cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boundedness vs. Unboundedness of Lock Chains: Characterizing Decidability of Pairwise CFL-Reachability for Threads Communicating via Locks

The problem of Pairwise CFL-reachability is to decide whether two given program locations in different threads are simultaneously reachable in the presence of recursion in threads and scheduling constraints imposed by synchronization primitives. Pairwise CFL-reachability is the core problem underlying concurrent program analysis especially dataflow analysis. Unfortunately, it is undecidable even for the most commonly used synchronization primitive, i.e., mutex locks. Lock usage in concurrent programs can be characterized in terms of lock chains, where a sequence of mutex locks is said to be chained if the scopes of adjacent (nonnested) mutexes overlap. Although pairwise reachability is known to decidable for threads interacting via nested locks, i.e., chains of length one, these techniques don’t extend to programs with non-nested locks used in crucial applications like databases and device drivers. In this paper, we exploit the fact that lock usage patterns in real life programs do not produce unbounded lock chains. For such programs, we show that pairwise CFL-reachability becomes decidable. Our new results narrow the decidability gap for pairwise CFL-reachability by providing a more refined characterization for it in terms of boundedness of lock chains rather than the current state-of-the-art, i.e., nestedness of locks (chains of length one).
Bisphosphonate-Associated Atypical Subtrochanteric Femur Fracture

Bisphosphonates help prevent progressive bone mineralization loss and subsequent osteoporotic fractures. However, long-term bisphosphonate therapy paradoxically increases the risk of a unique injury called an atypical subtrochanteric femur fracture. Despite this, the benefits of bisphosphonates outweigh the risks, because far more pathologic fractures are prevented than induced. The early identification of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures is important as there is high associated morbidity and mortality. We describe a case of a 76-y-old woman with a completed bisphosphonate-associated atypical subtrochanteric femur fracture.
Implicit Siphon Control and Its Role in the Liveness-Enforcing Supervision of Sequential Resource Allocation Systems

The work presented in this paper seeks 1) to correct and generalize some previously published results regarding the siphon control in PT-ordinary Petri nets (PNs) and, subsequently, 2) to employ this generalized framework in order to provide an alternative explanation of the way in which certain methodologies that have been proposed in the past enforce the liveness of a particular class of PT-ordinary PN-modeling resource allocation. The derived characterizations provide a unifying framework for analyzing and interpreting the aforementioned methodologies, and also, they reveal that approaches that have been considered as disparate in the current literature can actually be "mixed" toward the development of an ever richer set of liveness-enforcing supervisory-control policies for the considered class of PNs
State Autonomy in Germany and the United States

Both the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany have mechanisms by which their component jurisdictions—states or Lander—can either implement federal law or resist such implementation. The authors describe the different constitutional mechanisms by which the two federal regimes induce state cooperation and protect state autonomy. They then offer some speculations as to how such constitutional rules might affect cooperative federalism in the two nations, arguing that the German system provides more categorical and therefore more secure protection of the Lander, whereas the U.S. system provides for a more flexible system of cooperative federalism. This flexibility of the U.S. system, the authors suggest, allows for vertical competition between the federal government and the states, which may provide a valuable tool to combat inefficiency in policy implementation.
Generalized CNF satisfiability problems and non-efficient approximability

We use variants of the generalized CNF satisfiability problems SAT(S) of T.J. Schhaefer (1978) to characterize the efficient approximability of a number of basic NP and PSPACE-hard optimization problems in the literature. In contrast with the recent results, none of our proofs make use of interactive proof systems or of probabilistically checkable debate systems. In particular assuming P/spl ne/NP- or P/spl ne/PSPACE, we show that a number of the optimization problems shown not to be efficiently approximable can be shown not to be efficiently approximable by direct reductions, often of variants of the problems MAX NSF and ambiguous 3SAT. Moreover, often we show this, not only for arbitrary problem instances but also for planar problem instances and for f(n)-treewidth-bounded instances. Thus analogous to Zuckerman (1993), we show that: "Planar NP-complete, PSPACE-complete, planar PSPACE-complete problems, etc. also have versions that are hard to approximate". >
Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis of Adult Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Middle Atlantic Region of the U.S.A.

In the Middle Atlantic region of the U.S.A., the vector of Lyme disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and other human and veterinary pathogens is the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. In 1997 and 1998, 663 adult I. scapularis ticks were collected from 320 transects spanning 66,400 km2 in five states of the Middle Atlantic region. Tick abundance patterns were clustered, with relatively high numbers along the coastal plain of the Chesapeake Bay, decreasing to the west and south. There were significant associations between tick abundance and land cover, distance to water, distance to forest edge, elevation, and soil type.
What is a 'Transitory and Minor' Impairment?

