cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
El Codex Escurialensis llevado por el artista a La Calahorra en el otoño de 1509

The author offers new identities for a number of figurai drawings in the Codex Escorialensis , used as models for reliefs in the castle at La Calahorra. She also investigates the purpose of cross-marks and notes in Italian-Latin on twenty-three of these drawings. Finally, she establishes the arrival date of the codex in the workshop of La Calahorra at the initiation of the castle's courtyard in 1509.
MIMO signaling over the MMF optical broadcast channel with square-law detection

This paper proposes an architecture for using multiple-input multiple-output techniques for a multimode fiber broadcast channel, allowing simultaneous transmission of unique streams to different users on the same fiber while using square-law detection. The resulting system throughput scales nearly linearly with the number of transmitters and receivers. The paper also proposes a training scheme appropriate for use with square-law detection.
Incidence and characteristics of failures in obstetric neuraxial analgesia and anesthesia: a retrospective analysis of 19,259 deliveries

A retrospective analysis was performed on 19,259 deliveries that occurred in our institution from January 2000 to December 2002. Anesthesia records and quality assurance data sheets were reviewed for the characteristics and failure rates of neuraxial blocks performed for labor analgesia and anesthesia. The neuraxial labor analgesia rate was 75% and the overall failure rate was 12%. After adequate analgesia from initial placement, 6.8% of patients had subsequent inadequate analgesia during labor that required epidural catheter replacement. Ultimately 98.8% of all patients received adequate analgesia even though 1.5% of patients had multiple replacements. Six percent of epidural catheters had initial intravenous placement but 46% were made functional by simple manipulations without higher subsequent failure. Unintended dural puncture occurred in 1.2% of labor neuraxial analgesia. The incidences of overall failure, intravenous epidural catheter, wet tap, inadequate epidural analgesia and catheter replacement were lower in patients receiving combined spinal-epidural versus epidural analgesia. For cesarean section, 7.1% of pre-existing labor epidural catheters failed and 4.3% of patients required conversion to general anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section had a lower failure rate of 2.7%, with 1.2% of the patients requiring general anesthesia. The overall use of general anesthesia decreased from 8% to 4.3% over the three-year period. Furthermore, regional anesthesia was used in 93.5% of cesarean deliveries with no anesthetic-related mortalities. Future investigations should identify acceptable international standards, risk factors associated with failure and methods to reduce failure before cesarean section.
Astrophysical constraints on dark energy

Abstract Dark energy (i.e., a cosmological constant) leads, in the Newtonian approximation, to a repulsive force which grows linearly with distance and which can have astrophysical consequences. For example, the dark energy force overcomes the gravitational attraction from an isolated object (e.g., dwarf galaxy) of mass 10 7 M ⊙ at a distance of 23 kpc. Observable velocities of bound satellites (rotation curves) could be significantly affected, and therefore used to measure or constrain the dark energy density. Here, isolated means that the gravitational effect of large nearby galaxies (specifically, of their dark matter halos) is negligible; examples of isolated dwarf galaxies include Antlia or DDO 190.
An algorithm for carrier routing in a flexible material-handling system

Flexible material-handling systems for manufacturing have the capability of moving articles or carriers between process stations in different sequences. The traditional method for controlling the routing of carriers is to determine, in advance, all of the useful paths within the system, and store the information in a central computer until needed. This article describes a routing algorithm that determines the correct turns a carrier should make while it is in motion. Making routing decisions does not require a global knowledge of the system's layout, because a method of numbering stations within the system which reflects its natural path of flow is employed. A brief survey of contemporary material-handling mechanisms is provided. The implementation of the algorithm using distributed controllers is discussed.
Iterative relaxations for iterative flattening in cumulative scheduling

Cumulative scheduling is a generalization of jobshop scheduling, where machines have discrete capacities and activities may require several capacity units. This paper considers iterative flattening, a heuristic procedure aiming at producing high-quality solutions to large cumulative problems in reasonable time. On standard benchmarks (with as much as 900 activities), iterative flattening quickly delivers solutions that are within 10% of the best upper bounds in average. This paper analyzes iterative flattening and identifies a pathological behaviour which explains why it may result in solutions where resources are under-utilized in early parts of the schedules. It proposes a simple extension of the algorithm which has dramatic effect on the quality of the solutions, while preserving its computational efficiency. The new algorithm found 21 new best upper bounds to the same benchmarks and quickly delivers solutions that are within 1% of the best available upper bounds in the average.
Transforming growth factor-β mediates endothelial dysfunction in rats during high salt intake

Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be predictive of subsequent cardiovascular events and death. Through a mechanism that is incompletely understood, increased dietary salt intake promotes endothelial dysfunction in healthy, salt-resistant humans. The present study tested the hypothesis that dietary salt-induced transforming growth factor (TGF)-β promoted endothelial dysfunction and salt-dependent changes in blood pressure (BP). Sprague-Dawley rats that received diets containing 0.3% NaCl [low salt (LS)] or 8.0% NaCl [high salt (HS)] were treated with vehicle or SB-525334, a specific inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I/activin receptor-like kinase 5, beginning on day 5. BP was monitored using radiotelemetry in four groups of rats (LS, LS + SB-525334, HS, and HS + SB-525334) for up to 14 days. By day 14 of the study, mean daytime systolic BP and mean pulse pressure of the HS group treated with vehicle was greater than those in the other three groups; mean daytime systolic BP and pulse pressure of the HS + SB-525334 group did not differ from the LS and LS + SB-525334-treated groups. Whereas mean systolic BP, mean diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure did not differ among the groups on the seventh day of the study, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was impaired specifically in the HS group; treatment with the activin receptor-like kinase 5 inhibitor prevented the dietary HS intake-induced increases in phospho-Smad2 (Ser(465/467)) and NADPH oxidase-4 in endothelial lysates and normalized endothelial function. These findings suggest that HS-induced endothelial dysfunction and the development of salt-dependent increases in BP were related to endothelial TGF-β signaling.
Data-Based Motion Prediction

A complete scheme for motion prediction based on motion capture data is presented. The scheme rests on three main components: a special posture representation, a diverse motion capture database and prediction method. Mostprior motion prediction schemes have been based on posture representations based on well-known local or global angles. Difficulties have arisen when trying to satisfy constraints, such as placing a hand on a target or scaling the posture for a subject of different stature. Inverse kinematic methods based on such angles require optimization that become increasingly complex and computationally intensive for longer linkages. A different representation called stretch pivot coordinates is presented that avoids these difficulties. The representation allows for easy rescaling for stature and other linkage length variations and satisfaction of endpoint constraints, all without optimization allowing for rapid real time use. The validity of this scheme also rests on the availability of motion capture data. There are two situations - in one case the user has access to a larger database of motions relevant to the particular problem while in the second case, the user collects a small amount of motion capture data concerning the task of interest. At the Human Motion Simulation Laboratory (HuMoSim) at the University of Michigan, we have collected several large databases on various types of automobile and materials handling motions. A prediction models based on these databases is presented. Two contrasting prediction methods are demonstrated. One is parametric and uses functional regression analysis to predict the stretch pivot coordinates used in the postural representation as they vary over the time of the motion. This regression-type model allows the use of subject-based variables such as stature and age and task based variables such as target location and object weight to influence the predicted motion. This also allows the scientific study of the effect of such factors using statistical significance testing. The second type of prediction method is based on the idea of nearest neighbor nonparametric regression. A small number (perhaps even just one) of motions is selected that have characteristics similar to the motion we wish to predict. These motions are then averaged in a special way using the stretch pivot coordinates to produce the predicted motion with the required features such as stature, target location etc. This method lends itself to the prediction of motion based on small special purpose motion capture databases collected by the user for some specific problem.
Depression of Polycythemia by Choline Hydrochloride

The author1 presented work which showed that the feeding of raw beef or hog liver to polycythemic (experimental) dogs caused a prompt reduction in their erythrocyte numbers, by depressing hemopoies...
Relationship of carotid and aortic mechanisms to digitalis emesis.

ConclusionVomiting initiated by digitoxin is not abolished by removal of the carotid bodies and sinuses and by denervation of the aortic mechanisms. Assumign the mechanism to be relex in nature, the site of origin of the impulses causing digitalis vomiting is still undetermined. The possibility remains that afferent impulses may be set up in a structure or structures not yet eliminated. It is perhaps more probable that impulses may arise from any one of several structures all of which would have to be denervated in the same animal to abolish the emetic response to digitalis.
A taxonomic study of soil yeasts.

Eighty-four samples of Minnesota soils were collected in the spring of the year. All samples yielded yeasts, and a total of 180 cultures were isolated of which 117 were studied taxonomically. Twenty-five cultures were black yeasts. Approximately one-third of the isolates were spore forming yeasts and members of the oxidative and film forming generaHansenula, Pichia, andDebaryomyces, of which a new species (D. mrakii) has been described. Not a single culture ofSaccharomyces was isolated. Perhaps later in the season when fruit was abundant members of this genus would have been present.
Laboratory Components of a Maternal Serum α-Fetoprotein Screening Program

