cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Approach to Gamifying Acquisitions for Assessing Impact on Military Strategy of Nation States

Complex Systems in which humans play a role, namely Human-Integrated Complex Systems (HICS), can be difficult to model or simulate due to the uncertainty introduced by the human component. Traditional modeling approaches such as physics-based modeling do not provide predictive insight towards situation awareness and management. War game designers, and game architects are familiar with HICS problem spaces, and use gamification of such complex contexts as a means of modeling human behavior to inform, predict, and manage an HICS style problem. The game play thereby becomes a means of providing situation awareness and management of the HICS by using human action during game play as a heuristic for pruning the intractable possibility space of the problem at large into a likely probability subspace based on the actions players actually take when playing an HICS game simulation. This paper explores the approach of gamification of real-world HICS problem spaces for situation awareness and management. A gamification methodology is introduced and investigated through the use case of military acquisitions.
Teaching Baccalaureate Students Research Concepts Using Colored Candies.

ABSTRACT A collaborative, experiential learning activity was designed to develop nursing students' understanding of research concepts. Working in pairs, students determine if a candy company is filling bags with equal numbers of each candy color. Pairs receive 100 colored candies and instructions to obtain simple random, systematic, stratified, and cluster samples. Color counts from each sampling method are entered on a Google spreadsheet. During debriefing, students explore results, unexpected problems (e.g., inconsistent technique, missing candies), representativeness of samples (size, inclusion/exclusion criteria), and ethical conduct. Students develop knowledge to be better consumers of research and more capable advocates for high-quality nursing care.
Volatile fatty acid concentration, soil pH and soil texture during anaerobic soil conditions affect viability of Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii sclerotia

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) play a role in suppression of plant pathogens during anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), but it is unclear how VFAs in anaerobic soil affect Athelia rolfsii (formerly Sclerotium rolfsii). Anaerobic growth chamber trials were conducted to evaluate effects of VFA and VFA concentration, and interactions with soil pH and soil texture, on A. rolfsii sclerotia viability (as indicated by sclerotia germination) and colonization by potential mycoparasites. In the first objective, sclerotia were exposed to acetic or n-butyric acids at 4, 8, or 16 mmol/kg soil in sandy soil; soil pH was buffered to 5, 6, or 7. Sclerotial germination was generally reduced by both VFAs, notably at pH 5 (29% germination at 4 mmol/kg soil, 1% at 8 mmol/kg soil, and 0% at 16 mmol/kg soil). The highest colonization rates were observed in acetic acid at 16 mmol/kg soil and soil pH of 5 and 6 (65 and 55% colonization). Sclerotial germination in water or HCl controls was consistently above 90%, with minimal colonization. In the second objective, sclerotia in sandy or sandy loam soil were exposed to 4 or 16 mmol VFA/kg soil at soil pH 5 or 6. Sclerotial germination was generally less in sandy soil compared to sandy loam soil (e.g., 4 mmol VFA/kg soil at pH 5, 62% germination in sandy loam versus 0% in sandy soil), but not at pH 5 and 16 mmol/kg soil (< 1% germination in both soil textures). Soil colloid (clay and organic matter) concentration likely plays a role in reduction of VFA activity. VFAs are probable important factors in A. rolfsii suppression due to ASD treatment in many soil environments, and activity is dependent on VFA concentration, soil solution pH, and soil texture.
Why We Have Federal Deficits: An Updated Analysis

This study tabulates and quantifies legislated contributions to the federal government’s fiscal imbalance according to three criteria: (a) the share of the federal government’s structural, long-term fiscal imbalance attributable to the legislation; (b) the share of the fiscal year (FY) 2021 federal deficit attributable to the legislation; and (c) the amounts of federal deficits (as a percentage of GDP) attributed to different lawmakers’ fiscal management. Nearly three-fifths of the federal government’s long-term, structural fiscal imbalance derives from legislation enacted between 1965 and 1972. That critical period witnessed the enactments of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, subsequent expansions of both programs in 1971–1972, and substantial increases in Social Security benefits in 1972. The largest contributions to the FY 2021 federal deficit consist of legislation enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, both at the start of the Joseph R. Biden Jr. administration as well as during the final year of the Donald J. Trump administration. These bills increased spending on various income security benefits as well as on Medicaid and other mandatory spending programs, reduced federal tax collections, and added to domestic discretionary appropriations. Among recent presidential administrations, the largest federal deficits were overseen by the Trump administration, whereas the Barack H. Obama administration placed second. Despite all the political rhetoric expended today to cast blame for skyrocketing federal deficits on current officeholders of opposing political parties, the largest drivers of the structural federal fiscal imbalance were enacted roughly a half-century ago. Consequently, the federal fiscal outlook cannot be stabilized unless and until those deficit drivers, specifically federal health and retirement programs, are reformed in future legislation to moderate their growth rates.
A Simple Necessary Condition For Independence of Real-Valued Random Variables

