cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of SM8 on a Test To Predict Small-Molecule Solvation Free Energies

The SM8 quantum mechanical aqueous continuum solvation model is applied to a 17-molecule test set proposed by Nicholls et al. (J. Med. Chem. 2008, 51, 769) to predict free energies of solvation. With the M06-2X density functional, the 6-31G(d) basis set, and CM4M charge model, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of SM8 is 1.08 kcal mol−1 for aqueous geometries and 1.14 kcal mol−1 for gas-phase geometries. These errors compare favorably with optimal explicit and continuum models reported by Nicholls et al., having RMSEs of 1.33 and 1.87 kcal mol−1, respectively. Other models examined by these workers had RMSEs of 1.5−2.6 kcal mol−1. We also explore the use of other density functionals and charge models with SM8 and the RMSE increases to 1.21 kcal mol−1 for mPW1/CM4 with gas-phase geometries, to 1.50 kcal mol−1 for M06-2X/CM4 with gas-phase geometries, and to 1.27−1.64 kcal mol−1 with three different models at B3LYP gas-phase geometries.
Some Key Evolutionary Changes In Global Economic Development: A Historical Perspective

Our knowledge regarding global economic development has increased as a result of three major changes: Changes in measuring economic development and particularly the introduction of the U.N. human development index; The recognition that non-economic or institutional factors are important in explaining development; the awareness that policy making has experienced “swing of the pendulum” whereby a policy position is followed by another with the end result a compromise or eclecticism.
Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background— The clinical relevance of exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is uncertain, and its existence has never been well studied by direct measurements of central hemodynamics. Using invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, we hypothesized that exercise-induced PAH represents a symptomatic stage of PAH, physiologically intermediate between resting pulmonary arterial hypertension and normal. Methods and Results— A total of 406 consecutive clinically indicated cardiopulmonary exercise tests with radial and pulmonary arterial catheters and radionuclide ventriculographic scanning were analyzed. The invasive hemodynamic phenotype of exercise-induced PAH (n=78) was compared with resting PAH (n=15) and normals (n=16). Log-log plots of mean pulmonary artery pressure versus oxygen uptake (Vo 2 ) were obtained, and a “join-point” for a least residual sum of squares for 2 straight-line segments (slopes m1, m2) was determined; m2 m1=“takeoff” pattern. At maximum exercise, Vo 2 (55.8±20.3% versus 66.5±16.3% versus 91.7±13.7% predicted) was lowest in resting PAH, intermediate in exercise-induced PAH, and highest in normals, whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure (48.4±11.1 versus 36.6±5.7 versus 27.4+3.7 mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (294±158 versus 161±60 versus 62±20 dyne · s · cm −5 , respectively; P 2 max (60.6±15.1% versus 72.0±16.1% predicted) and maximum cardiac output (78.2±17.1% versus 87.8±18.3% predicted) and a higher resting pulmonary vascular resistance (247±101 versus 199±56 dyne · s · cm −5 ; P Conclusions— Exercise-induced PAH is an early, mild, and clinically relevant phase of the PAH spectrum.
Algorithm and Architecture Co-Design of Hardware-Oriented, Modified Diamond Search for Fast Motion Estimation in H.264/AVC

In this paper, we present a new hardware-oriented, modified diamond search (HMDS) algorithm, for fast integer pel, motion estimation in H.264/AVC. We also present our co-designed, low power very large scale integration (VLSI) architecture for HMDS. The goal of HMDS is to enable the support of high quality video on low power mobile devices and low bit rate applications which typically use H.264/AVC baseline profile at levels 1-2. Our experiments use standard test sequences ranging from QCIF to high-definition 1280 × 720p video. The proposed VLSI architecture is prototyped as an field-programable gate array (FPGA)-based field programable system-on-chip. Our results show that HMDS on average has better rate-distortion performance and speedup, compared to previous state-of-the-art fast motion estimation algorithms, while its losses compared to full search motion estimation, are insignificant. Our prototyped architecture is more hardware-efficient than previous FPGA-based architectures in terms of power consumption, area, throughput, and memory utilization. We also show that its performance in terms of maximum frequency, minimum frequency, transistor count, and power consumption are comparable to that of state-of-the-art architectures implemented on application-specific integrated circuits.
RELATING PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS AND PRODUCTION TO EPISODIC PHYSICAL FORCING IN SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN

Spatial and temporal dynamics in phytoplankton reflect of the combined effects of the physical and chemical environments and associated biological responses. Although alterations in phytoplankton are well-documented for a variety of lentic waters, the exact linkages between environmental forcing and phytoplankton assemblages remain poorly understood (particularly for coastal systems). A recurrent sediment resuspension event occurs every late winter/early spring in southeastern Lake Michigan, often extending greater than ten km in width and 300 km in length. Inherently, such a large-scale and dramatic physical process would be thought to dramatically influence phytoplankton assemblages; however, linkages between the turbidity plume and phytoplankton assemblages have been postulated, but never verified. As such, the episodic nature of the plume provided an opportunity to examine the effects of a short-term physical forcing event on coastal phytoplankton in relation to more persistent, seasonal meteorological forcing. Lake phytoplankton assemblages within and outside of the RCP were examined during the spring isothermal period from 1998 to 2000. Here, we describe results from the 1998 and 1999 field seasons characterizing the distribution of phytoplankton biomass and composition within and adjacent to the RCP and their relationship to particulate and dissolved constituents. In addition, the spatial and temporal patterns in production and photosynthetic characteristics of the phytoplankton community are examined.
Soft microcapsules with highly plastic shells formed by interfacial polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle complexation

Composite microcapsules have been aggressively pursued as designed chemical entities for biomedical and other applications. Common preparations rely on multi-step, time consuming processes. Here, we present a single-step approach to fabricate such microcapsules with shells composed of nanoparticle–polyelectrolyte and protein–polyelectrolyte complexes, and demonstrate control of the mechanical and release properties of these constructs. Interfacial polyelectrolyte–nanoparticle and polyelectrolyte–protein complexation across a water–oil droplet interface results in the formation of capsules with shell thicknesses of a few μm. Silica shell microcapsules exhibited a significant plastic response at small deformations, whereas lysozyme incorporated shells displayed a more elastic response. We exploit the plasticity of nanoparticle incorporated shells to produce microcapsules with high aspect ratio protrusions by micropipette aspiration.
Engineering Approach for Predicting Fire Response of Restrained Steel Beams

Predicting the response of restrained beams under fire conditions is complex owing to the development of fire-induced forces and requires finite-element or finite-differences analysis. In this paper, a simplified approach is proposed for predicting the fire-induced forces and deflections of restrained steel beams. The method applies equilibrium equations for obtaining critical fire-induced forces and then utilizes compatibility principles for obtaining temperature-deflection history of the beam. Effect of end restraints, thermal gradient, location of axial restraint force, span length, and load intensity are accounted for in the proposed approach. The validation of the approach is established by comparing the predictions from the proposed approach with results obtained from rigorous finite-element analysis. The applicability of the proposed approach to practical design situations is illustrated through a numerical example.
Force-Time Measurements of Knee Muscle Functions of Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the time-rate of muscle tension development, the muscle tension-maintaining capacity, and the reciprocal inhibition time of muscles in subjects with multiple sclerosis were significantly different from those of healthy subjects. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate the quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles of 15 Experimental Group subjects with multiple sclerosis and 17 healthy Control Group subjects. The muscles were tested isometrically at 45 degrees of knee flexion and isokinetically at speeds of 30°/sec and 90°/sec. The subjects with multiple sclerosis demonstrated a significant ( p < .001) slowing of the time-rate of muscle tension development and a significant ( p < .005) decrease in muscle tension-maintaining capacity when compared with healthy subjects. The difference in the reciprocal inhibition time of muscles of the Experimental and Control Groups was not significant. When the reciprocal inhibition time of muscles was expressed as a percentage of the total torque curve, however, a significant prolongation ( p < .001) was observed in the subjects with multiple sclerosis.
Total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis

The results of total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis (ON) of the hip are characterized by predictable early outcomes of pain relief and functional improvement. However longer follow-up has confirmed inferior durability of hip arthroplasty in osteonecrosis compared with patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The reasons for the differences have been attributed to the younger age of the patients, higher activity levels, systemic nature of the underlying disease, and poor quality of the bone. Notwithstanding these shortcomings, total hip arthroplasty has attained the pivotal role in the surgeon's armamentarium in treatment of this challenging problem as well as become the salvage operation of choice in these patients with myriad underlying diagnoses, high activity levels, suboptimal bone quality, predisposition to complications especially infection and dislocation, and occasionally complicated prior surgical procedures.
An Analysis of Sensory Hands as Identified by Selected Consumers

The fabric hand perceived by evaluators was investigated on the basis of basic hand properties and sensory hand categories. The ten test fabrics, chosen to represent sensory hand categories, and two nonwovens were evaluated for their subjective attributes and eleven physical hand properties. The analysis of data revealed that subjective thickness and warmth were significantly correlated with objective thickness, hardness, tenacity, and coefficient of friction, while other subjective hand attributes, namely stiffness and roughness, were correlated with flexural rigidity and coefficient of friction, respectively. The similarity of sensory hand categories was evaluated by subjective hand profile and cluster analyses. The new insight gained from these analyses can be used to improve the aesthetic properties of new textile products.
Flexural Crack Widths in Concrete Girders with High-Strength Reinforcement

