cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of an emergency department HIV testing program on the proportion of emergency department patients who have been tested.

Objective The lack of well-described population-level outcome measures for emergency department (ED) HIV testing is one barrier to translation of screening into practice. We demonstrate the impact of an ED diagnostic testing and targeted screening program on the proportion of ED patients ever tested for HIV and explore cumulative effects on testing rates over time. Methods Data were extracted from electronic HIV testing program records and administrative hospital databases for January 2003 to December 2008 to obtain the monthly number of ED visits and HIV tests. We calculated the proportions of (1) patients tested in the program who reported a previous HIV test or had been previously tested in the program, and (2) the cumulative number of unique ED patients who were tested in our program. Results During the study period, 165,665 unique patients made 491,552 ED visits and the program provided 13,509 tests to 11,503 unique patients. From 2003 to 2008, tested patients who reported a history of an HIV test increased by 0.085% per month (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.037% to 0.133%), from 67.7% to 74.4%; the percentage of tested patients who had previous testing in the program increased by 0.277% per month (95% CI 0.245% to 0.308%), from 3.2% to 21.2%; and the percentage of unique ED patients previously tested in the program increased by 0.100% per month (95% CI 0.096% to 0.105%), reaching a cumulative proportion of 6.9%. Conclusion Our HIV testing program increased the proportion of ED patients who have been tested for HIV at least once and repeatedly tested a subset of individuals. HIV screening, even during a minority of ED visits, can have important cumulative effects over time.
Historiometry in Personality and Social Psychology

Historiometry is one of the oldest methods in personality and social psychology. In fact, the first professional publication in experimental social psychology also incorporated a historiometric study. The present review article begins by describing the nature of the technique with respect to unit definition and sampling, the several approaches to measuring variables, and the correlational nature of the statistical analyses. This description also pinpoints some of the unique characteristics of the approach. These attributes and other attributes are then illustrated using the historiometric research on assessed leadership of US presidents. This research has converged on a single predictive equation that has been successfully replicated and extended over a quarter century of research. The article closes with a brief evaluation of historiometry's future prospects in the field.
SU-8 MEMS Fabry-Perot pressure sensor

Abstract The biocompatible polymer, SU-8, was used to microfabricate an interferometric pressure sensor designed for invasive biomedical applications. Tests of the sensor in air and liquid environments show promising results as well as the limitations of SU-8 as a critical material in microdevices. The sensor consists of a polymer cap with a reflective, pressure-sensing diaphragm mounted onto the end of a fiber optic cable. Diaphragm deflection was measured by analyzing the spectrum reflected from the Fabry-Perot interferometer formed between the diaphragm and the fiber end. The device is fast, simple, and inexpensive to manufacture. Its small dimensions (300 μm outer diameter) reduce the risk of inflammation and infection and allow for its insertion through a catheter into small vessels and cavities. The sensor showed a linear pressure response from 0 to 125 mmHg with 1–2 mmHg resolution. The cap swelled upon immersion in a manner consistent with Fickian diffusion of water into SU-8. The interferometric displacement transducer allowed a series of measurements to characterize the drift and hysteresis of the SU-8 sensors in different environments. These results provide guidance for the design and manufacture of SU-8 microdevices.
Collection of human genomic DNA from neonates: A comparison between umbilical cord blood and buccal swabs

Objective To compare DNA yield from neonatal umbilical cord blood and buccal swab specimens. Study Design Umbilical cord blood was obtained at birth in a cohort of women enrolled in a preterm labor study. If cord blood was not obtained, neonatal buccal samples were obtained using the Oragene saliva kits. DNA was extracted from all samples using the QIAamp extraction kits. DNA concentration and yield were compared between umbilical cord blood and buccal swabs. Results DNA concentrations from umbilical cord blood (n = 35) was greater than that obtained from buccal swabs (n = 20) (total sample: 209.0 ± 110.7 ng/μL vs 6.9 ± 6.7 ng/μL respectively, P P P P Conclusion Buccal swabs yield less neonatal DNA than umbilical cord blood specimens.
Wear Resistance Anomaly of Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia

An experimental investigation of the wear behavior of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia showed that up to three orders of magnitude increase in the wear resistance can be achieved in a particular temperature range. The wear resistance is a function of both the sliding speed and the ambient temperature. The friction coefficient is also a function of these two parameters. The maximum friction coefficient was observed at the maximum wear resistance temperature. Friction and wear measurements, together with background information on structural analysis, were used to develop a phenomenological model that could explain the wear and friction temperature behavior. The model is based on the following chain of event that could take place at the frictional interface: spatial overheating of the surface regions, phase transformation of the overheated areas, cooling, volume expansion, and development of a compressive stress field on the surface. Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May ...
Registration of Two Sugarcane Germplasm Clones with Antibiosis to the Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