2008 revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act included changes to the standard for a claim of discrimination because an individual was regarded as disabled. The revisions included an exception to a claim if the impairment in question was "transitory and minor," but the statute and subsequent guidance from EEOC failed to exactly define the term. The EEOC advised that an employer must show that the impairment in question was both transitory (defined in the statute as lasting less than 6 months 0 and minor. This article reviews twenty judicial decisions issued since 2011 that addressed the issue of "transitory and minor." The decisions show wide disparity in application of the statute and guidance, with fully half the courts applying the term as an either/or requirement to defeat a claim of discrimination, and frequently basing their decisions solely on duration of impairment. Some trends in how the courts have viewed categories of disabilities are described. The paper recommends ways forward for advocates to align court decisions with EEOC guidance.
GaAs-based, 1.55 [micro sign]m high speed, high saturation power, low-temperature grown GaAs pin photodetector

A novel 1.55 µm high speed (> 20 GHz) and high saturation power (> 10 mW) pin photodetector grown on a GaAs substrate is reported. By utilising low-temperature grown GaAs, the photodetectors can detect 1.55 µm light with high bandwidth owing to the short carrier trapping time.
Clinical implications of tumor cavitation following therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients

18034 Background: Angiogenesis inhibitors are being tested in patients with advanced cancer. We sought to determine the formation of tumor cavitation in NSCLC patients treated with antiangiogenic a...
Energy balance in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice: effects of dietary starch and glucose

Effects of different carbohydrate types on energy balance, fatty acid synthesis, and plasma insulin concentrations in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice were investigated. Obese (ob/ob) and lean mice adrenalectomized at 4 wk of age received one of four high-carbohydrate powdered diets for 3 wk: stock, glucose, starch, or starch plus wheat bran. Adrenalectomy reduced energy intake of ob/ob mice equally independent of diet type, whereas energetic efficiency, in vivo rates of fatty acid synthesis in liver and white adipose tissue, and plasma insulin concentrations were substantially reduced to approach values in lean mice in all adrenalectomized ob/ob mice except those fed glucose. The ability of adrenalectomy to normalize energy balance in ob/ob mice depends on factors other than the reduced circulating concentration of glucocorticoids alone. Diet composition is a crucial factor, and striking differences exist between semipurified diets containing a simple sugar (glucose) and those containing a complex carbohydrate (starch), with no additional effect of dietary fiber (wheat bran).
“Something Extra on Chromosome 5”: Parents’ Understanding of Positive Prenatal Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA) Results

This study aims to explore how couples' understanding of the nature and consequences of positive prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) results impacts decision-making and concern about pregnancy. We interviewed 28 women and 12 male partners after receiving positive results and analyzed the transcripts to assess their understanding and level of concern about the expected clinical implications of results. Participant descriptions were compared to the original laboratory interpretation. When diagnosed prenatally, couples' understanding of the nature and consequences of copy number variants (CNVs) impacts decision-making and concern. Findings suggest women, but less so partners, generally understand the nature and clinical implications of prenatal CMA results. Couples feel reassured, perhaps sometimes falsely so, when a CNV is inherited from a "normal" parent and experience considerable uncertainty when a CNV is de novo, frequently precipitating a search for additional information and guidance. Five factors influenced participants' concern including: the pattern of inheritance, type of possible phenotypic involvement, perceived manageability of outcomes, availability and strength of evidence about outcomes associated with the CNV, and provider messages about continuing the pregnancy. A good understanding of results is vital as couples decide whether or not to continue with their pregnancy and seek additional information to assist in pregnancy decision-making.
Moving beyond metagenomics to find the next pandemic virus

Movements of viruses from animals to humans underlie outbreaks of diseases, such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, influenza, and Middle East respiratory syndrome. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus pandemic of 2003 was caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV) that originated in Chinese horseshoe bats (1). Results of sequence analyses have shown that viruses related to SARS-CoV continue to circulate in bats, but their potential for infecting humans is not known. Gazing at viral sequences has its limits; experiments need to be done. In PNAS, Menachery et al. (2) develop a framework for deriving viruses from these genome sequences and examining their potential to cause the next SARS pandemic (Fig. 1).
A Weak Parallelogram Law for lp

(1972). A Weak Parallelogram Law for lp. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 79, No. 9, pp. 1012-1015.
The Conflict of Moral Obligation in the Trilogy of Aeschylus

It will be generally admitted, I think, that Aeschylus is one of the great religious and philosophic poets of all time. And it will be perhaps hardly less generally conceded that no philosophic problem was for him more interesting or more momentous than that of establishing and defending the concept of a moral government of the world. Even those who accuse him of having subjected all things to the iron rule of Fate cannot reproach him with a blind fatalism. If he saw inexorable Necessity at the heart of the world, he also saw Justice writ large upon its face; and if he believed God and man alike to be pawns in the hands of Destiny, the rule of the game was still to punish the wrong moves of the one by the sure interposition of the other.
Ernährungsmedizinische Aspekte im G-DRG-System – die deutsche Situation

