cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Configuration Reasoning and Ontology For Web

Configuration plays a central role in the deployment and management of Web infrastructures and applications. A configuration often consists of assigning "values" to a pre-defined set of parameters defined in one or more files. Although the task of assigning values to (configuration) parameters looks simple, configuring infrastructures and applications is a very complex process. In this paper we present a framework for defining and analyzing configuration of an Apache server. We define the notion of "configuration space" of an Apache server as a set of possible values that can be assigned to configuration parameters. We then define the notion of an "obstacle" and "forbidden region" in the configuration space that should be avoided. We model configuration space using a logical framework based on OWL (Web ontology language). The obstacles and forbidden regions in the configuration space are modeled as constraints in the logical framework. These obstacles and forbidden regions are essentially "anti-patterns" that a typical installation should avoid. Given an instance of a configuration (that is, a "point" in the configuration space) we then check if the instance is "obstacle free" using logical reasoning.
Mechanistic modelling and risk assessment.

: Risk Assessment in the United States has been rapidly changing over the last few years. The historical methods and endpoints by which risk estimates were derived are gradually being replaced by newer methods and a broader spectrum of endpoints. For carcinogenic risk assessment, there is movement from the routinely used “linearized multistage model” for low dose risk estimation to methodology which is more deeply rooted in carcinogenic mechanisms and which allows the incorporation of additional data into the estimation of risks in a direct, quantitative fashion. There is also a determined effort under way to develop methods for assessing risks from exposure based on other endpoints such as effects on the immune system and the reproductive system. This paper briefly discusses some of the statistical and mathematical issues which will play important roles in determining the utility and precision of these new methods for estimating risks from environmental exposures.
A sound polymorphic type system for a dialect of C

Abstract Advanced polymorphic type systems have come to play an important role in the world of functional programming. But, so far, these type systems have had little impact upon widely used imperative programming languages like C and C++. We show that ML-style polymorphism can be integrated smoothly into a dialect of C, which we call Polymorphic C. It has the same pointer operations as C, including the address-of operator &, the dereferencing operator ∗, and pointer arithmetic. We give a natural semantics for Polymorphic C, and prove a type soundness theorem that gives a rigorous and useful characterization of what can go wrong when a well-typed Polymorphic C program is executed. For example, a well-typed Polymorphic C program may fail to terminate, or it may abort due to a dangling pointer error. Proving such a type soundness theorem requires a notion of an attempted program execution; we show that a natural semantics gives rise quite naturally to a transition semantics, which we call a natural transition semantics, that models program execution in terms of transformations of partial derivation trees. This technique should be generally useful in proving type soundness theorems for languages defined using natural semantics.
Selling British Rail An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Using a multiple streams model, which is based on work by Kingdon, the study explains the quest to sell British Rail. It argues that privatization depends on the interplay of three streams or facto...
Cytomegalovirus in Renal Transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was first isolated from the salivary gland and kidney of two dying infants with cytomegalic inclusion bodies and reported in 1956 ([1][1]). Two other laboratories isolated CMV at approximately the same time. Thus, CMV was initially called “salivary gland virus” or “
The Role of Lectins in Blood Group Serology

The word lectin comes from the Latin legere, meaning to pick out or to choose. Boyd and Shapleigh1 originally applied the term to define those saline extracts of seeds that preferentially agglutina...
A numerical simulation of flow, heat and mass transfer in a floating zone at high rotational reynolds numbers

Abstract Laminar flow, heat and mass transfer in a cylindrical floating zone are computed for co-and counter-rotation of the feed rod and crystal in the absence of Marangoni and natural convection. A finite volume method using primitive variables is used to obtain numerical solutions over a wide range of governing parameters. For differential co-rotation at high Reynolds numbers, the velocity field exhibits a core region rotating with the average angular velocity of the rotating ends. For equal counter-rotation, the velocity field loses symmetry about the horizontal mid-plane at a critical rotational Reynolds number; beyond this, two assymetric solutions are to be found. Local and overall Nusselt numbers at the growing interface are computed to ascertain the heat transfer characteristics; the extent of radial solute segregation associated with each flow pattern is also examined.
Conditional Mouse Models to Study Developmental and Pathophysiological Gene Function in Muscle

