cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knowledge-based regulation processing for site development

Abstract Municipal site development regulations heavily influence the layout and design of building sites, but paper-based regulations are extremely inefficient for use in computer-aided design. This paper describes the conceptual design for SITE CODE, a knowledge-based model of a municipal site development code which was developed to study how regulations can be incorporated into systems for computer-aided site design. SITE CODE was developed from studies of site development regulations in Austin, Texas, San Diego, California, and Fairfax County, Virginia in the United States. The primary function of SITE CODE is to extract from the code all design requirements which are applicable to a particular development project. An organizational system for regulations has been developed to facilitate retrieval of design requirements based on: (1) the geographic district or region in which a regulation is applicable, (2) the time period during which a regulation is effective, and (3) the administrative or legal process (zoning, land subdivision, or site plan review) with which a regulation is associated. SITE CODE consists of a hybrid rule-based/object-oriented representation of site development regulations called the regulatory knowledge base. An object-oriented requirement knowledge base containing project-specific design information extracted from the regulations is created dynamically during a session.
Forward Rate Curve Smoothing

This article reviews the forward rate curve smoothing literature. The key contribution of this review is to link the static curve fitting exercise to the dynamic and arbitrage-free models of the term structure of interest rates. As such, this review introduces more economics to an almost exclusively mathematical exercise, and it identifies new areas for research related to forward rate curve smoothing.
End-Functional Poly(tert-butyl acrylate) Star Polymers by Controlled Radical Polymerization

Star-shaped poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) was prepared by an “arm first” method using copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Divinylbenzene, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were employed as the coupling reagents. PtBA star polymers were successfully prepared using preformed PtBA macroinitiators. Several factors pertinent to star polymer formation, including the choice of exchange halogen and solvent, the addition of copper(II) species, the ratio of coupling reagent to macroinitiator, and the reaction time for the star formation, were addressed. Functional initiators were introduced to directly prepare arms with α-functionalities since ATRP is highly tolerant to functional groups. End-functional star polymers with various functionalities, such as hydroxy, epoxy, amino, cyano, and bromine, on the outer layers were successfully synthesized.
Oncogenic signals of HER-2/neu in regulating the stability of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27.

Abstract Overexpression and activation of HER-2/neu, a proto-oncogene, play a pivotal role in cancer formation. Strong expression of HER-2/neu in cancers has been associated with poor prognosis. Reduced expression of p27Kip1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, correlates with poor clinical outcome in many types of carcinomas. Because many cancers with the overexpression of HER-2/neuoverlap with those affected by reduced p27 expression, we studied the link between HER-2/neu oncogenic signals and p27 regulation. We found that down-regulation of p27 correlates with HER-2/neu overexpression. To address the molecular mechanism of this inverse correlation, we found that reduction of p27 is caused by enhanced ubiquitin-mediated degradation, and the HER-2/Grb2/MAPK pathway is involved in the decrease of p27 stability. Also, HER-2/neu activity causes mislocation of p27 andJun activation domain-binding protein 1 (JAB1), an exporter of p27, into the cytoplasm, thereby facilitating p27 degradation. These results reveal that HER-2/neu signals reduce p27 stability and thus present potential points for therapeutic intervention in HER-2/neu-associated cancers.
"Wonder What God Had in Mind?": Leibniz's Theodicy and the Art of Toni Morrison

With the help of Toni Morrison's novels Beloved and The Bluest Eye, Josiah Young questions several claims G. W. Leibniz makes in his Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil. Specifically, Young casts doubt on Leibniz's assertions that this world is the best of all possible ones; that God permits evil as a moral necessity; and that the victims of evil either deserve their misfortune or should endure it for "Goodness's" sake.
Effects of Corn Sample, Mill Type, and Particle Size on Corn Curl and Pet Food Extrudates

ABSTRACT The effects of corn sample, grinder type, and particle size of ground corn on the extrusion of corn curls and pet food were studied. Extrusion runs were conducted using a twin-screw extruder. Properties of corn curl and pet food extrudates were affected significantly by corn samples obtained from different parts of the country (Nebraska, Illinois, and Texas), even though grinding and extrusion parameters were held constant. The type of grinder used to grind the corn had an effect on extrusion properties. The volumetric expansion index (VEI) of extrudate from pin-milled samples was lower than that of extrudate from the same corn ground in a hammer mill or roller mill. Small particle size, obtained by grinding corn in a hammer mill with different screen sizes, produced extrudate with a significantly higher VEI than extrudate from coarse- or medium-sized particles.
The effect of sodium copper chlorophyllin on growth and acid production of some oral bacteria.

