cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Introduction to IAD and the Language of the Ostrom Workshop: A Simple Guide to a Complex Framework

This guide provides definitions or brief explanations of all the major terms and concepts used in the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. Also included are terms from the closely related frameworks on local public economies, public service industries, grammar of institutions, and social-ecological systems (SES).
Laminar free convection in boundary layers near horizontal cylinders and vertical axisymmetric bodies

In this article the problem of describing free convection near either horizontal cylinders or vertical axisymmetric bodies with fairly arbitrary body contours is studied. The solutions of two, coupled, partial differential equations, for the temperature and stream functions, are represented by series which are universal with respect to body contours within a specified class of body shapes (e.g. round-nosed cylinders). The series appear to converge rapidly so that a minimum of computational effort is required, even for classes of body shapes which do not admit the usual similarity transformations. For either horizontal, circular cylinders or spheres the series converge faster than expansions of the Blasius type and one-term approximations compare favourably with some of the existing experimental data.
Intellectual teamwork on smartphones

We demonstrate a software system that runs on smartphones and allows two or more geographically dispersed participants to collaborate on the solution of mathematical problems. We show how participants can create and join a collaborative session, how they can use a virtual whiteboard for the exchange of geometrical drawings and of mathematical formulas, and how they can communicate using text messages. We demonstrate the turn-management mechanism provided by our system, and we show how the system facilitates cross-referencing within the session.
A 12-Bit Cryogenic and Radiation-Tolerant Digital-to-Analog Converter for Aerospace Extreme Environment Applications

This paper presents an 80-MHz 12-bit cryogenic low-power digital-to-analog converter (DAC) implemented in a 0.5-mum SiGe BiCMOS technology. The cryogenic DAC is capable of operating over an ultrawide temperature (UWT) ranging from -180degC to +120degC and under the high-energy particle radiation environment on the lunar surface. A bandgap voltage reference for the UWT applications is designed using SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors, and the current-steering DAC is implemented using a segmented current source array. The design considerations for both extreme temperature and radiation environments are discussed. The cryogenic and radiation-tolerant DAC chip occupies a die area of 3.5 times 1.8 mm2 and consumes only 39.6 mW from a 3.3-V supply voltage. The maximum DAC sampling rate was measured at 80 MS/s at -180degC using a 40-pin dual in-line package.
Gastric Intramucosal Acidosis During Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation

Hussain and Roussosl showed that during endotoxic shock, respiratory muscle blood flow in spontaneously breathing dogs increases significantly from baseline values, and in the animals who are mechanically ventilated, respiratory muscle perfusion decreases to control values. Similarly, blood flow in organs like brain, gut, and skeletal muscles, in the mechanically ventilated group was significantly higher than the spontaneously breathing group. Therefore, during mechanical ventilation, a fraction of the cardiac output used by the respiratory muscles can be made available to the other organs and, conversely, during spontaneous ventilation, organs such as skeletal muscles, brain and gut fall under the disadvantage of losing out to respiratory muscles. The magnitude of increase in respiratory blood flow in the spontaneously breathing group was from 51 ml/min to 101 ml/min at 60 minutes of shock. Mohsenifar et al.2 tested the hypothesis that gastric intramucosal pH can be used as a trend indicator of gut and/or splanchnic ischemia in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, respiratory failure, during weaning from mechanical ventilation. This chapter will summarize the data on the role of gastric intramucosal pH as an indicator of weaning success or failure in these patients.
Stimulation of Somatostatin Release in Vitro by Synthetic Human Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor by a Nondopaminergic Mechanism*

The effect of synthetic human GH-releasing factor (hGRF-40) on somatostatin (SRIF) release from the median eminence of the hypothalamus was evaluated in rats with use of an in vitro incubation system. hGRF-40 stimulated SRIF release in a dose-related manner. This effect was significant at concentrations varying from 10−11−10−7 m, with a minimal effective dose of 10−11 m. Maximal stimulation was observed at 10−10 m. Pimozide was added in vitro at a concentration of 10−6 m to block dopamine (DA) receptors, since DA is a known stimulator of SRIF release. Pimozide was without effect on SRIF release and did not alter the stimulatory effect of hGRF-40. To evaluate the possibility that DA and GRF may share a common pathway to stimulate SRIF release, median eminence fragments were simultaneously exposed to submaximal concentrations of both DA (6 × 10−7 m) and hGRF-40 (10−12 m). By themselves, each of these doses had little effect on SRIF release. When they were added together, a marked stimulation was noted, whic...
Natural killer cells recognize common antigenic motifs shared by H-2Dd, H-2Ld and possibly H-2Dr molecules expressed on bone marrow cells.

