cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved initial sampling for the ensemble Kalman filter

In this paper, we discuss several possible approaches to improving the performance of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) through improved sampling of the initial ensemble. Each of the approaches addresses a different limitation of the standard method. All methods, however, attempt to make the results from a small ensemble as reliable as possible. The validity and usefulness of each method for creating the initial ensemble is based on three criteria: (1) does the sampling result in unbiased Monte Carlo estimates for nonlinear flow problems, (2) does the sampling reduce the variability of estimates compared to ensembles of realizations from the prior, and (3) does the sampling improve the performance of the EnKF? In general, we conclude that the use of dominant eigenvectors ensures the orthogonality of the generated realizations, but results in biased forecasts of the fractional flow of water. We show that the addition of high frequencies from remaining eigenvectors can be used to remove the bias without affecting the orthogonality of the realizations, but the method did not perform significantly better than standard Monte Carlo sampling. It was possible to identify an appropriate importance weighting to reduce the variance in estimates of the fractional flow of water, but it does not appear to be possible to use the importance weighted realizations in standard EnKF when the data relationship is nonlinear. The biggest improvement came from use of the pseudo-data with corrections to the variance of the actual observations.
X-ray diffraction evidence for nonstoichiometric rubidium-C60 intercalation compounds

Powder x-ray diffraction at 300 K on equilibrated samples of several nominal compositions χ in RbχC60 is reported. In addition to the face-centered cubic (fcc) (χ = 3, superconducting), body-centered tetragonal (χ = 4), and body-centered cubic (bcc) (χ = 6) stoichiometric phases, direct evidence for a dilute fcc doped phase, 0 x c ≤ 1, and for a substoichiometric bcc phase, χ ∼ 5, is presented. In contrast, χ = 3 and χ = 4 appear to be line phases with nearly zero solubility of Rb vacancies and interstitials at 300 K. These results are summarized in a provisional binary phase diagram.
Phase grating profiles in photopolymers

Abstract The phase grating profile due to phto-initiated polymerization was experimentally to second order in DuPont's HRF-150 photopolymer. By measuring the angular selectivity of the -1 mode and the diffraction efficiencies of all modes and comparing to the theoretically predicted behavior, an estimate of the grating profile was obtained.
Review of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know

(2009). Review of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 82, No. 4, pp. 201-202.
Multipurpose adaptor for electronic tonometers.

Of the electronic tonometers, the Mueller has been the most widely used for tonography. In recent years, other tonometers appli­ cable to tonography have been introduced to the profession, among them the Crescent and the Berkeley. Since the output voltages from these tonometers vary in relation to their amplitude, direct current level, and direction of slope, they may require different record­ ers. The adaptor developed in our laboratory permits any of these three tonometers (the Mueller, Crescent, or Berkeley) to be con­ nected to either of the two types of recorders. In order to design a versatile adaptor, cer­ tain electrical characteristics of the tonome­ ters and recorders in question had to be con­ sidered :
Development and Validation of the GI-Cognitions Questionnaire

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been shown to have catastrophic cognitions regarding the social and occupational consequences of GI symptoms. Moreover, the efficacy of cognitive–behavioral therapy for IBS may be partially mediated by reductions in such cognitions. We aimed to develop and validate a short self-report measure of GI specific catastrophic cognitions. The GI-Cognitions Questionnaire (GI-Cog) was administered to a total of 291 participants, including 65 IBS patients, 114 Crohn’s disease patients, 22 patients with co-morbid Crohn’s and IBS and 90 healthy controls. The GI-Cog showed high internal consistency (α = .92) and good test re-test reliability (r = .87) as well as good factor structure. It discriminated between IBS patients, Crohn’s disease patients and normal controls, and explained unique variance in GI symptom severity. The GI-Cog is a short, easy-to-administer self-report measure of GI specific catastrophic cognitions that appears to be both reliable and valid and can be used in future research on vulnerability, treatment outcome and mediators of treatment efficacy.
ON THE COMPLETION OF PRIORITY ORDERINGS IN NONMONOTONIC REASONING SYSTEMS

We discuss the structure of nonmonotonic reasoning. We suggest that an important aspect of nonmonotonic reasoning systems is the ordering relationship (preference structure) on the propositions in the knowledge. We suggest that this ordering relationship must be a weak order, a complete and transitive relationship. We provide a comprehensive discussion of some central issues in preference theory. In most real applications of nonmonotonic knowledge bases the ordering relationship available is often not complete. We suggest a mechanism for completing these relationships. The basic imperative used in providing this completion is to do it in such a manner as to add as few unjustified inferences as necessary. To formally accomplish this task we introduce a measure of buoyancy associated with a weak order and suggest that the preferred completion is the one with the maximal buoyancy.
Load Sharing Between Solid and Fluid Phases in Articular Cartilage: I — Experimental Determination of in Situ Mechanical Conditions in a Porcine Knee