Mit Einfuhrung des DRG-Systems in Deutschland ist es fur die Ernahrungsmedizin wichtig, neben dem medizinischen auch den okonomischen Stellenwert innerhalb der Gesundheitsfinanzierung darzustellen. Ernahrungsmedizinische Probleme wie Mangelernahrung aber auch die Adipositas sind mit erhohten Ressourcenallokation und damit hoheren Behandlungskosten im Krankenhaus, aber auch im ambulanten Bereich verbunden. Das aktuelle G-DRG-System erlaubt bereits eine partielle Abbildung dieser Mehrkosten, jedoch bedarf es hier noch weiterer Anstrengungen um diese Effekte in Zukunft kostendeckend darzustellen. Insbesondere ist eine Uberarbeitung mit einer praxisnahen Definition und Einteilung nach Schweregraden der Mangelernahrung, wie sie auf der Basis des Nutritional Risk Score vorgeschlagen wird, notwendig. Fur die Adipositas liegt hier eine aktuell eingefuhrte Klassifikation anhand des Body-Mass-Indexes vor. Neben der Kosten und Erlosdarstellung bedarf es aber auch Qualitatsindikatoren, um die Qualitat der erbrachten ernahrungsmedizinischen Leistung abzubilden und damit zu sichern. Der vorliegende Artikel gibt nicht nur einen Uberblick uber die jetzige Situation, sondern zeigt auch die aktuellen Ansatze (inklusive Vorschlage zur Codierung und Qualitatssicherung) zur Weiterentwicklung dieser Thematik auf.
Analysis of Anesthetics Used in Hospitalized Patients During 2004-2007

Objective: To investigate the utilization and medication frequency of the anesthetics used in hospitalized patients of our hospital, and to promote the clinical rational use of the anesthetics. Methods: The consumption of anesthetics used in our hospitalized patients was analyzed statistically during 2004- 2007. Results: The anesthetic dosage and cost were increasing year by year. The consumption quantity of morphine was much more than other drugs and the oral administration also increased. Conclusion: The use of anesthetics is almost rational in our hospitalized patients.
THU0346 Utilization and Outcomes After Total Ankle Arthroplasty: Time Trends Study Using U.S. Nationwide Sample

Background Studies examining national trends in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in the U.S. are lacking. Objectives To assess the time-trends in utilization, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in the U.S. Methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 1998 to 2010 to examine time-trends in the utilization rates of TAA. We used the Cochran Armitage test for trend to assess time-trends across the years and the analysis of variance (ANOVA), Wilcoxon test or chi-squared test (as appropriate) to compare the first (1998-2000) and the last time periods (2009-10). Results TAA utilization rate increased significant from 1998 to 2010: 0.13 to 0.84 per 100,000 overall, 0.14 to 0.88 per 100,000 in females and from 0.11 to 0.81 per 100,000 in males (p 0.05). Conclusions The utilization rate of TAA increased rapidly in the U.S. from 1998 to 2010, but post-arthroplasty mortality rate was stable. Underlying diagnosis and medical comorbidity changed over time and both can impact outcomes after TAA. Further studies should examine how the outcomes and complications of TAA have evolved over time. Disclosure of Interest J. Singh Grant/research support from: takeda, savient, Consultant for: Takeda, Savient, Allergan, Regeneron, R. Ramachandran: None declared
Metastasis in a rabbit choroidal melanoma model

A substrain of Greene hamster melanoma adapted to grow in the choroid of the rabbit eye is shown to have the tendency to metastasize. Twenty-one normal rabbits were studied for the effects of vascular inoculation of a tumor cell suspension prepared from this choroidal melanoma, and two rabbits were used for long-term observation of the natural untreated course of the choroidal melanoma. In both groups, metastases to the liver, lung, kidney, and other organs were demonstrated.
Strategic performance measurement systems and employee performance

This proposed research questions the assumption that strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) define strategic goals at the individual job level, reducing role ambiguity and ensuring desired employee outcomes. Through qualitative research of both white-collar and blue-collar jobs, we seek to determine the types of jobs most amenable to SPMS guidance.
Racial Profiling: Abuses of Bureaucratic Authority That Threaten the Liberty of Citizens

This chapter analyzes the impact of institutional pathologies derived from the professionalization and unionization of the civil service systems in executive-branch bureaus on career public servants’ governance behavior. Specifically, it focuses on toxic bureaucratic subcultures tolerating the abuse of citizens in the latter’s routine encounters with government. This chapter examines local law enforcement’s practice of racial profiling as an example of pathological bureaucratic governance. The chapter then delves into racial profiling’s institutional roots that engender unlawful actions, especially toward citizens of color. After discussing ways to strengthen the rule of law and representative (citizen-centered) political institutions as a check on bureaucratic authorities, the chapter concludes with the implications of racial profiling, implications pertaining to any executive branch agency where administrative abuses toward citizens persist.
Distinct zooplankton regime shift patterns across ecoregions of the U.S. Northeast continental shelf Large Marine Ecosystem

