cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grid-Based Colocation Mining Algorithms on GPU for Big Spatial Event Data: A Summary of Results

This paper investigates the colocation pattern mining problem for big spatial event data. Colocation patterns refer to subsets of spatial features whose instances are frequently located together. The problem is important in many applications such as analyzing relationships of crimes or disease with various environmental factors, but is computationally challenging due to a large number of instances, the potentially exponential number of candidate patterns, and high computational cost in generating pattern instances. Existing colocation mining algorithms (e.g., Apriori algorithm, multi-resolution filter, partial join and joinless approaches) are mostly sequential, and thus can be insufficient for big spatial event data. Recently, parallel colocation mining algorithms have been developed based on the Map-reduce framework. However, these algorithms need a large number of nodes to scale up, which is economically expensive, and their reducer nodes have a bottleneck of aggregating all instances of the same colocation patterns. Another work proposes a parallel colocation mining algorithm on GPU based on the iCPI tree and the joinless approach, but assumes that the number of neighbors for each instance is within a small constant, and thus may be inefficient when instances are dense and unevenly distributed. To address these limitations, we propose a grid-based GPU colocation mining algorithm that includes a novel cell aggregate based upper bound filter, and two refinement algorithms. We prove the correctness and completeness of proposed GPU algorithms. Preliminary results on both real world data and synthetic data show that proposed GPU algorithms are promising with over 30 times speedup on up to millions of instances.
Pilot study of propranolol premedication to reduce FDG uptake in brown adipose tissue on PET scans of adolescent and young adult oncology patients.

ABSTRACTObjective: Physiologic uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in brown adipose tissue (adipose tissue) of cancer patients may confound interpretation of positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Uptake in adipose tissue occurs in up to half of pediatric oncology patients undergoing PET scans, and is especially common in adolescents. adipose tissue is innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, and beta blockers such as propranolol have shown efficacy in reducing adipose tissue uptake on PET scans done in older adult oncology patients. Participants: Because propranolol may cause hypoglycemia or other side effects in fasting patients, we prospectively assessed the safety of a single dose of 20 mg propranolol in adolescent and young adult oncology patients undergoing FDG-PET imaging. Methods: Ten patients (median age 18 years, range 14–24) received propranolol premedication prior to FDG-PET. Results: No adverse effects or clinically significant changes in serum glucose, heart rate, or blood pressur...
General Modeling Principles

This book is about modeling and simulation of bat-ball collisions and the flight of the ball. A model is a simplified representation of some aspect of a real system. A simulation is an implementation of a model, often on a digital computer. Models are ephemeral: they are created, they explain a phenomenon, they stimulate discussion, they foment alternatives and then they are replaced by new models. Everyone knows how to make a model, but most researchers miss a few tasks. Therefore, we wrote this chapter that presents a succinct description of the whole modeling process.
How Conservative Will President Trump’s Next Supreme Court Nominee Be?: A Short Empirical Investigation

With the retirement of Justice Kennedy, the Supreme Court will have a new swing justice to decide which side of 4-4 splits to join. Most have thought that Chief Justice Roberts would assume that new role. But that would only be if President Trump appoints someone to the right of the Chief. Yet what if the President assigns someone to Roberts’ ideological left? Then that new justice would be the swing justice (and arguably the most important justice on the Court). And since Republican-appointed justices tend to become more liberal the longer they sit on the Court, how conservative might each of President Trump’s finalists be in 10, 20, or 30 years given the average conservative deterioration rate of past Republican justices? To answer these questions, this paper draws on recent scholarship on the ideology of law clerks hired by particular judges to create a new measure of ideology in order to be able to compare potential nominees with Supreme Court justices. And the paper leverages the familiar legal concept that one is known by their associates. Thus, the paper’s methodology is founded on a common sense assumption that has been validated by political scientists: conservative judges tend, on average, to hire conservative clerks and liberal judges tend, on average, to hire liberal clerks. However, this paper’s measure can only be applied to those potential nominees who have previously been a judge and had one of their clerks also clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court. And since not all of President Trump’s four finalists have done so, this paper only examines Judges Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge, and Amul Thapar. Though it could be applied to others on President Trump’s list of 25 potential nominees. I find that the three finalists able to be measured (Kavanaugh, Kethledge, and Thapar) would all likely begin on the Court more conservative than Chief Justice Roberts and less conservative than Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Thomas, with Kavanaugh likely being the most liberal Republican-appointed judge appointed to the Court since Stevens. Additionally, after one decade the three finalists would still be more conservative than Roberts currently is; after two decades Kavanaugh would be about where Justice O’Connor was when she retired and Kethledge and Thapar would still be more conservative than where Roberts is today; and after three decades Kavanaugh would be more liberal than Justice Kennedy was when he retired, Kethledge would be about where O’Connor was when she retired, and Thapar would be more conservative than that, but less conservative than Roberts currently is.
Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity and Differentiation

