cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) can cause ischemic stroke. This systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force examined evidence about screening and treating asymptomatic adults for CA...
Error prediction for multi-classification

This paper describes an error prediction mechanism for multiclassification systems. First, a multiclassification system is constructed by combining a suite of two-class classifiers. While training, each sub-classifier does not utilize all the training data and the remaining data are used for testing purpose. Thus, the classification system can predict its own performance after training. We have tested this mechanism on several well-known benchmark datasets. Experimental results are demonstrated for its effectiveness.
Building the bottom line by developing the frontline: Career development for service employees

Abstract Service firms must remember that the way they treat their employees is exactly how those employees will, in turn, treat customers. As such, taking good care of frontline personnel should be a top management concern. One way that service employees can be shown they are valued members of the organization entails the implementation of thoughtful and organized career development programs, initiatives which help increase employees’ job satisfaction and feelings of empowerment in their customer-facing roles. Before they can become enthusiastic about meeting the needs of their customers, employees have to feel that their own needs are being met within the organization. In this regard, firm investment in frontline employee career development programs will be money well spent: they are capable of reducing employee turnover and increasing customer satisfaction, loyalty, and profitability. This article provides a conceptual model of career development which should prove useful to service managers in evaluating their own career development efforts. Also presented herein is a framework for tying together many disparate areas of career development that have heretofore been handled separately in the services literature.
SALT ERROR OF INDICATORS DUE TO STANDARD ALKALINE BUFFERS THEMSELVES. II

Previous results of the comparison of colors given by indicators in alkaline buffers and pure aqueous sodium hydroxide have been repeated and confirmed. The electrometric determinations show that the sodium hydroxide was pure and gave theoretical values for the concentration of hydroxyl ion. The slight but distinct neutralising effect of dilute solutions of alkali has been measured electrometrically and the allowances to be made are recorded graphically. It is found that whereas alizarin yellow G, tropaeolin O and thymol violet may be used without appreciable error (in accordance with our previous communication) the grave discrepancies remain for phenolphthalein, o-cresol phthalein and thymol blue and phenol red which must be ascribed to salt error in the alkaline buffer itself.
PUBLIC AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AS A PLATFORM FOR BECOMING A UNITED STATES CITIZEN

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people immigrate to the United States seeking a better way of life, and still hundreds of thousands more become citizens. Some spend time living in public and subsidized housing, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and, each year, thousands of these individuals attain citizenship. This paper presents an econometric analysis of the propensity of noncitizens living in HUD-sponsored housing to naturalize. Providing housing and other forms of public assistance to noncitizens is controversial but the fact of the matter is that, under current rules, many qualify for aid so, facing that fact, an important contribution of this research is to identify the type of program that works best in the context of broader national objectives. The key finding is that the market-based approach of the housing choice voucher program—and the spatial mobility it facilitates—significantly and substantively contribute to naturalization.
Brain–machine interfaces: past, present and future

Since the original demonstration that electrical activity generated by ensembles of cortical neurons can be employed directly to control a robotic manipulator, research on brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) has experienced an impressive growth. Today BMIs designed for both experimental and clinical studies can translate raw neuronal signals into motor commands that reproduce arm reaching and hand grasping movements in artificial actuators. Clearly, these developments hold promise for the restoration of limb mobility in paralyzed subjects. However, as we review here, before this goal can be reached several bottlenecks have to be passed. These include designing a fully implantable biocompatible recording device, further developing real-time computational algorithms, introducing a method for providing the brain with sensory feedback from the actuators, and designing and building artificial prostheses that can be controlled directly by brain-derived signals. By reaching these milestones, future BMIs will be able to drive and control revolutionary prostheses that feel and act like the human arm.
Application of cell theory to the thermodynamic properties of hard dumbbell solids

The cell model of Lennard-Jones and Devonshire has been applied to the calculation of the free energy of hard dumbbell solids. The effective single particle partition functions were evaluated by Monte Carlo integration. The calculations have been carried out for several dumbbell bond lengths and crystal structures. The crystal structures included orientationally ordered base centred monoclinic structures which allow the dumbbells to achieve their maximum packing density and also the α-N2 structure. For the shortest bond length studied, an f.c.c. plastic crystal was also considered. The plastic crystal was treated as an f.c.c. array of spheres interacting via the pair potential derived from the reference averaged Mayer function (RAM) perturbation theory. By using an accurate equation of state for the hard dumbbell fluid the solid-fluid equilibria were determined. Good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations was found for both the solid free energy and equation of state, as well as the properties of the soli...
Designer Ionic Liquids for Reversible Electrochemical Deposition/Dissolution of Magnesium

