cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel application of explicit dynamics occupancy models to ongoing aquatic invasions

1.Identification of suitable habitats, where invasive species can establish, is an important step towards controlling their spread. Accurate identification is difficult for new or slow invaders because unoccupied habitats may be suitable, given enough time for dispersal, while occupied habitats may prove to be unsuitable for establishment. 2.To identify the suitable habitat of a recent invader, I used an explicit dynamics occupancy modelling framework to evaluate habitat covariates related to successful and failed establishments of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) within the Yellowstone River floodplain of Montana, USA from 2012-2016. 3.During this five-year period, bullfrogs failed to establish at most sites they colonized. Bullfrog establishment was most likely to occur and least likely to fail at sites closest to human-modified ponds and lakes and those with emergent vegetation. These habitat covariates were generally associated with the presence of permanent water. 4.Suitable habitat for bullfrog establishment is abundant in the Yellowstone River floodplain, though many sites with suitable habitat remain uncolonized. Thus, the maximum distribution of bullfrogs is much greater than their current distribution. 5.Synthesis and applications. Focused control efforts on habitats with or proximate to permanent waters are most likely to reduce the potential for invasive bullfrog establishment and spread in the Yellowstone River. The novel application of explicit dynamics occupancy models is a useful and widely applicable tool for guiding management efforts towards those habitats where new or slow invaders are most likely to establish and persist. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Waste-to-Energy biofuel production potential for selected feedstocks in the conterminous United States

Abstract Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies offer the promise of diverting organic wastes, including wastewater sludge, livestock waste, and food waste, for beneficial energy use while reducing the quantities of waste that are disposed or released to the environment. To ensure economic and environmental viability of WtE feedstocks, it is critical to gain an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of waste production. Detailed information about waste characteristics, capture/diversion, transport requirements, available conversion technologies, and overall energy conversion efficiency is also required. Building on the development of a comprehensive WtE feedstock database that includes municipal wastewater sludge; animal manure; food processing waste; and fats, oils, and grease for the conterminous United States, we conducted a detailed analysis of the wastes’ potential for biofuel production on a site-specific basis. Our analysis indicates that with conversion by hydrothermal liquefaction, these wastes have the potential to produce up to 22.3 GL/y (5.9 Bgal/y) of a biocrude oil intermediate that can be upgraded and refined into a variety of liquid fuels, in particular renewable diesel and aviation kerosene. Conversion to aviation kerosene can potentially meet 23.9% of current U.S. demand.
The Effects of Nonlinear Frequency Compression and Digital Noise Reduction on Word Recognition and Satisfaction Ratings in Noise in Adult Hearing Aid Users

Nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) and digital noise reduction (DNR) are hearing aid features often used simultaneously in the adult population with hearing loss. Although each feature has been studied extensively in isolation, the effects of using them in combination are unclear. The effects of NLFC and DNR in noise on word recognition and satisfaction ratings in noise in adult hearing aid users were evaluated. A repeated measures design was used. Two females and 13 males between the ages of 55 and 83 yr who were experienced hearing aid users participated. Thirteen were experienced with NLFC and all were experienced with DNR. Each participant was fit with Phonak Bolero Q90-P hearing instruments using their specific audiometric data and the Desired Sensation Level v5.0 (adult) fitting strategy. Fittings were verified with probe microphone measurements using speech at 65-dB sound pressure level (SPL). NLFC verification was performed using the Protocol for the Provision of Amplification, Version 2014.01. All testing was conducted in a double-walled sound booth. Four hearing aid conditions were used for all testing: Baseline (NLFC off, DNR off), NLFC only, DNR only, and Combination (NLFC on, DNR on). A modified version of the Pascoe’s High-Frequency Word List was presented at 65-dB SPL with speech spectrum noise at 6-dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 1-dB SNR for each hearing aid condition. Listener satisfaction ratings were obtained after each listening condition in terms of word comfort, word clarity, and average satisfaction. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance were conducted to assess listener performance. Pairwise comparisons were then completed for significant main effects. Word recognition results indicated a significant SNR effect only (6 dB SNR > 1 dB SNR). Satisfaction ratings results indicated a significant SNR and hearing aid condition effect for clarity, comfort, and average satisfaction. Clarity ratings were significantly higher for DNR and Combination than NLFC. Comfort ratings were significantly higher for DNR than NLFC. Average satisfaction was significantly higher for DNR and Combination than for NLFC. Also, average ratings were significantly higher for Combination than Baseline. Activating NLFC or DNR in isolation or in combination did not significantly impact word recognition in noise. Activating NLFC in isolation reduced satisfaction ratings relative to the DNR or Combination conditions. The isolated use of DNR significantly improved all satisfaction ratings when compared with the isolated use of NLFC. These findings suggest NLFC should not be used in isolation and should be coupled with DNR for best results. Future research should include a field trial as this was a limitation of the study.
Refractory Pain Management in Amyloid-Associated Peripheral Neuropathy.

