cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communication network analysis with COMNET 11.5

COMNET II.5 is a general SIMSCRIPT II.5-based model for the performance analysis of circuit, message, or packet-switching networks. A variety of routing algorithms are built-in. After creating a network description with a convenient menu-driven editor, simulation follows immediately. There are no programining delays. Network operation is animated during the simulation. Reports show blocking probabilities, call queueing and packet delays, network throughput, link group utilization, and link group queue statistics. Some of the major enhancements that have been added to COMNET II.5 during the past year include capabilities for modeling multidestination messages, empirical probability distributions, flood routing, and access facilities. An access facility can be a point-to-point or multipoint line or a local area network.
ENVIRONMENT RECONSTRUCTION FOR A PART OF THE GLEN ROSE LIMESTONE, CENTRAL TEXAS

SUMMARY An approximately 50 ft. stratigraphic section of the Lower Cretaceous Glen Rose Limestone was sampled at 24 separate localities in central Texas from the standpoint of reconstructing the depositional environment. Among these samples 199 representative specimens were selected and subjected to point-count analyses, X-ray analyses, and insoluble residue determinations. Statistical analysis of the accumulated data with an IBM 7090 computer yielded the following facies: Corbula facies—characterized by a relative abundance of thick-shelled ostracods, thin-walled miliolid foraminifers, and the small pelecypod Corbula martinae; steinkern facies—characterized by large mollusc steinkerns, cellular mollusc shells and the foraminifer Orbitolina; mudstone facies—typified by less than 10% sand-sized grains; and mixed particle facies—characterized by worn skeletal and nonskeletal carbonate grains. The mud-stone facies subsequently was divided into two subfacies: (1) lime mudstones—characterized by delicate skeletal constituents and lime mud, and (2) marly mud-stones—consisting of a mixture of lime mud and terrigenous clay-sized material. Similarly the mixed particle facies was divided into four subfacies: skeletal calcarenites—characterized by sand-sized skeletal debris; skeletal wackestones—consisting of sand-sized skeletal particles floating in a mud matrix; nonskeletal calcarenites—characterized by nonskeletal carbonate grains; and nonskeletal wackestones—consisting of nonskeletal carbonate grains floating in a mud matrix. In addition limey sandstone, dolomite, and stromatolite facies were distinguished on the basis of relatively obvious textures and compositions. The attributes of these facies as evidenced by the 199 statistically analyzed specimens were then used to assign each of the additional samples (350) to a particular facies and to identify the distribution of these facies in the field. A reconstruction of the depositional environment was made for each facies, and the following depositional history was interpreted from the resulting facies pattern. The lowermost beds of the unit, consisting largely of stromatolites and nonskeletal calcarenites, are interpreted as representing deposition in very shallow, probably intertidal, waters, Following the deposition of these beds, the depth of water increased
Improving Spectroscopic Performance of a Coplanar-Anode High-Pressure Xenon Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

High-pressure xenon (HPXe) gas is a desirable radiation detection medium for homeland security applications because of its good inherent room-temperature energy resolution, potential for large, efficient devices, and stability over a broad temperature range. Past work in HPXe has produced large-diameter gridded ionization chambers with energy resolution at 662 keV between 3.5 and 4% FWHM. However, one major limitation of these detectors is resolution degradation due to Frisch grid microphonics. Improved energy resolution using a detector with coplanar anodes as an alternative to a Frisch grid is reported in this submission. It is expected that a coplanar anode design has the potential to provide competitive energy resolution with minimal degradation from microphonics. Experimental data is presented, including an analysis of interaction location effects on the energy spectrum. The HPXe gas is doped with a small amount of H2 gas to improve charge transport, and the results are compared with Geant simulations.
Morpho: A self-deformable modular robot inspired by cellular structure

We present a modular robot design inspired by the creation of complex structures and functions in biology via deformation. Our design is based on the Tensegrity model of cellular structure, where active filaments within the cell contract and expand to control individual cell shape, and sheets of such cells undergo large-scale shape change through the cooperative action of connected cells. Such deformations play a role in many processes, e.g. early embryo shape change and lamprey locomotion. Modular robotic systems that replicate the basic deformable multicellular structure have the potential to quickly generate large-scale shape change and create dynamic shapes to achieve different global functions. Based on this principle, our design includes four different modular components: (1) active links, (2) passive links, (3) surface membranes, and (4) interfacing cubes. In hardware implementation, we show several self-deformable structures that can be generated from these components, including a self-deformable surface, expandable cube, terrain-adaptive bridge [C.-H. Yu et al., 2007]. We present experiments to demonstrate that such robotic structures are able to perform real time deformation to adapt to different environments. In simulation, we show that these components can be configured into a variety of bio-inspired robots, such as an amoeba-like robot and a tissue-inspired material. We argue that self-deformation is well-suited for dynamic and sensing-adaptive shape change in modular robotics.
The Congressional Ban on Nonaudit Services: “Reasoned and Reasonable” or “Quack Corporate Governance”

