cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water Chemistry Impact on Autogenous Metallic Pipe Leak Repair in Simulated Potable Water Systems

The impact of water chemistry (ionic strength, alkalinity, silica, magnesium, natural organic matter, dissolved oxygen (DO), disinfectants, corrosion inhibitors, and corrosion indices) on autogenous repair of 400 μm carbon steel (6.35 mm outside diameter [OD] × 890 μm wall) and 200-μm copper (6.35 mm OD × 890 μm wall) leaks were examined in modifications of a potable water at pH 8.5. Higher DO and Ryznar Stability Index significantly decreased the time to repair carbon steel 400 μm leaks by at least 50% to 70%, and chlorine dioxide produced a 300% increase in the fraction of repaired copper 200 μm leaks. Weight loss of metal pipes and presence of particulate metal rust in the water were not correlated with the time to repair 400 μm carbon steel leaks or the fraction of repaired 200 μm copper leaks. A significant fraction (15% to 38%) of the leaks repaired at 20 psi could withstand at least 100-psi water pressure, confirming the potential for an autogenous repair approach to extend the lifetime of existing...
Patterns of primary care utilization before and after living kidney donation.

Background Annual visits with a primary care provider (PCP) are recommended for living kidney donors to monitor long-term health post-donation, yet adherence to this recommendation is unknown. Methods We surveyed 1170 living donors from our center from 1970-2012 to ascertain frequency of PCP visits pre- and post-donation. Interviews occurred median (IQR) 6.6 (3.8 – 11.0) years post-transplant. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between donor characteristics and PCP visit frequency. Results Overall, only 18.6% had less-than-annual PCP follow-up post-donation. The strongest predictor of post-donation PCP visit frequency was pre-donation PCP visit frequency. Donors who had less-than-annual PCP visits before donation were substantially more likely to report less-than-annual PCP visits post-donation (OR = 9.814.421.0, p<0.001). Men were more likely to report less-than-annual PCP visits post-donation (adjusted OR = 1.21.62.3, p<0.01); this association was amplified in unmarried/non-cohabiting men (aOR = 2.43.96.3, p<0.001). Donors without college education were also more likely to report less-than-annual PCP visits post-donation (aOR = 1.31.82.5, p=0.001). Conclusions The importance of annual PCP visits should be emphasized to all living donors, especially those with less education, men (particularly single men) and donors who did not see their PCP annually before donation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
An Edge Network Orchestrator for Mobile Augmented Reality

Mobile augmented reality (MAR) involves high complexity computation which cannot be performed efficiently on resource limited mobile devices. The performance of MAR would be significantly improved by offloading the computation tasks to servers deployed with the close proximity to the users. In this paper, we design an edge network orchestrator to enable fast and accurate object analytics at the network edge for MAR. The measurement-based analytical models are built to characterize the tradeoff between the service latency and analytics accuracy in edge-based MAR systems. As a key component of the edge network orchestrator, a server assignment and frame resolution selection algorithm named FACT is proposed to mitigate the latency-accuracy tradeoff. Through network simulations, we evaluate the performance of the FACT algorithm and show the insights on optimizing the performance of edge-based MAR systems. We have implemented the edge network orchestrator and developed the corresponding communication protocol. Our experiments validate the performance of the proposed edge network orchestrator.
An Atlas of the Morphological Manifestations of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This article is dermatological atlas of the morphologic presentations of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). It includes: superficial abscesses (boils, furnucles, carbuncles), abscesses that are subcutaneous and suprafascial, pyogenic granulomas, cysts, painful erythematous papules and plaques, folliculitis, open ulcerations, chronic sinuses, fistulas, sinus tracts, scrotal and genital lyphedema, dermal contractures, keloids (some that are still pitted with follicular ostia), scarring, skin tags, fibrosis, anal fissures, fistulas (i.e. circinate, linear, arcuate), scarring folliculitis of the buttocks (from mild to cigarette-like scarring), condyloma like lesions in intertrigous areas, fishmouth scars, acne inversa, honey-comb scarring, cribiform scarring, tombstone comedones, and morphia-like plaques. HS can co-exist with other follicular diseases such as pilonidal cysts, dissecting cellulitis, acne conglobata, pyoderma gangrenosum, and acanthosis nigricans. In sum, the variety of presentations of HS as shown by these images supports the supposition that HS is a reaction pattern.HS is a follicular based diseased and its manifestations involve a multitude of follicular pathologies [1,2]. It is also known as acne inversa (AI) because of one manifestation that involves the formation of open comedones on areas besides the face. It is as yet unclear why HS is so protean in its manifestations. HS severity is assessed using the Hurley Staging System (Table 1). It also remains unclear why hidradentitis may remain limited to Hurley Stage 1, evolve to the more confluent (Hurley Stage 2), or progress even further to the fully confluent (Hurley Stage 3).In addition, HS can be associated with other follicular based diseases such as pilonidal cysts (PCs) of the sacrum and buttocks, dissecting cellulitis (DC), and acne conglobata (AC), which usually involves the face, chest, When HS occurs with PCs, DC, and/or AC it is referred to as the follicular occlusion triad or tetrad [2]. HS can more rarely be associated with pyoderma gagrenosum (PG) or Crohn disease (CD), other inflammatory diseases of the skin that are not follicular. The reason for this is unclear [2]. What AC, DC, HS, CD, and PG share is that they occur in bacterially rich environments. HS probably occurs with acanthosis nigricans because many HS patients are obese [2]. This concurrence seems under reported.
Library Cartography: Mapping Workflow Processes in an Academic Library

