cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of optical-band based snow extent products during spring over North America

Abstract We compare the performances of two widely used hemispheric scale snow products during April, May, and June over North America. The Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS), based primarily on optical-band remotely sensed images, is the latest incarnation of a product that dates back to the 1960s and has been used as input to operational weather forecasting models as well as for establishing the historical climatology of snow extent over land surfaces. NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been used for numerous applications since it was launched aboard the Terra satellite platform in 1999. The MODIS snow product is based primarily on optical-band reflectances. We include in our analysis only observations that are largely unobstructed by clouds as determined using the MODIS cloud detection algorithm. Then, after removing the influences of terrain and projection errors, we identify regions and land surface types where discrepancies between these two products occur. We also compare IMS and MODIS to the snow reanalysis produced by the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC). We find that on seasonal time scales, the most pronounced differences between the IMS and MODIS snow products occurs during the ablation season over North America. Our results corroborate earlier studies showing pronounced differences over the northern tundra in June, where MODIS appears to be in agreement with other observations; as well as differences in April and May in the boreal forest, where evidence suggests that both products may be biased (although MODIS biases may be smaller) in comparison with the CMC product (which is based on station observations). The influence of clouds may be a factor even though the analysis includes only clear days. Another possible explanation for these discrepancies involves the impact of numerous small lakes over the North American landscape on the interpretation of satellite retrievals in the visible band, although there are other potential sources of error in both products. For example, comparison to the CMC reanalysis suggests that MODIS may be overestimating snow during the ablation season in the boreal forest. The resolution of these discrepancies may affect our understanding of the seasonal snow cover cycle, the evaluation of and development of parameterization schemes for climate models, and the development of a climate data record for snow cover.
Chest wall invasive non-small cell lung cancer: patterns of failure and implications for a revised staging system.

Background: To assess outcomes and patterns of failure for chest wall invasive non-small cell lung cancer (T3 or IIIA NSCLC), data were acquired prospectively on 47 consecutive patients at a single institution over 6 years.
Parametric vertical coordinate formulation for multiscale, Boussinesq, and non-Boussinesq ocean modeling

Abstract Two physical parameters are introduced into the basic ocean equations to generalize numerical ocean models for various vertical coordinate systems and their hybrid features. The two parameters are formulated by combining three techniques: the arbitrary vertical coordinate system of Kasahara [Kasahara, A., 1974. Various vertical coordinate systems used for numerical weather prediction. Mon. Weather Rev. 102, 509–522], the Jacobian pressure gradient formulation of Song [Song, Y.T., 1998. A general pressure gradient formation for ocean models. Part I: Scheme design and diagnostic analysis. Mon. Weather Rev. 126 (12), 3213–3230], and a newly introduced parametric function that permits both Boussinesq (volume-conserving) and non-Boussinesq (mass-conserving) conditions. Based on this new formulation, a generalized modeling approach is proposed. Several representative oceanographic problems with different scales and characteristics––coastal canyon, seamount topography, non-Boussinesq Pacific Ocean with nested eastern Tropics, and a global ocean model––have been used to demonstrate the model’s capabilities for multiscale applications. The inclusion of non-Boussinesq physics in the topography-following ocean model does not incur computational expense, but more faithfully represents satellite-observed ocean-bottom-pressure data. Such a generalized modeling approach is expected to benefit oceanographers in solving multiscale ocean-related problems by using various coordinate systems on the same numerical platform.
Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in a neotropical wood‐quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus

We developed a set of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci for black-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus. We screened 50 individuals from Monteverde, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica and found that locus-specific allelic diversity ranges from two to 15 alleles (mean 10.2) and observed heterozygosity ranges from 0.24 to 0.96 (mean 0.78). These markers appear to be useful in other members of the Odontophorus genus.
Familial periodic paralysis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a 7-generation family.

Background A family with a complicated constellation of neurologic findings, including neuropathy, myotonia, and periodic paralysis, has been described in 4 studies in the medical literature since 1934. The underlying cause of their disease has been the subject of considerable speculation and has never been identified until now. Objective To identify the molecular basis of this family’s neurologic disease. Design The coding regions of 6 genes that cause peripheral neuropathy and regions of the muscle sodium channel gene ( SCN4A ) were sequenced. Results A novel missense mutation (Arg67Pro) in the myelin protein zero gene was identified in 2 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and a common missense mutation (Thr704Met) was identified in the SCN4A gene in 4 family members. We discuss the difficulties of genotype-phenotype correlation in this family. Conclusions These findings indicate that 2 independent mutations segregating in this family are responsible for the puzzling clinical picture.
Nursing Home—Acquired Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the most serious of the common infections that occur in nursing homes, with a high case-fatality rate and considerable mortality among survivors. Risk factors for nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) have been defined, and prediction models for death due to NHAP have been developed. The bacterial etiology of NHAP has been debated, but "typical" bacterial pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis) are most important. Clinical presentation of NHAP is said to be "atypical," but this may be confounded by dementia in the nursing home resident. A recent guideline has made recommendations regarding the minimal diagnostic workup when a resident has a suspected case of pneumonia. Until recently, most guidelines for the treatment of pneumonia did not specifically address NHAP; there is some evidence that use of a quinolone alone may be an acceptable first choice of therapy for most cases. Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination have been the primary prevention measures. However, additional methods to prevent NHAP should be evaluated, including improving the oral hygiene of residents and instituting pharmacological interventions.
Agenda building during activist shareholder campaigns

