cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of interfacial adhesion strength on toughening polypropylene with rigid particles

The effects of interfacial adhesion strength on the mechanical properties of composites of polypropylene and glass particles were investigated. The 3.5 μm average diameter glass particles were surface-treated using two silanes with different functional groups. The functional groups were hydrocarbons, expected to promote adhesion between filler and matrix, and fluorocarbons, expected to reduce the strength of adhesion. Mixtures of the functional groups were also used to treat the surface of the glass to obtain better control of adhesion strength and thus the mechanical properties of the composites. A model study using glass slides and polypropylene films was conducted to confirm the feasibility of treatment. Adhesion strength between glass and polypropylene increased with increasing coverage of the hydrocarbon silanes. The surface-modified particles were incorporated into the polypropylene matrix via melt processing. While surface functionalization of the particles can influence the dispersion of the particles, no significant effect was observed in this study. Tensile tests and toughness tests were performed on injection-molded samples. The tensile strength of the reinforced polypropylene increased with increasing adhesion strength. Impact toughness increased with weaker adhesion but the dependence became less pronounced as deformation rate was increased.
Talking in circles: designing a spatially-grounded audioconferencing environment

This paper presents Talking in Circles, a multimodal audioconferencing environment whose novel design emphasizes spatial grounding with the aim of supporting naturalistic group interaction behaviors. Participants communicate primarily by speech and are represented as colored circles in a two-dimensional space. Behaviors such as subgroup conversations and social navigation are supported through circle mobility as mediated by the environment and the crowd and distance-based attenuation of the audio. The circles serve as platforms for the display of identity, presence and activity: graphics are synchronized to participants' speech to aid in speech-source identification and participants can sketch in their circle, allowing a pictorial and gestural channel to complement the audio. We note user experiences through informal studies as well as design challenges we have faced in the creation of a rich environment for computer-mediated communication.
Washing Cotton by Batch Processes

The OSHA cotton dust standard issued in 1985 exempted cottons washed on either a rayon rinse system or a continuous batt system except for medical surveillance every two years. Human challenge studies with these cottons demonstrated that the acute pulmonary response, as measured by over-work shift changes in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to card generated dusts, was substantially reduced. Batch washed cottons were not exempted because washing trials on antiquated equip ment gave inconsistent results. Cottons have now been washed by batch processes on modem equipment. Lint and card generated dusts were assayed for endotoxin contents. The levels in lint were within the acceptable range established for continuous batt washed cottons, and the levels in dust were below reported levels associated with a zero percentage change in FEV1.
Temperature and pressure dependent kinetics of the gas‐phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical with nitrogen dioxide

The reaction of OH with NO2 is pivotal in both stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry; in each case it is the dominant homogeneous mechanism for conversion of NOx to NOy. The rate constant is a strong function of pressure and temperature, and key portions of the pressure-temperature domain are poorly or ambiguously covered by the available data. These include conditions typical of the tropospheric boundary layer and of the lower stratosphere. At surface conditions differences of 60% exist both in the literature data and between the major recommendations, while at lower stratospheric conditions there are few available data. Our High Pressure Flow kinetics system is ideally suited to studying this reaction, as we are able to scan both temperature and pressure while maintaining wall-less conditions, eliminating the possible complications of heterogeneous chemistry. Here we report a temperature- and pressure-dependent study (220–300 K, 50–150 torr) of this reaction; the measured rate constants are in excellent agreement with previously published values down to 240 K, but lie 10–20% lower than the historical data available below that temperature. An analysis of all available data motivates a large (∼ 20%) downward revision in the recommended rate constant below room temperature.
The concurrent presence of systemic disease pathogens and cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in the same lesion: Histoplasma capsulatum and Kaposi's sarcoma coexisting in a single skin lesion in a patient with AIDS

The concurrent presence of infectious organisms within cutaneous lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been demonstrated. We report the first patient with AIDS in whom both KS and Histoplasma capsulatum were documented within the same cutaneous lesion. Pathogenic organisms of other fungal, mycobacterial, and viral diseases in KS lesions in other patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus are reviewed. Possible explanations for the coexistence of a focus of infection within a lesion of KS are discussed. It may be that in some patients the infection acts as a stimulus to induce vascular proliferation and subsequent development of sarcoma. There is also support for the idea of organism seeding in vascular tissues in the course of dissemination of infection. It is important to rulerout the presence of coexistent infections or more than one pathologic process in skin lesions in patients with AIDS.
Multiplexed Agile Fourier Sampling for Doppler Encoded Excitation Pattern (DEEP) 3D Microscopy

