cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entering the Market for Financial Advice: Insights from Advisors and Financial Planning Students

We are acutely aware of the change in the financial advisory landscape. The industry has moved from a product centric focus to an advice model. Given the change in landscape, financial advisory firms and future advisors may benefit from assessing the marketplace to determine opportunities for successful entry and retention of new talent. Such efforts may help to ensure quality client experiences and increased demand for the profession among future entrants. According to the CFP® Board’s Professional Demographics, there are more CFP® certificants older than age 70 than under the age of 30. This asymmetry causes concern for advisors looking to retire with confidence that their clients will continue to receive high quality services. We seek to add insight by highlighting what motivates current students to enter the field and their perceptions of the industry and their value in it. By covering these topics, we hope to identify opportunities for improvement, momentum, and growth in the financial advice profession. This project uses primary research to determine asymmetries in expectations between various stakeholders in the financial planning industry. The initial focus is to look at the firm’s expectations for new advisors, specifically students graduating with degrees in Personal Financial Planning, and compare them to the expectations students have of firms in their first few years of employment. Considering variation in business models and compensations structures, we seek to identify potential gaps in the expectations between hiring firms and students entering the financial advice market. To understand the differences in expectations, we use survey data collected from individuals currently employed in the financial planning industry and students at various CFP® Board registered Personal Financial Planning programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate programs. Our initial analysis focuses on the expectation gaps between firms and students. In future studies, client and advisor expectations will be examined. We seek to identify where expectation gaps exist in order help firms and universities build better client, employee, and student experiences, ultimately improving the financial planning profession. Potential benefits for firms include improved retention, better recruitment, and increased loyalty of new advisors entering the industry. This research could be used by firms to help align the interests of firms and new talent entering the profession.
Heats of Formation for Several Crystalline Polymorphs and Pressure-Induced Amorphous Forms of AMo2O8 (A = Zr, Hf) and ZrW2O8

The enthalpies of drop solution (ΔHds) for several polymorphs of ZrW2O8 (cubic, orthorhombic, trigonal, and amorphous), ZrMo2O8 (cubic, trigonal, monoclinic, and amorphous), and HfMo2O8 (cubic, trigonal, and amorphous) have been measured in molten 3Na2O·4MoO3 at 975 K. Using the values of ΔHds for the binary oxides, we calculated enthalpies of formation from the oxides at 298 K. Monoclinic ZrMo2O8 is the only polymorph examined that is enthalpically stable relative to the binary oxides (ΔHf,ox = −5.1 ± 3.5 kJ/mol), and even that stability is marginal. The ΔHf,ox values for cubic and trigonal ZrMo2O8 are 45.2 ± 5.3 and 32.2 ± 4.5 kJ/mol, respectively; for cubic and trigonal HfMo2O8, 55.8 ± 3.1, and 46.5 ± 3.6 kJ/mol, respectively; and for cubic, orthorhombic, and trigonal ZrW2O8, 64.8 ± 2.8, 50.6 ± 3.0, and 49.8 ± 4.1 kJ/mol, respectively. Therefore, these phases are either entropically stabilized and/or their formation/persistence is kinetically controlled. The enthalpies of formation from the oxides, at ...
Abstract 769: Mechanistic role of miR-29 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with a 5-year survival rate of 8% (Kota et al., 2017, Cancer Lett.). Lack of curative treatment for PDAC warrants better understanding of its mechanisms. Our previous work demonstrated that miR-29 is commonly downregulated in PDAC, while its restoration exhibits tumor-suppressive effects (Kwon et al., 2016, Oncotarget; Kwon et al., 2015, Sci Rep.). To understand these mechanisms, first we performed siRNA mediated knockdown of several miR-29 promoter binding transcription factors, including MYC, which play a role in PDAC. Our results indicate MYC represses miR-29 expression, and MYC nuclear localization negatively correlates with miR-29 in pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs). Next, to identify global miR-29 targets associated with PDAC, we conducted RNAseq on two miR-29 overexpressing PCC lines. This identified 41 overlapping miR-29 targets downregulated in both datasets. Gene ontology and survival correlation analyses identified seven most prominent targets (LOXL2, MYBL2, TRIB2, HGK, NRAS, CD276 and CLDN1). Ectopic expression of miR-29 significantly altered protein levels of these genes, confirming a translational suppression mechanism mediated by miR-29. RNAi mediated silencing of these targets significantly reduced the migratory ability of the PCCs. Our top target LOXL2 is involved in regulation of EMT/migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Luciferase reporter assay verified LOXL2 as a direct miR-29 target in PDAC. Immunohistochemical analyses in clinical specimens from PDAC patients and KPC mice pancreatic tissues showed higher LOXL2 expression in regions of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions as compared to non-cancerous areas. This increased LOXL2 level was accompanied by concomitant reduction in miR-29 expression. Thus, our current study provides insight into new miR-29 mediated regulatory pathways in PDAC and reveals the association of miR-29-LOXL2 axis in the disease progression. Together, our data suggest miR-29 to play a critical role in mechanisms of PDAC progression and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the disease. Citation Format: Shatovisha Dey, Jason J. Kwon, Sheng Liu, Tricia Factoria, Gabriel A. Hodge, Jun Wan, Janaiah Kota. Mechanistic role of miR-29 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 769.
Energy storages in microgrids

