cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Small angle neutron scattering measurements of synthetic polymer dispersions in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization matrixes.

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is used to measure the size and the dispersion of synthetic polymers in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) matrixes. Deuterated polystyrene (DPS) and dithranol in tetrahydrofuran were deposited by electrospray onto a substrate for small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. DPS with 6050 and 27,000 g mol(-1) molecular masses were prepared at mass fractions between 0.2 and 6%. All samples contained large aggregates of DPS with characteristic sizes >200 A that represent hundreds of aggregated chains. Samples of mass fraction 1% DPS (6050 g mol(-1)) in 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, all-trans-retinoic acid, and sinapinic acid also have large zero angle scattering characteristic of large aggregates. The morphological trend obtained from the SANS measurements of the DPS aggregate size in the four matrixes is dithranol > 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid > all-trans-retinoic acid > sinapinic acid. These measurements indicate that DPS in dithranol exhibits the most strong phase separation, while DPS in sinapinic acid shows considerable domain mixing. All of these matrixes produce MALDI signal strength under appropriate conditions, suggesting that strong phase separation does not diminish the signal-to-noise ratio. DPS (188,000 g mol(-1)) in biphenyl was used as a model system of a matrix that can be either crystalline or amorphous. SANS data shows that above the biphenyl melting point, a conventional solution is formed that has molecularly dispersed polymers. Upon crystallization, there is strong aggregation of the DPS into large domains. Therefore, the crystalline matrixes commonly used in MALDI measurements probably cause large aggregations of polymers to be present during the MALDI process.
An error control technique for high data rate communication networks

A new method is discussed for modifying majority-logic convolutional decoders for use in a type-I hybrid-ARQ protocol. In standard forward error correcting (FEC) operation, these decoders generate reliability information in the form of orthogonal sets of parity check sums. The modified decoder uses this information to identify received packets whose decoded data may be unreliable and to request retransmission of these packets. It is shown through analysis and simulation that the resulting error control system provides substantially higher data reliability than its FEC counterpart at the expense of a very small reduction in data throughput. >
Are Female Executives Over-represented in Precarious Leadership Positions?

We use a sample of CEO appointments at US corporations over the years 1992–2004 to test the ‘glass cliff’ hypothesis, which posits that females are appointed to leadership positions at firms that are in a precarious financial condition. Our analysis utilizes three measures of stock-price-based financial performance and two distinct control samples of appointments of males to the CEO position. We find that corporate performance preceding CEO appointments tends to favor females, implying that females (males) are appointed to the CEO position largely at times when the firm is in relatively better (worse) financial health. Disaggregating the data by appointments in up versus down markets, at high-risk versus low-risk firms, and by calendar time yield similar conclusions. There appears to be no glass cliff facing female CEOs at US firms. Our findings suggest a need for additional research to identify where and for what types of positions this phenomenon is prevalent.
Toward Real-Time Simulation of Physics Based Lithium-Ion Battery Models

Recent interest in lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, satellite, defense, and military applications has increased the demand on the computational efficiency of lithium-ion battery models. This paper presents an effective approach to simulate physics based lithium-ion battery models in real-time (milliseconds) for simulation and control in hybrid environments. The battery model used for the simulation is derived from the first principles as an isothermal pseudo two-dimensional model with incorporation of concentrated solution theory, porous electrode theory, and due consideration for the variations in electronic/ionic conductivities and diffusivities using the Bruggmann coefficient.
Slepian-Wolf coding over broadcast channels

We discuss reliable transmission of a discrete memoryless source over a discrete memoryless broadcast channel, where each receiver has side information (of arbitrary quality) about the source unknown to the sender. When there are K=2 receivers, the optimum coding strategy using separate and stand-alone source and channel codes is to build two independent binning structures and send bin indices using degraded message sets through the channel, yielding a full characterization of achievable rates. However, as we show with an example, generalization of this technique to multiple binning schemes does not fully resolve the K>2 case. Joint source-channel coding, on the other hand, allows for a much simpler strategy (i.e., with no explicit binning) yielding a successful single-letter characterization of achievable rates for any Kges2. This characterization, which utilizes a trivial outer bound to the capacity region of general broadcast channels, is in terms of marginal source and channel distributions rather than a joint source-channel distribution. This contrasts with existing results for other multiterminal scenarios and implies that optimal schemes achieve "operational separation." On the other hand, it is shown with an example that an optimal joint source-channel coding strategy is strictly advantageous over the combination of stand-alone source and channel codes, and thus "informational separation" does not hold
An Integrated Model for Teaching Management Skills

This article addresses the need for a comprehensive method of teaching management, with an emphasis on skill development. Using an inductive/deductive learning framework to critique several popular...
The Influence of the Sense of Taste on Feed and Fluid Consumption

