cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal coating erosion in a simulated Martian landing environment

Abstract An experimental and computational research program was implemented to quantify the thermal coating erosion that results from supersonic jets impinging on the surface of Mars during landing. Soil entrainment and acceleration in the impinging plume-flows result in high velocity particulate flux that can cause degradation of space-use thermal coatings. Computational fluid dynamics in conjunction with particle tracking simulations were used to determine the range of impact velocities expected during landing. The landing environment was simulated in a subscale particle erosion laboratory experiment with test coupons subjected to representative Martian soil media flux. Direct measurement of Mars rover white paint erosion has been obtained for a range of silica particle sizes (5–300 μm), impact velocities from 130 to 265 m/s, impingement angles from 30 to 90°, and mass loading of 10–240 mg/cm 2 . The post-erosion microstructure, absorptivity, and emissivity of the coating were also measured.
A Linear Programming Approach to Nonstationary Infinite-Horizon Markov Decision Processes

Nonstationary infinite-horizon Markov decision processes (MDPs) generalize the most well-studied class of sequential decision models in operations research, namely, that of stationary MDPs, by relaxing the restrictive assumption that problem data do not change over time. Linear programming (LP) has been very successful in obtaining structural insights and devising solution methods for stationary MDPs. However, an LP approach for nonstationary MDPs is currently missing. This is because the LP formulation of a nonstationary infinite-horizon MDP includes countably infinite variables and constraints, and research on such infinite-dimensional LPs has traditionally faced several hurdles. For instance, duality results may not hold; an extreme point may not be a basic feasible solution; and in the context of a simplex algorithm, a pivot operation may require infinite data and computations, and a sequence of improving extreme points need not converge in value to optimal. In this paper, we tackle these challenges a...
Thin film processing of axially modified phthalocyanine derivatives

A new class of hydroxyl terminated silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) derivatives was prepared by capping dihydroxy SiPc with a variety of compounds containing two or more hydroxyl groups. The unique feature of these polyhydroxy SiPc derivatives is their function as crosslinkers that allows their processability into polyurethane films on reacting with isophorone diisocyanate. The films possess high impact resistance, thermostability at 125°C for over 10 h, and low absorption in the visible region. Solid polymeric films incorporating over 20% (w/w) of Pc rings were prepared without phase segregation. The kinetic parameters of polymerization, such as reaction conversion versus time and temperature, heat of reaction (ΔH), activation energy (ΔE), and reaction order (n) were investigated. Some of the polyhydroxy SiPc derivatives exhibit very high solubility in common organic solvents and possess adequate optical transparency for use as nonlinear optical materials in vision protection against laser light.
On Proper Orthogonal Co-Ordinates as Indicators of Modal Activity

Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is applied for examining modal activity. The extraction of proper orthogonal modal co-ordinates (POCs) is outlined. The proper orthogonal values (POVs) are the mean squared values of the POCs. The number of POVs above the noise floor provides a bound on the number of significant modes based on POVs above the noise floor. The ideas are illustrated on a linear cantilevered beam experiment. The displacement ensembles are obtained by processing six strain measurements. Coherent proper orthogonal modes (POMs) and POVs above the noise floor together confirm that six active modes are detected in the system. The distribution of modal components in POCs is discussed. The characteristics of the POMs, POVs and POCs are then examined in the presence of added noise.
Identification of a sequence in the PEPCK gene that mediates a negative effect of insulin on transcription

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) governs the rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis. Glucocorticoids and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) increase PEPCK gene transcription and gluconeogenesis, whereas insulin has the opposite effect. Insulin is dominant, since it prevents cAMP and glucocorticoid-stimulated transcription. Glucocorticoid and cAMP response elements have been located in the PEPCK gene and now a 15-base pair insulin-responsive sequence (IRS) is described. Evidence for a binding activity that recognizes this sequence is presented.
Conversion–temperature–property diagram for a liquid dicyanate ester/high‐Tg polycyanurate thermosetting system

The effects of conversion and temperature on the dynamic mechanical properties (at ≈ 1 Hz) of a dicyanate ester/polycyanurate thermosetting system are investigated after cure using torsional braid analysis (TBA). Extent of conversion is measured by Tg. The isothermal glassy-state modulus at measurement temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the monomer (Tg0) decreases with increasing conversion. The isothermal modulus at temperatures above Tg0 passes through a maximum due to competition between increase in the isothermal glassy-state modulus at the measurement temperature due to the vitrification process during cooling and the aforementioned decrease in the modulus with increasing conversion, which is considered to be due primarily to steric constraints in the developing network. The maximum in the isothermal modulus is associated with the boundary between the glass and glass transition regions. The experimental results are summarized in a conversion (Tg)–temperature–property diagram, the TgTP diagram, which is a framework for understanding relationships between transitions and material properties for thermosetting systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Zum Einfluß einer Temperung im Vakuum und Schwefeldampf auf die Realstruktur von CdS-Einkristallen

