cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rational Planning Agency

Our planning agency contributes to our lives in fundamental ways. Prior partial plans settle practical questions about the future. They thereby pose problems of means, filter solutions to those problems, and guide action. This plan-infused background frames our practical thinking in ways that cohere with our resource limits and help organize our lives, both over time and socially. And these forms of practical thinking involve guidance by norms of plan rationality, including norms of plan consistency, means-end coherence, and stability over time. But why are these norms of rationality? Would these norms be stable under a planning agent's reflection? I try to answer these questions in a way that responds to a skeptical challenge. While I highlight pragmatic reasons for being a planning agent, these need to be supplemented fully to explain the force of these norms in the particular case. I argue that the needed further rationale appeals to the idea that these norms track certain conditions of a planning agent's self-governance, both at a time and over time. With respect to diachronic plan rationality, this approach leads to a modest plan conservatism.
Insurance coverage and diabetes quality indicators among patients with diabetes in the US general population

This study explores associations between health insurance and diabetes quality indicators. Data were obtained from 8305 patients with diabetes who reported no insurance, Medicaid or private insurance in the 2013 BRFSS in 26 states in the US. Six diabetes quality indicators were assessed: HgbA1c testing, foot exam, eye exam, influenza immunization, pneumococcal immunization and diabetes education. Logistic regression was performed comparing quality indicators by insurance group adjusting for covariates. Subjects with private insurance or Medicaid were more likely than the uninsured to have HgbA1c testing (OR=2.60, 95%CI: 2.02-3.35; OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.55-2.69, respectively), a foot exam (OR=1.72, 95%CI: 1.32-2.25; OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.23-2.18, respectively) and an eye exam (OR=2.01, 95%CI: 1.56-2.58; OR=2.50, 95%CI: 1.91-3.27, respectively). Those with private insurance were more likely than the uninsured to have influenza immunization (OR=1.75, 95%CI: 1.37-2.25) and diabetes education (OR=1.36, 95%CI: 1.06-1.74). Uninsured persons with diabetes are less likely to receive standard diabetes services compared to the insured, but most quality indicators were similar in publicly and privately insured groups.
Frequency-dependent dielectric properties of BTO/parylene nanocomposites with layered structure

First the frequency-dependent dielectric spectrum of a self-assembled pure $$\hbox {BaTiO}_{3}$$ (BTO) nanocrystalline thin film with consideration of the packing density is studied using the Lichtenecker logarithmic rule and the modified Kerner model. Then the Wiener lower bound is modified to evaluate the overall effective dielectric properties for 2–2 type of layered nanocomposites within a large frequency range, and a simple rule of mixture is found to be suitable for predicting the dielectric permittivity of multi-layered composites. The calculated dielectric properties of the BTO/parylene nanocomposites agree reasonably well with the experimental data, whereas a little discrepancy in the dielectric loss tangent is shown in the frequency range beyond $$10^{5 }\hbox {Hz}$$ .
Covalent Ras Dimerization on Membrane Surfaces through Photosensitized Oxidation

Ras, a small GTPase found primarily on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, is an important signaling node and an attractive target for anticancer therapies. Lateral organization of Ras on cellular membranes has long been a subject to intense research; in particular, whether it forms dimers on membranes as part of its regulatory function has been a point of great interest. Here we report Ras dimers readily formed on membranes by Type II photosensitization reactions, in which molecular oxygen in ambient solution mediates the radicalization of proteins under typical fluorescence experimental conditions. The presence of Ras dimers on membranes was detected by diffusion-based fluorescence techniques including fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single particle tracking (SPT), and molecular weights of the stable covalently coupled species were confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Fluorescence spectroscopy implicates interprotein dityrosine as one of the dimerization motifs. The specific surface tyrosine distribution on Ras renders the protein especially sensitive to this reaction and point mutations affecting surface tyrosines are observed to alter dimerization potential. The photosensitization reactions are reflective of physiological oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting such processes may occur naturally in cells.
Racetrack Queues for Extremely Low-Energy FIFOs

Networks-on-chip (NoCs) have become a leading energy consumer in modern multicore processors, with a considerable portion of this energy originating from the large number of virtual channel first-in–first-out (FIFO) buffers. Given this motivation, we propose control schemes that leverage the “shift-register” nature of spintronic domain-wall memory (DWM) to create extremely low-energy FIFO queues. In order to test these queues in the most relevant application context, replacing conventional memory buffers for NoCs, we perform design-space analysis over the different schemes in a network context and then analyze the best schemes with benchmark traffic. Our results indicate that the best shift-based buffer utilizes a dual-nanowire approach to ensure that reads and writes can be more effectively aligned with access ports for simultaneous access in the same cycle. Our approach provides a $2.93\times $ speedup over a DWM buffer using a traditional FIFO memory control scheme with a 23.4% savings in energy. The resulting approach achieves a 39% reduction in energy-delay product compared to SRAM and a 24% reduction in energy-delay product versus spin-transfer torque magnetic memories.
Latent Profile Analysis

