cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo calculations of ion distributions around micelles

Abstract The Monte Carlo (MC) method was used to calculate the distribution of ions around static all-atom models of dodecyl sulfate and cetyl trimethylammonium micelles with solvent represented as a dielectric continuum. The highest concentration of counterions was found around the charged headgroups with some ion penetration into micelle interior, in agreement with studies where the solvent was modeled explicitly. The effects of ion size and micelle aggregation number on the shape of distribution functions were investigated. The MC results were compared with the predictions of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation for a uniformly charged sphere. MC-calculated hydroxide ion concentration profiles were used to model the kinetics of the basic hydrolysis of crystal violet in the presence of cetyl trimethylammonium micelles. The MC method of estimating reactive ion concentration around a micelle enables a simple and consistent description of the observed dependence of the reaction rate on the detergent concentration. Our results also suggest that changes in the shape and polydispersity of micelles caused by increasing added salt concentration have an effect on micellar catalysis.
DAN directs endolymphatic sac and duct outgrowth in the avian inner ear

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expressed in the developing vertebrate inner ear and participate in inner ear axial patterning and the development of its sensory epithelium. BMP antagonists, such as noggin, chordin, gremlin, cerberus, and DAN (differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma) inhibit BMP activity and establish morphogenetic gradients during the patterning of many developing tissues and organs. In this study, the role of the BMP antagonist DAN in inner ear development was investigated. DAN-expressing cell pellets were implanted into the otocyst and the periotic mesenchyme to determine the effects of exogenous DAN on otic development. Similar to the effects on the inner ear seen after exposure of otocysts to the BMP4 antagonist noggin, semicircular canals were truncated or eliminated based upon the site of pellet implantation. Unique to the DAN implantations, however, were effects on the developing endolymphatic duct and sac. In DAN-treated inner ears, endolymphatic ducts and sacs were merged with the crus or grew into the superior semicircular canal. Both the canal and endolymphatic duct and sac effects were rescued by joint implantation of BMP4-expressing cells. Electroporation of DAN antisense morpholinos into the epithelium of stage 15-17 otocysts, blocking DAN protein synthesis, resulted in enlarged endolymphatic ducts and sacs as well as smaller semicircular canals in some cases. Taken together, these data suggest a role for DAN both in helping to regulate BMP activity spatially and temporally and in patterning and partitioning of the medial otic tissue between the endolymphatic duct/sac and medially derived inner ear structures.
Dissociation of Ribosomes into Large and Small Subunits

Structural and functional studies of ribosomal subunits require the dissociation of intact ribosomes into individual small and large ribosomal subunits. The dissociation of the prokaryotic 70S ribosomes into the 50S and 30S subunits is achieved by dialysis against a buffer containing a lower Mg(2+) concentration. Eukaryotic 80S ribosomes are dissociated into 60S and 40S subunits by incubation in a buffer containing puromycin and higher KCl and Mg(2+) concentrations.
Adsorption of dibenzothiophenes on activated carbons with copper and iron deposited on their surfaces

Abstract Three polymer-derived carbons with iron and different amounts of copper on the surface were investigated as adsorbents of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4, 6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT) from simulated diesel fuel. To characterize the initial and exhausted carbons nitrogen adsorption, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis (TA) were applied. The selectivities for DBT and DMDBT were calculated with reference to naphthalene. In spite of the enhancement in selectivity for DBT and DMDBT removal caused by iron and copper species, the results indicate that the volume of micropores is the main factor governing the amount adsorbed. Oxidation of benzothiophenes is likely promoted by iron oxide and copper/copper oxide highly dispersed on the surface. The oxidation products are then selectively adsorbed on the surface of carbon in larger pores where metal species and heteroatoms are the active centers for adsorption of polar species.
Combined use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents and long-term cardiac pacing for patients with the long QT syndrome.

Abstract Objective . The objective of this study was to review our current experience using a combination of beta-adrenergic blocking agents and long-term cardiac pacing to treat patients with the idiopathic long QT syndrome. Background . Patients with the idiopathic long QT syndrome are at high risk for sudden cardiac death. Before combination therapy, 20 of the 21 study patients experienced either cardiac arrest (n = 8) or syncope (n = 18) and 11 had documented polymorphous ventricular tachycardia. Nine of these patients had not responded to isolated beta-blocker therapy and five had not responded to isolated left cervicothoracic sympathectomy. Method . All patients were treated with combined beta-blocker therapy and long-term cardiac pacing at a rate designed to normalize the QT interval. Results . Cardiac pacing at rates of 70 to 125 beats/min resulted in shortening of the QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals from 517 ± 78 and 541 ± 62 ms to 404 ± 37 and 479 ± 41 ms, respectively. The mean follow-up interval after institution of pacing was 55 ± 45 months. The only sudden death occurred in a patient who had discontinued beta-blocker therapy. Syncope occurred in four patients, two of whom had interrupted pacemaker function due to lead fracture. Pacemaker problems, partly attributable to the specific rate required for QT interval shortening and to avoidance of T wave sensing, were relatively common. No patient who continued the combination therapy died, but 10% of these patients had a recurrence of symptoms. Conclusions . Combination therapy with a beta-blocker and cardiac pacing appears to be a highly effective primary therapy for symptomatic patients with the long QT syndrome and to provide excellent adjunctive therapy for patients who require insertion of an automatic internal defibrillator.
An analysis of the growth of small fatigue cracks

