cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Called up to the big leagues: an examination of the factors affecting the location of minor league baseball teams.

In this study we analyze the factors that determine whether a particular city has a minor league baseball team and the level at which that team competes. Using the generalized ordered logit model we determine that higher population, personal income, and time from nearest Major League Baseball team all have a positive effect on the city’s having a minor league baseball team and having one at a higher level. The finding that personal income has a positive effect on the level of the baseball team, combined with past studies suggesting income does not affect minor league baseball attendance, leads us to conclude that higher income fans cannot take off more time to attend baseball games but want a higher quality product when they do attend. Rankings of the most over-represented and under-represented cities, based on the model, are presented.
A new error analysis based method for tolerance computation for algorithm-based checks

Algorithm based techniques are based on checking for the preservation of certain properties possessed by global data following a set of computations. This often involves the introduction of a check variable which is updated in such a manner that, in the absence of roundoff errors, it equals the value of some function which involves all the data elements participating in the algorithm. However, roundoff errors accumulate in different ways in the updates involving the check variables and the computations involving data elements; this makes it highly unlikely that the equality is preserved exactly for an implementation of the algorithm on a real computer. Thus, the check step involves verifying the preservation of the equality to within a tolerance value. We propose a method for determination of the tolerance based on error analysis techniques. We present results on three numerical algorithms which show the effectiveness of our approach for data sets of varying sizes and data ranges.
La Liga Filipina: Rizal and institutional change

A long-standing tradition in economics contends that “institutions matter" for long-run growth. Whether defined as “rules of the game” or a “system of social factors,” institutions ultimately affect the cost of exchange and production that, in turn, influences economic performance. This paper shows that Rizal, by establishing La Liga Filipina, endeavored to create the conditions toward institutional change. It shows that through the Liga’s aims—(a) to unite the whole archipelago;(b) mutual protection in case of trouble and need; (c) defense against every violence and injustice; (d) development of education, agriculture, and commerce; and (e) study and implementation of reforms—Rizal sought to subvert the most important antidevelopment institutions of his day. Classification-JEL: B52, N45
Clinical efficacy of the pan metatarsal head resection as a curative procedure in patients with diabetes mellitus and neuropathic forefoot wounds.

Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the pan metatarsal head resection (PMHR) compared with nonsurgical management of wounds in the forefoot in people with diabetes. Methods. The autho...
Comparative energetics and kinetics of autotrophic lipid and starch metabolism in chlorophytic microalgae: implications for biomass and biofuel production

Due to the growing need to provide alternatives to fossil fuels as efficiently, economically, and sustainably as possible there has been growing interest in improved biofuel production systems. Biofuels produced from microalgae are a particularly attractive option since microalgae have production potentials that exceed the best terrestrial crops by 2 to 10-fold. In addition, autotrophically grown microalgae can capture CO2 from point sources reducing direct atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. The enhanced biomass production potential of algae is attributed in part to the fact that every cell is photosynthetic. Regardless, overall biological energy capture, conversion, and storage in microalgae are inefficient with less than 8% conversion of solar into chemical energy achieved. In this review, we examine the thermodynamic and kinetic constraints associated with the autotrophic conversion of inorganic carbon into storage carbohydrate and oil, the dominant energy storage products in Chlorophytic microalgae. We discuss how thermodynamic restrictions including the loss of fixed carbon during acetyl CoA synthesis reduce the efficiency of carbon accumulation in lipids. In addition, kinetic limitations, such as the coupling of proton to electron transfer during plastoquinone reduction and oxidation and the slow rates of CO2 fixation by Rubisco reduce photosynthetic efficiency. In some cases, these kinetic limitations have been overcome by massive increases in the numbers of effective catalytic sites, e.g. the high Rubisco levels (mM) in chloroplasts. But in other cases, including the slow rate of plastoquinol oxidation, there has been no compensatory increase in the abundance of catalytically limiting protein complexes. Significantly, we show that the energetic requirements for producing oil and starch relative to the recoverable energy stored in these molecules are very similar on a per carbon basis. Presently, the overall rates of starch and lipid synthesis in microalgae are very poorly characterized. Increased understanding of the kinetic constraints of lipid and starch synthesis, accumulation and turnover would facilitate the design of improved biomass production systems.
Proofs of Existence

We start by offering the reader the opportunity to prove the Pigeonhole Principle itself. It is also known (in Europe) as the Dirichlet Principle, after the famous mathematician Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet (1805–1859).
Creation of Onset Voltage Hash by Anode Spots in a Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster

Experimental results are presented which quantify the evolution with rising J 2 / ˙ m (ratio of current squared to mass flow rate) of onset voltage fluctuations in magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (MPDTs) operating with three anode materials, and an anode spot model is presented which provides a physical explanation for the properties of these fluctuations. Voltage signals taken in an MPDT operating below and above onset with anodes of copper, graphite, and lead are analyzed using the statistical measures of probability density and power spectrum. A model of voltage hash as the random superposition of many anode spotting events is used to generate voltage fluctuations with statistics similar to the observed data. The experimental fluctuation statistics evolve with rising J 2 / ˙ m first away from Gaussian, and then back toward Gaussian, with the values of skewness and kurtosis peaking at J 2 / ˙ m 110 kA 2 -s/g; this behavior is the same for all three anode materials. Non-stationarity in the statistics is shown using high-speed video to be a result of unsteady anode evaporation. The statistics of modeled voltage hash are shown to be functions of the product of the frequency of anode spotting events and their duration, with the statistics becoming more Gaussian as this product grows. Comparison of experimental and model results suggests that, above J 2 / ˙ m 110 kA 2 -s/g, anode current conduction fragments into an increasing number of anode spots.
Impact of Enterococcus faecalis on the Bactericidal Activities of Arbekacin, Daptomycin, Linezolid, and Tigecycline against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Mixed-Pathogen Pharmacodynamic Model

We inoculated an in vitro pharmacodynamic model simultaneously with clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and an enterocin-producing enterococcus (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, ampicillin susceptible) at 7 log10 CFU/ml to examine enterocin effects and antimicrobial activity on staphylococci. The investigated antimicrobial regimens were 100 mg arbekacin every 12 h (q12h), 6 mg daptomycin per kg of body weight/day, 600 mg linezolid q12h, and 100 mg tigecycline q24h alone and in combination (daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline) with arbekacin. Simulations were performed in triplicate; bacterial quantification occurred over 48 h, and development of resistance was evaluated throughout. When we evaluated the impact of antimicrobial activity against S. aureus alone, daptomycin demonstrated bactericidal activity (>or=3 log10 CFU/ml kill), whereas arbekacin, linezolid, and tigecycline displayed bacteriostatic activities (<3 log10 CFU/ml kill). In the mixed-pathogen model, early and distinctive stunting of S. aureus growth was noted (1.5 log CFU/ml difference) in the presence of enterocin-producing E. faecalis compared to growth controls run individually (P=0.02). Most noteworthy was that in the presence of enterocin-producing E. faecalis, bactericidal activity was observed with arbekacin and tigecycline and with the addition of arbekacin to linezolid. Antagonism was noted for the combination of tigecycline and arbekacin against S. aureus in the presence of enterocin-producing E. faecalis. Our research demonstrates that the inhibitory effect of E. faecalis contributed significantly to its overall antimicrobial impact on S. aureus. This contribution was enhanced or improved compared to the activity of each antimicrobial alone. Further research is warranted to determine the impact of polymicrobial infections on antimicrobial activity.
Mqo, a Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Enzyme, Is Required for Virulence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato Strain DC3000 on Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000, the causative agent of tomato bacterial speck disease, grow to high levels in the apoplastic space between plant cells. Colonization of plant tissue requires expression of virulence factors that modify the apoplast to make it more suitable for pathogen growth or facilitate adaptation of the bacteria to the apoplastic environment. To identify new virulence factors involved in these processes, DC3000 Tn5 transposon insertion mutants with reduced virulence on Arabidopsis thaliana were identified. In one of these mutants, the Tn5 insertion disrupted the malate:quinone oxidoreductase gene (mqo), which encodes an enzyme of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. mqo mutants do not grow to wild-type levels in plant tissue at early time points during infection. Further, plants infected with mqo mutants develop significantly reduced disease symptoms, even when the growth of the mqo mutant reaches wild-type levels at late stages of infection. Mutants lacking mqo function grow more slowly in culture than wild-type bacteria when dicarboxylates are the only available carbon source. To explore whether dicarboxylates are important for growth of DC3000 in the apoplast, we disrupted the dctA1 dicarboxylate transporter gene. DC3000 mutants lacking dctA1 do not grow to wild-type levels in planta, indicating that transport and utilization of dicarboxylates are important for virulence of DC3000. Thus, mqo may be required by DC3000 to meet nutritional requirements in the apoplast and may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the important, but poorly understood process of adaptation to the host environment.
Diets Rich in Polyphenols and Vitamin A Inhibit the Development of Type I Autoimmune Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Type I juvenile diabetes mellitus is characterized by the infiltration of activated T lymphocytes and monocytes into the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, resulting in inflammation and progressive destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells. We hypothesized that feeding nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice diets rich in polyphenols or vitamin A, both known modulators of immune function, would decrease the autoimmune inflammatory process associated with type I diabetes. NOD mice were fed a control diet (C) and diets containing either 1% freeze-dried grape powder (GP) or 250 IU vitamin A/g (VA; 0.262 micromol retinyl acetate/g) of food. Mice were considered diabetic and killed when blood glucose reached 13.9 mmol/L or greater. By approximately 7 mo of age, 71% of C mice progressed to diabetes. Incidence of diabetes was reduced to 33% (P < 0.05) and 25% (P < 0.05) in mice receiving 1% dietary grape powder and VA, respectively. Splenocytes from mice receiving both GP and VA had lower TNF-alpha production after LPS stimulation than C mice (P < 0.05). Histological analysis of pancreatic tissue showed a significant reduction in the severity of insulitis in the mice receiving GP and VA compared with C mice. These data suggest that diets rich in polyphenols or vitamin A have protective effects against autoimmune inflammatory attack of the islet beta cells and have the potential to reduce the onset and pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes.
A fast converging and self-adjusting SHARF algorithm

