cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
[Epidemiological characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou]

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of the disease. Methods: The data of imported COVID-19 in Guangzhou reported as of April 1, 2020 were collected from National Notifiable Disease Report System of China. The software Excel 2010 and SPSS 19.0 were applied for data cleaning and statistical analysis. Results: As of April 1, 2020, a total of 103 imported COVID-19 cases had been reported in Guangzhou, in which 92 were confirmed cases and 11 were asymptomatic infection cases. The number of the confirmed imported cases accounted for 11.4% (92/806) in of the total in China at the same time. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.58∶1 (63∶40). The median age of the cases was 31 years (P(25)-P(75):22-40 years), range of age was 11-63 years. The main occupational distributions of the cases were business services (41/103, 39.8%) and students (36/103, 35.0%). The imported cases whose destinations were 19 provinces and municipalities rather than Guangdong after entering the country accounted for 43.7%. The main source countries of infections were the United Kingdom (27/103, 26.2%), the Philippines (13/103, 12.6%), the United States (13/103, 12.6%) and Nigeria (7/103, 6.8%). There were 34 inbound flights from which the imported COVID-19 cases were detected, in which 10 flights (10/34, 29.4%) were found to carry more than 3 cases, with an average voyage time of (11.14±0.53) hours. A total of 29 imported cases(28.2%) showed symptoms before entering the country, and 65 cases (63.1%) had been isolated before the onset of the disease. The mean free activity time of the isolated cases after the onset was (6.76±0.79) days. The average number of the imported cases' close contacts was 53. There were 13 clusters of COVID-19 caused by the imported cases, involving 36 cases (including 1 imported associated case). Conclusions: The sources of the imported COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou were widely distributed, and no cases had been found to be infected on the flights. In the early stage of the imported epidemic, there was high risk for the spread of the epidemic. Strengthened prevention and control of imported COVID-19 effectively reduced the of transmission risk of COVID-19 in communities.
Mobile Per-app Security Settings

Mobile apps should be deployed with care because they can pose substantial risk to enterprise organizations due to their potential to contain exploitable vulnerabilities, malicious code, or privacy-violating behaviors. Even apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play are not free of these risks. Mobile app vetting solutions can automate analysis of third-party mobile apps to help enterprises determine whether an app is safe to deploy on their mobile devices, but this is primarily a human-driven process which is time consuming. A new, automated approach called continuous app vetting is emerging that attempts to automate this entire process through use of app behavior rulesets and enforcement via enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. This study sought to develop a set of configurations and rulesets for continuous app vetting to be used by enterprises to identify potentially malicious, exploitable, or privacy-violating behavior of apps; define rulesets governing acceptable/unacceptable mobile app behavior; and describe how to apply mitigations individually to apps via EMM.
Rapid and simple assembly of a thin microfluidic fuel cell stack by gas-assisted thermal bonding

Abstract The rapid growth of portable systems has recently been a driving force behind the efforts for fuel cell (FC) miniaturization. However, approaches taken to scale down conventional FC architectures face the challenge of inefficient utilization of volume and mass. In this paper, we present the technique of gas-assisted thermal bonding (GATB) as a rapid and simple assembly method for constructing FCs with high specific power density. As a proof-of-concept, we use thin polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates to demonstrate that GATB can be used to seal a porous template within thin polymer substrates to assemble microfluidic devices. This approach is then adopted to directly laminate gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) with proton exchange membranes (PEMs) to create a microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) based on the membrane itself. The device is composed of two identical cells that are connected in parallel and share a hydrogen-fed microchannel that feeds a common anode chamber. The stack is conditioned with humidified gas and is characterized under different hydrogen flow rates. Finally, the stack specific power density (1131 mW cm−3) is compared with several represantative reports on air-breathing FCs. The GATB method in this work offers a simple, one-step unitized construction approach for flexible devices, in which the package is integral with the functional parts of the device.
An Introduction to US Monetary Policy

This study examines the history and operation of the Federal Reserve System (“the Fed”). It explores the Fed’s origins in American economic history and emphasizes the political compromises that produced it. It seeks to provide an accessible explanation of how the Fed attempts to change the money supply and of the structural challenges it faces as it attempts to get the money supply correct. The paper uses the framework thereby developed to examine recent monetary policy, including quantitative easing. Inflation and deflation result when the Fed creates too much or too little money, and the study discusses the causes and costs of both in detail. The paper concludes with an examination of alternatives to central banking, including the gold standard and a system of competition in money production known as free banking.
The Logic of Microaggressions Assumes a Racist Society.

This commentary draws attention to core assumptions about the nature of society that underlie the current debate on microaggressions. For proponents of microaggression research, the starting assump...
Remittances and Intra-Household Allocation in Northern Ghana: Does Gender Matter?