A DEEP microscope synthesizes images from Fourier data measured using dynamic structured light and a single-element detector. We describe acousto-optic multiplexed pattern generation and Fourier sampling strategies for tomographic DEEP 3D imaging.
Content-Centered Collaboration Spaces in the Cloud

Emphasizing communication, collaborative work, and community, the authors envision a cloud-based platform that inverts the traditional application-content relationship by placing content rather than applications at the center, enabling users to rapidly build customized solutions around their content items. The future of collaboration will focus on building and sustaining communities around content, tasks, and ideas. Hosted entities known as content spaces will support ecosystems of users and developers around this content. To make their case, the authors review the dominant trends in computing that motivate the exploration of new approaches for content-centered collaboration and discuss ways to address certain core problems for users and organizations.
The Authors Respond: Strengths and Goals of Multidimensional Analysis

N We welcome thoughtful discussion of the multidimensional (MD) research approach, including proposals to make the methodology even more effective than it is. However, Ghadessy's critique of MD analysis is flawed in four major ways. First, it does not acknowledge the strengths of MD analysis or address whether alternative approaches can retain those strengths; second, it does not reflect an understanding of the linguistic and statistical bases of MD analysis; third, it incorrectly assumes that MD analysis has claimed to be an all-inclusive approach to linguistic variation; and, finally, much of the critique is based on personal preference for linguistic analysis rather than external considerations such as the uses for the analysis. The main point of Ghadessy's critique seems to be the desirability of including additional linguistic characteristics-especially discourse features-in future MD analyses. We fully agree with this general goal, and we have called for similar extensions in nearly every published MD study. For example, in the article under review, we note that "additional features-including rhetorical and lexical features-also deserve attention" (p. 43). However, we do not believe that the desirability of future extensions constitutes a "major deficiency" in MD methodology or diminishes the important contributions of past MD research. Although Ghadessy raises several specific criticisms in his review, he does not address or acknowledge the strengths of MD analysis:
Absorption of ammonia by acetic acid solutions

Absorption accompanied by rapid, second order, irreversible reaction was studied in disk column. The chemical system used involving absorption of ammonia by acetic acid has not been reported on before. Results confirm the prediction of two-film and unsteady state theories for this class of two phase reaction; that is the liquid film absorption coefficient is a linear function of ratio of acid normality to interfacial concentration of ammonia. At high acid concentrations the liquid film resistance disappears. In preliminary studies an abrupt transition between laminar and turbulent liquid flow was noted, and as predicted by the unsteady state theory the liquid film coefficient in the laminar region was proportional to the 0.33 power of the liquid flow rate.
Susceptibility of the Strawberry Crown Moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) to Entomopathogenic Nematodes

The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of the strawberry crown moth, Synanthedon bibionipennis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) larvae to two species of entomopathogenic nematodes. The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) strain Agriotos and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Steiner) strain Oswego were evaluated in laboratory soil bioassays and the field. Both nematode species were highly infective in the laboratory bioassays. Last instars were extremely susceptible to nematode infection in the laboratory, even in the protected environment inside the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) crown. Infectivity in the laboratory was 96 and 94% for S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, respectively. Field applications in late fall (October) were less effective with S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, resulting in 51 and 33% infection, respectively. Larval mortality in the field from both nematode treatments was significantly greater than the control, but treatments were substantially less efficacious than in the laboratory. Soil temperature after nematode applications in the field (11 degrees C mean daily temperature) was below minimum establishment temperatures for both nematode species for a majority of the post-application period. It is clear from laboratory data that strawberry crown moth larvae are extremely susceptible to nematode infection. Improved control in the field is likely if nematode applications are made in late summer to early fall when larvae are present in the soil and soil temperatures are more favorable for nematode infection.
Breast-Feeding Influences Cognitive Development in Filipino Children

The importance of breast-feeding (BF) for cognitive development has been researched widely over the past several decades. Although scholars agree that children who breast-feed are generally more intelligent, it is uncertain whether this advantage is due to BF effects or to other accompanying healthy characteristics of women who breast-feed. This is a problem in nearly every study, and even in studies controlling for known confounding variables, residual confounding remains a concern. This study tried a new approach, evaluating the relation between BF and cognitive development or ability in a population in which BF was inversely correlated with socioeconomic advantages and other healthy maternal behaviors. Normal birthweight (NBW, n = 1790) and low birthweight (LBW, n = 189) (<2500 g) infants born in 1983-84 in Metropolitan Cebu, Philippines were followed from birth through middle childhood. Cognitive ability was assessed at ages 8.5 and 11.5 y with the Philippines Nonverbal Intelligence Test. Multivariable linear regressions were created to estimate crude and adjusted relations of various BF measures and later cognitive ability. After controlling for confounding variables, scores at 8.5 y were higher for infants breast-fed longer (1.6 points and 9.8 points higher among NBW and LBW infants, respectively, breast-fed for 12 to <18 mo vs. <6 mo). BF coefficients in both NBW and LBW 11.5-y models were attenuated but remained positive. This analysis highlights the importance of long-term BF after initial introduction of complementary foods, particularly in LBW infants born close to term.
Seroma formation following axillary dissection for breast cancer: Risk factors and lack of influence of bovine thrombin

