cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Jitter accommodation in token-passing ring LANs

In a token-passing ring Local Area Network (LAN) each message accumulates phase jitter as it travels around the ring. Unlike typical digital transmission systems, which tend to have random data traffic, ring systems carrying computer-generated traffic may have long strings of repetitive-pattern data. This traffic produces a jitter amplitude which is a function of the message statistics and the transmission characteristics of the physical layer. For the system to be stable, this jitter must be controlled. This paper describes the repetitive-pattern jitter generation and accumulation process and gives a methodology for designing the physical layer components to accommodate it.
Ethical Considerations in Rural Health Care: A Pilot Study of Clinicians in Alaska and New Mexico

To investigate differences in the experiences of rural versus non-rural clinicians, we surveyed caregivers in New Mexico and Alaska regarding ethical aspects of care provision. Consistent with past literature, rural compared to non-rural clinicians perceived patients as having less access to health care resources. They reported more interaction with patients and less awkwardness in relationships with their patients outside of work. Rural clinicians also reported their patients expressed more concern about knowing them in both personal and professional roles, had more concerns over confidentiality, and experienced more embarrassment concerning stigmatizing illnesses. Ethical issues and implications of these results for providing care in rural areas are discussed.
The Dingell Hearings on Scientific Misconduct -- Blunt Instruments Indeed

In the 1992 Shattuck Lecture, Congressman John Dingell of Michigan woefully admits that “congressional hearings are rather blunt instruments, poorly suited to making fine distinctions of fact”1. On...
Design of near-infrared imaging probe with the assistance of ultrasound localization.

A total of 364 optical source–detector pairs were deployed uniformly over a 9 cm × 9 cm probe area initially, and then the total pairs were reduced gradually to 60 in experimental and simulation studies. For each source–detector configuration, three-dimensional (3-D) images of a 1-cm-diameter absorber of different contrasts were reconstructed from the measurements made with a frequency-domain system. The results have shown that more than 160 source–detector pairs are needed to reconstruct the absorption coefficient to within 60% of the true value and appropriate spatial and contrast resolution. However, the error in target depth estimated from 3-D images was more than 1 cm in all source–detector configurations. With the a priori target depth information provided by ultrasound, the accuracy of the reconstructed absorption coefficient was improved by 15% and 30% on average, and the beam width was improved by 24% and 41% on average for high- and low-contrast cases, respectively. The speed of reconstruction was improved by ten times on average.
Metabolic fuel and amino acid transport into the brain in experimental hypothyroidism

The effect of hypothyroidism in the adult rat on blood-brain barrier and muscle transport of hexoses, neutral amino acids, basic amino acids, monocarboxylic acids, and ketone bodies was examined using single arterial injection-tissue sampling technique. The cerebral blood flow and brain extraction of 3H2O (internal reference substance) was not altered in 3-month-old hypothyroid rats maintained on methimazole, 0.025% in the drinking water, for 7 weeks. The brain uptake index of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate was significantly reduced in hypothyroid rats (2.4 +/- 0.3 vs 4.6 +/- 0.6% p less than 0.001). Hypothyroid rats given thyroid hormone replacement therapy had normal brain uptake of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (4.4 +/- 0.8%). The brain uptake index of butyrate was also significantly reduced in hypothyroid rats (39.3 +/- 2.1 vs 47.2 +/- 0.74%, p less than 0.001). The brain uptake index of other test substances and muscle uptake of nutrients examined were not altered in hypothyroid rats. These studies indicate that of the four transport systems examined in two tissues, the blood-brain barrier monocarboxylic acid transport system is most susceptible to the hypothyroidism-induced changes.
Solar input and energy storage in a five-year-old American sycamore plantation

Abstract Energy stored in a 5-year-old American sycamore plantation grown in Mississippi was determined by bomb calorimetry of component parts of selected trees randomly sampled in autumn and spring. The results indicated significant differences among tree components. The caloric values were 4675.81 cal g −1 for leaves, 4631.76 cal g −1 for branch bark, 4489.12 cal g −1 for branch wood, 4753.85 cal g −1 for stem bark, and 4488.76 cal g −1 for stem wood. Based on these caloric values, the total energy yeild for a 1-ha plantation, containing 1200 trees with a total above-ground biomass of 20.3 t, was computed at 9.22 × 10 10 calories. The storage efficiency of the forest stand, which was calculated by dividing total energy yields by available photosynthetic solar radiation received during the growing season (168,462 × 10 8 cal), was 0.55%. The biomass yield of this 5-year-old sycamore plantation is sufficient to supply the electrical energy needs of an average household for nearly 3 years.
Probing the folding transition state of ubiquitin mutants by temperature-jump-induced downhill unfolding.

