cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Valuing time in supply chains: Establishing limits of time-based competition

Abstract Over the past two decades the growth in international trade and the offshore migration of US manufacturing have created global supply chains with longer lead-times and slower response. This suggests that traditional supply chains have encountered limits to time-based competition in which the cost of faster replenishment exceeds the benefits. This paper explores and quantifies those limits to time-based competition in make-to-stock supply chains for functional products (products with stable demand over relatively long life cycles). The marginal value of time is used to define the limits of time-based competition in a supply chain, and we define it as the change in total inventory costs per unit change in supply chain lead-time. To calculate the value of time, we develop a set of simple analytical expressions that apply to most standard reorder-point inventory policies under deterministic and variable lead-times. By not requiring optimal inventory policies and expressing the value of time in terms of the unit cost of the product, we obtain very general results that are essentially product-free. We validate the analytical expressions using data from actual supply chains to simulate the inventory cost effects of changes in the lead-time. The results show that the marginal value of time in a supply chain is surprisingly low; it generally falls within a range of 0.4–0.8% of product unit cost per week. Our analytical models explain why there has been expansive growth in global supply chains for functional products. The key tradeoff in outsourcing is between reduced variable production cost and the increased inventory cost of longer supply chain lead-times. The models show analytically that the incremental inventory cost is extremely small relative to the cost benefit. The growth in global supply chains with long lead-times is cost, rather than time, driven.
Asthma und COPD am Arbeitsplatz

Obstruktive Lungenerkrankungen sind in der Schweizer Bevolkerung haufig anzutreffen. Der Verlauf dieser Erkrankungen kann durch Faktoren am Arbeitsplatz beeinflusst werden. Mittels Durchfuhrung von technischen, organisatorischen und personenbezogenen Masnahmen am Arbeitsplatz kann dieser Einfluss jedoch begrenzt werden. Arbeitsmedizinische Vorsorgeuntersuchungen erlauben, betroffene Arbeitnehmende fruhzeitig zu erkennen damit Masnahmen eingeleitet werden konnen. Bei erheblicher gesundheitlicher Gefahrdung durch Belastungen am Arbeitsplatz muss jedoch der Erlass einer Nichteignungsverfugung durch die Suva gepruft werden.
Reaching Women Under Stress from a Partner's Drinking Problem: Assessing Interest in Online Help

Assessing prospective program reach is an important step prior to any online-development effort. This study assessed, preliminarily, interest in a proposed online coping skills training program for women living with a partner with a drinking problem, including their (a) overall program interest; (b) relative preference for an online versus face-to-face format; (c) likely use of adjunctive, professional communications; and (d) use under alternate fee structures. In a community sample of women with problem-drinking partners (N = 73), interest was high (73%); 46% preferred the online format; 31% preferred online and face-to-face formats equally. Interest in adjunctive contacts was high, but diminished with fees; interest-level predictors were few. Online skills training could potentially reach a large portion of this frequently hidden, underserved population, and be financially feasible.
Effects of Feeding Formate-Treated Alfalfa Silage or Red Clover Silage on Omasal Nutrient Flow and Microbial Protein Synthesis in Lactating Dairy Cows

Eight ruminally cannulated Holstein cows that were part of a larger lactation trial were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares to quantify effects of nonprotein N (NPN) content of alfalfa silage (AS) and red clover silage (RCS) on omasal nutrient flows. Diets, fed as total mixed rations, contained 50% dry matter from control AS (CAS), ammonium tetraformate-treated AS (TAS), late maturity RCS (RCS1), or early maturity RCS (RCS2). Silages differed in NPN and acid detergent insoluble N (% of total N): 50 and 4% (CAS); 45 and 3% (TAS); 27 and 8% (RCS1); 29 and 4% (RCS2). The CAS, TAS, and RCS2 diets had 36% high-moisture shelled corn and 3% soybean meal, and the RCS1 diet had 31% high-moisture shelled corn and 9% soybean meal. All diets contained 10% corn silage, 27% neutral detergent fiber, and 17 to 18% crude protein. Compared with RCS, feeding AS increased the supply of rumen-degraded protein and omasal flows of nonammonia N and microbial protein, which may explain the improved milk yield observed in the companion lactation trial. However, omasal flow of rumen-undegraded protein was 34% greater on RCS. Except for Arg, omasal flows of individual AA, branched-chain AA, nonessential AA, essential AA, and total AA did not differ between cows fed AS vs. RCS. Within AS diets, no differences in omasal AA flows were observed. However, omasal flows of Asp, Ser, Glu, Cys, Val, Ile, Tyr, Lys, total nonessential AA, and total AA all were higher in cows fed RCS1 vs. cows fed RCS2. In this trial, there was no advantage to reducing NPN content of hay-crop silage.
Electrophysiologic properties of para-Hisian atrial tachycardia