ABSTRACT: Accounting professionals, researchers, business leaders, and government officials have called for reform of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002. Critics question both the substance of the law and the legislative process by which it was enacted. Criticism of the process challenges whether the congressional hearings and other legislative steps that led to enactment of the bill were balanced and thorough, or whether political drivers made quick passage an imperative for lawmakers regardless of the merits of the legislation. This paper examines the congressional hearings in the context of a single provision of the Act: the ban that prohibits accounting firms from providing internal audit services to their external audit clients. We identify the arguments for and against the ban, and we examine the role these arguments played in the testimony that witnesses provided to the House and Senate committees most responsible for the legislation. We find that witnesses offered strong arguments both for and against...
Safety of Revaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

ContextRevaccination of healthy adults with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) within several years of first vaccination has been associated with a higher than expected frequency and severity of local injection site reactions. The risk of adverse events associated with revaccination of elderly and chronically ill persons 5 or more years after first vaccination, as is currently recommended, has not been well defined.ObjectiveTo determine whether revaccination with PPV at least 5 years after first vaccination is associated with more frequent or more serious adverse events than those following first vaccination.DesignComparative intervention study conducted between April 1996 and August 1997.ParticipantsPersons aged 50 to 74 years either who had never been vaccinated with PPV (n=901) or who had been vaccinated once at least 5 years prior to enrollment (n=513).InterventionPPV vaccination.Main Outcome MeasuresPostvaccination local injection site reactions and prevaccination concentrations of type-specific antibodies.ResultsThose who were revaccinated were more likely than those who received their first vaccinations to report a local injection site reaction of at least 10.2 cm (4 in) in diameter within 2 days of vaccination: 11% (55/513) vs 3% (29/901) (relative risk [RR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-5.1). These reactions resolved by a median of 3 days following vaccination. The highest rate was among revaccinated patients who were immunocompetent and did not have chronic illness: 15% (33/228) compared with 3% (10/337) among comparable patients receiving their first vaccinations (RR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.4-9.7). The risk of these local reactions was significantly correlated with prevaccination geometric mean antibody concentrations.ConclusionsPhysicians and patients should be aware that self-limited local injection site reactions occur more frequently following revaccination compared with first vaccination; however, this risk does not represent a contraindication to revaccination with PPV for recommended groups.
Functional neuroanatomical correlates of the effects of stress on memory

Recently there has been an increase in interest in the relationship between stress and memory. Brain regions which are involved in memory function also effect the stress response. Traumatic stress results in changes in these brain regions; alterations in these brain regions in turn may mediate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Neural mechanisms which are relevant to the effects of stress on memory, such as fear conditioning, stress sensitization, and extinction, are reviewed in relation to their implications for PTSD. Special topics including neural mechanisms in dissociation, neurobiological approaches to the validity of childhood memories as they apply to controversies over the “False Memory Syndrome,” and implications of the effects of stress on memory for psychotherapy, are also reviewed. The findings discussed in this paper are consistent with the formulation that stress-induced alterations in brain regions and systems involved in memory may underlie many of the symptoms of PTSD, as well as dissociative amnesia, seen in survivors of traumatic stress.
CC Prediction with Graphical Models

We address the problem of suggesting who to add as an additional recipient (i.e. cc, or carbon copy) for an email under composition. We address the problem using graphical models for words in the body and subject line of the email as well as the recipients given so far on the email. The problem of cc prediction is closely related to the problem of expert flnding in an organization. We show that graphical models present a variety of solutions to these problems. We present results using naively structured models and introduce a powerful new modeling tool: plated factor graphs.
Fabrication of Micropatterned Hydrogels Using Maskless Photopolymerization for Tissue Engineering Applications

The fabrication of tissue scaffolds/constructs has seen tremendous advancements over the past decade primarily due to the application of layered manufacturing based technologies from the rapid prototyping industry. Molding, printing and deposition technologies have enabled researchers to spatially control scaffold micro and macro structural features through the use of soft lithography solid freeform fabrication. These techniques have produced patterned scaffolds with desired mechanical and biological properties to mimic the natural tissue microenvironment. Soft lithographic techniques have produced feature sizes in ranges of 20μm and above but have limited 3D capability. Solid freeform fabrication technologies enable the production of complex 3D scaffolds due to its CAD integration but are generally limited to a 100μm feature resolutions.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Experimental analysis of diet specialization in the snail kite: the role of behavioral conservatism

