cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Test Driven Design Methodology for Component-Based System

For modern systems there is growing proof that serial/traditional approaches, such as the traditional waterfall model and model driven architecture, are ineffective and development lifecycles need to be iterative and incremental. In this presentation, we discuss the iterative and incremental approach for software design methodology called test driven design (TDD). The TDD development cycle starts with the requirement specification and therefore captures defects much earlier in the development cycle. TDD requires that no production code be written until first a unit test is written. We compare TDD with the traditional methods and describe in detail the TDD method. We cover continuous integration, acceptance testing, system wide testing for each iteration, test frameworks, cost of change, ROI, benefits and limitations of the new test driven design and provide evidence from industry that TDD leads to higher programmer productivity with higher code quality. The future work investigations will extend the reach and effectiveness of TDD by using latest technologies to generate tests from message sequence charts and generating code thru use of a model compiler leading to an advanced test driven design methodology. Further investigations will also look at the concurrency issues by use of LTSA (labelled transition analyzer) technology.
The PADL-1.0/2 system for defining and displaying solid objects

PADL (Part and Assembly Description Language) is a language for defining solid objects via constructive solid geometry, i.e. as (regularized) set-theoretical compositions of primitive solid “building blocks”. The current processor for Version 1.0 of the language accepts PADL statements either in batch or in keyboard-interactive mode and produces line drawings of objects on CRT's and plotting devices. A variety of drawing styles is available: dimensioned orthographics, perspectives, section views, interference drawings, etc.Novel characteristics of the PADL-1.0/2 system include 1) general combinational operators that may be applied to any part defined in PADL, 2) correct handling of “pathologies” that occur when (for example) two objects have partially coincident boundaries, 3) maintenance of consistent multiple representations of the same object, and 4) automatic posting on drawings of dimensions to reflect user-defined geometric relations between features of objects.This paper provides an overview of both the language and the current processor's capabilities and organization. Detailed discussions of the underlying mathematics, algorithms, and implementation are presented elsewhere.
A hybrid iterative method for symmetric indefinite linear systems

Hybrid iterative methods that combine a conjugate direction method with a simpler iteration scheme, such as Chebyshev or Richardson iteration, were first proposed in the 1950s. The ease with which Chebyshev and Richardson iteration can be implemented efficiently on a large variety of computer architectures has in recent years lead to renewed interest in iterative methods that use Chebyshev or Richardson iteration. This paper presents a new hybrid iterative method for the solution of linear systems of equations with a symmetric indefinite matrix. Our method combines the conjugate residual method with Richardson iteration. Special attention is paid to the determination of two real intervals, one on each side of the origin, that contain most of the eigenvalues of the matrix. These intervals are used to compute suitable iteration parameters for Richardson iteration. We also discuss when to switch between the methods. The hybrid scheme typically uses the Richardson method for most iterations, and this reduces the number of arithmetic vector operations significantly compared with the number of arithmetic vector operations required when only the conjugate residual method is used. Computed examples illustrate the competitiveness of the hybrid scheme.
Validation of an electronic anti-fouling technology in a single-tube heat exchanger

Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the validity of an electronic anti-fouling (EAF) technology in the mitigation of precipitation fouling in a once-through flow system with a single-tube heat exchanger. Effects of flow velocity and water hardness on the effectiveness of the EAF technology were experimentally studied. The water hardness varied from 7.5 to 10 mol m −3 as CaCO 3 . For both 7.5 and 10 mol m −3 solutions, the EAF treatment reduced fouling resistance by 20–38% at a flow velocity between 0.52 and 0.78 m s −1 . As the velocity decreased to 0.28 m s −1 , the EAF treatment was not helpful in reducing fouling. SEM photographs of scale produced from the 10 mol m −3 solution at 0.78 m s −1 indicated that calcium carbonate scales without the EAF treatment were needle-shaped aragonite, which is sticky, dense, and difficult to remove. Scales with the EAF treatment showed a cluster of elliptic shape crystals. Both the heat transfer test results and SEM photographs obtained in the present study support the validity of the EAF technology in mitigating precipitation fouling.
An intelligent disassembly assistant for man-machine demanufacturing

In order to handle the complexity of demanufacturing operations, a combined man-machine system is proposed that incorporates projector-vision technology. As part of this system, an intelligent disassembly assistant has been developed to provide a flexible and efficient method for facilitating demanufacturing. The assistant is comprised of a set of software modules that are processed in a distributed computing environment. Hardware and software components of the intelligent assistant are identified. The assistant determines the base elements of the structure, checks for stability, and then determines a disassembly sequence. The projector-vision system provides information to a human operator and detects operations performed on the product. The system can adapt to unexpected human operator behavior
Effect of small shape changes on the optical response of highly symmetric silicon quantum dots

