cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(+-)-(1 alpha,2 beta,3 alpha)-9-[2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-cyclobutyl] guanine [(+-)-BHCG or SQ 33,054]: a potent and selective inhibitor of herpesviruses.

Abstract (±)-(1α,2β,3α)-9-[2,3- bis (hydroxymethyl)cyclobutyl]guanine [(±)-BHCG or SQ 33 054] is a newly synthesized nucleoside analog with potent and selective antiviral activity against members of the herpesvirus group, including human cytomegalovirus. The activity against a thymidine kinase deficient HSV-2 mutant was 25-fold poorer than against the parent virus, suggesting that phosphorylation is an important prerequisite for antiviral activity against HSV-2. (±)-BHCG is readily phosphorylated by purified HSV-1 thymidine kinase, and BHCG triphosphate synthesized enzymatically is a selective inhibitor of HSV-1 DNA polymerase. (±)-BHCG did not inhibit host cell growth at concentrations at least 1000-fold higher than HSV-2 inhibitory concentrations. Subcutaneous administration of (±)-BHCG was protective against HSV-1 systemic infections in mice. BHCG is an exciting antiviral agent and represents a new class of nucleoside analogs.
High frame-rate digital radiographic videography

High speed x-ray imaging can be an important tool for observing internal processes in a wide range of applications. In this paper we describe preliminary implementation of a system having the eventual goal of observing the internal dynamics of bone and joint reactions during loading. Two Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) gated and image intensified camera systems were used to record images from an x-ray image convertor tube to demonstrate the potential of high frame-rate digital radiographic videography in the analysis of bone and joint dynamics of the human body. Preliminary experiments were done at LANL to test the systems. Initial high frame-rate imaging (from 500 to 1000 frames/s) of a swinging pendulum mounted to the face of an X-ray image convertor tube demonstrated high contrast response and baseline sensitivity. The systems were then evaluated at the Motion Analysis Laboratory of Henry Ford Health Systems Bone and Joint Center. Imaging of a 9 inch acrylic disk with embedded lead markers rotating at approximately 1000 RPM, demonstrated the system response to a high velocity/high contrast target. By gating the P-20 phosphor image from the X-ray image convertor with a second image intensifier (II) and using a 100 microsecond wide optical gate through the second II, enough prompt light decay from the x-ray image convertor phosphor had taken place to achieve reduction of most of the motion blurring. Measurement of the marker velocity was made by using video frames acquired at 500 frames/s. The data obtained from both experiments successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the technique. Several key areas for improvement are discussed along with salient test results and experiment details.
Control of radiation-induced diarrhea with cholestyramine.

Cholestyramine is a non-absorbable ion-exchange resin which specifically binds bile salts. We have treated seven patients with acute or chronic radiation-induced diarrhea that was refractory to the usual methods of control with cholestyramine. In each case, the diarrhea was controlled with cholestyramine. This observation supports previous experimental work with animals which indicated that bile salts contribute to the genesis of radiation-induced diarrhea. Cholestyramine is well-tolerated, but should not be administered with certain oral medications. The results of this small series are preliminary, but point the way toward a more extensive clinical trial to define the usefulness of cholestyramine in the treatment of refractory acute or chronic radiation-induced diarrhea.
A Dietary Evaluation of Synthetic Amino Acid Amides

SUMMARY Growth of mice on a complete synthetic diet has been used to determine the ability of synthetic amino acid derivatives to replace the corresponding essential metabolites in nutrition. In a series of range-finding experiments, it was found that dietary valine, phenylalanine, leucine, methionine, and, to a lesser extent, isoleucine could be effectively replaced by the corresponding DL-amides or amide salts. In addition, DL-valinamide salts could be administered in aqueous solution to supplement a solid valine-free diet. The physical, chemical, and biological properties of amino acid amide salts may make them of special value in protein supplementation.
Detection and role of trace impurities in high-performance organic solar cells

Trace impurities in organic solar cells, such as those from residual catalyst material in conjugated polymers, are often ignored but are known to deleteriously affect device performance. Batch-to-batch variations in the nature and quantity of such impurities leads to widespread issues with irreproducible optoelectronic function, yet to date no technique has emerged that is reliably capable of identifying the character of impurities or their concentration in organic photovoltaic active layer blends. Here we focus on state-of-the-art, high-performance bulk heterojunction blends and show that synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence can detect and quantify trace concentrations of metal impurities in these systems. Adopting a strategy of artificially introducing known quantities of additional catalyst into polymer/fullerene blends, we identify both the threshold concentration at which performance degrades and the mechanism for the degradation. With the knowledge of a target impurity concentration and a technique in hand to accurately measure their presence, researchers can implement materials preparation processes to achieve consistent, high performance in organic solar cells.
Reducing erosion from surface irrigation by furrow spacing and plant position

