cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solubilities of CeO2, HfO2 and Y2O3 in Fused Na2SO4-30 mol% NaVO3 and CeO2 in Pure Na2SO4 at 900 C

Abstract The acidic and basic solubilities of the potential thermal barrier oxide components CeO2, HfO2, and Y2O3 were measured as a function of solvent basicity for fused Na2SO4-30 mol% NaVO3 at 9...
Putting One Foot in Front of the Other: Teaching Text-Based Research Before Exposing Students to Computer-Assisted Legal Research

This essay advocates teaching text-based resources for legal research before introducing students to computer-assisted legal research.
Three Dimensional Bushing Element Based on the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation

In addition to the load transmission, the rubber bushings play an important role in the noise and vibration reduction. This paper presents a new three dimensional bushing element based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF). This element is used to simulate the torsional and axial bushing stiffness between two fully parameterized ANCF nodes. Tangent frame of reference is used to define local coordinates at each node. Rodrigues’ formula is used to define the angle and the axis of rotation between the two coordinates. Linear relationship, between the bushing forces and the relative deflections between the coordinates attached to the two ANCF nodes, is assumed. The numerical implementation of the proposed ANCF bushing element is validated by comparing with the expected results.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Application of Scientific Computing Free Software SCILAB to Ordinary Differential Equations

This paper analyzes the several aspects of the computer-aided teaching and research(TR) in ordinary differential equations,and discusses the detailed approach of computer-aided analysis on ordinary differential equations with the scientific computing free software SCILAB.And aimed at the limitation of existing trajectory drawing software this paper shows a utility SCILAB function for drawing multiple trajectories.
Catalytic and substrate promiscuity: distinct multiple chemistries catalysed by the phosphatase domain of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase

The presence of latent activities in enzymes is posited to underlie the natural evolution of new catalytic functions. However, the prevalence and extent of such substrate and catalytic ambiguity in evolved enzymes is difficult to address experimentally given the order-of-magnitude difference in the activities for native and, sometimes, promiscuous substrate/s. Further, such latent functions are of special interest when the activities concerned do not fall into the domain of substrate promiscuity. In the present study, we show a special case of such latent enzyme activity by demonstrating the presence of two mechanistically distinct reactions catalysed by the catalytic domain of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase isoform δ (PTPRδ). The primary catalytic activity involves the hydrolysis of a phosphomonoester bond (C─O─P) with high catalytic efficiency, whereas the secondary activity is the hydrolysis of a glycosidic bond (C─O─C) with poorer catalytic efficiency. This enzyme also displays substrate promiscuity by hydrolysing diester bonds while being highly discriminative for its monoester substrates. To confirm these activities, we also demonstrated their presence on the catalytic domain of protein tyrosine phosphatase Ω (PTPRΩ), a homologue of PTPRδ. Studies on the rate, metal-ion dependence, pH dependence and inhibition of the respective activities showed that they are markedly different. This is the first study that demonstrates a novel sugar hydrolase and diesterase activity for the phosphatase domain (PD) of PTPRδ and PTPRΩ. This work has significant implications for both understanding the evolution of enzymatic activity and the possible physiological role of this new chemistry. Our findings suggest that the genome might harbour a wealth of such alternative latent enzyme activities in the same protein domain that renders our knowledge of metabolic networks incomplete.
Computed Tomography of the Hindfoot

Computed tomography defines the anatomy and pathology of the talus, the calcaneus, and intervening joints better than conventional modalities. It enhances the understanding and diagnosis of the various musculoskeletal disorders affecting those structures. As a result, the clinical and surgical management is improved.
REST-Based Services

WSDL-based web services have not been successful in industry. An alternative are REST-based web services, with some modification.
Process roadmap and challenges for metal barriers [copper interconnects]

Copper interconnects require two types of barrier layers: a liner on the sides and bottoms of the damascene features and a cap on top of the damascene features. The key functions of the barrier layers are to prevent copper and oxygen diffusion and promote adhesion with both the interlayer dielectric (ILD) and the copper. The cap layer must also protect the copper from corrosion during subsequent patterning steps and act as an etchstop for partially landed vias. Most copper damascene processes use a PVD Ta and/or Ta(N) alloy liner and PECVD SiN or SiCN dielectric cap. However, as copper interconnects continue to scale to finer dimensions these metal barrier technologies become problematic due to wiring resistance and current density issues. This paper describes some of the alternative liner and cap technologies that are being developed to address these issues.
Crystal Plasticity Model Validation Using Combined High-Energy Diffraction Microscopy Data for a Ti-7Al Specimen

