cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When is tail mean estimation more efficient than tail median? Answers and implications for quantitative risk management

We investigate the relative efficiency of the empirical “tail median” versus “tail mean” as estimators of location when the data can be modeled by an exponential power distribution (EPD), a flexible family of light-tailed densities. By considering appropriate probabilities so that the quantile of the untruncated EPD (tail median) and mean of the left-truncated EPD (tail mean) coincide, limiting results are established concerning the ratio of asymptotic variances of the corresponding estimators. The most remarkable finding is that in the limit of the right tail, the asymptotic variance of the tail median estimate is approximately 36% larger than that of the tail mean, irrespective of the EPD shape parameter. This discovery has important repercussions for quantitative risk management practice, where the tail median and tail mean correspond to value-at-risk and expected shortfall, respectively. To this effect, a methodology for choosing between the two risk measures that maximizes the precision of the estimate is proposed. From an extreme value theory perspective, analogous results and procedures are discussed also for the case when the data appear to be heavy-tailed.
Air-oxidation of phenolic resin aerogels: backbone reorganization, formation of ring-fused pyrylium cations, and the effect on microporous carbons with enhanced surface areas

This paper is a thorough investigation of the chemical transformations during pyrolytic conversion of phenolic resins to carbons, and reports that all carbons obtained from main-stream phenolic resins including phloroglucinol–formaldehyde (FPOL), phloroglucinol–terephthalaldehyde (TPOL), resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF), and phenol–formaldehyde (PF) contain fused pyrylium rings and charge-compensating phenoxides. Those four phenolic resins were prepared via a fast HCl-catalyzed process as low-density nanostructured solids classified as aerogels, which, owing to their open porosity, allowed air circulation through their bulk. In that regard, the first step of this study was the air-oxidation of those phenolic resin aerogels at 240 °C. In FPOL and TPOL aerogels, that air-oxidation step kicked off a cascade of reactions leading to ring-fusion aromatization and formation of pyrylium O+-heteroaromatic rings in every repeat unit of the polymeric backbone. Despite the complexity of the process, those structural forms were well-defined, and were retained through pyrolytic carbonization (800 °C). Under the same conditions (240 °C/air), RF and PF aerogels did not undergo aromatization; instead, they just went through an autooxidation-like process that converted the –CH2– bridges between phenolic moieties into carbonyls (CO). Importantly, however, upon further stepwise pyrolysis under Ar, by 600 °C all four systems (TPOL, FPOL, RF and PF), irrespective of whether they had been previously oxidized or not, converged to a common chemical composition. Thereby, carbon produced by pyrolysis of phenolic resins at 800 °C always contains fused pyrylium rings. All chemical analysis relied on FTIR, solid-state 13C NMR, XPS and CHN analysis. The only and significant difference made by the low-temperature (240 °C) air-oxidation step was identified with the surface areas of carbons from aromatizable systems (TPOL and FPOL), which were higher than those from direct pyrolysis of as-prepared aerogels. Upon further reactive etching with CO2, those surface areas went as high as 2778 ± 209 m2 g−1. Those findings are directly relevant to high surface area carbons for gas sorption (e.g., capture and sequestration of CO2) and ion exchange materials.
Respecting Choices and Related Models of Advance Care Planning: A Systematic Review of Published Evidence:

All individuals should receive care consistent with their expressed preferences during serious and chronic illnesses. Respecting Choices (RC) is a well-known model of advance care planning intended to assist individuals consider, choose, and communicate these preferences to health-care providers. In this systematic review, we evaluated the published literature on the outcomes of the RC and derivative models utilizing criteria developed by the Cochrane Collaborative. Eighteen articles from 16 studies were included, of which 9 were randomized controlled trials, 6 were observational, and 1 was a pre-posttest study. Only 2 specifically included a minority population (African American). Fourteen were conducted in the United States, primarily in the Wisconsin/Minnesota region (n = 8). Seven studies examined the RC model, whereas 9 examined derivative models. There was significant heterogeneity of outcomes examined. We found that there is a low level of evidence that RC and derivative models increase the incidence and prevalence of Advance Directive and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment completion. There is a high level of evidence that RC and derivative models increase patient-surrogate congruence in Caucasian populations. The evidence is mixed, inconclusive, and too poor in quality to determine whether RC and derivative models change the consistency of treatment with wishes and overall health-care utilization in the end of life. We urge further studies be conducted, particularly with minority populations and focused on the outcomes of preference-congruent treatment and health-care utilization.
Community organizing and the Detroit water struggle: Report from the front lines

At this moment in history, both the need for macro social work approaches and interest in macro social practice among social workers are growing. One macro approach that is particularly well-suited...
Respiratory hospital admissions and weather changes: a retrospective study in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