The MDS is discussed as a profile analysis approach of re-parameterizing the linear latent variable model in such a way that the latent variables can be interpreted in terms of profile patterns rather than factors. It is used to identify major patterns among psychological variables and can serve as the basis for further study of correlates and/or predictors of profiles and other background and external variables. I outline the procedure of MDS profile analysis and discuss the issues that are related to parameter estimation and interpretation of the results.
Fuel ethanol production using novel carbon sources and fermentation medium optimization with response surface methodology

In this study, ethanol production abilities of the novel carbon sources: sodium and calcium gluconate in different minimal and rich media were compared with glucose using Escherichia coli KO11. The strain produced higher ethanol yield in the rich medium Luria-Bertani (LB) than the other two minimal media: corn steep liquor (CSL) and M9 for two substrates (sodium and calcium gluconate). Additionally, higher ethanol yields were achieved when the strain was grown in LB and M9 medium with calcium gluconate than sodium gluconate, while the ethanol yields were similar when both sodium and calcium gluconate were added into CSL medium respectively. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the fermentation medium components for enhancing ethanol production using strain E. coli KO11 in CSL medium with calcium gluconate as the substrate in batch culture. The concentration of the potassium phosphate buffer is the only significant factor among five factors considered. A quadratic model was developed to describe the relationship between ethanol production and the factors. The optimal conditions predicted for five factors were 14.38 g/L CSL, 0.0398 g/L FeCl3•6H2O, 1.12 g/L MgSO4•6H2O, 15.41 g/L (NH4)2SO4, and 1.58/1.26 g/L KH2PO4/K2HPO4 (2:1 molar ratio). The highest ethanol concentration under optimal conditions was 31.5 g/L, which was 5.6 g/L higher than that from the same fermentation concentration of calcium gluconate in LB media. The high correlation between the predicted and experimental values confirmed the validity of the model.
Behavior, Hierarchical Organization of

Elementary units of behavior are assemblages of neural, endocrine, and muscular components sufficient to explain naturally occurring actions. All such assemblages require an initiator component, where the neural signals that ultimately drive the action originate, conductor components that relay the signals from the initiators to the effectors, and effector components that translate the signals into movements and secretions. Some elementary units also contain computational elements, which perform basic computational operations like coordinate transformations, and some units contain memory elements, which hold the values of control variables, such as the angular velocity of a target. Neural circuits carrying timing signals and specifying the values of operating parameters, such as pacemaker periods, co-ordinate the operation of elementary units to form complex units, which are themselves coordinated to form still more complex units, yielding a hierarchical control structure. The behavioral expression of the units active high in the hierarchy exhibits many different forms, because different values for control parameters lead to different patterns from the same unit, and because much of the coordination is achieved by the selective potentiation and depotentiation of the lower units, so that the spectrum of potentiated lower units actived on a given occasion depends on occasion-specific trigger stimuli.
Versos de Sebastián de Horozco no incluídos en la edición de su cancionero

Ofrecemos aqui versos de tres poesias de Sebastian de Horozco (?1510P-1580) no incluidos en la edicion de su Cancionero (Sociedad de Bibliofilos Andaluces, Sevilla, 1874) , quiza por demasiado verdes o "sucios". Todos estos versos, sin embargo, se imprimieron fielmente en una hoja suelta, destinada con toda probabilidad a un grupo muy selecto de suscriptores, e intitulada "Versos suprimidos en las paginas 26 y 29 de este Cancionero"1. La tirada de esta hoja suelta debe haber sido limitadisima. No hay indicaciones de ella en catalogos como el de la B.N.P. o los de las bibliotecas del British Museum y del Congreso de Washington. Tampoco la citan Palau ni Simon Diaz. En cambio, la H.S.A. tiene dos ejemplares, que son los unicos de que tenemos noticia2. La tercera de las poesias que aqui publicamos ("Recepta que embio el auctor...") figura en el Cancionero moderno de obras alegres3, adonde paso seguramente de la hoja suelta que acabamos de mencionar. El Cancionero, a su vez, sirvio como fuente para el reciente Diccionario secreto de Cela4.
Role of endoscopy in diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and chronic ulcerative colitis

While multiple diagnostic studies are often necessary to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), endoscopy is still considered the gold standard. Endoscopy is critical in the initial evaluation and necessary to exclude other etiologies that can present with similar signs and symptoms. Endoscopy, defined as colonoscopy with ileoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), provides the most accurate assessment of disease extent and severity. Colonoscopy with ileoscopy is essential for the initial diagnosis of IBD. While EGD is not necessary in all patients, it can provide significant information, particularly in evaluating Crohn’s disease. The role of endoscopy in the diagnosis of IBD with key endoscopic findings will be detailed in this chapter.
Circannual rhythms in progesterone receptor levels and functions.

