cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Identification of Feed Drive Kinematics and Cycle Time Calculation

Cycle time calculation plays a major role in the design of manufacturing systems. Accurate estimates are needed to correctly determine the capacity of a line in terms of the number of machines that must be purchased. Over estimation results in excess capacity and under estimation leads to unsatisfied demand. Due to the high automation and cutting speeds of modern machining processes, cycle time calculation must consider both the timing of various machining actions and the kinematics of feed motions. This paper presents a cycle time calculation algorithm that gives accurate cycle time results by considering the effects of jerk and acceleration of the machine tool drives. The kinematic model for axis motion is based on trapezoidal acceleration profiles along the toolpaths. Based on this model, an algorithm for identifying the kinematic parameters has been developed. This algorithm has the advantage of utilizing a minimal set of axis motion data thus reducing the amount of data that must be collected from experiments by the machine tool vendor or the machine tool’s enduser. The proposed cycle time calculation algorithm has been verified in machining a V6 cylinder head on a four axis CNC machine.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Integrative Design to Aerodynamics and Stealth Characteristics of Airborne Pod Based on Surrogate Model

It is very difficult to calculate the RCS of fighter combined with an airborne pod in primary design of the airborne pod considering radar stealth.Therefore,a surrogate model is constructed to calculate RCS in this paper.Geometrical cross section of airborne pod,RCS of fighter-pod and the increment of aerodynamics characteristics of fighter are taken as goals of optimization together.An evaluation function method is used to construct the multio-bjective optimization model of pod shape design.Design parameters of the model were obtained by complex algorithm method.The pod shape designed by these parameters has a comparatively large geometrical cross section and can keep the increments of drag coefficient and RCS of fighter in a low level.The result shows the approach can be used in parameter design in the preliminary design of airborne pods.
Inwardly rectifying potassium current in mammalian lens epithelial cells

Lens potassium conductance is essential for the maintenance of lens volume and transparency. Recent work has identified three major potassium currents in lens: 1) an outwardly rectifying current, 2) an inwardly rectifying current, and 3) a calcium-activated current. This paper presents a study of the lens inward rectifier using whole cell and single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Inwardly rectifying potassium current is present in isolated human, rabbit, rat, and mouse lens epithelia. The voltage about which rectification occurs depends on the external potassium concentration. Internal magnesium is not necessary for rectification. In physiological saline, a time-dependent decrease in current during sustained hyperpolarization is seen. This "droop" is due to voltage-dependent block by external sodium. The inward rectifier is also effectively blocked by external cesium or barium but not by tetraethylammonium or 4-aminopyridine. The mouse lens inward rectifier has a single-channel conductance of 32 pS (measured on-cell with 150 mM potassium in the pipette). The single-channel current-voltage relationship is linear in the inward direction. In contrast to the macroscopic case, no outward current was measurable. The inward rectifier in lens has the necessary properties to be involved in setting resting voltage.
Exstrophy of the Bladder: Primary Closure after Iliac Osteotomies without External or Internal Fixation

A total of 6 consecutive infants with exstrophy of the bladder underwent iliac osteotomy in association with primary closure of the bladder without internal or external fixation of the bony pelvis. Hospitalization time was short and there were no resulting problems with healing, bony deformities or subsequent ambulation. Fixation of the bony pelvis after iliac osteotomy does not appear to be necessary in nonambulatory patients undergoing primary closure for bladder exstrophy.
The Emergence of Groups and Inequality through Co-Adaptation

The emergence of groups and of inequality is often traced to pre-existing differences, exclusionary practices, or resource accumulation processes, but can the emergence of groups and their differential success simply be a feature of the behaviors of a priori equally-capable actors who have mutually adapted? Using a simple model of behavioral co-adaptation among agents whose individual actions construct a common environment, we present evidence that the formation of unequal groups is endemic to co-adaptive processes that endogenously alter the environment; agents tend to separate into two groups, one whose members stop adapting earliest (the in-group), and another comprising agents who continue to adapt (the out-group). Over a wide range of model parameters, members of the in-group are rewarded more on average than members of the out-group. The primary reason is that the in-group is able to have a more profound influence on the environment and mold it to the benefit of its members. This molding capacity proves more beneficial than the persistence of adaptivity, yet, crucially, which agents are able to form a coalition to successfully exert this control is strongly contingent on random aspects of the set of agent behaviors. In this paper, we present the model, relevant definitions, and results. We then discuss its implications for the study of complex adaptive systems generally.
Funny money: the attentional role of monetary feedback detached from expected value