Abstract HUNGER can be described as an uneasy sensation. The point at which this feeling joins that of appetite in influencing feed or fluid intake is debatable. Both hunger and appetite can be eclipsed by the feeling of satiety. Obviously it would be of interest to be able to regulate chemically feed or fluid intake. Sizemore and Lillie (1956) and also Romoser et al. (1958) working with a variety of flavors detected no significant influence on feed intake or efficiency. Kare et al. (1957) demonstrated that the fowl has an acute sense of taste. To test the influence of flavor on feed intake it is reasonable to start with a flavor whose taste stimulation qualities have been established for the experimental animal in the stydy. For example, using the common sugars as a sweetener in chicken feeds would be pointless since the fowl is indifferent to dextrose or sucrose (Kare and …
Flexible substrate micro-crystalline silicon and gated amorphous silicon strain sensors

We present two different kinds of semiconductor strain sensors: ungated n+ micro-crystalline silicon (n+ /spl mu/C-Si), and gated hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Both sensor types are fabricated on flexible polyimide substrates. The sensors were characterized with bending perpendicular, parallel, and at 45/spl deg/ with respect to the sensor bias direction, and for several bending diameters. Sensor size and power consumption are significantly reduced compared to metallic foil strain sensors. Small sensor size and ease of integration with a-Si:H thin-film transistors also allows arrays of strain sensors or combinations of strain sensors with varying geometric orientation to allow strain direction as well as magnitude to be unambiguously determined.
HDAC inhibition attenuates inflammatory, hypertrophic, and hypertensive responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Inhibition of downstream transcription factors and gene modifiers of these components are key mediators of hypertensive response. Histone acetylases/deacetylases can modulate the gene expression of these hypertrophic and hypertensive components. Therefore, we hypothesized that long-term inhibition of histone deacetylase with valproic acid might attenuate hypertrophic and hypertensive responses by modulating reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines in SHR rats. Seven-week-old SHR and WKY rats were used in this study. Following baseline blood pressure measurement, rats were administered valproic acid in drinking water (0.71% wt/vol) or vehicle, with pressure measured weekly thereafter. Another set of rats were treated with hydralazine (25 mg/kg per day orally) to determine the pressure-independent effects of HDAC inhibition on hypertension. Following 20 weeks of treatment, heart function was measured using echocardiography, rats were euthanized, and heart tissue was collected for measurement of total reactive oxygen species, as well as proinflammatory cytokine, cardiac hypertrophic, and oxidative stress gene and protein expressions. Blood pressure, proinflammatory cytokines, hypertrophic markers, and reactive oxygen species were increased in SHR versus WKY rats. These changes were decreased in valproic acid-treated SHR rats, whereas hydralazine treatment only reduced blood pressure. These data indicate that long-term histone deacetylase inhibition, independent of the blood pressure response, reduces hypertrophic, proinflammatory, and hypertensive responses by decreasing reactive oxygen species and angiotensin II type1 receptor expression in the heart, demonstrating the importance of uncontrolled histone deacetylase activity in hypertension.
Prediction of optimal peptide mixtures to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Sequences of the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of the external envelope protein, gp120, from 245 isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are analyzed. The minimal set of peptides that would elicit antibodies to neutralize a majority of U.S. and European isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is determined with the assumption that peptides of a given length including the central Gly-Pro-Gly triad are required. In spite of the hypervariability of the PND, 90% of these 245 sequences include peptides from a set of 7 pentapeptides, 13 hexapeptides, or 17 heptapeptides. Tests of these peptide sets on 78 additional PND sequences show that 95% are covered by the 7 pentapeptides, 94% by the 13 hexapeptides, and 86% by the 17 heptapeptides. To anticipate variants not yet observed, single amino acid mutation frequencies from the 245 isolates are used to calculate an expanded set of the 10,000 most probable PND sequences. These sequences cover 86% of the total distribution expected for the central portion of the PND. Peptide lists derived from this expanded set when tested on the 78 additional sequences show that 7 pentapeptides cover 95%, 13 hexapeptides cover 94%, and 17 heptapeptides cover 94%. These results suggest that peptide cocktails of limited size with the potential to cover a large fraction of PND sequence variation may be feasible vaccine candidates.
Using a temporal symmetry model to assess population change and recruitment in the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei)

The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei [PMJM]) is a rare rodent of southeastern Wyoming and central Colorado that has been the center of debates regarding subspecies’ genetic identity and the application of the Endangered Species Act. I analyzed a 7-year PMJM mark–recapture data set using a temporal symmetry model (Pradel model) to estimate apparent survival (u), recruitment ( f ), population change (k), and vital rate influence on k. Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) captures depressed u, suggesting that competition for resources may decrease PMJM survival. Vole-mediated habitat changes or voles’ affinity for quality riparian habitats may explain why PMJM u and f increased with meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) captures. Based on early-summer and late-summer sampling from 2000 to 2006, k estimates were 0.87 6 0.06 SE and 0.87 6 0.11 SE, respectively, and f had a greater influence on k than did u. This PMJM population is losing connectivity to eastern, northern, and southern tributaries from habitat degradation and storm-water and municipal runoff erosion. The loss of the adjoining habitat and the PMJMs that were supported by this habitat prevents new recruitment via immigration. Because of the importance of recruitment to PMJM population stability, tributaries and the riparian habitat along these tributaries are vital to PMJM conservation. Scaleappropriate habitat sampling, assessments of reproductive success, and detailed demographic studies to estimate vital demographic parameters will help identify how particular habitat components impact fecundity and immigration.
ANALYTIC METHODS FOR SLEWING UNDAMPED FLEXIBLE STRUCTURES WITH ON-OFF ACTUATORS

