cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Residence times and alluvial architecture of a sediment superslug in response to different flow regimes

Abstract A superslug was deposited in a basin in the Colorado Front Range Mountains as a consequence of an extreme flood following a wildfire disturbance in 1996. The subsequent evolution of this superslug was measured by repeat topographic surveys (31 surveys from 1996 through 2014) of 18 cross sections approximately uniformly spaced over 1500 m immediately above the basin outlet. These surveys allowed the identification within the superslug of chronostratigraphic units deposited and eroded by different geomorphic processes in response to different flow regimes. Over the time period of the study, the superslug went through aggradation, incision, and stabilization phases that were controlled by a shift in geomorphic processes from generally short-duration, episodic, large-magnitude floods that deposited new chronostratigraphic units to long-duration processes that eroded units. These phases were not contemporaneous at each channel cross section, which resulted in a complex response that preserved different chronostratigraphic units at each channel cross section having, in general, two dominant types of alluvial architecture—laminar and fragmented. Age and transit-time distributions for these two alluvial architectures evolved with time since the extreme flood. Because of the complex shape of the distributions they were best modeled by two-parameter Weibull functions. The Weibull scale parameter approximated the median age of the distributions, and the Weibull shape parameter generally had a linear relation that increased with time since the extreme flood. Additional results indicated that deposition of new chronostratigraphic units can be represented by a power-law frequency distribution, and that the erosion of units decreases with depth of burial to a limiting depth. These relations can be used to model other situations with different flow regimes where vertical aggradation and incision are dominant processes, to predict the residence time of possible contaminated sediment stored in channels or on floodplains, and to provide insight into the interpretation of recent or ancient fluvial deposits.
Effects of epidermal growth factor on neonatal pancreatic growth in the guinea pig

EGF and/or transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) are likely to be important in the rapid pancreatic growth that occurs in the neonatal guinea pig. Rapid pancreatic growth is observed during the neonatal period in the guinea pig. The growth factors that are involved are not known but may include members of the EGF family. Mini-osmotic pumps were implanted on the day of birth for continuous infusion of EGF (30 μg/d). Pancreatic DNA, RNA, and protein contents were determined at 4 and 15 d, along with wet weights of the pancreas, duodenum, jejunoileum, colon, and gallbladder. Pancreatic EGF and TGF-α concentrations were measured in adult controls, in control neonates at 1, 4, 8, and 15 d, and also at d 4 and 15 in guinea pigs receiving either EGF or the cholecystokinin receptor antagonist devazepide (25 nmol/kg/h). EGF infusion significantly increased the weight of the stomach and duodenum at 4 d and all the gastrointestinal organs, including the pancreas, at 15 d. Exogenous EGF increased pancreatic DNA, RNA, and protein content at 4 and 15 d. Endogenous EGF and TGF-α concentrations in the pancreas were significantly higher at birth than in adults (P<0.001 andP<0.01, respectively) and declined during the first 2 wk postpartum. At 15 d, EGF concentrations remained significantly higher than adult levels (P<0.01), but TGF-α concentrations had declined to adult values. Infusion of EGF decreased concentrations of endogenous EGF in the pancreas at 4 and 15 d (bothP<0.05) and decreased TGF-α concentrations at 4 d (P<0.001). Devazepide infusion caused a significant decrease in endogenous pancreatic EGF concentrations at 15 d (P<0.05).
Expanded psychrometric landscapes for radiant cooling and natural ventilation system design and optimization

Abstract Maintaining the thermal comfort of building occupants is a challenge typically negotiated by air based heating and cooling systems that rigidly maintain supply air temperatures and humidity levels. Such a practice overlooks several other design variables, including the mean radiant temperature, TMRT, which is responsible for a significant portion of an occupant's thermal comfort, or air velocity, vair . The increased deployment of low exergy cooling strategies such as evaporative cooling and radiant cooling allows temperature potentials to be efficiently and effiectively leveraged. However, the precise execution and subsequent control of these potentials in air based or radiant systems is driven by incomplete empirically based standards, removing heuristic guiding. Deciding where system setpoints should be for systems that go beyond simple air based cooling is difficult to arrive at through intuition and current metrics, as the inclusion and modulation of other thermal comfort variables such as air velocity, skin temperature, skin wettedness and metabolic rate are not entirely independent variables. The focus of this research is to approach thermal comfort with an occupant-centered stance, comparing heat loss through primary modes of heat transfer generated by an occupant's metabolic rate. In doing so, the holistic integration of all comfort variables currently missing from the literature opens a window into an integrated design landscape including air temperature, TMRT, and relative humidity as the relevant independent variables for thermal comfort. Building on the array of low exergy building systems with integrated evaporative and radiative cooling systems in the literature, this new landscape will be presented as a tool for assessing a new radiant cooling system.
Costa Rica: The Challenges of Maintaining Universalism in a Strong State

