cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost analysis of a remote patient monitoring programme for post-discharge patients with type 2 diabetes.

IntroductionAssessing costs of an evidence-based health promotion programme is crucial to understand the economic feasibility of adopting or sustaining the programme. This study conducted a cost an...
Debt Buyers Beware: Filing Proofs of Claim for Time-Barred Debt in the Eleventh Circuit and Beyond

In Crawford v. LVNV Funding, LLC, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit remarked on a “deluge” sweeping through the U.S. bankruptcy courts: “Consumer debt buyers—armed with hundreds of delinquent accounts purchased from creditors—are filing proofs of claim on debts deemed unenforceable under state statutes of limitations.” More recently, federal courts have faced a deluge of a different sort: lawsuits and adversary proceedings alleging that debt collectors violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by filing such time-barred proofs of claim. The flood of FDCPA cases can be attributed, at least in part, to Crawford, a 2014 case that held that filing time-barred claims is “unfair,” “unconscionable,” “deceptive,” and “misleading” under sections 1692e and 1629f of the FDCPA. Over the last two years, “copycat” Crawford cases have been winding their way through bankruptcy and district courts across the nation. In the absence of clear guidance from the Bankruptcy Code and Rules, a variety of approaches to address FDCPA liability for stale proofs of claim has emerged. At the time of this writing, appeals on some dimension of this topic are pending in the Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits. Just last month, the Eleventh Circuit resolved an issue that the Crawford opinion “dodged”: the extent to which bankruptcy’s claims allowance process precludes application of the FDCPA. In Johnson v. Midland Funding, LLC, the court held that a debt collector’s conduct in bankruptcy could form the basis of an FDCPA claim. This holding lends greater weight to Crawford and deepens a circuit split on the intersection of the FDCPA and the Bankruptcy Code. This issue of the Bankruptcy Law Letter examines the Eleventh Circuit’s recent case law stale proofs of claim, with an eye toward the appeals pending in other circuits. It focuses on two key questions: First, to what extent does the Bankruptcy Code’s comprehensive statutory scheme impliedly repeal the FDCPA? Second, does filing an accurate but stale proof of claim offend the FDCPA?
Gender disparity in bipolar disorder diagnosis in the United States: A retrospective analysis of the 2005–2017 MarketScan Commercial Claims database

Objective To examine gender disparities in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) within a privately insured population in the United States and investigate potential contributing factors for these gender differences. Methods This retrospective cohort study utilized 2005-2017 claims data from the MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters database. The study cohort included subjects, aged 10-64 years, who had a minimum of 1-year continuous insurance coverage and no record of a BD diagnosis before cohort entry. We examined the gender difference in BD diagnosis rate, overall and by subgroups. We then used Cox regression models to evaluate the gender effect on time to first BD diagnosis, and the potential moderators of gender effect. Results The study cohort consisted of 97,193,443 subjects; 0.45% of subjects were diagnosed with BDs after cohort entry with males having a lower diagnosis rate than females (0.36% vs. 0.54%). The Cox regression analysis indicated that males were less likely to be diagnosed with BDs (unadjusted Hazard Ratio, HR [95% CI]: 0.69 [0.68-0.69]) and gender difference remained significant after adjusting for demographics, comorbidity and healthcare utilizations (adjusted HR [95% CI]: 0.77 [0.76-0.77]). Gender disparity was consistently strong among most age groups, but varied in other demographic subgroups. Conclusions Even though the prevalence of BDs is approximately equal between genders in the general population, our study found a much lower diagnosis rate in men compared to women for a privately insured U.S. Population Future studies aimed at identifying and understanding the barriers to diagnosis of BDs in men are warranted.
Memories and Projections in Nonlinear Equations of Motion

Projections are typically applied to linear equations of motion such as the von Neumann or the Liouville equation for the evolution of the quantum density matrix. This chapter showed how their use can be extended, surprisingly, to systems which obey nonlinear equations of motion, although it would appear such was not envisaged in the original construction by Zwanzig. The first example treated was the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation which has a cubic nonlinearity in the quantum mechanical amplitude, or equivalently, its consequence, the nonlinear von Neumann equation for the density matrix. A connection seemed to arise naturally but unexpectedly in this analysis to the evolution of the physical pendulum. The second example was to nonlinear waves that appear in reaction diffusion equations of a type exemplified by the Fisher equation. The third example had to do with non-local connections not in time but in space, which are better termed “influence functions” rather than memory functions. They facilitate the exploration of interesting phenomena in theoretical ecology.
Rathke's cleft cysts and arachnoid cysts

