cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Call for Papers: Special Issue of the Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering on Graphical 3D Visualization in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

As the respected scholar and philosopher Aristotle noted years ago, visualization is the foundation for human understanding On Memory and Recollection, 450a 5, Kosslyn, 1980, p. 441 . Since the beginning of civilization, humans have observed and interpreted visual images in natural phenomena. Entities such as planets, stars, cloud formations, and geological artifacts are better interpreted and explained using visualization and the innate human ability to process graphical information. The written language that is now used has also evolved from early pictorial languages. Humans imagine and interpret a graphical world. In recent years, engineers and scientists have increasingly used visualization to understand and communicate complex processes and systems. This can be attributed to the tremendous growth that computer graphics has experienced over the past decade in terms of performance and enabling technologies. Graphical threedimensional visualization provides “high bandwidth” communication, allowing more information to be transferred in a shorter period of time. This allows engineers and scientists to share complex ideas and develop creative solutions to emerging problems. Three-dimensional visualization can potentially offer considerable benefits in all stages of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction AEC processes, from initial planning and conceptual design to facility management and operations. It is a particularly useful communication, planning, and analysis tool for designers, engineers, and constructors who are challenged with ever-increasing complexities involved in designing a structure or piece of civil infrastructure, and transforming that design into a completed facility. Visualization of architectural and engineering designs has traditionally been the primary driving force for developments in three-dimensional visualization in the AEC industry Bouchlaghem et al. 2005 . Three-dimensional visualization allows architects and engineers to clearly communicate their ideas
A model for connectivity in multiphase structures

Abstract The topology of a multiphase grain structure is discussed for an idealized random structure. A high degree of connectivity is found for phases or domains whose volume fraction exceeds about 20 %. The relevance to sinter and domain structures is discussed.
Online Distance Learning with Cataloging Mentors: The Mentor's Viewpoint

SUMMARY Cataloging experts from across the United States were asked to critique assignments from students enrolled in Professor Gertrude Koh's classes at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois through the use of an Internet bulletin board (WebBoard™, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.). This paper examines the mentors' perspective on teaching cataloging and their experience in teaching future colleagues via the WebBoard.
Acoustic emission caused by large alternating strains

Abstract By vibrating specimens at very high strains, acoustic emission has been observed under controlled conditions. Continuous emission, in the form of strong harmonic generation, has been observed for polycrystalline copper and brass. In single crystal copper, a non-harmonic, burst type, response has also been observed. For brass the internal friction and the the third harmonic were analysed in terms of the dislocation models of Granato-Lucke and Peguin et al. A dynamic dislocation multiplication mechanism is suggested for the burst type emissions.
Gravity-balancing of spatial robotic manipulators

This paper describes the underlying theory of gravity balanced spatial robotic manipulators through a hybrid strategy which uses springs in addition to identification of the center of mass using auxiliary parallelograms. A significant contribution of this paper is to show that springs with fixed ends are sufficient to gravity balance a spatial mechanism if the hybrid method of gravity balancing is used where the center of mass is identified first through auxiliary parallelograms. Also, the system remains gravity balanced even if the orientation of the base is changed, i.e., the direction of the gravity is changed with respect to the base. Although the method can be applied to n link spatial serial manipulators, we apply the method for gravity compensation of two and three degrees-of-freedom (DOF) spatial manipulators. A prototype with the underlying principles of this paper was fabricated at the University of Delaware.
Effects of polychlorinated biphenyl on marine phytoplankton communities.

WE report here the first in situ bioassay of short term effects of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) on natural marine phytoplankton communities. (Synthesis and utilization of these industrial organochlorines have been discussed before1–5.) PCB residues have been identified in water, biota and sediment samples throughout the marine environment5–9. Near Escambia Bay, Florida, industrial outfall water and sediment in the immediate outfall vicinity contained PCB residues as high as 275 p.p.b. (1 billion =109) and 486 p.p.m. respectively. Live oysters approximately 10 miles downriver of the outfall contained residues as high as 3 p.p.m.10. Seven of ten municipal wastewater outfalls sampled along the California coastline were confirmed to carry PCB compounds11. Information about the physiological and ecological effects of PCBs in natural aquatic communities is limited.
Countering tumor-induced immunosuppression during immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