Energy storage systems are considered as a solution to improve the power quality, dynamic stability, reliability, and controllability, of microgrids in the presence of renewable energy resources (RES). The energy storage can act as an energy buffer to compensate renewable intermittency and load uncertainties. It enhances the stability of the microgrid by providing the virtual inertia for the system. Energy storage systems can also enhance the microgrids' efficiency by managing the power flow and reducing operational loss. They benefit electricity customers by maximizing renewable energy utilization and minimizing electricity bills through optimal energy management. This chapter discusses microgrid challenges, energy storage technologies, and applications of energy storage within a microgrid.
Recent Developments in Cryptography

In this short note, we briefly describe cryptosystems that are believed to be quantum-resistant and focus on isogeny-based cryptosystems. Recent SIDH (Supersingular Isogeny Diffie-Hellman) developments have focused on (2,2)-reducible Jacobians, where addition is executed via the Kummer surface. While elliptic curve isogenies are easy, explicit, and fast to compute thanks to Velus formulas, this is not the case for higher genus curves. The case of (2,2)-isogenies in genus 2 curves are an exception thanks to the work of Richelot. In addition, some explicit work has been completed in the case of (3,3) and (5,5)-isogenies, which are much more complicated than the case of Richelot isogenies. In this paper, we further investigate the case of (4,4)-reducible Jacobians and explicitly compute the locus ℒ 4 .
Volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging analysis in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Objectives Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with neurocognitive deficits. Cerebral structural alterations in the frontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus have been reported in adult OSA patients. These brain areas are important for executive functioning, motor regulation of breathing, and memory function, respectively. Corresponding evidence comparing cerebral structures in pediatric OSA patients is limited. The objective of this study is to investigate MRI differences in cortical thickness and cortical volume in children with and without OSA. Study design Prospective, single institutional case-control study. Methods Forty-five children were recruited at a pediatric tertiary care center (27 with OSA; mean age 9.9 ± 1.9 years, and 18 controls; mean age 10.5 ± 1.0 years). The OSA group underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), polysomnography (PSG) and completed the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) and the Child's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). High-resolution T1-weighted MRI was utilized to examine cortical thickness and gray and white matter volume in children with OSA compared to a healthy group of demographically-comparable children without OSA selected from a pre-existing MRI dataset. Results Children with OSA showed multiple regions of cortical thinning primarily in the left hemisphere. Reduced gray matter (GM) volume was noted in the OSA group in multiple frontal regions of the left hemisphere (superior frontal, rostral medial frontal, and caudal medial frontal regions). Reduced white matter (WM) volume in both the left and right hemisphere was observed in regions of the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes in children with OSA. Conclusion This study noted differences in cortical thickness and GM and WM regional brain volumes in children with OSA. These findings are consistent with other pediatric studies, which also report differences between healthy children and those with OSA. We found that the severity of OSA does not correlate with the extent of MRI alterations.
Optogenetic intervention to the vascular endothelium

Abstract Endothelium lining the interior of cardiovascular system and most visceral organs plays an important role in vascular function. Its dysfunction occurs in some of the most challenging diseases. An important function of the endothelium is to release vasoactive substances that act on the smooth muscle to change vascular tones. Substance secretion from endocrine cells relies on membrane potentials and firing activity, while it is unclear whether the membrane potential regulates substance release from the ECs. Understanding of this requires selective intervention to membrane potentials of the endothelial cells in situ. Here we show a novel intervention to endothelial cells using the optogenetic approach. A strain of transgenic mice was developed with the Cre–loxP recombination system. These transgenic mice expressed channelrhodopsin (ChR) in endothelial cells driven by the vascular endothelial cadherin or cdh 5 promoter. Linked in a tandem with YFP, the ChR expression was detected by YFP fluorescence in various endothelium-lining tissues and organs. The YFP fluorescence was observed in the lumen of blood vessels and pericardium, but not in tissues beneath the endothelium lining. Optostimulation of dissociated endothelial cells evoked inward currents and depolarization. In the isolated and perfused heart, surprisingly, optostimulation of endothelial cells produced fast, robust, reproducible and long-lasting vasoconstriction that was not blocked by either ET-1A or TXA2 receptor antagonist. Similar optical vasoconstriction was found in the isolated and perfused kidney. These results indicate that the optogenetics is an effective intervention to vascular endothelium where optostimulation produces vasoconstriction.
Severe bandemia is not associated with increased risk for adverse events in general pediatric emergency department patients

