cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Universal Approximation by Neural Networks with Uniform Guarantees on Approximation of Infinite Dimensional Maps

The study of universal approximation of arbitrary functions $f: \mathcal{X} \to \mathcal{Y}$ by neural networks has a rich and thorough history dating back to Kolmogorov (1957). In the case of learning finite dimensional maps, many authors have shown various forms of the universality of both fixed depth and fixed width neural networks. However, in many cases, these classical results fail to extend to the recent use of approximations of neural networks with infinitely many units for functional data analysis, dynamical systems identification, and other applications where either $\mathcal{X}$ or $\mathcal{Y}$ become infinite dimensional. Two questions naturally arise: which infinite dimensional analogues of neural networks are sufficient to approximate any map $f: \mathcal{X} \to \mathcal{Y}$, and when do the finite approximations to these analogues used in practice approximate $f$ uniformly over its infinite dimensional domain $\mathcal{X}$? In this paper, we answer the open question of universal approximation of nonlinear operators when $\mathcal{X}$ and $\mathcal{Y}$ are both infinite dimensional. We show that for a large class of different infinite analogues of neural networks, any continuous map can be approximated arbitrarily closely with some mild topological conditions on $\mathcal{X}$. Additionally, we provide the first lower-bound on the minimal number of input and output units required by a finite approximation to an infinite neural network to guarantee that it can uniformly approximate any nonlinear operator using samples from its inputs and outputs.
Understanding racial bias in health using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.

Over the years, several studies have demonstrated that there exist significant disparities in health indicators in the United States population across various groups. Healthcare expense is used as a proxy for health in algorithms that drive healthcare systems and this exacerbates the existing bias. In this work, we focus on the presence of racial bias in health indicators in the publicly available, and nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. We show that predictive models for care management trained using this data inherit this bias. Finally, we demonstrate that this inherited bias can be reduced significantly using simple mitigation techniques.
New glaucoma medications: latanoprostene bunod, netarsudil, and fixed combination netarsudil-latanoprost

Reduction of intraocular pressure is the only proven method to treat glaucoma. Initial treatment of glaucoma commonly involves using anti-glaucoma medications either as monotherapy or combination therapy. Studies on aqueous humour dynamics have contributed to our understanding of aqueous outflow mechanisms that have led to the discovery of new drugs. Three new drugs (latanoprostene bunod 0.24%, netarsudil 0.02%, and fixed combination netarsudil 0.02% -latanoprost 0.005%) have been introduced recently in the market with novel mechanisms of action. Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% is a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2α analogue which increases the aqueous outflow both by uveoscleral and trabecular pathways. Netarsudil 0.02% is a potent Rho kinase/norepinephrine transporter inhibitor acting by increasing the trabecular outflow, decreasing the aqueous production, and possibly decreasing the episcleral venous pressure. This review highlights the role of these drugs in the management of glaucoma, with an overview of the major clinical trials on their efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
Angiotensin Receptor–Neprilysin Inhibitors and the Natriuretic Peptide Axis

The purpose of this review is to describe the effects of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) therapy on the natriuretic peptide axis (NPA), with a particular focus on B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) to better understand the biology behind the improved outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). BNP, ANP, and CNP are the three main natriuretic peptides (NP); they share a common structure and ultimately mediate their actions by activating cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). ARNI therapy results in a decrease of N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and increase of BNP levels respectively. It is been questioned whether these changes may result from unique laboratory assays characteristics rather than actual biological implications. It appears to be that the prognostic accuracy of BNP for cardiovascular outcomes remains independent and comparable to that of NT-proBNP while on ARNI therapy. ANP levels also increase with ARNI therapy, but no consistent change has been described for CNP levels. There is evidence that the changes in BNP and NT-proBNP correlate with improvement in echocardiographic parameters of volume and function. The dual effect of neprilysin inhibition and angiotensin receptor blockade has substantial implications on the natriuretic peptide axis (NPA). The changes seen in BNP and NT-proBNP specifically have shown to correlate with improvement in echocardiographic parameters. Further results exploring the biologic effects of ARNI therapy on other NPs are still pending and likely will provide further insights in the mechanisms behind the improvement in cardiac function and clinical outcomes.
A Hazard Multiple: Overlapping Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings in a National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Southeastern United States

AbstractThe U.S. weather warning system is designed to help operational forecasters identify and issue alerts for hazards that assist people in taking life-saving actions. Assessing risks for indiv...
Anionic nanoparticle and microplastic non-exponential distributions from source scale with grain size in environmental granular media.

