cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data Center Flooded Lead Acid Battery Early Degradation Causes, Analysis, and Mitigation

The continuous operation of the data center is very crucial as it centralizes all company’s information technology operations. Due to the criticality of the equipment hosted in the data centers, their power reliability becomes of utmost importance industry wide, requiring the deployment of a big scale backup system satisfying best-in class service.In this case, the studied data center is being electrically supplied by a system of 30 Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS), each of which is sized to provide 750kVA/675KW of power and backed up by 7200 of flooded lead acid batteries. The whole UPS system was commissioned and put into operation in 2013. Despite that being lately commissioned, some of the battery banks have shown severe degradation and unreliability. The hasty chemical reactions, sulfation resulted in a premature aging and immediate replacement of some cells.This paper will examine the battery degradation causes and effects, as well as identify gaps between current maintenance practices and industry standards. It will also analyze battery historical data including commissioning data and battery performance test results. In addition, it will shed light on the lessons learned and the relevant cost-effective mitigation techniques implemented to overcome this issue.
The multi-scale influence of topography on lava flow morphology

Predicting lava flow pathways is important for understanding effusive eruptions and for volcanic hazard assessment. One particular challenge is understanding the interplay between flow pathways and substrate topography that is often rough on a variety of scales (< 1 m to 10 s km). To study this problem, we develop a lava flow modeling framework that combines spectral analysis of substrate roughness with a new lava flow model (MULTIFLOW). The MUTLIFLOW model includes a multiple flow direction routing algorithm in conjunction with a thresholding function that limits the extent of the flow. Comparison of MULTIFLOW results with recent flows on Mt. Etna, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea suggests that MULTIFLOW accurately predicts the influence of topography on lava flow paths and morphology. Spectral filtering of pre-flow digital elevation models allow us to quantify which topographic wavelengths are most important for influencing lava flow pathways. Filtering constrains the height of pre-existing objects that flow overtop as a measure of flow thickness, and aids in identifying divergence of flow pathways from pre-eruptive topography that would result from modification of the substrate by the flow. Low-pass filter cutoffs in the range of ~ 10–100 m significantly improve the fit between modeled flow and real flow paths, suggesting a sensitivity of lava flow paths to such mesoscale topographic wavelengths. The three case studies are generalized with a parameter investigation of lava flow branching on synthetic red-noise topography. We demonstrate that the tendency of a flow to branch or not can be predicted on the basis of spectral characteristics of the underlying surface. We end by examining spectral signatures associated with volcanic and erosional processes on the Island of Hawai’i that may aid in forecasting lava flow pathways and deconvolving competing topographic construction and erosion in volcanic landscapes on longer timescales.
Sustain Vehicle-Crowds via Traffic Signal Adjustments

Vehicle-crowd (V-crowd) based cloudlets are envisioned to support high-demand mobile edge computing applications. Yet, a v-crowd's capability to host cloudlet applications is significantly affected by the sustainability of itself. Among the factors that may contribute to the capability and sustaining the v-crowd, traffic signal coordination plays an important role. In this paper, we study the interdependence between them through an empirical approach. We'll define new metrics to quantify the impact, and use data driven simulation to obtain results by manipulating signals offset as a control knob of traffic signal coordination. The goal is to use the results in terms of the metrics to develop guidelines that offer choices of offsets preferable for certain levels of v-crowd properties so as to achieve better performance of cloudlet applications.
Quality-of-life indicators as performance measures

Abstract This paper makes an argument supporting the notion that quality of life (QOL) indicators can also be treated as performance indicators, independently or in nested forms with conventional performance indicators in tourism. QOL indicators are reviewed and discussed in relation to three selected stakeholders, namely tourists, residents of host communities, and employees of tourism and hospitality firms. Specific examples of QOL indicators are described with case illustrations. The paper argues that there is a reciprocal relationship between conventional performance measures and QOL indicators. QOL indicators assist not only in gauging the level of destination competitiveness but also in ensuring sustainability of efficient and effective use of resources.
Rewiring bacterial two-component systems by modular DNA-binding domain swapping

Two-component systems (TCSs) are the largest family of multi-step signal transduction pathways and valuable sensors for synthetic biology. However, most TCSs remain uncharacterized or difficult to harness for applications. Major challenges are that many TCS output promoters are unknown, subject to cross-regulation, or silent in heterologous hosts. Here, we demonstrate that the two largest families of response regulator DNA-binding domains can be interchanged with remarkable flexibility, enabling the corresponding TCSs to be rewired to synthetic output promoters. We exploit this plasticity to eliminate cross-regulation, un-silence a gram-negative TCS in a gram-positive host, and engineer a system with over 1,300-fold activation. Finally, we apply DNA-binding domain swapping to screen uncharacterized Shewanella oneidensis TCSs in Escherichia coli, leading to the discovery of a previously uncharacterized pH sensor. This work should accelerate fundamental TCS studies and enable the engineering of a large family of genetically encoded sensors with diverse applications.
Measurement of the DNA alkylating agents busulfan and melphalan in human plasma by mass spectrometry