Adaptive infinite impulse response (IIR) or recursive filters are less attractive mainly because of the stability and the difficulties associated with their adaptive algorithms. Hyperstability is a concept from nonlinear stability theory and its convergence is directly related to strictly positive real (SPR) transfer functions. The simple hyperstable adaptive recursive filters (SHARF) is a simplified version of hyperstable recursive filters designed for real time applications. In this paper, SHARF is investigated using the constraint recursive least-squares (RLS) method with SPR transfer functions designed without any a priori knowledge of the parameters of the filter by the pole-zero placement on the unit circle method. To demonstrate its fast convergence and self-adjustment, the SHARF algorithm is applied to a pure four-pole autoregressive process.
Development of an Educational Assessment Plan for Doctor of Pharmacy Programs

SUMMARY The assessment of academic programs isnecessary to continue to improve the academicand student service programs and to meet ac-creditation standards, particularly in collegesandschoolsofpharmacy.Assessmentactivitiesshouldbeongoing,prospectivelyplanned,effi-cient, and an integral component of the aca-demic and student services components at uni-versities and colleges. This paper provides anoverviewofhowtoorganizeassessmentactivi-ties and provides guidelines on what to assess,how to assess, and what to do with the assess-mentdata.Manysourcesofassessmentdataarealreadyinplaceatcollegesandschoolsofphar-macy.Thebottomlineistocollectdataonlyonthe most important program outcomes or goalsand then to communicate and utilize those dataindecisionmakinginacontinuousandplannedmanner. REFERENCES1. Adelman, C. (Ed.). Assessment in Americanhigher education: Issues and contexts . Wash-ington, DC: Office of Educational Research andImprovement, U.S. Department of Education,1985.2. Rios C. The comparison of standards and poli-cies on assessment of the six regional accredit-ing agencies
Prognostic significance of post-clopidogrel platelet reactivity assessed by a point-of-care assay on thrombotic events after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Aims The aim of this study was to determine whether platelet reactivity on clopidogrel therapy, as measured by a point-of-care platelet function assay, is associated with thrombotic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs). Methods and results Platelet reactivity on clopidogrel (post-treatment reactivity) was measured with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (Accumetrics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) in 380 patients undergoing PCI with sirolimus-eluting stents. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was used to derive the optimal cut-off value for post-treatment reactivity in predicting 6 month out-of-hospital cardiovascular (CV) death, non-fatal MI, or stent thrombosis. The mean post-treatment reactivity was 184 ± 85 PRU (P2Y12 reaction units). The optimal cut-off for the combined endpoint was a post-treatment reactivity ≥235 PRU [area under the curve 0.711 (95% confidence interval 0.529–0.893), P = 0.03], which was similar to the threshold of the upper tertile (231 PRU). Patients with post-treatment reactivity greater than the cut-off value had significantly higher rates of CV death (2.8 vs. 0%, P = 0.04), stent thrombosis (4.6 vs. 0%, P = 0.004), and the combined endpoint (6.5 vs. 1.0%, P = 0.008). Conclusion High post-treatment platelet reactivity measured with a point-of-care platelet function assay is associated with post-discharge events after PCI with DES, including stent thrombosis. Investigation of alternative clopidogrel dosing regimens to reduce ischaemic events in high-risk patients identified by this assay is warranted.
On Gifted Students in Rural Schools.

Academically gifted students exist in virtually every configuration of public schools throughout the United States. Gifted students are edu cated in settings from the largest suburban high school t...
Improved Gravity Field of the Moon from Lunar Prospector

An improved gravity model from Doppler tracking of the Lunar Prospector (LP) spacecraft reveals three new large mass concentrations (mascons) on the nearside of the moon beneath the impact basins Mare Humboltianum, Mendel-Ryberg, and Schiller-Zucchius, where the latter basin has no visible mare fill. Although there is no direct measurement of the lunar farside gravity, LP partially resolves four mascons in the large farside basins of Hertzsprung, Coulomb-Sarton, Freundlich-Sharonov, and Mare Moscoviense. The center of each of these basins contains a gravity maximum relative to the surrounding basin. The improved normalized polar moment of inertia (0.3932 ± 0.0002) is consistent with an iron core with a radius of 220 to 450 kilometers.
Transverse location of the retinal chromophore of rhodopsin in rod outer segment disc membranes