The biology of the endothelial cell is a burgeoning area of scientific interest. Once considered relatively inactive and homogenous, endothelial cells in recent years have been shown to be functionally interactive with other cells in many complex ways and to manifest extensive heterogeneity. Early studies of their heterogeneity focussed on such differences as fenestrated vs. non-fenestrated, large vessel vs. capillary, lymphatic vs. vascular. More current studies have investigated the heterogeneity of the cell surface of endothelial cells, particularly microvascular cells, as demonstrated by organ and tissue specificity. Selectivity in the seeding of metastatic cells and site-specificity of lymphocyte homing are examples of preferential adhesion to the endothelial cell surface. Organ specific enzymes such as glutamyl transpeptidase, structural heterogeneity such as the absence or presence of Weibel-Palade bodies, differences in the synthesis of specific cytokines such as IL-6, and variability in the production of vascular regulatory products such as prostaglandins are testimony to the complexity of the endothelium. Several other papers in this volume will stress the internal and structural variability among endothelial cells obtained from different sites, and from different developmental stages.
“Infidels” at Home: Jesuits and Muslim Slaves in Seventeenth-Century Naples and Spain

Drawing from published and unpublished Jesuit sources—treatises, handbooks, reports, and letters—this article explores the Jesuit apostolate to Muslim slaves in Naples and in different cities of Spain during the seventeenth century. Under the blanket of missionary rhetoric, a Jesuit viewpoint not otherwise available is found in these sources, which highlight their missionary methods and strategies and clarify the special status of the apostolate to Muslim slaves in the Jesuit mind. While Europe was the setting of missions to Muslim slaves, and the missions were considered a variation of the so-called popular missions, they were often charged with a deeper symbolic value. Because the missionaries’ interlocutors were “infidels,” so different in their culture and in their habits, Jesuits used forms of accommodation extremely similar to those they used in the missions overseas. Converting Muslim slaves in Naples or in Spain was conceived by Jesuits as an alternative and effective way to go on a mission “even among Turks,” as the Jesuit Formula of the Institute stated, despite never leaving European kingdoms for Ottoman lands. Located between the missions overseas, where Jesuits converted the “infidels” in distant lands, and the missions in Europe, where they attempted to save the souls of baptized people who lacked religious education, were “other Indies,” where Jesuits could encounter, convert, and baptize the “infidels” at home.
Technetium Myocardial Perfusion Agents: An Introduction

This is the third in a series of four Continuing Education articles on developing radiopharmaceuticals. After reading this article, the reader should be able to: 1) understand the basic concepts of myocardial perfusion imaging; and 2) discuss the advantages of the technetium myocardial perfusion complexes over thallium-201.
Are societies resilient? Challenges faced by social insects in a changing world

Social insects are considered to be highly successful and ecologically dominant because they comprise the majority of insect biomass in many ecosystems. One key to the success of social insects is their highly coordinated and organized behavior, which allows them to more efficiently exploit resources. However, as our world undergoes dramatic global changes, such as climate change, deforestation, and the introduction of invasive species, the very traits that have provided evolutionary advantages may become liabilities for some social insect species. Here we propose that some social traits, which are conventionally thought to be beneficial, will be detrimental in the context of rapid environmental change. We focus on four fundamental aspects of complex insect societies (coordination of cooperative behavior, worker caste organization, social immunity, and ecosystem engineering) and make predictions about how social lifestyles may become compromised in the face of ecological adversity. We intend to bring attention to the unique vulnerabilities of social insects and propose novel avenues of research to better illuminate the consequences of global change for social insects.
Design and modeling of post-denitrification single-sludge activated sludge processes

A step-by-step design approach for sizing oxic/anoxic single- sludge activated sludge systems is presented. A computer model utilizing a Lotus 1–2–3 spreadsheet was also developed which simulates the post- denitrification single-sludge activated sludge process. The biokinetic equations developed by Lawrence and McCarty are utilized in the model. The model was calibrated using data from a full-scale, modified pure oxygen activated sludge process operating in the oxic/anoxic mode. Two- tailed, paired comparison student ‘t-tests’ performed on effluent BOD5, SS, TKN, NH3-N, NO-3-N, and TN indicated there was no significant difference between the actual effluent values and that predicted by the model at a 99 percent confidence level.
Masses and Lifetimes of B Hadrons