In most midlatitude locations, human morbidity and mortality are highly seasonal, with winter peaks driven by respiratory disease and associated comorbidities. But the transition between high and low mortality/morbidity months varies spatially. We use a measure of the thermal biophysical strain imposed on the respiratory system-the Acclimatization Thermal Strain Index (ATSI)-to examine respiratory hospital admissions in Charlottesville, VA. Daily respiratory admissions to the University of Virginia over a 19-year period are compared to ATSI values derived from hourly surface weather data acquired from the Charlottesville airport. Negative ATSI values (associated with transitions from warm (and humid) to cold (and dry) conditions) are related to admission peaks at seasonal and weekly timescales, whereas positive ATSI values (cold to warm) exhibit weaker relationships. This research marks the first application of the ATSI to human morbidity, and results suggest that respiratory strain may account for how people who are acclimated to different climates respond to short-term weather changes.
The Relationship between Sleep Disorders and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Results from the NHANES.

Purpose: It is well established that sleep disorders are associated with the nocturia prevalence in men. While previous literature supports that patients with sleep disorders are at increased risk for nocturia, the risk of daytime lower urinary tract symptoms has not been well established.Materials and Methods: We examined the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) database between 2006 and 2008. Men older than 40 years who completed the sleep, prostate and kidney questionnaires were included in study. The presence of lower urinary tract symptoms was defined as 2 or more symptoms, including hesitancy, incomplete emptying and/or nocturia. Multivariable models using logistic regression were constructed to compare groups of men with and without a sleep disorder.Results: Of the 3,071 men who completed all survey questions 270 (8.8%) reported a sleep disorder. Men with a sleep disorder had a significantly higher body mass index (30.8 vs 27.4 kg/m2), a greater likelihood of reporting diabetes...
A high precision embedded combline filter implementation in silicon IPD wafers for X band

This paper demonstrates compact quarter wavelength interdigital filters with embedded metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors using silicon Integrated Passive Device (IPD) technology. The incorporation of integrated capacitors directly in the reference plane permits practical size, loss, and repeatability for transmission line style band pass filters implemented in a wafer technology at X band frequencies. The design and on-wafer measurement of a 0.5mm2 9GHz combline BPF with 3.6dB insertion loss, 50dB 2nd harmonic rejection and sustained 30dB rejection through 4f0 (>40GHz) is discussed in this paper. Measurements of frequency scalability through design of the MIM capacitors are presented, and resonator coupling coefficients achievable in silicon IPD technology using a combline topology are additionally examined.
Development of a New University-Wide course management system

INTRODUCTION Distance learning is no longer a conceptual discussion, a buzzword, or a show-and-tell demonstration in a computer trade show. It is a multi-billion-dollar business moving its way up to the top of universities’ lists of priorities. University and college administrators are now convinced that the Web and the Internet can and will change their traditional teaching practices into a semi-virtual and virtual operation. This is the arrival of a new paradigm where students and instructors make fewer trips to campuses to receive or deliver lectures. A variety of computer tools and environments have been commercially developed and are being used to deliver distance learning content. Course management systems or course authoring tools are among the names used to refer to such software environments. Today there is a large selection of course management software packages on the market. This has created much debate over what brand of course management system a university should choose. Is WebCT better than Topclass? How does Domino Lotus compare to WebCT and BlackBoard? Many institutions have tried to compare and contrast different course management systems in order to make a decision. While some institutions have elected to use one or more off-the-shelf course management systems, others have developed their own software. The selection or development of the “right” course management system for an educational institution is probably one of the most difficult decisions that information technology administrators have to make. It is not like deciding on the selection of Netscape versus Internet Explorer or WordPerfect versus Microsoft Word. It is substantially more complicated due to the fact that a course management environment should function as an enterprise system, able to link to or include many services and resources already in place in the university. This includes student registration, course offering catalogs, computing account IDs, personal Web servers, student information systems, and library resources, as well as file servers. Failure to link with these resources will create an expensive, difficultto-use, and resource-intensive course management environment. A well-designed course management system should include or share resources with the existing services. Many information technology administrators may not yet understand the importance of a welldesigned course management system, and often they have deployed systems without understanding the conceptual framework behind them, or defining the functional and technical requirements of the university. 1331 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033-1117, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
Self-stabilizing algorithm for two disjoint minimal dominating sets

Abstract We propose a new self stabilizing algorithm to compute two mutually disjoint minimal dominating sets in an arbitrary graph G with no isolates (this is always possible due to famous Ore's theorem in [1] that says “In a graph having no isolated nodes, the complement of any minimal dominating set is a dominating set”). We use an unfair central daemon and unique ids of the nodes. The time complexity of our algorithm is O ( n 3 ) , an improvement by a factor of n from that of [2] , that uses same assumptions to design an O ( n 4 ) algorithm, where n is the number of nodes in G. The algorithm uses the concept of running two copies of an algorithm in an interleaving manner such that the state spaces of the two copies are always kept mutually disjoint. We expect our approach will prove useful in designing algorithms for other mutually disjoint predicates in a network graph.
A compact high resolution flat panel PET detector based on the new 4-side buttable MPPC for biomedical applications

