cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between functional outcomes and the treatment of anxious and painful somatic symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine the relationship between global functional impairment and the treatment of anxious symptoms and painful somatic symptoms (PSS) in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).Research design and methods: Data from two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adult outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for GAD were pooled. In the first trial (9-week, fixed-dose treatment period), patients were randomized to duloxetine 60 mg QD (n = 168), duloxetine 120 mg QD (n = 170), or placebo (n = 175). In the second trial (10-week, flexible-dose treatment period), patients were randomized to 60–120 mg QD of duloxetine (n = 168) or placebo (n = 159). Path analysis was used to assess the relative contributions of changes in psychic and somatic anxiety and PSS on improved functional outcomes. Clinical trial registration information: Study 1: NCT00122824; Study 2: study completed before registration required.Main outcome measures: Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Sc...
A New Elevation Record for the New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) in Virginia

During the period December 17, 1974 through February 23, 1975 the author captured 27 cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.) a total of 110 times at elevations between 1800–2140 ft. The majority of these captures took place in a 6- to 7-year-old clearcut between 1880 and 1980 ft. elevation. Of the 22 cottontails captured at this location, 20 (91 percent) were identified asSylvilagus transitionalis (New England cottontail) and 2 (9 percent) asS. floridanus. Using the Krumholtz and Lincoln indices it was estimated that this clearcut was supporting a population density of greater than one cottontail per acre.
Browsing large scale cheminformatics data with dimension reduction

Visualization of large-scale high dimensional data tool is highly valuable for scientific discovery in many fields. We present Pub Chem Browse, a customized visualization tool for cheminformatics research. It provides a novel 3D data point browser that displays complex properties of massive data on commodity clients. As in GIS browsers for Earth and Environment data, chemical compounds with similar properties are nearby in the browser. PubChemBrowse is built around in-house high performance parallel MDS (Multi-Dimensional Scaling) and GTM (Generative Topographic Mapping) services and supports fast interaction with an external property database. These properties can be overlaid on 3D mapped compound space or queried for individual points. We prototype use with Chem2Bio2RDF system using SPARQL query language to access over 20 publicly accessible bioinformatics databases. We describe our design and implementation of the integrated Pub Chem Browse application and outline its use in drug discovery. The same core technologies can be used to develop similar high dimensional browsers in other scientific areas.
Therapy of Alopecia Areata: On the Cusp and in the Future

Over the past decade, basic research has established alopecia areata as a T cell–mediated autoimmune disease and has clarified many of its genetic, cellular, and molecular aspects. Perifollicular and intrafollicular mononuclear cell infiltrates directed at anagen hair bulbs are characteristic and striking histologic features in early alopecia areata. The inflammatory infiltrate is composed predominantly of activated CD4+and CD8+T cells, together with macrophages and Langerhans cells. The initiation phase of alopecia areata is mediated by type 1 cytokines, including interleukin-2, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Like other diseases with a strong autoimmune component, alopecia areata has associated with it specific human leukocyte antigens, which determine susceptibility, severity, chronicity, and resistance. New topical immunomodulating drugs and biologic therapies that have been developed, or that are in development, for the treatment of other immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases will likely be effective in alopecia areata as well. The present discussion addresses the treatment of alopecia areata within the framework of these new modalities.
Ectopic CNS Projections Guide Peripheral Neuron Axons along Novel Pathways in Leech Embryos

Previous studies have indicated that the formation of stereotyped segmental nerves in leech embryos depends on the interactions between CNS projections and ingrowing afferents from peripheral neurons. Especially, CNS-ablation experiments have suggested that CNS-derived guidance cues are required for the correct navigation of several groups of peripheral sensory neurons. In order to directly test this hypothesis we have performed transplantations of CNS ganglia into ectopic sites in segments from which the resident ganglia have been removed. We find that the transplanted ganglia extend numerous axons distributed roughly equally in all directions. When these CNS projections reach and make contact with peripheral sensory axons they are used as guides for peripheral neurons to grow toward and into the ectopic ganglia even when this means following novel pathways that cross the midline and/or segmental boundaries. The peripheral sensory axons turn and grow toward the ectopic ganglia only when in physical contact with CNS axons, suggesting that diffusible chemoattractants are not a factor. These results demonstrate that the guidance cues provided by ectopic CNS projections are both necessary and sufficient to steer peripheral sensory neuron axons into the CNS.
“Tell Juliana”: Acceptability of the Candidate Microbicide VivaGel® and Two Placebo Gels Among Ethnically Diverse, Sexually Active Young Women Participating in a Phase 1 Microbicide Study