The latest measurements of the masses and lifetimes of weakly decaying $B$~hadrons from experiments at $e^+e^-$ and $p\bar{p}$ colliders are presented. These measurements include the lifetimes of the $\bar{B}^0$, $\bar{B}^0_s$, $B^-$, and $b$~baryons, as well as searches for the $B_c$~meson. The observation of $B^*$, p-wave B~mesons ($B^{**}$), and excited $b$~baryons using inclusive and exclusive $B$~hadron reconstruction are discussed. Results on $b$~quark flavour tagging are given. The latest measurements of the masses and lifetimes of weakly decaying $B$~hadrons from experiments at $e^+e^-$ and $p\bar{p}$ colliders are presented. These measurements include the lifetimes of the $\bar{B}^0$, $\bar{B}^0_s$, $B^-$, and $b$~baryons, as well as searches for the $B_c$~meson. The observation of $B^*$, p-wave B~mesons ($B^{**}$), and excited $b$~baryons using inclusive and exclusive $B$~hadron reconstruction are discussed. Results on $b$~quark flavour tagging are given.
A calculus-food event

In an AP Calculus class, filling the time between the exams and gradua tion with quality instruction can be a challenge. Topics and activities chosen must pique students' interest while still encouraging them to think and make connections. One activity that I have used suc cessfully is the calculus-food event. This must be carefully distinguished from a calculus food event, which would be a simple attempt to have a party in math ematical guise! For the calculus-food event, students must think creatively yet correctly. They must observe the world through the eyes of a mathematician. For the calculus-food event, a student or a pair of students is required to do the following:
Lyapunov Dynamic Flexibility of Nonlinear Processes

Abstract Dynamic flexibility analysis aims to describe the operability (controllability, resiliency) of dynamic process systems subject to uncertainties, thus facilitating the integration of process design and control. However, the intrinsic limitations of controllability indices and the computational intractability of the optimization formulations in the state-of-the-art approaches largely prohibit their applicability to large-scale nonlinear processes. In this work, we propose a new framework for dynamic flexibility analysis, where a Lyapunov function is considered as an artificial design decision, so that the feasibility and cost of process operation can be evaluated based on estimating the effect of the uncertainties on the Lyapunov function value. The proposed approach leads to computationally efficient optimization formulations for the flexibility test, flexibility index and optimal process design problems under nonlinear dynamics. A preliminary case study is performed on a two-reactor system.
Accuracy of self-reported hypertension: Effect of age, gender, and history of alcohol dependence.

Patient awareness of medical conditions may influence treatment seeking and monitoring of these conditions. Accurate awareness of hypertension reported to clinicians evaluating patients for whom clinical history is limited, such as in emergency care, can aid in diagnosis by revealing whether measured hypertension is typical or atypical. Measurement of blood pressure in a laboratory study was assessed at rest, immediately before phlebotomy, and within 10 minutes after. The resting measure was used to determine the accuracy of self-reported hypertension in 283 adults. Parametric analyses were conducted to identify potential variables influencing accuracy of self-reported hypertension. Sensitivity, specificity, and the kappa coefficient of agreement were calculated to determine the influence of alcohol dependence (AD), sex, age, and cigarette smoking on hypertension awareness. Self-report was mildly sensitive, correctly identifying individuals with hypertension in approximately 37% of the cases, but was highly specific (95%) in identifying individuals without hypertension. Similar sensitivities were found in analyses separated by sex. Sensitivity was greater in those over age 55 (53%) in comparison with those <54, as well as in those who were not smoking. Comparison of those with and without a history of AD revealed that both groups show similar accuracy in reporting hypertension. Absence of hypertension can be accurately determined with self-report data in those without hypertension. A significant proportion of those with measured hypertension report an absence of hypertension.
Artificial Intelligence for Natural Hazards Risk Analysis: Potential, Challenges, and Research Needs

Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have seen increasingly widespread use in everything from consumer products and driverless cars to fraud detection and weather forecasting. The use of AI has transformed many of these application domains. There are ongoing efforts at leveraging AI for disaster risk analysis. This article takes a critical look at the use of AI for disaster risk analysis. What is the potential? How is the use of AI in this field different from its use in nondisaster fields? What challenges need to be overcome for this potential to be realized? And, what are the potential pitfalls of an AI-based approach for disaster risk analysis that we as a society must be cautious of?
Investigating Opportunities for Crowdsourcing in Church-Based Health Interventions: A Participatory Design Study

Churches play a major role in providing social support to address health inequities within Black communities, in part by connecting members to key organizations and services. While public health has a history of disseminating interventions in faith communities, little work has explored the use of crowdsourcing to tailor interventions to the unique culture of each church community. Following Community Based Participatory Research principles, we partnered with two predominantly Black churches, and report on a series of three participatory design sessions with nine participants. We developed a novel storyboarding method to explore how crowdsourcing could promote health in these faith-based communities. Our findings characterize existing supports within the church community, and how church social structures impact member access to these supports. We further identify motivations to engage with a church-situated health application, and how these motivations translate to crowdsourcing tasks. Finally, we discuss considerations for public health crowdsourcing tasks.
Tango: an optimizing compiler for Just-In-Time RTL simulation

