cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEAt: Network Error Auto-Correct

Configuring and maintaining an enterprise network is a challenging and error-prone process. Administrators must often consider security policies from a variety of sources simultaneously, including regulatory requirements, industry standards, and to mitigate attack vectors. Erroneous implementation of a policy, however, can result in costly data breaches and intrusions. Relying on humans to discover and troubleshoot violations is slow and prone to error, considering the speed at which new attack vectors propagate and the increasing network dynamics, partly an effect of SDN. To ensure the network is always in a state consistent with the desired policies, administrators need frameworks to automatically diagnose and repair violations in real-time.To address this problem, we present NEAt, a system analogous to a smartphone's autocorrect feature that enables on-the-fly repair to policy-violating updates. NEAt modifies the forwarding behavior of updates to automatically repair violations of properties such as reachability, service chaining, and segmentation. NEAt sits between an SDN controller and the forwarding devices, and intercepts updates proposed by SDN applications. If an update violates the policy defined by an administrator, such as reachability or segmentation, NEAt transforms the update into one that complies with the policy. Unlike domain-specific languages or synthesis platforms, NEAt allows enterprise networks to leverage the advanced functionality of SDN applications while simultaneously achieving strong, automated enforcement of general policies.
Effects of dietary lysine levels on the concentrations of selected nutrient metabolites in blood plasma of late-stage finishing pigs.

Summary Lysine is the first-limiting amino acid (AA) in typical swine diets and plays very important roles in promoting growth performance of pigs. This research was conducted to study the effects of dietary lysine on blood plasma concentrations of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolites of pigs. Eighteen crossbred finishing pigs (nine barrows and nine gilts; initial BW 92.3 ± 6.9 kg) were individually penned in an environment controlled barn. Pigs were assigned to three dietary treatments according to a randomized complete block design with gender as block and pig as experimental unit (6 pigs/treatment). Three corn and soybean meal-based diets were formulated to contain total lysine at 0.43%, 0.71%, and 0.98% (as-fed basis) for Diets I (lysine deficient), II (lysine adequate), and III (lysine excess) respectively. After 4 weeks on trial, jugular vein blood was collected and plasma was separated. The plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen (UN), triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glucose were determined using an ACE Clinical Chemistry System (Alfa Wassermann, Inc., West Caldwell, NJ, USA). Data were analysed using the GLM Procedure with PDIFF (adjust = T) option of SAS. No differences (p > 0.10) were found between barrows and gilts for any of the metabolites measured. While there were no differences (p > 0.10) between pigs fed Diets II and III in plasma concentrations of UN, albumin, and total cholesterol, the concentration of albumin in these pigs was higher (p 0.10) among the three dietary treatments in plasma concentrations of total protein, triglycerides, and glucose. These findings indicated that the plasma metabolite profile can be affected by changing dietary lysine content only. Thorough understanding how the plasma metabolite profile is alternated by dietary lysine will facilitate nutrient management for more sustainable swine production.
Using medically-derived iodine-131 to track sewage effluent in the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Abstract Tracking sewage wastewater in a large lake is difficult. Concentrations of pharmaceuticals that can be used as indicator compounds are quickly diluted and not easy to measure. In this study, we examined the potential of using medically-derived iodine-131 ( 131 I, t ½ = 8.02 d) as a tracer for Milwaukee sewage effluent in Lake Michigan. 131 I activities in sewage effluent from two Milwaukee wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were measured in conjunction with 131 I activities in water, sediment and biota in the Milwaukee Outer Harbor and Lake Michigan. 131 I discharge rates from both WWTPS ranged from 34 ± 15 to 1807 ± 24 MBq d −1 , with average and median 131 I discharges of 278 and 129 MBq d −1 . A budget of 131 I in the Milwaukee Outer Harbor – based on measured sediment and water column inventories – showed that ∼11% of the 131 I discharged to the harbor was scavenged to bottom sediments, ∼19% decayed in the harbor water column, and ∼70% was flushed out of the harbor to Lake Michigan. From this budget, we derived a harbor flushing rate of 3.1 days. In Lake Michigan, 131 I activity was found in Cladophora algae (undetected to 91 ± 2 Bq kg −1 ) along ∼40 km of shoreline. Benthic trawl samples showed 131 I activity up to 8 km from shore. Calculated 131 I length scales were 30 km alongshore and 3.4 km offshore and corresponded to sewage effluent dispersion rates of ∼2.6 km d −1 and ∼0.3 km d −1 in along- and offshore directions. Using 131 I as a tracer of sewage effluent from other coastal municipalities to the Laurentian Great Lakes appears feasible, particularly for larger (>10 5 ) population centers.
Time‐course of interaction between carbamazepine and clonazepam in normal man