Background: Vaccines for pancreatic cancer have been challenged by a number of factors, especially the immunosuppressive microenvironment within the tumor that allows for escape from immune surveillance. Objective/methods: We sought to identify results that define mechanisms of pancreatic-cancer-associated immunosuppression and strategies that might be useful to overcome them thereby resulting in effective immune responses to cancer vaccines capable of deleting pancreatic cancer cells. Results/conclusion: Immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and regulatory T cells (Treg) reside in tumors, and their products along with tumor derived products (such as VEGF, TGFβ and IL-10), create a microenvironment that counters immune activation and attack. Immunotherapy with cancer vaccines must include strategies to modulate these immunosuppressive cell types and tumor byproducts. Clinical trials are beginning to test these strategies.
Purple grape juice inhibits 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis and in vivo DMBA-DNA adduct formation

There has been considerable interest in identifying specific foods and phytochemicals that may have breast cancer preventive properties. Concord grapes are rich in polyphenolic chemicals and anthocyanin pigments that may have biological properties which could suppress cancer such as having antioxidant, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic actions. To determine the potential breast cancer protective action of purple grape juice, we examined the effect of grape juice consumption on the initiation stage of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis and on the in vivo formation of rat mammary DNA adducts in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Consumption of grape juice significantly inhibited mammary tumor mass at termination and the growth of tumors for the first 5 weeks of detectable tumor development. Consumption of grape juice phenolics by rats also significantly inhibited in vivo mammary DMBA-DNA adduct formation by 34 and 56% for animals fed phenolics at 346 and 692 mg/dL, respectively, compared to controls. Mammary 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) levels decreased by 25 and 37%, respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant. Liver DMBA-DNA adducts decreased by 10-30%, while 8-oxo-dG adducts remained unchanged, following grape juice intake. Liver glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly increased following grape juice consumption, but only at the highest level of intake. In addition, liver activities of catalase increased and xanthine oxidase decreased significantly, but only at the highest grape juice dose. Thus, these studies indicate that specific constituents or combinations of phytochemicals in purple grape juice can block the initiation stage of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis. This tumor inhibitory effect was associated with a suppression of mammary DMBA-DNA adduct formation, which in part may be explained by increased liver activity of the phase II metabolizing enzyme, glutathione S-transferase. Mammary and liver 8-oxo-dG levels were not significantly altered by grape juice consumption. Thus, grape juice constituents appear to have benefit in decreasing susceptibility of the rat mammary gland to the tumor-initiating action of DMBA.
Managing dynamic epidemiological risks through trade.

There is growing concern that trade, by connecting geographically isolated regions, unintentionally facilitates the spread of invasive pathogens and pests – forms of biological pollution that pose significant risks to ecosystem and human health. We use a bioeconomic framework to examine whether trade always increases private risks, focusing specifically on pathogen risks from live animal trade. When the pathogens have already established and traders bear some private risk, we find two results that run counter to the conventional wisdom on trade. First, uncertainty about the disease status of individual animals held in inventory may increase the incentives to trade relative to the disease-free case. Second, trade may facilitate reduced long-run disease prevalence among buyers. These results arise because disease risks are endogenous due to dynamic feedback processes involving valuable inventories, and markets facilitate the management of private risks that producers face with or without trade.
Efficient classification and codebook design for CVQ

An efficient block classification and a new codebook design algorithms for classified vector quantisation (CVQ) are presented. The classification method is particularly simple and suited for hardware or software implementation. For each nonshade block, a local threshold is computed and used to binarise the block. The binary block is then compared with a predefined set of binary edge templates to decide its nature. On the other hand, the codebook design algorithm generates the codevectors in a short time, while providing considerable computational savings. It only uses the AC energy of the training set vectors to produce the codebook and the AC energy of an input block for its encoding. Subsequently, the actual codebook does not have to be present at the transmitter end. Good quality images, as measured by subjective and objective measures, are produced at bit rates in the range 0.64–0.87 bits per pixel (bpp).
Relationship of Early Bonding to Initial Infant Feeding Patterns in Bottle-fed Newborns

To determine the relationship between early bonding in the immediate post-delivery period and initial infant feeding patterns in bottle-fed newborns, data were gathered from the charts of 85 full-term normal infants. Of the infants, 57 had an early, extra bonding experience in the postpartum recovery room; 28 did not. In comparing the bond and no-bond groups for weight loss and formula intake, the t-test analyses showed a statistically significant effect of bonding that was beneficial to infant status.
Citizens under military surveillance

Joan M. Jensen, Army Surveillance in America, 1775–1980 (Yale University Press, 1991). Roy Talbert, Negative Intelligence: The Army and the American Left, 1914–1941 (University Press of Mississippi, 1991).
Self-Organization in Thin Films of Liquid Crystalline Perylene Diimides