Abstract We investigated regime shifts in seasonal zooplankton communities of the Northeast continental shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NES) and its subcomponent ecoregions over a multi-decadal period (1977–2013). Our cross ecoregion analysis shows that regime shifts in different ecoregions often exhibited very distinct characteristics, emphasizing more granular fluctuations in NES plankton communities relative to previous work. Shifts early in the time series generally reflected an increase in abundance levels. The response of zooplankton abundance within fall communities was more similar among ecoregions than for spring communities. The Gulf of Maine exhibited highly distinct patterns from other ecoregions, with regime shifts identified in the early 1980s, early 2000s, and mid-2000s for spring communities. Regime shifts were identified in the early to mid-1990s for the NES, Georges Bank, and the Mid-Atlantic Bight ecoregions, while the fall communities experienced shifts in the early 1990s and late 1980s for the NES and Georges Bank, but in the late 1990s in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. A constrained correspondence analysis of zooplankton community against local and basin-scale climatological indices suggests that water temperature, stratification, and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) were the predominant factors in driving the zooplankton community composition.
Small structural changes of the imidazopyridine diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) inhibitors produce an improved safety profile

Small molecule DGAT2 inhibitors have shown promise for the treatment of metabolic diseases in preclinical models. Herein, we report the first toxicological evaluation of imidazopyridine-based DGAT2 inhibitors and show that the arteriopathy associated with imidazopyridine 1 can be mitigated with small structural modifications, and is thus not mechanism related.
Novel Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Abstract Background : While several uncommon disorders (e.g., myeloproliferative diseases, connective tissue disease, etc.) have been suggested as potential risk factors for VTE, the independence and magnitude of any risk is uncertain. Objective : To test uncommon characteristics as potential independent risk factors for VTE, and estimate the magnitude of risk for each. Methods : Using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all incident cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism over the 6-year period, 1992–1997. For each objectively confirmed case (n=562), we identified up to two Olmsted County residents without VTE who most closely matched a case on age, gender, and medical record number (n=755). Because medical record numbers are assigned sequentially, such matching assures a similar duration of medical follow-up. For all cases and controls, we reviewed the complete medical records in the community for over 125 baseline characteristics which were tested for an association with VTE using conditional logistic regression. Results : The mean ± SD (range) ages for cases and controls were 65.71 ± 18.85 (0–102) and 64.90 ± 18.66 (0–102) years, respectively, and 55.5% were female. Novel univariate risk factors for incident VTE included former tobacco smoker, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, chronic lung disease, all-cause pulmonary hypertension, chronic renal disease, myeloproliferative disorders, any infection, femoral artery catheterization (angiography or percutaneous intervention), ICU admission and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. Among infections, septicemia, pneumonia, and ENT, cardiovascular, GI, urinary tract and skin/soft tissue infections were univariately associated with VTE; reproductive tract infection was not. Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, lipid-lowering drugs (including statins), inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, connective tissue disease, and influenza were not univariately associated with VTE, and beta-blocker therapy was not protective. A multivariate analysis will test these characteristics as potential independent VTE risk factors. Conclusions : Several novel characteristics are univariately associated with VTE. Such novel characteristics may provide new insights into VTE mechanisms if, upon further analysis, these characteristics are independent VTE risk factors.
Improved Quality of Life With Anti-TNF Therapy Compared With Continued Corticosteroid Utilization in Crohn’s Disease

Background Corticosteroids (CS) and anti-TNF drugs are used to treat Crohn's disease (CD). In this study, we assessed the net health benefit of initiating anti-TNF therapy relative to additional CS use in CD using a novel combination of a retrospective cohort study and a simulation model. Methods Using Medicaid data from 2001 to 2005 and Medicare data from 2006 to 2013, beneficiaries were identified with CD and CS use who subsequently received either an anti-TNF or reached a cumulative dose of >3000 mg CS during the year. By using overall and latent class-specific remission-time equivalent (RTE) estimates derived from discrete-choice experiments, mean 12-month cumulative RTEs were calculated after propensity score adjustment for baseline characteristics. A Markov model was constructed using transition probabilities derived from the retrospective cohort to perform additional sensitivity analyses of RTE estimates, analytic assumptions, and transition probabilities. Cumulative RTEs were calculated via Monte Carlo simulation in this model. Results In the retrospective cohort, 1563 new anti-TNF initiators and 1563 propensity score-matched prolonged CS users were identified. Anti-TNF use was associated with greater mean RTEs at the end of 1 year (5.34 vs 4.54, incremental benefit: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.53-1.07). This benefit persisted in all latent classes. In the Markov model, anti-TNF therapy was the preferred strategy, and the results were robust in multiple sensitivity analysis and latent class analysis. Conclusions In both a retrospective cohort study and a simulation model, anti-TNF use was associated with improved quality of life, measured as RTEs, when compared with continued CS utilization for CD.
Bioprinting microvessels using an inkjet printer