Abstract Guided by agenda–building theory, the relationships among corporate information subsidies and financial media coverage in the 25 largest activist shareholder campaigns in the U.S. stock market over a five-year period (2005–2009) were examined. The results indicate that the issue priorities displayed in both news releases and shareholder letters were generally linked with news content. The results of cross-lag analyses suggest that mutual two-way influence—rather than a unidirectional influence of information subsidies on the news—was the norm during these contests. Agenda building appears to be a contributing factor in successful campaign outcomes.
Biomechanical model predicts directional tuning of spindles in finger muscles facilitates precision pinch and power grasp

Humans have a sense of static limb position derived primarily from the output of secondary muscle spindle endings. The features of finger pose these proprioceptors signal best were predicted by singular value decomposition of a kinematic model of the human long finger and the six muscles that actuate it. The analysis indicated that muscle spindles signal the location of the fingertip with less error than they signal angles of individual finger joints. The fingertip displacements for which proprioceptors have greatest sensitivity were also predicted. These fingertip displacements seem to correspond to the fine positioning of an object pinched between the fingertip and distal phalanx of the thumb. The analysis also predicted the directions in which subjects can displace the fingertip most rapidly. The directions seem to correspond to rapid closure of precision pinch or power grasp.
Direction-based text interpretation as an information access refinement

A Text-Based Intelligent System should provide more in-depth information about the contents of its corpus than does a standard information retrieval system, while at the same time avoiding the complexity and resource-consuming behavior of detailed text understanders. Instead of focusing on discovering documents that pertain to some topic of interest to the user, an approach is introduced based on the criterion of directionality (e.g., Is the agent in favor of, neutral, or opposed to the event?). A method is described for coercing sentence meanings into a metaphoric model such that the only semantic interpretation needed in order to determine the directionality of a sentence is done with respect to the model. This interpretation method is designed to be an integrated component of a hybrid information access system.
Introduction to the 2009 re-publication of the ‘Neimark–Sacker bifurcation theorem’

We give a brief introduction to re-publication of Chapter 2 of the author's 1964 Dissertation. The result has come to be known as the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation theorem. Some of the applications of the theorem are cited and a brief overview of the reduction of the mapping to normal form is given in 3-dimensions. By introducing weighted monomials the reduction method is carried out without the use of the Center Manifold theorem which was not known to the author and was published the same year as the dissertation. The first detailed proof of the theorem is carried out in the above cited Chapter 2 and is contained in the companion article to follow this one.
Electron Microprobe Characterization of Melt-Textured YBCO Created Using Hybrid Powder Metallurgy

An YBCO monolith was created by conventional top-seeded melt-texture processing using a mixture of Y and YBa2Cu3O7-delta (Y123) powders. The composition of the bulk monolith thus lies in the Y-Ba-Cu oxide ternary system rather than on the binary join between Y123 and Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) and the liquid line of descent, therefore, differs from the peritectic one exhibited by Y211-Y123 mixtures. In particular, Y123 crystallizes over a temperature interval that may be as large as 50degC and from a liquid with a considerable range in Cu content. Y123 in the Y-Y123 monolith exhibits a range in composition, particularly in Cu content that we ascribe to the change in crystallization conditions. This allows the spatial pattern of crystallization of the monolith to be mapped. Crystallization commenced at the seed crystal but then appears to have moved to the outer parts of the monolith before ending in the interior of the sample.
An Engineered Methanogenic Pathway Derived from the Domains Bacteria and Archaea