Chelating ionic liquids (ILs), in which polyether chains are pendent from the organic pyrrolidinium cation of the ILs (PEGylated ILs), were prepared that facilitate reversible electrochemical deposition/dissolution of Mg from a Mg(BH4)2 source. Mg electrodeposition processes in two specific PEGylated-ILs were compared against that in the widely studied N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid (BMPyrTFSI). The two chelating IL systems (one with a pendent polyether chain with three ether oxygens, MPEG3PyrTFSI, and the other with a seven-ether chain, MPEG7PyrTFSI) showed substantial improvement over BMPyrTFSI for Mg electrodeposition/dissolution. The best overall electrochemical performance was in MPEG7PyrTFSI. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize galvanostatically deposited Mg, revealing production of pure, dendrite-free Mg deposits. Reversible Mg electrodeposition was achieve...
A Review of Models for Mapping the Socio-Technical System

Abstract The premise of the paper is that the well known techniques of industrial engineering are less than adequate to deal with some important dimensions which characterize socio-technical systems. Several models are presented which appear to have promise for dealing with these inadequacies. Using the models makes certain demands on individuals involved in industrial engineering. For the practitioner, the problem is gaining familiarity with the behavioral and administrative concepts upon which the models are predicated so that they can correctly interpret the maps derived. For the researcher, the problem is one of clarification of procedures, validation, and classification so that the models can be correctly and easily applied.
A Motivated Account of an Elementary Proof of the Prime Number Theorem

(1969). A Motivated Account of an Elementary Proof of the Prime Number Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 225-245.
Malignant Melanoma of the Nail Apparatus: A Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Analysis of 7 Cases

Background Malignant melanoma of the nail apparatus is exceedingly rare. Increasingly, genetic studies have been employed to aid in distinguishing between malignant melanoma and benign melanocytic nevi. Methods Archived nail apparatus melanomas were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes targeting the genes at 6p25 (RREB1), 11q13 (CCND1), 8q24.1 (MYC), 6q23 (MYB), 9p21 (CDKN2A) and the centromeres of chromosomes 8 (D8Z2) and 6 (D6Z1). The results were correlated with clinical and demographic information. Results Mean patient age was 57.8 years (range 23-92 years). In all, 5 of 7 (71%) cases involved the upper extremity digits. RREB1 gain was seen in all cases. CCND1 gain was seen in 6 of 7 (86%) cases, 3 of which were amplified. MYB loss and MYC gain were both seen in 5 of 7 (71%) cases. Homozygous loss of CDKN2A was not observed in any case. Two of 7 (28.6%) patients had lymph node metastasis and died of widely metastatic disease. These 2 patients harbored the most genetic aberrations: gains of RREB1, CCND1, and MYC, and MYB loss. Both benign melanocytic nevi controls showed normal FISH results. Conclusions RREB1 and CCND1 gains are common in nail apparatus melanoma as in most melanomas, and an increased number of genetic aberrations may be associated with a poorer prognosis, though the limited number of cases precludes definitive correlation. FISH appears to be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of nail apparatus melanomas and improves diagnostic confidence even in the setting of unambiguous histomorphology.
Inertial Measurement Unit for Radiation-Free Navigated Screw Placement in Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Surgery

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis SCFE is a common pathologic hip condition in adolescents. In the standard treatment, a surgeon relies on multiple intra-operative fluoroscopic X-ray images to plan the screw placement and to guide a drill along the intended trajectory. More complex cases could require more images, and thereby, higher radiation dose to both patient and surgeon. We introduce a novel technique using an Inertial Measurement Unit IMU for recovering and visualizing the orthopedic tool trajectory in two orthogonal Xray images in real-time. The proposed technique improves screw placement accuracy and reduces the number of required fluoroscopic X-ray images without changing the current workflow. We present results from a phantom study using 20 bones to perform drilling and screw placement tasks. While dramatically reducing the number of required fluoroscopic images from 20 to 4, the results also show improvement in accuracy compared to the manual SCFE approach.
Degradation of Amyloid β-Protein by a Serine Protease-α2-Macroglobulin Complex

Progressive cerebral deposition of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is an early and constant feature of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ is derived by proteolysis from the β-amyloid precursor protein. β-Amyloid precursor protein processing and the generation of Aβ have been extensively characterized, but little is known about the mechanisms of degradation of this potentially neurotoxic peptide. We identified and purified a proteolytic activity in culture medium that can degrade secreted Aβ but not larger proteins in the medium. Detection of the activity in conditioned medium required the presence of fetal bovine serum and the passage of the cells with a pancreatic trypsin preparation. Its inhibitor profile showed that the activity was a serine protease other than trypsin or chymotrypsin. The protease occurs as a stable ~700-kDa complex with the inhibitor, α2-macroglobulin (α2M), that retains activity against small substrates such as Aβ. Its NH2-terminal sequence suggests that the protease is previously unidentified. Our results indicate that the Aβ-degrading protease we have detected is a non-trypsin component of a pancreatic trypsin preparation or else derives from a zymogen in serum that is activated by a protease in the latter preparation. Because Aβ-bearing plaques in Alzheimer's disease brain contain both α2M and receptors of α2M-protease complexes, the same or a similar α2M-protease complex could arise in vivo and play a role in Aβ clearance.
Support for Offering Sexual Health Services through School-Based Health Clinics.

