cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-Time, Curvature-Sensitive Surface Simplification Using Depth Images

With the rising popularity of handheld virtual reality (VR) devices and depth sensing RGB-D cameras, a variety of VR applications merging these two technologies has been suggested. However, immersive quality of experience in such VR applications is constrained mainly by the large data size and the hardware limitations to handle it. The depth data captured by RGB-D cameras provide a dense sampling of the surface, resulting in a high-poly mesh, which is difficult to be rendered on handheld VR devices due to their limited processing power. To improve the immersive VR experience, a sparse approximation of the depth data is needed. Traditional mesh and point cloud simplification methods are iterative and so are unsuitable for real-time applications. In this paper, we introduce a depth-image-based approach that is capable of generating a good quality sparse mesh for visualization in real time. We propose a curvature-sensitive surface simplification— $\text{CS}^3$ operator that assigns an importance measure to each point in the depth image, based on the local curvature. Further, it applies an importance-order-based restrictive sampling to generate a sparse representation that retains the overall shape as well as the finer features of the object. We also modify the 2-D sweep-line-based constrained Delaunay triangulation to generate 3-D meshes from the sparse point sampling obtained using $\text{CS}^3$ . In addition, the proposed approach preserves key surface properties, such as texture coordinates and materials. We used three different datasets containing dense 3-D models with and without texture, which are scanned using various sensors to validate and compare the robustness, real-time performance, and accuracy of the proposed method over existing approaches. Based on the experimental results, we show that the proposed $\text{CS}^3$ operator and modified 2-D sweep-line-based triangulation generate sparse meshes from depth image in real time, performing significantly faster than current state-of-the-art methods while maintaining similar visual quality.
Serotonin, Alzheimer’s Disease and Learning and Memory in Animals

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most tragic and devastating neurologic disorder of the elderly, characterized by personality deterioration and a variety of cognitive disabilities highlighted by memory loss. The earliest symptom of the disease — an inability to remember recent events — eventually advances to a vegetative state in which the victim may be totally unresponsive, incontinent, incapable of self-care and bedfast. The memory deficit progresses to where even friends and family members become unrecognizable. The progression of the disease is highly idiosyncratic, it may take years or only months before it reaches its final stages. Death then follows.
Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks

Abstract We have adapted and characterized electrolysis reactors to complement the conversion of regional- and community-scale quantities of waste into fuel or chemicals. The overall process must be able to contend with a wide range of feedstocks, must be inherently safe, and should not rely on external facilities for co-reactants or heat rejection and supply. Our current approach is based on the upgrading of bio-oil produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of carbon-containing waste feedstocks. HTL can convert a variety of feedstocks into a bio-oil that requires much less upgrading than the products of other ways of deconstructing biomass. We are now investigating the use of electrochemical processes for the further conversions needed to transform the bio-oil from HTL into fuel or higher value chemicals. We, and others, have shown that electrochemical reduction can offer adequate reaction rates and at least some of the necessary generality. In addition, an electrochemical reactor necessarily both oxidizes (removes electrons) on one side of the reactor and reduces (adds electrons) on the other side. Therefore, the two types of reactions could, in principle, be coupled to upgrade the bio-oil and simultaneously polish the water that is employed as a reactant and a carrier in the upstream HTL. Here, we overview a notional process, the possible conversion chemistry, and the economics of an HTL-electrochemical process.
Disentangling the effects of acidic air pollution, atmospheric CO2 , and climate change on recent growth of red spruce trees in the Central Appalachian Mountains.

In the 45 years after legislation of the Clean Air Act, there has been tremendous progress in reducing acidic air pollutants in the eastern United States, yet limited evidence exists that cleaner air has improved forest health. Here, we investigate the influence of recent environmental changes on the growth and physiology of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees, a key indicator species of forest health, spanning three locations along a 100 km transect in the Central Appalachian Mountains. We incorporated a multiproxy approach using 75-year tree ring chronologies of basal tree growth, carbon isotope discrimination (∆13 C, a proxy for leaf gas exchange), and δ15 N (a proxy for ecosystem N status) to examine tree and ecosystem level responses to environmental change. Results reveal the two most important factors driving increased tree growth since ca. 1989 are reductions in acidic sulfur pollution and increases in atmospheric CO2 , while reductions in pollutant emissions of NOx and warmer springs played smaller, but significant roles. Tree ring ∆13 C signatures increased significantly since 1989, concurrently with significant declines in tree ring δ15 N signatures. These isotope chronologies provide strong evidence that simultaneous changes in C and N cycling, including greater photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of trees and increases in ecosystem N retention, were related to recent increases in red spruce tree growth and are consequential to ecosystem recovery from acidic pollution. Intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) of the red spruce trees increased by ~51% across the 75-year chronology, and was driven by changes in atmospheric CO2 and acid pollution, but iWUE was not linked to recent increases in tree growth. This study documents the complex environmental interactions that have contributed to the recovery of red spruce forest ecosystems from pervasive acidic air pollution beginning in 1989, about 15 years after acidic pollutants started to decline in the United States.
Wide variability of thyroid volume estimated by palpation: Impact on calculation of radioiodine dose for treatment of diffuse toxic goiter