A family of liquid crystalline organic semiconductors based on perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyldiimide is introduced. The thermal transitions, self-organizing behavior, and change in photophysical properties upon self-organization of one member of the family are described. Red, polycrystalline thin films of spin-coated N,N‘-bis[3-[1,3-bis[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-2-propoxy]propyl] perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyldiimide spontaneously form a highly crystalline black phase after about 24 h. The quantum yield for fluorescence from the black phase is enhanced 7-fold, and the width (fwhm) of the emission band is decreased by more than a factor of 2, with respect to the red phase. The self-organization process appears to decrease spontaneously both the energetic disorder and the density of exciton quenching sites in the film.
Dissipation Wavenumbers for Turbulence in Electron–Positron Plasmas

Many astrophysical systems involve turbulent electron-positron plasmas. Linear kinetic theory of electromagnetic fluctuations in homogeneous, magnetized, collisionless, non-relativistic electron-positron plasmas predicts that two lightly damped modes propagate at relatively long wavelengths: an Alfven-like mode with dispersion and a magnetosonic-like mode with dispersion if β e 1. Here, is the Alfven speed in an electron-positron plasma and ∥ refers to the direction parallel to the background magnetic field B o . The dissipation wavenumber kd is defined as the value of k at which the damping rate equals the rate of energy transfer by the turbulent cascade. Using linear theory and a basic turbulent cascade model, kd is predicted for turbulence at propagation quasi parallel to B o , for quasi-perpendicular magnetosonic-like turbulence, and for quasi-perpendicular Alfven-like turbulence. In the latter case, the model predicts that an increase in the turbulent energy should correspond to an increase in kd . The assumptions and predictions of the model may be tested by particle-in-cell simulations.
Using FCS to Study Protein Disorder and Aggregation

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is powerful approach for studying the dynamic properties of fluorescently labeled biomolecules including diffusion, binding, and conformational dynamics. We have applied FCS to the study of membrane binding, dynamics, and aggregation of two intrinsically disordered proteins. The first, α-synuclein, is a small, neuronal proteins whose aggregation is implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Its native functions are poorly understood, but are thought to involve binding to cellular membranes. Here we have measured the free energy of binding of α-Synuclein to lipid membranes using FCS. Our results show that the binding energy can be strongly altered by changes to the bilayer curvature and composition, suggesting that even modest changes to lipid components in vivo may be able to exert significant effects on α-Synuclein function. Furthermore, modifications to the C-terminus of α-Synuclein, which does not directly interact with the lipid bilayer but exerts control of the aggregation of the protein, is also able to modulate binding interactions. Measurements of intrachain dynamics indicate that modifications alter the flexibility of the C-terminus as well as the conformational ensemble populated by the protein. The second protein, tau, is a microtubule binding protein that is found in aggregated paired-helical filaments in Alzheimer’s and other diseases. We have characterized the lipid-induced aggregation of tau by FCS. We find that aggregation occurs when the amount of protein bound to the lipid bilayer exceeds a critical surface density. Our results suggest that the lipid bilayer facilitates protein-protein interactions both by screening charges on the protein as well as by increasing the local protein concentration, resulting in rapid aggregation. Our work highlights the versatility of FCS in studying this important class of proteins.
Kinetic studies of electron transport reactions at low temperatures in xanthine oxidase.

Abstract Samples of rapidly frozen xanthine oxidase reduced with xanthine have been warmed between −78°C and −50°C. EPR measurements of oxidation — reduction processes at these temperatures have revealed a new EPR signal which appears to be a disulfide radical involved in xanthine hydrolysis. Other EPR signal changes indicate that at pH 6.5 enzyme reduction by xanthine is rate limiting and at pH 8.5 or higher that some step following enzyme reduction is rate limiting. Evidence is presented for the lack of anaerobicity in most rapid freeze apparatus, the oxygen entering the samples during rapid freeze quenching in isopentane.
Differential effects of chronic ingestion of tritiated water on prenatal brain development.