BACKGROUND Numerous studies document support for sexuality education in the schools. However, there is a dearth of research assessing support for sexual health services offered through school-based health clinics (SBHCs). The purpose of this study was to assess voter support for offering 3 sexual health services (STI/HIV testing, STI/HIV treatment, condom distribution) through SBHCs. METHODS The survey was developed after review of existing surveys on support for sexuality education and sexual health services. The university's Public Opinion Research Laboratory used random-digit-dialing to administer the survey to participants (N = 311) including residential and cell phone numbers. RESULTS Most participants were supportive of offering sexual health services at both middle schools (MS) and high schools (HS): testing for STIs/HIV (61% MS, 76% HS), treatment for STIs/HIV (60% MS, 75% HS), and provision of condoms (44% MS, 63% HS). Analyses showed significant differences in support for sexual health services by a few demographic variables, opinions about sexuality education, and the percentage of students perceived to have had sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS Results document support for offering sexual health services through SBHCs. These findings may benefit other communities looking to implement similar clinics. Such services have great potential for positively impacting the sexual health of youth.
The Mars Cube One deployable high gain antenna

Mars Cube One (MarCO) is the first CubeSat mission developed for operation at Mars. MarCO will provide a bent pipe telecom relay to Earth for NASA's InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission during its Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) sequence. The MarCO High Gain Antenna (HGA) is a key enabling technology for this mission and presents a tremendous technical challenge due to the limited mass and volume of a 6U CubeSat. This paper presents the design and performance of the circularly polarized X-Band deployable reflectarray developed for MarCO.
Prevalence and characteristics of cancer patients receiving care from single vs. multiple institutions.

Abstract Introduction Patients may receive cancer care from multiple institutions. However, at the population level, such patterns of cancer care are poorly described, complicating clinical research. To determine the population-based prevalence and characteristics of patients seen by multiple institutions, we used operations data from a state-mandated cancer registry. Methods and materials 59,672 invasive cancers diagnosed in 1/1/2010-12/31/2011 in the Greater Bay Area of northern California were categorized as having been reported to the cancer registry within 365 days of diagnosis by: 1) ≥1 institution within an integrated health system (IHS); 2) IHS institution(s) and ≥1 non-IHS institution (e.g., private hospital); 3) 1 non-IHS institution; or 4) ≥2 non-IHS institutions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to characterize patients reported by multiple vs. single institutions. Results Overall in this region, 17% of cancers were reported by multiple institutions. Of the 33% reported by an IHS, 8% were also reported by a non-IHS. Of non-IHS patients, 21% were reported by multiple institutions, with 28% for breast and 27% for pancreatic cancer, but 19%% for lung and 18% for prostate cancer. Generally, patients more likely to be seen by multiple institutions were younger or had more severe disease at diagnosis. Conclusions Population-based data show that one in six newly diagnosed cancer patients received care from multiple institutions, and differed from patients seen only at a single institution. Cancer care data from single institutions may be incomplete and possibly biased.
Underwater floating robot-fish: a comparative analysis of the results of mathematical modelling and full-scale tests of the prototype

The article presents a comparative analysis of the results of computer mathematical modelling of the motion of the underwater robot-fish implemented by using the MATLAB / Simulink package and fullscale tests of an experimental model developed in the laboratory of mechatronics and robotics of the SouthWest State University.
Multibond Model of Single-Asperity Tribochemical Wear at the Nanoscale

Single-asperity wear experiments and simulations have identified different regimes of wear including Eyring- and Archard-like behaviors. A multibond dynamics model has been developed based on the friction model of Filippov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 135503 (2004)]. This new model captures both qualitatively distinct regimes of single-asperity wear under a unified theoretical framework. In this model, the interfacial bond formation, wearless rupture, and transfer of atoms are governed by three competing thermally activated processes. The Eyring regime holds under the conditions of low load and low adhesive forces; few bonds form between the asperity and the surface, and wear is a rare and rate-dependent event. As the normal stress increases, the Eyring behavior of wear rate breaks down. A nearly rate-independent regime arises under high load or high adhesive forces, in which wear becomes very nearly, but not precisely, proportional to sliding distance. In this restricted regime, the dependence of wear ra...
Trails For The Twenty-First Century

