cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of thrombocythemia by the thromboplastin generation test.

Certain myeloproliferative disorders, notably clironic granulocytic leukemia and erythremia, arc frequently associated with massive increases of thrombocytes (platelets) in the peripheral blood. This is especially pronounced should the spleen have been removed because of its bulk or by virtue of secondary "hypersplenism" with its consequent cytopenias. A person thus affected is generally free of symptoms related to the thrombocythemia. The attending physician, however, if he is aware of the great mass of circulating platelets and the implications thereof, is apt to suffer more than the patient. Nonetheless, such patients sometimes do have troublesome complications, occasionally major thromboses, but more often a paradoxical hemorrhagic syndrome. The mechanism by which abnormal bleeding is brought about in patients with thrombocythemia has not been clearly understood. A brief review of the literature and an excellent discussion on the subject has been presented by Spaet and his associates. These investigators reported an anticoagulant effect of high platelet concentrates, both from patients displaying hemorrhagic phenomena and from the normal controls, as evaluated by the thromboplastin generation test (hereafter referred to as the TGT). The present report is concerned with studies on the TGT, employing both the standard and dilute systems. The tests were performed on 2 apparently normal persons as controls, 2 patients
The US traveler’s familiarity with and perceived credibility of lodging ecolabels

Despite the proliferating numbers and types of ecolabels for lodging in the United States, little is known about consumer reactions toward them. Thus, this study examines the US adult travelers’ fa...
Effect of increased intraabdominal pressure on hepatic hemodynamics in patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension.

The effect of intraabdominal pressure on hepatic hemodynamics was studied in 15 cirrhotic patients who had either pneumoperitoneum or paracentesis. The gradient between wedged hepatic vein pressure and right atrial pressure is dependent upon the height of intraabdominal pressure. However, the gradient between wedged hepatic vein pressure and abdominal vena caval pressure is independent of intraabdominal pressure. Consequently, wedged hepatic vein pressure, as an indication of resistance to flow through the liver, should be corrected by subtracting inferior vena caval pressure. Hepatic flow, as well as extraction rate of indocyanine green is sometimes altered by high intraabdominal pressure, but the direction of change is not uniform and the mean change is insignificant. This finding, together with theoretical considerations, makes it unlikely that blood flow in esophageal varices is increased by high intraabdominal pressure.
Support Systems at the U.S. Government's only Medical School, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

A brief history and a discussion of general support management employed at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences are given. This includes the "place" of support, leadership philosophy, and guiding principles. Guiding principles advocated by H. Edwards Deming were adopted. Some of the specific management techniques employed in instituting his 14-point plan are emphasized when making personnel selections, "immersing" them in the "culture," and maintaining the environment established.
[Phe 1psi(CH2-NH)-Gly2]Nociceptin-(1-13)-NH2

[Phe1-psi-(CH2NH)-Gly2]-Nociceptin-(1-13)-NH2 is a pseudopeptide that was synthesized in an attempt to develop a selective antagonist for the target, ORL1. Though the pseudopeptide appears to be an ORL1 antagonist in many preparations, it exhibits full agonist activity at that receptor in other preparations. The nature of this discrepancy is still unclear.
A Region Based Convolutional Network for Tumor Detection and Classification in Breast Mammography

This paper addresses the problem of detection and classification of tumors in breast mammograms. We introduce a novel system that integrates several modules including a breast segmentation module and a fibroglandular tissue segmentation module into a modified cascaded region-based convolutional network. The method is evaluated on a large multi-center clinical dataset and compared to ground truth annotated by expert radiologists. Preliminary experimental results show the high accuracy and efficiency obtained by the suggested network structure. As the volume and complexity of data in healthcare continues to accelerate generalizing such an approach may have a profound impact on patient care in many applications.
Indicator Simulation of Petrophysical Rock Types

Because the reservoir properties of various rock types differ considerably, it is better to simulate the distribution of reservoir properties in two steps: simulate the rock types, then simulate the reservoir properties, conditional on the rock types. However, identification of the rock types themselves can be difficult, due to the interaction of depositional processes and diagenesis, and the variable amount and quality of data available from well to well. This paper presents a methodology using cluster analysis for identification of petrophysical rock types in a training data set of cored wells. Analysis of the cores is then used for geologic verification of the rock types. Discriminant function analysis is used to extend the rock type classification to wells without core data. The spatial distribution of the rock types is then modeled and simulated in three dimensions using indicator principal components.
Assessing small-scale deformation and stability of landfast sea ice on seasonal timescales through L-band SAR interferometry and inverse modeling