With Moore’s law coming to an end, the advent of hardware specialization presents a unique challenge for a much tighter software and hardware co-design environment to exploit domain-specific optimizations and increase design efficiency. This trend is further accentuated by rapid-pace of innovations in Machine Learning and Graph Analytic, calling for a faster product development cycle for hardware accelerators and the importance of addressing the increasing cost of hardware verification. The productivity of software-hardware co-design relies upon better integration between the software and hardware design methodologies, but more importantly in the effectiveness of the design tools and hardware simulators at reducing the development time. In this work, we developed Tango, an Optimizing compiler for Just-in-Time RTL simulation. Tango implements unique hardware-centric compiler transformations to speed up runtime code generation in a software-hardware co-design environment where hardware simulation speed is critical. Tango achieves a 6x average speedup compared to the state-of-the-art simulators.
Origins of the low-energy relativistic interplanetary electrons

Observations of electrons in the energy range from 1.75 to 25 MeV by the University of Chicago instrument on the Pioneer 10 spacecraft over the heliocentric radial distance R = 1.0--21.5 AU are presented. It is confirmed that, at R<11 AU, the dominant component of the interplanetary relativistic electron flux less than 25 MeV, except during occasional solar flare events, is the Jovian electron intensity modulated every 25--27 days. Beyond 11 AU this recurrent modulation of the Jovian electron was not observed, and it became possible to conduct a sensitive search for the galactic low-energy electron flux. We observed: (1) a 12 MeV electron flux which decreased, on the average, downwind of Jupiter's orbit; (2) an electron differential energy spectrum from 1.75 to 25 MeV which is a power law with spectral index approx.1.7 throughout the entire radial range from 1.0 to 21.5 AU; (3) a 12 MeV electron flux at 11 AU approximately equal to the minimum (or quiet-time) 12 MeV electron flux level at 1 AU; and (4) a radial ''gradient'' of approx.-2.3% per AU for the 12 MeV electron flux in the radial range from 11 to 21.5 AU. Models of propagation for galactic, solar, and Jovianmore » low-energy electrons in the heliosphere are examined in order to explain the approximate equality of the minimum intensity 12 MeV electron flux at 1 AU and 11 AU and the radial dependence of 12 MeV electron flux at 11--21.5 AU. It is concluded that the minimum intensity 1--25 MeV electrons in the equatorial regions of the heliosphere to at least 21 AU are (primarily) of Jovian origin.« less
Religiosity, neutrality, fairness, skepticism, and societal tranquility: A data science analysis of the World Values Survey

Quantitative models of social differences have not only made major contributions to the fields of cross-cultural anthropology, psychology and sociology, but also have allowed for interdisciplinary studies that bring together engineering, life sciences, and social sciences. In this study, the authors use a data science approach to discover a set of quantitative social dimensions based on the World Values Survey, a nationally representative survey covering 60 countries and 90,000 individuals. Five national social dimensions, representing 198 questions and 56 countries are discovered using multidimensional item response theory (MIRT). They are (1) Religiosity, (2) Neutrality, (3) Fairness, (4) Skepticism, and (5) Societal Tranquility. This approach is unique from previous quantitative models because it groups responses by country and analyzes binary, nominal, and ordinal survey questions. It is possible today due to recent advancements in computing power and programming. Furthermore, this methodology tests the validity of previous quantitative dimensions and finds that some of the existing social and cultural dimensions are not clearly discernable. Therefore, this model provides not only more a rigorous methodology but also new social dimensions which more accurately quantify underlying differences across countries in the World Values Survey. Like other quantitative cross-cultural models, this model is a deeply simplified representation of national social differences. However, it is a useful tool for modeling national differences and can be used to help us understand the impacts of social preferences and values on different political, economic, and development variables.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Interaction Supports Energy Production and Redox Homeostasis in Mitochondria Released from Astrocytes

Mitochondria can be released by astrocytes as part of a help-me signaling process in stroke. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms that underlie mitochondria secretion, redox status, and functional regulation in the extracellular environment. Exposure of rat primary astrocytes to NAD or cADPR elicited an increase in mitochondrial calcium through ryanodine receptor (RyR) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Importantly, CD38 stimulation with NAD accelerated ATP production along with increasing glutathione reductase (GR) and dipicolinic acid (DPA) in intracellular mitochondria. When RyR was blocked by Dantrolene, all effects were clearly diminished. Mitochondrial functional assay showed that these activated mitochondria appeared to be resistant to H2O2 exposure and sustained mitochondrial membrane potential, while inhibition of RyR resulted in disrupted membrane potential under oxidative stress. Finally, a gain- or loss-of-function assay demonstrated that treatment with DPA in control mitochondria preserved GR contents and increased mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas inhibiting GR with carmustine decreased membrane potentials in extracellular mitochondria released from astrocytes. Collectively, these data suggest that ER-mitochondrial interaction mediated by CD38 stimulation may support mitochondrial energy production and redox homeostasis during the mode of mitochondrial transfer from astrocytes.
Kapitza resistance in lattice Boltzmann equation for multiphase phonon dynamics

