cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical Evaluation of the General Yarkovsky Effect: Effects on Semimajor Axis

Abstract The Yarkovsky effect may play a key role in the orbital evolution of asteroids and near-Earth objects. To evaluate the acceleration under a wide range of conditions, a three-dimensional finite-difference solution to the heat equation is applied to homogeneous, spherical stony bodies with 1-, 10-, and 100-m diameters. This approach employs neither the linearized boundary conditions, the plane-parallel heat flow approximation, nor the assumption of fast rotation used in earlier work. Thus we can explore a wide range of orbital elements and physical properties. Our work agrees well with earlier results in the regimes where their approximations are valid. We investigate a wide range of spin states, including both the “seasonal” (very fast rotation) and “diurnal” (zero obliquity) extremes of the Yarkovsky effect. We find that, for orbits with high eccentricity, the semimajor axis can change much faster than for circular orbits. For such orbits, the orientation of the rotation axis with respect to the direction of pericenter is critical in determining the evolution. A stony main-belt asteroid of diameter 1 m on a high-eccentricity orbit could change its semimajor axis by more than 1 AU in 1.5 Myr.
Metabolism and toxicity of dinitrobenzene isomers in erythrocytes from Fischer-344 rats, rhesus monkeys and humans.

Abstract The metabolism of dinitrobenzene (DNB) isomers in Fischer-344 rat, rhesus monkey and human erythrocytes was investigated. Erythrocytes from all species metabolized O-DNB and p-DNB to S-(nitrophenyl)glutathione conjugates although there were species differences in the rate and extent of conjugate formation. No metabolites of m-DNB were detected in the erythrocytes of any species. The rank order of the ability of the DNB isomers to produce methemoglobin in vitro varied from species to species, but p-DNB was always the most effective isomer. The data suggest that although the erythrocyte can conjugate DNB isomers with glutathione, this pathway offers no substantial protection from methemoglobinemia induced by dinitrobenzenes.
Reverse transcription of the HIV-1 pandemic

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has existed for >25 years. Extensive work globally has provided avenues to combat viral infection, but the disease continues to rage on in the human population and infected approximately 4 million people in 2006 alone. In this review, we provide a brief history of HIV/AIDS, followed by analysis of one therapeutic target of HIV-1: its reverse transcriptase (RT). We discuss the biochemical characterization of RT in order to place emphasis on possible avenues of inhibition, which now includes both nucleoside and non-nucleoside modalities. Therapies against RT remain a cornerstone of anti-HIV treatment, but the virus eventually resists inhibition through the selection of drug-resistant RT mutations. Current inhibitors and associated resistance are discussed, with the hopes that new therapeutics can be developed against RT.
Minimizing Energy Consumption for Frame-Based Tasks on Heterogeneous Multiprocessor Platforms

Heterogeneous multiprocessors have been widely used in modern computational systems to increase the computing capability. As the performance increases, the energy consumption in these systems also increases significantly. Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) is considered an efficient scheme to achieve the goal of saving energy, because it allows processors to dynamically adjust their supply voltages and/or execution frequencies to work on different power/energy levels. In this paper, we consider scheduling non-preemptive frame-based tasks on DVFS-enabled heterogeneous multiprocessor platforms with the goal of achieving minimal overall energy consumption. We consider three types of heterogeneous platforms, namely, dependent platforms without runtime adjusting, dependent platforms with runtime adjusting, and independent platforms. For these three platforms, we first formulate the problems as binary integer programming problems, and then, relax them as convex optimization problems, which can be solved by the well-known interior point method. We propose a Relaxation-based Iterative Rounding Algorithm (RIRA), which tries to achieve the task set partition, that is closest to the optimal solution of the relaxed problems, in every step of a task-to-processor assignment. Experiments and comparisons show that our RIRA produces a better performance than existing methods and a simple but naive method, and achieves near-optimal scheduling under most cases. We also provide comprehensive complexity, accuracy and scalability analysis for the RIRA approach by investigating the interior-point method and by running specially designed experiments. Experimental results also show that the proposed RIRA approach is an efficient and practically applicable scheme with reasonable complexity.
Structure of the GDP domain of EF-Tu and location of the amino acids homologous to ras oncogene proteins