The in situ mechanical conditions of cartilage in the articulated knee were quantified during joint loading. Six porcine knees were subjected to a 445 N compressive load while cartilage deformations and contact pressures were measured. From roentgenograms, cartilage thickness before and during loading allowed the calculation of tissue deformation on the lateral femoral condyle at different times during the loading process. Contact pressures on the articular surface were measured with miniature fiber-optic pressure transducers. Results showed that the medial side of the lateral femoral condyle had higher contact pressures, as well as deformations. To begin to correlate the pressures and resulting deformations, the intrinsic material properties of the cartilage on the lateral condyle were obtained from indentation tests. Data from four normal control specimens indicated that the aggregate modulus of the medial side was significantly higher than in other areas of the condyle. These experimental measures of the in situ mechanical conditions of articular cartilage can be combined with theoretical modeling to obtain valuable information about the relative contributions of the solid and fluid phases to supporting the applied load on the cartilage surface (see Part II).
Anisotropic physical properties of SC-15 epoxy reinforced with magnetic nanofillers under uniform magnetic field

The mechanical properties of SC-15 epoxy can be significantly enhanced when reinforced with nanofillers. In this study, SC-15 epoxy is loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles and chemically functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes and cured in a modest magnetic field. Magnetic analysis shows that the iron oxide nanoparticles flocculate to form chains and create a structural anisotropy in the system. Measurements of tensile strength, tensile modulus, and compressive strength in orientations both parallel and perpendicular to the curing field demonstrate an anisotropy in mechanical properties as well, even though there are enhanced properties in all directions. Finally, thermal properties analysis shows that there is a modest shift in the glass transition temperature due to particle inclusion and magnetic flocculation.
Characteristics of a Lagrangian, high-frequency plate element for the static temperature behavior of low-frequency quartz resonators

Finite-element matrix equations based on the Lagrangian, first-order, incremental plate equations of motion superposed on homogeneous thermal strains were formulated using virtual work principles. A program for an isoparametric, four-node quadrilateral element was written and applied to the study of the frequency-temperature (FT) behavior of flexure-mode quartz resonators. The lumped-mass and consistent-mass matrices were found to yield practically the same FT curves. For simple prismatic resonators, two schemes, reduced/selective integration and incompatible modes, produced relatively similar FT curves. The incompatible modes scheme yielded better results for resonators of more complex shapes, such as the tuning fork. It is concluded that the six-degree-of-freedom per node element is needed for the analysis of the FT behavior of a fully anisotropic flexure-mode resonator. >
Catabolite Control Protein A (CcpA) Contributes to Virulence and Regulation of Sugar Metabolism in Streptococcus pneumoniae

We characterized the role of catabolite control protein A (ccpA) in the physiology and virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. S. pneumoniae has a large percentage of its genome devoted to sugar uptake and metabolism, and therefore, regulation of these processes is likely to be crucial for fitness in the nasopharynx and may play a role during invasive disease. In many bacteria, carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is central to such regulation, influencing hierarchical sugar utilization and growth rates. CcpA is the major transcriptional regulator in CCR in several gram-positive bacteria. We show that CcpA functions in CCR of lactose-inducible β-galactosidase activity in S. pneumoniae. CCR of maltose-inducible α-glucosidase, raffinose-inducible α-galactosidase, and cellobiose-inducible β-glucosidase is unaffected in the ccpA strain, suggesting that other regulators, possibly redundant with CcpA, control these systems. The ccpA strain is severely attenuated for nasopharyngeal colonization and lung infection in the mouse, establishing its role in fitness on these mucosal surfaces. Comparison of the cell wall fraction of the ccpA and wild-type strains shows that CcpA regulates many proteins in this compartment that are involved in central and intermediary metabolism, a subset of which are required for survival and multiplication in vivo. Both in vitro and in vivo defects were complemented by providing ccpA in trans. Our results demonstrate that CcpA, though not a global regulator of CCR in S. pneumoniae, is required for colonization of the nasopharynx and survival and multiplication in the lung.
Is dietary fat a major determinant of body fat

The percentage of energy from dietary fat is widely believed to be an important determinant of body fat, and several mechanisms have been proposed to account for such a relation. Comparisons of both diets and the prevalence of obesity between affluent and poor countries have been used to support a causal association, but these contrasts are seriously confounded by differences in physical activity and food availability. Within areas of similar economic development, regional intake of fat and prevalence of obesity have not been positively correlated. Ran- domized trials are the preferable method to evaluate the effect of dietary fat on adiposity, and are feasible because the number of subjects needed is not large. In short-term trials, a modest reduc- tion in body weight is typically seen in individuals randomly assigned to diets with a lower percentage of energy from fat. However, compensatory mechanisms appear to operate because in trials lasting ♢ 1 y, fat consumption within the range of 18-40% of energy appears to have little if any effect on body fatness. Moreover, within the United States, a substantial decline in the percentage of energy from fat consumed during the past two decades has corresponded with a massive increase in obesity. Diets high in fat do not appear to be the primary cause of the high prevalence of excess body fat in our society, and reductions in fat will not be a solution. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;67(suppl):556S-62S.
Aminoglycosides: perspectives on mechanisms of action and resistance and strategies to counter resistance.

