cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal expression patterns of Pasteuria spp. sporulation genes.

Endospore-forming bacterium in the genus Pasteuria spp. infect multiple agriculturally significant plant parasitic nematodes and has potential as a potent biological control. Success as a biological control requires not only spore attachment to the cuticle, but sporulation and reproduction within the nematode host. Tracking and identifying Pasteuria spp. development is then critical to demonstrating efficacy as a biocontrol. Microscopic observations suggest Pasteuria spp. follows the model bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, sporulation. Here, we identified B. subtilis homologs of sporulation regulators in Pasteuria spp. and characterized the temporal expression of these genes throughout the bacterium's ∼30-d lifecycle in Meloidogyne arenaria as a means of tracking sporulation development. Detectable levels of transcripts of Spo0F were present as early as 5 d after the nematodes were exposes to Pasteuria spp. and were relatively constant throughout the 30-d lifecycle. Transcripts to Sigma-F were significantly higher in the middle of the lifecycle, while the transcripts of Sigma-G were detectable between 15 and 25 d, nearing the end of the lifecycle. These three markers can be used to track the process of sporulation in the nematode and augment microscopic observations. Tracking sporulation of Pasteuria spp. is important to fully realize its potential as a biological control method as it can more readily identify successful parasitism, define host ranges, and inform in vitro growth progress.
Murder without motive: Eichmann in Jerusalem and In Cold Blood

Each in its own manner, Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963) and Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood (1965) – both first published in The New Yorker, both a cause celebre, both retaining much of ...
Absenteeism in the First Decade of Education Forecasts Civic Engagement and Educational and Socioeconomic Prospects in Young Adulthood.

Much has been established about the short-term consequences of missing school, yet little is known about the longer-term outcomes of absenteeism. To address this gap in knowledge, the current study considered the consequences of school absenteeism between kindergarten and eighth grade for the behavioral, economic, and educational outcomes of young adults. Participants were drawn from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (age 22–23; 54% female and 86% White, n = 648). The findings indicated that individuals who were more regularly absent from school were not more frequently engaged in risky, deviant, or criminal behaviors in young adulthood. However, those who were more regularly absent described being less likely to be politically engaged, reported themselves as experiencing greater economic difficulties, with less optimal educational outcomes, and as marginally more likely to have a child. The outcomes of absenteeism were largely cumulative and there was little evidence to suggest that the outcomes of absenteeism varied across urban and rural communities or as a function of socioeconomic status. Taken together, this study provides new insight into the long-term consequences of missing school and points to the importance of addressing absenteeism in the first ten years of students’ educational careers.
Self-reported risk of stroke and factors associated with underestimation of stroke risk among older adults with atrial fibrillation: the SAGE-AF study.

Background Though engaging patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in understanding their stroke risk is encouraged by guidelines, little is known regarding AF patients' perceived stroke risk or its relationship with oral anticoagulation (OAC) use. We aim to identify factors associated with underestimation of stroke risk among older patients with AF and relate this to OAC use. Methods Data are from the ongoing SAGE (Systematic Assessment of Geriatric Elements)-AF study, which included older patients (> 65 years) with non-valvular AF and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 2. Participants reported their perceived risk of having a stroke without OAC. We compared the perceived risk to CHA2DS2-VASc predicted stroke risk and classified participants as "over" or "under" estimators, and identified factors associated with underestimation of risk using multiple logistic regression. Results The average CHA2DS2-VASc score of 915 participants (average age: 75 years, 47% female, 86% white) was 4.3 ± 1.6, 43% of participants had discordant predicted and self-reported stroke risks. Among the 376 participants at highest risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 5), 46% of participants underestimated their risk. Older participants (≥ 85 years) were more likely and OAC treated patients less likely to underestimate their risk of developing a future stroke than respective comparison groups. Conclusions A significant proportion of study participants misperceived their stroke risk, mostly by overestimating. Almost half of participants at high risk of stroke underestimated their risk, with older patients more likely to do so. Patients on OAC were less likely to underestimate their risk, suggesting that successful efforts to educate patients about their stroke risk may influence treatment choices.
An An Exploratory Study Examining Mediterranean Diet Perceptions, Eating Practices, and Food Choice of Emerging Adults from Cyprus and the United States

