cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Theory of Some Multiple Decision Problems. II

The theory of Part I is extended to problems in which it is permitted not to come to a definite conclusion regarding one or more of the questions under consideration. Some problems are also investigated in which, from a single set of observations, one wishes to answer a number of questions in sequence. Here the nature of the question at a later stage will depend on the answers obtained at the earlier stages.
Molecular interactions in viruses investigated by Raman spectroscopy: the chromosome and capsid of bacterial virus P22

Laser Raman scattering is the method of choice for probing macromolecular structures and interactions in complex biological assemblies. The Raman technique is a valuable complement to high-resolution structure methods applied to biological molecules in the crystal (x-ray crystallography) and to static and dynamic light scattering methods applicable to solutions. Raman spectroscopy is particularly well suited to investigating assembly mechanisms of viruses and conformations of their nucleic acid and protein constituents. Here we describe the use of digital difference Raman methods to probe structures of the double-stranded (ds) DNA genome of the icosahedral virus P22 in packaged and unpackaged states. The findings are compared with structural changes in protein subunits of the P22 viral capsid, attendant with capsid expansion and DNA packaging. We find no evidence in the Raman spectrum of specific intermolecular interactions involving capsid protein and major groove sites of the packaged DNA. The present results suggest a simple model for organization of condensed dsDNA chromosomes in icosahedral viruses.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Eating as a function of body weight and of hours deprivation

Five pigeons were allowed one hour of access to food after variable intervals of deprivation averaging 23 hours. Five other pigeons were allowed one hour of food after fixed 23 hour intervals. It was found that the amount eaten by birds in an environment continually alternating between deprivation and one-hour ad lib feeding could be better predicted as a linear function of their body weights than as a 2nd degree polynomial function of the number of hours they were deprived.
Impaired fear conditioning in Alzheimer's disease.

Classical conditioning of the fear response is a basic form of nondeclarative (nonconscious) memory that mediates both normal and pathological responses to aversive stimuli. Because fear conditioning critically depends on the amygdala, a medial temporal lobe structure that frequently undergoes significant pathological changes early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we hypothesized that fear conditioning would be impaired in patients with mild to moderate AD. We examined simple classical fear conditioning in a group of 10 patients with probable AD and 14 demographically matched, neurologically intact elderly controls. During conditioning, one stimulus (e.g. a green rectangle, the conditioned stimulus (CS+)), was paired with an aversive stimulus (a loud noise, the unconditioned stimulus (US)) using a partial reinforcement conditioning schedule. The opponent color (e.g. red rectangle), the CS-, was never paired with the US. The elderly controls acquired robust fear responses as demonstrated by their differential skin-conductance responses to the CS+ and CS-. In contrast, the AD group showed a marked impairment in conditioning, failing to exhibit significant conditioned fear responses. This failure to acquire conditioned responses could not be attributed to diminished responding by patients, relative to controls, to the aversive US. The results indicate that fear conditioning, an amygdala-dependent form of memory, is impaired in AD. These findings complement previous reports of impairments in declarative emotional memory in AD by demonstrating that a basic form of nondeclarative emotional memory is also impaired in AD.
Value of exercise treadmill testing in women.

Abstract Objectives. We sought to determine the ability of a treadmill score to provide accurate diagnostic and prognostic risk estimates in women. Background. Treadmill testing has been reported to have a lower accuracy for diagnosis of chest pain in women. The diagnostic and prognostic value of the Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) in women is unknown. Methods. We determined the diagnostic and prognostic value of the DTS in 976 women and 2,249 men who underwent both treadmill testing and cardiac catheterization in a single institution from 1984 to 1994. Results. Women and men differed significantly in DTS (1.6 vs. −0.3, p Conclusions. By combining several aspects of treadmill testing, the DTS effectively stratifies women into diagnostic and prognostic risk categories.
Pelvic organ descent and symptoms of pelvic floor disorders.

