cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Objective definition of rainfall intensity–duration thresholds for the initiation of post-fire debris flows in southern California

Rainfall intensity–duration (ID) thresholds are commonly used to predict the temporal occurrence of debris flows and shallow landslides. Typically, thresholds are subjectively defined as the upper limit of peak rainstorm intensities that do not produce debris flows and landslides, or as the lower limit of peak rainstorm intensities that initiate debris flows and landslides. In addition, peak rainstorm intensities are often used to define thresholds, as data regarding the precise timing of debris flows and associated rainfall intensities are usually not available, and rainfall characteristics are often estimated from distant gauging locations. Here, we attempt to improve the performance of existing threshold-based predictions of post-fire debris-flow occurrence by utilizing data on the precise timing of debris flows relative to rainfall intensity, and develop an objective method to define the threshold intensities. We objectively defined the thresholds by maximizing the number of correct predictions of debris flow occurrence while minimizing the rate of both Type I (false positive) and Type II (false negative) errors. We identified that (1) there were statistically significant differences between peak storm and triggering intensities, (2) the objectively defined threshold model presents a better balance between predictive success, false alarms and failed alarms than previous subjectively defined thresholds, (3) thresholds based on measurements of rainfall intensity over shorter duration (≤60 min) are better predictors of post-fire debris-flow initiation than longer duration thresholds, and (4) the objectively defined thresholds were exceeded prior to the recorded time of debris flow at frequencies similar to or better than subjective thresholds. Our findings highlight the need to better constrain the timing and processes of initiation of landslides and debris flows for future threshold studies. In addition, the methods used to define rainfall thresholds in this study represent a computationally simple means of deriving critical values for other studies of nonlinear phenomena characterized by thresholds.
Non-Planar Quasi-Self-Complementary Ultra-Wideband Feed Antenna

We are presenting a novel ultra-wideband, dual polarized, antenna design based on a non-planar quasi self-complementary (QSC) approach. An important characteristic of this QSC antenna is an input match better than -10 dB over a decade of bandwidth. We have demonstrated the concept by fabricating a QSC prototype antenna that works from 400 MHz to 4.0 GHz. We have measured the prototype performance in terms of input impedance and radiation patterns, from which the antenna directivity, beamwidth, polarization, and aperture efficiency for a 65° illumination angle were calculated. From these measurements we confirmed the ultra-wideband characteristics of the QSC feed prototype. In particular, we looked for the presence of resonances by measuring the radiation patterns with 3 MHz resolution, over the decade of bandwidth, in both polarizations, and none was found. The measured directivity of the QSC antenna feed is 10 dBi. The half beam-width, at -10 dB level, varies between 60° and 70°, with a frequency average value of 65°. The measured beam-integrated cross-polarization inside the -10 dB level of the patterns is better than -10 dB. The phase center location does not move with frequency.
Toxicology and pharmacokinetics of DTGM, a fusion toxin consisting of a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT388) linked to human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, in cynomolgus monkeys.

We developed a fusion toxin consisting of the catalytic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin linked to human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (DTGM) for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our goal in this study was to determine the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of DTGM in cynomolgus monkeys (Macacca fascicularis), which possess cross-reactive GM-CSF receptors. Four groups of young adult monkeys (6 males and 12 females) were treated with five daily bolus iv infusions of 1, 5, 7.5, and 10 μg/kg DTGM. Monkeys (2 males and 2 females) treated at 1 μg/kg/day showed no significant side effects. Monkeys (2 males and 2 females) treated at 5 μg/kg/day showed Grade 1–2 thrombopenia (NCI common toxicity criteria) on day 9. In contrast, monkeys (6 females) treated at 7.5 μg/kg/day developed Grade 3 neutropenia, Grade 1–2 thrombopenia, Grade 1–3 anemia, and Grade 1–3 hypoalbuminemia. The neutropenia developed by day 4 in the 7.5 μg/kg/day monkeys and by day 3 or 5 in the 10 μg/kg/day monkeys and resolved in both groups by day 9, but the thrombopenia, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia persisted until day 16. Monkeys (2 male and 2 female) treated with 10 μg/kg/day showed Grade 4 neutropenia that resolved by day 8 and Grade 2–3 anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and thrombopenia. Three of the animals developed sepsis. DTGM plasma half-life was 30 min with a peak concentration of 0.1 μg/mL or 2 nM (1000-fold higher than the IC50 in vitro for AML blasts). Immune responses were minimal in all animals tested at 14 and 28 days with anti-DTGM levels <1 μg/mL. All four animals at 10 μg/kg died or were euthanized, and necropsies were performed. Animals necropsied on days 4 and 6 showed marked apoptosis and hypoplasia in the marrow, which was completely resolved for animals necropsied on day 9. No injury to other organs, including kidney, heart, liver, central nervous system, or lung, was seen. The drug was selectively toxic to malignant or differentiated myeloid cells with little toxicity to myeloid progenitors or other organs. Minimal effects in nontarget tissues make DTGM a promising candidate chemotherapeutic agent.
FGFR-4 Arg388 enhances prostate cancer progression via extracellular signal-related kinase and serum response factor signaling

