cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential for long-range prediction of monthly mean surface temperatures over North America

Abstract Using more than three times as many stations and time series of daily data that am generally 1.5–3.0 times longer than those in a previous study, estimates of the natural variability, also known as climate noise, of surface air temperatures are extended over most North America. The potential for long-range prediction of monthly means is determined by comparing the actual interannual variability of monthly means with the climate noise that is assumed to be unpredictable at long range. The climate noise estimates am typically larger during winter than during the other seasons. Nonetheless, the potential for long-range prediction is, generally, greatest for January and least for April. During January, temperatures nearest the oceans am more predictable than those for the central portions of North America. The low-frequency white-noise statistical model that is used to estimate the unpredictable climate noise is compared with time series of (near) surface temperatures from a general circulation model...
Determination of Thermodynamic Parameters from Evaporation of Binary Microdroplets of Volatile Constituents

Abstract An experimental technique based on a modified vibrating orifice aerosol generator has been employed to study unsteady evaporation of linear streams of highly monodisperse binary microdroplets of volatile constituents over short time periods (i.e.,
Role of Neutrophils in Hepatotoxicity Induced by Oral Acetaminophen Administration in Rats

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common analgesic and antipyretic compound which, when administered in high doses, has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality, secondary to hepatic toxicity. To date, the mechanism(s) whereby APAP induces liver injury remains to be delineated. This study investigated the potential role of neutrophils as contributors to liver injury in rats administered sublethal doses of APAP. Oral APAP administration (650 mg/kg) was associated with increases in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels indicating biochemical evidence of significant liver damage. Furthermore, histological analyses verified significant hepatocellular necrosis as well as enhanced myeloperoxidase staining in these liver specimens. However, if animals were pretreated with antineutrophil sera prior to APAP administration, neutrophil counts remained depressed, ALT levels were significantly decreased, and the degree of liver injury was attenuated on a histological level. Taken together these data suggest that neutrophils mediate, at least in part, the hepatotoxic effects of oral acetaminophen administration in rats.
Different cytokine expression in cord blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with neonatal sepsis or colonizing strains of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is the major pathogen of neonatal sepsis. In some newborns, GBS sepsis may have a severe course, including septic shock with a high mortality rate, whereas other newborns are colonized with GBS on their surfaces without any clinical signs of bacterial infection. The reason for this discrepancy is far from clear. We sought, in this study, to compare cytokine expression in cord blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with GBS strains isolated from newborns with sepsis, and strains isolated from newborns without any symptoms of invasive infection. Cord blood mononuclear cells were incubated with either heat-killed bacteria of different strains or lipopolysaccharide, respectively. After 6 and 24 h, cells were harvested and cytokine mRNA-expression was analyzed by reverse-transcriptase PCR. Likewise, supernatants were tested for IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations by enzyme immunoassay. When comparing IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion, there were significantly higher IL-6 levels after stimulation with sepsis than with colonizing isolates. Likewise, mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-12p40 was significantly higher after stimulation with sepsis isolates. This was also true when normalizing to cytokine expression after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. These findings indicate that the different clinical pictures in response to GBS, either septic infection or colonization, might reflect strain-specific properties. If the respective characteristics can be defined, it might become possible to distinguish by molecular methods potentially “dangerous” from “harmless” strains. Moreover, our findings underline the essential role of these cytokines in the pathogenesis of neonatal GBS sepsis.
Surface temperature/heat transfer measurement using a quantitative phosphor thermography system

A relative-intensity phosphor thermography technique developed for surface heating studies in hypersonic wind tunnels is described. A direct relationship between relative emission intensity and phosphor temperature is used for quantitative surface temperature measurements in time. The technique provides global surface temperature-time histories using a 3-CCD (Charge Coupled Device) video camera and digital recording system. A current history of technique development at Langley is discussed. Latest developments include a phosphor mixture for a greater range of temperature sensitivity and use of castable ceramics for inexpensive test models. A method of calculating surface heat-transfer from thermal image data in blowdown wind tunnels is included in an appendix, with an analysis of material thermal heat-transfer properties. Results from tests in the Langley 31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel are presented for a ceramic orbiter configuration and a four-inch diameter hemisphere model. Data include windward heating for bow-shock/wing-shock interactions on the orbiter wing surface, and a comparison with prediction for hemisphere heating distribution.
Nonparametric and non-linear models and data mining in time series: a case-study on the Canadian lynx data

Nonparametric regression methods are used as exploratory tools for formulating, identifying and estimating non-linear models for the Canadian lynx data, which have attained benchmark status in the time series literature since the work of Moran in 1953. To avoid the curse of dimensionality in the nonparametric analysis of this short series with 114 observations, we confine attention to the restricted class of additive and projection pursuit regression (PPR) models and rely on the estimated prediction error variance to compare the predictive performance of various (non-) linear models. A PPR model is found to have the smallest (in-sample) estimated prediction error variance of all the models fitted to these data in the literature. We use a data perturbation procedure to assess and adjust for the effect of data mining on the estimated prediction error variances; this renders most models fitted to the lynx data comparable and nearly equivalent. However, on the basis of the mean-squared error of out-of-sample prediction error, the semiparametric model X t = 1.08+1.37X t-1 +f(X 1-2 )+e t and Tong's self-exciting threshold autoregressive model perform much better than the PPR and other models known for the lynx data.
Surface multivesicular structures associated with maturing erythrocytes in rats.

