cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thromboxanes: selective biosynthesis and distinct biological properties

The prostaglandin endoperoxide ring structure alone does not establish suitability as a substrate for thromboxane synthetase, but the degree of unsaturation and carbon chain length are also essential features. Thus, human platelet microsomes can synthesize thromboxane A2, thromboxane A3, but not thromboxane A1 from their respective endoperoxides. The potent vasoconstrictor property of thromboxanes can be dissociated from its capacity to produce platelet aggregation. Furthermore, thromboxane formation is not an essential process in platelet aggregation. The observations indicate the remarkable structural specificity of both the synthetic enzymes, cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase, as well as the vascular and platelet receptor sites.
Family planning and population control in developing countries

This essay aims at a critical analysis of the major assumptions of the family planning movement and their implications for population and development policy in the less developed countries. A neo-Malthusian perspective, in which a reduction of the current high rates of population growth is considered to be a necessary condition for economic development in the less developed countries, is dominant among professionals in family planning. Population control has come to be regarded as a kind of“leading sector” in the development process. The position taken in this paper is that the contention that fertility reduction is crucial to short term economic development is not substantiated empirically and represents a distorted view of the economic development process. Nor is there good evidence that demographic modernization can move far ahead of other aspects of modernization. Skepticism about the success of family planning tends to lead to advocacy of alternative methods of population control which are generally beyond the economic, administrative, and political capacities of the less developed countries and are sometimes repressive in tone. The family planning movement, in overstressing the independent contributions of fertility reduction programs, has tended to underplay conditions such as improved health, lowered mortality, and altered opportunity structure which make these contributions possible at all.
Conservative surgery and radiation therapy in breast carcinoma: Local recurrence and prognostic implications

Abstract Conservative surgery with radiation therapy has been used with increasing frequency at Yale-New Haven Hospital since the late 1960's, resulting in a minimum evaluable follow-up time of 5 years on 278 patients treated prior to 1982. The radiation therapy technique generally encompassed treatment to the breast and regional lymph nodes of 4600 cGy with an electron beam boost to the tumor bed of 6400 cGy. Axillary dissection was performed in 19%, adjuvant chemotherapy in 7.3%, and adjuvant hormonal therapy in 5.7%; 65% were clinical Stage I and 35% were clinical Stage II. As of July 1987, with a minimum evaluable follow-up of 5 years and a median follow-up of 7.46 years, the actuarial 5- and 10-year survival for all 278 patients was 83% and 67%, respectively. The breast recurrence-free rate was 91% at 5 years and 80% at 10 years. Whereas the 5-year survival was significantly greater for clinical Stage I patients (91% vs 68%, p = .01), the breast recurrence-free rates did not significantly differ between clinical Stage I II (93% vs 88%). There were 31 patients who failed in the breast alone as the first site of failure; 67% were at or near the primary site whereas 33% were distinctly removed from the primary site. Salvage mastectomy was performed in 25 patients, repeat wedge resection in two patients, and biopsy only in four patients. Axillary nodes were positive in five (33%) of 15 evaluable patients undergoing axillary dissection at the time of recurrence. The 5-year actuarial survival following local recurrence for the 31 patients was 48% at a mean follow-up of 5.06 years. The local recurrences were further subclassified into localized breast recurrences (LBR), defined clinically as less than 3 cm without evidence of dermal involvement, or diffuse breast recurrence (DBR), defined clinically as greater than 3 cm and/or with dermal involvement. The 22 patients experiencing localized breast recurrences tended to occur later (median time to recurrence 4.3 years) than the nine patients experiencing a diffuse breast recurrence (median time to recurrence 2.9 years). At last follow-up, three (14%) of the 22 localized breast recurrences gad subsequently failed distantly and none had subsequent local failure, whereas four (44%) of nine diffuse breast recurrences had subsequent distant failure and five (55%) of the nine diffuse breast recurrences experienced further local disease. The 5-year actuarial survival following salvage treatment was 90% for the localized breast recurrences and only 13% for the diffuse breast recurrences.
Dairy products do not lead to alterations in body weight or fat mass in young women in a 1-y intervention

Background: Previous results suggested that increased intake of dairy calcium is associated with reduced weight and fat mass. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term increases in consumption of dairy calcium alter body weight and fat mass in young healthy women. Design: We used a randomized 1-y-intervention for dairy calcium. Subjects were 155 young (aged 18-30 y) healthy normal-weight women with intake of dietary calcium <800 mg/d and energy intake =220 kcal/d. Women were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 1) control: continue established dietary intake; 2) medium dairy: substitute dairy products to achieve intake of calcium of ˜1000-1100 mg/d and maintain isocaloric intake; 3) high dairy: substitute dairy products to achieve intake of calcium of 1300-1400 mg/d and maintain isocaloric intake. The main outcome measures were 1-y changes in body weight (in kg) and fat mass (in kg). One hundred thirty-five women completed the trial. Results: Mean intakes of calcium during the intervention were 742.4 ± 321.5 1026.4 ± 311.3 and 1131.29 ± 337.2 mg/d for the control medium-dairy and high-dairy groups respectively (P < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed in the mean 1-y change in body weight between the control medium-dairy and high-dairy groups (0.8 ± 2.8 0.7 ± 3.0 and 1.5 ± 4.1 kg respectively; P = 0.45). No significant differences were observed in the mean 1-y change in fat mass between the control medium- dairy and high-dairy groups (-0.5 ± 2.5 0.3 ± 2.7 and 0.5 ± 3.5 kg respectively; P = 0.26). Conclusion: Increased intake of dairy products does not alter body weight or fat mass in young healthy women over 1 y. (authors)
Interlocking finger test: a bedside screen for parietal lobe dysfunction

