cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy balance and stability

The energy balance of the outer atmospheres of solarlike stars is discussed. The energy balance of open coronal regions is considered, discussing the construction and characteristics of models of such regions in some detail. In particular, the temperature as a function of height is considered, as are the damping length dependence of the global energy balance in the region between the base of the transition region and the critical point, and the effects of changing the amount of coronal heating, the stellar mass, and the stellar radius. Models of coronal loops are more briefly discussed. The chromosphere is then included in the discussion of the energy balance, and the connection between global energy balance and global thermal stability is addressed. The observed positive correlations between the chromospheric and coronal energy losses and the pressure of the transition region is qualitatively explained.
Titanium catalyzed reduction of aromatic halides by sodium borohydride

Abstract The reduction of aryl halides by sodium borohydride is catalyzed by titanium complexes; di(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (titanocene dichloride) is highly effective. The reaction scope and mechanism are solvent dependent. In dimethylformamide (DMF), an adduct of DMF and sodium borohydride is formed which reduces simple aryl halides by a non-radical, likely nucleophilic route. Dimethylamino- substituted products are formed, as are simple dechlorinated species. In dimethylacetamide or in ethers, a radical-based reaction involving activated titanocene borohydride takes place, and only dechlorinated products result.
Noun phrase internal case agreement in Russian

It is generally assumed that attributive adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the head of the noun phrase (NP) in which they occur (Anderson 1982, 574). I will argue on the basis of Russian quantified NPs that while the head noun does in fact control the number and gender agreement of its modifiers, it does not control their case marking. My major hypothesis is that case is assigned to the head noun's maximal projection (Nm), and then percolates down to all the NP's available lexical and phrasal categories. NP-internal case agreement is therefore the direct result of percolation (cf. Muysken 1983); there is no exchange of case features among lexical items. Case should be thought of as a property of the NP as a whole, not of the head noun. Russian quantified NPs therefore provide overwhelming support for the hypothesis that the distribution of case in a NP is determined by structural relations defined on X-bar structures (cf. Chomsky 1981).1
Role of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is induced by cerebral ischemia and injurious blood components acutely after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We hypothesized that inhibition of JNK will prevent damage to the neurovascular unit in the early brain injury period after SAH. Ninety-nine male SD rats (300-350 g) were randomly assigned to sham, SAH, and SAH treated with JNK inhibitor groups. SAH was induced by endovascular perforation. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 was administered intraperitoneally at 1 hr before and 6 hr after SAH. At 24 hr after SAH, we observed increased phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun. Signs of neurovascular damage were observed in the hemorrhagic brains; these included the increases of aquaporin (AQP)-1 expression and brain water content as well as enhanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity, vascular collagen IV loss, increased VEGF tissue level, and Evans blue extravasation. The appearances of cleaved caspase-3 expression, TUNEL-positive cells, and apoptotic morphology in cerebral tissues were associated with neurological deficit after SAH. JNK inhibition prevented c-Jun phosphorylation and suppressed AQP1, MMP-9, VEGF, and caspase-3 activation, with concomitant diminution of neuronal injury, blood-brain barrier preservation, reduced brain swelling, and improved neurological deficit in rats after SAH. This study demonstrates a multitude of beneficial effects of JNK inhibition, including protection of the neurovascular unit in early brain injury after SAH.
Brain Enabled by Next-Generation Neurotechnology: Using Multiscale and Multimodal Models

The ultimate goal is to understand how the information in the distributed neural circuits of the brain reorganizes and plastically adapts to laboratory disruptions designed to reversibly mimic brain injury. Our approach involves a new generation of data- driven mathematical models of brain circuits and their connection with complex behavioral tasks in primates that are enabled with a suite of novel experimental tools .In the following article, we illustrate a few of these methods, which include projecting input directly onto specifically targeted brain microcircuits and thus writing in neuromodulatory signals. These methods also enable the simultaneous read out and write in of real-time neural responses across multiple spatial and temporal scales of network activity.
Informed Consent Issues in International Research Concerns

No discussion of the informed consent process would be adequate without attention to dilemmas and challenges arising in research in foreign countries, particularly in the less developed countries. In an era of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), for example, much attention to research issues concerning devastating health conditions in developed and less developed countries has occurred with renewed vigor.
Predicting the effect of temporal variations in PO2 on tumor radiosensitivity.