Background. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a food pattern that offers numerous potential health benefits. Mediterranean countries, including Cyprus, are experiencing a decline in adherence to the traditional MD while other non-Mediterranean countries, such as the United States (U.S.), are providing recommendations to increase adherence to the MD. Objective. The aim of this research was to explore the foods, eating practices, and perception of the MD in emerging adults (18-25 years of age) from a Mediterranean (Cyprus) and non-Mediterranean (U.S.) country to better understand emerging adult adherence and behaviors related to a MD pattern. Design. An exploratory descriptive study was designed to include focus group interviews to understand perceptions and eating practices as well as dietary assessment using the Mediterranean Diet Score Survey and Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire for calculation of the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score to determine MD adherence among emerging adults in Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean regions. Participants/Setting. Twenty-four emerging adults from Cyprus and the U.S. participated. Analysis. Descriptive approaches for analysis of qualitative and quantitative data were used. A qualitative content analysis was used for focus group interview data that included both inductive and deductive processes. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant demographic and dietary characteristics. Results. Themes that emerged from the focus group interviews included perceptions of MD foods, health benefits of a MD, lifestyle cooking and eating practices, and influences on food choice in Cyprus and the U.S. While perception of MD foods and eating practices differed, MD adherence scores and participant identification of health benefits did not differ. Likewise, there were similar influences on food choice among emerging adults from both populations. Conclusion. These findings suggest that emerging adults may acknowledge health benefits of a MD but can benefit from emphasis on food preparation and other behaviors to promote MD food pattern adherence in both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries.
Effects of Aphicides on Pecan Aphids and Their Parasitoids in Pecan Orchards

Aphids are important pests of pecans. Traditionally, insecticides have been the primary method of management. However, over-reliance and non-judicious use has led to resistance and damage to natural enemy populations. Therefore, frequent assessment of insecticides is necessary in order to monitor resistance development and non-target impacts. Aphicides, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor, and afidopyropen were assessed for their effects on pecan aphids and parasitoid, Aphelinus perpallidus, in a mature pecan orchard in 2019 and 2020. Post-application assessments were performed 7, 14, and 21 days post-application. Leaf samples from non-treated trees had greater aphid numbers than treated trees 7 days post-application with differences diminishing throughout the other two treatment periods in 2019. In 2020, aphid numbers were lower but leaf samples from non-treated trees had more aphids than treated trees 7 days post-application in the lower canopy. These differences again diminished 14 and 21 days post-application. There was no difference among treatments in number of parasitoid adults or mummies. These findings indicate that pecan growers have multiple potential options available for aphid management that do not negatively impact the primary pecan aphid parasitoid. Implications of the results on pecan aphid management are discussed.
Re-examination of the Latent Structure of the Distress Intolerance Index

Distress intolerance (DI) has been identified as an important risk and maintenance factor for numerous psychological disorders (McHugh & Otto, Behavior Therapy, 43, 641–651, 2012; Zvolensky et al. 2011). However, the study of DI has been complicated by varying definitions of the construct and the development of different measures DI. Recognizing the need for a standard measurement instrument, McHugh & Otto, Behavior Therapy, 43, 641–651, (2012) sought to develop a measure of global DI by integrating four existing measures of DI and related constructs—the Distress Intolerance Index (DII). Although the DII has demonstrated reliability and validity across several studies, no study to date has replicated the factor structure of the DII presented by McHugh and Otto, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 25, 745–749 (2011). Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the factor structure of the DII in both an undergraduate and clinical sample. Participants were N= 227 university students and N = 262 patients diagnosed with OCD, depression, and anxiety disorders who completed the DII. Results indicated that the original DII factor structure fit the clinical sample data adequately; however, minor revisions were necessary to produce adequate fit in the undergraduate sample. The DII demonstrated convergent and discriminate validity with measures of psychological symptom severity and affect. Additional investigation of the psychometric properties of the DII is warranted to clarify its factor structure and utility.
The Bid Protest System in Iraq: A Potential Tool for Combatting Corruption

Corruption in Iraq has reached such a high level that it is now preventing Iraq from obtaining the funds it needs to rebuild cities that have been devastated by three years of war with ISIS. Despite exponential growth in its federal budget between 2004 and 2014, basic infrastructure and services such as electricity, sanitation, and public transportation have not improved significantly. Iraq’s public procurement system has failed to meet the needs of the Iraqi State due to corruption, waste, and ineffective mechanisms to ensure competitive and transparent tenders. Companies are often awarded contracts based on nepotism rather than quality or competence. The parliamentary elections in May will be an opportunity for citizens to express their dissatisfaction with the Government. For this reason, many politicians, including Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, are making combatting corruption a top priority. While Iraq is currently in the process of drafting a new procurement law, one of the critical gaps that should be addressed is the lack of effective recourse for companies to challenge undeserved awards. As this article sets out, Iraq should restructure its current bid protest system in a way that strengthens the independence of this review process while maintaining efficiency, in order to deliver goods and services desperately needed to rebuild the country.
Recursive MaxSquare: Cache-friendly, Parallel, Scalable in situ Rectangular Matrix Transposition

