cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A COMPREHENSIVE MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR THE DESIGN OF CELLULAR MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

Abstract The design of cellular manufacturing systems (CMS) involves many structural and operational issues. One of the important design steps is the formation of part families and machine cells. In this paper, a comprehensive mathematical model for the design of CMS based on tooling requirements of the parts and tooling available on the machines is proposed. The model incorporates dynamic cell configuration, alternative routings, lot splitting, sequence of operations, multiple units of identical machines, machine capacity, workload balancing among cells, operation cost, cost of subcontracting part processing, tool consumption cost, setup cost, cell size limits, and machine adjacency constraints. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the model and its potential benefits.
The Impacts of the Appalachian Mountains on the Post-Glacial Migration Pathways and Gene Flow of Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)

Understanding the post-glacial migration of species from their Pleistocene refugia to their modern ranges requires an examination of the influence of topography on migration pathways. We refined th...
On-line analysis of organic compounds in diesel exhaust using a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS)

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry using H3O+ proton transfer in an ion drift tube (PTR-MS) was used to measure volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations on-line in diesel engine exhaust as a function on engine load. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the PTR-MS instrument as an analytical tool for diesel engine emissions abatement research. Measured sensitivities determined from gas standards were found to be between 30% and 100% greater than calculated sensitivities. A slight humidity dependent sensitivity was observed for non-polar species, implying that reactions with H+(H2O)2 were important for some organics. The mass spectra of diesel exhaust were complex but displayed a pattern of strong ion signals at 14n+1 (n=3..8) masses, with a relative ion abundance similar to that obtained from electron impact ionization of alkanes. Laboratory experiments verified that C8-C16 n-alkanes and C8-C13 1-alkenes react with H3O+ in dissociative proton transfer reaction resulting in alkyl cation ion products, primarily m/z 41, 43, 57, 71 and 85. Monitoring the sum of these ions signals may be useful for estimating alkane emissions from unburnt diesel fuel. Alkane fragmentation likely simplified the diesel exhaust mass spectrum and reduced potential mass interferences with isobaric aromatic compounds. It is shown that themore » relative abundances of VOCs changed as a function of engine load. Concentrations of aldehydes and ketones dominated those of aromatic species with formaldehyde and acetaldehyde estimated to be the most abundant VOCs in the PTR-MS mass spectrum at all engine loads. The relative abundances of benzene and toluene increased with engine load indicating their pyrogenic origin. The relative abundance of alkanes, aromatics, aldehydes, and alcohols was broadly consistent with literature publications of diesel exhaust analysis by gas chromatography. About 75% of the organic ion signal could be assigned. On line analysis of diesel exhaust using this technology may be valuable tool for diesel engine emission research.« less
Effect of emissions inventory versus climate model resolution on radiative forcing and precipitation over the continental United States

[1] We evaluate the impact of anthropogenic emission inventory and climate model grid resolution on aerosol concentrations and black direct aerosol top of atmosphere forcing. Anthropogenic aerosol concentrations of sulfate, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) are simulated using a high-resolution (25 km) regional climate model (RegCM) with (1) the 2000 1° × 1° EDGAR inventory and (2) the 1999 4 km U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Emissions Inventory. A third 60 km EPA simulation tests the effect of climate model resolution. Simulated SO2 and SO42− concentrations from the 25 km simulations agree with observations in DJF, but JJA modeled SO2 is high and SO42− is low by a factor of 2–3 suggesting incomplete sulfate conversion in the model. Simulated BC and OC concentrations are lower than observations, and sensitivity tests suggest the inventories are missing carbonaceous sources. Total aerosol optical depth (AOD) is greater than observations in DJF and lower in JJA, confirming an underestimation of aerosols during summertime. Derived top of atmosphere radiative forcing has a maximum JJA decrease of 7, 8, and 10 W/m2 in the EDGAR, EPA 25 km, and EPA 60 km simulations, respectively. Generally, the 60 km simulations improve measured-modeled aerosol agreement due to reduced precipitation and wet deposition in the 60 km simulation. Comparisons with observations indicate that total precipitation in the 60 km simulation is closer to observations. Thus, aerosol forcings from a regional model may be equally sensitive to resolution and emissions inventory due to the parameterization of large-scale precipitation and wet removal processes.
Varenicline, low dose naltrexone, and their combination for heavy-drinking smokers: human laboratory findings

Rationale Heavy-drinking smokers constitute a sizeable and hard-to-treat subgroup of smokers, for whom tailored smoking cessation therapies are not yet available.
Fine Tuning Gene Regulation

On page 816 of this issue, Kim et al. ( 1 ) report that a DNA-bound protein can influence the properties of an adjacent protein if both are bound to the DNA strand within about 15 base pairs (bp) of each other. The authors attribute their observations to an allosteric effect, in which a distortion of the DNA strand by the first protein modulates the binding of the second protein. The observations have important implications for gene regulation.
Biological and biologically inspired photonic materials and devices

