cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using modified Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations in kernel partitioning for optimal actuator and sensor selection of parabolic PDEs with static output feedback

This work presents a methodology that utilizes computational geometry methods to design controllers and actuators in spatially distributed systems governed by partial differential equations. Utilizing earlier works on the modification of Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations (CVT), a methodology is presented that simultaneously designs the actuator and sensor locations, and the static output feedback. This approach which significantly reduces the control design complexity firsts assumes a virtual idealized actuator to design the optimal feedback gain. Then the modified CVT is applied to both the virtual actuator and the feedback kernel to obtain both the actuator and sensor locations, respectively. Subsequently, a static feedback gain matrix is designed in order to implement a static output feedback that approximates the idealized input and optimal gain with full state information. Extensive and detailed numerical studies are included to clarify the many aspects of the proposed methodology.
Screening for cognitive impairment in SLE using the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam.

ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease that can affect the central nervous system in multiple ways, including causing cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfu...
Dynamic Modeling and Control of a Synchronous Generator in an AC Microgrid Environment

A microgrid system model is created to assess transient and steady-state stability during periods of separation from the grid. A secondary control is constructed to dispatch energy sources according to user selected setpoints and participation factors. Two sources—an energy storage device and a synchronous generator—are controlled to share active and reactive load burdens. A system load models the difference between solar and wind-powered generation and load. First-order differential equations are written to describe the system, and implemented in Simulink. The model components carry a high level of detail to capture all relevant modes. Systems include an eight-state salient pole synchronous machine, an AC8B regulator, a prime mover, an equivalent $\pi$ cable, an RL microgrid load, an ideal battery, a simple inverter model, and a detailed LCL filter at the inverter output. A detailed model of the inverter primary control is included, and a secondary level control, which distributes the power error according to user defined participation factors, is proposed.
Approximations for the Inverse Scattering Transform

What I would like to present here is a discussion of some of the various techniques and approximations which have been found to be useful in the IST (inverse scattering transform) [1]. Although the IST is an exact method, its complexity does require that one be able to make use of some approximations. And while I shall be discussing approximations, let me note that I also shall be emphasizing the methods and not the mathematical details.
Hepatic Artery Infusion Therapy for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) refers to infusional chemotherapy delivered through the hepatic artery for the treatment of primary and secondary liver malignancies. In colorectal cancer liver metastases, HAI has been extensively studied over the last several decades. The combination of HAI and systemic chemotherapy is associated with higher response rates and improved oncologic outcomes when compared with systemic therapy alone. HAI has an established role in the adjuvant setting (after complete resection of liver metastases), as well as in the unresectable setting. In this chapter we review the general principles underlying HAI chemotherapy, technical aspects of pump placement, and oncologic outcomes.
Sobre el concepto de fraternidad política

La fraternidad es una idea politica con una larga trayectoria historica y forma parte del nacimiento de la politica moderna durante el periodo de la Revolucion francesa junto a las ideas de libertad e igualdad. No obstante, la fraternidad ha recibido muy poca atencion por parte de la filosofia politica contemporanea. En este articulo, realizo un analisis conceptual de la idea politica de fraternidad con el fin de identificar los elementos comunes y distintivos de la misma.
Productivity and sediment focusing in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific during the last 30,000 years

The Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP) affects the ocean-atmosphere exchange of CO_2 on seasonal and interannual time scales through a balance of upwelling of CO_2-rich waters and the drawdown of CO_2 by biological productivity in the surface waters. The EEP accounts for almost 3/4ths of the global oceanic outgassing of CO_2 to the atmosphere, and it is known that the size of this EEP source of CO_2 varies significantly during El Nino events (Feely et al., 1999). There has been much effort to determine the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state of the Equatorial Pacific during the past, particularly at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when the global atmospheric [CO_2] was low, yet the glacial ENSO state remains a source of considerable controversy (Ford et al., 2015; Herguera, 2000; Koutavas et al., 2002; Loubere, 2001; Loubere et al., 2004; Lyle, 1988; Paytan et al., 1996; Pedersen, 1983; Sarnthein et al., 1988). Reconstructing past changes in equatorial productivity could help establish the prevailing ENSO state of the Pacific during the LGM, as the El Nino-related deepening of the thermocline in the East Pacific reduces productivity in the EEP and increases it in the Western Equatorial Pacific. Here we investigate changes in productivity in four cores from the equatorial Pacific, in the heart of the modern equatorial cold tongue. We determine changes in productivity using measurements of ^(231)Pa, ^(230)Th, ^(232)Th, ^(235)U and ^(238)U along with sedimentary fluxes. We also compare our findings to other sediment cores in the Pacific. We find elevated (^(231)Pa/^(230)Th)_(xs_ values (higher than production values) in general across the cores, indicating a net sink for oceanic ^(231)Pa in the EEP. We also find evidence for low levels of lateral sediment focusing, as well as lower productivity during the glacial in reduced ^(230)Th-normalized opal fluxes and decreased (^(231)Pa/^(230)Th)_(xs) at multiple sites. Examination of authigenic uranium at our sites in conjunction with previous work (Jacobel et al., 2017) shows that between 2 and 3.5 km depth in the Equatorial Pacific, there was a floating pool of respired carbon associated with the southward return flow of North Pacific Deep Water, sequestering CO_2 from the atmosphere during the LGM. We also compile Pacific basin wide records of productivity and Pa/Th during the Holocene (0-11kya) and LGM (18-22kya) and find evidence consistent with a more frequent or persistent glacial El Nino state throughout much of the Pacific (North Pacific, Western Equatorial Pacific and EEP).
Unplugging the Drain: Treatment of a Rare Late Complication of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Central vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of chylothorax. We report a patient with chylothorax secondary to CVT, despite being on anticoagulation, who was successfully treated with balloon angioplasty of the occluded vein. A 65-year-old male presented with shortness of breath of one-month duration. He had end-stage heart failure and was on milrinone infusion. Physical exam was consistent with elevated central venous pressure. Chest x-ray showed a large left-sided pleural effusion. Right heart catheterization (RHC) showed normal right atrial pressure and normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Diagnostic thoracentesis was consistent with chylothorax. A venogram revealed bilateral brachiocephalic vein occlusion. The right brachiocephalic vein was recanalized by angioplasty, which led to resolution of pleural effusion. Our case not only highlights the identification of a rare complication of a common device (i.e., cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator) used in heart failure patients but also highlights the treatment for this rare but reversible complication.
Vadose Zone Hydrology Basics

The vadose zone consists of the soil or rock located between land surface and the regional water table and forms the interface between a surficial hydrological system and its underlying aquifer. Vadose zone processes control the rate of recharge in surface-spearding managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems and increases in importance as the depth to the water table, and thus thickness of the zone, increases. Vadose zone processes have great importance in some MAR systems that utilize surface spreading because the zone is the location of many contaminant attenuation and other geochemical processes revelant to water quality. There is great variation in how the vadose zone is considered in MAR invesigations from a simple lumped "black-box" approach to detailed field investigation and modeling of vadose zone processes.
Implementing the chick embryo model to study vestibular developmental disorders

This paper describes simple techniques for chick otocyst rotation resulting in a sac-like inner ear (85%), the common phenotype in congenital vestibular disorders. We now describe anterior-posterio...
Characterization of interstitial heterogeneity in the developing kidney

Kidney formation requires the coordinated growth of multiple cell types including the collecting ducts, nephrons, vasculature and interstitium. There has been a long-held belief that interactions between the progenitors of the collecting ducts and nephrons are primarily responsible for kidney development. However, over the last several years, it has become increasingly clear that multiple aspects of kidney development require signaling from the interstitium. How the interstitium orchestrates these multiple roles is still poorly understood. We show that during development, the interstitium is a highly heterogeneous, patterned population of cells that occupies distinct positions correlated to the adjacent parenchyma. Our analysis indicates that the heterogeneity is not a mere reflection of different stages in a linear developmental trajectory but instead represents several novel differentiated cell states. Further, we find that beta-catenin has a cell autonomous role in the development of a medullary subset of the interstitium and that this non-autonomously affects the development of the adjacent epithelia. These findings suggest the intriguing possibility that the different interstitial subtypes may create microenvironments that play unique roles in development of the adjacent epithelia and endothelia.
Concentrated hypertonic saline in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury

Describe outcomes associated with bolus and continuous infusions of hypertonic saline (HTS) in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). IRB-approved, single-center, retrospective review o...
Passive identification of vessel type through track motion analysis

Maritime situational awareness depends on accurate knowledge of the locations, types, and activities of ocean-bound vessels. Such data can be gathered by analyzing the motion patterns of vessel tracks collected using coastal radar, visual identification, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) reports. We have developed a technique for predicting the types of vessels from abstract representations of their motion patterns. Our approach involves constructing multiple state sequences which represent activities syntactically. From these sequences, we generate multi-state transition matrices, which are the central feature used to train a support-vector machine classifier. Applying this technique to historical AIS data, our model successfully predicts vessel type even in cases where vessels do not follow known routes. Using only location information as the base feature for our model, we circumvent classification issues that arise from vessels' non-compliance with AIS regulations as well as the inability to visually identify vessels.
Relativistic radiation hydrodynamics in a reference-metric formulation

