cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen production by the thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana.

Virtually all members of the order Thermotogales have demonstrated the ability to produce hydrogen; however, some members of this order produce considerably greater quantities than others. With one representative of this order, Thermotoga neapolitana, we have consistently obtained accumulation of 25–30% hydrogen with 12–15% carbon dioxide as the only other prominent product in the batch reaction. In contradistinction to information widely disseminated in the literature, we have also found that most members of this order tolerate and appear to utilize the moderate amounts of oxygen present in the gaseous phase of batch reactors (6–12%), with no apparent decrease in hydrogen production. Hydrogen accumulation has been widely reported to inhibit growth of Thermotogales. While this may be true at very high hydrogen tensions, we have observed log phase bacterial morphology (rods) even in the presence of 25–35% hydrogen concentrations. To maximize hydrogen production and minimize production of hydrogen sulfide, inorganic sulfur donors are avoided and the cysteine concentration in the medium is increased. We and others have demonstrated that different members of the order Thermotogales utilize a wide variety of feedstocks, including complex carbohydrates and proteins. Thus, it appears that organisms within this order have the potential to utilize a variety of organic wastes and to cost-effectively generate hydrogen.
THE PHYSICS OF THE FAR-INFRARED-RADIO CORRELATION. I. CALORIMETRY, CONSPIRACY, AND IMPLICATIONS

The far-infrared (FIR) and radio luminosities of star-forming galaxies are linearly correlated over a very wide range in star formation rate, from normal spirals like the Milky Way to the most intense starbursts. Using one-zone models of cosmic ray (CR) injection, cooling, and escape in star-forming galaxies, we attempt to reproduce the observed FIR-radio correlation (FRC) over its entire span. The normalization and linearity of the FRC, together with constraints on the CR population in the Milky Way, have strong implications for the CR and magnetic energy densities in star-forming galaxies. We show that for consistency with the FRC, ~2% of the kinetic energy from supernova explosions must go into high-energy primary CR electrons and that ~10%-20% must go into high-energy primary CR protons. Secondary electrons and positrons are likely comparable to or dominate primary electrons in dense starburst galaxies. We discuss the implications of our models for the magnetic field strengths of starbursts, the detectability of starbursts by Fermi, and CR feedback. Overall, our models indicate that both CR protons and electrons escape from low surface density galaxies, but lose most of their energy before escaping dense starbursts. The FRC is caused by a combination of the efficient cooling of CR electrons (calorimetry) in starbursts and a conspiracy of several factors. For lower surface density galaxies, the decreasing radio emission caused by CR escape is balanced by the decreasing FIR emission caused by the low effective UV dust opacity. In starbursts, bremsstrahlung, ionization, and inverse Compton cooling decrease the radio emission, but they are countered by secondary electrons/positrons and the dependence of synchrotron frequency on energy, both of which increase the radio emission. Our conclusions hold for a broad range of variations in our fiducial model, such as those including winds, different magnetic field strengths, and different diffusive escape times.
Thrombopoietin and erythropoietin activate inside-out signaling of integrin and enhance adhesion to immobilized fibronectin in human growth-factor-dependent hematopoietic cells

Erythropoietin (EPO) and thrombopoietin (c-MPL ligand; TPO) are structurally similar cytokines and support respectively, the proliferation and differentiation for erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages, as well as more primitive progenitors. We studied the effect of these cytokines on the induction of adhesion of human growth-factor-dependent hematopoietic cells to immobilized fibronectin, which is a main component of the extracellular matrix in the bone marrow. MO7ER cells that are genetically engineered to express human EPO receptor and MO7e cells that express endogenous c-MPL were used. Stimulation with either TPO or EPO induced rapid increases in adhesion of M07ER cells to fibronectin without apparent change of expression of integrins. Experiments with inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) demonstrated that CD41, which has been reported to be involved in TPO-induced adhesion of megakaryocytic cells, is not responsible for this enhanced adhesion. Anti-β1 integrin mAb inhibited adhesion completely, while inhibition by anti-α4 integrin mAb and anti-α5 integrin mAb was partial. Combination of anti-α4 mAb plus anti-α5 mAb completely abolished adhesion, as did anti-β1 mAb, suggesting that the adhesion is mediated by both α4β1 and α5β1 integrins. Experiments using inhibitors suggested that ligand binding followed by activation of intracellular tyrosine kinases along with PI3-kinase activation is required. After stimulation of M07ER cells with either TPO or EPO, fibronectin-attached cells, but not cells in suspension, showed tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, which plays a central role in integrin-mediated signaling. These data suggest that TPO and EPO might be involved in homing/migration to the bone marrow microenvironment by hematopoietic cells that express corresponding receptors.
Electron density redistribution in the stabilization of a molecular stacking complex: The nature and correction of basis set superposition errors