Abstract Purpose Tumor hypoxia is associated with less effective radiation-mediated cell killing, increased metastatic potential, and poorer prognosis. Transient variations in hypoxia, with characteristic periodicity on the order of 1 to 10 min, have been observed in animal models. This article explores the effect of these temporal variations in Po 2 on the oxygen enhancement ratio, effective radiation dose to the tumor, and tumor control probability. Methods and materials Po 2 over a 50–60 min period was determined at multiple sites in rat fibrosarcomas, 9L gliomas, and R3230Ac mammary adenocarcinomas. Using a correlation derived from the data of Elkind et al. (1965), Po 2 data are converted into oxygen enhancement ratios (OERs.) A tumor is assumed to consist of 10 3 –10 4 independent oxygenation subvolumes, each with a randomly chosen starting point on the OER-time curve. The effect of temporal variations in OER is examined for three cases: conventionally fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). The oxygen effective dose (OED) for a subvolume is calculated from the dose to that subvolume modified by the OER. In turn, the distribution of OED for a tumor is analyzed for each treatment case and representative tumor control probabilities (TCPs) calculated. Results Oxygen enhancement ratio varied from 1 to 3 over the range of Po 2 measured in this study. Mean OER ranged from 1.6 to 2.6, and the variation in OER vs. time was greater with decreasing Po 2 . In EBRT, the standard deviation in OED was small, 2 s. Compared with a tumor with equal mean OED and uniform Po 2 , TCP was minimally poorer for either EBRT or well-oxygenated tumors. However, for both SRS and IORT, temporal variations in more hypoxic tumors can produce a significant decrease in TCP. Conclusion Temporal variations in tumor Po 2 can produce significant variations OER, particularly at low Po 2 , resulting in decreased TCP for hypofractionated treatment regimens.
Campus Energy Cost Savings Case Studies: Applications of Energy Best Practices

ABSTRACT Global businesses continue to experience regular and significant cost increases in energy costs. Most companies have established energy and environmental sustainability commitments/policies which address decreasing energy emissions and indirectly lower costs. At Armstrong, a corporate goal was established in 2008 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10% from 2006 baselines by the year 2015. In 2009, Armstrong completed a greenhouse gas inventory third-party verification from the established 2006 baseline year through 2008. Our partnership with The Climate Registry assisted in ensuring measurement accuracy. While the corporation had already surpassed the 2015 reduction goals, the achievement was largely a result of a decrease in manufacturing production tied to the overall downturn of the economy. The company continues to be committed to projects that decrease energy usage and our environmental impact.
Primary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast, a Case Report with an Unusual Clinical Course

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast (NECB) is an extremely rare type of breast cancer; little is known about effective chemotherapies, and data on pathologic response to treatment are unavailable. We report the case of a 34-years-old woman with large cell NECB with initial clinical and pathologic evidence of treatment response to anthracycline-containing neo-adjuvant therapy. Histologic reassessment early during anthracycline chemotherapy revealed cell death with necrosis of 50% of the tumor cells seen in the biopsy specimen. After completing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient underwent breast-conserving surgery. Pathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen showed a partial response but margins were positive for residual carcinoma. Despite repeated neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection, the tumor grew rapidly between surgeries and recurred systemically. Therefore, we review the literature on large cell NECB and its treatment options.
Low-power domino circuits using NMOS pull-up on off-critical paths

Domino logic is used extensively in high speed microprocessor datapath design. Although domino gates have small propagation delay, they consume relatively more power. We propose a scheme to reduce the power consumption of combinational domino logic blocks while maintaining the performance. We replace the PMOS precharge transistor with an NMOS transistor to reduce the overall power consumption of the gate at the expense of higher delay. We use a heuristic algorithm to replace the fast, high power gates on the off-critical paths with slower, low power gates while maintaining the circuit performance. Our technique reduces dynamic energy of ISCAS '85 circuits by 16.25%.
Pre-Micellar Maximum in the Light Scattering from Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide and Chloride

Polarized light scattering measurements at a scattering angle of 90° on aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and chloride (CTAC) each exhibit a pre-micellar maximum as a function of concentration at 20°C. Further evidence from angular light scattering and correlation spectroscopy suggests the existence of a low concentration of large anisotropic structures both above and below the cmc. Interpretations are formulated in terms of thermodynamic and geometrical packing considerations.
An information-theoretic approach to positive time-frequency distributions

The principle of minimum cross entropy (MCE) is used to generate positive distributions in the Cohen-Posch (1985) class of proper time-frequency distributions (TFDs). The MCE-TFDs are not only intuitively satisfying, but they also yield the correct marginals, have strong finite support, and are everywhere nonnegative. The usual cross-term artifacts that hinder interpretation of other time-frequency representations (most notably, the Wigner-Ville) are not a problem with the MCE-TFDs. Examples of speech and chirps are given and compared to the spectrogram. An interesting observation in the case of speech is that spectrograms more closely resemble time-conditional-frequency distributions (narrowband) or frequency-conditional-time distributions (wideband) than they do joint time-frequency distributions. >
Reconsidering the role of movement in perceiving action-scaled affordances