Abstract The lattice Boltzmann Peierls Callaway (LBPC) method is a lattice Boltzmann formalism developed to model thermal transport via phonon dynamics in mesoscale. With a boundary collision rule consistent with the Callaway collision rule, LBPC method models mesoscale thermal transport in heterogeneous media as multiphase phonon gas dynamics. In this chapter, LBPC method is discussed along with the link bounce back collision rule at the boundary. All the collisions in LBPC method are interpreted as screening mechanisms to relax the local nonequilibrium phonon distribution toward the local equilibrium distribution subject to thermodynamic variables. The relaxation time parameter adapted for the bulk phase phonon scattering determines the length of phonon mean free path. Consistently, the relaxation time parameter for the interface phonon scattering determines the Kapitza length of the interfacial thermal resistance.
Deconstructive Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Morphine-Family Alkaloid (−)-Thebainone A

Herein, we describe the development of a deconstructive strategy for the first asymmetric synthesis of (−)-thebainone A, capitalized on an enantioselective C−C bond activation and a C−O bond cleavage reaction. The Rh-catalyzed asymmetric ‘cut-and-sew’ transformation between sterically hindered trisubstituted alkenes and benzocyclobutenones allows efficient construction of the fused A/B/C rings and the all-carbon quaternary center of the natural product. The newly optimized conditions show a broad substrate scope and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99.5:0.5 er). Taking advantage of the boron-mediated ether bond cleavage, synthesis of the morphine-alkaloid (−)-thebainone A has been completed with two complementary routes.
Development and Reach of the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Implementation of a Community-Based Participatory Approach.

BACKGROUND We developed the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (Toolkit) to enhance the impact of school-based tobacco education. This study describes the process of developing the Toolkit, its contents, and reach. METHODS Qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR), including focus group discussions (N = 152) and working groups with parents, educators, researchers, and youth (N = 87) were used to develop the Toolkit and design its implementation. Toolkit reach was assessed through number of trained educators using the Toolkit, estimated number of youth recipients of the Toolkit resources, and using Google Analytics for online engagement. RESULTS The Toolkit is a free, online resource aimed at preventing tobacco use by middle and high school students. Toolkit content addresses varied forms of tobacco including electronic cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and cigarettes; addiction; and positive youth development; and is available in multiple interactive formats such as real-time quizzes, factsheets, activities, and presentations. The Toolkit is mainly delivered by trained educators, who adapt its content and duration to tailor their drug prevention teaching to student needs. As of April 2020, when data for this paper were collected, 4,750 educators have reached an estimated 1.3 million youth. The Toolkit website has 186,116 users and 802,602 page views, growing steadily since 2016. As of August 2021, additional students have been reached, for now a total of 1.85 million students reached. CONCLUSION The Toolkit resources are evidence-based, comprehensive, responsive, interactive, easily accessible, and flexible. Applying CBPR was instrumental in developing the Toolkit and expanding its reach.
Assessing the effect of well completion types on productivity in a class 1G gas hydrate reservoir under pseudo steady state

Abstract This work focuses on the assessment of the effect of well completion types on gas productivity in subsea gas hydrate reservoirs of class 1G type where the gas hydrates have decomposed into gas and water. Three types of vertical well completions are considered: frac-packed well with vertical hydraulic fracture; frac-packed well with horizontal hydraulic fracture, and a cased-hole gravel-packed well. Sensitivity analysis was conducted with analytical well inflow models to determine factors that affect the gas well productivity. The results of the analyses indicated that proppant mass pumped during fracture treatment slightly improves well productivity for frac-packed natural gas hydrate wells. Well productivity increases nonlinearly with fracture productivity up to a threshold value of 50,000 md for frac-packed well with horizontal fracture, above which further increase in fracture conductivity would create no benefit. With a proppant mass of 50,000 Ibm and a corresponding proppant volume of 504 ft3 commercial gas production rates of 14.9 MMscf/d, 5.621 MMscf/d, and 11.35 MMscf/d are possible for frac-packed well with vertical fracture, frac-packed well with horizontal fracture, and cased-hole gravel-packed well, respectively. Because hydraulic fracture orientation depends on the in-situ formation stress, whether a well should be hydraulic-fractured or not depends on in-situ formation stress.
GIS helps manage African natural resources

Three West African countries are beginning to improve the management of their natural resources by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), according to a November 6 study by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The report, “GIS: Supporting Environmental Planning and Management in West Africa,” examined ways in which Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and The Gambia have used GIS on a number of projects and how they can improve and expand on their GIS usage.
Performance analysis of AF cooperative networks with time-varying links: Outage probability

