cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apparatus for Constant Rate-of-Strain Consolidation of Slurry Mixed Soils

A constant rate-of-strain (CRS) consolidation apparatus was developed to allow testing of slurry mixed soils prepared within 102-mm (4-in) inner diameter acrylic columns with varying lengths using a laboratory mixing apparatus. The laboratory mixing apparatus was previously developed to mimic the mixing process associated with the use of slurries containing bentonite and granular zero-valent iron (ZVI) for in situ remediation at sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Example consolidation results are provided for specimens of dry sand mixed with bentonite-ZVI slurry with lengths of 305 mm (12 in), 457 mm (18 in), or 610 mm (24 in). After mixing, all of the specimens except for the 610-mm specimen were consolidated directly within the same columns to minimize sampling disturbance. The 610-mm specimen was sectioned into thirds before consolidation testing to evaluate effects of vertical heterogeneity. As expected, all specimens were highly compressible, with maximum (large) strains ranging from 10.7 % to 48.0 %. For specimens prepared and tested within the same columns, the effects of differences in column length and strain rate were minor. The CRS testing apparatus offered a convenient, rapid (
Embedded diagnostics enable military ground vehicle

The DoD has initiated programs to modernize logistics practices and processes. Among them is the requirement to build and deploy autonomic logistics (AL). AL is necessary to provide a focused and tailored logistics response to area of operations (AO). It is based upon knowing status, condition and health of all combat equipment in the AO. Embedded sensors monitor levels of consumables (fuel, ammo, water) and condition (health of components, subsystems and systems) and report those through the logistics operational architecture to Global Combat Support Systems (GCSS) and Global Command Control Systems (GCCS). Autonomic logistics fills the critical gap of interpreting, assimilating and synchronizing data from individual platforms into aggregated and actionable calls for supply, support and maintenance. Embedded diagnostics plays a critical role as an enabler for autonomic logistics and is the subject of this article.
Epigenetics and early life origins of chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Abstract In light of the increasing threats of chronic noncommunicable diseases in developing countries, the growing recognition of the early life origins of chronic disease, and innovative breakthroughs in biomedical research and technology, it is imperative that we harness cutting-edge data to improve health promotion and maintenance. It is well recognized that chronic diseases are complex traits affected by a wide range of environmental and genetic factors; however, the role of epigenetic factors, particularly with regard to early life origins, remains largely unexplored. Given the unique properties of the epigenome—functionality during critical time windows, such as the intrauterine period, heritability, and reversibility—enhancing our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms may offer new opportunities for the development of novel early prediction and prevention paradigms. This may present an unparalleled opportunity to offer maternal and child health professionals important tools with the translational value to predict, detect, and prevent disease at an early age, long before its clinical occurrence, and as such, break lifelong and transgenerational cycles of disease. In doing so, modern technology can be leveraged to make great contributions to population health, quality of life, and reducing the burdensome economic costs of noncommunicable diseases in developing countries.
The Burden of Home: Shirley Ann Grau's Fiction

(1987). The Burden of Home: Shirley Ann Grau's Fiction. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 181-193.
Porting scientific libraries to PGAS in XSEDE resources: practice and experience

The next generation of supercomputers presents new and complex challenges that might require a change in the current paradigm of how parallel applications are developed. Hybrid programming is usually described as the best approach for exascale computers. PGAS programming models are considered an interesting alternative to work together with MPI in this hybrid model to achieve good performance in those machines. This is a very promising approach especially for one-sided and irregular communication patterns. However, this is still an emerging technology and there is not much previous experience on how to port existing MPI applications to the PGAS model. Due to the promising relevance of this approach for the next generation of devices, it is relevant to have early experience on porting applications as well as knowledge on the issues that might be faced in this new paradigm. In this paper we present two different scientific applications that are currently implemented in MPI and that are promising candidates for this PGAS paradigm. We describe how these applications have been ported, the challenges faced and some of the solutions that we found. We also show how PGAS models can achieve great performance when compared to MPI.
Measuring effectiveness of semantic cues in degraded English sentences in non-native listeners

AbstractObjective: This study employed Boothroyd and Nittrouer's k (1988) to directly quantify effectiveness in native versus non-native listeners’ use of semantic cues. Design: Listeners were presented speech-perception-in-noise sentences processed at three levels of concurrent multi-talker babble and reverberation. For each condition, 50 sentences with multiple semantic cues and 50 with minimum semantic cues were randomly presented. Listeners verbally reported and wrote down the target words. The metric, k, was derived from percent-correct scores for sentences with and without semantics. Study sample: Ten native and 33 non-native listeners participated. Results: The presence of semantics increased recognition benefit by over 250% for natives, but access to semantics remained limited for non-native listeners (90–135%). The k was comparable across conditions for native listeners, but level-dependent for non-natives. The k for non-natives was significantly different from 1 in all conditions, suggesting sem...
Thymolipoma in patients with myasthenia gravis: report of two cases and review.