Abstract Rapid environmental change and increases in use of shorefast ice by industry and coastal communities highlight the need for an approach to accurately assess landfast sea-ice stability on seasonal timescales. While stability can sometimes be inferred from field measurements, current methods are lacking robustness and the ability to be automated and applied over large areas and long time scales to ensure safety and document change in the context of transportation, indigenous ice uses and industrial development. This paper introduces an inverse model capable of reconstructing three-dimensional deformation fields from one-dimensional interferometric L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) phase patterns. We apply this method at three landfast ice locations on the Alaska Beaufort Sea coast near Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. We find the small-scale displacements estimated from the model consistent with regional patterns of ice motion. Our study suggests that interferometry can provide planning and decision-support information for ice road development and structures operating within ice. Moreover, InSAR can potentially increase our understanding of sea ice on a fundamental level in terms of large-scale stability and long-term changes in ice dynamics.
Molecular engineering of step-growth liquid crystal elastomers

Abstract Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are shape-responsive materials that combine the elastic properties of a polymer network with the molecular ordering and responsiveness of liquid crystals. Recent work has relied on step-growth chemistries to produce LCEs with remarkable diversity and functionality. However, the connection between molecular structure and macroscopic properties such as shape responsiveness and phase behavior are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate general molecular design principles for increasing shape-responsiveness and reducing the glass-transition temperature of LCEs produced through step-growth chemistries. We systematically investigate the phase behavior, liquid crystal ordering, mechanical properties and shape-responsiveness of a series of model polyester LCE networks using a combination of two-dimensional X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis. We demonstrate that tailoring the length and composition of the linking group can reduce the glass-transition temperature with little impact on the liquid crystal order parameter, resulting in LCEs with a large shape-response near room temperature. Furthermore, the incorporation of a chain extending unit can significantly increase shape-responsiveness, from 35 up to 78% reversible strain, and the network crosslink density can be controlled by variation of the network stoichiometry. This work establishes generally applicable molecular design principles applicable to LCEs prepared through step-growth chemistries.
A review aggression concerns with group housed sow well being

The global trend toward housing gestating sows in group-pens is primarily driven by welfare concerns associated with the use of individual gestation stalls. Despite transition toward group-housing systems, no housing system has scientifically been identified as being better than another based on current notions of sow well-being. Both benefits and drawbacks are associated with housing gestating sows either individually or in groups. The mainconcern associated with group-housing is increased sow aggression that occurs at mixing and around limited resources, including feed and water. Aggression is inevitable and unavoidable upon mixing of unfamiliar sows, but is necessary for establishment of social hierarchy, which helps reduce overall aggression and tension among the group. Unfortunately, if aggression is intense and prolonged it may lead to stress and compromised sow well-being. With few differences in sow well-being identified between gestation housing systems, it seems plausible that the consequences on sow well-being is not only about the stall or the pen the sow is confined to, but the interactive effects of other housing components. Inpens, some of the most critical factors to consider include space allowance, group size, time of mixing, and feeding systems/strategies which may directly or indirectly affect various welfare metrics (e.g., lesion scores, aggressive behavior, reproduction). It is imperative to minimize aggression among grouped sows and feeding and management strategies are viable options that can be used to reduce aggression among group-housed sows, but not eliminate aggressive encounters. Therefore, the focus of this review is to examine the different feeding and management strategies that can be used to mitigate the drawbacks of group sow housing while improving sow performance, productivity, and well-being.
Vaxchora: A Single-Dose Oral Cholera Vaccine.

Objective: To review trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of Vaxchora, a reformulated, single-dose, oral, lyophilized Vibrio cholerae CVD 103-HgR vaccine for the prevention of travel-related c...
Opera Trinitatis Ad Extra and Collective Agency

This paper assesses the viability of the model of ‘collective action’ for the understanding of the doctrine of the inseparability of trinitarian operations, broadly conceived within a Social-Trinitarian framework. I argue that a ‘loose’ understanding of this inseparability as ‘unity of intention’ is insufficiently monotheistic and that it can be ‘tightened’ by an understanding of the ontology of triune operations analogically modelled after collective actions of a ‘constitutive’ kind. I also show that attention to the ‘description relativity of action ascriptions’ can potentially move us beyond the impasse of the doctrine of appropriation. Finally, I respond to potential objections.
“Wheels Working Together: The Popol Wuj and Time Commences in Xibalbá as Markers of a Maya Cosmovision”

Maya Time is cyclical. A set number of days must occur before a new cycle can begin. The Maya classical book, the Popol Vuh, which constitutes the heart of the Mesoamerican cultural matrix, still lingers within contemporary Maya identity. Luis de Lion’s foundational contemporary Maya novel Time Commences in Xibalba (1985) derives its title, its topic, and its symbolism from the Popol Vuh. This essay argues that both works frame a cosmovision whereby humans are understood as subjects conceived within multiple relations with all created elements, the living and dead, and all connected to the cosmos, thus showing that contemporary issues of indigenous cultural production and agency transcend subalternized identities originally associated with specific Latin American nation-states.
Pas de Deux