1575 Objectives The optimal calculation of radioactive dosage of Iodine-131 for treatment of diffuse toxic goiter requires at least 24 h radioiodine uptake and thyroid volume. However, current clinical practice of choosing estimated thyroid volume (ETV) remains controversial. Many clinicians think that estimating thyroid volume by measuring dimension by radionuclide thyroid scan (RTS) or thyroid ultrasound (TUS) is considered cumbersome and time-consuming. In our clinics, thyroid volume is generally estimated by palpation of thyroid at physical examination. The purpose of the study was to compare ETVs, measured by RTS, thyroid US and physical examination, to evaluate the influence of these methods on the calculated radioiodine dose. Methods Thirty patients with diffuse toxic goiter who received radioactive iodine were retrospectively investigated. All patients received radioactive iodine dose based on ETV measured by clinical palpation, i.e. mild goiter: 30 ml; moderate goiter: 40 ml; marked goiter: 50 ml. ETV was calculated retrospectively from RTS and TUS. Estimated thyroid volumes calculated by both techniques by using the ellipsoid model were compared with ETV by clinical palpation method. ETV Results ETV calculated by RTS systemically is underestimated by average of 33%, compared to the US measurement. However, there has been a good correlation (R=0.85) between ETVs measured by RTS and TUS. However, there is a poor correlation (R= 0.43) between ETVs measured by palpation and RTS or TUS. There has been a wide (25% to 67%) variance in the estimated radioiodine dose based on these ETV measurement. Conclusions In conclusion, although thyroid volume is being underestimated by RTS technique compared to US technique, it can be assessed with reasonable accuracy by RTS using the ellipsoid formula in patients with diffuse goiter. Wide variances, however, have been observed by palpation method. The study demonstrates that a correct measurement of the thyroid gland by palpation technique is not achievable
Cognitive Psychosocial Performance and Recovery in Female Alcoholics

Female alcoholics experience greater affective symptomatology and are more frequently labeled with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses than male alcoholics. Subgroups of male and female alcoholics with antisocial symptomatology are strikingly similar across behavioral, psychosocial, and alcohol and drug use variables. Relative to controls, female alcoholics manifest deficits in standard neuropsychological testing as well as efficiency of information processing, interpersonal problem solving, neurophysiological measures, and neurophysiological assessment. The deficits are quite similar to those of male alcoholics. However, females may manifest a differential susceptibility to alcohol given the females’ comparatively shorter drinking careers. There are no overall sex differences in relapse rates following treatment, although various personal and environmental factors play gender-specific roles in outcome. Patterns of recovery function with abstinence are similar for male and female alcoholics.
Supporting and optimizing full unification in a forward chaining rule system

The Rete and Treat algorithms are considered the most efficient implementation techniques for Forward Chaining rule systems. These algorithms support a language of limited expressive power. Assertions are not allowed to contain variables, making universal quantification impossible to express except as a rule. In this paper we show how to support full unification in these algorithms. We also show that: Supporting full unification is costly; Full unification is not used frequently; A combination of compile time and run time checks can determine when full unification is not needed. We present data to show that the cost of supporting full unification can be reduced in proportion to the degree that it isn't employed and that for many practical systems this cost is negligible.
Radioepidemiology of the A-bomb survivors

Estimation of the risk of cancer and other health effects following exposure to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains largely empirical, and the models used to adduce risk incorporate few, if any, of the advances in molecular biology of the past decade or so. These facts compromise the estimation of risk where the epidemiologic data are weakest, namely, at low doses and dose rates. Although the risk estimates may be sufficient for regulatory purposes, without a better understanding of the molecular and cellular events ionizing radiation initiates or promotes, it seems unlikely that the estimates will be as intellectually satisfying as they might be. Nor will the situation improve further without attention to the identification and estimation of the effects of those host and environmental factors that enhance or diminish risk of cancer or the effects on the developing brain.
Discovery of equations: experimental evaluation of convergence