Abstract Nanoparticle and microplastic (colloid) transport behaviors impact strategies for groundwater protection and remediation. Complex colloid transport behaviors of anionic nano- and micro-sized colloids have been previously elucidated via independent experiments in chemically-cleaned and amended granular media with grain sizes in the range of fine to coarse sand (e.g., 200–1000 μm). Such experiments show that under conditions where a repulsive barrier was present in colloid-collector interactions (unfavorable conditions), the distribution of retained colloids down-gradient from their source deviates from the exponential decrease expected from compounded loss across a series of collectors (grains). Previous experiments have not examined the impact of colloid size or granular media grain size on colloid distribution down-gradient from their source, particularly in streambed-equilibrated granular media. To address this gap, a field transport experiment in constructed wetland stream beds to distances up to 20 m were conducted for colloids ranging in size from micro to nano (60 nm–7 μm) in streambed-equilibrated pea gravel and sand (4200 and 420 μm mean grain sizes, respectively). All colloid sizes showed non-exponential (hyper-exponential) distributions from source, over meter scales in pea gravel versus cm scales reported for fine sand. Colloids in the ca. 1 μm size range were most mobile, as expected from mass transfer to surfaces and interaction with nanoscale heterogeneity. The distance over which non-exponential colloid distribution occurred increased with media grain size, which carries implications for the potential mechanism driving non-exponential colloid distribution from source, and for strategies to predict transport.
A multi-attribute utility model for environmental decision-making: an application to casting

It is a well-known fact among environmental researchers that the casting process presents challenges to those entrusted with protecting the environment. Prior studies suggested models for health risk assessment that offered alternatives to help lower toxic emissions. Limitations were encountered when those alternatives were discussed for their acceptability in the pouring, cooling and shakeout stages of the casting process. The current study proposes to enrich the relevancy of these previous models to decision-makers by incorporating technical and economic attributes of interest to the manufacturer. The enhanced model uses a multi-attribute utility function to minimize toxic emission while controlling for technical and economic constraints. Under policy limitations, the model was complemented with a human factor as an uncertain belief encompassing partiality of the expert’s judgment or the stakeholder’s preference. The results of a simulation used for illustration purpose were encouraging to the usefulness of the proposed model. The sensitivity to variable scenarios accounting for environmental pollutants proved to build a consensus around potential alternatives.
Age Is Not a Barrier: Older Adults With Cancer Derive Similar Benefit in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Remote Symptom Monitoring Intervention Compared With Younger Adults:

This study investigated a remote symptom monitoring intervention to examine if older participants with cancer received a similar magnitude of benefit compared with younger adults with cancer. We analyzed a longitudinal symptom monitoring intervention for 358 participants beginning a new course of chemotherapy treatment in community and academic oncology practices. The study design was a randomized control trial; participants were randomized to the intervention or usual care, the intervention was delivered during daily automated coaching. Older adults with moderate and severe symptoms derived similar benefit as those adults younger than 60 years of age, adherence to the study protocol which involved daily calls was high. There was no significant difference between the 2 age categories; on average, older adult participants made 88% of expected daily calls and younger adult participants made 90% of expected daily calls. Our results challenge the perception that older adults are unwilling or unable to use a technological tool such as interactive voice response and suggest that patient utilization may be guided by other factors, such as ease of use and perceived benefit from the intervention.
Responding to COVID‐19: The Case of Spain

This paper examines the governance of the COVID-19 crisis in Spain. The main thesis is that the central reason for the pandemic's devastating outcomes was the relatively poor governance of the crisis as manifested by the country's lack of preparedness and its slow and delayed response. If we measure the three dimensions of governance (Mimicopoulos 2006), Spain came way short in efficiency: The lack of predictability in the institutional and policy environment hurt the response to the pandemic; in transparency: The lack of available and reliable data and the absence of information provided to the general public deeply undermined confidence and trust in the government as well adequate rand timely responses to the pandemic; and finally, in participation: The government rarely encouraged public input into decision making and failed to engage the opposition in a timely and constructive way.
Opioid Use in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease Hospitalized During Vaso-Occlusive Crisis: A Systematic Review.