Existing studies of the impact of migrant remittances on sending households assume that remittances flow to a unified household, in which the household head receives remittances and makes decisions about their use. Thus, the identities of the remitter and recipient do not matter for the impacts of remittances on household resource allocation. Motivated by the feminization of migration flows in sub-Saharan Africa, this paper draws on qualitative and quantitative data generated during field research on the rural-urban migration of women in Ghana to show that gendered social norms of household provisioning lend a gender component to the intrahousehold flow of remittances. For example, female migrants prefer to send remittances to other women, creating female-centered networks of remittance flows within the household. To determine the effect of this on intra-household resource allocation, I analyze the impact of remittances from female migrants on household education expenditure. I find that migrant households in which women are the primary remitter or recipient of remittances spend significantly more on education per child of school-going age than do other migrant households. By incorporating the role of social norms in shaping remittance flows within the household, this research expands our understanding of how gender influences migration outcomes.
Fluorescent in situ mRNA detection in the adult mouse cochlea.

Summary Ossification and the delicateness of the cochlear duct make histologic assessments of the mature cochlea a challenging endeavor. Treatments to soften the bone facilitate sectioning and dissection of the cochlear duct but limit in situ mRNA detection in such specimens. Here, we provide a protocol for in situ mRNA detection using hybridization chain reaction in whole-mount preparations of the adult mouse cochlea. We show examples for multi-probe detection of different mRNAs and describe combination of this method with conventional immunohistochemistry.
A Clinical Study of the Effect of Estradiol Valerate on Sleep Disorders, Negative Emotions, and Quality of Life in Perimenopausal Women.

In this prospective study, we randomly divided 100 patients with perimenopausal syndrome equally into the control group (n = 50) receiving conventional treatment and the study group (n = 50) receiving estradiol valerate. The indicators observed were endometrial thickness, uterine volume, and the levels of LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and E2 (estradiol) of the patients before and after treatment. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety/Depression Scale (HAMA/HAMD), Kupperman symptom score, and menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) were also applied to assess the sleep quality, negative emotions, severity of the condition, and quality of life of all patients, respectively. Our findings were that estradiol valerate is beneficial in improving serum sex hormone levels, sleep disturbances, negative mood, and quality of life in patients with perimenopausal syndrome and that its safety profile is high enough to warrant clinical promotion.
Application of Linear Predictive Analysis in Ultrasonic Grain Signal Characterization

In ultrasonic grain size characterization, grain signals are the only tangible results that can be obtained directly from grain scattering in the specimen. Grain scattering results in an upward shift in the expected frequency of broadband, returned ultrasonic echoes, while the attenuation effect influences the frequency shift in a downward direction. Both the upward and downward shifts are closely related to the grain structures of the materials. In this paper, the second order linear predictive method is used to characterize the spectral shift by utilizing of features such as resonating frequency, system poles and linear predictive coefficients. The feasibility of applying pattern recognition techniques based on these features are discussed and supported by simulated computer and experimental results.
Design for a Distributed Information Network

A computer network is an interconnected set of dependent or independent computer systems which communicate with each other in order to share certain resources such as programs or data—and/or for load sharing and reliability reasons.
A Limit to the Power of Multiple Nucleation in Self-assembly

Majumder, Reif and Sahu presented in [7] a model of reversible, error-permitting tile self-assembly, and showed that restricted classes of tile assembly systems achieved equilibrium in (expected) polynomial time. One open question they asked was how the model would change if it permitted multiple nucleation, i.e.,independent groups of tiles growing before attaching to the original seed assembly. This paper provides a partial answer, by proving that no tile assembly model can use multiple nucleation to achieve speedup from polynomial time to constant time without sacrificing computational power: if a tile assembly system $\mathcal{T}$ uses multiple nucleation to tile a surface in constant time (independent of the size of the surface), then $\mathcal{T}$ is unable to solve computational problems that have low complexity in the (single-seeded) Winfree-Rothemund Tile Assembly Model. The proof technique defines a new model of distributed computing that simulates tile assembly, so a tile assembly model can be described as a distributed computing model.
Intra-Firm Bargaining and Wage Dynamics: A Model of Asymmetric Learning