Murine natural killer (NK) cells can mediate specific rejection of bone marrow cell (BMC) allografts. Whereas positive recognition of allogeneic MHC antigens forms the basis for T cell alloreactivity, it has been postulated that NK cells are reactive against targets that do not express certain self-encoded MHC class I antigens. Here, we study the immunogenicity of BMC grafts from two class I transgenic mice, D8 (B6 mice with an H-2Dd transgene) and C3H.Ld (C3H mice with an H-2Ld transgene). D8 BMC grafts are acutely rejected by B6 but not D8 recipients. This suggests that antigenic motifs associated with the H-2Dd molecule are recognized. B6 mice depleted of their CD3+ but not NK1.1+ cells can still reject D8 BMC grafts. These data suggest that NK1.1+/CD3- cells recognize the H-2Dd derived antigenic motifs. Similarly, C3H.Ld BMC grafts are rejected by B6 x C3H F1 but not B6 x C3H.Ld F1 recipients. Thus, antigenic motifs associated with the H-2Ld molecule can also be recognized. Furthermore, expression of either H-2Dd or H-2Ld by the recipients renders them unable to reject D8 or C3H.Ld BMC grafts. Therefore, H-2Dd and H-2Ld molecules appear to express common antigenic motifs recognized by NK cells. Additional studies with B6.R4 (KbIbSbDr), an intra-H-2 recombinant mouse, indicated that a third class I molecule, possibly H-2Dr, also shared the common antigenic motifs with both H-2Dd and H-2Ld molecules. Thus, positive recognition of class I antigens by NK cells can occur. However, expression of some of these antigenic motifs appear to be negatively controlled by certain H-2r genes as suggested by rejection of D8 and B6.R4 BMC grafts by D8 x B10.RIII F1 and B6.R4 x B10.RIII F1 hybrids respectively.
A multiplay model for rate-independent and rate-dependent hysteresis with nonlocal memory

We consider the multiplay model for hysteresis with nonlocal memory. This model consists of N mass/spring/dashpot with deadzone elements. The hysteresis map of the multiplay model is completely determined by the stiffness coefficients and widths of the gaps of the mass/spring/dashpot with deadzone elements. This multiplay model can be used to model a hysteretic system with a hysteresis map possessing the symmetry of the cyclic rotation group C 2 . Parameters of the multiplay model can be determined based on the slope of the sampled hysteresis map. Once the multiplay model is determined, its inverse can be analytically computed.
Cladribine: An Investigational Immunomodulatory Agent for Multiple Sclerosis

Objective:To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of cladribine, a purine analog undergoing Phase III trials for approval of its use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).Data Sources:A MEDLINE search (1966–September 2006) was conducted using the key words cladribine and multiple sclerosis. No limits were placed on the search.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Studies and review articles related to cladribine and MS were reviewed. The trials examining the role of cladribine in MS were analyzed.Data Synthesis:Cladribine is a purine analog that demonstrates lymphocytotoxic activity. Recent data suggest that cladribine may have a role in the treatment of relapsing–remitting and the progressive forms of MS. In these studies, cladribine has shown mixed results in decreasing neurologic disability, as measured by various rating scales, but has consistently shown positive results in reducing the number of enhancing lesions, which reflects a measure of disease activity. To date, t...
Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism does not promote weight loss or prevent ageing‐related increases in body mass in thyroid cancer survivors

Summary Context Thyroid cancer survivors represent a unique population in which the potential long-term effects of brief periods of intentional thyroid hormone withdrawal and/or prolonged periods of iatrogenic hyperthyroidism on body weight and body mass were evaluated. Objectives The objectives of this study were to characterize body mass changes over several years in a cohort of thyroid cancer patients with iatrogenic hyperthyroidism and to compare these changes with the expected weight gain in age-matched healthy control populations. We also evaluated the possibility that the method of preparation [thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) vs recombinant human TSH (rhTSH)] for radioactive iodine remnant ablation may be associated with differences in body mass at the time of the final follow-up. Design/Setting/Patients/Interventions A retrospective review identified 153 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy at one major medical centre. Of the 153 patients, 143 also had radioactive iodine remnant ablation: 70 after THW and 73 after rhTSH. Main Outcome Measures Change in weight and BMI at 1–2 and 3–5 years of follow-up points were examined. Annualized weight variation within the cohort was compared with age-matched population controls expressed in kilogram/year. Results Significant weight gain was noted for the full cohort after 3–5 years of follow-up as compared to baseline (76 ± 21 kg at baseline vs 79 ± 23 kg at 3–5 years of follow-up, P < 0·01), which represented a 3·2% increase. Female and male patients with thyroid cancer experienced 0·46 and 0·94 kg/year gain in weight, respectively, which is similar or somewhat higher than previously published age-matched population controls (ranging from 0·23 to 0·34 kg/year). When expressed as per cent change and comparing the final weight to the pre-operative baseline, the rhTSH group experienced approximately a 1·7% increase in weight compared with the 3·9% increase seen with THW patients (P = 0·02). When expressed as kg/year change, the rhTSH cohort had 0·34 kg/year change compared with the 0·64 kg/year change seen in the thyroid hormone withdrawal patients (P = 0·02). Conclusion In otherwise, healthy patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, significant weight gain occurred during the 3–5 years of follow-up despite ongoing thyrotropin suppression. The data suggest that mild iatrogenic hyperthyroidism does not promote weight loss or prevent ageing-related weight gain. Greater weight gain was seen in patients prepared for radioactive remnant ablation with THW than with rhTSH.
Idiopathic intractable epistaxis : endovascular therapy

