cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translating Research into Agile Development (TRIAD): Development of Electronic Health Record Tools for Primary Care Settings.

Objectives This article describes a method for developing electronic health record (EHR) tools for use in primary care settings. Methods The “Translating Research into Agile Development” (TRIAD) method relies on the close collaboration of researchers, end users, and development teams. This five-step method for designing a tailored EHR tool includes (1) assessment, observation, and documentation; (2) structured engagement for collaboration and iterative data collection; (3) data distillation; (4) developmental feedback from clinical team members on high-priority EHR needs and input on design prototypes and EHR functionality; and (5) agile scrum sprint cycles for prototype development. Results The TRIAD method was used to modify an existing EHR for behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) embedded with primary care teams, called the BH e-Suite. The structured engagement processes stimulated discussions on how best to automate BHC screening tools and provide goal tracking functionality over time. Data distillation procedures rendered technical documents, with information on workflow steps, tasks, and associated challenges. In the developmental feedback phase, BHCs gave input on screening assessments, scoring needs, and other functionality to inform prototype feature development. Six 2-week sprint cycles were conducted to address three domains of prototype development: assessment and documentation needs, information retrieval, and monitoring and tracking. The BH e-Suite tool resulted with eight new EHR features to accommodate BHCs' needs. Conclusion The TRIAD method can be used to develop EHR functionality to address the evolving needs of health professionals in primary care and other settings. The BH e-Suite was developed through TRIAD and was found to be acceptable, easy to use, and improved care delivery during pilot testing. The BH e-Suite was later adopted by OCHIN Inc., which provided the tool to its 640 community health centers. This suggests that the TRIAD method is a promising research and development approach.
The antiquity and evolution of the neural bases of rhythmic activity

The evolution of the anatomy and neural circuits that regulate the rhythm of speech can be traced back to the Devonian age, 400 million years ago. Epigenetic processes 100 million years later modified these circuits. Natural selection on similar genetic processes occurred during the evolution of archaic hominins and humans. The lungs and larynx-anatomy that produces the rhythmic fundamental frequency patterns of speech-have a deep evolutionary history. Neural circuits linking the cortex, basal ganglia, and other subcortical structures plan, sequence, and execute motor as well as cognitive acts. These neural circuits generate the rhythm of speech, singing, and chanting. The human form of the transcription factor FOXP2 increased synaptic connectivity and plasticity in basal ganglia circuits, enhancing motor control and cognitive and linguistic capabilities in humans as well as Neanderthals. The archeological record also suggests that Neanderthals passed spoken language. Homologous circuits existed in amphibians. In songbirds, the avian form of FOXP2 acted on similar neural circuits allowing birds to learn and produce new songs. Current studies point to natural selection on genetic events enhancing these and other neural circuits to yield fully human rhythmic speech, and motor, cognitive, and linguistic capabilities, rather than the saltation proposed by Noam Chomsky.
Shell model calculations of B ( E 2 ) values, static quadrupole moments, and g factors for a number of N = Z nuclei

In this work we look at the low-lying nuclear structure properties of several $N=Z$ nuclei residing between the doubly magic nuclei ${}^{40}$Ca and ${}^{100}$Sn. Using large shell model codes, we calculate and discuss the systematics of energies. We show energy levels, $B(E2)$'s, static quadrupole moments, and $g$ factors of these $N=Z$ nuclei. In all cases, we compare the results of two different interactions which yield significantly different occupation numbers. We compare our shell model results with those of the rotational and vibrational models. By examining $B(E2)$'s and static quadrupole moments, we make associations with collective models and find that in the model space considered here, ${}^{88}$Ru is oblate. The quadrupole moment of the lowest 2${}^{+}$state of ${}^{92}$Pd is calculated to be very small. This would appear to support a vibrational picture and indeed recent measurements give equally spaced levels up to $J={6}^{+}$ but the authors also point out that the $B(E2)$'s do not steadily increase as is required by such a model.
Social experience and sex-dependent regulation of aggression in the lateral septum by extrasynaptic δGABA A receptors.

Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms mediating dominance and competitive aggression is essential to understanding the development and treatment of various psychiatric disorders. Previous research suggests that these mechanisms are both sexually differentiated and influenced substantially by social experience. In numerous species, GABAA receptors in the lateral septum have been shown to play a significant role in aggression in males. However, very little is known about the role of these GABAA receptors in female aggression, the role of social experience on GABAA receptor–mediated aggression, or the roles of different GABAA subtypes in regulating aggression. Thus, in the following set of experiments, we determined the role of social experience in modulating GABAA receptor–induced aggression in both male and female Syrian hamsters, with a particular focus on the GABAA receptor subtype mediating these effects. Activation of GABAA receptors in the dorsal lateral septum increased aggression in both males and females. Social housing, however, significantly decreased the ability of GABAA receptor activation to induce aggression in males but not females. No significant differences were observed in the effects of GABAA receptor activation in dominant versus subordinate group-housed hamsters. Finally, examination of potential GABAA receptor subtype specificity revealed that social housing decreased the ratio of δ extrasynaptic to γ2 synaptic subunit GABAA receptor mRNA expression in the anterior dorsal lateral septum, while activation of δ extrasynaptic, but not γ2 synaptic, GABAA receptors in the dorsal lateral septum increased aggression. These data suggest that social experience can have profound effects on the neuronal mechanisms mediating aggression, especially in males, and that δ extrasynaptic GABAA receptors may be an important therapeutic target in disorders characterized by high levels of aggression.
Color and a priori knowledge

