cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Phasor Maesurement Placement

This paper considers a phasor measurement unit (PMU) placement problem requiring simultaneous optimization of two conflicting objectives, such as minimization of the number of PMUs and maximization of the measurement redundancy. The objectives are in conflict, for the improvement of one of them leads to deterioration of another. Consequently, instead of a unique optimal solution, there exists a set of the best trade-offs between competing objectives, the so-called Pareto-optimal solutions. A specially tailored nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) for the PMU placement problem is proposed as a methodology to find these Pareto-optimal solutions. The algorithm is combined with the graph-theoretical procedure and a simple GA to reduce the initial number of the PMU candidate locations. The NSGA parameters are carefully set by performing a number of trial runs and evaluating the NSGA performances based on the number of distinct Pareto-optimal solutions found in the particular run and the distance of the obtained Pareto front from the optimal one. Illustrative results on the 39-bus and 118-bus IEEE systems are presented.
Expectations and Effectiveness Using CD-ROMs: What Do Patrons Want and How Satisfied Are They?

As academic libraries wrestle with how to provide more CD-ROMs and more online remote access to databases to keep pace with demands, they first need to evaluate the effectiveness of their current services. This study identifies students’ preferences and effectiveness using CD-ROMs and assesses the whole CD-ROM environment at one university library. A questionnaire was used to ask students their preferences, confidence levels, skills, and training in searching CD-ROM databases, as well as their satisfaction with CD-ROM services (see the appendix). Analyses of the data revealed that users are satisfied and prefer CD-ROM databases over the print indices. Although students indicated they are confident searching, they admitted that they need to know basic search strategies and that they want more personal assistance, hands-on training, and remote online access to databases. Moreover, how can academic libraries meet increasing user demands for more database access and services when their resources are not increasing?
Improved Feed Protein Fractionation Schemes for Formulating Rations with the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System

Adequate predictions of rumen-degradable protein (RDP) and rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) supplies are necessary to optimize performance while minimizing losses of excess nitrogen (N). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the original Cornell Net Carbohydrate Protein System (CNCPS) protein fractionation scheme and to develop and evaluate alternatives designed to improve its adequacy in predicting RDP and RUP. The CNCPS version 5 fractionates CP into 5 fractions based on solubility in protein precipitant agents, buffers, and detergent solutions: A represents the soluble nonprotein N, B1 is the soluble true protein, B2 represents protein with intermediate rates of degradation, B3 is the CP insoluble in neutral detergent solution but soluble in acid detergent solution, and C is the unavailable N. Model predictions were evaluated with studies that measured N flow data at the omasum. The N fractionation scheme in version 5 of the CNCPS explained 78% of the variation in RDP with a root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) of 275 g/d, and 51% of the RUP variation with RMSPE of 248 g/d. Neutral detergent insoluble CP flows were overpredicted with a mean bias of 128 g/d (40% of the observed mean). The greatest improvements in the accuracy of RDP and RUP predictions were obtained with the following 2 alternative schemes. Alternative 1 used the inhibitory in vitro system to measure the fractional rate of degradation for the insoluble protein fraction in which A = nonprotein N, B1 = true soluble protein, B2 = insoluble protein, C = unavailable protein (RDP: R 2 = 0.84 and RMSPE = 167 g/d; RUP: R 2 = 0.61 and RMSPE = 209 g/d), whereas alternative 2 redefined A and B1 fractions as the non-amino-N and amino-N in the soluble fraction respectively (RDP: R 2 = 0.79 with RMSPE = 195 g/d and RUP: R 2 = 0.54 with RMSPE = 225 g/d). We concluded that implementing alternative 1 or 2 will improve the accuracy of predicting RDP and RUP within the CNCPS framework.
Goal setting frequency and the use of behavioral strategies related to diet and physical activity

Goal setting is an effective way to focus attention on behavior change. Theoretically, frequency of goal setting may indicate the level of commitment to diet and physical activity behavior change. Yet, little is known about the association between goal setting frequency and use of specific diet or physical activity-related strategies. This study examines whether changes in goal setting frequency predict changes in use of behavioral strategies over time, controlling for baseline strategy use, demographics and whether a person was trying to lose weight. Data are from a baseline and 1-year follow-up survey of adults in rural Iowa (n = 385). Overall, goal setting frequency was positively associated with use of the strategies measured, at baseline and overtime. Frequent goal setting that is focused specifically on diet or physical activity was more predictive of using dietary or physical activity strategies, respectively, than goal setting focused on weight loss overall. The study provides empirical support for what has been assumed theoretically, that is, frequent goal setting for weight management is an indicator of use of specific behavioral strategies. Significant challenges remain in regard to maintenance of this activity and attainment of weight loss goals.
The Cold Shock Domain Protein LIN-28 Controls Developmental Timing in C. elegans and Is Regulated by the lin-4 RNA

