cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Evaluation and Clinical Risk Assessment

Preoperative evaluation and clinical risk assessment are critical to achieve excellent outcomes during endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms. A thorough evaluation of cardiac, pulmonary, and renal performance coupled with detailed assessment of the patients anatomy is needed for adequate case selection and for planning successful repair. Indiscriminate treatment of high-risk patients with short anticipated survival is not recommended and should be avoided. This chapter summarizes standardized recommendations for evaluation of patients being considered for major open and endovascular aortic repair.
Discrimination Training in Semimixed and Multiple Schedules

The results of the present study are inconsistent with several previous reports of positive contrast in rats receiving discrimination training in mixed schedules of reinforcement. Using a semimixed schedule (i.e., A mixed schedule with blackouts between successive components) containing the parameters of a multiple schedule that have previously, in our laboratory, produced positive contrast in rats reliably, positive contrast was obtained in semimixed extinction variable interval in only two of 21 possible instances. In both of these instances, the effect was extremely small. In comparison, multiple extinction variable interval produced positive contrast in seven of seven instances, although the effects here were somewhat fragile. These findings have implications for both the optimal stimulus conditions for obtaining positive contrast in rats as well as the control conditions needed to validate its occurrence.
The Prediction of Body Composition in African Americans From Spine and Hip Dual-Energy Absorptiometry.

Abstract Body composition, the makeup of the body's fat and lean tissue, is associated with important health outcomes and provides useful clinical information. Although body composition can be measured with total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), this is rarely performed. As an alternative to total body DXA measurement, methods for estimation of body composition have been developed. These methods use soft tissue measures from spine and hip DXA to predict body composition and include prediction equations previously published by Leslie and proprietary equations within General Electric densitometry software. However, these estimates have not been tested in African Americans (AA), an ethnicity with a different distribution of fat than Caucasians (CA). Therefore, we examined the performance of the existing models in 99 CA and 162 AA subjects over the age of 40 who had total body, spine, and hip DXA measurements. We observed that existing models estimated body composition well in CA but underestimated fat mass and overestimated lean mass in AA. AA subjects were then randomly divided into 2 equal-sized subgroups—the first to develop new prediction equations and the second to independently validate them. We found that body composition can be more accurately estimated using either a new model that we derived in AA subjects using backward stepwise elimination or by adding a fixed offset for AA to the previously published model. Our results demonstrate that body composition estimates from spine and hip DXA require consideration of race/ethnicity.
Self-Reflection and Math Performance in an Online Learning Environment

According to recent reports, K-12 full-time virtual school students have shown lower performance in math than their counterparts in regular brick-and-mortar schools. However, research is lacking in what kind of programmatic interventions virtual schools might be particularly well-suited to provide to improve math learning. Engaging students in self-reflection is a potentially promising pedagogical approach for supporting math learning. Nonetheless, it is unclear how models for math learning in regular classrooms translate in an online environment. The purpose of this study was to (a) analyze rich assessment data from virtual schools to explore the association between self-reflection and math performance, (b) compare the patterns found in student self-reflection across elementary, middle, and high school levels, and (c) examine whether providing opportunities for self-reflection had positive impact on learning in a virtual learning environment. In this study, the self-reflection assessments were developed and administered multiple times within several math courses during the 2014-2015 school year. These assessments included 4-7 questions that ask students to reflect on their understanding of the knowledge and skills they learned in the preceding lessons and units. Using these assessments, multiple constructs and indicators were measured, which include confidence about the topic knowledge/understanding, general feelings towards math, accuracy of self-judgment against actual test performance, and frequency of self-reflection. Through a series of three retrospective studies, data were collected from full-time virtual school students who took three math courses (one elementary, one middle, and one high school math course) in eight virtual schools in the United States during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. The results showed that (a) participation in self-reflection varied by grade, unit test performance level, and course/topic difficulty; (b) more frequent participation in self-reflection and higher self-confidence level were associated with higher final course performance; and (c) self-reflection, as was implemented here, showed limited impact for more difficult topics, higher grade courses, and higher performing students. Implications for future research are provided.
The Will-to-Research Children’s Drawing

While sitting in my office, I came across a small photograph. I had not seen it in several years. Given to me by my dissertation advisor, it was intended as a memento of my very first research experience as a graduate student. And though it had been several years since I last looked at this image, I immediately recognized that something was missing. In fact, as I gave it some additional thought, I was increasingly certain that this photograph was not the photograph that was initially gifted to me. This photograph had been edited. “But in what way?” I wondered. “And why?” Then, and quite suddenly, it all came back to me. Something was missing. Is missing. And I’m the one who removed it. Indeed, I extracted certain elements from this image as an attempt to reframe a set of choices that I had made and that I no longer recognized to be in-step with the values I had about children and their drawing. It was a decision that was undertaken as a means to omit the difficult visibilities that appeared on the surface of that original photograph, and that so expressly narrated my relationship to the concept of research, and to the experience of researching. Centered on this very encounter, this article explores my own will-to-Research children’s drawing.
Naturally occurring human autoantibodies to defined T-cell receptor and light chain peptides.

