cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resting and maximal forearm skin blood flows are reduced in hypertension.

To find whether the vasodilator capacity of nonacral skin is reduced in hypertension, we measured forearm blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography in 10 seated normotensive (mean +/- SD mean arterial pressure, 94 +/- 5 mm Hg) and 10 hypertensive (112 +/- 9 mm Hg) men at rest for 39 minutes while the forearm was heated with water at 42 degrees C, a maneuver known to selectively and maximally vasodilate skin. Blood pressure, measured every 5 minutes, did not change with heating. We found that in the normotensive group resting forearm blood flow was higher (3.64 +/- 1.12 versus 2.48 +/- 0.58 ml/100 ml tissue per minute, p less than 0.001; normotensive group versus hypertensive group) and resting forearm vascular resistance lower (30.17 +/- 10.99 versus 48.88 +/- 17.37 mm Hg.min.100 ml tissue per minute, p less than 0.05; normotensive group versus hypertensive group), and maximal forearm blood flow with local heating was higher (29.32 +/- 11.99 versus 18.19 +/- 4.50 ml/100 tissue per minute, p less than 0.018; normotensive group versus hypertensive group and vascular resistance lower (4.07 +/- 1.04 versus 6.54 +/- 1.17 mm Hg.min.100 ml tissue per minute, p less than 0.005; normotensive group versus hypertensive group). To find whether this degree and duration of local warming maximally vasodilated the skin in hypertensive subjects (as it does in normotensive subjects), we measured forearm skin blood flow before and during local heating plus 10 minutes of ischemia using a laser Doppler flowmeter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Two matrix norm conditions for asymptotic stability in the presence of controller disturbances

The stability analysis for digital control systems is extended to consider controller misbehavior. This approach shows that it is possible for a system to survive repeated controller perturbations because of plant dynamics. This idea is placed on a quantitative basis by deriving results about asymptotic stability in terms of matrix norms. These results are intended to be both general in application and convenient for experiments.
Simulation of the "Blowby" effect in an accelerating compact toroid

As a compact toroid is accelerated between two coaxial electrodes, the internal field structure of the compact toroid adjusts in response to the driving flux. If the acceleration force is too strong, the toroid can be pushed outward from the inner electrode causing the accelerating field to "blowby" the toroid. This article reports on computer simulations of a compact toroid as it is accelerated between two coaxial electrodes. In particular, three cases are presented which demonstrate the compact toroid's behavior above and below the "blowby" condition.
Inference of core-mantle boundary topography from ISC PcP and PKP traveltimes

We invert ISC PcP and PKP absolute and differential traveltimes in an attempt to infer the long-wavelength topography of the core-mantle boundary (CMB). The data selection and processing methods are described and evaluated. These travel-time data are very noisy and the geographic distribution of the data is highly non-uniform, inhibiting reliable inference of CMB topography. Spatial averaging enhances the coherent component of the residual variance (related to heterogeneity), however, the random component of the variance is much larger than the coherent component. We show that for PcP data the coherent signal due to mantle heterogeneity overshadows that arising from the CMB, and that the effects of mantle heterogeneity are mapped into our inferred CMB solutions. The PcP data are not correlated across the spatial averaging bins and seem to have a strong bias due to small-scale structure and/or noise. The non-uniform geographic sampling of the data plays a role in the mapping of mantle heterogeneity onto the CMB. Spatial patterns of CMB models inferred from different phases do not agree. Amplitudes of seismically inferred CMB undulations vary greatly. The sensitivity of inferred CMB models to the processing, spatial averaging procedure, and inversion techniques are investigated. Topographic amplitudes increase strongly with increasing input residual variance. The power spectrum of inferred topography indicates that there are unmodelled heterogeneities that must be described with spherical harmonics of degree 6 and higher. Based on this work, we conclude that reliable inference of long-wavelength CMB topography is not likely with the current ISC data set or with a spherical harmonic expansion truncated to degree and order 6.
Microactuation based on thermally-driven phase-change

The authors describe a microactuator based on thermally induced liquid-vapor phase-change in a partially filled closed cavity. A test structure for studying such systems has been designed and fabricated. The cavity is 900 mu m*900 mu m*300 mu m in size with a 600 mu m*800 mu m heater covering the floor of the cavity and elevated approximately 10 mu m above it. These heaters have open diamond-shaped unit cells defined by 12 mu m-wide 3 mu m-thick bulk silicon beams and provide an overall electrical resistance of 3-10 Omega . The thermal resistance is typically 4-6 degrees C/mW so that the heater temperature rises approximately 22 degrees C for input current levels of 25 mA. Using Freon-11 as the cavity fluid with partial filling, very modest drive levels are thus able to sustain a 1-atm pressure rise within the cavity. Overdriving the heaters at 100 mW results in a simulated pressure rise of 1 atm in 40 ms, showing that operation can be rapid as well. >
Comercio exterior y desarrollo economico: Reflexiones sobre el caso andaluz en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX

Se ha escrito mucho sobre las causas del atraso andaluz, sin que hasta el momento exista ninguna explication definitiva. La mayor parte de los planteamientos que se han hecho, unos mejor fundamentados que otros, son insatisfactorios por su monocausalidad. En terminos generales, se busca al gran culpable del atraso relativo del Sur con respecto a otras regiones peninsulares, atraso que no se inicio hasta bien entrada la segunda mitad del siglo xix, al invertirse la tendencia expansionista seguida hasta entonces.
The Delivery of Special Education Programs and Services

The design of alternative program and service delivery systems for children and youth with disabilities requires both an understanding of the present realities that restrain change and the knowledge of practices that can drive the profession of special education forward. In light of national policy and demographic and fiscal factors, we discuss the need for a continuum of services offered within the least restrictive environment (LRE). We then discuss promising practices in collaboration, new roles for professionals, intervention team models, and emerging trends in service delivery to new populations including preschool and transition groups.
Effect of Measurement Principle and Measuring Field on Uniformity Measures of Spun Yarns

The effect of measuring field length on yarn evenness is investigated by comparing the coefficient of variation or CV of the measure obtained from three different sensors with different measurement principles: a capacitance sensor with an 8 mm sensing zone, an optical sensor with a 2 mm sensing zone, and a laser scanner with a 1 mm effective sensing zone. A probabilistic model is developed to predict the different CV values obtained from the different instruments, and the results are compared with experimental values.
Fixed and Floating-Point Implementations of Linear Adaptive Techniques for Predicting Physiological Hand Tremor in Microsurgery

This paper presents the fixed and floating-point implementations for field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) of third-order hand tremor predictors using recursive-least square (RLS) and a proposed Kalman adaptation algorithm. The proposed algorithm outperforms RLS in convergence speed and mean square error (MSE). It also shows better numerical convergence than the RLS as the number of bits in fixed-point precision is reduced. Both fixed and floating-point realizations are implemented and the hardware tradeoffs are discussed. A modified binary floating-point format is proposed that takes advantage of the 18-bit hard macro multiplier within the Virtex 5 Architecture in order to gain precision while preserving clock speed. The increased precision overcomes the prior known issues of explosive divergence and the stalling effect associated with the fixed-point implementation of such adaptive algorithms, proving the feasibility of an FPGA based physiological hand tremor predictor. In order to demonstrate the tradeoff between the performance and the hardware complexity, we quantify the penalty paid by the system in terms of MSE due to the use of lower precision arithmetic.
ALIEN PLANT INVASION IN MIXED‐GRASS PRAIRIE: EFFECTS OF VEGETATION TYPE AND ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCE

The ability of alien plant species to invade a region depends not only on attributes of the plant, but on characteristics of the habitat being invaded. Here, we examine characteristics that may influence the success of alien plant invasion in mixed-grass prairie at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, in western North Dakota, USA. The park consists of two geographically separate units with similar vegetation types and management history, which allowed us to examine the effects of native vegetation type, anthropogenic distur- bance, and the separate park units on the invasion of native plant communities by alien plant species common to counties surrounding both park units. If matters of chance related to availability of propagules and transient establishment opportunities determine the success of invasion, park unit and anthropogenic disturbance should better explain the variation in alien plant frequency. If invasibility is more strongly related to biotic or physicaL char- acteristics of the native plant communities, models of alien plant occurrence should include vegetation type as an explanatory variable. We examined >1300 transects across all veg- etation types in both units of the park. Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) indicated that the fully parameterized model, including the interaction among vegetation type, disturbance, and park unit, best described the distribution of both total number of alien plants per transect and frequency of alien plants on transects where they occurred. Although all vegetation types were invaded by alien plants, mesic communities had both greater numbers and higher frequencies of alien plants than did drier communities. A strong element of stochasticity, reflected in differences in frequencies of individual species between the two park units, suggests that prediction of risk of invasion will always involve uncertainty. In addition, despite well-documented associations between anthropogenic disturbance and alien plant invasion, five of the six most abundant alien species at Theodore Roosevelt National Park had distributions unrelated to disturbance. We recommend that vegetation type be explicitly taken into account when designing monitoring plans for alien species in natural areas.
On the Rise and Fall of Tuláns and Maya Segmentary States