Stimuli associated with monetary reward can become powerful cues that effectively capture visual attention. We examined whether such value-driven attentional capture can be induced with monetary feedback in the absence of an expected cash payout. To this end, we implemented images of U.S. dollar bills as reward feedback. Participants knew in advance that they would not receive any money based on their performance. Our reward stimuli—$5 and $20 bill images—were thus dissociated from any practical utility. Strikingly, we observed a reliable attentional capture effect for the mere images of bills. Moreover, this finding generalized to Monopoly money. In two control experiments, we found no evidence in favor of nominal or symbolic monetary value. Hence, we claim that bill images are special monetary representations, such that there are strong associations between the defining visual features of bills and reward, probably due to a lifelong learning history. Together, we show that the motivation to earn cash plays a minor role when it comes to monetary rewards, while bill-defining visual features seem to be sufficient. These findings have the potential to influence human factor applications, such as gamification, and can be extended to novel value systems, such as the electronic cash Bitcoin being developed for use in mobile banking. Finally, our procedure represents a proof of concept on how images of money can be used to conserve expenditures in the experimental context.
Predicting outcome in metastatic urothelial cancer (UC) receiving docetaxel (DT): miRNA profiling in pre and post therapy.

e15518 Background: Docetaxel (DT) is used frequently as second line therapy in metastatic UC, despite low response rates. However, selected patients may derive significant benefit. Circulating miRN...
Misleading early blood volume changes obtained using ferumoxytol-based magnetic resonance imaging perfusion in high grade glial neoplasms treated with bevacizumab

Neovascularization, a distinguishing trait of high-grade glioma, is a target for anti-angiogenic treatment with bevacizumab (BEV). This study sought to use ferumoxytol-based dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to clarify perfusion and relative blood volume (rCBV) changes in glioma treated with BEV and to determine potential impact on clinical management. 16 high grade glioma patients who received BEV following post-chemoradiation radiographic or clinical progression were included. Ferumoxytol-based MRI perfusion measurements were taken before and after BEV. Lesions were defined at each timepoint by gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA)-enhancing area. Lesion volume and rCBV were compared pre and post-BEV in the lesion and rCBV “hot spot” (mean of the highest rCBV in a 1.08 cm2 area in the enhancing volume), as well as hypoperfused and hyperperfused subvolumes within the GBCA-enhancing lesion. GBCA-enhancing lesion volumes decreased 39% (P = 0.01) after BEV. Mean rCBV in post-BEV GBCA-enhancing area did not decrease significantly (P = 0.227) but significantly decreased in the hot spot (P = 0.046). Mean and hot spot rCBV decreased (P = 0.039 and 0.007) when post-BEV rCBV was calculated over the pre-BEV GBCA-enhancing area. Hypoperfused pixel count increased from 24% to 38 (P = 0.007) and hyperperfused decreased from 39 to 28% (P = 0.017). Mean rCBV decreased in 7/16 (44%) patients from >1.75 to <1.75, the cutoff for pseudoprogression diagnosis. Decreased perfusion after BEV significantly alters rCBV measurements when using ferumoxytol. BEV treatment response hinders efforts to differentiate true progression from pseudoprogression using blood volume measurements in malignant glioma, potentially impacting patient diagnosis and management.
‘Your Salvation is the Struggle Against Fascism’: Yugoslav Communists and the Rescue of Jews, 1941–1945

This article recounts a little-known episode in which Yugoslav partisans, led by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, rescued some 2,500 Jews from the former Italian camp for Jews in the northern Adriatic in the autumn of 1943. By focusing on this historical event, the article argues for broadening the notion of rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. Rather than locating ‘rescue’ in the motivations of individuals, the article takes as a point of departure the collective aspect of rescue and investigates the importance of the ideological considerations of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in its decision to rescue the Jews. Rather than in abstract ethical notions, the partisan rescue of the Jews was rooted in their political vision of the future socialist federation, of which the Jews were part.
Survey of Cockroach Species Infesting Homes in Houston, Texas

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the species of cockroaches that infest different parts of homes located in north Houston. To do this, cockroach traps were laid out in different rooms of the house. Each night for one week, and the specimen caught within the past twenty-four hours were removed from the traps and their species were determined. The number of cockroaches caught per location per night was recorded. It was concluded that the most prevalent species infesting houses in Houston, Texas was the Periplaneta americana cockroach, commonly known as the American cockroach (Insect Identification 2016). The most infested area of the house was determined to be the attic.
Exact-repair trade-off for (n, k = d − 1, d) regenerating codes

A class of exact-repair regenerating codes is introduced for a distributed storage systems with parameters (n, k = d − 1, d). The proposed construction uses determinant codes as building blocks. The proposed codes can be generated for k different operating points (α, β) on the trade-off, including the MBR and the MSR points. The trade-off achievable by the proposed code is strictly below the state-of-the-art codes, and more importantly, does not depend on n, the total number of nodes in the system. The field size required for the construction is only Θ(n).
Traditional polyphony: Multipart singing in world cultures