The growing acceptance of maternal serum α-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening as a vital part of obstetrical care coupled with the marketing of commercial AFP kits has encouraged clinical laboratories to begin the business of MS AFP testing. The tendency among laboratories has been to approach prenatal MS AFP screening as a diagnostic process. Understandably, the diagnostic manner is familiar to all laboratories, yet there is a distinction between diagnosis and screening. Screening results in the identification of an increased-risk patient subgroup that contains most, if not all, affected cases. To achieve an optimal program of MS AFP screening requires coordination of several components centered around the laboratory. Through preliminary assay set-up and continuous monitoring of performance, to effective communication to educate about screening and inform of ret risk and recommend tests for diagnosis, and finally to evaluate pregnancy outcome as a measurement of efficient detection, the laboratory must function within the screening protocol. We will focus on the laboratory role throughout the MS AFP screening protocol with emphasis on the adjustments needed for a screening approach. The laboratory that operates outside a screening protocol not only undermines the reliability of the test but also contributes to ambivalence about MSAFP screening for fetal defects.
A flexible microchannel electrode array for peripheral nerves to interface with neural prosthetics

In order to control neural prosthetics by recording signals from peripheral nerves with the required specificity, high density electrode arrays that can be easily implanted on very small peripheral nerves (50μm-500μm) are needed. Interfacing with these small nerves is surgically challenging due to their size and fragile nature. To address this problem, a Flexible MicroChannel Electrode Array for interfacing with small diameter peripheral nerves and nerve fascicles was developed. The electrochemical characterization and electrophysiological recordings from the common peroneal nerve of a rat are presented along with demonstration of the surgical ease-of-use of the array.
HIGH FLOW TOTAL BODY PERFUSION UTILIZING DILUTED PERFUSATE IN A LARGE PRIME SYSTEM.

SUMMARY Reduction of homologous blood requirements in high flow extracorporeal circulation has been accomplished by perfusate dilution up to 58 per cent of total volume in 135 cases. In the last 95 cases the basic diluent employed was a 5 per cent dextrose/Ringer's/albumin (DRA) solution. Perfusions were generally conducted at 20° to 30° C., with flow rates of 2.0 to 2.4 L. per square meter per minute. Three perfusates were employed: (a) 16 patients underwent open-heart surgery with 30 per cent of the priming volume consisting of DRA and the remainder fresh heparinized blood; (b) 51 patients were perfused with 34 per cent of the priming perfusate consisting of DRA (in addition, THAM was infused during cardiopulmonary bypass at a rate of 7 ml. per kilogram per hour of perfusion); (c) in 28 patients a perfusate consisting of equal volumes of ACD blood and diluent was used. In all cases the diluent comprised DRA and THAM. As in b, THAM was also administered during perfusion at the same rate described above. The average pump hematocrit in group c was 20.5. Immediate postperfusion overinfusion was required for all groups and reflected probable loss of diluent from the intravascular space. A moderate postperfusion metabolic acidosis was present in the DRA30 group but was absent in both THAM groups. All groups showed satisfactory blood pO2 and pCO2. Serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) were normal during and after perfusion in all groups. Rarely, a mild hypochloremia was observed on the first postoperative day. Pulmonary and metabolic complications have been less than in a comparative series of patients operated upon with whole blood. Hemodilution (30 to 58 per cent) has been well tolerated and significantly reduces blood requirements. It is currently our practice to perform open-heart surgery on all patients over 30 kilograms with 50 per cent hemodilution and buffered ACD blood. It is probable that the high flow rates achieved compensate for the initially reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the diluted blood.
Commercial Bank Instability

In early 2001, a colleague of mine expressed concern that the deregulation of banking witnessed in the previous ten years would make the U.S. vulnerable to another experience similar to the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1933, close to 10,000 commercial banks failed, costing depositors millions of dollars. Though my colleague probably did not fear another catastrophe of quite that magnitude, he was concerned that instability would follow deregulation. Similarly, students in my classes often conclude that banking systems outside the United States must be more vulnerable to crises and instability because they lack the regulation of U.S. banks. In both cases, my colleague and my students simply assume that regulation preserves or creates stability and prosperity. They are not alone. Many scholars of banking contend that periods of stability and prosperity are rooted in public policy decisions regarding the regulation and supervision of commercial banking. Indeed, the most recent 2007–2009 financial crisis has been blamed on the very deregulation that my colleague alluded to several years ago. However, it is increasingly difficult to accept the assumption that bank regulation begets bank stability because the U.S. experience clearly suggests otherwise.
The Impact of Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum Introduction on Dupuytren Treatment Patterns in the United States