Ellipsoidal quantum dot structures are proposed and studied with ab inito calculations. A comparison of the formation energy with spherical partners shows small differences. However, electronic and optical properties are distinct. Because electronic states have different sensitivities to aspect ratio changes, selected frontier orbitals are driven into the gap and an overall level shifting allows for absorption in the visible range. Our result shows the importance of both size and shape for the gap engineering of silicon quantum dots.
Incorporating uncertainty about species' potential distributions under climate change into the selection of conservation areas with a case study from the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

This analysis presents a conservation planning framework for decisions under uncertainty and applies it to the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Uncertainty arises from variable distributional shifts of species’ ranges due to climate change. The planning framework consists of a two-stage optimization model that selects a nominal conservation area network in the first stage and evaluates its performance under the climate scenarios in the second stage. The model is applied to eleven at-risk species in Alaska including the threatened Spectacled Eider and Steller’s Eider sea ducks and the polar bear. The 109th United States Congress and 2008 federal budget proposed opening for oil and gas development the ‘‘1002 Area’’ of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which intersects the Plain. This analysis finds that, if Arctic Alaska experiences 1.5 � C of warming by 2040 (as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s A2 scenario), then potential habitat will decrease significantly for eight of these at-risk species, including the polar bear. This analysis also shows that there is synergism between oil and gas development and climate change. For instance, climate change accompanied by no development of the 1002 Area results in an increase of potential habitat for Steller’s Eider. However, if development accompanies climate change, then there is a 20% decrease in that area. Further, this analysis quantifies the tradeoff between development and maintenance of suitable habitat for at-risk species.
Designing Mechanisms for the Management of Carrier Alliances

When cargo carriers form an alliance, sharing network capacity in order to improve profitability, a key issue is how to provide incentive for carriers to make decisions that are optimal for the alliance as a whole. We propose a mechanism that allocates both alliance resources and profits by appropriately setting resource prices. Clearly, it is important to understand the impact of these prices on the behavior of an individual carrier. We analyze the performance of our mechanism using a modeling approach that makes use of realistic control parameters, investigating theoretical and practical properties of profit allocations obtained. Experimental results confirm that our proposed mechanism is robust with respect to variability in alliance composition and cargo demand, yielding solutions that retain a high proportion of optimal profit and achieve a stable distribution of revenue across members of the alliance. We also study an alternative modeling approach in which we assume that each carrier can make load selection decisions for other carriers. We find that changing assumptions about the degree of carrier control can significantly impact the feasibility of routing decisions made by individual carriers when operating under our mechanism, as well as the properties of the profit allocations.
Applied psychophysiology : Exclusions and inclusions

Mark Schwartz has done a fine job in a systematic attempt to define applied psychophysiology. The present author disagrees on a few points concerning what areas will be included and what areas excluded from Schwatz's definition of this term.
Plasma catecholamines in normal pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated by mild chronic hypertension.

Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured throughout pregnancy in an ambulatory population of normal and untreated chronically hypertensive pregnant women. There was no significant difference between trimesters for plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, or the ratio epinephrine/norepinephrine in either the normal or chronically hypertensive group. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women with chronic hypertension demonstrated a significantly higher plasma norepinephrine and a significantly lower epinephrine/ norepinephrine ratio than normal women.
The Topology of Large-Scale Engineering Problem-Solving Networks

The last few years have led to a series of discoveries that uncovered statistical properties, which are common to a variety of diverse real-world social, information, biological and technological networks. The goal of the present paper is to investigate, for the first time, the statistical properties of networks of people engaged in distributed problem solving and discuss their significance. We show that problem-solving networks have properties (sparseness, small world, scaling regimes) that are like those displayed by information, biological and technological networks. More importantly, we demonstrate a previously unreported difference between the distribution of incoming and outgoing links of directed networks. Specifically, the incoming link distributions have sharp cutoffs that are substantially lower than those of the outgoing link distributions (sometimes the outgoing cutoffs are not even present). This asymmetry can be explained by considering the dynamical interactions that take place in distributed problem solving, and may be related to differences between the actor's capacity to process information provided by others and the actor's capacity to transmit information over the network. We conjecture that the asymmetric link distribution is likely to hold for other human or non-human directed networks as well when nodes represent information processing/using elements.
Chronic exposure to a trichloroethylene metabolite in autoimmune-prone MRL+/+ mice promotes immune modulation and alopecia.

The industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widespread environmental contaminant known to impact the immune system. In the present study, female MRL+/+ mice were treated for 40 weeks with trichloroacetaldehyde hydrate (TCAH), a metabolite of TCE, in the drinking water. The results were compared with the data from an earlier study in which MRL+/+ mice were exposed to TCAH for 4 weeks. Following a 40-week exposure, the mice developed skin inflammation and dose-dependent alopecia. In addition, TCAH appeared to modulate the CD4 + T-cell subset by promoting the expression of an activated/effector (i.e., CD62L lo ) phenotype with an increased capacity to secrete the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-g. However, unlike what was observed after only 4 weeks of exposure, TCAH did not significantly attenuate activation-induced cell death (AICD) or the expression of the death receptor FasL in CD4 + T cells. Some metalloproteinases (MMPs) are thought to play a role in susceptibility to AICD by inducing FasL shedding. Thus, both the 4- and 40-week sera were tested for MMP-7 levels in an attempt to explain the disparate results of TCAH on AICD and FasL expression. Serum MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in mice exposed to TCAH for 4 weeks. In contrast, the serum MMP-7 levels were increased in all the mice by 40 weeks when compared with a nonautoimmune strain. Taken together, a chronic exposure to TCAH promotes alopecia and skin inflammation. The early effects of TCAH on MMP-7 levels may provide a mechanism by which TCAH promotes skin pathology.
A Blueprint for IMF Reform: More than just a Lender*

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in the throes of an existential crisis. Emerging markets have accumulated international reserves several times the Greenspan–Guidotti benchmark of the value of short-term foreign debt in order to guarantee that they will never again have to procure assistance from the Fund. The ASEAN13 countries have committed to transforming the Chiang Mai Initiative of bilateral swaps and credits into a regional reserve pool to ensure that if Asian countries again require financial
Language in its Cultural Embedding: Explorations in the Relativity of Signs and Sign Systems

Language in its Cultural Embedding: Explorations in the Relativity of Signs and Sign Systems. Harald Haarmann. Studies in Anthropological Linguistics, 4. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1990. 276 pp. DM 148 (cloth)
The active metabolite of leflunomide, an immunosuppressive agent, reduces mechanical sensitivity in a rat mononeuropathy model

Recent work has supported a key role for spinal cytokines and glial activation in the development and maintenance of persistent neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. This study was undertaken to determine whether the active metabolite of leflunomide (A77 1726), an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent, could attenuate persistent mechanical allodynia in a rodent L5 spinal nerve transection model. A77 1726 was administered daily intraperitoneally (0.01 to 10 mg/kg) beginning 1 day before nerve transection. In a separate experiment, A77 1726 was administered daily intrathecally (0.001 to 10 microg in 40 microL) beginning 1 hour before nerve transection. Both systemic and centrally administered A77 1726 significantly reduced mechanical allodynia across the time course of the study (P < .05). A77 1726 attenuated glial activation on day 10 after transection at doses that reduced mechanical sensitivity. In addition, central A77 1726 administration decreased spinal expression of major histocompatibility complex class II. Spinal interleukin-6 levels were unaffected by A77 1726 treatment. This study provides further evidence implicating a contribution of spinal glial activation in the development and maintenance of persistent neuropathic pain. Furthermore, this study reports that systemic and central administration of the active metabolite of leflunomide, an immunosuppressive agent used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, produces an antiallodynic action in a rodent mononeuropathy model.
Dislocation Image Stresses at Free Surfaces by the Finite Element Method

The finite element method has been routinely used to calculate the image stresses of dislocation segments. When these segments intersect with surfaces, the image stresses at the surfaces diverge singularly. At the presence of these singularities, both convergence and accuracy of using the finite element method need to be examined critically. This article addresses these issues with the aim toward the application of dislocation dynamics simulations in thin films.
Investigation of shrinkage behaviour and cracks in cement paste using moiré interferometry

This paper focuses on using the cure reference method (CRM), which was previously developed for the measurement of residual strains in composites, to determine the shrinkage that develops in cement...
A study on the number of memory ports in multiple instruction issue machines

One of the key design concerns of multiple instruction issue (MII) processors is deciding how many memory ports need to be provided, considering performance and efficiency of the target processor. For an MII processor that exploits instruction-level parallelism (ILP) in non-numerical code, this decision is difficult to make due to its irregularity. The authors perform an empirical study aimed at characterizing a suitable MII organization that best exploits irregular ILP. The study is based on the selective scheduling compiler that performs precise memory disambiguation for concurrent execution of multiple memory operations, along with renaming, speculation, and software pipelining. The result indicates that a small number of memory ports (i.e. less than half of the issue rate) is enough for exploiting most of irregular ILP. The authors also examine related issues such as the utilization of memory ports and additional data cache misses caused by speculative loads. >
Electrical breakdown of polypropylene filled with natural clay as nanomaterial

