cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antisense Therapy for Angioplasty Restenosis Some Critical Considerations

The high affinity of even relatively short sequences of DNA for their target mRNA suggests that antisense agents represent an ideal method of suppressing specific gene products both in vitro and in vivo. In experiments performed thus far, an effect on the target mRNA in cultured vascular cells and in the vessel wall can be documented. The in vitro activity, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic data of antisense oligonucleotides are encouraging, and the in vivo animal experiments demonstrating suppression of neointimal formation are very promising. If animals trials presently under way show continued suppression not only of intimal formation but also of loss of lumen caliber after a single application, then effective delivery of antisense oligonucleotides is a realistic possibility. Nevertheless, some words of caution regarding the use of antisense oligonucleotides are warranted. Potential nonspecific effects of antisense oligonucleotides should be carefully considered in studies in which antisense agents are used to define biological functions of specific genes. In particular, demonstration that the target mRNA has been suppressed does not prove that other sequences within the mRNA pool have not also been suppressed. Critical control measures include adding back the target mRNA or protein and demonstrating similar biological effects with antisense sequences, which also suppress target gene expression directed at different regions of the target mRNA. At the clinical level, the systemic effects of antisense oligonucleotides, the dosage required, the timing of administration compared with mechanical intervention, and the toxicity of breakdown products all need to be established. In addition, the most appropriate targets for antisense use in restenosis remain largely obscure. Indiscriminate suppression of cell-cycle genes or proto-oncogenes may be as acutely toxic as current anticancer chemotherapy if the site delivery is not completely localized. Furthermore, much of the clinical evidence suggests that restenosis is a chronic process, continuing to develop weeks to months after the procedure. If this is the case, then the current approaches that rely on a transient, local application of an antisense agent may fail. If, however, a target gene is identified that is specific to vascular tissue, then repeated administration of an antisense agent may be tolerated via a systemic route. This approach has proved successful in targeting mutated genes with little suppression of closely related genes and with minimal systemic toxicity. An alternative approach is to transfect the target tissue with a gene that makes it susceptible to systemic delivery of a drug that is not normally toxic to mammalian cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Investing in Distressed Situations: A Market Survey

The practice of investing in distressed companies is popularly known as “vulture” investing. The risks of investing in this market are highly firm specific and idiosyncratic. Investors who are adept at managing these risks, who understand the legal rules that must be followed in corporate bankruptcy, and who are skilled at identifying or creating value in a distressed situation consistently earn the highest returns in this market.
Long-term visual acuity outcomes in patients with uveal melanoma treated with 125I episcleral OSU-Nag plaque brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose To report our experience in long-term follow-up of ocular melanoma patients treated with custom OSU-Nag eye plaques using 125I sources. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for 113 consecutive ocular melanoma patients with follow-up visual acuity data who were treated with OSU-Nag plaque episcleral brachytherapy at The Ohio State University Medical Center from 1994 to 2009. Visual acuity, complication data, and recurrence rates were recorded up to 120 months after brachytherapy. Results Median age at presentation was 63.0 years (range, 22–93). Median follow-up was 65.5 months (range, 2–180). Median radiation dose at the prescription point was 85.8 Gy (range, 51.8–103.7). Preservation of useful visual acuity, defined as better than 20/200, was noted in 43 of 74 (58%) of patients in the present study at 36 months compared with 50.1% of Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study participants. By 120 months, 17 of 30 (57%; 95% confidence interval, 45–69%) progressed to visual acuity worse than 20/200, whereas 9 of 30 (30%) retained visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 4 of 30 (13%) were 20/50–20/200. The rate of retinopathy after radiation was approximately 40% of all those observed by 60 months. Baseline visual acuity, apical tumor height, American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor category, and distance between the tumor and the fovea were all significantly associated with loss of visual acuity. The local tumor control rate by 60 months of follow-up was 93% (95% confidence interval, 85–97%). Conclusions The OSU-Nag custom 125I plaque is an effective treatment for uveal melanoma, with preservation of useful visual acuity in 58% of eyes 3 years after treatment and 43% of eyes 10 years after treatment.
Environmental Effects of Energy Production

The production and transmission of concentrated amounts of energy are the keystones for our rapid rise in standard of living. The major source of energy comes from fossil fuels, a resource which was accumulated over hundreds of millions of years but which is rapidly being used up: oil and gas in a matter of decades, coal in centuries: a brief episode in human history, but with a profound impact. Hopefully, nuclear breeders and fusion reactors will be developed in good time to supplant fossil fuels.
The Public Life of Secrets: Deception, Disclosure, and Discursive Framing in the Policy Process