Some truths about color are knowable a priori. For example, it is knowable a priori that redness is not identical to the property of being square. This extremely modest and plausible claim has significant philosophical implications, or so I shall argue. First, I show that this claim entails the falsity of standard forms of color functionalism, the view that our color concepts are functional concepts that pick out their referents by way of functional descriptions that make reference to the subjective responses of perceivers. I then argue that, while some sophisticated forms of color functionalism can accommodate the a priori knowability of a truth like “redness is not identical to squareness,” they can only do so by abandoning color realism, the thesis that colors are instantiated by external material objects. In practice, color functionalists are almost invariably color realists. Thus, given extremely modest assumptions concerning what can be known a priori about color, we should conclude that color functionalism, at least in its typical realist form, is false.
Confining the Aether

Insight and heuristic guidance in a number of areas including the bag model for hadrons and the surface properties of metals ought to be afforded by a theory in which a quantum field is restricted by a surface on which it is constrained to satisfy certain boundary conditions.
Pediatric double positive anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody glomerulonephritis-A case report with review of literature.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a rarely described entity in the pediatric population, especially in those less than 3 years old. Even rarer, is double seropositive disease, consisting of anti-GBM antibody plus anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Both single and double antibody positive diseases are characterized by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, often without pulmonary involvement in the pediatric population. We report the case of a 2-year-old child with double seropositive anti-GBM disease, the youngest in the current literature, along with the role of therapeutic plasma exchange and rituximab in disease treatment.
Stacked Transconductance Boosting for Ultra-Low Power 2.4GHz RF Front-End Design

This paper presents a transconductance boosting method with a stacked current-reused inverter-based gain cell for ultra-low power RF applications. For the same bias current, the proposed method can boost the conventional inverter-based amplifier transconductance by twice, an overall quadruple boost compared to a single MOSFET in sub-threshold region. A 65nm CMOS based post-layout level implementation of the LNA including an on-chip matching network shows a 1.3 dB better noise figure as single inverter implementation for the same power of 45 μW. A cross-coupled stacked-gm VCO implementation achieves 44% higher voltage swing as that of the cross coupled single inverter at 74μA current, owing to the doubled gm value.
Techno-economic assessment and design optimization of compressed air energy storage using filament wound carbon fiber reinforced plastic pressure vessels

Abstract The deployment of filament wound carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) pressure vessels for small to medium scale CAES systems is techno-economically assessed and proposed as a cost-effective and location-independent installable solution. The cost of filament wound CFRP vessels is estimated for different vessel sizes and internal pressures via a Monte-Carlo design method that considers the uncertainties in raw material cost, design safety factor, and fabrication expenses. The guidelines for the optimum design of the CAES system in terms of sizing, operational pressure, and the number of required vessels are reported to minimize the cost of filament wound CFRP vessels. Results suggest that filament wound CFRP pressure vessels utilized in CAES systems are more cost-effective compared to conventional metallic tanks and pipes. Moreover, smaller radius filament wound CFRP vessels, i.e., in a sense, pipes, are more economical compared to larger radius ones. Finally, for a given compressed air volume, a single vessel is cheaper than multiple vessels to store a specific amount of energy such that the use of multiple vessels incurs a cost penalty ranging from roughly 10% for small radius vessels up to 50% for large radius vessels.
Radiation Modulates Hepatic Siphoning of T Cells to Improve Immunotherapy Efficacy.

Purpose/Objective(s) We sought to understand if and how liver metastases regulated systemic antitumor immunity. Materials/Methods We conducted a multi-institutional evaluation the outcomes of patients with liver metastases (2000-2018). In total, 2100 patients with more than 10 solid cancer types were analyzed. Response rates and survival outcomes were assessed with Chi-squared, Kaplan-Meier, univariable/multivariable Cox regression and random forest machine learning analyses. Translational correlates were drawn from an institutional series of comprehensively sequenced patients. Preclinical evaluations were performed with murine syngeneic cancer models. Results We report that liver metastases diminish immunotherapy efficacy systemically in patients and preclinical models. Patients with liver metastases derive limited benefit from immunotherapy. In multiple mouse models, we show that liver metastases siphon activated CD8+ T cells from systemic circulation and create a systemic immune desert. In preclinical models, liver-directed radiotherapy eliminates immunosuppressive hepatic macrophages, increases hepatic T cell survival and reduces hepatic siphoning of T cells. Conclusion Liver metastases co-opt host peripheral tolerance mechanisms to cause acquired immunotherapy resistance through CD8+ T cell deletion, and the combination of liver-directed radiotherapy and immunotherapy could promote systemic antitumor immunity.
Mid-IR semiconductor lasers for chemical sensing