Abstract Busulfan and melphalan are cytotoxic DNA alkylating agents that are used in many hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) conditioning regimens. We report the development of an assay using turbulent flow liquid chromatography (TFLC) and tandem mass spectrometry to simultaneously measure the concentration of busulfan (Bu) and melphalan (Mel) in human plasma. The method involves precipitating proteins in the plasma specimen with an organic solvent containing deuterated internal standards of both compounds. Following centrifugation, an aliquot of the supernatant was injected into the TFLC mass spectrometry system operated in the positive ion mode. The analytical measurement range for both compounds was 10–5000 ng/mL, and with validated dilutions the reportable range was extended to 25,000 ng/mL. Intra-day and inter-day (n = 20 day) precision studies showed a coefficient of variation (CV) of
Unilateral, circumscribed, chronic dermatitis of the papillary-areolar complex: case report and review of the literature

Lichen simplex chronicus is a well-described, common pruritic disorder resulting from repeated rubbing and scratching. Typically, only one site is involved. When this site involves the papillary-areolar complex of one breast, the condition is termed unilateral, circumscribed, chronic dermatitis of the papillary-areolar complex. A patient with this uncommon condition is herein reported, and the literature, including a discussion of the differential diagnosis, is reviewed. An aggressive approach to the work-up of such a patient is recommended, to ensure accurate diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy.
Primary Tooth Crown and Root Fractures

In the primary dentition, luxation injuries are more common than crown or root fractures because the surrounding bone is less dense. Fractures of enamel are not uncommon but may not be reported as frequently as they occur. At very young ages, many children have not yet established a dental home and a minor dental injury may not be considered serious enough to seek care. Primary tooth fractures that involve enamel and dentin or that cause a pulp exposure are relatively infrequent but do usually result in the child being seen in a dental office or emergency room. This chapter focuses on fractures in the primary dentition and discusses treatment, prognosis, and sequelae as well as the behavior guidance techniques that allow safe treatment of the child.
Does one size fit all? An evaluation of the 2018 Leapfrog Group minimal hospital and surgeon volume thresholds for lung surgery.

Structured Abstract Objectives In 2018, the Leapfrog Group set minimum annual lung cancer surgery hospital and surgeon volume thresholds of 40 and 15, respectively. We examined if outcomes associated with Leapfrog Group volume thresholds were comparable for patients at the extremes of age and comorbidities. Methods We assessed lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy in the New York and Florida State Inpatient Databases (2007-2013). Multivariate logit models evaluated in-hospital mortality, complications, and prolonged length of stay. Median surgeon and hospital volumes were compared between “younger-healthier” (age 18-60, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index 77, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index >3). Results Of 27,841 patients, 13,277 (48%) were men, the median age was 69 years (interquartile range 61-77), and mortality was 2.1%. Patients treated by both low-volume surgeons ( Conclusions Hospital volume affects morbidity and mortality more than surgeon volume especially for older-sicker patients, suggesting that Leapfrog Group volume guidelines should emphasize hospital volume over surgeon volume and may be less relevant for younger-healthier patients.
Cover-Based Competitive Location Models

In competitive location models a set of demand points, each with known buying power exist in a market area. Competing for the buying power in the area is several of one’s chain facilities and competing facilities. If an area has only competitors’ facilities and no chain facilities are present in the area, then the chain is considering an area. The competing facilities attract buying power from demand points, yielding market share (the proportion of total buying power in the area captured by one’s chain). The objective common to all competitive location models is the maximization of market share. Usually, profit is assumed to be a monotonically increasing function of market share. Therefore, maximizing profit is associated with maximizing market share.
Impact of High- vs. Low-Frequency Surveillance Endomyocardial Biopsy Strategy in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Purpose Routine surveillance biopsy (RSB) is performed to monitor for asymptomatic acute rejection (AR) after heart transplantation (HT). The optimal frequency of RSB in pediatrics is unknown and variation in RSB frequency is high. We hypothesized that higher frequency RSB centers have increased rates of AR and resource utilization, but no difference in graft survival. Methods We utilized a linked database (2002-2016) between Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). We designated centers as high- and low-RSB based on the observed median number of first-year biopsies (from procedural ICD and CPT coding) in recipients assumed to be standard risk: greater than 1 year old without rejection in their first year. The highest tertile of centers were classified as high-RSB and compared to the lowest two-thirds (low-RSB). We then compared outcomes amongst all primary recipients aged 0-21 by center type. Outcomes were HT admission length of stay (LOS), incidence of AR at one year, graft survival, estimated HT admission cost, and total cost in the first year. Regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders. Results We compared 834 patients at 10 high-RSB centers to 2,033 patients at 19 low-RSB centers. Baseline characteristics were similar except high-RSB center recipients had increased use of ventilator or ECMO at HT (23 vs 18%, p=0.039), fewer hispanic/asian/other race (20 vs 24% p=0.005), fewer positive crossmatch (13% vs 17% p=0.007). High-RSB centers had higher first-year incidence of all AR vs low-RSBs (36% vs 29%, p=0.001; OR 1.52 [95% CI 1.24-1.85] p Conclusion Centers with a high-frequency biopsy strategy during the first year diagnose AR more often during the first year after HT but have similar incidence of treated rejection. Early graft survival is unchanged. A low-frequency biopsy strategy is associated with lower cost. To determine the optimal biopsy frequency additional data are needed on long-term graft survival and graft performance.
Where are the Books about Trains? A Case Study Exploring Reorganization of the Children’s Section in a Small Public Library