Background Seromas of the axillary space following breast surgery can lead to significant morbidity and delay in the initiation of adjuvant therapy. A prospective, randomized study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bovine spray thrombin on seroma formation following either modified radical mastectomy (MRM) or lumpectomy with axillary dissection (LAD). In addition, risk factors for seroma formation were analyzed and identified. Methods A total of 101 patients were randomized to receive either bovine thrombin (20,000 units) (treatment group) or no thrombin (control group) applied to their axilla following either MRM or LAD. Drains were left in place until the preceding 24-hour drainage was <40 milliliters. The number of days the drains were in place and wound complications (including seroma formation) were recorded. Results Forty-nine (n = 49) patients were assigned to the treatment group and 52 (n = 52) to the control group. MRM was performed on 60 patients (59%) and LAD oN 41 (41%). Eighteen of the 49 patients (37%) in the thrombin group developed a seroma in comparison to 21 of the 52 control patients (40%) (P = 0.71). Significant risk factors for seroma formation included increased age, patient weight, initial 72-hour wound drainage, and LAD. No statistically significant differences were observed between treatment and control groups with respect to time to drain removal, or the incidence of other wound complications. Conclusion Although thrombin by itself appears to have no effect on subsequent seroma development following axillary dissection, the identification of predictive variables will be helpful in designing future trials aimed at reducing the incidence of this common complication of breast surgery. J. Surg. Oncol. 64:27–31 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Landsat Observations Of Mount St. Helens

The eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, and subsequent destruction of approximately 593 square kilometers (229 square miles) of vegetation, clearly provided a unique opportunity for earth-oriented satellite remote sensing systems. Landsat, a relatively high resolution Multispectral Scanner (MSS) system, imaged Mount St. Helens both before and after its major eruption. Digital data have been used to create a damage assessment map and a change detection image. Several classes of timber damage and land cover modification have been developed. Acreages for each class have been tabulated.
Control concepts for nuclear ramjet reactors

Tory II-A, the first experimental reactor in the Pluto nuclear ramjet program, will be tested in late 1960 at the Nevada Test Site of the Atomic Energy Commission. The fundamental objective of Tory II-A is to demonstrate that a high power-density, high-temperature, air-cooled reactor can be successfully designed, constructed, and operated. This application places requirements on the reactor control system which are considerably more stringent than those found in previous reactor systems, both from the standpoint of radiation environment and system performance. To fulfill the system requirements a high-performance reactor control system has been designed and built; control actuation hardware has been developed which can withstand the high-radiation environment of Tory II-A. This actuation system features radiation-tolerant electrohydraulic components: actuators, servo-valves, solenoid valves, feedback transducers, accumulators and associated hydraulic components. To provide high reliability against undesired shutdowns while carrying out high power level transients, the Tory II-A control philosophy includes a new concept in reactor safety: reliance on a nonlocking, fast-reset safety system during accident situations. The fast-reset system acts so as to hold the programmed power level rather than initiating an irreversible "scram" action. A reactor "scram," if tolerated, could produce thermal shocks which would seriously damage the core components.
Primary and immortalized mouse epicardial cells undergo differentiation in response to TGFβ

Cells derived from the epicardium are required for coronary vessel development. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) induces loss of epithelial character and smooth muscle differentiation in chick epicardial cells. Here, we show that epicardial explants from embryonic day (E) 11.5 mouse embryos incubated with TGFbeta1 or TGFbeta2 lose epithelial character and undergo smooth muscle differentiation. To further study TGFbeta Signaling, we generated immortalized mouse epicardial cells. Cells from E10.5, 11.5, and 13.5 formed tightly packed epithelium and expressed the epicardial marker Wilm's tumor 1 (WT1). TGFbeta induced the loss of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and the appearance of SM22alpha and calponin consistent with smooth muscle differentiation. Inhibition of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) 5 or p160 rho kinase activity prevented the effects of TGFbeta while inhibition of p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase did not. These data demonstrate that TGFbeta induces epicardial cell differentiation and that immortalized epicardial cells provide a suitable model for differentiation.
Receiving care facility and outcome differences for victims of severe violent injuries.