AbstractThe introduction of steel reinforcing bars having yield strengths exceeding 517 MPa (75 ksi) and often approaching 827 MPa (120 ksi) may allow for significant economies to be realized, particularly when used in conjunction with high-strength concrete. One implication of the adoption of higher-strength reinforcing steel is that reinforcing bar stresses (and therefore strains and consequently crack widths) at service load levels are expected to be greater than when conventional bars [having a yield of 414 MPa (60 ksi)] are used. A study of flexural crack widths of beams reinforced with high-strength ASTM A1035 reinforcing steel is presented. Discussion focuses on the behavior at loads corresponding to longitudinal reinforcing bar stresses of 248, 414, and 496 MPa (36, 60, and 72 ksi), representing service load levels (i.e., 0.6fy) for steel having fy = 414,690, and 827 MPa (60, 100, and 120 ksi), respectively. Average measured crack widths obtained from a series of flexural beams having reinforcing ...
Major magnetic storm effects noted

The major magnetic storm of February 8–9, 1986, was possibly the final burst of activity caused by a protracted sequence of one or more large solar flares that occurred daily February 4–7. There is great interest in the entire sequence of events, as the magnetic storm was one of the largest in 40 years. By using satellite and ground-based near-real-time data, the staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Environment Services Center (SESC) provided early alerts about this solar activity and its consequences. This was an opportunity to test many of the interactive data bases available through the new SELDADS II (Space Environmental Laboratory Data Acquisition and Display System).
The Lipoprivic Control of Feeding Is Governed by Fat Metabolism, Not by Leptin or Adipose Depletion

A lipoprivic control of feeding has been proposed based on the finding that appetite is stimulated by drugs such as β-mercaptoacetate (MA) that reduce fatty acid oxidation. The adipose-derived hormone, leptin, has effects on feeding and fat oxidation that are opposite those produced by MA. However, effects of this hormone on MA-induced feeding are not known. Here we examined the effects of endogenous leptin levels and of acute central and peripheral leptin administration on MA-induced feeding. We also examined leptin-induced changes in feeding, body weight, and plasma fuels after capsaicin-induced deletion of the lipoprivic control. MA-induced feeding was not altered under any of these conditions, and leptin’s effects were not altered by capsaicin. We then examined MA-induced feeding during chronic leptin treatment. Because chronic leptin produces several distinct metabolic states as body adiposity is reduced, we tested MA before, during, and after leptin treatment at times that coincided with these states. MA-induced feeding was unchanged on d 3 of leptin treatment when rats were in a lipolytic state and rapidly metabolizing body fat stores but reduced on d 10 when they were adipose deplete and their level of fat oxidation was reduced. Together results suggest that the lipoprivic control is normally less active in the fat deplete state than during states associated with fat availability. If so, its insensitivity to leptin would enable the lipoprivic control to operate when dietary fat, adiposity, and leptin levels are elevated. The role played by the lipoprivic control under such conditions remains uncertain.
Neighborhood and school factors in the school performance of immigrants' children

This article examines the effects of neighborhoods and schools on the achievement gaps between adolescents of different nativities and ethnicities. We show that neighborhood and school conditions are better for natives’ than for immigrants’ children, and they are the worst for Hispanic immigrants. Using cross-classified hierarchical models, we find that introducing neighborhood and school characteristics helps to account for the disadvantage of Mexican immigrants’ children but to reveal the advantage of Filipino immigrants’ children, compared to native non-Hispanic Whites. Neighborhood and school effects are not universal: they influence school performance of immigrants’ children more than that of natives’ children.
Interferon-Stimulated Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerases Are Potent Inhibitors of Cellular Translation and Virus Replication

The innate immune response is the first line of defense against most viral infections. Its activation promotes cell signaling, which reduces virus replication in infected cells and leads to induction of the antiviral state in yet-uninfected cells. This inhibition of virus replication is a result of the activation of a very broad spectrum of specific cellular genes, with each of their products usually making a small but detectable contribution to the overall antiviral state. The lack of a strong, dominant function for each gene product and the ability of many viruses to interfere with the development of the antiviral response strongly complicate identification of the antiviral activity of the activated individual cellular genes. However, we have previously developed and applied a new experimental system which allows us to define a critical function of some members of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family in clearance of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus mutants from infected cells. In this new study, we demonstrate that PARP7, PARP10, and the long isoform of PARP12 (PARP12L) function as important and very potent regulators of cellular translation and virus replication. The translation inhibition and antiviral effect of PARP12L appear to be mediated by more than one protein function and are a result of its direct binding to polysomes, complex formation with cellular RNAs (which is determined by both putative RNA-binding and PARP domains), and catalytic activity. IMPORTANCE The results of this study demonstrate that interferon-stimulated gene products PARP7, PARP10, and PARP12L are potent inhibitors of the replication of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and other alphaviruses. The inhibitory functions are determined by more than a single mechanism, and one of them is based on the ability of these proteins to regulate cellular translation. Interference with the cellular translational machinery depends on the integrity of both the amino-terminal domain, containing a number of putative RNA-binding motifs, and the catalytic function of the carboxy-terminal PARP domain. The PARP-induced changes in translation efficiency appear to have a more potent effect on the synthesis of virus-specific proteins than on that of cellular proteins, thus making PARP-specific translational downregulation an important contributor to the overall development of the antiviral response.
Surgical Management of Symptomatic Extensor Digitorum Brevis Manus: A Proposed Algorithm for Treatment