While secrecy enables policy makers to escape public scrutiny, leaks of classified information reveal the social construction of reality by the state. I develop a theory that explains how leaks shape the discursive frames states create to communicate the causes of social problems to the public and corresponding solutions to redress them. Synthesizing cultural sociology, symbolic interactionism, and ethnomethodology, I argue that leaks enable non–state actors to amplify contradictions between the public and secret behavior of the state. States respond by “ad hoc–ing” new frames that normalize their secret transgressions as logical extensions of other policy agendas. While these syncretic responses resolve contradictions exposed by leaks, they gradually detach discursive frames from reality and therefore increase states’ need for secrecy—as well as the probability of future leaks—in turn. I illustrate this downward spiral of deception and disclosure via a case study of the British government’s discourse abo...
Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Elementary School Children: Results of a Cross-Sectional Teacher Survey

Purpose: Lower urinary tract dysfunction in school-aged children is common and yet data are lacking on current teacher practice regarding bathroom use and daytime incontinence during classroom hours. We determined the prevalence of elementary school teachers who promote lower urinary tract health and identified predictors for and against such behavioral promotion.Materials and Methods: We performed an electronic cross-sectional survey among self-identified teachers using targeted social media advertisement during a 1-week period in July 2014. The empirical survey tool consisted of 27 questions and collected data on 5 principal domains, including 1) teacher demographics, 2) rules and regulations on water intake and bathroom use during classroom hours, 3) characteristics of school bathrooms in terms of safety, supervision and suitability for use, 4) experience with and management of students with daytime incontinence and 5) training on the topic of lower urinary tract health. Predictors for promoting lower ...
INFORMED SOURCE SEPARATION OF ORCHESTRA AND SOLOIST

A novel technique of unmasking to repair the degradation in sources separated by spectrogram masking is proposed. Our approach is based on explicit knowledge of the musical audio at note level from a score-audio alignment, which we termed Informed Source Separation (ISS). Such knowledge allows the spectrogram energy to be decomposed into note-based models. We assume that a spectrogram mask for the solo is obtained and focus on the problem of repairing audio resulting from applying the mask. We evaluate the spectrogram as well as the harmonic structure of the music. We either search for unmasked (orchestra) partials of the orchestra to be transposed onto a masked (solo) region or reshape a solo partial with phase and amplitude imputed from unmasked regions. We describe a Kalman smoothing technique to decouple the phase and amplitude of a musical partial that enables the modification to the spectrogram. Audio examples from a piano concerto are available for evaluation.
EFFECTS OF PARENTAL AGE ON HATCHING ASYNCHRONY, EGG SIZE AND THIRD-CHICK DISADVANTAGE IN WESTERN GULLS

We examined the relationships among parental age, hatching asynchrony, egg size, and the "third-chick disadvantage" of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) on Southeast Farallon Island, California, during the 1984-1990 breeding seasons. Third chicks showed lower survival than first or second chicks for all parental age classes combined. Fledging success of first- and second-hatched chicks was related to parental age in a parabolic fashion, whereas fledging success of the third chick increased sigmoidally with increasing age; the probability of fledging of first-, second-, and third-hatched chicks converged for birds greater than 15 years old, negating the third-chick disadvantage for the oldest parents. Egg volume increased with increasing age for females 4 to 13 years old, and levelled off or declined slightly thereafter. For older females, the size disadvantage of third-laid eggs was relatively less than for younger females. Egg volume did not affect fledging success when parental age and year were considered in a multiple logistic (binomial) regression analysis. Hatching asynchrony decreased slightly with increasing parental age. Fledging success of third-hatched chicks decreased significantly with increasing hatching asynchrony. The greater hatching synchrony in broods of older parents may increase the competitive ability of third chicks. The third-chick disadvantage, often viewed as an adaptive response to variable food supplies, may be a nonadaptive effect of resource availability governed, in part, by the foraging
Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, and Inclusion-Body Myositis

THE polymyositis and dermatomyositis complex encompasses a heterogeneous group of acquired muscle diseases called inflammatory myopathies because muscle weakness and inflammatory infiltrates within the skeletal muscles are the principal clinical and histologic findings.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Traditionally, polymyositis and dermatomyositis have been viewed as pathogenetically similar and part of the spectrum of "idiopathic" inflammatory myopathies,9 , 10 , 13 , 14 despite the variability in their clinical and laboratory characteristics, prognosis, and response to therapy. With the evolution over the past 10 years of rather well defined clinical, demographic, histologic, and immunopathological criteria and the identification of inclusion-body myositis as a distinct type of polymyositis,15 the inflammatory myopathies now . . .
Accelerator-based production of the 99mTc-186Re diagnostic-therapeutic pair using metal disulfide targets (MoS2, WS2, OsS2)

Novel, natural abundance metal disulfide targets were irradiated for 1h with a 10µA proton beam in a small, medical cyclotron. Osmium disulfide was synthesized by simple distillation and precipitation methods while MoS2 and WS2 were commercially available. The targets dissolved under mild conditions and were analyzed by γ-spectroscopy. Production rates and potential applications are discussed, including target recovery and recycling schemes for OsS2 and WS2.
The Potential of Intralesional Rose Bengal to Stimulate T-Cell Mediated Anti-Tumor Responses.