Objective This study evaluates the relationship between symptoms of pelvic floor disorders, and measurement of pelvic organ prolapse. Study design This retrospective cross-sectional study assessed prolapse in 905 women in an academic urogynecologic practice using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification exam. Symptoms were assessed with a Likert symptom questionnaire and the Urogenital Distress Inventory. Relationships between symptoms and prolapse were analyzed using Spearman's correlation. Results Symptoms of "bulging" correlated moderately to the greatest extent of prolapse ( r =0.4, P Conclusion "Bulging" is the principle symptom that correlates with prolapse severity. We found no discrete anatomic position that discriminates between prolapse as a disease state and normal anatomic variation.
Endothelial cell migration on RGD-peptide-containing PEG hydrogels in the presence of sphingosine 1-phosphate.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a potent chemokinetic agent for endothelial cells that is released by activated platelets. We previously developed Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing polyethylene glycol biomaterials for the controlled delivery of S1P to promote endothelialization. Here, we studied the effects of cell adhesion strength on S1P-stimulated endothelial cell migration in the presence of arterial levels of fluid shear stress, since an upward shift in optimal cell adhesion strengths may be beneficial for promoting long-term cell adhesion to materials. Two RGD peptides with different integrin-binding specificities were added to the polyethylene glycol hydrogels. A linear RGD bound primarily to β3 integrins, whereas a cyclic RGD bound through both β1 and β3 integrins. We observed increased focal adhesion formation and better long-term adhesion in flow with endothelial cells on linear RGD peptide, versus cyclic RGD, even though initial adhesion strengths were higher for cells on cyclic RGD. Addition of 100 nM S1P increased cell speed and random motility coefficients on both RGD peptides, with the largest increases found on cyclic RGD. For both peptides, much of the increase in cell migration speed was found for smaller cells (<1522 μm2 projected area), although the large increases on cyclic RGD were also due to medium-sized cells (2288–3519 μm2). Overall, a compromise between high cell migration rates and long-term adhesion will be important in the design of materials that endothelialize after implantation.
Otologic involvement in late syphilis

In 38 patients with cochleovestibular dysfunction and no cause other than syphilis (congenital in 15, acquired in 23), there was no characteristic pattern to the dysfunction. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in all (bilateral in 82%, unilateral in 18%), and 42% had episodic rotatory vertigo. Only 24% had the classic triad of symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops. The impairment was less in the first 5 years of hearing loss than in subsequent intervals; the average impairments were comparable in the second through fifth decades.
Memory reservation and shared page management for real-time systems

Memory reservations are used to provide real-time tasks with guaranteed memory access to a specified amount of physical memory. However, previous work on memory reservation primarily focused on private pages, and did not pay attention to shared pages, which are widely used in current operating systems. With previous schemes, a real-time task may experience unexpected timing delays from other tasks through shared pages that are shared by another process, even though the task has enough free pages in its own reservation. In this paper, we first describe the problems that arise when real-time tasks share pages. We then propose a shared-page management framework which enhances the temporal isolation provided by memory reservations in resource kernels that use the resource reservation approach. Our proposed solution consists of two schemes, Shared-Page Conservation (SPC) and Shared-Page Eviction Lock (SPEL), each of which prevents timing penalties caused by the seemingly arbitrary eviction of shared pages. The framework can manage shared data for inter-process communication and shared libraries, as well as pages shared by the kernel's copy-on-write technique and file caches. We have implemented and evaluated our schemes on the Linux/RK platform, but it can also be applied to other operating systems with paged virtual memory.
Impact resistant polymeric glasses using compressive pre‐stress

The application of an externally applied pre-stress on impact properties is studied on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) organic glass. Samples are tested under equi-biaxial compression, simple shear and a combination of biaxial compression and shear. Equi-biaxial compression is shown to increase the threshold stress level for projectile penetration whereas shear pre-stress has a large effect on the overall energy absorbed during an impact. There is also an apparent interaction observed between compression and shear to dramatically increase the threshold stress. Pre-stressed laminates show an increase in damage area because of the unique formation of a secondary cone. Higher levels of compressive equi-biaxial pre-stress significantly increase the stress relaxation time because of the corresponding increase in hydrostatic stress. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Cleavage of the indium(III) octaethyloxophlorin dimer, {In(III)(OEPO)}2, with Lewis bases. Importance of outer-sphere hydrogen bonding in adduct structures.

Splitting of the oxygen-bridged dimer {InIII(OEPO)}2 [where (OEPO)3− is the trianion of octaethyloxophlorin] by potential axial ligands has been examined and compared to results obtained previously for the cleavage of {FeIII(OEPO)}2. Treatment of {InIII(OEPO)}2 with an excess of imidazole (im) produced the crystalline complex {(im)2InIII(OEPO···im)}2·(im)2InIII(OEPO)·2Cl2C6H4. This solid contains two different (im)2InIII(OEPO) units that are bridged through hydrogen bonding by an uncoordinated imidazole. Treatment of {InIII(OEPO)}2 with an excess of pyridine (py) produced (py)2InIII(OEPO), which is isostructural with (py)2FeIII(OEPO). Although {FeIII(OEPO)}2 reacted with xylyl isocyanide (xylylNC) to form the novel free-radical complex (2,6-xylylNC)2FeII(OEPO•) [where (OEPO•)2− is the radical dianion of octaethyloxophlorin], {InIII(OEPO)}2 was unreactive toward xylyl isocyanide.
Peer Influence on Youth's Snack Purchases: A Laboratory Analog of Convenience Store Shopping