Studies in this laboratory on the nuclear binding sites (acceptors) for progesterone receptor in the developed chick oviduct have resulted in the detection of seasonal variations in the levels and functions of the receptor. Cytosol preparations obtained from the chick oviducts during the winter/spring period between January and May display reduced receptor levels as well as a loss of the capacity of the rec9tor to bind to nuclear “acceptor” sites in vitro. The binding of [3H]P-R to whole chromatin or purified acceptor proteins reannealed to DNA display the same rhythm. No such rhythm is detected for the binding of P-R to pure DNA. Computer analysis of the data, using least squares method to fit the data to cosine curves, shows a significant fit indicating a circannual rhythm in P-R binding to the acceptor protein-DNA complex but not tg pure DNA. The nuclear binding in vivo, achieved by injecting [3H]progesterone into the wing vein and analyzing the radioactivity localized in the oviduct nuclei, also displays a similar rhythm. These results support that native nuclear acceptor sites for progesterone in the chick oviduct represent protein-DNA complexes and not pure DNA. The failure of P-R to bind the nuclear acceptor sites in vivo and in vitro during this period can be explained by the two subunit hypothesis of Schrader and O’Malley, whereby one of the two subunits is absent or inactive during this period.
Histologic determinants of long-term overall survival in patients (pts) with germ cell tumors (GCT).

4555Background: GCT display totipotential differentiation ranging from pluripotent embryonal carcinoma to extraembryonic (choriocarcinoma, yolk sac) to somatic cell types (teratoma [T]). We hypothe...
SIGACT News Complexity Theory Column 100

This is column number 100, and Bill Gasarch has very kindly made it an event! In particular, this issue's column is the third of Bill Gasarch's series of polls on the eld's thoughts on P vs. NP (and other central issues in complexity). The rst two polls in the series appeared as SIGACT News Complexity Theory Columns 36 and 74.Warmest thanks to Bill Gasarch for having undertaken the huge task of creating the poll, gathering the responses, analyzing them, and writing this article on what the poll reveals, and to Clyde Kruskal who was Bill's magical elf on proofreading, polishing, and even knocking on doors to ask people what they think of P versus NP. (Psst: Bill and Clyde's 2019 book, "problems with a Point: Exploring Math and Computer Science" (https://www.worldscienti c.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/11261), sounds absolutely fascinating!)
Marine natural products as strategic prototypes in the development of a new generation of antimalarial agents

Abstract This chapter summarizes recent developments and provides perspectives for marine natural products as strategic prototypes in the development of a new generation of antimalarial agents. In addition, the potential mechanism of action of these molecules is discussed, but the primary focus is on their structural diversity coupled with their potential antimalarial activity. About 200 marine natural products and their analogues are highlighted in order to showcase the impact of structural changes on the antimalarial activity of the semisynthetic derivatives. Overall, an overview of the recent research advances in the field of marine natural products and their potential in developing of new antimalarial therapeutics are assessed.
Diaspora and trust: Cuba, Mexico, and the rise of China

Adrian H. Hearn’s Diaspora and Trust: Cuba, Mexico, and the Rise of China nicely contributes to the studies of interwoven global economic systems and local initiatives by the Chinese diaspora in Cu...
Parameterized Design of a Supersonic Radome

Abstract : With the new requirements of the future combat systems (FCS), gun-launched projectiles will most likely be decreasing in diameter and increasing in muzzle velocity. In addition, these projectiles will be carrying entire electronic systems, specifically, global positioning system (GPS)/inertial guidance and terminal homing. These systems will sense during the flight and terminal environments of the projectile and will provide data links (probably two-way telemetry) for system diagnostics and dynamic re-targeting. Most of these sensing elements involve various antennae operating at a variety of frequencies ranging from GPS (1.5 GHz) to millimeter wave seekers (94 GHz) to optical seekers (1 PHz). Because of packaging constraints, these systems are likely to be placed forward on the projectile body. All these antennae require a protective "window" for transmitting and/or receiving signals. Based on the location of these systems, that window is usually described as the projectile radome. The radome must withstand the cannon launch and ballistic environment. The intense aero-heating of supersonic flight softens polymers, thus reducing the structural integrity. Of course, it is obvious that the radome must perform well electronically across a possible wide band of radio frequencies. This report studies the use of several (polymer types) materials, which can be machined to create a radome of a desired shape. These polymers, which are either extruded or molded into stock shapes, were chosen based on the dielectric constant (relative to air, between 3 and 4) and thermal and structural properties. A generic radome geometry was selected to perform the thermal and structural analyses. An older yawsonde geometry, which was flight tested, was also analyzed.
Design of protein-based “turn on” molecular probes for intracellular bond cleavage