Many locomotor tasks require actors to choose among different categories of action, such as when deciding whether to cross the street in front of an approaching vehicle or wait until it passes. In such cases, the actor's locomotor capabilities partly determine which actions are possible, and therefore must be taken into account. The present study was designed to re-evaluate the claim that people do not know their locomotor capabilities until they begin moving because they rely entirely on information that is picked up "on the fly" (Oudejans, Michaels, Bakker, & Dolne, 1996). Three experiments were conducted in which participants judged while stationary or moving whether it was within their capabilities to catch a fly ball or pass through a shrinking gap. The main finding was that judgments were equally accurate regardless of whether participants were stationary or allowed to move for a brief period. We conclude that stationary and moving actors know their locomotor capabilities equally well, and that actors do not rely entirely on information that is picked up on the fly.
Implementing and testing a virus throttle

In this paper we build on previous theoretical work and describe the implementation and testing of a virus throttle - a program, based on a new approach, that is able to substantially reduce the spread of and hence damage caused by mobile code such as worms and viruses. Our approach is different from current, signature-based anti-virus paradigms in that it identifies potential viruses based on their network behaviour and, instead of preventing such programs from entering a system, seeks to prevent them from leaving. The results presented here show that such an approach is effective in stopping the spread of a real worm, W32/Nimda-D, in under a second, as well as several different configurations of a test worm.
Correlates of Delinquency and Victimization in a Sample of Hispanic Youth

Research on Hispanic crime and victimization in the United States has lagged behind the demographic changes of the last four decades. Very little is known about the etiology of Hispanic offending and few studies have examined the correlation between crime and victimization within this group. This study attempts to remedy this gap in the literature by examining the factors associated with both crime and victimization among a homogenous sample of Hispanic adolescents. Negative binomial and logistic regression are utilized to assess the relationship between generational status, self-control, delinquent peers, parental supervision, and demographic variables on the incidence and frequency of delinquency and victimization. Results suggest that generational status, delinquent peers, gender, and age are the most consistent predictors of delinquency and victimization for Hispanic youth.
Advocacy through science: Reply to comments on Resick et al. (2012)†

The 4 comments on the review by Resick et al. (2012) of the complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) literature highlight important theoretical and conceptual questions about the nature and utility of CPTSD and echo the very questions that motivated the review. We discuss the points raised in the comments, particularly with respect to the definition of CPTSD, its relationship to PTSD, and treatment implications. We suggest that setting high scientific standards for CPTSD research is an optimal way to advance the conceptualization of the construct and the treatment of this population.
Do baseline client characteristics predict the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of schizophrenia

This study examined clinical predictors of client and therapist alliance ratings early in therapy, the relationship between client and therapist alliance ratings, and the psychometric properties of the Working Alliance Inventory in individuals with schizophrenia receiving manual-based treatment. Assessment of clinical symptoms and social functioning were conducted at baseline, and alliance ratings were obtained at 5 weeks. The Working Alliance Inventory had high internal consistency, but there were low correlations between client and therapist ratings. Results also indicated that social functioning and the activation and autistic preoccupation factors on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were significant predictors of therapists' alliance ratings. There were no significant relationships between clinical predictors and clients' therapeutic alliance ratings. The findings indicate that client interpersonal factors are significant predictors of the therapist-rated alliance in the treatment of schizophrenia. Low correlations between clients' and therapists' ratings of the alliance should be examined in future research.
Algorithms for Generating Minimal Blockers of Perfect Matchings in Bipartite Graphs and Related Problems

A minimal blocker in a bipartite graph G is a minimal set of edges the removal of which leaves no perfect matching in G. We give a polynomial delay algorithm for finding all minimal blockers of a given bipartite graph. Equivalently, this gives a polynomial delay algorithm for listing the anti-vertices of the perfect matching polytope P(G) = {x ∈ ℝ E | Hx = e, x ≥ 0}, where H is the incidence matrix of G. We also give similar generation algorithms for other related problems, including d-factors in bipartite graphs, and perfect 2-matchings in general graphs.
Chronic Toxicity and Fly Control from Feeding S 4087 (O-p-Cyanophenyl O-Ethyl Phenylphosponothioate) to Laying Hens,

Abstract Technical grade S 4087 (O-p-cyanophenyl O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioate) was administered continuously at 100 p.p.m. in the feed of White Leghorn laying hens for 40 weeks. The droppings from these hens were moderately to highly toxic to maggots of Parasarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy), Fannia pusio (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), and Musca domestica (L.). Treatment had no significant effect on egg weight, egg quality, egg flavor, and egg odor. On the other hand, treatment had a slight inhibitory effect on blood plasma cholinesterase activity, caused considerable hen mortality, and significantly depressed body weight, feed consumption, and egg production. Therefore, despite the good fly control obtained, S 4087 cannot be administered orally to laying hens to protect against the breeding of maggots in the droppings from these hens.
Chronic administration of androgens with actions at estrogen receptor beta have anti-anxiety and cognitive-enhancing effects in male rats.

