cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OpEM distributed simulation

Distributed simulation based on Opera tional Evaluation Modeling (OpEM) is discussed. OpEM, a system design and analysis methodology, uses a two-dimen sional, directed graph language to describe system operation. The OpEM simulation programming system, that implements this methodology, includes object-oriented event processing routines, moving-object routines, an expert system controller, and continuous system simulation routines. These routines are required to model large systems, such as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) systems, that are characterized by closely coupled, context sensitive interactions. These interactions are modeled using a large global state space consisting of both discrete and continuous state variables. Execution of such large, complex models on uniprocessors can be slow; therefore, possible speedup by execution on a multiprocessor system, a set of processors that share memory, is investigated. A generic surface- ship warfare simulation, characteristic of many large models, is...
What are the consequences of the disappearing human microbiota

Humans and our ancestors have evolved since the most ancient times with a commensal microbiota. The conservation of indicator species in a niche-specific manner across all of the studied human population groups suggests that the microbiota confer conserved benefits on humans. Nevertheless, certain of these organisms have pathogenic properties and, through medical practices and lifestyle changes, their prevalence in human populations is changing, often to an extreme degree. In this Essay, we propose that the disappearance of these ancestral indigenous organisms, which are intimately involved in human physiology, is not entirely beneficial and has consequences that might include post-modern conditions such as obesity and asthma.
The Oldest Ocean Post Office

IN NATURE, vol. xxiii. p. 254, just received here, it is stated that in Magellan Straits there has been for some years past, chained to a rock there, a barrel from which passing ships take letters for the direction they are going in, leaving others for the opposite quarter; it is added that up to the present no abuse of the privileges of this primitive post-office has been reported.
Responses of Bergmann Glia and Granule Neurons In Situ to N‐Methyl‐d‐Aspartate, Norepinephrine, and High Potassium

To gain insight into neuronal-glial signaling in brain, cerebellar Bergmann glia and granule neurons were studied in acutely isolated slices with the aid of laser scanning confocal microscopy. Both Bergmann glia and granule neurons responded to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) with a rise in [Ca 2+ ] i . However, the glial NMDA response was frequently inhibited by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the response depended on neuronal action potentials, rather than on direct activation of NMDA receptors on the Bergmann glia. Further experiments demonstrated that the NMDA response in Bergmann glia was not inhibited by a combination of non-NMDA glutamate receptor blockers 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and a-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. Bergmann glia also responded to norepinephrine and high K + , and the responses were not inhibited by tetrodotoxin. The glial norepinephrine response was blocked by phentolamine but not by the removal of external Ca 2+ , indicating a direct activation of α 1 -adrenergic receptors that mediated release of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores. The KCl-induced response in both neurons and glia was dependent on external Ca 2+ and was blocked by verapamil or nifedipine. In summary, our data indicate that Bergmann glia in situ recognize a signal(s) released from neurons during neuronal activity.
Regulated deficit irrigation alters anthocyanins, tannins and sensory properties of cabernet sauvignon grapes and wines.

Four regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) regimes were applied to Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which were analyzed for phenolics and also made into wine over three consecutive growing seasons. Relative to an industry standard regime (IS), yield was reduced over the three years by 37% in a full-deficit (FD) regime and by 18% in an early deficit (ED) regime, whereas no yield reduction occurred with a late deficit (LD) regime. Relative to IS, skin anthocyanin concentration (fresh weight basis) was 18% and 24% higher in ED and FD, respectively, whereas no effect was seen in LD. Seed tannin concentration was 3% and 8% higher in ED and FD, respectively, relative to the other two RDI regimes, whereas seed tannin content (amount per berry) was higher in IS than in FD. There were no practically relevant effects on the basic chemistry of the wines. The finished wines showed concentrations of tannins and anthocyanins that generally mirrored observed differences in skin and seed phenolic concentrations, although these were amplified in FD wines. Descriptive sensory analysis of the 2008 wines showed that FD wines were the most saturated in color, with higher purple hue, roughness, dryness and harshness, followed by ED wines, whereas IS and LD wines were less saturated in color and with higher brown and red hues. Overall, FD and ED seemed to yield fruit and wine with greater concentrations of phenolics than IS and LD, with the additional advantage of reducing water usage. However, these apparent benefits need to be balanced out with reductions in crop yields and potential long-term effects associated with pre-veraison water deficits.
Late local recurrences in patients with head and neck cancer treated by irradiation and intra-arterial infusion