We used synthetic peptides duplicating the structures of a human λ light chain (Mcg), and a human T-cell receptor (Tcr) α and a Tcr β chain predicted from gene sequence to determine the presence and loci of activity of natural human autoantibodies directed against these antigen recognition molecules. We report that normal individuals and patients suffering from autoimmune diseases have antibodies directed against regions of λ light chains and Tcr s chains corresponding to the first complementarity determining region and the third framework region of the variable domain and to constant region determinants. The levels of IgM natural antibodies particularly against the CDR1 peptides tend to be higher in RA patients than in normals or SLE patients. Although polyclonal IgG immunoglobulins from healthy individuals did not show detectable reactivity to Tcr α peptides, such reactivity was found in the IgM immunoglobulins of RA patients, thereby showing that Tcr α peptides can be autoantigenic in man. The levels of IgM autoantibodies to Vs CDR1 peptides tend to decrease with age. By contrast, there was a marked increase in IgG natural autoantibodies to certain CDR1 sequences with advancing age. We suggest that the natural antibodies to defined regions of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors are part of a physiological network for the regulation of the immune response.
Carlyn Halde: Free Spirit

Dr. Carlyn Halde was the epitome of a free spirit. She lived her life with curiosity and adventure. She was a groundbreaker for women in science, becoming one of the first Fulbright Scholar recipients. She dedicated her life to the pursuit of knowledge and helping others to pursue their dreams through her many philanthropic contributions. But how did she manage to sidestep the conventional limits of women in the 1940s and pursue the life she envisioned for herself? It is a story of having the self-confidence to follow your dreams, the foresight to plan for them, and the persistence to follow them through. It remains a blueprint for any woman trying to establish herself in science today.
Applicability of time-of-flight-based ground and multispectral aerial imaging for grapevine canopy vigour monitoring under direct root-zone deficit irrigation

This study investigates the applicability of ground-based 3D time-of-flight (ToF) imaging and small unmanned aerial system (UAS) integrated multispectral imaging as a rapid grapevine canopy vigour ...
Assessing uncertainties in sea ice extent climate indicators

The uncertainties in sea ice extent (total area covered by sea ice with concentration >15%) derived from passive microwave sensors are assessed in two ways. Absolute uncertainty (accuracy) is evaluated based on the comparison of the extent between several products. There are clear biases between the extent from the different products that are of the order of 500 000 to 1 × 106 km2 depending on the season and hemisphere. These biases are due to differences in the algorithm sensitivity to ice edge conditions and the spatial resolution of different sensors. Relative uncertainty is assessed by examining extents from the National Snow and Ice Data Center Sea Ice Index product. The largest source of uncertainty, ~100 000 km2, is between near-real-time and final products due to different input source data and different processing and quality control. For consistent processing, the uncertainty is assessed using different input source data and by varying concentration algorithm parameters. This yields a relative uncertainty of 30 000–70 000 km2. The Arctic minimum extent uncertainty is ~40 000 km2. Uncertainties in comparing with earlier parts of the record may be higher due to sensor transitions. For the first time, this study provides a quantitative estimate of sea ice extent uncertainty.
Pharmacist-managed titration of urate-lowering therapy to streamline gout management