Abstract The straightforward use of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is known to be invalid in the small crack regime. However, as demonstrated in the present paper, the range of validity of the LEFM approach can be extended into this range by introducing modifications to deal with the large plastic zone size to crack length ratio and by introducing a material constant which provides for a smooth transition between the endurance limit and the threshold level for fatigue crack propagation. In addition, the influence of crack closure and its development must also be considered. Examples are given to demonstrate the application of the proposed method.
Association between bleeding severity and long-term mortality in patients experiencing vascular complications after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Vascular complications (VCs) occur in 3% to 8% of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). However, only a portion of patients who experience VCs bleed significantly. The aim of this study was to assess the covariates associated with the amount of blood loss in patients experiencing postprocedural VCs as well as the effect of the degree of blood loss on long-term mortality. Overall, 7,718 unselected patients who underwent PCI through femoral access were evaluated. Those experiencing VCs were identified and stratified with regard to the degree of hematocrit (HCT) decrease after the procedure. In total, 444 patients (5.8%) had VCs. Compared to those without VCs, patients with VCs were older and had more extensive co-morbidities. Severe blood loss was most frequent in those who had vascular perforation requiring surgical repair or in those who had retroperitoneal bleeding. Overall,
Biomaterials engineered for integration

As tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are staged to enter the medical care setting, the integration of these newly formed tissues with themselves and the surrounding natural environment of the treated patients is of paramount importance. Although cells alone have undoubtedly obtained a certain success as therapies for a number of different diseases, it is still unclear whether they form new tissues or they stimulate the local cells to restore tissue continuity. In both cases, the resulting outcome is often poorly connected with the surrounding environment and functionality is impaired after few months. True integration can be achieved by designing smart templates made of biomaterials that not only act as scaffolds for cells to adhere and form new tissue, but also provide cues and signals to promote functional tissue connections. Criteria to engineer biomaterials for integration and methodologies used to assess effective connection with host tissues are reviewed.
Mapping and sequencing the human genome: how to proceed

The proposal to map and sequence the genome has engendered a controversy among biologists—a controversy that involves personalities and politics, as well as scientific judgments of the probable course of future development in the technologies for mapping and sequencing. Some of the key issues are: • Is sequencing the human genome an intellectually appropriate project for biologists? • Is sequencing the human genome feasible? How long will it take? What will it cost? What is the accuracy of the sequencing procedures, and how will these affect the usefulness of the information? • What benefits might arise from this project? Do they justify the cost? Are there alternative methods for achieving the same benefits? • Will this project compete with other areas of biology for funding and intellectual resources? If so, is it worth it? • This project will eventually require large and coordinated efforts. What implications will this “big science” have for modern biology? In this paper, we will discuss the technologies used in mapping and sequencing, discuss the above issues in that context, and present our proposed approach to mapping and sequencing the human genome.
Accommodating the User's Information Search Process: Challenges for Information Retrieval System Designers

This article is an introduction to the ISP (Information Search Process) for those involved in the design of information systems and services. It briefly presents the problem addressed, summarizes the research findings, discusses theoritocal perspectives emerging from these findings, describes the impact on library and information services and suggests some implications fo IR (Information Retrieval) system design.
Uncovering The Mechanism Used By Drosophila Snf Protein To Specifically Bind Two RNAs

