cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PV system architecture improvement using nano-LAPS boost converter to eliminate cell failure downtime

Photovoltaic (PV) systems used to power AC mains in grid tie applications have inherent system architecture issues when facing temporary and permanent single cell failures. The first method (Generation I) of serially connecting PV cells requires a large investment in PV cells, grid tie inverters, cabling and installation. The advent of microinverters (Generation II) provided the ability to connect single PV panels providing a path to invest at a rate determined by the user, thus providing a path to incrementally build a PV system as well as providing system flexibility. Microinverters have improved system architecture and cost, but the problem of cell failure still exists in this system. The purpose of this paper is to bring to life a nano level adjustable power supply (LAPS) that is a cost effective design used to enhance the single PV cell so that each PV cell may be optimized for overall system performance or taken off line in the event of failure. The nano LAPS is designed to provide the ability to manipulate each PV cell in a low cost grid tie inverter system, while providing relief from traditional architecture issues of serially connected PV cells which cause a single point failure resulting in an open circuit which fails the whole system. The nano LAPS is a controllable boost converter which uses a PV controller to track voltage and current of each cell in order to implement Maximum Power Point Tracking MPPT.
STUDIES ON MENINGOCOCCUS INFECTION : IX. STANDARDIZATION AND CONCENTRATION OF ANTIMENINGOCOCCUS HORSE SERUM (TYPE I)

Type I antimeningococcal horse sera have been standardized by the quantitative determination of their type-specific precipitin content. By a method involving dialysis and precipitation by treatment with carbon dioxide, the antibody in such sera has been purified tenfold with respect to the nitrogen content.
Cognitive systems and the changing brain

The notion of cognitive system is widely used in explanations in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Traditional approaches define cognitive systems in an agent-relative way, that is, via top-down functional decomposition that assumes a cognitive agent as starting point. The extended cognition movement challenged that approach by questioning the primacy of the notion of cognitive agent. In response, [Adams, F., and K. Aizawa. 2001. The Bounds of Cognition. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.] suggested that to have a clear understanding of what a cognitive system is we may need to solve “the demarcation challenge”: the problem of identifying a reliable way to determine which mechanisms that are causally responsible for the production of a certain cognitive process constitute a cognitive system responsible for such process and which ones do not. Recently, [Rupert, R. 2009. Cognitive Systems and the Extended Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.] offered a solution based on the idea that the mechanisms that co...
Haploidentical Transplants for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation remains the only curative therapy available for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and is mostly performed for primary myelofibrosis or secondary myelofibrosis with high dynamic international scoring system-plus score, advanced (or refractory) chronic myelogenous leukemia, and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, traditionally with HLA-matched donors. The outcomes for chronic myelogenous leukemia with HLA-matched unrelated donors may be similar with HLA-matched sibling donor transplants; outcomes for other MPNs may not be the same. In the setting of HLA-matched unrelated donors, the results with busulfan-based conditioning for patients with myelofibrosis are encouraging. Multiple single institution and registry studies have shown safety of haploidentical transplants with comparable outcomes as HLA-matched transplants. All studies so far have shown lower incidence of acute and chronic GvHD with comparable treatment-related mortality to HLA-matched unrelated transplants. In this chapter, we will review the strengths and weaknesses of different platforms using HLA-haploidentical-matched donors for chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelofibrosis.
Vaccine Development and Safety

Vaccines are considered one of the most effective public health achievements of the twentieth century. In the USA the incidence of most childhood vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is at historic lows, while the number of diseases prevented by vaccines has increased steadily in the past few years. Development of vaccines is a complex, multistep process requiring the collaboration of multiple partners from basic science research through vaccine delivery and outcome monitoring. Advances in new sciences such as genomics, structural biology, novel adjuvant formulations, live vector vaccines, and computational studies have led to more detailed understanding of microbes and the host immune response. These advances offer great promise in the design of future generation of effective and safe vaccines against a host of infectious diseases. In addition, development of nontraditional vaccines against cancer, autoimmune disorders, and chronic diseases of ageing are currently being explored. Vaccine safety remains an integral component of the US immunization system involving several federal agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal agencies working in close partnerships with vaccine resources in the public and private sectors. Despite significant advances, there are many scientific, implementation, and policy challenges to modern vaccine development. Educating the public about vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases is crucial to improve vaccine acceptance and use. A trusting relationship between patients, parents, and health care providers is a must to effectively communicate vaccine risk–benefit issues.
THE SERVICE WORKER IN UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING AND EMPLOYMENT STABILITY