The treat-to-target approach for serum uric acid is the recommended model in gout management according to the 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines. Adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) can be difficult for patients due to barriers, which include medication burden, financial hardship, and lack of medical literacy. Our aim was to create a pharmacist-managed referral for the titration of ULT to target serum uric acid (sUA) levels in a complex patient population. We utilized a clinical database to query patients seen at a rheumatology clinic over a 12-month period with an ICD-10 diagnosis for gout. The referral criteria were indications for ULT per the 2012 ACR guidelines. Rheumatology providers, consisting of attendings, fellows, and a physician assistant, were asked to refer the identified patients to the pharmacist-managed titration program. The intervention group consisted of 19 referred patients and the control group consisted of 28 non-referred patients. The baseline sUA (median (IQR)) at the time of referral was 8.8 (2) mg/dL for the intervention group and 7.6 (2.8) mg/dL for the control group (p = 0.2). At the end of the study period, the sUA was 6.1 (1.4) mg/dL for the intervention group and 6.8 (3.2) mg/dL for the control group (p = 0.08). At the end of the study period, 6 of 19 (32%) intervention group and 7 of 28 (25%) control group were at goal (p = 0.3). A newly instituted pharmacist-managed titration program was able to achieve lower average sUA levels in referred patients compared to demographically similar individuals who received standard gout management.
Survival and patient-centered outcome in a disease-based observational cohort study of patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abstract Background Much of the literature describing treatment for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) consists of operative series reported by centers of excellence. These studies are limited by referral and selection bias and exclude patients who are not candidates for the reported modality of repair. Little is known about the patients who are not referred or selected for repair. For those undergoing intervention, outcomes such as functional status after surgery are rarely reported. In this study, we address these gaps by reporting two primary end points: 1-year survival and a “good” outcome (defined as successful aneurysm exclusion, freedom from permanent loss of organ system function, and return to preoperative functional status after surgery) in a cohort of TAAA patients, including all nonoperative and operative patients, irrespective of treatment modality. Methods A single-institution database was screened by diagnosis codes for TAAA from 2009 to 2017 using the International Classification of Diseases versions 9 and 10. Diagnosis was confirmed by retrospective chart review and computed tomography findings of aneurysmal degeneration ≥3.2 cm of the paravisceral aorta in continuity with aneurysmal aorta meeting standard criteria for repair. Patients Results Among the entire cohort of 432 patients with TAAA, significant comorbidities were seen in 143 (33%). Forty-seven percent of the patients were managed nonoperatively. Of these, 65% survived to 1 year. A survival benefit was seen in the open, endovascular, and partial, but not hybrid, operative groups compared with the nonoperative group during a 3-year period. Overall 1-year survival was 81%, but only 65% had a good outcome (P = .0016). Conclusions Nearly half of the patients in this inclusive cohort study did not undergo repair despite access to a variety of operative techniques. Many of these patients die in the short term due to high burden of comorbid disease rather than aneurysm rupture. Among those undergoing operation, a notable difference between survival and good outcome was observed. Operation appears to confer a survival advantage among appropriately selected patients with TAAA, but a large proportion are high risk and may not benefit from operative repair due to limited baseline survival and lower probability of good outcome.
Fine-Grained Reductions and Quantum Speedups for Dynamic Programming.

This paper points at a connection between certain (classical) fine-grained reductions and the question: Do quantum algorithms offer an advantage for problems whose (classical) best solution is via dynamic programming? A remarkable recent result of Ambainis et al. [SODA 2019] indicates that the answer is positive for some fundamental problems such as Set-Cover and Travelling Salesman. They design a quantum O^*(1.728^n) time algorithm whereas the dynamic programming O^*(2^n) time algorithms are conjectured to be classically optimal. In this paper, fine-grained reductions are extracted from their algorithms giving the first lower bounds for problems in P that are based on the intriguing Set-Cover Conjecture (SeCoCo) of Cygan et al. [CCC 2010]. In particular, the SeCoCo implies: - a super-linear Omega(n^{1.08}) lower bound for 3-SUM on n integers, - an Omega(n^{k/(c_k)-epsilon}) lower bound for k-SUM on n integers and k-Clique on n-node graphs, for any integer k >= 3, where c_k <= log_2{k}+1.4427. While far from being tight, these lower bounds are significantly stronger than what is known to follow from the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH); the well-known n^{Omega(k)} ETH-based lower bounds for k-Clique and k-SUM are vacuous when k is constant. Going in the opposite direction, this paper observes that some "sequential" problems with previously known fine-grained reductions to a "parallelizable" core also enjoy quantum speedups over their classical dynamic programming solutions. Examples include RNA Folding and Least-Weight Subsequence.
Stump Pyometra Secondary to Human Topical Estrogen Hormone Exposure in a Spayed Female Chihuahua.

A 6 yr old female spayed Chihuahua was presented for evaluation of intermittent vulvar discharge, stranguria, and vomiting. This dog had an ovariohysterectomy as a puppy and did not experience any evidence of estrous until 4.5 yr later. The owner had been using a topical hormone replacement therapy (estradiol spray) twice daily for the duration of the dog's clinical signs of 1 yr. On presentation, the dog had truncal alopecia, comedones, enlarged vulva with a malodorous, and purulent discharge. Bloodwork showed a leukocytosis with a neutrophilia, dohle bodies, and moderate toxic changes. An abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged uterine stump with a thickened wall, ovoid projection cranially, and echogenic luminal contents. An exploratory laparotomy identified an enlarged cervical stump. Histopathology revealed chronic suppurative vaginitis with endometritis, necrosis, and intraluminal coccoid bacteria. The dog recovered well from surgery. A baseline estrogen level post operatively was measured at 56.4 pg/mL (<50.0 pg/mL for a spayed bitch), at this time, the dog had been separated from the owner for 7 days. After surgery, the clinical signs disappeared, and the dog's dermatologic changes improved. This is the first reported case of stump pyometra following exposure to the owner's topical estradiol replacement medication.
America Abroad: The United States' Global Role in the 21st Century, by Stephen G. Brooks and William C. Wohlforth

In America Abroad, Stephen G. Brooks and William C. Wohlforth argue that the United States can remain the world’s only global superpower by sustaining deep engagement with the international system....
A modular high-density μECoG system on macaque vlPFC for auditory cognitive decoding.