- Two cases of simultaneous occurrence of myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymolipoma are described and 4 previously reported cases are reviewed. In all 6 cases, thymectomy was performed. Pre- and postoperatively, the clinical status of the patients was similar to that of late-onset MG without thymolipoma. It is possible that simultaneous occurrence of MG and thymolipoma may be coincidental.
A tutorial on validation and verification of simulation models

We give a general introduction to validation and verification of simulation models, define the various validation techniques, and present a recommended model validation procedure in this tutorial paper.
Detailed multiphysics modeling and validation of thermocouple readings in fires

Detailed CFD models of mineral-insulated metal-sheathed (MIMS) thermocouples are discussed and thermocouple readings in fire environment are validated against experimental thermocouple data for a Hencken burner flame. Thermocouple readings are presented as functions of equivalence ratio, thermocouple diameter, thermocouple orientation, position of the junction, depth of insertion into fire, and sheath surface emissivity. Effects of surface oxidation, sheath diameter, and insertion depth on thermocouple response time are analyzed in detail. Computational results are compared with published experimental data. Overall, predictions showed excellent agreement with experimental data. Small deviations occurred in the case of insertion depths due to axial heat losses.
Low-frequency noise figure and its application to the measurement of certain transistor parameters

Low-frequency noise measurements are shown to provide a convenient and reasonably accurate (±10 per cent) means of measuring r'_{b}. Their application to the measurement of the factor n in the junction law p_{e} = p_{n} (e_^{qV/nkT} - 1) is also described, though the values of n obtained from noise measurements do not check accurately with the values of n determined by other methods. Experimental determinations of the variation of low-frequency noise figure with emitter-bias current are also presented for several transistor types. The observed behavior suggests that the principal source of 1/f noise in low-noise transistors may be in the emitter-base transition region instead of on the base surfaces where it is placed in presently accepted noise models.
Tracking biocultural pathways in population health: the value of biomarkers.

Background: Cultural factors and biomarkers are emerging emphases in social epidemiology that readily ally with human biology and anthropology. Persistent health challenges and disparities have est...
Cold collisions between argon atoms and hydrogen molecules

by considering a complex square-well potential. We demonstrate that many of the important features of a numerically exact coupled-channel calculation may be qualitatively understood in terms of this simple model. W ith the aid of the complex scattering length, a kinetic model may be constructed for describing the relaxation of vibrationally or rotationally excited trapped molecules 2 . The relaxation may be due to direct collisional quenching or to the formation and decay of van der Waals complexes. When the end-over-end angular momentum of the complex is zero and the vibrational stretching quantum number is the lar gest possible integer that allows the complex to be bound, it is possible to use effective range theory to compute the lifetimes for predissociation 2,21 . The numerical tests that confirmed the reliability of the effective range theory were performed on He H 2 that supported only a single bound state. In the present work, we perform similar tests for Ar H 2 where several bound states exist. It was previously demonstrated 21 that predissociation of the most weakly bound state of a van der Waals complex is influenced by the same quasiresonant vibration-rotation energy transfer that is found in atom-diatom collisions 22 . It was also shown that the proximity of closed quasiresonant channel thresholds provides a strong influence on the lifetimes 21 . In the present work, we study the analytic structure of the threshold behavior obtained using both parametrizations of the Ar-H2 potential-ener gy surface and investigate whether quasiresonant dynamics has any influence on the more deeply bound states of the complex. The paper is organized as follows: in Sec. II, we describe a few qualitative features of the potential-energy surface that are important for our investigations. Section III provides a review of the standard close-coupling formalism that we used to obtain an extensive database of rovibrational rate coefficients and predissociation lifetimes for both of the parametrized surfaces. In Sec. IV, we demonstrate how a complex square-well potential may be used to provide a qualitative description of several of the key results that are found from the numerically exact coupled-channel calculations. These results are presented in Sec. V. Conclusions to our investigation are given in Sec. VI.
Influence of mycotrophy on native and introduced grass regeneration in a semiarid grassland following burning.