Abstract Mutations in the heterochronic gene lin-28 of C. elegans cause precocious development where diverse events specific to the second larval stage are skipped. lin-28 encodes a cytoplasmic protein with a cold shock domain and retroviral-type (CCHC) zinc finger motifs, consistent with a role for LIN-28 in posttranscriptional regulation. The 3′UTR of lin-28 contains a conserved element that is complementary to the 22 nt regulatory RNA product of lin-4 and that resembles seven such elements in the 3′UTR of the heterochronic gene lin-14 . Both lin-4 activity and the lin-4 -complementary element (LCE) are necessary for stage-specific regulation of lin-28 . Deleting the LCE produces a dominant gain-of-function allele that causes a retarded phenotype, indicating that lin-28 activity is a switch that controls choices of stage-specific fates.
Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of sulfentrazone in potato and selected weed species

Abstract Potato exhibits adequate tolerance to preemergence applications of sulfentrazone at rates up to 0.28 kg ai ha−1. Sulfentrazone also controls several troublesome weeds such as common lambsquarters but may be less effective against jimsonweed. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate differential tolerance to root-absorbed [14C]sulfentrazone by potato, common lambsquarters, and jimsonweed. Common lambsquarters and jimsonweed absorption of [14C]sulfentrazone g−1 fresh weight was more than twofold that in potato after 24-h exposure. After 48-h exposure, sulfentrazone absorption by common lambsquarters was nearly twofold that in jimsonweed and nearly threefold that in potato. Sulfentrazone movement from roots to shoots was also greater in common lambsquarters than in jimsonweed and potato after 6 h. Both weed species exhibited nearly a twofold increase in sulfentrazone translocation from roots to shoots compared with potato after 12, 24, and 48 h. Minor differences in sulfentrazone metabol...
Rural Gay Men in Northern New England: Life Experiences and Coping Styles

This study describes thematically the life experiences of 20 gay men in the rural setting of northern New England and examines what coping skills they have evolved. A qualitative study was undertaken, so that the researchers could learn of rural gay men in their own words, particularly in terms of how they understood their life experiences. This material was analyzed and 9 common themes were discovered. In descending order of frequency of occur- rence in subjects' narratives, the themes are: early awareness of difference, internalized homophobia, positive aspects of rural living, negative aspects of rural living, positive family of choice, compul- sory heterosexuality, isolation, current life partner, and family cen- sorship. (Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com)
Characterizing Software Architecture Changes: An Initial Study

With today's ever increasing demands on software, developers must produce software that can be changed without the risk of degrading the software architecture. Degraded software architecture is problematic because it makes the system more prone to defects and increases the cost of making future changes. The effects of making changes to software can be difficult to measure. One way to address software changes is to characterize their causes and effects. This paper introduces an initial architecture change characterization scheme created to assist developers in measuring the impact of a change on the architecture of the system. It also presents an initial study conducted to gain insight into the validity of the scheme. The results of this study indicated a favorable view of the viability of the scheme by the subjects, and the scheme increased the ability of novice developers to assess and adequately estimate change effort.
Latent onset of clinical pancreatitis in children receiving l‐asparaginase therapy

The pancreatic toxicity of L-asparaginase manifested in 43 children (48 trials of therapy) is presented. Seven of the 43 children (16.2%) developed evidence of pancreatitis. Five of the 43 children developed transient hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus (11.6%). Pancreatitis secondary to L-asparaginase therapy has been reported to occur during administration of the drug. In contrast, 4 of our 7 patients with acute pancreatitis secondary to L-asparaginase developed their disease 4 days to 10 weeks after therapy was stopped. Five of these 7 patients who developed pancreatitis were females greater than 9 years of age. Since estrogens potentiate activity of L-asparaginase in vivo in animal studies, these data raise the question that pubertal females may be at greater risk of acquiring pancreatic toxicity from L-asparaginase than their male counterparts.
Single Machine Models with Release Dates (Stochastic)

In many stochastic environments job releases occur at random points in time. This chapter focuses on single machine stochastic models with the jobs having besides random processing times also random release dates. The objective is the total expected weighted completion time. Preemptive as well as nonpreemptive models are considered.
Virtual Wireless and Mobile Communication Laboratory

Creating a virtual laboratory for distance learning courses has become recently so important recently for en- gineering education. In this paper, we provide a full description for a remote access technique used in a wireless and mobile communication laboratory. Hence, the student will be able to perform experiments online and controlling and watching the devices by accessing a camera already built in the laboratory. Signal generator, spectrum analyzer and field-fox devices are used in the virtual laboratory.
Rank-width is less than or equal to branch-width

We prove that the rank-width of the incidence graph of a graph G is either equal to or exactly one less than the branch-width of G, unless the maximum degree of G is 0 or 1. This implies that rank-width of a graph is less than or equal to branch-width of the graph unless the branch-width is 0. Moreover, this inequality is tight. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 57: 239–244, 2008
A model-based mediator system for scientific data management

