cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The growth of Rayleigh—Taylor-type instabilities in the lithosphere for various rheological and density structures

SUMMARY Cold, dense mantle lithosphere overlying hotter, lighter, asthenosphere creates a potential instability that should be enhanced if mantle lithosphere is mechanically thickened. For timescales shorter than those during which significant heat diffuses, this instability can be treated as a Rayleigh-Taylor instability, whose basic condition consists merely of a heavy layer overlying a lighter one in a gravitational field. We have calculated growth rates of small-amplitude perturbations as a function of wavelength for several structures and boundary conditions of geological interest. In the absence of thermal diffusion, the wavelengths at which instabilities grow most rapidly are likely to be about eight times the characteristic depth scale for exponential viscosity decay, which, for typical lithosphere, yields wavelengths between 40 and 90 km. Thermal diffusion, however, smoothes out temperature-induced density perturbations and thus slows the growth of short-wavelength instabilities. As a result, wavelengths for realistic lithospheric structures are expected to increase to 100 to 200 km, with maximum values up to 300 km. As this is of the order of lithospheric thickness, a Rayleigh-Taylor instability should produce only small anomalies in topography and gravity at the Earth's surface above the downwelling. For plausible ranges of lithospheric parameters, perturbations exhibit exponential growth, with growth rates as large as 10−-14 s−-1. Such rapid growth rates correspond to e-folding times of three million years, for astheno-spheric viscosities of about 1019 Pa s. Viscosities greater than about 1021 Pa s allow thermal diffusion to slow growth rates to the point of stopping Rayleigh-Taylor growth completely. To simulate mechanical thickening of the lithosphere, we also include in our calculations non-zero horizontal strain rates, which can cause folding and boudinage instabilities. Folding instabilities will grow faster than those due solely to gravity when compression rates exceed about 10−-15 to 10−-16 s−-1, corresponding to shortening of 100 per cent in 30 to 300 million years. For strain rates of this magnitude, unstable growth occurs at wavelengths about 4 to 6 times the thickness of the lithosphere, as several others have previously shown. These wavelengths are significantly longer than those produced by the layered density structure alone.
Nitrate Tolerance in Hypertension: New Insight Into a Century-Old Problem

Nitrate tolerance to a vascular physiologist is the intriguing insensitivity or loss of responsiveness to drugs whose actions mimic the powerful endogenous vasodilator and platelet inhibitor nitric oxide (NO). To the clinician, it is a serious limitation in the use of an otherwise highly promising and widely used therapeutic class of drugs collectively referred to as nitrates. Nitroglycerin (NTG) and organic nitrates are used in the therapy of ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Clinical trials such as the ISIS-4 trial showed a 20% reduction in 24-hour postinfarct mortality with the use of an oral nitrate such as isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN). Sublingual NTG is the drug of choice for chest pain and acute angina attacks, and intravenous NTG is the drug of choice in acute coronary syndromes. Oral long-acting nitrates are effective in the treatment of chronic stable angina. The promise for nitrates in medicine dates back to the initial observation by Sobrero in Turin in 1847 noting “violent headaches” produced by small quantities of NTG on the tongue. Brunton in Edinburgh recognized the clinical promise for the use of nitrate in angina in 1867.1 Almost concomitant with his recognition of the strong vasodilatory and other physiological effects of NTG are his poignant observations on its limitations. Brunton noted that if this remedy for relief of angina pain was used for a long time, “…the dose requires to be increased before the effect is produced,” perhaps the first reference to what we now refer to as nitrate tolerance.1 Marsh and Marsh elegantly compiled the explosive yet “nobel” history of NTG and NO in medicine.2 Several mechanisms that may underlie the complex nitrate tolerance have been proposed. In a recent editorial, Horowitz3 categorized them as nitrate resistance, the de novo impairment of tissue responsiveness to nitrates and …
Trends in knowledge base processing using optical techniques

A review is presented of recent research efforts, along with a discussion of the relative merits and limitations of using optics as an implementation technology. To a large extent, past efforts have focused on representing knowledge using matrix-like formalisms and designing system architectures based on optical inner-product processors (such as matrix-vector multipliers) and optical correlators. Actual implementations are impeded primarily by the limitations of current spatial light modulators. New directions include the use of symbolic substitution and neural network ideas. >
Microbial Inactivation in Water Using Pulsed Electric Fields and Magnetic Pulse Compressor Technology