BackgroundThe presence of band cells >10% of the total white blood cell (WBC) count ("bandemia") is often used as an indicator of serious bacterial illness (SBI). Results from studies of bandemia as a predictor of SBI were conflicting and little is known about the relationship between severe bandemia (SB) and clinical outcomes from SBI in children. ObjectivesIn this retrospective patient-centered study, we hypothesized that SB (band level >20%) is not associated with adverse outcomes in an emergency department (ED) pediatric population. MethodsMedical records from children between the ages of 2 months and 18 years with SB who presented to a tertiary referral regional hospital were studied. Outcomes were categorized as severe adverse events (SAEs) or moderate adverse events (MAEs). Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association between SB and outcomes. ResultsWe analyzed 102 patients. Mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 5.25(0.5) years, 18 (18%) had MAE, 21 (21%) had SAE, and no patients died. Mean band levels were similar between groups: no adverse events [28 (10)] vs. SAE [31 (9)] vs. MAE [27(8)], p=0.64. Multivariate logistic regressions showed SB was not associated with any adverse events (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-1.1, p=0.27). Non-normal X-ray (XR) (OR 17, 95% CI 3.3-90, p<0.001) was associated with MAE, while non-normal computerized tomography (CT) scan (OR 15.4, 95% CI 2.2-100+, p=0.002) was associated with SAE. ConclusionSevere bandemia was not associated with higher odds of adverse events among the general ED pediatric population. Clinicians should base their clinical judgment on the overall context of history, physical examinations, and other laboratory and imaging data.
Thirty-day hospital readmission in systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary hypertension: A nationwide study.

Abstract Objective To identify risk-factors for 30-day hospital readmission in systemic sclerosis pulmonary hypertension (SSc-PH) and to compare trends and characteristics of 30-day readmissions in SSc-PH versus non-SSc pulmonary arterial hypertension (non-SSc PAH). Methods In this retrospective study, we identified SSc-PH and non-SSc PAH hospitalizations using ICD-9 codes within the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Readmission Database. Thirty-day readmission rates were calculated between 2010 and 2015. Characteristics were compared using chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, or two-sample t-tests between (A) SSc-PH patients with versus without readmission and (B) patients with ≥1 readmission with SSc-PH versus non-SSc PAH. Adjusted logistic regression models were generated for readmission in SSc-PH. Results 4,846 of 22,420 (22%) with SSc-PH and 10,573 of 49,254 (21%) with non-SSc PAH had ≥1 30-day readmission. Between 2010–2015, readmission rate decreased in non-SSc PAH (23% to 20%; p Conclusion In SSc-PH, 30-day readmission is frequent, and in-hospital deaths occur at a higher rate compared to those with non-SSc PAH. This study identifies factors that may characterize those with SSc-PH at highest risk for readmission.
The Lyman Alpha Forest in the Spectra of QSOs

Observations of redshifted Lyman alpha forest absorption in the spectra of quasistellar objects (QSOs) provide a highly sensitive probe of the distribution of gaseous matter in the universe. Over the past two decades optical spectroscopy with large ground-based telescopes, and more recently ultraviolet spectroscopy from space have yielded a wealth of information on what appears to be a gaseous, photoionized intergalactic medium, partly enriched by the products of stellar nucleosynthesis, residing in coherent structures over many hundreds of kiloparsecs. Recent progress with cosmological hydro-simulations based on hierarchical structure formation models has led to important insights into the physical structures giving rise to the forest. If these ideas are correct, a truely inter- and proto-galactic medium [at high redshift (z ~ 3), the main repository of baryons] collapses under the influence of dark matter gravity into flattened or filamentary structures, which are seen in absorption against background QSOs. With decreasing redshift, galaxies forming in the denser regions, may contribute an increasing part of the Lyman alpha absorption cross-section. Comparisons between large data samples from the new generation of telescopes and artificial Lyman alpha forest spectra from cosmological simulations promise to become a useful cosmological tool.
Maternal and Infant Immune Repertoire Sequencing Analysis Identifies Distinct Immunoglobulin and T Cell Receptor Development in Term and Preterm Infants

Preterm labor (PTL) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. While many studies have focused on investigating the maternal immune responses that cause PTL, fetal immune cell activation has recently been raised as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of PTL. Here, we analyzed lymphocyte receptor repertoires in maternal and cord blood from 14 term and 10 preterm deliveries and hypothesized that the high incidence of infection in patients with PTL may result in specific changes in the TCR and BCR repertoires. We analyzed T-cell receptor beta chain (TCR-β) and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) diversity, CDR3 lengths, clonal sharing, and preferential usage of variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments. Additionally, we studied the rates of somatic hypermutation (SHM) in IgH. Overall, the cord blood IgH repertoires had significantly (padj < 0.05) lower rates of SHM and both TCR-β and IgH repertoires had shorter CDR3s compared to maternal blood. When comparing term and PPROM cord blood samples, we found that CDR3 lengths correlated with gestational age, with the shorter CDR3s in preterm neonates suggesting a ‘less developed’ repertoire. Preterm cord blood displayed preferential usage of a number of V genes and J genes. Furthermore, the term maternal repertoires displayed significant preferential usage of TRBV7-8 compared to preterm maternal repertoires. In preterm pregnancies, we observed significantly higher prevalence of convergent clones between mother/baby pairs than in term pregnancies. Together, our results suggest the repertoire of preterm infants displays a combination of immature features yet preferential use of particular genes and convergence with maternal TCR-β clones compared to term infants. While the higher TCR-β diversity might reflect less clonal expansion, the higher clonal convergence between mothers and infants in PTL could represent mother and fetus both responding to a shared stimulus like an infection. These data provide a detailed analysis of the maternal-fetal immune repertoire in term and preterm patients, and contribute to a better understanding of neonate immune repertoire development and potential changes associated with preterm labor.
Controlled Molecular Assembly of Tetrazine Derivatives on Surfaces