A 2.7 angstrom resolution x-ray diffraction analysis of a trypsin-modified form of the Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu reveals that the GDP-binding domain has a structure similar to that of other nucleotide-binding proteins. The GDP ligand is located at the COOH-terminal end of the beta sheet and is linked to the protein via a Mg2+ ion salt bridge. The location of the guanine ring is unusual; the purine ring is located on the outer edge of the domain, not deep within a hydrophobic pocket. The amino acids from Pro10 to Arg44 and from Gly59 to Glu190 have been assigned to the electron density with computer graphic techniques, and the resulting model is consistent with all known biochemical data. An analysis of the structure reveals that four regions of the amino acid sequence that are homologous with the family of ras oncogene proteins, termed p21, are located in the vicinity of the GDP-binding site, and most of the invariant amino acids shared by the proteins interact directly with the GDP ligand.
Stationary Thermal Stability Analysis of a Gas Oil Hydrotreating Reactor

Thermal stability analysis is imperative to ensure the safe operation of chemical reactors carrying out highly exothermic reactions. We present a thermal stability study for a fixed bed gas oil hydrotreating reactor working at industrial operating conditions, which involves three phases, 15 lumped hydrocarbon chemical families (saturates, olefins, sulfur containing compounds, triaromatics, diaromatics, and monoaromatics), and distributed in 3 boiling point cuts to differentiate light and heavy hydrocarbons. The influence of various system parameters on the reactor thermal stability has been investigated using the sensitivity-based Morbidelli−Varma criterion. It is found that most of the operating parameters can be used in principle to tune the reactor thermal stability, except for the inlet feed temperature, which, though shifting the occurrence of runaway to different parameter regimes, does not improve the reactor thermal stability behavior. In addition, the convective heat removal plays an important ro...
Conceptual Physical Education: The Anatomy of an Innovation

This article traces the history of the Conceptual Physical Education (CPE) movement and the important role this movement has played in college and university physical education departments in America over the past 50 years. CPE emerged out of basic instruction programs (i.e., skill-based, activity classes) during an era characterized by the accumulation of a large body of scientific evidence regarding the health benefits of physical activity, the formation of subdisciplinary areas of study, and a dramatically changing curriculum in higher education. CPE merges the practice and science of the field through a lecture-laboratory approach. First introduced in the 1960s by innovators, CPE classes are now offered by most college and university physical education programs in the United States, suggesting that CPE is a true innovation, rather than simply a passing fad.
Critical exponents for random knots

The size of a zero-thickness (no excluded volume) nonphantom polymer ring is shown to scale with chain length $N$ in the same way as the size of the excluded-volume (self-avoiding) linear polymer, that is, as ${N}^{\ensuremath{\nu}}$, where $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approx}0.588$. The consequences of this fact are examined, including the sizes of trivial and nontrivial knots.
Visual Inspection of Stormwater Treatment Practices

Assessment of a stormwater treatment practice can be accomplished by visual inspection, testing, or monitoring. The least complex method of assessment is visual inspection, which involves a site visit, inspecting the practice for any evidence of malfunction, and documenting site conditions and results. This chapter presents and discusses key visual indicators of malfunction, such as evidence of erosion, undesired water in the practice, soil and vegetation conditions, and various other indicators.
Foreign Body Response Investigated With an Implanted Biosensor by In Situ Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

One of the principal challenges for the long-term implantation of biosensors is that the normal physiological response of the body creates a fibrotic capsule of scar tissue surrounding the implanted sensor (the foreign body response). This dense, collagenous capsule isolates the device from the local environment, causing a time-dependent degradation of the signal. We utilize this degradation or change to an electrical signal as an indicator of the physiological responses to the implantation of the biomaterial device. We thus track the foreign body response electronically, an important analytical method for our program that aims to reduce the foreign body response. We applied electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to track changes of the electrical signal behavior over time between micro-electrode arrays. We have performed experiments both in vitro and ex ova. In vitro, we used a reservoir of phosphate buffered saline into which selected proteins were introduced that adsorb onto the electrode surface. Three proteins were studied and each was found to affect the EIS results differently. We have investigated the foreign body response ex ova using the chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model. Following implantation of the electrode array the chick CAM exhibited a response similar to the mammalian foreign body response. We report that the electrical signal degrades with tissue growth during the healing and remodeling following the traumatic implantation of the electrode needle through the ectoderm side of the CAM tissue.
Beyond Computers in the Classroom: Factors Related to Technology Adoption to Enhance Teaching and Learning.

