cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sedimentation Equilibrium of High Charge Density Cationic Polyelectrolytes

Although a number of theoretical treatments and applications of sedimentation equilibrium have been reported in recent years (1–9), as yet no systematic theory or method is available for the study of nonideal, polydisperse polyelectrolyte systems. In view of the increasing importance of polycations in polymer chemistry, microbiology, and industry, the development of convenient, reliable methods of physical characterization of polycationic polymer preparations has become an immediate problem. The analytical ultracentrifuge, by virtue of the wide range of operating conditions accessible (from 800 to 68,000 rpm) and the sensitivity of the available optical systems is an excellent candidate for the nucleus of a routine, high-precision system of polymer molecular-weight determination. The molecular weights accessible by current centrifuge methods range over nearly four orders of magnitude from several thousand to the tens of millions. The ability of the analytical ultracentrifuge to handle concentrations of samples as low as 0.05% (in some cases, lower) allow concentration-dependent studies to be extrapolated with reliability into the zero concentration range.
Marginal Contribution to Risk and Generalized Effective Number of Bets

This paper extends Meucci's Effective Number of Bets to general risk measures with heavy-tailed distributions. By diagonalizing the Hessian matrix of a risk measure we are able to extract locally independent marginal contributions to the risk. The Minimal Torsion approach can still be applied to get the local coordinators of the marginal contributions. We also calculated second derivatives of CVaR. Furthermore, the Hessian of CVaR can be computed efficiently when the underlying distribution belongs to a class of normal mixture distributions.
Structure-function analysis from the outside in: long-range tertiary contacts in RNA exhibit distinct catalytic roles.

The conserved catalytic core of the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme is encircled by peripheral elements. We have conducted a detailed structure–function study of the five long-range tertiary contacts that fasten these distal elements together. Mutational ablation of each of the tertiary contacts destabilizes the folded ribozyme, indicating a role of the peripheral elements in overall stability. Once folded, three of the five tertiary contact mutants exhibit defects in overall catalysis that range from 20- to 100-fold. These and the subsequent results indicate that the structural ring of peripheral elements does not act as a unitary element; rather, individual connections have distinct roles as further revealed by kinetic and thermodynamic dissection of the individual reaction steps. Ablation of P14 or the metal ion core/metal ion core receptor (MC/MCR) destabilizes docking of the substrate-containing P1 helix into tertiary interactions with the ribozyme’s conserved core. In contrast, ablation of the L9/P5 co...
Distribution and control of cat fleas in homes in Southern California (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Sampling for adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), indoors with a modified vacuum cleaner was more effective than visual inspection. Significantly more fleas were collected from living rooms and bedrooms than from other rooms and more fleas were collected from rooms with carpeted or wooden floors than ones with tile. Fleas were found outdoors at only 8 of 50 residences sampled. Pressurized sprays containing pyrethrins and the pyrethroid tetramethrin provided poor residual activity against adult fleas in the laboratory, but the insect growth regulators fenoxycarb and methoprene provided control by preventing larva development and emergence of adult fleas on deposits aged for at least 56 days. Under field conditions, pressurized sprays containing fenoxycarb or methoprene also provided excellent control for at least 60 days. Total-release aerosols containing no IGR failed to provide adequate control of fleas whereas aerosols with fenoxycarb successfully controlled fleas at least 60 days. Aqueous spray of propetamphos or microencapsulated diazinon provided excellent control for at least 60 days. Bendiocarb sprays failed to control fleas.
Blood Inorganic Phosphates in Carbohydrate Metabolism

Depression of the blood inorganic phosphates after the administration of dextrose has been demonstrated by Perlzweig, Latham, and Keefer.1 This observation has been confirmed by Sokhey and Allen,2 Harrop and Benedict,3,4 and Bolliger and Hartman5 with both humans and animals receiving dextrose orally and parenterally. Although this fall in blood inorganic phosphates after the administration of dextrose appears to be the rule, it does not occur invariably. Blatherwick, Bell, and Hill6 in a series of experiments in which dextrose was given orally to human subjects, found no consistent change in the phosphate level and state that there is “sometimes an increase, or a decrease or no change at all.”Insulin, on the other hand, has been found by Wigglesworth, Woodrow, Smith and Winter7 to produce a marked drop in the plasma inorganic phosphate level of the rabbit. Cori and Cori,8 Perlzweig, Latham and Keefer,1 and Vollmer9 have reported similar results, and further, have demonstrated that injections of epinephri...
Realization of rapid controller prototyping based on DE-GMAW control system