High-Energy Diffraction Microscopy (HEDM) is a 3-d X-ray characterization method that is uniquely suited to measuring the evolving micro-mechanical state and microstructure of polycrystalline materials during in situ processing. The near-field and far-field configurations provide complementary information; orientation maps computed from the near-field measurements provide grain morphologies, while the high angular resolution of the far-field measurements provides intergranular strain tensors. The ability to measure these data during deformation in situ makes HEDM an ideal tool for validating micro-mechanical deformation models that make their predictions at the scale of individual grains. Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Models (CPFEM) are one such class of micro-mechanical models. While there have been extensive studies validating homogenized CPFEM response at a macroscopic level, a lack of detailed data measured at the level of the microstructure has hindered more stringent model validation efforts. We utilize an HEDM dataset from an alpha-titanium alloy (Ti-7Al), collected at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, under in situ tensile deformation. The initial microstructure of the central slab of the gage section, measured via near-field HEDM, is used to inform a CPFEM model. The predicted intergranular stresses for 39 internal grains are then directly compared to data from 4 far-field measurements taken between ~4 and ~80 pct of the macroscopic yield strength. The evolution of the elastic strain state from the CPFEM model and far-field HEDM measurements up to incipient yield are shown to be in good agreement, while residual stress at the individual grain level is found to influence the intergranular stress state even upon loading. Implications for application of such an integrated computational/experimental approach to phenomena such as fatigue are discussed.
Non-Myeloablative Conditioning with Allogeneic Progenitor Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Hodgkin's Lymphoma: High Response Rate Despite Prior Chemoresistance.

Abstract Relapse remains the major limitation to successful autologous stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and is associated with limited long-term survival. There is now strong evidence that allogeneic donor cells can induce a direct and potent graft vs tumor reaction in patients with HL, ie, a Graft vs HL (GvHL) effect. Based on these findings, we evaluated the outcomes for 17 patients with incurable HL, all having relapsed after high dose therapy with autologous PBSC rescue, treated with non-myeloablative conditioning with allogeneic stem cell transplant (NMT). Patients were conditioned with fludarabine/cytoxan +/− Campath followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells mobilized with G-CSF (12 from HLA-identical sibling donors, 3 from matched unrelated donors, 2 from single antigen mis-matched unrelated donors). Median recipient age was 37 (range 12–51). Median time from prior autotransplantation to relapse was 4.8 months (range 1–15m); median time from autotransplantation to NMT was 12m (range 5–53m), identifying this cohort as an extremely poor risk group. Conditioning in all patients included fludarabine 90–120 mg/m2/d combined with either ‘low dose' cytoxan (900 mg/m2/d over 3 d) in 11 patients with sibling donors; or with ‘high dose cytoxan (3–4 gm/m2) in 6 pts with unrelated donors. 4 pts with unrelated donors, receiving high dose cytoxan with fludara also received 100 mg Campath 1-H divided over 5 days from D-9 to D-5. Post transplant GvHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine (CSA) alone in 7 pts, CSA/methotrexate in 4 pts, and CSA/mycophenolate mofetil in 6 pts. Median MNC content of the graft was 7.5 x 108/kg (range 2.4–14); median CD34+ content was 4.1 x 106/kg (range .9–15.4). The median survival post allotransplant for all patients was 21.5 months (range 1–48.5m) and EFS was 8.5 months (range 1–41.5m) and was not influenced by graft source (sibling vs URD) or conditioning regimen. The 100 day TRM for all patients was 12%. The incidence of grade II-IV acute GvHD in 15 evaluable patients was 6/15 (40%). The incidence of chronic GvHD was 4/15 (27%) and was not correlated to a lower relapse rate among affected patients. Two patients were inevaluable for chronic GvHD and relapse secondary to early TRM. Of the 15 patients evaluable for response, 7 achieved CR (46%), 6 PR (40%), and 2 SD for an overall response rate of 86% in this chemoresistant cohort. Despite a high response rate, death from progressive disease occurred in the majority of patients. These data suggest a GVHL response can be induced, contributing to a response rate beyond what one would expect from salvage chemotherapy alone in this resistant cohort. However, the durability of response remains a limiting factor. Further studies designed to combine cytoreduction with allogeneic cellular therapy to enhance GVHL activity are warranted to improve outcomes after NMT for patients with poor-risk Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Design of coherent x-rays for 5D imaging at the space-time resolution extreme (Conference Presentation)