The Drosophila SNF protein is a natural chimeric protein that evolved from the metazoan U1A and U2B” proteins. In the fly, SNF is found in both the U1 and U2 snRNPs, where it is assumed to bind to the U1 snRNA Stemloop II (the site of U1A binding) and U2 snRNA Stemloop IV (the site of U2B” binding), respectively. Like U1A and U2B” proteins, SNF has two RNA Recognition Motifs (RRM). By analogy to U1A protein, the N-terminal RRM should bind RNA, while the C-terminal RRM does not. Our experiments show that indeed the SNF C-terminal RRM does not bind RNA; NMR data show it to be soluble and stable. The SNF N-terminal RRM alone is not stable, however, and requires the C-terminal domain to maintain a folded form. NMR experiments and 15N-relaxation data show that the N-terminal RRM undergoes conformational exchange on the chemical shift timescale, while the C-terminal RRM has uniformly high order parameters characteristic of a more rigid protein.We hypothesize that the increased flexibility of the N-terminal RRM is part of its RNA binding mechanism, since SNF does indeed bind both U1 snRNA Stemloop II and U2 snRNA Stemloop IV. The affinity of SNF for these two RNAs differs by three orders of magnitude, indicating that one is preferentially bound. By comparison, however, the affinities of the human U1A protein for these two RNAs differ by more than 106-fold, indicating that SNF has found a way to bind both RNAs. This hypothesis will be tested by mutation of the N-terminal domain, with subsequent determination of protein structure, dynamics, and RNA binding.
A comparison of characteristic times for satellite absorption of energetic protons trapped in the Jovian and Saturnian magnetic fields

The relative symmetry of the Saturnian magnetic field with respect to the rotational equatorial plane results in characteristic times for satellite absorption of trapped energetic protons that are typically one to three orders of magnitude smaller than the corresponding Jovian satellite absorption times. The maximum difference occurs for nearly equatorially mirroring particles. Assuming that the rates of radial diffusion are comparable within the two magnetospheres, the inner Saturnian satellites are more efficient absorbers of inwardly diffusing ions than their Jovian counterparts. Thus, via the mechanism of satellite absorption, the rotational symmetry of the planetary magnetic field may play an important indirect role in determining gross properties of the radiation environment at Saturn.
Insertion loss filter design applied to transistorized carrier system

In many filter design problems, the minimum permissible suppression of unwanted frequencies is required to be constant over prescribed effective attenuation bands, and at the same time the maximum permissible distortion must be constant over prescribed effective pass bands.
The child with multiple injuries: resuscitation priorities.

The child with multiple injuries frequently presents with airway compromise, hypovolemia, and central nervous system injury. These often result in shock, a state characterized by inadequate delivery of oxygen to tissues. Signs of shock are more subtle in children. Recognition of shock is importait because it is the final common pathway leading to death. Treatment begins with establishing a patent airway, and attaining adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Aggressive resuscitation, with large fluid boluses, is imperative. Once the child is hemodynamically stable, the CT scan aids in the diagnosis and management of head, chest, and abdominal trauma. Non-operative treatment of splenic and hepatic injuries is increasingly favored with excellent outcome. To ensure a smooth and complete evaluation of the injured child, a predetermined protocol and an interdisciplinary approach are essential.
Amicitia and the Profession of Poetry in Early Imperial Rome

This paper deals with the relationship between Latin poets and their wealthy friends at Rome, and it has a mildly polemical aim. I will begin by noticing some embarrassments which arise when one approaches the subject in the light of conceptions like ‘patronage’ and ‘patron’. Then I will show that poets and their great friends conducted themselves according to a characteristically Roman code of manners, and will argue that this familiar code of amicitia fully explains the treatment of poets in Roman society. In part two I will describe the advantages—social visibility, literary backing, and material support—which poets sought by associating themselves with the life of the upper classes, and I will try to connect these objectives with the equestrian status which so many Roman poets seem to have held.
Constructing entrepreneurial advantage: consensus building, technological uncertainty and emerging industries

In 1976, Cambridge, MA, and Berkeley, CA, responded to concerns about the environmental effects of recombinant DNA by adopting identical biosafety ordinances. This paper explores the mediating factors that explain how scientists and entrepreneurs came to view these regulatory interventions in diametrically distinct ways. We argue that although the regulations were the same, the process behind their adoption and implementation and, in particular, differences in citizen engagement and technology education account for these divergent outcomes. The paper suggests ways that contemporary regulatory responses can result in a constructive (rather than combative) approach to entrepreneurial accountability and thus contribute to constructed jurisdictional advantage.
Analysing and improving clustering based sampling for microprocessor simulation

We propose a set of statistical metrics for making a comprehensive, fair, and insightful evaluation of features, clustering algorithms, and distance measures in representative sampling techniques for microprocessor simulation. Our evaluation of different clustering algorithms using these metrics shows that CLARANS clustering algorithm produces better quality clusters in the feature space and more homogeneous phases for CPI compared to the popular k-means algorithm. We also propose a new micro-architecture independent data locality based feature, Reuse Distance Distribution (RDD), for finding phases in programs, and show that the RDD feature consistently results in more homogeneous phases than the Basic Block Vector (BBV) feature for many SPEC CPU2000 benchmark programs.
BARBIE GIRLS VERSUS SEA MONSTERS: Children Constructing Gender

