cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An analysis of nuclear fuel burnup in the AGR-1 TRISO fuel experiment using gamma spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and computational simulation techniques

Abstract AGR-1 was the first in a series of experiments designed to test US TRISO fuel under high temperature gas-cooled reactor irradiation conditions. This experiment was irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and is currently undergoing post-irradiation examination (PIE) at INL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. One component of the AGR-1 PIE is the experimental evaluation of the burnup of the fuel by two separate techniques. Gamma spectrometry was used to non-destructively evaluate the burnup of all 72 of the TRISO fuel compacts that comprised the AGR-1 experiment. Two methods for evaluating burnup by gamma spectrometry were developed, one based on the Cs-137 activity and the other based on the ratio of Cs-134 and Cs-137 activities. Burnup values determined from both methods compared well with the values predicted from simulations. The highest measured burnup was 20.1% FIMA (fissions per initial heavy metal atom) for the direct method and 20.0% FIMA for the ratio method (compared to 19.56% FIMA from simulations). An advantage of the ratio method is that the burnup of the cylindrical fuel compacts can be determined in small (2.5 mm) axial increments and an axial burnup profile can be produced. Destructive chemical analysis by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was then performed on selected compacts that were representative of the expected range of fuel burnups in the experiment to compare with the burnup values determined by gamma spectrometry. The compacts analyzed by mass spectrometry had a burnup range of 19.3% FIMA to 10.7% FIMA. The mass spectrometry evaluation of burnup for the four compacts agreed well with the gamma spectrometry burnup evaluations and the expected burnup from simulation. For all four compacts analyzed by mass spectrometry, the maximum range in the three experimentally determined values and the predicted value was 6% or less. The results confirm the accuracy of the nondestructive burnup evaluation from gamma spectrometry for TRISO fuel compacts across a burnup range of approximately 10–20% FIMA and also validate the approach used in the physics simulation of the AGR-1 experiment.
The surrogate worth tradeoff method in static multiple objective problems

This paper investigates and extends the Surrogate Worth Tradeoff (SWT) Method of Haimes and Hall [1974] for the solution of multiple objective problems. The general multiobjective problem is reviewed. The geometric interpretation of the worth functions Wij and the interrelationships among the various Wij as well as the tradeoff rates of the ith and Jth objectives, ?ij are studied; a modification of the definition of the worth functions guarantees their applicability to a wider class of problems. Theoretical bases for the methodologies discussed are established. Two algorithms which utilize different approaches for implementing the SWT method are described, and the problem of allocation of stream resources is solved as a multiple objective problem by the SWT method. Computational results are presented and analyzed.
Design, development, and testing of a multifingered heart compression/assist device equipped with IPMC artificial muscles

Presented is a novel mammalian heart compression/assist device in the form of a multi-fingered robotic hand equipped with an assembly of thick ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) fingers encased inside a water bag. The proposed multi-fingered heart compression device (MFHCD) is entirely endoscopically implantable and can be directly or transcutaneously energized by inductive magnetoresonant generators.
Time-resolved fluorimetric detection of terbium-labelled deoxyribonucleic acid separated by gel electrophoresis

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was reacted with a strong chelating agent and labelled with terbium, yielding a highly fluorescent conjugate with a lifetime of 1.5 ms. When a pulsed source and gated detection electronics were employed, the long-lived decay allowed effective discrimination against background fluorescence and scattered excitation. Detection limits should therefore be significantly improved in comparison with covalent labels with fluorescence lifetimes in the nanosecond regime or stains such as ethidium bromide. The conjugate is very stable, remaining fluorescent on dilution and in an electric field at elevated temperatures (60 degrees C), conditions typically encountered during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As an enhancement solution is not required to develop the fluorescence, this system could be utilised in situations where on-line detection is desirable. Although only DNA was labelled, the method is equally applicable to ribonucleic acid.
Single Channel and Ensemble Measurements of CLIC1 in Lipid Bilayers

AbstractChloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) is an ion channel protein which has been hypothesized to play a fundamental role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) [1]. To date, single-channel characteristics of this protein have been obtained by reconstituting it in lipid bilayers and whole cell patch clamp measurements of overexpressing cells. CLIC1 protein can exist in both soluble and integral membrane form[2] and localizes on the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles. Obtaining ensemble measurements of CLIC1 by whole cell patch clamp is very difficult, due to its subcellular localization and its solubility in cytoplasm [3]. We report single channel and ensemble measurements of reconstituted CLIC1 in artificial lipid bilayers formed using sessile droplets, a measurement platform amenable to parallel and automated ion channel studies.[4] We also measured dose dependent inhibition of CLIC1 multi-channel currents by a known blocker, IAA94. This work may be applicable to measurement and screening of other intracellular ion channels as well.[1] Stephania Averaimo, Rosemary H. Milton, Michael R. Duchen, Michele Mazzanti. ‘Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1): sensor and effector during oxidative stress’. FEBS Letters 584 (2010) 2076-2084.[2] Singh, H. ‘Two decades of dimorphic chloride intracellular channels’. FEBS Letters 584 (2010) 2112-2121.[3] Michele Mazzanti et al. ‘Involvement of the Intracellular Ion Channel CLIC1 in Microglia-Mediated -Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity’. The Journal of Neuroscience (2004) 5322-5330.[4] J L Poulos, S A Portonovo, H Bang and J J Schmidt. ‘Automatable Lipid Bilayer Formation and ion Channel Measurement Using Sessile Droplets’. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2010) 22 (45), 454105.
Coherent Optical Processors For Ambiguity Function Display And One-Dimensional Correlation/Convolution Operations

This paper presents a tutorial overview of some recently developed coherent optical pro-cessing techniques for performing certain types of computations often encountered in radar signal processing applications. The processors described utilize two one-dimensional transparencies which represent the spatial analogs of temporal waveforms. These transparencies are commonly rotated 45° in opposite directions, and serve as the inputs to a coherent optical processor which performs a one-dimensional Fourier transform. For various orientations of the input transparencies, possible operations include a simultaneous range/Doppler display of the input's ambiguity function (for identical input transparencies) and a cross-ambiguity function display (for non-identical transparencies). One dimensional coherent correlations and convolutions can similarly be performed without the motion or Fourier transform encoding commonly required in conventional coherent processors. Sample experimental results are presented along with the basic theory.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Network constrained economic demand dispatch of controllable building electric loads

This paper presents a method for determining the economic dispatch of the controllable electric load (demand) of a group of buildings for demand response purposes when including utility network constraints. A previously developed generic problem formulation to minimize a facility's overall electricity cost is discussed, with particular focus placed on the addition of utility network constraints. Certain assumptions derived from real-world building issues are presented as a foundation for this method of load dispatch. The problem is set up as a linear programming problem, and a specific example finding the linearized static demand dispatch of a 3 building facility is presented to demonstrate this approach.
Moisture Sensitivity of Non-Hermetic Optoelectronic Surface Mount Devices

J-STD-033B baking schedules are no longer applicable to non-hermetic optoelectronic surface mount devices since conventional silica fillers are not employed. Critical to Moisture Sensitivity Levels (MSL) performance is the moisture concentration at the interior interfaces that are vulnerable to delamination and package cracking/popcorning during solder reflow. Moisture absorption and desorption has been adequately modeled using a 1-D model assuming a Fickian diffusion, the application of Henry's Law and Arrhenius behavior of the diffusion process. Analytical moisture diffusion models for the saturated moisture gain, moisture absorption diffusivity, saturated moisture loss and moisture desorption diffusivity has been derived from experimental results. The derived analytical moisture diffusion models were used in determining the critical moisture concentration on the bottom center (die-pad) interface on each MSL. The application of moisture diffusion modeling was proven to be a viable method for analyzing the characteristics of the moisture absorption and desorption of surface mount devices (SMDs). This was used as the main tool in order to define the appropriate handling, storage and use for non-hermetic optoelectronic SMDs that will still meet J-STD-020C MSL requirements.
Electric field quenching of carbon nanotube photoluminescence.

The effect of external electric fields on the photoluminescence intensity of single-walled carbon nanotubes was investigated for individual nanotubes and bulk samples in polymeric films. Fields of up to 107 V/m caused dramatic, reversible decreases in emission intensity. Quenching efficiency varied as the cosine of the angle between the field and nanotube axis and decreased with increasing optical band gap. Photoluminescence intensity was found to follow a reciprocal hyperbolic cosine dependence on electric field.
Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with fallible covariates.

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is used widely in psychological research implementing nonexperimental designs. However, when covariates are fallible (i.e., measured with error), which is the norm, researchers must choose from among 3 inadequate courses of action: (a) know that the assumption that covariates are perfectly reliable is violated but use ANCOVA anyway (and, most likely, report misleading results); (b) attempt to employ 1 of several measurement error models with the understanding that no research has examined their relative performance and with the added practical difficulty that several of these models are not available in commonly used statistical software; or (c) not use ANCOVA at all. First, we discuss analytic evidence to explain why using ANCOVA with fallible covariates produces bias and a systematic inflation of Type I error rates that may lead to the incorrect conclusion that treatment effects exist. Second, to provide a solution for this problem, we conduct 2 Monte Carlo studies to compare 4 existing approaches for adjusting treatment effects in the presence of covariate measurement error: errors-in-variables (EIV; Warren, White, & Fuller, 1974), Lord's (1960) method, Raaijmakers and Pieters's (1987) method (R&P), and structural equation modeling methods proposed by Sorbom (1978) and Hayduk (1996). Results show that EIV models are superior in terms of parameter accuracy, statistical power, and keeping Type I error close to the nominal value. Finally, we offer a program written in R that performs all needed computations for implementing EIV models so that ANCOVA can be used to obtain accurate results even when covariates are measured with error.
Analysis of Thin-Film Evaporation Through Sintered Wick Microstructures