An approach integrating ethnohistory, ethnography, and settlement pattern archeology allows a series of “ontogenetic stages” with segmentary lineage behaviors to be delineated for the Post-classic Quiche-Maya state at Utatlan, Guatemala. Comparisons to the Postclassic states in lowland southern Mesoamerica (e.g., Chichen Itze, Mayapan) assess the segmentary state model. In each, intrusive lineages migrated to coalesce into confederacies that exemplified decentralized authority and common descent. Then the polities suddenly dissoluted, with disarticulated segments again migrating to commence the cycle anew. As a documented case of growth and near collapse of a Maya segmentary state, the Quiche are traced from intrusive, nearly egalitarian Putun lineages through successive tiers of “confederation” in which various ethnic peoples first voluntarily allied and then were coerced into subordination. Utatlan inherited the mantle of rulership of the Lowland Maya “great tradition,” heretofore vested in the Tulans. By so doing, the Quiche acquired symbols of rulership, such as full quadripartition of the calendar and a literary tradition, whereby the Popol Vuh presented general Mayan mythology and specific Quiche history. Incipient economic specialization occurred after state formation within otherwise mechanical solidarity-like lineages linked according to the cardinality of the calendar.
Electronic Alterations Caused by Ruthenium in Pt−Ru Alloy Nanoparticles as Revealed by Electrochemical NMR

We have carried out a series of 195Pt and 13C NMR spectroscopic and electrochemical experiments on commercial Pt−Ru alloy nanoparticles and compared the results with those on Pt-black samples having similar particle sizes. The Pt NMR spectrum of the alloy nanoparticles consists of a single Gaussian peak, completely different from the broad “multi-Gaussian” NMR spectra, which are generally observed for carbon-supported Pt catalysts. Spin−echo decay measurements show that the intrinsic spin−spin relaxation time (T2) is much larger in the alloy compared to Pt-black. A “slow-beat” is observed in the spin−echo decay curve of the alloy, implying that the NMR frequencies of spin−spin coupled Pt nuclei in the alloy nanoparticles are quite similar, unlike the situation found with Pt-black. These 195Pt NMR results strongly suggest that there is a surface enrichment of Pt atoms in the Pt−Ru alloy nanoparticles. The CO-stripping cyclic voltammogram (CV) of the Pt−Ru alloy nanoparticles is broader than that observed w...
Hemodynamic effects of ephedra-free weight-loss supplements in humans

Abstract Purpose Ephedra-free weight loss dietary supplements containing bitter orange ( Citrus aurantium ), a botanical source of the adrenergic amines synephrine and octopamine, have quickly emerged on consumer markets to replace banned ephedra products. These supplements may have some of the health risks associated with ephedra, but studies in humans are lacking. Our aim was to characterize the pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular effects of C. aurantium dietary supplements. Subjects and methods Ten healthy adult nonsmokers participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm crossover study. Single doses of C. aurantium (Advantra Z) containing 46.9 mg synephrine, Xenadrine EFX, a multi-component formulation containing 5.5 mg synephrine, and placebo were administered with a one-week washout. Results Compared with placebo, Xenadrine EFX but not Advantra Z increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure with peak changes from baseline at 2 hours of 9.6 ± 6.2 mm Hg systolic ( P = 0.047), and 9.1 ± 7.8 mm Hg diastolic ( P = 0.002). Heart rate was increased from baseline at 6 hours compared with placebo (16.7 beats per minute with Xenadrine EFX, P = 0.011; 11.4 beats per minute with Advantra Z, P = 0.031). Dose-adjusted synephrine pharmacokinetics were similar between treatments with t max = 90 min, t 1/2 = 3.0 hours, V/F = 16347 L, and CL/F = 88.9 L/min for Xenadrine EFX. Conclusion Ephedra-free weight loss supplements have significant cardiovascular stimulant actions, similar to ephedra. These effects are not likely caused by C. aurantium alone, because an eightfold higher dose of synephrine (Advantra Z) had no effect on blood pressure, but may be attributable to caffeine and other stimulants in the multi-component formulation
Growth and Development of the Biological Control AgentBagous hydrillaeas Influenced by Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Stem Quality

Abstract Plant quality of dioecious hydrilla was studied as a factor that may influence larval survival, growth, and development of the biological control agent Bagous hydrillae. Nitrogen content and stem toughness of hydrilla varied among the five sites studied and between summer and fall collections. The nitrogen content of hydrilla collected during summer ranged from 1.2 to 3.6% (dry weight) and during fall from 1.6 to 2.9%. Stem toughness ranged from 487 to 940 g/mm 2 during the summer and from 418 to 1442 g/mm 2 during the fall. The larvae of this weevil species required more time to complete development when fed hydrilla containing lower levels of nitrogen and tougher stemmed plants. Moreover, pupal and adult fresh weights were also reduced when the larvae were fed the poorer quality plants. Relative growth rates were reduced in larvae fed hydrilla of lower nitrogen level and tougher plants. Hydrilla plant quality constitutes an important factor that may limit the establishment and impact of this potential biological control agent.
Chlorophyll fluorescence lifetime studies of greening in yellow mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Assembly of the Photosystem I core complex