Female rats were given tritiated drinking water (3 microCi/ml) from 30 days before mating up to and throughout pregnancy. At this low dose, the course and the outcome of pregnancy were normal. The differences between newborn body and cerebral weights of the treated rats and those of control animals were on the borderline of significance. In contrast, cerebral DNA and cerebral protein were highly significantly lower. In 30-35% of the treated population the DNA and protein values were more than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean values for the control population. Thus the number of the progeny of the mothers exposed to tritiated water that were considered to have outstandingly low levels of DNA and protein was 14-17 times greater than in the control group. The irradiated population also had 3-5% of severely affected individuals with cerebral DNA and protein values more than 2 SD below the mean of the experimental population. However, even in this irradiated population, a certain number of individuals did not show the effects of radiation as indicated by DNA and protein values that were not lower than the mean values of the control population. These animals may represent those individuals in which normal (control)more » populations would have cerebral DNA and protein levels well above the average (by 1 to 2 SD), but here, because of prenatal irradiation, were about average. If so, this lack of effect of irradiation cannot be caused by protection against radiation. However, at present, a differential repair mechanism of protection in those animals (or their mothers) that showed little or no effect of irradiation cannot be excluded.« less
Worksite Opportunities for Wellness (WOW): effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors after 1 year.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion program on improving cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods In St Louis, Missouri from 2005 to 2006, 151 employees (134 F, 17 M, 81% overweight/obese) participated in a cohort-randomized trial comparing assessments + intervention (worksite A) with assessments only (worksite B) for 1 year. All participants received personal health reports containing their assessment results. The intervention was designed to promote physical activity and favorable dietary patterns using pedometers, healthy snack cart, WeightWatchers® meetings, group exercise classes, seminars, team competitions, and participation rewards. Outcomes included BMI, body composition, blood pressure, fitness, lipids, and Framingham 10-year coronary heart disease risk. Results 123 participants, aged 45 ± 9 yr, with BMI 32.9 ± 8.8 kg/m2 completed 1 year. Improvements (P ≤ 0.05) were observed at both worksites for fitness, blood pressure, and total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol. Additional improvements occurred at worksite A in BMI, fat mass, Framingham risk score, and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome; only the changes in BMI and fat mass were different between worksites. Conclusion A multi-faceted worksite intervention promoted favorable changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors, but many of the improvements were achieved with worksite health assessments and personalized health reports in the absence of an intervention.
Lipopolysaccharide binding protein is down-regulated during acute liver failure.

Background and Aims Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) is involved in the modulation of acute liver injury and failure caused by acetaminophen (APAP). Although the biological activity of LBP is concentration dependent, little is known about its levels in acute liver failure.
Ultrasound-assisted NIR imaging for breast cancer detection

evaluated the effects of missing optical sensors in the middle of the combined probe upon the accuracy of the reconstructedoptical absorption coefficient, and assessed the improvements of reconstructed absorption coefficient with the guidance of theco-registered ultrasound. The results have shown that when the central ultrasound array area is in the neighborhood of 2 x 2
Antiplatelet therapy for ischemic heart disease.

Rupture or injury of an atherosclerotic coronary arterial plaque — as occurs spontaneously in patients with an acute coronary syndrome or as the result of a percutaneous coronary intervention — serves as a nidus for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, which, in turn, may cause myocardial infarction or death. Activation of the platelet-surface glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor is the final common pathway in the process leading to platelet aggregation and, eventually, thrombus formation. When this receptor is activated, circulating fibrinogen binds to it and cross-links with adjacent platelets to create a platelet–fibrinogen matrix. Since platelets have a pivotal role in the . . .
Knowledge management and the dynamic nature of knowledge

Knowledge management (KM) or knowledge sharing in organizations is based on an understanding of knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. In implementation, KM is an effort to benefit from the knowledge that resides in an organization by using it to achieve the organization's mission. The transfer of tacit or implicit knowledge to explicit and accessible formats, the goal of many KM projects, is challenging, controversial, and endowed with ongoing management issues. This article argues that effective knowledge management in many disciplinary contexts must be based on understanding the dynamic nature of knowledge itself. The article critiques some current thinking in the KM literature and concludes with a view towards knowledge management programs built around knowledge as a dynamic process.
On cramér-von mises tests of goodness of fit with censored data

The paper considers the goodness of fit tests with right censored data or doubly censored data. The Fredholm Integral Equation (FIE) method proposed by Ren (1993) is implemented in the simulation studies to estimate the null distribution of the Cramer-von Mises test statistics and the asymptotic covariance function of the self-consistent estimator for the lifetime distribution with right censored data or doubly censored data. We show that for fixed alternatives, the bootstrap method does not estimate the null distribution consistently for doubly censored data. For the right censored case, a comparison between the performance of FIE and the η out of η bootstrap shows that FIE gives better estimation for the null distribution. The application of FIE to a set of right censored Channing House data and to a set of doubly censored breast cancer data is presented.
The use of similes to enhance inferencing and memory of unfamiliar product hazards

