cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Six-body calculation of the α -deuteron radiative capture cross section

We have computed the cross section for the process $d(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\gamma}{)}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ at the low energies relevant for primordial nucleosynthesis and comparison with laboratory data. The final state is a six-body wave function generated by the variational Monte Carlo method from the Argonne ${v}_{18}$ and Urbana IX potentials, including improved treatment of large-particle-separation behavior. The initial state is built up from the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle and deuteron ground-state solutions for these potentials, with phenomenological descriptions of scattering and cluster distortions. The dominant $E2$ cross section is in reasonable agreement with the laboratory data. Including center-of-energy and other small corrections, we obtain an $E1$ contribution which is larger than the measured contribution at 2 MeV by a factor of 7. We calculate explicitly the impulse-approximation $M1$ contribution, which is expected to be very small, and obtain a result consistent with zero. We find little reason to suspect that the cross section is large enough to produce significant ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ in the big bang.
Different strokes for different folks: entrepreneurial narratives of emotion, cognition, and making sense of business failure

This multiple case study of eight entrepreneurial narratives of failed businesses examines how narratives that express different emotional states (folks) reflect different efforts to make sense of failure experiences (strokes). Our comparisons of the narratives' emotional content (describing emotional states at the time of business failure and presently) revealed some new insights. First, high negative emotions motivate making sense of a loss, while high positive emotions provide cognitive resources to facilitate and motivate making sense of the failure event. Second, emotion-focused coping helped deal with negative emotions. Finally, sensemaking was also facilitated by cognitive strategies that focused attention on the failure event and promoted self-reflection.
A national computer policy: forging the final synergy of computers and society

National computer policies (NCPs) developed by certain nations have established those nations in such strong competitive positions in computer technology that they now challenge the U.S., which once held a near monopoly position. Japan's national computer policy, published in 1972, called for a $65 billion investment in eight computer developments between 1972 and 1985 and set the stage for development of a domestic chip industry. Thus, a national computer policy can be dramatically effective. Other nations have developed national computer policies as well.Many of the challenges and problems facing the U.S. computer industry might be resolved if a national computer policy study were begun immediately. Such a study could help us to understand the manner in which the computer industry has changed from dominance by actions of entrepreneurships to direction by actions of sovereignties. The AFIPS member societies are called upon to provide the forum from which a national computer policy study may begin.
Morphological distinctiveness of Javan Tupaia hypochrysa (Scandentia, Tupaiidae)

The common treeshrew, Tupaia glis, represents a species complex with a complicated taxonomic history. It is distributed mostly south of the Isthmus of Kra on the Malay Peninsula and surrounding islands. In our recent revision of a portion of this species complex, we did not fully assess the population from Java (T. ‘‘glis’’ hypochrysa) because of our limited sample. Herein, we revisit this taxon using multivariate analyses in comparisons with T. glis, T. chrysogaster of the Mentawai Islands, and T. ferruginea from Sumatra. Analyses of both the manus and skull of Javan T. ‘‘glis’’ hypochrysa show it to be most similar to T. chrysogaster and distinct from both T. glis and T. ferruginea. Yet, the Javan population and T. chrysogaster have different mammae counts, supporting recognition of T. hypochrysa as a distinct species. The change in taxonomic status of T. hypochrysa has conservation implications for both T. glis and this Javan endemic.
Full operator algorithm for hybrid simulation

One of the weaknesses of the operator splitting method (OSM) is that its corrector step employs the approximation that incremental forces are linearly related to the tested structure's initial stiffness matrix. This paper presents a new predictor–corrector technique in which the assumptions about the tested structure's response are shifted to the predictor step, which results in an enhancement in overall simulation accuracy, especially for nonlinear structures. Unlike OSM, which splits the displacement and velocity operators into explicit and implicit terms, the new method uses predicted accelerations to compute fully explicit displacement and velocity values in the predictor step. Another advantage of the proposed technique, termed the full operator method (FOM) is that its formulation makes it suitable for both quasi-static and real-time hybrid simulation. The effectiveness of FOM is first evaluated by investigating error propagation in an undamped single degree-of-freedom model. It is shown that the corrector step in FOM is able to significantly suppress aberrant simulation results caused by incorrect estimation of the structure's stiffness matrix. The performance of FOM is demonstrated by exercising two additional models, which exhibit significant inelastic behavior under the prescribed excitation. The simulation results show that the proposed FOM algorithm is capable of producing accurate solutions and that the corrector step is influential in effectively reducing simulation errors. It is also shown that FOM suppresses actuator displacement control errors because of its reliance on measured quantities in the corrector step. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Harnblasenfunktion, Harnentleerung, Harn