OBJECTIVE: A fundamental goal of the auditory system is to parse the auditory environment into distinct perceptual representations. Auditory perception is mediated by the ventral auditory pathway, which includes the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC). Because large-scale recordings of auditory signals are quite rare, the spatiotemporal resolution of the neuronal code that underlies vlPFC's contribution to auditory perception has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we developed a modular, chronic, high-resolution, multi-electrode array system with long-term viability in order to identify the information that could be decoded from μECoG vlPFC signals. APPROACH: We molded three separate μECoG arrays into one and implanted this system in a non-human primate. A custom 3D-printed titanium chamber was mounted on the left hemisphere. The molded 294-contact μECoG array was implanted subdurally over vlPFC. μECoG activity was recorded while the monkey participated in a "hearing-in-noise" task in which they reported hearing a "target" vocalization from a background "chorus" of vocalizations. We titrated task difficulty by varying the sound level of the target vocalization, relative to the chorus (target-to-chorus ratio, TCr). MAIN RESULTS: We decoded the TCr and the monkey's behavioral choices from the μECoG signal. We analyzed decoding accuracy as a function of number of electrodes, spatial resolution, and time from implantation. Over a one-year period, we found significant decoding with individual electrodes that increased significantly as we decoded simultaneously more electrodes. Further, we found that the decoding for behavioral choice was better than the decoding of TCr. Finally, because the decoding accuracy of individual electrodes varied on a day-by-day basis, electrode arrays with high channel counts ensure robust decoding in the long term. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate the utility of high-resolution and high-channel-count, chronic µECoG recording. We developed a surface electrode array that can be scaled to cover larger cortical areas without increasing the chamber footprint.
A very strange particle

We still don't know what the mass of a neutrino is, which means there is lots of exciting work yet to do, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Abstract 2539: Mutant TP53 action in lung dictated by the cell microenvironment

TP53 is a well-known tumor suppressor protein involved in many anti-tumor processes such as apoptosis, DNA repair, and cell cycle arrest. Codon 273 is one of the most frequently mutated sites among all p53 mutant types in human lung cancer. Recently, it has been discovered that TP53 and its mutants influence the expression of cancer-relevant microRNAs and vice-versa. Although many experiments have been performed on cell lines, far fewer experiments were geared toward how TP53 mutations affect miRNA expression in complex, in vivo settings. In addition to this, there are competing viewpoints on how TP53-273H could interact with wild type TP53. To investigate the mechanism involved in the oncogenic potential of mutant TP53 protein in vivo, TP53+/+/TG273H transgenic mice were bred into p53 null background. At the age of 5-6 weeks, TP53−/−; TP53−/-/TG273H; TP53+/+; and TP53+/+/TG273H mice were used to evaluate the expression of micro RNAs (miRNAs) as well as TP53 downstream genes. Based on the nanoString miRNA analysis, TP53−/- 273H mice exhibits decreased expression of miR-205, 206, and 1274a when compared against TP53−/− mice. However, TP53+/+ 273H mice resulted in increased expression of these miRNAs when compared against wild-type mice without mutant TP53 (TP53+/+). When comparing p53−/− knockout mice with wild-type mice, miRNAs 205, 206, and 1274a all increased at least 3-fold compared to wild-type. TP53−/− 273H mice exhibited widespread decrease of miRNA expression levels when compared against TP53+/+ 273H mice. The results suggest that the biological function of the TP53-273H is dictated by the cell microenvironment, especially the presence/absence of the wild type TP53 through dominant-negative effects in lung tissues. Mutant TP53-273H exerts oncogenic/tumor suppressor effects through specific miRNAs and their target gene networks. Citation Format: Christopher Yin, Li Gao, Miguel A. Villalona-Calero, Wenrui Duan. Mutant TP53 action in lung dictated by the cell microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2539.
Culture and Traditional Foundations of African Women Entrepreneurs

The traditional marriage ceremonies and celebrations have just ended and guests are leaving the bride’s family premises. Nneka, the bride, is with her close friends and family members taking stock of the wedding gifts from both her parents and other immediate community mothers. It is usually the norm or custom in most African countries, following the discussions, agreement, and payment of dowry from the bridegroom and his family, for the bride’s family to spend some of the dowry on gifts for their daughter, the bride.
Investigating sex differences in acute intoxication and verbal memory errors after ad libitum cannabis concentrate use.