Rose Bengal (RB) is a red synthetic dye that was initially used in the garment industry and has been used safely for decades as a corneal stain by ophthalmologists. Antineoplastic properties of RB have also been observed, though the mechanism of action remained to be elucidated. Recently, interest in RB as a therapeutic cancer treatment has increased due to significant anti-tumor responses with direct tumor injection in human clinical trials for metastatic melanoma. In these patients, there has been the implication that RB may mount a T-cell mediated antitumor response and impart antigen-specific responses in distant bystander lesions. This article serves to evaluate the potential of intralesional rose bengal to stimulate T-cell mediated anti-tumor responses in in-vitro, pre-clinical, and clinical studies.
Fungal endophyte and tall fescue cultivar interact to differentially affect bulk and rhizosphere soil processes governing C and N cycling.

Abstract Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)) is a cool-season perennial grass within which can live a fungal endophyte (Epichloe coenophiala) thought to provide enhanced edaphic and climactic stress tolerance to the host compared to non-infected individuals. Our prior research demonstrated that a variety of root exudate compounds released from tall fescue were differentially affected by tall fescue cultivar, endophyte genotype and their interaction. Changes in root exudates and associated microbial communities could influence soil processes, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, but these effects may differ depending on fescue and endophyte genetics. To test this, we collected rhizosphere and bulk soil samples from six year old field plots located in Lexington, KY planted with two different tall fescue cultivars (PDF and 97TF1), each containing four endophyte treatments [endophyte-free (E−) or infected with one of three strains of E. coenophiala (common toxic, novel AR542E+ and novel AR584E+)]. The influence of fescue cultivar, endophyte strain, and soil sample location (rhizosphere vs. bulk) were assessed for soil organic carbon, soil organic nitrogen, particulate and non-particulate organic matter (POM and n-POM, respectively) - C and – N, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC, DON) pools. Soil functional aspects were evaluated by measuring soil respiration and the activity of seven different soil enzymes related to C, N and P cycling. We found that rhizosphere soils had greater microbial biomass, potential enzyme activity, and oxygen utilization, but lesser POM-N concentrations than bulk soils. In rhizosphere soils, tall fescue cultivar had the greatest influence on soil microbial community structure, while endophyte genotype had a stronger influence on soil C fractions (notably POM-C). Changes in root system architecture, biomass, and tissue composition, together with root exudate chemistry, which we have shown in previous studies to be affected by endophyte infection and fescue cultivar, likely explain these findings. There was greater POM-N in bulk soils which was influenced by the interaction of endophyte and cultivar potentially due to differences in the chemical composition of the tissues brought about by this interaction. Our results support current observations that tall fescue cultivar and fungal endophyte strain influence soil C and N cycling and, by analyzing bulk and rhizosphere soils separately, go further to show the level of influence cultivar and endophyte have within each of these compartments.
A Happy Ending

But now the women must be brought back to life and made the benevolent guardians of immortality, and we must all be charmed by chaste love and its attachment to a fertile future. The contemplation of reality has released the image of the overwhelming shadow, and so what can the poet do to distract himself from the unbearable finality of his tragic vision but turn to magical realism and construct fantasies of perpetual happiness? The male heroes are now a jealous old bunch, a morose lot composed of the likes of Leontes, Cymbeline and Prospero; the younger men, apart from the villainous rascals necessary for the plot, are, like Posthumus, incorruptible good chaps with little ambition than to raise a family; and the females are now young daughters whose innocent expectation of happiness is threatened by the embittered old men or by the young rascals.
Criminology and genocide studies: Notes on what might have been and what still could be

Scholars of genocide and mass killings have proposed several theories explaining how the behaviors of governments, political leaders, and ordinary citizens contribute to extreme violence. Many of the explanatory constructs developed in these theories bear a striking resemblance to core concepts of criminology or could be readily integrated with criminological ideas. As examples, this paper briefly describes the ideas of Herbert Kelman, Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, and R.J. Rummel from the perspective of criminology and examines their applicabilitythe recent genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda. The conclusion is that criminology, by largely ignoring the crime of genocide, has missed opportunities to both contribute to the field of genocide studies and to improve the specification of its own ideas.
Traveling Waves Impulses of FitzHugh Model with Diffusion and Cross-Diffusion

The FitzHugh equations have been used as a caricature of the Hodgkin–Huxley equations of neuron firing and to capture, qualitatively, the general properties of an excitable membrane. The spatial propagation of neuron firing due to diffusion of the current potential was described by the FitzHugh–Nagumo model. Assuming that the spatial propagation of neuron firing is caused by not diffusion but cross-diffusion connection between the potential and recovery variables the cross-diffusion version of the FitzHugh model gives rise to the typical fast traveling wave solutions characteristic to the FitzHugh model, and additionally gives rise to the slow traveling wave solutions exhibited in the diffusion FitzHugh–Nagumo equations (Berezovskaya et al., Math Biosci Eng 5:239–260, 2008).
High-resolution radiography of thick steel objects using an all-laser-driven MeV-energy x-ray source