Methods are presented that generate command profiles for undamped flexible systems equipped with on-off actuators. The shape of the command profiles are described by analytic functions of the system's frequency, actuator force-to-mass ratio, and the desired move distance. The commands are obtained by first canceling the flexible-body response and then accounting for rigid-body requirements. Performance measures such as, move duration, fuel usage, peak transient deflection, and robustness to modeling errors indicate that the analytic commands are attractive alternatives to time-optimal commands.
The effects of pausing on comprehensibility

Pausing effects how well listeners understand and attend to meaning in discourse. This study investigates the effects of three different pause treatments (irregular placement, increased frequency, and longer length) on comprehensibility ratings. Varonis and Gass (1982) found that a complex interaction of factors affected comprehensibility ratings. These included pronunciation, grammar, familiarity and fluency. While many of these features have been investigated (Anderson-Hsieh, Johnson, & Koehler, 1992; Derwing & Munro, 1997; Hahn, 2004; Isaacs & Trofimovich, 2012; Kang, 2010; Munro & Derwing, 1995), pausing has received little attention. In this study, an extended NNS speech sample with native-like pausing was manipulated, creating three experimental recordings, one with irregularly placed pauses, one with increased pause frequency, and one with longer pauses. Forty-three undergraduates in four different class groups listened to each of the pause treatments and rated them for comprehensibility. In addition to comprehensibility measures, participants also rated each treatment for fluency based on Griffiths’ (1991) proposition that pausing is often tied to fluency. This allowed for a comparison of the effects of pausing on comprehensibility to those on fluency. Additionally, this study investigated the strength of Kang’s (2010) revised comprehensibility instrument. The results showed that irregular pause placement was the greatest detriment to comprehensibility, followed by pause frequency. These results may be explained by the psycholinguistic model of language processing which assumes we process language in chunks. When NNSs pause irregularly, NS listeners must process each word individually to make meaning instead of processing the chunk through expected phrasing. This, in turn, causes lower comprehensibility ratings. These results advocate for the teaching of formulaic language in the ESL/EFL classroom so that attention
Coarse-grained non-equilibrium simulations of crystalline materials at nano scale:

This paper presents a coarse-grained non-equilibrium simulation (CG-NES) model based on an atom-based continuum (ABC) method for the multi-element crystal. The main objective of CG-NES model is to establish a nodal ensemble that provides a more efficient way to compute the thermal properties for non-equilibrium systems. In this work, a generalized Nose-Hoover thermostat network is proposed for each finite element node to control the temperature of the system. Several numerical examples have been carried out and it has been demonstrated that CG-NES has the capability and efficiency to study the non-equilibrium system, including thermal-mechanical coupling phenomena and thermal-electromagnetic effects.
Measuring Health-Relevant Expectancies

A sample of 134 Cub, Boy, Brownie, Girl and Cadette Scouts, aged 7 to 17 yr., responded to 10 health-expectancy questions: How likely are you to / remain healthy / have a bad accident-like breaking your arm / develop a rash / run a fever (temperature) / develop a sore throat / have the flu / have a toothache / catch a cold / be sick enough to miss a week of school / have an upset stomach / during this next year? For each question, Ss responded with one of 7 response alternatives: no chance, very unlikely, somewhat unlikely, as likely as nor, somewhat likely, very likely, certain. These were coded 1 through 7, respectively, and subjected to Kendall tau (beta) analyses (cf. Table 1 ) .
Studies of crustal converted waves using short-period seismograms recorded in the Vanuatu Island arc

Abstract On three-component, short-period, digital array recordings, S to P converted phases from three major crustal discontinuities beneath Efate Island are identified between the primary P and S arrivals. The time differences between the main S arrival and these converted phases ( Sp1 , Sp2 , and Sp3 ) provide constraints on the crustal structure beneath Efate Island. A crustal model with three layers over a half-space is determined, which is consistent with the results of a published refraction experiment in the southern Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) island arc .
Discussing on the Clutch Size of the Great Tits (Parus major) in Artificial Nest-boxes

This paper studied the clutch size of the Great Tits from 2004 to 2006.The results show that the familiar clutch size of the Great Tits is 10-12 Entries in artificial nest-boxes,the average clutch size 10.24±1.87(n=157),the egg weight 1.47±0.12g(n=484),the size of the egg 1.646±0.063×1.287±0.045cm(n=484).the egg weight difference is prominence(P0.05).The egg length pathway doesn’t exist significant difference,but the egg short pathway exists significant difference.The research means affords a sort of demonstration for other Aves investigation.
MECHANISMS OF ANOXIA TOLERANCE A Novel Approach Using a Drosophila Model System