7. Bowers, W. F. 1947, Am. J. Surg. 73: 37-50. 8. Moss, N. H., Morrow, B. A., Long, R. C. and Ravdin, I. S. 1949, J.A.M.A. 140: 1336-1339. when added to culture mediums in sufficient concentration either delays or prevents growth, though the results have not been entirely in agreement and the studies have differed in technique and details of experimental method. Smith9 noted a definite bacteriostatic effect with organisms representative of several different bacterial groups: growth of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited by a 1:80 dilution but not by 1:160; several hemolytic streptococci were inhibited by dilutions of 1:640 to 1:1600; Streptococcus agalactiae was inhibited at 1:200, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas pyocyaneus at 1:50, and Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium histolyticum at 1:1600. When a reducing agent such as cysteine or thioglycollate was used in the medium, the inhibiting effect of chlorophyllin was markedly lessened. At times, a bactericidal effect was also observed; a hemolytic streptococcus was apparently killed on exposure to a 1:640 dilution of water-soluble chlorophyllin in culture medium, but a strain of Staph, aureus was not killed by 24 hours exposure to a 1:20 dilution. Nevin and Bibby10 found that watersoluble chlorophyll exerted a bacteriostatic effect on the growth of lactobacilli, streptococci, and micrococci. Inhibition of respiration of the organisms was roughly proportional to the concentration of chlorophyllin, but glycolytic activity of the cells was stimulated
Nuclear data sheets for A = 122*

Abstract The 1960 version of the Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 122 has been revised on the basis of data received before April 1972. All literature containing nuclear structure data pertaining to A = 122 has been reviewed and evaluated, resulting in the use of over 125 references. The compilers have noted inconsistencies or lack of data by the use of footnotes throughout the compilation. Eleven nuclei are proposed as members of the A = 122 mass chain including the tentative assignments 122 Ag, 122 Cd, and 122 Ba. Only for the nuclei of Sn, Sb, Te, I, and Xe have excited levels been established; however, more than one state is proposed for In and Cs with uncertainty as to which state is the ground state. Recent data on resonance and thermal-neutron capture in 122 Sb have led to the complicated level and decay scheme shown for 122 Sb. Only a few spins are known for these levels, due largely to a lack of definitive reaction experiments. For the nuclei of Sn and Te, the level energies and J π -values are based mainly on one or two reaction experiments: for Sn, the (p,p′) reaction; and for Te, ( 3 He, d) and (p, t). Overall, there is need for more data on all the nuclei of this mass chain. It is hoped that this compilation will serve as the basis for extending the knowledge of these nuclei through definitive experimental results.
Individual-based Computational Modeling of Smallpox Epidemic Control Strategies

In response to concerns about possible bioterrorism, the authors developed an individual-based (or "agent-based") computational model of smallpox epidemic transmission and control. The model explicitly represents an "artificial society" of individual human beings, each implemented as a distinct object, or data structure in a computer program. These agents interact locally with one another in code-represented social units such as homes, workplaces, schools, and hospitals. Over many iterations, these microinteractions generate large-scale macroscopic phenomena of fundamental interest such as the course of an epidemic in space and time. Model variables (incubation periods, clinical disease expression, contagiousness, and physical mobility) were assigned following realistic values agreed on by an advisory group of experts on smallpox. Eight response scenarios were evaluated at two epidemic scales, one being an introduction of ten smallpox cases into a 6,000-person town and the other an introduction of 500 smallpox cases into a 50,000-person town. The modeling exercise showed that contact tracing and vaccination of household, workplace, and school contacts, along with prompt reactive vaccination of hospital workers and isolation of diagnosed cases, could contain smallpox at both epidemic scales examined.
Effects on aquatic and human health due to large scale bioenergy crop expansion.

Abstract In this study, the environmental impacts of large scale bioenergy crops were evaluated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Daily pesticide concentration data for a study area consisting of four large watersheds located in Michigan (totaling 53,358 km2) was estimated over a six year period (2000–2005). Model outputs for atrazine, bromoxynil, glyphosate, metolachlor, pendimethalin, sethoxydim, triflualin, and 2,4-D model output were used to predict the possible long-term implications that large-scale bioenergy crop expansion may have on the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and humans. Threshold toxicity levels were obtained for the bluegill and for human consumption for all pesticides being evaluated through an extensive literature review. Model output was compared to each toxicity level for the suggested exposure time (96-hour for bluegill and 24-hour for humans). The results suggest that traditional intensive row crops such as canola, corn and sorghum may negatively impact aquatic life, and in most cases affect the safe drinking water availability. The continuous corn rotation, the most representative rotation for current agricultural practices for a starch-based ethanol economy, delivers the highest concentrations of glyphosate to the stream. In addition, continuous canola contributed to a concentration of 1.11 ppm of trifluralin, a highly toxic herbicide, which is 8.7 times the 96-hour ecotoxicity of bluegills and 21 times the safe drinking water level. Also during the period of study, continuous corn resulted in the impairment of 541,152 km of stream. However, there is promise with second-generation lignocellulosic bioenergy crops such as switchgrass, which resulted in a 171,667 km reduction in total stream length that exceeds the human threshold criteria, as compared to the base scenario. Results of this study may be useful in determining the suitability of bioenergy crop rotations and aid in decision making regarding the adaption of large-scale bioenergy cropping systems.
A Fluid-Structure Interaction Model for 3D Heart Valve Dynamics

