cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The UK Covid-19 lockdown weakened in April and May 2020: implications for the size of the epidemic and for outcomes had lockdown been earlier

Abstract The number of active cases in the UK Covid-19 epidemic, the case fatality rate, the susceptible proportion of the population, and how well the lockdown was maintained during April–May 2020 are unknown. These four have a relationship with the shape of the daily mortality curve once one considers the intervals from infection to death or recovery. Without an understanding of this relationship we cannot say that an earlier lockdown would have saved lives. Using a small stochastic model, the lockdown had to be weakened, in April and May, for simulated deaths to match ongoing actual daily deaths. Google mobility data was found to be consistent with the weakening required in the model with similar changes from baseline in time and magnitude. If in an earlier lockdown, mobility and interactions would have followed a similar course, then with a large epidemic curve an earlier lockdown might be associated with many more deaths than some currently believe. This was confirmed in the stochastic model and in two modified SIR models of epidemics of various sizes. The first SIR model had a fixed period to recovery and the second used random periods, both models had random periods to death. Weakening of the mitigations was required to tune the output in large but not in small epidemics. This gives weight to the epidemic having affected many more individuals than some reports currently suggest. In both one and two-week earlier lockdowns, total deaths were found to depend on the size of the epidemic and to vary from 2,000–49,000 deaths. There was a linear relationship between the peak proportion of the population infected and the reciprocal of the case fatality rate. This work questions the low prevalence of
Declarative Mechanism Design

Regulation of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) and Declarative Electronic Institutions (DEIs) was a multidisciplinary research topic of the past decade involving (Physical and Software) Agents and Law since the beginning, but recently evolved towards News-claimed Robot Lawyer since 2016. One of these first proposals of restricting the behaviour of Software Agentswas Electronic Institutions.However, with the recent reformulation of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) as Deep Learning (DL), Security, Privacy,Ethical and Legal issues regarding the use of DL has raised concerns in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community. Now that the Regulation of MAS is almost correctly addressed, we propose the Regulation of Artificial Neural Networks as Agent-based Training of a special type of regulated Artificial Neural Network that we call Institutional Neural Network (INN).The main purpose of this paper is to bring attention to Artificial Teaching (AT) and to give a tentative answer showing a proof-of-concept implementation of Regulated Deep Learning (RDL). This paper introduces the former concept and provide sI, a language previously used to model declaratively and extend Electronic Institutions, as a means to regulate the execution of Artificial Neural Networks and their interactions with Artificial Teachers (ATs)
White eye patches of female wood ducks, Aix sponsa, vary markedly in size and may reflect individual status or condition

Research into plumage ornaments and plumage signals of individual state has focused primarily on males, while variation among females has received far less attention. White patches of plumage around the eye (eye patches) are a female-specific plumage trait in the wood duck, Aix sponsa, a sexually dimorphic species of cavity-nesting waterfowl in North America. We observed considerable variation in the size of these patches among females and sought to evaluate whether this trait might indicate individual quality (‘quality cost hypothesis’) or the influence of stress or past investment (‘stress indicator hypothesis’). We measured the area of female eye patches in five populations of wood ducks during three breeding seasons and examined whether eye patch area varied in relation to age, nest success, future breeding, activity and/or body condition. Eye patch area was highly variable among individuals but repeatable within individuals, varied across years and study sites, correlated strongly with age but weakly with an index of body condition. For individuals greater than 4 years of age, eye patch area was negatively related to the likelihood of returning to breed in the following year. Eye patch size was positively correlated with nest initiation date and this was more pronounced in older birds, but there was no correlation of eye patch area with clutch size or hatch success. Our results suggest that this unique female-specific plumage trait reflects individual age and future reproduction potential. Larger eye patches in older females may be an indicator of senescence or terminal investment, and we hypothesize that eye patch size could act as a signal of individual state or social status in this species.
Health Care Resource Use and Cost Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease: A Real-World Claims Analysis.

Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the health care burden of CKD in the CLD spectrum is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the health care use and cost burdens associated with CKD in patients with CLD in the United States by using real-world claims data. We analyzed data from the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims database from 2010 to 2015. A total of 19,664 patients with CLD with or without comorbid CKD were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes and matched 1:1 by sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities using propensity scores. Total and service-specific unadjusted and adjusted health care parameters were analyzed for the 12 months following an index date selected at random to capture whole disease burdens. In CLD, comorbid CKD was associated with a higher annual number of claims per person (CKD vs. no CKD, 69 vs. 55) and higher total annual median health care costs (CKD vs. no CKD, $21,397 vs. $16,995). A subanalysis stratified by CKD category showed that health care use and cost burden in CLD increased with disease stage, with a peak 12-month median cost difference of $77,859 in patients on dialysis. The adjusted per person annual health care cost was higher for CKD cases compared to controls ($35,793 vs. $24,048, respectively; P < 0.0001). Stratified by the type of CLD, the highest between-group adjusted cost differences were for cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, hemochromatosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion: CKD is a cost multiplier in CLD. The CKD health care burden in liver disease differs by the type of CLD. Improved CKD screening and proactive treatment interventions for at-risk patients can limit the excess burden associated with CKD in patients with CLD.
Less climatic resilience in the arctic