We examined factors maintaining extreme diet specialization in the snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), a medium-sized hawk which feed almost exclusively on Pomacea snails, by determining why during some months kites eat crabs (Dilocarcinus dentatus) in the Ilanos of Venezuela. We offered snails and crabs of different sizes to wild free-flying birds to develop estimates for a prey choice model. Handling times of Pomacea doliodes snails averaged 90±39 s and were positively correlated with snail size. Handling times for crabs (x=353±130 s) were significantly longer and exhibited greater variation than for snails, and were not correlated with crab size. Edible crab tissues had greater dry weights and contained more energy (25.37 kJ/g) than tissues of snails (16.91 kJ/g). Total energy of crabs was much greater than that of snails, and total energy of both foods was highly related to body length. We constructed an allometric equation for profitability of snails and crabs. Snails were more profitable than all but the largest crabs, but estimates of variance in profitability were greater for crabs. Predictions from the model were tested by offering crabs that represented equal, greater and much greater profitability than snails, to determine whether kites chose prey according to profitability. Only 15.6% of 289 food items chosen were crabs. Half of the 18 kites tested did not eat crabs and only 3 birds switched from snails to more profitable crabs. Four fledglings showed no preference for snails. The role of neophobia in food choice was investigated by offering unfamiliar snails (Pomacea urceus) to kites. Kites exhibited neophobic behaviors, and 5 of 12 birds chose not to capture P. urceus. Two-thirds of the 12 snails chosen were rejected immediately, but the others were handled efficiently (x=133±89 s). Although morphological adaptations allow kites to specialize on snails, the costs of specialization were overcome for kites when the profitability of alternative food increased sufficiently. Our results suggest a role for behavioral conservatism, in the form of risk-averse foraging and neophobia, in maintaining severe diet specialization in the snail kite.
A Rhetoric of Style, by Barry Brummett

Debra Hawhee Editor Employing an inimitable style, Barry Brummett's A Rhetoric of Style is a wide-ranging and provocative book that explores connections between rhetoric and popular culture. As suc...
Increasing corn yield with no-till cropping systems: a case study in South Dakota

No-till practices have improved crop yields in the semiarid Great Plains. However, a recent assessment of research studies across the globe indicated that crop yields are often reduced by no-till. To understand this contrast, we examined corn yields across time in a no-till cropping system of one producer in central South Dakota to identify factors associated with increased yield. The producer started no-till in 1990; by 2013, corn yield increased 116%. In comparison, corn increased only 32% during this interval with a conventional, tillage-based system in a neighboring county. With no-till, corn yields increased in increments due to changes in management. For example, corn yield increased 52% when crop diversity in the rotation was expanded from 2 to 5 crops. A further 18% gain in yield occurred when dry pea was grown before corn in sequence. Nitrogen (N) requirement for corn is 25% lower in no-till compared with a tillage-based rotation. Furthermore, phosphorus (P) fertilizer input also has been reduced 30% after 20 yr of no-till, even with higher yields. Our case study shows that integrating no-till with crop diversity and soil microbial changes improves corn yield considerably. This integration also reduces need for inputs such as water, N and P.
Contributions and Future Work

The first part of this chapter describes the contributions of this dissertation, taking into account the challenges that were faced as well as its benefit to the research community. First, the methodology elaborated for this dissertation contributes as a guidance for other culture-specific generation approaches. Second, the dissertation depicts a way to operationalize culture for virtual characters, provides materials and data for reproduction and identifies behavioral aspects as a foundation for culture-specific behavioral models. Finally, the technical realization of our approach provides solutions to the challenges that have to be faced when integrating culture into a computational system.
Rural Kentucky High School Students’ Exposure to All-Terrain Vehicle Riding and Injuries

From 1982 to 2007, Kentucky had 459 deaths related to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), fifth highest among US states. By 2012, Kentucky ranked fourth highest, with 578 ATV-related deaths. Following the sentinel event of an ATV-related traumatic brain injury to an unhelmeted high school student, the authors developed a 19-item survey that collected data regarding rural Kentucky high school students' years of ATV driving, second-rider frequency, typical duration of riding events, estimated weekly number of riding events, and frequency of helmet use. Of the 159 students involved, males scored significantly higher on each of these items, except frequency of any ATV driving and frequency of helmet use, which showed no gender differences. Overall, 9.3% of students reported always wearing a helmet when driving and/or riding; 61.2% reported never wearing a helmet; 132 (83.0%) reported that they either drove ATVs or rode as a second rider, and 72 of these (57.1%) reported having had an ATV incident, 33 (45.8%) of which resulted in an injury. Twenty-one of these were serious injuries, including concussions; unconsciousness; fractures to skull, nose, collarbones, arms, ribs, and legs; elbow and hip dislocations; lacerations to head, eyes, arms, legs, and back; and multiple contusions and sprains. Findings have implications for the design of responsibility to protect (R2P) interventions that will reduce exposure and prevent ATV injury and fatality. A method that leverages the relevance of a sentinel event as a community public-health surveillance opportunity is described. Study surveillance data showed higher exposure to ATV hazards than previously reported.
Abstract 182: Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Represses the Upregulation of Sodium-Calcium Exchanger Expression in Cardiac Hypertrophy