Vocal polyphony has been part of the western musical culture since the 11th century. There are other cultures in the world, however, that use multipart singing in their traditional music that is not based upon the European classical style with parallel thirds and triad chords. This paper will discuss the use of vocal polyphony in several well-established traditions in the world, such as the Aka Pygmies from Central Africa, Canto a tenore from Sardinia, and iso-polyphony of Albania. It will contrast polyphonic types like parallel, drone, canonic, ostinato, and heterophonic polyphony. It will also illustrate how sound quality differs from the European classical style. An understanding of polyphonic traditions can assist us in understanding people whose cultures differ from our own.
Regularization Improves the Robustness of Learned Sequence-to-Expression Models

Understanding of the gene regulatory activity of enhancers is a major problem in regulatory biology. The nascent field of sequence-to-expression modelling seeks to create quantitative models of gene expression based on regulatory DNA (cis) and cellular environmental (trans) contexts. All quantitative models are defined partially by numerical parameters, and it is common to fit these parameters to data provided by existing experimental results. However, the relative paucity of experimental data appropriate for this task, and lacunae in our knowledge of all components of the systems, results in problems often being under-specified, which in turn may lead to a situation where wildly different model parameterizations perform similarly well on training data. It may also lead to models being fit to the idiosyncrasies of the training data, without representing the more general process (overfitting). In other contexts where parameter-fitting is performed, it is common to apply regularization to reduce overfitting. We systematically evaluated the efficacy of three types of regularization in improving the generalizability of trained sequence-to-expression models. The evaluation was performed in two types of cross-validation experiments: one training on D. melanogaster data and predicting on orthologous enhancers from related species, and the other cross-validating between four D. melanogaster neurogenic ectoderm enhancers, which are thought to be under control of the same transcription factors. We show that training with a combination of noise-injection, L1, and L2 regularization can drastically reduce overfitting and improve the generalizability of learned sequence-to-expression models. These results suggest that it may be possible to mitigate the tendency of sequence-to-expression models to overfit available data, thus improving predictive power and potentially resulting in models that provide better insight into underlying biological processes.
Characterization of Re-admission and Emergency Department Visits within 90 Days Following Lower-Extremity Arthroplasty:

BackgroundAcute care events including emergency department (ED) visits and unscheduled inpatient re-admissions following lower-extremity arthroplasty are not fully understood.Question/PurposesThe p...
Isomerization of Linear to Hyperbranched Polymers: Two Isomeric Lactones Converge via Metastable Isostructural Polyesters to a Highly Branched Analogue

We report here the Zn(II)-catalyzed convergence of two metastable and isostructural polyesters to an isomeric polymer having a hyperbranched architecture. Ring-opening transesterification polymerization (ROTEP) of 4-carbomethoxyvalerolactone (CMVL) under Bronsted catalysis is known to give the linear polyester PCMVL. We show here that this can be isomerized to the equilibrated (and highly branched) polyester EQ-PCMVL. Analysis of the fragments obtained from eliminative degradation of EQ-PCMVL were critical in the formulation of its structure. The isomerization of PCMVL to EQ-PCMVL is a direct consequence of the presence of the second ester functional group in the CMVL ester-lactone, a rarely studied class of monomer. Zn(II)-catalysis of the ROTEP of the isomeric β-lactone, 2-(2-carbomethoxyethyl)propiolactone (isoCMVL), as well as isomerization of the isostructural linear homopolymer derived from that isomeric monomer, led to the same EQ-PCMVL. These results suggest a new strategy for the introduction of ...
Integrating Empathy and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation

When individuals experience empathy, they often seek to bolster others’ well-being. But what do empathizers want others to feel? Though psychologists have studied empathy and prosociality for decad...
Redefining functional status as a key cancer outcome: Patient-led measure conceptualization and development.

218Background: Multiple national quality committees have identified PRO-PMs as priority for cancer measure development. Further, measurement of ‘return to functional status’ (RFS) has been prioriti...
An Improved Model for Static Field Micro-Particle Components on a Printed Transmission Line

Amongst existing RF switching methods, a directly connected biasing circuitry is not required for Static Field Micro-Particle Components (SFM-PCs); therefore, not only power consumption is lowered but also these particle-based switches can be used in complex geometries. In this paper, an improved model for SFM-PC was presented and the effects of its physical characteristics on the performance of a microstrip TL was investigated. HFSS simulations and measurements reveal that the frequency bandwidth of both ON and OFF states varies with its physical characteristics; this mandates a careful design to meet the requirements of different wireless communication systems.
Using the discontinuation rule to reduce the effect of random guessing on parameter estimation in the item response theory

The discontinuation rule is often used to reduce the effect of random guessing in psychological tests. It may also play the similar role in the item response theory. In this article, a Monte Carlo study was implemented to explore the feasibility of the four- and six-consecutive-zero discontinuation rules to reduce the effect of random guessing on parameter estimation in the Rasch model. The results showed that random guessing inflated estimation errors, and these discontinuation rules can reduce this effect on item-parameter estimation under the joint and marginal maximum likelihood, but can do so only for person-parameter estimation under the marginal maximum likelihood and expected a posteriori methods.
Resilience: Aldrich, Rebekkah Smith (2018). Chicago, IL: ALA Neal-Schuman.