Purpose: Increased expression of FGFR-4 and its ligands have been linked to lethal prostate cancer (PCa). Furthermore, a germ line polymorphism in the FGFR-4 gene, resulting in arginine at codon 388 (Arg 388 ) instead of glycine (Gly 388 ), is associated with aggressive disease. The FGFR-4 Arg 388 variant results in increased receptor stability, sustained receptor activation, and increased motility and invasion compared with Gly 388 . However, the impact of sustained signaling on cellular signal transduction pathways is unknown. Experimental Design: Expression microarray analysis of immortalized prostatic epithelial cells lines expressing FGFR-4 Arg 388 or Gly 388 was used to establish a gene signature associated with FGFR-4 Arg 388 expression. Transient transfection of reporters and inhibitors was used to establish the pathways activated by FGFR-4 Arg 388 expression. The impact of pathway knockdown in vitro and in an orthotopic model was assessed using inhibitors and/or short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Results: Expression of the FGFR-4 Arg 388 protein leads to increased activity of the extracellular signal–related kinase (ERK) pathway, increased activity of serum response factor (SRF) and AP1, and transcription of multiple genes that are correlated with aggressive clinical behavior in PCa. Increased expression of SRF is associated with biochemical recurrence in men undergoing radical prostatectomy. Consistent with these observations, knockdown of FGFR-4 Arg 388 in PCa cells decreases proliferation and invasion in vitro and primary tumor growth and metastasis in vivo . Conclusions: These studies define a signal transduction pathway downstream of FGFR-4 Arg 388 that acts via ERK and SRF to promote PCa progression. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4355–66. ©2011 AACR .
Detection of Free Radical Metabolite Formation Usingin VivoEPR Spectroscopy: Evidence of Rat Hemoglobin Thiyl Radical Formation Following Administration of Phenylhydrazine☆

Abstract The spin-trapping technique in conjunction with a low-frequency electron paramagnetic (or spin) resonance (EPR or ESR) spectrometer was used to detect the hemoglobin thiyl free radical in living rats using a whole body resonator. The hemoglobin thiyl free radical was formed following the intragastric administration of phenylhydrazine at the LD 50 dose of 188 mg/kg. The hemoglobin thiyl free radical was then trapped by preinjected 5,5-dimethyl- 1 -pyrroline N -oxide (DMPO), which formed the DMPO/hemoglobin thiyl-free radical adduct in the blood. The time course of the in vivo formation and disappearance of the spin adduct was followed. The DMPO/hemoglobin thiyl free radical was detected in blood samples using 9.5 GHz (X-band) and 1.1 GHz (L-band) EPR at room temperature and 77 K. Pretreatment of rats with ascorbate and diethylmaleate (DEM) decreased the signal intensity of the DMPO/hemoglobin thiyl free radical spin adduct. The incubation of ascorbate or DEM at 37°C with rat blood containing preformed DMPO/hemoglobin thiyl radical adduct showed that there was no effect of DEM on the free radical concentration, while ascorbate reduced the radical adduct. This study provided direct evidence of the formation of the DMPO/hemoglobin thiyl free radical in vivo and enabled us to study this formation in living animals free of any artifacts that can occur when using ex vivo methods.
Vehicle-to-Infrastructure and Vehicle-to-Vehicle Information System in Work Zones: Dedicated Short-Range Communications

This paper describes the architecture, functionality, and field demonstration results of a newly developed dedicated short-range communication-based vehicle-to-infrastructure work zone traffic information system with vehicle-to-vehicle assistance. The new system is portable and can automatically acquire important work zone travel information such as the travel time and the starting location of congestion and then relay this information to drivers approaching the congestion site. Such information can help drivers make informed decisions on route choice, prepare for upcoming congestion, or both. The authors had designed a similar system earlier; that system had limited congestion coverage and message broadcast ranges, but the new system can achieve a much longer broadcast range (up to a few tens of kilometers) and can handle much longer congestion coverage (up to a few kilometers) by incorporating vehicle-to-infrastructure communication assisted by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The system requires only ...
Estimating generalization error using out-of-bag estimates

We provide a method for estimating the generalization error of a bag using out-of-bag estimates. In bagging, each predictor (single hypothesis) is learned from a bootstrap sample of the training examples; the output of a bag (a set of predictors) on an example is determined by voting. The out-of-bag estimate is based on recording the votes of each predictor on those training examples omitted from its bootstrap sample. Because no additional predictors are generated, the out-of-bag estimate requires considerably less time than 10- fold cross-validation. We address the question of how to use the out-of-bag estimate to estimate generalization error. Our experiments on several datasets show that the out-of-bag estimate and 10-fold cross-validation have very inaccurate (much too optimistic) confidence levels. We can improve the out-of-bag estimate by incorporating a correction.
The Clinical Effects of Citric Acid and Laterally Positioned Pedicle Grafts in the Treatment of Denuded Root Surfaces: A Pilot Study

