cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cable Deployment System for Unmanned Ground Vehicle(UGV) Mobile Microgrids

Abstract An ad hoc autonomous mobile microgrid system requires electrical connections to be formed between physically separated resources. This work proposes the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) as the means to deploy the electrical cable that creates these connections. This operation requires careful control of the cabling at variable speeds to avoid entanglement with the deploying UGV or obstacles in complex outdoor environments. Searching for a product that could supply the needed control and flexibility revealed a lack of compact and low-cost options. Existing options are very heavy ( > 100 lbs) and do not supply precision in their deployment. There is no commercial off-the-shelf option available for small-scale cable deployment operations with size and weight constraints. To fulfill the application requirements and to combat this deficiency, a custom design and build of an “Adjustable Cable Management Mechanism” (ACMM) was required. This ACMM provides a low cost, compact platform for powered and controlled deployment and retraction of different-sized cable under moderate loads, utilizing Commercial Off-The-Shelf components (COTS). Employing this design has enabled a variety of tasks that require distribution of electrical or data cables to be accomplished for small-scale projects. The goal of this paper is to give detailed design specifications of the ACMM and instructions on how to recreate it and calibrate it to be useful for tethering robots in various applications such as steep terrain, internet connection through tight spaces, or electrical connection between nodes for complex microgrids.
Source Apportionment of Environmental Combustion Sources using Excitation Emission Matrix Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Machine Learning.

Abstract The link between particulate matter (PM) air pollution and negative health effects is well-established. Air pollution was estimated to cause 4.9 million deaths in 2017 and PM was responsible for 94% of these deaths. In order to inform effective mitigation strategies in the future, further study of PM and its health effects is important. Here, we present a method for identifying sources of combustion generated PM using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and machine learning (ML) algorithms. PM samples were collected during a health effects exposure assessment panel study in Seattle. We use archived field samples from the exposure study and the associated positive matrix factorization (PMF) source apportionment based on X-ray fluorescence and light absorbing carbon measurements to train convolutional neural network and principal component regression algorithms. We show EEM spectra from cyclohexane extracts of the archived filter samples can be used to accurately apportion mobile and vegetative burning sources but were unable to detect crustal dust, Cl-rich, secondary sulfate and fuel oil sources. The use of this EEM-ML approach may be used to conduct PM exposure studies that include source apportionment of combustion sources.
Brief Report: Financial Incentives and Real-Time Adherence Monitoring to Promote Daily Adherence to HIV Treatment and Viral Suppression Among People Living With HIV: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND Interventions to promote medication adherence and viral suppression are needed among HIV-positive individuals. We aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of daily financial incentives linked to real-time adherence monitoring among treatment-experienced individuals. METHODS At an HIV clinic in Philadelphia, we conducted a pilot randomized trial among treatment-experienced HIV-positive adults with unsuppressed viral loads (>400 copies/mL). Participants randomized to the intervention group were eligible for daily lottery-based financial rewards dependent on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, measured by a wireless-enabled electronic pill bottle. Participants also received a financial incentive for achieving viral suppression at 3 months. The control group received the standard of care. We measured acceptance and feasibility through follow-up survey at 3 months, viral suppression at 3 months, and adherence. RESULTS Among 29 participants, 28 (93%) completed 3-month follow-up, and 24 (83%) completed a 3-month laboratory visit. Electronic pill bottles were highly acceptable to participants, with most strongly agreeing that they worked well, were reliable, and easy to use. Among those who received the intervention, 77% were very satisfied with their experience. Among those who completed the 3-month laboratory visit, viral suppression was achieved by 40% in the intervention group and 29% in the control group. ART adherence ≥80% was achieved by 36% and 25% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Daily financial incentives coupled with real-time adherence monitoring are a promising strategy to support ART adherence among HIV-positive individuals who are not virally suppressed. This novel approach warrants testing in a larger trial.
Faithful Target Attribute Prediction in Neural Machine Translation

The training data used in NMT is rarely controlled with respect to specific attributes, such as word casing or gender, which can cause errors in translations. We argue that predicting the target word and attributes simultaneously is an effective way to ensure that translations are more faithful to the training data distribution with respect to these attributes. Experimental results on two tasks, uppercased input translation and gender prediction, show that this strategy helps mirror the training data distribution in testing. It also facilitates data augmentation on the task of uppercased input translation.
Parallel Materialization of the Finite RDFS Closure for Hundreds of Millions of Triples