Prescribed burning is used in the southwestern United States to restore grasslands by reducing the abundance of encroaching woody species. Yet, the use of this tool appears to have the unintended effect of favoring the regeneration of some introduced grasses. Although both native and introduced perennial grasses evolved under the influence of fire, it is their response to mycotrophy in the immediate postburn environment that appears to give some grasses such as Lovegrass the advantage. In an exploratory study, two greenhouse experiments were completed in conjunction with a larger field study. A bioassay of soil from the study site found that soil exposed to burning had a significantly (p≤ 0.0001) lower mycorrhizal infection percentage than soil not exposed to burning, results which could not be explained by postburn erosion losses of inoculum alone. Results of the second greenhouse study revealed that differential response to mycotrophy clearly separated the Lovegrass (Eragrostis spp.) from the other genera studied. Lovegrass not infected by mycorrhizal fungi produced greater shoot biomass and inflorescence before the other noninfected studied grasses. Yet, infected Lovegrass did not develop inflorescence before harvest as the other genera infected by the mycorrhizal fungi did. Study results suggest that the lack of dependence by Lovegrass on mycorrhizal infection for reestablishing itself in the postburn environment gives it an advantage over those that do.
An experimental and theoretical study on the dissolution of mural fibrin clots by tissue-type plasminogen activator

During thrombolytic therapy and after recanalization is achieved, reduction in the volume of mural thrombi is desirable. Mural thrombi are known to contribute to rethrombosis and reocclusion. The lysis rate of mural thrombi has been demonstrated to increase with fluid flow in different experimental models, but the mechanisms responsible are unknown. An experimental and a theoretical study were developed to determine the contribution of outer convective transport to the lysis of mural fibrin clots. Normal human plasma containing recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA; 0.5 μg/mL) was (re)perfused over mural fibrin clots with fluorescently labeled fibrin at low arterial, arterial, or higher wall shear stresses (4, 18, or 41 dyn/cm2, respectively) and lysis was monitored in real time. Flow accelerated lysis, but significantly only at the highest shear stress: The average lysis front velocity was 3 × 10−5 cm/s at 41 dyn/cm2 vs. almost half of that at the lower shear stresses. Confocal microscopy showed fibrin fibers dissolving only in a narrow region close to the surface when permeation velocity was predicted to be low. A heterogeneous transport-reaction finite element model was used to describe mural fibrinolysis. After scaling the effects of outer and inner convection, inner diffusion, and chemical reactions, a simplified inner diffusion/reaction model was used. Correlation to fibrin lysis data in purified systems dictated higher rates of plasmin(ogen) and tPA adsorption onto fibrin and a decreased catalytic rate of plasmin-mediated fibrin degradation, compared with published parameters. At each shear stress, the model predicted a temporal pattern of lysis of mural fibrin (similar to that observed experimentally), and protease accumulation in a narrow fibrin region and significant lysis inhibition by plasma α2-antiplasmin (according to the literature). Increasing outer convection accelerated mural fibrinolysis, but the model did not predict the big increase in lysis rate at the highest shear stress. At higher than arterial flows, additional mechanisms not accounted for in the current model, such as fibrin collapse at the fibrin front, may regulate the lysis of mural clots and determine the outcome of thrombolytic therapy. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 77: 405–419, 2002; DOI 10.1002/bit.10127
Extramacrochaetae imposes order on the Drosophila eye by refining the activity of the Hedgehog signaling gradient

The compound eye of Drosophila melanogaster is configured by a differentiating wave, the morphogenetic furrow, that sweeps across the eye imaginal disc and transforms thousands of undifferentiated cells into a precisely ordered repetitive array of 800 ommatidia. The initiation of the furrow at the posterior margin of the epithelium and its subsequent movement across the eye field is controlled by the activity of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Differentiating photoreceptors that lie behind the furrow produce and secrete the Hh morphogen, which is captured by cells within the furrow itself. This leads to the stabilization of the full-length form of the zinc-finger transcription factor Cubitus interruptus (Ci155), the main effector of Hh signaling. Ci155 functions as a transcriptional activator of a number of downstream targets, including decapentaplegic (dpp), a TGFβ homolog. In this report, we describe a mechanism that is in place within the fly retina to limit Hh pathway activity within and ahead of the furrow. We demonstrate that the helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein Extramacrochaetae (Emc) regulates Ci155 levels. Loss of emc leads to an increase in Ci155 levels, nuclear migration, apical cell constriction and an acceleration of the furrow. We find that these roles are distinct from the bHLH protein Hairy (H), which we show restricts atonal (ato) expression ahead of the furrow. Secondary furrow initiation along the dorsal and ventral margins is blocked by the activity of the Wingless (Wg) pathway. We also show that Emc regulates and cooperates with Wg signaling to inhibit lateral furrow initiation.
Change in Human Social Behavior in Response to a Common Vaccine

Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that exposure to a directly transmitted human pathogen—flu virus—increases human social behavior presymptomatically. This hypothesis is grounded in empirical evidence that animals infected with pathogens rarely behave like uninfected animals, and in evolutionary theory as applied to infectious disease. Such behavioral changes have the potential to increase parasite transmission and/or host solicitation of care. Methods We carried out a prospective, longitudinal study that followed participants across a known point-source exposure to a form of influenza virus (immunizations), and compared social behavior before and after exposure using each participant as his/her own control. Results Human social behavior does, indeed, change with exposure. Compared to the 48 hours pre-exposure, participants interacted with significantly more people, and in significantly larger groups, during the 48 hours immediately post-exposure. Conclusions These results show that there is an immediate active behavioral response to infection before the expected onset of symptoms or sickness behavior. Although the adaptive significance of this finding awaits further investigation, we anticipate it will advance ecological and evolutionary understanding of human-pathogen interactions, and will have implications for infectious disease epidemiology and prevention.
Unlocking the Past: Celebrating Historical Archaeology in North America

Unlocking the Past: Celebrating Historical Archaeology in North America. Lu Ann De Cunzo and John H. JamesonJr., eds. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. 255 pp.
Rhomboid muscle electromyography activity during 3 different manual muscle tests.

Abstract Smith J, Padgett DJ, Kaufman KR, Harrington SP, An K-N, Irby SE. Rhomboid muscle electromyography activity during 3 different manual muscle tests. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:987–92. Objective To determine which of 3 previously published rhomboid manual muscle tests (MMTs) elicits the maximal rhomboid electromyographic activity in an asymptomatic population. Design Criterion standard. Setting Motion analysis laboratory at tertiary care medical center. Participants Eleven male volunteers (age range, 24–40y) without shoulder or neck pain. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Peak 1-second normalized electromyographic activity in the rhomboid muscle during 8 different MMT positions, including 3 different rhomboid MMT positions (Kendall, Kendall-Alternative, Hislop-Montgomery). Results The Kendall MMT (78% maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) produced higher rhomboid electromyographic activity than the Kendall-Alternative (71% MVC) or the Hislop-Montgomery MMT (52% MVC), but the differences were not statistically significant. The posterior deltoid MMT generated the greatest rhomboid electromyographic activity of all MMTs, and 4% to 30% greater rhomboid electromyographic activity than the 3 rhomboid MMTs ( P =.0001; posterior deltoid > Hislop-Montgomery). Electromyographic profiles of the Kendall and Kendall-Alternative MMTs were similar, whereas the Hislop-Montgomery MMT produced less upper trapezius activity ( P =.0001 vs Kendall and Kendall-Alternative) and more latissimus dorsi activity ( P =.0001 vs Kendall-Alternative). The standard MMT positions for the middle trapezius, levator scapula, posterior deltoid, and latissimus dorsi produced the maximal electromyographic activity for their respective target muscles. Conclusions The posterior deltoid MMT position should be used to produce maximal rhomboid electromyographic activity for normalization purposes during kinesiologic studies. The Kendall and Kendall-Alternative rhomboid MMT are likely to be clinically indistinct. It is unlikely that clinicians can use standard MMT positions to distinguish rhomboid strength from synergists, such as the levator scapula and middle trapezius muscle, for diagnostic purposes.
Comparison of Overlap Methods for Quantitatively Synthesizing Single-Subject Data

Four overlap methods for quantitatively synthesizing single-subject data were compared to visual analysts’ judgments. The overlap methods were percentage of nonoverlapping data, pairwise data overlap squared, percentage of data exceeding the median, and percentage of data exceeding a median trend. Visual analysts made judgments about 160 A-B data sets selected randomly from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis . The four overlap methods were compared for data sets in which all visual analysts agreed a change in data occurred or a change did not occur across conditions. Each overlap method had unacceptably high levels of errors. Given the findings and weaknesses of the overlap methods, their use should be abandoned. The desirable characteristics of a quantitative synthesis method are described.
Use of monolithic elastic design in x-ray monochromators