Individuals need to infer proper behavior with an unfamiliar product in situations that are not specifically stated in a warning, as well as remember the warning in subsequent uses. One novel approach to help people correctly make inferences about warnings and remember them may be to use similes, which may allow individuals to understand hidden hazards by using previous knowledge. Twenty-six participants between the ages of 18 and 27 completed a computer-based assessment of how well they inferred safe behavior for unfamiliar products. Participants were shown traditional-type warnings, simile-type warnings, or non-warnings for products. An ANOVA with number of correct inferences as the dependent variable was performed While it was expected that participants given simile-type warnings might provide more correct answers to the inference-based questions than those given traditional-type warnings, there was no statistical difference found between the mean scores of participants in these groups. The mean scores of participants in both of these groups was significantly higher then the mean score of participants in the group given non-warnings. These data suggest that both traditional warnings and simile warnings provide useful information regarding product hazards. The study is in progress and will conclude with a total of sixty participants. Language: en
Zinc modulation of calcium activity at the photoreceptor terminal: a calcium imaging study.

Abstract There is abundant experimental evidence that zinc ions (Zn2+) are present in the synaptic vesicles of vertebrate photoreceptors, and that they are co-released with glutamate. Here we show that increasing the concentration of extracellular zinc (2 μM–2 mM) suppresses the entry of calcium into the synaptic terminals of isolated salamander double cones. The resultant dose-dependent curve was fit by an inverse Hill equation having an IC50 of 38 μM, and Hill coefficient of 1.1. Because there is currently no reliable way to measure the concentration of extracellular zinc, it is not known whether the zinc released under normal circumstances is of physiological significance. In an attempt to circumvent this problem we used zinc chelators to reduce the available pool of endogenous zinc. This enabled us to determine how the absence of zinc affected calcium entry. We found that when intra- or extra-cellular zinc was chelated by 250 μM of membrane-permeable TPEN or 500 μM of membrane-impermeable histidine, there was a significant rise in the depolarization-induced intracellular calcium level within photoreceptor terminals. This increase in internal [Ca2+] will undoubtedly lead to a concomitant increase in glutamate release. In addition, we found that blocking the L-type calcium channels that are expressed on the synaptic terminals of photoreceptors with 50 μM nicardipine or 100 μM verapamil abolished the effects of zinc chelation. These findings are a good indication that, when released in vivo, the zinc concentration is sufficient to suppress voltage-gated calcium channels, and reduce the rate of glutamate release from photoreceptor terminals.
Criminal Prosecution of Tax Return Preparers

Over 61 percent of individual taxpayers, accounting for more than 76 million returns, utilized the services of paid preparers in 2005. However, hiring a paid preparer does not assure the taxpayer or the government that the return will be prepared correctly. Tax return preparer fraud generally involves the preparation and filing of false income tax returns by preparers who claim inflated personal or business expenses, false deductions, unallowable credits or excessive exemptions on returns completed for their clients or fictitious taxpayers. Preparers may also manipulate income figures to fraudulently obtain tax credits, such as the earned income tax credit. The Criminal Investigation (CI) division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) prosecutes the most serious cases of preparers suspected of criminal or fraudulent behavior and other related financial crimes. This article investigates the role of CI in prosecuting tax return preparers and analyzes the results of 377 published tax return preparer criminal...
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and the evolution of contemporary long-term enteral access

This paper is based on the opening lecture of the 23rd Congress of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN), given on September 9, 200l in Muenchen, Germany. The article relates the story of the origin and the evolution of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or PEG, based on the then-novel concept of sutureless approximation of a hollow viscus to the abdominal wall. It also provides a perspective of the clinical applications of PEG, in general, and the author's pediatric experience in particular. Additionally, it briefly describes the old and new expanded applications of the PEG concept. In this communication, the author of the procedure encourages young investigators to ask relevant questions in research and in clinical settings aimed at developing new ideas and concepts in the field of nutrition. He also stresses the need to carefully reflect upon the ethical and moral implications of new discoveries. The article contains pertinent illustrations and bibliographic references.
Weldability of cast and heat treated uranium-0.25% vanadium alloy

Weldability of a grain refined cast uranium-0.2% vanadium (U-0.2% V) alloy is a concern since the alloy is reported to be sensitive to delay weld cracking. Welding of unalloyed wrought U is not free of weld defects. Deep, single-pass electron beam welds in U have been plagued by cold-shuts in the fusion zone. Cold-shuts have not been observed in the cast U-0.2% V alloy. The purpose of this work was to address the weldability concern for a cast and helium isothermally transformed U-0.25% V alloy and to determine the effects of welding on the weldment properties.
A New Argument against an Intervening Stellar Population toward the Large Magellanic Cloud