THE increasing significance of the service worker is an important aspect of economic development. In the United States, defined either on an industrial or occupational basis, he now exceeds the number of commodity or production workers.2 Historically, most attention concerning growth of service workers has been on an industry basis.3 Only in recent decades have we become fully cognizant of his importance occupationally, particularly in commodity industries. Theoretical and empirical evidence has been available for some time that service industries are less subject to the vagaries of the business cycle than commodity industries. As a result, during periods of economic contraction, workers in service industries experience a relatively low rate of unemployment.4 Therefore, shifts of the labour force from commodity to service sectors contribute to greater employment stability.
Teacher Identity Discourse as Identity Growth: Stories of Authority and Vulnerability

In this chapter I describes the results of a qualitative, interview-based study exploring the teacher identity development of six female English education pre-service teachers at a large Midwestern university in 2016. I focus on the discourse of Teresa, one of the six students in the study. Her stories exemplify one of the key findings: a new generation of student teachers engaged in much narrative discourse, and by association identity work, related to their often conflicting understandings of professional enactments of authority and vulnerability. I also includes examples of instances when Teresa engaged in meaningful identity work by voicing “narratives of balance” between these two poles of subjectivity. Through these stories of balance, Teresa begins to negotiate ‘conceptions of self and other’ that, as a young student teacher, often result in cognitive and affective dissonance. Such negotiation results in more complex and comprehensive understandings of student-teacher and teacher-mentor relationships, and, hence, professional identity growth.
A Logistic Regression and Discriminant Function Analysis of Enrollment Characteristics of Student Veterans with and without Disabilities.

viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Brief Review of the Literature Student Veterans 3 Combat Related Injuries 5 Rationale for the Study 7 Research Questions 9 Research Design 9 Definition of Terms 10 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 12 Method for Review of the Literature 12 Veterans in Post Secondary Education World War II Veterans 13 OIF/OEF Veterans 16 Students with Disabilities in Higher Education 22 Student Veterans with Disabilities and Higher Education 29 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 37 Research Design 37 Discriminant Function Analysis 38 Logistic Regression 40 Comparing DFA & LR 41 Population & Sampling 42 National Post Secondary Student Aid Survey 44 Definition of Variables 45 Data Analysis 50 Delimitations 51 Institutional Review Board 51
Relaxin retards apoptosis in the cervix and the vagina during pregnancy in rats

During the second half of the 23-day rat pregnancy, the cervix and vagina grow and become more extensible [1–4]. Cervical wet weight increases about three fold [1–3], and vaginal wet weight increases about two fold [3]. Relaxin, which is secreted by the corpora lutea throughout the second half of rat pregnancy [5], plays a major role in promoting this growth of the lower reproductive tract. Relaxin induces more than a 40% increase in the wet weights of the cervix and vagina by term [2–4,6,7]. The relaxindepended growth of the cervix and vagina is accompanied by increased cell content [3,4,6]. Relaxin increases the number of epithelial cells and thereby contributes to the increase in the circumference of the cervical and vaginal lumina [6–8]. Relaxin also increases the number of stromal cells in the cervix and vagina [6–8]. The increased cellular content of the lower reproductive tract likely contributes to relaxin’s vital role in facilitating rapid and safe delivery of the pups [9].
Failed Dermal Allograft Procedures for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears Can Still Improve Pain and Function: The "Biologic Tuberoplasty Effect".

Background:Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) have been used in the treatment of shoulders with massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs). Despite clinical improvement, correlation of clinical findings with...
Abstract 2749: Effects of subtype specific chemotherapeutic immunomodulation in bladder cancer

In patients with bladder cancer, programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been shown to be effective in around twenty percent of patients, and there is evidence indicating that the level of immune infiltration and immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment correlates with response to these treatments. We have previously shown that there are intrinsic subtypes of bladder cancer, with the basal subtype characterized by high levels of immune infiltration, and the luminal subtype characterized by immune exclusion. Here we show that treatment with current standard of care chemotherapeutic agents has a subtype specific effect on the tumor microenvironment. Cisplatin-based chemotherapeutic treatment of luminal tumors induces a mesenchymal phenotype, immune infiltration, and a transition to a more basal-like tumor, while not altering these characteristics of the tumor microenvironment in basal tumors. Two of the most widely used standard of care chemotherapeutic regiments are Cisplatin-Gemcitabine (GemCis) and Methotrexate-Vinblastine-Doxorubicin-Cisplatin (MVAC), and we show that MVAC treatment induces significant immune infiltration within the luminal subtype while GemCis treatment does not, indicating there are treatment specific effects on the immune microenvironment. Furthermore, using mouse models of bladder cancer previously developed by our lab that accurately reflect the basal and luminal subtypes of bladder cancer, treatment with a representative chemotherapeutic regimen induced immune infiltration in the luminal mouse model while not affecting the tumor immune microenvironment in the basal mouse model. These results indicate chemotherapeutic regimens have subtype specific effects on the tumor microenvironment which could potentially be used to increase the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Citation Format: Jordan Kardos, Lisa Bixby, Andrew Truong, Bhavani Krishnan, Kyle Stewart, Benjamin Vincent, William Kim. Effects of subtype specific chemotherapeutic immunomodulation in bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2749.
Cancellation of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab After Activation for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Prehospital ECG-based cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activation for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction reduces door-to-balloon times, but CCL cancellations (CCLX) rema...
Werkstoffsubstitution bei Synchronisierungen für Getriebe