Erosion is a serious problem in many furrow-irrigated fields. Erosion abatement can be costly or inconvenient. Plant placement, row spacing, and choice of trafficked or non-trafficked furrow have not been thoroughly exploited for furrow erosion control. It was hypothesized that reducing furrow spacing and plant distance to the furrow would reduce erosion for equal amounts of water applied. A study in 1986 and 1987 observed the effect of narrow rows or twin rows with plants in close proximity to the furrow on infiltration, sediment loss, and yields in three crops grown under conventional tillage on a Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, mesic Durixerollic Calciorthids) with 1% slope. Yields of twin-row dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) significantly increased in both years (P < 0.05), whereas yield of sugarbeet or corn (Beta vulgaris L., or Zea Mays L.) were not affected significantly by any planting pattern. Sediment loss, runoff, and the ratio of sediment loss to infiltration were greatly reduced by twin-row configurations, and somewhat reduced, although less consistently, by narrow single-row configurations. The results point the way to a low-cost, low-maintenance method of reducing furrow erosion.
Linear mode CMOS compatible p-n junction avalanche photodiode with operating voltage below 9V

This paper reports linear-mode p-n junction silicon avalanche photodiodes (APD) fabricated in 1 µm standard CMOS process. Measured mean gain of ∼50 was obtained at a sufficiently low operating voltage of 8.7 V.
Comparison of spatial interpolation methods for water quality evaluation in the Chesapeake Bay.

Spatial interpolation methods are frequently used to estimate values of physical or chemical constituents in locations where they are not measured. Very little research has been conducted, however, to investigate the relative performance of different interpolation methods in surface waters. The study reported here uses archived water quality data from the Chesapeake Bay to compare three spatial interpolation methods: inverse distance weighting, ordinary kriging, and a universal kriging method that incorporates output from a process-based water quality model. Interpolations were performed on salinity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen "snap shots" cruise-based data sets taken between 1985 and 1994 at 21 different depths for multiple locations in the mainstem Bay, using data compiled by the prototypical Chesapeake Bay Environmental Observatory. The kriging methods generally outperform inverse distance weighting for all parameters and depths. Incorporating output from the water quality model through universal kriging appears to improve some of the interpolations by specifically accounting for some physical and biogeochemical features of the estuary. Such integration of process-based information with statistical interpolation warrants further study.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of rizatriptan and sumatriptan versus Cafergot in the acute treatment of migraine.

Background: Both ergotamine and selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists (‘triptans’) are currently used in the treatment of moderate to severe migraine. Ergotamine is a traditional therapy with a lower drug acquisition cost compared with triptans. It has been shown that triptans are more efficacious than ergotamine, but the higher acquisition costs and shorter duration of action are disadvantages of triptans compared with ergotamine. Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of rizatriptan 10mg and sumatriptan 50mg tablets with that of a fixed-dose combination of ergotamine tartrate plus caffeine (Cafergot®) in the treatment of an acute migraine attack. The cost-effectiveness of rizatriptan in comparison with sumatriptan was also assessed. Methods: Three separate decision tree models were developed (model 1: rizatriptan vs Cafergot®; model 2: sumatriptan vs Cafergot®; model 3: rizatriptan vs sumatriptan). The time horizon was 1 year. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the societal perspective using cost and effectiveness estimates from the literature. All costs were converted to US dollars (2003). The cost-effectiveness ratio was expressed as incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Results: Base case evaluation showed that both rizatriptan and sumatriptan dominated Cafergot®. The net annual saving associated with use of rizatriptan was $US622.98 per patient, with an incremental QALY of 0.001. Use of sumatriptan resulted in a saving of $US620.90 and an increase in QALY. The cost-effective ratios were not sensitive to changes in key variables such as efficacy, utility, drug costs, hospitalisation cost and patient preference over alternative therapies. The study further showed that rizatriptan is more cost effective than sumatriptan, as evidenced by its lower cost and greater effectiveness. Sensitivity analysis showed that the cost-effectiveness ratios were sensitive to moderate changes in drug efficacy. Conclusion: Rizatriptan and sumatriptan were less costly and more effective than Cafergot® in the treatment of an acute migraine attack. Rizatriptan was somewhat less costly and more effective than sumatriptan. Additional quality-of-life studies are needed to confirm the benefits of using triptans in the management of migraine
Biomanipulation: the next phase — making it stable