Abstract Objective This paper reports the results of two experiments using a laboratory analog to examine the influence of taxes and subsidies on youth's snack food purchases when alone (Experiment 1) and when in the presence of a same-gender peer (Experiment 2). Method Adolescents (12–14-years-old) completed a purchasing task, during which prices of snack foods were manipulated, either alone in Experiment 1 ( N = 37) or in the presence of an unfamiliar peer in Experiment 2 ( N = 52). Results In both experiments, purchases of unhealthy snacks decreased and purchases of healthy snacks increased when the price of unhealthy snacks were taxed (increased). In Experiment 1 (alone), participants did not purchase more healthy snacks when the price of these snacks were subsidized (decreased). However, in Experiment 2 (when participants were in the presence of a peer), participants purchased more healthy snacks when these snacks were subsidized. Conclusion Taxes and subsidies affect adolescents' snack purchasing, as does the presence of peers. The results of this study highlight factors that influence healthy and unhealthy snack purchasing behavior in young adolescents.
Improving Engagement in the Role of Father for Homeless, Noncustodial Fathers: A Program Evaluation

Homeless, noncustodial fathers who struggle to maintain housing also struggle to occupy the role of father. This article presents a review and evaluation of a program for homeless noncustodial fathers that provides housing and encourages their occupancy to the role of parent. The program posits that engagement with children in the role of father cannot be achieved without stable housing and the men's establishment of paternity, sense of competence in parenting, social support, and therapeutic counseling. The findings identified through a focus group with homeless noncustodial fathers support these concepts of engagement to fatherhood.
Introduction--reproductive behavior: a symposium in honor of Frank A. Beach, 1911-1988.

A symposium honoring the memory of Frank A. Beach (1911–1988) and celebrating his scientific contributions was held on June 12, 1989 during the 21st Conference on Reproductive Behavior (CRB). The papers arising from the symposium are introduced after a very brief history of the CRB and its origins in an annual meeting of West Coast American sex researchers that was organized by Frank Beach and his colleagues.
Antihuman factor VIII C2 domain antibodies in hemophilia A mice recognize a functionally complex continuous spectrum of epitopes dominated by inhibitors of factor VIII activation

The diversity of factor VIII (fVIII) C2 domain antibody epitopes was investigated by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a panel of 56 antibodies. The overlap patterns produced 5 groups of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), designated A, AB, B, BC, and C, and yielded a set of 18 distinct epitopes. Group-specific loss of antigenicity was associated with mutations at the Met2199/Phe2200 phospholipid binding β-hairpin (group AB MAbs) and at Lys2227 (group BC MAbs), which allowed orientation of the epitope structure as a continuum that covers one face of the C2 β-sandwich. MAbs from groups A, AB, and B inhibit the binding of fVIIIa to phospholipid membranes. Group BC was the most common group and displayed the highest specific fVIII inhibitor activities. MAbs in this group are type II inhibitors that inhibit the activation of fVIII by either thrombin or factor Xa and poorly inhibit the binding of fVIII to phospholipid membranes or von Willebrand factor (VWF). Group BC MAbs are epitopically and mechanistically distinct from the extensively studied group C MAb, ESH8. These results reveal the structural and functional complexity of the anti-C2 domain antibody response and indicate that interference with fVIII activation is a major attribute of the inhibitor landscape.
Stabilizing Proteins from Sequence Statistics: The Interplay of Conservation and Correlation in Triosephosphate Isomerase Stability

Understanding the determinants of protein stability remains one of protein science's greatest challenges. There are still no computational solutions that calculate the stability effects of even point mutations with sufficient reliability for practical use. Amino acid substitutions rarely increase the stability of native proteins; hence, large libraries and high-throughput screens or selections are needed to stabilize proteins using directed evolution. Consensus mutations have proven effective for increasing stability, but these mutations are successful only about half the time. We set out to understand why some consensus mutations fail to stabilize, and what criteria might be useful to predict stabilization more accurately. Overall, consensus mutations at more conserved positions were more likely to be stabilizing in our model, triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, positions coupled to other sites were more likely not to stabilize upon mutation. Destabilizing mutations could be removed both by removing sites with high statistical correlations to other positions and by removing nearly invariant positions at which "hidden correlations" can occur. Application of these rules resulted in identification of stabilizing mutations in 9 out of 10 positions, and amalgamation of all predicted stabilizing positions resulted in the most stable yeast TIM variant we produced (+8 °C). In contrast, a multimutant with 14 mutations each found to stabilize TIM independently was destabilized by 2 °C. Our results are a practical extension to the consensus concept of protein stabilization, and they further suggest the importance of positional independence in the mechanism of consensus stabilization.
Unilateral adrenal hemorrhage after chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, useful in the treatment of a wide variety of major arthritic conditions, have hemorrhagic side effects. We describe a patient receiving long-term naproxen (Naprosyn) therapy in whom unilateral spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage developed. Radiologic and pathologic verifications are included, and a hypothesis of pathogenesis is proposed.
Synergism between creep ductility and grain boundary bubbles