This study assessed acceptability of the candidate microbicide VivaGel® and two placebo gels among 61 sexually active young US and Puerto Rican women at three sites. Participants were randomly assigned to use one of the gels twice per day for 14 days. At trial completion, 59% of the women in the VivaGel® group reported being likely to use the gel in the future, whereas 23% were unlikely to use it and 18% were undecided. Participants reported problems with all three gels, including the “universal” placebo containing hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The most frequent complaints were leakage, interference with sexual behavior, and decreased sexual satisfaction. Some of the complaints are not new but remain unresolved. Women’s perceived risk of HIV infection may determine whether the gels are used. Users also may want a choice of viscosity. Poor acceptability of vaginal microbicide formulations may result in poor adherence to gel use during efficacy trials and compromise validity of results.
Non-Maxwell velocity distributions in equilibrated fluids. II

Abstract In this paper, using classical computer molecular dynamics (MD) methods, we extend our investigations of velocity distributions of a low-mass test particle subjected to a strong time-independent force field in a heat bath of heavy particles. The deviations from the Maxwellian distribution systematically increase as the strength of the force field increases and the mass of the test particle decreases.
Charge and spin Hall conductivity in metallic graphene.

Graphene has an unusual low-energy band structure with four chiral bands and half-quantized and quantized Hall effects that have recently attracted theoretical and experimental attention. We study the Fermi energy and disorder dependence of its spin Hall conductivity ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{xy}^{\mathrm{SH}}$. In the metallic regime we find that vertex corrections enhance the intrinsic spin Hall conductivity and that skew scattering can lead to ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{xy}^{\mathrm{SH}}$ values that exceed the quantized ones expected when the chemical potential is inside the spin-orbit induced energy gap. We predict that large spin Hall conductivities will be observable in graphene even when the spin-orbit gap does not survive disorder.
Primary Carcinoma of the Lung in the Domestic Fowl

So far as we are aware, no case of carcinoma arising in the lung of the domestic fowl has been recorded. The following case is, therefore, of some interest: In 1929, on a farm in Victoria, Australia, I found one day the dead body of a second-year Black Orpington lying on its side, with blood around its beak. This fowl had been ill for some days. I performed an autopsy at once. The right lung and most of the left lung were replaced by a white mass resembling fibrocaseous material. The heart and pericardium were grossly normal. The stomach and intestine and other abdominal organs were also unchanged, except for a small white nodule of growth under the surface of the liver, about 3 mm. in diameter. The specimens were placed in dilute alcohol and taken to the Pathology Department of the University of Melbourne for microscopic study by Professor P. MacCallum and myself.
Effects of macroalgal assemblages on the recruitment of temperate zone reef fishes

The canopy-forming kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C.Ag. was experimentally manipulated to determine its influence on the species composition of an assemblage of temperate zone reef fishes. The presence of Macrocystis enhanced local abundance for some species and reduced the abundance of others. For some species that were positively affected, the magnitude of the kelp effect was stronger for recently settled recruits than older juvenile and adult stages. The reduced recruitment of two benthic species appears to be related to the affinity of these fishes for understory algae, the cover of which is inversely related to the abundance of Macrocystis. The occurrence and relative abundance of canopy and understory algae can explain much of the local spatial variation in the species composition offish recruitment among temperate rocky reefs.
Interactive editing of deformable simulations

We present an interactive animation editor for complex deformable object animations. Given an existing animation, the artist directly manipulates the deformable body at any time frame, and the surrounding animation immediately adjusts in response. The automatic adjustments are designed to respect physics, preserve detail in both the input motion and geometry, respect prescribed bilateral contact constraints, and controllably and smoothly decay in space-time. While the utility of interactive editing for rigid body and articulated figure animations is widely recognized, a corresponding approach to deformable bodies has not been technically feasible before. We achieve interactive rates by combining spacetime model reduction, rotation-strain coordinate warping, linearized elasticity, and direct manipulation. This direct editing tool can serve the final stages of animation production, which often call for detailed, direct adjustments that are otherwise tedious to realize by re-simulation or frame-by-frame editing.
Residual Stress Development in Adhesive Joints Subjected to Thermal Cycling

Abstract The effect of thermal cycling on the state of residual stress in thermoviscoelastic polymeric materials bonded to stiff elastic substrates was investigated using numerical techniques, including finite element methods. The work explored the relationship between a cyclic temperature environment, temperature-dependent viscoelastic behavior of polymers, and thermal stresses induced in a bimaterial system. Due to the complexity of developing a closed-form solution for a system with time- and temperature-dependent material properties, and time-varying temperature and coupled boundary conditions, numerical techniques were used to acquire approximate solutions. The results indicate that residual stresses in an elastic-viscoelastic bimaterial system incrementally shift over time when subjected to thermal cycling. Potentially damaging tensile axial and peel stresses develop over time as a result of viscoelastic response to thermal stresses induced in the polymeric layer. The applied strain energy release r...
An implicit lattice Boltzmann model for heat conduction with phase change