Compact high-resolution panel detectors using virtual pinhole (VP) PET geometry can be inserted into existing clinical or pre-clinical PET systems to improve regional spatial resolution and sensitivity. Here we describe a compact panel PET detector built using the new Though Silicon Via (TSV) multi-pixel photon counters (MPPC) detector. This insert provides high spatial resolution and good timing performance for multiple bio-medical applications. Because the TSV MPPC design eliminates wire bonding and has a package dimension which is very close to the MPPC's active area, it is 4-side buttable. The custom designed MPPC array (based on Hamamatsu S12641-PA-50(x)) used in the prototype is composed of 4 × 4 TSV-MPPC cells with a 4.46 mm pitch in both directions. The detector module has 16 × 16 lutetium yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystal array, with each crystal measuring 0.92 × 0.92 × 3 mm3 with 1.0 mm pitch. The outer diameter of the detector block is 16.8 × 16.8 mm2. Thirty-two such blocks will be arranged in a 4 × 8 array with 1 mm gaps to form a panel detector with detection area around 7 cm × 14 cm in the full-size detector. The flood histogram acquired with Ge-68 source showed excellent crystal separation capability with all 256 crystals clearly resolved. The detector module's mean, standard deviation, minimum (best) and maximum (worst) energy resolution were 10.19%, +/-0.68%, 8.36% and 13.45% FWHM, respectively. The measured coincidence time resolution between the block detector and a fast reference detector (around 200 ps single photon timing resolution) was 0.95 ns. When tested with Siemens Cardinal electronics the performance of the detector blocks remain consistent. These results demonstrate that the TSV-MPPC is a promising photon sensor for use in a flat panel PET insert composed of many high resolution compact detector modules.
Estamos preparados para el cambio

En este trabajo trataremos de acercarnos a los principales elementos que conforman la edicion de libros y plantearemos algunas propuestas respecto a las posibilidades de participar del cambio tecnologico. Para ello, partiremos de algunas definiciones importantes vinculadas al mundo de la edicion, realizaremos un breve analisis de la estructura y del proceso productivo, definiremos algunos de las nuevas herramientas y enfocaremos las propuestas en aquellos espacios donde es posible participar del cambio. Nuestra intencion es, fundamentalmente, medir el impacto del cambio tecnologico a partir de las condiciones actuales del mercado.
Differential nuclear-spin-dependent light shifts and state mixing of Rydberg atoms

In this paper we present a detailed analysis of the nuclear-spin manifolds associated with the $ns$ Rydberg levels of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms that interact with both magnetic and optical lattice fields. Eigenvalues and eigenkets for the Rydberg manifold are obtained and used to study the dynamics of phase-matched emission following illumination of an ensemble of cold atoms with excitation and readout laser pulses. By comparing the measured emission signal to predictions of a model that accounts for the quantized motion of atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice potential, we are able to extract the Rydberg hyperfine and light shift contributions to the observed modulation frequencies. In this way the hyperfine splitting of Rydberg $ns$ levels is measured for $n$ in the range of 30 to 65. Our results should be relevant for realizations of high-fidelity Rydberg qubits confined in optical potentials.
Probing the two-neutrino exchange force using atomic parity violation

The exchange of two neutrinos at one loop leads to a long-range parity-violating force between fermions. We explore the two-neutrino force in the backdrop of atomic physics. We point out that this is the largest parity-violating long-range force in the Standard Model and calculate the effect of this force in experiments that probe atomic parity violation by measuring optical rotation of light as it passes through a sample of vaporized atoms. We perform explicit calculations for the hydrogen atom to demonstrate this effect. Although we find that the effect is too small to be observed in hydrogen in the foreseeable future, our approach may be applied to other setups where long-range parity violation is large enough to be probed experimentally.
Economic Considerations for Dynamic Spectrum Access Decisions

The advent of commercial fifth generation (5G) and advanced government systems is exponentially increasing near-term demand for wireless service, yet radio frequency (RF) spectrum remains a practically finite supply. The balance between public, private, and unlicensed spectrum use is now at a critical point where systematic approaches need to be identified and applied to balance the multitude of growing demands on spectrum resources. The economic value of spectrum and spectrum access will be a key element of helping spectrum stakeholders make decisions to efficiently and effectively manage spectrum. Economic analysis can inform decision-makers about the impacts of investments, tradeoffs, and alternatives to support more efficient and effective use of spectrum.This conceptual paper highlights economic assessments to enable more flexibility within the spectrum space through the introduction of sharing and dynamic spectrum access (DSA) systems. It applies economic principles that can be leveraged to balance the allocation of federal and non-federal spectrum. The paper then discusses two complementary approaches for quantifying impacts – to reach a risk-reward balance – of DSA decisions. Decision-makers can choose the approach, or combination of approaches, most applicable to their environment. Such techniques can be applied to assess alternative scenarios or use cases to inform upfront spectrum decisions regarding sharing and DSA systems.
An updated genetic marker for detection of Lake Sinai Virus and metagenetic applications.

