cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reachability-based self-triggered scheduling and replanning of UAV operations

Modern unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rely on constant periodic sensor measurements to help avoid obstacles, deal with system disturbances and correct uncertainties. However, constant checking is time and energy consuming and is often not necessary especially in situations in which the UAV can safely fly using open loop control without entering unsafe states. Thus, in this paper we focus on two main problems: i) how to predict the possible reachable states of the UAV considering disturbances and system noise and ii) when to schedule the next state monitoring and replanning time to avoid unnecessary executions. To this end, we propose a self-triggered framework in which we consider realistic UAV dynamics and reachability analysis to predict future events while scheduling replanning times to guarantee safe high performance behavior under various conditions. Finally we validate the proposed approach with simulations and experiments in which a quadrotor UAV is tasked to navigate to a goal while avoiding obstacles in the environment.
Introduction to the Theory of Probabilistic Functions and Percentiles (Value-at-Risk)

Probabilistic and quantile (percentile) functions are commonly used for the analysis of models with uncertainties or variabilities in parameters. In financial applications, the percentile of the losses is called Value-at-Risk (VaR). VaR, a widely used performance measure, answers the question: what is the maximum loss with a specified confidence level? Percentiles are also used for defining other relevant performance measures, such as Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). CVaR (also called Mean Excess Loss, Mean Shortfall, or Tail VaR) is the average loss for the worst x% scenarios (e.g., 5%). CVaR risk measure has more attractive properties compared to VaR. This introductory paper gives basic definitions and reviews several topics: sensitivities of probabilistic functions; sensitivities of percentiles (VaR); optimization approaches for CVaR.
Evaluation of Sienna Cancer Diagnostics hTERT Antibody on 500 Consecutive Urinary Tract Specimens.

Objectives Telomerase activity can be detected in up to 90% of urothelial carcinomas (UC). Telomerase activity can also be detected in urinary tract cytology (UTC) specimens and indicate an increased risk of UC. We evaluated the performance of a commercially available antibody that putatively binds the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) subunit on 500 UTC specimens. Study design Unstained CytospinTM preparations were created from residual urine specimens and were stained using the anti-hTERT antibody (SCD-A7). Two algorithms were developed for concatenating the hTERT result and cytologic diagnosis: a "no indeterminates algorithm," in which a negative cytology and positive hTERT result are considered positive, and a "high-specificity algorithm," in which a negative cytology and positive hTERT result are considered indeterminate (and thus negative for comparison to the gold standard). Results The "no indeterminates algorithm" and "high-specificity algorithm" yielded a sensitivity of 60.6 and 52.1%, a specificity of 70.4 and 90.7%, a positive predictive value of 39.1 and 63.8%, and a negative predictive value of 85.0 and 85.8%, respectively. Conclusions A positive hTERT result may identify a subset of patients with an increased risk of high-grade UC (HGUC) who may otherwise not be closely followed, while a negative hTERT immunocytochemistry result is associated with a reduction in risk for HGUC.
electrophysiological home-recorded sleep study in insomnia

Since the discovery in 1953 by Aserinsky and Kleitman of what is now recognized as the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, and the subsequent precise definition of the human sleep-stage profile by Dement and Kleitman (1957), there has been a tremendous upsurge in the volume of sleep research. Physiological monitoring, including measurement of the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG), has provided a reliable, objective tool for studying the inherently subjective phenomena of sleep. An important practical application of sleep-laboratory research has been the ability to accurately assess the clinical efficacy of various hypnotic drugs. Thus, much information now exists on the effects of hypnotic drugs with respect to both quantitative factors (for example, sleep latency, total sleep time, etc.) and qualitative factors (for example, alterations in sleep-stage characteristics, number of arousals, etc.).
Mind and Maze: Spatial Cognition and Environmental Behavior

Introduction The Development of Spatial Cognition: Infants and Newcomers... Gender Differences in Spatial Cognition: North by Northwest... The Neuropsychology of Spatial Cognition: In the Mind's Eye... Research on Wayfinding Tools: Maps and Minds... Spatial Cognition and Urban Design: Trapped in a Tree... Concluding Comments
Trading Wireless Capacity Through Spectrum Virtualization Using LTE-A

Markets for spectrum were first proposed by Ronald Coase as a way to efficiently allocate this resource. It took another forty years for primary markets to be developed (in the form of spectrum auctions) as the mechanism for assigning spectrum licenses to users. It is not a secret that secondary markets would be necessary to fully realize the benefits of economic allocation of spectrum. But this is easier said than done, since spectrum is a complex, multi-dimensional product with relatively few buyers and sellers (at least for commercial mobile services), so liquid secondary markets have not emerged, even though spectrum trading through brokers is commonplace. In this paper, we find that liquidity for spectrum markets can be improved over "naked" spectrum markets when a standardized commodity can be traded that uses the principles of spectrum virtualization. We utilize the Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) of LTE-Advanced as the traded commodity and modify the SPECTRAD model developed in [5] accordingly. Though much remains to be done, we find that this is a promising approach to finally realizing liquid secondary markets in radio spectrum.
Biologically Defined or Biologically Informed Traits Are More Heritable Than Clinically Defined Ones: The Case of Oral and Dental Phenotypes.