The Dewey Decimal Classification or alphabetical order employed by many libraries may create an opaque boundary for patrons seeking resources. A system that promotes browsing may be more appropriat...
Optic nerve and ophthalmic artery avulsion following gun shot wound.

A 14 year-old male, intubated in the field following a self-inflicted cranial gunshot wound, had bilateral subdural hemorrhages requiring emergent neurosurgical decompressive hemicraniectomy. Conco...
Preoperative multidetector computed tomography for isolated surgical aortic valve replacement: Planning for future transcatheter options.

Background Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a valuable option in patients with bioprosthetic failure. However, potential issues with ViV TAVR may occur in patients with high-risk anatomy for coronary obstruction and patients with baseline smaller bioprosthetic valves at risk for patient prosthesis mismatch. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to use preoperative electrocardiography-gated, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) to (1) identify which would be high risk for coronary occlusion with ViV TAVR, and (2) predict intraoperative SAVR sizing. Methods Among 223 patients from our institutions' database that underwent SAVR for aortic insufficiency (AI) or aortic stenosis (AS) between January 2012 and January 2020, 48 patients had MDCT imaging before surgery (AI; n = 31, AS; n = 17). Of all patients, 67% (n = 32) were bicuspid morphology. Results With the use of virtual valve implantation, all patients with AI and bicuspid AS had feasible anatomy for ViV TAVR, while 38% of patients with tricuspid AS were high risk for coronary obstruction. There was a strong correlation between actual valve size implanted and preoperative MDCT measurements using annulus average diameter, area, and/or perimeter. Conclusion Preoperative MDCT in patients undergoing SAVR is a useful tool for lifetime management, particularly in patients with tricuspid AS. Decisions for surgical management may change based on MDCT's ability to predict intraoperative SAVR size and determine which patients may be high-risk candidates for future ViV TAVR due to coronary artery obstruction.
Response of a Neuromechanical Insect Joint Model to Inhibition of fCO Sensory Afferents

This work details the development of a neuromechanical model of the stick insect femur-tibia joint control network in order to replicate and explore the “reflex reversal” phenomenon in insect limbs. We believe that understanding this phenomenon will lead to improved robotic joint control. We describe the development of this model using data taken from the extensor half of the network in the insect. To build a plausible model of the complete joint control network, we additionally mirrored the connectivity of the extensor control networks for the flexor. We present the results of experiments performed on the network by selectively inhibiting the system’s sensory afferents in an asymmetrical manner and observing the behavior of the simulated joint in open and closed loop scenarios. By inhibiting the network’s flexion position and velocity afferents, we are able to demonstrate changeover in the joint from a resistance reflex (RR) to an active reaction (AR) in response to joint flexion. We discuss why the nervous system might modulate joint behavior in this manner, as well as how to apply these findings to improve robotic control.
Delegating National Security

Conservative scholars and a Supreme Court majority support reviving the nondelegation doctrine as a way to downsize the administrative state. But proposals from these scholars and Justices inevitably maintain there should be an exception for national security. This Article explains why a national security exception defeats the nondelegation doctrine’s goals of preserving the separation of powers and individual liberty. In doing so, this Article charts the ways the national security state regulates and accounts for its immunity from the harshest attacks on the administrative state. This Article also predicts how this dynamic would affect a nondelegation revival. This Article begins by offering a new model depicting agency lawmaking in national security. It draws on insights from military-industrial complex theory, which has received scant attention from legal scholars. What I call the military-administrative complex uses threat-inflation to obtain increased regulatory authority over individuals, including American civilians. As its reach expands, the boundary between domestic and national security regulation fades. Next, this Article describes why presidential control theory—which grounds the legitimacy of delegation in the President’s political accountability and oversight—cannot justify a national security exception. The military-administrative complex is so entrenched and insulated that even the President must delegate vast discretion to agencies within it. Finally, this Article scrutinizes the sources the Justices themselves cite to support their nondelegation arguments. If the Court adopted the reasoning in these sources, this Article predicts, a revived nondelegation doctrine with a national security exception would be inherently unstable. Ever-expanding definitions of “national security” could allow the exception to swallow the rule.
A property fine-tuned sulfobetaine cholesterol derivative for membrane protein structural biology.