Bioprosthetic heart valves are valve replacements constructed from animal tissue. Although they are geometrically similar to native aortic valves and offer comparable hemodynamic characteristics in their function, they have limited operational life, often requiring replacement 10–15 years after implantation. Though much is still unknown about bioprosthetic heart valve failure, it is generally accepted that this failure is to some extent due to structural decomposition. Although the mechanism for degradation is not clearly understood, it has been observed that these regions of failure are typically in locations where the leaflet undergoes large flexion and high compressive and tensile stresses [1]. An understanding of bioprosthetic heart valve failure necessitates detailed quantitative information on the complex motion of and the stresses on the leaflets particularly during the opening and closing phases and their relationship to structural failure.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Kinetics of crystal dissolution for a Stillinger-Weber model of silicon

We present a method combining nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulation with Markovian data analysis techniques suitable for the study of both the growth and dissolution of crystalline ``embryos'' in the liquid phase. The feasibility of studying growth processes is demonstrated, but the majority of the studies concern crystal dissolution at temperatures slightly above the melting point. Molecular-dynamics simulations using the Stillinger-Weber potential were performed by embedding crystallites of 400--800 atoms in a liquid phase consisting of approximately 3600--7200 atoms, respectively. During each simulation, the time evolution of the size and shape of the embryo was followed until it became indistinguishable from the liquid. These simulations provide information on the atomic processes involved in dissolution and on the macroscopic kinetics of small clusters. The sensitivity of the results to different temperatures, system sizes, initial cluster shapes, and the criteria used to distinguish between solid and liquid are demonstrated.
Reply to Jonathan Gruber and Michael Frakes

We address Gruber and Frakes's criticisms that (1) the state excise tax on a package of cigarettes is a more exogenous measure of the cost of cigarettes than the state-specific price of a package of cigarettes and (2) that it is preferable to control for the effects of unmeasured variables that vary over time with the use of time dummies instead of with a quadratic time trend. We also point out that our specification of the cost effect differs from theirs because we allow it to be nonlinear while they force it to be linear.
Inter-regional comparison of patterns and trends in surface water acidification across the United States

Temporal trends in acid-base chemistry are reported for surface waters in 6 regions of the United States. The lakes and streams are low ANC, dilute systems, selected to represent acid-sensitive aquatic resources in the 6 regions. The predominant trends observed were decreases in lake and stream SO42− concentrations in sites east of the Mississippi River, and increases in NO3− in the Adirondack lake and Catskill stream sites (both located in eastern New York State). Correlations of trend results from all sites with other factors indicated that trends in precipitation volume were highly correlated with the observed trend patterns. From the surface water trend results, three distinct clusters were identified that corresponded to three trend patterns: ‘dilution,’ ‘recovery,’ and ‘acidification.’ These were distributed across the LTM regions, with no particular geographic patterns.
Muramyl dipeptide does not induce slow-wave sleep or fever in rats

Abstract The synthetic muramyl dipeptide, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), is reported to increase slow-wave sleep and body temperature in cats, rabbits, and squirrel monkeys. The present study examined the ability of MDP to induce sleep and fever in rats. MDP was administered IP at 50, 250 and 500 μg/kg. Sleep and body temperature were monitored for 12 hr. MDP failed to affect the duration of wakefulness, S1, S2, or total ( S 1 + S 2 ) slow-wave sleep. There was also no change in the latency to the first episode of S2 sleep. In contrast, rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep was significantly suppressed for the first 6 hr after 250 and 500 μg/kg doses of MDP. There was, however, a rebound increase in REM sleep after the initial period of suppression which resulted in no overall change in the amount of REM sleep. Body temperature was unaffected by MDP. Thus, we conclude that MDP has neither sleep-promoting nor pyrogenic actions in the rat when administered systemically at doses reported to be effective in several other species.
Microwave detection of direct trans to gauche transitions in CH2DOH

Abstract Additional lines have been assigned in the microwave torsional-rotational spectrum of CH 2 DOH. Of particular interest is the detection and identification of direct trans to gauche transitions to both gauche states. In terms of torsional substate, three R -type and three Q -type transitions have been assigned for e 0 ( trans ) to e 1 ( gauche ) and four R -type transitions have been assigned for e 0 ( trans ) to o 1 ( gauche ). Five additional lines have been assigned for e 1 ( gauche ) to o 1 ( gauche ) and seven additional lines have been assigned within the e 0 and o 1 substates. The torsion-rotation analysis gives the torsional energy level differences gauche - gauche = 101.9 GHz, trans - gauche (lower) = 280.5 GHz, and trans - gauche (upper) = 382.4 GHz. The torsional potential energy coefficients have been determined to be V 1 = 8.74 ± 0.01 cm −1 , V 2 = 2.49 ± 0.02 cm −1 , and V 3 = 373.45 ± 0.05 cm −1 .
Effect of humidity on the aerodynamic size characteristics of nonhygroscopic aerosols.

