cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of endothelial function by in vivo microscopy

This chapter describes a method that permits simultaneous measurement of leukocyte- endothelium interactions and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) levels in the microcirculation in vivo. The method is also useful to study the effect of NO replenishing therapy on adhesion of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium in acute and chronic inflammatory states of the cardiovascular system. This research approach requires the combination of two well-established physiology techniques, that is, intravital microscopy and real-time measurement of NO with microelectrodes. Intravital microscopy is considered the method of choice to monitor leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in intact vascular beds of live animals. In vivo microscopy is currently used to study the endothelial cell phenotype of mice carrying mutations or deletion of targeted genes. Intravital microscopy is also used to study endothelial cell function in acute (e.g., ischemia-reperfusion injury) and chronic (e.g., hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetes) inflammatory states of the cardiovascular system. NO sensors allow for continuous, amperometric quantification of NO levels in cells and organ tissues. Coupling of NO electrode technology with intravital microscopy has recently permitted to measure NO bioavailability in the normal and inflamed microcirculation. The method described here can be used to study in vivo how acute and chronic inflammatory states of the cardiovascular system alter endothelial function resulting in endothelial cell activation and damage.
Simulation of triaging patients into an internal medicine department to validate the use of an optimization based workload score

This extended abstract provides an overview of the development of a simulation model to be used in the assistance of triaging patients into the Hospital Internal Medicine (HIM) Department at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in an effort to balance workload among the department services. The main contribution of this work is the development of a score that measures provider workload more accurately. Delphi surveys, conjoint analysis, and optimization methods were used in the creation of this score and it is believed to better represent provider workload. Preliminary results were based on the proportion of time of a month that each service was at or above "maximum utilization", which is how workload is currently viewed at an instance. A simulation model built in SIMIO 8 yielded a 12.1% decrease in the proportion of time that a service was at or above their "max utilization" on average, while also seeing a decrease in the average difference among these proportions by 8.3% (better balance among all services).
Whither Hungary and the European Communities

To gain recognition from its counterparts in the European Union, Estonia must give priority to improving risk management in its banks and improving institutional capacity for bank regulation and supervision. The most important challenge of Estonia's strategy for integrating its financial sector with that of the European Union (EU) is to upgrade its capacity for prudential regulation and supervision enough to gain recognition from its EU counterparts. Doing so is also a crucial complement to Estonia's strategy for strengthening macroeconomic policy and stabilization - especially because, under a currency board, its banks are a central part of the transmission mechanism for capital flows. Under the currency board banks have been able to arbitrage between domestic and foreign financial markets - increasingly funding themselves from abroad. Such arbitrage has become the key funding source for rapidly expanding credit, contributing to the country's large current account deficit. Estonian authorities are justified in tightening prudential regulation and supervision because of the risks associated with an overheating economy, general market volatility, and the possible deterioration in the quality of credit. Improvements in prudential regulation should be followed by improvements in the country's capacity to supervise banks and an upgrading of the banks' risk management systems, to manage the increasingly complex operations and diverse markets in which they engage. These steps should be a priority. The institutional development of banks and supervision have lagged behind market developments. In improving the regulatory framework for banks, Estonia should avoid establishing incentives for tax arbitrage that lead to the creation of artificial and socially costly financial intermediaries. This paper is a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region.
Effect of ATC training with NextGen tools and online situation awareness and workload probes on operator performance

The purpose of the present study was to examine (a) how controller performance changes with the introduction of NextGen tools and (b) how much training is needed for controllers to achieve a performance criterion after the tools have been introduced. Seven retired controllers were trained on an enroute sector in three phases: voice, Data Comm, and online probe. The voice phase trained current-day air traffic management techniques, the Data Comm phase trained NextGen tools, including Data Comm, conflict alerting, and conflict probes, and the probe phase trained controllers on an online probing technique. Although safety was not affected by the introduction of NextGen tools, the tools disrupted operator sector efficiency performance.
The Influence of Aggregate Demand Elasticity on the Federal Budget Deficit

This paper examines the implications of aggregate demand elasticity for the Federal budget deficit when macroeconomic shocks occur. We obtain two results from the graphical analysis. First, and for an adverse change to short-run aggregate supply, the decrease in real gross domestic product and the resulting increase in the budget deficit is larger the more elastic is aggregate demand with respect to the general price level. Second, and when a negative shock to aggregate demand occurs, the decrease in real gross domestic product and the consequent increase in the budget deficit is larger the smaller is the price level elasticity of aggregate demand.
Buspirone maintenance does not alter the reinforcing, subjective, and cardiovascular effects of intranasal methamphetamine.