Purpose The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in the United States in February 2010. This study addresses the impact of that approval on the number of Dupuytren contracture (DC) encounters and treatment patterns in the United States. Methods Using the Intercontinental Marketing Services Health Office-Based Medical Claims database, we identified the monthly number of DC encounters and DC procedures between January 2007 and December 2013. Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum usage data from March 2010 to December 2013 was derived from the U.S. CCH manufacturer's data warehouse. Using the combined data, the yearly increasing trends in DC encounters and treatment volume were compared before and after the introduction of CCH. Time trends in the relative procedure frequencies were then examined. Finally, the presence of seasonal variation was tested for in each treatment type. Results Dupuytren contracture encounters increased on average by 19,015 per year between 2007 and 2009, whereas between 2011 and 2013, DC encounters increased on average by 34,940 per year. In terms of absolute procedure counts, the surgery trend line began decreasing in 2010 with the release of CCH. Meanwhile, CCH continuously increased between 2010 and 2013, and needle aponeurotomy (NA) remained relatively stable. By the year 2013, minimally invasive techniques (NA and CCH) comprised 39% of all treatment, compared with only 14% in 2007. Lastly, there was a statistically significant seasonal increase in the number of surgical procedures during the wintertime but no seasonal variation in NA or CCH. Conclusions After the introduction of CCH, the number of Dupuytren encounters increased at a greater annual rate. The introduction and growth of CCH coincided with a decrease in surgery. The number of NA procedures remained steady throughout the study period. The number of open surgery cases followed a predictable seasonal variation with more procedures during the winter months, but this seasonal variation was not seen with less invasive techniques. Type of study/level of evidence Economic/Decision Analysis II.
Modeling Charging Choices of Small-Battery Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Drivers by Using Instrumented Vehicle Data

Methods for modeling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle drivers’ choices of whether to charge at the end of a trip are compared. Instrumented vehicle data from 125 preproduction Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids were combined with electric vehicle supply equipment (i.e., charging station) location data from multiple sources, including PlugShare and the U.S. Department of Energy. The effects of factors including battery state of charge (SOC), dwell time, and location on the probability that a driver will charge during a stop were then modeled for locations where charging was possible. The amount of energy that can be transferred during a charging session was a better predictor of charging behavior than SOC and dwell time considered independently. Results were sensitive to data and methods used to identify charging locations, which indicated that caution is needed in this area. Finally, a latent class logit model was investigated and found to provide a better fit to the observed data than did the mixed logit model....
Oral Drug Product Use in the Elderly Patient Population

This chapter explores in detail the many considerations to be factored into the design of oral drug product s for use in the elderly patient . These considerations include characteristics of the dose form and holistic drug product, as well as characteristics of the intended patient population. These characteristics are detailed and discussed. For synthetically manufactured drug substances, oral administration is the most frequent and popular drug administration route used in medical practice today. Subsequently, drug products designed to be administered by the oral route are the most common dosage forms available worldwide. The popularity of the oral route is a result of a number of inherent advantages, and these advantages impact all key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical paradigm, including patients, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and regulators. A few of the advantages of oral drug products over alternative routes of delivery include self-administration, dose accuracy and uniformity, stability, portability, lack of invasiveness, familiarity to patients, and relatively low cost to manufacture. Additionally, to have the best chance at designing an outstanding product, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the target customer behaviors and needs, and incorporating that knowledge into the product design, is a must. The evolution toward drug products that are intentionally designed to meet not only their safety, efficacy and quality requirements, but also provide opportunity for improved outcomes through better patient experience and improved adherence should enhance overall therapeutic outcomes. When designing for an elderly target patient population, the drug product designer and developer should pay particular attention to the specific characteristics of the disease state, target patient population, comorbidities and other emotional, environmental, and sociological factors that have the potential to impact or interfere with the elderly patient’s ability to use the product as intended. Failure to take a diligent approach in this regard can result in a greater likelihood of poor adherence and improper usage of the drug product, resulting in lower effectiveness, poor therapeutic outcomes, and potential safety risks.
Optical Characterization, Diagnosis, and Performance Monitoring for PON

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the fiber's key properties that could affect the performances of transmission systems and the challenges to characterize, monitor, and diagnose optical links in a PON system. Optical diagnosis, performance monitoring, and characterization are essential for ensuring the high quality operation of any lightwave systems. The key characteristic of a fiber link is the power loss that is caused by fiber attenuation and fiber connections. The fundamental physical limits imposed on the fiber attenuation are due to scattering of the silica atoms at shorter wavelengths and the material absorption at longer wavelengths. A PON needs to be tested during the installation to ensure that fiber-optic cable is properly installed to specified industry standards and the equipment intended for use on the cable plant operates properly. Testing is also needed to ensure that communications equipment is working to specifications and document the network for reference in case of future problems. In order to enable robust and cost-effective automated operation, PON systems should probably be able to intelligently monitor the physical state of the network as well as the quality of propagating data signals, isolate specific impairments, locate faults, and automatically diagnose and repair the network. In general, monitoring techniques can be either analog or digital. Digital techniques use high-speed logic to process digital information encoded in the optical waveform. Analog-measurement techniques treat the optical signal as an analog waveform and attempt to measure specific characteristics of this waveform.
SOLVING PIECEWISE LINEAR CONVEX EQUATIONS