Systems that discover empirical equations from data require large scale testing to become a reliable research tool. In the central part of this paper we discuss two convergence tests for large scale evaluation of equation finders and we demonstrate that our system, which we introduce earlier, has the desired convergence properties. Our system can detect a broad range of equations useful in different sciences, and can be easily expanded by addition of new variable transformations. Previous systems, such as BACON or ABACUS, disregarded or oversimplified the problems of error analysis and error propagation, leading to paradoxical results and impeding the true world applications. Our system treats experimental error in a systematic and statistically sound manner. It propagates error to the transformed variables and assigns error to parameters in equations. It uses errors in weighted least squares fitting, in the evaluation of equations, including their acceptance, rejection and ranking, and uses parameter error to eliminate spurious parameters. The system detects equivalent terms (variables) and equations, and it removes the repetitions. This is important for convergence tests and system efficiency. Thanks to the modular structure, our system can be easily expanded, modified, and used to simulate other equation finders.
The TMS320C40: a DSP for parallel processing

The TMS320C40 is the first parallel-processing general-purpose DSP. The TMS320C40 architecture combines six communication ports for direct processor-to-processor communication, a six-channel DMA coprocessor for concurrent I/O, a high-performance DSP CPU, memory, program cache, 32-bit global and local memory buses, two timers and an analysis module. This level of monolithic integration allows the TMS320C40 to achieve 275 MOPS (million operations per second) and 320 Mbytes per second of I/O.
Montelukast and Nasal Corticosteroids to Treat Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ObjectiveTo systematically review the literature on anti-inflammatory medications for treating pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and perform meta-analysis of the available data.Data SourcesPubMed/M...
The role of kinetic energy in chemical binding

In a preceding paper, we examined the GI wavefunctions of small molecules and found that the nonclassical or exchange kinetic energy, Tx, dominates the changes in energy involved in chemical binding. Here we examine more closely the changes in Tx with internuclear separation and find that ΔTx is large for valence orbitals centered on different atoms because of the large region in which the orbitals are contragradient (i.e., have gradients in obtuse directions). In fact for H2 this contragradience accounts for 93% of the calculated binding energy. In addition, the behavior of Tx and ΔTx can usually be predicted from consideration of the permutational symmetry (Young tableau) involved in the wavefunction. The concepts developed here provide an alternative interpretation of the nature of the chemical bond.
Diagnosing Gallbladder Perforation With Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: A Case Report:

Gallbladder perforation is a rare and severe complication of acute cholecystitis. Sonography is typically the first modality of choice for assessing gallbladder pathology due to its high sensitivit...
Perspectives on Allyship in Academia

Allyship in academia is critical for creating inclusive communities that are welcoming to all students, but the perception of its benefits and challenges can vary depending on a number of factors. This session will explore perspectives of allyship in academia by bringing together a diverse group of faculty and students who can share a wide range of experiences and insights, and aims to facilitate a discussion among all attendees that leads to an exchange of ideas, the strengthening of our community, and progress toward our common goal of inclusion in computing.
Beneath the Surface

My research findings from investigating methods to create color and imagery with plants on textiles inform applications for textile design. Coreopsis plants were pounded on jersey knit to create imagery and also used as the dyestuff along with chestnut. Reminiscent of the thermal and decorative quilted petticoat, fabrics were layered and free-motion stitched for thermal comfort with the plant imagery was revealed through reverse applique. The surface design conceptually portrays what is beneath the surface of winter's frozen ground as well as the research behind the coloration methods.
On Kurtosis of Spreading Sequences for NOMA

In this paper, a new metric for design of spreading sequences in non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) systems is introduced. We show that while achieving Welch bound equality (WBE) in designing spreading sequences is important, the kurtosis of the cross-correlations should also be considered as another design metric. For example, we show that despite having the most uniform and lowest cross-correlations behavior, the performance of NOMA transmission based on Grassmannian codes is not superior to other spreading-based NOMA schemes. We also demonstrate that spreading sequences with proper Kurtosis behavior can provide more accurate signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) measurement at the receiver. Accurate SINR measurement is important for successive interference cancellation (SIC) receivers that rely on accurate ordering of users' signals for interference cancellation; avoiding extra processing and latency. Based on presented evaluation results, the main contribution of the paper lies in that in design of a spreading sequence for NOMA, we should also consider the Kurtosis measure of the sequence.
4.16 – Glutathione Transferases

The glutathione (GSH) transferases remain one of the most thoroughly understood group of detoxication enzymes. The structures and regulatory aspects of the genes encoding the canonical enzymes are as well understood as any. Their involvement in the biotransformation of many endogenous and xenobiotic electrophiles is well understood at the enzymological level. High-resolution three-dimensional structures of numerous isoenzymes are known from which the molecular details of catalysis can be inferred and tested with enzymological techniques. The structures also provide the basis for the design of isoenzyme-specific inhibitors and even prodrugs that may ultimately be useful in a clinical setting. Perhaps the single greatest deficiency in our understanding of these enzymes is their exact role in biology and their importance to human health. Further understanding of the biological effects of their involvement in biotransformations will allow the full weight of the structural and mechanistic insights to be brought to bear on designing clinically useful compounds.
Smooth coefficient estimation of stochastic frontier models