Abstract Background Medications development efforts for methamphetamine-use disorder have targeted central monoamines because these systems are directly involved in the effects of methamphetamine. Buspirone is a dopamine autoreceptor and D3 receptor antagonist and partial agonist at serotonin 1A receptors, making it a logical candidate medication for methamphetamine-use disorder. Buspirone effects on abuse-related behaviors of methamphetamine have been mixed in clinical and preclinical studies. Experimental research using maintenance dosing, which models therapeutic use, is limited. This study evaluated the influence of buspirone maintenance on the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine using a self-administration procedure, which has predictive validity for clinical efficacy. The impact of buspirone maintenance on the subjective and cardiovascular response to methamphetamine was also determined. Methods Eight research participants (1 female) reporting recent illicit stimulant use completed a placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blind protocol in which the pharmacodynamic effects of intranasal methamphetamine (0, 15, and 30 mg) were assessed after at least 6 days of buspirone (0 and 45 mg/day) maintenance. Results Intranasal methamphetamine functioned as a reinforcer and produced prototypical stimulant-like subjective (e.g., increased ratings of Good Effects and Like Drug) and cardiovascular (e.g., elevated blood pressure) effects. These effects of methamphetamine were similar under buspirone and placebo maintenance conditions. Maintenance on buspirone was well tolerated and devoid of effects when administered alone. Conclusions These data suggest that buspirone is unlikely to be an effective pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine-use disorder. Given the central role of monoamines in methamphetamine-use disorder, it is reasonable for future studies to continue to target these systems.
Operationalizing Creativity: Developing Ethical Leaders Who Thrive in Complex Environments

In the interest of developing leaders who are both deeply ethical and highly creative, this essay explores the theoretical and practical links between ethics and creativity—two fields of research that are not often thought to have much to do with one another. Drawing on contemporary work both in philosophy and social psychology, I will argue that the notion of skill serves as one prominent theoretical link with substantial practical implications. This link comes with challenges, however. One major challenge suggests that situational factors are far more determinative of behavior than one’s character. A second challenge suggests that developing creative leaders could be at cross-purposes with developing ethical leaders. Accounting for these challenges, this essay offers ways one might develop virtuous and creative leaders. When developed together, virtue will provide both direction and limits to creativity, and creativity will support the development of practical wisdom. Ultimately, this essay aims to show how one might develop highly creative and deeply ethical leaders.
Comparative Persistence of Engineered Nanoparticles in a Complex Aquatic Ecosystem

During nanoparticle environmental exposure, presence in the water column is expected to dominate long distance transport as well as initial aquatic organism exposure. Much work has been done to understand potential ecological and toxicological effects of these particles. However, little has been done to date to understand the comparative persistence of engineered particles in realistic environmental systems. Presented here is a study of the water column lifetimes of 3 different classes of nanoparticles prepared with a combination of surface chemistries in wetland mesocosms. We find that, when introduced as a single pulse, all tested nanoparticles persist in the water column for periods ranging from 36 h to 10 days. Specifically, we found a range of nanoparticle residence times in the order Ag > TiO2 > SWCNT > CeO2. We further explored the hypothesis that heteroaggregation was the primary driving factor for nanoparticle removal from the water column in all but one case, and that values of surface affinity ...
Legal Imagery in the "Garden of England"

Ms. Darian-Smith explores the relationship between law and the concept of "landscapes," which she describes as the spatial imagery through which law is conceived and from which it draws meaning. She first defines the complex and historically rich concept of the "garden image," both in general and as it is seen in (and by) England, its people, and its surrounding political, cultural, and spatial contexts. In general terms, the garden image is injected into issues of environmental law. Further, she notes that the garden has been a fluid, ever-changing concept for England's society and its developing legal system. Specifically, Darian-Smith focuses on a recent development regarding the interaction between the law, the garden, and spatial imagery in England: she argues that the new Channel Tunnel between England and France undermines England's identity as an island nation, in effect physically and symbolically severing its claim as the bounded "Garden of England." Such a development, Darian-Smith argues, is a symbol of the eroding of an English identity traditionally thought to be distinct and separate from Europe and its influences, a notion analogous to the way European Community law and English law have been meshed together in environmental issues.
Generating beta random rate variables from probabilistic estimates of fireline production times