Abstract From an original group of 55 patients with advanced head and neck cancers who had received local infusion and radical irradiation, 4 of 6 who survived at least 8 years free of disease developed recurrences in the original primary site. Comparison of the histopathology of the initial and recurrent specimens in each of these 4 patients showed no difference in cytologic anaplasia in 2 patients, but a definite progression from well to poorly differentiated cancer in the others. There was a fair correlation between the histologic grade of neoplasia and the biologic behavior of the tumor in 3 of the 4 patients. However, no late local failures occurred after the sixth post-treatment year in 360 additional patients whose head and neck carcinomas were treated by radiation alone.
Pharmacological evidence for a role of peroxynitrite in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury

Evidence suggests that the reactive oxygen species peroxynitrite (PN) is an important player in the pathophysiology of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present study, we examined the ability of tempol, a catalytic scavenger of PN-derived free radicals, to alleviate oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and cytoskeletal degradation following a severe contusion (200 kdyn force) SCI in female Sprague-Dawley rats. PN-mediated oxidative damage in spinal cord tissue, including protein nitration, protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by acute tempol treatment (300 mg/kg, i.p. within 5 min post-injury). Injury-induced mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction, measured after 24 h in isolated mitochondria, was partially reversed by tempol along with an attenuation of oxidative damage to mitochondrial proteins. Mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis contributing to calpain-mediated axonal cytoskeletal protein (alpha-spectrin, 280 kD) degradation. Increased levels of alpha-spectrin breakdown proteins (SBDP 145 kD and 150 kD) were significantly decreased at 24 h in tempol-treated rats indicative of spinal axonal protection. However, a therapeutic window analysis showed that the axonal cytoskeletal protective effects require tempol dosing within the first hour after injury. Nevertheless, these findings are the first to support the concept that PN is an important neuroprotective target in early secondary SCI, and that there is a mechanistic link between PN-mediated oxidative compromise of spinal cord mitochondrial function, loss of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and calpain-mediated proteolytic axonal damage.
The influence of deformation on barbell mechanics during the clean pull.

For simplicity of biomechanical analyses, the weightlifting barbell is typically modelled as a rigid, nondeformable object. Most coaches and weightlifters, however, are aware of the elastic nature of the barbell, and its influence on the successful completion of lifting attempts. Variables such as velocity, work performed, and power output are indicators of the quality of performance during the snatch, clean, and related weightlifting pulling movements. The aim of this study was to establish whether differences exist in determining these biomechanical parameters when the centre of the barbell is analysed compared with each end of the barbell. Nine men performed three maximal-effort repetitions in the clean pull exercise at 85% of their self-reported single repetition maximum (1-RM) clean (90-155 kg) using a barbell instrumented for mechanical analysis. Results indicated that peak barbell speed was 5-30% (P 0.05). Although approximately the same work and power occur for the centre and ends of the barbell, they manifest as different kinematics as a result of the elastic nature of the equipment. The elastic characteristics should be considered when selecting instrumentation and variables for research involving barbells. Coaches should be aware of the elasticity of barbells, including selecting appropriate viewing angles as well as understanding how deformation may affect the ends of the barbell relative to the centre.
Methods for Prediction of High-Speed Reacting Flows in Aerospace Propulsion

Research to develop high-speed airbreathing aerospace propulsion systems was underway in the late 1950s. A major part of the effort involved the supersonic combustion ramjet, or scramjet, engine. Work had also begun to develop computational techniques for solving the equations governing the flow through a scramjet engine. However, scramjet technology and the computational methods to assist in its evolution would remain apart for another decade. The principal barrier was that the computational methods needed for engine evolution lacked the computer technology required for solving the discrete equations resulting from the numerical methods. Even today, computer resources remain a major pacing item in overcoming this barrier. Significant advances have been made over the past 35 years, however, in modeling the supersonic chemically reacting flow in a scramjet combustor. To see how scramjet development and the required computational tools finally merged, we briefly trace the evolution of the technology in both areas.
Direct activation of mammalian atrial muscarinic potassium channels by GTP regulatory protein Gk

