cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A parallel genetic algorithm to discover patterns in genetic markers that indicate predisposition to multifactorial disease

This paper describes a novel algorithm to analyze genetic linkage data using pattern recognition techniques and genetic algorithms (GA). The method allows a search for regions of the chromosome that may contain genetic variations that jointly predispose individuals for a particular disease. The method uses correlation analysis, filtering theory and genetic algorithms to achieve this goal. Because current genome scans use from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of markers, two versions of the method have been implemented. The first is an exhaustive analysis version that can be used to visualize, explore, and analyze small genetic data sets for two marker correlations; the second is a GA version, which uses a parallel implementation allowing searches of higher-order correlations in large data sets. Results on simulated data sets indicate that the method can be informative in the identification of major disease loci and gene-gene interactions in genome-wide linkage data and that further exploration of these techniques is justified. The results presented for both variants of the method show that it can help genetic epidemiologists to identify promising combinations of genetic factors that might predispose to complex disorders. In particular, the correlation analysis of IBD expression patterns might hint to possible gene-gene interactions and the filtering might be a fruitful approach to distinguish true correlation signals from noise.
The World of W. Edwards Deming, Second Edition

This article presents a review of the book The World of W. Edwards Deming, Second Edition, by Cecelia S. Kilian.
APPENDICITIS DURING PREGNANCY.

APPENDICITIS sometimes may threaten the life of the gravid patient, The diagnosis of acute appendicitis may be difficult under ordinary circumstances, but, in the pregnant patient, it represents an even greater challenge. Appendicitis is the most common extrauterine surgical complication of pregnancy,1and it occurs about once in every 1,000 pregnancies, being seen more frequently during the first two trimesters than during the last.2For a clearer understanding of the features and consequencies of appendicitis under these conditions, we have reviewed the recent experience at the Mayo Clinic. Observations During the ten-year period, 1954 through 1963, 34 pregnant women sought medical attention because of acute abdominal pain that led to the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnancy. Of these 34 patients, 20 were proved, by microscopic examination, to have acute appendicitis (an accuracy rate of 59%). Since there were 16,100deliveries during the period of this study, in our series the incidence of acute
Flame-Surface Interaction and Flamelet Microstructure Over Single and Multiple Solid Fuel Segments in a Channel Cross Flow

The goal of this research is to study flamelets near solid fuel segments embedded in a non-combustible binder material. Flame attachment to surfaces in problems such as spreading flames, fires, and surface-burning propellants is a complicated process. The flame heats the surface, which decomposes into volatiles, which leave the surface as the gaseous fuel that mixes with incoming oxidizer, feeding further combustion. An interesting flame shape called the "flamelet" appears in narrow-channel combustion, microgravity combustion, and combustion over heterogeneous fuels. The model examined here develops a simple description of flamelet attachment and examines the details of the localized near-surface heat transfer and gas phase combustion. In essence, the "flame microstructure" near the surface is described as it interacts with the surface, including the heat flux from the flame, the surface heat flux, their dependence on flame microstructural parameters, and the sensitivity of the flame structure in response to changes in these parameters. Where possible, numerical solutions are compared with analytical formulas and calculations, and extensions are made to describe more general cases.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Faith-Based Programs and the Role of Empirical Research

After some decades of being subject to neglect or contempt, faith-based social care programs are receiving increased attention and resources enabling them to undertake a greater role in the national network of human services. Faith-based programs receiving public support can expect to be rightly scrutinized by the public, in terms of their ability to attain professed program goals. The tools of conventional empirically-oriented program evaluation research have tremendous potential to help demonstrate the effectiveness of faith-based programs, which will justify their receipt of ongoing support from public funds. Negative research findings can be properly scrutinized by the faith-based community of service providers to help make tough, data-based, decisions on funding priorities. Several examples are described, illustrating how various types of faith-based programs have profitably participated in program evaluation studies.
The lodge peace mission of 1969 and Nixon's Vietnam policy

(1996). The lodge peace mission of 1969 and Nixon's Vietnam policy. Diplomacy & Statecraft: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 175-196.
Data Assimilation for Strongly Nonlinear Problems by Transformed Ensemble Kalman Filter