This study sought to determine the utility of an interlocking finger task in screening for parietal lobe dysfunction. The ability of 69 patients to imitate a standardised set of four interlocking finger figures was compared with concurrent performance on formal neurocognitive tests. Poor interlocking finger test scores correlated most highly with standard measures of parietal lobe dysfunction. In addition, an analytical model of parietal dysfunction indicated the interlocking finger test was similar to, if not better than, standard tests of parietal lobe dysfunction. Attempts to imitate these figures should serve as a fast and simple screen of parietal lobe dysfunction.
Measurement of the directivity characteristics of loudspeakers and microphones in a reverberant enclosure

Continuous automatic recordings of the directivity patterns at various frequencies have been obtained for loudspeakers and microphones placed in a reverberant enclosure. Tone bursts and electronic gating have been used to simulate free-field conditions. This method appears to give results as accurate as those obtained in an anechoic chamber. The lowest measurement frequency of the directivity pattern is determined by the size of the enclosure available.
CONSUMERS' VALUATION OF INSECTICIDE USE RESTRICTIONS: AN APPLICATION TO APPLES

Economic assessments of pesticide regulations typically focus on producer impacts and generally ignore possible changes in product demand. These changes may be nonnegligible if real and/or perceived product attributes change. We measure consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for the elimination of one insecticide and also a whole group of insecticides in apple production using a multiple-round Vickrey auction. The data are analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests and a doublehurdle model. Our findings show that consumer perceptions of product attributes change if pesticides are removed from production, and this is reflected in WTP changes. WTP is shown to be income elastic.
Short‐ and long‐term sediment toxicity test methods with the amphipod Grandidierella japonica

Methods are described for conducting flow-through sediment toxicity tests with the marine amphipod Grandidierella japonica. Short-term (10-d) exposures were conducted at 15°C in 1-liter beakers containing a 2-cm layer of sediment and 700 ml overlying seawater. Long-term (28-d) tests were conducted in 1-liter beakers at 19°C with the weekly addition of food to the test chambers. Both methods were used to measure the toxicity of sediments from five locations in southern California. These sites included highly contaminated areas adjacent to large municipal wastewater outfalls and within industrialized harbors. Both test methods were sensitive to levels of contamination found in the field, but produced different patterns of effects. Short-term mortality was greatest in amphipods exposed to the harbor sediments, while long-term exposure produced the greatest reductions in survival and growth at the Los Angeles County Outfall site. Amphipod survival was unaffected by variations in sediment grain size, while this characteristic appeared to have an important effect on growth.
21st century warfare

This paper discusses current and emerging technologies of several types of sources and radiating systems for narrow, moderate, ultra-moderate and hyper-band (band ratio greater than a decade) high-power electromagnetic signals. On the other hand, it is a polemic advocating the view that the 21st century call for a new paradigm for weapons technology and that nonlethal weapons (NLW) are going to play an increasingly important role in combat and civil conflicts in the coming years.
A sufficiently smooth projection operator

In this note, we introduce a new parameter projection operator for adaptation laws. The projection operator replaces the common Lipschitz continuity property with the stronger property of arbitrarily many times continuous differentiability. The proposed projection is useful for backstepping-based, robust adaptive controllers which require multiple differentiations of the adaptation law.
Local induction of decision trees: towards interactive data mining

Decision trees are an important data mining tool with many applications. Like many classification techniques, decision trees process the entire data base in order to produce a generalization of the data that can be used subsequently for classification. Large, complex data bases are not always amenable to such a global approach to generalization. This paper explores several methods for extracting data that is local to a query point, and then using the local data to build generalizations. These adaptively constructed neighborhoods can provide additional information about the query point. Three new algorithms are presented, and experiments using these algorithms are described.
System identification of fractional order dynamic models for electrochemical systems

Fractional order differential equations (FODE) provides a more flexible approach to describe dynamic systems. However, the extra flexibility poses a difficult problem in system identification, which requires not only the estimation of model coefficients but also the determination of fractional orders. They are coupled nonlinearly. In addition, the model coefficients in a FODE are shown nonlinearly coupled with respect to the often used Sum Squared Error (SSE) objective function. In this article, a two-layer approach is designed to estimate fractional orders and model coefficients iteratively. An intermediate step that estimates model coefficients is also introduced to address the nonlinear coupling of coefficients in a SSE. In the subsequent simulation for electrochemical systems, it is found that prior knowledge on physical systems being modeled is necessary to create optimization constraints and justify the results.
Applications of New Technologies to Instream Flow Studies in Large Rivers