Abstract. A wide variety of construction methods and mechanical designs for hard x-ray monochromators is in useat synchrotron radiation facilities around the world. These cover the gamut in complexity and sophistica-tion. This paper will try to show that sophistication and complexity are not inevitable partners, and thatthe use of elastic monolithic design can remove much of the complexity in x-ray monochromators of alllevels of sophistication. Introduction. There appear to be two distinct schools of thought when it comes to the design of monochromatormechanisms. The first, and by far the most prevalent, uses separate pieces of silicon for each of the dif-fracting elements of an x-ray monochromator. All other aspects of the mechanism are achieved via con-ventional engineering materials and techniques. This paper adopts the opposite viewpoint, i.e. that asmuch of the mechanics of the monochromator as possible should be engineered in silicon. In addition,the generation of the tiny adjustment motions necessary in the operation of a multi-crystal monochroma-tor should be produced by changing forces on the monolith and allowing its natural stiffness to producesmall displacements under those forces. This is again not in the conventional mechanical wisdom, butsomething which we have learned works extremely well in silicon. The combination of such techniquescan result in maintenance-free monochromators, requiring minimal adjustment and very low drifts. Theyalso allow one to construct highly sophisticated optical instruments which would be impractical usingstandard mechanisms.
Comparison of racemic albuterol and levalbuterol in the treatment of acute asthma in the ED.

Background: Acute asthma is often treated with racemic albuterol, a 1:1 mixture of (R)-albuterol and (S)-albuterol. Levalbuterol is the single-isomer agent comprised (R)-albuterol, an active bronchodilator, without any effects of (S)-albuterol. Objective: To compare emergency department (ED) admission rates of patients presenting with acute asthma who were treated with either racemic albuterol or levalbuterol. Setting: Suburban community teaching hospital. Design: Retrospective observational case review. Methods: Emergency department patients presenting with acute asthma at 2 different sites were reviewed over 9- and 3-month consecutive periods. Outcome measures included ED hospital admission rate, length of stay, arrival acuity, and treatment costs. Patients were excluded if younger than 1 year or if no treatment of acute asthma was rendered. Results: Of the initial 736 consecutive cases, significantly fewer admissions (4.7% vs 15.1%, respectively; P = .0016) were observed in the levalbuterol vs racemic albuterol group. Of the subsequent 186 consecutive cases, significantly fewer admissions were also observed (13.8% vs 28.9%, respectively; P = .021) in the levalbuterol vs racemic albuterol group. Treatment costs were lower with levalbuterol mainly because of a decrease in hospital admissions. Conclusion: Levalbuterol treatment in the ED for patients with acute asthma resulted in higher patient discharge rates and may be a cost-effective alternative to racemic albuterol.
Work organization, job stress, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Recent studies indicate potential links among work organization, job stress, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). In this paper we propose several pathways for a theoretical relationship between job stress and WRMDs. These pathways highlight the physiological, psychological, and behavioral reactions to stress that can affect WRMDs directly and indirectly. One model stipulates that psychosocial work factors (e.g., work pressure, lack of control), which can cause stress, might also influence or be related to ergonomic factors such as force, repetition, and posture that have been identified as risk factors for WRMDs. In order to fully understand the etiology of WRMDs, it is important to examine both physical ergonomic and psychosocial work factors simultaneously. Smith and Carayon-Sainfort (1989) have proposed a model of the work system for stress management that provides a useful framework for conceptualizing the work-related factors that contribute to WRMDs. Practical applications of this research include practitioners taking into account psychosocial work factors and job stress in their efforts to reduce and control WRMDs.
A mixture model and EM algorithm for robust classification, outlier rejection, and class discovery

Several authors have addressed learning a classifier given a mixed labeled/unlabeled training set. These works assume each unlabeled sample originates from one of the (known) classes. Here, we consider the scenario in which unlabeled points may belong either to known/predefined or to heretofore undiscovered classes. There are several practical situations where such data may arise. We propose a novel statistical mixture model which views as observed data not only the feature vector and the class label, but also the fact of label presence/absence for each point. Two types of mixture components are posited to explain label presence/absence. "Predefined" components generate both labeled and unlabeled points and assume labels are missing at random. "Non-predefined" components only generate unlabeled points-thus, in localized regions, they capture data subsets that are exclusively unlabeled. Such subsets may represent an outlier distribution, or new classes. The components' predefined/non-predefined natures are data-driven, learned along with the other parameters via an algorithm based on expectation-maximization (EM). There are three natural applications: (1) robust classifier design, given a mixed training set with outliers; (2) classification with rejections; (3) identification of the unlabeled points (and their representative components) that originate from unknown classes, i.e. new class discovery. We evaluate our method and alternative approaches on both synthetic and real-world data sets.
The direct method for stability analysis of time delayed LTI systems