The importance of hypoxia and tissue injury resulting from low 02 states can not be over-emphasized. This is a clinical situation that is frequently encountered and, although considerable new knowledge has been forthcoming from a number of laboratories over the past 2-3 decades, many important and clinically relevant questions are still unanswered. Furthermore, it has become clearer that hypoxia is not only a pathophysiologic event but can occur even during normal development, thus widening the potential biologic implications of the mechanisms that are important during 02 deprivation. Our laboratory has been interested in a number of these questions and, although we will not parade in this paper a considerable number of our previous observations, we highlight here some of the background which led to the studies detailed in this paper as well as our more recent studies on a model organism. We and others have studied a number of events that take place within cells or in the extracellular space when neurons are exposed to low 02 levels. These studies have focused on ionic fluxes, activity of ion channels and exchangers, metabolic rates and enzyme activities, neurotransmitter pools and their turnover, neurotransmitter excitotoxicity, coupling between metabolism and neuronal excitability and synaptic efficiency (3-5, 8, 10, 13, 17-19, 24, 26, 30, 33, 34, 39) during low 02 states. Besides the description of phenomena or events during these states, some of these studies have also examined the mechanisms that underlie these events. For example, one of the important findings that our group made in the past several years is that the availability ofNa+ channels for activation is reduced during hypoxia in a major way (9-10, 15, 33). This is interesting because
Factor Viii Inhibitors

The differential diagnosis in the bleeding patient includes inhibitory antibodies to blood coagulation proteins. Factor VIII (fVIII) is the most commonly targeted coagulation protein by the immune system. FVIII inhibitors arise as alloantibodies in transfused hemophiliacs and as autoantibodies in nonhemophiliac populations (1, 2, 3, 4). They develop in response to fVIII infusions in approximately 25% of patients with hemophilia A (5). In nonhemophiliacs, fVIII autoantibodies develop in a variety of clinical settings, including the postpartum period, systemic erythematosus, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Interestingly, autoantibody patients tend to present with more severe bleeding than hemophilia A patients with a de novo inhibitor. In both settings, fVIII inhibitors are polyclonal IgG populations directed against multiple epitopes.
Chapter 3 Duties and Virtue

Cicero’s De Officiis comes to the fore as the present book moves to the moral issues in the horizon of ordinary life. The tension between the right and the useful is explored, and the sources for the right or truly honorable in the virtues and, in turn, in nature draw readers to nature as a standard and, thus, to ideas of natural law and natural rights. The expedient is seen to make moral claims on human beings, and the recognition of the necessity of political community entails the importance of the life of the statesman. For Cicero, it seems that the primary way of assessing the truth in claims of the contending philosophical schools, such as the Epicureans, is to test how they serve to stabilize and nourish political community and the leadership, and how they serve to foster public virtue and the private virtues that undergird it.
Low-Frequency Raman Spectra from Anhydrous Sulfuric and Chlorosulfonic Acids, and Liquid Water—Disruption of Tetrahedral Hydrogen Bonding—Relation to Water Structure

Raman spectra from anhydrous sulfuric and chlorosulfonic acids, room temperature; and, water, 25 and (not shown) 300 °C; were obtained from a few to ≈400 cm− 1. Raman intensities indicate that tetrahedral hydrogen bonding in sulfuric acid may be a little more extensive than that in room temperature water. Tetrahedral hydrogen bonding does not occur in chlorosulfonic acid, and no significant Raman intensity was observed for it between ≈ 120 to 200 cm− 1, where hydrogen-bonded O-O stretching of O-H...0 units occurs. The low-frequency Raman spectra from room temperature chlorosulfonic versus sulfuric acid, bear the same qualitative relation to each other; as the corresponding spectra from water at 300 °C and 750 bar versus water at room temperature. Breakdown of tetrahedral hydrogen bonding in water with temperature rise may yield bifurcated hydrogen “bonds”, or similar interactions, which produce a 60–70 cm− 1 peak. Strong new evidence for a two-state model of water structure results from observation of two resolved intermolecular peaks having opposite temperature dependences.
“I Wanted to Raise My Hand and Say I’m Not a Feminist”: College Men’s Use of Hybrid Masculinities to Negotiate Attachments to Feminism and Gender Studies:

Using a hybrid masculinities framework, we qualitatively analyzed 15 college men’s experiences with feminism and gender scholarship in Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) courses. Men described adopti...
Recalculation of standardized uptake value measurements using image fusion of PET and CT