Background: While pain is the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD), healthcare personnel are often ill-equipped to adequately treat patients who present in vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). Although symptom severity varies from individual to individual, SCD is characterized by intervallic pain as a result of oxygen deprivation in tissues and organs. Regardless of pain severity, SCD patients are often viewed as drug seekers by healthcare personnel who have concerns regarding patient s’ dependence on opioids which may lead to addiction. The objective was to assess the types and amount of opioids used to treat VOC in comparison to Centers for Disease Control opioid prescription guidelines. Methods: Literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and hand search. Data were analyzed from 1999 to 2018. Randomized trials, observational, and case studies involved hospitalized adults with SCD who were prescribed opioids to treat VOC. Quality assessment was conducted using Downs and Black checklist. Meta-analysis was not conducted. Results: Five studies were conducted in the USA, Arabia and the Netherlands, and the USA and Canada were included. Participants were treated with either morphine or morphine milligram equivalent (MME). No study used the same method of opioid administration. Conclusions: Patients with SCD who are hospitalized secondary to VOC mostly received opioids for pain well within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prescription guidelines. No uniform method exists. Additional research is warranted. J Hematol. 2021;10(2):46-52 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jh828
Immunological Biomarkers of COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a global health emergency. The damage and threat posed by this virus to nearly every country in the world have far exceeded those of the other six previous coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) combined. A comprehensive profile of the hematological and inflammatory biomarkers of COVID-19 is covered in this review. Significant hematological changes that have been reported in infected patients include the following biomarker candidates: lymphocyte counts (LYM), neutrophil counts (NO), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil to CD8+ T-cell ratio (N8R), eosinophil counts (EO), platelet counts (PLT), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Likewise, significant changes in soluble mediators include interleukin (IL)-2r, IL-2r to lymphocyte ratio (ILR), IL-6, interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-3), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Multiplex biomarker analyses based on hematological and cytokine changes in combination with biomedical levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), N-terminal prohormone BNP (NT-proBNP), serum urea, C-reactive protein (CRP), and D-dimer have shown improved diagnostic accuracy for determining disease severity in patients compared with single biomarker analyses. Here, we provide a current review of blood/serum biomarker abnormalities associated with different levels of COVID-19 severity.
Teachers as First Responders: What Teachers Do to Help Migrant Children and Their Families Deal with the Trauma They Experience

While there is much in the press about refugee and migrant children’s movements around the world and their status in the countries where they ultimately (or even temporarily) settle, how these children experience schooling and education is critical in mitigating the effects of the trauma they experience in their home countries, in the process of leaving their home communities or countries, in traveling to their new communities and countries and getting settled in those new communities and countries. This paper presents the stories of three teachers who work with migrant children in the United States Midwest. Interviews with these teachers show that they actively work to mitigate the trauma the migrant children have experienced by creating classrooms that welcome the children and their families, help them to have a sense of belonging in their schools and communities, and help the children develop feelings of confidence and competence, critical to overcoming toxic stress.
Democracy, the Corporate State

The monopoly power of states causes two problems: society may be led to misallocate resources by producing too much order, or at least into attempting to do so by overallocating resources to its production. Monopolies also can earn excess profits for their owners, the rulers. These are the efficiency and equity problems of the preceding chapter. The misallocation of resources is a subtle effect, one that economic theory predicts and one that can perhaps be measured using the sophisticated tools of modern econometrics, but the ordinary citizen is probably not too cognizant of it. Even if cognizant they still may find it in their own interests to leave the behavior of the rulers unchanged. The same is true of other monopolies. We are typically outraged, not by the implicit misallocation of resources they cause but by the exorbitant profits of the monopolists. Perhaps this is because for most of us envy is a stronger motivation than the desire for perfection. More likely it is simply that the profits are obvious, while the inefficiency in the form of being at the wrong point on the production possibility curve is not. Moreover, it is not at all clear that a single-owner monopoly state would misallocate resources. That issue seems to depend on the nature of the information the ruler possessed. Representative democracy, the concern of the present chapter, may be viewed as a frontal assault on the equity part of the monopoly problem. May one wonder then, why so many are surprised that equity remains one of the principal concerns of modern democracies?
Collateral Development and Function in Man

The protective role of coronary collaterals in patients was questioned because collaterals were more frequently found in patients with myocardial infarction than in those without (1, 2). This apparent paradox is explained by the greater average frequency of coronary occlusion or very severe stenoses in patients with infarction than in those without (3).
PARTIAL PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF α‐GALACTOSIDASE FROM ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE

A crude extract of α-galactosidase obtained by fermenting Aspergillus oryzae on wheat bran was purified 35 fold by ethanol precipitation, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The final preparation was free of protease activity but contained invertase activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated as 64,000 daltons. The pH and temperature optima were 4.0 and 60°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable over the pH range 3–7.5 and at temperatures up to 55°C (pH 4.0). The Km values for p-nitrophenyl α-Dgalactopyranoside (PNPG) and raffinose were 4.0 × 10−4M and 1 × 10−2M, respectively. Divalent cations were not required for activity. More than 80% of the oligosaccharides in soy milk were hydrolyzed after 3 h at 50°C using 0.113 PNPG units/mL milk.
Retinopathy of prematurity

• Almost seven decades after it was first described, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains an important threat to pediatric vision.
New U.S. global change research institute opens

Gerald Stokes, director of the new Joint Global Change Research Institute based at the University of Maryland, called it an “auspicious time” to start a new institute to focus on global climate change issues. Stokes, speaking at a March 12 event to formally open the institute, cited three recent reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the upcoming continuation on global negotiations concerning greenhouse gases, and the ongoing debate about the issue.
Exosites in the substrate specificity of blood coagulation reactions