Die Wande der Ureteren enthalten in drei Schichten angeordnete glatte Muskulatur. Ein- bis funfmal pro Minute ablaufende peristaltische Kontraktionen befordern den Harn aus dem Nierenbecken durch die Ureteren zur Harnblase; synchron mit jeder peristaltischen Welle wird Harn in die Blase geprest. Bei einer Harnmenge von 1 ml/min entspricht dies der Beforderung von etwa 1–2 Tr. pro peristaltischer Welle. Die Ureteren treten schrag durch die Blasenwand, so das ein ventilartiger Verschlus entsteht und ein Reflux von Harn aus der Blase in die Ureteren trotz Fehlens eigentlicher Sphincteren verhindert wird.
Prehistoric Cultures of Eastern Pennsylvania

Prehistoric Cultures of Eastern Pennsylvania. Jay F. Custer. Harrisburg: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1996. 383 pp.
Couple adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in National Guard veterans of the Iraq war.

Relationship adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed across two time points in a sample of 313 married or partnered National Guard soldiers recently returned from combat duty in Iraq. Structural equation modeling using a four-factor model for PTSD found the latent variable dysphoria (reflecting generalized distress including aspects of emotional numbing and arousal) had the strongest independent contribution to predicting relationship adjustment at Time 1 and indirectly predicted poorer relationship adjustment at Time 2. Exploratory analysis of gender differences (n 33 women; n 280 men) suggested a different pattern of relations between PTSD factors and relationship adjustment among female soldiers at Time 1, with a trend toward trauma specific avoidance being more highly related to relationship adjustment. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
A novel method for finding non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis biomarkers

Background One of the most common causes of worldwide cancer premature death is non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with a very low survival rate of 8%-15%. Since patients with an early stage diagnosis can have up to four times the survival rate, discovering cost-effective biological markers that can be used to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease is an important clinical challenge. In the last few years, significant progress has been made to address this challenge with identified biomarkers ranging from 5-gene signatures to 133-gene signatures. However, A typical molecular sub-classification method for lung carcinomas would have a low predictive accuracy of 68%-71% because datasets of gene-expression profiles typically have tens of thousands of genes for just few hundreds of patients. This type of datasets create many technical challenges impacting the accuracy of the diagnostic prediction.
Disposable chemical and biological sensors using micro-imprinted stimuli-responsive hydrogel diffraction grating

The paper report a novel optical diffraction chemical and biological sensor using stimuli-responsive hydrogel grating fabricated through ultraviolet (UV)-assisted micro-imprinting technology. Hydrogel grating swells and shrinks upon exposure to the analyte of interest, thus causing to change the periodicity of the grating. This results in a change in diffraction pattern (i.e., size, brightness, and/or location) of a laser beam recognizable to bare eyes. Therefore, the proposed technology provides a novel paradigm for detecting and displaying information in a way that is readily interpreted by an untrained person, with no need for additional detection tools. In addition, the use of the UV-assisted micro-imprinting technology provides a simple and effective method for patterning hydrogel structures at the submicron scale.
A Changing Perspective on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Glial cells, particularly microglial cells, react to the presence of the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles producing an inflammatory response. While once considered immunologically privileged due to the blood-brain barrier, it is now understood that the glial cells of the brain are capable of complex inflammatory responses. This paper will discuss the published literature regarding the diverse roles of neuroinflammation in the modulation of AD pathologies. These data will then be related to the well-characterized macrophage phenotypes. The conclusion is that the glial cells of the brain are capable of a host of macrophage responses, termed M1, M2a, M2b, and M2c. The relationship between these states and AD pathologies remains relatively understudied, yet published data using various inflammatory stimuli provides some insight. It appears that an M1-type response lowers amyloid load but exacerbates neurofibrillary tangle pathology. In contrast, M2a is accompanied by elevated amyloid load and appears to ameliorate, somewhat, neurofibrillary pathology. Overall, it is clear that more focused, cause-effect studies need to be performed to better establish how each inflammatory state can modulate the pathologies of AD.
Haptic exploration of fine surface features

We consider the detection of small surface features, such as ridges and bumps, on the surface of an object during dextrous manipulation. First, we review the representation of object surface geometry and present definitions of surface features based on local curvature. These definitions depend on the geometries of both the robot fingertips and the object being explored. We also show that the trajectory traced by a round fingertip rolling or sliding over the object surface has some intrinsic properties that facilitate feature detection. Next, several algorithms based on the feature definitions are presented and compared. Finally, we present simulated and experimental results for feature detection using a hemispherical fingertip equipped with an optical tactile sensor.
A new synthesis of substituted butenolides via cation-initiated ring expansion/elimination of β-lactones