Several years ago, at the closing session at the Access Services Conference in Atlanta, GA, a presentation was given by the circulation area at the Carol M. Newman Library, Virginia Polytechnic Ins...
Caveolin-1 gene therapy inhibits inflammasome activation to protect from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating and fatal disease and characterized by increased deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and scar formation in the lung, resulting from alveolar epithelial damage and accumulation of inflammatory cells. Evidence suggests that Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), a major component of caveolae which regulates cell signaling and endocytosis, is a potential target to treat fibrotic diseases, although the mechanisms and responsible cell types are unclear. We show that Cav-1 expression was downregulated both in alveolar epithelial type I cells in bleomycin-injured mouse lungs and in lung sections from IPF patients. Increased expression of IL-1β and caspase-1 has been observed in IPF patients, indicating inflammasome activation associated with IPF. Gene transfer of a plasmid expressing Cav-1 using transthoracic electroporation reduced infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and protected from subsequent bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Overexpression of Cav-1 suppressed bleomycin- or silica-induced activation of caspase-1 and maturation of pro-IL-1β to secrete cleaved IL-1β both in mouse lungs and in primary type I cells. These results demonstrate that gene transfer of Cav-1 downregulates inflammasome activity and protects from subsequent bleomycin-mediated pulmonary fibrosis. This indicates a pivotal regulation of Cav-1 in inflammasome activity and suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with IPF.
10.25 – Uptake Transporters

Membrane transporters are recognized to be an important class of proteins for regulating cellular and physiologic solute and fluid balance. Transporter proteins can be generally separated into two major classes—uptake and efflux transporters. Not only are transporter proteins critical to human physiology in the maintenance of normal homeostasis via transport of endogenous substrates, but they are also, in many cases, important to the disposition of numerous xenobiotic compounds such as environmental toxins, dietary constituents, drugs, and their metabolites. In particular, over the past two decades, members of the solute carrier (SLC) families, including the organic anion transporting polypeptide (SLCO) family, the organic cation/anion/zwitterion transporter (SLC22) family, and the sodium bile salt cotransport (SLC10) family, have been determined to have important physiological, pathological, and therapeutic implications. In this article, we focus on uptake transporter proteins and provide a comprehensive overview of the significant roles these proteins play in normal physiology and the drug disposition process.
Clinical and Radiographic Comparison Between Open Versus Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Bilateral Facetectomies.

Study Design:Age- and sex-matched cohort study.Objectives:To compare outcomes after open versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) with bilateral facetectomies.Met...
Comparing three mathematical models using different substrates for prediction of partial nitrification.

Abstract Modelling of partial nitrification process is affected by several factors such as selection of true substrates, FA and FNA inhibition, and pH effect on growth rate. Among these factors, the selection of true substrates is very critical as it affects the structure of the model. In the present work, a new model adopting free ammonia (FA) and free nitrous acids (FNA) as the true substrate for ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was proposed. Then the proposed model was compared with two reported models which adopted ammonium and nitrite, and FA and nitrite as the true substrate for AOB and NOB, respectively. The three mathematical models were compared in terms of predicted minimum dissolved oxygen (DO) in response to varied solids retention time (SRT) (10–30 d), pH (7–8.5), and temperature (10–35 °C). The input kinetic values were justified and updated based on statistical analysis of literature data. Adopting FA as the true substrate increased the minimum DO for AOB. Further, experimental data from different literature studies were taken for model simulation and comparison. Inconsistency was observed between the model prediction and literature data for all three models. The model that adopted ammonium and nitrite as the true substrate for AOB and NOB had better consistency with literature data than other two models. The affecting factors for the model prediction was classified into three levels and discussed in detail. Future work was proposed. The results of this study provide valuable information for the design and modelling of partial nitrification process.
The Economic Impact of Education Spending: Evidence from Self-Employed Households