The genetic basis of oral health has long been theorized, but little information exists on the heritable variance in common oral and dental disease traits explained by the human genome. We sought to add to the evidence base of heritability of oral and dental traits using high-density genotype data in a well-characterized community-based cohort of middle-age adults. We used genome-wide association (GWAS) data combined with clinical and biomarker information in the Dental Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) cohort. Genotypes comprised SNPs directly typed on the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 chip with minor allele frequency of >5% (n = 656,292) or were imputed using HapMap II-CEU (n = 2,104,905). We investigated 30 traits including “global” [e.g., number of natural teeth (NT) and incident tooth loss], clinically defined (e.g., dental caries via the DMFS index, periodontitis via the CDC/AAP and WW17 classifications), and biologically informed (e.g., subgingival pathogen colonization and “complex” traits). Heritability (i.e., variance explained; h2) was calculated using Visscher’s Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis (GCTA), using a random-effects mixed linear model and restricted maximum likelihood (REML) regression adjusting for ancestry (10 principal components), age, and sex. Heritability estimates were modest for clinical traits—NT = 0.11 (se = 0.07), severe chronic periodontitis (CDC/AAP) = 0.22 (se = 0.19), WW17 Stage 4 vs. 1/2 = 0.15 (se = 0.11). “High gingival index” and “high red complex colonization” had h2 > 0.50, while a periodontal complex trait defined by high IL-1β GCF expression and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans subgingival colonization had the highest h2 = 0.72 (se = 0.32). Our results indicate that all GWAS SNPs explain modest levels of the observed variance in clinical oral and dental measures. Subgingival bacterial colonization and complex phenotypes encompassing both bacterial colonization and local inflammatory response had the highest heritability, suggesting that these biologically informed traits capture aspects of the disease process and are promising targets for genomics investigations, according to the notion of precision oral health.
Continuous EEG Monitoring and Quantitative EEG Techniques

Continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring in critically ill patients is a noninvasive way to assess brain function and help identify clinically silent neurological events. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is a method for analyzing and compressing vast amounts of cEEG-generated data and includes the visual representation of mathematically or statistically compressed raw EEG waveforms. Quantitative EEG techniques have allowed neurophysiologists to more efficiently review recordings reducing the time burden of analyzing complete raw EEG data sets. Furthermore, quantitative EEG trends are able to recognize subtle changes in the EEG earlier than other monitoring techniques and more easily display this information so that nonexpert staff can potentially recognize clinically important EEG patterns in a timely fashion. In this chapter, we will review the indications and potential uses for cEEG monitoring in critically ill patients including detection of nonconvulsive seizures or nonconvulsive status epilepticus, characterization of spells in comatose or stuporous patients as epileptic or non-epileptic, assessment of level of sedation, and the detection of early ischemia (using qEEG with trending of alpha/delta ratios).
Images of Identity: Performing Power and Intersectionality

Courses: Communication Theory, Intercultural Communication, Performance Studies, Gender and Communication, Rhetorical Criticism and Analysis.Objectives: This unit activity encourages students to en...
Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis of Human Papillomavirus 16-Infected Primary Keratinocytes Reveals Subtle Perturbations Mostly due to E7 Protein Expression

It is established that the host cell transcriptomes of natural lesions, organotypic rafts, and human papillomavirus (HPV)-immortalized keratinocytes are altered in the presence of HPV genomes. However, the establishment of HPV-harboring cell lines requires selection and immortalization, which makes it impossible to distinguish between alterations directly induced by HPV or indirectly by the need for immortalization or selection. To address direct effects of HPV infection on the host cell transcriptome, we have used our recently established infection model that allows efficient infection of primary keratinocytes with HPV16 virions. We observed only a small set of genes to be deregulated at the transcriptional level at 7 days postinfection (dpi), most of which fall into the category regulated by pocket proteins pRb, p107, and p130. Furthermore, cell cycle genes were not deregulated in cells infected with a virus lacking E7 despite the presence of episomal genome and viral transcripts. These findings imply that the majority of transcriptional changes are due to the E7 protein impairing pocket protein function. Additional pathways, such as the Fanconi anemia-BRCA pathway, became perturbed only after long-term culturing of infected cells. When grown as organotypic raft cultures, keratinocytes infected with wild-type but not E7 mutant virus had perturbed transcriptional regulation of pathways previously identified in natural lesions and in rafts derived from immortalized keratinocytes. We conclude that the HPV infection model provides a valuable tool to distinguish immediate transcriptional alterations from those induced by persistent infection and the need for selection and immortalization.IMPORTANCE To establish infection and complete the viral life cycle, human papillomavirus (HPV) needs to alter the transcriptional program of host cells. Until recently, studies were restricted to keratinocyte-derived cell lines immortalized by HPV due to the lack of experimental systems to efficiently infect primary keratinocytes. Need for selection and immortalization made it impossible to distinguish between alterations induced by HPV and secondary adaptation due to selection and immortalization. With our recent establishment of an extracellular matrix (ECM)-to-cell transfer system allowing efficient infection of primary keratinocytes, we were able to identify transcriptional changes attributable to HPV16 infection. Most perturbed genes fall into the class of S-phase genes, which are regulated by pocket proteins. Indeed, infection with viruses lacking E7 abrogated most transcriptional changes. It is important to note that many transcriptional alterations thought to be important for the HPV life cycle are actually late events that may reflect immortalization and, possibly, disease progression.
Clonal Hematopoiesis: A New Step Linking Inflammation to Heart Failure