The standard method to check for the independence of two real-valued random variables -- demonstrating that the bivariate joint distribution factors into the product of its marginals -- is both necessary and sufficient. Here we present a simple necessary condition based on the support sets of the random variables, which -- if not satisfied -- avoids the need to extract the marginals from the joint in demonstrating dependence. We review, in an accessible manner, the measure-theoretic, topological, and probabilistic details necessary to establish the background for the old and new ideas presented here. We prove our result in both the discrete case (where the basic ideas emerge in a simple setting), the continuous case (where serious complications emerge), and for general real-valued random variables, and we illustrate the use of our condition in three simple examples.
Abstract 231: Preliminary Experience with Prehospital Pupillometry: A Prospective, Observational Study in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Objective: Physiologic monitoring & neuroprognostication during resuscitation are relatively crude. Real time assessment of neurophysiology could be useful to guide resuscitative efforts. Objective assessment of the pupillary light reflex [PLR] is feasible during IHCA with a portable pupillometer, & PLR is associated with survival & neurologic outcome. We are conducting a prospective, observational study to assess the translational potential of pupillometry in the prehospital setting for OHCA. Hypotheses: Prehospital pupillometry is feasible & qualitative assessment of PLR is associated with patient outcomes. Methods: Portable pupillometers (NeurOptics, Inc) were deployed for subjects with EMS treated OHCA. Serial recordings were obtained during routine pulse checks until ROSC, termination, or hospital arrival. We qualified PLR as normal/abnormal/absent with Neurologic Pupillary Index (NPiTM), a continuous scale that combines facets of PLR (e.g. % change, velocity, latency). We reviewed prehospital & hospital records to identify patient characteristics & outcomes, tabulated data as means/medians/proportions, & estimated test performance characteristics. Results: From 2/14 - 6/14, a pupillometer was deployed to 38/58 (66%) patients with EMS treated OHCA (63 ± 16 years, 66% male, 33% witnessed, 54% bystander CPR, 11% shockable rhythm). Of 38 subjects, 21 (56%) were transported (19 ROSC & 2 CPR). At the time of submission, follow-up data were available on 27 (71%) patients (6 survived to admission, 4 had therapeutic hypothermia, 3 had cardiac catheterization, 1 survived to discharge with excellent neurologic recovery). In total, 385 readings were attempted (median 8.5 attempts/patient; IQR 6-12). Median 47% (IQR 25%, 67%) readings had usable data. Most (92%) patients had ≥1 usable reading and 9/38 (24%) had any PLR during resuscitation. Conclusion: Prehospital pupillometry is feasible & may yield prognostic information during resuscitation.
Making Policy Public: Participatory Bureaucracy in American Democracy

This book challenges the conventional wisdom that government bureaucrats inevitably seek secrecy and demonstrates how and when participatory bureaucracy manages the enduring tension between bureaucratic administration and democratic accountability. Looking closely at federal level public participation in pharmaceutical regulation and educational assessments within the context of the vast system of American federal advisory committees, this book demonstrates that participatory bureaucracy supports bureaucratic administration in ways consistent with democratic accountability when it focuses on complex tasks and engages diverse expertise. In these conditions, public participation can help produce better policy outcomes, such as safer prescription drugs. Instead of bureaucracy's opposite or alternative, public participation can work as its complement.
Scale Analysis and Experimental Results of a Solid/Liquid Phase-Change Thermal Energy Storage System

A detailed experimental study has been carried out to evaluate the heat transfer performance of a solid/liquid phase-change thermal energy storage system. The phase-change material (PCM) and metal foam are contained in a vertically oriented test cylinder that is cooled or heated at its outside boundary, resulting in radially inward melting, respectively. Detailed quantitative time-dependent volumetric temperature distributions and melt-front motion and shape data were obtained. As the PCM melts, the interface moves away from the surface of the heat source/sink, and a thermal resistance layer is built up, resulting in a reduced heat transfer rate and/or increased temperature difference between the system to be cooled (or heated) and the PCM. The phase-change medium was 99% pure eicosane, with a melting temperature of 36.5°C. Results have been generalized to apply to any low-Stefan number PCM.A heat transfer scale analysis was used in order to help in interpretation of the data and development of heat transfer correlations. In the scale analysis, conduction heat transfer in the solid and natural convection heat transfer in liquid were considered. Comparison of experimental data with scale-analysis predictions of the solid-liquid interface position and temperature distribution was performed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Some Polarization Effects for Millimeter Wave Propagation in Rain

A theoretical investigation of cross polarization generation and radar echo cancellation for the propagation of electromagnetic waves at 17, 30 and 92 GHz through rain is carried out. Both effects are due to canted, nonspherical drops. The canting angles are assumed random with preferred directions. The drop shapes used were determined at UCLA by Pruppacher, Beard and Pitter. They are oblate with increasingly flat and finally concave bottoms as drop size increases. The scattering from single particles is solved by point matching for arbitrary angles of incidence of a plane wave. Propagation through the anisotropic rain medium is handled mathematically with the use of the characteristic polarizations and propagation constants. Cross polarization effects for linear and circular transmit polarization and rain echo cancellations for circular polarization are found for rain rates up to 150 mm/hr and ranges up to 5 km. The cancellation is improved with non-circular radar polarization; however the optimum polarization is critically dependent upon the canting angle distribution.
Mapping and quantification of the major oligosaccharide components of heparin.