Review by Sherry Kinney Library Specialist, Cline Library, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 6022, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 USA Ryan, Karen-Lee, editor, Trails For The Twenty-First Century. Washington, DC, Island Press, 1993, 213 pp. US$24.95 paper ISBN: 1-55963-238-0. Recycled acid- free paper. Across the nation thousands of miles of former railways, canals, and roadways are being converted into multi-use trails. Through the efforts of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the National Park Service, and hundreds of state and local citizen groups, abandoned transportation corridors are undergoing transformation to become public recreation and transportation pathways. The ultimate goal is the creation of a nationwide network of non-motorized multi-use trails -- local, regional, and national systems -- that will allow walkers, hikers, joggers, people with disabilities, bicyclists, skiers, equestrians, and others to enjoy the natural features and cultural heritage of their environment. The information provided in this work represents the collective experience of hundreds of trail users and managers. Trails For The Twenty-First Century is intended to be a step-by-step resource manual for the planning, design, and management of multi-use trails. It provides guidelines for every part of the process. The authors offer suggestions for the careful consideration of sites, ideas for generation of ample local interest and funding, and strategies for working with individuals and agencies. Specifics of the physical construction of the trail to serve local users' needs is addressed at length. Legal and safety issues are also discussed. The final chapters are devoted to ongoing maintenance and management of the trail after completion. Numerous examples, illustrations, and photographs enhance the text. This manual contains an excellent table of contents and index which facilitate its use. Another aspect of Trails For The Twenty-First Century is an Annotated Resource Directory which provides additional references related to multi-use trail planning, design, and management. Trails For The Twenty-First Century makes a positive literary contribution to the effort of those who wish to recycle transportation corridors for the preservation and enhancement of our environment and our quality of life.
Generation of High‐Specificity Antibodies against Membrane Proteins Using DNA‐Gold Micronanoplexes for Gene Gun Immunization

Membrane proteins are the molecular interface of the cell and its environs; however, studies of membrane proteins are highly technically challenging, mainly due to instability of the isolated protein. Towards the production of antibodies that recognize properly folded and stabilized forms of membrane protein antigen, we describe a DNA-based immunization method for mice that expresses the antigen in the membranes of dendritic cells, thus allowing direct presentation to the immune system. This genetic immunization approach employs a highly efficient method of biolistic delivery based on DNA-gold micronanoplexes, which are complexes of micron-sized gold particles that allow dermal penetration and nanometer-sized gold particles that provide a higher surface area for DNA binding than micron gold alone. In contrast to antibodies derived from immunizations with detergent-solubilized protein or with protein fragments, antibodies from genetic immunization are expected to have a high capacity for binding conformational epitopes and for modulating membrane protein activity. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hyperpolarization of Silicon Nanoparticles with TEMPO Radicals

Silicon-based particles can be hyperpolarized via dynamic nuclear polarization to enhance 29Si magnetic resonance signals. Application of this technique to nanoscale silicon particles has been limited because of the low signal enhancements achieved; it is hypothesized that this is due to the low number of endogenous electronic defects inherent to the particles. We introduce a method of incorporating exogenous radicals into silicon nanoparticle suspensions in order to improve the hyperpolarization of 29Si nuclear spins to levels sufficient for in vivo MR imaging. Calibration of radical concentrations and polarization times are reported for a variety of silicon particle sizes (30–200 nm in diameter), with optimal radical concentrations of 30–60 mM. Addition of the radical slightly affects the T1 relaxation of the nanoparticles; however, these losses in T1 are overcome by the overall improvement in 29Si magnetization. With optimal amounts of the added radical, 29Si T1 times are ∼20 min, and MR images in phan...
The Karel Dobbelaere lecture: Divergent global roads to secularization and religious pluralism:

This article analyzes the two divergent, though intertwined, roads of European secularization and global religious pluralism. In continental Western Europe, modernization and urbanization were acco...
Neurocognitive Function and Learning in Children with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Developmental neuropsychologists address cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disorders within an integrated model or a developmental brain–behavior paradigm embedded in an extrinsically and intrinsically dynamic environment. Yet despite the abundance of studies aiming at the understanding of a variety of brain–behavior disorders, and their treatment, the vast majority of such studies focuses on daytime behavior, that is, as a start point and as an end point. Hence, the impact of disrupted sleep in the developing child is tremendously underrated. Mental processing difficulties and executive dysfunctioning, for especially verbal material, suggestively form the sleep disordered breathing profile, yet few studies have reached a level of evidence succinct to funnel studies or practice, and a clear need for them is evident. Thus, sleep in a child is a public health issue of utmost importance and healthcare providers should always reflect on sleep.
CE: Managing alcohol problems, Part 1

Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug in the United States. Each year, 17 million adults experience a serious problem with alcohol, but only 3 million get help. 1 Risky or problem drinking can jeopardize the health and safety of not only those who drink but also their families, coworkers, and communities. Because of their collaborative approach to helping clients achieve wellness and independence, case managers are in a prime position to identify and address clients' alcohol problems.
Rate and Extent of Troponin-T Degradation in Loins from Pigs Selected for Low and High Residual Feed Intake