Review of the literature on biomanipulation shows that fish manipulations have occurred through the following methods: piscivore addition; piscivore catch restriction; habitat enhancement; piscivore removal; planktivore exclusion; planktivore removal by selective catch, lake emptying, fish poisons, fish diseases, winterkill, summerkill; habitat expansion or contraction; planktivore addition; and natural events. The methods can be classified as deliberate, inadvertent, or natural, all of which have successful and unsuccessful examples. However, the problem of perpetuation of successful results remains unsolved. It is proposed that this may be resolved through use of a refuge or refuges from among the following: low light intensity refuge; low temperature refuge; low dissolved oxygen refuge; physical concealment refuge; visual clutter refuge; behavior modification refuge; and predator inefficiency refuge. Perhaps through use of such mechanisms large herbivorous zooplankters can continue to exist in lakes. Examples are given.
Linguistic anaphors, levels of representation, and discourse

Abstract Four studies contrast the processing of anaphor resolution for two types of anaphors: pronouns and repeated nouns. The studies suggest that in short discourses anaphor resolution occurs more rapidly for pronouns than repeated nouns. In particular, pronouns provide direct access to a conceptual representation of the antecedent, whereas repeated noun anaphors do so indirectly, priming a surface (lexical) level of representation as a preliminary to accessing the conceptual representation. In each study, subjects were presented with an antecedent-related probe (a modifying adjective) following two sentence discourses ending in a pronoun or repeated noun. Subjects were required to make one of three kinds of judgements about the probe word: recognition, category decision, or lexical decision. Facilitation in the category and lexical decisions was compared to indicate the relative Salitence of either conceptual or surface information about the antecedent probe. Results showed stronger facilitation in th...
Free energy simulations: the meaning of the individual contributions from a component analysis.

A theoretical analysis is made of the decomposition into contributions from individual interactions of the free energy calculated by thermodynamic integration. It is demonstrated that such a decomposition, often referred to as “component analysis,” is meaningful, even though it is a function of the integration path. Moreover, it is shown that the path dependence can be used to determine the relation of the contribution of a given interaction to the state of the system. To illustrate these conclusions, a simple transformation(Cl− to Br− in aqueous solution) is analyzed by use of the Reference Interaction Site Model-Hypernetted Chain Closure integral equation approach; it avoids the calculational difficulties of macromolecular simulation while retaining their conceptual complexity. The difference in the solvation free energy between chloride and bromide is calculated, and the contributions of the Lennard-Jones and electrostatic terms in the potential function are analyzed by the use of suitably chosen integration paths. The model is also used to examine the path dependence of individual contributions to the double free energy differences (ΔΔG or ΔΔA) that are often employed in free energy simulations of biological systems. The alchemical path, as contrasted with the experimental path, is shown to be appropriate for interpreting the effects of mutations on ligand binding and protein stability. The formulation is used to obtain a better understanding of the success of the Poisson-Boltzmann continuum approach for determining the solvation properties of polar and ionic systems. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Computer-based instruction on multimedia networking fundamentals: equational versus graphical representation

Multimedia networking has been emerging in recent years as a strong driving force behind the expansion of the Internet. However, this topic is not commonly covered in the already content-intensive introductory networking courses. To facilitate student self-study of this novel topic the authors have developed a computer-based instructional module on the fundamentals of multimedia networking. In this paper, they describe the design and development of the module, which is aligned with Gagne's theory of instruction. They have developed two versions of the module-one with equation-based representation of the learning content and one with graph-based representation of the learning content. They have evaluated the two versions of the module with a total of 75 undergraduate, senior-level electrical engineering students, of which half were randomly assigned to the equational representation, and the other half to the graphical representation. They found that the graphical representation results in statistically significantly higher student performance on practice and post-test problems, shorter learning time, and more positive attitudes toward the computer-based instructional module.
A COCHLEAR MODEL USING THE TIME-AVERAGED LAGRANGIAN AND THE PUSH-PULL MECHANISM IN THE ORGAN OF CORTI

In our previous work, the basilar membrane velocity V(BM) for a gerbil cochlea was calculated and compared with physiological measurements. The calculated V(BM) showed excessive phase excursion and, in the active case, a best-frequency place shift of approximately two fifths of an octave higher. Here we introduce a refined model that uses the time-averaged Lagrangian for the conservative system to resolve the phase excursion issues. To improve the overestimated best-frequency place found in the previous feed-forward active model, we implement in the new model a push-pull mechanism from the outer hair cells and phalangeal process. Using this new model, the V(BM) for the gerbil cochlea was calculated and compared with animal measurements, The results show excellent agreement for mapping the location of the maximum response to frequency, while the agreement for the response at a fixed point as a function of frequency is excellent for the amplitude and good for the phase.
Highly specific modulators of protein kinase C localization: applications to heart failure