Abstract • Membrane proteins (MPs) play essential roles in biological and pharmacological processes. Many of them require cholesterol (CHOL) as their structure supportive lipid component and modulator for functionality. Unfortunately, commercially available CHOL and its derivatives have limitations on solubility or bio-activity. • We report 4-((cholesteryloxy)-4-oxobut-2-enamido)ethyl) dimethylam-monio) propane-1-sulfonate (CHEAPS), a novel CHOL alternative for MP study. CHEAPS can be readily solubilized in both detergents and membrane-active polymers. Interestingly, it could stabilize and support a new discovered enzyme function of human mitochondrial TSPO. As such CHEAPS may have a broad application for MP structural biology.
Percolation's Value

Few legal metaphors enjoy more prominence than that of a legal issue “percolating” through the lower courts until the Supreme Court is ready to resolve it. Just two Terms ago, for example, the Court declined to answer a question presented in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky, Inc., reasoning that further percolation would aid it in developing the scope of constitutional protections for a woman’s right to choose. In Trump v. Hawaii, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote to express dismay that nationwide injunctions are “preventing legal questions from percolating through the federal courts.” Similarly, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in Department of Homeland Security v. New York that nationwide relief undermines “the airing of competing views that aids [the] Court’s own decisionmaking process,” a view shared by many critics of the lower courts’ use of nationwide injunctions in recent years. A common presumption is that percolation is valuable. This Article questions that presumption. Its thesis is that, at best, percolation’s benefits will outweigh its costs under limited and contingent conditions—conditions not likely to replicate themselves across a broad range of cases. In advancing that thesis, the Article makes four contributions to the literature on federal court practice and procedure. First, as a historical matter, it shows that interest in percolation’s value is a relative latecomer to the jurisprudential scene. Second, as an analytical matter, it distinguishes between informational and institutional accounts of percolation’s value. Informational accounts highlight percolation’s potential to provide useful information to enhance the Court’s decisionmaking as to a particular legal issue. Institutional accounts, by contrast, see the percolation process as beneficial to the effective functioning of the federal court system as a whole. With this important but largely unrecognized distinction in mind, the Article makes a third contribution by showing that both accounts are subject to significant limitations. In particular, both the informational and institutional accounts of percolation’s value are highly issue-dependent and context-specific. Therefore, as a prescriptive matter, this Article makes a fourth contribution by highlighting a set of practices that the federal courts or Congress might adopt in response to the limited nature of percolation’s informational and institutional benefits.
Valuing: A Requisite for Education for Leisure

(1976). Valuing: A Requisite for Education for Leisure. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 47, Including Leisure Today, pp. 30-31.
On Radar Cross Section of Antennas in General

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Fundamentals of Antenna RCS How to Obtain a Low ?> tot by Cancellation (Not Recommended) How do We Obtain Low ?> tot Over a Broad Band? A Little History On the RCS of Arrays An Alternative Approach: The Equivalent Circuit On the Radiation from Infinite Versus Finite Arrays On Transmitting, Receiving, and Scattering Radiation Pattern of Finite Arrays Minimum Versus Nonminimum Scattering Antennas Other Nonminimum Scattering Antennas How to Prevent Coupling Between the Elements Through the Feed Network How to Eliminate Backscatter due to Tapered Aperture Illumination Common Misconceptions Summary Problems
Using available clinical information in practice-based research: mining for silver while dreaming of gold.

SUMMARY Social workers in health and mental health settings routinely collect and record enormous quantities of clinical information about clients, psycho-social interventions and client responses to these interventions. Despite its abundance and non-intrusiveness, social work researchers generally have ignored available clinical information, claiming that it is unreliable and subject to too many threats to validity to warrant serious consideration as a data source. Instead, many researchers have advocated “gold standard” experimental studies, employing standardized instruments and prospective data-collection. As a result, the research potential of retrospective studies based on available clinical information has been relatively unexplored and untested. This paper asserts that available clinical information can be converted into valuable retrospective, data-bases for practice-based research studies. Exemplars of such studies in health and mental health settings are provided as are guidelines for their con...
Impact parameter analysis of pp elastic scattering at s = 23 and 62 GeV☆

Abstract A parametrization-independent impact parameter analysis of the pp elastic differential cross section measurement by the CHOV Collaboration at two extreme ISR energies s = 23 and s = 62 GeV is presented. The opaqueness function is found to increase with energy by 20% at the center and 10% or less at the periphery. Our finding is thus at variance with some of the published results. Comparison with theoretical models is also briefly discussed.
A Review of “America's First Adventure in China: Trade, Treaties, Opium, and Salvation”

What do you offer the leader of a nation that already makes everything for the rest of the world? The short answer is that this past spring, at the first Obama-Xi summit in Sunnylands Ranch in Sout...
Frequency interpolation filter bank