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) has been widely used for data assimilation. It is challenging, however, when the relation of state and observation is strongly nonlinear. For example, near the flooding front in an immiscible flow, directly updating the saturation by use of the EnKF may lead to nonphysical results. One possible solution, which may be referred to as the restarted EnKF (REnKF), is to update the static state (e.g., permeability and porosity) and rerun the forward model from the initial time to obtain the updated dynamic state (e.g., pressure and saturation). However, it may become time-consuming, especially when the number of assimilation steps is large. In this study, we develop a transformed EnKF (TEnKF), in which the state is represented by displacement as an alternative variable. The displacement is first transformed from the forecasted state, then updated, and finally transformed back to obtain the updated state. Because the relation between displacement and observation is relatively linear, this new method provides a physically meaningful updated state without resolving the forward model. The TEnKF is tested in the history matching of multiphase flow in a 1D homogeneous medium, a 2D heterogeneous reservoir, and a 3D PUNQ-S3 model. The case studies show that the TEnKF produces physical results without the oscillation problem that occurs in the traditional EnKF, whereas the computational effort is reduced compared with the REnKF.
Autocatalyzed Protein Folding

Proline isomerization, an intrinsically slow process, kinetically traps intermediates in slow protein folding reactions. Thus, enzymes that catalyze proline isomerization (prolyl isomerases) often catalyze protein folding. We have investigated the folding kinetics of FKBP, a prolyl isomerase. The main conclusion is that FKBP catalyzes its own folding. Altogether, the FKBP refolding kinetics are resolved into three exponential phases: a fast phase, tau 3; an intermediate phase, tau 2; and a slow phase, tau 1. Unfolding occurs in a single phase, the unfolding branch of phase tau 2. In the presence of native FKBP, both the intermediate (tau 2) and slow (tau 1) phases are faster, suggesting that folding phases tau 1 and tau 2 involve proline cis-trans isomerization. In the absence of added native FKBP, autocatalytic folding of FKBP is detected. For refolding starting with all the FKBP unfolded initially, the slowest folding phase (tau 1) is almost 2-fold faster at a final concentration of 14 microM FKBP than at 2 microM FKBP, suggesting that catalytically active FKBP formed in the fast (tau 3) or intermediate (tau 2) folding phases catalyzes the slow folding phase (tau 1). Moreover, autocatalysis of folding is inhibited by FK506, an inhibitor of the FKBP prolyl isomerase activity. The results show that the slow phase in FKBP folding is an autocatalyzed formation of native FKBP from kinetically trapped species with non-native proline isomers. While the magnitude of the catalytic effects reported here are modest, FKBP folding may provide a prototype for autocatalysis of kinetically trapped macromolecular conformational changes in other systems.
Improving local government finance in a changing environment

Abstract This paper addresses key issues in local government finance reform in the context of decentralisation and more active engagement of the private sector in urban service delivery and its financing. A basic premise is that securing institutional arrangements for intergovernmental relationships and the incentive structure governing the performance of local government is essential in the design and implementation of policy to improve local finance. Within this framework, the paper discusses major subject areas in which changes are needed to promote viable decentralisation and successful private-public partnerships.
A Fluorescent Linewidth Measurement System For Vlsi Fabrication

The fabrication of small VLSI circuits (1.25 μ m minimum feature size) requires accurate, routine linewidth measurements of resist structures after exposure and development. The evaluation of several commercial instruments, all of which used a brightfield measurement technique, revealed that they suffered from the same limitations and that none of them were sufficiently accurate. This paper describes experiments demonstrating that thickness variations of films beneath the photoresist are a major source of inaccuracy with these systems. After exploring several potential solutions, UV excitation of a fluorescent dye in the photoresist and measurement of the resulting fluorescence image was selected and enhanced. This technique is insensitive to the optical properties of the subsurface layers and offers improved accuracy. Extensive measurements of 1 to 1.5 ym photoresist structures were made with a commercial measurement system and fluorescent illumination. The desired long term precision of 0.015 μ m (lσ) and accuracy (when compared to SEM measurements) of 0.03 μ m (l σ ) ^were achieved. Fluorescent linewidth measurement systems are now in routine use at Hewlett-Packard's VLSI production facilities.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Factor structure of neurocognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia: a multidimensional examination of temporal stability.

Although neurocognition is commonly described in terms of different functional domains, some factor analytic studies have suggested a simpler dimensional structure for neuropsychological (NP) tests in patients with schizophrenia. Standardized tasks of everyday functioning, or tests of “functional capacity” (FC), are viewed differently from traditional NP tests, and are hence used as a co-primary measure in treatment studies. However, FC and NP tests have been found to be highly correlated. In fact, a recent study of ours suggested that performances on these different types of tasks constituted a single latent trait in a cross-sectional analysis. The current study examined the longitudinal factor structure of a combined set of NP and FC tests. Patients with schizophrenia (n=195) were examined at two assessment occasions separated by periods ranging from 6 weeks to 6 months. Participants were assessed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and two performance-based assessments of FC. A single latent trait was extracted using full information maximum likelihood procedures, and its temporal stability was examined in terms of: stability of the latent trait scores, the intercorrelations of the three indicators of the latent trait, and the stability of loadings for the FC and NP items underlying the latent trait at the two measurement occasions. All indices of temporal stability were confirmed, with stability not related to follow-up duration. Variation in clinical symptoms and treatments across the measurement occasions was negligible. These findings raise the question of whether cognitive abilities measured by NP tests and FC instruments are tapping a single ability construct, which might have shared causal influences as well.
The primary cilium: a signalling centre during vertebrate development