Abstract The marked decrease in creep ductility that can be caused by internal pressure in grain boundary pores is modelled to treat the interaction between boundary diffusion, power law creep, and bubble pressure. The application to 2.25 Cr−1 Mo steel in high pressure hydrogen is treated numerically using a computer program since here the internal methane pressure in pores is known, and kinetic data exists. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the predictions and the observed loss in ductility in the presence of 21 MPa of hydrogen. With methane pressurized bubbles, the model suggests intergranular fracture is powerlaw creep limited at essentially all temperatures and stresses. Thus one predicts the hydrogen attack resistance in service to be strongly influenced by the creep strength of the alloy. In the absence of hydrogen (methane), intergranular fracture should be limited by diffusion creep and thus much more sensitive to pore density and boundary diffusion rate than strength. Possible application to recent high temperature steamline failures in welded pipe and to helium effects in nuclear reactor materials are also indicated.
Activation antigens on colonic T cells in inflammatory bowel disease: effects of IL-10

Activated T cells that express activation antigens are termed nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells (T-APCs). This study evaluates the ability of lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to become T-APCs. LPLs were stained by two-colour immunofluorescence to determine the expression of activation antigens on T cells. Those from actively inflamed IBD mucosa expressed greater amounts of MHC class II (DR) and CD86 than did LPL T cells from disease controls or normal individuals. After culture in IL-2 with or without IL-10, the ability of the T-APCs from IBD colon to stimulate allogeneic peripheral blood T cell proliferation was measured. The T-APCs from IBD stimulated an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction, particularly through their expression of DR and CD86, as demonstrated by antibody blocking. Normal LPLs acquired these properties only if repeatedly stimulated with allogeneic peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) used as cell lines in the presence of IL-2. Addition of IL-10 reduced expression of activation antigens and the stimulatory ability of LPLs from either IBD patients or from these cell lines. In summary, LPLs from active IBD, but not from disease controls, express activation antigens that stimulate naive T cells, a process that is reduced by IL-10. This may contribute to perpetuation of the inflammation.
Deletion of the Cochliobolus heterostrophus mating-type (MAT ) locus promotes the function of MAT transgenes

Cochliobolus heterostrophus has alternate genes (MAT-1 and MAT-2) at its mating-type locus. Transformants of a MAT-1 or a MAT-2 strain carrying a transgene of opposite mating type can self and are dual maters; the transgene, however, promotes development of pseudothecia only, not ascospores. To determine if the resident gene interferes with the function of the transgene, transformation vectors were designed to delete different amounts (2.5 kb, 5.7 kb, and 6.3 kb) of DNA at the MAT locus. Deletions occurred at a higher frequency (about 90% of transformants) with linearized plasmid than with circular plasmid (about 15% of transformants), and all three vectors were equally efficient at gene replacement. Both MAT-1 and MAT-2 could be deleted with the same set of vectors. Re-transformation of deletion strains (regardless of deletion size) with a wild-type copy of MAT restored full mating ability, indicating that the resident MAT gene interferes with function of the MAT transgene. Moreover, sexual development was normal whether the MAT transgene integrated at the homologous or at an ectopic site.
Study of flow field variables in a pressure reducing valve

Pressurized water valves are required in industrial applications ranging from steel industries to manufacturing plants where cooling is highly required. High water pressures are the most common requirement to descale oxide layers formed during steel production. The water passes through pumps, piping systems and valves before it flows out through nozzles. Such a high pressure requirement is generated from pumps and regulated by means of valves. The directional checking and ON-OFF regulation are the major jobs a valve should perform satisfactorily. The fluid properties are governed by mass, momentum and energy conservation as defined by Continuity, Navier-Stokes and Energy equation. The high pressure drop along the neck of the venturi induces cavitation problems which lead to failure over time.Variation of several fluid properties like pressure, wall shear stress can be seen as the fluid flows through the valve. The high pressure fluid at the upstream region goes through the downstream region from the nozzle when the given valve allows to exit. The sharp bends and turns inside the valve causes several properties of water to change throughout its flow domain. The failure being observed on a high pressure water flow passage on a specific geometrical cross section from one of the local companies will be evaluated from the computational analysis. Lately, a baffle system was modeled in 2D as one of the capstone design projects for an undergraduate student. The main objective of this system was to attain a pressure drop within the channel to prefill all the pipes and valves connected along the line so that sudden descaling high pressure would not burst the air along the pipe. No pressure based density variation was employed in this study. The wall shear stress computed using ANSYS Fluent code was found to be max where the actual failure had occurred. It has been noted that no pressure based density variation was employed in this study.© 2012 ASME
Fuzzy finite element approach for the analysis of imprecisely defined systems