Abstract When treated with silver ion, γ-bromo β-lactones, available via bromolactonization, undergo a ring expansion/elimination reaction to afford substituted butenolides.
A feline homologue of CD1 is defined using a feline‐specific monoclonal antibody

The characteristics of a feline homologue of CD1, defined by a murine monoclonal antibody, Fe1.5F4 (IgG1), are described. This antibody precipitated a 49 kDa protein from biotinylated feline thymocyte extract in conjunction with a 14 kDa protein, consistent with beta 2 microglobulin subunit. The tissue distribution of this antigen was restricted to cortical thymocytes and antigen presenting cells of the thymic medulla, epidermis (Langerhans cells), dermis and occasional dendritic cells in the mantle and periarteriolar lymphoid areas of the spleen. Although flow cytometry demonstrated a continuous distribution of antigen expression on thymocytes, antigen density was found to decrease with age, consistent with physiological thymic involution. Thymocytes with high density expression of this antigen were predominantly restricted to cells with dual expression of CD4 and CD8 as defined by feline specific murine monoclonal antibodies Fe1.7B12 (IgG1) and Fe1.10E9 (IgG1) respectively. The tissue distribution of this CD1 homologue indicates that it is a member of the classic thymic CD1 family. This feline homologue of CD1 was distinct from CD1c by virtue of its lack of expression in peripheral blood and splenic mantle zone B cells. An unequivocal distinction could not be made between CD1a and CD1b based on tissue distribution due to species variation in expression of these CD1 molecules. Although the biochemical characteristics of this feline CD1 homologue more closely match with CD1a. The pattern of tissue expression and biochemical characteristics of the feline CD1 antigen appear largely similar to those described for human and other species.
Endothelial Dysfunction: Do Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Have a Role?

Endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation are several destructive mechanisms of disease, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. There is clear evidence linking endothelial dysfunction to abnormal vasodilation with these well-known risk factors. This paper will discuss the understanding of endothelial dysfunction as it applies to both hypertension and dyslipidemia models and the pharmacologic approaches available to improve endothelial dysfunction.
Continuous Murmur After Ascending Aortic Surgery

We report a case of an aortic root pseudo aneurysm (PSA) that ruptured into the right pulmonary artery (RPA) causing a large left-to-right shunt and congestive heart failure. A 56-year-old man presented with New York Heart Association class III congestive heart failure 6 years after insertion of a Freestyle aortic valve bioprosthesis with reimplantation of the coronaries as button anastomoses to treat a localized aortic root dissection. Physical examination demonstrated a grade 4/6 continuous murmur at the left sternal border, bibasilar crackles, left lung base dullness, ascites, and pedal edema. Chest x-ray (portable anteroposterior film, Figure 1) showed marked cardiomegaly, prominent pulmonary vasculature, and a left pleural effusion suggestive of left ventricular volume overload. Twelve-lead ECG (Figure 2) showed sinus rhythm, biatrial enlargement, and biventricular hypertrophy with right ventricular …
Age at marriage and completed family size.

Abstract Relatively little attention has been given to the interpretation of age‐at‐marriage differences in fertility. This paper discusses possible demographic and sociological sources of this differential. The argument is made that sociological interpretations deserve increased attention since most of the observed differential persists after control for likely demographic components (premarital pregnancy, unwanted fertility, and subfecundity) and for correlated social and background variables (education of self and parents, religion, farm background, number of siblings, whether respondent's parental family was intact, and husband's age at marriage). Multiple‐classification analysis is employed. The analysis concludes by noting that age at first birth has an even stronger relationship with fertility than age at marriage and that the sociological dimensions of age relevant to age at marriage are even more appropriate to age at entrance into motherhood.
Snoring and carotid artery intima‐media thickness

Objectives/Hypothesis A growing body of evidence indicates that primary snoring (PS) may be the initial presentation of sleep-disordered breathing and can adversely affect an individual's health. Individuals with the sole diagnosis of PS were evaluated to determine if a relationship exists between snoring and thickening of the intima media of the carotid arteries. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Our institution's sleep center database identified patients aged 18 to 50 years who had a diagnostic sleep study with apnea-hypopnea index <5 between December 2006 and January 2012. Subjects underwent a diagnostic carotid artery duplex ultrasound measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the bilateral carotid arteries at four separate points. A validated Snoring Outcomes Survey (SOS) was completed and used to categorize snorers and nonsnorers. Groups were compared using a Student t test. Results Of 913 patients who met inclusion criteria, 54 patients completed both the carotid duplex ultrasound and SOS. There were no statistically significant differences in IMT for the groups defined by smoking or diabetes. Compared to nonsnorers, snorers were found to have a significantly greater IMT at two points along the left internal carotid artery and one point on the right side. When considering all eight points, IMT was significantly greater in snorers. Conclusions This study shows a relationship between PS and IMT of the carotid arteries. Given the well-described relationship between increased carotid IMT and serious health conditions, nonapneic snoring may be a precursor to changes of the carotid artery intima and should be further investigated. Level of Evidence 3b. Laryngoscope, 124:1486–1491, 2014
Elastic isotropy of ɛ‐Fe under Earth's core conditions