The applicability of a pharmacokinetic model for drug interactions by enzyme induction was tested by chronic dosing situation using carbamazepine (Tegretol) as the inducer and clonazepam (Clonopin) as the drug affected. Seven healthy subjects received one 1.0 mg clonazepam tablet once a day for 29 days and one 200 mg carbamazepine tablet once a day from days 8 to 29. Plasma levels of clonazepam were measured by electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography and those of carbamazepine and its epoxide metabolite by gas chromatographic-chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. Clonazepam plasma levels reached an initial steady-state by day 7 and declined to a lower steady-state over 5 to 15 days after additions of carbamazepine. The decrease in clonazepam levels ranged between 19% and 37%. Autoinduction of carbamazepine metabolism was also evident. Urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid increased 2- to 4-fold following carbamazepine administration (p less than 0.005). This increase provided additional evidence that the present interaction was due to enzyme induction. Experimental clonazepam levels were fitted to an induction pharmacokinetic model for multiple dosing with an exponentially increasing clearance. Induced half-lives of clonazepam (mean = 22.5 +/- 11.5 hr) were shorter (p less than 0.005) than control values (32.1 +/- 16.6 hr). Apparent enzyme(s) turnover half-lives ranged between 1 and 6 days.
Influence of invasion history on rapid morphological divergence across island populations of an exotic bird.

There is increasing evidence that exotic populations may rapidly differentiate from those in their native range and that differences also arise among populations within the exotic range. Using morphological and DNA-based analyses, we document the extent of trait divergence among native North American and exotic Hawaiian populations of northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Furthermore, using a combination of historical records and DNA-based analyses, we evaluate the role of founder effects in producing observed trait differences. We measured and compared key morphological traits across northern cardinal populations in the native and exotic ranges to assess whether trait divergence across the Hawaiian Islands, where this species was introduced between 1929 and 1931, reflected observed variation across native phylogeographic clades in its native North America. We used and added to prior phylogenetic analyses based on a mitochondrial locus to identify the most likely native source clade(s) for the Hawaiian cardinal populations. We then used Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to evaluate the role of founder effects in producing the observed differences in body size and bill morphology across native and exotic populations. We found cardinal populations on the Hawaiian Islands had morphological traits that diverged substantially across islands and overlapped the trait space of all measured native North American clades. The phylogeographic analysis identified the eastern North American clade (C. cardinalis cardinalis) as the most likely and sole native source for all the Hawaiian cardinal populations. The ABC analyses supported written accounts of the cardinal's introduction that indicate the original 300 cardinals shipped to Hawaii were simultaneously and evenly released across Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu. Populations on each island likely experienced bottlenecks followed by expansion, with cardinals from the island of Hawaii eventually colonizing Maui unaided. Overall, our results suggest that founder effects had limited impact on morphological trait divergence of exotic cardinal populations in the Hawaiian archipelago, which instead reflect postintroduction events.
THE BUSINESS OF AQUACULTURE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Aquaculture is a business. It is not any longer purely a technology. Ignorance of this transition has been a principal impedance to expansion and development of the industry for the last two decades (1).
Affine Term Structure Models, Volatility and the Segmentation Hypothesis

Several papers have questioned the ability of multifactor affine models to extract interest rate volatility from the cross-section of bond prices. These studies find that the conditional volatility implied by these models is very poorly or even negatively correlated with model-free volatility. We provide an in-depth investigation of the conditional volatility of monthly Treasury yields implied by three-factor affine models. We investigate different specifications of the price of risk and different specifications of volatility. For long maturities, the correlation between model-implied and EGARCH volatility estimates is approximately 82% for yield differences and 92% for yield levels. For short-maturity yields, the correlation varies between 58% and 71% for yield differences and between 62% and 76% for yield levels. The differences at short maturities are largely accounted for by the number of factors affecting volatility. A model-free measure of the level factor is highly correlated with EGARCH volatility as well as model-implied volatilities, which explains most of our findings. We conclude that multifactor affine models are much better at extracting time-series volatility from the cross-section of yields than argued in the literature. However, existing models have difficulty capturing volatility dynamics at the short end of the maturity spectrum, perhaps indicating some form of segmentation between long-maturity and short-maturity bonds. These results are robust to the choice of sample period, interpolation method and estimation method.
Weighted Walking Influences Lower Extremity Coordination in Children on the Autism Spectrum.