Heat pipes are passive heat transport devices capable of transporting heat over long distances without a substantial drop in temperature. The topology and microstructure of the wick material play a crucial role in determining the thermal performance of such devices. Accurate modeling of pore-scale transport phenomena is thus important. In this study, pore scale analysis of thin-film evaporation through sintered copper wicks is performed. X-ray microtomography is employed to generate geometrically-faithful, feature-preserving meshes. Three commercially used sintered wicks of varying particle size ranges (45–60 μm, 106–150 μm and 250–355 μm) and with approximately 61% porosity are considered. The capillary pressure, effective pore radius, percentage thin film area and evaporative mass and heat fluxes are computed using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model in FLUENT. Two different solution strategies are employed to stabilize the numerical solution and to improve convergence. After verifying that these strategies yield the correct solution, the VOF model is used to obtain static meniscus shapes in the pore space of the sintered wick samples. The meniscus shape is then held fixed and steady-state, thin-film evaporation analysis is performed. Liquid-vapor phase change heat transfer is modeled using a modified Schrage equation. Based on the present analysis, the best performing sample (particle size range) is identified along with the optimum contact angle.© 2012 ASME
MRI for modeling of liver and skin respiratory motion

Abstract The motion of internal organ targets represents a major challenge for image-guided therapy. However, in many clinical situations, the internal organ motion cannot be observed directly, so it is necessary to find a surrogate signal that is both easily observable in the therapy setting and predictive of internal organ motion. We are therefore studying the relationship between skin motion and internal organ motion using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in order to determine the feasibility of using an MRI-based model to perform respiratory motion compensation in image-guided therapies. In this paper, we report (1) testing of different dynamic MRI pulse sequences and which ones appear most suitable for respiratory motion modeling, and (2) results from quantitative analysis of skin and liver motion. This study will provide the groundwork for future experiments that will directly test the validity of using skin motion to predict complex internal target motions.
Maximum likelihood parametric reconstruction of forest vertical structure from inclined laser quadrat sampling.

Forest vertical structure is critical to ecological function, and provides a crucial link to air- and spaceborne remote sensing (including LiDAR), but is difficult to measure from the ground. Laser point quadrat sampling has been suggested as one alternative, but previous statistical approaches to modeling forest structure using such data have required impractical sample sizes. Here, I develop the theory for maximum likelihood estimation of a parametric model of forest vertical structure, and illustrate it using inclined point quadrat sampling with a handheld laser. Results from three forest stands in arctic Norway suggest excellent qualitative agreement with structure derived from alternative methods. The approach generalizes readily to other hardware configurations, including terrestrial laser scanning.
13C NMR spectra of 7‐, 8‐, 9‐ and 10‐fluorobenzo[a]pyrene

The 13C NMR spectra of 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-fluoro-benzo[a]pyrenes have been recorded and the chemical shifts of all protonated (and fluorine-substituted) carbons have been assigned. The effect of fluorine on carbon shifts (and also on electron densities, which correlate reasonably well with the shifts) is confined largely to the fluorinated ring and contiguous sites, such as peri positions or carbons across bay regions. A variety of short- and long-range couplings are observed, and correlations with π-bond orders (two-bond couplings) and ato n polarizabilities (one-bond couplings) are observed. Long-range coupling patterns are less obvious, but six-bond couplings appear to correlate with atom-atom polarizabilities, as expected for transfer of spin information through the π-system.
Calculating probability densities associated with grain-size distributions

Abstract We describe a methodology for calculating approximate, yet accurate analytical expressions for the probability density function of grain diameter as obtained from experimental microstructures. This methodology relies on a novel cumulant expansion that is tailored to the lognormal distribution and provides a systematic description of departures from lognormality. We test our methodology by characterizing two data sets obtained from the microstructures associated with polycrystalline, high-purity Al2O3 samples. The utillity of this approach is demonstrated by a detailed statistical analysis.
Tracing Chinese Gay Cinema 1993-2002