[1] Our first-principles calculations show that both the compressional and shear waves of ɛ-Fe become elastically isotropic under the Earth's inner core conditions, with the variation in sound velocities along different angles from the c axis within 1%. We computed the thermoelasticity at high pressures and temperatures from quasiharmonic linear response linear-muffin-tin-orbital calculations in the generalized-gradient approximation. The calculated anisotropic shape and magnitude at ambient temperature agree well with previous first-principles predictions, and the anisotropic effects show strong temperature dependences. This implies that other mechanisms, rather than the preferential alignment of the ɛ-Fe crystal along the Earth's rotation axis, account for the seismic P-wave travel time anomalies. Either the inner core is not ɛ-Fe, and/or the seismologically observed anisotropy is caused by inhomogeneity, i.e., multiple phases.
A Sharpened Dynamic Range of a Generalized Chinese Remainder Theorem for Multiple Integers

A generalized Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) for multiple integers from residue sets has been studied recently, where the remainders in a residue set are not ordered. In this correspondence, we first propose a majority method and then based on the proposed majority method we present a sharpened dynamic range of multiple integers that can be uniquely determined from their residue sets
Risk of significant cytopenias after treatment with tocilizumab in systemic juvenile arthritis patients with a history of macrophage activation syndrome

Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the first FDA- approved treatment for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). We report 3 cases of cytopenias in children with sJIA treated with TCZ. Two of the children who developed significant cytopenias shortly after initiation of TCZ had a history of macrophage activation syndrome. We raise the possibility that patients with a tendency towards MAS have an increased risk of developing cytopenias when treated with tocilizumab.
Novel Self-Crosslinking Epoxy Oligomers for Cationic-Cure Coatings Applications

Novel epoxy functional oligomers containing phosphate-esters, carboxylate-ester, and urethane linkages with varying molecular weight and functionality have been synthesized from commercially available epoxy compounds. These oligomers are characterized for the parameters relevant to the study by physical, spectroscopic, and chemical methods. Two series of cationic thermal-cure coating compositions have been formulated using these oligomers as principal film-forming components. The cured films of these self-crosslinked oligomers have been studied and compared. A correlation between structure of these oligomers and their film properties has been established.
Design of Optimally Smoothing Multi-Stage Schemes for the Euler Equations

In this paper, a method is developed for designing multi-stage schemes that give optimal damping of highfrequencies for a given spatial-differencing operator. The objective of the method is to design schemes that combine well with multi-grid acceleration. The schemes are tested on a nonlinear scalar equation, and compared to Runge-Kutta schemes with the maximum stable time-step. The optimally smoothing schemes perform better than the Runge-Kutta schemes, even on a single grid. The analysis is extended to the Euler equations in one space-dimension by use of "characteristic time-stepping," which preconditions the equations, removing stiffness due to variations among characteristic speeds. Convergence rates independent of the number of cells in the finest grid are achieved for transonic flow with and without a shock. Characteristic time-stepping is shown to be preferable to local time-stepping, although use of the optimally damping schemes appears to enhance the performance of local time-stepping. The extension of the analysis to the twc-dimensional Euler equations is hampered by the lack of a model for characteristic time-stepping in two dimensions. Some results for local time-stepping are presented.
Embedding sustainability: lessons from the front line

As food supply chains get longer, new and unexpected supply chain challenges such as transparency and traceability are moving to centre stage. To rise to these challenges, managers need to design quality into their processes.
Visual Semantic Modeling of Digital Libraries

The current interest from non-experts who wish to build digital libraries (DLs) is strong worldwide. However, since DLs are complex systems, it usually takes considerable time and effort to create and tailor a DL to satisfy specific needs and requirements of target communities/societies. What is needed is a simplified modeling process and rapid generation of DLs. To enable this, DLs can be modeled with descriptive domain-specific languages. A visual tool would be helpful to non-experts so they may model a DL without knowing the theoretical foundations and the syntactic details of the descriptive language. In this paper, we present a domain-specific visual DL modeling tool, 5SGraph. It employs a metamodel that describes DLs using the 5S theory. The output from 5SGraph is a DL model that is an instance of the metamodel, expressed in the 5S description language. Furthermore, 5SGraph maintains semantic constraints specified by the 5S metamodel and enforces these constraints over the instance model to ensure semantic consistency and correctness. 5SGraph enables component reuse to reduce the time and effort of designers. 5SGraph also is designed to accommodate and integrate several other complementary tools reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of DLs. Thus, tools based on concept maps to fulfill those roles are introduced. The 5SGraph tool has been tested with real users and several modeling tasks in a usability experiment, and its usefulness and learnability have been demonstrated.
Nongonococcal Urethritis—A New Paradigm