Nonlinear optics revolutionized the ability to create directed, laser-like light particularly in the regions where lasers based on conventional population inversion are not practical. New breakthroughs in attosecond extreme nonlinear optics promise a similar revolution in the X-ray regime. In this talk, I will discuss the fundamental quantum physics and the phase matching limits of high order harmonic generation in the context of creating coherent X-ray waveforms in the soft X-ray region that can be tailored at the moment of generation. Such a versatile designer light is ideal for 4D studies of various bio- and nano-materials systems with attosecond temporal and nanometer spatial resolution, as well as with element specificity. I will also discuss the path forward for generating bright coherent X-ray beams from a laboratory-scale apparatus at photon energies of 10 keV and greater with unprecedented attosecond-to-zeptosecond pulse durations, and with arbitrary spectral, temporal shapes, and polarization states. A fully spatially and temporally coherent version of the Roentgen X-ray tube with exquisite quantum control of the properties of the soft and hard X-ray light may be possible. 1. T. Popmintchev, et al., Nature Photonics 4, 822 (2010); Science 336, 1287 (2012). 2. D. Popmintchev, et al., Science 350, 1225 (2015). 3. T. Fan, et al., PNAS 112, 14206 (2015).
Concurrent flame spread over discrete thin fuels

Abstract An unsteady two-dimensional numerical model was used to simulate concurrent flame spread over paper-like thin solid fuels of discrete configurations in microgravity (0 g with 20 cm/s) and in normal gravity (1 g). An array of ten 1 cm-long fuel segments was uniformly distributed in the flow direction (0 g) or in the vertical direction (1 g). A hot spot ignition source was applied at the upstream leading edge of the first fuel segment. The separation distance between the fuel segments was a parameter in this study, ranging from 0 (corresponding to a continuous fuel) to 3 cm. Using this setup, the burning characteristics, spread rate of the flame base, and the solid burning rate were examined. The flame base spread rates in both 1 g and 0 g cases increase with the separation distance. This is due to the flame jumping across the gaps. For the solid burning rate, the dependency on the separation distance is different in 1 g and 0 g cases. At a flow velocity of 20 cm/s in 0 g, the flame reaches a limiting length and the flame length is approximately the same for all fuel configurations. As the separation distance increases, the heating length (the fuel area exposed to the flame) decreases, resulting in a decreasing total heat input and a decreasing solid burning rate. In 1 g, the flame is long and extends to the last fuel segment before the first fuel segment burns out. This suggests that the heating length is approximately the same in all simulated cases (∼total fuel length). However, the flame standoff distance decreases when the separation distance increases. This results in an increasing total heat input and an increasing solid burning rate. Terrestrial experiments were conducted to validate the 1 g model. The experimental results agreed reasonably with the model predictions of burning characteristics, burn durations, and flame spread rates.
Anion secretion drives fluid secretion by monolayers of cultured human polycystic cells

We have investigated the hypothesis that active anion transport drives fluid secretion by the cystic epithelium in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We prepared monolayers of a primary culture derived from cystic tissue removed from ADPKD patients. The monolayers were grown on permeant supports, and fluid secretion was initiated by forskolin. The results were compared with those obtained with monolayers of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, known to secrete Cl-. In the absence of the agonist, ADPKD monolayers absorbed fluid (0.20 +/- 0.02 microliter.cm surface area-2.h-1). Forskolin reversed this to secretion (0.60 +/- 0.03 microliter.cm-2.h-1). Control MDCK monolayers did not transport fluid in either direction, but forskolin induced secretion (0.48 +/- 0.03 microliter.cm-2.h-1). The electrical properties of the monolayers were monitored in Ussing chambers. Forskolin increased the transepithelial potential difference (Vte) of ADPKD monolayers (-0.9 +/- 0.1 to -1.1 +/- 0.1 mV) and the short-circuit current (Isc) (6.6 +/- 0.7 to 9.2 +/- 0.8 microA/cm2). The transepithelial resistance (Rte) fell (156 +/- 9 to 138 +/- 10 omega.cm2). Similar results were obtained with MDCK monolayers. The polarity of Vte and the direction of the Isc are compatible with the hypothesis that active secretion of anion drives fluid secretion. Basolateral application of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter, bumetanide, reduced forskolin-stimulated fluid secretion by ADPKD monolayers (0.56 +/- 0.05 to 0.28 +/- 0.03), depolarized Vte, and inhibited Isc without affecting Rte. Apical application of the Cl- channel blocker, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, also inhibited fluid secretion by ADPKD monolayers (0.65 +/- 0.03 to 0.27 +/- 0.02 microliter.cm-2.h-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Incidence of US Farm Programs

Many economists have argued that all farm subsidies are ultimately capitalized in land values. This chapter shows, both theoretically and empirically, that this is not so, although there is much room for disagreement as to the precise shares that accrue to landowners, farmers, and consumers. A review of econometric models in the literature, multimarket simulations, and the application of a sector model of US agriculture yields a range of results about the share of subsidy payments going to land. The truth probably lies in between the results from the static theoretical models with full adjustment and the general run of the econometric evidence. A significant share of even the so-called decoupled transfers goes to farmers rather than landowners, and both landowners and farm operators receive a significant share of the net benefits from subsidies. In an in-between case, based on 2005 market and policy conditions, for every dollar of government spending on farm subsidies, farmers receive about 50 cents, landlords receive about 25 cents, domestic and foreign consumers receive about 20 cents, and 5 cents is wasted. Additional amounts are wasted collecting the taxes to finance the spending and in administering the policies – perhaps another 20 cents.
Ascending aorta to main pulmonary artery fistula following orthotopic heart transplantation: successful percutaneous closure employing an Amplatzer Duct Occluder.