An extension of probabilistic PERT/CPM is proposed as a framework for soliciting expert opinion to characterize random variables for stochastic treatment in simulation models. By eliciting minimum, modal, ninetieth percentile, and maximum estimates, the distribution of variables with probability density functions of beta form can be explicitly characterized without relying on the traditional, but empirically unverified, assumption of a standard deviation equal to one-sixth of the range. This practical and inexpensive technique is illustrated by application to a wildfire protection planning problem – estimating the time required to produce a given length of fireline by different firefighting resources under diverse conditions. The estimated production times are an essential input to a planning model of initial attack on wildland fires used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and provide that agency with useful “rules-of-thumb” for use in firefighter training.
Ensampling White Dwarf g-Modes

We examine the pulsation spectrum of zero temperature models as a first approximation to white dwarf stars. The g-mode spectrum of such objects is found by using a constant adiabatic exponent and we have found that the core is an important region for the determination of the eigenvalue. A comparison to an evolutionary model is given.
Neurologic Events in Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Although the growing use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has improved the survival and quality of life of patients with stage D heart failure, ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accidents remain one of the most-feared complications of this therapy and a significant source of disability, morbidity, and mortality. In this article, the authors aim to summarize the current data regarding the incidence/prevalence of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in patients with continuous-flow LVADs, compare axial and centrifugal devices, and discuss the major risk factors for neurologic events that have been identified.
Sodium reduction strategies through use of meat extenders (white button mushrooms vs. textured soy) in beef patties

Lowering the sodium content in meat products, particularly in beef patties, can be challenging because sodium plays many functional roles in these products. Meat extenders can contribute to lower sodium content by imparting complementary flavors while reducing caloric and sodium content. A systematic comparison of two meat extenders, namely mushrooms and textured soy (TSP) in terms of physical and sensory characteristics, is presented herein. The physical properties of the samples suggested that the use of mushroom and TSP extender would perform statistically similar to an all-meat control depending on the level of substitution. Hedonic sensory analysis showed meat extension using mushrooms yielded liking scores more similar to the all-meat formulations than TSP in reduced sodium applications. The results of this research suggest that mushrooms have the potential to be successfully incorporated into reduced sodium meat products to provide a healthier product.
Epidemiology, Tumor Characteristics, and Survival in Patients With Primary Pancreatic Lymphoma: A Large Population-based Study Using the SEER Database.

Introduction:Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is an extranodal manifestation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating in the pancreas, which constitutes <1% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Because of the rarity of the disease, most data on PPL are derived from case reports and small case series. To provide
Intraoperative Versus Extended Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Liver Transplant Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

The appropriate duration of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the presence of significant iatrogenic immunosuppression is unclear. We hypothesized that 72 hours of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis would decrease rates of surgical site infection (SSI) in OLT patients when compared with intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis alone. OLT recipients were randomized to receive either intraoperative antibiotics only (short antibiotics [SAs]) or 72 hours of perioperative antibiotics (extended antibiotics [EAs]). A total of 102 patients were randomized: 51 to the EA group and 51 to the SA group. Rates of SSI and nosocomial infection (NI) in the SA group were 19% and 17%, respectively, compared with 27% (SSI; P = 0.36) and 22% (NI; P = 0.47) in the EA group, although these differences were not statistically significant. Intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, 30-day mortality, and time to infection were also similar between the 2 groups. Patients developing infections had longer ICU LOS and hospital LOS and a higher association with reoperation, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and 30-day readmission. In conclusion, extending perioperative antibiotics to 72 hours from intraoperative dosing alone in OLT patients does not appear to decrease the incidence of SSI or NI. The results from this pilot trial with 60% power suggest that it is acceptable for OLT recipients to receive intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis alone.
Antenatal care as a means to increase participation in the continuum of maternal and child healthcare: an analysis of the poorest regions of four Mesoamérican countries

Antenatal care (ANC) is a means to identify high-risk pregnancies and educate women so that they might experience a healthier delivery and outcome. There is a lack of evidence about whether receipt of ANC is an effective strategy for keeping women in the system so they partake in other maternal and child interventions, particularly for poor women. The present analysis examines whether ANC uptake is associated with other maternal and child health behaviors in poor mothers in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico (Chiapas). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of women regarding their uptake of ANC for their most recent delivery in the last two years and their uptake of selected services and healthy behaviors along a continuity of maternal and child healthcare. We conducted logistic regressions on a sample of 4844 births, controlling for demographic, household, and maternal characteristics to understand the relationship between uptake of ANC and later participation in the continuum of care. Uptake of four ANC visits varied by country from 17.0% uptake in Guatemala to 81.4% in Nicaragua. In all countries but Nicaragua, ANC was significantly associated with in-facility delivery (IFD) (Guatemala odds ratio [OR] = 5.28 [95% confidence interval [CI] 3.62–7.69]; Mexico OR = 5.00 [95% CI: 3.41–7.32]; Honduras OR = 2.60 [95% CI: 1.42–4.78]) and postnatal care (Guatemala OR = 4.82 [95% CI: 3.21–7.23]; Mexico OR = 4.02 [95% CI: 2.77–5.82]; Honduras OR = 2.14 [95% CI: 1.26–3.64]), but did not appear to have any positive relationship with exclusive breastfeeding habits or family planning methods, which may be more strongly determined by cultural influences. Our results demonstrate that uptake of the WHO-recommended four ANC visits has limited effectiveness on uptake of services in some poor populations in Mesoamerica. Our study highlights the need for continued and varied efforts in these populations to increase both the uptake and the effectiveness of ANC in encouraging positive and lasting effects on women’s uptake of health care services.
MLFriend: Interactive Prediction Task Recommendation for Event-Driven Time-Series Data.