Urethritis in men has been categorized historically as gonococcal or nongonococcal (NGU). The major pathogens causing NGU are Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Trichomonas vaginalis may be involved occasionally. In up to one-half of cases, an etiologic organism may not be identified. In this review we present recent advances in the diagnosis and management of NGU and discuss how they may be applied in a variety of clinical settings, including specialized STD clinics and primary health care practices. In particular, the development of the noninvasive urine-based nucleic acid amplification tests may warrant rethinking of the traditional classification of urethritis as gonococcal urethritis or NGU. Diagnostics for Chlamydia are strongly recommended because etiologic diagnosis of chlamydial urethritis may have important public health implications, such as the need for partner referral and reporting. A single 1-g dose of azithromycin was found to be therapeutically equivalent to the tetracyclines and may offer the advantage of better compliance.
The AMT: Projections and Problems

The individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) operates parallel to the regular income tax, imposing a different income definition, allowable deductions, and rate structure. The AMT grew out of a minimum tax that first took effect in 1970, due to legislation enacted in response to public outrage in the wake of testimony by Treasury Secretary Joseph W. Barr (1969) that 155 high-income households had paid no income tax in 1966. Although it has historically applied to only a very small share of taxpayers, the tax is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade, transforming it from a class tax to a mass tax. The growth of the AMT will create problems of equity, efficiency, complexity, and transparency in the tax system. It will also inevitably force policy makers to focus more attention on the issue, in part because many reform options will prove expensive. This column provides new projections of AMT taxpayers and revenues, and uses the projections to examine some broader implications for tax policy and the AMT.
Impact of a quality improvement project on deceased organ donor management.

Context—Donors showed poor glucose control in the period between declaration of brain death and organ recovery. The level of hyperglycemia in the donors was associated with a decline in terminal renal function. Objective—To determine whether implementation of a quality improvement project improved glucose control and preserved renal function in deceased organ donors. Methods—Data collected retrospectively included demographics, medical history, mechanism of death, laboratory values, and data from the United Network for Organ Sharing. Results—After implementation of the quality improvement project, deceased donors had significantly lower mean glucose concentrations (mean [SD], 162 [44] vs 212 [42] mg/dL; P < .001) and prerecovery glucose concentration (143 [66] vs 241 [69] mg/dL; P < .001). When the donor cohorts from before and after the quality improvement project were analyzed together, mean glucose concentration remained a significant predictor of terminal creatinine level (P < .001). Multivariate anal...
Magnetoelastic buckling: Theory vs. experiment: Paper presents an investigation of the conditions which must be satisfied in an experimental program in order to check theoretical predictions of magnetoelastic buckling fields

Existing theoretical values and experimental values of magnetoelastic critical buckling fields for ferromagnetic beams and plates differ by a factor of two. The usual theoretical treatment assumes that the plate (a) is immersed in an infinite uniform field, (b) is infinitely wide and long, and (c) is made of a linearly magnetic material. We present an experimental investigation, combined with a simple analysis, which determines specific criteria which must be satisfied by experimental programs in order to validate the three assumptions. It is shown that experimental arrangements which validate (a) and (c) are feasible, but not (b). Hence, there is need for improved theoretical treatments which take into account the finite size of the specimens.
Modeling of Flexible Fiber Motion and Orientation in Simple Shear Flow: A Comparison Between the Rod-Chain Model and Jeffery’s Equation

This paper compares results from the the rod-chain model with those from results based on Jeffery’s equation. A concept of critical buckle aspect ratio is employed to define the rigidity or flexibility of a fiber, above which point a fiber is flexible enough to be bent and twisted. When a fiber has an aspect ratio less than the critical buckle aspect ratio, fiber motion predicted by the rod-chain model corresponds perfectly with that of Jeffery’s equation. The trajectories of a single rigid fiber with different initial orientations are shown by the rod-chain model, which are in line with what Jeffery’s equation predicts. Results are also shown for the configuration of a single flexible fiber at various times under a pure shearing flow. The “blind area” of the rod-chain model is discussed.© 2010 ASME
Effect of openings on in-plane structural behavior of reinforced concrete floor slabs