In this paper, we consider the problem of materializing the complete finite RDFS closure in a scalable manner; this includes those parts of the RDFS closure that are often ignored such as literal generalization and container membership properties. We point out characteristics of RDFS that allow us to derive an embarrassingly parallel algorithm for producing said closure, and we evaluate our C/MPI implementation of the algorithm on a cluster with 128 cores using different-size subsets of the LUBM 10,000-university data set. We show that the time to produce inferences scales linearly with the number of processes, evaluating this behavior on up to hundreds of millions of triples. We also show the number of inferences produced for different subsets of LUBM10k. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to provide RDFS inferencing on such large data sets in such low times. Finally, we discuss future work in terms of promising applications of this approach including OWL2RL rules, MapReduce implementations, and massive scaling on supercomputers.
The Computing and Data Grid Approach: Infrastructure for Distributed Science Applications

With the advent of Grids - infrastructure for using and managing widely distributed computing and data resources in the science environment - there is now an opportunity to provide a standard, large-scale, computing, data, instrument, and collaboration environment for science that spans many different projects and provides the required infrastructure and services in a relatively uniform and supportable way. Grid technology has evolved over the past several years to provide the services and infrastructure needed for building 'virtual' systems and organizations. We argue that Grid technology provides an excellent basis for the creation of the integrated environments that can combine the resources needed to support the large- scale science projects located at multiple laboratories and universities. We present some science case studies that indicate that a paradigm shift in the process of science will come about as a result of Grids providing transparent and secure access to advanced and integrated information and technologies infrastructure: powerful computing systems, large-scale data archives, scientific instruments, and collaboration tools. These changes will be in the form of services that can be integrated with the user's work environment, and that enable uniform and highly capable access to these computers, data, and instruments, regardless of the location or exact nature of these resources. These services will integrate transient-use resources like computing systems, scientific instruments, and data caches (e.g., as they are needed to perform a simulation or analyze data from a single experiment); persistent-use resources. such as databases, data catalogues, and archives, and; collaborators, whose involvement will continue for the lifetime of a project or longer. While we largely address large-scale science in this paper, Grids, particularly when combined with Web Services, will address a broad spectrum of science scenarios. both large and small scale.
Vulnerability of riparian zones to invasion by exotic vascular plants

We compared the invasibility of riparian plant communities high on river banks with those on floodplain floors for four South African rivers. Analyses of abundant and significant riparian species showed that the floors have 3.1 times more exotic plants than the banks. The percent exotics ranges from 5% to 11% of total species richness for the banks, and from 20% to 30% for the floors. Species richness and percent exotics are negatively correlated for the banks, but not correlated for the floors. Despite great differences in climate, species richness, and landuse history, the percentages of exotic plants in three rivers in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and one river in southwestern France are similar to those in South Africa (24-30% vs. 20-30%, respectively). Furthermore, the high proportions of exotic species in these riparian plant communities are comparable to those reported for vascular plant communities on islands. We conclude that the macro-channel floor regions of the riparian zones of South African rivers are highly vulnerable to invasion by exotic vascular plants.
Sleep and food intake: A multisystem review of mechanisms in children and adults

The foods we eat have substantial impact on our health, and excessive food intake is associated with numerous long-term health conditions. It is therefore essential to understand the factors influencing this crucial health behavior. Research has identified sleep problems as one such factor; however, little research has examined how sleep problems impact food intake. Using a multisystemic perspective, this article proposes a variety of ways in which sleep problems likely increase food intake and illustrates the need for research to empirically examine these underlying mechanisms. Such research would have important treatment implications for health conditions often treated with dietary interventions.
Feminist Narrative Interpretations: Chachenges, Tensions and Opportunities for Nurse Researches

An affinity for narrative is shared by researchers across a broad range of disciplines. Narrative inquiry is an option for nurse researchers who are interested in using qualitative methods to explore experiences with nursing, health and illness. In this paper, we discuss the methodological and epistemological challenges, tensions and opportunities we encountered in the process of developing feminist narrative interpretations, an approach to narrative inquiry grounded in both nursing and feminist perspectives.
The Impact of Process Instructions on Judges’ Use of Examinee Performance Data in Angoff Standard Setting Exercises

Despite being widely used and frequently studied, the Angoff standard setting procedure has received little attention with respect to an integral part of the process: how judges incorporate examinee performance data in the decision-making process. Without performance data, subject matter experts have considerable difficulty accurately making the required judgments. Providing data introduces the very real possibility that judges will turn their content-based judgments into norm-referenced judgments. This article reports on three Angoff standard setting panels for which some items were randomly assigned to have incorrect performance data. Judges were informed that some of the items were accompanied by inaccurate data, but were not told which items they were. The purpose of the manipulation was to assess the extent to which changing the instructions given to the judges would impact the extent to which they relied on the performance data. The modified instructions resulted in the judges making less use of the performance data than judges participating in recent parallel studies. The relative extent of the change judges made did not appear to be substantially influenced by the accuracy of the data.
The Passage from Classical to Neo-Liberalism: Frank H. Knight's Role Re-Considered