This study presents the breakdown behavior of polypropylene filled with a various concentrations of nano-size natural clay. The concentrations of natural clay by weight were 0 %, 2 %and 6 % in polypropylene. For different concentrations of natural clay each specimen was subjected to a sinusoidal voltage waveform at power frequency with a certain ramp rate to a level where a breakdown occurred. The rms voltage at the breakdown was considered as the breakdown voltage of the sample. The mean dielectric strength improved about 3.5 % for the nanocomposite with 2 % of natural clay concentration in the host polypropylene. However, the improvement on the mean dielectric strength of the nanocomposite with 6 %concentration of natural clay appeared to be little more than 1 % when compared with 2 % concentration of natural clay in the host. This implies that there exits an optimum concentration of nanosize natural clay in polypropylene. Also observed was the increase of the dielectric strength of the materials with the increase of the ramp rate of the applied voltage.
Mini 12, miniature mass spectrometer for clinical and other applications--introduction and characterization.

A benchtop miniature mass spectrometer system, Mini 12, with ambient ionization source and tandem mass spectrometry capabilities has been developed and characterized. This instrument was developed as a self-contained system to produce quantitative results for unprocessed samples of small volumes including nonvolatile analytes. The ion processing system, vacuum system, and control system are detailed. An integrated sample loading system facilitates automated operation. A user interface has been developed to acquire and to interpret analytical results for personnel who have limited mass spectrometry knowledge. Peak widths of Δm/z 0.6 Th (full width at half-maximum) and a mass range of up to m/z 900 are demonstrated with the rectilinear ion trap mass analyzer. Multistage experiments up to MS5 are accomplished. Consumable cartridges have been designed for use in ambient paper spray ionization, and the recently developed extraction spray ionization method has been employed to improve the quantitative performan...
Closed Bases and Closure Logic

Expose des techniques topologiques qui permettent d'analyser les relations logiques entre nos affirmations et nos croyances, independamment de leur forme syntaxique et semantique. A l'aide des espaces de cloture finitaire, de la consistance maximale, des bases closes et de l'expressivite, il devient possible d'appliquer des categories topologiques aux classes de la logique modale
Quantifying the patterns and dynamics of river deltas under conditions of steady forcing and relative sea level rise

Understanding deltaic channel dynamics is essential to acquiring knowledge on how deltas respond to environmental changes, as channels control the distribution of water, sediment, and nutrients. Channel-resolving morphodynamic models provide the basis for quantitative study of channel-scale dynamics, but they need to be properly assessed with a set of robust metrics able to quantitatively characterize delta patterns and dynamics before being used as predictive tools. In this work we use metrics developed in the context of delta formation, to assess the morphodynamic results of DeltaRCM, a parcel-based cellular model for delta formation and evolution. By comparing model results to theoretical predictions and field and experimental observations, we show that DeltaRCM captures the geometric growth characteristics of deltas such as fractality of channel network, spatial distribution of wet and dry surfaces, and temporal dynamics of channel-scale processes such as the decay of channel planform correlation. After evaluating the ability of DeltaRCM to produce delta patterns and dynamics at the scale of channel processes, we use the model to predict the deltaic response to relative sea level rise (RSLR). We show that uniform subsidence and absolute sea level rise have similar effects on delta evolution and cause intensified channel branching. Channel network fractality and channel mobility increase with higher-RSLR rates, while the spatial and temporal scales of avulsion events decrease, resulting in smaller sand bodies in the stratigraphy. Our modeling results provide the first set of quantitative predictions of the effects of RSLR on river deltas with a specific focus on the distributary channel network.
Recent Developments in Carbon Fibers and Carbon Nanotube-Based Fibers: A Review

ABSTRACTCarbon fibers are a very vast topic to discuss in a limited space such as this review paper. Nevertheless, we herein attempt to provide a succinct summary of current research in carbon fibers (CF), especially carbon nanotube (CNT) based CFs. A brief introduction to CFs with respect to precursors, characterization techniques, and applications is presented. Following discussion on different commercially used CF precursors, is a description of the latest new precursors being researched. While finding new low-cost precursors has been a focus of recent research, large scale production of CFs from these new materials is not being realized at the present time. CNTs have received a great deal of attention due to their unique structure and properties. So CNTs and CNT-based CFs or carbon yarns (CYs) are discussed. In addition to providing a brief overview of different methods of providing CNTs, physical and electronic properties of CNTs are discussed. The major focus of this review is CNT based composite fi...
Demonstration of an 8.85 nm gain-saturated table-top soft x-ray laser and lasing down to 7.4 nm

