cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems: A New Editorial Vision

It is a new year and a new editorial team. We are pleased to introduce ourselves as the new editors-in-chief for The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems: Stacie Petter and Tom Stafford.The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems has been in continuous publication since 1969, marking it as one of the longest-published research publications in the field of information systems. In two short years, we will celebrate our 50th year of publication, and we are pleased to begin our editorial term with initiatives intended to move The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems toward an even more impactful performance and notable presence in the world of information systems scholarship than ever before as we approach this important milestone.A hallmark of our editorial tenure shall be the broad and inclusive promotion of this publication toward the end of drawing submissions and readership from greatly expanded audiences world-wide. To that end, you will see us exhibiting The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems at leading information systems conferences around the world in the coming months and years. Come greet us when we do! Further, we look to you to lend your voice and presence to the promotion of our emerging editorial agenda for growth and impact.
Are Integrated Plan Providers Associated With Lower Premiums on the Health Insurance Marketplaces

As the health insurance industry becomes more consolidated, hospitals and health systems have started to enter the insurance business. Insurers are also rapidly acquiring providers. Although these “vertically” integrated plan providers are small players in the insurance market, they are becoming more numerous. The health insurance marketplaces (HIMs) offer a unique setting to study integrated plan providers relative to other insurer types because the HIMs were designed to promote competition. In this descriptive study, the authors compared the premiums of the lowest priced silver plans of integrated plan providers with other insurer types on the 2015 and 2016 HIMs. Integrated plan providers were associated with modestly lower premiums relative to most other insurer types. This study provides early insights into premium competition on the HIMs. Examining integrated plan providers as a separate insurer type has important policy implications because they are a growing segment of the marketplaces and their pr...
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Two Interacting Streamers

Interacting streamers are commonly found in natural plasma discharges, such as lightning, jets and sprites, but are poorly understood at present. In this paper, we report a three-dimensional modeling study of two interacting streamers simultaneously initiated from identical plasma columns in a uniform ambient field. Simulation results show that the streamers no longer propagate in the direction of the ambient field due to strong repulsion between them. The results also show that the peak field in the streamer head determines the direction of streamer propagation, and that the two streamers propagate in separate directions. We further conjecture that they will be unlikely to merge later on. Finally, the interacting streamers still grow exponentially, with a growth rate similar to an isolated streamer under the same condition.
Recent advances in CE and microchip-CE in clinical applications: 2014 to mid-2017

CE and microchip CE (ME) are powerful tools for the analysis of a number of different analytes and have been applied to a variety of clinical fields and human samples. This review will present an overview of the most recent applications of these techniques to different areas of clinical medicine during the period of 2014 to mid-2017. CE and ME have been applied to clinical chemistry, drug detection and monitoring, hematology, infectious diseases, oncology, endocrinology, neonatology, nephrology, and genetic screening. Samples examined range from serum, plasma, and urine to lest utilized materials such as tears, cerebral spinal fluid, sweat, saliva, condensed breath, single cells, and biopsy tissue. Examples of clinical applications will be given along with the various detection systems employed.
Research Techniques Made Simple: Methodology and Applications of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Microscopy

Classical biochemical techniques have contributed a great deal to our understanding of the mechanisms regulating fundamental biological processes. However, these approaches are typically end-point, population-based assays and are often insufficient in examining transient molecular events. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy is a powerful technique capable of investigating dynamic interactions between proteins and a plethora of biochemical signaling events based on the development of specific biosensors. This technique exploits the principle that when FRET occurs, energy from a donor fluorophore is transferred to an acceptor fluorophore only when certain conditions are met. These include dependence on both distance and fluorophore orientation. In this article, applications of FRET microscopy to protein interactions and modifications are discussed, and examples are given of the types of biosensors that can be developed. There are a number of methods to measure FRET. The most common modalities and specific advantages and shortcomings for each are reviewed. Finally, general considerations and guidelines for choosing a method are discussed.
The Pre-sedation Assessment and Implications on Management