Pulsed electric field (PEF) disinfection is a promising technology for the nonthermal disinfection of water. Magnetic pulse compressors due to their high repetition rates and lifetimes, appear to be a promising alternative to the existing pulse forming circuits used for sterilization applications. The application of these systems for the purification of water has yet to be explored. The use of the short duration electrical pulses from the magnetic pulse compressor for inactivation of spores, bacteria (Escherichia coli) and viruses in drinking water is being investigated at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The test cell designed herein allows flowing tests for pulsewidths of 130-500 ns. The coupling of the magnetic modulator with the test cell and the inactivation protocols that aim at effective inactivation under optimal conditions are discussed. A 4 log reduction was seen for (Escherichia coli) E. coli at field strengths of 110 kV/cm and 70 pps, with a total energy consumption of 40 J/cm3. A comparative study of different parameters, e.g., pulsewidth, electrode gap, frequency, and electric field, which effect the microbial inactivation are also presented
Resources use, conservation attitudes, management intervention and park-people relations in the Western Terai landscape of Nepal

Various conservation models have been implemented in Nepal since 1973, however their impacts on resources use and conservation attitudes are scarcely known. To address the hypothesis that conservation attitudes should improve around protected areas (PAs) with more social and economic interventions, stratified random questionnaire surveys of 234 households were conducted in two PAs in the Western Terai of Nepal: Bardia National Park (BNP), in which interventions have been more widespread for longer time periods, and Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR), in which interventions are relatively recent. Both are part of a major landscape-level conservation programme under implementation in Nepal, and both are under threat of political turmoil, uncontrolled immigration, inefficient land reform policies and unsustainable resource use. There was spatio-temporal variability in resource use patterns and dependence. People collected eight and seven types of resources in BNP and SWR, respectively, and people in BNP were more dependent on resources overall. About 72% of respondents mentioned the problem of inadequate firewood, and suggested the promotion of alternative energy and permission to collect from PAs as mitigating strategies. Of 11 attitude statements, five significantly differed between the two areas. Respondents from the BNP had more favourable attitudes about conservation than those from SWR, supporting the main hypothesis. Training received by respondents, damage by wildlife, dependence on resources and satisfaction towards user groups contributed significantly to the variation in conservation attitudes. The results suggest that the liberalization of PA management has enabled the use of resources, improved livelihoods to some extent and solicited more favourable conservation attitudes in Nepal.
Have Short Sellers Become More Sophisticated? Evidence from Market Anomalies

We examine how short sellers exploit anomaly-based trading strategies over time. While they increasingly use anomaly-based strategies to short overpriced firms, they even more intensively use these strategies to avoid underpriced firms. Over the entire sample period, short arbitrage of market anomalies fully explains abnormal returns to highly shorted stocks. However, market anomalies help shorters to avoid shorting wrong firms only in the early years, which is in contrast to recent years when non-anomaly strategies are increasingly used to avoid potential losses. Short interest increasingly contains more return predicative information beyond anomalies, and average investors are better off when trading on both anomalies and short interest and even more so in recent years. The evidence suggests that while short sellers continue to use anomaly signals over time, they have become more sophisticated in that they explore more non-anomaly signals to improve performance in recent years.
Multidentate terephthalamidate and hydroxypyridonate ligands: towards new orally active chelators.

The limitations of current therapies for the treatment of iron overload or radioisotope contamination have stimulated efforts to develop new orally bioavailable iron and actinide chelators. Siderophore-inspired tetradentate, hexadentate and octadentate terephthalamidate and hydroxypyridonate ligands were evaluated in vivo as selective and efficacious iron or actinide chelating agents, with several metal loading and ligand assessment procedures, using {sup 59}Fe, {sup 238}Pu, and {sup 241}Am as radioactive tracers. The compounds presented in this study were compared to commercially available therapeutic sequestering agents [deferoxamine (DFO) for iron and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DPTA) for actinides] and are unrivaled in terms of affinity, selectivity and decorporation efficacy, which attests to the fact that high metal affinity may overcome the low bioavailability properties commonly associated to multidenticity.
Risk Adjustment for Determining Surgical Site Infection in Colon Surgery: Are All Models Created Equal?

Abstract Background: Colon surgical site infections (SSIs) are being utilized increasingly as a quality measure for hospital reimbursement and public reporting. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) now require reporting of colon SSI, which is entered through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). However, the CMS's model for determining expected SSIs uses different risk adjustment variables than does NHSN. We hypothesize that CMS's colon SSI model will predict lower expected infection rates than will NHSN. Methods: Colon SSI data were reported prospectively to NHSN from 2012–2014 for the six Fairview Hospitals (1,789 colon procedures). We compared expected quarterly SSIs and standardized infection ratios (SIRs) generated by CMS's risk-adjustment model (age and American Society of Anesthesiologist [ASA] classification) vs. NHSN's (age, ASA classification, procedure duration, endoscope [including laparoscope] use, medical school affil...
The aging caregiver with dementia: the issue of capacity decisions for a family member with intellectual disability

The issue of an aging caregiver and her ability to continue to assume responsibility for a family member with intellectual disability (ID) is in question when the caregiver is faced with her own illness. This point of view in the paper highlights the need for awareness of aging caregivers with dementia.
Upper-extremity prostheses in juvenile amputees.

