cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Power Units’ Energy Consuming Speciality Analysis Based on Support Vector Regression (SVR)

There are some characteristics such as multi-borders, nonlinear time-variation of the thermal system of large coal-fired power units, the complex relationships between operating parameters and energy consumption, which affect the operation precision of thermal power units. According to rigorous theoretical analysis key operating parameters are identified and used to determine the standard coal consumption rate. On this basis, features are extracted and used as the inputs to SVR for training and testing. Energy consumption distribution model under full conditions of large coal-fired power units based on aforesaid method achieved a high precision.
Synthesis of 9-CD3-9-cis-retinal cofactor of isorhodopsin

Abstract We report the synthesis of 9-CD3-9-cis-retinal via a six-step procedure from β-ionone. The steps involve an initial deuteration of the methyl ketone of β-ionone followed by two consecutive Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling reactions and their corresponding DIBAL reductions. A final oxidation of the allylic alcohol of the retinol leads to the target compound. This deuterium labeled retinoid is an important cofactor for studying protein-retinoid interactions in isorhodopsin.
“He killed a chicken, but it didn’t die”: An empirical study of the lexicalization of state change in Mandarin monomorphemic verbs

Abstract Mandarin contrasts typologically with English in its lexicalization of state change (Talmy 2000). The majority of Mandarin monomorphemic verbs is moot about or implies a state change, whereas English has many monomorphemic verbs (e.g. kill) that entail a state change. This study investigates empirically the nuanced lexicalization of state-change implicature in Mandarin monomorphemic verbs and its implications for the linguistic typology of encoding state change. Two experiments were conducted with adult native Mandarin speakers: a rating task about the acceptability of sentences that expressed a failure of fulfilment of a state-change (e.g. Zhangsan sha le ji, ke shi ji mei si ‘Zhangsan killed a chicken, but it didn’t die’) and a multiple-choice task that probed the preferred interpretation of monomorphemic state-change verbs. The results of both studies reveal a significant effect of verb types and post hoc comparisons show a cline of state-change implicature in the target verbs.
“Wouldn’t You Walk Away?” Foreclosures and Homeowner Understandings:

Social work scholarship on neoliberalism—the dominant ideology and policies shaping access to housing, jobs, healthcare, and education—is in its infancy. This study examines the ground-level impact...
Identification of Sexual Disinhibition in Dementia by Family Caregivers.

PURPOSE Sexual disinhibition in dementia is understudied and discrepant frequency rates are reported. Measures designed to capture general disinhibition may under-identify sexual disinhibition, and lack of assessment uniformity may contribute to inconsistent endorsement. The current study aimed to determine: (1) whether an item from a commonly used measure tapping into general disinhibition would detect sexual disinhibition, (2) whether differently worded items specifically addressing sexual disinhibition would elicit inconsistent endorsement, and (3) whether different caregiver types would yield discrepant endorsement. METHODS Data for this cross-sectional, observational study were collected online using items from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, and novel items developed to assess sexual disinhibition. PATIENTS In total, 779 family dementia caregivers were recruited from social media caregiver groups. RESULTS In total, 26.2% of caregivers who explicitly endorsed sexual disinhibition did not endorse general disinhibition. Frequency of endorsement for sexual disinhibition differed depending upon item wording and nature of the caregiver relationship, including higher endorsement by spouses overall. DISCUSSION Inquiring generally about disinhibition may under-identify presence of sexual disinhibition. Lack of standardization may contribute to inconsistent frequency rates and characterization of this problem. More work is needed to better understand and identify sexual disinhibition in dementia.
Diagnosis of Prenatal-Onset Achondrogenesis Type II by a Multidisciplinary Assessment: A Retrospective Study of 2 Cases

Aim. Achondrogenesis type II is a rare, lethal osteochondrodysplasia with considerable phenotypic heterogeneity. We describe our experience in diagnosing prenatal-onset achondrogenesis type II by a multidisciplinary assessment. Methods. Two cases of fetal achondrogenesis type II were analyzed retrospectively using prenatal ultrasound evaluation, postnatal radiographic diagnosis, and molecular genetic testing of COL2A1. Results. A causative mutation in the COL2A1 gene was found in both patients. Combined with postnatal radiographic examination, the final diagnosis of achondrogenesis type II was made. Conclusion. Our findings emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary assessment for the definitive diagnosis of achondrogenesis type II, which is paramount for proper genetic counseling.
Diversity and Minority Interest Group Advocacy in Congress

This paper examines the role that racial and ethnic diversity plays in improving the legislative success of minority interest groups. Relying on campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures to ...
Nanoscale Mapping of Extrinsic Interfaces in Hybrid Solid Electrolytes

