cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MICROSEGREGATION OF SOLUTE ELEMENTS IN SOLIDIFYING MUSHY ZONE OF STEEL AND ITS EFFECT ON LONGITUDINAL SURFACE CRACKS OF CONTINUOUS CASTING STRAND

The solidification of molten steel in continuous casting mold is a complicated non-equilibrium process with high cooling rate of 10—100℃/s.At such a cooling rate,the segregation of the solute elements such as C,Si,Mn,P and S in brittle temperature range(Δθ_B) will vary with their initial contents and influence on the thermal strain significantly which could greatly increase the incidence of surface defects of strand.In this paper,a microsegregation model of solute elements in mushy zone withδ/γtransformation during solidification was established based on the regular hexagon transverse cross section of dendrite shape proposed by Ueshima by finite difference method under the non-equilibrium solidification condition at 10℃/s of cooling rate and the brittle temperature rangeΔθ_B was determined.The distribution characteristics of solute elements and the effect of their segregations onΔθ_B and thermal strain were investigated.The results show that both P and S are the most serious segregation elements in final stage of solidification and affect onΔθ_B significantly together with carbon content in molten steel.The mechanism that increasing contents of P and S may increase the probability of longitudinal surface crack for continuous casting strand was presented by calculating the change law of thermal strain with carbon content under different of P and S contents.
An evolutionary study of Linux memory management for fun and profit

We present a comprehensive and quantitative study on the development of the Linux memory manager. The study examines 4587 committed patches over the last five years (2009-2015) since Linux version 2.6.32. Insights derived from this study concern the development process of the virtual memory system, including its patch distribution and patterns, and techniques for memory optimizations and semantics. Specifically, we find that the changes to memory manager are highly centralized around the key functionalities, such as memory allocator, page fault handler and memory resource controller. The well-developed memory manager still suffers from increasing number of bugs unexpectedly. And the memory optimizations mainly focus on data structures, memory policies and fast path. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such study on the virtual memory system.
Impact of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin on hepatic fibrosis in liver transplant patients with recurrent hepatitis C: an open-label series.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Patients with recurrent hepatitis C are often treated with interferon-based therapy in an attempt to prevent cirrhosis requiring retransplantation. We describe our experience with 32 patients with recurrent HCV. METHODOLOGY Patients were followed prospectively after starting pegylated interferon alfa-2a 180 microg per week and ribavirin 1000-1200mg per day. HCV ribonucleic acid (HCVRNA) was repeated at three months, end of treatment (EOT) and six months after EOT for patients HCVRNA negative at EOT. RESULTS There were 22 males and 10 females. 21 patients have completed treatment, six remain on therapy and five were intolerant. In an intention-to-treat analysis, sustained viral eradication occurred in 40.6% of patients. Fibrosis scores were worse in eight patients of whom six were sustained responders. Three of these patients developed decompensated liver disease. Two were successfully retransplanted and remain HCVRNA negative after a mean follow-up of 11 months. CONCLUSIONS Pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin were well tolerated in this small series. Sustained HCV eradication occurred in at least 40.6% of patients but progressive fibrosis occurred in 75% of sustained responders. This suggests that mechanisms other than recurrent HCV may be responsible for cirrhosis in sustained responders who remain at risk of developing decompensated liver disease.
A Sodium-Ion Battery with a Low-Cost Cross-Linked Gel-Polymer Electrolyte

The design of a sodium-ion rechargeable battery with an antimony anode, a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode, and a low-cost composite gel-polymer electrolyte based on cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) is reported. The application of an antimony anode, on replacement of the sodium metal that is commonly used in sodium-ion half-cells, reduces significantly the interfacial resistance and charge transfer resistance of a sodium-ion battery, which enables a smaller polarization for a sodium-ion full-cell Sb/Na3V2(PO4)3 running at relatively high charge and discharge rates. The incorporation of the gel-polymer electrolyte is beneficial to maintain stable interfaces between the electrolyte and the electrodes of the sodium-ion battery at elevated temperature. When running at 60 °C, the sodium-ion full-cell Sb/Na3V2(PO4)3 with the gel-polymer electrolyte exhibits superior cycling stability compared to a battery with the conventional liquid electrolyte.
Summary, Directions for Future Research

The study has explored the econometric implications of the presence of an agent in the data generating mechanism who performs learning. It related the issues addressed to major areas in the literature. An illustrative model was presented in which even in the absence of any explicit dynamics the problem became nontrivial and dynamic by virtue of the presence of learning about the unknown parameter. The agent had to strike an optimal balance between current payoff maximization and generation of information in the future. The distinction between active and passive learning was made. On the basis of an argument on the curvature of the value function arising in the problem, active learning was shown to be generically optimal.
Africans and the ICC: Hypocrisy, Impunity, and Perversion