Abstract Rathke's cleft cysts and arachnoid cysts are two lesions among many that can arise in the sellar region. While in most cases they are asymptomatic and only require conservative management, they can exert mass effect on the pituitary gland or on the optic apparatus to cause endocrine and visual dysfunction. In this chapter, we discuss how to preoperatively manage these patients, the key imaging findings for these lesions, the surgical approaches and techniques available to treat them, and their clinical outcomes.
In vivo imaging of retrovirus infection reveals a role for Siglec-1/CD169 in multiple routes of transmission

Abstract Early events in retrovirus transmission are determined by interactions between incoming viruses and frontline cells near entry sites. Despite their importance for retroviral pathogenesis, very little is known about these events. We developed a bioluminescence imaging (BLI)-guided multiscale imaging approach to study these events in vivo. Engineered murine leukemia reporter viruses allowed us to monitor individual stages of the retrovirus life cycle including virus particle flow, virus entry into cells, infection and spread for retroorbital, subcutaneous and oral routes. BLI permitted temporal tracking of orally administered retroviruses along the gastrointestinal tract as they traversed the lumen through Peyer’s Patch to reach the draining mesenteric sac. Importantly, capture and acquisition of lymph-, blood- and milk-borne retroviruses spanning three routes, was promoted by a common host factor, the I-type lectin CD169, expressed on sentinel macrophages. These results highlight how retroviruses co-opt the immune surveillance function of tissue resident sentinel macrophages for establishing infection.
Promoting global stability in data-driven models of quadratic nonlinear dynamics

Modeling realistic fluid and plasma flows is computationally intensive, motivating the use of reduced-order models for a variety of scientific and engineering tasks. However, it is challenging to characterize, much less guarantee, the global stability (i.e., long-time boundedness) of these models. In this work, we illustrate how to modify the objective function in machine learning algorithms to promote globally stable data-driven models of fluid and plasma flows. This innovation significantly extends the applicability of sparse system identification for complex dynamics, such as models of turbulent boundary layers.
Non-random sister chromatid segregation mediates rDNA copy number maintenance in Drosophila

Although considered to be exact copies of each other, sister chromatids can segregate non-randomly in some cases. For example, sister chromatids of the X and Y chromosomes segregate non-randomly during asymmetric division of male germline stem cells (GSCs) in D. melanogaster. Here we identify that the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci, which are located on the X and Y chromosomes, and an rDNA-binding protein, Indra, are required for non-random sister chromatid segregation (NRSS). We provide the evidence that NRSS is a mechanism by which GSCs recover rDNA copy number, which occurs through unequal sister chromatid exchange, counteracting the spontaneous copy number loss that occurs during aging. Our study reveals an unexpected role for NRSS in maintaining germline immortality through maintenance of a vulnerable genomic element, rDNA.
Three Field Experiments on Procrastination and Willpower

We conducted three field experiments to investigate how people schedule and complete tasks, providing some of the first data concerning procrastination and willpower under financial incentives. In our first study, we paid students $95 if they completed 75 hours of monitored studying over a five-week period. We also required people to meet interim weekly targets in one treatment, but not in the other. In a second study, the task consisted of answering multiple-choice questions on seven consecutive days, with staggered start dates and an endogenous task ordering (tasks varied by number of questions). In our third study, participants answered 20 multiple-choice questions over two consecutive days, varying whether this was during the week or on the weekend. Participants were assigned to either an easy or difficult Stroop test (used by psychologists to deplete willpower) on the first day, before any questions could be answered. We find evidence of procrastination and willpower depletion/replenishment, as well as evidence suggesting a self-reputation interpretation. And yet the behavioral interventions we used led to outcomes that surprised us in all three studies, although these outcomes are largely consistent with the standard neo-classical model.
The Effects of Sand Sediment Volume Heterogeneities on Sound Propagation and Scattering

Abstract : To model the effects of volume heterogeneities in 1) scattering from sand sediments and 2) in sound propagation within those sediments. A better understanding of the role of heterogeneities in both scattering and propagation could lead to improvements in sediment characterization using remote sensing techniques as well as in high-frequency detection of mine and mine-like targets resting on or buried within the seafloor. The goal of this work is to further develop and test models of volume scattering by utilizing the existing suite of instrumentation previously developed at APL- UW for the study of high-frequency acoustics. These models include perturbation models applied to scattering from the seafloor due to heterogeneities in the sediment properties, recently developed models by Dr. Ivakin [1], which model scattering from inclusions in the sediment such as shells and coarse grains, models which account for the transition layer observed during SAX99 which could have a strong effect on volume scattering at high frequencies, and perturbation theory for sound propagation through a varying poroelastic sediment.
Asymmetry in the asymptotic identification