The primary cilium has recently stepped into the spotlight, as a flood of data show that this organelle has crucial roles in vertebrate development and human genetic diseases. Cilia are required for the response to developmental signals, and evidence is accumulating that the primary cilium is specialized for hedgehog signal transduction. The formation of cilia, in turn, is regulated by other signalling pathways, possibly including the planar cell polarity pathway. The cilium therefore represents a nexus for signalling pathways during development. The connections between cilia and developmental signalling have begun to clarify the basis of human diseases associated with ciliary dysfunction.
Quantitative characterization of catalyst layer degradation in PEM fuel cells by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract A quantitative analysis of catalyst layer degradation was performed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS is quantitative, surface-sensitive, and is able to distinguish different bonding environments or chemical states of fuel cell catalyst layers and polymer electrolyte membrane. These capabilities have allowed us to explore the complex mechanisms of degradation during fuel cell operation. The elemental surface concentrations of carbon, fluorine, oxygen, sulfur, and platinum on the catalyst layer surface were measured before and after fuel cell operation, and the different chemical states of carbon and platinum were identified. Both XPS analysis and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the ionomer on the catalyst layer degraded or decreased in concentration after fuel cell operation. Ionomer degradation was characterized by a decrease of CF3 and CF2 species and an increase in oxidized forms of carbon (e.g. C O and C O), and an increase in less- and non-fluorinated forms of carbon (e.g. CF and graphitic), consistent with overall reduction of fluorine by about 22%. The surface concentration of fluorine and platinum also reduced from 50.1% to 38.9% and from 0.4% to 0.3%, respectively. The concentration of oxidized forms of carbon and platinum increased after fuel cell operation. The surface-sensitive XPS technique should prove useful for the quantitative monitoring of catalyst layer degradation mechanisms over the lifetime of fuel cells.
A mathematical modelling tool for predicting survival of individual patients following resection of glioblastoma: a proof of principle

The prediction of the outcome of individual patients with glioblastoma would be of great significance for monitoring responses to therapy. We hypothesise that, although a large number of genetic-metabolic abnormalities occur upstream, there are two ‘final common pathways' dominating glioblastoma growth – net rates of proliferation (ρ) and dispersal (D). These rates can be estimated from features of pretreatment MR images and can be applied in a mathematical model to predict tumour growth, impact of extent of tumour resection and patient survival. Only the pre-operative gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (T1-Gd) and T2-weighted (T2) volume data from 70 patients with previously untreated glioblastoma were used to derive a ratio D/ρ for each patient. We developed a ‘virtual control' for each patient with the same size tumour at the time of diagnosis, the same ratio of net invasion to proliferation (D/ρ) and the same extent of resection. The median durations of survival and the shapes of the survival curves of actual and ‘virtual' patients subjected to biopsy or subtotal resection (STR) superimpose exactly. For those actually receiving gross total resection (GTR), as shown by post-operative CT, the actual survival curve lies between the ‘virtual' results predicted for 100 and 125% resection of the T1-Gd volume. The concordance between predicted (virtual) and actual survivals suggests that the mathematical model is realistic enough to allow precise definition of the effectiveness of individualised treatments and their site(s) of action on proliferation (ρ) and/or dispersal (D) of the tumour cells without knowledge of any other clinical or pathological information.
Incidence, host relations and population structure of Armillaria ostoyae in Colorado campgrounds