This article will introduce and illustrate process mapping as a valuable tool in the academic library setting. Commonly used in the business world, process mapping is the practice of gathering info...
Exploiting peer-to-peer wireless energy sharing for mobile charging relief

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the utilization of peer-to-peer wireless energy sharing to relieve the users from the burden of cord-based charging. The devices of users can make use of energy available from other users’ devices based on their meeting patterns so that the battery level of their devices could be maintained within an acceptable level without the need of charging it through a cable frequently. We first use dynamic programming-based optimization to find out the minimum number of cord-based charging sessions to obtain the highest possible mobile charging relief through collaborative charge sharing among pairs of nearby user devices. Then, we map our problem to roommate matching problem and find out the best matching among users that will achieve the highest network-wide relief while satisfying all users with their assigned partners. With an extensive empirical analysis based on real device charging patterns and meeting patterns between mobile users, we evaluate the charging relief offered to users in various scenarios. The results show that users can get up to 13–17% relief from their charging burden using cooperative energy exchanges without changing their existing usage habits.
Effect of palmitate on carbohydrate utilization and Na/K-ATPase activity in aortic vascular smooth muscle from diabetic rats.

Several investigators have reported that carbohydrate metabolism is suppressed in blood vessels from diabetic (Db) rats. However, it is not known if metabolites from the reciprocal increase in oxidation of long-chain fatty acids that accompanies insulin-deficiency exacerbates the suppression of this pathway in the Db blood vessels. Such inhibition may have particularly deleterious consequences in vascular smooth muscle since aerobic glycolysis is believed to preferentially fuel the sarcolemmal Na/K ATPase in this tissue. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of physiological (0.4 mM) and elevated (1.2 mM) concentrations of the long-chain fatty acid palmitate on both carbohydrate utilization and Na/K-ATPase activity in aorta from insulin-deficient Db rat. Thoracic aorta were removed from 10 week Db (streptozotocin 60 mg/Kg , i.v.) or control (C) rats and intima-media aortic preparations were incubated in the absence or presence of palmitate. Glycolysis (μM/g dry wt/h) and glucose oxidation (μM/g dry wt/h) were quantified using 3H-glucose and 14C-glucose, respectively. Na/K-ATPase activity was estimated by the measurement of 86rubidium uptake in the absence and presence of 2 mM ouabain.
The Charlie Hebdo Affair and Transnational Solidarity in three Journalistic Battle(fields) of Latin America

The censorious terrorist attack of January 7, 2015 was a global news event that was approached differently by media outlets within different journalistic paradigms, traditions, cultures, worldviews, and styles. Their perception of this event involved management of the clash between freedom of expression and respect for religious sentiments. This chapter explores how contextual realities—the specificities of media regimes, regulatory parameters, the geographies of freedom of expression, and the vicissitudes of the journalistic (battle)fields of Latin America—shaped editorial decisions whether to republish or not to republish Charlie Hebdo’s Je Suis Charlie Mohammed cartoon. It explores how newspapers and cartoonists in the journalistic battlefields of Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador conceptualized Charlie Hebdo and its notoriously provocative parodies of religion. In the final analysis some media outlets in Latin America wrestled with the question “To be or not to be Charlie,” as understood in the politico-cultural geographies of the region.
Impacts to water quality and biota persist in mining-influenced Appalachian streams

Abstract Elevated dissolved major ions (salinization) from surface coal mining are a common impact to central Appalachian headwater streams. Salinization is associated with alterations of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, as many organisms are adapted to the naturally dilute streams of the region. These geochemical and biological alterations have been observed in streams decades after mining, but it remains unclear whether and at what rate water quality and aquatic biota recover after mining. To address this issue, we analyzed temporal trends in specific conductance (SC), ion matrix ratios, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities over an eight-year period in 23 headwater streams, including 18 salinized by surface coal mining. We found strong, negative correlations between SC and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Temporal trend analysis demonstrated limited recovery of water chemistry to natural background conditions. Five of the 18 mining-influenced streams exhibited declining SC; however, annual rates of decline in these streams ranged from 1.9% to 3.7% of mean annual SC, suggesting long time periods will be required to reach established benchmark values (ca. 25 years) or values observed in our five reference study streams (ca. 40 years). Similarly, there was limited evidence for recovery of macroinvertebrate community metrics, even in the few mining-influenced streams with decreasing SC. These findings indicate that salinization and its biological effects persist, likely for decades, in central Appalachian headwater streams. Our work also highlights the value of long-term monitoring data for assessing recovery potential of salinized freshwaters, as well as the need for improved understanding of water quality and biological recovery processes and time frames.
LIMITED TESTING FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH NEW-ONSET HEART FAILURE: FINDINGS FROM GET WITH THE GUIDELINES - HEART FAILURE