A database mediator system combines information from multiple existing source databases and creates a new virtual, mediated database that comprises the integrated entities and their relationships. When mediating scientific data, the technically challenging problem of mediator query processing is further complicated by the complexity of the source data and the relationships between them. In particular, one is often confronted with complex multiple-world scenarios in which the semantics of individual sources, as well as the knowledge to link them, require a deeper modeling than is offered by current database mediator systems. Based on experiences with federation of brain data, this chapter presents an extension called model-based mediation (MBM). In MBM, data sources export not only raw data and schema information but also conceptual models (CMs), including domain semantics, to the mediator, effectively lifting data sources to knowledge sources. This allows a mediation engineer to define integrated views based on (1) the local CMs of registered sources and (2) auxiliary domain knowledge sources called domain maps (DMs) and process maps (PMs), respectively, which act as sources of glue knowledge. For complex scientific data sources, semantically rich CMs are necessary to represent and reason with scientific rationale for linking a wide variety of heterogeneous experimental assumptions, observations, and conclusions that together constitute an experimental study. This chapter illustrates the challenges using real-world examples from a complex neuroscience integration problem and presents the methodology and some tools, in particular the knowledge-based integration of neuroscience data (KIND) mediator prototype for model-based mediation of scientific data.
Effects of Combined Reading and Question Generation on Reading Fluency and Comprehension of Three Young Adults With Autism and Intellectual Disability

Reread–Adapt and Answer–Comprehend (RAAC) is a reading intervention designed to target fluency and comprehension for students with disabilities. Previous researchers have demonstrated the effective...
A Microarray Based Genomic Hybridization Method for Identification of New Genes in Plants: Case Analyses of Arabidopsis and Oryza

To systematically estimate the gene duplication events in closely related species, we have to use comparative genomic approaches, either through genomic sequence comparison or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Given the scarcity of complete genomic sequences of plant species, in the present study we adopted an array based CGH to investigate gene duplications in the genus Arabidopsis. Fragment genomic DNA from four species, namely Arabidopsis thaliana, A. lyrata subsp. lyrata, A. lyrata subsp. petraea, and A. halleri, was hybridized to Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA, USA) tiling arrays that are designed from the genomic sequences of A. thaliana. Pairwise comparisons of signal intensity were made to infer the potential duplicated candidates along each phylogenetic branch. Ninety-four potential candidates of gene duplication along the genus were identified. Among them, the majority (69 of 94) were A. thaliana lineage specific. This result indicates that the array based CGH approach may be used to identify candidates of duplication in other plant genera containing closely related species, such as Oryza, particularly for the AA genome species. We compared the degree of gene duplication through retrotransposon between O. sativa and A. thaliana and found a strikingly higher number of chimera retroposed genes in rice. The higher rate of gene duplication through retroposition and other mechanisms may indicate that the grass species is able to adapt to more diverse environments.
Identification of a Domain in the Vo Subunit d That Is Critical for Coupling of the Yeast Vacuolar Proton-translocating ATPase

Vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase pumps consist of two domains, V(1) and V(o). Subunit d is a component of V(o) located in a central stalk that rotates during catalysis. By generating mutations, we showed that subunit d couples ATP hydrolysis and proton transport. The mutation F94A strongly uncoupled the enzyme, preventing proton transport but not ATPase activity. C-terminal mutations changed coupling as well; ATPase activity was decreased by 59-72%, whereas proton transport was not measurable (E328A) or was moderately reduced (E317A and C329A). Except for W325A, which had low levels of V(1)V(o), mutations allowed wild-type assembly regardless of the fact that subunits E and d were reduced at the membrane. N- and C-terminal deletions of various lengths were inhibitory and gradually destabilized subunit d, limiting V(1)V(o) formation. Both N and C terminus were required for V(o) assembly. The N-terminal truncation 2-19Delta prevented V(1)V(o) formation, although subunit d was available. The C terminus was required for retention of subunits E and d at the membrane. In addition, the C terminus of its bacterial homolog (subunit C from T. thermophilus) stabilized the yeast subunit d mutant 310-345Delta and allowed assembly of the rotor structure with subunits A and B. Structural features conserved between bacterial and eukaryotic subunit d and the significance of domain 3 for vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase function are discussed.
Influence of surface structure on electrical characteristics in SiC MESFETs

In this paper, the influence of surface structure on SiC MESFETs has been studied by investigating electrical characteristics, such as DC, small signal, and large signal characteristics. Three different structures have been fabricated and compared with each other:channel-recessed, gate-recessed, and buried gate structures.
Cl-channel activation is necessary for stimulation of Na transport in adult alveolar epithelial cells.