Abstract In this work, a new variation of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was developed to solve the heat conduction problem with phase change. In contrast to previous explicit algorithms, the latent heat source term was treated implicitly in the energy equation, avoiding iteration steps and improving the formulation stability and efficiency. The Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) approximation with a D2Q9 lattice was applied and different boundary conditions including Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions were considered. The developed model was tested by solving a one-dimensional melting problem for a pure metal, and one and two-dimensional solidification problems for a binary alloy. The results of the LBM solution were compared with analytical and finite element solutions and a good consistency was observed. Considering the special capabilities that LBM offers, like local characteristic, and inherent parallel structure, the developed model is an interesting alternative to traditional continuum models.
I.R. Lattice-vibration spectra of MnF2

Abstract The room temperature reflectivity of MnF 2 has been measured in the far i.r. between 50 and 800 cm −1 . The reflectivity spectra show four i.r.-active modes which can be identified as E u and A 2 u modes. The spectra also show structure which might be related to multiphonon effects. The dielectric functions were determined by fitting the reflectivity data with classical oscillator parameters.
Serum Anticholinergic Activity and Behavior Following Atropine Sulfate Administration in the Rat

Anticholinergic agents such as atropine and scopolamine have long been suggested to produce delirium-like states in humans and experimental animals. Evidence for an anticholinergic mechanism in the pathogenesis of human delirium has accumulated, leading to studies of the behavioral effects of the anticholinergic drug atropine in animals. The current study addresses the adequacy of animal models of delirium in terms of sensitivity, specificity and pharmacological relevance. A multiple fixed-ratio fixed-interval reinforcement schedule was used to test the effects of relatively low doses of atropine on behavior in rats. Additionally, total serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) was measured under dose and time course conditions identical to those used in the behavioral study. Atropine reduced high and low rates of responding in a dose-dependent manner, and SAA increased in a dose dependent manner. SAA at atropine doses of 0.1 mg/kg to 1.0 mg/kg was similar to that found in delirious humans. These behavioral and serum level data suggest that relatively low doses of atropine, substantially below those used in previous attempts to model delirium using rats, may be more pharmacologically relevant to delirium and may minimize non-specific peripheral effects of this drug.
Making programming contest practice worthy of academic credit (abstract only)

The ACM Intercollegiate Programming Contest is probably the most prestigious competition of its kind. Decomposing problems into familiar algorithms; making tradeoffs between efficiency and complexity; working on a team under pressure; not only are these skills needed to compete successfully in such a contest, but are also highly valued in industry. The focus of this poster is to describe a course recently added to the curriculum at Vanderbilt University that centers on programming contest skills and yet, somewhat surprisingly, encompasses several significant learning objectives.Because we already had a general idea of what the learning activities of a course like this would be, we were careful not to simply cobble together performance metrics and learning objectives to suit them. This common mistake leads to assessments that devolve into skills tests measuring basic knowledge instead of instruments that gauge a deeper understanding of the target learning objectives. To combat these pitfalls I broke down the learning activity by identifying the skills needed for success in such an exercise. I then classified each skill in two ways. (i) How could this ability play a part in the achievement of some broader, overarching concept and (ii) in what way might the learning and practice of this skill contribute to the deeper understanding of these larger concepts. Our goal is to inform faculty on how they might include a course like this in their programs and to demonstrate its value to the curriculum.
Desensitization, Model Learning, and the Dental Behavior of Children:

Significantly less negative behavior was observed in children exposed to either desensitization or model learning therapy before undergoing restorative dental treatment than in children given more customary initial dental experiences. This difference was not observed during an initial examination. The two therapy groups did not differ significantly from each other on any of the visits.
Self-Regulation, Goal Orientation, and Academic Achievement of Secondary Students in Online University Courses

