cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Bifurcation Theory to the High-Angle-of-Attack Dynamics of the F-14

Bifurcation theory has been used to study Ihe nonlinear dynamics of the F-14. An 8 degree-of-freedom model that does not include the control system present in operational F-14's has been analyzed. The aerodynamic model, supplied by NASA, includes nonlinearlties as functions of the angles of attack and sideslip, the rotation rate about the velocity vector, and the elevator deflection. A continuation method has been used to calculate the steady states of the F -14 as continuous functions of the elevator deflection. Bifurcations of these steady states have been used to predict the onset of wing rock, spiral divergence, and jump phenomena that cause the aircraft to enter a spin. A simple feedback control system was designed to eliminate the wing rock and spiral divergence instabilities. The predictions were verified with numerical simulations.
Respiration and denitrification in permeable continental shelf deposits on the South Atlantic Bight: Rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling from sediment column experiments

Abstract Nitrogen (N) cycling and respiration rates were measured in sediment columns packed with southeastern United States continental shelf sands, with high permeability (4.66×10−11 m2) and low organic carbon (0.05%) and nitrogen (0.008%). To simulate porewater advection, natural shelf seawater was pumped through columns of different lengths to achieve fluid residence times of approximately 3, 6, and 12 h. Experiments were conducted seasonally at in situ temperature. Fluid flow was uniform in nearly all columns, with minimal dead zones and channeling. Significant respiration (O2 consumption and ∑CO2 production) occurred in all columns, with highest respiration rates in summer. Most (78–100%) remineralized N was released as N2 in the majority of cases, including columns with oxic porewater throughout, with only a small fraction released as NO3− from some oxic columns. A rate of 0.84–4.83×1010 mol N yr−1, equivalent to 1.06–6.09×10−6 mmol N cm−2 h−1, was calculated for benthic N2 production in the South Atlantic Bight, which can account for a large fraction of new N inputs to this shelf region. Metal and sulfate reduction occurred in long residence time columns with anoxic outflow in summer and fall, when respiration rates were highest. Because permeable sediments dominate continental shelves, N2 production in high permeability coastal sediments may play an important role in the global N cycle.
Toward a Blue Cultural Studies: The Sea, Maritime Culture, and Early Modern English Literature

This article explores the cultural meanings of the maritime world in early modern English literature. Placing English literary culture in the context of the massive ocean-bound expansion of European culture that began in the 15th century, it suggests that the sea’s ancient meanings shifted in the early modern period as geographic experience and knowledge increased. The article examines some recent developments in maritime studies, sometimes called a ‘new thalassology’ (from the Greek thalassos, the sea); distinguishes these trends from now-traditional New Historicist and Atlantic studies; and suggests how these methods can contribute to a ‘blue cultural studies’. The new maritime humanities speaks to a series of modern discourses, including globalization, postcolonialism, environmentalism, ecocriticism, and the history of science and technology. The article provides two examples of how these maritime discourses can change our interpretations of early modern English literature, first by examining a canonical poem – Milton’s ‘Lycidas’ – and second through reconsidering a historical context, the ‘Bermuda pamphlets’ on which Shakespeare seems to have drawn in The Tempest.
Defect topographic maps using a non-Lambertian photometric stereo method

Industrial applications related to semiconductor wafer fabrication, such as Automatic Defect Classification (ADC), require reliable and rapid measurements of defect characteristics, typically within one second or less. Generally, ADC makes intensive use of 2D defect descriptors such as size or texture. Incorporation of 3D defect descriptors into the classifier can improve the ability to get a fast identification of the exact process step at which a given defect was introduced. Such 3D descriptors can be readily elucidated form a Defect Topographic Map (DTM), which holds the defect's complete 3D representation. In this paper, we introduce an approach for obtaining the DTM form a combination of a non-Lambertian reflectance function with a photometric stereo method (PSM), based on Multiple Perspective SEM Imaging. We also introduce a rapid map generation method based on the Fast Fourier Transform, which we name the Fourier Defect Topographic Map (FDTM). The FDTM exhibits good spatial performance as well as reduced computational requirements. Finally, we discus the detrimental effects of SEM material contrast effects on the generation of topographic maps. We show that effects such as shadowing and noise, can be readily overcome when using MPSI images, resulting in high-quality 3D defect representation.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of caloric restriction during the growing period on the performance of egg type replacement stock