This chapter interrogates the complex relationship between the International Criminal Court and African states, especially with the African Union. The paper argues that although African states constitute the largest bloc of ICC states parties -- and were enthusiastic supporters of the court -- they have soured on it. The reasons for this toxic relationship are many, but the bottom line is that the ICC has attempted to hold to account African heads of state accused of heinous crimes. The AU closed ranks particularly after the indictments of Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan. Led by Kenyatta, the AU developed a narrative that depicted the ICC as a racist, imperial white man's court intent on "hunting" African leaders. The ICC has not been effective in blunting this charge, and the West -- which supports the ICC -- buckled under this neo-colonialist charge. The AU's narrative gained traction because virtually all the ICC's cases are against Africans. But the chapter argues that these facts notwithstanding, the AU coddles and shelters African leaders responsible for mass atrocities against ordinary Africans. Thus the AU is hypocritical in its attacks on the ICC because it does nothing but advance impunity on the continent. It is a perverse attack on the ICC and international law by a cynical club of dictators. That said, the chapter argues that the ICC should address its structural, normative, and institutional deficits -- and tackle questions of hegemonic disequilibria -- to become an effective institution. The paper notes that the AU's views on the ICC are divergent from those of African publics who support the court.
The Interaction of Soluble Phospholipids with Coagulation Factor VIIa

Abstract Abstract 4421 Factor VIIa (fVIIa) is one of the key proteins in the blood coagulation cascade. It activates factors IX and × on a negatively charged phospholipid surface in either a TF-dependent or TF-independent fashion (Silverberg et al, 1977; Bom et al, 1990). Monroe et al (1997) demonstrated that fVIIa binds to activated platelets independent of TF and partially restores thrombin generation in an in vitro model of hemophilia. Thus, it appears that interaction of fVIIa with platelet phospholipids plays an important role. We report that binding of 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospholipids -L-serine (C6PS) and 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (C6PE) to fVIIa causes changes in its activity as well as structure. Titration with C6PS led to changes in intrinsic fluorescence indicative of two or more binding sites for this lipid. Similar titrations with C6PE indicated that it probably binds to a single site on the protein. Experiments are underway to test this initial conclusion. Both lipids bind with comparable affinity (kd ~ 165 and 160 μ M) when data were analyzed using a single site model. We also examined the effect of the soluble lipids on the activity of fVIIa. Both C6PS and C6PE binding increased fVIIa proteolytic and amidolytic activity, with the effect of C6PS being more pronounced. Based on current data, it appears that both lipids bind to a single weak site, but that binding of either to this site promotes binding of C6PS to a second, tighter, and C6PS-specific site, which seems to be crucial in regulating activity. Further experiments are underway to test this hypothesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Sixty years of the International Journal of Biometeorology.

The International Journal of Biometeorology (IJB) has continuously evolved since its first publications in 1957. In this paper, we examine these changes using a database that includes all manuscript titles and author information. A brief history considers the development of the journal and shifts over time. With an interdisciplinary focus, publications draw on a wide array of subdisciplines. Using content analysis, we evaluate the themes found within IJB. Some research themes have maintained prominence throughout the journal’s history, while other themes have waxed or waned over time. Similarly, the most influential manuscripts throughout the past 60 years reveal that human biometeorological papers, particularly regarding thermal comfort, have been influential throughout the journal’s history, with other themes, including phenology and animal biometeorology, more concentrated in specific periods. Dominated by North America and Europe in the early years, publication authorship has shifted over the last decade to be more globally representative. Recent inclusion of special issues devoted to regional biometeorological issues, as well as to Students and New Professionals, offer insight into the future direction of the IJB.
MPK1/SLT2 links multiple stress responses with gene expression in budding yeast by phosphorylating Tyr1 of the RNAP II CTD

The RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain consists of repeated YSPTSPS heptapeptides. The role of tyrosine-1 (Tyr1) remains incompletely understood, as, for example, mutating all Tyr1 residues to Phe (Y1F) is lethal in vertebrates but a related mutant has only a mild phenotype in S. pombe. Here we show that Y1F substitution in budding yeast resulted in a strong slow-growth phenotype. The Y1F strain was also hypersensitive to several different cellular stresses that involve MAP kinase signaling. These phenotypes were all linked to transcriptional changes, and we also identified genetic and biochemical interactions between Tyr1 and both transcription initiation and termination factors. Further studies uncovered defects related to MAP kinase I (Slt2) pathways, and we provide evidence that Slt2 phosphorylates Tyr1 in vitro and in vivo. Our study has thus identified Slt2 as a Tyr1 kinase, and in doing so provided links between stress response activation and Tyr1 phosphorylation.
Effect of quantum-well thickness on the optical polarization of AlGaN-based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