Abstract An acoustic Doppler current profiler, underwater video system, hand-held laser range finder and global positioning receiver were used to collect data for instream flow studies on the Sacramento and lower American rivers in California. The use of the equipment decreased the time required to collect spawning criteria data for Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in deep water in a given area by a factor of 3.4 and doubled the number of transects that could be modeled with the same budget. With the application of quality control criteria, discharges could be measured with an average accuracy of 2.7% versus gauge data with an accuracy of 5%. The total time required to collect data for two-dimensional habitat sites varied with the length and complexity of the sites, and was equivalent to the total time required for physical habitat simulation (PHABSIM) data collection for shorter sites, and less for longer sites.
A Systems Approach to Urban Bicycle Safety

Over the last five years the U.S.A. has experienced a rapid growth in the sale and use of bicycles. Current estimates are that there are 15 million bicycles per year sold (more than automobile sales for 1974) and that one American in three uses a bicycle.
Animal propagation and genomic survey of a genotype 1 isolate of Cryptosporidium parvum

Human cryptosporidiosis is attributed to two major Cryptosporidium parvum genotypes of which type 1 appears to be the predominant. Most laboratory investigations however are performed using genotype 2 isolates, the only type which readily infects laboratory animals. So far type 1 has only been identified in humans and primates. A type 1 isolate, obtained from an individual with HIV and cryptosporidiosis, was successfully adapted to propagate in gnotobiotic piglets. Genotypic characterization of oocyst DNA from this isolate using multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms, a genotype-specific PCR marker, and direct sequence analysis of two polymorphic loci confirmed that this isolate, designated NEMC1, is indeed type 1. No changes in the genetic profile were identified during multiple passages in piglets. In contrast, the time period between infection and onset of fecal oocyst shedding, an indicator of adaptation, decreased with increasing number of passages. Consistent with other type 1 isolates, NEMC1 failed to infect mice. A preliminary survey of the NEMC1 genome covering approximately 2% of the genome and encompassing 200 kb of unique sequence showed an average similarity of approximately 95% between type 1 and 2 sequences. Twenty-four percent of the NEMC1 sequences were homologous to previously determined genotype 2 C. parvum sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first successful serial propagation of genotype 1 in animals, which should facilitate characterization of the unique features of this human pathogen.
Escherichia coli replication terminator protein impedes simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication fork movement and SV40 large tumor antigen helicase activity in vitro at a prokaryotic terminus sequence.

Abstract We have discovered that the Escherichia coli terminator protein (Ter) impedes replication fork movement, initiated in vitro from the simian virus 40 replication origin by the large tumor antigen (TAg), at the terminator site (tau R) of the prokaryotic plasmid R6K preferentially when tau R is present in one orientation with respect to the origin. We also have discovered that Ter impedes helicase activity of TAg at the tau R site, when tau R is in this same orientation. In contrast with Ter, a mutant EcoRI protein (EcoRIgln111) that binds with high affinity to but does not cleave at EcoRI recognition sequences impedes both simian virus 40 fork movement and the helicase activity of TAg in an EcoRI-site-orientation-independent manner. These results suggest that a feature common to both TAg and prokaryotic helicases may recognize the Ter-tau R complex resulting in a polarized pause in fork propagation and DNA unwinding. In contrast, the effect of EcoRIgln111-DNA complex on these reactions may be based on steric hindrance.
Cell-cycle-specific and serum-dependent expression of gamma-actin mRNA in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells.

Abstract We isolated cDNA clones that represent genes whose expression is enhanced when resting Swiss mouse 3T3 cells are stimulated to proliferate with serum. Two clones (designated pME1 and pMR6) were analyzed further. A partial sequence analysis of the pME1 insert DNA indicated that it contained a 104-base-pair stretch with extensive homology to the 3' untranslated region of gamma actin. Similar analysis of the insert DNA from the pMR6 clone indicated that it did not correspond to any previously reported gene sequence. We used the pME1 clone as a probe to determine the level of gamma actin-specific transcript in 3T3 cells under a variety of conditions. The level of gamma actin-specific mRNA began to increase in resting cells upon serum stimulation and reached a peak at 6 h. Thereafter its level declined, and by 24 h it was hardly detectable. In contrast, pMR6-specific transcript was detectable in resting cells but remained elevated even at 24 h poststimulation. The level of gamma-actin mRNA was elevated in resting cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, calcium ionophore A23187, and bombesin and to a lesser extent by cholera toxin, fibroblast-derived growth factor, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. However, insulin, vasopressin, or epidermal growth factor failed to enhance gamma-actin mRNA levels in resting cells. Inhibitors of transcription diminished the induction of gamma-actin mRNA. Gamma-actin gene was superinduced in serum-stimulated cells by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of translation. Analysis of proteins from serum-stimulated cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that enhanced transcription of gamma-actin mRNA resulted in a concomitant increase in the corresponding actin protein. The possible role of gamma actin, a component of the cytoskeleton, in the regulation of cell growth is discussed.
Passivation designs for CDMA uplink power control