The effect of the basis set superposition error (BSSE) on the calculated electronic structure of a molecular stacking complex is analyzed with the counterpoise correction method. The complex between para-hydroxyaniline (PHA) and formamidinium cation (FAM) is calculated ab initio with the STO-3G and Whitman–Hornback minimal bases, and with two split valence basis sets: 4-31G and STO-3G(D). When the counterpoise correction is applied, the charge redistribution in the PHA/FAM complex calculated with all four basis sets suggests that the complex is electrostatic in nature and that the main polarization is from the PHA toward FAM. The FAM cation is polarized away from the intermolecular region, thus causing further increase in the electrostatic interaction. This picture is not evident with the STO-3G related bases if the counterpoise correction is not applied. Thus, the BSSE in the charge redistribution is shown to be particularly large in the STO-3G basis and in the diffuse, split valence, STO-3G(D). Both these basis sets suffer from an inappropriate description of the core region. Where there is an improved description of the electron density in the core region, as in the calculations with the energy-optimized Whitman–Hornback basis and with the 4-31G basis, the counterpoise correction has only a very small effect on the charge redistribution. After the counterpoise correction is applied, the two minimal basis sets yield nearly identical charge redistribution results, as do the two split valence bases. It is therefore suggested that basis sets used in the calculation of molecular complexes might be classifiable according to criteria such as the degree of contraction and the quality of the description of angular polarization. This would help in the comparative evaluation of results obtained with different bases since minimal basis sets (or split valence bases) would become directly identifiable as groups yielding qualitatively similar results.
Biological Evidence of Sibling Species in Aphytis maculicornis (Masi). (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae)

In biological control work an early taxonomic identification of imported entomophagous species is helpful but not essential, for in this applied field of entomology the behaviour and biological characteristics of species are held paramount to their taxonomic status. In actual practice it frequently happens that a species is imported, tested, colonized, and established before its specific taxonomic identity is conclusively determined. Examples exist in recent literature where one may find references to such insects designated as “ Aphytis X”, “Waikane Opius ”, etc. While this situation is not altogether comfortable to the worker in biolngical control it arises as a natural conseqnence of the initial and necessary concentration on the ecological and biological aspects of insect groups. It is particularly intensified by the fact that many parasitic groups are still poorly understood taxonomically.
Ultrathin Polypeptide Multilayer Films for the Fabrication of Model Liquid/Liquid Electrochemical Interfaces

Ultrathin (<20 nm) polypeptide multilayer films are assembled by the electrostatic adsorption of alternating monolayers of poly(l-lysine) and poly(l-glutamic acid) onto carboxylic acid terminated alkanethiol-modified gold surfaces. These polypeptide multilayer films are hydrophilic, can bind electroactive anions such as ferri/ferrocyanide, and are stable when immersed in organic solvents such as 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE). A combination of ex situ polarization−modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection−absorption spectroscopy (PM-FTIRRAS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements is used to characterize the film deposition and the incorporation of D2O and electroactive ions. Electrochemical cycling of the polypeptide films in 1,2-DCE is used to reversibly oxidize the ferrocyanide ions in the film, and in situ PM-FTIRRAS measurements demonstrate that more than 95% of the ferrocyanide ions can be converted to ferricyanide without loss to the organic phase. These ultrathin films will be used t...
A novel fault tolerant cache to improve yield in nanometer technologies

Process parameter variations are expected to be significantly high in the sub-50 nm technology regime, which can severely affect the yield. In this paper, we analyze SRAM cell failure under process variation and propose a new fault tolerant cache architecture suitable for high performance applications. The faulty cells are dynamically detected and replaced by adaptively resizing the cache. The granularity of our resizing technique is low, and hence, the technique can handle a large number of faults. This scheme is transparent to processor architecture and has negligible energy and area overhead. This scheme also does not affect the cache access time and has minimum effect on processor performance. Experimental results on a 64 K cache, implemented using BPTM (Berkeley predictive technology model) 45 nm technology, show that using our technique, the effective yield can be increased to 94% from its original 33%.
Effects of strength training on neuromuscular facial rehabilitation.

Objective: Physical trauma is the third leading cause of facial nerve damage, which can disrupt communication, social interaction and emotional expression. The objective of this report was to investigate the effects of facial muscle exercise as a stand-alone treatment in a young adult with unilateral facial nerve damage 13-years post-onset.Method: This single case study examines the long-term results of a 7-week intensive facial exercise programme followed by a 16-week moderate facial exercise programme.Results: Intensive exercise increased facial strength and upper lip elevation on the affected side and upper and lower lip strength on the affected and non-affected sides. With subsequent moderate exercise followed by 24 weeks of rest, strength was maintained but not increased.Conclusion: With intensive facial exercise, muscle weakness resulting from facial nerve damage sustained during childhood can be improved years after injury.
Some probabilities associated with the ordering of random variables having a dirichlet distribution