While self-assembly is relatively well-known and widely used to form hierarchical structures and thin film coatings, controlled assembly is less known and utilized. Our prior work has demonstrated ...
Molecular mimicry: HUWE1 binds an atypical site in MIZ1 by adopting a typical BTB fold

In this issue of Structure, Orth et al. describe an exposed binding site in the MIZ1 BTB domain due to an atypical flexible region within the BTB core. This site allows HECT-type ubiquitin ligase 1 to bind the MIZ1 homodimer by forming β strands and completing the canonical BTB fold.
From social anxiety to interpersonal connectedness

The present research examined whether social anxiety moderates the potential relationship between conversation medium and interpersonal connectedness. Hypotheses predicted that individuals with high social anxiety would demonstrate greater interpersonal connectedness following instant messaging conversations; whereas, individuals with low social anxiety would report greater interpersonal connectedness following face-to-face and phone conversations. Undergraduate participants (N?=?165) were randomly assigned to one of three conversation mediums (face-to-face, phone or instant messaging) during which they engaged in an interaction with an unfamiliar partner. Participants completed a measure of social anxiety before the interaction and measures of interpersonal connectedness prior to and following the interaction. Results revealed that level of social anxiety is a significant contingent condition for the association between type of conversation medium and attitude homophily (i.e., a measure of interpersonal connectedness). For individuals with low social anxiety, scores on the attitude homophily measure were significantly lower in the instant messaging condition, compared to the face-to-face and phone conditions. Instant messaging promotes connectedness among socially anxious individuals.Instant messaging hinders connectedness for those low in social anxiety.Intimacy building with strangers is dependent on medium and social anxiety.
An Age-Adjusted D-dimer Threshold for Emergency Department Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Embolus: Accuracy and Clinical Implications.

Study objective We determine the accuracy of an age-adjusted D-dimer threshold to detect pulmonary embolism in emergency department (ED) patients older than 50 years and describe current ED practices when evaluating possible pulmonary embolism. Methods This was a retrospective study of ED encounters for suspected pulmonary embolism from 2008 to 2013. We used structured data to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of different D-dimer thresholds. We describe the incidence of pulmonary embolism, the proportion of patients receiving imaging concordant with D-dimer levels, and the number of "missed" pulmonary embolisms. These findings were used to estimate patient outcomes based on different D-dimer thresholds. Results Among 31,094 encounters for suspected pulmonary embolism, there were 507 pulmonary embolism diagnoses. The age-adjusted D-dimer threshold was more specific (64% versus 54%) but less sensitive (93% versus 98%) than the standard threshold of 500 ng/dL; 11,999 imaging studies identified 507 pulmonary embolisms (4.2%); of these, 1,323 (10.6%) were performed with a D-dimer result below the standard threshold. Among patient encounters without imaging, 17.6% had D-dimer values above the threshold, including 5 missed pulmonary embolisms. Among patients who received imaging, 10.6% had a negative D-dimer result. Applying an age-adjusted D-dimer threshold to our sample would avert 2,924 low-value imaging tests while resulting in 26 additional cases of missed pulmonary embolism. Conclusion An age-adjusted D-dimer limit has the potential to reduce chest imaging among older ED patients and is more accurate than a standard threshold of 500 ng/dL. Our findings support the adoption of an age-adjusted D-dimer cutoff in community EDs.
Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Clinical Trial Enrollment in the Context of Sickle Cell Anemia and Hydroxyurea