The specificity of blood coagulation proteinases for substrate, inhibitor, and effector recognition is mediated by exosites on the surfaces of the catalytic domains, physically separated from the catalytic site. Some thrombin ligands bind specifically to either exosite I or II, while others engage both exosites. The involvement of different, overlapping constellations of exosite residues enables binding of structurally diverse ligands. The flexibility of the thrombin structure is central to the mechanism of complex formation and the specificity of exosite interactions. Encounter complex formation is driven by electrostatic ligand–exosite interactions, followed by conformational rearrangement to a stable complex. Exosites on some zymogens are in low affnity proexosite states and are expressed concomitant with catalytic site activation. The requirement for exosite expression controls the specificity of assembly of catalytic complexes on the coagulation pathway, such as the membrane-bound factor Xa•factor Va (prothrombinase) complex, and prevents premature assembly. Substrate recognition by prothrombinase involves a two-step mechanism with initial docking of prothrombin to exosites, followed by a conformational change to engage the FXa catalytic site. Prothrombin and its activation intermediates bind prothrombinase in two alternative conformations determined by the zymogen to proteinase transition that are hypothesized to involve prothrombin (pro)exosite I interactions with FVa, which underpin the sequential activation pathway. The role of exosites as the major source of substrate specificity has stimulated development of exosite-targeted anticoagulants for treatment of thrombosis.
Formation of self-aligned TiN/CoSi/sub 2/ bilayer from Co/Ti/Si and its applications in salicide, diffusion barrier and contact fill

A self-aligned TiN/CoSi/sub 2/ structure was formed from Co/Ti/Si; this scheme is compatible with salicide technology. Low contact/diffusion resistances and good device characteristics were obtained using this method. In addition, the TiN overlayer can be used for the diffusion barrier in between Al and CoSi/sub 2/ and for dopant diffusion. The dopant diffusion barrier permits the use of in-situ n/sup +//p/sup +/ doped selective Si plugs for contact filling. The TiN also improves the temperature stability of the underlying CoSi/sub 2/ film. >
Determination of the secondary structure of selected melittin analogues with different haemolytic activities

In earlier studies, we have reported that minor modifications in the amino acid sequence of melittin result in dramatic changes in its biological activity. In the current study, we have investigated the secondary structure of melittin analogues with either increased or decreased haemolytic activity in order to further our understanding of the structural features involved in the binding and/or insertion of peptides into a phospholipid membrane from solution. This was accomplished by analysing the c.d. spectra of the analogues in solutions of various ionic strength and, separately, in the presence of micelles. These studies permit the assessment of the effect of small sequence modifications (i.e. single amino acid omission or substitution) on the self-association-induced secondary structure of melittin in aqueous solution, as well as its binding affinity to micelles. It was found that amphipathicity, as well as interchain distances and the orientation of hydrophobic residues, were involved in the induction of stabilized structures.
Effects of metoclopramide and bethanechol on delayed gastric emptying present in gastroesophageal reflux patients

Abstract Gastric emptying has been reported to be delayed in a significant percentage of patients with gastroesophageal reflux. The rationale for the use of metoclopramide and bethanechol in gastroesophageal reflux has been based on their ability to stimulate lower esophageal sphincter pressure and enhance acid clearance mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the comparative efficacies of metoclopramide and bethanechol in improving the rate of gastric emptying in gastroesophageal reflux patients in whom delayed emptying was present. Gastric emptying studies used an isotope-labeled mixed solid-liquid meal. Thirteen reflux patients with delayed gastric emptying received metoclopramide, 10 mg intramuscularly, and subcutaneous bethanechol, 0.07 mg/kg, in a randomized single-blind fashion. Eleven additional reflux patients with delayed gastric emptying received oral metoclopramide, 10 mg, in an open-labeled fashion. After parenteral metoclopramide, gastric emptying was significantly (p
Within-person variability of the ratios of urinary 2-hydroxyestrone to 16α-hydroxyestrone in Caucasian women☆

Abstract The ratio of urinary 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) to 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1) has been suggested as a potential biomarker for breast cancer risk. We evaluated within-person variability of this biomarker in ten healthy Caucasian women aged 23–58 years. Each study participant was asked to provide an overnight fasting morning urine sample once a week for an average of 8 weeks. These urine samples were assayed for 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 by using competitive enzyme immunoassay kits purchased from the ImmunaCare Corporation. The coefficients of variation for urinary 2-OHE1/16α-OHE1 over the study period ranged from 13.7 to 59.6% (mean, 33.3%) in our study participants. There was a good correlation between the level of the urinary 2-OHE1/16α-OHE1 ratio in any single urine sample and the average ratio over the 8-week study period from the same woman, with the mean correlation coefficient of 0.85. These results indicated that the within-person variation of the 2-OHE1 to 16α-OHE1 ratio for most women was moderate and the level of this ratio in a single urine sample, in general, reflects reasonably well the level of this biomarker over a 2-month period.
Testicular hormones do not regulate sexually dimorphic Pavlovian fear conditioning or perforant-path long-term potentiation in adult male rats