Chemical hybridization of glucagon and thyroid hormone optimizes therapeutic impact for metabolic disease Finan et al Cell . 2016;167:843–857.e14. The implementation of thyroid hormone (T3) or glucagon as lipid-lowering, antidiabetic, and antiobesity agents have not been successful to date because of serious adverse side effects. Using a synthetic hybrid glucagon/T3 conjugate, Finan et al have established a novel therapeutic approach for the reversal of dyslipidemia, obesity, and insulin resistance associated with the metabolic syndrome, while limiting cardiovascular side effects. Obesity-associated dyslipidemia is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases.1 Increased circulating lipid levels contribute to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease,2 whereas increased lipid deposition in tissues, such as adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver, increases the risk of insulin resistance.3 Statins have been a mainstay of dyslipidemia treatment since their introduction in the 1980s. Statins reduce cardiovascular disease incidence through a reduction of circulating low-density lipoprotein and reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation, but minimally address other lipid-related species (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein) and ectopic accumulation of tissue lipids.4 In a recent article published in Cell , Finan et al5 report a novel pharmacological tool with impressive metabolic benefits. The backbone consists of 2 well-established hormones: glucagon and thyroid hormone. These 2 entities are chemically conjugated and the authors refer to it as glucagon/T3. This hybrid molecule corrects multiple aspects of obesity-associated dyslipidemia that are not addressed by current therapeutics. With relatively short (2- to 3-week) administrations of glucagon/T3, the authors effectively managed to reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, reverse steatohepatitis, prevent atherosclerotic plaque accumulation, improve glucose tolerance, and reduce body weight in a variety of rodent models of obesity. Exposure to this novel compound has broad physiological implications: First, it provides a method to leverage 2 pathways for the treatment of metabolic disease that have to …
Dynamic Anion-Adaptive Poly(ionic liquid) Films via Surface-Initiated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

We report the surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP) of ionic liquid-tethered monomers to grow poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) films on gold and silicon substrates. The kinetics of film growth are rapid, with profilometric thicknesses approaching 600 nm within 15 min of polymerization in a 0.1 M monomer solution and substantial film growth observed at monomer concentrations as low as 0.02 M. The ionic liquid (IL) monomer consists of the cation 3-[(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-dimethylimidazol-3-ium (N1-dMIm+) with the hexafluorophosphate (PF6–) anion. SI-ROMP of the IL monomer results in a surface-tethered poly(3-[(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-dimethylimidazol-3-ium hexafluorophosphate) (p[N1-dMIm][PF6]) film whose PF6– anion can be easily interchanged to tune the film properties. The p[N1-dMIm][PF6] films were shown to be adaptive to their anionic environment with the extent of anion exchange characterized by reflectance-absorption infrared spectroscopy and ut...
If You Build It Right, They Will Engage: A Study of Antecedent Conditions of Customer Engagement

This chapter presents the antecedents of successful customer engagement programs. Drawing from in-depth interviews with practitioners as well as customers, the authors address and discuss eight influences relative to both customer and firm antecedents. The propositions are corroborated with an analysis of a German railway company’s marketing programs.
Introduction: The Devil We Know and the Devils We Don’t Know

While today the devil is hardly the subject of sermons, he can still be found in numerous literary works. Literature, as it were, has given the devil a new home. According to Elena Volkova, it is not a coincidence that we frequently encounter hell in literature, as “[a]ny work of literature that deals with conflict, pain, suffering, grief, misery, and disaster (and which does not, at least indirectly) bears an analogy of hell […]” (Volkova, “Visions of Heaven and Hell,” 2007). Literary works that have emerged in the West and also partly in the Russian tradition have been shaped by Judeo-Christian visions of hell. Beginning in the late Middle Ages, folk traditions added new facets to the biblical devil. But it was not until the early modern period that individual authors portrayed devils that were only loosely based on biblical motives and inventions of the Middle Ages.
Homo Economicus, Rhetoric, and Curriculum Studies

In this chapter I discuss the history of rhetoric as it deals with the issue of economics and science. I move from Aristotle to Kenneth Burke then I discuss the rise of the rhetoric of science and economics in the 1980s focusing on the major works of Deirdre McCloskey, Arjo Klamer, and Philip Mirowski. I begin the chapters with a discussion of reductionist thought in Marx and Marxist thought, the resistance to this thought, and the maintenance of reductionist thought in regards to Homo Economicnus as the sole remaining concept considered an all-inclusive concept for thought.
Confirmation of the role of geographic isolation by distance in among-tribe variations in beadwork designs and manufacture on the High Plains