Summary Inorganic-organic hybrid solid electrolytes are promising material systems for all solid-state batteries (ASSBs). These electrolytes contain numerous solid | solid interfaces that govern transport pathways, electrode | electrolyte compatibility, and durability. This paper evaluates the role that electrode | electrolyte interfaces and electrolyte structure have on electrochemical performance. Atomic force microscopy techniques reveal how mechanical, adhesion, and morphological properties transform in a series of model hybrid solid electrolytes. These measurements are mapped to sub-surface microstructural features using synchrotron nano-tomography. Hybrid solid electrolytes with shorter polymer chains demonstrate a higher adhesion ( > 100 nN), Young's Modulus (6.4 GPa), capacity (114.6 mAh/g), and capacity retention (92.9%) than hybrid electrolytes with longer polymer chains (i.e., higher molecular weight). Extrinsic interfacial properties largely dictate electrochemical performance in ASSBs. Microstructural control over inorganic constituents may provide a means for tailoring interfacial properties in hybrid solid electrolytes.
Reversible inactivation of Azotobacter vinelandii TPN+ -isocitrate dehydrogenase by the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge.

Abstract A method has been described for the formation of a modified form of isocitrate dehydrogenase which contains a single disulfide bridge. The modified enzyme is inactive and exhibits a decrease in a-helix content. The modified enzyme is inactive but catalytic activity can be restored by cleavage of the disulfide bridge. The original a-helix content is not restored upon reduction.
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing causes alternative splicing of the targeting mRNA.

Abstract The technique of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has been widely used to specifically delete the selected target genes through generating double strand breaks (DSBs) and inducing insertion and/or deletion (indel) of the genomic DNAs in the cells. We recently applied this technique to disrupt mineral dust-induced gene (mdig), a potential oncogene as previously reported, by single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the third exon of mdig gene in several cell types, including human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, lung cancer cell line A549, and human triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition to the successful knockout of mdig gene in these cells, we unexpectedly noted generation of several alternatively spliced mdig mRNAs. Amplification of the mdig mRNAs during the screening of knockout clones by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the subsequent sanger sequencing of DNA revealed deletion and alternative splicing of mdig mRNAs induced by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The most common deletions include nine and twenty-four nucleotides deletion around the DSBs. In addition, interestingly, some mdig mRNAs showed skipping of the entire exon 3, or alternative splicing between exon 2 and exon 8 using the new donor and accept splicing sites, leading to deletion of exons 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Accordingly, cautions should be taken when using CRISPR-Cas9 strategy to edit human genes due to the unintended alterative splicing of the target mRNAs. It is very likely that new proteins, some of which may be highly oncogenic, may be generated from CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
Molecular dynamics study of the translation and rotation of amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles at a vapor-liquid surface

The equilibrium contact angle of a heterogeneous colloidal particle at a liquid/vapor interface varies with position and may have distinct local equilibria at different orientations. We show that the free energy determines a particle's orientation as a function of orientation and immersion depth.
Novel risk factors and outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease patients with Clostridioides difficile infection.

Background:Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at significantly increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) with an increased risk of adverse outcomes including incre...
Assessment of Distributional Goodness-of-Fit for Modeling the Superposition of Renewal Process Data

Parametric maximum likelihood methods can be used to estimate the renewal distribution based on aggregate data from superpositions of a group of renewal processes (SRP). The traditional distributional assessment approaches are, however, unable to be applied to the SRP data directly as the actual locations where the renewal events occurred are unknown. In this paper, we present two graphical distributional assessment procedures to evaluate how well alternative parametric models fit the observed SRP data. The first procedure provides a flexible semi-parametric estimate of the renewal distribution which is based on a piecewise exponential (PEX) model. Corresponding nonparametric simultaneous confidence bands (NPSCBs) are given to assess the amount of statistical uncertainty of the semi-parametric estimate. The results show that the PEX model with NPSCBs provides a flexible framework for comparing different parametric distributions. The second procedure is based on a comparison of parametric and nonparametric estimates of the mean cumulative function (MCF) for the SRP recurrence data. These two procedures are illustrated by applications to both real and simulated SRP data.
An Intra- and Inter-generational Lens into Rapid Technological Change

Technology change is not a new phenomenon and has often been accompanied with uncertainty. Today, we continue to see rapid technological change with unprecedented impact on the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of our societies. These effects are often only realized in hindsight, when their some impact (both positive and negative) can be irreversible. This article outlines various trends aimed at better characterizing technology change today, how this change can be oriented to better serve people and planet, and foresight on its impact on inequalities both within and across generations.
AC-AC Matrix Converter Using Lookup-Based PWM for Inductive Power Transfer Systems

This paper proposes a lookup-based Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for high frequency AC-AC converters. Compared to conventional carrier-based PWM methods, the proposed technique has reduced computational complexity, and causes lower harmonic distortion on grid line current. The proposed switching technique unlike conventional carrier-based method is comprised of two predetermined switching states, which prevents unnecessary as well as unpredicted switching states such as shoot-through. The proposed AC-AC Matrix converter can be interfaced between main low-frequency AC supply and high-frequency inductive power transfer (IPT) systems to enable power transfer. For validation purpose, an $10kW$ IPT case study is used, and the results clearly verified the simplicity as well as the performance of the proposed converter in regulating the power transfer rate around the user-defined power transfer levels.
Verification Or Proof- An Undecided Issue?