This paper develops new classes of CDMA power control designs by exploiting passivity properties of a gradient-type algorithm proposed in the literature. The new control algorithms offer further design-flexibility, which can be exploited for improved performance and robustness. In our first design, we extend the base station algorithm with Zames-Falb multipliers which preserve its passivity properties. In our second design, we broaden the mobile power update laws with more general, dynamic, passive controllers.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Commentary on the efficacy of Lateral Neck Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by Se Kyung Lee et al.

In their article on the efficacy of lateral neck sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in papillary thyroid carcinoma, Dr. Kim’s group has detailed an impressive series of lateral neck SLN assessments for papillary thyroid cancer [1]. In their 94 patients, they were able to identify sentinel nodes in 60 (64%). In 19 of these patients, the sentinel node contained papillary thyroid cancer, leading the surgeons to perform a compartment-oriented neck dissection. They did not perform lateral neck dissection on the patients with negative sentinel node biopsies, and so sensitivity estimates are not available. Sentinel node biopsy has been a marked advance in the management of patients with breast cancer and melanoma, because it allows accurate staging of patients with minimal morbidity. This technique has resolved the morbidity of routine axillary dissection for breast cancer, and the controversy of whether or not to perform prophylactic dissections for melanoma. However, this has not yet found a place in the therapy for thyroid cancer. In my opinion, there are several reasons for this: (1) sentinel node biopsy in the confined area of the neck is technically challenging; (2) the most common node basin for papillary thyroid cancer metastasis is the level 6 nodes, an area that has already been exposed during thyroidectomy and can be dissected with limited additional morbidity; (3) ultrasound evaluation of the lateral neck is sensitive for identification of nonpalpable node metastases; and (4) lateral neck recurrence is uncommon after effective adjuvant treatment with radioiodine. The contribution by this group has effectively answered some of these issues. Using the sentinel node biopsy after thyroidectomy to assess the lateral neck, rather than just the first sentinel node that is usually in the central neck, they have resolved some of the technical issues caused by the proximity of the radiotracer injection to the nodes in question. In addition, assessing only the lateral neck nodes focused the procedure on the nodes that would not otherwise be directly accessible during the thyroidectomy. A remaining question in this area is the comparison of preoperative ultrasound evaluation of the lateral neck to the intraoperative sentinel node biopsy assessment. Unfortunately, it does not appear that this series of patients had preoperative ultrasound node mapping in order to delineate this. However, this should be a part of any further reports on this subject. Finally, the issue of whether it is important to remove these small amounts of disease, or whether they can be effectively managed by radioiodine therapy, will require careful clinical study.
Sensitivity of tropical storms simulated by a general circulation model to changes in cumulus parametrization

A number of recent studies have examined the statistics of tropical storms simulated by general circulation models (GCMs) forced by observed sea surface temperatures. Many GCMs have demonstrated an ability to simulate some aspects of the observed interannual variability of tropical storms, in particular, variability in storm frequency. This has led to nascent attempts to use GCMs as part of programs to produce operational seasonal forecasts of tropical-storm numbers. In this study, the sensitivity of the statistics of GCM-simulated tropical storms to changes in the model's physical parametrizations is examined. After preliminary results indicated that these statistics were most sensitive to details of the convective parametrization, GCM simulations with identical dynamical cores but different convective parametrizations were created. The parametrizations examined included moist convective adjustment, two variants of the Arakawa-Schubert scheme, and several variants of the relaxed Arakawa-Schubert (RAS) scheme; the impact of including a shallow-convection parametrization was also examined. The simulated tropical-storm frequency, intensity, structure, and interannual variability were all found to exhibit significant sensitivities to changes in convective parametrization. A particularly large sensitivity was found when the RAS and Arakawa-Schubert parametrizations were modified to place restrictions on the production of deep convection. Climatologies of the GCM tropical atmosphere and composites of tropical storms were examined to address the question of whether the tropical-storm statistics were directly impacted on by changes in convection associated with tropical storms, or if they were indirectly affected by parametrization-induced changes in the tropical mean atmosphere. A number of results point to the latter being the primary cause. A regional hurricane model, initialized with mean states from the GCM simulation climatologies, is used to further investigate this point. Particularly compelling is the fact that versions of the RAS scheme that produce significantly less realistic simulations of tropical storms nevertheless produce a much more realistic interannual variability of storms, apparently due to an improved tropical mean climate. A careful analysis of the background convective available potential energy (CAPE) is used to suggest that this quantity is particularly relevant to the occurrence of tropical storms in the low-resolution GCMs, although this may not be the case with observations. If the tropical CAPE is too low, tropical storms in the low-resolution GCMs cannot form with realistic frequency.
Nonstationary statistical tests in time-scale space