Objective Systemic amyloidosis is a disease that often involves multiple organ systems, including the peripheral nervous system. Patients may present with severe, refractory neuropathic pain; however, the optimal treatment approach for pain for these patients remains unclear. Case Report A man with severe, refractory neuropathic pain in his bilateral upper and lower extremities and the trunk secondary to amyloid neuropathy is presented. Multiple medication trials, including neuropathic and opioid agents, produced considerable adverse effects and minimal relief. Scrambler therapy, a novel electrical stimulation modality, was used and was associated with substantial short-term but nonsustained benefit. Spinal cord stimulation was considered, but given his diffuse symptoms, it was deemed a less-than-optimal approach. Ultimately, an intrathecal drug delivery system was placed with infusion of hydromorphone, resulting in substantial pain reduction in all involved areas and with an improved adverse effect profile. This intervention resulted in immense improvement in the patient9s quality of life, despite progression of his systemic amyloidosis. Conclusions Severe pain in the setting of amyloid neuropathy is often difficult to treat. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of Scrambler therapy or an implanted intrathecal drug delivery system used for a patient with refractory amyloidosis-related neuropathic pain, resulting in substantial analgesic benefit and improved quality of life.
Airline Fuel Hedging: Do Hedge Horizon and Contract Maturity Matter?

Large and unpredictable swings in fuel prices create financial uncertainty to airlines. While there are the risks for going unhedged, airlines that hedge to mitigate fuel price risk face the basis risk. This paper examines whether the length of hedge horizon and distance to contract maturity affect the effectiveness of jet fuel cross hedging. Understanding the effects of hedge duration and futures contract maturity helps improve airline’s fuel hedging strategies. We find that (1) regardless of the distance to contract maturity, weekly hedge horizon has the highest effectiveness for jet fuel proxies like heating oil, Brent, WTI, and gasoil; (2) heating oil is the best jet fuel proxy for all hedge hori-zons and contract maturities; and (3) the hedge effectiveness of heating oil is higher for one-month and three-month contracts.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE BANEBERRY EVENT

On December 18, 1970, Baneberry, a 42-TJ (10-kt) nuclear device, was detonated at a depth of 278 m in hole U8d at the Nevada Test Site. A shock-induced fissure near ground zero opened and vented radioactive gases and debris into the atmosphere. Calculational results describe the sequence of dynamic phenomena that very likely produced the vent. The calculations predict the experimentally observed surface motion and long positive-velocity pulse. The surface fissure through which the material vented is approximately the same radial distance from ground zero as the maximum horizontal displacement is calculated to be. Also, the calculations indicate an explosive-induced extension of the Baneberry fault to the surface. This extension was observed in pictures of the surface motion and later confirmed by postshot on-site inspection. The final calculated cavity radius is very close to the measured Baneberry cavity radius. Finally, the calculations indicate that an open fracture path was generated that runs from the cavity to the Baneberry fault, up the fault to the spall region, and then vertically to the surface. This vent path predicted by the calculations is roughly consistent with the vent path found from the radioactivity in postshot drill holes. The extensions in computational capabilities inmore » this work advance the state-of-the-art for numerical simulation of the containment aspects of underground nuclear tests.« less
Genetic engineering stress tolerant plants for phytoremeditation

Phytoremediation uses plants and associated microbes to remove, sequester, and detoxify contaminants, particularly trace elements. The great potential of this low-cost, low-management approach has spurred researchers to increase the efficiency of this natural process through the use of genetic engineering. Plants used for phytoremediation face a primary stress emanating from the high local concentrations of contaminants as well as possible secondary stresses such as extreme temperature, salinity, desiccation, flooding, and/or high light. Since the total amount of a contaminant removed is a product of the total biomass of the harvestable tissue and the concentration of the contaminant in those tissues, it is critical that phytoremediating plants tolerate contaminant stress through detoxification mechanisms rather than avoidance or exclusion mechanisms. At the same time, they should survive the sub-optimal growth conditions often associated with contaminated sites. For this reason, the introduced genes often play a role in increasing the stress tolerance of the engineered plants. Successful genetic engineering approaches range from the transfer of genes with specific detoxification function to overexpression of genes involved in ameliorating oxidative stress in general. Advances in related fields, including rapid genome sequencing, microarrays, and more sophisticated gene expression systems, should eventually lead to an increase in the number of engineered plants suitable for field-use.
Theories of Contextualists and Neo-Formalists

This chapter begins the discussion of the role of judicial discretion in applying contract law. I focus here on the normative debate over the relative merits of standards and rules in contract law.1 I leave for the next chapter the claim that contract law as a whole contains a “fundamental contradiction”2 that enables judges to decide cases-at their discretion.
Indigenous Microorganisms as a Host Defense