Understanding the patterns that result from intercommunity contact has long been an interest in anthropology. Although linguistically diverse, peoples of the Historic-period Great Plains came into contact through a diversity of means, both malevolent and benevolent in form. Accordingly, the idea that the Plains was an environment that led to high degrees of cultural interchange has long been held. Recently, it has been proposed that the among-tribe distribution of some material culture patterns, such as beadwork patterns on moccasins, is explicable in geographic terms. That is, geographically proximate groups exchanged cultural features at higher rates than those more geographically distant from each other. While logically sound, this pattern would only emerge at statistically significant levels if selective biases were not operating to prevent the “free flow” of information. However, there are viable and well-documented reasons why decorative features may be subject to such cultural selection. Moreover, previous assessments of the geographic hypothesis only examined the general layout of beadwork designs, rather than more detailed features such as motifs, beadwork techniques, and other decorative features. Here, the role of geographic spacing in explaining the among-tribe distribution of beadwork attributes on the High Plains during the Historic period is reexamined. A dataset describing motifs, beadwork techniques, and additional decorative features is used. These data are subjected to several sets of statistical analysis. The role of linguistic affinities is also considered. The results show that geographic “isolation by distance” does indeed explain the distribution of beadwork attributes among these ethnolinguistically diverse tribes, with no equivalent statistical effect for language patterns. In turn, these results highlight the role of specific processes operating among these communities. These results also underline the value of ethnographic museum collections for addressing the role of social processes among the people responsible for their manufacture, which can have anthropological relevance over much broader scales.
CeL-ID: cell line identification using RNA-seq data

Cell lines form the cornerstone of cell-based experimentation studies into understanding the underlying mechanisms of normal and disease biology including cancer. However, it is commonly acknowledged that contamination of cell lines is a prevalent problem affecting biomedical science and available methods for cell line authentication suffer from limited access as well as being too daunting and time-consuming for many researchers. Therefore, a new and cost effective approach for authentication and quality control of cell lines is needed. We have developed a new RNA-seq based approach named CeL-ID for cell line authentication. CeL-ID uses RNA-seq data to identify variants and compare with variant profiles of other cell lines. RNA-seq data for 934 CCLE cell lines downloaded from NCI GDC were used to generate cell line specific variant profiles and pair-wise correlations were calculated using frequencies and depth of coverage values of all the variants. Comparative analysis of variant profiles revealed that variant profiles differ significantly from cell line to cell line whereas identical, synonymous and derivative cell lines share high variant identity and are highly correlated (ρ > 0.9). Our benchmarking studies revealed that CeL-ID method can identify a cell line with high accuracy and can be a valuable tool of cell line authentication in biomedical science. Finally, CeL-ID estimates the possible cross contamination using linear mixture model if no perfect match was detected. In this study, we show the utility of an RNA-seq based approach for cell line authentication. Our comparative analysis of variant profiles derived from RNA-seq data revealed that variant profiles of each cell line are distinct and overall share low variant identity with other cell lines whereas identical or synonymous cell lines show significantly high variant identity and hence variant profiles can be used as a discriminatory/identifying feature in cell authentication model.
Hydrogenous content identification in heterogeneous cargoes via multiple monoenergetic neutron radiography

Abstract The determination of hydrogenous content in commercial cargoes is an important challenge in cargo security. Prior work has shown the feasibility of hydrogenous cargo classification in radiographic applications. This result was achieved by using the significant material to material differences in the energy dependence of their neutron scattering cross-sections. The work presented here details the application of this technique to multiple-monoenergetic neutron transmission measurements of several heterogeneous cargo mock-ups with the goal of quantifying hydrogenous content. It demonstrates the ability to determine the hydrogenous content of a cargo container by performing analysis of pulse-height data of transmitted neutrons. The set-up used for these feasibility studies was able to detect and quantify areal densities of up to 30 g/cm 2 of high density polyethylene (HDPE), even when mixed with metallic materials. Accurate determination of the hydrogenous content of the cargo has two important uses: it can allow for better imaging and discrimination of conventional contraband during cargo screening; it may also allow the unfolding of the individual elemental contributions from an effective atomic number, Z eff , as determined from multiple monoenergetic gamma radiography (MMGR). This combination of capabilities could make multiple monoenergetic neutron radiography applications a significant contribution to cargo security.
Ultralow-threshold, continuous-wave upconverting lasing from subwavelength plasmons