Sixty patients under the age of twenty with sixty-seven amputations of the upper extremities have been seen in the Clinic in the past three years. Prostheses have been prescribed and fitted for forty-three, and these patients have received adequate training in the use of the prosthesis. For nine other patients, prostheses have been prescribed and ordered, but they have not yet been received from the manufacturer. Some patients are still too young, being under twenty-two months of age, for a prosthesis. This series does not include patients with partial amputation of the fingers, or those children who have only two digits which could be surgically treated by opposing one to act as a thumb.
Neural substrates of sensorimotor processes: letter writing and letter perception

Writing and perceiving letters are thought to share similar neural substrates; however, what constitutes a neural representation for letters is currently debated. One hypothesis is that letter representation develops from sensorimotor experience resulting in an integrated set of modality-specific regions, whereas an alternative account suggests that letter representations may be abstract, independent of modality. Studies reviewed suggest that letter representation consists of a network of modality-responsive brain regions that may include an abstract component.
Threading the Needle — How to Stop the HIV Outbreak in Rural Indiana

An HIV outbreak in rural Indiana provides a cautionary tale. An aggressive, multipronged strategy is needed to prevent similar outbreaks, and it requires permanently lifting the ban on using federal funds to support needle-exchange programs.
Using Game-Based Learning to Teach Psychopharmacology.

This article reviews several approaches used to teach psychopharmacology for graduate clinical psychology students. In order to promote engagement and increase student interest, students were broken up into groups and were asked to demonstrate their understanding of the material through a variety of interactive games (i.e., game-based learning, or GBL). Games used to teach this course included Quiz Bowl, Family Feud, Rounds, Potions, Brainopoly, and Puzzles. Results indicated that most students completed the reading prior to each class, were engaged with their team members, and appeared more confident in their understanding of the material over the course of the semester. Additionally, student satisfaction surveys revealed that most students greatly enjoyed these games and reported that they were useful to advancing their understanding of the material.
Structure Change Associated with the [MII/III 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane-N,N′,N′′-triacetate (TCTA)]−/0 Electron Transfers (M = Mn, Fe, and Ni): Crystal Structure for [FeII(H2O)6][FeII(TCTA)]2

Heterogeneous electron-transfer rate measurements using the scanning electrochemical microscope are reported for the [M(TCTA)]−/0 couples (M = Mn, Fe, and Ni) in aqueous solution. Solution IR spectroscopy indicates that N3O3 coordination is preserved for each couple within the pH range of 2−4, and susceptibility measurements indicate little or no interference from spin-state changes at room temperature. Marcus−Hush expressions were used to quantitatively relate structural differences between oxidation states to measured standard heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constants. Good correlation was obtained for the Fe couple, and structural changes associated with the Mn and Ni couples were estimated. In addition, the structure of the FeII complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. The molecule [Fe(H2O)6][Fe(TCTA)]2 is trigonal, space group P31/c (no. 159) with a = b = 12.530(3) A, c = 12.656(4) A, and Z = 2. A notable feature of the structure is that the [Fe(TCTA)]− complex is distributed between two...
Am I Able to Predict How I Will Do? Examining Calibration in an Undergraduate Biology Course

OF THESIS AM I ABLE TO PREDICT HOW I WILL DO? EXAMINING CALIBRATION IN AN UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY COURSE Students who are self-regulated are more likely to succeed academically, whereas students who have deficiencies in their learning have been recognized as having a lack of metacognitive awareness (Valdez, 2013; Zimmerman, 2002). If students are metacognitively unaware in large introductory courses, they may have difficulty knowing when to self-regulate and modify their learning (Lin & Zabrucky, 1998; Stone, 2000). One manner in which researchers have assessed students’ metacognitive awareness is by asking students to estimate how they think they will do on tasks compared to their actual performance, known as calibration. The purpose of this study was to examine students’ calibration and study habits. Participants were undergraduates (N = 384) in an introductory biology course at a southeastern U.S. university. Students completed four surveys that assessed their exam score expectations and the study habits they used prior to each exam. Results showed that students’ estimates are most discrepant from their actual performance early in the semester and become more accurate at the end of the semester. A closer look at students’ study habits revealed that the inaccuracy of students’ exam judgments showed little connection to the study strategies that students used. Findings from this study are important for biology instructors.
The Exploration and Practice of the College-enterprise Cooperative Software Factory Pattern

In order to alleviate the chasm between enterprise needs and college education and adapt to the talent demand of softeware enterprise,the college will introduce the college-enterprise cooperative software factory pattern into practice teaching.In this way the students in the software factory can improve their ability of software development,teamwork and solve problem alone,can strengthen innovative thinking,and can increase employment competitiveness and obtain employment.
U.S.-Thai Public Diplomacy: The Beginnings of a Military-Monarchical-Anti-Communist State, 1957–1963