The mammalian heart rate is regulated by the vagus nerve, which acts via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors to cause hyperpolarization of atrial pacemaker cells. The hyperpolarization is produced by the opening of potassium channels and involves an intermediary guanosine triphosphate-binding regulatory (G) protein. Potassium channels in isolated, inside-out patches of membranes from atrial cells now are shown to be activated by a purified pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein of subunit composition alpha beta gamma, with an alpha subunit of 40,000 daltons. Thus, mammalian atrial muscarinic potassium channels are activated directly by a G protein, not indirectly through a cascade of intermediary events. The G protein regulating these channels is identified as a potent Gk; it is active at 0.2 to 1 pM. Thus, proteins other than enzymes can be under control of receptor coupling G proteins.
Genetic studies of craniofacial anomalies: clinical implications and applications

The objective of the study was to overview the role of genetic research in fostering translational studies of craniofacial diseases of dental interest. Background information is presented to illustrate influences affecting genetic research studies of Mendelian diseases. Genetic studies of amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta, hereditary gingival fibromatosis and Papillon Lefevre syndrome are reviewed. Findings are presented to illustrate how translational applications of clinical and basic research may improve clinical care. Clinical and basic science research has identified specific genes and mutations etiologically responsible for amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta, hereditary gingival fibromatosis and Papillon Lefevre syndrome. These findings are enabling researchers to understand how specific genetic alterations perturb normal growth and development of dental tissues. Identification of the genetic basis of these conditions is enabling clinicians and researchers to more fully understand the etiology and clinical consequences of these diseases of dental importance. Findings from genetic studies of dental diseases provide a basis for diagnostic genetic testing and development of therapeutic intervention strategies directed at the underlying disease etiology. These studies are advancing our understanding of the development of dental tissues in health and disease. The dental community must consider how to incorporate these developments into effective disease prevention paradigms to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with genetic diseases.
Motion of wetting fronts moving into partially pre-wet soil

Abstract We study the motion of wetting fronts for vertical infiltration problems as modeled by Richards’ equation. Parlange and others have shown that wetting fronts in infiltration flows can be described by traveling wave solutions. If the soil layer is not initially dry, but has an initial distribution of water content then the motion of the wetting front will change due to the interaction of the infiltrating flow with the pre-existing soil conditions. Using traveling wave profiles, we construct simple approximate solutions of initial-boundary value problems for Richards’ equation that accurately describe the position and moisture distribution of the wetting front. We show that the influences of surface boundary conditions and initial conditions produce shifts to the position of the wetting front. The shifts can be calculated by examining the cumulative infiltration, and are validated numerically for several problems for Richards’ equation and the linear advection–diffusion equation.
Adenovirus mixture isolated from the brain of an AIDS patient with encephalitis

A mixture of adenoviruses 31 and 49 was isolated from the brain of an AIDS patient with encephalitis. Adenovirus hexon protein was detected in neurons by indirect immunofluorescence. By restriction endonuclease analysis both adenovirus 31 and 49 were shown to be new genotypes. This is the first report of the isolation of a mixture of adenoviruses from adenovirus encephalitis and the first association of adenovirus 49, a new candidate serotype, with encephalitis.
A rational arithmetic processor

An arithmetic processor based upon a rational representation scheme is examined. The key feature of this rational processor is its ability to efficiently reduce a result ratio to its irreducible form (the greatest common divisor of the numerator and denominator is unity). The reduction algorithm presented generates the reduced ratio in parallel with the evaluation of the ratio's greatest common divisor. Hardware designs for the reduction algorithm and the basic arithmetic operations are given.
Estimating Vegetation Beta Diversity from Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy and Unsupervised Clustering