A general class of linear time invariant systems with time delay is studied. Recently, they attracted considerable interest in the systems and controls community. The complexity arises due to the exponential type transcendental terms in their characteristic equation. The transcendentiality brings infinitely many characteristic roots, which are cumbersome to elaborate as evident from the literature. A number of methodologies have been suggested with limited ability to assess the stability in the parametric domain of time delay. This study offers an exact, structured and robust methodology to bring a closure to the question at hand. Ultimately we present an explicit analytical expression in terms of the system parameters, which not only reveals the stability regions (pockets) in the domain of time delay, but it also declares the number of unstable characteristic roots at any given pocket. The method starts with the determination of all possible purely imaginary (resonant) characteristic roots for any positive time delay. To achieve this a simplifying substitution is used for the transcendental terms in the characteristic equation. It is proven that the number of such resonant roots for a given dynamics is finite. Each one of these roots is created by infinitely many time delays, which are periodically distributed. An interesting property is also claimed next, that the root crossing directions at these locations are invariant with respect to the delay and dependent only on the crossing frequency. These two findings facilitate a simple and practical stability method, which is the highlight of the work.
Benefits of weight loss in the treatment of obesity.

betes (4). The median length of follow up in this study was 10.7 y. Cardiovascular disease accounted for 62% of the total mortality among overweight patients in the conventional treatment group. In contrast, subjects in the metformin group showed risk reductions of 32% for any diabetes-related endpoint, 42% for diabetes-related death (sudden death and death from hyper- or hypoglycemia, fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, stroke, renal failure, or peripheral vascular disease), and 36% for all-cause mortality. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups in risk reduction for microvascular disease. Subjects in the metformin and conventional therapy groups gained 1‐2 kg over the study period, whereas those taking sulfonylureas or insulin had mean increases of 5 and 7 kg, respectively. The authors concluded that the decreased risk of diabetes-related endpoints, as well as the lower weight gain and fewer hypoglycemic attacks than with use of insulin or sulfonylureas, supports the use of metformin as a firstline drug therapy of choice in overweight, diabetic patients. Weight-loss therapy can be expected to simulate the effect of metformin, a biguanide that decreases blood glucose concentrations by reducing hepatic glucose output, enhancing insulin sensitivity, inducing greater peripheral uptake of glucose, and lowering fasting plasma insulin concentrations. Biguanides also decrease concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and may thus increase fibrinolytic activity. The simultaneous occurrence of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion leads to hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. The combination of hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia best describes the pathophysiology of macrovascular complications, whereas hyperglycemia per se is more closely linked to microvascular sequelae. Weight-loss therapy is expected to reverse these metabolic defects (2). Intensive therapy requires control of blood sugar to achieve a glycosylated hemoglobin concentration of 7‐8%, ie, no > 1% above the normal range. Clinical progression is reduced by 75% after 8‐9 y of near-normal plasma glucose concentrations. As for sample size, the UK study is instructive in the design of weight-loss therapy (4). The trial involved 1704 overweight patients [mean age: 53 y; mean body mass index (in kg/m 2 ):
Comparison of a Putative Second Serotype of Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus with a Prototypical Isolate II. Antigenic and Physicochemical Characteristics

SUMMARY. A putative new serotype of chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) isolated from 17-wk-old broiler breeder pullets was compared with a known, previously characterized CIAV isolate, the Del-Ros strain. Physicochemical characteristics evaluated included thermal stability, size, pH, and chloroform sensitivity. Physicochemically, CIAV-7 was identical to CIAV. The virus isolates were compared antigenically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, virus neutralization, immunofluorescence assay, and western blot. All four serologic assays demonstrated that CIAV-7 is antigenically distinct from the Del-Ros strain of CIAV. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot were used to determine if there were similarities in genome sequence between the two viruses. CIAV-7 could not be detected with CIAV-specific PCR primers or a with CIAV-specific probe by Southern hybridization.
A Strategy for Producing Hybrid Regional Input-Output Tables