Objective. Each year millions of people die resulting from violence. Our objective was to evaluate anddescribe the demographic characteristics, access to trauma center care, mortality andmorbidity outcomes of victims of severe violence in Pennsylvania. Methods. This was a cross-sectional population-based observational study. ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes were utilized to define acute injuries; severe injury was defined by an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 15. Descriptive statistics andconfidence intervals were used to present group characteristics. For categorical variables, chi-square testing andFisher's exact testing were used to assess associations, andthe Odds Ratio was used as the measure of strength of association. For all tests statistical significance was set at the 0.05 level. Results. A total of 8,977 patients with ISS > 15 were included; out of which 663 cases resulted from violence. Three hundred andforty seven (52.3%) were admitted to non-trauma center hospitals (NTC); Three hundred-and...
A Transgenic Mouse Model for Human Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsies

Mutations in the gene encoding peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) account for several inherited peripheral neuropathies in humans. We now show that transgenic mice expressing antisense PMP22 RNA exhibit modestly reduced levels of PMP22 together with a phenotype that is reminiscent of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), a human disease caused by a 1.5-Mb deletion of a chromosome 17 region that contains the PMP22 gene. Transgenic antisense homozygotes display a striking movement disorder and a slowing of nerve conduction that worsens with age. Morphological analysis of peripheral nerves demonstrates that a subset of axons have thickened myelin sheaths and tomacula in young adults, with significant myelin degeneration detected in older animals. Together with other recent work, these data suggest that dosage of the PMP22 gene alone underlies the pathophysiology observed in HNPP and related disorders.
Self-Harm Narratives of Urban and Suburban Young Women:

This qualitative study explored the motivations, meanings, functions, and consequences of self-harm for young women in urban and suburban contexts. It found that all 6 participants deliberately harmed themselves in response to traumas, family stress, and relationship problems. However, the suburban girls connected their self-harm behaviors to an overall sense of despondency, whereas the urban girls attributed these to release of unresolved anger. Key differences between the groups also emerged in the functions and consequences of their self-harm behaviors. These findings can increase social workers' capacity to respond to intentional self-injury among ethnically and socioeconomically diverse populations of young women.
Application of next generation sequencing to CEPH cell lines to discover variants associated with FDA approved chemotherapeutics

The goal of this study was to perform candidate gene association with cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics in cell line models through resequencing and discovery of rare and low frequency variants along with common variations. Here, an association study of cytotoxicity response to 30 FDA approved drugs was conducted and we applied next generation targeted sequencing technology to discover variants from 103 candidate genes in 95 lymphoblastoid cell lines from 14 CEPH pedigrees. In this article, we called variants across 95 cell lines and performed association analysis for cytotoxic response using the Family Based Association Testing method and software. We called 2281 variable SNP genotypes across the 103 genes for these cell lines and identified three genes of significant association within this marker set. Specifically, ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C, member 5 (ABCC5), metallothionein 1A (MT1A) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone1 (NQO1) were significantly associated with oxaliplatin drug response. The significant SNP on NQO1 (rs1800566) has been linked with poor survival rates in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin (which belongs to the same class of drugs as oxaliplatin). A SNP (rs1846692) near the 5′ region of MT1A was associated with arsenic trioxide. The results from this study are promising and this serves as a proof-of-principle demonstration of the use of sequencing data in the cytotoxicity models of human cell lines. With increased sample sizes, such studies will be a fast and powerful way to associate common and rare variants with drug response; while overcoming the cost and time limitations to recruit cohorts for association study.
Representation And Leadership Roles: Women Officials In Local Unions

In recent years, observers of the American labor movement have suggested that labor is undergoing a process of “feminization.” Although women are increasingly present in national and international labor organizations, unions do not generally collect data on women in local union leadership. By studying union women at the local rather than the national level, however, the focus is on the level that most directly affects women’s lives. In order to gain current information on the experiences of women in local unions today and their prospects for leadership, the Labor-Management Center of the University of Louisville conducted a survey of local union officials throughout Kentucky and neighboring states.
Carbon Foot Print of Products—Supply Chain Approach

This Chapter explores the carbon footprinting process from a supply chain perspective. The overriding premise is that the footprinting exercise needs to encompass the product’s entire life cycle from the extraction of raw material, to the manufacture, transport, and use of the product; ending eventually in the disposal and recovery of the product. This Chapter will also explore issues and challenges in (a) organizing for and establishing an accurate carbon footprint and (b) acting on it to have a lesser impact on the environment.
The Family Physician And Ethics At The Bedside