A new technique of a combined mechanical-chemical root preparation to enhance reattachment of pedicle grafts to previously denuded root surfaces is described. The clinical results of two documented cases are presented. The findings of this pilot study indicate that the technique is well tolerated by the patients, yielding a normal postoperative healing pattern and a clinical gain in the attachment level. These preliminary results may be attributed to: (1) Total elimination of bacterial endotoxin from the root surfaces by instrumentation and topical application of saturated citric acid at pH 1.0 for 3 minutes; (2) chemical exposure of dentin collagen fibrils, into which the graft may reattach; and (3) induction of cementogenesis by the exposed dentin.
Vapor bubble rise under a heated inclined plate

Abstract Data resulting from photographic studies of FC-87 vapor bubbles rising under a constant temperature plate are used to describe the growth and motion of the bubbles. Such bubbles are known to cause significant enhancement of heat transfer during their passage along the surface because of conduction through a thin liquid microlayer on which they slide, and because of extensive mixing in the wake behind the bubbles. Bubble velocity was found to be a function only of the bubble dimensions and surface inclination. The bubble width-to-length ratio was found to be an excellent indicator of the evolution in bubble shape from an initially spherical bubble through an elliptical shape to a large cap-shaped bubble. The data for heated FC-87 vapor bubbles compare well with Maxworthy’s observations of adiabatic air bubbles rising in water even though the vapor bubbles experienced rapid growth during their rise. Drag coefficients for the vapor bubbles were found to decrease with Reynolds number and approach plateau values at higher Reynolds numbers obtained from Maxworthy’s data.
Interaction of relativistic electrons with ultrashort laser pulses: generation of femtosecond X-rays and microprobing of electron beams

The interaction of relativistic electrons with terawatt femtosecond laser pulses is reviewed with emphasis on how the scattering process can be used as a source of ultrashort X-ray pulses and as a time-resolved diagnostic for measuring transverse and longitudinal phase space distributions of an electron beam with microns spatial and subpicosecond temporal resolution. Recent experimental results are presented in which 90/spl deg/ Thomson scattering was utilized to generate 300 fs duration pulses of X-rays with peak energy of 30 keV. It is shown that, through analysis of the scattered X-ray beam properties, transverse and longitudinal distributions of the electron beam can be obtained.
Occurrence of Potentially Detrimental Temperature Alterations in Hospitalized Patients at Risk for Brain Injury

Objective To ascertain the incidence and timing of fever in patients at risk for temperature modulation of brain injury resulting from ischemia or trauma. Design We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted between January 1991 and December 1994. Material and Methods We investigated three groups of hospitalized patients considered at risk for ongoing brain injury resulting from a prior cerebral insult: successful resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or traumatic close-head injury (CHI). Forty patients per condition were randomly selected from those who survived for more than 24 hours after hospital admission. Results During the initial 72 hours of hospitalization, temperature increases to 38°C or more (that is, temperatures previously reported to worsen neurologic outcome after brain injury) were noted in 83% of patients with CA, 70% of those with SAH, and 68% of those with CHI. Within the cohort of febrile patients, 18 to 44% of all temperature measurements were 38°C or higher, and the febrile episodes occurred randomly throughout the study interval. Fewer than one-eighth of the febrile patients received drugs possessing antipyretic properties (such as aspirin or acetaminophen) in a dose appropriate to treat fever. No other method of temperature control (for example, physical means) was used in any patient. The fractions of patients who were dismissed from the hospital with permanent neurologic injury were as follows: CA, 20%; SAH, 45%; and CHI, 43%. Conclusion In these hospitalized patients at risk for ongoing brain injury, the incidence of temperature increases within the range reported to worsen neurologic outcome (elevations of 1.0°C or more) was very high. The characterization of these potentially injurious, randomly occurring, and traditionally undertreated temperature increases may have implications for the design of future protocols aimed at providing cerebral protection.
Decoding motor intent from simulated multiple longitudinal intrafascicular electrode recordings