An algorithm is developed for solving F(x)=y, where F:R n→R n is convex and piecewise linear. The algorithm is based upon complementary pivoting and proceeds by generating paths of solutions to F(x)=a+bz.
Development of a regenerable calcium-based sorbent for hot gas cleanup

iv CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 7 CHAPTER 3. THE CORE-IN-SHELL CONCEPT 29 CHAPTER 4. DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED CALCIUM-BASED SORBENT FOR DESULFURIZING HOT COAL GAS 36 CHAPTER 5. AN IMPROVED CORE-IN-SHELL SORBENT FOR DESULFURIZING HOT COAL GAS 60 CHAPTER 6. A REGENERABLE LIME-ALUMINA CORE-IN-SHELL SORBENT FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE H2S REMOVAL 84 CHAPTER 7. AN EXTENDED SHRINKING CORE MODEL TO ACCOUNT FOR SHELL LAYER DIFFUSION CONTROL 125 CHAPTER 8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 143 APPENDIX 1. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TABULATED DATA IN CHAPTER 4 146 APPENDIX 2. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TABULATED DATA IN CHAPTER 5 156 APPENDIX 3. SAMPLE CALCULATIONS FOR RESULTS IN CHAPTER 7 164
A Chemostratigraphic Model for the Development of Parasequences and Its Application to Sequence Stratigraphy and Paleoceanography, Cretaceous Western Interior Basin, USA

Abstract Chemo- and lithostratigraphy, and a parasequence model for the development of geochemical facies, are applied to a high-resolution correlation of mid-Cretaceous paleosol-bearing sections, eastern margin of the Western Interior Basin (USA), to coeval marine strata in the basin center. The goal is to link the well-constrained marine chronostratigraphy to the poorly dated amalgamated paleosols to better constrain the influence of base level change and climate in the Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Western Interior Basin. Obliquity-scale stratigraphic variations are interpreted to reflect changes in the relative sea level. A new relative sea level curve for the basin is presented and shown to correlate well to a eustatic sea level curve. Based on this similarity and the timing of parasequence formation, we conclude that global sea level variations affected the stratal architecture of the Cenomanian Western Interior Basin sediments and that the glacioeustasy provides the most viable explanation for those sea level variations.
Research on remote diagnosis technology of automatic generation control for thermal power unit in ultra-high voltage receiving-end grid

The situation of automatic generation control(AGC) in ultra-high voltage(UHV) receiving-end grid has changed greatly, and it is necessary to develop on-line monitoring and remote diagnosis technology to solve new AGC control problems. Through the construction of generation-grid integrated data platform of Shandong power system, online running data of sixteen typical thermal power units are accessed. Based on real-time data, a mathematical model of the thermal power generating unit is established, and internal model control strategy is adopted to tune AGC control loop parameters for remote diagnosis. Finally, the effectiveness and practicability of the control strategy are verified by the application on a typical 300 MW power unit.
Terms and Concepts of Statistics

One of the meanings of ‘statistics’ relates to affairs of the state (hence the term) or some other jurisdiction, and in this sense it is the art of the acquisition and presentation of aggregate data on the population, usually tabular in form. Statistics in this meaning has to do with census data, vital statistics (on births and deaths), and cancer-registry data, for example.
A Hybrid Approach to Proving Memory Reference Monotonicity

Array references indexed by non-linear expressions or subscript arrays represent a major obstacle to compiler analysis and to automatic parallelization. Most previous proposed solutions either enhance the static analysis repertoire to recognize more patterns, to infer array-value properties, and to refine the mathematical support, or apply expensive run time analysis of memory reference traces to disambiguate these accesses. This paper presents an automated solution based on static construction of access summaries, in which the reference non-linearity problem can be solved for a large number of reference patterns by extracting arbitrarily-shaped predicates that can (in)validate the reference monotonicity property and thus (dis)prove loop independence. Experiments on six benchmarks show that our general technique for dynamic validation of the monotonicity property can cover a large class of codes, incurs minimal run-time overhead and obtains good speedups.
“IT'S EXHAUSTING TO CREATE AN EVENT OUT OF NOTHING”: Slow Violence and the Manipulation of Time

In recent years, scholars have developed a vocabulary for describing scenes of insecurity, precarity, and disorder too slow to achieve recognition as crises. Concepts such as slow violence, for example, depend on forms of delay, deferral, attrition, and accumulation whose ordinariness exacerbates suffering. But not enough attention has been paid to how those mired in the experience of protracted harm themselves use time to respond to this pernicious condition. In this article, I focus on the deliberate manipulations of time that characterize responses to slow violence by examining a campaign to halt the construction of a trash incinerator in south Baltimore. The incinerator—which posed toxic risk for residents in exchange for the promise of clean, green, renewable energy—was to be the latest in a steady stream of impositions that have plagued local bodies since the nineteenth century. Here, I scrutinize this history and the consequences of gradual industrial incursion on risk perceptibility. I then analyze the ways in which time has been slowed, sped up, reordered, and strategically punctuated by parties on multiple sides of the incinerator campaign. In the process, this article offers up a set of tools that, beyond depicting time as a medium of violence, also specify temporalities of resistance and refusal. Taken together, they suggest that slow violence, rather than merely obstructing response, invites creative forms of temporal orchestration and moral punctuation.
Predicting voltage stability margin via learning stability region boundary