ABSTRACT First described in 1734, the extensor digitorum brevis manus (EDBM) is an anomalous extensor muscle found in the dorsum of the wrist and hand. Extensor muscle variants of the hand are not uncommon, and EDBM has an estimated reported incidence of approximately 2%. Although few extensor muscle variants become clinically significant, there is a paucity of literature discussing these anatomic variants, with most reports arising from cadaveric studies or isolated case series. Similarly, there are few established indications for surgical treatment of EDBM. In this case report, we describe the successful treatment of a young patient with persistently symptomatic anomalous extensor tendon with surgical excision and propose an algorithm for management after failure of conservative measures.
Familial Gastric Cancers

Although the majority of gastric carcinomas are sporadic, approximately 10% show familial aggregation, and a hereditary cause is determined in 1%-3% cases. Of these, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer is the most recognized predisposition syndrome. Although rare, the less commonly known syndromes also confer a markedly increased risk for development of gastric cancer. Identification and characterization of these syndromes require a multidisciplinary effort involving oncologists, surgeons, genetic counselors, biologists, and pathologists. This article reviews the molecular genetics, clinical and pathologic features, surveillance guidelines, and preventive measures of common and less common hereditary gastric cancer predisposition syndromes.
Juvenile Antarctic rockcod (Trematomus bernacchii) are physiologically robust to CO2-acidified seawater.

To date, numerous studies have shown negative impacts of CO2-acidified seawater (i.e. ocean acidification, OA) on marine organisms, including calcifying invertebrates and fishes; however, limited research has been conducted on the physiological effects of OA on polar fishes and even less on the impact of OA on early developmental stages of polar fishes. We evaluated aspects of aerobic metabolism and cardiorespiratory physiology of juvenile emerald rockcod, ITALIC! Trematomus bernacchii, an abundant fish in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, to elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( ITALIC! PCO2 ) [420 (ambient), 650 (moderate) and 1050 (high) μatm ITALIC! PCO2 ] over a 1 month period. We examined cardiorespiratory physiology, including heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and ventilation rate, whole organism metabolism via oxygen consumption rate and sub-organismal aerobic capacity by citrate synthase enzyme activity. Juvenile fish showed an increase in ventilation rate under high ITALIC! PCO2 compared with ambient ITALIC! PCO2 , whereas cardiac performance, oxygen consumption and citrate synthase activity were not significantly affected by elevated ITALIC! PCO2 Acclimation time had a significant effect on ventilation rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and citrate synthase activity, such that all metrics increased over the 4 week exposure period. These results suggest that juvenile emerald rockcod are robust to near-future increases in OA and may have the capacity to adjust for future increases in ITALIC! PCO2 by increasing acid-base compensation through increased ventilation.
Patterned semiconductor inverted quantum dot photonic devices

A novel inverted quantum dot structure is presented, which consists of an InGaAs quantum well that has been periodically perforated and then filled with the higher bandgap GaAs barrier material. This structure exhibits a unique quantized energy structure something like a planar atomic bond structure and formation of allowed and forbidden energy bands instead of highly localized, fully discrete states. We describe the growth, processing and characteristics of inverted quantum dot structures and outline interesting and potentially important effects arising from the introduction of nanoscale features (<50 nm) in the active medium.
A novel perfused Bloch-McConnell simulator for analyzing the accuracy of dynamic hyperpolarized MRS