A plasmid-based expression system wherein mekB was fused to a constitutive Methanosarcina acetivorans promoter was used to express MekB, a broad-specificity esterase from Pseudomonas veronii ,i nM. acetivorans. The engineered strain had 80-fold greater esterase activity than wild-type M. acetivorans. Methyl acetate and methyl propionate esters served as the sole carbon and energy sources, resulting in robust growth and methane formation, with consumption of >97% of the substrates. Methanol was undetectable at the end of growth with methyl acetate, whereas acetate accumulated, a result consistent with methanol as the more favorable substrate. Acetate was consumed, and growth continued after a period of adaptation. Similar results were obtained with methyl propionate, except propionate was not metabolized. IMPORTANCE The fragile interactions of multispecies food chains converting complex biomass to methane are easily disrupted, a major impediment to efficient and reliable conversion of renewable biomass as an alternative to fossil fuels. The hybrid pathway, derived by combining catabolic pathways from a methanogen of the domain Archaeaand a strictly aerobic species of the domain Bacteria, catalyzes the complete conversion of an industrial solvent that is also a naturally occurring compound to methane and carbon dioxide. The engineered pathway expands the exceptionally narrow range of substrates utilized by methanogens, exem- plifying the simplification of food chains leading to the more-efficient conversion of complex biomass to methane.
On Interpreting Test Scores as Social Indicators: Statistical Considerations.

Educational and psychological tests traditionally have informed judgments concerning individuals, but recently they have been widely used for comparing groups. Such uses include program evaluations (e.g., to what extent does Title I improve achievement), analysis of test score trends (e.g., the SAT decline) (Harnischfeger & Wiley, 1975), and comparison of contemporary subpopulations (e.g., achievement levels of black and white youth) (Burton & Jones, 1982). Using test scores (or item responses) to make group comparisons involves summarizing individuals' characteristics into a measure for the group. In many if not most applications, the measure chosen has been the average (i.e., arithmetic mean). But averaging scores (ability levels) is invalid if the scores (or abilities) are ordinal rather than cardinal attributes. In particular, group comparisons can change completely under order-preserving transformations of the test scales. This is illustrated by real and artificial examples. The notion of stochastic ordering is applied to develop group comparisons that are invariant under order-preserving transformations of the test scale.
Banyan heap machine

New designs for performing a group of priority queue operations on a set of elements are presented. Processors in this design, called the banyan heap machine are connected together to form a linear chain. The algorithms for the banyan heap machine are the generalization of binary heap algorithms to a more general acyclic graph called banyan. This design, unlike existing designs, requires fewer processors to meet the same capacity requirement, and also, processors do not have geometrically varying memory sizes. This results in a completely homogeneous system. The key advantage of the banyan heap machine is in its ability to retrieve elements at different percentile levels. >
The Nonreceptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase PTP1B Binds to the Cytoplasmic Domain of N-Cadherin and Regulates the Cadherin–Actin Linkage

Cadherin-mediated adhesion depends on the association of its cytoplasmic domain with the actin-containing cytoskeleton. This interaction is mediated by a group of cytoplasmic proteins: α-and β- or γ- catenin. Phosphorylation of β-catenin on tyrosine residues plays a role in controlling this association and, therefore, cadherin function. Previous work from our laboratory suggested that a nonreceptor protein tyrosine phosphatase, bound to the cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin, is responsible for removing tyrosine-bound phosphate residues from β-catenin, thus maintaining the cadherin–actin connection (Balsamo et al., 1996). Here we report the molecular cloning of the cadherin-associated tyrosine phosphatase and identify it as PTP1B. To definitively establish a causal relationship between the function of cadherin-bound PTP1B and cadherin-mediated adhesion, we tested the effect of expressing a catalytically inactive form of PTP1B in L cells constitutively expressing N-cadherin. We find that expression of the catalytically inactive PTP1B results in reduced cadherin-mediated adhesion. Furthermore, cadherin is uncoupled from its association with actin, and β-catenin shows increased phosphorylation on tyrosine residues when compared with parental cells or cells transfected with the wild-type PTP1B. Both the transfected wild-type and the mutant PTP1B are found associated with N-cadherin, and recombinant mutant PTP1B binds to N-cadherin in vitro, indicating that the catalytically inactive form acts as a dominant negative, displacing endogenous PTP1B, and rendering cadherin nonfunctional. Our results demonstrate a role for PTP1B in regulating cadherin-mediated cell adhesion.
Ultimate Tensile Properties of Elastomers. III. Dependence of the Failure Envelope on Crosslink Density

Ultimate tensile properties of amorphous unfilled elastomers - dependence of failure envelope on crosslink density
Quanto mais me bates, menos gosto de mim – abordagem da violência doméstica em Cuidados de Saúde Primários