This chapter will review conditional mouse model systems that have been developed to study gene function in skeletal, cardiac, and vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo with an emphasis on the utility of these models for investigating developmental and pathophysiological gene function in muscle. In general, these systems have utilized muscle-specific/selective promoter-enhancers in conjunction with site-specific DNA recombinases, e.g., Cre-loxP, and fusion proteins with these recombinases that confer temporal control, such as tamoxifen-inducible CreER systems. A major focus of this chapter will be to discuss unique challenges of studying Cre-mediated mutagenesis/gene targeting in these muscle types during development and in the adult animal, some of which are inherent of the muscle cell type being studied. For example, unlike cardiac and skeletal muscle cells, the vascular SMC is extremely plastic and able to undergo rapid phenotypic modulation to various environmental cues in vivo. Thus, employing SMC marker gene promoter enhancers for conditional gene targeting in SMCs must take into account the possibility and/or certainty that the particular SMC promoter enhancers used may or may not be transcriptionally active in SMCs of a vessel wall under normal and some pathophysiological conditions. Moreover, individual floxed loci within the same muscle cell type and tissue have different degrees of sensitivity to Cre, most likely dependent on the chromatin state of that particular gene, i.e., closed/condensed state or open/active state. Thus, Cre recombination may be ineffective for specific floxed gene DNA. Lastly, rigorous efforts must be made to confirm the degree of recombination in a tissue, taking into full account the multicellularity of the tissue, to understand the extent of the physiological effect in that organ.
Misexpression of chick Vg1 in the marginal zone induces primitive streak formation

In the chick embryo, the primitive streak is the first axial structure to develop. The initiation of primitive streak formation in the posterior area pellucida is influenced by the adjacent posterior marginal zone (PMZ). We show here that chick Vg1 (cVg1), a member of the TGFbeta family of signalling molecules whose homolog in Xenopus is implicated in mesoderm induction, is expressed in the PMZ of prestreak embryos. Ectopic expression of cVg1 protein in the marginal zone chick blastoderms directs the formation of a secondary primitive streak, which subsequently develops into an ectopic embryo. We have used cell marking techniques to show that cells that contribute to the ectopic primitive streak change fate, acquiring two distinct properties of primitive streak cells, defined by gene expression and cell movements. Furthermore, naive epiblast explants exposed to cVg1 protein in vitro acquire axial mesodermal properties. Together, these results show that cVg1 can mediate ectopic axis formation in the chick by inducing new cell fates and they permit the analysis of distinct events that occur during primitive streak formation.
Persuasive Design of Destination Web Sites: An Analysis of First Impression

This research examines the persuasiveness of destination Web sites through an investigation of users' first impression. To achieve this goal, it builds on research by Fogg (2003) and by Kim and Fesenmaier (2007) to assess the effect of the design factors of destination Web sites on first impression formation. The results of this study indicate that the participants were able to make quick judgments on tourism Web sites and that inspiration and usability were the primary drivers evoking a favorable first impression. This research concludes by discussing the implications of these findings and possible directions for future study.
Improved stability robustness bounds for digital control systems in state-space models

This paper presents stability robustness bounds for linear discrete-time systems with time-invariant perturbations. These bounds extend the previous investigations for independent perturbations to dependent perturbations and provide improved results. It is shown that the dependent perturbation bound includes an independent perturbation bound previously reported as a special case. These results are illustrated with simple examples.
Patients’ Understanding of Shared Decision Making in a Mental Health Setting

Shared decision making is a fundamental component of patient-centered care and has been linked to positive health outcomes. Increasingly, researchers are turning their attention to shared decision making in mental health; however, few studies have explored decision making in these settings from patients' perspectives. We examined patients' accounts and understanding of shared decision making. We analyzed interviews from 54 veterans receiving outpatient mental health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the United States. Although patients' understanding of shared decision making was consistent with accounts published in the literature, participants reported that shared decision making goes well beyond these components. They identified the patient-provider relationship as the bedrock of shared decision making and highlighted several factors that interfere with shared decision making. Our findings highlight the importance of the patient-provider relationship as a fundamental element of shared decision making and point to areas for potential improvement.
Vertically aligned carbon nanofiber nanoelectrode arrays: electrochemical etching and electrode reusability

Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers in the form of nanoelectrode arrays were grown on nine individual electrodes, arranged in a 3 × 3 array geometry, in a 6.25 cm2 chip. Electrochemical etching of the carbon nanofibers was employed for electrode activation and enhancing the electrode kinetics. Here, we report the effects of electrochemical etching on the fiber height and electrochemical properties. Electrode regeneration by amide hydrolysis and electrochemical etching is also investigated for electrode reusability.
Direct measurement of the deep soil respiration accompanying seasonal thawing of a boreal forest soil

[1] This paper presents data collected by an automated system designed to measure the seasonal cycle of both the quantity and isotopic composition of soil respiration. The results support the hypothesis that deep soil respiration at the BOREAS Northern Old Black Spruce site is sensitive to soil thaw and that much of this CO2 represents decomposition of old organic matter, rather than simply root respiration. This is the first study to use a completely automated soil gas sampling system in the field to measure the soil CO2 profile and collect samples of soil air for subsequent isotopic analysis. During the summer of 1999, deep soil respiration varied linearly with 50 cm temperature, with a slope of 0.2 kg C ha−1 d−1 °C−1. Late in the season, this respiration was dominated by decomposition of old soil organic matter (fixed from the atmosphere centuries ago). This study has taken an important step toward clarifying the temperature sensitivity of deep soil CO2 production in black spruce ecosystems through direct measurements within the soil and to quantify the seasonal variation of the relative contributions of recently fixed versus old carbon in deep soil respiration.
Die lebensbedrohliche Haglundferse