Es werden die spektrale Verteilung der Photoleitung von CdS-Einkristallen bei Belichtung mit naturlichem Licht bei Zimmertemperatur und der Temperatur der flussigen Luft sowie Leitfahigkeitsglowkurven von besonders reinen CdS-Einkristallen in Abhangigkeit von der Vorbehandlung untersucht. Die Vorbehandlungen bestehen in einer Temperung im Vakuum, einer Temperung in einer Schwefelatmosphare bzw. dem Aussetzen atmospharischer Luft bei Zimmertemperatur nach den vorangegangenen Temperungen. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zeigen, das sich eine grosere Anzahl unterschiedlicher Storzentren durch diese Vorbehandlungen bilden mus, als bisher angenommen wurde. Nach der Temperung im Vakuum bilden sich drei Hafttermgruppen, deren energetischer Abstand vom Leitungsband 0,35, 0,45 und 0,55 eV betragt.
The effect of an educational intervention on willingness to receive therapeutic touch.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to test the effect of an educational intervention on participants’ willingness to receive Therapeutic Touch (TT). A sample of 108 participants was recruited from three area nursing programs and one professional business women’s group. Participants completed questionnaires before and after a 10-minute talk on TT and a 5-minute demonstration of TT. Participants were asked to rank their willingness to experience a TT treatment and to explain the reasons for their rankings. The hypothesis that the intervention would increase participants’willingness to experience TT was supported; there was a significant difference in pre- and postintervention willingness to experience TT.
A method for estimating land loss associated with stream channel degradation

Abstract Since the turn of the 20th century, stream channel widening has accompanied channel degradation in areas of thick loess deposits along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The objective of this study is to illustrate improved methods of estimating land loss associated with these processes. It has been established that the main cause of bank retreat is mass movement, not the tractive force of flowing water. The method suggested here combines the semilog equilibrium longitudinal profile used to predict the maximum depth of channel erosion with a planar failure-surface slope stability analysis to estimate the amount of widening. Equations and a flow diagram are provided describing the sequence of calculation.
Management and outcome of a varicella exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit: Lessons for the vaccine era

Background Varicella exposure in health care settings poses a threat to susceptible, immunocompromised hosts. We describe the management and outcome of a varicella exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods We reviewed the history of the index case, determination of the exposed cohort, medical management of exposed neonates, and assignment of health care workers based on exposure and immune status. We present the results of serologic testing of health care workers related to their history of varicella disease. Results Of 427 health care workers assessed at the time of the exposure, 13.1% were seronegative for varicella. Among 180 employees recorded as having a previous history of varicella, 9 were seronegative. A total of 34 infants received prophylaxis with intravenous immune globulin; acyclovir prophylaxis was added for those born at Conclusion Nosocomial varicella exposures require rapid assessment and response, which can be guided by a checklist of actions. Varicella immunity in health care workers cannot be assumed even among those born before 1980; institutional policies should adhere to the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's definition of immunity to varicella for health care workers.
An on-line hybrid computing system for dynamic respiratory response studies

Abstract This paper describes a hybrid computing system for on-line human respiratory studies. A digital computer dictates the subject's inspired CO2 concentration through a servocontrolled breathing chamber. The inspired CO2 is varied so that the alveolar CO2 concentration has a useful dynamic perturbation. A special purpose analog computer system measures and displays respiratory response data in real time and an on-line digital system accumulates these data on a breath-to-breath basis. A digitally controlled breath sound simulator is used to study the subject's voluntary interaction with his involuntary CO2 response. Examples of experimental data are presented. The system is presently in use in ongoing studies of the normal and drug-altered respiratory control system.
Failed extubation in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Summary Objective To determine the causes of failed extubation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the need for airway intervention. Study design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care children's hospital. Patients We identified all premature infants (gestational age Results DLBs were performed on 63 patients to evaluate the cause of failed extubation. Group A comprised of 50 patients who underwent tracheostomy. They had an average gestational age of 30.0 weeks, birth weight of 1457 g and number of failed extubations 2.68. Group B consisted of 13 patients who did not undergo tracheostomy. They had an average gestational age of 34.5 weeks, birth weight of 2309 g and number of failed extubations 1.33. 56.0% of the tracheostomy group and 38.5% of the non-tracheostomy group had chronic lung disease (CLD). At endoscopy, 44% of Group A and 23.1% of Group B had some degree of subglottic stenosis. Conclusion Abnormal laryngotracheal findings are common in neonates who fail extubation. When compared to their counterparts with similar co-morbidities, neonates with CLD, gestational age of 30 weeks or below and low birth weight are twice as likely to have subglottic edema and fail extubation. They are also likely to be candidates for a tracheostomy.
Measurement of the total motion between two body segments — II Description of application