Heart failure (HF) in which the blood supply does not match the body's needs, affects 10% of the population over 65 years old. The protein kinase C (PKC) family of kinases has a key role in normal and disease states. Here we discuss the role of PKC in HF and focus on the use of specific PKC regulators to identify the mechanism leading to this pathology and potential leads for therapeutics.
Dielectrophoretic Manipulation and Real-Time Electrical Detection of Single-Nanowire Bridges in Aqueous Saline Solutions

Dielectrophoretic manipulation of nanoscale materials is typically performed in nonionic, highly insulating solvents. However, biomolecular recognition processes, such as DNA hybridization and protein binding, typically operate in highly conducting, aqueous saline solutions. Here, we report investigations of the manipulation and real-time detection of individual nanowires bridging microelectrode gaps in saline solutions. Measurements of the electrode impedance versus frequency show a crossover in behavior at a critical frequency that is dependent on the ionic strength. We demonstrate that by operating above this critical frequency, it is possible to use dielectrophoresis to manipulate nanowires across electrode gaps in saline solutions. By using electrical ground planes and nulling schemes to reduce the background currents, we further demonstrate the ability to electrically detect bridging and unbridging events of individual nanowires in saline solutions. The ability to both manipulate and detect bridging events with electrical signals provides a pathway toward automated assembly of nanoscale devices that incorporate biomolecular recognition elements.
Identification and characterization of arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity from the bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity was identified and characterized in bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Upon examining the RPE supernatant for multiple ionic species, one major NAT activity peak was detected. Based upon its substrate specificity, it is best described as an arylamine NAT. However, there was detectable arylalkylamine NAT activity within this peak. Further purification via size-exclusion HPLC revealed multiple peaks of NAT activity, although the major peak (around 30 kDa) again predominantly exhibits arylamine NAT activity. However, substrate specificity studies indicate that this arylamine NAT activity is able to acetylate specific arylalkylamine substrates. This arylamine NAT demonstrates a monomorphic pattern of acetylation since it acetylates p-aminobenzoic acid rather than sulfamethazine. It also demonstrates a low sensitivity to methotrexate inhibition indicated by the high IC50 value (570 μM). The mode of inhibition by methotrexate is uncompetitive as demonstra...
Defining the envelope of linguistic variation: The case of “don't count” forms in the copula analysis of African American Vernacular English

Ever since Labov, Cohen, Robbins, and Lewis's (1968) pioneering study, it has been commonplace to set aside certain tokens in analyzing variability in the English copula as “don't count” (DC) forms. These cases are most often occurrences of the copula that exhibit categorical behavior (as with the full copula in clause-final position), as well as those that are ambiguous or indeterminate. In this article, I propose a set of copula forms that should be set aside from variable analysis as instances of DC forms to allow for systematic comparisons among studies. I review the major alternative descriptions of DC copula cases in the literature and analyze the behavior of the traditional DC categories. New data are presented to support the exclusion of particular DC cases from analyses of copula variability. Among the conclusions are that [was], [thas], and [is] should be excluded from quantitative analyses of variation in the copula because of their invariant status, and that a number of tokens commonly included (e.g., questions) should be excluded on various grounds.
Interferometric Sensors Using Internal Fiber Mirrors

Cost has thus far been a major barrier to the realization of practical interferometric fiber sensor systems. Multiplexing techniques which allow the operation of several sensors with a single laser and photodetector can possibly alleviate this problem. Several sensor multiplexing demonstrations using the Mach-Zehnder configuration have recently been reported.1-3 However, the directional couplers needed for these interferometers are still somewhat expensive and they constitute undesirable mechanical discontinuities in a sensor cable.
Temperature, Subsidence, and Hydrocarbon Maturation in Extensional Basins: A Finite Element Model

The thermo-mechanical history of extensional basins is of great importance in determining their hydrocarbon potential. Because of the great variation of geologic conditions, a flexible method is needed to model this history. A one-dimensional finite element method is particularly suited for this purpose. Its use shows that the temperature distribution is out of equilibrium if the rate of sedimentation exceeds ~ 100 m/Ma (~300 ft/Ma). Favorable conditions for hydrocarbon production in three models are found between ~100 and 225°C, but this is not a general rule. In areas of reasonably flat interfaces the method yields excellent results at very little cost. It shows the interplay among sedimentation, temperature, and subsidence more clearly than has been possible heret fore.
The natural course of depression: Kraepelin and beyond.

(2002). The Natural Course of Depression: Kraepelin and Beyond. Harvard Review of Psychiatry: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 249-253.
AVERAGE NEAREST NEIGHBOR DISTANCES BETWEEN UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED FINITE PARTICLES.