Abstract CONSIDERABLE controversy exists concerning the effects of caloric restriction during the growing period on the laying house performance of egg-type replacement stock. There are two major methods of caloric restriction: 1) limited feeding, and 2) use of high fiber feeds. McCay (1947) reported that restriction of caloric intake increased the life span of experimental animals. Hill and Dansky (1954) and Mellen et al. (1954) found that birds fed on low calorie diets made more efficient use of the calories they consumed. Carrick and Roberts (1947a, b), Bruins (1958), Roberts and Carrick (1934), Couch et al. (1957), and Reid et al. (1958) found the use of oats and other high fiber feeds resulted in a retarded growth rate, later sexual maturity, and increased feed per unit of gain. Milby and Sherwood (1953) in comparing a restricted with a full feeding program found the amount of feed required to raise the bird…
Children with Disabilities in Poor Households: Association with Juvenile and Adult Offending

Disabled youths are arrested, adjudicated, and recidivate at higher rates than their nondisabled peers. Although multiple theories have been offered to explain the relationship between disability and delinquency, the empirical evidence is limited and contradictory. Little is known about how disability may be associated with offending once poverty and family risks like maltreatment are controlled for. Using administrative data from a Midwest state, this article discusses results from a Cox regression of juvenile and young adult offending outcomes for low income disabled compared with nondisabled youths (N = 1,568). Youths with disabilities had higher rates of juvenile court petitions than similarly low-income peers. In models of adult offending, there was no relationship between disability status and adult arrest, but youths who had received educational services for emotional disturbance or other categories of health impairment had higher risk of entering adult corrections. Language: en
Error performance of a pulse amplitude and position modulated ultra-wideband system over lognormal fading channels

In this paper, the error performance of an ultra-wideband (UWB) system with a hybrid pulse amplitude and position modulation (PAPM) scheme over indoor lognormal fading channels is analyzed. In the PAPM UWB system, input data is modulated onto both the pulse amplitudes and pulse positions. The receiver employs a RAKE to combine energy contained in the resolvable multipath components. Derivation of closed-form error rate expressions of the system in lognormal fading channels is based on approximating a sum of independent lognormal random variables (RV) as another lognormal RV using the Wilkinson method. Given the same delay spread of the channel, the proposed PAPM scheme can provide a higher throughput than the binary pulse amplitude or pulse position modulation scheme.
Social Approach and Autistic Behavior in Children with Fragile X Syndrome

Social avoidance is a core phenotypic characteristic of fragile X syndrome (FXS) that has critical cognitive and social consequences. However, no study has examined modulation of multiple social avoidant behaviors in children with FXS. In the current study, we introduce the Social Approach Scale (SAS), an observation scale that includes physical movement, facial expression, and eye contact approach behaviors collected across multiple time points. Our findings suggested that social approach behaviors in children with FXS were affected by age, gender, setting, and time spent with an examiner. Selected social approach behaviors were related to autistic behavior. Increased eye contact over the course of a research assessment, in particular, was found to be a strong predictor of lower autistic behavior.
Interval after prostate specific antigen testing and subsequent risk of incurable prostate cancer

Purpose: Studies of the potential effect of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening on a less than yearly basis have been limited to computer simulations using relatively small sample sets. Primary clinical data on this relationship have not been generally available. We examined the relationship of less frequent testing and the risk of nonlocalized incurable cancer. The effect of testing frequency on the risk of prostate biopsy in men ultimately diagnosed with cancer was also assessed.Materials and Methods: The study included a population based sample of 36,422 men 65 years old or older residing in 9 geographic areas with newly diagnosed prostate cancer during 1989 to 1993. The primary end point was the risk of nonlocalized cancer, as determined by logistic regression. Patient age, geographic region, year of diagnosis and race were included as covariates.Results: In men who would be diagnosed with prostate cancer the risk of nonlocalized cancer did not differ in those tested 2 or 3 years compared with t...
A note on the analysis of finite length turbo decoding

The SNR transfer characteristic band of the extrinsic value in the turbo decoding is proposed. The proposed method can explain the bimodal Gaussian average histogram of the extrinsic value in the waterfall region of the finite length turbo decoding. The proposed method is also useful to discuss the probabilistic convergence behavior of the finite length turbo decoding as well as the wide waterfall region in the BER performance curve.
Multiple Constraint Satisfaction by Belief Propagation: An Example Using Sudoku

The popular Sudoku puzzle bears structural resemblance to the problem of decoding linear error correction codes: solution is over a discrete set, and several constraints apply. We express the constraint satisfaction using a Tanner graph. The belief propagation algorithm is applied to this graph. Unlike conventional computer-based solvers, which rely on humanly specified tricks for solution, belief propagation is generally applicable, and requires no human insight to solve a problem. The presence of short cycles in the graph creates biases so that not every puzzle is solved by this method. However, all puzzles are at least partly solved by this method. The Sudoku application thus demonstrates the potential effectiveness of BP algorithms on a general class of constraint satisfaction problems.
FireAnt: a tool for reducing enterprise product line architecture deployment, configuration, and testing costs