The authors develop a formalism dealing with relativistic radiation hydrodynamics, tailored towards numerical implementation in curvilinear coordinates. This approach allows for numerical calculations even in the presence of coordinate singularities, thereby alleviating a longstanding problem in the field.
Exploring Cost Savings with Specialty Biologic Drugs Administered to Adult Inpatients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Specialty infusion and self-injectable biologic drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are high-cost medications. When administered to hospital-admitted patients, t...
Improving FM Radar Dynamic Range Using Target Phase Noise Cancellation

A method for improving the dynamic range of frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar systems is presented. Bright echo signals detected with FMCW radars can carry strong phase noise sidelobes, especially for radars at W-band and higher frequencies where extremely quiet local oscillators do not exist or are not practical. These sidelobes can hide targets that would otherwise be detectable by the radar. Owing to the mathematical symmetry of phase noise with respect to a dominant carrier tone, the phase noise on the negative-frequency side of a bright echo can be used in post-processing to coherently cancel the corresponding phase noise on the positive-frequency side, revealing the presence of any weak target on the positive-frequency side. We show experimentally how this procedure improves the dynamic range of an airborne 167 GHz cloud radar by up to 18 dB, albeit with a detection sensitivity penalty of about 3 dB.
Start the Way You Want to Finish: An Intensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Orientation Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education

Problem:Medical students often feel unprepared to care for patients whose cultural backgrounds differ from their own. Programs in medical schools have begun to address health: inequities; however, ...
Maximizing Performance of Microelectronic Thermoelectric Generators With Parasitic Thermal and Electrical Resistances

Microelectronic thermoelectric (TE) generators ( $\mu $ TEGs), which are one potential solution to powering energy autonomous integrated circuits (ICs), are often performance limited because of parasitic electrical and thermal resistances in the $\mu $ TEG circuit. Parasitic performance loss can be particularly severe for $\mu $ TEGs using materials with relatively low TE figure-of-merit, such as silicon (Si). In such cases, careful attention must be paid to optimizing the entire $\mu $ TEG circuit, not just the TE material properties. Here, a quantitative model of $\mu $ TEG device performance is developed that includes all significant electrical and thermal parasitics commonly encountered in IC-compatible $\mu $ TEGs. The model gives a pair of coupled quadratic equations that can be analytically or numerically solved to determine power generation and efficiency. For given parasitic resistance and material property values, the model shows that the ratio (called here the packing fraction) of cross-sectional area occupied by TE elements to total cross-sectional area for heat flow per thermopile can be designed to maximize either power or efficiency, but not both simultaneously. For realistic material and device parameters, the optimum packing fraction is often only 1%–10%, lower than what is used in many $\mu $ TEG designs. The model accounts for the reported power generation of some example $\mu $ TEGs and provides guidance toward significant performance improvement.
Intraoperative autologous transfusion and oncologic outcomes in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity matched analysis.

BACKGROUND Intraoperative autologous transfusion (IAT) of salvaged blood is a common method of resuscitation during liver transplantation (LT), however concern for recurrence in recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has limited widespread adoption. METHODS A review of patients undergoing LT for HCC between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Clinicopathologic and intraoperative characteristics associated with inferior recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified using Kaplan-Meier analysis and uni-/multi-variable Cox proportional hazards modeling. Propensity matching was utilized to derive clinicopathologically similar groups for subgroup analysis. RESULTS One-hundred-eighty-six patients were identified with a median follow up of 65 months. Transplant recipients receiving IAT (n = 131, 70%) also had higher allogenic transfusions (median 5 versus 0 units, P < 0.001). There were 14 recurrences and 46 deaths, yielding an estimated 10-year RFS and OS of 89% and 67%, respectively. IAT was not associated with RFS (HR 0.89/liter, P = 0.60), or OS (HR 0.98/liter, P = 0.83) pre-matching, or with RFS (HR 0.97/liter, P = 0.92) or OS (HR 1.04/liter, P = 0.77) in the matched cohort (n = 49 per group). CONCLUSION IAT during LT for HCC is not associated with adverse oncologic outcomes. Use of IAT should be encouraged to minimize the volume of allogenic transfusion in patients undergoing LT for HCC.
Immunization with a Plasmid DNA Vaccine Encoding the N-Terminus of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Leads to High-level Type I Immune Responses.