Changes in the functional organization of chlorophyll occur during light-dependent chlorophyll accumulation in yellow mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . These changes were studied using single-photon counting techniques to determine the chlorophyll fluorescence decay kinetics at various times after transfer of de-greened cultures to the light Several different yellow mutants were analyzed: y-1, a photoautotrophic strain; LM18-al2b, a Photosystem-II (PS II) -deficient derivative of y- 1; and C2, a strain deficient in both Photosystem I (PS I) and PS II. The results demonstrate that the residual chlorophyll present in de-greened cultures has a similar organization, independent of the chlorophyll-protein composition of the fully greened strains. Relative to the composition in light-grown cultures, the chlorophyll present in de-greened cells is enriched in chlorophyll b and has fluorescence decay kinetics similar to monomeric chlorophyll in solution. The reaction-center core complexes accumulate preferentially during the first 2 h of greening, and the light-harvesting complexes beginto accumulate more rapidly thereafter. After 5–6 h, during the stage of maximal chlorophyll accumulation rate, reaction centers and antenna complexes accumulate in constant proportions. The PS I reaction-center core complex has a constant apparent size of about 130 Chl/P-700 at all stages of greening under the conditions we examined.
Current therapies to shorten postoperative ileus

Postoperative ileus delays hospital discharge, increases costs, and contributes to adverse outcomes. A variety of neural and chemical factors are involved. To shorten the duration of postoperative ileus, we may need to establish standard plans of care that favor earlier feeding, use of nasogastric tubes only on a selective basis, and prokinetic drugs as needed.
PREPARING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY STUDENTS TO BECOME EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROFESSIONALS

While the number of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) has grown tremendously, opportunities for marriage and family therapists in EAP settings have not been adequately described. This paper addresses issues pertinent to training Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students to develop the skills needed to become EAP professionals. Qualifications for becoming an EAP professional are described and suggestions are made as to how these skills may be taught within the framework of an academically based MFT training program.
Mesoporous iron phosphate as an active, selective and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of nopol by Prins condensation

Mesoporous iron phosphate is found to be a highly active and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the selective synthesis of nopol by Prins condensation of β-pinene and paraformaldehyde in acetonitrile at 80 °C.
Homeotic evolution in Cambrian trilobites

Hox genes are known from a wide variety of organisms. In arthropods, these genes con- trol segment characteristics. Trilobites, being arthropods, probably contained eight major Hox genes that controlled their segment types. The trilobite Bauplan contains eight regions that are most likely under the influence of one or more of these Hox genes. The cephalon contains the frontal lobe, glabellar, and occipital ring regions; the thorax contains the anterior thoracic and posterior thoracic regions; and the pygidium contains the articulating ring, axial, and terminal piece regions. Changes in character distribution within or between these regions represent homeotic evolution, which may have resulted from the modification of Hox transcription or of downstream regulatory genes. A phylogenetic analysis is used to recognize homeotic evolution in trilobites, leading to the conclusion that homeotic evolution is common among Cambrian trilobites.
Development and Testing of a Radiosurgery-Based Arteriovenous Malformation Grading System

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an accepted management option for many patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The Spetzler-Martin grading scale is the most widely accepted and utilized method to predict outcomes after surgical resection of intracranial AVMs but is not sensitive to factors that correlate with successful AVM radiosurgery. The need for a system that accurately predicts patient outcomes after AVM radiosurgery led to the development of the radiosurgery-based AVM score (RBAS). The RBAS has evolved and has been modified over the years to reflect changes in AVM radiosurgical technique and has been validated by numerous centers using the Gamma Knife®, modified LINAC and the CyberKnife®. Use of the RBAS permits an accurate prediction of outcomes from radiosurgery to guide choices between observation, surgical resection or radiosurgery for individual AVM patients, and should be used in future studies on AVM radiosurgery to stratify patients for more precise comparative analyses.
High resolution in vivo imaging of osteoarthritic cartilage

High resolution, in vivo imaging of osteoarthritic cartilage is performed during knee replacement surgery. Imaging of the cartilage in an intact knee joint in vitro is also demonstrated using a minimally invasive arthroscopic imaging probe.
ATNT-25IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KETOGENIC DIET IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCERS: THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF CAREGIVERS.