Background: Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in the alteration of gene expression during cardiac hypertrophy and failure. Our previous study demonstrated that acetylated Nkx2.5 is associated with the Class I/II HDAC complex, HDAC5/1/2 at the Ncx1 promoter, and deacetylated Nkx2.5 is associated with the transcriptional activator and histone acetylase, p300 in a mutually exclusive manner. Inhibition of HDACs by the Class I/II inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) prevents deacetylation of Nkx2.5 and recruitment of p300 to the Ncx1 promoter, thereby repressing its upregulation. Objective: To assess the specific roles of HDAC1, 2 and 5 in the regulation of Ncx1 gene expression and determine the specific Nkx2.5 lysine(s) undergoing acetylation or deacetylation, which mediates Ncx1 upregulation. Results: Treatment of isolated adult cardiomyocytes with the selective class I HDAC inhibitor, BML210, prevented alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulated upregulation of Ncx1 expression, whereas treatment with the specific class II HDAC inhibitor, dPAHA did not. Interestingly, the HDAC5 knockout prevented NCX1 upregulation after 72 hr trans-aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. In order to determine which Nkx2.5 lysine(s) is deacetylated by HDAC1/2, we performed mass spectrometry analysis. The Nkx2.5 gene contains 15 lysine moieties, and LC-MS/MS analysis demonstrates that Nkx2.5 is acetylated on two conserved lysine residues. Conclusion: Class I HDAC activity is required for Ncx1 expression but not class II HDAC activity (HDAC5). However, the loss of HDAC5 prevents Ncx1 upregulation because it may act as a scaffold to recruit the factors required for Ncx1 promoter activation. These results suggest that HDAC inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic modality for hypertrophy and heart failure.
Promoting instructional improvement or resistance? A comparative study of teachers’ perceptions of teacher evaluation policy in Korea and the USA

This study draws on institutional theory to examine teachers’ and principals’ perceptions of new teacher evaluation policies, factors that influence such perceptions and how such perceptions shape the implementation of the policies in Seoul (Korea) and Michigan (USA). The study featured in-depth interviews of 11 elementary school teachers and 4 principals and analysis of policy documents in both countries. While Korean teachers strongly disagreed with the new teacher evaluation policy in Seoul and implemented it in ways that were not intended by policy makers, the Michigan teachers varied in their perceptions and implementation of the policies. The teachers’ perceptions of the new policies seemed to be influenced by the designs of the policies, their backgrounds and definitions of ‘effective teachers’ and principal leadership. The association between teachers’ perceptions and their implementation of the new policies was quite strong.
Epidemiological analysis of rubella in Heping district of Tianjin 2007-2010

[Objective]To investigate the incidence of rubella in Heping district of Tianjin,provide the scientific evidence for effective control and prevention of rubella.[Methods]Using the data from the National information system for diseases control and prevention,the epidemiological analysis of rubella in Heping district of Tianjin during 2007-2010 was analyzed.[Results]During 2007-2010,a total of 377 rubella cases were reported with the average annual incidence of 25.56/lakh,and there was no death case.The peak season was April to June.70% of the cases occurred in Nanyingmen sub-district,Quanyechang sub-district and Xinxing sub-district which had high density of population.60.21% of patients were school students,and 53.31% were people aged 10-19 years old.Only 10% of cases had vaccine immunization history.[Conclusion]It is necessary to strengthen the disease surveillance in high prevalence areas and carry out the rubella vaccine inoculation among school-age children and adolescents.The women who are ready for pregnancy should be vaccinated with measles mumps and rubella(MMR) vaccine,so as to reduce the incidence of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.
Waveform Window #22: EKG Filter Artifact Mimicking Epileptiform Discharges

(2012). Waveform Window #22: EKG Filter Artifact Mimicking Epileptiform Discharges. The Neurodiagnostic Journal: Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 82-89.
Movement Disorders in Childhood

Clinical Aspects Dyskinesias are abnormal involuntary movements. The common dyskinesias include tics, chorea, tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, and hyperactivity (Table 1). Several other less common dyskinesias also are important to recognize. The diagnosis of the type of movement disorder is clinical. When the movements are episodic and not seen by the pediatrician, obtaining a home videotape is recommended. Most patients who have movement disorders, with the exception of tic disorders, should be referred to a neurologist, but it is important for the pediatrician to be able to identify them and to be informed on issues relevant to management. THE MOST COMMON DYSKINESIAS Tic disorders include motor (myoclonic and dystonic), vocal (phonic), and sensory tics. Tics may be simple or complex (Table 2). Myoclonic tics are jerks; dystonic tics are postures. Children who have vocal tics such as throat clearing, coughing, or sniffing may be referred to allergists or ear, nose, and throat specialists before the correct diagnosis is made. Sensory tics are peculiar sensations. Tics are increased by stress, decreased by activities that require concentration, exhibit a fluctuating pattern, and are less noticeable during sleep. The patient can suppress the movements or vocalizations voluntarily for minutes or hours, but then is unable to control the movements or the vocalizations.
Metaphysics of Law