Background Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common RNA viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is known about their distribution in other species. Better understanding of LSV prevalence and ecology have been hampered by high sequence diversity within the LSV clade. Methods Here we report a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that is compatible with currently known lineages with minimal primer degeneracy, producing an expected 365 bp amplicon suitable for end-point PCR and metagenetic sequencing. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform, we performed pilot metagenetic assessments of three sample sets, each representing a distinct variable that might structure LSV diversity (geography, tissue, and species). Results The first sample set in our pilot assessment compared cDNA pools from managed A. mellifera hives in California (n = 8) and Maryland (n = 6) that had previously been evaluated for LSV2, confirming that the primers co-amplify divergent lineages in real-world samples. The second sample set included cDNA pools derived from different tissues (thorax vs. abdomen, n = 24 paired samples), collected from managed A. mellifera hives in North Dakota. End-point detection of LSV frequently differed between the two tissue types; LSV metagenetic composition was similar in one pair of sequenced samples but divergent in a second pair. Overall, LSV1 and intermediate lineages were common in these samples whereas variants clustering with LSV2 were rare. The third sample set included cDNA from individual pollinator specimens collected from diverse landscapes in the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska. We detected LSV in the bee Halictus ligatus (four of 63 specimens tested, 6.3%) at a similar rate as A. mellifera (nine of 115 specimens, 7.8%), but only one H. ligatus sequencing library yielded sufficient data for compositional analysis. Sequenced samples often contained multiple divergent LSV lineages, including individual specimens. While these studies were exploratory rather than statistically powerful tests of hypotheses, they illustrate the utility of high-throughput sequencing for understanding LSV transmission within and among species.
Clascoterone: A Novel Topical Androgen Receptor Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acne.

Objective:To review the efficacy and safety of clascoterone 1% cream for the treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.Data Sources:A literature search through PubMed, MEDLIN...
Imperial Hunting and the Sublime: Race, Caste, and Aesthetics in the Central Himalayas

AbstractThis article examines the relationship between imperial hunting and the sublime through the historical analysis of race, caste, and aesthetics in the Central Himalayas. Reading Raja Rudra D...
Detectability of Artificial Lights from Proxima b

We investigate the possibility of detecting artificial lights from Proxima b's dark side by computing light curves from the planet and its host star. The two different scenarios we consider are artificial illumination with the same spectrum as commonly used LEDs on Earth, and a narrower spectrum which leads to the same proportion of light as the total artificial illumination on Earth. We find that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be able to detect LED type artificial lights making up 5% of stellar power with 85% confidence, assuming photon-limited precision. In order for JWST to detect the current level of artificial illumination on Earth, the spectral band must be 10^3 times narrower. Our predictions require optimal performance from the NIRSpec instrument, and even if not possible with JWST, future observatories like LUVOIR might be able to detect this artificial illumination.
Duodenal ulcer bleeding led to the first diagnosis of testicular cancer.

Worldwide, testicular cancer contributes to 1%–2% of all cancers in men[1][1] and is also the most common malignancy in young adult men.[2][2] Review of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results programme database from 1975 to 2015 revealed that in the USA, the incidence of testicular cancer
Evolution of Driver Behavior in the Presence of Automated Vehicles

While Automated Vehicles (AVs) are predicted to integrate into public roads sooner than expected, a completely connected, automated driving environment with no human-driven vehicles is yet to come. In light of this, a growing number of studies have focused on evaluating AVs' impact on the safety and efficiency of the transportation systems in a mixed traffic environment with both automated and traditional vehicles. However, the main assumption in most of these studies is that humans' behavior remains the same under repeated cycles of human-AV interactions over time. Adopting the theory of evolution in game settings, the present study develops a simulation framework to investigate potential changes in humans' behavior with the advent of automated vehicles. A mixed traffic environment is simulated where agents randomly interact with each other and play Stag-Hunt games while keeping track of their observations over time. AVs are assumed to be cooperative actors, while humans can either act individually and guarantee a predefined amount of payoff or take some risks and cooperate with their partner seeking higher benefits. Simulation results indicate that beyond social norms, humans' behavior depends on a measure of trust and what they believe about other actors in the system. If AVs' driving behavior offers sensible benefits over that of humans, repeated cycles of human-AV interactions over time can redefine trust levels and lower the associated risks of behavioral changes for humans. As individual beliefs change, humans may start to show different behaviors as well. It is thus crucial to account for the potential changes in humans' behavior when evaluating the overall impact of AVs on traffic flow dynamics.
Sumoylation of the human histone H4 tail inhibits p300-mediated transcription by RNA polymerase II in cellular extracts