This paper develops a bargaining model between employers and workers that is driven by asymmetric information between current employers and potential employers. Both the current employer and the worker have the same information regarding the worker's productivity. This information is not available to outside firms which observe only wages. Existing literature on asymmetric information between current and potential employers typically assumes that workers are price takers, and develops job signaling models. In equilibrium, wages are attached to publicly observable characteristics. High and low ability workers in the same job earn the same wages. This result prompts a question: Why are high productivity workers not able to capture a larger portion of the surplus than less productive workers? I develop a wage signaling model in which workers and employers bargain over wages that addresses this question, and analyze how the market learns about employed workers skills. This model generates a semi-separating equilibrium. More able workers compensate their employers by earning lower wages in the first period to elicit higher future offers from outside firms. These workers' wages depend on their actual productivity. Outside firms observe wages and infer these workers' productivity. They then make offers equal to the worker's productivity and the current employer matches the offers. Less able workers for whom it is too costly to reveal ability through wages earn a wage below their productivity in all periods. I then show that this model of bargaining can generate predictions consistent with several regularities in wage patterns of managers within firms. Existing literature which explains empirical findings on wage dynamics in internal labor markets mainly focuses on incentive models or models in which wages are determined in spot markets (JEL J3, C78,D82, D83).
Superconductors, Metallurgy of Ductile Alloys

The sections in this article are 1 The Nb–Ti Alloy System 2 The Conventional Process 3 The APC Process 4 2 K Operation
Filling-in the gaps: The shape of subjective contours and a model for their generation

The properties of isotropy, smoothness, minimum curvature and locality suggest the shape of filled-in contours between two boundary edges. The contours are composed of the arcs of two circles tangent to the given edges, meeting smoothly, and minimizing the total curvature. It is shown that shapes meeting all the above requirement can be generated by a network which performs simple, local computations. It is suggested that the filling-in process plays an important role in the early processing of visual information.
Editorial Board Changes

There have been some changes in the Editorial Board since the last issue. Dr. Melondie Carter, from The University of Alabama, has completed her term on the Board as has Ms. Kathy Crooks from Medicine Hat College in Alberta, Canada. We have added three new Board Members.
Robust Interaction Control of a Mobile Manipulator – Dynamic Model Based Coordination

This paper discusses the modeling and control of a spatial mobile manipulator which consists of a robotic manipulator mounted upon a wheeled mobile platform. The nonholonomic model, which assumes perfect contact between the wheels and the ground, is obtained using the Lagrange–d‘Alembert formulation. Also, the dynamic model, which considers slip of the platform‘s tires, is developed using the Newton–Euler method and incorporates Dugoff‘s tire friction model. The complexity of the model is increased by introducing kinematic redundancy which is created when a multi-linked manipulator is used. The kinematic redundancy is resolved by decomposing the mobile manipulator into two subsystems; the mobile platform and the manipulator. Based on the coordination scheme used to resolve the kinematic redundancy, a robust interaction control algorithm, in which suitable controllers are designed for the two subsystems, is developed and applied. The adverse effect of the wheel slip on the tracking of commanded motion is discussed in the simulation. For the dynamic model, a robust control approach is employed to minimize the harmful effect of the wheel slip on the tracking performance. Simulation results show the promise of the developed algorithm.
Effects of Environmental Factors on the Survival of Airborne T-3 Coliphage

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of storage temperatures, relative humidity, and additives on the survival of aerosolized Escherichia coli phage T-3. The aerosol stability of the coliphage, calculated as per cent recovery, was not affected by storage at 10 or -70 C for up to 4 months. However, an increase in aerosol decay rate of coliphage stored at 10 C was observed. The effect of humidities ranging from 20 to 90% relative humidity was studied, and it was observed that humidities lower than 70% relative humidity significantly reduce the survival of airborne coliphage. The effect of various compounds on the aerosol decay rate of T-3 coliphage was studied at 50 and 85% relative humidity. Addition of dextrose in 0.1 M concentrations to the disseminating fluid significantly reduced aerosol decay rate at 50% relative humidity without affecting the decay at 85%. Addition of spermine, spermidine-phosphate, thiourea, galacturonic acid, and glucosaminic acid, individually or in combination, had no effect on aerosol decay rates. The use of deuterium oxide as the suspending fluid for dissemination had no effect on aerosol stability of the coliphage.
Disability and Work: The United Republic of Tanzania's Workplace Policies in the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010

Nations are increasingly demonstrating a commitment to disability rights by enacting national policies on disability. Among them, the United Republic of Tanzania has, in addition to being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), made a public commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities through a number of national policy mechanisms such as the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010. As in other nations with policy commitments to disability rights, however, the principles and promises made in policy documents often are not reflected in direct action for the Act’s intended beneficiaries. This article explores the challenges of translating policy to action by examining the accountability mechanisms tied to the employment-related Articles of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010 and by discussing studies that provide the "on the ground" employment reality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Keywords: Tanzania, Policy, People with Disabilities Act, Workplace Quotas, Employment
Engaging Race and Nation in Curriculum Studies