Crucial to revealing mechanistic details of protein folding is a characterization of the transition state ensemble and its structural dynamics. To probe the transition state of ubiquitin thermal unfolding, we examine unfolding dynamics and kinetics of wild-type and mutant ubiquitin using time-resolved nonlinear infrared spectroscopy after a nanosecond temperature jump. We observe spectral changes on two different time scales. A fast nonexponential microsecond phase is attributed to downhill unfolding from the transition state region, which is induced by a shift of the barrier due to the rapid temperature change. Slow millisecond changes arise from thermally activated folding and unfolding kinetics. Mutants that stabilize or destabilize β strands III−V lead to a decreased or increased amplitude of the microsecond phase, indicating that the disruption or weakening of these strands occurs in the transition state. Unfolding features from microseconds to milliseconds can be explained by temperature-dependent c...
Interaction of the cutting tools and the ceramic-reinforced metal matrix composites during micro-machining: A review

Abstract High performance ceramic-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) are becoming widely popular in industry and the mechanical machining method is one of the most suitable manufacturing techniques for near net shape MMC components. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review to enhance the fundamental understanding of the tool–workpiece interactions in micro-scale during cutting process on engineered-heterogeneous materials. The paper focuses on mechanical properties, fracture mechanism and machinability of ceramic-reinforced MMCs, with significant emphasis on the chip formation mechanism considering different dominant effects, such as materials strengthening mechanisms, micro-structural effect, size effect and minimum chip thickness effect. It also includes some work that, while not directly focused on micro-scale cutting ceramic-reinforced MMCs, but provided important insight to the field of cutting engineered-heterogeneous materials (non-eutectic). Furthermore, process modeling studies for micro-scale cutting are also surveyed, including the cutting force modeling, dynamics modeling and surface generation modeling. The comments on future needs and directions are provided at the end.
Investigations of Microwave Absorption in Insulating Dielectric Ionic Crystals Including the Role of Point Defects and Dislocations

A theoretical model of microwave absorption in linear dielectric (non-ferroelectric) ionic crystals that takes into account the presence of point defects was synthesized and verified using NaCl single crystals. In the next stage of this research, we will introduce a controlled density of dislocations into the single crystal NaCl samples and study the effect on the microwave absorption mechanisms (ionic conduction, dielectric relaxation and multi-phonon processes) both theoretically and experimentally. Qualitative outlines of this modified theory are presented. The loss factor e’ has been measured in the dislocation-free case by a cavity resonator insertion technique and the experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical model. We describe the sample preparation technique that will be used to produce a controlled dislocation density in single crystal samples that will also be studied in our cavity resonator insertion system.
Potential theory associated with Uhlenbeck-Ornstein process

Some parallel results of Gross' paper (Potential theory on Hilbert space, J. Functional Analysis 1 (1967), 123–181) are obtained for Uhlenbeck-Ornstein process U(t) in an abstract Wiener space (H, B, i). Generalized number operator N is defined by Nf(x) = −lim∈←0{E[f(U(τ∈ξ))] − f(x)}/E[τ∈ξ, where τxϵ is the first exit time of U(t) starting at x from the ball of radius ϵ with center x. It is shown that Nf(x) = −trace D2f(x)+〈Df(x),x〉 for a large class of functions f. Let rt(x, dy) be the transition probabilities of U(t). The λ-potential Gλf, λ > 0, and normalized potential Rf of f are defined by Gλf(X) = ∫0∞ e−λtrtf(x) dt and Rf(x) = ∫0∞ [rtf(x) − rtf(0)] dt. It is shown that if f is a bounded Lip-1 function then trace D2Gλf(x) − 〈DGλf(x), x〉 = −f(x) + λGλf(x) and trace D2Rf(x) − 〈DRf(x), x〉 = −f(x) + ∫Bf(y)p1(dy), where p1 is the Wiener measure in B with parameter 1. Some approximation theorems are also proved.
Linearized hydrodynamic stability of a viscous liquid in an open container

Abstract Linearized hydrodynamic stability of an incompressible viscous liquid in an open container, subject to a constant external acceleration, is studied. A normal mode analysis is employed to show that initial perturbations of the flow and the free surface tend to zero in time.
Clinical safety and tolerance of azithromycin in children

An analysis of the safety data emanating from several clinical trials of the use of azithromycin in children has been undertaken. The studies compared azithromycin with standard regimens of various comparator agents: co-amoxiclav, amoxycillin, penicillin V, erythromycin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin, in the treatment of otitis media, pharyngitis and skin infections. Side-effects, based on the investigators' assessments of the severity and possible relationship to the study drugs, were measured within 35 days of the start of therapy. The total number of side-effects reported was significantly lower in the azithromycin-treated patients (46/606; 7.6%) than in the comparator-treated patients (72/523; 13.8%; P = 0.001). Two (0.3%) and five (1.0%) patients, respectively, withdrew from treatment in each group. The most frequently reported side-effects were gastrointestinal with an incidence of 5.6% (34 patients) in the azithromycin group and 11.7% (61 patients) in the comparator group (P or = 1% incidence) reported treatment-related laboratory test abnormalities were changes in neutrophil count (3.2%), lactate dehydrogenase (1.5%), blood urea (1.3%) and potassium (1.2%) in the azithromycin group; and in neutrophil (3.2%) and eosinophil count (2.1%) in the comparator group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Recent literature on government information