Recent research on children's worlds has revealed how gender varies in salience across social contexts. Building on this observation, the author examines a highly salient gendered moment of group life among four- and five-year-old children at a youth soccer opening ceremony, where gender boundaries were activated and enforced in ways that constructed an apparently “natural” categorical difference between the girls and the boys. The author employs a multilevel analytical framework to explore (1) how children “do gender” at the level of interaction or performance, (2) how the structured gender regime constrains and enables the actions of children and parents, and (3) how children's gendered immersion in popular culture provides symbolic resources with which children and parents actively create (or disrupt) categorical differences. The article ends with a discussion of how gendered interactions, structure, and cultural meanings are intertwined, in both mutually reinforcing and contradictory ways.
Using mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) arrays to monitor the effectiveness of remediation at a Superfund site in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

We previously developed a cDNA array for mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus), an estuarine minnow, that is targeted for identifying differentially expressed genes from exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several metals, including chromium. A chromium-contaminated Superfund site at Shipyard Creek in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, is undergoing remediation, providing us a unique opportunity to study the utility of arrays for monitoring the effectiveness of site remediation. Mummichogs were captured in Shipyard Creek in Charleston prior to remediation (2000) and after remediation began (2003 and 2005). Simultaneously, mummichogs were collected from a reference site at the Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Georgetown, South Carolina, USA. The hepatic gene expression pattern of fish captured at Shipyard Creek in 2000 showed wide differences from the fish captured at NERR in 2000. Interestingly, as remediation progressed the gene expression pattern of mummichogs captured at Shipyard Creek became increasingly similar to those captured at NERR. The arrays acted as multidimensional biomarkers as the number of differentially expressed genes dropped from 22 in 2000 to four in 2003, and the magnitude of differential expression dropped from 3.2-fold in 2000 to no gene demonstrating a difference over 1.5-fold in 2003. Furthermore, the arrays indicated changes in the bioavailability of chromium caused by hydraulic dredging in the summer of 2005. This research is, to our knowledge, the first report using arrays as biomarkers for a weight-of-evidence hazard assessment and demonstrates that arrays can be used as multidimensional biomarkers to monitor site mitigation because the gene expression profile is associated with chromium bioavailability and body burden.
Accurate and efficient solution of Hankel matrix systems by FFT and the conjugate gradient methods

Hankel matrix systems often arise in many problems of signal analysis. Toeplitz matrix systems is a special case of a Hankel matrix equations. Both the auto-correlation and the covariance matrix equations are different forms of the Hankel matrix equations. Trench has developed a direct method that can solve Hankel matrix equations in θ(N2) operations. In this paper, we propose an alternate algorithm. This new method is a combination of the FFT and the conjugate gradient method. The advantage of this new approach is that it is computationally robust to highly ill-conditioned and even singular matrix equations. Preliminary results indicated that for very large complex Toeplitz matrix equations, the CPU time is proportional to N as the number of unknowns as increased, as opposed to N2for conventional methods.
Building energy performance simulation as part of interoperable software environments

Interoperable software makes it possible to seamlesslyexchange data among di*erent compliant applications. Among other bene,ts, this o*ers opportunities to increase the quality of building energysimulation through simultaneous interaction of multiple design and simulation tools, possible because of direct data exchange among them. This paper discusses the new IFC HVAC extension schemata that are included in the latest release of the IFC data model (IFC2 × 2) and the new functionalities and industryprocesses it now supports. It describes an example of interoperable software environment, possible gains from interoperable simulation, and discusses current issues in data exchange for such simulation. Published byElsevier Ltd.
Improved Survival with Anti-VEGF Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Appendiceal Epithelial Neoplasms.

Currently, cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are accepted treatments for surgically resectable appendiceal epithelial neoplasms. However, for nonsurgical candidates, systemic treatment may be considered. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the benefit of biologic therapy (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor) in addition to systemic chemotherapy in this select patient population. The MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry was retrospectively reviewed for systemic treatment-naive appendiceal epithelial neoplasm patients registered between January 2000 to July 2007 for prior cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy status, histologic grade, signet ring pathology, systemic chemotherapy, biologic therapy, tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen [CA] 125, and/or CA19-9), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and disease control rate. Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for statistical analysis. A total of 353 patients were identified; 130 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-nine patients received biologic therapy. The use of the anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent bevacizumab improved both OS (42 months vs. 76 months, hazard ratio 0.49 [95 % confidence interval 0.25–0.94] P = 0.03) and PFS (4 months vs. 9 months, hazard ratio 0.69 [95 % confidence interval 0.47–0.995], P = 0.047) for all histologic subtypes. Moderately differentiated tumors had an improved PFS relative to well-differentiated tumors, 9 months versus 3 months (P = 0.05). Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy appears to play a role in surgically unresectable appendiceal epithelial neoplasm patients, with an improvement in PFS and OS. Anti-VEGF agents should be strongly considered in the management of patients with higher-grade appendiceal epithelial neoplasms who are suboptimal candidates for surgical resection.
Time stamp algorithms for runtime parallelization of DOACROSS loops with dynamic dependences