Introduction: Domestic violence is an epidemic that is present in society across all socio-economic, cultural and educational groups. Family physicians experience difficulty in managing these situations, torn between a passive, supportive attitude and action to empower victims with support in the community. Case description: Fiona, aged 37, came from a deprived socio-economic background and had recent changes in her family. She came to an appointment and revealed that she had recently been a victim of physical abuse by her spouse after weeks of intimidation, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, and death threats. She called the police for help and was referred to community institutions specialized in managing these situations, but she refused to stay in a shelter with her 7 year-old son. This situation allowed regular contact between the child and his father (the abuser), resulting in a negative influence on the child’s relationship with Fiona. Given the desperate situation of the patient, a follow-up visit was arranged to monitor developments. The perception of increased risk led the healthcare team to build a tertiary prevention plan for domestic violence to be presented to the patient. Enablement of the patient, including providing knowledge of the community support programs available, allowed her to agree to go to live in a shelter with her son. Comment: This case explores the role of the family doctor in the management of domestic violence. A more active approach, aiming to empower victims, promoting their safety, making them aware of their rights, and providing appropriate referral to community resources with specialized help for these situations is required. Integrated effort by the healthcare team is critical for the design of effective guidance to victim
Micro Surface Shaping for the High-Pressure Operation of Piston Machines With Water as a Working Fluid

Oil is the main working fluid used in the hydraulics industry today — but water is nonflammable, environmentally friendly and cheap: it is the better choice of working fluid for hydraulic systems. However, there is one caveat. Water’s extremely low viscosity undermines its ability to carry load. In forest machinery, construction machinery, and aircraft systems, today’s hydraulic circuits have high operating pressures, with typical values between 300 and 420 bar. These high pressures create the need for high load-carrying abilities in the fluid films of the tribological interfaces of pumps and motors. The most challenging of these interfaces is the piston-cylinder interface of swashplate type piston machines, because the fluid must balance the entire piston side load created in this design. The low viscosity of the water turns preventing metal-to-metal contact into quite a challenge. Fortunately, an understanding of how pressure builds and shifts about in these piston-cylinder lubrication interfaces, coupled with some clever micro surface shaping, can allow engineers to drastically increase the load-carrying ability of water. As part of this research, numerous different micro surface shaping design ideas have been simulated using a highly advanced non-isothermal multi-physics model developed at the Maha Fluid Power Research Center. The model calculates leakage, power losses, film thickness and pressure buildup in the piston-cylinder interface over the course of one shaft revolution. The results allow for the comparison of different surface shapes, such as axial sine waves along the piston, or a barrel-shaped piston profile. This paper elucidates the effect of those surface profiles on pressure buildup, leakage, and torque loss in the piston-cylinder interface of an axial piston pump running at high pressure with water as the lubricant.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Does it Pay to Kill Your Mother? The Effect of a Criminal Acquittal in a Subsequent Civil Proceeding to Disqualify the Slayer

Avarice, one of the seven deadly sins, often leads one to commit crimes. But crime, it is well known, does not pay. This is particularly true when the crime is murder, and the victim is a parent, a spouse, or another relative. One of the great maxims of equity is that “a wrongdoer cannot profit from his or her own wrongdoing.” When the killer would have inherited from the victim, there were two possible responses. Legislatures have enacted slayer statutes to prevent the killer from inheriting from, or taking under the will of, the victim. In the absence of statutes, courts would impose a constructive trust on the property for the benefit of the victim’s other heirs.This article reviews the historical development of the law and catalogues the statutes that existed at the time of publication in 1983. It then analyzes the effect of a criminal acquittal on subsequent civil proceedings. While a criminal conviction always serves as a bar to inheritance, an acquittal raises the issue of collateral estoppel. The article includes suggested legislative reforms.
Hybrid System Based Analytical Approach for Optimal Gear Shifting Schedule Design

In this paper, we present a systematic design for gear shifting using a hybrid system approach. The longitudinal motion of the vehicle is regulated by a PI-controller that determines the required axle torque. The gear scheduling problem is modeled as a hybrid system and an optimization-based gear shifting strategy is introduced, which guarantees that the propulsion requirements are delivered while minimizing fuel consumption. The resulting dynamics is proved to be stable theoretically. In a case study, we compare our strategy with a standard approach used in the industry and demonstrate the advantages of our design for class 8 trucks.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Dominant-negative CREB inhibits tumor growth and metastasis of human melanoma cells.