Diffusion-enhanced fluorescence energy transfer was used to study the structure of photoreceptor membranes from bovine retinal rod outer segments. The fluorescent energy donor was Tb3+ chelated to dipicolinate and the acceptor was the 11-cis retinal chromophore of rhodopsin in vesicles made from disc membranes. The rapid-diffusion limit for energy transfer was attained in these experiments because of the long excited state lifetime of the terbium donor (~2 ms). Under these conditions, energy transfer is very sensitive to a, the distance of closest approach between the donor and acceptor (Thomas et al., 1978). Vesicles containing terbium dipicolinate in their inner aqueous space were prepared by sonicating disc membranes in the presence of this chelate and chromatographing this mixture on a gel filtration column. The sidedness of rhodopsin in these vesicles was the same as in native disc membranes. The transfer efficiency from terbium to retinal in this sample was 43%. For an R0 value of 46.7 A and an average vesicle diameter of 650 A, this corresponds to an a value of 22 A from the inner aqueous space of the vesicle. The distance of closest approach from the external aqueous space, determined by adding terbium dipicolinate to a suspension of already formed vesicles, was found to be 28 A. These values of a show that the retinal chromophore is far from both aqueous surfaces of the disc membrane. Hence, the transverse location of the retinal chromophore is near the center of the hydrophobic core of the disc membrane. These findings suggest that conformational changes induced by photoisomerization are transmitted through a distance of at least 20 A within rhodopsin to trigger subsequent events in visual excitation.
Effect of planting depth on growth of open-rooted Pinus elliottii and Pinus taeda seedlings in the United States

Synopsis Three studies in the Coastal Plain of Georgia were remeasured 7 or 8 years after planting to determine the effects of planting depth on field performance of open-rooted seedlings [root-collar diameter (RCD) ≤ 5 mm]. Average planting depth (i.e, shoot height before planting minus shoot height above ground after planting) for machine planted P. elliottii was 14 cm while hand-planted P. taeda seedlings averaged 9-11 em deep. P. taeda showed no adverse effects on growth when planting seedlings up to 15 em deep. Data for machine planted P. elliottii indicated that seedlings were planted 9 mm deeper on double-beds than on single-beds. Small-diameter pine seedlings < 5mm RCD) were not planted as deeply as seedlings with large diameters (RCD ≥ 5 mm). For P. elliottii planted on double-beds, seedlings planted more than 15 em deep had slightly smaller diameters at breast height than seedlings planted 10 em deep. Although most tree planting guides recommend planting seedlings 7,5 em deep or less, many compa...
Baruch Spinoza and Moses Mendelssohn: Jewish Philosophies of the State, Religion, and Individual

Although they lived in different times and under different circumstances, Spinoza and Mendelssohn both saw the need to examine the relationship between the state and individual religious belief as the character of Europe changed. Both men envisioned a society governed by a social contract between citizens, absent of civil or coercive authority held by religious powers, with individual religious freedom. Spinoza, however, cast aside Mosaic Law and forged a secular vision for future European life, based upon universal “natural laws.” Mendelssohn differed from Spinoza in this respect; he viewed Mosaic Law as remaining valid because it contains eternal truths that make Jews unique and believed that Jews should be continue to be observant but not let that stop them from interacting with European society. Both Spinoza, who was excommunicated from the Jewish community, and Mendelssohn, who had his religious beliefs publicly challenged on several occasions, faced deep criticism for their views from the Jewish community and their non-Jewish contemporaries. However, the models that they conceived for the state and its relationship to individual religious belief have provided a lasting impact on political and religious philosophy. Awarded an Enquiry Prize for Papers in Philosophy
Complicating Patriotism in the Elementary Grades: An Examination of Rugg and Krueger's Overlooked Textbooks

In the late 1930s several prominent self-described patriotic groups attacked social studies pioneer Harold Rugg as “un-American.” The largest instance of textbook censorship in American history unfolded. Yet little attention was given (and continues to be given by scholars) to Rugg's elementary textbooks that he wrote with Louise Krueger. This article examines Rugg and Krueger's complete “Elementary Series” in light of the un-American criticisms levied at Rugg. It documents how, despite critics’ claims, the books were immediately celebratory of the United States and its people, teaching a traditional patriotism that casts the nation as the supreme level of social analysis through an unquestioning, best-story approach. Furthermore, it shows how the books lack Rugg's justice-oriented philosophy of the “American Problem.” The article concludes by charging elementary social studies teachers, teacher educators, and researchers to consider critical questions related to the teaching of patriotism in the elementa...
Template-guided self-assembly of discrete optoplasmonic molecules and extended optoplasmonic arrays