This paper presents a time stamp algorithm for runtime parallelization of general DOACROSS loops that have indirect access patterns. The algorithm follows the INSPECTOR/EXECUTOR scheme and exploits parallelism at a fine-grained memory reference level. It features a parallel inspector and improves upon previous algorithms of the same generality by exploiting parallelism among consecutive reads of the same memory element. Two variants of the algorithm are considered: One allows partially concurrent reads (PCR) and the other allows fully concurrent reads (FCR). Analyses of their time complexities derive a necessary condition with respect to the iteration workload for runtime parallelization. Experimental results for a Gaussian elimination loop, as well as an extensive set of synthetic loops on a 12-way SMP server, show that the time stamp algorithms outperform iteration-level parallelization techniques in most test cases and gain speedups over sequential execution for loops that have heavy iteration workloads. The PCR algorithm performs best because it makes a better trade-off between maximizing the parallelism and minimizing the analysis overhead. For loops with light or unknown iteration loads, an alternative speculative runtime parallelization technique is preferred.
Reconsidering the Impact of Affective Forecasting

In the article ‘‘Affective Forecasting and Its Implications for Medical Ethics,’’ Rhodes and Strain present current research documenting a psychological bias that affects our ability to correctly predict future emotional states. The bias they discuss is the wrongful estimation of the emotional impact of significant events. Research on affective forecasting by T.D. Wilson and D.T. Gilbert indicates that people tend to overestimate both the positive and negative impact of events. Rhodes and Strain correctly note that the conclusions derived from the research—that bad events do not seem to affect us as much as previously assumed—has applications for medicine. In a field where doctors are often faced with delivering bad news and offering treatments that will significantly alter the lives of their patients, information that bad events are not as emotionality deleterious as once thought is good news. I argue in agreement with the authors that the research on the impact bias could support an attitude change in terms of how doctors approach and communicate with their patients. It can contribute, also, to a change in attitude when doctors are faced with the grim task of telling patients that they have a chronic illness or that they are faced with making difficult decisions about their health. I disagree, however, that the predicted impact of the biases in emotional forecasting is as all-encompassing as the authors claim. In the next section, I consider the effects of biases in affective forecasting on policymakers. I assert that, although the research on the impact bias reveals misconceptions about what is needed for happiness, it does not provide guidelines for endorsing policies. In the third section, I consider how the bias affects doctors and patients differently. I argue that doctors are not affected by the bias in the same way as patients. In the fourth section, I argue against Rhodes and Strain and claim that affective forecasting does not diminish decisional capacity. I argue further that because the bias is incorrigible, paternalism will not help in restoring patient autonomy.
Variable incidence angle fluorescence interference contrast microscopy for z-imaging single objects.

Surface-generated structured illumination microscopies interrogate the position of fluorescently labeled objects near surfaces with nanometer resolution along the z axis. However, these techniques are either experimentally cumbersome or applicable to a limited set of experimental systems. We present a new type of surface-generated structured illumination fluo- rescence microscopy, variable incidence angle fluorescence interference contrast microscopy (VIA-FLIC), in which the fluores- cent sample is assembled above a reflective Si surface and the incidence angle of excitation light is varied by placing annular photomasks with different radii in the aperture diaphragm plane of the microscope. The variation in incidence angle alters the in- terference pattern of excitation light, and hence the intensity of detected fluorescence. Quantitative VIA-FLIC is tested by using a set of fluorophore-containing supported membranes separated from the Si surface by SiO2 layers of variable thicknesses. The resulting fluorescence intensity versus incidence angle curves depends on the separation from the Si surface and when fit with an appropriate model yield precise SiO2 thicknesses that are accurate with respect to the known SiO2 thicknesses. Since only a simple modification to a standard epifluorescence microscope is required, VIA-FLIC offers a versatile method to produce z-reconstructions with high resolution for a wide range of biological systems.
Sharing Private Information Across Distributed Databases

In industries such as healthcare, there is a need to electronically share privacy-sensitive data across distinct organizations. We show how this can be done while allowing organizations to keep their legacy databases and maintain ownership of the data that they currently store. Without sending or mirroring data to any trusted, centralized entity, we demonstrate how queries can be answered in a distributed manner that preserves the privacy of the original data. This paper explains our distributed query execution engine, outlines how to bootstrap the system when only real world identifiers such as a name and date-of-birth are initially known, and offers details on the tradeoff between privacy and performance. We evaluate the scalability of this approach through simulation.
Local strain concentrations in a microvascular network