Abstract Twenty years ago the Arctic system was more resilient than now as sea ice was three times thicker than today. Heavier and more persistent sea ice provided a buffer against the influence of short-term climate fluctuations. Such recent increases in sea ice/atmospheric interactions lead to revisiting the concept of abrupt change. The Arctic climate is stabilized by a negative radiative feedback, as increased temperatures of the surface and atmospheric lose more long wave energy. However, through new shifts in albedo feedback, open ocean areas are absorbing more of the incoming solar heat. Recent multi-year environmental extremes, potential albedo instabilities, and increased sensitivity of sea ice to storms in marginal seas, are overcoming negative radiative feedback, which point to passing impending climatic and ecosystem thresholds. Unless CO2 emissions are reduced, further Arctic extremes are expected in the next decades with environmental and societal impacts spreading through the Arctic and beyond.
A dual-imaging framework for multi-scale measurements of fatigue crack evolution in metallic materials

Abstract This paper presents a dual-imaging methodology to investigate fatigue crack initiation & propagation along the lateral and transverse directions in Al7075 flat specimens having a one-sided V-notch. The framework consists of a confocal and a digital microscope. The confocal microscope can detect the short crack initiation at a length-scale of 3 µm while the digital microscope has the capability of reliably measuring cracks at a scale of 0.5 mm. The apparatus provides a unique advantage of characterizing the multi-scale fatigue crack evolution without any significant restrictions on maximum specimen size and maximum loading or frequency.
Procedural Sedation in Children: Ketamine

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic agent with analgesic property. It is highly lipophilic with a rapid onset of sedation and analgesia through its action on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and opioid receptors. Its ability to preserve respiratory drive and airway reflexes makes it an attractive agent for procedural sedation, and its sympathomimetic effects offer potential benefits to critically ill patients with cardiac instability. However, the psychomimetic side effect of ketamine is not uncommon during the emergence phase of the sedation. Ketamine is also often used as a combination agent with opioids, propofol, and dexmedetomidine for pediatric procedural sedation. In this chapter, we discuss the pharmacology, systemic effects, indications, dosing, and precautions of ketamine.
Ideology and succession politics in Ethiopia: autocratic leadership turnover and political instability

Recent scholarship on the institutionalization of politics in Africa has highlighted the consolidation of constitutional leadership turnover in electoral democracies. However, leadership turnover i...
CAFE STANDARDS - IS A CHANGE IN FORM NEEDED

Automobile fuel economy standards have been controversial since they were first considered over a decade ago. The controversy has increased recently as some auto manufacturers have struggled to meet the standards. This paper addresses the question of whether a change in the form of the standard is needed to reduce the perceived problems and make the program more effective. The paper argues that the main purpose of the standards is to increase the technical level of fuel economy in all vehicles while leaving the mix of vehicle sizes largely to be determined by the market.
Data Mining and the Implementation of a Prospective Payment System for Inpatient Rehabilitation

This paper describes the development of a new Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) for inpatient rehabilitation care. Congress mandated such a system in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. To help implement this system, we assembled four years of Medicare hospitalization data, linked it to rehabilitation hospitals' information about impairment and the functional status of patients, and developed case mix groups using the CART algorithm, a common method for determining groups in health services.
Fine structure mapping of five temperature-sensitive mutants in the 22- and 147-kilodalton subunits of vaccinia virus DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Abstract We have mapped the temperature-sensitive (ts) lesions of three mutants, ts51, ts53, and ts65, and two other mutants, ts7 and ts20, to regions on the vaccinia virus genome that encode the 147- and 22-kilodalton subunits of the viral DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, respectively. Plasmid and bacteriophage clones from the HindIII J region and the region spanning the HindIII J-H junction were used in marker rescue experiments to map the mutations. Sequence analysis of the region encoding the 22-kilodalton subunit in the wild-type, ts7, and ts20 viruses revealed a single base change in the mutants compared with that in the wild-type virus. The identification of these RNA polymerase mutants provides us with tools to understand transcription and its regulation in vaccinia virus.
Controller Design for Systems with Unknown Nonlinear Dynamics