Thirty patients with intractable idiopathic epistaxis were treated with endovascular therapy. Embolization of the internal maxillary artery controlled the epistaxis in 87% of the patients, and the success rate was increased to 97% after supplemental embolization of the facial artery. The only complication observed was transient postembolization hemiparesis, which occurred in one of the 30 patients. Intractable idiopathic epistaxis is defined as epistaxis of unknown cause that is refractory to nasal packing. Such epistaxis is commonly treated with surgical intervention, including ligation of the terminal segments of the internal maxillary artery and the ethmoid arteries. An alternative approach is performance of endovascular therapy. In our opinion, embolization is a safe and effective procedure when it is carried out by appropriately trained personnel. In most patients, its performance requires use of only neuroleptanalgesia; surgery can be avoided, and the duration of hospitalization is significantly sho...
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus L1 protein-based vaccines: protection is achieved only with a full-length, nondenatured product.

Papillomas induced by the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) progress at a high frequency to carcinomas. In this regard, CRPV and its tumors can serve as an animal model for highly oncogenic human papillomaviruses. We have previously shown that immunization with major structural protein L1 elicits neutralizing antibodies and protects rabbits from papilloma development (Y.-L. Lin, L.A. Borenstein, R. Selvakumar, R. Ahmed, and F.O. Wettstein, Virology 187:612-619, 1992). In this study, we demonstrated that vaccination with the TrpE-L1 fusion protein not only protected rabbits from papilloma development but also prevented latent infection. This was indicated by the failure to amplify CRPV sequences by polymerase chain reaction in biopsies from infection sites of immunized animals. Furthermore, we showed that TrpE-L1 immunization protected rabbits from papilloma formation induced by virus but not from that induced by viral DNA. To explore the possibility of developing vaccines based on L1 subfragments, we mapped the linear L1 epitopes recognized by TrpE-L1-immunized rabbits and by virus-infected rabbits resistant to superinfection. Sera from papilloma-bearing rabbits reacted with one major epitope located at the carboxy-terminal end of L1, between amino acids (aa) 480 and 505. A second epitope, and in some animals a third one, was located in the amino-terminal region, between aa 78 and 101, as well as between aa 37 and 62. Sera from TrpE-L1-immunized animals recognized only one major epitope, located between aa 6 and 37. Immunization of rabbits with L1 subfragment fusion proteins led to seroconversion, but no neutralizing antibodies were produced and the animals were not protected against papilloma formation. The data indicate that a successful papillomavirus vaccine must be based on immunization with full-length native L1 and that further simplification to smaller peptides containing major linear epitopes is not feasible.
Moderate deviation analysis of channel coding: Discrete memoryless case

Moderate deviation behavior of coding for discrete-memoryless channels is investigated. That is, we consider block codes whose rate converges to the channel capacity from below with increasing block length with a certain rate and examine the best ‘sub-exponential’ decay in the maximal probability of error. We prove that a moderate deviation principle (M.D.P.) holds for all convergence rates between the large deviation and the central limit theorem regimes, under some mild assumptions on the channel. The rate function of the M.D.P. is explicitly characterized.
CertiKOS: a certified kernel for secure cloud computing

Though attractive as a model for elastic on-demand service, cloud computing solutions based on existing hypervisors cannot guarantee that the provider will service a user's requests correctly, and will not leak sensitive information to unauthorized parties. We introduce CertiKOS (Certified Kit Operating System), a hypervisor architecture that leverages formal certification to ensure correctness and counter information leakage in cloud computing. CertiKOS isolates guest applications not only from each other but from provider-controlled resource management mechanisms. The kernel's API gives untrusted, provider-supplied management software control over allocation and delegation of resources such as memory and I/O devices, but prohibits management code from accessing a guest's memory or other resources while in use, or from interfering with a guest's execution except through clean resource revocation. CertiKOS represents an effort to apply recent advances in certified software design to a ground-up design of a modular and evolvable certified kernel. Through machine-checkable proof certificates and runtime monitoring, CertiKOS aims to offer users the assurance of correct and leak-free execution of their cloud services.
Tachykinin Neuropeptide-Evoked Intracellular Calcium Transients In Cultured Guinea Pig Myenteric Neurons