Abstract The average center-to-center distance (and hence the average free distance) between a finite particle and its nearest neighbor is calculated for three problems involving monodisperse particles uniformly distributed in space. These are: (1) the nearest-neighbor distance in a three-dimensional distribution of finite spheres; (2) the nearest-neighbor distance in a plane section normal to the axes of finite parallel cylinders; (3) the nearest-neighbor distance in a plane section through the three-dimensional array of spheres. Our calculations are compared with their well-known point-particle counterparts; they show that the average free distances obtained from the point-particle approximations are reasonable only at small volume fractions (less than 0.05 in the more favorable two-dimensional problems). For each case considered, the range of volume fractions over which our calculations should be valid is discussed. The applicability of our results to various problems involving dispersions of a second phase is also discussed.
Incorporating multiple mixed stocks in mixed stock analysis: ‘many-to-many’ analyses

Traditional mixed stock analyses use morphological, chemical, or genetic markers measured in several source populations and in a single mixed population to estimate the proportional contribution of each source to the mixed population. In many systems, however, different individuals from a particular source population may go to a variety of mixed populations. Now that data are becoming available from (meta)populations with multiple mixed stocks, the need arises to estimate contributions in this 'many-to-many' scenario. We suggest a Bayesian hierarchical approach, an extension of previous Bayesian mixed stock analysis algorithms, that can estimate contributions in this case. Applying the method to mitochondrial DNA data from green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Atlantic gives results that are largely consistent with previous results but makes some novel points, e.g. that the Florida, Bahamas and Corisco Bay foraging grounds have greater contributions than previously thought from distant foraging grounds. More generally, the 'many-to-many' approach gives a more complete understanding of the spatial ecology of organisms, which is especially important in species such as the green turtle that exhibit weak migratory connectivity (several distinct subpopulations at one end of the migration that mix in unknown ways at the other end).
3-dimensional pattern recognition using weightless neural networks (Aleksander's model)

A system composed of a weightless neural network (Aleksander's model) is described. This system performs 2D and 3D recognition of patterns which are drawn with five different gray tones or colors. The system is capable of recognizing from 2 to 15 different pattern classes. The authors describe the structure and behavior of this system during the learning and recognition phases. >
An asymptotically efficient closed form estimator for the three - parameter lognormal distribution

The asymptotic distribution theory of the closed form estimator proposed by Munro and Wixley (1970) for the three-parameter lognormal distribution is developed. This estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed with co-variance matrix equal to the inverse of the information matrix. Methods of adjusting the estimator for type II censored data sets are also presented, and small sample properties of the estimator are briefly explored.
Mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters in insecticide-resistant and insecticide-susceptible Drosophila melanogaster.

BACKGROUND: Previous research on insecticidal formate esters in flies and mosquitoes has documented toxicity profiles, metabolism characteristics and neurological impacts. The research presented here investigated mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters and their hydrolyzed metabolite formic acid in the model dipteran insect Drosophila melanogaster Meig. These studies compared two Drosophila strains: an insecticide-susceptible strain (Canton-S) and a strain resistant by cytochrome P450 overexpression (Hikone-R). RESULTS: In initial studies investigating inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, two proven insecticidal materials (hydramethylnon and sodium cyanide) caused significant inhibition. However, for insecticidal formate esters and formic acid, no significant inhibition was identified in either fly strain. Mitochondrial impacts of formate esters were then investigated further by tracking toxicant-induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, a biomarker of apoptosis and neurological dysfunction. Formic acid and three positive control treatments (rotenone, antimycin A and sodium cyanide) induced cytochrome c release, verifying that formic acid is capable of causing mitochondrial disruption. However, when comparing formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release between Drosophila strains, formic acid liberation was only weakly correlated with cytochrome c release in the susceptible Canton-S strain (r2 = 0.70). The resistant Hikone-R strain showed no correlation (r2 < 0.0001) between formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide confirmation of mitochondrial impacts by insecticidal formate esters and suggest links between mitochondrial disruption, respiratory inhibition, apoptosis and formate-ester-induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
In vivo detection of cortical optical changes associated with seizure activity with optical coherence tomography

The most common technology for seizure detection is with electroencephalography (EEG), which has low spatial resolution and minimal depth discrimination. Optical techniques using near-infrared (NIR) light have been used to improve upon EEG technology and previous research has suggested that optical changes, specifically changes in near-infrared optical scattering, may precede EEG seizure onset in in vivo models. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high resolution, minimally invasive imaging technique, which can produce depth resolved cross-sectional images. In this study, OCT was used to detect changes in optical properties of cortical tissue in vivo in mice before and during the induction of generalized seizure activity. We demonstrated that a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in backscattered intensity during seizure progression can be detected before the onset of observable manifestations of generalized (stage-5) seizures. These results indicate the feasibility of minimally-invasive optical detection of seizures with OCT.
Update on extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) therapy for stress urinary incontinence