Since Leibniz, Hume, and Kant the realm of cognitively significant statements has been divided into two categories that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive: analytic and synthetic propositions. No doubt, the term ‘synthetic’ is rather ambiguous, and for that reason it has been replaced by the more unequivocal expressions ‘empirical’ or ‘contingent’. These terms render it clear that non-analytic knowledge originates in experience. An analytic proposition is a logically necessary expression (Carnap); its negation leads to a self-contradiction or, in formal symbols, to P• ~ P.1 Its truth or validity depends only on definitions, so that it will hold under all conditions, in all possible worlds, so to speak. In other words, analytic propositions should be a priori, in that they do not appeal to experience. The assertions of logic and mathematics are customarily regarded as presenting the sole domain of analytic statements.
Applications of physical and occupational therapy in chronic pain syndrome

This article will describe how to approach the prescription of physical therapy for 'chronic pain syndrome'. Initial sections will describe script writing for physical and occupational therapies, and review types of exercise and physical therapeutics. Exercise regimens that the literature supports for patients with chronically painful syndromes will also be discussed. The author emphasizes that the practitioner cannot write a therapy script for 'chronic pain syndrome.' Instead, the practitioner should understand that physical and occupational therapy can remedy impairments of flexibility, strength and endurance and the patient should be examined to identify these impairments. When the practitioner has identified poor flexibility or contracture, weakness or loss of strength, or poor endurance in the patient with chronic pain, the practitioner can then write a physical therapy or occupational therapy script with goals to improve these impairments. It is not necessary for the practitioner to be familiar with the nuances of exercise application; it is only necessary for the practitioner to identify contracture, weakness and poor endurance, and to direct the therapist's attention to these deficits via a therapy script. The practitioner should include precautions on a script to a therapist. These precautions are based on the patient's concurrent medical and surgical diagnoses. Lastly, the literature describing therapeutic interventions in patients with chronic pain syndromes is poor because the painful conditions are poorly characterized and the therapeutic interventions are poorly described; however, where specific exercise programs for specific diagnoses were identified, the exercise regimens are discussed.
New Friedel-Crafts chemistry—XXI : Alkylations with isobutyl alcohol and isobutyl chloride under “drastic” conditions

Abstract Alkylations of benzene with isobutyl alcohol and isobutyl chloride using massive amounts of aluminum chloride gave low yields of butylbenzene mixtures composed of mainly t-butylbenzene, but also containing minor amounts of isobutyl- and sec-butylbenzene. Alkylations with t-butyl chloride under similar alkylation conditions also yielded isobutyl- and sec-butylbenzene. It is shown that reasonable explanations of these results can be given without resort to the ad hoc theory that drastic experimental conditions reverse the usual order of isomerizations.
Calmodulin Inhibition: A Possible Predictor of Metal-Ion Toxicity

A correlation between CE50, the metal-ion concentration which reduces the cloning efficiency of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by 50%, and IC50, the metal-ion concentration that produces an inhibition of calmodulin activity of 50%, is reported for 10 divalent metal ions. It is thus suggested that IC50 might be used as a predictor of metal-ion toxicity in CHO cells. Arguments are presented to support the extrapolation of these results to other pollutants and to other biological species.
Cool Cloud: A Practical Dynamic Virtual Machine Placement Framework for Energy Aware Data Centers

With the continuing growth of cloud computing services, power consumption has become one of the most challenging issues in data center environments. With the support of today's virtualization technology, the efficiency and flexibility of data center management can be greatly enhanced, creating great energy saving opportunities. However, effective energy aware design is a non-trivial task, considering the size of the data center, the dynamic fluctuation of workloads and the variation of computing resource requests. In this paper, we propose Cool Cloud: a practical solution for managing the mappings of VMs to physical servers. This framework solves the problem of finding the most energy efficient way (least resource wastage and least power consumption) of placing the VMs considering their resource requirements. Experiment result demonstrates our design can effectively improve data center energy efficiency and scales well to large size data centers. Comparing with industry leading product VMware's Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), our design offers better performance in both load balancing and power consumption.
The Supreme Court Sourcebook: Table of Contents and Preface