A technique is presented for designing a bank of filters with the interpolating property: given N arbitrary frequencies (f/sub m/), the mth filter has unity response at the frequency f/sub m/ and zero response at the other frequencies. The filter bank realization may be viewed either as a statistic digital filter or as an adaptive filter wherein N oscillators are summed with time-varying complex weights; the modulated weights represent the filter bank outputs. These filter banks are useful as front-end processors for telephone tone receivers, acoustic signal processing, and general spectrum analysis. >
Attractors for graph critical rational maps

We call a rational map f graph critical if any critical point either belongs to an invariant finite graph G, or has minimal limit set, or is non-recurrent and has limit set disjoint from G. We prove that, for any conformal measure, either for almost every point of the Julia set J(f) its limit set coincides with J(f), or for almost every point of J(f) its limit set coincides with the limit set of a critical point of f.
Automated integration of lidar into the LANDFIRE product suite

Accurate information about three-dimensional canopy structure and wildland fuel across the landscape is necessary for fire behaviour modelling system predictions. Remotely sensed data are invaluable for assessing these canopy characteristics over large areas; lidar data, in particular, are uniquely suited for quantifying three-dimensional canopy structure. Although lidar data are increasingly available, they have rarely been applied to wildland fuels mapping efforts, mostly due to two issues. First, the Landscape Fire and Resource Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) program, which has become the default source of large-scale fire behaviour modelling inputs for the US, does not currently incorporate lidar data into the vegetation and fuel mapping process because spatially continuous lidar data are not available at the national scale. Second, while lidar data are available for many land management units across the US, these data are underutilized for fire behaviour applications. This is partly due to a lack of local ...
Inhibition of expiratory muscle EMG and motor unit activity during augmented breaths in cats.

To test the hypothesis that expiratory muscle activity is reduced during augmented breaths, electromyographic activity (EMG) of the triangularis sterni (TS) was recovered from eight pentobarbital anesthetized cats. Augemented breaths significantly increased tidal volume and peak diaphragm EMG, and prolonged inspiratory time and the first phase of expiration. However, the duration of the second phase of expiration was unchanged. Peak TS EMG was reduced during sighs in all animals, from 25 ± 5 to 12 ± 2 arbitrary units (P < 0.005). Furthermore, the onset of TS activity during expiration was significantly delayed during augmented breaths (P < 0.002), whereas the duration of expiratory firing tended to decrease but not significantly. Electrical activity was recorded from eight motor units of the TS in five cats. During testing breathing the motor units had a mean relative expiratory onset time of 46 ± 4% of expiration, and a mean firing frequency of 19 ± 2 impulses/sec. Two motor units became quiescent during augmented breaths. Of the remaining six motor units, three minimally shortened their duration of activity (by less than 15%) while three substantially abbreviated their period of firing (by 50% or more). In addition, all TS motor units reduced their mean firing frequency (P < 0.05) and number of impulses per breath (P < 0.002) during sighs. We conclude that expiratory activity of the triangularis sterni muscle is reduced augmented breaths, due to a combination of motor unit derecruitment and a slowing of motor unit firing frequency.
A series of eIF4E alleles at the Bc-3 locus are associated with recessive resistance to Clover yellow vein virus in common bean

Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV) is capable of causing severe damage to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production worldwide. The snap bean market class is particularly vulnerable because infection may lead to distortion and necrosis of the fresh green pods and rejection of the harvest. Three putatively independent recessive genes (cyv, desc, bc-3) have been reported to condition resistance to ClYVV; however, their allelic relationships have not been resolved. We identified, evaluated, and characterized the phenotypic and molecular genetic variation present in 21 informative common bean genotypes for resistance to ClYVV. Allelism testing phenotypes from multiple populations provided clear evidence that the three genes were a series of recessive alleles at the Bc-3 locus that condition unique potyvirus strain- and species-specific resistance spectra. Candidate gene analysis revealed complete association between the recessive resistance alleles and unique patterns of predicted amino acid substitutions in P. vulgaris eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (PveIF4E). This led to the discovery and characterization of two novel PveIF4E alleles associated with resistance to ClYVV, PveIF4E3, and PveIF4E4. We developed KASPar allele-specific SNP genotyping assays and demonstrated their ability to accurately detect and differentiate all of the PveIF4E haplotypes present in the germplasm, allelism testing, and in three separate segregating populations. The results contribute to an enhanced understanding and accessibility of the important potyvirus resistance conditioned by recessive alleles at Bc-3. The KASPar assays should be useful to further enable germplasm exploration, allelic discrimination, and marker-assisted introgression of bc-3 alleles in common bean.
New reference levels for CA125 in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Abstract Objective: CA125 is a glycoprotein commonly produced by the endometrium. Serum CA125 is widely useful as a marker for ovarian cancer screening, with 35 U/mL the generally accepted upper limit of normal. Since CA125 is known to fluctuate with vaginal bleeding and menopausal status, the purpose of this study was to develop different reference ranges for normal women of differing physiologic states. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,407 patients with serum CA125 levels taken at Cleveland Clinic Florida between 1992 and 1997. Patients with obvious elevation of CA125 from gynecologic cancers were excluded. Student t test was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Among 1,407 patients studied, 256 were premenopausal, 46 perimenopausal, 957 postmenopausal, and 148 excluded due to known gynecologic cancers. There was a significant difference between the mean CA125 values of premenopausal (19.3 ± 15.6) and postmenopausal women (11.7 ± 9.2) with P .7 × 10 −6 . Among premenopausal women, there was a statistically significant difference between CA125 levels during menses (21.4 ± 19.3) and luteal phase (14.0 ± 9.1) with P = .03. Among the subgroup of postmenopausal women with known bleeding history, the mean CA125 values for women with vaginal bleeding was 12.49 ± 11.5 compared to those without bleeding, 9.62 ± 4.6 ( P = .017). Conclusions: For normal premenopausal women, the overall upper limit of CA125 should be 50 U/mL. However, if menstrual status is known, the upper normals should be: 62 during menses, 51 for proliferative phase, and 32 for luteal phase. For postmenopausal women, the CA125 levels should be no more than 35 for those with vaginal bleeding and 20 for those without bleeding. The stratified CA125 values may help provide more specific ovarian cancer screening.
Thermoregulatory competence and behavioral expression in the young of altricial species--revisited.