The development of mid-IR semiconductor diode lasers based on type-II interband cascade structures is presented. How these diode lasers can be developed to meet the requirements in chemical sensing applications is discussed.
There and back again: Iterating between population-based modeling and experiments reveals surprising regulation of calcium transients in rat cardiac myocytes.

Abstract While many ion channels and transporters involved in cardiac cellular physiology have been identified and described, the relative importance of each in determining emergent cellular behaviors remains unclear. Here we address this issue with a novel approach that combines population-based mathematical modeling with experimental tests to systematically quantify the relative contributions of different ion channels and transporters to the amplitude of the cellular Ca 2 + transient. Sensitivity analysis of a mathematical model of the rat ventricular cardiomyocyte quantified the response of cell behaviors to changes in the level of each ion channel and transporter, and experimental tests of these predictions were performed to validate or invalidate the predictions. The model analysis found that partial inhibition of the transient outward current in rat ventricular epicardial myocytes was predicted to have a greater impact on Ca 2 + transient amplitude than either: (1) inhibition of the same current in endocardial myocytes, or (2) comparable inhibition of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2 + ATPase (SERCA). Experimental tests confirmed the model predictions qualitatively but showed some quantitative disagreement. This guided us to recalibrate the model by adjusting the relative importance of several Ca 2 + fluxes, thereby improving the consistency with experimental data and producing a more predictive model. Analysis of human cardiomyocyte models suggests that the relative importance of outward currents to Ca 2 + transporters is generalizable to human atrial cardiomyocytes, but not ventricular cardiomyocytes. Overall, our novel approach of combining population-based mathematical modeling with experimental tests has yielded new insight into the relative importance of different determinants of cell behavior.
Sewage reflects the distribution of human faecal Lachnospiraceae

Faecal pollution contains a rich and diverse community of bacteria derived from animals and humans, many of which might serve as alternatives to the traditional enterococci and Escherichia coli faecal indicators. We used massively parallel sequencing (MPS) of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize microbial communities from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent sewage from 12 cities geographically distributed across the USA. We examined members of the Clostridiales, which included the families Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae for their potential as sewage indicators. Lachnospiraceae was one of the most abundant groups of faecal bacteria in sewage, and several Lachnospiraceae high-abundance sewage pyrotags occurred in at least 46 of 48 human faecal samples. Clone libraries targeting Clostridium coccoides (C. coccoides) in sewage samples demonstrated that Lachnospiraceae-annotated V6 pyrotags encompassed the previously reported C. coccoides group. We used oligotyping to profile the genus Blautia within Lachnospiraceae and found oligotypes comprised of 24 entropy components that showed patterns of host specificity. These findings suggest that indicators based on Blautia might have the capacity to discriminate between different faecal pollution sources. Development of source-specific alternative indicators would enhance water quality assessments, which leads to improved ecosystem health and reduced human health risk due to waterborne disease.
Racial differences in rate of CD4 decline in HIV-1-infected homosexual men.

Objective To determine whether racial differences exist in the rate of CD4 lymphocyte decline in HIV-1-infected homosexual men. Design Prospective cohort study. Study population Non-Hispanic white (n = 321) and black (n = 102) HIV-1-seropositive homosexual and bisexual men were recruited from the Baltimore/Washington, DC metropolitan areas between 1984-1985 and 1987-1990, and evaluated semiannually. Main measurements Changes in CD4 lymphocyte count and CD4 percentage over time were analysed using linear regression methods for the 271 white and 69 black participants who had at least four semiannual CD4 lymphocyte measurements. Results Rate of decline in CD4 lymphocyte count over 6 months was much slower among black than white seroprevalent men at all levels of baseline CD4 count (baseline 201-400 x 10(6)/l: + 0.24 versus -17.7 x 10(6)/l; 401-600 x 10(6)/l: -11.3 versus -23.9 x 10(6)/l; 601-800 x 10(6)/l: -15.1 versus -35.2 x 10(6)/l; > 800 x 10(6)/l: -4.3 versus -42.7 x 10(6)/l for black versus white, respectively), although this was only statistically significant for the lowest and highest strata of baseline CD4 count. These racial differences persisted after adjustment for recruitment period (1984-1985 or 1987-1990), follow-up duration, age and zidovudine therapy or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis. Similar findings were observed among the 70 white and 11 black seroconverters. Black participants were also less likely than a subgroup of white participants matched on baseline CD4 lymphocyte count to be HIV-1 p24 antigen-positive. However, after acid dissociation of samples initially p24 antigen-negative, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of p24 antigenemia at enrollment or after 1 year of follow-up. Conclusions This analysis suggests a more gradual decline in CD4 lymphocyte count among black than white Americans. The clinical significance of and reasons for this are unclear, but the lower prevalence of p24 antigenemia due to immune complexing among black Americans suggests that racial differences in the immune response to HIV may exist. Additional studies are needed to validate these findings in a larger cohort of non-whites, and to assess their relationship with other measures of cell-mediated immune function.
A fraternal twin pregnancy