Airborne remote sensing has an important role to play in mapping and monitoring biodiversity over large spatial scales. Techniques for applying this technology to biodiversity mapping have focused on remote species identification of individual crowns; however, this requires collection of a large number of crowns to train a classifier, which may limit the usefulness of this approach in many study regions. Based on the premise that the spectral variation among sites is related to their ecological dissimilarity, we asked whether it is possible to estimate the beta diversity, or turnover in species composition, among sites without the use of training data. We evaluated alternative methods using simulated communities constructed from the spectra of field-identified tree and shrub crowns from an African savanna. A method based on the k-means clustering of crown spectra produced beta diversity estimates (measured as Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) among sites with an average pairwise correlation of ~0.5 with the true beta diversity, compared to an average correlation of ~0.8 obtained by a supervised species classification approach. When applied to savanna landscapes, the unsupervised clustering method produced beta diversity estimates similar to those obtained from supervised classification. The unsupervised method proposed here can be used to estimate the spatial structure of species turnover in a landscape when training data (e.g., tree crowns) are unavailable, providing top-down information for science, conservation and ecosystem management applications.
Sequence of a symbiont

The complete genome sequence of the insect pathogen and nematode symbiont Photorhabdus luminescens identifies a trove of antibiotic and toxin genes.
Biochemical characteristics of free and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum and of transverse tubules in human skeletal muscle.

The microsomal fraction of normal human skeletal muscle was subfractionated by isopycnic sucrose-density centrifugation, using the procedure originally described by Saito et al.38 for rabbit fast muscle, and specific markers of the junctional face membrane of terminal cisternae (TC) (ryanodine receptor, high-molecular-weight feet proteins and membrane-associated calcium-binding protein calsequestrin), of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-pump membrane (chicken antibody to rabbit Ca-ATPase), and of transverse tubules (TT) (dihydropiridine receptor, membrane cholesterol), respectively. The results show that isolated TC from human skeletal muscle share extensive morphological characteristics, protein composition, as well as Ca-release properties with rabbit TC, as tested with an inhibitor (Ruthenium red) and an activator (doxorubicin) of SR Ca-release. The Ca-pump membrane of human muscle SR, in distinction to rabbit fast muscle SR, showed a relatively low specific activity of the Ca-ATPase, as expected from the mixed fiber composition of human muscles, but shared the presence of minor protein components, such as a Con A binding protein of about 57 kDa and blue-staining peptides in the 170–120 kDa range of molecular weights. Human muscle TT, as isolated from the same sucrose gradient, demonstrated a high affinity (3H)-dihydropiridine binding activity in the range of previously reported values for purified TT from rabbit skeletal muscle.
Inferior vena cava filters in malignant disease.

Abstract Purpose: Patients undergoing treatment for cancer have a high risk and prevalence of venous thrombosis and frequent contraindications to anticoagulation therapy that lead to placement of caval filters. We questioned whether the increasing frequency of this intervention has clinical benefit. Methods: Between 1993 and 2000, 116 patients undergoing active treatment for malignant disease underwent filter placement at our institution. Outcome was retrospectively assessed with regard to procedural complications, recurrent thrombotic events, and patient survival. Results: Primary tumors were gastrointestinal (n = 25), lung (n = 24), breast (n = 14), gynecologic (n = 14), prostate (n = 12), hematologic (n = 8), urologic (n = 4) or other (n = 15). Indications for filter were contraindication to anticoagulation therapy for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE; bleeding, n=33; surgery, n=29), recurrent or propagating DVT or recurrent PE during anticoagulation therapy (n = 17), right heart failure (n = 15), intracerebral malignancy (n = 7), and other indications (n = 18). Procedural complications were five localized hematomas, none necessitating surgery. Two patients had progressive DVT and three had clinical recurrent PE after filter placement. Life-table analysis revealed survival rates of 68.8% at 30 days, 49.4% at 3 months, and 26.8% at 1 year (standard error, Conclusion: Although recurrent thromboembolic events are rare after caval filter placement in patients with malignant disease, survival is short in most patients with stage IV disease and prevention of PE may be of little clinical benefit and a poor utilization of resources. Oncologists should consider these sobering results when requesting filter placement in patients with advanced malignant disease. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:704-7.)
Quantum-classical path integral. I. Classical memory and weak quantum nonlocality.