Abstract This paper proposes two alternative estimators for the semiparametric smooth coefficient stochastic frontier model which do not require parametric specification of the parameters of the distribution of inefficiency to identify all of the model primitives. These new estimators offer avenues for testing for correct specification. A small Monte Carlo simulation study reveals that the new methods perform similarly when correct specification is present and that the existing smooth coefficient estimator can perform poorly when it is incorrectly specified.
A bus authentication and anti-probing architecture extending hardware trusted computing base off CPU chips and beyond

Tamper-proof hardware designs present a great challenge to computer architects. Most existing research limits hardware trusted computing base (TCB) to a CPU chip and anything off the CPU chip is vulnerable to probing and tampering. This paper introduces a new hardware design that provides strong defenses against physical attacks on interconnecting buses between chips in a computer system thereby extending the hardware TCB beyond CPU chips. The new approach is referred to as DIVOT: Detecting Impedance Variations Of Transmission-lines (Tx-lines). Every Tx-line in a computer system, such as a bus and interconnection wire has a unique, intrinsic, and fingerprint-like property: Impedance Inhomogeneity Pattern (IIP), i.e. the impedance distribution over distance. Such unpredictable, uncontrollable, and non-reproducible IIP fingerprints can be used to authenticate a Tx-line to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data being transmitted. In addition, physical probes perturb the electromagnetic (EM) field around a Tx-line, leading to an altered IIP. As a result, runtime monitoring of IIPs can also be used to actively detect physical probing, snooping, and wire-tapping on buses. While the physics behind the IIP is known, the major technical breakthrough of DIVOT is the new integrated time domain reflectometer, iTDR, that is capable of carrying out in-situ and runtime monitoring of a Tx-line without interfering with normal data transfers. The iTDR is based on two innovations: analog-to-probability conversion (APC) and probability density modulation (PDM). The iTDR performs runtime IIP measurements non-invasively and is CMOS-compatible allowing it to be integrated with any interface logic connected to a bus. DIVOT is a generic, scalable, cost-effective, and low-overhead security solution for any computer system from servers to embedded computers in smart mobile devices and IoTs. To demonstrate the proposed architecture, a working prototype of DIVOT has been built on an FPGA as a proof of concept. Experimental results clearly showed the feasibility and performance of DIVOT for both hardware authentication and tamperproof applications. More specifically, the probability of correctly identifying a bus is close to 1 with an equal error rate (EER) of less than 0.06% at room temperature. We present an example design that incorporates DIVOT into an off-chip memory bus to protect against physical attacks including probing/snooping, tampering, and cold boot attacks.
The human malaria parasite genome is configured into thousands of coexpressed linear regulatory units

Abstract The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum thrives in radically different host environments in mosquitoes and humans, with only a limited set of transcription factors. The nature of regulatory elements or their target genes in the P. falciparum genome remains elusive. Here, we found that this eukaryotic parasite uses an efficient way to maximally use genetic and epigenetic regulation to form regulatory units (RUs) during blood infections. Genes located in the same RU tend to have the same pattern of expression over time and are associated with open chromatin along regulatory elements. To precisely define and quantify these RUs, a novel hidden Markov model was developed to capture the regulatory structure in a genome-wide fashion by integrating expression and epigenetic evidence. We successfully identified thousands of RUs and cross-validated with previous findings. We found more genes involved in red blood cell (RBC) invasion located in the same RU as the PfAP2-I (AP2-I) transcription factor, demonstrating that AP2-I is responsible for regulating RBC invasion. Our study has provided a regulatory mechanism for a compact eukaryotic genome and offers new insights into the in vivo transcriptional regulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic stage.
Reinforcement learning based automated history matching for improved hydrocarbon production forecast

Abstract History matching aims to find a numerical reservoir model that can be used to predict the reservoir performance. An engineer and model calibration (data inversion) method are required to adjust various parameters/properties of the numerical model in order to match the reservoir production history. In this study, we develop deep neural networks within the reinforcement learning framework to achieve automated history matching that will reduce engineers’ efforts, human bias, automatically and intelligently explore the parameter space, and remove the need of large set of labeled training data. To that end, a fast-marching-based reservoir simulator is encapsulated as an environment for the proposed reinforcement learning. The deep neural-network-based learning agent interacts with the reservoir simulator within reinforcement learning framework to achieve the automated history matching. Reinforcement learning techniques, such as discrete Deep Q Network and continuous Deep Deterministic Policy Gradients, are used toth, used to train the learning agents. The continuous actions enable the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradients to explore more states at each iteration in a a learning episode; consequently, a better history matching is achieved using this algorithm as compared to Deep Q Network. For simplified dual-target composite reservoir models, the best history-matching performances of the discrete and continuous learning methods in terms of normalized root mean square errors are 0.0447 and 0.0038, respectively. Our study shows that continuous action space achieved by the deep deterministic policy gradient drastically outperforms deep Q network.
Lovastatin enhances the cytotoxic effect of gemcitabine in breast cancer cells