Purpose: Cancer vaccines targeting nonmutated proteins elicit limited type I T-cell responses and can generate regulatory and type II T cells. Class II epitopes that selectively elicit type I or type II cytokines can be identified in nonmutated cancer-associated proteins. In mice, a T-helper I (Th1) selective insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) N-terminus vaccine generated high levels of IFNγ secreting T cells, no regulatory T cells, and significant antitumor activity. We conducted a phase I trial of T-helper 1 selective IGFBP-2 vaccination in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients were enrolled. The IGFBP-2 N-terminus plasmid-based vaccine was administered monthly for 3 months. Toxicity was graded by NCI criteria and antigen-specific T cells measured by IFNγ/IL10 ELISPOT. T-cell diversity and phenotype were assessed. Results: The vaccine was well tolerated, with 99% of adverse events graded 1 or 2, and generated high levels of IGFBP-2 IFNγ secreting T cells in 50% of patients. Both Tbet+ CD4 (P = 0.04) and CD8 (P = 0.007) T cells were significantly increased in immunized patients. There was no increase in GATA3+ CD4 or CD8, IGFBP-2 IL10 secreting T cells, or regulatory T cells. A significant increase in T-cell clonality occurred in immunized patients (P = 0.03, pre- vs. post-vaccine) and studies showed the majority of patients developed epitope spreading within IGFBP-2 and/or to other antigens. Vaccine nonresponders were more likely to have preexistent IGFBP-2 specific immunity and demonstrated defects in CD4 T cells, upregulation of PD-1, and downregulation of genes associated with T-cell activation, after immunization. Conclusions: IGFBP-2 N-terminus Th1 selective vaccination safely induces type I T cells without evidence of regulatory responses.
The Next Generation Northstar DOHC 4.6L V8 Engine with Four-Cam Continuously Variable Valve Timing for Cadillac (2003-01-0922)

A new generation Northstar DOHC V8 engine has been developed for a new family of rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Cadillac vehicles. The new longitudinal engine architecture includes strategically selected technologies to enable a higher level of performance and refinement. These technologies include four-cam continuously variable valve timing, low restriction intake and exhaust manifolds and cylinder head ports, a steel crankshaft, electronic throttle control, and close-coupled catalysts. Additional design features beyond those required for RWD include optimized block ribbing, improved coolant flow, and a newly developed lubrication and ventilation system for high-speed operation and high lateral acceleration. This new design results in improved performance over the entire operating range, lower emissions, improved fuel economy, improved operating refinement, and reduced noise/vibration/harshness (NVH). Simultaneous engineering and extensive use of mathbased 3D modeling and analysis were the cornerstones of the project from inception. This reduced development time and the amount of required development hardware while ensuring the highest reliability for the new engine. Manufacturing implementation required the maximum possible commonality with the transversely mounted front-wheel-drive (FWD) Northstar engine.
The growth of thin PbO layers on lead films: II. Theory

Abstract The lead oxidation data obtained in the experimental part of this paper were analyzed statistically and found to fit a rate law of the form, d X d t = α exp ( X 1 X ) . Using this dependence and certain known characteristics of orthorhombic PbO crystals, an oxidation mechanism is proposed which invokes the generation of oxygen vacancies at the Pb/PbO interface and their attentdant electric-field assisted transport across the oxide layer. This model seems to be consistent with the defect structure of PbO, and provides an explanation for the effects of temperature, oxygen pressure, lead microstructure and indium doping on the oxidation rate parameters, α and X. When combined with the observed thickness dependence of the oxide strain, the results suggests that the field required for the growth law arises from a piezoelectric potential present across the PbO layer. The α and X1 parameters show an expected interactive dependence upon one another, and the piezoelec-trically-coupled electric and mechanical forces control the oxidation rate.
Pure vs speculative risk: False choice; sham marriage

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to study the relationship between the pure risks of insurance and the speculative risks of other financial markets in the context of financial services “convergence”.Design/methodology/approach – The editorial recasts the difference between pure risks and speculative risks as a distinction between empirical risks (which arise from observable natural processes largely insulated against behavioral effects) and market risks (which contain substantial non‐empirical or behavioral components).Findings – Using the empirical risk/market risk dichotomy, it is argued that there is little reason to anticipate a dramatic convergence of insurance and other financial markets.Originality/value – The editorial challenges conventional distinctions between insurance and other financial risks, as well as conventional expectations regarding financial services convergence.
Interpreting the Transforming Geographic Mosaic of Religion in America: Its Impact on Congressional Representation and Increasing Political Polarization

This chapter presents the changing geographic, political and religious dynamics within the U.S. Congress between 1959 and 2009. Since Congress members are directly elected, their voting behavior is the best reflection of democracy within the U.S. governmental system. Second, contributing factors that helped alter the religious make-up of the House and Senate are also addressed. These findings indicate that more religious diversity has increased political polarization which adds to a dysfunctional environment. Several questions are addressed. To what extent has religious composition within the four general groups (Catholics, Conservative Protestants, Mainline Protestants, and Jews) of the House and Senate changed since 1959? Does the change correspond to changes in the religiosity of the greater U.S. population? Are Democrats and Republicans representing those who reflect their own religious affiliation? How often and under what circumstances might religious affiliation trump party politics in voting behavior? What geographic trends are apparent by religious representation? The political strength of some religious votes may be enhanced by being ignored by lobbyists who may disregard morality issues because they can lack financial considerations that would affect the special interest groups that they represent.
Exploring gender differences in constellations of problem behaviors and associated health-related factors during adolescence