‘Ho 08–9001’ (Reg. No. GP-21, PI 659991) and ‘Ho 08–9003’ (Reg. No. GP-22, PI 659992) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) germplasm were selected as clones for the combined traits of resistance to the sugarcane borer [Diatraea saccharalis (F.)], vigorous growth habit, sucrose content, and biomass yield from the cross Ho 02–95 × MPTH 97–003. Ho 08–9001 had 13% bored internodes (10% bored internodes is the accepted economic injury level for sugarcane borer in Louisiana) but had comparatively low values for adult emergence and larval weight. Ho 08–9003 had bored internodes equal to the accepted economic injury level and also had low values for adult emergence and larval weights. The low adultemergence values and low larval weights suggest antibiosis as the mechanism of resistance to the sugarcane borer; antibiosis is a resistance mechanism not yet exploited for stem borer resistance in Louisiana. When averaged across the plant-cane and fi rst-ratoon crop, Ho 08–9001 had 21% more cane yield (117 vs. 89 Mg ha −1 ) and 53% less sucrose content (54 vs. 115 kg Mg −1 ) than HoCP 96–540. While Ho 08–9003 had 34% more cane yield (119 vs. 89 Mg ha −1 ) than the cultivar ‘HoCP 96–540’, but 37% less sucrose content (67 vs. 115 Mg ha −1 ). The combination of resistance, high early-generation (F 1 ) sucrose, and high cane yield makes these two clones attractive to sugarcane breeders to develop insect-resistant sugarcane cultivars.
Domoic acid in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) feeds

Abstract Contamination of fish feeds with the toxin, domoic acid, through use of contaminated fish meal is a possibility. To test the stability of domoic acid during fish meal and fish feed manufacturing, fish meal was made from anchovies containing 43 μg domoic acid/g wet fish using a closed vacuum dryer, resulting in fish meal containing 130 μg domoic acid/g of meal. This product was used in place of commercial herring meal in a dry, pelleted feed, constituting 50% of the feed formulation. The feed contained 58 μg domoic acid/g. To determine if dietary domoic acid affected the health of rainbow trout or was retained in the tissue, duplicate groups of trout, average initial weight 25 g, were fed a control diet, made with herring meal, and the domoic acid diet for 15 weeks, during which time the average weight of the trout increased to 48 g. No differences in feed consumption, weight gain, or feed efficiency ratio were observed between groups of fish fed the control or domoic acid feed. No mortality or signs of toxicity or neurological distress were observed in either dietary treatment group. Analysis of fish tissue showed no detectable concentrations of domoic acid in fillets or viscera portions of the fish when the fish were sampled after a 48-h fast. Domoic acid was present in the feces and viscera, but not in blood or muscle of the fish following an overnight fast. These results suggest that domoic acid in fish feed, when present at a concentration likely to be encountered in practical situations, is not readily absorbed by rainbow trout and does not present a health hazard to the fish or to the consumer.
Enhancement of Intestinal Glucose Transport following Chronic Parathion Poisoning

Chronic administration of parathion to male rats stimulated glucose (p 0.05) transport in the everted duodenal gut sac preparation. Chronic parathion stimulation was not reduced by concurrent administration of atropine. Acutely applied parathion or paraoxon, its active metabolite, did not increase glucose transport in this preparation.
Cation vibrational energy levels of 1,3-benzodioxole obtained via zero kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract We report vibrational analysis of the cation of 1,3-benzodioxole using two-color zero kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy. With the aid of density functional calculations, vibrational modes of the cation have been assigned, and the adiabatic ionization potential has been determined to be 64 341 ± 5 cm −1 (7.9772 ± 0.0006 eV). Unlike the ground state and the first electronically excited state of the neutral molecule, the ground state of the cation is proven to be planar. This revelation will help with the vibrational analysis of the excited electronic state.
Ethnic group-by-generation interactions in WAIS scores in the Hawaii family study of cognition ☆

Abstract This paper is a comparatively small-scale replication of a paper by DeFries, Corley, Johnson, Vandenberg, & Wilson (1982), using that subset of the DeFries subject group that was administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and comparing parent vs. offspring performance of Americans of European and of Japanese Ancestry. Like DeFries et al., significant ethnic group-by-generation interactions were obtained in WAIS scores, suggesting the existence of substantial cultural influences on cognitive-test performance.
Spectral characterization and unmixing of intrinsic contrast in intact normal and diseased gastric tissues using hyperspectral two-photon microscopy.