ObjectivesIt is well known that proteolysis of myofibrillar proteins such as troponin-T is linked to myofibrillar fragmentation and improvement of tenderness of fresh meat products. The objective of this research was to quantify the rate and extent of troponin-T degradation in chops, aged 1, 7, or 14 d, from the longissimus muscle (LM) of pigs selected for low residual feed intake (LRFI; more feed efficient) and high residual feed intake (HRFI; less feed efficient). Residual feed intake is defined as the difference between expected and observed feed intake based on ADG and backfat.Materials and MethodsLines of LRFI (n = 6) and HRFI (n = 6) pigs, from generation 11 of the Iowa State University RFI project, were used for this study. Pigs were fed a commercial corn and soybean diet and were harvested at approximately 125 kg using standard industry procedures. Loins were removed and chops (2.54 cm) were cut from the LM 1 d postmortem, vacuum packaged, and aged 14 d. At the completion of aging, fresh (never frozen) chops were used to determine subjective color and marbling, Hunter L, a, b, and pH. Chops were cooked to 68°C for cook loss and star probe (kg) evaluation. Chops, from the LM (1.27 cm), for biochemical analysis were vacuum packaged and aged 1, 7, or 14 d. Samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and homogenized at the end of the assigned aging period. Proteins were solubilized using whole muscle extraction buffer (10 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, and 2% wt/vol sodium dodecyl sulfate). Densitometry analysis of immunoblots was used to quantify troponin-T degradation products (28 to 30 kDa) that were resolved in the extracts from the aged samples. Degradation product abundance was normalized to the abundance of a reference sample on each gel and data were analyzed with fixed effects of line and days of aging and random effect of gel.ResultsHunter a and b values, pH, subjective color scores, and subjective marbling scores were not different between lines (P > 0.05). There was a tendency for chops from LRFI pigs to have less cook loss (19.2%) than those from HRFI pigs (22.3%; P = 0.07). Chops from LRFI animals exhibited lower Hunter L values (LRFI, 46.5; HRFI, 50.9; P 0.05). The degradation product was more abundant in chops from LRFI animals at d 7 (0.64) and 14 (0.92) postmortem when compared to HRFI counterparts at d 7 (0.41) and 14 (0.80; P < 0.01).ConclusionSelection for improved efficiency was not detrimental to fresh pork quality. The results suggest that the explanation for improved quality in the loin chops from LRFI pigs is a greater rate and extent of troponin-T degradation during postmortem storage.
Effect of simulated weightlessness on exercise-induced anaerobic threshold.

The effect of simulated weightlessness, induced by ten days of continuous bedrest (BR) in the -6 deg head-down position, on the exercise-induced anaerobic threshold (AT) was determined by comparing specific ventilatory and gas-exchange measurements during an incremental ergometer test performed before and after BR. The primary index for determining the exercise-induced AT values of each subject was visual identification of the workrate or oxygen uptake (VO2) at which the ratio of the expired minute ventilation volume (VE) to VO2 exhibited a systematic increase without a concomitant increase in the VE/VCO2 value. Following BR, the mean VO2max of the subjects decreased by 7.0 percent, and the AT decreased from a mean of 1.26 L/min VO2 before BR to 0.95 L/min VO2 after BR. The decrease in AT was manifested by a decrease in both absolute and relative workrates. The change in AT correlated significantly with the change in plasma volume but not with the change in VO2max. The results suggest that the reduction in AT cannot be completely explained by the reduction in VO2, and that the AT decrease is associated with the reduction in intravascular fluid volume.
Trains, Games, and Complexity: 0/1/2-Player Motion Planning through Input/Output Gadgets

We analyze the computational complexity of motion planning through local "input/output" gadgets with separate entrances and exits, and a subset of allowed traversals from entrances to exits, each of which changes the state of the gadget and thereby the allowed traversals. We study such gadgets in the 0-, 1-, and 2-player settings, in particular extending past motion-planning-through-gadgets work to 0-player games for the first time, by considering "branchless" connections between gadgets that route every gadget's exit to a unique gadget's entrance. Our complexity results include containment in L, NL, P, NP, and PSPACE; as well as hardness for NL, P, NP, and PSPACE. We apply these results to show PSPACE-completeness for certain mechanics in Factorio, [the Sequence], and a restricted version of Trainyard, improving prior results. This work strengthens prior results on switching graphs and reachability switching games.
The nursing care method for neonates during recovery from general anesthesia

Objective To investigate the nursing care of neonates during recovery from general anes-thesia in NICU. Methods The accurate nursing care methods for 38 neonates during recovery from general anesthesia in NICU of our hospital were summarized. Results With professional and accurate care, none of them had an accident or the effect of the operation was influenced. Conclusion To be rigorous in work and own professional skill of the nurses in NICU was very important, which could guarantee the neonates to live through recovery from general anesthesia and to ensure the operation successful. Key words: Neonate; General anesthesia; Recovery; Care
Corundum: An Open-Source 100-Gbps Nic