Es gibt zahlreiche Grunde fur den Ubergang von einem Werkstoff zu einem anderen: Neben technischen Vorteilen wie besseren Leistungsmerkmalen, Gewichtsersparnis oder kompakteren Abmessungen, zahlt auch der klare Wunsch nach einer wirtschaftlicheren Komponente zu den Hauptgrunden. Unabhangig von der Motivation bedeutet dieser Wechsel jedoch mehr als die Herstellung desselben Bauteils aus einem anderen Werkstoff. Wie grundlegend man das umgebende System verstehen muss, um etwa einen Messing-Synchronring durch eine ebenso leistungsfahige, wirtschaftliche Sintermetall-Komponente zu ersetzen, schildert Federal-Mogul.
Struggles for maintenance: Patient activism and dialysis dilemmas amidst a global diabetes epidemic

Diabetes has become a leading cause of death in Belize, making this Central American country emblematic of challenges amplified by a growing global diabetes epidemic. The struggles people face as they seek care for chronic conditions like diabetes (and its complications such as kidney failure) are bringing citizens and institutions alike to revisit longstanding norms about the terms through which healthcare is accessed. Ethnographically tracing Belize's first patient-driven healthcare protests and activism - an ad hoc movement for public dialysis that began over a decade ago - this paper examines patients' and caregivers' struggles to probe and shape a legacy of social justice health activism, drawing on perspectives from an often-overlooked part of Central America where basic healthcare access has not historically been framed as a right of citizens. It considers these dilemmas in relation to much larger chronic struggles 'to maintain' and repair bodies, medical technologies, and health systems in the aftermath of colonial legacies - with special attention to the challenges posed for small countries now facing rising issues of diabetes injuries and chronic complications - and the role of civic media and citizen activism in this context.
TGF-β signaling underlies hematopoietic dysfunction and bone marrow failure in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome

Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) is a rare and clinically-heterogeneous bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome caused by mutations in the Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond Syndrome (SBDS) gene. Although SDS was described over 50 years ago, the molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood due, in part, to the rarity and heterogeneity of the affected hematopoietic progenitors. To address this, we used single cell RNA sequencing to profile scant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from SDS patients. We generated a single cell map of early lineage commitment and found that SDS hematopoiesis was left-shifted with selective loss of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors. Transcriptional targets of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) were dysregulated in SDS hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors, but not in lineage-committed progenitors. TGFβ inhibitors (AVID200 and SD208) increased hematopoietic colony formation of SDS patient BM. Finally, TGFβ3 and other TGFβ pathway members were elevated in SDS patient blood plasma. These data establish the TGFβ pathway as a novel candidate biomarker and therapeutic target in SDS and translate insights from single cell biology into a potential therapy.
Review of molecular identification techniques for forensically important Diptera.

The medico-legal section of forensic entomology focuses on the analysis of insects associated with a corpse. Such insects are identified, and their life history characteristics are evaluated to provide information related to the corpse, such as postmortem interval and time of colonization. Forensically important insects are commonly identified using dichotomous keys, which rely on morphological characteristics. Morphological identifications can pose a challenge as local keys are not always available and can be difficult to use, especially when identifying juvenile stages. If a specimen is damaged, certain keys cannot be used for identification. In contrast, molecular identification can be a better instrument to identify forensically important insects, regardless of life stage or specimen completeness. Despite more than 20 yr since the first use of molecular data for the identification of forensic insects, there is little overlap in gene selection or phylogenetic methodology among studies, and this inconsistency reduces efficiency. Several methods such as genetic distance, reciprocal monophyly, or character-based methods have been implemented in forensic identification studies. It can be difficult to compare the results of studies that employ these different methods. Here we present a comprehensive review of the published results for the molecular identification of Diptera of forensic interest, with an emphasis on evaluating variation among studies in gene selection and phylogenetic methodology.
A Cutaneous Haptic Cue Characterization Testbed