The ATF/CREB family of eukaryotic transcription factors contain the bZIP structural motif and mediate their transcriptional activities via heterodimerization with ATF and AP-1 family members. Quenching of CREB-associated proteins by a dominant-negative CREB (KCREB) that is mutated within its DNA-binding domain decreases radiation resistance of human melanoma cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of CREB in tumor growth and metastasis of human melanoma using KCREB. Highly metastatic MeWo human melanoma cells were transfected with the KCREB expression vector and subsequently analysed for changes in their tumorigenic and metastatic potential. Expression of KCREB in MeWo human cells decreased their tumorigenic and metastatic potential in nude mice compared with parental and control transfected cells. The KCREB-transfected cells displayed downregulation of 72 kDa collagenase type IV (MMP-2) mRNA expression and activity and decreased invasiveness through Matrigel-coated filters. Moreover, transcriptional activities mediated by the CAT gene driven by the MMP-2 promoter were decreased by 14 – 45-fold in KCREB-transfected cells. In addition, the cell-surface adhesion molecule MCAM/MUC18 that is involved in metastasis of human melanoma was downregulated in the KCREB-transfected cells. These data indicate that, through their transcriptional activities, CREB and its associated proteins play an important role in the acquisition of the metastatic phenotype of human melanoma cells.
390 SKIN CANCER AWARENESS AND PREVENTION IN PRESTON, IDAHO.

Purpose Preston, Idaho9s medical establishment draws patients from all of Franklin County. Farming, the main occupation in Franklin County, often results in extended sun exposure. During a 4-week observation in Preston, ID, significant numbers of patients with skin cancer and sun-related damage were treated. However, prevention was never discussed. Method To raise the level of skin cancer prevention awareness, educational material was presented by means of a booth at the local, very popular “Napoleon Dynamite Festival.” Material included several posters, brochures, and a brief quiz designed to reinforce the most important points of the presentation. The material focused on risk awareness and appropriate preventions, including sunscreen and skin self-exams. Approximately 150 people reviewed the material. Summary While most people appeared to understand the steps to prevent skin cancer, few comprehended the seriousness of the problem or actively protected themselves. Many benefited from discussions amongst family members, raising awareness of personal risk factors, including family history of skin cancer. For many, the material was a means of opening discussion between parents and children. Educational posters were given to a local physician for use in his office following the booth presentation. Conclusion The risks of sun exposure are ubiquitous. Taking the opportunity to educate patients about strategies for risk reduction can impact the rapid increase in the incidence of skin cancer.
Exploration of early-life candidate biomarkers for childhood asthma using antibody arrays.

Background Proteomic approaches identifying biomarkers have been applied to asthma to only a very limited extent. Methods With an antibody array (RayBiotech, Norcross, GA, USA), the relative intensity and rank differences of 444 proteins were compared in 24 plasma samples obtained at age 3, 11 from children with and 12 without asthma diagnoses at ages 5 and 9. Protein candidates identified by antibody array were quantitated by ELISA in an enlarged sample. Proteins found to differentiate children with and without asthma were also examined for association with known Year 1 asthma risk factors, eczema, and wheeze. Results In the antibody array, four proteins had rank differences between asthma and non-asthma groups (FDR <0.1). By ELISA, mean log (±s.e.m.) erythropoietin (EPO) level (IU/l) was lower (0.750 ± 0.048 vs. 0.898 ± 0.035; p = 0.006) and mean (±s.e.m.) soluble GP130 (sGP130) level (ng/ml) was higher in the asthma vs. the non-asthma group (302 ± 13 vs. 270 ± 8; p = 0.041). The other 2 array proteins (galactin-3 and eotaxin-3) did not differ by ELISA by asthma. EPO related to the asthma risk factor, first year eczema, whereas sGP130 related to first year wheeze. Conclusions Through two independent assessments, age 3 plasma levels of EPO and sGP130 were found related to childhood asthma.
Mortality From Abortion and Childbirth

To the Editor.— We read the study of mortality by LeBolt et al (1982; 248:188) that compared mortality between women who had an abortion and women with a live birth. Although the authors point out that maternal mortality rates are lower among women having an abortion, the results fail to clarify this unexpected finding. It is unfortunate that the population of women bearing live infants was not subdivided into cesarean and vaginal delivery subpopulations. These two distinct populations of women have entirely different mortality rates. Maternal and perinatal mortality are considerably higher with cesarean delivery than with vaginal delivery, in part because of the complications that lead to the cesarean section and in part because of increased risks inherent in the abdominal route of delivery. Maternal mortality following a cesarean section is approximately 100 per 100,000 births, which is roughly ten to 20 times greater than the maternal mortality following
Control of interlayer valley excitons in atomically-thin MoSe2-WSe2 heterostructures