In this review, we discuss evidence that supports the hypothesis that adrenergic stimulation of transepithelial Na absorption across the alveolar epithelium occurs indirectly by activation of apica...
Large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology of three different shear-thickening particle dispersions

We present a large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology (LAOS) investigation of three different shear-thickening particle dispersions - fumed silica in polyethylene oxide (FLOC), fumed silica in polypropylene glycol (HydroC), and cornstarch in water (JAM). These systems shear-thicken by three different mechanisms - shear-induced formation of particle clusters flocculated by polymer bridging, hydrocluster formation, and jamming. The viscoelastic non-linearities of the three fluids were studied as a function of strain and strain-rate space through the use of Lissajous-Bowditch curves and local nonlinear viscoelastic moduli of an oscillatory shear cycle. The nonlinear behaviors of the three fluids were compared and contrasted to understand the nonlinear shear-thickening mechanism of each. Both HydroC and JAM dispersions were found to exhibit strong strain stiffening of the elastic moduli and strain thickening of the loss moduli behavior associated with possible hydrocluster formation and particle jamming. However, the FLOC dispersion, in contrast, showed strong strain softening and strain thinning behavior at large strain amplitudes associated with yielding of the microstructure. The expected thickening of the loss modulus of FLOC in LAOS with increasing strain was not observed even though viscosity of FLOC was found to shear-thicken in steady-shear measurements. This disagreement is likely due to very large strain amplitudes required for shear-thickening to occur by shear-induced polymer bridging mechanism. The hypothesis was confirmed through stress growth experiments. Conversely, the HydroC and JAM dispersions required relatively small applied strains for shear-thickening to occur by hydrocluster and jamming mechanism. The comparison of local intra-cycle nonlinearity through Lissajous-Bowditch plots and nonlinear viscoelastic parameters indicated that the elastic nonlinearities of all three systems are primarily driven by a strong dependence on the magnitude of the applied strain-rates within an oscillatory cycle rather than the amplitude of the applied strain. A close inspection of the LAOS data reveals strong differences in the viscoelastic nonlinearities of these three different shear-thickening dispersions which can be used to create a nonlinear rheological fingerprint for each and offers valuable new insights into the nonlinear dynamics associated with each of the shear-thickening mechanisms.
Nonlinear Analysis of R/C Structures in Practice

This paper addresses some of the questions facing the engineer who is charged with assessing the safety of concrete structures for which conventional linear analysis is deemed inadequate. The currently available material models are reviewed and discussed under the viewpoint of applicability in engineering practice. Guidelines are given to aid the engineer in selecting the material model most appropriate for this purpose. Questions related to finite element analysis are discussed, including numerical solution techniques, their accuracy, efficiency and applicability. Also considered is the practical significance of solution sensitivity, reliability and cost. An example of a prestressed concrete reactor vessel illustrates the application of nonlinear finite element analysis to concrete structures in engineering practice.
Applications of an MPI Enhanced Simulated Annealing Algorithm on nuSTORM and 6D Muon Cooling

The nuSTORM decay ring is a compact racetrack storage ring with a circumference ~480 m using large aperture ($$\phi$$ = 60 cm) magnets. The design goal of the ring is to achieve a momentum acceptance of 3.8 $$\pm$$10% GeV/c and a phase space acceptance of 2000 $$\mu$$m·rad. The design has many challenges because the acceptance will be affected by many nonlinearity terms with large particle emittance and/or large momentum offset. In this paper, we present the application of a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm to the sextupole correction in the ring. The algorithm is capable of finding a balanced compromise among corrections of the nonlinearity terms, and finding the largest acceptance. This technique can be applied to the design of similar storage rings that store beams with wide transverse phase space and momentum spectra. We also present the recent study on the application of this algorithm to a part of the 6D muon cooling channel. The technique and the cooling concept will be applied to design a cooling channel for the extracted muon beam at nuSTORM in the future study.
The host Integrator complex acts in transcription-independent maturation of herpesvirus microRNA 3′ ends

Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) is an oncogenic γ-herpesvirus that produces microRNAs (miRNAs) by cotranscription of precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) hairpins immediately downstream from viral small nuclear RNAs (snRNA). The host cell Integrator complex, which recognizes the snRNA 3′ end processing signal (3′ box), generates the 5′ ends of HVS pre-miRNA hairpins. Here, we identify a novel 3′ box-like sequence (miRNA 3′ box) downstream from HVS pre-miRNAs that is essential for miRNA biogenesis. In vivo knockdown and rescue experiments confirmed that the 3′ end processing of HVS pre-miRNAs also depends on Integrator activity. Interaction between Integrator and HVS primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) substrates that contain only the miRNA 3′ box was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and an in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) that we developed to localize specific transient RNA–protein interactions inside cells. Surprisingly, in contrast to snRNA 3′ end processing, HVS pre-miRNA 3′ end processing by Integrator can be uncoupled from transcription, enabling new approaches to study Integrator enzymology.
The Many Creativities of Business and the APT Model of Creativity