The post-translational modification of histones by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein has been associated with gene regulation, centromeric localization, and double-strand break repair in eukaryotes. Although sumoylation of histone H4 was specifically associated with gene repression, this could not be proven due to the challenge of site-specifically sumoylating H4 in cells. Biochemical crosstalk between SUMO and other histone modifications, such as H4 acetylation and H3 methylation, that are associated with active genes also remains unclear. We addressed these challenges in mechanistic studies using an H4 chemically modified at Lys12 by SUMO-3 (H4K12su) and incorporated into mononucleosomes and chromatinized plasmids for functional studies. Mononucleosome-based assays revealed that H4K12su inhibits transcription-activating H4 tail acetylation by the histone acetyltransferase p300, as well as transcription-associated H3K4 methylation by the extended catalytic module of the Set1/COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1) histone methyltransferase complex. Activator- and p300-dependent in vitro transcription assays with chromatinized plasmids revealed that H4K12su inhibits both H4 tail acetylation and RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Finally, cell-based assays with a SUMO-H4 fusion that mimics H4 tail sumoylation confirmed the negative crosstalk between histone sumoylation and acetylation/methylation. Thus, our studies establish the key role for histone sumoylation in gene silencing and its negative biochemical crosstalk with active transcription-associated marks in human cells.
The Time to Advocate for Influenza Vaccines in Patients with Cirrhosis is Now.

Abstract Background and Aim The effect of an influenza infection on patients with cirrhosis remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the rate of influenza hospitalizations, influenza associated complications, and healthcare outcomes in patients with and without cirrhosis. Methods Utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2005 and 2013, hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of influenza were identified. Patients with cirrhosis were classified as compensated or decompensated based on the Baveno criteria. Multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate complications of influenza, inpatient mortality and healthcare utilization including length of stay and cost of admission. Results In total, 236,513 patients with a diagnosis of influenza were admitted during the study period, including 1,553 (0.66%) with cirrhosis. Of those with cirrhosis, 1,176 (75.7%) were compensated and 377 (24.3%) were decompensated. On multivariable analysis, influenza patients with cirrhosis had a higher total cost of admission [$1,030; CI: $710-$1,351] compared to the general population. Influenza patients with decompensated cirrhosis had a longer length of stay [1.92 days; CI:1.63-2.21], higher total cost of admission [$5,005; CI: $4,459-$5,551] and increased rates of influenza complications [OR: 2.56; CI:1.32-4.93] compared to patients with compensated cirrhosis. Conclusions Patients with cirrhosis have increased healthcare utilization when admitted with influenza compared to the general population. Providers must advocate for patients with cirrhosis to obtain the influenza vaccine.
Managing digital repositories through an ontology-based design

The conventional design of digital repository systems provides little flexibility and is often difficult to scale and customize. The authors analyzed the causes for inflexibility and difficulties in managing digital repository systems and proposed an ontology-based design in managing digital repository systems in this paper. The ontology focuses on the system controls that manage a wide array of functions such as object data, user access control, and rights management. The authors used an instance in the Object class to demonstrate how the ontology can be used to reduce the difficulties in conventional design of repository systems.
Novel substitutions in the σ54-dependent activator DctD that increase dependence on upstream activation sequences or uncouple ATP hydrolysis from transcriptional activation

Sinorhizobium meliloti DctD is an activator of sigma(54)-RNA polymerase holoenzyme and member of the AAA+ superfamily of ATPases. DctD uses energy released from ATP hydrolysis to stimulate the isomerization of a closed promoter complex to an open complex. DctD binds to upstream activation sequences (UAS) and contacts the closed complex through DNA looping to activate transcription, but the UAS is not essential for activation if DctD is expressed at higher than normal levels. Introduction of specific substitutions within or near the conserved ESELFG motif in the C3 region of a truncated, constitutively active form of DctD produced several mutant forms of the protein that had increased dependence on the UAS for activation. Removing the DNA-binding domain from one UAS-dependent mutant and from one activation-deficient mutant significantly increased transcriptional activation, indicating that the DNA-binding domain interfered with the activities of these mutant proteins. A UAS-dependent mutant with a P315L substitution in the C6 region was identified from a genetic screen. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of conserved amino acid residues around Pro-315 produced two additional UAS-dependent mutants as well as several mutants that failed to activate transcription but retained ATPase activity. In contrast to the two mutant proteins with substitutions in the C3 region, removal of the DNA-binding domain from the mutant proteins with substitutions in the C6 region did not stimulate their activity. The residues in the C6 region that were altered are in a probable hinge region between the alpha/beta and alpha-helical subdomains of the AAA+ domain. The alpha-helical subdomain contains the sensor II helix that has been implicated in other AAA+ proteins as sensing changes in the nucleotide during the hydrolysis cycle. Substitutions in the hinge region may have abolished nucleotide sensing by interfering with subdomain interactions, altering the relative orientation of the sensor II helix or interfering with oligomerization of the protein.
Method development and strategy for the characterization of complexly faulted and fractured rhyolitic tuffs, Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