4029 Lovastatin, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, exerts its anti-neoplastic activity by interfering with isoprenylation of mutated G-proteins such as Ras and Rho, impeding signal transduction which results in impaired cellular proliferation and shortened survival. Other anti-tumor mechanisms include G1 and G2/M growth arrest, reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, and inhibition of TNF-alpha. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that exerts its effect primarily by killing cells during the S-phase of the cell cycle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of lovastatin in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine on breast cancer cells. Three breast carcinoma cell lines with varied sensitivities to lovastatin were studied: T47D (IC50 = 30 μM), MDA-MB231 (IC50 = 1.2 μM), and SKBR3 (IC50 = 10 μM). The growth inhibitory effect of lovastatin, using the IC50 dose for each cell line, was tested with increasing doses of gemcitabine (0.001 - 1 μM) using the MTT colorimetric assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by quantitating Caspase-3 levels and cytosolic Cytochrome C expression after 48 hrs of treatment. A dose-dependent growth inhibition was demonstrated with either drug alone, as well as the combination. After 3 days of treatment a significant antiproliferative effect was seen with the combination compared to single agents in all three cell lines (p
A framework for blue energy enabled energy storage in reverse osmosis processes

Abstract Reverse osmosis (RO) is perhaps the most promising desalination technology, but it is facing growing economic challenges when coupled to an intermittent energy supply, such as renewable energy-based grids. A technology with similar components to reverse osmosis is pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), which produces energy from differences in salt concentration (blue energy). However, with the increasing cost-competitiveness of wind and solar photovoltaic renewable energy, PRO faces severe technoeconomic challenges as a stand-alone energy technology. To address cost and energy challenges of both RO and PRO, we propose a framework to intermittently operate RO with an instantaneous, electricity-producing PRO mode by taking advantage of the component overlap and existing infrastructure. Here, we analyze the process and component efficiencies associated with a hybridized RO-PRO system and outline the associated technoeconomic limitations. This approach considered operating PRO by mixing seawater RO brine with either RO permeate or a cheap low salinity water source. The results show that a hybridized system may make PRO viable in a niche subset of conditions, including a combination of relatively cheap water ( $0.15/kWh), and with electricity pricing schemes having large differences between lowest and highest prices. This hybridization may effectively allow a hybrid PRO-mode system to act as a cheaper, yet less efficient, salinity gradient energy storage mechanism. However, the economics are extremely challenging unless there is inexpensive, or even free, low salinity water source (e.g. treated wastewater) available.
Compulsive Masculinity: Hercules and Early Italian-Style Opera in Paris

This essay investigates the rise of Italian-style opera in Paris through the lens of Ercole amante, an opera composed by Francesco Cavalli to a libretto by Francesco Buti for the wedding of the fut...
A Novel Methodology To Obtain Salient Biomechanical Characteristics Of Insole Materials

Viscoelastic inserts are commonly used as artificial shock absorbers to prevent neuropathic foot ulcerations by decreasing pressure on the sole of the foot. Unfortunately, there is little scientific information available to guide physicians in the selection of appropriate insole materials. Therefore, a novel methodology was developed to form a rational platform for biomechanical characterizations of insole material durability, which consisted of in vivo gait analysis and in vitro bioengineering measurements. Results show significant differences in the compressive stiffness of the tested insoles and the rate of change over time in both compressive stiffness and peak pressures measured. Good correlations were found between pressure-time integral and Young's modulus (r2 = 0.93), and total energy applied and Young's modulus (r2 = 0.87).
Duff burning from wildfires in a moist region: different impacts on PM 2.5 and Ozone

Abstract. Wildfires can significantly impact air quality and human health. However, little is known about how duff and peat burning contributes to these impacts. This study investigates the air quality impacts of duff consumption during the four largest wildfire events this century in southeastern United States, with a focus on the different impacts on fine particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in size (PM2.5) and ozone (O3). The emissions of duff burning were estimated based on a field measurement. The emissions from the burning of other fuels were obtained from the Fire INventory from NCAR (FINN). The air quality impacts were simulated using a 3-D regional air quality model. The results show the duff burning emitted PM2.5 comparable to the burning of the above-ground fuels. The simulated surface PM2.5 concentrations due to duff burning increased by 61.3 % locally over a region approximately 300 km within the fire site and by 21.3 % and 29.7 % in the remote metro Atlanta and Charlotte during the 2016 southern Appalachian fires, and by 131.9 % locally and by 17.7 % and 24.8 % in the remote metro Orlando and Miami during the 2007 Okefenokee fire. However, the simulated ozone impacts from the duff burning were negligible due to the small duff emission factors of ozone precursors such as NOx. This study suggests the need to improve the modeling of PM2.5 and the air quality, human health, and climate impacts of wildfires in moist ecosystems by including duff burning in global fire emission inventories.
El marxismo y la cuestion agraria en america latina