Background Focal atrial tachycardia (AT) originates from preferential sites, including the tricuspid and mitral annuli. AT arising from the atrioventricular annuli is initiated and terminated with programmed stimulation and is, in general, adenosine and verapamil sensitive. Para-Hisian AT arising from the apex of the triangle of Koch has been considered to be a distinct entity, characterized by unique electrophysiological properties. Objective We sought to more fully delineate the electrophysiological and electrocardiographic properties of para-Hisian AT in a large series of patients. Methods The study population consisted of 38 patients (63 ± 15 years; 23 female) with AT from the para-Hisian region. The ATs were focal and originated from the anteroseptal tricuspid annulus, in close proximity to the His bundle recording. Proximity to the His bundle was confirmed by electrogram recordings, fluoroscopy, and centrifugal activation during three-dimensional mapping. Results The mean AT cycle length was 421 ± 69 ms. AT was associated with a distinct P-wave morphology that was significantly narrower than the P wave during sinus rhythm. Adenosine (5.0 ± 1.5 mg) terminated AT in 34/35 patients. Intravenous verapamil terminated AT in three of three patients. Catheter ablation was attempted in 30 patients and was successful in 26 (87%). Conclusion The para-Hisian region is a source of focal AT, with properties consistent with AT arising circumferentially along the tricuspid and mitral annuli, and should be considered a subset of this broader group of "annular" ATs. The electropharmacologic findings in para-Hisian AT are mechanistically consistent with cyclic AMP-mediated triggered activity.
Overcoming the processor communication overhead in MPI applications

We consider parallel applications that use the MPI programming interface for inter-process communication and determine the processor communication overhead for high performance computing clusters that are built with high-speed interconnect networks such as Pathscale InfiniPath and that support either the open source Open MPI implementation or the Pathscale MPI implementation, or both. We show that, for large messages, the processor overhead is large for both MPI implementations and for both network interconnects. Then we develop a technique, based on using multi-threading in the MPI application, for overcoming the processor communication overhead. We demonstrate that our technique dramatically reduces the impact of the processor overhead.
Effect of Intermittent Lighting and Time of Hatch on Large Broad-Breasted White Turkeys

Abstract To determine if intermittent lighting would reduce leg abnormalities in turkeys, males reared in intermittent lighting of 2 h light:4 h dark were compared to toms subjected to a low intensity, step-down lighting program (15-h photoperiod). Also, to determine if housing poults as soon as possible following hatch would affect later production characteristics, effects of four hatching treatments were assessed. Toms in intermittent as compared with low intensity, step-down lighting programs showed a significant reduction in the incidence of leg abnormalities. There were no significant differences in body weight, feed efficiency, mortality, tibial dyschondroplasia lesions, growth plate closure, and tarsometatarsal length and width for the two lighting programs. Toms exposed to intermittent lighting had heavier testes. It is concluded that intermittent lighting can be used in light-tight, environmentally enclosed turkey houses to reduce leg anomalies without affecting other production traits. Under the experimental conditions employed in the present study, there was no advantage to removing poults from incubator trays as they hatched, as hatching treatments had no effect on production traits of either turkey toms or hens.
Solution Structure of Inhibitor-Free Human Metalloelastase (MMP-12) Indicates an Internal Conformational Adjustment

Macrophage metalloelastase or matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) appears to exacerbate atherosclerosis, emphysema, aortic aneurysm, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. An inactivating E219A mutation, validated by crystallography and NMR spectra, prevents autolysis of MMP-12 and allows us to determine its NMR structure without an inhibitor. The structural ensemble of the catalytic domain without an inhibitor is based on 2813 nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) and has an average RMSD to the mean structure of 0.25 A for the backbone and 0.61 A for all heavy atoms for residues Trp109-Gly263. Compared to crystal structures of MMP-12, helix B (hB) at the active site is unexpectedly more deeply recessed under the beta-sheet. This opens a pocket between hB and beta-strand IV in the active-site cleft. Both hB and an internal cavity are shifted toward beta-strand I, beta-strand III, and helix A on the back side of the protease. About 25 internal NOE contacts distinguish the inhibitor-free solution structure and indicate hB's greater depth and proximity to the sheet and helix A. Line broadening and multiplicity of amide proton NMR peaks from hB are consistent with hB undergoing a slow conformational exchange among subtly different environments. Inhibitor-binding-induced perturbations of the NMR spectra of MMP-1 and MMP-3 map to similar locations across MMP-12 and encompass the internal conformational adjustments. Evolutionary trace analysis suggests a functionally important network of residues that encompasses most of the locations adjusting in conformation, including 18 residues with NOE contacts unique to inhibitor-free MMP-12. The conformational change, sequence analysis, and inhibitor perturbations of NMR spectra agree on the network they identify between structural scaffold and the active site of MMPs.
Paternity evaluation in cases lacking a mother and nondetectable alleles.