Signals recorded from peripheral nerves may provide an effective and reliable means of controlling powered prosthetic limbs. Longitudinal intrafascicular electrodes (LIFEs) have been used to record extracellular motor activity from peripheral nerves in upper-limb amputees for periods up to several weeks and the ability to decode the activity and use it for single degree-of-freedom (DOF) control of a prosthetic arm has been demonstrated [1]. However, simultaneous control of multiple DOFs of the prosthesis, which is important for many daily tasks, presents additional challenges. Recently we developed a platform to simulate recording of extracellular motor activity from multiple LIFE electrodes [2]. We have also designed and tested an online decoding algorithm that utilizes these simulated recordings. Figure 1A&B shows the schematic of the decoder structure. The decoder is composed of multiple single channel decoders (SCDs) and a demixer. The SCD decodes motor intent from a LIFE recording. It is composed of a bandpass filter to attenuate noise and sharpen spikes, a clipping function to identify spikes and a half-Gaussian smoothing kernel to get a smoothed real-time estimate of motor intent. The demixer identifies the motor intent signals as corresponding to a particular motion class, such as wrist flexion, supination etc. The demixer requires a learning stage, where recordings from LIFEs are correlated to motion classes. A simple batched LMS algorithm is used to train the parameters of the demixer. Figure ​Figure1C,1C, display the result of a single channel decoding of a sinusoidal motor intent. Figure ​Figure1D1D shows results of demixing of two overlapped motor intents recorded by two LIFEs: the first electrode records activity from the two motor pools while the second electrode records activity from only one (not shown). During the learning stage, the demixer learns to account for common motor intent and provide good estimates of the two different motor intent signals. The decoder developed here could be readily implemented in a real-time, portable, low-power configuration to translate multiple LIFE recordings to motor intent signals that enable multi-DOF control of a powered prosthesis. Figure 1 (A) LIFE single channel decoder (SCD): neural signals are bandpass filtered, clipped to remove any residual background noise and normalize spike amplitudes, and filtered to smooth the spike trains and obtain the modulating signal S (i.e. motor intent). ...
Adaptive Mesh Modeling and Barrier Option Pricing Under a Jump-Diffusion Process

The computational burden of numerical barrier option pricing solutions is significant, even prohibitive for some parameterizations - especially for more realistic models of underlying asset behavior, such as jump-diffusions. We extend the Hilliard-Schwartz (2005) pricing algorithm in two important ways. We implement the tree as a trinomial, and then demonstrate how an adaptive mesh may fit into the model. Our result is a barrier option pricing method employing fewer computational resources, reducing run times to 1.6% of the original tree or less. This extension allows the pricing of options that were previously computationally infeasible, and is easily extendable to multiple barriers.
The fine structure of compensatory growth in the rat kidney after unilateral nephrectomy.

The structural changes in the nephrons of the rat kidney during compensatory growth were observed for 96 hours following unilateral nephrectomy. Hypertrophy of tubular epithelial cells involves dilation of the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, proliferation of Golgi membranes and agranular reticulum, and increase in number of cytoplasmic ribosomes. The appearance of absorption droplets and microtubules, that are polarized along the cell axis, coincides with maximal hypertrophy of proximal tubule cells. Premitotic dedifferentiation of these cells involves flattening of the basal infoldings of the plasmalemma, decrease in number and disorientation of mitochondria, loss of apical compartments, and the reduction in number of microvilli. Cilia appear on the apical borders of some cells. Bundles of 30–50 A filaments occupy the cytoplasm at the base of proximal tubule cells. In distal tubule cells that are undergoing mitosis, numerous mitochondria remain intimately associated with infoldings of the basal plasmalemma. This persistence of the differentiated basal region prevents complete cell division, and binucleate and multinucleate cells arise as a result of failure of cytoplasmic cleavage after normal karyokinesis. During mitosis, the chromosomes and apical vesicles are restricted to organelle-free masses of cytoplasm that project into the lumen. In collecting tubules, both intercalated and lining cells undergo mitosis during compensatory growth. By 72 hours, a less differentiated cell type, that is active mitotically, appears in the cortical portion of collecting tubules. The number of binucleate epithelial cells increases in the compensating kidney tubules. Unilateral nephrectomy also induces distinct alterations in the fine structure of the glomerulus and the papilla of the contralateral organ.
Identification of Sjögren’s syndrome oral fluid biomarker candidates following high-abundance protein depletion

Objective SS is an autoimmune exocrinopathy affecting ∼1 million patients in the USA that is diagnosed mostly in middle-aged women. Oral fluids (OFs) serving as the mirror of the body were suggested as an ideal non-invasive diagnostic tool. Previously we developed depletion techniques for OF high-abundance proteins to increase visualization of low-abundance proteins. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effect of depletion pretreatments on the identification potential of SS OF biomarker candidates. Methods Unstimulated OFs were collected from 18 female SS patients and 18 healthy age- and gender-matched controls. High-abundance proteins were depleted using affinity and immunodepletion methodologies followed by semi-quantitative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and quantitative dimethylation liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To initially validate the MS results, western blotting was performed. Results The use of depletion strategy before proteomics analysis increased identification ability by 3-fold. Overall, 79 biomarker candidates were identified. Proteins with the most pronounced fold changes were related to SS serum or tissue factors. In addition, bioinformatics analysis of proteins with a >3-fold increase in SS patients showed calcium-binding proteins, defence-response proteins, proteins involved in apoptotic regulation, stress-response proteins and cell motion-related proteins. Preliminary validation by western blotting of profilin and CA-I indicated similar expression profile trends to those identified by quantitative MS. Conclusion The significance of OF novel depletion methodologies is clearly demonstrated for increased visibility of biomarker candidates as well as for unveiling possible mechanisms involved in this syndrome. This represents a major contribution to our ability to use OF as a future diagnostic fluid.
Diagnosis of multi-operational machining processes through variation propagation analysis