In this chapter we will present the essentials of pre-sedation screening and risk stratification, discuss fasting guidelines, and review the most commonly encountered scenarios and comorbidities that impact sedation management and outcomes. Today’s practice of pediatric sedation (PS) involves ever more complex patients whose care is coordinated with multidisciplinary teams. Technological advances have allowed for the development of various invasive and noninvasive pediatric procedures and imaging modalities, resulting in a tremendous demand for and growth in PS in children. Despite the increasing complexity and patient volume, sedation providers generally meet the child and his family only minutes before the scheduled (or unscheduled) procedure. The provider must assess the situation quickly and accurately to ensure safety and optimal effectiveness. Important data from all available resources should be gathered and synthesized before the procedure to formulate a successful sedation plan within the context of the urgency of the procedure.
MODELS AND FORMULAS FOR NUMERICAL COMPUTATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses polynomials and piecewise polynomials and standard approaches for deriving numerical methods for numerical computations. Methods for numerical computation involving functions are based on some assumption or model of these functions. There are two different models involved: (1) the numerical model which relates to modeling the mathematical objects and formulas, and (2) the function model. A function model should be as realistic as possible, and this is why there are so many numerical methods. Each time some new information is incorporated into a computation—or the model for a problem's solution is refined—a new method results. The derivation, use, and analysis of formulas for mathematical problem solving involve a majority of formulas or methods derived by the method of analytic substitution. The usual approach to numerical computation has three steps: (1) choose a model for the functions in the problem; (2) solve the problem exactly for the model; and (3) use the result as an estimate of the solution of the original problem. In deriving both formulas and approximations, one of the common objectives is to obtain expressions easy to manipulate and evaluate. This often means that polynomials need be used. Piecewise polynomials do not have these limitations, and yet they are almost as simple to use as ordinary polynomials. They are at present used in all areas of numerical computation.
Coastal marine eutrophication: principles and control

Marine coastal eutrophication is discussed in the context of its manifestations, problems caused, and its origin from land-locked sources of plant nutrients due to man's activities. Remedial measures appropriate for marine conditions are reviewed, and it is concluded that the only viable strategy to bring the problem under lasting control is to reduce the nutrient load at source; however, under certain conditions, alternate measures such as deep-water disposal of sewage, and temporary lagooning, can be used to alleviate the problem.
Isovector stretched-state excitations in the 20Ne, 24Mg, 28Si, and 32S(p,n) reactions at 136 MeV.

Isovector stretched-state excitations were studied in the (p,n) reaction at 136 MeV on the self-conjugate s-d shell nuclei $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, and $^{32}\mathrm{S}$. The measurements were performed in three separate experiments using the beam-swinger neutron time-of-flight facility at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. Neutrons were detected in large-volume plastic scintillation detectors located in three detector stations at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 24\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, and 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with respect to the undeflected beam line; the flight paths varied from 75 to 134 m. Overall time resolutions of about 825 ps provided energy resolutions of about 320 keV in the first two stations and about 425 keV in the third station. Both (${\mathit{d}}_{5/2}$,${\mathit{d}}_{5/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$)${5}^{+}$ 0\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega} and (${\mathit{f}}_{7/2}$,${\mathit{d}}_{5/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$)${6}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ 1\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega} stretched-state excitations are observed in the (p,n) reaction on $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, and $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$.For the (p,n) reaction on $^{32}\mathrm{S}$, only the ${6}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ strength is observed. The states are identified by comparison of the extracted angular distributions with distorted-wave impulse-approximation calculations and by comparison with known analog states observed in inelastic scattering. In the $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ and $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$(p,n) reactions, the majority of the ${5}^{+}$ strength is observed in single states at low excitation energy; the strengths are described well by full s-d shell-model calculations. A weak ${5}^{+}$ state is observed in the $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$(p,n${)}^{28}$P reaction that corresponds to the strength expected if there is \ensuremath{\sim}1/3 of a hole in the ${\mathit{d}}_{5/2}$ proton orbital. The ${6}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ 1\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega} strength is fragmented in all four reactions. Less than 60% of the strength expected in the extreme single-particle-hole model is observed in each case. The observed ${6}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ strengths and distributions in the $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ and $^{32}\mathrm{S}$(p,n) reactions are described well by large-basis shell-model calculations.
Nonlinear Mitigation Enabling Next Generation High Speed Optical Transport Beyond 100G

We consider methods for containment of the effects of optical nonlinearities in coherent optical transmission. These are distinguished according to their practicality and effectiveness.
Translating JSON Data into Relational Data Using Schema-oblivious Approaches

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) has become popular as the data exchange standard over the Web. JSON has been gaining more popularity over XML due to its simplicity, compactness and ability to fit into the object types of programming languages. The large sizes of JSON data has been primarily stored and managed by NoSQL document store systems. While NoSQL systems appeal to the developers due to the native support for the object types of programming languages, they do not provide mechanisms to support ACID properties for the transactions that occur over sensitive JSON data. In this paper, we propose to store and manage JSON data in relational database systems to get advantages of transaction management and concurrency control mechanisms. We elaborate whether JSON can be effectively stored in a relational database system as an alternative to NoSQL document stores as well as whether schema-oblivious XML-to-Relational mapping techniques can be adopted to the process of JSON-to-Relational mapping.
Evaluating a Natural Zeolite as an Amendment for Extensive Green Roof Substrate