We report the efficient generation of a gain-saturated 8.85 nm wavelength table-top soft x-ray laser operating at 1 Hz repetition rate and the observation of lasing at wavelengths as short as 7.36 nm in lanthanide ions.
Development situation and countermeasures on Guangdong hog industry in the first half of 2015

In the first half of 2015,pig market of Guangdong province first declined then was up. Hog industry developed steadily,but growth rate was slow. In marketing,hog price had a small increase compared with the same period of last year,the pig grain ratio stayed stably in the green normal area in June. With the impact of hog price rising,pig breeding efficiency achieved profitability in the first half of 2015. The paper mainly analyzed the cost efficiency and later trend of pig market,provided some strategies and suggestions for dealing with high breeding cost,short pig period,and multiple situation of epidemic disease,in order to better promote the healthy development of hog industry in Guangdong.
Transforaminal approach for cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula embolization

A transverse sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) not easily accessible by standard transfemoral (transarterial or transvenous) endovascular approaches is presented. An enlarged transosseous retromastoid foramen harboring the occipital artery branch feeding the lesion was identified on CT angiogram (CTA). Curative Onyx embolization was achieved via percutaneous CT-guided direct puncture of the transosseous occipital arterial branch followed by microcatheter navigation through the needle distally towards the site of the fistula.
Evaluation of the irritancy and hypersensitivity potential following topical application of didecyldimethylammonium chloride.

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is a dialkyl-quaternary ammonium compound that is used in numerous products for its bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal properties. There have been clinic...
Provenance evolution during progressive rifting and hyperextension using bedrock and detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, Mauléon Basin, western Pyrenees

The responses of sedimentary systems to rifting at continental margins are three-dimensional and involve the mixing of various sediment sources through tectonic drivers and sediment response. Such sedimentary responses have not been well studied along magma-poor, hyperextended margins where the crust is stretched and thinned to ≤10 km. The asymmetric Mauleon Basin of the western Pyrenees is the product of such magma-poor hyperextension resulting from lateral rift propagation from the Bay of Biscay during Cretaceous time. After rifting, limited shortening during Cenozoic Pyrenean inversion uplifted the basin, resulting in preservation of outcrops of rift basin fill, upper and lower crustal sections, serpentinized lithospheric mantle, and basic rift-fault relationships. In this study ~5800 new zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from prerift, synrift, and postrift strata; the ages constrain the proximal to distal evolution of the Mauleon Basin and define a general model for sediment routing during rifting. Zircon U-Pb analyses from lower crustal granulites indicate that granulite plutons crystallized at 279 ± 2 and 274 ± 2 Ma, and paragneissic granulites yielded zircon rim ages of ca. 295 Ma. Detrital zircon U-Pb ages from western Pyrenean prerift strata show age modes of ca. 615 and ca. 1000 Ma, suggesting continual recycling and/or well-mixed Gondwanan-sourced sediments throughout the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic; additional Paleozoic age components (ca. 300 and ca. 480 Ma) are also observed. The variation of detrital zircon U-Pb ages in synrift and postrift strata illustrates that during rifting, provenance varied spatially and temporally, and sediment routing switched from being regionally, to locally, and then back to regionally derived within individual structurally controlled subbasins.
INTERFEROMETER FOR ATOMS

We have demonstrated an atom interferometer made from three 400 nm period transmission gratings. Sodium atoms with deBroglie wavelength 0.016 nm displayed an interference signal of 70 Hz on a 300 Hz background.
Ceramic-Metal Composite Filler for Thermally Conductive Underfill

Effective thermal transport is one of the bottlenecks for the development of next-generation IC packages. In this report, we use a thermally conductive yet electrically insulating metal-ceramic hybrid filler of aluminum-aluminum oxide to study the thermal enhancement in epoxy-based underfill material. Metallic aluminum has thermal conductivity of 237 W/m·K, and here we report our study on the effect of inter-filler interactions on the thermal performance of epoxy composites. By having fillers to covalently bond with each other in a percolated filler network, relative thermal conductivity of nearly 900% is obtained. This work demonstrates the effect of inter-filler bonding for thermal enhancement considerations, which can be further applied to fillers with higher thermal conductivities for greater thermal enhancement.
Realizing a security aware triple modular redundancy scheme for robust integrated circuits