Flinders, D. J., & Thornton, S. J. (Eds.). (2009). The Curriculum Studies Reader. New York: Routledge.Malewski, E. (Ed.). (2010) Curriculum Studies Handbook: The Next Moment. New York: Routledge.
Estimating contaminant loads in rivers: An application of adjusted maximum likelihood to type 1 censored data

[1] This paper presents an adjusted maximum likelihood estimator (AMLE) that can be used to estimate fluvial transport of contaminants, like phosphorus, that are subject to censoring because of analytical detection limits. The AMLE is a generalization of the widely accepted minimum variance unbiased estimator (MVUE), and Monte Carlo experiments confirm that it shares essentially all of the MVUE's desirable properties, including high efficiency and negligible bias. In particular, the AMLE exhibits substantially less bias than alternative censored-data estimators such as the MLE (Tobit) or the MLE followed by a jackknife. As with the MLE and the MVUE the AMLE comes close to achieving the theoretical Frechet-Cramer-Rao bounds on its variance. This paper also presents a statistical framework, applicable to both censored and complete data, for understanding and estimating the components of uncertainty associated with load estimates. This can serve to lower the cost and improve the efficiency of both traditional and real-time water quality monitoring.
Study of the Isospin Properties of Single-Pion Production by Neutrinos

Results are presented on the three single-pion production reactions $\ensuremath{\nu}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, $\ensuremath{\nu}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}n{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, and $\ensuremath{\nu}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$. Measurements were made from threshold to a neutrino energy of 1.5 GeV using the Argonne National Laboratory 12-ft bubble chamber filled with hydrogen and deuterium and exposed to a broad-band neutrino beam. In addition to a resonant isopin $T=\frac{3}{2}$ $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ amplitude, we find a large $T=\frac{1}{2}$ amplitude as predicted by Adler.
Probing the relation between protein structure and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence using superrepressor mutants of thetrp repressor

The wavelength dependence of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence lifetime of a series of mutants of thetrp repressor protein was characterized in both the native and the denatured states. These mutants belong to a particular class, called superrepressors, as their phenotype, when expressedin vivo, is to repress transcription at lower concentrations of the corepressor, tryptophan. It has been demonstrated previously that these mutations result in distinct and profound modifications of the structural and dynamic properties of the protein [Reedstrom and Royer (1995)J. Mol. Biol. 253, 266; Reedstromet al. (1996)J. Mol. Biol. 264, 32; Smithet al. (1995)Biochemistry 34, 13183]. The present observations reveal that in the native state, these structural and dynamic modifications result in subtle, yet significant alterations in the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence decay characteristics. Surprisingly, significant differences in the fluorescence decays between the mutants and the wild-type protein were also observed for the guanidine hydrochloride unfolded states. These results are discussed in terms of the various models which have been proposed to explain the decay properties of tryptophan in proteins.
Evaluation of Surface Impoundment Assessment in New Mexico

Surface Impoundment Assessment (SIA) is a methodology for determining the potential for ground- water contamination from pits, ponds and lagoons. SIA produces a numerical rating of a site, based on the sum of scores assigned to four categories: vadose zone properties, ground-water availability, ground-water quality, and waste characteristics. The SIA for New Mexico was conducted as part of a nationwide survey of potentially hazardous waste-disposal sites. Comparisons of the contamination potential scores and observed ground-water contamination from mining, milling, and industrial impoundments in New Mexico using histograms, Mann-Whitney U-Test, and linear logistic regression indicate that vadose zone properties and the nature of the waste contribute most to the general success of the SIA method to predict contamination. The remaining two categories which rate ground-water availability and natural ground-water quality do not appear to be reasonable measures of ground-water contamination potential. Rather, these categories are more indicative of the value of the ground-water resources.
217 PRODUCTION OF A GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE II RECEPTOR KNOCKDOWN SWINE LINE

Unlike the native form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I), the second isoform of GnRH (GnRH-II) is highly conserved throughout evolution and is ubiquitously expressed. The pig represents one of the few species possessing coding sequence for a functional receptor specific to GnRH-II (GnRHR-II). Binding of GnRH-II to its receptor has been linked to regulation of cell proliferation, feed intake, and the interaction between energy balance and reproductive behaviour. The objective of this study was to develop a porcine model with reduced levels of endogenous GnRHR-II to examine the biological role of this G-protein coupled receptor. Previously, we produced lentiviral particles from a vector overexpressing both small hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequence specific to the porcine GnRHR-II and cDNA encoding the fluorescent ZsGreen1 protein (pLVX-shRNA2; Clontech). Transduction of swine testis cells with these particles (1.44 × 107 viral particles) reduced porcine GnRHR-II mRNA levels by 99% compared with control particles (P 0.05). Upon exhibition of their third behavioural oestrus, females were bred and allowed to gestate to term. Litter size was similar between the GnRHR-II KD female (15 live piglets) and control littermates (15 and 16 live piglets). Of the 15 piglets produced, 5 (3 males and 2 females) were positive for green fluorescence, confirming germline transmission of the transgene and further evidence for a single integration site. The swine produced from this study represent the first animal model to examine the physiological implications of reduced GnRH-II receptor levels.
Crosslinkable emulsion polymers by autoxidation. I. Reactivity ratios