Detection and estimation of abrupt changes in a nonstationary environment is an important and challenging problem. A statistical test for selecting the order of a nonstationary AR model is presented based on wavelet vanishing moment and predictive least squares principle. The order of the nonstationary AR is estimated at a different resolution level, which makes the order reliable. Its confidence interval is also determined. The test is derived based on the order probability distribution of the wavelet approximation sequence.
Silicon Evanescent Racetrack Laser

We describe the utilization of hybrid silicon evanescent waveguides, consisting of III-V quantum wells bonded to silicon rib-waveguides for evanescently coupled gain, to achieve an on-chip racetrack laser integrated with photodetectors on a silicon platform.
Using approximation algorithms to design parallel algorithms that may ignore processor allocation

A framework is presented for designing parallel algorithms that may ignore processor allocation. A number of fast approximation algorithms are developed, and it is shown how to use these algorithms to simulate any algorithm that fits this framework in a work-preserving fashion on a randomized CRCW PRAM. Several applications of the approach to parallel computational geometry are given. >
Serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in response to vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 [1,25(OH)2D2] levels in healthy adults consuming 1000 IU vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 per day for 11 weeks. Subjects and Design: Blood from 34 healthy male and female adults, aged 18 to 79 years, from a placebo-controlled, double-blind study who received a placebo, 1000 IU vitamin D3, or 1000 IU vitamin D2 daily for 11 weeks at end of winter was analyzed. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D2, and 1,25(OH)2D3 were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy. Results: Of the adults, 82% were vitamin D insufficient (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D <30 ng/mL]) at the start of the study. Administration of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 induced similar increases in total 25(OH)D as well as in 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, respectively. Compared with placebo and adjusting for baseline levels, 1000 IU daily of vitamin D2 was associ...
Event-based prediction of stream turbidity using a combined cluster analysis and classification tree approach

Summary Stream turbidity typically increases during streamflow events; however, similar event hydrographs can produce markedly different event turbidity behaviors because many factors influence turbidity in addition to streamflow, including antecedent moisture conditions, season, and supply of turbidity-causing materials. Modeling of sub-hourly turbidity as a function of streamflow shows that event model parameters vary on an event-by-event basis. Here we examine the extent to which stream turbidity can be predicted through the prediction of event model parameters. Using three mid-sized streams from the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., we show the model parameter set for each event can be predicted based on the event characteristics (e.g., hydrologic, meteorologic and antecedent moisture conditions) using a combined cluster analysis and classification tree approach. The results suggest that the ratio of beginning event discharge to peak event discharge (an estimate of the event baseflow index), as well as catchment antecedent moisture, are important factors in the prediction of event turbidity. Indicators of antecedent moisture, particularly those derived from antecedent discharge, account for the majority of the splitting nodes in the classification trees for all three streams. For this study, prediction of turbidity during streamflow events is based upon observed data (e.g., measured streamflow, precipitation and air temperature). However, the results also suggest that the methods presented here can, in future work, be used in conjunction with forecasts of streamflow, precipitation and air temperature to forecast stream turbidity.
The vascular phenotype of melanoma metastasis.

Melanoma cells but not normal melanocytes share important cell surface molecules with endothelial cells. From this observation has grown our hypothesis that melanoma and endothelial cells use the same cell surface molecules for invasion but that their intracellular signaling is different allowing the malignant cells dominance over the normal cells. Stromal fibroblasts and endothelial cells communicate with metastatic cells through an interactive network of cell–cell and cell–matrix signaling. Fibroblasts induce capillary-like differentiation of microvascular endothelial cell monolayers through cell–cell contact and soluble factors. It is then hypothesized that normal cellular precursors are recruited from the bone marrow to the site of a growing melanoma metastasis. Thus pathways for angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are guided through the cooperation of fibroblasts and melanoma cells perpetuated by the dominance of the metastatic melanoma cells.
Multiresolution molecular mechanics: Adaptive analysis

Abstract The concurrent atomistic/continuum coupling method Multiresolution Molecular Mechanics (MMM) has been presented for statics (Yang et al., 2013) and dynamics (Biyikli et al., 2014), its convergence and error structure has been analyzed (Yang et al., 2014), and a unified and consistent framework for general finite element shape functions has been introduced (Yang and To, 2014). The current work presents the adaptivity analysis of the MMM method. To start, the rationale and formulation of the MMM method are briefly introduced. Later, two main features of the adaptivity scheme, refinement and coarsening, are discussed and described in detail and step-by-step procedures are outlined. The adaptivity is tested using three numerical examples: (i) 1-D wave propagation, (ii) 2-D dislocation, and (iii) 3-D nanoindentation. The results of numerical examples agree well with those of full atomistic simulations. Furthermore, control parameters of adaptivity schemes offer much flexibility to adjust between accuracy and efficiency. The introduced adaptivity schemes are simple, effective, and accurate owing to the consistency and robustness of MMM.
Aggregation of [(tBu3SiS)MX]: Structures of {[Br2Fe(μ-SSitBu3)2FeBr(THF)]Na(THF)4}∞, cis-[(THF)FeI]2(μ-SSitBu3)2, [(tBu3SiS)Fe]2(μ-SSitBu3)2, and Comparative Structure and Magnetism Studies of [(tBu3SiS)MX]n (M = Fe, Co, X = Cl, n = 12; M = Fe, Ni, X = Br, n = 12; M = Fe, X = I, n = 14)