2133 Objectives : Image fusion of PET and CT provide both functional and anatomical information for image quantification and to improve image interpretation. The purpose of this study was to compare standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements of dedicated PET with the SUV measurements of PET-CT fused images. Methods : We reviewed three patients who underwent whole- body FDG-PET, followed by a CT scan. The whole body F18-FDG PET scan was performed on a Siemens–CTI dedicated PET and the CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis images were obtained using a Siemens Somatom 16 CT scanner. Both images were loaded on a Siemens e.soft workstation for image fusion and analysis. 3-D image fusion started with manual registration based on axial, sagittal and coronal display of the attenuated corrected PET data and the CT data. There was no landmark either installed during imaging or manually defined before fusion. SUV data was obtained using regions of interest (ROI) defined by 50% or 25% automatic isocontour within a manually pre-selected ROI of the lesion. The same ROI’s were applied to dedicated PET data and the transformed image from the PET-CT fusion. SUV’s were calculated from background subtracted ROI counts and then averaged over the region. Results : The mean SUV from PET measured 4.77 compared with 4.47 from the PET- CT fusion image with 50% isocontour and 3.36 compared with 3.79 respectively with 25% isocontour for a large lesion in right lung. Lesion volume decreased about 30%. For a tumor in the liver, the mean SUV changed from 10.68 for PET to 8.63 for PET- CT with 50% isocontour and 6.57 for PET to 5.14 for PET- CT with 25% isocontour. Significant change in the volume of tumor was recorded. When the same calculation applied to a small lesion, the result of SUV estimated 2.79 for the PET and 1.61 for the PET-CT fusion images respectively. If the isocontour was adjusted from 50% to 25%, then the SUV measurement was 1.59 and 1.37 respectively Conclusions : Measured SUV and lesion volume (50% isocontour) decreased when the PET-CT fusion image was used in comparison with the dedicated PET scan image
HIgh b-value and high Resolution Integrated Diffusion (HIBRID) imaging

Abstract The parameter selection for diffusion MRI experiments is dominated by the “k-q tradeoff” whereby the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the images is traded for either high spatial resolution (determined by the maximum k-value collected) or high diffusion sensitivity (effected by b-value or the q vector) but usually not both. Furthermore, different brain regions (such as gray matter and white matter) likely require different tradeoffs between these parameters due to the size of the structures to be visualized or the length-scale of the microstructure being probed. In this case, it might be advantageous to combine information from two scans – a scan with high q but low k (high angular resolution in diffusion but low spatial resolution in the image domain) to provide maximal information about white matter fiber crossing, and one low q but high k (low angular resolution but high spatial resolution) for probing the cortex. In this study, we propose a method, termed HIgh b-value and high Resolution Integrated Diffusion (HIBRID) imaging, for acquiring and combining the information from these two complementary types of scan with the goal of studying diffusion in the cortex without compromising white matter fiber information. The white-gray boundary and pial surface obtained from anatomical scans are incorporated as prior information to guide the fusion. We study the complementary advantages of the fused datasets, and assess the quality of the HIBRID data compared to either alone.
Stage at diagnosis, treatment, and survival among US- and foreign-born Asian and Pacific Islanders with gastric cancer

A44 Background: Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) have increased risk of developing gastric cancer, but whether cancer treatments and outcomes vary by birthplace is unknown. We examined the association between birthplace and cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment, and survival comparing API and non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients. Methods: We studied 8885 NHW and 5439 API patients diagnosed with gastric cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program between 1992 and 2003. We used bivariable analyses to compare stage, receipt of adequate lymph node assessment and surgery across groups: US-born APIs, foreign-born APIs and NHWs. Multivariable polytomous logistic and proportional hazards regression models were used to determine differences between US-born and foreign-born APIs compared to NHWs by cancer stage and survival, respectively. Results: As an aggregate group, APIs were more likely than NHWs to present with earlier-stage diagnoses and receive surgery and adequate lymph node assessment (p
From England to France: Felony and Exile in the High Middle Ages. By William Chester Jordan. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2015. Pp. x, 223. $39.50.)

One peculiarity of many Western European legal systems was the use of exile as a punishment for ordinary crimes as well as political offenses. William Jordan's work concentrates on this phenomenon ...
Toward a Unified Convergence Theory for Newton-Like Methods

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights a unified convergence theory for Newton-like methods. It focuses on majorization as a technique for analysis of algorithms rather than with the algorithms themselves. These techniques work in the much more useful case when the approximate Jacobian depends on factors other than the current iterate. A well-known theorem about steepest descent, the Kantorovich theorem, an improvement of Schmidt's theorem on the generalized secant method, and some other theorems about more computationally useful methods are easily unified by these ideas. The chapter presents an error analysis based on the majorant theory. It describes the local and global convergence theorems.
Automated Debugging of Arithmetic Circuits Using Incremental Gr&#xf6;bner Basis Reduction