Current guidelines recommend an evaluation for underlying heart disease and reversible conditions for patients with new-onset heart failure (HF). There are limited data on contemporary testing for coronary artery disease (CAD) in HF patients. We performed an analysis of the GWTG-HF registry linked
When You Find Love You’re Feelin’ Good: by Various Artists, 2019, CD, Koko Mojo KM-CD 41

American popular music performers and listening audiences display deep affection for wedding songs. From Cole Porter to Smokey Robinson, romantic lyricists have parlayed catchy conversation lines a...
MicroEHD Flow Structures under Constant Electric Fields

The results from studying electrohydrodynamic (EHD) vortex flows in a 1-mm gap with different geometry of electrodes and under constant external electric fields are presented. The solution of a transformer oil with iodine was used as a working fluid in which the unipolar conductivity was formed owing to the electro-chemical injection of negative ions from the cathode. The EHD microvortex flow was observed using an optical microscope and snapshot with a digital video camera. The flow lines were fixed with the tracks of light-scattering microparticles 1 micron in size. The rates of flows were up to 10 cm/s at a voltage of 3 kV across the electrodes.
670 Develop a multiplex immunofluorescence panel to identification of distinct complex immune landscapes in pleural effusion liquids from patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

Background Lung cancer, frequently presents with advanced stage disease with approximately 15–30% of patients first diagnosed by a malignant pleural effusion (MPE).Currently, we have limited understanding of the cellular complex immune landscape compositions of MPE and how this cellular composition impacts response to therapy. Therefore, in this pilot study, we aimed to characterize the cellular composition of MPE in patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). Methods A custom multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) panel was designed and optimized using the Opal™ 7 color Kit (Akoya Biosciences) against six immune markers including cytokeratins (CK), PD-L1, PD-1, CD3 CD8, and CD68 (figure 1). We selected 4 MPE cases from LADC patients to validate this mIF panel. Regions of interest (ROI) were scanned in high magnification using the multispectral microscopy Vectra Polaris (Akoya Biosciences) to capture the multiplex immune cell phenotypes and to be analyzed by the image analysis InForm software. Results The median number of cells observed was 4,883.5 (range 1773–8292 cells).The median cells expressing CK was 15% (including tumor and mesothelial cells), CD3+ T-cell was 38%, cytotoxic T-cells CD3+CD8+ was 3%, and macrophages CD68+ was 14% (table1). The median number of CK+ cells expression PD-L1 was 1%. Additionally, the median number of CD3 T-cells expressing PD-1 or PD-L1 was in total 1%. Interestingly, with didn’t see macrophages CD68+ expressing PD-L1 in this small cohort. Furthermore, an exploratory observation showed that patients with high percentage of cytotoxic T-cells CD3+CD8+ and high percentage of macrophages CD68+ had better overall survival (table 2). Conclusions In our cohort of MPE, we were able to assess, with extraordinary fidelity according to the antibodies included in the panel, several cell phenotypes, showing that we successfully multiplexed these biomarkers using mIF. These results demonstrate the practical scalability of this method for studying different aspects of cytological material and the data generated with the image analysis can be used to explore prognosis and potential therapeutic response in the future. References American Thoracic S. Management of malignant pleural effusions. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;162(5):1987–2001. Parra ER, Uraoka N, Jiang M, Cook P, Gibbons D, Forget M-A, et al. Validation of multiplex immunofluorescence panels using multispectral microscopy for immune-profiling of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded human tumor tissues. Scientific reports 2017;7(1):13380. Nieto JC, Zamora C, Porcel JM, Mulet M, Pajares V, Munoz-Fernandez AM, et al. Migrated T lymphocytes into malignant pleural effusions: an indicator of good prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Sci Rep 2019;9(1):2996.
Open problems on GKK τ-matrices

Abstract We propose several open problems on GKK τ -matrices raised by examples showing that some such matrices are unstable.
Proximity labeling: an emerging tool for probing in planta molecular interactions