Armillaria root disease is common and widely distributed in campgrounds of southwestern Colorado. Armillaria ostoyae spreads clonally underground and kills and decays tree roots, causing mortality or predisposing the trees to windthrow. We intensively surveyed and mapped genets (clones) of the pathogen in two campgrounds on the San Juan National Forest and one on Grand Mesa National Forest (GMNF). Three additional campgrounds on the GMNF were also surveyed. Infection (based on mycelium under the bark on or near the root collar) of all sampled live trees was 10.5% (range 7.5–15.0) inside campgrounds and 12.7% (3.3–25.9) immediately outside campgrounds, suggesting that campground construction and management practices have not exacerbated the disease. Dominant trees had significantly greater incidence of infection than trees in other crown classes. Isolates of A. ostoyae were obtained from 379 trees, and genets were identified by somatic incompatibility tests and variation in DNA microsatellite markers. The pathogen occurred as one large genet in the spruce-fir campground and several large genets in each of the mixed conifer campgrounds. Based on the size and distribution of the genets, the campgrounds appeared to be almost completely colonized by mosaics of centuries old genets, and little expansion of genet territories (or disease centers) appeared possible without loss of territory by another genet. The diseased trees in the campgrounds were randomly distributed rather than being organized into discrete disease centers. Live subalpine fir had significantly lower incidence of infection (7.0%) than Engelmann spruce, blue spruce and Douglas-fir (12.0, 12.3 and 15.7%, respectively), but evidence suggests a higher rate of mortality in subalpine fir. Crown thinning and dieback were useful symptoms for detection, but basal resinosis was the most efficient symptom indicating infection. Use of a combination of aboveground symptoms to select trees for more intensive examination is the most efficient approach to detection of infected trees. The disease poses difficult obstacles to long-term management of safe vegetation in developed sites. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sudden death prior to pediatric heart transplantation: would implantable defibrillators improve outcome?

Objectives The goal of this study is to determine the incidence of sudden cardiac death in children with cardiomyopathy prior to pediatric heart transplantation. Background Recent primary prevention trials of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) therapy in adults with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy have shown a survival benefit. The incidence of sudden death, and thus the likelihood of improved survival with ICD therapy, in children with cardiomyopathy is currently unknown. Methods The Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) database was retrospectively queried for patients ≤18 years of age who died from any cause after listing for but prior to heart transplantation. Patients having arrhythmic or sudden death were included for study. Clinical and demographic variables were examined to identify higher-risk sub-groups. Results Of the 2,392 patients in the PHTS database, 420 (17.6%) died prior to heart transplantation. Only 32 deaths (1.3% of total listed, 7.6% of total deaths) were sudden or arrhythmic in nature. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy had an increased risk of sudden death (relative risk = 6.92). Presence of congenital heart disease and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status at listing were not associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Conclusions The overall incidence of sudden death in children awaiting heart transplantation is low; therefore, uniform implantation of ICDs for the primary prevention of sudden death is unlikely to improve survival in this population. Children with ischemic cardiomyopathy appear to have a higher risk of sudden death and may benefit from ICD therapy.
Effects of the Bcr/abl kinase inhibitors STI571 and adaphostin (NSC 680410) on chronic myelogenous leukemia cells in vitro.

The adenosine triphosphate binding-site–directed agent STI571 and the tyrphostin adaphostin are undergoing evaluation as bcr/abl kinase inhibitors. The current study compared the effects of these agents on the survival of K562 cells, bcr/abl-transduced FDC-P1 cells, and myeloid progenitors from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) compared with healthy donors. Treatment of K562 cells with 10 μM adaphostin resulted in decreased p210bcr/ablpolypeptide levels in the first 6 hours, followed by caspase activation and accumulation of apoptotic cells in less than 12 hours. By 24 hours, 90% of the cells were apoptotic and unable to form colonies. In contrast, 20 μM STI571 caused rapid inhibition of bcr/abl autophosphorylation without p210bcr/abl degradation. Although this was followed by the inhibition of Stat5 phosphorylation and the down-regulation of Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, only 7% ± 3% and 25% ± 9% of cells were apoptotic at 16 and 24 hours, respectively. Instead, the cytotoxic effects of STI571 became more pronounced with prolonged exposure, with IC90values greater than 20 μM and 1.0 ± 0.6 μM after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Consistent with these results, 24-hour adaphostin exposure inhibited CML granulocyte colony-forming units (CFU-G) (median IC50, 12 μM) but not normal CFU-G (median IC50, greater than 20 μM), whereas 24-hour STI571 treatment had no effect on CML or normal CFU-G. Additional experiments revealed that STI571-resistant K562 cells remained sensitive to adaphostin. Moreover, the combination of STI571 + adaphostin induced more cytotoxicity in K562 cells and in CML CFU-G than either agent alone did. Collectively, these results identify adaphostin as a mechanistically distinct CML-selective agent that retains activity in STI571-resistant cell lines.
Life cycle assessment of nutrient remediation and bioenergy production potential from the harvest of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is one of the world's most problematic invasive aquatic plants. Although management of hydrilla overgrowth has often been based on use of chemical herbicides, issues such as the emergence of herbicide-resistant hydrilla biotypes and the need for in situ nutrient remediation strategies have together raised interest in the use of harvester machines as an alternative management approach. Using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, we calculated a range of net energy and economic benefits associated with hydrilla harvests and the utilization of biomass for biogas and compost production. Base case scenarios that used moderate data assumptions showed net energy benefit ratios (NEBRs) of 1.54 for biogas production and 1.32 for compost production pathways. NEBRs for these respective pathways rose to 2.11 and 2.68 when labor was excluded as a fossil fuel input. Base case biogas and compost production scenarios respectively showed a monetary benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.79 and 1.83. Moreover, very high NEBRs (3.94 for biogas; 6.37 for compost) and BCRs (>11 for both biogas and compost) were found for optimistic scenarios in which waterways were assumed to have high hydrilla biomass density, high nutrient content in biomass, and high priority for nutrient remediation. Energy and economic returns were largely decoupled, with biogas and fertilizer providing the bulk of output energy, while nutrient remediation and herbicide avoidance dominated the economic output calculations. Based on these results, we conclude that hydrilla harvest is likely a suitable and cost- effective management program for many nutrient-impaired waters. Additional research is needed to determine how hydrilla harvesting programs may be most effectively implemented in conjunction with fish and wildlife enhancement objectives.
Protection from photodamage by topical application of caffeine after ultraviolet irradiation