A new method of determining the oligosaccharide composition of commercial glycosaminoglycan heparin is described in which heparin was first depolymerized using heparin lyase (EC 4.2.2.7), and then analysed by a single h.p.l.c. step. All 20 of the porcine and bovine heparins examined were found to contain a small number of major oligosaccharide components, which on average comprised 86% of their mass. The five most abundant oligosaccharides have defined chemical structures. Although the relative abundance of oligosaccharides varied, the heparins examined were surprisingly similar. Porcine, bovine, low-Mr, and high and low antithrombin III (ATIII)-affinity heparins, however, each had distinctly different proportions of these major oligosaccharide components. The concentrations of one of these five oligosaccharides, containing a portion of the ATIII binding site, correlated with the anticoagulant activity of the ATIII-affinity-fractionated porcine-mucosal heparins from which it was derived. An additional oligosaccharide of undetermined structure was found in significant quantities in both bovine heparin and high ATIII-affinity porcine-mucosal heparin. The correlation between oligosaccharide concentration and anticoagulant activity suggests that the oligosaccharide is derived from a structural variant of the ATIII-binding site. Finally, for the heparins examined chondroitin/dermatan sulphate formed 0.6-7.4% of their mass.
Teaching Elder: Erik H. Erickson

A renowned child psychoanalyst, Erik H. Erikson (1902–1994) is perhaps best known for his work on developmental theory (Childhood and Society, 1950) and his studies of the lives of Martin Luther (Young Man Luther, 1958) and Gandhi (Gandhi's Truth, 1969). Twice he found himself intensely engaged in the role of teacher – once as a young artist who had been called by a friend to help in the progressive school formed for the children of Sigmund and Anna Freud's patients in Vienna (1927–1932), and years later (1960–1970) as a tenured professor at Harvard. This essay describes Erickson's teaching experience in both settings and suggests some of the reasons he was honored by Harvard in 1980 as a “humane teacher.” Implications from Erikson's educational practice are drawn that demonstrate how Erikson moved beyond the rote memorization and authoritarian educational practice he experienced as a youth. The essay suggests Erikson's teaching stance at Harvard fits the author's theological tradition's use of the term “teaching elder.”
Regenerative medicine in the field of pain medicine: Prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and stem cell therapy—Theory and evidence

The concept of "regenerative medicine" (RM) has been applied to musculoskeletal injuries dating back to the 1930s. Currently, RM is an umbrella term that has been used to encompass several therapies, namely prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP), and stem cell therapy, which are being used to treat musculoskeletal injuries. Although the specific treatments share similar concepts, the mechanism behind their reparative properties differs. Recently, treatments that possess a regenerative quality are resurfacing and expanding into the musculoskeletal field as potential therapeutic treatment modalities. RM, in the form of prolotherapy, was first used to treat tendon and ligament injuries. With the advancement of technology, RM has expanded to PRP and stem cell therapy. The expansion of different RM treatments has lead to its increase in the application for ligament and tendon injuries, muscle defects, as well as pain associated with osteoarthritis and degenerative disks. Recently, the use of ultrasound has been added to these therapies to guide the solution to the exact site of injury. We review 3 forms of RM injection: prolotherapy, PRP therapy, and stem cell therapy.
Narrow Band Imaging to Detect Residual or Recurrent Neoplastic Tissue During Surveillance Endoscopy

Background There is little data on the prevalence of residual neoplastic tissue or the rate of endoscopically detected recurrence in patients with prior surgical or endoscopic resection of advanced neoplasia.
Ectopic pregnancy rates in the Medicaid population.

Objective The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last estimated a national ectopic pregnancy rate in 1992, when it was 1.97% of all reported pregnancies. Since then rates have been reported among privately insured women and regional health care provider populations, ranging from 1.6–2.45%. This study assessed the rate of ectopic pregnancy among Medicaid beneficiaries (New York, California, and Illinois, 2000-03), a previously unstudied population. Study Design We identified Medicaid administrative claims records for inpatient and outpatient encounters with a principal International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision diagnosis code for ectopic pregnancy. We calculated the ectopic pregnancy rate among female beneficiaries aged 15-44 as the number of ectopic pregnancies divided by the number of total pregnancies, which included spontaneous abortions, induced abortions, ectopic pregnancies, and all births. We used Poisson regression to assess the risk of ectopic pregnancy by age and race. Results Four-year Medicaid ectopic pregnancy rates were 2.38% of pregnancies in New York, 2.07% in California, and 2.43% in Illinois. Risk was higher among black women compared with whites in all states (relative risk, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–1.28; P P Conclusion Medicaid beneficiaries in these 3 states experienced higher rates of ectopic pregnancy than reported for privately insured women nationwide in the same years. Relying on private insurance databases may underestimate ectopic pregnancy's burden in the United States population. Furthermore, within this low-income population racial disparities exist.
Optical information processing in Bose–Einstein condensates