Surface multivesicular structures associated with the plasmalemma of erythrocytes were observed in the peripheral blood of rats which have a significant number of circulating reticulocytes. These surface structures appear as ovoid evaginations (0.2 to 0.7 μ in diameter) of the plasma membrane and contain numerous small vesicles ranging from 0.05 to 0.1 μ in diameter. The structures were present during the final stages of maturation of erythrocytes, after nuclei and mitochondria had been extruded and only a few polysomes and small vesicles remained. They appear quite distinct from the autophagic vacuoles which have been described in association with degeneration and extrusion of mitochondria from erythrocytes. The exact origin of the small internal vesicles of these surface multivesicular structures is unknown; however, similar vesicles have been observed in the cytoplasm of the maturing erythrocyte especially in the vicinity of the Golgi body. These structures suggest a process by which Golgi elements and other small cytoplasmic vesicles are extruded during the late stages of maturation of rat erythrocytes.
Differential myocardial gene delivery by recombinant serotype-specific adeno-associated viral vectors

Recombinant cross-packaging of adeno-associated virus (AAV) genome of one serotype into other AAV serotypes has the potential to optimize tissue-specific gene transduction and expression in the heart. To evaluate the role of AAV1 to 5 virion shells on AAV2 transgene transduction, we constructed hybrid vectors in which each serotype capsid coding domain was cloned into a common vector backbone containing AAV2 replication genes. Constructs were tested for expression in: (1) adult murine heart in vivo using direct injection of virus, (2) neonatal and adult murine ventricular cardiomyocytes in vitro, and (3) adult human ventricular cardiomyocytes in vitro, using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the measurable transgene. Serotype 1 virus demonstrated the highest transduction efficiency in adult murine cardiomyocytes both in vitro and in vivo, while serotype 2 virus had the greater transduction efficiency in neonatal cardiomyocytes in vitro. Prolonged in vivo myocardial GFP expression was observed for up to 12 months using serotype 1 and 2 vectors only. In human cardiomyocytes, serotype 1 vector was superior in transduction efficiency, followed by types 2, 5, 4, and 3. These data establish a hierarchy for efficient serotype-specific vector transduction in myocardial tissue. AAV1 serotype packaging results in more efficient transduction of genes in the murine and human adult heart, compared to other AAV serotypes. Our results suggest that adult human cardiac gene therapy may be enhanced by the use of serotype 1-specific AAV vectors.
Irreducible-Tensor Theory for the Group O. I. V and W Coefficients

The irreducible-tensor theory is extended to the double group O. A complex basis is used because the representations ${E}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, ${E}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$, and ${U}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ are necessarily complex, and a set of phase factors are presented. The presence of repeated representations in the reduction of direct products of representations implies that more than one set of $V$ coefficients may be associated with a given set of representations $\mathrm{abc}$. For the group O, representations are repeated a maximum of two times in any direct product and the corresponding sets of $V$ coefficients are labeled ${V}_{1}$ and ${V}_{2}$. This requires a modification in the standard definition of $W$ so that the subscripts on the $V$ coefficients are included in the definition. This in turn calls for a rederivation of the useful matrix elements of double-tensor operators and several of the more important formulas are developed with particular emphasis on matrix elements in a spin-orbit basis. Complete tables of all $V$ and $W$ coefficients for O are also given.
Mitochondrial hexokinases, novel mediators of the antiapoptotic effects of growth factors and Akt

Cell survival has been closely linked to both trophic growth factor signaling and cellular metabolism. Such couplings have obvious physiologic and pathophysiologic implications, but their underlying molecular bases remain incompletely defined. As a common mediator of both the metabolic and anti-apoptotic effects of growth factors, the serine/threonine kinase Akt - also known as protein kinase B or PKB - is capable of regulating and coordinating these inter-related processes. The glucose dependence of the antiapoptotic effects of growth factors and Akt plus a strong correlation between Akt-regulated mitochondrial hexokinase association and apoptotic susceptibility suggest a major role for hexokinases in these effects. Mitochondrial hexokinases catalyse the first obligatory step of glucose metabolism and directly couple extramitochondrial glycolysis to intramitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and are thus well suited to play this role. The ability of Akt to regulate energy metabolism appears to have evolutionarily preceded the capacity to control cell survival. This suggests that Akt-dependent metabolic regulatory functions may have given rise to glucose-dependent antiapoptotic effects that evolved as an adaptive sensing system involving hexokinases and serve to ensure mitochondrial homeostasis, thereby coupling metabolism to cell survival. We hypothesize that the enlistment of Akt and hexokinase in the control of mammalian cell apoptosis evolved as a response to the recruitment of mitochondria to the apoptotic cascade. The central importance of mitochondrial hexokinases in cell survival also suggests that they may represent viable therapeutic targets in cancer.
Data Assimilation and Model Evaluation Experiment Datasets