Miniaturized lasers are an emerging platform for generating coherent light for quantum photonics, in vivo cellular imaging, solid-state lighting and fast three-dimensional sensing in smartphones1–3. Continuous-wave lasing at room temperature is critical for integration with opto-electronic devices and optimal modulation of optical interactions4,5. Plasmonic nanocavities integrated with gain can generate coherent light at subwavelength scales6–9, beyond the diffraction limit that constrains mode volumes in dielectric cavities such as semiconducting nanowires10,11. However, insufficient gain with respect to losses and thermal instabilities in nanocavities has limited all nanoscale lasers to pulsed pump sources and/or low-temperature operation6–9,12–15. Here, we show continuous-wave upconverting lasing at room temperature with record-low thresholds and high photostability from subwavelength plasmons. We achieve selective, single-mode lasing from Yb3+/Er3+-co-doped upconverting nanoparticles conformally coated on Ag nanopillar arrays that support a single, sharp lattice plasmon cavity mode and greater than wavelength λ/20 field confinement in the vertical dimension. The intense electromagnetic near-fields localized in the vicinity of the nanopillars result in a threshold of 70 W cm−2, orders of magnitude lower than other small lasers. Our plasmon-nanoarray upconverting lasers provide directional, ultra-stable output at visible frequencies under near-infrared pumping, even after six hours of constant operation, which offers prospects in previously unrealizable applications of coherent nanoscale light. Plasmonic array nanolasers with Yb3+/Er3+-co-doped upconverting nanoparticles exhibit directional single-mode emission, with ultra-stable output over hours and with ultralow-threshold under continuous-wave pumping.
Hormonal balance and nutritional intake in elite tactical athletes

Abstract Chronic exposure to multifactorial stress, such as that endured by elite military operators, may lead to overtraining syndrome and negatively impact hormonal regulation. In acute settings (
Combined interstitial and surface high-dose-rate brachytherapy treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the hand

Purpose We present a case report of treatment using interstitial and surface high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involving the interspace of the third and fourth digits. The patient refused two-ray amputation and the lesion was not amenable for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). This is the first report detailing combined interstitial and surface HDR brachytherapy for a hand SCC. Material and methods The patient received 4050 cGy in 9 fractions, twice daily using 6 interstitial catheters and 8 Freiburg flap catheters. The clinical target was defined by MRI and ultrasound as a dorsal mass to the interspace between the heads of the third and fourth metacarpals measuring approximately 7 mm transverse × 5 mm volar-dorsal × 16 mm proximal-distal. Results The treatment resulted in radiographic and clinical tumor control. The patient retained functional use of her hand. However, there were both acute and late treatment-related side effects. Acutely, inpatient admission for pain control with a nerve block was needed. Long-term toxicity was notable for grade 2 skin necrosis treated with hyperbaric oxygen. Conclusions The first interstitial and surface HDR brachytherapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of a finger interspace for hand function preservation is presented. The initial experience revealed that brachytherapy was tolerated but with notable acute and late side effects. Treatment did result in tumor shrinkage with organ preservation and function of two rays. A larger cohort of patients will be required for additional conclusions related to long-term clinical benefits in patients who refuse ray amputation.
Utilization of microvascular couplers in salvage arterial anastomosis in head and neck free flap surgery: Case series and literature review.

Background In microvascular reconstruction of ablative oncologic defects, coupler devices have traditionally been used for venous anastomosis, whereas the arterial anastomosis is hand-sewn. In the setting of repeated intraoperative arterial anastomotic thrombosis, a coupler device may be of use in reducing the risk of rethrombosis. Methods Two patients were seen with advanced stage head and neck cancer and underwent oncologic resection. During microvascular reconstruction, a clot at the arterial anastomosis was encountered in both cases. Results After starting therapeutic anticoagulation and attempting unsuccessful suture reanastomosis, coupler devices were used for arterial anastomosis, resulting in viable free-tissue transfer. Conclusions Although traditionally used for venous anastomosis, coupler devices may serve a purpose in the salvage setting when facing repeated intraoperative arterial thrombosis.
An Exploration of Disinformation as a Cybersecurity Threat

Disinformation or "fake news" has continuously proven to be a pervasive threat in the digital space. The spread and persistence of disinformation especially in the social networking media sites currently factors as one of the most challenging threat for users and content administrators alike. Its ecosystem encompasses several attributing factors including but not limited to humans as information users and source, social communication model as its channel, current trust models in place as defense and guards against it, and finally the archival correction that may halt its persistence in the social space. In this paper, the author aims to explore the dynamics of the several interacting fields i.e. Psychology and Computer Science, their influence on its phenomenon, which provides an ideal interdisciplinary and holistic approach to its reduction and management. Another equally important section in this paper is its attempt to advocate to formally recognize disinformation as a cybersecurity threat for its prospective future categorization. The possible application of discourse analysis as a potential technological tool for its detection as solution is also discussed.
Longitudinal Associations Between Perceived Control and Health for American and Japanese Aging Adults.