Heart failure is a common disease with poor prognosis that is associated with cardiac immune cell infiltration and dysregulated cytokine expression. Recently, the clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells with acquired (i.e., nonheritable) DNA mutations, a process referred to as clonal hematopoiesis, has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases including heart failure. Mechanistic studies have shown that leukocytes that harbor these somatic mutations display altered inflammatory characteristics that worsen the phenotypes associated with heart failure in experimental models. In this review, we summarize recent epidemiological and experimental evidence that support the hypothesis that clonal hematopoiesis-mediated immune cell dysfunction contributes to heart failure and cardiovascular disease in general.
Development of urine metabolomic biomarkers for ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy (IIE) in soft tissue sarcoma patients.

e23534Background: In the treatment of sarcomas, high doses of ifosfamide in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents remains a backbone of cytoreductive therapy. Unfortunately, IIE remains a ...
The significane of environmental taxes used for mitigating the environment harmful impacts of road transportation

Logistics is one of the most important economic sectors of the European Union, with nearly 1.134 million companies engaged in the field of transportation in the EU. The global logistics market is expected to show further expansion in the forthcoming years. On the other side stands global warning which is one of the greatest problems for the time being. The European Commission has announced a cross-sectoral investment programme worth more than 10 billion euros (nearly 3,200 billion Hungarian forints) for the planning, development and implementation of low carbon dioxide-emitting technologies to improve Europe’s global competitiveness. The common data base of OECD and the European Environment Agency (EEA) currently lists 375 environmental taxes and approximately 250 environmental fees or charges in the OECD countries. Among the EU member states, Sweden, for example, introduced a tax system which includes the essential elements of eco-tax more than 10 years ago. Hungary has several of such tax types, such as the excise tax on fuel, the energy tax, the energy suppliers’ income tax or the vehicle tax.
God is Not a Thing: A Response to Dale Tuggy

Dale Tuggy has argued that all Trinitarians are committed to the nonsensical belief that the one God is the Trinity (where "is" expresses identity). In his submission to the current journal, Tuggy argues that this position began not, as some Orthodox theologians have claimed, with Augustine, but rather with the Cappadocians. According to Tuggy, in these late fourth century authors, the Trinity "replaced" the Father as the one true God. In this response, it is argued (1) that Tuggy's thesis of historical replacement is unproven, (2) that Tuggy's concept of substance, and therefore his reading of the Cappadocians is anachronistic or confused, and (3) that Tuggy mistakes the names "God" and "Father" for proper names.
Applesauce and Isoniazid

In Reply.— Abernathy indicates that she has achieved favorable results with chemotherapy of tuberculosis using a crushed isoniazid tablet admixed with a teaspoon of applesauce, jelly, or jam (flavor not specified). Citing historical controls, she also implies that the generally favorable response to antituberculous therapy in children supports the use of isoniazid preparations that have not undergone rigorous pharmaceutical scrutiny, including tests of gastrointestinal absorption. In our study,1 the isoniazid was mixed with a tablespoon of applesauce rather than a teaspoon as used by Abernathy.
Managing information systems: an ethical framework and information needs matrix.

SUMMARY This paper urged administrators in human services to attend to values and ethics in the desien and imolementation of automated information systems. ~owarud this en& it presented an ethical framework reasserting the primacy of clients as citizens and encour- aging the developm&t of client-driven information systems. Fi- nally, the paper presented the rationale for and two examples of an Information Needs Matrix to assist administrators in their delibera- tions about allocating discretionary resources among functional units within organizations. REFERENCES Bell, D. (1973). The coming of post-industrial society: A venture to post-indus- trial forecasting. New York: Basic Books. Boguslaw, R. (1981). The new utopians: A study of system decision and social change (Enlarged edition). New York: Irvington. Bush, M. (1988). Families in distress: Public, private, and civic responses. Berkeley: University of California Press. Callahan, R.E. (1962).
The Emergence of Beliefs about the Origins of Species in School-Age Children.