This book focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court and aims to function as a true educational “sourcebook” to serve the growing interest, in law schools and other educational settings, in the inner workings of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a useful book for those who practice before or closely follow the Court. The book contains carefully edited and analyzed materials on the U.S. Supreme Court, including academic literature, historical materials, internal court documents, briefs, and judicial opinions that should be considered an excellent resource for rising interest in the inner workings of the Court. The book, which is approximately 700 pages long, includes eight chapters covering the following topics: (1) a supreme court; (2) the justices; (3) jurisdiction; (4) certiorari; (5) written advocacy; (6) oral argument; (7) deciding cases; and (8) contemporary issues facing the Court. No other book on the U.S. Supreme Court contains such a comprehensive selection of wide-ranging sources that expose readers to a rich mix of doctrinal, practice-oriented and theoretical sources. The accompanying download provides the book's Table of Contents and Preface.
Remembering a Mentor.

If the recent books and articles on mentorship are to be believed, that once simple, trusting, and respectful relationship is now best undertaken when regulated by a host of shoulds and shalls that fit into a deceivingly simple command: Thou shalt Master, Empathize, Nourish, Trust, Observe, and Reassure. Substantive mentoring is far too complex to benefit much from lists, but many such enumerations purport to guide one's actions as a mentor. When initially reading about procedures that were guaranteed to make me invaluable as a mentor, I was uncomfortable. Too much seemed assumed about my expertise, power, influence, and ability that, conversely, was assumed to be lacking in my colleague (a.k.a. "proteg6"). In some recent reading on professional ethics, I have found the reasons for my discomfort articulated and consequently have rediscovered the lessons of an early professional friend. A preface to a collection of essays on caring in the helping professions (Phillips and Benner 1994) reiterates a point I only rarely see alluded to in the "how to" pieces on mentoring: "A dominant strategy in the helping professions has been to objectify and standardize as much of the professional activity as possible in the quest for quality control. But this strategy obscures the requisite judgment and particularized relationships required ..." (viii). The well-intentioned but highly standardized agreements that provide professional guidance for student teachers and new teachers offer only a skeleton for mentorships. It is a commitment to education, a hope for its future, and a respect for those who enter into its community that give a mentorship its heart. My earliest professional mentor never read either prescriptive articles on mentoring or the details of the supervision agreement to which she signed her name, but the heart of her work-her commitment, hope, and respect-is certainly present in any school in the country
Extended storage of platelet‐rich plasma–prepared platelet concentrates in plasma or Plasmalyte

Background Using bacterial detection or pathogen reduction, extended platelet storage may be licensed if platelet viability is maintained. FDA's post-storage platelet acceptance guidelines are that autologous stored platelet recoveries and survivals should be ≥66% and ≥58%, respectively, of each donor's fresh platelet data.
MicroRNA-138 Inhibits Periodontal Progenitor Differentiation under Inflammatory Conditions

Inflammatory conditions as they occur during periodontal disease often result in decreased alveolar bone levels and a loss of connective tissue homeostasis. Here we have focused on the effect of microRNA-138 (miR-138) as a potential regulator of periodontal stem cells as they affect homeostasis during inflammatory conditions. Our data indicate that miR-138 was significantly upregulated in our periodontal disease animal model. Interaction of miR-138 with a predicted targeting site on the osteocalcin (OC) promoter resulted in a 3.7-fold reduction of luciferase activity in promoter assays compared with controls; and miR-138 overexpression in periodontal progenitors significantly inhibited OC (3.4-fold), Runx2 (2.8-fold), and collagen I (2.6-fold). Moreover, treatment with inflammatory modulators such as interleukin (IL)-6 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant 2.2-fold (IL-6) or 1.9-fold (LPS) increase in miR-138 expression, while OC and Runx2 expression was significantly decreased as a result of treatment with each inflammatory mediator. Further defining the role of miR-138 in the OC-mediated control of mineralization, we demonstrated that the LPS-induced downregulation of OC expression was partially reversed after miR-138 knockdown. LPS, miR-138 mimic, and OC small interfering RNA inhibited osteoblast differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase activity, while miR-138 inhibitor and OC protein addition enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity. Supporting the role of OC as an essential modulator of osteoblast differentiation, knockdown of miR-138 or addition of OC protein partially rescued alkaline phosphatase activity in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells subjected to LPS treatment. Our data establish miR-138 inhibitor as a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of the bone loss associated with advanced periodontal disease.
Personal, family and social functioning among older couples concordant and discordant for high-risk alcohol consumption.

