cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CREATE: Acceptance and Adoption of Virtual Prototyping across the Defense R&D and Acquisition Communities

With an annual budget of nearly US600 billion, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is tasked with protecting the US and its allies and interests abroad against potential adversaries. It must accomplish these tasks in a globalized and highly interconnected world where the pace of technology is moving faster than the current time-consuming DoD acquisition systems can keep up with. Moving forward, the DoD must change these time-consuming paradigms and accelerate the pace of innovation. One way to do this is to shift to a virtual prototyping environment where the benefits of high-performance supercomputing and complex physics-based engineering software can expand the decision space and enable the DoD to field better systems faster, cheaper, and at less risk than previous methods. This is the goal of the Computational Research and Engineering Acquisition Tools and Environments (CREATE) program. This issue of CiSE provides the third installment of articles relating to the history, formation, and ongoing work of the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) CREATE program.
Effects of Alcohol Interventions on Other Drug Use in the Cherokee Nation.

Objectives. To evaluate effects of 2 alcohol prevention interventions—Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), a community organizing intervention designed to reduce youth alcohol access, and CONNECT, an individual-level screening and brief intervention approach—on other drug use outcomes.Methods. We conducted a community intervention trial with quarterly surveys over 3 years (2012–2015) of high school students living within the jurisdictional service area of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. We used generalized estimating equations and linear probability models to examine intervention spillover effects on other drug use.Results. We found significant reductions in drug use other than alcohol attributable to CMCA and CONNECT. CMCA was associated with a 35% reduction in chewing tobacco use, a 39% reduction in marijuana use, and a 48% reduction in prescription drug misuse. CONNECT was associated with a 26% reduction in marijuana use and a 31% reduction in prescription drug misuse.Conclusions. Nona...
Calcium channel antagonists for the treatment of pain

Several lines of evidence developed in preclinical models suggest that both spontaneous pain and evoked pain are mediated in part by voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) [1]. Both the central and peripheral nervous systems have an abundance of calcium channels. However, in addition to their roles in sensory processing, VDCCs play critical roles in various physiological processes including cardiac electrophysiology, vascular tone, motor control and other neural communication. The ubiquity and importance of VDCCs naturally raises concerns that drug-induced blockade could have adverse impact on multiple physiological systems. The number of subtypes of VDCC that has been recognized to date gives hope, however, that just as it has been possible to use subtype-selective VDCC antagonists as antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic drugs, it may be possible to selectively modulate subytpes involved in painful sensations without unacceptable side effects.
The challenging nexus of technology and security in transportation management center operations

The growing dependency on the use of technology has increased the potential for cyber-security vulnerabilities. The purpose of this study was to provide insight by gathering feedback from industry operators, practitioners, and suppliers specifically with regard to security risks associated with traffic signal management. A survey was developed and administered to this targeted group and the exploratory results confirmed common anecdotal positions. First, agency staff members acknowledge that hackers have and will continue to consider traffic signals and traffic signal management systems as a potential vulnerability. Second, despite these undercurrents of concern, agency personnel remain somewhat passive with regard to a call for action as changes to either manufacturer-supplied passwords or regular updates to existing passwords are routinely overlooked. Lastly, most transportation agency staff are eager to learn more about cyber-vulnerabilities and cyber-security oriented training, which suggest that providing such opportunities would serve to benefit not only the staff who provide signal management services but also to the motoring public who, in the long run, will avoid any potential service interruptions of their day-to-day travel.
Inter-trial variability in brain activity as an indicator of synergistic effects of HIV-1 and drug abuse.

Abstract Background The objective of this investigation was to detect evidence of the synergism in the effects of HIV-1 and drug abuse on brain function that has been hypothesized but rarely shown. The investigation incorporated several noteworthy improvements in the approach. It used urine toxicology tests to exclude participants complicated by recent methadone use and illicit drug use. Also, it defined drug abuse on a scale that considered symptom severity. Most importantly, it examined inter-trial variability in brain activity as a potentially more sensitive indicator of group differences and functional impairment than the across-trial average. Methods 173 participants were assigned to groups defined by their HIV-1 serostatus and Drug Abuse Screening Test score (DAST = 6). They completed a simple letter discrimination task including rare target and rare nontarget stimuli. Event-related electroencephalographic responses and key press responses were measured on each trial. During a separate assessment, posturographic measures were recorded. Results The inter-trial standard deviation of P300-like activity was superior to the mean amplitude of this activity in differentiating the groups. Unlike the mean, it revealed synergistic statistical effects of HIV and drug abuse. It also correlated significantly with static ataxia. Conclusions Inter-trial variability in P300-like activity is a useful marker for detecting subtle and episodic disruptions in brain function. It demonstrates greater sensitivity than the mean amplitude for detecting differences across groups. Also, as a putative indicator of a disruption in the attentional monitoring of behavior, it predicts subtle impairments in gross motor function.
Synergistic Transcriptional Changes in AMPA and GABAA Receptor Genes Support Compensatory Plasticity Following Unilateral Hearing Loss.

Abstract Debilitating perceptual disorders including tinnitus, hyperacusis, phantom limb pain and visual release hallucinations may reflect aberrant patterns of neural activity in central sensory pathways following a loss of peripheral sensory input. Here, we explore short- and long-term changes in gene expression that may contribute to hyperexcitability following a sudden, profound loss of auditory input from one ear. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to quantify mRNA levels for genes encoding AMPA and GABAA receptor subunits (Gria2 and Gabra1, respectively) in single neurons from the inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex (ACtx). Thirty days after unilateral hearing loss, Gria2 levels were significantly increased while Gabra1 levels were significantly decreased. Transcriptional rebalancing was more pronounced in ACtx than IC and bore no obvious relationship to the degree of hearing loss. By contrast to the opposing, synergistic shifts in Gria2 and Gabra1 observed 30 days after hearing loss, we found that transcription levels for both genes were equivalently reduced after 5 days of hearing loss, producing no net change in the excitatory/inhibitory transcriptional balance. Opposing transcriptional shifts in AMPA and GABA receptor genes that emerge several weeks after a peripheral insult could promote both sensitization and disinhibition to support a homeostatic recovery of neural activity following auditory deprivation. Imprecise transcriptional changes could also drive the system toward perceptual hypersensitivity, degraded temporal processing and the irrepressible perception of non-existent environmental stimuli, a trio of perceptual impairments that often accompany chronic sensory deprivation.
Methylation-dependent Tissue Factor Suppression Contributes to the Reduced Malignancy of IDH1-mutant Gliomas

Purpose: Gliomas with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutations (IDH1mut) are less aggressive than IDH1 wild-type (IDH1wt) gliomas and have global genomic hypermethylation. Yet it is unclear how specific hypermethylation events contribute to the IDH1mut phenotype. Previously, we showed that the gene encoding the procoagulant tissue factor (TF), F3, is among the most hypermethylated and downregulated genes in IDH1mut gliomas, correlating with greatly reduced thrombosis in patients with IDH1mut glioma. Because TF also increases the aggressiveness of many cancers, the current study explored the contribution of TF suppression to the reduced malignancy of IDH1mut gliomas. Experimental Design: TF expression was manipulated in patient-derived IDH1mut and IDH1wt glioma cells, followed by evaluation of in vitro and in vivo behavior and analyses of cell signaling pathways. Results: A demethylating agent, decitabine, increased F3 transcription and TF-dependent coagulative activity in IDH1mut cells, but not in IDH1wt cells. TF induction enhanced the proliferation, invasion, and colony formation of IDH1mut cells, and increased the intracranial engraftment of IDH1mut GBM164 from 0% to 100% (P = 0.0001). Conversely, TF knockdown doubled the median survival of mice engrafted with IDH1wt/EGFRvIIIamp GBM6, and caused complete regression of IDH1wt/EGFRamp GBM12 (P = 0.001). In vitro and in vivo effects were linked to activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) by TF through a Src-dependent intracellular pathway, even when extracellular RTK stimulation was blocked. TF stimulated invasion predominately through upregulation of β-catenin. Conclusions: These data show that TF suppression is a component of IDH1mut glioma behavior, and that it may therefore be an attractive target against IDH1wt gliomas.
How the Conformations of an Internal Junction Contribute to Fold an RNA Domain.

Like proteins, some RNAs fold to compact structures. We can model functional RNAs as a series of short, rigid, base-paired elements, connected by non-base-paired nucleotides that serve as junctions. These connecting regions bend and twist, facilitating the formation of tertiary contacts that stabilize compact states. Here, we explore the roles of salt and junction sequence in determining the structures of a ubiquitous connector: an asymmetric internal loop. We focus on the J5/5a junction from the widely studied P4–P6 domain of the Tetrahymena ribozyme. Following the addition of magnesium ions to fold P4–P6, this junction bends dramatically, bringing the two halves of the RNA domain together for tertiary contact engagement. Using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET), we examine the role of sequence and salt on model RNA constructs that contain these junction regions. We explore the wild-type J5/5a junction as well as two sequence variants. These junctions display distinct, salt-d...
Understanding Human Physiological Limitations and Societal Pressures in Favor of Overeating Helps to Avoid Obesity

Fat gain in our United States (US) environment of over-abundant, convenient, and palatable food is associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and increased mortality. Fuller understanding of physiological and environmental challenges to healthy weight maintenance could help prevent these morbidities. Human physiological limitations that permit development of obesity include a predilection to overeat palatable diets, inability to directly detect energy eaten or expended, a large capacity for fat storage, and the difficulty of losing body fat. Innate defenses resisting fat loss include reduced resting metabolism, increased hunger, and high insulin sensitivity, promoting a regain of fat, glycogen, and lean mass. Environmental challenges include readily available and heavily advertised palatable foods, policies and practices that make them abundant, less-than-ideal recommendations regarding national dietary macronutrient intake, and a frequently sedentary lifestyle. After gaining excess fat, some metabolic burdens can be mitigated though thoughtful selection of nutrients. Reduced dietary salt helps lower hypertension, less dietary sugar lowers risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and reducing proportion of dietary carbohydrates lowers post-meal insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Food intake and exercise should also be considered thoughtfully, as exercise in a fasted state and before the meals raises glucose intolerance, while exercising shortly after eating lowers it. In summary, we cannot directly detect energy eaten or expended, we have a genetic predisposition to eat palatable diets even when not hungry, and we have a large capacity for fat storage and a difficult time permanently losing excess fat. Understanding this empowers individuals to avoid overeating and helps them avoid obesity.
Calcium, Vitamin D, and Cancer

Colorectal carcinoma is a common cancer in the Western world. It vies to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and affects both men and women equally. This cancer arises from many interactions that involve hereditary and environmental influences (1). Colorectal cancer does not develop abruptly de novo, but progresses through a series of anatomical and physiological changes (2). Thus, early in this process, changes in epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation occur while the mucosa appears grossly normal; this is followed by the development of aberrant crypt foci, adenomatous polyps, cancer in polyps, and then frank carcinoma (3). The process of a normal epithelium changing to an adenoma and cancer takes a considerable amount of time, probably 5–10 yr for adenoma formation and perhaps another 10 yr for the development of cancer.
Internal nasal morphology of the Eocene primate Rooneyia viejaensis and extant Euarchonta: Using μCT scan data to understand and infer patterns of nasal fossa evolution in primates.

Abstract Primates have historically been viewed as having a diminished sense of smell compared to other mammals. In haplorhines, olfactory reduction has been inferred partly based on the complexity of the bony turbinals within the nasal cavity. Some turbinals are covered in olfactory epithelium, which contains olfactory receptor neurons that detect odorants. Accordingly, turbinal number and complexity has been used as a rough anatomical proxy for the relative importance of olfactory cues for an animal's behavioral ecology. Unfortunately, turbinals are delicate and rarely preserved in fossil specimens, limiting opportunities to make direct observations of the olfactory periphery in extinct primates. Here we describe the turbinal morphology of Rooneyia viejaensis, a late middle Eocene primate of uncertain phylogenetic affinities from the Tornillo Basin of West Texas. This species is currently the oldest fossil primate for which turbinals are preserved with minimal damage or distortion. Microcomputed tomography (μCT) reveals that Rooneyia possessed 1 nasoturbinal, 4 bullar ethmoturbinals, 1 frontoturbinal, 1 interturbinal, and an olfactory recess. This pattern is broadly similar to the condition seen in some extant strepsirrhine primates but differs substantially from the condition seen in extant haplorhines. Crown haplorhines possess only two ethmoturbinals and lack frontoturbinals, interturbinals, and an olfactory recess. Additionally, crown anthropoids have ethmoturbinals that are non-bullar. These observations reinforce the conclusion that Rooneyia is not a stem tarsiiform or stem anthropoid. However, estimated olfactory turbinal surface area in Rooneyia is greater than that of similar-sized haplorhines but smaller than that of similar-sized lemuriforms and lorisiforms. This finding suggests that although Rooneyia was broadly plesiomorphic in retaining a large complement of olfactory turbinals as in living strepsirrhines, Rooneyia may have evolved somewhat diminished olfactory abilities as in living haplorhines.
Risk based supervision

The role of supervisory authorities undertaking prudential supervision is to promote the maintenance of efficient, fair, safe and stable insurance markets for the benefit and protection of policyholders. An effective supervisory authority is able to require an insurer to take timely preventive and corrective measures if the insurer fails to operate in a manner that is consistent with sound business practices or regulatory requirements. Traditionally, authorities have performed this role by way of compliance based supervision. Under this style of supervision, insurers must comply with a set of prudential rules generally written into the law or the subordinate legislation. The role of the supervisory authority is to ensure that insurers do, in fact, comply with these rules. In recent years, supervision has been evolving and moving from a style that is compliance based to one that is risk based. This progression has also been a feature of the activities of bank supervision and pension supervision.
The effects of androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy on cancer-related fatigue.

10Background: Fatigue is a common symptom characterized by incapacitating tiredness. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with radiotherapy (RT) is one of the standard treatments for p...
Foramen Magnum Tumours: Posterior Approaches and Outcome

A variety of extra- and intradural lesions at the level of the foramen magnum exist. These include chordomas, meningiomas, and schwannomas, respectively. The particular challenge of the treatment of these tumours lies in the close proximity and/or involvement of highly sensible neurovascular structures such as the lower brainstem, the lower cranial nerves, and the V3 and V4 segments of the vertebral arteries. Depending on size and extension of the tumours, preoperative diagnostics include thorough clinical neurological examination, ENT exams, and electrophysiological testing of the motor and sensory pathways. On the imaging side, osseous anatomy is visualized by high-resolution CT scanning of the craniovertebral junction—complemented by structural MRI, including MRA and venography. The surgical approach should be planned on the basis of detailed 3D analysis of the individual patho-anatomical situation, related to the precise localization of the tumour in relation to the foramen magnum. The standard midline or lateral suboccipital approach, with or without (hemi-)laminectomy of C1, is most frequently used as it offers access to the majority of these lesions. Occasionally, mechanical instability might ensue and thus render osteosynthesis necessary. Surgery is performed under intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring whenever manipulation of the spinal cord at the cervicomedullary junction is expected to happen. Most frequent complications are related to difficulties in attaining watertight dural closure. But, good functional outcome can be achieved frequently, with serious vascular or neural complications being the exception.
From Natural Equality to Sexual Subordination in the Theories of Hobbes and Rawls

The social contract theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Rawls assume the natural equality of women and their equal normative status with men, yet the political and social arrangements their respective theories justify nevertheless may allow for women’s subordination. The chapter investigates how that surprising outcome is produced in each of their otherwise dramatically different theories. Under Hobbes’s theory, incremental accretions of power that magnify power may make women’s agreement to sub-equal status rational. The commitment of Rawls’s liberal theory to the free exercise of religion precludes prohibiting child-rearing practices that may result in a decrease in women’s status and bargaining power across society. Yet in both theories, practical gender inequality turns out to be a contingent, and potentially remediable, rather than a necessary outcome.
Evaluation of microwave ablation for local treatment of dogs with distal radial osteosarcoma: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) as a modality to induce tumor necrosis within distal radial osteosarcoma (OSA). STUDY DESIGN Pilot study. ANIMALS Six client-owned dogs with distal radius OSA confirmed by cytological examination. METHODS Dogs underwent computed tomography for surgical planning before general anesthesia for fluoroscopy-guided ablation. Computed tomography was repeated 48 hours after MWA, before amputation. The ablated tumor was evaluated with histopathology. RESULTS Six dogs underwent MWA of distal radius OSA. A lower power setting (30 W) was selected for the first two dogs to avoid collateral soft tissue damage. The power was increased to 75 W for the last four dogs. The temperature was maintained between 45°C and 55°C (113 °F-131 °F) at the bone/soft tissue interface. Tumor necrosis varied between 30% and 90% (median, 55%) according to histopathology. No intraoperative or periprocedural complications were observed. CONCLUSION Microwave ablation induced variable tumor necrosis and did not induce immediate postablation complications in these six dogs with distal radius OSA. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE These results justify further evaluation of MWA as a potential modality to treat primary bone lesions in dogs.
The Information Dynamics of Vertical Stare Decisis

We propose a dynamic model of precedent in a judicial hierarchy which incorporates a “bottom-up” informational component. When a high court establishes precedents, it has uncertainty regarding how they will play out when applied to future legal disputes. Lower court implementation of these precedents can inform the high court about the contemporary policy implications—i.e., the ideological location—of the precedents. If lower court usage of a precedent is informative, the high court will consider the revealed location of the precedent when contemplating reducing the precedent’s authority and applicability to future cases. Using data on U.S. Supreme Court precedents and U.S. Courts of Appeals citations to these precedents, we estimate a model of the Court’s negative treatment of precedent. We find lower court usage of precedent can provide new, useful information on the policy content of a precedent, helping the Court shape law in a way consistent with its preferences.
Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis and Paresis

Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and paresis represent a heterogeneous group with wide variation in symptom severity, ranging from mild limitations such as vocal fatigue or difficulty with singing voice, to near aphonia, dysphagia, aspiration and dyspnea. Appropriate evaluation, counseling and treatment require an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of laryngeal neuropathy because each patient is different, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach is not likely to succeed. Because of the heterogeneity of this population, the breadth of treatment options, and patient and physician preferences, standardizing treatment approaches and obtaining high-level evidence has been a challenge. Nevertheless, physicians can help guide patients to treatment options that have the highest likelihood for success by familiarizing themselves with the available literature.
The perioperative application of High Flow Nasal Cannula: a single center experience

The physiologic benefits of high flow nasal cannula HFNC therapy are well documented in the intensive care literature yet only a handful of case reports describe its perioperative use Our single center experience explored comprehensive applications of HFNC in the perioperative setting Over a ten month period HFNC was used in the care of medically complex patients either as an adjuvant or main oxygen therapy during induction of general anesthesia maintenance of deep intraoperative sedation and during early postoperative care Here we illustrate clinical scenarios in which HFNC therapy made patient care safer and describe a framework for integrating this technology into the anesthesia practice at our institution nbsp
Size affects intraspecific aggression and response to predation threat in juvenile American lobsters

Intraspecific aggression and competition can govern access to food and shelter in many marine organisms, but these interactions can be impacted by life stage and presence of predators. Juvenile lobsters (Homarus americanus) have social hierarchies that govern access to valuable resources like food and shelter, but these hierarchies could be impacted by the presence of invasive green crabs (Carcinus maenas). The goal of this study was to determine whether the presence of green crab effluent affected aggressive behavior in different sizes of juvenile lobsters, with the hypothesis that all juvenile lobsters would be more likely to share shelter under threat of predation. Small juveniles (15 mm carapace length) and larger juveniles (45 mm) had substantially different interactions and responses to predator threat cues, with small individuals more likely to both fight over shelter and share shelter when exposed to green crab effluent. There were also several size-based behavioral differences in control treatments, as small juvenile lobsters challenged each other more frequently for shelter and spent vastly more time in the shelter, less time stationary outside the shelter, and less time fighting. Despite being vulnerable to green crab predation, larger juvenile lobsters were generally unaffected by crab chemical cues. This suggests that life history plays a strong role in predator avoidance behavior and that both lethal and nonlethal effects of invasive species on native prey can vary markedly with life stage. Future research should examine these crab-lobster interactions in lobster nursery habitats in the field, as invasive green crabs in these habitats could change behavior, activity patterns and survival of juvenile lobsters.
Robotic-Navigated Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement Has Less Facet Joint Violation Than Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Screws.

Objective To directly compare robotic-versus fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement in thoracolumbar spine trauma with a focus on clinically acceptable pedicle screw accuracy and facet joint violation (FJV). Methods A retrospective chart review assessed 37 trauma patients undergoing percutaneous thoracic and/or lumbar fixation. Postoperative computed tomography images were reviewed by authors blinded to surgical technique who assessed pedicle screw trajectory accuracy and FJV frequency. Results Seventeen patients underwent placement of 143 PPS with robotic assistance (robot group), compared with 20 patients receiving 149 PPS using fluoroscopy assistance (control group). Overall, the robot cohort demonstrated decreased FJV frequency of 2.8% versus 14.8% in controls (P = 0.0003). When further stratified by level of surgery (i.e., upper thoracic, lower thoracic, lumbar spine), the robot group had FJV frequencies of 0%, 3.2%, and 3.7%, respectively, compared with 17.7% (P = 0.0209), 14.3% (P = 0.0455), and 11.9% (P = 0.2340) in controls. The robot group had 84.6% clinically acceptable screw trajectories compared with 81.9% in controls (P = 0.6388). Within the upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions, the robot group had acceptable screw trajectories of 66.7%, 87.1%, and 90.7%, respectively, compared with 58.8% (P = 0.6261), 91.1% (P = 0.5655), and 97.6% (P = 0.2263) in controls. Conclusions There was no significant difference in clinically acceptable screw trajectory accuracy between robotic versus fluoroscopy-guided PPS placement. However, the robot cohort demonstrated a statistically significantly decreased FJV overall and specifically within the thoracic spine region. Use of robotic technology may improve radiographic outcomes for a subset of patients or spine surgeries.
A microstructure-based modeling approach to predict the mechanical properties of Zr alloy with hydride precipitates

Abstract In nuclear reactors, hydrides can form in fuel cladding due to hydrogen absorption in Zircaloy and cause embrittlement. This work presents a microstructure-based finite element model to predict the stress–strain response of Zircaloy containing hydrides. Microstructural details extracted from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were used to generate heterogeneous microstructures including the morphology and spatial distribution of hydrides. The constitutive material model for Zircaloy in this study is based on crystal plasticity theory which considers the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) atomic structure of Zircaloy material. The hydrides were modeled as brittle material along with a damage model. Hydride formation inside the Zircaloy matrix results in residual stress. This phenomenon is also captured in this model. A parametric study has been conducted to understand the effect of volume fraction, orientation, and lamellae width of the hydride phase on the mechanical properties of the overall material and the findings were validated against experimental results from the literature.
Lab instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on student views about experimental physics in comparison with previous years

Physics lab instructors were forced to adapt their courses in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate the impact these changes had on student views towards experimental physics as measured by the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics (E-CLASS). Analysis of the responses from over 1600 students in both spring and fall semesters and performing a comparison with the same courses in 2019 shows that student total E-CLASS scores were not lower in 2020 compared to 2019. Nevertheless, in the Fall 2020 data, we find that there is a variation in the mean E-CLASS scores on some individual questions when compared to previous years. © 2021 authors. Published by the American Physical Society. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
Historia no natural: Human Subjectivity and “Nature” in Alfredo Veiravé’s Historia Natural

The poetic sensibilities of the infrequently-studied Argentine poet and academic Alfredo Veirave (1928-1991) evolved throughout his career from neoromanticism to his own mode of antipoesia. Constant in the development of his poetic voice, however, is how the natural and artificial worlds—and how the sciences and the humanities view these worlds—inspired and confounded him. He came to see the interconnections amongst all things, and his poetry reflects this point of view. Specifically, his 1980 book of poetry, Historia Natural, demonstrates the irony of how the sciences and humanities view the natural world. Through a parodic structure, his speaker catalogs a disparate variety of subjects and objects and layers what he refers to as “asociaciones interminables” with them in a sort of enmeshed palimpsest. With his poetry, Veirave posits that an overarching authoritative discourse representing the natural world, as it is, does not exist. In this way, Historia natural provides a pivotal example of the post-environmental turn in Latin American ecological thought. It acknowledges and problematizes the role of human subjectivity in the fate of environments, landscapes, and territories.
Low-Frequency Modulation of Longitudinal Field: Modified Rabi Envelopes

The sensitivity of Rabi oscillations to low-frequency modulation (5–100 kHz) of the static longitudinal magnetic field B 0 is studied. Three regimes are considered: strong modulation (compared to the driving field strength B 1, 1–10 G), fast modulation (compared to the non-modulated Rabi frequency Ω R ), and weak-resonant modulation. The mapping of a weakly driven two-level system with modulation onto a strongly driven system without modulation suggests that different regimes of spin dynamics, previously known for a strongly driven system (i.e., multiphoton resonances), are realized under easily accessible conditions with proper choice of modulation frequency and amplitude. The experiments are straightforward to achieve in the laboratory, but can be mapped to more unconventional NMR conditions where B 1 strength is much greater than B 0.
Regulation of neurite outgrowth and immediate early gene expression by patterned electrical stimulation.

Publisher Summary Electrical activity may act by strengthening, weakening or breaking synaptic connections, or regulating growth cone motility to affect neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis. Without sensitivity to the functional operation of neural networks, genetic programs could not provide sufficient instruction to specify the wiring and rewiring of individual synaptic connections with adequate precision in complex nervous systems. Genetic sensitivity to environmental input is provided by a class of genes, termed immediate early (IE) genes that are rapidly transcribed in response to a rich variety of external stimuli. The diversity of these stimuli makes it less clear how IE gene activation could be linked to a stimulus-specific response. Moreover, if these genes are to regulate long-term changes in neurons according to the functional characteristics of a neuronal circuit, their transcription must be specific not only in terms of the mode and intensity of stimulation, but also with respect to the particular temporal pattern of action potentials.
Evidence for an Active Carboxyl Group in Pepsin

Abstract The β-carboxyl group of a residue of aspartic acid appears to be esterified during the reversible inactivation of pepsin by p-bromophenacyl bromide.
Statistical Analysis: Multilevel Methods

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 22, pp. 14988–14994, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd., with an updated Bibliography supplied by the Editor.
Looking Both Ways: SSD 1999 ±10

Since the 1960s, researchers and practitioners in the geosciences have been working on computer solutions to match their specific needs. Commercial geographic information systems (GIS) are among the most important outcomes of these efforts. In those early years, computer scientists have been involved only marginally in the development of such systems. More generally speaking, cooperations between computer scientists and the geoscientific communities have traditionally been rare.
Interest Point Stability Prediction

Selective attention algorithms produce more interest points than are usable by many computer vision applications. This work suggests a method for ordering and selecting a subset of those interest points, simultaneously increasing the repeatability of that subset. The individual repeatability of a combination of 106 SIFT, Harris-Laplace, and Hessian-Laplace interest points are predicted using generalized linear models (GLMs). The models are produced by studying the 17 attributes of each interest point. Our goal is not to improve any particular algorithm, but to find attributes that affect affine and similarity invariance regardless of algorithm. The techniques explored in this research enable interest point detectors to improve mean repeatability of their algorithm by 4% using a rank-ordering produced by a GLM or by thresholding interest points using a set of five new thresholds. Selecting the top 1% of GLM-ranked Harris-Laplace interest points results in a repeatability improvement of 6%, to 92.4%.
Feedforward neural network for handwritten character recognition

An analysis of feedforward neural networks for handwritten character recognition was performed to improve the learning capability and accuracy of classification, which are limiting factors of back-propagation. The authors describe two methods which attempt to tackle the shortcomings of back-propagation yet keep the feedforward organization of the neural network. These methods give results comparable to back-propagation, while requiring less training time and a simpler architecture. The first method rejects any pattern which differs from the training data more than a threshold, established during training. The second method involves clustering techniques selecting the most representative patterns as cluster centers. Both methods present the design of a neural network for handwritten digit recognition, and are based on the Parzen window estimates defining the vector space for different classes. >
BotSwindler: tamper resistant injection of believable decoys in VM-based hosts for crimeware detection

We introduce BotSwindler, a bait injection system designed to delude and detect crimeware by forcing it to reveal during the exploitation of monitored information. The implementation of BotSwindler relies upon an out-of-host software agent that drives user-like interactions in a virtual machine, seeking to convince malware residing within the guest OS that it has captured legitimate credentials. To aid in the accuracy and realism of the simulations, we propose a low overhead approach, called virtual machine verification, for verifying whether the guest OS is in one of a predefined set of states.We present results from experiments with real credential-collecting malware that demonstrate the injection of monitored financial bait for detecting compromises. Additionally, using a computational analysis and a user study, we illustrate the believability of the simulations and we demonstrate that they are sufficiently human-like. Finally, we provide results from performance measurements to show our approach does not impose a performance burden.
The uterine contractility index: A research and diagnostic tool in dysmenorrhea

Women who experienced severe primary dysmenorrhea had 90 to 120 minutes of continuous uterine pressure monitoring during their peak period of discomfort. During the initial screening cycle, they were given 40 mg of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. The pressure tracings were analyzed by a newly proposed ratio, the contractility index. During the painful period, the contractility index averaged approximately 3. When relief was experienced, the contractility index fell to approximately 1.5. Women who experienced uncertain or slight relief had a contractility index of approximately 2. Relief was experienced by 69% of the women screened. A small double-blind, crossover study was carried out on seven of the women. This revealed different responses to the drug in consecutive cycles and suggests that increased prostaglandins are an expression of an underlying process, not consistent with a primary cause of dysmenorrhea.
Dissolution in a variably confined carbonate platform: effects of allogenic runoff, hydraulic damming of groundwater inputs, and surface–groundwater exchange at the basin scale

In variably confined carbonate platforms, impermeable confining units collect rainfall over large areas and deliver runoff to rivers or conduits in unconfined portions of platforms. Runoff can increase river stage or conduit heads in unconfined portions of platforms faster than local infiltration of rainfall can increase groundwater heads, causing hydraulic gradients between rivers, conduits and the aquifer to reverse. Gradient reversals cause flood waters to flow from rivers and conduits into the aquifer where they can dissolve limestone. Previous work on impacts of gradient reversals on dissolution has primarily emphasized individual caves and little research has been conducted at basin scales. To address this gap in knowledge, we used legacy data to assess how a gradient of aquifer confinement across the Suwannee River Basin, north-central Florida affected locations, magnitudes and processes of dissolution during 2005–2007, a period with extreme ranges of discharge. During intense rain events, runoff from the confining unit increased river stage above groundwater heads in unconfined portions of the platform, hydraulically damming inputs of groundwater along a 200 km reach of river. Hydraulic damming allowed allogenic runoff with SICAL < −4 to fill the entire river channel and flow into the aquifer via reversing springs. Storage of runoff in the aquifer decreased peak river discharges downstream and contributed to dissolution within the aquifer. Temporary storage of allogenic runoff in karst aquifers represents hyporheic exchange at a scale that is larger than found in streams flowing over non-karst aquifers because conduits in karst aquifers extend the area available for exchange beyond river beds deep into aquifers. Post-depositional porosity in variably confined carbonate platforms should thus be enhanced along rivers that originate on confining units. This distribution should be considered in models of porosity distribution used to manage water and hydrocarbon resources in carbonate rocks. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The End of Mexico's One-Party Regime

Vicente Fox's unexpected victory in Mexico's July 2, 2000 presidential elections put a definitive end to Mexico's one-party regime. Until now the longest ruling party in the world, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) failed to turn out those who have traditionally voted for PRI in numbers adequate to match the millions of Mexicans who voted for change by supporting Fox. The Fox win means that Mexico has accomplished the rare feat of ending an authoritarian regime by voting it out of office, an event that comes at the end of a process of building an electoral opposition to the former ruling party that stretches back nearly a quarter century. However, while Fox defeated his PRI rival, Francisco Labastida, by a healthy six-point margin—42.5 to 36.1% of votes cast—he failed to sweep in a majority of legislators from his Alliance for Change (a coalition of Fox's National Action Party [PAN] and the Mexican Green Party [PVEM]). Thus, Fox faces a congress in which he will need constantly to build majorities to support his legislative program and in which the threat of a deadlock will loom continually.
Menstrual Function and Pubertal Development in Congenital Cardiac Patients

Background As the population of children with congenital heart disease moves into adulthood, an emerging cohort of adolescents with unique problems needs to be addressed. This study examines menstrual function and pubertal development of females visiting a pediatric cardiology clinic. Methods Female patients (N = 143) aged to to 28 (median age = 13.8 yrs.) completed a 10-question gynecologic history. Exclusionary criteria included any form of hormonal treatment or concurrent diseases known to affect menstrual function. Control group comprised patients referred to the cardiology clinic and found not to have structural heart disease. Other pertinent clinical information was recorded during chart review. Patients were divided into 3 groups: cyanotic (n = 25), acyanotic (n = 66), and no (n = 52) heart disease (HD). Variables among the study groups were compared with ANOVA and Chi square analysis, and multiple regression was performed to assess their relationships to menstrual function and pubertal development. Results Women with a history of HD, and especially those with a history of cyanotic HD, had a significantly later age at menarche compared to those with no HD even while controlling for age and body mass index (BMI) (mean age at menarche: HD 12.94 yrs. vs no HD 12.10 yrs., p 3 yrs. were found to be 5 times more likely to have skipped at least one period within the past year as compared to those with acyanotic or no HD (p Conclusions Women with heart disease may have delayed pubertal milestones, later menarche, and increased likelihood for amenorrhea than women without heart disease. Primary care providers must be aware of the special needs of this population.
The Haitian connection

Haiti is a land of overwhelming poverty, lacking in resources and struggling with underdeveloped health care. Social and health care problems contribute to produce a high infant mortality and infectious disease rate. Trauma care is mostly nonexistent although injury is common. Experiences encountered while working with the local population in Haiti are described.
Enhanced statistics-based rate adaptation for 802.11 wireless networks

Rate adaptation is a common technique to exploit channel diversity in wireless networks. Despite the many rate adaptation algorithms proposed for 802.11 networks, statistics-based schemes remain the most widely adopted approaches in commercial 802.11 products due to their simplicity and practicality. However, statistics-based schemes suffer some disadvantages. Our previous research effort revealed the rate avalanche effect that could significantly degrade the network performance of heavily loaded 802.11 networks. In this work, we propose RADAR (Rate-Alert DynAmic Rts/cts exchange), a novel enhanced rate adaptation system that can effectively alleviate the impact of the rate avalanche effect. RADAR detects rate avalanche through maintaining a dynamic range-based mapping between rates and RSSI (received signal strength indicator) measurements. It judiciously exploits dynamic RTS/CTS exchanges to effectively suppress the rate avalanche effect while at the same time minimizes the transmission overhead of RTS/CTS exchanges. Being fully compatible with current 802.11 standards, RADAR can be readily implemented in the NIC driver. Through extensive simulations using realistic channel propagation and reception models, we demonstrate that RADAR is a practical and efficient performance enhancement approach for multi-rate 802.11 networks.
Features of Primary Vesicoureteric Reflux Detected by Prenatal Sonography

Summary— Primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) was detected by prenatal sonography in 34 infants (55 renal units); males accounted for 31 cases. Associated genitourinary anomalies were common, occurring in 29% of the patients. Some element of hydroureteronephrosis was noted at initial cystography in 89% of refluxing renal units, but the degree of renal abnormality at “Tc DMSA renography was not predicted by the severity of VUR. Overall, 60% of refluxing renal units were renographically abnormal. Although a high rate of urinary infection was encountered during follow-up, most DMSA assessments were carried out prior to infection and hence likely reflect congenital rather than acquired abnormalities. It was concluded that renal impairment associated with high grade primary VUR is frequently present at birth and not secondary to subsequent infection.
Room-temperature fluorescence and low-temperature phosphorescence properties of biphenyl and some polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract Room-temperature fluorescence (RTF) and low-temperature (77 K) phosphorescence (LTP) characteristics of biphenyl and some PCBs using hexane as a solvent are presented. The analytical figures of merit in addition to LTP lifetimes for biphenyl, nine congeners, and nine Aroclors are reported. It is found that low concentrations of each of these compounds can be determined either by RTF or LTP. The limits of detection are found to be between 0.08 and 6.0 ng/ml using RTF and 0.16 and 7.5 ng/ml using LTP. However, it is found that it is very difficult to determine one congener in the presence of others using either RTF or LTP.