Lauryl acrylate (LA), oleyl acrylate (OA), linoleyl acrylate (LA2), and linolenyl acrylate (LA3) were prepared by reaction of acryloyl chloride with alcohols having zero, one, two, and three double bonds in the chain. The reactivity ratios of comonomers of ethyl acrylate (EA) or methyl methacrylate (MMA) with LA3, LA2, or OA were studied by the Kelen–Tudos and the integrated transformation methods. With all of the comonomer pairs, the reactivity ratio data indicated that EA and MMA showed a tendency to form homopolymers while LA3, LA2, and OA tended to form alternating copolymers. The difference between the values of the reactivity ratios derived from the two methods was small.
Restoration of oral function after maxillectomy with osseous integrated implant retained maxillary obturators

This study assesses the success rate of osseous integrated implantation in assisting the prosthetic obturation of maxillectomy defects. Twenty-three patients received a total of 85 osseous integrated implants used for retaining maxillary obturators between 1985 and 1993. Defects include 13 radical maxillectomies, 5 premaxillary resections, 4 subtotal maxillectomies, and 1 soft-palate resection. Thirteen patients (50 implants) received a radiation dose ranging from 5,040 to 7,940 cGy. Implants can be placed at the time of ablation or subsequently. Efforts were made to spare uninvolved segments of the maxilla, especially premaxillary segments and tuberosities, at the time of ablation. Following a 6-month period of integration, implants were uncovered and utilized in prosthetic rehabilitation. Specific implant sites reveal variable success rates, with the anterior maxilla being 86% successful compared with the posterior maxilla being 57% successful. Radiation reduces the success rate from 80% to 55%, although it does not eliminate a patient from being a candidate for implantation. Prosthetic rehabilitation of large maxillary defects can be greatly facilitated with the use of osseous integrated implants in the remaining midfacial skeleton.
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT VIDEO HIGH-LEVEL SEMANTIC RETRIEVAL USING ASSOCIATIONS AND CORRELATIONS

Two important approaches in multimedia information retrieval are classification and the ranking of the retrieved results. The technique of performing classification using Association Rule Mining (ARM) has been utilized to detect the high-level features from the video, taking advantages of its high efficiency and accuracy. Motivated by the fact that the users are only interested in the top-ranked relevant results, ranking strategies have been adopted to sort the retrieved results. In this paper, an effective and efficient video high-level semantic retrieval framework that utilizes associations and correlations to retrieve and rank the high-level features is developed. The n-feature-value pair rules are generated using a combined measure based on (1) the existence of the (n - 1)-feature-value pairs, where n is larger than 1, (2) the correlation between different n-feature-value pairs and the concept classes through Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), and (3) the similarity representing the harmonic mean of the inter-similarity and intra-similarity. The final association classification rules are selected by using the calculated similarity values. Then our proposed ranking process uses the scores that integrate the correlation and similarity values to rank the retrieved results. To show the robustness of the proposed framework, experiments with 15 high-level features (concepts) and benchmark data sets from TRECVID and comparisons with 6 other well-known classifiers are presented. Our proposed framework achieves promising performance and outperforms all the other classifiers. Moreover, the final ranked retrieved results are evaluated by the mean average precision measure, which is commonly used for performance evaluation in the TRECVID community.
A family with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and parkinsonism

Bericht uber einen 45jahrigen Mann mit der Kombination von myatrophischer Lateralsklerose und Parkinson-Syndrome, dessen Vater ebenfalls diese Krankheitskombination aufwies. Die epidemiologische Bedeutung derartiger Falle wird diskutiert unter Bezugnahme auf das gehaufte Vorkommen auf den Marianen-Inseln und die Mitteilungen fur das familiare Vorkommen in Europa. Ein gemeinsamer genetischer Faktor wird fur wahrscheinlich gehalten.
Use of Calcium Antagonists in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease and Systemic Hypertension