Purpose: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hyperpolarized agents allows real-time detection of metabolism in vivo. However, the nonrenewable nature of these signals necessitates data acquisitions that differ significantly from conventional magnetic resonance imaging. Signal evolution is permanently altered by the data acquisition scheme, potentially leading to sequence parameter-dependent bias in quantification. The authors have developed a novel simulation environment to characterize the effects of sequence parameters on magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based chemical exchange measurements using hyperpolarized pyruvate. Methods: Conventional Bloch–McConnell equations were coupled with a pharmacokinetic model for perfusion to allow realistic simulation of in vivo dynamic hyperpolarized signal evolution. In this study, simulations were conducted to explore effects of excitation angle and repetition time on the observed signal and subsequent parametric analysis. Both high and low apparent exchange rates were modeled under assumption of both perfused and closed systems. Bias due to sampling strategy bias was subsequently tested in vivo. Results: Simulation of dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies using hyperpolarized pyruvate demonstrated that for closed systems, accurate measurement of the apparent exchange rate was possible over a wide range of sequence parameters. This was true for both high and low apparent exchange rates, although a low exchange rate was associated with larger errors when excitation angles were high. When effects of perfusion were included to account for pyruvate delivery, a more restricted range of settings led to accurate quantification of exchange rates. Perfusion alleviated some of the errors seen at high excitation angles for low exchange rates. Residuals from parametric analysis did not generally correlate with fit accuracy, implying that the quality of the analysis model was not a major driver of error. Animal studies acquired with sequence parameters that are predicted to impart bias showed a significant under estimation of exchange rates (P < 0.035) compared to parameter combinations that are not expected to bias measurements. Conclusions: The authors’ results suggest that great care must be taken when measuring dynamic processes by magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hyperpolarized substrates. When comparing apparent exchange rates, choice of sequence parameters will affect the results. Bias introduced by parameters of more advanced acquisition and reconstruction schemes will likely increase compared to the relatively simple dynamic spectroscopy methods tested herein. The modified Bloch–McConnell equations the authors describe will be crucial tools for characterizing and optimizing the performance of these more advanced techniques.
Sesamoids opened earlier and easier by bone imaging.

A 20-year-old woman who was a tennis player underwent three-phase bone imaging to rule out fracture in the right foot. She complained of pain in the region of the first digit, but x-rays did not show any changes. Bone imaging showed increased bilateral uptake in the sesamoids of the great toes on blood pool and delayed images. It was thought that the findings were suggestive of sesamoiditis or stress to the sesamoids.
Connecting type A intercalated cell metabolic state to V-ATPase function: phosphorylation does matter!

the v-atpase is a large (∼900 kDa) multisubunit enzyme that utilizes energy derived from hydrolysis of ATP to translocate H+ across biological membranes. In the kidney, apical V-ATPase regulates H+ secretion into the urine and there is evidence for its existence in the proximal tubule, thick
Application of a Baculovirus of Pseudoplusia includens to Soybean: Efficacy and Seasonal Persistence

A baculovirus of the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), was applied at a rate of 247 LE/ha to soybean. Larval population levels, virus induced larval mortality and viral concentration in the soil and on the foliage were monitored from August 1975 until August 1977. Viral applications resulted in epizootics in soybean looper populations reducing larval numbers. A significant reduction in larval numbers did not occur until 12 to 13 days after treatment. The virus persisted at high concentrations in soil from 2 weeks posttreatment through the fall. Viral concentration in the soil was reduced by November 1975. In 1976–1977, viral concentration in soil remained high (1.13 × 1014 PIB/ha) through May, after which it declined. Viral concentration in soil was not sufficient to initiate an epizootic in P. includens the following summer. By 72 h after treatment, viral concentration on foliage was low when compared with concentration immediately after virus application. After a substantial proportion of larvae had died, 6 to 7 days after treatment, high viral concentrations were detected on the foliage.
Safety and Immunogenicity of Live Attenuated Measles and Rubella Combined Vaccine

Objective To observe the safety and immunogenicity of live attenuated measles and rubella combined vaccine.Methods Healthy children aged more than 8 months were selected from resident population in Chuzhou City,Huai'an City,Jiangsu Province,divided into trial and control groups,and inoculated with live attenuated measles and rubella combined vaccines manufactured by two manufacturers respectively.A total of 28 children were observed for safety of vaccine at the first stage.However,1 400 children were observed for adverse reaction rate,antibody positive conversion rate,GMT as well as its increasing fold at the second stage by a single-center,random,double-blind,parallel controlled trial.Results The total adverse reaction rate of 28 children at the first stage of trial was 14.29%,while no adverse reaction of grade 3 or above was observed.However,at the second stage of trial,the total incidence rates of expected adverse reactions within 0 ～ 14 d after inoculation were 28.43% and 27.86%,while those of unexpected adverse reactions / events were 3.71% and 3.29% in trial and control groups respectively,which showed no significant difference(P 0.05).Within 15 ～ 28 d after inoculation,and total incidences rates of unexpected adverse reactions / events were 3.43% and 3.29% in trial and control groups respectively,which showed no significant difference(P 0.05).The positive conversion rates of measles antibody in sera of children were 96.97% and 98.44%,while those of rubella antibody were 96.97% and 96.73% in trial and control groups respectively,which showed no significant difference(P 0.05).The GMTs of measles antibody in sera of children in trial and control groups(1 ∶ 75.63 and 1 ∶ 64.97 respectively) showed significant difference(P 0.05),while those of rubella antibody(1 ∶ 276.95 and 1 ∶ 273.13 respectively) showed no significant difference(P 0.05).The increasing folds of GMTs of measles antibody in trial and control groups(70.93 and 60.25 respectively) showed significant difference(P 0.01),while those of rubella antibody(53.22 and 52.70 respectively) showed no significant difference(P 0.05).Conclusion The trial vaccine showed high safety and immunogenicity in healthy children aged more than 8 months.
Usability of Climate Model Projections by Practitioners

