cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A stochastic DEVS wind turbine component model for wind farm simulation

Wind farms use several wind turbines to generate electricity and provide a renewable source of energy. However, due to large forces as a result of hourly and seasonal variations in wind speed and direction, wind turbines experience stochastic loading that often lead to failures of wind turbine components such as the gearbox and generator. Wind turbine failures result in costly repairs and loss in revenue, while stochastic loading makes it difficult to predict the actual condition of a wind turbine. Consequently, it is challenging to schedule maintenance actions to avoid wind turbine component failures. In this paper, we present a stochastic discrete event system specification (STDEVS) model of a wind turbine component. In particular, we consider the wind turbine gearbox, which is one of the components that is often prone to failure, and model its stochastic degradation process. We implement a wind farm simulation with the STDEVS gearbox model and report on the impact of gearbox failures and maintenance scheduling on the performance of a wind farm over a 20-year period.
Bleomycin Infusion Followed by Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and 5-Fluorouracil in Advanced Squamous Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Twenty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with bleomycin 7.5 U/m2/day continuous infusion X 3 days (days 1-4, 8-11), followed by cyclophosphamide 300 mg/ in2, methotrexate 30 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 300 mg/m2 on days 5 and 12 (bleo-CMF). Treatment was repeated every 28 days. All but two had a performance status of 0-2 and all but 3 patients had received prior surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Of 24 evaluable patients, 1 had a complete remission (1.9 months) and 4 had partial remissions (3.7,3.9,3.9,4.1 months, respectively) for an overall response rate of 21%. If one excludes 7 patients with prior chemotherapy, the response rate is 5 of 17 (29%). All responders had received both radiotherapy and surgery. The median survival was 4.4 months for the responders and 3.5 months for the nonresponders. Marked hematologic toxicity occurred in eight patients, and contributed to the death of two. Severe pulmonary toxicity occurred in two patients and caused the death of one. Bleo-CMF did not produce a higher response rate than historical single-agent trials and caused significant toxicity. Furthermore, there was no important difference in the survival of responders and nonresponders. Cuncer 53:841-843, 1984. DVANCED SQUAMOUS CELL carcinoma of the head
Micromechanical prediction of the compressive failure of ice: numerical simulations

Abstract The brittle compressive failure of polycrystalline ice is studied in this paper with a micromechanical model developed by Wu and Niu [1995, Mech. Mater. 20, 9–32]. Using physically definable parameters, the failure stresses and the effective compliances are predicted for several microstructures generated from a graph model. It is shown that (i) the uniaxial and biaxial compressive strengths are strongly dependent on the intrinsic heterogeneities with a scatter between 25–80% of the mean values, (ii) neither the critical crack density nor a critical damage measure based on the effective compliance concept are suitable phenomenological failure parameters, (iii) crack-crack interactions play a major role in statistical compressive fracture although the critical crack densities satisfy a weak interaction assumption, (iv) a change in failure mode can be indicated by relative changes in the effective compliance components, (v) the effective compliance is strongly anisotropic under compression and its scatter due to microstructural variations is less than that of the peak stress, (vi) the failure strains decrease with increase in the grain size, but increase with increase: in the friction coefficient, and (vii) the volumetric strains at failure are generally small and may have a grain size dependence.
Panoramic radiographic risk factors for inferior alveolar nerve injury after third molar extraction.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the association between specific panoramic radiographic signs and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury during mandibular third molar removal. Patients and Methods: A case-control study design was used; the sample consisted of patients who underwent removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Cases were defined as patients with confirmed IAN injury after third molar extraction, whereas controls were defined as patients without nerve injury. Five surgeons, who were blinded to injury status, independently assessed the preoperative panoramic radiographs for the presence of high-risk radiographic signs. Bivariate analyses were completed to assess the relationship between radiographic findings and IAN injury. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were computed for each radiographic sign. Results: The sample was composed of 8 cases and 17 controls. Positive radiographic signs were statistically associated with an IAN injury (P 99%) predictive value. Conclusions: This study confirms previous analyses showing that panoramic findings of diversion of the inferior alveolar canal, darkening of the third molar root, and interruption of the cortical white line are statistically associated with IAN injury. Based on the estimated predictive values, the absence of positive radiographic findings was associated with a minimal risk of nerve injury, whereas, the presence of one or more of these findings was associated with an increased risk for nerve injury. © 2003 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 61:417-421, 2003
Raising/Lowering Maps and Modules for the Quantum Affine Algebra