Pulsed magnetic technology has been developed for pelvic floor muscle strengthening for the treatment of urinary incontinence. This report includes an update of the prospective multicenter study of extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) therapy for stress incontinence and a discussion of the possible mechanisms of action. Issues of patient selection for ExMI therapy will also be discussed. One hundred and eleven women with demonstrable stress urinary incontinence were studied. The mean age was 55 ± 13 years, and the mean duration of symptoms was 11 years. Ninety-seven completed ExMI therapy and analysis. Evaluation before treatment included bladder diaries, dynamic pad weight test, urodynamics, and a quality-of-life survey. For treatment the patients were seated fully clothed in a Neocontrol chair with a magnetic field therapy head in the seat. Treatment sessions were for 20 minutes, twice a week, for 6 weeks. After ExMI therapy, all of the measures were repeated at 8 weeks, including the dynamic pad weight testing and quality-of-life survey. At 6 months, further data were added, including repeat bladder diary, pad use, and quality-of-life survey. Forty-seven women completed 6 months of follow-up; of the 47, 13 patients were completely dry (28%) and 25 used no pad or less than 1 pad per day (53%). Pad use was reduced in 33 patients (70%). The median number of pads was reduced from 2.16 to 1 per day (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P <0.005). The frequency of leak episodes was reduced from 3.0 to 1.7 at 6 months (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P = 0.004). Detrusor instability was demonstrated in 10 before and 6 after ExMI (P <0.05). ExMI offers an alternative approach for the treatment of urinary incontinence. ExMI therapy is effective for both stress and urge incontinence. The best results are achieved in those patients who use no more than 3 pads a day and have had no prior continence surgery.
Cross-component energy management: Joint adaptation of processor and memory

Researchers have proposed the use of adaptation to reduce the energy consumption of different hardware components, such as the processor, memory, disk, and display for general-purpose applications. Previous algorithms to control these adaptations, however, have focused on a single component. This work takes the first step toward developing algorithms that can jointly control adaptations in multiple interacting components for general-purpose applications, with the goal of minimizing the total energy consumed within a specified performance loss. Specifically, we develop a joint-adaptation algorithm for processor and memory adaptations. We identify two properties that enable per-component algorithms to be easily used in a cross-component context---the algorithms' performance impact must be guaranteed and composable. We then modify a current processor and a memory algorithm to obey these properties. This allows the cross-component problem to be reduced to determine an appropriate (energy-optimal) allocation of the target performance loss (slack) between the two components. We develop such an optimal slack allocation algorithm that exploits the above properties. The result is an efficient cross-component adaptation framework that minimizes the total energy of the processor and memory without exceeding the target performance loss, while substantially leveraging current per-component algorithms. Our experiments show that joint processor and memory adaptation provides significantly more energy savings than adapting either component alone; intelligent slack distribution is specifically effective for highly compute- or memory-intensive applications; and the performance slowdown never exceeds the specification.
Toxicities of 31 volatile low molecular weight compounds against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.

ABSTRACT This research studied 31 volatile compounds for indoor control of the medically important mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Only adult female mosquitoes were tested. The test compounds were from six families that included five heterobicyclics, eight formate esters, formic acid (a hydrolyzed metabolite of formate esters), eight acetate esters, four propionate esters, three butyrate esters, and two valerate esters. Also, the organophosphate compound dichlorvos (DDVP) was tested as a positive control. Cx. quinquefasciatus was generally more susceptible than Ae. aegypti. Cx. quinquefasciatus was most susceptible to a subset of heterobicyclics and formate esters (rank: n-butyl formate > hexyl formate = dihydrobenzofuran = menthofuran = heptyl formate = ethyl formate). Ae. aegypti was most susceptible to a subset of formate esters (rank: methyl > n-butyl > propyl = ethyl = hexyl). The most active materials against both species had LC50s of 0.4–1 mg active ingredient per 0.5 li...
Diffuse Renal Cortical Echogenic Foci in a Patient With AIDS A Case of Pneumocystis Nephritis

Pneumocystis jirovecii is ubiquitous in the environment and is best known as the cause of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immune-suppressed hosts. Extrapulmonary P. jirovecii is a rare complication...
The Effect of Sibling Sex Composition on Women's Education and Earnings