In parentage testing the formulae for computing paternity index and exclusion probability generally ignores the presence of nondetectable alleles at the loci tested. In contrast, it is now known that even when paternity testing is done with hypervariable DNA markers, nondetectable alleles should not be ignored. This work presents simple formulae needed with this consideration, to analyze paternity evaluation from DNA markers in cases where the mother of the disputed child is unavailable for testing. It is shown that even a modest frequency of nondetectable alleles (e.g., 2–5% per locus) may have a substantial impact on the paternity index when the child and/or the alleged father exhibits a single-banded DNA profile at a locus. Use of such formulae can generate a high probability of exclusion and a high paternity index when multiple independently segregating hypervariable DNA markers are used.
Digital identification of a continuous-time system and some related issues

A scheme is presented in the paper for the digital identification of a continuous-time system. The proposed identifier operates on a sampled data system but generates an estimate of the unknown continuous-time system directly. Convergence results are obtained and are independent of the sampling rate and the knowledge of input-output signals between sampling instants. Also discussed in the paper are some related problems. In particular, the convergence of the identifier requires the persistent excitation (PE) condition on certain signals, and that PE condition is reduced to the controllability and observability of the sampled system of an unknown continuous-time system. Moreover, results are derived concerning the controllability and observability of the sampled data system for an unknown continuous-time system.
Innate immunity and epigenetic plasticity in cellular reprogramming

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to express the features of pluripotent cells, in that they can be differentiated into all three germ layers, and that they have the ability to replicate indefinitely. Recent studies suggest that the efficient induction of pluripotency requires the activation of innate immunity.
Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions by Elderly Nursing Home Residents, 2001 to 2010

Author(s): Brownell, Julia; Wang, Joseph; Smith, Alexander; Stephens, Caroline; Hsia, Renee Y
Theory of far-infrared absorption of a negatively charged exciton in a quantum dot

We present a theory of the far-infrared (FIR) absorption spectra of a negatively charged exciton ${X}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ confined in a parabolic quantum dot and subject to an external magnetic field. The absorption spectra of the trion exhibit a set of characteristic lines and line anticrossings, sensitive both to the details of electron and hole confinement and the Coulomb interactions among carriers. This is in contrast to the case of dots containing electrons only, where the FIR absorption probes only the excitations of the center-of-mass of the system and is insensitive to interaction effects.
Hard-coral distribution and cold-water disturbances in South Florida: variation with depth and location

Line transects were used to sample the structure and diversity of the hermatypic coral community (Scleractinia) on four shallow shelf-edge reefs in South Florida (25° 22′N to 25° 29′N). Low diversities, cover and abundance indicated that this area was a suboptimum habitat for reef-building corals. The lack of acroporids on the shallow fore-reef, the increase in total coral cover with depth and the greater abundance of Montastrea annularis in the deepest zones suggests that cooling of surface water during severe winter cold fronts is a major environmental control on the distribution of hermatypic corals with depth. Such disturbances, occurring more frequently than hurricanes, may preclude the hard-coral community from attaining higher levels of cover and abundance. The shallow zones on the reefs nearest to tidal passes, through which cooled by water enters the reef tract, had the least developed community. In the deeper reef-zones, species richness and abundance increased from north to south over a distance of 13 km.
Residual phase noise performance of X-band GaAs FET amplifiers at liquid nitrogen temperature

High-performance X-band GaAs FET amplifiers were evaluated at room temperature and 77 K, to determine the residual phase noise of the amplifiers. The data revealed 15–50 dBc/Hz degradation in the close-in residual phase noise when the amplifiers were operated at 77 K.
Memory and age differences in spatial manipulation ability.

Georgia Institute of TechnologyYoung and old adults were asked, in 3 experiments, to make decisions about the identity of linesegment patterns after either adding or subtracting line segments from the original pattern. On someof the trials, the line segments from the initial display were presented again in the second display tominimize the necessity of remembering early information during the processing of later informa-tion. Although this manipulation presumably reduced the importance of memory in the tasks, ithad little effect on the magnitude of the age differences in any of the experiments. Because the 2groups were equivalent in accuracy of simple recognition judgments, but older adults were less accu-rate when the same types of decisions were required in the context of an ongoing task, the resultssuggested that older adults may be impaired in the ability to retain information while simultaneouslyprocessing the same or other information.
Mesospheric-Stratospheric Coupling

THIS communication describes an investigation of mesospheric–stratospheric relationships between electron densities and collision frequencies with stratospheric temperature or constant pressure heights as measured during winter periods of 1964 and 1965 by the wave interaction method of Ferraro and Lee1.
Incidence et caractéristiques de la maladie veineuse thrombo-embolique au cours de la grossesse et de la période post-natale : Une série contemporaine