Most automation in machine learning focuses on model selection and hyper parameter tuning, and many overlook the challenge of automatically defining predictive tasks. We still heavily rely on human experts to define prediction tasks, and generate labels by aggregating raw data. In this paper, we tackle the challenge of defining useful prediction problems on event-driven time-series data. We introduce MLFriend to address this challenge. MLFriend first generates all possible prediction tasks under a predefined space, then interacts with a data scientist to learn the context of the data and recommend good prediction tasks from all the tasks in the space. We evaluate our system on three different datasets and generate a total of 2885 prediction tasks and solve them. Out of these 722 were deemed useful by expert data scientists. We also show that an automatic prediction task discovery system is able to identify top 10 tasks that a user may like within a batch of 100 tasks.
Radical Jewelry Makeover.

Objects are embedded in a network of relations from which they derive their meaning (Berger, 2009). Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) encourages us to question the networks in which we participate as ...
A Locational Price for Power Injection Fluctuations of Variable Generation and Load.

In this paper we calculate the incremental system production cost associated with a measure of locational power injection uncertainty that can be interpreted as a locational price for tracking power fluctuations. This Locational Price of Variability (LPV) can be used to allocate charges for regulation reserves by location, and hence, can also be used to value distributed energy storage employed to mitigate such fluctuations. We consider policy changes that could enable the implementation of the LPV.
Roguery in Print: Crime and Culture in Early Modern London

The question of criminality in early modern London is one which has been explored at length by both literary scholars and historians alike. Often tied to studies of expanding urbanization and the r...
3D Biological Cell Reconstruction with Multi-View Geometry

3D cell modeling is an important tool for visualizing cellular structures and events, and generating accurate data for further quantitative geometric morphological analyses on cellular structures. Current methods involve highly specialized and expensive setups as well as experts in microscopy and 3D reconstruction to produce time- and work-intensive insight into cellular events. We developed a new system that reconstructs the surface geometry of 3D cellular structures from 2D image sequences in a fast and automatic way. The system rotated cells in a microfluidic device, while their images were captured by a video camera. The multi-view geometry theory was introduced to microscopy imaging to model the imaging system and define the 3D reconstruction as an inverse problem. Finally, we successfully demonstrated the reconstruction of cellular structures in their natural state.
Photometric Determination of the Distance to the RR Lyrae LP Cam

Photometric observations of the nearby RR Lyrae, LP Cam, were obtained to verify that the period-luminosity relationships are still valid for RR Lyrae stars with improved parallaxes as part of a larger study. Using both obtained photometry and archival data, photometric distance estimates were made to LP Cam. When accounting for independantly measured values of interstellar reddenning, the photometric distance determined for LP Cam is not in agreement with the parallactic distance. The likely causes for this mismatch are explored and could be due to greater extinction than measured or incorrect measured effective temperatures from spectral energy distributions. An additional cause could be due to a faint proximate source to LP Cam. When E(B - V ) is changed such that the variance in distance measured between the three filters is minimized, an estimate of E(B????V )  0:24 is achieved with distance estimates of V: 780 +/- 40pc, i: 793 +/- 41pc, z: 792 +/- 38pc which compares reasonably well with the GAIA value of 809 +/- 20pc
Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Diseases Associated With Viral Infection.