A wide variety of bacteria are able to infect the human gastrointestinal tract. For many of these pathogens we have detailed knowledge at the molecular level of their pathogenic mechanisms. A common theme has emerged, namely, the process of pathogenesis is not simple. This complexity may seem curious. Why go to the trouble of traveling down chemical gradients through dense mucin to adhere to the small bowel mucosa as Vibrio cholerae does (see Chapter 3)? Why take the approach of Shigella species and penetrate the colonic mucosa, multiply intracellularly, and spread from cell to cell (see Chapter 5)? Why not simply enter the colonic lumen and multiply in a rich medium at incubator temperature and at a site that is relatively inaccessible to the immune system? In fact, no pathogen is known to perform this feat in the normal host. The presence of a complex biota appears to be such an effective host defense that pathogens have been forced to develop more devious adaptations. Diarrhea enhances the ability of an organism to spread from host to host; thus, causing diarrhea may make an organism more fit. To some extent, disease probably also occurs serendipitously when organisms are faced with an overwhelming force in the obvious place to colonize and develop elaborate ways to elude it. This chapter will attempt to clarify why pathogens have to develop the complicated pathogenic mechanisms described elsewhere in this volume.
Environmental Consequences of the Second Indochina War: A Case Study

Anti-plant warfare should become an important concern of conservationists, advises the author, whose reports from the Second Indochina War in South Vietnam revealed the extent of the ecological damage done to this area for military purposes. He writes: “The ecological lessons to be learned from the military tactics employed by the US in South Vietnam … are: 1) that the vegetation can be severely damaged or even destroyed with relative ease over extensive areas, 2) that natural, agricultural, and industrial-crop plant communities are all similarly vulnerable, and 3) that the ecological impact of such actions is likely to be of long duration”.
The timewheel group membership protocol

We describe a group membership protocol, called the time-wheel group membership protocol, for a timed asynchronous distributed system. This protocol is a part of the timewheel group communication service that supports multiple group communication semantics simultaneously. The timewheel group membership protocol is unique in several respects. First, it has been designed for a timed asynchronous distributed system model. Second, it is optimized for those failure scenarios that are more likely to occur than others. In particular, it uses a very simple and fast algorithm to recover from single failures. Furthermore, the group communication service is not interrupted, if a failure suspicion turns out to be a false alarm. Third, this protocol incurs minimal processing load during failure-free periods. In fact, this protocol does not cause any extra messages to be exchanged during failure-free periods. Finally, as a consequence of using the timed asynchronous distributed system model, this is one of the first few non-real-time membership protocols that are timed, i.e. its specification describes what outputs and state transitions occur in response to inputs and the time it takes these outputs and state transitions to occur.
Prodiamine Suppresses Spreading Dayflower (Commelina diffusa) Facilitating Hand-Weeding in Leatherleaf Fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) Ground Beds

Abstract Plots in a leatherleaf fernery uniformly infested with spreading dayflower were treated with prodiamine at 0, 2.2, 4.5 or 6.7 kg ai/ha (0, 2, 4 or 6 lb ai/A) to determine if it would suppress spreading dayflower and make weeding easier without adversely affecting leatherleaf fern. Dayflower suppression was determined by visually estimating weed coverage and by measurement of fresh weight, surface area, leaf number and root length. Morphological changes related to ease of removing dayflower were noted by counting the numbers of normal and stubby roots. By 120 days after prodiamine treatment, spreading dayflower coverage was reduced by at least 66%. Also spreading dayflower fresh weight, leaf number, surface area and root length were reduced by prodiamine and were positively correlated with the force required to remove stem segments from the soil. This weeding force declined logarithmically as prodiamine rate increased and was negatively correlated with the number of stubby roots. Less than 18% of ...
Brief Alcohol Interventions for Youth in the Emergency Department: Exploring Proximal and Distal Outcomes

Brief interventions (BI) for alcohol use in the emergency department (ED) have been shown efficacious among adolescents and young adults; however, whether these interventions extend to other outcomes - proximal and distal - are less explored. This study examined outcomes of ED BIs in four completed trials showing reductions in alcohol use. Limited and inconsistent effects were found on proximal outcomes including parental monitoring, and distal outcomes including tobacco use. Identifying the mechanisms that underlie alcohol-focused BIs as well the intervention processes that may lead to generalized, positive effects on other variables is an important area of future research.
Fetal inflammation is associated with persistent systemic and hippocampal inflammation and dysregulation of hippocampal glutamatergic homeostasis