Aims This study compares the personal, family and social functioning of older husbands and wives concordant or discordant for high-risk alcohol consumption and identifies predictors of changes in concordance and high-risk consumption. Design, Participants, Measurements Three groups of couples were identified at baseline and followed 10 years later: (i) concordant couples in which husbands and wives engaged in low-risk alcohol consumption (n = 54); (ii) concordant couples in which husbands and wives engaged in high-risk alcohol consumption (n = 38); and (iii) discordant couples in which one partner engaged in high-risk alcohol consumption and the other partner did not (n = 75). At each follow-up, husbands and wives completed an inventory that assessed their personal, family and social functioning. Findings Compared to the low-risk concordant group, husbands and wives in the high-risk concordant group were more likely to rely on tension-reduction coping, reported more friend approval of drinking, and were less involved in religious activities; however, they did not differ in the quality of the spousal relationship. The frequency of alcohol consumption declined among husbands in discordant couples, but not among husbands in concordant couples. Predictors of high-risk drinking included tension-reduction coping, friend approval of drinking and, for husbands, their wives' level of drinking. Conclusions High-risk and discordant alcohol consumption do not seem to be linked to decrements in family functioning among older couples in long-term stable marriages. The predictors of heavy alcohol consumption among older husbands and wives identify points of intervention that may help to reduce their high-risk drinking.
The colubrid radiation in Africa (Serpentes: Colubridae): phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary patterns based on immunological data

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among genera of African colubrids were evaluated using estimates of divergence among serum albumins compared by microcomplement fixation. Representatives of about half of the extant genera of African colubrids, as well as the Elapidae, Atractaspis and the Madagascan colubrid Leioheterodon , were analysed. The tree of best fit to the data has an unresolved basal polychotomy comprising at least five lineages of colubrids, as well as Elapidae and Atractaspis ; thus, colubrids were not demonstrably monophyletic with these data. Two cosmopolitan clades, colubrines and natricines, are represented in Africa by series of closely related genera, but divergence among other genera is relatively great. Rate tests show that this is apparently not due to higher rates of albumin evolution in these, relative to other colubrids. Among the other associations supported by the immunological data are: (1) Psammophis -( Rhamphiophis-Dipsina )- Malpolon-Psammophylax ; (2) Amblyodipsas-Macrelaps ; (3) ( Lycodonomorphus-Lamprophis )- Mehelya ; and (4) Colubrinae-Natricinae. Grayia is questionably associated with the colubrine-natricine lineage. Prosymna and Lycodon are clearly members of the colubrine clade, and Amplorhinus possibly associates with Leioheterodon . Gonionotophis, Duberria, Lycophidion and Pseudaspis show no strong association with any other genera, and represent other basal or near-basal clades within the colubrid/elapid radiation. The immunological data do not support a clade comprising the Elapidae, Atractaspis and some 'aparallactines' relative to Viperidae and other colubrids. The basal colubrid-elapid- Atractaspis divergence occurred more than 30 Myr ago, and the fossil record of colubrids in Africa greatly underestimates both the age and clade diversity of this group. In contrast to the pattern of radiation in the neotropics, where most colubrids belong to one of three major clades, in Africa only the colubrine lineage comprises a substantial portion of the extant generic diversity; most other genera stem from relatively ancient cladogenetic events and have few living representatives.
The naval research laboratory materials analysis beam line at the national synchrotron light source

Abstract The optical and mechanical designs of a monochromatic beam line being built by the Naval Research Laboratory on the X-ray ring at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) are described. The line contains a dynamically bent collimating first mirror, a fixed-exit two-crystal monochromator designed and built at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), and a bent cylindrical mirror to focus radiation to a spot about 1.1 × 1.7 mm2 in the 5–10 keV range. A throughput of approximately 3×109 photons/s. mA is expected with a E ΔE of approximately 5×103 with silicon crystals. The hutch will contain a six-circle diffractometer since crystallography and other X-ray scattering measurements will constitute the primary uses of the line. EXAFS and detector calibration experiments are also planned.
A Web-Based GIS for Analyzing Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and implementation of a Web-based geographic information system GIS for providing online crash information and statistical information for commercial vehicle crashes. The system is capable of displaying crash data such as specific geographic location, period and time of crashes, severity, contributing factors, and cost. The system supports interagency communication with the purpose of reducing the number of crashes. Through the description of the design and implementation of the system, we demonstrate the feasibility of addressing spatial problems in a collaborative OLAP environment. It provides a guide for the design and development of similar systems and identifies a series or related, but yet unsolved, research problems.
Ionic conductivity of Ca3+-Na+ and Ca2+ β″-aluminas