The total motion between two body segments can be measured accurately if all six possible degrees of freedom between the two body segments are considered. Part I of this paper (Kinzel et al. 1972) described the analytical basis for a measurement scheme capable of considering all six degrees of freedom. The objective of part II is to describe an application of the measurement system to a study of the motion in the shoulder joint of a dog. The design of the instrumented spatial linkage used to make the measurements and the use of the linkage data to determine both the gross relative motion of the scapula with respect to the humerus and the detailed relative motion between the two articulating surfaces of the shoulder joint are described.
Risk Factors for Complications in Infants and Children with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes

Objective To identify risk factors associated with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube complications in a large cohort of infants and children. Study design We performed a chart review of 591 pediatric patients undergoing PEG tube placement between 2006 and 2010 at Boston Children's Hospital. Frequency and type of major and minor complications associated with PEG tubes in children were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then conducted to determine potential risk factors for complications. Results A total of 198 PEG-related complications (72 major and 126 minor) were noted in our cohort of 591 patients. Approximately 10.5% of patients experienced at least one major complication and 16.4% experienced at least one minor complication, with the great majority of complications occurring after discharge postplacement. Age P = .003), American Society of Anesthesiologists class III ( P = .02), and presence of a neurologic disorder ( P = .05) were found to be protective against experiencing a major complication, whereas the presence of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was confirmed to be a risk factor ( P = .01) for major complications. Conclusion Both minor and major complications are common in children after PEG tube placement, with most complications occurring several months postoperatively. Certain patient factors, including age, neurologic status, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class, may be protective, and the presence of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt may be associate with an increased risk of complications after PEG tube placement.
The effect of carbon distribution on the manganese magnetic moment in bcc Fe–Mn alloy

First-principles calculations were performed to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of bcc Fe with C impurities alloyed with 2, 3, and 6 at.% of Mn. Our results reveal that both manganese concentration and carbon location with respect to Mn affect the Fe–Mn magnetic interaction. With an increase in Mn concentration in bcc Fe–Mn alloy, the local magnetic moment of manganese changes sharply from − 2 to 1 µB near 3 at.% Mn, while carbon stabilizes the local ferromagnetic interaction between the nearest Mn atom and the Fe matrix. We demonstrate that the Mn–C interaction is attractive and promotes carbon trapping with a low energy defect configuration. Our results indicate that the Mn–C binding energy strongly depends on the magnetism and the formation of MnxC clusters is predicted.
Common pathways for ultraviolet skin carcinogenesis in the repair and replication defective groups of xeroderma pigmentosum

The human disease xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) involves DNA repair and replication deficiencies that predispose homozygous individuals to a 1000-fold increase in nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Two major forms of XP are known with different biochemical defects: one form lacks nucleotide excision repair (NER); the other lacks the capacity to replicate damaged DNA. Since the clinical symptoms of both kinds of patients are almost the same, the different cellular defects must be reconciled with common clinical outcomes. An additional question among the NER defective patients is how to reconcile widely different skin and central nervous system symptoms with mutations in the same biochemical pathway. XP involves seven genes of the NER system (XPA through G). The XPA gene codes for a protein that is central to NER and binds to a variety of UV light and chemical damage to DNA. It also acts as a nucleation center for other repair proteins to attach and carry out excision and replacement synthesis. Mutations in XPA that are within the DNA binding site produce more severe CNS disorders, than mutations in the C-terminal region of the protein that interacts with the TFIIH complex. In contrast, mutations in two members of the TFIIH complex, the XPB and XPD genes are generally very severe with both skin and CNS disorders. Missense mutations within the helicase regions of these genes are associated with DNA repair deficiencies and XPD; mutations elsewhere in these genes are correlated with symptoms of XP and Cockayne syndrome and trichothiodystrophy. This raises the question whether the CNS disorders of XPA, XPB, and XPD patients are similar, or whether a careful clinical evaluation might reveal different mechanisms of development. The XP variant lacks the capacity to replicate damaged DNA due to mutations in hRad30, a damage-specific polymerase eta. The phenotype of XP variant cells becomes unstable and the cells become much more UV-sensitive when they are transformed by methods that inactivate p53. On a p53 negative background, the induction of recombination between sister chromatids occurs much more extensively than in normal cells, and we have evidence that DNA double strand breaks which trigger an apoptotic pathway involving caspase-3 are involved. The pathway for UV carcinogenesis may be the same for all XP patients if the ultimate cause of genomic instability is an increase in replication of damaged DNA by the error-prone polymerase zeta. The presence of unrepaired damage in the NER defective groups of XP would present more substrate for the error-prone system leading to increased mutation rates. The absence of pol eta would require cells to use the error-prone pol zeta pathway, also increasing mutation rates from UV damage. A common pathway for increased mutagenesis therefore underlies both forms of XP.
Helical Packing Patterns in Membrane and Soluble Proteins