A 60-year-old man with end-stage heart failure underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. Before transplantation, he had elevated pulmonary artery (PA) pressures (60/17 mm Hg, mean PA 35 mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (6.6 Wood units). Following transplantation, he initially did
Halothane reduces force and intracellular Ca2+ in airway smooth muscle independently of cyclic nucleotides

Halothane relaxes airway smooth muscle in part by a direct effect on the smooth muscle cell. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of cyclic nucleotides in this direct effect. Strips of canine tracheal smooth muscle in vitro were contracted with acetylcholine (ACh) and then exposed to 0.7-2.6% halothane. Isometric force and the intracellular concentrations of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate ([cAMP] i ), guanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate ([cGMP] i ), and free calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i , using the fluorescent Ca 2+ -sensitive dye fura 2) were measured. ACh caused significant increases in force, [cAMP] i , [cGMP] i , and [Ca 2+ ] i . Subsequent exposure of the strips to halothane caused an additional increase in [cAMP] i , decreases in force and [Ca 2+ ] i , and no effect on [cGMP] i . The additional increase in [cAMP] i was similar to that produced by a concentration of isoproterenol (0.03 μM) that caused equipotent relaxation. Indomethacin abolished the increase in [cAMP] i produced by ACh and abolished the additional increase in [cAMP] i produced by halothane. In contrast, indomethacin had no effect on the decreases in force and [Ca 2+ ] i . These findings suggest that in canine tracheal smooth muscle contracted with ACh 1) halothane increases [cAMP] i by a cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism and 2) the increase in [cAMP] i produced by halothane is not responsible for the relaxation or the decrease in [Ca 2+ ] i
Functional Approach in Internet-Based Applications: Enabling the Semantic Web, E-Business, Web Services and Agent-Based Knowledge Management

The functional approach to computing has an important role in enabling the Internet-based applications such as the Semantic Web, e-business, web services, and agents for managing the evolving distributed knowledge space. This chapter examines the research issues and trends in these areas, and focuses on how the Functional Data Model and a functional approach can contribute to solving some of the outstanding problems. Specifically, the chapter addresses the role of ontologies and the meta-tagging and indexing of resources; the role of search technologies; the Semantic Web and web services; intelligent agents; and knowledge management.
Immiscible Rubber Blends

Most polymer blends are thermodynamically immiscible, leading to a phase-segregated morphology. Control of this morphology, including the domain sizes and interfacial regions, along with partitioning of compounding ingredients such as filler and curatives between the phases, provides opportunities for achieving properties that are otherwise unattainable. This chapter reviews fundamental aspects of phase-separated rubber blends, with a survey of the important literature on the topic.
Risk of readmission for infection after surgical intervention for intracerebral hemorrhage.

Abstract Background Several operative interventions are performed to reduce the mortality and morbidity of Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the acute setting, including: craniotomy or craniectomy, placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD), placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) and stereotactic craniotomy. Infections are a major source of readmissions following ICH. We explored the association between operative interventions for ICH and 30-day readmissions for infection-related causes. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database contains >14 million discharges for all payers and uninsured in 2013. International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify index cases of ICH, intracranial procedures, and comorbidities. We summarized demographics and comorbidities during index admission, stratified by receipt of operative interventions. We calculated differences in means (using t-tests) and frequencies (using chi-square) by group (any intervention versus none). Top 5 causes of 30-day readmission and top 5 causes for infectious readmissions were identified. Cox regression analysis was performed for time to readmission for infectious causes. Results There were 27,739 index admissions with ICH, 13% had operative interventions. In the operative group, 45.5% underwent craniotomy, 65.4% had EVD placement and 7.6% had VPS placement. Acute cerebrovascular disease was the top cause of readmission followed by infection in the entire cohort and those with interventions. Among infectious causes of readmissions, septicemia was the largest in the intervention group (65%). In both adjusted and unadjusted models, there was significant association between ICH intervention and risk of readmission for infectious causes. Among those with operative interventions for ICH, risk of readmission with infection is double the risk in the non-intervention group. Cumulative risk of readmission was higher for infection following ICH, starting after approximately 50 days, in the intervention group (log-rank p-value Conclusions Infections and cerebrovascular complications contribute to most readmissions after ICH. There is a dose-response relationship between number of interventions and risk of infectious readmission, and this risk significantly increases after approximately 50-days.
Mechanical instability and interfacial energy drive biofilm morphogenesis