Two studies address children's emerging understanding of the origins of species. Elementary-school children, aged 5-12 years, were interviewed about their under standing of biological origins and of natural history (Ns = 49 in Study 1 ; 83, with par ents, in Study 2). A systematic developmental pattern in children's explanations for biological origins was demonstrated. There were age-related shifts from mixed cre ationist and spontaneous generationist explanations, to an exclusive creationism, and finally to evolutionist or creationist explanations. A child's age, natural history knowledge, and parents' beliefs were independently related to the expression of these explanations. It is argued that this developmental pattern emerges from the interaction between community beliefs and age-related changes in the inductive potential of children's naive theories.
Keeping mobile robot swarms connected

Designing robust algorithms for mobile agents with reliable communication is difficult due to the distributed nature of computation, in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) the matter is exacerbated by the need to ensure connectivity. Existing distributed algorithms provide coordination but typically assume connectivity is ensured by other means. We present a connectivity service that encapsulates an arbitrary motion planner and can refine any plan to preserve connectivity (the graph of agents remains connected) and ensure progress (the agents advance towards their goal). The service is realized by a distributed algorithm that is modular in that it makes no assumptions of the motion-planning mechanism except the ability for an agent to query its position and intended goal position, local in that it uses 1-hop broadcast to communicate with nearby agents but doesn't need any network routing infrastructure, and oblivious in that it does not depend on previous computations. We prove the progress of the algorithm in one round is at least Ω(min(d, r)), where d is the minimum distance between an agent and its target and r is the communication radius. We characterize the worst case configuration and show that when d ≥ r this bound is tight and the algorithm is optimal, since no algorithm can guarantee greater progress. Finally we show all agents get Ɛ-close to their targets within O(D0/r+n2/Ɛ) rounds where n is the number of agents and D0 is the sum of the initial distances to the targets.
The use of sulfathiazole powder in the vagina immediately after completion of delivery.

Abstract A study of the effect of sulfathiazole powder in the vagina immediately after completion of delivery was begun in 1946. The objective was to evaluate the effect of its use upon the morbidity of the early postpartum period with special reference to healing of episiotomy wounds and vaginal lacerations of various degree, the amount and type of vaginal discharge whether there had been any repair or not, the degree of pain in the perineum, and last, the influence upon the general well-being of the patient.
Anti-EGFR Therapies: Clinical Experience in Colorectal, Lung, and Head and Neck Cancers

Anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies, demonstrate activity in a variety of tumor types. While both inhibit the EGFR pathway, they act via different mechanisms. Monoclonal antibodies bind to the extracellular domain of EGFR, preventing ligand binding and interrupting the signaling cascade. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors bind to the intracellular domain of EGFR and inhibit the downstream effects of EGFR ligand binding. Both categories of agents have been evaluated in a variety of clinical settings and tumor types, including colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Phase II/III trials in patients with previously treated or untreated metastatic colorectal cancer, including those with documented refractory disease, demonstrate activity of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Erbitux) as a single agent or in combination with both irinotecan (Camptosar)- and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)-based chemotherapy. Activity of cetuximab added to chemotherapy in patients who previously progressed on the same regimen suggests an ability to overcome chemotherapy resistance in some patients. In NSCLC, phase II trials of the TKI gefitinib (Iressa) plus combination chemotherapy showed impressive activity with considerable toxicity. Large, randomized, phase II trials (IDEAL 1 and 2) reported modest activity of gefitinib in NSCLC; however, phase III trials (INTACT 1 and 2)failed to demonstrate a benefit to adding gefitinib to chemotherapy. A similar trend was noted in trials of erlotinib (Tarceva) (TALENT and TRIBUTE). Phase II/III trials have shown promising activity of cetuximab in SCCHN, generating significantly improved survival in combination with radiotherapy over radiotherapy alone in locally advanced disease and significantly improved response rates in combination with chemotherapy over chemotherapy alone in recurrent/metastatic disease, with little enhancement of toxicity profiles. Limited clinical experience with TKIs in SCCHN suggests similar degrees of single-agent activity and dermatologic toxicities. Levels of EGFR expression and the presence of EGFR mutations correlate with responsiveness to TKI therapy, while it remains unclear whether a relationship exists between level of EGFR expression and cetuximab efficacy in colorectal cancer. Anti-EGFR therapies are good candidates for combination with other treatment modalities, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, due to their tolerable safety profile and nonoverlapping toxicities. In addition, these agents represent important treatment options in patients ineligible for chemotherapy due to refractory or resistant disease. Ongoing trials continue to investigate both the monoclonal antibodies and TKIs in various treatment settings.
Thermochemical Determination of Glucose in Serum, Plasma, and Whole Blood without Prior Deproteinization