An in situ rectangular matrix transposition algorithm is presented based on recursively partitioning an original rectangular matrix into a maximum size square matrix and a remaining rectangular sub-matrix. To transpose the maximum size square sub-matrix, a novel cache-friendly, parallel (multithreaded) and scalable in-place square matrix transposition procedure is proposed: it requires a total of Θ(n2/2) simple memory swaps, a single element temporary storage per thread, and does not make use of complex index arithmetic in the main transposition loop. Recursion is used to transpose the remaining rectangular sub-matrix. Dubbed Recursive MaxSquare, the novel proposed rectangular matrix in-place transposition algorithm uses a generalization of the perfect shuffle/unshuffle data permutation to stitch together the recursively transposed square matrices. The shuffle/unshuffle permutations are shown to be efficiently decomposed using basic vector/segment swaps, exchanges and/or cyclic shifts (rotations). A balanced parallel cycles-based transposition is also proposed for comparison.
Abstract 785: Is genetic ancestry associated with mortality risk after accounting for neighborhood socioeconomic status? A study of African American men

Background Genetic ancestry, a correlate of self-identified race/ethnicity, could be associated with mortality risk, allowing for more targeted treatments for cancer and other chronic diseases. However, associations may be confounded by neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES). We investigated whether African ancestry and nSES were independently associated with all-cause mortality in a cohort of African American trial participants. Methods We constructed a cohort of American-born participants of African descent from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian screening trial. Participants were enrolled from 1993-1998 and followed through 2019 or until death, whichever came first. Genetic ancestry (% African) was estimated using a principal components analysis of genome-wide SNP data and validated against European, African, and Asian panels. A nSES index was estimated using principal component analysis of census tract measures of income, housing, and employment. Census tract was assessed in 2012 for residences of living participants. Last known address was assigned to participants who died prior to 2012. We assigned 2000 census data to those who died prior to 2010, and assigned 2006-2010 American Community Survey data to those who were alive after 2010. Hazard ratios for associations between these variables and all-cause mortality were estimated using sequentially adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with sociodemographic, behavioral, and neighborhood contextual covariates. We tested whether mortality associations with ancestry varied by nSES using multiplicative interaction terms. All tests were two-sided with alpha=0.05. Results Among 2239 African American participants, there were 901 deaths over 40,767 person-years of follow-up. Mean baseline age was 61.7, 45% were men, and the mean percentage of African ancestry was 74.3. In unadjusted models, a 10% increase in African ancestry was associated with a 7% higher rate of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12), but this attenuated to the null after adjusting for covariates (aHR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.06). Participants in nSES Q5 had 45% lower rate of mortality compared to those in Q1 in unadjusted models (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.68, Ptrend Discussion Our findings suggest that nSES is a stronger independent correlate of mortality than genetic ancestry, which was only weakly associated with mortality after accounting for other factors. Larger studies with wider variability in African ancestry and geographic context are needed to confirm these findings. Citation Format: Hari S. Iyer, Scarlett L. Gomez, Iona Cheng, Timothy R. Rebbeck. Is genetic ancestry associated with mortality risk after accounting for neighborhood socioeconomic status? A study of African American men [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 785.
A Three-phase 450 kVA SiC-MOSFET Based Inverter With High Efficiency and High Power Density By Using 3L-TNPC

This paper presents a prototype of a 450 kVA inverter system by using 3-level T-type neutral-point-clamped converter (3L-TNPC). The prototype features high-power density and high-efficiency design. The design highlights an improved busbar structure, which achieves lower stray inductance than published literature of 3-level converters with limited temperature rise. The improved power-loop design provides sufficient room for accelerating switching speed. Over 67.7% of switching loss reduction is achieved by choosing optimal gate resistance (1 Ω). The paper also focuses on compact integration of signal sensing, conditioning circuits, and controller circuits to improve power density. The design strategy for the sensing system is discussed to optimize the trade-off between compact sensing and noise distortion. As a result, the converter reaches the power density of 26.6 kW/L. The peak efficiency of 99.47% is measured at 266 kVA under 70 kHz switching frequency.
Density Functional Theory Calculations for the Simulation of Secondary Electron Yield

Suppressing the harmful multipactor effect by, for instance, reducing secondary electron yield (SEY) is crucial in the design of RF space technologies. Therefore, improving fundamental understanding of how structural and electronic features of materials affect the SEY is necessary. In this benchmark work, we use density functional theory calculated properties to simulate, via Monte Carlo method, the SEY of simple metals copper and silver. As in these simulations the dielectric property i.e. the energy and momentum dependent energy loss function plays a major role, we focus our study on the computational procedures necessary to obtain reliable first principles data.
Spin Wave Excitation and Propagation in Amorphous Bubble Films