The recent development of a high-brightness MeV-photon source based on inverse-Compton scattering (ICS) has opened up exciting new possibilities for high-resolution radiography of dense objects. The x-ray beam is extremely bright, micron-source size, with mrad divergence, and high-spectral density, which makes it ideal for studies where high-resolution is required. The x-ray source is tunable over a wide range of parameters and we will discuss how the adjustable source parameters affect both transverse and longitudinal resolution. We then present results on the radiography of a thick steel object using this ICS source, and demonstrate the capabilities of this source with respect to operation at high photon energy while providing high spatial resolution.
Systemic and Ecological Qualities of Families

Systems theory and its offspring family systems theory have evolved and matured over the course of some 4 decades. The developmental history of family systems theory has been rich. If a theory is judged by its utility, or as Kuhn (1962) proposed, by the number of adherents it wins in the scientific community, then family systems theory has accomplished much. It has informed theorists, researchers, educators, and clinical practitioners from a variety of disciplines including education (Eppler & Weir, 2009), nursing (Bell, 2009), social work (Dunst & Trivette, 2009), psychiatry (Schweitzer, Zwack, Weber, Nicolai, & Hirschenberger, 2007), medicine (Steinglass, 2006), public health (Novilla, Barnes, De La Cruz, Williams, & Rogers, 2006), religion (Richardson, 2005), and marriage and family therapy (Bartle-Haring & Slesnick, 2012).
Hypokalemic states: Current clinical issues

Abstract This review provides practical approaches to the diagnosis and management of the hypokalemic syndromes. The pathophysiologic principles underlying disordered potassium metabolism serve as the framework for the ensuing discussion of these common clinical disorders.
Lectures on Foliation Dynamics

The study of foliation dynamics seeks to understand the asymptotic properties of leaves of foliated manifolds, their statistical properties such as orbit growth rates and geometric entropy, and to classify geometric and topological “structures” which are associated to the dynamics, such as the minimal sets of the foliation.
Landscape Analysis: What Are the Forefronts of Change in the US Hospitals?

Compilation of information is increasingly becoming more important for health organizations from financial and time aspects. By methodical study of adaptive systems, healthcare organizations can gain new insights of burdensome issues within the organization as well as healthcare delivery management. These actions have become more important with the changes in the healthcare environment in the last couple of decades where several external entities have impacts on healthcare organizations directly and/or indirectly. One of the most onerous tasks ahead of organizations is to anticipate these changes and prepare for them. Knowing the external environment can be the key to leading a successful and competitive health system. However, identifying and behaving toward all the external changes pose great time and resource challenges for organizations. Health organizations can posit the question of “what are the current external changes that have the power to affect them?” This study will take a look into emerging extrinsic changes for the US healthcare environment in different areas. A literature review will be performed in order to pinpoint the different contemporary change perspectives and their sub-criteria. In order to better illustrate these issues, Ishikawa diagram (cause-and-effect diagram) is used in this study.
Examining the Psychological Impact of Video Cases for Teacher Education

This study examines teachers' cognitive development when interacting with video ethnography, a form of video cases. It used grounded theory to discover embedded meanings and relationships that emerge from descriptive data collected from six teachers. Findings revealed the categories of cognitive activities when using video ethnography and teachers' progression in a cognitive development process through interaction with video ethnography. The study has implications in improving technology use in teacher development, production of video cases, and research on case-based pedagogy and other related areas.
High Electrical Conductivity Graphite Intercalation Compounds

Intercalation compounds of graphite of the acceptor type have been demonstrated to have electrical conductivities superior to those of the best known natural metals copper and silver. This accomplishment is of considerable scientific and technological interest because: 1) these materials are highly anisotropic and provide a highly two dimensional medium for solid state experimentation and 2) one can forsee the development of conductors of electricity that are more efficient than those currently in use. Further, there is a promise of creating a material which has an electrical conductivity still higher than those experienced to date — perhaps as high as ten times that of copper. This paper will suggest a path that leads in that direction.
Fluorescence-labeled fucolectins are superior markers for flow cytometric quantitation of the human sperm acrosome reaction * †