Background Several sickle cell clinical trials have closed due to inability to enroll patients. To limit the early cessation of a proposed clinical trial due to low accrual rates, we sought to better understand barriers and facilitators to enrolling parents of children with sickle cell anemia (SCD) into clinical trials. Procedure Focus groups (n = 3) were conducted with parents/guardians (n = 14) who had not previously been recruited for a clinical trial and were not administering hydroxyurea to their children. Results Three main themes related to barriers to clinical trial enrollment were identified during analysis of focus groups: general barriers to health related research (general mistrust of research studies, emotional and practical concerns), barriers to trial design (randomization), and barriers to hydroxyurea (long term unknown risks, cancer, myelosuppressive effects). Facilitators identified were need for more education, including request for peer education, and improved explanation of clinical trials or study rationale. Conclusion Engagement of parents/guardians of children with SCD in identifying barriers and facilitators to clinical trial enrollment may be critical to the development of strategies to enhance SCD trial completion. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1333–1337. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A cybersecurity risk analysis methodology for medical devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed an ongoing emphasis on cybersecurity considerations for medical devices. The FDA recently issued guidelines regarding cybersecurity management in premarket submissions. In this paper we present a brief overview of security frameworks, and develop a cybersecurity risk assessment methodology for medical devices. Our approach is essentially the application of a Preliminary Hazards Analysis study, customized to cybersecurity considerations. We illustrate this methodology using a typical, but hypothetical, medical device.
Selected Problems in the Analysis of Refractory Materials

The development of refractory materials for structural and protective applications at very high temperatures has received increased emphasis in the last decade. Research on refractory compounds such as the transition metal carbides, borides, and nitrides has brought into focus attendant problems with analytical methods and chemical standards. As research efforts have become more sophisticated and the available materials have improved in quality, the role of impurities in determining properties has been found of increasing importance. The limitations on methods through lack of standards, problems of non-stoichiometry, localization or segregation of impurities, and inherent deficiencies of methods are discussed. The potential of some of the newer methods of analysis is considered in the context of these specific problems with refractory materials analysis.
On the completeness of context-sensitive order-sorted specifications

We propose three different notions of completeness for ordersorted equational specifications supporting context-sensitive rewriting modulo axioms relative to a replacement map µ. Our three notions are: (1) a definition of µ-canonical completeness under which µ-canonical forms coincide with canonical forms; (2) a definition of semantic completeness that guarantees that the µ-operational semantics and standard initial algebra semantics are isomorphic; and (3) an appropriate definition of µ-sufficient completeness with respect to a set of constructor symbols. Based on these notions, we use equational tree automata techniques to obtain decision procedures for checking these three kinds of completeness for equational specifications satisfying appropriate requirements such as weak normalization, ground confluence and sort-decreasingness, and left-linearity. The decision procedures are implemented as an extension of the Maude sufficient completeness checker.
Modeling Dyadic Processes Using Hidden Markov Models: A Time Series Approach to Mother–Infant Interactions During Infant Immunization

The focus of the present longitudinal study, to examine mother-infant interaction during the administration of immunizations at two and six months of age, used hidden Markov modeling, a time series approach that produces latent states to describe how mothers and infants work together to bring the infant to a soothed state. Results revealed a 4-state model for the dyadic responses to a two-month inoculation whereas a 6-state model best described the dyadic process at six months. Two of the states at two months and three of the states at six months suggested a progression from high intensity crying to no crying with parents using vestibular and auditory soothing methods. The use of feeding and/or pacifying to soothe the infant characterized one two-month state and two six-month states. These data indicate that with maturation and experience, the mother-infant dyad is becoming more organized around the soothing interaction. Using hidden Markov modeling to describe individual differences, as well as normative processes, is also presented and discussed.
Can neural stem cells be used as therapeutic vehicles in the treatment of brain tumors

The most exciting recently developed therapeutic approaches for glioma and other types of nervous system tumors involve combinations of immuno-therapy and neural stem cells. But we must bear in mind that the human brain differs greatly from the mouse brain, and that approaches that are effective in animal models may not always be safe for humans.
Mechanism for export of sediment‐derived iron in an upwelling regime

[1] Model simulations performed with a three-dimensional, high-resolution, process study ocean model of eastern boundary upwelling systems are used to describe a mechanism that efficiently transports sediment-derived dissolved iron offshore in the subsurface through the bottom boundary layer (BBL) during downwelling-favorable wind events. In the model, sediment-derived iron accumulates in the BBL on the outer shelf when the winds are upwelling-favorable. When the wind reverses, the iron-laden BBL is mixed into the water column and transported offshore along isopycnals that intersect the bottom. Depending on the frequency of wind reversal, between 10–50% of the shelf sediment-derived iron flux is exported offshore through this previously unidentified subsurface pathway. If this mechanism operates on all coastal upwelling regimes, the global export of sediment-derived iron to the open ocean would be equivalent to ten times larger than the estimated source of dissolved iron from aerosols.
An Ethernet performance model with N/sub u/ users simultaneously accessing N/sub s/ servers

A previously published LAN performance model had two user response time components that involved transmission on the LAN: simultaneous input requests for N/sub u/ users for service from one of N/sub s/ servers transmitted over a broadband Ethernet; and transmission of the requested information over the Ethernet to the N/sub u/ user RAMs. The purpose of the model was to predict user response time under the condition of maximum stress on the LAN (i.e., when all users simultaneously request the same program). In the first implementation of the model, the Ethernet response time components were modeled by classical formulas. Although the model proved to be a good predictor of response time at light and moderate loads, it underestimated response time at high loads. The contribution of the revised model presented to network performance evaluation is that the author has developed a novel way of providing a level of detail and accuracy that other analytic models of Ethernet performance do not provide. A brief analysis of the potential effect on performance in this application environment of the emerging fast Ethernet is provided. >
Designing Multi-agent Systems for Resilient Engineering Systems