Abstract The intrauterine relations of a pair of fraternal twins (male-female; dichorionic) near or in the eighth lunar month are described. The maternal ovaries, prepared histologically, show that the twins arose from ova in separate follicles of the right ovary, as indicated by the presence in it of two corpora lutea and the absence of a corpus in the left ovary. Since the two corpora lutea are very closely approximated it is quite probable that surface inspection of the ovary would have failed to disclose the double nature of the mass. Inspection of the ovarian surface at laparotomy is the only feasible observation in some twin cases, and the present finding points a warning against assuming that the full number of corpora lutea is invariably noted by this means.
Secondary reactions in controlled potential coulometry. Part V. Reversal coulometric study of the reduction of cis- and trans-thioindigo in the presence of carbon dioxide, cinnamonitrile and acrylonitrile

Abstract Controlled potential reversal coulometry was applied to the following systems: (I) C+neR; R+C → RC; RC+ne → products. (II) as in (I) except RC not electroactive. (III) C+neR; R+X → RX; RX+ne → products. Equations for these e.c.e. and e.c. mechanisms were obtained and solved numerically. Working curves are presented for the calculation of the rate constants of the homogeneous reactions. This treatment was applied to studies of the reduction of thioindigo (TI) alone and in the presence of several reactants. For TI alone the reaction mechanism involves reaction of the radical anion (TI−·) with parent molecule followed by a second electron transfer. In the presence of excess dissolved CO2, acrylonitrile (AN), or cinnamonitrile (CN), reaction of TI−· with these followed by a second electron transfer was proposed. Rate constants for the TI−TI−· coupling reaction were 82 (cis-thioindigo), and 323 (trans-thioindigo) l mol−1 s−1; pseudo-first-order reactions of TI−· were 0.016 (trans-) and 0.047 (cis-) s−1 with CO2; 0.023 (trans-) and 0.033 (cis-) s−1 with CN; 0.022 (trans-) and 0.032 (cis-) s−1 with AN.
A Dynamical Study of Two Groups in the Coma/A1367 Supercluster

Located ~12° southwest of A1367, the IC 698 group and the NGC 3825 group are two systems of galaxies within the Coma/A1367 supercluster. All of the spiral galaxies in both groups were observed and detected at 21 cm with the 305-m Arecibo radio telescope• The dynamical stability of each group was analyzed by using the accurate radial velocities and the direct estimates of the masses obtained from these 21-cm line observations. Application of the virial theorem to the IC 698 group gives a mass which is comparable to the sum of the individual masses of its galaxies. When the virial theorem is applied to the NGC 3825 group, its virial mass is found to be ~6 times larger than the sum of the masses derived for the individual members.
Structured descriptions of complex objects

Experimental techniques are demonstrated which generate segmented symbolic descriptions for complex objects with joints, such as a hammer or a glove. Complete "descriptions with relationship of parts at joints and descriptions of joints are presented. These techniques are elements of a larger scheme for description mechanisms for hypotheses, and for visual memory and recognition.
Aldehyde-modified proteins as mediators of early inflammation in atherosclerotic disease

Inflammation is widely accepted to play a major role in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanism(s) by which inflammation exerts its pathogenic effect remains poorly understood. A number of oxidatively modified proteins have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Recently, attention has been given to the oxidative compound of malondialdehyde and acetaldehyde, two reactive aldehydes known to covalently bind and adduct macromolecules. These products have been shown to form stable malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts that are reactive and induce immune responses. These adducts have been found in inflamed and diseased cardiovascular tissue of patients. Antibodies to these adducted proteins are measurable in the serum of diseased patients. The isotypes involved in the immune response to MAA (i.e., IgM, IgG, and IgA) are predictive of atherosclerotic disease progression and cardiovascular events such as an acute myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass grafting. Therefore, it is the purpose of this article to review the past and current knowledge of aldehyde-modified proteins and their role in cardiovascular disease.
Mothers and Divorce: Legal, Economic and Social Dilemmas, by Terry Arendell

Becoming an Ex: The Process of Role Exit, by Helen Rose Fuchs Ebaugh. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988, 247 pages.
Phase I clinical trial of oral COL-3, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, in patients with refractory metastatic cancer.