This study investigated the self-regulation, goal orientation, and academic achievement of 40 secondary students who completed online university courses in the sciences. Students were enrolled in one of three online university science courses. Each course was taught by a two-person team, made up of one university science professor and one secondary classroom science teacher, over a 6-week period. This study explored changes in self-regulation and goal orientation of students enrolled in the online course and the relationship between these factors and student achievement. Student data collected to investigate study questions included an abbreviated version (30-items) of the Motivation Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), collected before and after students completed the online course, and achievement measures (i.e., final grades). Data from application essays and focus interviews, conducted with all participating group members (secondary students, university science professors and the secondary high school teachers), are used to illustrate key findings and probe remaining questions. A description of this program and research resulting from the investigation of online secondary students’ motivation, self-regulation, and achievement in online university courses is also presented and discussed.
Metabolism of substituted diphenylether herbicides in plants. I. Enzymatic cleavage of fluorodifen in peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract A “soluble” glutathione S-transferase that catalyzes the cleavage of the herbicide, 2,4′-dinitro-4-trifluoromethyl diphenylether (fluorodifen), was isolated and partially characterized from epicotyl tissues of pea seedlings. A 32-fold purification of the enzyme was achieved by differential centrifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex gel filtration, and DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 9.3–9.5 and was specific for reduced glutathione, with an estimated apparent Km value of 7.4 × 10−4M. Limited specificity studies with four substituted 14C-labeled diphenylether compounds indicated that fluorodifen was the only effective substrate, with an estimated apparent Km value of 1.2 × 10−5M. Differences and similarities between the pea epicotyl enzyme and other plant and animal glutathione S-transferases were discussed from the standpoint of substrate specificity, pH optima, distribution, stability, and inhibitor studies.
Effect of sublingual nitroglycerin on left ventricular function at rest and during spontaneous angina pectoris: assessment with a radionuclide approach.

Abstract Left ventricular function and size were assessed with equilibrium radionuclide angiography at rest and after administration of 0.6 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin in 12 patients with a history of previous myocardial infarction. Spontaneous angina developed in five patients and seven patients had no pain at the time of study. Sequential ejection fractions and end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were developed by summing multiple R-R intervals to produce a composite time-activity curve. Volumes were calculated with a nongeometric method that utilizes counts at end-diastole and end-systole and is corrected for total heartbeats and plasma radioactivity. In the patients without acute ischemia, peak increase in ejection fraction occurred 6 to 8 minutes after ingestion of nitroglycerin and was associated with an equal decrease in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes with no change in stroke volume. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, stroke volume, heart rate and systolic blood pressure all returned to baseline levels by 1 hour after nitroglycerin. In the patients with spontaneous angina, ejection fraction and stroke volume decreased before pain occurred. End-diastolic volume increased slightly (7 percent), but end-systolic volume increased markedly (38 percent), thus explaining the decrease in stroke volume. After nitroglycerin, end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume and systolic blood pressure decreased and stroke volume and ejection fraction increased. Improvement in function occurred before relief of pain. It is concluded that the action of nitroglycerin on the left ventricle in patients without acute ischemia is to increase ejection fraction by an equal decrease in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes with little change in stroke volume. A reduction in left ventricular function during acute ischemia precedes complaints of pain and is associated with an increase in end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes and a decrease in ejection fraction and stroke volume. In these patients, nitroglycerin appeared to contribute to relief of pain by decreasing end-diastolic volume and systolic blood pressure.
Medical decision making in patients with knee pain, meniscal tear, and osteoarthritis.

Objective Meniscal tears and osteoarthritis (OA) frequently coexist, but to our knowledge, no data exist to identify who will benefit from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) versus nonoperative management. Our objective was to evaluate the capability of preoperative information to predict APM outcomes in OA. Methods Using a mathematical model and published data, we combined 2 clinical (mechanical symptoms and pain pattern) and 2 magnetic resonance imaging (tear type and bone marrow lesions) indicators into 36 possible combinations and ranked each combination according to the likelihood of having primarily tear- versus OA-related pain in individuals ages 45–65 years with knee pain, OA, and meniscal tears. By considering alternative thresholds for performing APM, we identified the cutoff rank that maximized the overall population International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score (0–100 scale). Results Rank 1 (e.g., displaced tear, locking, increased pain, no bone marrow lesions) represented the highest likelihood of APM benefit; rank 36 (e.g., oblique tear, no mechanical symptoms, static pain, severe bone marrow lesions) represented the lowest likelihood of APM benefit. Indeterminate middle ranks included individuals with mixed findings (i.e., 2 findings consistent with high and 2 with low likelihood of APM benefit). APM thresholds between ranks 17 and 23 resulted in >82% of the population receiving treatment producing the greatest possible IKDC improvement, with mean incremental gains in IKDC score of >24 points. Findings were robust across a broad range of indicator assumptions, but were sensitive to outcome assumptions. Conclusion Among individuals with degenerative meniscal tears and OA, easily obtainable clinical information can differentiate those who are more likely to benefit from APM.
Perturbed quantization steganography with wet paper codes

In this paper, we introduce a new approach to passive-warden steganography in which the sender embeds the secret message into a certain subset of the cover object without having to share the selection channel with the recipient. An appropriate information-theoretical model for this communication is writing in memory with (a large number of) defective cells [1]. We describe a simple variable-rate random linear code for this channel (the "wet paper" code) and use it to develop a new steganographic methodology for digital media files - Perturbed Quantization. In Perturbed Quantization, the sender hides data while processing the cover object with an information-reducing operation, such as lossy compression, downsampling, A/D conversion, etc. The sender uses the cover object before processing as side information to confine the embedding changes to those elements of the processed cover object whose values are the most "uncertain". This informed-sender embedding and uninformed-recipient message extraction improves steganographic security because an attacker cannot easily determine from the processed stego object the location of embedding changes. Heuristic is presented and supported by blind steganalysis [2] that a specific case of Perturbed Quantization for JPEG images is significantly less detectable than current JPEG steganographic methods.
Protein phosphatase 2A regulates apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells.