Hybrid input-output models combine nonsurvey techniques for estimating regional direct requirements tables with superior data, which are obtained from experts, surveys, and other reliable sources (primary or secondary). Such data can be added at any stage of model construction. To date, hybrid model production has been defined only in very general terms. In a 1993 paper in the journal Economic Systems Research, I have pointed out directions that could prove fruitful in developing a more detailed approach. I start the paper by searching for an approach that recognizes critical portions of input-output models that are ripe for survey work or the collection of other superior data. This search begins with a review of existing measures that identify sectors that are most critical to the accuracy of the Leontief inverse. I next compare these measures for their ability to predict sectors critical to the survey-based 1972 Washington State Input-Output Table. In the third section, I combine the findings of the second section with that of other literature to develop a quasi-complete superior-data search strategy for producing hybrid regional input-output tables. In a fourth section, I test the strategy by employing the 1972 Washington State input-output table. Tests are of models both closed and open with respect to households. Following this, I conclude with implications of the findings.
Evidence or Evidence Based Practice? An Analysis of IASL Research Forum Papers, 1998- 2009

Objective - Conferences are essential opportunities for professional development and for learning about research. This study analyses papers presented in the Research Forum track of the International Association of School Librarians (IASL) conferences to determine whether the amount of school library research reporting increased or decreased over time; who (i.e., what author roles and affiliations) has written about research; which countries were represented in the research articles; what topics were discussed in research articles; and what research methodologies were used. The aim was to determine the extent to which the Research Forum provides research evidence that relates to practice. Methods - This study continues the longitudinal analysis of published school library research begun by Clyde (1996) by analyzing Research Forum papers published in IASL conference proceedings from 1998-2009 and using the same approaches and metrics as previous studies by Clyde (e.g., 1996; 2002; 2004), Clyde and Oberg (2004), and Oberg (2006). Results - Conference paper topics, author origins, quantities, and research approaches remained static through the 11 years analyzed. The analysis reveals that the papers’ authors, methods, and topics reflected those found in previous studies of school library research. As well as replicating previous studies, the role of academic research at a practitioner-based conference was investigated. Conclusions - Based on long-established imperatives from leaders in the profession, the IASL conferences provide both evidence and evidence -based practice for school librarians from all over the world. However, when scholarly research is shared at practitioner venues, it is possible that school librarians may assume that research results constitute evidence -based practice (EBP), not evidence upon which practice should be based. This distinction is important if considering that the purpose of academic research is to objectively inform, not to advocate a particular position or practice. The Research Forum can be a valuable venue for the presentation of empirical research findings and conclusions and objective program evaluations and provide a valuable complement to the evidence -based practice descriptions shared in the Professional Papers portion of the conference program. It is argued that the Research Forum must be clear in its purpose: to present the results of research; to present effective practice determined by rigorous evaluation; or to present research-supported arguments for the support of school libraries. Through a reconceptualization of EBP, the paper demonstrates how EBP is both a method and a methodology for the presentation of school library research and practice in a conference atmosphere.
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with high-grade dysplasia is a risk factor for the subsequent development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background Non-invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with high-grade dysplasia and IPMN-associated invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are frequently included under the term “malignancy”. The goal of this study is to clarify the difference between these two entities.
Epidemiological Analysis on Acute Flaccid Paralysis Cases and Surveillance System Evaluation in Meizhou from 1994 to 2005

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characters of acute flaccid paralysis(AFP)in Meizhou from 1994 to 2005,and evaluate the surveillance system.Method Retrospective analysis on AFP cases in Meizhou from 1994 to 2005 was performed.Result 193 AFP cases were reported in Meizhou from 1994 to 2005.The morbidity of age group 0～14 was 1.16/100000.The peak seasons were in summer and autumn.16.1% of annual cases occurred in June.The cases occurred mainly in young children below 5 years old,accounting for 67.88%.140 cases(72.54%)were vaccinated more than three times;21 cases(10.88%)vaccinated once or twice;11 cases(5.70%)were unvaccinated and 21 cases(10.88%)were unclear.Conclusion Training should be provided for the doctors and the surveillance system needs further improvement.
m-Isometries, n-Symmetries and Other Linear Transformations Which are Hereditary Roots

We develop techniques to study bounded linear transformations T such that \({\sum_{m,n} c_{m,n} T^{*n}T^m = 0}\) where \({c_{m,n} \in {\bf C}}\) and all but finitely many cm,n are zero. Such an operator is called a hereditary root of the polynomial \({p(x,y) = \sum_{m,n} c_{m,n} y^{n}x^{m}}\) . Self-adjoint operators, isometries, n-symmetric operators and m-isometries are all examples of roots of polynomials. The techniques developed include finding maximal invariant subspaces satisfying certain operator-theoretic properties, descriptions of the spectral picture of a root, resolvent inequalities for a root, and additional properties which can be derived when knowing more about the spectrum of a particular root. The results involving maximal invariant subspaces are applicable to operators which are not roots of polynomials.
The Theoretical Structure of Cost-Benefit Criteria, Choice of Project and Discounting Process