This research examined soilless green roof substrate blends on an existing modular extensive green roof in Denver, Colorado, USA. Substrate blends evaluated include an extensive green roof substrat...
Demonstration of Electrically Small Antennas Operating Below 400 MHz

In this paper, we study the performance of an electrically small slot antenna without ground plane and an electrically small patch antenna with ground plane, both operating below 400MHz. The comparison of performance with the fundamental Chu-Harrington’s limit shows that the slot antenna has a better bandwidth-efficiency product than the patch antenna. Furthermore, we show how the performance of the patch antenna is degraded by the electromagnetic energy stored between the two metal planes and indicate how the performance can be alleviated by studying the reflection phase of the substrate.
Epileptic and Nonepileptic Seizures after Traumatic Brain Injury

Representing approximately 5% of epilepsy in the civilian population and up to 50% in certain military populations, posttraumatic epilepsy warrants both increased clinical attention and research considerations. In this chapter, we will discuss the important definitions when considering posttraumatic epilepsy including the timing of posttraumatic seizures and the severity of head injuries. We will also review the epidemiology and risk factors for posttraumatic epilepsy in both the civilian population and the military and will describe the association of head trauma and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Our clinical discussion focuses on the timing of posttraumatic seizures, the utility of diagnostic testing, treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy, and outcomes of these patients. In addition, we elucidate potential pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying posttraumatic epilepsy and consider its role as a model for epileptogenesis in current and future research. We highlight the relevant studies in each section and underscore the theme that more research is certainly needed in most areas of posttraumatic epilepsy.
Research on an index system and policy for resource-conserving agriculture.

Agriculture in China is faced with scarcity of resources,environmental degradation and wastages of farm resources.Therefore,resource-conserving agriculture should be promoted actively.In this article,the basic concept of resource-conserving agriculture is expounded.Resource-conserving agriculture is an agricultural production system which focuses on conservation of farm resources or production inputs.Based on this concept,an index system for resource-conserving agriculture are established in order to evaluate the development level of resource-conserving agriculture.This index system not only accords with the connotation for resource-conserving agriculture but is also suitable for Chinese agricultural development.Finally,several principles of policy design for developing resource-conserving agriculture were highlighted: the stimulative policy of development on resource-conserving agriculture cannot be completely consistent;the persistent mechanism of development on resource-conserving agriculture needs to be established;agricultural marketing reform should be carried through proactively,etc.
VAD Patients’ Perceptions of Care

Purpose Patients’ perceptions of care have been demonstrated to influence outcomes. VAD patients require resource intensive care which is best delivered in a multidisciplinary fashion. Although this should be patient focused and integrated, there is little data to assess how well current care models achieve this goal. Methods We created a modified version of the Patient Perceptions of Integrated Care survey to be specific for VAD recipients (PPIC-VAD). VAD patients >6 months removed from implant were approached for informed consent in the VAD clinic. Participation required a one-time completion of the 37 item survey. Using a 4-point Likert Scale, the PPIC-VAD assessed patient perceptions in 6 domains: VAD Care Team (VCT); Primary Care Provider and Other Medical Staff (PCP-OMS); Referring Cardiologist (RC); Emergency Department (ED); Self-Assessment of Health (SAH); Evaluation Process. Data was collected from 6/1/19 - 8/1/19. Results 29 patients completed the PPIC-VAD. 79% were male, mean age was 55.4 years. 36% were unsure about implant strategy while 59% incorrectly identified the strategy. The VCT was assessed as being well informed regarding history, home life, and care delivered by other health professionals. PCP-OMS were found to have a lower perceived knowledge of VAD care and comfort with device knowledge while ED provider knowledge was assessed as being least optimal (Table). Patients’ SAH demonstrated an improvement in perceived levels of health post implant with 90% reporting their overall level of health to be good compared to 7% prior to implant. 62% had a positive outlook regarding continued improvement in health. Conclusion Although the VCT is perceived as delivering patient focused and integrated care, there remains a high proportion of patients who do not understand their implant strategy. Additionally, the care delivered by PCP-OMS and ED presents an area wherein communication, education and device awareness can be improved. Despite this, VAD patients have a positive outlook when assessing levels of health and anticipated future improvements.
Beauty is wealth: CEO attractiveness and firm value