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks are key to nearly all aspects of cellular activity. Therefore, the identification of PPIs is important for understanding a specific biological process in an organism. Compared with conventional methods for probing PPIs, the recently described proximity labeling (PL) approach combined with mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach for characterizing PPIs. However, the application of PL in planta remains in its infancy. Here, we summarize recent progress in PL and its potential utilization in plant biology. We specifically summarize advances in PL, including the development and comparison of different PL enzymes and the application of PL for deciphering various molecular interactions in different organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.
A predictive model of gene expression reveals the role of network motifs in the mating response of yeast

Cells use signaling pathways to receive and process information about their environment. These nonlinear systems rely on feedback and feedforward regulation to respond appropriately to changing environmental conditions. Mathematical models describing signaling pathways often lack predictive power because they are not trained on data that encompass the diverse time scales on which these regulatory mechanisms operate. We addressed this limitation by measuring transcriptional changes induced by the mating response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to different dynamic patterns of pheromone. We found that pheromone-induced transcription persisted after pheromone removal and showed long-term adaptation upon sustained pheromone exposure. We developed a model of the regulatory network that captured both characteristics of the mating response. We fit this model to experimental data with an evolutionary algorithm and used the parameterized model to predict scenarios for which it was not trained, including different temporal stimulus profiles and genetic perturbations to pathway components. Our model allowed us to establish the role of four architectural elements of the network in regulating gene expression. These network motifs are incoherent feedforward, positive feedback, negative feedback, and repressor binding. Experimental and computational perturbations to these network motifs established a specific role for each in coordinating the mating response to persistent and dynamic stimulation.
Teaching Pathology in an Integrated Preclinical Medical School Curriculum and Adaptations to COVID-19 Restrictions

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a major impact on education at all age levels, including professional schools and health professions programs. We describe the experience of adapting preclinical medical school courses within an integrated curriculum to virtual instruction. A major feature of two of the courses were pathology small groups adapted from pathology courses in the previous medical school curriculum. These small groups were designed to use facilitated groups of 8 to 10 students. With a sudden change to virtual learning, these small groups were shifted to large group virtual sessions. In general, the conversion went well, with ongoing optimization of the format of the large group sessions mainly occurring over the first several sessions. End-of-course student evaluations were generally positive, but with a preference toward returning to live sessions in the future. Scores on 5 multiple choice examinations in the spring 2020 course were essentially identical in mean, standard deviation, and distribution to examinations in the previous 2 years of the course that had similar layout and topic organization. We discuss the challenges and successes of the switch to virtual instruction and of teaching pathology content within an integrated medical school curriculum.
Retrospective Reports of Parental Problem Drinking and Parent Reactions to Child Negative Emotions: Implications for Emotion Regulation in the Transition to Adulthood:

Exposure to parental problem drinking (PPD)—symptoms of alcohol use disorder, heavy and hazardous drinking—is associated with mental health problems in emerging adults, but mechanisms of risk are n...
Long-term survival and flowering of ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) in Texas: A 33-year perspective

Abstract Perennial plants of desert regions can be categorized as short-, moderate-, or long-lived. For long-lived species, the typical range of adult life spans is often poorly known, as well as how reproductive effort is apportioned across years. Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), a large shrub of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts, is considered long-lived and flowers spectacularly, but few data exist on these aspects of its life history. In Big Bend National Park, Texas, I marked 140 mature ocotillos in 1986–1988 at 8 sites and measured inflorescence production. In 1990, 2003, 2018, and 2019, I again measured flower output and determined fates of 95 plants which could be relocated, 64% of which survived the 33-year interval. Smaller plants survived better than larger ones. With an annual survival probability of 0.986, the median plant entering adulthood was projected to live 51 more years. All plants flowered in each study year unless buds froze; means ranged from 8 to 60 inflorescences (approximately 680–5200 flowers) per plant per site. Most survivors made more inflorescences in 2018–19 than 29–33 years earlier. Thus, an average ocotillo produces large crops of flowers for approximately 50 years, an appropriate strategy if seedlings rarely survive.
Gerrymandering and Judicial Incapacity

In Rucho v. Common Cause, the Supreme Court acknowledged that partisan gerrymandering is an abuse of the electoral process – the very essence of our democratic system – and then declined to remedy that abuse. A majority of the Justices held that the issue is non-justiciable, apparently because its complexity exceeded their mental capacities. The decision distinguished the closely-related one-person-one-vote decisions on the grounds that they involved simpler mathematics. While the declaration that high school statistics lies beyond the understanding of the nation’s most powerful court is somewhat risible, it points to much deeper institutional failures. The first is the central insight in Andrew Coan’s recent book, Rationing the Constitution, that the Supreme Court is exquisitely aware of its limited resources, and will erect doctrinal barriers to avoid issues that threaten to generate a high volume of high-stakes cases. The second problem is our failure to modernize the federal judiciary, to provide it with the capacity to access or generate the empirical information and social science expertise that would enable it to deal effectively with an issue such as gerrymandering. Assuming at least some of the Justices are as under-educated as they claim, why doesn’t the Court have a professional staff, a data-gathering office like the Congressional Research Service, and the capacity to conduct empirical research instead of speculating about essential information or throwing up its hands in bewildered despair? Beyond this is the failure to modernize our governmental apparatus in its entirety. Why don’t we supplement the Court’s efforts, whether or not its information gathering capacities are amplified, with an electoral commission, staffed by experts in the field, that possesses the same stature as the Supreme Court and that could address gerrymandering and other threats to the electoral process, such as the inordinate influence of money, the threat of external interference, and the possibility that a President would be elected who refuses to relinquish the office. Why do we continue to rely solely on courts, a dispute resolution mechanism inherited from pre-modern, pre-democratic times, as our primary means of ensuring that the defining feature of our democratic system is not corrupted or subverted? There is a real danger that we will suffer serious consequences of these institutional failures in the coming months.
Extreme‐Value Distributions, Declustering Techniques

