cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas in the portal vein of adults with necrotizing enteropathy

Summary Gas in the portal vein has been detected radiologically in twelve adults with necrotizing enteropathy which principally involved the small intestine. The necrosis was not always panmural. Portal venous gas is probably either consequent to enteric mucosal necrosis with passage of luminal gas into portal venous radicles or to a physicochemical alteration in portal venous blood, or to both. Evidence was not detected to support endovascular sepsis as a cause of the portal venous gas. In the majority of these patients it is believed that necrotizing enteropathy was consequent to impaired splanchnic blood flow with enteric ischemia. A primary necrotizing enteropathy cannot be excluded in a few of these patients. Demonstrable mesenteric vascular occlusion was not present in any patient. Three patients survived, two with enteric necrosis which was not panmural and one with panmural necrosis. Usually gas in the hepatic portal venous system is indicative of intestinal necrosis and demands prompt operative treatment.
Obsessive compulsive disorder arising in a 75‐year‐old woman

Presented is the case of a 75-year-old woman with obsessive compulsive disorder with an unusual age of onset at age 72 years. The patient was resistant to various treatments, but responded to lithium augmentation of fluoxetine.
An RNA Sensor for Intracellular Mg2

Most RNA molecules require Mg(2+) for their structure and enzymatic properties. Here we report the first example of an RNA serving as sensor for cytoplasmic Mg(2+). We establish that expression of the Mg(2+) transporter MgtA of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is controlled by its 5' untranslated region (5'UTR). We show that the 5'UTR of the mgtA gene can adopt different stem-loop structures depending on the Mg(2+) levels, which determine whether transcription reads through into the mgtA coding region or stops within the 5'UTR. We could recapitulate the Mg(2+)-regulated transcription using a defined in vitro transcription system with RNA polymerase as the only protein component. The initiation of mgtA transcription responds to extracytoplasmic Mg(2+) and its elongation into the coding region to cytoplasmic Mg(2+), providing a singular example in which the same ligand is sensed in different cellular compartments to regulate disparate steps in gene transcription.
Establishing Optimal Wave Communication Channels Automatically

We show how multiple optimal orthogonal channels for communicating or interconnecting with waves between two objects can be aligned and optimized automatically using controllable beamsplitters, detectors and simple local feedback loops, without moving parts, without device calibration, without fundamental beam splitting loss, and without calculations. Optical applications include multiple simultaneous orthogonal spatial communication channels in free space or multimode optical fibers, automatically focused power delivery with waves, multiple channel communication through scattering or lossy media, and real-time-optimized focused channels to and from multiple moving objects. The approach physically implements automatic singular value decomposition of the wave coupling between the objects, and is equivalent in its effect to the beam forming in a laser resonator with phase-conjugate mirrors with the additional benefits of allowing multiple orthogonal channels to be formed simultaneously and avoiding the need for any nonlinear optical materials.
Coastal hazards and associated management issues on South Pacific Islands

An understanding of natural coastal hazards is essential for the safe and sustainable development of the small island states in the South Pacific. This paper describes the roles of coastal geology and oceanography in the analysis of impacts due to fluctuating water levels and wave damage from cyclones. The examples include coastal erosion, flooding and wave damage in a range of island settings. As seen in Tarawa, rapid erosion and accretion can result from both short-lived storms as well as transient sub-decadal water-level changes related to El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Cyclone waves are responsible for extensive damage in low-lying atolls and on the coastal fringes of high islands. Observed cyclone wave impacts in Niue demonstrate that even infrastructure perched on 20 m cliffs may not be immune during severe storms. These examples demonstrate that integrated coastal management (ICM) plans, to be successful, must explicitly incorporate a realistic range of coastal processes and responses based on an understanding of the physical environment. It should be noted that much ICM begins with institutional and policy issues and incorporates science as a secondary component. When science is introduced, much emphasis is placed on biological issues and on infrastructure development, while non-living resources and physical shore processes are sometimes overlooked. As we hope the examples in this paper demonstrate, the geological oceanographic context may be absolutely fundamental to the recognition of hazards, delineation of risk, and prediction of changes that may occur from any manipulation in the coastal system.
Democratic Governance: Systems and Radical Perspectives

How might we think about democratic governance? This paper distinguishes between system governance and radical democracy. Systems governance borrows the language of radical democracy while missing its spirit. It advocates increased participation through networks because new institutionalists suggest networks are an efficient means of service delivery. It advocates increased consultation to build consensus because communitarians suggest consensus is needed for effective political institutions. System governance is, then, a top-down discourse based on the alleged expertise of social scientists. Radical democrats concentrate instead upon the self-government of citizens. Instead of the incorporation of established groups in networks, they promote a pluralism within which aspects of governance are handed over to associations in civil society. And instead of consultation prior to decision-making, they promote a dialogue in which citizens play an active role in making and implementing public policy.
Quaternionic Kähler and hyper-Kähler non-linear σ-models