Abstract This column was prepared from a manual scan of library and information science journals, and manual or automated searches of sources including ERIC, PAIS International in Print, America: History and Life, Historical Abstracts , R.R. Bowker's Books in Print, Library Literature, Current Contents: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Government Reports Announcements & Index, EPIC , and the electronic discussion group GOVDOC-L. Citations are to items published or indexed from November 1993 through April 1994, including articles, books, reports, government publications, and chapters or essays in collected works. Reviews and short news articles are omitted. Each publication is cited once under its primary topic, and annotated if the content cannot be adequately determined from the title. Contributions of citations to this column should be addressed to the column editor, Susan M. Ryan, Government Documents Librarian, Stetson University, DeLand, FL 32720; Internet: ryan@-suvaxl.stetson.edu.
Revision of a spinal column stimulator lead without lead replacement

Abstract Objective: The objective of this case report is to describe a technique for percutaneous spinal column stimulator (SCS) revision without lead replacement. Case Report: A 35-year-old woman with a single-lead SCS implanted for control for left lower extremity pain underwent revision of her SCS lead because of loss of stimulation paresthesia in the area of pain. Using the method described, the lead was revised without lead replacement. Conclusion: SCS leads can be revised without placement of a new lead. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2000;25:201-203.
Genetic similarity between cancers and comorbid Mendelian diseases identifies candidate driver genes

Despite large-scale cancer genomics studies, key somatic mutations driving cancer, and their functional roles, remain elusive. Here, we propose that analysis of comorbidities of Mendelian diseases with cancers provides a novel, systematic way to discover new cancer genes. If germline genetic variation in Mendelian loci predisposes bearers to common cancers, the same loci may harbour cancer-associated somatic variation. Compilations of clinical records spanning over 100 million patients provide an unprecedented opportunity to assess clinical associations between Mendelian diseases and cancers. We systematically compare these comorbidities against recurrent somatic mutations from more than 5,000 patients across many cancers. Using multiple measures of genetic similarity, we show that a Mendelian disease and comorbid cancer indeed have genetic alterations of significant functional similarity. This result provides a basis to identify candidate drivers in cancers including melanoma and glioblastoma. Some Mendelian diseases demonstrate 'pan-cancer' comorbidity and shared genetics across cancers.
Sub-optimal asthma treatment and symptom control in senior citizens with a diagnosis of asthma

Abstract Rationale As the U.S. population ages, asthma in the elderly is an increasing problem. Several studies suggest that asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated in elderly populations. Our study assesses asthma treatment and symptom control using National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines in a population of asthmatics 60 years and older. Methods A 75 question asthma specific survey was mailed to participants in the Aging Research Registry of Northwestern University's Buehler Center on Aging. Results Surveys were mailed to 171 registry members ages 60 and older who identified themselves as having asthma or allergies. One hundred and twelve (65%) responded to the survey, of which 35 (31%) reported a diagnosis of asthma. Only participants with a diagnosis of asthma were included in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 76 years of age. Eighty-three percent of the respondents were women, 17% were men, 89% were white, and 11% were black. Using NAEPP guidelines, 15 (43%) of the respondents had poorly controlled asthma based on nocturnal symptoms or frequent albuterol use. Of those with poor symptom control, 6 (40%) were not on an inhaled corticosteroid and 8 (53%) were not on a long acting beta agonist. Conclusions Our results suggest that 40% of senior citizens with asthma have poor symptom control. In addition, nearly half of seniors with poor symptom control do not appear to meet NAEEP treatment guidelines. These data are consistent with findings in children and younger adults who frequently have less than recommended treatment.
Comparison of the Brown Sugar, Hot Water, and Salt Methods for Detecting Western Cherry Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Larvae in Sweet Cherry

Brown sugar and hot water methods have been developed to detect larvae of tephritid fruit flies post-harvest in fruit in order to maintain quarantine security. It would be useful to determine if modifications of these methods can yield better results and if less expensive alter natives exist. This study reports detection rates of Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae separated from crushed sweet cherries (Prunus avium [L.] L.) by brown sugar flotation versus hot water and sodium chloride (salt) flotation methods. Cherries were crushed and shredded by a standard cherry crusher and submerged either in brown sugar solution, hot water, or salt solution. In sugar and salt solutions, extracted larvae floated, whereas in hot water they sank; and in all 3 visual inspections for larvae were made. The brown sugar flotation method detected more total larvae than the hot water method when using a clear dish or black pan after cherries were shredded through a 2-mm gap in a cherry crusher, resulting in 95, 85, and 85% detections, respectively. Brown sugar and salt flotation methods resulted in similar detection rates of 85-99% after cherries were shredded through either a 2- or 5-mm gap, even though the 2-mm gap resulted in greater shredding. In brown sugar, hot water, and salt solutions, 26-88% of first instars (when there were at least 8 individuals) were detected versus 77-100% of second and third instars. Results demonstrate that salt and brown sugar solutions are equally efficacious for detecting larvae of R. indifferens separated from crushed cherries. Salt solution is advantageous over brown sugar solution because it is less expensive. Should salt solution be used for detecting larval spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii [Matsumura]) in cherries, current results show that it would not compromise detection of R. indifferens.
Lead-organic matter interactions in a mollisol

