cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategy of Improving the Industrial and Commercial Administration Ability of Port Type Park

Gao, S., 2020. Strategy of improving the industrial and commercial administration ability of port type park. In: Yang, Y.; Mi, C.; Zhao, L., and Lam, S. (eds.), Global Topics and New Trends in Coastal Research: Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 103, pp. 663–667. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.With the development of socialist market economy, the reform of China's economic system has achieved a historic leap. In this process, the functions of industrial and commercial administration can meet the needs of the society to a certain extent through a series of adjustments and reforms, but there are still some problems in the improvement of management ability. Therefore, this paper puts forward a strategy for the improvement of industrial and commercial administration ability of port type parks. This paper analyzes the basic functions and existing problems of the current industrial and commercial administration, from the perspective of economic and social development, the transformation of government functions and the development of industrial and commercial administration, focusing on the analysis of the necessity and urgency of the transformation of industrial and commercial administration functions to service type, and puts forward specific countermeasures for the development of industrial and commercial administration service enterprises. From the aspects of building a good market competition environment, strengthening factor guarantee and improving the service level of the team, the paper puts forward the countermeasures and suggestions for developing service-oriented industry and commerce. The comparative experiment results show that the proposed strategy for improving the industrial and commercial administration capacity of port park has better research results and the strategy is feasible.
The Writer is a Sorcerer: Literature and the Becomings of A Thousand Plateaus

In this paper, I trace the concept of ‘becomings’, most thoroughly articulated in the tenth plateau of A Thousand Plateaus, as it relates to the notion of the writer as sorcerer. More precisely, my...
An entropy-based approach to detect and localize intraoperative bleeding during minimally invasive surgery.

Background During minimally invasive surgery (either robotic or traditional laparoscopic), vascular injuries may occur because of inadvertent surgical tool movements or actions. These vascular injuries can lead to arterial or venous bleeding with varying degrees of severity that may be life-threatening. Materials and methods Given that a bloody spot is characterized by homogenous and uniform texture, our algorithm automatically scans the entire surgical video frame- by- frame using a local entropy filter to segment each image into different regions sequence. By comparing changes in entropy in the frames sequences, the algorithm detects the moment of bleeding occurrence and its pixel location. We preliminarily tested the algorithm using ten minimally invasive-surgery videos., each of which contains one surgical-tool-induced bleeding. Results Our results show that the algorithm can detect bleeding within 0.635 s, on average, after their occurrences and locate the bleeding sources within, on average, 2.5% of discrepancy in pixels from their origins. Conclusion In this study, we present a novel and promising local-entropy-based image processing algorithm that detects spurts of blood and locate their source in real-time.
Coupled smoothed particle hydrodynamics-discrete element method simulations of soil liquefaction and its mitigation using gravel drains

Abstract In this paper, a fully Lagrangian particle-based method for coupled fluid-particle interaction is utilized to evaluate liquefaction of saturated granular soils subjected to dynamic base excitations. The discrete element method (DEM) is employed to model the solid particles and the fluid motion is simulated using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). A coupled SPH-DEM scheme is achieved through local averaging techniques and well-established semi-empirical formulas for fluid-particle interaction. A key feature of the employed technique is that it does not presume undrained conditions for the granular deposit and allows for spatial fluid movements within the deposit. The responses of loose and dense granular deposits to seismic excitation are first analyzed. As expected, the loose deposit exhibited significant pore pressure development and liquefaction while the dense deposit barely showed any considerable buildup of pore pressure and did not liquefy. Liquefaction of the loose deposit resulted in significant surface settlement while that experienced by the dense deposit was within tolerable limits. A liquefaction mitigation technique through the installation of gravel drains was then introduced to the loose deposit and its effect on mitigating pore pressure buildup was examined. Results of conducted simulations show that the installation of gravel drains effectively reduced pore-pressure buildup and, for the most part, the soil maintained its strength. However, the drains did not reduce the overall surface settlement of the deposit to acceptable levels.
Demand for fentanyl becomes inelastic following extended access to fentanyl vapor self-administration.

Abstract Opioid use disorder imposes great societal harm in the United States and in countries worldwide. Animal models that accurately capture motivational changes that occur in opioid dependence are critical to studying this disorder. The present study used a model of opioid vapor self-administration combined with a behavioral economics approach to determine whether rats would be more motivated to “work” to defend their baseline intake of fentanyl (i.e., more inelastic demand) following sufficiently frequent, intense, and chronic exposure to self-administered vaporized fentanyl. Male rats were allowed to respond for deliveries of 1.5-s of vaporized 10 mg/ml fentanyl solution. Following 15 sessions of short access (ShA; 1 h) vs. long access (LgA; 12 h) to self-administration, we conducted a between-sessions demand curve procedure, and observed significantly more inelastic demand for fentanyl (Essential Value; EV), and increased maximal response output (Omax) in LgA compared with ShA rats. In a subsequent phase, the unit-dose was doubled to 3 s of fentanyl vaporization. After seven ShA vs. LgA sessions, we assessed demand again and found that LgA rats, contrasted to ShA rats, demonstrated significantly higher baseline intake or “hedonic setpoint” (Q0), in addition to significantly increased EV and Omax. These results demonstrate that extended access to self-administration of a vaporized opioid causes changes in behavioral economic metrics consistent with development of an addiction-like state in rats. The combination of the vapor model with a translationally relevant behavioral economics framework opens new avenues to study dysregulated motivational processes in substance use disorders.
Wiktionary Normalization of Translations and Morphological Information