The compatibility of the notion of an internal symmetry group with the asymptotic identification for an electromagnetic part of the non-Abelian gauge field is investigated on the classical level. It is shown that the asymptotic identification would restrict, without the necessity of violating local gauge invariance, internal symmetry transformations to those which commute with the generator of electromagnetic gauge transformations. Local gauge transformations would be restricted in the same way in the region of definability of the gauge field’s electromagnetic part. Based upon these restrictions, a model for the structure of the gauge field’s sources and interactions is conjectured in order to illustrate how the knownSU 2 andSU 3 dynamical symmetry and internal particle labeling schemes might arise from a local gauge theory employing an asymptotic identification.
Singular perturbations of semilinear second order systems

Abstract : Many physical problems occur as two-point boundary value problems for some systems. Although scalar problems have been quite thoroughly analyzed in the last twenty-five years, vector problems have rarely been examined. Results providing nonuniform convergence to the solution of appropriate reduced problems away from endpoint boundary layers are presented. Possibilities involving interior transition layers will also be considered.
The American Indian Mind in a Linear World: American Indian Studies and Traditional Knowledge

PREFACE 1. "INDIAN THINKING" AND A LINEAR WORLD 2. ORAL TRADITION AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE 3. AMERICAN INDIAN CIRCULAR PHILOSOPHY 4. NATIVE AMERICAN GENIUS AND INDIAN INTELLECTUALISM 5. INDIAN MINDS AND WHITE TEACHERS 6. RISE OF AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES 7. CULTURAL PATRIMONY AND NATIVE SCHOLARS 8. INSTITUTIONALIZING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE 9. THE FULL CIRCLE AND ITS CENTER BIBLIOGRAPHY
A novel mechanical shock test method to evaluate lead-free BGA solder joint reliability

Portable electronic products such as cell phones are often subjected to drop tests to simulate consumer usage and to ensure required field reliability is met. Product-level drop tests can cause solder joint failures in both lead-free and tin-lead BGA packages due to the combination of highly localized strain created by high strain-rate mechanical shock. In order to understand this phenomenon at the package level, a 4-point dynamic bend test was developed to produce repeatable and scalable strain levels on printed circuit boards assembled with BGA packages deformed at high strain rates (surface strain rates >5/sec). This test method requires a very simple set up that can be easily replicated. Initial determination of board strain level at the point of BGA solder joint failure was characterized for lead-free (SnAgCu) BGA assemblies. This test, in conjunction with a Weibull failure model, provides a method to effectively evaluate BGA solder joint reliability in dynamic environments.
Estimates of pain prevalence and severity in adults: United States, 2012.

Abstract Using a simple approach for coding pain severity, the present study describes self-reported pain in U.S. adults. Data are included for 8,781 adults who completed the Functioning and Disability Supplement of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. An internationally piloted pain severity coding system was used to group participants into 5 discrete ordered pain categories based on their pain persistence (days with pain in the last 3 months) and bothersomeness (little, a lot, somewhere in between): pain free and categories 1 (low) to 4 (high). It is estimated that 126.1 million adults reported some pain in the previous 3 months, with 25.3 million adults (11.2%) suffering from daily (chronic) pain and 23.4 million (10.3%) reporting a lot of pain. Based on the persistence and bothersomeness of their pain, 14.4 million adults (6.4%) were classified as having the highest level of pain, category 4, with an additional 25.4 million adults (11.3%) experiencing category 3 pain. Individuals with category 3 or 4 pain were likely to have worse health status, to use more health care, and to suffer from more disability than those with less severe pain. Associations were seen between pain severity and selected demographic variables including race, ethnicity, preferred language, sex, and age. Perspective U.S. estimates of pain prevalence are presented using a simple approach for assigning pain severity developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics. Concurrent validity is assessed. Although this approach is promising, additional work is required to determine the usefulness of the Washington Group pain categories for pain research or clinical practice.
Algorithms of the Numerical Simulation of the Motion of Satellites

The paper presents efficient algorithms for the numerical simulation of motion as applied to natural satellites. These algorithms are based on using regularizing and stabilizing Kustaanheimo—Stiefel (KS) transformations (Stiefel and Scheifele, 1971).
Agricultural marketing teaching in the United Kingdom

Summary The paper presents the results of a survey of agricultural marketing teaching in British Universities and Colleges. After a preliminary discussion of the analytical problems arising from conflicting conceptions of the term ‘marketing’, and the variety of institutional arrangements which exist, an analysis is offered of the time devoted to the various components of the subject. This analysis confirms the existence of two fundamentally opposed views of marketing training, one with a distinctly practical orientation, the other supposedly more ‘academic’. The paper argues that marketing is both a policy subject, as it is now taught in Universities, and a business training, and that students in all institutions should be made aware of both aspects. The case is also made for greater emphasis on the decision-making processes through the use of cases, role-playing exercises, and industrial experience, which it is argued are perfectly reconcilable with the intellectual rigour of the traditional university education as long as they are well devised and intelligently applied.
Prediction of Mechanical Efficiency of Parallel-Axis Gear Pairs