We construct a large class of quaternionic Kahler σ-models that can be coupled to N = 2 supergravity. We use a method similar to the symplectic quotient for Kahler manifolds. We obtain all hyper-Kahler manifolds constructed by Lindstrom and Rocek as the κ → 0 flat superspace limit of some quaternionic Kahler spaces. An example, the Calabi metrics and their generalization, is given. The geometrical structure of quaternionic Kahler and hyper-Kahler σ-models with respect to their relation to global and local N = 2 supersymmetry is discussed.
Individual Embryo Transport and Retention on a Chip

We have designed, built, and tested a micro fluidic system capable of transporting individual, pre-implantation mouse embryos through a network of channels to selected locations. The flow of buffer causes the embryos to roll down the channels. Embryos can be spatially retained and then released or moved to a new location via the manipulation of flows. Typical embryo velocities of 80 μm/s were observed for 400 μm/s center line fluid velocities.
What Works for Whom? The Effects of Gender Responsive Programming on Girls and Boys in Secure Detention:

Objectives:This study investigates whether gender responsive programming is effective at reducing recidivism relative to traditional, reinforcement-based programming for both girls and boys in secure detention.Methods:Event-history analysis is used to examine recidivism outcomes for two propensity score matched samples of girls (n = 148) and boys (n = 140) released from gender responsive versus traditional detention facilities in Connecticut. The contingent effects of trauma, depression/anxiety, alcohol/drug abuse, anger/irritability, and somatic complaints are also examined.Results:Compared to traditional programming, gender responsive programming for youth in secure detention is associated with a lower risk of recidivism for girls with gender-sensitive risk factors but a higher risk of recidivism among girls who do not display these risk factors. Gender responsive programs are no more or less effective at reducing recidivism for boys, regardless of whether they display risk factors commonly associated w...
Photodegradation of aramids. II. Irradiation in air

A series of isomeric fully aromatic polyamides (aramids) were photodegraded in the presence of oxygen. Films and fibers of these aramids gave carboxylic acids as the major products when measured by infrared spectroscopy and potentiometric titration. These acids probably resulted from the oxygen interception of the radicals generated by photocleavage of the amide bonds. In contrast to results found upon irradiation in the absence of oxygen, carboxylic acid formation was accompanied by a rapid loss in molecular weight, and a decrease in useful mechanical properties. Quantum yields for carboxylic acid formation were ≤5.5 × 10−5 mole/einstein and decreased along the aramid series roughly in agreement with increases in Tg. The photo-Fries rearrangement product was observed in aramid fibers irradiated in air, whereas no rearrangement product was seen in films irradiated in air.
Tamoxifen: Toxicities and Drug Resistance During the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, is the endocrine therapy of choice for all stages of breast cancer. There are six million women-years of experience with tamoxifen, and the drug has produced survival advantages in node-positive and node-negative patients who have had 2-5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. A low incidence of side effects has been reported with tamoxifen, resulting in the proposal to use the antiestrogen as a preventive agent for breast cancer. Three separate clinical trials are currently under way--in the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Current concerns about tamoxifen are the development of rat liver tumors during long-term treatment and an increased incidence of endometrial carcinomas observed in patients. Another concern is the development of drug resistance to long-term tamoxifen therapy. There is increased interest in both determining the mechanism of drug resistance and evaluating new antiestrogens that may be more beneficial as a preventive, as an adjuvant therapy, or for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Brassinosteroid-Regulated Gene from Elongating Soybean (Glycine max L.) Epicotyls

Brassinosteroids promote elongation and regulate gene expression in soybean (Glycine max L.) stems. We constructed a cDNA library from brassinosteroid-treated soybean epicotyls and used differential hybridization to isolate a cDNA (pBRU1) corresponding to a transcript whose abundance is increased by brassinosteroid treatment. Sequence analysis of pBRU1 revealed an open reading frame of 283 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 29 amino acids. The sequence had extensive homology (77% identity, 89% similarity) over 114 contiguous amino acids to the meri-5 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (J.I. Medford, J.S. Elmer, H.J. Klee [1991] Plant Cell 3: 359-370), and significant homology (48% identity, 62% similarity) to a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase localized in the cell walls of nasturtium (J. de Silva, C.D. Jarman, D.A. Arrowsmith, M.S. Stronach, S. Chengappa, C. Sidebottom, J.S. Reid [1993] Plant J 3: 701-711). RNase protection studies showed that BRU1 transcript levels are not increased by 1.0 microM auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, or gibberellic acid and that BRU1 expression is highest in stem tissue. Findings from studies with run-on transcripts from isolated soybean nuclei most likely indicate that the regulation of BRU1 by brassinosteroids is largely posttranscriptional. The elevated levels of BRU1 transcripts in elongating tissue and the homology with a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase suggest a possible role for the BRU1 protein in brassinosteroid-stimulated elongation.
Outcome of pulmonary hypertension subjects transitioned from intravenous prostacyclin to oral bosentan.