How is technology being integrated to the extent possible toward the goals of improving teaching and learning? Research suggests that teachers will be more likely to try new methods of teaching if certain conditions exist. It is not known which conditions are more likely to influence a teacher’s decision to integrate technology into the curriculum. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between technology adoption and conditions such as available resources to support the use of technology, teachers’ attitudes toward technology, and adequacy of professional development. Data to address the specific research questions were obtained from secondary-level teachers (n = 144) from a suburban school district who participated in professional development and responded to a survey designed for this study. Among other findings, analyses revealed that professional development and available resources were significantly related to technology adoption. Recommendations based on the findings, including implications for professional development, are discussed.
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: Preoperative echocardiographic predictors of outcome after septal myectomy

Abstract Objectives . The purpose of this study was to determine whether two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography are predictive of clinical outcome in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who undergo septal myectomy. Background . Surgical myectomy provides excellent relief of symptoms in most patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who are severely symptomatic despite medical therapy. There is a subset of patients who will remain symptomatic even after operation. Because comprehensive two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography can define the range of anatomic and associated pathophysiologic abnormalities, it was hypothesized that preoperative echocardiographic variables may be predictive of clinical outcome after septal myectomy. Methods . The clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic and surgical data of 47 adult patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent isolated septal myectomy from 1986 to 1992 were analyzed. Specific symptoms were evaluated both preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The ECG and echocardiographic variables were analyzed to determine whether any were predictive of residual symptoms 1 year postoperatively. Results . The mean [±SD] age of the patients was 47 ± 15 years. All were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Dyspnea was present in all 47 patients and was severe in 70%. Most patients experienced symptomatic improvement at 1 year, dyspnea persisted in 26 patients (55%). The preoperative echocardiographic variables of asymmetric hypertrophy, severe systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflet(s) and prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time were independent predictors of mild or no residual dyspnea postoperatively. Conclusions . This initial study shows that the preoperative echocardiographic variables of asymmetric hypertrophy, severe systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflet(s) and prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time can identify patients who are most likely to benefit from septal myectomy.
Predictors of cardiac morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta.

The aim of this study was to determine predictors of cardiac morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta. This was a retrospective cohort study that took place in a University-affiliated county hospital. Preoperative and intraoperative variables were collected from a consecutive series of patients who underwent repair of the thoracic aorta at our institution between 1998 and 2003. Perioperative complications and mortality were identified for each patient. Fifty-nine patients underwent endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta. The endografts were successfully deployed in 58 (98%) patients. Nine (15%) died perioperatively, 4 (7%) from cardiac causes. There were 12 (20%) perioperative cardiac events. A history of myocardial infarction (MI) was the only preoperative risk factor that was predictive of a cardiac event (p = 0.001). The cardiac event rate was 29% for patients who did not receive perioperative beta-blockade vs. 8% in patients who did (p = 0.04). Intraoperative predictors of MI were estimated blood loss (2480 cc vs. 680 cc, p = 0.01), intravenous (IV) fluids (2955 cc vs. 2010 cc, p =0.02), and length of operation (269 min vs. 178 min, p = 0.02). From these results we concluded that mortality associated with endovascular repair of thoracic aorta remains significant. Patients with a history of MI had a higher perioperative cardiac event rate. Intraoperative predictors of perioperative cardiac events included blood loss, IV fluid requirement, and length of operation. Perioperative beta-blockade is important in endovascular thoracic surgery as a protection against postoperative cardiac events.
Impact on driver behavior of steady-burn warning lights on channelizing drums in work zones

Research was performed to explore the impact on driver behavior of steady-burn warning lights on drums used in highway work zones in the state of Michigan. Various characteristics related to nighttime driver behavior were evaluated with data collected in actual work zones. Thirty-six randomly selected work zones in 15 counties throughout lower Michigan were investigated in this study. Collectively, the work zones represented a broad range of commonly occurring scenarios. Work zones that used drums with steady-burn warning lights and work zones that did not were examined in a comparative parallel study. Data on nighttime driver behavior were collected by recording the movements of randomly selected subject vehicles as they were followed by a survey vehicle through the study work zones. For each subject vehicle, three measures of driver behavior were collected. The measures were (a) percent of time spent in the center lane position, (b) percent of time spent in the lane position closest to the drums, and (c) rate of steering reversals per minute. The data were compared by using analysis of variance techniques. The results showed that the presence of steady-burn warning lights on drums used to channelize traffic in work zones did not significantly affect either the time vehicles spent in the center lane position or the rate of steering reversals. The presence of steady-burn warning lights did, however, increase the tendency of drivers to travel in relatively close proximity to the drums. Collectively, the research findings suggest that the use of steady-burn warning lights on channelizing drums in work zones does not have a substantive impact on nighttime driver behavior.
The effect of oral alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative stress in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a potent antioxidant, has been shown to be an effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy when given intravenously. Recently, an oral controlled-release formulation of alpha-lipoic acid (CRLA) was developed, and a pharmacokinetic study demonstrated that CRLA maintained significant plasma levels for 67% longer than a common quick-release formulation. Objective: To determine if CRLA is an effective antioxidant in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) by measuring its effects on markers of oxidative damage and total antioxidant status. Methods: Forty pubertal and postpubertal adolescents with T1D underwent a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of CRLA for 3 months. 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyl, total reactive antioxidant potential, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and spot random urine collected for albumin to creatinine ratio were measured before and after treatment. Results: There was no significant change in any measurement of oxidative damage, total antioxidant status, HbA1c, or microalbuminuria prevalence after treatment with either placebo or CRLA. Conclusion: In this pilot study, CRLA was not an effective treatment for decreasing oxidative damage in T1D, although efficacy may have been limited by issues with compliance.
Effects of Intruder Number and Sex on Territorial Behavior of Female Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus: Plethodontidae)