This paper considers certain probabilities associated with selecting the most and the least likely multinomial events under uncertainty. The analysis is based upon the assumption that the random multinomial parametric vector is distributed as a Dirichlet-type 1 distribution. It is shown that the probability that a given event is the most or the least likely event, posterior (prior) to sample information, can be expressed as a Dirichlet-type 2 integral. In this form, numerical values for these probabilities can be obtained from the tables of the incomplete Dirichlet-type 2 integral compiled by Sobel, Uppuluri and Frankowski (1985). It is also shown that the results of this paper are useful in the probabilistic analysis of arbitrary event trees using continuous random variables.
Fuzzy Rank LUM Filters

The rank information of samples is widely utilized in nonlinear signal processing algorithms. Recently developed fuzzy transformation theory introduces the concept of fuzzy ranks, which incorporates sample spread (or sample diversity) information into the sample ranking framework. Thus, the fuzzy rank reflects a sample's rank, as well as its similarity to the other sample (namely, joint rank order and spread), and can be utilized to improve the performance of the conventional rank-order-based filters. In this paper, the well-known lower-upper-middle (LUM) filters are generalized utilizing the fuzzy ranks, yielding the class of fuzzy rank LUM (F-LUM) filters. Statistical and deterministic properties of the F-LUM filters are derived, showing that the F-LUM smoothers have similar impulsive noise removal capability to the LUM smoothers, while preserving the image details better. The F-LUM sharpeners are capable of enhancing strong edges while simultaneously preserving small variations. The performance of the F-LUM filters are evaluated for the problems of image impulsive noise removal, sharpening and edge-detection preprocessing. The experimental results show that the F-LUM smoothers can achieve a better tradeoff between noise removal and detail preservation than the LUM smoothers. The F-LUM sharpeners are capable of sharpening the image edges without amplifying the noise or distorting the fine details. The joint smoothing and sharpening operation of the general F-LUM filters also showed superiority in edge detection preprocessing application. In conclusion, the simplicity and versatility of the F-LUM filters and their advantages over the conventional LUM filters are desirable in many practical applications. This also shows that utilizing fuzzy ranks in filter generalization is a promising methodology
Leptin Levels among Prepubertal Children with Down Syndrome Compared with Their Siblings

Objectives—To compare levels of leptin and other obesity-related hormones between prepubertal children with Down syndrome (DS), a population at high obesity risk, and unaffected siblings, to better understand the pathophysiology of obesity in children with DS. Study design—Cross-sectional study of 35 children with DS and 33 control siblings, ages 4 to 10 years, with a fasting blood sample, and anthropometric measurements to estimate body composition. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for the lack of independence between siblings. Results—In addition to having higher body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat, children with DS had higher leptin levels than unaffected siblings, even after adjustment for age, sex, race, and ethnicity (difference: 5.8 ng/ml, 95% CI: 2.4–9.3, p=0.001), and further adjustment for percent body fat (difference: 2.7 ng/ml, 95% CI: 0.08–5.4, p=0.04). Leptin and percent body fat were positively associated in both groups (p<0.0001), but with a significantly greater positive association in the DS group, suggesting a significant effect modification (p<0.0001). Conclusions—This group of children with DS had increased leptin for percent body fat than their unaffected siblings. This difference may contribute to the increased risk for obesity in children with DS.
31: Gastric Aspiration Leads to the Development of an Immune Response to Collagen V and Donor-Derived Class I Peptides Following Lung Transplantation in Miniature Swine

Purpose: Acute and chronic allograft rejection remain formidable problems contributing to poor outcomes after lung transplantation. Immune mechanisms leading to allograft rejection vary between different organs. While CCR2 has been shown to be important for fibrous obliteration of hetertopic tracheal grafts the role of this chemokine receptor in the rejection of vascularized lung allografts is unknown. Methods and Materials: Orthotopic vascularized lung transplants were performed in the following strain combinations: B63B6, Balb3B6 and Balb3B6 CCR2-/-. Recipient bone marrow, peripheral blood and transplanted lungs were analyzed 7 days after transplantation. In a subset of experiments, B6 wildtype and B6 CCR2-/bone marrow monocytes were adoptively transferred into Balb3 B6 (45.1) lung transplants and evaluated 96 hours later. Results: Monocyte (CD11b Ly6C) production in the bone marrow is increased after both syngeneic and allogeneic lung transplants. CCR2 is critical for the mobilization of monocytes from the bone marrow (BM) into the peripheral blood (PB) (Balb3B6 CD11b Ly6C BM: 14.5% 1.2, PB: 8.5% 1.8; Balb3B6 CCR2-/CD11b Ly6C BM: 20.9% 2.1, PB: 0.9% 0.6) thereby impairing the recruitment of CD11c APCs to lung allografts (Balb3B6 21.8% 4.4 Balb3B6 CCR2-/9.7% 1.5). Adoptive transfer studies showed that CCR2 is not required for the recruitment of monocytes from the peripheral blood into lung allografts. However, the potential of monocytes to differentiate into CD11c CD11b dendritic cells is regulated by CCR2. Recipient CCR2-deficiency does not impair the production of IFNby graft-infiltrating T cells and does not prevent the acute rejection of lung allografts. Conclusions: Our findings show that CCR2 regulates differentiation of monocytes and accumulation of APCs in lung allografts. However, unlike the case for other allografts, CCR2 is not required to promote acute lung allograft rejection. Future studies will have to address the role of CCR2 in the development of chronic rejection in vascularized lung allografts.
A cross-national comparison of American and Turkish consumer satisfaction with dental care services