Polyamine depletion prevents apoptosis by increasing serine/threonine phosphorylation leading to either inactivation or activation of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, respectively. Despite evidence that protein kinases are regulators of apoptosis, a specific role for protein phosphatases in regulating cell survival has not been established. In this study, we show that polyamine depletion inhibits serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Inhibition of PP2A in cells depleted of polyamines correlated well with increased phosphorylation of Bad at Ser112. Bad Ser112 phosphorylation in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment decreased with time in cells grown in control as well as those grown in the presence of α-difluoromethylornithine plus putrescine. However, a sustained increase in the levels of Bad Ser112 phosphorylation was maintained in response to TNF-α treatment in cells grown in the presence of α-difluoromethylornithine. Inhibition of PP2A by okadaic acid and fostriecin or PP2A small interfering RNA transfection significantly decreased TNF-α-induced apoptosis in control and polyamine-depleted cells. Inhibition of PP2A by okadaic acid: 1) increased Bad and Bcl-2 phosphorylation at Ser112 and Ser70, respectively; 2) increased ERK activity; 3) prevented JNK activation; 4) prevented cytochrome c release, and activation of caspases-9 and -3 in response to TNF-α. Inhibition of MEK1 by U0126 prevented phosphorylation of Bad at Ser112. These results indicate that polyamines regulate PP2A activity, and inhibition of PP2A in response to polyamine depletion increases steady state levels of Bad and Bcl-2 proteins and their phosphorylation and thereby prevents cytochrome c release, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activation.
MMP2 genetic variation is associated with measures of fibrous cap thickness: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Carotid MRI Study

Abstract Objective Genetic variation in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) promoter regions alter the transcriptional activity of MMPs and has been consistently associated with CHD, presumably through plaque degradation and remodeling. We examined the association of MMP promoter variation with multiple plaque characteristics measured by gadolinium-enhanced MRI among 1700 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI Study. Methods For the analyses presented here, 1700 participants of the biracial ARIC Carotid MRI Study (∼1000 participants with thick carotid artery walls and ∼700 randomly sampled participants) were evaluated for associations of MMP genetic variation with multiple plaque characteristics, including carotid artery wall thickness, lipid core and fibrous cap measures. MRI studies were performed on a 1.5T scanner equipped with a bilateral 4-element phased array carotid coil. Results Fifty-one percent of the participants were female, 77% white, 23% African American, and the mean age was 70 years. MMP2 C-1306T variant genotypes (CT + TT) were significantly associated with higher cap thickness measures, but not with wall thickness or lipid core measures. Individuals with the CC genotype had approximately 0.1 mm thinner cap thickness compared to those carrying a T allele ( P = 0.02). Conclusion Genetic variation within the MMP2 promoter region was associated with cap thickness and therefore may influence the role of MMP2 in plaque vulnerability.
Effect of Organization-Level Variables on Differential Employee Participation in 10 Federal Worksite Health Promotion Programs:

Guided by a conceptual model, the authors used both qualitative data (e.g., individual interviews, focus groups) and quantitative data from an employee survey (N = 3,388) in 10 federal agencies to investigate whether organization context and implementation process affected participation in worksite health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) activities among demographic subgroups. Overall, employees on average participated in fewer than two agency-supported health-related activities per year (17% in fitness, 40% in health risk assessment activities). Employees participated more where coworkers endorsed such programs. Minority employees and employees in lower level positions were more likely to participate in fitness activities when organizations had a more comprehensive program structure, engaged in more marketing strategies, gave time off to employees to participate, or had on-site facilities. Management support for the program was related to participation by employees who were male, white, and had upper level positions. The data supported the proposed model; also confirmed was two predicted relationships between model constructs, which provided a better understanding of differential participation by employee groups.
Distance-constrained scheduling and its applications to real-time systems