We discuss the increasing effort to adopt biological and biologically inspired concepts to solve problems in photonic materials and devices. This effort ranges from exploiting fundamental material properties, as in fluorescent dyes and DNA-derived polymers, to studying structures that interact strongly with photons, exemplified by butterfly wings. An emerging area of interest is the combination of biological or biologically derived materials with organic or inorganic synthetic materials to achieve material systems with unprecedented performance. We discuss several examples from our recent work including erbium-doped sol-gel/ DNA-CTMA, diatom photonics, and microring resonator based sensing of biological objects.
In search of practitioner‐based social capital: a social network analysis tool for understanding and facilitating teacher collaboration in a US‐based STEM professional development program

This paper presents the first in a series of studies on the informal advice networks of a community of teachers in an in‐service professional development program. The aim of the research was to use Social Network Analysis as a methodological tool to reveal the social networks developed by the teachers, and to examine whether these networks maximized teachers’ access to practitioner‐based social capital. We define practitioner‐based social capital as the knowledge and resources for teaching practice that are accessible through a social network. Our findings indicated that teachers did not naturally build advice networks that would cultivate the highest levels of practitioner‐based social capital. This study offers new possibilities for social network research on teachers’ learning communities in understanding the dynamics of teacher networks. Further, program facilitators will use this information to strategically foster improved teacher collaboration and learning, which will be described in forthcoming st...
A preceptorship in community mental health administration.

Summary This paper describes a pilot preceptorship in administrative psychiatry utilizing the facilities of an established, dynamic, county mental health department as the locus of training. An intensive 4-month experience is described in which a resident was assigned to the Deputy Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to learn firsthand the technical skills of administration. During this period, the resident learned “in vivo” how to initiate, coordinate, direct and represent a mental health program under the immediate supervision of an experienced psychiatric administrator. This pilot study was so well received by the resident, preceptor and the County Department that the latter is now exploring the possibility of obtaining grant funds to establish a preceptorship program as an ongoing service of the Department. The consequences of such a service are great. With a paucity of training centers and the inability of universities to meet the burgeoning need for trained psychiatric administrators, the utilization of existing qualified Departments of Mental Health staffed with personnel experienced in administrative psychiatry appears to be one “bold new approach” to coping with the professional manpower shortage.
Failure to diagnose alcoholism and drug abuse

Abstract The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) as a screening instrument in a population of patients whose primary diagnoses usually did not include alcoholism. The MAST was administered to 76 in-patients on an adult, general psychiatric ward of a university-affiliated mental health center. In addition to two general psychiatric wards, the center has a substance-abuse ward to which most patients with a primary diagnostic of alcoholism and/or drug abuse are admitted.
THE SOIL AS DIRECT SOURCE OF CARBON DIOXIDE FOR ORDINARY PLANTS.

About the middle of the nineteenth century, when the photosynthetie process in chlorophyll-bearing cells was becoming appreciated, the question naturally arose as to whether the CO2 necessary for that process in ordinary plants might be in part derived from the soil as well as from the free air. It was soon shown that the free air is generally the main source of the CO2 of photosynthesis in green plants with aerial exposure, and that conclusion has remained well supported up to the present time ; there is now no reason to question its correctness. But some experiments were reported which indicated that a portion of the CO2 decomposed in green leaves had been derived not from the free air about those organs but from other parts of the plant body and even from the soil. Many recent writers appear to have ignored the results of those experiments, as well as the basic physical principles involved, and it is probably safe to suppose that the free air is now generally regarded as the only source of CO2 for ordinary plants. That only a relatively small portion of the CO2 actually absorbed can be supposed to enter the plant through the roots ought not to lead to the complete neglect of root absorption of CO2, especially when it is recalled that the soil solution has generally a considerable concentration of carbonate ion, that large amounts of water are absorbed through root systems, and that almost all of the absorbed water is regularly given off in transpiration through green tissues. "We submit a brief summary of the status of this fundamental question, together with some discussion of the logical possibilities and an account of a few experiments. To conserve space we shall refer to the carbonate ions (HCO^ COf ) in aqueous solution as dissolved CO2. Since gaseous CO2 cannot penetrate to active chloroplasts (which are surrounded by and thoroughly impregnated with water), it is safe to suppose that all CO2 decomposed in green cells must be in watery solution before its reduction may occur. It is not necessary for our present purpose to attempt to distinguish between the hypothetical carbonic acid (H2CO3), the carbonates, and the carbonate ions, nor is it necessary to dwell on the consideration that a very small portion of
Tension-Tension Fatigue of Microcellular Polycarbonate: Initial Results:

The fatigue life of microcellular polycarbonate specimens of five different relative densities ranging from 0.52 to 0.97 was measured in tension-tension tests on dumbbell specimens. Fatigue life va...
Characterization of the N-Retinyl-3-silyl-n-propylamine Moiety in Solution by NMR Spectroscopy and Covalently Bound to Celite by Hydrogen Ion Binding

Binding of hydrogen ions by N-retinyl-Celite indicates an approximate pK of 5.6 for the secondary amino group which is consistent with the previously observed pH dependence of β-lactoglobulin binding by this affinity matrix. N-Retinyl-3-(triethoxysilyl)-n-propylamine was synthesized as a soluble model compound for the affinity ligand. 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectra of this compound and its precursors, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, all-trans-retinal, and the Schiff base, confirmed formation of the Schiff base and its selective reduction with NaCNBH3. Furthermore, 1H NMR spectra confirmed that protonation of the secondary amine in N-retinyl-3-(triethoxysilyl)-n-propylamine occurred upon treatment at pH 5.1. Keywords: N-Retinyl-Celite; N-retinyl triethoxysilyl n-propylamine; 13C NMR spectra; 1H NMR spectra; hydrogen ion binding
Utility-uncertainty trade-off structures☆

A qualitative axiomatization of a generalization of expected utility theory is given in which the expected value of simple gambles is not necessarily the product of subjective probability and utility. Representation and uniqueness theorems for these generalized structures are derived for both Archimedean and nonarchimedean cases. It is also shown that a simple condition called distributivity is necessary and sufficient in the case of simple gambles for one of these generalized expected utility structures to have simultaneously an additive subjective probability function and a multiplicative combining rule for expected values.
Cyclic changes in the squamo‐columnar junction of the mouse cervix uteri

The histological structure of the squamo-columnar junction of the cervix uteri of mice was studied during the estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation, and in ovariectomized and estrogen-stimulated animals. In the absence of endogenous or exogenous estrogen, there was no clear demarcation between the squamous and the columnar epithelium; the epithelium in the zone of transition resembled types previously described in the human cervix that have been regarded as evidence of a metaplasia of columnar to stratified epithelium. However, in the mouse, estrogen stimulation caused the disappearance of the transitional zone so that an abrupt junction resulted. It was concluded that the type of junction is controlled by estrogen, and that the stratified epithelium of the transitional zone may differentiate to produce either keratinized cells or cells of uterine type at its surface.
Economic impact of syndesmosis hardware removal.

Ankle syndesmosis injuries are commonly seen with 5–10% of sprains and 10% of ankle fractures involving injury to the ankle syndesmosis. Anatomic reduction has been shown to be the most important predictor of clinical outcomes. Optimal surgical management has been a subject of debate in the literature. The method of fixation, number of screws, screw size, and number of cortices are all controversial. Postoperative hardware removal has also been widely debated in the literature. Some surgeons advocate for elective hardware removal prior to resuming full weightbearing. Returning to the operating room for elective hardware removal results in increased cost to the patient, potential for infection or complication(s), and missed work days for the patient. Suture button devices and bioabsorbable screw fixation present other options, but cortical screw fixation remains the gold standard. This retrospective review was designed to evaluate the economic impact of a second operative procedure for elective removal of 3.5 mm cortical syndesmosis screws. Two hundred and two patients with ICD-9 code for “open treatment of distal tibiofibular joint (syndesmosis) disruption” were identified. The medical records were reviewed for those who underwent elective syndesmosis hardware removal. The primary outcome measurements included total hospital billing charges and total hospital billing collection. Secondary outcome measurements included average individual patient operative costs and average operating room time. Fifty-six patients were included in the study. Our institution billed a total of $188,271 (USD) and collected $106,284 (55%). The average individual patient operating room cost was $3579. The average operating room time was 67.9 min. To the best of our knowledge, no study has previously provided cost associated with syndesmosis hardware removal. Our study shows elective syndesmosis hardware removal places substantial economic burden on both the patient and the healthcare system.
A Static Analysis Framework For Detecting SQL Injection Vulnerabilities

Recently SQL injection attack (SIA) has become a major threat to Web applications. Via carefully crafted user input, attackers can expose or manipulate the back-end database of a Web application. This paper proposes the construction and outlines the design of a static analysis framework (called SAFELI) for identifying SIA vulnerabilities at compile time. SAFELI statically inspects MSIL bytecode of an ASP.NET Web application, using symbolic execution. At each hotspot that submits SQL query, a hybrid constraint solver is used to find out the corresponding user input that could lead to breach of information security. Once completed, SAFELI has the future potential to discover more delicate SQL injection attacks than black-box Web security inspection tools.
Quenching of the orbitally-degenerate nickel, palladium, and platinum cations (d9, 2D52) in rare-gas matrices: ESR evidence