Zaritsky & Lin have claimed detection of an intervening population of stars toward the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which, they believe, could account for a substantial fraction of the observed microlensing events. I show that the observed timescales of these events imply that if such an intervening population were composed of ordinary stars that gave rise to a significant fraction of the microlensing events, then the population could not be associated with the LMC. I present two independent statistical arguments which together essentially rule out such a chance alignment of unassociated structures. On the other hand, if the intervening structure is associated with the LMC, I show that of order half the mass in this structure is in substellar objects, which would make it unlike any known stellar population.
Heritability of ECG measurements in adult male twins

Abstract To assess the genetic contribution to electrocardiographic (ECG) measurements, heritability analysis was performed on ECG data collected on 251 pairs of adult male twins during the second examination of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute twin study, a multicenter study of cardiovascular risk factors. Resting 12-lead ECGs were obatained on each twin, pair and, the R-R, QRS, QT, and JT intervals were measured. Both the R-R and QT intervals demonstrated significant heritable components, accounting for 77% and 36%, respectively, of the variability. No significant heritable component of the QRS complex could be identified. Although the MZ intraclass correlation was higher than the DZ intraclass correlation, the JT interval did not demonstrate significant heritability. Therefore, in adult males both heart rate and the duration of ventricular repolarization have significant heritable components. These heritable components may need to be considered when using ECG measurements to screen for patients at risk for cardiovascular disorders or sudden cardiac death.
The value of a watershed as a series of linked multiproduct assets

Abstract This paper views ecosystem as long-lived multiproduct factories. Increased use of one ecosystem good or service (function) often affects the supplies of other ecosystem functions. The relationships between these functions can be modeled in terms of key variables related to ecosystem management. Thus, the analyst can determine the different mixes of functions an ecosystem can perform. Watersheds can be viewed as a series of ecosystems linked spatially and temporally by the downward flow of water. Changes in the mix of upstream ecosystem functions change the mix of downstream ecosystem functions. The paper presents an approach to valuing one ecosystem as a multiproduct factory using consumer surplus. The author then proceeds to apply the same methodology to a watershed viewed as a series of linked multiproduct assets. Because the flow of water closely links upstream and downstream ecosystems, a watershed can be treated as one unit and valued accordingly. However, this approach obscures a question of particular interest. If erosion in an upstream ecosystem causes it to lose value, but in turn causes the wetlend downstream to gain value. does the value of the watershed rise or not? The paper examines this issue in terms of boundaries, redundancy and defensive expenditures, sustainability, and other factors which must be considered in the economic valuation of the watershed.
Factor and Cluster Analyses of the Special Assignment Battery

Abstract : The Special Assignment Battery (SAB) is an interest and biographical data instrument developed to meet personnel screening needs of the United States Marine Corps and Navy. Previous research on the SAB has focused on the empirical keying of the instrument for the prediction of performance as a recruiter or drill instructor. Although both useful and well-conducted, past research on the SAB has done little to explicate the construct structure of the instrument. The present study fills this research gap. The construct structure of the SAB can be summarized with eight factors and 16 subordinate clusters. This research also serves as a methodological case study in the value of exploring construct structure through multiple analysis methods. The construct structure of the SAB can be summarized with eight factors and 16 subordinate clusters. The eight factors were labelled surgency, adjustment, likeability, prudence, work orientation, painstaking, demographics, and religious nondrinkers. The surgency factor was composed of four clusters: extroversion, exhibitionism, dominance, and spontaneity. The adjustment factor had subordinate clusters labelled well being and even tempered. The likability factor was composed of two clusters: good natured and stable. The prudence factor was defined by the two clusters organization and cautious. The demographics factor was composed from three clusters: age, marriage and delinquency. The factors, work orientation, painstaking, and religious nondrinker, each had only one subordinate cluster. Keywords: Marine Corps personnel, Naval personnel, Personnel selection, Biodata inventory, Factor analysis, Cluster analysis.
Dynamics and Establishment of Clostridium difficile Infection in the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) following antibiotic therapy is a major public health threat. While antibiotic disruption of the indigenous microbiota underlies the majority of cases of CDI, the early dynamics of infection in the disturbed intestinal ecosystem are poorly characterized. This study defines the dynamics of infection with C. difficile strain VPI 10463 throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract using a murine model of infection. After inducing susceptibility to C. difficile colonization via antibiotic administration, we followed the dynamics of spore germination, colonization, sporulation, toxin activity, and disease progression throughout the GI tract. C. difficile spores were able to germinate within 6 h postchallenge, resulting in the establishment of vegetative bacteria in the distal GI tract. Spores and cytotoxin activity were detected by 24 h postchallenge, and histopathologic colitis developed by 30 h. Within 36 h, all infected mice succumbed to infection. We correlated the establishment of infection with changes in the microbiota and bile acid profile of the small and large intestines. Antibiotic administration resulted in significant changes to the microbiota in the small and large intestines, as well as a significant shift in the abundance of primary and secondary bile acids. Ex vivo analysis suggested the small intestine as the site of spore germination. This study provides an integrated understanding of the timing and location of the events surrounding C. difficile colonization and identifies potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
The Exchange Rate and U.S. Agriculture: Comment