Optical polarization from AlGaN quantum well (QW) is crucial for realizing high-efficiency deep-ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) because it determines the light emission patterns and light extraction mechanism of the devices. As the Al-content of AlGaN QW increases, the valence bands order changes and consequently the light polarization switches from transverse-electric (TE) to transverse-magnetic (TM) owing to the different sign and the value of the crystal field splitting energy between AlN (-169meV) and GaN (10meV). Several groups have reported that the ordering of the bands and the TE/TM crossover Al-content could be influenced by the strain state and the quantum confinement from the AlGaN QW system. In this work, we investigate the influence of QW thickness on the optical polarization switching point from AlGaN QW with AlN barriers by using 6-band k∙p model. The result presents a decreasing trend of the critical Al-content where the topmost valence band switches from heave hole (HH) to crystal field spilt-off (CH) with increasing QW thicknesses due to the internal electric field and the strain state from the AlGaN QW. Instead, the TE- and TM-polarized spontaneous emission rates switching Al-content rises first and falls later because of joint consequence of the band mixing effect and the Quantum Confined Stark Effect. The reported optical polarization from AlGaN QW emitters in the UV spectral range is assessed in this work and the tendency of the polarization switching point shows great consistency with the theoretical results, which deepens the understanding of the physics from AlGaN QW UV LEDs.
Customer Value Creation for Risky Products: The Role of Brand Trust and Trusting Beliefs:

AbstractConsumers often perceive products and services as risky. As a result, they might perceive the same products as less valuable. While past research has investigated numerous ways of reducing ...
The beta-2 adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and risk of breast cancer among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women from the 4-Corners Breast Cancer Study - A population-based case-control examination

THE BETA2 ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR POL YMORPHISMS AND RISK OF BREAST CANCER AMONG HISPANIC AND NON-HISPANIC WHITE WOMEN FROM THE 4-CORNERS BREAST CANCER STUDYA POPULATION-BASED CASE-CONTROL EXAMINATION A vonne E. Connor July21,2011 Polymorphisms in the adrenergic receptor beta-2 (ADRB2) gene have been studied in relation to risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, but few studies have investigated associations with breast cancer. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the primary hypothesis that ADRB2 variants (rs1042713-Arg16Gly and rs1042714Gln27Glu) are associated with breast cancer risk in non-Hispanic white (NHW) and Hispanic (H) women using data from a population-based case-control study conducted in the southwestern United States: 'The 4-Corners Breast Cancer Study'. A total of 1,244 NHW and 606 H cases with incident primary breast cancer were ascertained and 1,330 NHW and 728 H population-based controls were selected. Information on lifestyle and physical activity, diet, demographics, and reproductive background was collected through an in-person questionnaire, and blood samples were taken for genetic analyses from consenting participants. ADRB2 genotypes for rs 1042713 and rs 1042714 were determined using PCR. Each genotype as well as their haplotypes was evaluated in multi variable logistic regression models to estimate the associations with breast cancer
Instituting a Culture of Professionalism: The Establishment of a Center for Professionalism and Peer Support

Article-at-a-Glance Background There is growing recognition that an environment in which professionalism is not embraced, or where expectations of acceptable behaviors are not clear and enforced, can result in medical errors, adverse events, and unsafe work conditions. Methods The Center for Professionalism and Peer Support (CPPS) was created in 2008 at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Boston, to educate the hospital community regarding professionalism and manage unprofessional behavior. CPPS includes the professionalism initiative, a disclosure and apology process, peer and defendant support programs, and wellness programs. Leadership support, establishing behavioral expectations and assessments, emphasizing communication engagement and skills training, and creating a process for intake of professionalism concerns were all critical in developing and implementing an effective professionalism program. The process for assessing and responding to concerns includes management of professionalism concerns, an assessment process, and remediation and monitoring. Results Since 2005, thousands of physicians, scientists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants have been trained in educational programs to support the identification, prevention, and management of unprofessional behavior. For January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2013, concerns were raised regarding 201 physicians/scientists and 8 health care teams. Conclusions The results suggest that mandatory education sessions on professional development are successful in engaging physicians and scientists in discussing and participating in an enhanced professionalism culture, and that the processes for responding to professionalism concerns have been able to address, and most often alter, repetitive unprofessional behavior in a substantive and beneficial manner.
Augmented Cardiopulmonary Baroreflex Sensitivity in Intradialytic Hypertension.