Although in many philosophy and social theory circles there is a sense that investigating social practice is desirable, and is even what scholarly inquiry should be all about, pinning down what social practice might be is surprisingly difficult. Even the grammar is unclear: sometimes there is social practice as an uncountable noun, other times there are social practices, understood as vaguely countable. The language strains when social practices are individuated, when we talk about a set of social practices. Talking about social norms only adds further complications. Social norm terminology ranges from being used as, on the one hand, a virtual synonym for social practice, to, on the other hand, a specific type of normativity dealing with those questions of right and wrong over which a community holds authority. The idiom of social practices and social norms certainly has been fecund, as the previous chapters have shown. Here I suggest that developing a more rigorous understanding of the concepts would be even more fruitful. Advancing such an account lays the groundwork for a robust development of an immodest jurisprudence.
DASH2M: Exploring HTTP/2 for Internet Streaming to Mobile Devices

Today HTTP/1.1 is the most popular vehicle for delivering Internet content, including streaming video. Standardized in 2015 with a few new features, HTTP/2 is gradually replacing HTTP 1.1 to improve user experience. Yet, how HTTP/2 can help improve the video streaming delivery has not been thoroughly investigated. In this work, we set to investigate how to utilize the new features offered by HTTP/2 for video streaming over the Internet, focusing on the streaming delivery to mobile devices as, today, more and more users watch video on their mobile devices. For this purpose, we design DASH2M, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP/2 to Mobile Devices. DASH2M deliberately schedules the streaming content delivery by comprehensively considering the user's Quality of Experience (QoE), the dynamics of the network resources, and the power efficiency on the mobile devices. Experiments based on an implemented prototype show that DASH2M can outperform prior strategies for users' QoE while minimizing the battery power consumption on mobile devices.
Evaluation of genipin for stabilization of decellularized porcine cartilage.

We speculate that an acellular osteochondral xenograft may be a good alternative to allografts for repair of focal articular cartilage lesions. In order to make a xenograft resistant to enzymatic degradation and to prevent a chronic immune response it may beneficial to stabilize it through crosslinking. The concept is analogous to treatment of porcine bioprosthetic heart valves with glutaraldehyde. The purpose of this study was to evaluate genipin, a natural crosslinking agent with low cytotoxicity, for stabilization of decellularized cartilage. Porcine articular cartilage discs were decellularized in SDS and nucleases and then crosslinked in genipin. The utility of genipin was determined from its effects on degree of crosslinking, mechanical properties, dimensional stability, enzymatic resistance, and in vitro biocompatibility. Degree of crosslinking, compressive moduli, and collagenase resistance varied over a wide range depending on genipin concentration. The equilibrium compressive modulus could be increased from approximately 50% to more than 120% that of native cartilage, and the time to complete degradation by collagenase could be extended from less than 12 hours to more than 15 days. Radial shrinkage of approximately 4% was observed at a genipin concentration of 0.1% wt/vol, and cartilage coefficient of friction against glass increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Autologous chondrocytes displayed little difference in viability or their ability to attach and spread over the surface of genipin-fixed cartilage compared to non-crosslinked cartilage during 6 weeks of culture. These results indicate that genipin may be efficacious for stabilization of a decellularized porcine osteochondral xenograft. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Carbon nanotube stabilized single layer graphene cantilevers

We demonstrate a method to fabricate single-layer graphene cantilevers by utilizing multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) stabilizing elements. Cantilevers are produced by focused ion beam milling of suspended graphene with MWNTs on the surface. Stable structures with an aspect ratio of at least 5 can be reliably produced and are found to be considerably stiffer than expected based on the theoretical bending stiffness of a graphene sheet. This process substantially extends the current limits of single-layer graphene cantilever fabrication, facilitating the study of atomically thin membranes and production of previously unrealized nanoelectromechanical systems.
Comprehensive Behavioral Health and School Psychology: An Implementation Agenda

The preceding articles provide important examples and guidance for the provision of high-quality behavioral health services for children and adolescents in schools. In this article, we discuss (a) ...
Enhancing exercise for people who are blind or low vision using interactive technology

This forum is dedicated to personal health in all its many facets: decision making, goal setting, celebration, discovery, reflection, and coordination, among others. We look at innovations in interactive technologies and how they help address current critical healthcare challenges. --- Yunan Chen, Editor
Gifted LearnersWho Drop Out: Prevalence and Prevention