Abstract The influence of Ca2+ ions in both polycrystalline and single crystal Na β″-alumina has been investigated. Both the bulk and grain boundary conductivities of polycrystalline samples were found to decrease exponentially with the calcium content, the effect being more pronounced in the case of grain boundary conductivity. Segregation of calcium at the grain boundaries was observed by scanning Auger microscopy. Fast divalent ion conduction was also studied in Ca2+ β″-alumina single crystals. Ionic conductivity data are reported for the completely-exchanged Ca2+ β″-alumina as well as for several partially-exchanged Ca2+-Na+ samples.
Systems theory and the meaning of information

I attempt in this article to show how systems theory presents us with a useful and interesting way of looking at the concepts of knowledge and information. Using a simple model from the (normative) theory of economic decision making, I try to illustrate how the idea of a system helps give meaning to the notion of “meaning.” I also introduce a distinction between structural information and parametric information, suggesting that the former, now somewhat neglected in the economic theory of information systems, may actually pose the more interesting questions for future research.
Metal-ceramic microstructure control in partial reduction reactions in the model system FeMnO by doping

Abstract The formation of metal-ceramic multi-phase microstructures by partial reduction of ternary or higher ceramic oxides was investigated experimentally in the model system FeMnO by changing the oxygen partial pressure at constant temperature and total pressure. The addition of dopants such as BaO, CaO, MgO, SrO, Al 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 or ZrO 2 to the initial, polycrystalline oxide solid solution (Fe 1− x Mn x ) 1−Δ O strongly influences the location of metal precipitation during reduction. Electron microscopic studies were performed for microstructural characterization, phase identification and chemical analysis. The experimental observations are discussed based on solubility limits and the segregation of dopants.
Addressing the Texas Health Care Crisis: Effective Use of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Abstract Texas is experiencing an unprecedented health care crisis, including a shortage of primary care providers. The current site-based delegation practice model for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) restricts public access to qualified providers. APRNs are equipped to immediately address the crisis in Texas by providing accessible, affordable, high-quality care if they are permitted to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Texas APRN organizations are working with stakeholders to propose a new collaborative practice model during the 2013 legislative session. Using APRNs is projected to increase economic output to $26 billion and create 177,200 jobs by 2040.
A complication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the transplanted kidney.

The following case report illustrates a complication that can occur as a consequence of implementing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for correction of renal artery stenosis in a transplanted kidney. Immediately following the procedure, there was severe spasm of upper and lower branches of the renal artery and thrombosis of the arterial supply to the middle portion of the kidney.
Simplified Marginalized Particle Filtering for Tracking Multimodal Posteriors

In this paper we introduce a simplified marginalized particle filtering method for dynamic systems with nonlinear and conditionally linear states with the marginal posteriors of the nonlinear states being multimodal. We propose a particle filter that employs Rao-Blackwellization by only one Kalman filter per mode for marginalizing the unknown linear states of the system. The validity of the method is tested through computer simulations by applying it to a tracking problem with only two static sensors measuring received signal strength. The results show that the new particle filter performs similarly as that based on traditional Rao-Blackwellization while at the same time it requires much less computations.
The Impact of Tiananmen Square on China's Tourism Image

The People's Republic of China (PRC) has yet to recover from a dramatic drop in tourism due to the Tiananmen Square conflict. Occupancy levels remain lower than those existing before the conflict. Although the drop in tourism can be quantified, it was not known if there was a corresponding drop in the touristic image of the country. A study assessing the image of the country held by the mature market in the United States was completed one day before the Tiananmen Square conflict. In an attempt to assess image change due to Tiananmen Square, the initial study was repeated one year after the conflict using a similar sample population. Images of tourism attractions and services were compared between groups using Anova procedures. Touristic images of the country, for the most part, had declined; however, not all image components changed equally. Some evidence suggests that the image changes for touristic services may mean more to future travel to the PRC than the image changes noted for attractions.
Ultimate velocity of drops in stationary liquid media

The effects of high field viscosity and of low inter-facial tension on the terminal velocity of single liquid drops falling through stationary liquid fields were investigated. Drops of tetrachloroethylene, ranging from 0.08 cm. to 1.4 cm. equivalent diameter, were allowed to fall through four different types of field fluids made by the addition of carboxy methyl cellulose, Lytron 890, corn syrup, and glycerine to water. Viscosities varied from 41.3 to 514 centipoises. Low interfacial tension systems were ethylchloroacetate-water, furfural-water, and benzyl alcohol-water with interfacial tensions of 16.43, 5.70, and 4.25 dynes per cm. respectively. For systems of high field viscosity, the usual drag curve appears to be more useful than the correlation proposed by Hu and Kintner. For systems of low interfacial tension (below 20 dynes/cm.) and low field viscosity (of the order of one centipoise) the latter serves to correlate accurately the data of 25 systems. A comparison of the pour technique with the usual nozzle method for the introduction of drops resulted in a terminal velocity difference of less than three percent. Wall proximity corrections were made when necessary.
A Generalized Linear Model for Estimating Spectrotemporal Receptive Fields from Responses to Natural Sounds