This article presents the results of a detailed analysis of helix-helix interactions in membrane and soluble proteins. A data set of interacting pairs of helices in membrane proteins of known structure was constructed and a structure alignment algorithm was used to identify pairs of helices in soluble proteins that superimpose well with pairs of helices in the membrane-protein data set. Most helix pairs in membrane proteins are found to have a significant number of structural homologs in soluble proteins, although in some cases, primarily involving irregular helices, no close homologs exist. An analysis of geometric relationships between interacting helices in the two sets of proteins identifies some differences in the distributions of helix length, interfacial area, packing angle, and distance between the polypeptide backbones. However, a subset of soluble-protein helix pairs that are close structural homologs to membrane-protein helix pairs exhibits distributions that mirror those observed in membrane proteins. The larger average interface size and smaller distance of closest approach seen for helices in membrane proteins appears due in part to a relative enrichment of alanines and glycines, particularly as components of the AxxxA and GxxxG motifs. It is argued that membrane helices are not on average more tightly packed than helices in soluble proteins; they are simply able to approach each other more closely. This enables them to interact over longer distances, which may in turn facilitate their remaining in contact over much of the width of the lipid bilayer. The close structural similarity seen between some pairs of helices in membrane and soluble proteins suggests that packing patterns observed in soluble proteins may be useful in the modeling of membrane proteins. Moreover, there do not appear to be fundamental differences between the magnitude of the forces that drive helix packing in membrane and soluble proteins, suggesting that strategies to make membrane proteins more soluble by mutating surface residues are likely to encounter success, at least in some cases.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in the parturient: an uncommon disorder--common dilemma in the delivery room.

Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare genetically transmitted connective tissue disorder, non-specific to pregnancy. Because of multi-organ involvement and the varied presentations of this disease, no uniform obstetric and anesthetic recommendations regarding the peripartum care of these parturients can be made.
Enantioselective trace analysis of amphetamine in human plasma by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A method for the quantitative enantioselective analysis of amphetamine in human plasma by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/NICI-MS) is presented. Five-fold deuterated analogues of both enantiomers were used as internal standard. Plasma sample preparation was performed by a rapid liquid-liquid extraction using n-hexane. Derivatization with (S)-(-)-N-(heptafluorobutyryl)prolyl chloride was accomplished directly in the n-hexane extract to avoid loss of amphetamine during sample concentration. The method was validated in the expected concentration range of 0.006 for a pharmacokinetic study. Calibration curves were linear within a range 0.006-50 ng/mL plasma. Precision and accuracy were acceptable over the entire calibration range. Baseline separation of the enantiomers was easily achieved on a 15-m nonchiral apolar column. The method is simple and robust, and has been applied to the batch analysis of amphetamine enantiomers.
Simultaneous occurrence of congenital aniridia, hamartoma, and Wilms' tumor.

The syndrome of Wilms' tumor associated with aniridia consists of congenital nonfamilial aniridia, Wilms' tumor developing before 3 years of age, eye lesions associated with aniridia, mental and growth retardation, microcephaly, genitourinary anomalies, and deformities of the pinna. The twenty-fifth case of this syndrome is presented and demonstrates new findings not seen previously: congenital lipoma and spina bifida with meningocele. This case provides an important link between the Wilms' tumor-aniridia syndrome and disorders of growth control (hemihypertrophy, hamartoma, and visceral cytomegaly syndrome). The array of overlapping congenital malformations occurring with Wilms' tumor, aniridia, and disorders of growth control suggest common teratogenic and oncogenic mechanisms.
Partition Infrared Method for Total Gasoline Range Organics in Water Based on Solid Phase Microextraction

A new method is described for determining total gasoline-range organics (TGRO) in water that combines solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In this method, the organic compounds are extracted from 250-mL of water into a small square (3.2 cm × 3.2 cm × 130 μm thick) of Teflon PFA film. This film, a perfluoroalkoxyethylene polymer, lacks C−H bonds and makes it possible to quantitate the extracted organics directly in it via their C−H stretching vibrations. Three gasoline-range fuels, unleaded gasoline, aviation gas, and lighter fuel (petroleum naphtha), were chosen to evaluate the SPME/IR procedure. Preliminary experiments show that method detection limits are in the 0.5−1.5 ppm range for spiked solutions, and precision is relatively good (6−11% RSDs). Linear dynamic ranges of calibration extend to the water solubility limits for all fuels studied. Finally, the potential of this SPME/IR method for determining TGRO in natural “real world” water samples was investigated by extract...
Interaction of phloretin with the anion transport protein of the red blood cell membrane