Size selective samplers used in estimating potential inhalation hazard to the worker collect particles according to their aerodynamic size. Calibration of these samplers are generally performed under low humidity conditions even though they may be required to operate in a high humidity atmosphere. A series of experiments using iron oxide and Polystyrene Latex (PSL) aerosols were performed to determine differences in aerodynamic size measured in dry and humid atmospheres. The LASL Spiral Centrifuge Aerosol Spectrometer and a horizontal elutriator were used to measure the differences in aerodynamic size (Dae). Under constant temperature conditions there is no change in Dae for particles as small as 0.312 μm for relative humidities as high as 97%. However, the combination of slight temperature decreases and a humid environment leads to significant changes nil Dae.
Rate of drug metabolism in obese volunteers before and during starvation and in azotemic patients.

Abstract The elimination of sulfisoxazole was studied to determine the effects of several clinical states on excretion and metabolism of drugs. Plasma and urine free sulfisoxazole and and urine total sulfisoxazole were measured at intervals after a 2.0-Gm. intravenous dose. Plasma half-life and the rates of metabolism and excretion of free drug were calculated from these values. Six healthy obese volunteers had a range of metabolism rates of 0.052–0.074 hr. −1 and excretion rates of 0.028–0.077 hr. −1 . Five of these were studied during a period of starvation ketoacidosis at which time excretion rates were decreased in all and metabolism rates were unchanged. Three of four patients with azotemia had low excretion rates and all had very low metabolism rates for this drug. We conclude that azotemic patients cannot metabolize some drugs at a normal rate and therefore may require lower than customary doses to avoid excessive cumulation.
Insight into muscle activity during deep water running.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity and patterns during deep water running (DWR) and treadmill running (TMR) at equivalent levels of RPE. Methods: Subjects (n = 7, 26.3 +/- 4.3 yr, 158.2 +/- 9.9 cm, 61.0 +/- 6.6 kg) performed DWR and TMR at RPE values of 11 (fairly light), 13 (somewhat hard), and 15 (hard). Surface EMG was used to evaluate muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GA) with average EMG calculated across a 30-s window. Five cycles of data were extracted from smoothed EMG profiles on the basis of the selection of distinct RF peaks. These cycles were reduced to create ensemble muscle activity patterns per condition. Average EMG for each muscle was analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc tests. Results: TA and GA muscle activity magnitudes during DWR were significantly lower than during TMR (mean decrease of 72%-86%, P < 0.05) for any RPE level. BF and RF muscle activity magnitudes were either not different or tended to be lower during DWR than TMR for matched RPE (P = 0.051 and P = 0.121, respectively). Conclusions: Whereas TA and GA muscle activity magnitudes were each clearly lower during DWR than TMR regardless of RPE, higher levels of intensity (RPE 15) during DWR can be used to elicit similar muscle activity levels as lower intensity (RPE 11) TMR.
Neutron Hardness Assurance of Bipolar Transistors by Collector Resistance Determination

An approach to neutron hardness assurance in bipolar transistors is described, based on an observed high correlation of post-irradiation, saturated current gain with pre-irradiation collector resistance. Two experiments are described in which the correlation of post-irradiation gain is determined, first, with a set of structural parameters measured on auxiliary test patterns on the same chip with the subject transistor and, second, with electrical parameters measured at the terminals of the subject device. Results of these experiments suggest the feasibility of using collector resistance as a single hardness screening parameter. Implementation of this approach requires incorporation of an auxiliary resistor structure on each transistor chip and determination of the resistor value acceptance limit for the neutron fluence of interest.
Muscle spindles are concentrated in the superior vocalis subcompartment of the human thyroarytenoid muscle.

Summary It is hypothesized that different parts of the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) are functionally specialized. Specifically, the TA is divided into a lateral muscularis compartment and a medial vocalis compartment. This study examined the distribution of muscle spindles throughout the human TA as an indicator of these functional differences. Histological cross-sections from the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of five human membranous vocal folds were examined for the number and location of muscle spindles. There was an average of 6.1 muscle spindles in sections from each region with no significant variation between the different regions (p The results of this study demonstrate that the majority of TA muscle spindlesare concentrated in its superior medial quadrant, an area we have termed the superior vocalis subcompartment (SC. This finding suggests that the superior vocalis SC is functionally distinct from the remainder of the TA. It is hypothesized that tension in the superior vocalis SC can be controlled independently from the remainder of the TA, and this capability is used to effect the biomechanics of vocal fold vibration during phonation.
Wide band correlated-k approach to thermal radiative transport in nonhomogeneous media