Abstract Sarosi, G. A. Jr., B. C. Kimball, D. C. Barnhart, W. Zhang and M. W. Mulholland. Tachykinin neuropeptide-evoked intracellular calcium transients in cultured guinea pig myenteric neurons. Peptides 19(1) 75–84, 1998.—Substance P and related tachykinins are present in the mammalian gut and act as neurotransmitters. Microfluorimetric measurement of intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) was used to study tachykinin-sensitive myenteric neurons. Substance P (0.001–10 μ M ) evoked concentration-dependent increases in percentage of neurons responding (6–75%) and Δ[Ca 2+ ] i (88 ± 24 to 212 ± 16 n M ). Neurokinin A (0.001–1 μ M ) produced similar responses. Removal of extracellular Ca 2+ abolished substance P-induced Ca 2+ signals, as did the addition of the Ca 2+ channel blockers lanthanum chloride (5 m M ) and nickel chloride (2.5 m M ). Both nifedipine (1–50 μ M ) and diltiazem (1–50 μ M ) inhibited substance P-evoked Ca 2+ responses in a dose-dependent manner. Substance P and related tachykinins evoke Ca 2+ signaling in cultured myenteric neurons by the influx of extracellular Ca 2+ through l and n -type plasma membrane Ca 2+ channels.
A Thermal Speedometer for Overthrust Faults

The energy released in gravity-driven overthrust faults goes almost entirely into heat. The peak temperatures attained depend upon the rate of movement, since slow movement gives the heat time to diffuse away and rapid movement does not. An exact analysis for the movement duration gives a complicated equation, which is reduced to accurate and simple upper and lower bounds. Mineralization evidence of peak temperature appears as an observed physical parameter in these equations. Actual fault movement durations are typically lower bounded by several years, implying velocities so low as to require a re-examination of some theories of fault mechanics.
Optical antenna-enhanced nano-LED for energy efficient optical interconnect

Interconnects accounts for a significant portion of energy consumption in integrated circuits. Optical interconnects, now widely used to link electronic systems such as servers and top of rack switches in data centers, can potentially reduce the energy consumption of electrical interconnects. However, current state-of-the-art optical links consumes about 100s fJ/b to 1 pJ/b, still much too high for on-chip communications [1]. Orders of magnitude improvement in energy efficiency can be achieved by combining (1) ultra-low capacitance optical receivers and (2) optical antenna-enhanced nanoscale light-emitting diodes (LED). By reducing the receiver capacitance to ∼ 100 aF [2] and preferably integrating the detector with the first gain stage forming a phototransistor [3][4], the energy consumption of the photoreceiver can be reduced to ∼ 100 aJ/b even with 100 photons/bit sensitivity. However, traditional laser source consumes too much power due to the need to bias the laser, usually at several times the threshold current. Light emitting diodes (LEDs), on the other hand, can operate efficiently without threshold. Unfortunately, their modulation speeds are limited by the relatively slow spontaneous emission. Recently, progress has been made using optical antennas to increase the rate of spontaneous emission, opening up the possibility of an efficient, high speed, nanoscale emitter. We have observed 35x enhancement of spontaneous emission rate in optically pumped InGaAsP nano-LEDs with arch-dipole antennas [5]. Recently, using cavity-backed optical slot antennas, electrically injected nano-LEDs with 200x enhancement of spontaneous emission rate have been demonstrated [6]. Even higher enhancement has been observed in nano-LEDs with monolayer two-dimensional semiconductor such as transition metal dichalcogenide, WSe 2 [7]. In this talk, we will review the principle and the recent progress in optical antenna-enhanced nano-LEDs.
Intracranial CSF flow in pediatric hydrocephalus: evaluation with cine-MR imaging.

PURPOSE 1) To describe the pattern of normal intracranial CSF flow in children and 2) to demonstrate altered CSF flow patterns in pediatric hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly with flow-sensitized cine-MR examinations. METHOD Cardiac gated, multiframe, gradient echo sequences on a 1.5-T system were displayed on a closed loop cine format and compared to standard MR images. Areas of normal flow and areas of diminished flow were determined. RESULTS 1) In normal children, the CSF flow follows a consistent pattern with a to-and-fro movement of flow in the aqueduct, foramen of Magendie, and in the dorsal and ventral subarachnoid space at the cervicomedullary junction. 2) In patients with ventricular enlargement, the flow studies showed regional abnormalities of the CSF flow patterns: specifically, lack of flow and hyperdynamic flow. CONCLUSION Cine-MR for CSF flow evaluation is a useful adjunct to routine MR in the evaluation of pediatric hydrocephalus because it can assist in determining the probable level of CSF obstruction.
Do Strict Land Use Regulations Make Metropolitan Areas More Segregated by Income

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Income segregation has risen in each of the last four decades in U.S. metropolitan areas, which can have lifelong impacts on the health, economic productivity, and behaviors of residents. Although it is widely assumed that local land use regulations—such as minimum lot sizes and growth controls—exclude low-income households from wealthier neighborhoods, the empirical research is surprisingly limited. We examine the relationship between land use regulation and segregation by income using new measures for the 95 biggest cities in the United States. We find that density restrictions are associated with the segregation of the wealthy and middle income, but not the poor. We also find that more local pressure to regulate land use is linked to higher rates of income segregation, but that more state control is connected to lower-income segregation.Takeaway for practice: Density restrictions do drive urban income segregation of the rich, not the poor, but should be address...
Internal Usability Testing of Automated Essay Feedback in an Intelligent Writing Tutor