Let V denote a finite dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field. Let U 0, U 1,…, U d denote a sequence of nonzero subspaces whose direct sum is V. Let R:V → V and L:V → V denote linear transformations with the following properties: for 0 ≤ i ≤ d, R U i ⊆ U i+1 and L U i ⊆ U i−1 where U −1 = 0, U d+1 = 0; for 0 ≤ i ≤ d/2, the restrictions R d−2i | U i : U i → U d−i and L d−2i | U d−i : U d−i → U i are bijections; the maps R and L satisfy the cubic q-Serre relations where q is nonzero and not a root of unity. Let K:V → V denote the linear transformation such that (K − q 2i−d I)U i = 0 for 0 ≤ i ≤ d. We show that there exists a unique -module structure on V such that each of , , K − K 0, and K −1 − K 1 vanish on V, where are Chevalley generators for . We determine which -modules arise from our construction.
Federal Subsidies and Evidence of Progressive Change A Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Targeted Grants on Manpower and Innovation in Large U.S. Police Agencies

This research reviews the history of police change, documents law enforcement's sustained effort to maintain legitimacy through change, and serves as a backdrop for an empirical assessment of recen...
Adenovirus E3-6.7K Protein Is Required in Conjunction with the E3-RID Protein Complex for the Internalization and Degradation of TRAIL Receptor 2

Adenoviruses (Ads) encode several proteins within the early region 3 (E3) transcription unit that help protect infected cells from elimination by the immune system. Among these immunomodulatory proteins, the receptor internalization and degradation (RID) protein complex, which is composed of the RIDalpha (formerly E3-10.4K) and RIDbeta (formerly E3-14.5K) subunits, stimulates the internalization and degradation of certain members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, thus blocking apoptosis initiated by Fas and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The experiments reported here show that TRAIL receptor 2 (TR2) is cleared from the cell surface in Ad-infected cells. Virus mutants containing deletions that span E3 were used to show that the RID and E3-6.7K proteins are both necessary for the internalization and degradation of TR2, whereas only the RID protein is required for TRAIL receptor 1 downregulation. In addition, replication-defective Ad vectors that express individual E3 proteins were used to establish that the RID and E3-6.7K proteins are sufficient to clear TR2. These data demonstrate that E3-6.7K is an important component of the antiapoptosis arsenal encoded by the E3 transcription unit of subgroup C Ads.
Fine structure of human malaria in vitro.

SYNOPSIS. The erythrocytic cycle of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was examined by electron microscopy. Three strains of parasites maintained in continuous culture in human erythrocytes were compared with in vivo infections in Aotus monkeys. The ultrastructure of P. falciparum is not altered by continuous cultivation in vitro. mitochondria contain DNA-like filaments and some cristae at all stages of the erythrocytic life cycle. The Golgi apparatus is prominent at the schizont stage and may be involved in the formation of rhoptries. In culture, knob-like protrusions first appear on the surface of trophozoite-infected erythrocytes. The time of appearance of knobs on cells in vitro correlates with the life cycle stage of parasites which are sequestered from the peripheral circulation in vivo. Knob material of older parasites coalesces and forms extensions from the erythrocyte surface. Some of this material is sloughed from the host cell surface. The parasitophorous vacuole membrane breaks down in erythrocytes containing mature merozoites both in vitro and in vivo. Merozoite structure is similar to that of P. knowlesi. The immature gametocytes in culture have no knobs.
Behavioral thermoregulation in mice inoculated with influenza virus

Abstract Mice housed at 30°C and inoculated with a mouse-adapted influenza virus show a fall in body temperature ( T b ) and a decrease in food intake to almost 0 grams per day. This study tested whether the fall in T b could be accounted for by the decreased food intake and whether the fall in T b was due to a decrease of thermoregulatory set point or to an inability to maintain T b at set point level. The fall in T b of influenza-infected mice was greater than that of food-deprived mice. When food deprived, mice given access to a thermal gradient increased their preference for warmer areas in the gradient and, as a result, T b did not fall as much as T b of starved mice not given access to a thermal gradient. When infected with influenza virus, mice given a thermal gradient decreased T b less and at a slower rate than mice not given a gradient. However, this fall in T b of influenza-infected mice was greater than that of food-deprived mice given a thermal gradient. Mice given a thermal gradient increased their preference for the warmer temperatures after inoculation; this returned to preinoculation preference for cooler temperatures during the later days of infection despite a continuous fall in T b . Influenza-infected mice given a thermal gradient survived significantly fewer days than infected mice not given a thermal gradient. We conclude that the influenza-induced fall of T b in mice cannot be explained solely by the decrease in food intake, and is partially due to a decrease in thermoregulatory set point.
Comparing procurement methods for design-build projects

The design-build delivery method is increasingly used in the United States due to numerous advantages it can offer a project. An important issue associated with design-build delivery is the procurement method used to select the design-build team. It is a critical decision that involves several key project team members, including the owner, designer, and contractor organizations, and requires the owner to carefully choose the design-build procurement method that will be used to select the team that will deliver the project. This research quantitatively analyzed the correlation between the design-build procurement method and the performance of the design-build project with regard to cost, time, and quality metrics. The procurement methods studied were sole source, qualifications-based, best value, and low bid selection. Data were collected through surveys from 76 design-build projects in the United States. Based on the patterns and relationships identified from these data, a better understanding of the procurement process and how it influences project performance is achieved. The impact of project-specific factors and guidelines are presented to assist owners in selecting the design-build team procurement method that responds to their project goals.
Cell-to-cell communication coordinates blood flow control