Androgen levels decline with aging. Some androgens may exert anti-anxiety and cognitive-enhancing effects; however, determining which androgens have anxiolytic-like and/or mnemonic effects is of interest given the different mechanisms that may underlie some of their effects. For example, the 5α-reduced metabolite of testosterone (T), dihydrotesterone, can be further converted to 5α-androstane,17β-diol-3α-diol (3α-diol) and 5α-androstane,17β-diol-3β-diol (3β-diol), both of which bind with high affinity to the beta isomer of the intracellular estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). However, androsterone, another metabolite of T, does not bind well to ERβ. To investigate the effects of T metabolites, male rats were subjected to gonadectomy then implanted with silastic capsules of 3α-diol, 3β-diol, androsterone, or oil control. After recovery, the rats were tested in elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark transition (LD), and Morris water maze (MWM). 3α-diol both decreased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and LD, and increased cognition in MWM, while 3β-diol improved cognition in MWM, but had no effects on anxiety behavior, compared to vehicle or androsterone. These data suggest that the actions of 3α-diol and 3β-diol at ERβ may be responsible for some of testosterone’s anti-anxiety and cognitive-enhancing effects.
RCV-150 Vehicle And Recent Operational Experience

The past decade has shown a dramatic increase in the use of unmanned tethered vehicles in worldwide marine fields. These are used for inspection, debris removal and object retrieval. The RCV- 150\ast system is an example of these advanced technology vehicles. With the requirements of high maneuverability and unusual inspection, a responsive, high performance, compact vehicle was developed. The RCV-150 vehicle component system consists of the vehicle structure, the vehicle electronics, and hydraulic system which powers the thruster assemblies and the manipulator. For this vehicle, a light weight, high-response hydraulic system was developed in a very small package. The past approximate two and one half years of world-wide field activities have resulted in almost 10,000 hours of RCV-150 operations.
Bosnian, Iraqi, and Somali Refugee Women Speak: A Comparative Qualitative Study of Refugee Health Beliefs on Preventive Health and Breast Cancer Screening.

Abstract Introduction The low uptake of preventive services in disadvantaged communities is a continuing challenge to public health. Women refugee communities are particularly vulnerable populations, and disparities in both preventive care and breast cancer screening have been documented sparsely. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore Bosnian, Iraqi, and Somali women refugees' beliefs about preventive care and breast cancer screening to inform future community interventions and best practices. Methods In an urban community health center, 57 interviews with Bosnian, Somali, and Iraqi women refugees were conducted by native language speakers. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed according to best practices for thematic and content analysis. The responses of three groups were compared. Findings Similarities across participants included barriers to care such as fear of pain and diagnosis, modesty, and work and childcare commitments; facilitative factors such as outreach efforts, appointment reminders, and personal contact from health providers; perceptions of how the American medical infrastructure compared with inadequacies in their home countries; and positive attitude toward U.S. health professionals. Differences that emerged among groups were: varying degrees of medical exposure to doctors in home countries, the impact of war on health systems; and understanding preventive breast care. Conclusion Taken together, duration of time in United States and prior exposure to Western medicine account for differences in refugee women's knowledge of preventive care. Understanding population-specific health beliefs, health information, and behavior are crucial for designing tailored prevention programs for refugee women.
Explosive opening switch utilizing shockwave induced conduction in PMMA and PVC

It is known that PMMA and PVC become conductive under shock compression. However, to develop an opening switch, the material’s recovery from conductor back to insulator is critical. Heating must be minimized in order to optimize recovery. Two sources of heat in this switch include shock induced heating and switch loss heating, which should be balanced for optimal results. Furthermore, it is also important to determine if the observed switching behavior is due to shock unloading or intrinsic material relaxation properties. In the extreme case of recovery, bulk breakdown may become an issue. This paper presents experimental data and discusses initial results as they relate to the development of an opening switch.
Interferon-Tau and Progesterone Regulate Ubiquitin Cross-Reactive Protein Expression in the Ovine Uterus

Ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (UCRP) is a functional ubiquitin homolog synthesized by the ruminant endometrium in response to conceptus-derived interferon-tau (IFNtau). Progesterone is required for IFNtau to exert antiluteolytic actions on the endometrium. Therefore, this study was designed to determine whether progesterone is requisite for IFNtau induction of UCRP expression within the ovine uterus. Cyclic ewes were ovariectomized and fitted with intrauterine (i.u.) catheters on Day 5 and treated daily with steroids (i.m.) and protein (i.u.) as follows: 1) progesterone (P, Days 5-24) and control serum proteins (CX, Days 11-24); 2) P and ZK 137.316 (ZK; progesterone receptor antagonist, Days 11-24) and CX proteins; 3) P and recombinant ovine IFNtau (roIFNtau, Days 11-24); or 4) P and ZK and roIFNtau. All ewes were hysterectomized on Day 25. In P-treated ewes, roIFNtau increased endometrial UCRP mRNA and protein levels. However, administration of ZK to ewes ablated roIFNtau induction of UCRP. Recombinant ovine IFNtau induced expression of UCRP mRNA in progestinized endometrial luminal (LE) and glandular (GE) epithelium as well as in both stratum compactum and spongiosum layers of the stroma (ST). Progesterone receptor protein was located in endometrial ST, but not in LE and GE from these ewes. Results support the hypothesis that progesterone is required for IFNtau induction of type I IFN-responsive genes, such as UCRP, in the ruminant uterus.
The zero mortality paradox in surgery.

Background Patients considering where to have surgery may reasonably believe that their chances of survival are highest at hospitals whose reported operative mortality is zero. We sought to determine if hospitals with zero mortality over 3 years also have lower than average mortality in the subsequent year. Study Design We obtained national Medicare data on five operations with high operative mortality (> 4.0%): coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and resections for colon, lung, and pancreatic cancer. For each procedure, we defined zero mortality hospitals as those with no inpatient or 30-day deaths during the 3-year period 1997 to 1999. To determine whether these hospitals actually have lower mortality than other hospitals, we compared their mortality during the next year (2000) with the mortality at all other hospitals. Results For four procedures, operative mortality in zero mortality hospitals in the subsequent year was no different than that in other hospitals: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (6.3% zero mortality hospitals versus 5.8% other hospitals; (adjusted relative risk [RR]=1.09; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.29); lobectomy for lung cancer (5.1% versus 5.3%; RR=0.96; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.15); colon cancer resection (6.0% versus 6.6%; RR=0.91; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.03); and coronary artery bypass surgery (4.0% versus 5.0%; RR=0.81; 95% CI 0.61 to 1.04). In the case of pancreatic cancer resection, zero mortality hospitals had substantially higher mortality than other hospitals (11.2% versus 8.7%; RR=1.29; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.59). Conclusions Paradoxically, hospitals with a history of zero mortality subsequently experience mortality rates that are the same or higher than those of other hospitals. Patients considering surgery should not consider a reported mortality of zero as being a reliable indicator of future performance.
Nonparametric discovery of human routines from sensor data

People engage in routine behaviors. Automatic routine discovery goes beyond low-level activity recognition such as sitting or standing and analyzes human behaviors at a higher level (e.g., commuting to work). With recent developments in ubiquitous sensor technologies, it becomes easier to acquire a massive amount of sensor data. One main line of research is to mine human routines from sensor data using parametric topic models such as latent Dirichlet allocation. The main shortcoming of parametric models is that it assumes a fixed, pre-specified parameter regardless of the data. Choosing an appropriate parameter usually requires an inefficient trial-and-error model selection process. Furthermore, it is even more difficult to find optimal parameter values in advance for personalized applications. In this paper, we present a novel nonparametric framework for human routine discovery that can infer high-level routines without knowing the number of latent topics beforehand. Our approach is evaluated on public datasets in two routine domains: a 34-daily-activity dataset and a transportation mode dataset. Experimental results show that our nonparametric framework can automatically learn the appropriate model parameters from sensor data without any form of model selection procedure and can outperform traditional parametric approaches for human routine discovery tasks.
VQ-index: an index structure for similarity searching in multimedia databases

In this paper, we introduce a novel indexing technique based on efficient compression of the feature space for approximate similarity searching in large multimedia databases. Its main novelty is that state-of-the-art tools from the discipline of data compression are adopted to optimize the complexity-performance tradeoff in large data sets. The design procedure optimizes the query access time by jointly accounting for both database distribution and query statistics. We achieve efficient compression by using appropriate vector quantization (VQ) techniques, namely, multi-stage VQ and split-VQ, which are especially suited for limited memory applications. We partition the data set using the accumulated query history, and each partition of data points is separately compressed using a vector quantizer tailored to its distribution. The employed VQ techniques inherently provide a spectrum of points to choose from on the time/accuracy plane. This property is especially crucial for large multimedia databases where I/O time is a bottleneck, because it offers the flexibility to trade time for better accuracy. Our experiments demonstrate speedups of 20 to 35 over a VA-file technique that has been adapted for approximate nearest neighbor searching.
Teaching life-long learning skills in a fourth-year medical curriculum.