Zusammenfassung Ein professioneller Eishockeyspieler wurde zur jahrlichen sportmedizinischen Untersuchung aufgeboten. Einzig eine schmerzhafte Haglundferse hatte ihm nebst diffusen Ruckenschmerzen in der Vorbereitung Probleme bereitet. Wenige Tage spater musste er aufgrund einer streuenden Staphylococcus-aureus-Sepsis mit pulmonalen Infiltraten, Symphysitis, Abszessformation im Musculus obturatorius externus und Musculus pectineus auf eine universitare Intensivstation verlegt werden. Als Eintrittspforte wurde eine superinfizierte Blase an der Ferse ohne vorgangige klinische Zeichen einer Lymphangitis postuliert. Nebst dem potentiell vital bedrohlichen Infekt war ein Ausfall von uber vier Monaten die Folge.
Covariates of efficacy and safety in four trials of pemetrexed gemcitabine (PG) in advanced stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

18076 Background: P and G have demonstrated antitumor activity as a first-line treatment in pts with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The impact of covariates such as age and gender on the act...
Cluster-based least absolute deviation regression for dimension reduction

ABSTRACTLeast absolute deviation (LAD) regression is an important alternative to ordinary least squares (OLS) regression in linear models. A surprising result in Li and Duan (1989) showed that OLS can be used for dimension reduction in single-index models as long as the predictor distribution satisfies a global linear conditional mean assumption. The proposal in Li and Duan (1989) has two limitations. First, it is well known that OLS is sensitive to outliers and fails in the case of heavy-tailed error distribution. Second, the global linearity assumption for the predictor distribution can be violated when there is a nonlinear relationship among the predictors. To address these limitations, cluster-based LAD for dimension reduction is proposed in this article. By inheriting the benefit of LAD over OLS in linear models, our proposal becomes more robust to outliers or heavy-tailed error distribution. We also replace the global linearity assumption with the more flexible local linearity assumption through k-m...
Single-crystalline α-Fe2O3 void@frame microframes for rechargeable batteries

It is still a challenging task to prepare single crystalline void@frame hollow-open microframes, although single crystalline void@shell hollow structures have been reported. Herein, single-crystalline α-Fe2O3 microframes with void@frame open structures and perforated shells are prepared through a template-free calcination method via a discontinuous grain growth mechanism. The single-crystalline α-Fe2O3 void@frame microframes demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, cycle life and high rate as negative electrode materials for lithium ion batteries, in contrast to solid microparticles. Additionally, their potential application as negative electrode materials for sodium ion batteries has been demonstrated.
Charge transfer structure-reactivity dependence of fullerene-single-walled carbon nanotube heterojunctions.

Charge transfer at the interface between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of distinct chiral vectors and fullerenes of various molecular weights is of interest both fundamentally and because of its importance in emerging photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices. One approach for generating isolated, discretized fullerene–SWCNT heterojunctions for spectroscopic investigation is to form an amphiphile, which is able to disperse the latter at the single-SWCNT level in aqueous solution. Herein, we synthesize a series of methanofullerene amphiphiles, including derivatives of C60, C70, and C84, and investigated their electron transfer with SWCNT of specific chirality, generating a structure–reactivity relationship. In the cases of two fullerene derivatives, lipid–C61–polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lipid–C71–PEG, band gap dependent, incomplete quenching was observed across all SWCNT species, indicating that the driving force for electron transfer is small. This is further supported by a variant of Marcus the...
0235 Barriers and Facilitators of Supplying a Treadmill Workstation to Office Workers: usability, safety, comfort, and productivity. A qualitative study0235 Barriers and Facilitators of Supplying a Treadmill Workstation to Office Workers: usability, safety, comfort, and productivity. A qualitative study

Objectives Characterise usability, safety, comfort, and impact on productivity of treadmill workstations in real worksites. Method Office workers volunteered to try out for six months a treadmill workstation consisting of a height adjustable electric desk, a walking treadmill, and their own sitting device (chair or “sitting ball”). They were instructed to set up and use the workstation at will. Monthly individual and group meetings were performed to gather qualitative data. Results USABILITY: Difficult set up of the workstation, which demanded use of wireless mouse and keyboards and generated creative arrangements. Unanimous love for the adjustable electric desk. Difficult to talk to people while walking (disrespectful, “On the treadmill we are taller” - affect hierarchies). SAFETY: There was no event of either trips or falls. COMFORT: An important difficulty was during the first weeks to get used to longer time in standing position. In average it took two weeks for discomfort symptoms in foot and knees to recede. PRODUCTIVITY: faster speed implies faster impact on productivity. 7–.8 mph was the most used and comfortable speed. Walking on the treadmill was not compatible with drawing or working with spreadsheets. Conclusions Treadmill workstation did not meet workers’ expectations but the electric adjustable desk exceeded those expectations. Guiding and external motivation to increase use would be accepted and expected. DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS: Reduce maximum speed. Even 2.0 mph is too much. Additional design study needed to improve global workstation setup without decreasing flexibility and adaptation of the station.
Discharging process of a finned heat pipe–assisted thermal energy storage system with high temperature phase change material