We consider rigorous path integral descriptions of the dynamics of a quantum system coupled to a polyatomic environment, assuming that the latter is well approximated by classical trajectories. Earlier work has derived semiclassical or purely classical expressions for the influence functional from the environment, which should be sufficiently accurate for many situations, but the evaluation of quantum-(semi)classical path integral (QCPI) expressions has not been practical for large-scale simulation because the interaction with the environment introduces couplings nonlocal in time. In this work, we analyze the nature of the effects on a system from its environment in light of the observation [N. Makri, J. Chem. Phys. 109, 2994 (1998)] that true nonlocality in the path integral is a strictly quantum mechanical phenomenon. If the environment is classical, the path integral becomes local and can be evaluated in a stepwise fashion along classical trajectories of the free solvent. This simple “classical path” limit of QCPI captures fully the decoherence of the system via a classical mechanism. Small corrections to the classical path QCPI approximation may be obtained via an inexpensive random hop QCPI model, which accounts for some “back reaction” effects. Exploiting the finite length of nonlocality, we argue that further inclusion of quantum decoherence is possible via an iterative evaluation of the path integral. Finally, we show that the sum of the quantum amplitude factors with respect to the system paths leads to a smooth integrand as a function of trajectory initial conditions, allowing the use of Monte Carlo methods for the multidimensional phase space integral.
EVIDENCE THAT TOMATO ASPERMY AND CUCUMBER MOSAIC VIRUSES ARE SEROLOGICALLY UNRELATED.

Abstract A procedure for the partial purification of tomato aspermy virus was developed and antisera were produced. Antisera specific for tomato aspermy and cucumber mosaic viruses were reacted separately and in combination with the respective homologous and heterologous antigens in agar gel double-diffusion tests. Results from these tests indicate that the viruses are serologically unrelated.
A simple dynamic model for the 1995 Kobe, Japan earthquake

[1] We investigate the dynamic rupture process of the 16 January 1995 Kobe earthquake (Mw 6.9) by spontaneous rupture modeling of a 3-D dynamic shear crack that reproduces the slip distribution found from kinematic waveform inversion of strong motion data. We find that using the heterogeneous initial stress field obtained from the kinematic slip model and relatively uniform fracture energy distribution, successfully generates a dynamic model with slip and rupture time distributions that are consistent with the kinematic source inversion. Our results suggest that we may be able to produce realistic dynamic rupture models with simpler assumptions for dynamic source parameters, such as the fracture energy, than have been used in most dynamic rupture models to date.
Physical activity and resting pulse rate in older adults: Findings from a randomized controlled trial

Background Elevated resting pulse rate (RPR) is a well-recognized risk factor for adverse outcomes. Epidemiological evidence supports the beneficial effects of regular exercise for lowering RPR, but studies are mainly confined to persons younger than 65 years. We set out to evaluate the utility of a physical activity (PA) intervention for slowing RPR among older adults. Methods A total of 424 seniors (ages 70-89 years) were randomized to a moderate intensity PA intervention or an education-based "successful aging" health program. Resting pulse rate was assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Longitudinal differences in RPR were evaluated between treatment groups using generalized estimating equation models, reporting unstandardized β coefficients with robust SEs. Results Increased frequency and duration of aerobic training were observed for the PA group at 6 and 12 months as compared with the successful aging group ( P P = .67). No significant improvement was observed (β [SE] = 0.58 [0.88]; P = .51) for RPR when treatment groups were compared using the generalized estimating equation method. Comparable results were found after omitting participants with a pacemaker, cardiac arrhythmia, or who were receiving β-blockers. Conclusions Twelve months of moderate intensity aerobic training did not improve RPR among older adults. Additional studies are needed to determine whether PA of longer duration and/or greater intensity can slow RPR in older persons.
The relationship between quality and costs: factors that affect the hospital costs of radical prostatectomy.