The clinical success of antibody-drug conjugates and numerous other stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems motivates the need to develop molecular tools to quantitatively study their intracellular processing. To this end, researchers have developed fluorescent-based probes utilizing Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Quenched probes have the potential to eliminate fluorescence bleed through, which is common in FRET-based systems. However, the hydrophobicity of many broad-spectrum fluorescence quenchers can complicate the design of protein-based molecular probes. In this work, we investigate the potential for 2,4-dinitroaniline (2,4-DNA) to serve as a hydrophilic fluorescence quencher. A support-free synthesis of oligothioetheramide (oligoTEA) linkers was developed and applied to the design of quenched fluorescence probes. These quenched probes were based on intramolecular static quenching of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-FL by 2,4-DNA. Probes containing a reduction-sensitive disulfide bond and a protease-sensitive valine–citrulline-PABC linker were synthesized using a model protein – human transferrin. Within HeLa cells, the apparent degradation rate of the disulfide bond was greater than the valine–citrulline-PABC linker. This work establishes a versatile method for synthesizing multifunctional crosslinkers and identifies 2,4-DNA as an effective fluorescence quencher for protein-based bioconjuates.
Myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm overlap syndromes – Advances in treatment

Abstract Optimal treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) overlap syndromes remain to be defined and are currently extrapolated from MDS and MPN. The heterogeneity of these diseases and their rare occurrences add to this void. Supportive care therapies such as erythropoiesis stimulating agents, iron chelation and cytoreductive therapy do not have prospective evidence in these disorders and the only approved treatments, hypomethylating agents, are based on the inclusion of a small number of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia patients in MDS predominant trials. While allogeneic stem cell transplant remains the only curative option, the median age at presentation (7th decade), comorbidities, risk of disease relapse, and transplant related morbidity and mortality, make this option accessible to
Open Calcaneus Fractures

Open calcaneus fractures represent rare and challenging injuries. Multiple surgeries with significant rates of infection, post-traumatic arthritis, and even amputation can be expected. Injuries with lateral, plantar, and extensive wounds, in addition to Gustilo-Anderson type III wounds, and significant joint comminution are associated with poor outcomes. Many treatment strategies may be employed, and should be tailored specifically to the fracture pattern, but most importantly to the soft tissue envelope. Early and aggressive management of the soft tissues, in consultation with plastic and reconstructive surgery, is indicated.
Potential Cytochrome P450 Drug-Drug Interaction Among Adult and Adolescent Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy:

ObjectiveTo assess the frequency of potential drug-drug interactions affecting cytochrome P450 (CYP)–mediated metabolism of opioids among adult and adolescent patients who underwent adenotonsillect...
Predicting Subjective Measures of Social Anxiety from Sparsely Collected Mobile Sensor Data

Exploiting the capabilities of smartphones for monitoring social anxiety shows promise for advancing our ability to both identify indicators of and treat social anxiety in natural settings. Smart devices allow researchers to collect passive data unobtrusively through built-in sensors and active data using subjective, self-report measures with Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) studies. Prior work has established the potential to predict subjective measures from passive data. However, the majority of the past work on social anxiety has focused on a limited subset of self-reported measures. Furthermore, the data collected in real-world studies often results in numerous missing values in one or more data streams, which ultimately reduces the usable data for analysis and limits the potential of machine learning algorithms. We explore several approaches for addressing these problems in a smartphone based monitoring and intervention study of eighty socially anxious participants over a five week period. Our work complements and extends prior work in two directions: (i) we show the predictability of seven different self-reported dimensions of social anxiety, and (ii) we explore four imputation methods to handle missing data and evaluate their effectiveness in the prediction of subjective measures from the passive data. Our evaluation shows imputation of missing data reduces prediction error by as much as 22%. We discuss the implications of these results for future research.
EDISON: A Blockchain-based Secure and Auditable Orchestration Framework for Multi-domain Software Defined Networks

The emerging networking standards such as 5G and 6G, coupled with technologies like Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV), are increasingly moving towards a multi-tenant and multi-vendor deployment model. Under these circumstances, the hardware vendors rent their networking and computation resources to multiple service providers and application developers. Such a deployment model lets various vendors collaboratively offer networking services to the tenants and the end-users at far greater efficiency and better affordability. However, the issues around trust, ownership, and data security become a concern for tenants and vendors in such multi-tenant and multi-vendor setting. In particular, the centralized nature of SDN controllers, together with the limitations of the contemporary authentication and access control mechanisms, make multi-stakeholder SDN deployments susceptible to several Sybil and trust-related exploits. We present EDISON, a blockchain-based authentication and access control framework, for multi-stakeholder SDN infrastructure that adheres to the Zero-trust security model. It allows the network vendors and third-party service providers to securely set up a service-level agreement while enabling the concerned stakeholders to audit the network operations through an end-to-end encrypted tamper-proof ledger. EDISON creates an ecosystem structured on smart contracts, wherein the network elements rented and used by the tenants interact with the services deployed in the form of contracts to enable decentralized and transparent orchestration.
Multimodality Cardiac Imaging for Procedural Planning and Guidance of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement and Mitral Paravalvular Leak Closure