Lan Dong explores in her paper, "Tracing Chinese Gay Cinema 1993-2002" the recent landscape of Chinese gay cinema through discussing the following three feature films: Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine (1993), Zhang Yuan's East Palace, West Palace (1996), and Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu (2001). The grouping derives from the concern that they all set their stories in Beijing. Using the capital city as a cultural background, the films display how queer is perceived in China from the 1920s to the end of the 1990s. All three storylines portray the characters' struggle to recognize their particular identity as gay men. In Farewell My Concubine, Cheng Dieyi never comes out throughout the decades when China experienced a series of political events and ends up with a testimonial suicide for his queer identity. Policeman Xiao Shi's confusion about his sexual orientation leads East Palace, West Palace to an open ending. With the social circumstances fading into a supplemental backdrop, Lan Yu focuses specifically on two men's love. By way of tracing gay theme as it is reflected in these films, Dong maps a development process of representing gay relationship in Chinese cinema. Lan Dong, "Tracing Chinese Gay Cinema 1993-2002" page 2 of 8 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 7.2 (2005):
Chemical characterization of chars developed from thermochemical treatment of Kentucky bluegrass seed screenings.

Abstract Seed mill screenings would be a considerable biofeedstock source for bioenergy and char production. Char produced from the gasification of residues resulting from cleaning of grass seed and small grains could be recycled to a cropping system as a soil amendment if chemical characterization determined that the gasification process had not produced or concentrated deleterious chemical or physical factors that might harm the environment, crop growth or yield. Previous reports have shown that char derived from the pyrolysis of a variety of biomass feedstocks has potential to enhance soil quality by pH adjustment, mineral amendment, and improved soil porosity. The objective of this research was to characterize char produced from Kentucky bluegrass seed mill screenings (KBss) by a small-scale gasification unit, operated at temperatures between 600 and 650 °C, with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, selected heavy metals, as well as other physical and chemical characteristics, and determine its suitability for agricultural application as a soil amendment. We utilized KBss as a model for seed and grain-cleaning residues with the understanding that chemical and physical characteristics of char produced by gasification or other cleaning residues may differ based on soil and environmental conditions under which the crops were produced. Our results support the hypothesis that KBss char could be applied in a cropping system without toxic environmental consequences and serve multiple purposes, such as; recycling critical plant macro- and micro-nutrients back to existing cropland, enhancing soil carbon sequestration, managing soil pH, and improving water holding capacity. Crop field trails need to be implemented to further test these hypotheses.
The Circumplex Structure of Depersonalization/Derealization

This paper presents a literature review to determine whether precipitating causes of depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) correspond to the circumplex model of emotion defined by the dimensions of valence and arousal. DP/DR precipitators are reviewed and classified in relation to the four quadrants of the circumplex model of emotion. The findings indicate that the valence and arousal dimensions were significant predictors of emotions expressed in DP/DR precipitators. Implications are discussed with respect to the multidimensional nature of DP/DR, clarifying normal and abnormal DP/DR, and identifying needed areas of research.
Direct and Indirect Roles of Viral Suppressors of RNA Silencing in Pathogenesis

Plant and animal viruses overcome host antiviral silencing by encoding diverse viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs). Prior to the identification and characterization of their silencing suppression activities mostly in transgene silencing assays, plant VSRs were known to enhance virus accumulation in the inoculated protoplasts, promote cell-to-cell virus movement in the inoculated leaves, facilitate the phloem-dependent long-distance virus spread, and/or intensify disease symptoms in systemically infected tissues. Here we discuss how the various silencing suppression activities of VSRs may facilitate these distinct steps during plant infection and why VSRs may not play a direct role in eliciting disease symptoms by general impairments of host endogenous small RNA pathways. We also highlight many of the key questions still to be addressed on the role of viral suppression of antiviral silencing in plant infection.
A paradigm for concurrency control in heterogeneous distributed database systems

A heterogeneous distributed databases system (HDDBS) is a system which integrates preexisting databases to support global applications accessing more than one database. An outline of approaches to concurrency control in HDDBSs is presented. The top-down approach emerges as a viable paradigm for ensuring the proper concurrent execution of global transactions in an HDDBS. The primary contributions of this work are the general schemes for local concurrency control with prespecified global serialization orders. Two approaches are outlined. One is intended for performance enhancement but violates design autonomy, while the other does not violate local autonomy at the cost of generality (it does not apply to all local concurrency control protocols). This study is intended as a guide to concurrency control in this new environment. >
Current status of chimeric antigen receptor therapy for haematological malignancies.