We extend the Yawipa Wiktionary Parser (Wu and Yarowsky, 2020) to extract and normalize translations from etymology glosses, and morphological form-of relations, resulting in 300K unique translations and over 4 million instances of 168 annotated morphological relations. We propose a method to identify typos in translation annotations. Using the extracted morphological data, we develop multilingual neural models for predicting three types of word formation—clipping, contraction, and eye dialect—and improve upon a standard attention baseline by using copy attention.
Use of electronic cigarettes in the United States service member and Veteran populations: A narrative review (2019)

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are an increasingly popular form of a nicotine delivery device, particularly among young adults and adolescents. The health consequences of long-term END...
Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes initiated by positive leaders

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are powerful submillisecond bursts of gamma rays produced by thunderstorms. To date, most TGFs have been observed by spacecraft in low-Earth orbit and have been found to be associated with negative intracloud lightning leaders. In recent years, TGFs have also been measured on the ground as downward beams originating from the overhead storms. While the majority of these ground-level TGFs appear to be associated with negative lightning leaders, similar to the TGFs seen from space, others are associated with upward-propagating positive leaders. In this paper, Runaway Electron Avalanche Model Monte Carlo simulations, modified to include low-energy electron and ion currents and self-consistent electric fields, are used to model TGF production by the relativistic feedback mechanism initiated by positive leaders. It is found that intense bursts of gamma rays are produced by positive leaders, similar to the observed ground-level TGFs. It is also found that these events produce dangerous radiation doses in excess of 1 Sievert and so may be of concern for aviation safety.
Silver enhancement of Nanogold particles during freeze substitution for electron microscopy

Recent advances in rapid freezing and fixation by freeze substitution have allowed structural cell biologists to apply these reliable modes of sample preparation to a wide range of specimens and scientific problems. Progress in electron tomography has produced cellular images with resolution approaching 4 nm in 3D, but our ability to localize macromolecules in these well-fixed, well-resolved samples has remained limited. When light fixation and low temperature embedding are employed with appropriate resins, immuno-localizations can recognize antigens at a section's surface, but labelling is therefore confined, not throughout the section's depth. Small, electron-dense markers, like Nanogold®, will often enter a living cell, serving as reliable tracers for endocytic activity, but these markers are usually too small to be visible in the context of a cell. We have developed a method for the silver enhancement of Nanogold particles that works during freeze substitution in organic solvents at low temperature. Here, we describe the development of this method, based on in vitro tests of reagents and conditions. We then show results from application of the method to an in vivo system, using Nanogold to track the internalization of immunoglobulin by neonatal murine intestinal epithelium, a specific example of receptor-mediated membrane traffic.
Acute colitis caused by Campylobacter fetus ss. jejuni.

Abstract Campylobacter fetus ss. jejuni has been recently recognized as a common human enteric pathogen; however, the pathology and pathophysiology of the enteritis caused by this agent are still largely obscure. We report 4 patients who presented with acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea and who had C. fetus ss. jejuni isolated from fecal cultures. Each patient showed a fourfold rise in serum IgG titer to the organism isolated, in all 4 patients colonic involvement was noted on sigmoidoscopic examination. Biopsy specimens showed acute colitis with inflammatory infiltrates of the lamina prapria and crypt abscesses. Clinical improvement was complete in all patients after therapy with erythromycin. These results suggest that clinicians should consider Campylobacter enteritis in the differential diagnosis of acute colitis.
Response of CHO Cell DNA Polymerase Alpha to dCTP and dTTP Pool Imbalance: Relation to DNA Synthesis Inhibition, Survival and Mutation

The roles of several major DNA repair systems in effecting survival and mutation in mammalian cells following chemical or radiation insults have been studied extensively. A marked interest in mutant cell lines deficient or proficient in repair now exists in several laboratories [6, 9, 39, 51] and these abnormal cells have been examined to better ascertain the biological impact of processes such as excision-repair, post-replication repair and unscheduled DNA synthesis. Much of this and other work has been useful in clarifying which repair systems are “error-free” or “error-prone” and which are the common major pathways, i.e., those which repair damage resulting from more than one type of insult [23, 38].
Phorbol Myristate Acetate Induces the Phosphorylation of Plasma Membrane‐Associated Proteins in Sea Urchin Eggs: Protein phosphorylation/protein kinase C/egg activation