A novel high effective welding method named DE-GMAW (double-electrode gas metal arc welding) was presented. A rapid prototyping control system for DE-GMAW real-time target based on xPC was established. A hardware experimental real-time system was built up,and software platform was designed by using Matlab/Simulink tools. Then experimental research on the characteristics and technology of welding under fuzzy control and nine-optimal control was carried out. The results show that the rapid prototyping control system has good effects,such as fast response,stable welding process,good weld forming and lower spatter.
17β-Estradiol up-regulates UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 expression via estrogen receptor α.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 (UGT1A9) is a major phase II enzyme responsible for elimination of drugs and endogenous molecules. Clinical data have shown increased elimination of UGT1A9 substrates in pregnant women or oral contraceptive users, but the role of estrogen in the regulation of UGT1A9 expression remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on UGT1A9 expression and the role of ERα in the transcriptional regulation of UGT1A9. E2 significantly increased UGT1A9 promoter activity in HepG2 cells in the presence of ERα. UGT1A9 induction by E2 was abrogated by antiestrogen ICI182,780 in HepG2 cells that constitutively express ERα. Results from transient transfection of ERα mutants into HepG2 cells demonstrated that mutation at DNA-binding domain of ERα abrogates increased UGT1A9 promoter activity by E2. Deletion and mutation assays of UGT1A9 promoter revealed a putative ERE located within −2262/−1987 region. Examination of healthy human liver tissues revealed significantly higher UGT1A9 expression in women as compared to men. Together, these findings provide a mechanistic basis for the previous clinical reports and may shed a light on identifying sources for inter-individual variability in UGT1A9-mediated drug metabolism.
Metabolic alterations after total body doses of x-radiation. I. The role of regenerating liver nuclei and cytoplasm in the inhibition due to x-radiation of incorporation of tritium-labeled thymidine into DNA.

Abstract The effect of X-radiation on the incorporation of [3H]TDR into the DNA of nuclei of reconstituted regenerating liver homogenates and into purified DNA incubated with irradiated and non-irradiated regenerating liver cytoplasm was studied. The results indicate that both the nuclei and the cytoplasm are affected by X-radiation but the effect is more marked on the cytoplasm than on the nucleus. These findings suggest that X-radiation interferes with the activity of the enzymes involved in the incorporation of nucleosides or nucleotides into the DNA.
Size-Dependent Ultrafast Charge Carrier Dynamics of WO3 for Photoelectrochemical Cells

Time-resolved terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and open-circuit photovoltage measurements were employed to examine the size-dependent charge carrier dynamics of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO3) particles for their use as the photoanode in photoelectrochemical cells. Specifically, films of commercially available WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) and granular particles (GPs) with diameters of 77 ± 34 and 390 ± 260 nm, respectively, were examined in air and while immersed in 0.1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte (pH = 2). Examination of the frequency-dependent transient photoconductivity at short and long time scales indicates the presence of both photoinduced high net transport charge carriers at early times and in some cases low net transport charge carriers at later times. The high net transport charge carriers dominate the photoconductivity signal for ∼100 ps after photoexcitation. Depletion of the short-lived high net transport carriers due to trapping leads to the detection of longer-lived low net transport photoinduced charge carriers ...
What the Unemployment Rate Really Is

In the current recession, unemployment is up sharply reaching 9.8 % in September of 2009. But that 9.8 % figure does not represent true unemployment. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ own figures, this article calculates what true unemployment is and compares the true unemployment rate to unemployment rates during the Great Depression of the 1930’s and the Reagan Recession of the early 1980’s.
The politics of diversity: Integration in an era of political and legal uncertainty

BackgroundThe demographic landscape in the United States has shifted dramatically since Brown v. Board of Education, leading to more complex diversity in many school districts than the diversity co...
Pharmacokinetics of bupropion and its pharmacologically active metabolites in pregnancy

Bupropion sustained release (SR) is used to promote smoking cessation in males and non-pregnant females. However, its efficacy as a smoking cessation aid during pregnancy is not reported. The pregnancy-associated changes in maternal physiology may alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bupropion, and consequently, its efficacy in pregnant smokers. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the steady-state pharmacokinetics of bupropion during pregnancy and the effect of functional genetic variants of CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 on bupropion pharmacokinetics in pregnant women. Plasma and urine concentrations of bupropion and its metabolites hydroxybupropion (OHBUP), threohydrobupropion, and erythrohydrobupropion were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Subjects were genotyped for 5 non-synonymous SNPs that result in 7 CYP2B6 alleles, namely *2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, and *9, and for CYP2C19 variants *2, *3, and *17. The present study reports that the isoform-specific effect of pregnancy on bupropion-metabolizing enzymes along with the increase of renal elimination of the drug could collectively result in a slight decrease in exposure to bupropion in pregnancy. On the other hand, pregnancy-induced increase in CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylation did not impact the plasma levels of OHBUP, probably due to a higher rate of OHBUP glucuronidation and renal elimination associated with pregnancy. Therefore, exposure to OHBUP, a pharmacologically active metabolite of the bupropion, appears to be similar to that of the non-pregnant state. The predicted metabolic phenotypes of CYP2B6*6 and variant alleles of CYP2C19 in pregnancy are similar to those in the non-pregnant state.
Conspiring with Keats: Toward a Poetics of Breathing