Univariate and multivariate declustering techniques for extreme value models are reviewed. Keywords: declustering technique; model threshold; separation model
THE OKLAHOMA ETHICS COMMISSION

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is a constitutionally established body whose five commissioners and seven staff are charged with duties in two broad areas. The Commission is authorized, first, to develop and enforce ethics rules in state elections, including both campaigns for elective office and campaigns on behalf of initiatives and referenda. Second, it is charged with promulgating rules of ethical conduct for state officers and employees. The current Ethics Commission holds a significantly stronger position than its predecessor agencies, in the sense that its authority is constitutional and not merely statutory. Its influence is felt quite directly by candidates for state office, and by proponents of state questions, who must all pay close attention to the extensive contribution and expenditure reporting that the Commission requires. Those who fail to comply can be subject to significant fines. Officeholders and state employees, too, cannot avoid its reach because they must now regularly submit documents disclosing their financial interests. Finally, those who lobby the legislature and the agencies are also subject to regular registration and disclosure requirements.
Representations of the symmetric group as special cases of the boson polynomials in U(n)

The set of all real, orthogonal irreps of Sn are realized explicitly and non-recursively by specializing the boson polynomials carrying irreps of the unitary group. This realization makes use of a ‘calculus of patterns’, which is discussed.
Differential Scaling Patterns in Maxillary Sinus Volume and Nasal Cavity Breadth Among Modern Humans.

Among modern humans, nasal cavity size and shape reflect its vital role in air conditioning processes. The ability for the nasal cavity to augment its shape, particularly in inferior breadth, likely relates to the surrounding maxillary sinuses acting as zones of accommodation. However, much is still unknown regarding how nasal and sinus morphology relate to each other and to overall craniofacial form, particularly across diverse populations with varying respiratory demands. As such, this study uses computed tomographic (CT) scans of modern human crania (N = 171) from nine different localities to investigate ecogeographic differences in (1) the interaction between maxillary sinus volume (MSV) and nasal cavity breadth (NCB) and (2) scaling patterns of MSV and NCB in relation to craniofacial size. Reduced major axis (RMA) regression reveals that all samples exhibit an inverse relationship between MSV and NCB, but statistical significance and the strength of that relationship is sample dependent. Individuals from cold–dry climates have larger MSVs with narrower NCBs, while smaller MSVs are associated with wider NCBs in hot–humid climates. MSV and NCB each scale with positive allometry relative to overall craniofacial size. However, sample differences are evident in the both the interaction between MSV and NCB, as well as their correlation with craniofacial size. While these results provide further support that the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity are integrated among populations from opposite ends of the climatic spectrum, additional epigenetic factors are needed to explain variation of these structures among populations from more intermediate climates. Anat Rec, 298:1710–1721, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new adaptive linear multiuser detector based on approximate negentropy minimization

In this paper, we introduce an information theoretic learning method as a new approach to multiuser detection. We propose a new adaptive linear multiuser detector based on approximate negentropy minimization of the output error and investigate its characteristics and performance. Negentropy includes higher order statistical information and its minimization provides improved converge and performance compared to traditional methods such as minimum mean squared error. The proposed algorithm is derived under the assumption that a Gaussian variable has the largest entropy among all random variables of unit variance and hence a normalization process is required. Simulation experiments show that our multiuser detector has similar bit error rate (BER) characteristics to the least BER multiuser detector. Furthermore, the proposed detector has faster convergence speed than the LBER detector.
Release of anticoagulant during shock of experimental meconium embolism