The behavioral and physiological thermoregulatory capabilities of newborn and infant mammals have been studied for over half a century. Psychobiologists have noted that the infants of altricial species (e.g., rats) have physical and physiological limitations such that heat loss overwhelms heat production, thus forcing a reliance on behavioral thermoregulation for the maintenance of body temperature. Recent evidence, however, suggests that a modification of this view is justified. Specifically, throughout a range of moderately cold air temperatures, nonshivering thermogenesis by brown adipose tissue contributes significantly to the infant rat's behavioral and physiological adaptations to cold challenge. Given the prominent use of altricial species for the study of infant behavior, increased understanding of the infant's physiological responses to cold and the effect of thermal factors on behavior is warranted.
Optimal transfers from an Earth orbit to a Mars orbit

Abstract This paper deals with the optimal transfer of a spacecraft from a low Earth orbit (LEO) to a low Mars orbit (LMO). The transfer problem is formulated via a restricted four-body model in that the spacecraft is considered subject to the gravitational fields of Earth, Mars, and Sun along the entire trajectory. This is done to achieve increased accuracy with respect to the method of patched conics. The optimal transfer problem is solved via the sequential gradient-restoration algorithm employed in conjunction with a variable-stepsize integration technique to overcome numerical difficulties due to large changes in the gravitational field near Earth or near Mars. First, for given LEO and LMO radii, a basic optimization problem is considered: the minimization of the total characteristic velocity, the sum of the velocity impulses at LEO and LMO, assuming that the departure date is free, hence assuming that the planetary Mars/Earth phase angle difference at departure is free. At both departure and arrival, the optimal trajectory exhibits an asymptotic parallelism condition: at the end of near-Earth space, the spacecraft inertial velocity is parallel to the Earth inertial velocity; analogously, at the beginning of near-Mars space, the spacecraft inertial velocity is parallel to the Mars inertial velocity. The total characteristic velocity is ΔV=5.652 km/s, corresponding to a ratio of payload mass to initial mass of 0.224 for typical specific impulse and structural factor. Then, for given LEO and LMO radii, a departure window is generated by changing the departure date, hence changing the planetary Mars/Earth phase angle difference at departure, and then reoptimizing the transfer. This results into an one-parameter family of suboptimal transfers retaining the asymptotic parallelism condition at arrival, but not at departure. For the suboptimal transfers, the phase angle travel and transfer time decrease with late departure and increase with early departure. Also, a change in departure date of +32 days [−32 days] causes a characteristic velocity increase of 8% [5%], implying a payload mass decrease of 13% [8%].
A generalization of Huygen's principle and some applications

In this note we show how to arrive at the characteristic function for sum of N sinusoidal random variables under the conditions that a characteristic function for the individual component can be calculated. Using this formalism, it is possible to generalize Huygen's principle to random variables with each point of space to be an antenna with a gain pattern that is a superposition of random variables. Applications of this principle to several problems of interest is then briefly discussed.
Millimeter-Wave Range for the Quick Evaluation of Large Reflector Antennas with Complex Feeds.