The control of systems with unknown dynamics is an important issue, particularly in applications where large parameter variations and unexpected disturbances are possible. Several methods have been developed for such cases. These include adaptive control, variable structure control and learning control. This paper first defines this control problem and then proposes a new method - Model Reference Control Using Time Delay (MRC/TD) for nonlinear plants with unknown dynamics. This method will not requireparameter identification, unnecessary discontinuous control or repetative actions. The main feature of the MRC/TD is the direct estimation of the unknown dynamics and the unexpected disturbance. This is accomplished using time delay. This estimation is then used by the controller to cancel both the undesired dynamics and disturbance and to insert the desired dynamics into the plant. The MRC/TD control law for nonlinear plants is presented and the stability analysis and design procedure are given for SISO linear plants. Finally, the validity of MRC/TD is verified through both simulations and experiments.
Impacts of mesic and xeric urban vegetation on outdoor thermal comfort and microclimate in Phoenix, AZ

Abstract Urban vegetation is an effective way in mitigating excessive heat and improving the outdoor thermal environment for residents in cities via evaporative cooling. Different urban vegetation forms (mesic or xeric) alter surface energy and water budgets in different ways, which is further complicated by interactions with buildings and anthropogenic controls. Mesic vegetation such as lawns reduces urban temperatures by evaporative cooling but requires large amounts of water for continuous irrigation. On the other hand, xeric vegetation such as shade trees reduces urban temperatures mainly through shading and has low water demand. The objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of different vegetation forms on microclimate in a hot desert city – Phoenix, AZ. We applied an advanced urban canopy model coupled with a single-column atmospheric model to simulate urban boundary layer dynamics over different landscaping scenarios with different combinations of mesic and xeric vegetation forms. We subsequently compared the urban land surface temperatures, near-surface air temperatures, outdoor thermal comfort in the urban canopy layer, as well as atmospheric dynamics (temperature, humidity) in the overlying boundary layer for a set of different scenarios.
Lyapunov stability analysis for self-learning neural model with application to semi-active suspension control system

A supervised training algorithm and an unsupervised learning algorithm for neural models are derived using Lyapunov stability theory and the concept of model reference adaptive control (MRAC). The practicability of the algorithm is demonstrated by its successful application to a semiactive suspension system. The neurocontroller establishes its own control laws for improving the suspension performance without requiring a complete knowledge of the system dynamics. It also makes it possible to evaluate the roles of simple sensors in defining the control laws. Simulation results illustrate the self-improving suspension performance and show that superior suspension performance can be achieved using the neurocontrol. It is found that the discretized version of the developed training and learning algorithms corresponds to certain well-known existing algorithms. >
Direct Identification of Beta-Adrenergic Receptors on Isolated Bovine Parathyroid Cells**

The radioiodinated β-blocker iodohydroxybenzylpindolol ([125IHYP) has been used to identify directly and characterize β-adrenergic receptors in isolated bovine parathyroid cells. [125I] HYP was bound rapidly and reversibly to isolated bovine parathyroid cell membranes. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites with high affinity (4 × 1010M−) and low capacity (0.7 pmol/ mg). Saturation analysis of [I25I]HYP binding to intact bovine parathyroid cells suggested a site with similar affinity on whole cells and with a binding capacity of 5000–10,000 sites/cell. True dissociation constants (Kd's) for/3-adrenergic agonists and antagonists were in good agreement with activation constants (Ki's) and inhibition constants (KA's) for effects on adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations. These constants also were in reasonable agreement with KA's and Kd's previously shown for effects of agonists and antagonists on cAMP accumulation and PTH release in whole cells. This study shows by direct analysis t...
Fatty acid bioconversions by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3

The bioconversions of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and ricinoleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 were investigated. The conversion of oleic acid to 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) was improved to better than 80% yields by modifying the culture medium and reaction parameters. The microbial cultures were stable and retained the same level of DOD production capacity for up to 6 mon as examined herewith. Strain PR3 did not bioconvert linoleic acid. However, strain PR3 converted ricinoleic acid to a novel compound, 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (TOD), with a yield of about 35%. The product was further metabolized by strain PR3. TOD was purified by thin-layer chromatography, and its structure was determined by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. This is the first report on the production of 7,10,12-trihydroxy unsaturated fatty acid by microbial transformation.
International Materials Institutes [IMI], Advanced Neutron Scattering Network for Education and Research [ANSWER]: With a Focus on Mechanical Behavior of Materials

Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful characterization techniques available for materials research, and its proven capabilities and anticipated potentials justify the 1.4-billion dollar co...
On the Solutions of Electrohydrodynamic Flow in a Circular Cylindrical Conduit