Within the field of haptics there is a need for a standardized method of characterizing tactile stimuli and assessing human perception of tactile cues. Most haptic devices are characterized using methods that are often unique to a given experimental investigation, making direct comparisons across studies challenging. In addition, tests involving the comparison of simultaneous haptic cues add a further degree of complexity. To meet these needs, we have developed the AIMS (Adjustable Instrumented Multisensory Stimuli) Testbed, a modular and instrumented testbed that allows for flexible testing of and comparison between haptic cues. In this paper, we present the design of the testbed along with its existing haptic cue modules and sensor systems. Additionally, we examine data and observations taken from a psychophysical study performed using the testbed. Finally, we discuss the potential for this system to serve as a platform capable of reproducibly measuring the effects and interactions for a wide range of haptic devices and cue sets.
Children’s Developing Understanding of Merit in a Distributive Justice Context

Distributive justice is an important component of morality given that it directly reflects how individuals reason regarding fairness and others’ welfare. Thus far, substantial research has attempted to understand how children make distribution decisions in resource allocation contexts, particularly when merit is salient (e.g., one deserves more resources than another). Despite the rich findings in this area, no systematic literature review has yielded a comprehensive discussion of children’s understanding of merit in fairness decisions. A systematic review of the pertinent literature was undertaken. This article thoroughly synthesizes findings regarding merit-based distributive justice by revealing the roles of culture, resource type, and situation complexity, as well as children’s use of underlying reasoning in their distributive decisions. The article discusses the findings and directions for future research.
Clinical Aspects of Aging Skin: Considerations for the Wound Care Practitioner.

GENERAL PURPOSETo provide information about changes associated with aging skin and the implications for wound care practitioners.TARGET AUDIENCEThis continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care
Against Deaccessioning Rules

This article surveys the rules that professional organizations have promulgated governing the deaccessioning of works of art by art museums and concludes that that those rules are unjustified. Specifically, it argues that deaccessioning rules prohibiting museums from deaccessioning works of art for the purpose of generating revenue are not justified and are inconsistent with the legal duties of board members. It argues that museums should sell art when it is in the best interests of the museum.
Modeling neuroaffective biomarkers of drug addiction: A Bayesian nonparametric approach using dirichlet process mixtures.

Abstract Background The properties of neurophysiological processes related to addiction have received much attention in the literature. However, empirical evidence of meaningful and useful characterization of these processes is limited. Recent studies have found that electrophysiological responses to emotional and drug-related cues can be used to create profiles that reliably predict smoking relapse. New method This paper evaluates the validity of classifying electrophysiological responses into distinct profiles using a Bayesian dirichlet process mixture (DPM) model. The DPM is a Bayesian nonparametric (BNP) method to modeling unknown number of profiles characterized by uncertainty in cluster membership and in cluster number. Results The DPM model confirmed previously identified neuroaffective reactivity profiles, but also revealed a finer level of granularity in the clustering. Specifically, in addition to the two clusters previously identified in the literature, the BNP methods identified a cluster of individuals showing similar responses to smoking, pleasant, neutral and unpleasant cues. Comparison with existing methods BNP models provide an alternative to the k-mean clustering approach to modeling EEG-based neuroaffective profiles. Unlike k-means clustering, BNP models compute the probability that a subject belongs to a cluster while taking into consideration uncertainty in the number of clusters. Conclusions Our results confirm the reliability of the two clusters previously identified in these data, but also provide new insights by revealing a cluster that presented similar responses to stimuli with different contents. This finding may be related to the uncertainty in classification or overlapping brain-reactivity profiles.
Neural Spectrahedra and Semidefinite Lifts: Global Convex Optimization of Polynomial Activation Neural Networks in Fully Polynomial-Time.

The training of two-layer neural networks with nonlinear activation functions is an important non-convex optimization problem with numerous applications and promising performance in layerwise deep learning. In this paper, we develop exact convex optimization formulations for two-layer neural networks with second degree polynomial activations based on semidefinite programming. Remarkably, we show that semidefinite lifting is always exact and therefore computational complexity for global optimization is polynomial in the input dimension and sample size for all input data. The developed convex formulations are proven to achieve the same global optimal solution set as their non-convex counterparts. More specifically, the globally optimal two-layer neural network with polynomial activations can be found by solving a semidefinite program (SDP) and decomposing the solution using a procedure we call Neural Decomposition. Moreover, the choice of regularizers plays a crucial role in the computational tractability of neural network training. We show that the standard weight decay regularization formulation is NP-hard, whereas other simple convex penalties render the problem tractable in polynomial time via convex programming. We extend the results beyond the fully connected architecture to different neural network architectures including networks with vector outputs and convolutional architectures with pooling. We provide extensive numerical simulations showing that the standard backpropagation approach often fails to achieve the global optimum of the training loss. The proposed approach is significantly faster to obtain better test accuracy compared to the standard backpropagation procedure.
Site Pattern Probabilities Under the Multispecies Coalescent and a Relaxed Molecular Clock: Theory and Applications