The correlated-k approach is compared with the exact line-by-line calculations for thermal radiative transport in highly nonhomogeneous media containing water vapor and carbon dioxide. It is shown that the magnitude of the spectral interval over which k-distribution functions are generated can be increased up to approximately 1000 cm -1 for water vapor and 500 cm -1 for carbon dioxide, with only a slight loss of accuracy. Different solution techniques of the radiative transfer equation in nonhomogeneous media are used and compared. The wide band correlated-k method and a simplified approach to the exponential wide band correlated-k method are shown to provide very good results for the cases considered. The calculations include the entire infrared spectrum of water vapor and carbon dioxide for temperatures up to 2500 K
Operational performance of U.S. public rail transit and implications for public policy

Abstract In today's tough economic environment, governments at all levels face significant budget shortfalls and public rail transit systems must compete with other public services for government subsidies. It is critical that public rail transit systems be concerned with their operational performance and efficient use of resources. In this paper, we develop a methodology that measures a rail transit system's performance relative to that of other rail transit systems, compares its performance to an appropriate efficient benchmark system, and identifies the sources of its inefficiency. We analyze the relationship between public subsidies and operational performance of public rail systems and show an inverse relationship between subsidization and efficiency.
Effect of contaminant on adsorption of whey proteins at the air-water interface

The dynamics of adsorption of commercial samples of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin was investigated through the measurement of dynamic surface pressure and surface concentration via a radiotracer method. An unusual two-step adsorption behavior was observed for both proteins at low concentration which was believed to be due to the presence of a surface active contaminant. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the native whey protein samples with those purified with charcoal extraction. Analysis of the charcoal extract by thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of contaminating free fatty acid and triglycerides in the commercial samples. β-Lactoglobulin was found to contain a higher concentration of these contaminants than α-lactalbumin. Extraction by charcoal was found not to modify the protein structure with respect to their near-and far-UV circular dichroism spectra. The presence of contaminant resulted in a higher steady-state surface pressure for β-lactoglobulin, but the protein was not displaced from the interface. On the other hand, the presence of a low concentration of surfactant was sufficient to decrease the steady-state surface concentration of α-lactalbumin due to the displacement of the protein from the interface by the lipids.
The inelastic response of porous, hybrid-fiber composites

Abstract An effective and efficient three-step micromechanical modeling process for predicting the inelastic thermomechanical response of porous, hybrid-fiber, metal-matrix composites is presented. The three steps include: (1) analysis of a porous, isotropic elastic binder; (2) analysis of an anisotropic, elastic hybrid fiber; (3) analysis of an anisotropic, inelastic metal-matrix composite. Results are presented for axial, transverse and axial shear loading. The degree to which porosity in the binder of a hybrid fiber, filament volume fraction in the hybrid fiber, and hybrid-fiber volume fraction in the composite influence the response is demonstrated for a range of parameters. The influence of thermal effects, including residual thermal stresses and response at elevated temperature is also shown, as are differences in tensile and compressive response in the presence of residual stresses at room temperature. It is concluded that the influence of the parameters is variable, depending upon the type of loading, and that fabrication-induced residual thermal stresses can play a significant role relative to room-temperature response.
Crack tip damage in rubber compounds

The application of the crack layer theory to fatigue crack propagation (FCP) in rubber compounds is discussed. A crack tip damage evolution coefficientμ is employed to assess the extent of damage as a fraction of the damage associated with critical crack propagation. The results can be expressed in the form $$\frac{{da}}{{dN}} = \frac{{\beta {\rm T}^2 }}{{\mu T_c - T}} ,$$ where da/dN is the rate of FCP,T is the tearing energy (energy release rate) whose critical value isT c, andβ is a phenomenological constant. Experimental data for two rubber compounds, previously obtained by other workers, have been analyzed using the crack layer approach. Although damage, sometimes, cannot be easily detected in the case of rubber samples,μ increases during stable crack propagation. The value of the damage coefficientμ evolves differently for each compound approaching unity at catastrophic failure.
Comparison of CT scatter rejection effectiveness using antiscatter grids and energy-discriminating detectors