Chapter 6, the final country case-study chapter, focuses on Costa Rica, the quintessential “strong state” in health. Costa Rica distinguished itself from many other Latin American countries by being a leader in terms of both initiatives and outcomes in health and other social domains. Touted as a story of “health without wealth,” it boasts life expectancies and an epidemiological profile more similar to those of advanced welfare states than its regional neighbors. However, it has faced difficulties in the continued financing of its universal system which draws from employer, employee, and government subsidies for the poor. Because of increasing costs associated with chronic illnesses and new medical technologies, the Caja (Costa Rican Social Security agency) has found itself needing to readjust its structure because of budget deficits. The challenge for the Costa Rican health system is maintaining (rather than establishing) universal coverage, and it has drawn on World Bank funds for some of its most important reforms, including the creation of primary health teams and centers (EBAIS) in the mid-1990s. This chapter demonstrates that even strong states in health—with high autonomy and capacity—face challenges, particularly budgetary constraints because of recessions and the changing landscape of diseases and health technology. Harkening to the theoretical framework of the book this chapter demonstrates that even, or perhaps especially, in strong states, with solidary, redistributive health systems, the market can offer some solutions to inefficiencies. The World Bank and other international financial institutions can play helpful advisory and funding roles even in such strong states, given increasing health care costs, extended life expectancies, and the increased prevalence of chronic diseases.
Communication system design for magnetic induction-based Wireless Body Area Network

Technological advancement has enabled the realization of wireless sensor networks working around the human body. Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a network of biosensors and computing devices that collect bio signals from the human body for medical or non-medical applications. There are various wireless technologies available for WBANs, among which magnetic induction (MI) is a novel and promising physical layer. For MI communication system design, several parameters should be selected including the operating frequency. Several other key factors affect the system design such as geometry, relative distance and orientation of coils, background medium, etc. In this paper we propose a procedure for MI system design, and optimization for various parameters. Considering the constraints and relative location of coils, the best operating frequency and its corresponding parameters are defined.
Adhesion-related failure mechanisms in micromechanical devices

Adhesion-related failures occur in microelectromechanical systems(MEMS) when suspended elastic members unexpectedly stick totheir substrates. This type of device failure is one of thedominant sources of yield loss in MEMS. This paper reviews thephysical mechanisms responsible for the failure from both the theoretical and practical stand point. In general, the failurerequires two different phenomena. First (a) the device must besubject to a force sufficiently strong to collapse the elasticmember thus bringing it in contact with the substrate. (b) Aftercontact is established and the force removed, the intersolidadhesion must exceed the elastic member restoring force hence keeping the device permanently pinned to the substrate. Both ofthese problems develop during the device fabrication as well asduring the device operation. Normalized elastic member dimensionbounds for prevention of collapse and pinning are presented. Thefailure rate can also be reduced using a wide variety ofprocessing, surface treatment, and physical schemes. These are discussed in regard to their practical applicability.
Association between Obesity, Surgical Route, and Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with Uterine Cancer

Objective. To study temporal trends of hysterectomy routes performed for uterine cancer and their associations with body mass index (BMI) and perioperative morbidity. Methods. A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) 2005-2013 databases was conducted. All patients who were 18 years old and older with a diagnosis of uterine cancer and underwent hysterectomy were identified using ICD-9-CM and CPT codes. Surgical route was classified into four groups: total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) including both conventional and robotically assisted. Patients were then stratified according to BMI. Results. 7199 records were included in the study. TLH was the most commonly performed route of hysterectomy regardless of BMI, with proportions of 50.9%, 48.9%, 50.4%, and 51.2% in ideal, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients, respectively. The median operative time for TAH was 2.2 hours compared to 2.7 hours for TLH ( < 0.01). Conclusion. During the last decade, TLH has been increasingly performed in women with uterine cancer. The increased adoption of TLH was seen in all BMI subgroups.
Deconstructing and Decoding Complex Process Diagrams in University Biology