This article considers the nonlinear boundary value problem (BVP) for the electrohydrodynamic flow of a fluid in an ion drag configuration in a circular cylindrical conduit. We present rigorous results concerning the existence and uniqueness of a solution to this BVP for all relevant values of the parameters. We also show that the solution is monotonically decreasing and derive bounds on it in terms of the parameters. In [1] McKee et al. develop perturbation solutions in terms of the parameter governing the nonlinearity of the problem, α. This is done for both large and small values of α. For large α the solutions calculated here are qualitatively different from those calculated in [1]. This stems from the fact that for α large the solutions are O(1/α), not O(1) as proposed in the perturbation expansion used in [1].
Child care satisfaction: The effects of parental gender and type of child care used

A survey of 1675 parents of preschool-aged children revealed higher levels of satisfaction with child care provided by relatives and byau pairs in the family’s home as compared to either center-based care or home care providers. Parental satisfaction with these latter two forms of child care did not differ significantly. Mothers in general were more satisfied with their child care than fathers. However, child care satisfaction was a significant predictor of work/family balance for both genders.
Influence of carbon on the static and cyclic creep behaviors of alpha iron

Abstract The plastic deformation of both ZrH2-treated iron and iron with a controlled amount of carbon is examined under constant load and repeated loading. The pure iron exhibits cyclic creep acceleration under cyclic loading but the magnitude of the creep enhancement is small and is relatively insensitive to applied stress, a result in contrast to the behavior of f.c.c. metals. The presence of carbon, even in small concentration (65 at. ppm), enhances the relative cyclic creep acceleration when the specimens are aged after carburization. In carburized and quenched specimens, however, both static and cyclic creep are suppressed. The observed difference in cyclic creep behavior is correlated to the difference in the nature and distribution of the carbon and the relative ease of pinning of dislocations by the carbon atoms.
Determination of trichloroethylene in biological samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Abstract A simple, rapid and sensitive method for determination of trichloroethylene (TCE) in rat blood, liver, lung, kidney and brain, using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), is presented. A 100-μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber was selected for sampling. The major analytical parameters including extraction and desorption temperature, extraction and desorption time, salt addition, and sample preheating time were optimized for each of the biological matrices to enhance the extraction efficiency and sensitivity of the method. The lower limits of quantitation for TCE in blood and tissues were 0.25 ng/ml and 0.75 ng/g, respectively. The method showed good linearity over the range of 0.25–100 ng TCE/ml in blood and 0.75–300 ng TCE/g in tissues, with correlation coefficient ( R 2 ) values higher than 0.994. The precision and accuracy for intra-day and inter-day measurements were less than 10%. The relative recoveries of TCE respect to deionized water from all matrices were greater than 55%. Stability tests including autosampler temperature and freeze and thaw of specimens were also investigated. This validated method was successfully applied to study the toxicokinetics of TCE following administration of a low oral dose.
Alanine scanning mutagenesis of a plant virus movement protein identifies three functional domains

Alanine scanning mutagenesis was performed on the red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) movement protein (MP), and 12 mutants were assayed in vitro for RNA binding characteristics and in vivo for their ability to potentiate RCNMV cell-to-cell movement. The mutant phenotypes that were identified in vitro and in vivo suggest both that cooperative RNA binding is not necessary for cell-to-cell movement in vivo and that only a fraction of the wild-type RNA binding may be required. The MP mutants defined at least three distinct functional regions in the MP: an RNA binding domain, a cooperative RNA binding domain, and a third domain that is necessary for cell-to-cell movement in vivo. This third domain may be required for targeting the MP to cell walls and plasmodesmata, interacting with host proteins, folding, or possibly binding RNA into a functional ribonucleoprotein complex capable of cell-to-cell movement.
Chlorophyll degradation during senescence and death-III: 3–10yr experiments, implications for ETIO series generation

Abstract This report extends our previous studies by investigating oxic and anoxic alteration of chlorophyll in 13 species of microalgae incubated between 3 and 10 years. The experiments were designed to investigate the alteration of chlorophyll as cells senescence, die and decompose. They mimic the initiation of diagenesis without the intervention of (non-microbial) grazing or photochemistry. Anoxic (dark) incubation provided two new observations and substantiated numerous other chlorophyll- a (CHL a ) alteration reactions: (i) vinyl reduction, giving meso-CHL a and several derivatives, occurred, adding to observations on the phorbide/deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin (DPEP) routes; (ii) room temperature anoxic incubation of a diatom ( Navicula sp.) for 5.5 years resulted in production of purpurporphyrin-18 free acid (PurPorph-18-FA), a functionalized porphyrin and direct precursor of a specific C-30 β-H etioporphyrin. Oxic conditions typically led to high amounts of the allomers of CHL a , pheophorbide- a , and pheophytin- a , as well as to the appearance of purpurin-18 (PUR18) and/or its phytyl ester (PE). Mg-PUR18-PE, chlorin-p 6 -PE (the hydrolysis product of PUR18-PE) and two forms of chlorin-e 6 (PE and free acid) were also often present. Such experiments have proved quite valuable for investigation of senescence/death induced alteration of the chlorophylls. In this manner, the processes can be better understood, vs. reactions occurring during grazing (heterotrophy) and early diagenesis in sediments. Various routes to specific ETIO series porphyrins from the chlorophyll- a nucleus are suggested on the basis of these data.
Field quantification of plant chlorophyll content using Google Glass