Immediately after fertilization sea urchin eggs undergo an increase in cytoplasmic pH from 6.8 to 7.2. This pH change occurs by activation of a Na+/H+ antiporter, and is a necessary signal for later steps in metabolic activation of development. Activators of protein kinase C such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and diacylglycerol produce a similar pH increase in eggs. Phosphorylation of the antiporter or a regulatory protein may be a step in activating Na+/H+ exchange. Here we show that treatment of sea urchin eggs (S. purpuratus) with PMA results in increased phosphorylation of over a dozen proteins. Of these, three proteins of Mr=240, 92 and 80 kD are located in the egg cortex; under-representation of these bands in isolated cortical granules suggests that they are plasma membrane-associated. Phosphorylation of the 92 kD band is concentration-dependent over a range of 10 to 1000 nM PMA and occurs over a time-course of 1 to 3 min. Phosphoamino acid analysis indicates that phosphorylation is on serine residues. Phosphorylation appeares to be mediated by protein kinase C since the inactive PMA analogue, 4α-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate, does not induce phosphorylation nor does experimental alkalinization of the egg cytoplasm.
Counterparty Regulation and Its Limits: The Evolution of the Credit Default Swaps Market

Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives are widely regarded as “unregulated” financial instruments. While it is true that OTC derivatives are subject to relatively minimal federal regulation, OTC derivatives are in fact subject to a robust form of control and governance in the form of counterparty regulation. Counterparty regulation arises when two or more parties are continually exposed to counterparty credit risk for the duration of a long-term contract, and it consists of specific governance mechanisms such as the daily adjustment of collateral and the netting out of redundant trades. Counterparty regulation governs derivatives transactions but not securities transactions. This essay reviews recent significant developments in the market for one type of OTC derivatives contract in particular - the market for credit default swaps (CDSs) - and suggests that these developments illustrate the strengths and limitations of counterparty regulation. Given the overall strength of CDS counterparty regulation during the financial crisis, and cooperative efforts being undertaken by CDS market participants and regulators to improve CDS market infrastructure, comprehensive federal regulation of CDSs does not seem necessary to achieve greater transparency and financial stability.
bicoid mRNA localization signal: phylogenetic conservation of function and RNA secondary structure

Transcripts of the bicoid (bcd) gene are localized to the anterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte, thereby allowing formation in the embryo of an anteroposterior gradient of the bcd protein morphogen. We previously showed that a 630 nucleotide portion of the 3′ noncoding region of the bcd mRNA is necessary for this localization, and is sufficient to confer anterior localization on a heterologous transcript. Here I have used a comparative analysis to begin to more precisely define the cis-acting mRNA localization signal. The bcd genes from six additional Drosophila species were cloned, and DNA of the 3′ noncoding regions sequenced. Three of these regions were tested interspecifically for mRNA localization in D. melanogaster and each functioned correctly; these regions must therefore contain the cis-acting signal. The primary sequences, which are up to 50% divergent from the D. melanogaster gene, show patchy homology throughout most of the region. Interestingly, all seven species can potentially form a large stereotypic secondary structure. This structure is a likely candidate for the localization signal and can be used for the rational design of mutations to test that possibility.
Analysis of distributional patterns of deaths from different causes

Abstract Piecewise exponential fitting in the construction of multiple decrement life table (MDLT) is briefly reviewed. Three methods of analysis of proportionate distributions of life table deaths from different causes and over different age ranges are presented. The following age intervals are considered: (a) [xi , x i+1) with x i+1-xi =5 years, for i=0, 1, ..., I;(b) [xi , ∞) for i=0, 1, ..., I; and (c) [x 0, xa ) for fixed x 0 and xa =x 1, x 2 ... Different items of information obtained from such analyses are interpreted jointly. Two examples are given for illustrative purposes.
The allergens of Epicoccum nigrum Link. I. Identification of the allergens by immunoblotting.