Background Living tissues contain a range of intrinsic fluorophores and sources of second harmonic generation which provide contrast that can be exploited for fresh tissue imaging. Microscopic imaging of fresh tissue samples can circumvent the cost and time associated with conventional histology. Further, intrinsic contrast can provide rich information about a tissue's composition, structure and function, and opens the potential for in-vivo imaging without the need for contrast agents. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we used hyperspectral two-photon microscopy to explore the characteristics of both normal and diseased gastrointestinal (GI) tissues, relying only on their endogenous fluorescence and second harmonic generation to provide contrast. We obtained hyperspectral data at subcellular resolution by acquiring images over a range of two-photon excitation wavelengths, and found excitation spectral signatures of specific tissue types based on our ability to clearly visualize morphology. We present the two-photon excitation spectral properties of four major tissue types that are present throughout the GI tract: epithelium, lamina propria, collagen, and lymphatic tissue. Using these four excitation signatures as basis spectra, linear unmixing strategies were applied to hyperspectral data sets of both normal and neoplastic tissue acquired in the colon and small intestine. Our results show that hyperspectral unmixing with excitation spectra allows segmentation, showing promise for blind identification of tissue types within a field of view, analogous to specific staining in conventional histology. The intrinsic spectral signatures of these tissue types provide information relating to their biochemical composition. Conclusions/Significance These results suggest hyperspectral two-photon microscopy could provide an alternative to conventional histology either for in-situ imaging, or intraoperative ‘instant histology’ of fresh tissue biopsies.
Measurements of Air Entrainment by Bow Waves

This paper describes measurements of the air entrained in experiments simulating the breaking bow wave of a ship for Froude numbers between two and three. The experiments and the characteristics of the wave itself are detailed in T. Waniewski, 1999, "Air Entrainment by Bow Waves; PhD. theses, Calif. Inst. of Tech." The primary mechanism for air entrainment is the impact of the plunging wave jet, and it was observed that the air bubbles were entrained in spatially periodic bubble clouds. The void fraction and bubble size distributions were measured in the entrainment zone. There were indications that the surface disturbances described in Waniewski divide the plunging liquid jet sheet into a series of plunging jets, each of which produces a bubble cloud.
An update on pediatric monitoring.

Monitoring in pediatric anesthesia practice encompasses essentially the same spectrum of techniques and measurements as monitoring of adult patients, except that techniques are modified positively the generally better health of children and negatively by conflicting anecdotes concerning how rapidly negative effects can occur in anesthetized children. As a consequence, progress has followed two general tracks: (1) cautious expansion of invasive techniques, stall as arterial and central venous blood pressure monitoring and (2) more vigorous expansion of noninvasive techniques. Progress in the use of invasive techniques is affected by technical difficulties and tear of causing patient harm, while advances in noninvasive monitoring have been fueled by recognition of the inherent value of reliable and constant measurement of essential variables, such as peripheral oxygenation and endtidal carbon dioxide tension. This article reviews both tracks, updating knowledge of invasive Techniques and providing a discussion of less glamorous but more broadly useful noninvasive methods, such as automated blood pressure monitoring and pulse oximetry.
Maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Aminosalicylates are of proven benefit in maintaining medically induced remissions of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Even rectal 5-aminosalicylic acid has been found to be useful in maintaining long-term remissions of distal ulcerative colitis. Particularly noteworthy is the demonstrat
Relationships of first lactation milk and type traits to cow survival and a sire index for discounted total milk.

The probability of cow survival during each of six consecutive 13-mo periods after first calving was regressed on lactation milk yield and 15 type traits, each recorded during the first lactation. Adjusted coefficients of determination were small (.028 to .081). The ratio of variance in predicted cow survival probabilities due to milk only with that due to the 15 type traits was 12.6:1, 4.7:1, 2.5:1, .5:1, 0:1, and .02:1 for respective herdlife periods. Maximum effect of type traits on herdlife ranged from 11 to 109 d. Prediction equations for cow survival were incorporated into a sire index for discounted total milk yield of progeny. Type traits affected the sire index by their influence on the six predicted survival rates. Milk yield affected the discounted total milk index directly as well as through the survival rates. Simulated variation from milk estimated transmitting abilities for sires accounted for 99.9% of the total variation in the discounted total milk index. Since the effect of the type traits on cow survival rates was greatest during the later herdlife periods, too few animals would have survived to these later periods to reveal any significant effect from type on the discounted total milk index.
Refining the phase transition in combinatorial search