ABSTRACT A potential application for energy-discriminating detectors (EDD) is scatter rejection in CT. If paired with a monoenergetic source, EDDs can identify scattered photons by their reduced energy relative to primary photons. However, it is unknown how the scatter rejection of an EDD compares with that of an antiscatter grid. In this study, the scatter rejection efficiency of energy-integrating detectors (EIDs) with antiscatter grids was compared with that of EDDs. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to generate projection images of head and body-sized cylindrical water phantoms in a typical clinical CT scanner geometry and a non-traditional geometry in which antiscatter grids would be impossible to install. Eight differ ent detectors were used: four EIDs with 1D antiscatter grids of different heights (between 1 mm and 20 mm) and four EDDs with different energy bin sizes (between 0.1 keV and 10 keV.) Different source energy spectra were also investigated. Scatter to primary ratio (SPR) was calculated for each setup. The results showed that most antiscatter grid setups ou tperformed EDD setups. In the traditional CT geometry, the EDD with a 0.1 keV energy bin size produced slightly better SPR than a 5-mm-tall antiscatter grid, but the more realistic 1 keV energy bin EDD outperformed only a 1-mm-tall grid. However, the EDDs significantly reduced the SPR in the non-traditional geometry in which it was impossible to in stall antiscatter grids. The re sults suggest that EDDs are unlikely to outperform antiscatter grids in scatter rejection but could be useful when antiscatter grids are impossible to install. Keywords: Scatter rejection, energy discriminating detector, antiscatter grid, energy integrating detector, Monte Carlo simulation
“Crises” in medical malpractice insurance: Evidence of excessive price-cutting in the preceding soft market ☆

Abstract Prior work suggests that heterogeneous information or weak incentives for solvency could have caused some general liability insurers to charge low ex ante prices during the early 1980s and mid-to-late 1990s, putting downward pressure on other firms’ prices and plausibly aggravating subsequent periods of rapid premium growth. We analyse whether the 1994–1999 “soft” market in medical malpractice insurance led some firms to underprice, grow rapidly, and subsequently experience upward revisions in loss forecasts (“loss development”), which could have aggravated subsequent market “crises”. Consistent with the underpricing hypothesis, the results indicate a positive relation between loss development and premium growth among growing firms. Underpricing was likely more prevalent among non-specialist malpractice insurers.
Rechargeable biocidal cellulose: Synthesis and application of 3-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione

Abstract An N-halamine precursor containing two hydroxyl groups (diol) has been synthesized. The N-halamine diol precursor was coated onto cotton fabrics with the assistance of the cross-linking agent BTCA. The surface of the coated cotton could be rendered biocidal by exposure to dilute hypochlorite solutions. Syntheses routes, characterization data, and antimicrobial test results will be presented. The durability and rechargeability of chlorine on the coated cotton was determined according to an AATCC standard washing test. The chlorinated cotton swatches were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus ( ATCC 6538 ) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 ( ATCC 43895 ) and showed excellent efficacy against these two bacterial species within a brief time of contact. Over 70% of the chlorine lost after repeated washing or UVA irradiation could be regained upon rechlorination.
HEPATOBILIARY DISEASES IN WOMEN

Most diseases of the hepatic and biliary systems affect both women and men. There are several disorders, however, that affect women differently than they affect men. Gallstones, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and autoimmune liver disease occur more often in women. The impact of alcohol on the liver is worse in women. Chronic liver disease from any cause can affect fertility. In addition, oral contraceptive use and pregnancy can have specific effects on the liver.
Linear Titration Curves of Acids and Bases

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, by a simple transformation, becomes pH - pK = pA - pB, where pA and pB are the negative logarithms of acid and base concentrations. Sigmoid titration curves then reduce to straight lines; titration curves of polyelectrolytes, to families of straight lines. The method is applied to the titration of the dipeptide glycyl aminotricarballylic acid, with four titrable groups. Results are expressed as Cartesian and d'Ocagne nomograms. The latter is of a general form applicable to polyelectrolytes of any degree of complexity.
Temperature effects on the universal equation of state of solids

Recently it has been argued based on theoretical calculations and experimental data that there is a universal form for the equation of state of solids. This observation was restricted to the range of temperatures and pressures such that there are no phase transitions. The use of this universal relation to estimate pressure-volume relations (i.e., isotherms) required three input parameters at each fixed temperature. It is shown that for many solids the input data needed to predict high temperature thermodynamical properties can be dramatically reduced. In particular, only four numbers are needed: (1) the zero pressure (P=0) isothermal bulk modulus; (2)it P=0 pressure derivative; (3) the P=0 volume; and (4) the P=0 thermal expansion; all evaluated at a single (reference) temperature. Explicit predictions are made for the high temperature isotherms, the thermal expansion as a function of temperature, and the temperature variation of the isothermal bulk modulus and its pressure derivative. These predictions are tested using experimental data for three representative solids: gold, sodium chloride, and xenon. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found.
Precipitation and evapotranspiration controls on daily runoff variability in the contiguous United States and Puerto Rico