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), this study expands on previous research on adolescent problem behavior by (1) examining gender differences in patterns or ‘subgroups’ of adolescents based on self-reported problem behaviors and (2) identifying differences in health-related factors including service utilization, physical and mental health, and violent victimization across the identified gender-specific subgroups. The data used in this study were taken from Wave 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data and includes respondents under the age of 18 (n = 10,360). Based on 16 problem behavior items measuring delinquency, substance use, risky sexual practices, and status offending, latent class analyses identified a 4-class model for the male subsample and a 3-class model for the female subsample. Important differences in health-related factors were observed across the latent classes. However, these differences were fairly consis...
MIP1, a new yeast gene homologous to the rat mitochondrial intermediate peptidase gene, is required for oxidative metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Cleavage of amino-terminal octapeptides, F/L/IXXS/T/GXXXX, by mitochondrial intermediate peptidase (MIP) is typical of many mitochondrial precursor proteins imported to the matrix and the inner membrane. We previously described the molecular characterization of rat liver MIP (RMIP) and indicated a putative homolog in the sequence predicted from gene YCL57w of yeast chromosome III. A new yeast gene, MIP1, has now been isolated by screening a Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic library with an RMIP cDNA probe. MIP1 predicts a protein of 772 amino acids (YMIP), which is 54% similar and 31% identical to RMIP and includes a putative 37-residue mitochondrial leader peptide. RMIP and YMIP contain the sequence LFHEMGHAM HSMLGRT, which includes a zinc-binding motif, HEXXH, while the predicted YCL57w protein contains a comparable sequence with a lower degree of homology. No obvious biochemical phenotype was observed in a chromosomally disrupted ycl57w mutant. In contrast, a mip1 mutant was unable to grow on nonfermentable substrates, while a mip1 ycl57w double disruption did not result in a more severe phenotype. The mip1 mutant exhibited defects of complexes III and IV of the respiratory chain, caused by failure to carry out the second MIP-catalyzed cleavage of the nuclear-encoded precursors for cytochrome oxidase subunit IV (CoxIV) and the iron-sulfur protein (Fe-S) of the bc1 complex to mature proteins. In vivo, intermediate-size CoxIV was accumulated in the mitochondrial matrix, while intermediate-size Fe-S was targeted to the inner membrane. Moreover, mip1 mitochondrial fractions failed to carry out maturation of the human ornithine transcarbamylase intermediate (iOTC), specifically cleaved by RMIP. A CEN plasmid-encoded YMIP protein restored normal MIP activity along with respiratory competence. Thus, YMIP is a functional homolog of RMIP and represents a new component of the yeast mitochondrial import machinery.
Peptide YY attenuates transcription factor activity in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced pancreatitis.

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease characterized by inflammation. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB, Smad proteins, and the steroid hormone family peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are involved in regulation of gene transcription during the disease process. Peptide YY (PYY), a gastrointestinal hormone, inhibits NF-κB translocation to acinar nuclei in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced AP. We investigated TNF-α induction of Smad proteins, PPARα/γ, and NF-κB by TNF-α, and hypothesized that PYY would attenuate this effect. Study design Rat acinar cells were treated with recombinant TNF-α (200 ng/mL). PYY (3 to 36) was added at 500 pM at 30 minutes after TNF-α treatment until cell harvest at 2 hours. Western blot analysis and intracellular staining of the p65 subunit of NF-κB were performed. NF-κB, Smad3/4, and PPARα/γ binding activities were determined by protein/DNA array analysis and verified by electrophoretic-mobility shift assay and densitometry. Results Cellular localization of NF-κB p65 showed nuclear staining within 2 hours, with controls stained in the cytoplasm. With PYY, p65 stained in the cytoplasm. Nuclear p65 was increased significantly (p Conclusions TNF-α increases early nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB in acinar cells. Exposure to TNF-α activates transcription factors NF-κB, Smad3/4, and PPARα/γ. PYY reduces this activation. Treatment with PYY may have therapeutic potential in improving AP.
Programming Generalization of Computational Skills

This investigation assessed the extent to which elementary-age learning disabled students were able to generalize a computational skill. The subjects consisted of nine students, all of whom made systematic errors in arithmetic. Two experiments were conducted using within-subject designs. All students experienced baseline, demonstration and modeling plus feedback, and maintenance. Students who met criteria for generalizing proceeded to a followup condition, while those who did not received further interventions designed to increase their ability to generalize. The effectiveness of the following procedures was investigated: (a) reinforcing students “to generalize,” and (b) a technique which combined training several response exemplars with the use of a verbal cue and an in-discriminable reinforcement contingency. The results indicated that demonstration and modeling plus feedback was sufficient to increase some students' ability to generalize; others required further interventions to facilitate generalization.
Uniform consistency in causal inference