Abstract Influenza virus infection causes 3-5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000-500,000 deaths worldwide annually. Although pneumonia is the most common complication associated with influenza, there are several reports demonstrating increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Several clinical case reports, as well as both prospective and retrospective studies, have shown that influenza can trigger cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction (MI), myocarditis, ventricular arrhythmia, and heart failure. A recent study has demonstrated that influenza-infected patients are at highest risk of having MI during the first seven days of diagnosis. Influenza virus infection induces a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and recruitment of immune cells as part of the host immune response. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in influenza-associated cardiovascular diseases will help to improve treatment plans. This review discusses the direct and indirect effects of influenza virus infection on triggering cardiovascular events. Further, we discussed the similarities and differences in epidemiological and pathogenic mechanisms involved in cardiovascular events associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to influenza infection.
Seismic Drift Demand Estimation for Steel Moment Frame Buildings: From Mechanics-Based to Data-Driven Models

AbstractA spectrum of simplified methods for estimating building seismic drift demands is conceptualized. On one extreme are mechanics-based approaches that are derived solely from fundamental engi...
Web-WISE: Compressed Image Retrieval over the Web

Web-WISE is a system designed to address the need for efficient content-based seeking and retrieval of images on the web. It supports searching by multi-features, including color and texture. Web-WISE contains three automatic components, which are 1): Internet Agent responsible for searching the Web to fetch images; 2): Analysis Agent, which extracts the color and texture features of color JPEG images directly from compressed domain and 3): Query Agent, which explores the image database using certain metrics and returns a set of images (thumbnails) visually similar to the query image. Due to its generic design, adding other features to the system will be very natural, including the ability to index and retrieve other types of visual information and retrieval based on edge and shape. This paper presents the theoretic and practical background of the system, the schemes of these three components and the performance of the system.
Regression: Advanced Topics

When residual analysis shows that the residuals are correlated, then one of the key assumptions of the linear model does not hold, and tests and confidence intervals based on this assumption are invalid and cannot be trusted. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem: Replace the assumption of independent noise by the weaker assumption that the noise process is station- ary but possibly correlated. One could, for example, assume that the noise is an ARMA process. This is the strategy we will discuss in this section.
Ultrastructure of the Cell Wall and Cell Division of Unicellular Blue-green Algae

The fine structure of the cell wall and the process of cell division were examined in thin sections of two unicellular blue-green algae grown under defined conditions. Unilateral invagination of the photosynthetic lamellae is the first sign of cell division in the rod-shaped organism, Anacystis nidulans. Symmetrical invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane and inner wall layers follows. One wall layer, which appears to be the mucopolymer layer, is then differentially synthesized to form the septum; the outer wall layers are not involved in septum formation. Centripetal splitting of the inner layer separates the two daughter cells. A second division, in a plane parallel to the first, usually occurs before the first daughter cells are separated. In the coccoid organism, Gleocapsa alpicola, the features of cell division are broadly similar; however, unilateral invagination of the lamellae is not observed and the second division takes place in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the previous division.
The role of awareness space in urban residential preferences: A case study of Venezuelan youth

Empirical studies of inter-urban and interregional migration have most often assumed that objective place or personal characteristics affect the migration decision directly. Such studies tend to disregard the roles of awareness of opportunities at potential destinations, and of the preferences for these destinations which are a function of this awareness. In this study, the presence of six different types of direct and indirect contact with three potential destinations (large cities in Venezuela) is shown to be related to a potential migrant's preferences for these destinations. These results- -based on a sample of 260 high school seniors at six different sites in Venezuela in 1974--underline the importance ofawareness space and ofurban residential preferences as intervening variables in the migration process in a developing country.
The neural substrate of the vestibulocollic reflex : What needs to be learned

The purpose of this review is to assess the role of short-latency pathways in the vestibulocollic reflex (VCR). First the current knowledge about the disynaptic and trisynaptic pathways linking semicircular canal and otolith afferents with cat neck motoneurons is summarized. We then discuss whether these pathways are sufficient or necessary to produce the responses observed in neck muscles by natural vestibular stimulation and conclude that they are neither. Finally, alternate pathways are considered, most likely involving reticulospinal fibers, which are an important part of the neural substrate of the VCR.
Organometallic Supramolecular Mixed-Valence Cobalt(I)/Cobalt(II) Aquo Complexes Stabilized with the Water-Soluble Phosphine Ligand p-TPPTP (p-triphenylphosphine triphosphonic acid)

Reaction of the water-soluble phosphine phosphonic acid p-TPPTP(H)6 (p-triphenylphosphine triphosphonic acid) with Co2(CO)8 under biphasic conditions results in the formation of Co6(CO)3(p-TPPTP)2(H2O)24·24H2O (2) or Co4(CO)3(p-TPPTP)2(H2O)24·24H2O (3) depending on the pH of the solution. These supramolecular organometallic Co(I)/Co(II) complexes contain either six (2) or four (3) crystallographically distinct cobalt ions. The cation [Co(CO)3(p-TPPTP)2]+ from 2 was reacted with titanium tetraisopropoxide via a sol−gel method to give a titania-supported Co(I) olefin hydroformylation catalyst, which was characterized using solid-state 31P NMR, IR, and XPS.
PEG‐Based Microgels to Modify Biomaterials Surfaces