During the Cold War, U.S. and Thai leaders invested in public relations programs to win the hearts and minds of the people of Thailand. Changes in Thailand between the years 1957 and 1963, which gave rise to Thai General Sarit Thanarat and King Bhumibol Adulyadej to positions of political authority, strengthened U.S.-Thai relations. To project their power, Washington and Bangkok relied on practicing public diplomacy through the United States Information Agency (USIA) to demonstrate the benevolence of the United States, the army’s paternalism, and the god-like image of the king. The period from 1957 to 1963 saw the beginnings of a strong U.S.-Thai relationship and the creation of a stable anti-Communist, military-monarchical government that lasted until the end of the Cold War.
Successful treatment of renal vein and vena caval extension of nephroblastoma by preoperative chemotherapy

AbstractIntravascular nephroblastoma involving the renal veins or inferior vena cava, occurring in 6 to 10 per cent of the cases, dramatically complicates the treatment course for those individuals. Heroic surgical procedures, including sternal splitting and cardiopulmonary bypass, have been used to treat these tumors, often with an added morbidity and increased mortality. We have detailed the dramatic responses to preoperative chemotherapy in 3 patients with intravascular nephroblastoma, which resulted in either complete eradication or marked shrinkage of the intravascular tumor, greatly simplifying the ensuing surgical procedure. These observations strongly indicate that preoperative chemotherapy should be used as the primary treatment in patients with this condition.
Prolongation of canine cardiac allograft survival using donor–specific buffy coat pretransfusion

Dans la transplantation cardiaque heterotopique chez le chien, les transfusions prealables de leucocytes specifiques du donneur suivies de traitement par azathioprineprednisone ont un effet benefique. L'irradiation UV des cellules transfusees est sans effet, ce qui peut aider a elucider les mecanismes de l'action benefique des transfusions
The Person-Environment Duet

Every act of aggression is a person-environment event. The singular goal of this book is to provide supportive substance for this assertion. For many decades, the study of aggression was the study of aggressors; the study of crime was the study of criminals. In this early era of near exclusive focus on perpetrators, first constitutional, then psychoanalytic, and then personality theories of aggressive and criminal behavior held sway. In its own way, each perspective was dispositional in its central tenet: antisocial behavior grew from something in the perpetrator. For the constitutional theorist Lombroso (1911), it was a combination of moral deficiency (lazy, shameless, cruel, impulsive) and physical primitiveness, as evidenced by cranial asymmetries, large ears, sloping shoulders, short legs, and numerous other facial and bodily characteristics. Though such “criminaloid” propositions never gained appreciable scientific stature, a later incarnation of constitutional causation theorizing by Sheldon (1949), of body type correlates of both temperament and overt behavior, did gain a measure of credibility. Mesomorphy—the muscular, broad-chested, large-boned, low-waisted body type—was shown by several independent investigators to be disproportionately characteristic of delinquent, as compared to nondelinquent youth (Cortes & Gatti, 1972; Epps & Parnell, 1952; Gibbens, 1963; Glueck & Glueck, 1950). Not unimportantly, however, the same physique appears to be more frequently characteristic of salesmen, politicians, and other extroverted, domineering, high-activity subgroups.
DNA Analysis During Growth and Development

Nuclear DNA changes in relation to growth and development were followed in Populus deltoides. These observations were supported with findings in other plant species. The genome size of P. deltoides was small and was comprised of a 2C DNA content of 1.07 pg. The genome showed an average increase of 27% under long-day photoperiod as compared to short-day photoperiod. Plants under long-day conditions displayed significantly higher growth. Furthermore, the young leaves possessed higher DNA values as compared to mature leaves. In view of our present as well as previous observations in several species, it appears that higher DNA values are related to increasing protein synthesis for maintaining growth. The senescing leaves displayed an average reduction in nuclear DNA content of 21% as compared to mature leaves. Purified DNAs from nuclei and chloroplasts of mature and senescing leaves did not display different thermal profiles. However, chloroplast DNA displayed a significantly higher %GC ratio than nuclear DNA in mature leaves. The %GC was 33.92 for nuclear and 35.95 for chloroplast DNA. Studies are in progress to understand the growth- and senescence-related DNA changes at the molecular level.
Using Virtual Agents to Deliver Lessons in Reading Comprehension to Struggling Adult Learners

The Center for the Study of Adult Literacy (CSAL) seeks to improve our understanding of ways to advance the reading skills of adult learners. Our web-based instructional tutor uses trialogues in the AutoTutor framework to deliver lessons in reading comprehension. We have found a way to manipulate proven comprehension strategies to fit the daily tasks of approaching the written word. With the added demand for digital literacy skills in today’s world, it is important that adults with low reading ability experience learning on an online platform.
Single-image super-resolution using multihypothesis prediction