ABSTRACTThis essay argues that Keats understood poetic performance as a conspiring, a powerfully somatic, often eroticized communion of poet and reader he figured as a process of mutual breathing. Owing to his personal history and medical expertise, Keats’s attitude toward respiration was deeply ambivalent: if a precipitant of death, breathing – the rhythmic conspiring through which poetic forms materialized in the bodies of readers during utterance – could be curative, even afford the poet a secular, aesthetic version of immortality. His embodied, breath-centered concept of reading and writing depended on a psychosomatic model of cognition that grounded intellectual activity in the life of the sensorium.
Plasticity mechanisms in HfN at elevated and room temperature

HfN specimens deformed via four-point bend tests at room temperature and at 2300 °C (~0.7 Tm) showed increased plasticity response with temperature. Dynamic diffraction via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed ⟨110⟩{111} as the primary slip system in both temperature regimes and ⟨110⟩{110} to be a secondary slip system activated at elevated temperature. Dislocation line lengths changed from a primarily linear to a curved morphology with increasing temperature suggestive of increased dislocation mobility being responsible for the brittle to ductile temperature transition. First principle generalized stacking fault energy calculations revealed an intrinsic stacking fault (ISF) along ⟨112⟩{111}, which is the partial dislocation direction for slip on these close packed planes. Though B1 structures, such as NaCl and HfC predominately slip on ⟨110⟩{110}, the ISF here is believed to facilitate slip on the {111} planes for this B1 HfN phase.
Per-flow entry verification for legacy SDN

We propose two types of per-flow entry verification schemes for already-deployed commercial Software Defined Networking (SDN) based networks with network service header (NSH)-disabled OpenFlow systems. Although OpenFlow-based SDN is a promising candidate for easing the delivery and deployment of new and existing services, its packet forwarding mechanism is more complicated than IP routing and Ethernet forwarding. This may cause an increase in the number of misconfigurations concerning packet forwarding, making it more difficult to detect and localize the misconfigurations. Recently, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) proposed the NSH in order to address these problems, but already deployed commercial networks (legacy-SDN networks) are unable to adopt it. The proposed schemes address these problems by forwarding the test packets that are created with user packet-flows, and by checking the test packet trajectories for legacy-SDN networks. We present demonstration results on the feasibility of the schemes based on prototype systems. In addition, we present the impact on the packet forwarding performance for user packets when applying the proposed schemes. The applicability of the proposed schemes is also shown based on evaluation of the prototyped systems.
The Lazarus Project and Grace Ministries: The Role of Religious Nonprofits in Addressing Personal and Social Problems

This review essay of Williamson and Hood’s (2016) Psychology and Spiritual Transformation in a Substance Abuse Program: The Lazarus Project examines spiritual transformation in the context of substance abuse and homelessness. The essay first tackles the question of whether change results mostly from individual spiritual transformation experiences or from the social surroundings the converts are part of, based on the author’s research on spiritual transformation and homelessness as well as Williamson and Hood’s work, and then it examines the debate surrounding the application of Foucault’s “technologies of the self” to programs that are similar to the Lazarus Project. The last part of the essay offers a few methodological suggestions for studies of similar projects.
Parent Consultation and Transitional Care for Military Families of Children with Autism: A Teleconsultation Implementation Project

Military families face challenges when a dependent child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and local treatment expertise for children with an ASD is unavailable. eHealth models ar...
Leisure: Theory and Policy. By Max Kaplan

(1977). Leisure: Theory and Policy. By Max Kaplan. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 55-57.
The Analysis of Cost of Expensive Perfumes and Comparable Imitations Using Gc-Ms

The aim of this study is to compare the components of expensive perfumes with inexpensive imitations. Candidates for expensive perfumes in this project are priced for more than $20 per oz. and the inexpensive imitation perfumes are priced at $2 per oz. or less. The premise of this investigation is based on the presence of non-foaming surfactants directly correlating to the price of the perfume. GC-MS is the analytical instrumentation used to characterize the samples and the NIST mass spec libraries is used for identification. Principal component analysis of each perfume is conducted using an algorithm with Mathematica 3.0 software. The results indicate a principal component regression of 0.846 between price and the distinguishing ingredients in the perfume. Specifically, the presence of diethyl phthalate in Clinique’s Happy and Calvin Klein’s Obsession has a 0.664 correlation to the price per ounce of the perfume. Likewise, Lilial, p-t-butyl-α-methylhydrocinnamic aldehyde, in Clinique’s Happy has a correlation value of 0.745 to price.
Vitamin and mineral supplements: Friend or foe when combined with medications?