Aminoglycosides are among the most commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotics in the anti-infective armamentarium. The vast majority of aminoglycosides are bactericidal, they have predictable pharmacokinetics, and they often act in synergy with other antibiotics, properties that make them valuable as
Sudden Cardiac Death in a Young Man with Migraine‐associated Arrhythmia

A 31-year-old man with migraine-induced syncope and bradycardia with subsequent pacemaker implantation died unexpectedly. Clinically unsuspected cardiac anomalies were found at autopsy including myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending artery and shelf-like coronary artery ostia. Nortriptyline was identified by toxicologic analysis. A review of the autopsy findings, the historical information, and the effects of the possible arrhythmogenic circumstances is undertaken and the potential contributions to the death are discussed. Cardiac arrhythmias have been documented during migraines. Coronary artery bridging has been known to lead to ischemia and infarction, ventricular tachycardia, and sudden death; however, these are very rare sequelae. Congenital coronary artery anomalies have been linked to sudden cardiac death, but only rarely cause death in people younger than 31 years. Migraines and the autopsy findings described have been associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. Altogether, they led to the unexpected death of this young man.
C-stack filters

The author introduces the combination stack filter, or C-stack filter, as a generalization of stack filters. This class of filters was developed in order to incorporate multilevel information into threshold level Boolean-function based filters (stack filters). C-stack filters generalize stack filters by performing a one-to-one transformation on the input sequence prior to Boolean filtering. The transformed sequence contains both the rank and spatial information not lost in the thresholding process. The knowledge of the rank information at the threshold level increases the number of filters possible and their performance. A brief review of stack and generalized stack filters is presented as well as several simulation results comparing stack, generalized stack, and C-stack filters. >
Continuous Electromyographic Speech Recognition with a Multi-Stream Decoding Architecture

In our previous work, we reported a surface electromyographic (EMG) continuous speech recognition system with a novel EMG feature extraction method, E4, which is more robust to EMG noise than traditional spectral features. In this paper, we show that articulatory feature (AF) classifiers can also benefit from the E4 feature, which improve the F-score of the AF classifiers from 0.492 to 0.686. We also show that the E4 feature is less correlated across EMG channels and thus channel combination gains larger improvement in F-score. With a stream architecture, the AF classifiers are then integrated into the decoding framework and improve the word error rate by 11.8% relative from 33.9% to 29.9%.
The Neotropical Telenomine Genus Phanuropsis Girault (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

The genus Phanuropsis is a specialized group of pentatomid egg parasites of the Neotropical Region (Honduras south to the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo). Two species are known: Phanuropsis semiflaviventris Girault (Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil), and Phanuropsis laniger , n. sp. (Colombia, Peru).
Human Factors Tools for Improving Simulation Activities in Continuing Medical Education

Human factors (HF) is a discipline often drawn upon when there is a need to train people to perform complex, high-stakes tasks and effectively assess their performance. Complex tasks often present unique challenges for training and assessment. HF has developed specialized techniques that have been effective in overcoming several of these challenges in work settings such as aviation, process control, and the military. Many HF techniques could be applied to simulation in continuing medical education to enhance effectiveness of simulation and training, yet these techniques are not widely known by medical educators. Three HF techniques are described that could benefit health care simulation in areas of training techniques, assessment, and task design: (1) bandwidth feedback techniques for designing better feedback and task guidance, (2) dual-task assessment techniques that can differentiate levels of expertise in tasks where performance is essentially perfect, and (3) task abstraction techniques for developing task-relevant fidelity for simulations. Examples of each technique are given from work settings in which these principles have been applied successfully. Application of these principles to medical simulation and medical education is discussed. Adapting these techniques to health care could improve training in medical education.
Toxicity of trace element and salinity mixtures to striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and Daphnia magna

Acute toxicity tests with reconstituted water were conducted to investigate the relationship between water hardness, salinity, and a mixture of trace elements found in irrigation drain waters entering Stillwater Wildlife Management Area (SWMA), near Fallon, Nevada. The SWMA has been the site of many fish kills in recent years, and previous toxicity studies indicated that one drain water, Pintail Bay, was acutely toxic to organisms acclimated or cultured in fresh water or salt water. This toxicity could reflect both the ionic composition of this saline water and the presence of trace elements. The lowest water salinity tested with Daphnia magna was near the upper salinity tolerance of these organisms; therefore, we were unable to differentiate between the toxic effects of ion composition and those of trace elements. In toxicity tests conducted with striped bass (Morone saxatilis), we found that the extent to which salinity was lethal to striped bass depended on the ion composition of that salinity. Survival of striped bass increased as hardness increased. In addition, a trace element mixture was toxic to striped bass, even though the concentrations of individual elements were below expected acutely lethal concentrations. Although salinity is an important water quality characteristic, the ionic composition of the water must be considered when one assesses the hazard of irrigation drain waters to aquatic organisms.
Distribution of olfactory epithelium in the primate nasal cavity: Are microsmia and macrosmia valid morphological concepts?