I examine the consumption and labor decisions of self-employed households when a child goes to college using unique financial transactions data from the linked accounts of small businesses and their owners. Households respond to the increase in education spending by downsizing business production and exiting self-employment. They increase medical and restaurant expenditures and cut back on mortgage payments. While education spending hampers business survival, self-employed parents become wage-earners or enter the gig economy after exiting to meet the financial obligations of sending kids to college.
Responsiveness and convergent validity of the chronic rhinosinusitis patient‐reported outcome (CRS‐PRO) measure in CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND The chronic rhinosinusitis patient-reported outcome (CRS-PRO) measure is a 12-item measure with previously demonstrated validity in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients receiving medical therapy. This study establishes the factor structure, responsiveness, and convergent validity of the CRS-PRO following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS Northwestern CRS Subject Registry patients had pre-ESS, 3-month (n = 111; CRS without nasal polyps [CRSsNP] = 60, CRS with nasal polyps [CRSwNP] = 51), and 6-month (n = 86; CRSsNP = 47, CRSwNP = 39) post-ESS assessments where patients completed the CRS-PRO, 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and four Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement (PROM) Information System (PROMIS) short forms (general health measures). Patients had pre-ESS objective testing (endoscopic and radiographic assessment). Factor analysis was conducted using principal axis factoring with varimax rotation on the baseline CRS-PRO. The clinically important difference (CID) was estimated using both distribution-based and anchor-based methods. RESULTS Factor analysis found the CRS-PRO comprised the "rhino-psychologic," "facial discomfort," and "cough" factors, which were responsive to ESS and correlated with the other PROMs. The changes observed in the CRS-PRO at 3 months had strong correlation with the corresponding changes in SNOT-22 (r = 0.792, p < 0.0001) and moderate correlations with changes in PROMIS fatigue and sleep domains. These changes had a very large effect size (Cohen's d 1.44) comparable to the longer SNOT-22 (Cohen's d 1.41) with slightly larger effect sizes observed in CRSwNP compared to CRSsNP patients. Similar convergent validity and responsiveness were observed in the 6-month data. The CRS-PRO CID was estimated to be between 5.0 and 7.5 (midpoint 6.0) using distribution-based and anchor-based methods. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the validity and responsiveness of the CRS-PRO in subjects receiving ESS.
Experience with a Low Single Cervical Incision for Implantation of a Vagus Nerve Stimulator: Technique and Advantages.

Objective This report describes the technique for implanting a vagus nerve stimulator via a single low anterior cervical incision and discusses the advantages of this technique over that of the more commonly used 2-incision technique. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator by the senior author over a 10-year period. Results One hundred thirty-one patients underwent implantation of vagus nerve stimulators via the single-incision technique. There were no instances of vagus nerve injury, postoperative hematoma, or wound infection, and cosmesis was excellent. Conclusion The single-incision technique described here for implantation of vagus nerve stimulators is technically straightforward and safe, and has significant advantages over the 2-incision technique.
At the Beginning and End of Life: A Meditation on the Subtle Hoax of Matter

During the early stages of medical ethics, it had become apparent that physicians were not only “supposed to pronounce ‘death’,” but in view of the landmark 1973 U. S. Supreme Court decision about abortion, (Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113, 93 S.CT. 705 (1973)) also “to pronounce ‘life’”—or as the physician, Andre Hellegers, said at the time, the physician should “be capable of doing so” (Hellegers A, Perkins School Theol J 27(1, Fall):11, 1973). What troubled Dr. Hellegers and others was that ‘life’ was not usually understood in public and legal discussions in the way doctors did, but in largely “unscientific” ways: as ‘personal’ and not ‘biological’ life.
FLUX: content and structure matching of XPath queries with range predicates

Range queries seek the objects residing in a constrained region of the data space. An XML range query may impose predicates on the numerical or textual contents of the elements and/or their respective path structures. In order to handle content and structure range queries efficiently, an XML query processing engine needs to incorporate effective indexing and summarization techniques to efficiently partition the XML document and locate the results. In this paper, we describe a dynamic summarization and indexing method, FLUX, based on Bloom filters and B+-trees to tackle these problems. We present the results of extensive experimental evaluations which indicate the efficiency of the proposed technique.
Failure mechanisms in mems

MEMS components by their very nature have different and unique failure mechanisms than their macroscopic counterparts. This paper discusses failure mechanisms observed in various MEMS components and technologies. MEMS devices fabricated using bulk and surface micromachining process technologies are emphasized.
FREGE'S CONTEXT PRINCIPLE: AN INTERPRETATION

This paper presents a new interpretation of Frege's context principle on which it applies primarily to singular terms for abstract objects but not necessarily to singular terms for ordinary objects.
Heuristics for Effective Actuator and Sensor Placement in Feedback Flow Control

Actuator and sensor placement can be just as consequential for the performance of localized feedback flow control as controller design. Yet, effective placement is not well understood, and the use of suboptimal placements is common. This manuscript reports descriptions and characteristics of effective actuator and sensor placements for optimal flow control. We review \(\mathcal{H}_{2}\) optimal placements in the linearized Ginzburg–Landau and Orr–Sommerfeld/Squire models of fluid flow. We then analyze the feedback control of these models by relating physical observations with mathematical tools. Although these tools do not fully predict optimal placements, they do reveal patterns that most or all effective placements share. Most notably, effective actuator–sensor placements provide good authority over unstable modes and transient growth, and avoid large time lags between inputs and outputs.
Has the U.S. Finance Industry Become Less Efficient