A computational model is proposed for the prediction of friction-related mechanical efficiency losses of parallel-axis gear pairs. The model incorporates a gear load distribution model, a friction model, and a mechanical efficiency formulation to predict the instantaneous mechanical efficiency of a gear pair under typical operating, surface, and lubrication conditions. The friction model uses a new friction coefficient formula obtained by using a validated non-Newtonian thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model in conjunction with a multiple linear regression analysis. The load and friction coefficient, distribution predictions are used to compute instantaneous torque/ power losses and the mechanical efficiency of a gear pair at any given rotational position. Efficiency measurements from gear pairs having various gear designs and surface treatments are compared to model predictions. Mechanical efficiency predictions are shown to be within 0.1% of the measured values, indicating that the proposed efficiency model is accurate. Results of a parametric study are presented at the end to highlight the influence of key basic gear geometric parameters, tooth modifications, operating conditions, surface finish, and lubricant properties on mechanical efficiency losses.
Agonist-induced desensitization of A2B adenosine receptors.

Abstract Agonist-induced desensitization has been described for the A 1 , A 2A , and A 3 adenosine receptor subtypes of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Desensitization of the fourth adenosine receptor subtype, the A 2B adenosine receptor (A 2B R), has not been studied extensively. We sought to determine whether the A 2B R is subject to agonist-induced desensitization. COS 7 cells, which exhibit endogenous expression of the A 2B R, and transfected CHO cells, which stably express a modified rat A 2B R bearing a 5′ FLAG epitope tag, were studied. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) responsiveness to an acute challenge was measured after pretreating (desensitizing) cells with the adenosine receptor agonist 5′- N -ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA). Incubation with NECA resulted in hyporesponsiveness to acute agonist challenge in both COS 7 and transfected CHO cells. Desensitized cells exhibited restoration of cAMP responses after recovery for 24 hr in growth medium. Choleratoxin-induced cAMP responses were preserved in desensitized cells, and high concentrations of NECA were unable to overcome the desensitization. Membrane levels of the epitope-tagged A 2B R were assessed by western blot in transiently transfected COS 7 cells. The expression of epitope-tagged A 2B Rs was not different between control and desensitized cells. In northern blot analysis, levels of endogenous A 2B R mRNA were similar in control and desensitized COS 7 cells. We conclude that the A 2B R is subject to agonist-induced desensitization with preserved expression of A 2B R mRNA and protein. Uncoupling of the A 2B adenosine receptor from the G protein complex may contribute to the mechanism of desensitization.
Effect of phosphate in enhancing the action of triiodothyronine.

IT HAS been reported from our laboratories that the intravenous administration of triiodothyronine (T-3) to a myxedematous patient was followed by a marked rise in oxygen consumption within seven hours. The intravenous administration of triiodothyronine in comparable, or even greater doses, to intact dogs has not in our hands been observed to cause any acute elevation in oxygen consumption. However, during the course of studies in dogs designed to determine the effect of triiodothyronine on the oxygen consumption of kidney tissue, it was observed that the intravenous administration of triiodothyronine to animals receiving a continuous infusion of phosphate produced a marked and rapid increase in oxygen consumption and death from what appeared to be a thyroid storm. These observations suggested that a phosphate load enhanced the action of this thyroid hormone.
Impossibility of observing coherent macroscopic quantum superposition: A new law of thermodynamics?

Abstract It is suggested that the material properties of macroscopic systems which lead to energy barriers also represent anharmonic coupling coefficients for macroscopic spontaneous decay to nearby states so that the self-consistently damping may make observation of coherent macroscopic quantum superposition impossible.
The role of interleukin-6 in the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and brain indoleamines by endotoxin and interleukin-1β

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of several cytokines that can stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Because IL-6 is produced in response to the administration of endotoxin (LPS) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), it is possible that IL-6 contributes to the neuroendocrine and neurochemical changes induced by them. In this study, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS elevated plasma concentrations of IL-6 while activating the HPA axis in a dose-dependent manner. Both responses reached a peak at around 2-3 h. Mouse IL-1beta administration (100 ng, i.p.) induced large increases in plasma corticosterone and a substantial, but short-lived increase in plasma IL-6 with a peak at 2 h. Pretreatment of mice intraperitoneally with a monoclonal antibody to mouse IL-6 significantly attenuated the plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to LPS at 3 h, but not at 1 h. Anti-IL-6 treatment also attenuated the LPS-induced increases of tryptophan and the serotonin catabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), but not that of the norepinephrine catabolite, 3-methoxy,4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG). Pretreatment of mice with anti-IL-6 significantly attenuated the IL-1-induced increases of plasma ACTH and corticosterone at 2 h, but not at 4 h. The IL-1-induced increases of MHPG, tryptophan and 5-HIAA in hypothalamus and brain stem were not significantly altered. These results suggest that IL-6 contributes to the later phases of the LPS- and IL-1-induced stimulations of the HPA axis and to the indoleaminergic responses to LPS, but not to IL-1.
Attachment Mediates Effects of Trait Mindfulness on Stress Responses to Conflict