Inflammation is a major cause of preterm birth and often results in a fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). Preterm infants with FIRS have a higher childhood incidence of neurodevelopmental disability than preterm infants without FIRS. The mechanisms connecting FIRS to neurodevelopmental disability in formerly preterm infants are not fully understood, but the effect on premature gray matter may have an important role. Fetal rats were exposed to intra-amniotic (i.a.) LPS 2 days prior to birth to model FIRS. On postnatal day 7, expression of inflammatory mediators was measured in the liver, lung, and brain. Activation of microglia and expression of glutamatergic receptor subunits and transporters were measured in the hippocampus and cortex. LPS caused persistent systemic inflammatory mediators gene expression. In the brain, there was corresponding activation of microglia in the hippocampus and cortex. Expression of inflammatory mediators persisted in the hippocampus, but not the cortex, and was associated with altered glutamatergic receptor subunits and transporters. Hippocampal inflammation and dysregulation of glutamate metabolism persisted well into the postnatal period following i.a. LPS. Poor neurodevelopmental outcomes after FIRS in preterm infants may result in part through glutamatergically driven gray matter injury to the neonatal hippocampus.
Measuring cyberbullying: Implications for research

Abstract Despite a significant amount of attention by both the academic community and society at large, there continues to exist much confusion about both the conceptual and operational definitions of cyberbullying (and by implication, bullying in general). The trouble with this lack of clarity is that it leads to misinformation and misunderstanding about the phenomena at hand, and undermines the ability of various stakeholders to identify, prevent, and respond to these behaviors. In this article, we review the essential elements of cyberbullying that distinguish it from other peer-to-peer online interactions in an effort to inform current-day approaches to its study. We also present a cyberbullying scale that has demonstrated strong initial validity and reliability in ten different surveys involving nearly 15,000 students in the United States. The purpose is to reduce erratic and fitful advancement of our understanding of cyberbullying by fostering more consistency in the way it is measured and analyzed. Through this effort we hope to meaningfully assist those on the front lines of the problem to better know what cyberbullying is, and what it is not.
Comparative Study of Predictive Analysis Methods to Estimate Bridge Response

Monitoring bridge performance is crucial to ensure safety and allocate resources in a cost-effective manner. This paper aims to reduce the gap between researchers and practitioners by showing how p...
Successful Free Tissue Transfer in the Profoundly Hypercoagulable Glioblastoma Multiforme Patient: Surgical Experience and Anticoagulation Protocol

Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) produces a hypercoagulable environment and is associated the highest rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary emboli (PE) of any malignancy. The use of postoperative radiation in this generally compromised patient group is associated with the development of complex scalp wounds. Free tissue transfer reconstruction will be essential in selected cases despite the presence of an underlying hypercoagulable state. Methods A 67-year-old female with a history of previous DVT presented with osteoradionecrosis and infected scalp wound following GBM treatment. She underwent reconstruction with a free vastus lateralis flap and skin graft. Initial anticoagulation was provided with intravenous heparin and transitioned to oral apixaban. Wound cultures demonstrated coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Actinomyces neuii, and Peptoniphilus harei and were treated with a 6-week course of intravenous cefepime and vancomycin. Results Despite the initial failure of a local scalp rotation flap, successful wound healing was achieved with a free muscle flap and a course of culture specific antibiotics. The patient succumbed to recurrent disease 22 months after surgery, underscoring the importance of limiting hospitalization and maximizing quality of life in this group of patients. Conclusion Free tissue transfer can be successfully achieved in the hypercoagulable GBM patient. Heparin and apixaban were employed successfully in the prevention of thrombotic events. Antiplatelet therapy should also be considered to counteract platelet aggregation induced by the transmembrane glycoprotein (podoplanin) that is expressed on GBM tumor cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing (ELISA) of blood soluble podoplanin may help determine the degree of hypercoagulability and guide therapy.
A Kannemeyeriiform (Synapsida: Dicynodontia) Occipital Plate from the Middle Triassic Upper Fremouw Formation of Antarctica

A kannemeyeriiform dicynodont is described on the basis of an occipital plate from the upper Fremouw Formation (Middle Triassic) Gordon Valley locality in the Beardmore Glacier region of Antarctica...
Trivariate Interpolated Galerkin Finite Elements for the Poisson Equation

When applying finite element method to the Poisson equation on a domain in \(\mathbb {R}^3\), we replace some Lagrange nodal basis functions by bubble functions whose dual functionals are the values of the Laplacian. To compute the coefficients of these Laplacian basis functions instead of solving a large linear system, we interpolate the right hand side function in the Poisson equation. The finite element solution is then the Galerkin projection on a smaller vector space. We construct a qudratic and a cubic nonconforming interpolated finite elements, and quartic and higher degree conforming interpolated finite elements on arbitrary tetrahedral partitions. The main advantage of our method is that the number of unknowns that require solving a large system of equations on each element is reduced. We show that the interpolated Galerkin finite element method retains the optimal order of convergence. Numerical results confirming the theory are provided as well as comparisons with the standard finite elements.
Therapist-Led, Internet-Delivered Treatment for Early Child Social Anxiety: A Waitlist-Controlled Evaluation of the iCALM Telehealth Program