I use the neoclassical growth model to study financial intermediation in the U.S. over the past 140 years. I measure the cost of intermediation on the one hand, and the production of assets and liquidity services on the other. Surprisingly, the model suggests that the finance industry has become less efficient: the unit cost of intermediation is higher today than it was a century ago. Improvements in information technology seem to have been cancelled out by increases in trading activities whose social value is difficult to assess.
Usability and User Acceptance for Personal Health Records: A Perspective from Healthcare Citizens

Personal Health Records (PHR) allow patients to carry their own health records in some format for their own review purposes as well as across doctors and other care providers. This study aimed at determining the usability and user acceptance issues involving a Web-based personal health record system. The study indicated that such a Web-based system was found useful by the patients and they would be willing to enter and retrieve information regarding their own health from the system. A usable interface allows mobility and ease of information sharing using the system.
Protein Folding: Overview of Pathways

Most proteins can function only if they are folded – i.e. if they have adopted a specific, stable tertiary structure. The ‘protein folding problem’ is to determine how and why the initially unstructured protein converges to this native structure. A typical sequence of structural changes during the folding of a protein molecule is referred to as a folding pathway. Keywords: protein folding; folding pathways; nucleation; hydrophobic collapse; kinetic models
Developmental expression of mouse erythrocyte protein 4.2 mRNA: evidence for specific expression in erythroid cells

Erythrocyte protein 4.2 (P4.2) is an important component of the erythrocyte membrane skeletal network with an undefined biologic function. Presently, very little is known about the expression of the P4.2 gene during mouse embryonic development and in adult animals. By using the Northern blot and in situ hybridization techniques, we have examined the spatial and temporal expression of the P4.2 gene during mouse development. We show that expression of the mouse P4.2 gene is temporally regulated during embryogenesis and that the P4.2 mRNA expression pattern coincides with the timing of erythropoietic activity in hematopoietic organs. P4.2 transcripts are first detected in embryos on day 7.5 of gestation and are localized exclusively in primitive erythroid cells of yolk sac origin. These erythroid cells remain to be the only source for P4.2 expression until the switch of the hematopoietic producing site to fetal liver. In mid- and late-gestation periods, P4.2 mRNA expression is restricted to the erythroid cells in fetal liver and to circulating erythrocytes. Around and after birth, the site for P4.2 expression is switched from liver to spleen and bone marrow, and P4.2 transcripts are only detected in cells of the erythroid lineage. These results provide the evidence for specific P4.2 expression in erythroid cells. In addition, the timing and pattern of expression of the P4.2 gene suggest the specific regulation of the P4.2 gene.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of multiple-dose valaciclovir in geriatric volunteers with and without concomitant diuretic therapy.

A randomized, double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of acyclovir following multiple-dose oral administration of valaciclovir (three times a day for 8 days) in geriatric volunteers (65 to 83 years of age). Pharmacokinetic evaluation was performed for three groups: normotensive subjects given 500-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 11), normotensive subjects given, 1,000-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 9), and thiazide diuretic-treated hypertensive subjects given 500-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 9). Valaciclovir, the l-valyl ester of acylclovir, was rapidly absorbed and converted to acyclovir, with plasma valaciclovir concentrations generally undetectable or 75 ml/min/1.73 m2), the elderly subjects (CLCR = 40 to 65 ml/min/1.73 m2) showed higher (approximately 15 to 20%) mean Cmaxs and higher (approximately 30 to 50%) mean AUC(0-infinity)s of acyclovir (P < 0.01), which were consistent with age-related decreases in CLCR. The increased acyclovir exposure from valaciclovir dosing will permit reduced dosing frequency and may result in improved efficacy in the management of herpesvirus diseases.
Lithium Battery Electrolyte Stability and Performance from Molecular Modeling and Simulations

Lithium batteries are complex devices whose performance optimization necessitates that they be well understood on multiple timescales and length scales, ranging from systems level to molecular. Optimization of the electrolyte, in particular, requires detailed, fundamental, molecular-level understanding of the chemical features that lead to stable electrolytes with large electrochemical windows – what electrolyte solvents and additives facilitate the formation of stable solid electrolyte interface layers and which features of the electrolyte result in good bulk and interfacial lithium transport properties as well as thermal stability, low-temperature transport, and low volatility/high safety [1, 2].
Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Management of Cluster Headache

Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has proven to be an effective management approach for trigeminal neuralgia and as a minimally invasive alternative management option for cluster headache (CH). In CH, patients undergo single-session focused irradiation of the trigeminal nerve root (TN), sometimes coupled with irradiation of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) as well. SRS provides early pain relief in most patients, but is associated with trigeminal sensory dysfunction in some patients. In the future, a prospective trial that compares a single target of TN to dual targets of both the TN and SPG may provide further understanding of the value of SRS for CH.
Single particle motion at high spins