Abstract Background An innovative naturalistic at-home administration procedure was used to investigate sex differences in subjective drug effects and verbal memory errors after ad libitum use of high potency state legal market Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrate. Methods Regular concentrate users were randomly assigned to ad libitum administration of one of two cannabis concentrate products (70 % or 90 % THC) that they purchased from a dispensary. 65 participants (N = 34 men, N = 31 women) were assessed in a mobile pharmacology lab before, immediately after, and 1 -h after ad libitum concentrate use. Plasma cannabinoids (THC, 11-OH-THC, CBD), subjective drug effects, and verbal memory errors were assessed at all three time points. Results Although men and women exhibited similar plasma 11-OH-THC levels across time (p = .10), sex differences were found in plasma THC and CBD after legal market concentrate use, with men displaying significantly higher levels of plasma THC and CBD immediately after cannabis concentrate use (plasma THC [ng/mL]: Mmen = 489.88, Mwomen = 135.08, p Conclusion These data provide the first look at sex differences after acute naturalistic cannabis concentrate use, and suggest much higher THC exposure in men versus women, but similar acute drug and impairment effects across the sexes. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms (e.g. tolerance, cannabinoid metabolism, smoking topography) behind these findings.
Paws & Breathe®: Interspecies stress reduction collaboration to support clinician well-being

Abstract Achieving the quadruple aim for healthcare will be actualized through the efforts of those providing care. The health of clinicians impacts patient outcomes and was deemed essential to the former triple aim for healthcare of enhancing patient experience, improving population health, and reducing costs. Alarming rates of stress among clinicians has been identified as a public health problem. While workplace and system improvements are required, at the heart of clinician health are personal practices in care-of-self, including stress management. Ironically, clinicians learn and teach patients ways to manage stress, yet they may not use these very practices for themselves. Effective, non-pharmacologic interventions need to be made available to clinicians to support their well-being. This article reports on a unique approach, Paws & Breathe®, that combines two evidenced-based stress reduction interventions, diaphragmatic breathing, and Animal Assisted Interventions. ,Paws & Breathe® is an evidence-based non-pharmacologic intervention designed to mitigate stress.
Flight Trajectory Optimization of Sailplane After Rope Break

A study was performed to characterize an optimum return trajectory for a sailplane after a rope-break failure during an aerotow launch procedure. The performance of an SGS 1-26E sailplane was simul...
Writing and the Ancient State: Early China in Comparative Perspective

Writing and the Ancient State explores the early development of writing and its relationship to the growth of political structures. The first part of the book focuses on the contribution of writing to the state's legitimating project. The second part deals with the state's use of writing in administration, analyzing both textual and archaeological evidence to reconstruct how the state used bookkeeping to allocate land, police its people, and extract taxes from them. The third part focuses on education, the state's system for replenishing its staff of scribe-officials. The first half of each part surveys evidence from Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Maya lowlands, Central Mexico, and the Andes; against this background the second half examines the evidence from China. The chief aim of this book is to shed new light on early China (from the second millennium BC through the end of the Han period, ca. 220 AD) while bringing to bear the lens of cross-cultural analysis on each of the civilizations under discussion.
Surface Analysis of Electrical Arc Residues in Fire Investigation

Fires caused by electrical shorting are difficult to identify with certainty from fire pattern analysis alone. Surface analysis techniques, such as electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and auger electron spectroscopy (AES), can be used to determine the history of an electrical short circuit by characterizing the environment in which the electrical arc residues were formed. In a fire that destroys insulation, the surface of the arc bead formed from the resultant electrical short circuit would show the presence of combustion products. If the electrical short circuit occurred before the fire had started, then arc bead analysis would show the absence of combustion products.
Intracisternal injection of apolipoprotein A-IV inhibits gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated conscious rats

Abstract Background/Aims: Fat feeding increases not only serum but also cerebrospinal fluid concentration of apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV, a protein produced mainly by the small intestine in the rat. We hypothesized that apo A-IV may have a central effect on gastric secretion. Methods: Gastric juice was collected by the pylorus ligation method. Rats underwent pylorus ligation and received intracistemal injection of apo A-IV under brief isoflurane anesthesia. Two hours after the injection, gastric juice was collected and gastric acid output determined. Results: Intracistemal injection of 0.5 μg apo A-IV had no effect on gastric secretion. However, gastric acid secretion was significantly inhibited by intracistemal injection of 1 ug apo A-IV. Furthermore, intracistemal administration of higher doses of apo A-IV (2.0 and 4.0 μg) resulted in greater inhibition of gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, 4 μg of apo A-I intracisternally injected failed to inhibit gastric acid secretion. Intraperitoneal administration of 15 μg of apo A-IV did not alter gastric secretion. Conclusions: These results suggest that apo A-IV may act in the brain to inhibit gastric acid secretion. Apo A-IV might be a central enterogastrone, which is a gastric inhibitor produced by the small intestine in response to fat feeding.
On the use of Lagrange multiplier compatible modes for controlling accuracy and stability of mixed shell finite elements