Corundum is an open-source, FPGA-based prototyping platform for network interface development at up to 100 Gbps and beyond. The Corundum platform includes several core features to enable real-time, high-line-rate operations including: a high-performance datapath, 10G/25G/100G Ethernet MACs, PCI Express gen 3, a custom PCIe DMA engine, and native high-precision IEEE 1588 PTP timestamping. A key feature is extensible queue management that can support over 10,000 queues coupled with extensible transmit schedulers, enabling fine-grained hardware control of packet transmission. In conjunction with multiple network interfaces, multiple ports per interface, and per-port event-driven transmit scheduling, these features enable the development of advanced network interfaces, architectures, and protocols. The software interface to these hardware features is a high-performance driver for the Linux networking stack. The platform also supports scatter/gather DMA, checksum offloading, receive flow hashing, and receive-side scaling. Development and debugging is facilitated by a comprehensive open-source, Python-based simulation framework that includes the entire system from a simulation model of the driver and PCI express interface to the Ethernet interfaces. The power and flexibility of Corundum is demonstrated by the implementation of a microsecond-precision time-division multiple access (TDMA) hardware scheduler to enforce a TDMA schedule at 100 Gbps line rate with no CPU overhead.
Fluctuations of High Voltage Impedance

A 59-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy had a single-chamber Medtronic Entrust™ ICD and Sprint Fidelis™ Model 6949 dual-coil true bipolar lead implanted over 2 years ago after out-of-hospital VF. His NYHA Class is III and left ventricular ejection fraction is 34%. After an episode of monomorphic VT storm a year ago, he has been treated with amiodarone 200 mg per day to decrease the frequency of VT. He now presents for a routine follow-up visit. The pacing threshold is 0.5 V at 0.4 ms, and the pacing lead impedance is stable at 560 Ω. One episode of device-detected VT is stored in the ICD. Diagnosis and management steps are discussed.
Semiotics as a Theory of Representation

Much of semantic theory is based on the mistake of supposing that the primary units of meaning are individual expressions such as words, symbols, and signs. On the contrary, the proper units of analysis have to be whole sentences or propositions. The individual word only functions as it contributes to the meaning of the sentence (it may be a one word sentence), because only the sentence can give us truth conditions or other conditions of satisfaction. This is an old point in semantic theory, but its implications are not always properly understood, and the aim of this paper is to explore some of those implications. Keywords: Speech acts; Drawings; Semiotics; Proposition; Semantic phenomena.
Occult symptomatic bilateral pure Leydig cell tumors in a postmenopausal woman: a case report.

Pure Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) represent 0.1% of ovarian masses. Postmenopausal patients typically present with virilization. Although LCTs can be challenging to locate on conventional imaging, pos...
Race-Based Differences in the Utilization and Timing of Secondary Cleft Procedures in the United States

Primary CL/P repair, revisions, and secondary procedures-cleft rhinoplasty, speech surgery, and alveolar bone grafting (ABG)-performed from 2014-2018 were identified from the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Utilization estimates were derived via univariable and multivariable logistic regression. A Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test and multivariable linear regression were used to assess differences in timing for each procedure cohort.The primary outcome measures were the odds of a patient being a certain race/ethnicity, and the age at which patients of different race/ethnicity receive surgery.There were 23 780 procedures analyzed. After controlling for sex, diagnosis, and functional status, there were significant differences in utilization estimates across procedure groups. Primarily, utilization was lowest in patient who were Black for cleft rhinoplasty (OR = 0.70, P = .023), ABG (OR = 0.44, P Conclusions Estimates of utilization and timing of secondary cleft procedures varied by race, particularly among patients who were Black (poor utilization) or Asian (high utilization). Further studies should identify the causes and implications of underutilized and/or delayed cleft care.
The role of electrostatic charge in the adhesion of spherical particles onto planar surfaces in atmospheric systems

Abstract The influence of electrostatic charge on the adhesive force between spherical particles and planar surfaces in atmospheric systems was studied using atomic force microscopy. Electrical bias was applied to modify the surface charge, and it was found that application of a stronger positive bias to a particle induces a stronger total adhesive force. The sensitivity of the system to changes in the bias depended on the surface charge density. For larger-size particles, the contribution of the electrostatic force decreased, and the capillary force became the major contributor to the total adhesive force. The influence of water adsorption on the total adhesive force and, specifically, on the contribution of the electrostatic force depended on the hydrophobicity of interacting surfaces. For a hydrophilic surface, water adsorption either attenuated the surface charge or screened the effect of surface potential. An excessive amount of adsorbed water provided a path to surface charge leakage, which might cancel out the electrostatic force, leading to a reduction in the adhesive force. Theoretically calculated forces were comparable with measured adhesive forces except for mica which has a highly localized surface potential. The results of this study provide information on the behavior of charged colloidal particles in atmospheric systems.
Vector Space Semantic Parsing: A Framework for Compositional Vector Space Models