This paper examines whether and how CEO attractiveness relates to firm value. We construct a Facial Attractiveness Index of 667 CEOs based on their facial geometry. More attractive CEOs are associated with better stock returns surrounding their job announcements and around earnings‐announcement news with CEOs' images. Further, more attractive CEOs are related to higher acquirer returns following acquisition announcements and higher Tobin's Q. Finally, consistent with the existing literature documenting the beauty premium in pay, more attractive CEOs receive higher compensation.
Preempting Politics: State Power and Local Democracy

States are increasingly responding to local governments’ actions with preemptive legislation. Scholars have tracked this trend through detailed examinations of laws preempting a variety of local government regulations. This Article analyzes a distinct instantiation of state preemption: states’ preemption of local governments’ structural authority, which we term “structural preemption.” Structural authority refers to the autonomy of local governments to design and modify their government institutions and the terms of local political participation. Structural preemption raises fundamental concerns about democratic design, political entrenchment, and political participation that directly implicate democratic outcomes. The Article proceeds as follows. Part I provides background on local authority and state preemption generally, with a particular focus on state preemption’s recent substantive manifestations. It then discusses structural preemption specifically and why it presents distinct issues. The Part closes with a brief overview of structural preemption doctrine. Part II documents recent structural preemption bills proposed in or enacted by state legislatures. Part III explicates four values as paramount when thinking about structural preemption: (1) administrative cost, (2) democratic accountability, (3) democratic deliberation, and (4) pluralism. Part IV then bolsters the normative case for these four values by considering their application in two structural preemption contexts.
Core principles for the implementation of the neurodata without borders data standard.

Abstract Background The Neurodata Without Borders data standard (NWB) unifies diverse modalities of neurophysiology data in a single format. Integrating NWB with a database unleashes its full potential to promote collaboration, standardize analyses, capitalize on historical data, and ensures data integrity by maintaining process transparency. NWB database technology is the bedrock of analytical systems used by academic leaders including the Allen Institute and the International Brain Laboratory. Here we present the benefits of incorporating NWB design principles in a big data analytics application. New Method Data standards and databases are the foundation of big data analytics. To demonstrate the benefits of using these systems together, we implemented NWB in Jupyter notebooks using DataJoint to streamline database operations. Results We demonstrate the utility of combining the NWB with DataJoint in a Jupyter-based electronic lab journal. We convert open-field behavioral data (using X, Y coordinates) to NWB format and process it with a DataJoint pipeline. Additional notebooks demonstrate working NWB files, data sharing, combining data from diverse sources, and retrospective analyses with data query filtering techniques. Comparison with Existing Methods NWB describes how to structure and store neurophysiology data and is streamlined for research settings. In contrast to other data standards, combining NWB with DataJoint’s database interface can dramatically increase data analytical capabilities. Conclusions The joint use of NWB with DataJoint transforms traditional laboratory datasets and workflows. Our Jupyter notebooks showcase the analytical and collaborative advantages of adopting big data analytics and can be tailored to other modalities by researchers interested in evaluating NWB.
Optic nerve regeneration screen identifies multiple genes restricting adult neural repair.

Summary Adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) trauma interrupts neural networks and, because axonal regeneration is minimal, neurological deficits persist. Repair via axonal growth is limited by extracellular inhibitors and cell-autonomous factors. Based on results from a screen in vitro, we evaluate nearly 400 genes through a large-scale in vivo regeneration screen. Suppression of 40 genes using viral-driven short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) promotes retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration after optic nerve crush (ONC), and most are validated by separate CRISPR-Cas9 editing experiments. Expression of these axon-regeneration-suppressing genes is not significantly altered by axotomy. Among regeneration-limiting genes, loss of the interleukin 22 (IL-22) cytokine allows an early, yet transient, inflammatory response in the retina after injury. Reduced IL-22 drives concurrent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) pathways and upregulation of multiple neuron-intrinsic regeneration-associated genes (RAGs). Including IL-22, our screen identifies dozens of genes that limit CNS regeneration. Suppression of these genes in the context of axonal damage could support improved neural repair.
Robot Theater with Children for STEAM Education

To promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, we conducted a long-term study in an elementary school as part of an after-school program. We worked with small...
Indexing spatial content of still texture in MPEG-4

There has been a rapid increase in audio-visual information in digital form with the ever-increasing popularity of the Internet. The Moving Pictures Expert Group has recently presented a video compression and content manipulation standard, called MPEG-4 [1]. This was developed in response to the growing need for a coding method that can facilitate access to visual objects in natural and synthetic moving pictures in a wide variety of applications. In this paper, we propose a method for indexing the spatial content of Still Texture in MPEG-4 Video. There has been a number of approaches proposed recently [1],[3],[5],[6], which address content based indexing using features such as, color, shape and/or texture. We note that the still texture information is encoded using Wavelet Transform in MPEG-4. Since still texture can have an arbitrary shape, we propose to employ a combination of shape, color and texture features. The shape features are derived from the alpha plane and represented using Cubic B-spline approximation. The color and texture features are extracted directly from the wavelet compressed domain. An important attribute of the proposed approach is also the introduction of the novel concept of “containment” of spatial features for content based indexing.
The CICS Application Programming Interface Definition