Where should we place Frank Knight in the passage from classical liberalism to neo-liberalism? The argument has recently been made by that Knight should be placed among the group of liberals of an “older generation” that neo-liberals generally, and the Chicago School in particular, separated themselves from as neo-liberalism was built in the postwar period. In order to examine Knight’s place, the essay looks at an under-utilized source for Knight’s work: his 1958 lectures to the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Political Economy at the University of Virginia, which were published in 1960 under the title Intelligence and Democratic Action. In style and content, the 1958 lectures stand apart from similar lecture series delivered in the 1930s, and they also benefit from a clear explication of his comparative historical approach to the study of social economic organization. But the core of the book is his conception of interlocking nature of the politics, economics and ethics of liberalism. Knight’s liberalism is explored here with specific attention paid to the ways in which it is similar to, or different from, neo-liberalism. The result is mixed: in several key ways Knight different significantly from the neo-liberalism, but in several policy areas his conclusions are quite similar. In fact, while the philosophical differences do reinforce the argument that he is not among their number, the fact that his teaching of Chicago economists often drew upon the economic policy arguments that he shared with them suggests that he may have had more of a role in the development of neoliberal policy that the recent studies imply.
Graphing and grafting graphene: Classifying finite topological defects

The structure of finite-area topological defects in graphene is described in terms of both the direct honeycomb lattice and its dual triangular lattice. Such defects are equivalent to cutting out a patch of graphene and replacing it with a different patch with the same number of dangling bonds. An important subset of these defects, bound by a closed loop of alternating 5- and 7-membered carbon rings, explains most finite-area topological defects that have been experimentally observed. Previously unidentified defects seen in scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images of graphene grown on SiC are identified as isolated divacancies or divacancy clusters.
An Objective Function for Optimization Techniques in Simultaneous Multiple-element Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry

This work considers several composite objective functions and uses the sequential simplex optimization technique to evaluate the performance of a proposed objective function in locating optimal instrumental operating conditions for simultaneous multiple-element determinations by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. The proposed objective function, combined with a generalized approach to optimization, can be applied to any group of analysis elements and is of value in routine optimization procedures for simultaneous multiple-element methods of analysis.
Simplified axioms for many-valued quantification theory

The basic aim of the present paper is to simplify the axioms for many-valued quantification theory which were developed by Rosser and Turquette in Many-valued logics ([10], pp. 33–34 and pp. 63–64). The simplification which is achieved results not only from a reduction in the number of axiom schemes and rules of inference, but also by obtaining greater formal similarity to some elegant axioms for standard 2-valued quantification theory. This result will not be accomplished by establishing the formal interdeducibility between our simplified axioms and the Rosser-Turquette set. On the contrary, it will be shown that these two sets of axioms are not formally interdeducible.What will be shown is that whenever the Rosser-Turquette axioms are used to define a plausible set of statements, this set of statements can be defined using our simplified axioms. The exact meaning of “plausible” will become clear from what follows, so for the moment it will be sufficient to remark that a set of statements is plausible if and only if each statement of the set is analytic in the sense that the statements take designated truth-values exclusively. In general, a Rosser-Turquette set of axioms would be used to define a set of plausible statements, and in such a case our simplified axioms could be used to achieve the same result.
Local cohomology of bivariate splines

We consider the problem of determining the dimension of the space of bivariate splines Ckr(Δ), for all k. This problem is closely related to the question of whether Cr(\gD) is a free R-module. The main result is that Cr(\gD) is free if and only if ¦Δ¦ has genus zero and Ckr(Δ) has the expected dimension for k = r + 1 (and hence for all k). We also obtain several interesting corollaries, including the following simple non-freeness criterion: given a fixed Δ having an edge with both vertices interior, and which does not extend to the boundary, there exists an r0, which can be determined by inspection, such that Cr(\gD) is not free for any r ≥ r0.
Field Validation of Soil Solute Profiles in Irrigated Cotton