Background: Clinical ethics and ethics committees are a real phenomenon in medicine and play an important role in improving patient care by enhancing the decision-making process between patients and their physicians and thus strengthening this special bond. This article reviews the evolving qualifications of the clinical ethics consultant and compares them with the traditional knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values of the family physician. Methods: Material for this comparison was gathered from a review of the pertinent literature of the past 10 years on the development of clinical ethics and the addition of ethics to the medical curriculum and from personal observations and literature commentary on family practice as a distinct entity. Results and Conclusions: Family physicians are uniquely qualified to serve as ethics consultants, particularly with additional training in moral philosophy and health care law. It is hoped that family physicians will become increasingly involved in this growing field to serve as future teachers, researchers, institutional leaders, and policy makers in clinical ethics. More importantly, faculty role models are needed to train family practice residents in ethical decision making at the bedsides of their patients.
Multiscale Poly-(ϵ-caprolactone) Scaffold Mimicking Non-linearity in Tendon Tissue Mechanics

Regenerative medicine plays a critical role in the future of medicine. However, challenges remain to balance stem cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and biochemical factors to create successful and effective scaffold designs. This project analyzes scaffold architecture with respect to mechanical capability and preliminary mesenchymal stem cell response for tendon regeneration. An electrospun fiber scaffold with tailorable properties based on a "Chinese-fingertrap" design is presented. The unique criss-crossed fiber structures demonstrate non-linear mechanical response similar to that observed in native tendon. Mechanical testing revealed that optimizing the fiber orientation resulted in the characteristic "S"-shaped curve, demonstrating a toe region and linear elastic region. This project has promising research potential across various disciplines: vascular engineering, nerve regeneration, and ligament and tendon tissue engineering.
Scatter loss from environmental degradation of KDP crystals

Severe scattering losses from KDP crystals have been correlated with the exposure of porous sol AR coated crystals to ambient humidity. The scattering is attributed to formation of etch pits which develop under the coating on the KDP surface along crystallographic axes. This high angle scattering can in turn produce laser damage of downstream optics either through modulation of the beam or by optic contamination from ablation of adjacent metal structures. We have developed a simple tool to characterize the evolution of scatter from sol-coated KDP surfaces. We have measured the rate of etch pit formation as a function of relative humidity and surface treatment using both microscopy and scattering. We will discuss various surface treatments which can be utilized to retard or eliminate the environmental degradation of KDP crystals.
Isolation from man of "avian infectious bronchitis virus-like" viruses (coronaviruses) similar to 229E virus, with some epidemiological observations.

Albert Z. Kapikian, Harvey D. James, Jr. Sara J. Kelly, Jane H. Dees, Horace C. Turner, Kenneth Mcintosh, Hyun Wha Kini,t Robert H. Parrott4 Monroe M. Vincent,^ and Robert M. Chanock From the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.
Transactional network: Improving efficiency and enabling grid services for buildings

Because of a need to reduce electricity consumption and to make electricity generation cleaner, there is an impetus to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock and widespread installation of distributed variable renewable energy generation. Soon, a significant fraction of transportation energy will be in the form of electricity. Significant gains in building operational efficiency are possible because between 20% and 30% of the energy consumed in commercial buildings is typically wasted because of poor or inefficient building operations. To address these problems, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office is supporting the development of the concept of a “transactional network” that supports energy, operational, and financial transactions between building systems (e.g., rooftop units), and the electric power grid using applications, or “agents,” that reside either on the equipment, on local building controllers, or in the Cloud. This article describes the transactional networ...
The kinetics of phosphate removal in small alkaline lakes by natural and artificial processes

Two small lakes in Southeast Florida were observed to have intermittently high P concentrations as a result of surface runoff from fertilized drainage areas. Simulation of this phenomenon was effected through direct fertilization of a lake with high phosphate fertilizer (0 - 46 - 0), and phosphate levels were monitored with time. Removal rates were observed to adhere closely to two consecutive first-order reactions. The components of the total rate of removal were identified as hydraulic flushing (HF), primary productivity (PP) and physicochemical processes (PCP). Of the P applied, PCP were found to remove 79.7 to 97.6% during the first stage (phase 1) of each experiment, however the highest per diem removal by natural processes was 11.1%. Adsorption and subsequent nucleation on calcite were thought to be the predominant mechanisms governing orthophosphate concentrations in the water column. The second phase of phosphate removal was accounted for primarily through HF and PP.
Asynchronous Stochastic Optimization for Sequence Training of Deep Neural Networks: Towards Big Data