Field experimental and analytical methods development is underway to define the hydraulic and transport properties of a thick saturated zone that underlies the planned high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The characterization strategy for the highly heterogeneous hydrology is that of hypothesis testing and confidence building. Three test wells, the UE-25c-holes, have been drilled and preliminary data have been collected. Hydro-mechanical analyses indicate formation fluid at depth is hydraulically connected to the water table. Preliminary hydraulic tests indicate highly localized, fracture-controlled transmissivity. Cross-hole seismic tomography is planned to assess the inter-borehole structure of fractures and faults. Multi-level cross-hole hydraulic interference and tracer tests are planned using up to 5 packed-off zones in each of the c-holes to assess the hydraulic conductivity and transport structure in a crude tomographic fashion. An equivalent discontinuum model conditioned with the observed hydraulic measurements will be applied to interpret the hydraulic test responses. As an approach to the scale problem the tests will be designed and analyzed to examine the hypothesis that the flow system may be represented by fractal geometry. 12 refs., 4 figs.
Koenig, Seymour H.: I. I. Rabi, F. Bloch, E. M. Purcell, and the History of NMR and Relaxometry

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction: Rabi and NMR in Atomic and Molecular Beams 2 Bloch, Purcell, and NMR in Condensed Matter 3 ESR in Beams, NMR in Water, and the Anomalous Electron g-Value 4 Relaxometry and Relaxometers 5 Biogrpahical Sketch
Client server access: wired vs. wireless LEO Satellite-ATM connectivity; a (MS-Ro-BAC) experiment

This research tested a different approach to Secure RBAC in a post 911 environment. In order to defend the United States against enemies foreign and domestic; it is crucial that combat forces are equipped with the best communication equipment available. 21 years technology experience in a military environment supports this research and contributes an ideology that could revolutionize the government communication process. The “Mobile Secure Role Base Access Control” (MS-Ro-BAC) Network is a system designed to access secure global databases via wireless communication platforms [2]. This research involved the development of a (MS-Ro-BAC) Database, for wireless vs. wired access connectivity. Proprietary software was developed for authenticating with the server system. 40 database access scenarios were tested during day and night hours, for performance. The Iridium Satellite gateway was ineffective as a communication service to efficiently access the database in a global strategic environment.
The Ascetic and the Vixen

Sakharov A Biography. Richard Lourie. Brandeis University Press (University Press of New England), Hanover, NH, 2002. 495 pp. $30, £21. ISBN 1-58465-207-1. Although this account of the Soviet physicist and dissident does not focus on science, Lourie shows that his subject9s varied life was grounded on a consistent set of beliefs and practices.
Measuring Illegal Immigration at US Border Stations by Sampling from a Flow of 500 Million Travelers

Five hundred million travelers enter the US yearly at a Port of Entry (POE) after an Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) interview. We describe a general method for sampling from a flow, and summarize results from random reinspections of travelers at 20 POEs. Analyses reveal that 47 in 5614 travelers (0.8% ± 0.24%) were erroneously granted entry. Results suggest INS intercepts 9.3% to 16.0% of travelers attempting illegal entry at a POE, and that INS mistakenly admits 2.95 to 5.45 million illegal immigrants at POEs annually. Additional applications of our sampling method (e.g., for quality control, population studies) are briefly discussed.
How Many Kinds of Glue Hold the Social World Together

In recent years, theorists have debated how we introduce new social objects and kinds into the world. Searle, for instance, proposes that they are introduced by collective acceptance of a constitutive rule; Millikan and Elder that they are the products of reproduction processes; Thomasson that they result from creator intentions and subsequent intentional reproduction; and so on. In this chapter, I argue against the idea that there is a single generic method or set of requirements for doing so. Instead, there is a variety of what I call “anchoring schemas,” or methods by which new social kinds are generated. Not only are social kinds a diverse lot, but the metaphysical explanation for their being the kinds they are is diverse as well. I explain the idea of anchoring and present examples of social kinds that are similar to one another but that are anchored in different ways. I also respond to Millikan’s argument that there is only one kind of “glue” that is “sticky enough” for holding together kinds. I argue that no anchoring schema will work in all environments. It is a contingent matter which schemas are successful for anchoring new social kinds, and an anchoring schema need only be “sticky enough” for practical purposes in a given environment.
Safeguarding Primary Healthcare: A Case Study of Barbados