The terms "microsmatic" and "macrosmatic" are used to compare species with greater versus lesser olfactory capabilities, such as carnivores compared to certain primates. These categories have been morphologically defined based on the size of olfactory bulb and surface area of olfactory epithelium in the nasal fossa. The present study examines assumptions regarding the morphological relationship of bony elements to the olfactory mucosa, the utility of olfactory epithelial surface area as a comparative measurement, and the utility of the microsmatic concept. We examined the distribution of olfactory neuroepithelium (OE) across the anteroposterior length of the nasal fossa (from the first completely enclosed cross-section of the nasal fossa to the choanae) in the microsmatic marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) compared to four species of nocturnal strepsirrhines (Otolemur crassicaudatus, O. garnetti, Microcebus murinus, and Cheirogaleus medius). Adults of all species were examined and infant C. jacchus, O. crassicaudatus, M. murinus, and C. medius were also examined. All specimens were serially sectioned in the coronal plane and prepared for light microscopic study. Distribution of OE across all the turbinals, nasal septal surfaces, and accessory spaces of the nasal chamber was recorded for each specimen. The right nasal fossae of one adult C. jacchus and one neonatal M. murinus were also three-dimensionally reconstructed using Scion Image software to reveal OE distribution. Findings showed OE to be distributed relatively more anteriorly in adult C. jacchus compared to strepsirrhines. It was also distributed more anteriorly along the nasal septal walls and recesses in neonates than adults. Our findings also showed that OE surface area was not a reliable proxy for receptor neuron numbers due to differing OE thickness among species. Such results indicate that nasal cavity morphology must be carefully reconsidered regarding traditional functional roles (olfaction versus air conditioning) assigned to various nasal cavity structures. At present, the microsmatic concept itself lacks a basis in nasal chamber morphology, since OE may have varying patterns of distribution among different primates.
More carrot than stick: Encouraging computer programming in thermal design projects

Students will do almost anything to avoid using thermal-property tables. In this paper, Matlab-based thermal-property software is described as an enticement for students to do computer programming in the design of thermal systems. Downloaded shareware was used for steam properties in a steam-cycle project, and an air-property package was developed for use with a gas-turbine project. Although the use of computer programming required considerable effort by both instructor and students, most students did gain a better appreciation of the utility of writing computer programs as part of engineering design. Student evaluations of the course were not significantly affected compared to semesters in which computer programming was not encouraged.
Toward software-defined middlebox networking

Current middlebox (MB) management mechanisms are clumsy and unsuitable for taking full advantage of new MB deployment models and diverse MB functionality. Instead, we advocate for mechanisms that help exercise unified control over the key factors influencing MB operations. Our goal is to realize a software-defined MB networking framework to simplify management of complex, diverse functionalities and engender rich deployments. We discuss the major challenges that arise---representing, manipulating, and knowledgeably controlling MB state---and we present initial thoughts on the appropriate abstractions and interfaces to address them.
Home-based exercise: promising rehabilitation for symptom relief, improved functional status and quality of life for post-surgical lung cancer patients.

Background: Post-thoracotomy non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients report cancer-related fatigue (CRF) as a severe symptom that may increase the occurrence and severity of other symptoms while decreasing functional status and quality of life (QOL). The aim of this pilot study was to describe the effects of a home-based rehabilitative exercise intervention on CRF, other symptoms, functional status, and QOL for post-surgical NSCLC patients starting within days after hospital discharge. Methods: Seven post-thoracotomy NSCLC patients completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) measuring CRF severity, and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory measuring symptom severity at pre- and post-surgery, and at the end of each week of the six-week intervention. Additionally, the Medical Outcomes Short-Form-36 measuring physical and mental functional status; and the Quality of Life Index (QLI) measuring QOL were completed pre- and post-surgery, after week 3, and at the end of the intervention (week 6). Results: Participants had a mean age of 65 years, a mean of 6 co-morbid conditions, and initiated the intervention within 4 days after hospital discharge. Participants’ CRF severity scores were reduced to mild levels while the mean number of symptoms decreased from 10.4 post-surgery to 7.0 at week 6 with lower levels of severity and interference. Likewise, participants’ post-intervention functional status and QOL improved to near or above pre-surgical levels. Conclusions: The exercise intervention for post-surgical NSCLC patients showed promising preliminary efficacy in improving CRF, other symptom severity, functional status, and QOL. Further testing via a two-arm randomized controlled trial is being conducted.
Regulation of the Drosophila melanogaster protein, enhancer of rudimentary, by casein kinase II.