We recently reported that Pavlovian fear conditioning and hippocampal perforant-path long-term potentiation (LTP) are sexually dimorphic in rats. Males show greater contextual fear conditioning, which depends on the hippocampus, as well as greater hippocampal LTP. In order to examine the role of circulating gonadal hormones in adult male rats, animals were castrated in two experiments, and Pavlovian fear conditioning and in vivo perforant-path LTP were examined. It was found that sexually-dimorphic LTP and fear conditioning are not regulated by the activational effects of testicular hormones in adult male rats. That is, in every respect, castrated male rats were similar to intact male rats in Pavlovian fear conditioning and hippocampal LTP. It is likely that sexual dimorphism in this system is established earlier in development by the organizational effects of gonadal hormones.
Outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with flavopiridol: impact of genetic features.

Outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with flavopiridol: impact of genetic features
Web resource collaboration center (WRCC): an integrated tool to support lifelong learning

Influenced by EPSS, generative learning, and intentional learning strategies, a Web-based tool -- called the Web Resource Collaboration Center (WRCC) -- was developed to support learning communities in building their own Web-based learning and performance support systems to support lifelong learning and professional development. Using various online communication and collaboration technologies, the WRCC is designed to not only enable learning communities to (1) build a learning and professional development resource that will provide them with immediate support and guidance and (2) help them develop structure, strategies, and skills for subsequent lifelong learning and professional development activities, but also (3) take responsibility for creating original resources that support lifelong learning and professional development.
Monitoring pH Swing Crystallization of Nicotinic Acid by the Use of Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

Nicotinic acid is crystallized by adding hydrochloric acid (HCl) to a sodium nicotinate aqueous solution. An attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometer is used to monitor the crystallization process of nicotinic acid. The partial least squares method is employed for IR data analysis. The solubility of nicotinic acid varies with the pH and the concentration of sodium nicotinate. The ability to measure the concentration and solubility of nicotinic acid in situ in aqueous mixtures of nicotinic acid and sodium nicotinate provides the possibility of controlling the degree of supersaturation of the solution and in turn optimizing the crystallization conditions for nicotinic acid.
Rapid, efficient genotyping of clinical tumor samples by laser-capture microdissection/PCR/SSCP.

Background: Mutation analysis is becoming increasingly important in clinical practice, since sporadic mutations in tumors often correlate with prognosis and/or therapeutic response. However, the labor-intensive nature of the molecular analyses has limited the routine clinical use of tumor genotyping. Laser-capture microdissection (LCM) allows procurement of relatively pure tumor cell populations. We have investigated the possibility that the use of laser-capture microdissection would allow elimination of time-consuming intermediate steps in tumor genotyping. Design. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from seven cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma were laser- and hand-microdissected and subsequently evaluated by PCR/SSCP/sequencing for Ki-ras exon 1 and p53 exons 5, 7, and 8. Results. Mutations in Ki-ras exon 1 and/or p53 exons 5 and 7 were detected in five of the seven samples. In the hand-microdissected samples, confident identification of mutations was possible in several cases only after band excision, DNA elution, reamplification, and verification of mutant enrichment by a second SSCP analysis prior to sequencing. In the laser-microdissected samples, confident mutation identification was possible in all cases with direct sequencing of the original PCR product, reducing the time required for molecular analysis to 3 days. Conclusion. Using laser-capture microdissection, mutant signals are strong enough to sequence directly from original PCR products. With rapid, efficient genotyping by LCM/PCR/SSCP, results can be incorporated directly into the surgical pathology report.
The orbit structure of the Hopf bifurcation problem