Objectifs Evaluer l’incidence et les caracteristiques des evenements thrombo-emboliques veineux (ETV) associes a la grossesse dans une serie contemporaine. Methodes Nous avons effectue une revue retrospective de 33 311 accouchements survenus entre juin 2003 et juin 2008. Les patientes ayant presente un ETV au cours de la grossesse ou des trois mois suivant la periode post-natale ont ete identifiees a l’aide de l’International Classification of Disease Codes a la sortie de l’hopital. Le diagnostic de thrombose veineuse profonde (TVP) a ete majoritairement effectue par echographie Doppler alors que celui d’embolie pulmonaire (EP) a ete effectue par angio-tomodensitometrie (ACT). Resultats 74 patientes (0,22%) ont presente un EVP a l’issue des 33 311 accouchements effectues durant la periode d’etude. Il y a eu 40 TVP (0,12%) et 37 EP (0,11%). Les TVP ont interesse les veines iliaques (6), femorales ou poplitees (16), sous-poplitees (17) et axillaires (1). La plupart (57,5%) des TVP a interesse le membre inferieur gauche. Trente-six (51,6%) des ETV sont survenus au cours de la periode post-natale et parmi eux 33 (87%) sont survenus dans la premiere semaine suivant l’accouchement. La majorite des ETV post-nataux (68%) a ete identifiee chez des patientes ayant eu une cesarienne. Les patientes presentant un ETV au cours de la grossesse etaient dans 28% des cas dans leur premier trimestre, 25% dans le second et 47% dans le troisieme. Les evenements etaient distribues selon l’âge maternel de la maniere suivante : 26% des patientes âgees de 13 a 24 ans, 50% des patientes âgees de 25 a 34 et 24% des patientes âgees de 35 a 54 ans. Douze parmi 35 patientes ayant eu la recherche d’un desordre de la coagulation ont eu un test positif. Cinq (6,8%) de ces 74 patientes avaient un antecedent d’ETV, deux d’entre elles ayant une hypercoagulabilite. De plus, 45 des 74 patientes recevaient une contraception orale ou avaient recu une stimulation hormonale avant la grossesse. Les patientes presentant un ETV au cours de la grossesse ont ete traitees par heparine de bas poids moleculaire ou heparine non fractionnee. La plupart des patientes ayant un evenement post-natal ont ete traitees par heparine de bas poids moleculaire sous-cutanee et par Coumadine. Six filtres de la veine cave inferieure ont ete places chez des patientes ayant des complications hemorragiques du traitement anticoagulant. Il n’y a eu aucun deces durant la periode d’etude. Conclusions Comparee aux donnees historiques (TVP : 0,04-0,14% et EP : 0,003-0,04%), l’incidence des TVP au cours de la grossesse ne s’est pas modifiee significativement. Nous observons cependant que l’incidence d’embolie pulmonaire dans notre serie est superieure a celle precedemment rapportee. L’ACT a ete utilisee pour les diagnostics d’EP au cours de la derniere decennie. L’augmentation du taux d’EP dans la serie presente pourrait etre liee a une plus forte sensibilite de l’ACT comparee aux plus anciennes modalites d’imagerie diagnostique.
Characteristics and response-displacement effects of shock-generated responding during negative reinforcement procedures: pre-shock responding and post-shock aggressive responding

Bar-pressing (Experiment I) or key-pressing (Experiments II and III) responses of monkeys were reinforced according to a fixed-interval schedule of negative reinforcement: the first response after a fixed interval of time terminated regularly spaced shocks for a fixed time designated as the reinforcement period. During extinction, shocks continued during the reinforcement period. That there were two types of responding generated by shock alone was indicated by (1) the level of responding maintained during extinction relative to conditions without shock, (2) the stability of two between-shock response patterns across reinforcement and extinction conditions, and (3) the development of these two between-shock patterns without a history of reinforcement. Subjects developed either a pre-shock or a post-shock response pattern when only the bar was available. However, when both a bite tube, an operandum requiring an aggressive topography, and a recessed key, an operandum that did not require an aggressive topography, were provided, the post-shock pattern was observed in tube biting and the pre-shock pattern was observed in key pressing. Removal of the bite tube produced post-shock key responding similar to that observed when only the bar was available. The displacement of post-shock, aggression-motivated responding confirmed the confounding effect of shock-generated responding in negative reinforcement procedures, and suggests that the use of concurrent response alternatives would reduce such confounding.
Identification of glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1) protein as a novel tumor-associated antigen and its autoantibody in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main form of esophageal malignancy. The approach for early diagnosis of this malignancy is very limited. In the present study, we first evaluated glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1), a protein related to metabolism, as a tumor-associated antigen in ESCC, and we also evaluated its autoantibody as a potential biomarker in early detection of ESCC. First, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of GSTO1 protein expression in esophageal tissues showed that the percentage of positive staining of GSTO1 in ESCC tissues was 87.5 % while there was no positive staining in adjacent tissues or normal tissues, indicating that overexpression of GSTO1 is closely related to ESCC. Then, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the frequency of detectable autoantibody against GSTO1 in patients’ sera totals 44.8 %. In contrast, the frequency of detectable autoantibody was only 6.7 % in normal human sera (p < 0.01). To further evaluate our ELISA results, western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were also performed. The results were consistent with the data from ELISA. In conclusion, the current study has demonstrated that GSTO1 protein is overexpressed in ESCC and can induce a detectable autoantibody response, which may serve as a potential biomarker in the early detection of ESCC.
Effects of spatial filtering and lack of effects of visual imagery on pattern-contingent color aftereffects