This paper documents the impact of siblings on the education of men and women born in the United States between 1920 and 1965. We examine the effect of the number and sex composition of a boy or girl's siblings on that child's educational attainment. We find that throughout the century women's educational choices have been systematically affected by the sex composition of her siblings, and that men's choices have not. Women raised only with brothers have received on average significantly more education than women raised with any sisters, controlling for household size. Since sibling sex composition affects women's educational attainment and plausibly may be unrelated to other determinants of earnings, it may provide a useful instrument for education in earnings functions for women. Our results suggest that standard estimates significantly underestimate the return to schooling for women.
Experimental tests of competitive markets for electric power

Testing the performance of electricity markets using POWERWEB has already shown that relatively inexperienced players can identify and exploit market power in load pockets. When transmission constraints are not binding, however, auctions with six players have been shown to be efficient. There is evidence from operating electricity markets that prices can be driven above competitive levels when the largest supplier controls less than 20% of total installed capacity. This is accomplished by causing price spikes to occur. In experiments, uncertainty about the actual load and paying standby costs regardless of whether or not a unit is actually dispatched contribute to volatile price behavior. The objective of this paper is to investigate characteristics of a market that affect price volatility. The tests consider three different sets of rules for setting price when there are capacity shortfalls, and the following four market structures: load is responsive to price; price forecasts are made before market settlement; a day-ahead market and a balancing market auction; and suppliers are paid actual offers (a discriminatory auction).
Slander and the right to be an author in fifteenth-century Spain

Versified slander, particularly that addressed to converted Jews or conversos, is best understood within a social exercise of rhetoric as ars bene dicendi that channels ethnic and religious tensions through the practice of maldecir. Slanderous discourse or maldecir is both a flexible and a dangerous tool in the hands of an author, who becomes aggrandized through the poet's ethical responsibility to denounce social evils. However, slander can destabilize authorship due to the required use of despicable language. The result is a complex interplay among slandered authors and their critics that shows the flexible uses of slander in the context of ethnic and social strife.
Diagnostic and Treatment Algorithm of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

This algorithm provides urologists a framework from which to diagnose, treat, and monitor upper tract urothelial carcinoma. It should be used in tandem with the urologists best clinical judgment.
Nitrogen Biogeochemistry Research at Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia, USA: Soils, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Nitrogen (N) saturation arises when atmospheric inputs of N exceed biological N demand, resulting in loss of NO3 - in streams, accompanied by the loss of nutrients (Ca and Mg) that are essential to forest health. Previous studies have shown that some watersheds the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF), West Virginia, USA, are among the more N-saturated sites in North America. Research from the Gilliam laboratory at Marshall University (West Virginia, USA) began focusing specifically on N biogeochemistry in 1993 with establishment of plots at FEF to carry out long-term in situ (“buried bag”) incubations in three watersheds: two control (WS4, WS7) and one treatment (WS3). This was done in conjunction with the Fernow Watershed Acidification Study, established by the USDA Forest Service in 1989 to treat an entire watershed (WS3) with aerial applications of 35 kg N ha –1 year –1. The initial period (1993–1995) exhibited increases in rates for all watersheds, but especially in treated WS3. This period has been followed by declines in net nitrification, which is consistent with current declines in stream NO3 – and has been especially pronounced in WS3 since 1998. Also during this time, sampling of the herbaceous layer (vascular plants ≤ 1 m in height) has revealed pronounced changes in response to N treatments on WS3, especially in the increase of the shade-intolerant Rubus spp. Future work will investigate the effects of freezing on soil N dynamics. Preliminary results indicate that freezing exacerbates the symptoms of N saturation already seen in soils at FEF, further increasing already high rates of net nitrification.
Topography-Based Registration of Developing Cortical Surfaces in Infants Using Multidirectional Varifold Representation

Cortical surface registration or matching facilitates atlasing, cortical morphology-function comparison and statistical analysis. Methods that geodesically shoot surfaces into one another, as currents or varifolds, provide an elegant mathematical framework for generic surface matching and dynamic local features estimation, such as deformation momenta. However, conventional current and varifold matching methods only use the normals of the surface to measure its geometry and guide the warping process, which overlooks the importance of the direction in the convoluted cortical sulcal and gyral folds. To cope with the stated limitation, we decompose each cortical surface into its normal and tangent varifold representations, by integrating principal curvature direction field into the varifold matching framework, thus providing rich information for the direction of cortical folding and better characterization of the cortical geometry. To include more informative cortical geometric features in the matching process, we adaptively place control points based on the surface topography, hence the deformation is controlled by points lying on gyral crests (or “hills”) and sulcal fundi (or “valleys”) of the cortical surface, which are the most reliable and important topographic and anatomical landmarks on the cortex. We applied our method for registering the developing cortical surfaces in 12 infants from 0 to 6 months of age. Both of these variants significantly improved the matching accuracy in terms of closeness to the target surface and the precision of alignment with regional anatomical boundaries, when compared with several state-of-the-art methods: (1) diffeomorphic spectral matching, (2) current-based surface matching and (3) original varifold-based surface matching.
An Investigation of Sex Differences in Pay Expectations and Their Possible Causes