Engineers have long studied how mechanical instabilities cause patterns to form in inanimate materials, and recently more attention has been given to how such forces affect biological systems. For example, stresses can build up within a tissue if one layer grows faster than an adjacent layer. The tissue can release this stress by wrinkling, folding or creasing. Though ancient and single-celled, bacteria can also develop spectacular patterns when they exist in the lifestyle known as a biofilm: a community of cells adhered to a surface. But do mechanical instabilities drive the patterns seen in biofilms? To investigate, Yan, Fei, Mao et al. grew biofilms of the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae – which causes the disease cholera – on solid, non-growing ‘substrates’. This work revealed that as the biofilms grow, their expansion is constrained by the substrate, and this situation generates mechanical stresses. To release the stresses, the biofilm initially folds to form wrinkles. Later, as the biofilm expands further, small parts of it detach from the substrate to form blisters. The same forces that keep water droplets spherical (known as interfacial forces) dictate how the blisters evolve, interact, and eventually shape the expanding biofilm. Using these principles, Yan et al. could engineer the biofilm into desired shapes. Collectively, the results presented by Yan et al. connect the shape of the biofilm surface with its material properties, in particular its stiffness. Understanding this relationship could help researchers to develop new ways to remove harmful biofilms, such as those that cause disease or that damage underwater structures. The stiffness of biofilms is already known to affect how well bacteria can resist antibiotics. Future studies could look for new genes or compounds that change the material properties of a biofilm, thereby altering the biofilm surface.
Science in the Heartland: Exploring determinants of offering cancer clinical trials in rural-serving community urology practices.

Abstract Objective Engaging community urologists in referring patients to clinical trials could increase the reach of cancer trials and, ultimately, alleviate cancer disparities. We sought to identify determinants of referring patients to clinical trials among urology practices serving rural communities. Methods We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews based on the Theoretical Domains Framework at nonmetropolitan urology practices located in communities offering urological cancer trials. Participants were asked to consider barriers and strategies that might support engaging their patients in discussions about urological cancer clinical trials and referring them appropriately. Recorded interviews were transcribed and coded using template analysis. Results Most participants were not aware of available trials and had no experience with trial referral. Overall, participants held positive attitudes toward clinical trials and recognized their potential roles in accrual, but limited local resources reduced opportunities for offering trials. Most participants expressed a need for increased human, financial, and other resources to support this role. Many participants requested information and training to increase their knowledge of clinical trials and confidence in offering them to patients. Participants highlighted the need to build efficient pathways to identify available trials, match eligible patients, and facilitate communication and collaboration with cancer centers for patient follow-up and continuity of care. Conclusions With adequate logistical and informational support, community urology practices could play an important role in clinical trial accrual, advancing cancer research and increasing treatment options for rural cancer patients. Future studies should explore the effectiveness of strategies to optimize urology practices’ role in clinical trial accrual.
The seizure onset zone drives state-dependent epileptiform activity in susceptible brain regions

Abstract Objective Due to variability in the patterns of propagation of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), qualitative definition of the irritative zone has been challenging. Here, we introduce a quantitative approach toward exploration of the dynamics of IED propagation within the irritative zone. Methods We examined intracranial EEG (iEEG) in nine participants undergoing invasive monitoring for seizure localization. We used an automated IED detector and a community detection algorithm to identify populations of electrodes exhibiting IED activity that co-occur in time, and to group these electrodes into communities. Results Within our algorithmically-identified communities, IED activity in the seizure onset zone (SOZ) tended to lead IED activity in other functionally coupled brain regions. The tendency of pathological activity to arise in the SOZ, and to spread to non-SOZ tissues, was greater in the asleep state. Conclusions IED activity, and, by extension, the variability observed between the asleep and awake states, is propagated from a core seizure focus to nearby less pathological brain regions. Significance Using an unsupervised, computational approach, we show that the spread of IED activity through the epilepsy network varies with physiologic state.
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (

In the late 1990s, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) faced a rude awakening as Congress stipulated that it eliminate its reliance on federal subsidies by 2002. In response, Amtrak drew up a plan for self-sufficiency, the centerpiece of which was a new high-speed passenger service that, it was hoped, would boost revenue enough to make Amtrak self-sufficient by 2002. To run this new service, Amtrak needed to purchase $750 million worth of new locomotives and train sets in 1999. Three alternatives were available for funding the purchase: debt financing, lease financing, or reliance on federal sources. The case opens with Amtrak's CFO instructing her staff in April 1999 to review a leveraged-lease proposal that has just been submitted by BNY Capital Funding LLC. The objectives of the case are to introduce students to financial leases as a financing alternative, explore the lease-versus-buy decision and the conditions under which financial lease arrangements make sense, and exercise skills in the valuation of financial leases. Excerpt UVA-F-1363 Version 1.6 National Railroad Passenger Corporation (“AMTRAK”): Acela Financing On April 30, 1999, Arlene Friner, CFO of Amtrak, instructed her Treasury staff to review a leveraged-lease proposal from the BNY Capital Funding LLC (BNYCF). Several weeks earlier, Amtrak and its adviser, Babcock & Brown Financial Corporation, had invited financial institutions to submit lease-financing proposals for Amtrak's planned purchase of locomotives and high-speed train sets. The equipment would be utilized on the “Acela” line, Amtrak's new brand that was designed to differentiate Amtrak passenger trains and service in the Northeast Corridor from the existing service. Acela, scheduled to begin service in late 1999, promised to offer faster trip times and premium service (Exhibit 1). Friner and her staff had gone over the proposals and agreed that BNYCF was among those that offered the best terms. Now, she had to decide whether Amtrak should finance the equipment purchases using BNYCF's leveraged-lease proposal or borrow money and purchase the equipment on its own. . . .
An Auto Regressive Deep Learning Model for Sales Tax Forecasting from Multiple Short Time Series

This study explores the application of deep learning to forecasting the state of Illinois sale tax receipts in ten categories: general merchandise, food, drinking and eating, apparel, furniture, building and hardware, automotive and filling stations, drugs and retail, agriculture and all others, and manufacturers. The state of Illinois has used traditional techniques of economic and tax receipt forecasting in order to project the amount of resources that it will have in order to finance its activities and debts. Such techniques are mostly linear and lack the ability to model more complex non-linear or long term dependencies. Recently, deep learning models have shown promising results in time series forecasting. In this study, we use two types of neural networks (a simple Multi-Layer Perceptron and a Long Short Term Memory network to forecast the state of Illinois sale tax receipts and compare the performance of both models against the more traditional autoregressive integrated moving Average model. Unfortunately, only limited tax receipt data is publicly made available by the state of Illinois which makes it particularly challenging to train a robust neural network model without overfitting. To address this data limitation, we propose to use a global model with an embedding layer for all ten tax categories. The empirical results show that the global Multi-Layer Perceptron model has the best performance in one step forecasting of Illinois sale tax receipts followed by the global Long Short Term memory model. On average, both neural network models outperformed the traditional Integraded Moving Average model.
Bias in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 and Psychopathology

This chapter discusses bias in diagnostic decision making within the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and its use. More specifically, we address three aspects of DSM and psychiatric diagnosis that make clinicians and researchers vulnerable to making a biased diagnostic decision. These are (a) value-laden, and yet vague, concepts of mental disorder, upon which the entire DSM nosology is based; (b) criterion biases, biases within diagnostic criteria for specific disorders themselves; and (c) clinician bias, bias unfolding in a clinician–client interaction. We then argue that great attention should be paid to the intersection of psychiatric diagnosis and diversity, where the mismatch of a client’s social contingencies with a clinician’s social contingencies are likely to unfold. Finally, we recommend further clarification and examination of bias in psychiatric diagnosis in order to best understand it and how diagnostic decision making may be linked to clinical competency so that we may position ourselves to better serve the clients who seek our help.
Case management service quality and patient-centered care

Providing care that is patient-centered is an important objective in the modern healthcare industry. Despite this objective, hospital inpatient case managers and the services they provide are evaluated routinely without including patients' perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to fill this research gap by using patient expectations and perceptions to assess the overall quality of and patient satisfaction with hospital case management services.,This paper investigates five dimensions of case management services – reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibles – and how they affect overall quality and patient satisfaction. Study surveys are based on the SERVQUAL instrument. Survey data from a cross-sectional sample of 67 inpatients are analyzed using principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, GAP analysis and a predictive model.,The preliminary part of the study identifies “tangibles” and “nontangibles” – reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy – as the main components. Among these two components, only nontangibles have a positive and significant effect on both quality and patient satisfaction according to patient perspectives. GAP analysis indicates that gaps between patient expectations and perceptions of reliability and assurance are significant. Finally, the proposed predictive model reveals that gaps in assurance have a significant impact on both overall quality and satisfaction, while gaps in empathy have a significant impact on satisfaction, but not overall quality.,Studies on service quality at the case manager level are limited. This study is the first in this domain to evaluate quality and satisfaction from the patient perspective.
Satellite Laser Communication and Adaptive Optics

Adaptive optics enables higher data rates for satellite laser communication. It has recently been demonstrated and several future missions will use AO. There are challenges that AO needs to address to be widely used.
MicroRNA 219-5p inhibits alveolarization by reducing platelet derived growth factor receptor-alpha