Checkerboards contain fundamental two-dimensional Fourier components oriented 45° from the edges of individual checks. Previous studies have shown that contingent color aftereffects following adaptation to chromatic checkerboard stimuli were associated with the fundamental components rather than the edges, In the present experiments, we measured contingent color aftereffects, using the method of constant stimuli, after subjects adapted to unfiltered checkerboards and checkerboards with the fundamental Fourier components removed. The adaptation stimuli were magenta (or green) squares and green (or magenta) diamonds; the test stimuli were vertical or oblique sine-wave gratings with different saturations, After adaptation to unfiltered checkerboards, aftereffects contingent on the fundamental components were obtained. In contrast, after adaptation to filtered stimuli, aftereffects of smaller magnitude were found to be aligned with the edges. The data support the previous findings of spatial-frequency-contingent color after-effects with checkerboard adaptation stimuli and indicate that the aftereffects can be associated with edges if the fundamental components of adaptation stimuli are removed by spatial filtering. We reexamined the possibility of color aftereffects induced by imagery of checkerboards. Contrary to the previous reports, no significant aftereffects were obtained.
Incidence and severity of combat hand burns after All Army Activity message.

Abstract : Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom have resulted in severe burns to the hands. Because of the frequency and severity of hand burns, an All Army Activity (ALARACT) message was distributed emphasizing the importance of hand protection (HP). Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of the ALARACT in reducing the incidence and severity of hand burns. A retrospective review of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Registry for active duty personnel with hand burns 17 months before and after the ALARACT was conducted. Data include percentage total body surface area (% TBSA), % full-thickness injury, depth of hand burn, and ratio of hand burn to TBSA. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Four hundred fifty-one military personnel were admitted during the 34- month period: 257 (56.9%) pre-ALARACT; 194 (43.1%) post-ALARACT. Two hundred thirty-nine (52.9%) sustained hand burns: 138 (53.7%) pre-ALARACT; 101 (52.1%) post-ALARACT (p NS). Mean TBSA: 21.5% pre-ALARACT; 28.8% post- ALARACT (p = 0.01). Mean full-thickness TBSA: 14.5% pre-ALARACT; 21.9% post- ALARACT (p = 0.02). Mean hand TBSA: 3.2% pre-ALARACT; 3.2% post-ALARACT (p = NS). Mean ratio, hand burn to TBSA: 36% pre-ALARACT; 25% post-ALARACT (p < 0.001). Post-ALARACT, the incidence of hand burns remained unchanged. Despite an increase in burn severity, ratio of hand burn to TBSA decreased, suggesting a possible relationship between increased awareness and use of HP and decreased injury. Based on the data collected, the impact of the ALARACT is unclear. The importance of HP remains a priority. The fact that the incidence of hand burns remains unchanged demands our continued awareness and increased efforts.
Electrokinetic effects in pumped dielectric fluids

The historical background on electrokinetic effects in pumped dielectric fields is first reviewed. Attention in this survey paper is then given to electrification basics, experimental electrification in a transformer context, and the dielectric integrity of moving fluids. >
The implications of the Pineo Ridge readvance in Maine

Much of the Laurentide ice sheet in Maine, Atlantic Provinces, and southern Quebec was a "marine ice sheet," that is it was grounded below the prevailing sea level. When proper conditions prevailed, calving bays progressed into the ice sheet along ice streams partitioning it, leaving those portions grounded above sea level as residual ice caps. At least by 12,800 yrs. BP a calving bay had progressed up the St. Lawrence Lowland at least to Ottawa while a similar, but less extensive calving bay developed in Central Maine at approximately the same time. Concurrently, ice draining north into the St. Lawrence and south into the Central Maine calving bays rapidly lowered the surface of the intervening ice sheet until it eventually divided over the NE-SW trending Boundary and Longfellow Mountains and probably over other highland areas as well. A major consequence of these nearly simultaneous processes was the separation of an initial large ice cap over part of Maine, New Brunswick, and Quebec which was bounded on the west by the calving bay in Central Maine, to the north by the calving bay in the St. Lawrence Lowland, to the south by the Bay of Fundy, and to the east by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In coastal Maine, east of the calving bay, the margin of the ice cap receded above the marine limit at least 40 km and subsequently read-vanced terminating at Pineo Ridge moraine approximately 12,700 yrs. BP. These events are the stratigraphie and chronologic equivalent of the Cary-Pt. Huron recession/Pt. Huron readvance of the Great Lakes region.
Bridge Safety Evaluation Based on Monitored Live Load Effects

A novel approach to evaluating safety of existing bridges based on monitored structural responses and component conditions is presented in this paper. A limit state equation is developed for the measured strain data from structural health monitoring (SHM). The new concepts of the condition function, α (s,t) , and prediction function, ζ (s,t) , are introduced. The condition function is utilized to estimate the strains at locations other than the strain gauge locations. This function is related to the structural condition assessment results, strain gauge locations, and failure modes under consideration. The prediction function is used to predict the extreme values of the SHM data in the future. An illustration of the proposed approach is provided on an existing highway bridge in Pennsylvania, which had been monitored from 2001 to 2005 by the Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems Center, a National Engineering Research Center at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. This study provides the basis for i...
Proton Irradiation Damage in Zn And Cd Doped InP

Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) was used to study the defects introduced in Zn and Cd doped Schottky barrier diodes by 2 MeV proton irradiation. The defects H3, H4 and H5 were observed in lightly Zn doped InP, while only the defects H3 and H5 were observed in more heavily Zn doped and Cd doped InP. The defect activation energies and capture cross sections did not vary between the Zn and Cd doped InP. The concentration of the radiation induced defects was also measured. The introduction rate of the defect H4 in the lightly Zn doped InP and the introduction rate of the defect H3 in the heavily Zn and Cd doped InP were about equal, but the introduction rate of the defect H5 varied strongly among the three types of material. The introduction rate of H5 was highest in the heavily Zn doped InP but the lowest in the heavily Cd doped InP, even though they were doped comparably. As a result, the total defect introduction rate was lowest in the highly Cd doped InP. The results can be interpreted in terms of the models for the formation and annealing of defects, and by the different diffusion rates of Zn and Cd in InP.
Gene sleuthing in pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy

Epilepsies caused by inborn errors of metabolism consist of a broad range of diseases, typically with early life onset and often associated with progressive encephalopathy. Early recognition and targeted therapy are key to improved outcomes in several metabolic epilepsies, including those related to the pyridoxal vitamer dependencies. Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is an autosomal recessively inherited metabolic epilepsy characterized by early-onset seizures resistant to traditional antiepileptic drugs. Initially described in 1954, the biochemical basis was elucidated over 50 years later as mutations in ALDH7A1 , encoding the protein antiquitin or α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (α-AASA) dehydrogenase and affecting the lysine degradation pathway.1 An elevated concentration of α-AASA in urine or plasma is an excellent biomarker, although this may also be seen in molybdenum cofactor deficiency and isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency.2 On the other hand, recent literature has emphasized the presence of mutations in pyridox(am)ine phosphate oxidase (PNPO) in patients who clinically appear to have the phenotype of PDE including pyridoxine responsiveness, but have negative biomarkers for antiquitin deficiency.3
High pressure combustion synthesis of aluminum nitride

We report initial results on the synthesis of monolithic aluminum nitride by burning Al–AlN mixtures in high pressure nitrogen. The objective is to synthesize economically large, near-theoretical density AlN parts. In this work, we begin with compacted mixtures of 10 μm Al and 3 μm AlN powder formed into 7.62 cm diameter by 3.81 cm thick disks having densities up to 60% of theoretical. Then, at N2 pressures up to 180 MPa (26 000 psi), we ignite the disk on one face. The fraction of Al converted to AlN, density, and severity of macroscopic cracking vary with N2 pressure and heat transfer from the sample. Presently, products are inhomogeneous, showing regions of relatively high porosity, regions with no porosity but with AlN in a matrix of Al, and regions of nearly theoretical density AlN.
Instantons and scalar multiquark states: From small to large N c

We study scalar quark-anti-quark and two-quark-two-anti-quark correlation functions in the instanton liquid model. We show that the instanton liquid supports a light scalar-isoscalar (sigma) meson, and that this state is strongly coupled to both $(\bar{q}q)$ and $(\bar{q}q)^2$. The scalar-isovector $a_0$ meson, on the other hand, is heavy. We also show that these properties are specific to QCD with three colors. In the large $N_c$ limit the scalar-isoscalar meson is not light, and it is mainly coupled to $(\bar{q}q)$.
Surface induced dissociation for tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Abstract We have investigated surface induced dissociation (SID) in a reflectron time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer using an “in-line” collision device in the reflectron mirror. Ions are created by multiphoton ionization, mass selected by pulsed deflection, and impinge on the collision device with collision energy that can be raised from 0 to 2.6 keV. The present apparatus achieves unit mass resolution at m/z 200 for the precursor ion selection and a product ion mass resolution of 70 at m/z 100. We find that high internal excitation of ions results for collision energies in excess of 150 eV, as determined from the fragmentation of phenanthrene molecular ions, (C14H10) +. The SID process is shown to cause efficient ion dissociation; for example, the sum of the abundance of all daughter ions, relative to the initial parent ion abundance of 4-methylanisole, (C8H10O) +, is 0.15 ± 0.03 at a collision energy of 30 eV. In addition to SID, we observe sputtering of hydrocarbon molecules on the collision device surface as well as reaction with these adsorbate species. Thus, SID appears to be an attractive technique for TOF tandem mass spectrometry, particularly for the dissociation of large singly-charged ions.
Generating Complex Morphology for Machine Translation

We present a novel method for predicting inflected word forms for generating morphologically rich languages in machine translation. We utilize a rich set of syntactic and morphological knowledge sources from both source and target sentences in a probabilistic model, and evaluate their contribution in generating Russian and Arabic sentences. Our results show that the proposed model substantially outperforms the commonly used baseline of a trigram target language model; in particular, the use of morphological and syntactic features leads to large gains in prediction accuracy. We also show that the proposed method is effective with a relatively small amount of data.
Pathways and transformations of dissolved methane and dissolved inorganic carbon in Arctic tundra watersheds: Evidence from analysis of stable isotopes