An automated millimeter-wave antenna range capable of measuring primary-feed structure patterns and transferring this data to a mainframe computer for secondary pattern computation is described. Its applicability to the rapid evaluation of complex feed structures as used in a Cassegrain antenna is illustrated. An example of a reflector antenna analysis is compared to a measured pattern.
Case studies of successful location strategies and their operational effectiveness

A major operational decision is location strategy, which is the process of determining where an organisation should put its facility and how the organisation should determine this decision. Such a decision typically has long-term implications and is very difficult to reverse. In general, although there are similarities among the various organisations when choosing a location, each company chose a locale for reasons specific to their industry. Morningstar and Kennametal, Inc. want to make sure that their location is especially close to major highways, railways and rivers. As their customers are global, they want easy access to all of their buyers/customers to ensure satisfaction. These business strategies are also in place at ATT while BHP Billiton chose their location based on their customer base, where they strategically positioned themselves close to steel industries in order to provide sufficient resources to their clients.
A visual, position-independent instrumental reinforcer devaluation task for rats.

Abstract Flexible goal-directed behavior has been studied across species using reinforcer devaluation tasks, in which subjects form associations between specific stimuli (cues) and specific reinforcer(s). The reinforcer is subsequently devalued by selective satiation or taste aversion. Following devaluation, subjects adjust their responding to the cues reflecting the new value of the reinforcer. Tasks currently used in rats differ in several ways from tasks used in monkeys and this may explain contrasting results between the two species. To address one of the differences, we developed a rat task independent of spatial cues. It employs two visual cues presented simultaneously, changing left and right positions pseudorandomly. Each cue predicts one of two food reinforcers. Rats were trained to lever press in response to the two visual cues. Subsequently, they were satiated on one of the foods followed by an extinction test where in each trial they could choose to respond to one of the two cues, one predicting the devalued reinforcer and the other the non-devalued. This procedure was repeated later with the alternative food devalued. The rats adjusted their responding by choosing the cue predicting the devalued food significantly less ( p
Glycoprotein biosynthesis in Dictyostelium discoideum: Developmental regulation of the protein-linked glycans

The biosynthesis of glycoprotein N-linked oligosaccharides in D. discoideum is initiated by the transfer of a large precursor glycan from a carrier lipid. The subsequent processing of this precursor is dramatically dependent upon the stage of development. In early development processing retains the high mannose structure of the precursor and modifies some glycans by addition of fucose to core sugars and sulfate and phosphate to others. These reactions are coordinately lost during aggregation. Processing in late development extensively trims the precursor and adds fucose to peripheral mannose units of the smallest glycans. These reactions appear coincident with formation of tips on cell mounds. Experiments in which cells were starved in shaken suspension suggest that intercellular contacts and cyclic AMP signals may be sufficient to cause the controlled expression of these two alternate sets of processing enzymes.
Physiological characterization of electroreceptors in the lampreys Ichthyomyzon unicuspis and Petromyzon marinus

1. We examined the physiological properties and distribution of electroreceptors in the skin of adult lampreys (vertebrates, class: Agnatha) by recording electroreceptor afferent fiber activity in the anterior lateral line nerve. Stimulation was with uniform or local electric fields in the water around the fish. 2. Lampreys possess ampullary electroreceptors widely distributed over the head and trunk (Fig. 1) that are sensitive to weak, low-frequency electric fields. The response thresholds to uniform fields are 1–10 μV/cm and the dynamic range of the receptors includes 4 log units of intensity (Fig. 3). Maximum sensitivity with sinusoidal currents is to frequencies ≦ 1 Hz (Fig. 4). 3. Like the ampullary receptors of elasmobranchs and other non-teleost fishes, lamprey electroreceptors are excited by weak cathodal fields (i.e. negative at the receptor opening relative to a distant reference) and inhibited by anodal fields. With very intense stimuli (1–10 mV/cm) the responses reverse so that strong cathodal fields are inhibitory and anodal fields are excitatory (Fig. 3). These results indicate that similar transduction mechanisms exist in the electroreceptors of lampreys and non-teleost jawed fishes. Likewise, as in other non-teleosts, all electroreceptors in lampreys including those on the trunk are innervated by the anterior lateral line nerve. 4. The similarities in receptor physiology and innervation taken in conjunction with known similarities in medullary organization indicate that electrosensory systems of lampreys and non-teleost gnathostome fishes are homologous.
Dual Relationships in Group Training

This article reviews and critiques the literature regarding dual relationships in group work training. It explores the ethical concerns raised within the field, and relates this to an emerging literature concerning potentially beneficial relationships. Anecdotal and empirical evidence regarding dual relationships is reviewed, demonstrating the scant literature concerning this phenomenon in the group work training. Finally, conclusions are offered with implications for future work within the field.
Target identification performance of superresolution versus dither

This paper presents the results of a performance comparison between superresolution reconstruction and dither, also known as microscan. Dither and superresolution are methods to improve the performance of spatially undersampled systems by reducing aliasing and increasing sampling. The performance measured is the probability of identification versus range for a set of tracked, armored military vehicles. The performance improvements of dither and superresolution are compared to the performance of the base system with no additional processing. Field data was collected for all types of processing using the same basic sensor. This allows the performance to be compared without comparing different sensors. The performance of the various methods is compared experimentally using human perception tests. The perception tests results are compared to modeled predictions of the range performance. The measured and modeled performance of all of the methods agree well.
Remembering the victims