In the auditory system, the stimulus-response properties of single neurons are often described in terms of the spectrotemporal receptive field (STRF), a linear kernel relating the spectrogram of the sound stimulus to the instantaneous firing rate of the neuron. Several algorithms have been used to estimate STRFs from responses to natural stimuli; these algorithms differ in their functional models, cost functions, and regularization methods. Here, we characterize the stimulus-response function of auditory neurons using a generalized linear model (GLM). In this model, each cell's input is described by: 1) a stimulus filter (STRF); and 2) a post-spike filter, which captures dependencies on the neuron's spiking history. The output of the model is given by a series of spike trains rather than instantaneous firing rate, allowing the prediction of spike train responses to novel stimuli. We fit the model by maximum penalized likelihood to the spiking activity of zebra finch auditory midbrain neurons in response to conspecific vocalizations (songs) and modulation limited (ml) noise. We compare this model to normalized reverse correlation (NRC), the traditional method for STRF estimation, in terms of predictive power and the basic tuning properties of the estimated STRFs. We find that a GLM with a sparse prior predicts novel responses to both stimulus classes significantly better than NRC. Importantly, we find that STRFs from the two models derived from the same responses can differ substantially and that GLM STRFs are more consistent between stimulus classes than NRC STRFs. These results suggest that a GLM with a sparse prior provides a more accurate characterization of spectrotemporal tuning than does the NRC method when responses to complex sounds are studied in these neurons.
Towards geodesign: Repurposing cartography and GIS?

One of the original visions for GIS was as a tool for creating designs, but GIS has evolved in numerous other directions. Definitions of geodesign are reviewed, together with a short history of the concept. A distinction is drawn between Design and design, the latter being addressed through spatial decision support systems, and the former being seen as a superset of the latter. Geodesign also has a strong and well-defined relationship with cartography. The vision of landscape architecture propounded by the late Ian McHarg also provides a foundation for geodesign. Two existing gaps in the computation tools available for geodesign are identified: support for sketch and implementation of models representing scientific knowledge of how the world works. Two important areas of research are identified that would address problems that currently impede geodesign.
Hepatic storage of bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate without concomitant storage of sphingomyelin in a 72-year-old patient with a partial deficiency of sphingomyelinase

A 72-year-old patient with marked splenomegaly and low sphingomyelinase (6% of lowest control value) in peripheral blood leukocytes is described. Much higher but variable residual sphingomyelinase activity was observed in cultured skin fibroblasts (40-67% of lowest control value); reduced activity was also found in a liver biopsy sample. Excess storage of sphingomyelin was not observed in a liver biopsy; instead, a lipid tentatively identified as bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate was present in amounts at least 20 times greater than in age-matched control livers. The biochemical relationship of this patient to patients with sphingomyelin storage disease (Niemann-Pick disease) and phospholipidosis Type II is discussed.
The major medical sequelae of opioid addiction.