A closed orbit of a vector field becomes unstable when one or more of its Floquet multipliers leave the unit disc in the complex plane. Floquet multipliers occur either on the real axis or off the real axis in complex conjugate pairs, so in the simplest cases either one real or two nonreal Floquet multipliers pass across the unit circle. Our aim is to give a detailed description of the orbit structure in the latter case, provided that finitely many non-resonance and non-degeneracy conditions are satisfied. To analyze the orbit structure in this problem we construct invariant manifolds using the methods of Fenichel [2] and Sacker [9]. Then we construct invariant foliations near the invariant manifolds, using results of Fenichel [3]. These invariant foliations reduce our problem to studying maps and flows on low dimensional manifolds where the orbit structures are well known. At this time we give only a rough outline of results. Consider a family of vector fields depending on a real parameter p, with instability developing as p increases through zero. We transform the Poincare map of the closed orbit into a normal form, and isolate one significant coefficient, called p. Four cases must be considered, depending on the sign of p and the sign of Rep, the real part of ,8. Of these, the cases p > 0, Re ,8 > 0 and ,U 0, Rep 0 there is an invariant torus near the closed orbit (see Ref. [9]). The union of the closed orbit, the invariant torus, and the transit orbits joining the closed orbit and the invariant torus is an invariant manifold with invariant boundary, a solid torus. Every half orbit in a neighborhood of the solid torus either leaves a neighborhood of the solid torus or behaves asymptotically like a unique parametrized orbit in either the closed orbit or the two dimensional torus. In addition, there are foliations of codimension
Interatomic Potential for Condensed Phases and Bulk Defects in Silicon

We present a new empirical potential for silicon which is a considerable improvement over existing models in describing structures away from equilibrium, such as bulk defects. The interatomic interaction is described by two- and three-body terms using theoretically motivated functional forms which emphasize chemical and physical trends. The numerical parameters in the functional forms are obtained by fitting to several ab initio calculations, which include bulk phases and defect structures. The model is tested to core properties of partial dislocations in the glide set {111}, which are not included in the database, and gives results in very good agreement with ab initio calculations. This is the only known potential capable of describing the structure of both the 30° and 90°partial dislocations.
Surgical Treatments for Advanced Heart Failure

Patients with heart failure represent a significantly ill cohort, and the survival of the most advanced heart failure patients is dismal with medical management alone. This cohort of advanced heart-failure patients benefits from several surgical treatments. Although several techniques for surgical ventricular restoration in the setting of left ventricular aneurysms have been described, the broader application of these techniques to patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy has occurred during the last decade. This review focuses on left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) repair and surgical ventricular restoration, ventricular assist devices, and cardiac allograft transplantation for the treatment of advanced heart failure. Indications for these procedures are addressed, as well as intraoperative technical features and postoperative management strategies.
Nationality and Income Attainment among Native and Immigrant Hispanic Men in the United States

This study examines earnings inequality between Hispanic-origin men and non-Hispanic white men (referred to as white) using the 1976 Survey of Income and Education. Results show that human capital and labor supply variables have more impact on Hispanic earnings than labor market characteristics. Post-school job experience and weeks worked conform most consistently to the predictions of micro-economic labor theory. Formal schooling, while positively related to earnings, does not uniformly influence job rewards among Hispanic-origin groups. Ecological variables (social and economic organization) of the labor market have less impact on earnings. There is some evidence that whites benefit from the presence of large concentrations of minority workers, while two Hispanic groups—native Mexican and other Spanish men—are negatively affected by high concentrations of Hispanic workers. A composition analysis shows that from 10 to 50 percent of the earnings gap between Hispanic and white men may be attributable to discrimination.
Cryoprotection Affects Physiochemical Attributes of Rainbow Trout Fillets

Stabilization of trout myofibrillar proteins during -20 °C, 90-d storage and after soaking fillets in water, 8.0% sucrose/sorbitol, or 1.0% sodium lactate was investigated with or without 0.5% phosphate and with or without 0.05% MgCl 2 . Fillets not soaked were the control. Compared with the control, cryoprotectants increased total protein and myofibrillar protein solubility; decreased surface hydrophobicity, total, free, and disulfide sulfhydryl content, and myosin susceptibility to thermal denaturation. There were no differences in total protein solubility and actin susceptibility to thermal denaturation between cryoprotectants and the water treatment. Phosphate minimized frozen storage effects on actin solubility and reduced protein surface hydrophobicity and myosin susceptibility to thermal denaturation, while MgCl, increased the negative effects of frozen storage.
Siblings of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder Sibling relationships and wellbeing in adolescence and adulthood

We investigated sibling relationships and wellbeing in adolescents and adults with a sibling with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Adolescents engaged in more shared activities than did adults. Adolescents reported greater social support, greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies, and less use of problem-focused coping than adults. In adulthood, females with a sister with ASD reported the most positive affect in the sibling relationship and men with a sister with ASD the least. Adolescents engaged in more shared activities and reported more positive affect in their sibling relationship when their sibling with ASD had fewer behavior problems; greater use of problem-focused coping buffered the negative effects of behavior problems on sibling engagement. For adults, more shared activities were observed when the sibling with ASD was younger in age and had fewer behavior problems; greater positive affect in sibling relationships was predicted by greater parental support.
The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit cesarean registry: Trial of labor with a twin gestation