There is a long tradition of representing causal relationships by directed acyclic graphs (Wright, 1934). Spirtes (1994), Spirtes et al. (1993) and Pearl & Verma (1991) describe procedures for inferring the presence or absence of causal arrows in the graph even if there might be unobserved confounding variables, and/or an unknown time order, and that under weak conditions, for certain combinations of directed acyclic graphs and probability distributions, are asymptotically, in sample size, consistent. These results are surprising since they seem to contradict the standard statistical wisdom that consistent estimators of causal effects do not exist for nonrandomised studies if there are potentially unobserved confounding variables. We resolve the apparent incompatibility of these views by closely examining the asymptotic properties of these causal inference procedures. We show that the asymptotically consistent procedures are 'pointwise consistent', but 'uniformly consistent' tests do not exist. Thus, no finite sample size can ever be guaranteed to approximate the asymptotic results. We also show the nonexistence of valid, consistent confidence intervals for causal effects and the nonexistence of uniformly consistent point estimators. Our results make no assumption about the form of the tests or estimators. In particular, the tests could be classical independence tests, they could be Bayes tests or they could be tests based on scoring methods such as BIC or AIC. The implications of our results for observational studies are controversial and are discussed briefly in the last section of the paper. The results hinge on the following fact: it is possible to find, for each sample size n, distributions P and Q such that P and Q are empirically indistinguishable and yet P and Q correspond to different causal effects.
Column chromatographic analysis of aminoalkylphosphonates.

Abstract Conditions are described which permit simultaneous column chromatographic analysis of either aminomethylphosphonate or aminopropylphosphonate and nine other aminoalkylphosphonates. The two branched chain compounds were impure and interfered with several peaks. Methods are given to eliminate interferences by other acidic compounds except taurine. The method permits recognition of the AAP's in nature and allows their use as amino acid analogs.
The Economic Analysis of Growing Greenhouse Cucumber with Soilless Culture System: The Case of Turkey

ABSTRACT Methyl bromide contributes to the destruction of the Earth's protective ozone layer in the atmosphere, so it makes sense to move production of some high value crops out of the soil altogether. The use of hydroponic technology or soilless culture can be a viable alternative to methyl bromide soil fumigation for greenhouse vegetable production. In Turkey, vegetable production in greenhouses is generally conventional. Soilless vegetable production in greenhouses is a new approach in sustainable agriculture in Turkey. For example, soilless production of cucumbers can provide an alternative, but little is known about the economics of this type of enterprise. Therefore, there is a need to do an economic study and cost and return analysis at local level and under grower conditions. This study aims at evaluating the economic feasibility of growing greenhouse cucumber with soilless culture system. According to results of this study, net return obtained from greenhouse cucumbers was determined to be $1.81/...
Unclassified mycobacterial infection and disease in children residing in Massachusetts.

Twenty-eight children with lymphadenitis of mycobacterial origin were studied and tested with PPD-B (Battey) and PPD-S (Standard). Eleven were seen in 1963, the others from 1956 to 1962. Unclassified mycobacteria were most likely the etiological agents in 22 children, including 6 with proved cultures. Complete excision was curative, but other surgical procedures were not. The effect of antituberculous drugs could not be defined. Twenty of 135 school children in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a history of sensitivity to PPD-S had significantly greater reactions to PPD-B than to PPD-S. This number included 23 per cent of the children given antituberculous chemoprophylaxis because of recent tuberculin conversion. Most of the “Battey reactors” in both groups were lifelong residents of Massachusetts, only a few having been in areas previously described as endemic for unclassified mycobacteria.
Officer evaluation in the community policing context

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to compare traditional and community policing agencies with regard to how individual officers are formally evaluated and to assess organizational goals and objectives in each type of agency. Design/methodology/approach – A 75‐item questionnaire was mailed to 600 municipal and county law enforcement agencies. A total of 11 hypotheses were tested regarding performance evaluation content, the values of police supervisors and organizational objectives. Findings – Community policing agencies have added new output measures but continue to value enforcement statistics as much as their more traditional counterparts. Additionally, many community policing agencies have not updated their formal systems to incorporate community policing concepts. Research limitations/implications – Survey responses were obtained from only one supervisor per agency and the knowledge of each individual was varied. However, if supervisors from traditional and community policing agencies are equally competent, results should be unbiased. Further research is needed to assess the reasons why many agencies have not updated their formal evaluation systems to incorporate community policing concepts. Practical implications – There may be a conflict between police supervisor values and formal evaluation procedures in many community policing agencies. Further assistance or guidance may be needed to aid police administrators in updating and improving their formal systems of officer performance evaluation. Originality/value – This is the first nationwide assessment of police officer performance evaluation during the community policing era.
Rapid, competent, and inexpensive developmental-behavioral screening is possible.