Gifted dropout rates vary depending on how one defines both “giftedness” and “dropping out.” Recent empirical studies seem to agree that in contrast to allegorical estimates of 20% or higher, relatively few academically gifted learners actually leave high school without a diploma. However, dropping out clearly can be a serious problem for some gifted individuals. This chapter situates dropping out of school as an extreme manifestation of academic underachievement. Reviews of recent and emerging scholarship are considered to estimate the magnitude of this problem and to suggest possible interventions that may minimize the likelihood of the academically able learner dropping out.
Building smart memories and high-speed cloud services for the internet of things with derecho

The coming generation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications will process massive amounts of incoming data while supporting data mining and online learning. In cases with demanding real-time requirements, such systems behave as smart memories: a high-bandwidth service that captures sensor input, processes it using machine-learning tools, replicates and stores "interesting" data (discarding uninteresting content), updates knowledge models, and triggers urgently-needed responses. Derecho is a high-throughput library for building smart memories and similar services. At its core Derecho implements atomic multicast (Vertical Paxos) and state machine replication (the classic durable Paxos). Derecho's replicated template defines a replicated type; the corresponding objects are associated with subgroups, which can be sharded into key-value structures. The persistent and volatile storage templates implement version vectors with optional NVM persistence. These support time-indexed access, offering lock-free snapshot isolation that blends temporal precision and causal consistency. Derecho automates application management, supporting multigroup structures and providing consistent knowledge of the current membership mapping. A query can access data from many shards or subgroups, and consistency is guaranteed without any form of distributed locking. Whereas many systems run consensus on the critical path, Derecho requires consensus only when updating membership. By leveraging an RDMA data plane and NVM storage, and adopting a novel receiver-side batching technique, Derecho can saturate a 12.5GB RDMA network, sending millions of events per second in each subgroup or shard. In a single subgroup with 2--16 members, through-put peaks at 16 GB/s for large (100MB or more) objects. While key-value subgroups would typically use 2 or 3-member shards, unsharded subgroups could be large. In tests with a 128-member group, Derecho's multicast and Paxos protocols were just 3--5x slower than for a small group, depending on the traffic pattern. With network contention, slow members, or overlapping groups that generate concurrent traffic, Derecho's protocols remain stable and adapt to the available bandwidth.
P23 Effect of a single bout of gastrocnemius-soleus stretching on drop-landing biomechanics

Study Design Pretest-posttest. Objectives Examine the effect of a single bout of gastrocnemius-soleus complex (GSC) stretching on drop-landing biomechanics. Background Dorsiflexion ROM deficits have been associated with greater knee-valgus displacement and increased ground reaction forces during landing. These landing mechanics are risk factors for lower extremity injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture. It is unknown whether GSC stretching can decrease these high-risk biomechanics during landing. Methods and Measures Fifteen physically active adults (9 females, 6 males, age: 22.6±2.4 years, height: 1.69±0.07 m, mass: 66.40±9.95 kg) volunteered to participate. Participants came to the laboratory for a single testing session that included a pretest and posttest assessment of weight-bearing dorsiflexion ROM and biomechanical analysis of a drop-landing task. The biomechanical analysis consisted of drop-landing from a box set to the maximal vertical jump height for each participant. Sagittal and frontal plane kinematics and kinetics of the hip, knee, and ankle were captured using a 3D motion capture system and forceplate during three successful trials which were averaged for analysis. Between assessments, all subjects completed a GSC stretching intervention. The intervention included a three-minute bout of stretching which targeted the GSC. Pretest and posttest dorsiflexion and biomechanics variables were compared with paired t-tests (p≤0.05) and corresponding effect sizes (ES). Results Weight-bearing dorsiflexion ROM (Mean Difference: 0.77±0.79 cm, p=0.002, ES=0.97) and ankle eversion displacement (Mean Difference:2.58±3.21°, p=0.01, ES=0.80) significantly increased following GSC stretching. Moderate effect sizes also indicated there was a decrease in posterior ground reaction force (Mean Difference: (0.45±0.94 N/kg, p=0.09, ES=0.48) and an increase in knee adduction displacement (Mean difference: 1.74±3.67°, p=0.09, ES=0.50). Conclusions A single three-minute GSC stretching intervention increased dorsiflexion ROM; however, it only had moderate effects on drop-landing biomechanics. Therefore, GSC interventions with longer durations and treatment volumes may generate larger magnitude increases in dorsiflexion ROM and more robust alterations in landing biomechanics.
Daily Compensation Can Improve College Students’ Participation and Retention Rates in Daily Report Studies:

In longitudinal daily report research, it is challenging to maintain participation with college student samples due to the time and mental energy required. Small monetary incentives can assuage thi...
Association of Protein Kinase B (AKT) DNA Hypermethylation with Maintenance Atypical Antipsychotic Treatment in Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Study objective Atypical antipsychotics cause insulin resistance that leads to an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Skeletal muscle is the primary tissue for uptake of glucose, and its dysfunction is considered one of the primary defects in the development of insulin resistance. Protein kinase B (AKT) plays an important role in overall skeletal muscle health and glucose uptake into the muscle. The objective of this study was to measure AKT isoform-specific gene methylation differences in the skeletal muscle of patients with bipolar disorder treated with atypical antipsychotic or mood stabilizer maintenance therapy. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting Clinical research services center at an academic center. Patients Thirty patients with a confirmed diagnosis of bipolar disorder who were treated with either an atypical antipsychotic (16 patients) or mood stabilizer (14 patients) at a consistent dose for at least 3 months. Interventions A fasting skeletal muscle biopsy was performed in the vastus lateralis in each patient. Patients also underwent fasting blood sample collection and a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Measurements and main results Skeletal muscle DNA methylation near the promoter region for three genes, AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3, was measured by methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting. Gene methylation was analyzed based on atypical antipsychotic versus mood stabilizer maintenance therapy. Associations between gene methylation, insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance were also analyzed. In patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, AKT1 and AKT2 methylation was increased compared with patients treated with mood stabilizers (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). In addition, for patients receiving atypical antipsychotics, a positive trend for AKT2 hypermethylation with increasing insulin resistance was observed, whereas for patients receiving mood stabilizers, a trend for decreased AKT2 methylation with increasing insulin resistance was observed. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest that the AKT gene is differentially methylated in the skeletal muscle of patients taking atypical antipsychotics or mood stabilizer maintenance therapy. These results may direct future approaches to reduce the harmful adverse effects of atypical antipsychotic treatment.
Therapeutic Recreation Service: Principles and Practices. By Richard Kraus

(1974). Therapeutic Recreation Service: Principles and Practices. By Richard Kraus. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 172-174.
Pathogen reduction combined with rapid diagnostic tests to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections in Uganda.

Background Blood safety and transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) are a major concern in low-resource areas. Laboratory screening of donors, a key contributor to blood safety, is usually done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, which use expensive reagents and necessitate complex instruments and sophisticated laboratory staff. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are less expensive and easier to perform but have less sensitivity. Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) reduces transfusion transmission of malaria and may be effective in decreasing other TTIs. We explored the potential to improve blood safety by combining PRT and RDTs in comparison with current ELISA testing. Study design and methods We identified the sensitivity of RDTs available in Uganda and the sensitivity of currently used ELISA. Data from a riboflavin-and-UV-based photochemical treatment PRT were used. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and malaria were studied. Probability models were developed for estimation of the number of infectious units of blood for each of these four infections using either current ELISA or the combination of RDT and PRT. Results Compared to currently used ELISA, the combination of RDTs and PRT could reduce the rate of infectious units by 100, 20, 98, and 83% for HIV, HBV, HCV, and malaria, respectively, and would prevent use of 758 units of infectious blood per 10,000 units transfused. Conclusion The combination of RDTs and PRT may improve blood safety in low-resource areas.
Overcoming the Coherence Distance Barrier in Long-Range FMCW LIDAR

Coherence distance has been considered as a hard limit for FMCW LIDAR range. We show laser characterization and a detection algorithm tailored to laser properties can significantly improve the accuracy, extending the range beyond coherence distance.
Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Plasma Transport and Tissue Concentrations: Implications for Their Relative Biological Functions

The plasma transport and certain aspects of tocopherol and tocotrienol physiology were examined in humans and hamsters. First, their transport differed in that tocopherol was found primarily in LDL and HDL whereas tocotrienols disappeared from plasma with chylomicrons removal. Second, tocopherol concentration in LDL was inversely proportional to the “atherogenic potential” of LDL in an in vitro monocyte adhesion assay. Although vegetarian had more polyunsaturates and less total tocopherol in their plasma lipids, they maintained a higher tocopherol: cholesterol molar ratio. In essence, we find support for the concept that high intake of polyunsaturated fat is deleterious to the oxidation state of circulating LDL. Third, a high intake of tocotrienol did not appear to modulate plasma cholesterol levels in normolipidemic hamsters. We conclude that the transport, tissue concentration, and relative biological functions of tocopherol and tocotrienol are distinct and relatively unrelated.
Surface Morphology Characterization with X-Ray Scattering Techniques