Atomically thin semiconductors, such as monolayer MoSe 2 and WSe 2 , have emerged as novel optoelectronic materials, with coupled spin-valley electronic physics and excitons that are strongly bound at room temperature. It has recently been shown that these materials can form the basis for atomically thin p-n junctions, transistors, light emitting diodes, and low threshold nanolasers. In this presentation, I will discuss optoelectronics and spin effects in heterostructures of MoSe 2 and WSe 2 , with type-II band alignment, with the lowest conduction band in the MoSe 2 layer, and the highest valence band in the WSe 2 layer. Upon optical excitation, electrons transfer to the MoSe 2 layer and holes transfer to the WSe 2 layer. Due to the strong attractive Coulomb interaction between these spatially separated layers can form interlayer excitons which have many similarities to the spatially indirect excitons of coupled GaAs quantum wells. However, unlike the coupled quantum well system, here the constituent electrons and holes are located in momentum space valleys on the edge of the Brillouin zone. The conduction and valence band valley alignment can be tuned by twist angle between layers to realize optically bright interlayer excitons with an optical selection rule allowing for optical control of the valley degree of freedom. I will discuss the dynamics and spin-valley effects of these bright interlayer excitons.
Innovation and Consumption Inequality in an Agent-Based Macroeconomic Model

This paper explores the relationship between product innovation and consumption inequality. We employ a modified version of the agent-based macroeconomic model in Georges (2011, 2015). A rise in rents accruing to salaried workers can shift both production and R&D spending toward products consumed by that class of worker. The increase in income inequality will then have a magnified impact on consumption inequality.
Improvement of Scratch and Wear Resistance of Polymers by Fillers Including Nanofillers

Polymers have lower resistance to scratching and wear than metals. Liquid lubricants work well for metals but not for polymers nor for polymer-based composites (PBCs). We review approaches for improvement of tribological properties of polymers based on inclusion of fillers. The fillers can be metallic or ceramic—with obvious consequences for electrical resistivity of the composites. Distinctions between effectiveness of micro- versus nano-particles are analyzed. For example, aluminum nanoparticles as filler are more effective for property improvement than microparticles at the same overall volumetric concentration. Prevention of local agglomeration of filler particles is discussed along with a technique to verify the prevention.
Further Results on the Nonlinear Separation Principle: The General 'Asymptotically Controllable' Case

Abstract It is shown, for general nonlinear systems, that asymptotic controllability and observability are sufficient for semiglobal practical asymptotic stabilization by output feedback. Indeed, as previously shown in the literature, asymptotic controllability implies the existence of a (discontinuous in general) state feedback that, when implemented by sample and hold, is semiglobally practically stabilizing and robust to measurement disturbance; moreover, a weak form of observability allows reconstruction of the state with arbitrary precision in an arbitrarily short amount of time. So, we can build an output feedback that operates periodically in two modes: an initial, small fraction of a sampling period is used to estimate the state, and the remainder of the sampling period is used to implement the state feedback control using the state estimate. Our stabilization results are presented not only for a compact target set (e.g. the origin) but also for general closed and nonempty target sets.
Robust Controllers Based on Feedback Linearization for Automated Lane Guidance of Heavy Vehicles 1

Abstract The first part of this paper considers the design of nonlinear lateral controllers for tractor-semitrailer vehicles on automated highway systems. Two different but closely related design approaches are presented. One design proceeds along the line of uniformly ultimate bounded control, and the other along the line of sliding mode control. In either approach, the idea of feedback linearization is utilized to deal with nominal nonlinear dynamics of the tractor-semitrailer vehicles. Uncertain dynamics are treated differently in the two approaches. The second part examines implementation issues such as tuning of the controller parameters for the performance, sensor requirements, and the complexity of real time implementations.
The Decanal Divide: Women in Decanal Roles at U.S. Medical Schools.

PURPOSE To test the hypotheses that women in medical school dean-level (decanal) positions occupy lower-rank and more image- and education-focused positions than men, and that state and woman-led schools have more women in decanal positions. METHOD Data were collected on September 10-18, 2016, from Web sites of 136 allopathic, U.S. medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and represented on the roster of accredited MD programs in the United States with full accreditation as of June 22, 2016. Statistical significance of differences between comparison groups was assessed using Student t test with P < .05 indicating significance. Correlation between parameters was determined by Spearman rank correlation test with P < .05 indicating significant correlation. RESULTS Findings demonstrate that only 15% (22/149) of deans and interim deans are women, and the prevalence of women in decanal positions decreases with ascending professional rank (R = 0.93; P < .05). Women are most prevalent in decanal positions focusing on education and mentoring or institutional public image and least prevalent in those focusing on corporate strategy and policy, finance, or government relations. Schools with a woman as dean or interim dean have a higher percentage of decanal positions occupied by women than those with a man as dean or interim dean (P < .05). State and private medical schools do not differ from one another in this regard. CONCLUSIONS Gender stereotypes and models appear to continue to drive the number and roles of women in decanal positions.
The Insect Mind: Physics or Metaphysics?