Summary Background Characterization of mechanisms that can reverse residual damage from prior skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) would be of considerable biological and therapeutic interest. Topical caffeine application to mouse skin that had previously been treated with UV has been shown to inhibit the subsequent development of squamous cell carcinomas. Objectives We used an established mouse photodamage model to investigate other possible effects of topical caffeine application after UV. Methods SKH-1 hairless mice were treated with ultraviolet B (UVB) followed immediately by topical application of caffeine or vehicle three times weekly for 11 weeks. Results Caffeine applied topically after UV treatment resulted in a significant decrease in UV-induced skin roughness/transverse rhytides as assessed by treatment-blinded examiners. Histologically, topical caffeine application after a single dose of UVB more than doubled the number of apoptotic keratinocytes as evaluated by sunburn cell formation, caspase 3 cleavage and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. A trend towards decreased solar elastosis was noted in the caffeine-treated group although this was not statistically significant. Other histological parameters including epidermal hyperplasia, solar elastosis and angiogenesis were increased in mice treated with UV but topical application of caffeine did not alter these particular UV effects. Conclusions These findings support the concept that topical application of caffeine to mouse skin after UV irradiation promotes the deletion of DNA-damaged keratinocytes and may partially diminish photodamage as well as photocarcinogenesis.
Neuro-visual control in the Quake II game engine

The first-person-shooter Quake II is used as a platform to test neuro-visual control and retina input layouts. Agents are trained to shoot a moving enemy as quickly as possible in a visually simple environment, using a neural network controller with evolved weights. Two retina layouts are tested, each with the same number of inputs: first, a graduated density retina which focuses near the center of the screen and blurs outward; second, a uniform retina which focuses evenly across the screen. Results show that the graduated density retina learns more successfully than the uniform retina.
Design and implementation of an extrusion-based break-in detector for personal computers

An increasing variety of malware, such as worms, spyware and adware, threatens both personal and business computing. Remotely controlled bot networks of compromised systems are growing quickly. In this paper, we tackle the problem of automated detection of break-ins caused by unknown malware targeting personal computers. We develop a host based system, BINDER (Break-IN DEtectoR), to detect break-ins by capturing user unintended malicious outbound connections (referred to as extrusions). To infer user intent, BINDER correlates outbound connections with user-driven input at the process level under the assumption that user intent is implied by user-driven input. Thus BINDER can detect a large class of unknown malware such as worms, spyware and adware without requiring signatures. We have successfully used BINDER to detect real world spyware on daily used computers and email worms on a controlled testbed with very small false positives
Comparisons of the queen volatile compounds of instrumentally inseminated versus naturally mated honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens

Instrumental insemination is an attractive alternative to natural mating because specific genetic crosses can be made, thus producing colonies with desired traits. However, there are conflicting reports on the quality and acceptance of instrumentally inseminated (II) queens compared to naturally mated (NM) queens. One factor that affects acceptance and retention of queens is the volatile compounds they produce. Our study compared volatile chemicals from virgin and mated honey bee queens that were either NM or II. The volatile compounds from virgin queens differed from those of mated egg-laying queens. Virgin queens produced greater relative amounts of the volatile compounds we detected (including 2-phenylethanol, n-octanal, and n-decanal) with the exception of E-β-ocimene, which was higher in mated laying queens. II and NM queens did not differ in type or relative amounts of volatile compounds. The similarities between II and NM queens indicate that the physiological changes that happen after mating and egg laying occur regardless of the mating method.
When story characters communicate: readers’ representations of characters’ linguistic exchanges