Abstract Samples from the surface layer (0–15 cm) of a cultivated Typic Haplaquoll, collected in the fall of 1975 from field plots amended with variable amounts of Pb in the spring of 1969 and with ground corn cobs in 1973 and 1974 (22.4 tons ha−1), were analyzed for organic N, total Pb, exchangeable- and soluble-Pb, specifically-adsorbed Pb, and organically-bound Pb. Highly-significant correlations were obtained between organic N and soil Pb concentrations, from which it was concluded that the applied Pb resulted in small increases in the organic matter content of the soil. The most probable mechanism was believed to be through the formation of biologically-resistant Pb-organic matter complexes. At low amounts of soil Pb (20–30 μg g−1 range), approximately 30% of the soil Pb occurred in organic linkages but the proportion increased steadily up to 400 μg g−1 and gradually leveled off thereafter. The conclusion was reached that progressive contamination of the test soil by exogenous Pb additions, such as from automobile exhaust near traffic highways, would have little effect on plant available forms until soil Pb concentrations reached about 100 μg g−1, following which the concentration in the soil solution would be related to and controlled by the size of the organic pool.
Phase Equilibria in the Spinel Region of the System FeO-Fe2O3-Al2O3

Phase relations in the spinel region of the system FeO-Fe2O3-Al2O3 were determined in CO2 at 1300°, 1400°, and 15000°C and for partial oxygen pressures of 4 × 10−7 and 7 × 10−10 atmospheres at 15OO°C. The spinel field extends continuously from Fe3O4-x to FeAl2O4+z.
Neurological development of kittens

The neurological development of the kitten was studied from birth to 120 days of age. Three motor features present at birth disappeared within the 1st 45 days of life. The labyrinthine head and body righting reactions were present at birth; the latter matured only by 25 days of age when the air righting reaction (mature by 35 days) started to appear. Limb placing reactions developed progressively with proprioceptive components being present at birth whereas tactile components evolved slowly from early contact lifting to forepaws contact placing (60 days) and narrow plank walking (75 days). Standing and walking were well developed by 45 days. Eye opening occurred at 9.5 days and several eyeblink reactions (including blink to light) were present at birth. Adequate binocular coordination was seen by 47 days. Vision progressed parallel to the clearing of the ocular media which were fairly transparent by 32 days. Visually guided paw placing and the visuopalpebral blink reflex matured later (by 37 and 59 days, respectively). The external auditory canal and pinna were fully developed by 12 and 31 days, respectively; spontaneous and tactile pinna movements were present at birth; orienting to animal and nonanimal sounds was well developed by 6.5 and 18 days, respectively; spatial sound localization was developed by 16 days and differential responding to animal sounds matured by 24.5 days. Somatic responses and olfaction were present at birth but matured further thereafter. Playful interactions between kittens started by 10--15 days and well developed play behavior was seen by 36--40 days. In brief, all neurological functions mature progressively during the 1st 3 postnatal months.
Linear viscoelasticity of sulfonated styrene oligomers near the sol-gel transition

Linear viscoelastic complex modulus (reported by Weiss and Zhao, 2009) of three ionomers, obtained through random sulfonation of oligomeric styrene at low ionic contents, p = 2.5, 4.8, and 6.5mol%, were analyzed using mean-field gelation theory with the fraction of repeat units that are sulfonated the effective extent of reaction p. Oligomeric styrene with low M = 4000 g/mol, having N = 38 repeat units, ensures absence of entanglement effects. The dynamics change in a complicated way with ion content p because the gel point pc = 1/(N−1) = 2.7 mol%. For ionomers having p = 2.5 mol%, the system is below but quite close to the gel point. The terminal relaxation is governed by the effective breakup of large clusters into subclusters of comparable sizes, as anticipated by Rubinstein and Semenov. The samples with p = 4.8 mol% and 6.5 mol%, are beyond the gel point and exhibit properties of reversible gels.
Viscosity and density sensing with ultrasonic plate waves

Abstract Flexural plate waves propagating on thin silicon-nitride membranes in contact with viscous fluids are studied. The attenuation of the plate wave is shown in an approximate analysis to depend on the amount of viscous dissipation that occurs in the liquid. The effective mass in the viscous boundary layer increases the mass loading of the membrane over the amount due to density variations alone, resulting in a decrease in the frequency of maximum transmission. Measurements of the wave attenuation and frequency response of the plate-wave delay line in water-glycerol solutions demonstrate viscosity-density sensor applications in liquids with viscosities exceeding 1000 cP.
Torgersen's muscle and infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Abstract A child with recurrent vomiting following Ramstedt pyloromyotomy is presented. Section of the pyloric fibers of the left canalis loop of Torgersen resulted in prompt recovery. It is recommended that the muscle be identified and divided as part of routine pyloromyotomy in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
SNR perfomance of a noise reduction algorithm applied to coarsely sampled chaotic data