The control of tissue blood flow is a dynamic process exemplified by the interaction among physical, chemical, and electrical events occurring within the vessel wall and between the vasculature and tissue parenchyma. The range of blood flow control achieved in vivo is illustrated by functional hyperemia in exercising skeletal muscle: maximal flow can exceed resting values by more than 50-fold. Blood flow control is integrated among many vessel segments, beginning with resistance arteries external to the muscle and encompassing the arteriolar network within the muscle. As metabolic demand increases, the locus of blood flow control shifts from distal arterioles, which control capillary perfusion and blood flow distribution within the tissue, to the proximal arterioles and resistance arteries, which control the total volume of flow into the muscle. A fundamental question centers on how this vasomotor activity is actually coordinated throughout the resistance network. The interaction within and among vascular segments can be explained by chemical and electrical signals to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) in response to changes in transmural pressure as well as luminal shear stress. Increasing pressure results in SMC contraction via the myogenic response. Increasing flow stimulates ECs to release autacoids (eg, nitric oxide), which relax SMCs. Pressure and flow thereby provide opposing mechanical stimuli that interact in the maintenance of vasomotor tone throughout the resistance network. Vasomotor signals are also conducted along arterioles through cell-to-cell coupling between ECs and SMCs, thereby coordinating vasomotor activity of cells within a branch and among branches.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy as a means of reducing dose to bone marrow in gynecologic patients receiving whole pelvic radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate intensity-modulated whole pelvis radiotherapy (IM-WPRT) (with bone marrow [BM] as a planning constraint) as a means to reduce the volume of pelvic BM irradiated. Methods and materials Ten women with cervical or endometrial cancer previously treated using IM-WPRT were selected for this analysis. Using the treatment planning CT scan, the clinical target volume was defined to encompass the gross tumor, parametrial tissues, uterus (if present), and regional lymph nodes. The clinical target volume was expanded by a 1-cm margin to form the planning target volume (PTV). The bladder, rectum, small bowel, and pelvic BM were delineated in each patient. Three plans were created for each patient: a standard four-field WPRT plan, an IM-WPRT treatment plan designed to conform the dose to the PTV while minimizing dose to the normal tissues (excluding BM), and a BM-sparing (BMS) IM-WPRT plan that included the BM as an additional treatment planning constraint. Dose–volume histograms for the PTV, small bowel, and BM were compared for each patient. Results For each of the 10 patients, BMS IM-WPRT treatment plans demonstrated a significant reduction of the volume of BM receiving >40% (18 Gy) of the prescription dose (45 Gy) compared with both IM-WPRT and four-field treatment. On average, BMS IM-WPRT resulted in only 60% of the BM volume irradiated to >50% of the dose compared with 87.4% ( p p Conclusion BMS IM-WPRT significantly reduces the volume of pelvic BM irradiated compared with conventional WPRT. In addition, BMS IM-WPRT did not compromise the improvements previously seen in IM-WPRT treatment plans that did not consider BM. Clinical studies are necessary to assess the significance of BMS IM-WPRT in reducing hematologic toxicity.
Channelization: A search for a better way

A reproduction of channel forms produced by natural fluvial processes will minimize some adverse effects of channelization. Design criteria intended to improve drainage or control flooding should, in many cases, include the construction of pools (deeps) and riffles (shallows). An optimal spacing of pools and riffles, averaging about six times the channel width, will improve the modified stream by providing a channel morphology that is relatively stable, biologically productive, and aesthetically pleasing.
Label-free photoacoustic microscopy of cytochromes.

Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) has achieved submicron lateral resolution in showing subcellular structures; however, relatively few endogenous subcellular contrasts have so far been imaged. Given that the hemeprotein, mostly cytochromes in general cells, is optically absorbing around the Soret peak (∼420 nm), we implemented label-free PAM of cytochromes in cytoplasm for the first time. By measuring the photoacoustic spectra of the oxidized and reduced states of fibroblast lysate and fitting the difference spectrum with three types of cytochromes, we found that the three cytochromes account for more than half the optical absorption in the cell lysate at 420 nm wavelength. Fixed fibroblasts on slides were imaged by PAM at 422 and 250 nm wavelengths to reveal cytoplasms and nuclei, respectively, as confirmed by standard staining histology. PAM was also applied to label-free histology of mouse ear sections by showing cytoplasms and nuclei of various cells. PAM of cytochromes in cytoplasm is expected to be a high-throughput, label-free technique for studying live cell functions, which cannot be accomplished by conventional histology.
Comments on “An Inversion of Planetary Rough Surface Permittivity From Radar Sounder Observations”