Abstract To determine the inelastic seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, typically a tri-linear in-plane load-displacement idealization is used for modeling the behavior of RC floor diaphragms, to account for cracking and yielding prior to failure. In the 1980s, solid (without openings) beam-supported RC two-way slab panels were experimentally studied at Lehigh University under in-plane monotonic and cyclic loads, with and without service gravity loads, to determine their in-plane load-displacement and hysteretic characteristics. Subsequently, these results could be implemented in nonlinear damage analysis computational tools developed for analyzing RC buildings with flexible floor diaphragms, ignoring the effect of openings. Due to the lack of experimental data, in the present study a finite element (FE) approach is used to investigate the inelastic behavior of RC floor diaphragms with openings. A general purpose FE software was initially used to create a nonlinear 3D model of the solid panels tested at Lehigh University, and the obtained results from the actual experiment were used to verify the validity of the FE model. This model uses eight-node concrete brick elements (SOLID65) combined with embedded steel reinforcement elements (REIN264). After the accuracy of the solid (with no opening) FE model was verified, openings were placed in the model, and then a sensitivity study has been conducted where the effects of varying opening sizes (0, 6.25%, 14%, and 25% of the floor panel area) and out-of-plane loading (zero and full service load) on the in-plane load-displacement characteristics of the floor panels are investigated. Results indicate that the drop in ultimate in-plane load capacity of the floor diaphragm due to the presence of out-of-plane service loading becomes less significant as the opening size increases (4% for 25% opening vs. 15% for the solid slab). Also, the first significant variation from the initial linear portion of the in-plane load-displacement curve moves up from 30% to about 50% of the ultimate load capacity for the slab with the larger size opening. The failure mechanisms changed due to the presence of the openings, where yielding of the bars around the opening corners appeared to significantly affect the behavior of the slabs. The positive contribution of inclined reinforcing bars, placed at opening corners, in strengthening the in-plane capacity of the slab panels with opening, is effectively demonstrated by use of the FE model.
Mechanism of failure of recovery from hypoxic apnea by gasping in 17- to 23-day-old mice

The mechanism of failure of autoresuscitation from hypoxic apnea in 17- to 23-day-old (weanling) Swiss Webster related/J mice was investigated by recording electrocardiogram (ECG) and ventilation i...
Temperature Evolution During Bone Machining

The heat evolved during any machining operation as a secondary effect (in mechanical machining) and/or primary or inherent effect/source (in beam based machining) results in temperature increase of the bone.
Overexpression of a Modified Plant Thionin Enhances Disease Resistance to Citrus Canker and Huanglongbing (HLB)

Huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening disease) caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) is a great threat to the US citrus industry. There are no proven strategies to eliminate HLB disease and no cultivar has been identified with strong HLB resistance. Citrus canker is also an economically important disease associated with a bacterial pathogen (Xanthomonas citri). In this study, we characterized endogenous citrus thionins and investigated their expression in different citrus tissues. Since no HLB-resistant citrus cultivars have been identified, we attempted to develop citrus resistant to both HLB and citrus canker through overexpression of a modified plant thionin. To improve effectiveness for disease resistance, we modified and synthesized the sequence encoding a plant thionin and cloned into the binary vector pBinPlus/ARS. The construct was then introduced into Agrobacterium strain EHA105 for citrus transformation. Transgenic Carrizo plants expressing the modified plant thionin were generated by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Successful transformation and transgene gene expression was confirmed by molecular analysis. Transgenic Carrizo plants expressing the modified thionin gene were challenged with X. citri 3213 at a range of concentrations, and a significant reduction in canker symptoms and a decrease in bacterial growth were demonstrated compared to nontransgenic plants. Furthermore the transgenic citrus plants were challenged with HLB via graft inoculation. Our results showed significant Las titer reduction in roots of transgenic Carrizo compared with control plants and reduced scion Las titer twelve months after graft inoculation. These data provide promise for engineering citrus disease resistance against HLB and canker.
The beta 2-agonist controversy revisited.

Objective : The goal of this review is to summarize the present controversy surrounding the safety of β 2 -agonists in the treatment of asthma. This article presents a brief summary of questions and issues related to (1) increased mortality, (2) morbidity, (3) airways reactivity, and (4) tolerance. Data Sources : References are limited to the English language and extend back to the late 1960s. Articles included are based on clinical experience in humans. Study Selection : Papers were selected on the basis of being representative of the four controversial issues regarding β 2 -agonists presented in this review. Results : Analysis of the available data regarding the use of inhaled β 2 -agonists does not support the existence of major adverse effects. Inconsistencies both within and between published reports preclude identification of a recognizable pattern of adverse effects associated with use of these drugs. The argument that β 2 -agonists, as a class, have caused an increase in asthma mortality is weak. Fenoterol alone, due to its formulation and marketing position, may have been associated with asthma deaths because it was used more frequently in patients with unstable and difficult-to-control asthma. The Canadian studies suggesting a class effect do not reconcile with negative findings around the world. Purported evidence of increased asthma morbidity associated with regular use of β 2 -agonists is unconvincing due to problems with the analyses, the small physiologic changes observed, and the lack of confirmation of loss of asthma control in other studies using similar designs. There also are no convincing data that β 2 -agonists unfavorably modulate bronchial responsiveness in patients with asthma or reduce the protection to constrictor stimuli in a clinically meaningful way. Conclusions : β-Agonists have been used for more than 30 years to treat and prevent asthma, yet the controversy over the safety of these drugs has surfaced only occasionally during this period. A careful review of the data should result in the conclusion that β 2 -agonists remain an appropriate and reliable treatment option for patients with asthma.
On Dirichlet's problem for quasi-linear elliptic equations