Strain concentrations associated with the presence of a microvascular network in a polymer matrix are measured using fluorescent digital image correlation (FDIC). The accuracy of the measurement technique is established for a specimen containing only a single microchannel. The influence of localized particle reinforcement around the channel is also investigated using this simplified geometry. Three-dimensional network specimens with different structural designs were fabricated and loaded in uniaxial tension. The resulting strain concentrations are compared as a function of channel spacing and location. As expected, decreasing channel spacing leads to increased strain local to the channels. In addition, the three-dimensional nature of the channel architecture influences the resulting strain. The results provide insight into the mechanical behavior of microvascular networks and demonstrate the utility of FDIC as a characterization tool at these length scales.
Multiple Imputation for Missing Data: Making the most of What you Know

Missing data are a common problem in organizational research. Missing data can occur due to attrition in a longitudinal study or nonresponse to questionnaire items in a laboratory or field setting....
Mixing Deduplication and Compression on Active Data Sets

Many new storage systems provide some form of data reduction. We examine data reduction methods that might be suitable for \emph{primary} storage systems serving active data (as contrasted with backup and archive systems), by analysis of file sets found in different active data environments. We address questions of: how effective are compression and variations of deduplication, both separately and in combination, when deduplication and compression are combined, which should be applied first, what will the tradeoff be between the different methods in their use of MIPS relative to the data reduction achieved, and what degree of data reduction should be expected for different data types.
Linear systems revisited

An elegant and well-developed theory exists for solving systems of linear equations. It has been applied successfully for decades in industrial and scientific applications and it forms the basis for linear programming. However many systems of linear equations for industrial applications may require all of the variables to be nonnegative or in an even more restricted area, and/or to be whole numbers. These conditions can create difficulties for the standard approach. So presented here is a new absolute value transformation and a multi-stage Monte Carlo simulation solu tion technique for dealing with the nonnegativity solution re quirement and other conditions. The new approach has the ad ditional advantage of working on nonlinear problems. The system of equations is transformed into a statistic (where the minimum of the statistic is the solution of the system). Then solving the system of equations becomes a problem of finding a way across the sampling distribution to the minimum, which will solve the syste...
Integration of solar energy in distribution system through smart inverter functionality

String configuration with miniature inverters attached to the panels is a recent trend. It is important to implement inverters capable of riding through various grid disturbances even in the miniature device level. Solar photovoltaic grid integration challenge during a three phase balanced fault is addressed. A three-phase inverter and associated controllers are presented with a fault ride through (FRT) capability also known as low voltage ride through (LVRT) to control the reactive power support in case of a balanced fault. The solar panel uses the incremental conductance algorithm for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) which is connected to the DC link throughout the fault duration on the grid side. The aforementioned approach shows better results over the no-FRT case. EMTDC/PSCAD software package is used to simulate and validate the effectiveness of the controller design.
CEO and CFO Career Penalties to Missing Quarterly Analysts Forecasts

This study examines whether the board of directors penalizes CEOs and CFOs in the form of bonus cuts, fewer equity grants, and forced turnover for the act of barely missing the latest consensus analyst forecast and whether such penalties are consistent with efficient contracting or fixation. We find that CEOs are penalized when they just miss the latest consensus analyst forecast via bonus cuts, fewer equity grants, and forced turnover. CFOs are also penalized for just missing the latest consensus analyst forecast via bonus cuts and forced turnover, but do not appear to be penalized with fewer equity grants. Further, we find evidence suggesting that the penalties levied by the board for just missing the latest analyst forecast are more consistent with fixation than efficient contracting.
BELIEF IN METAPHOR: TAKING COMMONSENSE PSYCHOLOGY SERIOUSLY†

Evidence from real discourse suggests that beliefs and other mental states (propositional attitudes) are often viewed by speakers and other agents in a metaphorical way. Typical metaphors are MIND-AS-CONTAINER—the view of the mind as a container, with thoughts being physical objects inside it—or IDEAS-AS-INTERNAL-UTTERANCES—the view of thoughts as natural language utterances inside an agent's head. It is therefore necessary for AI systems for mental-state representation/reasoning to reason within such views. This approach contrasts with the highly abstract logical stance adopted in most propositional attitude research. A formal representation scheme based on the various metaphors has been partially developed. In this paper, it is mainly the MIND-AS-CONTAINER segment of the formal representation scheme that is detailed. Inference processes operating over the scheme are also presented. The crucial distinguishing feature of the representation scheme is that the description of mental states is directly based on physical predicates, objects and so on, as opposed to abstract, tailor-made, mental ones. That is, the representation scheme is itself explicitly metaphor-imbued.
The Distance Traveled to Visit N Points with a Maximum of C Stops per Vehicle: An Analytic Model and an Application