The integration of metallic and dielectric building blocks into optoplasmonic structures creates new electromagnetic systems in which plasmonic and photonic modes can interact in the near-, intermediate- and farfield. The morphology-dependent electromagnetic coupling between the different building blocks in these hybrid structures provides a multitude of opportunities for controlling electromagnetic fields in both spatial and frequency domain as well as for engineering the phase landscape and the local density of optical states. Control over any of these properties requires, however, rational fabrication approaches for well-defined metal-dielectric hybrid structures. Template-guided self-assembly is a versatile fabrication method capable of integrating metallic and dielectric components into discrete optoplasmonic structures, arrays, or metasurfaces. The structural flexibility provided by the approach is illustrated by two representative implementations of optoplasmonic materials discussed in this review. In optoplasmonic atoms or molecules optical microcavities (OMs) serve as whispering gallery mode resonators that provide a discrete photonic mode spectrum to interact with plasmonic nanostructures contained in the evanescent fields of the OMs. In extended hetero-nanoparticle arrays in-plane scattered light induces geometry-dependent photonic resonances that mix with the localized surface plasmon resonances of the metal nanoparticles. As a result, we characterize the fundamental electromagnetic working principles underlying both optoplasmonic approachesmore » and review the fabrication strategies implemented to realize them.« less
System Wide Adaptation in Restaurant Chains: Owning, Franchising, and the Plural Form

Using data from an ethnographic field study of five restaurant chains, this research examines the relationship between organizational design and innovation. A descriptive model is developed of the innovation process in plural form chains-chains composed of company and franchise units-which illuminates the benefits of operating different, but complementary, organizational designs simultaneously. Hypotheses are proposed linking the mix of company and franchise units in a chain to properties of the innovation process.
Additional impact of the diagnostic CT component of SPECT/CT in the assessment of neuroendocrine tumors

2057 Objectives Hybrid SPECT/CT systems are opening a new era in oncology. Our aim was to assess the clinical utility of SPECT/CT with a diagnostic CT component compared to SPECT alone for tumor diagnosis in subjects with neuroendocrine tumors. Methods 46 subjects (30 women; 16 men; mean age 55±11; age range 15-80 years) with clinical suspicion or diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor had 48 SPECT/CT scans performed (32 Tc-99m MIBI, 5 post treatment I-131, 6 In-111 pentetreotide, and 5 I-123 MIBG) between January 2010 and December 2011. SPECT-only findings were compared to SPECT/CT and to pathology or clinical follow up. Results From the 32 Tc-99m MIBI scans, compared with pathology, SPECT identified 22 (61%) positive subjects while 31 (97%) were identified with SPECT/CT. Lesions not seen on SPECT alone had size less than 10 mm. From the 5 post treatment I-131 scans, SPECT alone neither characterized, nor localized any lesions accurately. SPECT/CT revealed 3 benign etiologies (left submandibular gland stone causing obstruction, physiologic thymic uptake, and physiologic bowel uptake), 2 metastatic lymph nodes, and one equivocal lesion in which surgical removal revealed a benign epithelial cyst. For 6 In-111 pentetreotide scans, SPECT alone could not localize several liver, osseous, pancreatic head or bone metastases in 4 subjects all of which were localized with SPECT/CT. For 5 I-123 MIBG scans, SPECT alone could not detect a 1.1 cm lesion in the adrenal or correctly characterize normal physiologic adrenal uptake in consecutive scans of the same patient with prior history of adrenalectomy, all of which were correctly localized and characterized with SPECT/CT. Conclusions SPECT with diagnostic CT provided most critical localization and characterization information in I-131 post-therapy and In-111 pentetreotide scans. Diagnostic SPECT/CT is superior to SPECT in localization of parathyroid lesions less than 1 cm. Diagnostic SPECT/CT should be included in the clinical work up of all patients with diagnosis or suspicion of neuroendocrine tumors
Invocation polymorphism

Visual programming by its nature is both more interactive and more conceptual than its textual counterpart. Both of these properties suggest an interactive style wherein the user "sketches" a general specification and the system "refines" this specification by using an intelligent analysis process to fill in the details where possible. A result of this visual interactive style of programming is that programming languages that support these general specifications allow for certain ambiguities that introduce yet another kind of polymorphism. We examine this form of polymorphism and contrast it with other traditional forms of polymorphism.
Imaging multicellular specimens with real-time optimized tiling light-sheet selective plane illumination microscopy

Despite the progress made in selective plane illumination microscopy, high-resolution 3D live imaging of multicellular specimens remains challenging. Tiling light-sheet selective plane illumination microscopy (TLS-SPIM) with real-time light-sheet optimization was developed to respond to the challenge. It improves the 3D imaging ability of SPIM in resolving complex structures and optimizes SPIM live imaging performance by using a real-time adjustable tiling light sheet and creating a flexible compromise between spatial and temporal resolution. We demonstrate the 3D live imaging ability of TLS-SPIM by imaging cellular and subcellular behaviours in live C. elegans and zebrafish embryos, and show how TLS-SPIM can facilitate cell biology research in multicellular specimens by studying left-right symmetry breaking behaviour of C. elegans embryos.
Nitrogen-tillage-residue management. I. Simulating soil and plant behavior by the model NCSWAP