Transcatheter mitral valve interventions are an evolving and growing field in which multimodality cardiac imaging is essential for diagnosis, procedural planning, and intraprocedural guidance. Currently, transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve with a balloon-expandable valve is the only form of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) approved by the FDA, but valve-in-ring and valve-in-mitral annular calcification interventions are increasingly being performed. Additionally, there are several devices under investigation for implantation in a native annulus. Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a known complication of surgical or transcatheter valve implantation, where regurgitant flow occurs between the prosthetic sewing ring and the native mitral annulus. We sought to describe the role and applications of multimodality cardiac imaging for TMVR, and PVL closure, including the use of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Angiography and 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography for diagnosis, prosthetic valve evaluation, pre-procedural planning, and intraprocedural guidance, as well as evolving technologies such as fusion imaging and 3D printing.
Staring at the stars

The Hubble Space Telescope's journey to the sky was a bumpy one, but it was well worth the effort, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Hospital Management Looks at Hospital Recreation

(1954). Hospital Management Looks at Hospital Recreation. Journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 8-9.
Regional variation of morphology of organized convection in the tropics and subtropics

[1] Properties of organized convection with large horizontal area (> 1000 km2) and with different horizontal structures in the tropics and subtropics are investigated by using 14 years of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission observations. First, the convective features (CFs) are defined as contiguous areas of convective precipitation detected by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission precipitation radar. Using the minor and major axes of fitted ellipses, the morphology of the CFs are described as closer to a circular or a line shape. Regional variations and the properties of organized convection are examined with CFs with area>1000 km2 after categorizing them by their shapes. Organized convection tends to have larger extent and a higher fraction of near-circular shapes over land than over ocean. Shallow organized convection with maximum radar echo top height below 4.5 km is found mainly over ocean and some coastal regions. Of all tropical oceans, most shallow organized convection is found over the east Pacific. The fraction of line shaped organized convection is higher over the ocean than over land, and is higher in the subtropics than in the tropics. More convective lines are found in winter than in summer over oceans, but more in summer over land. Organized convective lines are slightly less convectively intense indicated by lower 30 dBZ echo top heights and warmer 37 GHz brightness temperatures than those with near-circular shapes. Orientations of organized convective lines are often aligned with fronts, dry lines, warm ocean currents, coastlines, and mountain slopes. Over the subtropics, organized convective lines are tilted more east-west over land, and more north-south over oceans. The largest and the most intense convective lines are found over central Africa, Argentina, and southeast U.S. over land, and over several warm currents in subtropical oceans.
Free pentosidine and neopterin as markers of progression rate in diabetic nephropathy

Free pentosidine and neopterin as markers of progression rate in diabetic nephropathy. Background Patients with diabetic nephropathy experience a progressive and usually inexorable decline in renal function. The presence of the structurally defined advanced glycation end product (AGE) pentosidine on tissue and circulating proteins has been correlated with the severity of diabetic complications. Methods To delineate a role for this AGE in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, glycohemoglobin and free and protein-bound pentosidine were measured in baseline stored serum and urine from a subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus and proteinuria originally followed by the Collaborative Study Group Trial. To delineate a potential role for an immune-activation response to AGEs, the inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the monocyte activation marker neopterin were also measured at baseline. The patients chosen represented 67 subjects whose creatinine levels had "doubled" over the course of the study whether or not they later were treated with captopril, and 67 paired "non-doublers." Results Baseline disease activity, as manifested by glycohemoglobin, serum creatinine and degree of proteinuria was equal in the two groups, as was protein-bound pentosidine and the immune-markers IL-6 and CRP. At baseline the "doublers" as compared to the "non-doublers" had elevated serum levels of free pentosidine and neopterin. Baseline increases in these two parameters were also associated with an increased rate of "doubling" of serum creatinine by the proportional hazards method. Conclusion Differences in individual responsiveness to AGEs, as manifested by either the production of free pentosidine or its release from a protein-bound form, and by evidence of monocyte/macrophage activation, are associated with progression of diabetic nephropathy.
Sneaking up on composite models

Abstract I discuss the effective low energy theories describing models with a composite Higgs boson and composite fermions in which all explicit global symmetry breaking is done by weak gauge couplings like SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1). In such models, the fermions are lighter than the W and Z by powers of weak gauge couplings. Nontrivial family structure may arise if the theory has a spontaneous broken family symmetry.
Limit Analyses for Surface Crack Instantaneous Propagation Angles in Elastic Hertzian Field