Slow-light effects in ultracold atom clouds known as Bose–Einstein condensates offer rich opportunities for storing and processing optical signals.
Phase shifts and the modified and møller wave operators

The Schrodinger operator H=−Δ+V is considered when the potential V is central, oscillating and possibly unbounded. An eigenfunction expansion for H is derived. Also, the phase shift of the generalized eigenfunctions of H is computed. The expansion and shift are, together, applied to the study of the wave operators of scattering theory. The modified wave operators, for H and H0=−Δ are shown to exist and be complete and a condition on V is derived which is necessary and sufficient for the Moller wave operators to exist and be complete. Spectral properties of H are also discussed.
Natural variation at position 45 in the D1 domain of lineage III killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) has major effects on the avidity and specificity for MHC class I

Alternative lysine and methionine residues at position 44 in the D1 domain determine the specificities of human lineage III killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) for the C1 and C2 epitopes of HLA-C. KIR having glutamate 44 are also present in orangutans (Popy2DLB) and chimpanzees (Pt-2DL9) but notably absent from humans. Popy2DLB exhibits broad specificity for both the C1 and C2 epitopes, whereas Pt-2DL9 has narrow specificity for C2. Mutation of phenylalanine 45 in Popy2DLB to the cysteine residue present in Pt-2DL9 was sufficient to narrow the Popy2DLB specificity to be like that of Pt-2DL9. In contrast, replacement of cysteine 45 in Pt-2DL9 by phenylalanine had no effect on its C2 specificity, but reduced the avidity. In a similar manner, replacement of phenylalanine 45 with cysteine in Popy2DLA, which has lysine 44 and recognizes C1, maintained this specificity while reducing avidity. Position 45 is exceptionally variable, exhibiting twelve residues that distinguish KIR of different lineages and species. Our study demonstrates the potential for variation at position 45 to modulate KIR avidity and specificity for HLA-C. The various effects of position 45 mutation are consistent with a model in which a Popy2DLB-like receptor, having glutamate 44 and broad specificity for C1 and C2, facilitated the evolution of the C2 epitope from the C1 epitope and C2-specific KIR from C1-specific KIR. With the acquisition of C2 and C2-specific receptors, the selection against this broadly specific receptor led to its loss from the human line and narrowing of its specificity on the chimpanzee line.
Mental function in elderly men after surgery during epidural analgesia

To evaluate whether there is a difference in mental function after general anaesthesia and epidural analgesia, a homogeneous group of 40 elderly men (age between 60 and 80) undergoing transurethral prostatectomy was studied. The study was prospective, randomised and double blind. Patients with all types of complications believed to impair mental function were excluded. Long-term, short-term, verbal and visual memory were tested preoperatively, and 4 days, and 3 weeks postoperatively. In conclusion, we found a significant and equal decline in test performance on the fourth postoperative day. Three weeks postoperatively, however, both groups had returned to or exceeded preoperative levels of performance.
Computing minimal polynomials and the degree of unfaithfulness

We show how to compute, based on the Grobner basis computation, the minimal polynomial of n polynomials in n- 1 variables which contain n- 1 algebraically independent elements. We apply this result to automorphisms of polynomial rings.We also generalize these to rational functions and obtain a criterion for a rational map of an affne space to be birational.
One-Dimensional Fast Migration of Vacancy Clusters in Metals

The migration of point defects, for example, crystal lattice vacancies and self-interstitial atoms (SIAs), typically occurs through three-dimensional random walk in crystalline solids. However, when vacancies and SIAs agglomerate to form planar clusters, the migration mode may change. We observed nanometer-sized clusters of vacancies exhibiting one-dimensional (1D) fast migration. The 1D migration transported a vacancy cluster containing several hundred vacancies with a mobility higher than that of a single vacancy random walk and a mobility comparable to a single SIA random walk. Moreover, we found that the 1D migration may be a key physical mechanism for self-organization of nanometer-sized sessile vacancy cluster (stacking fault tetrahedron) arrays. Harnessing this 1D migration mode may enable new control of defect microstructures such as effective defect removal and introduction of ordered nanostructures in materials, including semiconductors.
Comparison of Lipid Extraction from Microalgae and Soybeans with Aqueous Isopropanol