The first step in statistical inference of the evolutionary histories of species is developing a probability model that describes the mutation process as accurately and realistically as possible. A major complication of this inference is that different loci on the genome can have histories that diverge from the common species history and each other. The multispecies coalescent process is commonly used to model one source of this divergence, incomplete lineage sorting, or ILS. Chifman and Kubatko (2015) computed the site pattern probabilities for four taxa under a full probability model based on the Jukes-Cantor substitution model when the molecular clock holds. This paper generalizes that work to a relaxed clock model, allowing for mutation rates to differ among species. This will enable better phylogentic inference in cases where the molecular clock does not hold.
Fostering Compatible Forest Resource Management: The Conditional Nature of Social Acceptability

For years, public and private resource management organizations have sought to implement sustainable policies and programs that achieve various forest management goals; yet success has proven elusive. Although such efforts have been marked by significant investments in assessing the biophysical and economic aspects of proposals, public opposition often has stymied implementation. One example—and the focus of this book—is reflected in the search for forest management policies and programs that increase the compatibility between wood production and other forest uses and values. Efforts to use timber harvesting as part of a forest management strategy that incorporates commodity production with a host of other purposes, from fire control to biodiversity enhancment, have been engulfed in controversy. At their core, such conflicts reveal the importance of social acceptability, which implies a sufficient level of public understanding and accord to permit policy implementation. Such judgments ultimately affect all forestland management, irrespective of tenure, although they are particularly salient at present with regard to public lands.
Treatment of stable extra-capsular hip fractures with a sliding screw versus short gamma nail: a retrospective study of 102 patients

This is a retrospective study of 102 patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures comparing the operative results of short gamma nail™ fixation with the sliding hip screw. The average patient age in the study is 83 years (range 52–94 years) with 87% females. The transfusion requirements between the two groups did not differ but a slightly larger decrease in hemoglobin levels was seen at 48 h in the gamma nail group. In neither group were there any intra-operative fractures or infections which led to a return to the operating room. The average length of stay for both groups was identical at 6.9 days. Twenty-seven short gamma nail patients and 18 compression hip screw patients were followed for 6 months. There were no instances of cut-out in either group but the short gamma nail group had middle/middle lag screw placement on the AP and lateral views more often than the compression hip screw (50%) group at 6 months. We conclude that the short gamma nail can be used effectively for the fixation of intertrochanteric hip fractures without the occurrence of potentially devastating complications such as intraoperative femur fracture, periprosthetic fracture or lag screw cut-out.
Least squares parameter identification of nonlinear differential I/O models

A least-squares parameter identification technique is formulated for deterministic systems modeled by a class of input-output nonlinear differential operator equations. Based on the notion of exactness in the calculus, a distinction is made on the basis of whether or not the equation error representation is an exact differential expression. It is shown how equation error models which are exact can be integrated for any given input-output data pair to yield and explicit function of the parameters that can be used for standard least-squares-estimation techniques. The formulation is then extended to apply to a class of inexact equation error system models. Also discussed is the notion of 'identifiability' as it relates to the class of systems under consideration. >
Impact of RNAV terminal procedures on controller workload

Human factors studies have identified message frequency, message complexity (amount of information transmitted), and specific types of information as determinants of operational errors resulting from high workload. Miscommunications, at the very least, have the potential of narrowing the margin of safety. Reducing the number of routine controller-pilot communications, the amount of routine information transmitted, and the need for communicating information that is susceptible to errors helps foster a safe airspace environment and may also minimize workload incurred by the controller. This goal is supported by area navigation (RNAV) terminal procedures which capitalize on the enhanced navigation capabilities of current avionics technology. RNAV reduces the vectoring of aircraft from the terminal radar approach control (TRACON) boundary to the final approach for arrivals and from the runway to the TRACON boundary for departures through the design of fixed flight routes. A voice communication analysis was conducted for the terminal departure, terminal approach, and local tower controller positions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport. The analysis is comprised of three principle areas: 1) the amount of required communications; 2) the amount of information conveyed; 3) and the type of information conveyed. Voice data analysis results show up to 40% reduction in the amount of two-way communications and up to 50% reduction in the amount of information required.
The Biosynthesis of Cell Wall Lipopolysaccharide in Escherichia coli V. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF 3-DEOXY-D-MANNO-OCTULOSONATE ALDOLASE

Abstract 3-Deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate aldolase, an inducible enzyme isolated from extracts of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate-grown Aerobacter cloacae, has been purified approximately 60-fold. The enzyme catalyzes the following reaction: 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate ⇄ pyruvate + D-arabinose. Pyruvate was characterized chromatographically and with lactic acid dehydrogenase. D-Arabinose was characterized chromatographically and by its reactivity with L-fucose isomerase to form D-ribulose. The purified enzyme exhibited the following properties: pH optimum, 7; Michaelis constant = 6 x 10-3 M; and equilibrium constant = 0.077 M. The enzyme provides a convenient method for the preparation of specifically 14C-labeled 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate.
Aging in the Fallopian tube.