Abstract Classical hybrid-type formulations for shell finite elements can be developed from the Hellinger-Reissner virational principle combined with the use of stress basis functions which satisfy the homogeneous equilibrium equations a priori. In principle this technique can provide accurate stresses although implementation for general shell theories is challenging due to the complexity of the governing equations and the difficulty of satisfying coordinate invariance. An alternative approach is to provide independent approximations for all stress components in an extended form of the Hellinger-Reissner principle which includes additional variational constraints on the stresses to satisfy equilibrium through the use of Lagrange multipliers. The numerical stability and accuracy of the resulting formulations have a delicate dependency on the balance between the stress, displacement and Lagrange multiplier fields, but the introduction of the Lagrange multipliers provides a means of gaining control over this balance. It is shown in the context of Mindlin kinematics that the use of element-based compatible Lagrange multipliers with local bubble basis functions can lead to accurate stresses, including transverse shear stresses, and the complete elimination of transverse shear locking. Further, due to the use of uncoupled stress components, the element flexibility matrix can be inverted with minimal expense leading to an efficient procedure for the element stiffness matrix. A four-node shell element, which is proved to be numerically stable in the sense of the Babuska-Brezzi condition, is described in detail.
Incumbent firms' response to entry: Price, advertising, and new product introduction

Abstract Theoretical research shows that one of the more important determinants of entry is the anticipated response of incumbent firms. Incumbents can use price, advertising, or new products to limit or deter entry. Most empirical research however finds little support for these models. Using data from the ready-to-eat cereal industry I find that incumbents accommodate other incumbents on price and new products but use advertising to limit the scale of entry. Entrants are more likely to be met with an aggressive price response. I also find that incumbents are more likely to respond when the scale of entry is greater.
Extraskeletal soft tissue masses of Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis

Typically, soft-tissue involvement with Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the result of extension from adjacent bone marrow. We present a patient who developed soft-tissue masses of LCH, which did not arise as a result of extension from bone marrow, but instead produced extrinsic cortical erosion, preserving the marrow signal on MRI.
Application of a Fourier Restriction Theorem to Certain Families of Projections in $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$ R 3

We use a restriction theorem for Fourier transforms of fractal measures to study projections onto families of planes in $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$ whose normal directions form nondegenerate curves.
Borehole-stability analysis for the design of the first horizontal well drilled in the U. K. Southern V fields

This paper presents the method and result of a borehole-stability analysis conducted on the first horizontal well successfully drilled the North Valiant oil field in the Southern North Sea. Previous drilling data obtained from the same area were analyzed by numerical simulations of potential mechanical behavior of the wellbore. The magnitude of the in-situ horizontal stresses was determined by the analysis of fracture-stimulation data from wells in the fields. The directions of the stresses were derived from anelastic-strain-relaxation (ASR) measurements of fresh core. Effects of hole azimuth on well bore stability were evaluated. The analysis resulted in a design of optimum mud weights for maintaining borehole stability during drilling. This paper also discussed field results and well completions.
Optimization of metallic microheaters for high-speed reconfigurable silicon photonics

The strong thermooptic effect in silicon enables low-power and low-loss reconfiguration of large-scale silicon photonics. Thermal reconfiguration through the integration of metallic microheaters has been one of the more widely used reconfiguration techniques in silicon photonics. In this paper, structural and material optimizations are carried out through heat transport modeling to improve the reconfiguration speed of such devices, and the results are experimentally verified. Around 4 µs reconfiguration time are shown for the optimized structures. Moreover, sub-microsecond reconfiguration time is experimentally demonstrated through the pulsed excitation of the microheaters. The limitation of this pulsed excitation scheme is also discussed through an accurate system-level model developed for the microheater response.
Altruistic behavior in the albino rat

This experiment was designed to establish more conclusively the presence or absence of operationally defined altruistic behavior in the white rat. One animal could significantly reduce or completely alleviate another animal’s distress state (created by foot shock) by appropriate manipulation of two operant levers. “Altruistic” behavior was shown to a significant degree only by animals that had themselves experienced the same distress state. An explanation of the results, based on factors other than “instinctive” ones, is offered.
Lung Surfactant Function and Composition in Neonatal Foals and Adult Horses