Abstract After experimental injection of meconium suspensions into animals, the blood became incoagulable. There was a marked decrease in the platelet count but this alone was not adequate to render the blood incoagulable. Neither was the incoagulability secondary to inactivation of, or using up of, important plasma components of coagulation, for these remained in normal concentration. Instead, a powerful, heparin-like anticoagulant was found in the circulating blood. The observations lead to the conclusion that this anticoagulant was released into the circulation during shock. In view of the experimental findings and of recent reports in the literature of indefinite prolongation of the coagulation time in two proved cases of human amniotic fluid embolism, it is possible that release of an anticoagulant may occur in association with the shock of maternal amniotic fluid embolism. Such an anticoagulant could play a major role in the obstetrical hemorrhage which sometimes appears to be a complication of amniotic fluid embolism.
Linear and bilinear matrix inequalities in chemical process control

This paper reviews the use of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and bilinear matrix inequalities (BMIs) in the formulation of many important problems in process control such as: control structure selection, robust controller analysis and design, parameter estimation, and optimal design of experiments.
Experimental investigation of torrefaction of two agricultural wastes of different composition using RSM (response surface methodology)

A torrefaction study using RS (rice straw) and CS (cotton stalk) was carried out to better understand the effects of the process conditions and the different compositions of biomass on the changes in the properties of the products based on the RSM (response surface methodology). The comparison of energy yield, energy densification, and main torrefaction parameters were evaluated through a complete analysis of products. The optimal conditions for the highest energy yield were obtained at the least severe conditions of 210 °C for 20min. The weight reduction of raw biomass after torrefaction was 13–48% for RS and 9–50% for CS, and the energy recovery for the solid product was over 77% for RS and 68% for CS. The highest heating value of the torrefied product was determined to be 28.6 MJ/kg. When it comes to energy densification, RS showed a higher degree of densification than CS. The maximum densified values were obtained as 1.48 for RS and 1.37 for CS, which can contribute to alleviating transportation and storage difficulties. Based on the statistical analysis, torrefaction for RS was mainly affected by temperature, while the main condition for CS torrefaction was the interaction of temperature and time.
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction to Assess Response to Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis and Risk of Preterm Birth.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) bacterial load measurement is a valid method to assess response to treatment of bacterial vaginosis and risk of preterm birth in pregnant women. Study Design Secondary analysis by utilizing stored vaginal samples obtained during a previous randomized controlled trial studying the effect of antibiotics on preterm birth (PTB). All women had risk factors for PTB: (1) positive fetal fibronectin (n = 146), (2) bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a prior PTB (n = 43), or (3) BV and a prepregnancy weight Results A total of 243 paired vaginal samples were available for analysis: 123 antibiotics and 120 placebo. Groups did not differ by risk factors for PTB. For all samples, bacterial loads were correlated with Nugent score and each of its specific bacterial components (all p Conclusion qPCR correlates with Nugent score and demonstrates decreased bacterial load after antibiotic treatment. Therefore, it is a valid method of vaginal flora assessment in pregnant women who are at high risk for PTB.
INTERVAL ESTIMATES FOR CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS CORRECTED FOR WITHIN-PERSON VARIATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR STUDY DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS TESTING

It is well known that random measurement error can attenuate the correlation coefficient between two variables. One possible solution to this problem is to estimate the correlation coefficient based on an average of a large number of replicates for each individual. As an alternative, several authors have proposed an unattenuated (or corrected) correlation coefficient which is an estimate of the true correlation between two variables after removing the effect of random measurement error. In this paper, the authors obtain an estimate of the standard error for the corrected correlation coefficient and an associated 100% x (1-alpha) confidence interval. The standard error takes into account the variability of the observed correlation coefficient as well as the estimated intraclass correlation coefficient between replicates for one or both variables. The standard error is useful in hypothesis testing for comparisons of correlation coefficients based on data with different degrees of random error. In addition, the standard error can be used to evaluate the relative efficiency of different study designs. Specifically, an investigator often has the option of obtaining either a few replicates on a large number of individuals, or many replicates on a small number of individuals. If one establishes the criterion of minimizing the standard error of the corrected coefficient while fixing the total number of measurements obtained, in almost all instances it is optimal to obtain no more than five replicates per individual. If the intraclass correlation is greater than or equal to 0.5, it is usually optimal to obtain no more than two replicates per individual.
Transient Aplastic Crisis in Hereditary Elliptocytosis

Hereditary Elliptocytosis is a heterogeneous group of disorder with regard to clinical presentation, protein defects and mode of inheritance. Parvoviral induced transient aplastic crisis in the form of sudden onset anemia is said to be a rare manifestation of this hereditary hemolytic anemia. The authors describe a case of parvoviral induced transient aplastic crisis in a patient with hereditary elliptocytosis and review the pathogenic mechanisms of parvoviral hemolytic disease.
Effects of Thermal Spray Coating Composition and Microstructure on Coating Response and Substrate Protection at High Temperatures