G. Edward Schuh has recently called attention to the relationship between currency exchange rates and agricultural prices. He emphasized that overvaluation of the dollar had depressed agricultural prices in the United States prior to 1971. However, the evidence presented by Schuh to show that the dollar was overvalued is unconvincing, and part of the price-depressing effects of overvaluation were probably shifted from American producers to foreign
First Prize Mechanical Properties of Thin Films Quantified Via Instrumented Indentation

AbstractMetallic coatings are primarily designed to enhance surface properties such as corrosion resistance, thermal protection, and tribological behaviour of a particular component in service. However, the deposition of such coatings inherently modifies the microstructure of the coating, resulting in mechanical properties of the coating that may differ significantly from those of the starting material from which the coating was produced. In addition, residual stresses are often present in the coating, and are strongly dependent upon deposition method and coating thickness. These stresses can lead to failure of the component owing to through-thickness cracking or interface delamination. Thus, it is clear that in order to maximise coating performance, the mechanical properties and stress state of the coating must be well characterised. Instrumented depth sensing indentation provides a means of quantifying the mechanical behaviour of the coated component on various size scales, depending on the maximum dept...
On the limitations of dynamic recovery as revealed by temperature change tests at large strains

Because previous temperature change tests could not be continued to large strains, the effects of a low temperature prestrain on the large strain flow curve at a higher temperature have been found by extrapolation. These extrapolations have been based on the assumption that after prestraining at a lower temperature the stress-strain curve would rejoin the stress-strain curve obtained at a constant temperature. The temperature change tests described however, show this assumption to be false. The prestrained samples have a flow curve which is higher and parallel to that for the constant temperature test, indicating the important result that some elements in the dislocation substructure cannot be dynamically recovered. Additionally, a dislocation structure which does not recover when deformation is continued at a higher temperature (but still within the low temperature regime) demonstrates the limitations of dynamic recovery.
Almost sure theories

Abstract If is a model with universe U and Q ⊆ q U where q is a fixed positive integer, we put 〈Q〉 for the expansion of with the new relation Q. We study sets of relations defined by S(σ) = {Q⊆ q U: 〈Q〉⊨σ} where σ is a first-order sentence with equality of the appropriate type and |U|⩽ℵ 0 . For some simple countable structures , we show that S(σ) is almost all of 2 or almost none of it, for certain topologies and measures. We have analogous results for the cardinality of S(σ) for some finite structures with large enough U. Some of the structures we examine, in both the countable and finite case, are sets with a successor relation and cyclic groups.
Abstract ED03-01: Minority and rural population views and consent preferences for biospecimen and biobank donation.

Advances in medicine and public health require diverse population participation in biospecimen donation as well as clinical trials where biospecimen collection is included. This is increasingly related to improving our understanding of the factors related to cancer and other disease outcomes and etiology. Barriers to biospecimen and biobank donation for underserved communities are poorly understood especially for minority and rural communities who experience delays in translation of research results, lower participation in clinical trials and delays in technology transfer. On Maryland's rural Eastern Shore, formative research and evaluation of educational programs and materials on biospecimen donation was undertaken. Supported by an NCI grant, this presentation will describe research results, biospecimen educational programs targeting the public and health professionals and donation barriers in a rural and diverse community on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Recommendations for planned quantitative studies as well as educational modules for community physicians and nurses will be discussed. Citation Format: Claudia R. Baquet. Minority and rural population views and consent preferences for biospecimen and biobank donation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr ED03-01.
Staphylococcus aureus virulence in the respiratory tract:agr and sar dependent activation of epithelial Ca2+ fluxes and IL-8 expression |[diams]| 849