The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple formula to predict the distance traveled by fleets of vehicles in physical distribution problems involving a depot and its area of influence. Since the transportation cost of operating a break-bulk terminal or a warehouse is intimately related to the distance traveled, the availability of such a simple formula should facilitate the study of more complex logistics problems. A simple manual dispatching strategy intended to mimic what dispatchers do, but simple enough to admit analytical modeling is presented. Since the formulas agree rather well with the length of nearly optimal computer built tours, the predictions should approximate distances achievable in practice; the formulas seem realistic. The technique is a variant of the classical “cluster-first, route-second” approach to vehicle routing problems. In these approaches, the depot influence area is first partitioned into districts containing clusters of stops; one vehicle route is then constructed to serve each cluster. Our procedure is characterized by the way district shapes are chosen; ignoring shape during the clustering step can increase significantly travel distances. The technique is simple. To exercise it, one needs only a pencil, eraser, and a scale map showing the destinations. Once mastered, the technique takes only a few minutes. This time should increase only linearly with the number of destinations. For repetitive problems, the technique can be enhanced with the help of interactive computer graphics. A newspaper delivery problem for the city of San Francisco is used as an illustration.
The geometry of computer graphics

Review of linear algebra. Languages for geometry. Topics in plane analytic geometry. Plane projective geometry. Projective geometry of space. Applications of projective maps.
Five-Year Outcomes of Proton Therapy in Localized Prostate Cancer on 3 Prospective Trials for Low-, Intermediate-, and High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Results: The median follow-up time was 3.2 years (range, 0.1-6.3). Grade 3 GU events were observed in 55 men with 14 acute and 44 late toxicities (3 men had both early and late toxicities). The 2-year and 3-year rates of late grade 3 GU toxicity were 1.9% and 2.9%, respectively. Urinary obstruction or retention accounted for 64% of grade 3 toxicities, hematuria for 26%, and the remaining 10% were related to urinary frequency, incontinence, or prostatitis. Among clinical and treatment factors potentially associated with urinary toxicity, univariate analysis showed pretreatment use of alpha blockers (acute, p Z 0.0048; late, p Z 0.0018) and higher IPSS (early, p Z 0.0045; late, p Z 0.0017) to be significantly associated with both early and late grade 3 GU toxicities. In addition, prescription anticoagulants were significantly associated with late toxicities (p Z 0.0203). A multivariable analysis of pretreatment hormones, pretreatment alpha blockers, prostate volume, IPSS, diabetes, anticoagulants, and PT dose found alpha blockers (p Z 0.0006) and IPSS (p Z 0.0083) to be significantly associated with grade 3 GU toxicities. Fifteen of the 55 men required transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Univariate analysis showed a strong association between post-PT TURP and pretreatment alpha-blocker use (p Z 0.0056). The pre-PT median IPSS for the 15 post-PT TURP patients was 10 (range, 5-17); it increased to 16 (range, 4-33) before TURP and then steadily declined to 7.5 (range, 1-21) approximately 12 months after TURP. TURP was the definitive and sole treatment for grade 3 events in all but 1 patient. Conclusions: Grade 3 GU events occurred in approximately 4% of patients, including post-PT TURP in approximately 1%. Grade 3 GU events were most likely to occur in patients with IPSS scores 15 and/or requiring alpha blockers before treatment. TURP following PT is rarely needed, but effective. Author Disclosure: T.L. Smith: None. D. Lee: None. C.G. Morris: None. B.S. Hoppe: None. W.M. Mendenhall: None. R.H. Henderson: None. R.C. Nichols: None. N.P. Mendenhall: None.
Retro_Fit: greening educational facilities for carbon neutrality and students' performance