Hardware Trojans are malicious alterations in Integrated Circuits (ICs) which are covertly inserted by third party IC manufacturers. Hardware Trojans can leak confidential information or disable the entire IC. The detection of these Trojans is performed through logic or side channel based testing. The detection sensitivity of these methodologies depends on the placement and the size of the Trojans. In this work, we present a probabilistic model for ICs that produces useful diagnostic results to understand the placement of the stealthiest Trojans. Using this information, we propose a selective Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) scheme to mask the effect of Trojans along with transient errors, thereby realizing a security aware reliability model. The diagnostic results from the presented Probabilistic Model (PM) provide helpful information for TMR placement that can address the effects of both Trojan and transient error on the primary outputs. We show that for a given circuit with random input probability distribution, the unpredictable equally probable outputs which are vulnerable to errors will also be vulnerable to Trojans. Therefore for both security and reliability, we propose that TMR should be implemented on the paths that lead to equally probable primary outputs. The presence of TMR either forces the adversary to place the Trojan on the path leading to biased outputs or to place at least two copies of the Trojan on the path leading to equally probable outputs. The former will increase the detection sensitivity for logic based testing, and the later will increase the detection sensitivity for side channel based testing.
What Can We Do? An American Renaissance Predicated on Communicative Idealism

This chapter suggests that despite the adverse and severe attacks on our civic foundations, an era of renewal and political renaissance is possible. Historically, America has overcome worse instances of incivility, and all past predictions of imminent demise have proven false thus far. An ethic of communication idealism can take hold and reverse the spiral of cynicism dominating our politics. Communicative idealism is the practical ability of human beings to end strategic silences that enable and encourage human harm. Discursive complexity is the capacity of an individual, group, or society to consider and entertain multiple points of view. Open-mindedness allows us to be creative and consider alternatives and can lift humanity out of despair and harm. Cynicism is its own worst enemy.
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: A Framework for Structuring Remedial Decisions at Contaminated Sites

Decision-making in environmental projects is typically a complex and confusing exercise, characterized by trade-offs between socio-political, environmental, and economic impacts. Cost-benefit analyses are often used, occasionally in concert with comparative risk assessment, to choose between competing project alternatives. The selection of appropriate remedial and abatement policies for contaminated sites, land-use planning and other regulatory decision-making problems for contaminated sites involves multiple criteria such as cost, benefit, environmental impact, safety, and risk. Some of these criteria cannot easily be condensed into a monetary value, which complicates the integration problem inherent to making comparisons and trade-offs. Even if it were possible to convert criteria rankings into a common unit this approach would not always be desirable since stakeholder preferences may be lost in the process. Furthermore, environmental concerns often involve ethical and moral principles that may not be related to any economic use or value.
Socialization in Adolescence

Research on socialization in adolescence has focused mainly on three broad questions. First, to what extent are adolescents influenced by different agents of socialization, such as the family or peer group? Second, which aspects of adolescent development (e.g., school performance, drug use, prosocial behavior) are most influenced by these various socialization agents? Finally, what characteristics of individuals (e.g., age, gender, upbringing) make them more or less susceptible to different sources of influence? This article provides a brief history of research on socialization in adolescence, a discussion of several challenges that confront researchers interested in the study of adolescent socialization, and an overview of major research themes in the study of adolescent socialization in the family, peer group, and other social institutions.
Conditional C-Myc Inactivation Impacts on Chromosomal Translocation Mechanisms and B Lymphomagenesis

Abstract 5238 The requirement for Myc oncogenes in cellular transformation and tumor progression in human cancers has been studied extensively. Others and we have shown that the spontaneous development and progression of B lymphomas involving translocations that activate c-Myc can be faithfully recapitulated in model systems. However, for other oncogenes that are the predominant translocation targets in hematopoietic malignancies in humans, such as Bcl6 , animal models that spontaneously promote translocations involving them are still lacking. Importantly, the molecular basis for the recurrence of particular oncogene translocations remains undefined. We have shown that a breakdown in DNA double strand break (DSB) repair resulting from conditionally inactivating the essential non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair gene XRCC4 in p53 (XcP) deficient mature B cells reproducibly leads to the development of mature B lymphomas. These lymphomas, termed CD21/XcP, routinely harbor a clonal translocation that fuses IgH switch (S) regions to exon 1 of c-Myc , which we showed are formed by the aberrant repair of AID-induced DSBs during IgH Class Switch Recombination (CSR). These lymphomas harbor also a second clonal translocation that fuses the Igl locus into various chromosomal locations, including c-Myc , which our studies showed were formed by aberrant V(D)J recombination. Juxtaposition of Ig heavy chain (IgH) sequences to the c-Myc oncogene is one of the most extensively modeled and well-studied translocations. It is a hallmark of Burkitts Lymphoma, a subset of other B lymphomas. By limiting or eliminating c-Myc via conditional c-Myc inactivation in peripheral naive and GC B cells in wildtype, p53 deficient and combined XRCC4 and p53 deficient settings, our studies reveal new insights into normal, functional requirements for C-myc in peripheral B lymphocytes, selection mechanisms underlying its activation in B lymphomagenesis, and the identification of new oncogenic translocation partners resulting from its inactivation in the CD21/XcP model. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Patient-centered care in small primary care practices in New York city: Recognition versus reality