Abstract Despite recent advances in the treatment of early child social anxiety, the broad accessibility of brick-and-mortar services has been limited by traditional barriers to care, and more recently by new obstacles related to efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. The present waitlist-controlled trial examined the preliminary efficacy of a family-based behavioral parenting intervention (i.e., the iCALM Telehealth Program) that draws on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and videoconferencing to remotely deliver clinician-led care for anxiety in early childhood. Young children (3–8 years) with a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (N = 40; 65% from ethnic/racial minority backgrounds) were randomly assigned to iCALM or waitlist. Intent-to-treat analyses found that at post, independent evaluators classified roughly half of the iCALM-treated children, but only 6% of waitlist children, as “Responders” (Wald test = 4.51; p = .03). By Post, iCALM led to significantly greater reductions than waitlist in child anxiety symptoms, fear, discomfort, and anxiety-related social impairment, and also led to greater improvements in child soothability. By 6-month follow-up, the percentage of iCALM-treated children classified as “Responders” rose to roughly 60%. Exploratory moderation tests found iCALM was particularly effective in reducing life impairments and parental distress among families presenting with higher, relative to lower, levels of baseline parental accommodation. The present findings add to a growing body of research supporting the promise of technology-based strategies for broadening the portfolio of options for delivering clinician-led mental health services.
Plasma high-resolution metabolomic phenotyping of lean mass in a United States adult cohort.

BACKGROUND Rapid loss of lean mass during catabolic states is associated with impaired convalescence and increased mortality rates. An understanding of metabolic pathways related to lean mass is needed to enable future interventions designed to combat malnutrition. This study assessed the plasma metabolome in relation to lean mass in clinically stable working adults in a US cohort. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 180 adults (mean ± SD, aged 49.7 ± 10.0 years; body mass index, 27.3 ± 5.5 kg/m2 ; 64% female [n=116]). Fasting plasma was analyzed using high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) via liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Lean mass was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and expressed as lean mass index (LMI, lean mass kg/height m2 ). Multiple linear regression, metabolic pathway enrichment, and module analyses were used to characterize systemic metabolism associated with LMI. RESULTS Of 5360 metabolites used in analyses, 593 were related to LMI, either upregulated or downregulated (P < .05). These were enriched within 11 metabolic pathways, including branched-chain amino acid degradation, metabolism of alanine and aspartate and other amino acids, butyrate, purines, and niacin metabolism. Module analysis revealed central associations between LMI and L-glutamate, L-leucine/L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-phenylalanine, L-methionine, and L-aspartate, among other validated metabolites. CONCLUSION These novel plasma HRM data demonstrate the wide-reaching associations of lean mass with systemic metabolism in a single snapshot. Such data may inform targeted nutrition support interventions designed to mitigate loss of lean mass and promote regaining skeletal muscle mass and function after illness or injury.
Health Equity and Healthcare Disparities in Plastic Surgery: What We Can Do.

Summary Amidst the unexpected losses and challenges of 2020, healthcare disparities and health equity have presided as noteworthy topics of national discussion among healthcare workers, governmental officials, and society at large. Health equity, defined as the opportunity for everyone to be as healthy as possible, may be achieved through the alleviation of healthcare disparities. Healthcare disparities are defined as “preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations.” While these concepts may be perceived as a departure from the core responsibility of plastic surgeons, it is of paramount importance to recognize how race, socioeconomic status (SES), and physical environment impact access to care, surgical outcomes, and postoperative recovery for vulnerable populations. In this communication, our purpose is two-fold: 1) to elucidate the existent healthcare disparities and associations with race and SES in craniofacial, trauma, breast, hand, and gender-affirming reconstruction; and 2) provide tangible recommendations to incorporate the concepts of health equity and healthcare disparities in clinical, research, community, and recruitment settings for plastic surgeons. Through such knowledge, plastic surgeons may glean important insights that may enhance the delivery of equitable and accessible care for patients.
Prevalence of potential interactions of medications, including herbs and supplements, before, during, and after chemotherapy in patients with breast and prostate cancer.