Management of water and fertilizer N are important aspects of cotton production in the desert Southwest. GOSSYM, a cotton growth simulation model, has been used extensively to manage these inputs. Our objectives were to further validate GOSSYM by comparing model-simulated and measured soil NO - 3 -N profiles, to evaluate GOSSYM's potential as a management tool under irrigated growing conditions in the desert part of the U.S. Cotton Belt, and to address questions about the way GOSSYM simulates NO - 3 -N movement through the soil profile in relation to irrigation water management (which in turn affects prediction of plant growth and development). We compared measured profiles of NO - 3 -N with GOSSYM-simulated profiles. Soil profile samples were obtained from an existing N-management field study, a split-plot within a randomized complete block design. Mainplots were upland and pima cotton (G. hirsutum L. cv. DPL 5415 and G. barbadense L. cv. Pima S-7, respectively). Subplots were a check (0 fertilizer N) and three other N-management strategies. The cotton was grown on a Casa Grande sandy loam [fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Natrargid (reclaimed)] near Maricopa, AZ, in 1994 and 1995. Fertilizer N rates ranged from 0 to 350 kg ha -1 in 1994 and 0 to 392 kg ha -1 in 1995. Soil samples taken to a depth of 120 cm in 30-cm increments were analyzed for NO - 3 -N. Comparisons of simulated and actual NO - 3 -N profiles revealed tendendes in GOSSYM to overestimate NO - 3 -N leaching out of the effective rooting zone, resulting in simulated N stresses midseason. When GOSSYM simulated an N stress, between 50 and 75% of the simulated soil NO - 3 -N values were greater than the measured values, yet the simulated N stress still occurred. This indicates possible limitations in GOSSYM's ability to adequately predict N uptake by plants. The dynamic soil N portion of the model needs further refinement, particularly for cotton production under irrigated desert conditions.
Chicken Mhc alloantiserum cross-reactivity analysis by hemagglutination and flow cytometry.

The major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) haplotype in the chicken is generally determined by the use of alloantisera in a hemagglutination assay. This method restricts haplotype determination to antigens expressed on the surface of erythrocytes which includes class I (B – F) and class IV (B – G) antigens as well as any other polymorphic molecules on these cells. Alloantisera can result in complex cross-reactivity patterns. We describe here the analysis of 53 alloantisera made within Mhc-congenic lines. Each antiserum was tested by hemagglutination with erythrocytes and by flow cytometry with erythrocytes and peripheral white blood cells of seven Mhc haplotypes; B 2 , B 5 , B 12 , B 13 , B 15 , B 19 , and B 21 . Five types of antiserum were identified based on their reactivity to different cell subpopulations of the peripheral blood of the donor haplotype as well as in cross-reactivity for different haplotypes. RBC specific cross-reactive antigens attributed to B – G molecules were demonstrated for the B5 : B19, B12 : B19, and B19 : B21 cross-reactions. Cross-reactive antigens detected on RBC and thrombocytes attributable to B – G molecules on both types of cells were demonstrated for the B2 : B12, B2 : B15, B2 : B19, and B2 : B21 cross-reactions. In addition, cross-reactive antigens occurring on RBC and WBC were attributed to B – F (or RBC and lymphocyte-expressed B – G loci) and included the B12 : B13, B13 : B19, and B15 : B19 cross-reactions. Several antisera with specificity for B cells purportedly identifying B – L epitopes were found but their numbers were limited and cross-reactivities were not defined. The identities described here may be useful in understanding B haplotype similarities and differences in disease resistance and immune response.
Surgery with molecular fluorescence imaging using activatable cell-penetrating peptides decreases residual cancer and improves survival

The completeness of tumor removal during surgery is dependent on the surgeon’s ability to differentiate tumor from normal tissue using subjective criteria that are not easily quantifiable. A way to objectively assess tumor margins during surgery in patients would be of great value. We have developed a method to visualize tumors during surgery using activatable cell-penetrating peptides (ACPPs), in which the fluorescently labeled, polycationic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) is coupled via a cleavable linker to a neutralizing peptide. Upon exposure to proteases characteristic of tumor tissue, the linker is cleaved, dissociating the inhibitory peptide and allowing the CPP to bind to and enter tumor cells. In mice, xenografts stably transfected with green fluorescent protein show colocalization with the Cy5-labeled ACPPs. In the same mouse models, Cy5-labeled free ACPPs and ACPPs conjugated to dendrimers (ACPPDs) delineate the margin between tumor and adjacent tissue, resulting in improved precision of tumor resection. Surgery guided by ACPPD resulted in fewer residual cancer cells left in the animal after surgery as measured by Alu PCR. A single injection of ACPPD dually labeled with Cy5 and gadolinium chelates enabled preoperative whole-body tumor detection by MRI, intraoperative guidance by real-time fluorescence, intraoperative histological analysis of margin status by fluorescence, and postoperative MRI tumor quantification. Animals whose tumors were resected with ACPPD guidance had better long-term tumor-free survival and overall survival than animals whose tumors were resected with traditional bright-field illumination only.
A Common Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Infrastructure for Accommodating Space Vehicles in the Next Generation Air Transportation System