The ketogenic diet is currently being evaluated as treatment for primary brain cancer in several cancer treatment centers. Diets are conventionally viewed as relatively simple to initiate. However, food preparation for the ketogenic diet requires that food be carefully prepared and measured. Our experience shows that caregivers, spouses, family, and or close friends are essential for initiating and maintaining a ketogenic diet. Measured amounts of specific foods must be prepared for each meal and the concentrations of ketones and glucose in the blood measured twice daily. Dietary changes are made in conjunction with an experienced dietician towards the goal of keeping the serum ketones at or above 3 mm. The role of the caregiver is especially important in patients with primary brain cancer who may have suffered neurological impairment as a result of their disease. This may be as subtle as loss of administrative function with resulting inability to organize the tasks necessary for food preparation or as disabling as a severe hemiparesis. Specific case studies demonstrating the necessity of caregiver support for the ketogenic diet will be presented. We conclude that one of the challenges in recruiting patients for clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of the ketogenic diet as treatment of primary brain cancer is to insure that the patients have a caregiver that will help and support with the preparation of ketogenic foods and make certain that twice daily blood ketones are measured and recorded.
A Method of Estimating Fall Armyworm Progeny Reduction When Evaluating Control Achieved by Host-Plant Resistance

Fecundity variation in Spodoptera frugipenda (J. E. Smith) was examined in relation to pupal size (weights). The data show a significant correlation between pupal weight and fecundity. Since mean pupal weight of fall armyworm populations have been shown to be reduced by some resistant plants, a tentative regression equation be achieved When using the host-plant-resistance method of control. The control measurement (percent population reduction) is similar to that used to evaluate control when using conventional insecticides.
Cultural and Other Studies of Fungi that Decay Ocotillo in Arizona

Thirty-two species of wood-rotting fungi were found on windthrown ocotillo plants in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. Twenty-seven of these were isolated and their cultural morphology determ...
How Effective Feedback for Training Depends on Learner Resources and Task Demands

Systems now may collect almost unlimited amounts of data on performance during learning. However, it is critical to ensure appropriate data are presented properly to the human to aid learning of a system. At the present time, extensive literature exists on training, but there is no agreed upon method of choosing exactly the data to present as feedback during training. This uncertainty is due to the lack of underlying principles for making feedback effective. This paper presents a formulation of feedback principles based on an understanding of the processing demands on the human operator. We explain how variables such as amount of structure and support in feedback interact with the human operator and the task to be learned. With this knowledge, designers may choose suitable feedback for training.
Carol Baines P. Evans and S. Neysmith (eds.). Women's Caring. Feminist Perspectives on Welfare . Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1991, pp. 310.

This book examines many aspects of “caring” from a feminist perspective. The authors analyse caring, and the roles that women play within this sphere, in relation to certain socio-economic dimensions particular to women in Canadian society which comprise the cornerstone of the current methodology developed. The eight authors, in turn, each cast original light on the principal theme and the variety of subjects covered makes this publication a pivotal work in the thought and study of women and the taking of responsibility for dependent adults in the family. By questioning the foundations upon which the caring practices of Canadian society rest, the authors lay the groundwork for a critical knowledge which will contribute, in the end, to a greater measure of equality between the sexes. This high quality work is also easily accessible and will interest people who study, teach and work in fields related to the sphere of caregiving.
Studies on the Etiology of Acute Rheumatic Fever

Since 1899, when Westphal, Wassermann and Malkoff1 isolated a streptococcus from the blood of a patient having chorea and endocarditis, there have been discussions in favor of and against the belief that the streptococcus or diplococcus is the etiologic agent of acute rheumatic fever and its associated pathologic changes. An apparent agreement that acute rheumatic fever is an infectious disease has evolved, but opinion is still divided as to whether the disease is of streptococcal origin or whether it is produced by an unknown virus. The chief points of the problem to be considered seem to be: 1. Can the organism be uniformly isolated from the blood, joints, and pericardial exudates in cases of acute rheumatic fever and chorea? 2. What are these organisms ? 3. Do they represent a specific strain or a heterogeneous group? 4. Are antibodies against these organisms found in the blood of patients from whom the organisms are isolated, 5. Can lesions be produced in animals similar to rheumatic lesions in human cases? With these questions in mind, the present work was undertaken.
Effect of Conductive Heat on Extensibility of Muscles

伝導性温熱療法手段が生体の筋の伸張性に効果があるか否かを検討するため、健常人16名の大腿部後面に湿性ホットパックを施行し、他動的SLR時の股関節角度を測定した。その結果、今回の温熱療法手段では筋の伸張性に対する効果がみられなかった。ホットパックの臨床使用にあたっては、その使用方法の簡便さから安易にそれを使用する傾向にあるが、その効果をより明確にするとともに、他の物理療法手段との効果の比較を検討する必要性が示唆された。
Carries, Combinatorics, and an Amazing Matrix

* The eigenvalues are all positive and form a finite, decreasing, geometric sequence; furthermore, if we diagonalize II as U-1IIU = D, where the eigenvalues are arranged in decreasing order in the diagonal matrix D, then, aside from a constant of proportionality: * The entries in the row of U-1 corresponding to the eigenvalue 1 are Eulerian numbers. * The entries in the row of U-1 corresponding to the least eigenvalue are the entries in a row of Pascal's triangle, but with alternating signs; the entries in the column of U corresponding to this eigenvalue are their reciprocals. * The entries in the first and last rows of U are respectively unsigned and signed Stirling numbers of the first kind.
Signal Source Localization Using Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes

GPS-based systems have the potential to make air travel safer and more efficient, but they are vulnerable to jamming and interference. Localizing signal sources such as jammers can be accomplished cost-effectively using small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). When equipped with a directional antenna, a multirotor UAV can rotate to obtain a bearing measurement to the signal source. This paper presents a control scheme for such a platform, which uses prior observations to determine where new observations should be made. The signal source localization problem is modeled as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). The POMDP formulation allows for a principled approach to optimally solving sequential decision-making problems. Signal source localization problems involve large belief spaces that render such optimal solutions computationally intractable, but recent advances have made approximation methods feasible. This paper presents a POMDP model for signal source localization and explores offline methods to approximate optimal solutions. Simple approximations such as QMDP outperform heuristic strategies if the reward function is carefully selected. More complex solution methods incorporating distribution entropy result in better performance but have greater computational cost.
Process Control of Electroplating Gold Technology for Application of IC Manufacturing

This paper introduces electroplating gold process for application of IC manufacturing,including process flow of electroplating gold,plating mechanism,plating chemicals,plating tools,process control and film performance.
Survey On The Occurrence Status Of Drug-resistance Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus In 2009 In Fuyang City Of Anhui Province

Objective To analyze the occurrence of drug-resistance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) among people who received AIDS antivirus therapy in Fuyang city of Anhui province,provide evidence for the prevention of the occurrence and spread of drug-resistance.Methods Patients had received AIDS antivirus therapy from Jan.1,2005 to Dec.31,2009 in Lin-quan and Jie-shou of Fu-yang city were selected by cluster sampling.The pol gene subtypes and drug resistance genotype of samples were analyzed.Results A total of 258 patients were investigated.There were 50 units among all the samples in which the HIV loads were more than 1 000cp/ml.38 effective sequences of pol region were all subtype B.The total HIV drug-resistance rate was 3.9%,the main drug-resistance gene mutation was not found in PR region,and the epidemic rate of drug-resistance strains in PR region was zero.10 cases had drug-resistance for NNRTIs,.7 cases had drug-resistance for NRTIs,2.7%.7 cases had drug-resistance for NNRTIs and NRTIs meanwhile.Conclusion The occurrence rate of HIV drug-resistance strains in Fuyang city was lower.However,the occurrence of the double drug-resistance for NNRTIs and NRTIs need to pay more attention to.
When Good Information Truly Matters: Public Sector Decision Makers Acquiring and Using Research to Inform Their Decisions

Since our nation’s inception, there have been a variety of debates about the proper boundaries between the several branches of U.S. federal and state governments. The argument at the heart of these debates centers on how best to advance the public interest. While each branch operates under a different set of powers, restraints, and processes, if this dedication to the public interest is internalized into the deliberations of judges, legislators, and bureaucrats, then the quality of the information these branch officials use to inform their decisions is crucial to determining how well the public is served. In the past, officials of the three branches typically depended on others to provide them with the bulk of the information necessary to complete their work. Legislators would receive information from lobbyists, advocates, legislative colleagues, and constituents. Executive branch officials heard from the same sources during policy formation, and because of their role in program administration, heard a great deal from vendors hoping to sell goods and services to the government as part of policy implementation. Judges heard from the parties arguing cases before them and in some cases, “friends of the court.” This dependency has traditionally relied on the process of advocacy, where both sides present their arguments to the official and the official as decision maker determines the relative merits of the
Experimental infection of domestic cats with Bartonella henselae by inoculation of Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) feces.

Caged cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), were fed on 6 cats; 3 cats were injected with 5 x 10(7) colony forming units of Bartonella henselae intradermally and 3 cats were injected with an equal volume of saline. After the fleas fed for 4 d, 5 groups of 50 B. henselae-exposed fleas were caged and allowed to feed on 5 cats for 6 d. Five cats each were injected intradermally with 1 ml of saline containing 45 mg of feces from B. henselae-exposed fleas. Five cats were fed 50 B. henselae-exposed fleas and 45 mg of fresh feces from B. henselae-exposed fleas. Five cats received all 3 treatments by using fleas and feces collected from cats inoculated with saline (controls). Cats were bled weekly and tested by culture and serology. The cats that were injected with feces from infected fleas were positive by culture for B. henselae at 1 or 2 wk after exposure and were the only cats to become bacteremic or seropositive by week 20.
COAST (Coordinating Options for Acute Stroke Therapy): An Advance Directive for Stroke.