Single-image super-resolution driven by multihypothesis prediction is considered. The proposed strategy exploits self-similarities existing between image patches within a single image. Specifically, each patch of a low-resolution image is represented as a linear combination of spatially surrounding hypothesis patches. The coefficients of this representation are calculated using Tikhonov regularization and then used to generate a high-resolution image. Experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithm offers significantly higher-quality super-resolution than bicubic interpolation without the cost of training on an extensive training set of imagery as is typical of competing single-image techniques.
A low power frequency synthesizer with an integrated negative transconductance LC-tuned VCO

A low-power 900 MHz GSM frequency synthesizer (FS), with an on-chip LC-tuned voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is presented. The synthesizer possesses several novel features that include a completely integrated structure, a low phase noise on-chip LC VCO, a low-power dual-modulus divider (DMD) in CML topology, a compensated charge pump with balanced switching, an on-chip third order loop filter and a proposed relatively easy to implement fractional accumulator based frequency synthesis technique. The complete synthesizer achieves in-bandphase noise characteristics better than -110 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset. The channel switching time is less than 500 /spl mu/s for a 25 MHz frequency transition. The proposed architecture has been realized using the 0.5 /spl mu/m AMI C5N technology. The complete integrated synthesizer occupies less than 1500 x 700 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ of die real estate with 22 mW power dissipation.
Does Weakness in Motor Neuron Disease Correlate with Triple Stimulation Technique Scores? (P07.079)

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a correlation between objective measures of clinical weakness and function with Upper Motor Neuron(UMN) loss quantified using triple stimulation technique, in patients with motor neuron disease(MND). BACKGROUND: Triple stimulation technique(TST) using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(TMS),recorded from Abductor Digiti Minimi(TST-ADM) is useful in quantifying central conduction failure.In MND,weakness is often an early clinical manifestation.Establishing a relationship between clinical weakness and loss of function with UMN loss as measured by TST may help us better understand the possible neurophysiologic pathways and mechanisms responsible for the clinical features of MND. DESIGN/METHODS: IRB approval was obtained.A total of 17 subjects with a diagnosis of MND with UMN findings on clinical examination underwent TST to quantify the degree of UMN loss.TST was recorded bilaterally from ADM.Grip force,pinch grip force,timed peg board and timed block tests were used for objective measures of upper extremity weakness and function. RESULTS: Motor evoked responses from TMS for one study subject could not be elicited from the left motor cortex.Total of 33 nerves were studied using ADM-TST. The following findings were observed:Mean TST amplitude ratio:77.90%(±25.14%),mean TST area ratio of:77.57%(±25.97%),mean grip force:76.15lb(±43.80%),mean lateral pinch grip:14.23lb(±49.70%),mean timed peg board test score:21.78(±31.82%), mean timed block test score:59.17(±25.01%). Correlations significant at the level of 0.01 were observed between:1)TST amplitude ratio and TST area ratio[r(31)=0.903,p CONCLUSIONS: TST is a neurophysiological technique that allows quantification of UMN loss. Our study shows UMN loss is correlated with clinical weakness and loss of function in patients with MND. Disclosure: Dr. Remanan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Panchal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shahbazi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lange received financial support for research activities from CSL Behring, GlaxoSmithKline, and Cytokinetics.
A compression model for sand–silt mixtures based on the concept of active and inactive voids

A compression model for sand–silt mixtures is needed in geotechnical engineering, for example in the analysis and prediction of deformation of levees and embankments due to internal erosion. In this paper, we introduce a novel concept of dividing the voids of a granular material into two hypothetical fractions: active and inactive voids. The active voids are kinematically available to the compression process. The inactive voids are kinematically unavailable to the compression process. The volume of active voids is dependent on the initial density and effective stress level. The volume of inactive voids is dependent on the amount of fines in the mixture. The current paper considers 1-D and isotropic compression behavior of sand–silt mixtures at stress levels lower than 2 MPa, so no substantial particle breakage is expected to occur. To successfully predict the void ratio for a sand–silt mixture during compression loading, we need (1) a mathematical expression for the evolution of the active void ratio during compression and (2) a relationship between the inactive void ratio and fines content of the mixture. For sand–silt mixtures with any amount of fines, the proposed model requires five material parameters, which are determined from two compression tests, and four minimum void ratio tests on sand–silt mixtures with different fines content. The performance of the proposed model is verified for six different types of sand–silt mixture with various fines contents, by comparing the predicted void ratios with the measured data from the experiments. The comparisons show a good agreement between the predictions and the measured data and prove the suitability of the proposed model for the prediction of compressibility of sand–silt mixtures with any amount of fines.
Courant’s Triangular Elements with Linear Interpolants

For one-dimensional domain the Lagrange interpolation, with the polynomial structure, furnishes an excellent approximation. For two non-zero data points, the Lagrange interpolant is a straight line. Piecewise parabolic approximations are also quite popular.
Scholarly Merit in a Global Context: The Nation Gap in Psychological Science.