This paper presents the limit analyses of instantaneous crack propagation angle in the classical linear-elastic Hertzian field. The formation and propagation of Hertzian cone crack have been studied extensively in the open literature. Many experiments have been carried out on soda-lime glass under static loading. The observed final Hertzian cone angle is usually around 22°, and it tends to increase with increasing indentation velocity. The goal of this paper is to use the crack tip stress field derived in linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) to bound the instantaneous surface ring crack extension angles in the Hertzian field. The upper and lower bounds for the instantaneous crack extension angle are expressed in terms of the ratios of the mode I and mode II stress intensity factors at the crack tip field. It is shown that under a pure mode I dominant stress field, crack growth would follow the original surface crack direction; and under a perfect mode II stress field, the instantaneous crack extension angle has a limiting angle of 19.5°. The actual instantaneous crack extension angle will fall between these two limit states depending on the ratio of KI/KII at the crack tip.
SafeStore: a durable and practical storage system

This paper presents SafeStore, a distributed storage system designed to maintain long-term data durability despite conventional hardware and software faults, environmental disruptions, and administrative failures caused by human error or malice. The architecture of SafeStore is based on fault isolation, which Safe-Store applies aggressively along administrative, physical, and temporal dimensions by spreading data across autonomous storage service providers (SSPs). However, current storage interfaces provided by SSPs are not designed for high end-to-end durability. In this paper, we propose a new storage system architecture that (1) spreads data efficiently across autonomous SSPs using informed hierarchical erasure coding that, for a given replication cost, provides several additional 9's of durability over what can be achieved with existing black-box SSP interfaces, (2) performs an efficient end-to-end audit of SSPs to detect data loss that, for a 20% cost increase, improves data durability by two 9's by reducing MTTR, and (3) offers durable storage with cost, performance, and availability competitive with traditional storage systems. We instantiate and evaluate these ideas by building a SafeStore-based file system with an NFS-like interface.
A Visual Environment for the Design of Distributed Systems

MCC’s Software Technology Program is developing technologies for the design and specification of distributed computer systems. This chapter presents verdi, a visual environment for distributed systems designers. The environment uses a visual language as the expression of design. The visual language is based on the syntax and semantics of Raddle, a textual distributed system specification language concurrently under development at MCC. verdi provides a powerful work environment which encourages initial use of a high level of abstraction and successive, simultaneous refinement of design segments. In this chapter, we describe verdi visual language syntax and semantics, give examples of its use, and describe the verdi workspace and tools for creation, simulation, and analysis of distributed system designs. Some areas of future work are listed.
Modelling robustness of critical infrastructure networks

Critical infrastructure networks are becoming increasingly interdependent. An attack or disaster in a network or on a single node in a network will affect the other networks dependent on it. Therefore, it is important to assess and understand the vulnerability of interdependent networks in the presence of natural disasters and malicious attacks that lead to cascading failures. We develop a framework to analyse the robustness of interdependent networks. Nodes and links in the interdependent networks are attacked based on the graph centrality metrics. We apply our framework on critical infrastructure network data. Our results indicate that the importance of critical infrastructure varies depending on the attack strategy.
On the reactions pp ↔ dπ+

Abstract The total cross section for π + d → pp and the angular distribution and asymmetry parameters for the inverse reaction p p → π + d have been calculated with different models for the pion absorption (and production) operator and several sets of nuclear wave functions. The absorption operator includes both single-nucleon and two-nucleon operators. Fair agreement can be achieved with all empirical parameters at low energies, but significant discrepancies occur at high energies. The results are very sensitive to the model for the nucleon-nucleon interaction used to generate the wave functions.
Using the Black-Scholes Option Model in Tax Valuation

William A. Raabe, Gerald E. Whittenburg, and Martha Doran demonstrate that the use of the Black-Scholes valuation formula is rarely appropriate for use in tax litigation and recommend that other methodologies be used by the courts.
Update on the Management of Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects patients of all ages. The etiology is multifactorial, resulting from complex interactions of the immune system, environmental stimuli, and susceptibility genes. The prevalence of AD is increasing in industrialized nations, with as estimates as high as 20% of children and 3% of adults [1] . The financial and psychosocial cost of the disease is substantial [2] . Several studies have shown that AD in children is associated with a reduction in quality of life for patients as well as their families which is beyond that of other chronic diseases of childhood such as asthma, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis [3– 5] . The treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis continues to be frustrating because of the lack of efficacy of most therapies and the chronicity of the disease. There are also potential side effects with most therapies – whether topical or systemic – and these risks must be weighed against the therapeutic benefit to the patient. Because the natural history of AD involves periods of waxing and waning severity, treatment plans are often dynamic and must change accordingly to reflect disease activity. Combination therapy is the rule, as the disease itself is the final manifestation of many contributing environmental and host factors. Commonly, trials of several different treatment modalities coupled with environmental measures are necessary before an effective, individualized regiman is achieved. The diagnostic criteria and pathophysiology of AD have been well described elsewhere [1, 7, 8] . This chapter will present the general approach to the patient with AD, including basic practice guidelines for all patients, as well as a review of many of the available topical and systemic agents. When possible, evidence
The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media by José Van Dijck