Arctic soils contain a large pool of terrestrial C and are of interest due to their potential for releasing significant carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. Due to substantial landscape heterogeneity, predicting ecosystem-scale CH4 and CO2 production is challenging. This study assessed dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC = Σ (total) dissolved CO2) and CH4 in watershed drainages in Barrow, Alaska as critical convergent zones of regional geochemistry, substrates, and nutrients. In July and September of 2013, surface waters and saturated subsurface pore waters were collected from 17 drainages. Based on simultaneous DIC and CH4 cycling, we synthesized isotopic and geochemical methods to develop a subsurface CH4 and DIC balance by estimating mechanisms of CH4 and DIC production and transport pathways and oxidation of subsurface CH4. We observed a shift from acetoclastic (July) toward hydrogenotropic (September) methanogenesis at sites located toward the end of major freshwater drainages, adjacent to salty estuarine waters, suggesting an interesting landscape-scale effect on CH4 production mechanism. The majority of subsurface CH4 was transported upward by plant-mediated transport and ebullition, predominantly bypassing the potential for CH4 oxidation. Thus, surprisingly, CH4 oxidation only consumed approximately 2.51 ± 0.82% (July) and 0.79 ± 0.79% (September) of CH4 produced at the frost table, contributing to <0.1% of DIC production. DIC was primarily produced from respiration, with iron and organic matter serving as likely e- acceptors. This work highlights the importance of spatial and temporal variability of CH4 production at the watershed scale and suggests broad scale investigations are required to build better regional or pan-Arctic representations of CH4 and CO2 production.
Good code sets by spreading orthogonal vectors via Golomb rulers and Costas arrays

Good code sets have autocorrelation functions ACF with small sidelobes, and also have small crosscorrelations. In this work, a class of good ternary codes sets are introduced. First, mutually orthogonal vectors are selected, then they are spread via a Golomb ruler. This is shown to result in such a good set. If the mutually orthogonal vectors have entries in {-1,1} or {-1,0,1}, then a ternary code set result. While there are methods of generating ternary codes, and complementary ternary codes [1–7], there is no method in prior publications of generating mutually orthogonal ternary code sets. That is one of the contributions of this work. If complex numbers with unity magnitudes are allowed, then we obtain codes with magnitudes in {0,1}. If the vectors are obtained from matrices with mutually orthogonal rows and columns, as in Hadamard matrices, or DFT matrices, then longer codes can be obtained via spreading the obtained good set via a Golomb ruler a second time. Using existing codes, such as Barker codes, and spreading them via a Golomb ruler, then compounding them with the elements of a good set, results in a new good set with higher mainlobes. The spreading could be induced via any array of any dimension with elements of magnitudes in {0,1} that have autocorrelation with unity peak sidelobes. This includes Costas arrays, in addition to Golomb rulers.
Failed superficial femoral artery intervention for advanced infrainguinal occlusive disease has a significant negative impact on limb salvage

Objective Endovascular treatment of superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions is a well-established practice. The repercussions of failed SFA interventions are unclear. Our goal was to review the efficacy of SFA stenting and define negative effects of its failure. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2007 to January 2010 that identified 42 limbs in 39 patients that underwent SFA stenting. Follow-up ankle-brachial index and a duplex ultrasound scan was performed at routine intervals. Results Mean patient age was 68 years (range, 43-88 years); there were 22 men (56%) and 17 women (44%). Intervention indication was claudication in 15 patients (36%), rest pain in seven patients (17%), and tissue loss in 19 patients (45%). There were 15 patients (36%) with TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) A, nine patients (21%) with TASC B, five patients (12%) with TASC C, and 13 patients (31%) with TASC D lesions. The majority of lesions intervened on were the first attempt at revascularization. Three stents (7.7%) occluded within 30 days. One-year primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates were 24%, 44%, and 51%, respectively. Limb salvage was 93% during follow-up. Seventeen interventions failed (40%) at 1 year. Of these, seven patients (41%) developed claudication, seven patients (41%) developed ischemic rest pain, and three patients (18%) were asymptomatic. During follow-up, three patients (7.7%) required bypass and three patients (7.7%) major amputation, one after failed bypass. All limbs requiring bypass or amputation had TASC C/D lesions. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality was 2.6% and 10.3%, respectively. Conclusions Interventions performed for TASC C/D lesions are more likely to fail and more likely to lead to bypass or amputation. Interventions performed for TASC C/D lesions that fail have a negative impact on limb salvage. This should be considered when performing stenting of advanced SFA lesions.
Low Energy Levels of Neutral Cerium (Ce i)

The first results of a continuing analysis of the Ce I spectrum show the ground level to be 4f 5d 6s2 1G4°, with gJ=0.945. Of fifteen low odd levels for which the energies, J and g values are given, seven have been assigned to 4f 5d 6s2 and five to 4f 5d2 6s.
The creative person and the creative system