A convenient synthesis of tBu3SiSH and tBu3SiSNa(THF)x led to the exploration of “tBu3SiSMX” aggregation. The dimer, [(tBu3SiS)Fe]2(μ-SSitBu3)2 (12), was formed from [{(Me3Si)2N}Fe]2(μ-N(SiMe3)2)2 and the thiol, and its dissolution in THF generated (tBu3SiS)2Fe(THF)2 (1−(THF)2). Metathetical procedures with the thiolate yielded aggregate precursors [X2Fe](μ-SSitBu3)2[FeX(THF)]Na(THF)4 (3−X, X = Cl, Br) and cis-[(THF)IFe]2(μ-SSitBu3)2 (4). Thermal desolvations of 3−Cl, 3−Br and 4 afforded molecular wheels [Fe(μ-X)(μ-SSitBu3)]12(C6H6)n (5−FeX, X = Cl, Br) and the ellipse [Fe(μ-I)(μ-SSitBu3)]14(C6H6)n (6−FeI). Related metathesis and desolvation sequences led to wheels [Co(μ-Cl)(μ-SSitBu3)]12(C6H6)n (5−CoCl) and [Ni(μ-Br)(μ-SSitBu3)]12(C6H6)n (5−NiBr). The nickel wheel disproportionated to give, in part, [(tBu3SiS)Ni]2(μ-SSitBu3)2 (7), which was also synthesized via salt metathesis. X-ray structural studies of 12 revealed a roughly planar Fe2S4 core, while 1−(THF)2, 3−Br, and 4 possessed simple distorted tetr...
Laboratory Investigations of Lunar Simulant Surface Charging

Planar dielectric material, dust dielectric material, and the lunar simulant JSC-1A are charged as a function of ion flux, electron flux, and electron kinetic energy. Steady state surface potentials are recorded by a non-contacting Trek probe. A significant ion charge deposition and emission dependency is found. Surface grain charging results are compared to the single, isolated grain charging case.
SUBSONIC FLOW CFD INVESTIGATION OF CANARD- CONTROLLED MISSILE WITH PLANAR AND GRID FINS

Viscous computational fluid dynamic simulations were used to predict the aerodynamic coefficients and flowfield around a generic canard-controlled missile configuration in subsonic flow. Computations were performed at Mach 0.6, six angles of attack between 0 and 10 deg, with 10-deg canard deflection, and with planar and grid tail fins for a total of 12 cases. The computed results were validated by comparison of the computed aerodynamic coefficients with those obtained from wind tunnel measurements. Flow visualizations from the simulations performed in this study help in the understanding of the flow physics and can lead to improved canard and tail fin designs for missiles and rockets. NOMENCLATURE
Developing a propensity score protocol for evaluating the oral health consequences of methamphetamine use

ABSTRACTConventional propensity-score matching strategies do not always produce covariate balance across treatment groups comparing a hard-to-reach population subclass to a representative sample from the general population. We describe techniques for combining propensity-score matching with stratification into propensity-score-based subclasses to produce samples with balanced distributions of characteristics from a cross-sectional cohort of methamphetamine users and nonusers from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Resulting outcome estimates are weighted between subclasses for interpretable comparisons. We consider features of an approach facilitating between-group comparisons, including the matching ratio, number of subclasses, analysis strategy, and conceptual underpinnings of weight selection.
Selenium phytoremediation potential of Stanleya pinnata