Abstract The ions, Ni + , Pd + , Pt + (all having 2 D 5 2 ground electronic states) were produced in the plasma formed during laser vaporization of the metals and directly trapped in solid argon and krypton at 4 K. Electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectra indicated that the ions are in randomly-oriented axially-symmetric crystal fields, leading to partial quenching of their orbital angular momenta such that their g values are in the range of 2 to 3.5. Hyperfine-structure evidence indicates that whereas Pd + (and then probably Ni + ) is in a tetragonally-distorted cubic field, Pt + is quenched in a pseudotetrahedral site. This unexpected anomaly is discussed.
Preliteracy Domains and Stages: Laying the Foundations for Beginning Reading

This article begins by providing a model of the domains of preliteracy development that is derived from a model of the later reading process adapted by Adams (1990) from Seidenberg and McClelland (...
Complementemia and obstetric outcome in pregnancy with antiphospholipid syndrome

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of serum C3 and C4 complement component levels in relation to pregnancy outcome in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Materials and methods: A prospective study of 47 pregnancies associated with APS was performed. Pregnancy outcome was analyzed in terms of: fetal loss, preterm delivery (� 34 gestational weeks), fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), birth weight <2500 g and preeclampsia. Week at delivery, neonatal birth weight and neonatal birth weight percentile were also investigated. Hypocomplementemia, positivity for anti-dsDNA and triple positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were related to pregnancy outcome. Results: Forty-three pregnancies ended in live births with a fetal loss rate of 8.5%. Fetal death, preterm delivery and birth weight <2500 g were associated with hypocomplementemia (p ¼ 0.019, p ¼ 0.0002, p < 0.0001 respectively). Lower neonatal birth weight, lower neonatal birth weight percentile and lower week at delivery were associated with hypocomplementemia (p < 0.0001, p ¼ 0.0003, p < 0.0001 respectively) and with triple aPL positivity (p ¼ 0.008, p ¼ 0.014, p ¼ 0.03 respectively). A poor pregnancy outcome was confirmed among primary APS (PAPS) pregnancies with hypocomplementemia. Multivariate analysis confirmed that hypocomplementemia was an independent predictor of lower neonatal birth weight (p ¼ 0.0001) and lower week at delivery (p ¼ 0.002). Conclusion: Hypocomplementemia could be considered a novel prognostic factor for pregnancy outcome in APS patients. Lupus (2012) 21, 776–778.
Can Shneidman's “Ten Commonalities of Suicide” Accommodate Rational Suicide?

Shneidman's (1985) commonly reproduced "Ten Commonalities of Suicide" cannot accommodate rational suicide, as the concept has been defined in recent literature, and therefore are not "commonalities" of all suicides. Quotes from Shneidman describing the "commonalities" are provided and selected items are briefly examined in light of one set of criteria for rational suicide. It is suggested that Shneidman's list, which is inherently biased against allowing for the possibility of rational suicide, be renamed so that its contents will not continue to be inappropriately used as evidence that suicide cannot be rational.
Centralized research recruitment-evolving a local clinical research recruitment web application to better meet user needs.

Recruiting volunteers into clinical research remains a significant challenge for many clinical research study teams, thus the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) at the University of Michigan developed UMClinicalStudies (http://www.UMClinicalStudies.org)—a Web application that links the community to a single gateway for clinical research. UMClinicalStudies (formerly named “Engage”) is an integral piece of MICHR’s efforts to increase clinical research participation in order to advance medical discoveries. Despite the initial success of the application, barriers to research participation remain, including the applications accessibility for potential research volunteers and study team members. In response, new initiatives were instigated to identify user needs, in order to broaden the ability to simultaneously assist researchers in recruitment activities, while also aiding potential volunteers in the exploration of and participation in clinical research opportunities. To do this, improvements to the interface and functionality were identified and implemented for both the public and the research audiences through extensive system analysis, and through the application of human computer interactivity processes, resulting in significant improvements in usability and ultimately research volunteerism, indicating that utilizing such technology is pivotal in reaching broader audiences for clinical trial participation. Clin Trans Sci 2011; Volume 4: 363–368
Preparing children for international travel

Travel with children may be either one of the most aggravating and trying or one of the most joyful and wondrous experiences of parenthood. What would have been a frustrating and potentially difficult journey may be transformed into a lifetime of fond memories with careful planning and realistic expectations. Although travel with children has existed since time immemorial, the field of pediatric travel medicine has only recently begun to emerge and will undergo many future changes as professional experience increases and research is conducted. This article will review current guidelines for travel medicine practitioners serving children and their families. These guidelines are based on available pediatric travel-related research, appropriately extrapolated adult and pediatric research, currently accepted practice standards, and expert opinion and experiences.
Ormond?s disease: an unusual cause of abdominal pain