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and systemic hypertension commonly coexist in a large number of patients, and the presence of hypertension is a risk factor for worsening IHD. A monotherapy that would effectively treat both is thus an attractive idea, and calcium antagonists have been evaluated in this role. Calcium antagonists exert therapeutic effects through a combination of actions, including systemic and peripheral vasodilation, negative inotropy, and reduced nodal conduction. In randomized, double-blind clinical trials, verapamil compares favorably with propranolol in the alleviation of angina and hypertension. Both diltiazem and nifedipine, as well as long-acting diltiazem, are also effective in treating the combined condition. In addition, each of these drugs enhances exercise tolerance and favors compliance with calcium antagonist therapy. Recent questions regarding the safety of this class of drug have tempered the enthusiasm for their use as first-line therapy in cardiovascular disease. In particular, short-acting dihydropyridine derivatives, including nifedipine and isradipine, may increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality because of reflex sympathetic stimulation. The results of appropriately controlled, prospective clinical trials will provide more definitive conclusions. For now, we must be cautious in the use of calcium antagonist monotherapy for combined IHD and hypertension.
TU‐F‐500‐01: Point and Counter Point Debate: Brachytherapy Is Better Than External Beam Therapy for Partial Breast Irradiation

Partial breast irradiation (PBI) by either brachytherapy or external beam (EB) therapy is frequently used for the treatment of certain populations of breast cancer patients. The claim that brachytherapy is better than EB for PBI is the Proposition debated here. Advantages claimed for brachytherapy for PBI include: • brachytherapy is associated with smaller treatment volumes, lower integral doses, and smaller doses/fraction to normal tissues • dosimetric parameters which affect toxicity have been thoroughly investigated for brachytherapy • brachytherapy is supported by over ten years of study with excellent local control and minimal toxicity • with brachytherapy, evidence‐based treatment planning guidelines have been published. Advantages claimed for EB therapy include: • all clinics have linacs, whereas not all have an HDR unit or LDR facilities • brachytherapy requires specific skills and training that not all radiation oncologists have • brachytherapy is an invasive procedure • a brachytherapy program requires greater effort and staff to commission and maintain • brachytherapy is performed BID, which is inconvenient to patients • not all patients are appropriate for brachytherapy treatment Arguing FOR the Proposition is Dorin Todor, Ph.D. Dr. Todor obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA followed by a one‐year Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Since then he has worked at the Virginia Commonwealth University where he is currently an Associate Professor. His major research interests include real‐time 3D HDR source position detection and tracking, and dual fusion imaging for intraoperative planning, execution and evaluation of brachytherapy implants. Arguing against the Proposition is Stewart Becker, Ph.D. Dr. Becker obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison after which he moved to the Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University Medical Center, where he is currently Senior Physicist and Assistant Professor. His major research interests include image‐guided radiotherapy, and whole and accelerated partial breast radiotherapy. Learning Objectives 1. To understand why brachytherapy might be better than external beam therapy for partial breast irradiation 2. To understand why external beam therapy might be better than brachytherapy for partial breast irradiation 3. To know how brachytherapy and external beam therapy differ when applied to partial breast irradiation
Molecular Dynamics Study of the Lung Surfactant Peptide SP-B1–25 with DPPC Monolayers: Insights into Interactions and Peptide Position and Orientation

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of the interactions of the peptide SP-B1–25, which is a truncated version of the full pulmonary surfactant protein SP-B, with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers, which are the major lipid components of lung surfactant. Simulations of durations of 10–20 ns show that persistent hydrogen bonds form between the donor atoms of the protein and the acceptors of the lipid headgroup and that these bonds determine the position, orientation, and secondary structure of the peptide in the membrane environment. From an ensemble of initial conditions, the most probable equilibrium orientation of the α-helix of the peptide is predicted to be parallel to the interface, matching recent experimental results on model lipid mixtures. Simulations of a few mutated analogs of SP-B1–25 also suggest that the charged amino acids are important in determining the position of the peptide in the interface. The first eight amino acids of the peptide, also known as the insertion sequence, are found to be essential in reducing the fluctuations and anchoring the peptide in the lipid/water interface.
Non-iterative Estimation and Variable Selection in the Single-index Quantile Regression Model

A new estimation procedure is proposed for the single-index quantile regression model. Compared to existing work, this approach is non-iterative and hence, computationally efficient. The proposed method not only estimates the index parameter and the link function but also selects variables simultaneously. The performance of the variable selection is enhanced by a fully adaptive penalty function motivated by the sliced inverse regression technique. Finite sample performance is studied through a simulation study that compares the proposed method with existing work under several criteria. A data analysis is given that highlights the usefulness of the proposed methodology.
The Experience, Expression, and Perceived Appropriateness of Emotions Across Levels of Relationship Development