Objective To evaluate the binding of three fluorescein (FITC)-labeled fucose-specific lectins, Anguilla anguilla agglutinin (AAA), Tetragonolobus purpureas agglutinin (TPA), and Ulex euro-paeus-1 agglutinin (UEA-1), to unfixed, acrosome-intact and acrosome-reacted (AR) human sperm by flow cytometry and to compare the results with those found using FITC-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) and Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA). Design The binding of five FITC-labeled lectins (PSA, PNA, AAA, TPA, and UEA-1) to capacitated, calcium ionophore A23187 (Cal)-treated, or solvent-treated human sperm was quantitated by fluorescence flow cytometry. The binding of FITC-labeled lectins was compared with the binding of anti-CD46 monoclonal antibody (mAb), a marker for the human sperm AR. The effect of fucose α-1→2-, α-1→3-, and α-1→4-linked oligosaccharides to inhibit the binding of FITC-fucolectins to AR sperm also was tested. Setting University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, a tertiary care referral center. Results The average percentage of fluorescing, solvent-treated sperm labeled with PSA, PNA, AAA, TPA, or UEA-1 was 98%, 97%, 15%, 13%, and 17%, respectively. The corresponding values for Cal-treated, lectin-labeled sperm were 98%, 98%, 89%, 91%, and 92%, respectively. The increase in mean fluorescence intensity for the binding of the five lectins to Cal-treated versus solvent-treated sperm was 2.9-, 6.4-, 34.5-, 22-, and 36.7-fold, respectively. The binding site of the fucolectins was confined to the equatorial segment of the AR sperm. High positive correlations were observed between the percentage of AR sperm detected using three FITC-labeled fucolectins (AAA, TPA, and UEA-1) and anti-CD46 mAb ( r 2 = 0.87, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively). Fucolectin binding to AR sperm was sensitive to competitive inhibition by fucose α-1→2-linked lacto-N-fucopentaose I and fucoidan. Conclusions Fucosylated glycans are expressed on AR human sperm. Fluorescence-labeled fucolectins markedly improved the signahnoise ratio in the detection of acrosomal loss of human sperm when compared with FITC-PSA or FITC-PNA. Fluorescence-labeled fucolectins can be used as specific markers for flow cytometric quantitation of unfixed AR sperm in suspension.
The LQG Game Against Nature

A novel Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control paradigm where the realization of the random disturbance is known at decision time is introduced. A game of chance is played where Nature randomly chooses the disturbance signal and the player, having access to the random disturbance information, employs a feedback/stroboscopic strategy. The closed-form optimal solution is derived and is compared to the solution of the classical LQG problem. Furthermore, the Gaussian assumption is relaxed and the interesting game theoretic interpretation is analyzed.
What Do We Really Know About Management of Insecticide Resistance

Evidence is presented that challenges common beliefs about the roles of generation time and dispersal in evolution of insecticide resistance. Previously reported empirical and theoretical analyses have concluded that resistance develops faster as the number of generations per year increases. Analysis of data for 682 species of North American arthropod pests shows no direct relationship between generation time and resistance development. Reevaluation of a relatively simple analytical model suggests that the rate of resistance development is independent of generation time. Simulations show that interactions with genetic, ecological, and operational factors can cause variable relationships between generation time and resistance development. Dispersal of susceptible individuals from untreated to treated habitats has been viewed as a potentially important influence that retards resistance development. Analysis of allozyme variation and geographical variation in resistance in diamondback moth suggests that gene flow in this mobile insect is too low to substantially delay resistance. conversely, gene flow is sufficiently high to introduce alleles for resistance into susceptible populations from resistant populations. Thus, the intermediate levels of gene flow that typically occur among field populations may promote, rather than retard, resistance development.
Interactive effects of land-use change and topography on asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The conversion of tropical forests to other land use forms is known to affect biogeochemical processes, but its influence on asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF) remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigate patterns of soil ANF and its biogeochemical controls across multiple land uses and topographic positions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We report ANF rates derived from observational and manipulative laboratory experiments using 15N-labeled dinitrogen (15N2) incubations of soils from primary forest, secondary forest, eucalypt plantations and pastures sampled at three hillslope positions (summit, backslope, and footslope). Our field observations revealed significant interactions between land use and topography on ANF rates, which among 14 measured soil parameters were primarily correlated with total nitrogen and available iron (explaining 69% of ANF variance). Complex non-linear relationships were observed between ANF and (mineral and organic) nutrient pools in forest soils, whereas simple positive linear relationships were found between ANF and total soil nitrogen in managed pastures and plantations. Consistent with this observation, experiments with nitrogen and phosphorus addition did not affect ANF rates in pasture or plantation soils, possibly as a result of previous fertilization and homogenization of plant and microbial communities, but variable positive and negative ANF responses were measured in primary and secondary forest soils depending on hillslope position. These findings show that ANF can be simultaneously affected by multiple variables that are sensitive to environmental conditions and demonstrate the need for considering land-use change and topography to improve predictions of terrestrial biogeochemical cycles.
Novel method for the synthesis of 2',3'-unsaturated nucleosides from 2'(3')-acetoxy-3'(2')-halogeno derivatives by using sodium dithionite with viologen as a reductive elimination mediator.