The present study seeks to establish a relationship between the quality of a surgical procedure and the subsequent hospital costs for that procedure by investigating the influence of both patient and peri-operative factors on the hospital costs of radical prostatectomy. All men who underwent radical prostatectomy at one institution during an 18-month period were included in this study. Clinical information was obtained from medical records and cost information was obtained from hospital billing data. The medical record was also used to determine peri-operative information such as operating room time, anesthesia time, surgical time, blood loss and units of packed red blood cells transfused. The correlation between costs and both clinical and peri-operative factors were determined using the Pearson correlation co-efficient. One hundred and four men underwent radical prostatectomy at our institution during the time period studied. Mean age of these patients was 60.2 y and mean length of stay for these patients was 3.4 days with a range of 2-10 days. Mean total hospital costs for this cohort was $5305 with a range of $2851-$10 358. Significant correlations with total hospital costs included operating room time, surgical time, estimated blood loss and blood transfused. Patient factors such as age, ASA class, co-morbidities and smoking history were not correlated with total hospital costs. The present study demonstrates that factors at least partially controlled by the surgeon such as surgical time and units of blood transfused directly influence the total hospital costs of radical prostatectomy, while patient factors such as age and the presence of co-morbidities had no significant correlation with total hospital costs. These findings demonstrate that surgeons can impact health care costs by providing high quality care and begins to establish a relationship between high quality care and low cost care.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2001) 4, 213-216.
IT security risk management

Threats (accidental or malicious) are potential causes of unwanted events that can result in harm to the assets of the organization and may affect the profit and/or a company reputation. A risk management process (qualitative or quantitative) is needed in order to identify, describe, and analyze the possible vulnerabilities that could affect the company's assets. In this paper, we present the quantitative indexes that are used to measure risk and introduce the scenario-based qualitative approaches via attack trees.
Capturing the evolution of corporate e-mail: An ethnographic case study

Abstract Corporate e-mail is becoming an important subject in research as an increasing number of corporations install networked communication systems. Most information on how workplace writers use (and are used by) e-mail has so far relied on interviews, surveys, and textual analyses. This article is a report on an ethnographic case study of how two managers adapted to the introduction of e-mail into their respective corporations. This article reports on the status of e-mail within the ethos of the corporations, on the frequency and functions of e-mail use, and on the problems e-mail caused.
INHIBITION OF PINK COLOR DEVELOPMENT IN COOKED, UNCURED GROUND TURKEY BY THE ADDITION OF CITRIC ACID

Citric acid (CIT, 0.3%) was assessed for its ability to reduce the pink color defect in ground, cooked (80C) turkey breast associated with nicotinamide hemochrome (NICHEME) and nitrosyl hemochrome (NITHEME). CIT incorporation in nicotinamide-treated (NIC, 1.0%) samples (CIT plus NIC) reduced (P 0.05) in redness to the control and reduced (P<0.05) the redness by 43% compared to the NIT- only treatment. All treatments containing citric acid lowered the pH and increased (P<0.05) cooking loss compared to samples without citric acid. At the level tested, addition of citric acid would provide poultry processors a means to eliminate or significantly reduce the pink defect. However, the use of citric acid may require the addition of nonacid
Abstract: GPU Accelerated Ultrasonic Tomography Using Propagation and Backpropagation Method

This paper develops implementation strategy and method to accelerate the propagation and backpropagation (PBP) tomographic imaging algorithm using Graphic Processing Units (GPUs). The Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming model is used to develop our parallelized algorithm since the CUDA model allows the user to interact with the GPU resources more efficiently than traditional shader methods. The results show an improvement of more than 80x when compared to the C/C++ version of the algorithm, and 515x when compared to the MATLAB version while achieving high quality imaging for both cases. We test different CUDA kernel configurations in order to measure changes in the processing-time of our algorithm. By examining the acceleration rate and the image quality, we develop an optimal kernel configuration that maximizes the throughput of CUDA implementation for the PBP method.
A demonstration of the advantages of qualitative methodologies in stuttering research