In hard real time systems, each task must not only be functionally correct but also meet its timing constraints. A common approach to characterizing hard real time tasks with repetitive requests is the periodic task model. In the periodic task model, every task needs to be executed once during each of its periods. The execution of a task in one period is independent of the execution of the same task in another period. Hence, the executions of the same task in two consecutive periods may be right next to each other, or at the far ends of the two periods. While the periodic task model can serve as a simple paradigm for scheduling tasks with repetitive requests, it may not be suitable for all real time applications. For example, in some real time systems, the temporal distance between the finishing times of any two consecutive executions of the same task must be less than or equal to a given value. In other words, each execution of a task has a deadline relative to the finishing time of the previous execution of the same task. Scheduling algorithms designed for the periodic task model may not provide efficient solutions for tasks with temporal distance constraints. We propose the (preemptive) distance constrained task system model which can serve as a more intuitive and adequate scheduling model for "repetitive" task executions. We design an efficient scheduling scheme for the model, and derive a schedulability condition for the scheduling scheme. We also discuss how to apply the scheduling scheme to real time sporadic task scheduling and to real time communications.
Mini anchors: A universal design for learning approach

Teachers are challenged to create flexible learning environments that prepare students with diverse learning needs for adaptable thinking in a fast-paced and changing society. To address this need, we used a design-based research approach to develop a technology-based solution to individualize mathematical problem solving instruction to students based on their learning needs. We iteratively tested and refined the design with over 130 students as well as their teachers, parents, and content experts. In the end, we created a new instructional model called mini anchors, a prescription for how to individualize instruction by embedding numerous, short, video-based scenarios within a computer-based program to provide learners with multiple ways to perceive, engage with, and interact with the content. This instructional model may be a valuable approach to use for creating adaptable learning environments.
Assessment of Global Social Responsibility

The emerging reality of a global community has led to development of a construct of global social responsibility and to a scale as described here. A sample of 219 adults assigned to four levels of social activism responded to a pool of items judged to be indicative of the construct, and a 160-person subsample provided additional data concerning social activism. The data were used in the development of a global social responsibility scale and two related scales. Internal consistency for all scales and the expected correlations between the scale and related measures (3 scales and 3 behaviors) produced evidence of validity and support for the construct.
Analysis of discrete-time Kalman filtering under incorrect noise covariances

Analysis tools are developed that can be effectively used to study the performance degradation of a filter when incorrect models of the state and measurement noise covariances are used. For a linear time-variant system with stationary noise processes, it is shown that under certain stability conditions on the system model, the one-step prediction error covariance matrix will converge to a steady-state solution even when the filter gain is not optimal. On the other hand, if the state transition matrix has an unreachable mode outside a unit circle, then the modeling errors in the noise covariances may cause the filter to diverge. Bounds on the asymptotic filter performance are computed when the range of errors in the noise covariance matrices are known. Using simple examples, insights into the behavior of a Kalman filter under nonideal conditions are provided. >
Graphene: Synthesis and applications

Graphene, since the demonstration of its easy isolation by the exfoliation of graphite in 2004 by Novoselov, Geim and co-workers , has been attracting enormous attention in the scientific community . Because of its unique properties, high hopes have been placed on it for technological applications in many areas. Here we will briefly review aspects of two of these application areas: analog electronics and photonics/optoelectronics. We will discuss the relevant material properties, device physics, and some of the available results. Of course, we cannot rely on graphite exfoliation as the source of graphene for technological applications, so we will start by introducing large scale graphene growth techniques.
Pediatric Liaison Psychiatry: A Forum for Separation and Loss

Separation and loss issues arise frequently in pediatric hospital settings. Three forms of psychiatry/psychology liaison are presented which demonstrate: 1. case-centered collaboration to address child and family concerns about death; 2. team-centered activities which link family and staff roles in the course of terminal illness; and 3. the development of a program mechanism to meet the needs of staff "survivors" of recurrent childhood deaths. These examples illustrate the enrichment which pediatric psychiatry/psychology liaison program offer when the conceptual model of liaison service and teaching operates flexibly on case, team, and program levels.
Process variation robust clock tree routing

As the minimum feature sizes of VLSI circuits get smaller while the clock frequency increases, the effects of process variations become significant. We propose a UST/DME based approach to perform simultaneous non-zero clock skew scheduling and clock tree routing, taking into consideration the effects of process variations on clock skews. Our approach ensures that the generated clock tree has a high tolerance to process variations while minimizing the total capacitance of the clock tree, which is proportional to the total wirelength and the total number of buffers. Monte Carlo simulations show that our approach generates clock trees that are highly tolerant to process variations.
Dose-response trial of prophylactic zinc supplements, with or without copper, in young Ecuadorian children at risk of zinc deficiency