IBM has been using Z in the development of CICS at Hursley Park for over five years. This paper reports recent work in the construction of a specification of a complex programming interface—the CICS application programming interface. It covers the nature of the interface being specified, reasons for specifying it, how the work has been organised, and technical problems encountered.
Genetic studies in the genus Basidiobolus. II. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from ribosomal DNA analysis.

Abstract We have investigated genetic relationships among isolated of the genus Basidiobolus by examining restriction site polymorphisms in the ribosomal RNA genes. Approximately 10 kb or rDNA was cloned and employed as a probe of genomic DNA from 12 isolates, of human and saprobic origin, digested with nine restriction enzymes. While we found B. microsporus Benjamin to be distinct, 9 human isolates designated B. haptosporus Drechsler, B. meristosporus Drechsler, and B. ranarum Eidam were indistinguishable from one another. In contrast, two unidentified saprobic isolates could be readily differentiated from the human ones. We conclude that all human isolates examined fall within a single monophyletic group, but that significant genetic differentiation has taken place between human and saprobic isolates that is not accounted for in existing taxonomies of the genus.
Ethical Codes of Conduct and Organizational Context: A Study of the Relationship Between Codes of Conduct, Employee Behavior and Organizational Values

Codes of ethics are being increasingly adopted in organizations worldwide, yet their effects on employee perceptions and behavior have not been thoroughly addressed. This study used a sample of 613 management accountants drawn from the United States to study the relationship between corporate and professional codes of ethics and employee attitudes and behaviors. The presence of corporate codes of ethics was associated with less perceived wrongdoing in organizations, but not with an increased propensity to report observed unethical behavior. Further, organizations that adopted formal codes of ethics exhibited value orientations that went beyond financial performance to include responsibility to the commonweal. In contrast to corporate codes of ethics, professional codes of ethical conduct had no influence on perceived wrongdoing in organization nor these codes affect the propensity to report observed unethical activities.
Superconducting Qubits--a Major Roadblock Dissolved?

Decoherence is thought to be a major obstacle in using macroscopic quantum states for quantum computing applications. In his Perspective, [Leggett][1] highlights the two independent experiments by [ Vion et al ][2]. and [ Yu et al ][3]. showing that long coherence times can be achieved. The reports indicate that whatever the difficulties that may be encountered in the attempt to build a quantum computer with Josephson circuits, decoherence need not be among them. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/296/5569/861 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5569/886 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5569/889
The indolocarbazole, Gö6976, inhibits guanylyl cyclase-A and -B

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) decrease vascular volume and pressure by activating guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A). C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) activation of guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B) stimulates long bone growth. This study investigated the effects of the indolocarbazole, Go6976, on the guanylyl cyclase activity of GC-A and GC-B as a first step towards developing small molecule regulators of these enzymes. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Whole cell cGMP concentrations or 32P-cGMP accumulation in membrane preparations measured the effects of indolocarbazoles on the enzymatic activity GC-A and GC-B from transfected 293T or endogenously expressing 3T3-L1 cells. KEY RESULTS Go6976 blocked cellular CNP-dependent cGMP elevations in 293T-GC-B cells. The t½ for Go6976 inhibition was 7 s and IC50 was 380 nM. Go6976 increased the EC50 for CNP 4.5-fold, but increasing the CNP concentration did not overcome the inhibition. Half of the inhibition was lost 1 h after removal of Go6976 from the medium. Cellular exposure to Go6976 reduced basal and natriuretic peptide-dependent, but not detergent-dependent, GC-A and GC-B activity. Inhibition was also observed when Go6976 was added directly to the cyclase assay. A constitutively phosphorylated form of GC-B was similarly inhibited. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data demonstrate that Go6976 potently, rapidly and reversibly inhibited GC-A and GC-B via a process that did not require intact cells, known phosphorylation sites or inactivation of all catalytic sites. This is the first report of an intracellular inhibitor of a transmembrane guanylyl cyclase and the first report of a non-kinase target for Go6976.
An Interval-based Constraint Satisfaction (IBCS) Method for Decentralized, Collaborative Multifunctional Design