Glucose can be determined by phosphorylatlon in the presence of hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) by using Mg2+/ (ATP)2- as the phosphorylating agent. A novel instrumental quantitation method is described, direct injection enthalpimetry, whereby the heat of the enzymatically catalyzed reaction was measured. The reaction was allowed to proceed to virtual completion (99.5+%) in an adiabatic Dewar vessel at 25.00 ± 0.01 °C (range). Samples were sequentially injected into a reaction mixture consisting of hexokinase, ATP, Mg2+, and a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer (pH 8). Single analyses required <2 min for 0-3 g/liter samples. The linear dynamic range was 0.3-10 g/liter, with zero intercept and a precision and accuracy of 2%. Electrical calibration in situ obviated the need for chemical standards, and because protein and color do not interfere, no sample pretreatment was necessary before analysis.
Inside Information: Developing Powerful Readers and Writers of Informational Text Through Project-Based Instruction

by Nell K. Duke. New York, NY: Scholastic Teaching Resources. © 2014. 203 pages. ISBN 978-0-545-66768-5.Inside Information provides K–5 teachers with a close view of what constitutes quality instru...
Gadolinium Chelate Contrast Agents in MRI: Clinical Applications

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Clinical Applications in the Head 3 Clinical Applications in the Spine 4 Clinical Applications in the Body 5 Future Directions 6 Conclusions 7 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Role of copper transporters in the uptake and efflux of platinum containing drugs

Cellular mechanisms for the uptake, intracellular distribution and efflux of the platinum (Pt) containing compounds cisplatin (DDP), carboplatin (CBDCA) and oxaliplatin (LOHP) are unknown. Current data suggest that specialized transporters/carriers mediate the transport of Pt drugs across the cellular membranes. Specific roles for the copper (Cu) transporters CTR1, ATP7A and ATP7B have been demonstrated during recent years. The finding that in cultured cells and tumor samples a correlation can be found between the expression of Cu transporters and the degree of the acquired resistance to Pt drug suggests that the Cu transporters are important constituents of the program that regulates sensitivity to Pt drugs. A model is presented that describes the function of Cu transporters in the regulation of Pt drug uptake and efflux.
Contribution of neighbourhood socioeconomic status and physical activity resources to physical activity among women

Introduction: Residence in a deprived neighbourhood is associated with lower rates of physical activity. Little is known about the manifestation of deprivation that mediates this relationship. This study aimed to investigate whether access to physical activity resources mediated the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and physical activity among women. Method: Individual data from women participating in the Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program (1979–90) were linked to census and archival data from existing records. Multilevel regression models were examined for energy expenditure and moderate and vigorous physical activity as reported in physical activity recalls. Results: After accounting for individual-level socioeconomic status, women who lived in lower-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods reported greater energy expenditure, but undertook less moderate physical activity, than women in moderate-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods. In contrast, women living in higher-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods reported more vigorous physical activity than women in moderate-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods. Although availability of physical activity resources did not appear to mediate any neighbourhood socioeconomic status associations, several significant interactions emerged, suggesting that women with low income or who live in lower-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods may differentially benefit from greater physical activity resource availability. Discussion: Although we found expected relationships between residence in a lower-socioeconomic status neighbourhood and undertaking less moderate or vigorous physical activity among women, we also found that these same women reported greater overall energy expenditure, perhaps as a result of greater work or travel demands. Greater availability of physical activity resources nearby appears to differentially benefit women living in lower-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods and low-income women, having implications for policy-making and planning.
Preparing for end of service life of wind turbines

Abstract The wind power industry is growing rapidly. Wind turbines (WTs) are perceived as a low environmental impact energy generation technology. While the service life of a WT is relatively long (20–40 years), at some point a significant number of WTs will reach the end of their service lives. To recover maximum value from these WTs, planning for the end-of-service life of wind turbines (EOSLWTs) is paramount. Historically, environmental life cycle assessments of WTs have often only considered the materials extraction and processing, manufacturing, and use phases, leaving the management of EOSLWTs outside the scope of their attention. Four key EOSLWTs issues that are essential for the continuing development of wind energy technologies are presented: i) The challenges of managing of EOSLWTs given the fast growth rate of the industry and the large number of existing installed WTs; ii) The EOSLWT alternatives such as remanufacturing and recycling to recover functional and material value respectively; iii) The critical activities in the WT reverse supply chain such as recovery methods, logistics of transportation, quality of returns, and quality of reprocessed WTs; and iv) The economic and business issues associated with EOSLWTs. It is expected that the discussion provided will stimulate a dialog among decision makers and raise awareness of economic opportunities and unanticipated challenges in the wind power industry.
ANALYTICITY, HYPERBOLICITY AND UNIFORM STABILITY OF SEMIGROUPS ARISING IN MODELS OF COMPOSITE BEAMS

We examine the stability properties of a sandwich beam consisting of two outer layers and a thin core. The outer layers are modeled as Euler Bernoulli beams and the inner core provides both elastic and viscous resistance to shearing. We show for both clamped and hinged boundary conditions that (i) if rotational inertia terms are neglected, the model is described by an analytic semigroup, and (ii) if rotational inertia is retained in the outer layers, the model is uniformly exponentially stable.
Claim no easy victories: evaluating the pesticide industry's Global Safe Use campaign.