Daily runoff variability is an important driver of fluvial erosion but is difficult to incorporate into landscape evolution models due to limited observations and incomplete understanding of hydroclimatic controls on runoff distributions. Prior work in the contiguous U.S. showed how limitations can be overcome when mean runoff is correlated with the shape of the right tail of runoff distributions. However, which probability distribution functions best capture geomorphically important events and whether patterns in the contiguous U.S. transfer to other settings remain important open questions. Our analysis of large hydroclimatic data sets from the contiguous U.S. and Puerto Rico reveals that stretched exponential distributions provide a common probabilistic framework to evaluate daily rainfall and runoff variability. In both settings, daily runoff variability is correlated with the evapotranspiration ratio, aridity index, and the ratio of wet to dry days. Surprisingly, mean storm depth (estimated from average daily precipitation during wet days only) and storm depth variability are uncorrelated with daily runoff variability in either data set. These findings suggest that first-order controls on runoff variability are processes that reduce runoff during intermediate frequency flows rather than processes that enhance the magnitude of rare floods. However, by normalizing local runoff variability by storm depth variability, some correlations collapse onto a single trend for the contiguous U.S. and Puerto Rico, suggesting a secondary role for rainfall variability on runoff variability. Taken together, this analysis provides a rationale for how hydroclimatic controls on runoff variability can be better incorporated into landscape evolution models from readily available data.
Pacing-Induced ST Segment Deviation in Patients with Unstable Angina: Clinical, Angiographic, and Hemodynamic Correlation:

To assess the clinical, coronary arteriographic, and hemodynamic differences between the unstable angina patients manifesting ST segment depression and those showing ST segment elevation as well as those demonstrating chest pain only without ST segment deviation during pacing, low-dose digital subtraction ventriculography was performed in 33 patients before and after abrupt cessation of atrial pacing during selective coronary arteriography. Transient ST segment depression during pacing was observed in 17 patients (52%), whereas 6 patients (18%) showed ST segment elevation; however, 10 patients (30%) did not manifest any ST segment deviation in spite of typical chest pain. Hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction were observed in a significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportion of patients with ST segment depression than in those with ST elevation. Patients who manifested ST segment depression during pacing had a higher incidence of triple-vessel disease (65 vs 17%; P < .05) as compared with the patients with ST segment elevation. Indirect evidence of intracoronary thrombi (complicated lesion, abrupt occlusion, and intraluminal filling defect) was noticed in a higher frequency (P < 0.05) in the group of patients with ST elevation during pacing. In patients with ST segment depression, no significant changes of global left ventricular (LV) functional parameters were observed. However, the length of the LV severe hypokinetic region was increased significantly (6.2 +/- 3.1 vs 23.5 +/- 6.2%; P < 0.005) during pacing in this group of patients. The shortening of the affected segments of the left ventricle was decreased significantly (52.3 +/- 3.6 vs 38.3 +/- 4.9%; P < 0.05) in these patients during pacing. In the group of patients with ST segment elevation during pacing, decrease in ejection fraction was associated with significant (P < 0.01) increase in midwall equatorial diastolic stress as compared with the patients with pacing-induced ST segment depression as well as patients without ST segment deviation. In the group of patients without ST segment deviation during pacing there was no considerable aggravation of LV global or regional function. This distinction should be taken into consideration in evaluating patients with unstable angina for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.
Improving the performance of Uintah: A large-scale adaptive meshing computational framework

Uintah is a highly parallel and adaptive multi-physics framework created by the Center for Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions in Utah. Uintah, which is built upon the Common Component Architecture, has facilitated the simulation of a wide variety of fluid-structure interaction problems using both adaptive structured meshes for the fluid and particles to model solids. Uintah was originally designed for, and has performed well on, about a thousand processors. The evolution of Uintah to use tens of thousands processors has required improvements in memory usage, data structure design, load balancing algorithms and cost estimation in order to improve strong and weak scalability up to 98,304 cores for situations in which the mesh used varies adaptively and also cases in which particles that represent the solids move from mesh cell to mesh cell.
Renin in anesthetized rats.

SummaryRenin release rate (RPF) (RV—A renin) was measured in pentobarbital anesthetized rats. Plasma renin activities were determined by incubating plasma with purified rat renin substrate and measuring the angiotensin generated during the incubation by bioassay. It was found that the determinations could be made twice in an animal without measurable stimulation of renin release due to blood loss. Saline diuresis was found to inhibit renin release rate, and diminish arterial renin activity in rats.These experiments were begun during a post-doctoral year at the Institut de Pharmacologie de l'Universite de Lausanne, Switzerland, supported by Postdoctoral Grant 49072 from the National Science Foundation. They were completed with support from Grant GB-31936 from the National Science Foundation and a grant from the Kidney Foundation of Michigan.
Genomic Expansion of Domain Archaea Highlights Roles for Organisms from New Phyla in Anaerobic Carbon Cycling