The field of adoptive cell transfer includes chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells, constructs that emerged from basic research into principles of immunology and have transformed into clinically effective therapies for haematological malignancies. T cells engineered to express these artificial receptors hold great promise, but also carry significant risk. While permanent genetic modification of mature T cells appears safe, modulating their in vivo function is difficult, partly because the robust response can trigger other arms of the immune system. Suicide systems and toxicity management with cytokine blockade or signal transduction modulators have emerged as a new frontier in this field, a far cry from early problems getting CAR T cells to work at all. Currently, clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell malignancies treated with CD19-specific CAR T cells have induced durable remissions in adults and children. Results from these trials indicate that more work needs to be done to understand biomarkers of efficacy, the role of T cell persistence and how to integrate this care into standard practice. Cell therapy will not be a 'one size fits all' class of medicine, and here we will discuss the development of this therapy and important questions for its future.
Abstract 5195: Kidney injury molecule-1: a novel therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma.

Background. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by lack of early warning signs, diverse clinical manifestations, absence of a reliable diagnostic and predictive biomarker, and resistance to targeted therapy. Thus, novel approaches for diagnosis, management and treatment of RCC are urgently needed. Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) is not expressed in normal kidney tissues but markedly up-regulated in dedifferentiated proximal tubular epithelial cells following renal injury. We demonstrated that KIM-1 is expressed ubiquitoulsy by both primary and metastatic lesions of clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma, while barely detectable in other subtypes of RCC. Additionally, the ectodomain of KIM-1 is cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases and sheds into the surrounding milieu. Methods. KIM-1 was stably transfected in immortalized renal tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK1, gain-of-function) and KIM-1 was downmodulated in RCC cell lines (loss-of-function) using a siRNA lentiviral approach. KIM-1 function was assessed using these two systems. Results. Stable expression of KIM-1 in non-malignant renal epithelial cells increased cell proliferation, migration and invasion potential, induced anchorage independent growth, and increased the secretion of tumor promoting and angiogenic factors including VEGF, Ang2, TGF beta and IL-6 (PK1-KIM-1); while depletion of KIM-1 in RCC cells led to G1 cell cycle arrest phase and senescence. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that KIM-1 is a phosphatildyl serine receptor and the expression of KIM-1 converts a normal epithelial cell into a “semi professional phagocyte” and facilitates the removal of apoptotic and necrotic cells by recognizing phosphotidyl serine (PS) on their cell surface. Our data suggests that during this process, tumor epithelial cells undergo reprogramming and secrete and activate cytokines involved in cell survival and angiogenesis programs. Conclusions. The present study shows that KIM-1-expression promotes tumorigenesis primarily by two distinct mechanisms: i) by directly conferring oncogenic properties to renal epithelial cells; ii) by resulting in production of a variety of chemokines and cytokines that support tumor progression and angiogenesis. We believe that our findings can significantly contribute to the development of novel therapeutic apporaches and in the advancement of management strategies in RCC and help reduce associated mortality and morbidity. Citation Format: Venkata Sabbisetti, Rupal Bhatt, Swetha Ramadesikan, Joseph Bonventre. Kidney injury molecule-1: a novel therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5195. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5195 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.
Effect of thymectomy on growth, hematology, and immunological response of dairy calves.

Abstract Twelve Holstein and seven Brown Swiss were thymeetomized, and 12 Holsteins were sham-operated 24 to 48 hours after birth. All were raised to 18 to 20 weeks of age. In Experiment I (six thymeetomized and six sham-operated Holsteins) lymphocyte counts increased in both groups following injections of whole sheep blood at 13 weeks. Sham-operated calves showed the greatest increase (P
Fault location in repairable programmable logic arrays

In order to ensure the manufacture of large PLA (programmable logic array) chips with reasonable yield level, a design for repairable PLAs (RPLAs) was proposed in which the partially defective chips can be repaired without reconfiguring the external routing. However, before a defective chip can be repaired, the locations of the defects must be precisely identified. The author presents a fault location (diagnosis) scheme that achieves a full diagnosability in locating all single and multiple stuck-at, bridging, and crosspoint faults. Two examples are given to demonstrate the proposed scheme. >
Polarized agents: Campaign contributions by Lobbyists

Are professional lobbyists loyal partisans? There are thousands of professional lobbyists in Washington, D.C., who work with members of Congress and their staffs, many of whom also make contributions to congressional candidates and political parties. Although many lobbyists have backgrounds in partisan politics, they may have incentives to give money to candidates from both parties. This article finds that professional lobbyists tend to make personal contributions to their preferred party exclusively.
Endeca Technologies (A)

SUBJECT AREAS: Entrepreneurial finance, Financing, Software, Venture capital CASE SETTINGS: Massachusetts; Software industry; 50 employees; 2001 Steve Papa, CEO of Endeca Technologies, must decide among two term sheets raising the same amount of badly needed money for his young software company. One deal is led by insiders and, is offered at a lower price. It continues a board that has worked very well and shares a common vision. It also is likely to involve a very important potential customer. The second offer comes from a group with which Papa does not have history. Although it carries a higher price, it will change the board structure and also requires that the closing be delayed a week, from September 7, 2001, to September 14. The company has cash only into October so, if anything goes wrong, Papa is unlikely to be able to arrange alternate financing. Discusses which option he should accept.
Tourist Attraction: The Moore Library of Lexington, Michigan, 1903-1953.