Multiple studies have shown the benefits of zinc supplementation among young children in high-risk populations. However the optimal dose and safe upper level of zinc have not been determined. The objectives of this study were to measure the effects of different doses of supplemental zinc on the plasma zinc concentration morbidity and growth of young children; to detect any adverse effects of 10 mg supplemental Zn on markers of copper or iron status; and to determine whether any adverse effects are alleviated by providing copper with zinc. This randomized double-masked community-based intervention trial was conducted in 631 Ecuadorian children who were 12-30 mo old at baseline and who had initial length-for-age z scores Less than -1.3. Children received 1 of 5 daily supplements for 6 mo: 3 7 or 10 mg Zn as zinc sulfate 10 mg Zn + 0.5 mg Cu as copper sulfate or placebo. The change in plasma zinc concentration from baseline was positively related to the zinc dose (P less than 0.001). Zinc supplementation including doses as low as 3 mg/d reduced the incidence of diarrhea by 21-42% (P less than 0.01). There were no other significant group-wise differences. Zinc supplementation with a dose as low as 3 mg/d increased plasma zinc concentrations and reduced diarrhea incidence in the study population. There were no observed adverse effects of 10 mg Zn/d on indicators of copper or iron status. The current tolerable upper level of zinc recommended by the Institute of Medicine should be reassessed for young children. (authors)
A Socioscientific Curriculum Facilitating the Development of Distal and Proximal NOS Conceptualizations.

This study reports the effects of an innovative introductory microbiology course for undergraduates that used a socioscientific issues (SSI)-based curriculum. The study illustrates how an SSI-based intervention provides learners with pragmatic opportunities for cultivating their scientific literacy subsuming the nature of science (NOS). Empirical data measured 26 undergraduates' distal and proximal knowledge of the NOS with respect to their ability to reason. The instruments used in this case study yielded qualitative data, which were coded using NVivo7 and inductively analyzed. All data analyses were subject to instrumental triangulation, inter-rater reliability, and member-checking. These analyses determined that undergraduates' formal epistemological knowledge of professional science matured. These changes accompanied improved reasoning skills and matured beliefs about the NOS. In particular, students' reasoning changed as they realized that scientific knowledge is never absolute or certain but tentati...
Increased cytochrome oxidase activity in alkali-burned corneas.

Cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity on alkali-burned rabbit corneas was investigated histochemically to determine the metabolic chanqe in inflamed corneas during wound healing. Cryostat sections of chemically burned and mechanically scraped corneas were stained for CO activity, which is regarded as an index of metabolic activity.Following chemical injury, positive CO activity was detected initially in the vascular endothelial cells of limbal blood vessels. Numerous active polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes were found intravascularly and perivascularly. Fibroblasts that appeared at the wound site exhibited marked CO activity around the limbus. Over a period of 13 days, PMNs gradually invaded the central cornea, followed by fibroblasts of high metabolic activity. The areas of PMN infiltration were the same areas in which fibroblasts showed intense staining, suggesting that a PMN-derived mediator or secondary products might affect the activation of fibroblasts.Epithelial resurfacinq was delayed i...
Intracardiac arrhythmia classification using neural network and time-frequency analysis

Time-frequency analysis (TFA) has been used to explore subtle differences in surface electrocardiographic signals. To determine whether TFA might improve the accuracy of automated intraventricular signal classification, the authors examined ten patients, each with ten cycles of sinus rhythm (SR) and ten cycles of ventricular tachycardia (VT). A time-frequency distribution (tfd) and a four line contour plot (CP) were generated for each cycle. A three layer backpropagation neural network (NN) was constructed in which three features were extracted from each CP cycle and used as inputs to the discriminant NN. One-half of the SR and VT cycles were utilized as a training set. Each patient-specific NN and a generalized NN bad an overall correct detection probability greater than 0.7. Using a NN as a classifier, time-frequency analysis improved specificity in arrhythmia classification without sacrificing sensitivity. It is concluded that combined neural network and TFA shows promise for automated intracardiac signal classification. >
UNIX-based robotic controller architecture

Describes an attempt to transfer the robotic arm control system (RACS) to the UNIX-based platform. The RACS features a practical computer architecture utilizing off-the-shelf parts. It may be used to implement any control method and is particularly well suited for complex schemes like the reflex-action position control. The control flow does not require all the input data to be present at one instant of time. Thus the concept of distributed sampling control may be used. The RACS is driven by the UNIX-based workstation through the industrial standard VME bus. >
Yield determination and design optimization of GaAs MESFETs using a physical simulator

The authors have enhanced TEFLON, the physics based large-signal GaAs MESFET model, to predict yield of a GaAs MESFET design before fabrication. Device acceptance criteria include large-signal RF operating characteristics such as maximum power added efficiency and power out at 1 dB gain compression. SUPREM 3.5 has been incorporated into TEFLON so that optimizable parameters include processing specifications for material deposition, ion implantation, and annealing as well as physical parameters such as device geometry. The authors have incorporated Monte Carlo techniques to statistically treat disturbances of the physical and processing parameters. Finally they have integrated the yield estimation modules with an optimizer so a design can be centered for maximum yield in the presence of process disturbances. >
Substituted Tobermorites: 27Al and 29Si MASNMR, Cation Exchange, and Water Sorption Studies