Two atmospheric isolates of Epicoccum nigrum (EN) were grown under sporulation conditions. Dialyzed extracts of spores, (>95% pure) and pure mycelia were used for skin testing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunoblotting. By skin testing, 49 of the 126 atopic patients were found to be sensitive to EN in St. Louis, Mo., and Corpus Christi, Texas, combined. On immunoblotting, which was performed on 17 sera, 44 bands (12.3 to 119.0 kd) were detected; six were unique to spore, four were unique to mycelium, and 34 were common to both. No single band bound IgE from all sera. The most frequent band corresponding to 42 kd occurred in 11 sera. Five other bands were recognized by more than one half, whereas the remainder bound fewer sera. All skin test-positive patients had positive immunoblots; the number of bands recognized varied from three to 25. Spore or mycelium-specific, as well as common bands were recognized by 13 of 17 sera. Two sera recognized only spore and mycelium-specific bands. Only spore-specific bands were bound by two sera. No strain differences were detected. The binding patterns were comparable in the sera from both St. Louis, Mo., and Corpus Christi, Texas. These data suggest that EN is a significant allergen in urban communities. Allergenic proteins occur in both spore and mycelium, suggesting that both must be included in the reagents for skin testing and immunotherapy.
Lack of stasis in late Cenozoic marine faunas and communities, central California

Pliocene strata in the Kettleman Hills of west-central California were deposited in the broad San Joaquin embayment as a cyclic succession of parasequences during approximately three million years. Depositional environments within each cycle ranged from relatively open marine to brackish and non-marine. Although the strata were deposited in similar, recurrent environments, the fauna changed gradually rather than during brief intervals separating periods of stasis. Although environmental gradients and community structure in the Pliocene San Joaquin Embayment and in the present-day San Francisco Bay are similar, species compositions of the faunas and of parallel communities at the two sites are markedly different. In addition, times of origination and extinction of species in the Pliocene strata of the Kettleman Hills and in San Francisco Bay do not document coordinated stasis within the Late Cenozoic. In contrast, Silurian and Devonian faunas and communities of the Appalachian Basin persisted with little change in ecological-evolutionary units that lasted for up to eight million years. Relatively brief intervals of great biotic change separate these intervals of stasis. One intriguing explanation of this pattern of coordinated stasis within an ecologic-evolutionary unit is ecological locking, in which interaction between species within the community is sufficiently strong that only major changes in the environment are able to change community and faunal composition. Probably the late Cenozoic fauna underwent rapid evolution as a result of rapidly changing environmental conditions within a complex and changing shallow, inshore marine paleogeography. In contrast, coordinated stasis in the lower Paleozoic probably resulted from negligible evolution during long periods of stable to gradually changing environments in an outer shelf setting, punctuated by brief episodes of abrupt environmental change and large-scale turnover. The independent assortment of species in late Cenozoic parallel communities indicates that ecological locking did not exist.
Mobile genetic elements and bacterial toxinoses: the superantigen-encoding pathogenicity islands of Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract It is a remarkable observation that virtually all bacterial toxins associated with specific clinical conditions (toxinoses) are encoded by mobile (and therefore variable) genetic elements. Remarkably, these rarely, if ever, carry determinants of antibiotic resistance. Examples are the toxins responsible for diphtheria, anthrax, tetanus, botulism, cholera, toxic shock, scarlet fever, exfoliative dermatitis, food poisoning, travelers’ diarrhea, shigella dysentery, necrotizing pneumonia, and others. A recently discovered example of this phenomenon is the family of related staphylococcal pathogenicity islands encoding superantigens (SAgs). These are 15–20 kb elements that occupy constant positions in the chromosomes of toxigenic strains, and are characterized by certain phage-related features, namely genes encoding integrases, helicases, and terminases, and the presence of flanking direct repeats. The prototype, SaPI1 of Staphylococcus aureus , encodes TSST-1 plus two newly described SAgs, SEK and SEL. Other members of the family encode enterotoxins B (SaPI3) and C (SaPI4), plus at least two other SAgs each. SaPI1 and SaPI2, also encoding TSST-1, are excised and induced to replicate by certain staphylococcal phages, and are then encapsidated at high efficiency into phage-like infectious particles with heads about 1/3 the size of the helper phage heads, commensurate with the sizes of the respective genomes. This results in transfer frequencies of the order of 10 8 /ml, and is presumably responsible for the spread of these elements as well as for their acquisition in the first place. In the absence of a helper phage, these two islands are highly stable; neither excision, loss, or transfer occurs at detectable frequency. Several general implications of this phenomenon will be discussed. One is that the determinants of these toxins have been imported from other species and therefore are not components of the basic genome of the extant producing organisms. This raises the question of the biological (adaptive?) roles of these toxins. Another is that the toxin-carrying units can spread among different (though probably related) species. An interesting question is that of the biological basis for the separation of toxin and resistance determinants.
Potent CYP17 inhibitors: improved syntheses, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor activity in the LNCaP human prostate cancer model.