NCSWAP (nitrogen and carbon cycling in soil, water and plant) is a simulation model of the soil-crop-water system which integrates water flow dynamics, crop growth, N transformations, tillage and residue effects, soil temperature, and solute transport. A small plot field study was initiated in May of 1980 to determine the effects of N rate (2 or 20 g N/m2), tillage (rototill or no-till), and residue management system (residue return or noresidue) on soil parameters, and maize (Zea mays L.) production. Significant differences due to treatments (N rate, tillage, and residue) were not detected in 1981 for the measured soil-plant parameters including soil moisture, yield, and N uptake. Therefore, two representative treatment combinations (N rates of 2 or 20 g N/m2-tilled-no residue) characterized the field research data. Calculated and observed data sets were compared for several parameters including: (1) soluble NO3−N, (2) N leaching losses (3) plant total-N and15N, (4) root growth, (5) soil moisture, and (6) fertilizer efficiency. The objectives of this study were to initiate the validation process of the model NCSWAP, and to illustrate how NCSWAP can be used as a research tool to infer operational characteristics of the N cycle.
The Effect of Mesh Refinement on the Predictions of Finite Element Models of Spine

Mesh refinement is among the verification steps crucial for developing finite element models [1]. However, it is often omitted during the development of spine models in spite of its necessity due to the geometric complexity and heterogeneity of human spine. Few studies have demonstrated convergence of certain parameter predictions [2], but no extensive study has been done on the convergence behavior of individual components and tissues in spine. In order to investigate this, we generated finite element models of the L4/L5 functional spinal unit (FSU) with varying mesh resolutions, and tested the effect of refinement under complete nonlinear loading ranges.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Effects of Thorotrast upon the reactivity and intravascular disappearance rate of fibrinogen in the rabbit.

Summary and ConclusionsThe data presented above confirm and extend previous observations (1, 2, 13) that Thorotrast markedly alters the reactivity of fibrinogen. Microscopic examination of clots from plasma incubated in vitro with Thorotrast revealed a progressive defect in fibrin strand formation. Thrombin times were prolonged for at least 10 hours after the intravenous injection into rabbits of the dosage (3 ml/kg) used to produce “reticuloendothelial blockade.” When plasma from blood drawn after the administration of Thorotrast was clotted, most of the radioactivity of the Thorotrast was found in the clot. This suggests that Thorotrast may circulate largely as a complex with fibrinogen.Despite these marked effects, Thorotrast did not increase the rate of intravascular disappearance of 131I-labeled fibrinogen. Thus, the return of the thrombin time to normal within 1 day after Thorotrast was not associated with the removal of measurable amounts of a Thorotrast-fibrinogen complex or of excess fibrinogen d...
Intelligent Control System in Rare-Earth Extraction Process

In consideration that the rare earth extraction is a complicated process with multivariable, nonlinearity, strong coupling, large time-delays and unavailable continuous measurement to content of extracted component, an intelligent control system used for controlling rare-earth extraction process with two-layer structure of intelligent optimal setting and process control is proposed and its structure, function and control strategy are discussed in this paper. The intelligent control system is developed according to the characteristics of Y2O3 extraction production line and successfully applied to Y2O3 extraction production of a certain company.
RESTATING THE CASE FOR REPRESENTATION IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF OPERA

The present paper is an attempt to reassert a case for the language of representation as a means of understanding philosophically what happens in opera. I will proceed by first examining critically the reasons for which Roger Scruton and Peter Kivy are wary of applying representational theory to opera. I then turn to consider some of the differences between ‘representation’ as practiced in the stile rappresentativo and ‘representation’ as conceptualized in philosophical aesthetics. I then briefly consider the ensemble as a compositional device that illustrates the commonality within the distinctiveness of operatic styles over time. In doing so, I hope to lay only the initial groundwork for a broader and perhaps more useful conception of representation in the philosophy of opera.
The discrete-time Altafini model of opinion dynamics with communication delays and quantization

The discrete-time Altafini model is an opinion dynamics model in which the interactions among a group of agents are described by a time-varying signed digraph. This paper first uses graph theoretic constructions to study modified versions of the Altafini model in which there are communication delays or quantized communication. The condition under which consensus in absolute value or bipartite consensus is achieved proves to be the same as the condition in the delay-free case. The paper also analyzes the performance of the model where the information exchanged between neighboring agents is subject to a certain type of deterministic uniform quantization. We show that in finite time and depending on initial conditions, the model on any static, connected, undirected signed graph will either cause all agents to reach a quantized consensus in absolute value, or will lead all variables to oscillate in a small neighborhood around the absolute value.
Tools for the Wider Economic Impact Assessment of Corridor Improvements: Lessons Learned from the FHWA Implementation Assistance Program in Indiana

AbstractIn an effort to assist transportation professionals with the evaluation of wider economic benefits (WEB) of highway improvements, this paper provides important insights into the open-source...
Low energy exclusive e+e− → hadrons cross sections and g − 2 of the muon