It is a very challenging task to develop effective process control methodologies for multi-operational manufacturing processes. Although Statistical Process Control (SPC) has been widely used as the primary method in the control of quality, it mainly serves as a change detection tool rather than a method to identify root causes of process changes. This paper proposes a systematic approach to overcome the limitations faced by SPC. In this method, a state space variation propagation model is derived from the product and process design information. The virtual machining concept is applied to isolate faults between operations, and further used in the root cause determination. The detailed methodology is presented, and a case study is conducted to illustrate and verify the developed diagnosis method. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Theory of the SrTiO 3 surface state two-dimensional electron gas

We present a theory of the quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) systems that appear near the surface of SrTiO${}_{3}$ when a large external electric field attracts carriers to the surface. We find that nonlinear and nonlocal screening by the strongly polarizable SrTiO${}_{3}$ lattice plays an essential role in determining 2DEG properties. The electronic structure always includes weakly bound bulklike bands that extend over many SrTiO${}_{3}$ layers. At 2D carrier densities exceeding $\ensuremath{\sim}$${10}^{14}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, tightly bound bands emerge that are confined within a few layers of the surface.
Using Taxonomies to Perform Aggregated Querying over Imprecise Data

In this paper, we put forward our approach for answering aggregated queries over imprecise data using domain specific taxonomies. A new concept we call the weighted hierarchical hyper graph has been introduced, which helps in answering aggregated queries when dealing with imprecise databases. We assume that the existence of a knowledge base is permanent and independent of the imprecision in the database. We use this concept to build a temporary database known as the extended database and use the extended database to build the marginal database, which efficiently answers aggregated queries over an imprecise data.
Scarce Goods: Justice, Fairness, and Organ Transplantation; The Twice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death

Scarce Goods: Justice, Fairness, and Organ Transplantation. Thomas Koch. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002. 250 pp. The Twice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death. Margaret Lock Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002. 429 pp.
When Are OSS Developers More Likely to Introduce Vulnerable Code Changes? A Case Study

We analyzed peer code review data of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) to understand whether code changes that introduce security vulnerabilities, referred to as vulnerable code changes (VCC), occur at certain intervals. Using a systematic manual analysis process, we identified 60 VCCs. Our results suggest that AOSP developers were more likely to write VCCs prior to AOSP releases, while during the post-release period they wrote fewer VCCs.
Deciphering the Blood-Brain Barrier Damage in Stroke: Mitochondrial Mechanism.

Stroke is a complex vascular and neurological syndrome that can lead to death and disability. About 15 million people worldwide and 800,000 people in the United States suffer stroke each year . On average, in the U.S. every 40 seconds someone has a stroke and every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke. This medical emergency has very limited treatments, and causes serious health and economic burdens in the United States and globally. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of highly specialized cerebrovascular endothelial cells, seals brain tissue from the circulating blood, and prevents blood, bacteria or toxins from reaching the central nervous system (CNS). In acute ischemic stroke, BBB is disrupted, and blood solutes penetrate into the CNS parenchymal extracellular space then cause cerebral edema . Although much has been observed in this stroke-induced brain edema, such as inflammatory infiltration, releasing of chemokines and cytokines, much less has the mechanism of BBB disruption been understood.
The Nature of Antisocial Behaviors and Conduct Disorders

Conduct problems, aggression, and delinquency all refer to antisocial behaviors that reflect a failure of the individual to conform his or her behavior to the expectations of some authority figure (e.g., parent or teacher), to societal norms, or to respect the rights of other people. The behaviors can range from mild conflicts with authority figures (e.g., oppositionality, noncompliance, defiance, argumentativeness) to major violations of societal norms (e.g., truancy, running away from home) to serious violations of the rights of others (e.g., assault, rape, vandalism, fire setting, stealing). Although this definition encompasses quite a range of diverse behaviors, the different behaviors tend to be highly correlated (Frick et al., 1993). That is, children who show one type of behavior from this definition (e.g., authority conflict) often show other types of behaviors within this domain as well (e.g., violations of societal norms). That is why these behaviors are considered to be indicative of a single psychological dimension, often referred to as “antisocial behaviors” or “conduct problems.”
On Your Bike! Using Marketing Mix to Drive Successful Bicycle Sharing Programs in Europe

European municipalities, eager to increase the use of environmentally friendly forms of public transportation, offered bicycle sharing programs as adjuncts to their public transportation systems. This case focuses on the bicycle sharing systems in three mid-sized European cities: Mainz, Germany, Lille, France and Antwerp, Belgium. The case describes the market segments within each city and lays out the marketing mix variables-the 4Ps (product, price, place and promotion)-to allow students to compare and contrast the cities' opportunities and challenges. The protagonist in each city is charged with using the marketing mix to help his or her city reach its goals: in Mainz, to reach breakeven; in Lille, to increase bicycle usage from 2% to 10% and in Antwerp, to persuade drivers to commute by bicycle instead of by car. Case number 2030.Learning objective: Introduces the concepts of customer segmentation and the marketing mix in the context of a public service/good. Helps students gain an appreciation for the use of customer focus and marketing tools in implementing government services. Demonstrates the importance of understanding the characteristics and needs of key customers to create a marketing mix to meet social or public goals. Shows challenge of meeting the needs of all customer segments with a single marketing mix.Subjects Covered: Consumer marketing; Market segmentation; Marketing; Policy making.Setting: Geographic: Belgium; Geographic: France; Geographic: Germany.
Variability in Treatment of Post-coarctectomy Hypertension: A Multicenter Study