Summary Microgels are hydrogel particles ∼0.1–10 microns in size which have been increasingly explored for biomaterials applications. They can be designed to sequester drugs based on both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, and different strategies exist to trigger drug release from them. Microgels based on poly(ethylene glycol) are particularly attractive because of their intrinsic antifouling properties, the flexibility they bring to microgel design and synthesis, and the regulatory precedents set by PEG's use in a number of FDA-approved applications. This paper briefly reviews progress in the field of PEG-based microgels. We give examples illustrating their electrostatic deposition onto biomaterial surfaces and their ability to sequester antimicrobials for applications involving biomaterials-associated infection.
Some Aspects of Uncertainty in Computational Fluid Dynamics Results

Uncertainties are inherent in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). These uncertainties need to be systematically addressed and managed. Sources of these uncertainty analysis are discussed. Some recommendations are made for quantification of CFD uncertainties. A practical method of uncertainty analysis is based on sensitivity analysis. When CFD is used to design fluid dynamic systems, sensitivity-uncertainty analysis is essential.
Simulation of the Market for Foodgrains in India

HE CENTRAL inquiry of this paper is concerned with the effect of the introduction of stochastic terms on the reliability of deterministic conclusions obtained from simulation. Using an estimated market model,1 two policy questions-the impact of imported surpluses and the management of government stocks of foodgrains-are examined in the context of stochastic simulation. For each policy question three groups of simulation experiments are conducted and the results compared: (1) The model is used in its deterministic form; (2) random disturbance terms are added to the stochastic equations; (3) random disturbance terms are added to particular coefficients. In the analysis that follows only one aspect of each policy question is examined, and the results are not meant to supply all of the information that would be needed for a policy evaluation. However, the examples shed new light on the two questions and indicate the usefulness of stochastic simulation in the construction of confidence intervals around deterministic conclusions.
The maximum priority index method for severely constrained item selection in computerized adaptive testing

This paper introduces a new heuristic approach, the maximum priority index (MPI) method, for severely constrained item selection in computerized adaptive testing. Our simulation study shows that it is able to accommodate various non-statistical constraints simultaneously, such as content balancing, exposure control, answer key balancing, and so on. Compared with the weighted deviation modelling method, it leads to fewer constraint violations and better exposure control while maintaining the same level of measurement precision.
Variations in intergenic region sequences of Human respiratory syncytial virus clinical isolates: analysis of effects on transcriptional regulation

Sequences at the beginnings and ends of Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) genes are necessary for efficient initiation and termination of transcription. The gene start sequences are well conserved and contain signals required for initiation, while the semi-conserved sequences at the gene ends direct transcriptional termination with varying efficiencies. The intergenic regions, which lie between the gene ends and the downstream gene start sequences, are not conserved in length or sequence, and certain positions have been reported to play a role in transcriptional regulation. We have previously shown that the gene end sequences in HRSV subgroup A clinical isolates are variable and that variations found at certain gene ends decreased transcriptional termination and downstream mRNA expression. Here, we have extended this work to examine variation in the intergenic regions between the genes of clinical isolates. We determined the sequences of the eight intergenic regions and the M2/L overlap from clinical isolates from the US and UK and found that all of these regions contained variations from the prototype A2 strain. The amount of variation observed was disparate among the different intergenic regions and did not correlate with length. The effects of selected variant sequences on transcription were examined in the context of subgenomic replicons. While some changes in the intergenic regions had minor effects, certain sequence variations significantly altered transcription termination or initiation. A single nucleotide deletion in the M/SH intergenic region decreased initiation at the SH gene start seven-fold, while changes in the F/M2 intergenic region were found that in some cases increased and in others decreased termination at the F gene end. The P/M intergenic region was the most variable, but none of the changes examined affected either termination at the P gene end or initiation of the downstream M gene start. These results show that in HRSV clinical isolates the intergenic region sequences are variable and that changes in these regions have the potential to affect transcriptional control at the gene junctions.
Evaluation of a closed loop inductive power transmission system on an awake behaving animal subject