On a clear evening last spring, 7-month-old Chloe Collar was safely buckled into her car seat as her parents began a 5-hour drive to a holiday resort on the beach. The first several hours of the drive were uneventful; Chloe slept peacefully. But as they approached their destination the family’s car, stopped at a red light, was pummeled from behind. The other driver was drunk. Both Chloe’s parents suffered injuries. Young Chloe was killed. Three months later, as Chloe’s family began to regain some sense of normalcy, disaster struck again. Chloe’s 20-year-old cousin Kayla Fanaei went to a party, celebrating a friend’s birthday. Kayla stopped her car in the well-lit parking lot of an elementary school to complete a telephone call. There, she was approached by three strangers who murdered Kayla as she tried to drive away. The family again grieved a victim of injury. In isolation, the deaths of Chloe and Kayla are tragic …
Correlation Between Ammonia Levels and the Severity of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background: Because the correlation between ammonia levels and the severity of hepatic encephalopathy remains controversial, we prospectively evaluated the correlation in 121 consecutive patients with cirrhosis. Methods: The diagno- sis of hepatic encephalopathy was based on clinical criteria, and the severity of hepatic encephalopathy was based on the West Haven Criteria for grading of mental status. Arterial and venous blood samples were obtained from each patient. Four types of ammonia measurements were analyzed: arterial and venous total ammonia, and arterial and venous partial pressure of ammonia. Spearman rank correlations (rs) were calculated. Results: Of the 121 patients, 30 (25%) had grade 0 encephalopathy (no signs or symptoms), 27 (22%) had grade 1, 23 (19%) had grade 2, 28 (23%) had grade 3, and 13 (11%) had grade 4 (the most severe signs and symptoms). Each of the four measures of ammonia increased with the severity of hepatic encephalopathy: arterial total ammonia (rs =0.61, p ≤ .001), venou...
Inheritance of resistance in maize silks to the corn earworm

The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a perennial economic pest of field crops in the United States. Maize, Zea mays L., is the major host crop promoting the build-up of devastating corn earworm populations that limit full production of cotton, soybean, peanut, and grain sorghum. Resistance to the corn earworm in maize and in particular sweet maize, would provide an environmentally safe, economical method of control for this pest insect. Antibiotic effects of corn silks on this insect are : small larvae, extended developmental period, and reduced fecundity. Silks from individual maize plants of resistant and susceptible lines and progeny in six generations consisting of parents (P 1 , P 2 ) , F 1 , F 2 , and backcrosses BC 1.1 (F 1 x P 1 ) and BC 1.2 (F 1 x P 2 ) from each of four crosses were used to determine the genetic basis of the antibiotic resistance of silks to the corn earworm. In the cross of Zapalote Chico x PI340856, genes controlling resistance in the silks to the corn earworm larvae are dominant in PI340856 to those in Zapalote Chico. The cross of Zapalote Chico x GT114 involves parents differing in degree of resistance, and possibly differing for the genetic mechanism by which the resistance is inherited. The inheritance of resistance may involve non-additive (dominance and epistasis) genetic variance. A digenic 6-parameter model indicated (1) the resistance in this cross is controlled by more than one pair of genes and (2) some or all of the genes interact to cause non-allelic interaction. Thus, the resistance in this cross may be controlled by both dominant and recessive genes. The resistance of Zapalote Chico x CI64, an intermediate inbred, is influenced by additive gene effects. The digenic model adequately predicts all generation means of the cross of GT3 x PI340856 except for the F1. Thus, it appears that the additive-dominance model is not satisfactory for this cross involving susceptible and resistant parents. Generation mean analysis indicates that resistance to silk-feeding by corn earworm larvae is under genetic control, but gene action differs from one type of cross to another.
Theoretical insights on the mechanism of alkene epoxidation by H2O2 with titanium silicalite

Ethlene preferentially attacks the oxygen closest to the titanium in HOO–Ti(OSiH3)3(MeOH) and HOO–TiL3(MeOH) cluster models of the active Ti-site in TS1 due to a substantially reduced electrostatic repulsion.
Lumbosacral and Spinopelvic Fixation in Spine Surgery

Achieving fusion across the lumbosacral region has been a challenge in spine surgery since the advent of spinal instrumentation. The unique anatomy of this region and various biomechanical forces are some of the main reasons for the difficulty of attaining fusion in the setting of complex deformities in the lumbosacral region. Pelvic fixation has allowed for some success, although instrumentation still remains challenging. In this article we have reviewed the history of this problem with a focus on the development of various instrumentation techniques. We conclude by presenting a novel technique of S2-iliac screw fixation to address some of these challenges.