Symbolic algebra is a promising approach to verify large and complex arithmetic circuits. Existing algebraic-based verification methods generate a remainder to indicate buggy implementation. The remainder is beneficial for debugging of the faulty implementation since it can be used for automated test generation, bug localization, and bug correction. However, existing equivalence checking approaches are not scalable and lead to explosion in size of the remainder when the design is faulty. To make the matters worse, the location of the bug can also lead to the explosion in the number of remainder terms. In this paper, we propose an incremental equivalence checking method to address the scalability challenges by solving the verification problem in the increasing order of design's input complexity. Our proposed approach makes two important contributions. It is able to generate smaller and compact remainders for large designs. Our proposed incremental debugging is capable of localizing and correcting hard-to-detect bugs irrespective of their location in the design. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach can efficiently debug most difficult bugs in large arithmetic circuits when the state-of-the-art methods fail.
Magnesium and Metabolic Disorders

Magnesium is the second most common intracellular cation, with only 1 % of total magnesium found in the blood [1]. It has a wide range of functions throughout the body, acting as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions, affecting glucose transportation and influencing insulin sensitivity. Abundant research focuses on identifying the true functions and interactions of magnesium within the body. Evidence has shown that low magnesium levels are negatively correlated with the development of insulin resistance and increasing the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hypomagnesemia is present in 10 % of patients admitted into hospitals and as many as 65 % of patients admitted to intensive care units [1]. Studying the prevention of these diseases is at the forefront of nutrition-focused research. The strong evidence connecting magnesium with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus suggests magnesium supplementation may be an appropriate intervention technique to control the progression of these diseases. In the following chapter, the prevalence of these diseases and how magnesium is related will be discussed.
Thyroid Hormone Control of Brain and Motor Development: Molecular, Neuroanatomical, and Behavioral Studies

Thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, have been shown to play significant but poorly understood roles in development and differentiation of rodent and human brain(Lauder, 1989; Legrand, 1982–83; Stein et al, 1989a; 1991a,d; Eayrs, 1968; Morreale de Escobar et al, 1984; Garza et al, 1988; Ruiz-Marcos, 1989; Nunez et al, 1989). Hypothyroidism leads to molecular(Stein et al, 1989a,c; 1991a; Nunez et al, 1989; Hendrich et al, 1987), neuroendocrinological(Noguchi et al, 1986, Bakke et al, 1975, Stein et al, 1989b, Porterfield et al, 1981), neuroanatomical(Lauder et al, 1986; Lauder, 1989; Ruiz-Marcos, 1989; Eayrs, 1955; Garza et al, 1988; Morreale de Escobar et al, 1989; Marc et al, 1985; Legrand, 1982–83; Rami et al, 1986b; Narayanan et al, 1985; Marinesco, 1924; Lotmar, 1928; Rosman, 1975), behavioral and neuropsychological(Adams et al, 1989,1991; Anthony et al, 1991; Eayrs, 1968; Davenport et al, 1976; Klein, 1985; Rovet et al, 1987; Rovet, 1989; Man, 1971; Boyages et al, 1988; Pharoah,1984), and neurological abnormalities(Chaouki et al, 1989; Boyages et al, 1988; Delong et al, 1985; Nelson et al, 1986; Macfaul et al; 1978; Stein et al, 1991d, Rochiccioli et al, 1989) in the developing brain. Specifically, disorders of neuronal process growth and connectivity are noted neuroanatomically and motor syndromes involving motor cortex and pyramidal tracts are commonly observed in hypothyroid humans and rodents. These neurological and neuropathological abnormalities may be predicated on abnormalities in the cytoskeletal structures and in their molecular components. The cytoskeleton is a primary target for thyroid hormone in euthyroid and hypothyroid brain.
Validation of New Procedures and Training Processes Through Physical Task Analysis

Image-guided therapy (IGT) procedures offer many possibilities for improved clinical care. However, the complexity and variety of IGT approaches challenge the ability of developers to optimize the development process, so that the best new systems are created. As well, it is difficult to train users of these complex techniques efficiently and effectively. Here we discuss methods to characterize the relative performance of these systems (and their operators) by measuring the movement of the operator and his or her instruments, which provides a rich and explicit data set. We describe three classes of analysis: deterministic, based on recorded positions and kinematics; stochastic, implemented through machine-learning algorithms; and user surveys. A short summary of useful psychosomatic analyses is also given.
Adaptation by intelligent adversaries to defensive measures: framing adaptation options and demonstrating assessment of attacker preferences using proxy intelligence data:

Addressing adaptation by intelligent adversaries and its implications for risk modeling and security planning requires understanding the ways attackers can respond to new defensive measures. Advers...
Neuro-inflammatory Disorders in Women

Many neuro-inflammatory disorders have a predilection for women; even if there is no female predominance, neuro-inflammatory conditions in women pose a management challenge for several reasons. Disease activity of these conditions may change during pregnancy and commonly increases in the postpartum period. Immunomodulating agents that are used to suppress the disease activity may have a negative impact on fertility, pregnancy, and fetal outcomes, and on infants who are breastfed. Adverse effects of immunosuppressants extend beyond the reproductive issues and may include bone loss, increased risk of cancers, and infectious complications. The successful management of women with these disorders not only involves understanding and early recognition of the adverse effects of immunosuppressants but also active prevention of the adverse outcomes through counseling about contraceptive choices, safety monitoring, risk surveillance, and other strategies.
2276: The impact of social influence and impulsivity on IV alcohol self-administration in non-dependent drinkers