Quantification of plant health is crucial for agriculture and can even be used to monitor environmental factors and climate related changes. Plant health is known to be directly related to the chlorophyll content of leaves, which correlates with the capacity of the leaves to transmit or absorb light. The gold-standard method for measuring the chlorophyll concentration of a leaf is based on chemical extraction, which is complex, destructive and time-consuming. As an alternative, here we present a field-portable, cost-effective, and colorimetric method to quantify the chlorophyll content of leaves using Google Glass. For this purpose, we created a custom designed handheld device which is battery-powered and 3D-printed to separately provide uniform illumination of a selected region of interest on the leaf surface using red and white light-emitting-diodes (LEDs). The design of this device minimizes the interference of ambient light conditions to our chlorophyll measurements performed through the Glass camera. We tested this platform by using fifteen randomly selected plant species from UCLA Botanical Garden and imaging fully-grown leaves of these species using Glass. An image-processing algorithm was developed to process the acquired images and obtain the chlorophyll concentration information using the red channel intensities in our region-of-interest for both the white and red LED illumination conditions. The results obtained by this algorithm are in good agreement with the SPAD indices measured for each plant, demonstrating that Google Glass, in combination with our custom-designed illumination platform, can expand its functionality to be used as a chlorophyll meter in field-settings.
Concordance between semiquantitative immunohistochemical assay and oncotype DX RT-PCR assay for estrogen and progesterone receptors.

Estrogen receptor (ER) status is a strong predictor of response to hormonal therapy in women with breast cancer. Not only presence of ER, but also level of expression has been shown to correlate with time to recurrence in patients undergoing therapy with tamoxifen or anastrozole. In addition, risk r
A physically based phenomenological model using Boltzmann-Matano analysis for boron diffusion from polycrystalline Si into single crystal Si

The diffusion of boron in single crystal Si from a BF2-implanted polycrystalline Si film deposited on single crystal Si has been accurately modeled. The effective diffusivities of boron in the single crystal Si substrate have been extracted using Boltzmann-Matano analysis and the new phenomenological model for B diffusivity has been implemented in the PEPPER simulation program. The model has been implemented for a range of furnace anneal conditions (800 to 950°C, from 30 min to 6h) and implant conditions (BF2 doses varied from 5×1015 to 2×1016 cm−2 at 70 keV).
Accurate Backbone Curves for a Modified-Duffing Equation for Vibrations of Imperfect Structures With Viscous Damping

Accurate backbone curves for the finite-amplitude vibrations of geometrically imperfect rectangular plates and shallow spherical shells are presented. For a structure with a sufficiently large initial imperfection, the well-known soft-spring nature of the backborne curve is confirmed for small vibration amplitude. However, for large vibration amplitude, the backbone curves tend to exhibit the usual hard-spring eebehavior. Both the initial-deflection and initial-velocity problems are examined
Malt Liquor Marketing in Inner Cities: The Role of Neighborhood Racial Composition

In response to anecdotal reports that African American neighborhoods are targeted for high-alcohol malt liquor advertising, the authors observed alcohol ads on off-premise alcohol outlets, billboards, and transit structures in 10 U.S. cities over 3 years. Malt liquor ads were prevalent on storefronts, but rare on billboards. Using Poisson regression, the authors found that storefront malt liquor ads were more common in neighborhoods with higher percentages of African Americans, even after controlling for social and physical disorder. Results suggest that policymakers attempting to reduce malt liquor-related harms may do well to consider regulations that limit storefront advertising exposure.
Correction for the dielectric constant of pH values in heterogeneous solutions obtained from fluorescein fluorescence

Abstract The fluorescence intensity of fluorescein in polymer solutions adjusted to the same pH decreased with increasing polymer concentration of the solution. A naive calculation of pH based on the fluorescence intensity would yield an erroneously low value of pH. An investigation of a possible specific interaction with the polymer, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) showed that there was no concentration-dependent interaction. The shift in fluorescence intensity of fluorescein did not correlate with variations in solution refractive index or viscosity. However, it did correlate well with changes in the dielectric constant of the solution. A fluorescence probe, 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino) naphthalene (PRODAN) was used to monitor the dielectric constant of the solution. PRODAN showed concentration-dependent interactions with HPMCP and had to be used at higher concentrations to overcome the effects of these interactions. At a higher concentration of PRODAN, a relationship between the emission maximum of PRODAN and the apparent p K a of fluorescein was found. Using the correct apparent p K a determined from this relationship, the true pH of the solution could be calculated from the shifted fluorescein intensity which accounts for the dielectric constant of the solution.
Inverse viscoelastic material characterization using POD reduced-order modeling in acoustic–structure interaction