When we attempt to infer from an animal’s overt behavior whether its brain might be thinking or merely computing, a variety of intuitively suggestive lines of evidence become unreliable. Many behavioral traits such as adaptive behavior, behavioral variability, complexity, flexibility (including learning), and even the phenomenon of culture can be — and in insects at least have been proven to be — the results of genetic programming. The demonstrated effects of programming can be so intricate and subtle that even what seems to be insight or creativity must be suspect. A versatile and more reliable guide to the inner workings of minds is communication. Experimental manipulations of signals can show, through their effects on the behavior of the receiver, how the incoming information is being processed. This line of inquiry has laid open much of the insect mind, particularly that of the honey bee, but no compelling evidence for awareness has emerged. Instead, insects stand more than ever as testaments to the power of blind behavioral programming, and as such remind us to be wary of attributing to vertebrates anything more than larger, more interesting on-board computers.
Characterization of the second ion-binding site in the G domain of H-Ras.

Ras is a small monomeric GTPase acting as molecular switch in multiple cellular processes. The N-terminal G domain of Ras binds GTP or GDP accompanied by a magnesium ion, which is strictly required for GTPase activity and performs a structural role. Another ion-binding site on the opposite face of the G domain has been recently observed to specifically associate with calcium acetate in the crystal [Buhrman, G., et al. (2010) Proc. Natl. Aacd. Sci. U.S.A. 107, 4931–4936]. In this article, we report thermodynamic measurements of the affinity and specificity of the remote ion-binding site in H-Ras as observed in solution. Using 15N–1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we determined that, in contrast to the crystalline state, the remote site in solution is specific for a divalent cation, binding both calcium and magnesium with anions playing a minimal role. The affinity of the remote site for divalent cations is in the low millimolar range and remarkably different for GDP- and GppNHp-bound forms of the...
SOLVENT EFFECTS IN LOW-SEVERITY LIQUEFACTION AND CO-PROCESSING OF A SUBBITUMINOUS COAL

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the preliminary data from a study conducted to determine how various model compound solvents, process solvents, and a molybdenum catalyst interact with a subbituminous coal. Subbituminous coal from the Dietz seam in Montana, United States was used. For co-processing, both nitrogen and hydrogen atmospheres at 3.4 MPa (cold) were used. For low-severity liquefaction, hydrogen at 6.9 MPa (cold) was used. Total conversion is highest in catalytic reactions. The highest conversion, 86.5%, was achieved in temperature-staged reaction with sulfided ammonium molybdate catalyst and a solvent of 98% naphthalene and 2% tetrahydroquinoline. Aliphatic and alkylaromatic solvents did little to enhance conversion because most of the hydrogen transferred was used in ring hydrogenation and formation of gases.
Bridging the Distance: Illustrations of Real-Time Communication of Support Between Partners and Deployed Members of the National Guard

Exchanges of support are fundamental elements of intimate relationships and deployment separation may challenge partners’ ability to provide and receive support due in part to challenges in “staying connected”. Two studies examined daily exchanges of support between deployed service members and their partners at home. Although partners were geographically separated from a deployed member of the National Guard, all reported communicating with their partners during the 7-day study period. Our findings suggest that military couples frequently use interactive forms of communication (e.g., phone, Skype, instant messaging) though families generally are not able to schedule their contacts with one another during military deployment. Further, all partners reported providing and receiving support during the study period. Notably, decisions and disagreements were reported infrequently. Our findings underscore that access to multiple modes of communication can facilitate providing supportive contact between deployed military members and their families at home.
Genetic influences on neonatal cortical thickness and surface area.

Genetic and environmental influences on cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) are thought to vary in a complex and dynamic way across the lifespan. It has been established that CT and SA are genetically distinct in older children, adolescents, and adults, and that heritability varies across cortical regions. Very little, however, is known about how genetic and environmental factors influence infant CT and SA. Using structural MRI, we performed the first assessment of genetic and environmental influences on normal variation of SA and CT in 360 twin neonates. We observed strong and significant additive genetic influences on total SA (a 2 = 0.78) and small and nonsignificant genetic influences on average CT (a 2 = 0.29). Moreover, we found significant genetic overlap (genetic correlation = 0.65) between these global cortical measures. Regionally, there were minimal genetic influences across the cortex for both CT and SA measures and no distinct patterns of genetic regionalization. Overall, outcomes from this study suggest a dynamic relationship between CT and SA during the neonatal period and provide novel insights into how genetic influences shape cortical structure during early development.
Carbon Nanotube Chemical Sensors