Psychologists from the United States are extremely prominent in psychological science, publishing more articles and receiving more citations than researchers from other nations. In this brief article, I review some previous research on this “nation gap” in psychology and highlight relevant data from journals published by the Association for Psychological Science. I then discuss some possible explanations for the nation gap and touch on some of its implications for thinking about scholarly merit and scientific eminence. I hope that the research and data discussed here will stimulate further consideration of the role of author nationality for both judgments of scholarly merit and psychological science more generally.
Laboratory study on efficiency of three calcium carbonate scale inhibitors in the presence of EOR chemicals

Abstract Chemical flooding has been widely used in the oil industry since the 1980s for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. Previous studies have shown that the effectiveness of calcium carbonate scale inhibitors is affected by many factors, such as water composition, system pressure, temperature, production rates, pH etc. The breakthrough of the EOR chemicals in the production well could also affect scale formation process and interfere with the scale treatment program as well. However, the studies on the impacts of injected EOR chemicals to scale inhibitor performances are very limited. This paper presents the comprehensive laboratory study on the impacts of the EOR chemicals on CaCO3 scale formation and prevention using static bottle and dynamic tube blocking methods. The EOR chemicals used in this study are a combination of surfactants and polymers. Three different types of inhibitors were evaluated: tri-phosphonate, penta-phosphonate, and polyacrylate based chemicals. Inhibition (%) from the bottle test and minimum effective dose (MED) based on the tube blocking method were determined for each inhibitor at 160 °F. Scale precipitates from the bottle tests were also characterized for morphology and polymorphs using environmental scanning electron (ESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Results suggest that the performance of scale inhibitors could be substantially affected by the EOR chemicals. In dynamic tube blocking tests, the MED values of inhibitors were increased roughly 10 times with the EOR chemicals. The static bottle tests showed considerable changes under the test conditions. The impact of EOR chemicals were also demonstrated by the remarkable ranges of crystal morphologies, changing from simple aragonite columns to nanorod, distorted spheroid, and flower-like superstructure in the presence of EOR chemicals and inhibitors.
Simple multi-scale modeling of the transmission dynamics of the 1905 plague epidemic in Bombay.

Abstract The first few disease generations of an infectious disease outbreak is the most critical phase to implement control interventions. The lack of accurate data and information during the early transmission phase hinders the application of complex compartmental models to make predictions and forecasts about important epidemic quantities. Thus, simpler models are often times better tools to understand the early dynamics of an outbreak particularly in the context of limited data. In this paper we mechanistically derive and fit a family of logistic models to spatial-temporal data of the 1905 plague epidemic in Bombay, India. We systematically compare parameter estimates, reproduction numbers, model fit, and short-term forecasts across models at different spatial resolutions. At the same time, we also assess the presence of sub-exponential growth dynamics at different spatial scales and investigate the role of spatial structure and data resolution (district level data and city level data) using simple structured models. Our results for the 1905 plague epidemic in Bombay indicates that it is possible for the growth of an epidemic in the early phase to be sub-exponential at sub-city level, while maintaining near exponential growth at an aggregated city level. We also show that the rate of movement between districts can have a significant effect on the final epidemic size.
Genomic signatures of environmental selection despite near-panmixia in summer flounder.

Rapid environmental change is altering the selective pressures experienced by marine species. While adaptation to local environmental conditions depends on a balance between dispersal and natural selection across the seascape, the spatial scale of adaptation and the relative importance of mechanisms maintaining adaptation in the ocean are not well understood. Here, using population assignment tests, Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC), and genome scans with double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing data, we evaluated population structure and locus-environment associations in a commercially important species, summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), along the U.S. east coast. Based on 1,137 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 232 individuals spanning nearly 1,900 km, we found no indication of population structure across Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (F ST = 0.0014) or of isolation by distance along the coast using individual relatedness. ABC estimated the probability of dispersal across the biogeographic break at Cape Hatteras to be high (95% credible interval: 7%-50% migration). However, we found 15 loci whose allele frequencies were associated with at least one of four environmental variables. Of those, 11 were correlated with bottom temperature. For summer flounder, our results suggest continued fisheries management as a single population and identify likely response mechanisms to climate change. Broadly speaking, our findings suggest that spatial balancing selection can manifest in adaptive divergence on regional scales in marine fish despite high dispersal, and that these conditions likely result in the widespread distribution of adaptive alleles and a high potential for future genetic adaptation in response to changing environmental conditions. In the context of a rapidly changing world, a landscape genomics perspective offers a useful approach for understanding the causes and consequences of genetic differentiation.
Safety Factor and Reliability: Both Actual Stress and Yield Stress Are Random

In this chapter both stress and strength are treated as random variables. Thus, this is the most general case within the context of random variables theory. The connection between the reliability and safety factors will be demonstrated for various possible distributions.
Tribes as Conservation Easement Holders: Is a Partial Property Interest Better than None?