Abstract Aging in the oviduct has been studied by special stains and by planimetry. There was some evidence of increasing collagen fibers in the plicae with aging. We also found evidence of a relative increase in the proportion of the oviduct occupied by plicae with aging. Technical assistance by Mr. Willie Holmes and Mr. Alfred McGee is acknowledged. Drawing by Mrs. Patricia Johnson.
Risk Factors for Heat-Related Illness in Washington Crop Workers

Crop workers are at high risk of heat-related illness (HRI) from internal heat generated by heavy physical work, particularly when laboring in hot and humid conditions. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for HRI symptoms in Washington crop workers using an audio computer-assisted self-interview (A-CASI) instrument that has undergone reliability and validity evaluation. A cross-sectional A-CASI survey of 97 crop workers in Washington State was conducted during the summer of 2013. Potential HRI risk factors in demographic, training, work, hydration, clothing, health, and environmental domains were selected a priori for evaluation. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for self-reported symptoms associated with heat strain and HRI (dizziness/light-headedness or heavy sweating) experienced at work in hot conditions. An increase in age was associated with a lower odds of HRI symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87-0.98). Piece rate compared with hourly payment (OR = 6.20; 95% CI = 1.11-34.54) and needing to walk for more than 3 minutes to get to the toilet, compared with less than 3 minutes (OR = 4.86; 95% CI = 1.18-20.06), were associated with a higher odds of HRI symptoms. In this descriptive study of risk factors for HRI symptoms in Washington crop workers, decreased age (and less work experience), piece rate pay, and longer distance to the toilet were associated with self-reported HRI symptoms. Modifiable workplace factors should be considered in HRI prevention efforts that are evaluated using objective measures in representative working populations.
The calculated influence of atmospheric conditions on solar cell ISC under direct and global solar irradiances

Calculations of the influence of atmospheric conditions on solar cell short-circuit current (Isc) are made using a recently developed computer model for solar spectral irradiance distribution. The results isolate the dependence of Isc on changes in the spectral irradiance distribution without the direct influence of the total irradiance level. The calculated direct normal irradiance and percent diffuse irradiance are given as a reference to indicate the expected irradiance levels. This method can be applied to the calibration of photovoltaic reference cells. Graphic examples are provided for amorphous silicon and monocrystalline silicon solar cells under direct normal and global normal solar irradiances.
Das Reich der Nebel

Die vorangehenden Kapitel beschrieben die sichtbaren Zuge der Nebel und ihre Verteilung, die Entwicklung von Methoden zur Erforschung ihrer wahren Eigenschaften und die Art der Ergebnisse, zu denen diese neuen Methoden fuhrten. Nunmehr konnen wir das Reich der Nebel als ein einheitliches Ganzes betrachten und den beobachtbaren Raum als ein Muster des Weltalls uberhaupt auffassen.
Exploring intersections between online and offline affinity space participation

In order to examine the literacies involved with the digital media practices and affinity space involvement of a group of adolescent boys, multiple methods for data collection and analysis were adopted to supplement traditional case study methods. Longitudinal research crossing multiple sites from individual and group perspectives was essential to track development of literacies over time, and to mark the intersection of trajectories of interest-driven expertise development sparked by affinity space involvement individually and collectively.
Design of low frequency ultrasonic transducers by 1-3 tubular piezocomposite

Transverse piezoelectric (TP) mode 1-3 tubular piezocomposites have been developed recently for low frequency ultrasonic transducer applications. The new piezocomposite made of piezoceramic tubes embedded in a polymer matrix has many unique features, such as increasing the tunability of acoustic impedance, enhancing the effective piezoelectric responses and improving the electrical impedance matching with the driving circuit. This paper theoretically described the surface displacement profile of 1-3 tubular piezocomposites under uniaxial stress. The effective piezoelectric coefficients of 1-3 tubular piezocomposites have been derived in terms of the tube volume fraction, tube size and the elastic constants of the matrix polymer. The theoretical analysis and experimental results indicate that the elastic parameters of the polymer matrix have significant effects on the performance of 1-3 tubular piezocomposites. By optimizing the structure of the composite and elastic properties of the polymer matrix, the 1-3 tubular piezocomposite has a exceptionally large effective piezoelectric coefficient, d/sub 33/, and less undesirable resonance modes. A low electrical impedance and large effective piezoelectric coefficients suggest that the TP mode 1-3 tubular piezocomposites are superior to conventional 1-3 rod piezocomposites in low frequency ultrasonic transducer applications.
Business artifact-centric modeling for real-time performance monitoring