The extraction efficiency of microalgae lipids with aqueous isopropanol (IPA) was investigated and compared with the extraction of oil from full-fat soy flour. The effects of the type of microalgae (Scenedesmus sp. and Schizochytrium limacinum), cell rupture, and IPA concentration on the yield of oil and non-lipid biomass were determined. The oil yield from intact cells of Scenedesmus was 86–93 % with 70, 88, or 95 % (by wt) IPA. Ultrasonic cell rupture prior to oil extraction decreased the oil yield of Scenedesmus to 74 % when extracting with 70 % IPA. The oil yield from intact cells of S. limacinum was <23 % regardless of the IPA concentration, but ruptured cells gave a 94–96 % oil yield with 88 or 95 % IPA. The different response of the two microalgae to extraction with IPA is possibly caused by differences in the cell wall structure and type and amount of polar lipids. The oil yield from soy flour with 88 and 95 % IPA was 93–95 %, which was significantly greater than yields with 50 and 70 % IPA. Cell rupture had no effect on soy flour extraction. In general, the oil yield from the ruptured cells of both microalgae and soy flour increased with increasing IPA concentration.
Microcirculation of tumors Part I: Anatomy, function, and necrosis

Microangiographic and histologic studies have been made of two transplantable rat tumours in order to correlate the microcirculation to tumour necrosis. The relationship of the capillary network to tumour necrosis is re-examined and it is shown that necrosis is not due to the absence of capillaries in tumour cores. The need for more functional studies is emphasized.
Isolation of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus

We have isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite markers for the bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus from genomic libraries enriched for (AAGG)n repetitive elements. The number of alleles ranged from two to 15 per locus with the observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.09 to 1.00. These markers will be useful for analyses of questions concerning population genetic structure.
Does the Timing of a Micturating Cystourethrogram (Mcug) Following a Febrile Uti in Infants Affect Detection of Ureterovesical Reflux

Purpose The investigation of infantile febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is still a subject of debate and controversy. To evaluate for ureterovesical reflux (VUR) most authorities recommend a micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) to be performed at least 4 weeks after the UTI to avoid false positive results. We reviewed our 10 year experience to determine whether the timing of MCUG affected the detection of ureterovesical reflux in this patient population. Material and Methods Information on 427 infants under 1 year of age who had undergone MCUG following a first febrile UTI was reviewed. The infants were divided in two groups: Group A (117) with MCUG performed within 4 weeks from UTI diagnosis and Group B (310) with MCUG at least 8 weeks from diagnosis. Results Of the 427 children, there were 258 boys (60%) and 169 girls (40%) with a median age of 5.2 months (1-12). VUR was detected in 33% of those for whom MCUG was performed 4 weeks after UTI diagnosis and in 24% of those for whom it was performed at least 8 weeks after diagnosis (p = 0.07). The grade of VUR in these two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.3) Conclusions Neither the prevalence nor the grade of VUR in infants with a first episode of UTI is influenced by the timing of the MCUG. Following treatment of the acute episode and complete resolution of symptoms the MCUG can be performed as soon as is convenient.
Different effects of selective dopamine uptake inhibitors, GBR 12909 and WIN 35428, on HIV-1 Tat toxicity in rat fetal midbrain neurons.

Abstract Drug abuse is a risk factor for neurological complications in HIV infection. Cocaine has been shown to exacerbate HIV-associated brain pathology and enhance neurotoxicity of HIV-1 Tat and gp120 proteins. In this study, we found that the selective inhibitor of dopamine transporter (DAT) function, 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl) methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl) piperazine (GBR 12909, vanoxerine), but not the selective inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine (SERT and NET) transporters, sertraline and nizoxetine, emulated cocaine-mediated enhancement of Tat neurotoxicity in rat fetal midbrain primary cell cultures. Similar to cocaine, the significant increase of Tat toxicity in midbrain cell cultures was observed at micromolar dose (5 μM) of GBR 12909. However, different doses of another selective dopamine uptake inhibitor, WIN 35428 did not affect Tat neurotoxicity. The study supports the hypothesis that changes in control of dopamine (DA) homeostasis are important for the cocaine-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 Tat neurotoxicity. Our results also demonstrate that inhibitors of DA uptake, which can bind to different domains of DAT, differ in their ability to mimic synergistic toxicity of cocaine and HIV-1 Tat in the midbrain cell culture.
New findings of pulsed surface breakdown along silicon in vacuum

Leakage and partial-breakdown characteristics of high-purity ( rho >30 k Omega -cm) bulk silicon in vacuum ( approximately 10/sup -6/ torr) under impulse voltage stress (0.39/10 mu s) are discussed. The discussion is focused on the mechanism associated with the partial-breakdown phase. The mechanism is believed to be due mainly to injection followed by avalanche breakdown, from many local spots at the cathode contact. Thermal and field emission processes are also proposed, along with the avalanche process, to describe the partial breakdown phase of silicon. These experimental findings clearly show that the injection process is a process through the bulk rather than along the surface of a specimen. More importantly, the final surface flashover is believed to be initiated by the bulk injection mechanism. >
Allocation of power in medium voltage DC distribution circuits

In this paper, dynamic programming is applied to forthcoming medium voltage direct current (MVDC) substations which have a mixture of power sources, renewable energy, and storage. Technical changes in the substation due to the dc equipment, efficiency of the substation, and protective measures are major aspects to consider in the MVDC development. The paper demonstrates how dynamic programming can minimize daily operating cost of a substation by means of local storage.
A hypothesis resolving the apparently disparate activities of native and altered forms of human C-reactive protein.