Creativity in business is increasingly considered a competitive advantage, and many organizations have identified creative processes and outcomes as valued organizations goals. What is less clear, however, is what these organizations and their leaders mean by creativity. Here, we present the Amusement Park Theoretical (APT) Model of Creativity as a mechanism for understanding the many creativities in business. The model addresses the role of basic levels of intelligence and motivation in individuals, and under-scores the importance of considering the context in which those individuals are employed. The model identifies several levels of context which, when applied to business, highlights the importance of considering industry, organization, job, and tasks within jobs, when defining creativity. More directly, there is not one creativity in business, there are many. Based on the model, we discuss ways in which existing approaches to business might be utilized in conjunction with a domain-specific conceptualization of creativity to further organizational creativity goals.
A study of neonatal deaths

Abstract During the past twenty-five years, the active participation of obstetricians and gynecologists in the various maternal welfare programs is showing results in the steady decrease in maternal and neonatal deaths. However, the decline of the neonatal rate has been of a lesser degree than of the maternal death rate. This is due in part to the greater number of uncontrollable factors resulting in neonatal death. In this study we are attempting to show some of the reasons for these deaths and to present material which may serve as a basis for further investigation. We accept death in those infants grossly malformed, for such deaths cannot be prevented by any means available at the present time. Some of the remaining deaths might have been avoided by the general application of the knowledge we now possess, and it is this group which may in part yield to attack and lower the neonatal death rate further. A child is considered liveborn in the United States if there is any sign of life (heartbeat, muscular movement, or respiration) after it is delivered altogether (head, trunk, and limbs) outside of the body of the mother, whether or not the cord is cut. The neonatal period is considered to be that time from birth to the end of the first month of life.
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes by Attempted Mode of Operative Delivery From a Low Station in the Second Stage of Labor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes by attempted mode of operative delivery from a low station in the second stage of labor. METHODS: Retrospective study of 2,518 women carrying singleton fetuses at 37 weeks of gestation or greater who underwent attempted forceps-assisted delivery, attempted vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, or cesarean delivery from a low station in the second stage of labor. Primary outcomes were stratified by parity and included a maternal adverse outcome composite (postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion, endometritis, peripartum hysterectomy, or intensive care unit admission) and a neonatal adverse outcome composite (5-minute Apgar score less than 4, respiratory morbidity, neonatal intensive care unit admission, shoulder dystocia, birth trauma, or sepsis). RESULTS: In nulliparous patients, the maternal adverse composite was not significantly different between women who underwent attempted forceps (12.1% compared with 10.8%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40–1.34) or vacuum (8.3% compared with 10.8%, adjusted OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.40–1.16) delivery compared with cesarean delivery. Among parous women, the maternal adverse composite was not significantly different with attempted forceps (10.7% compared with 12.5%, adjusted OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.09–1.71) or vacuum (11.3% compared with 12.5%, adjusted OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.11–1.72) compared with cesarean delivery. Compared with neonates delivered by cesarean, the neonatal adverse composite was significantly lower among neonates born to nulliparous women who underwent attempted forceps (9.4% compared with 16.7%, adjusted OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27–0.72) but not among those who underwent vacuum delivery (11.9% compared with 16.7%, adjusted OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.44–1.04). Among parous women, the neonatal adverse composite was not significantly different after attempted forceps (4.1% compared with 12.5%, adjusted OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.06–1.35) or vacuum (12.5% compared with 12.5%, adjusted OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.28–3.87) compared with cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: A trial of forceps delivery from a low station compared with cesarean delivery was associated with decreased neonatal morbidity among neonates born to nulliparous women. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Temperature Dependence of the Photoconductivity and the Near Absence of Light-Induced Defects in a-SixGe1-x:H

The photoconductivities {sigma}{sub p} of glow discharge deposited a-Ge:H and amorphous Si-Ge alloys prepared in different laboratories were measured between 4.2K and 300K and compared with {sigma}{sub p}(T) of intrinsic and compensated a-Si:H films. The alloys as well as a-Ge:H do not exhibit thermal quenching of {sigma}{sub p}(T) at elevated temperatures which suggests that the valence and conduction band tails have similar widths. Remarkable is the near absence of light-induced metastable defects in the alloys as in a-Ge:H even after prolonged exposures at low temperatures.
Comprehensive assessment on epidemiological characteristics and principal components of public health emergencies in Fujian in 2011

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of the emergent public health events in Fujian province,and to evaluate the response and management of those events by analyzing the principal components.Methods A descriptive epidemiological analysis was used to describe the characteristics of public health emergencies in 9 CDCs of Fujian,which focused on 7 major indicators of the events.A comprehensive assessment was conducted by analyzing the principle components.Results A total of 64 events were reported in 2011,including 54.69% of budding events and 75% of infectious disease emergencies.73.44% of total events occurred in the educational facilities.The average report,surveillance and control timelinesses were 1.18h,120.78h and 9d.90.62% were reported in 2 hours.The reporting rate was 52.27% in counties with the report integrity rate of 85.94 % and accuracy rate of 84.38%.There was statistical significance in reporting timeliness of events in 9 CDCs,while the differences were not obvious in monitoring sensitivity and control timeliness.The F value of comprehensive assessment ranged from-1.86 to 1.35 by the principal component analysis.There was significant difference in the performance scores of comprehensive evaluation among CDCs.Conclusions The major public health emergencies in Fijian is the outbreaks of infectious diseases,which is seasonal and most events occurred in schools.There is big difference in terms of managing the emergencies among 9 CDCs.
Tightening and blending subject to set-theoretic constraints