This chapter explores a type of external representation used widely in biology instruction but rarely in physics and chemistry (Griffard, Decoding of visual narratives used in university biology. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2010a). Complex process diagrams are static images composed of pictures, icons, and symbols that represent a dynamic biological system or process involving numerous structures interacting at multiple levels of organization in a temporal sequence and thus can be considered as multiple external representations (MERs). Deconstruction of such diagrams reveals how graphic designers layer shapes, color, arrows, and text and use devices such as shading, telescoping, and distortions of scale to represent the many structures interacting in that process. Because of the information demands of such representation, graphic designers “reduce chaos” (D. Mikhael, personal communication, May 30, 2010) with respect to number, position, color, and prominence of icons and symbols, requiring learners to correctly infer the implicit meanings imbedded among the explicit elements of the diagram. Such inference may require special dimensions of representational competence. Research findings on how premedical students decoded information-dense process diagrams identified procedural skills and habits used by successful biology learners, which inform several recommendations for teaching with complex process diagrams. The ubiquity of these diagrams in university biology teaching and research suggests that such diagrams present unique pedagogical challenges.
EQUILIBRIUM, STABILITY, AND PRICE ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPETITIVE MARKETS

Publisher Summary In extreme examples of nonstochastic, competitive exchange economies, price making with optimization provides a motivation for the choice of prices, and prices may depend on both characteristics of agents in the economy and characteristics of the trading process. As to consumers, with an optimizing price mechanism, they clearly benefit in the Scarf economy, as otherwise, trades are never consummated, and even when noncompetitive prices are chosen, they do not necessarily suffer relative to the choice of competitive prices. The outcomes for consumers tend to be favorable as even though markets need not clear each period, all or most excess demands are eventually satisfied so that markets tend to clear, or nearly clear, on the average. This outcome is a consequence of the fact that nonzero market excess demands are undesirable to price makers in that such positions are associated with trading costs that induce efforts to manage the inventory and the backlog to reduce costs without unduly reducing revenue.
THE INFLUENCE OF PROJECTILE NOSE SHAPE ON THE SHOCK PHASE OF IMPACT

The effect of projectile nose shape on penetration is examined numerically using the wavecode CTH. In particular, the impact of a tungsten alloy long rod projectile into a 4340 steel target is investigated for three different nose shapes: blunt, hemispherical, and conical. The impact pressures are such that erosion of the projectile begins immediately upon impact. The decays of the shocks are examined, as are the resulting material flow fields. Later-time effects are also explored, such as whether the nose shape actually affects penetration, and how long each case takes to arrive at a steady-state flow configuration in which the tungsten-steel interface is completely determined by eroding plastic flow.
The Discrete Distribution of Zero-Point Isotropic Elastic Shear Moduli of the Elements

The finite distortional deformation modes and their transition properties are characterized by the integer r. What is of interest in the present chapter is the closely related experimental fact that the zeropoint isotropic elastic shear moduli μ (0) are also distributed in a similar discrete pattern among the elements.
Thrombin and Factor Xa Uptake and Inhibition by Cultured Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells, Smooth Muscle Cells, and Rat Hepatoma Cells

The inhibition of thrombin as well as of factor Xa has been thought to occur in plasma primarily through the neutralizing action of the serine protease inhibitor antithrombin III (AT-III). However, inhibition of thrombin and Xa by this mechanism may not be sufficient for effective elimination of these clotting factors in states of increased coagulation activity. The potential role of the vascular endothelium in the inhibition of clotting factor activities has therefore received attention in recent years. In the case of thrombin, it has been postulated that this occurs through binding to the endothelial cells, at least in part through surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as heparin sulfate, which could serve as AT-III cofactor on the endothelial surface.
Mortality in US veterans with pulmonary hypertension: a retrospective analysis of survival by subtype and baseline factors

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) occurs when the pulmonary vasculature is itself diseased or becomes affected secondarily by comorbid conditions, commonly left heart or lung disease. The high prevalence of chronic cardiopulmonary conditions among patients served by Veterans Health Administration (VHA) suggests this population may be particularly susceptible to PH. We sought to identify clinical features and outcomes in veterans diagnosed with PH. We utilized the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse to identify veterans diagnosed between January 1, 2003 and September 30, 2015, assess relevant patient characteristics and their survival time. The effects of PH subtype and baseline factors on outcome were estimated by Cox modeling. There were 110,564 veterans diagnosed with PH during the study period. These veterans were predominantly male, had median age 70.2, and had a high burden of comorbid conditions. PH was frequently due to left heart and/or lung disease. Average survival after PH diagnosis was 3.88 years. Compared with other types, PH due to left heart disease, lung disease or both had shorter survival. This large retrospective study of veterans demonstrates the significance of PH due to left heart and/or lung disease which was common and had high risk of death. Multi-comorbidity was common and added to risk. These findings underscore the need for risk assessment tools for subjects with non-Group 1 PH and novel management strategies to improve their outcome. This study details the largest retrospective cohort assembled for evaluation of secondary PH and allows hypothesis-generating inquiries into these common conditions that are rarely prospectively studied.
Esclavitud y libertad en tiempos de guerra: Respuestas de los negros al sitio británico de La Habana (1762-63)