PURPOSE: This phase I clinical trial was designed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor COL-3 in patients with refractory solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with different cancer types were enrolled. COL-3 doses were escalated from 36 mg/m2/d in successive cohorts of at least three patients. Circulating levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, vascular endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor were assessed during treatment. Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed for single and multiple doses of drug. RESULTS: Cutaneous phototoxicity was dose-limiting at 98 mg/m2/d. With the use of prophylactic sunblock, COL-3 was well tolerated at 70 mg/m2/d. The dose of 36 mg/m2/d was well tolerated without the use of sunblock. Other toxicities that did not seem to be related to dose or pharmacokinetics included anemia, anorexia, constipation, dizziness, elevated liver function test results, fever, headache, heartbu...
Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance

This report brings together the results of an eight-part series of presentations by leading experts in issues directly related to microfinance institutional sustainability. It is intended for microfinance institution (MFI) board members, managers, and staff members as well as for government regulators, supervisors, and donor staff members. The first four chapters include topics in risk management: (1) risk management systems, (2) good governance, (3) interest rates, and (4) micro-insurance. The last four chapters include four topics in new product development and efficient delivery methodologies: (5) housing microfinance, (6) micro-leasing, (7) disaster preparedness products and systems, and (8) new technologies. The objectives of the series were as follows: i) to strengthen MFIs by disseminating innovative approaches in risk management, cost control, governance, and new technologies; ii) to promote a South-South exchange of experiences and lessons learned; iii) to promote greater ties among the MFIs in the region and between MFIs and government supervisors and regulators; and iv) to highlight the Bank's ability to mobilize international technical expertise in microfinance.
In Search of the Corpse The Mysterious Case of Local Politics

In this article we use a recent publication by Mark Gottdiener, The Decline of Urban Politics: Political Theory and the Crisis of the Local State, as the basis for a discussion of the many economic...
Required treatment margin for coronary endovascular brachytherapy with iridium-192 seed ribbon.

Abstract Purpose: Preliminary clinical trials (SCRIPPS I, WRIST and Gamma 1) employing catheter-based endovascular brachytherapy (EVBT) with iridium-192 (Ir-192) seeds show promising results in reducing restenosis after coronary intervention. Failure analysis of these studies showed a significant number of restenosis at the treatment margin called "edge effect." The objective of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute to the adequacy of treatment margin. Methods and materials: The factors contributing to the margins are penumbra effect at the end of the seed train, uncertainty in target localization, longitudinal seed movement during cardiac cycle and barotrauma due to stent deployment. The magnitudes of the penumbra effect, which refers to the tapering off the prescribed isodose line near the ends of the source train, were calculated for various source lengths of Ir-192 seed ribbon using AAPM TG-43 algorithm. Uncertainty in target localization refers to the fact that the visual estimation of proximal and distal extent of the injury is not accurate, and this can be obtained by comparing the "estimate" from the interventional cardiologist with careful review of the cine-angiogram. Longitudinal seed movements relative to the coronary vessel during the cardiac cycle were determined by frame-by-frame reviewing cine-angiograms of 30 patients. The proximal and distal source points were measured in reference to branching vessels during the contrast phase of the cine-angiogram. The maximum proximal and distal longitudinal movement was captured and source displacement was measured from the closest proximal and distal branching vessel. Barotrauma, additional injury to the vessel arising from the stent deployment balloon, was obtained by reviewing specifications from commercially available stent delivery systems. Results: The penumbra effect ranges from 3.9 to 4.5 mm for 6–22 Ir-192 seed ribbons. The uncertainty in target localization is within 3 mm for our interventional cardiologists. The results of seed movements were categorized by three major coronary vessels and by proximal versus distal ends. The mean and standard deviation of seed movement are 1.1 and 0.8 mm, respectively. The average length of barotrauma beyond the stent margins for reviewed stents was 1.7 mm, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. Conclusion: A minimum of 8-mm treatment margin is recommended for coronary vascular brachytherapy with Ir-192 seed ribbon. This was derived by considering the above contributing factors. Excessive margins should be avoided due to possible increase risk of late effect. By providing adequate treatment margins, one can avoid geographic miss; hence, one can further improve the effect of EVBT in reducing restenosis.
Statistical insight into constant‐ductility design using a non‐stationary earthquake ground motion model