An article recently published in this journal1 concluded that “cost remains a significant barrier to greater provision of formal developmental and behavioral screening.” The authors offered the estimate that including such services would add $11 to $82 per screen. Because they make it seem that adequately performing this major area of general pediatrics practice is economically impossible, one should inspect carefully the data used and challenge the conclusions reached. First, their cost analysis was not based on a consideration of appropriate screening techniques. By screening we usually mean the application of a quick, simple, but reasonably accurate test to an asymptomatic population to find those individuals who are likely to have the problem in question. A positive screen leads to a more thorough evaluation at the secondary stage of assessment. However, many of the screening tools listed in that article are too long and detailed to be judged primary level screens—for example, … Address correspondence to William B. Carey, MD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 511 Walnut Ln, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1140. E-mail: wbcarey{at}worldnet.att.net
Mid-21st century projections in temperature extremes in the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains from regional climate models

This study analyzes mid-21st century projections of daily surface air minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax) temperatures, by season and elevation, over the southern range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The projections are from four regional climate models (RCMs) that are part of the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP). All four RCMs project 2°C or higher increases in Tmin and Tmax for all seasons. However, there are much greater (>3°C) increases in Tmax during summer at higher elevations and in Tmin during winter at lower elevations. Tmax increases during summer are associated with drying conditions. The models simulate large reductions in latent heat fluxes and increases in sensible heat fluxes that are, in part, caused by decreases in precipitation and soil moisture. Tmin increases during winter are found to be associated with decreases in surface snow cover, and increases in soil moisture and atmospheric water vapor. The increased moistening of the soil and atmosphere facilitates a greater diurnal retention of the daytime solar energy in the land surface and amplifies the longwave heating of the land surface at night. We hypothesize that the presence of significant surface moisture fluxes can modify the effects of snow-albedo feedback and results in greater wintertime warming at night than during the day.
System and integrated catheter for real-time intravascular ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging

Combined intravascular ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging (IVUS/IVPA) is an emerging modality for the improved characterization of atherosclerotic plaques including anatomical features of the imaged vessel and tissue composition. Encouraging initial demonstrations of the technique, however, have been limited by slow catheter rotation and data acquisition rates on the order of several seconds per frame, with off-line image processing. Herein, we present both a system and an integrated catheter capable of real-time IVUS/IVPA imaging with online image processing and display of both IVUS and IVPA images. The integrated IVUS/IVPA catheter is fully contained within a 1 mm outer diameter torque cable with the electrical signals transmitted at the proximal end using a slip ring rotary joint. Additional components include a pulsed laser operating at 10 kHz pulse repetition frequency, motor and servo drive, an ultrasound pulser/receiver, and a 200 MHz digitizer coupled to a system capable of real-time IVUS/IVPA imaging. The system performance was validated on a vessel-mimicking phantom with an embedded coronary stent intended to provide IVPA contrast within content of an IVUS image.
How critical is the interval between extractions and irradiation in patients with head and neck malignancy

Abstract The postirradiation response of patients who had teeth removed and who received irradiation directly to the surgical sites is evaluated. Intraoral sequelae are studied in relation to the time period between extractions and the initiation of radiotherapy.
Covariation of mesoscale ocean color and sea-surface temperature patterns in the Sargasso Sea

During the lifetime of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, there were 21 instances in which both satellite-derived ocean color and sea-surface temperature are simultaneously available over large areas of the Sargasso Sea. These images reveal close correspondence between mesoscale structures observed in temperature and pigment fields. In general, higher (lower) pigment biomass occurs in mesoscale features consisting of cold (warm) temperature anomalies. This relationship is consistent with the idea that upward displacement of isopycnals at the base of the euphotic zone by mesoscale eddies is an important mechanism of nutrient supply in the region.
Time-dependent inhibition of histamine-induced cutaneous responses by oral and intramuscular diphenhydramine and oral fexofenadine.