Product-line architectures (PLA)s are a paradigm for developing software families by customizing and composing reusable artifacts, rather than handcrafting software from scratch. Extensive testing is required to develop reliable PLAs. Each PLA may have hundreds of valid variants that can be constructed from the architecture's components. It is crucial that each of these variants be thoroughly tested to ensure the quality of these applications on multiple OS platforms and hardware configurations. Setting up test environments and running tests can become extremely complex and expensive as the number of variants and the complexity of their deployment and configuration increases. Once a variant is deemed ready for deployment and configuration in a production environment, it is crucial that these activities be done identically to the tested configurations and upholds the assumptions of the component developers. Rapidly setting up numerous distributed test environments and ensuring that they are deployed and configured correctly is hard. This poster paper presents FireAnt, which is a tool for the model-driven development (MDD) of PLA deployment plans.
An exceptional isomorphism between level 13 modular curves via Torelli’s Theorem

The Jacobians of the modular curves Xns(13) and Xs(13) respectively associated to the normalizers of non-split and split Cartan subgroups of level 13 are isogenous over Q. In this note, we construct a Q-isomorphism between these Jacobians which respects their canonical principal polarizations. In particular we obtain a Q-isomorphism between Xns(13) and Xs(13); this has no known \modular" explanation.
Model-Based Sensorimotor Integration for Multi-Joint Control: Development of a Virtual Arm Model

An integrated, sensorimotor virtual arm (VA) model has been developed and validated for simulation studies of control of human arm movements. Realistic anatomical features of shoulder, elbow and forearm joints were captured with a graphic modeling environment, SIMM. The model included 15 musculotendon elements acting at the shoulder, elbow and forearm. Muscle actions on joints were evaluated by SIMM generated moment arms that were matched to experimentally measured profiles. The Virtual Muscle TM (VM) model contained appropriate admixture of slow and fast twitch fibers with realistic physiological properties for force production. A realistic spindle model was embedded in each VM with inputs of fascicle length, gamma static (cstat) and dynamic (cdyn) controls and outputs of primary (Ia) and secondary (II) afferents. A piecewise linear model of Golgi Tendon Organ (GTO) represented the ensemble sampling (Ib) of the total muscle force at the tendon. All model components were integrated into a Simulink block using a special software tool. The complete VA model was validated with open-loop simulation at discrete hand positions within the full range of a and c drives to extrafusal and intrafusal muscle fibers. The model behaviors were consistent with a wide variety of physiological phenomena. Spindle afferents were effectively modulated by fusimotor drives and hand positions of the arm. These simulations validated the VA model as a computational tool for studying arm movement control. The VA model is available to researchers at website http://pt.usc.edu/cel.
Effect of Sulbactam on Infections Caused by Imipenem-Resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Biotype anitratus

A recent outbreak of multiresistant strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biotype anitratus was observed mostly, but not exclusively, in the surgical intensive care unit in our hospital. Disk diffusion and microdilution susceptibility studies demonstrated resistance to imipenem, all aminoglycosides, and all individual beta-lactam antibiotics. Only ampicillin plus sulbactam, cefoperazone plus sulbactam, and polymyxin produced zone sizes and MICs in the susceptible ranges. Determination of MICs and MBCs demonstrated that sulbactam was the antimicrobial agent responsible for the killing of these organisms. Nine of 10 patients who were infected with imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter strains and received ampicillin plus sulbactam for > 3 days improved clinically, and in many cases organisms were eradicated from the site of isolation.
Patterns of Persistence in Intended College Major with a Focus on STEM Majors.

In this study, we examined patterns of persisting in and switching from an intended college major (chosen in high school) in the third year of college. We focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) major persistence because of the national effort to increase those entering STEM careers. Results showed differences in persistence by academic field as well as by gender, parental income, and first-generation college student status with the largest variation by ethnicity. Further examination of STEM major persistence showed that high school performance in math and science, taking advanced placement exams in STEM, articulating positive science self-efficacy beliefs, and professing a goal of obtaining a doctorate were also related to persistence in varied ways across STEM majors.
GPR detection of drainage pipes in farmlands

Our GPR study has been successful in locating on average 72% of the total amount of drainage pipe present at thirteen test plots in southwest, central, and northwest Ohio. Test results indicate that .a 250 MHz antenna frequency worked best for drainage pipes, and that data quality is good over a range of spatial sampling intervals and signal trace stacking. Drainage pipes that are as small as 5 cm (2 in) in diameter can be detected at shallow depths. The fired clay or plastic material of which the drainage pipe is comprised does not appear to have much of an impact. 2D grid surveys offer the best chance for finding all the buried drainage pipe possible, and for displaying a subsurface drainage system on an amplitude map, the narrower the spacing between GPR measurement lines, the better the result. The information supplied by this study can be employed to formulate guidelines that will enhance the potential of success for using ground penetrating radar in locating buried agricultural drainage pipe.
SPATIAL VARIATION OF PRECIPITATION ON THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS

: Space autocorrelation techniques have been used to reveal the nature and spatial distribution of precipitation in the Texas High Plains. Correlation in precipitation amounts varies with both distance and direction, dropping off rapidly with distance, particularly during the warm season. The analyses can be used to estimate storm characteristics in conjunction with a wide variety of problems dealing with irrigation, crop yields, drainage and water supply, and evaluation of artificial weather modification efforts.
Accelerometry as a measure of walking behavior in multiple sclerosis.