SUMMARY A recently developed earthquake ground motion model non-stationary in both intensity and frequency content is validated at the inelastic Single-Degree-Of-Freedom (SDOF) structural response level. For the purpose of this study, the earthquake model is calibrated for two actual earthquake records. The objective of a constant (or target) displacement ductility used in conventional earthquake-resistant design is examined from the statistical viewpoint using this nonstationary earthquake model. The non-linear hysteretic structural behaviour is modelled using several idealized hysteretic SDOF structural models. Ensemble-average inelastic response spectra corresponding to various inelastic SDOF response (or damage) parameters and conditioned on a constant displacement ductility response are derived from the two identified stochastic ground motion models. The e⁄ects of the type of hysteretic behaviour, the structural parameters, the target displacement ductility factor, and the ground motion model on the statistics of the inelastic response parameters are thoroughly investigated. The results of this parametric study shed further light on the proper interpretation and use of inelastic response or damage parameters in earthquake-resistant design in order to achieve the desirable objective of ‘constant-damage design’. ( 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sediment-Seawater Interaction in Glaciomarine Sediments of Southeast Alaska

The chemical composition of interstitial waters and the mineralogy of recent glaciomarine sediments from southeast Alaska were determined to study the interaction between sediments and sea water. Differences in chemical composition of overlying and interstitial waters of bottom sediments reflected the nature and extent of sediment-sea water interaction. Such interaction depends on bulk mineralogy and particle size of sediments, environment of deposition, and path length the sediments follow prior to deposition. During transport and early stages of burial, cation exchange is the major process responsible for changes in the composition of interstitial water and sediments. Analyses of interstitial waters of cores indicated maximum variations with depth in sodium ion concentration, followed by calcium and magnesium ion concentrations.
Dynamic recrystallization under changing loading conditions

Abstract The occurrence of dynamic recrystallization was investigated under changing deformation conditions, including changes of strain rate and strain path and the effect of annealing. It was found that dynamic recrystallization can be delayed by predeformation at a higher strain rate or facilitated by intermediate annealing, load cycling or strain path changes. The current investigation substantiates that the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization is controlled by the dynamic recovery rate, and that dynamic recovery is much faster and more effective than static recovery in rearranging the microstructure.
Ultrareliable communication over vulnerable optical networks via lightpath diversity: receiver architectures and performance

We develop a class of structured receivers for a lightpath diversity scheme, which was introduced to provide ultrareliable communication with low delay in vulnerable all-optical networks. We explore the trade-off between implementation complexity and error probability to achieve optimum and near-optimum performance within a class of structured receivers. Using a doubly-stochastic point process model, we develop receiver architectures for both the optimal receiver with respect to error performance, and the equal-gain-combining receiver with suboptimum error performance but simpler receiver architecture. Closed-form error bounds for both receivers are obtained and compared with the 'Genie-aided' limit of the lightpath diversity transmission scheme. The comparison shows that the error performance of both receivers approaches the 'Genie-aided' limit when the signal is strong. Numerical results also demonstrate that additional power over what is required for the optimum receiver is needed to be transmitted in order for the equal-gain-combining receiver to achieve the same target error probability, and the power penalty decreases with decreasing noise level. These results suggest that the simpler equal-gain-combing receiver provides similar performance as the optimal receiver in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, but the optimal receiver should be used in the low SNR regime for significantly better performance.
Seismicity and tectonic stress in the south‐central Pacific

The 15-station French Polynesian Seismic Network is used to study the intraplate seismicity of the South-Central Pacific Ocean for the period January 1, 1965 to December 31, 1979. The overall pattern of seismicity shows a clustering of earthquakes at approximately 30 distinct localities, occurring both as discrete events and in swarms. Three localities are associated with known centers of active vulcanism (Moua Pihaa and Rocard seamounts in the Tahiti-Mehetia area and Macdonald seamount in the Austral Islands). A set of eight localities is distributed along the tectonic axis of the Tuamotu Archipelago and its northwestward extention into the Line Islands, and a set of five is roughly aligned with the northeastern edge of the Tuamotu platform; both sets may be related to load inhomogeneities in the lithosphere. However, much of the seismicity is not correlated with major bathymetric features. With the exception of one isolated event, for example, none of the recorded activity occurs along the major fracture zones that cross the study area. Only three localities have been the sites of two or more earthquakes with body-wave magnitudes greater than 5.0; these we designate Regions A, B and C. Excluding Hawaii, Regions A, B and C are the most intense centers of seismicity within the Pacific plate interior, and together they account for more than 90% of the seismic energy release in the South-Central Pacific. An analysis of water multiples from events in Regions A, B and C indicates hypocentral depths within the oceanic crust. Eight focal mechanisms have been obtained; these all have nearly horizontal, NW-trending compressional axes, oriented approximately parallel to the direction of Pacific plate motion. The uniformity of this orientation over the large distances separating the epicenters (>2000 km) suggests that the mechanisms are indicative of a regional tectonic stress field, rather than locally disturbed stress patterns. These data thus provide additional constraints on the force balance models of plate tectonics.
Null controllability of von Kármán thermoelastic plates under the clamped or free mechanical boundary conditions