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Impulsivity is a significant predictor of alcohol use and drinking behavior, and has been shown to be a critical trait in those with alcohol use disorder. Suggestibility, or susceptibility to social influence, has been shown to correlate with impulsivity, with highly suggestible individuals being more likely to make impulsive decisions influenced by peer groups. However, the relationship between social influence and drinking behavior is unclear. Our objective was to describe the relationship between social influence and impulsivity traits using the social delayed discounting task and potential differences in intravenous alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA) behavior. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Healthy, non-dependent drinkers (n=20) completed a CAIS session, which consisted of an initial 25-minute priming phase, where subjects were prompted to push a button to receive individually standardized IV alcohol infusions, followed by a 125-minute phase during which they could push the button for additional infusions. IV-ASA measures included the peak (PEAK) and average (AVG) BrAC and Number of Button Presses (NBP). Participants completed a social delayed discounting task (SDDT), where participants were presented with the choice of a small, sooner (SS) reward or a large, later (LL) reward. Before starting the task, participants chose peers who selected either the impulsive (SI) or non-impulsive choice (S). Intermittently, the peers’ choice was not shown (X) or different choices (D) were selected. Participants also completed the MISS, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and the NEO personality inventory. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Participants with higher suggestibility scores had greater NBP, AVG, and PEAK BrAC in the early phase of the IV-ASA session. Higher scores on the MISS were also correlated with higher impulsivity scores including the NEO Neuroticism (N-factor) measure, BIS-11, and UPPS-P. Results also showed that the MISS score was inversely correlated with the percent of impulsive choices in the SDDT, but that this was independent of peers’ impulsive or nonimpulsive choices. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: These results indicate that non-dependent drinkers that were more susceptible to social influence had heavier drinking patterns, higher IV-ASA, and higher scores on impulsivity measures. In addition, individuals that were more susceptible to social influence made more impulsive choices in general, but those choices were not affected by peer decisions during the task. As such, susceptibility to social influence may be an important determinant of impulsive choices, particularly in relation to alcohol consumption.
Intravenous Vancomycin Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Children: Evaluation of a Pharmacy-Driven Protocol and Collaborative Practice Agreement

Background. : Vancomycin optimization is challenging, requiring careful therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to avoid toxicity and ensure an efficacious concentration. Most prescriptions are empiric and often discontinued within 72 hours, which makes early TDM unnecessary. Although TDM using trough levels is common, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) is the preferred pharmacodynamic target. We studied the effect of a pharmacy-driven vancomycin collaborative practice agreement (CPA) at a children's hospital that delayed TDM up to 72 hours and targeted a 2-point 24-hour AUC of ≥400 mg × h/L. Methods. : We retrospectively reviewed vancomycin courses in patients aged ≥30 days who received vancomycin between April 1, 2011, and August 30, 2017. We implemented the CPA on June 1, 2014. Outcomes included CPA use, use of TDM, dosage adjustments, and development of acute kidney injury; we compared courses given while monitoring only trough levels (TO-TDM) with those given while using the CPA (AUC-TDM). We performed interrupted time series analyses to account for preintervention trends. Results. : We included 2379 courses in the TO-TDM period and 2155 in the AUC-TDM period. During AUC-TDM, 87% of the courses were managed by the CPA. In adjusted interrupted time series analyses, CPA implementation was associated with an initial change in level of -0.265 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.336 to -0.189) TDM and an initial change in level of -0.332 (95% CI, -0.506 to -0.163) dosage adjustments. The 1-year risk of acute kidney injury decreased after CPA implementation (odds ratio, 0.695 [95% CI, 0.539-0.91]). Conclusion. : The pharmacy-driven vancomycin CPA resulted in less monitoring and fewer dose adjustments without increasing AKI.
Extending enumerative function synthesis via SMT-driven classification

Many relevant problems in formal methods can be tackled using enumerative syntax-guided synthesis (SyGuS). Algorithms for enumerative SyGuS range from universally applicable techniques based on counterexample-guided inductive synthesis (CEGIS), to more scalable but specialized techniques based on divide and conquer. This paper presents a novel algorithm for enumerative SyGuS, Unif + PI, which reaps the benefits of scalability based on divide and conquer without sacrificing generality. In this algorithm, an instance of an SMT solver is used as both a classifier and an attribute generator. Logical constraints in the form of test cases for the function-to-synthesize and failed classification attempts guide its search for new candidate solutions. We implement our approach as an extension of the CVC4SY solver and evaluate it on standard SyGuS benchmarks from different applications. We show that the new algorithm leads to significant gains in invariant synthesis with respect to state-of-the-art SyGuS solvers, and is competitive with state-of-the-art k-induction based model checking.
Chapter 56 – Normative Values