Introduction End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with a paradoxical increase in blood pressure (BP) during hemodialysis (HD), termed intradialytic hypertension (ID-HTN), are at significantly increased risk for mortality and adverse cardiovascular events. ID-HTN affects up to 15% of all HD patients, and the pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesized that ESRD patients prone to ID-HTN have heightened volume-sensitive cardiopulmonary baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) that leads to exaggerated increases in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation during HD. Methods We studied ESRD patients on maintenance HD with ID-HTN (n = 10) and without ID-HTN (controls, n = 12) on an interdialytic day, 24 to 30 hours after their last HD session. We measured continuous muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), beat-to-beat arterial BP, and electrocardiography (ECG) at baseline, and during graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Low-dose LBNP isolates cardiopulmonary BRS, whereas higher doses allow assessment of physiologic responses to orthostatic stress. Results The ID-HTN patients had significantly higher pre- and post-HD BP, and greater interdialytic fluid weight gain compared to controls. There was a significantly greater increase in MSNA burst incidence (P = 0.044) during graded LBNP in the ID-HTN group, suggesting heightened cardiopulmonary BRS. The ID-HTN group also had a trend toward increased diastolic BP response during LBNP, and had significantly greater increases in BP during the cold pressor test. Conclusion Patients with ID-HTN have augmented cardiopulmonary BRS that may contribute to increased SNS activation and BP response during HD.
A Critical Review of Education-Based Sleep Interventions for Undergraduate Students: Informing Future Directions in Intervention Development

Young adult undergraduate students are known to be a sleep-deprived population. Sleep disturbances among college students pose many potential risks to health, safety, and learning, and several education-based sleep interventions have been developed to improve sleep among college students. While many interventions have been found to improve sleep hygiene behaviors and sleep outcomes, few studies have identified and examined intervention components that are associated with these improvements. A review was warranted to synthesize current research on education-based sleep interventions and to propose recommendations to inform intervention development. The current review aimed to compare and analyze existing sleep education interventions with regard to specific intervention components and study designs. Through this review and critical appraisal of 12 intervention studies, we found that both brief sleep education interventions and semester-long sleep education courses statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved sleep knowledge, sleep behaviors, and sleep health among undergraduate students. Cognitive behavioral strategies, specifically self-monitoring, were associated with significant improvements in sleep outcomes, and, thus, may be relevant additions to sleep education-based interventions for college students. Future intervention research is needed to increase our understanding of healthy sleep behavior change among sleep-deprived college students, and to improve interventions to address the adoption and maintenance of healthy sleep behavior. Recommendations are intended to help inform future directions in sleep intervention development for young adult undergraduate students, who are at increased risk for sleep disruption and disturbance and their attendant effects on well-being, performance, safety, and overall health.
Energetics of CO2- in Aqueous Solution.

Gas-phase and aqueous solution properties of neutral and anionic clusters of CO2 with 3, 4, and 8 explicit H2O molecules are calculated at the coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) level plus a self-consistent reaction field. Anionic clusters with the radical electron density localized on the carbon of the CO2 molecule rather than localized on the H2O molecules are more favorable energetically by 10–20 kcal/mol in the gas phase (ΔHgas(298 K)) and 20–30 kcal/mol in aqueous solution (ΔGaq(298 K)). The most favorable structures are those with the largest number of strong hydrogen bonds between the CO2– and the explicit H2O molecules. Adiabatic electron affinities were calculated in the gas phase and in aqueous solution for the microsolvated anion. The adiabatic electron affinity of aqueous CO2– is predicted to be 2.35 ± 0.08 eV and is converged with as few as 3 explicit H2O molecules plus a self-consistent reaction field. The EA of aqueous CO2 is significantly greater than the aqueous solvation free energy of the electr...
Outcomes of active surveillance for African-American men with prostate cancer: Results of a matched analysis.

89Background: Prior work has questioned the safety of active surveillance (AS) for African-American (AA) men with prostate cancer. However, studies of AA men on AS are rare, and some show contradic...
The Limits of "Life-Limiting".

Abstract The field of hospice and palliative medicine has struggled to define the conditions that are appropriate for palliative care. "Life-threatening" appropriately encompasses lethal conditions and helpfully incorporates the concept of probability, which is a necessary variable in any risk calculation. Yet it leaves one important group of patients unaccounted for: those whose primary need for palliative care is not expected abbreviation of life but rather the quality of that life. In an attempt to include these patients, the term "life-limiting" has come to be used more frequently. Although attractive in its breadth—and at first glance appearing to be a less threatening way to introduce palliative care—the term is inherently flawed. It denotes a certain outcome, without any consideration of the likelihood of that outcome. Rather than "softening the blow" of introducing palliative care, the term seems to condemn a patient to the very outcome that palliative care is tasked to ameliorate, namely, the limitation of life. As such, it may provide a distorted view of what palliative care is, especially in pediatrics where the term is used with disproportionate frequency. The inherent misplaced certainty of "life-limiting" and the self-defeating message it sends to patients should be acknowledged.
Comparison of Four Cell Topologies for 1.2-kV Accumulation- and Inversion-Channel 4H-SiC MOSFETs: Analysis and Experimental Results