There is sparse quantitative research regarding gait coordination patterns of children on the autism spectrum, though previous studies, relying only upon observational data, have alluded to charact...
Calibration and validation of small satellite passive microwave radiometers: MicroMAS-2A and TROPICS

Miniaturized microwave radiometers deployed on nanosatellites in Low Earth Orbit are now demonstrating cost-effective weather monitoring capability, with increased temporal and spatial resolution compared to larger weather satellites. MicroMAS-2A is a 3U CubeSat that launched on January 11, 2018 with a 1U 10-channel passive microwave radiometer with channels near 90, 118, 183, and 206 GHz for moisture and temperature profiling and precipitation imaging. The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission is projected to launch in 2020, and its 1U 12-channel passive microwave radiometer is based on the current CubeSat mission MicroMAS-2A. TROPICS will provide rapid-refresh measurements over the tropics and measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical cyclones. In order to effectively use small satellites such as MicroMAS-2A and TROPICS as a weather monitoring platform, calibration must ensure consistency with state of the art measurements, such as the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), which has a noise equivalent delta temperature (NEDT) at 300 K of 0.5 - 3.0 K. In this work, we present initial analysis from the MicroMAS-2A radiometric bias validation, which compares MicroMAS-2A measured brightness temperatures to simulated brightness temperatures calculated by the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) using input from GPS radio occultation (GPSRO), radiosonde, and numerical weather prediction (NWP) atmospheric profiles. We also model solar and lunar intrusions for TROPICS, and show that the frequency of intrusions with a scanning payload allows for the novel opportunity of using the solar and lunar intrusions as a calibration source.
Using an Art Show in CS1 to Spark Interest in Computer Science

Media computation provides a context within which computation can more easily be learned, allowing students to be creative while learning fundamental programming building blocks (like sequencing, iteration, selection, and two-dimensional arrays). Focusing on images, students can alter a picture's appearance by selectively changing its pixels. By combining different images, students can create collages. Creativity and success in CS1 have been studied. The effect media computation and an art show might have on student satisfaction and persistence, and promotion of the department is less understood. We articulate our experiences from five years of implementing media computation in CS1, with a strong focus on an accompanying public art show held to showcase the best student work produced each semester. We implemented the art show with a goal of raising visibility of our department within the university, and to highlight the ability to be creative in a CS degree program, with the hope of attracting students. It also allows our students to showcase their work to their peers and others, while motivating them to be creative and engaged. We briefly describe how we implement media computation within CS1 and describe in full detail how we conduct the public art show. Specifics about the student image collage project that is entered into the art show, the selection process, judging, show production, and promotion are provided. We describe how things have evolved over the ten shows spread over five years to provide perspective for others considering implementation of a similar experience for their students.
DIAGNOSIS OF AORTIC DISSECTION BY CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION: THE WRONG TEST FOR A CRITICAL DIAGNOSIS

Type A aortic dissection is a critical etiology of chest pain that should be diagnosed expediently as mortality increases by as much as 1% per hour. A 64-year-old male with heart failure and recent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implant for primary prevention presented with acute
Assessing Children's Perceptions and Acceptance of a Social Robot

Children's interactions with social robots and other technologies are increasingly longitudinal, especially in areas such as healthcare, therapy, and education. As such, we need to understand how children perceive social robots over time and the kinds of relationships they develop. Relatively few validated assessments exist that measure young children's relationships or their perception and acceptance of social robots. Thus, we present pilot tests of two assessments created for use with children aged 4--7: the Picture Sorting Task and the Social Acceptance Questionnaire. Through a single-session study and also a long-term study, we found that children responded appropriately to the assessments and that the assessments could capture changes in children's perception and relationship over multiple encounters.
Research on Teacher Evaluation: A Review of Statute, Regulation and Litigation in the Region

Limited research has been done to examine teacher evaluation in rural schools. This article presents an analysis of legislation and regulation of teacher evaluation in selected rural states, highlights their commonalities and differences, reports their litigation, and speculates on potential problems that can result in rural schools. It ends with recommendations for states to consider now that the Every Student Succeeds Act (formerly No Child Left Behind) has passed, and states have the option to reconsider their teacher evaluation plans.
A Survey of the NAEA Curriculum Standards in Art Teacher Preparation Programs