This article evaluates the British siege and occupation of Havana (1762-1763) as an event in the history of the African diaspora and racial slavery in the Atlantic world. People of African descent made up half the population of Cuba at this time, and played a central role in the events of the invasion and occupation. This paper draws upon archival sources in the U.S., Britain, Jamaica, Cuba, and Spain to investigate how the men and women of an interconnected African diaspora responded to this imperial conflict.
Medicaid Expansion Did not Improve Time to Treatment for Young Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Introduction The absence of health insurance coverage has been associated with worse outcomes for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Medicaid expansion in the United States was an important provision of the Affordable Care Act, which increased the number of low-income individuals eligible for Medicaid starting in January 2014 in several states. The effect of Medicaid expansion on access to healthcare for patients with mRCC is unknown. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 6844 patients aged Results The rate of no insurance did not change in the expansion states compared with the nonexpansion states (DID, −0.55%; 95% confidence interval, −3.32% to 2.21%; P = .7). The percentage of patients receiving treatment within 60 days of diagnosis had increased in the expansion states from 43% to 49% and in the nonexpansion states from 42% to 46% after expansion. No change was found in treatment within 60 days of diagnosis among all patients (DID, 2.81%; 95% confidence interval, −2.61% to 8.22%; P = .3). Conclusions Medicaid expansion was not associated with improved healthcare access for patients with mRCC as reflected by timely treatment. Future work should assess the association between Medicaid expansion and oncologic outcomes.
Modelling CAR T-cell Therapy with Patient Preconditioning

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapies for the treatment of several blood cancers in 2017, and efforts are underway to broaden CAR T technology to address other cancer types. Standard treatment protocols incorporate a preconditioning regimen of lymphodepleting chemotherapy prior to CAR T-cell infusion. However, the connection between preconditioning regimens and patient outcomes is still not fully understood. Optimizing patient preconditioning plans and reducing the CAR T-cell dose necessary for achieving remission could make therapy safer. In this paper, we test treatment regimens consisting of sequential administration of chemotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy on a system of differential equations that models the tumor-immune interaction. We use numerical simulations of treatment plans from within the scope of current medical practice to assess the effect of preconditioning plans on the success of CAR T-cell therapy. Model results affirm clinical observations that preconditioning can be crucial for some patients, not just to reduce side effects, but to even achieve remission at all. We demonstrate that preconditioning plans using the same CAR T-cell dose and the same total concentration of chemotherapy can lead to different patient outcomes due to different delivery schedules. Results from sensitivity analysis of the model parameters suggest that making small improvements in the effectiveness of CAR T-cells in attacking cancer cells, rather than targeting the recruitment and longevity of CAR T-cells, will significantly reduce the minimum dose required for successful treatment. Our modeling framework represents a starting point for evaluating the efficacy of patient preconditioning in the context of CAR T-cell therapy.
The Trump and Putin Doctrines: Evolving Great Power Tensions Between the United States and Russia

This chapter analyzes changing United States–Russia relationship since the election of Donald Trump in 2016. It does so through the dual lenses of the “Trump Doctrine” and the “Putin Doctrine” and asks three questions: First, according to Trump and Putin, how ought the international order be structured? Second, how are Trump and Putin challenging the international order? And third, how are they challenging each other? The first two sections introduce the Trump Doctrine as laid out in the first chapter in this volume (Renshon 2020), and then compare/contrast it with the Putin Doctrine. Some key points include Putin’s opposition to US global dominance, his determination to reestablish Russia as a global great power, and his willingness to use any tools possible to achieve those goals. The chapter concludes by presenting policies the United States has adopted, and could adopt, to protect US national interest vis-a-vis the Putin Doctrine.
Old and new data sources and methods for interest group research

This article reviews the literature featuring quantitative interest group research at the national and subnational level in the United States. We direct scholars to existing resources and techniques. Additionally, we make recommendations on methods and discuss the limitations of prevailing measures. The appropriate measure is driven by the research question and data availability. However, since money is a central resource in politics, every attempt should be made to include organization or sector financial resources when investigating the relative strength of groups in policymaking.
Implementing a 32 x 32 2D Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) Array Incorporating Silicon-Through-Glass-Via (Si-TGV) Interconnects

A 2D transducer array is an essential component of an ultrasound system with 3D beamforming capability. CMUT technology has enabled the possibility of developing complex transducer geometries for different applications. In this work, we demonstrate the fabrication of a 32x32-element 2D CMUT array on a glass substrate using silicon through-glass-via interconnects. Introducing silicon vias in glass substrate enables improvement in fabrication yield. Preliminary results show the successful demonstration of the proposed fabrication process. The fabricated vacuum-sealed devices show a resonant frequency of 4.7 MHz in air.
The current state of prenatal detection of genetic conditions in congenital heart defects