The electrical characteristics of 1.2-kV-rated 4H-SiC accumulation (Acc) and inversion (Inv) channel MOSFETs with linear, square, hexagonal, and octagonal cell topologies fabricated using the same design rules and process flow in a 6-in foundry are compared for the first time. TCAD numerical simulations have been conducted to analyze the structures. For all the cell topologies, it was found that the Acc MOSFETs have lower specific ON-resistance ( ${R}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON},\textsf {sp}}$ ) than the Inv counterparts due to higher channel mobility resulting in 1.3– $2.0\times $ smaller high-frequency figure-of-merit (HF-FOM[ ${R} _{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}} \times {Q}_{\textsf {gd}}$ ]), where ${Q} _{\textsf {gd}}$ is the gate-to-drain charge. It is observed that the square and hexagonal cell topologies with the same structural dimensions show similar electrical performance. When compared with the standard linear cell topology: 1) the hexagonal cell topology has $1.15\times $ better specific ON-resistance and $1.12\times $ worse HF-FOM[ $\text{R}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}} \times {Q}_{\textsf {gd}}$ ] and 2) the octagonal cell topology has $1.5\times $ worse specific ON-resistance and $1.4\times $ better HF-FOM[ $\text{R}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}} \times {Q}_{\textsf {gd}}$ ]. In addition, the octagonal cell topology has a much superior figure-of-merit (FOM[ ${C} _{\textsf {iss}}/{C} _{\textsf {rss}}$ ]), where ${C} _{\textsf {iss}}$ is the input capacitance and ${C} _{\textsf {gd}}$ is the reverse transfer capacitance.
Spinal location is prognostic of survival for solitary-fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma of the central nervous system.

Prior studies have highlighted infratentorial tumor location as a prognostic factor for solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and hemangiopericytoma (HPC) of the central nervous system (CNS), and spinal location is considered a positive prognostic factor for other tumors of the CNS. While SFT/HPC of the CNS is known to frequently arise from the spinal meninges, there are no case series that report outcomes for spinally located CNS tumors, and their prognosis in relation to intracranial and other CNS-located tumors is unknown. To investigate outcomes for patients with SFT/HPC of the spinal meninges. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results Program was used to identify patients with SFT/HPC within the CNS from 1993–2015. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between tumor location (spinal vs. Brain and other CNS) and survival. We identified 551 cases of CNS SFT/HPC, 64 (11.6%) of which were primary tumors of the spinal meninges. Spinal tumors were more likely than brain and other CNS tumors to be SFT vs. HPC (37.5 vs. 12%, p < 0.001), benign (42.2 vs. 20.3%, p < 0.001), and less than 5 cm (53.1 vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001). The 10-year survival rates for spinal and brain/other CNS tumors were 85 and 58%, respectively. Median survival time was significantly longer for spinal tumors (median survival not reached vs. 138 months, p = 0.03, HR = 0.41 [95% CI 0.18–0.94]). On multivariable analysis, spinal tumor location was associated with improved survival over tumors located in the brain and other CNS (HR = 0.36 [95% CI 0.15–0.89], p = 0.03). Spinal tumor location is associated with improved survival in patients with SFT/HPC of the CNS. Larger institutional studies are necessary to characterize the relationship between tumor location and other relevant factors such as presentation and amenability to gross-total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. Future studies exploring optimal management of spinally located tumors are also needed.
Spatial Data Wrangling with GeoSpark: A Step by Step Tutorial

This tutorial is expected to deliver a comprehensive study and hands-on tutorial of how GeoSpark incorporates Spark to uphold massive-scale spatial data. We also want this tutorial to serve as an introductory course that teaches the audience the basic building blocks in a scalable spatial data management system and the important design concerns based on our previous experience. We begin our tutorial with a background introduction of the characteristics of spatial data and the history of distributed data management systems. A follow-up section presents common approaches used by the practitioners to extend Spark and introduces the vital components in a generic spatial data management system. The third section gives a hands-on live demonstration to illustrate the basic steps of performing geospatial data analytics using GeoSpark.
A 2-D CFD model for the decompression of carbon dioxide pipelines using the Peng-Robinson and the Span-Wagner equation of state

Abstract Pressurized liquefied gases such as carbon dioxide are transported at a pressure above their saturation pressure. Therefore, if a pipeline transporting this substance ruptures, an abrupt expansion occurs, causing the flashing of the fluid. Computational tools that predict how fast a depressurization develops, help to assess the consequences of potential pipeline rupture scenarios. This paper describes the development of a 2-D full-bore rupture decompression model to simulate the transient depressurization of a pipeline transporting pure liquefied CO2, using ANSYS Fluent as CFD software. The scope of work focuses on incorporating non-equilibrium phase transition, while addressing the calculation of properties for metastable liquid. Additionally, it includes the comparison of model predictions when implementing two thermodynamic approaches: the Peng-Robinson Equation of State (EoS), and correlations developed in this work based on the Span-Wagner EoS. It was found that the thermodynamic approach is deemed to have a predominant effect on the arrival time of the decompression wave front at different locations along the computational domain, while the mass transfer coefficient in the source terms (C) governs the phase transition and the pressure plateau representing this phenomenon.
Architecting a Query Compiler for Spatial Workloads