Ye and Jin presented a method to derive the soil dielectric permittivity from radar surface echoes when a Digital Elevation Model of the observed region is known. However, this method has been already extensively applied on Mars, and the scientific protocol to demonstrate its efficiency only derives the numerical uncertainties inherent to the simulation tool used by the authors.
Development and validation of the Texas A&M University autonomous underwater vehicle controller

This paper discusses the methods and results of the testing procedures used to validate the autonomous underwater vehicle controller at Texas A&M University (TAMU). Work on the controller began in January 1987. US Naval mission objectives drove many of the technical aspects, such as requirements for fault-tolerance and mission specification. A generic unmanned underwater vehicle was configured for controller technology development.
Why Poor People Do Not Move: Job Search Behavior and Disequilibrium Amongst Local Labor Markets

A model of why people do not move between local labor markets is developed by means of a set of concepts derived from the job search and contracts literature. Emphasis is placed on how the environment, in which individuals behave, determines outcomes. It is argued that individuals act rationally, but that in a world of inequality rational behavior can reinforce disequilibrium and the perpetuation of spatial-economic inequality. A hypothetical example of two local labor markets is used to illustrate our argument.
Otorhinolaryngological diseases in Byzantium (A.D. 324–1453): information from non-medical literary sources

The knowledge of the Byzantine physicians in the field of otorhinolaryngology and especially of the eminent ones, Oribasius, Aetius of Ameda, Paul of Aegina and Alexander of Tralles is noteworthy. They knew an adequate number of diseases of the ear, nose and throat and treated them with a plethora of drugs and some of them, especially tonsillitis and tonsillar abscess, with operations. The writer, based on the texts of the Byzantine historians and chroniclers, presents information previously unknown. This includes analysis of cases of an epidemic of angina, speech defects, instances of otitis, epistaxis, ulcer of the mouth, acute laryngitis or pharyngitis and psychogenic aphonia. Most cases concern emperors and other prominent figures of the State and Church. This information complements, from the historical point of view, the scientific knowledge of the medical writers in the field of otorhinolaryngology.
Tools for cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

In less than fifteen years, as a non-invasive imaging option, cardiovascular MR has grown from a being a mere curiosity to becoming a widely used clinical tool for evaluating cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is now routinely used to study myocardial structure, cardiac function, macro vascular blood flow, myocardial perfusion, and myocardial viability. For someone entering the field of cardiac MR, this rapid pace of development in the field of CMRI might make it difficult to identify a cohesive starting point. In this brief review, we have attempted to summarize the key cardiovascular imaging techniques that have found widespread clinical acceptance. In particular, we describe the essential cardiac and respiratory gating techniques that form the backbone of all cardiovascular imaging methods. It is followed by four sections that discuss: (I) the gradient echo techniques that are used to assess ventricular function; (II) black-blood turbo spin echo (SE) methods used for morphologic assessment of the heart; (III) phase-contrast based techniques for the assessment of blood flow; and (IV) CMR methods for the assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability. In each section, we briefly summarize technical considerations relevant to the clinical use of these techniques, followed by practical information for its clinical implementation. In each of those four areas, CMRI is considered either as the benchmark imaging modality against which the diagnostic performance of other imaging modalities are compared against, or provides a complementary capability to existing imaging techniques. We have deliberately avoided including cutting-edge CMR imaging techniques practiced at few academic centers, and restricted our discussion to methods that are widely used and are likely to be available in a clinical setting. Our hope is that this review would propel an interested reader toward more comprehensive reviews in the literature.
Role of orthopyroxene in rheological weakening of the lithosphere via dynamic recrystallization

For plate tectonics to operate on a terrestrial planet, the surface layer (the lithosphere) must have a modest strength (Earth, ≤200 MPa), but a standard strength profile based on olivine far exceeds this threshold value. Consequently, it is essential to identify mechanisms that reduce the strength of the lithosphere on Earth. Here we report results of high-strain laboratory deformation experiments on a representative olivine–orthopyroxene composition that show the addition of orthopyroxene substantially reduces the strength in the ductile regime within a certain temperature window. The reduction in strength is associated with the formation of small orthopyroxene and olivine grains. Our samples show heterogeneous microstructures similar to those observed in natural peridotites in shear zones: fine-grained regions containing both orthopyroxene and olivine that form interconnected bands where a large fraction of strain is accommodated. A model is developed to apply these results to geological conditions. Such a model, combined with our experimental observations, suggests that orthopyroxene may play a key role in the plastic deformation of the lithosphere in a critical temperature range, leading to long-term weakening associated with strain localization in the lithosphere.
Fungal homoserine kinase (thr1δ) mutants are attenuated in virulence and die rapidly upon threonine starvation and serum incubation.