The 3.5 standard deviation discrepancy between the standard model prediction for the muon anomalous magnetic moment g −2 and the corresponding experimental measurementis one of the most intriguing potential signals for physics beyond the standard model. The largest uncertainty in the standard model prediction for the muon g − 2 arises from uncertainties in the measured low-energy e + e − → hadrons cross sections. New cross section results from the Babar experiment at SLAC for e + e − → π + π − π 0 π 0 and for e + e − → KKππ channels are presented that significantly reduce some of the uncertaintiesin the standard model prediction for the muon g − 2.
Improved performance in CAPRI round 37 using LZerD docking and template-based modeling with combined scoring functions

We report our group's performance for protein-protein complex structure prediction and scoring in Round 37 of the Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions (CAPRI), an objective assessment of protein-protein complex modeling. We demonstrated noticeable improvement in both prediction and scoring compared to previous rounds of CAPRI, with our human predictor group near the top of the rankings and our server scorer group at the top. This is the first time in CAPRI that a server has been the top scorer group. To predict protein-protein complex structures, we used both multi-chain template-based modeling (TBM) and our protein-protein docking program, LZerD. LZerD represents protein surfaces using 3D Zernike descriptors (3DZD), which are based on a mathematical series expansion of a 3D function. Because 3DZD are a soft representation of the protein surface, LZerD is tolerant to small conformational changes, making it well suited to docking unbound and TBM structures. The key to our improved performance in CAPRI Round 37 was to combine multi-chain TBM and docking. As opposed to our previous strategy of performing docking for all target complexes, we used TBM when multi-chain templates were available and docking otherwise. We also describe the combination of multiple scoring functions used by our server scorer group, which achieved the top rank for the scorer phase.
Mining sequences in distributed sensors data for energy production.

The desire to predict power generation at a given point in time is essential to power scheduling, energy trading, and availability modeling. The research conducted within is concerned with sequence mining on power generation data and has the intent of modeling power generation. The data streams analyzed are average hourly power generation that is reported to the EPA. A global statistical model is proven impractical for the data streams, and local modeling via sequence mining is performed. The methodology presented, Uniform Sequence Discovery, implements the idea of uniform population coding, stream mining, and cross-stream mining. 1671 streams from years 2002 through 2004 are coded, mined for sequences, and cross-mined for matching sequences. 486 and 270 frequent sequences were extracted from the learning and testing data respectively. Association rules and the accompanying confidence and support values are used to create local models for power generation prediction. 159 local models were confirmed in the testing phase with a minimum confidence of 0.60. Power traders, concerned with predicting available generation, would then use the local models for prediction of natural gas-fired power generation.
The Role of Vegetation in Determining Dune Morphology, Exposure to Sea-Level Rise, and Storm-Induced Coastal Hazards: A U.S. Pacific Northwest Perspective

Coastal foredunes are often the “first line of defense” for backshore infrastructure from the hazards of erosion and flooding, and they are key components of coastal ecosystems. The shape and growth characteristics of coastal foredunes, typically characterized by simple morphometrics such as dune toe and crest elevations, and dune volume, are a product of both physical and biological forces. By influencing foredune shape, these forces ultimately affect the exposure of human populations and ecosystems to extreme storms and sea-level rise. In this chapter, we synthesize field surveys and a suite of interdisciplinary laboratory, mesocosm, and computer modeling experiments that examine the relative role of vegetation in determining dune geomorphology in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). We focus on how dunes of different shapes result in variable levels of exposure to coastal hazards. Results suggest that PNW dune shape is primarily a function of sediment supply and the geographic distribution of two species of non-native beach grasses (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata). Over recent decades, A. breviligulata (American beachgrass) has increased its dominance over A. arenaria (European beachgrass) on dunes where it was originally planted and has actively spread to new sites formerly dominated by A. arenaria. A species-specific biophysical feedback occurs between sand deposition and beach grass growth habit, resulting in distinctly different dune geomorphologies in locations dominated by these different grass species. The dense, vertical growth habit of A. arenaria allows it to capture more sand, produce more vertical tillers, and build taller, narrower dunes, while the less dense, lateral growth habit of A. breviligulata is more suited for building shorter but wider dunes. The species-specific feedbacks, along with invasion dynamics, have a first order effect on the region’s exposure to coastal hazards, in the present day and under a range of climate change and invasion scenarios. These findings draw on insights from geomorphology, ecology, and coastal engineering to assess coastal barrier vulnerability in light of global change.
Calibration and performance measurements for the nasa deep space network aperture enhancement project (daep)