S. aureus is a common respiratory pathogen in cystic fibrosis particularly in young patients. In this study we used well characterized mutants of S. aureus RN6390 to identify which virulence factors are important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease and the induction of inflammation in the lung. A neonatal mouse model of acute pulmonary infection was used to compare the virulence of the parental strain, and genetically constructed mutants lacking either of the global regulatory genes sar (Staphylococcus accessory regulator) agr (accessory gene regulator) or both regulatory loci. Whereas the parental strain caused pneumonia, as defined by recovery of >103cfu/100 μl of lung tissue, in 100% of the 10-14 day old BALBc/ByJ mice (n=30) when introduced intranasally, 100% bacteremia and 30% mortality; the agr sar mutant infected 75% of the inoculated mice (n=32), caused bacteremia in 38% and 0% mortality (P<0.01). Infection associated with a single mutation in sar gave an intermediate phenotype, with 100% infection, but 0% mortality. To examine the mechanisms through which S. aureus cause pneumonia, we compared the ability of the different strains to activate signal transduction in fura-2 loaded 16HBEo- human respiratory epithelial cells, by monitoring the changes in intracellular Ca2+ after exposure to the bacteria. Adherence of the wild type strain promptly stimulated oscillating Ca2+ waves, while there was minimal response to the sar mutant, and no response to the sar, agr mutant. However, the sar, agr, and double mutant strains were able to stimulate IL-8 expression from human epithelial cells lines in a dose dependent fashion in the presence of 0.1% fetal bovine serum, to levels comparable to that elicited by an IL-1β positive control. Neither S. aureus culture supernatant, nor dead organisms stimulated an IL-8 response. These results suggest that S. aureus has multiple surface components which trigger epithelial responses, and while the agr and sar regulatory loci are clearly implicated in virulence in vivo, even avirulent mutants can elicit a significant proinflammatory response from respiratory epithelial cells. S. aureus colonization in children with CF, can contribute to ongoing airway inflammation, even in the absence of chronic infection.
+ alumina—A novel Li+ solid electrolyte

Li+ is one of several monovalent cations known to completely replace Na+ in Na+ beta alumina. The exchange occurs readily to approximately 50% producing a physically stable Li+ solid electrolyte having a conductivity of approximately 10−3 (Ωcm)−1 at 25°C. The Li+ transport number through Li+-Ni+ beta alumina is nearly 1 for compositions having Li+/Na+ greater than 1. Li+ ions migrate through the solid electrolyte lattice without significantly altering its Na+ content. This paper discusses our work examining ionic equilibrium, Li+ transport, ionic conductivity, and stability of Li+-Na+ beta alumina. The extraordinary preferential Na+ occupation of the beta alumina structure even in the presence of high Li+ activity is discussed and similar behavior predicted for another beta alumina composition.
Effects of foreign investment in the presence of unemployment

Abstract In this paper we present a simple model of unemployment in the presence of foreign investment in the traded sector. More foreign investment increases employment in the nontraded sector but may or may not increase employment in the traded sector. The effect on total employment is also ambiguous. In a two-country framework with foreign investment itself a variable, we show that foreign investment should most likely be subsidized rather than taxed. Moreover, the employment maximizing tax on foreign investment is shown to be less than the optimum tax.
Intentionally incomplete longitudinal designs: I. Methodology and comparison of some full span designs

Longitudinal designs are important in medical research and in many other disciplines. Complete longitudinal studies, in which each subject is evaluated at each measurement occasion, are often very expensive and motivate a search for more efficient designs. Recently developed statistical methods foster the use of intentionally incomplete longitudinal designs that have the potential to be more efficient than complete designs. Mixed models provide appropriate data analysis tools. Fixed effect hypotheses can be tested via a recently developed test statistic, FH. An accurate approximation of the statistic's small sample non-central distribution makes power computations feasible. After reviewing some longitudinal design terminology and mixed model notation, this paper summarizes the computation of FH and approximate power from its non-central distribution. These methods are applied to obtain a large number of intentionally incomplete full-span designs that are more powerful and/or less costly alternatives to a complete design. The source of the greater efficiency of incomplete designs and potential fragility of incomplete designs to randomly missing data are discussed.
Exemplars in Environmental Ethics: Taking Seriously the Lives of Thoreau, Leopold, Dillard and Abbey

It is argued that certain individuals can and should be considered ‘morally exemplary’ with respect to the environment. This can be so even where there is no universally applicable ethical principle they employ, and no canonical set of virtues they exhibit. The author identifies Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, Annie Dillard and Edward Abbey as potential ‘environmental exemplars,’ focusing for the purposes of the essay on individuals who have written compelling autobiographical works in defense of a way of life that is both attuned to the values of a particular place and attentive to the humanistic concerns that have more traditionally been the locus of ethical thought.