Costs and benefits of territorial defense may vary with the number of intruders that a resident simultaneously encounters. Our study examined whether or not aggressive or escape behavior of female Plethodon cinereus would increase as the number of intruders simultaneously entering her territory increased from zero to one to two. We allowed 30 focal female P. cinereus to establish territories in laboratory chambers and tested each female in five randomly sequenced treatments: (1) one female intruder; (2) two female intruders; (3) one male intruder (4) two male intruders; and (5) a surrogate control (no live intruders). We recorded the behavior of the focal salamanders in response to the intruders. Across the five treatments, females differed significantly in amount of time in threat and escape behaviors and in total number of bites. Post hoc comparisons found that relative to the control females displayed significantly more time in threat behavior toward one male intruder and significantly more time in escape behavior in the presence of two male intruders, but they exhibited no significant differences toward one or two female intrudes. The post hoc comparisons for bites found no significant differences. We infer that for female P. cinereus the benefit of guarding prey in a territory outweighed the cost of defense (possible injury) when a single male was introduced into her territory, but the cost of defense exceeded the benefit when two male intruders were simultaneously introduced into her territory.
Commercialism and medicine: an overview.

There is something embarrassing about money. Everybody is seeking it but at the same time they are reluctant to talk about their bank balances and stock holdings. As a society we have so much of it that we can install 7000 saffron curtains all over Central Park, send tourists into outer space, and analyze the gas on the surface of Titan, yet we fail to spend it on millions of poverty-stricken people who die of disease or starvation each year. We do open our pocketbooks sometimes, but only when television images of massive destruction overwhelm our sensibilities. Money often dominates our consciousness and bombards us in the headlines: Our national debt is 7.7 trillion dollars and it's increasing by more than 2 billion dollars a day; corporate executives of Enron walk away with millions while their employees lose their jobs and their pensions; and we had an endless fascination with Martha Stewart, who is worth millions, but went to jail trying to save a few thousand.
Learning about points of view: spatial perspective and the acquisition of 'I/you'.

A cross-sectional and a longitudinal study of 2-year-old children was performed to investigate the developmental relationship between understanding differences in spatial point of view and correct comprehension and production of I / you pronouns. In Study I only those children who demonstrated understanding that individuals' points of view can differ had begun to master speaker's point of view, as shown by correct use of some of the pronouns. Only children with complete understanding of points of view were able to use all I / you pronouns without errors. In Study 11 no child used the set of I / you pronouns without errors until s/he had complete understanding of points of view. Across children, a given pronoun tended not to be free of errors until the child understood that points of view can differ. Results are interpreted to support the hypothesis that understanding spatial points of view is a cognitive prerequisite to understanding speaker's point of view, which governs the pragmatics of 11 you pronouns.
Bicycle Network Connectivity for Passenger Rail Stations

Interest in improving and adding intercity passenger rail service is growing in the United States and the rest of the world. Passenger rail development is complex and includes many factors including how well it is integrated into cities. Transportation trends in the United States show that more people are choosing alternative transportation options and that auto ownership is declining. The development of new rail systems and improvement of existing systems need to consider all users, including those who access stations with alternative transportation such as bicycles. An analysis approach is proposed to compare how well rail stations allow access to bicycles by studying their connectivity to low-stress bicycle links and how well they allow access to workplaces and residences. The approach is demonstrated with a case study in Salem, Oregon. This city is on Amtrak's Cascades Corridor and is currently undergoing an environmental impact study for improved service. The existing station and two alternative stat...
3-Drug Synergistic Interactions of Small Molecular Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Small molecular inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication provide remarkable potency, but the rapid selection of resistance mutations will require that these agents be used in combination for clinical treatment. Using a model HCV replicon system, we have extended prior in vitro studies of double combinations of candidate small molecular inhibitors to studies evaluating the simultaneous use of 3 agents. This was done in an effort to anticipate conditions that might ultimately be required clinically. We formally demonstrate synergistic antiviral activity with 3-drug combinations in this model, further supporting the concept of clinical investigations of combination therapy for HCV infection.
Inhibition of cross-bridge formation has no effect on contraction-associated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in mouse skeletal muscle