This paper presents the results of a numerical study conducted to investigate the discharging process of a latent heat thermal energy storage system assisted by finned heat pipes. A two-dimensional finite volume based numerical model along with enthalpy-porosity technique is employed to simulate the phase change of storage media during the discharging mode. The thermal energy storage system in this study consists of a square container, finned heat pipes, and potassium nitrate (KNO3) as the phase change material. The charging process of the same thermal energy storage system was reported in an early paper by the authors. This paper reports the results of discharging process of the thermal energy storage system. The influences of heat pipe spacing, fin geometry and quantities as well as the effects of natural convection heat transfer on the thermal performance of the storage system were studied. The results indicate that the phase change material solidification process is hardly affected by the natural convection. Decreasing the heat pipe spacing results in faster discharging process and higher container base wall temperature. Increasing the fins length does not change the discharging time but yields higher base wall temperature. Using more fins also accelerates the discharging process and increases the container base wall temperature.
Research on anchored effect of fully cement-imbedded anchor cable on weak country rock cavern

Using the numerical calculation method,the relevant material parameters are stemming from the model test researching the anchored effect of partly cement-imbedded anchor cable on weak country rock cavern and supposing that the surface force of friction of cement body is in proportion to the relative displacement between the rock and the cable,this paper studies the anchored effect of the fully cement imbedded anchor cable on the same cavern with the model test;and gives the displacement curve of the cavern walls and the curve of the surface force of friction of cement body;and obtains such conclusions that the displacements of the anchored cavern are reduced etc.
A Pilot Study to Develop the Police Transformational Leadership Scale (PTLS) and Examine Its Associations with Psychosocial Well-Being of Officers

In these times of increased tensions between police officers and their communities, the need for effective police leadership is more important than ever. Past research suggests that a transformational style of leadership is preferred by most officers, with supervisors who are good communicators, trustworthy, effective at training officers for changing times, and able to create a shared cooperative vision. The present study developed a new Transformational Police Leadership Scale (TPLS) that police departments might eventually use to assess supervisor leadership characteristics. Participants included 152 US police officers who completed anonymous surveys to report demographics, to rate leadership behaviors of immediate supervisors, and to report their psychosocial well-being (self-esteem, perceived police social support, romantic partner conflict). Exploratory factor analysis produced a 20-item TPLS with three dimensions showing acceptable internal reliability and test-retest reliability: Clear Communication, Training and Cooperation, and Fairness and Honesty. The three TPLS dimensions were not associated with demographics (age, gender, marital status, college education, patrol officer rank, years of service), suggesting their relevance to a variety of officers. The TPLS dimensions significantly explained variance in psychosocial well-being of police officers including better self-esteem (R 2 = .11), more perceived police social support (R 2 = .30), and less romantic partner conflict (R 2 = .12). Future research could expand evaluation of TPLS psychometric characteristics such as confirmatory factor analysis with larger and more diverse sample, inter-rater reliability, and convergent validity with other non-police measures of transformative leadership.
Different consequences of supplication and modesty: Self-effacing impression management behaviors and supervisory perceptions of subordinate personality

ABSTRACTAlthough modesty and supplication are both self-effacing impression management behaviors for underplaying one’s strengths, they are likely to result in different supervisory perceptions. In an examination of the effects of modesty and supplication in the same working sample, the results from a Chinese sample of supervisor–subordinate dyads (n = 88) showed that while modesty is positively related to supervisor perceptions of a subordinate’s Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, supplication is negatively related to supervisory perceptions of Agreeableness. In addition, supervisors differentially weigh supplication and modesty when assessing Agreeableness versus Conscientiousness. Results from this study suggest that subordinates may use modesty to strive for a positive impression, but they should be cautious about adopting supplication as an impression management tactic.
STAT Proteins in Cancer

The seven members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of proteins are transcription factors that are activated in response to, and mediate signaling downstream of, growth factors and cytokines. STATs are dysregulated in a broad range of cancer types. Although the genes that encode STATs are rarely mutated in cancer, constitutive phosphorylation and hence activation of STATs, particularly STAT3, is a common alteration in cancer. STAT3 and STAT5 are considered to play primarily pro-tumorigenic roles in tumor cells and within the tumor microenvironment (TME), while STAT1 has been described as a tumor suppressor (although recent publications have also revealed pro-tumorigenic functions of STAT1). In this chapter, we survey STATs in cancer, providing a general overview of STAT function and regulation in tumor cells and in immune cells within the TME.
Role of Potassium Exchange in Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass over ZSM-5: Formation of Alkyl Phenols and Furans