Abstract A facile preparation of azolyl steroids, VN/85-1 and VN/87-1 (potent inhibitors of CYP17) has been developed. This process without tedious chromatographic separations improved the overall yields from 55 and 45% to 70 and 65% for VN/85-1 and VN/87-1, respectively. Pharmacokinetic studies of VN/85-1 were conducted in male SCID mice. Following subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of 100 mg/kg of VN/85-1, peak plasma level of 16.73 μg/ml occurred after 45 min, and the compound was cleared rapidly with a t 1/2 of 52.34 min. The bioavailability of VN/85-1 after s.c. administration was 83.0%. VN/85-1 was also rapidly metabolized to the corresponding 3-oxo-4-ene analog, 17-(1 H -imidazol-1-yl)androsta-4,16-diene-3-one (VN/108-1). In our attempt to optimize the anti-tumor efficacy of these two CYP17 inhibitors, we studied their anti-tumor efficacies in male SCID mice bearing LNCaP tumor xenografts, utilizing various drug doses and drug scheduling. Three times a day dose regimen (3× dose regimen) of VN/85-1 was more effective than a once daily dose. In contrast, 3× dose regimen doses of VN/87-1 were less effective than the once daily dose. However, at their effective dosage regimes, VN/85-1 and VN/87-1 were each as effective as castration and more effective than finasteride or casodex, an anti-androgen used for prostate cancer (PC) therapy. For all of the treatments, there was a strong correlation between the tumor volumes and other associated parameters, such as, tumor weights, and serum testosterone (T) and PSA levels. These results indicate that VN/85-1 or VN/87-1 may be useful in the treatment of hormone-dependent prostate cancer.
Tax Exporting, Regional Economic Growth, and Welfare

Abstract Long-run exporting and importing of regional taxes is assessed theoretically and empirically using a six-region nonlinear general equilibrium model of the United States. The relationships between tax exporting and three aggregate measures of regional change (value added, welfare of all residents, and welfare of original residents only) are examined empirically. The ability of states to adopt tax structures that successfully impose more of a burden on out-of-state residents does not necessarily promote regional economic growth or welfare, and evaluating tax policy based on its ability to promote economic growth may be misleading if regional welfare is the primary objective.
Comments on “Further evidence for the existence of two kinds of H-bonds in ice Ih” by Li et al

Abstract The evidence for the presence of two type of H-bondings in ice recently proposed by Li et al. [Phys. Lett. A 192 (1994) 295; Nature 365 (1993) 327] is critically examined. We demonstrate that these “new” observations can be explained adequately by existing experimental data and theoretical results without the need to invoke two widely different hydrogen bond strengths. The vibrational density of states for H2O doped D2O is, in fact, consistent with earlier well-known spectroscopic data. Contrary to the claim by the authors, the two peak pattern in the translational vibrational density of states and the corresponding Raman spectra have been successfully reproduced by carefully parameterized intermolecular potentials that include long range electrostatic interactions.
THE EVOLUTION OF PARASITISM IN RED ALGAE: CELLULAR INTERACTIONS OF ADELPHOPARASITES AND THEIR HOSTS1

In the initial stages of cell–cell interactions (spore germination and host penetration), the adelphoparasites Gardneriella tuberifera Kyl. and Gracilariophila oryzoides Setch. & Wilson form infection rhizoids that fuse directly with underlying host epidermal or cortical cells. In so doing, parasite nuclei and other organelles enter the cytoplasm of the host. The resulting heterokaryon may fuse with adjacent host cells either directly, via secondary pit connections, or by the dissolution or dislodgment of pit plugs from existing pit connections. The cell fusion events result in a heterokaryotic syncytium in which parasite nuclei replicate. In Gardneriella, formation of the syncytium induces surrounding host tissues to divide to form a photosynthetic callus. The internalized syncytium forms conjunctor and rhizoidal cells that fuse with host callus, eventually transforming the host callus into cells containing parasite nuclei. Gracilariophila does not induce surrounding host tissue to divide. Rather, division of the initial heterokaryotic tissue gives rise to the colorless mantle that protrudes from the host and forms reproductive structures. The heterokaryotic tissue also fuses with underlying host cells, thereby spreading parasite nuclei throughout adjacent host cells. In both these adelphoparasites, transformation of host cells by parasite nuclear invasion results in plastid dedifferentiation, an increase in mitochondria, autolysis of organelles, and accumulation of large amounts of floridean starch. The development and physiology of these parasites is similar to normal post-fertilization processes in the hosts that give rise to carposporophytes and suggests that these adelphoparasites may have originated from perturbations of developmental pathways involved in their host's post-fertilization development.
DMI-Measured Defenses and HIV-Related Risk Behaviors in IV Compared to Non-IV Substance Abusers

Abstract The Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI) and The Risk Behavior Inventory (RBI) were administered to substance abusers hospitalized on a drug detoxification service. The groups were categorized on the basis of self-reported IV versus non-IV substance abuse. Significant between- group differences were obtained on the DMI and RBI. The non-IV group responded less often than the IV group with the Turning Against Object (TAO) response option, resulting in higher scores when Turning Against Self (TAS), Reversal (REV), Principalization (PRN) and Projection (PRO) were summed into a single score. Significant within-group differences were obtained for DMI response levels and defenses. Both groups relied less on TAO at the thought level and more on PRN and REV as primary defenses. The IV group reported twice as many risk behaviors as the non-IV group and risked HIV exposure through needle use and sexual transmission modes. Consideration was given to the role of principalization and denial within the addicted individual's defense structure and the relationship of these defenses to HIV-related risk behavior.
Septation and focal dilatation of ventricles associated with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis

A 35-year-old woman developed temporal lobe seizures. Isolated dilatation of the right temporal horn was demonstrated by computed tomography. She was asymptomatic for the next 10 months while on anticonvulsants before severe headaches, vomiting, and mental confusion prompted hospitalization. Both temporal horns were now dilated, there was marked periventricular edema, and cryptococci were cultured from the ventricular fluid. She succumbed after prolonged systemic and intrathecal antifungal therapy, having developed isolation and dilatation of both frontal horns and third and fourth ventricles. Cryptococcal or other fungal meningoencephalitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of isolated dilatations of the ventricular chambers as noted in the present case.
Optimization Strategies for a Portable Thermoelectric Vaccine Refrigeration System in Developing Communities

The traditional approach to determine an optimum current for thermoelectric cooling assumes that a refrigeration chamber is insulated and has no thermal resistance to a thermoelectric module. As a result, minimum temperature occurs when Peltier cooling matches with parasitic heat transfer and Joule heating. In practical application, minimum temperature happens when heat addition from the environment is matched with heat extracted by a thermoelectric module, and the optimum current differs from that anticipated by the traditional approach. Hence, consideration for insulation and thermal resistances via thermoelectric module should be made to achieve desirable cooling performance/refrigeration temperature. This paper presents a modeling approach to determine the optimum current as well as the optimum geometry to power a small thermoelectric vaccine delivery system for developing communities under the World Health Organization requirements. The model is derived from three energy conservation equations for temperatures at both ends of the thermoelectric materials within a module, as well as the refrigeration chamber temperature. A prototype was built and demonstrated a minimum temperature of 3.4°C. With optimized module geometry, the system is estimated to reduce power consumption by over 50% while achieving twice the temperature difference.
Impi: Making Mpi Interoperable

The Message Passing Interface (MPI) is the de facto standard for writing parallel scientific applications in the message passing programming paradigm. Implementations of MPI were not designed to interoperate, thereby limiting the environments in which parallel jobs could be run. We briefly describe a set of protocols, designed by a steering committee of current implementors of MPI, that enable two or more implementations of MPI to interoperate within a single application. Specifically, we introduce the set of protocols collectively called Interoperable MPI (IMPI). These protocols make use of novel techniques to handle difficult requirements such as maintaining interoperability among all IMPI implementations while also allowing for the independent evolution of the collective communication algorithms used in IMPI. Our contribution to this effort has been as a facilitator for meetings, editor of the IMPI Specification document, and as an early testbed for implementations of IMPI. This testbed is in the form of an IMPI conformance tester, a system that can verify the correct operation of an IMPI-enabled version of MPI.
Electromagnetic interference source identification through fuzzy clustering

A practical solution to the problem of finding the Sup{Min(f1(x), f2(x)}, where f1(x) and f2(x) are N-dimensional fuzzy sets, is presented. A theorem describes an upper bound upon the maximal grade, which is demonstrated to be of use for cluster analysis. Numerical results are presented for an example of electromagnetic interference source identification. Tests indicate that fuzzy clustering, using the result of the theorem, is superior in the sense of minimum achievable error rate to template matching.
The inside track on HIV.

The combination of appropriate labeling and a new imaging software allows researchers to follow the progress of individual HIV particles within infected cells with outstanding precision.
Power-use in cooperative competition: A power-dependence model and an empirical test of network structure and geographic mobility

Abstract Although the social exchange paradigm has produced a vibrant research program, the theoretical tradition is rarely used to model the structure of social networks outside of experiments and simulations. To address this limitation, we derive power-dependence predictions about network structure and geographic mobility—the outcomes of power-use—and test these predictions using complete data on competition networks and travel schedules among amateur sports teams. Poisson regression and exponential random graph models provide strong support for our predictions. The findings illustrate exchange dynamics in which status resources desired by teams, coupled with the availability of geographically proximal alternatives, create power and dependence that dictate where and with whom teams compete. Although evidence supports Georg Simmel’s classic proposition that networks form on the basis of values and propinquity, we show that this complex dynamic is conditional on power and dependence. We conclude by discussing implications and directions for future research.
Salus populi suprema lex: John Locke Versus Contemporary Democratic Theory

Contemporary democratic theorists focus on democratic processes to the exclusion of the substantive goods which motivated their predecessors. This undermines the legitimacy of democracy, especially...
Effects of winter nutrition and summer pasture or a feedlot diet on plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and the relationship between circulating concentrations of IGF-I and thyroid hormones in steers.