While the regulation of stress is usually thought of as an intrapersonal process, research suggests that relational factors such as attachment anxiety and avoidance play an influential role in stress regulation. Mindfulness, the process of intentionally paying attention to present moment experiences in a nonjudgmental way, has been associated with both enhanced romantic attachment security and stress regulation, though the precise role of attachment in mindfulness–stress paths remains unclear. The current study explores (1) the association between mindfulness and romantic partners’ physiological and subjective stress responses to a relationship conflict discussion and (2) the role of attachment anxiety and avoidance in statistically mediating that association. Heterosexual couples (n = 114 dyads) completed self-report measures of mindfulness and attachment approximately 1 week prior to a lab session involving a conflict discussion task. Participants rated state positive and negative affect and stress appraisals following the discussion, and five saliva samples were collected for cortisol assay to measure physiological stress. Results supported the proposed mediational model, with significant indirect effects of total mindfulness scores on stress outcomes through attachment. Specifically, mindfulness is related to lower cortisol levels during the conflict discussion via lower attachment avoidance and predicted less negative affect and more positive cognitive appraisals following the conflict discussion via lower attachment anxiety.
Molecular robots guided by prescriptive landscapes

Traditional robots rely for their function on computing, to store internal representations of their goals and environment and to coordinate sensing and any actuation of components required in response. Moving robotics to the single-molecule level is possible in principle, but requires facing the limited ability of individual molecules to store complex information and programs. One strategy to overcome this problem is to use systems that can obtain complex behaviour from the interaction of simple robots with their environment. A first step in this direction was the development of DNA walkers, which have developed from being non-autonomous, to being capable of directed but brief motion on one-dimensional tracks. Here we demonstrate that previously developed random walkers—so-called molecular spiders that comprise a streptavidin molecule as an inert ‘body’ and three deoxyribozymes as catalytic ‘legs’—show elementary robotic behaviour when interacting with a precisely defined environment. Single-molecule microscopy observations confirm that such walkers achieve directional movement by sensing and modifying tracks of substrate molecules laid out on a two-dimensional DNA origami landscape. When using appropriately designed DNA origami, the molecular spiders autonomously carry out sequences of actions such as ‘start’, ‘follow’, ‘turn’ and ‘stop’. We anticipate that this strategy will result in more complex robotic behaviour at the molecular level if additional control mechanisms are incorporated. One example might be interactions between multiple molecular robots leading to collective behaviour; another might be the ability to read and transform secondary cues on the DNA origami landscape as a means of implementing Turing-universal algorithmic behaviour.
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein contributes to human antigen R and cyclin E1 deregulation in breast cancer.

The cell cycle regulator cyclin E1 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers. In breast cancer, elevated cyclin E1 correlates with poor outcome, as do high cytoplasmic levels of the stress-induced RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR). We showed previously that increased cytoplasmic HuR elevates cyclin E1 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by stabilizing its mRNA. We show here that cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) co-regulates cyclin E1 with HuR in breast cancer cells. CIRP had been shown to interact with HuR in Xenopus laevis oocytes and to be decreased in endometrial cancer. To investigate if human CIRP and HuR co-regulate cyclin E1, HuR and CIRP levels were altered in MCF-7 cells and effects on cyclin E1 assessed. Altering HuR expression resulted in a reciprocal change in CIRP expression, while altering CIRP expression resulted in corresponding changes in HuR and cyclin E1 expression. CIRP and HuR co-precipitated in the presence of RNA and CIRP enhanced HuR binding to the cyclin E1 mRNA and increased cyclin E1 mRNA stability. CIRP co-localized with HuR predominantly in the nucleus, but also in discrete cytoplasmic foci identified as stress granules (SGs). CIRP overexpression increased the number of HuR-containing SGs, while its knockdown decreased them. Our results suggest that CIRP positively regulates HuR, ultimately resulting in increased protein synthesis of at least one of its targets. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential Response Response to Hughes and Colleagues

In their critique of differential response (DR), Hughes and colleagues raise a number of important issues that are central to broader efforts at the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) including the need for greater reliance on evidence-based practice in child welfare, more rigorous evaluation methodologies, and a robust set of measures and instruments to guide practice and evaluation. ACYF is pursuing these goals with projects to increase focus on child well-being, improve associated measures, promote the use of evidence-based programs, and expand the evidence base. We believe that DR is a promising practice and expect forthcoming results from an ACYF-sponsored multisite evaluation of DR to significantly enhance the evidence base. Future efforts can build on these results by focusing on social and emotional well-being in addition to safety and permanency, using demonstrated assessments to monitor outcomes, and offering families in both alternative and investigative pathways evidence-based services. Language: en
Effects of Randomness on Band Gap Formation in Models of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Panels Having Quasirandom Fiber Arrangements