Many pharmacologic therapies are available for treatment of post-coarctectomy hypertension in pediatric patients, which may lead to variability in care. Evaluation of trends in pharmacotherapy is necessary to evaluate quality of care. The Pediatric Health Information System database was queried from 2004 to 2013 for patients >30 days of age who had an ICD-9 code for coarctation of the aorta repair of coarctation by end-to-end anastomosis and had a RACHS-1 score of 2. Patients were excluded if they were admitted for >30 days, underwent mechanical circulatory support, or expired during the admission. Patient demographic and hospital data were collected along with antihypertensive pharmacotherapy. Trends in antihypertensive, analgesic, and sedative pharmacotherapy were evaluated, and multivariable statistical analysis was used to determine variables that significantly influenced cost. A total of 1636 patients [66.6 % male, median age 1.5 years (IQR 0.31-5.3)] met study criteria. Patients received a median of 3 (IQR 2-4) antihypertensive medications for a median of 8 days (IQR 5-11). Intravenous antihypertensive therapy was prescribed for a median 3 days (IQR 2-5) and oral therapy for a median of 1 day (IQR 1-2). Antihypertensive therapy was continued at discharge in 79.8 % of patients. Hospital cost increased by 36 % over the study period (p < 0.01), and nicardipine, dexmedetomidine, and intravenous acetaminophen were most strongly associated with increased cost (p < 0.001). Variability in the pharmacotherapy of post-coarctectomy hypertension in pediatric patients exists, and the use of newer agents may be influencing the cost of care.
A technic to estimate the quantity of infarcted myocardium post mortem.

A simple technic that is useful in clinicopathologic correlation studies is described. It permits postmortem estimation of the amount of myocardium involved in an infarct. Results can be expressed in terms of percentage of the whole heart or percentage of the left ventricle infarcted, or in Gm. of muscle infarcted.
Cell proliferation accelerating and inhibiting substances in normal and cancer blood and urine.

Conclusions1. Blood serum and urine contain two types of substances; the one which accelerates the rate of cell prolifera- tion, and the other which inhibits the rate of cell proliferation.2. Normal blood sera and normal and pathological urine accelerate the rate of cell proliferation in bone marrow cultures in vitro because of an excess of accelerating substances over inhibiting substances present.3. Blood sera from neoplastic disease, pernicious anemia and leukemia inhibit cell proliferation in bone marrow cultures because of an excess of inhibiting substances over accelerating substances present.4. Individual urine and blood serum specimens have been shown by adsorption on Norit and elution with NaOH and ammoniacal acetone to have both inhibiting and accelerating substances present.
Fouling of Quartz Surfaces in Potable Water Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems: Effect of Phosphate Addition.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is rapidly gaining acceptance as a broad spectrum, low maintenance, and cost effective method of disinfection. One limit to widespread adoption of UV disinfection systems is the formation of inorganic precipitates on the quartz jackets surrounding UV lamps. Surface fouling is problematic because it absorbs UV irradiation, reducing the dose applied to the water treated, and is most significant in waters with high concentrations of dissolved metals. One suspected precursor to lamp jacket fouling is aqueous phosphate. Phosphates are often added to drinking water to aid in sequestering dissolved metals and prevent distribution network corrosion, but orthophosphate and condensed phosphates may have the potential to speed lamp jacket fouling by combining with dissolved metals and precipitating onto lamp jacket surfaces. A low-pressure high-output (LPHO), mercury amalgam UV disinfection system was used in conjunction with water known to have a high fouling potential to better understand the relationship between water chemistry and fouling dynamics. A pilot-scale UV reactor was operated and fouling was quantified and compared to fouling observed during an experimental run with phosphate-dosed water. Significant decreases in radiation intensity and greater metal surface accumulation suggest that phosphate treatment of drinking water has the potential to worsen lamp jacket fouling in locations with high levels of hardness, and highlight the need for adequate pilot studies representing the entire spectrum of possible water compositions and treatment conditions prior to UV disinfection system implementation.
Helicobacter pylori in a Gastric Pit

Figure 1. A 35-year-old man presented with epigastric pain of several months' duration. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an active duodenal ulcer. Biopsy of the gastric antrum showed chronic active gastritis with innumerable Helicobacter pylori organisms on the gastric mucosa. This photomicrograph of a section of an antral-biopsy specimen (×1000) stained with the Genta stain (a triple stain consisting of a modified Steiner, hematoxylin and eosin, and Alcian blue; pH 2.5) shows a gastric pit virtually filled with H. pylori. Culture confirmed that the infecting organism was H. pylori. The patient was treated for two weeks with omeprazole, clarithromycin, and . . .
The ways to analyze and eliminate the common failures of the self-excited generator

Some failures of the self-excited generator, such as its stop to generate electricity, lower voltage and higher voltage are introduced in this paper. Then the reasons of these failures and the steps to judge and the solutions to eliminate them are analyzed.
Relationship between longissimus composition and the composition of other major muscles of the beef carcass.