Previous work presented a proof of concept for sequence training of deep neural networks (DNNs) using asynchronous stochastic optimization, mainly focusing on a small-scale task. The approach offers the potential to leverage both the efficiency of stochastic gradient descent and the scalability of parallel computation. This study presents results for four different voice search tasks to confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed framework across different conditions: amount of data (from 60 hours to 20,000 hours), type of speech (read speech vs. spontaneous speech), quality of data (supervised vs. unsupervised data), and language. Significant gains over baselines (DNNs trained at the frame level) are found to hold across these conditions. The experimental results are analyzed, and additional practical details for the approach are provided. Furthermore, different sequence training criteria are compared.
A WTP-Choice model: Empirical validation, competitive and centralized pricing

Willingness To Pay (WTP) of customers plays an anchoring role in pricing. This study proposes a new choice model based on WTP, incorporating sequential decision making, where the products with positive utility of purchase are considered in the order of customer preference. We compare WTP-choice model with the commonly used (multinomial) Logit model with respect to the underlying choice process, information requirement, and independence of irrelevant alternatives. Using WTP-choice model, we find and compare equilibrium and centrally optimal prices and profits without considering inventory availability. In addition, we compare equilibrium prices and profits in two contexts: without considering inventory availability and under lost sales. One of the interesting results with WTP-choice model is the 'loose coupling' of retailers in competition; prices are not coupled but profits are. That is, each retailer should charge the monopoly price as the collection of these prices constitute an equilibrium but each retailer's profit depends on other retailers' prices. Loose coupling fails with dependence of WTPs or dependence of preference on prices. Also, we show that competition among retailers facing dependent WTPs can cause price cycles under some conditions. We consider real-life data on sales of yogurt, ketchup, candy melt, and tuna, and check if a version of WTP-choice model (with uniform, triangle, or shifted exponential WTP distribution), standard or mixed Logit model fits better and predicts the sales better. These empirical tests establish that WTP-choice model compares well and should be considered as a legitimate alternative to Logit models for studying pricing for products with low price and high frequency of purchase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Phase I study of Ixabepilone administered as a 24-hour infusion in patients with advanced solid malignancies

C158 Introduction: Ixabepilone (BMS-247550) is a novel, semi-synthetic analog of epothilone B that induces microtubule stabilization and is active in patients (pts) with breast cancer as well as other tumor types. Preclinical data suggests that a more prolonged infusion of ixabepilone, with the aim of minimizing Cmax but maintaining an efficacious threshold concentration, may result in reduced neurotoxicity with preserved efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a Cremophor free formulation of ixabepilone given as a 24-h infusion in pts with advanced solid malignancies. Methods: Eligible pts had normal renal and hepatic function and may have received up to three prior chemotherapy regimens. Cremophor free ixabepilone administered as a 24-h intravenous infusion every 21 days (cycle). A standard “3+3” dose escalation design with the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ixabepilone determined by evaluating dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) during cycle one. Ixabepilone pharmacokinetics were evaluated on Day 1 of the first cycle. Results: Twenty-nine pts (mean age: 58.8, ranging 37-75; male/female: 18/11) have been enrolled on five cohorts with doses ranging from 10-40 mg/m2 receiving a total of 86 cycles of ixabepilone. Tumor types: lung (14 pts), gastrointestinal (7 pts), gynecologic (4 pts), breast (3 pts), and other (1 pt) cancers. First pt enrolled at 40 mg/m2 experienced the DLT of febrile neutropenia and died with hepato-renal syndrome due to liver metastasis. No additional DLTs were observed in the pts enrolled subsequently in the expanded dose level 30 mg/m2, 35 mg/m2 or the expanded dose level 40 mg/m2. The MTD has not yet been reached. Incidence of Grade 3/4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 36, 16, and 8%, respectively. One Grade 3/4 event was reported for each of the following toxicities: deep vein thrombosis, fatigue, epistaxis, and pulmonary embolism. Most pts discontinued treatment due to disease progression. One pt discontinued ixabepilone after six cycles due to Grade 2 sensory neuropathy related to treatment. A total of twenty-one pts were evaluable for pharmacokinetic analysis. In the 40 mg/m2 group, the peak concentration of ixabepilone was about 1/4th of that observed in pts treated with 40 mg/m2 over 3 hours and geometric mean of the area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity was similar. No responses were observed. One pt with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), treated with 20 mg/m2 of ixabepilone had stable disease for 15 cycles. Two additional pts with NSCLC and breast cancer had stable disease for 8 cycles. Conclusion: Ixabepilone administered over 24 hrs in a Cremophor free formulation was generally well tolerated. The MTD has not yet been reached.
The Multiplicity of British Theatre