Customer satisfaction may be considered as one of the most important elements contributing to competitive advantage. This is particularly important for service firms where increased loyalty can substantially increase profits (Reichheld and Sasser, 1990; Reichheld, 1996). Therefore, similar to any other service organizations, health care providers are increasingly becoming conscious of the value of satisfied customers and importance of understanding customer perceptions of quality of care provided. Although a number of studies in the marketing literature have focused on investigating differences in consumer satisfaction with different services across nations/cultures, such comparative studies are limited in the areas of dental care services.
High-resolution calculations of asteroid impacts into the Venusian atmosphere.

Abstract We present results from a number of 2D high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of asteroids striking the atmosphere of Venus. These cover a wide range of impact parameters (velocity, size, and incidence angle), but the focus is on 2–3 km diameter asteroids, as these are responsible for most of the impact craters on Venus. Asteroids in this size range are disintegrated, ablated, and significantly decelerated by the atmosphere, yet they retain enough impetus to make large craters when they meet the surface. We find that smaller impactors (diameter 2–3 km) fragmentation by mechanical ablation is preferred. The pancaking model has been modified to take into account effects of hydrodynamical instabilities. The general observation that most larger impactors disintegrate by shedding fragments generated from hydrodynamic instabilities spurs us to develop a simple heuristic model of the mechanical ablation of fragments based on the growth rates of Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities. Although in principle the model has many free parameters, most of these have little effect provided that they are chosen reasonably. In practice the range of model behavior can be described with one free parameter. The resulting model reproduces the mass and momentum fluxes rather well, doing so with reasonable values of all physical parameters.
COWBIRDS BREEDING IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS: SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS AND HABITAT SELECTION

To help minimize the impact of brood parasitism by female Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) on Nearctic-Neotropical migrants, we studied their spatial and temporal patterns and habitat selection throughout the breeding season. The study was conducted on an anthropogenic forest landscape in the central Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland. This landscape was characterized by different forest types and stages of succession resulting from logging, agriculture, and low-density housing development, as well as by natural and human-made corridors. Using radiotelemetry, cowbird movements were monitored in 3-h time periods during the day, beginning at 0500 hours Eastern Standard Time. Females were generally alone or with one or two other individuals from 0500 to 1100 hours. They were located in deciduous forest and brush near edges formed by road, power line, or stream corridors and other clearings, presumably searching for nests to parasitize. Breeding core ranges of individual females tended to be spatially separated from one another. Females would travel, on average, 2.3 km from breeding to feeding areas. From 1100 hours until dusk, feeding aggregations of ≥12 individuals could be found in grazed pasture or other areas of short grass. Feeding core ranges overlapped considerably. At dusk, cowbirds would fly an average of 3.0 km to roosting areas in deciduous forest near (X¯ = 1.3 km) where they would be found the next morning, presumably breeding. Cowbirds roosted singly or in small aggregations in trees near forest edges. Although the mean home range was 1592 ha, only 3.5% or 31.6 ha, on average, was actually used for different activities. Most individuals had at least two feeding core ranges (X¯ = 16.5 ha total), one breeding core range (X¯ = 9.5 ha), and one roosting core range (X¯ = 1.8 ha) or combination roost/breed core range (X¯ = 9.8 ha). Multiple-use core ranges were generally larger than single-use core ranges. Breeding and roosting core ranges were often elongated, with the long axis paralleling a linear canopy opening, e.g., a road, power line, or stream corridor. Multiple-use core ranges were more circular in shape. Breeding and roosting core-range centroids in the forest were often 22.5 cm dbh) snags than were found within forest interior >250 m from an edge. Conservation measures designed to reduce use of large forest tracts by cowbirds in this region would include eliminating feeding areas, minimizing canopy openings or edges, and perhaps managing existing edges in order to disperse nests of potential host species.
Use-wear, chaîne opératoire and labour organisation among Pacific Northwest Coast sedentary foragers

The pre-Contact foraging communities of the north-west coast of North America have long been recognised as exhibiting many of the features we associate with agricultural societies, including sedentism and social inequality. Evidence from the pre-Contact plank house communities of Meier and Cathlapotle throws new light on the spatial organisation of these societies. Detailed analysis of stone tools allows the spatial division of labour to be determined within these large, multi-family households. This reveals that while some tasks were associated with particular social ranks, a hierarchical community can be identified in each plank house. Overall, the differences lie in the degree of engagement rather than the kind of activity, helping to characterise labour organisation among these unique, sedentary foragers. The results also provide insight into the potential of stone tool analysis for social reconstruction
Fellows-in-Training & Early Career Page--The First Anniversary: A Vision, a Motivation, an Opportunity.