Research on automated essay scoring (AES) indicates that computer-generated essay ratings are comparable to human ratings. However, despite investigations into the accuracy and reliability of AES scores, less attention has been paid to the feedback delivered to the students. This paper presents a method developers can use to quickly evaluate the usability of an automated feedback system prior to testing with students. Using this method, researchers evaluated the feedback provided by the Writing-Pal, an intelligent tutor for writing strategies. Lessons learned and potential for future research are discussed.
A safe and effective management strategy for blunt cerebrovascular injury: Avoiding unnecessary anticoagulation and eliminating stroke.

BACKGROUNDFew injuries have produced as much debate with respect to management as have blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs). Recent work (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma 2013) from our institution suggested that 64-channel multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) could b
DNA damage by histone radicals in nucleosome core particles.

Although DNA binding proteins shield the genetic material from diffusible reactive oxygen species by reacting with them, the resulting protein (peroxyl) radicals can oxidize the bound DNA. To explore this possible DNA damage by protein radicals, histone H4 proteins containing an azoalkane radical precursor at defined sites were prepared. Photolysis of a nucleosome core particle containing the modified protein produces DNA damage that is consistent with selective C4′-oxidation. The nucleotide(s) damaged is highly dependent on proximity to the protein radical. These experiments provide insight into the effects of oxidative stress on protein-bound DNA, revealing an additional layer of complexity concerning nucleic acid damage.
Academic Dishonesty: Assessing the Threat of Cheating Companies to Online Education

ABSTRACTAcademic dishonesty has evolved to keep pace with changes in higher education. Websites now advertise the service of taking online courses for students. This study examined one such online company. Representatives from the company were professional and delivered the advertised services. Two experienced faculty members who co-taught the course used in this study were unable to identify the cheating company. The cheating company earned an “A” for the student. This article discusses the process by which the company was initially identified as well as provides an account of the interactions with the company that resulted in the student earning an “A.”
Does regional anesthesia improve outcome after surgery

The benefits and complications associated with regional anesthesia are assessed on the basis of a review of the recent literature. Benefits are separately considered as: (1) effects on hospital discharge; (2) effects on pulmonary function; (3) cardiac benefits; (4) effects on ambulation; (5) effects on metabolic stress responses; and (6) the preemptive effect. Complications reviewed are those of recent interest, and include epidural hematoma in association with anticoagulant therapy, and neural toxicity in association with high-dose local anesthetic.
Hydrogen Production in a Large Scale Water–Gas Shift Pd-Based Catalytic Membrane Reactor

Composite palladium and Pd-based membranes represent an appealing technology option to increase the CO conversion and the H2 recovery in the water–gas shift (WGS) reactor as a result of the continuous removal of hydrogen over the course of the reaction. Even though many studies have been performed in this area, their outcome typically represents a proof-of-concept involving reactors with small membrane area. The present study therefore addresses the scaling up of the process to obtain high hydrogen production rates through the use of large surface area, ∼0.02 m2, composite Pd membranes. Two thin, δ < 10 μm, defect-free composite membranes were prepared by the electroless plating method on porous stainless steel tubular supports and tested under pure gases and water–gas shift reaction conditions. Syngas similar to the actual gasifier reacting mixture (40% H2, 42.2% CO, and 17.8% CO2 and steam to carbon ratio varying between 2.5 and 3.5) was fed to the WGS catalytic membrane reactor (WGS-CMR) with a total f...
Trends of hospitalization for major bipolar I (most recent episode-manic) in USA: A nationwide analysis

Objectives Bipolar I most recent episode-manic (BP-I-M) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While BP-I-M has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of BP-I-M on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking. Methods We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi 2 test, t -test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance. Results A total of 10,875 patients were analyzed; 57.13% were female and 42.87% were male ( P P P Conclusions While mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $44.24 million/year to $187.00 million/year, which leads to an estimated $ 142.76 million/year additional burden to US health care system from. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing BP-I-M related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for BP-I-M related hospitalization.
Design of Electric Control System of Belt Conveyor Based on TPKL Valve-controlled Fluid Coupling

According to application of power conveyor in coal mine,has studied feature and controlling rule of germany TPKL Valve-controlled fluid coupling comprehensively,thoroughly and systematically,and then designed a new distributed electric control system of belt conveyor,and this system has got effective application in some coal industry.
Pharmacy-Enforced Outpatient Drug Treatment Protocols: A Case Study of Medi-Cal Restrictions for Cefaclor