Cost-benefit analysis is a powerful tool of decision aid in increasing the probability of arriving at good decisions. Its strength and appeal in decision analysis lie on a number of its logical properties: a) a systematic approach in assembling together the set of alternatives, b) a comprehensive accountability of implied costs and benefits of the alternatives, c) a flexibility in allowing alternative goals and objectives to be analyzed, d) a framework of allowing an index of choice to be constructed on the basis of costs and benefits and e) the ranking of decision alternatives by cost-benefit index. In a companion volume devoted to identification and measurement theory we dealt with properties (a) and (b). This chapter will deal with properties (d) and (e). The index for ranking alternatives for choice is called criterion index. This criterion index must be constructed. In order to construct an appropriate index it is useful to know the desirable properties of ranking indexes since the criterion index may assume many different forms. The analysis of the desired properties in theoretical and applied problems have received treatment in some literature such as Bentkover et al [548], Eckstein [203a] [203b] Lesourne [628] Layard [627], Somers [647], Mishan [634] Sugden [649] and others.
Decentralized Authoritarianism in China: Promoting High-Level Generalists: The Management of Mayors

During the reform era, the center of gravity of the Chinese political economy tilted decisively toward cities. The unprecedented pace of China's economic transformation favored urban growth, which in turn increased the political relevance of municipalities and the officials who rule them. Cities now control a far greater share of the country's resources than at any point in the history of the People's Republic. In 2000, municipalities accounted for 51.8% of China's GDP, 50.1% of its industrial output, and 76% of the value of services (Jiang and Cui, 2001). This increased economic might was largely purposeful. The center aimed some of its boldest reform initiatives at municipalities, symbolized by the early creation of special economic zones as early as 1979 (Crane, 1990; Kleinberg, 1990). After 1984, economic decentralization was generalized to other areas, but Premier Zhao Ziyang stressed that coastal cities would enjoy economic privileges that would not be extended to the less developed and more rural hinterland (D. Yang, 1990). The leadership's urban bias survived the crisis of 1989: Until 2002, Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji — both former mayors and Party secretaries in Shanghai — presided over further reform initiatives that benefited cities (Naughton, 1995; Wang and Hu, 1999). In parallel with their rapid economic transformation, cities also enjoy greater formal institutional weight.
Preparing for Graduate-Level Training in Professional Psychology Comparisons Across Clinical PhD, Counseling PhD, and Clinical PsyD Programs

In the present study, faculty who teach in clinical and counseling doctor of philosophy (PhD) or doctor of psychology (PsyD) programs completed surveys regarding preferences for prospective student preparations to graduate programs. Faculty expectations of minimum and ideal undergraduate training were highest for scientific methods, though expectations systematically varied among clinical PhD, counseling PhD, and clinical PsyD programs. Faculty preferences for applicants’ research and clinical “fit” within the program in which they are applying, as well as general interpersonal skills and intellect, also emerged as important admissions factors. These results describe the desirable undergraduate preparations and qualities of applicants for advanced study in clinical and counseling psychology. The findings have implications for prospective graduate students, faculty who train and mentor undergraduates, and faculty who serve on admissions committees.
Rate of Development of Intractable Epilepsy

The time taken to develop intractability of epilepsy was determined prospectively in a cohort of 613 children followed in the Connecticut Study for a median of 9.7 years and reported by researchers from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL; University of California Los Angeles, CA; Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT; and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Research on the key technology of smart substation model configuration and check

Currently, smart substation is the hot research. This paper mainly studies the key technology of IEC 61850-based smart substation model configuration and check, solving the urgent problems of primary and secondary equipment model configuration and model check about substation. Firstly, this paper simply presents the characteristics of smart substation, analyzing the primary and secondary equipment model configuration. By comparing the similarities and differences of configuration requirements, especially the primary equipment model configuration requirements and their topology, between the smart substation and digital substation. Second, IEC 61850-based primary equipment configuration syntax and semantics principle about smart substation are presented, which is the first domestic creation and plays an important role in guiding the construction of the smart substation and smart grid. Primary equipment model is obtained by editing icon on the interface, which is easily associated with the secondary equipment model. At last, in the term of configuration principle, the responding primary equipment check principle and check tool are presented. This paper solves the key technology of model configuration and check, which could greatly facilitate the model configuration at the same time improve accuracy, and play an important role in building smart substation and grid.