Klin, Ralano, and Weingartner (2007) found transfer effects when a phrase, described as part of a note one character had left for another, was repeated across two passages. However, when the phrase was part of a note in story A and part of a conversation in story B, transfer effects were eliminated (Klin & Drumm, 2010). Klin and Drumm concluded that readers encoded the perceptual features of story characters’ linguistic exchanges and that the mismatch (visual vs. auditory) eliminated transfer effects. The present experiments support this conclusion and also demonstrate that readers encode details of the social interaction that surrounds the characters’ linguistic exchanges: Effects were reduced when the phrase in story A was part of a direct social interaction between the characters (e.g., phone conversation), whereas in story B, the interaction was indirect (e.g., voicemail). More generally, readers are exquisitely tuned to subtle aspects of characters’ linguistic exchanges.
Generating Synthetic Syndromic-Surveillance Data for Evaluating Visual-Analytics Techniques

This system generates synthetic syndromic-surveillance data for evaluating visualization and visual-analytics techniques. Modeling data from emergency room departments, the system generates two years of patient data, into which system users can inject spatiotemporal disease outbreak signals. The result is a data set with known seasonal trends and irregular outbreak patterns.
Verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) of models and simulations through reduced order metamodels

The paper provides a new approach to support verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) of models and simulations. The need for efficient and objective methods to verify, validate and accredit models and simulations is greater than ever. More and more decisions are based on computer generated data that are derived from models and simulations. The strength of these decisions is a direct function of the validity of this data. Based on the system identification of reduced order models, this new approach approximates a complex high-dimensional model or simulation by a relatively simple mathematical model valid over a specified domain and range of interest. Verification or validation is then accomplished by the straightforward comparison of the reduced order model structure and coefficients with the baseline data or system. Well-developed identification methods and a structured procedure make this process more efficient and objective than existing methods.
A PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF COFFEE COLOR FROM WASTEWATER

A simple and efficient process has been developed and is described for the removal of coffee color from wastewater by carbon adsorption. The quantity of coffee color adsorbed by the carbon was strongly pH dependent, being greater between pH 2 and 4. The contact time required to reach maximum adsorption was 60 mm. The adsorption efficiency did not increase appreciably when the temperature was elevated. Under optimum operating conditions, this carbon adsorption process reduced the color concentration by 98%. Studies have shown the adsorption of coffee color on activated carbon to be of the empirical Freundlich type.
Experience of family among homeless individuals.

The purposes of this article are to describe family experiences, both childhood and later, of homeless individuals, to propose some theoretical considerations of the influence of the family on homelessness, and to suggest programmatic structures and philosophies that consider the effect of these family experiences on the homeless experience. As part of a study of homeless people's health concerns, 40 homeless people were interviewed for 11/2–6 hours, each time using a semi-structured format. During the course of being interviewed, all individuals discussed experiences in their families. The commonalities among individuals' family stories were striking. As a result, experience of family was identified as an important theme in homeless people's lives. A thematic analysis of family stories was performed. As the result of the power of these stories, some theoretical considerations about homelessness that include the experience of family are proposed. Programmatic implications for psychiatric nursling's care o...
THE FINE STRUCTURE AND ARRANGEMENT OF MICROCYLINDERS IN THE LUMINA OF FLAGELLAR FIBERS IN CRICKET SPERMATIDS

Flagellar structure in spermatids of several species of cricket was studied with the electron microscope. The flagella of mid-spermatids contain the usual 9 + 2 set of fibers and a set of nine accessory fibers. At first all are hollow, then the lumina become filled with an electron-opaque matrix material in which narrow electron-lucent microcylinders are embedded. The accessory fibers and one central fiber become filled first, then the B subfibers and the other central fiber, and finally the A subfiber. In all but the B subfibers, microcylinders are arranged in a circular or oval group that lies against the wall of the lumen and encloses one or several additional microcylinders. In accessory fibers there are 9–11 microcylinders in the outer group and 4–5 in the inner group. In the central fibers and the A subfibers there are 7–9 microcylinders that enclose one or two more. In the B subfibers there is a crescentic group of 6–7 microcylinders that partially encloses 2–3 more. Microcylinders become packed as though they are independent units; the matrix appears to be an amorphous substance that fills the spaces around the microcylinders. The mean diameter of the microcylinders is 36 A, and they have a center-to-center distance of 56 A. In both respects they resemble wall subunits of flagellar fibers and microtubules and they may be similar structures but with a different localization. The diameter of accessory fibers is about 350 A, which is 25% greater than that of the other flagellar fibers and of cytoplasmic microtubules. Rotation tests suggest that the accessory fibers have 16 wall-subunits.
Immune Selection In Vitro Reveals Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef Sequence Motifs Important for Its Immune Evasion Function In Vivo