ABSTRACT Background. Given the prevalence of vitamin and mineral supplement use among consumers and the potential for vitamin- and mineral-drug interactions, as well as oral and systemic adverse effects of excess consumption, oral health care providers (OHCPs) should ask all patients about their use. The challenges for OHCPs are how to recognize oral and systemic manifestations of these interactions and how to safely manage the care of these patients while avoiding potential interactions. Methods. The authors reviewed the literature regarding interactions between popular vitamin and mineral supplements and medications used commonly in dentistry. They used clinical databases and decision support tools to classify interactions according to their level of patient risk. They address interactions of greatest clinical concern with a high-quality evidence-based foundation in either randomized controlled clinical trials or meta-analyses. Conclusion. Most medications used commonly in dentistry can be prescribed safely without regard to vitamin- and mineral-drug interactions. However, patients taking anticoagulants or cytochrome P450 3A4 substrates (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, midazolam and triazolam) in addition to specific vitamin or mineral supplements (vitamins D, E, K, calcium, fluoride, iron, magnesium, selenium or zinc) may face additional challenges. OHCPs need to recognize these potential interactions and know how to manage the care of patients who may be receiving treatment with these combination therapies. Practical Implications. Recognition and avoidance of potential vitamin- and mineral-drug interactions will help clinicians optimize patient treatment while emphasizing patient safety.
Comparison Between the Sonar of Bats and Dolphins

Another animal that possesses a sophisticated and highly developed sonar is the bat. A considerable amount of research is being performed on the auditory system of bats, much more than on dolphins. A conservative estimate would indicate that there are approximately three to four times more scientists involved with bat sonar and auditory research than with dolphins. There are many reasons for this imbalance; most are related to the high cost associated with a dolphin research facility. The expense of constructing a facility having large tanks filled with high-quality salt water, or installing a facility that includes animal holding pens and laboratories in an isolated but readily accessible lagoon, can be quite high. In comparison, a cage to house a colony of bats can be easily and inexpensively constructed and located in most laboratories even though bats require good control of room temperature and humidity.
Soft Colloidal Glasses as Solid-State Electrolytes

Solid-state electrolytes are an attractive alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes in lithium batteries because of their intrinsic safety features and superior mechanical properties. Maintaining high bulk and interfacial ion fluxes in batteries that utilize solid-state electrolytes remains a significant challenge. We report on synthesis and electrochemical properties of a class of solid-state polymer electrolytes composed of silica nanoparticles covalently grafted with poly(ethylene oxide) chains. By regulating the salt content in the materials, we find that it is possible to drive microstructural changes, including nanoparticle arrangements, to achieve appreciable levels of bulk and interfacial ionic conductivity at room temperature. Additionally, we show that electrolyte salt additives can be used to create cathode-electrolyte interphases (CEI) that increase the oxidative stability of all PEO-based electrolytes. Finally, we report that solid-state lithium batteries comprised of a high-voltage ni...
Tuberculosis of the Finger

Tuberculosis of the Finger A 42-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with swelling and pain in her left fifth finger. Biopsy revealed acid-fast bacilli, and tissue cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive.
The role of iron-oxidizing bacteria in biocorrosion: a review

Lithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria depend on reduced iron, Fe(II), as their primary energy source, making them natural candidates for growing in association with steel infrastructure and potentia...
Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis in the Elderly

By 2060, population projections estimate the number of individuals older than 65 will double. Prevalence of degenerative spondylolisthesis is reported as 4.1%-11.1% within the general population. Given the growing older population, the need for evidence-based guidance is essential. Regarding benefit derived from decompression alone versus decompression plus fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis, the consensus is that all patients do not require a fusion; however, clarity around clearly identifying this cohort is lacking. Nevertheless, instrumented fusion is an effective strategy in the elderly. Numerous options exist, and individual patient characteristics as well as surgeon experience should be evaluated when planning surgery.
Optical switching of defect charge states in 4H-SiC.

We demonstrate optically induced switching between bright and dark charged divacancy defects in 4H-SiC. Photoluminescence excitation and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements reveal the excitation conditions for such charge conversion. For an energy below 1.3 eV (above 950 nm), the PL is suppressed by more than two orders of magnitude. The PL is recovered in the presence of a higher energy repump laser with a time-averaged intensity less than 0.1% that of the excitation field. Under a repump of 2.33 eV (532 nm), the PL increases rapidly, with a time constant 30 μs. By contrast, when the repump is switched off, the PL decreases first within 100–200 μs, followed by a much slower decay of a few seconds. We attribute these effect to the conversion between two different charge states. Under an excitation at energy levels below 1.3 eV, VSiVC 0 are converted into a dark charge state. A repump laser with an energy above 1.3 eV can excite this charged state and recover the bright neutral state. This optically induced charge switching can lead to charge-state fluctuations but can be exploited for long-term data storage or nuclear-spin-based quantum memory.
Dyspnea Postpulmonary Embolism From Physiological Dead Space Proportion and Stroke Volume Defects During Exercise