In this paper, we consider an M-relay amplify-and-forward (AF) cooperative system with maximal ratio combining (MRC) at the destination and investigate the effects of both the mobile cooperating-nodes speeds and the receivers' channel state information (CSI) estimation rates on the system outage performance. By CSI estimation rates we mean how much the receivers' tracking loops are fast to estimate the channel gains over the individual time slots. The fading links are considered to be frequency-flat time-varying Rayleigh fading and modeled by a first-order autoregressive process (AR1). General closed-form approximate expression is derived for the outage probability, which is further verified through Monte Carlo simulation. The derived expression is valid for time-varying as well as quasi-static fading links for both low and high CSI estimation rates. Furthermore, we analytically show that, due to high speeds of the cooperating-nodes, the outage probability experiences asymptotic floor which could be completely eliminated by well-designed fast tracking loops at the receivers. This outage performance is also investigated under different nodes mobility scenarios.
Readiness to Change in Heart Failure Patients: Adaptation of a Pain Readiness to Change Measure

Heart failure (HF) is a significant health problem among the elderly often requiring multiple lifestyle changes for optimal management. Unfortunately, not all patients are ready to make the needed ...
Newspapers and the Fourteenth Amendment: What Did the American Public Know About Section 1?

For over sixty years scholars have debated whether Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment "incorporated" the Bill of Rights guarantees and thus made them enforceable against the states. Recently, the debate has turned to what the state legislators might have known when they ratified the amendment. In this paper, presented at the University of San Diego Law School on January 7, George Thomas discusses the body of evidence already available and then presents new evidence gathered from a search of newspaper archives for the period 1865 to 1869. He discovered one newspaper article that clearly makes the incorporation case and three others that offer lesser degrees of support for the proposition that educated men of the era were aware that Section 1 included the Bill of Rights. But 96% of the articles that discussed "privileges" and "immunities" gave no hint of a connection with the Bill of Rights.
Evaluation of screening strategies to detect an oligogenic disease

Using data simulated to reflect an oligogenic disease, we evaluated screening strategies based on lod-score and weighted pairwise correlation (WPC) analysis with respect to their ability to efficiently identify regions near disease loci. Lod-score analysis was done twice, once assuming a near-recessive mode of inheritance with a high penetrance and again assuming a semidominant mode of inheritance with lower penetrance. Under the near-recessive model, no disease loci were correctly identified, while there was one false positive result. Under the semidominant model, D1G31 was correctly identified, and there were two false positive results. Due to the lack of highly informative families and possible sensitivity to parameter misspecification, this poor performance was not unexpected. WPC, on the other hand, is assumption-free and thus potentially more powerful than a misspecified parametric model, but almost certainly less powerful than a well-specified parametric model. Using WPC modified to handle binary phenotypes with no age-of-onset, we found results closely resembling those under the semidominant model, although no markers near disease loci exceeded the theoretical critical value for WPC. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Repealing Federal Oversight of State Health Policy: Lessons from the Boren Amendment

The Boren Amendment is frequently cited as an example where judicial involvement markedly shaped the implementation of federal legislation. Unlike other controversial health policies, Boren was eventually rescinded by Congress. Results indicate that the Amendment was repealed because changing socioeconomic, political, and programmatic conditions combined with policy-oriented learning to facilitate a shift in policy venue away from the judiciary toward the President and Congress. This is because during the devolutionary climate of the mid-to-late 1990s, both the executive and legislature proved more conducive to the policy image promulgated by state officials that the Amendment unnecessarily restricted state discretion, than the policy image promulgated by providers that without the Amendment, low reimbursement levels would compromise access and quality. Data for this analysis derive from archival documents, secondary sources, and 101 interviews with state and federal experts.
Multipurpose mean-square-error filter for processing obscured images

We develop a generalized minimum mean-square-error image processing filter for recognition and retrieval of noisy, blurred and obscured images. We examined the performance of this filter in four modes: (1) the well-known mean-square- error correlation filter; (2) the phase-only mean-square- error correlation filter; (3) the matched mean-square-error correlation filter, and (4) the image retrieving filter. Our simulation result show that it is possible to retrieve and recognize blurred images that are 90 percent obscured and whose signal-to-noise ratio is 0.1.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lift force in bubbly flow systems