Suborbital space flight and space tourism are new potential markets that could significantly impact the National Airspace System (NAS). Numerous private companies are developing space flight capabilities to capture a piece of an emerging commercial space transportation market. These entrepreneurs share a common vision that sees commercial space flight as a profitable venture. Additionally, U.S. space exploration policy and national defense will impose significant additional demands on the NAS. Air traffic service providers must allow all users fair access to limited airspace, while ensuring that the highest levels of safety, security, and efficiency are maintained. The FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will need to accommodate spacecraft transitioning to and from space through the NAS. To accomplish this, space and air traffic operations will need to be seamlessly integrated under some common communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. As part of NextGen, the FAA has been developing the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) which utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track and separate aircraft. Another key component of NextGen, System-Wide Information Management/ Network Enabled Operations (SWIM/NEO), is an open architecture network that will provide NAS data to various customers, system tools and applications. NASA and DoD are currently developing a space-based range (SBR) concept that also utilizes GPS, communications satellites and other CNS assets. The future SBR will have very similar utility for space operations as ADS-B and SWIM has for air traffic. Perhaps the FAA, NASA, and DoD should consider developing a common space-based CNS infrastructure to support both aviation and space transportation operations. This paper suggests specific areas of research for developing a CNS infrastructure that can accommodate spacecraft and other new types of vehicles as an integrated part of NextGen.
Suprahypophyseal hypogonadism and hypothyroidism during prolonged coma after head trauma.

Prolonged coma after head trauma is associated with a depletion of 3′,5′ cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Because cAMP has been implicated in neuroendocrine secretion, we have examined pituitary-hypothalamic function in 7 adult male patients with traumatic coma lasting longer than 2 weeks. Within 1–3 days after trauma, a ventricular catheter connected to a subcutaneous Rickham reservoir was placed in the lateral ventricle to treat intracranial hypertension. Via the reservoir, CSF cAMP was measured at 2–4 day intervals for 10–25 days. Simultaneously, plasma hormone concentrations were also determined. CSF cAMP and plasma levels of TSH, T4, free T4, T3, LH, FSH, and testosterone became subnormal in all 7 cases. In 5 patients whose level of consciousness fluctuated, the reductions in plasma T4 and testosterone were proportional to both severity of coma (r > 0.89, P 0.81, P < .05). In 3 patients who remained deeply comatose for 17–25...
Control of a Desert-Grassland Transition by a Keystone Rodent Guild

Twelve years after three species of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) were removed from plots of Chihuahuan Desert shrub habitat, density of tall perennial and annual grasses had increased approximately threefold and rodent species typical of arid grassland had colonized. These were just the most recent and drmatic in a series of changes in plants and animals caused by experimental exclusion of Dipodomys. In this ecosystem kangaroo rats are a keystone guild: through seed predation and soil disturbance they have major effects on biological diversity and biogeochemical processes.
Influence of Caregiver Burden on the Association Between Daily Fluctuations in Pleasant Activities and Mood: A Daily Diary Analysis

Much research has focused on behavioral activation and its effect on depression, but less is known about the effects of leisure activities on the two distinct affective domains of depression: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Furthermore, individual factors (i.e., stress level) may moderate the impact of behavioral activation on affect. The present study utilized a daily diary approach to examine the moderating effect of stress on the relationship between leisure satisfaction and both PA and NA. Twenty-five dementia caregivers completed activity and affect measures four times daily for 14 days. Results were analyzed using multilevel modeling, an approach that considers intra-individual differences in activity and affect over time. Results supported the hypothesis that caregivers with higher burden display a stronger association between leisure satisfaction and affect than caregivers with lower burden. Specifically, caregivers with higher burden had a stronger positive relationship between leisure satisfaction and PA and a stronger negative relationship between leisure satisfaction and NA. These findings suggest that screening caregivers for level of burden may help identify those most likely to benefit from behavioral interventions.
Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of Perturbed Trinuclear Copper Clusters: The Role of Protons in Reductive Cleavage of the O-O Bond in the Multicopper Oxidase Fet3p

The multicopper oxidase Fet3p couples four 1e(-) oxidations of substrate to the 4e(-) reduction of O2 to H2O. Fet3p uses four Cu atoms to accomplish this reaction: the type 1, type 2, and coupled binuclear type 3 sites. The type 2 and type 3 sites together form a trinuclear Cu cluster (TNC) which is the site of O2 reduction. This study focuses on mutants of two residues, E487 and D94, which lie in the second coordination sphere of the TNC and defines the role that each plays in the structural integrity of the TNC, its reactivity with O2, and in the directional movement of protons during reductive cleavage of the O-O bond. The E487D, E487A, and D94E mutants have been studied in the holo and type 1 depleted (T1D) forms. Residue E487, located near the T3 center, is found to be responsible for donation of a proton during the reductive cleavage of the O-O bond in the peroxide intermediate and an inverse kinetic solvent isotope effect, which indicates that this proton is already transferred when the O-O bond is cleaved. Residue D94, near the T2 site, plays a key role in the reaction of the reduced TNC with O2 and drives electron transfer from the T2 Cu to cleave the O-O bond by deprotonating the T2 Cu water ligand. A mechanism is developed where these second sphere residues participate in the proton assisted reductive cleavage of the O-O bond at the TNC.
Closure to “performance of a transparent Flexible Shear Beam container for geotechnical centrifuge modelling of dynamic problems” by Ghayoomi M., Dashti S., and McCartney J.S.