Objective Accelerometry has been identified as a possible ecologically valid and objective approach for measuring community ambulation in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study provides a validation of accelerometer output based on associations with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) Scale, and Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) scores, timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) and 6-min walk (6MW) performance, oxygen cost (O2 cost) of walking, and spatial and temporal parameters of gait. Materials and Methods 256 persons with MS completed the PDDS and MSWS-12, underwent an examination for the generation of an EDSS score, undertook two T25FW tests and a 6MW while wearing a portable metabolic unit for measuring the O2 cost of walking, completed two trials of comfortable walking on a GAITRite electronic walkway for measuring spatial and temporal parameters of gait, and then wore an Actigraph accelerometer during the waking hours of a 7-day period. Results The accelerometer output was significantly correlated with EDSS (ρ = −0.522), PDDS (ρ = −0.551), and MSWS-12 (ρ = −0.617) scores, T25FW (ρ = −0.595) and 6MW (ρ = 0.630) performance, and O2 cost of walking (ρ = −0.457). Regarding gait parameters, the accelerometer output was significantly correlated with velocity (ρ = 0.420), cadence (ρ = 0.349), step time (ρ = −0.353), step length (ρ = 0.395), double support (ρ = −0.424), and single support (ρ = 0.400). Conclusion We provide comprehensive evidence from a large sample of persons with MS that further supports accelerometry as a measure of walking behavior.
Insulin-dependent rescue from cardiogenic shock is not mediated by phospholamban phosphorylation.

Introduction. We used immunoblots to determine whether inotropic and lusitropic effects of high-dose insulin (HDI) in cardiogenic shock, induced by a b-blocker (BB) or a calcium channel blocker (CCB), are mediated by phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLB). PLB is a membrane protein that regulates calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by inhibition of the cardiac calcium pump (SERCA2a). Phosphorylation of PLB relieves SERCA inhibition, thus enhancing diastolic relaxation and preload. Methods .O ur Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved this research. Swine myocardia from six groups were flash frozen immediately upon death or sacrifice. Groups 1–6 received: (1) no medications, (2) HDI and glucose only, (3) toxic propranolol infusions and saline resuscitation, (4) toxic propranolol infusions and HDI resuscitation, (5) toxic verapamil infusions and saline resuscitation, and (6) toxic verapamil infusions and HDI resuscitation. Groups 3–6 were resuscitated for 4 h. Tissue samples from all six groups were analyzed by quantitative immunoblots, using antibodies to both unphosphorylated PLB (uPLB) and phosphorylated PLB (pPLB), to determine the total PLB content and the fraction of PLB phosphorylated. Results. There were no differences in either pPLB or total PLB in cardiac tissue among any of the six groups. However, infusion of a pig with the b-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, produced enhanced PLB phosphorylation. Conclusion. The mechanism by which HDI produces its inotropic and lusitropic effects in CCB- and BB-induced cardiovascular toxicity, resulting in resuscitation, is not due to changes in phosphorylation of PLB or a change in the total PLB in the SR.
Sorghum improvement for energy production

Abstract Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has emerged as a leading candidate for biomass utilization among energy crops due to high yield potential, ease of culture and wide adaptability. Previously, enormous diversity present in the germplasm has been manipulated by sorghum breeding programs primarily to produce grain, syrup or forage. Development of sorghums for energy utilization will require a similar effort but should be more rapid based on current knowledge of the genetics of desirable characteristics. Results from yield trials of sweet, grain and grain x sweet sorghum hybrids demonstrate that partitioning carbohydrate into both grain and stalks can increase the suitability of the crop for energy. Fresh weight biomass yields in excess of 60 Mg ha−1 and ethanol yields in excess of 5000 litres ha−1 are possible from the use of improved cultivars.
Toward a physical understanding of the reliability-limiting E C -0.57 eV trap in GaN HEMTs

Recent reliability testing campaigns on AlGaN/GaN HEMTs have consistently revealed a critical E C -0.57 eV trap that is responsible for drain-lag, RF output power degradation, and current-collapse among other non-idealities. In this work, a comprehensive set of data obtained from a range of measurements and specialized test structures are combined and presented to reveal compelling evidence that this nearly ubiquitous degradation-causing defect in GaN HEMTs is physically located in the GaN buffer.
Maximal {\mathsf {Sp}}(4,{\mathbb {R}}) surface group representations, minimal immersions and cyclic surfaces