Conservation easement use is growing rapidly, as is the number of organizations looking to the tool to meet land conservation needs. Until recently, tribes had not been involved in conservation easement transactions. This book chapter examines the most common way tribes have become involved in conservation easement transactions — tribes as conservation easement holders. The chapter examines why tribes decide to hold conservation easements, looking at the choice to use conservation easements generally and then situating the decision in the evolution of property law in the United States both on and off tribal land. Conservation easements are a uniquely American form of property that emerge from Lockean roots and embrace a libertarian notion of property rights. In that light, tribal embrace of the tool may seem surprising as these notions of property have done harm to tribal sovereignty and may be at odds with some traditional tribal practices. The chapter concludes by asking whether tribes should use conservation easements. Wrapped up in this question is an assessment of the conservation easement tool generally as a vehicle for long-term land protection. The strength of the conservation easement tool is that it gives government entities the ability to extend their land conservation and environmental stewardship roles beyond their jurisdictional boundaries. Tribes may not have the power to regulate land use in nearby communities, but they can acquire conservation easements over such land and obtain similar results. Thus, despite some discordance due to the anticommunitarian sentiments at the heart of conservation easements, the conservation easement tool may provide tribes with an avenue for furthering tribal goals of conservation and intergenerational equity. Full book available via Ashgate website.
Growth of HIV-1 Molecular Transmission Clusters in New York City.

Author(s): Wertheim, Joel O; Murrell, Ben; Mehta, Sanjay R; Forgione, Lisa A; Kosakovsky Pond, Sergei L; Smith, Davey M; Torian, Lucia V | Abstract: BackgroundHIV-1 genetic sequences can be used to infer viral transmission history and dynamics. Throughout the United States, HIV-1 sequences from drug resistance testing are reported to local public health departments.MethodsWe investigated whether inferred HIV transmission network dynamics can identify individuals and clusters of individuals most likely to give rise to future HIV cases in a surveillance setting. We used HIV-TRACE, a genetic distance-based clustering tool, to infer molecular transmission clusters from HIV-1 pro/RT sequences from 65736 people in the New York City surveillance registry. Logistic and LASSO regression analyses were used to identify correlates of clustering and cluster growth, respectively. We performed retrospective transmission network analyses to evaluate individual- and cluster-level prioritization schemes for identifying parts of the network most likely to give rise to new cases in the subsequent year.ResultsIndividual-level prioritization schemes predicted network growth better than random targeting. Across the 3600 inferred molecular transmission clusters, previous growth dynamics were superior predictors of future transmission cluster growth compared to individual-level prediction schemes. Cluster-level prioritization schemes considering previous cluster growth relative to cluster size further improved network growth predictions.ConclusionsPrevention efforts based on HIV molecular epidemiology may improve public health outcomes in a US surveillance setting.
Toward a Self-Positioning Access Point for WiFi Networks

The position of an access point (AP) in a WiFi network has considerable influence on the performance of the network. In this work, we consider the problem of a WiFi AP self-positioning itself adaptively based on the network conditions to deliver improved network performance. Through extensive experimental evaluation, we show that there are indeed significant performance benefits to be attained by allowing the AP to move intelligently. We also rely on theoretical analysis, simulations, and experimental studies to show that the AP optimal location search problem can be split into two parts: a macro-search problem to minimize average path loss between AP and clients, and a micro-search problem to tackle real-time multipath fading effects. We then present Hermes, a self-positioning WiFi AP system that relies on a suite of algorithms to compute and then move to an optimal location within the network. Using a prototype implementation, we show that Hermes can perform up to 117% better than WiFi with no AP mobility, and up to 73% better than related work that allows for AP mobility.
Role of Fiber Morphology in Thermal Bonding

The role of fiber morphology in a thermal point bonding operation was investigated. Primary objectives were to understand the changes taking place in fiber structure due to applied heat and pressur...
A prospective study of a simple algorithm to individually dose high-dose methotrexate for children with leukemia at risk for methotrexate toxicities.

