed in leaves, moderately expressed in crown buds, stems and meristems, and weakly expressed in roots and flowers. Immunolocalization of Ee-ACO on growing bud sections revealed strong labeling of the nucleus and cytoplasm in cells at the shoot apical meristem and leaf primordia. An exception to this pattern occurred in cells undergoing mitosis, where labeling of Ee-ACO was negligible. Taken together, our results indicated an increase in the levels of Ee-ACO during paradormancy release of leafy spurge that was not correlated with an increase in ethylene synthesis.
Computationally efficient restricted maximum likelihood estimation of generalized covariance functions

Computational aspects of the estimation of generalized covariance functions by the method of restricted maximum likelihood (REML) are considered in detail. In general, REML estimation is computationally intensive, but significant computational savings are available in important special cases. The approach taken here restricts attention to data whose spatial configuration is a regular lattice, but makes no restrictions on the number of parameters involved in the generalized covariance nor (with the exception of one result) on the nature of the generalized covariance function's dependence on those parameters. Thus, this approach complements the recent work of L. G. Barendregt (1987), who considered computational aspects of REML estimation in the context of arbitrary spatial data configurations, but restricted attention to generalized covariances which are linear functions of only two parameters.
Another Way Out: The Impact of Juvenile Arrests on High School Dropout

This article suggests that contact with the legal system increased school dropout in a Chicago sample of 4,844 inner-city students. According to multilevel multivariate logistic models, students who were first arrested during the 9th or 10th grade were six to eight times more likely than were nonarrested students ever to dropout of high school and are about 3.5 times more likely to drop out in Grades 9 and 10. However, selection bias is a real concern. To improve causal inference, students who were first arrested in Grade 9 (n = 228) are compared to 9th graders (n = 153) who were first arrested a year later. Given this sampling restriction, the groups hardly differ on many observables. Yet early arrest still increases early school dropout in models with many relevant covariates. The 9th-grade arrestees are also compared to matched students who avoided arrest. Similar intergroup differences in the risk of dropout were observed. Thus, being arrested weakens subsequent participation in urban schools, decreas...
Study of bit error rate (BER) for multicarrier OFDM

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a multicarrier technique that is being used more and more in recent wideband digital communications. It is known for its ability to handle severe channel conditions, the efficiency of spectral usage and the high data rate. Therefore, It has been used in many wired and wireless communication systems such as DSL, wireless networks and 4G mobile communications. Data streams are modulated and sent over multiple subcarriers using either M-QAM or M-PSK. OFDM has lower inter simple interference (ISI) levels because of the of the low data rates of carriers resulting in long symbol periods. In this paper, BER performance of OFDM with respect to signal to noise ratio (SNR) is evaluated. BPSK Modulation is used in s Simulation based system in order to get the BER over different wireless channels. These channels include additive white Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and fading channels that are based on Doppler spread and Delay spread. Plots of the results are compared with each other after varying some of the key parameters of the system such as the IFFT, number of carriers, SNR. The results of the simulation give visualization of what kind of BER to expect when the signal goes through those channels.
The lunar seismogram

The unexpected and unusual characteristics of the lunar seismogram have given rise to various speculations regarding their origin: secondary ejecta, diffusive wave propagation and wave propagation effects in a self-compacted powder layer with a linearly increasing velocity with depth. Many of the characteristics can be explained, qualitatively, by the simple theory of a self-compacting, dry powder layer for which the velocity varies as the sixth root of the depth. This gives a very low seismic velocity at the lunar surface which, in turn, allows the signal to have a long duration, a lack of correlation between horizontal and vertical displacements, a signal envelope that changes with source to receiver separation and a varying spectrum over the duration of the signal. To explain the long duration of the seismic signal quantitatively, it is necessary to include scattering of the normally incident rays at the surface by shallow surface undulations. The sixth root velocity-depth dependence is consistent with the measured variation, with pressure, of the compressibility and velocity of lunar samples.
Proposed method to determine the flow number in bituminous mixtures from repeated axial load tests