Large-scale deterministic simulations are performed in order to observe the band gap formation in composite models having quasirandom fiber arrangements. Unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite panels are modeled in two-dimensional space with quasi random fiber arrangements that can be qualified as "essentially regular with slight randomness. " Different quasirandom fiber arrangements are computationally generated using the same control parameters. Statistical parameters are used to quantitatively describe the fiber arrangements. Subsequently, a series of arrangements is generated from each base line arrangement by scaling up the coordinates of fiber centers, while the fiber diameter remains unchanged in order to study the effects of fiber spacing. Simulation results are compared with the corresponding case of ideally regular fiber arrangement. The most interesting observation is that the slight randomness in the fiber arrangements enhances the band gap phenomenon by introducing a few secondary band gaps adjacent to the primary band gap.
A framework for predicting trajectories using global and local information

We propose a novel framework for predicting the paths of vehicles that move on a road network. The framework leverages global and local patterns in spatio-temporal data. From a large corpus of GPS trajectories, we predict the subsequent path of an in-progress vehicle trajectory using only spatio-temporal features from the data. Our framework consists of three components: (1) a component that abstracts GPS location data into a graph at the neighborhood or street level, (2) a component that generates policies obtained from the graph data, and (3) a component that predicts the subsequent path of an in-progress trajectory. Hierarchical clustering is used to construct the city graph, where the clusters facilitate a compact representation of the trajectory data to make processing large data sets tractable and efficient. We propose four alternative policy generation algorithms: a frequency-based algorithm (FreqCount), a correlation-based algorithm (EigenStrat), a spectral clusteringbased algorithm (LapStrat), and a Markov Chain-based algorithm (MCStrat). The algorithms explore either global patterns (FreqCount and EigenStrat) or local patterns (MCStrat) in the data, with the exception of LapStrat which explores both. We present an analysis of the performance of the alternative prediction algorithms using a large real-world taxi data set.
Functional Si and CdSe quantum dots: synthesis, conjugate formation, and photoluminescence quenching by surface interactions.

Silicon quantum dots (QDs) were prepared with a corona of di-n-octyl phosphine oxides, by performing hydrosilylation chemistry on the surface of hydrogen-terminated Si QDs. These novel Si QDs proved well-suited to serve as “ligands” for other semiconductor QDs, such as CdSe, by interaction of the phosphine oxide corona with the CdSe surface. A pronounced photoluminescence quenching of CdSe quantum dots was observed upon introduction of the phosphine oxide functionalized Si QDs to a CdSe QD solution. Surface functionalization of the Si QDs proved critically important to observing these effects, as conventional (alkane-covered) Si QD samples gave no evidence of electronic interactions with TOPO-covered CdSe. In a comparative system, phosphine oxide terminated oligo(phenylene vinylene) molecules acting as CdSe QD ligands provide a similar fluorescence quenching, with exciton decay kinetics supporting the formation of an electronically interacting hybrid materials system.
Mutagenic activity of anticancer agent cis-dichlorodiammine platinum-II.

Abstract cis -Dichlorodiamminoplatinum-II ( cis -DDP) has been widely used as an anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. The mutagenicity of ( cis -DDP) was investigated in vitro and in vivo using sister-chromatid exchange analysis and the analysis of chromosomal aberrations. Parallel human lymphocyte cultures were incubated with and without the addition of BrdU at 4 concentrations of cis -DDP. Significant increases in SCE rate were observed at 0.25 μg/ml and higher, showing a clear dose-response relation between SCE rate and cis -DDP concentration. A significant increase in chromosome breakage and tetraradial figures was observed in BrdU free cultures treated with cis -DDP again showing a dose dependency. Analysis of the distribution of cells in the first, second and third division in cis -DDP treated cultures demonstrated the depressing effect of the drug on mitotic activity. In vivo analysis of SCE and chromosome aberrations in mouse showed that 13.85 mg/kg i.p. of cis -DDP produces significant increases in the rate of SCE and chromosome aberrations in bone-marrow cells.
Low dose heparin therapy: in vitro verification of antithrombotic effect.