Disposal of saline irrigation wastewater in hydrologically closed sinks in the semi-arid western U.S. has concentrated selenium-rich salts to hazardous levels and phytoextraction, along with plant-enhanced volatilization of methyl-selenides, is an active area of research. Here, we provide an overview of our ongoing studies of Stanleya pinnata (Brassicaceae), a previously unstudied candidate that is a primary accumulator (hyperaccumulator) of Se that is widespread and broadly adapted in the western U.S. When grown in sand culture under uniform greenhouse conditions, 16 populations representing S. pinnata's broad biogeographical range differed in shoot Se concentration by 1.4- to 3.6-fold, and the shoot concentrations were positively correlated with the indigenous soil Se levels at the collection sites. Thus, S. pinnata exhibits significant ecotypic variation in Se accumulation. All populations accumulated SeO42- preferentially over SO42- consistent with S. pinnata's classification as a primary Se accumulator, while hydroponically-grown Brassica juncea consistently accumulated sulfate preferentially over selenate. The Se in S. pinnata shoots was predominately in the soluble amino-acid pool, which may serve as direct precursor to volatile forms such as dimethyldiselenide; inorganic forms (e.g. selenate) dominated in B. juncea. Preliminary results suggest that S. pinnata may volatilize unusually large quantities of Se when grown at high sulfate concentrations, an unexpected result not heretofore reported in any species. In a sand–culture experiment, S. pinnata exhibited excellent tolerance of excess boron, but only moderate tolerance of salinity, and superior genotypes will likely be needed for phytoremediation of highly salinized soils and sediments. Stanleya pinnata is a perennial that responded favorably to repeated cuffing in the greenhouse, a trait that could prove valuable in field-scale phytoremediation. Environmental concerns about Se are common in the western USA, and S. pinnata is a potentially useful species for phytoremediation due to its broad adaptation to western soils and environments, and its uptake, metabolism and volatilization of Se.
Applying Research in Special Library Settings

ABSTRACTSpecial librarians encourage their users to base decisions on vetted research results and quality information, yet when faced with a problem in their own work, they are more likely to turn to their network of colleagues than to published research. While learning from the experience of colleagues is valuable, greater application of research and evidence-based practice in the special library sector could benefit these libraries in making good, strategic decisions. A few studies have examined whether practitioners use library and information science research and what barriers keep them from doing so. Engaging practitioners and scholars in productive collaboration and communication can help practitioners find and apply lessons learned from research in their work and encourage more participation in research by special librarians. In turn, increased diversity in research settings can benefit all libraries as they evolve and learn from each other's experiences.
Real-Time Observation on the Meso-Fracture Process Testing of Cemented Soil

Using the rock meso-mechanics experimental system provided by the Key Laboratory of Rock and Soil Mechanics affiliated to Wuhan Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, China Academy of Sciences, a uniaxial compression experiment was conducted in order to investigate the fracturing behaviors of cemented soil with different content of cement. The meso-fracturing process of cemented soil was real-time observed by using the microscope and the digital colorful camera. Stress-strain curves and corresponding micro-images of specimen’s failure process have been obtained. The relation between meso-fracturing process and macro-mechanical behavior were studied for cemented soil with different content of cement. Results presented in this paper can be used as experimental evidence for setting up the constitutive model of meso-damage.
Analysis of mechanical performance of a structure containing steel frame and steel plate shear wall with slits

The lateral resistant ability under three kinds of vertical loads and the hysteretic performance under cyclic loading are analyzed and contrasted for four steel frames,six steel plates shear wall piece with slits(two rows) and six steel frames-steel plate shear wall with slits.The results show that the lateral stiffness and lateral resistant ability of the first two kinds of structures are lower than steel frames-steel plate shear wall with slits.The stiffness is also degenerated quickly after buckling;the lateral stiffness,lateral resistant ability and energy dissipating ability of the steel frame-steel plate shear wall with slits have distinct enhancement as compared to the first two kind of structures.The coordinating performance of four-side fixed steel frame and steel plate shear wall piece with slits are excellent.The design parameters of the steel plate shear wall piece with slits and the steel frame-steel plate shear wall with slits have significant influence on the lateral resistant ability and hysteretic performance of the structure,such as the width/height ratio of the shear wall W/H,the height/width ratio of wall limb with slits h/b,the width/thick ratio of wall limb with slits h/t,the ratio of the height of wall limb with slits to the height of shear wall h/H.When W/H increases,the structure's lateral resistant ability developed,hysteretic performance is lowered.When h/b,b/t,h/H increase,the structure's lateral resistant ability loses,and the hysteretic performance is improved.
Cancer vaccines: toward the next revolution in cancer therapy.

Traditional cancer treatment modalities include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and, for some tumor types, endocrine therapy. These interventions work either through local application to the regi...
A curriculum for teaching family practice residents how to manage skin lesions.

Background and objectives A curriculum was developed to teach family practice residents how to manage skin lesions as part of an outpatient rotation during which family practice residents are taught procedures by family medicine faculty. The curriculum can be used as a template for teaching and assessing competency for any family practice outpatient procedure. Methods The curriculum was pilot tested by eight second-year family practice residents and evaluated by experts in curriculum design and the methods for teaching outpatient procedural skills. Procedure checklists were used to evaluate competency. Results The residents scored higher on their posttests than on their pretests. The residents, implementing faculty, and outside reviewers rated the curriculum design highly. Performance of procedures did not require longer times when accomplished through this educational experience. Conclusions This curriculum can be used to teach family practice residents how to manage skin lesions. Residents were deemed competent to perform a procedure if they successfully followed all of the steps on the procedure checklist. A specific minimum number of procedures was not required to establish competency.
Accountability without Democracy: INFORMAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE STRUCTURE OF SOLIDARY GROUPS