The Institute for Naval Oceanography, in cooperation with Naval Research Laboratories and universities, executed the Data Assimilation and Model Evaluation Experiment (DAMEE) for the Gulf Stream region during fiscal years 1991-1993. Enormous effort has gone into the preparation of several high-quality and consistent datasets for model initialization and verification. This paper describes the preparation process, the temporal and spatial scopes, the contents, the structure, etc., of these datasets. The goal of DAMEE and the need of data for the four phases of experiment are briefly stated. The preparation of DAMEE datasets consisted of a series of processes: (1) collection of observational data; (2) analysis and interpretation; (3) interpolation using the Optimum Thermal Interpolation System package; (4) quality control and re-analysis; and (5) data archiving and software documentation. The data products from these processes included a time series of 3D fields of temperature and salinity, 2D fields of surface dynamic height and mixed-layer depth, analysis of the Gulf Stream and rings system, and bathythermograph profiles. To date, these are the most detailed and high-quality data for mesoscale ocean modeling, data assimilation, and forecasting research. Feedback from ocean modeling groups who tested this data was incorporated into its refinement. Suggestions for DAMEE data usages include (1) ocean modeling and data assimilation studies, (2) diagnosis and theoretical studies, and (3) comparisons with locally detailed observations.
Development of an Integrated Approach for Managing Bacterial Wilt and Root-Knot on Tomato Under Field Conditions

A 2-year field study was conducted to develop a field application method using thymol as a preplant soil treatment for controlling bacterial wilt and root-knot nematode on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). In addition, acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), which induces plant systemic resistance, was applied in conjunction with thymol to determine whether combining these tactics could improve bacterial wilt management. The test sites were artificially infested with Ralstonia solanacearum and Meloidogyne arenaria, and thymol was applied as preplant fumigation through drip irrigation lines under polyethylene mulch at a rate of 73 kg/ha in both 2004 and 2005. ASM was applied primarily as foliar spray at a concentration of 25 mg/liter. Application of thymol significantly reduced incidence of bacterial wilt on tomato in both years of the trial. In thymol-treated plots, 26.0 and 22.6% of the plants wilted in 2004 and 2005, respectively; whereas, in untreated plots, more than 95% of the plants wilted in each year. Number of root-knot nematode juveniles was significantly reduced in field plots treated with thymol and ASM for both years. The combined use of thymol and ASM provided the greatest reduction of root galling among the treatments. Tomato yield (cv. FL47) was evaluated only in the 2005 trial; thymol-treated plots produced significantly higher marketable yield than untreated plots, and the thymol treatment in combination with ASM significantly increased tomato yield compared with thymol or ASM alone. These results indicate that use of thymol and ASM was beneficial in controlling bacterial wilt and root-knot. We developed an effective method for applying thymol through drip irrigation lines for managing these diseases in tomato production.
The Effect of Spermine on the Initiation of Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis

Polyamines are important in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic translational systems. Spermine is a quaternary aliphatic amine that is cationic under physiological conditions. In this paper, we demonstrate that spermine stimulates fMet-tRNA binding to mammalian mitochondrial 55S ribosomes. The stimulatory effect of spermine is independent of the identity of the mRNA. The degree of stimulation of spermine is the same at all concentrations of mitochondrial initiation factor 2 (IF2mt) and mitochondrial initiation factor 3 (IF3mt). This observation indicates that IF2mt and IF3mt, while essential for initiation, are not the primary components of the translation initiation system affected by spermine. IF3mt dissociates 55S ribosomes detectably in the absence of spermine, but this effect is strongly inhibited in the presence of spermine. This observation indicates that the positive effect of spermine on initiation is not due to an increase in the availability of the small subunits for initiation. Spermine also promotes fMet-tRNA binding to small subunits of the mitochondrial ribosome in the presence of IF2mt. The major effect of spermine in promoting initiation complex formation thus appears to be on the interaction of fMet-tRNA with the ribosome.
A singular Gierer-Meinhardt system of elliptic equations: the classical case

Abstract This paper studies the existence of solutions of a nonlinear elliptic system usually called the generalized Gierer–Meinhardt equations. This type of system originally arose in studies of pattern-formation in biology, and has interesting and challenging mathematical properties, especially with Dirichlet boundary conditions when the nonlinear terms become singular near the boundary. We study the existence of solutions in the classical case of Gierer–Meinhardt, when the activator-inhibitor model has different sources.
In vivo imaging of presynaptic terminals and postsynaptic sites in the mouse submandibular ganglion