Background and objectives Research suggests longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between perceived control over life circumstances and health for Western populations; yet, such associations have not been fully understood for non-Western populations. The present study addresses cultural differences in these associations for American and Japanese aging adults. Research design and methods For respondents aged 40 and older at 2 waves (Time 1 [T1] and Time 2 [T2]) of Midlife in the United States (N = 4,455) and Midlife in Japan (N = 827), cross-lagged path models were analyzed for T1 perceived control predicting change in each health measure (i.e., self-rated health, number of chronic health conditions, and functional limitations) from T1 to T2; and the matched T1 health measure predicting change in perceived control from T1 and T2. In these analyses, the effects of T1 age, T1 perceived control, and each T1 health measure were compared cross-nationally. Results A cross-national difference emerged in that T1 perceived control predicted change in chronic health conditions only for Americans. Similar tendencies were found between the 2 nationalities for T1 perceived control predicting changes in self-rated health and functional limitations. Reciprocal relationships between perceived control and health measures were found for Americans, but neither age nor any of the T1 health measures predicted change in perceived control for the Japanese respondents. Discussion and implications The findings suggest cultural differences and similarities between the 2 nationalities, which have implications for potential health benefits of enhancing perceived control among American and Japanese aging adults. Building on these findings, the present study also indicates future directions of research.
Application of fuzzy VIKOR on consumers purchasing the green home appliances

There are several evaluation criteria when consumers decide on buying products. However, being compelled by the presence of conflicting factors, consumers usually make decisions based on a single criteria or benefit. The decision might result to the lack of consideration and not meeting practical needs. The purpose of this study is to understand how consumers decide on their purchases among numerous evaluation standards and complicated contradictory situations. This study, based on fuzzy VIKOR and aiming at green appliances, explored the systematic procedure for making the best decision under multiple criteria. It is also hoped that the study may provide valuable information about fuzzy multi-criteria decision making and marketing communications strategy towards consumers in durable goods market in the future.
SentiSeries: A Trilogy of Customer Reviews, Sentiment Analysis and Time Series

The customer rating is a great source of user feedback knowledge. Despite the large number of reviews on online retailing, one knows very little on how consumers feel about the goods and services provided by retail companies. The focus of this research is on analyzing sentiment in reviews aligned with the time series analysis that unveils quite interesting and decisive insights. The trends in user behavior, count frequency and sentiments are used to decipher polarity shift. Ensemble of different methods is used for time series analysis, sentiment analysis, and subject modeling. Time series segmentation helps in differentiating critical time points that contribute to major shifts in sentiment patterns. The study of timesteps leading up to and after these crucial moments using a subject modeling technique help in proper analysis and prediction of user behavior in a ceaseless manner. The research deepens the knowledge of online retailing consumer behavior and yields valuable strategic lessons for optimizing online retailing service deliverables. Finally, an in-depth investigation establishes first in the domain metrics such as sentiment velocity and acceleration for sentiment monitoring. The findings presented here are to date the best in the literature.
Selected indicators of maternal child health in South Carolina.

Abstract Oh, mothers of families! You who say this, do you know that one in every seven infants in this civilized land of England perishes before it is one year old? That in London, two in every five die before they are five year old?… "The life duration of tender babies… ‘is the most delicate test' of sanitary conditions. Is all this premature suffering and death necessary?"
Harmonic Analysis of Polarization Hysteresis of Aged PZTs

Many studies have been performed on aging of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), but a single model has not been universally accepted. An aim of this research was to determine whether harmonic analysis could distinguish among the models for the aging of PZTs. Doped and undoped PZT samples were prepared, and the aging behaviors of relative dielectric constant (K), planar coupling factor (kp), dielectric coefficient (d33), and polarization were analyzed by both weak-field and harmonic analysis methods at 37°C. Results indicated that aging behavior, as noted by a harmonic analysis, substantially agreed with the weak-field behavior. This finding suggests that harmonic analysis is a promising new method for studying the aging of PZTs, which may contribute to developing a better aging model for PZTs.
The Prospects of Alternatives to Vapor Compression Technology for Space Cooling and Food Refrigeration Applications

This article identifies and describes five alternative cooling technologies (magnetic, thermionic, thermoacoustic, thermoelectric, and thermotunnel) and qualitatively assesses the prospects of each technology relative to vapor compression for space cooling and food refrigeration applications. Assessment of the alternatives was based on the theoretical maximum percent of Carnot efficiency, the current state of development, the best percent of Carnot efficiency currently achieved, developmental barriers, and the extent of development activity. The prospect for each alternative was assigned an overall qualitative rating based on the subjective, composite view of the five characteristics.
Action of cholecystokinin octapeptide and CCK-related peptides on neurons in inferior mesenteric ganglion of guinea pig.

The effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) on neurons of inferior mesenteric ganglion of the guinea pig was examined with intracellular microelectrodes. CCK8 nonsulfated pressure ejected from micropipettes resulted in a depolarization of 95% of neurons tested. The ED50 for depolarization was 1.1 +/- S.D. 0.5 pmol. The maximum depolarization averaged 9.3 mV (+/- S.D. 6.1 mV) and lasted for 99.7 sec (+/- S.D. 14.6 sec). In 73% of the cells the depolarization was associated with either an increase or a decrease in the cell input resistance; the remainder depolarized without a change in input resistance. In those cells in which the input resistance decreased during depolarization (59% of cells tested), the null potential was -36.3 +/- 9.3 mV. In those cells in which the input resistance increased during depolarization (20% of cells tested), the null potential was -103 +/- 6 mV). In those cells that depolarized without a change in input resistance (21% of cells tested) the null potential was -90.4 +/- 2.3 mV. At an equal dose, the sulfated form of CCK8 resulted in a depolarization that was 47% (+/- 26%) smaller in amplitude and 27% (+/- 21%) shorter in duration than the depolarization produced by the nonsulfated form of CCK8. The effects of both forms of CCK8 were not abolished in low calcium-high magnesium, suggesting a direct action on the postsynaptic membrane. Application of CCK8 at intervals less than 10 min resulted in marked desensitization of the response. Desensitization to CCK8 reduced by 52% (+/- 9%) the amplitude of the nerve-evoked slow excitatory postsynaptic potential in 67% of cells in which it was tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kernel Optimization in Discriminant Analysis

Kernel mapping is one of the most used approaches to intrinsically derive nonlinear classifiers. The idea is to use a kernel function which maps the original nonlinearly separable problem to a space of intrinsically larger dimensionality where the classes are linearly separable. A major problem in the design of kernel methods is to find the kernel parameters that make the problem linear in the mapped representation. This paper derives the first criterion that specifically aims to find a kernel representation where the Bayes classifier becomes linear. We illustrate how this result can be successfully applied in several kernel discriminant analysis algorithms. Experimental results, using a large number of databases and classifiers, demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach. The paper also shows (theoretically and experimentally) that a kernel version of Subclass Discriminant Analysis yields the highest recognition rates.
Heterogeneous pulmonary vein myocardial cell repolarization implications for reentry and triggered activity.

Background Myocardial cells in the pulmonary veins (PVs) are thought to play a major role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. However, systematic single-cell microelectrode recordings from different regions in intact PV-atrial tissues are lacking. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the transmembrane action potential properties of myocardial cells in different regions of the PV and the left atrium (LA) and assess their arrhythmogenic potential during perfusion with isoproterenol (ISO) and rapid atrial pacing. Methods Glass microelectrode recordings of action potentials were made from the left PV and the LA in Langendorff-perfused young (3–4 month) male rats (Fisher344) (n = 9). Results Action potential duration (APD) of atrial and PV cells had similar duration at a pacing cycle length (CL) of 200 ms. However, shortening of the pacing CL to 100 ms led to heterogeneous repolarization of PV cells. Mid-PV cells had a significantly higher maximum slope of APD restitution than atrial or other PV sites. Intra-PV conduction block developed at rates when LA and proximal PV cells manifested 1:1 capture. Perfusion of ISO and rapid atrial pacing promoted the emergence of early afterdepolarization (EAD) and triggered beats in two out of nine tissues, causing premature atrial activation. No difference in resting potential or AP amplitude could be detected among the PV and LA cells. Conclusions PV myocardial cells develop marked heterogeneity in repolarization, and there is a slight ease of developing EAD and triggered activity in response to rapid pacing and ISO infusion.
Surface Functionalization of ZnO Photocatalysts with Monolayer ZnS

A fundamental investigation of the interface properties of coupled semiconductor photocatalysts in view of enhancing visible light activity is presented. We show by photoemission spectroscopy that modification of ZnO with submonolayer films of ZnS, two materials with band gaps larger than 3.4 eV, results in an effective surface band gap narrowing to 2.8 eV. This reduces the photoexcitation threshold energy and thus potentially enhances the solar energy conversion capabilities of such a heterostructure photocatalysts. Furthermore, the characterization of the space charge region and work function of ZnS modified ZnO indicate improved surface properties for enhancing photocatalytic activity.
A re-examination of the interrelations among measures of retention

Abstract The interrelations among measures of anticipation, recognition and savings are examined. It is shown that (a) the difficulty level of a recognition task can be above or below that of anticipation for the same material, and (b) the slope of retention curves based upon recognition measures may be more or less steep than the slope of curves based upon recall measures of the same material. Previous contrary conclusions reflect the exclusive use of easy recognition tests, and experimental designs in which the degree of learning is much greater for the recognition than for the recall task.
Processing steps and methylation in the formation of the ribosomal RNA of cultured Drosophila cells.