The concept of primary health care has regained prominence as many countries around the globe face rising health costs and failed health systems. This study examines Barbados, a developing country in the eastern Caribbean, which has consistently included the concept of primary health care in all of its development plans. Based on the government's stated commitment to Health for All, this review was conducted to examine whether this focus has prevailed. The purpose of this paper was to identify some of the advancements or reversals of primary health care policy in Barbados.
Regional analgesia for improvement of long-term functional outcome after elective large joint replacement

Background Regional analgesia is more effective than conventional analgesia for controlling pain and may facilitate rehabilitation after large joint replacement in the short term. It remains unclear if regional anaesthesia improves functional outcomes after joint replacement beyond three months after surgery. Objectives To assess the effects of regional anaesthesia and analgesia on long-term functional outcomes 3, 6 and 12 months after elective major joint (knee, shoulder and hip) replacement surgery. Search methods We performed an electronic search of several databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL), and handsearched reference lists and conference abstracts. We updated our search in June 2015. Selection criteria We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing regional analgesia versus conventional analgesia in patients undergoing total shoulder, hip or knee replacement. We included studies that reported a functional outcome with a follow-up of at least three months after surgery. Data collection and analysis We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We contacted study authors for additional information. Main results We included six studies with 350 participants followed for at least three months. All of these studies enrolled participants undergoing total knee replacement. Studies were at least partially blinded. Three studies had a high risk of performance bias and one a high risk of attrition bias, but the risk of bias was otherwise unclear or low. Only one study assessed joint function using a global score. Due to heterogeneity in outcome and reporting, we could only pool three out of six RCTs, with range of motion assessed at three months after surgery used as a surrogate for joint function. All studies had a high risk of detection bias. Using the random-effects model, there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups (mean difference 3.99 degrees, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 2.23 to 10.21; P value = 0.21, 3 studies, 140 participants, very low quality evidence). We did not perform further analyses because immediate adverse effects were not part of the explicit outcomes of any of these typically small studies, and long-term adverse events after regional anaesthesia are rare. None of the included studies elicited or reported long-term adverse effects like persistent nerve damage. Authors' conclusions More high-quality studies are needed to establish the effects of regional analgesia on function after major joint replacement, as well as on the risk of adverse events (falls).
An Eocene Big Bang for Bats

Although bats constitute more than 20% of living mammal species, little is known about their evolutionary history. In a Perspective, [Simmons][1] discusses a new bat phylogenetic tree ([ Teeling et al .][2]) that sheds light on the evolution of the only mammals capable of both flight and echolocation. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/307/5709/527 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/307/5709/580
Scattering of an arbitrary plane wave by a dielectric wedge: Integral equations and fields near the edge

[1] The behavior of the field components near the edge has been shown to be that of the static fields, which is derived here without rigor for an infinite wedge. Fields scattered by a finite dielectric wedge illuminated by an arbitrary plane monochromatic wave are computed using either singular or hypersingular integral equations (SIEs or HIEs), derived by the single integral equation method. Field components are then computed near the edge of a finite wedge. Longitudinal components of the fields behave like constants, other components of the electric field behave like those in the transverse magnetic mode, and other components of the magnetic field behave like those in the transverse electric mode. Exceptions occur when approaching the wedge along the bisector. Boundary functions and transverse field components computed with SIEs rise more sharply than predicted approaching the edge after a range in which the agreement with those computed with HIEs is good.
Modeling energy expenditure associated with isometric, concentric, and eccentric muscle action at the knee.

This study was designed to derive and test a model of energy expenditure (dE/dt) during different modes of human muscle actionin vivo dE/dt for the quadriceps muscle was expressed as: dEquad/dt=K1(ω)+K2(Tiso)+dW/dt, where K1 and K2 are constants, (ω) is joint angular velocity (o/sec), (Tiso) represents the knee extension torque that could be developed by the active muscle if the muscle action were isometric (N-m), and (dW/dt) is the rate of work performed (W). Volunteers performed a series of repetitive 2- to 4-min knee extension exercises, while varying either the knee extension torque or velocity. The average joint torque, angular velocity, rate of work performed, and net energy expenditure (E) above resting and dE/dt were determined for each muscle action. The best fit values for K1 and K2 for concentric, eccentric, and isometric muscle actions were 0.044, −0.55, and 0 W/c/sec, and 4.14, 5.28, and 2.17 W/N-m, respectively. The coefficients of determination (r 2) for the model predictions of dEquad/dt for the three modes of muscle action were 0.78, 0.71, and 0.71, respectively. The correlation coefficient between predicted and experimental dE/dt for all modes of muscle action combined was 0.93. These findings indicate the model provides a useful tool for predicting the rate of energy expenditure associated with cyclic knee extension efforts.
Calibration of Platoon Dispersion Parameters on the Basis of Link Travel Time Statistics