Abstract The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) has recently constructed two new 34-m antennas at the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC). These new antennas are part of the larger DAEP project to add six new 34-m antennas to the DSN, including two in Madrid, three in Canberra and one in Goldstone (California). The DAEP project included development and implementation of several new technologies for the X, and Ka (32 GHz) -band uplink and downlink electronics. The electronics upgrades were driven by several different considerations, including parts obsolescence, cost reduction, improved reliability and maintainability, and capability to meet future performance requirements. The new antennas are required to support TT&C links for all of the NASA deep-space spacecraft, as well as for several international partners. Some of these missions, such as Voyager 1 and 2, have very limited link budgets, which results in demanding requirements for system G/T performance. These antennas are also required to support radio science missions with several spacecraft, which dictate some demanding requirements for spectral purity, amplitude stability and phase stability for both the uplink and downlink electronics. After completion of these upgrades, a comprehensive campaign of tests and measurements took place to characterize the electronics and calibrate the antennas. Radiometric measurement techniques were applied to characterize, calibrate, and optimize the performance of the antenna parameters. These included optical and RF high-resolution holographic and total power radiometry techniques. The methodology and techniques utilized for the measurement and calibration of the antennas is described in this paper. Lessons learned (not all discussed in this paper) from the commissioning of the first antenna (DSS-35) were applied to the commissioning of the second antenna (DSS-36). These resulted in achieving antenna aperture efficiency of 66% (for DSS-36), at Ka-Band (32-Ghz), which is currently the highest operating frequency for these antennas. The other measurements and results described include antenna noise temperature, photogrammetry and holography alignment of antenna panels, beam-waveguide mirrors, and subreflector, antenna aperture efficiencies and G/T versus frequency, and antenna pointing models. The first antenna (DSS-35) entered into operations in October 2014 and the 2nd antenna (DSS-36) in October 2016. This paper describes the measurement techniques and results of the testing and calibration for both antennas, along with the driving requirements.
Identifying and characterizing highly similar notes in big clinical note datasets.

Abstract Background Big clinical note datasets found in electronic health records (EHR) present substantial opportunities to train accurate statistical models that identify patterns in patient diagnosis and outcomes. However, near-to-exact duplication in note texts is a common issue in many clinical note datasets. We aimed to use a scalable algorithm to de-duplicate notes and further characterize the sources of duplication. Methods We use an approximation algorithm to minimize pairwise comparisons consisting of three phases: (1) Minhashing with Locality Sensitive Hashing; (2) a clustering method using tree-structured disjoint sets; and (3) classification of near-duplicates (exact copies, common machine output notes, or similar notes) via pairwise comparison of notes in each cluster. We use the Jaccard Similarity (JS) to measure similarity between two documents. We analyzed two big clinical note datasets: our institutional dataset and MIMIC-III. Results There were 1,528,940 notes analyzed from our institution. The de-duplication algorithm completed in 36.3 h. When the JS threshold was set at 0.7, the total number of clusters was 82,371 (total notes = 304,418). Among all JS thresholds, no clusters contained pairs of notes that were incorrectly clustered. When the JS threshold was set at 0.9 or 1.0, the de-duplication algorithm captured 100% of all random pairs with their JS at least as high as the set thresholds from the validation set. Similar performance was noted when analyzing the MIMIC-III dataset. Conclusions We showed that among the EHR from our institution and from the publicly-available MIMIC-III dataset, there were a significant number of near-to-exact duplicated notes.
Fatigue crack growth analysis of a premium rail steel

The fatigue crack growth behavior of a premium rail steel was studied using the Modified Crack Layer (MCL) theory. The rate of energy expended on damage formation and evolution within the active zone was evaluated from the hysteresis energy of unnotched and notched specimens. Due to head hardening of the rail, there is a vertical microstructure gradient inside the rail. In this work, the fatigue test specimens were sliced longitudinally from the head of a new rail near the web which represents the microstructure of the base material. The notch length to sample width ratio (a/w) was 0.1. Fatigue tests were performed on both unnotched and single edge notched (SEN) specimens under tension-tension load control condition at 5 Hz. The maximum fatigue stress was 200 MPa, which is about 40% of the yield strength of the material. The minimum to maximum stress ratio was 0.1. The crack length, number of cycles, and hysteresis loops were recorded during the tests from which the crack speed, the energy release rate, and the hysteresis energy for both notched and unnotched specimens were determined. The rate of energy dissipation on damage formation was evaluated based on the difference between the hysteresis energy for the notched and the unnotched specimens. These data were used in the MCL theory to extract the specific energy of damage, γ′; a material parameter characteristic of the fatigue crack growth resistance of the rail steel. It was found that the value of γ′ is 1300 kJ/m3. Three distinctive stages of crack growth kinetics were observed; crack initiation, stable crack growth and unstable crack growth. Microscopic examination of the active zone revealed damage species in the form of microcracks, inter-granular separation, and plastic deformed material. It is these damages that have led to the crack deceleration in the second stage. The fracture surface was also examined. The initiation region showed drawn-out lamellar pearlite. Ductile tearing and coarse ridges with intensive lamellar formation as well as microcracks were observed in the second region. The formation of these damage species has also contributed to the crack deceleration in the second stage of fatigue crack growth kinetics. The unstable crack growth region displayed cleavage facets initiated from the grain boundaries.