This paper concerns the existence and uniqueness as well as the approximations of the solutions to the Dirichlet problem for the second-order quasi-linear elliptic equation of n variables in a simply connected domain with Lyapunov boundary. Sufficient conditions on the co-efficients of the equation are established for the existence proofs of the solution so that Vekua's function theoretic method for treating Dirichlet's problems for equations in two variables can be employed for the case n ≥ 3 variables. Based on Warschawski's work, an iterative scheme is also presented for constructing an approximating solution in the three-dimensional case. It is shown that the approximants converge to the actual solution geometrically.
Synthesis of Crystalline Silicon Nanoparticles in Low-Pressure Inductive Plasmas

Amorphous silicon has been used for a wide variety of electronic applications including thin film transistors and energy conversion devices. However, these devices suffer greatly from defect scattering and recombination. A method for depositing crystalline silicon would be highly desirable, especially if it can be remotely created and deposited on any kind of substrate. Our work aims at synthesis and deposition of mono-disperse, single crystal silicon nanoparticles, several tens of nm in diameter on varied substrates. Synthesis of nanocrystals of 2–10 nm diameter has been previously reported but larger particles were amorphous or polycrystalline. This work reports the use of an inductively coupled low-pressure plasma to produce nanocrystals with diameters between 20–80 nm. Electron microscopy studies confirm that the nanocrystals are highly oriented diamond-cubic silicon.
Integrating avionics standards with ground air traffic management systems to meet 2025 operational needs

Airspace Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), are looking forward to transforming their operations to better meet the increased demand for Air Traffic Control (ATC) services and to also provide increased efficiencies for users and service providers. One of the major transformations in this domain that is expected to occur over the next decade is a shift from current flight plan based operations towards 4-Dimensional (4D) Trajectory Based Operations (TBO). In order to be able to evolve and transform current air traffic operations towards 4D TBO, a conceptual understanding of how aircraft capabilities and the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system will work together is required. For the airborne systems, standards committees, composed of industry and government stakeholders, set minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) and minimum aviation system performance standards (MASPS). These standards, developed over different timeframes and by different committees, need to be exercised in an integrated manner to highlight operational dependencies and gaps. This paper describes three scenarios that were developed as a basis for potential operational use of airborne capabilities that are envisioned to serve as enablers for 4D TBO. These capabilities include: Datacom, Interval Management (IM), Required Time of Arrival (RTA), Weather Forecast Uplinks, and Dynamic Required Navigational Performance (DRNP). A closed-loop batch simulation was then constructed that allowed the scenarios to be exercised under different conditions and using different combinations of RTA and IM for meeting ATC time and speed clearances. The research's preliminary results focused on three key aircraft capabilities: Flight Management System (FMS) forecast winds, DRNP and airborne spacing capabilities. Analysis of these simulation results led to a set of observations about how these different airborne functions inter-played.
CONTEMPORARY USE OF LASER DURING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: RESULTS FROM THE LASER VETERANS AFFAIRS (LAVA) MULTICENTER REGISTRY

Background: We examined contemporary use and outcomes of excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics; procedural outcomes of 119 consecutive PCIs in which ELCA was performed between 2008 and
The ‘What’, ‘How’ and the ‘Why’ of Evolutionary Robotics

The field of embodied artificial intelligence is maturing, and as such has progressed from what questions (“what is embodiment?”) to how questions: how should the body plan of an autonomous robot be designed to maximize the chance that it will exhibit a desired set of behaviors. In order to stand on its own however, rather than a reaction to classical AI, the field of embodied AI must address why questions as well: why should body and brain both be considered when creating intelligent machines? This report provides three new lines of evidence for why the body plays an important role in cognition: (1) an autonomous robot must be able to adapt behavior in the face of drastic, unanticipated change to its body; (2) under-explored body plans raise new research questions related to cognition; and (3) optimizing body plans accelerates the automated design of intelligent machines, compared to leaving them fixed.
Front-Loading Curriculum Design: An Integrated Approach to the Multilingual Classroom