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to provide supplemental normative values and references for a number of the species. Some values may not be widely applicable to contemporary housing and husbandry conditions. The normative values presented here have been influenced by the laboratory test, animal source, animal genotype, age, gender, blood sampling method, use of anesthesia, or feed or housing conditions of the animals tested. Some normative values may have been derived from feral or newly confined animals. For this reason, it is always recommended that control tests be run concurrently with tests for animals that are suspected to be ill prior to making final diagnostic conclusions or selecting treatment regimens.
Estimation Of Bedrock Depth Using The Horizontal-To-Vertical (H/V) Ambient-Noise Seismic Method

Estimating sediment thickness and the geometry of the bedrock surface is a key component of many hydrogeologic studies. The horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise seismic method is a novel, non-invasive technique that can be used to rapidly estimate the depth to bedrock. The H/V method uses a single, broad-band three-component seismometer to record ambient seismic noise. The ratio of the averaged horizontal-to-vertical frequency spectrum is used to determine the fundamental site resonance frequency, which can be interpreted using regression equations to estimate sediment thickness and depth to bedrock. The U.S. Geological Survey used the H/V seismic method during fall 2007 at 11 sites in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 13 sites in eastern Nebraska. In Cape Cod, H/V measurements were acquired along a 60-kilometer (km) transect between Chatham and Provincetown, where glacial sediments overlie metamorphic rock. In Nebraska, H/V measurements were acquired along approximately 11- and 14-km transects near Firth and Oakland, respectively, where glacial sediments overlie weathered sedimentary rock. The ambient-noise seismic data from Cape Cod produced clear, easily identified resonance frequency peaks. The interpreted depth and geometry of the bedrock surface correlate well with boring data and previously published seismic refraction surveys. Conversely, the ambient-noise seismic data from eastern Nebraska produced subtle resonance frequency peaks, and correlation of the interpreted bedrock surface with bedrock depths from borings is poor, which may indicate a low acoustic impedance contrast between the weathered sedimentary rock and overlying sediments and/or the effect of wind noise on the seismic records. Our results indicate the H/V ambient-noise seismic method can be used effectively to estimate the depth to rock where there is a significant acoustic impedance contrast between the sediments and underlying rock. However, effective use of the method is challenging in the presence of gradational contacts such as gradational weathering or cementation. Further work is needed to optimize interpretation of resonance frequencies in the presence of extreme wind noise. In addition, local estimates of bedrock depth likely could be improved through development of regional or study-areaspecific regression equations relating resonance frequency to bedrock depth.
Predicting the end-stage of the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil

We develop a dynamic model of a COVID-19 epidemic as a system of differential equations. The model incorporates an asymptomatic infectious stage and a symptomatic infectious stage. We apply the model to the current COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil. We compare the model output to current epidemic data, and project forward in time possible end-stages of the epidemic in Brazil. The model emphasizes the importance of reducing asymptomatic infections in controlling the epidemic.
Transitional Care Home Visits Among Underserved Patients With Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF), a global public health problem affecting 26 million people worldwide, significantly impacts quality of life. The prevalence of depression associated with HF is 3 times higher than that of the general population. Evidence, though, supports the use of transitional care as a method to enhance functional status and improve rates of depression in patients with HF. This article discusses the findings of a quality improvement project that evaluated health outcomes in underserved patients with HF who participated in a transitional care home visitation program. The visitation program exemplifies the role of leadership in facilitating transitions across the health care continuum. The 2-year retrospective review included 79 participants with HF. Comparisons of outcomes were made over 6 months. Although not statistically significant, clinically significant differences in health outcomes were observed in participants who received a home visit >14 days compared with ≤14 days after hospital discharge. A home visitation program for underserved patients with HF offers opportunities to enhance care across the continuum. Ongoing evaluation of the existing home visitation program is indicated over time with the goal of offering leaders data to enhance patient and family-centered transitional care coordination.
Formal oxo- and aza-[3 + 2] reactions of α-enaminones and quinones: a double divergent process and the roles of chiral phosphoric acid and molecular sieves

A double divergent process has been developed for the reaction of α-enaminones with quinones through facile manipulation of catalyst and additive, leading to structurally completely different products. The two divergent processes, which involve formal aza- and oxo-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, are mediated by chiral phosphoric acid and molecular sieves, respectively. While inclusion of phosphoric acid in the reaction switched the reaction pathway to favor the efficient formation of a wide range of N-substituted indoles, addition of 4 A molecular sieves to the reaction switched the reaction pathway again, leading to enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans in excellent yields and enantioselectivities under mild conditions. Studies in this work suggest that the chiral phosphoric acid acts to lower the transition state energy and promote the formation of amide intermediate for the formal aza-[3 + 2] cycloaddition and the molecular sieves serve to facilitate proton transfer for oxo-[3 + 2] cycloaddition. The reactivity of α-enaminones is also disclosed in this work.