Our work applies techniques for blending and tightening solid shapes represented by sets. We require that the output contain one set and exclude a second set, and then we optimize the boundary separating the two sets. Working within that framework, we present mason, tightening, tight hulls, tight blends, and the medial cover, with details for implementation. Mason uses opening and closing techniques from mathematical morphology to smooth small features. By contrast, tightening uses mean curvature flow to minimize the measure of the boundary separating the opening of the interior of the closed input set from the opening of its complement, guaranteeing a mean curvature bound. The tight hull offers a significant generalization of the convex hull subject to volumetric constraints, introducing developable boundary patches connecting the constraints. Tight blends then use opening to replicate some of the behaviors from tightenings by applying tight hulls. The medial cover provides a means for adjusting the topology of a tight hull or tight blend, and it provides an implementation technique for two-dimensional polygonal inputs. Collectively, we offer applications for boundary estimation, three-dimensional solid design, blending, normal field simplification, and polygonal repair. We consequently establish the value of blending and tightening as tools for solid modeling.
The United States, Norway and the Soviet Naval Threat in Northern Europe, 1954–60

Until 1955, Anglo-American maritime concerns about Soviet intentions in European waters outside the eastern Mediterranean focused predominantly on the Baltic Sea and the defence of its three natural exits — the Sound, the Great Belt and the Little Belt. At one level, this was hardly surprising. Operating out of bases in Liepaja, Kaliningrad, Baltiijsk, Tallinn, Riga, and Leningrad, the logistic facilities available to the Baltic Fleet (Baltijskij Flot) — including ship repair, dockyard and construction facilities — were clearly superior to those of the other Soviet fleets. Indeed, from 1954 to 1960, the Baltic fleet, measured in terms of the total number of ships and personnel strength, remained the largest of the four Soviet fleets.1 More important than logistic and gross numerical advantages, however, was the assumption — evident in early joint war plans, in the deliberations of the NAORPG and, later, in the NEC — that the Soviet Union attached the highest priority to securing the Baltic exits in the early stage of a war as part of their central front offensive across the German plain.2 The corol-lary of this was the belief that the threat to the Scandinavian peninsula came from the south. Until 1960 this remained a key planning assumption at SHAPE, one consequence of which was that the Supreme Allied Commanders in Europe, and especially their British and, later, West German subordinate commanders, continued to regard the Baltic as strat-egically the most important fleet area.3
UNC2025, a MerTK small molecule inhibitor, is therapeutically effective alone and in combination with methotrexate in leukemia models

Purpose: MERTK tyrosine kinase is ectopically expressed in 30% to 50% of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and more than 80% of acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and is a potential therapeutic target. Here, we evaluated the utility of UNC2025, a MERTK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for treatment of acute leukemia.Experimental Design: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo assays using cell lines and primary leukemia patient samples were used to evaluate antileukemic effects of UNC2025.Results: UNC2025 potently inhibited prosurvival signaling, induced apoptosis, and reduced proliferation and colony formation in MERTK-expressing ALL and AML cell lines and patient samples. Approximately 30% of primary leukemia patient samples (78 of 261 total) were sensitive to UNC2025. Sensitive samples were most prevalent in the AML, T-ALL, and minimally differentiated (M0) AML subsets. UNC2025 inhibited MERTK in bone marrow leukemia cells and had significant therapeutic effects in xenograft models, with dose-dependent decreases in tumor burden and consistent two-fold increases in median survival, irrespective of starting disease burden. In a patient-derived AML xenograft model, treatment with UNC2025 induced disease regression. In addition, UNC2025 increased sensitivity to methotrexate in vivo, suggesting that addition of MERTK-targeted therapy to current cytotoxic regimens may be particularly effective and/or allow for chemotherapy dose reduction.Conclusions: The broad-spectrum activity mediated by UNC2025 in leukemia patient samples and xenograft models, alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy, supports continued development of MERTK inhibitors for treatment of leukemia. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1481-92. ©2016 AACR.
Design and Analysis of Multiregional Clinical Trials in Evaluation of Medical Devices: A Two-Component Bayesian Approach for Targeted Decision Making

Current statistical design and analysis of multiregional clinical trials for medical devices generally follows a paradigm where the treatment effect of interest is assumed consistent among US and OUS regions. In this paper, we discuss the situations where the treatment effect might vary among US and OUS regions, and propose a two-component Bayesian approach for targeted decision making. In this approach, anticipated treatment difference among US and OUS regions is formally taken into account by design, hopefully leading to increased transparency and predictability of targeted decision making.
Tempo and Rhythm