Phloretin is an inhibitor of anion exchange and glucose and urea transport in human red cells. Equilibrium binding the kinetic studies indicate that phloretin binds to band 3, a major integral protein of the red cell membrane. Equilibrium phloretin binding has been found to be competitive with the binding of the anion transport inhibitor, 4,4'-dibenzamido-2,2'-disulfonic stilbene (DBDS), which binds specifically to band 3. The apparent binding (dissociation) constant of phloretin to red cell ghost band 3 in 28.5 mM citrate buffer, pH 7.4, 25 degree C, determined from equilibrium binding competition, is 1.8 +/- 0.1 microM. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that phloretin decreases the rate of DBDS binding to band 3 in a purely competitive manner, with an apparent phloretin constant of 1.6 +/- 0.4 microM. The pH dependence of equilibrium binding studies show that it is the charged, anionic form of phloretin that competes with DBDS binding, with an apparent phloretin inhibition constant of 1.4 microM. The phloretin binding and inhibition constants determined by equilibrium binding, kinetic and pH studies are all similar to the inhibition constant of phloretin for anion exchange. These studies suggest that phloretin inhibits anion exchange in red cells by a specific interaction between phloretin and band 3.
Selection for placental efficiency in swine: genetic parameters and trends.

Theobjectives ofthisstudywere toesti- mate response to divergent selection for an index of placental efficiency in swine, and to evaluate the effect of placental efficiency on litter size. The selection index (SI) included total born (TB), birth weight (BRWT), and placental weight (PW), and was designed to increase in the high line (H) or decrease in the low line (L) the efficiency of the placental function (PE), defined as the ratio BRWT:PW. (Co)variance components were esti- mated for direct and maternal additive effects by using an animal model with MTDFREML procedures. Esti- matedbreeding valueswerecalculatedby usingrecords on individual BRWT (n = 2,111), PW (n = 2,006), PE (n = 1,677), and SI (n = 1,677). Litter traits were evalu- ated using records on 193 litters. The model included the fixed effects of contemporary group for all traits, with the addition of sex for individual traits and parity for litter traits. Litter was fitted as an uncorrelated random effect for all traits, and TB was used as a linear and quadratic covariate for BRWT, PW, and PE. Direct heritability estimates from single-trait models were 0.03, 0.25, 0.18, 0.11, and 0.08 for BRWT, PW, PE, SI, and TB, respectively. Estimated breeding values were compared between lines by using a model including generation,line withingeneration, andreplicate within line as the error term. Estimates of genetic divergence were 20.7 ± 2.7 g, 0.24 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.02, and 0.07 ± 0.02pergenerationforPW,PE,SI,andTB,respectively (P <0.01),but divergence was not significantfor BRWT. At Generation 4, direct EBV was higher in L than in H for PW (55.9 ± 8.7 vs. −24.2 ± 9.5 g, respectively; P < 0.01) and higher in H than in L for PE (0.58 ± 0.10 vs. −0.35 ± 0.09 g, respectively; P < 0.01). However, EBV was not different for BRWT, SI, or TB. These results indicate that PW and PE are susceptible to change by genetic selection; however, the correlated response in TBwas an unexpected genetictrend toward a higher TB in L of 0.05 ± 0.01 piglets per generation (P < 0.01).
Biomarkers of intergenerational risk for depression: A review of mechanisms in longitudinal high-risk (LHR) studies

Background: Longitudinal research is critical for understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the development of depression. Researchers recruit high-risk cohorts to understand how risk is transmitted from one generation to the next. Biological measurements have been incorporated into these longitudinal high-risk (LHR) studies in order to illuminate mechanistic pathways. Methods: To frame our review, we first present heritability estimates along the gene-by-environment continuum as a foundation. We then offer a Biomarkers of Intergenerational Risk for Depression (BIRD) model to describe the multiple hits individuals at risk receive and to allow for greater focus on the interactive effects of markers. BIRD allows for the known multifinality of pathways towards depression and considers the context (i.e., environment) in which these mechanisms emerge. Next, we review the extant LHR cohort studies that have assessed central nervous system (electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging), endocrine (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA)/cortisol), autonomic (startle, heart rate), genetic, sleep, and birth characteristics. Results: Results to date, in conjunction with the proposed model, point towards several pathways of discovery in understanding mechanisms, providing clear direction for future research examining potential endophenotypes. Limitations: Our review is based on relatively narrow inclusion and exclusion criteria. As such, many interesting studies were excluded, but this weakness is offset by strengths such as the increased reliability of findings. Conclusions: Blanket prevention programs are inefficient and plagued by low effect sizes due to low rates of actual conversion to disorder. The inclusion of biomarkers of risk may lead to enhanced program efficiency by targeting those at greatest risk.
Palus: a hybrid automated test generation tool for java