The National Art Education Association's Standards for Art Teacher Preparation Programs (1979) were used to develop a questionnaire which was sent to higher education faculty in the United States and Canada. The data collected were used to determine how closely art teacher preparation programs are complying with these curriculum standards. With regard to compliance, a great divergence was found to exist in many programs, particularly in the number of semester hours required in the art history and advanced work components. In addition, a majority of the programs were found to require fewer art credits than the 51 semester hours recommended by the NAEA.
Clinical and experimental aspects of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite advances in care and aneurysm treatment strategies. Cerebral vasospasm continues to be a major source of clinical worsening in patients. We intended to review the clinical and experimental aspects of aSAH and identify strategies that are being evaluated for the treatment of vasospasm. A literature review on aSAH and cerebral vasospasm was performed. Available treatments for aSAH continue to expand as research continues to identify new therapeutic targets. Oral nimodipine is the primary medication used in practice given its neuroprotective properties. Transluminal balloon angioplasty is widely utilized in patients with symptomatic vasospasm and ischemia. Prophylactic "triple-H" therapy, clazosentan, and intraarterial papaverine have fallen out of practice. Trials have not shown strong evidence supporting magnesium or statins. Other calcium channel blockers, milrinone, tirilazad, fasudil, cilostazol, albumin, eicosapentaenoic acid, erythropoietin, corticosteroids, minocycline, deferoxamine, intrathecal thrombolytics, need to be further investigated. Many of the current experimental drugs may have significant roles in the treatment algorithm, and further clinical trials are needed. There is growing evidence supporting that early brain injury in aSAH may lead to significant morbidity and mortality, and this needs to be explored further.
The ion selectivity filter is not an activation gate in TRPV1-3 channels

Activation of TRPV1 channels in sensory neurons results in opening of a cation permeation pathway that triggers the sensation of pain. Opening of TRPV1 has been proposed to involve two gates that appear to prevent ion permeation in the absence of activators: the ion selectivity filter on the external side of the pore and the S6 helices that line the cytosolic half of the pore. Here we measured the access of thiol-reactive ions across the selectivity filters in rodent TRPV1-3 channels. Although our results are consistent with structural evidence that the selectivity filters in these channels are dynamic, they demonstrate that cations can permeate the ion selectivity filters even when channels are closed. Our results suggest that the selectivity filters in TRPV1-3 channels do not function as activation gates but might contribute to coupling structural rearrangements in the external pore to those in the cytosolic S6 gate.
Sexual and Gender Identity Development in Young Adults and Implications for Healthcare

The purpose of this review is to update what is known about sexual orientation and gender identity development, including factors that facilitate positive development, and healthcare experiences of sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) in relation to their identity. Models of identity development have been proposed that draw on the experiences of young people and their families rather than adult models of identity development. Family support can both help and hinder identity development, and healthcare providers are in a unique position to intervene. However, SGMY and their families experience significant barriers to accessing appropriate and affirming healthcare. Key improvements in provider knowledge, healthcare systems, quality of care, and support for SGMY and their families are needed.
Evaluation of a Bacterial Bioluminescence Bioassay as a Method for Predicting Acute Toxicity of Organic Chemicals to Fish

The relationship between the toxicity of 68 organic chemicals to fish and luminescent bacteria was evaluated. Chemicals for which 96-h median lethal concentration (LC 5 0 ) values had been measured for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) in flow-through tests at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, Minn., were tested using the Microtox toxicity analyzer (Beckman Instruments, Inc.). The Microtox system measures the decrease in luminescence of the bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum in response to a toxicant. The toxicity end point is the 5-min median effective concentration (EC 5 0 ), which is the concentration that causes a 50 percent reduction in light output. The correlation between fish and bacteria toxicity for a composite of industrial chemicals and pesticides had an R 2 value of 0.65. However, the relationship of these two end points for a semihomologous series of industrial chemicals appeared to be firm, with R 2 being 0.96 for common alcohols. The feasibility of using the bacterial bioassay as a screening test in a cost-effective testing scheme is discussed.
Vaping Cannabis Oil: A Case of Catatonia Associated With Use of High-Potency Cannabis.

Abstract Several troubling trends in cannabis use have converged in recent years. The average concentration of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis has steadily increased while the concentration of psychoprotective cannabidiol has fallen. 1 This trend coincides with a wave of legalization as well as novel methods for consuming marijuana, quite often in the form of “vaping” concentrated oils with concentrations of THC up to 80%. 6 Recent literature also reveals significant psychiatric morbidity with the vaping of high potency cannabis products, similar to those seen with the use of synthetic cannabinoids. 26 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 18 We present a case of catatonia associated with vaping cannabis oil. A 20-year-old man presented after vaping cannabis oil daily for 2 weeks and was diagnosed with catatonia with a Bush-Francis catatonia rating score of 19 and refusal to eat or drink. He responded favorably to a lorazepam challenge and was titrated to a daily dose of 5mg which was then tapered off slowly as an outpatient with no further episodes of catatonia, mania, or psychosis after cessation of cannabis use. This case adds to a limited but growing body of literature associating high potency cannabis use with severe psychiatric symptoms such as psychosis and catatonia. Caution regarding the proliferation of laws legalizing marijuana is encouraged until these dangers can be better understood. Additionally it is important, especially for adolescents and young adults, to receive more education regarding the psychiatric risks of cannabis use especially given the recent development and increased availability of high potency products.
Accelerating atomistic simulations of proteins using multiscale enhanced sampling with independent tempering