La transformacion de la propiedad privada diseminada que surge del trabajo individual en propiedad privada capitalista constituye un proceso incomparablemente mas largo, violento y dificil que la transformacion de la propiedad privada capitalista en propiedad socializada. En el primer caso, tenemos la expropiacion de las masas por unos cuantos usurpadores; en el segundo, tenemos la expropiacion de unos cuantos usurpadores por las masas (Marx, 1967, 1:76).
Coming Out of Conservatorship: Developing an Exit Strategy for Fannie and Freddie

This brief article reviews the various policies that the Obama Administration can choose from as it considers how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should exit conservatorship. It first reviews the benefits and costs associated with the two companies. It then reviews four broad positions regarding the appropriate role of Fannie and Freddie in the housing finance market. It argues that the two companies should be privatized because Fannie and Freddie pose a systemic risk to the financial system, unfairly benefit from their regulatory privilege and do not create net benefits for the American people. Finally, it reviews four concrete plans to fundamentally change Fannie and Freddie’s structure, each involving different degrees of government involvement. It concludes that the two companies should be converted into generic financial holding companies and their public functions be reassigned to various federal instrumentalities.
Permission to believe: : why permissivism is true and what it tells us about irrelevant influences on belief

In this paper, I begin by defending permissivism: the claim that, sometimes, there is more than one way to rationally respond to a given body of evidence. Then I argue that, if we accept permissivism, certain worries that arise as a result of learning that our beliefs were caused by the communities we grew up in, the schools we went to, or other irrelevant influences dissipate. The basic strategy is as follows: First, I try to pinpoint what makes irrelevant influences worrying and I come up with two candidate principles. I then argue that one principle should be rejected because it is inconsistent with permissivism. The principle we should accept implies that it is sometimes rational to maintain our beliefs, even upon learning that they were caused by irrelevant influences.
Medication Use in the Transition from Hospital to Home

After hospital discharge, correct understanding and use of medications are key components of patient safety. The current discharge process does not provide adequate fail-safes to ensure quality post-discharge care. This often leads to preventable medication errors as well as nonadherence. Several barriers to successful discharge counselling, including use of medical jargon, lack of educational and administrative resources, time constraints, and low health literacy, contribute to ineffective communication between hospital physicians and patients. Other obstacles include inaccurate or incomplete documentation of the medication history, lack of social support, financial constraints, and poor transfer of information to outpatient physicians. Solutions to improve medication use in the transition period after hospital discharge require effective communication with patients through the use of easily understood language, highlighting key information, and ensuring patient comprehension through the "teach back" technique. More timely communication with outpatient physicians in addition to a more comprehensive transfer of information further facilitates the transition home. Finally, a systematic process of medication reconciliation also aids in decreasing the incidence of medication errors. Hospital-based physicians who attend to key details in the process of discharging patients can have a profound impact on improving medication adherence, avoiding medication errors, and decreasing adverse outcomes in the post-discharge period.
New Buzz on the Humble-Bee

Bumblebees Their Behaviour and Ecology. by Dave Goulson. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003. 253 pp. $97.50, £55. ISBN 0-19-852606-7. Paper, $45, £27.50. ISBN 0-19-852607-5. In an attempt to draw public attention to the importance of conserving bumble-bee populations, Goulson offers an overview of our current knowledge of the bees9 behavior and ecology and suggests topics for future research.
Higher dimensional flexure mode for enhanced effective electromechanical coupling in PZT-on-silicon MEMS resonators

This paper reports on a low-loss, flexural-mode resonator with enhanced effective electromechanical coupling, k eff 2. Improvement is achieved by utilizing a higher dimensional vibrational mode that possesses more than one non-zero, in-phase normal-stress component. Specifically, the stress profile augments coupling with contributions from both the d 31 and d 32 piezoelectric coefficients. The 52.6 MHz flexure-based mode of the 0.5-µm lead zirconate titanate (PZT) on 4-µm silicon resonator yields ∼4x boost in k eff 2 (2.07% versus 0.55%) when compared with the fundamental length-extensional mode of the same device. Measurements also reveal a 50 Ω terminated insertion loss (IL) of −3.6 dB and motional resistance, R m =45© despite an unloaded quality factor (Q UL ) of 122
Adaptive optics in three-photon fluorescence microscopy