Modern location-based applications rely extensively on the efficient processing of spatial data and queries. Spatial query engines are commonly engineered as an extension to a relational database or a cluster-computing framework. Large parts of the spatial processing runtime is spent on evaluating spatial predicates and traversing spatial indexing structures. Typical high-level implementations of these spatial structures incur significant interpretive overhead, which increases latency and lowers throughput. A promising idea to improve the performance of spatial workloads is to leverage native code generation techniques that have become popular in relational query engines. However, architecting a spatial query compiler is challenging since spatial processing has fundamentally different execution characteristics from relational workloads in terms of data dimensionality, indexing structures, and predicate evaluation. In this paper, we discuss the underlying reasons why standard query compilation techniques are not fully effective when applied to spatial workloads, and we demonstrate how a particular style of query compilation based on techniques borrowed from partial evaluation and generative programming manages to avoid most of these difficulties by extending the scope of custom code generation into the data structures layer. We extend the LB2 main-memory query compiler, a relational engine developed in this style, with spatial data types, predicates, indexing structures, and operators. We show that the spatial extension matches the performance of specialized library code and outperforms relational and map-reduce extensions.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Races of Fusarium oxysporum Causing Cotton Wilt

To better understand the evolution of virulence we are interested in identifying the genetic basis of this trait in pathogenic fungi and in developing tools for the rapid characterization of variation in virulence among populations associated with epidemics. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV) is a haploid fungus that causes devastating outbreaks of Fusarium wilt of cotton wherever it is grown. In the United States, six nominal races and eleven genotypes of FOV have been characterized based on the translation elongation factor (EF-1α) gene and intergenic spacer region (IGS), but it is unclear how race or genotype based on these regions relates to population structure or virulence. We used genotyping-by-sequencing to identify SNPs and determine genetic diversity and population structure among 86 diverse FOV isolates. Six individuals of Fusarium oxysporum closely related to FOV were genotyped and included in some analyses. Between 193 and 354 SNPs were identified and included in the analyses depending on the pipeline and filtering criteria used. Phylogenetic trees, minimum spanning networks (MSNs), principal components analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) demonstrated that races and genotypes of FOV are generally not structured by EF-1α genotype, nor are they monophyletic groups with the exception of race 4 isolates, which are distinct. Furthermore, DAPC identified between 11 and 14 genetically distinct clusters of FOV, whereas only eight EF-1α genotypes were represented among isolates; suggesting that FOV, especially isolates within the widely distributed and common race 1 genotype, is more genetically diverse than currently recognized.
Partition of the Customers in Insurance 4.0

The partition of the customers or market segmentation is essential in insurance 4.0. New customers are entering the market, such as the so-called millennials. Their approach to insurance is entirely different. For them and the remaining prospects, insurance companies need to rethink the customer segmentation strategy to target one person’s segment.
Aortic acceleration as a noninvasive index of left ventricular contractility in the mouse.

The maximum value of the first derivative of the invasively measured left ventricular (LV) pressure (+ dP/dtmax or P') is often used to quantify LV contractility, which in mice is limited to a single terminal study. Thus, determination of P' in mouse longitudinal/serial studies requires a group of mice at each desired time point resulting in "pseudo" serial measurements. Alternatively, a noninvasive surrogate for P' will allow for repeated measurements on the same group of mice, thereby minimizing physiological variability and requiring fewer animals. In this study we evaluated aortic acceleration and other parameters of aortic flow velocity as noninvasive indices of LV contractility in mice. We simultaneously measured LV pressure invasively with an intravascular pressure catheter and aortic flow velocity noninvasively with a pulsed Doppler probe in mice, at baseline and after the administration of the positive inotrope, dobutamine. Regression analysis of P' versus peak aortic velocity (vp), peak velocity squared/rise time (vp2/T), peak (+ dvp/dt or v'p) and mean (+ dvm/dt or v'm) aortic acceleration showed a high degree of association (P' versus: vp, r2 = 0.77; vp2/T, r2 = 0.86; v'p, r2 = 0.80; and v'm, r2 = 0.89). The results suggest that mean or peak aortic acceleration or the other parameters may be used as a noninvasive index of LV contractility.
ANALISIS KUALITAS PRODUK MENGGUNAKAN METODE STATISTIC PROCESS CONTROL (SPC) MINITAB DAN TIME-CHARTING DI PT. COCA-COLA BOTTLING INDONESIA UNIT LAMPUNG