Efficient sampling of the conformational space is essential for quantitative simulations of proteins. The multiscale enhanced sampling (MSES) method accelerates atomistic sampling by coupling it to a coarse-grained (CG) simulation. Bias from coupling to the CG model is removed using Hamiltonian replica exchange, such that one could benefit simultaneously from the high accuracy of atomistic models and fast dynamics of CG ones. Here, we extend MSES to allow independent control of the effective temperatures of atomistic and CG simulations, by directly scaling the atomistic and CG Hamiltonians. The new algorithm, named MSES with independent tempering (MSES-IT), supports more sophisticated Hamiltonian and temperature replica exchange protocols to further improve the sampling efficiency. Using a small but nontrivial β-hairpin, we show that setting the effective temperature of CG model in all conditions to its melting temperature maximizes structural transition rates at the CG level and promotes more efficient replica exchange and diffusion in the condition space. As the result, MSES-IT drive faster reversible transitions at the atomic level and leads to significant improvement in generating converged conformational ensembles compared to the original MSES scheme.
Political Influence behind the Veil of Peer Review: An Analysis of Public Biomedical Research Funding in the United States

Abstract The U.S. public biomedical research system is renowned for its peer review process that awards federal funds to meritorious research performers. Although congressional appropriators do not earmark federal funds for biomedical research performers, I argue that they support allocations for those research fields that are most likely to benefit performers in their constituencies. Such disguised transfers mitigate the reputational penalties to appropriators of interfering with a merit‐driven system. I use data on all peer‐reviewed grants by the National Institutes of Health during the years 1984–2003 and find that performers in the states of certain House Appropriations Committee members receive 5.9–10.3 percent more research funds than those at unrepresented institutions. The returns to representation are concentrated in state universities and small businesses. Members support funding for the projects of represented performers in fields in which they are relatively weak and counteract the distributiv...
Impact of socioeconomic status on depression clinical outcomes at six months in a Midwestern, United States community.

Abstract Introduction Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with poor healthcare outcomes in depression. However, reliable individual-level SES data rarely exists for clinical research. The HOUSES index relies on publicly available data allowing for evaluation of individual-level SES on patient outcomes. Hypothesis Primary care patients with depression within the lower SES quartile (Quartile 1 vs. Quartile 4, of the HOUSES index) would experience worse clinical outcomes of their symptoms six months after diagnosis. Study design A retrospective cohort study which followed 4313 adult primary care patients that were diagnosed with depression during the study period of 2008–2015. The outcome measures were the six month PHQ-9 scores. Results At six months, a higher HOUSES quartile was associated with greater odds of remission of depressive symptoms (RDS) and lower odds of persistent depressive symptoms (PDS), after controlling for covariates. Patients in Quartile 4 had 27% more likelihood of RDS and a 24% lower likelihood of PDS at six months compared to a Quartile 1 patient. Limitations As a retrospective study only can observe associations but not causation. Only one institution participated and not all treatments were readily available, limiting the generalizability of these findings. Conclusions Lower SES as demonstrated by a lower HOUSES quartile (Quartile 1 versus 4) was associated with lower odds of RDS and increased odds of PDS at six months. HOUSES index is a useful tool for identifying patients at risk for worse clinical outcomes and may help health care systems plan resource allocation for depression care.
Map-Based Planning for Small Unmanned Aircraft Rooftop Landing

New risk posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) is a pressing concern for industry, regulators, and the public. Failures 480711 and anomalies may force a near-term landing, requiring fast real-time identification of low-risk landing sites and feasible low-risk paths to those sites. Although sensors can scan an immediate area, no safe landing site might be within the current field of view in which case a map of more distant sites is essential. In urban areas, small UAS touchdown on a flat rooftop may pose less risk to people and property than landing on crowded streets, sidewalks, or parks. This paper describes the offline construction of a landing site database using publicly available data sources with focus on rooftop sites. Flat roofs are identified from LiDAR and image data and then processed to extract obstacle-free surface(s) for landing. Flight path and landing site risk maps are defined. Pareto frontiers over these two risk types are examined. A multi-goal planner considers landing site risk and path risk as a weighted sum to minimize. Statistics on case studies in three diverse communities are presented.
Informationsangebot, Informationsbedarf, Umfang des Informationspotentials