MicroRNA (miR) are small conserved RNA that regulate gene expression post-transcription. Previous genome-wide analysis studies in preterm infants indicate that pathways of miR 219-5p are important in infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). Here we report a prospective cohort study of extremely preterm neonates wherein infants diagnosed with severe BPD expressed increased airway miR-219-5p and decreased platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR-α), a target of mir-219-5p and a key regulator of alveolarization, compared to post-conception age-matched term infants. miR-219-5p was highly expressed in the pulmonary epithelial lining in lungs of infants with BPD by in situ hybridization of human infant lungs. In both in vitro and in vivo (mouse) models of BPD, miR-219-5p was increased on exposure to hyperoxia compared with the normoxia control, with a complementary decrease of PDGFR-α. To further confirm the target relationship between miR‐219 and PDGFR-α, pulmonary epithelial cells (MLE12) and lung primary fibroblasts were treated with a mimic of miR-219-5p and a locked nucleic acid (LNA) based inhibitor of miR-219-5p. In comparison with the control group, the level of miR‐219 increased significantly after miR‐219 mimic treatment, while the level of PDGFR-α declined markedly. LNA exposure increased PDGFR-α. Moreover, in BPD mouse model, over-expression of miR-219-5p inhibited alveolar development, indicated by larger alveolar spaces accompanied by reduced septation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that increased miR-219-5p contributes to the pathogenesis of BPD by targeting and reducing PDGFR-α. The use of specific miRNA antagonists may be a therapeutic strategy for preventing the development of BPD.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia as a determinant of respiratory outcomes in adult life

Respiratory disease is unfortunately common in preterm infants with the archetype being bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD affects approximately 50,000 preterm infants in the U.S. annually with substantial morbidity and mortality related to its pathology (alveolar, airway, and pulmonary vasculature maldevelopment). Predicting the likelihood and severity of chronic respiratory disease in these children as they age is difficult and compounded by the lack of consistent phenotyping. Barriers to understanding the actual scope of this problem include few longitudinal studies, information limited by small retrospective studies and the ever-changing landscape of therapies in the NICU that affect long-term respiratory outcomes. Thus, the true burden of adult respiratory disease caused by premature birth is currently unknown. Nevertheless, limited data suggest that a substantial percentage of children with a history of BPD have long-term respiratory symptoms and persistent airflow obstruction associated with altered lung function trajectories into adult life. Small airway disease with variable bronchodilator responsiveness, is the most common manifestation of lung dysfunction in adults with a history of BPD. The etiology of this is unclear however, developmental dysanapsis may underlie the airflow obstruction in some adults with a history of BPD. This type of flow limitation resembles that of aging adults with chronic obstructive lung disease with no history of smoking. It is also unclear whether lung function abnormalities in people with a history of BPD are static or if these individuals with BPD have a more accelerated decline in lung function as they age compared to controls. While some of the more significant mediators of lung function, such as tobacco smoke and respiratory infections have been identified, more work is necessary to identify the best means of preserving lung function for individuals born prematurely throughout their lifespan.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL PREDICTORS OF FAI DISEASE PROGRESSION IN THE CONTRALATERAL HIP:

Background:Bony morphologies contributing to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are relatively common in the general population, but drivers of symptom development are not well understood.Hypothesi...
Narrow Positive Rights and Libertarian Alternatives

Broad positive rights, painted with bold strokes and bright colors, may be counted on to draw crowds and get attention. But when we turn from advocacy to analysis, we are more likely to encounter a narrower version of positive rights, usually construed as an individual’s right to a reasonable or minimum level of a given benefit. This narrower view, though often argued with passion and vigor, has the advantage of appearing more practical than the broader view. Its aims are more modest, and its rhetoric usually softer voiced or technocratic. From the perspective of the advocate of broad positive rights, however, this aura of practicality is mere illusion. To imagine that piecemeal reforms can fundamentally alter the status quo is to surrender to fantasy, to accept the premises cynically spun by those in power, to sabotage the rationale for basic change. Yet these debating points, to those focusing upon narrower rights, are self refuting; for they are the talk of purists, and purity is unobtainable in an imperfect world, and in any case, incompatible with a spirit of toleration and compromise that free and prosperous societies require. An outsider committed to neither position may wonder what the fuss is about, since in his or her eyes the differences are not very great simply because the narrower view tends to be not very narrow.
The Metabolism of the Tetrahydrocannabinols