The incidence of congenital heart defect (CHD) has increased over the past fifty years, partly attributed to routine fetal anatomical examination by sonography during obstetric care and improvements in ultrasound technology and technique. Fetal findings on ultrasound in addition to maternal biomarkers are the backbone of first- and second-trimester screening for common genetic conditions, namely aneuploidy. Since the introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using next-generation sequencing to sequence cell-free fetal DNA, the detection rate of common trisomies as well as sex chromosomal aneuploidies have markedly increased. As the use of NIPT continues to broaden, the best means of incorporating NIPT into prenatal care is less clear and complicated by misunderstanding of the limitations and non-diagnostic role of NIPT by clinicians and families. In other advancements in prenatal genetic testing, recommendations on the role of chromosomal microarray (CMA) for prenatal diagnosis has led to its increasing use to identify genetic conditions in fetuses diagnosed with CHD. Lastly, as whole exome sequencing (WES) becomes more available and affordable, the next clinical application of next-generation sequencing in prenatal diagnostic testing is on the horizon. While newer genetic tests may provide answers in terms of genetic diagnosis, even more questions will likely ensue for clinicians, researchers, and parents. The objective of this review is to provide the perspective of the evolution of maternal and fetal obstetric care against the backdrop of advancing genetic technology and its impact on families and clinicians.
Information Technology as an Enabler of Supply Chain Collaboration: A Dynamic-Capabilities Perspective

Despite substantial information technology (IT) investments, many organizations have failed to obtain hoped-for improvements in supply chain (SC) performance. Therefore, we investigate the mechanisms through which IT influences SC performance. Specifically, we use the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm to ascertain how IT can be exploited to obtain a distinctive SC advantage. We do this via a multimethod (survey and case-study) approach at two periods of time. We use a nested structural equation model (SEM) to test six hypotheses. Likewise, we content analyze interviews to contextualize the SEM findings. Importantly, we find that investments in IT make their greatest competitive contribution when they enable a dynamic SC collaboration capability. The findings provide valuable insight to guide IT investments designed to improve SC performance.
Egypt and the Desert

Deserts, the Red Land, bracket the narrow strip of alluvial Black Land that borders the Nile. Networks of desert roads ascended to the high desert from the Nile Valley, providing access to the mineral wealth and Red Sea ports of the Eastern Desert, the oasis depressions and trade networks of the Western Desert. A historical perspective from the Predynastic through the Roman Periods highlights how developments in the Nile Valley altered the Egyptian administration and exploitation of the deserts. For the ancient Egyptians, the deserts were a living landscape, and at numerous points along the desert roads, the ancient Egyptians employed rock art and rock inscriptions to create and mark places. Such sites provide considerable evidence for the origin of writing in northeast Africa, the religious significance of the desert and expressions of personal piety, and the development of the early alphabet.
Why Geographically-Targeted Spending Under Closed-List Proportional Representation Favors Marginal Districts

Abstract Research on geographically-targeted spending under closed-list proportional representation (CLPR) is characterized by debate over whether ruling parties target core supporters or swing voters. We show that when CLPR is used in multiple districts and separate competitions are conducted in each, parties can reverse the formula through which votes are converted into seats to calculate how many additional votes they need to capture an additional seat. This enables parties to rank districts according to how close they are to winning an additional seat. We then show that under divisor-based formulae, parties will find they need fewer additional votes to capture another seat in districts where they captured fewer seats (‘marginal districts’). We posit that in these systems, ruling parties will steer geographically-targeted spending toward marginal PR districts and we present evidence of this from Japan.
A Hetero-Functional Graph Resilience Analysis of the Future American Electric Power System

As climate change takes hold in the $21^{st}$ century, it places an impetus to decarbonize the American Electric Power System with renewable energy resources. There is a broad technical consensus that these renewable energy resources cannot be integrated alone but rather require a host of profound changes in the electric grid’s architecture; including meshed distribution lines, and energy storage solutions. One question that arises is whether these three types of mitigation measures required by decarbonization will also serve as adaptation measures when the climate changes and extreme weather phenomena become more prevalent. Consequently, this paper presents a structural resilience analysis of the American electric power system that incrementally incorporates these architectural changes in the future. Building upon a preliminary study, the analysis draws on an emerging hetero-functional graph theory based upon the inter-connectedness of a system’s capabilities. The hetero-functional graph analysis confirms our formal graph understandings from network science in terms of cumulative degree distributions and traditional attack vulnerability measures. The paper goes on to show that hetero-functional graphs relative to formal graphs more precisely describe the changes in functionality associated with the addition of distributed generation and energy storage as the grid evolves to a decarbonized architecture. Finally, it demonstrates that the addition of all three types of mitigation measures enhance the grid’s structural resilience; even in the presence of disruptive random and targeted attacks. The paper concludes that there is no structural trade-off between grid sustainability and resilience enhancements and that these strategic goals can be pursued simultaneously.
Shared Understanding in Care Coordination for Children's Behavioral Health