In object-oriented programs, a unit test often consists of a sequence of method calls that create and mutate objects. It is challenging to automatically generate sequences that are legal and behaviorally-diverse, that is, reaching as many different program states as possible. This paper proposes a combined static and dynamic test generation approach to address these problems, for code without a formal specification. Our approach first uses dynamic analysis to infer a call sequence model from a sample execution, then uses static analysis to identify method dependence relations based on the fields they may read or write. Finally, both the dynamically-inferred model (which tends to be accurate but incomplete) and the statically-identified dependence information (which tends to be conservative) guide a random test generator to create legal and behaviorally-diverse tests. Our Palus tool implements this approach. We compared it with a pure random approach, a dynamic-random approach (without a static phase), and a static-random approach (without a dynamic phase) on six popular open-source Java programs. Tests generated by Palus achieved 35% higher structural coverage on average. Palus is also internally used in Google, and has found 22 new bugs in four well-tested products.
Immunology of Psoriasis

The skin is the front line of defense against insult and injury and contains many epidermal and immune elements that comprise the skin-associated lymphoid tissue (SALT). The reaction of these components to injury allows an effective cutaneous response to restore homeostasis. Psoriasis vulgaris is the best-understood and most accessible human disease that is mediated by T cells and dendritic cells. Inflammatory myeloid dendritic cells release IL-23 and IL-12 to activate IL-17-producing T cells, Th1 cells, and Th22 cells to produce abundant psoriatic cytokines IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-22. These cytokines mediate effects on keratinocytes to amplify psoriatic inflammation. Therapeutic studies with anticytokine antibodies have shown the importance of the key cytokines IL-23, TNF, and IL-17 in this process. We discuss the genetic background of psoriasis and its relationship to immune function, specifically genetic mutations, key PSORS loci, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and the skin transcriptome. The assoc...
Investment in stochastic minimum cost generalized multicommodity networks with application to coal transport

In a generalized multicommodity network, certain resources are in limited supply. The total consumption of any resource is a linear combination of the individual arc flows. In this problem the supply of any resource is a non-negative random variable which may be increased by an investment. The objective is to invest in resources in a way that minimizes total expected cost. This problem is formulated as a two stage linear program under uncertainty. The first stage variables are the amounts that are to be invested in each resource. The values of the first stage variables are determined before the actual values of the random variables become known. The second stage variables correspond to the amount of flow on each arc of each commodity. The values of the second stage variables are determined after the actual values of the random variables are known. The solution techniques given exploit the network structure in both the first and second stage.
False Remembering in the Aged

Researchers studying human memory have increasingly focused on memory accuracy in aging populations. In this article we briefly review the literature on memory accuracy in healthy older adults. The prevailing evidence indicates that, compared to younger adults, older adults exhibit both diminished memory accuracy and greater susceptibility to misinformation. In addition, older adults demonstrate high levels of confidence in their false memories. We suggest an explanatory framework for the high level of false memories observed in older adults, a framework based on the theory that consciously controlled uses of memory decline with age, making older adults more susceptible to false memories that rely on automatic processes. We also point to future research that may remedy such deficits in accuracy.
Perception, object kind, and object naming

We investigated whether certain perceptual properties of objects could support children‘s and adults‘ judgments of the range of shape changes permissible for a named object. Three year-olds and adults saw a line drawing of a novel object and heard it named using a count noun (e.g., ’’This is a dax.‘‘). Then they judged whether shape or size changes of the original could also be called by the same name (i.e., ’’Is this a dax?‘‘). Children and adults extended the object name to the size changes. In contrast, extension to shape changes strongly depended on the particular characteristics of the objects. Objects with straight edges and sharp corners elicited very low generalization to shape changes, consistent with a ’’shape bias‘‘. Objects with curved edges, curved and wrinkled edges, and curved and wrinkled edges plus ’’eyes‘‘ elicited increasingly broad generalization to the same shape changes. In a comparable No-Word task, children‘s and adults‘ judgments were similar across all different object types. The difference in generalization patterns over the two tasks suggests that only naming systematically engaged representations of the objects that could support inferences about their potential for shape change. The results are discussed in terms of the complex interactions of perception, ontology, and labelling in the development of object naming.
Toward optimal bidding strategies