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef downregulates major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), impairing the clearance of infected cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). While sequence motifs mediating this function have been determined by in vitro mutagenesis studies of laboratory-adapted HIV-1 molecular clones, it is unclear whether the highly variable Nef sequences of primary isolates in vivo rely on the same sequence motifs. To address this issue, nef quasispecies from nine chronically HIV-1-infected persons were examined for sequence evolution and altered MHC-I downregulatory function under Gag-specific CTL immune pressure in vitro. This selection resulted in decreased nef diversity and strong purifying selection. Site-by-site analysis identified 13 codons undergoing purifying selection and 1 undergoing positive selection. Of the former, only 6 have been reported to have roles in Nef function, including 4 associated with MHC-I downregulation. Functional testing of naturally occurring in vivo polymorphisms at the 7 sites with no previously known functional role revealed 3 mutations (A84D, Y135F, and G140R) that ablated MHC-I downregulation and 3 (N52A, S169I, and V180E) that partially impaired MHC-I downregulation. Globally, the CTL pressure in vitro selected functional Nef from the in vivo quasispecies mixtures that predominately lacked MHC-I downregulatory function at the baseline. Overall, these data demonstrate that CTL pressure exerts a strong purifying selective pressure for MHC-I downregulation and identifies novel functional motifs present in Nef sequences in vivo.
INTERFERENCE IN A PAIRED-ASSOCIATE TRANSFER OF TRAINING PARADIGM AS A FUNCTION OF BREADTH OF CATEGORIZATION

Summary.-It was hypothesized that category width could differentially predict interference in an ( A-Br) transfer of training paradigm. Penigrew's Estimation Questionnaire was the measure of category width. 18 college students were tested in each of the three category-width levels of the experimental group (A-B; A-Br), 9 Ss were tested in each of the three category-width levels of the control group (C-D; A-Br). Broad categorizers had significantly fewer correct responses and significantly more errors of intrusion on the second list than did either the narrow or the medium categorizers. There were no significant differences between narrow and medium categorizers on number of correct responses or errors of intrusion. In a stimulus-response analysis of transfer of training, typically, stimulus and response are manipulated on the dimension of physical similarity for the average S. Wallach (1958) suggests thac, if a person places two events in the same class, he considers them to be psychologically similar. In contrast to physical similarity, an interesting aspect of similarity as assessed by assignment to a common category by S is thac such similarity is frequently judged differently from S to S. In other words, some Ss are more "liberal" in assigning two events to a common class, whereas other Ss are more "conservative." One measure of psychological similarity is obtained from the Estimation Questionnaire, a device constructed by Pettigrew ( 1958). The score is thought to be a measure of cognitive breadth, thac is, the range of discriminable events assigned to a common class. Ss who are more tolerant in assigning events to a common class are said to be broad categorizers. Studies have indicated a consistency in responding to the items of the questionnaire, a stability in responding to items over time (Pettigrew, 1958), and a generality in cognitive breadth from situation to situation (Fillenbaum, 1959). Wallach and Caron (1959) demonstrated the category breadth was related to strategy in a concept-formation task. Bruner and Tajfel ( 1961 ) developed an experimental procedure for measuring category width. Although the particular procedure used by them differs from the questionnaire of Bettigrew, the operations which define the construct, presenting a class value and estimating the extremes of that class, appear to be This research has been supported in pan by a Madison College Faculty Research Grant. The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. Patricia Pare Barker for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.
Cytochrome P450 induction by phenobarbital exacerbates warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat livers.

AbstractRecent studies have shown that cytochrome P450 inhibitors reduce oxidative stress and injury to the liver following warm ischemia-reperfusion (IR). The aim here was to test the effect of P450 induction by phenobarbital on the IR injury in rat livers. Rats were pre-treated with saline or phenobarbital and subjected to IR or sham operation. IR significantly increased the plasma alanine aminotransferase concentrations. Phenobarbital further exacerbated the injury by an additional 50% increase in the alanine aminotransferase levels. Phenobarbital also caused an ∼40% increase in the total P450 content of the liver, which was also associated with a 75% increase in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the IR group. There was a strong correlation between the microsomal ROS generation and total P450 content, CYP3A2 activity or CYP2B1 activity. It is concluded that the induction of P450 by phenobarbital significantly increases hepatic production of ROS, leading to significantly higher hepatic IR ...
2‐Chloro‐2‐nitrosopropane

[1088-00-2] C3H6ClNO (MW 107.01) 1S/C3H6ClNO/c1-3(2,4)5-6/h1-2H3 InChIKey = CJEALULDPPMPSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N (radical trap, an ambident electrophile for both amination and oxyamination, partner in the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction, electrophilic amination using the Oppolzer sultam, synthesis of syn-3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxazines through nitroso Diels–Alder cyclization, nitroso ene reaction) Physical Data: bp 33–34 °C 108 torr.1 Solubility: sol organics (CH2Cl2, THF, dioxane); reacts with alcohols, amines, and water. Form Supplied in: not commercially available. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: all α-chloronitroso compounds are highly toxic. This reagent therefore must be used in a well-ventilated fume hood. Contact with the eyes, skin, and respiratory system should be avoided.
The role of O-linked β-N acetylglucosamine transferase in cardiac hypertrophy (LB692)