Abstract Many recent studies have identified phase transitions from under- to overconstrained instances in classes of constraint satisfaction search problems, and their relation to search cost. For example, cases that are difficult to solve with a variety of search methods are concentrated near these transitions. These studies show that a simple parameter describing the problem structure predicts the difficulty of solving the problem, on average. However, this prediction is associated with a large variance and depends on the somewhat arbitrary choice of the problem class. Thus these results are of limited direct use for individual instances. To help address this limitation, additional parameters, describing problem structure as well as heuristic effectiveness, are introduced. These are shown to reduce the variation in some cases. This also provides further insight into the nature of intrinsically hard search problems.
Lung texture in serial thoracic CT scans: registration-based methods to compare anatomically matched regions.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare three demons registration-based methods to identify spatially matched regions in serial computed tomography (CT) scans for use in texture analysis. Methods: Two thoracic CT scans containing no lung abnormalities and acquired during serial examinations separated by at least one week were retrospectively collected from 27 patients. Over 1000 regions of interest (ROIs) were randomly placed in the lungs of each baseline scan. Anatomically matched ROIs in the corresponding follow-up scan were placed by mapping the baseline scan ROI center pixel to (1) the original follow-up scan, (2) the follow-up scan resampled to match the baseline scan voxel size, and (3) the follow-up scan aligned to the baseline scan through affine registration. Mappings used the vector field obtained through demons deformable registration of each follow-up scan variant to the baseline scan. 140 texture features distributed among five feature classes were calculated in all ROIs. Feature value differences between paired ROIs were evaluated using Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement. For each feature, (1) the mean feature value change and (2) the difference between the upper and lower limits of agreement were normalized to the mean feature value to obtain, respectively, the normalized bias and normalized range of agreement (nRoA). Nonparametric tests were used to evaluate differences in normalized bias and nRoA across the three methods. Results: Because patient CT scans contained no pathology, minimal changes in feature values were expected (i.e., low nRoA and normalized bias). Seventy-five features with very large feature value variability (nRoA ≥ 100%) were excluded from further analysis. Across the remaining 65 features, significant differences in normalized bias were observed among the three methods. The lowest normalized bias (median: 0.06%) was achieved when feature values were calculated on original follow-up scans. The affine registration method achieved the lowest nRoA, though nRoA was not significantly increased using original follow-up scans. Features with low nRoA values also had low normalized bias, though the converse was not necessarily true. Using nRoA as a metric, a set of 20 features having both low nRoA and normalized bias were identified. Conclusions: Three methods to facilitate texture analysis of serial CT scans using demons registration for ROI placement were evaluated. The bias in feature value change between matched ROIs was minimized when feature values were calculated on original baseline and follow-up scans. A set of features that had both low bias and variability (nRoA) in feature value change using this method were identified. This texture analysis approach could facilitate future measurement of pathologic changes between CT scans without necessitating calculation of feature values on deformed scans.
Drugs of Choice for Sedation and Analgesia in the Neonatal ICU

Painful procedures in the neonatal ICU are common, undertreated, and lead to adverse consequences. The drugs most commonly used to treat neonatal pain include the opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, ketamine, propofol, acetaminophen, and local and topical anesthetics. This article discusses the indications for and advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used analgesic drugs. Guidance and references for drugs and dosing for specific neonatal procedures are provided.
Tandem Mass Spectral Libraries of Peptides in Digests of Individual Proteins: Human Serum Albumin (HSA)

This work presents a method for creating a mass spectral library containing tandem spectra of identifiable peptide ions in the tryptic digestion of a single protein. Human serum albumin (HSA1) was selected for this purpose owing to its ubiquity, high level of characterization and availability of digest data. The underlying experimental data consisted of ∼3000 one-dimensional LC-ESI-MS/MS runs with ion-trap fragmentation. In order to generate a wide range of peptides, studies covered a broad set of instrument and digestion conditions using multiple sources of HSA and trypsin. Computer methods were developed to enable the reliable identification and reference spectrum extraction of all peptide ions identifiable by current sequence search methods. This process made use of both MS2 (tandem) spectra and MS1 (electrospray) data. Identified spectra were generated for 2918 different peptide ions, using a variety of manually-validated filters to ensure spectrum quality and identification reliability. The resulting library was composed of 10% conventional tryptic and 29% semitryptic peptide ions, along with 42% tryptic peptide ions with known or unknown modifications, which included both analytical artifacts and post-translational modifications (PTMs) present in the original HSA. The remaining 19% contained unexpected missed-cleavages or were under/over alkylated. The methods described can be extended to create equivalent spectral libraries for any target protein. Such libraries have a number of applications in addition to their known advantages of speed and sensitivity, including the ready re-identification of known PTMs, rejection of artifact spectra and a means of assessing sample and digestion quality.
Genetic variation in radiation-induced cell death