It has been 1 year since the publication of the inaugural Fellows-in-Training (FIT) & Early Career (EC) Page. Since then, every week, we have seen an incredible selection of ideas, concerns, advice, and questions from FIT and EC physicians. The interesting diversity of topics has provided an insight
A polynomial time repeated cuts algorithm for the time cost tradeoff problem

We address the time cost tradeoff problem.We investigate new properties of the repeated cuts algorithm of Phillips and Dessouky.We devise a new scaling repeated cuts algorithm that runs in polynomial time.The new algorithm is easy to implement as it is using a min-cut routine only.The new algorithm improves on the standard use of linear programming for the problem. The time cost tradeoff problem in project management, TCTP, is to achieve a given deadline on the project completion time by expediting the normal durations of activities at the cheapest cost possible. The linear TCTP, in which the expediting costs of each activity are linear, as a function of the number of time periods reduced, can be solved using linear programming. We present here an algorithm that solves the linear or convex costs TCTP that runs in polynomial time and calls only for a minimum s , t -cut routine at each iteration. This repeated cuts algorithm is related to the non-polynomial time algorithm by Phillips and Dessouky (1977), the PD-algorithm. The PD-algorithm reduces the project duration, at each iteration, by one time unit, at a minimum cost. The choice of the activities to expedite, in order to reduce the project duration by one unit, is determined by a solution to a minimum s , t -cut in a respective graph.We present here previously unknown properties of the PD-algorithm, and a new concept of cut-decomposition. These properties are used in devising the repeated cuts algorithm based on scaling. The repeated cuts algorithm solves in polynomial time, the linear as well as the convex TCTP. The algorithm solves the TCTP problem in polynomial time even when the durations and/or the target deadline are not necessarily integers.
Fiduciary Duty, Tort and Contract: A Primer on the Legal Malpractice Puzzle

How to deal with problematic lawyer behavior has become a vogue subject. The ever increasing number of lawsuits against lawyers over the past decade has resulted in increased thinking about the law of attorney malpractice and has resulted in dramatic changes and developments in the practice of law and in attitudes about law practice. In deciding whether or not to grant the particular cause of action and in deciding the available remedy, the courts must make policy decisions. Should the remedy available to the client be measured against the amount of harm caused by the attorney's misbehavior? Should legal presumptions, rebuttable or irrebuttable, be applied so as to afford greater protection to clients from attorneys than they would have from other vendors of goods and services in the market place? Against what standard should the attorney's conduct be measured: reasonableness, uberrima fides, or some other? Should the standard vary depending upon the nature of the cause of action? These and other issues comprise our agenda.
Reproductive Adaptations of the Red Tree Mouse

Captive red tree mice ( Phenacomys longicaudus ) were maintained on a diet of Douglas Fir boughs, the sole natural food of the species. Survival was good when the boughs were moistened frequently even though no other water was provided. The average duration of vaginal cornification was 5.9 days with a range of from one to 21 days. For four females with long smear records the proportion of cornified days ranged from 14 to 59%. Ovulation is induced by copulation. Free blastocysts were recovered from the oviduct of one female 64 hours after mating. Receptivity, as judged by lack of initial aggression, a distinctive circling behavior by the female, and a lordosis-like posture, was most probable for females with cornified vaginal smears. Such female receptivity was noted in 7 of 8 observed matings which led to pregnancy. Great individual differences in male sexual responsiveness were noted. One male attempted to mount nearly every female he encountered regardless of her receptivity. The usual gestation period of non-lactating females is from 27.0 to 28.5 days, but one such female produced a litter 33 days after mating. Two lactating females extended gestation to 40 and 41 days. Postpartum receptivity occurs at least occasionally. Among captives parturition may occur throughout the daylight hours. In normally developing litters the eyes open between 18 and 23 days. Individuals from smaller litters are significantly larger at birth. The rate of weight gain drops during the period of total dependence on the mother for nourishment, while absolute weight gain is nearly constant during this period. Correlated evidence from comparisons of litter sizes of 2 and 3 suggests that during the initial phase of development the mother's milk supply limits the development of the young. In healthy captives weaning takes place at from 30 to 35 days. Coprophagy prior to eye opening may be an adaptation to proper microorganism innoculation before ingestion of solid food. It seems probable that small litters, unusually long gestation, delayed implantation during lactation, and exceptionally slow development of the nursing young are all features of the reproductive process adapted to the energy-conversion difficulties inherent in a fir needle diet.
Risk Quantification in Unsteady Flow Simulations using Adjoint-based Approaches