Abstract The pesticide industry’s Global Safe Use campaign has reportedly produced a dramatic decline in pesticide-related health and environmental problems in Guatemala. This paper challenges this claim, reanalyzing existing data and further evaluating claims of the campaign’s efficacy. The paper argues that the campaign’s strategy inadequately links knowledge with structural constraints on behavior. It also suffers from the industry’s contradictory definitions of the pesticide problem both as public perception and as a serious health and environmental threat. The paper suggests an approach common to the field of Industrial Hygiene be applied to reducing pesticide hazards. The paper concludes by locating the Safe Use campaign within larger struggles to re-regulate globalizing economic spaces.
Analysis and design of LLC-type series resonant convertor

In the letter a new convertor is derived by adding an inductor in parallel with the resonant capacitor of the conventional series resonant convertor (SRC). It will be shown that the control characteristics of the new convertor are much improved when compared to those of the conventional SRC. Another advantage of the new convertor over the conventional SRC is that the component stresses are also reduced.
Celiac disease: an underappreciated issue in women’s health

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy that is secondary to gluten ingestion and classically associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis is based on serology and confirmatory duodenal biopsy, and the only treatment is lifelong avoidance of gluten. CD has been increasingly recognized to encompass a wide variety of manifestations that are relevant to women’s health, including infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes and reduced BMD. Currently, CD is underdiagnosed, largely owing to lack of recognition of the diverse manifestations by general practitioners. Increased awareness of the clinical spectrum of this disease, as well as targeted testing in at-risk individuals (including women with unexplained infertility and previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, and in specific populations with reduced BMD) is greatly needed in order to improve rates of diagnosis.
Cylindrically averaged electron density distribution in cucumber virus number four

Abstract The cylindrically averaged electron density of cucumber virus number four in water solution was studied by small-angle scattering of x-rays. The virus was found to be of radius 82 A. and have a hollow center of radius 19 A. similar to TMV. Cylindrical high electron density shells were observed at radii R . R = 23, 42, 66, 78 A.
Water Diplomacy A Negotiated Approach to Managing Complex Water Networks

All nations have built their economies around water that is naturally available. Almost all sectors of the economy depend on water. Yet there is conflict among various users for the finite amount of water that is available. Managers and practitioners have long held the notion that competition rather than collaboration is the solution when there is conflict. Water Diplomacy: A Negotiated Approach to Managing Complex Water Networks, by Shafiqul Islam and Lawrence Susskind, provides a refreshingly compelling alternative to overcoming water conflicts. The book argues that the dynamic sociopolitical and socioeconomic constraints of water resources are best addressed in a “diplomacy” framework. The book rebuts, using several case studies, the technically rigid competition approach of today's water sharing practice.
The possible role of GABAA receptors and gephyrin in epileptogenesis

The term epileptogenesis refers to a dynamic alteration in neuronal excitability that promotes the appearance of spontaneous seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most common type of acquired epilepsy, often develops after an insult to the brain such as trauma, febrile seizures, encephalitis, or status epilepticus (SE). During the pre-epileptic state (also referred as latent or silent period) there is a plethora of molecular, biochemical and structural changes that lead to the generation of recurrent spontaneous seizures (or epilepsy). The specific contribution of these alterations to epilepsy development is unclear, but a loss of inhibition has been associated with the increased excitability detected in the latent period. A rapid increase in neuronal hyperexcitability could be due, at least in part, to a decline in the number of physiologically active GABAA receptors (GABAAR). Altered expression of scaffolding proteins involved in the trafficking and anchoring of GABAAR could directly impact the stability of GABAergic synapses and promote a deficiency in inhibitory neurotransmission. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms operating during epileptogenesis and its possible impact on the regulation of GABAAR and scaffolding proteins may offer new targets to prevent the development of epilepsy.
Detection of circulating metallothionein in rats injected with zinc or cadmium

Circulating metallothionein was measured by radioimmunoassay over a 13-day period in male Sprague-Dawley rats that received a sequence of three intraperitoneal injections (at 3-day intervals) of either 5 milligrams of zinc or 0.8 milligrams of cadmium per kilogram of body weight. These amounts of zinc and cadmium produced metallothionein concentrations in the range of 2 to 5 nanograms per milliliter of serum (zinc) and 2 to 15 nanograms per milliliter of serum (cadmium). In control rats given saline injections over the same period the metallothionein concentration ranged from 1 to 3 nanograms per milliliter of serum.
The effect of cellular glucoprivation on skin temperature regulation in the rat.