We present vector space semantic parsing (VSSP), a framework for learning compositional models of vector space semantics. Our framework uses Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG) to define a correspondence between syntactic categories and semantic representations, which are vectors and functions on vectors. The complete correspondence is a direct consequence of minimal assumptions about the semantic representations of basic syntactic categories (e.g., nouns are vectors), and CCG’s tight coupling of syntax and semantics. Furthermore, this correspondence permits nonuniform semantic representations and more expressive composition operations than previous work. VSSP builds a CCG semantic parser respecting this correspondence; this semantic parser parses text into lambda calculus formulas that evaluate to vector space representations. In these formulas, the meanings of words are represented by parameters that can be trained in a task-specific fashion. We present experiments using noun-verbnoun and adverb-adjective-noun phrases which demonstrate that VSSP can learn composition operations that RNN (Socher et al., 2011) and MV-RNN (Socher et al., 2012) cannot.
Homologous Genetic Recombination in Eukaryotes

In eukaryotes, homologous recombination is mediated by genes of the RAD52 epistasis group. Several products of the RAD52 group genes function together to catalyse the homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange reaction that establishes a stable linkage between the recombining chromosomes. Keywords: RAD52 group proteins; recombinases; homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange; genome stability; tumour suppression
Water Supply Planning—Federal

The U.S. government has been engaged in water supply planning for domestic, agricultural, commercial, and industrial needs from its inception. Planning was initially undertaken for inland navigation and flood control. Later, primacy was given to irrigation, municipal needs, and hydroelectricity. The Army Corps of Engineers, the largest and most important federal water supply planning entity, was initially given responsibility for all these efforts. In 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) was established and given principal responsibility for water supply projects in the West. Keywords: planning; Army Corps of Engineers; Bureau of Reclamation; public participation; watershed; Mississippi River Commission; Tennessee Valley Authority; river basin commission; Water Resources Council; National Water Commission
Zeeman Laser Scattering (ZLS): A new light scattering technique

Measurements of the phase and polarization properties of elastically scattered light have received considerable attention in recent years [1–11]. They provide more information about the size, morphology, and internal structure of the scattering particle than do simple measurements of the scattered irradiance [1].
Radio Noise in the Heliospheric Cavity

The LF radio emission of the heliospheric cavity is discussed, summarizing Voyager measurement data. The solar wind is considered to be the outer layer of the solar atmosphere, and its interaction with the interstellar medium is examined in detail. Typical data are presented graphically, and theoretical models proposed to explain the emission are reviewed. It is suggested that the emission may originate at the terminal shock or heliopause, thus providing a means of estimating its location.
A high-resolution head insert device for a clinical PET/CT scanner

488 Objectives: To develop a prototype PET insert device that can be attached to a clinical PET/CT scanner to improve resolution of head and neck images. Methods: The device consists of 28 detector modules arranged into 2 half-rings. Each detector consists of 13x13 LSO crystals (2x2x5 mm3 each), a custom light guide, and a multi-channel PMT. The device can be precisely positioned in the gantry opening or completely retracted via a 3D positioning system. Signals from the insert are fed to scanner electronics through 7 active switch boards that select between scanner detectors and insert detectors. Coincidence events between the insert and the scanner can be extracted from the list mode data. A maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization algorithm combines coincidence events between all detectors to jointly estimate the images. Initial tests were focused on the compatibility of insert detector and system electronics, functionality of the switch board, and correctness of image reconstruction algorithm. Results: Insert detectors are compatible with scanner electronics except that its signal arrives 10 ns ahead of scanner detectors. With 1.8-meter long cables connecting the insert to the scanner, the signals are now synchronized. The switch boards properly select and transmit the signals without distortion. Image reconstruction algorithm is fully tested using data from an animal PET insert device. Construction of the head insert device is complete, while the positioning system is being finished. Conclusions: Functionality of individual components has been fully validated. Evaluation of the full system is being conducted. Initial images will be presented. The device is expected to provide higher resolution PET images for head and neck imaging applications. Research Support: NIH (CA110011) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure (BCTR0601279)
Disubstituted imidazolium-2-carboxylates as efficient precursors to N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Rh, Ru, Ir, and Pd.