Abstract It is a pleasure to be here in Copenhagen and participate in this Conference on Perspectives in Nuclear Structure. I hope that I will be able to convey to you the excitement and vitality that I feel is currently present in the high-spin physics area of nuclear structure. I will try to give some perspective on single-particle motion at high spins, although I hope also to discuss some forefront topics later in the talk. Toward this end I have divided the talk into three main parts: the first being a reminder of some of the basics of high-spin physics; the second, a description of one of the key developments that opened the high-spin area; and the last, a discussion of two topics that represent open questions today.
Characterization of large-area silicon ionization detectors for the ACE mission

We report on extensive tests of large-area (10 cm diameter) high-purity ion-implanted silicon detectors for the solar isotope spectrometer (SIS), and lithium-drifted silicon detectors for the cosmic ray isotope spectrometer (CRIS), which are under development for launch on the advanced composition explorer (ACE) mission. Depletion and breakdown characteristics versus bias were studied, as were long-term current and noise stability in a thermally cycled vacuum. Dead-layer and total thickness maps were obtained using laser interferometry, beams of energetic argon nuclei and radioactive sources of alpha particles. Results, selection criteria, and yields are presented.
Abundance versus rates of accumulation in fine-grained strata of the Miocene Santa Barbara Basin, California

Although best known as a deposit rich in silica and organic matter, the Miocene Monterey Formation actually had long-term rates of silica and organic Matter accumulation equal to or lower than values in the underlying and overlying detritus-rich formations in the Santa Barbara coastal area. The factor Mainly influencing the composition of the Monterey Formation in this area was the slow accumulation of terrigenous debris. In contrast, with greater than average silica abundance within the Monterey Formation probably resulted from rapid short-term silica accumulation (of hundreds to tens of thousands years duration) rather than from especially slow accumulation of diluting debris.
Epicyclic Load Sharing Map — Development and validation

Abstract Under ideal conditions, every sun–planet–ring path in an epicyclic gear set transmits the same amount of torque. But, in the presence of certain manufacturing variations, equal load sharing is not achieved. In a companion paper, a physical explanation has been provided for the load sharing behavior observed in epicyclic gears. The explanation of the root cause led to the development of a load sharing formulation for 3, 4, 5, and 6 planet epicyclic systems. In this paper the same approach will be taken to develop the formulation for a seven planet epicyclic gear set. The developed expressions will then be used to develop the concept of an Epicyclic Load Sharing Map. This map describes the load sharing characteristics of every epicyclic gear set at any positional error and torque level. The developed expressions are then expanded to describe the general case when there are arbitrary errors on the position of every planet in the epicyclic gear set. Finally, the developed expressions will be validated by comparing the predicted load sharing behavior with the results from a validated system level computational model.
Anharmonic Oscillators in the Complex Plane, $\boldsymbol{\mathcal{PT}}$ -symmetry, and Real Eigenvalues

For integers m ≥ 3 and 1 ≤ l ≤ m − 1, we study the eigenvalue problems − u ″(z) + [( − 1)l(iz) m − P(iz)]u(z) = λu(z) with the boundary conditions that u(z) decays to zero as z tends to infinity along the rays $\arg z=-\frac{\pi}{2}\pm \frac{(\ell+1)\pi}{m+2}$ in the complex plane, where P is a polynomial of degree at most m − 1. We provide asymptotic expansions of the eigenvalues λ n . Then we show that if the eigenvalue problem is $\mathcal{PT}$ -symmetric, then the eigenvalues are all real and positive with at most finitely many exceptions. Moreover, we show that when $\gcd(m,\ell)=1$ , the eigenvalue problem has infinitely many real eigenvalues if and only if one of its translations or itself is $\mathcal{PT}$ -symmetric. Also, we will prove some other interesting direct and inverse spectral results.
Validity of Linearized Unsteady Euler Equations with Shock Capturing

By examining the nature of shock movement, we first show that the unsteady lift due to the movement of a shock is linear with the magnitude of the shock movement. The argument that is presented holds true regardless of the shock structure, which is determined by the level of viscosity. This proof is the basis for showing that the linear perturbation equations can be used to determine not only the unsteadiness of the flowfield away from the shock but also the effect of the shock movement as well. Shock capturing is a computational technique that in effet adds a large amount of viscosity in the shock region, smearing shocks over several cells
A new achievable region for Gaussian multiple descriptions based on subset typicality

This paper addresses the L-channel multiple descriptions problem for a Gaussian source under mean squared error (MSE) distortion metric. We focus on particular cross-sections of the general rate-distortion region where a subset the 2L - 1 distortion constraints are not imposed. Specifically, we assume that certain descriptions are never received simultaneously at the decoder and thereby the transmitted codewords require joint typicality only within prescribed subsets. We derive a new encoding scheme and an associated rate-distortion region wherein joint typicality of codewords only within the prescribed subsets is maintained. We show that enforcing joint typicality of all the codewords entails strict suboptimality in the achievable rate-distortion region. Specifically, we consider a 3 descriptions scenario wherein descriptions 1 and 3 are never received simultaneously at the decoder and show that a strictly larger achievable region is obtained when the encoder maintains joint typicality of codewords only within the required subsets. To prove these results, we derive a lemma called the ‘subset typicality lemma’ which plays a critical role in establishing the new achievable region.
Micro-heterogeneous Oxygen Response in Luminescence Sensor Films