In this book ‘contemporary theatre’ refers to the work of those artists in Britain who are creating unique forms of theatre to express what it is like to be alive today. Primary attention is given to those artists who, rather than beginning with conventions of the past, are exploring means uniquely expressive of the tensions and pressure of our time even though some works may be in response to older plays or literature or history. Sometimes text and character are primary; at other times visual images, movement, sound/music, even the form itself may dominate. There are unlimited possibilities as artists search for the means to express the variety of experience which comes from living in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-national country. The result is a complex and dynamic British theatre.
What Would Have Happened If the Government Had Done Nothing

The previous chapter argued that it is impossible to estimate the effects of government policies to raise employment and income without having some sort of idea of what levels of employment or income would have occurred in the absence of government intervention. This implies using some sort of mathematical model to calculate the levels of employment or income that would have occurred purely from market forces. Because most studies of the effects of state intervention in the economy do not make such adjustments, it is often difficult to know if the policies being discussed were successful or not — unless the results are very extreme. Examining the state’s capacity to improve economic conditions above those levels that would have been expected from market forces is a more rigorous test of state capacity than the mere capacity to seemingly raise employment over time. Such a test is necessarily a stronger test and provides a more robust confirmation of the value of state interventions than does the more traditional “post hoc ergo propter hoc”.
Assessing the home environment during mid- and late-adolescence

ABSTRACTThe late adolescence version of the HOME Inventory (LA-HOME) documents actions, objects, events, and conditions connected with the home environment of children ages 16 and older still living at home. The study entailed a multi-stage process of measurement construction and validation that involved over 400 families from four states. The families were diverse by family composition, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Findings indicated expected relations between scores on six constituent domains of LA-HOME and measures of both family context and adolescent development. Relations varied across race/ethnic groups but were similar to those observed for the other four age-based versions of the HOME Inventory.
Scales of seafloor sediment resuspension in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Seafloor sediment resuspension events of different scales and magnitudes and the resulting deep (>1,000 m) benthic nepheloid layers were investigated in the northern Gulf of Mexico during Fall 2012 to Summer 2013. Time-series data of size-specific in-situ settling speeds of marine snow in the benthic nepheloid layer (moored flux cameras), particle size distributions (profiling camera), currents (various current meters) and stacked time-series flux data (sediment traps) were combined to recognize resuspension events ranging from small-scale local, to small-scale far-field to hurricane-scale. One small-scale local resuspension event caused by inertial currents was identified based on local high current speeds (>10 cm s–1) and trap data. Low POC content combined with high lithogenic silica flux at 30 m above bottom (mab) compared to the flux at 120 mab, suggested local resuspension reaching 30 mab, but not 120 mab. Another similar event was detected by the changes in particle size distribution and settling speeds of particles in the benthic nepheloid layer. Flux data indicated two other small-scale events, which occurred at some distance, rather than locally. Inertia-driven resuspension of material in shallower areas surrounding the traps presumably transported this material downslope leaving a resuspension signal at 120 mab, but not at 30 mab. The passage of hurricane Isaac left a larger scale resuspension event that lasted a few days and was recorded in both traps. Although hurricanes cause large-scale events readily observable in sediment trap samples, resuspension events small in temporal and spatial scale are not easily recognizable in trapped material as they tend to provide less material and become part of the background signal in the long-term averaged trap samples. We suggest that these small-scale resuspension events, mostly unnoticed in conventional time-series sampling, play an important role in the redistribution and ultimate fate of sediment distribution on the seafloor.
Gray1 CPB, LLC v. Kolokotronis (2011) 202 CA4th 480 135 CR3d 448

A recent California decision rejects the contention that the waivers contained in a guaranty are invalid because the document is really a promissory note.
Mad cow and other maladies: update on emerging infectious diseases.