In this paper we investigate a form of rational behavior in response to an oligopoly pricing problem where only one buyer is involved. We investigate the problem from the standpoint of the seller who wants to maximize his gain from the transaction. In particular, we deal with the problem of one seller's response to an invitation to submit a sealed (i. e., noncooperative) bid to a government or other dominant purchasing agency for supplying a specified bundle of goods and services for which either (1) no other demand exists, or (2) the terms or quantities involved cannot, at least in the short run, be obtained from another source. Although treated from a normative standpoint, i. e., what bid the supplier should make, the paper also has implications for the buyer's behavior and oligopoly-monopsony pricing in a more general sense.
Asymptotically optimal bias for a general nonlinearity in Page's test

Page's test for the quick detection of a change in distribution is optimized by utilizing the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) as a detector nonlinearity. For signal detection applications, locally optimal nonlinearities are optimal as the signal strength /spl gamma/ goes to zero, however, for non-zero values of /spl gamma/, the performance of Page's test may be improved by applying a subtractive bias. The bias that maximizes an asymptotic (i.e. as the average time between false alarms goes to infinity) performance measure for Page's test for a fixed signal strength is derived for a general detector nonlinearity. Additionally, the bias is derived to minimize the signal strength required to achieve a desired asymptotic performance. These two methods for choosing the bias are shown to be equivalent The asymptotically optimal bias for the LLR nonlinearity is shown to be zero, which is consistent with the optimality of the LLR. Subject to a first order approximation, it is shown that the proposed asymptotically optimal bias is equivalent to an extension of the bias derived by Dyson (1986) which approximately maximizes the relative efficiency between Page's test with the biased locally optimal nonlinearity and Page's test with the LLR nonlinearity. The use of the asymptotically optimal bias is illustrated through an example.
An improved characterization method for the dielectric properties of RFIC encapsulating plastics

A new method has been developed to measure the relative dielectric constant and loss tangent of encapsulating plastic typically used in RFIC package applications. Measured resonances in a rectangular cavity are electromagnetically simulated to obtain the electronic properties of a dielectric material. The advantage of this method is that expensive fixturing is not required, and the electronic properties at any resonance frequency can be obtained.
The Ontario Brain Institute: Completing the Circle

The Province of Ontario recognized the pressing need to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of brain disorders. It also recognized that maximizing the existing strengths through a province-wide integrated approach was a pivotal mechanism. To achieve this, the Province established the Ontario Brain Institute. The goal of this article is to introduce the elements of the Ontario Brain Institute to the neuroscience community: the motivation for establishing it, the philosophy behind its creation, the principles guiding its development, the rapid evolution of its functional structure, the tools available to achieve its vision, and the management structure to ensure success. The singular goal of the Province and the Ontario Brain Institute is a comprehensive system that assures that basic research is embedded in the clinical system and is facilitating product development to accelerate benefits to both health and the economy of health: science with impact.
Use of smart antenna system in universal mobile communications systems (UMTS)

Smart antenna technology is gaining more and more interest in the wireless community. The smart antenna, compared to conventional antenna, significantly improves channel capacity, spectral efficiency, and coverage area. In a direct sequence-code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system, since all users share the same frequency, the interference reduction is a major criterion to improve capacity and performance. In this study, we focus on adaptive beamforming algorithms with smart antenna at the CDMA base station for interference reduction and multipath suppression in the up (reverse) link. Two algorithms, least squares de-spread re-spread multitarget array (LS-DRMTA) and least squares de-spread re-spread multitarget constant modulus algorithm (LS-DRMTCMA) are examined and compared. Results show that a smart antenna using these algorithms provides nulls in all directions of the interferers even under extremely low signal-to-interference (SIR) ratio. The LS-DRMTA has several advantages over the LS-DRMTCMA. The LS-DRMTCMA can offer a much better bit error rate performance compared to the LS-DRMTA, but at the expense of additional complexity.
Intelligent preemption in construction of a manmade island for an airport

This paper presents the simulation model and 3D animation for a project involving large-scale undersea land reclamation for the construction of a manmade island for an airport. The model illustrates how intelligent preemption can be dynamically used at simulation runtime to enforce the operational policies of a tug boat that guides barges loaded with earth into the island for unloading and then out into the sea after unloading is complete. The example also investigates the repeated stalling of the otherwise continuous unloading operations due to the need to share the narrow island entrance channel with watercraft supporting other construction activities. The solution to this problem is out-lined conceptually using the activity-scanning modeling paradigm. The solution is described in detail using a simulation model developed in STROBOSCOPE and a 3D animation created using VITASCOPE.
A Schematic Representation of the Designers’ Logic

The aim of our research is to develop an operational model of the behavior of designers in the domain of architecture. We hope to account for the designers’ behavior in terms of two major functionalities: Problem Structuring- establishing and transforming the parameters of the design problem; and Problem Solving- seeking a solution based on the known parameters of the design problem. In this paper, we present a formal paradigm of the designers’ behavior that is based on protocol experiments. First, the protocol experiments are briefly described and analyzed. Next, the paradigm that we have developed based on the protocol data is presented. The paradigm is elaborated in distinct categories of representation to reflect the diverse nature of knowledge employed by human designers in the architectural design problems. This is followed by a brief description of a computer program under development that we hope will operationally demonstrate the efficacy of our paradigm.
Rostra: a framework for detecting redundant object-oriented unit tests