Krankenhauser sind Betriebe, die im Bereich der Krankenhausversorgung Entscheidungen uber die Ziele und den Mitteleinsatz treffen, diese Entscheidungen durchsetzen und die Entscheidungsdurchsetzung kontrollieren. Von daher gesehen sind die Entscheidungen der im Krankenhaus Tatigen das tragende Element der Krankenhausversorgung; Fuhren von Krankenhausern — Krankenhausmanagement — heist mithin nichts anderes als „Treffen und Durchsetzen von Entscheidungen“. Dabei sind es die fortschreitende Entwicklung der Medizin, der Medizintechnik und der allgemeinen Technik, aber auch der standige Wandel der sozialen, gesellschaftlichen und politischen Struktur, die das Krankenhaus laufend zu neuen Uberlegungen zwingen, durch welche Masnahmen die vorgegebene arztlichpflegerische Zielsetzung am besten zu erreichen ist. Taglich, stundlich werden im Krankenhaus Entscheidungen getroffen. Man entschliest sich, bestimmte Masnahmen durchzufuhren, die nach Lage der Dinge am zweckmasigsten erscheinen, und man mus diese Entscheidungen anschliesend dann auch durchsetzen.
Statistical representation and simulation of high-dimensional deformations: application to synthesizing brain deformations

This paper proposes an approach to effectively representing the statistics of high-dimensional deformations, when relatively few training samples are available, and conventional methods, like PCA, fail due to insufficient training. Based on previous work on scale-space decomposition of deformation fields, herein we represent the space of "valid deformations" as the intersection of three subspaces: one that satisfies constraints on deformations themselves, one that satisfies constraints on Jacobian determinants of deformations, and one that represents smooth deformations via a Markov Random Field (MRF). The first two are extensions of PCA-based statistical shape models. They are based on a wavelet packet basis decomposition that allows for more accurate estimation of the covariance structure of deformation or Jacobian fields, and they are used jointly due to their complementary strengths and limitations. The third is a nested MRF regularization aiming at eliminating potential discontinuities introduced by assumptions in the statistical models. A randomly sampled deformation field is projected onto the space of valid deformations via iterative projections on each of these subspaces until convergence, i.e. all three constraints are met. A deformation field simulator uses this process to generate random samples of deformation fields that are not only realistic but also representative of the full range of anatomical variability. These simulated deformations can be used for validation of deformable registration methods. Other potential uses of this approach include representation of shape priors in statistical shape models as well as various estimation and hypothesis testing paradigms in the general fields of computational anatomy and pattern recognition.
Controller Scheduling Using Neural Networks: Implementation and Experimental Results

This paper presents the results of simulation and control experiments using a recently proposed method for real-time switching among a pool of controllers. The switching strategy selects the current controller based on neural network estimates of the future system performance for each controller. This neural-network-based switching controller has been implemented for a simulated inverted pendulum and a level control system for an underwater vehicle in our laboratory. The objectives of the experiments presented here are to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to switching control for real systems and to identify techniques to deal with practical issues that arise in the training of the neural networks and the real-time switching behavior of the system. This experimental work complements on-going theoretical investigations of the method which will be reported elsewhere.
On Replacing the Ethical Principle of Autonomy With an Ethical Principle of Accordance

The author defines and critiques the ethical principle of autonomy. As a concept, autonomy is most aligned with paradigms of counseling that focus on the individual as a psychological entity with moral agency. It is less consistent with frameworks that focus on relationships philosophically and in practice. Autonomy is paradoxical, because it is a consensually defined principle imposed on counseling practice while denying counselors a choice in its application. The author suggests accordance as an alternative ethical principle. Accordance is consistent with relational paradigms of practice and the other relationship-focused ethical principles in counseling. Accordance fully contextualizes individual responsibility and choice.
A three-level toggle-avoid bus signaling scheme

Coupling capacitances between bus lines are dominant in deep-submicron technologies, as a result, both power dissipation and worst-case delay are increased due to coupling transitions. Based on the observation that the toggling sequences 01->10 or 10->01 between two adjacent lines result in four times more coupling energy than other coupling events, we propose a toggle-avoid signaling scheme. By applying a three-level signaling on buses with a choice for representing logic "1", toggling events are reduced with no extra bus lines. We achieve 32% total power savings and 40% worst-case delay reduction with a small power overhead.
Impact of a flood on southern california riparian vegetation

This study assesses flood impacts on riparian vegetation in two watersheds within the Transverse Ranges. Data collected in 1993 were compared to baseline data from 1990 to measure the effect of a 1992 flood. T-tests were used to test for significant post-flood changes in overall vegetation characteristics, and vegetation change was regressed on drainage area to test for spatial variation in flood impacts. Results of means comparisons for the overall data set suggest that the impacts of the flood were insignificant. However, these results in part are artifacts of data agglomeration, as regression results suggest that changes in total cover and diversity are spatially varied, with profound impacts at some downstream sites. The relative cover of most species remained constant, reflecting an environment in which frequent floods help to maintain a vegetation assemblage that is not entirely flood resistant, but at least uniform across species in its degree of resistance. [Key words: riparian vegetation, floods,...
Developmental Immunotoxicology of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP): Age-Based Assessment in the Female Rat.