Set-based design has been proposed as a strategy for multifunctional design problems where stakeholders from different disciplines strive to achieve domain-specific objectives while sharing a set of design variables. This strategy involves communicating information about sets of alternatives in contrast to communicating information about a single alternative at a time. The strategy has been developed for collaborative CAD and for selection among design alternatives during conceptual design, it has not been implemented as a computational method for decentralized collaborative multi-objective design problems. In this article, we address this research gap by presenting an Interval- Based Constraint Satisfaction (IBCS) Method for decentralized, collaborative multifunctional design. The method is based on transforming a decentralized multifunctional design problem into a constraint satisfaction problem by using non-cooperative game theoretic protocols. The resulting constraint satisfaction problem is then solved using interval-based consistency techniques. A non-cooperative game theory protocol is utilized in this method because it reflects the level of information exchange possible in a distributed environment. Central to this protocol is the representation of a Rational Reaction Set (RRS) that encapsulates a designer's decision-making strategy as a constraint in the design space. An intersection of all designers' RRSs represents a solution to the overall multifunctional design problem. We use interval-based consistency techniques, specifically box consistency, to sequentially eliminate regions of design space that do not satisfy the individual RRSs, thereby progressively narrowing the design space in order to reduce computational complexity in arriving at a solution. This method stands in marked contrast to the successive consideration of single solution points, as emphasized in existing multifunctional design methods. The key advantages of the proposed method are: (a) gradual reduction of design freedom and (b) non-divergence of solutions. The method is illustrated using two sample scenarios - the solution of a decision problem with quadratic objectives and the design of multifunctional Linear Cellular Alloys (LCAs).
Interaction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 E318 cells with the mucus of harvested channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Abstract Channel catfish skin with or without mucus (0.5 cm in diameter) were immersed into a suspension containing 10 9 CFU/ml of Escherichia coli O157:H7 E318 cells at 22 °C for 20 min. The inhibitory effect of skin mucus was determined by placing the mucus-side down on tryptic soy agar inoculated with 10 4 –10 5 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 E318. The inhibition zones of fish mucus had a diameter of approximately 0.7 cm and were only visible for the first 12 h of the incubation. Bacterial cells were observed at 15 μm into the mucus layer under confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Plate counts and CSLM revealed 0.5- and 1-log less cells, respectively, attached to skin without mucus than to skin with mucus. Results suggest that E. coli O157:H7 E318 could attach to and penetrate through the mucus of channel catfish and may become a source of contamination during catfish processing.
The Economy of New Caledonia

The economy of New Caledonia is in a precarious condition. Economic problems preoccupy the minds of leaders in that territory, in business, in the local legislature, and those in France who are responsible for the development of her territories overseas. The standard of living is based on the production of minerals of which one, nickel, is by far the most important. World competition for markets much nearer the sources of supply than are those of New Caledonia makes the future of mining in that far flung island of France uncertain.Situated 12, 500 miles from the mother country, between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator, in the south-west Pacific, New Caledonia is part of a large group of archipelagoes which geographers call Melanesia. The archipelago is made up of three elements, La Grande-Terre (The Big Island), the Loyalty Islands and the Chesterfield Islands. New Caledonia is by far the largest ; it is also the most densely populated and the richest. The island is 230 miles long and averages about 28 miles wide ; its area is 6, 533 square miles. It is surrounded by a great barrier reef from five to ten miles offshore, between which there is a lagoon good for fishing and safe for navigation. The Big Island includes the Isle of Pines on the south and on the north the Belep archipelago and the Entrecasteaux reefs.The Loyalty Islands, parallel to New Caledonia about 60 miles to the east, include Mare, Lifou and Ouvea, the three more important. All together they have an area of about 770 square miles. The Chesterfield Islands about 250 miles west, in the Coral Sea, are coral formations, uninhabited.The dominant feature of the location of New Caledonia (until the development of aviation) is its isolation. It is not only far from France but also 6000 miles from the United States, about 4400 miles from Japan, 1000 miles from New Zealand, and 900 miles from Australia.
Shape Memory Alloy Cables: Exploratory Experiments

Conventional structural cables (or wire ropes) are composed of steel wires helically wound into strands, which, in turn, are wound around a core. Cables made from NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are a new structural element with promising adaptive and enhanced structural properties for a broad range of applications. Potential advantages of this form include increased bending flexibility for spooling/packaging, better fatigue performance, energy absorption and damping, reduced thermal lag, redundancy, and significant design flexibility. Exploratory thermomechanical experiments were performed on a conventional cable construction: the right regular lay 7 × 7, consisting of 7 strands with 7 wires per strand. Uniaxial tension experiments characterize the cables’ sensitivity to strain rate, temperature, and lubrication. Experiments were also performed on individual strands and wires from the cable to study the hierarchical nature of the cable construction. Special attention was paid to the propagation of phase transformation fronts, similar to that seen previously in uniaxial tension of NiTi wire.© 2009 ASME
Epidemiology of clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization in patients on a spinal cord injury unit.