BACKGROUND Stroke is a worldwide problem with a limited number of approved treatments. Obtaining informed consent for acute stroke therapy is complicated by the breadth of information that must be communicated in a short period of time, the hectic nature of the emergency environment, the possible lack of understanding by the patient and/or family, and the critically time-sensitive nature of treatment for stroke. Complicating matters even further, patients are often unable to consent for themselves, placing the burden on surrogates to infer patients' wishes regarding treatment, and potentially limiting acute treatment by practitioners. INNOVATION An advance directive for acute stroke therapy was created, entitled COAST (Coordinating Options for Acute Stroke Therapy). This clinical initiative is being piloted at a large comprehensive stroke center, including the development of the advance directive form, integration of the form with electronic medical records, training healthcare providers, and outreach to patients. CONCLUSIONS COAST is an advance directive for stroke designed to make stroke care more efficient, optimize patients' autonomy, improve the quality of healthcare, and streamline the ethical management of complex care decisions in acute stroke. The inherent benefit of COAST is in providing patients and their families with more information regarding stroke and its treatment options, allowing them to take a more active role in their care.
Gender Violence: The Problem

This chapter examines the problem (definitions, prevalence, and consequences) of gender violence. Long a significant cause of female morbidity and mortality, gender violence has increasingly become recognized as a human rights and public-health issue, especially within the last three decades. Still, it continues to be a pervasive danger to women and children in both developing and developed societies as data from multi- and cross-national studies indicate. Female infanticide and femicide, domestic violence, rape, mutilation, sex trafficking, dowry deaths, honor killings, incest, and breast ironing—all of which constitute gender violence—are part of a global pattern of violence against women, a pattern supported by educational, economic, and employment discrimination.
AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPUTER SELF-EFFICACY, ANXIETY, EXPERIENCE, SUPPORT AND USAGE

Organizations make significant investments in information technology. However, if individuaJs do not use infonnation system applications as anticipated, successful implementation can be hard to achieve. In order to investigate some key factors thought to affect an individual's use of information technology. this study draws 00 Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCl"), Triandis's Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB). and the computer anxiety literatUre to develop its conceptual model and research hypotheses. An empirical invcstigation (0...,78) found support for the majority of the hypothcses. As suggcsted by scr. experience and suppon were positively related to computer self-efficacy. and computer self-efficacy was negatively related to anxiety and positively related to usage. As suggested by TIE. experience was positively related to usage. Furthermore.. computer anxiety was negatively related to experience. By providing insight into these imponant relationships. this research can help funher understanding of their role in the acceptance and use ofinformation h..
Investigation of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor structures on 200-mm silicon (111) substrates employing different buffer layer configurations

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures are grown on 200-mm diameter Si(111) substrates by using three different buffer layer configurations: (a) Thick-GaN/3 × {AlxGa1−xN}/AlN, (b) Thin-GaN/3 × {AlxGa1−xN}/AlN, and (c) Thin-GaN/AlN, so as to have crack-free and low-bow ( 1800 cm2/V∙s) and 2DEG carrier concentration (>1.0 × 1013 cm−2) on Si(111) substrates.
Prevalence of serious mental illness among parents in the United States: results from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2008-2014.

Abstract Purpose This brief research report presents findings from a US national household survey on the number and percentage of parents with mental illness. Methods Using combined annual data from the 2008–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, parents were defined as having children in the household from birth to 18 years. Prediction models developed in an earlier clinical study using a National Survey on Drug Use and Health subsample were used to estimate serious mental illness (SMI). Results A total of 2.7 million parents (3.8%) had a SMI in the past year and 12.8 million parents (18.2%) had any mental illness in the past year. Mental illness was more common among mothers than fathers and least common among Asians compared with other races. SMI was less prevalent in parents who were aged 50 years and older compared with younger age groups. Conclusions The burden of mental illness in parents is high in the United States, especially among mothers. Physicians who treat parents should routinely screen for mental illness and discuss its implications for parenting.
The association between sociocultural variables and predictors of prostate cancer screening among black men in New York city: Implications for interventions

B17 There is growing emphasis on interventions to promote informed decisions about prostate cancer screening (i.e., prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE)) among Black men. However, most interventions to date pay little attention to sociocultural variables that may influence screening decisions and intentions. The current study examined four sociocultural variables previously shown to be relevant to healthcare participation in Black populations - medical mistrust, healthcare avoidance, collectivism, and Black identity - and their association with key predictors of health behavior as described by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB): attitudes about PSA/DRE tests, subjective norms relevant to prostate cancer screening, perceived behavioral control (PBC) over PSA/DRE tests, and intention to have PSA/DRE tests. Participants were 210 Black men between 40-75 years recruited in New York City. TPB measures included PSA test attitudes (8 items; α=.78), DRE attitudes (8 items; α =.79), and single items assessing norms, PBC, and screening intention. Participants also completed the Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale (12 items;α =.87), the Avoidance of Healthcare Scale (4 items; α =.73), a measure of collectivism, or the extent to which one prioritizes the family or group over the individual (6 items;α =.87), and the Centrality subscale of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (8 items, α =.73). Potential covariates assessed included demographics, past prostate cancer screening, physician recommendation to screen, and physician explanation of the pros and cons of PSA/DRE tests. Separate multivariate regression analyses were conducted controlling for significant covariates. Results showed that attitudes about PSA test were significantly associated with healthcare avoidance (β= -.12, p
Performance Characteristics of Fiber-Optic Strain Sensors as Compared With Electrical Resistance and Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges

This paper presented experimental results of fiber-optic sensor performance in terms of its accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility. Strain sensors were embedded in concrete specimens, which were then subjected to the same known static and dynamic load, and their responses were compared to each other on the same basis. In addition to evaluating the response due to load, the measurements due to concrete drying shrinkage were also evaluated. According to the experimental test results, the fiber-optic strain sensor (FOS) showed an average error of 2.7 μe, as compared with average errors of 5.7 and 5.6 μe for an electrical resistance strain gauge and a vibrating wire strain gauge (VWSG), respectively. In addition, the repeatability of the FOS in terms of coefficient of variation (COV) was 7.5 % as compared with COVs of 4.4, 5.6, and 9.6 % for three different electrical resistance strain gauges and the reproducibility of the FOS in terms of COV was 9.8 % as compared with COVs of 5.4, 5.7, and 10.1 % for three different electrical resistance gauges. When compared with the strains measured by a calibrated LVDT in a concrete drying shrinkage test where the strains varied from 0 to around 250 μe, the FOS showed an average difference of 30.37 μe, whereas the VWSG showed an average difference of 34.04 μe. However, these difference were statistically insignificant at 95 % confidence level. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the FOS is found to have similar accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility as compared to electrical resistance and VWSG.
Design and analysis of complex configurations of manufacturing systems

Many manufacturing systems traditionally have been designed as dedicated ones using configurations based on serial flow lines in order to produce a few product models at high volumes for a relatively long period of time. These systems are not suitable for product variety or quick changeover, and new concepts and methods in manufacturing systems have been proposed and implemented to overcome these problems. The configurations of manufacturing systems, however, have been simple or symmetric ones, although more complex or asymmetric configurations can be useful for product variety and change. Furthermore, many existing methods for system design and analysis mainly concern simple configurations, and cannot be applied to complex configurations. Therefore, further research on configuration design and analysis is desirable, in particular, on non-simple and non-symmetric configurations that can alleviate problems caused by increasing product variety and frequent change. This dissertation concerns the design and analysis of complex configurations for product variety and change. First, this dissertation presents new methods for system throughput evaluations in complex configurations, providing (i) a method for the reduction of system state-space, (ii) the analysis of the effect of a configuration structure on state-space, and (iii) a procedure for throughput evaluation. Second, this dissertation proposes novel methods for balancing workload in asymmetrically configured systems designed with delayed product differentiation. Third, the dissertation establishes a framework for reusability studies by (i) defining system reusability, and (ii) proposing an assessment method. Fourth, the dissertation presents an approach for enhancing manufacturing system reusability by designing system configurations for multiple generations of products. This research enhances the fundamental understanding of system configurations, and also helps engineers to efficiently evaluate and systematically design complex asymmetric configurations in terms of productivity, balancing and reuse. In particular, this research will help engineers to select appropriate configurations from many alternative configurations beyond simple symmetric configurations.
Modernization and fertility orientation in Kenya

Differentials in desired family size in Kenya are examined using data from a 1979 survey of approximately 550 females aged 13 to 21 and from a sample of approximately 4000 females aged 15 to 24 from the 1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey. A measure of media exposure is used to construct a modernity index which is then used to predict future fertility desires. A regression analysis suggests that media exposure which includes education and literacy factors is a significant predictor of reduced fertility desires. Other predictors include urban residence and easy access to area of residence. Muslim religion and traditions of male dominance are shown to contribute to preferences for larger family size.
Electronic Structure of Polyethylene: Role of Chemical, Morphological and Interfacial Complexity

The electronic structure of an insulator encodes essential signatures of its short-term electrical performance and long-term reliability. A critical long-standing challenge though is that key features of the electronic structure of an insulator (and its evolution) under realistic conditions have not been entirely accessible, either via experimental or computational approaches, due to the inherent complexities involved. In this comprehensive study, we reveal the role of chemical and morphological imperfections that inevitably exist within the technologically important prototypical and pervasive insulator, polyethylene (PE), and at electrode/PE interfaces. Large-scale density functional theory computations and long-time molecular dynamics simulations were employed to accurately recover, explain and unravel a wide variety of experimental data obtained during the electrical degradation of PE. This scheme has allowed us to directly and realistically address the role of chemical, morphological and interfacial complexity in determining electronic structure. These efforts take us a step closer to understanding and potentially controlling dielectric degradation and breakdown.