Left sides from 18 beef carcasses (9 steers and 9 heifers), selected to represent a wide range of marbling scores, were evaluated to determine the relationship between longissimus composition and the composition of other major muscles. The adductor (A), biceps femoris (BF), deep pectoral (DP) gluteal group (GL), infraspinatus (I), longissimus (L), psoas major (PM), rectus abdominis (RA), rectus femoris (RF), semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), serratus ventralis (SV), spinalis (SP), supraspinatus (SU) and triceps brachii (TB) were removed, trimmed of external fat, weighed and ground for proximate analysis. Fat content of all muscles was related linearly (P less than .001) to L fat content (R2 values ranged from .67 to .84). The ST had the lowest mean fat content (4.4%) and SP had the highest mean percentage of fat (16.1%). The L ranged from 3.59% to 15.42% fat with a mean of 8.61%. Longissimus fat percentage can be used to predict the fat content of the other major muscles of the beef carcass.
Tax Incentives and Charitable Giving: Evidence from New Survey Data:

A new survey data set is used to obtain estimates of the tax price elasticity of personal giving to tax-deductible charitable causes. Like other surveys, the data here yield a large elasticity esti...
Post-conflict struggles as networks of problems: A network analysis of trauma, daily stressors and psychological distress among Sri Lankan war survivors

A growing body of literature indicates that the mental distress experienced by survivors of war is a function of both experienced trauma and stressful life events. However, the majority of these studies are limited in that they 1) employ models of psychological distress that emphasize underlying latent constructs and do not allow researchers to examine the unique associations between particular symptoms and various stressors; and 2) use one or more measures that were not developed for that particular context and thus may exclude key traumas, stressful life events and symptoms of psychopathology. The current study addresses both these limitations by 1) using a novel conceptual model, network analysis, which assumes that symptoms covary with each other not because they stem from a latent construct, but rather because they represent meaningful relationships between the symptoms; and 2) employing a locally developed measure of experienced trauma, stressful life problems and symptoms of psychopathology. Over the course of 2009-2011, 337 survivors of the Sri Lankan civil war were administered the Penn-RESIST-Peradeniya War Problems Questionnaire (PRPWPQ). Network analysis revealed that symptoms of psychopathology, problems pertaining to lack of basic needs, and social problems were central to the network relative to experienced trauma and other types of problems. After controlling for shared associations, social problems in particular were the most central, significantly more so than traumatic events and family problems. Several particular traumatic events, stressful life events and symptoms of psychopathology that were central to the network were also identified. Discussion emphasizes the utility of such network models to researchers and practitioners determining how to spend limited resources in the most impactful way possible.
Orientational imaging of a single plasmonic nanoparticle using dark-field hyperspectral imaging

Orientation of plasmonic nanostructures is an important feature in many nanoscale applications such as catalyst, biosensors DNA interactions, protein detections, hotspot of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET) experiments. However, due to diffraction limit, it is challenging to obtain the exact orientation of the nanostructure using standard optical microscope. Hyperspectral Imaging Microscopy is a state-of-the-art visualization technology that combines modern optics with hyperspectral imaging and computer system to provide the identification and quantitative spectral analysis of nano- and microscale structures. In this work, initially we use transmitted dark field imaging technique to locate single nanoparticle on a glass substrate. Then we employ hyperspectral imaging technique at the same spot to investigate orientation of single nanoparticle. No special tagging or staining of nanoparticle has been done, as more likely required in traditional microscopy techniques. Different orientations have been identified by carefully understanding and calibrating shift in spectral response from each different orientations of similar sized nanoparticles. Wavelengths recorded are between 300 nm to 900 nm. The orientations measured by hyperspectral microscopy was validated using finite difference time domain (FDTD) electrodynamics calculations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The combination of high resolution nanometer-scale imaging techniques and the modern numerical modeling capacities thus enables a meaningful advance in our knowledge of manipulating and fabricating shaped nanostructures. This work will advance our understanding of the behavior of small nanoparticle clusters useful for sensing, nanomedicine, and surface sciences.
The Shaw haemostatic scalpel in paediatric surgery: clinical report on 3000 operations.