Many engineering systems are too complex to be defined in precise mathematical terms. They often contain information and features that are vague, imprecise, qualitative, linguistic, or incomplete. The traditional deterministic and probabilistic techniques are not adequate to analyze such systems. This paper aims at developing a fuzzy finite element approach for the analysis of imprecisely defined systems. The development of the methodology starts from the basic concepts of fuzzy numbers of fuzzy arithmetic and implements suitably defined fuzzy calculus concepts such as differentiation and integration for the derivation, manipulation, and solution of the finite element equations. Simple stress analysis problems involving vaguely defined geometry, material properties, external loads, and boundary conditions are solved to establish and to illustrate the new procedure. The approach developed is applicable to systems that are described in linguistic terms as well as those that are described by incomplete information. If complete data are known, the method handles the information similar to that of a probabilistic approach. The present approach represents a unique methodology that enables us to handle certain types of imprecisely known data more realistically compared with the existing procedures.
Measurements of CO2 fluxes from the Mexico City urban landscape

Abstract In a densely populated section of Mexico City, an eddy covariance (EC) flux system was deployed on a tall urban tower to obtain direct measurements of CO 2 emissions from an urban neighborhood located in a subtropical megacity. The measured fluxes and boundary layer conditions satisfy EC assumptions of stationarity, and cospectral analyses of the turbulence measurements exhibit the required boundary layer patterns for acceptable flux measurements. Results from a field experiment conducted during April 2003 show that the urban surface is a net source of CO 2 . The CO 2 flux measurements showed a clear diurnal pattern, with the highest emissions during the morning (up to 1.60 mg m −2 s −1 ), and the lowest emissions during nighttime. The measured fluxes were closely correlated to traffic patterns in the area. The mean daily flux was 0.41 mg m −2 s −1 , which is similar to that observed in European and US cities.
On a class of discontinuous ς-groups defined by normal curves of the fourth order in a space of four dimensions

and in particular the effective application of this theory to problems in analysis, geometry, mechanics, etc., seems to depend largely on the construction of an arithmetic theory of the discontinuous groups of linear fractional substitutions of the above form, the ~-groups as I call them, ~ with which these functions are associated. The geometrical theory of the ~-groups is well developed *). But an arithmetic theory does not yet exist. Certain extensive classes of these groups have, however, been defined arithmetically. FRmlir in particular has defined a large class of such groups as the c~ reproducing groups ~ of ternary quadratic forms. His proceedure was briefly as follows: Let f (z i , Z~, Z~) be a ternary quadratic form with integral coefficients. When equated to zero this form represents a conic, the points of which are rational functions of a parameter ~. This conic is transformed into itself by a group of 003 collineations of the form
Cumulant expansions and the spin-boson problem

The dynamics of the dissipative two-level system at zero temperature is studied using three different cumulant expansion techniques. The relative merits and drawbacks of each technique are discussed. It is found that the noncrossing cumulant expansion technique appears to embody the virtues of the more standard cumulant methods.
Intraoperative measurement of spinal cord blood flow in syringomyelia

The role of spinal cord ischemia in the pathophysiology of syringomyelia remains undetermined. Previous reports in the literature suggest that shunting of syringes can improve spinal cord blood flow. In order to determine the effects of syrinx decompression on spinal cord blood flow in patients with syringomyelia, we prospectively measured regional spinal cord blood flow (RSCBF) intraoperatively pre and post shunting in patients with symptomatic syringomyelia using laser doppler flowmetry. Six patients with MRI documented syringomyelia were studied (three with Arnold Chiari I malformation and associated syrinx and three with post-traumatic syringomyelia). Surgery was performed on all patients with either a syringopleural or syringoperitoneal shunt. Laser doppler blood flow and somatosensory evoked potentials were monitored prior to myelotomy and after shunt insertion. Results indicate that there was a significant increase in RSCBF after decompression of the syrinx. This study supports the hypothesis that spinal cord ischemia is important in the pathophysiology of syringomyelia and confirms previous reports in the literature regarding RSCBF in syringomyelia.
Relational Identities of Students, Families, and Educators Shaping Educational Pathways

This retrospective study sketched the educational pathways of two seniors attending an alternative high school in an attempt to discern how relational identities of students, families, and educators are defining forces of such pathways. Cumulative school records and special education files were triangulated with interviews of the students, their guardians, and school personnel, beginning with students’ entry into preschool. Events, decisions, and experiences that shaped students’ educational pathways were identified. The interpretive reading of the data revealed the interplay among students’, educators’, and families’ identities and how they sustained, diverted, and redirected the journeys of participating students. Educators are called to be facilitators in the interplays among the student, school, and family identities through the development of committed relationships in school environments. Educators are critical mediators who can help students build resilience against stressors, a sense of belonging,...
Towards Automated Dependability Analysis of Dynamically Connected Systems