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the success rates and risks in women with a twin pregnancy who attempt a trial of labor after cesarean delivery. Study design Cases were identified in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network's Cesarean Registry with a woman with a twin pregnancy who had had at least 1 previous cesarean delivery. Results During the study period (1999-2002), 412 women fulfilled the study criteria, and 226 women had elective repeat cesarean delivery. Of the 186 women (45.1% of total) who attempted a trial of labor, 120 women were delivered successfully (success rate, 64.5%), and 66 women (35.5%) had a failed trial of labor. Thirty of the failed trials of labor involved a vaginal delivery for twin A and cesarean delivery for twin B. Women who attempted a trial of labor with twins had no increased risk of transfusion, endometritis, intensive care unit admissions, or uterine rupture when compared with elective repeat cesarean delivery. Fetal and neonatal complications were uncommon in either group at ≥34 weeks of gestation. Conclusion A trial of labor with twins after previous cesarean delivery does not appear to increase maternal morbidity. Perinatal morbidity is uncommon at ≥34 weeks of gestation.
An algorithm for fitting Lorentzian-broadened, K-series X-ray peaks of the heavy elements

Abstract In spectra taken with high-resolution detectors, a problem occurs in describing the line shape of K α X-ray peaks of the heavy elements. We have now developed algorithms which adequately fit these Lorentzian-broadened distributions which are obtained by the use of Ge detectors having a full-width at half-maximum resolution of ∼ 500 keV at 100 keV. Other aspects of X-ray and gamma-ray peak fitting are also discussed.
Guidelines for implementing robust supervisors in flexible manufacturing systems

Over the past several years, researchers have developed numerous control policies that assure deadlock-free operation for flexible manufacturing systems. Using this research base as a foundation, we have developed several supervisory policies that assure robust operation in the face of resource failure. Along with deadlock-free operation, these policies guarantee that failure of unreliable resources does not block production of part types not requiring failed resources. In our previous work, we developed two types of robust policies, those that ‘absorb’ all parts requiring failed resources into the buffer space of failure-dependent resources (resources that support only parts requiring failed resources), and those that ‘distribute’ parts requiring failed resources among the buffer space of shared resources (resources shared by parts requiring and parts not requiring failed resources). These two types of robust controllers assure different levels of robust system operation and impose very different operati...
Commentary on ORSA Guidelines

Who says a committee can't write a cogent report? Having reread the Guidelines and Appendix I pp. 1127--1148 several times since publication, I am favorably impressed with the document's perspicacity. I make this statement not only to extend my compliments to the ORSA Ad Hoc Committee for a fine piece of work, but to caution Management Science readers in interpreting the comments to follow. My remarks below are meant to be hopefully helpful suggestions for subsequent versions of the Guidelines. To save space and reading time, I have refrained from explicitly enumerating the very many points in the Guidelines on which I wholeheartedly agree.
Amino acid composition as a taxonomic tool for molluscan fossils: An example from Pliocene-Pleistocene Arctic marine deposits

Abstract Amino acid compositions of more than 550 individuals of three common subarctic/arctic molluscan genera, Hiatella, Mya, and Astarte, were measured to determine the feasibility of using such data to classify unidentifiable shell fragments belonging to one of these genera. To account for diagenetically induced variation in amino acid composition of the fossils, equations were developed to reconstruct the original composition of each shell based on its extent of amino acid epimerization. The classification procedure involved calculating the multivariate similarity (coefficient of similarity (CS)) between the adjusted amino acid composition of an unknown shell and that of a set of references. CSs were calculated for an additional 141 identifiable shells of the three common genera to evaluate the performance of the classification method; the procedure correctly classified 93% of the shells. In addition, CSs were calculated for 162 identifiable shells of five other common subarctic/arctic genera (Portlandia, Spisula, Macoma, Cardita, and Arctica) to test the ability of the method to discriminate shells belonging to genera not included in the reference set and are therefore necessarily misclassified. Overall, CSs for correctly classified shells ( x = 0.891 ) are higher than for misclassified shells ( x = 0.809 ), and the ratio of correctly to incorrectly classified individuals increases with increasing CS. Based on these empirical tests, only those classifications supported by CSs greater than 0.88 were considered reliable; and of these, approximately 6% may be misclassified. The classification procedure was applied to sixty-four unidentifiable molluscan shell fragments recovered from boreholes drilled onshore of Nome, Alaska, of which twenty-six were classified as Hiatella, Mya, or Astarte with a CS greater than 0.88.
Master equation solution of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes☆