Preventing voltage collapse is critical for the reliable operation of the power grid. In this paper, the voltage stability margin, which is defined as the distance from a given power profile to the boundary of the stability region, is efficiently estimated using a data-driven machine learning approach. The key idea is to train a neural network classifier to learn the boundary of the potentially nonconvex stability region, and exploit the resulting score metric as the regressor for stability margin prediction. No particular loading direction is assumed, but rather the minimum distance to the boundary along all possible directions is captured. The training samples are generated from both continuation and semidefinite relaxation power flow methods. The performance and computational advantage of the proposed approach are verified by numerical experiments.
Demo Abstract: Enabling Inter-SNOW Concurrent P2P Communications

SNOW (Sensor Network Over White Spaces) has evolved as an enabling technology for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications. To meet the future IoT demands, multiple SNOW networks will require to interact with each other, and thus demanding a scalable seamless integration between them. In this demonstration, we showcase seamless concurrent peer-to-peer (P2P) communications between multiple SNOW networks.
Interaction in DNA Replication of the Gene 32 and RII Products of Phage T4 with the dna C Product of the Host

To gain a better understanding of DNA replication in general, we are interested in the interactions between host and phage functions in phage growth. It has been tacitly assumed that DNA replication of bacteriophage T4 is independent of host functions, since T4 codes for several functions that are essential for DNA replication (Epstein et al., 1963) and since T4 produces progeny in all mutant hosts that are defective in their own DNA replication (for review, see Gross, 1972 and Alberts, this Symposium). However, we must keep in mind that the tested mutant hosts do not lack the respective proteins, but rather produce altered proteins. Any such protein, though temperature sensitive in replication of bacterial DNA, may still be capable of interacting with components of the T4 replicating apparatus.
Clinical Features, Tests, and Causes of Growth Hormone Deficiency

In the early 1960s it was easy to diagnose growth hormone (GH) deficiency. At that time, only children with severe growth failure and the classical features of hypopituitarism were eligible for diagnosis and treatment because supplies of GH were very limited. During the past decade, however, the staff of the National Hormone and Pituitary Program has established an efficient system for collecting pituitaries, especially frozen glands, and the total yield of GH has become sufficient to support a wide variety of clinical and basic science projects. These investigations have demonstrated that GH treatment is beneficial not only to patients with classical GH deficiency (complete or partial) but also to those with idiopathic growth failure who have normal GH responses to provocative stimuli and low somatomedin levels.(1–6) It is unfortunate that the term “normal-variant short stature” has been used on occasion to describe this population because the linear growth rates of these children are clearly abnormal. Whether they represent subjects who produce bioinactive GH or have defective neurosecretory regulation of GH needs to be clarified.(7) Recently, GH therapy has increased the linear growth velocity in another population of children with idiopathic growth failure whose GH responses and somatomedin C levels are normal.(8). These observatiobs may be interpreted in variout ways.
The Role of Streamline Models for Dynamic Data Assimilation in Petroleum Engineering and Hydrogeology

Geological models derived from static data alone often fail to reproduce the dynamic response from the aquifers, for example transient pressure or tracer response or from petroleum reservoirs, for example multiphase production history such as water cut or gas-oil ratio. Reconciling geologic models to the dynamic response of the reservoir is critical for subsurface characterization and building reliable reservoir performance models. Available information on subsurface heterogeneity can be broadly categorized into two major types: static and dynamic. Static data are time-invariant direct or indirect measurements of reservoir properties, such as cores, well logs, and 3-D seismic data. With recent advances in reservoir characterization, these data can now be integrated efficiently into coherent 3-D reservoir descriptions (Dubrule, 1998). Dynamic data are the time dependent measurements of flow responses such as pressure, flow rate, fractional flow and, with the use of 4-D seismic, time-lapse saturation and pressure. Integration of dynamic data generally leads to an inverse problem and requires solution of the flow equations several times using an iterative procedure (Hyndman et al., 1994; Kitanidis, 1995; Mclaughlin and Townley, 1996; Medina and Carrera, 1996; Anderman and Hill, 1999; Vasco and Datta-Gupta, 1999; Yeh and Liu, 2000; Oliver et al., 2001). The process is commonly referred to as “history matching” and is usually the most tedious and time-consuming aspect of subsurface flow and transport simulation study. Streamline models offer some unique advantages in history matching (Vasco et al., 1999; Datta-Gupta et al., 2002; He et al., 2006). In this chapter we will explore the properties of streamline models that make them particularly attractive for the integration of production data into high resolution geologic models. The streamline approach has provided an extremely efficient means for computing parameter sensitivities which define the relationship between subsurface parameters and production response (Datta-Gupta et al., 2001). The streamline-based sensitivity computation has been extended to include gravity, changing field conditions and more recently to fractured
Factors Necessary for a Durable Peace in the Pacific Area: A Chinese View

Over 2 years ago, in October, 1939, in a speech before the China Society in America, I said that a just and durable peace in the Far East must fulfill these basic conditions:
Intermolecular ligation mediates efficient cotransformation in Phytophthora infestans.