The fungally conserved subset of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes not present in humans offer exciting potential as an unexploited class of antifungal drug targets. Since threonine biosynthesis is essential in Cryptococcus neoformans, we further explored the potential of threonine biosynthetic enzymes as antifungal drug targets by determining the survival in mice of Saccharomyces cerevisiae homoserine kinase (thr1Δ) and threonine synthase (thr4Δ) mutants. In striking contrast to aspartate kinase (hom3Δ) mutants, S. cerevisiae thr1Δ and thr4Δ mutants were severely depleted after only 4 h in vivo. Similarly, Candida albicans thr1Δ mutants, but not hom3Δ mutants, were significantly attenuated in virulence. Consistent with the in vivo phenotypes, S. cerevisiae thr1Δ and thr4Δ mutants as well as C. albicans thr1Δ mutants were extremely serum sensitive. In both species, serum sensitivity was suppressed by the addition of threonine, a feedback inhibitor of Hom3p. Because mutation of the HOM3 and HOM6 genes, required for the production of the toxic pathway intermediate homoserine, also suppressed serum sensitivity, we hypothesize that serum sensitivity is a consequence of homoserine accumulation. Serum survival is critical for dissemination, an important virulence determinant: thus, together with the essential nature of C. neoformans threonine synthesis, the cross-species serum sensitivity of thr1Δ mutants makes the fungus-specific Thr1p, and likely Thr4p, ideal antifungal drug targets.
Intraabdominal Compartment Syndrome Complicating Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

Abdominal compartment syndrome can result from many different causes. We present a case where this dangerous syndrome occurred in the operating room during a transurethral resection of a bladder tumor. It was initially recognized by an elevation in the peak inspiratory pressure. We report the typical physiologic changes that occur with this syndrome and its treatment options.
Chemical Nature of Agrocin 84 and Its Effect on a Virulent Strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrocin 84, produced by Agrobacterium radiobacter K84, inhibited ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis and amino acid transport in a susceptible, virulent strain of A. tumefaciens H-38-9. Cell motility was immediately stopped by action of the agrocin, 50% of the cells were killed within 15 min of contact, and the remainder were inhibited. Agrocin 84 is trypsin and pepsin resistant, but chemical analysis indicated a small peptide with a molecular weight of 2,500 containing six different amino acids, including nine molecules of glutamine or glutamic acid and seven molecules of serine.
Subjective Measures and Clinical Decision Making

In the keynote address of this issue of Physical Therapy , Magistro mentioned the fear that medical care is becoming increasingly dehumanized. This unfortunate trend is most likely the result of many influences, some of which have been described previously. Feinstein sees an inordinate dependence on paraclinical methods (eg, anatomical, microbiological, electrophysiological) at the expense of what he calls distinctively clinical phenomena to be at least partially causing this dehumanizing trend.1 The distinctively clinical phenomena include type and severity of symptoms, rate of progression of illness, functional capacity, and “other aspects of the physical activities, joys and sorrows of daily life.” These “soft” data are usually lowly regarded and even intentionally repudiated among researchers and clinicians. This leads to little regard for the patient's description of his or her illness when making clinical decisions. Rather than ignore or deliberately reject these phenomena, Feinstein promotes their quantification.…
Systemic and Ocular Diseases Associated with Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

From the discussion on the pathogenesis of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (Part I) and its clinical picture (Part II), it is evident that anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is a manifestation of a systemic and/or ocular disease process. It would be desirable, therefore, to discuss briefly such diseases for a better understanding of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
Recognition and the Fleeting Glimpse of Intimacy: Tracing the Chaplain’s Response to Ungrieved Death

The article traces the response of the hospital chaplain witnessing ungrieved death. Linking grief with cultural recognition, the article analyzes the absence of grief on the occasion of death within outcast social spheres. It then outlines the ways chaplains both participate in the cultural norms that render lives ungrievable and, conversely, in the solidarity of God, who cares for every life and death. The article closes by situating the chaplain as a liminal figure and proposing liminality itself as an opportunity for solidarity.
Regulating Bankruptcy Abuse: An Empirical Study of Consumer Exemption Cases

This Article presents the results of an empirical study of bankruptcy court doctrine in consumer exemptions proceedings over a twenty-year period. The study shows a pattern in which bankruptcy courts adjudicate property exemptions to decrease the value of the discharge for sophisticated debtors and increase the value of the discharge for unsophisticated debtors. The data show that the presence of sophistication reduces a debtor's chance of success in an exemptions proceeding by as much as 78.9%. This pattern of abuse regulation emerged endogenously, without the prompting of hierarchical, exogenous forces such as Congressional or appellate court directives.
Time Trends in Fast Food Consumption and Its Association with Obesity among Children in China.