Despite tremendous advances made in antimicrobial therapy, emerging infectious diseases will continue to plague the global health care system for the foreseeable future. Several questions remain regarding the risks of vCJD, avian influenza, and SARS. What is the risk of vCJ D in the USA? What is the risk to humans from transmissible spongiform encephalopathies affecting other mammals, such as chronic wasting disease of deer and elk and feline spongiform encephalopathy? What is the risk of vCJD with transfusion and solid organ transplantation? Is there any etiologic relationship between the prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? What is the likelihood of a worldwide pandemic from avian influenza or SARS? No effective therapy has been definitively documented for any of these infections, with the possible exception of the neuraminidase inhibitors for avian influenza. As with many diseases, prevention is often the best medicine, with early recognition and reporting of illnesses; sound policies regarding the livestock, food supply, and transfusion industries; and effective isolation and infection control policies crucial to the successful containment of emerging infections.
A comparative study of physiological models on cardiac deformation recovery: effects of biomechanical constraints

Cardiac deformation recovery is to recover quantitative subject-specific myocardial deformation from imaging data. In the last decade, cardiac physiological models derived from anatomy, biomechanics, and cardiac electrophysiology have become increasingly popular in constraining the recovery problems because of their physiological meaningfulness. Although physiological models with various electrical and biomechanical components have been adopted by different frameworks and have exhibited promising results, these models have not been systematically compared under the same recovery framework, input data, and experimental setups. As different models comprise varying physiological plausibilities and complexities, comparisons under the same settings can aid choosing the proper models for specific goals and available resources. In this paper, under a state-space filtering framework for statistically optimal couplings between models and image data, we compare the performances of six different cardiac physiological models with different biomechanical constraints. Experiments were performed on synthetic data for quantitative comparisons, and on clinical data for their capabilities in identifying pathological situations.
Control of Non-Terminating Behavior

So far we have restricted our attention to behaviors consisting of finite length strings. Such behaviors are useful in describing safety properties of a system, i.e., those properties which state that some conditions must never occur. In this chapter we will study supervisory control of behaviors consisting of infinite length strings. Such behaviors are useful in describing progress properties of a system, i.e., those properties which state that some conditions must occur eventually. In general it is not possible to express such progress constraints as constraints on finite length strings. Consider for example a communication system in which every transmitted message must be received eventually. Since each finite length trace of the communication system can be extended in a manner such that the above constraint is satisfied, this constraint does not impose any restriction on finite length traces of the communication system. However, it is clear that it imposes restriction on traces of infinite length. Thus there is a need to separately study issues related to behaviors consisting of infinite length strings, or non-terminating behaviors. Such behaviors are represented using ω-languages. In order to avoid any confusion, we use the term *-language to denote a set of finite length strings.
Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI for Detection of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of MRI in differentiation of papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from other...
Surgical Margin Status of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Surgery with Radical Intent: Risk Factors for the Survival Impact of Positive Margins.

Background For pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), surgical margin status is an important pathological factor for evaluating surgical adequacy. In this study, we attempted to investigate predictive factors for the survival impact of positive surgical margins. Materials and methods From February 2004 to December 2013, 204 patients were diagnosed with PDAC and underwent surgery with radical intent; 189 patients fulfilled our selection criteria and were enrolled for analysis. Results For the 189 enrolled patients with PDAC, we found male predominance (112/189, 59%) and a median age of 64 years; most patients were diagnosed with stage IIB disease (n=115, 61%). The positive surgical margin rate was 21% (n=40). Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level higher than 246 U/ml (odds ratio (OR)=2.318; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.037-5.181 p=0.040) and lesion location in the uncinate process (OR=2.996; 95% CI=1.232-7.284 p=0.015) were the only two independent risk factors for positive surgical margins. Positive retroperitoneal soft-tissue margins were the most frequently observed (24/40, 60%). Overall, positive surgical margins had no survival impact in the 189 patients with PDAC who underwent surgery; however, positive surgical margins had an unfavorable survival impact on patients with stage IIA PDAC who underwent surgery. Conclusion Retroperitoneal soft-tissue was the most common site for positive surgical margins. Additionally, surgical margin positivity was more likely for tumors located in the uncinate process than for other tumors. Positive surgical margins had an unfavorable survival impact on patients with stage IIA PDAC who underwent surgery.
Origin of a Preferential Avulsion Node on Lowland River Deltas

River deltas are built by cycles of lobe growth and abrupt channel shifts, or avulsions, that occur within the backwater zone of coastal rivers. Previous numerical models differ on the origin of backwater‐scaled avulsion nodes, and their consistency with experimental data. To unify previous work, we developed a numerical model of delta growth that includes backwater hydrodynamics, river‐mouth progradation, relative sea‐level rise, variable flow regimes, and cycles of lobe growth, abandonment, and reoccupation. For parameter space applicable to lowland deltas, we found that flow variability is the primary mechanism to cause persistent avulsion nodes by focusing aggradation within the backwater zone. Backwater‐scaled avulsion nodes also occur under less likely scenarios of initially uniform bed slopes, or during rapid relative sea‐level rise and marine transgression. Our findings suggest that flow variability is a fundamental control on long‐term delta morphodynamics.