In activity-centric process paradigm, developing effective and efficient performance models is a hard and laborious problem with many challenges mainly because of the fragmented nature of this paradigm. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to performance monitoring based on business artifactcentric process paradigm. Business artifacts provide an appropriate base for explicit modeling of monitoring contexts. We develop a model-driven two-phase methodology for designing real-time monitoring models. This methodology allows domain experts or business users to focus on defining metric and KPI requirements while the detailed technical specification of monitoring models can be automatically generated from the requirements and underlying business artifacts. This approach dramatically simplifies design of monitoring models and also increases the understandability of monitoring results.
Approach to the Swollen Arm With Chronic Dialysis Access It’s Not Just Deep Vein Thrombosis

The purposes of this pictorial essay are as follows: (1) Review a systematic approach to using sonography in the initial evaluation of patients with acute arm swelling and permanent dialysis access. (2) Identify normal grayscale and Doppler findings in arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. (3) Discuss a spectrum of vascular differential diagnoses for arm swelling in this setting, including stenosis of the access, draining vein complications, thrombosis, steal syndrome, and aneurysms, as well as several nonvascular causes. (4) Recognize findings that warrant further imaging evaluation or intervention.
The Effects of Interruption Context on Task Performance

This study examines the effects of contextual similarity or dissimilarity of interruptions during task performance. Participants engaged in a series of working memory tasks using a computer interfa...
Women and men authors' portrayal of curiosity in young children's literature.

76.7% of the cases. Curiosity was portrayed as undesirable (negative) in 13.8% of the instances, while positive (desirable) portrayals occurred in only 9.5% of the cases. Also, stories published in 1970 or later were more likely than earlier stories to portray curiosity negatively. The present analysis examined the possibility that women and men authors portray curiosity differently. The sample consisted of the 67 authors who had written the books used in the Holmes and Holmes (1991) study. Of these books 63 were written by a single author (44 women and 19 men). One book was written by nvo men, and one book was written by a woman and a man. Since an N of 1 would allow no meaningful analysis, the woman/man authored book was listed under women authors (since the woman was first author), and the manlman authored book was listed under men authors: there were 45 women and 20 men authors. Gender of the authors was assessed by one of two ways. First, by noting the first and middle names, 56 cases were so determined. In nine cases, names did not allow such judgment, so Something About the Author (Commire, various years) was consulted to establish gender. The 65 authors generated 116 instances of curiosity which were treated separately, that is, gender of the author and how curionity was portrayed were recorded for each instance. These data were obtained from the or~glnal Holmes and Holmes (1991) study. Women authors generated 89 instances of curiosiry, whdr men generated 27 instances. For women authors, of the 89 instances of curiosity, 67 were neutral, 11 were positive, and 11 were negative. For men, of the 27 instances of curiosity, 22 were neutral, none were positive, and 5 were negative. Results were nonsignificant (X,' = 4.01, p> .05). When women and men authors were compared for older books (1969 and older), no significant difference was found for how curiosity was portrayed h,' (N = 461 = 2.89, p> ,051. Comparing women and men authors for newer books (1970 and newer) also showed no significant difference [x,' (N = 70) = .87, p> ,051. These results indicate that women and men authors did not differ significantly in how they portrayed curiosity in young children's picture story books. Both groups have an overwhelming tendency to portray curiosity neutrally.
Optimization of peptide substrates for botulinum neurotoxin E improves detection sensitivity in the Endopep-MS assay.