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), in particular p38 MAPK, are phosphorylated in response to contractile activity, yet the mechanism for this is not understood. We tested the hypothesis tha...
NEDRES: "Yellow Pages" Directory to Environmental Data

The need for directories of data and information is not new. Indexes, catalogs, and directories have been assembled and published in printed format for many years. Efforts to present this information in a computer-accessible format recently have been increasing at a dramatic pace. Large scientific programs are recognizing that the key to scientific research is the ability to locate data that have already been collected. On-line computer directories help to service this need.
Abstract 17: Innate Immunity Pathways and Breast Cancer Risk in African American and European American Women in the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS).

Although the incidence of breast cancer is highest in American women of European ancestry (EA), women of African ancestry (AA) are more likely to have early, aggressive breast cancer, characterized by negative estrogen receptor (ER) status. There are few explanations for these differences between ancestral groups. We hypothesized that differential distribution of genetic variants in innate immunity pathways could be related to these breast cancer disparities, and evaluated variant-breast cancer associations in a case-control study, the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). In the first stage, 44 SNPs were genotyped among 1010 AA and 757 EA women who participated in the WCHS. For 38 of the 44 SNPs, genotype frequencies differed significantly between AA and EA women, and differential risk relationships were observed between groups for some SNPs. For example, in premenopausal women, CXCL5 (rs425535) was significantly associated with breast cancer risk for only AA women ( P =0.008) and for EAs, associations were observed for CRP (rs1205) and TNFA (rs1799724) ( P ≤0.01). In post-menopausal women, two SNPs in IL1B (rs1143627, rs16944) and one SNP in NOD2 (rs2066842) were associated with risk in EAs (all P =0.01) but not AA women. The association was limited to ER positive cancers for TNFA -rs1799724 and to ER negative cancers for NOD2 -rs2066842. In the second stage, with additional accruals in WCHS, we extended analysis for four SNPs with suggested associations from the first stage in a larger dataset of 1602 AA and 1542 EA women, which yielded similar results. Associations for CRP -rs1205 and CXCL5 -rs425535 with breast cancer risk were strengthened in premenopausal women and were statistically different between AA and EA women ( P for interaction=0.0009 and 0.002, respectively) in this larger dataset. In summary, AA and EA populations exhibited differential association patterns of these genetic variants with breast cancer risk. Our findings suggest that innate immune pathways may be differentially associated with breast cancer by ancestry, and that relationships vary according to menopausal and ER status. Citation Format: Zhihong Gong, Lei Quan, Song Yao, Gary Zirpoli, Elisa Bandera, Helena Hwang, Michelle Roberts, Lara Sucheston, Gregory Ciupak, Warren Davis, Christine Ambrosone, Chi-Chen Hong. Innate Immunity Pathways and Breast Cancer Risk in African American and European American Women in the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 17.
How to Manage a Bully: Workplace Bullying in Construction

Workplace bullying is industry specific. Organizations need to evaluate what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in their industry and among their workers in order to make organizational policies effective and respected. This paper looks at workplace bullying in the construction industry. The paper considers how employees, specifically site superintendents, working in construction view workplace bullying and view the best ways for dealing with workplace bullying. The data examined in this paper is drawn from an online forum for construction site superintendents. The comments by the site superintendents reveal how workplace bullying is dealt with on construction sites and how workplace bullying policies are viewed.
The Catalytic Bias of 2-Oxoacid:ferredoxin Oxidoreductase in CO 2 : evolution and reduction through a ferredoxin-mediated electrocatalytic assay

Enzymes from the 2-oxoacid: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (OFOR) family engage in both CO 2 evolution and reduction in nature, depending on their physiological roles. Two enzymes and their redox partner ferredoxins (Fds) from Hydrogenobacter thermophilus and Desulfovibrio africanus were examined to investigate the basis of the catalytic bias. The Fd1 from H. thermophilus demonstrated a potential of ∼ −485 mV at room temperature, the lowest for known single [4Fe-4S] cluster Fds. It suggests a low potential electron donor may be the key factor in overcoming the large thermodynamic barrier of CO 2 reduction. The Fd-mediated electrocatalytic experiments further demonstrated the impact of Fd’s potential on the direction of the OFOR reaction: as OFOR enzymes could essentially catalyze both CO 2 evolution and reduction in vitro , the difference in their physiological roles is associated with the reduction potential of the redox partner Fd. The electrocatalytic assay could study both CO 2 evolution and reduction in one setup and is a good tool to probe Fds’ reactivity that arise from their reduction potentials.
DATA TRANSMISSION IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN OPTIMIZATION USING A PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT DATA STRUCTURE