The Drosophila melanogaster gene enhancer of rudimentary, e(r), encodes a conserved protein, ER. Most ER homologs share two casein kinase II (CKII) target sites. In D. melanogaster, these sites are T18 and S24. A third CKII site, T63, has been seen only in drosophilids. The conservation of these CKII sites, particularly T18 and S24, suggests a role for these residues in the function of the protein. To test this hypothesis, these positions were mutated either to alanine as a nonphosphorylated mimic or to glutamic acid as a phosphorylated mimic. The mutations were tested individually or in double or triple combinations for their ability to rescue either a wing truncation characteristic of the genotype e(r)p1 rhd1-12 or the synthetic lethal interaction between e(r)p2 and the Notch allele Nnd-p. All of the substitutions as single mutations rescued both mutant phenotypes, arguing that individually the phosphorylation of the three residues does not affect ER activity. The double mutants T18A-S24A and T18E-S24E and the triple mutants T18A-S24A-T63A and T18E-S24E-T63E failed to rescue. Together the data support the following model for the regulation of ER by CKII. ER that is unphosphorylated at both T18A and S24 is inactive. CKII activates ER by phosphorylating either T18 or S24. Further phosphorylation to produce the doubly phosphorylated protein inactivates ER.
Advances in tetrahedral mesh generation for modelling of three‐dimensional regions with complex, curvilinear crack shapes

Advances in tetrahedral mesh generation for general, three-dimensional domains with and without cracks are described and validated through extensive studies using a wide range of global geometries and local crack shapes. Automated methods are described for (a) implementing geometrical measures in the vicinity of the crack to identify irregularities and to improve mesh quality and (b) robust node selection on crack surfaces to ensure optimal meshing both locally and globally. The resulting numerical algorithms identify both node coincidence and also local crack surface penetration due to discretization of curved crack surfaces, providing a proven approach for removing inconsistencies. Numerical examples using the resulting 3D mesh generation program to mesh complex 3D domains containing a range of crack shapes and sizes are presented. Quantitative measures of mesh quality clearly show that the element shape and size distributions are excellent, including in regions surrounding crack fronts. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Review of Introduction to Optimum Design, 2nd Ed. by Jasbir Arora

Arora’s introduction of a much-anticipated second edition of Introduction to Optimum Design will not only satisfy established users of his well-received first edition, but moreover, significant updates, supplementary material, and fine-tuning of the pedagogical aspects of the presentation will certainly broaden its appeal. For those unfamiliar with the book, Introduction to Optimum Design is one of a number of contemporary works that provide a basic to intermediate introduction to the theory of optimal design with engineering applications. However, among some of the distinguishing characteristics of Arora’s book are its adaptability to audiences with diverse backgrounds, as well as the extent to which it makes the topic clear and approachable. The minimum mathematics prerequisites would include multivariate calculus and some exposure to linear algebra; as such, the book can readily be used with third-year or fourth-year undergraduates in most engineering disciplines. On the other hand, selected topics are treated with sufficient depth and rigor that, when covered at a faster pace, the book is equally well-suited for use at the introductory graduate level. The book would also be excellent as a self-study reference for the practicing engineer. Although perhaps the majority of the applications used in the book are drawn from problems in the civil and mechanical engineering disciplines including a good sampling of structural optimization examples , most examples are framed in such a way that the key concepts can be understood by students from other engineering disciplines. As such, in this reviewer’s personal experience, students from chemical, electrical, and industrial engineering have found the book equally useful. In fact, students from industrial engineering often find the presentation of key mathematical concepts much clearer than what is customarily given in most operations research and quantitative analysis texts. The layout of the first 12 chapters of the second edition consists of: “Introduction to Design,” “Optimum Design Problem Formulation,” “Graphical Optimization,” “Optimum Design Concepts,” “Linear Programming Methods for Optimum Design,” “Numerical Methods for Unconstrained Optimum Design,” “Numerical Methods for Constrained Optimum Design,” and “Introduction to Optimum Design with MATLAB.” Following the basic introduction and description of nomenclature in Chapters 1 and 2, many of the key concepts are introduced for two-variable optimum design problems in Chapter 3 “Graphical Optimization” , which is now an expanded, separate chapter in the revised edition. Improvements in this chapter include examples involving the use of Mathematica and MATLAB for generating graphical solutions. In Chapters 4–11, the basic theoretical and computational aspects of optimization are given in a fashion similar to that of the first edition; however, the key concepts of existence and uniqueness of unconstrained and constrained solutions now Chapters 4 and 5 , umerical methods for linear programming now Chapters 6 and
Development of a Fire Weather Index Using Meteorological Observations within the Northeast United States