Abstract We describe results of application to coarsely sampled Lorenz time series of an algorithm for noise reduction. The method does not depend on having detailed prior information about system dynamics. Systematic numerical studies reveal linear growth in peak values of maximum SNR improvement with the logarithm of trajectory length.
Experience with telehealth for sleep monitoring and sleep laboratory management

In 2009, we established a pilot telehealth service to a sleep laboratory in Garden City, Kansas, approximately 600 km from the Kansas University Medical Center. Videoconferencing was used for polysomnography (PSG) study follow-up, patient monitoring and sleep laboratory medical management. It allowed the sleep specialist to treat patients and collaborate with sleep laboratory personnel from a distance without extensive travel. In the first six months the telemedicine clinic was held on six occasions. There were 18 new patient evaluations and four follow up visits. The most common diagnosis was obstructive sleep apnoea. The videoconferencing equipment and the intraoral camera worked well. Interviewing and examining patients via telemedicine was very similar to doing it in-person. Telemedicine was effective for the physician-patient interaction and for visualizing airway structures. Although more research is needed, the use of videoconferencing for sleep study follow-up and laboratory oversight appears very...
Computer-administered Behavior Therapies

Behavioral psychotherapies have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety disorders, sexual dysfunctions, paraphilias, obesity and some mood disorders. The prevalence of these disorders is high and there are not enough trained behavior therapists to provide treatment. Cost of effective treatment is also beyond the means of many. Computer-administered behavior therapies have shown promise but little propagation. Problems with development and dissemination of the computer-administered behavior therapy programs are discussed.
Polyelectrolytes as secondary calibration standards for aqueous size-exclusion chromatography

The effect of the ionic strength of the solvent on the size-exclusion chromatography of narrow molecular weight dextrans and monodisperse sodium polystyrene sulfonates has been investigated. In both NaOH and NaCl solutions the elution volume of the sodium polystyrene sulfonates increased as the ionic strength was increased, while the elution volume of the dextrans decreased slightly as the ionic strength was increased. The elution data for various ionic strength solvents could not be described by the traditional universal calibration procedure of plotting the product of the intrinsic viscosity and the molecular weight vs. the elution volume. By using a modified calibration procedure which includes excluded volume effects, the elution data can be described for NaOH solution of moderate and high ionic strength. This modified calibration technique was unable to describe the elution data for very low ionic strength NaOH solutions and for the NaCl solutions. Possible explanations of the inability of straightforward size exclusion chromatographic calibration techniques to quantitatively described all the observed elution behavior are discussed.
Vinclozolin modulates splenic natural killer cell activity, antibody-forming cell response and phenotypic marker expression in sprague dawley rats: a two-generation feeding study.

The potential effects of the fungicide vinclozolin (VCZ) on the immune system were evaluated in F0 (dams) and F1 generations of Sprague Dawley rats exposed to a soy-free diet containing VCZ at 10, 150 and 750 ppm. In dams, exposure to VCZ at the highest concentration from gestation day 7 to postpartum day 51 (65 days total exposure) produced a significant increase in the numbers of splenocytes, B cells, T cells, helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells and a decrease in the percentage of NK cells. In F1 males, exposure to VCZ gestationally, lactationally and through feed from postnatal day 22 to 64 (78 days total exposure) produced no effect on spleen or thymus weights or splenocyte subsets. However, increases in the spleen IgM antibody-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells (150 and 750 ppm) and the activity of NK cells (150 ppm) were observed. In F1 females, exposure to VCZ produced a decrease in the activity of NK cells in all the treatment groups. Although decreases in the number of cytotoxic T ce...
Strategic utilization of cardiac markers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

Current changes of the healthcare environment have promoted the creation of chest pain centers in the emergency departments for rapid triage of patients admitted for cardiac evaluation. Because of the inefficiency of electrocardiogram for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, blood cardiac markers play an important role in the decision making process. Current commercial cardiac tests available include creatine kinase, its MB isoenzyme, MB isoforms, lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzyme-1, myoglobin, cardiac troponin T and troponin I. The diagnostic efficacy of each of these assays is reviewed. Their appropriate use depends on when the specimens are collected for testing after the onset of myocardial infarction. Since not all patients seek medical attention at the time symptoms appear, the applicability of these markers differs in each case. Based on the time after the onset of chest pain, a utilization strategy of the cardiac markers is proposed. With this protocol, the triage of patients can be optimized resulting in the efficient treatment of patients and large savings in cost.
Combining manual feedback with subsequent MDP reward signals for reinforcement learning