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass with ZSM-5 type zeolites is a commonly considered in situ upgrading technique for the production of partially deoxygenated bio-oils. The acidity and structure of ZSM-5 catalysts favor the production of aromatic hydrocarbons from oxygenates present in the pyrolysis vapors, such as acids, anhydrosugars, ketones and aldehydes. However, these acid catalyzed deoxygenation pathways remove functional groups from the aromatic ring structure, which makes the liquid bio-oil more amenable to processing in current petroleum refineries while subsequently decreasing the value of the compounds as industrial chemical feedstocks. The observation of improved yields of alkyl phenols and furans during catalyst deactivation suggests a method for tuning the product distribution by altering the parent zeolite catalyst via changes in acidity and/or incorporation of alkali metals known to accumulate on the catalyst during pyrolysis. Here, we report the catalytic fast pyrolysis of three biomass ...
Beneficial Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Oxidative Stress, Cytokines, and NF-κB DNA Binding in Sickle Cell Disease Patients.

Zinc deficiency is common in adult sickle-cell disease (SCD) patients, due to continued hemolysis and hyperzincuria. Growth retardation, hypogonadism, and immune dysfunctions due to zinc deficiency have been described in SCD patients. Our studies show that zinc has not only anti-inflammatory functions, but is also an antioxidant. We have previously shown that zinc supplementation to adult SCD patients decreased the incidences of infection and hospital admissions. We hypothesize that zinc supplementation improves T-helper cell and vascular endothelial cell activation, and decreases oxidative stress and NF-κB activation in SCD patients. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 36 ambulatory SCD (homozygous) patients (ages 18–47 years, 11 males and 7 females in each group) and randomly divided these into 2 groups. One group (n=18) received 25 mg zinc as acetate orally thrice a day for 3 months. The other group (n=18) received placebo. All these patients were free of pain crisis for 3 months and were not receiving hydroxyurea. The results indicate that zinc supplemented group had decreased incidence of infection in comparison to the placebo group (Chi square analysis: p=0.017). After 3 months of zinc supplementation, the plasma zinc level increased. The anti-oxidant power increased and the plasma levels of NO, lipid peroxidation products (MDA+HAE), DNA oxidation product (8-OHdG), and sVCAM-1 decreased in the zinc supplemented group, compared to the placebo group (p Relative levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, VCAM-1 mRNAs by RT-PCR were reduced in LPS-stimulated MNC isolated from zinc supplemented group, compared to placebo. In vitro zinc addition to the MNC isolated from placebo decreased TNF-α and IL-1β mRNAs. Zinc supplementation decreased TNF-induced NF-κB DNA binding (a biomarker of oxidative stress) by EMSA in isolated MNC, compared to placebo. Zinc supplementation also increased the relative level of IL-2 mRNA in PHA-stimulated MNC, compared to placebo. Our results showed that zinc supplementation to SCD patients decreased incidence of infection, and decreased oxidative stress markers. The mRNAs of TNF-α, IL-1β, and sVCAM-1, as well as TNF-induced NF-κB activation were also decreased in the zinc-supplemented subjects, suggesting that zinc supplementation may be beneficial to in SCD patients.
Developing and Validating a New Scale of Ingratiation

There is a proliferation of measures of ingratiation in the management literature, given the great interest in this topic. However, previous measures were not comprehensive in covering the content ...
Adaptive optical fluorescence microscopy

This Perspective introduces the development and use of adaptive optics in correcting aberrations in deep optical imaging applications.
Approach of generation fleet voltage schedule validation for power system voltage stability

In this study, the authors present an approach to validate the voltage schedule for operation of generation fleet within a balancing area managed by Independent System Operators/Regional Transmission Organizations or a balancing authority. An appropriate voltage schedule is an important requirement for the generator operators to maintain adequate VAR reserves and ensure the voltage stability. Based on current industry requirements, an empirical approach is developed to validate the voltage schedule following significant variations in generation pattern and load pattern, as possible results of integration of power generation from variable renewable resources or responsive demand. The approach can validate voltage schedule of generator fleet and transfer buses connected to the generator buses while monitoring the ranges of set-point voltages and VAR levels of the generators. Moreover, they use the approach to investigate the impact of variations in the generation and load patterns on the voltage schedule in a real power grid. The findings are useful for an improved management of voltage stability, voltage schedule validation, and estimation of reactive power adequacy for operation support of future power grid with high penetration of renewables and responsive demands.
The power of "why" and "why not": enriching scenario exploration with provenance

Scenario-finding tools like the Alloy Analyzer are widely used in numerous concrete domains like security, network analysis, UML analysis, and so on. They can help to verify properties and, more generally, aid in exploring a system's behavior. While scenario finders are valuable for their ability to produce concrete examples, individual scenarios only give insight into what is possible, leaving the user to make their own conclusions about what might be necessary. This paper enriches scenario finding by allowing users to ask ``why?'' and ``why not?'' questions about the examples they are given. We show how to distinguish parts of an example that cannot be consistently removed (or changed) from those that merely reflect underconstraint in the specification. In the former case we show how to determine which elements of the specification and which other components of the example together explain the presence of such facts. This paper formalizes the act of computing provenance in scenario-finding. We present Amalgam, an extension of the popular Alloy scenario-finder, which implements these foundations and provides interactive exploration of examples. We also evaluate Amalgam's algorithmics on a variety of both textbook and real-world examples.
Limit Results for Linear Combinations