Abstract Three thermal spray coatings were subjected to high-temperature corrosion experiments to characterize the operative corrosion mechanism(s) and to examine the effects of coating composition and microstructure. Samples were placed in air and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at 600°C for exposure times up to 1,000 h. The ability of a thermal spray coating to protect its substrate effectively was found to depend upon its tendency to form protective oxides and upon the cross-sectional distance from the coating surface to the substrate via fast diffusion paths such as splat boundaries and voids.
Joint Receiver Function/ScS Reverberation Analysis for Examining Discontinuity Structure beneath Ocean Islands

Abstract In this study, we compare two methods commonly used to image mantle interfaces: teleseismic receiver functions and ScS reverberations. The ScS method benefits from the use of absolute travel times and therefore better constrains discontinuity depths, while receiver functions benefit from better event coverage and high-frequency resolution. We apply these methods to a permanent station located in the Hawaiian Islands and present a proof of concept for the joint application of the two techniques. First, ScS reverberations are used to assess mantle discontinuity depths and whole-mantle travel times. Based on this preliminary model, receiver functions are subsequently used to refine both lateral and vertical discontinuity structure. The validity of the combined results is assessed by benchmarking the receiver functions with a local tomographic velocity model (Wolfe et al. , 2009).
Effect of partial diffusion on current-time transients and throughputs for reactions at rough surfaces

Conventional theories of electrochemical kinetics, which are strictly applicable for two-dimensional surfaces, predict that the current (I) increases indefinitely with an increase in the reaction rate constant (k f ), limited only by diffusion. By comparison, the I-t transients behave differently on electrodes with a rough and porous surface (dimension, D f > 2) than on electrodes with a flat surface (D f = 2). The difference in the behavior is caused by the flux of the reactant toward the porous surface. The rate expression for the porous electrode is obtained under the mass transfer conditions of partial diffusion in terms of D f , and k f , by extending the well-known I-t behavior for the planar electrode. The expression predicts that for a porous electrode, the currents in I-t transients have higher values at higher k f , but only when t is close to zero. At longer times, however, the currents are higher at lower k f , where the rate is limited by partial diffusion, than at higher k f , where the rate is limited by total diffusion. The implications of long-term behavior of current and the associated charge (Q) are discussed in the context of electrochemical reactors such as fuel cells.
Effects of organization and working memory on age differences in memory for scene information

We examined the effects of organization and working memory on young and older adults' scene memory. Subjects discriminated transformed pictures from unchanged study items in organized or unorganized scenes. Memory was tested independently for two types of scene transformations: (a) relocations (two objects rearranged and one moved) and (b) substitutions (one object replaced by another). Organization had similar effects on young and older adults, improving memory for relocations but not substitutions. Working memory significantly predicted scene memory, except for relocations in organized scenes, and partially mediated the observed age effects. The results are discussed in relation to the resource and environmental support views of cognitive aging.
Mouse α1-Protease Inhibitor Is Not an Acute Phase Reactant

Abstract Mouse plasma contains two major protease inhibitors, α1-protease inhibitor (α1-PI) and contrapsin, which have high affinity for bovine trypsin. Systemic injury, such as turpentine-induced inflammation, did not change the plasma concentration of α1-PI, but increased that of contrapsin by 50%. The concentration of hepatic α1-PI mRNA was determined by Northern blot hybridization and was not significantly affected by the acute phase reaction. J. M. Frazer, S. A. Nathoo, J. Katz, T. L. Genetta, and T. H. Finley ((1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys.239, 112–119) have reported a threefold increase of mRNA for the elastase specific α1-PI but this increase was not demonstrated by the present study. The mRNAs for known mouse acute phase plasma proteins were, however, stimulated severalfold by the same treatment. These results indicate that in the mouse, as opposed to human, α1-PI is not an acute phase reactant.
Pain management and the African American hospice caregiver: a case report.

Although African Americans’ use of hospice has increased (8.9% of all hospice patients were African American in 2010 as compared with 8.7% in 2009), their underutilization of hospice services continues,1–4 demonstrating there is still much to be learned about the African American hospice experience. A lack of knowledge and trust are considered primary barriers to hospice use among African Americans,2,5–8 and education has been recommended as a standard strategy for overcoming these and other barriers.9–12 Education about pain management and assessment is critical, as prior research has identified barriers to pain management are related to demographic characteristics such as culture2,13–16 and race.2,3,17–20 Family caregivers who are tasked with assessing pain and administering pain medications report fear of opioid side effects,21–23 fear of addiction,21–23 fear of legal euthanasia,24,25 and lack of knowledge regarding pain medication.23,26 The purpose of this case study is to explore one African American caregiver’s experience with hospice pain management.
A Multi-Level Approach to Investigating Neighborhood Effects on Physical Aggression among Urban Chicago Youth