The excitation of long wavelength spin wave resonance modes in amorphous ferromagnetic bubble films is examined both theoretically and experimentally in some detail. Whereas resonance of long wavelength spin waves with wavelengths in the order of the film thickness (∿ 1µ) can occur, spatial fluctuations on the atomic scale in lattice constant, coordination number, etc. in the amorphous state lead only to a broadening of the resonance line. Experimental determination of gyromagnetic ratio γ, magnetization 4πM, uniaxial anisotropy constant K1, saturation field HS , line width ΔH and exchange constant A for GdCoMo amorphous films are reported and compared with our theoretical calculations.
Learning situated knowledge bases through dialog.

To respond to a user’s query, dialog agents can use a knowledge base that is either domain specific, commonsense (e.g., NELL, Freebase) or a combination of both. The drawback is that domain-specific knowledge bases will likely be limited and static; commonsense ones are dynamic but contain general information found on the web and will be sparse with respect to a domain. We address this issue through a system that solicits situational information from its users in a domain that provides information on events (seminar talks) to augment its knowledge base (covering an academic field). We find that this knowledge is consistent and useful and that it provides reliable information to users. We show that, in comparison to a base system, users find that retrievals are more relevant when the system uses its informally acquired knowledge to augment their queries.
Legal Institutions and their Proper Place in Economic Development: India and China Compared

For modern India, the Chinese experience poses the daunting question as to whether democracy and judicial activism are incompatible with development. Can the Chinese rate of economic growth, like that of the Four Asian Dragons previously, only be achieved in an authoritarian political system, dominated by the executive branch of government and its administrative bureaucracy? It is the thesis of this paper that India can - indeed, already has - altered its economic policies without abandoning either representative democracy or the rule of law. The Indian courts, long criticized for obstructing liberalization, have already issued major decisions in support of policies which emphasize efficiency considerations over individual rights to job security in the state sector. The courts accomplished this shift in direction while remaining firmly within the framework of common law adjudication.
Empirical model of the behavior of the income velocity of money in Colombia, 1982 – 2001

The study of the income velocity of money is important since monetary factors play a causal role in output fluctuations. The issue of the stability of money demand is critical in assessing the monetary aggregates, M1/M3, usefulness for the formulation of monetary policy. In Colombia, the M1 income velocity of money has been very volatile whereas the M3 velocity has been pretty stable over the last 20 years. Contrary to the assumption underlying the Quantity Theory of Money, the evidence here indicates that the income velocity of money is not constant in Colombia for the 1982 – 2001 period. The statistical results show that there is a positive relationship between the Colombian inflation rate and the M1 and M3 income velocities of money. A higher rate of inflation will translate into a higher nominal interest rate. The higher the interest rates the higher the opportunity cost of holding money and so the greater the income velocity.
User modelling in computer-based critics

A user modelling approach for computer-based critics is described. The critiquing model approach to instantiating the cooperative problem-solving paradigm is considered. The theoretical background for cooperative problem-solving and the motivation for developing a user modelling approach in this domain are based on a need to provide systems that operate independently of explicit user direction. How to represent, acquire, and maintain consistency of the user model in a critiquing system for LISP programming called LISP-Critic is the fundamental issue addressed. A theoretical model of user domain knowledge, an analysis of the application domain, LISP, and research on the generation of explanations prescribe the contents of the user model. LISP-Critic has been extended to include a user modeling component which includes a database of information about the user and a modelling agent. The modelling agent encapsulates the access and update methods for th user model. >
The role of organizational culture in innovation adoption: teaching through the internet in specialized schools of business

This study examined the role that organizational culture plays in the process of innovation adoption within specialized schools of business, which focus on the professional education of mid-career adults. Faculty (n = 451) at these schools were surveyed about their perceptions of program culture as well as their perceptions and adoption of nine Internet-based innovations used in their teaching and of four Internet-based course-content topics. The conceptual model guiding this study synthesized Rogers' (1995) diffusion of innovations model with the Cameron & Ettington (1988) organizational culture model (based on the Competing Values Framework). The ability to predict adoption using this model was tested through linear regression. The presence of the Adhocracy culture (innovation and development, individual initiative, and unique outputs), and the absence of the Hierarchy culture (formal procedures, success measured by efficiency, and predictability in management), were significant in predicting adoption of Internet-based course content, typically a group decision. Also significant were perceptions that the innovation was easy to try, positive opinions of administrators and faculty at the respondents' institutions, and race (being white). Culture was not found to predict the adoption of the Internet for teaching, a more solitary pursuit, but was predicted by perceptions of an easy-to-try innovation, by lower-ranked, white faculty who have a propensity to adopt innovation early, working in social systems that use individual decisions. These schools are predominantly Hierarchy culture types, which likely impedes strategic moves toward Internet innovations in teaching. Future research is suggested.
Dynamics of cusp produced rotating beam