Our modern life has grown to depend on many and nearly ubiquitous large complex engineering systems. Many disciplines now seemingly ask the same question: "In the face of assumed disruption, to what degree will these systems continue to perform and when will they bounce back to normal operation". This presentation argues that multi-agent systems MAS, as decentralized and intelligent control systems, have an indispensable role to play in enabling the overall resilience of the combined cyber-physical engineering system. To that effect, it first draws from recently published work that provides measures of resilience for large flexible engineering systems. These measures define the system's actual & latent resilience as it goes through physical disruptions. The role of a multi-agent system is then introduced so as to intelligently bring about reconfigurations that restore the system performance back to its original level. Naturally, the implementation of such a multi-agent system requires a distributed architecture. To this effect, the recent literature has used the quantitative resilience measures to distill a set of principles that design resilience into the multi-agent system. These are specifically discussed in the context of production systems and power grids. The presentation concludes with several avenues for advancing multi-agent systems to support resilient engineering systems.
Missing the Wrong Target: On Andrew Bowie’s Rejection of the Philosophy of Music

Andrew Bowie rejects the philosophy of music. He does so because it (allegedly) objectifies music and because it (allegedly) only ever affirms the practitioner’s prior philosophical assumptions. I argue that Bowie’s rejection is illegitimate on two counts. First, he mischaracterises the philosophy of music. I show how. Second, even if his characterisation of the philosophy of music were a faithful representation of that discipline, his reasons for rejecting it would still not be sufficient. In particular, Bowie criticises the philosophy of music for not engaging properly with its ‘other’ (music), yet refuses to engage seriously with his own ‘other’ (the philosophy of music). Bowie aims for the wrong target – and misses anyway.
Sporadic distribution of tRNA(Arg)CCU introns among alpha-purple bacteria: evidence for horizontal transmission and transposition of a group I intron.

A group I intron interrupts the tRNACCUArg gene of the α-purple bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens (B. Reinhold-Hurek and D. A. Shub, Nature [London] 357:173–176, 1992). In this study, we assess the distribution of the corresponding intron among 12 additional species of α-purple bacteria. Of 10 newly identified tRNACCUArg genes, we found only two that contained an intron homologous to that of the Agrobacterium tRNACCUArg intron. This restricted and scattered distribution of the tRNACCUArg intron among α-purple bacteria is consistent with a recent origin and horizontal transmission. Primary and secondary structural similarities between tRNAUAALeu introns found in strains of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (K. Rudi and K. S. Jacobsen, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 156:293–298, 1997) and α-purple tRNACCUArg introns suggest that these introns share a more recent common ancestor than either does with other known cyanobacterial tRNAUAALeu introns.
Rapid Repair of a Severely Damaged RC Column Having Fractured Bars Using Externally Bonded CFRP

Abstract Research on rapid repair of reinforced concrete (RC) columns has been limited to columns with slight or moderate damage. Moreover, few studies have been conducted on repair of severely damaged columns, particularly with buckled or fractured reinforcing bars. In those studies, however, the techniques used involve considerable time and effort and are not considered “rapid”. The goal of this study was to develop an effective technique to rapidly repair severely damaged RC columns for temporary service use with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). This paper describes the repair and retest of three half-scale severely damaged square RC bridge columns within 4 or 5 days. Damage to each column included buckled longitudinal bars, and one column had fractured bars near the column base. The repairs were designed to restore the column strength using longitudinal and transverse CFRP. A novel anchorage system was designed to anchor the longitudinal CFRP to the column footing. This study illustrates the effectiveness and limitations of this repair technique. The technique was found to be successful in restoring the strength of the columns without fractured bars, but only partially successful for the column with fractured bars located near the base because of CFRP anchorage limitations.
Development of Higher Temperature Abradable Seals for Gas Turbine Applications

Improving sealing between rotating and stationary parts in industrial turbines can significantly increase unit performance. Abradable seals are being developed to reduce blade-tip clearances where an abradable material is placed on the stationary shroud or casing opposite the rotating blade tips to reduce clearances with minimum risk to the turbine components during rubs. A newly developed metallic abradable material is a thermally sprayed coating on the first stage of gas turbine shrouds to reduce tip clearances; thereby, improving turbine power and efficiency by about 1/2 percent. This material is an improvement over currently available metallic abradables increasing the maximum operating temperature from 750°C to about 950°C with no special treatments required on the rotating blade tips. Initial engine field tests have shown the new material to be abradable and on target to meet life requirements.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Evidence supporting a single electron transfer pathway in the reduction of aromatic ketones by metal alkoxides. Lithium isopropoxide, an excellent reducing agent for aromatic ketones.