Background Diphenhydramine is often the treatment of choice for acute urticarial or allergic reactions despite its adverse effects of sedation and impairment. Second- and third-generation histamine 1 -antihistamines are generally devoid of these adverse effects but are typically not used because of a perceived slower onset of action. Objective To examine the time-dependent effects of oral fexofenadine and oral and intramuscular diphenhydramine to reduce histamine-induced wheal-and-flare responses. Methods Eighteen healthy patients were included in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-way, randomized, crossover study with oral fexofenadine (180 mg) and oral and intramuscular diphenhydramine (50 mg). Histamine-induced skin tests were performed before and more than 6 hours subsequent to dosing. The primary end point was time to induce a 50% reduction in histamine-induced flare. Secondary end points included change from baseline at each time point in wheal-and-flare responses and area under the curve at more than 6 hours for flare. Results No significant differences were found in the 50% inhibitory responses of histamine-induced flares among the 3 groups ( P = .09). No significant differences were found among the 3 groups in change from baseline at each time point except for 30 minutes during which fexofenadine had no inhibitory effect. Area under the curve analyses for wheal-and-flare responses revealed no differences among treatments at more than 6 hours. Conclusion Diphenhydramine tended to work more rapidly than fexofenadine, but the differences were not statistically significant. Given the adverse effect profile of diphenhydramine, but only marginal onset of action advantage, the risk-to-benefit ratio may be more favorable for oral fexofenadine when treating an acute urticarial or allergic reaction.
The epidemiology of quantitative ultrasound: A review of the relationships with bone mass, osteoporosis and fracture risk

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is a simple, inexpensive and non-invasive measure of bone which has been used in research settings for the prediction of osteoporosis. This review summarizes the current status of the epidemiology of QUS analysis, including its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD), risk of osteoporotic fracture and risk factors for osteoporosis. Although only moderately correlated with BMD, QUS appears to be as strong a predictor of osteoporotic fracture as BMD and may predict fracture independent of BMD. Risk factors for low QUS, including age, menopause, body composition and physical inactivity, seem to parallel those of low BMD. More longitudinal research is needed to confirm the clinical utility of QUS and more experimental and population-based studies are needed to determine whether the etiology of low QUS values is different from that of low bone mass.
Future Domestic Air Navigation System Analysis

there has been recent concern within the government about the “proliferation of radio navigation systems.” Today, the prime domestic civil air navigation system (VOR/DME) is essentially only usable by aviation due to line–of–sight restrictions. With the availability of wider coverage systems, and low cost microprocessor based user equipment, it may be possible to consolidate air, marine, and land navigation services into one system to be operated by the government. However, each of these services has its own peculiar requirements. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of introducing other navigation systems into the VOR/DME system environment. In particular, two of the most promising systems, LORAN–C and NAVSTAR–GPS, are considered. The issues that are addressed concern the distribution of costs between the users and government, distribution of costs among the various classes of users, user amortization of VOR/DME equipment, signal–in–space redundancy requirements, relationships to landing and communications airborne equipment, and satisfaction of operational requirements. Future implementation scenarios are outlined and subjected to economic analysis. One of the main conclusions drawn from the economic analysis is that a reasonable transition plan to either LORAN–C or NAVSTAR–GPS, if they are successful, would be to accommodate the more high performance users with these systems, and retain only the VOR part of the VOR/DME system for service to lower performance users.
An analysis of the bipole-dipole method of resistivity surveying

Abstract Bipole-dipole (B-D) resistivity mapping has been widely used as a reconnaissance method in geothermal exploration. In this technique, apparent resistivities are plotted at roving dipole receiver locations and the current source (bipole) is left fixed. Interpretation to date has been in terms of simple, layered, dike, vertical contact, or sphere models. In the case of more complicated two-dimensional models the interpretation is much more ambiguous and the detection of buried conductors depends very much on the choice of transmitter location. Since apparent resistivities taken on a line collinear with the dipole are roughly equivalent to the apparent resistivities for one sounding in a dipole-dipole (D-D) pseudo-section, the two methods have been compared for several two-dimensional models. A buried quarter space and a buried horizontal cylinder of rectangular cross section, with or without an overburden layer, have been used in the comparison. Unless the target is very shallow or close to the bipole or dipole, the resolution of the horizontal position or depth extent for the B-D method is very poor. Conductive overburden worsens the situation for both methods but the effect is more drastic for the B-D method. The spatial patterns for these models is complex for the B-D method and in fact for certain transmitter positions only subtle differences exist for the buried cylinder and buried quarter space models. Multiple sources improve the resolution of the B-D method, but many sources coupled with the high sampling density of receivers required to define the spatial patterns would greatly reduce the cost effectiveness claimed for this method. Changing the bipole orientation with respect to the strike of the models contributes little if anything to the resolution of the models. A further experiment of calculating a residual map by subtracting the half-space or layered half-space response from the response of the buried models was also unsuccessful in improving the interpretability of the B-D method. Finally, a model representative of a typical Basin-and-Range valley with and without a hypothesized geothermal reservoir shows that in more complex models the B-D map would not, in a practical survey, reveal the reservoir. From these model studies it is clear that, except for some simple geologic situations, the B-D method is not effective for subsurface mapping. Selected D-D lines would be far more useful and more cost effective.