Care coordination involves crossing boundaries to connect services in support of the health and well-being of an individual. In this paper, we describe how care coordination depends on the ability to develop a shared understanding of care goals and progress. A distributed group of professionals and non-professional caregivers need to share information to provide consistent and holistic support across settings. We conducted fieldwork comprising of 20 interviews and 51 hours of observation across three different programs focused on children's behavioral health. From this empirical investigation of practices used by distributed care teams, we generated a conceptual framework of shared understanding in care coordination. We identified barriers to shared understanding, as well as nine practices that contribute to its development via two key mechanisms: (1) building relationships across boundaries, and (2) sharing actionable information. We conclude with design implications for enhancing the collaborative practices of members of a care team to cross boundaries despite the barriers that are common in behavioral health and other contexts requiring complex care coordination.
Intracoronary Stent Restenosis

Despite contemporary drug-eluting stent (DES) technology, intracoronary stent restenosis (ISR) occurs in up to 10% of patients, increasing with intervention of complex lesions. The presentation of ISR is still challenging for optimal treatment [1].
Interference Mitigation in Satellite Communications

One of the major concerns in the design and performance of satellite communications links is the possible effects of interference on the communications link. This chapter reviews the types of interference affecting satellite communications and provides several specific analysis tools and parameters used to quantify interference and mitigate its effects on system performance. Understanding the source of the interference is the first step in developing mitigation techniques for interference avoidance or reduction. Interference signals can be introduced to the satellite system through several propagation conditions (or mechanisms) that may be present in the region of the satellite link. The presence of unwanted signals on the radio frequency (RF) link produces the potential for interference degradations on the performance of the satellite network. The primary parameter involved in the evaluation of interference is the power flux density (pfd).
Abstract PO-004: Basal-like, Classical A, and Classical B subtypes of pancreatic cancer show distinct immuno-suppressive molecular profiles

With recent advances in distinguishing Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) subtypes based on transcriptional profiles, it is becoming clear that different subtypes have distinct therapeutic responses– e.g. Basal-like tumors tend to show less response to chemotherapy than Classical tumors. Here, we asked if the Basal-like, Classical A, and Classical B PDAC subtypes show distinct immuno-suppressive molecular profiles of relevance for targeted immunotherapy of PDAC. Toward this goal, we leveraged two large, public sequencing cohorts – TCGA and ICGC. To accommodate the large variation in cell type composition among the tumors across these cohorts, we applied the novel expression deconvolution (XDec) method to computationally deconvolute the bulk RNA-seq profiles. The method identified cell-type composition of each tumor and identified distinct Basal-like, Classical A, and Classical B subtypes, thus allowing classification of each tumor based on the state of its constituent cancer cell fraction. We further extended the method to also infer cell-type specific gene expression for each tumor sample and to identify correlation of cell-type specific gene expression levels across cohorts. Using the extended method, we determined that Basal-like cancer cells are CD274 high, Classical B cancer cell CD274 expression correlated strongly with MSLN and RELA (a recently proposed mechanism controlling PD-L1), and Classical A cancer cells had low CD274 expression. Because heterotypic interactions may also contribute toward an immuno-suppressive microenvironment, we next correlated expression levels between cancer and stromal cell types. Cancer cell MSLN expression correlated strongly with stromal CD274 expression which also correlated with stromal IFNGR1 and IFNγ. Using co-culture experiments we validated the causative relationship between cancer cell MSLN and stromal INFGR1 and CD274. Taken together, our results suggest that PDAC subtypes have distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities, with Basal-like and MSLN-high Classical B patients more likely to respond to PD-L1 targeting therapies. Moreover, we provided a methodological advance by extending the XDec method and by making it web-accessible, thus allowing the community to derive hypotheses testable in cell line models by performing correlations of cell-type specific gene expression levels deconvoluted from bulk RNA-seq profiles of PDAC patient tumors. Citation Format: Emily L. LaPlante, Dongliang Liu, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Qizhi Yao. Basal-like, Classical A, and Classical B subtypes of pancreatic cancer show distinct immuno-suppressive molecular profiles [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-004.
Leadership and motivation in Africa and the African Diaspora (LEAD): Summary and Epilogue