ABSTRACT For more than twenty years, the Ruth Lilly Medical Library has been a traditional part of the Indiana University School of Medicine curriculum. Recently, following changes to the curriculum, the Library's role has evolved to include responsibility for developing and teaching a Medical Informatics rotation as part of the senior year clerkships. Heavy emphasis is placed on acquiring lifelong learning skills, especially on locating and critically appraising the best clinical evidence in the medical literature. In its first four months, the rotation has been quite favorably received by both students and faculty, but will continue changing to keep pace with future curriculum alterations and new technology.
Computing Price Paths of Mortgage-Backed Securities Using Massively Parallel Computing

We consider the problem of pricing fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities (abbreviated: MBS). In particular, we develop a model that tracks the price of MBS across time, but also under different scenarios of the term structure. Central to the developments of this paper is the use of massively parallel computing technology. The computational complexities of MBS, and the related pricing model, rendered them intractable on current workstations or large mainframes. The paper also develops practical procedures for the computation of the pricing model on massively parallel systems, like the Connection Machine CM—2.
Horn flies and stable flies: free-choice feeding of methoprene mineral blocks to cattle for control.

When a mineral block containing either 0.94, 0.12 or 0.01% methoprene was given free choice to cattle for the control of horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.), the average daily intake of mineral was 68 g/animal. The resulting inhibition of development of horn flies in the field was 87%, but the bioassay data in the laboratory indicated better than 97% inhibition. The highest concentration tested (0.94%) also effectively controlled stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.).
Sudden cardiac arrest in a healthy young athlete.

A 24-year-old previously healthy woman collapsed while running. This was witnessed by a pedestrian who initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and called for emergency medical assistance. The patient was found to be in ventricular fibrillation, but achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after desynchronised cardioversion. An ECG revealed ST segment depression in V4, V5 and V6 but was otherwise unremarkable, including a normal corrected QT interval. A bedside echocardiogram after the event revealed global hypokinesis with normal left ventricle thickness. She was taken to the catheterisation laboratory and underwent coronary angiography. This revealed a normal right circulation, but it was difficult to find the origin of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). The patient did not require therapeutic hypothermia as she appeared …
CATHODIC BEHAVIORS OF CaO IN MOLTEN SALTS CaCl_2 AND EQUIMOLAR CaCl_2-X(X=NaCl, BaCl_2,LiCl)

Cathodic behaviors of CaO at 1173 K on molybdenum electrode in molten salts CaCl_2- 0.5%CaO(molar fraction)and equimolar CaCl_2-X-0.5%CaO(X=NaCl,BaCl_2,LiCl)were studied by cyclicvoltamme technique.At 1173 K the ion structures and reduced potentials of Ca~(2+)from CaCl_2 and CaO are different and their reduced peak potentials are-2.15 and-1.51 V,respectively. CaO induced the under-potential depositions of equimolar molten salts CaCl_2-x(x=NaCl,BaCl_2)and lowed their electrochemical stabilities.The diffusion coefficients of Ca~(2+)from CaO in CaCl_2-0.5%CaO, equimolar CaCl_2-NaCl-0.5%CaO,CaCl_2-BaC12-0.5%CaO and CaCl_2 LiCl-0.5%CaO at 1173 K were obtained and are 6.42×10~(-5),1.56×10~(-5),1.20×10~(-5),and 6.79×10~(-5)cm~2/s,respectively.
Evolving Trends in Public Opinion on the Quality of Local Schools

The ratings given by citizens to local public schools in the United States have been rising in the last decades. Using national public opinion surveys, this study seeks to understand the determinants of public evaluations of local schools across time. Aggregate trend analyses indicate that public evaluations of local schools are influenced not only by measures of educational performance but also by presidential discourse. Individual-level analyses suggest that minorities and individuals with children may have given higher evaluations in recent years. The evidence suggests that citizens in general have moved away from more negative assessments of their local public schools, possibly as a result of perceived and real educational advances.
Struvite Staghorn Calculi in Crossed Fused Ectopia

Two patients with a struvite staghorn calculus in crossed fused renal ectopia are described. The susceptibility of these patients to urinary tract infection is discussed as is the anomalous extrarenal arterial vasculature to the ectopic and non-ectopic kidneys. Both patients were treated successfully with anatrophic nephrolithotomy and each has remained free of recurrent calculous disease to date.
Is the subaltern resilient? Notes on agency and neoliberal subjects

ABSTRACTThis essay engages the question of where Gayatri Spivak’s understanding of subalternity is to be located today, and it does so by first establishing a brief genealogy of thinking the outside of modern, capitalist economic and cultural modes of production. This genealogy reaches back to the classic Marxist figure of the lumpenproletariat, moves through its postcolonial reappropriation by Fanon as well as Gramsci’s original articulation of the subaltern, and arrives at Subaltern Studies’ re-articulation of Gramsci’s notion of the subaltern as well as Spivak’s critical dialogue with Subaltern Studies. This first part of the essay lays the ground for an argument that pertains to the relation between subalternity, agency, resistance, and resilience, within a context of neoliberalism in which agency is particularly salient as a way of accounting for the world. The discussion on subalternity and agency builds on Spivak’s critical engagement with the task of ‘giving voice’, as well as on Saba Mahmood’s wo...
Factors affecting serum selenium and vitamin E concentrations in dairy cows