The best way to support the writing and oral communication of multilingual students is through explicit listening and reading instruction. A recent study by Haan and Mallett (2016) tracked the academic progression of George Mason University international graduate pathway students and found that advanced receptive skills (i.e. reading and listening) are a higher predictor for long-term academic success than strong productive (i.e. writing and speaking) skills. This session will provide pedagogical tools for front-loading an integrated curriculum in order to enhance multilingual students’ reading and listening skills across the disciplines. By making a pedagogical commitment to the teaching of reading for specific rhetorical elements, faculty will discover that students are able to produce more engaged writing with advanced summary and synthesis components, two skills that are necessary for most academic writing assignments required for graduate and undergraduate study. A companion tool will be shared during this session to demonstrate an approach to the teaching and learning of strategic listening necessary for active contributions to classroom presentations and peer-to-peer discussions. Beyond language skill development, both pedagogical strategies covered in this teaching demonstration expand students’ access to content knowledge and enhance their facility with disciplinary discourse. For more information about Mason's diverse students: https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/knowing-mason-students
The Incidence of Strabismic Amblyopia

The incidence of strabismic amblyopia is not well documented. Recent incidence values have been based upon mathematical extrapolations from amblyopia and strabismus data of the general population. ...
Vulnerability analysis of power systems based on cyber-attack and defense models

Reliable operation of power systems is a primary challenge for the system operators. With the advancement in technology and grid automation, power systems are becoming more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The main goal of adversaries is to take advantage of these vulnerabilities and destabilize the system. This paper describes a game-theoretic approach to attacker / defender modeling in power systems. In our models, the attacker can strategically identify the subset of substations that maximize damage when compromised. However, the defender can identify the critical subset of substations to protect in order to minimize the damage when an attacker launches a cyber-attack. The algorithms for these models are applied to the standard IEEE-14, 39, and 57 bus examples to identify the critical set of substations given an attacker and a defender budget.
Testicular sterols. V. Preparation and partial purification of a microsomal prenol pyrophosphate pyrophosphohydrolase.

Abstract An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of prenol pyrophosphates was extracted from an acetone powder of testicular microsomes. The enzyme was partially purified by chromatography on diethylaminoethyl Sephadex. The partially purified enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of the phosphate ester bond of prenol pyrophosphates to yield equimolar amounts of prenol and inorganic pyrophosphate. Cleavage of inorganic pyrophosphate was catalyzed by a contaminating pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase that was present in crude preparations. The partially purified prenol pyrophosphate pyrophosphohydrolase catalyzed the hydrolysis of farnesol pyrophosphate, isopentenol pyrophosphate, and a mixture of biosynthetic 14C-prenol pyrophosphates, but hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate, mevalonate-5-phosphate, β-glycerol phosphate, or adenosine triphosphate was not observed.
Which Market Entry and Product Line Strategies Ought Organisations to Adopt for Emerging Economies

Emerging economies offer tremendous potential for organisations seeking to expand globally and to attain the associated rewards. However, organisations differ in their entrepreneurial tendencies to enter new markets and to introduce new products in emerging economies. Organisations also differ in their abilities to manage their development programs, that is, their execution of different types of projects that lead to success in emerging markets. Finally, organisations differ in which overall measures of program performance are consistent with their strategic objectives. This study provides a literature foundation and conceptual framework designed to understand which market entry and product line strategies and performance measures are appropriate for organisations pursuing strategic success in emerging markets. This study sets forward grounded propositions that different strategic types will vary in their market entry and product line strategies, in the project composition of their development programs, and in the orientations of performance measures used to evaluate their development programs. Prospectors, according to type, will enter emerging economies by introducing new product lines to new customer types, and by emphasizing new-to-the-world products. They will evaluate their development programs with Growth-oriented performance measures. Defenders will more typically occupy secure niches within emerging economies by emphasizing product improvement and cost reduction projects for current types of customers. They will evaluate their development programs with Efficiency-oriented performance measures. Analyzers will either target new customer types with proven products, or serve an existing market niche with new product lines. They will evaluate their development program performance with Strategy-oriented measures.
Exercise testing for sports and the exercise prescription.

Exercise testing is a well-established method for managing patients with cardiac disease and can be useful in the evaluation of individuals prior to engaging in competetive or recreationalsports. Optimal use of the exercise test can be made with a thorough understanding of the various exercise protocols available and with careful interpretation of the data obtained. Knowledge of the individual's cardiac condition as \Yell as the type and intensity of the sport performed are essential in the overall evaluation. Exercisetesting also can be a useful adjunct in establishing the exercise prescription and activity guidelines for individuals with cardiac disease.