This paper consolidates and summarizes the findings of the preceding three empirical papers in the LEAD special issue. A research framework is offered that reflects the research approach followed to date and that incorporates the Ubuntu leadership philosophy as an antecedent for explaining certain leader attributes and behaviours. The research framework also serves as a vehicle against which to examine the quantitative data resulting from the future administration of a quantitative survey in the next phase of the LEAD research project. The paper concludes with the presentation of several propositions to stimulate thinking and to serve as initial guides for future research. Copyright © 2014 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Resume Le present article consolide et resume les resultats des trois articles empiriques precedents du numero special consacre au projet LEAD. Le cadre de recherche qu'il propose met en evidence l'approche scientifique privilegiee jusqu'a ce jour. Cette approche s'appuie sur la philosophie de leadership inspiree de l'Ubuntu pour rendre compte de certains attributs et comportements des leaders. Notre cadre de recherche permet aussi d'examiner les donnees quantitatives qui resulteront de l'enquete qualitative entreprise pendant la prochaine phase du projet de recherche LEAD. L'article s'acheve par la presentation de plusieurs propositions visant a stimuler la reflexion et a orienter les etapes preliminaires des recherches futures. Copyright © 2014 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Processing Schedules Using Distributed Ontologies on the Semantic Web

The Semantic Web uses formal distributed ontologies for representing relationships among concepts in the real world. A structured framework such as this allows agents to peruse and reason about published knowledge without the need for scrapers, information agents, and centralized ontologies. However, in order to process any information, an agent must be familiar with the underlying ontology used to markup that information. However, no single agent can be expected to be familiar with all possible ontologies that may be available on the Semantic Web. Therefore, translation services that transform concepts defined within previously unknown ontologies into known concepts allow agents to understand the available information and hence achieve their goal. This transformation may be achieved by invoking specific markup translation services or by logical reasoning through other shared ontologies. The RETSINA Calendar Agent (RCal) is a Distributed Meeting Scheduling Agent that processes schedules marked up on the Semantic Web, and imports them into the user's Personal Information Manager. Translation services, which are used to translate unknown concepts into known concepts, which are located using a DAML-S based service discovery mechanisms. In this paper, we present RCal, and demonstrate how it extracts and uses meaningful knowledge from the semantic markup. In addition, we describe how web-service discovery mechanisms are used when new concepts are encountered.
The experimental electron mean-free-path in Si under typical (S)TEM conditions.

The electron mean-free-path in Si was measured by EELS using the test structure with the certified dimensions as a calibration standard. In a good agreement with the previous CBED measurements, the mean-free-path is 150 nm for 200 keV and 179 nm for 300 keV energy of primary electrons at large collection angles. These values are accurately predicted by the model of Iakoubovskii et al. while the model of Malis et al. incorporated in common microscopy software underestimates the mean-free-path by 15% at least. Correspondingly, the thickness of TEM samples reported in many studies of the Si-based materials last decades might be noticeably underestimated.
Differentiation of the observed low frequency (1200 MHz) EPR signals in whole human teeth

Abstract We have determined the properties of the various signals that are observed in vivo so this information can be used to develop procedures for data acquisition and data analysis that will enable the accurate determination of radiation-induced dose with a resolution of 50 cGy. Using the 1200 MHz in vivo EPR spectrometer and isolated human teeth, we found four types of signals whose properties overlap, but also have some distinct properties that can be exploited to resolve them. The intrinsic background signal in human teeth differs modestly from the radiation-induced signal in g-factor, shape, and power saturation. Random noise from instrumental conditions can be reduced with signal averaging. The microphonic signal varies with the particular experimental setup and has some properties similar to real EPR signals, but is constant if the conditions are not changed. It can be suppressed by improvements in hardware and software, or subtracted.
Interaction and coalescence of drops and bubbles rising through a tube

An experimental study of the interaction and coalescence of two drops (of the same fluid) or bubbles translating under the action of buoyancy in a cylindrical tube is performed. The close approach of two Newtonian drops or bubbles of different size in a Newtonian continuous phase is examined using image analysis, and measurements of the coalescence time are reported for various drop size ratios, Bond numbers, and drop to suspending fluid viscosity ratios. The time scale for coalescence in the non-axisymmetric configuration is found to be substantially larger than that for coalescence in the axisymmetric configuration. Experimental measurements of the radius of the liquid film between the two drops are used in conjunction with a simple film-drainage model to predict the dependence of the coalescence time on the drop size ratio. The agreement between the model predictions and the experimental measurements is satisfactory for axisymmetric coalescence in the low viscosity ratio systems. For the systems with O...
Stimulus control and modeling strategies for controlling urban dog litter