Let S be a closed surface of genus at least 2. For each maximal representation $$\rho : \pi _1(S){\rightarrow }{\mathsf {Sp}}(4,{\mathbb {R}})$$ in one of the $$2g-3$$ exceptional connected components, we prove there is a unique conformal structure on the surface in which the corresponding equivariant harmonic map to the symmetric space $${\mathsf {Sp}}(4,{\mathbb {R}})/{\mathsf {U}}(2)$$ is a minimal immersion. Using a Higgs bundle parameterization of these components, we give a mapping class group invariant parameterization of such components as fiber bundles over Teichmuller space. Unlike Labourie’s recent results on Hitchin components, these bundles are not vector bundles.
Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Chronic Urticaria

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare but distinct type of T cell lymphoma with an aggressive course and high mortality. Most patients are diagnosed late in the disease and usually present with generalized lymphadenopathy. A minority have skin lesions at the time of diagnosis, more commonly in the form of nonspecific maculopapular rash with or without pruritus. We report a rare case of AITL presenting with chronic, recurrent angioedema and urticaria-like lesions and no palpable peripheral adenopathy. Primary Care physicians, dermatologists, and allergists must maintain a high index of suspicion for cutaneous manifestations of lymphoma, especially if the skin lesions are refractory to standard treatment. Timely diagnosis is essential to improve survival.
Understanding culture clashes in the clinical setting

Although conflict between people is common, some conflicts are the result of different cultural assumptions. These disagreements can complicate good communication between physician and patient.
Thickness, composition, and molecular structure of residual thin films formed by forced dewetting of Ag from glycerol/D2O solutions

The thickness, composition, and interfacial molecular structure of residual thin films retained on the surface of polycrystalline Ag substrates after being forcibly dewet from glycerol/D2O solution...
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome associated with interferon beta-1a use for multiple sclerosis

Background:Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) has been associated with multiple medications, cocaine, pregnancy, migraine, and other conditions.Objectives:RCVS associated with interferon beta use has never before been described.Methods:We describe the case of a 20-year-old female who developed acute onset severe headache and was found to have subarachnoid hemorrhage 2 months after initiating Rebif (Interferon beta-1a) for multiple sclerosis (MS). Cerebral angiography showed multiple areas of distal stenosis and dilatation with radiographic resolution 1 month later.Results/conclusions:This is the first case report of RCVS in an MS patient treated with Rebif.
Implementation of a Wall-Modeled Sharp Immersed Boundary Method in a High-Order Large Eddy Simulation Tool for Jet Aeroacoustics

High-order finite-difference (FD) discretization-based solvers are ideal for studying jet noise due to their low dissipation and dispersion errors. However, they are inherently incapable of handling the geometrical complexities common in many noise reducing nozzle designs. The immersed boundary method (IBM) represents an effective way of eliminating this shortcoming of the high-order FD solvers. In addition, to be able to simulate experimental-scale high Reynolds number flows from such complex nozzle geometries at an affordable computational cost, the turbulent boundary layer on the inner nozzle wall must be treated using a wall model. In a wall-modeled simulation, the large flow gradients near an immersed wall are not explicitly resolved and therefore, an IBM methodology appropriate for wall-resolved simulations is no longer valid. In the present work, an IBM implementation that allows a selected portion of an immersed boundary to be treated using a wall model boundary condition is described. Numerical methods employed near such an immersed boundary are crucial for the success of the wall model, and a detailed description of the chosen methods is provided. The proposed methodology is tested on a zero-pressure-gradient, attached flat plate turbulent boundary layer. It is observed that the current method produces near-wall results that are dependent on the location of the first grid point off the immersed wall, which is undesirable. However, the method is demonstrated to produce a reasonably accurate outer region for a turbulent boundary layer. It is suggested that the proposed methodology is a highly economical, though approximate way to treat the turbulent boundary layer on the inner nozzle wall in jet noise studies.
An Evaluation of Lymphangiography in Staging Carcinoma of the Prostate

Abstract Pedal lymphangiography was done on 38 patients with stages O, A and B carcinoma of the prostate. The lymphangiograms were positive in 19 cases and negative in 19. Of 18 patients who underwent lymphadenectomy (9 with positive and 9 with negative studies) operative findings confirmed the lymphangiogram in 15 (83 per cent). In the 6 patients with osseous metastases and/or enzyme elevation, the lymphangiogram was positive. Furthermore, 13 patients with positive lymphangiograms had negative osseous and enzyme survey, emphasizing that nodal involvement may be the earliest finding in disseminated carcinoma of the prostate. The value of lymphangiography in staging carcinoma of the prostate prior to radical prostatectomy or irradiation seems well established.
Changes in Holocene Precipitation Pattern of the Central MediterraneanInferred from Hypogean Tufa Proxy Data