Radiation exposure is increasingly common. Medical diagnostic tools such as the X-ray and computed tomography imaging expose patients to ionizing radiation (IR), which can cause DNA damage and increase one's risk of malignancies. However, these radiation-based devices have greatly improved the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Thus, the solution is not to eliminate radiation exposure but to protect individuals who are the most sensitive to radiation and to minimize dose and exposure to all individuals (Barnett et al. 2009). Pharmacogenetics has made significant contributions in maximizing therapeutic gains while minimizing side effects; however, those studies have focused mainly on chemicals as therapeutics and have not included radiation. The exclusion of radiation in pharmacogenetics is not surprising since radiation presents a unique set of challenges. Most people are exposed to radiation in nonmedical settings in addition to medical exposures, thus complicating the monitoring of exposure. Safety trials of radiation are impossible given its known toxic effects. Third, most drugs are developed for one or a few diseases. In contrast, radiation is used in a wide range of treatment; over 50% of all cancer treatment protocols include the use of radiation. Target tissues range from skin to skeletal muscles and bone marrow; each tissue type has special cellular components that influence the absorbed radiation dose, and manifests side effects differently. In recent years, cell-based and genetic studies have improved our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of radiosensitivity by identifying the genes and pathways that are involved in radiation response (Amundson et al. 2001, 2008; Smirnov et al. 2009; Efimova et al. 2010; Niu et al. 2010; Noon et al. 2010). In this study, we focused on radiation-induced cell death. We measured changes in gene expression and quantified cell death in irradiated B cells from 99 normal individuals and found extensive individual variation in these measurements. We took advantage of this variation and mapped the sequence variants that influence responses to radiation. We also identified radio-responsive genes that regulate cell death. By using RNA interference in human B cells and cancer cells, we showed that the knockdown of genes such as INSIG1 and FAM65B increased radiation-induced cell death. These results promote the development of individualized radiotherapy that accounts for patient sensitivity to radiation and lowers necessary treatment dose by sensitizing the tumors to radiation.
Performance evaluation of moment‐method codes on an intel iPSC/860 hypercube computer

An analytical evaluation is conducted of the performance of a moment-method code on a parallel computer, treating algorithmic complexity costs within the framework of matrix size and the 'subblock-size' matrix-partitioning parameter. A scaled-efficiencies analysis is conducted for the measured computation times of the matrix-fill operation and LU decomposition. 6 refs.
Effects of Interactions Between Adjoining Rows of Circular, Free-Surface Jets on Local Heat Transfer From the Impingement Surface

Experiments have been conducted to obtain single-phase local heat transfer coefficient distributions associated with impingement of one or two rows of circular, free-surface water jets on a constant heat flux surface. The nozzle diameter, the centerline-to-centerline distance between nozzles in a row, and the nozzle-to-heater separation distance were fixed at 4.9, 6.3, and 89.7 mm, respectively. Two row-to-row separations (81 and 51 mm) were considered, and nozzle discharge Reynolds numbers were varied over the range from 16,800 to 30,400. The interaction zone created by opposing wall jets from adjacent rows is characterized by an upwelling of spent flow (an interaction fountain) for which local coefficients can approach those of the impingement zones. Interactions between wall jets associated with nozzles in one row can create sprays that impact the adjoining row with sufficient momentum to induce a dominant/subordinate row behavior. In this case the interaction zone is juxtaposed with the subordinate row, and local coefficients in the impingement and wall jet regions of the affected row may be significantly enhanced. This result contrasts with the deleterious effects of crossflow reported for submerged jets throughout the literature. Spray-induced enhancements, as well as interaction zone maxima, increase with decreasing row-to-row pitch and with increasing Reynolds number.
Behavioral characterization of amygdala involvement in mediating intra-accumbens opioid-driven feeding behavior.

The present experiments were conducted to provide a more detailed behavioral analysis of the dissociable roles of the basolateral (BLA) and central nucleus (CeA) of the amygdala in mediating intra-accumbens (Acb) opioid-induced feeding of a high-fat diet. Confirming previous findings, temporary inactivation of the CeA with the GABAA agonist muscimol reduced DAMGO (D-Ala2-NMe-Phe4-Glyol5-enkephalin)induced and baseline food intake, whereas intra-BLA muscimol selectively blocked only DAMGOinduced food intake, leaving baseline feeding intact. However, although inactivation of the BLA reduced DAMGO-induced food intake to control levels, this treatment led to exaggerated number and duration of food hopper entries after food intake had ended. A subsequent experiment under conditions of limited access to the diet found the identical pattern of behavior following intra-Acb administration of DAMGO, regardless of whether the BLA was inactivated. Last, BLA inactivation was shown to have no influence on feeding driven by a state of negative-energy balance (24-hr food deprivation), demonstrating a specific influence of the BLA on opioid-driven feeding. These findings suggest that BLA mediates palatabilitydriven feeding and that this influence is particular to the consummatory act of ingestion.
Distribution of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Sulfatase in Rat Tissue1

The distribution of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) sulfatase activity in vitro was determined in intact and castrate male and in intact female Wistar rats employing 7α-3H-DHAS as substrate (method of Burstein and Dorfman). The tissues examined were those which had responded with an androgenic or estrogenic effect to chronic administration of DHAS in vivo (unpublished data). DHAS sulfatase activity in liver was used as basis for comparison of activity in the other tissues. Substantial hydrolysis of DHAS occurred when incubating homogenates of kidney, ovary and uterus—about 10–20 per cent that of liver. In the male accessory sexual organs (seminal vesicle, levator ani, preputial gland, ventral prostate) and in vaginae and preputial glands from female rats, DHAS sulfatase activity was only 3% or less than that of liver. In some individual tissues no enzyme activity could be detected at all. No steroid sulfatase was detected in dorsal skin. DHAS sulfatase activity was located primarily in the microsoma...
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, also known as dioxin; TCDBD; TCDD; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-1,4-dioxin; and 2,3,7,8-TCDD, has no commercial uses (USEPA 1985a). Its structure and properties are shown in Table 1.
Reservoir-computing-based, biologically-inspired artificial neural network for modeling of a single machine infinite bus power system