Much of what is currently known about the behavior of synapses in vivo has been learned at the mammalian neuromuscular junction, because it is large and accessible and also its postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are readily labeled with a specific, high-affinity probe, alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX). Neuron-neuron synapses have thus far been much less accessible. We therefore developed techniques for imaging interneuronal synapses in an accessible ganglion in the peripheral nervous system. In the submandibular ganglion, individual preganglionic axons establish large numbers of axo-somatic synapses with postganglionic neurons. To visualize these sites of synaptic contact, presynaptic axons were imaged by using transgenic mice that express fluorescent protein in preganglionic neurons. The postsynaptic sites were visualized by labeling the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha7 subunit with fluorescently tagged BTX. We developed in vivo methods to acquire three-dimensional image stacks of the axons and postsynaptic sites and then follow them over time. The submandibular ganglion is an ideal site to study the formation, elimination, and maintenance of synaptic connections between neurons in vivo.
Potential measures for detecting trust changes

It is challenging to quantitatively measure a user's trust in a robot system using traditional survey methods due to their invasiveness and tendency to disrupt the flow of operation. Therefore, we analyzed data from an existing experiment to identify measures which (1) have face validity for measuring trust and (2) align with the collected post-run trust measures. Two measures are promising as real-time indications of a drop in trust. The first is the time between the most recent warning and when the participant reduces the robot's autonomy level. The second is the number of warnings prior to the reduction of the autonomy level.
An approach to working with black youth in cross cultural therapy

The purpose of the present article is to supplement clinical literature that focuses on cross-cultural therapy. The author examines societal impacts on therapy, while emphasizing the mutuality of therapy between patient and therapist. A number of specific strategies for white therapists working with black families are offered.
Pharmacogenomics in anticoagulant drug development

The emergence of pharmacogenomic-guided anticoagulant drug development has unraveled novel approaches in the management of patients and ensured individualized therapy to one and all. Gene expression profiling will be useful in the diagnoses of various diseases, in preclinical phases of drug development and in developing markers for adverse drug reactions and desired pharmacological effects. Hence, the adverse drug reactions can be avoided by withdrawing a particular drug. Through cheminformatics, decisions could be made in anticoagulant drug discovery, tailored to the individual needs of the patient at the right dosage and right time. As the human genome is now completely mapped, gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism will be valuable in the diagnosis of diseases. In this review, various polymorphism of coagulation factors will be discussed. Newer anticoagulant drugs could be withdrawn from drug discovery and development pipelines should they exhibit hepatic metabolism requiring CYP450 enzymes known to manifest single nucleotide polymorphism resulting in adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenomics and cheminformatics should be incorporated in the current study designs of prospective clinical trials. Pharmacogenomic and pharmacogenetic data should be included in the Investigational New Drug (IND) applications, which would enable the FDA to better understand its true impact on pharmacoeconomics. Pharmacogenomics will eventually revolutionize anticoagulant drug development and future practice of medicine.
Spatial dynamics of receptor-mediated endocytic trafficking in budding yeast revealed by using fluorescent α-factor derivatives

Much progress defining the order and timing of endocytic internalization events has come as a result of real-time, live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Although the availability of numerous endocytic mutants makes yeast an especially valuable organism for functional analysis of endocytic dynamics, a serious limitation has been the lack of a fluorescent cargo for receptor-mediated endocytosis. We have now synthesized biologically active fluorescent mating-pheromone derivatives and demonstrated that receptor-mediated endocytosis in budding yeast occurs via the clathrin- and actin-mediated endocytosis pathway. We found that endocytic proteins first assemble into patches on the plasma membrane, and then α-factor associates with the patches. Internalization occurs next, concomitant with actin assembly at patches. Additionally, endocytic vesicles move toward early endosomes on actin cables. Early endosomes also associate with actin cables, and they actively move toward endocytic sites to capture vesicles being released from the plasma membrane. Thus, endocytic vesicle formation and capture of the newly released vesicles by early endosomes occur in a highly concerted manner, mediated by the actin cytoskeleton.
Gene Expression Profiles of Colonic Mucosa in Healthy Young Adult and Senior Dogs