A fluorescence microscopy technique has been developed that allows investigation of the luminescence properties of working film-based O2 sensors with spatial resolution of <5 μm. The new technique has been applied to investigate the properties of two sensor formulations that differ widely in their Stern−Volmer (SV) luminescence intensity response to variation in air pressure (Pair). One sensor is based on platinum(II) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtTFPP) dispersed in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) while the other consists of tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) dichloride (Rudpp) dispersed in the same binder. The PtTFPP/PDMS sensor features a strong SV response that is spatially homogeneous on length scales ranging from 5 μm to several millimeters. By contrast, the Rudpp/PDMS sensor features a poor SV response. Moreover, the microscopy studies reveal that the SV response of the Rudpp sensor is spatially heterogeneous, even on length scales < 5 μm. The difference in performance ...
Indeterminism and the direction of time

Many phenomena in the world display a striking time-asymmetry: the forwards transition frequencies are approximately invariant while the backwards ones are not. I argue in this paper that theories of such phenomena will entail that time has a direction, and that quantum mechanics in particular entails that the future is objectively different from the past.
Haunted Sound: Nothingness, Movement, and the Minimalist Imagination

This paper explores the topic of ‘haunted sound’ and its overarching significance within minimalist thought, tracing the vast intricacies of this aerial intimation as a new and unforeseen existential horizon. To this end, the paper advances via the entangling concepts of nothingness and movement, including subthematic dimensions as far-reaching as: the zero-degree, disintegration, control/noncontrol, mood, catastrophe, indeterminacy, interruption, repetition, desertion, indifference, stillness, and exhaustion. It is through the formulation of this haunted soundscape, in turn, that the once absolute totalities of consciousness stray toward an increasingly apparitional province, turning perception itself toward the paradoxical borderlands of presence and absence, materiality and immateriality, being and nonbeing. Ultimately, the intent of this project is to devise an innovative outlook on the singular potential of sound to eclipse past existential regimes, to lead the aesthetic toward a vanishing, phantasma...
Efficient blue emission from an intracavity-doubled 946-nm Nd:YAG laser

We report the first observation to our knowledge of coherent emission at 473 nm from an intracavity-doubled Nd:YAG microlaser. The d32 coefficient of potassium niobate was used in a 90-deg, temperature-tuned, Type I phase-matching configuration to generate the second harmonic of the 946-nm intracavity field. Output powers in excess of 5 mW at optical conversion efficiencies of approximately 2% have been observed with dye-laser pumping at 588 nm.
Properties of nuclear matter

Abstract An account is given of recent theories by Brueckner, Eden, Swiatecki, Bethe, and co-workers about the properties of nuclear matter, which is identical in content, but different in its method of presentation. This presentation tries to clarify the reasons for the applicability of the independent-particle model and to determine what particular features of the nuclear forces are responsible for the validity of this model.
Sufentanil is preferable to etomidate during rapid-sequence anesthesia induction for aortocoronary bypass surgery

To evaluate rapid-sequence anesthetic induction techniques for aortocoronary bypass grafting, 20 patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to receive bolus injections of either etomidate, 0.4 mg/kg, intravenously (IV), or sufentanil, 5 micrograms/kg, IV, with succinylcholine, 1 mg/kg, IV. Patients in the two groups had similar demographic characteristics and baseline (preinduction) hemodynamic values. Following induction and intubation, 8 of 9 etomidate patients required a pharmacologic intervention to treat hypertension and tachycardia, whereas only 1 of 11 sufentanil patients required additional treatment (P less than 0.001). Three of 9 etomidate patients had ST segment changes of new myocardial ischemia following induction and intubation; two other etomidate patients developed Q waves on their postoperative electrocardiograms, indicative of a perioperative myocardial infarction. No sufentanil patient demonstrated either ischemia or infarction. It is concluded that sufentanil-succinylcholine provides more stable hemodynamics and fewer ischemic myocardial events than etomidate-succinylcholine in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery.
Biased Prediction of Housing Values

This paper introduces the use of non-sample, prior information to the problem of predicting prices of heterogeneous products. Using data from the 1983 American Housing Survey, the predictive performance of three Stein-like empirical Bayes estimation rules are compared to the least squares estimator and the traditional biased estimation technique, ridge regression. The biased estimators improve upon the least squares mean square error of prediction risk under certain design-related conditions. We provide evidence of this for the housing market in this paper.