In this paper, we study the unsteady flow past a circular cylinder subject to rotational oscillations. The uncertainties induced by the unknown frequency, magnitude and phase with respect to the vortex shedding are treated as sources of stochasticity, and we consider the problem of quantifying the tail probability distribution of the aerodynamic forces. Specifically we estimate the probability that the overall time-averaged drag exceeds a given critical value. First we compare adjoint-based and Monte Carlo based estimates. Then, we demonstrate that using an adjoint method, we can design a better statistical estimator and an importance sampling strategy and obtain accurate predictions with a computational cost orders of magnitude lower than brute force Monte-Carlo method.
Estimating a Parametric Component Lifetime Distribution from a Collection of Superimposed Renewal Processes

ABSTRACTMaintenance data can be used to make inferences about the lifetime distribution of system components. Typically, a fleet contains multiple systems. Within each system, there is a set of nominally identical replaceable components of particular interest (e.g., 2 automobile headlights, 8 dual in-line memory module (DIMM) modules in a computing server, 16 cylinders in a locomotive engine). For each component replacement event, there is system-level information that a component was replaced, but no information on which particular component was replaced. Thus, the observed data are a collection of superpositions of renewal processes (SRP), one for each system in the fleet. This article proposes a procedure for estimating the component lifetime distribution using the aggregated event data from a fleet of systems. We show how to compute the likelihood function for the collection of SRPs and provide suggestions for efficient computations. We compare performance of this incomplete-data maximum likelihood (M...
Photoelastic study of axially loaded thick-notched bars

The objective of this investigation was to study the stress distribution and concentration at the root of Ushaped notches in a thick bar subjected to uniform tension. The method of stress freezing and slicing techniques was used. Six models of PLM-4B plastic with various grooved parameters were employed. The variation of the cross stress normal to the bar thickness and at the root of the groove was investigated. The maximum axial tangential stress at the root of the fillet was found to occur at the middle plane of the bar. The effect of the bar thickness and the fillet parameters on the stress concentration was studied and the experimental data ware correlated with the existing two-dimensional solutions.
A New Method of Mobility Calculation for Planar Mechanisms

The classical Grubler-Kutzbach formula for calculating mobility of planar mechanisms seems very simple,however,it is not easy to obtain a correct result for some special mechanisms.In particular,by making an investigation of some cases existing in dozens of current-use textbooks relating to "Theory of Machines and Mechanisms" and "Fundamental to Machine Design",it is found that some results derived from the well-known formula are not correct.For this reason,a new method of mobility calculation for planar mechanisms is proposed,which is establishing upon a derived Grubler-Kutzbach formula.In the proposed method and formula,the new concepts of real-constraint higher pair,redundant-constraint higher pair,full-constraint lower pair and half-constraint lower pair are introduced,thus the puzzle existing in the Grubler-Kutzbach formula can be solved effectively.The research is helpful for making the formula for calculating mobility of planar mechanisms more rigid and scientific.
Issues in Research Design

Imagine that the discipline of professional psychology was so advanced that problem solving was simply a matter of collecting the facts, identifying the relationships among these facts, producing an orderly account of the problem, and implementing corrective measures to solve it. Imagine further that the tools of professional inquiry and healing were definitive: that they were beyond refutation either from within the profession or from without. The relationship of the art and science of professional practice with the public would be positive—something like the idealized physician of the 1950s. Expertise would be granted without question; success would be assumed unless somehow the winds of fate blew one’s problems beyond the reach of the profession, in which case the only gripe could be with fate, never with the professional.
Managing Software Development Process Using System Reliability Data

Due to the increasingly dynamic and complex nature of constructing software systems, the current-day system development is predominately incremental in nature. The decision of how long each development increment should last is critical to team productivity. This is because prolonged periods of coding without adequate system testing and team communication can result in considerable fault correction, while too much coordination can also be counterproductive by disrupting the progress of the development work. A major factor we consider that dictates the length of each development increment is the time-sensitive nature of the system reliability as a result of exponential software fault growth. Other factors include team communication overhead as well as the size effect incurred from the growing size of the system under construction. Our objective is to minimize the coordination overhead given that required system features are completed within the time allocated. Numerical results show how metrics collected from previous projects can be applied to the process design for future projects.
Trait Entitlement: A Cognitive-Personality Source of Vulnerability to Psychological Distress.