Supplementation of selenium and vitamin E to enhance disease resistance in dairy cattle has become common, particularly to prevent periparturient reproductive disorders and mastitis. To establish reference values for serum vitamin E and selenium concentrations in postparturient dairy cattle and to determine whether serum concentrations of these micronutrients varied with season and stage of lactation, cows from a stratified random sample of 50 herds were studied for 1 year. Blood samples were collected from each of the 50 study herds twice, from the 10 most recently parturient cows or from 10% of the herd, whichever was greatest. Mean concentration of vitamin E and selenium was 2.55 micrograms/ml and 78.12 ng/ml, respectively. Vitamin E concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher during the summer and fall than during the winter and spring. Selenium concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) lower during the summer and fall than during the winter and spring. Herd, season of blood sample collection, and time since parturition were significant (P < 0.02) in explaining variation in vitamin E and selenium concentrations.
Picosecond Photobiology: Watching a Signaling Protein Function in Real Time via Time-Resolved Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering

The capacity to respond to environmental changes is crucial to an organism's survival. Halorhodospira halophila is a photosynthetic bacterium that swims away from blue light, presumably in an effort to evade photons energetic enough to be genetically harmful. The protein responsible for this response is believed to be photoactive yellow protein (PYP), whose chromophore photoisomerizes from trans to cis in the presence of blue light. We investigated the complete PYP photocycle by acquiring time-resolved small and wide-angle X-ray scattering patterns (SAXS/WAXS) over 10 decades of time spanning from 100 ps to 1 s. Using a sequential model, global analysis of the time-dependent scattering differences recovered four intermediates (pR0/pR1, pR2, pB0, pB1), the first three of which can be assigned to prior time-resolved crystal structures. The 1.8 ms pB0 to pB1 transition produces the PYP signaling state, whose radius of gyration (Rg = 16.6 A) is significantly larger than that for the ground state (Rg = 14.7 A) and is therefore inaccessible to time-resolved protein crystallography. The shape of the signaling state, reconstructed using GASBOR, is highly anisotropic and entails significant elongation of the long axis of the protein. This structural change is consistent with unfolding of the 25 residue N-terminal domain, which exposes the β-scaffold of this sensory protein to a potential binding partner. This mechanistically detailed description of the complete PYP photocycle, made possible by time-resolved crystal and solution studies, provides a framework for understanding signal transduction in proteins and for assessing and validating theoretical/computational approaches in protein biophysics.
Mortality of Status Epilepticus in All Age Groups

The in-hospital mortality and potential predictors of outcome of generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) were evaluated at the Neurological Institute, Case School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Under-recognized Cause of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Adolescents Admitted to a Children's Hospital

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate whether ovulatory dysfunction due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common underlying etiology of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in adolescents who require hospitalization and to explore etiology, treatment, and complications of AUB with severe anemia in adolescents. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures We identified female patients aged 8-20 years admitted to a children's hospital for treatment of AUB from January 2000 to December 2014. Our hospital protocol advises hormonal testing for PCOS and other disorders before treatment for AUB. We reviewed medical records and recorded laboratory evaluations, treatments, and final underlying diagnoses as well as recurrences of AUB and readmissions in the subsequent year. Results Of the 125 subjects, the mean age was 16.5 ± 2.9 years; mean hemoglobin level was 7.0 ± 1.8 g/dL; 54% were overweight/obese; and 41% sexually active. PCOS accounted for 33% of admissions; hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis immaturity 31%; endometritis 13%; bleeding disorders 10%. Girls with PCOS were more likely to be overweight/obese (74% vs 46%; P P Conclusion PCOS was the most common underlying etiology in adolescents hospitalized with AUB. Screening for hyperandrogenemia is important for early diagnosis of PCOS to allow ongoing management and prevention of comorbidities. Endometritis was frequently underestimated as an etiology for AUB.
Pathogenic Properties of Infectious Organisms and Tissue Reactions