Abstract From the significance of three-dimensional simulation of dispersed flow systems in many engineering fields, extensive study was conducted for lift force in a single particle system as well as a multiparticle system. In this study, the lift force in a single particle system was modeled by considering the effect of bubble deformation on the lift force. The model was finalized based on existing data obtained in the range of particle Reynolds number from 3.68 to 78.8, viscous number from 0.0435 to 0.203 and Eotvos number from 1.40 to 5.83. The viscous number is defined by μ f / [ ρ f σ σ / ( g Δ ρ ) ] 1 / 2 where μ f , ρ f , σ , g and Δ ρ are, respectively, fluid viscosity, fluid density, surface tension, gravitational acceleration and density difference between phases. The applicability of the model to higher particle Reynolds number system such as an air–water system was qualitatively examined. The lift force model developed in a single particle system was extended to a multiparticle system. The applicability of the extended lift force model was qualitatively examined. The similarity between drag and lift forces were also discussed.
CAPITALISTS, WORKERS AND SOCIAL SECURITY

This paper elaborates an exogenous growth model that nests overlapping generations of workers who save for life cycle reasons with dynastic agents who save for bequest reasons (‘capitalists’). The model overcomes Marglin's objection that the overlapping generations framework requires special assumptions about technology, and it also provides a natural environment to revisit Samuelson's analysis of lump-sum transfers between generations. The ability of a benevolent planner to improve workers' welfare is severely restricted by the control capitalists exercise over the accumulation process. Prefunding social security assumes renewed significance because it overcomes this restriction.
Analysis of the magnetic force generated at a hemispherical microelectrode

An analytical expression is presented for the magnetic force generated during steady-state voltammetry at a hemispherical microelectrode immersed in a uniform magnetic field. Diffusion of electrogenerated ions through the magnetic field results in a magnetic force that induces convective solution flow near the electrode surface. The magnetic force per unit volume, (i.e., force density), is shown to decrease as r-2, where r is the distance away from the center of the hemispherical electrode. A consequence of the inverse square dependence of on r is that the magnetic force is confined to a microscopic solution volume near the electrode surface (e.g., ∼2 × 10-9 L for a 12.5-μm-radius hemispherical electrode). The net magnetic force acting on the diffusion layer volume, , is computed as a function of magnetic field strength and orientation and used in an approximate analysis of experimental data obtained at an inlaid 12.5-μm-radius Pt microdisk electrode. Enhancements in voltammetric currents are shown to res...
Rhetorical ridicule of reconstruction blacks

(1976). Rhetorical ridicule of reconstruction blacks. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 62, No. 4, pp. 400-409.
FORCED BUSING IN SOUTH BOSTON: Class, Race, and Power

In this article, power is studied in three dimensions: observable decision making, the mobilization of bias, and consciousness. These dimensions are then utilized to examine conflict in “Southie,” ...
Experiments on the focusing and use of acoustic energy to accelerate polymer healing

In this paper, we cover our studies on accelerating the molding process of a polymer by applying acoustic stress-wave time reversal. Tests carried out on an epoxy polymer mixed with a curing agent have shown evidence that the introduction of unfocused acoustic energy during the molding process will accelerate that process. The effects of focusing acoustic energy at a mold discontinuity while curing are explored. We also detail our investigations on focusing acoustic energy at a crack location by iteratively applying time reversal. Multiple types of media were tested.
Persistence of forage fish ‘hot spots’ and its association with foraging Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in southeast Alaska

Whereas primary and secondary productivity at oceanic ‘hotspots’ may be a function of upwelling and temperature fronts, the aggregation of higher-order vertebrates is a function of their ability to search for and locate these areas. Thus, understanding how predators aggregate at these productive foraging areas is germane to the study of oceanic hot spots. We examined the spatial distribution of forage fish in southeast Alaska for three years to better understand Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) aggregations and foraging behavior. Energy densities (millions KJ/km2) of forage fish were orders of magnitude greater during the winter months (November–February), due to the presence of schools of overwintering Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi). Within the winter months, herring consistently aggregated at a few areas, and these areas persisted throughout the season and among years. Thus, our study area was characterized by seasonally variable, highly abundant but highly patchily distributed forage fish hot spots. More importantly, the persistence of these forage fish hot spots was an important characteristic in determining whether foraging sea lions utilized them. Over 40% of the variation in the distribution of sea lions on our surveys was explained by the persistence of forage fish hot spots. Using a simple spatial model, we demonstrate that when the density of these hot spots is low, effort necessary to locate these spots is minimized when those spots persist through time. In contrast, under similar prey densities but lower persistence, effort increases dramatically. Thus an important characteristic of pelagic hot spots is their persistence, allowing predators to predict their locations and concentrate search efforts accordingly.
Growth and transformation of the mandibular joint in the rat II. Hypophysectomized female rats

Abstract The mandibular joint was studied in 79 hypophysectomized female rats at postoperative intervals ranging from 4 to 645 days. The transformations occurring following hypophysectomy are similar to those occurring in aging rats. The changes occur, however, very much earlier in the hypophysectomized rat; chondrogenesis is considerably slowed within four days after the operation. The ossification of the mandible of the hypophysectomized rat by twenty-eight days after operation is as advanced as in a 258-day-old normal rat. As in the normal rat some uncalcified cartilage remains in the condyle for long periods. The persistence of this tissue confers upon this joint the continued capacity for growth and remodeling.
Ring-opening polymerisation of β-butyrolactone catalysed by distannoxane complexes: study of the mechanism