Effects of two winter nutritional levels (LOW, MOD) and two summer pastures (bahiagrass, BG; perennial peanut, PP) on plasma IGF-I, and the relationship between IGF-I and average daily gain (ADG), thyroid hormones, plasma urea, packed cell volume (PCV) and steer type were determined in 101 steers (217 kg) varying in breed composition, frame size and initial condition. Relationships between body composition or composition of gain and IGF-I were determined in 11 contemporary steers assigned directly to the feedlot. Initial IGF-I (57.9 ± 3.5 ng/ml) was positively correlated (P<.05) to initial condition, estimated percentage of Brahman and plasma T3, but not related to subsequent ADG. During the 126-day wintering period, ADG was .21 kg for the LOW winter treatment and .47 kg for the MOD winter treatment. Concentration of IGF-I in the wintering period was affected (P<.01) by nutritional level (LOW = 71.8 ng/ml, MOD = 150.6 ng/ml) and was positively related to winter ADG in MOD steers (P<.01) but not in LOW steers. Concentration of IGF-I in winter was also positively related to condition at the end of the winter period (P<.01), T3 (P<.05) and T4 (P<.05). There were no effects of winter treatment on IGF-I during the subsequent summer pasture period. During the 145-d summer period, ADG was .53 kg for BG and .68 kg for PP. Concentration of IGF-I during the summer period was affected (P<.05) by pasture treatment (BG = 138.6 ng/ml, PP = 181.9 ng/ml), was positively related (P<.01) to PCV and percentage of Brahman, and was negatively related (P<.05) to estimated percentage of English breeding. In steers assigned directly to the feedlot, IGF-I was correlated with empty body (EB) weight (r=−.59, P<.10), EB water (r=−.59, P<.10) and EB protein (r=−.60, P<.10) at slaughter, and with days on feed (r=−.65, P<.05), but was not correlated with ADG or rate of component gain. These data indicate that IGF-I is related to nutritional status in steers as in other species, that there may be significant breed or cattle type differences in circulating concentrations of IGF-I, and that circulating concentration of IGF-I may be functionally related to plasma concentration of thyroid hormones.
High Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Support in the Treatment of Germ Cell Cancer

ABSTRACTPurpose: The current status of high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support in patients with germ cell cancer is reviewed.Materials and Methods: Advanced germ cell cancer can be cured in most patients using chemotherapy with or without surgery. A small fraction of patients fail to achieve a marker remission, have residual viable carcinoma at post-chemotherapy surgery or have relapse after remission. Phase II trials suggest that autologous stem cell support is more active than standard dose chemotherapy in patients with relapse. A comprehensive literature review, focusing on trials published in the last decade, is followed by a discussion of current trials and recommendations for the use of autologous stem cell support in germ cell cancer.Results: In early trials about 15% of patients with multiple relapsed and refractory disease had durable remission with high dose carboplatin and etoposide. Most regimens now add high dose cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide to carboplatin and etoposide. To...
American and Chinese Agricultural Policy since 1949: An Overview

The agricultural policies of the United States and the People's Republic of China have differed substantially given the governmental structures of each nation. During the 1930 s, the U.S. federal government began a host of regulatory agricultural programs designed to improve the farm economy and lift agriculture from the Great Depression. Although many farmers participated in crop reduction and price support programs, they had little choice. The federal government did not force farmers to participate in its price support, crop reduction, and loan programs, but they felt compelled to do so in order to gain needed economic assistance, that is, money. Since the New Deal program of the 1930 s, agricultural policy in the United States has been based on supply side economics, and agricultural organizations have been effective lobbyists in Congress to support their own interests. U.S. agricultural policy, however, has encouraged farmers to leave the land for employment elsewhere as well as provided price supports and other income programs primarily for large-scale farmers and agricultural corporations rather than small-scale family farmers. The intent of this policy has been to ensure for those farmers who remain on the land an income and standard of living comparable to urbanites. U.S. agricultural policy has undergone little substantial change since the early 1930 s. In contrast, the agricultural policy of the People's Republic of China has undergone increasing change since World War II, but it has been based on government purchases of agricultural commodities at fixed prices with requirements for some farmers to raise grain. Both of these features are designed to keep food prices low for the industrial and urban populations. Since the late 1970 s, Chinese agricultural policy, however, has enabled rapid rural economic growth, provided improved market incentives, and led to the rapid development of food markets. By the twenty-first century market-oriented reform had become the major factor for agricultural growth, but the Chinese government also continued to support an agricultural policy designed to ensure an adequate supply of grain at low cost, thereby privileging the industrial economy at the expense of agriculture. This agricultural policy also kept an increasing number of peasant farmers on the land with incomes and a standard of living considerably below urbanites. Although American and Chinese agricultural policies have sought food security and stability during the twentieth century, and while both nations provide incentives to improve agricultural income, both nations have pursued substantially different policies to achieve those goals. The agricultural policy of each country has its advocates and critics. This paper provides a comparative, historical overview of the agricultural policies of both nations.
Okun’s Law in real time

Abstract This comment on the study by Ball, Jalles, and Loungani (2015) compares their findings on the role of Okun’s Law in forecasts and fully revised data with real-time data for the G7 countries plus Australia and New Zealand. Ball et al. find that the Okun’s Law relationship in Consensus forecasts is consistent with that in fully revised data. We show that the same relationship is weaker in the initial releases, as recorded in the OECD real-time database.
The role of private providers in treating child diarrhoea in Latin America.