Abstract Some of the medical complications of narcotic addiction can be directly related to the biochemical properties of the opiates. Amongst these are dependence, overdose, changes in levels of some serum proteins and antibodies, pulmonary edema, and endocrine effects. Many other complications are more related to the lifestyles that addicts adopt, to infections, to consequences of antigen-antibody reactions, and to the consequences of polydrug abuse. Opioids can be taken for years with little apparent damage resulting from the agent per se , providing the amount used is within the person's tolerance. Overdosage, the most threatening consequence of opiate use, occurs when the dose exceeds tolerance. Overdosage is usually an accentuation of the opioid effect: acute sedation leading to stupor, coma, respiratory failure and death, unless adequately treated with a narcotic antagonist [1, 2]. Some “overdose” deaths may result from other mechanisms, such as cardiac arrhythmias, anaphylactic reactions to some antigen(s) in the injection mixture, or to a depressive effect combined with other sedative drugs producing lethal depression [3].
EEG Findings of Reduced Neural Synchronization during Visual Integration in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia patients exhibit well-documented visual processing deficits. One area of disruption is visual integration, the ability to form global objects from local elements. However, most studies of visual integration in schizophrenia have been conducted in the context of an active attention task, which may influence the findings. In this study we examined visual integration using electroencephalography (EEG) in a passive task to elucidate neural mechanisms associated with poor visual integration. Forty-six schizophrenia patients and 30 healthy controls had EEG recorded while passively viewing figures comprised of real, illusory, or no contours. We examined visual P100, N100, and P200 event-related potential (ERP) components, as well as neural synchronization in the gamma (30-60 Hz) band assessed by the EEG phase locking factor (PLF). The N100 was significantly larger to illusory vs. no contour, and illusory vs. real contour stimuli while the P200 was larger only to real vs. illusory stimuli; there were no significant interactions with group. Compared to controls, patients failed to show increased phase locking to illusory versus no contours between 40-60 Hz. Also, controls, but not patients, had larger PLF between 30-40 Hz when viewing real vs. illusory contours. Finally, the positive symptom factor of the BPRS was negatively correlated with PLF values between 40-60 Hz to illusory stimuli, and with PLF between 30-40 Hz to real contour stimuli. These results suggest that the pattern of results across visual processing conditions is similar in patients and controls. However, patients have deficits in neural synchronization in the gamma range during basic processing of illusory contours when attentional demand is limited.
Calibration standardization algorithm for partial least-squares regression: application to the determination of physiological levels of glucose by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Calibration standardization methodology for near-infrared (near-IR) spectroscopy is described for updating a partial least-squares calibration model to take into account changes in instrumental response. The guided model reoptimization (GMR) algorithm uses a transfer set of eight samples to characterize the new response and a database of previously acquired spectra used to develop the original calibration model. The samples in the transfer set need not have been measured under the old instrumental conditions, making the algorithm compatible with samples that change over time. The spectra comprising the transfer set are used to guide an iterative optimization procedure that (1) finds an optimal subset of samples from the original database to use in computing the updated model and (2) finds an optimal set of weights to apply to the spectral resolution elements in order to minimize the effects of instrumental changes on the computed model. The optimization relies on an alternating grid search and stepwise ad...
Measuring the Effects of Neurodevelopmental Treatment on the Daily Living Skills of 2 Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study examined the short-term effects of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) on the motor performance of daily living skills in 2 girls with cerebral palsy, aged 27 and 32 months. For 12 weeks, the subjects received treatment sessions consisting of NDT followed by play, or vice versa. After each treatment of play or NDT, the subjects were videotaped performing individually prescribed dressing activities. Trained raters, unaware of the type of treatment given, scored the videotapes on ordinally scaled dressing criteria. The results were not statistically significant for NDT or play for any criteria. The importance of this study is its development and exploration of refinements in single-subject research methods that show promise for use in the documentation of treatment outcomes. Such refinements include the use of functional activity as an evaluation tool and ordinal scales for the assessment of change.
Prediction and informative risk factor selection of bone diseases

With the booming of healthcare industry and the overwhelming amount of electronic health records (EHRs) shared by healthcare institutions and practitioners, we take advantage of EHR data to develop an effective disease risk management model that not only models the progression of the disease, but also predicts the risk of the disease for early disease control or prevention. Existing models for answering these questions usually fall into two categories: the expert knowledge based model or the handcrafted feature set based model. To fully utilize the whole EHR data, we will build a framework to construct an integrated representation of features from all available risk factors in the EHR data and use these integrated features to effectively predict osteoporosis and bone fractures. We will also develop a framework for informative risk factor selection of bone diseases. A pair of models for two contrast cohorts (e.g., diseased patients versus non-diseased patients) will be established to discriminate their characteristics and find the most informative risk factors. Several empirical results on a real bone disease data set show that the proposed framework can successfully predict bone diseases and select informative risk factors that are beneficial and useful to guide clinical decisions.
A more clinically relevant mouse model of hemophilia B

Comment on Jin et al, page [1733][1] This paper describes hemophilia B mice in which a human factor IX ( FIX ) gene with a missense mutation replaced the normal mouse FIX gene. These mice have a reduced risk of an immune response and will be very useful for evaluating new therapies for hemophilia B
Effect of estrogen on human endometrial epithelial cell growth and differentiation in vitro.

Abstract Although physiologic parameters regulating endometrial proliferation and secretory maturation during the normal menstrual cycle are well characterized, cellular and molecular interactions directing these events under the influence of a changing hormonal milieu remain unclear. In the present study, the effect of estradiol on the growth and acquisition of differentiated function of purified endometrial epithelium was examined in an established model. Epithelial cells were isolated with high purity from human endometrial biopsies. When cultured on a biomatrix bed, cells established a polarized monolayer with gland-like imaginations. Cells isolated throughout the menstrual cycle were cultured under serum-free conditions, with or without estradiol, and secretion of tumor-associated epitope TAG-72 was monitored by radioimmunoassay. Under steroid-free conditions, cells exhibited a distinct proliferative interval, followed by the acquisition of TAG-72 epitope secretory capability. Although estradiol had no apparent effect on proliferation or spatial organization of epithelial cells, a striking inhibition of TAG-72 epitope secretion was evident. This observation is believed to represent a direct effect of estradiol on endometrial epithelial cells in this model.