AbstractBackground/objective: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of acquiring colonization with Clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) due to prolonged hospitalization and frequent antimicrobial use. We examined the frequency of stool, skin, and environmental contamination with C. difficile and VRE in hospitalized patients with SCI.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 22 hospitalized patients with SCI with no symptoms of C. difficile infection. Stool samples, skin, and environmental sites were cultured for C. difficile and VRE, and polymerase chain reaction ribotyping was performed for C. difficile isolates. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the proportions of skin and environmental contamination among stool carriers and non-carriers. Univariate analysis was used to assess factors associated with asymptomatic carriage of C. difficile.Results: Of 22 asymptomatic patients, 11 (50%) were asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. difficile and 12 (55%) ...
Al2O3 fiber strength degradation in metal and intermetallic matrix composites

The mechanisms for fiber damage in single crystal Al2O3 fiber-reinforced composites were investigated. Both fiber fragmentation and fiber strength degradation were observed in composites with a variety of matrix compositions. Four mechanisms that may be contributing to the fiber strength loss have been proposed and include matrix reaction, reaction with binders, residual stress-induced damage, and pressure from hot pressing. The effect of matrix reaction was separated from the other three effects by sputter-coating the matrices on cleaned fibers and annealing with a temperature profile that simulates processing conditions. These experiments revealed that Y and Cr in FeCrAlY base alloys and Zr in NiAl alloys reacted with the fiber, and grooves and adherent particles were formed on the fiber surface which were responsible for the strength loss. The effects of the matrix reaction appeared to dominate over the other possible mechanisms, although evidence for reaction with binders was also found. Ridges on the fiber surface, which reflected the grain boundaries of the matrix, were also observed. In order for single-crystal Al2O3 to be used as a fiber in MMC's and IMC's, a matrix or protective coating which minimizes matrix reaction during processing will be necessary. Of the matrices investigated, the Thermo-span(sup TM) alloy was the least damaging to fiber properties.
Gravitational Lensing of Gravitational Waves from Merging Neutron Star Binaries.

We discuss the gravitational lensing of gravitational waves from merging neutron star binaries, in the context of advanced LIGO type gravitational wave detectors. We consider properties of the expected observational data with cut on the signal-to-noise ratio \rho, i.e., \rho>\rho_0. An advanced LIGO should see unlensed inspiral events with a redshift distribution with cut-off at a redshift z_{\rm max} z_{\rm max} should be lensed. We compute the expected total number of events which are present due to gravitational lensing and their redshift distribution for an advanced LIGO in a flat Universe. If the matter fraction in compact lenses is close to 10\%, an advanced LIGO should see a few strongly lensed events per year with \rho >5.
Fatigue fracture of the distal part of the radius in a pool player

A stress fracture of the radius occurred in a 22-year-old pool player who was well known for his unique style of putting 'English' on the billiard ball. Typical radiographic findings were seen, and the fracture subsequently healed. Only a few cases of stress fracture of the radius have been previously reported.
Regulation of GTP cyclohydrolase I and dihydropteridine reductase in rat pheochromocytoma PC 12 cells.

AbstractThe addition of 8-bromo cyclic AMP, forskolin, theophylline, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine to the medium of PC 12 cells resulted in an increase in GTP cyclohydrolase I activity, but had no effect on dihydropteridine reductase activity, except theophylline which caused a decrease in dihydropteridine reductase activity at 96 h. GTP cyclohydrolase I activity peaked at 24 h and returned to normal 96 h after drug treatment. Cycloheximide decreased GTP cyclohydrolase I activity at 48 and 96 h, but had little effect on dihydropteridine reductase activity. The addition of reserpine selectively increased only GTP cyclohydrolase I activity. The addition of tetrahydrobiopterin and sepiapterin, however, coordinately inhibited both GTP cyclohydrosase I and dihydropteridine reductase activities. It appears that GTP cyclohydrolase I activity in PC 12 cells is regulated by cyclic AMP stimulation and by end-product inhibition, whereas dihydropteridine reductase activity is only subject to pterin inhibition.
Correction to Censored Regression Quantiles by S. Portnoy, 98 (2003), 1001–1012

(2006). Correction to Censored Regression Quantiles by S. Portnoy, 98 (2003), 1001–1012. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 101, No. 474, pp. 860-861.
Cervical cancer outcome prediction to high-dose rate brachytherapy using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analysis of tumor response to external beam radiotherapy.