Diarrhoeal disease, a leading cause of child mortality, disproportionately affects children in low-income countries – where private and non-governmental providers are often an important source of health care. We use 10 Living Standards Measurement Surveys from Latin America to model the choice of care for child diarrhoea in the private sector compared to the public sector. A total of 36.8% of children in the combined data set saw a private provider rather than a public one when taken for treatment. Each additional quintile of household economic status is associated with an increase of 6.5 percentage points in the probability that a child with diarrhoea is taken to a private provider (p<0.001). However, treatments provided in the private sector are manifestly of worse quality than in the public sector. A total of 33.0% of children visiting a public provider received Oral Rehydration Solution, compared to 13.7% of those visiting a private provider. Conversely, children treated by a private provider are more likely to receive drugs, most commonly unnecessary antibiotics. Ironically, when it comes to treatment for child diarrhoea, wealthier and better educated households in Latin America are paying for treatment in the private sector that is ineffective in comparison with treatments that are commonly and inexpensively available. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pareto charting using multifield freestyle text data applied to Toyota Camry user reviews

This article proposes a method for Pareto charting that is based on unsupervised, freestyle text such as customer complaint, rework, scrap, or maintenance event descriptions. The proposed procedure is based on a slight extension of the latent Dirichlet allocation method to form multifield latent Dirichlet allocation. The extension is the usage of field-specific dictionaries for multifield databases and changes to recommended default prior settings. We use a numerical study to motivate the prior setting selection. A real-world case study associated with user reviews of Toyota Camry vehicles is used to illustrate the practical value of the proposed methods. The results indicate that only 4% of the words written by Consumer Reports reviewers from the last 10 years relate to the widely publicized unintended acceleration issue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Programmable programming probability

Abstract There is p r e s e n t e d a 0.programmable: ordered set theoretically — using the Cartesian Products of subsets : of the natural numbers set assigned to the linguistic TEXT of a subtitles system written : 0.0. in one Multi… Multi-[0.(Meta)Statement , 1.G r a p h] ; 0.1.similar to a [0.Simple Mathematical Machine , 1.Discrete Automaton]; 1. very brief Probabilistic Multi…multi-I n f o r m a t i o n : 1.0.N A R R O W E D : limited to only one page of the C O N T E N T (S) ; 1.1.W I D E N E D : (but) limited only to a small Sub[Structure, Graph];0.-1ALGORITHM; 0.-1.as a Non-Deterministic STRUCTURE, similar to the [0.Algebraic Struc.,1.Geometric Objects];
Preliminary crystallographic analysis of the Escherichia coli antitoxin MqsA (YgiT/b3021) in complex with mqsRA promoter DNA

The Escherichia coli proteins MqsR and MqsA comprise a novel toxin–antitoxin (TA) system. MqsA, the antitoxin, defines a new family of antitoxins because unlike other antitoxins MqsA is structured throughout its entire sequence, binds zinc and coordinates DNA via its C-terminal and not its N-terminal domain. In order to understand how bacterial antitoxins, and MqsA in particular, regulate transcription, the MqsA protein was cocrystallized with a 26-mer duplex DNA corresponding to the palindromic region of the mqsRA promoter. The merohedrally twinned crystal belonged to space group P41, with unit-cell parameters a = 60.99, b = 60.99, c = 148.60 A. A complete data set was collected to a resolution of 2.1 A. The solvent content of the crystal was consistent with the presence of two MqsA molecules bound to the duplex DNA in the asymmetric unit.
Using a dynamic ocean surface to perform a geometric calibration of a bathymetric lidar

A geometric calibration of an airborne lidar is an essential component to any bathymetric survey. A poorly-aligned system leads to erroneously reported depths, diminished system resolution and internally inconsistent point clouds. While most calibration procedures depend on the use of cultural features (like gabled roofs), one recently suggested methodology requires only a single broad, flat surface. Given the potential difficulty in identifying such a surface on land, this paper investigates the possibility of using the ocean surface instead. Simulations are performed to examine the anticipated influences of both surface waves and tidal variation. Finally, oceanic results are compared with the likely topographic alternative: using a narrow airport runway as the calibration surface.