Abstract A strategy is presented for applying the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) technique for model reduction in computational inverse solution strategies for viscoelastic material characterization. POD is used to derive a basis of optimal dimension from a selection of possible solution fields which are generated through a traditional acoustic–structure interaction finite element model for a given vibroacoustic experiment. The POD bases are applied with the Galerkin weak-form finite element method to create a reduced-order numerical model with decreased computational cost, but which still maintains accuracy close to that of the original full-order finite element model. The reduced-order model is then combined with a global optimization technique to identify estimates to the viscoelastic material properties of a fluid immersed solid from vibroacoustic tests. A strategy is also presented to select the viscoelastic parameters of the initial full-order analyses used to create the POD bases. The selection process is shown through an example to maximize the generalization capabilities of the reduced-order model over the material search space for a minimal number of full-order analyses. Two examples are then presented in which the parameters of rheological viscoelastic models are identified for solids immersed in water, which are subject to a steady-state harmonic pressure while the acoustic response is measured at a point in the surrounding fluid. The POD reduced-order models were able to generalize over the material search domains for the inverse problems. Therefore, the reduced-order solution strategy was capable of identifying accurate estimates to the viscoelastic behavior of the solids with minimal computational expense.
Thermoelastic properties of particulate composites with imperfect interface

Abstract Effective elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficient of spherical particle composites with imperfect interfaces are evaluated on the basis of the composite spheres assemblage and generalized self-consistent scheme models. Imperfect interface is defined in terms of interface displacement discontinuities which are linearly related to interface tractions in terms of spring constant parameters. In the case of presence of interphase these parameters are evaluated in terms of interphase characteristics.
Rehabilitation in joint and connective tissue diseases. 1. Systemic diseases

Abstract This self-directed learning module highlights new advances in this topic area. It is part of the chapter on rehabilitation in joint and connective tissue diseases in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article discusses treatment and outcome in rheumatoid arthritis, musculoskeletal involvement in human immunodeficiency virus infection, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and intraarticular injection of corticosteroids.
Reducing the Inconsistency between Doppler and Invasive Measurements of the Severity of Aortic Stenosis Using Aortic Valve Coefficient: A Retrospective Study on Humans

Background. It is not uncommon to observe inconsistencies in the diagnostic parameters derived from Doppler and catheterization measurements for assessing the severity of aortic stenosis (AS) which can result in suboptimal clinical decisions. In this pilot study, we investigate the possibility of improving the concordance between Doppler and catheter assessment of AS severity using the functional diagnostic parameter called aortic valve coefficient (AVC), defined as the ratio of the transvalvular pressure drop to the proximal dynamic pressure. Method and Results. AVC was calculated using diagnostic parameters obtained from retrospective chart reviews. AVC values were calculated independently from cardiac catheterization () and Doppler measurements (). An improved significant correlation was observed between Doppler and catheter derived AVC (, ) when compared to the correlation between Doppler and catheter measurements of mean pressure gradient (, ) and aortic valve area (, ). The correlation between Doppler and catheter derived AVC exhibited a marginal improvement over the correlation between Doppler and catheter derived aortic valve resistance (, ). Conclusion. AVC is a refined clinical parameter that can improve the concordance between the noninvasive and invasive measures of the severity of aortic stenosis.
Neuropeptide‐Like immunoreactive cells in the retina of the larval tiger salamander: Attention to the symmetry of dendritic projections

Light microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to study the morphology of cells that showed immunoreactivity (IR) to antisera against substance P (SP), glucagon (GLU), met enkephalin (ENK), and somatostatin (SS) in the retina of the larval tiger salamander. Both vertical sections and retinal whole mounts were studied. All four antisera labeled amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer and cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). GLU-IR cells had processes stratified throughout the inner plexiform layer (IPL), whereas the other three types had bistratified projections in laminae 1 and 5, with lamina 5 being broader and more dense. Two types of SS-IR amacrine cell were observed. As seen in retinal whole mount, most GLU-IR and ENK-IR amacrine cells had processes that were symmetrically distributed about the soma, whereas processes of SS- and SP-IR amacrine cells were markedly asymmetrical. The dendritic fields of SP-IR amacrine cells were selectively oriented toward the periphery of the retina in the nasal, temporal, and dorsal areas. Immunoreactive cells in the GCL had fine projections into the IPL and in addition gave rise to two large oriented processes proximal to the soma that projected in opposite directions for 100-200 microns. The oriented processes often showed further branching; they appeared to be along the radiated lines from the optic disc but did not enter it. The implications of the selectively oriented processes of SP-IR amacrine cells and cells in the GCL are discussed.
Modulated transfer process forced at phonon frequencies in optical heterodyne spectroscopy