Abstract Much of the recent literature in the field of stuttering has a primary reliance on experimental designs and quantitative analysis. Since human communication is complex and multidimensional, it is difficult to study in an unnatural experimental setting. This paper proposes an alternative methodology for queries into the complex behaviors that are associated with stuttering. Qualitative methodologies have already been used as effective research tools in anthropology, sociology, and several other social sciences. Their emergence in the field of speech-language pathology is recent. The purpose of these paper is to justify the use of qualitative methodologies as an adjunct and/or alternative to more traditional experimental methodologies. Educational Objectives: The reader will learn and be able to (1) describe the objectives of qualitative research, (2) contrast quantitative and qualitative research goals and methods, and (3) list the major strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research.
Cache-efficient numerical algorithms using graphics hardware

We present cache-efficient algorithms for scientific computations using graphics processing units (GPUs). Our approach is based on mapping the nested loops in the numerical algorithms to the texture mapping hardware and efficiently utilizing GPU caches. This mapping exploits the inherent parallelism, pipelining and high memory bandwidth on GPUs. We further improve the performance of numerical algorithms by accounting for the same relative memory address accesses performed at data elements in nested loops. Based on the similarity of memory accesses performed at the data elements in the input array, we decompose the input arrays into sub-arrays with similar memory access patterns and execute on the sub-arrays for faster execution. Our approach achieves high memory performance on GPUs by tiling the computation and thereby improving the cache-efficiency. Overall, our formulation for GPU-based algorithms extends the current graphics runtime APIs without exposing the underlying hardware complexity to the programmer. This makes it possible to achieve portability and higher performance across different GPUs. We use this approach to improve the performance of GPU-based sorting, fast Fourier transform and dense matrix multiplication algorithms. We also compare our results with prior GPU-based and CPU-based implementations on high-end processors. In practice, we observe 2-10x improvement in performance.
Escalante: an environment for the rapid construction of visual language applications

The paper describes Escalante, an environment that supports the iterative design, rapid prototyping and generation of complex visual language applications. Escalante enables the developer to visually specify and generate applications for a wide variety of graph based visual languages. A set of example applications are presented that serve to demonstrate the range of languages to which Escalante is applicable. >
How noisy and replicable are DNA microarray data

This paper analyses variability in highly replicated measurements of DNA microarray data conducted on nylon filters and Affymetrix GeneChips with different cDNA targets, filters, and imaging technology. Replicability is assessed quantitatively using correlation analysis as a global measure and differential expression analysis and ANOVA at the level of individual genes.
Autonomic and cardiovascular function in the geriatric patient.

For all organ systems, aging is associated with a loss of physiologic reserve that increases the vulnerability to disease and decreases the ability to compensate for stress. For the general population, the risk of dying doubles every 8.5 years. 21 It is interesting to note that this doubling time also applies to the risk of death from individual diseases such as appendicitis, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and many forms of cancer. When one examines perioperative mortality, the risk of dying also doubles with roughly every additional decade of age. 36 Hemodynamic stability is one of the major goals and challenges in the administration of an anesthetic. Not only does the aging process make that stability more difficult to achieve; aging and age-related disease may make hemodynamic instability more likely to lead to adverse outcomes. Cardiovascular and autonomic aging makes blood pressure inherently more unstable during anesthesia, primarily because of exaggerated responses to changes in ventricular filling, exaggerated responses to changes in sympathetic nervous system activity, and impaired baroreflex control of blood pressure owing to a decreased response to beta-receptor stimulation. Concomitant vascular disease may lead to organ hypoperfusion at blood pressures that would be easily tolerated by a young, healthy adult. The goals of this article are to review the physiology of cardiovascular aging, to describe what is known about the effect of anesthesia on the aged cardiovascular system, and to discuss strategies for hemodynamic management in the elderly patient.
The Empathy‐Prospect Model and the Choice to Help1

This paper presents a model of the cognitive processes that precede decisions to help another person. The empathy-prospect model predicts that potential helpers make decisions in much the same way as decision makers in other contexts do (i.e., they evaluate prospects) and that perceptions of need and the empathic reactions and intentions to help that they generate will be stronger for people observing losses rather than gains. The model also predicts that intentions to help should increase when (a) the predicament is serious, (b) money is not involved, or (c) help entails few costs for the potential altruist. The results from 2 experiments provide clear support for these predictions. The findings suggest that (a) the gains or losses of another person contribute to perceptions of that person's needs and feelings of empathy, (b) empathy is the primary proximal determinant of prosocial motivations, and (c) potential losses that are serious accentuate altruistic reactions.
Fastrack for taming burstiness and saving power in multi-tiered systems