Background We have previously reported the effects of age and diet on nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and large intestinal fermentation patterns in healthy young adult and senior dogs. However, a genome-wide molecular analysis of colonic mucosa as a function of age and diet has not yet been performed in dogs. Methodology/Principal Findings Colonic mucosa samples were collected from six senior (12-year old) and six young adult (1-year old) female beagles fed one of two diets (animal protein-based vs. plant protein-based) for 12 months. Total RNA in colonic mucosa was extracted and hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip® Canine Genome Arrays. Results indicated that the majority of gene expression changes were due to age (212 genes) rather than diet (66 genes). In particular, the colonic mucosa of senior dogs had increased expression of genes associated with cell proliferation, inflammation, stress response, and cellular metabolism, whereas the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and defensive mechanisms were decreased in senior vs. young adult dogs. No consistent diet-induced alterations in gene expression existed in both age groups, with the effects of diet being more pronounced in senior dogs than in young adult dogs. Conclusion Our results provide molecular insight pertaining to the aged canine colon and its predisposition to dysfunction and disease. Therefore, our data may aid in future research pertaining to age-associated gastrointestinal physiological changes and highlight potential targets for dietary intervention to limit their progression.
Transcription and Translation of CSF-1 in the Dental Follicle

The dental follicle, a loose connective tissue sac which surrounds the unerupted tooth, is required for eruption to occur. Injection of colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) will accelerate molar eruption in rats, as well as stimulate tooth eruption in osteopetrotic rats. Utilizing in situ hybridization and reverse- transcription polymerase chain-reaction techniques, we show here that CSF-1 mRNA is present in vivo in the dental follicle of the first mandibular molar of the rat. Analysis of the molars from day 0 through day 10 post-natally demonstrates that the maximal expression of CSF-1 mRNA is at day 3 post-natally. Immunostaining also reveals that the CSF-1 mRNA is translated, with immunostaining for the CSF-1 itself, being heavy in early post-natal days and absent by day 9 postnatally. In view of the fact that there is a maximal influx of mononuclear cells (monocytes) into the dental follicle at day 3 post-natally--an influx which increases the numbers of osteoclasts needed to form a tooth eruption pathway--it is probable that the maximal expression of CSF-1 mRNA by day 3 post-natally contributes to this monocyte influx. Thus, this study establishes a relationship among a molecule (CSF-1), cell (monocyte), and tissue (dental follicle) that appear to play a major role in tooth eruption.
Phase Transitions and Soft Modes

The stability of an equilibrium phase is described in thermodynamics in terms of certain convexity properties of the free energy. The phase is said to be unstable with respect to an equilibrium phase transition if the isothermal response of the system to a static external field is infinite. It is also known that associated with several second-order and some first-order transitions there are "soft collective modes" (for instance, in ferroelectric, antiferromagnetic, liquidgas, and structural phase transitions). In this paper we show that in systems where the order parameter can be treated as an ergodic variable, and which possess collective excitations, at least one of the collective modes must go soft when the system undergoes a second-order phase change (or more generally, at the stability limit of the system). Implications to discontinuous firstorder transitions are also briefly discussed. Examples of soft modes associated with phase changes are given.
Vision, Action, and Make-Perceive

: In this paper, I critically assess the enactive account of visual perception recently defended by Alva Noe (2004). I argue inter alia that the enactive account falsely identifies an object’s apparent shape with its 2D perspectival shape; that it mistakenly assimilates visual shape perception and volumetric object recognition; and that it seriously misrepresents the constitutive role of bodily action in visual awareness. I argue further that noticing an object’s perspectival shape involves a hybrid experience combining both perceptual and imaginative elements—an act of what I call ‘make-perceive’.
On the cyclic crack‐tip opening displacement

This note discusses the cyclic crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) cyc . As is discussed, the correct expression for the (CTOD) cyc is based upon the effective range of the stress intensity factor.
Teaching with Technology I Track Summary

Understanding the importance of using technological tools in teaching political science, the organizers of the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference dedicated two tracks to teaching with technology. Track I was moderated by Robert H. Trudeau of Providence College.
Analysis of the effect of endogenous viral genes in the Smyth line chicken model for autoimmune vitiligo.

The Smyth line (SL) chicken, an animal model for autoimmune human vitiligo, is characterized by a spontaneous posthatch pigment loss, determined to be the result of an autoimmune phenomenon. Because endogenous virus (EV) genes have been reported to be associated with a number of autoimmune diseases of human and animal models, we designed this experiment to investigate the role of EV in the SL vitiligo by using the complete sequence of Rous-associated virus-2 as a probe for EV. An F2 resource population was developed by the matings of SL and parental control (BL) chickens. Linkage disequilibrium between vitiligo and EV was apparent (16.2-kb SacI fragment, P ≤ 0.05 and a 19-kb HindIII fragment, P ≤ 0.03). Methylation analyses revealed that the EV and endogenous avian retroviral (EAV) genes were methylated in both the SL and BL sublines of chickens; therefore, methylation does not appear to be responsible for the differences in the expression of vitiligo between SL and BL sublines. Expression of the EV genes correlated with the disease in vitiliginous SL101 birds and also in 5-Azacytidine-induced vitiliginous BL101 parental control chickens. Only one EV locus was detected in the unrelated Light Brown Leghorn control chickens (1q14) by in situ hybridization, whereas 3 EV loci were identified in SL101 and BL101 chickens (1p25, 2q26, and an unidentifiable microchromosome). Our observations indicate that EV genes may play a role in the induction of autoimmune vitiligo in the SL chicken model.
A novel model predictive control formulation for hybrid systems with application to adaptive behavioral interventions