Background The use of herbs and supplements (HS) is common among patients with cancer, yet limited information exists about potential medication interactions (PMIs) with HS use around chemotherapy. Methods Patients with breast or prostate cancer who had recently finished chemotherapy at 2 academic medical centers were surveyed by telephone. Interviewers inquired about all medications, including HS, before, during, and after chemotherapy. Micromedex, Lexicomp, and Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database interaction software programs were used to determine PMIs. Results A total of 67 subjects (age range, 39-77 years) were evaluated in this study. Participants were primarily White patients (73%) with breast cancer (87%). The median number of medications was 11 (range, 2-28) during the entire study and was highest during chemotherapy (7; range, 2-22). Approximately four-fifths (84%) used HS. A total of 1747 PMIs were identified, and they represented 635 unique PMIs across all 3 timeframes, with most occurring during chemotherapy. Prescription-related PMIs (70%) were the most common type, and they were followed by HS-related (56%) and anticancer treatment-related PMIs (22%). Approximately half of the PMIs (54%) were categorized as moderate interactions, and more than one-third (38%) were categorized as major interactions. Patient use of HS increased from 51% during chemotherapy to 66% after chemotherapy, and this correlated with an increased prevalence of HS PMIs (46% to 60%). HS users were more likely to be at risk for a major PMI than non-HS users (92% vs 70%; P = .038). Conclusions The use of HS remains prevalent among patients with cancer and may place them at risk for PMIs both during chemotherapy and after the completion of treatment. Lay summary This study evaluates the risk of potential medication interactions for patients with breast or prostate cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The results show that patients often use herbs and supplements during treatment. Prescription medications are most often associated with medication interactions, which are followed by herb and supplement-related interactions. More than one-third of potential medication interactions are considered major. Patients should be educated about the risk of herb and supplement-related medication interactions during treatment.
The Rotation of the Sun (Review Paper)

The author’s 1964 article in Nature on the sun’s rotation is rediscussed in the light of new data. This article suggested that the sun might be oblate because of a gravitational quadrupole moment induced by a core rotating with a period < 2 days. Angular momentum lost from the core by molecular diffusion was assumed to be transferred to the solar wind which kept the sun’s surface rotating slowly. The estimated solar wind torque was found to be in good agreement with the torque calculated from a solution of the diffusion equation.
PVM and HeNCE: tools for heterogeneous network computing

Wide area computer networks have become a basic part of today’s computing infrastructure. These networks connect a variety of machines, presenting an enormous computing resource. In this project we focus on developing methods and tools which allow a programmer to tap into this resource. In this talk we describe PVM and HeNCE, tools and methodology under development that assists a programmer in developing programs to execute on a networked group of heterogeneous machines.
The new HYREC: a new hybrid product recommender system

Ecommerce has become ubiquitous as much business is done online nowadays. Some of the more popular such sites include EBay, Amazon and TigerDirect. Product recommendation has become a very important feature of ecommerce as it helps store owners maximize their sales. Over the years, product recommendation has been achieved using a number of techniques. Two of the most popular product recommendation methods are Automated Collaborative Filtering (ACF) and the Case Based Reasoning (CBR) systems. The goal of the research explained below was to handle the sequencing problem that arises because of the usage of such a method. The New HYREC proposes ameliorations to the HYREC product recommender system [1].
Using oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations for long lead time streamflow forecasting

[1] We present a data-driven model, Support Vector Machine (SVM), for long lead time streamflow forecasting using oceanic-atmospheric oscillations. The SVM is based on statistical learning theory that uses a hypothesis space of linear functions based on Kernel approach and has been used to predict a quantity forward in time on the basis of training from past data. The strength of SVM lies in minimizing the empirical classification error and maximizing the geometric margin by solving inverse problem. The SVM model is applied to three gages, i.e., Cisco, Green River, and Lees Ferry in the Upper Colorado River Basin in the western United States. Annual oceanic-atmospheric indices, comprising Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), and El Nino–Southern Oscillations (ENSO) for a period of 1906–2001 are used to generate annual streamflow volumes with 3 years lead time. The SVM model is trained with 86 years of data (1906–1991) and tested with 10 years of data (1992–2001). On the basis of correlation coefficient, root means square error, and Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient the model shows satisfactory results, and the predictions are in good agreement with measured streamflow volumes. Sensitivity analysis, performed to evaluate the effect of individual and coupled oscillations, reveals a strong signal for ENSO and NAO indices as compared to PDO and AMO indices for the long lead time streamflow forecast. Streamflow predictions from the SVM model are found to be better when compared with the predictions obtained from feedforward back propagation artificial neural network model and linear regression.
On Transforms and the Dispersion Computations Used for Evaluating Layer Properties

Computations of the dispersion of waves propagating through a layered pavement structure are fundamental to the determination of moduli for individual layers by what is called the wave propagation method. Processing fielddata using the Fourier transform is shown to lead to incorrect results that are generally inadequate for distinguishing among the multiple limbs of layered structures. The protocols for a new transform and dispersion analysis based on the cross-correlation operation have been defined and the transform has been programmed. Used in conjunction with pattern recognition methods applied "by hand," the new method was tested with data from a well-defined laboratory model composed of encapsulated layers of sand with different moduli corresponding to different levels of vacuum. The results indicate that the method is capable of identifying at least as many as three layers in a structure. A prototype, rule-based and with totally automatic computation, has been demonstrated and holds promise. The new method calls for data collection at higher frequencies than before, and computation time is increased considerably. The significance of the work extends outside this area of research.
Active disturbance rejection control for non-minimum phase systems