Although C-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied for over 60 years, the in vivo function of this acute-phase reactant has not been clearly defined. The literature on CRP has been divided here into three categories: the cyclic, pentameric blood-borne form of CRP termed ‘native’ CRP which has activities mainly associated with the resolution of inflammation, conformationally altered and aggregated forms of CRP which display pro-inflammatory properties, and proteolytic forms of CRP exhibiting mixed activities. Since the activities of certain forms of CRP in some cases contradict others, a hypothesis has been developed which reconciles these differences. It is proposed that distinct species of CRP are formed which have unique activities at an inflammatory site; conformationally altered and proteolytic forms of CRP are created in succession from bound native CRP at the inflammatory site due to local conditions (e.g. lowered pH, oxygen radicals, or possibly enzymes). Aggregated and/or conformationally altered forms of CRP initially promote inflammation, and subsequently produced peptide products either up or down regulate different leukocyte activities to aid in the progression of the inflammatory event. As the local conditions favoring the conversion of native CRP to altered forms begin to subside, native CRP then predominates at the site, facilitating the removal of cellular debris and resolution of the lesion.
Commentary: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in Semiconductor Memory Technology Scaling

As IC dimensions continue to shrink into the nanometer realm, conventional CMOS scaling appears to be running up against thermal and physical scaling wall. Technology innovations that can circumvent these scaling limits are required in order to achieve the performance gains needed to support the market demands. These performance requirements are driving the introduction of new materials and devices architectures in the process flow. In addition, the aspect ratio of nanostructures is increasing since the vertical dimension of the nano scale device structures in many instances, does not shrink. These high aspect ratio nanostructures pose a variety of new challenges related to patterning, deposition, and cleaning processes, and for the mechanical stability during and after fabrication. Nanotechnology is driving developments of materials with unique physical and chemical characteristics. These materials can potentially help extend the scaling of CMOS based semiconductor devices for logic and memory applications. For memory, conventional charge based concepts may be reaching fundamental limits and new concepts need to be explored.
Skeletal estimates of Gigantopithecus based on a Gorilla analogy

Abstract Mandibular metrics of Gorilla gorilla are used to generate multiple regression equations using long bones metrics as criterion variables. These equations are then used to predict skeletal estimates of Gigantopithecus based upon mandibular metrics. On the average, the long bones of Gigantopithecus were 20–25% longer and more robust than those of living gorillas.
Cardiac Blood Flow Measurement: A Component Of The Comprehensive Cardiac Examination

Quantitative noninvasive assessment of cardiac physiologic variables in a clinical setting is a desirable yet technically difficult goal. The classical param-eters of interest include chamber or vessel pressures, ventricular dimensions and volumes, and blood flow. Ultrasonic techniques have demonstrated the potential for dimension and flow detection; however, direct noninvasive pressure measure-ments are still beyond the state of the art for this modality. The Ultrasound Program at the University of Washington has-as its major goal the development and application of new ultrasonic technologies to the problem of quantitative cardiovascular assessment. The current status of this program will be reviewed with particular emphasis on cardiac applications. Experience gained from similar pe-ripheral vascular applications will be used to demonstrate the approach. A real-time computer-based ultrasound system with specialized displays is being developed. Components of this system include real-time cross-sectional imaging, pulsed Doppler flow detection and imaging, transducer position locator devices, digital image storage and display units and microprocessor-based signal analysis techniques.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Control of holding patterns for increased throughput and recovery of operations

In this paper we consider the problem of rapid recovery of airport operations following temporary runway and arrival closures. Runway and arrival route closures force aircraft to be diverted or placed in holding patterns. This significantly increases costs for air carriers and disrupts normal operations of airports and passengers. For short-term closures, placing aircraft in holding patterns near the airport is generally preferred over flight diversions. However, once the runway or arrival is opened, to prevent additional growing delays the holding aircraft must land as quickly as possible. The work presented here establishes a decentralized control policy to minimize the time required to land a set of circling aircraft. Through construction of the control policy, provable performance improvements for minimizing individual aircraft delays and the overall recovery time of the airport are achieved.
Flash photolysis resonance fluorescence investigation of the reaction of OH radicals with dimethyl sulfide

Abstract Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals in a homogeneous gas phase reaction with dimethyl sulfide have been determined using the flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique over the temperature range 273–400 K. The data (combined with the results of another recent study) can be fit to the Arrhenius expression k = (6.08 ± 2.54) × 10 −12 exp[(134 ± 135)/ T ] cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 applicable from 273–426 K. The results are discussed in terms of reaction mechanisms and in light of recent suggestions that dimethyl sulfide plays an important role in the transport of natural sulfur to the earth's atmosphere.
Vitamin E prevents renal dysfunction induced by experimental chronic bile duct ligation.