Abstract Studies were undertaken to determine the effects of cellular glucoprivation on temperature responses in morphine-addicted and placebo-treated rats and to compare these responses to those observed during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Naloxone caused a tail skin temperature (TST) response of 5.7 ± 0.5°C in morphine-dependent rats. Intraperitoneal administration 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) caused TST responses in placebo-treated and morphine-dependent rats of 4.8 ± 0.6 and 6.2 ± 0.5°C, respectively. These data indicate that the activation of the sympathetic nervous system by cellular glucoprivation causes a TST response which is equivalent in magnitude to that induced by precipitating withdrawal with naloxone. This effect of 2DG appears to be mediated by the brain, since icv administration of 2DG caused a TST response, similar to that induced by naloxone treatment of morphine-dependent rats. Collectively, these data suggest that a TST increase is a component of the response of rats to local brain glucoprivation induced by 2DG.
Programming and reprogramming sequence timing following high and low contextual interference practice

Individuals practiced two unique discrete sequence production tasks that differed in their relative time profile in either a blocked or random practice schedule. Each participant was subsequently administered a "precuing" protocol to examine the cost of initially compiling or modifying the plan for an upcoming movement's relative timing. The findings indicated that, in general, random practice facilitated the programming of the required movement timing, and this was accomplished while exhibiting greater accuracy in movement production. Participants exposed to random practice exhibited the greatest motor programming benefit, when a modification to an already prepared movement timing profile was required. When movement timing was only partially constructed prior to the imperative signal, the individuals who were trained in blocked and random practice formats accrued a similar cost to complete the programming process. These data provide additional support for the recent claim of Immink & Wright (2001) that at least some of the benefit from experience in a random as opposed to blocked training context can be localized to superior development and implementation of the motor programming process before executing the movement.
Contrasting Population Demographics of Invasive Silver Carp between an Impounded and Free‐Flowing River

AbstractExtensive research has been conducted on Silver Carp Hypopthalmicthys molitrix in the heavily modified Illinois River in the midwestern United States due to the potential for populations to enter the Great Lakes; however, little research has been conducted on populations in unimpounded rivers. The Wabash River is an unimpounded large river in the U.S. Midwest that may be a good model for studying Silver Carp in unregulated river ecosystems that could potentially be invaded if reproducing populations in the Great Lakes are established. In this study we compared population demographics of Silver Carp in the Wabash and Illinois rivers. Abundance was over three times greater in the Illinois than in the Wabash River, although Wabash River Silver Carp had significantly greater mean length, age, and condition and a higher growth rate than did Illinois River Silver Carp. Although the heavily modified and degraded environment in the Illinois River may have aided in the rapid expansion of Silver Carp, intra...
The effect of price, brand name, and store name on buyers' perceptions of product quality: An integrative review.

The authors integrate previous research that has investigated experimentally the influence of price, brand name, and/or store name on buyers’ evaluations of product quality. The meta-analysis sugge...
Single-Point Diamond Turning: Progress in Precision

Single-point diamond turning has significantly progressed in the last 20 years. This paper will explain how key advancements in this field provide today's optical designer with a wide selection of affordable design solutions.
A note on stabilization of decentralized control systems

A sufficient condition for stabilizing decentralized control systems is suggested. The condition is based on reducing time-varying systems to time-invariant ones (Wu et al. 1975, Wu 1980). It is then possible to obtain continuous time-varying local controllers that will stabilize a decentralized control system even if it has unstable fixed modes.
Incorporating Twinkling in Genetic Algorithms for Global Optimization

Genetic algorithms have been extensively used as a reliable tool for global optimization. However these algorithms suffer from their slow convergence. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a two-fold approach to address these limitations. The first approach is to introduce a twinkling process within the crossover phase of a genetic algorithm. Twinkling can be incorporated within any standard algorithm by introducing a controlled random deviation from its standard progression to avoiding being trapped at a local minimum. The second approach is to introduce a crossover technique: the weighted average normally-distributed arithmetic crossover that is shown to enhance the rate of convergence. Two possible twinkling genetic algorithms are proposed. The performance of the proposed algorithms is successfully compared to simple genetic algorithms using various standard mathematical and engineering design problems. The twinkling genetic algorithms show their ability to consistently reach known global minima, rather than nearby sub-optimal points with a competitive rate of convergence.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Depression Complicated by Childhood Trauma: A Case Illustration

This article presents diagnostic, conceptualization and treatment issues in a case of adolescent depression. The case illustrates three points: (i) the complexity of adolescent psychopathology, par...
Muscular subaortic stenosis associated with complete heart block.

Abstract The first case of spontaneous and permanent complete heart block in a patient with well documented muscular subaortic stenosis is reported. Hemodynamic observations were made during the periods of complete heart block and paced rhythm. The exact cause of the complete heart block in this patient is uncertain.
A [3.3]Sigmatropic Rearrangement of α,β-Unsaturated Fischer Chromium Carbenes: Synthesis of Alkynol and Dienol Esters

Abstract A novel [3.3]sigmatropic rearrangement of in situ formed α,β-unsaturated Fischer acyloxy carbenes forming alkynol esters is described. For example, reaction of tetramethylammonium pentacarbonyl(1-oxo-2-butenyl)chromate(1-) (4) with 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride gave 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-yl 4-methoxybenzoate (8) in 32% yield. In addition to the rearrangement products, dienol esters formed by a formal β-hydride elimination-reductive elimination sequence were usually isolated. In the above example, 3-methylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl 4-methoxybenzoate (9) was obtained (16%) as the side product.
Finger ridge-count variation in 45,X Turner's syndrome.