Active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) has been applied to solve various types of control problems across many engineering disciplines, but largely within the confine of minimum phase systems. This paper, however, explores systematically its applications to non-minimum phase (NMP) systems, particularly those with transfer functions that have right half plane zeros. It is first shown that, a regular ADRC controller, if not tuned carefully, could easily yield an undesirable solution for NMP systems. We then demonstrate the reasons behind the difficulty using transfer function analysis, leading to a solution in how we tune the ADRC for NMP systems. In particular, a systematic design and tuning procedure is obtained based on the relationship between the high frequency gain of the system and the controller bandwidth. Finally, the proposed method allows a user to easily make a tradeoff between the undershoot, which is unique in NMP systems, and the response time, using the frequency response method of gain and phase compensation.
Pediatric Mixed Glioneuronal Tumors in the Spinal Cord

This chapter attempts to bring together what is known about an emerging group of mixed tumors in the pediatric spinal cord that display both astrocytic and neuronal elements, and are difficult to classify. Only a handful of cases have been adequately documented in the literature (Poliani et al., Neuropathology 29:574–578, 2009; Psarros et al., J Neurosurg 103(Suppl):184–190, 2005; Rickert et al., Acta Neuropathol 112:231–233, 2006; Scholz et al., Acta Neuropathol 117:591–593, 2009; Syed et al., Acta Neuropathol 111:53–55, 2006), and are generally known as mixed glioneuronal tumors (GNT). The family members of this group of neoplasms are discussed under three broad groups – spinal GNTs, spinal gangliogliomas, and unclassified entities. Emphasis is given to the unique ‘spinal GNTs’ in this chapter, and these are tentatively classified into two types, a more easily identifiable variety with distinct neuronal rosettes (‘Type 1’), and a less structured variant designated as ‘Type 2’. Bulk of the documented lesions fall into the Type 1 category, based on their initial presentation and histology. The ‘spinal gangliogliomas’ are discussed only briefly, being similar in pathology and behavior to their counterparts in other parts of the brain. The ‘unclassifiable’ group is an enigma, and awaits further multicenter collaborative studies for accurate categorization. The glioneuronal tumors in the spinal cord behave like low-grade neoplasms in most instances, with rare exceptions where prognosis can be unpredictable, and can lead to metastases, further morbidity, and grave outcomes.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THIN FILM CDS-CDTE SOLAR CELLS

Abstract Current-voltage, junction capacitance and optical characteristics of thin film CdSCdTe cells on sprayed CdS films were measured. These characteristics have some interesting features such as reversal of the polarity of the a.c. short-circuit current and the a.c. open-circuit voltage when a large forward bias is applied across the cell. The reverse saturation current density jo increases from 5.9 × 10−9 A cm−2 in the dark to 18.1 × 10−6 A cm−2 under “1 sun” illumination. Diode ideality factors are higher than 2.0 and the slope α of log I vs. V curve is almost temperature independent. The zero-bias depletion layer width is 1.9 μm. The experimental results are interpreted by a model which proposes a highly compensated layer in CdTe and a high space charge layer in CdTe next to the CdS-CdTe interface. The origin of the high space charge layer is thought to be the ionization of a deep trap level at energy ET below the conduction band edge. For our calculations, we have used ET = 0.45 eV.
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Fertilized and Unfertilized Farm Ponds in Central Missouri

Abstract The limnology of six typical Missouri farm ponds, where fish growth rates had been determined, was investigated. Particular emphasis was directed toward a measurement of the important nutrient elements, nitrogen and phosphorus, in an effort to evaluate the processes associated with fertilization and establish the nutrient factor or factors most clearly related to fish production for Missouri ponds. Comparison of the physical and chemical data for these fertilized and unfertilized ponds suggests that the limiting factor in productivity was soluble phosphate. Yearly mean concentrations of phosphate at the surface ranged from 0.016 to 0.028 p.p.m. in the fertilized ponds and from 0.010 to 0.016 p.p.m. in the unfertilized ponds. Daily phosphorus analyses showed good correlation between concentrations of phosphate and plankton production. Each addition of fertilizer was followed by a rapid settling out which resulted in bottom phosphate concentrations which, in one pond, were as much as 10 times as gr...
A Review of Earthquake Statistics: Fault and Seismicity-Based Models, ETAS and BASS