Abstract Bioprinting enables the construction of complex 3D tissues from biomolecules and extracellular matrix materials. The printing of cells with matrix materials is more challenging due to the constraints imposed by the printing process. Here we demonstrate bioprinting of free-standing microvessels with endothelial cells embedded in a fibrin matrix using a single piezoelectric nozzle. Fibrin tubes are produced using an alginate templating method where alginate/fibrinogen droplets containing cells are printed into a cross-linker bath in a circular pattern. Following triggered dissolution of the alginate, the endothelial cells migrate to the scaffold periphery, spread, and form a confluent monolayer on the fibrin matrix within 14 days.
Generalized equivalence methods for 3D multi-group neutron transport

Abstract The process of generating multi-group cross section data to be used in full core 3D transport models requires not only accurate resonance self-shielding methods, but also some form of equivalence method in order to precisely preserve reaction rates of spectral geometry calculations. This paper presents extensions of the traditional concepts of local reaction rate preservation (common in discontinuity factor, SPH, and BBH methods), to derive a new state-of-the-art transport equivalence method that incorporates angular flux jump conditions that provide polar angle neutron current preservation. This method is tested on numerous fixed-source pin-cell problems by condensing fine energy resonance fluxes and cross sections. The method is demonstrated to precisely preserve all spectral geometry multi-group reaction rates as well as polar angle neutron currents for a wide range of cross section resonance heights, fuel pin diameters, coolant densities, and group energy widths.
Increased PHGDH expression uncouples hair follicle cycle progression and promotes inappropriate melanin accumulation

Copy number gain of the PHGDH gene that encodes the first enzyme of the serine biosynthesis pathway is found in some human cancers, including a subset of melanomas. In order to study the effect of increased PHGDH expression in tissues in vivo, we generated mice harboring a PHGDHtetO allele that allows tissue-specific, doxycycline-inducible PHGDH expression. Tissues and cells derived from PHGDHtetO mice exhibit increased serine biosynthesis. Histological examination of skin tissue from PHGDHtetO mice reveals the presence of melanin granules in anagen II hair follicles, despite the fact that melanin synthesis is normally closely coupled to the hair follicle cycle and does not begin until later in the cycle. This phenotype occurs in the absence of any global change in hair follicle cycle timing. The inappropriate presence of melanin early in the hair follicle cycle following PHGDH expression is also accompanied by increased melanocyte abundance in anagen II skin. Together, these data support a model in which PHGDH expression affects melanocyte proliferation and/or differentiation and may provide insight into how PHGDH expression impacts normal melanocyte biology to promote melanoma.
Social Support and Social Suffering: Uterine Health and Isihuayo Among Indigenous Women in Mexico

This chapter focuses on indigenous Mexican women’s experiences with uterine prolapse, particularly as a lived expression of their social suffering. We analyze the multifactorial nature of women’s health in a context shaped by a changing social and political landscape and compounded by perceptions of women’s bodies and bodily vigor. The research is based on rich ethnographic data collected during 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2016 in a Nahua village in the state of Veracruz. Results show that uterine displacement or isihuayo for the women was symptomatic of broader changes in their lives—lack of social support, a precarious and labor-intensive life, and a disconnection with state health and development initiatives. Additionally, the presence of inequality existing in the women’s interactions with state-level macroforces brings into focus the larger structural factors that shape their reproductive health. These all manifest as failed sociality and reflect the precariousness of the lives of impoverished, indigenous women that we illustrate here through their stories. We conclude that the implications of research on the effect of social support on women’s embodiment of social suffering can extend beyond one illness, linking it to broader social and political economic issues shaping the health of marginalized populations.
Internet Mapping Education: Curriculum Technology and Creativity

Educators are always looking to update and more effective teach their students. In the area of Internet Mapping the changes in technology can quickly isolate course materials as obsolete. This research uses a case study approach to looking at the issue of curriculum and technology in the planning and delivery of a course that both education and empower creativity in students. The process of developing educational goals and assessing how to implement them are two critical steps in the curriculum process. The results of this step formalized the process of reviewing and selecting technologies for Web Mapping. At the end of this process the case study selected Adobe Flex and its IDE Flash builder as its development tool. With the technology selected the next process was to design exercised for student that develop there conceptual and technology skills in the area of Web Mapping. The overall goal of this project was to enable students to go beyond their learning task knowledge to foster link between technology and creativity. The conclusions drawn from this case study are that a balance between technical capabilities and creative possibility exist when using the Adobe FLEX and its IDE Flash builder. The environment allows students to utilize both their skills in application development and graphic design to create complex interactive Web Mapping products.
Minimum Cost Spanning Tree Games