The cusptron is based on an axis-encircling beam produced by magnetic cusp injection. The fundamental properties of the cusp dynamics have been examined by using simplified, but still realistic, models that assess the effects of various experimental parameters in terms of gain reduction. An attempt has been made to devise experimentally realizable optimum beam configurations. Special emphasis is given to off-centering sources and methods to reduce them. The single particle orbit equation has been solved using simple approximations from which the effects of several field contributing factors are examined. The experimental factors considered were the magnetic field profiles, including the degree of the field reversal, the cusp transition thickness, and the adiabatic compression after the transition. It has been found that the unbalanced field effect generally contributes most to the off-centering and that adiabatic compression after the cusp reduces both the beam radius and the off-centering effect. The features of an optimum magnetic field are given. >
X-ray pulsar navigation algorithms and testbed for SEXTANT

The Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a NASA funded technology-demonstration. SEXTANT will, for the first time, demonstrate real-time, on-board X-ray Pulsar-based Navigation (XNAV), a significant milestone in the quest to establish a GPS-like navigation capability available throughout our Solar System and beyond. This paper describes the basic design of the SEXTANT system with a focus on core models and algorithms, and the design and continued development of the GSFC X-ray Navigation Laboratory Testbed (GXLT) with its dynamic pulsar emulation capability. We also present early results from GXLT modeling of the combined NICER X-ray timing instrument hardware and SEXTANT flight software algorithms.
Peripheral Arterial Disease in African Americans: Clinical Characteristics, Leg Symptoms, and Lower Extremity Functioning

OBJECTIVES: The describe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in African Americans, and compare findings in African Americans and whites with PAD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Three academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred sixty-six whites and 76 African Americans with PAD (as defined by an ankle brachial index (ABI) <0.90) aged 55 and older identified from lower extremity arterial studies performed between 1996 and the fall of 1999. MEASUREMENTS: Comprehensive medical interview, body mass index, and neuropathy score. Functional measurements included the 6-minute walk distance, 4-m walking velocity, and the summary performance score. RESULTS: Age- and sex-adjusted results showed that African Americans had a lower mean ABI than whites (0.60 vs 0.66, P=.001), were less likely to be college graduates (13.7% vs 44.4%, P<.001), and had nearly twice the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (46.8% vs 28.0%, P =.001). After adjusting for age, sex, education level, and ABI, African Americans had a higher prevalence of no exertional leg pain (28.0% vs 18.2%, P =.044) and leg pain with exertion and rest (30.0% vs 17.3%, P =.023). African Americans had a shorter 6-minute walk distance (989 vs 1,156 ft, P<.001), a slower normal-pace 4-m walking velocity (0.79 vs 0.89 m/s, P<.001), a slower fast-pace 4-m walking velocity (1.12 vs 1.20 m/s, P=.012), and a lower performance score (8.8 vs 9.6, P=.018) than whites. These differences in functioning were attenuated after adjusting for age, sex, ABI, education, and leg symptoms. CONCLUSION: Poorer lower extremity functioning in African Americans was largely explained by differences in leg symptoms and, to a somewhat lesser degree, lower ABI levels and poorer education in African Americans than in whites. Further study is needed to determine whether these findings affect racial treatment disparities and poorer outcomes previously reported in African Americans than in whites with PAD.
Reliability of sleep sonography in detecting upper airway obstruction in children

In children, lymphoid hyperplasia is by far the most common cause of airway obstruction during sleep, but the determination as to presence or degree of obstruction is seldom made objectively, because of the expense and stress of polysomnography. If audio recordings are made by parents at home with standardized equipment, however, obstruction can be recognized readily. Such recordings obtained from 50 patients were computer processed and the resulting displays were independently rated by two judges. Interobserver correlation was 0.87 and split-half reliability was 0.83, demonstrating very good reliability of the processing and scoring procedures. Recordings made on successive nights were highly consistent as well (test-retest reliabilities of 0.78 and 0.86 for the two raters). This recording method, which is well accepted by parents and children, has both clinical and research value in the assessment of airway obstruction.
Code status documentation in the outpatient electronic medical records of patients with metastatic cancer

BACKGROUND Advanced care planning (ACP) is considered an essential component of medical care in the United States, especially in patients with incurable diseases. However, little is known about clinical practices in outpatient oncology settings related to discussing end-of-life care and documenting code status preferences in ambulatory medical records.
MTT-S and Strategic Planning [President's Column]