The current study evaluates neighborhood effects, individual-level effects, and demographic characteristics that influence physically aggressive behavior among urban youth. Using data derived from 5,812 adolescents from Project Northland Chicago (PNC) and Heirarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) techniques, the results suggested that neighborhood problems significantly predicted physical aggression, before and after adjustment for individual-level risk factors (alcohol use, peer alcohol use, lack of adult supervision, and depression) and demographics. After accounting for baseline physical aggression, however, neighborhood problems were no longer a significant predictor of physical aggression. Implications for intervention at both the neighborhood and individual-level and study limitations are also discussed.
Effects of sampling microhabitats with low coverage within the STAR/AQEM macroinvertebrate sampling protocol on stream assessment

Abstract In the STAR/AQEM protocol microhabitats covering less than 5% of the sampling area were neglected. Driven by an ongoing discussion on the importance of these underrepresented microhabitats we tested the influence of sampling them. We investigated 48 streams representing 14 different stream types from all over Germany. Macroinvertebrates of underrepresented microhabitats were sampled in addition to the STAR/AQEM protocol. To ensure the method remains feasible in routine monitoring programmes the total sampling and sorting effort of additional sampling was limited to 20 min. Particularly those taxa were picked, which were not recognised during the routine STAR/AQEM sorting. To identify the effect of additional sampling on stream assessment results, we calculated the stream type-specific Multimetric Index (MMI) with the “main” and the “main+additional” data for each sample. The mean and median difference in MMI values between “main” and “main+additional” samples was 0.02 and 0.01, respectively. In seven of 48 samples (14.6%) a different ecological quality class was calculated with the “main+additional” dataset. Regarding common metrics within the MMI as well as intercalibration metrics differences between “main” and “main+additional” samples were analysed. The values differed most in richness metrics (e.g., number of EPTCBO Taxa, number of Trichoptera Taxa). The results of the present study show that additional sampling of underrepresented microhabitats could alter multimetric assessment results.
Detecting multiple outliers with an application to R&D productivity

Abstract Multiple outlying observations are frequently encountered in empirical analyses of economic data. Several multiple outlier tests exist, but little evidence is available on their relative power against alternative causes of outliers and influence. This paper analytically and numerically compares the sensitivity of several outlier diagnostics to different forms of data contamination; it also proposes new statistics. Practical issues associated with these tests are addressed using data on R&D spending and total factor productivity from Griliches and Lichtenberg (1984). The tests confirm their hypothesis that previously low estimates of the return to R&D maybedue to outliers.
Subcutaneous daidzein administration enhances recovery of skilled ladder rung walking performance following stroke in rats.

Abstract Stroke is a devastating event which can result in permanent disability. Due to the lack of treatments available for use after stroke, compounds which work to limit cell loss, reduce behavioral deficits, and enhance recovery of function are needed. The isoflavone daidzein has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective when fed to rats beginning prior to stroke. Herein, we tested whether subcutaneous delivery of daidzein beginning at the time of stroke reduced injury and/or enhanced functional recovery over 14 days after stroke. Baseline performance on the skilled ladder rung walking task was recorded immediately before stroke (Day 0). Rats then underwent a unilateral permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and received a subcutaneous minipump containing either daidzein dissolved in vehicle or vehicle alone. Performance on the skilled ladder rung walking task was recorded again on Day +3, Day +7, and Day +14 post-stroke. Rats were then euthanized and brains were collected for lesion volume analysis. The numbers of slight and deep forelimb slips on the task were recorded for 3 trials for each rat per day. Rats treated with daidzein exhibited fewer deep slips over the course of the experiment than rats which received only vehicle ( p p > 0.05). Lesion volume was not different between groups ( p > 0.05). No differences were found in weight between groups during the study ( p > 0.05).
Temporal conditioning of the arousal response

Abstract Temporally conditioned arousal from sleep was studied in rats with chronically implanted electrodes. The data show that the latency of arousal may be modified by the specific conditioning procedure to which an animal is subjected. By introducing an interval of 10 sec between CS termination and US onset, arousal is delayed by an amount of time approximately equal to the conditioned interval. Classically conditioned animals show immediate electrographic and behavioral arousal to an auditory stimulus which has been repeatedly paired with shock. Control animals, however, to which the clicks and shock were never presented contiguously do not demonstrate arousal. The EEG records of these animals reveal a pattern which is similar to that observed in habituation to frequently repeated stimuli. Conditioned temporal arousal to a stimulus presented to a sleeping animal suggests that even during the low level of arousal which is then present, some process can continue in the brain without affecting the sleep EEG in the cortex or tegmentum, and then many seconds later trigger a clock-like awakening from sleep.
Designing for diversity: Incorporating cultural competence in prevention programs for urban youth

Low-income urban youth of color frequently confront a wide variety of challenges and hardships that other young people never experience. The offering of prevention programs represents one strategy to help urban youth avoid the risks associated with substance abuse. In this chapter, an alternative program strategy is posited-one that places diversity with respect to culture, class, and environment at the center of prevention efforts. Such an approach, the authors argue, is more effective not only in appealing to the sensibilities of urban youth but also in altering their behavior.