Abstract In this paper, we provide results of local and global null controllability for 2-D thermoelastic systems, in the absence of rotational inertia, and under the influence of the (nonLipschitz) von Karman nonlinearity. The plate component may be taken to satisfy either the clamped or higher order (and physically relevant) free boundary conditions. In the accompanying analysis, critical use is made of sharp observability estimates which obtain for the linearization of the thermoelastic plate (these being derived in [G. Avalos, I. Lasiecka, The null controllability of thermoelastic plates and singularity of the associated minimal energy function, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 294 (2004) 34–61] and [G. Avalos, I. Lasiecka, Asymptotic rates of blowup for the minimal energy function for the null controllability of thermoelastic plates: The free case, in: Proc. of the Conference for the Control of Partial Differential Equations, Georgetown University, Dekker, in press]). Moreover, another key ingredient in our work to steer the given nonlinear dynamics is the recent result in [A. Favini, M.A. Horn, I. Lasiecka, D. Tataru, Addendum to the paper: Global existence, uniqueness and regularity of solution to a von Karman system with nonlinear boundary dissipation, Differential Integral Equations 10 (1997) 197–200] concerning the sharp regularity of the von Karman nonlinearity.
Changing patterns of gallbladder carcinoma in New Mexico.

BACKGROUND American Indians in the U.S. have a high incidence of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Furthermore, American Indians in New Mexico (NM) have the highest incidence rate of GBC in the U.S. The epidemiology of GBC in NM has not been studied in the past 3 decades. METHODS By using the NM Tumor Registry (NMTR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, age-specific incidence rates, average annual age-adjusted incidence rates, and incidence rate time trends of GBC were compared among the three major ethnic groups in NM: American Indians, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites, for the period 1973–2001. RESULTS A sharp increase in GBC incidence occurred with advanced age and started earlier in American Indians (at age 55) than Hispanics (at age 60) than non-Hispanic whites (at age 65). GBC occurred more frequently in females than in males in all ethnic groups. In females, the incidence of GBC was the highest in American Indians (14.5 per 100,000) followed by Hispanics (6.8 per 100,000) and non-Hispanic whites (1.4 per 100,000). Similarly in males, American Indians had the highest incidence rate of GBC (7.8 per 100,000), followed by Hispanics (2.0 per 100,000), and non-Hispanic whites (1.0 per 100,000). The time trend analysis revealed that there has been a disproportionate decline in the incidence of GBC in the three ethnic groups, with the greatest drop in American Indians and Hispanics followed by non-Hispanic whites. Despite the decline, American Indians continued to have the highest incidence rate of GBC in NM. CONCLUSION The incidence of GBC has declined disproportionately in the three major ethnic groups, with the greatest decrease in American Indians and Hispanics followed by non-Hispanic whites. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
The Sense of Smell

IN your issue of Septhmber 30 (vol. xxxiv. p. 521) your correspondent Dr. Arthur Mitchell is desirous of obtaining some data in regard to the sense of smell. In a paper presented at the Philadelphia meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1884) we have described a series of experiments designed to test the delicacy of this sense. These experiments, being of a preliminary character, have hitherto been withheld from publication, but the following brief statement of the results obtained may be of interest to Mr. Mitchell and to other readers of NATURE. We made use of the following substances:—(1) oil of cloves, (2) nitrite of amyl, (3) extract of garlic, (4) bromine, (5) cyanide of potassium. A series of solutions of each of these was prepared, such that each member was of half the strength of the preceding one. These series were extended by successive dilutions till it was impossible to detect the substances by smell. The order of the bottles containing these solutions was completely disarranged, and the test consisted in the attempt to properly classify them by the unaided sense of smell. The thirty-four observers who assisted in these experiments were of both sexes; the results are indicated in the following table (I.):—
Protein and Atherosclerosis

In general, protein of animal origin is more cholesterolemic and atherogenic than plant protein. The addition of single amino acids to the protein can influence cholesterolemia and atherogenicity, by either increasing or decreasing these conditions. The lysine to arginine ratio, which is higher in animal than in plant proteins, may be a factor in cholesterolemia. The results may be explained in part by the findings that lipid absorption is elevated in rabbits or rats fed animal proteins as is turnover time. Animals fed soy protein excrete more neutral and acidic steroids, and have increased activity of hepatic HMG CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase. Animal protein may exert its hypercholesterolemic effect by mechanisms which include increased absorption of cholesterol and decreased turnover.
The Case Renal dysfunction in a pregnant patient with IgA nephropathy

An 18-year-old girl, 15 weeks pregnant, presented to our hospital for the evaluation of headache. Her history was significant for immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, with a baseline serum creatinine of 1.8 mg/dl. She had been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at 11 years of age after presenting with an elevated creatinine and microscopic hematuria. Her renal biopsy at the time showed mild mesangial proliferation with mesangial IgA deposits. The patient was not undergoing any therapy for her IgA nephropathy before her pregnancy.
Taenia crassiceps: immunity to metacestodes in BALB/c and BDF1 mice.