Objective Study the trends in Western fast food consumption (FFC) among Chinese school-age children and the association between FFC and obesity using nationwide survey data.
TONAL ACCENT IN SOMALI

The issue of whether Somali is a tone language or not has been a matter of controversy for several decades. In this paper it is demonstrated that Somali is a tonal accent language, i.e. a language which (a) assigns accents to vowels (rather than syllables), and (b) realizes these accents as an invariant H tone. The language also allows, under specifiable conditions, words totally lacking an accent, another common characteristic of tonal accent languages. The model developed in this study includes rules of accent placement (on either the final or penultimate vowel of a word), accent modification (shifts, reductions), and tone and pitch assignment.
Economic Possibilities for Our Children: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work, Education, and Leisure

Many experts believe that in the coming decades, artificial intelligence will change, and perhaps significantly reduce, the demand for human labor in the economy, but there remains much uncertainty about the accuracy of this claim and what to do about it. This paper identifies several ways in which the artificial intelligence community can help society to anticipate and shape such outcomes in a socially beneficial direction. First, different technical aspirations for the field of AI may be associated with different social outcomes, increasing the stakes of decisions made in the AI community. Second, the extent of researchers' efforts to apply AI to different social and economic domains will influence the distribution of cognition between humans and machines in those domains. Third, the AI community can play a key role in initiating a more nuanced and inclusive public discussion of the social and economic possibilities afforded by AI technologies. To pave the way for such dialogue, we suggest a line of research aimed at better understanding the nature, pace, and drivers of progress in AI in order to more effectively anticipate and shape AI's role in society.
Association of the apolipoprotein E gene with age-related macular degeneration: possible effect modification by family history, age, and gender.

PURPOSE Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disorder affecting older adults in which genetic factors are likely to play a role. It has been previously suggested that the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene may have a protective effect on AMD risk and that the e2 allele may increase disease risk. The purpose of our study was to examine whether an independent data set would support the proposed role of APOE in AMD etiology. METHODS We compared AMD cases (n=230) to controls (n=372) with respect to APOE genotypes using c2 tests and logistic regression analysis. We also conducted separate analyses for familial (n=129) and sporadic (n=101) AMD cases since these groups may have a different disease etiology. RESULTS We did not find evidence for the risk-increasing effect attributed to the e2 allele in either familial or sporadic AMD. No evidence for a protective effect of the e4 allele was obtained for sporadic AMD. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for e4 carriers among familial AMD cases compared to controls was 0.66 (95% confidence interval: 0.38-1.12, p=0.13). In the subgroup of individuals younger than 70 years of age, an OR of 0.24 (95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.72, p=0.004) was obtained. CONCLUSIONS Our data modestly support a protective effect of the APOE-e4 allele on AMD risk, but emphasize the need to investigate more thoroughly whether the effect could be restricted to cases with a family history of AMD and whether it varies across age and sex groups.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochojejunostomy with a lumen-apposing metal stent: a shortcut for biliary drainage.

Endoscopic-ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage is a therapeutic option for patientswithbiliarypathologyandaltered gastrointestinal anatomy in whom conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has failed [1– 3].We present the case of a patient undergoing EUS-guided choledochojejunostomy with a fully covered, lumen-apposingmetal stent (●" Video 1). A 64-year-oldmanwho had gastric cancer and a Billroth II anastomosis presented with cholangitis and biliary obstruction due to tumor recurrence. Conventional ERCP and single-balloon ERCP were unsuccessful. EUS-guided biliary drainage was performed. The echoendoscope (GFUCT180; Olympus, Central Valley, Pennsylvania, USA) identified the left intrahepatic duct. A 19-gauge needle (ECHO 19 EchoTip; Cook Medical, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA) was used to access the duct. Cholangiography revealed a distal biliary stricture with upstream dilatation but nondilated intrahepatic ducts. Contrast extended to the ampulla but did not pass into the small bowel. Attempts to pass a guidewire (Hydra Jagwire; Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts, USA) into the duct were unsuccessful because of insufficiently dilated left intrahepatic duct radicals. The echoendoscope was advanced to the jejunum adjacent to the opacified extrahepatic bile duct. The duct was accessed with a 19-gauge needle, a wire was advanced, and a dilating balloon (Hurricane RX Biliary Balloon Dilation Catheter; Boston Scientific)was used to create a fistulous tract. A 10-mm lumen-apposing metal stent (Axios; Xlumena, Mountain View, California, USA) was deployed with the proximal end in the extrahepatic bile duct and the distal end in the jejunum (●" Fig.1). A balloon dilator (CRE; Boston Scientific) was used to dilate the stent. Two doublepigtail plastic stents (Advanix; Boston Scientific) were deployed to separate the lumen-apposing metal stent from the oppositewall of the duct (●" Fig.2). The patient’s bilirubin level decreased, and he was discharged from the hospital. At 3and 6-month follow-up, his serum liver chemistries remained normal, and imaging confirmed a stable stent position with resolution of the ductal dilatation. The creation of an EUS-guided choledochojejunostomy with a lumen-apposing metal stent for biliary decompression offers a minimally invasive option for patients with altered anatomy who require ERCP.
Pharmacology of Pain Management