This report presents the experience in a prospective series of 100 operative procedures in all fields of paediatric surgery with the Shaw haemostatic scalpel, which we have subsequently used in more than 3000 further operations. The Shaw scalpel proved to be advantageous in about 80% of major cases. The scalpel cuts tissue with a sharp steel edge, like a cold scalpel, and simultaneously seals blood vessels by heat thermally conducted to the tissue from heated blade which is electri¬cally insulated from the patient. The heat seals most small blood vessels (under 2 mm) as they are cut. Since no electric current passes through the patient, a grounding pad is not needed and the risk of accidental electrical current burns at grounding sites is eliminated. Muscle stimulation as¬sociated with the use of a normal cautery is avoided, improving surgical precision of cutting. The Shaw haemostatic scalpel minimizes damage to the tissue as compared with other ther-mocoagulating instruments. Since it seals small vessels as it cuts tissue, it largely eliminates the flow of blood into the incised area and allows better visibility of the surgical field. The use of the scalpel requires a different cutting technique which is however easy to learn. The Shaw haemosta¬tic scalpel reduces blood loss and overall operating time in major cases. It is relatively inexpensive and can be recommended for use in paediatric surgery.
Constraining chemical transport PM 2.5 modeling outputs using surface monitor measurements and satellite retrievals: application over the San Joaquin Valley

Abstract. Advances in satellite retrieval of aerosol type can improve the accuracy of near-surface air quality characterization by providing broad regional context and decreasing metric uncertainties and errors. The frequent, spatially extensive and radiometrically consistent instantaneous constraints can be especially useful in areas away from ground monitors and progressively downwind of emission sources. We present a physical approach to constraining regional-scale estimates of PM2.5, its major chemical component species estimates, and related uncertainty estimates of chemical transport model (CTM; e.g., the Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model) outputs. This approach uses ground-based monitors where available, combined with aerosol optical depth and qualitative constraints on aerosol size, shape, and light-absorption properties from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) on the NASA Earth Observing System's Terra satellite. The CTM complements these data by providing complete spatial and temporal coverage. Unlike widely used approaches that train statistical regression models, the technique developed here leverages CTM physical constraints such as the conservation of aerosol mass and meteorological consistency, independent of observations. The CTM also aids in identifying relationships between observed species concentrations and emission sources. Aerosol air mass types over populated regions of central California are characterized using satellite data acquired during the 2013 San Joaquin field deployment of the NASA Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) project. We investigate the optimal application of incorporating 275 m horizontal-resolution aerosol air-mass-type maps and total-column aerosol optical depth from the MISR Research Aerosol retrieval algorithm (RA) into regional-scale CTM output. The impact on surface PM2.5 fields progressively downwind of large single sources is evaluated using contemporaneous surface observations. Spatiotemporal R2 and RMSE values for the model, constrained by both satellite and surface monitor measurements based on 10-fold cross-validation, are 0.79 and 0.33 for PM2.5, 0.88 and 0.65 for NO3−, 0.78 and 0.23 for SO42−, 1.00 and 1.01 for NH4+, 0.73 and 0.23 for OC, and 0.31 and 0.65 for EC, respectively. Regional cross-validation temporal and spatiotemporal R2 results for the satellite-based PM2.5 improve by 30 % and 13 %, respectively, in comparison to unconstrained CTM simulations and provide finer spatial resolution. SO42− cross-validation values showed the largest spatial and spatiotemporal R2 improvement, with a 43 % increase. Assessing this physical technique in a well-instrumented region opens the possibility of applying it globally, especially over areas where surface air quality measurements are scarce or entirely absent.
Abstract 17778: Cellular and Functional Defects Contributing to Dilated Cardiomyopathy in SCN5A D1275N Mice

Background: The D1275N SCN5A mutation is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans. We have previously reported that in 12 week old mice carrying humanized SCN5A alleles, DCM is evident by echo in those homozygous for D1275N (DN/DN) compared to those homozygous for the wild-type allele (H/H), with striking conduction slowing and disorganization by ECG and mapping. Here we compared cellular structure, expression of sodium channel partners, and calcium handling in young (3-week) DN/DN versus H/H mice to identify early changes and thereby illuminate mechanisms for DCM in this model. Methods and Results: By 3 weeks, QRS duration was markedly prolonged and disorganized in DN/DN mice (HH, n=11, 9.8 ± 0.2; DN/DN, n=9, 22.3 ± 2.2 P ratio ) and SR calcium stores (H/H, 0.85±0.08; DN/DN, 0.92±0.07, F ratio ) were not statistically significantly different in DN/DN compared to H/H, arguing against aberrant calcium handling as a primary driver of DCM in these mice. Similarly, there were no differences in alpha-actinin or ryanodine receptor expression patterns by immunofluorescence. Expression of the sodium channel partners (and DCM associated genes) dystrophin and syntrophin were identical between H/H and DN/DN by immunostaining and Western blotting. Conclusions: Our present results support the hypothesis that slow, abnormal conduction detected by ECG at 3 weeks of age is a primary factor underlying DCM development.
Learning to be a ‘Safe’ ex-con: race, symbolic violence and discipline in prisoner re-entry

ABSTRACTThis article seeks to investigate the ways in which conceptions of race and interact with symbolic violence, discipline and governmentality to produce a responsibilized subject willing to participate in the racialized forms of deference necessary for participation in the secondary labor market. It is based on three years of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in a Career Development class in an agency that serves formerly incarcerated individuals who are primarily African American males. In order to meet job placement goals, the agency has focused job development efforts on the secondary labor market. The article focuses on the tensions that develop as program staff attempt to prepare class participants to accept these positions.