AbstractA fire weather index (FWI) is developed using wildfire occurrence data and Automated Surface Observing System weather observations within a subregion of the northeastern United States (NEUS) from 1999 to 2008. Average values of several meteorological variables, including near-surface temperature, relative humidity, dewpoint, wind speed, and cumulative daily precipitation, are compared on observed wildfire days with their climatological average (“climatology”) using a bootstrap resampling approach. Average daily minimum relative humidity is significantly lower than climatology on wildfire occurrence days, and average daily maximum temperature and average daily maximum wind speed are slightly higher on wildfire occurrence days. Using the potentially important weather variables (relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed) as inputs, different formulations of a binomial logistic regression model are tested to assess the potential of these atmospheric variables for diagnosing the probability of wil...
Frank Low and the first images of the ultrastructure of the pulmonary blood-gas barrier

Frank N. Low (1911–1998) has the distinction of publishing the first electron micrographs showing the ultrastructure of the pulmonary capillary and particularly the blood-gas barrier. This work in ...
The Administrative Problem in Rural Districts

(1910). The Administrative Problem in Rural Districts. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 187-188.
Two Econometric Paths for Information Recovery in Economic Behavioral Systems

In this paper we assess two economic-econometric information based approaches-paths to recovering behavior related choice information and making inferences from observational data. The traditional path, starts by assuming a stochastic model based on economic, econometric and inferential statistics foundations. The unknown and unobservable parameters of the assumed structured-stochastic model are estimated from a relevant sample of observed data and used for inference and prediction. The other approach, which we emphasize in this paper and call nontraditional, recognizes that our knowledge regarding the underlying behavioral system and observed data process is complex, partial and incomplete, uses a self- organized agent-based algorithmic-representation system, such as networks and machine learning. As a status measure-optimizing criterion we recognize the connection between adaptive intelligent behavior and causal entropy maximization and for information recovery we use an information theoretic basis for estimation, inference model evaluation and prediction. As examples for information recovery and predicting agent’s choices, we cast the problem in the form of an ordered-directed binary and weighted-choice networks and use information theoretic methods to recover estimates of the unknown behavioral parameters. Our objective is to recover expected values across the ensemble that can be computed analytically, without explicitly sampling the configuration space.
Short-term changes of remote sensing reflectancein a shallow-water environment: observations from repeated airborne hyperspectral measurements

An atmospheric correction algorithm has been developed for the Airborne Imaging Spectrometer for Applications AISA imagery over optically shallow waters in Sugarloaf Key of the Florida Keys. The AISA data were collected repeatedly during several days in May 2012, October 2012, and May 2013. Non-zero near-infrared NIR remote-sensing reflectance Rrs was accounted for through iterations, based on the relationship of field-measured Rrs between the NIR and red wavelengths. Validation showed mean ratios of 0.94–1.002 between AISA-retrieved and in situ Rrs in the blue to red wavelengths, with uncertainties generally <0.003 sr–1. Such an approach led to observations of short-term changes in AISA-retrieved Rrs from repeated measurements over waters with bottom types of seagrass meadow, sand, and patch reef. Some of these changes are larger than twofold the Rrs uncertainties from AISA retrievals, therefore representing statistically significant changes that can be well observed from airborne measurements. Through radiative transfer modelling, we demonstrated that short-term Rrs changes within 1 hour resulted primarily from sediment resuspension, while tides played a relatively minor role due to the small variation in tidal heights. A sensitivity analysis indicated that although Rrs generally increases with decreasing tide height but increasing suspended sediments, more changes were observed over sandy bottom than over seagrass. The case study suggests that repeated airborne measurements may be used to study short-term changes in shallow-water environments, and such a capacity may be enhanced with future geostationary satellite missions specifically designed to observe coastal ecosystems.
Martingale Transforms and the Geometry Of Banach Spaces

This paper is a continuation of [3], which contains a geometrical characterization of the class of Banach spaces having the unconditionality property for martingale differences (see Definition 1.3). Important information about this class, which we denote by UMD, is contained in the work of Maurey, Pisier, Aldous, and others. For example, if B ∈ UMD, then B is superreflexive [5] but there do exist superreflexive spaces that are not in UMD [6]; if 1 < p < ∞, and the Lebesgue-Bochner space \({L}^{P}_{B}(0,1)\) has an unconditional basis, then B ∈ UMD [1]. One of the main objects of study in this paper and [3] is the class MT of Banach spaces B for which B-valued martingale transforms are well-behaved (see Definition 1.2). The geometrical condition introduced in [3] also characterizes the class MT, information about which is of value in the study of B-valued stochastic integrals and B-valued singular integrals. Before recalling the probability background, we shall describe this geometrical condition.
A Modified Live Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine.