The processing of DNA molecules during transformation was characterized in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Linear and circular forms of nonreplicating transformation vectors supported similar rates of stable transformation. Remarkably, digestion of plasmids within the selectable marker genes neomycin phosphotransferase (npt) or hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) had little effect on the recovery of drug-resistant transformants, and the cleaved sites were shown to be reconstituted in the transformants. An assay for the transient expression of β-glucuronidase (GUS) in protoplasts treated with partial or disrupted GUS genes demonstrated that active genes could be reconstituted through intramolecular and/or intermolecular ligation between compatible ends, while incompatible ends were inefficiently joined. Stable transformation studies also demonstrated that complementing portions of incomplete npt or hpt genes joined through homologous recombination. Based on the indication of efficient ligation between DNA molecules during transformation, an efficient procedure for cotransformation was developed. The frequency of cotransformation between vectors expressing selected genes (npt or hpt) and nonselected sequences (GUS, β-galactosidase, or streptomycin phosphotransferase) approached unity when the plasmids were linearized with the same restriction enzyme before transformation. In contrast, cotransformation between circular plasmids or those cut with different enzymes occurred infrequently (10%). Hybridization analysis of DNA from cotransformants demonstrated that linearized plasmids became colocalized within genomic DNA, while circular plasmids typically inserted at unliked sites.
Fat-free Mass Characteristics of Muscular Physique Athletes.

PURPOSE Simple body composition models, such as two-compartment models, use assumptions which may be violated in specific athletic populations (e.g., the constancy of fat-free mass density [DFFM] and hydration [TBW:FFM]). The present analysis examined FFM characteristics of muscular physique athletes. METHODS Twenty-six athletes (16 males: 94.5 ± 9.9 kg, 12.2% ± 4.2% fat; 10 females: 63.8 ± 5.7 kg, 19.7% ± 4.9% fat) completed duplicate assessments of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), and single-frequency and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SFBIA; MFBIA). Fat-free mass was calculated via five-compartment (5C) model, and FFM characteristics (i.e. , DFFM, TBW FFM, FFM mineral, FFM protein) were compared between sexes and between the sample and reference values (RV) from cadaver analysis. TBWBIS FFM5C was designated as the reference TBW:FFM model, and alternate models were produced using BIS, MFBIA, SFBIA, impedance-based equations, and DXA output. RESULTS Males had lower TBW:FFM and FFM mineral, but higher FFM protein than females (P < 0.05). DFFM was significantly lower than RV in males (1.096 ± 0.006 g·cm, RV: 1.103 ± 0.013 g·cm; P < 0.001) and appeared higher in females (1.093 ± 0.012 g·cm, RV: 1.087 ± 0.021 g·cm; P = 0.17). TBW:FFM did not differ from RV in females (75.3% ± 4.0%; RV, 75.7% ± 4.4%; P = 0.74) or males (72.7% ± 1.9%; RV, 72.7% ± 3.1%; P = 0.97). Fat-free mass mineral was lower than RV in males (5.5% ± 0.4%; RV, 6.8% ± 0.8%; P < 0.001) and higher in females (6.5% ± 0.5%; RV, 6.1% ± 0.8%; P = 0.04). Fat-free mass protein was significantly greater than RV in males (21.9% ± 1.8%; RV, 20.6% ± 2.6%; P = 0.014), but the difference from RV in females was not statistically significant (18.3% ± 4.1%; RV, 17.1% ± 4.5%; P = 0.39). Alternate TBW:FFM models varied substantially in their agreement with RV. CONCLUSIONS The FFM characteristics were shown to differ between male and female physique athletes. These results may have implications for optimal body composition assessment methods when atypical physique characteristics are present.
The Sweet Taste Test: Relationships with Anhedonia Subtypes, Personality Traits, and Menstrual Cycle Phases