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is critical to the successful treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but can cause significant toxicities. This study prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of a fixed algorithm which requires no real-time pharmacokinetic modeling and no previous patient exposure to HDMTX, to individualize HDMTX dosing for at-risk patients with the aim of avoiding methotrexate-related toxicities. We developed a simple algorithm to individualize HDMTX infusions with 0–2 rate adjustments based on methotrexate levels during the infusion. This was a prospective, open-label, study; eligible patients were identified and referred by their oncologist. Fifty-four evaluable cycles of HDMTX (5 g/m2 over 24 h) were administered to 22 patients. Blood samples were obtained in 21 patients to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to methotrexate disposition. Twelve (54.5%) subjects had a history of previous HDMTX toxicities including seven (31.8%) who previously required glucarpidase rescue and seven (31.8%) with an entry glomerular filtration rate Grade 1 acute kidney injury. This algorithm is a simple, safe and effective method for individualizing HDMTX in pediatric patients with ALL. NCT02076997.
Uber Economics: Evaluating the Monetary and Travel Time Trade-Offs of Transportation Network Companies and Transit Service in Chicago, Illinois:

The potential diversion of passengers from public transit to transportation network companies (TNCs) is attracting considerable attention in metropolitan regions. Despite this, relatively little mi...
Decomposing changes in the growth of U.S. prescription drug use and expenditures, 1999-2016

Objective To analyze factors associated with changes in prescription drug use and expenditures in the United States from 1999 to 2016, a period of rapid growth, deceleration, and resumed above-average growth. Data sources/study setting The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), containing household and pharmacy information on over five million prescription drug fills. Study design We use nonparametric decomposition to analyze drug use, average payment per fill, and per capita expenditure, tracking the contributions over time of socioeconomic characteristics, health status and treated conditions, insurance coverage, and market factors surrounding the patent cycle. Data collection/extraction methods Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data were combined with information on drug approval dates and patent status. Principal findings Per capita utilization increased by nearly half during 1999-2016, with changes in health status and treated conditions accounting for four-fifths of the increase. In contrast, per capita expenditures more than doubled, with individual characteristics only explaining one-third of the change. Other drivers of spending during this period include the changing pipeline of new drugs, drugs losing exclusivity, and changes in generic competition. Conclusions Long-term trends in treated conditions were the fundamental drivers of medication use, whereas factors involving the patent cycle accelerated and decelerated spending growth relative to trends in use.
Design a J-type air-based battery thermal management system through surrogate-based optimization

Abstract Battery thermal management system is of great importance to the performance and safety of electric vehicles. The conventional U- and Z-type air-based structures may fail to meet the thermal requirements under changing working conditions. This paper proposes a novel J-type air-based battery thermal management system by integrating the U-type and Z-type structures. A comparative parametric study of key design variables and priori optimized structures is first conducted with a newly developed battery electro-thermal model. Based on the parametric analyses, the grouped-channel optimizations are performed using surrogate-based optimization. Results show that there are 35.3%, 46.6%, and 31.18% reduction in temperature rise for U-, Z-, and J-type, respectively. The pros and cons of the J-type structure are further explored by comparing with the optimal U- and Z-type structures. A further J-type optimization regarding the manifold configuration is also conducted to show that the optimal settings of the air-based cooling system vary across working conditions, and the J-type structure is able to be adaptively controlled to satisfy the cooling requirement. Corresponding experiments are also conducted to validate the modeling and optimization results.
Non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome (Euthyroid Sick Syndrome)

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome, also known as euthyroid sick syndrome, is a series of changes in serum TSH and thyroid hormone levels that are seen in a variety of non-thyroidal illnesses and result primarily from circulating cytokines and inflammatory mediators that interfere with thyroid hormone production, transport, metabolism, and action at multiple levels. The magnitude of the TSH and thyroid hormone changes is proportional to the severity of the underlying non-thyroidal illness. Transient elevation of serum TSH is often seen as patients recover from a nonthyroidal illness. Non-thyroidal illness syndrome appears to be an adaptive response to reduce tissue metabolism and preserve energy during systemic illnesses; therefore, treatment with thyroid hormone is not generally recommended but may be beneficial in patients with chronic heart failure.
Quantifying Changes in Brain Function Following Injury via Network Measures

Widefield optical imaging enables longitudinal capturing of the large-scale network activity of the cerebral cortex in awake behaving animals. Utilizing this technique, we investigate how the brain’s functional network structure is altered following injury. Cortical activity in transgenic calcium reporter mice expressing GCaMP6s is recorded in two sessions, prior and after inducing the injury. As a quantitative network measure, "communicability" which is indicative of how easily the information flows between nodes in a network via both direct and indirect paths, is considered. Compared to control subjects, results confirm altered functional network structure after the injury. Links that significantly contribute to the altered connectivity after the injury are spatially localized. It is shown that spectral clustering applied to the communicability networks is capable of distinguishing trials associated with pre-and post-injury sessions, suggesting that this approach can be used as an effective way to track changes in brain networks following the injury, and potentially, towards recovery.