Dynamic environments may include autonomous and decentralised components that pose many challenges from the point of view of interoperability, thus triggering research studies in several directions. One recent research direction explores the automatic composition of heterogeneous systems through connectors synthesised at run-time. Besides functional properties, such connectors generally need to satisfy also non-functional (dependability-related) properties. This paper investigates the definition of an automated procedure to support the synthesis of dependable connectors.
More Males Run Relatively Fast in U.S. Road Races: Further Evidence of a Sex Difference in Competitiveness:

Deaner (2006) recently showed that among elite U.S. runners, two to four times as many males as females run fast relative to sex-specific world-class standards. Previous questionnaire studies of no...
Expected kernel for missing features in support vector machines

The expected kernel for missing features is introduced and applied to training a support vector machine. The expected kernel is a measure of the mean similarity with respect to the distribution of the missing features. We compare the expected kernel SVM with the robust second-order cone program (SOCP) SVM, which accounts for missing kernel values by estimating the mean and covariance of missing similarities. Further, we extend the SOCP SVM to utilize the expected kernel by deriving the expected kernel variance. Results show that the expected kernel-used with a traditional SVM solver-shows competitive performance on benchmark datasets to the SOCP SVM at a far-reduced computational burden.
Multiple impulse solutions to McKean's caricature of the nerve equation. II. Stability

We study McKean's caricature of a nerve conduction equation where H is the Heaviside function. It is proved that an n-ple impulse solution resembling the superposition of n unstable solitary impulses has at most 2n - 1, and at least n, unstable modes: exactly n unstable modes corresponding to the amplitudes and the rest of them corresponding to the spacings. The n amplitude modes always exist. We prove also that for an n-ple impulse solution resembling the superposition of n stable solitary impulses, there are at most n - 1 unstable modes and all of them are of spacing type.
Childhood Overweight and the Built Environment: Making Technology Part of the Solution rather than Part of the Problem

The changing nature of how children engage with their physical environment is one factor in the dramatic increase in childhood overweight. Children today are engaging much less with the world outside their homes in terms of physical activity and much more in terms of eating. Technological innovations in media have contributed to these changes, keeping children inside and sedentary during more of their playtime and exposing them to highly coordinated advertising campaigns. But researchers are increasingly looking to technology for solutions to understand how children interact with their built environments and to make changes that promote healthy living. This article reviews many of these innovations, including the use of geospatial technologies, accelerometers, electronic food and travel diaries, and video games to promote physical activity and healthy eating. It also explores some of the other possibilities for harnessing the potential of technology to combat the childhood overweight epidemic.
Overfeeding: cardiovascular and metabolic response during continuous formula infusion in adult humans

The cardiovascular and metabolic response to continuous nasoenteric formula infusion was monitored in eight healthy men during three consecutive 1-wk balance periods: maintenance-stabilization, overfeeding at twice the maintenance infusion rate, and postoverfeeding return to maintenance infusion. Elemental balance, thermogenic, and stable-isotope studies carried out throughout protocol identified 1) two distinct phases during overfeeding (early, days 1-4, and late, days 4-7); 2) changes in extracellular fluid (sodium balance) as the major determinant of overfeeding weight gain; 3) individual differences in percentage of excess fuels retained during overfeeding (76-87%), derived from variation in both digestive and thermogenic processes; and 4) a sustained physiologic response during the postoverfeeding period. These initial findings suggest that individuals differ in response to overfeeding and that specific aspects of this variation are amenable to future study. In addition, the timing of observed fluid, metabolic, and cardiovascular changes during overfeeding suggests specific strategies aimed at preventing refeeding circulatory complications.
Simulation of heterogeneous networks of workstations

A network of workstations (NOW) has become an important distributed platform for large-scale scientific computations. A practical NOW system is heterogeneous and nondedicated, where computing power varies among the workstations and multiple jobs may interact with each other during execution. I present the design and implementation of a simulation system for a nondedicated heterogeneous NOW. This simulator provides many options to users to specify and quantify system architectures, network heterogeneity and time-sharing factors, such as speeds of different processors, memory organizations, network topology, communication structures, and workload distributions. The simulator also supports execution of message-passing parallel programs written in C and the PVM library. The software structure of the simulator is well-modularized and highly extensible, which makes it easy to integrate other existing processor, memory and network simulators.
Relational partially observable MDPs

Relational Markov Decision Processes (MDP) are a useful abstraction for stochastic planning problems since one can develop abstract solutions for them that are independent of domain size or instantiation. While there has been an increased interest in developing relational fully observable MDPs, there has been very little work on relational partially observable MDPs (POMDP), which deal with uncertainty in problem states in addition to stochastic action effects. This paper provides a concrete formalization of relational POMDPs making several technical contributions toward their solution. First, we show that to maintain correctness one must distinguish between quantification over states and quantification over belief states; this implies that solutions based on value iteration are inherently limited to the finite horizon case. Second, we provide a symbolic dynamic programing algorithm for finite horizon relational POMDPs, solving them at an abstract level, by lifting the propositional incremental pruning algorithm. Third, we show that this algorithm can be implemented using first order decision diagrams, a compact representation for functions over relational structures, that has been recently used to solve relational MDPs.
Transgenic mice expressing MHC class II molecules with truncated Aβ cytoplasmic domains reveal signaling-independent defects in antigen presentation