Reductive elimination of vicinal acetylated halohydrins with Na 2 S 2 O 4 as the reducing agent and viologen as the reduction mediator in a two-phase water-organic system is described. 2',3'-Unsaturrated nucleosides such as 1-(5-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-β-D-glycero-pent-2-enofuranosyl)adenine, -hypoxanthine and -uracil were obtained from 2'(3')-acetoxy-3'(2')-halogeno derivatives in good yields by meanes of this procedure
Modeling and Simulation of NDE Inspections

Modeling has traditionally played a significant role in the development of quantitative NDE techniques. The interfacing of NDE models with the output of typical computer-aided design (CAD) software and with interactive visualization-based tools, has also led to the development of model-based NDE simulators. Such simulators can examine complex components for NDE inspectability issues in the same fashion that finite element stress analysis tools, for example, can quantitatively evaluate the stresses of a design. Over the last nine years the Program for Integrated Design, NDE and the Manufacturing Sciences at the Center for NDE, Iowa State University has played a major role in developing NDE modeling and simulation capabilities. Funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and conducted cooperatively with Northwestern University, this program has produced advanced models and simulators for x-ray, ultrasonic, and eddy current testing. Here, a summary of the current status of these models/simulators is given as well as a discussion of some future directions for this new technology.
Perception of Pitch and Time in the Structurally Isomorphic Standard Rhythmic and Diatonic Scale Patterns

The three experiments reported here investigate how pitch and time interact in perception using the standard rhythmic pattern and the diatonic scale pattern, which share the intervallic structure o...
Inverted founding: Emperor organ theory, constitutionalism, and koku-min:

This article presents Minobe Tatsukichi’s emperor organ theory as a novel understanding of the temporality of founding. In contrast to a conventional framework of founding which legitimizes the con...
Chylomicronemia syndrome: Familial or not?

Background Chylomicronemia syndrome (CS) is a metabolic condition characterized by severely elevated plasma triglycerides (>880 mg/dL) and high rates of morbidity and mortality. The syndrome can be classified into two major groups: monogenic familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) and multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS), the frequencies of which are ill-defined. Objective The objective of the study was to characterize the prevalence of the most common and rarest subsets of this syndrome, MCS and FCS, respectively, in a single-center, real-world setting. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with plasma triglycerides ≥880 mg/dL. The criteria used for identification of patients with FCS were modeled after a Food and Drug Administration endorsed set of parameters. Less stringent criteria that removed the requirement for pancreatitis were used to classify MCS. Full criteria are described in detail in the article. Results Of the 2,342,136 patient records queried, 578 had triglycerides ≥880 mg/dL (0.025%), of which 86 had a documented history of pancreatitis. Five patients who met the criteria for FCS were identified (three genetically confirmed), resulting in an estimated prevalence of ~1-2 per 1,000,000. On the other hand, MCS was identified in 186 patients, corresponding to an estimated prevalence of ~1 in 12,000. There were 5181 cases of pancreatitis (0.22% of the entire cohort), 86 of which occurred in subjects with triglycerides≥880 mg/dL (1.7% of cases of pancreatitis). Rates of pancreatitis in this subset were elevated at 6.5%, 100%, and 17.8%, among patients with MCS, FCS, and secondary hypertriglyceridemia, respectively. Conclusions CS is an uncommon condition, but it is associated with significant complications, regardless of etiology. Among patients with CS, MCS was 40- to 60-fold more prevalent than FCS and associated with frequent morbidity. Therefore, disease recognition and treatment should extend to all forms of CS pursuant to the clinical presentation.
A Submodular Optimization Approach to the Metric Traveling Salesman Problem with Neighborhoods

The Traveling Salesman Problem with Neighborhoods (TSPN) is a generalization of the classic Traveling Salesman Problem that consists of finding a minimum-length path that reaches a set of regions and then returns to the origin. We consider the metric TSPN, in which the length function is a metric, and develop two approximation algorithms. First, we exploit the connection between the TSP and minimum spanning trees to develop a submodular optimization approach, in which we show that the TSPN is equivalent to maximizing a submodular function with a spanning tree constraint. We prove that the resulting tour is within a factor of 4 of the optimum. Second, we develop a convex relaxation of the problem that gives a lower bound on the optimal tour length, as well as a straightforward rounding procedure that gives an alternative heuristic for TSPN. We evaluate our approaches through numerical study.
Investment Valuation of Underground Freight Transportation Systems under Uncertainty

AbstractInvestment valuation of underground freight transportation (UFT) systems is subject to a high level of uncertainties, including construction cost fluctuations and shipment revenue variation...
Vertical Integration of Healthcare Providers Increases Self-Referrals and Can Reduce Downstream Competition: The Case of Hospital-Owned Skilled Nursing Facilities