Abstract Low dose heparin therapy has been used routinely for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis, yet in vitro data regarding its antithrombotic effects are sparse. The effects of heparin on venous thrombus formation were studied in an in vitro perfusion system. Fresh blood collected from human volunteers was treated with varying heparin doses and perfused at a shear rate of 100 sec −1 over everted, injured porcine vein segments, simulating conditions in the venous circulation. Platelet and fibrin deposition were measured by use of indium 111 and iodine 125 radiolabels, respectively. The effects of heparin on the intrinsic coagulation cascade were monitored by the activated clotting time. Increasing doses of heparin resulted in significant reductions in fibrin and platelet deposition (ANOVA F=2.67 and 3.17, respectively, p
The Spread Spectrum in Computing

From time to time, I find it necessary to remind myself of how broadly computing applications are spread across the sciences and engineering. This breadth extends not only along the axes of computing complexity and disciplinary diversity, but also along task and sophistication. Over the years, this magazine has certainly highlighted the former two, but I'd like to comment here on the latter two.
Using Combinatorial Approaches for Testing Mobile Applications

Device-specific faults are very common for mobile software applications. To avoid such faults and guarantee the reliability and quality of mobile applications, sufficient testing is required on different mobile devices, which is expensive and time-consuming. This makes the task of the optimal selection of mobile devices for testing important and interesting from both practical and theoretical points of view. The suggested approach in this paper is based on combinatorial methods for coverage of each device characteristics. The initial results of the experimental investigation using comparisons with a random selection of devices are provided and show that the proposed approach is effective and promising.
Multi-hazard, multi-infrastructure, economic scenario analysis

Over the past 10 years, the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC) has conducted over 150 detailed multi-hazard, multi-infrastructure scenario analyses of a wide range of man-made and natural disasters. Using a model-based implementation of the Department of Homeland Security risk management framework, NISAC analyzes scenarios ranging from extreme-event situational awareness to long-term strategic policy for improved homeland security and resilience to these events. This article describes the essential elements of the NISAC scenario analysis process, the toolkit of subject-matter expertise and models used, with a particular focus on the economics component. An example set of Hurricane Katrina economic-analysis results is used to illustrate basic elements of NISAC economics scenario analysis.
Structure-Directing Agent Location and Non-Centrosymmetric Structure of Fluoride-Containing Zeolite SSZ-55

Single crystals of pure silica zeolite SSZ-55 were prepared using the fluoride route. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction at a synchrotron source revealed the framework structure of the material, but the unit cell (orthorhombic a = 12.905(2) A, b = 21.344(4) A, c = 5.1279(10)) is too small to accommodate ordered arrays of the organic structure-directing agent. Molecular modeling was used to simulate the docking of the structure-directing agent in the channels of the material, and this revealed a strong space-filling interaction with a number of possible orientations of the organic cation. The overall non-centrosymmetric structure of the solid (spacegroup C222_1) was confirmed using second harmonic generation experiments.
Short-term observations of marine bacterial and viral communities: patterns, connections and resilience.

Short-term observations of marine bacterial and viral communities: patterns, connections and resilience
Transitional flows in arterial fluid dynamics

Abstract A three-dimensional model of a severely stenotic bifurcation is constructed from MR images of an atherosclerotic plaque. Grids of various densities are generated to compute the flow through the vessel. The Chien k–e turbulence model and large eddy simulations are used to obtain transitional flow solutions at moderately high-Reynolds numbers. The transient solution is computed for steady inlet conditions. Large eddy simulations carried out with two CFD packages on sufficiently refined grids show vortex shedding downstream of the stenosis.
The Dielectric Losses in Impregnated Paper

Accurate measurements have been made of the electrical and other physical properties of 10 insulating oils, of a single grade of wood pulp paper, and of the paper when impregnated with each of the oils. Short time charge and discharge curves under continuous potential have thrown further light on the anomalous conduction as found in oils, and permit the separation of the total dielectric loss into two components. Of the total increase of the loss found in impregnated paper, over the separate losses in oil and in dry paper, one component is proportional to the effective conductivity of the oil. The other component, due to reversible absorption, is, for a given paper, a definite function of the free ion content of the oil as indicated by the product of the conductivity by the viscosity. These relations hold over the entire ranges of type of oil and temperature under study. The product of conductivity by viscosity is proposed as a measure of the ``electrical purity'' of an oil used for impregnation. The simplicity of the relations shown suggests that an extension of these studies to other grades of paper should make it possible to predict accurately, from the separate properties of paper and oil, the electrical behavior of any grade as impregnated with any type of oil.
Pressure dependency, strength-differential effect, and plastic volume expansion in metals

Abstract Within the framework of a purely mechanical rate-type theory of finitely deforming elastic-plastic materials, a special set of constitutive equations is introduced. These equations include a dependence both on mean normal stress and on plastic strain, and involve non-normality of plastic strain-rate. They accommodate both the strength-differential effect and plastic volume expansion. Values of the material coefficients in the constitutive equations are approximately determined with the help of published experimental data for AISI 4330 steel. The plastic strain-rate is shown to have a large non-normal component, resulting in a small plastic volume expansion. The theory is in reasonable agreement with experiment for plastic strains up to about 2% in magnitude. Further experiments are suggested so that the constitutive coefficients can be completely and accurately determined.
A Chemical Investigation of Veratrum viride