The thymic development and peripheral activation of CD4+ T cells are critically dependent upon interactions with MHC class II molecules on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APC). In vitro studies involving transfection of cell lines with mutant MHC molecules have demonstrated that the cytoplasmic domains of class II molecules can be required for efficient antigen presentation. To address the role of class II cytoplasmic domains in physiological, non-transformed APC and in vivo immune responses, we have generated transgenic mice which express only truncated class II A beta molecules lacking the 13 membrane distal residues. In vivo, CD4+ T cell development and immune responses to conventional protein antigens, parasitic infections and skin grafts were indistinguishable between control and transgenic mice. Nevertheless, in vitro, APC from transgenic mice poorly stimulate T cell hybridomas and wild-type in vivo-primed T cells. Neither class II-mediated induction of B7-1 expression nor homotypic aggregation were diminished in transgenic B cells, suggesting that both cAMP and tyrosine kinase signaling pathways remain intact despite truncation of the A beta cytoplasmic domain. Furthermore, chemically-fixed cells from transgenic animals are impaired in their antigen presenting capacity. Thus, in contrast to previous studies with cell lines transfected with truncated class II molecules, these results suggest that signaling-independent mechanisms account for the defective in vitro antigen presenting capacity of physiological APC expressing truncated A beta proteins.
Comparison of two different pulmonary function test (PFT) interpretive strategies

Background Although the ratio of FEV1 to vital capacity (VC) is universally accepted as the cornerstone of PFT interpretation, there is disagreement and ambiguity regarding which vital capacity to use. Objective To compare how the PFT interpretation changes when the FVC is used in the interpretive algorithm vs. when the largest measured vital capacity VCmaxis used. Methods We analyzed 12,239 PFTs from consecutive visits collected as part of routine clinical care between 2001 and 2012. We used our validated electronic decision support tool for PFT interpretation, ePFT, to interpret all tests using two different schemes: once using FVC and again using VCmax. Results 715 of the 12,239 PFTs (6%) had an interpretation changed based on the algorithm change. The major interpretive changes were as expected: new diagnosis of obstruction and ruling out possible restriction. Conclusion The vast majority of PFTs have a stable interpretation regardless of the minor interpretive algorithm change between using VCmax and FVC. However, a minority, 6% do have an interpretive change resulting in new diagnoses of obstruction and exclusion of the diagnosis of restriction.
A multimedia medium access control protocol for ATM based mobile networks

This paper studies a multimedia medium access control (MAC) protocol. The motivation behind this activity is to develop a MAC protocol that can support multimedia services (e.g., voice, video, and data) using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) in personal communication systems/networks (PCS/PCN). The protocol developed contains some features of existing protocols (e.g., ALOHA, time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA)). In particular, it is a slotted, frame-based protocol with multiple transmissions per slot and with priority for delay sensitive traffic (e.g., voice, video). A discrete-time, discrete-state Markov chain is used to evaluate the performance (e.g., throughput and delay) of the voice and the data transmissions.
Myelin basic protein: interaction with calmodulin and gangliosides.

The structural characteristics of myelin basic protein (MBP) involved in protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions were investigated. Rabbit MBP could bind calmodulin (CaM) in the presence of Ca2+ to form a complex that remained undissociated in 8 M urea. However, no tight complex formation was observed when the divalent cation was absent. These results suggest that MBP may contain a hydrophobic domain similar to those in the other well-characterized CaM-binding proteins. The stoichiometry of calmodulin binding to MBP was approximately 1:1. Prior limited proteolysis of MBP with trypsin abolished the formation of the MBP-CaM complex, indicating that the entire MBP polypeptide may be involved in the recognition of the hydrophobic clefts in CaM. MBP also formed tight complexes with gangliosides, but the presence of Ca2+ was not-required. Binding of gangliosides to MBP-CaM complex released CaM from the complex. The ganglioside-binding sites in MBP were determined after trisecting the protein at two glutamic acid residues with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Subsequent binding studies revealed that a 9.5-kDa polypeptide, which may correspond to the NH2-terminal domain (residues 1-83) of MBP, had higher affinity for the binding of lucifer yellow CH-labeled GM1 than did the other two polypeptides, of apparent molecular mass (Mr) 5,500 and 4,500, respectively. Among the various proteins in purified guinea pig brain myelin, synaptosomes, and synaptosomal membrances, MBP was found to have the highest affinity in binding lucifer yellow CH-GM1.
Adaptation to lengthening contraction-induced injury in mouse muscle.