This paper deals with proxies preserved in hypogean tufas of a highly responsive region to climate changes, the central Mediterranean. Field studies allowed determining four stages of carbonate accretion driven by climatic and / or environmental shifts over the mid-late Holocene (i.e., the last eight millennia). The studied accretions show petrological analogies with the so called “trays”, particular speleothems reported in few worldwide caves. Positive covariation between the ratios of oxygen and carbon isotopes is interpreted as due to climate signal. Hypogean tufas have recorded a long term (probably millennial-scale) reduction in precipitation and / or shift in storm trajectories as the interlacement of geological and geochemistry features suggests. Local conditions likely became severely dry over the transition from middle to late Holocene. Comparison between tufa archives and regional-scale data may improve climate knowledges and calibration of models. Further researches need interdisciplinary approaches to solve some basic uncertainties and to enhance data on geological archives.
Stable carbon isotope record of terrestrial organic materials for the last 450 Ma yr

Abstract The timing and magnitude of carbon isotope excursions is essential for understanding the global transfer of carbon among the oceansland, and atmosphere. Numerous studies have focused on data collection of stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) from marine sediments, and by extension to the atmosphere, but many fewer systematic studies have been conducted on land plants over long time intervals. We pursued three approaches to determining stable carbon isotope trends for the past 450 Ma yr from C3 plants (δ13Cp) in 5 Ma yr time steps. First, a compilation of 6888 δ13Cp values from ten carbon sources from the literature average − 24.6 ± 1.7‰ (ISOORG data base). The second approach assumes the δ13Cp is controlled primarily by the δ13C of atmospheric CO2 (δ13Ca) and subsequent isotopic fractionation from diffusion and carboxylation during photosynthesis (MOD1). The third approach assumes changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration (pCO2) causes physiological-driven isotopic fractionation during photosynthesis when pCO2 is greater than average Holocene conditions (MOD2). Compared to ISOORG and MOD1, MOD2 reveals lower δ13Cp by up to 6‰ during periods when pCO2 is elevated. As secular governors of δ13Cp, the δ13Ca and pCO2 are most influential when they are directional and amplify the isotopic signal. Despite potential influences from local and regional environmental conditions, and averaging the δ13Cp of multiple plant sources in many of the 5 Ma yr age bins, ten positive carbon isotopic excursions (PCIEs) are identified in ISOORG of this study. Most of the excursions occurred during cool to glacial conditions or ocean anoxic events. One prominent negative isotopic excursion ensued from 260 to 240 Ma yr, which may have been a response to oxidation of light C, methane outbursts, volcanic eruptions, or bolide impact.
Review of Factors Impacting Decisions Regarding Electronic Records

This section reviews Electronic Health Records and considers technology assessment scenarios for multiple purposes. These are:The adoption of EHR with focus on barriers and enables (Study 1)The selection of EHR with focus on different alternatives (Study 2)The use of EHR with focus on impacts (Study 3)The exploration will assume that the adoption, selection and use of EHR related to the ambulatory EHR accepted in small practices.The first section will highlight the gaps in each case and will address and list matching research goals and research questions.
Extranodal NK/T Cell Lymphoma Causing Cardiorespiratory Failure

Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma is an uncommon malignancy usually involving the sinonasal area. We report an unusual case of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma diagnosed in a 62-year-old Caucasian male who died of progressive cardiorespiratory failure but had no clinically detectable upper respiratory system lesions. The initial diagnosis was made cytologically on a sample of pericardial fluid that contained neoplastic lymphoid cells. These cells were positive for CD2, cytoplasmic CD3, and Epstein-Barr virus and negative for CD56. The diagnosis was confirmed at the autopsy, which disclosed lymphoma infiltrates in the myocardium, lungs, stomach, and pancreas. The death was caused by heart and lung failure due to uncontrollable arrhythmia and respiratory insufficiency due to the lymphoma infiltrates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma presenting with cardiopulmonary failure.
Coping with Food Price Shocks in Afghanistan