Discrepancies in the pay expectations of male and female management students were investigated, and potential causes of such discrepancies were explored. Females were found to have significantly lo...
Towards a secured network virtualization

Network virtualization promises to fulfill the demand for an agile Internet that is friendly to technological innovation. In the past, tremendous efforts have been dedicated to studying the fundamental problem in network virtualization, namely Virtual Network Embedding (VNE). However, until recently, very limited work has addressed the security issues and implications of VNE or network virtualization as a whole, despite their importance. On one hand, the literature lacks a systematic overview of security issues in network virtualization (e.g., which can be VNE-relevant or VNE-irrelevant). On the other hand, existing studies on security-aware VNE share common limitations. This paper aims to present a timely study to fill the above needs with the following contributions: First, we present a classified comprehensive overview of security issues that arise in the context of network virtualization based on multiple criteria. Second, based on the review of existing approaches in Security-aware Virtual Network Embedding (SVNE), a novel framework is presented to address VNE-relevant security issues in network virtualization. Third, our extensive evaluation uncovers a few important implications and shows that the proposed framework can address the SVNE problem with reduced time (compared to that of the regular VNE approach).
Chapter 8 – Compactly Supported Wavelets

This chapter introduces the concepts of compactly supported orthonormal scaling functions and wavelets, which have finite masks. It describes orthonormal wavelet packets and compactly supported biorthogonal scaling functions and wavelets. The orthonormal scaling functions are obtained by orthonormalizing existing scaling functions. This approach leads to the construction of the orthonormal spline scaling functions. All of them provide effective fast wavelet transforms (FWT) and fast inverse wavelet transforms (FIWT) algorithms. From the point of view of numerical computation, the shorter the mask, the faster is the FWT and FIWT algorithms. If the scaling function ϕ is continuous, then it is uniquely determined by its values at all dyadic numbers, which can be computed by the recursion algorithm. The compactly supported orthonormal wavelets offer effective algorithms to decompose functions into wavelet series and recover them from their wavelet series. In many applications, the symmetry of wavelets plays an important role. But compactly supported wavelets are asymmetric, except the Haar wavelet. The chapter also reviews the construction of compactly supported biorthogonal scaling functions and wavelets, which are symmetric or antisymmetric.
Constructing Agatha Christie

Establishing herself as a “new woman writer of detective stories”, Agatha Christie constructed her authorial persona in dialogue with feedback from readers and publishers. Throughout her career, she negotiated how her books were marketed and how she herself was presented, exploiting ready stereotypes about femininity and domesticity. This chapter explores Christie’s emergence into a masculine marketplace (The Mysterious Affair at Styles), her use of gendered parody to emphasize the limitations of popular fiction (The Man in the Brown Suit), her renegotiation of generic norms (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) and her development of a fictional alter ego, Ariadne Oliver. Reading “Agatha Christie” as a strategic authorial construction opens her texts up to new and subversive readings, according to which human identity itself is fundamentally unfixed.
Quantifying the impact of thickness and drain bias on black phosphorus field effect transistor performance

We investigate the I OFF vs. I ON performance of black phosphorus (BP) MOSFETs with thin HfO 2 gate dielectrics. I ON and I OFF were found to increase with increasing the BP thickness, with I OFF increasing substantially at high drain-to-source voltage, V DS . Specifically, at V DS = −0.8 V, a body thickness OFF < 100 nA/µm. This work provides critical guidance for design of BP MOSFETs for future logic applications.
African Christianities and the politics of development from below

Religion and development are two ambiguous phenomena, yet we can map their creative interaction and intricate interconnectedness. In public discourse, ideas about development generally undermine the complex role of religion, or it is assumed that religion would be relegated to a matter of private belief in Africa, as secular states burgeoned, or even saw religion as an obstacle to development. Development was largely conceived of primarily in economic terms or as economic development. In contemporary era, the concept of human development has come into vogue, accentuating aspects of people’s lives that go beyond the economic dimension. There is no gainsaying in the fact that religion has been a dynamic entity and remains a growing force in public life in Africa. This article critiques vague definitions of religion and development and contends that human development should be understood as including the religious and spiritual dimension of life. Drawing upon concrete examples from my religious ethnography, the article seeks to explore the ambivalent role of religion in Africa’s development, and Africa’s development within the purview of the everyday lived religious and spiritual dimensions of life.