The landscape of the U.S. healthcare industry is changing dramatically as healthcare providers expand both within and across markets. While federal antitrust agencies have mounted several challenges to same-market combinations, they have not challenged any non-horizontal affiliations – including vertical integration of providers along the value chain of production. The Clayton Act prohibits combinations that “substantially lessen” competition; few empirical studies have focused on whether this is the source of harm from vertical combinations. We examine whether hospitals that are vertically integrated with skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) lessen competition among SNFs by foreclosing rival SNFs from access to the most lucrative referrals. Exploiting a plausibly exogenous shock to Medicare reimbursement for SNFs, we find that a 1 percent increase in a patient’s expected profitability to a SNF increases the probability that a hospital self-refers that patient (i.e., to a co-owned SNF) by 2.5 percent. We find no evidence that increased self-referrals improve patient outcomes or change post-discharge Medicare spending. Additional analyses show that when integrated SNFs are divested by their parent hospitals, independent rivals are less likely to exit. Together, the results suggest vertical integration in this setting may reduce downstream competition without offsetting benefits to patients or payers. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Baseline vision results from the Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study.

Abstract Objective We describe the Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study, report baseline ocular findings, and explore the feasibility of eye examinations in the school setting. Design Prospective, school-based cohort study. Participants Students in second and third grades. Methods Baseline eye examinations, including near and distance presenting visual acuity (VA), stereopsis, ocular alignment, dilated retinal examination, and cycloplegic refraction, were performed in 12 Baltimore public schools during the 2014–15 school year. Main outcome measures Presenting VA, prevalence of refractive error, and other ocular findings. Results Among the 1054 eligible students, 321 participated. There were 271 (84.4%) African American and 186 (57.9%) female students; mean age was 7.9 ± 0.8 years. Cycloplegia was achieved in 308. The mean presenting distance and near VA was 0.1 ± 0.2 logMAR (range −0.1 to 1.5) and 0.1 ± 0.2 logMAR (range 0.0–1.6) in the better-seeing eye, respectively. The most common ocular findings were +1.00 diopter (D) or greater hyperopia (34.7%), −0.50 D or greater myopia (29.5%), 1.00 D or greater astigmatism (23.4%), and convergence insufficiency (7.2%). Thirty-seven (11.5%) children needed referral to an eye care provider; 10% of students required glasses full-time. Conclusions Whereas the majority of second and third grade students in this study have good VA and minimal refractive error, 1 in 9 have an ocular finding necessitating further evaluation. It was feasible to conduct cycloplegic eye examinations in the school setting.
Job Collapse on the Road to New Athens

The case that America will not be able to replace jobs lost to technological advance is gaining adherents. Indeed, it is becoming one of the central issues of our times. This noted author assesses the issues but then asks whether we can end our reliance on growth and high pay as sources of happiness. Can community involvement be an answer to a fuller life? A significant number of analysts have shown that automation, especially the kind driven by artificial intelligence, is destroying many jobs and is expected to eliminate many more in the near future, including a large number of middle-class jobs. This development in turn raises social and political tensions and moral questions. A common response is the observation that such creative destruction always follows technical advances but that these very advances lead to the formation of new and better jobs — jobs that entail less menial work and that pay better. However, there is some evidence that this well may not be the case this time. The first part of this paper examines these assessments. Several treatments have been offered to deal with the net job loss, should it occur — some refer to it as job collapse or even job Armageddon. These remedies include education reforms as well as training and retraining programs, which are reviewed and assessed in the second part. Providing income security to all members of society, whether or not they work, to mitigate the social and political effects of job losses is reviewed and assessed in part three. Various other suggestions made to cope with this challenge posed by automation are discussed in part four. The paper finds that none of the suggested treatments will suffice and hence calls for a fundamental change in culture and the economy, outlined in part five.
Short Term versus Long Term Effects of the Louisville Enterprise Zone Incentives: A Response to Zhang

Zhang (2019) has written that variations in research design have led to conflicting or mixed reviews of many local economic development policies that are based on the enterprise zone concept. She mentions a study and an article (Lambert 1997, Lambert and Coomes 2001) on the Louisville, Kentucky enterprise zone (EZ) and implies the time horizon used to evaluate it was too short. This research note points out that the Louisville EZ went through multiple transformations and expansions over its history from 1983 to 2003, and as noted in the first of two studies, the original zone showed virtually no progress from 1983 to 1990. Several other unpublished papers pointed out the same results when the original EZ and other parts of the expanded EZ were analyzed up to the last years of the 20th Century. Finally, this paper argues that and provides reasons for the methodology employed by Lambert and Coomes (2001) is a superior way of analyzing the Louisville EZ when compared to the methods employed by Zhang (2015). The main reason why Zhang (2015) shows success in the EZ is because she evaluates it in its final form in the late 1990s after it had annexed many sections of Jefferson County which were not as nearly economically disadvantaged as the original Louisville EZ established in 1983.
Increasing seed thiamin content impacts stored carbon partitioning and subsequent seedling stress tolerance