27Al and 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that the maximum amount of Al that can be substituted for Si in the tobermorite structure is 15 to 20 mol%. Powder X-ray diffraction and cation exchange studies corroborate the above finding. Anomalous tobermorite structures resulted in all cases, and hydrogarnet appeared beyond the 15 to 20 mol% Al substitution limit for Si. The sorption of water molecules by synthetic [Al3++ Na+]-substituted tobermorites and their cation-exchanged forms heated at 200°C under vacuum (≥10−3 torr) was measured at 25°C in order to probe the nature of the ion-exchange cavity. Samples with ≤30 mol% of Al substitution for Si showed isotherms of Brunauer, Demming, Demming, Teller (BDDT) type I and gave better linearity with the Langmuir plot than with the BET plot. Samples with ≥35 mol% of Al substitution for Si showed BDDT type II isotherms and gave better linearity with the BET than with the Langmuir equation. The Langmuir monolayer capacity was found to depend on the Al content and on the cationic form. The Li+- and Na+-exchanged tobermorites with about 20 mol% of Al substitution for Si showed the highest Langmuir monolayer water sorption capacity. The Cs+-exchanged tobermorites showed a smaller capacity than the Li+- or Na+-exchanged samples, which can be ascribed to clogging of the ion-exchange cavity by the large Cs+ ions.
Theranostic Nanoparticles for Imaging and Therapy and Cellular Response after Laser-induced Heating

In our study, we use a new biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, which is termed poly(glycerol-co-malic-dodecanoate) (PGMD), for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) and loading of Near-Infrared (NIR) dyes. IR820 was chosen for the purpose of imaging and hyperthermia (HT). One of the potential problems of hyperthermia (HT) is that HT can up-regulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) expression and enhance vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. We explored the cellular response after rapid, short-term and low thermal dose laser-IR820-PGMD NPs (laser/NP) induced-heating, and compared it to slow, long-term and high thermal dose heating using a cell incubator. The cytotoxicity of NPs after laser/NP HT resulted in higher cell killing compared to incubator HT. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), HIF-1, and VEGF level were highly elevated under incubator HT, but remained at the baseline level under the laser/NP HT. In vitro cell imaging and in vivo healthy mice imaging showed that IR820-PGMD NPs can be used for optical imaging. In conclusion, IR820-PGMD NPs were developed and used for both imaging and therapy purposes. Rapid and short-term laser/NP HT, with a low thermal dose, does not up-regulate HIF-1 and VEGF expression, whereas slow and long-term incubator HT, with a high thermal dose, enhances the expression of both transcription factors.
Fluid dynamics of floating particles

We have developed a numerical package to simulate particle motions in fluid interfaces. The particles are moved in a direct simulation respecting the fundamental equations of motion of fluids and solid particles without the use of models. The fluid–particle motion is resolved by the method of distributed Lagrange multipliers and the interface is moved by the method of level sets. The present work fills a gap since there are no other theoretical methods available to describe the nonlinear fluid dynamics of capillary attraction.Two different cases of constrained motions of floating particles are studied here. In the first case, we study motions of floating spheres under the constraint that the contact angle is fixed by the Young–Dupr´e law; the contact line must move when the contact angle is fixed. In the second case, we study motions of disks (short cylinders) with flat ends in which the contact line is pinned at the sharp edge of the disk; the contact angle must change when the disks move and this angle can change within the limits specified by the Gibbs extension to the Young–Dupre law. The fact that sharp edged particles cling to interfaces independent of particle wettability is not fully appreciated and needs study.The numerical scheme presented here is at present the only one which can move floating particles in direct simulation. We simulate the evolution of single heavier-than-liquid spheres and disks to their equilibrium depth and the evolution to clusters of two and fours spheres and two disks under lateral forces, collectively called capillary attraction. New experiments by Wang, Bai & Joseph on the equilibrium depth of floating disks pinned at the edge are presented and compared with analysis and simulations.
On the Author Effect: Recovering Collectivity

Will the author in the modern sense prove to have been only a brief episode in the history of writing? By "author" we mean an individual who is the sole creator of unique "works" the originality of which warrants their protection under laws of intellectual property known as "copyright" or "authors' rights." The question is timely because research since the appearance in 1969 of Michel Foucault's essay, What is an Author?, 1 suggests not only that the author in this modern sense is a relatively recent invention, but that it does not closely reflect contemporary writing practices. Indeed, on inspection, it is not dear that this notion ever coincided closely with the practice of writing. Yet, as the papers which follow show dearly, this did not prevent the notion from becoming highly influential in promoting certain kinds of writing at the expense of others in our estimation. It has exerted this influence in no small measure by helping to shape the laws which regulate our writing practices.