Emotion experience and expression in romantic relationships were investigated. We predicted (a) a curvilinear relationship between level of relationship development and intensity of emotion experience, (b) a curvilinear relationship between level of relationship development and intensity of emotion expression, and (c) a linear relationship between level of relationship development and perceived appropriateness of emotion expression. Two hundred one student and community respondents completed an emotion survey assessing a positive and negative emotion incident they had experienced, the intensity of experience, expression, and degree of appropriateness. Level of relationship development was operationalized by length of relationship. Confirmation for the first two hypotheses was found for negative emotions only. Perceived appropriateness of emotion expression did not vary across levels of relationship development for either negative or positive emotions.
A security architecture for data privacy and security

Data access and software exchange are often achieved over insecure networks such as the public Internet. System designers are therefore forced to be proactive with regard to verifying the identity of both human users and software processes that request access to protected resources such as factory data. In this paper we show a new security architecture based upon Web services that supports authentication, authorization, and federation. Authentication verifies identity and generates a security token; authorization determines which privileges are allowed to which users; federation permits secure and reliable exchanges of identity across disparate trust domains. We illustrate how these ideas can be used to secure access to a factory Web portal and its underlying database of process data
Migratory Labor and Agriculture

Farm workers are shown to respond strongly to economic incentives to seasonally migrate for work. The economic model is specified with separate earnings structures for migratory and nonmigratory work, and a reservation wage for migration is specified to reflect the choice between migratory and nonmigratory work. The empirical model adjusts for self-selectivity in the sample and demonstrates that domestic farm workers sort themselves into migratory and nonmigratory workers in a manner consistent with the theory of comparative advantage. Implications for immigration and government employment and training programs are considered.
Lactone-free ginkgolides via regioselective DIBAL-H reduction

The lactone rings of ginkgolide A are converted into corresponding tetrahydrofuran moieties via DIBAL-H reduction followed by deoxygenation of the formed lactols with Et3SiH–BF3·Et2O to produce a series of lactone-free ginkgolides.
The Role of Transcription Enhancer Factors in Cardiovascular Biology

The transcriptional enhancer factor (TEF) multigene family is primarily functional in muscle-specific genes through binding to MCAT elements that activate or repress transcription of many genes in response to physiological and pathological stimuli. Among the TEF family, TEF-1, RTEF-1, and DTEF-1 are critical regulators of cardiac and smooth muscle-specific genes during cardiovascular development and cardiac disorders including cardiac hypertrophy. Emerging evidence suggests that in addition to functioning as muscle-specific transcription factors, members of the TEF family may be key mediators of gene expression induced by hypoxia in endothelial cells by virtue of its multidomain organization, potential for post-translational modifications, and interactions with numerous transcription factors, which represent a cell-selective control mediator of nuclear signaling. We review the recent literature demonstrating the involvement of the TEF family of transcription factors in the regulation of differential gene expression in cardiovascular physiology and pathology.
Numerical evaluation of three-dimensional time-harmonic Green’s functions for a nonisotropic full-space

Abstract A method for numerical evaluation of three-dimensional time-harmonic Green’s functions for nonisotropic media is proposed. The key feature of the method is that, by dealing with entire elastodynamic state vector, repeated evaluation of the common parts of the integrands can be avoided. This results in a more efficient algorithm when compared with the standard sequential integrands’ evaluations. When compared to the sequential approach the method is more than three times faster in evaluating the displacement elastodynamic state vector and more than five times faster in calculation of the stress elastodynamic state vector. Consequently, this approach may be useful in numerical modeling of scattering of elastic waves in nonisotropic media.
Generalized consistent orderings and the accelerated overrelaxation method

In this paper, the behavior of the block Accelerated Overrelaxation (AOR) iterative method, when applied to linear systems with a generalized consistently ordered coefficient matrix, is investigated. An equation, relating the eigenvalues of the block Jacobi iteration matrix to the eigenvalues of its associated block AOR iteration matrix, as well as sufficient conditions for the convergence of the block AOR method, are obtained.
Arachnolysis or cerebrospinal fluid diversion for adult-onset syringomyelia? A Systematic review of the literature.