This paper presents in vivo experimental results for a closed loop wireless power transmission system to implantable devices on an awake behaving animal subject. In this system, wireless power transmission takes place across an inductive link, controlled by a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver (TRF7960) operating at 13.56 MHz. Induced voltage on the implantable secondary coil is rectified, digitized by a 10-bit analog to digital converter, and transmitted back to the primary via back telemetry. Transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) circuitry were mounted on the back of an adult rat with a nominal distance of ∼7 mm between their coils. Our experiments showed that the closed loop system was able to maintain the Rx supply voltage at the designated 3.8 V despite changes in the coils' relative distance and alignment due to animal movements. The Tx power consumption changed between 410 ∼ 560 mW in order to deliver 27 mW to the receiver. The open loop system, on the other hand, showed undesired changes in the Rx supply voltage while the Tx power consumption was constant at 660 mW.
Testing models of the symmetry of the superconducting pairing state by low-temperature electron irradiation of an untwinned single crystal of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ

We have carried out in situ resistivity measurements in a high-voltage electron microscope to determine how the superconducting transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ and the resistivity \ensuremath{\rho}(T) change with low-temperature electron irradiation. We find that point defects introduced by oxygen displacements from the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planes make the dominant contribution to the irradiation-induced suppression of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. We find that ${\mathit{dT}}_{\mathit{c}}$/d\ensuremath{\rho} is \ensuremath{\sim}-0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 K/\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\Omega} cm. Analysis of this result indicates the effect of strongly anisotropic superconductivity, and rules out isotropic s-wave pairing. Even though our data cannot determine whether the pairing symmetry is s or d wave, they provide a test for further theoretical developments.
Patient Safety Organizations Ready for Action

nurses, physicians, and other health care providers reduce the incidence of patient safety events and maintain confidentiality about those events will move into high gear in 2009. On January 19, 2009, the final rule that establishes the roles and activities of these new entities, known as Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), took effect. Published by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the rule describes how PSOs can work with health care providers and organizations to collect and analyze data, and reduce the incidence of patient care risks and hazards. The creation of PSOs was called for by Congress as part of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has responsibility for PSO operations, whereas the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights enforces confidentiality provisions. Confidentiality about reporting pa tient safety events is important, because according to the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report To Err is Human, clinicians and health care organizations are often fearful about providing information about errors and near misses be cause of the potential for litigation. The confidentiality provisions contained in the final PSO rule apply to both patients and health care providers. Interim guidelines issued shortly before the final rule was published gave the AHRQ the authority to receive applications from qualified entities seeking to be designated as PSOs. As of December 10, 2008, 25 organizations were officially listed as PSOs. PSOS: THEIR ROLE AND RATIONALE Patient Safety Organizations were called for by the Institute of Medicine and established by Congress in the 2005 law. They are intended to address a major stumbling block to sustained quality improvement—a lack of uniform, federal standards for confidentiality of information about patient safety events. Existing state-based legal protections for quality improvement activities, known as peer review protections, do not exist in all states and only cover hospital-based care, not services provided in nonhospital settings. As a result, health care pro viders and organizations have maintained a pervasive fear of legal liability and sanctions. A second related barrier to quality improvement that the rule sought to address is the inability of health care providers to collect and share data about patient safety events with other facilities, both locally and across states. This is because state peer review protections are limited to the specific hospital, which makes it harder for providers and organizations to identify and adopt patterns of practice that have been shown to reduce the risk of medical errors.
Predicting the Geographic Distribution of a Species from Presence‐Only Data Subject to Detection Errors

Summary Several models have been developed to predict the geographic distribution of a species by combining measurements of covariates of occurrence at locations where the species is known to be present with measurements of the same covariates at other locations where species occurrence status (presence or absence) is unknown. In the absence of species detection errors, spatial point-process models and binary-regression models for case-augmented surveys provide consistent estimators of a species’ geographic distribution without prior knowledge of species prevalence. In addition, these regression models can be modified to produce estimators of species abundance that are asymptotically equivalent to those of the spatial point-process models. However, if species presence locations are subject to detection errors, neither class of models provides a consistent estimator of covariate effects unless the covariates of species abundance are distinct and independently distributed from the covariates of species detection probability. These analytical results are illustrated using simulation studies of data sets that contain a wide range of presence-only sample sizes. Analyses of presence-only data of three avian species observed in a survey of landbirds in western Montana and northern Idaho are compared with site-occupancy analyses of detections and nondetections of these species.
While Technology Poses as the Great Equalizer, Distance Still Rules the Experience

ABSTRACT Librarians have historically been responsible for the organization and management of the stores of human knowledge and for ensuring information literacy among researchers. In recent years, however, librarians have been removed from researchers and the research process for a variety of reasons. The problem that was addressed in this study is that librarians do not have sufficient information about the research practices and preferences of doctoral students enrolled in distance programs. The purpose of this study was to gain information about the differences in research behaviors and preferences among doctoral students in distance and residential programs.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Americans' Knowledge of Party Control of the House of Representatives, 1960-1984

What affects Americans knowledge of the partisan makeup of the House of Representatives? Using National Election Studies from 1960 to 1984, we find that two sets of factors help explain what people...
Synthesis and preliminary evaluation steroidal antiestrogen-geldanamycin conjugates.