How does a non-expert actually use climate models? Climate models aim to provide useful projections of future climate for practitioners who need to make policy, planning and management decisions. The challenges of communication and use of model projections in planning and management is not trivial. This chapter explores the use of model information, both conceptually and with case studies. The goal is to examine the processes involved in the use of model information to help the reader overcome barriers to use of climate model output. Conceptually models are useful because they compare well to observations (credibility), are produced by a known or reputable process (legitimacy) and produce relevant outputs for a particular problem (salience). Dealing with uncertainty in ways that policy makers can understand is critical. A key component of communication is a need for interpreters who can evaluate model output for particular disciplines and frame uncertainty.
Solution of Traveling Salesman Problem with Hotel Selection in the framework of MILP-tropical optimization

In this paper, Traveling Salesman Problem with Hotel Selection (TSPHS), an extension of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) has been considered. A mathematical formulation has been presented in the framework of Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). Subsequently, the problem has been formulated in the novel framework of tropical mathematics and a strategy to obtain exact solution has been proposed. The performance of the proposed solution, in terms of the optimality and computational time requirement, has been compared with the solution strategies available in literature including traditional MILP. The results indicate that the proposed solution strategy not only leads to optimal results but also is computationally much more efficient.
Screening genetic variation in maize for deep root mass in greenhouse and its association with grain yield under water-stressed field conditions

Plant roots have been recognized to play an important adaptive role in drought prone environments. There have been many efforts to improve root traits in order to develop drought tolerant cereal crops including maize but significant progress has not yet to be made. Twelve maize hybrids and their corresponding 12 female inbred par- ents were evaluated for genetic variation in deep root mass and other root traits in PVC tubes. The hybrids were selected based on their grain yield performance under water-stressed conditions in the field. Plants were grown in three different growing media, and a mixture of sand, vermiculite, perlite and soil was found to be the best growing medium to study root growth. Significant phenotypic variation was observed among inbred lines and among hy- brids for deep root mass (DRDW) and other related root traits under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. Based on individual hybrid comparisons and correlation analysis, deep root mass estimated in well-watered and water-stressed conditions in the greenhouse was found to be associated with grain yield under water-stressed conditions in the field. Hybrids with higher grain yield under water-stress showed considerable higher DRDW than the hybrids with lower grain yield. A conservation of the trait DRDW was observed between inbreds and hybrids as both groups exhibited similar patterns of variation. The current screening system for root traits is simple and in- expensive, making it useful for evaluating large number of inbred lines or hybrids for root traits under well-watered or water-stressed conditions for drought tolerance.
Contraception and Menstrual Suppression for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients

According to the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey [1], 47 % of high school students in the United States (USA) admitted to previous sexual intercourse, and of those, 14 % did not use any method of pregnancy prevention [1]. An unintended pregnancy during cancer treatments may result in delay in therapy, teratogenic exposure, and/or pregnancy termination [2]. For many of these patients, unintended pregnancy is associated with an unacceptable health risk. Therefore, an open and early discussion about contraceptive needs and options is essential to the overall care of the adolescent and young adult oncology patient. Choosing a contraceptive method is an important decision with many involved factors for both patients and physicians. We must consider the efficacy and safety profile of each method, as well as how the method fits into each patient’s lifestyle, including technical, social, and religious factors, among others. In the adolescent oncology patient, these issues can compound quickly. Medically, these patients’ present increased challenges due to their underlying diagnoses and the increased risk of thrombotic disease associated with all malignancy. A thorough discussion of indicated contraceptive methods should be undertaken with each patient, with focus placed on efficacy and safety. An added benefit (or alternative use) of contraceptive medications during cancer treatment has been to elicit menstrual lightening and suppression, especially in patients with low blood count, menorrhagia, and/or risk of bone marrow suppression. Additionally, every social situation is unique and we must remember to ensure confidentiality in our adolescent patients seeking sexual health counseling and contraception.
Mitigating the Effects of Parental Incarceration through Social Intervention: A Longitudinal and Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Big Brothers Big Sisters

This study addresses two central research questions: (1) are children with incarcerated parents (CIP) more deviant than nonimpacted peers and (2) is a regional mentoring social intervention program...
Learning by Making for STEM Success