Four geographically separated communities in the desert, Wasteland Village, Xactustown, Yuccaville, and Zun Valley, are desperate. Their water resources are running out and they don’t see a way to survive. If nothing happens they will have to leave their villages to settle somewhere else. Then, just when they think that everything is lost, a spring is found not too far away. At first there is much rejoicing, but then they have to sit down and decide on a way to build a water distribution system that is as cheap as possible. It is quite evident that to connect each community to the spring is not the cheapest way. In table 6.1 the costs involved in building a water distribution system are given in $10,000. After some analysis they realize that the cheapest thing to do is to build pipes connecting Wasteland Village and Yuccaville directly to the spring, while Zun Valley has a pipe connecting it to Wasteland Village and Xactustown has a pipe connecting it to Zun Valley. Now they have to settle on a way to distribute the costs. The total costs are 6.
Pathophysiology of Acid-Base Metabolism

The hydrogen ion (H+) concentration of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is regulated within narrow limits. The normal blood pH of 7.4 is the negative log of 40 nEq/liter (40 × 10-9 moles/liter) of H+. By contrast, sodium and potassium are present in the ECF in mEq/liter (10-3 moles/liter) concentrations. Thus, the concentration of H+ is about one millionth the concentration of sodium and potassium in the ECF, and the regulation of the H+ concentration is two orders of magnitude more precise than the regulation of these two cations which exhibit changes in concentration in terms of mEq/ liter instead of nEq/liter. This close regulation of H+ concentration is essential for normal cell function because of the high reactivity of H+. Small changes in H+ concentration have dramatic effects on body functions. The process through which H+ concentration remains nearly constant, even in the presence of continual addition of organic acids to the extracellular fluid, involves three basic steps. The first is chemical buffering by extracellular and intracellular buffers; secondly the carbon dioxide (CO2) level of the blood is controlled by alveolar ventilation; and thirdly, the bicarbonate (HCO3 -) concentration in the blood is controlled by regulation of reneal H+ excretion. This chapter will review the basic principles of acid-base physiology and discuss the clinical disorders of acid-base homeostasis.
Design of Experiments—Complex Designs

In this chapter we introduce some additional topics in experimental design beyond those discussed in Chapters 6, 12, and 13. The principle of confounding is used to design efficient experiments having many factors but using only a small subset of all possible treatment combinations. Split plot designs involve placing a restriction on the randomization of treatments to experimental units in order to achieve more precision for comparisons involving levels of one factor in exchange for reduced precision for comparisons involving levels of another factor. We illustrate crossover designs that allow for the estimation of treatment effects that can linger across time periods. We show how to test for interaction in two-way designs having exactly one observation at each treatment combination. We show how to extend ANCOVA to designs with blocking factors.
Optical Coherence Tomography and Management of a Retinal Granuloma in Presumed Ocular Sarcoidosis.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To highlight the utility of EDI-OCT and periocular steroid administration for the treatment of a retinal granuloma due to presumed ocular sarcoidosis. Methods: Retrospective case-s...
Color, Music, and Emotion: Bach to the Blues

When people make cross-modal matches from classical music to colors, they choose colors whose emotional associations fit the emotional associations of the music, supporting the emotional mediation hypothesis. We further explored this result with a large, diverse sample of 34 musical excerpts from different genres, including Blues, Salsa, Heavy metal, and many others, a broad sample of 10 emotion-related rating scales, and a large range of 15 rated music-perceptual features. We found systematic music-to-color associations between perceptual features of the music and perceptual dimensions of the colors chosen as going best/worst with the music (e.g., loud, punchy, distorted music was generally associated with darker, redder, more saturated colors). However, these associations were also consistent with emotional mediation (e.g., agitated-sounding music was associated with agitated-looking colors). Indeed, partialling out the variance due to emotional content eliminated all significant cross-modal correlations between lower level perceptual features. Parallel factor analysis (Parafac, a type of factor analysis that encompasses individual differences) revealed two latent affective factors- arousal and valence -which mediated lower level correspondences in music-to-color associations. Participants thus appear to match music to colors primarily in terms of common, mediating emotional associations.
What's Important: Mentorship and Sponsorship.