Let X 1,...,X n denote a random sample from thedf F, and let X 1,n ≤ ... ≤ X n,n denote their order statistics. Suppose the statistician specifies a known function h and known constants c n1,...,c nn Our interest is in establishing the asymptotic normality of L-statistics of the form $$ L_n \, \equiv \,\frac{1}{n}\,\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {c_{ni} h\left( {X_{i,n} } \right)} $$ (1.1) under very mild regularity conditions. If X has df F and U is a Uniform (0,1) rv, then F ‒1(U) has df F. For this reason, there is no loss in assuming that $$ L_n \, \equiv \,\frac{1}{n}\,\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {c_{ni} g\left( {U_{i,n} } \right)} $$ (1.2) where g ≡ h(F ‒1) and 0 ≤ U 1,n ≤ ··· ≤ U n,n ≤ 1 are the order statistics of independent Uniform (0,1) rv’s U 1,...,U n.
Boundary layer phenomena for differential-delay equations with state-dependent time lags, I.

In this paper we begin a study of the differential-delay equation % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0Jc9yq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepS0he9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabew7aLjqadI% hagaqbaiaacIcacaWG0bGaaiykaiabg2da9iabgkHiTiaadIhacaGG% OaGaamiDaiaacMcacqGHRaWkcaWGMbGaaiikaiaadIhacaGGOaGaam% iDaiabgkHiTiaadkhacaGGPaGaaiykaiaacYcacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaa% dkhacqGH9aqpcaWGYbGaaiikaiaadIhacaGGOaGaamiDaiaacMcaca% GGPaaaaa!5192! $$\varepsilon x'(t) = - x(t) + f(x(t - r)), r = r(x(t))$$ . We prove the existence of periodic solutions for 0<ɛ<ɛ 0, where ɛ 0 is an optimal positive number. We investigate regularity and monotonicity properties of solutions x(t) which are defined for all t and of associated functions like η(t)=t−r(x(t)). We begin the development of a Poincare-Bendixson theory and phase-plane analysis for such equations. In a companion paper these results will be used to investigate the limiting profile and corresponding boundary layer phenomena for periodic solutions as ɛ approaches zero.
Robotic LESS Approaches

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) has been developed to further minimize the morbidity associated with laparoscopic surgery. By reducing the number and length of skin incisions, it was hypothesized that this would lead to less pain, faster convalescence, and improved cosmesis following minimally invasive surgery. However, LESS requires considerable laparoscopic experience and stringent patient-selection criteria to achieve successful outcomes. It was postulated that the benefits of robotic surgery could be applied to LESS (R-LESS) to overcome some of the challenges. We reported the first clinical R-LESS series (which included a radical prostatectomy) and noted an improved ability to perform dissection and intracorporeal suturing, due to the stability and articulation of the robotic instruments. The application of the robotic platform with its EndoWrist technology and superior HD 3D optics has further addressed the challenges seen with conventional LESS. However, R-LESS-specific platforms are needed to fully realize the potential benefits of robotic surgery for this application. Further clinical study is required to determine the precise role of this technique in the realm of minimally invasive urologic surgery. In this chapter we outline patient selection, positioning, surgical tools, and techniques for R-LESS.
Abstract 607: Combined Intracerebroventricular Angiotensin-(1-7) and Candesartan Normalizes Blood Pressure and Improves Baroreflex Function in Transgenic (mRen2)27 Hypertensive Rats