The design, analysis, and optimization of complex systems, including aircraft, microchips, and chemical plants, is increasingly being performed using widely distributed design groups. The optimization of such complex systems requires that these design groups actively share their data in an effort to develop a better design. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) has developed a wide variety of tools and techniques to assist in the analysis and optimization of these highly complex systems. This work focuses on the development of an XML-based and generic data architecture that could be applied to MDO problems by combining optimization data and analysis data into a platform-independent format. This format can be used as a foundation for development of distributed MDO tools by governing the data exchange between disciplinary analysis tools, optimizers, and user interfaces. The architecture is implemented using sample MDO problems ranging from existing test cases and simulated larger scale optimization problems. The use of the data in multiple independently developed MDO applications is also demonstrated. The data structure presented demonstrates the potential benefi t of a future extensible and platform-independent data-passing model for use in MDO systems.
Numerical study of leakage and dynamic coefficients of stepped labyrinth gas seals

Rotor- fluid interactions can cause self- excited vibrations in turbomachines.The labyrinth seal forces are characterized by rotordynamic coefficients.Traditional labyrinth seal models are based on bulk - flow assumptions. These models,while efficient to compute,typically show poor prediction for seals with small clearances,high running speed,and high pressure.In an effort to improve the prediction of these components this work utilizes three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics(CFD) to model the labyrinth seal flow path.The method allows modeling of any arbitrarily shaped domain labyrinth seal.When only leakage prediction is required,an axisymmetric model is created. To calculate rotordynamic forces,a full 3D,eccentric model is solved.The results demonstrate improved leakage and rotordynamic prediction over bulk - flow approaches compared to experimental measurements.
Diurnal fluctuations of cocaine and potential precursors in leaves of Erythroxylum coca

Cocaine is abundant in leaves of Erythroxylum coca var. coca Lam. Consequently, cocaine and two of its early biosynthetic precursors were monitored for 24 h to determine whether they fluctuated diurnally. E. coca was grown under controlled environmental conditions in a growth chamber in soil at pH 3.5. After 17.5 months of growth, leaves not less than 35 days old were harvested every 2 and 4 h for 24 h for arginine, phenylalanine and cocaine content, respectively. The content of cocaine was determined by GC/MS and amino acid content by HPLC. Diurnal fluctuation of cocaine occurred during the 24 h cycle. Cocaine was highest in leaves of E. coca at 8 and 16 h where its content was 7.67 and 9.45 mg.g-1 dry weight, respectively. Arginine and phenylalanine in leaves of E. coca also displayed diurnal rhythmic patterns of fluctuation. The content of arginine declined from hours 6 to 12 and increased to the highest content at 13 h (21.8 mg.g-1 dry weight). Overall, phenylalanine content was lower than arginine, but had two peak periods of accumulation during the 24 h cycle, occurring at 8 and 14 h. The content of phenylalanine in leaves of E. coca during the peak hours was 6.98 and 6.54 mg.g-1 dry weight, respectively.
Other One-Dimensional Maps

In this chapter the generalized spectral decomposition of a variety one-dimensional maps is presented. An algebraic technique is introduced and applied to determine the spectral decomposition of the tent map. Some maps with non-diagonalizable decompositions are presented, including a map whose resolvent has an essential singularity. A map that does not preserve Lebesgue measure and where the dynamics settles onto a strange attractor is analyzed. Finally, the decompositions of maps related by a simple change of variables are discussed and the decomposition of the logistic map with unit height is determined from the decomposition of the tent map.
The Impact of Obesity on Gallstone Disease, Acute Pancreatitis, and Pancreatic Cancer

Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for gallstone formation and increases the risk for gallstone-related complications. Pancreatic diseases are impacted adversely by obesity. Although weight loss surgery increases the risk of gallstone disease, evidence suggests that bariatric surgery mitigates the obesity-associated adverse prognostication in acute pancreatitis. Obesity is also a significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Obesity is a global epidemic and is increasing worldwide and among all age groups. There is an urgent need for focused health policies aimed at reducing the incidence and prevalence of obesity. This article summarizes the current literature highlighting the association between obesity and the pathophysiology and outcome of gallstone disease, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.
D-Cycloserine Restores Experience-Dependent Neuroplasticity after Traumatic Brain Injury in the Developing Rat Brain