Background Many patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) report dyspnea on exertion following long-term treatment. Increased physiological dead space proportion (VD/VT) and decreased cardiac stroke volume reserve may distinguish persistent effects of PE itself from symptoms reflecting comorbid conditions or deconditioning. Methods This retrospective study analyzed a consecutive series of incremental symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise tests that had been ordered to evaluate persistent dyspnea on exertion following long-term treatment for acute PE. Physiological VD/VT was determined at anaerobic threshold from exhaled CO2 and transcutaneous Pco2 (validated against Paco2 measurements). Cardiac stroke volume reserve was estimated at rest and at anaerobic threshold by using oxygen consumption/pulse and previously validated estimates of the arteriovenous oxygen content difference. Results Cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed on 40 patients with post-PE dyspnea. In 65.0% (95% CI, 50.2-79.8), VD/VT at anaerobic threshold was abnormally elevated, stroke volume reserve was decreased, or both defects occurred. VD/VT at anaerobic threshold was abnormally elevated (≥ 0.27) in 35.0% (95% CI, 20.2-49.8). VD/VT at anaerobic threshold significantly correlated with the extent of unmatched perfusion defects on subsequent ventilation-perfusion scans (P = .0085). In 55.0% (95% CI, 39.6-70.4), stroke volume reserve at anaerobic threshold was abnormally decreased (≤ 128% of the resting value). Both defects were present in 25.0% (95% CI, 11.6-38.4). Conclusions Increased VD/VT at anaerobic threshold and decreased stroke volume reserve during exercise are common among patients with dyspnea on exertion after long-term treatment of PE. The defects can be disclosed noninvasively by using cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Human evaluations of warning odorants in propane

Human awareness of several odorants at varying concentrations were monitored within different environments. The effects of distractions, unfamiliarity with the test environment, and previous training were found to be significant. Efforts were directed at determining not only the odorant levels that can be detected, but also the levels that will be detected.
Career outcome of Thoroughbred racehorses with metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint dorsal chip fracture managed nonsurgically and surgically: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Arthroscopy has been advocated as the treatment of choice for dorsal osteochondral chip fracture of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint. However, there is no published research on racing performance outcomes of horses with this pathology managed nonsurgically. OBJECTIVES To compare racing career outcomes of Thoroughbred racehorses with nonsurgically (non-SX) or surgically (SX) managed MCP/MTP dorsal osteochondral chip fracture alongside a cohort of horses with no dorsal osteochondral chip fracture (unexposed). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study conducted between 2006 and 2014. METHODS Radiographs of Thoroughbred racehorses were reviewed to identify MCP/MTP dorsal osteochondral chip fractures. Unexposed horses under the care of the same practice were recruited randomly from training records. Racing outcomes were analysed using survival analysis and logistic, linear and negative binomial regression techniques. RESULTS Dorsal osteochondral chip fractures were identified in 98 (70 non-SX, 28 SX) horses and compared with 648 unexposed horses. There was no significant difference among non-SX, SX, and unexposed horses in respect of total career starts, or likelihood of ever winning, placing, or earning money in a race (P > .05). SX horses had a significantly higher rate of wins/start than non-SX horses (rate ratio 1.6, CI 1.1-2.4, P = .02) and unexposed horses (rate ratio 1.9, CI 1.3-2.8, P = .001). Total career earnings for the SX horses were 4.1 times that of the unexposed horses (95% CI 1.2-14.5, P = .03), although total career earnings did not differ significantly between non-SX and unexposed horses (P = .8). MAIN LIMITATIONS Retrospective observational study where management technique was not randomised or blinded. Small number of surgically managed horses and potential selection bias for surgical management. CONCLUSIONS Nonsurgical management of this injury appears to be a valid management choice given that it was not associated with significant effects on racing career performance relative to a large unexposed cohort in this study population.
Chapter 13 – Morphology

In linguistics, morphology is the study of the smallest units of grammatical combination that are interpreted in form (sound) and meaning. Contemporary theories of morphology challenge traditional views that are often presupposed by investigations into the neurobiology of language. In particular, there is no fundamental distinction between the combination of morphemes within words and the combination of words within phrases, nor is there a binary distinction between inflection and derivation. Taking morphology to concern the connection between syntactic hierarchies of morphemes and their phonological packaging into words and phrases, rather than an independent subcomponent of grammar, contemporary theories like distributed morphology abandon the idea of full-form storage in a mental lexicon in favor of a full decomposition approach, whose processing implications are supported by recent evidence from psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics. A major implication of full decomposition for neurolinguistics is that experiments on single word processing actually implicate the entire grammar: syntax, phonology, and semantics.
A Distributed Output Feedback Adaptive Controller for Leader-Follower Multiagent Systems with Stochastic Disturbances and Sensor-Actuator Attacks