Abstract A simple spectroscopic technique is used to detect low-frequency acoustical phonons. Resonantly enhanced modulated transfer processes in optical heterodyne spectroscopy are accomplished from a frequency shifted modulated beam to an unmodulated beam in a nonlinear medium having low-frequency induced phonons. The resonance condition is achieved when the phonon frequency is set equal to the beat frequency of the two beams.
Small intestinal mucosa changes, including epithelial cell proliferative activity, of children receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN)

We examined the small intestinal histology disaccharidase activities as well as the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA of biopsies maintained in organ culture from seven children (ages 9 months to 5 years) receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Three children suffered from inflammatory bowel disease and received TPN for one month (short term). Four required long-term TPN (>9 months) for short-bowel syndrome. DNA was extracted from the samples following serial precipitation with perchloric acid. Results were compared to those from 22 age-matched children investigated for abdominal pain or chronic diarrhea. Short-term TPN resulted in slightly lower lactase, sucrase, and palatinase activities that were not statistically different from controls. Long-term TPN resulted in focal mild villus atrophy and a decrease in disaccharidase activity in two patients. Biopsies from long-term TPN patients incorporated less thymidine compared to those of controls (P<0.001) when data was expressed per total biopsy (3.6±1.1 vs. 8.4±1.1 fmol) or per milligram of tissue (1.0±0.12 vs 2.7±0.7 fmol). The above data are in general agreement with the hypoplastic effect of TPN in animals. However, in children, much longer periods of TPN are required to realize the changes.
An application of stochastic optimal control theory to the optimal rescheduling of airplanes

A model for the air traffic flow between two airports subject to random constraints on the takeoff and landing capacities is set up. For a simple case a dynamic programming algorithm is used to compute the optimal solutions explicitly.
Bound states in the spin wave problem

Abstract The existence of bound states of two spin waves in the Heisenberg model has been demonstrated (1, 2) previously. In the present note we exhibit an alternative derivation based directly on the Schroedinger equation and not involving the introduction of any fictitious interactions.
Using GC-MS for the quick analysis of carbon dioxide for soil microbial biomass determination

Microbial biomass carbon is a common soil parameter used to evaluate microbial abundance in soil environments, and microbial biomass can change in response to disturbances and/or changing environmental conditions. Microbial biomass carbon was determined on 192 soil samples using the chloroform fumigation-incubation method, and after 10 days, gas samples were collected. Gas samples were analyzed for carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. Determination of CO2 concentration is usually conducted by infrared gas analysis or chemical analysis (an alkali trap and subsequent titration, or soda lime absorption), and these methods were either unavailable or too time consuming for the number of samples analyzed. As a result, we have developed an analytical method for the determination of CO2 in gases using the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC-MS). This method requires a 5 μL injection, 5 minute analysis time, and the resulting figures of merit are comparable to most procedures present in the literature. Additionally, the microbial biomass carbon values obtained were consistent with previously published values in similar ecosystems.
Benefit of long-term dual anti-platelet therapy in patients treated with drug-eluting stents: from the NHLBI dynamic registry.

The optimal duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is an important, unanswered question. This study was designed to evaluate the association of varying durations of DAPT on clinical outcomes after DES implantation for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, patients enrolled in the last 2 waves after index percutaneous coronary intervention with DES and who were event free at the time of landmark analysis were included. Landmark analysis was performed 12 and 24 months after percutaneous coronary intervention, and patients were stratified according to continued use of DAPT or not. Subjects were evaluated for rates of death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis at 4 years from their index procedures. The numbers of evaluable patients were 2,157 and 1,918 for the 12- and 24-month landmarks, respectively. In both landmark analyses, there was a significantly lower 4-year rate of death or myocardial infarction in the group that continued DAPT compared to the group that did not (12 months: 10.5% vs 14.5%, p = 0.01; 24 months: 5.7% vs 8.6%, p = 0.02). Beneficial differences in the group that continued on DAPT were preserved after multivariate and propensity adjustment. There were no significant differences in definite stent thrombosis in either landmark analysis. In conclusion, at 12 and 24 months after DES implantation, continued use of DAPT was associated with lower 4-year risk for death and myocardial infarction.
Steady state kinetics of enzymes with substrates having multiple reaction sites