In this chapter, we present evidence on household coping strategies from a nationally representative household survey collected in Afghanistan before and during the 2007/2008 food price crisis. We looked at changes in various dimensions of food security, including calorie, dietary diversity, and nutrient intake. And we look at the purchase of food on credit, the sale of productive assets, school enrollment, and migration. We found strong evidence that the wheat flour price increases affected the well-being of Afghan households, who had to reduce both their food and nonfood expenditures. The reductions in the value of food consumed were reflected in the reductions in the quantity and quality of food consumed, including reduced nutrient intake. Households reduced their nonfood expenditures across several categories, including healthcare, clothing, grooming, communication, transportation, cigarettes and tobacco, and culture. And households purchased food on credit more frequently. We failed to find changes in educational expenditure or school enrollment, the sale of productive assets, or migration. We used the unconditional quantile regression (UQR) estimator to identify how prices affected households located at specific points on the unconditional distributions (such as the 20th or 80th quantiles) of the food security indicators. The most vulnerable households, those at the bottom of the calorie distribution, cannot afford to make substantial cuts to their caloric intake since they are close to or below the minimum daily energy requirements; accordingly, we found no statistically significant decline in their caloric intake. Households at the bottom of the dietary diversity distribution—often very poor households—experience very large declines in dietary diversity as a result of the wheat flour price increases (although even households at the top of the distribution also experience substantial declines).
Computational modeling of epiphany learning

Models of reinforcement learning (RL) are prevalent in the decision-making literature, but not all behavior seems to conform to the gradual convergence that is a central feature of RL. In some cases learning seems to happen all at once. Limited prior research on these "epiphanies" has shown evidence of sudden changes in behavior, but it remains unclear how such epiphanies occur. We propose a sequential-sampling model of epiphany learning (EL) and test it using an eye-tracking experiment. In the experiment, subjects repeatedly play a strategic game that has an optimal strategy. Subjects can learn over time from feedback but are also allowed to commit to a strategy at any time, eliminating all other options and opportunities to learn. We find that the EL model is consistent with the choices, eye movements, and pupillary responses of subjects who commit to the optimal strategy (correct epiphany) but not always of those who commit to a suboptimal strategy or who do not commit at all. Our findings suggest that EL is driven by a latent evidence accumulation process that can be revealed with eye-tracking data.
Nuss procedure for a case of asymmetric pectus excavatum associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Abstract Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder that is often associated with pectus excavatum (PE). The Nuss procedure, which is a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of PE achieves good functional and cosmetic outcomes. We experienced a case of EDS-associated asymmetric PE that was corrected by the Nuss procedure using chondrotomy of the costal cartilages. After this procedure, an excellent chest appearance was achieved. Our experience suggests that the repair of PE can be accomplished safely in EDS patients and that this procedure can achieve good cosmetic results in patients with asymmetric PE.
The Provo Shoreline of Lake Bonneville

Abstract G.K. Gilbert studied the Bonneville basin 150 years ago and his findings have largely stood the test of time: The Provo shoreline, the most prominent geomorphic feature of Lake Bonneville, reflects threshold-stabilized overflow of the lake after the Bonneville flood and before a drier climate caused the lake to shrink. Subsequent refinements in chronology allow the Provo lake to be identified as about 18.2–14.8 cal ka BP, and stratigraphic studies show that the lake was gradually growing deeper during that time. Because the lake deepened through time as isostatic rebound occurred, individual landforms in general reflect processes operating for a small part of the ~ 3400 year of Provo time. Opportunities remain to improve our knowledge of the Provo lake; topics include (1) refinement of lake levels using delta and beach stratigraphy; (2) improved understanding of lake water chemistry and its role in determining deep-water sediment and cave deposits, which have disparate interpretations; (3) identifying processes at the threshold that caused the lake level to rise; and (4) identifying climate variability signals during Provo time.
Drug-Induced Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion

Vocal cord dysfunction, also known as paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM), is a disorder characterized by abnormal vocal cord adduction during inspiration. PVFM is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma because of the similarity of symptoms: cough, wheezing, chest pain, and dyspnea. We present the clinical vignette of a 36-year-old woman with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and multiple adverse drug reactions who presented with recurrent episodes of unrecognized PVFM during skin testing for drug allergy, omalizumab treatment, and tocilizumab desensitization. Before the diagnosis of PVFM, these episodes were treated as anaphylaxis, including the administration of epinephrine. Once diagnosed and treated for PVFM, the patient did not present any further events and continued treatment for drug allergy. PVFM may be underreported in hypersensitivity reactions because of the similarity to Type 1-mediated respiratory symptoms and comorbid asthma.
Per-Protocol Analyses of Pragmatic Trials.