AbstractDi-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) helps provide flexibility to plastic products including food containers and medical IV devices. Age-based sensitivity to DEHP-induced immunotoxicity was compared in female CD strain rats following administration for 16 consecutive days in utero vs. adult exposure. Pregnant and non-pregnant rats received 0, 37.5, 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg/day of DEHP in soybean oil daily by oral gavage. In pregnant animals, this corresponded to days 6–21 of gestation. In exposed offspring, anogenital distance (AGD) was measured at one and three weeks of age. For a subset of offspring, immune assessment was conducted at 5 weeks of age following KLH immunization at 3 and 4 weeks. KLH immunizations occurred in remaining offspring at 11 and 12 weeks with immune assessment at 13 weeks. Nonpregnant adults were immunized concurrently with adult offspring and underwent immune assessment 13 weeks post-DEHP exposure. Litter size, sex ratio, and 1-week body weights were unaffected by treatment. H...
Computation of volume integrals in potential theory

It is well known that the solution of the Laplace equation in a plane domain D with Dirichlet data φ on ∂D can be represented as a double layer potential [1] $$W\left( x \right)=\frac{1}{\pi }\int\limits_{\partial D}{\mu \left( y \right)\frac{\partial }{\partial {{n}_{y}}}\log r\left( x,y \right)d{{S}_{y}}}$$ (12.1) where r(x, y) = |x − y|, x ∈ D, n y is the outward normal to ∂D at y, and μ satisfies the integral equation $$\mu \left( {{x}_{0}} \right)+\frac{1}{\pi }\int\limits_{\partial D}{\mu \left( y \right)}\frac{\partial }{\partial {{n}_{y}}}\log r\left( {{x}_{0}},y \right)d{{S}_{y}}=\varphi \left( {{x}_{0}} \right),{{x}_{0}}\in \partial D.$$ (12.2)
Low dose aspirin estimation: an application to a human pharmacokinetic study

Low dose to very high dose aspirin is used to prevent heart attack. We have developed and validated a sensitive and robust method that could detect low levels of aspirin and salicylic acid in plasma and also a novel sample collection procedure to carry out sample preparation at room temperature. The total run time was 3.00 min; the developed method was validated in human plasma with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.99 ng/mL for aspirin and 2.01 ng/mL for salicylic acid. A linear response function was established for the range of concentrations 0.99–756.20 ng/mL (r > 0.998) for aspirin and 2.01–2486.86 ng/mL for salicylic acid. The intra- and inter-day precision values for aspirin and salicylic acid met the acceptance as per FDA guidelines. The developed assay method was applied to an oral pharmacokinetic study in humans. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An examination of the impact of socio-demographic factors on the demand for sports lotteries in China

The sports lottery, as a distinct sport product, has gained increasing popularity throughout the world. This study empirically examines the relationship between social demographic factors and demand for sports lotteries in China. The main findings are: (1) people with higher financial and social burdens tend to buy more lottery tickets; (2) venue accessibility has a positive impact on sales; (3) provinces with higher income levels have a higher demand for sports lotteries; and (4) players from provinces with higher educational levels on average buy more sports lottery tickets.
Absorption of lodine into Starch Granules in Aqueous Suspension

The rate of iodine absorption by granular starch suspended in KI solution is examined. The rate controlling step is found to be the intraparticle diffusion of iodine. The process agrees well with a core-shrinking model. The apparent diffusivity of iodine in granular starch is determined to be (6.8 ± 0.5) × 10−8 cm2/sec at 25°C.
Transition of Linear to Exponential Hole Growth Modes in Thin Free-Standing Polymer Films

We have studied the formation and growth of holes in free-standing polystyrene films. For thick (∼μm) films and sufficiently high temperatures, exponential hole growth vs time was observed. Using t...
Predictors of Psychological Help Seeking in Clinical and Counseling Psychology Graduate Students.

Psychologists are often called upon to provide supervision, mentorship, and training to graduate student therapists-in-training. In these roles, psychologists may influence whether graduate students enter personal therapyduring their training. This study investigated variables (including perceived faculty attitudes about students in personal therapy) that predict psychotherapy help seeking in clinical and counseling psychology graduate students (N = 262). The findings indicated that confidentiality issues, general attitudes about therapy, and perceptions of the importance of personal therapy for professional development were important predictors of graduate student help seeking. The implications for faculty, supervisors, and mentors of therapists-in-training are discussed.
Diabetes Mellitus without Other Endocrine Manifestations in a Case of Tumor of the Adrenal Cortex