Finger ridge-counts of 109 45,X Turner's syndrome patients were compared to normal controls by means of discriminant functions. Each subject was represented by 20 variables, a radial and an ulnar count for each digit. Not only do Turner patients exhibit larger counts, but the distribution of counts over the digits is altered considerably. The Turnernormal differences appear to correspond to previously defined developmental fields.
A lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase-like gene mediates diacylglycerol esterification in yeast.

The terminal step in triglyceride biosynthesis is the esterification of diacylglycerol. To study this reaction in the model eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we investigated five candidate genes with sequence conservation to mammalian acyltransferases. Four of these genes are similar to the recently identified acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase and, when deleted, resulted in little or no decrease in triglyceride synthesis as measured by incorporation of radiolabeled oleate or glycerol. By contrast, deletion of LRO1, a homolog of human lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase, resulted in a dramatic reduction in triglyceride synthesis, whereas overexpression of LRO1yielded a significant increase in triglyceride production. In vitro microsomal assays determined that Lro1 mediated the esterification of diacylglycerol using phosphatidylcholine as the acyl donor. The residual triglyceride biosynthesis that persists in theLRO1 deletion strain is mainly acyl-CoA-dependent and mediated by a gene that is structurally distinct from the previously identified mammalian diacylglycerol acyltransferase. These mechanisms may also exist in mammalian cells.
Time outside of therapeutic range in atrial fibrillation patients is associated with long-term risk of dementia

Background The mechanisms behind the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia are unknown. One possibility is that exposure to chronic microembolism or microbleeds results in repetitive cerebral injury that is manifest by cognitive decline. Objective The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that AF patients with a low percentage of time in the therapeutic range (TTR) are at higher risk for dementia due to under- or overanticoagulation. Methods Patients anticoagulated with warfarin (target international normalized ratio [INR] 2–3), managed by the Intermountain Healthcare Clinical Pharmacist Anticoagulation Service with no history of dementia or stroke/transient ischemic attack, were included in the study. The primary outcome was dementia incidence defined by ICD-9 codes. Percent time in TTR was calculated using the method of linear interpolation and stratified as >75%, 51%–75%, 26%–50%, and ≤25%. Multivariable Cox hazard regression was used to determine dementia incidence by percentage categories of TTR. Results A total of 2605 patients (age 73.7 ± 10.8 years, 1408 [54.0%] male) were studied. The CHADS2 score distribution was 0: 216 (8.3%); 1: 579 (22.2%); 2: 859(33.0%); 3: 708 (27.2%); and ≥4: 243 (9.3%). The percent TTR averaged 63.1 ± 21.3, with percent INR 3.0: 16.2% ± 13.6%. Dementia was diagnosed in 109 patients (4.2%) (senile: 37 [1.4%]; vascular: 8 [0.3%]; Alzheimer: 64 (2.5%]). After adjustment, decreasing categories of percent TTR were associated with increased dementia risk (vs >75%): Conclusion Quality of anticoagulation management represented as percent TTR among AF patients without dementia was associated with dementia incidence. These data support the possibility of chronic cerebral injury as a mechanism that underlies the association of AF and dementia.
A nonlinear ultrasound propagation simulator using the Slowly Varying Envelope Approximation

Traditional ultrasound imaging takes into account linear propagation only. However, new methods seek to exploit the nonlinear properties of tissues, which create a specific contrast source. Optimizing these methods require simulating the pressure field in the media at a reasonable computational cost. This paper details how using the Slowly Varying Envelope Approximation (SVEA), a method coming from nonlinear optics, enables to compute several harmonics generated by nonlinearity. This simulator is suited to media with a nonlinearity coefficient varying in all 3 spatial dimensions. SVEA one-way field predictions are compared with those of three other simulators up to the fifth harmonic, showing a good agreement up to 1.1 dB depending on the simulator. This method runs on desktop computers in less than 8 minutes for a 128×128×512×400 discretization grid.
The generalized multiple spike discharge. An electro-clinical study

Abstract Waking and sleep EEG records were obtained from 215 patients with generalized or bilateral synchronous multiple spikes and/or multiple spike-wave complexes. This type of discharge was by far more common in sleep than in the waking state. All but three patients had clinical evidence of epilepsy. The age distribution showed a strong preponderance of the first 2 decades of life. The role of K complexes was emphasized since these physiological EEG events appeared to act as initiators of centrencephalic seizure discharges.