In my first column, which appeared in the February 2010 issue of this magazine, I mentioned establishing strategic goals for 2010. I was under the impression that the deadline for writing the April column would be after the Administrative Committee (AdCom) meeting in January. I was planning on using that meeting for establishing the AdCom priorities, assigning tasks, setting goals, and possibly even deadlines for 2010 milestones. Well, little did I know that the deadline for writing the April column was actually mid-December 2009, which was about three weeks before the AdCom meeting. Therefore, I elected to use this June column to share my strategic planning thoughts and process with you. As it is always the case when we plan for the future, one quickly discovers the struggle between ambition and realism. In this column, I will share with you the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) experience in developing its strategic plan and provide some insight into long-term priorities. The AdCom and I hope to work with MTT-S volunteers at all levels on accomplishing them. To provide the right perspective for the process, I will begin by reviewing the state of our Society.
Utilization and assessment of operational weather modification programs for augmenting precipitation

Abstract Operational weather modification programs to augment precipitation will continue routinely during the next decade in some areas, and intermittently during drought periods in other areas. The benefit to cost relationship for such programs is very favorable if even only modest changes in precipitation are produced. Evaluations and assessments are needed in any specific region to both confirm and establish the amount of precipitation change and to provide the basis for improvement in program performance. This paper identifies the various interactive components that should be considered in any weather modification program. It then briefly discusses evaluation and assessment approaches and describes recently developed methodologies that can greatly strengthen such assessments.
Design and implementation of "many parallel task" hybrid subsurface model

Continuum scale models have been used to study subsurface flow, transport, and reactions for many years. Recently, pore scale models, which operate at scales of individual soil grains, have been developed to more accurately model pore scale phenomena, such as precipitation, that may not be well represented at the continuum scale. However, particle-based models become prohibitively expensive for modeling realistic domains. Instead, we are developing a hybrid model that simulates the full domain at continuum scale and applies the pore model only to areas of high reactivity. The hybrid model uses a dimension reduction approach to formulate the mathematical exchange of information across scales. Since the location, size, and number of pore regions in the model varies, an adaptive Pore Generator is being implemented to define pore regions at each iteration. A fourth code will provide data transformation from the pore scale back to the continuum scale. These components are coupled into a single hybrid model using the Swift workflow system. Our hybrid model workflow simulates a kinetic controlled mixing reaction in which multiple pore-scale simulations occur for every continuum scale time step. Each pore-scale simulation is itself parallel, thus exhibiting multi-level parallelism. Our workflow manages these multiple parallel tasks simultaneously, with the number of tasks changing across iterations. It also supports dynamic allocation of job resources and visualization processing at each iteration. We discuss the design, implementation and challenges associated with building a scalable, Many Parallel Task, hybrid model to run efficiently on thousands to tens of thousands of processors.
Nitroimidazoles for imaging hypoxic myocardium

A series of radiopharmaceuticals that incorporate nitroimidazole moieties have been synthesized to detect decreased local tissue pO2. In contrast to agents that localize in proportion to perfusion, these agents concentrate in hypoxic tissue. Myocardium with an intracellular pO2<3 mm Hg (about 25% of normal), which has lost its contractile ability but has maintained its ability to catabolize glucose, can be localized with this imaging technique. When a nitroimidazole enters a viable cell, the molecule undergoes a series of reactions: Initially, the molecule gains a single electron by an enzymatic process in the cytoplasm to form a potentially reactive species, then in the presence of adequate intracellular oxygen levels the molecule is reoxidized. These reactions are repeated until the intact molecule diffuses back out of the cell. In myocytes with reduced oxygen concentration, the reoxidation does not take place, the reactive species appears to undergo additional reduction reactions and remains in the cell. The association of the reduced nitroimidazole and other cellular elements is not irreversible, since these agents clear from hypoxic tissue with a half-life of 4 to 8 hours. In one of the first nitroimidazoles used for in vivo imaging, fluoromisonidazole was the radiopharmaceutical. Two major problems with fluoromisonidazole are its relatively low concentration within the lesion and the need to wait several hours to permit clearance of the agent from the normoxic background tissue (contrast between lesion and background typically<2∶1 at about 90 minutes after injection). Even with high resolution positron emission tomography imaging, this combination of circumstances makes successful evaluation of hypoxic lesions a challenge. The development of single photon agents with longer physical half-lives and comparable biologic properties offer a greater opportunity for successful imaging. In 1992 technetium 99m-labeled nitroimidazoles were described that had in vivo kinetics that were potentially suitable for detection of hypoxic myocardium. Laboratory studies showed preferential binding of these agents to hypoxic myocytes and isolated hearts in vitro and to ischemic myocardial tissue in laboratory animals. Patient studies are planned to determine whether the promise of these agents in laboratory studies can be realized in clinical practice.
Tobacco Policymaking and Administration in Bhutan from 1991 to 2009