This article examines the clinical pharmacology of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and tricyclic antidepressants with reference to their use in treating pain in children.
A Method for the Efficient Fabrication of Multifunctional Mosaic Membranes by Inkjet Printing

Most conventional membrane systems are based on size-selective materials that permeate smaller molecules and retain larger ones. However, membranes that can permeate larger molecules more rapidly than smaller ones could find widespread utilization in multiple arenas of technology. Charge mosaic membranes are one example of such a system. Due to their unique nanostructure, which consists of discrete oppositely charged domains, charge mosaics are capable of permeating large dissolved salts more rapidly than smaller water molecules. Here, we present a combined inkjet printing and template synthesis technique to prepare charge mosaic membranes in a rapid and straightforward manner and demonstrate the unique transport properties that result from the mosaic membrane design. Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based composite inks containing poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) or poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) were used to pattern positively charged or negatively charged domains, respectively, on the surface of a polycarbon...
Recent Advances in Computational Models for the Study of Protein–Peptide Interactions

We review computational models and software tools in current use for the study of protein-peptide interactions. Peptides and peptide derivatives are growing in interest as therapeutic agents to target protein-protein interactions. Protein-protein interactions are pervasive in biological systems and are responsible for the regulation of critical functions within the cell. Mutations or dysregulation of expression can alter the network of interactions among proteins and cause diseases such as cancer. Protein-protein binding interfaces, which are often large, shallow, and relatively feature-less, are difficult to target with small-molecule inhibitors. Peptide derivatives based on the binding motifs present in the target protein complex are increasingly drawing interest as superior alternatives to conventional small-molecule inhibitors. However, the design of peptide-based inhibitors also presents novel challenges. Peptides are more complex and more flexible than standard medicinal compounds. They also tend to form more extended and more complex interactions with their protein targets. Computational modeling is increasingly being employed to supplement synthetic and biochemical work to offer guidance and energetic and structural insights. In this review, we discuss recent in silico structure-based and physics-based approaches currently employed to model protein-peptide interactions with a few examples of their applications.
Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, and the Great Financial Crisis: Leadership traits and policy responses

Gordon Brown’s management of the Great Financial Crisis was one of the few successes of his premiership and was seen as a distinctly personal triumph. Yet, in the aftermath of the crisis, Brown’s leadership led to a damaging split on economic policy with his Chancellor, Alistair Darling. To explain the role of Brown and Darling in the crisis and its aftermath, this article uses quantitative content analysis of speech to develop leadership trait profiles of both men. Both leaders score high in proactive beliefs; Brown especially had great faith in his ability to shape economic matters. Brown scores consistently higher than Darling in the use of power imagery, whilst the Chancellor maintained a significantly more complex worldview than the Prime Minister. Although many factors contributed to the turmoil and ultimate demise of the Brown government, the personality of the Prime Minister, and the clash of policy beliefs and decision-making style with his Chancellor, played a key role. This indicates that explanations of economic crises should include analysis of the policy preferences and decision-making styles of the leaders who manage them. Further, studies of the leadership styles of political leaders, which usually focus solely on the predominant leader, should instead examine interactions and conflicts amongst the several personalities at the top of a government.
Open-Mindedness: An Intellectual Virtue in the Pursuit of Knowledge and Understanding.

Open-mindedness is widely valued as an important intellectual virtue. Definitional debates about open-mindedness have focused on whether open-minded believers must possess a particular first-order attitude toward their beliefs or a second-order attitude toward themselves as believers, taking it for granted that open-mindedness is motivated by the pursuit of propositional knowledge. In this article, Rebecca Taylor develops an alternative to knowledge-centered accounts of open-mindedness. Drawing on recent work in epistemology that reclaims understanding as a primary epistemic good, Taylor argues for an expanded account of open-mindedness as an intellectual virtue motivated by the pursuit of both knowledge and understanding. Incorporating understanding allows for a more robust account of open-mindedness that better accommodates common usage, avoids common criticisms, and better explains the widespread acceptance of open-mindedness as an important intellectual virtue. Taylor also identifies the connections between open-mindedness and several other intellectual virtues, including intellectual humility, intellectual courage, and intellectual diligence.
The covariance selection quality for graphs with junction trees through AUC bounds

We conduct a study of graphical models and discuss the quality of model selection approximation by formulating the problem as a detection problem and examine the area under the curve (AUC). We are specifically looking at the model selection problem for jointly Gaussian random vectors. For Gaussian distributions, this problem simplifies to the covariance selection problem which is widely discussed in literature by Dempster [1]. In this paper, we discuss graphical models such as the pth order Markov chain and the pth order star network interpretation which also have junction tree graphical representations and give the definition for the correlation approximation matrix (CAM) which contains all information about the model selection problem. We compute the model covariance matrix as well as the KL divergence between the original distribution and the approximated model distribution. We conduct some simulations which show that the quality of the selected model increases as the model order, p, increases.
A high flux polyvinyl acetate-coated electrospun nylon 6/SiO2 composite microfiltration membrane for the separation of oil-in-water emulsion with improved antifouling performance