Inspired by living neuron networks (LNNs) in the brain, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been broadly used in various applications as a computational intelligence tool. However, due to many fundamental differences between ANNs and LNNs, despite the mature training mechanisms for ANNs, it is often challenging to use LNNs as a computational intelligence tool. To bridge the gap between ANNs and LNNs, a novel type of artificial neural network, i.e. biologically-inspired artificial neural network (BIANN) is proposed in this paper. The BIANN, which is based on spiking neuron models of LNNs, processes information in a more “brain-like” fashion than conventional ANNs. A reservoir-computing-based training approach is also proposed for BIANNs to serve as a novel modeling and control tool for practical applications. The feasibility of the proposed BIANN is illustrated for the prediction of a synchronous generator's speed and terminal voltage signals in a single machine infinite bus electric power system setup. The proposed BIANN model is able to provide an accurate prediction for online monitoring of a generator.
Drying of sand on a hot surface

Constant layer moisture at the hot surface is found to exist during the constant-rate period of drying of sand on a hot surface in still air. It accounts not only for the constantrate period of drying itself but also largely for the length of the period. Temperature of the air-surface interface usually has minor effects on the rate of vaporization because equilibrium between vapor and the bed is not established during periods of rapid vaporization. Numerical relationships have not been established.
SUCCESSIONAL MECHANISM VARIES ALONG A GRADIENT IN HYDROTHERMAL FLUID FLUX AT DEEP-SEA VENTS

Invertebrate communities inhabiting deep-sea hydrothermal vents undergo substantial succession on time scales of months. Manipulative field experiments assessed the relative roles of environmental state and biotic interactions in determining temporal succession along a spatial gradient in vent fluid flux at three vent sites near 9 8509 N on the East Pacific Rise (2500 m water depth). Species colonization patterns on cubic basalt blocks (10 cm on a side) deployed by the submersible Alvin revealed both positive (facilitation) and negative (inhibition) biological interactions, in the context of established succession theory. Over a series of four cruises from 1994 to 1998, blocks were exposed to colonists for consecutive and continuous intervals in short-term (5 1 8 5 13 mo) and longer-term (8 1 29 5 37 mo) experiments. Colonists grouped into a mobile functional group were less abundant in the continuous interval (13 mo) than in the synchronous pooled-consecutive intervals (5 1 8 mo) of the short-term experiment, indicating that early colonists inhibited subsequent recruitment. Colonists grouped into a sessile functional group exhibited the opposite pattern, indicating facilitation. Similar trends, though not statistically significant, were observed in the longer-term experiment. The character of species interactions varied along a gradient in hydrothermal fluid flux (and inferred productivity), with inhibitory interactions more prominent in zones with high temperatures, productivity, and faunal densities, and facilitative interactions appearing where temperatures, productivity, and den- sities were low. Analyses of primary succession on introduced basalt blocks suggest that biological interactions during early vent community development strongly modify initial patterns of settlement, even in the absence of sustained temporal change in the vent fluid flux.
Health Status of Older US Workers and Nonworkers, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2011.

INTRODUCTION Many US workers are increasingly delaying retirement from work, which may be leading to an increase in chronic disease at the workplace. We examined the association of older adults' health status with their employment/occupation and other characteristics. METHODS National Health Interview Survey data from 1997 through 2011 were pooled for adults aged 65 or older (n = 83,338; mean age, 74.6 y). Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the association of socioeconomic factors and health behaviors with 4 health status measures: 1) self-rated health (fair/poor vs good/very good/excellent); 2) multimorbidity (≤1 vs ≥2 chronic conditions); 3) multiple functional limitations (≤1 vs ≥2); and 4) Health and Activities Limitation Index (HALex) (below vs above 20th percentile). Analyses were stratified by sex and age (young-old vs old-old) where interactions with occupation were significant. RESULTS Employed older adults had better health outcomes than unemployed older adults. Physically demanding occupations had the lowest risk of poor health outcomes, suggesting a stronger healthy worker effect: service workers were at lowest risk of multiple functional limitations (odds ratio [OR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.95); and blue-collar workers were at lowest risk of multimorbidity (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) and multiple functional limitation (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.98). Hispanics were more likely than non-Hispanic whites to report fair/poor health (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.52-1.73) and lowest HALex quintile (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.30); however, they were less likely to report multimorbidity (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.83) or multiple functional limitations (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.77-0.88). CONCLUSION A strong association exists between employment and health status in older adults beyond what can be explained by socioeconomic factors (eg, education, income) or health behaviors (eg, smoking). Disability accommodations in the workplace could encourage employment among older adults with limitations.
Efficacy of cranial electric stimulation for the treatment of insomnia: A randomized pilot study