The mechanism of the ring-opening polymerisation of beta-butyrolactones was studied. The ring-opening polymerisation of BL catatlysed by distannoxane complexes is of a living nature. The polymerisation of racemic BL gave a predominantly syndiotactic P(3HB). The temperature effect on syndiospecificity was used to determine the activation energy (deltaE = Esyndiotactic - Eisotactic) for syndiotactic versus isotactic diad placement. The deltaE value was obtained as -1.49 kcal/mol. The steric control leading to the observed syndiospecificity is due predominantly to diastereomeric interactions between the Sn-coordinated P(3HB) chain end. having a specific chain end stereochemistry, and the incoming BL enantiomeric monomers. The catalytic cycle derived from the mechanism of the polymerisation was proposed.
Distributed scheduling of wireless communications for voltage control in micro smart grid

Voltage control is an important task in micro grid, which adjusts the voltages of the distributed energy generators (DEGs). Wireless communication is applied to convey the information from the voltage sensors to the DEGs. Due to the interference among the wireless sensors, scheduling is necessary for the transmissions of sensors. A distributed scheduling algorithm is proposed within the framework of hybrid dynamical systems. The discrete state in the system dynamics is obtained according to the scheduled sensors. Then, the scheduling is formulated as the problem of optimizing the mode sequence of the system dynamics and is then solved using sub-gradient algorithm in a distributed manner. The performance is demonstrated by numerical simulations.
Newborn screening and maternal diagnosis: Rethinking family benefit

Abstract In a significant departure from established criteria for population screening, a 2006 report by the American College of Medical Geneticists (ACMG) argued that newborn screening may be justified by family and societal benefits even if the screened infant does not stand to benefit. The ACMG report has since been the backdrop for considerable debate about the presumptive benefits of newborn screening. Understandings of family benefits have focused on how information provided by newborn screening may enhance reproductive decision-making, reduce the diagnostic odyssey, and alleviate the burden of raising a child with special health care needs. This paper identifies and describes an additional consequence of newborn screening for families. Specifically, we draw upon audio-recordings and clinical observations from a three-year ethnographic study of expanded newborn screening in California (November 2007–July 2010) to examine the potential for newborn screening to diagnose mothers with genetic disorders. This consequence of expanded newborn screening suggests the possibility of a different type of family spillover from that anticipated by the ACMG report. However, whether this knowledge benefits families depends on how the significance of genetic information is established in the clinic and the family’s ability to act on this information. We show that the newborn screening health care infrastructure is not designed to provide treatment for adult patients, so the identification of maternal disease does not necessarily prove beneficial for families.
Inertia matrix singularity of series-chain spatial manipulators with point masses

Often, the dynamic behavior of multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical systems such as robots and manipulators is studied by computer simulation. An important step in this simulation is the inversion of inertia matrix of the system. In singular configurations of the inertia matrix, the simulation is prone to large numerical errors. Usually, it is believed that an inertia matrix is always positive definite. In this paper, it is shown that for spatial series-chain manipulators, when the links are modeled as point masses, a multitude of configurations exists when the inertia matrix becomes singular. these singularities arise because point masees lead to incomplete models of the system
Evidence for separate initiation and inhibitory sites in the regulation of membrane potential of electroplax I. Kinetic studies with α-bungarotoxin

Abstract The minimum reaction mechanism for the irreversible reaction of α-bungarotoxin with membrane preparations of Electrophorus electricus involves a rapid reversible phase (K diss = 0.2 μM) followed by an irreversible reaction (k = 0.038 min −1 ). Compounds which initiate changes in membrane potential of electroplax affect only the rate of reaction but not the binding of toxin to the membrane. d-Tubocurare which inhibits membrane potential changes, as does α-bungarotoxin, is a competitive inhibitor which affects toxin binding but does not affect the rate of reaction. The simplest explanation of this is that membrane potential changes are controlled by two different sites, one for initiators and the other for inhibitors.
Controlled polymerization of silyl vinyl ethers by aldol group transfer polymerization

La polymerisation vivante d'ethers de silyle et de vinyle amorcee par des aldehydes en presence d'acide de Lewis donne un polymere silyle a distribution de masse moleculaire etroite. Il peut etre hydrolyse en poly(alcool vinylique) ou couple via le groupe terminal aldehyde a d'autres polymeres fonctionnels. Des copolymeres sequences ou greffes contenant le segment poly(alcool vinylique) sont prepares par la polymerisation avec transfert de groupe aldol amorcee par des amorceurs polymeres