This paper describes applications of the x-ray reflectivity technique to characterize the evolution of the surface morphology of thin metal films as a function of thickness during growth. The experiments show the sensitivity of the technique to the texture of the surface and to changes in the in-plane arrangement of surface structures which constitute the film roughness. In the specular geometry, the scattering vector probes correlations in the structure perpendicular to the substrate interface, and thereby the density profile of the surface may be obtained. The extensions to the conventional x-ray reflectivity technique include probing in diffuse and off-specular geometries, for which the scattering vector probes in-plane correlations of the surface structure.
Extending Cognitive Architectures

New powerful approach in cognitive modeling and intelligent agent design, known as biologically inspired cognitive architectures (BICA), allows us to create in the near future general-purpose, real-life computational equivalents of the human mind, that can be used for a broad variety of practical applications. As a first step toward this goal, state-of-the-art BICA need to be extended to enable advanced (meta-)cognitive capabilities, including social and emotional intelligence, human-like episodic memory, imagery, self-awareness, teleological capabilities, to name just a few. Recent extensions of mainstream cognitive architectures claim having many of these features. Yet, their implementation remains limited, compared to the human mind. This work analyzes limitations of existing extensions of popular cognitive architectures, identifies specific challenges, and outlines an approach that allows achieving a “critical mass” of a human-level learner.
Modified theories of laminar and turbulent rotating jets

Scale-invariant forms of mass, energy, and linear momentum conservation equations in chemically reactive fields are described. The modified equation of motion is then solved for the classical problem of axisymmetric laminar rotating free jet. The results are shown to be in agreement with the classical theories of Loitsianskii and Gortler. The problem of turbulent axisymmetric rotating jet is shown to have solutions identical to those of laminar jet. Temperature distributions of axisymmetric and two-dimensional turbulent jets are determined and the latter results are found to be in agreement with the observations of Reichardt.
Temperature Dependence of Uranium Carbide Fission-Gas Swelling: An Analytical Evaluation

A simple model for the gas-diffusion-controlled growth of stationary gas bubbles in an isothermal solid, under constant rate of gas generation, is used to evaluate the temperature dependence of fis...
Inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase modulators for cancer therapy

Most human malignancies have an aberration in the Rb pathway due to 'cdk hyperactivation'. Several small-molecule cdk modulators are being discovered and tested in the clinic. The first ATP-competitive cdk inhibitors tested in clinical trials, flavopiridol and UCN-01, have shown promising results with evidence of antitumor activity and plasma concentrations sufficient to inhibit cdk-related functions. The best schedule to be administered, combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents, best tumor types to be targeted, and demonstration of cdk modulation from tumor samples from patients in these trials are important issues that need to be answered to advance these agents to the clinical arena.
A fretting finite element investigation of a plane-strain cylindrical contact of Inconel 617/Incoloy 800H at room and high temperatures:

This work presents a finite element study of a 2D plane strain fretting model of a half-cylinder in contact with a flat block under oscillatory tangential loading. The two bodies are deformable and are set to Inconel 617 and Incoloy 800H at room temperature (20 ℃) and 800 ℃. However, because the results are normalized, they can characterize a range of contact scales (micro to macro). Different coefficients of friction are used at the interface. This work finds that the edges of the contacting areas experience large von Mises stresses along with significant residual plastic strains, while pileup could also appear when the coefficients of friction are sufficiently large. In addition, junction growth is investigated, showing that the direction of the growth is in the same direction of the tangential force that the weaker material (Incoloy alloy 800H) experiences. The fretting loop (caused by the tangential force during the fretting motion) for the initial few cycles of loading is generated, and it compares w...
Motherhood and Academic Chemistry Laboratories: Safety and Career Challenges from a Qualitative Study

As more and more women enter the workforce, issues regarding childbearing and caretaking have become more prominent. Challenges women face with the timing of pregnancy, finding affordable childcare, and meeting the multitude of demands inherent with raising children are starting to be addressed by many employers. In the university setting, structural and cultural factors pose barriers yet also provide almost unheard-of flexibility. While some of these challenges are being addressed by employers, funding agencies, and communities, one area of particular concern is safety for women chemists. There are hazards associated with working with chemicals, and the risks associated with them may be higher during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is no easy way of assessing and minimizing the risks. This chapter will review the safety concerns for women chemists, current policies and practices for dealing with safety challenges, experiences of women faculty, and considerations for departments and administrators.
A Current Review of Long-Acting Resorbable Meshes in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Concern for chronic infection of a permanent synthetic material in contaminated and "high risk" ventral hernia repairs has led to the development and dissemination of slowly resorbable biosynthetic materials at a lower cost compared with biologic mesh counterparts. Here, we review the preclinical and clinical data available for each long-acting resorbable mesh, with a candid comparison to biologic and synthetic equivalents.
Deterioration Characteristics of Waterborne Pavement Markings Subjected to Different Operating Conditions

AbstractDrivers rely on pavement markings to maintain a safe road path, especially during nighttime and challenging weather conditions. The objective of this study was to model the deterioration of...