In the context of forming and maintaining connections, the use of social media has become pervasive in today's society. Some use it to actively cultivate business relationships and follow or set in...
Unraveling the dynamics that scale cross‐shore headland relief on rocky coastlines: 2. Model predictions and initial tests

We explore the behavior of a theoretical model of cross-shore headland relief caused by alongshore differences in lithology and rock strength on rocky coastlines. Results address the question of why some rocky coasts exhibit frequent headland and embayment sequences while others evolve to a flat, smooth, and sandy configuration. Main model predictions are that cross-shore headland amplitude is inversely proportional to beach sediment supply and the strength of wave energy convergence and divergence along the headland and bay, and proportional to the alongshore embayment length (or distance between headlands) and the difference between headland and bay rock strength. The coastline's initial physical properties (sea cliff height, composition, etc.) largely determine whether headlands will be persistent or transient landscape features. Model timescales over which the headland and bay reach steady state amplitude, or disappear to a flat coastline, range from 120 to 175,000 years depending on how close the initial amplitude is to steady state. In many cases, the coastline must evolve over several sea level highstands in order to reach equilibrium. A characteristic timescale (independent of initial conditions) shows that the coastline evolves most rapidly when: wave focusing is stronger; sea cliff rock is weaker or retreats faster in a given wave climate; the sea cliff retreat rate decreases rapidly as a function of beach width (i.e., the beach is very effective at dampening wave energy); and the coastline is sediment rich. Comparisons to nature suggest that our model is qualitatively capturing general rocky coastline dynamics and that modeled headland amplitudes are consistent with observed amplitudes.
Ambulatory Perineural Local Anesthetic Infusion

Abstract Single-injection regional nerve blocks generally are limited in providing postoperative analgesia by their duration of 12 to 16 hours or less. The use of a perineural catheter to infuse local anesthetic allows for postoperative analgesia after the initial regional blockade has resolved. The relatively recent introduction of small, portable infusion pumps has allowed this technique to be used in the ambulatory setting. Although this form of analgesia offers significant improvements in pain control after many procedures, multiple factors such as patient education and close follow-up evaluation must be accounted for to provide safe and effective continuous nerve blocks at home. This article reviews important issues related specifically to ambulatory perineural local anesthetic infusion, including indications, exclusion criteria, issues of catheter placement, patient education, discharge criteria, patient follow-up, potential complications, documentation, catheter removal, and infusion pump selection. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Usefulness of turbo spin-echo MR imaging in the evaluation of meniscal tears: comparison with a conventional spin-echo sequence.

Fast (turbo) spin-echo imaging techniques have replaced conventional spin-echo protocols in a large proportion of MR applications, with the principle advantage of decreased imaging time. The choice of echo train length is a key determinant of time savings realized, but the echo train length can also adversely affect image quality if too many echoes are incorporated into an image. Several recent studies have shown conflicting results regarding the usefulness of turbo spin-echo imaging in the evaluation of meniscal tears. We compare a turbo spin-echo sequence that has an echo train length of five with a conventional spin-echo sequence for evaluating meniscal tears.Forty knees in 39 consecutive patients referred for MR study of the knee were imaged using both conventional spin-echo and turbo spin-echo sequences. The turbo spin-echo sequence provided both proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images (dual echo technique) with an effective echo-train length of five. Nineteen knees (38 menisci) were studied a...
Behavioral phenotype of the reeler mutant mouse: effects of RELN gene dosage and social isolation.

Reeler (rl/rl) and reeler/wild-type (+/rl) mice synthesize Reln at subnormal rates, as do patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism, thereby forming the basis for a Reln hypothesis for vulnerability to these psychopathologies and justifying attention to the behavioral phenotypes of Reln-deficient mice. Tests of gait, emotionality, social aggression, spatial working memory, novel-object detection, fear conditioning, and sensorimotor reflex modulation revealed the behavioral phenotype of rl/rl, but not +/rl, mice to be different from that of wild-type (+/+) mice. These results reveal no effect of Reln gene dosage and provide significant challenges to both the Reln and the neurodevelopmental hypotheses of the etiology of major psychopathologies.
514: Donor (+)/recipient (-) EBV mismatch leads to a high incidence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric lung transplant recipients