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children can cause persisting cognitive and behavioral dysfunction, and inevitably raises concerns about lost potential in these injured youth. Lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI) in weanling rats pathologically affects hippocampal N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)- and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission subacutely within the first post-injury week. FPI to weanling rats has also been shown to impair enriched-environment (EE) induced enhancement of Morris water maze (MWM) learning and memory in adulthood. Recently, improved outcomes can be achieved using agents that enhance NMDAR function. We hypothesized that administering D-cycloserine (DCS), an NMDAR co-agonist, every 12 h (i.p.) would restore subacute glutamatergic neurotransmission and reinstate experience-dependent plasticity. Postnatal day 19 (P19) rats received either a sham or FPI. On post-injury day (PID) 1–3, animals were ra...
The "Infinity Catastrophe" Associated With Radiation in Magnetoionic Media

In recent years many papers have appeared in the technical literature dealing with the question of radiation from sources imbedded in magnetoionic media. Most of these papers, which have restricted their consideration to media described by the Appleton-Hartree dielectric tensor, have come to the conclusion that the radiation resistance of a point dipole may be infinite in some regime of magnetoionic parameters even if the medium itself is lossless. Recently, two authors have purported to show, by introducing arguments of time reversibility, that the “infinity catastrophe” that appeared in the earlier papers is due to an incorrect formulation of the problem and that if the correct formulation were used the infinity would disappear. This paper reexamines the fundamenJal formulas for radiation in magnetoplasmas and concludes that the formulas used by earlier authors are valid and that the “infinity catastrophe” arises not from the method of calculation but rather from a physical inconsistency in the Appleton-Hartree dielectric tensor.
Correction: Electrowetting without external voltage using paint-on electrodes

Correction for ‘Electrowetting without external voltage using paint-on electrodes’ by Collin B. Eaker et al., Lab Chip, 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01500j.
The Need for a Compassionate Migration Regime for North and Central America: Restoring and Extending Universal Human Rights to Migrant Workers, Their Families, and “Survival Migrants”

This chapter considers that today’s flows of mixed migration in the Americas, particularly in North and Central America, demand a shift from the criminalization and securitization of migration to a more compassionate approach. This chapter also proposes that the present migration flows should be addressed within existing regional forums, such as the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) that includes strong bridges with civil society organizations (CSOs). Furthermore, the International Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICMW) needs to be at the center stage of any regional dialogue that can evolve into a compassionate regional regime for migration.
The UAB Informatics Institute and 2016 CEGS N-GRID De-Identification Shared Task Challenge

Clinical narratives (the text notes found in patients' medical records) are important information sources for secondary use in research. However, in order to protect patient privacy, they must be de-identified prior to use. Manual de-identification is considered to be the gold standard approach but is tedious, expensive, slow, and impractical for use with large-scale clinical data. Automated or semi-automated de-identification using computer algorithms is a potentially promising alternative. The Informatics Institute of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is applying de-identification to clinical data drawn from the UAB hospital's electronic medical records system before releasing them for research. We participated in a shared task challenge by the Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science (CEGS) Neuropsychiatric Genome-Scale and RDoC Individualized Domains (N-GRID) at the de-identification regular track to gain experience developing our own automatic de-identification tool. We focused on the popular and successful methods from previous challenges: rule-based, dictionary-matching, and machine-learning approaches. We also explored new techniques such as disambiguation rules, term ambiguity measurement, and used multi-pass sieve framework at a micro level. For the challenge's primary measure (strict entity), our submissions achieved competitive results (f-measures: 87.3%, 87.1%, and 86.7%). For our preferred measure (binary token HIPAA), our submissions achieved superior results (f-measures: 93.7%, 93.6%, and 93%). With those encouraging results, we gain the confidence to improve and use the tool for the real de-identification task at the UAB Informatics Institute.
Increased microbiome diversity at the time of infection is associated with improved growth rates of pigs after co-infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are two of the most important pathogens affecting the swine industry worldwide. Co-infections are common on a global scale, resulting in pork production losses through reducing weight gain and causing respiratory disease in growing pigs. Our initial work demonstrated that the fecal microbiome was associated with clinical outcome of pigs 70days post-infection (dpi) with PRRSV and PCV2. However, it remained uncertain if microbiome characteristics could predispose response to viral infection. The purpose of this study was to determine if microbiome characteristics present at the time of virus exposure were associated with outcome after co-infection. Using the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array, we profiled the microbiome in feces prior to infection from pigs identified retrospectively as having high or low growth rates after co-infection. High growth rate pigs had less severe interstitial pneumonia, reduced virus replication, and a significant increase in average daily weight gain throughout the study. At the level of the fecal microbiome, high growth rate pigs had increased microbial diversity on both a family and species level. Shifts in the microbiome composition of high growth rate pigs included reduced Methanobacteriaceae species, increased Ruminococcaceae species, and increased Streptococcaceae species when compared to low growth rate pigs. The results indicate that both microbiome diversity and composition at the time of virus exposure may play a role in the subsequent response of pigs to PRRSV/PCV2 co-infection.
Analytical verification and method comparison of the ADVIA Centaur® Intact Parathyroid Hormone assay.