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether a pharmacy-enforced treatment protocol successfully limited the use of a high-cost medication to high-risk patients.DesignA case study cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to evaluate a treatment protocol for cefaclor. Episodes of care were defined, healthcare expenditures for all services were aggregated, and demographic data were retrieved from a five percent random sample of California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) recipients. Data were available for episodes occurring before cefaclor was made available under Medi-Cal.SettingMedi-Cal added cefaclor to its formulary, limiting its use to patients over 50 years of age with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). The unit of analysis was an episode of outpatient antibiotic treatment.PatientsConfirmed LRTI episodes and unconfirmed LRTI cefaclor episodes were analyzed, including multiple episodes of treatment for individual patients. A total of 7855 non-cefaclor LRTI episodes and 2556 cefaclor episodes were analyzed.Main outcome M...
Computing tight bounds via piecewise linear functions through the example of circle cutting problems

This paper discusses approximations of continuous and mixed-integer non-linear optimization problems via piecewise linear functions. Various variants of circle cutting problems are considered, where the non-overlap of circles impose a non-convex feasible region. While the paper is written in an “easy-to-understand” and “hands-on” style which should be accessible to graduate students, also new ideas are presented. Specifically, piecewise linear functions are employed to yield mixed-integer linear programming problems which provide lower and upper bounds on the original problem, the circle cutting problem. The piecewise linear functions are modeled by five different formulations, containing the incremental and logarithmic formulations. Another variant of the cutting problem involves the assignment of circles to pre-defined rectangles. We introduce a new global optimization algorithm, based on piecewise linear function approximations, which converges in finitely many iterations to a globally optimal solution. The discussed formulations are implemented in GAMS. All GAMS-files are available for download in the Electronic supplementary material. Extensive computational results are presented with various illustrations.
Changing the Conversation on Cell Phone RF Radiation Carcinogenesis [Health Matters]

Readers of IEEE Microwave Magazine may recall my column from several months ago in which I described an unclassified, U.S. government-led, five-year research study on the health effects of two-year (or, in most cases, lifelong) exposure of rats and mice to the RF radiation used for wireless cellular telephone operations. This project, which began in 2005, is the largest animal cancer study ever undertaken by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), with an initial budget of US$12 million.
Text-based writing of low-skilled postsecondary students: relation to comprehension, self-efficacy and teacher judgments

Summarization and persuasive writing are important in postsecondary education and often require the use of source text. However, students entering college with low literacy skills often find this type of writing difficult. The present study compared predictors of performance on text-based summarization and persuasive writing in a sample of low-skilled adult students enrolled in college developmental education courses. The predictors were general reading and writing ability, self-efficacy, and teacher judgments. Both genre-specific and general dependent variables were used. A series of hierarchical regressions modeling participants’ writing skills found that writing ability and self-efficacy were predictive of the proportion of functional elements in the persuasive essays, reading ability predicted the proportion of main ideas from source text in the summaries, and teacher judgments were predictive of vocabulary usage. General reading and writing skills predicted written summarization and persuasive writing differently; the data showed relationships between general reading comprehension and text-based summarization on one hand, and between general writing skills and persuasive essay writing on the other.
Effects of Sunlight on Man

The direct physiological and pathological effects of sunlight on Man are reviewed, including consideration of the different actions of different parts of the spectrum. A brief discussion of the penetration of sunlight into the human body is included. There are short discussions of sunlight and health, and of sunlight as a limiting environmental factor.
Significance, History, and Sources of Materials

To most engineers and scientists a material is a solid with useful structural, electrical (including electronic or magnetic), optical or corrosion-resistance properties. If we accept this definition then it is clear that the products of most of the major manufacturing industries are either materials or are fabricated from materials. The exceptions are the food, beverage, chemical and fuels industries; even within these industries materials play a key role. Examples are the steel, aluminum and glass used for packaging food and drink, corrosion-resistant materials used to build chemical reactors, and the bits used to drill oil wells. Materials, then, have a great importance in the economies of industrialized nations. In this text we shall be concerned with materials of mineral origin, so that steel, glass, silicon, and ceramic materials are included, but materials of animal or vegetable origin (wood, rubber, leather, etc.) are excluded. As extracted from the earth, the minerals (“raw materials” in Fig. 1.1) from which these materials are produced have a value of 0.4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. However, processing of these minerals (coupled with recycling of old materials) to produce metals, ceramics, etc. brings their value to over 4 percent of the GDP.1
Phase noise study of laser diodes with external optical feedback for digital coherent communications

We evaluated external optical feedback effect for TDA-CSG-DR tunable laser by real-time phase variation measurements. The phase variation slower than feedback delay was significantly reduced without imperiling laser stability, and the noise level obtained for 50–100 MHz was ∼17 kHz2/kHz as calculated results for an equivalent Fabry-Perot laser well explaining.
Capture the Flag Unplugged: an Offline Cyber Competition