Background The Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) is a program administered by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to help primary care providers adopt a fully functional electronic health record (EHR) and focus on population health. PCIP also offers practices assistance with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition application. The objectives of this study were to assess the presence of key dimensions of PCMH among PCIP practices with 5 or fewer providers and to determine whether and to what extent NCQA recognition was related to the presence of these dimensions. Methods Analyses relied on data collected from a comprehensive practice assessment survey of PCIP practices administered in summer 2012. The survey was developed to assess discrete dimensions of the PCMH model and other practice characteristics. The study population includes practices for which survey results were available among PCIP practices with 5 or fewer providers (63% response rate; n = 83). Results At the time of survey, 57% of practices had received some level of NCQA recognition (n = 47). Practices with recognition scored significantly higher on several dimensions, including whole person orientation, team-based care, care coordination and integration, and quality and safety. Conclusions Results indicate that very small urban practices in New York City are implementing many key features of PCMH. In general, practices with NCQA recognition scored higher on PCMH constructs and domains relative to practices without recognition; however, there is room for improvement on construct and domain scores in both groups.
Development of capillary liquid chromatography: A personal perspective

This is a historical account on the development of capillary LC from its beginning to the present day. The first investigations into the viability of capillary LC date back to the late 1970s, a decade after the pioneering efforts in HPLC. The drastically reduced column dimensions were required to counter the slow solute diffusion in liquids. There were numerous instrumental difficulties with sample introduction and detection in the picoliter or even femtoliter volumes. High-efficiency separations were needed in the analysis of complex biological mixtures. Miniaturization brought distinct advantages in spectroscopic and electrochemical detection. Since the 1980s, column technologies underwent significant changes: (a) from glass-drawn microcapillaries to slurry-packed, small-diameter fused silica columns; and (b) in microcapillaries packed alternatively with sub-2-μm particles or monoliths. The viability of LC-MS combination has dramatically promoted the use of small-diameter capillaries. Through "omics technologies", capillary LC/tandem MS accounts for most applications in proteomics, glycomics and metabolomics.
Bleaching and Hydroprocessing of Algal Biomass-Derived Lipids to Produce Renewable Diesel Fuel

Algal lipids represent a promising feedstock for production of renewable diesel, but there is little information available regarding the integration of pretreatment, extraction, and catalytic upgrading steps. In this work, we examined oil bleaching by two methods and the effects of bleaching on oil deoxygenation over Pd/C and hydroisomerization over Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts. The raw oil was completely deoxygenated and 90% denitrogenated after dilution to 25 wt % in hexanes. The bleaching operations (using either a polar adsorbent or concentrated H3PO4) removed 85–90% of the nitrogen and led to 95–99% nitrogen removal after deoxygenation. Oil processability was also improved by bleaching. The bulk chemistry of the deoxygenation and isomerization was not strongly affected by bleaching, as post-isomerization products with cloud points less than −10 °C and boiling ranges within or close to specification for No. 2 diesel fuel were obtained through 10 h time on stream with or without bleaching.
49 Engaging parents with injury prevention communication: a teen distracted driving prevention study

The effectiveness of increased targeting of health communications in engaging parents in distracted driving prevention is unknown. This study aimed to compare website engagement and requests for a parent-teen distracted driving prevention kit before and after increased targeting of digital promotion and social media posts.Kohls Drive Smart is a distracted driving prevention program for parents and teens from a level one paediatric trauma program. A digital campaign targeted on age, gender, and interests was deployed to attract viewers to the website. Modalities included Facebook posts, streaming video and banner ads on websites frequented by parents. Engagement data was collected before (YR1) and after (YR2) increased targeting. Impressions, website click through rate (CTR), visit duration and pages per session are reported by age group and digital platform. Parent-teen driving kit requests are reported by month. Program data were collected from July 2015 through February 2017. Impressions and CTR increased year 2 (15,743,030; 0.41%) over year 1 (14,561,628; 0.30%), from 64 872 vs. 44 343 clicks respectively. In year 2, US media drove 42 097 website sessions, averaging 1.86 pages per session (up 54% over year 1). Average visit duration increased 849% in year 2 over year 1 (4.54 minutes vs. 30 s, respectively). Year 2 over year 1 Teen Kit orders increased 39%. Parent search re-targeting and contextual placement in digital advertising matched with seasonal timing was more effective in attracting parents to the website and holding their attention, than general messaging and geotargeting. A seasonal, parent-targeted call to action was more effective than general posts in social media engagement and parent action in year 2 of the Kohl’s Drive Smart campaign. Messaging around distracted driving prevention is normally highly generalised. More precise parent targeting can increase parent engagement with program media and increase effectiveness of a call to action.
Primary care provider management of patients with obesity at an integrated health network: A survey of practices, views, and knowledge