Summary Background Archaea represent a significant fraction of Earth's biodiversity, yet they remain much less well understood than Bacteria. Gene surveys, a few metagenomic studies, and some single-cell sequencing projects have revealed numerous little-studied archaeal phyla. Certain lineages appear to branch deeply and may be part of a major phylum radiation. The structure of this radiation and the physiology of the organisms remain almost unknown. Results We used genome-resolved metagenomic analyses to investigate the diversity, genomes sizes, metabolic capacities, and potential roles of Archaea in terrestrial subsurface biogeochemical cycles. We sequenced DNA from complex sediment and planktonic consortia from an aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River (USA) and reconstructed the first complete genomes for Archaea using cultivation-independent methods. To provide taxonomic context, we analyzed an additional 151 newly sampled archaeal sequences. We resolved two new phyla within a major, apparently deep-branching group of phyla (a superphylum). The organisms have small genomes, and metabolic predictions indicate that their primary contributions to Earth's biogeochemical cycles involve carbon and hydrogen metabolism, probably associated with symbiotic and/or fermentation-based lifestyles. Conclusions The results dramatically expand genomic sampling of the domain Archaea and clarify taxonomic designations within a major superphylum. This study, in combination with recently published work on bacterial phyla lacking cultivated representatives, reveals a fascinating phenomenon of major radiations of organisms with small genomes, novel proteome composition, and strong interdependence in both domains.
On the performance of scheduling over space-time architectures

A unified comparison of space-time architectures paired with scheduling algorithms is presented. We define a new performance metric, "good throughput" or "goodput", which encapsulates both the spectral and energy efficiency of the scheme and consider various types of space-time architectures, including space-time block coding and BLAST (Bell Laboratories layered space-time) architecture. We consider a scenario in which K active data users, each of which is equipped with multiple antenna elements, report their channel state information (CSI) to a multi-antenna element base station (BS). Using a scoring function at the BS, time resources are allocated to the users in order to facilitate multiuser diversity which enhances the overall throughput of the system.
Chromosome Numbers in Some Cacti of Western North America — IX

Documented chromosome numbers and meiotic behavior are recorded for an additional 30 taxa representing 25 species of Cactaceae of southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Diploid and polyploid taxa including two triploids were observed, all of which indicate the same base number,x = 11. Trisomism and inversions are reported for the first time in cacti.
A Family of Transients Suitable for Reproduction on a Shaker Based on the cosm(x) Window

A family of transients with the property that the initial and final acceleration, velocity, and displacement are all zero is derived. The transients are based on a relatively arbitrary function multiplied by window of the form cosm(x). Several special cases are discussed which result in odd acceleration and displacement functions. This is desirable for shaker reproduction because the required positive and negative peak accelerations and displacements will be balanced. Another special case is discussed which will permit the development of transients with the first five (0-4) temporal moments specified. The transients are defined with three or four parameters that will allow sums of components to be found which will match a variety of shock response spectra.
Hypopharyngeal airway surgery in the pediatric patient with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Although standard treatment of pediatric sleep apnea has been directed at the nasal and retropalatal levels, some patients will have persistent obstruction at the base of the tongue. Surgical approaches that treat this area, many of which have been proven effective in the adult population, can be considered to treat these patients.
Extraordinary computing: religion as a lens for reconsidering the home

We present results from a study examining how American Protestant Christians' faith affects their domestic life. There are two contributions of this work for the HCI community. First, we provide empirical evidence demonstrating how topics of interest to HCI researchers (e.g., material artifacts, routines, and ICT use) are used for religious purposes. Our findings show how Christians distinguish these aspects of domestic life from their secular counterparts. Second, we use our findings to reflect on current directions of future domestic ICT applications. Specifically, we critically evaluate the "problem solving approaches dominating the design of future technologies, and present extraordinary computing or systems that promote and honor the special value accorded to some aspects of domestic life.
An analytical study of opportunistic lease renewal

We present opportunistic renewal, a lease management protocol designed to keep distributed file systems or distributed shared memories consistent in the presence of a network partition or other computer failures. Our treatment includes an analytical model of the protocol that compares performance with existing lease protocols and quantifies improvements. In addition, this analytical model provides the structure to understand message overhead and availability trade-offs when selecting lease parameters. We include results demonstrating that opportunistic renewal substantially reduces the network overhead associated with lease renewal. As a corollary, opportunistic renewal can reduce the lease length at any given network overhead; e.g., by a factor of 50 at 1% network overhead. Lower overhead makes leasing less intrusive and shorter lease periods allow a system to recover from failure more quickly.
COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE CITY BUDGET: GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED BUDGETING IN NEW YORK CITY

This article examines decentralization in New York City by analyzing that city's recent experiences with community based budgeting. Specifically, using budgetary data from fiscal years 1982 through 1985, the research addresses the spatial a location of capital budget projects among New York's fifty-nine community districts each of which is represented by a community board. Borrowing from the literature on intra-city variations in the distribution of public services, we examine whether “success rates” in having local budget priorities accepted for inclusion in the city's capital budget are functions of the racial and/or economic characteristics of the community districts. Alternatively, borrowing from organizational theory, we address the same issue from the perspective of community boards' interorganizational relationships. The findings indicate that although each emphasis…social area and interorganizational…contributes independently to our understanding of spatial variations concerning local budget priorities, the latter is a more important factor than the former.