N,N‘-Disubstituted imidazolium-2-carboxylates are efficient precursors to NHC complexes of Rh, Ir, Pd, and Ru.
H2O Outgassing Properties of Fumed and Precipitated Silica Particles by Temperature-Programmed Desorption

Temperature-programmed desorption was performed at temperatures up to 850 K on as-received fumed and precipitated silica particles. Physisorbed water molecules on both types of silica had activation energies in the range of 38–61 kJ/mol. However, the activation energies of desorption for chemisorbed water varied from ∼80 to >247 kJ/mol for fumed silica, Cab-O-Sil-M-7D, and ∼96 to 155 kJ/mol for precipitated silica, Hi-Sil-233. Our results suggest that physisorbed water can be effectively pumped away at room temperature (or preferably at 320 K) in a matter of hours. Chemisorbed water with high activation energies of desorption (>126 kJ/mol) will not escape silica surfaces in 100 years even at 320 K, while a significant amount of the chemisorbed water with medium activation energies (80–109 kJ/mol) will leave the silica surfaces in that time span. Most of the chemisorbed water with activation energies <126 kJ/mol can be pumped away in a matter of days in a good vacuum environment at 500 K. We had previously measured about 0.1–0.4 wt% of water in silica-reinforced polysiloxane formulations containing ∼21% Cab-O-Sil-M-7D and ∼4% Hi-Sil-233. Comparing present results with these formulations, we conclude that the adsorbed H2O and the Si–OH bonds on the silica surfaces are the major contributors to water outgassing from these types of silica-filled polymers.
Long term high temperature corrosion studies of high temperature alloys in chlorine contaminated environments

High temperature chlorine contaminated environments may be encountered in a number of modern industrial and energy conversion systems. Such environments have been shown to be extremely severe from a corrosion control standpoint. Rather little information is available on the corrosion properties of alloys in these environments, and the bulk of this information has been obtained in shortterm tests (24 hours or less). This paper will report the results of a series of high temperature corrosion tests performed on superalloys for periods up to 400 hours in an oxidizing environment consisting of argon containing 20 pet oxygen and 0.25 pct chlorine at 900 ° C.
Fibulin‐1, vitronectin, and fibronectin expression during avian cardiac valve and septa development

Background Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins have been implicated as mediators of events important to valvuloseptal development (reviewed by Little and Rongish, Experentia, 51:873–882, 1995). The aim of this study was to identify connective tissue ECM proteins present at sites of valvuloseptal morphogenesis, and to determine how their patterns of expression change during the developmental process. Methods Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to examine the distribution of fibulin-1, vitronectin, and fibronectin in the embryonic chicken heart over a broad developmental time frame (Hamburger and Hamilton stages 14 to 44), emphasizing stages that illustrate endocardial cushion formation, growth, fusion, and development into valvuloseptal components. Results and Conclusions Fibulin-1 immunolabeling was concentrated in endocardial cushions, notably at boundaries with the myocardium, during stages when the cushions are differentiating into valvular and septal components. Fibulin-1 was detected in the endocardial cushions prior to their seeding with cushion cells, but became undetectable by early midgestation. Vitronectin expression was similar to fibulin-1, but less restricted in its distribution. Vitronectin was observed before endocardial cushion cell migration commenced and persisted until the formation of prevalvular structures (early midgestation) in the atrioventricular cushions. Vitronectin remained detectable in the semilunar valves until late midgestation. Fibronectin was present in the endocardial cushion region and in portions of the endocardium and myocardium throughout the stages presented. Our data suggests that the ECM of the endocardial cushions undergoes remodelling in a regionally and temporally specific manner which corresponds with morphogenetic changes during valvuloseptal development. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optical limiting with complex plasmonic nanoparticles

Optical limiting by suspensions of Au nanoparticles is enhanced by several orders of magnitude with the use of complex plasmonic shapes, such as spined 'nanourchins,' instead of nanospheres. Similar enhancements are observed by changing the material of nanospheres from Au to Ag. The experiments, measuring intensity-dependent transmission over a wavelength range from 450 to 650 nm for a 6 ns pulsed laser, are analyzed in terms of an effective nonlinear extinction coefficient, which we relate to the local, plasmonically enhanced electric field. FDTD simulations reveal a large electric field enhancement inside the nanospined structures and qualitatively confirm the plasmonic trends, where Ag nanospheres and Au nanourchins are more effective than Au nanospheres. These results suggest that designing nanostructures for the maximum plasmonic enhancement provides a roadmap to materials and geometries with optimized optical limiting behavior.
Japan: Meeting the challenge of computers in education

The conditions that prepare the way for integrating computers in the curriculum are being successfully addressed in Japan. Computers have definitely found their way into the classroom, and more computers will be purchased by the Japanese government in the next year or two. The groundwork has also been laid in teacher training and in upgrading the quality of instructional software. The issue now lies in being able to teach not onlyabout computers, but how to teach effectivelywith computers. The next challenge for Japanese education is to focus on policy and efforts aimed at putting the equipment, the software guidelines, and the teacher education programs to work.