Abstract Reactions of various metal alkoxides with aromatic ketones have been shown to produce radical intermediate. Lithium isopropoxide has been found to be an excellent reducing agent for aromatic ketones and reduces benzophenone at a faster rate than does aluminum isopropoxide.
Ecological studies of economic red algae. III. Growth and reproduction of natural and harvested populations of Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) batters in New Hampshire

Abstract The growth in situ of populations of Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) Batters has been recorded at three New Hampshire locations and correlated with seasonal and spatial variations of surface salinity, temperature, and nutrients. Annual growth began between February and May, depending upon the location and its hydrographic regime. Gigartina populations reached maximum biomass and size in August and September, and a general decrease in both occurred during the reproductive period from October to February. The period of fastest growth coincided with increasing summer temperatures, while maximum carpospore release occurred during the period of decreasing (coldest) temperatures. The largest plants and maximum biomass of Gigartina were found on the open coast (at a semi-exposed site) while smaller plants and reduced biomass were evident within the Great Bay Estuary System. Salinity is a dominant factor influencing both the local distribution and growth of the plant. Gigartina is primarily restricted to the littoral zone, and its maximum length and biomass occur between +0.45 and +1.0 m above M.L.W. Experimental plots were established to determine the effects of differential levels and seasons of harvesting on G. stellata . Summer (August) harvesting allowed control levels of biomass and population structure to be reached after one year, while winter (December) harvests attained control levels after 19 months. Denuded and sterilized quadrats required more than three years to re-establish themselves. Harvesting in December gave control levels of reproduction in the careful and moderately harvested plots after 9 and 12 months respectively. An August harvest deprived all the plots of reproductive potential until the following reproductive season.
Klinisch-epidemiologische Beobachtungen bei der frühkindlichen interstitiellen plasmacellulären Pneumonie

Der Ausgangsort der Ubertragung von interstitiellen Pneumonien ist in der Regel das erkrankte oder in der Inkubation befindliche Kind. Ubertragungen durch Arzte und Pflegepersonen kommen zwar vor, sind aber durch Waschdisziplin und Mantelwechsel ohne Schwierigkeit vermeidbar. Die Formalindesinfektion ganzer Abteilungen vermag eine Epidemie mit Sicherheit zu unterbrechen. Eine UV-Raumbestrahlung kann die Ausbreitung einer Haus- und Zimmerepidemie verhindern. Der Ubertragung durch Luftkeime von Stockwerk zu Stockwerk oder Raum zu Raum sollte noch mehr als bisher Beachtung geschenkt werden. Der Genius epidemicus einer Epidemie kann bezuglich Morbiditat und Mortalitat stark von einer anderen Epidemie differieren. Es wird eine Beobachtung mitgeteilt, das 2 Sauglingsabteilungen eines Krankenhauses uber Jahre hinaus einen unterschiedlichen Genius epidemicus bewahrten.
Low-temperature air-fireable glass-free metallic thick-film electrical conductor materials

Low-temperature air-fireable glass-free metallic thick-film electrical conductor materials were developed for interconnections in electronic packaging. The thick film with composition (by weight) 96.60%Ag, 1.38%Cu, 0.28%Al, 0.35%Ti, and 1.39%Sn used Ti−Al as the active binder. After firing in air at 500 C it exhibited low electrical resistivity (6.2×10−6Ω-cm), good scratch resistance and strong bonding with the alumina substrate, with no pinholes. The firing caused complete melting of the particles in the film. Firing in argon rather than air degraded both electrical and bonding properties, due to the absence of oxygen, which helped to burn out the vehicle. The use of Ti rather than Ti−Al as the active binder resulted in holes in the thick film due to incomplete melting of the Ti-rich particles and also resulted in poor scratch resistance and weaker bonding to the substrate. Tin in the composition was important for promoting melting and protecting the active particles from oxidation during firing.
Uptake of the yolk protein, lipovitellin, by developing crustacean oocytes.

Abstract A variety of cytochemical techniques were used to demonstrate how crustacean lipovitellin accumulates within the egg. It was found that a protein serologically identical to the lipovitellin of yolk spheres was present in the hemolymph of vitellogenic crustaceans, but was absent from the hemolymph of males and immature females. In the three crustacean species studied ( Uca pugilator, Cambarus clarkii , and Libinia emarginata ), pinocytosis of fluorescein-conjugated lipovitellin and trypan blue occurred only during those periods when oocytes were accumulating yolk. It may be concluded from the present studies that yolk spheres develop in crustacean eggs primarily through micropinocytotic uptake of lipovitellin from the hemolymph, although other oocyte proteins appear to be made in the oocyte.
Assessment of One- and Two-Equation Turbulence Models for Hypersonic Transitional Flows