In this paper, we develop distributed output feedback adaptive consensus control protocols for addressing networked multiagent systems subject to exogenous stochastic disturbances and sensor and actuators attacks. Specifically, for a class of linear leader-follower multiagent systems with an undirected communication graph topology we develop an output feedback adaptive control design protocol for each follower agent to address malicious attacks on the actuator signals of the follower agents as well as sensor attacks on the output neighborhood synchronization errors measurements. The proposed adaptive controllers involve an indirect adaptive architecure that estimates and compensates for the malicious attacks while guaranteeing uniform ultimate boundedness of the state tracking error for each agent in a mean-square sense.
Cryo-EM analysis of PIP2 regulation in mammalian GIRK channels

G-protein-gated inward rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels are regulated by G proteins and PIP2. Here, using cryo-EM single particle analysis we describe the equilibrium ensemble of structures of neuronal GIRK2 as a function of the C8-PIP2 concentration. We find that PIP2 shifts the equilibrium between two distinguishable structures of neuronal GIRK (GIRK2), extended and docked, towards the docked form. In the docked form the cytoplasmic domain, to which Gβγ binds, becomes accessible to the cytoplasmic membrane surface where Gβγ resides. Furthermore, PIP2 binding reshapes the Gβγ binding surface on the cytoplasmic domain, preparing it to receive Gβγ. We find that cardiac GIRK (GIRK1/4) can also exist in both extended and docked conformations. These findings lead us to conclude that PIP2 influences GIRK channels in a structurally similar manner to Kir2.2 channels. In Kir2.2 channels, the PIP2-induced conformational changes open the pore. In GIRK channels, they prepare the channel for activation by Gβγ.
Aging out of dependent coverage and the effects on the use of inpatient medical care

We investigate the impact of losing health insurance coverage at age 26 due to aging out of the Affordable Care Act's dependent coverage on health insurance coverage rates and various indicators of inpatient medical care. We find that the probability of being covered under any type of health insurance plan decreases by 2.5-6.2 percentage points at age 26. However, the effects of this discrete change in health insurance coverage on inpatient medical care and related costs are insignificant.
Differences in obstetrical care and outcomes associated with the proportion of the obstetrician's shift completed.

Background Understanding and improving obstetrical quality and safety is an important goal of professional societies, and many interventions such as checklists, safety bundles, educational interventions, or other culture changes have been implemented to improve the quality of care provided to obstetrical patients. Although many factors contribute to delivery decisions, a reduced workload has addressed how provider issues such as fatigue or behaviors surrounding impending shift changes may influence the delivery mode and outcomes. Objective The objective was to assess whether intrapartum obstetrical interventions and adverse outcomes differ based on the temporal proximity of the delivery to the attending’s shift change. Study Design This was a secondary analysis from a multicenter obstetrical cohort in which all patients with cephalic, singleton gestations who attempted vaginal birth were eligible for inclusion. The primary exposure used to quantify the relationship between the proximity of the provider to their shift change and a delivery intervention was the ratio of time from the most recent attending shift change to vaginal delivery or decision for cesarean delivery to the total length of the shift. Ratios were used to represent the proportion of time completed in the shift by normalizing for varying shift lengths. A sensitivity analysis restricted to patients who were delivered by physicians working 12-hour shifts was performed. Outcomes chosen included cesarean delivery, episiotomy, third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration, 5-minute Apgar score of Results Of the 82,851 patients eligible for inclusion, 47,262 (57%) had ratio data available and constituted the analyzable sample. Deliveries were evenly distributed throughout shifts, with 50.6% taking place in the first half of shifts. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of cesarean delivery, episiotomy, third- or fourth-degree perineal lacerations, or 5-minute Apgar scores of Conclusion Clinically significant differences in obstetrical interventions and outcomes do not seem to exist based on the temporal proximity to the attending physician’s shift change. Future work should attempt to directly study unit culture and provider fatigue to further investigate opportunities to improve obstetrical quality of care, and additional studies are needed to corroborate these findings in community settings.
Passive shortwave-infrared polarimetric sensing of cloud thermodynamic phase

Cloud thermodynamic phase (CTP) classification is a vital piece of information for determining how clouds affect climate and electromagnetic wave propagation. We describe a passive shortwave infrared (SWIR) three-channel polarimeter for CTP remote sensing. This instrument adds polarimetric sensitivity to the traditional radiance ratio method that capitalizes on the difference in spectral absorption between liquid water and ice. The ground-based polarimeter was used to measure the first three Stokes parameters in three SWIR spectral bands alongside a dual-polarization lidar system for validation. Additionally, we operated the polarimeter in division-of-time and division-of-aperture modes to explore the severity of polarization artifacts that arose from fast-moving clouds. Although temporal smearing of polarization signatures was identified, the impacts were found to be minimal. Using a surface fitting technique, the radiance ratio method was directly compared with a method that combined radiance ratios with the S1 Stokes parameter. We found that the addition of polarimetry improved cloud phase classification ability from ∼73 % to 95%.
Conditional Expectation and Martingale Theory