Object-oriented unit tests consist of sequences of method invocations. Behavior of an invocation depends on the state of the receiver object and method arguments at the beginning of the invocation. Existing tools for automatic generation of object-oriented test suites, such as Jtest and J Crasher for Java, typically ignore this state and thus generate redundant tests that exercise the same method behavior, which increases the testing time without increasing the ability to detect faults. This work proposes Rostra, a framework for detecting redundant unit tests, and presents five fully automatic techniques within this framework. We use Rostra to assess and minimize test suites generated by test-generation tools. We also present how Rostra can be added to these tools to avoid generation of redundant tests. We have implemented the five Rostra techniques and evaluated them on 11 subjects taken from a variety of sources. The experimental results show that Jtest and JCrasher generate a high percentage of redundant tests and that Rostra can remove these redundant tests without decreasing the quality of test suites.
Rhabdomyolysis Following a Short Course of Clarythromycin

A healthy 5-year-old girl developed myalgia and an elevated creatine kinase concentration after 4 days of normal doses of clarithromycin. Myalgias resolved and creatine kinase values returned to normal following discontinuation of clarithromycin. No other precipitating factors or interacting drugs were identified; hence, clarithromycin was suspected as the cause of the rhabdomyolysis.
Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion Reduced Uninsured Hospital Stays In 2014.

In states that expanded Medicaid, uninsured hospital stays decreased sharply and Medicaid stays increased sharply in the first two quarters of 2014. There was no change in payer mix in states that ...
Names of researchers who commit fraud may be disclosed

The Canadian panel that promotes and oversees research integrity is considering increasing transparency by publishing — or having the relevant funding agency disclose — the names and institutional affiliations of researchers who commit serious breaches of ethics. The Panel on Responsible
What’s Right with Macroeconomics?

This book is a compilation of papers presented at a Cournot Centre conference, held in December 2010. After an introduction by the editors, there are seven contributed papers plus a round-table discussion. The chapters are roughly evenly split between those arguing for a modification to existing models and methods (specifically New Keynesian DSGE models), and those arguing for their replacement by various alternatives.
The effects of hybrid relative maturity on corn stover for ethanol production and biomass composition.

Full-season corn (L.) hybrids take advantage of more of the growing season than shorter-season hybrids often leading to greater grain and biomass yield. Many agronomic experiments aimed at corn stover production have been performed at forage harvest rather than later when stover is normally harvested for biofuel measurements. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of hybrid relative maturity (days RM) on stover ethanol production, ruminant digestibility, and biomass composition. Hybrids selected were high-yielding commercial grain hybrids grown throughout Wisconsin and ranged from 85 to 115 d RM in 10 d RM increments during 2009, and in 5 d RM increments during 2010. Hybrids were harvested at physiological maturity or after a killing frost. Overall, stover and theoretical ethanol yields increased as RM increased at a linear rate of 0.211 Mg ha RM and 67.1 L ha RM. Stover nutritional and biomass composition improved as RM increased, but yield variability was greater than nutritional and biomass compositional variability. Increasing ethanol yields will likely occur by increasing stover yields rather than by altering stover composition. Therefore, until price premiums for stover composition are made available to farmers for ethanol production, the adoption of full-season or longer maturing hybrids should be implemented for increased stover and ethanol yields.
Width of Ne 16 (g.s.)

I have computed widths for $2p$ decay of $^{16}\mathrm{Ne}$ to ${}^{14}\mathrm{O}+2p$. For both simultaneous and sequential decay, my calculated widths are considerably smaller than other theoretical values---all of which are considerably smaller than the most recent experimental value and a recent upper limit.
Bimolecular rate constant and product branching ratio measurements for the reaction of C2H with ethene and propene at 79 K.

The reactions of the ethynyl radical (C2H) with ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6) are studied under low temperature conditions (79 K) in a pulsed Laval nozzle apparatus. Ethynyl radicals are formed by 193 nm photolysis of acetylene (C2H2) and the reactions are studied in nitrogen as a carrier gas. Reaction products are sampled and subsequently photoionized by the tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The product ions are detected mass selectively and time-resolved by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Bimolecular rate coefficients are determined under pseudo-first-order conditions, yielding values in good agreement with previous measurements. Photoionization spectra are measured by scanning the ALS photon energy while detecting the ionized reaction products. Analysis of the photoionization spectra yields—for the first time—low temperature isomer resolved product branching ratios. The reaction between C2H and ethene is found to proceed...