Researchers report the number of cycles corresponding to the lower strain rate in a permanent deformation test, known as flow number (FN), as a good asphalt mix stability indicator; however, its variability has limited its implementation. Current procedures for calculating FN rely on data smoothing techniques, which can yield very different values for the same specimen if different moving average periods are used. A new methodology for determining FN is proposed by modeling the permanent strain versus load cycles curve as a continuous function. Data from cold-mix replicate samples were analyzed and compared, and a substantial reduction in FN variability was observed using the proposed methodology. Use of FN to select the data to determine the power model parameters was also evaluated. Results indicate that establishing FN as the upper cut-off point of the data used to fit the power-model produces a slight reduction in parameter estimates variability. Adopting the proposed model could be useful for permanent deformation characterization and as a unifying criterion for selecting the data used for that purpose.
A direct gate field-effect transistor for the measurement of DC electric fields

A solid-state dc field sensor based on MOS technology has been fabricated and tested. The device's key feature is the absence of a metalized gate electrode, i.e., the oxide layer and substrate channel beneath are exposed directly to the external field to be measured, which in turn modulates the channel current. Field to current "transconductance" on the order of 0.06 µA/kV/m has been observed. The screening of the field from the substrate surface, as charges flow over oxide layer leakage paths, occurs with a relaxation time on the order of 35 h with the device in air at room temperature.
The Elastic-Plastic Torsion Problem: A Direct Boundary Approach∗

ABSTRACT A new mechanics theorem pertaining to the elastic-plastic torsion problem is shown; i.e., the complementary energy evaluated on some admissible set of functions is minimized with respect to the transient (free) boundary between the elastic and plastic zones. The elastic-plastic torsion problem is then formulated as an unconstrained shape optimal design problem which treats the free boundary directly as a unknown. Unlike other formulations there is no inequality constraint involved in this formulation. The derivation of shape design sensitivity and numerical results for circular cross section and Sokolovsky's oval are presented.
Daminozide applied to the foliage of three potato cultivars increased tuber eye number

The plant growth regulator, daminozide, was applied to the foliage of Ranger Russet, Shepody and Nooksack potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) plants at 0, 0.62, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 g product·liter−1 to determine its effectiveness in increasing eye number and reducing average tuber weight. Total tuber yields were not affected. Daminozide treatment increased tuber eye number of each cultivar and did not alter the distribution of eyes between the stem and bud ends. After 5 g daminozide·liter−1 treatment, average eye number of the stem end and bud ends of Nooksack increased up to 1.0 eye, by 27% for Shepody and by 31% for Ranger Russet. The largest increases in eye number occurred in Ranger Russet. However, increasing daminozide concentration caused increased tuber elongation in Ranger Russet. Average tuber weight decreased significantly in response to daminozide treatment only in Shepody. As a seed tuber production aid, daminozide can be used to increase eye number, and in some cultivars, to reduce average tuber weight.
Predicting post-operative delirium in elderly patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture

Background: Delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture has a significant negative influence on the disease course. Awareness of risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) may lead to the development of effective preventive strategies. The aims of this study were: to find patients’ features that are predictors of POD, and; to develop a model predicting the risk for POD. Patients and methods: Seventy-seven elderly patients (81.9 years of age, SD 7.5 years) were non-delirious prior to surgery and enrolled in the study. Delirium was diagnosed by Confusion Assessment Method and Algorrhithm. Patients’ characteristics as potential predictors of POD were analyzed by logistic regression analysis on SAS software. Results: Postoperative delirium was diagnosed in 37 patients. Use of multiple (>3) medications, lower scores on cognitive tests (<20 on Set Test and <24 on Mini-mental Status Exam), albumin level less than 3.5 g/dL, hematocrit level less than 33% and age over 81 years were predictors of POD. A logistic regression formula including these predictors weighed by their parameter estimates can be used to calculate the probability of POD. The model had a good fit and a good predictive power. A Delirium Predicting Scale was derived based on parameter estimates of these predictors. Patients can be classified as low-, intermediate- or high-risk for POD. Conclusions: A logistic regression model, which includes patients’ age, medication history, cognitive performance measured by Set Test and Mini-Mental Status Exam, albumin and hematocrit levels, can be used to predict risk for POD after surgical repair of fractured hip in elderly patients.