Maturation of the two high molecular weight ribosomal RNAs of eukaryotes involves both the processing of their common precursor and its methylation. We have examined both processes in the maturation of the 26 and 19 S ribosomal RNA of cultured Drosophila cells. The size and order of appearance of Drosophila pre-ribosomal species are consistent with a processing pathway for the initial precursor similar to that for the initial precursor of mouse L cells and Xenopus laevis cells. The initial 34 S precursor, or a slightly smaller 33 S first intermediate, is cleaved to yield the mature 19 S RNA of the small ribosomal subunit, along with a previously unreported 28 S intermediate precursor of the 26 S ribosomal RNA. This 28 S species is next processed to a 27 S intermediate before reduction in size to that of the mature 26 S RNA of the large ribosomal subunit. The initial 34 S precursor of Drosophila is the first ribosomal RNA precursor from a metazoan which contains a 5′-terminal triphosphorylated nucleotide (adenosine triphosphate), presumably originating from initiation of transcription. The 5′-terminal nucleotides of the mature ribosomal RNA species were also determined. Nucleotides containing a 2′- O -ribose methylation are identified and quantitated in digests with ribonucleases T 2 , T 1 and A of the Drosophila ribosomal RNAs and their nuclear precursors. The 19 S ribosomal RNA contains 16 to 18 such ribose methylations, while 43 to 46 ribose methylations are present in the 26 S ribosomal RNA, including three sequences with two adjacent ribose methylations. This is only about two-thirds of the number of methylations found in vertebrate ribosomal RNA. The relative abundance of the 16 possible dinucleotide combinations containing a ribose methylation is generally similar in Drosophila ribosomal RNA to that of the ribosomal RNA of other animals, despite the unusually low overall G + C content of Drosophila ribosomal RNA.
ITERATIVE FILTERING AS AN ALTERNATIVE ALGORITHM FOR EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION

The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) was a method pioneered by (N. Huang et al., The empirical mode decomposition and the Hilbert spectrum for nonlinear nonstationary time series analysis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A454 (1998) 903–995) as an alternative technique to the traditional Fourier and wavelet techniques for studying signals. It decomposes a signal into several components called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), which have shown to admit better behaved instantaneous frequencies via Hilbert transforms. In this paper, we propose an alternative algorithm for EMD based on iterating certain filters, such as Toeplitz filters. This approach yields similar results as the more traditional sifting algorithm for EMD. In many cases the convergence can be rigorously proved.
A 4DVAR System for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. Part 1: System Description and Assimilation of Synthetic Observations in Monterey Bay

AbstractA 4D variational data assimilation system was developed for assimilating ocean observations with the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. It is described in this paper, along with initial assimilation experiments in Monterey Bay using synthetic observations. The assimilation system is tested in a series of twin data experiments to assess its ability to fit assimilated and independent observations by controlling the initial conditions and/or the external forcing while assimilating surface and/or subsurface observations. In all strong and weak constraint experiments, the minimization of the cost function is done with both the gradient descent method (in the control space) and the representer method (observation space). The accuracy of the forecasts following the analysis and the relevance of the retrieved forcing correction in the case of weak constraints are evaluated. It is shown that the assimilation system generally fits the assimilated and nonassimilated observations well in all experiments, yielding lowe...
Numerical Models of Extragalactic Radio Sources

Numerical simulations with supercomputers allow analysis of the wide range of nonlinear physics inherent in the hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic equations. When applied to extragalactic radio sources, these numerical models have begun to reproduce many of the complex structures observed on telescopic images. This combination of telescopic and numerical observations provides powerful probes of the physics of radio galaxies. In this review, some of the recent results from both two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations of the formation and evolution of extended radio morphologies are described. These numerical models have allowed the exploration of important physical phenomena including the role of magnetic fields in the dynamics and emissivity of extended radio galaxies, intermittent outflow from the cores of active galaxies, instabilities and disruption of fluid jets, and the bending of collimated outflows by motion through the intergalactic medium.
Interval Model Based Robust Control of Weld Joint Penetration

Weld penetration sensing and control with a weld-face sensor are among the most relevant research issues in automated welding. Previous studies showed that the geometry of the weld pool contains accurate, instantaneous information about the weld penetration. In this study, the weld pool is measured in real-time to provide the feedback of the weld penetration, and the welding current is selected as the control variable. Analyses reveal that the influence of mandatory variations in welding conditions on the process dynamics can be described by an interval model that has bounded parameter intervals. A robust control algorithm with guaranteed closed-loop stability is used to overcome the interval uncertainty in the process dynamics. Dynamic experiments are performed using different welding conditions and varied welding parameters. From the experimental data the bounded parameter intervals are identified for the model of the process being controlled. Closed-loop control experiments are done under different perturbations. Experimentation shows that the variations encountered in practical welding can be overcome by the developed control system. In addition to penetration control, this work provides an example for developing robust manufacturing process control systems based on objective quantitative descriptions of the process uncertainty.