Abstract Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by Clostridium botulinum are the most poisonous substances known to humankind. It is essential to have a simple, quick, and sensitive method for the detection and quantification of botulinum toxin in various media, including complex biological matrices. Our laboratory has developed a mass spectrometry-based Endopep–MS assay that is able to rapidly detect and differentiate all types of BoNTs by extracting the toxin with specific antibodies and detecting the unique cleavage products of peptide substrates. Botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) is a member of a family of seven distinctive BoNT serotypes (A–G) and is the causative agent of botulism in both humans and animals. To improve the sensitivity of the Endopep–MS assay, we report here the development of novel peptide substrates for the detection of BoNT/E activity through systematic and comprehensive approaches. Our data demonstrate that several optimal peptides could accomplish 500-fold improvement in sensitivity compared with the current substrate for the detection of both not-trypsin-activated and trypsin-activated BoNT/E toxin complexes. A limit of detection of 0.1 mouse LD 50 /ml was achieved using the novel peptide substrate in the assay to detect not-trypsin-activated BoNT/E complex spiked in serum, stool, and food samples.
Wound strength in abdominal incisions: a comparison of two continuous mass closure techniques in rats.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether continuous simple mass closure or continuous far-near, near-far (Smead-Jones) mass closure of longitudinal midline abdominal incisions results in a stronger wound. A second objective was to compare the time required to perform each type of closure. STUDY DESIGN: A midline laparotomy was performed on 102 male Sprague-Dawley rats. the skin was incised from xiphoid to pubis and reflected away from the midline. The rectus sheath was imprinted with a stamp to demarcate a standardized 5 cm midline incision. The stamp also provided loci for suture bites 5 mm from the incision edge and 10 mm apart. A longitudinal midline incision was made. Closure technique was determined by random assignment. The time required to close each incision was recorded. On postoperative day 7 wound strength was measured by inserting a condom into the abdomen and filling it with water until the abdomen burst. Pressure was measured in millimeters of mercury. Student t test, χ 2 test, and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Animals closed with the continuous simple mass closure ( n = 50) had a mean weight of 344.43 ± 33.2 gm (mean ± SD) and those closed with the continuous far-near, near-far mass closure technique ( n = 52) weighed 344.86 ± 36 gm. Abdominal bursting pressure was 480.8 ± 62.6 mm Hg in the continuous simple group, whereas it was 554.4 ± 63.6 mm Hg in the continuous far-near, near-far group ( p p CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that the continuous far-near, near-far mass closure technique results in significantly greater wound strength than the continuous simple mass closure on the basis of the intraperitoneal pressure required to burst the abdomen. We believe that the far-near, near-far closure provides superior strength by creating two loops of suture over which forces that may disrupt the wound can be distributed. Furthermore, use of a continuous suture for this technique distributes tension along the entire length of the incision. Disruptive forces are thus divided evenly among all suture sites. A second purported advantage of continuous closur is the speed with which it can be performed. However, the greater wound strength of the continuous far-near, near-far technique comes at the expense of requiring 56% more time to complete than the continuous simple mass closure. Our data suggest that greater wound security is worth the increased time required for this repair.
Modeling ground heat flux in land surface parameterization schemes

A new ground heat flux parameterization for land surface schemes, such as those used in climate and numerical weather prediction models, is described. Compared with other approaches that lump the canopy layer and ground surface, or empirically based approaches that consider the effect of radiation attenuation through the canopy layer, the new parameterization has several advantages. First, the reduction of radiation available for conducting soil surface exchange under vegetated areas is represented in a manner that assures that heat is conserved in the long term. Second, problems in representing properly the phase of the ground heat flux are alleviated. Finally, the approach is relatively simple and is computationally efficient, requiring only two soil thermal layers. Comparison of the method with analytical solutions for special cases shows that the new method approximates the analytical solution very well for different conditions, and that the new method is superior to the force-restore and the Crank-Nicholson method. Model-derived ground heat heat fluxes for the French HAPEX-MOBILHY (Hydrology-Atmosphere Pilot Experiment - Modelisation de Bilan Hydrique) site and the Brazilian ABRACOS (Anglo-Brazilian Amazonian Climate Observation Study) cleared ranch land site are shown to be in close agreement with observations. Sensitivity analyses show that if the attenuation of radiation under vegetation and soil heat storage are ignored, the daytime peak and nighttime minima of ground heat flux, latent and sensible heat fluxes, and surface temperature can be significantly in error. In particular, neglecting the radiation attenuation through the canopy layer can result in significant overestimation (underestimation) of daytime (nighttime) ground heat flux, while neglecting soil heat storage can result in significant phase errors.
The relationship between on-time performance and airline market share: a new approach

We propose a new method of modeling the relationship between on-time performance and market share in the airline industry. The idea behind the method is that the passengers’ decision to remain (use same airline) or switch (use other airlines) at time t depends on whether they have experienced flight delays at time tˇ 1 or not. More specifically, we posit that the passengers who experienced flight delays are more likely to switch airlines for the subsequent flight than those passengers who did not experience delays. To capture such eAect, we develop an aggregate-level Markovian type model that estimates the transition probability matrices separately for the passengers who experienced flight delays at time tˇ 1 and for those who did not experience delays. The model was calibrated with the US DOT data. The study results imply that, once experiencing flight delays, passengers are more likely to switch airlines. The results also imply that on-time performance aAects a carrier’s market share primarily through the passengers’ experience, and not though the ‘‘advertisement’’ of performance. ” 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.