Psychological entitlement is a personality trait characterized by pervasive feelings of deservingness, specialness, and exaggerated expectations. The present review expands upon this understanding by conceptualizing entitlement as a cognitive-personality vulnerability to psychological distress. A review of research is conducted, and a novel, multipart model is described by which entitlement may be seen as such a vulnerability. First, exaggerated expectations, notions of the self as special, and inflated deservingness associated with trait entitlement present the individual with a continual vulnerability to unmet expectations. Second, entitled individuals are likely to interpret these unmet expectations in ways that foster disappointment, ego threat, and a sense of perceived injustice, all of which may lead to psychological distress indicators such as dissatisfaction across multiple life domains, anger, and generally volatile emotional responses. Furthermore, in the wake of disappointment, ego threat, or perceived injustice, entitled individuals are likely to attempt to bolster their entitled self-concept, leading to a reinforcement of entitled beliefs, thereby initiating the cycle again. At each stage of this process, entitlement presents the individual with the possibility of experiencing distress, predisposes further risk factors for distress (e.g., the subsequent steps in the model), and increases the risk of interpersonal conflict, again leading to distress. A review of relevant empirical data suggests preliminary support for this conceptual model of entitlement. (PsycINFO Database Record
Hitchhikers at the dinner table: a revisionary study of a group of ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) specializing in the use of extrafloral nectaries for host access

. Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are nectar-secreting glands found on plants independent of their flowers. EFNs are diverse in form, present on a wide variety of plants, and their secretions are known to recruit ants. However, much less information has been published on insects with known EFN associations other than ants. Two distinct species groups of Orasema Cameron (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) deposit their eggs close to the EFNs of their plant hosts. The simulatrix group comprises six species found in deserts and xeric shrublands of the southwestern United States and Mexico. This species group is revised, retaining O. aureoviridis, O. beameri and O. simulatrix as valid species, and describing O. cancellata sp.n., O. difrancoae sp.n. and O. zahni sp.n. The wayqecha group is from Peru and Colombia and includes the newly described O. wayqecha sp.n. and O. quadrimaculata sp.n. Members of the simulatrix group oviposit near EFNs of Chilopsis linearis Cav. (Bignoniaceae), Prosopis glandulosa Torr. (Fabaceae), Prosopis velutina Wooton (Fabaceae) and Populus angustifolia James (Salicaceae), whereas Orasema wayqecha oviposit on leaves of two species in the family Primulaceae. Monophyly of the two species groups is proposed based on a molecular analysis of ribosomal (28S and 18S) and mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) DNA, morphological features of the adults and planidia larvae, and their shared behavioural association with EFNs. Adults of both species groups have an expanded postgena that encloses the mouthparts, but are otherwise morphologically divergent. The planidia of both groups also share several features, including long cerci that may facilitate their movements within EFNs. Oviposition near EFNs is proposed as a means of increasing encounter rates of the first-instar larvae with their myrmicine ant host; however, it remains unclear whether the planidia are transported directly by the foraging workers of their host Pheidole (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) or indirectly with the help of an intermediate host. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EA112E3D-52BE-45D1-B03B-8764E8C94BE0.
Capsid-Dependent Host Factors in HIV-1 Infection

After invasion of a susceptible target cell, HIV-1 completes the early phase of its life cycle upon integration of reverse-transcribed viral DNA into host chromatin. The viral capsid, a conical shell encasing the viral ribonucleoprotein complex, along with its constitutive capsid protein, plays essential roles at virtually every step in the early phase of the viral life cycle. Recent work has begun to reveal how the viral capsid interacts with specific cellular proteins to promote these processes. At the same time, cellular restriction factors target the viral capsid to thwart infection. Comprehensive understanding of capsid–host interactions that promote or impede HIV-1 infection may provide unique insight to exploit for novel therapeutic interventions.
Planning capacity evaluations in power system

Abstract This paper presents the procedures to determine the required generation capacity and plant mix of a power system that will meet the load requirements and generator contingencies, as well as satisfy reliability constraints. First, we derive an expression for loss of load probability, LOLP, that corresponds to optimal generation capacity, which maximizes the net system operation profit. Then, assuming that the power system is uniform, we derive a relation between this LOLP and the required generation capacity, using the central limit theorem. The generation mix can also be obtained optimally by method of optimal allocation of resources. Applicable examples will also be provided to illustrate the theory.
Genetic Factor Common To Schizophrenia And Hiv Infection Is Associated With Risky Sexual Behavior