A calibration technique for platoon dispersion parameters for the widely used TRANSYT platoon dispersion model is presented. This technique calibrates platoon dispersion factor, travel time factor, and smoothing factor directly from the average link travel time and its standard deviation and can capture practically all of the roadway and traffic conditions in the field such as road grades, curvature, parking, opposing flow interference, traffic volume, and other sources of impedance. The technique is especially suited for applications in advanced traffic management system networks in which the required link travel time data could be obtained on a real-time basis. TRANSYT's implementation of two scenarios is examined. The first scenario inputs the calibrated platoon dispersion parameter, with the result being that the smoothing factor used by TRANSYT is different from the calibrated parameter. The second scenario inputs a revised platoon dispersion factor, which is designed to make the smoothing factor used by TRANSYT identical to the calibrated parameter. This examination induces a recommendation that the TRANSYT input card or its internal calculation procedure for platoon dispersion be revised so that the average link travel time in the geometric distributed platoon dispersion model is consistent with those from the same model. The calibration of platoon dispersion parameters with field-collected link travel time data shows that platoon dispersion parameters are different for different standard deviations of link travel times even on the same street, and, therefore, the platoon dispersion parameters must be calibrated on a site-specific basis.
Green tea and risk of breast cancer in Asian Americans.

There is substantial in vitro and in vivo evidence implicating tea polyphenols as chemopreventive agents against various cancers. However, epidemiologic data obtained from mainly Western populations are not supportive of a protective role of tea, mainly black tea, in the etiology of breast cancer. Much less is known about the relationship between green tea and breast cancer risk. During 1995-1998, we conducted a population-based, case-control study of breast cancer among Chinese, Japanese and Filipino women in Los Angeles County and successfully interviewed 501 breast cancer patients and 594 control subjects. Detailed information on menstrual and reproductive factors; dietary habits, including intake of black and green tea; and other lifestyle factors was collected. Risk of breast cancer was not related to black tea consumption. In contrast, green tea drinkers showed a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer, and this was maintained after adjusting for age, specific Asian ethnicity, birthplace, age at menarche, parity, menopausal status, use of menopausal hormones, body size and intake of total calories and black tea. Compared to women who did not drink green tea regularly (i.e., less than once a month), there was a significant trend of decreasing risk with increasing amount of green tea intake, adjusted odds ratios being 1.00, 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.99) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.35-0.78), respectively, in association with no, 0-85.7 and >85.7 ml of green tea per day. The significant inverse association between risk of breast cancer and green tea intake remained after further adjustment for other potential confounders, including smoking; alcohol, coffee and black tea intake; family history of breast cancer; physical activity; and intake of soy and dark green vegetables. While both green tea and soy intake had significant, independent protective effects on breast cancer risk, the benefit of green tea was primarily observed among subjects who were low soy consumers. Similarly, the protective effect of soy was primarily observed among subjects who were nondrinkers of green tea. In summary, our results point to an important role of both green tea and soy intake in relation to breast cancer risk in Asian-American women.
String fluid dynamics in general relativity

The general, energy-momentum tensor for a dynamical, string fluid in general relativity is presented using the Ray-Hilbert variational principle. The calculations are given for both the standard and the extended thermodynamics versions in which the latter includes the string as thermodynamic variables. In general relativity, it is shown that the string does not Fermi-Walker transport. Examples of solutions to the field equations are given and compared with solutions obtained from the postulated energy-momentum tensor of Letelier.
Minimum Stress Design of Nozzles in Pressure Vessel Heads

In the early design stage of pressure vessels the configuration of the piping systems is not yet established; hence forces transmitted by the piping systems to the nozzles in the pressure vessels cannot be determined. This often leads to the design of nozzles in pressure vessels guided by consideration of pressure loadings such as the area-replacement method. However, it is true that in many cases the stresses due to external loads can be more critical than those due to the internal pressure. Therefore, engineers often redesign the piping system several times by adding more pipe bends or special restraints for a hot piping system to reduce the reactions at a previously designed nozzle so that the resulting stresses at the nozzle are within the acceptable limit. This paper introduces a rational mechanism whereby the stresses due to the unforeseen external loads can be minimized in the early design stage of the nozzle. An appropriate analysis is discussed which is based on the classical thin shell theory.