Abstract Dog litter in areas not only damages the esthetic quality of a community but also poses a serious health problem. The present paper explored several behavioral strategies directed at ameliorating this litter problem in a major metropolitan area. Two studies indicated that stimulus control techniques (i.e., surrounding specific target areas with 0.3-m posts connected by string) effectively eliminated dog droppings. These studies, however, had no impact on reducing overall rates of community dog litter. Two other behavioral studies focused on prompting dog owners to pick up their dogs' droppings. These latter dog intervention projects brought about considerable reductions in dog litter in two urban areas. One of these interventions was implemented by university research assistants, whereas the other was carried out by trained community residents. Follow-up evaluations indicated that gains were maintained in both projects, although the intervention utilizing community residents as prompters evidenced a greater reduction in overall community litter.
Diagnostic inference in performance evaluation: effects of cause and event covariation and similarity*

. This study experimentally tests some implications of psychological diagnostic inference theories and begins to extend these theories into a performance evaluation context. Subjects, who were required to assume the role of a manufacturing division manager, were asked to estimate the likelihoods of four potential causes of an assembly department's labor efficiency variance. The subjects were asked to reevaluate their causal likelihoods following: 1) evidence concerning the magnitude of the labor variance and the deviations of the four potential causes from their normal levels (similarity evidence) and 2) evidence concerning the covariation of a potential cause, and labor efficiency variances over the past five years (covariation evidence). The results generally confirmed a set of hypotheses predicting the effects of cause/event similarity and covariation upon individuals' causal inferences. Implications of these results for accounting information systems design are discussed in a concluding section. Resume. Cette etude teste, au moyen d'une experience, quelques-unes des conclusions des theories d'inference diagnostique psychologique et amorce l'application de ces theories dans un contexte d'evaluation de la performance. Les sujets, qui devaient assumer le role de directeur d'une division de fabrication, ont ete invites a estimer les probabilites de quatre causes possibles de l'ecart de rendement sur main-d'œuvre d'un atelier d'assemblage. Les sujets furent invites a reevaluer leurs probabilites causales selon: 1) des informations relatives a l'ampleur de l'ecart sur main-d'œuvre et a la dispersion des quatre causes potentielles par rapport a leur niveau normal (preuve de similitude) et 2) des informations relatives a la co-variation d'une cause potentielle, et aux ecarts de rendement sur maind'œuvre des cinq dernieres annees (preuve de co-variation). De facon generale, les resultats confirment l'ensemble des hypotheses prevoyant les effets de similitude et de co-variation cause/evenement sur les inferences causales des individus. Les consequences de ces resultats sur la conception des systemes d'information comptable sont examinees dans la conclusion.
Mobilization of lipid and carbohydrate reserves in the migratory grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes

. The North American migratory grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes Fabricius (Orthoptera: Acrididae) exhibits heritable variation in predisposition to make long-duration flights, and performance of long-duration flight enhances reproductive output. As a first step in understanding the physiological basis of these phenomena, we examined the mobilization of lipid and carbohydrate reserves during flight and in response to injection of extracts of the corpora cardiaca. Extract of conspecific corpora cardiaca elevates the concentration of haemolymph lipid. Both synthetic locust adipokinetic hormone I (AKH I) and synthetic Locusta migratoria AKH II raise the concentration of lipid in the haemolymph. However, although AKH I is more active than AKH II in locusts, dose-response curves for the two peptides are similar in M.sanguinipes. Neither extract of conspecific corpora cardiaca nor locust AKH I affects haemolymph carbohydrate in this species. Haemolymph carbohydrate and total glycogen reserves are Diminished by tethered flight; in contrast, haemolymph lipid is elevated by flight. Grasshoppers identified as presumptive migrants or non-migrants do not differ significantly in body composition. Total lipid reserves did not decrease measurably after extended flight, even though total reserves of carbohydrate do not appear to be sufficient to maintain the durations of flight performed.
Neural network approach to power system security

A neural network approach to power system's static security analysis Is presented. This security analysis includes both security assessment and enhancement. For security assessment, a three-layer feedlorward network has been developed for a small 5-bus system. This network represents the nonlinear nature of the power system accurately enough to identify severe security violations. The momentum method was used to train the network. For security control(enhancement) of power systems, a recurrent network approach Is proposed to replace the existing expert system technique. Given an insecure operating state, the proposed approach will produce the operating points which result in a secure operation of the system. The preliminary results Indicate that neural network approach (given neural network hardware availability) can be used for on-line security analysis in a power system's control center enviroment.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.