It is a remarkable feat that listeners develop stable representations for auditory events, given the varied, and often ambiguous, temporal patterning of acoustic energy received by the ears. The focus of this chapter is on empirical and theoretical approaches to tempo and rhythm, two aspects of the temporal patterning of sound that are fundamental to musical communication.
Aspects of social behavior in Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur)

Agressive and courtship behavioral patterns are prominent in the repertoire of Poecilia latipinna, a small poeciliid fish of shallow subtropical North American coastal waters. Courtship involves a characteristic set of behavioral patterns in which the male plays a dorninant role; the species is sexually dimorphic, and rnorphological differences play important roles in courtship. Aggressive behavior has been observed in both sexes, and has been linked to both feeding and courtship. Size and sex are important in dorninance determination, and in confined areas, especially at low popuIation densities, stable hierarchies are formed. The role of aggressive behavior in the social structuring or organization of populations is discussed, as well as sorne differences between certain freshwater and marine populations.
Bayesian nonparametric discovery of isoforms and individual specific quantification.

Most human protein-coding genes can be transcribed into multiple distinct mRNA isoforms. These alternative splicing patterns encourage molecular diversity, and dysregulation of isoform expression plays an important role in disease etiology. However, isoforms are difficult to characterize from short-read RNA-seq data because they share identical subsequences and occur in different frequencies across tissues and samples. Here, we develop biisq, a Bayesian nonparametric model for isoform discovery and individual specific quantification from short-read RNA-seq data. biisq does not require isoform reference sequences but instead estimates an isoform catalog shared across samples. We use stochastic variational inference for efficient posterior estimates and demonstrate superior precision and recall for simulations compared to state-of-the-art isoform reconstruction methods. biisq shows the most gains for low abundance isoforms, with 36% more isoforms correctly inferred at low coverage versus a multi-sample method and 170% more versus single-sample methods. We estimate isoforms in the GEUVADIS RNA-seq data and validate inferred isoforms by associating genetic variants with isoform ratios. Alternative splicing leads to transcript isoform diversity. Here, Aguiar et al. develop biisq, a Bayesian nonparametric approach to discover and quantify isoforms from RNA-seq data.
Wavelength scaling of strong field effects in GaAs

We measure the electron excitation rate in the strong field limit for GaAs by observing the absorption rate of a laser. Four wavelengths, spanning an octave, are measured.
The Radiobiology of In Vitro Neoplastic Transformation

The carcinogenic properties of ionizing radiation became evident within a few years of the discovery of X-rays by Roentgen, when the development of cancer in radiation ulcerations of the skin was observed in a number of early radiation workers. This phenomenon has since been confirmed in many cellular and animal models, in which it has been shown that radiation will induce cancer in most tissues of most mammalian species. Despite these observations, however, the molecular mechanisms for this effect remain obscure.
Postnatal reduction of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 expression in astrocytes and neurons causes seizures in an age-dependent manner.

SummaryObjective Epilepsy is one of the most prominent symptoms of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder, and may be related to developmental defects resulting from impaired TSC1 or TSC2 gene function in astrocytes and neurons. Inactivation of the Tsc1 gene driven by a glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter during embryonic brain development leads to widespread pathologic effects on astrocytes and neurons, culminating in severe, progressive epilepsy in mice (Tsc1GFAP-Cre mice). However, the developmental timing and cellular specificity relevant to epileptogenesis in this model has not been well defined. The present study evaluates the effect of postnatal Tsc1 gene inactivation on pathologic features of astrocytes and neurons and development of epilepsy. Methods An inducible Tsc1 knock-out mouse was created utilizing a tamoxifen-driven GFAP-CreER line (Tsc1GFAP-CreER mice) with TSC1 reduction induced postnatally at 2 and 6 weeks of age, and compared to conventional Tsc1GFAP-Cre mice with prenatal TSC1 reduction. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, histology, and video–electroencephalography (EEG) assessed mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activation, astrogliosis, neuronal organization, and spontaneous seizures, respectively. Results Tsc1 gene inactivation at 2 weeks of age was sufficient to cause astrogliosis and mild epilepsy in Tsc1GFAP-CreER mice, but the phenotype was much less severe than that observed with prenatal Tsc1 gene inactivation in Tsc1GFAP-Cre mice. Both astrocytes and neurons were affected by prenatal and postnatal Tsc1 gene activation to a degree similar to the severity of epilepsy, suggesting that both cellular types may contribute to epileptogenesis. Significance These findings support a model in which the developmental timing of TSC1 loss dictates the severity of neuronal and glial abnormalities and resulting epilepsy.
Use of the Binomial, Hypergeometric and Poisson Tables to Obtain Sampling Plans