An enzyme catalysing the reaction of a substrate with multiple reaction sites may display steady state kinetics described by a Michaels-Menten equation. The Km is identical for all sites considered individually and all sites together. The maximum velocity for a single site depends on the rate constants for reaction at that site and at all of other sites.
Measuring Critical Factors of Software Quality Management: Development and Validation of an Instrument

Literature presents attributes of effective quality management in building software systems. The value of the capability maturity model CMM, ISO 9000, and total quality management TQM concepts in managing software quality has been widely acknowledged. However, shortcomings of these approaches have also been recognized. For instance, scholars have acknowledged CMM implementation difficulties because of its inherent complexity. This research synthesizes existing literature base in CMM, ISO 9000, TQM, among others, to identify six critical factors of software quality management SQM and then develops an instrument that can be used to measure critical factors of SQM. Validity and reliability are established by reviewing extant literature, testing a preliminary version of the instrument among a group of researchers and industry experts, and empirically testing a revised version of the instrument among a group of IS professionals. The instrument is relatively easy to implement and requires minimal resources. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Principal Modes of Rainfall–SST Variability of the Asian Summer Monsoon: A Reassessment of the Monsoon–ENSO Relationship

Abstract Using global rainfall and sea surface temperature (SST) data for the past two decades (1979–98), the covariability of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) and El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was investigated. The findings suggest three recurring rainfall–SST coupled modes. Characterized by a pronounced biennial variability, the first mode is associated with generally depressed rainfall over the western Pacific and the “Maritime Continent,” stemming from the eastward shift of the Walker circulation during the growth phase of El Nino. The associated SST pattern consists of an east–west SST seesaw across the Pacific and another seesaw with opposite polarity over the Indian Ocean. The second mode is associated with a growing La Nina, comprising mixed, regional, and basin-scale rainfall and SST variability with abnormally warm water in the vicinity of the Maritime Continent and western Pacific. It possesses a pronounced low-level west Pacific anticyclone (WPA) near the Philippines and exhibits large sub...
Resonant interactions of slow electrons with DNA constituents

We review recent theoretical work on low-energy electron collisions with the constituents of DNA and RNA, including the nucleobases (uracil, thymine, cytosine, adenine, and guanine), deoxyribose and its analogue tetrahydrofuran, and larger subunits including deoxynucleosides and deoxynucleotides. A particular focus is on the identification and characterization of low-energy resonances that may play a role in electron attachment leading to DNA strand breaking. Comparison with experiment indicates that high-level calculations can yield rather accurate resonance positions. However, the higher-lying π* resonances of the nucleobases appear to be of mixed elastic and core-excited character. This mixing must be accounted for in the calculation to obtain reliable resonance energies and may affect the electron-induced dissociation mechanisms. Resonant channel mixing is illustrated for the pyrimidine base analogue pyrazine.
Lean versus obese diabetes mellitus patients in the United States minority population

Abstract Objective To identify special characteristics in large group of lean diabetes minority patients in comparison to obese type 2 diabetes. Methods 1784 lean (BMI Results In lean compared to obese, there was male predominance (62% vs 48%, p When comparing patients within the lean group who were on insulin (49%) to those on oral medications, there were more males (65% vs. 59%, p Conclusions A subset of diabetes patients in the United States minority population are lean and may have rapid beta cell failure. The etiology is not clear and acquired factors, genetics, and autoimmunity may be contributory.
Sex differences in morphine modulation of cutaneous inflammation: involvement of NK1 receptors

Morphine produces an exacerbation of DNFB-induced cutaneous inflammation when administered prior to antigen challenge in a rat model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Recent evidence indicates that this exacerbation of inflammation is significantly greater in females than that in males. This sex difference in morphine modulation of CHS is due to the activation of central μ-opioid receptor pathways and appears to be corticosterone independent. Furthermore, the presence of female gonadal hormones may account for observed the sex differences, because ovariectomy largely eliminates morphine's enhancement of CHS inflammation without affecting the basal CHS response. Given the involvement of substance P in the pathological exacerbation of CHS, we hypothesized that sex differences in NK1 receptor activation might account for morphine's greater effect on the expression of CHS in females. To that end, male and female CDF rats were treated with the selective NK1 receptor antagonist SR140 333 (1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) 150 min prior to and after DNFB challenge. SR140 333 treatment significantly reduced the magnitude of morphine's enhancement of CHS in female, but not male rats without affecting the baseline CHS response in either sex. Preliminary data suggest that neuropeptide depletion of the skin using capsaicin produces a similar pattern of sex-dependent effects on morphine modulation of CHS. Taken together, these experiments support the hypothesis that greater activity of the peripheral NK1 receptor system in females may in part account for sex differences in the magnitude of CHS following morphine treatment. This project was supported by NIH grants DA15709 (D.T.L.) and DA016836 (J.C.E). SR140 333 was generously provided by Sanofi-Synthelabo.