In order to meet the cybersecurity workforce demand, it is important to raise cybersecurity interest among the youth. Just like ACM programming competitions, Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions allow students to learn cybersecurity skills in a fun and engaging way. It is an effective platform to increase students' interest in cybersecurity and prepare them for defending against real cyber attackers. A typical CTF competition requires at least some basic technical security knowledge and months of diligent preparation. For this very reason, many computer science students do not feel qualified to participate in CTF competitions, and as a result, do not even try. To overcome this lack of confidence while at the same time raising awareness about the cybersecurity profession in a realistic fashion, we have developed the CTF Unplugged project, as inspired by the CS Unplugged project. The primary goal is to teach students with little or no technical knowledge about the different cybersecurity challenges that a cybersecurity professional must address and the problem-solving skills needed for a cybersecurity career, all without direct use of technology. The effectiveness of CTF unplugged project has been evaluated after exposing 36 high school students participating in the Tennessee Tech University GenCyber Camp to these activities this past summer. Students reported a significant gain in knowledge, confidence and comfort level after participation.
Base stable poly(diallylpiperidinium hydroxide) multiblock copolymers for anion exchange membranes

The development of base-stable cationic groups for anion exchange membranes is important for application in alkaline fuel cells. Spirocyclic ammonium groups have been shown to be particularly base stable, although few examples exist that incorporate them into polymer structures. A telechelic polymer with spirocyclic ammonium repeat units was designed by the cyclopolymerization of diallylpiperidinium chloride with a photoiniferter. A series of hydrophobic–hydrophilic multiblock copolymers with varying ion exchange capacities were produced by copolymerizing the end-functionalized polydiallylpiperidinium oligomers with polysulfone monomers. The multiblock copolymers were solution cast in the hexafluorophosphate form from DMAc resulting in mechanically robust, colorless, transparent membranes. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated microphase separation of the blocks. The multiblock copolymers were determined to be highly conductive with hydroxide conductivities as high as 102 mS cm−1 at 80 °C with 45% water uptake. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polydiallylpiperidinium oligomers and the multiblock copolymers demonstrated the materials to be highly thermally stable with the multiblock copolymers in the hydroxide form showing 5% weight loss at 360 °C. No degradation of the polydiallylpiperidinium was observed by proton NMR after 1000 hours at 80 °C in a 1 M KOH/methanol-d4 solution. Membranes were found to maintain at least 92% of their hydroxide conductivity after being treated in 1 M KOH at 80 °C for 5 days.
Cities for citizens in the global south: Approaches of non-governmental organizations working in urban development

The chapter does not attempt to be fully comprehensive of all that has happened within the NGO sector. Rather it draws primarily on some key directions within the grouping of NGOs working in the broad arena of urban-related development issues. This includes work on issues related to urban poverty, homelessness, informal settlements, urban livelihoods (including urban agriculture and street vending), citizenship and the right to the city, the needs of disadvantaged groups including street children and old people, urban governance and political participation, city-wide urban development including transport and urban well-being, and the green and brown environmental agenda (e.g. greener cities, recycling and waste management, water and sanitation). In terms of the significance of the urban context for development in the global South, there has been recent recognitionof the changing demographics, with the world becoming primarily ‘urban’ in 2007. In this context there is the recognition of the growing significance of urban citizens as well as issues related to the ‘urbanization of poverty’. Locally-based (Southern) NGOs have long been active in this area and many Northern-based NGOs have shifted towards a greater commitment to address the challenge of urban development.
Abstract LB-149: ITGA1 marks pre-malignant pancreatic lesions and drives stem-like cell survival and TGFβ/collagen-induced therapy resistance and metastasis in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of few malignancies to have single-digit 5-year survival rates at Citation Format: Sa La Kim, Armen Gharibi, Justin Molnar, Daniel Brambilla, Yvess Adamian, Malachia Hoover, Joy Lin, Julie Hong, Jonathan A. Kelber. ITGA1 marks pre-malignant pancreatic lesions and drives stem-like cell survival and TGFβ/collagen-induced therapy resistance and metastasis in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-149. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-149
Alcohol Intake Increases in Adolescent C57BL/6J Mice during Intermittent Cycles of Phase-Delayed, Long-Light Conditions