Cardiomyocytes exhibit diminished re-activation of the fetal gene program (FGP) in response to hypertrophic stimuli due to elevated post-translational modification of proteins by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), catalyzed by a single enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST), which associates with OGT, controls FGP transcription. OGT is also involved in transcription via histone modifications such as monoubiquitination and methylation as well as regulation of transcription factor proteolysis, purportedly by the O-GlcNAcylation to ubiquitination ratio. The objective of this study was to examine the role of OGT in transcriptional control via the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and histone modifications during cardiac hypertrophy. In preliminary studies, upregulation of O-GlcNAc in isolated adult cardiomyocytes resulted in increased REST and decreased monoubiquitinated histone H2B and protein ubiquitination. Inducible cardiomyocyte specific OGT ...
Model of non-stationary, inhomogeneous turbulence

We compare results from a spectral model for non-stationary, inhomogeneous turbulence (Besnard et al. in Theor Comp Fluid Dyn 8:1–35, 1996) with direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of a shear-free mixing layer (SFML) (Tordella et al. in Phys Rev E 77:016309, 2008). The SFML is used as a test case in which the efficacy of the model closure for the physical-space transport of the fluid velocity field can be tested in a flow with inhomogeneity, without the additional complexity of mean-flow coupling. The model is able to capture certain features of the SFML quite well for intermediate to long times, including the evolution of the mixing-layer width and turbulent kinetic energy. At short-times, and for more sensitive statistics such as the generation of the velocity field anisotropy, the model is less accurate. We propose two possible causes for the discrepancies. The first is the local approximation to the pressure-transport and the second is the a priori spherical averaging used to reduce the dimensionality of the solution space of the model, from wavevector to wavenumber space. DNS data are then used to gauge the relative importance of both possible deficiencies in the model.
Toward an understanding of attitude assessment in nutrition research

The author presents some suggestions for improving the quality of attitude measurement and interpretation in future research in the area of nutrition.
A Method for Quantitative Identification of Canine Erythrocytes

SummaryA procedure for the uantitative determination of injected canine erythrocytes by a differential agglutination technic utilizing lyophilized type-specific anti-sera is described. The method was applied in a study of erythrocyte survival after transfusion of blood. Approximately 20% of the blood of the recipient dogs was withdrawn and immediately replaced with an equal volume of donor blood. Determinations were made of red cell volume, plasma volume, donor and recipient red cell counts. Serial examinations of bone marrow and peripheral leucocytes were also made. Destruction of infused cells proceeded at a rate of about one per cent per day. No changes in bone marrow morphology or peripheral leucocytes were noted. Nitrogen balance was not significantly changed.
An Examination of the (Un)Intended Consequences of Performance Funding in Higher Education

Previous studies have shown that state performance funding policies do not increase baccalaureate degree production, but higher education scholarship lacks a rigorous, quantitative analysis of the ...
Homeward Bound, not hospital rebound: how transitional palliative care can reduce readmission.

Despite therapeutic advances in the management of heart failure (HF), approximately 25% of hospitalised patients with HF are readmitted within 30 days.1 These costly episodes of care have given rise to numerous policy initiatives, such as the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Programme which fiscally penalises hospitals with ‘excess’ readmissions.2 Transitional care programmes have emerged as a potential solution to avert HF readmissions by monitoring and supporting patients and caregivers for a limited period of time post-discharge. A recent meta-analysis of these interventions suggests that programmes which incorporate home visits are effective at reducing all-cause readmission and mortality, whereas less-intensive programmes of structured telephone support alone can reduce HF-related readmissions and mortality.3 In their Heart publication, Wong et al report the findings from their pilot trial of a transitional palliative care programme for patients with end-stage HF (TPC-ESHF).4 They demonstrate that patients randomised to their TPC-ESHF intervention experienced significantly fewer hospital readmissions at 12-week follow-up compared with their attention control (relative risk (95% CI) 0.55 (0.35 to 0.88)) along with significant improvements in health-related quality of life (QOL), satisfaction with care and symptom burden. These results are striking, particularly for a study of its size. As the authors note, a comparative effectiveness trial is in order to confirm their findings and to address key limitations in their pilot. First, their study population vastly differs from similar HF trials, namely regarding social support and the low use of evidence-based therapy for an …