“To hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents…to consider his family as my own…; to impart precept, oral instruction, and all other instruction to my own sons…, and to indentured pupils who have taken the physician’s oath….”1Contrary to popular belief, the Praeceptori quidem (as stated abo
Discontinuities in the electromagnetic fields of vortex beams in the complex source-sink model

An analytical discontinuity is reported in what was thought to be the discontinuity-free exact nonparaxial vortex beam phasor obtained within the complex source-sink model. This discontinuity appears for all odd values of the orbital angular momentum mode. Such discontinuities in the phasor lead to nonphysical discontinuities in the real electromagnetic field components. We identify the source of the discontinuities, and provide graphical evidence of the discontinuous real electric fields for the first and third orbital angular momentum modes. A simple means of avoiding these discontinuities is presented.
Distributed Network of LDO Microregulators Providing Submicrosecond DVFS and IR Drop Compensation for a 24-Core Microprocessor in 14nm SOI CMOS

A distributed network of LDO microregulators (uREGs) senses and corrects the voltage at multiple points on a power supply grid in a multi-core microprocessor to reduce IR drops and associated performance loss. Adding a switched-capacitor (SC) accelerator to the charge pump of each uREG speeds up output voltage transitions by 17X for greater DVFS savings. Line and load regulations are 6.7mV/V and 1.5mV/A, respectively. The regulator also achieves a power efficiency of 89.9% and a current efficiency of 98.5%, while reaching a peak power density of 91.1W/mm2
Analysis of Transients Caused by Hydraulic Machinery

The analysis of transients in systems having hydraulic machinery is necessary during the design of these systems. It may be needed to upgrade, modify, or retrofit an existing system or if the mode of operation is changed. Sometimes, such analyses are done to determine the cause of incidents, accidents, and failures; and to develop procedures or system modifications to prevent their re-occurrence.
Smartphone Apps for College Mental Health: A Concern for Privacy and Quality of Current Offerings

Objective:The expanding need for mental health services on college campuses has increased interest in smartphone apps for mental health. Although apps can be effective tools, they can also present ...
Increased Incidence of Functional (Psychogenic) Movement Disorders in Children and Adults Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract: Background: Functional (psychogenic) movement disorders (FMDs) are conditions in which affected patients develop abnormal movements that are incongruous with known, organic, movement disorders, often associated with psychological stressors. Methods: In this case series, electronic medical records of all patients who presented to our adult and pediatric tertiary-care movement disorders clinics between March 1 and October 30, 2020 and during the same period in 2019 were reviewed. All patients diagnosed with functional or psychogenic movement disorder were included if they satisfied diagnostic criteria. Results: Among 550 new patients referred for evaluation at our tertiary care movement disorders centers, 45 (8.2%) received a diagnosis of FMD; 75.6% were female, in comparison to the prior year during which time 665 new patients were evaluated and 5.1% were diagnosed with FMD. This represents a 60.1% increase (90.1% in pediatric cohort, 50.9% in adult cohort) in new patients diagnosed with FMD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Within our patient population, there has been increased incidence of FMDs in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly reflecting increased psychological and other stressors during this period.
OPD: Network Packet Distribution after Achieving Equilibrium to Mitigate DDOS Attack