Abstract A high flux and antifouling polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)-coated nylon 6/Silica (N6/SiO 2 ) composite microfiltration (MF) membrane was prepared using a facile electrospinning technique. The fabricated MF membrane was robust (tensile strength of 23.3 MPa) with a porosity and average pore size of 78% and 170 nm, respectively. The PVAc-coated electrospun N6/SiO 2 composite membranes were used for the first time for microfiltration of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. This membrane achieved a water permeability of 4814 LMH/bar. During this microfiltration of O/W emulsions at 4 psi of applied pressure, the oil rejections of 98.80%, 99% and 99.20% were achieved from oil concentrations of 250 mg/L, 500 mg/L and 1000 mg/L, respectively. The fabricated membrane also showed antifouling properties with a water flux recovery of 85% with an O/W emulsion. Moreover, a strong interaction between the electrospun nanofiber mat and the PVAc coating demonstrated the structural stability of the membrane.
Reaction Acceleration in Thin Films with Continuous Product Deposition for Organic Synthesis

Thin film formats are used to study the Claisen-Schmidt base-catalyzed condensation of 6-hydroxy-1-indanone with substituted benzaldehydes and to compare reaction acceleration relative to bulk. Acceleration factors relative exceeded 103 initially and were on the order of 102 at steady state, in spite of the fact that the confined volume reaction was not electrostatically driven. Substituent effects were muted compared to those in the corresponding bulk and microdroplet reactions and it is concluded that the rate-limiting step at steady state is reagent transport to the interface. Conditions were found that allowed product deposition from the thin film to occur continuously as reaction mixture was added and as solvent evaporated. Yields of 74% and production rates of 98 mg/hour were reached in a very simple experimental system which could be multiplexed to greater scales.
Data Properties Underlying Human Monitoring Performance

The application of phasor measurement unit (PMU) data in the power industry is currently an area of intense interest. The key driver for PMU technology is to use the precise time sources provided b...
Making the future

In Designing Reality , three brothers join together to tackle the topic of digital fabrication. Their core premise is that widespread technological and societal transformation is on the horizon as today9s simple three-dimensional (3D)printers give way to a new era of digitally designed materials and fabricator networks.
Effective Stress Strength Parameters of Clays from DMT

In this study, an established effective stress limit plasticity solution for piezocone penetration tests (CPTu) in clay developed by the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) for evaluating the effective stress friction angle (ϕ′) is extended to flat plate dilatometer tests (DMT) readings. A nexus between CPTu and DMT is built through spherical cavity expansion solutions for undrained penetration to link the cone tip resistance (qt) and shoulder porewater pressure (u2) from CPTu to the measured contact pressure (p0) and expansion pressure (p1) obtained from DMT in soft to firm intact clays. Data from 49 paired sets of CPTu-DMT soundings in a variety of clays are used to support and validate the links. A variety of soils ranging from lean to plastic clays and clayey silts from marine, alluvial, lacustrine, deltaic, and glaciofluvial origins are subjected to flat DMTs, and the measurements are utilized to evaluate the effective stress friction angle (ϕ′). Data from 46 clays are compiled to examine the DMT-interpreted ϕ′ values in comparison with laboratory benchmark ϕ′ values obtained from CAUC or isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests on high-quality samples. An approximate inversion of the theoretical solution is derived to allow ϕ′ profiles to be determined with depth. Four well-documented DMT examples, including two natural clay sites and two chamber test series (one pressurized and the other unpressurized), are presented to illustrate the NTH procedures.
Impotence in Uremia

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a very stressful illness with many possible complications. One of the most disruptive of these potential complications for both males and females is sexual dysfunction. ESRD patients must make many sacrifices and they are required to give up many things. Assaults on their self-esteem are ubiquitous for these individuals. The loss of sexual functioning can deprive the patient of one of the key areas of gratification in his or her life. In this day and age, with so much emphasis on sexuality, the loss of the ability to perform sexually can be devastating to one’s self-esteem. While sexual dysfunction had been sporadically mentioned over the course of many years and in numerous reports as a sequela of ESRD,1,2 it wasn’t until Levy’s study that a large-scale, systematic analysis of this problem was presented.3 Basically, Levy performed a national questionnaire survey of the membership of an organization of patients with ESRD of varying degrees. A total of over 500 patients on hemodialysis and with renal transplants were assessed. He found that a high percentage of male patients with ESRD suffered from erectile disturbances while a substantial number of women with ESRD complained of failure to experience arousal and achieve orgasm. A large number of both men and women reported declines in libido. The frequency of intercourse declined appreciably in most of these patients.