From 1991 to 2004, a significant grassroots campaign, in the eastern Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, that included urban and rural people and Buddhist monks, called for national legislation to ban tobacco sales. In 2004, Bhutan banned all tobacco sales and restricted smoking in public areas, but permitted the importation, with a high duty and sales tax, of small amounts of tobacco products for personal use. From 2004 to 2009, this novel experiment in tobacco control resulted in a strong black market, considerable tobacco smuggling, and continued tobacco use by crucial sectors of the population, particularly minors. In response, in 2009, Bhutan passed important amendments to its 2004 anti-tobacco law that tightened administration and enforcement efforts, established specific penalties for violations, and monitored tobacco consumption trends. However, if tobacco consumption trends do not improve and smuggling is not successfully counter-acted, Bhutan should consider changing, to some degree or in total, its an...
Kinetic energy budget during strong jet stream activity over the eastern United States

Kinetic energy budgets are computed during a cold air outbreak in association with strong jet stream activity over the eastern United States. The period is characterized by large generation of kinetic energy due to cross-contour flow. Horizontal export and dissipation of energy to subgrid scales of motion constitute the important energy sinks. Rawinsonde data at 3 and 6 h intervals during a 36 h period are used in the analysis and reveal that energy fluctuations on a time scale of less than 12 h are generally small even though the overall energy balance does change considerably during the period in conjunction with an upper level trough which moves through the region. An error analysis of the energy budget terms suggests that this major change in the budget is not due to random errors in the input data but is caused by the changing synoptic situation. The study illustrates the need to consider the time and space scales of associated weather phenomena in interpreting energy budgets obtained through use of higher frequency data.
The Integrated Airbase Protection System

An airbase is a very sensitive object for any sabotage and terrorist activities. The airbase is generally located in a widespread area in some diversified environment. It operates in constantly changing conditions. There are a lot of installations and objects critical to the operational use of airborne systems. These kinds of objects are prone to threats, such as above all penetration from the outside and direct fire action from surroundings of the protected object. Prevention against threats of these kind is the reason why soldiers are involved to round-the-clock patrolling the nearest surroundings, at the cost of their basic responsibilities. The necessity of night patrols, in difficult land site and atmospheric conditions make additional difficulties. This paper describes a concept of applying different sensors and systems to form an integrated security system. Some components of such a Stationary Observation System have already been developed, tested and implemented by the Air Force Institute of Technology. The system was designed as an open system, so it is possible to make its configuration using new sensors, and to adapt the system for requirements resulting from elements located outside the system, such as landform features of the protected area or predicted different kinds of threats. The base protection system was designed by the use of military requirements, however its implementation is also possible for civil airports, including aero club airports. The airbase protection command station makes an important element of the system. It enables not only a data fusion, but also allows to use the information for a particular decisive level. Additionally, the command station's operator has the possibility to collect, archive, and also to transfer the processed information. Using a digital map together wit a laser and an optoelectronic sensor makes it possible to permanently update coordinates of interesting objects, including moving objects. The situation awareness, worked out on the basis of a complex technical system, provides a reaction of active protective elements in an appropriate way and within the time required. Due to that, the reaction by the active elements of the base protection, with the full situation awareness, can be adequate to the threat and eliminate an unnecessary human effort. The integrated airbase protection system using a data fusion and being able to process the data obtained makes a significant contribution not only for a more efficient base protection and security of infrastructures, but also for space and communication technologies. As an open system it can be linked for example to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or to a satellite. There is also a potential for the system to compile by data fusion pieces of "inner" information, already existing in the system, and the information received from the outside of the system. As a result it may be possible for example to try to predict a terrorist attack being prepared.
Prevalence and Prognosis of Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Ambulatory Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

The association of asymptomatic left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction with cardiovascular outcomes in ambulatory patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and no history of heart failure (HF) was examined. LV diastolic HF predicts adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the prevalence and prognosis of asymptomatic LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with established CHD in the absence of clinical HF is unknown. Six hundred ninety-three patients with stable CHD, normal systolic function (LV ejection fraction ≥50%), and no history of HF were evaluated. Echocardiography was used to classify LV diastolic function, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association of LV diastolic dysfunction with cardiovascular outcomes during 3 years of follow-up. Of 693 subjects with normal systolic function and no history of HF, 455 (66%) had normal LV diastolic function, 166 (24%) had mild LV diastolic dysfunction, and 72 (10%) had moderate to severe LV diastolic dysfunction. After multivariable adjustment, the presence of moderate to severe LV diastolic dysfunction was strongly predictive of incident hospitalization for HF (hazard ratio 6.3, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 16.1, p = 0.0003) and death from heart disease (HR 3.9, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 14.8, p = 0.05). In conclusion, moderate to severe LV diastolic dysfunction was present in 10% of patients with stable CHD with normal ejection fraction and no history of HF and predicts subsequent hospitalization for HF and death from heart disease. Patients with asymptomatic LV diastolic dysfunction may benefit from more aggressive therapy to prevent or delay the development of HF.
Antiheart antibody production of cardiovascular malformations in the mouse: a preliminary study.