As learning agents move from research labs to the real world, it is increasingly important that human users, including those without programming skills, be able to teach agents desired behaviors. Recently, the tamer framework was introduced for designing agents that can be interactively shaped by human trainers who give only positive and negative feedback signals. Past work on tamer showed that shaping can greatly reduce the sample complexity required to learn a good policy, can enable lay users to teach agents the behaviors they desire, and can allow agents to learn within a Markov Decision Process (MDP) in the absence of a coded reward function. However, tamer does not allow this human training to be combined with autonomous learning based on such a coded reward function. This paper leverages the fast learning exhibited within the tamer framework to hasten a reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm's climb up the learning curve, effectively demonstrating that human reinforcement and MDP reward can be used in conjunction with one another by an autonomous agent. We tested eight plausible tamer+rl methods for combining a previously learned human reinforcement function, H, with MDP reward in a reinforcement learning algorithm. This paper identifies which of these methods are most effective and analyzes their strengths and weaknesses. Results from these tamer+rl algorithms indicate better final performance and better cumulative performance than either a tamer agent or an RL agent alone.
Bounded-Latency Alerts in Vehicular Networks

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocols may be broadly classified into in three categories; bounded-delay safety alerts, persistent traffic warnings and streaming media for telematics applications. We focus on the first category of time-critical messaging as is it of greatest value to the driver and passengers. Safety alerts are transmitted from a vehicle during events such as loss of traction, sudden braking and airbag deployment. The objective for a safety protocol is to relay messages across multiple vehicles within a 1.5-2 km distance to alert approaching vehicles within a bounded end-to-end delay (e.g. 1.5 sec). Due to high mobility and ephemeral connectivity we must employ broadcast protocols, as well as mitigation strategies to curtail inherent issues associated with broadcast protocols, such as broadcast storm problem. In this paper, we present a location division multiple access (LDMA) scheme to suppress the broadcast storm problem and ensure bounded end-to-end delay across multiple hops. This scheme requires participating vehicles to time synchronize with the GPS time and receive the regional map definitions consisting of spatial cell resolutions and temporal slot schedules via an out-of-band FM/RDBS control channel. We use the GrooveNet vehicular network virtualization platform with realistic mobility, car-following and congestion models to evaluate the performance of LDMA in simulation and on the road.
Thirty years of organometallic aryldiazenido arylazo derivatives

Abstract The aryldiazenido ligands provide the fourth member of the isoelectronic series CO, NO+, RNC, RN2+ of ligands for transition metal complexes. The first aryldiazenido metal complex was reported in 1964 when p-CH3OC6H4N2Mo(CO)2C5H5 was prepared by the reaction of NaMo(CO)3C5H5 with p-CH3OC6H4N2+BF4−. This review surveys the development of organometallic aryldiazenido chemistry since that time. Such organometallic aryldiazenido derivatives, including RN2M(CO)2C5H5, RN2M(CO)2(Pz3BH) (M = Cr, Mo, W), [(η6-Me6C6)Cr(CO)2N2Ar]+, [(MeC15H4)M′(CO)2N2Ar]+ M′ = Mn, Re), [trans-PhN2Fe(CO)2(PPh3)2]+, and PhN2M′(CO)2(PPh3)2(PPh3)2 can be obtained by reactions of arenediazonium salts with suitably chosen transition metal nucleophiles. Analogous methods cannot be used to prepare alkyldiazenido transition metal complexes because of the instability of alkyldiazonium salts. However, the alkyldiazenido derivatives RCH2N2M(CO)2C5H5 (R = H or Me3Si) can be obtained from HM(CO)3C5H5 and the corresponding diazoalkanes. Important aspects of the chemical reactivity of RN2M(CO)2Q derivatives (Q = C5H5, Pz3BH) include CO substitution reactions, coordination of the second nitrogen in the RN2 ligand to give heterobimetallic complexes such as C5H5Mo(CO)2(μ-NNC6H4Me)(CO)2C5H5, oxidative addition rections with X2 X = Cl, Br, I), SnX4, RSSR, and CINO, and reactions with further RN2+ to give bis(aryldiazenido) derivatives (RN2)2MQL+ (L = CO, X−, etc.). Dearylation of an aryldiazenido ligand to a dinitrogen ligand can be effected by reaction of [(MeC5H4)M′(CO)2N2Ar]+ with certain nucleophiles to give (MeC5H4)M′(CO)2N2.
Approaches to machine learning

The field of machine learning strives to develop methods and techniques to automate the acquisition of new information, new skills, and new ways of organizing existing information. This article reviews the major approaches to machine learning in symbolic domains, illustrated with occasional paradigmatic examples.
The Portland region: Where city and suburbs talk to each other—and often agree

Abstract Portland, OR, is often cited as an example of successful regional governance and planning. The metropolitan area appears to match many of the precepts of the popular “compact city” model of urban growth and to demonstrate the capacity of local and state government to shape growing metropolitan regions. Given this reputation, it is important to evaluate the relevance of the Portland experience for other communities, distinguishing unique local circumstances from generalizable characteristics. This analysis explores the spatial character of metropolitan Portland in the 1990s, summarizes the politics of regional planning, examines weaknesses in the Portland approach, and offers suggestions for other metropolitan areas. The study finds that many of Portland's accomplishments center on urban design, but that the region's most distinguishing characteristic is its attention to political process. The discussion concludes with suggestions about the value of extensive civic discourse, incremental policy ma...
High school journalism and the making of young citizens