Vitamin E prevents renal dysfunction induced by experimental chronic bile duct ligation. Background. The mechanisms by which prolonged cholesta- sis alters renal hemodynamics and excretory function are un- known but may be related to increased oxidative stress, with subsequent formation of lipid peroxidation-derived products (e.g., F2-isoprostanes) and endothelin (ET). We investigated whether antioxidant therapy prevents chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL)-induced alterations in systemic and renal hemody- namics, and reduces F2-isoprostane and ET levels. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on either a nor- mal or a high vitamin E diet for 7 days and then underwent either CBDL or sham surgery. They were then maintained on their respective diets for 21 more days, at which time the physiologic studies were performed. Results. Thirty-three percent of the CBDL rats died by day 21. The remaining rats had a lower mean arterial pressure (MAP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and sodium and water excretion than control rats. CBDL rats had higher portal pressure, renal venous pressure, and renal vascu- lar resistance (RVR). These changes were associated with in- creased levels of systemic and renal venous F2-isoprostanes and ET. Vitamin E normalized MAP, RBF, GFR, RVR, and sodium and water excretion, and improved the 21-day survival without altering portal or renal venous pressures. Surprisingly, vitamin E did not alter the systemic levels of F2-isoprostanes but markedly reduced their levels in the renal venous circulation. Conclusion. Vitamin E improves MAP and renal function in CBDL rats, and selectively decreases renal levels of oxidative stress and ET, suggesting that local redox balance is implicated in CBDL-induced renal dysfunction. Advancing liver disease leads to marked alterations in the systemic circulation and in renal function. The systemic circulation is characterized by a hyperdynamic state. That is, there is increased cardiac output, plasma
Impedance comparisons for the asymmetrically driven thin cylindrical antenna

The results from various approximate methods of solution to three basic equations for the impedance of the asymmetrically driven perfectly conducting thin cylindrical antenna are briefly discussed and compared. Generally good agreement is found between method-of-moment solutions and the three-term King-Wu theory. Largest disagreement with those approximate methods is found with the Shen-Wu-King solution and the joining procedure.
Flight Delays and Passenger Preferences: An Axiomatic Approach

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) defines a flight as “delayed” if it arrives 15+ minutes late. The DOT “flight counting” delay definition is used to rank airline/airport service quality. An obvious caveat of counting flight delays is that the duration of delay plays no role in the delay count. The purpose of this article is to propose an aggregate delay measure that is sensitive to the distribution of time delayed among passengers. The importance of this work is that our derived delay measure reflects passenger preferences rather than the arbitrary delay cutoff established by the DOT. We model passengers' preference ordering using the criteria that passengers prefer fewer, shorter, and more equal delay times.
Development of a foreign object detection and analysis method for wireless power systems

In recent years, increased wireless power transfer systems technology research has led to systems with higher efficiency and more applicability over varying distances. Safety concerns associated with the technology are still challenges of major concern to the technology's expansion and adoption. Selective and qualitative detection of foreign objects around the system (metallic or magnetic objects) is of key importance due to their ability to absorb energy from the wireless power supply field in the form of heat (parasitic heating) and possibly become a hazard. This paper presents the development and experimental validation of the Power Loss Detection method (PLD). The algorithm was developed using mathematical regression analyses on experimental data to co-relate parameters obtained from analytic approximations of power in the system. The method developed is demonstrated by test data to be an effective method for analyzing wireless power systems for foreign object differentiation and detection. This method overcomes the disadvantages of cost, thermal regulation, response time, and size that plague other foreign object detection and parasitic heating sensing techniques.
Broken symmetry and quantum entanglement of an exciton in In x Ga 1 − x As ∕ Ga As quantum dot molecules

The ability of a quantum dot to confine photogenerated electron-hole pairs created interest in the behavior of such an exciton in a ``dot molecule,'' being a possible register in quantum computing. When two quantum dots are brought close together, the quantum state of the exciton may extend across both dots. The exciton wave function in such a dot molecule may exhibit entanglement. Atomistic pseudopotential calculations of the wave function for an electron-hole pair in a dot molecule made of two identical ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}∕\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{As}$ dots reveal that the common assumption of single-particle wave functions forming bonding and antibonding states is erroneous. The true behavior of single-particle electrons and holes leads to symmetry-broken excitonic two-particle wave functions, dramatically suppressing entanglement. We find that at large interdot separations, the exciton states are built from heteronuclear single-particle states while at small interdot separations the exciton is derived from heteronuclear hole states and homonuclear electron states. We calculate the entanglement of the excitons and find a maximum value of 80% at an interdot separation of $8.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ and very small values for larger and smaller distances.
Attitudes of African American Clergy Regarding the Postvention Needs of African American Suicide Survivors