Abstract In response to the discussion, this closure presents a new set of analyses to confirm the satisfactory performance of the recently-developed transparent Flexible Shear Beam (FSB) container and its limitations. The lateral deformations of the box estimated using Finite Element analyses and measured during centrifuge experiments were compared. The maximum deformation to height ratio was sufficiently small to retain at-rest lateral earth pressures for loose to medium-dense cohesionless soils and all cohesive materials. In addition, higher frequency modes of vibration were estimated for the container, and were found to occur where the earthquake energy is less significant. Further, the box is expected to approximately replicate free field conditions under 1-D horizontal shaking for the range of soil properties under investigation. Overall, the deformation and vibration analyses indicate that the selection of appropriate rubber material properties and boundary conditions are critical when analyzing the performance of the container.
Lockout and Tagout Procedures to Prevent Occupational Injury and Fatality

Hazardous energy control programs that include lockout and tagout procedures as well as worker training can prevent serious injury and death during machine maintenance.
Preprocessing functions for computed radiography images in a PACS environment

In a picture archiving and communications system (PACS), images are acquired from several modalities including computed radiography (CR). This modality has unique image characteristics and presents several problems that need to be resolved before the image is available for viewing at a display workstation. A set of preprocessing functions have been applied to all CR images in a PACS environment to enhance the display of images. The first function reformats CR images that are acquired with different plate sizes to a standard size for display. Another function removes the distracting white background caused by the collimation used at the time of exposure. A third function determines the orientation of each image and rotates those images that are in nonstandard positions into a standard viewing position. Another function creates a default look-up table based on the gray levels actually used by the image (instead of allocated gray levels). Finally, there is a function which creates (for chest images only) the piece-wise linear look-up tables that can be applied to enhance different tissue densities. These functions have all been implemented in a PACS environment. Each of these functions have been very successful in improving the viewing conditions of CR images and contribute to the clinical acceptance of PACS by reducing the effort required to display CR images.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A comparison of the metabolism of the abortifacient compounds from Ponderosa pine needles in conditioned versus naive cattle.

Isocupressic acid (ICA) is the abortifacient compound in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa L.) needles, which can cause late-term abortions in cattle (Bos taurus). However, cattle rapidly metabolize ICA to agathic acid (AGA) and subsequent metabolites. When pine needles are dosed orally to cattle, no ICA is detected in their serum, whereas AGA is readily detected. Recent research has demonstrated that AGA is also an abortifacient compound in cattle. The observation has been made that when cattle are dosed with labdane acids for an extended time, the concentration of AGA in serum increases for 1 to 2 d but then decreases to baseline after 5 to 6 d even though they are still being dosed twice daily. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether cattle conditioned to pine needles metabolize ICA, and its metabolites, faster than naive cattle. Agathic acid was readily detected in the serum of naive cattle fed ponderosa pine needles, whereas very little AGA was detected in the serum of cattle conditioned to pine needles. We also compared the metabolism of ICA in vitro using rumen cultures from pine-needle-conditioned and naive cattle. In the rumen cultures from conditioned cattle, AGA concentrations were dramatically less than rumen cultures from naive cattle. Thus, an adaptation occurs to cattle conditioned to pine needles such that the metabolism AGA by the rumen microflora is altered.
Stress and verbal abuse in nursing: do burned out nurses eat their young?

Aim The purpose of this study was to explore the types and frequency of verbal abuse of nurses by other nurses. Further, this study explored the components, characteristics, consequences and effects of abuse in an effort to better understand the dynamics of verbal abuse of nurses in the workplace. Nurses who experience occupational burnout are more likely to abuse other nurses. Background It is believed that nurses have been historically subjected to verbal abuse by colleagues, something previously considered to be done primarily by doctors. The effects and consequences of verbal abuse can be devastating and long-lasting. Research that has focused on its consequences has found that it is both physiologically and psychologically damaging. Method Participants completed an adapted survey, incorporating the Verbal Abuse Scale and the Verbal Abuse Survey and demographic questions developed by the researchers. Specifically, types of verbal aggression, the frequency and stressfulness of each type, emotional reaction to verbal aggression, cognitive appraisal of verbally aggressive encounters, and similarity and effectiveness of coping behaviours were explored. The long-term negative effects of verbal aggression, including absenteeism and errors in patient treatment, were also evaluated to determine if verbal aggression is a contributing factor. Results Respondents reported that the most frequent source of abuse was nurses (27%), followed by patients’ families (25%), doctors (22%), patients (17%), residents (4%), other (3%) and interns (2%). Of those who selected a nurse as the most frequent source, staff nurses were reported to be the most frequent nursing source (80%) followed by nurse managers (20%). Conclusions Verbal abuse in nursing is quite costly to the individual nurses, the hospitals and the patients. Nurses who regularly experience verbal abuse may be more stressed, may feel less satisfied with their jobs, may miss more work and may provide a substandard quality of care to patients.
Decision making with clinical diagnostic tests in terms of statistical decision theory and information theory