Background The relationship between schizophrenia (SZ) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is complicated epidemiologically and genetically. Although observational studies have described their co-occurrence and their joint relationship with risky sexual behavior (RSB), their genetic correlations are not well studied. Methods We performed an extensive search for genetic factors common to SZ and HIV using publically accessible summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of HIV infection and schizophrenia. To study the relationship of these disorders with risky sexual behavior (RSB), 2379 European Americans were genotyped and assessed for RSB score using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA). Genetic relationships between traits were analyzed in three ways: linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression to estimate genetic correlation; GPA (Genetic analysis incorporating Pleiotropy and Annotation) to test pleiotropy and identify pleiotropic loci; and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for SZ and HIV to predict RSB using linear regression. Bipolar disorder, height and body mass index (BMI) were tested as negative controls. Results We found that SZ and HIV have a positive genetic correlation, which is highly significant both with (cor=0.2, p=0.001) and without (cor=0.17, p=0.002) inclusion of the MHC region. Consistently, our pleiotropy analysis (p=5.31E-28) showed that a majority of the shared genetic variants have the same effect direction (shared-effect pleiotropic SNPs), meaning that the same allele tends to increase or decrease the risk of both SZ and HIV. Pleiotropic SNPs that influence schizophrenia and HIV infection with the same effect direction (shared) were enriched for chromatin assembly (p=1.3E-9) nucleosome organization (p=4.4E-9), and protein-DNA complex assembly (p=1.8E-8). SNPs with opposite effect directions (antagonistic) were enriched for the regulation of synaptic transmission (p=8.2E-6) and neurotransmitter transport (p=5.5E-5), neuronal differentiation (p=3.8E-5), and the regulation of nerve impulse transmission (p=2.4E-5). SZ PRS computed with antagonistically pleiotropic SNPs significantly predicted RSB score (p=0.019), but SZ PRS based on either shared pleiotropic SNPs or all SNPs did not predict RSB. Discussion The epidemiologic correlation between schizophrenia and HIV can partly be explained by overlapping genetic risk factors, which are related to risky sexual behavior. These findings call for further study of these SNP sets, and when available, using genetic risk scores from them to test other phenotypes that could yield important insights into these very serious disorders and behaviors associated with them.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorders and ADHD

Studies suggest a bidirectional association between the diagnoses of ADHD and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). Multiple DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD (e.g., avoidance of stimuli, as well as alterations in cognitions, mood, arousal, and reactivity) overlap with symptoms of ADHD (e.g., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity), as well as with other internalizing or externalizing disorders that may also be comorbid with ADHD. A careful assessment is needed for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. There are now multiple evidence-based psychotherapies for childhood PTSD and for ADHD, some potential useful for both conditions. There are many medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric and adult ADHD, and some for adult PTSD, but none for pediatric PTSD. Clinical practice guidelines are also available for ADHD and for PTSD, but not for when they co-occur. As such, clinical judgment and patient and family preferences must guide treatment decisions. In this chapter, we review the etiological aspects, assessment strategies, and psychosocial and pharmacological treatment approaches for patients with co-occurring ADHD and PTSD. We also highlight the need for more research within the field to inform better assessment and treatment of this comorbid combination in clinical practice.
Identifying nearly equally spaced isosurfaces for volumetric data sets

Abstract Isosurfaces are an important visual representation of volumetric data sets and isosurface extraction and rendering remains one of the most popular methods for volume visualization. Previous works identify a small set of representative isosurfaces from a set of sample ones, providing a concise description of the underlying volume. However, these methods do not lend themselves to equally spaced isosurfaces, i.e., keeping the same distance between neighboring isosurfaces, which can be advantageous from the user’s perspective in terms of visual summarization and interactive exploration. In this paper, we present a new solution that efficiently identifies a set of nearly equally spaced isosurfaces for a given volume data set. Our approach includes an estimation stage of linear interpolation and a refinement stage of binary search in order to balance the tradeoff between quality and performance. The refinement stage can incorporate spike and/or jump treatments to possibly improve the convergence. Experimenting with multiple data sets of different sizes and characteristics, we perform both quantitative and qualitative studies, demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our approach, and summarize our findings.
SIMPLE ANALOGS FOR NERVE MEMBRANE EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents simple analogs for nerve membrane equations. It presents analogs for the Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) equations for the voltage dependent behavior of the squid giant axon in the absence of spatial variation. Values for the various functions and parameters are given by Fitz–Hugh. These equations represent the best currently available model for the behavior of excitable tissue and have been successfully modified to describe the vertebrate purkinje fiber, the node of Ranvier, the Aplysia R15 cell, and other preparations. The chapter also discusses a system of equations as an approximation to the equations of the HH type.
Cross-Product Terms and Interactions

In a linear regression model with multiple predictors, the regression coefficients represent the unique contribution of each variable to the prediction of a criterion holding all other variables constant. Because the coefficients are statistically independent, a one-unit change in x i predicts a b i change in y across all levels of x k . This conditional invariance (as it is called) is demanded by the form of an ordinary linear regression model: $$ y={\beta}_0+{\beta}_1{x}_1+{\beta}_2{x}_2+\dots +{\beta}_k{x}_k+\varepsilon $$
Current Directions and Future Trends in Clinical Neuropsychology

The neuropsychological evaluation can be viewed as an extension and quantification of that part of the neurologic examination concerned with higher cortical functions. Luria (1973a) has noted that lesions of the highest zones of the cortex are inaccessible in classical neurological examination. Furthermore, neuropsychological evaluation of cognitive and personality changes may be more sensitive than the neurological exam to early manifestations of brain disease (Reitan, 1976a).