Thiamin and thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) are essential components for the function of enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids in living organisms. In addition to its role as a cofactor, thiamin plays a key role in resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Most of the studies used exogenous thiamin to enhance stress tolerance in plants. In this study, we achieved this objective by genetically engineering Arabidopsis thaliana and Camelina sativa for the seed-specific co-overexpression of the Arabidopsis thiamin biosynthetic genes Thi4, ThiC, and ThiE. Elevated thiamin content in the seeds of transgenic plants was accompanied by the enhanced expression levels of transcripts encoding thiamin cofactor-dependent enzymes. Furthermore, seed germination and root growth in thiamin over-producing lines were more tolerant to oxidative stress caused by salt and paraquat treatments. The transgenic seeds also accumulated more oil (up to16.4% in Arabidopsis and17.9% in C. sativa) and carbohydrate but less protein than the control seeds. The same results were also observed in TPP over-producing Arabidopsis plants generated by the seed-specific overexpression of TPK1. Together, our findings suggest that thiamin and TPP over-production in transgenic lines confer a boosted abiotic stress tolerance and alter the seed carbon partitioning as well.
Sustainable Development and Governance in Europe: The Evolution of the Discourse on Sustainability: edited by Pamela M. Barnes and Thomas C. Hoerber, London, Routledge, 2013, xxiv + 264 pp., £80.00 (cloth)

Although published in 2013, Pamela M. Barnes and Thomas C. Hoerber’s collection of essays, in Sustainable Development and Government in Europe remains a significant study of the scope and shifts ac...
Perceptions of Downtown Attraction Factors in the Small City: A Case Study in Ohio

The perceptions of small-city business and community leaders regarding the drawing power of various downtown attraction factors are analyzed and related to perceived downtown shopping atmosphere.
Energies of Coincidence Twist Boundaries, Stacking Faults, and Free Surfaces in Metal Oxides with NaCl Structure

A computer code developed for the determination of energies and structures of coincidence twist boundaries, stacking faults, and free surfaces is applied to MgO and NiO for which the energies of such interfaces and the free surface are determined starting from empirical ionic central potentials.
Efficient DSP implementation of an adaptive line enhancer based on the convex combination of two IIR filters

An adaptive line enhancer is a self-tuning filter which attempts to retrieve a sinusoid buried in noise. Generally speaking, there is a trade-off between convergence speed and steady-state error. One method to address this is to use a variable step size algorithm, with a large step size for acquisition, and a smaller step size for improved steady-state performance. An alternate topology is based on the convex combination of two adaptive filters; a fast filter handles acquisition, while a slower filter is used to minimize error. The authors recently introduced an adaptive line enhancer based on the convex combination of two IIR filters, which achieved both fast tracking and good steady-state performance, but at an increase in computational complexity. However, the dual structure of this filter lends itself well to parallel software execution. This paper examines methods that can be used to achieve an efficient hardware implementation of the algorithm.
Accurate tremor locations from coherent S and P waves

Nonvolcanic tremor is an important component of the slow slip processes which load faults from below, but accurately locating tremor has proven difficult because tremor rarely contains clear P or S wave arrivals. Here we report the observation of coherence in the shear and compressional waves of tremor at widely separated stations which allows us to detect and accurately locate tremor events. An event detector using data from two stations sees the onset of tremor activity in the Cascadia tremor episodes of February 2003, July 2004, and September 2005 and confirms the previously reported south to north migration of the tremor. Event detectors using data from three and four stations give Sand P arrival times of high accuracy. The hypocenters of the tremor events fall at depths of ∼30 to ∼40 km and define a narrow plane dipping at a shallow angle to the northeast, consistent with the subducting plate interface. The S wave polarizations and P wave first motions define a source mechanism in agreement with the northeast convergence seen in geodetic observations of slow slip. Tens of thousands of locations determined by constraining the events to the plate interface show tremor sources highly clustered in space with a strongly similar pattern of sources in the three episodes examined. The deeper sources generate tremor in minor episodes as well. The extent to which the narrow bands of tremor sources overlap between the three major episodes suggests relative epicentral location errors as small as 1–2 km.
Über den Einfluß von Alkohol und Rohrzucker auf die Lösungsgeschwindigkeit von Cadmium in Jodlösungen

Der Einflus von Athylalkohol und Rohrzucker in verschiedenen Konzentrationen auf die Losungsgeschwindigkeit von Cadmium einer Jod-Jodkaliumlosung ist bei 25° gemessen worden.
WHY ZYGON? THE JOURNAL'S ORIGINAL VISIONS AND THE FUTURE OF RELIGION-AND-SCIENCE

. This essay briefly examines the original visions of Zygon, how they helped explain the publication of a new journal, and what they imply for where we might be going today.