We demonstrate three-photon fluorescence adaptive-optics system based on 1660-nm femtosecond pulses and MEMS spatial light modulator. We use the higher nonlinearity of the signal resulting in ×700 improvement in fluorescence beads signal after aberrations correction.
Design and performance of the KSC Biomass Production Chamber

NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System program has instituted the Kennedy Space Center 'breadboard' project of which the Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) presently discussed is a part. The BPC is based on a modified hypobaric test vessel; its design parameters and operational parameters have been chosen in order to meet a wide range of plant-growing objectives aboard future spacecraft on long-duration missions. A control and data acquisition subsystem is used to maintain a common link between the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the illumination system, the gas-circulation system, and the nutrient delivery and monitoring subsystems.
Municipal water consumption forecast accuracy

[1] Municipal water consumption planning is an active area of research because of infrastructure construction and maintenance costs, supply constraints, and water quality assurance. In spite of that, relatively few water forecast accuracy assessments have been completed to date, although some internal documentation may exist as part of the proprietary “grey literature.” This study utilizes a data set of previously published municipal consumption forecasts to partially fill that gap in the empirical water economics literature. Previously published municipal water econometric forecasts for three public utilities are examined for predictive accuracy against two random walk benchmarks commonly used in regional analyses. Descriptive metrics used to quantify forecast accuracy include root-mean-square error and Theil inequality statistics. Formal statistical assessments are completed using four-pronged error differential regression F tests. Similar to studies for other metropolitan econometric forecasts in areas with similar demographic and labor market characteristics, model predictive performances for the municipal water aggregates in this effort are mixed for each of the municipalities included in the sample. Given the competitiveness of the benchmarks, analysts should employ care when utilizing econometric forecasts of municipal water consumption for planning purposes, comparing them to recent historical observations and trends to insure reliability. Comparative results using data from other markets, including regions facing differing labor and demographic conditions, would also be helpful.
Principles of electrophysiology: an overview.

This overview gives brief accounts of the mechanism of nerve excitation, receptor/channel functions, cable properties of neurons, and voltage clamp and patch clamp principles. Among various aspects of electrophysiology, emphasis is placed on the mechanistic studies of receptors/channels. A few sample records of membrane currents are illustrated to aid reader's comprehension. Finally some useful reference books are given for more comprehensive information. Keywords: voltage clamp; patch clamp; cable properties; receptors; ion channels
Signal generation and clarification: use of case–control data

Case-control surveillance systems are useful for ‘signal’ generation, i.e., signaling potential previously unidentified adverse effects of drugs. Two systems currently in operation, the Slone Epidemiology Unit's Case-Control Surveillance and the Birth Defects Study, have monitored drug effects since 1976. With extensive information on the diagnoses and covariates, the systems have the capacity to carry out in-depth analyses in which the outcome measure is more specifically defined and in which confounding is controlled, thus reducing the possibility of false alarms. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MODEL FOR PROTEIN-LOSING E.MTEROPATHY IN THE RAT

Measurement of fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) excretion has been demonstrated to be a reliable, non-invasive test for protein-losing enteropathy in humans. The unique biologic properties of A1AT allow it to serve as a natural marker for loss of serum protein into the gut. Our laboratory has recently purified rat A1AT and raised antibody to rat A1AT. The biological and chemical characteristics of human and rat A1AT are very similar. We performed the following initial experiment to establish whether measurement of fecal A1AT also detects intestinal damage in rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were given either a single, intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg of bleomycin or an equal volume injection of sterile saline. Bleomycin has known toxic effects upon the gastrointestinal tract. Stools were collected for 5 days following the injection and assayed for A1AT content by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Mean fecal A1AT±SD (mg/g dry stool) are given below for each day following injection: Our data indicate that intraperitoneal bleomycin resulted in elevated fecal A1AT excretion. Conclusions: 1) fecal A1AT is a useful marker for intestinal damage in rats, and 2) the toxic gastrointestinal effects of various drugs and treatments administered to rats can be monitored by fecal AlAT.
Determinants of the efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions: A meta‐analysis

BACKGROUND Cytokines that improve granulocyte collection yields have recently become available, and may lead to a new series of trials of granulocyte transfusion (GTX) therapy. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies of prophylactic GTX in order to identify the determinants of efficacy of this intervention, and to assist in the design of future trials of GTX for the treatment of patients with overwhelming infection. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of prophylactic GTX published in English in 1970–1995 were retrieved, and eight studies were eligible for analysis. Summary relative odds (RR) of bacterial or fungal infection, death, or death from infection in transfused patients vs. controls were computed for patient subsets defined on the basis of dose of granulocytes transfused, assessment of leukocyte compatibility, duration of neutropenia, and infection rate of controls. The random-effects method was used for all analyses. RESULTS: Assessment of leukocyte compatibility prior to the transfusion, dose of granulocytes transfused, and duration of neutropenia in enrolled patients could account, respectively, for the variation in findings across published reports in terms of all three, two, and one of the outcome measures studied. Transfusion of adequate doses of compatible leukocytes significantly reduced the relative risk (RR) of infection, death, and death from infection in transfused patients vs. controls (RR = 0.075, RR = 0.224, and RR = 0.168, respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Two necessary elements in the design of future trials of therapeutic GTX should be the transfusion of high doses of granulocytes and the provision of leukocytes that are crossmatch-compatible with the recipient's serum. J. Clin. Apheresis 12:74–81, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Geology and karst geomorphology of San Salvador Island, Bahamas

The exposed carbonates of the Bahamas consist of late Quaternary limestones that were deposited during glacio-eustatic highstands of sea level. Each highstand event produced transgressive-phase, stillstand-phase, and regressive-phase units. Because of slow platform subsidence, Pleistocene carbonates deposited on highstands prior to the last interglacial (oxygen isotope substage 5e, circa 125,000 years ago) are represented solely by eolianites. The Owl's Hole Formation comprises these eolianites, which are generally fossiliferous pelsparites. The deposits of the last interglacial form the Grotto Beach Formation, and contain a complete sequence of subtidal, intertidal, and eolian carbonates. These deposits are predominantly oolitic. Holocene deposits are represented by the Rice Bay Formation, which consists of intertidal and eolian pelsparites deposited during the transgressive-phase and stillstand-phase of the current sea-level highstand. The three formations are separated from one another by well-developed terra-rossa paleosols or other erosion surfaces that formed predominantly during intervening sea-level lowstands.
Evaluation of a High Efficiency Cabin Air (HECA) Filtration System for Reducing Particulate Pollutants Inside School Buses

An increasing number of studies have reported deleterious health effects of vehicle-emitted particulate matter (PM), including PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm), black carbon (BC), and ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter ≤100 nm). When commuting inside school buses, children are exposed to high level of these pollutants due to emissions from both school bus itself and other on-road vehicles. This study developed an on-board high efficiency cabin air (HECA) filtration system for reducing children’s exposure inside school buses. Six school buses were driven on two typical routes to evaluate to what extent the system reduces particulate pollutant levels inside the buses. The testing routes included freeways and major arterial roadways in Los Angeles, CA. UFP number concentrations and size distributions as well as BC and PM2.5 concentrations were monitored concurrently inside and outside of each bus. With the HECA filtration system on, in-cabin UFP and BC levels were reduced by 88 ± 6% and 84 ± 5% on avera...
Universalized categories, dissonant realities: gendering postconflict reconstruction in Nepal

International agencies, nongovernmental organizations, governmental agencies, and development policy-makers have sought to incorporate ‘gender mainstreaming’ into postconflict policies and programs in an effort to ameliorate the unequal gender impacts of war. This article uses narratives of widow heads of household collected through field research in Nepal in 2008 and 2011 to illustrate how postconflict development discourses purporting to engage with gender not only take a narrow view of gender (i.e., by equating it to women-focused activities), but also neglect the complex and dynamic realities of women's lives. Postconflict interventions employ simplistic assumptions that neglect gender-specific postconflict insecurities and oppressions (such as systematic violence against women). By neglecting the crucial significance of social networks for widows' survival, postconflict reconstruction assumes women to be individualized receptacles for development/empowerment. The crucial role of social networks in co...
Insecticidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is released from roots of transgenic Bt corn in vitro and in situ

The insecticidal toxin encoded by the cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis was released in root exudates from transgenic Bt corn during 40 days of growth in soil amended to 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12% (v/v) with montmorillonite or kaolinite in a plant growth room and from plants grown to maturity in the field. The presence of the toxin in rhizosphere soil was determined by immunological and larvicidal assays. No toxin was detected in any soils from isogenic non-Bt corn or without plants. Persistence of the toxin was apparently the result of its binding on surface-active particles in the soils, which reduced the biodegradation of the toxin. The release of the toxin could enhance the control of insect pests or constitute a hazard to nontarget organisms, including the microbiota of soil, and increase the selection of toxin-resistant target insects.
On a class of hereditary processes in biomechanics

Abstract The description of biomechanical heredity processes leads to the study of non-linear Volterra integral equations such as that given by Eq. 3. It is shown that under convenient assumptions regarding the nature of the memory of the system approximate equations of evolution of the process can be given in terms of a system of difference-differential equations subject to initial conditions. Alternative formulations are discussed, mainly emphasizing numerical aspects. The identification problem is briefly discussed, and some numerical examples, obtained using synthetic data, are presented to exhibit the application and the principal ideas of the method.