Summary1) Newcastle disease virus was modified by serial passage of the California 11914 strain through tissue cultures using minced chicken embryos suspended in Simm-Sanders medium. 2) The modified virus was administered intramuscularly to over 20,000 chickens of all ages without producing any nervous or respiratory symptoms, but produced an immunity as demonstrated serologically and by intramuscular challenge with a virulent strain of ND virus. One dose of the vaccine given to susceptible chicks at 5 days of age or over induced an immunity lasting at least 12 weeks. Two doses from 7 to 9 weeks apart have resulted in a high degree of immunity which was still evident 33 weeks later. 3) When administered to 2 flocks of chickens, one in acute stage of infectious bronchitis and the other with chronic respiratory disease, the virus apparently did not increase the severity of the respiratory disease condition. 4) Repeated trials showed that vaccinated chickens did not transmit the infection to unvaccinated sus...
Identification of Renin and Renin-like Enzymes in Rat Brain by a Renin-Specific Antibody

1. The major angiotensin I-generating activity of rat brain extracts has a pH optimum different from that of renal renin and is not inhibited by renin specific antibody. 2. Affinity chromatography utilizing renin specific antibody, pepstatin and α-casein yielded fractions that resembled renal renin more closely with respect to antibody inhibition and pH optimum as well as an absence of the ability to hydrolyse haemoglobin. 3. We conclude that rat brain contains a host of enzymes with angiotensin I-generating activity including acid and neutral proteases and an enzyme with the immunochemical identity of renal renin. The biosynthetic origins of this renin-like protein remain uncertain.
Extending Use of Marine Gas Turbines Through Application of the LM2500

The propulsion configurations of current gas turbine powered military and commercial vessels have been established based upon available power ratings of existing engines, relative to the performance requirements of ship builders and operators. Development of the LM2500+ engine has extended power capability with minimal changes to the physical parameters of the current LM2500 marine packages. This paper explores the extended possibilities of gas turbine based propulsion in both military and commercial vessels through application of increased gas turbine power in packages of essentially current size and weight such as the LM2500+.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
PLASMA LEVELS OF NITRIC OXIDE METABOLITES ARE LOWER IN HFPEF SUBJECTS COMPARED TO HFREF AND HYPERTENSIVES

Stable plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), predominantly composed of nitrate, are markers of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) production, NO utilization, and dietary intake and may be indicators of vascular health. We enrolled subjects undergoing a clinically-indicated cardiac MRI. Plasma NOx levels
Construction and Identification of Full-Length cDNA Library from Candida albicans in the Hyphal Phase

Objective To construct a full-length cDNA library of Candida albicans in the hyphal phase by SMART(Switching Mechanism At 5' end of RNA Transcript Method)technique.Methods RMPI 1640 culture was used to induce the germ tube formation of C.albicans with the formation ratio of more than 95%.The total RNA was extracted from the hyphal cells and the mRNA was purified.The first-strand cDNA was synthesized through reverse transcription with a modified oligo(dT)primer(CDS Ⅲ/3'PCR Primer)while the SMART Ⅳ oligonucleotide was utilized as a template at the 5'end of mRNA.The double-strand cDNA was amplified by Long-Distance PCR and then digested by Sfi Ⅰ(ⅠA ⅠB)restriction enzyme.After cDNA was purified through CHROMA SPIN-400 Column,the ds cDNA was ligated to λTriplE×2 vector and then the ligation products were packaged in vitro.Results The titer of the primary cDNA library was 1.87×107PFU/mL,the library capacity was 9.35×106 independent clones and the percentage of recombinant clones was about 100%.The titer of the amplified cDNA library was 5×109 PFU/mL.The range of the exogenous inserts length of the recombinants was between 0.3～2.5kb,with an average of 1.5kb.Conclusion The cDNA phage expression library of Candida albicans in the hyphal phase has been constructed successfully,which meets the requirement for screening and cloning C.albicans germ tube specific antigen genes and pathogenicity-associated genes.
Influence of gas density and viscosity on the work of breathing.

Analytical expressions for the work of breathing under conditions of laminar and turbulent flow have been derived. Helium-oxygen mixtures of greater viscosity but lower density than air, and sulfur ftexafiuoride-oxygen mixtures of greater density than air were used to test these expressions. The work of breathing was determined by measuring the oxygen consumption during quiet breathing and during hyperventilation produced by 7% carbon dioxide. Increased oxygen consumption per minute on hyperventilation with air was 55 ml, standard temperature and pressure, dry (STPD); on breathing helium-oxygen mixtures it was 57 ml STPD. Increased oxygen consumption per minute on hyperventilation with sulfur hexafluoride-oxygen mixtures was 249 ml STPD. Increasing the viscosity of the inspired gas or decreasing its density did not significantly affect the work of breathing; a substantial increase in the density of the inspired gas lead to an increased work of breathing.
Control of membrane lipid synthesis in Escherichia coli during growth and during the stringent response.