Summary Introduction Prostacyclin (PG) remains the gold standard therapy for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Previously, we reported the successful transitioning of PAH subjects from intravenous prostacyclin to oral bosentan (Suleman et al. Chest 2004;126:808–15). We report here the 5-year follow-up data. Methods In the transition study, 11 PAH subjects were successfully transitioned to oral bosentan in 12 weeks. Two subjects who subsequently developed liver function test (LFT) abnormalities were taken off bosentan and switched to another endothelin receptor antagonist. Demographics, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), WHO functional class (FC), and survival data was collected. Results 10 Females and 1 male ranging in age from 35 to 79 were successfully transitioned. Mean duration of illness prior to transition was 50.55±26 months. Mean duration that these subjects remained on oral therapy was 34±24 months. Mean duration that patients remained off PG was 28±21 months. In 7 of the 11 subjects (64%), PG was resumed due to clinical deterioration. One patient remained on bosentan as monotherapy, five had phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitor added. 9 Of the 11 subjects were WHO FC II post-transition and 5 of the 7 subjects at follow-up were WHO FC II (82% vs 67%). Post-transition 6MWD was 386±85 in 10 subjects and at follow-up 6MWD was 396±99 in 9 subjects ( p =0.81). Conclusions In this study, patients frequently required prostanoid resumption after transition from intravenous prostanoid to oral therapy. However, in these carefully selected patients, transition to oral therapy offered prolonged stable FC and 6MWD, cost savings and substantial quality of life benefits.
Aerobic Capacities of Early College High School Students.

The Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI) was introduced in 2002. Since 2002, limited data, especially student physical activity data, have been published pertaining to the ECHSI. The purpose of this study was to examine the aerobic capacities of early college students and compare them to state and national averages. Early college students (N = 294) enrolled in a 16-week, aerobically-based, physical activity college course at a medium-sized North Carolina community college from 2006 to 2012 completed the Rockport Fitness Walking Test during the 2nd and 14th week of their class as a course requirement. Between the two test administrations, students adhered to a week-long walk, jog, run exercise program based on their initial walking test score and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) exercise prescription guidelines (ACSM, 2010). Significant differences existed between male and female students’ aerobic capacities during the pretest (p = .03) and posttest (p = .04). The results are similar to 1...
Defect Tolerance for Nanoscale Crossbar-Based Devices

The need for defect maps and per-chip placement and routing limits the efficiency of test and defect tolerance techniques in nanoscale crossbar-based devices. The authors propose a method using two simulation programs that circumvents these difficulties to find fault-free implementations of logic functions on defective crossbars.
Recent advances on the design of high-gain wideband operational transconductance amplifiers

Feed-forward techniques are explored for the design of high-frequency Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTAs). For single-stage amplifiers, a recycling folded-cascode OTA presents twice the GBW (197.2 MHz versus 106.3 MHz) and more than twice the slew rate (231.1 V/µs versus 99.3 V/µs) as a conventional folded cascode OTA for the same load, power consumption, and transistor dimensions. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of the recycling folded-cascode is equivalent to that of a telescopic OTA. As for multistage amplifiers, a No-Capacitor Feed-Forward (NCFF) compensation scheme which uses a high-frequency pole-zero doublet to obtain greater than 90 dB DC gain, GBW of 325 MHz and better than 70° phase margin is discussed. The settling-time-of the NCFF topology can be faster than that of OTAs with Miller compensation. Experimental results for the recycling folded-cascode OTA fabricated in TSMC 0.18 µm CMOS, and results of the NCFF demonstrate the efficiency and feasibility of the feed-forward schemes.
The crossed cube architecture for parallel computation

The construction of a crossed cube which has many of the properties of the hypercube, but has diameter only about half as large, is discussed. This network is self-routing, in the sense that there is a simple distributed routing algorithm which guarantees optimal paths between any pair of vertices. This fact, together with other properties such as regularity, symmetry, high connectivity, and a simple recursive structure, suggests that the crossed cube may be an attractive alternative to the ordinary hypercube for massively parallel architectures, SIMD algorithms, which utilize the architecture are developed, and it is shown that the CQ/sub n/ architecture can profitably emulate the ordinary hypercube. It is also shown that addition of simple switches can improve the capabilities of the system significantly. For instance, the dynamic reconfiguration capability allows hypercube algorithms to be executed on the proposed architecture. The use of these switches also improves the embedding properties of the system. >
Gene Expression Clustering with Functional Mixture Models

We propose a functional mixture model for simultaneous clustering and alignment of sets of curves measured on a discrete time grid. The model is specifically tailored to gene expression time course data. Each functional cluster center is a nonlinear combination of solutions of a simple linear differential equation that describes the change of individual mRNA levels when the synthesis and decay rates are constant. The mixture of continuous time parametric functional forms allows one to (a) account for the heterogeneity in the observed profiles, (b) align the profiles in time by estimating real-valued time shifts, (c) capture the synthesis and decay of mRNA in the course of an experiment, and (d) regularize noisy profiles by enforcing smoothness in the mean curves. We derive an EM algorithm for estimating the parameters of the model, and apply the proposed approach to the set of cycling genes in yeast. The experiments show consistent improvement in predictive power and within cluster variance compared to regular Gaussian mixtures.
When Is Practice Testing Most Effective for Improving the Durability and Efficiency of Student Learning

Although summative testing is often maligned within educational communities, practice testing is one of the most well-established strategies for improving student learning. Despite the wealth of empirical evidence that testing can enhance learning, teachers and students underutilize practice testing as a learning strategy. Accordingly, a high-level goal of this paper is to advocate for increased use of practice testing as a means for improving student learning. To this end, we discuss prior research establishing the generality of test- enhanced learning as well as prior research that points to conditions under which practice testing is particularly effective. We then summarize some recent research that explores schedules of practice testing that will not only produce durable learning, but will do so most efficiently. To briefly foreshadow, a particularly effective schedule involves practicing retrieval until target information is correctly recalled once during initial learning and then relearned to one correct recall in three to four subsequent sessions. Finally, we argue that exploring both criteria—durability and efficiency—can be valuable for evaluating the utility of learning techniques, and we offer some basic prescriptive conclusions for students and educators as well as recommendations for future research.
Visual Hallucinations Are Associated With Hyperconnectivity Between the Amygdala and Visual Cortex in People With a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

Author(s): Ford, Judith M; Palzes, Vanessa A; Roach, Brian J; Potkin, Steven G; van Erp, Theo GM; Turner, Jessica A; Mueller, Bryon A; Calhoun, Vincent D; Voyvodic, Jim; Belger, Aysenil; Bustillo, Juan; Vaidya, Jatin G; Preda, Adrian; McEwen, Sarah C; Functional Imaging Biomedical Informatics Research Network; Mathalon, Daniel H | Abstract: IntroductionWhile auditory verbal hallucinations (AH) are a cardinal symptom of schizophrenia, people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (SZ) may also experience visual hallucinations (VH). In a retrospective analysis of a large sample of SZ and healthy controls (HC) studied as part of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Biomedical Informatics Research Network (FBIRN), we asked if SZ who endorsed experiencing VH during clinical interviews had greater connectivity between visual cortex and limbic structures than SZ who did not endorse experiencing VH.MethodsWe analyzed resting state fMRI data from 162 SZ and 178 age- and gender-matched HC. SZ were sorted into groups according to clinical ratings on AH and VH: SZ with VH (VH-SZ; n = 45), SZ with AH but no VH (AH-SZ; n = 50), and SZ with neither AH nor VH (NoH-SZ; n = 67). Our primary analysis was seed based, extracting connectivity between visual cortex and the amygdala (because of its role in fear and negative emotion) and visual cortex and the hippocampus (because of its role in memory).ResultsCompared with the other groups, VH-SZ showed hyperconnectivity between the amygdala and visual cortex, specifically BA18, with no differences in connectivity among the other groups. In a voxel-wise, whole brain analysis comparing VH-SZ with AH-SZ, the amygdala was hyperconnected to left temporal pole and inferior frontal gyrus in VH-SZ, likely due to their more severe thought broadcasting.ConclusionsVH-SZ have hyperconnectivity between subcortical areas subserving emotion and cortical areas subserving higher order visual processing, providing biological support for distressing VH in schizophrenia.
New Dichotomies for Borel Equivalence Relations

We announce two new dichotomy theorems for Borel equivalence relations, and present the results in context by giving an overview of related recent developments.
Moving from Complaints to Action: Oppositional Consciousness and Collective Action in a Political Community

This article analyzes the process of youth political activism and development by drawing on ethnographic research on Asian and Pacific Islander youth activists. Young people revealed that collective action begins with a critical analysis of their lived experiences with inequalities. Their actions also involved oppositional consciousness that was nurtured in social justice-oriented community organizations. Tracking youth's successful efforts for school reform, I show how oppositional consciousness is realized and what activism looks like in practice. [youth activism, oppositional consciousness, social–educational change, Asian and Pacific Islanders]
Structure of an anti-DNA fab complexed with a non-DNA ligand provides insights into cross-reactivity and molecular mimicry.

Antibodies that recognize DNA (anti-DNA) are part of the autoimmune response un- derlying systemic lupus erythematosus. To better un- derstand molecular recognition by anti-DNA antibod- ies, crystallographic studies have been performed using an anti-ssDNA antigen-binding fragment (Fab) known as DNA-1. The previously determined struc- ture of a DNA-1/dT5 complex revealed that thymine bases insert into a narrow groove, and that ligand recognition primarily involves the bases of DNA. We now report the 1.75-A resolution structure of DNA-1 complexed with the biological buffer HEPES (4-(2- Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid). All three light chain complementarity-determining re- gions (CDRs) and HCDR3 contribute to binding. The HEPES sulfonate hydrogen bonds to His L91, Asn L50, and to the backbone of Tyr H100 and Tyr H100A. The Tyr side-chains of L32, L92, H100, and H100A form nonpolar contacts with the HEPES ethylene and piper- azine groups. Comparison to the DNA-1/dT5 structure reveals that the dual recognition of dT5 and HEPES requires a 13-A movement of HCDR3. This dramatic structural change converts the combining site from a narrow groove, appropriate for the edge-on insertion of thymine bases, to one sufficiently wide to accommo- date the HEPES sulfonate and piperazine. Isothermal titration calorimetry verified the association of HEPES with DNA-1 under conditions similar those used for crystallization (2 M ammonium sulfate). Interestingly, the presence of 2 M ammonium sulfate increases the affinities of DNA-1 for both HEPES and dT5, suggest- ing that non-polar Fab-ligand interactions are impor- tant for molecular recognition in highly ionic solvent conditions. The structural and thermodynamic data suggest a molecular mimicry mechanism based on structural plasticity and hydrophobic interactions.
Effect of Balloon Inflation Volume on Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure in Patients With and Without Pulmonary Hypertension

Background Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) is used to differentiate patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left-sided heart disease from other etiologies. Technical errors in the measurement of PAOP are common and lead to incorrect classification of the etiology of PH. We investigated the agreement among PAOP measurements obtained from both pulmonary arteries with balloon full (1.5 mL) and half (0.75 mL) inflation in patients undergoing right-sided heart catheterization for suspected PH. Methods Thirty-seven patients suspected or known to have PH who underwent right-sided heart catheterization were included. Seventy-six percent had PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 25 mm Hg). The validity of the measurements was assessed by using five preestablished criteria based on hemodynamic, fluoroscopic, and gasometric data. For each patient, the measurement that most likely represented the left atrial pressure was labeled "best PAOP." Results Seventy percent of all the PAOP measurements met at least four of the five preestablished criteria for validity. In patients with PH (n = 28), the mean ± SE PAOP was 23.1 ± 2 and 19.1 ± 2 mm Hg for balloon full and half inflation, respectively, in the right pulmonary artery and 23.54 ± 2 and 19.07 ± 2 mm Hg for balloon full and half inflation, respectively, in the left pulmonary artery (P = .05). Bland-Altman analysis revealed lower bias and narrower limits of agreement with balloon half inflation. Wedge angiography showed that some balloon inflations failed to occlude upstream flow, whereas others had collateral vessels draining after the occlusion. Conclusions PAOP can be falsely elevated in patients with PH according to the balloon inflation volume. Balloon half inflation was safe and correlated with higher precision and lower bias in the PAOP measurements.
Phase transitions and coarse-grained search

Abstraction is a method for solving a variety of computational search problems that uses coarse-graining to simplify the search. When a coarse-grained, or abstract, solution is found, it is then refined to give a complete solution. We present a model of this abstraction process for constraint satisfaction problems, a well-known class of NP-complete search problems. This model is then used to identify phase transition-like behavior in the effectiveness of abstraction, as well as to determine the type of abstraction that is likely to be most useful for relatively hard instances of these search problems. >
Portable data flow in UNIX

We describe the dataflow of a nuclear physics data acquisition system. The system features a high speed active routing subsystem which allows an arbitrary number of data producers to contribute data to the system. Data are then routed to an arbitrary number of data consumers. Low overhead route-by-reference mechanisms are used to allow high rate operations. The system has been ported to a variety of UNIX systems. Timings are given for the routing component of the system on several systems. Finally, we give an example of a set of programs which can be added to the system to produce a complete data acquisition system. >
A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of the Association Between Family Income and Offspring Conduct Problems

The study presents a quasi-experimental analysis of data on 9,194 offspring (ages 4–11 years old) of women from a nationally representative U.S. sample of households to test the causal hypotheses about the association between family income and childhood conduct problems (CPs). Comparison of unrelated individuals in the sample indicated a robust inverse association, with the relation being larger at higher levels of income and for male offspring, even when statistical covariates were included to account for measured confounds that distinguish different families. Offspring also were compared to their siblings and cousins who were exposed to different levels of family income in childhood to rule out unmeasured environmental and genetic factors confounded with family income as explanations for the association. In these within-family analyses, boys exposed to lower family income still exhibited significantly higher levels of CPs. When considered in the context of previous studies using different designs, these results support the inference that family income influences CPs, particularly in males, through causal environmental processes specifically related to earnings within the nuclear family.
Optimum Power Allocation for Cooperative Systems with Orthogonal Space-Time Transmissions

We investigate the rate maximizing power allocation strategy for a system where the source and the decode-and-forward (DF) relays cooperate by utilizing a distributed space-time block coding strategy. Under the assumption that all transmitters have perfect knowledge of the link gains, we analyze two limit cases ? the case of no-collaboration among relays and the case of ideal collaboration among relays ? and we provide a polynomial-time algorithm that computes the maximum achievable rate for the distributed space-time coding system despite the fact that the optimization problem is not convex and it belongs to a class of problems with variational inequality constraints. Due to the orthogonal structure of the space-time block code designs, the proposed algorithm can also be used, with minor modifications, in the computation of the optimum power allocation for the case of DF relays with orthogonal transmissions.
Female Offenders Three Assumptions About Self-Esteem, Sex-Role Identity, and Feminism

The validity of three assumptions about self-esteem, sex-role identity, and feminism in female offenders was empirically investigated in a study of 73 women awaiting trial (ATU) in Massachusetts. A...
Tight-binding study of Γ-L bandstructure engineering for ballistic III–V nMOSFETs

A major concern for III–V nMOSFETs is the degradation of I ON due to low density of states and spillover of the charge from high-mobility Γ-valley to low-mobility L-valley at high sheet charge density. In this paper, we study these Γ-L bandstructure effects for ultrathin-body In x Ga 1−x Sb nMOSFETs with varying stoichiometry using tight-binding and ballistic transport model.
Multiobjective Optimization Model for Maximizing Sustainability of Existing Buildings

AbstractAging buildings in the United States represent 70% of existing buildings, and they are often in urgent need of upgrades to improve their operational, economic, and environmental performance. Recent studies reported the need for and significance of improving the sustainability of existing buildings to stabilize and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and minimize their negative environmental impacts. This can be accomplished by integrating sustainable upgrade measures in existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency, water consumption, material recycling, waste reduction, lifecycle, and indoor environment. These upgrade measures include energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, renewable energy systems, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and sustainable management of building solid waste. Decision makers often need to identify an optimal set of these upgrade measures capable of maximizing the sustainability of their buildings while complying with limited upgrade budgets and building functi...
Interflexural carcinoma of the colon: - Clinical-radiologic-pathologic correlations

Forty-six patients with primary carcinoma arising between the hepatic and splenic flexures of the colon were studied to relate the preoperative symptoms, the width of the lumen of the colon at the site of the lesion on barium-enema examination, and the surgical pathology of the neoplasm. Rectal bleeding was frequently produced by lesions which had not extended beyond the wall of the bowel. Compensatory hypertrophy of the colonic musculature proximal to the lesion delays the onset of symptoms. Obstructive symptoms indicated one of two situations: 1) tumor was confined to the colon but had narrowed the lumen to a channel 6 mm wide or less; 2) tumor had grown beyond the serosa of the bowel to involve adjacent structures with inflammatory or neoplastic adhesions.
CHAPTER 9:Understanding Reactivity with Reduced Potential Energy Landscapes: Recent Advances and New Directions

New algorithms for exploring reduced potential energy surfaces (RPES) have the potential to solve some persistent remaining problems in transition state identification, such as the tendency for eigenvector-following and dimer algorithms to repeatedly discover the same transition states. We outline the RPES framework and some advantages of these new algorithms. We then show how an RPES framework can be used to resolve another long-standing challenge: structure–property relationships for isolated sites on amorphous catalysts. By retaining only the peripheral degrees of freedom in a cluster model, and with the reaction coordinates adiabatically optimized, we can systematically generate a series of isolated site models with varying activity. We do this by combining the RPES framework with a sequential non-linear programming algorithm. The algorithm systematically generates a family of low energy sites with varying reactivity and thereby exposes structural differences between highly active and inactive sites on the catalyst surface. We demonstrate this algorithm on a 2D model energy surface, on a simplified ‘chemical’ model, and lastly for ethene polymerization on the Phillips catalyst (Cr/SiO2). The novel approach for understanding catalysts on amorphous supports exemplifies how the powerful RPES framework can enable calculations that were previously intractable.
Asynchrony and ryanodine modulate load-dependent relaxation in the canine left ventricle.

Load-dependent relaxation was studied in six anesthetized dogs by inflating an intra-aortic balloon to increase peak left ventricular (LV) pressure by 1–20 mmHg within a single cardiac cycle. A ser...
The spectrum of left main coronary artery disease: variables affecting patient selection, management, and death.

A total of 178 patients having a diagnosis of left main coronary artery stenosis were divided into three groups as follows: surgical, Group I (n = 135 patients); operable medically treated, Group II (n = 21 patients); and inoperable, Group III (n = 22 patients). Groups 1 and 2 were comparable with regard to clinical profile, extent of anatomic coronary disease, and left ventricular function. Inoperable patients had a much higher incidence of prior myocardial infarction (especially anterior), more severe distal coronary disease, and markedly depressed left ventricular function. The hospital mortality rate for surgical patients was 4% (6/135). The late mortality rate, (median follow-up = 23.4 months) was 7% (9/135). For operable patients, the late mortality rate was 43% (9/21) at 28 months. In the inoperable group, the late death rate at 20 months was 59% (13/22). Actuarial survival at 24 months for the three groups was: 88%, 66%, and 42%, respectively. Of the nine patients who died in the operable group, two had
Synthesis of an unsaturated diether analogue of phosphatidyl ethanolamine.

A synthesis of racemic diether analogues of glyceryl phosphatides is reported which is applicable to unsaturated aliphatic substituents. The ``oleyl'' diether analogue of phosphatidyl ethanolamine has been synthesized.
Use of the Biphasic 13C-Sucrose/Glucose Breath Test to Assess Sucrose Maldigestion in Adults with Functional Bowel Disorders

Sucrase insufficiency has been observed in children with of functional bowel disorders (FBD) and symptoms of dietary carbohydrate intolerance may be indistinguishable from those of FBD. A two-phase 13C-sucrose/13C-glucose breath test (13C-S/GBT) was used to assess sucrase activity because disaccharidase assays are seldom performed in adults. When 13C-sucrose is hydrolyzed to liberate monosaccharides, oxidation to 13CO2 is a proportional indicator of sucrase activity. Subsequently, 13C-glucose oxidation rate was determined after a secondary substrate ingestion (superdose) to adjust for individual habitus effects (Phase II). 13CO2 enrichment recovery ratio from 13C-sucrose and secondary 13C-glucose loads reflect the individualized sucrase activity [Coefficient of Glucose Oxidation for Sucrose (CGO-S)]. To determine if sucrase insufficiency could be a factor in FBD, 13C-S/GBT was validated using subjects with known sucrase gene mutation status by comparing 13CO2-breath enrichment with plasma 13C-glucose enrichment. 13C-S/GBT was used to assess sucrose digestion in FBD patients and asymptomatic controls. 13CO2-breath enrichment correlated with the appearance of 13C-sucrose-derived glucose in plasma ( ). Mean, control group CGO-S-enrichment outcomes were 1.01 at 60′, 0.92 at 75′, and 0.96 at mean 60′–75′ with normal CGO-S defined as >0.85 (95% C.I.). In contrast, FBD patients demonstrated lower CGO-S values of 0.77 at 60′, 0.77 at 75′, and 0.76 at mean 60′–75′ (Chi Square: 6.55; ), which points to sucrose maldigestion as a cause of FBD.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: favorable clinical outcomes support role in intermediate risk surgical patients.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now widely accepted as the preferred therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are either inoperable or at high risk for complications following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) (1-4). Outcomes of up to 5 years are now available that support the use of TAVR in this population (5,6). These clinical trials used first generation TAVR devices—balloon-expandable SAPIEN (Edwards Lifesciences) and self-expandable CoreValve (Medtronic). Both devices have since undergone design iterations with improvements in procedural success and clinical outcomes (7,8). In 2015, FDA approved the commercial use of SAPIEN 3, a third generation balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) system.
Generation, control, and simulation of task level actions based on discrete event models

A model based method for task level command generation is used to simulate a pipeline process. Using a discrete event systems formalism, a method for describing manufacturing systems is reviewed prior to constructing the sequential assembly line simulation. This precedes a study of the entire assembly line model, its coordination, and performance metrics. An example system is then simulated and analyzed for language generation and system performance. >
Managing Inter-enterprise Processes

Many organizations still struggle with the management of their internal business processes to overcome functional barriers. However, an increasing number of companies are targeting the integration between organizations or so-called inter-enterprise processes. Successful companies operate in a network with other organizations to leverage their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. Mutual interdependencies are created and managed to drive additional value and to ensure high performance for the “inter-enterprise organization” as a whole. Companies become “platforms” that integrate customers with various suppliers, as enterprises like Amazon, eBay, or Uber show. Uber, for example, does not own many physical assets like a traditional taxi or limousine company. But they have processes in place linking clients to the owners of cars who are the suppliers of Uber.
Teaching to Mastery

I worry that somewhere along the educational path we made a wrong turn. We took a path that endorsed the idea that our students need exposure to a wide breadth of material. This path was certainly alluring at the juncture. It is easy to see why we took the path. This path offered our students the opportunity to be exposed to all sorts of new ideas and experiences.
Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke: Part 2: Initial and Sustained Nurse Accuracy and Reliability

Abstract Objective To determine registered nurses' (RNs') ability to obtain and maintain accurate procedural skills and reliable interpretation of the screening items under study to develop the Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke. Design Prospective, observation study. Setting A certified primary stroke center in a major metropolitan medical facility. Participants RNs (N=15) were recruited and trained in the administration and interpretation of the screening items under study to develop the Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke. Interventions RNs completed a total of 239 screenings of patients admitted with suspected stroke over a 2-year period. RNs administered the swallowing screening items and interpreted the patient's response to each item. Independent of the RN, a speech-language pathologist simultaneously interpreted the response of the participant with stroke to each swallowing screening item. Main Outcome Measures Reliability of the interpretation and accuracy of the administration of the swallowing screening items. Results The average accuracy rate for the administration of the Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke was 98.33%, with the overall accuracy rate for each procedural task ranging from 95.42% to 100%. For the specific swallowing screening items that formed the Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke, dysarthria and a positive sign after water swallow, reliability was high ( k =.817). The accuracy rate for the administration and reliability of the interpretation of the swallowing screening items improved as RNs gained experience, and both were maximized at 20 screening opportunities. Conclusions RNs demonstrate both excellent accuracy of procedural administration and reliability of interpretation of the items of the Rapid Aspiration Screening for Suspected Stroke. With feedback and repeated opportunities to practice, maintenance of skills is achievable.
Pulse Tube Cryocoolers

This paper presents a review of the pulse tube refrigerator from its inception in the mid-1960s up to the present. Various factors are discussed which brought it from a laboratory curiosity to the point where it is now the most efficient of all cryocoolers (cryogenic refrigerator) for temperatures between about 60 and 120 K, and it is reliable enough to be used on space missions. Efficiencies as high as 24% of Carnot at 80 K and temperatures as low as 2 K have been achieved in pulse tube refrigerators. The operating principles for the different types of pulse tube and thermoacoustic refrigerators are described. Pulse tube refrigerators operate with oscillating pressures and mass flows and have no moving parts in the cold end. For large industrial systems the mechanical compressor can be replaced with one of two types of thermoacoustic drivers to yield a refrigerator with no moving parts. Recent advances in understanding and reducing losses in various components are described that have led to the improved efficiencies. A brief description is also given of other types of cryocoolers to aid in a comparison of the pulse tube cryocooler with other types of cryocoolers. The major problems associated with cryocoolers are listed, and it is shown that pulse tube refrigerators have begun to overcome many of these problems. As a result, they are now being used or considered for many different applications. Some of these applications as well as example pulse tube refrigerators are described.
Sequences of Real Numbers

A sequence of real numbers is a function defined on a subset of positive integers with values in the real numbers. Instead of denoting the sequence by a (as we would for a function) we will use the notation (an). Note that ap denotes the value of the sequence at p and (an) denotes the whole sequence.
Current Practice of Child Grammar Intervention: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists.

Purpose The aim of this study was to better understand current grammatical intervention approaches. Despite grammatical language being a common weakness among children with language impairment, rel...
Shared control architectures for vehicle steering

Various schemes for sharing control between a human driver and automation system have been proposed, each with the aim of freeing attention while supporting smooth transitions of authority when the control challenge exceeds driver or automation capabilities. When sharing control of a vehicle, it can be expected that the driver develops internal models of the automation and its capabilities and assumes or assigns intent to its actions. In this paper, we develop system models of input mixing and haptic shared control to describe the communication channels open to the driver for monitoring automation behavior and determining automation intent. We pay particular attention to haptic (torque) feedback in the axis of steering that functions both to carry information and to couple the dynamics of the driver’s backdrivable arms and hands with the dynamics of the automation system and vehicle. We assess the various feedback loops present for their promise to reduce cognitive load while maintaining situation awareness. An interpretation of the backdrivable biomechanics and automation impedance in terms of potential wells produces insight into the structured information available through haptic feedback and the internal models that the driver uses to predict automation behavior. The constructed models make explicit the additional communication channels open between human and automation in haptic shared control relative to input mixing.
Structural, compositional, and functional responses to tornado and salvage logging disturbance in southern New England hemlock-hardwood forests

Abstract The frequency and severity of wind storms, such as hurricanes and tornados, are expected to increase in northeastern North America under climate change. As such, salvage logging is likely to become a more frequently-used post-disturbance management strategy; however, there is concern that the compound disturbance of wind followed by salvage logging could generate negative impacts on species composition, forest structure, and ecological resilience. These impacts are variable and uncertain, posing an opportunity for further research that considers differences in forest recovery following stand-replacing wind alone versus stand-replacing wind and salvage logging. We evaluated the short-term impacts of these singular (tornado) and interactive disturbance events (tornado + salvage logging) on the structure, composition, and function of a mature hemlock-hardwood forest in south-central Massachusetts. Specifically, we were interested in quantifying the impacts of salvage logging practices on forest recovery and resilience. Our analyses consider salvage logging impacts on forest overstory in addition to the regeneration layer (defined here as tree seedlings and saplings that make up the forest understory). We found that (i) delayed overstory mortality was highest on tornado-damaged sites, contributing additional material to dead wood pools, while salvaged sites lacked much of this material and associated structural legacies; (ii) tree regeneration layer diversity, as measured by Shannon’s Index, was higher in the tornado-damaged sites than salvaged sites, but levels of sapling (≥1.4 m in height and