There are two fundamentally different approaches to assessing the probabilistic risk of earthquake occurrence. The first is fault based. The statistical occurrence of earthquakes is determined for mapped faults. The applicable models are renewal models in that a tectonic loading of faults is included. The second approach is seismicity based. The risk of future earthquakes is based on the past seismicity in the region. These are also known as cluster models. An example of a cluster model is the epidemic type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model. In this paper we discuss an alternative branching aftershock sequence (BASS) model. In the BASS model an initial, or seed, earthquake is specified. The subsequent earthquakes are obtained from statistical distributions of magnitude, time, and location. The magnitude scaling is based on a combination of the Gutenberg-Richter scaling relation and the modified Bath’s law for the scaling relation of aftershock magnitudes relative to the magnitude of the main earthquake. Omori’s law specifies the distribution of earthquake times, and a modified form of Omori’s law specifies the distribution of earthquake locations. Unlike the ETAS model, the BASS model is fully self-similar, and is not sensitive to the low magnitude cutoff.
Warpage Reduction Through Robust Engineering of a Thin-Walled Injection Molded Component

An L18 Taguchi experiment was used to determine the robust processing control factor settings to maximize dimensional stability and reduce warpage for a 3-dimensional thin-walled injection molded component. The robust control factor settings were determined for seven control factor settings and also included three noise factors. The noise factors were: wall thickness, glass fiber content and production cycle pull point. A scientific molding technique where an on-line rheology study was performed to determine the relative viscosity versus effective shear rates was used to determine the injection speed settings. The proper shot size was also established for each experiment. A laser measuring system was used to analyze the entire component and to determine the shrinkage rates and warpage of the component. A warpage index was created to determine the entire warpage of the component.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Dynamics of a two-frequency parametrically driven duffing oscillator

We investigate the transition from two-frequency quasiperiodicity to chaotic behavior in a model for a quasiperiodically driven magnetoelastic ribbon. The model system is a two-frequency parametrically driven Duffing oscillator. As a driving parameter is increased, the route to chaos takes place in four distinct stages. The first stage is a torus-doubling bifurcation. The second stage is a transition from the doubled torus to a strange nonchaotic attractor. The third stage is a transition from the strange nonchaotic attractor to a geometrically similar chaotic attractor. The final stage is a hard transition to a much larger chaotic attractor. This latter transition arises as the result of acrisis, the characterization of which is one of our primary concerns. Numerical evidence is given to indicate that the crisis arises from the collision of the chaotic attractor with the stable manifold of a saddle torus. Intermittent bursting behavior is present after the crisis with the mean time between bursts scaling as a power law in the distance from the critical control parameter; τ ∼ (A-Ac)-α. The critical exponent is computed numerically, yielding the value α=1.03±0.01. Theoretical justification is given for the computed critical exponent. Finally, a Melnikov analysis is performed, yielding an expression for transverse crossings of the stable and unstable manifolds of the crisis-initiating saddle torus.
Chapman–Enskog solutions to arbitrary order in Sonine polynomials III: Diffusion, thermal diffusion, and thermal conductivity in a binary, rigid-sphere, gas mixture

Abstract The Chapman–Enskog solutions of the Boltzmann equation provide a basis for the computation of important transport coefficients for both simple gases and gas mixtures. These coefficients include the viscosity, the thermal conductivity, and the diffusion coefficient. In a preceding paper (I), for simple, rigid-sphere gases (i.e. single-component, monatomic gases) we have shown that the use of higher-order Sonine polynomial expansions enables one to obtain results of arbitrary precision that are free of numerical error and, in a second paper (II), we have extended our initial simple gas work to modeling the viscosity in a binary, rigid-sphere, gas mixture. In this latter paper we reported an extensive set of order 60 results which are believed to constitute the best currently available benchmark viscosity values for binary, rigid-sphere, gas mixtures. It is our purpose in this paper to similarly report the results of our investigation of relatively high-order (order 70), standard, Sonine polynomial expansions for the diffusion- and thermal conductivity-related Chapman–Enskog solutions for binary gas mixtures of rigid-sphere molecules. We note that in this work, as in our previous work, we have retained the full dependence of the solution on the molecular masses, the molecular sizes, the mole fractions, and the intermolecular potential model via the omega integrals. For rigid-sphere gases, all of the relevant omega integrals needed for these solutions are analytically evaluated and, thus, results to any desired precision can be obtained. The values of the transport coefficients obtained using Sonine polynomial expansions for the Chapman–Enskog solutions converge and, therefore, the exact diffusion and thermal conductivity solutions to a given degree of convergence can be determined with certainty by expanding to sufficiently high an order. We have used Mathematica® for its versatility in permitting both symbolic and high-precision computations. Our results also establish confidence in the results reported recently by other authors who used direct numerical techniques to solve the relevant Chapman–Enskog equations. While in all of the direct numerical methods more-or-less full calculations need to be carried out with each variation in molecular parameters, our work has utilized explicit, general expressions for the necessary matrix elements that retain the complete parametric dependence of the problem and, thus, only a matrix inversion at the final step is needed as a parameter is varied. This work also indicates how similar results may be obtained for more realistic intermolecular potential models and how other gas-mixture problems may also be addressed with some additional effort.