Abstract The regulation of phospholipid synthesis in cells of Escherichia coli was studied in vivo during growth and during the stringent response to amino acid starvation. Strains harboring the hybrid plasmid pLC44-14 (Clark, L., and Carbon, J. (1976) Cell 9, 91-99), which had increased levels of glycerophosphate acyltransferase, were used to study the involvement of this enzyme in the control of phospholipid synthesis. In addition, regulation was studied by measuring the levels of three early intermediates of phospholipid synthesis:phosphatidic acid, CDP-diglyceride, and dCDP-diglyceride. The liponucleotides were measured by a new enzymatic method which allows determinations to be made on crude lipid extracts. Results from experiments on growing cells are consistent with regulation of membrane lipid synthesis occurring in fatty acid synthesis or at the level of glycerophosphate acylation, but not at any later step. Experiments on the inhibition of lipid synthesis during the stringent response make it possible to rule out explanations which involve the inhibition of a single enzyme; enzymes both before and after the liponucleotides in phospholipid synthesis must be affected.
Nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth prevention: clinical prediction and generation of a risk scoring system

Background Spontaneous preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality among nonanomalous neonates in the United States. Spontaneous preterm birth tends to recur at similar gestational ages. Intramuscular 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth. Unfortunately, one-third of high-risk women will have a recurrent spontaneous preterm birth despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy; the reasons for this variability in response are unknown. Objective We hypothesized that clinical factors among women treated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate who suffer recurrent spontaneous preterm birth at a similar gestational age differ from women who deliver later, and that these associations could be used to generate a clinical scoring system to predict 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate response. Study Design Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial enrolling women with ≥1 previous singleton spontaneous preterm birth Results A total of 754 women met inclusion criteria; 159 (21%) were nonresponders. Responders delivered later on average (37.7±2.5 weeks) than nonresponders (31.5±5.3 weeks), P P P P =.010), carriage of a male fetus (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.02−2.24, P =.040), and a penultimate preterm birth (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.03−4.25, P =.041). These clinical factors were used to generate a risk score for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate as follows: black +1, male fetus +1, penultimate preterm birth +2, gonorrhea/chlamydia +4, placental abruption +5, earliest previous preterm birth was 32−36 weeks +5. A total risk score >6 was 78% sensitive and 60% specific for predicting nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (area under the curve=0.69). This scoring system was validated in an independent population of 287 women; in the validation set, a total risk score >6 performed similarly with a 65% sensitivity, 67% specificity and area under the curve of 0.66. Conclusions Several clinical characteristics define women at risk for recurrent preterm birth at a similar gestational age despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy and can be used to generate a clinical risk predictor score. These data should be refined and confirmed in other cohorts, and women at high risk for nonresponse should be targets for novel therapeutic intervention studies.
Matching Representations of Geographic Locations

Many references to geographic locations are made linguistically, using words to describe the location in terms of objects in the landscape and the relations among them. In order to attach coordinates to these locations, one must be able to identify them in a database which contains representations of the objects and relations as well as coordinates for these features. This article assesses the correspondence between the features used in describing locations in an herbarium collection and those represented in standard cartographic databases. An alternative representation for geographic data is suggested.
Activation of Dioxygen by Iron and Manganese Complexes: A Heme and Nonheme Perspective

The rational design of well-defined, first-row transition metal complexes that can activate dioxygen has been a challenging goal for the synthetic inorganic chemist. The activation of O2 is important in part because of its central role in the functioning of metalloenzymes, which utilize O2 to perform a number of challenging reactions including the highly selective oxidation of various substrates. There is also great interest in utilizing O2, an abundant and environmentally benign oxidant, in synthetic catalytic oxidation systems. This Perspective brings together recent examples of biomimetic Fe and Mn complexes that can activate O2 in heme or nonheme-type ligand environments. The use of oxidants such as hypervalent iodine (e.g., ArIO), peracids (e.g., m-CPBA), peroxides (e.g., H2O2) or even superoxide is a popular choice for accessing well-characterized metal–superoxo, metal–peroxo, or metal–oxo species, but the instances of biomimetic Fe/Mn complexes that react with dioxygen to yield such observable meta...
Shape anisotropy and hybridization enhanced magnetization in nanowires of Fe/MgO/Fe encapsulated in carbon nanotubes

Abstract Arrays of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) nanowires were synthesized for the first time by filling Fe/MgO/Fe inside vertically grown and substrate supported carbon nanotubes. The magnetic properties of nanowires and planar nanoscale thin films of Fe/MgO/Fe showed several similarities, such as two-fold magnetic symmetry and ratio of orbital moment to spin moment. Nanowires of Fe/MgO/Fe showed higher saturation magnetization by a factor of 2.7 compared to planar thin films of Fe/MgO/Fe at 1.5 kOe. The enhanced magnetic properties likely resulted from shape anisotropy of the nanowires and as well as the hybridization that occur between the π- electronic states of carbon and 3d-bands of the Fe-surface.