This qualitative study ascertained the attitudes of African American clergy regarding the postvention needs of African American suicide survivors. Interviews were conducted with six African American licensed clergy with diverse educational backgrounds, ministerial experience, and counseling experience. Participants were recruited from a large metropolitan area in the Middle Atlantic region. Four major themes were developed from this study: presence in the midst of grief, nonjudgmental view of suicide completers, postvention as a collaborative approach, and suicide as an elephant in the church. Results reveal that participants acknowledge the existence of suicide within the African American community, do not possess a judgmental attitude toward suicide completers, are willing to assist suicide survivors, and are willing to refer suicide survivors to mental health professionals
Characterization of Preferred Deoxyribonuclease I Cleavage Sites

The preferred DNase I cleavage sites within the 160 bp tyrT DNA fragment were identified by studying the initial rate of cleavage of individual bonds. The results show that there is no correlation between the rate of cleavage and the identity of the dinucleotide sequence that is cleaved. Examination of the sequences surrounding the seven most rapidly cleaved bonds suggests that an A-T base-pair is preferred at the position three bases to the 5' side of the cleavage site. Preferential cleavage at such sites is consistent with predictions based on the recently obtained high resolution structure of a DNase I-octanucleotide complex. A statistical analysis of 54 additional preferred DNase I cleavage sites, using sequence data taken from published literature, confirms that DNase I exhibits a local sequence preference in addition to its relatively well characterized global structural specificity. Our analysis indicates preferential cleavage at the sequences 5'ATYAT--ATVN, where -- indicates the cleavage site, the notation AT indicates a preference for an A-T base-pair, and V indicates not-T. Comparative kinetic studies of the digestion of three deoxyoctanucleotides by DNase I quantitatively support the sequence preference inferred from the sequence analysis. Poor DNase I cleavage sites were also examined, and found to be characterized by the sequence motif 5'GCRR--TTY. Notably, poor cleavage sites characteristically contain G or C at position -3. While DNase I certainly does not cleave with an absolute sequence specificity, our studies reveal a distinct sequence preference in DNase I cleavage that has heretofore been unappreciated and uncharacterized.
Stopping of swift projectiles in material thin films: hydrogen

Abstract Pilot calculations of the stopping of swift protons by thin hydrogen films are reported. The calculations are based on the kinetic theory of stopping. The requisite mean excitation energies are obtained from an energy band formulation of the local plasma approximation and velocity densities from an LCAO/local density calculation of a few atomic layers thick film. Results are reported for hydrogen 1-, 2- and 3-layer atomic- and molecular-like films.
1025 DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF HEART RATE, RESPIRATORY RATE, AND APNEA DURING SLEEP IN NORMAL INFANTS

1025 DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF HEART RATE, RESPIRATORY RATE, AND APNEA DURING SLEEP IN NORMAL INFANTS
Fluid in the interstitial space of the pulmonary alveolar sheet

Abstract Equations describing the movement of fluid between vascular and tissue spaces in a pulmonary alveolar sheet are formulated. Solutions are given for the two-dimensional case in which arterioles and venules are parallel. The theory predicts that at a steady state the volume of interstitial water and the pulmonary capillary blood volume are both simply correlated with the arteriolar pressure and, thus, simply correlated to each other. This conclusion is reached for a wide range of variation (over three orders of magnitude) of the permeability constant and for a variety of morphological geometry of the tissue space. Theoretical effects on interstitial water volume due to variations in membrane permeability, arterial, venous, and alveolar pressures, sheet geometry, the elastic compliance coefficient of the sheet thickness versus blood pressure, the lymph flow, alveolar transudation, and the compliance constant for the tissue pressure are presented. It is shown that if the arteriolar pressure and the tissue pressure are properly accounted for, other parameters such as the left atrium pressure, membrane permeability, or lymph flow play only secondary roles as far as interstitial water and capillary blood volume are concerned.
β-Carboline kindling of the benzodiazepine receptor

Abstract β-Carboline (norharman), an antagonist of the benzodiazepine receptor, given daily at a dose of 20 mg/kg (i.p.), produces kindled seizures. The mechanism of this epileptogenesis is unknown; however, other ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor, i.e. diazepam, R015-1788 and CL218-872 block the expression of kindled seizures in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that β-carboline kindling is mediated through the benzodiazepine receptor.
Interactive navigation for PC-based virtual colonscopy

Virtual colonoscopy on powerful workstations has the distinct advantage of interactive navigation, as opposed to passive viewing of cine loops or pre-computed movies. Because of the prohibitive cost of hardware, only passive displays have been feasible for the wide-scale deployment required for mass screening. The purpose of our work is to compare low-cost commodity hardware as an effective tool for interactive colonographic navigation versus the expensive workstations.
Towards an Understanding of Facets and Exemplars of Big Data Applications

We study many Big Data applications from a variety of research and commercial areas and suggest a set of characteristic features and possible kernel benchmarks that stress those features for data analytics. We draw conclusions for the hardware and software architectures that are suggested by this analysis.