A 47-year-old male smoker with hyperlipidemia reported suffering from dull, aching, mid-abdominal pain with right groin pain for 4 months. The pain was associated with nausea, diminished appetite and a weight loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kg). He reported back pain radiating to the buttocks with bilateral calf claudication that was not relieved completely with rest. He also described significant nocturnal sweats and fever of 99–100.5°F (37.2–38.1°C). Pertinent laboratory evaluation revealed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 87 mm/hour and a C-reactive protein of 77.4 mg/l. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody were negative. Antiphospholipid IgG antibodies were borderline elevated. The urinalysis demonstrated microscopic hematuria. Computed tomographic angiography of the abdomen revealed periaortic soft tissue thickening and enhancement of 4.5–5.0 cm, while the opacified lumen measured 1.6 cm (Panel A, arrow). Severe atheromatous disease involved the distal aorta extending into the iliac vessels. The celiac, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and renal arteries were patent. An indium white blood cell scan revealed normal tracer uptake. The clinical findings and laboratory evaluation led to a low suspicion for malignancy or infection. Prednisone was started and 2 months later the groin pain, fever and chills were resolved with improvement of the back and abdominal pain. The inflammatory markers returned to normal. Computed tomographic angiography of the abdomen after 2 months of treatment revealed a marked reduction in the infrarenal periaortic soft tissue thickening with no aneurysmal disease (Panel B, arrow). The clinical manifestations of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis or Ormond’s disease include inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm as well as chronic periaortitis.1 Periaortic fibrous tissue may encase adjacent structures causing obstructive complications such as deep venous thrombosis and ureteral obstruction. In the case presented, the inflammatory component predominated with rapid response to steroid therapy. Advanced atherosclerotic disease is also associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis, which was apparent in this case.2,3 Panel A Panel B
Monthly Dispersion Characteristics over the South China Sea for Air Quality Modeling

Monthly dispersion characteristics for air quality modeling over the South China Sea offshore the west coast of Borneo are studied using long-term ship measurements. It is found from monthly averages that the stability condition is nearly neutral throughout the year with the exception of April, May, and November which are slightly unstable. The lifting condensation level ranged from 338 to 450 m. The lowest value of the ventilation factor occurred in April and the highest in January. The friction velocity for each month is also provided to determine the vertical eddy diffusivity and horizontal and vertical dispersion coefficients.
Guided Conversations about Leadership: Mentoring with Movies and Interactive Characters

Think Like a Commander ‐ Excellence in Leadership (TLAC-XL) is an application designed for learning leadership skills both from the experiences of others and through a structured dialogue about issues raised in a vignette. The participant watches a movie, interacts with a synthetic mentor and interviews characters in the story. The goal is to enable leaders to learn the human dimensions of leadership, addressing a gap in the training tools currently available to the U.S. Army. The TLAC-XL application employs a number of Artificial Intelligence technologies, including the use of a coordination architecture, a machine learning approach to natural language processing, and an algorithm for the automated animation of rendered human faces.
Pandemic versus Epidemic Influenza Mortality: A Pattern of Changing Age Distribution

Almost all deaths related to current influenza epidemics occur among the elderly. However, mortality was greatest among the young during the 1918-1919 pandemic. This study compared the age distribution of influenza-related deaths in the United States during this century's three influenza A pandemics with that of the following epidemics. Half of influenza-related deaths during the 1968-1969 influenza A (H3N2) pandemic and large proportions of influenza-related deaths during the 1957-1958 influenza A (H2N2) and the 1918-1919 influenza A (H1N1) pandemics occurred among persons <65 years old. However, this group accounted for decrementally smaller proportions of deaths during the first decade following each pandemic. A model suggested that this mortality pattern may be explained by selective acquisition of protection against fatal illness among younger persons. The large proportion of influenza-related deaths during each pandemic and the following decade among persons <65 years old should be considered in planning for pandemics.
Comparing equity and self‐expansion theory approaches to relational maintenance

Focusing on relational maintenance in heterosexual romantic dyads, this investigation compares the equity theory approach with self-expansion theory, an alternative approach predicting maintenance behavior when a partner includes the other in the sense of the self. Results supported both theoretical explanations, albeit support for self-expansion theory was more consistent, predicting all maintenance behavior types. Although relational maintenance constructs were statistically comparable between men and women, a sex difference emerged regarding maintenance behavior's predictors, with self-expansion theory a stronger explanation for men but not women. The discussion considers how these results inform the distinction between exchange- and communally oriented conceptualizations of relationships, as well as development of a communicative theory of relational maintenance.
“The Best I Can Be”: Framing Disability Through the Mascots of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics

For the first time ever during the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the mascots for each game were introduced together. The Paralympic mascot, Mandeville, and the Olympic mascot, Wenlock, are similar in appearance and construction. However, their adventures, established through online movies, highlight striking differences between the mascots and the athletes they represent. As mascots portray physical representations of the ideologies of sporting teams and events, producing two mascots for two different sets of athletic competition creates a unique situation through which to compare normative constructions. Through the online-mediated representations of Mandeville and Wenlock, the present study used rhetorical analysis to examine how the two mascots’ stories communicated specific messages to viewers about ability and disability. Within these films, those deemed as disabled are clearly otherized through injury, isolation, and displays of ability. The lens through which viewers learned about able-bodie...
Multi-scale Characterization of Coupling Mechanisms for Evolving Permeability in Oil/Gas Bearing Sediments Compaction

A proper understanding and eventual assessment of reservoir compaction and land subsidence is crucial for decision-making in petroleum and gas extraction industry. This paper presents a multi-scale multi-physics study of coupling mechanisms in the long-term compaction of oil/gas bearing sediments, also known as aging. The principal goal of this work is to quantify such coupling mechanisms at different scales and link phenomena occurring at micro- and meso-scales to a mathematical model formulated at a macroscopic continuum level. The interaction between mechanical and non-mechanical processes, originating from intergranular damage and dissolution was examined through modeling the involved phenomena at their respective micro- and meso-scales. Two major consequences that result from the intensified chemo-mechanical coupling were investigated: porosity reduction, and subsequent stiffness and permeability evolution. It appears that permeability is mildly affected by the contact area increase, and for most of the duration, by the precipitation of the mineral solute; stiffening of the grain system results from the mineral precipitation and the consequent redistribution of mass within the pore space.
Effects of repeated, early season, herbicide treatments of curlyleaf pondweed on native macrophyte assemblages in Minnesota lakes

Abstract We examined the response of native aquatic macrophyte communities to spring herbicide treatments of curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) from 2006 through 2009. Eleven lakes were examined during our study; 8 were treated in May with endothall at 0.75–1.00 mg active ingredient per liter (ai/L) and 3 were used as untreated reference lakes. Macrophyte communities were assessed for frequency of occurrence in the littoral zone with the point intercept method in the summer after each treatment. During each survey, we collected biomass samples from 40 random locations in each lake. In the reference lakes, curlyleaf persisted at moderate to high frequencies over the 4 years, and no consistent changes in native macrophyte frequency of occurrence were seen. In most treated lakes, overall native macrophyte frequency of occurrence and species richness changed little over the 4 consecutive years of treatment, although shifts in the abundance of some species were observed. In untreated lakes, biomass varie...
Proposals for change in orthopaedic education: Recommendations from an orthopaedic residency directors' peer forum

Orthopaedic residency education currently faces a number of difficult challenges. Among them are the explosion of knowledge, the need to teach both the basics of orthopaedic research and surgical techniques, work-hour restrictions, the limited number of trainees, the growth in demand for surgery, greater specialization and complexity of patient care, more complicated resident evaluations, and the changing demographics, lifestyles, and values of the residents1-7. Although most orthopaedic residency programs around the country face the challenges listed above, and while several professional organizations recognize the current challenges to traditional orthopaedic residency training, there seems to be a lack of urgency to address them. The Hospital for Special Surgery convened a forum of educators, all of whom were program directors, from well-regarded residency programs across the country. The invited programs were chosen as representatives of a group of institutions that have shown leadership in residency training, have at least twenty residents in their programs, and reflected geographic variety. The invited educators were asked first through a mailed survey and then in a face-to-face meeting to (1) evaluate whether the traditional residency model is appropriate for the training of future surgeons, and (2) discuss current approaches that have been successfully implemented in orthopaedic training programs. The aim of the meeting was to issue a call for action to those who provide oversight to residency requirements by identifying areas where recommendations need to be developed. The aim of the meeting was to identify consensus areas of need, not to suggest solutions. Twelve orthopaedic educators from nine different programs (Table I) participated in the meeting, which was held on May 2 and 3, 2008. The group produced a set of twenty-two general recommendations for improvement. View this table: TABLE I Participants in the Hospital for Special Surgery Orthopaedic Residency Peer Forum To focus the discussion on …
Battery health degradation and optimal life management

In this paper, we discuss the battery health degradation and optimal battery life management. As the first contribution of the paper, we discuss how battery health degradation manifests itself as the battery capacity fading due to repeated charging and discharging cycles. We present two models, namely, LAR-αβγ and CVD (control variable-dependent) regression models, for battery capacity fade modeling, which are characterized as functions of the number of cycles and two charge control parameters, viz., maximum terminal voltage of the battery and maximum charge current. The development of these models is based on curve-fitting of data from copious aging experiments performed on Samsung GS4 batteries. These models are compared to a bi-exponential capacity model and the superiority of the proposed capacity models over the bi-exponential capacity model is demonstrated using the experimental data. The CVD battery capacity fade model is integral to a battery life management scheme, which is the second contribution of this paper. The battery life management scheme consists of a two-level strategy which provides fast charging, while minimizing long term health degradation effects. At level-I, the CVD battery capacity fade model is used for developing an optimal charging parameter selection method, which provides the best control variables, viz., the maximum terminal voltage and the maximum charge current to achieve a pre-specified desired “useful cycle life”, while attaining the fastest possible time-to-charge (TTC). The selection of the best control variables utilizes information about the present condition of the battery, such as the number of cycles that the battery has been exposed to, the normalized capacity of the battery, and the battery resistance at the present cycle. Practically, estimates of the required parameters may be obtained by a battery fuel gauge. At level-II, the maximum terminal voltage and the maximum charge current calculated at level-I are used as limiting conditions for the optimal charging strategy. The proposed optimal charging parameter selection method is illustrated via numerical results.
Nantucket Pine Tip Moth in Southern California: Identity and Insecticidal Control1

Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock) was accidentally introduced on Monterey pine into San Diego, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties, Calif., identification being based on genitalia, wing length, overwintering pupation site, and most probable geographic origin. Very good control was obtained with 4 annual sprays of Zectran® (4-[dimethylamino]-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate), dimethoate, acephate, trichlorfon, or phosalone in 2 different seasons. One season’s trial of Imidan® (O, O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate S -ester with N -[mercaptamethyl]phthalimide) or chlorpyrifos sprays gave good control, whereas methoxychlor, diazinon, lindane, or malathion gave mediocre to poor control. One soil application of granular carbofuran or aldicarb gave good control, but granular acephate or disulfoton gave no control.
Bestimmung des Partizipationssatzes bei der Aktienindexgebundenen Lebensversicherung

Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die Aktienindexgebundene Lebensversicherung mit garantierter Mindestverzinsung (AILV) aus Sicht deutscher Anbieter. Im Vordergrund steht hierbei die Bestimmung des Indexpartizipationssatzes vor dem Hintergrund einer moglichen Unterdeckung der Vertrage aufgrund von Storno/Tod und der Problematik zusatzlicher Deckungsruckstellungen. Die in beiden Fallen ggf. entstehenden hohen Kosten hatte der Lebensversicherer zu tragen, so das deren genaue Analyse vor Policenverkauf unerlaslich ist.
Abstract 713: Three-dimensionalin vivoblood flow mapping in tumors using optical frequency domain imaging.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment is a chaotic process that results in a dysfunctional vascular network. Unlike normal blood vessels, tumor vessels are dense, tortuous, and leaky. The disorganized nature of the tumor vascular network often leads to unequal perfusion in different parts of the tumor. While some vessels see high blood flow rates, others can be virtually stagnant. This heterogeneity in blood flow can affect oxygen distribution, and, as a result, the efficacy of radiation and chemotherapy. Furthermore, knowing how blood flow varies as a tumor develops is critical for our comprehension of tumor angiogenesis. Finally, our understanding of how anti-angiogenic and chemotherapeutic treatments affect tumor vessels depends on our ability to monitor blood flow. Unfortunately, existing strategies for measuring blood flow are limited by low spatial resolution, long imaging times, or an inability to measure flow over whole tumor volumes. Here, we use optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) to measure blood flow in individual vessels over an entire tumor volume growing in a mouse. Previously, we have used OFDI to obtain high-resolution images of tumor vasculature. Our new technique is based on an association between the speed of moving blood and the dynamics of optical speckle patterns that are intrinsically generated in OFDI. By employing novel methods to measure these speckle patterns and then relate them to an underlying flow velocity, we are able to generate high-resolution three-dimensional maps of blood flow within tumors. Our results expand the potential of OFDI to characterize the tumor microvasculature by adding wide-field blood flow measurements to its demonstrated ability to characterize microvascular morphology, tumor anatomy, tissue viability, and lymphatic vessel morphology. Citation Format: David Blauvelt, Nishant Mohan, Brett Bouma, Rakesh Jain, Timothy Padera, Benjamin Vakoc. Three-dimensional in vivo blood flow mapping in tumors using optical frequency domain imaging. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 713. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-713
Residues in Nontarget Ants , Species Simplification and Recovery of Populations Following Aerial Applications of Mirex

Varying levels (0.029-12.12 ppm) of mirex (dodedaclorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-1 H -cyclobuta[ cd ]pentalene) were found in nontarget ants after aerial applications of mirex bait to control the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Grimes and Brazos Counties, TX. Fourteen species of ants were monitored in the 2 plots. A fall treatment to the Brazos Co. area just recently invaded by S. invicta had the most pronounced effect. Those ants that are generally omnivorous and highly predacious were the first to be affected and were eliminated within 2 wk: these species included S. invicta, Solenopsis geminata (F.), Monomorium minimum (Buckley), Pheidole dentata Mayr, as well as a fungus-growing ant, Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (McCook). The highest levels of mirex were observed in Pogonomyrmex barbatus (F. Smith) and Conomyrma insana (Buckley). After 8 wk, only 2 species could be found in the Brazos Co. study plot, P. barbatus and Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), and samples of both contained mirex. The population of P. barbatus and C. pennsylvanicus was fairly stable both pre and posttreatment. Populations of S. invicta were reestablishing in the Brazos Co. plot 7 mo posttreatment as were C. insana and Leptogennys elongata Mayr. Fourteen mo posttreatment, C. insana and S. invicta were the most prolific reinvaders reaching populations based on mound numbers and mound size much greater than pretreatment populations. Populations of M. minimum, Iridomyrmex pruinosum and P. dentata were reduced a year later over pretreatment levels.
Frequency Prediction of Power Systems in FNET Based on State-Space Approach and Uncertain Basis Functions