IN THE LIGHT of present-day knowledge of the role of the adrenal cortex in carbohydrate metabolism, it is not surprising that there is more than an accidental incidence of frank diabetes or minor disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism in cases of tumor of the adrenal cortex in man. Almost always if there is an impairment of carbohydrate metabolism it is but one, and usually a minor, manifestation of hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex. Rarely amenorrhea is the only endocrine manifestation and occasionally a tumor evidences itself only as an abdominal mass, but as a rule, there are multiple sexual and somatic abnormalities such as hirsutism, genital changes, girdle obesity, striae, acne, polycythemia and osteoporosis. Indeed these are usually more prominent features than are perversions of carbohydrate metabolism. In 1939, Shepardson and Shapiro reviewed the literature and were able to find 17 cases of tumor of the adrenal cortex associated with diabetes in which the diagnosis was acceptable to them, and ...
Purification of a non-heme iron protein and other electron transport components from azotobacter extracts

Summary A simple procedure is described for the simultaneous separation and purification of several electron transport components from Azotobacter vinelandii: a non-heme iron protein producing an electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g = 1.94 in the reduced state, c type cytochromes, a flavoprotein and ubiquinone(40) (CoQ8). The main steps in the procedure are: butanol extraction, ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose.
Defects in Crystalline Quartz: Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Multiple-Alkali-Compensated Centers Associated with Germanium Impurities

Three previously unreported paramagnetic centers generated by ionizing radiation in germanium-doped quartz have been investigated by electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) techniques. The defects responsible for the three distinct EPR spectra are structurally similar. Anisotropic spectroscopic analysis and monovalent-ion-exchange experiments have been interpreted in terms of an unpaired electronic spin-1/2 configuration localized in the vicinity of a silicon-substituted germanium impurity and three interstitial alkali impurities (combinations of Na and Li). Within this model, the principal differences among the three centers are the specific combination of Na and Li impurities involved in the defect structure. The principal spectroscopic differences among the three centers are the magnitudes of the $g$ shifts and hyperfine-interaction energies.
The Mechanism of Population Shifting among Transition States of Adenylate Kinase

The rearrangement of LID and NMP domains of adenylate kinase (ADK) in solution is important to ADK's catalytic function. To study the mechanism of the phosphotransferase reaction conduct by ADK, we applied a multi-basin structure-based (SMOG) coarse-grained model with targeted molecular dynamics (MD) protocols in the MD simulation of apo-ADK. The MD trajectories produce substantial ensembles that help to explore the transition states and pathways between the open and the closed states of ADK. We classified all observed states into 5 to 7 clusters using RMSD among structures as the metric for ‘k-means’ clustering. The comparisons of the x-ray solutionscattering pattern of ADK with that calculated from representative structures of each cluster were used to characterize the experimental ensembles under different solution conditions. Combined with the transfer rate between clusters, these analyses provide a framework for understanding the possible allosteric pathway underlying the catalytic function of this important enzyme.
Shape coexistence and intruder states: The Z = 82 region

The phenomena associated with shape coexistence and intruder states are illustrated with examples from the Pt, Au, Hg, Tλ, Pb and Bi isotopes which lie far from beta stability midway between closed neutron shells 82 and 126. The type of spectroscopic measurements which have already been developed to investigate these structures as well as those types of measurements needed to extend and quantify the analysis, such as on-line nuclear orientation, are discussed.
Overestimation of hereditary breast cancer risk.

Objective To find out how women with breast or ovarian cancer rate their chances of carrying hereditary factors for these cancers and to determine the extent to which they overestimate their risk. Background Data BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that cause breast and ovarian cancer when they are inherited in families. Testing for disease-associated mutations in these genes is now available commercially. Previous studies have shown that women overestimate their chances of carrying mutations. However, women's perceptions of risk have not been compared to objective estimates or to actual BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing results. Methods This study examines estimates of carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among women participating in a randomized trial comparing alternative precounseling educational materials. Estimates were provided by participants in a baseline mailed survey. Estimates given by participants were compared to those given by an expert panel and by a statistical model. Testing was offered free of charge and was done in an academic laboratory using standard techniques. Baseline estimates of participating women were compared to the estimates of the expert panel, to the carrier probability provided by the statistical model, and to actual testing results. Results Women who have a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer significantly overestimate their risk of carrying hereditary factors for breast and ovarian cancer. Self-estimates exceeded the estimates of experts and a statistical model. One hundred women completed testing, and 21 mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 were found. Many test-negative women also overestimated their hereditary risk. Some women with a high carrier probability were negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Conclusions Overestimation of hereditary factors is common among affected women with a family history of cancer. Pretest education and counseling should reduce these high-risk perceptions. Better estimates of carrier probability will direct more intensive clinical services and research.