Cardiovascular malformations were produced in 17% of A/J and C57BL/6 mice using isogeneic antiheart antibody (RAMHS) and in 22% of C57BL/6 mice using allogeneic RAMHS by injecting on four consecutive days of gestation (days 8–11 or 12–15). The antiheart antibody was raised in rabbits and adsorbed against mouse kidney and liver to yield an antiserum with high antiheart activity and low activity against other organs, demonstrably kidney. Cardiovascular maldevelopment occurred in 9% of mice injected with antikidney antibody (RAMKS), 7% receiving normal rabbit serum, and 1% receiving normal saline. A highly significant (P < .001) difference between all of the RAMHS and the normal saline groups demonstrated that antiheart antibody is teratogenic to the developing heart; and a significant difference (P < .05) between allogenic RAMHS and RAMKS antibody in the frequency of induction of cardiovascular anomalies suggests that there is organ-specific activity to antiheart antibody. The type of cardiovascular anomalies caused in the mice studied were the same (VSD in C57BL and ASD in A/J) as those that occur spontaneously or are produced by other teratogens such as dextroamphetamine. Antiheart antibody thus did not appear to produce a specific type of maldevelopment but rather made manifest the malformation to which there appears to be a hereditary predisposition (genetic-environmental interaction).
A filter-switching auto-focus framework for consumer camera imaging systems

Auto-focus (AF) has become a standard feature in consumer level cameras. The most common AF approach analyzes a captured image with a digital band-pass filter applied to a focus region producing a focus value, which is then used by a search algorithm to locate the peak value position. The existing literature does not adequately address how to set the AF parameters such as the filter pass-band and the step-size magnitude. In this paper, a framework is presented to derive the AF parameters automatically based on camera specifications. Also, a new AF search algorithm named Filter-Switching Search is introduced which takes advantage of the derived AF parameters. The effectiveness is demonstrated via real-time implementation on three different camera platforms. Results indicate that the developed solution is portable across different platforms and outperforms the existing approaches without the need for extensive parameter tuning.
Dental management and prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer

Dentistry has a significant supportive role in the management of head and neck cancer. Early preparations for prosthetic rehabilitation of patients who are in need of maxillary resections, and the use of prostheses in patients who have undergone partial mandibulectomies are explained. Patients being treated by radiation for tumors in the head and neck area require particular preventive care and instructions in oral hygiene. Systemic chemotherapy for tumors distant from the head and neck may precipitate severe oral complications. Occurrence and management of these problems are discussed.
Model of particle-alveolar macrophage relationships during the alveolar clearance of a low lung burden of instilled particles

Abstract A model of particle-alveolar macrophage relationships during alveolar-phase clearance of a low burden of insoluble particles from the rat's lung is developed. Model development begins with transport of particle-containing alveolar macrophages (AM) out of the alveoli via the tracheobronchial route as the only operative clearance mechanism, and it advances with the inclusion of AM proliferation, and AM autolysis and the rephagocytosis of freed particles as additional operative mechanisms. At each stage of development, simulated results are compared with data obtained from a previous study of AM during the alveolar clearance of a low burden of insoluble polystyrene microspheres (Lehnert et al. (1989) Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 1, 145–154). We find that: (1) the transport of the particle-containing AM from the lungs is consistent with a transport mechanism that is time-dependent, characterized by more rapid AM removal at earlier times and slower AM removal at later post-depositional times, (2) AM proliferation with allocations of particles to progeny cells is an absolutely vital component to the model, which, along with tracheobronchial transport, forms the basis or zeroth-order portion of the model, and (3) for times well after the post-particle depositional period, AM autolysis and the rephagocytosis of freed particles are first-order type physiological mechanisms that act to refine simulations of the particle-AM relationship data. Overall, our final model predictions are shown to be in close agreement with the actual experimental data. The model supports an AM removal rate that varies continuously from an initial value of 3.0% of the resident population per day to a final value of 0.35% of the AM population per day, and an AM proliferation rate of 0.85% per day. These values for both the transport-rate range and the AM proliferation rate are consistent with previously reported values.