Transgenic (mRen2)27 rats that over express the murine Ren2 gene are hypertensive and have impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) for control of heart rate (HR). We previously showed that infusion of central angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] improved the vagal components of the BRS independent of altering mean arterial pressure (MAP) but that, AT 1 receptor blockade normalized MAP and blood pressure variability (BPV) without correcting the BRS. To determine if the overall sympathovagal imbalance and the BRS function can be corrected by supplementing Ang-(1-7) in combination with AT 1 receptor blockade, we compared intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of the AT 1 receptor antagonist candesartan (CV: 4 ug/5uL/hr) and Ang-(1-7) [0.1 ug/5uL/hr; n = 4] or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF; 5 uL/hr; n = 8) for 4 weeks in 18 week old male (mRen2)27 rats. MAP was significantly reduced in CV/ Ang-(1-7) treated rats [71 ± 13 vs. aCSF: 132 ± 12 mm Hg; p = 0.01] with no changes in HR. Lowering of MAP was associated with a reduction in low frequency systolic arterial pressure, an index of BPV, [LF-SAP%: 32 ± 8 vs. aCSF: 73 ± 10, p = 0.02] in these animals. Both vagal [high frequency alpha: 1.1 ± 0.3 vs. aCSF: 0.6 ± 0.1, p= 0.05 and Sequence UP: 1.7 ± 0.4 vs. aCSF: 0.7 ± 0.1, p= 0.03] and sympathetic [low frequency alpha: 0.65 ± 0.14 vs. aCSF: 0.34 ± 0.03, p= 0.02 and Sequence DOWN: 1.4 ± 0.3 vs. aCSF: 0.76 ± 0.1, p= 0.01] components of the BRS were significantly increased resulting in improvements in the overall BRS [Sequence ALL: 1.6 ± 0.3 vs. aCSF: 0.75 ± 0.1, p= 0.01] as well as the sympathovagal imbalance [LF RRI /HF RRI : 0.2 ± 0.1 vs. aCSF: 2.3 ± 0.6, p= 0.004] in treated animals. Thus, combination ICV therapy normalized MAP and corrected the sympathovagal imbalance leading to improved BRS function. Since impaired BRS significantly associates with cardiovascular pathologies independently from hypertension, specifically targeting an increase in central Ang-(1-7) with reduced Ang II actions to provide improved BRS and lower MAP may achieve a more optimal therapeutic benefit.
Vital ex vivo tissue labeling and pathology-guided micropunching to characterize cellular heterogeneity in the tissue microenvironment.

Cellular heterogeneity within the tissue microenvironment may underlie chemotherapeutic resistance and response, enabling tumor evolution; however, this heterogeneity it is difficult to characteriz...
Case 27: A Jehovah’s Witness Patient and a Potentially Bloody Operation

A 54-year-old male (ASA 1) weight 79 kg and height 5′11″ is scheduled for a prostatectomy. While checking your anesthesia machine in the OR, you hear from the circulating nurse that the patient is a Jehovah’s Witness. The scrub nurse mentions that she has had a patient like this die under a similar operation. In the hope that the patient may take albumin, you get two bottles of 4% albumin from the pharmacy and place it on your anesthetic table behind the anesthesia machine. You meet him for the first time in the preoperative holding area. He is surrounded by 15 of his family and friends. They inform you of the patient’s unbending refusal to accept blood transfusions and all related blood products. You inform the patient that you will abide by his wishes, but tell him, in no uncertain terms that he may die from hypovolemia. His response is to say he’d rather die than get blood products. You write down on paper or enter in your electronic medical record that you have explained the serious consequences of his refusal. If your hospital is still on “paper,” then get him to sign that he does not want any blood products and that he is prepared to die. You get this witnessed by as many of his family and friends that want to sign. You make a copy of this statement for your own record and place the original in the patient’s chart.
Dynamics of avalanche-generated impulse waves: three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations and sensitivity analysis

Abstract. This paper studies the lake dynamics for avalanche-triggered glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in Ancash, Peru. As new glacial lakes emerge and existing lakes continue to grow, they pose an increasing threat of GLOFs that can be catastrophic to the communities living downstream. In this work, the dynamics of displacement waves produced from avalanches are studied through three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of Lake Palcacocha, Peru, with an emphasis on the sensitivity of the lake model to input parameters and boundary conditions. This type of avalanche-generated wave is an important link in the GLOF process chain because there is a high potential for overtopping and erosion of the lake-damming moraine. The lake model was evaluated for sensitivity to turbulence model and grid resolution, and the uncertainty due to these model parameters is significantly less than that due to avalanche boundary condition characteristics. Wave generation from avalanche impact was simulated using two different boundary condition methods. Representation of an avalanche as water flowing into the lake generally resulted in higher peak flows and overtopping volumes than simulating the avalanche impact as mass–momentum inflow at the lake boundary. Three different scenarios of avalanche size were simulated for the current lake conditions, and all resulted in significant overtopping of the lake-damming moraine. Although the lake model introduces significant uncertainty, the avalanche portion of the GLOF process chain is likely to be the greatest source of uncertainty. To aid in evaluation of hazard mitigation alternatives, two scenarios of lake lowering were investigated. While large avalanches produced significant overtopping waves for all lake-lowering scenarios, simulations suggest that it may be possible to contain waves generated from smaller avalanches if the surface of the lake is lowered.
Calculation of the displacement energy of α and γ uranium

Abstract Uranium (U) is alloyed with molybdenum (Mo) or zirconium (Zr) in order to stabilize the high-temperature body-centered cubic γ phase of uranium for use in nuclear reactors. Although these two alloy systems possess different mechanical, chemical and thermodynamic properties, they exhibit a similarity in that there exists a variable degree of phase decomposition from the cubic γ phase of uranium to the orthorhombic α phase of uranium, depending on both the Mo/Zr content and fabrication conditions. These two phases of uranium are believed to exhibit distinct swelling and radiation damage behavior. Understanding the differences in behavior under irradiation between the α and γ phases can provide valuable information to guide the manufacturing process of U alloys and can inform multi-physics, continuum-level fuel performance codes. The threshold displacement energy (TDE) is the minimum amount of kinetic energy required to displace an atom from its lattice site. It is critically important to determine an accurate value of the TDE in order to calculate the total number of displacements due to a given irradiation condition, and thus to understand the materials response to irradiation. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to calculate the threshold displacement energy for both the α and γ phases of uranium as a function of temperature. This study utilizes three different interatomic potentials that have been previously developed: U MEAM, U-Zr MEAM and U-Mo ADP. The threshold displacement energy in γ U at 800 K is 73.2 eV, 47.1 eV and 35.6 eV for the U MEAM, U-Zr MEAM and U-Mo ADP potentials. respectively. The threshold displacement energy for α U at 600 K is 66.3 eV for the U-Mo ADP.
The bichromaticity of a tree