PT. COCA-COLA BOTTLING INDONESIA is a company engaged in the field of Agro-industry is bottling soft drinks and not sparkling. The products produced are Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Tea. To be able to compete with similar industries then the company implements quality control by Statistical Process Control method. In the development of this SPC many methods there are manual or who use the software. Currently PT. Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia in quality control using Time Charting method, but since the transition from Minitab to Time Charting the tendency of the value of capability below standard, whereas production data is almost the same as using Minitab. The purpose of this research is to analyze the inequality of Statistical Process Control between Minitab 13 and Time Charting. Time Charting method is a new method that is given by the headquarters for the process of quality control can be fast and accurate. Quality control with the Statistical Process Control of Minitab and Time Charting methods after the results of the research results was found to be part of different LSL and USL charging, and Calculate Statistic Using different from Minitab method should still be 6 but in written procedure 3. For writing LSL And USL if the Time Charting is determined by the head office while Minitab analysts fill in based on experiments on the decrease of gas volume marketed in previous years. From the research results obtained Cpk data for Minitab method 13 is Sprite 390 ml 1.47, Sprite 1000 ml 1.90 and Sprite 1500 ml 1.38. The result of the research was using Minitab method and the Charting Time of Capacity that is above 1.33 average. The causes of the resulting inequality of both methods are the LSL, USL and Calculate Statistic Using values. The smaller the value of Calculate Statistic Using the higher Cpk produced. Keywords: Production, Statistical Process Control, Quality.
Harvest impacts to stand development and soil properties across soil textures: 25-year response of the aspen Lake States LTSP installations

Abstract In addition to long-standing concerns about sustaining forest productivity, maintaining forest ecosystems under changing conditions and emerging threats has become increasingly important when planning forest management. With the aim of understanding effects of management on both productivity and recovery, we quantified the 25-year impact of varying degrees of organic matter (OM) removal and soil compaction on above-ground biomass, soil carbon and nutrients, soil bulk density, and stand development in aspen-dominated forests in the upper Lake States region of the US. Treatment impacts were assessed at three different sites with comparable overstory composition, but with varying soil texture, site quality, and climate. Across all sites, soil C and N generally decreased with increasing OM removal, and bulk density increased with increasing compaction; 25-year observations indicate recovery of bulk density at the surface (0–10 cm) but not at deeper portions of the soil profile. At the most productive site (loamy soils) with favorable initial soil porosity, severe compaction decreased mean aboveground biomass (-46%), particularly of trees (-73%). Biomass at 25 years did not differ among organic matter removal treatments (e.g. stem-only harvest), but a greater increase in soil C occurred with stem-only harvest relative to whole-tree harvest plus forest floor removal. In contrast, at a less productive site with sandy soils poorly buffered to nutrient and C removals, whole-tree harvest reduced biomass by 25% (tree biomass declined 35%) relative to stem-only harvest while compaction treatments did not differ in effects on biomass production, soil C or soil N. On clay soils, compaction treatments did not significantly impact biomass production, but whole-tree harvest plus forest floor removal reduced tree biomass by 47% relative to whole-tree harvest alone. Assessment of mean relative density indicates canopy closure has not yet occurred at the least productive site (clay soils) or the more severely disturbed stands at the intermediate site (sandy soils), suggesting the possibility for treatment impacts not yet discernible to become more pronounced as stands develop and nutrient uptake continues in the future. Our results align with concepts of soil quality and texture-specific limitations to growth, underlying a need to understand key soil limitations when considering forest management impacts to aboveground structure and productivity.
The Heat Expansion for Systems of Integral Equations

In this paper we derive an analogue for integral operators of the well-known heat expansion for the Laplacian or other operators of positive order. Previous work established a partial expansion of n + 1 terms for a single integral operator in n dimensions. This is here extended to systems of operators.
Deletion of QCR6, the gene encoding subunit six of the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex, blocks maturation of cytochrome c1, and causes temperature-sensitive petite growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It was previously reported that disruption or deletion of QCR6, the nuclear gene encoding subunit 6 of the cytochrome bc1 complex, does not impair growth of yeast on non-fermentable carbon sources (Schoppink, P. J., Hemrika, W., Reyne, J. M., Grivell, L.A., and Berden, J. A. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 113, 115-122; Crivellone, M. D., Wu, M. M., and Tzagoloff, A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14323-14333; Schmitt, M. E., and Trumpower, B. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17005-17011). We have discovered that deletion of QCR6 results in a temperature-sensitive petite phenotype, manifested at 37 degrees C, and that this phenotype can be masked by spontaneously arising suppressor mutations. Mitochondrial membranes from the deletion strain grown at 37 degrees C lack ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity, and optical spectra reveal an extensive decrease in cytochrome b absorption, but little or no decrease in cytochrome c1 absorption. Immunoblots of mitochondrial membrane proteins from the deletion strain indicate that processing of cytochrome c1 from intermediate to mature size is blocked coincident with the loss of subunit 6. This is the first example where mutation of a subunit within the bc1 complex blocks maturation of cytochrome c1.
Single-mode 32-fiber connector with GI fiber lens array