Attempts to isolate the long-acting depressor principle reported by Zupko and Edwards were not successful. A simple and rapid chromatographic method for the isolation of a depressor principle from Veratrum viride has been presented. Injection of the isolated depressor principle resulted in a lowering of blood pressure of prolonged duration with no toxic manifestations. The isolated depressor principle exhibited a slight basicity and alkaloidal and steroidal properties. Attempts to crystallize and to make crystalline derivatives of the depressor principle were not successful.
Assessment of Feeding and Mealtime Behavior Problems in Persons with Mental Retardation

Feeding and mealtime behavior problems are commonly observed among individuals with developmental disabilities. These problems include, but are not limited to, food refusal, food selectivity, mealtime aggression, rumination, pica, and insufficient feeding skills. Difficulties of this type can be associated with life-threatening consequences of other serious health-related problems. Because of the nature of these problems and the lack or accurate client self-reporting, an interdisciplinary assessment in addition to a thorough behavioral assessment is recommended to ensure the best quality of care. This article discusses the role of the various disciplines, and the types of behavioral assessments that are currently being utilized by clinicians and researchers.
Oral acyclovir for the management of herpes simplex virus keratitis in children.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the use of oral acyclovir in pediatric patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis. Design Retrospective noncomparative case series. Participants Seven pediatric patients seen at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infectious epithelial keratitis between January 1992 and October 1998. Patient ages ranged from 6 weeks to 5 years at time of presentation with a median of 1.7 and mean of 1.9 years. Intervention All patients received oral acyclovir; six of seven patients also received topical antiviral medications. Three of seven patients had topical antiviral therapy fail before being placed on oral acyclovir, and the remaining four patients were placed on oral acyclovir primarily. Results All patients showed resolution of HSV infectious epithelial keratitis. Three patients have been maintained on prophylactic dosage of oral acyclovir because of recurrent disease or because they have been chronically treated with topical corticosteroids for immune stromal keratitis. All patients tolerated acyclovir well, and there were no adverse reactions. Conclusions Oral acyclovir is useful in treating HSV infectious epithelial keratitis in pediatric patients. It is beneficial in treating infectious epithelial keratitis and prophylactically either while treating with topical corticosteroids for immune stromal keratitis or for preventing recurrent infectious epithelial keratitis.
Tissue-Specific Gene Expression and Ecdysone-Regulated Genomic Networks in Drosophila

During insect metamorphosis, each tissue displays a unique physiological and morphological response to the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysone). We assayed gene expression in five tissues during metamorphosis onset. Larval-specific tissues display major changes in genome-wide expression profiles, whereas tissues that survive into adulthood display few changes. In one larval tissue, the salivary gland, we used a computational approach to identify a regulatory motif and a cognate transcription factor involved in regulating a set of coexpressed genes. During the metamorphosis of another tissue, the midgut, genes encoding factors from the hedgehog, Notch, EGF, dpp, and wingless pathways are activated by the ecdysone regulatory network. Mutation of the ecdysone receptor abolishes their induction. Cell cycle genes are also activated during the initiation of midgut metamorphosis, and they are also dependent on ecdysone signaling. These results establish multiple new connections between the ecdysone regulatory network and other well-studied regulatory networks.
Clinical predictors of severe head trauma in children

• We reviewed the medical records of 55 patients who underwent a cranial computed tomographic (CT) scan for acute head trauma. The severity of head trauma was classified according to objective clinical findings as severe in 44 patients, moderate in three, and mild in eight. Thirty-seven patients (84%) with severe head trauma had a brain injury identified on CT scan. Six patients with severe head trauma had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or greater and an abnormal CT scan. All patients with mild or moderate head trauma had normal CT scans. Severe head trauma, as defined in this study, accurately identified all patients with abnormal CT scan findings. We conclude that a classification based on objective clinical findings accurately identifies the severity of head trauma. This is particularly important in evaluating patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or greater. A prospective study including larger numbers of patients is needed to further evaluate such a classification. ( AJDC 1988;142:1045-1047)
Diverse Phenotypes and Specific Transcription Patterns in Twenty Mouse Lines with Ablated LincRNAs

In a survey of 20 knockout mouse lines designed to examine the biological functions of large intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), we have found a variety of phenotypes, ranging from perinatal lethality to defects associated with premature aging and morphological and functional abnormalities in the lungs, skeleton, and muscle. Each mutant allele carried a lacZ reporter whose expression profile highlighted a wide spectrum of spatiotemporal and tissue-specific transcription patterns in embryos and adults that informed our phenotypic analyses and will serve as a guide for future investigations of these genes. Our study shows that lincRNAs are a new class of encoded molecules that, like proteins, serve essential and important functional roles in embryonic development, physiology, and homeostasis of a broad array of tissues and organs in mammals.