The bichromaticity β(B) of a bipartite graph B is defined as the maximum order of a complete bipartite graph onto which B is homomorphic. It is specified that no two points of different colors can be sent to the same point under a homomorphism. Exact formulas are obtained for the bichromaticity of a tree and for that of even cycles.
Variable Resolution Dynamic Programming: Efficiently Learning Action Maps in Multivariate Real-valued State-spaces

An effective method to create an autonomous reactive controller is to learn a model of the environment and then use dynamic programming to derive a policy to maximize long term reward. Neither learning environmental models nor dynamic programming require parametric assumptions about the world, and so learning can proceed with no danger of becoming “stuck― by a mismatch between the parametric assumptions and reality. The paper discusses how such an approach can be realized in real valued multivariate state spaces in which straightforward discretization falls prey to the curse of dimensionality.
The specific nature of the clergy's role in mental health: The Yeshiva University National Institute of Mental Health project

In this paper we have attempted to outline the basis upon which the Yeshiva University project is developing its curriculum. For the past three years and for the next two years those associated with the program will attempt to formulate the courses and training programs which could serve as the basis for a mental health educational program in seminaries. It is the hope of the Yeshiva University project that its curriculum will serve as another milestone in utilizing the resources of religion and those of other mental health disciplines to the benefit of all those who turn to religious leaders for help and guidance.
Fraction photo frenzy: A new exploration

Using technology to expand opportunities to share their thinking in a problem-solving environment, preservice teachers discover exciting possibilities for sharing mathematical reasoning in elementary school classrooms
Designing the Future U.S. Naval Surface Fleet for Effectiveness and Producibility

David Taylor Research Center is just commencing investigations into a new manner of defining future fleet architectures. The cost of current performance-driven ship designs has increased at a rapid rate. While it is true that a warship designed with insufficient performance is of meager utility, it is also true that the best performing warship design is of no utility if never built. Both performance and affordability are required if sufficient numbers of ships are to be built to counter the threat. By designing a future fleet architecture with producibility as a major requirement from the start, we hope to impact the acquisition cost significantly. One battle force concept titled "Distribute, Disperse, Disguise and Sustain" suggests two fundamental surface ship types; the Carrier of Large Objects (CLO) and the Scout Fighter. A CLO feasibility design in progress, Carrier Dock Multimission, is outlined to inform shipbuilding researchers of an initiative that promises to have significant impact on naval ship procurement and provide increased visibility within the U.S. Navy on producibility issues. Before an attempt is made to conceptualize a future U.S. naval surface fleet, to help create a vision of the U.S. Navy for the year 2030 and beyond, the shortcomings of the current surface Navy must be addressed first. An honest assessment of where we are now is a must for us to determine where we need to be in the future and how to get there. Current shortcomings THE SHORTCOMINGS of greatest significance in the curren~ surface Navy that are related to hull, mechanical and electri cal (H,M&E) technologies are: • highly observable ship signatures, • easily discriminable ship signatures, • concentration of operating functions, • logistically demanding, and • programmatically inefficient and expensive to acquire. The ships of the surface Navy are highly observable by radar, acoustic, infrared, magnetic, and electro-optical sensors. As the enemy's surveillance, tracking, and classification capabilities increase with time, the advantage will continue to shift more and more to the enemy. The result is that the enemy can, in most cases, engage our surface forces outside the battle space of our own weapon systems. This forces us into a defensive posture that requires us to shoot down the "arrows" (cruise missiles) rather than the "archers" (aircraft, submarine and surface ship launch platforms). Forty-two classes of surface ships currently operate in our carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious task forces, logistic support groups, and convoy escort groups. Each of these ship classes (and, indeed, most of the ships within a particular class) has unique signatures that allow the enemy to discriminate ships within a surface force. This plays to the enemy's strength of massing firepower on whatever type of ship their strategy calls for. We have generally concentrated required operating functions on large ships. This platform architecture, coupled with the high observability and discriminability , results in an in
Developmental Changes in Micro-Educational Environments for Learning Handicapped and Non-Learning Handicapped Elementary School Students.

A longitudinal study of the development of Micro-Educational Environments (MEEs) and microcomputer use by learning handicapped and nonhandicapped students was initiated This report describes curren...