Background:Lung surfactant function and composition are varied and adapted to the specific respiratory physiology of all mammalian species. Hypothesis:Lung surfactant function and composition are different in neonatal foals as compared to adult horses. Animals:Six adult horses, 7 term foals (<24 hours old), and 4 premature foals were used. Animals were part of the Auburn University teaching herd except for 3 client-owned premature foals. Methods:Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from all animals. Ultracentrifugation of cell-free BALF separated surfactant into crude surfactant pellets (CSP) and supernatant. Both fractions were analyzed for phospholipid and protein content with the Bartlett and bicinchoninic acid method, respectively. Phospholipid composition of the CSP was determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scatter detector. Surface tension of the CSP was measured with a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Results from term foals (<24 hours old) were compared statistically to those from adult horses. Values of P < .05 were considered significant. Results:BALF phospholipid content was similar between adult horses and term foals, but BALF protein content was significantly decreased in term foals. Phosphatidylglycerol was significantly decreased, phosphatidylinositol was significantly increased, and the minimum surface tension was significantly increased in the CSP from term foals compared to adult horses. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Surface tension and phospholipid composition of surfactant in neonatal foals are significantly different compared to adult horses. These changes may influence biophysical and immunologic functions of surfactant.
IRI in Windows environment

Abstract The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is a widely used model recommended for international use by URSI and COSPAR. An interface to Windows has been developed and the stand-alone IRI program is executable on PC systems using Windows 95/98 or Windows NT as the platform. This IRI-Windows version allows computation and plotting of any of the IRI parameters as function of any one or two variables: height, latitude, longitude, UT or LT time, and solar activity. The user can conveniently specify the variables and various options of the model. This paper gives a brief description of the program features and the operating procedure.
A multistage reduction technique for feedback stabilizing distributed time-lag systems

Abstract A direct pole relocation theory is advanced for linear time-invariant systems with distributed delays in both state and control variables. The principal tools of the theory include (i) the finite cardinality of the unstable spectrum; (ii) a set of matrices, each of which is a left zero of the system characteristic quasi-polynomial matrix; and (iii) a linear transformation which reduces the delay system to a sufficiently high-order delay-free system whose spectrum contains the delay system unstable spectrum. It is shown that if the delay system is spectrally stabilizable, then it shares a common feedback stabilizing control law with its delay-free counterpart. This point of contact with a delay-free system permits the determination of the control law using well-established ordinary system methods. The workability of the approach hinges on the ability to partition the unstable spectrum (augmented with additional poles from the stable spectrum, if necessary) into N symmetric sets. When this partition is impossible, a spectral controllability invariance theorem facilitates resolution of the problem.
Environmental Contaminants in Nestling Bald Eagles Produced in Montana and Wyoming

Abstract Upper-trophic level piscivores, such as Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), may be at risk of exposure to environmental contaminants in the western United States from coal-fired power plants and coal-bed methane wells. We collected 64 blood samples from nestling Bald Eagles in southeastern Montana and northwestern Wyoming during 2007–08 for analyses of heavy metals, trace elements, and organochlorine compounds. Mercury was detected in all blood samples and averaged (±SD) 0.28 ± 0.20 ppm. Most nestlings (82.8%) had concentrations near expected background levels, but 7.8% had elevated (>0.7 ppm) mercury levels. Nestlings in Wyoming ( = 0.37 ± 0.22 ppm) had higher blood mercury concentrations than nestlings from Montana ( = 0.22 ± 0.17 ppm; t31 = 3.151, P = 0.015). In Montana, nestlings sampled on Yellowstone River tributaries had lower blood mercury concentrations ( = 0.12 ± 0.10 ppm) than nestlings from the main stem of the Yellowstone River ( = 0.28 ± 0.21 ppm) and Wyoming ( = 0...
Thermal capability assessment for transformers

The reliability of transmission and distribution equipment is inevitably affected by service conditions, and particularly loading, e.g. average load, load variation, loading above nameplate rating and frequency of tap-changes. The ability of a transformer to cope with particular loading conditions will depend on the design involved. An important aspect of this design is the thermal capability of the windings. This paper describes how the National Grid Company (NGC) maximises the thermal capabilities of its transformers without sacrificing reliability by using a transformer thermal monitor and the TEFLOW2 computer program. >
Sonographic diagnosis of neutropenic typhlitis

Five immunosuppressed patients with neutropenic typhlitis were studied with sonography. In four, sonography was the imaging technique that first suggested the diagnosis. In each case, sonography showed thickening of the right colon wall (1-2.5 cm) with low- or high-level echoes. Serial sonograms were used to monitor the daily progress of the disease in two patients. Sonography appears to be a useful tool not only to detect typhlitis in patients with symptoms suggestive of the disease, but also to follow their clinical course.
Recent Developments in Application of Artificial Intelligence in Petroleum Engineering

With the recent interest and enthusiasm in the industry toward smart wells, intelligent fields, and real-time analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data for process optimization, our industry’s need for powerful, robust, and intelligent tools has significantly increased. Operations such as asset evaluation; 3D- and 4D-seismicdata interpretation; complex multilateral-drilling design and implementation; log interpretation; building of geologic models; well-test design, implementation, and interpretation; reservoir modeling; and simulation are being integrated to result in comprehensive reservoir management. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI), in its many integrated flavors from neural networks to genetic optimization to fuzzy logic, has made solid steps toward becoming more accepted in the mainstream of the oil and gas industry. In a recent set of JPT articles,1‐3 fundamentals of these technologies were discussed. This article covers some of the most recent and advanced uses of intelligent systems in our industry and discusses their potential role in our industry’s future.
Influence of top electrode design on pMUTs performance

Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) were designed, fabricated and tested to measure resonance and anti-resonance frequencies, and quality factor. Film quality was monitored via saturation polarization, remnant polarization and coercive electric field measurements in different films. Effective coupling coefficient and device efficiency are calculated based on those measured values. Single and split top electrode pMUTs designs, X and Y, respectively, are evaluated to understand the influence of top electrode design on device performance. It was found that resonance frequency decreases with an increase in membrane width. Top electrodes, smaller than the membrane width by 10 μm, show a positive effect on the effective coupling coefficient of the pMUTs. It was found that both quality factor and device efficiency are maximized when top electrode width is the same as that of membrane width. An increase in top electrode dimension beyond the membrane decreases device performance.
Chemical and Biological Evaluation of Dipeptidyl Boronic Acid Proteasome Inhibitors for Use in Prodrugs and Pro-Soft Drugs Targeting Solid Tumors

Bortezomib, a dipeptidyl boronic acid and potent inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, is remarkably effective against multiple myeloma (MM) but not against solid tumors. Dose-limiting adverse effects from "on target" inhibition of the proteasome in normal cells and tissues appear to be a key obstacle. Achieving efficacy against solid tumors therefore is likely to require making the inhibitor more selective for tumor tissue over normal tissues. The simplest strategy that might provide such tissue specificity would be to employ a tumor specific protease to release an inhibitor from a larger, noninhibitory structure. However, such release would necessarily generate an inhibitor with a free N-terminal amino group, raising a key question: Can short peptide boronic acids with N-terminal amino groups have the requisite properties to serve as warheads in prodrugs? Here we show that dipeptides of boroLeu, the smallest plausible candidates for the task, can indeed be sufficiently potent, cell-penetrating, cytotoxic, and stable to degradation by cellular peptidases to serve in this capacity.
Nine Critical Questions About Selective College Admissions

The misgivings of college faculty, college administrators, and high school counselors about selective admissions are focused on 9 issues. Data relevant to those issues reveal that: (1) prediction of grades is sufficiently accurate to be useful; (2) prediction equations from one year are sound for use in the immediately succeeding years; (3) predictions of first-year grades are related to performance over the 2-year period at a junior college and the 4-year career at a senior college; (4) there may need to be separate prediction procedures for widely different majors, such as science and nonscience; (5) accurate predictions can be made before the student has completed high school; (6) the nonacademic courses students take do not reduce prediction accuracy; (7) introduction of selectivity has not been found to decrease diversity in educational opportunity; (8) grading practices in an institution will tend to fluctuate with the degree of selectivity; and (9) procedures are available to set admissions cutoffs, to provide students with sound counseling information, and to provide a second chance for those who do net meet minimum admissions standards.
A model for continental crust genesis by arc accretion: rare earth element evidence from the Irish Caledonides

Abstract The formation of continental crust is a complex problem with a paradox at its center: continental material is believed to form by arc magmatism, a model that does not reconcile the bulk mafic and light rare earth element (LREE)-depleted composition of intra-oceanic arcs with the andesitic, LREE-enriched composition of continents. We present evidence supporting an arc origin for continental crust by demonstrating significant changes in magmatic chemistry during arc–continent collision. We use as an example the Connemara region of the western Irish Caledonides, where metamorphism and orogenesis of Dalradian sedimentary sequences record the collision of the oceanic Lough Nafooey Arc with the passive margin of Laurentia at ∼475 Ma (Arenig). This arc was mafic and LREE-depleted during its oceanic activity. During collision, rhyolites more LREE-enriched than the surrounding continental crust were erupted, while the mid-crust was intruded by similarly LREE-enriched gabbro and diorite. Crystal fractionation caused LREE enrichment to exceed that expected by assimilation of continental crust alone. We propose that subsequent loss of the corresponding lower crustal cumulates into the mantle removed this LREE-depleted material from the net crust added to the continent. The combined processes of crystal fractionation and lower crustal loss during arc–continent collision drive the average bulk arc composition toward that of average continental crust.
Analysis of “off” latency in insect photoreceptors

Abstract 1. 1. “Off” latency from the compound eye of the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus , was an inverse function of light stimulus intensity and duration. 2. 2. Latency for the “off” response to a 125 msec test stimulus (S 2 ) was also an inverse function of adapting stimulus (S 1 ) intensity and duration. This supports the hypothesis that “off” latency to a stimulus is determined by the effects of light adaptation generated during that stimulus.