This paper presents a novel model predictive control (MPC) formulation for linear hybrid systems. The algorithm relies on a multiple-degree-of-freedom formulation that enables the user to adjust the speed of setpoint tracking, measured disturbance rejection and unmeasured disturbance rejection independently in the closed-loop system. Consequently, controller tuning is more flexible and intuitive than relying on move suppression weights as traditionally used in MPC schemes. The formulation is motivated by the need to achieve robust performance in using the algorithm in emerging applications, for instance, as a decision policy for adaptive, time-varying interventions used in behavioral health. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated on a hypothetical adaptive intervention problem inspired by the Fast Track program, a real-life preventive intervention for improving parental function and reducing conduct disorder in at-risk children. Simulation results in the presence of simultaneous disturbances and significant plant-model mismatch are presented. These demonstrate that a hybrid MPC-based approach for this class of interventions can be tuned for desired performance under demanding conditions that resemble participant variability that is experienced in practice when applying an adaptive intervention to a population.
Role of electron-molecule angular scattering in shaping the electron-velocity distribution

Five models has been studied to elucidate the role of electron-molecule angular scattering in shaping the velocity distribution for electrons in nitrogen at E/N values of 300 and 1500 Td. The angular dependence of the differential scattering cross sections for elastic and inelastic collisions has been observed to have significant effects on the shape of the velocity distribution, the rate coefficients, and the transport parameters. The velocity distribution is most sensitive to the angular dependence of elastic scattering. Moreover, for a given elastic differential scattering cross section, variations in the angular dependence of inelastic scattering cause significant changes in the distribution. The magnitude of these changes depends on the relative action of the inelastic collisions with respect to the elastic collisions for a given energy interval, i.e., whether the scattering by the inelastic collisions is isotropic, forward, or backward in a given energy interval.
Further study of the effect of the downstream plasma condition on accelerator grid erosion in an ion thruster

Further numerical results are presented of earlier particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo calculations of accelerator grid erosion in an ion thruster. A comparison between numerical and experimental results suggests that the accelerator grid impingement is primarily due to ions created far downstream from the accelerator grid. In particular, for the same experimental conditions as those of Monheiser and Wilbur at Colorado State University, it is found that a downstream plasma density of 2 x 10 exp 14/cu m is required to give the same ratio of accelerator grid impingement current to beam current (5 percent). For this condition, a potential hill is found in the downstream region of 2.5 V.
Statistical Characteristics ics of the Polarization Power Ratio for Radar Return with Circular Polarization

In this paper, the radar return from a clutter target illuminated by acircularly polarized wave is investigated statistically. The ratio of theenvelope of the left circular component to that of the right circularcomponent of the return signal is formed, and the probability densityfunctions and cumulative distributions of this ratio are found forlinear, square, and logarithmic law detectors. Plots of all densities anddistributions are given for several statistically modeled clutter-typetargets with typical depolarizing and back-scattering characteristics.The probability density functions for the ratio signal from a logaritmicic detector are compared for the cases of circularly and linearlypolarized waves incident on the same clutter-type target. Linearpolarization produces the worst case of spreading of the probabilitydensity function from its median value. Plots are given which indicatethat changes in the amount of depolarization by the clutter cause moresignificant changes in the median value of the polarizationration forlinear than for circular polarization.
Working with living krill – the people and the places

The fascination of Antarctic scientists with Antarctic krill and their capabilities has a long and varied history, and prompted many scientists to maintain and manipulate krill under laboratory conditions. Starting in the Discovery era with Mackintosh at the King Edward Point labs on South Georgia, 1930, scientists have collected krill from sailing vessels, small boats, inflatable zodiacs and large ice-breaking vessels. Krill have been maintained in small and large jars, deep rectangular tanks, large round tanks and in flow-through and recycling systems. They have been maintained both on board research vessels and in laboratories, in flowing seawater systems at ambient conditions and in temperature-controlled environmental rooms. A few researchers have transported living krill back to their home laboratories, for example tropical laboratories in Japan (Murano) and Australia (Ikeda), temperate laboratories (Nicol) in Australia, a northern European laboratory in Germany (Marschall) and a sunny maritime labo...
Modeling and simulation of biopharmaceutical performance