In spite of an impressive history of progress made by science, medicine, and society as a whole to combat infections, infectious diseases continue to pose new problems. We are threatened by the appearance of new diseases such as Ebola virus and by the reemergence of old ones such as tuberculosis and infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. Pathogens have an impressive adaptability and diversity. Environmental changes, rapid global travel, population movements, and medicine itself through its use of antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents all increase the impact of infections. Infections must be considered in the etiologic differential diagnosis of symptoms affecting any ocular tissue. The major types of infectious agents that cause disease, with examples of specific microbes causing ocular infection, are described in this chapter. A discussion on the human immune system and host defense mechanisms will allow the reader to better understand the different types of inflammation and the cells involved in the process. Infection involves complicated interactions between microbes and hosts, and in most cases, a pathogenic process consisting of several steps is required for an infection to develop. A competent host has a complex array of physical and immunological defenses to prevent infection, and invading pathogens adapt mechanisms to overcome these progressive impediments. Understanding the various modes of invasion among bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, how these agents infect the host and cause damage to tissue, and the host responses to specific infections is the key to better diagnosis and treatment of ocular infections.
A Loophole Large Enough to Drive an Autonomous Vehicle Through: The ADA's 'New Van Provision' and the Future of Access to Transportation

With Uber’s recent announcement that it will begin deploying self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh, the days of autonomous taxis are now officially upon us. But alongside the emergence of this novel business model comes novel legal issues that must be addressed. This piece is the first to point out that an ambiguity in the Americans with Disabilities Act governing vehicular-accessibility requirements could have vast economic and moral implications for future transportation providers, as well as for millions of Americans with disabilities.
Do climate factors matter for producers' irrigation practices decisions?

Abstract The study examines whether climatic factors play a role in producers’ irrigation decisions. Empirical analysis uses a set of repeated cross-sectional farm level data collected in three American states: Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Empirical findings provide evidence that climatic conditions are factored into irrigation decisions. For example, higher mean temperature reduces the likelihood of using sprinkler irrigation in the study area. More importantly, findings of this study point to the importance of studying both long-term and short-term climate patterns. Long-term climate patterns weigh more in producers’ decisions regarding the use of sprinklers. Both long-term and short-term climate patterns seem to affect producers’ decisions on the use of WMPs. Producers may respond differently to similar changes in long-term and short-term climate patterns. For example, a higher occurrence of drought in the previous year predicts a higher rate of sprinklers, while an increasing trend of drought occurrence during the previous 30 years predicts the opposite. Our findings also highlight the importance of considering various aspects of the climate patterns. Average climate conditions, such as mean temperature and annual precipitation, and the occurrences of extreme weather events, such as droughts and intensive precipitation, have stronger predictive powers of producers’ irrigation decisions than the coefficients of variation. In the study area, the occurrence of intensive precipitation seems to have the strongest impact on producers’ irrigation decisions.
Evaluating the projected surgical impact of reclassifying noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features.

Background The reclassification of noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer to noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features will reduce nonefficacious and potentially harmful care. Reclassification is estimated in 18.6% of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma; we aimed to quantify the implications of this change. Methods Pathology reports from April 2006 to April 2016 were reviewed to isolate cases that would have been designated as neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features. Of the 1,335 cases of papillary thyroid carcinomas, 194 cases (14.5%) met criteria. Cases in which neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features was found in combination with other thyroid malignancies (n = 25) and cases of prior thyroid lobectomy (n = 5) were excluded. Demographic, pathologic, treatment, and follow-up data were assessed for the remaining 164 potential neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features cases. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate association between fine-needle aspiration result and index procedure. Results Of the 164 patients with tumors who met neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features criteria, fine-needle aspiration results were nondiagnostic (2%), benign (18%), atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (26%), follicular neoplasm or suspicious for follicular neoplasm (20%), suspicious for malignancy (19%), malignant (6%), and not obtained (9%). Eighty-five (52%) patients underwent total thyroidectomy. A “suspicious for malignancy” fine-needle aspiration result was associated with undergoing total thyroidectomy versus thyroid lobectomy (P = .006). Thyroid lobectomy was the index procedure for 79 patients (48%); of these patients, 54% (n = 43, 3.2% of all patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas) underwent subsequent total thyroidectomy, and 24% received postoperative radioactive iodine treatment. There were no recurrences among the 125 patients with >3 months of follow-up. Conclusion The reclassification of noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer as neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features will decrease nonefficacious treatment and reduce costs. However, the impact of this change with regard to extent of surgery was limited to 3.2% of patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas compared with the projected potential impact on 18.6%.
From the Guest Editor—Social Equity as a Tool for Social Change

(2011). From the Guest Editor—Social Equity as a Tool for Social Change. Journal of Public Affairs Education: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 163-167.
The Role of the Chief Justice

In more than 200 years, fewer than 20 persons have held the title Chief Justice of the United States. It has become commonplace to identify the Court at different times by the name of its chief justice (e.g., “the Warren Court,” “the Rehnquist Court”) implying that the chief justice exceeds his brethren in power as well as in prestige—but does the chief really have a heightened ability to persuade the other justices? This chapter examines the influence of the chief justice on the other judges.