The kinetics of primary and secondary infections with Taenia crassiceps larvae and the effects of immune serum on T. crassiceps larvae were studied in BALB/c and BDF1 mice. In both strains of mice a substantial degree of resistance to reinfection comparable to that previously reported in C3H mice can be induced by subcutaneous injection of three larvae 3 weeks prior to intraperitoneal challenge infection. Both early immune damage in the absence of adherent host cells and encapsulation by host cells are involved in rejection of larvae by BALB/c and BDF1 mice, but in both of these strains early immune damage is less pronounced and the cellular encapsulation response considerably more prominent than in the C3H mice studied previously. This difference is also reflected in the effect of immune serum on T. crassiceps metacestodes in vitro: immune serum from BALB/c and BDF1 mice is less effective than immune serum taken from C3H mice at comparable times after challenge infection in mediating damage to T. crassiceps larvae in vitro in the absence of host cells. These results suggest that genetically determined differences in immune capability can alter the state of equilibrium existing among different immune effector mechanisms without producing measurable effects upon overall host resistance to reinfection.
Analytical and experimental studies of an all specular thermal control louver system in a solar vacuum environment.

Thermal control louvers are used on the ATS-F&G spacecraft to regulate temperature by varying the effective radiating area. Since solar energy on louvers has a detrimental effect on their ability to radiate energy, an analytical and experimental program was developed to evaluate the performance of an all specular louver system as a function of sun angle and blade angle. Solar simulation tests and analyses show a maximum effective absorptance of .25 for the full open condition. The application of white paint to the blades resulted in lowering the blade temperatures by 130 C without significantly affecting the system performance.
Functional hearing in noise: insert earphones vs. supra-aural headphones.

Introduction: Aviators and aircrew members work in hostile listening environments on a routine basis and rely on their hearing for crew coordination, a critical component of rotary-wing aviation. New technology may assist in this endeavor, but will require aviators to have the ability to not only hear in noise, but also to localize warning and other signals. The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) assesses functional hearing in noise, but has only been normalized using sound field speakers or supra-aural headphones. Methods: There were 60 normal hearing students (30 men and 30 women) from Utah State University who were equally partitioned into 3 groups. Each group was administered the HINT in three test conditions with one of three transducers: 1) THD-39 supra-aural; 2) ER-3A foam inserts; or 3) the communications earplug. Results: Analysis of the data revealed there was no gender difference and no significant differences between scores obtained using the transducers under test in any of the test conditions. Conclusion: Insert-type earphones should be considered for administration of the HINT.
Biomechanical Model for the Myogenic Response in the Microcirculation: Part I—Formulation and Initial Testing

The pressure dependent or myogenic contraction of arterioles is one of the most fundamental control mechanisms of microvascular perfusion. While many experimental observations have been obtained on the myogenic response, no generally accepted biomechanical model has been formulated. A novel biomechanical theory is proposed based on two fundamental assumptions: the arteriolar wall exhibits viscoelastic properties before and during myogenic contractions, and the contraction is achieved by a pressure dependent change of reference length. The formulation of the model and its application to different experimental procedures on microvascular smooth muscle in the literature is presented. The model describes closely a broad spectrum of steady and unsteady pressure dependent diameter variations of arterioles under a pressure dependent stimulus.
Methanation studies over well-characterized silica-supported Pt-Ru bimetallic clusters

Abstract A methanation study over a well-characterized series of silica-supported Pt-Ru bimetallic clusters has been completed. Surface compositions, determined by O2-CO titration using a pulse technique, show considerable surface enrichment in Pt. Turnover numbers and activation energies for CH4 formation were determined for Pt-Ru bimetallic cluster catalysts having the following Pt surface compositions: 17.9, 50, 73, and 99%. The results suggest that Ru ensembles are necessary to catalyze the methanation reaction as Pt-Ru dual sites show a catalytic behavior characteristic of Pt. When the surface composition of Ru is high, the observed turnover number for CH4 formation is in good agreement with the sum total of the corresponding turnover numbers for methanation on the separate metals. For low surface concentrations of Ru, the reverse is true. A temperature-programmed pulse technique was used to study carbon formation by pulsing CO over each catalyst as the temperature was increased in flowing He. The temperature of incipient carbon formation, as determined by measuring CO2 formation gas chromatographically, increased as the surface concentration of Pt was increased.
Measuring Postural Stability: Strategies For Signal Acquisition And Processing

A balance platform was used to collect postural stability data from 60 children, approximately half of whom have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The data was examined with respect to its frequency content, resulting in an improved strategy for frequency estimation. With a reliable assessment of the frequency domain characteristics, the signal stationarity could then be examined. Significant differences in signal stationarity were observed when the epoch length was changed, as well as between the normal and cerebral palsy populations.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.