Background and purpose: In order to assess tumor regression and outcomes, a volumetric analysis was conducted for cervical cancer patients treated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT). Materials and methods: Consecutive patients with FIGO stage IB1–IVA cervical cancer receiving chemoradiation from 2007 to 2013 were identified, excluding patients with perineal template-based interstitial brachytherapy or without undergoing MRI. A ring and tandem applicator ± interstitial needles was used. T2-weighted imaging was completed following applicator insertion. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were retrospectively contoured: initial GTV (GTVPre-EBRT), GTV at first brachytherapy (GTVIGBT) and percent residual GTV at first brachytherapy (% GTVResidual). Results: Eighty-four patients were identified. With 20.8-month median follow-up, two-year estimates of local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 91.3, 79.8, and 85.0%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression revealed adenocarcinoma (HR 5.88, p = 0.03) and GTVIGBT (HR 1.17, p 7.5 cc was associated with inferior 2-year LC (75.0 vs. 96.6%, p < 0.01), DFS (42.6 vs. 91.6%, p < 0.01) and OS (65.2 vs. 91.5%, p < 0.01). No difference in mean HRCTV D90 EQD2 was seen between the groups (p = 0.61). Conclusion: Aside from known benefits of IGBT, MRI-based planning allows for assessment of tumor regression and prognosticates patients.
Computational modeling issues and methods for the “regulatory problem” in engineering – Solution to the thermal problem

Abstract Many of the problems addressed through engineering analysis include a set of regulatory (or other) probabilistic requirements that must be demonstrated with some degree of confidence through the analysis. Problems cast in this environment can pose new challenges for computational analyses in both model validation and model-based prediction. The “regulatory problems” given for the “Sandia challenge problems exercise”, while relatively simple, provide an opportunity to demonstrate methods that address these challenges. This paper describes and illustrates a method for prediction in situations where extrapolation is involved. Specifically, we discuss methodology for compensating for computational/experimental discrepancies identified in the validation analysis. This includes the description of an approach that can be applied when the required prediction involves extrapolation along axes that are difficult to express in Euclidian space (different structures, for example). These methods are illustrated using the Sandia thermal challenge problem.
Cardiac arrhythmias during and after heart surgery: diagnosis and management.

I? LLOWING the first attempts of surgical correction of intracardiac defects in the early 195Os, it became evident that abnormalities of the heart rhythm were one of the most common and dangerous complications. The problem was exaggerated at that time since surgery was performed without supportive systems such as cardiopulmonary bypass, DC electroshock was not available, and medical treatment of these arrhythmias was rather ineffective.‘*’ Several studies were then published concerning the frequency of arrhythmias during and after cardiac surgery, and their striking contribution to the operative deaths.3-‘1 Early interest was devoted to the type of monitoring required to detect arrhythmias during surgery and the need for continuous cardiologic care in the operating room.‘~‘* Since then, these problems have changed substantially due to the introduction of extracorporeal circulation, the improvement in surgical techniques, the refinements in anesthesia, the availability of DC electroshock, the better physiological approach to arrhythmias, and a more effective pharmacologic treatment.13-” Concomitantly with this progress, fewer studies have been published on the subject during recent years, and even less concern given to the clinical significance of arrhythmias during surgery and in the immediate postoperative period. Recently, some authors have expressed the opinion that during open-heart surgery arrhythmias are not a problem and further that in the postoperative period,
Peptidase Activity in Bovine Growth Hormone Preparations

Peptidase activity was detected in bovine growth hormone preparations supplied by the Endocrinology Study Section, National Institutes of Health. Two distinct protein peaks were obtained upon gel nitration of bovine growth hormone; peptidase activity was associated with the first peak. Peptidase activity was detected by using 14C-acetyl bovine serum albumin or 14C-carbamyl bovine growth hormone as substrate. The hydrolysis of peptide bonds was ascertained by following changes in the elution profile of the radioactivity during gel nitration. Very low levels of peptidase activity which could not be detected by casein digestion were observed by this method. (Endocrinology 80: 782, 1967)
Optimal Stabilization Policies for Deterministic and Stochastic Linear Systems: Comments

In a recent issue, Turnovsky [3] derived the optimal control for a version of the multiplieraccelerator model, in which both the multiplier and accelerator coefficients are random variables. He solves the model for the cases in which either the propensity to save or the accelerator coefficient is stochastic but does not derive the solution for the cases when both coefficients are stochastic. In this note, we shall first show that there is an additive term in the optimum policy due to correlation of the disturbances, and income is steered to a level less than equilibrium. Then we shall derive the optimal policy for the case when both coefficients are stochastic.