22.9 5.9, 19.8 3.7 and 18.5 3.0 in TX, Fontan and healthy groups, p 0.01) and baseline HR (107 11, 88 14 and 90 17 beats/min, p 0.001) compared to control groups. Both TX and Fontan patients had similar degree of chronotropic impairment (peak HR 158 19 (76 9%predicted), 164 17 (79 8%predicted) and 196 10 beats/min (95 5% predicted) in TX, Fontan and healthy groups). However, exercise duration was significantly lower in TX patients (9.1 2.0, 10.7 2.5 and 14.4 2.3 min, p 0.01). HR recovery was markedly slower in TX patients compared to control groups at both 1 minute (5 7 beats (3 4%), 23 10 beats (15 7%) and 39 15 beats (20 7%), p 0.001) and 3 minutes (20 13 beats (13 8%), 50 15 beats (30 9%) and 80 15 beats (41 7%), p 0.001) following peak exercise. In multivariable linear regression models, patient group and BMI were predictors of HR recovery at 1 and 3 minutes; exercise duration was not. Conclusions: Heart rate recovery following maximal exercise is markedly slower in children one-year following heart transplant compared to age-matched controls. Whether chronotropic response and HR recovery improve with time due to autonomic re-innervation is unknown and requires serial studies in these patients.
Miami Dade County's Environmentally Endangered Lands Program: Local Efforts for a Global Cause

ABSTRACT: We reviewed Miami-Dade County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, created in 1990 for the purpose of acquiring and managing threatened native forests and wetlands within Miami-Dade County, Florida. Funds for the program were initially raised from a two-year extraordinary property tax millage approved by voters, with additional funding coming from various state, county, and private sources. To date, the program has protected over 9000 ha of natural areas within the urban and agricultural matrix of eastern Miami-Dade. Although many of these reserves are small, all are important for the conservation of numerous rare endemic upland plants and are used frequently by a variety of animal species. Their preservation also offers a series of ecosystem services that directly and indirectly benefit the community, such as flood control and aquifer recharge. Many issues remain concerning the program, however. The County has not yet opened most EEL sites to the public, and all sites are threatene...
Studies in Hatchability III. Hatchability in Relation to Coefficients of Inbreeding

Abstract In a previous paper, Jull (1929), it was observed that such close inbreeding as full-brother-and-sister and half-brother-and-sister matings tends to reduce hatchability. The results reported upon were secured from four pens each of Barred Plymouth Rocks and White Leghorns, the inbreeding having been continued for three years after the original eight pens of females had been mated to unrelated males. During the three years of inbreeding the practice was followed of selecting five full-sisters and a full-brother and two trios of half-sisters from the progeny of each pen to constitute a breeding pen for the continuance of the inbreeding work. The matings consisted of cockerels and pullets every year. Such a method of selecting the full-sisters and half-sisters would permit of continuous full-brother-and-sister matings over a period of years as well as continuous half-brother-and-sister matings, or birds might be used in full-brother-and-sister matings one year and their progeny used in . . .
Fasciculation and Defasciculation of Neurite Bundles on Micropatterned Substrates

We describe experiments of fasciculation, i.e., bundling, of chick sensory neurites on 2D striped substrates. By Fourier decomposition, we separate left-going and right-going neurite components from in vitro images, and we find first that neurite bundles orient toward preferred angles with respect to the stripe direction, and second that in vitro bundles travel in leftward and rightward directions nearly uninterrupted by crossings of bundles traveling in the opposing direction. We explore mechanisms that lead to these behaviors, and summarize implications for future models for neurite outgrowth and guidance.
The biosynthesis of plasmalogens from labeled O-alkylglycerols in ehrlich ascites cells

Abstract The role of O-alkyl lipids as precursors for plasmalogens has been investigated in vivo. We have demonstrated that rac-O-[ i -14C]hexadecyl[2-3H]glycerol (chimyl alcohol) is incorporated into O-alkyl lipids by intact Ehrlich ascites cells and is subsequently converted to plasmalogens having essentially the same 3H/14C ratio as the chimyi alcohol administered. A labeled O-alkylglycerol intermediate with a polar group in the O-alkyl moiety was found in these studies and it had the same 3H/14C ratio as the O-alkyl and O- alk - i - enyl lipids. The unidentified O-alkyl lipid has a number of Chromatographie properties that are similar to those of synthetic i -O-(β-hydroxy) hexadecyl glycerol. Our data indicate that O-alkyl lipids are converted to O- alk- i -enyl lipids via a substitution reaction on the O-alkyl moiety.
From evaluator to insider: an academic's guide to managing sport for development programmes

The field of sport for development (SFD) has seen progress and growth over the few past decades, yet there remains an apparent lack of coordination between programmes; a feeling that individual organizations exist apart from others doing similar work. In advancing this important conversation, our goal is to share a case study of an SFD programme as well as a framework that has been developed over the years and guides what we do. As academics engaged in the applied work of SFD, we feel that we bring another dimension to programming, from a theoretical and evaluative standpoint. Building in practical and theoretical forms of evaluation, fostering integrative cultural experiences and cultivating programme sustainability are three essential elements to building successful SFD initiatives. Our hope is that by sharing this framework, others will continue to share best practices so that we can all make our work in SFD more meaningful.