A better understanding of the etiology and pathology related to distinct subtypes of anhedonia can lead to more efficacious personalized treatments. The current study advances knowledge on consummatory anhedonia - represented in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) subconstruct of Initial Response to Reward (IRR). The Sweet Taste Test (STT) has promise as a behavioral paradigm for IRR, as it is sensitive to manipulation of μ-opioid receptors. However, there is a lack of existing knowledge of how the STT relates to subtypes of anhedonia, personality traits, and phases of the menstrual cycle. To address these questions, we administered the STT to 72 nonpsychiatric adults (76% women; mean age: 19.11). As predicted, the hedonic slope reflecting increasing “like” ratings over increasing concentrations of five sucrose solutions (ranging from 0.05 M to 0.86 M), was lower in individuals reporting higher consummatory anhedonia (measured with Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scales - Consummatory Subscale) and in women in the mid-to-late luteal menstrual phase (days 20 to 28). Both effects were driven by lower hedonic ratings to the sweetest concentration. The hedonic slope was larger in individuals scoring higher on the Flight-Freeze-Avoidance System personality factor from the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire - driven by lower hedonic ratings for the least sweet concentration. No factor or aspect from the Big Five Aspects Scale related to hedonic ratings on the STT. The STT may be a valid and specific standardized behavioral paradigm to add to IRR, particularly if validated in a large transdiagnostic psychiatric sample.
Talc Pleurodesis: A Medical, Medicolegal, and Socioeconomic Review

Background Talcum has been used in pleurodesis for more than 8 decades. Despite a wealth of research, controversy remains over the optimal sclerosant for pneumothorax and pleural effusions. Talc's historical primacy has been challenged because of its potential for pulmonary toxicity, possible carcinogenicity, and recent concerns surrounding availability and legal liability, thus making this an ideal time for a review. Methods This systematic review of the talc literature, focused on publications after the year 2000, evaluated mechanism of action, efficacy, side effect profile, and alternative sclerosants; included is an overview of current socioeconomic and legal controversies. Results The data support talc as the most effective agent for pleurodesis. There is evidence to suggest that mean particle size has a direct relationship with the side effect profile and that significant hypoxemic events after talc administration are exceedingly rare when using available graded talc preparations. Concerns regarding the development of malignant diseases after topical talc application remain incompletely resolved but appear related to cosmetic powder preparations that were contaminated with asbestos. Purified talc in the pleural space has not been implicated. Recent difficulties accessing commercial talc preparations have been solved. Although safe and effective talc alternatives do exist, these agents are not as well studied. Conclusions Talc pleurodesis with modern, purified, graded talc preparations is safe and highly effective. Talc is an inexpensive and accessible option that remains appropriate for pleurodesis despite existing controversies.
Abstract 720: Prenatal Exposure of Cigarette Smoke Impacts Cardiac Regeneration

Background: Neonatal mammalian hearts have the unique characteristic to fully repair and regenerate following injury. This discovery has led to visionary endeavors to understand and subsequently re...
Patients as Teachers of Cultural Sensitivity in Pharmacy Education.

Introduction Cultural sensitivity training among pharmacy students is required by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, but little data exists on effective practices for teaching these concepts. The goal of this case study was to describe the process and determine if integration of a patient-led Cultural Sensitivity Panel into the required didactic curriculum impacts pharmacy student perceptions of their own cultural competence. Description of case A special population was defined based on the CAPE competencies requiring students demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to culture, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, spirituality, disability, and other aspects of diversity and identity. Patients representing various special populations, such as veterans, the Deaf and hard of hearing population, the LGBT community, were invited to participate in a Cultural Sensitivity Panel for two consecutive years. Panelists shared information they wish future healthcare professionals understood about the population they represented and participated in a question and answer session. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted to assess the impact of the panel on student perceptions of cultural competence. Results Over two years, 138 students completed surveys. More than 95% of students agreed or strongly agreed that a cultural sensitivity panel is a worthwhile experience, and that the panel would help them change behaviors that may be culturally insensitive. Student perceptions of their own cultural competence significantly improved between the pre- and post- surveys; ethnicity, age and gender significantly impacted responses (p<.05). Key themes of responses to open-ended questions included learning about effective communication (64%), new resources for diverse patient populations (28%), addressing barriers to care (21%), the importance of patience and empathy (18%), and incorporating a patient's background into their care (18%). Exploration of case impact Use of a cultural sensitivity panel provides patients with their own voice in discussing barriers to the provision of health care and thus mitigates the inherent bias and limitations of faculty members teaching about cultures and populations they do not represent. Conclusion This novel approach of integrating a Cultural Sensitivity Panel into the didactic curriculum positively impacted student perceptions of their own cultural competence and may improve culturally competent provision of care among pharmacy students.
Should the Modern Corporation Maximize Shareholder Value

Milton Friedman’s admonition 50 years ago that the modern corporation should maximize shareholder value remains controversial. We argue that under certain broad assumptions, the admonition remains a good place to start. To strengthen the prospects for success of long-term shareholder value maximization, we suggest steps to align shareholder wealth maximization with stakeholder interests. First, antitrust public policies should be vigorously enforced to maintain and enhance competition in product markets and labor markets. Second, management and board compensation should be reformed to focus on creating and sustaining long-term shareholder value. Finally, and more importantly, for many of society’s serious challenges, corporations do not represent the appropriate level of action. Climate change, for example, poses significant challenges for societies and businesses. But significant changes to combat climate change require public policy changes in the United States and abroad. Turning more to corporations because the political process seems broken will not do.