Biopharmaceutical performance refers to the influence of pharmaceutical formulation variables on in vivo performance. New drug product success depends on formulation design for sufficient bioavailability for clinically desired dosing. Regulatory interest in biopharmaceutical performance includes batch-to-batch consistency, acceptability of postapproval changes, and evaluation of bioequivalence (BE) for generic drug products. This Commentary summarizes biopharmaceutical modeling and simulation in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) for orally administered generic drugs.
Dangerous delays in tampon absorbency warnings.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study in this issue ofThe Journalconfirms the strong association between increased tampon absorbency and enhanced risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) 1 and again highlights, as seen with aspirin and Reye's syndrome, 2 the dangerous delay between scientific knowledge and its conversion into public policy. The failure of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn women adequately based on evidence available more than six years ago, a failure prolonged by the tampon industry, has caused unnecessary risks to millions of American women who regularly use tampons. Since early 1981, when the FDA was first informed by Minnesota Health Department epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, of the results of the Tri-State Study, which concluded that "women who used high absorbency tampons had a greater relative risk of developing TSS than women who used low absorbency tampons," 3 there have been 1584 reported
Spontaneous Rearrangement of the β20/β21 Strands in Simulations of Unliganded HIV-1 Glycoprotein, gp120

Binding of the viral spike drives cell entry and infection by HIV-1 to the cellular CD4 and chemokine receptors with associated conformational change of the viral glycoprotein envelope, gp120. Crystal structures of the CD4-gp120-antibody ternary complex reveal a large internal gp120 cavity formed by three domains, the inner domain, outer domain and bridging sheet domain, and is capped by CD4 residue Phe43. Several structures of gp120 envelope in complex with various antibodies indicated that the bridging sheet adopts varied conformations. Here, we examine bridging sheet dynamics using a crystal structure of gp120 bound to the F105 antibody exhibiting an open bridging sheet conformation and with an added V3 loop. The two strands of the bridging sheet β2/β3 and β20/β21 are dissociated from each other and are directed away from the inner and outer domains. Analysis of Molecular Dynamics (MD) trajectories indicates that the β2/β3 and β20/β21 strands rapidly rearrange to interact with the V3 loop and the inner and outer domains, respectively. Residues N425 on β20 leads to the conformational rearrangement of the β20/β21 strands by interacting with W112 on the inner domain and F382 on the outer domain. An accompanying shift is observed in the inner domain as helix α1 exhibits a loss in helicity and pivots away from helix α5. The two simulations provide a framework for understanding the conformational diversity of the bridging sheet and the propensity of the β20/β21 strand to refold between the inner and outer domains of gp120, in the absence of a bound ligand.
Coercivity mechanism in (Co/Pt) and (Co/Pd) multilayers

The coercivity mechanism of multilayer (Co/Pt) and (Co/Pd) is discussed based on the phenomenological micromagnetic theory and the magnetic relaxation treatment. Based on the micromagnetic theory, the pinning size of the order of a few /spl Aring/ is found for both (Co/Pt) and (Co/Pd), but about 100 /spl Aring/ for an amorphous TbFeCo film. On the other hand, the magnetic relaxation approach estimates the Barkhausen volume of the order of 10/sup -18/cm/sup 3/ for these multilayers.
Probabilistic Reservation Services for Large-Scale Batch-Scheduled Systems

In high-performance computing (HPC) settings, in which multiprocessor machines are shared among users with potentially competing resource demands, processors are allocated to user workload using space sharing. Typically, users interact with a given machine by submitting their jobs to a centralized batch scheduler that implements a site-specific, and often partially hidden, policy designed to maximize machine utilization while providing tolerable turnaround times. In practice, while most HPC systems experience good utilization levels, the amount of time experienced by individual jobs waiting to begin execution has been shown to be highly variable and difficult to predict, leading to user confusion and/or frustration. One method for dealing with this uncertainty that has been proposed is the ability to predict the amount of time that individual jobs will wait in batch queues once they are submitted, thus allowing a user to reason about the total time between job submission and job completion (which we term a job's ldquooverall turnaround timerdquo). Another related but distinct method for handling the uncertainty is to allow users who are willing to plan ahead to make ldquoadvanced reservationsrdquo for processor resources, again allowing them to reason about job turnaround time. To date, however, few if any HPC centers provide either job-queue delay prediction services or advanced reservation capabilities to their general user populations. In this paper, we describe QBETS, VARQ, and CO-VARQ, new methods for allowing users to reason and control the overall turnaround time of their batch-queue jobs submitted to busy HPC systems in existence today. QBETS is an online, non-parametric system for predicting statistical bounds on the amount of time individual batch jobs will wait in queue. VARQ is a new method for job scheduling that provides users with probabilistic ldquovirtualrdquo advanced reservations using only existing best effort batch schedulers and policies, and CO-VARQ utilizes this capability to implement a general coallocation service. QBETS, VARQ and CO-VARQ operate as overlays, requiring no modification to the local scheduler implementation or policies. We describe the statistical methods we use to implement the systems, detail empirical evaluations of their effectiveness in a number of HPC settings, and explore the potential future impact of these systems should they become widely used.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty: complication avoidance and technique optimization.