Abstract The continuous master equation is solved in closed form for transition probabilities which are Gaussian and assuming the equilibrium solution to be Gaussian (i.e., the equilibrium fluctuations are Gaussian processes). In this case, the eigenfunctions of the integral equation obtained after the kernel is symmetrized are merely Hermite functions and the eigenvalues are related to one another as sucessive integer powers of a constant μ n = ϱ n . The constant ϱ is the correlation coefficient for the (stationary) equilibrium process, over the unit time in which the transition probabilities are expressed. The complete (time-dependent) solution for the probability density function is an infinite series of Hermite-type functions, each modified by a term decaying in time. For these Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes, the relaxation times decrease inversely proportional to the order of the term. The time dependent moments of the distribution of order n can be simply calculated from a knowledge of not more than ( n + 1)/2 moments of lower order of the initial distribution. Several examples, of different initial distributions, are given.
C-selection as feature-checking

. Subcategorization (Chomsky 1965), or e-selection (Pesetsky's 1982 term), is a relation which allows a head to specify certain feature values on its complement. However, the limitations of subcategorization are identical to the limitations of head-movement; the relation is strictly between a head and the head(s) that it properly governs, and never between a head and a specifier or adjunct. The grammar can therefore be simplified by collapsing the two head-head relations, either by treating cases of abstract head movement (and concomitant feature-checking) as subcategorization or by treating cases of subcategorization as head movement. In this paper I outline a proposal of the latter sort.
Development of Practical Electron Beam Recorder for High-Density Optical and Magnetic Disc Mastering

We developed a practical electron beam recorder, which was improved recording stability, resolution and throughput. The stable recording performance for the whole recording area and the capability for high-density recording beyond 200 Gbit/in2 were realized.
524: Effect of hypoxia and hyperthermia on eNOS protein concentration in cultured ovine umbilical vein endothelial cells

CULTURED OVINE UMBILICAL VEIN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS JUAN A ARROYO, RUSSELL V. ANTHONY, BRADLEY T. ZIEBELL, HENRY L. GALAN, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aurora, Colorado, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Pedriatics, Aurora, Colorado OBJECTIVE: Nitric Oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), important regulators of placental blood flow, are reduced in a hyperthermic-induced (HT) ovine model of fetal growth restriction (FGR) with fetal hypoxia (HX) and hypertension. Our objective was to differentiate the effect of hypoxia and HT on NO and eNOS production in ovine umbilical vein endothelial cells (OUVEC). STUDY DESIGN: At 130 days gestational age (dGA), OUVEC were isolated with a collagenase B solution and cultured in 2% gelatin coated flasks for up to three passages. CD31 and Factor VIII staining confirmed endothelial cell type. Endothelial cells were treated with HX (2% O2) or HT (40°C) for 24, 48 and 72 hours (H). At each time point, OUVEC eNOS protein and NO from culture media were assessed by Western blot and a NOx assay kit, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to controls, hypoxia-exposed OUVEC showed increased eNOS protein concentration at 48H (2-fold, p 0.0005), but decreased at 72H (1.6-fold, p 0.03) while OUVEC media NOx concentration was only increased at 48H (figure) with otherwise no changes. In HT exposed OUVEC, eNOS protein was increased at 72H (2-fold, p 0.05) with no changes observed for NOx at any time point. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia and hyperthermia independently regulate endothelial eNOS protein production in OUVEC. Hypoxia induced upregulation of this protein is temporary as a concomitant increase in NO production is only seen at 48H, which may reflect ongoing cell death or a decrease in the eNOS substrate L-arginine. (Supported by NIH grant R01 HL071990-01A1).
Alignment of absolute and relative molecular size specifications for a polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PNEUMOVAX®23)

An approach was developed to align release and end-expiry specifications for molecular size for the polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PNEUMOVAX 23). Each of the 23 polysaccharide components of the vaccine was separately subjected to ultrasonication to produce a series of preparations of decreasing weight-average molecular mass (Mw). These size-reduced polysaccharides were analysed as monovalent solutions by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and refractive index (RI) detection to measure their Mw. These samples were also analysed by HPSEC with rate nephelometry (RN) detection to measure their relative molecular size (r-MS). The data from the two molecular size measurements established a correlation between Mw and r-MS. For each polysaccharide component of the vaccine, this correlation permits the direct alignment of the r-MS specification in the final formulated product with the Mw specification for the monovalent polysaccharide preparation. The alignment of specifications provides a high level of assurance that the quality control of the final vaccine product is consistent with that of the polysaccharide starting materials.
The correct application of Mage's Johnson SB procedure for fitting exposure data.

¼0,toapply‘‘conditional’’maximumlikelihoodestimation,mightnotbeappropriate.Giventhatanexposuredatasetconsistsof N-independentrandom samples from the same unknown stationarydistribution, one can then plot these data, ranked fromlowest(i¼1)tohighest(i¼N),aslog(x)versus aprobability(p) scale of standard normal deviates (z) with plottingposition z