Summary Objectives: This pilot study examined the potential efficacy of cranial electric stimulation for the treatment of insomnia. Design: The researchers tested the hypothesis through a randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled clinical trial. The researchers approached eligible subjects who scored 21 or above on the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale. The researchers then randomly assigned the subjects to receive either an active or sham device. Each study subject received 60 min of active or sham treatment for five days. Following each intervention the subjects completed a sleep log, as well as three and ten days later. Setting: The researchers conducted the study among active duty service members receiving mental health care on the Psychiatry Continuity Service (PCS), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Main outcome measures: The study’s primary outcome variables were the time to sleep onset, total time slept, and number of awakenings as reported by the subjects in the serial sleep logs. The researchers identified a nearly significant increase in total time slept after three cranial electric stimulation treatments among all study subjects. A closer examination of this group revealed an interesting gender bias, with men reporting a robust increase in total time slept after one treatment, decay in effect over the next two interventions, and then an increase in total time slept after the fourth treatment. The researchers speculate that the up and down effect on total time slept could be the result of an insufficient dose of cranial electric stimulation.
Effect of Position on Blood Pressure in Infants

In order to estimate the effect of position on blood pressure measurements during the first year of life, pressures were recorded for 71 infants at one, three, six and twelve months of age in both the propped and lying positions. The position of the infant appeared to have little effect on mean values or upon the correlation of measurements over time. These results favor the use of a position for blood pressure measurement during infancy which places primary importance upon the comfort of the child.
Optoelectronic tweezers integration with multilayer microfluidic device using SWNT embeded PDMS membrane electrode

We report an optoelectronic tweezers (OET) integrated with a multiplayer PDMS based microfluidic device via a flexible single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) embedded thin film membrane. It realizes the first microfluidic integrated OET with on chip valve and pump functions.
Theories of Transitional Object Attachment: An Overview

In 1953, Donald Winnicott introduced the term 'transitional object' to describe those blankets, soft toys, and bits of cloth to which young children frequently develop intense, persistent attachmen...
Synthesised constraint models for distributed energy management

Resource allocation is a task frequently encountered in energy management systems such as the coordination of power generators in a virtual power plant (unit commitment). Standard solutions require fixed parametrised optimisation models that the participants have to stick to without leaving room for tailored behaviour or individual preferences. We present a modelling methodology that allows organisations to specify optimisation goals independently of concrete participants and participants to craft more detailed models and state individual preferences. While considerable efforts have been spent on devising efficient control algorithms and detailed physical models in power management systems, practical aspects of unifying several heterogeneous models for optimisation have been widely ignored - a gap we aim to close. As a by-product, we give a formulation of warm and cold start-up times for power plants that improves existing power plant models. The concepts are detailed with the load-distribution problem faced in virtual power plants and evaluated on several random instances where we observe that a significant number of soft constraints of individual actors can be satisfied if considered.
Dartmouth internet security testbed (DIST: building a campus-wide wireless testbed

We describe our experiences in deploying a campus-wide wireless security testbed. The testbed gives us the capability to monitor security-related aspects of the 802.11 MAC layer in over 200 diverse campus locations. We describe both the technical and the social challenges of designing, building, and deploying such a system, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the largest such testbed in academia (with the UCSD's Jigsaw infrastructure a close competitor). In this paper we focus on the testbed setup, rather than on the experimental data and results.
Comparative analysis of Pdf-mediated circadian behaviors between Drosophila melanogaster and D. virilis.

A group of small ventrolateral neurons (s-LN v 9s) are the principal pacemaker for circadian locomotor rhythmicity of Drosophila melanogaster , and the pigment-dispersing factor (Pdf) neuropeptide plays an essential role as a clock messenger within these neurons. In our comparative studies on Pdf-associated circadian rhythms, we found that daily locomotor activity patterns of D. virilis were significantly different from those of D. melanogaster . Activities of D. virilis adults were mainly restricted to the photophase under light:dark cycles and subsequently became arrhythmic or weakly rhythmic in constant conditions. Such activity patterns resemble those of Pdf 01 mutant of D. melanogaster . Intriguingly, endogenous D. virilis Pdf ( DvPdf ) expression was not detected in the s-LN v -like neurons in the adult brains, implying that the Pdf 01 -like behavioral phenotypes of D. virilis are attributed in part to the lack of DvPdf in the s-LN v -like neurons. Heterologous transgenic analysis showed that cis -regulatory elements of the DvPdf transgene are capable of directing their expression in all endogenous Pdf neurons including s-LN v 9s, as well as in non-Pdf clock neurons (LN d 9s and fifth s-LN v ) in a D. melanogaster host. Together these findings suggest a significant difference in the regulatory mechanisms of Pdf transcription between the two species and such a difference is causally associated with species-specific establishment of daily locomotor activity patterns.
'Ethnic cleansing' and 'genocide'.