This essay challenges traditional assumptions about the small-town American public library and the roles it has played in its community. Conventional thinking and professional rhetoric grounded on a “user in the life of the library” perspective identifies the public library as a neutral agency “essential to democracy” that guards against censorship and makes vital information accessible to all. From a “library in the life of the user” perspective, however, this essay argues that a particular small-town public library during a particular time period was indeed essential to its local community, but instead of supplying vital information “essential to democracy,” it functioned primarily as an active agency peacefully mediating local cultural and literary values, supplying patron-driven fictional media, and providing public space—all of which over the generations enabled its host community to weave a socially harmonious fabric that its public library helped craft and then put on public display.
Screening for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Recommendation Statement

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that evidence is insufficient to recommend routine screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants as a means to prevent adverse outcomes (I recommendation).* The pathophysiology and natural history of DDH are poorly understood. There is evidence that screening leads to earlier identification; however, 60% to 80% of the hips of newborns identified as abnormal or as suspicious for DDH by physical examination and >90% of those identified by ultrasound in the newborn period resolve spontaneously and require no intervention. There is poor evidence (poor-quality studies) of the effectiveness of both surgical and nonsurgical interventions; avascular necrosis of the hip (AVN) is reported in 0% to 60% of children who are treated for DDH. Thus, the USPSTF was unable to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for DDH but was concerned about the potential harms associated with treatment of infants identified by routine screening. Address correspondence to Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, US Preventive Services Task Force, c/o Program Director, USPSTF, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Rd, Rockville, MD 20850. E-mail: uspstf{at}ahrq.gov
Establishing an Explanatory Model for Mathematics Identity

This article empirically tests a previously developed theoretical framework for mathematics identity based on students’ beliefs. The study employs data from more than 9,000 college calculus students across the United States to build a robust structural equation model. While it is generally thought that students’ beliefs about their own competence in mathematics directly impact their identity as a “math person,” findings indicate that students’ self-perceptions related to competence and performance have an indirect effect on their mathematics identity, primarily by association with students’ interest and external recognition in mathematics. Thus, the model indicates that students’ competence and performance beliefs are not sufficient for their mathematics identity development, and it highlights the roles of interest and recognition.
Adrenal Insufficiency, Heart Rate Variability, and Complex Biologic Systems: A Study of 1,871 Critically Ill Trauma Patients

Background Reduction in integer heart rate variability (HRVi), one potential measurement of complex biologic systems, is common in ICU patients and is strongly associated with hospital mortality. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) and reduced HRVi are associated with autonomic dysfunction. Failure of the autonomic nervous system can be associated with loss of biologic complexity. We hypothesize decreased HRVi is associated with AI, and HRVi improves after treatment of AI, suggesting "recomplexification" (resumption of normal stress response to injury). Study design Of 4,116 trauma ICU admissions from December 2000 to November 2005, 1,871 patients had sufficient physiologic, laboratory, pharmacy, and demographic data for analysis. Seventy-five patients failing cosyntropin-stimulation testing were defined as AI; the remaining 1,796 were defined as no AI. HRVi was calculated as integer heart rate standard deviation over 5-minute intervals. HRVi 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentiles were calculated over the 72 hours pre-, or poststeroid, or both administration (AI). HRVi percentiles in non-AI patients were evaluated at the same interval and compared with AI using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test. In patients with AI, daily HRVi was computed 3 days before and after steroid administration, and compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Results There were 2.9 million heart-rate intervals measured. HRVi stratified patients with AI (cosyntropin failure), and without AI. HRVi was similar in AI survivors and nonsurvivors before steroid treatment, but differed after treatment. HRVi increased substantially in survivors after steroid administration, yet did not change in nonsurvivors. HRVi does not increase in patients who are unresponsive to steroids and die. Conclusions Reduced heart-rate variability, a potential measurement of complex biologic systems, is associated with cosyntropin-confirmed AI; improved in patients responding to steroid therapy; and is a noninvasive, real-time biomarker suggesting AI.
Electronic health record use and the quality of ambulatory care in the United States.

Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) have been proposed as a sustainable solution for improving the quality of medical care. We assessed the association betweenEHRuse,asimplemented,andthequalityofambulatory care in a nationally representative survey. Methods: We performed a retrospective, crosssectional analysis of visits in the 2003 and 2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. We examined EHR use throughout the United States and the association of EHR use with 17 ambulatory quality indicators. Performanceonqualityindicatorswasdefinedasthepercentageofapplicablevisitsinwhichpatientsreceivedrecommended care. Results:Electronichealthrecordswereusedin18%(95% confidence interval [CI], 15%-22%) of the estimated 1.8 billion ambulatory visits (95% CI, 1.7-2.0 billion) in the United States in 2003 and 2004. For 14 of the 17 quality indicators, there was no significant difference in performance between visits with vs without EHR use. Categories of these indicators included medical management of common diseases, recommended antibiotic prescribing, preventive counseling, screening tests, and avoiding potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in elderly patients. For 2 quality indicators, visits to medical practices using EHRs had significantly better performance:avoidingbenzodiazepineuseforpatientswithde
Recording on Bit-Patterned Media at Densities of 1 Tb/in $^2$ and Beyond

We present a comprehensive analysis of the areal density potential of a bit-patterned media recording. The recording performance is dominated by written-in errors rather than traditional signal-to-noise considerations. Written-in errors are caused by statistical fluctuations of the magnetic properties and the locations of the individual dots. The highest areal densities are obtained with a combination of a pole head, a soft magnetic underlayer, and a storage medium of the composite type. Areal density scenarios of up to 5 Tb/in2 are analyzed
Human Surrogate Head Response to Dynamic Overpressure Loading in Protected and Unprotected Conditions

The ballistic performance of helmets has contributed to increased soldier survivability through the prevention of penetrating injuries. However, the efficacy of helmets in mitigating primary blast–induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is unclear. The objective of this effort was to utilize the Human Surrogate Head Model (HSHM) to investigate brain response to shock tube overpressure loading conditions, both with and without personal protective equipment (PPE). The HSHM is a physical surrogate which includes a brain, skull, facial structure and skin, all fabricated using biosimulant materials. The system was mounted to a Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test Device neck to allow head motion during overpressure exposure. Pressure sensors were embedded along the sagittal plane in the anterior and posterior regions of the biosimulant brain. A series of shock tube tests using driver pressures at four levels (ranging from 420 to 1150 kPa) were conducted to simulate blast loading conditions. Internal pressure response was highly correlated to driver pressure, thus demonstrating the surrogate models sensitivity to load conditions. Characteristic features observed in the archetypical pressure waveform were used to evaluate differences between test parameters, including the effects of a helmet system on response. Results suggest that the helmet does not alter the initial peak pressure response. However, certain subsequent pressure peaks were found to undergo statistically significant reductions when a helmet was placed on the HSHM. The results of this test series demonstrate the use of a surrogate head system in characterizing the brain response to overpressure loading. Future studies will further evaluate the efficacy of PPE and contribute to the understanding of blast-induced injury mechanisms.
Effective Self-Training for Parsing

We present a simple, but surprisingly effective, method of self-training a two-phase parser-reranker system using readily available unlabeled data. We show that this type of bootstrapping is possible for parsing when the bootstrapped parses are processed by a discriminative reranker. Our improved model achieves an f-score of 92.1%, an absolute 1.1% improvement (12% error reduction) over the previous best result for Wall Street Journal parsing. Finally, we provide some analysis to better understand the phenomenon.
A modular action description language

"Toy worlds" involving actions, such as the blocks world and the Missionaries and Cannibals puzzle, are often used by researchers in the areas of commonsense reasoning and planning to illustrate and test their ideas. We would like to create a datahase of general-purpose knowledge about actions that encodes common features of many action domains of this kind. in the same way as abstract algebra and topology represent common features of specific number systems. This paper is a report on the first stage of this project--the design of an action description language in which this database will be written The new language is an extension of the action language C+. Its main distinctive feature is the possibility of referring to other action descriptions in the definition of a new action domain.
Lysyl Oxidases: Expression in the Fetal Membranes and Placenta