Abstract Objectives This study is the first verification of the novel iPTH Siemens ADVIA Centaur® Intact Parathyroid Hormone (iPTHm) chemiluminescence immunoassay based on monoclonal antibodies . We also compared the iPTH results obtained using this assay with the previous ADVIA Centaur® Parathyroid Hormone assay (iPTHp) based on polyclonal antibodies . Design and methods The analytical performance study of iPTHm assay included LoD, LoQ, intra- and inter-assay reproducibility, and linearity. A comparison study was performed on 369 routine plasma samples. The results were analyzed independently for patients with normal and abnormal GFR, as well as patients on hemodialysis . In addition, clinical concordance between assays was assessed. Finally, we studied PTH stability of plasma samples at 4 °C. Results For the iPTHm assay LoD and LoQ were 0.03 pmol/L and 0.10 pmol/L, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay CV were between 2.3% and 6.2%. Linearity was correct in the range from 3.82 to 203.08 pmol/L. Correlation studies showed a good correlation (r = 0.99) between iPTHm and iPTHp, with bias of − 2.55% (IC − 3.48% to − 1.62%) in the range from 0.32 to 117.07 pmol/L. Clinical concordance, assessed by Kappa Index, was 0.874. The stability study showed that differences compared to basal iPTH concentration did not exceed 20% in any of the samples analyzed. Conclusions The iPTHm assay demonstrated acceptable performance and a very good clinical concordance with iPTHp assay, currently used in our laboratory. Thus, the novel iPTHm assay can replace the previous iPTHp assay, since results provided by both assays are very similar. In our study, the stability of iPTH is not affected by storage up to 14 days.
Votes from Seats: Logical Models of Electoral Systems

Take the number of seats in a representative assembly and the number of seats in districts through which this assembly is elected. From just these two numbers, the authors of Votes from Seats show that it is possible to deduce the number of parties in the assembly and in the electorate, as well as the size of the largest party. Inside parties, the vote distributions of individual candidates likewise follow predictable patterns. Four laws of party seats and votes are constructed by logic and tested, using scientific approaches rare in social sciences. Both complex and simple electoral systems are covered, and the book offers a set of 'best practices' for electoral system design. The ability to predict so much from so little, and to apply to countries worldwide, is an advance in the systematic analysis of a core institutional feature found in any democracy, and points the way towards making social sciences more predictive.
Digital and physical barriers to changing identities

Social media sites often erect barriers to changing identities online, which can be similar to physical world barriers faced by marginalized groups. How can social media be designed to enable rather than constrain life changes?
Random Noise Generation Using Fourier Series

This Note describes the Lanczos method for noise generation, and presents applications for aircraft simulation. Comparisons are made with conventional methods of noise generation, and it is shown that the noise sequences generated using the Lanczos method most often have more accurate statistical characteristics than those generated using the standard methods. Although the standard methods already produce high-quality noise sequences, using the Lanczos method to generate noise, when applicable, can realize a more accurate representation of the desired noise, and therefore lead to clearer insights into simulation analyses. It is hoped that others may find this description of the noise generation procedure and these simulation examples interesting and helpful for their own uses.
National Family Planning Programs: A Guide

This is a personal document, not an official one. It is also preliminary, and subject to change as more experience with such programs becomes available. Hence it should be considered simply as one observer’s view of the present state of things, for consideration and discussion, and as a touchstone for local circumstances. It is only fair to add that informed specialists in this complex field take different positions on several of the following matters, so the reader should think of this document only as a guide and certainly not as the guide that will eventually emerge from the gathering experience.
Metastatic Orbital Tumors

Orbital metastasis is uncommon, accounting for only 1–13% of all orbital tumors reported. The approach to metastatic orbital tumors has dramatically changed in recent decades. The improved life expectancy of patients with common cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, together with aging of the population and the resultant increase in the number of patients at risk for cancer, has led to a higher incidence of patients living with metastatic disease in unusual sites such as the orbit. Furthermore, vigilant surveillance and advances in diagnostic testing have led to increased detection of orbital metastases. Because of the poor prognosis for patients with metastatic orbital disease, treatment is usually palliative and may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, or a combination of these modalities. The ophthalmologist may play a pivotal role in the detection and management of these lesions in patients with and without a primary cancer diagnosis.