A general procedure is given by which acceptance sampling plans can be quickly and easily obtained from published tables of the binomial, hypergeometric, and Poisson distributions...
The impact of obesity on outcomes for patients undergoing mastectomy using the ACS-NSQIP data set.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 34.7% of females in the United States are obese (BMI ≥ 30) in 2014, compared to 32.5% in 2010. The previous research has demonstrated high BMI as an independent risk factor for surgical complications after breast surgery. As more patients become obese, we sought to examine whether increasing obesity had an effect on outcomes of women who underwent a unilateral mastectomy without breast reconstruction. The study reviewed the 2007–2012 ACS-NSQIP database and identified all patients who underwent a unilateral mastectomy without reconstruction. Patients were then categorized and compared according to the World Health Organization obesity classification. Data were analyzed for minor complications (e.g., UTI and SSI) and major complications (e.g., renal failure, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, return to operating room [RTOR], and cardiac arrest). A total of 7207 women were identified. Median BMI was 27.3 kg/m2. From the cohort, 453 patients (6.29%) had a major complication and 173 patients (2.40%) had a minor complication. 53 (0.74%) had bleeding complications, 148 (2.05%) had a surgical site infection (SSI), 352 (4.88%) RTOR, and 7 (0.01%) died within 30 days. Major complications (p = 0.005) and minor complications (p < 0.001) significantly increased as BMI increased. SSI and RTOR had increasing trends, but were not statistically significant. This study characterizes the risk of complications in women undergoing unilateral mastectomies and shows that increasing obesity is associated with major and minor postoperative complications. Our finding highlights the need for personalized preoperative risk assessment and counseling of obese patients.
Constituting, testing and validating the gender learner profiles of serious game participants

Abstract Though it may be commonly believed that well-developed gender-based learner profiles exist, this is far from the case. This research is focused on compiling complete profiles for female and male learners from a dated and piecemeal literature and validating them for participants of serious games. Two hundred twenty undergraduate business students played The Marketing Game! and completed exit surveys soliciting their attitude toward the game experience on four learning dimensions that serious games teach, as well as an inventory designed to reveal learning styles. Results establish empirical support for the gender-based learner profiles of serious game participants on all hypothesized learning dimensions. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed.
Notes on the Availability and Prevalence of Firearms

Legislators have formulated a variety of state and federal regulations to make obtaining firearms more difficult for dangerous people. Even though this goal may appear hopeless in the face of the 150—200 million guns currently in circulation, both evidence and economic logic suggest otherwise. Guns are scarce commodities, and policies that would make them scarcer, to reduce violent crimes that involve guns, warrant consideration. Possibilities include state-level regulation of gun dealers, interdiction of black markets where stolen guns are fenced, and an increase in the federal excise tax on guns.
Guaranteeing Serializability in Parallel Production Systems

To speed up production systems, researchers have studied how to execute many rules simultaneously. Unfortunately, such systems can yield results that are impossible for a serial system to produce, leading to erroneous behaviors. We present a formal solution to the problem of guaranteeing serializable behavior in parallel production systems that execute many rules simultaneously. We also present a variety of algorithms that implement this solution. Our framework builds upon the work of Ishida and Stolfo [12] and improves upon their solution. The practical advantages and limitations of these strategies is demonstrated with measurements from an implementation.
Structure/Function Correlates in Taste Buds

The taste bud is an end-organ specialized for the detection of aqueous chemical stimuli. A typical taste bud comprises approximately 50 to 150 cells. Taste bud receptor cells (= taste cells) are spindle-shaped cells that terminate apically in one to several microvillar processes. The process of taste transduction involves the interaction of taste stimuli with those apical microvilli, followed by membrane conductance changes, depolarization of the taste cell membrane, and exocytosis of transmitter onto gustatory afferent neurons at synaptic contacts. Studies suggest that taste cells use a variety of mechanisms for transduction, including apically located ion channels, ligand-gated channels, and G-protein-coupled receptors [1].
The Cow in the Elevator: An Anthropology of Wonder

It is exciting to see an anthropologist turning to the study of wonder. While much attention has been given to disenchantment and alienation, a study of the characteristics, antecedents, and result...
How Pre-tenure and Tenured Faculty Can Engage Undergraduates in Publishable Research.

Differences in career stage may influence work stress and job satisfaction (Olsen andCrawford, 1998), which in turn can impact attitudes about recruiting, managing, and mentoringundergraduates in publishable research endeavors. Written from the perspectives of a pre-tenurefaculty member (i.e., in 4th year) at a primarily teaching institution (PTI) and a tenured facultymember (i.e., in 38th year) from a large research university (RU), this paper discusses obstaclesfaced by professors at different career stages and institutions while working on publishable researchwith undergraduates as well as strategies to overcome these obstacles
Abstract 116: Velocity Max Based Cardiovascular Exercise Prescription Leads to Higher Maximal Oxygen Consumption vs Sub Maximal Graded Exercise Test Cardiovascular Exercise Prescription

Introduction: Graded submaximal exercise tests are a common way to assess cardiovascular fitness and the results are often used to design cardiovascular exercise programming. However, it has been s...