In this paper, we discuss the modeling and prediction of power frequency. Power frequency is one of the most essential parameters in the monitoring, control, and protection of power systems and electric equipments because when a significant disturbance occurs in a power system, the frequency varies in time and space. It is critical to employ a dependable model in order to optimize the efficiency and reliability of power systems in the Frequency Monitoring Network (FNET ), and thus, prevent frequency oscillation in power grid. This paper describes the use of a state-space model and basis functions to predict power frequency. In the state-space method, expectation maximization (EM) and prediction error minimization (PEM) algorithms are used to dynamically estimate the model's parameters. In the basis functions method, we employ random basis functions to predict the frequency. The algorithms are easy to implement online, having both high precision and a short response time. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate that the proposed techniques are able to achieve good performance in frequency prediction.
Drugs and atherosclerosis.

There are a number of ways in which it is theoretically possible to interfere with lipidemia. These include: inhibition of cholesterol synthesis (which has been found to have deleterious side effects); increase of cholesterol catabolism (not yet achieved); decreased absorption of lipid (under active study) and interference with lipoprotein synthesis or release (not enough data at present).
Chemosensitization of Drug-Resistant Ramos B-NHL to Drug-Induced Apoptosis: YY1 Expression Is Decreased in Response to Cytoskeletal-Interacting Drugs.

Abstract The transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) regulates cellular differentiation, hematopoiesis, response to apoptotic stimuli, pathogenesis of cancer and its increased expression is associated with inhibition of differentiation of progenitor cells. We and others have previously shown that expression levels of YY1 also correlate with drug sensitivity in cancer cells. A comparison between the wild type (wt) Ramos, with the recently generated rituximab-resistant Ramos (Ramos RR) clones, revealed that, unlike wt Ramos, Ramos RR1 cannot be chemosensitized by rituximab and exhibited higher drug resistance. Further, there was enhanced YY1 expression in Ramos RR1. We hypothesized that overexpression of YY1 may be, in part, responsible for drug-resistance in Ramos RR1 and its inhibition can reverse resistance. This study investigated whether the heightened expression of YY1 in Ramos RR1 cells can be reversed by a panel of drugs used in combination. Ramos and Ramos RR1 cells were treated with vincristine, VP-16, CDDP, and ADR, and the NF-κB inhibitors Bortezomib and DHMEQ. Treatment of Ramos RR1 with the NF-κB inhibitor, in combination with any of the above chemotherapeutic drugs, reversed the acquired drug-resistance and synergy was achieved. Noteworthy, in Ramos RR1 cells, only vincristine (or in combination with NF-κB inhibitors) significantly abrogated or diminished YY1 expression. Similarly, in the prostatic cell line PC-3, 2-methoxyestradiol, another cytoskeletal interacting drug, resulted in marked reduction of YY1 expression level and activity (assessed by a luciferase reporter assay). These results suggest that YY1 overexpression may regulate the resistance of B-NHL to a selected group of drugs but not all drugs. The studies also suggest that agents that can modulate YY1 expression/activity may be potential therapeutics when used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of drug and rituximab-resistant B-NHL. Currently, we are examining potential mechanisms that underlie the downregulation of YY1 expression by vincristine and 2-methoxyestradiol.
Special session — Connecting and expanding the engineering education research community

Several universities have established or are considering establishing engineering education research centers and PhD programs. The aim of this special session is to provide an opportunity for representatives of established engineering education research programs to network with one another, to welcome representatives from emerging programs, and to provide guidance to colleagues who are considering establishing centers and PhD programs. Colleagues from established programs are encouraged to bring descriptions of their programs to distribute, and to be prepared to help others establish engineering education research programs. The session is open to everyone who is interested in fostering the continued development of the engineering education research community. We propose to utilize the occasion to brainstorm new and innovative ideas for improving the intellectual climate in engineering education research programs, as well as identify ways to continue to network. We will set up a space on the Collaboratory for Engineering Education Research (CLEERhub.org) where we will post the program descriptions (and links). We will encourage session participants to review the materials that are posted prior to the Special Session. We will encourage participants to use CLEERhub.org as a means for following up after the session.