Abstract The cross-linking of the connective tissues in the fetal membranes and placenta is important for their tensile strength and elasticity. We have studied the expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) because it is the classical enzyme responsible for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin. We have also studied the two recently described, genetically distinct lysyl oxidase-like genes and proteins, lysyl oxidase-like (LOXL) and lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), of unknown functions. Specific antisera have been used for immunolocalization in fetal membranes and placentae from early pregnancy terminations and after caesarean section at both preterm and term, prior to labour. In addition, the steady state mRNA levels of the three genes has been quantitated in separated amnion, chorion, decidua and placentae collected at term before labour. The immunocytochemistry shows that the spatial expression of the three lysyl oxidases is similar in early pregnancy in both the fetal membranes and placentae. However, by preterm this pattern had diverged and becomes greatest at term. The expression of the genes found at term was similar to the results of protein expression obtained by immunocytochemistry, with the exception of LOXL which had high placental gene expression, but low levels of immunolocalized protein. Thus by term, LOX was expressed predominantly in the amniotic epithelium, with little expression in the placenta, while LOXL showed highest gene expression in the placenta and lowest expression in the amnion. LOXL2 expression was again different and was expressed predominantly in the chorionic cytotrophoblast of the membranes with low expression in both the amnion and placentae. These results suggest that these three members of the lysyl oxidase family may have similar roles in early pregnancy during the development of the placenta and fetal membranes, but their divergence as pregnancy advances to term, may reflect changes in substrate specificity and connective tissue composition.
Peanut yield decline in the Southeast and economically feasible solutions.

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields in the Southeast declined 368 kg/ha during the 1980's and 596 kg/ha in the late 1980's when compared to the 1974-1979 period. The peanut yield decline was correlated with significant meteorological and policy changes in the Southeast during each time period. Meteorological changes were statistically estimated to decrease peanut yield by 137 kg/ha and 194 kg/ha in the 1980's and late 1980's, respectively. The effect on peanut yields from changes in agricultural policy and management decisions was estimated at -166 kg/ha and -225 kg/ha during the respective time periods. Field data gathered during crop years 1987-1990 reflected the meteorological and policy changes during the late 1980's in both non-irrigated and irrigated peanut fields. EXNUT, an expert systems model for peanut irrigation and pest management, was evaluated in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 against expert farmers in the Southeast and increased peanut yields by 204 kg/ha. Evaluation of EXNUT demonstra...
Hollywood’s Global Economic Leadership

Chapter 2 defines Hollywood and identifies its global primacy in the global entertainment landscape within economic terms. Hollywood is analyzed drawing on Porter’s “five forces of competition” theoretical framework. After quantifying and defining Hollywood’s leadership, the analysis focuses on the US entertainment sector’s value chain, its business practices, and its major historical evolutions in the twentieth century.
Modulation of immune cell infiltrate with sunitinib to improve anti-PD1 therapy in preclinical tumor model

Combined therapy using the checkpoint blockade anti-PD1 antibody and the TKI, sunitinib, has been investigated in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Here we examined the impact of sunitinib plus anti-PD1 therapy on tumor growth in the renal cell carcinoma mouse model RENCA. Treatment was initiated on day 5 after implantation of tumor (0.5 million) subcutaneously and consisted of oral gavage with sunitinib (40mg/kg) given daily for 21 days while anti-PD-1 antibody (BioXcell) was given i.p (200ug/100ul) twice a week for three 3 weeks. Treatment groups included sunitinib, anti-PD-1 and both agents while untreated RENCA bearing mice served as controls. Because sunitinib is so effective at reducing tumor growth in the RENCA model, analysis of immune changes in the tumor were assessed in mice with larger and more established tumors (treatment was initiated on day 17, given at the same doses and methods for 7 days). Sunitinib consistently induced a 54% reduction in tumor volume if treatment started on day 17, and >90% if started Day 5, which was not sustained once drug therapy ended. Anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy caused variable reduction in tumor volume and modestly prolonged survival but only the combination therapy was effective at inducing complete tumor regression in the mice. FACS analysis of single cell suspension after tumor digest revealed that sunitinib alone significantly reduced granulocytic (CD11b+Ly6G+Ly6Clow) and monocytic (CD11b+Ly6G-Ly6Chi) myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) by 52% and 68%, respectively. With combination treatment MDSC were reduced by 74% (G-MDSC) and 94% (M-MDSC) respectively from untreated tumors. In contrast anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy had no effect on MDSCs levels. FACS studies further revealed sunitinib monotherapy caused an immune cell infiltrate that was composed predominately of CD8+ T cells (38%) compared to PD-1 antibody treatment (6%). A high percentage of the CD8+ T cells from the sunitinib and sunitinib/anti-PD1-treated mice expressed CD107a (a lysomal-associated membrane protein known to be involved in lytic destruction of tumor target cells) (44% and 60%), compared to untreated and anti-PD1 treated mice (3% and 7% respectively). Combination with sunitinib and PD-1 antibody treatment not only increases the infiltrate of CD8+ T cells but also their frequency of actively cytolytic CD8+ T cells as evidenced by their increased frequency of CD107a expressing cells, suggesting a reverse of immunosuppression by MDSCs. Supported by Pfizer and NIH RO1 CA168488.