This article examines how involvement in high school journalism contributes to socialization into citizenship and, most crucially, to the development of a collective sensibility. Recent work by W Lance Bennett (2008), Zukin and his colleagues (2006), and Sara-Ellen Amster (2006) provides an interpretive lens for considering young people’s experiences with journalism and with citizenship. Interviews with 45 high school journalists from 19 different schools are analyzed, highlighting emerging definitions of citizenship as reflected in how young people discuss their work as student journalists. The study suggests that participation in the culture of high school journalism can provide young people with opportunities to develop the skills and experiences necessary for civic engagement, including the experience of collective decision-making. This study also argues that some young people come to understand the costs of engaged citizenship after negative experiences with their school’s administration, as such exp...
Active anti-islanding method based on harmonic content detection from overmodulating inverters

This paper proposes a cost effective, simple, and effective method to prevent islanding of grid-connected inverters. It discusses the shortcomings of previous passive and active methods to prevent islanding of utility interactive inverters. A new method, in which the inverter interfacing the main grid and a microgrid is periodically operated in the over-modulation region is proposed. Islanding is detected by measuring the harmonics generated by the over-modulating inverter. It is shown that the proposed method overcomes disadvantages of previously suggested methods without increasing the implementation cost and complexity. Results are validated with the help of simulations and experiments.
Critique of the Routleys' first degree semantics

(1974). Critique of the Routleys' first degree semantics. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 105-120.
FDA Points-to-Consider Documents: The Need for Dietary Control for the Reduction of Experimental Variability within Animal Assays and the Use of Dietary Restriction to Achieve Dietary Control

Standard protocols for conducting chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies have been refined over the years to carefully control for many variables. Nevertheless, over the last 2 decades, there has been a steady increase in variability, a decrease in survival, an increase in tumor incidence rates, and an increase in the average body weight of control animals among the various rodent species and strains used for toxicity testing. These observations have prompted an evaluation of chronic study designs to determine what factor(s) may be responsible for such confounding changes. Ad libitum feeding and the selection of successful breeders with rapid offspring growth is believed to be at least partially responsible for the heavier, obese rodents with which many laboratories are coping today. As a result of these changes, some studies used for the evaluation of safety have been deemed inconclusive or inadequate for regulatory purposes and either additional supportive studies have been requested and/or studies per se have been repeated. Research on the molecular mechanisms of caloric restriction and agent-induced toxicity at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) National Center for Toxicological Research stimulated the first international conference on the biological effects of dietary restriction in 1989; this was followed in 1993 by an FDA workshop exploring the utility of dietary restriction in controlling reduced survival in chronic tests and an international conference in 1994 exploring the implications for the regulatory community of using dietary restriction in toxicity and carcinogenicity studies used in support of a sponsor's submission or in risk assessments. The outcome of that conference was the FDA's commitment to develop Points-to-Consider documents that address the issue of dietary control in chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies.
Counter-hegemonic networks and the transformation of global climate politics: rethinking movement-state relations

Global financial and ecological crises have fueled the diffusion of ideas and discourses that challenge US hegemony and global capitalism and support the expansion of counter-hegemonic alliances between states and social movements. Social movements are calling for rights for Mother Earth and for the development of new measures of well-being, putting forward increasingly credible alternatives to the state-led, market-based approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper traces the social movement processes that have advanced ecological and social justice critiques of capitalist development. It explores how regional and global networks of states and movements have contributed to the growing political salience of new claims and discourses that respond to the ecological threats posed by global warming. These observations reveal how social movement challenges contribute to an expanding realm of global politics that transgresses the traditional boundaries of the inter-state arena, calling for adapta...
Analysis of parasitic effects of small-outline packages for high-frequency integrated circuits

This study reports the packaging effects of a small-outline package (SOP) on overall electrical characteristics of RFICs. The parameters of an equivalent coupled-π model circuit are extracted from simulated S-parameters at low frequency. These parameters are then optimized over the desired frequency range for better accuracy. To verify the obtained circuit model, the tuning characteristic of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) was tested. The circuit is fabricated using a 0.5 um N-well CMOS process, and packaged in a 28-lead SOP plastic package. Experimental results are shown to closely match the simulation results.
Location-Routing Problems with Distance Constraints

An important aspect of designing a distribution system is determining the locations of the facilities. For systems in which deliveries are made along multiple stop routes, the routing problem and location problem must be considered simultaneously. In this paper, a set-partitioning-based formulation of an uncapacitated location-routing model with distance constraints is presented. An alternate set of constraints is identified that significantly reduces the total number of constraints and dramatically improves the linear programming relaxation bound. A branch and price algorithm is developed to solve instances of the model. The algorithm provides optimal solutions in reasonable computation time for problems involving as many as 10 candidate facilities and 100 customers with various distance constraints.
QNOTE: an instrument for measuring the quality of EHR clinical notes.