Crossfire Denial of Service (DDoS) is a new and organized type of attack to make the services of a target organization unavailable. The adversaries, in such attack, adveraremploy BOTs and decoy servers to flood critical links that are used to communicate with the target. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework, OPD (Optimized Packet Distributor), for distributing the packets in the most balanced way after a crossfire DDoS attack gets detected in a network. We formulate the network packet distribution problem as a non-linear link weight function and solved the optimization problem with a very efficient algorithm, Frank Wolf (FW). FW is the most efficient algorithm for solving convex set optimization problem. It achieves network equilibrium (or converges) with very few iterations. OPD will help the commonly used routing algorithm of Software Defined Network (SDN) by providing an optimized number of packets for each link. When a router sends a packet, it will follow the packet distribution proposed by OPD. We simulated a crossfire attack in NS2 simulator. The number of packets traveling in each link is collected for a given time frame from NS2. Based on this packet distribution, OPD proposes desired packet flows for the network. After evaluating the result of OPD, we have found that it can distribute the packets to the links that were less congested during the time of crossfire DDoS attack.
Citalopram for treatment of cocaine use disorder: A Bayesian drop-the-loser randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background Medication development research for cocaine use disorder (CUD) has been a longstanding goal in addiction research, but has not resulted in an FDA-approved treatment. Rising cocaine use rates underscore the need for efficient adaptive designs. This study compared differences between two doses of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram (versus placebo) on duration of cocaine abstinence and applied adaptive decision rules to select the ‘best efficacy’ dose. Methods A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Bayesian drop-the-loser (DTL) trial with three arms compared placebo to citalopram 20 mg and 40 mg. Adults (N = 107) with CUD attended thrice-weekly clinic visits for 9 weeks. The primary outcome was longest duration of abstinence (LDA), based on continuous cocaine-negative urine drug screens (UDS). The secondary outcome was probability of cocaine-negative UDS during treatment. A planned interim analysis performed at approximately 50% of recruitment dropped the least-effective active medication. Bayesian inference was used for all analyses with a pre-specified posterior probability (PP) threshold PP ≥ 95% considered statistically reliable evidence Results Citalopram 40 mg satisfied interim efficacy criteria and was retained for the second half of the trial. For LDA, analyses indicated PP = 82% and PP = 65% of benefit for 40 mg and 20 mg, respectively (each relative to placebo). The odds of having cocaine-negative UDS decreased in all groups over 9 weeks but remained higher for 40 mg (PP = 97.4%) Conclusions Neither dose met the 95% PP threshold for the primary outcome; however, 40 mg provided moderate-to-strong evidence for positive effects on LDA and cocaine-negative UDS. The 40 mg dose was declared the “winner” in this DTL trial.
A Cardiovascular Clinic Patients' Survey to Assess Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Health Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Health Survey During COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 boosted healthcare digitalization and personalization in cardiology. However, understanding patient attitudes and engagement behaviors are essential to achieve successful acceptance and implementation of digital health technologies in personalized care. Objective: This study aims to understand current and future trends in wearable device and telemedicine use in the cardiology clinic patient population, recognize patients' attitude towards digital health before and after COVID-19, and identify potential socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences in adoption of digital health tools in New Orleans patient population. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to Tulane Cardiology Clinic patients between September 2020 and January 2021. Basic demographical information, medical comorbidities, device usage, and opinions on digital health tools were collected. Results: Survey responses from 299 participants (average age = 54 years, 50.8% female, 24.4% African American (AA)), showed that digital health use was more prevalent in younger, healthier, and more educated individuals. Wearable's use was also higher among Caucasian patients compared to AA patients. Patients cited costs and technology knowledge as primary deterrents for using wearables, despite being more inclined to use wearables for disease monitoring (41%). While wearables' use did not increase after COVID-19 (36.6% pre-COVID vs 35.4% post-COVID, p=0.77), telemedicine use rose significantly (10.8% pre-COVID19 vs. 24.3% during-COVID19, p<0.0001). Patients mostly noted telemedicine's effectiveness in overcoming difficult healthcare access barriers. Additionally, most patients are in support of wearables and telemedicine either complementing or replacing routine tests and traditional clinical visits. Conclusion: Demographic and socioeconomic disparities negatively impact wearable health devices and telemedicine adoption within cardiovascular clinic patients. Although telemedicine use increased after COVID-19, this effect was not observed for wearables, reflecting significant economic and digital literacy challenges underlying wearables acceptance.
Conversation and Control: Emergent Progressive Pedagogy in the Last of Nebraska's One-Teacher Schools.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Stephen A. Swidler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Science, 118 Henzlik Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0355. (sswidler2@unl.edu) Citation: Swidler, S. A. (2005, April 19). Conversation and control: Emergent progressive pedagogy in the last of Nebraskaʼs one-teacher schools. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 20(4). Retrieved [date] from http://jrre.psu.edu/articles/20-4.pdf
Is inequality bad for the environment

By respecting nature's limits and investing in nature's wealth, we can protect and enhance the environment's ability to sustain human well-being. But how humans interact with nature is intimately tied to how we interact with each other. Those who are relatively powerful and wealthy typically gain disproportionate benefits from the economic activities that degrade the environment, while those who are relatively powerless and poor typically bear disproportionate costs. All else equal, wider political and economic inequalities tend to result in higher levels of environmental harm. For this reason, efforts to safeguard the natural environment must go hand-in-hand with efforts to achieve more equitable distributions of power and wealth in human societies. Globalization – the growing integration of markets and governance worldwide – today poses new challenges and new opportunities for both of these goals.
Test Anxiety in the School Setting

The impact of test anxiety on school performance and learning has interested educators and motivational psychologists for at least the last 50 years. Numerous studies have demonstrated the negative impact of anxiety on school performance (e.g., K. T. Hill & S. B. Sarason, 1966; Manley & Rosemier, 1972; S. B. Sarason, Davidson, Lighthall, Waite, & Ruebush, 1960). Furthermore, K. T. Hill (1980, 1984) suggested that as many as ten million students in elementary and secondary schools perform more poorly on tests than they should because anxiety and deficiencies in test-taking strategies interfere with their performance. In addition, the strength of this negative relationship becomes stronger over the school years. In this chapter, we begin by defining test anxiety and discussing theoretical approaches that have been used to explain it.
SKEME: a versatile secure key exchange mechanism for Internet

A secure and versatile key exchange protocol for key management over Internet is presented. SKEME constitutes a compact protocol that supports a variety of realistic scenarios and security models over Internet. It provides clear tradeoffs between security and performance as required by the different scenarios without incurring in unnecessary system complexity. The protocol supports key exchange based on public key, key distribution centers, or manual installation, and provides for fast and secure key refreshment. In addition, SKEME selectively provides perfect forward secrecy, allows for replaceability and negotiation of the underlying cryptographic primitives, and addresses privacy issues as anonymity and repudiatability.