Existing classrooms and educational spaces are problematic. They approximately consume 30% of the nation’s electricity, generate 35% of our waste, use 8% of water resources and are responsible for 20% of green house gas (GHC) and carbon dioxide emissions. While the new construction sector of the building industry has benefited from green products and building strategies to produce high-performance sustainable schools, existing classrooms have been largely ignored. This is a problem of huge proportions because the amount of occupied classroom space in the US exceeds 20 billion square feet. These existing educational spaces, generally a product of the past 30-50 years, are not energy conscious, and many of the new building products and sustainable strategies are not applicable to existing classroom retrofits. This research project targets this problem by developing evidence-based design guidelines for retrofitting existing educational spaces through the Green Classroom Toolbox (GCRT) project. This paper gives a synopsis of this project and provides a roadmap for its future application and replication. The objective of the GCRT project was to develop green design guidelines for retrofitting existing educational spaces based on carbon neutrality metrics and student achievement outcomes. These guidelines were generated from a list of best retrofit practices that were identified by practitioners in a baseline survey and a series of focus groups, in a collaborative effort with academics. The identified best practices were then analyzed for their impact on building energy use and carbon emission using computer simulations. This data was further analyzed together with an extensive meta-analysis of prior studies related to the impacts of the best practices on occupancy health and students’ performance. One of the significant goals of this project is to link green retrofit best practices with their energy and carbon emission reductions as well as with their impact on human health and student achievements. The hope is to provide a comprehensive decisions support tool for practitioners and school principals that will help them prioritize and evaluate green classroom retrofit strategies in a holistic way.
Pyloric gland adenoma of gallbladder—reports of two cases and a brief review of literature

Adenomas of the gallbladder are uncommon benign epithelial neoplasms. Rarely, they can give rise to gallbladder cancer, which is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract, carrying a poor prognosis and decreased survival. Here we report the case histories of two patients, 40-year-old and 53-year-old males who presented with >1 cm gallbladder polyps, which were detected and confirmed using various imaging studies. Cholecystectomy was performed on both patients and the subsequent pathologic exam revealed 1.2 and 1.6 cm polyps in the lumen. Histopathologically, both polyps showed features reminiscent of “pyloric” gland type of adenoma. The differences between the two cases in regard to histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics will be discussed. We will also briefly review the latest nomenclature on such low-grade polypoid gallbladder entities.
Additional Topics in Topology

In Sections 3 and 5 of the previous chapter, we studied various ways of developing topologies from other concepts or things: arbitrary families of subsets, metrics, and weak orders. In this section, we will study methods of generating new topologies from other topologies. We begin by investigating subspace, or relative, topologies. The basic idea here is exactly that which we used in defining relatively open sets in Chapter 1.
Preoperative anemia and postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy.

Background Preoperative anaemia is associated with adverse outcomes after surgery but outcomes after liver surgery specifically are not well established. We aimed to analyze the incidence of and effects of preoperative anemia on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing liver resection.
Militarization as a Socio-Political Context for Entrepreneurial Innovation

Country level militarization is negatively related to commercial product innovation by new technology ventures. Using multilevel mixed effects logistic regression modeling, I find that country militarization is a significant predictor of firm innovation in high technology industries like robotics. These findings contribute to the entrepreneurial innovation literature by specifically focusing upon the socio-political context in which entrepreneurs innovate. New technology ventures should take this into account when considering R&D financing and product development strategy. National governments should also assess the potential for narrowing of innovation scope when public R&D initiatives are being formulated. In cases of high country militarization, respective governments are at risk for confining innovation to military related applications.
Potential for Reducing Nutrients From the Poultry Industry in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Over 800,000 million broilers are raised in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Together with turkeys and laying hens, poultry production is a major source of N and P loads that are transported to the Bay from agriculture. Nutrient management planning, phytase addition to feed, use of high available P corn and pellitizing the litter are the most promising BMPS for broiler for reducing N and P loads. Nutrient management planning, composting, pellitizing, and using layer hen manure for mushroom substrate are the most promising BMPs for laying hens. salt water. The Bay is rather shallow, with a mean depth of 10 m. There are six major basins within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These are the Potomac, Susquehanna, Rapahannock, York, James and Patuxent basins. These basins supply 90% of the flow to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Susquehanna River alone drains 43% of the watershed and contributes nearly 50% of the freshwater. Agriculture is the largest contributor of nonpoint source nutrients, with 50% of the N and P from agriculture coming from manure. With the 2000 Bay Agreement further nutrient load reductions are being developed than the original reductions in the 1987 agreement. Since livestock and poultry are large sources of N and P in the watershed, further reductions in nutrient loads from animal agriculture will have to be developed. This paper will discuss the potential for N and P reductions in manure in the poultry industry if new manure management technology is adopted. Most of the poultry productions is in the Susquehanna River, Shenandoah River and Eastern Shore watersheds. The Shenandoah River is part of the Potomac River tributary and has the most intense livestock and poultry production in Virginia. Current Poultry Manure Management Systems The poultry industry in the Chesapeake Bay watershed consists of layers, broilers and turkeys. In 2004, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania produced 284,600, 263000, 240,700 and 133,500 million broilers respectively. Virginia raised
Sex Composition of Groups and Pattern of Self-Disclosure by High School Females

6 groups of 8 members (mixed and same sex) met 1 hr./wk. for 6 to 9 wk. with a leader. Analysis of verbal exchanges showed girls disclosed more about themselves. Sex differences must be considered in designing research.