Conditional expectation is one of the fundamental notions in probability theory and is a most frequently used tool. This chapter discusses the conditional expectation and some of its fundamental properties. The only problem connected with conditional form of the Lebesgue dominated convergence theorem is that of obtaining a conditional form of the monotone convergence theorem. One of the applications of the martingale convergence theorem is in Brownian motion. This application is a notable theorem because of Paul Levy's construction on Brownian motion. The chapter also discusses the martingale and submartingale convergence theorems, the properties, and the application of martingale theory. In the subsequent treatment of martingales and submartingales, a conditional form of Jensen's inequality is needed. Convex functions possess certain properties and one such property is that every convex function is continuous.
Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)

The previously untreated sections of the bee-parasitizing, Neotropical phorid genus Melaloncha Brues are revised. A total of 167 species of these strictly New World flies are now recognized, including the following 36 new species: M. acicula, M. berezovskiyi, M. calathea, M. ciliata, M. cordyla, M. crinita, M. declivata, M. dibitettii, M. erinacea, M. feleoae, M. flavilineata, M. forficata, M. gomezi, M. gonzalezae, M. gradata, M. hirsuta, M. immaculata, M. kittsonae, M. lacerna, M. laselvae, M. licina, M. muricata, M. nannocauda, M. oligoseta, M. pilidorsata, M. prostata, M. rasmusseni, M. rodeoensis, M. ruinensis, M. simoni, M. simotris, M. torquata, M. trichopera, M. umbra, M. xanthocauda and M. zurquiensis. Because of insufficient differences among examined specimens, Melaloncha cuspidata Borgmeier is synonymized with M. palpalis Borgmeier (new synonymy). A lectotype is designated for the species M. plaumanni Borgmeier. Hosts and behavior of some species is discussed, and a new key to species and species groups of Melaloncha is presented.
Role of sodium silicate in phosphate flotation

The role of sodium silicate in the anionic flotation of a Floridaphosphate ore was investigated using laboratory continuous flotation tests, frothability tests and SEM observations. In the absence of sodium silicate, Ca++ promoted the unwanted activation of quartz by forming calcium bearing precipitates. The addition of sodium silicate enhanced the flotation efficiency through:
Elliptic Variational Inequalities and Their Numerical Approximations

Variational inequalities form an important family of nonlinear problems. Some of the more complex physical processes are described by variational inequalities. We study some elliptic variational inequalities (EVIs) in this chapter, presenting results on existence, uniqueness and stability of solutions to the EVIs, and discussing their numerical approximations.
Familial bone disease resembling rickets (hereditary metaphysial dysostosis).

Familial metaphysial dysostosis has been described as it occurred among 18 members of a family in seven generations. The roentgenologic changes were very similar to those seen in vitamin D resistant rickets. No biochemical defect could be detected. Studies of renal function with special reference to tubular reabsorption of phosphorus gave normal values. The treatment of choice is osteotomy, after epiphysial closure has occurred, to correct the pronounced bowing of the legs. Administration of vitamin D in high doses has no effect on the course of this disease.
Abstract P389: Effects of Dietary Patterns on Vitamin D and Other Markers of Bone-Mineral Metabolism: Results From the Dash Trial

Background: The relationship of CVD with vitamin D levels and other markers of bone-mineral metabolism is of substantial interest. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet effectively lowers blood pressure and is now recommended to promote CV health. The effects of the DASH diet on vitamin D and other markers of bone-mineral metabolism is unknown. Objective: To determine the effect of dietary patterns on blood levels of vitamin D, PTH, and ionized calcium, and urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate. Methods: Data on study outcomes were available in 334 participants from the original DASH trial. Baseline levels were obtained from blood and urine collected at the end of the run-in while on the control diet. Participants were then randomized to control diet (37% kcal total fat); fruits & vegetable diet (also 37% kcal total fat); or the DASH diet (27% kcal total fat). Follow-up levels were obtained during the last week of the eight-week intervention period. Results: Mean (±SD) baseline blood levels of vitamin D, PTH , and ionized calcium were 15.1±3.7ng/ml, 46.1±18.5 ng/ml and 1.3±0.06 mmol/l, respectively. For urinary calcium and phosphate were 126.8±45.3mg/dl and 715.0±277.3 mg/dl, respectively. See table for within-diet changes. The DASH diet, net of control, reduced vitamin D by -1.29ng/ml (P= 0.005). In stratified analyses, the reduction in vitamin D appeared more prominent in blacks, but the p-value for interaction (race*diet) was non-significant (P=0.21). Otherwise, the DASH diet had no significant effect on the other markers, net of control. Compared to control, the fruit & vegetable diet reduced urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion. Conclusion: The DASH diet modestly reduced vitamin D levels among all participants, with potentially larger effects in blacks. The reduction in vitamin D levels might have resulted from the lower fat content of the DASH diet. Overall, during the eight-weeks of intervention, no major harm or benefit of the DASH diet was documented on biomarkers related to bone-mineral metabolism.
Cranial Ultrasound Prediction of Disabling and Nondisabling Cerebral Palsy at Age Two in a Low Birth Weight Population