A single-mode 32-fiber lensed connector has been developed. Insertion loss of 1.0 dB on average was achieved by MT connector based structure. Return loss of more than 30 dB was achieved by non-coaxial optical design.
Neural networks in signal and image processing

Neural network (NN) research has gone a long way in the past decade. NNs now consist of many thousands of highly interconnected processing elements that can encode, store and recall relationships between different patterns by altering the weighting coefficients of inputs in a systematic way. Although they can generate reasonable outputs from unknown input patterns, and they can tolerate a great deal of noise, they are very slow when run on a serial machine. There also exists a combinatorial relationship between the number of neurons or processing elements (PEs) and the number of connections in the network. Therefore, in simulating a NN on a serial machine, one has to take into consideration the two different types of data available, namely connection data and output data, that each requires a large memory to be stored on. Some problems connected to this include floating point arithmetic for continuous values, as well as overheads required to tie all these data together and to exchange information between processors. In this paper we review the ALOPEX algorithms developed by us, discuss their complexities and give some examples of their applications in biomedical engineering problems. We do not claim that we know how the brain really works nor that we are able to build a computer that emulates the brain. NNs provide a theory of how information is stored in memory but not what is put in there.
Helping users use UNIX

Abstract When it comes time to write some computer code the hardware of choice today is a workstation running the Unix operating system. This paper considers the problem of new users faced with Unix. It presents a number of possible solutions and elaborates on one which provides a graphical help system. This latter help system may be accessed via a pointing device which leads initially to a picture of a help structure, nodes in the structure may be selected to display the associated help text. The texts are structure to address the needs of differing users, ‘new’ through to ‘competent’.
Risk Regulation at Risk: Restoring a Pragmatic Approach

In the 1960s and 1970s, Congress enacted a vast body of legislation to protect the environment and individual health and safety. Collectively, this legislation is known as "risk regulation" because it addresses the risk of harm that technology creates for individuals and the environment. In the last two decades, this legislation has come under increasing attack by critics who employ utilitarian philosophy and cost-benefit analysis. The defenders of this body of risk regulation, by contrast, have lacked a similar unifying theory. In this book, the authors propose that the American tradition of philosophical pragmatism fills this vacuum. They argue that pragmatism offers a better method for conceiving of and implementing risk regulation than the economic paradigm favored by its critics. While pragmatism offers a methodology in support of risk regulation as it was originally conceived, it also offers a perspective from which this legislation can be held up to critical appraisal. The authors employ pragmatism to support risk regulation, but pragmatism also leads them to agree with some of the criticisms against it, and even to level new criticisms of their own. In the end, the authors reject the picture-painted by risk regulation's critics-of widely excessive and irrational regulation, but the pragmatic perspective also leads them to propose a number of recommendations for useful reforms to risk regulation.
Espaço, tempo, lugar: um arcabouço humanista / Space, time, place: a humanistic frame

Espaco e tempo sao ideias que possuem significados muito variados em diferentes campos do conhecimento e na vida cotidiana. E mais comum associarmos espaco e lugar do que espaco e tempo, pelo menos no dia-a-dia. Na imaginacao e facil tratar espaco, tempo e lugar separadamente. Na experiencia vivida eles estao indissoluvelmente ligados. Este artigo objetiva mostrar como o tempo esta presente nos conceitos de espaco e de lugar em diferentes escalas, em direcao a relacao tempo-lugar na experiencia humana.
The Domus Aurea and the Roman Architectural Revolution

Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea (Golden House), is the most influential known building in the history of Roman architecture. It has been incompletely studied and poorly understood ever since its most important sections were excavated in the 1930s. In this book, Larry Ball provides systematic investigation of the Domus Aurea, including a comprehensive analysis of the masonry, the design, and the abundant ancient literary evidence. Highlighting the revolutionary innovations of the Domus Aurea, Ball also outlines their wide-ranging implications for the later development of Roman concrete architecture.
The Green Revolution Strikes Gold

Engineering plants to improve their nutritional value would be of great benefit to developing countries. As [Guerinot][1] explains in a Perspective, half of the world's population consume rice as a staple food, yet rice is devoid of many essential nutrients such as vitamin A and iron. Now [ Ye et al. ][2] report that they have successfully engineered rice plants to produce b-carotene (from which vitamin A is made) in the endosperm of the rice grain. As soon as true-breeding lines of this engineered rice are established, seeds will be freely available to farmers in developing countries. This should help to ameliorate vitamin A deficiency, which is widespread in poor parts of the world. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/287/5451/241 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/287/5451/303
Quantitative differences in lipid raft components between murine CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Background Lipid rafts have been shown to play a role in T cell maturation, activation as well as in the formation of immunological synapses in CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. However, the differential expression of lipid raft components between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is still poorly defined. To examine this question, we analyzed the expression of GM1 in T cells from young and aged mice as well as the expression of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein Thy-1 and cholesterol in murine CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations.