cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtual I/O scheduler: a scheduler of schedulers for performance virtualization

Virtualized storage systems are required to service concurrently executing workloads, with potentially diverse data delivery requirements, that are running under multiple operating systems. Although a number of algorithms have been developed for I/O performance virtualization among operating system (OS) instances and their applications, none results in absolute performance virtualization. By absolute performance virtualization we mean that the performance experienced by applications of one operating system does not suffer due to variations in the I/O request stream characteristics of applications of other operating systems. Key requirements of I/O performance virtualization are fairness and performance isolation. In this paper, we present a novel virtual I/O scheduler (VIOS) that provides absolute performance virtualization by being fair in sharing I/O system resources among operating systems and their applications, and provides performance isolation in the face of variations in the characteristics of I/O streams. The VIOS controls the coarse grain allocation of disk time to the different operating system instances and is OS independent; optionally, a set of OS-dependent schedulers may determine the fine-grain interleaving of requests from the corresponding operating systems to the storage system.
Computer-simulated hopping in a random one-dimensional system

Classical single-particle hopping has been investigated by Monte Carlo calculations for a one-dimensional (1D) lattice with random nearest-neighbor hopping rates $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ distributed as ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ between ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}$ in accordance with the recent theory of Bernasconi et al. We find agreement if the minimum rate ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{1}$ is finite, but not for ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{1}=0$. We show that the predicted $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}(\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0)$ limit is not reached until extraordinarily long times, much longer than the $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of the simulations; so this, rather than an incorrect theoretical $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limit, is the likely cause of the discrepancy. Implications for observance of the predicted conductivity transition in potassium hollandite are discussed.
Structured light imaging in turbid water

Scattering of light in the ocean may make the application of structured light ranging methods difficult. An analysis is presented which approximates the effect of backscatter on the signal-to-noise ratio at the camera. Theory as well as laboratory observations indicate that a single scanning light stripe can be used to avoid a substancial part of the backscatter.
SU‐E‐J‐48: Measurement of Radiation Induced Pulmonary Function Change from 4DCT

Purpose: 4DCT can be used to measure pulmonary function change following radiation therapy for adaptive treatment planning. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of the measurement variation and compare the planned radiationdose and pulmonary function change due to radiation not measurement variation. Methods: Two 4DCT data sets before RT scanned with thirty minutes break and one 4DCT data set acquired 5 months after RT from one patient were used in this study. Tissue volume and vesselness preserving image registration algorithm was applied to register the maximum inhalation image to the maximum exhalation image for the calculation of local lung expansion as a measurement of regional pulmonary function (PF). The pulmonary function changes (PFC) before RT and after RT were calculated via the PF ratio between two 4DCT scans. The radiation induced pulmonary function change (RI‐PFC) is calculated from PFC after RT by filtering measurement variation calculated in PFC before RT. We compared the RI‐PFC with planned radiationdose at the contralteral/ipsilateral lung, and the upper/lower lobes of the ipsilateral lung. Results: Significant measurement difference is found between lobes in the same ipsilateral lung. For the contralateral lung in the RI‐PFC region, the average radiationdose is 2.5 Gy and the average PFC value is 1.10. For the ipsilateral lung in the RI‐PFC region, left upper lobe shows the average ration dose as 59.1 Gy with average PFC value 0.9, and the left lower lobe shows the average ration dose as with 2.5 Gy the average PFC value 1.14. Conclusions: We described a technique that uses 4DCT, image registration and biomechanical analysis to measure regional pulmonary function change. We compared the radiation induced pulmonary function change to the planned radiationdose distribution and examined the differences in different lungs, and at the lobar level. This work was supported in part by NIH grant HL079406 and EB004126.
Utilizing DVD players as low-cost offline internet browsers

In the developing world, computers and Internet access remain rare. However, there are other devices that can be used to deliver information, including TVs and DVD players. In this paper, we work to bridge this gap by delivering offline Internet content on DVD, for interactive playback on ordinary DVD players. Using the remote control, users can accomplish all of the major functions available in a Web browser, including navigation, hyperlinks, and search. As our driving application, we map the entirety of schools-wikipedia.org - encompassing 5,500 articles and 259,000 screens - to a double-layer DVD. We evaluate our system via a study of 20 low-income users in Bangalore, India. Using our DVD as reference, participants are able to answer factual questions with over 90% success. While most participants prefer to use a computer if one is available, for resource-poor environments the DVD platform could represent a viable and low-cost alternative.
The roles of organic matter in the formation of uranium deposits in sedimentary rocks

Abstract Because reduced uranium species have a much smaller solubility than oxidized uranium species and because of the strong association of organic matter (a powerful reductant) with many uranium ores, reduction has long been considered to be the precipitation mechanism for many types of uranium deposits. Organic matter may also be involved in the alterations in and around tabular uranium deposits, including dolomite precipitation, formation of silicified layers, iron-titanium oxide destruction, dissolution of quartz grains, and precipitation of clay minerals. The diagenetic processes that produced these alterations also consumed organic matter. Consequently, those tabular deposits that underwent the more advanced stages of diagenesis, including methanogenesis and organic acid generation, display the greatest range of alterations and contain the smallest amount of organic matter. Because of certain similarities between tabular uranium deposits and Precambrian unconformity-related deposits, some of the same processes might have been involved in the genesis of Precambrian unconformity-related deposits. Hydrologic studies place important constraints on genetic models of various types of uranium deposits. In roll-front deposits, oxidized waters carried uranium to reductants (organic matter and pyrite derived from sulfate reduction by organic matter). After these reductants were oxidized at any point in the host sandstone, uranium minerals were reoxidized and transported further down the flow path to react with additional reductants. In this manner, the uranium ore migrated through the sandstone at a rate slower than the mineralizing ground water. In the case of tabular uranium deposits, the recharge of surface water into the ground water during flooding of lakes carried soluble humic material to the water table or to an interface where humate precipitated in tabular layers. These humate layers then established the chemical conditions for mineralization and related alterations. In the case of Precambrian unconformity-related deposits, free thermal convection in the thick sandstones overlying the basement rocks carried uranium to concentrations of organic matter in the basement rocks.
Hydrophobicity drives the cellular uptake of short cationic peptide ligands.

Short cationic linear peptide analogs (LPAs, prepared as Arg-C n -Arg-C n -Lys, where C n represents an alkyl linkage with n = 4, 7 or 11) were synthesized and tested in human breast carcinoma BT-20 and CCRF-CEM leukemia cells for their application as targeting ligands. With constant LPA charge (+4), increasing the alkyl linkage increases the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and provides a systematic means of examining combined electrostatic and hydrophobic peptide–membrane interactions. Fluorescently conjugated LPA-C11 (F-LPA-C11) demonstrated significant uptake, whereas there was negligible uptake of the shorter LPAs. By varying temperature (4°C and 37°C) and cell type, the results suggest that LPA-C11 internalization is nonendocytic and nonspecific. The effect of LPA binding on the phase behavior, structure, and permeability of model membranes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPC/DPPS, 85/15) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and fluorescence leakage studies to gain insight into the LPA uptake mechanism. While all LPAs led to phase separation, LPA-C11, possessing the longest alkyl linkage, was able to penetrate into the bilayer and caused holes to form, which led to membrane disintegration. This was confirmed by rapid and complete dye release by LPA-C11. We propose that LPA-C11 achieves uptake by anchoring to the membrane via hydrophobicity and forming transient membrane voids. LPAs may be advantageous as drug transporter ligands because they are small, water soluble, and easy to prepare.
Evaluation of a two-dimensional kinematic cloud model using data from a central Sierra Nevada orographic cloud system

Abstract A two-dimensional kinematic cloud model was developed to include snowflake growth by aggregation as well as riming and vapor deposition. The model includes new parameterizations of ice crystals and aggregates of ice crystals. The model was run and evaluated using a dataset gathered by the Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project (SCPP). The model was tested for its sensitivity to two model parameters, a constant relating the mean mass of collected ice crystals to the mean mass of all ice crystals in the cloud, and an ice nucleation rate constant. Varying the collection constant by a factor of 2.5 had only minor effects on the model behavior, but varying the ice nucleation rate by a factor of 50 had significant effects on the relative importance of riming and vapor deposition growth. Two problems that did develop in the model were the result of the model's bulk microphysical assumptions relating graupel and raindrop size to the magnitude of the mixing ratio, so that small concentrations behaved as cloud p...
Broadcasting Modernity: Cuban Television, 1950-1953

The essay argues that through television questions about Cuban modernity entailed issues of technology, class, race, gender, morality, sexuality, and geography, as well as the nation's relationship to the United States and to other Latin American countries.
Spontaneous Autoimmune Disease in FcγRIIB-Deficient Mice Results from Strain-Specific Epistasis

By virtue of its ability to couple the BCR to an inhibitory pathway, FcgammaRIIB can potentially determine the fate of B cells upon IgG immune complex engagement. We now provide evidence for FcgammaRIIB as a component of a peripheral tolerance pathway with the observation that RIIB-/- mice develop autoantibodies and autoimmune glomerulonephritis in a strain-dependent fashion. Transfer of the autoimmune phenotype is associated with the presence of donor RIIB-/- B cells, with the RIIB+/+ myeloid cells primarily derived from the recipient. These results suggest that deficiency of RIIB on B cells leads to autoimmune disease in specific genetic backgrounds, thus identifying it as a susceptibility factor under the influence of epistatic modifiers for the development of autoimmunity.
Damage to the fronto-polar cortex is associated with impaired multitasking.

Background A major question in understanding the functional organization of the brain is to delineate the functional divisions of the prefrontal cortex. Of particular importance to the cognitive capacities that are uniquely human is the fronto-polar cortex (Brodmann's area 10), which is disproportionally larger in humans relative to the rest of the brain than it is in the ape's brain. The specific function of this brain region remains poorly understood, but recent neuroimaging studies have proposed that it may hold goals in mind while exploring and processing secondary goals. Principal Findings Here we show that the extent of damage to the fronto-polar cortex predicts impairment in the management of multiple goals. This result reveals that the integrity of the fronto-polar cortex is necessary to perform tasks that require subjects to maintain a primary goal in mind while processing secondary goals, an ability which is crucial for complex human cognitive abilities. Conclusion/Significance These results provide important new insights concerning the cerebral basis of complex human cognition such as planning and multitasking.
Effect of ototopic application of a corticosteroid preparation on cochlear function

The ototoxicity of the corticosteroid triamcinolone diacetate was investigated using the compound action potential (CAP) of the auditory nerve as a parameter when the drug was applied to the middle ear cavity of the chinchilla. Comparison with the contralateral ear, instilled with Ringer's solution, demonstrated no significant difference in the threshold, amplitude, and latency of the CAP responses at the overall frequencies tested. In addition, the side difference of the CAP threshold in individual animals showed that this corticosteroid did not induce cochlear dysfunction in any case.
Design and implementation of a programming contest for high school students

The Computer Science Department at Northwest Missouri State University sponsors a computer programming contest each spring for area high school students. The contest draws about 250 people each year. The Olympiad has provided valuable student contact for the Computer Science faculty. The Computer Science Department views the Olympiad as a very powerful recruiting tool for the university. This paper will address the development of the Computer Science Olympiad at Northwest Missouri State University.
Growth cones utilize both widespread and local directional cues in the zebrafish brain.

The distribution of cues that provide directional information for specific growth cones in the zebrafish brain was functionally assayed by transplanting epiphysial neurons to ectopic locations in the embryonic brain followed by determining the pathways taken by the donor axons. Epiphysial axons normally first extend ventrally from their position in the dorsal diencephalon and then turn and extend anteriorly in the ventral diencephalon. When transplanted to ectopic sites at other axial levels of the brain, where in principle the axons could extend in any direction, epiphysial axons consistently extended ventrally. Furthermore, following initial ventral extension ectopic epiphysial axons turned randomly in the anterior and posterior directions. These results suggest that the cues for ventral extension are widely distributed along the rostrocaudal axis of the zebrafish brain, but the cues for subsequent anterior extension are restricted to the site where the epiphysial axons normally turn longitudinally.
Assessing sloth bears as surrogates for carnivore conservation in Sri Lanka

Abstract Bears are large, charismatic mammals whose presence often garners conservation attention. Because healthy bear populations typically require large, contiguous areas of habitat, land conservation actions often are assumed to benefit co-occurring species, including other mammalian carnivores. However, we are not aware of an empirical test of this assumption. We used remote camera data from 2 national parks in Sri Lanka to test the hypothesis that the frequency of detection of sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) is associated with greater richness of carnivore species. We focused on mammalian carnivores because they play a pivotal role in the stability of ecological communities and are among Sri Lanka's most endangered species. Seven of Sri Lanka's carnivores are listed as endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened, and little empirical information exists on their status and distribution. During 2002–03, we placed camera traps at 152 sites to document carnivore species presence. We used Poisson regressio...
Survey of LATCH vehicle hardware

Ninety-eight 2010–2011 model year vehicles were surveyed to evaluate the usability of hardware known as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, or LATCH, required by US FMVSS 225. Most vehicles do not provide LATCH hardware beyond the minimum number of required seating positions. Only seven vehicles had three sets of LATCH hardware in the second row. In 21 vehicles with third rows, four had no tether anchors and 11 had no lower anchors in the third row. Relative to proposed the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommendations, 59 vehicles met the recommended lower attachment force of 75 N or less but only 2 vehicles met the recommended clearance angle of at least 75o. The depth of lower anchors relative to the bight was less than 2 cm in 28 vehicles, 2–4 cm in 34 vehicles and greater than 4 cm in 36 vehicles. Most tether anchors were on the seat back (42) or rear filler panel (35).
Spin susceptibility in superconductors

The wave-vector-dependent spin susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}(q)$ of a superconductor in one, two, and three dimensions is calculated numerically. These calculations show that for large $q\ensuremath{\sim}{k}_{F}$, where ${k}_{F}$ is the Fermi momentum, $\ensuremath{\chi}(q)$ is essentially the same as that in the normal state, indicating that for distances $r\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}$ (${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}$ the coherence length), Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida coupling between magnetic atoms is essentially unchanged by superconductivity of the system. In one and two dimensions we find a reduction in $\ensuremath{\chi}(q)$ at very small $q$, whose structure affects any possible cryptomagnetic order of the type suggested by Anderson and Suhl for the case of three dimensions. In three dimensions our calculation verifies the validity of the approximate $\ensuremath{\chi}(q)$ of Anderson and Suhl in the appropriate $q$ region. For small $q$, $\ensuremath{\chi}(q)$ shows a much stronger dependence on $q$ for lower dimensions than in the three-dimensional case, which has a bearing on the range of magnetic ordering, and may be relevant to rare-earth materials with Fermi-surface "nesting."
The role of multi-purpose solutions in prevention and removal of lipid depositions on contact lenses

The sorption and desorption of radiolabeled dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol (CH) were measured on 5 types of commercial contact lenses. The lenses were soaked in vitro in an artificial tear fluid for 16h. The effects of borate buffered saline and two commercial multi-purpose lens-care solutions (MPSs) on reducing the lipid (DPPC and CH) sorption and increasing the lipid removal were examined. The results showed that silicone hydrogel (SiHy) lenses accumulated the most lipids, sorbing over an order of magnitude more than polymacon, a conventional hydrogel lens. Pre-soaking the SiHy lenses for 16h in MPSs reduced the DPPC sorption by up to 13% and the CH sorption by up to 11%, compared to controls that were not pre-soaked. However neither these reductions nor those on polymacon were statistically significant (p>0.05). In sorption experiments without presoaking, subsequent exposure to the MPSs removed some DPPC from the lenses (0-3.1% for SiHy lenses and 14-55% for polymacon), but CH removal was 0.0-0.8% for SiHy lenses and 0.6-28% for polymacon lenses. Some of these removals were statistically significant (p<0.05).
Optimal Disturbance Attenuation for Discrete-Time Switched and Markovian Jump Linear Systems

An exact condition for uniform stabilization and disturbance attenuation for switched linear systems is given in the discrete-time domain via the union of an increasing family of linear matrix inequality conditions. Associated with each Markovian jump linear system is a switched linear system, so we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for almost sure uniform stabilization and disturbance attenuation for Markovian jump linear systems as well. The results lead to semidefinite programming-based controller synthesis techniques, from which optimal finite-path-dependent linear dynamic output feedback controllers arise naturally. In particular, under the notion of path-by-path optimal disturbance attenuation, finite-path-dependent controllers can outperform the usual mode-dependent ones.
Structural and flux-pinning properties of laser ablated YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films: Effects of self-assembled CeO2 nanodots on LaAlO3 substrates

Self-assembled nanodots of CeO{sub 2} on (1 0 0) LaAlO{sub 3} substrates, generated in situ by means of a pulsed laser deposition method prior to the deposition of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} (YBCO) films, have been used to modify the superconducting properties of resulting YBCO films. Structural characterization has indicated that CeO{sub 2} layers grow via van der Merwe three-dimensional mode and the islands eventually acquire a pancake type of structure with lateral dimension several times larger than vertical dimension. The three-dimensional growth of CeO{sub 2} islands with (1 0 0) preferred orientation is believed to be associated with its surface energy anisotropy. The magnetization versus temperature and magnetization versus field measurements and analysis have suggested that CeO{sub 2} can affect the superconducting properties of YBCO films favorably or adversely depending on the density of CeO{sub 2} nanodots on the substrate surfaces prior to the deposition of YBCO films.
Analytic Properties of The OCP Ionic Mixtures in the Strongly Coupled Fluid State

Exact results for the Madelung constants and first order anharmonic energies are given for the inverse power potentials with the Coulomb potential as the softest example. Similar exact results are obtained using the analysis of Rosenfeld on the {Gamma} {yields} {infinity} limit for the OCP internal energy, direct correlation function, screening function, and bridge functions. Knowing these exact limits for the fluid phase of the OCP allows one to determine the nature of the thermal corrections to the strongly coupled results. Solutions of the HNC equation modified with the hard sphere bridge function give an example.
Existence theory of the linear equations appearing in the Chapman-Enskog solutions to two kinetic equations for liquids

The linear operators appearing in the Chapman-Enskog solutions to Kirkwood's Fokker-Planck kinetic equation and to Rice and Allnatt's kinetic equation are studied in this article. Existence proofs are given for the linearized Chapman-Enskog equations involving either the Fokker-Planck or the Rice-Allnatt operators. It is shown that the Fokker-Planck and Rice-Allnatt operators, defined in the domain appropriate to kinetic theory, are essentially self-adjoint. It is also shown that the spectrum of either of these operators coincides with the spectrum of the self-adjoint extension of the corresponding operator.
Creating and synthesizing evidence with decision makers in mind: integrating evidence from clinical trials and other study designs.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain the accepted “gold standard” for determining the efficacy of new drugs or medical procedures. Randomized trials alone, however, cannot provide all the relevant information decision makers need to determine the relative risks and benefits when choosing the best treatment of individual patients or weighing the implications of particular policies affecting medical therapies. Objectives: To demonstrate the limitations of RCTs in providing the information needed by medical decision makers, and to show how information from observational studies can supplement evidence from RCTs. Methods: Qualitative description of the limitations of RCTs in providing the information needed by medical decision makers, and demonstration of how evidence from additional sources can aid in decision making, using the examples of deciding whether a 60-year-old woman with mildly elevated blood pressure should take daily low-dose aspirin, and whether a hospital network should implement carotid artery surgery for asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: Even the most rigorously designed RCTs leave many questions central to medical decision making unanswered. Research using cohort and case-control designs, disease and intervention registries, and outcomes studies based on administrative data can all shed light on who is most likely to benefit from the treatment, and what the important tradeoffs are. This suggests the need to revise the traditional evidence hierarchy, whereby evidence progresses linearly from basic research to rigorous RCTs. This revised hierarchy recognizes that other research designs can provide important evidence to strengthen our understanding of how to apply research findings in practice.
Modeling and damage repair of woven thermoplastic composites subjected to low velocity impact

Abstract The low velocity impact behavior of three layer thermoplastic laminates consisting of woven glass fiber and polypropylene has been investigated for two different fiber volume configurations. Panels with configurations of 50/50 and 20/80 in the warp and fill directions were subjected to low velocity impact energies between 4 and 16 J using an instrumented dropping weight impact tower. Load vs. displacement plots showed the excellent energy absorbing capabilities exhibited by the woven composites. Both configurations dissipated approximately 75% of the 16 J incident impact energy. An energy-balance model was used to successfully predict the impact response of the woven thermoplastic composites. The impact damaged plates were tested under four point bend (4 PB) loading conditions. Results showed a reduction in flexural strength and modulus as the impact energy increased. A simple compression molding damage repair process was applied to the 16 J impacted composite plates. 4 PB testing of the repaired samples revealed a significant recovery in the flexural strength and modulus of the thermoplastic woven composite with both fiber configurations.
Teacher Practices and Student Motivation in a Middle School Program for African American Males

An instructional program emphasizing African American history and culture was examined to determine the classroom experiences that were present as well as the program's impact on achievement motivation. Ethnic minority middle school students (N = 18) and their teacher participated. Data included a semi structured teacher interview and student measures of self-perceptions of competence and intrinsic motivation. Students displayed average levels of perceived competence and intrinsic motivation; however, these two constructs were weakly related. The teacher endorsed moderate levels of student autonomy and academic competition. Findings were discussed in relationship to cognitive evaluation theory and the motivation-enhancing elements of this program.
Interface-enabled defect reduction in He ion irradiated metallic multilayers

Metallic multilayers are good model systems to explore the effects of heterophase interfaces in reducing radiation damage in structural materials. We summarize recent studies on radiation damage in immiscible face-centered cubic/body-centered cubic metallic multilayers, in particular Cu/V and Cu/Nb. These multilayers have shown unique characteristics compared to bulk metals under irradiation, including several orders of magnitude higher He solid solubility, dramatic reduction of bubble density, interface confined growth of He bubbles, and much lower radiation hardening. The mechanisms for interface enhanced radiation tolerance are briefly discussed.
Quantitation of leukotaxis in agarose by three different methods.

Abstract The agarose method for measuring chemotaxis has been rigorously examined by a variety of quantitative approaches, including measurements of the distance of cell migration (‘leading front’), counts of total numbers of migrated cells, and counts of migrated cells in single planes. These methodologies are described in detail. It is demonstrated for the first time that the results are dependent on the concentration of chrmotactic factor. Results obtained by the three quantitative methods are similar. Measurement of cells migrating in a single plane is preferable because this method is reliable and relatively simple. The assay conforms to a pattern determined by checkerboard analysis that confirms a true chemotactic response.
Relativistic local spin density functional calculations of dipole oscillator strengths in alkaline earth isoelectronic series

The relativistic local spin density functional with correlation energy has been used in conjunction with the concept of Slater transition state to calculate the (ns→np) dipole oscillator strength in the isoelectronic series corresponding to Be (n=2), Mg (n=3), Ca (n=4), Sr (n=5), Ba (n=6) and Ra (n=7) respectively. Up to three positive ions have been included in each series. A comparison with experimental and other theoretical values including correlation, relativistic and core polarization effects suggest that LSD approximation leads to reliable estimates of the dipole oscillator strengths.
The decision to attempt interpersonal control: the case of nonsmoker−smoker interactions

Recent theory and research indicate that people are more likely to attempt interpersonal control when that behavior is supported by contextual cues. Related work suggests that individuals feel most comfortable with their behavior when contextual cues are congruent and their behavior is congruent with these clear cues. These hypotheses were tested in the context of smoker-nonsmoker interactions, with degree of support for attempting control manipulated via a 2 x 2 factorial design. Rules of the situation were varied through placement of either a "Smoking Permitted" or "No Smoking" sign in the experimental room. interpersonal cues from the smoker (a research confederate) were manipulated when the smoker either did or did not ask for permission to smoke. As expected, nonsmokers were more likely to ask the smoker not to smoke when both situational rules and interpersonal cues supported them. Task performance, tolerance to frustration, and mood were assessed as indicators of short-term stress. As hypothesized,...
The Effect of Macromolecular Architecture on Functional Group Accessibility: Hydrogen Bonding in Blends Containing Phenolic Photoresist Polymers

An investigation of phenolic functional group accessibility in linear poly(4-hydroxy styrene) (PHS) and novel, branched poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS-B) is presented. The phase behavior and extent of hydrogen bonding in blends of PHS-B with complimentary Lewis base polymers are calculated from glass transition temperature (Tg) enhancements measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The fraction of PHS-B hydroxyls accessible for hydrogen bonding were compared to linear PHS chains and small molecular weight analogs to help establish a molecular architecture-functional group accessibility property relationship for use with dissolution inhibition in candidate microlithographic photoresist binders. Design approaches to macromolecular structure and architecture for tailored intermolecular interactions in phenolic systems are discussed with respect to the effects of local steric screening as well as an intriguing thermodynamic competition between inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding via molecular mechanics modeling.
Rheology and Photo-Cross-Linking of Thiol-Ene Polymers

A dynamic rheological technique, Fourier transform mechanical spectroscopy (FTMS), was used to monitor in real time the evolving rheological properties during UV cross-linking of two thiol−ene systems. These systems comprised a trifunctional thiol (trimethylolpropane tris(2-mercaptoacetate)) together with a trifunctional allyl monomer (triallyl isocyanurate) and a tetrafunctional thiol (pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercaptoacetate)) with the same allyl monomer. FTMS, in conjunction with specially designed quartz plates, provided an in situ method to elucidate the effects of temperature and monomer functionality on the photoinitiated polymerization of these systems. It was found that the tetrafunctional thiol system cross-linked at a faster rate than the trifunctional thiol system over the temperature range (25−50 °C) studied. Moreover, increasing the temperature increased the cross-linking rates for both systems. The Winter−Chambon criterion was applied to determine the gel point and the two parameters whic...
A combination of midazolam and ketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in adult emergency department patients.

Objective To describe the clinical characteristics of a combination of midazolam and ketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in adult emergency department (ED) patients. Methods This was a prospective, observational trial, conducted in the ED of an urban level II trauma center. Patients > or = 18 years of age requiring procedural sedation and analgesia were eligible, and enrolled patients received 0.07 mg/kg of intravenous midazolam followed by 2 mg/kg of intravenous ketamine. Vital signs were recorded at regular intervals. The adequacy of sedation, adverse effects, patient satisfaction, and time to reach discharge alertness were determined. Descriptive statistics were calculated using statistical analysis software. Results Seventy-seven patients were enrolled. Three were excluded due to protocol violations, three due to lack of documentation, and one due to subcutaneous infiltration of ketamine, leaving 70 patients for analysis. The average age was 31 years, and 41 (59%) were female. Indications for procedural sedation and analgesia included abscess incision and drainage (66%), fracture/joint reduction (26%), and other (8%). The mean dose of midazolam was 5.6 +/- 1.4 mg and the mean dose of ketamine was 159 +/- 42 mg. The mean time to achieve discharge criteria was 64 +/- 24 minutes. Five patients experienced mild emergence reactions, but there were no episodes of hallucinations, delirium, or other serious emergence reactions. Eighteen (25%) patients recalled dreaming while sedated; twelve (17%) were described as pleasant, two (3%) unpleasant, three (4%) both pleasant and unpleasant, and one (1%) neither pleasant nor unpleasant. There were four (6%) cases of respiratory compromise, two (3%) episodes of emesis, and one (1%) case of myoclonia. All of these were transient and did not result in a change in the patient's disposition. Only one (1%) patient indicated that she was not satisfied with the sedation regimen. Conclusions The combination of midazolam and ketamine provides effective procedural sedation and analgesia in adult ED patients, and appears to be safe.
Hypothalamic and brain thyrotropin-releasing hormone content and pituitary-thyroid function in histidine-deficient rats.

Because starvation is known to depress pituitary-thyroid function, and the essential amino acid histidine is a precursor of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, pyroglutamyl-histidyl-prolinamide) we tested the hypothesis that histidine deficiency would decrease the secretion of TRH, and influence its concentration in extrahypothalamic brain. Rats given an histidine-deficient diet ad libitum for 4 days lost weight compared with controls (−25 ±3 vs. +15 ± 4g; P < 0.001), showed a reduction in serum histidine (4.8 ± 0.9 vs. 11.6 ± 0.6 μg/ml; P < 0.01) and brain histidine (2.4 ± 0.6 vs. 4.7 ± 0.7 μg/g; P < 0.05), and a lowered serum thyroxine (T4) level (4.5 ± 0.4 vs. 5.7 ± 0.4 μg/dl; P < 0.05), with non-significant reductions in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and triiodothyronine (T3). However, there were no significant changes in the immunoreactive TRH levels in brain, hypothalamus and stalk median eminence (SME). In a second experiment lasting 9 days in which the controls were pair-fed, with both g...
The use of concept maps as a tool for understanding conceptual change in pre-service elementary teachers on the concept of density

In this article, the researcher will report on methods for scoring concept maps to assess conceptual change in preservice elementary teachers' understanding of the concept of density. The researcher used the method of Total Proposition Accuracy (TPA) scoring to assess conceptual understanding of density prior to and post instruction. The researcher categorized students' misconceptions about density as either spontaneous or scientific concepts using Vygotsky's (1987) theory of concept development. The researcher used a paired sample t-test analysis and determined that after instructional intervention, students demonstrated statistically significant improvement from pre- to post-concept maps (t = -2.89, p = .005). Some spontaneous concepts that appeared on pre-concept maps were either reduced or eliminated on post-concept maps; other spontaneous concepts proved to be more robust and persisted after intervention. Although small, statistically significant gains were noted in the t-test analysis; these findings suggest that elementary preservice teachers' content knowledge about density is weak; the average TPA score after receiving instruction was one proposition (n = 56), and many teachers continued to hold the same misconceptions post-instruction as did other K-12 students who participated in other studies. After receiving instructional intervention, the majority of students who participated in this study used the emerging concept of the density formula (67%) to define density, and others (30%) used procedural information that was featured in the lesson activities. The two robust misconceptions about density related to confusing density and buoyancy to explain the phenomena of floating and sinking (42%) and confusing density with heaviness, mass, and weight (23%). Only 4% of students used the scientific definition of property of matter to define density correctly. These results suggest that teachers have well-developed idiosyncratic conceptions about density that will take considerable time and effort to reduce or eliminate. Based on the results of this research, the researcher recommends that teacher training programs help preservice teachers improve their elementary content knowledge about density by focusing on the Archimedes principle during content course instruction.
Facilitating smoking cessation in cancer patients

Smoking is directly attributable to almost one third of cancer deaths, including causal relationships with cancers of the lung, oral cavity, larynx, and oesophagus, and linkages to cancers of the bladder, pancreas, kidney, stomach, and uterine cervix.1 2Treating nicotine addiction is an obvious component of any disease management program for cancer patients, but also requires explicit and sensitive tailoring to meet patient needs. Lung cancer patients who smoke often experience tremendous guilt and responsibility for their disease, and feel it might be too late for them. Others, like head and neck cancer patients, may not be aware of the relation of their smoking to their cancer. By discussing the causal risk factors related to their disease and how …
Identification of chronic stress-activated regions reveals a potential recruited circuit in rat brain

Chronic stress induces presynaptic and postsynaptic modifications in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus that are consistent with enhanced excitatory hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis drive. The brain regions mediating these molecular modifications are not known. We hypothesized that chronic variable stress (CVS) tonically activates stress-excitatory regions that interact with the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, culminating in stress facilitation. In order to identify chronically activated brain regions, ΔFosB, a documented marker of tonic neuronal activation, was assessed in known stress regulatory limbic and brainstem sites. Four experimental groups were included: CVS, repeated restraint (RR) (control for HPA habituation), animals weight-matched (WM) to CVS animals (control for changes in circulating metabolic factors due to reduced weight gain), and non-handled controls. CVS, (but not RR or WM) induced adrenal hypertrophy, indicating that sustained HPA axis drive only occurred in the CVS group. CVS (but not RR or WM) selectively increased the number of FosB/ΔFosB nuclei in the nucleus of the solitary tract, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, and both the infralimbic and prelimbic divisions of the medial prefrontal cortex, indicating an involvement of these regions in chronic drive of the HPA axis. Increases in FosB/ΔFosB-immunoreactive cells were observed following both RR and CVS in the other regions (e.g. the dorsomedial hypothalamus), suggesting activation by both habituating and non-habituating stress conditions. The data suggest that unpredictable stress uniquely activates interconnected cortical, hypothalamic, and brainstem nuclei, potentially revealing the existence of a recruited circuitry mediating chronic drive of brain stress effector systems.
Evaluating hospital pharmacy staffing and work scheduling using simulation

With increasing healthcare costs, an aging population, and a shortage of trained personnel it is becoming increasingly important for hospital pharmacy management to make good operational decisions. In the case of hospital in-patient pharmacies, making decisions about staffing and work scheduling is difficult due to the complexity of the systems used and the variation in the orders to be filled. In order to help BroMenn Healthcare make decisions about staffing and work scheduling a simulation model was created to analyze the impact of alternate work schedules. The model estimates the effect of changes to staffing and work scheduling on the amount of time medication orders take to process. The goal is to use the simulation to help BroMenn find the best schedule to get medications to the patients as quickly as possible by using pharmacy staff effectively.
Integration of Sustainability Into Early Design Through the Function Impact Matrix

The issue of environmental sustainability, which is unprecedented in both magnitude and complexity, presents one of the biggest challenges faced by modern society. Design engineers can make significant contributions by incorporating environmental awareness into product and process development. It is critical that engineers make a paradigm shift in product design from centering on cost and performance to balancing economic, environmental, and societal considerations. Although there have been quite a few designs for environment (or ecodesign) tools developed, so far, these tools have only achieved limited industrial penetration. The present-day methods are either too qualitative to offer concrete solutions and not effective for designers with limited experience or too quantitative, costly, and time consuming. Thus, current ecodesign tools cannot be implemented during the early design phases. This paper develops a novel, semiquantitative ecodesign methodology that is targeted specifically toward the early stages of the design process. The new methodology is a combination of environmental life cycle assessment and visual tools such as quality function deployment, functional-component matrix, and Pugh chart. Since the early design process is function-oriented, a new visual tool called the function impact matrix has been developed to correlate environmental impacts with product function. Redesign of office staplers for reduced carbon footprint has been selected as a case study to demonstrate the use of the proposed approach. Life cycle assessment results confirm that the new stapler design generated using this methodology promotes improved environmental performance.
THYROTOXIC PERIODIC PARALYSIS: A REVIEW OF CASES IN THE LAST DECADE

ABSTRACT Objective: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare condition characterized by severe muscle weakness and life-threatening hypokalemia in uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Given the life-threatening potential of this condition, it is important to better characterize its presentation, management, and likelihood for complications to aid in quicker diagnosis and optimize medical management. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of TPP that occurred at 3 hospitals from 2004 to 2014. Patients included were those presenting with weakness and hypokalemia who were found to have thyrotoxicosis. Results: Nine cases of TPP were identified including 7 Hispanic males and 1 African American male. Six patients developed complications of therapy with rebound hyperkalemia. TPP was the first presentation of thyrotoxicosis for 5 patients. The remaining 4 patients with known hyperthyroidism admitted to several weeks of medication nonadherence prior to their episode of TPP. Conclusion: Our study suggests that TPP may be more common in other ethnicities than previously described, with the majority of our cases occurring in Hispanic males. Physicians should be wary of rebound hyperkalemia as it is a common complication of therapy. Because hypokalemia is related to a transcellular shift and not total body depletion of potassium, supplementation with potassium should be done slowly. Early concurrent treatment with nonselective beta-blockers should be employed, and standardized hospital potassium replacement protocols should be avoided. TPP may be the first sign of thyrotoxicosis. All patients with weakness and hypokalemia should undergo thyroid function testing. Abbreviations: ICD International Classification of Disease ICU intensive care unit TPP thyrotoxic periodic paralysis
Asystolic Cardiac Arrest of Unknown Duration in Profound Hypothermia and Polysubstance Overdose: A Case Report of Complete Recovery

Patient: Male, 20 Final Diagnosis: Asystolic cardiac arrest in profound hypothermia and poly-substance overdose Symptoms: Cardiac arrest • cardiac arrhythmia Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Endotracheal intubation • hemodialysis Specialty: Critical Care Medicine Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Opioid addiction and overdose is a serious problem worldwide. Fatal overdoses from opioids are responsible for numerous deaths and are increasing, especially if taken in combination with other psychoactive substances. Combined with environmental exposure, opioid overdose can cause profound hypothermia. Opioid abuse and other drugs of abuse impair thermoregulation, leading to severe hypothermia. Both drug overdose and severe hypothermia can cause cardiac arrest. Case Report: We report a case of 20-year-old man with history of polysubstance abuse presenting with severe hypothermia and asystole of unknown duration with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) achieved after 28 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Urine toxicology was positive for cocaine, heroin, and benzodiazepine, along with positive blood alcohol level. The patient was rewarmed using non-invasive techniques. Hospital course was complicated by acute renal failure (ARF), severe rhabdomyolysis, severe hyperkalemia, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), shock liver, coagulopathy, and aspiration pneumonia. Conclusions: Survival with full cardiovascular and neurologic recovery after a cardiac arrest caused by drug overdose in the setting of severe hypothermia is still possible, even if the cardiac arrest is of unknown or prolonged duration. Patients with severe hypothermia experiencing cardiac arrest/hemodynamic instability can be rewarmed using non-invasive methods and may not necessarily need invasive rewarming techniques.