The talk will summarize the Systems Model of Creativity, which views innovation or creativity as not primarily an individual trait or process, but as a confluence of processes taking place in three related sub-systems: the Domain, or the knowledge base in which the innovation/creativity takes place; the Field, or persons who act as gatekeepers to the Domain; and the Person, who introduces a change to the Domain that is accepted by the Field. Characteristics of these elements of the system are discussed, and some applications of the Model mentioned.
Bone marrow NR4A expression is not a dominant factor in the development of atherosclerosis or macrophage polarization in mice

The formation of the atherosclerotic lesion is a complex process influenced by an array of inflammatory and lipid metabolism pathways. We previously demonstrated that NR4A nuclear receptors are highly induced in macrophages in response to inflammatory stimuli and modulate the expression of genes linked to inflammation in vitro. Here we used mouse genetic models to assess the impact of NR4A expression on atherosclerosis development and macrophage polarization. Transplantation of wild-type, Nur77−/−, or Nor1−/− null hematopoetic precursors into LDL receptor (LDLR)−/− recipient mice led to comparable development of atherosclerotic lesions after high-cholesterol diet. We also observed comparable induction of genes linked to M1 and M2 responses in wild-type and Nur77-null macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharides and interleukin (IL)-4, respectively. In contrast, activation of the nuclear receptor liver X receptor (LXR) strongly suppressed M1 responses, and ablation of signal transductor and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) strongly suppressed M2 responses. Recent studies have suggested that alterations in levels of Ly6Clo monocytes may be a contributor to inflammation and atherosclerosis. In our study, loss of Nur77, but not Nor1, was associated with decreased abundance of Ly6Clo monocytes, but this change was not correlated with atherosclerotic lesion development. Collectively, our results suggest that alterations in the Ly6Clo monocyte population and bone marrow NR4A expression do not play dominant roles in macrophage polarization or the development of atherosclerosis in mice.
Chemical bonding topology of superconductors: II. Ternary lanthanide rhodium borides

Graph theory-derived methods are used to derive the chemical bonding topology of the closed-shell Rh/sub 4/B/sub 4//sup 4 -/ building blocks of the superconducting lanthanide rhodium borides, LnRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ (Ln = lanthanides such as Nd, Sm, Er, Tm, Lu). The resulting chemical bonding topology consists of edge-localized Rh/sub 4/ tetrahedra electronically linked in a three-dimensional lattice by exotetrahedral Rh-Rh bonds. This work thus provides an example of an additional class of relatively high-temperature superconductors exhibiting porously delocalized chemical bonding topology like the Chevrel phases discussed in the previous paper of this series.
Do we need more echo scores for balloon mitral valvuloplasty

1. Echocardiography limited in ability to differentiate nodular fibrosis from calcification 2. Does not assess commissural involvement 3. Does not account for uneven distribution of pathologic abnormalities 4. Does not account for relative contribution of each variable (no weighting of variables) Since its introduction 25 years ago by Inoue et al, percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) has become the procedure of choice for the majority of patients with moderate or severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) who are symptomatic or have pulmonary hypertension. Successful PBMV depends on appropriate patient selection. Several echocardiographic scores have been proposed to optimize patient selection and to predict outcome. 5. Frequent underestimation of subvalve disease 6. Does not use results from transesophageal echocardiography or three-dimensional echocardiography CURRENTLY USED SCORING SYSTEM
Development of model colloidal liquid crystals and the kinetics of the isotropic–smectic transition

We have prepared a homologous series of › lamentous viruses with varying contour length using molecular cloning techniques. These viruses are monodisperse enough to form a stable smectic phase. Two systems are studied. The › rst system consists of viruses to the surfaces of which the polymers are covalently bound. Through studies of the isotropic{cholesteric phase transition we demonstrate that covalently attached polymers alter the e¬ective diameter of the virus. Additionally, we have produced mixtures of viruses whose ratio of e¬ective diameters varies by a factor of › ve. The second system is composed of mixtures of rod-like viruses and non-absorbing Gaussian polymers. With this system we study the kinetics of the isotropic{smectic phase transition and describe observations of a number of novel metastable structures of unexpected complexity.
Images and image: technology and the social politics of revealing disorder in a North American hospital.

In the United States and elsewhere diagnostic activities are now prominently centered on images derived from technologies such as magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and angiography. In this article I examine language, actions, and interactions in a multidisciplinary team of biomedical specialists whose members meet routinely to visually interpret and assess such images. Convened behind the scenes, in a conference room from which patients are excluded, these meetings are examined as privileged performances in which team members exercise their visual faculties and interpretive skills to address issues that include their statuses and reputations, and to politically position themselves and their specialties. Ethnographic data derived from close observation of 23 such diagnostic meetings are presented. I suggest that problems posed by the attempt to synthesize information from diagnostic images serve as vehicles for evaluating or “diagnosing” the professional capabilities and “image” of the participating physicians. Team-based divisions and attempts to reassert challenged autonomies also characterize this socially oriented diagnostic process, [imaging technologies, micropolitics, performance, behind the scenes]