Objective To identify surgical practice patterns in the literature for nonpediatric syringomyelia by systematic review and to determine the following: 1) What is the best clinical practice of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion to maximize clinical improvement or to achieve the lowest recurrence rate? 2) Does arachnolysis, rather than CSF diversion, lead to prolonged times to clinical recurrence? Methods A database search comprising PubMed, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted to find pertinent articles on postinfectious, posttraumatic, or idiopathic syringomyelia. Results An advanced PubMed search in August 2012 yielded 1350 studies, including 12 studies meeting Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine criteria for level IV evidence as a case series, with a total of 410 patients (mean age, 39 years). Data on 486 surgeries were collected. Mean follow-up data were available for 10 studies, with a mean follow-up time of 62 months. On regression analysis, increased age had a significant correlation with a higher likelihood of having clinically significant recurrence on mean follow-up ( P P = 0.02). Data on mortality were unavailable. The mean number of surgeries per patient across all studies was 1.20 (range, 0.95–2.00). Conclusions With postinfectious and posttraumatic etiologies, arachnolysis was the only surgical treatment to have a statistically significant effect on decreasing recurrence rates. More prospective, randomized, controlled studies are required to reach a clear consensus.
A method for determining minimum ignition energies: Results for a neo-pentane-air mixture

Abstract A technique employing repeated pulsed arcs having near-square wave form is reported. Details of circuitry, electrodes and fuel system are given. The effect of pulse width and of pulse repetition rate are discussed in the light of the results obtained and surprisingly good agreement is claimed between results using the technique described and those obtained with capacitor discharge measurements.
New nonequilibrium turbulence model for calculating flows over airfoils

ANONEQUILIBRIUM turbulence closure model, patterned after the Johnson-King model, has been developed for computing two-dimensional turbulent flows about complex airfoil shapes. The influence of history effects in the wake region of the boundary layer is described by an ordinary differential equation developed from the turbulent kinetic energy equation. The performance of the present model has been evaluated by computing the flow around three airfoils using the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations/These equations were solved using an implicit, upwind, finite- volume scheme. Excellent agreement between numerical and experimental results was obtained for both attached and separated turbulent flows about the NACA 0012 airfoil, the RAE 2822 airfoil, and the Integrated Technology A 153W airfoil. Contents The majority of turbulent flow calculations are based on the Reynolds time-averaged equations. These equations can be obtained by using Favre's mass- weighted averaging. Closure of the Reynolds time-averaged equations requires the modeling of the turbulent stresses and heat-flux terms. In most turbulence models, the turbulent stresses are determined from the Boussinesq approximation: 2 2 (1)
Relation between peak flows, precipitation, and physiography for five mountainous regions in the western USA

Abstract Flood frequency curves are presented for five regions in the western USA characterized by diverse climate but similar physiography. The regional curves are obtained via an index flood method based on probability-weighted moments of the generalized extreme value distribution. The curves differ markedly in their slopes, reflecting differences in mechanisms that produce floods. The Foothills region of Colorado is typical of semi-arid areas where floods are produced by intense thunderstorms. In this region, the 100-year flood may be more than ten times the mean annual flood. The Alpine region of Colorado is typical of areas where runoff is generated by snowmelt. In this region, the 100-year flood is less than two times the mean annual flood. The Sierra Nevada, Coast Range and Klamath Mountain regions of California typify areas where floods are produced by large-scale frontal storms. In these regions, the 100-year flood may be three to six times the mean annual flood. In all regions the mean annual flood is most highly correlated with drainage area and mean annual precipitation. No correlation is found between the standard deviation of annual maxima and various measures of basin physiography or drainage area. It is suggested that the variation in flood frequency distributions reflects largely the variability in precipitation amount and intensity rather than differences in physiography.
Targeting cancer cells by exploiting their resistance

Cancer cells are intrinsically resistant to growth arrest and can further acquire multidrug resistance. Current approaches to this problem are intended to reverse, overcome or prevent the drug resistance. However, the resistance of cancer cells can be exploited to kill resistant cells selectively, while sparing sensitive normal cells. As the simplest example, multidrug-resistant cells pump out protectors, such as pharmacological inhibitors of apoptosis. A sequence of at least two agents must include an exclusive protector, which is ineffective in resistant cancer cells, and an inclusive cytotoxic drug, which kills unprotected cells. By abolishing several dose-limiting side effects of chemotherapy, this strategy provides a means to treat selectively most deranged, aggressive and resistant cancers.
Coleoptera of Poultry Manure in Caged-layer Houses in North Carolina

At least 120 species of Coleoptera were recovered from poultry manure in narrow, widespan, and high-rise types of caged-layer poultry houses in the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions of North Carolina. Carcinops pumilio (Erichson) and Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) were consistently the most abundant species in all 3 regions, followed by Gnathoncus nanus (Scriba) and the Aleocharinae (Staphylinidae). According to 5 indices of diversity, the Piedmont ranked 1st in overall diversity, species richness and equitability, followed by the Coastal Plain, and thirdly, by the Mountains. Narrow and high/rise house types were compared for adult and larval C. pumilio and A. diaperinus . The larval population peak for A. diaperinus occurred significantly earlier in the high-rise than in the narrow houses, however, the narrow houses had significantly higher beetle diversity. A qualitative examination of overwintering forms showed that most species overwintered primarily, but not exclusively, as adults.