Abstract Background Obesity is a serious health problem that affects a wide range of patients and disease processes. Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceptions, knowledge, and practice habits of primary care providers (PCPs) regarding the care of patients with obesity, including barriers to effective care and their experience with bariatric surgery in our integrated health network. Setting Integrated health network. Methods A 16-question survey was distributed electronically to 160 PCPs at our integrated health network. Results were analyzed to identify attitudes, knowledge, practice habits, and bariatric surgery referral patterns while treating patients with obesity. Results Among 160 PCPs, 45 (28.1%) responded. Specialty, sex, patient population, insurance accepted, and practice years of PCPs were reported. Most PCPs reported "always" calculating patient body mass index (88.9%) with only 13.3% "always" discussing the body mass index results. Respondents most frequently prescribed diet and exercise to patients with obesity and rarely prescribed medications, with bariatric surgery referrals falling between the two. PCPs viewed management of obesity as the responsibility of the patient (97.6%) and the PCP (100%). Ninety-three percent felt obesity is a common diagnosis in their practice, but no one correctly identified the prevalence of obesity in our region. Respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding medical consequences of obesity. A majority was able to identify the correct eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery, as well specific medical problems that can improve or be eliminated postoperatively. While 61.9% of respondents were aware of free weight loss and bariatric informational sessions offered, 28.6% reported that they were unfamiliar with existing bariatric surgeons. One respondent was not aware of any bariatric surgery performed. Some PCPs reported prior negative experiences with post-bariatric surgery patients, and thus were hesitant to refer additional patients. Conclusions PCPs report discussing an obesity diagnosis with patients but are not always using body mass index in that discussion. They most often prescribe lifestyle modification as treatment for patients, which they believe to be most effective to treat obesity. However, they report only one third of their patients are motivated to lose weight. Additionally, they demonstrate appropriate knowledge of indications and benefits of bariatric surgery. A majority of the PCPs is aware of weight loss informational sessions and bariatric services provided within our integrated health network, but almost one third were unable to identify a surgeon, a possible target for improved relationships. Barriers to care include patient motivation and insurance coverage.
Developing and diagnosing climate change indicators of regional aerosol optical properties.

Given the importance of aerosol particles to radiative transfer via aerosol-radiation interactions, a methodology for tracking and diagnosing causes of temporal changes in regional-scale aerosol populations is illustrated. The aerosol optical properties tracked include estimates of total columnar burden (aerosol optical depth, AOD), dominant size mode (Angstrom exponent, AE), and relative magnitude of radiation scattering versus absorption (single scattering albedo, SSA), along with metrics of the structure of the spatial field of these properties. Over well-defined regions of North America, there are generally negative temporal trends in mean and extreme AOD, and SSA. These are consistent with lower aerosol burdens and transition towards a relatively absorbing aerosol, driven primarily by declining sulfur dioxide emissions. Conversely, more remote regions are characterized by increasing mean and extreme AOD that is attributed to increased local wildfire emissions and long-range (transcontinental) transport. Regional and national reductions in anthropogenic emissions of aerosol precursors are leading to declining spatial autocorrelation in the aerosol fields and increased importance of local anthropogenic emissions in dictating aerosol burdens. However, synoptic types associated with high aerosol burdens are intensifying (becoming more warm and humid), and thus changes in synoptic meteorology may be offsetting aerosol burden reductions associated with emissions legislation.
Clinicopathological and 123I‐FP‐CIT SPECT correlations in patients with dementia

The relationship between clinicopathologic diagnosis and 123I-FP-CIT SPECT in 18 patients with dementia (12 with Lewy body disease) from one center in the United States was assessed. The sensitivity and specificity of abnormal 123I-FP-CIT SPECT with reduced striatal uptake on visual inspection for predicting Lewy body disease were 91.7% and 83.3%, respectively. The mean calculated putamen to occipital ratio (mPOR) based on regions of interest was significantly reduced in Lewy body disease compared to non-Lewy body disease cases (P = 0.002). In this study, abnormal 123I-FP-CIT SPECT was strongly associated with underlying Lewy body disease pathology, supporting the utility of 123I-FP-CIT SPECT in the clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.
Direct Digital Control

The topic of Direct Digital Control (DDC) is described here as a distinct concept. It is important to distinguish between the Energy Management and Control System (EMCS) which has been described as a computer, and DDC which is a method of processing and control. DDC control strategies are employed by many EMC systems today and they serve to enhance the control sophistication of these systems.