Abstract Three novel steroidal antiestrogen–geldanamycin conjugates were prepared using a convergent strategy. The antiestrogenic component utilized the 11β-(4-functionalized-oxyphenyl) estradiol scaffold, while the geldanamycin component was derived by replacement of the 17-methoxy group with an appropriately functionalized amine. Ligation was achieved in high yield using azide alkyne cyclization reactions. Evaluation of the products against two breast cancer cell lines indicated that the conjugates retained significant antiproliferative activity.
Temperature-Dependent Elasticity of a Semicrystalline Interphase Composed of Freely Rotating Chains

We describe a method for determining the thermal and elastic properties of the noncrystalline phase of semicrystalline polymers (the “interphase”) by Monte Carlo simulations. The method is applied to an interphase composed of freely rotating polyethylene-like chains, studied previously by Balijepalli and Rutledge (J. Chem. Phys. 1998, 109, 6523). The isochoric and isobaric heat capacities, Gruneisen coefficients, thermal expansion coefficients, and elastic stiffnesses are reported. The interphase exhibits material properties comparable to that of the corresponding melt, with significant contributions of both enthalpic and entropic origins. Through judicious selection of Monte Carlo moves, we approximate the rate sensitivity of the stiffness normal to the crystal surface, C 33, on time scales that are long and short, respectively, relative to the characteristic time scale of the crystalline αc relaxation.
RETINAL GLIAL CELL GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTER IS COUPLED TO AN ANIONIC CONDUCTANCE

Abstract Application of L-glutamate to retinal glial (Muller) cells results in an inwardly rectifying current due to the net influx of one positive charge per molecule of glutamate transported into the cell. However, at positive potentials an outward current can be elicited by glutamate. This outward current is eliminated by removal of external chloride ions. Substitution of external chloride with the anions thiocyanate, perchlorate, nitrate, and iodide, which are known to be more permeant at other chloride channels, results in a considerably larger glutamate-elicited outward current at positive potentials. The large outward current in external nitrate has the same ionic dependence, apparent affinity for L-glutamate, and pharmacology as the glutamate transporter previously reported to exist in these cells. Varying the concentration of external nitrate shifts the reversal potential in a manner consistent with a conductance permeable to nitrate. Together, these results suggest that the glutamate transporter in retinal glial cells is associated with an anionic conductance. This anionic conductance may be important for preventing a reduction in the rate of transport due the depolarization that would otherwise occur as a result of electrogenic glutamate uptake.
MACROPHAGE INFILTRATION OF GASTRIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT HELICOBACTER PYLORI GASTRITIS. 758

MACROPHAGE INFILTRATION OF GASTRIC MUCOSA IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT HELICOBACTER PYLORI GASTRITIS. 758
Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration: lessons learned.

Study design A literature review of intervertebral disc degeneration animal models. Objectives Focus is placed on those models that suggest degeneration mechanisms relevant to human. Summary of background data Medical knowledge from observational epidemiology and intervention studies suggest many etiologic causal factors in humans. Animal models can provide basic science data that support biologic plausibility as well as temporality, specificity, and dose-response relationships. Methods Studies are classified as either experimentally induced or spontaneous, where experimentally induced models are subdivided as mechanical (alteration of the magnitude or distribution of forces on the normal joint) or structural (injury or chemical alteration). Spontaneous models include those animals that naturally develop degenerative disc disease. Results Mechanobiologic relationships are apparent as stress redistribution secondary to nuclear depressurization (by injury or chemical means) can cause cellular metaplasia, tissue remodeling, and pro-inflammatory factor production. Moderate perturbations can be compensated for by cell proliferation and matrix synthesis, whereas severe perturbations cause architectural changes consistent with human disc degeneration. Conclusions These models suggest that two stages of architectural remodeling exist in humans: early adaptation to gravity loading, followed by healing meant to reestablish biomechanical stability that is slowed by tissue avascularity. Current animal models are limited by an incomplete set of initiators and outcomes that are only indirectly related to important clinical factors (pain and disability).