Sonoma State University's Learning by Making program, funded by the US Department of Education's Investing in Innovation program, has created a one-year course that is now approved as a college preparatory Science Laboratory course (Area D) by the UC/CSU Doorways process. An innovative hardware platform has been developed that has been optimized for use by students in high needs rural communities with low Internet bandwidth. All programming is done in the Logo language that supports experimental design, use of a variety of environmental and physical sensors, and analysis of the resulting data.
Real-time robust direct and indirect photon separation with polarization imaging

National Science Foundation [NSF 1607358]; DARPA Revolutionary Enhancement of Visibility by Exploiting Active Light-fields [REVEAL HR0011-16-C-0026]
Utilization of the 21-Gene Recurrence Score in a Diverse Breast Cancer Patient Population: Development of a Clinicopathologic Model to Predict High-Risk Scores and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

The 21-gene expression profile [Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS)] stratifies benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2/neu-negative, node-negative breast cancer. It is not routinely applied to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) response; data in diverse patient populations also are limited. We developed a statistical model based on standard clinicopathologic features to identify high-risk cases (RS > 30) and then evaluated ability of predicted high RS to predict for NACT downstaging. Primary surgery patients with Oncotype DX RS testing 2012–2016 were identified from a prospectively-maintained database. A RS predictive model was created and applied to a dataset of comparable NACT patients. Response was defined as tumor size decrease ≥ 1 cm. Of 394 primary surgery patients—60.4% white American; 31.0% African American—RS distribution was similar for both groups. No single feature reliably identified high RS patients; however, a model accounting for age, HR expression, proliferative index (MIB1/Ki67), histology, and tumor size was generated, with receiver operator area under the curve 0.909. Fifty-six NACT patients were identified (25 African American). Of 21 cases with all relevant clinicopathology, 14 responded to NACT and the model generated high-risk RS in 14 (100%); conversely, of 16 cases generating high-risk RS, only 2 did not respond. Predictive modelling can identify high RS patients; this model also can identify patients likely to experience primary tumor downstaging with NACT. Until this model is validated in other datasets, we recommend that Oncotype-eligible patients undergo primary surgery with decisions regarding chemotherapy made in the adjuvant setting.
Quality and Importance of Health Policy, Reform, and Public Health Topics: A Study in Physician Assistant Education.

PurposeAs key players in a changing US health care system, physician assistants (PAs) must be prepared to act with a clear understanding of health policy as reform changes are enacted. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of graduating PA students about the importance of health po
The demand for natural gas in the Northeastern United States

Abstract This paper examines the demand for natural gas in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the Northeastern United States, comprising nine states and using annual state-level panel data over the period between 1997 and 2016. It applies panel unit root and cointegration tests, and then estimates the parameters using five alternative estimators: dynamic fixed effects (DFE), mean group (MG), pooled mean group (PMG), common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG), and augmented mean group (AMG). The panel unit root and cointegration tests show that the series are I (1), and cointegrated. The estimated results show that the long run own price elasticities for natural gas in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are −0.14, −0.29, and −0.28, respectively. The cross price elasticities of fuel oil for natural gas demand in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are 0.19, 0.52, and 0.24, respectively. The long run natural gas demand is not affected by income in all three sectors. The heating degree days (HDD) have significant positive effects on demand for natural gas in all three sectors.
Effective approaches for partial satisfaction (over-subscription) planning

In many real world planning scenarios, agents often do not have enough resources to achieve all of their goals. Consequently, they are forced to find plans that satisfy only a subset of the goals. Solving such partial satisfaction planning (PSP) problems poses several challenges, including an increased emphasis on modeling and handling plan quality (in terms of action costs and goal utilities). Despite the ubiquity of such PSP problems, very little attention has been paid to them in the planning community. In this paper, we start by describing a spectrum of PSP problems and focus on one of the more general PSP problems, termed PSP NET BENEFIT. We develop three techniques, (i) one based on integer programming, called OptiPlan, (ii) the second based on regression planning with reachability heuristics, called AltAltps, and (iii) the third based on anytime heuristic search for a forward state-space heuristic planner, called Sapaps. Our empirical studies with these planners show that the heuristic planners generate plans that are comparable to the quality of plans generated by OptiPlan, while incurring only a small fraction of the cost.
Phosphate incorporation into the subcellular particles of a bleached Euglena

Abstract The amount of acid-precipitable 32P incorporated into subcellular fractions of Euglena depends upon both the duraction of labeling and the concentration of magnesium ion in the incubation and homogenizing medium. The site of earliest incorporation is a large-sized particulate fraction which bands isopycnically in sucrose-density gradients where membrane-ribosome complexes normally band. Label is moved or lost from this membrane fraction with time and with lowered magnesium concentrations, with label appearing simultaneously in slower-sedimenting fractions.
Informed Consent and the Elderly Patient

Achieving a moral informed consent from a patient is certainly no easy task for the physician. Patient autonomy has become a watchword of the medical profession and has promoted to some extent an emphasis on the idea of noninterference with the patient as the essential feature of the physician's respect for this autonomy. This is unfortunate because noninterference in many instances really does not take into account the transforming effects of illness and their impact on informed consent. In illness, the body is interposed between us and reality, and it impedes our choices and actions and is no longer fully responsive. Illness forces a reappraisal and in doing so opens up old anxieties and imposes new ones, often including the real threat of death or drastic alterations in lifestyles, such as becoming ventilator-dependent. Fear alone may cripple the ability of the patient to choose. In any consideration of informed consent, the extent of the patient's illness and suffering must always be considered. Adequate interaction with the elderly patient that is necessary for an informed consent consists of a combination of "objectivity" and "cooperation." Cooperation is shown by psychologically reproducing in the mind of the doctor, insofar as possible, the meaning the patient's illness has for him. Without such knowledge, the physician cannot assist a patient in restoring some control over his life, or in understanding his values, both of which are so essential in the decision-making process. The meaning of informed consent is vacuous at best without this objectivity and cooperation. Along with this interaction, the elderly patient must be placed in such a position that throughout his illness he maintains a free choice to decide while he is mentally able to do so. Simply knowing that this freedom exists removes many of the doubts and fears constraining the patient's own sense of autonomy. As a final statement regarding informed consent, we should note that any success by the physician in dealing with problems surrounding the patient's informed consent is always central to the strength of the physician's relationship with the patient. Because of the changing features of this relationship today, the physician should always be ready to implement the steps necessary to maintain the integrity of that relationship. The covenant of faithfulness demands nothing less.
Info-mathics: the mathematical modeling of information systems

This chapter reviews Information Systems (IS) modeling techniques, including relational algebra, structured design, architectural design, and Unified Modeling Language. A new technique "info-mathics" (i.e.,mathematical description of the hierarchical systems architecture) is defined to secure the system reliability and quality. The classification of IS categories and its attributes such as components, structure, relationships, system level, system product, system deepness, system width, system list, system end, and other are presented. Examples of the mathematical notations are provided and their meaning for the practical implications of info-mathics in system analysis and design are indicated.
Fluorescence Polarization to Evaluate the Fluidity of Natural and Reconstituted Membranes

Fluorescence polarization measurements assess movement of membrane constituents under near-normal conditions, as those membranes are challenged with toxic and/or nontoxic ions. Data interpretation of fluorescence polarization measurements are contingent upon an understanding of the interactions between the plasma membrane and other cellular constituents. Therefore, a brief summarization of a number of known interactions between the plasma membrane and other cellular components forms the basis of evaluations of membrane fluidity using fluorescence polarization.
Ammonium Removal from Domestic Wastewater Using Selective Battery Electrodes

Conventional technologies for ammonium removal from wastewaters are based on biological conversion to nitrogen gas, eliminating the possibility for ammonium recovery. A new electrochemical approach...
A split injection of wet ethanol to enable thermally stratified compression ignition

Thermally stratified compression ignition is a new advanced, low-temperature combustion mode that aims to control the heat release process in a lean, premixed, compression ignition combustion mode ...
Deception in Finitely Repeated Security Games

Allocating resources to defend targets from attack is often complicated by uncertainty about the attacker’s capabilities, objectives, or other underlying characteristics. In a repeated interaction setting, the defender can collect attack data over time to reduce this uncertainty and learn an effective defense. However, a clever attacker can manipulate the attack data to mislead the defender, influencing the learning process toward its own benefit. We investigate strategic deception on the part of an attacker with private type information, who interacts repeatedly with a defender. We present a detailed computation and analysis of both players’ optimal strategies given the attacker may play deceptively. Computational experiments illuminate conditions conducive to strategic deception, and quantify benefits to the attacker. By taking into account the attacker’s deception capacity, the defender can significantly mitigate loss from misleading attack actions.
United States Constitutional Law: Chapter 1 (Introduction)

United States Constitutional Law (Found. Press 2019) guides law students, political science students, and engaged citizens through the complexities of U.S. Supreme Court doctrine and its relationship to constitutional politics — in key areas ranging from federalism and presidential power to equal protection and substantive due process. Rather than approach constitutional law as a static structure or imagine the Supreme Court as acting in isolation from society, the book elucidates key constitutional doctrines while also drawing on scholarship in law and political science that connects doctrine to large social changes such as industrialization, social movements such as civil rights and second-wave feminism, and institutional tensions between governmental actors. Combining legal analysis with historical narrative and sensitivity to political context, the book provides deeper understanding of how constitutional law arises, functions, and changes in a complex, often-divided society. Besides its usefulness to scholars, the book could also function as a text for political science or LLM students; required reading for law students; or a recommended resource for students and lawyers. Chapter 1, which is posted along with this abstract, provides an overview of the book and its approach.