Many Navier-Stokes codes require that the governing equations be written in conservation form with a source term. The Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model was originally developed in substantial derivative form and when rewritten in conservation form, a density gradient term appears in the source term. This density gradient term causes numerical problems and has a small influence on the numerical predictions. Further work has been performed to understand and to justify the neglect of this term. The transition trip term has been included in the one-equation eddy viscosity model of Spalart-Allmaras. Several problems with this model have been discovered when applied to high-speed flows. For the Mach 8 flat plate boundary layer flow with the standard transition method, the Baldwin-Barth and both k-{omega} models gave transition at the specified location. The Spalart-Allmaras and low Reynolds number k-{var_epsilon} models required an increase in the freestream turbulence levels in order to give transition at the desired location. All models predicted the correct skin friction levels in both the laminar and turbulent flow regions. For Mach 8 flat plate case, the transition location could not be controlled with the trip terms as given in the Spalart-Allmaras model. Several other approaches have been investigated to allow the specification of the transition location. The approach that appears most appropriate is to vary the coefficient that multiplies the turbulent production term in the governing partial differential equation for the eddy viscosity (Method 2). When this coefficient is zero, the flow remains laminar. The coefficient is increased to its normal value over a specified distance to crudely model the transition region and obtain fully turbulent flow. While this approach provides a reasonable interim solution, a separate effort should be initiated to address the proper transition procedure associated with the turbulent production term. Also, the transition process might be better modeled with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model with modification of the damping function f{sub v1}. The damping function could be set to zero in the laminar flow region and then turned on through the transition flow region.
Endovascular management of a ruptured cavernous carotid artery aneurysm associated with a carotid cavernous fistula with an intracranial self-expanding microstent and hydrogel-coated coil embolization: case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background Ruptured CCAs are traditionally treated with endovascular management. Advances in microstent and coil technology have allowed improved intracranial navigation, increased coil packing density, and coil volume expansion to facilitate complete coil embolization of aneurysms/fistulae. We report a case of a ruptured CCA with an associated CCF treated with an intracranial, self-expanding microstent in combination with coil embolization using hydrogel-coated platinum coils. Case Description A 50-year-old woman presented with a 7-day history of severe headache and 2 days of progressive left-sided ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and facial dysesthesias. A cerebral angiogram demonstrated a left ruptured wide-necked CCA with an associated CCF. An intracranial, self-expanding microstent (Neuroform 3 , Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) was placed across the aneurysmal neck. The aneurysm was subsequently embolized with hydrogel-coated platinum coils (Hydro Coil ). A 3-month follow-up angiogram showed complete resolution of arteriovenous shunting with near-complete occlusion of the CCA. The patient's ocular pain and facial dysesthesias resolved completely, with near-complete resolution of ophthalmoplegia. Conclusions This case demonstrates near-complete occlusion of a ruptured CCA and obliteration of an associated CCF using endovascular combinational therapy of an intracranial, self-expanding microstent with hydrogel-coated platinum coils. Use of this newer-generation stent-coil combination may allow more complete and durable lesion occlusion because of increased coil packing density and coil volume expansion without the need for parent artery sacrifice or balloon-remodeling techniques, thus avoiding the potential complications of such therapies.
Induction of lactogenesis in transgenic virgin pigs: evidence for gene and integration site-specific hormonal regulation.

Five month-old transgenic female pigs from three lines carrying the mouse whey acidic protein (WAP) gene and nontransgenic female littermates were implanted with slow-release estrogen and progesterone pellets. Histological analysis of biopsies taken at the time of implantation and 4 weeks later revealed that mammary alveolar development had occurred upon hormonal stimulation in vivo. beta-Casein and beta-lactoglobulin mRNA was found in all induced animals, and WAP mRNA was detected in two of the three transgenic pigs. Differential hormonal regulation between the transgenes in the three lines and also between endogenous milk protein genes was observed in induced mammary tissue cultured in vitro. In the presence of insulin, hydrocortisone, and PRL, beta-casein and WAP mRNA levels increased in all transgenic pigs. In contrast, beta-lactoglobulin mRNA had reached or exceeded lactational levels in response to the in vivo induction, and no further increase was observed in vitro. This suggests that the regulatio...
Evaluation of Two Computational Models Based on Different Effective Core Potentials for Use in Organocesium Chemistry.

The performance of two computational models was evaluated in describing some aggregated structures, the bond lengths and dimerization energies of cesium halides, aquation energies of the cesium cation, and protonation energies of a range of organocesium compounds. One model used the Hay-Wadt (HW) effective core potential (ECP) and a double-ζ valence basis set on Cs; the other used the Ross ECP with two polarization functions on Cs. In both models, the standard 6-31+G** basis was used for the other atoms. At the Hartree-Fock (HF) level, the Ross ECP was found to give geometries and energies in good agreement with experimental results. Second-order Moller-Plesset calculations with this model gave only modestly improved results compared to HF; the B3LYP level gave variable results with unsatisfactory energies. Although the HW model is generally less satisfactory, it often shows comparable trends to those of the Ross model.