Pragmatic trials are designed to address real-world questions about care options. This article addresses issues that may arise from per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses of such trials, outlines alternative analytic approaches, and provides guidance on how to choose among them.
Day-ahead preventive scheduling of power systems during natuaral hazards via stochastic optimization

Predictable weather-related natural hazards are tied to a significant portion of the blackouts in the United States. Since conventional reliability standards are not designed for such conditions, they fail to guarantee reliable delivery of power during such extreme events. This paper proposes a two-stage model for preventive operation of power systems during a natural hazard. At the first stage, failure probability of transmission towers is calculated based on fragility analysis of the structure. The failure scenarios and their probabilities are, then, generated through the analysis conducted in the first stage. At the second stage, the failure scenarios and their probabilities are used in stochastic optimization framework to explicitly model the likely failure of transmission elements. Simulation studies, carried out on IEEE 118-bus system, show that the proposed method can effectively eliminate network violations through preventive adjustment of generation dispatch. The results also show that the redispatch cost is not significant, compared to the potential consequences of shedding load.
Containment materials for liquid tin at 1350 °C as a heat transfer fluid for high temperature concentrated solar power

Abstract One pathway for reducing the cost of concentrated solar power (CSP) is to increase the system efficiency by operating a heat engine with a higher hot side (inlet) temperature. If a turbine is used, then a system utilizing a combined cycle could potentially reach upwards of ∼60% efficiency, provided that the turbine could be operated with an inlet temperature >1300 °C. Such high temperatures place severe limits on heat transfer fluids; that is, such fluids would need to remain chemically stable, and be compatible with containment materials, at such extreme temperatures. One potential class of such fluids are liquid metals, such as molten tin. While possessing low melting and high boiling points (232 °C and 2600 °C, respectively) for a high operational range, molten tin also tends to be highly corrosive towards common structural metal alloys used as components for the containment and controlled flow of liquids (i.e., for pipes, tanks, valves, pumps, etc.). Thus, it would be useful to identify materials that are compatible with molten tin at ≥1300 °C. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate three candidate high-temperature materials, possessing a range of thermal conductivities, for the containment of molten tin: graphite (C), silicon carbide (SiC), and mullite (Al6Si2O13). The corrosion and penetration of these materials by molten Sn or doped Sn liquids at 1350 °C for 100 h were evaluated via local electron microscopic analyses and global weight change measurements. Under appropriate conditions, all three of these materials exhibited minimal to no reaction with tin-based liquids at 1350 °C and were not penetrated by these liquids at this temperature. This work indicates that graphite, silicon carbide, and/or mullite can serve as effective containment materials for the use of tin-based liquids as heat transfer fluids operating at 1350 °C in CSP plants.
Activation of the Hemagglutinin of Influenza Viruses

The hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of influenza viruses is posttranslationally cleaved into the disulfide-linked subunits HA1 and HA2, and this proteolytic processing event is critical to the virus life cycle as it is required to activate membrane fusion potential and virus infectivity. High-resolution structures are available for the HA precursor (HA0), the cleaved neutral pH conformation of HA, and the low pH conformation that the HA assumes when triggered by acidification of endosomes to mediate fusion of viral and cellular membrane during virus entry. These structures have provided clues regarding the mechanisms by which proteolytic cleavage activates membrane fusion potential and how subsequent acidification drives the fusion process. It has been known for decades that influenza strains and subtypes can vary with regard to HA cleavage properties and that cleavage site sequences and the proteases that recognize them can represent a major determinant for virus pathogenicity. However, a number of questions remain with respect to the identity and characteristics of the proteases that activate HAs in the various natural hosts and complex ecosystems that constitute the realm of influenza viruses. The continuing study of HA cleavage properties and the proteases involved should illuminate our understanding not only of pathogenicity but other aspects of influenza biology including host range, transmission, and interplay with other microorganisms such as bacteria.
Radioactive Waste Processing and Disposal

This chapter focuses on radioactive waste processing and disposal. The byproducts of every neutron-induced fission of a heavy element are two lighter fragments that are usually highly radioactive, with half-lives ranging from fractions of a second to thousands of years. Over the years since World War II, the production of fissile material for U.S. weapons has involved chemical processing to separate the desired plutonium. The residual fission products have been stored in aqueous form in underground tanks, mainly at the Hanford site in the state of Washington and at the Savannah River Laboratory in South Carolina. The mechanical aspects of reactor fuel handling are straightforward. At the end of an operating period, of the order of a year in a typical light water reactor, the head of the reactor vessel is removed and set aside. The whole space above the vessel is then filled with water to allow fuel assemblies to be removed while immersed.
Experiment-Based Assessment of NLBeam for Modeling Geometrically Nonlinear Dynamic Deformations

As the wind energy industry expands, larger wind turbines are being developed to harvest more energy for a given plant site. It has also been noted that gear boxes within the wind turbines are wearing out faster than expected. One possible explanation is that current modeling approaches employed in wind turbine design do not adequately account for nonlinearities associated with the large deformations in wind turbine blades. A finite element code, NLBeam, has been developed to account for nonlinearities using geometrically exact beam theory. To validate the code, experiments were conducted on a surrogate aluminum blade and the results were compared to simulation results from NLBeam. Further development of the NLBeam code will be based off of this research. In the future, NLBeam will be coupled with WindBlade, a computational fluid dynamics based software which has been developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory to study fluid-structure interaction between turbines within wind plants.