Adaptations to repeated bouts of injury-inducing lengthening contractions were studied in mouse anterior crural muscles. Five bouts of 150 lengthening contractions were performed in vivo, with each...
Advanced practice clinicians' interest in providing medical abortion: results of a California survey.

California’s Reproductive Health Privacy Act which became law in January 2003 clarified that advanced practice clinicians could legally provide medical abortion. Little is known about the characteristics associated with nonphysician clinicians’ interest in receiving medical abortion training or their perceptions of barriers to medical abortion provision. In early 2003 a total of 1176 licensed advanced practice clinicians in California—nurse practitioners physician assistants and certified nurse-midwives—completed a mail-in survey assessing their personal characteristics beliefs and clinical practices. Weighted univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to describe the respondents their interest in receiving medical abortion training and their perceptions of barriers to providing such care. One-quarter of respondents desired training in medical abortion. A higher proportion of nurse-midwives than of nurse practitioners or physician assistants desired training (42% vs. 24% and 23% respectively). The proportion of respondents desiring training also was elevated among clinicians who have prochoice attitudes those who are familiar with medical abortion and those who spend at least one-third of their time providing care to women of reproductive age. Lack of training opportunities legal uncertainties and clinical facility constraints were the most frequently reported perceived barriers to provision of medical abortion. Considerable proportions of advanced practice clinicians—especially of nurse-midwives—may be interested in receiving medical abortion training. Perceived barriers to providing medical abortion are amenable to change. Policies and programs are needed to ensure that interested committed clinicians can overcome barriers to providing medical abortion for their patients. (authors)
Is There Happiness After Death

Must no one at all, then, be called happy while he lives; must we, as Solon says, see the end? Even if we are to lay down this doctrine, is it also the case that a man is happy when he is dead? Or is not this quite absurd, especially for us who say that happiness is an activity? But if we do not call the dead man happy, and if Solon does not mean this, but that one can then safely call a man blessed, as being at last beyond evils and misfortunes, this also affords matter for discussion; for both evil and good are thought to exist for a dead man, as much as for one who is alive but not aware of them; e.g. honours and dishonours and the good or bad fortunes of children, and in general of descendants. And this also presents a problem; for though a man has lived happily until old age and has had a death worthy of his life, many reverses may befall his descendants—some of them may be good and attain the life they deserve, while with others the opposite may be the case; and clearly too the degrees of relationship between them and their ancestors may vary indefinitely. It would be odd, then, if the dead man were to share in these changes and become at one time happy, at another wretched; while it would also be odd if the fortunes of the descendants did not for some time have some effect on the happiness of their ancestors.
Understanding Subsidence Processes in Coastal Louisiana

Abstract Very high subsidence rates are routinely documented within the Pontchartrain Basin and coastal Louisiana. Subsidence promotes land loss and degrades the integrity of infrastructure and ecosystem health. Despite its vast impact on the regional landscape, the precise causes of the subsidence are not well understood; contemporary research attributes measurements of subsidence to many different processes. Because individual subsidence studies often focus on a singular subsidence process and use alternative methodologies, results may not be comparable with or complementary to the results of other studies, hindering attempts to synthesize the collective body of research into a comprehensive regional understanding. This article presents a review of contemporary subsidence research to define the most influential processes in coastal Louisiana. The processes are grouped into six categories: tectonics, Holocene sediment compaction, sediment loading, glacial isostatic adjustment, anthropogenic fluid withdra...
Which Buck Stops Here? Accountability for Policy Positions and Policy Outcomes in Congress

What do constituents hold their representatives accountable for? Previous work outlines two distinct but often conflated theories of accountability: democratic theory suggests that voters respond to the policy positions representatives take; retrospective voting theories suggest that they respond to the outcomes of these policies. Using new survey data, this article demonstrates that perceived congruence with their senators’ policy positions influences voters’ decisions much more than do perceptions of peace and prosperity. This finding holds when correcting for endogeneity using instrumental variables analysis, when considering members of the majority and minority parties separately, and when looking at specific policy areas. Replicating previous studies of retrospective voting suggests that they overstated the importance of policy outcomes for congressional elections due to omitted variable bias. The buck that stops with Members of Congress is for the positions they take, not for the policy outcomes the...
Direct ink writing of 3D functional materials

The ability to pattern materials in three dimensions is critical for several technological applications, including composites, microfluidics, photonics, and tissue engineering. Direct-write assembly allows one to design and rapidly fabricate materials in complex 3D shapes without the need for expensive tooling, dies, or lithographic masks. Here, recent advances in direct ink writing are reviewed with an emphasis on the push towards finer feature sizes. Opportunities and challenges associated with direct ink writing are also highlighted.