It has been 10 years since percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) was introduced clinically into the United States. The procedure has grown in acceptance and is becoming the standard of care for pain associated with compression fractures of the spine ([1][1]). It has proved effective for this purpose and
Utilization of Alewives by Inshore Piscivorous Fishes in Lake Michigan

Abstract The exotic alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) has become exceedingly abundant in Lake Michigan. During May-August, they migrate to inshore waters to spawn and may provide an abundant food supply for the inshore warm-water piscivorous fishes. I examined stomach contents of 405 northern pike (Esox lucius), 112 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), 103 walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum), 43 burbot (Lota lota) and 29 bowfin (Amia calva) from Little Bay de Noc in Lake Michigan, during April-October of 1966–68 to determine their food habits when alewives were abundant and when alewives were scarce. Before alewives arrived in the spring, rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were the most important prey species in the diets. When alewives were abundant, they provided large percentages of the total weight of foods eaten: northern pike—66%, smallmouth bass—60%, walleye—71%, burbot—100% and bowfin—100%. After most alewives left in the fall, no single prey species predominated in the diets. Northern pike grew f...
Lifetime optimization of sensor networks under physical attacks

We address a resource constrained lifetime problem in sensor networks in an operating environment where nodes can be physically destroyed. Specifically, given a limited number of sensors and a hostile environment, our goal is to maximize the network lifetime and derive a node deployment plan. The problem of physical destruction, due to hostile environments and the small size of the sensors, is a viable threat and severely constrains the practical lifetime of sensor networks. The lifetime problem we define is representative, practical, and encompasses other versions of similar problems. We also define a representative physical attack model under which we study and solve the lifetime problem. Our solutions take into account both node constraints and the goal of energy minimization. An important observation based on this work is that network lifetime is greatly affected by the presence of physical attacks, highlighting the importance of our study. Our work has a broad and immediate impact for system designers deploying networks in hostile environments.
State long-term care ombudsmen's perceptions of their program's disaster preparedness roles and readiness.

A telephone survey of 43 state long-term care ombudsmen (LTCO) assessed their familiarity with relevant long-term care disaster resources, their provision of disaster aids and training to staff, and their perceived preparedness to lead their programs during public crises. Thirty-four directors (78%) reported being fairly well to fully prepared to support their local programs during public emergencies. However, ANOVAs showed that the 27 disaster experienced ombudsmen felt no better prepared to help their local paid and volunteer staff deal with public emergencies than disaster inexperienced ombudsmen. Those directly involved with emergency planners felt better prepared to help their substate staff to know where to start helping residents during a public crisis than ombudsmen who had no involvement with disaster planners. Familiarity with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Emergency Planning Checklist for LTC Ombudsmen (2007) was strongly associated with the ombudsmen’s familiarity with emergenc...
Away from the Top: Exploring Strategic Leadership in an Emergent Strategic Initiative Process

Strategic leadership is essential to organizational viability and success. However, by looking only at the strategic leader of the organization, we may be missing important strategic leadership beh...
In vitro analysis of the tissue plasminogen activator promoter reveals a GC box-binding activity present in murine brain but undetectable in kidney and liver.

Abstract Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) mRNA levels are high in murine brain, lower in kidney, and undetectable in liver. Differences in t-PA mRNA levels are regulated in part at the transcriptional level. Brain, kidney, and liver nuclear extracts direct regulated transcription from the murine t-PA promoter in a manner that reflects the relative levels of t-PA gene expression in these tissues in vivo. Analysis of mutants has defined two GC box motifs as important elements for regulated transcription in vitro. Upon investigation of protein-DNA binding, we detected an activity in brain extracts which was not detected in kidney or liver extracts. An Sp1-like factor also binds to this region in all three tissue types. DNA interference experiments show that the brain-enriched binding activity and the Sp1-like factor contact the same GC-rich sequences. These studies provide additional evidence that brain-enriched DNA-binding activities can interact with sequences also recognized by ubiquitous transcription factors.
Los conventillos de Valparaíso, 1880-1920: Percepción de barrios y viviendas marginales

Las viviendas populares, los conventillos y ranchos urbanos y semiurbanos, reflejaron el modo de ser de una cultura, el modo de vivir de la gran mayoria de los portenos en tiempos en que la ciudad crecio demograficamente y las viviendas y areas llamadas "decentes" no daban abasto a la imperiosidad de buscar ganarse la vida en la urbe y hacerse citadino. En los barrios marginales de ranchos y de conventillos se expresaba lo mas genuino de la vida urbana, lo popular, la vida de los mas humildes que forjaron una forma de existencia arrabalera, quiza un substrato importante de la chilenidad. En este articulo nuestro objetivo es distinguir una tipologia de conventillos - sin entrar en detalles de su descripcion -, y perfilar la imagen, representacion mental o percepcion que de ellos se tenia en su epoca dorada, 1880-1920.