The value of a diagnostic test for an individual patient is expressed in terms of the test's ability to determine whether the patient does or does not have a disease. For diagnostic tests with a continuous diagnostic variable, various decision thresholds can be selected to adjust the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test to conform with the clinician's concerns (e.g., health costs, financial costs, and diagnostic information of the test). Three methods of statistical decision theory and information theory are presented for critically evaluating the value of a clinical diagnostic test. To provide an example of the application of the three methods we critically evaluate the value of using intraocular pressure (IOP) data from three populations: open angle glaucoma, open angle glaucoma suspect, and no open angle glaucoma. Based on these methods, IOP data are shown to provide a means of indicating the higher probability of the presence of open angle glaucoma (whereupon the clinician would need to conduct further diagnostic tests), but on average IOP data are shown to have very little value as a diagnostic variable.
Development of a microsatellite genetic map spanning 5q31–q33 and subsequent placement of the LGMD1A locus between D5S178 and IL9

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of disorders. We previously localized an autosomal dominant form of the disorder (LGMD1A) to chromosome 5q22-31 by linkage analysis in a single large pedigree. After developing a microsatellite genetic map incorporating six loci in q31-33 of chromosome 5 and spanning 35 cM, we have refined the original localization. Using multipoint analysis, LGMD1A is localised to a 7 cM region between the markers IL9 and D5S178 with odds > 1000:1.
Modeling stress state dependent damage evolution in a cast Al–Si–Mg aluminum alloy

Abstract Internal state variable rate equations are cast in a continuum framework to model void nucleation, growth, and coalescence in a cast Al–Si–Mg aluminum alloy. The kinematics and constitutive relations for damage resulting from void nucleation, growth, and coalescence are discussed. Because damage evolution is intimately coupled with the stress state, internal state variable hardening rate equations are developed to distinguish between compression, tension, and torsion straining conditions. The scalar isotropic hardening equation and second rank tensorial kinematic hardening equation from the Bammann–Chiesa–Johnson (BCJ) Plasticity model are modified to account for hardening rate differences under tension, compression, and torsion. A method for determining the material constants for the plasticity and damage equations is presented. Parameter determination for the proposed phenomenological nucleation rate equation, motivated from fracture mechanics and microscale physical observations, involves counting nucleation sites as a function of strain from optical micrographs. Although different void growth models can be included, the McClintock void growth model is used in this study. A coalescence model is also introduced. The damage framework is then evaluated with respect to experimental tensile data of notched Al–Si–Mg cast aluminum alloy specimens. Finite element results employing the damage framework are shown to illustrate its usefulness.
Uniform boundedness of critical crossing probabilities implies hyperscaling

We consider bond percolation on the d-dimensional hypercubic lattice. Assuming the existence of a single critical exponent, the exponent ρ describing the decay rate of point-to-plane crossings at the critical point, we prove that hyperscaling holds whenever critical rectangle crossing probabilities are uniformly bounded away from 1. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 15, 368–413, 1999
Settlement and sleeping sickness control--a dual threshold model of colonial and traditional methods in East Africa.

Abstract A traditional system of extreme settlement dispersion acted in concert with homestead abandonment to limit the severity of sleeping sickness outbreaks in S.E. Tanganyika. Changes during colonial times fostered settlement agglomeration and the disease became a major public health problem. Colonial control policies required a program of density intensification to achieve total environmental control. This high density settlement pattern was dysfunctional to the Ngindo people and the new settlements were rapidly abandoned. A study of this epidemic suggests that there is a range of settlement densities which are especially favorable to sleeping sickness outbreaks. Although high densities of settlement have long been recognized as deterrents to epidemics, this paper suggests there is also a low density condition which retards epidemic outbreaks.
Optical and photoemission studies of lanthanum hydrides