Background and objective The outpatient clinical note documents the clinician's information collection, problem assessment, and patient management, yet there is currently no validated instrument to measure the quality of the electronic clinical note. This study evaluated the validity of the QNOTE instrument, which assesses 12 elements in the clinical note, for measuring the quality of clinical notes. It also compared its performance with a global instrument that assesses the clinical note as a whole. Materials and methods Retrospective multicenter blinded study of the clinical notes of 100 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had been seen in clinic on at least three occasions. The 300 notes were rated by eight general internal medicine and eight family medicine practicing physicians. The QNOTE instrument scored the quality of the note as the sum of a set of 12 note element scores, and its inter-rater agreement was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient. The Global instrument scored the note in its entirety, and its inter-rater agreement was measured by the Fleiss κ. Results The overall QNOTE inter-rater agreement was 0.82 (CI 0.80 to 0.84), and its note quality score was 65 (CI 64 to 66). The Global inter-rater agreement was 0.24 (CI 0.19 to 0.29), and its note quality score was 52 (CI 49 to 55). The QNOTE quality scores were consistent, and the overall QNOTE score was significantly higher than the overall Global score (p=0.04). Conclusions We found the QNOTE to be a valid instrument for evaluating the quality of electronic clinical notes, and its performance was superior to that of the Global instrument.
Strength Optimization of Thermally Bonded Spunbond Nonwovens

Recent research on all aspects of thermally point bonded nonwovens has led to considerable improvements in the understanding of material requirements for these nonwovens, the changes that occur during bonding and the resultant deterioration of the mechanical properties of the nonwoven materials. This paper addresses how one may use a bicomponent fiber technology to overcome the shortcomings of the thermal bonding and obtain high strength spunbond fabrics. In particular, we present the utility of islands-in-the-sea (I/S) bicomponent fibers for optimizing the strength of thermally bonded fabrics. To examine the role of various bonding temperatures on the fabric performance, preconsolidated webs were formed and subsequently, thermally bonded. Thus, any influence introduced by potential variations in the structure was minimized. Point-bonded bicomponent samples made up of nylon-6 (N6) as the islands and low density polyethylene (PE) as the sea showed great promise with respect to their mechanical properties, suggesting that the use of bicomponent fibers can be beneficial for strength optimization of thermally bonded spunbond nonwovens.
Neuropeptide Y binding and inhibition of cAMP accumulation in human neuroepithelioma cells

The specific binding of 125I-labeled neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the biological response to NPY receptor activation were measured in cultured human neuroepithelioma (SK-N-MC) cells. A single class of high-affinity binding sites [dissociation constant (KD) = 0.2 nM] was characterized both by equilibrium binding of 125I-NPY concentrations less than 1 nM and kinetically by the initial rates of 125I-NPY association and dissociation. Specific 125I-NPY binding was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner by inclusion of guanine nucleotides in the incubation medium. The existence of multiple affinity states or NPY receptor subtypes was suggested by 1) a Hill coefficient of less than 1.0 obtained when analyzing equilibrium binding with 125I-NPY concentrations greater than 1 nM, 2) biphasic dissociation of 125I-NPY, 3) an increase in the component of rapid dissociation and decrease in the component of slow dissociation when guanine nucleotides were present during dissociation of 125I-NPY, and 4) displacement of 125I-NPY by unlabeled peptide with a slope factor of 0.6. Exposure of intact cells to NPY caused a concentration-dependent pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation [50% effective concentration (EC50) = 0.4 nM]. In contrast, NPY had no effect on cellular inositol phosphate content or protein kinase C activation. These results demonstrate that NPY binds specifically to a G protein-linked receptor that inhibits adenylate cyclase in SK-N-MC cells.
Molecular Test of Enteroviruses for Healthy Children in Yunnan Province and the Border Areas with Myanmar, 2012

Objective To explore the enteroviruses(EV)surveillance among healthy children under 15 years old in Yunnan province and the border areas with Myanmar in 2012.MethodThe stool samples were collected from the healthy children from 10 counties from non-border areas and 10 counties in the border areas with a total of 600 samples, virus isolation were conducted for the all 600 samples and positive samples were sequenced.Result5 strains of polioviruses were detected with a 0.83%isolation rate, which are belong to vaccine strain and 48 non-polio EV(NPEVs)were detected with an isolation rate of 8.00%. Of which, 5 strains belong to Human EV Group A(HEV-A, 3 serotypes, accounting for 10.42%), 42 strains belong to HEV-B 14 serotypes(accounting for 87.50%), 6 strains belong to HEV-C 4 serotypes(accounting for 11.32%), HEV-D viruses were not isolated.ConclutionOur results showed that 48 strains of EVs were isolated from Chinese children with an isolation rate of 8.00%, 5 strains of EVs were isolated from Myanmar children with an isolation rate of 0.83%. In China, the EV isolation rate is higher than the Myanmar children, with HEV-B viruses being the predominant viruses.