The recent article by Blum et al .1 on ethnic cleansing and genocide is based in part on data that published studies have shown to be inaccurate, and contains at least one misleading statement. When these problems are corrected, their argument fails. The inaccurate data are that 200 000 were killed in the 1992–1995 Bosnian war (Abstract, p. 2, p. 3, fig. 1, fig. 2). The source for this number (per note 26) is www.genocidewatch.org, a web site maintained by author Stanton. That site contains a chart on ‘Genocides, Politicides, and Other Mass Murder Since 1945, With Stages in 2006,’ which has the 200 000 figure, but does not provide a source for it. The 200 000 figure originated in 1992 with Bosnian President Izetbegovic, leader of one of the parties to the conflict involved, who had an obvious interest in exaggerating the numbers killed,2 and was accepted, almost without question, by major western media and government figures. Former Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke has inflated the figure to 300 000 …
Asthma and Respiratory Allergic Disease

The pathogenesis of noncommunicable diseases such as allergy is complex and poorly understood. The causes of chronic allergic diseases including asthma involve to a large extent, immunomodulation of the adaptive and particularly the innate immune systems and are markedly influenced by distinct environmental and genetic interactions. In mammals, the existence of both innate and adaptive immune systems further complicates our ability to understand the mechanisms responsible for allergy and asthma. This chapter discusses the current state of the art in our understanding of allergic immunity and particularly the role of innate immunity as the major conduit linking the host response to the respirable environment. It also provides a conceptual appreciation of the complex interplay between host specific factors and those environmental triggers that challenge the immune system and provoke allergic conditions in susceptible individuals.
Serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase levels after exercise in men.

SummarySerum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase was determined in trained and untrained men after exposure to exercise through the Harvard Step Test or timed track events. The untrained human subjects exhibited a significant decrease in SGOT. In athletes, competing in timed track events, there was also depletion in serum transaminase titer. However, in well-trained athletes there was no alteration in serum transaminase level following the same exercise as that of the untrained men. The role of the adrenal cortex and its possible interrelationship with transaminase movements, as influenced by exercise and stress, was discussed.
The Fanconi anaemia pathway: new players and new functions

Proteins of the Fanconi anaemia pathway are master regulators of genomic integrity through their interactions with other DNA repair pathways to repair interstrand crosslinks, stabilize replication forks and regulate cytokinesis.
Preservation of platelet function and number by prostacyclin during cardiopulmonary bypass

Thirty-four dogs underwent total cardiopulmonary bypass for 1 or 2 hours with a bubble oxygenator and cardiotomy suction. The dogs were divided into three groups: control dogs which received heparin alone, dogs which received prostacyclin (PGI2) and heparin, and dogs which received prostacyclin alone. PGI2 was given as a bolus (6 to 60 μg) and then as a constant infusion (0.2 to 0.8 μg/kg/min) in the venous outflow line. The pump flows were equal in the three groups. PGI2 as a bolus led to transient hypotension, and 60 μg reduced cardiac output temporarily. During cardiopulmonary bypass, dogs treated with prostacyclin and heparin had low mean arterial perfusion pressures which responded to fluid infusion or phenylephrine. After I hour of cardiopulmonary bypass and reversal with protamine, dogs treated with prostacyclin and heparin had shorter bleeding times (p
Endothelium-dependent L-Arg- and L-NMMA-sensitive mechanisms regulate tone of brain microvessels

Pial arterioles on the surface of the mouse brain were observed via television microscopy and measured with an image-splitting technique. The vessels were dilated by L-arginine (L-Arg) in concentrations as low as 10(-5) M and were constricted in dose-dependent manner by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Both the dilation and the constriction were abolished by endothelial damage. This damage was produced over a short segment of endothelium by a well-established technique that involves exposing the endothelium to a helium-neon laser in the presence of intravascular Evans blue dye. In arterioles that were responsive to 10(-5) M L-Arg, five other L-amino acids, also at 10(-5) M, failed to have any effect. The data provide direct evidence for the endothelium-dependent nature of the responses to L-Arg and L-NMMA in vivo in a defined segment of the cerebral vasculature. L-NMMA inhibited dilation by either L-Arg or acetylcholine. The data are consistent with data from in vitro studies and from studies demonstrating that L-NMMA acutely raises blood pressure. From all these earlier studies it has been hypothesized that there is a continuously acting, endothelium-dependent, L-Arg-dependent, and L-NMMA-inhibitable mechanism tending to relax blood vessels. The mediator of this mechanism is thought to be the endothelium-dependent relaxing factor for acetylcholine. Our data suggest that this mechanism is acting in the resistance vessels of the brain in vivo.