The results of optical absorptivity and photoemission measurements on lanthanum hydrides, LaH/sub x/ (1.98 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 2.89) are reported. The low energy (h..nu.. less than or equal to 0.5 eV) optical features in LaH/sub x/ are attributed to the filling of octahedral sites. Higher energy interband absorption involves states within the d-band complex, analogous to other dihydrides. As x increases above 2.0, the optical features change rapidly due to the increase in the number of occupied octahedral sites. Various band structure studies suggest that LaH/sub 3/ might be a semiconductor. Photoemission results show that as x increases, the d-derived states at E/sub F/ are drawn down and that for LaH/sub 2/ /sub 89/ only very weak valence band emission is observed. The hydrogen-derived bonding bands are shown centered approx. 5 eV below E/sub F/. Observed chemical shifts in the La 5p/sub 1/2 3/2/ cores are discussed for 1.98 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 2.89.
Identifying stored-grain insects using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Proper identification of insects in grain storage facilities is critical for predicting development of pest populations and for making management decisions. However, many stored-grain insect pests are difficult to identify, even for trained personnel. We examined the possibility that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy could be used for taxonomic purposes based on the premise that every species may have a unique chemical composition. Tests were conducted with 11 species of beetles commonly associated with stored grain. Spectra from individual insects were collected by using a near-infrared diode-array spectrometer. Calibrations were developed by using partial least squares analysis and neural networks. The neural networks calibration correctly identified >99% of test insects as primary or secondary pests and correctly identified >95% of test insects to genus. Evidence indicates that absorption characteristics of cuticular lipids may contribute to the classification of these species. We believe that this technology could be used for rapid, automated identification of many other organisms.
INTEGRATIVE ROLE OF THE LAMINA TERMINALIS IN THE REGULATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND BODY FLUID HOMEOSTASIS

1. Cardiovascular and body fluid homeostasis depends upon the activation and co-ordination of reflexes and behavioural responses. In order to accomplish this, the brain receives and processes both neural and chemical input. Once in the brain, information from sources signalling the status of the cardiovascular system and body fluid balance travels, and is integrated, throughout a widely distributed neural network. Recent studies using neuroanatomical and functional techniques have identified several key areas within this neural network. One major processing node is comprised of structures located along the lamina terminalis. 2. Structures associated with the lamina terminalis include the median preoptic nucleus (MePO) and two sensory circumventricular organs (SCVO), the subfornical organ (SFO) and the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT). Current evidence indicates that blood-borne signals, such as angiotensin II (AngII), reach SCVO (e.g. SFO) where they are transduced. This information is then carried via neural pathways to brain nuclei (e.g. MePO) where it is integrated with other inputs, such as those derived from systemic arterial blood pressure and volume receptors. 3. Because of their receptive and integrative functions, lamina terminalis structures are essential for the normal control of hormone release (e.g. vasopressin), sympathetic activation and behaviours (thirst and salt appetite), which collectively contribute to maintenance of cardiovascular and body fluid homeostasis.
Databases for Research on Nonprofit Health Care Organizations: Opportunities and Limitations

As tax-exempt entities that compete in commercial markets with for-profit organizations, nonprofit health care organizations present stimulating intellectual challenges to the theorist and the empiricist alike. Because of third-party payment and policy intensiveness of health care, much information is available to researchers. Most research has focused on comparisons with for-profits and on public policy issues. This article describes the major streams of research on health care delivery organizations and the main sources and types of data that are available to researchers. We suggest criteria for evaluating data sources and identify some limitations and barriers that now exist. We conclude by identifying and assessing the data problems that could confront researchers interested in ownership issues in health care and by offering suggestions on how the more serious ones might be addressed to facilitate improved research.
A note on compact Kähler manifolds with nef tangent bundles

In this paper, we study the compact Kahler manifolds whose tangent bundles are numerically effective and whose anti-Kodaira dimensions are equal to one. LetX be a compact Kahler manifold with nef tangent bundle and semiample anti-canonical bundle. We prove that κ(−K X )=1 if and only if there exists a finite etale coverY→X such thatY≅ℙ1×A, whereA is a complex torus. As a consequence, we are able to improve upon a result of T. Fujiwara [3, 4].
Geometrical optics: some applications of the law of intensity

Geometrical optics is commonly associated with the ray-like properties of light, such as, law of reflection, Snell's law, ray tracing, the optical path length and phase. The geometrical optics law of intensity and the optical wavefront are also well known, but are perhaps less used as a basis for optical design than ray tracing. This paper will first review how the geometrical optics law of intensity leads to the invariance of the product of the intensity of light times an element of area along a bundle of rays. Then, we will discuss how the geometrical optics law of intensity provides a good foundation for understanding not only nonimaging optics through direct ways to design optical systems for prescribed illumination requirements but also imaging applications through a complete understanding of the differential geometry of the optical wavefront and the caustic surfaces.