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) promise to advance a number of real-world technologies. Of these applications, they are particularly attractive for uses in chemical sensors for environmental and health monitoring. However, chemical sensors based on CNTs are often lacking in selectivity, and the elucidation of their sensing mechanisms remains challenging. This review is a comprehensive description of the parameters that give rise to the sensing capabilities of CNT-based sensors and the application of CNT-based devices in chemical sensing. This review begins with the discussion of the sensing mechanisms in CNT-based devices, the chemical methods of CNT functionalization, architectures of sensors, performance parameters, and theoretical models used to describe CNT sensors. It then discusses the expansive applications of CNT-based sensors to multiple areas including environmental monitoring, food and agriculture applications, biological sensors, and national security. The discussion of each analyte focuses on the strategies used to impart selectivity and the molecular interactions between the selector and the analyte. Finally, the review concludes with a brief outlook over future developments in the field of chemical sensors and their prospects for commercialization.
Relationship between endogenous melatonin concentrations and uterine contractions in late third trimester of human pregnancy

In humans, circulating levels of the hormone melatonin and the initiation of spontaneous labor are both higher at night than during the day. Since activation of uterine melatonin receptors can stimulate human in vitro uterine contractions and these receptors are only expressed on the uterine tissue of women in labor, we hypothesized that circulating melatonin concentrations would affect uterine contractions in vivo. We evaluated the impact of light-induced modulation of melatonin secretion on uterine contractions in women during late third trimester (~36-39 weeks) of pregnancy in two inpatient protocols. We found a significant (P < 0.05) positive linear association between circulating melatonin concentrations and the number of uterine contractions under both protocols. On average, uterine contractions increased between 1.4 and 2.1 contractions per 30 minutes for every 10 pg/mL*h increase in melatonin concentration. These findings have both basic science and clinical implications for pregnant women, since endogenous melatonin levels and melatonin receptor activity can be altered by light and/or pharmaceutical agents.
Going "Green" in the Delivery and Supply Chain: Evidence and Insights

Given increased consumer interest in green products and practices, this paper will focus on examining sustainable practices within the shipping, packaging and delivery supply chain. “Green” shipping, packaging, and delivery focuses on transporting products from providers (e.g., manufacturers, retailers) to customers to reduce CO2 emissions, landfill waste, and overall negative impact to the environment. For example, (a) the use of electric powered vehicles in the delivery supply chain has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions; and (b) using recycled cardboard or materials that are biodegradable would reduce landfill waste. This paper examines the potential benefits of these green practices in the delivery supply chain. Our results are that a case can be made for use of electric-power vehicles and their potential benefit to reduce CO2 emissions in an environment where power generation in non-coal based. In other words, using electric cars in all delivery supply chains isn’t always a solution; firms must recognize the significant impact of the power generation process in their operating area. From a packaging perspective, there is documented consumer interest on using environmentally friendly material for consumer products. However, depending upon the market segment size, this might not always result in better financial outcomes for companies.
Sensory garments with vibrotactile feedback for monitoring and informing seated posture

Increases in the number of sedentary workers and the rate of related musculoskeletal injuries have spurred interest in posture monitoring and feedback devices. The emergence of flexible sensors that can be integrated into wearable garments provides a unique solution to unobtrusive monitoring of postural movements. Furthermore, a postural guidance system can be realized with the addition of a feedback display. In this work, a flexible strain sensor was integrated with a Raspberry Pi processor and a vibrotactile feedback display to form a sensory feedback garment that measured, evaluated, and communicated real-time feedback of seated lumbar posture. The sensor was evaluated for measurement accuracy via comparison to a Vicon motion capture system, and the garment was evaluated for efficacy of feedback guidance. Across studies of five participants, we found that the sensory garment reproduced the lumbar angle with low error (5.4%) relative to a motion capture system, and that providing haptic feedback resulted in participants maintaining lumbar posture within customized target zones for substantially more time than in the absence of haptic cues.
Structure and Parametrization of Stochastic Maps of Density Matrices

The generic linear evolution of the density matrix of a system with a finite-dimensional state space is by stochastic maps which take a density matrix linearly into the set of density matrices. These dynamical stochastic maps form a linear convex set that may be viewed as supermatrices. The property of hermiticity of density matrices renders an associated supermatrix hermitian and hence diagonalizable; but the positivity of the density matrix does not make this associated supermatrix positive. If it is positive, the map is called completely positive and they have a simple parametrization. This is extended to all positive (not completely positive) maps. A contraction of a norm-preserving map of the combined system can be contracted to obtain all dynamical maps. The reconstruction of the extended dynamics is given.
PARP inhibition - opportunities in pancreatic cancer.

An urgent clinical need exists to improve the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer through biomarker-driven therapeutic strategies. Such approaches include the targeting of metastatic pancreatic cancer that harbours germline BRCA mutations with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors as maintenance therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy.
The Relative Risk of Intimate Partner and Other Homicide Victimization by State-Level Gender Inequity in the United States, 2000–2017

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate whether state-level gender inequity is associated with state-level intimate partner homicide rates (IPHR), male homicide rates, female homici...