Adolescents naturally go to bed and awaken late, but are forced to awaken early for school and work. This leads to ‘social jetlag’, a state of circadian desynchrony (CD), in which internal biological rhythms are out of sync with behavioral rhythms. CD is associated with increased alcohol intake in adults, but has been less well-studied in adolescents. The goal of this study was to model adolescent alcohol intake during similar CD conditions in male C57BL/6J mice. Free access alcohol intake, water intake, and wheel-running activity were measured during a normal 12HR photoperiod or during alternating photoperiod (experiment 1: 12h light for 4 days followed by 18h light for 3 days, with dark (activity onset) delayed 9h during the 18HR photoperiod; experiment 2: 12h light for 4 days followed by 6h light for 3 days, with dark onset delayed 3h during the 6HR photoperiod). In experiment 1, CD produced a small but significant increase in the total alcohol intake per day as well as in intake in bouts, with the greatest increase over controls in the hours following the 6HR dark period. Additionally, the pattern of alcohol intake in bouts shifted to increase alcohol intake during the shorter dark period. In experiment 2, the opposite effect occurred – the longer dark cycle led to lower alcohol drinking in the second half of the dark period. However, in experiment 2, CD produced no significant changes in either total alcohol intake or alcohol intake in bouts. Conclusion: Shifts in the light cycle that disrupt the regular pattern of day and night, and increase the length of the night phase, are sufficient to increase both drinking in bouts and restricted drinking in adolescent mice, modeling increased alcohol intake in adolescents during CD.
Effect of Parasitoid and Host Age on Oviposition and Emergence of Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) an endoparasitoid of Helvicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The effect of parasitoid age and two instars of the host Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) were investigated for the endoparasitoid, Microplitis croceipes (Cresson). Third and fourth instars of H. zea were exposed to three different age ranges (3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 12 to 15-d-old) of mated adult female M. croceipes. No significant differences were shown in rate of parasitism regardless of parasitoid age or host instar. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between parental age and adult wasp emergence, sex ratio, and number in pupal stage entering diapause. Six to 8-day-old parasitoids parasitizing third instar hosts yielded the highest percentage of adult emergence (47.5 ± 14%; X ± SD), the highest percentage of females (79%), and the lowest percentage (4.5 ± 6%; X ± SD) entering diapause during the test.
Subjective health and well-being: Toward robust cross-cultural comparisons.

Subjective health and well-being are of considerable interest in population health research. Subjective assessments offer unique scope to capture latent health concerns that cannot be directly (or cost-effectively) captured through objective assessments (Jylha, 2009). These assessments are sometimes more reliable predictors of old-age mortality than standard clinical biomarkers (Idler & Benyamini, 1997). At the same time, greater caution is warranted while studying subjective health and well-being in a cross-cultural setting (Jurges, 2007, Jylha et al., 1998, McDowell, 2006, Schwarz et al., 2010). Glei (2017) succinctly elicit these concerns while examining self-reported physical limitation in United States and three other countries having similar life-expectancy (England, Taiwan and Costa Rica). It is noted that the absolute population-level prevalence of self-reported physical limitations varies across the four US-based surveys (HRS, MIDUS, NHIS and NHANES) and thus disallows a robust cross-country comparison. Such variability can have non-trivial implications for comparisons as one can arrive at contradictory conclusions regarding the nature of associations. For instance, MIDUS suggests that American men report walking limitations much earlier than Costa Ricans whereas HRS based assessment indicates that the American men are more advantaged. Glei (2017) set up an interesting hypothesis regarding the association of subjective health indicators with macro- or country-level indicators such as life expectancy or per capita incomes. Although, data limitations in terms of country units for analysis can prohibit robust country-level inferences but it outlines an important agenda for further research. For example, Fig. 1 presents the country-level association of percentage bad and very-bad self-rated health with per capita gross national income and life expectancy at birth. There is an inverse association of per capita incomes and life-expectancies with percentage of population (age 25 and over) reporting bad or very bad health. The association appears consistent because high-income countries are also likely to have higher life expectancy at birth. Also, the fact that self-rated health and mortality share a significant relationship lends credence to this association (Idler & Benyamini, 1997). But the scatter also depicts considerable heterogeneity and reporting of bad or very-bad health has large variations at lower per capita incomes and at higher life expectancies. Open in a separate window Fig. 1 Association of percentage self-rated bad/very bad health (among aged 25 and over) with per capita GNI and life-expectancy at birth across 69 countries in 2002. Note: Data for the self-rated health status is based on World Health Survey (2002) and is sourced from Subramanian, Huijts, and Avendano (2010) whereas data for GNI per capita and life expectancy at birth are from World Development Indicators database. Linear trendline is also presented for GNI per capita (p < 0.01) and life expectancy at birth (p < 0.10).
Thermomechanical Coupling for Charring Ablators

Thermomechanical analysis of ablative materials is of great importance to the design of thermal-protection systems. A finite volume method for coupling the mechanical and thermal response models fo...
Rapid Estimation of Potentially Mineralizable N in Early Spring Following Fall Biosolids Applications to Winter Wheat

The amount of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in early spring is critical to winter wheat production because maximum nitrogen (N) uptake begins then. We evaluated the Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method for quantifying PMN in early spring from biosolids fall-applied to soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Anaerobically digested and lime stabilized biosolids were fall-applied at 0, 50 and 100 kg PAN ha⁻¹ at six locations in the Virginia Coastal Plain in 2013. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method did not provide an accurate estimation of spring PAN for biosolids applied in the fall for no-till winter wheat. The sum of preplant soil inorganic N and PMN of the unamended soil was better related to grain yield than PMN alone. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method is inadequate for use in no-till management but may provide an accurate mid-season estimate of winter wheat yield potential when used in combination with pre-plant soil inorganic N.