Imagine the mayor of a small town in the United States with only one church. Church suppers and picnics are a major part of the town's social life, and the church hall might be the only place that people can rent or borrow for social gatherings. Even if not everyone goes to church regularly, everyone sees the church as representative of the town community. If the mayor does something exemplary such as bringing down the crime rate by strengthening the police force, the minister might very well mention his good work in front of the congregation during his Sunday sermon. Getting commended by the minister during services can give the mayor a measure of moral standing in addition to whatever status he might already possess as a public official or member of the social elite. The mayor benefits personally from this increased standing. People stop him on the street to praise his work, storekeepers treat him with more deference, the bank is more willing to give him a bigger mortgage, and his children receive more attention at school. Increased moral standing may also make his mayoral tasks easier to carry out. When he tries to implement a difficult state policy – a new requirement, for example, that students of a different ethnic group be bused into the town school – additional standing can help him elicit compliance from his constituents. Moral standing helps the local official by strengthening the belief of citizens in his good intentions.
Pulling preK1 into a K-12 orbit: the evolution of preK in the age of standards

AbstractWe might call this decade the era of early childhood. In the US, federal and state governments invest in the creation of public pre-kindergarten (preK) programs and create standards that articulate goals for practice and benchmarks that can be used to evaluate success. How have these trends provided a context for the evolution of preK curriculum? In this paper, we analyze the enactment of preK policy in New Jersey, a highly regulated preK program and Wisconsin, a local control state. We argue that standards-based practice is evolving into accountability in public preK programs, where outcomes set parameters for planning and teachers and children are increasingly regulated. As preK is more closely affiliated with the K-12 sector (elementary and secondary), preK programs are subject to the logic of alignment, benchmarks and assessments. Even when early learning standards support child-centered approaches to curriculum they are overruled by accountability discourse.
Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia Is Low and Unrelated to Day 1 Neutrophil Count in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Treated with ABVD.

BACKGROUND: When neutropenia without infection is encountered while treating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) with ABVD chemotherapy clinicians may choose to delay or reduce the chemotherapy dose or maintain the dose intensity and schedule with or without neutrophil growth factor support out of concern for neutropenic complications. We sought to determine the frequency of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN) during ABVD chemotherapy. METHODS: We examined the medical records of all patients seen at Univ. of Iowa diagnosed with HL between 1/1/1990 and 12/31/2002 treated with ABVD chemotherapy. We reviewed the charts with complete chemotherapy dosing records to determine the incidence of neutropenia, dose reduction, dose delay and chart record of febrile neutropenia (FN). RESULTS: 218 patients were seen at UIHC with the diagnosis of HL. 104 patients were treated with ABVD chemotherapy. Adequate dosing data was available for 82 of these patients (894 treatments). On scheduled day of treatment (Day 1 and 15 of each cycle) at least Grade III neutropenia (ANC 4 days and/or dose reduction to < 80% of original doxorubicin dose following neutropenia occurred at only 10 of 165 treatments. No episodes of FN developed in this cohort. 155 treatments at the time of neutropenia were administered without dose reduction or dose delay. Growth factor support was co-administered in 55 (36.77%) of these treatments and the remaining treatments at the time of neutropenia (73.23%, n=100) were administered without growth factor support. One episode of FN developed in each of these subsets. No FN was observed following the 56 treatments administered with an ANC < 500, including 54 managed without DM (32 with GCSF support and 22 without). 672 treatments were administered with ANC ≥ 1000 resulting in 6 episodes of FN. DM was observed in 78 of these 672 treatments with 3 subsequent episodes of FN. 57 treatments (4 with DM, 23 with GCSF, 20 without GCSF, 14 unknown GCSF) had no available ANC data and were associated with one episode of FN. FN developed a total of 9 times in 8 of 82 patients over 894 treatments. CONCLUSION: Among HL patients treated with ABVD chemotherapy we found a high frequency of neutropenia - most commonly following treatment 1. We found a very low incidence of FN that was independent of neutropenia at the time of chemotherapy administration. Dose modification for neutropenia without infection at the time of ABVD administration is not required to reduce risk of FN, and should be avoided in settings where maintaining dose intensity is considered valuable. ![Figure][1] [1]: pending:yes
Experimental and Simulation of a Cam and Translated Roller Follower Over a Range of Speeds

In this study a cam and follower mechanism is analyzed. There is a clearance between the follower and the guide. The mechanism is analyzed using SolidWorks simulations taking into account the impact and the friction between the roller follower and the guide. Four different follower guide’s clearances have been used in the simulations like 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mm. An experimental set up is developed to capture the general planar motion of the cam and follower. The measures of the cam and the follower positions are obtained through high-resolution optical encoders (markers). The effect of follower guide’s clearance is investigated for different cam rotational speeds such as 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 R.P.M. Impact with friction is considered in our study to calculate the Lyapunov exponent. The largest Lyapunov exponents for the simulated and experimental data are analyzed and selected.Copyright © 2016 by ASME