Publisher Summary Because of the long history of Cannabis usage in man, Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) is unique in that its pharmacology has been examined in humans almost simultaneously with the animal studies. Within the past few years, there has been rapid progress in elucidating the pharmacology of this interesting group of compounds, primarily as a result of the knowledge of its basic chemistry. These enzymes are known to metabolize a variety of drugs, steroids, and other naturally occurring compounds. The hepatic microsomal enzyme system requires reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and molecular oxygen. This system catalyzes a variety of reactions—many being oxidations, in which cytochrome P-450 serves as the terminal oxidase. Supporting evidence for a role of the liver in the metabolism of ∆ 9 -THC comes from the marked concentration of radioactivity in this organ after administration of radiolabeled ∆ 9 -THC to animals. These two pieces of information led to the investigation of the in vitro metabolism of the THCs.
Chapter four Designing Good Governance: Democratic Network Reform in Los Angeles

During the latter half of the 20th century, urban America can be said to have pursued two distinct approaches to governance reform. In many cities, officials adopted efficiency-oriented reforms: contracting out of services; privatized urban development and service provision; performance management; and other administrative reforms commonly associated with the new public management movement. During the same general time frame, the emergence of democratically oriented reforms sought to engage city residents and other urban stakeholders in local policymaking and service oversight. The new public management reforms tend to be less politically controversial in that they largely embody efficiency values consistent with the general economic development imperative of cities (Peterson, 1981) and can be pursued behind the mantle of administration.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy in Russia

Abstract Technical-economic and geographical opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Russia are enormous – cost-effective investments are possible in district heating systems, buildings, and industry, and for wind, biomass, solar and geothermal energy. Market-level energy prices, privatization, and the possibility of independent power production all favor investments in these technologies and technology transfer with other countries. But many transaction barriers limit such investments and transfers, especially barriers that are related to capital, information, infrastructure, market institutions, human resource capabilities, and institutional incentives. Market intermediation and joint ventures are important in overcoming these transaction barriers. International policies, for example by bilateral and multilateral agencies, should facilitate market intermediation. Capacity building should target skills in economic analysis, management, and finance; information services; regulatory development; new market intermediation institutions; stronger legal and market institutions; and implementation mechanisms supporting independent power producers. Policies that encourage and support energy service companies are especially important.
Preference Reversals Without the Independence Axiom

The preference reversal phenomenon was believed to be inconsistent with the transitivity axiom of decision theory. However, recent theoretical papers have demonstrated that the preference reversals that were observed in earlier experiments could be explained by subject violations of the independence axiom or the compound lottery axiom. Therefore, those preference reversals are not known to be inconsistent with generalization of expected utility theory that replace the independence axiom. The present paper reports the results of experiments in which a substantial proportion of subject responses violate the asymmetry axiom. These results are inconsistent with expected utility theory and its generalizations. Copyright 1989 by American Economic Association.
The Origin of Consistent Protein Structure Refinement from Structural Averaging

SUMMARY Recent studies have shown that explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulation followed by structural averaging can consistently improve protein structure models. We find that improvement upon averaging is not limited to explicit water MD simulation, as consistent improvements are also observed for more efficient implicit solvent MD or Monte Carlo minimization simulations. To determine the origin of these improvements, we examine the changes in model accuracy brought about by averaging at the individual residue level. We find that the improvement in model quality from averaging results from the superposition of two effects: a dampening of deviations from the correct structure in the least well modeled regions, and a reinforcement of consistent movements towards the correct structure in better modeled regions. These observations are consistent with an energy landscape model in which the magnitude of the energy gradient toward the native structure decreases with increasing distance from the native state.
The Uniform Environmental Covenants Act: Why, How, and Whether

With contaminated land, it sometimes makes sense to do a partial cleanup, rather than a complete one, and combine the cleanup with land use restrictions and continuing obligations to monitor the land. The Uniform Environmental Covenants Act creates a new state law property interest to make these restrictions and obligations permanent and enforceable. It addresses issues created by traditional common law doctrines that were hostile to permanent land restrictions, as well as more contemporary problems presented by tax liens, eminent domain, and adverse possession. This Article reviews the Act’s legal infrastructure for creating, enforcing, and modifying the terms of the land use restrictions and monitoring obligations. The Article argues that the Act’s legal infrastructure provides parties with the legal certainty needed to encourage future cleanups, while also protecting against environmental risks that the residual contamination could otherwise pose. These cleanups, often financed as part of the property’s redevelopment, are particularly useful because they are a way to return blighted properties to the stream of commerce. The Act has drawn some criticism, primarily for not going further with its protections, and these are reviewed at the end of the Article.
Microfabricated glucose sensor based on single-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper describes a novel glucose sensor that uses the hydrogen-specific gas sensing capability of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) assembled on microelectrodes. Highly specific glucose sensing was demonstrated using buffered sample solutions with clinically significant concentrations. The proposed approach enables a simple but powerful bio-sensor reliably operating with a completely new principle, and opens up novel device applications where functional nano-components are integrated into a bioMEMS device.