Objective To employ multivariate analytic techniques to assess the association between neonatal cranial ultrasound (US) abnormalities and subsequent cerebral palsy (CP), defined as disabling CP (DCP) or nondisabling CP (NDCP) depending on the level of motor dysfunction. Design Prospective cohort study. Subjects and methods The Neonatal Brain Hemorrhage Study enrolled a geographically representative sample of 1105 newborns 501 to 2000 g and obtained follow-up data on 777 (86%) of the 901 survivors at age two. One hundred thirteen children (14.6%) had motor findings severe enough to classify them as having CP. The 61 (7.9%) of these children who were disabled by their motor impairment we classified as having DCP. The remaining 52 (6.7%) who had definite neurologic findings (usually mild spastic diplegia) but without evidence of interference with daily living, we classified as having NDCP. Results In a multivariate logistic regression model of perinatal and postnatal variables, the following factors were found to be significant risk factors for DCP: parenchymal echodensities/lucencies or ventricular enlargement (PEL/VE) on cranial US (OR = 15.4; 7.6, 31.1), germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GM/IVH) (OR = 3.5; 1.7, 6.9) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.9; 1.2, 7.1). Fully 93.4% of infants were correctly classified as to presence or absence of DCP on the basis of this model. Birth weight, gestational age, length of hospital stay, gender, race, plurality, presence of labor and Apgar score were not significant independent predictors of DCP. For NDCP, the only risk factor significant in the multivariate model was PEL/VE (OR = 5.3; 2.2, 12.6). Conclusions Among perinatal and postnatal factors, cranial US abnormalities are by far the most powerful predictors of disabling CP in low birth weight infants. Although PEL/VE was the strongest predictor, GM/IVH also appeared to independently contribute to the risk of DCP. NDCP in low birth weight infants appears to have a different risk profile than DCP. In particular, it is less closely related to US evidence of perinatal brain injury.
Discount Points, Effective Yields and Mortgage Prepayments

Lenders use discount points to vary effective yields from stated contract rates. In the past, this practice resulted from interest-rate regulation. In market, however, there seems to be an absence of economic rationale as to how points are applied in individual cases. This paper provides an economic rationale for the use of points. An option pricing model is used to derive some basic rules for determining the relationship between changes in the contract rate and the payment of points. This explains current practices by lenders in that the option value effect could justify a reduction in the contract rate of well over one-eighth of a percent and shows that lenders are justified in varying the size of the trade-off between points and contract rates based on risk of prepayment. Lenders must charge a premium for providing the prepayment option; however, the payment of points provides a means whereby this call provision can be retained but reduced in value to suit the preferences of individual borrowers.
'Law is the Mere Continuation of Politics by Different Means': American Judicial Selection in the Twenty-First Century

This paper examines changing patterns in the politics of judicial selection in the United States. Central to the discussion is that judicial selection in the U.S. has always had a strong political element. Recent changes in the politics of judicial selection reflect a shift from the politics of patronage to the politics of policy. Part of the analysis updates research on the relationship between partisanship and voting in judicial elections. Partisanship has always been strong in states using partisan systems, and that has not changed. Some states that use nonpartisan elections have seen an increase in the partisanship of voting patterns while other states have not seen such an increase. The two states using a mixed partisan (nomination)/nonpartisan (election) system have seen an increase in partisanship, particularly in the post-1990s period. The paper concludes with a discussion of alternative selection systems but emphasizes that no system would eliminate politics, only shift the nature of the politics.
A wildlife movement approach to optimally locate wildlife crossing structures

Transportation networks negatively impact wildlife populations by limiting the physical movement of the individual animal. In extreme cases road presence can lead to collisions between vehicles and animals, resulting in direct mortality if an animal attempts to cross the road. Crossing structures are one commonly used method for reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions. However, limited funding often reduces the amount of structures that may be constructed in practice. Therefore, areas that have the highest probability for animal interactions with roads should be targeted for locating new structures to provide the best possible outcome. This research uses a probabilistic time-geographic strategy coupled with a site selection phase handled by a classical optimization model to site wildlife crossing structures. To achieve optimal site selection, crossing locations are first identified where wildlife frequently cross roads, and then a maximum covering location problem is applied to these areas as demand nodes. The objective is to cover the largest area having the highest probability of interaction given a finite number of crossing structures available to be located. Coverage is defined in terms of fencing distance associated with a particular structure. The approach was demonstrated using Florida panther telemetry data identifying potential crossing structures across two counties in south Florida. The maximal covering location problem MCLP was solved for four coverage distances using radio telemetry tracking data, which captured frequent contact with roads. The results identify that the most effective coverage distance is 2000 m, which incrementally covers more total animal–road interaction probability than that of lower fencing distances in the case of the Florida panther. The results illustrate how this new time-geographic approach, combined with location modeling, measures animal–road interactions probabilistically for finding the optimum placement of wildlife crossing structures.