Burstiness (i.e., sudden surges) in user demands in enterprise systems that operate under the multi-tiered paradigm is a common phenomenon that leads to overprovisioning: the system is configured with excess hardware to meet peak user demands, often resulting in excessive (and unnecessary) power costs. In this paper, we present Fastrack, a parameter-free algorithm for dynamic resource provisioning that uses simple statistics to promptly distill information about changes in workload burstiness. This information, coupled with the application's end-to-end response times and system bottleneck characteristics, guides resource allocation, which proves to be effective under a broad variety of application burstiness profiles and bottleneck scenarios. Extensive simulations illustrate Fastrack's robustness for consistently meeting predefined service level objectives while minimizing power usage.
Ontogenetic changes in the olfactory antennules of the shore crab, Hemigrapsus oregonensis, maintain sniffing function during growth.

Malacostracan crustaceans capture odours using arrays of chemosensory hairs (aesthetascs) on antennules. Lobsters and stomatopods have sparse aesthetascs on long antennules that flick with a rapid ...
Genetic Heterogeneity in the rRNA Gene Locus of Trichophyton tonsurans

Trichophyton tonsurans is the major pediatric pathogen in tinea capitis, causing disparate disease presentations. Little is known about genetic variation, which may ultimately be linked to divergent disease status. This investigation was aimed at identifying genetic variants of T. tonsurans by methods that can facilitate strain discrimination in population-based studies. Ninety-two isolates were acquired from six U.S. microbiology laboratories, and genomic DNA was isolated from mature colonies. The nontranscribed spacer (NTS) was amplified by PCR, and products from isolates with various amplicon sizes were fully sequenced. Nested amplification, targeting a variable internal repeat (VIR) region, allowed assignment of variant type by fragment size. Subvariant type was assigned by a combination of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based assays. Five variants differing in size (348 to 700 bp) and sequence were identified within the VIR region comprised of several large repeats (104, 140, and 194 bp) arranged in tandem. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected across the NTS, with five occurring in the constant regions flanking the VIR region and two occurring in the VIR region. Additionally, a 10-bp insertion and a 14-bp deletion were identified upstream of the VIR region. The combination of SNPs revealed seven haplotype patterns which were stable upon serial passage over 1 year. No sequence variations were identified within the internal transcribed spacer regions. Unique NTS sequences were utilized to develop a duplex PCR assay that discriminated T. tonsurans from other dermatophytes. Of the 92 isolates evaluated, this genotyping scheme distinguished 12 distinct strains, providing evidence of genetic heterogeneity in T. tonsurans.
Prognostic value of hemoglobin A1C levels in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation

The optimal glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) target in diabetic patients is a subject of ongoing controversy that may be especially pertinent in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of preprocedural HbA1C levels in diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. From 2002 to 2007, a cohort of 952 consecutive diabetic patients underwent PCI with stent implantation in our center. We compared patients with a normal preprocedural HbA1C ( 7%, n = 523). One-year rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) including death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization was indexed. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for body mass index, which was higher in the high HbA1C group (32.2 vs 31.2 kg/m(2), p = 0.03). Patients in the high HbA1C group were more likely insulin dependent (45.5% vs 26.3%, p <0.001). Rates of MACEs were similar (23.7% vs 20.8%) in the high HbA1C and low HbA1C groups (p = 0.45). By multivariate analysis, age, renal failure, clinical presentation as myocardial infarction, and history of congestive heart failure were independently associated with MACEs. In contrast, HbA1C was not associated with patient outcome. In conclusion, this study suggests that HbA1C is not a predictor of cardiac events in diabetic patients with advanced coronary artery disease. These results could explain, at least in part, recent findings of randomized clinical trials that suggest the absence of benefit in macrovascular complications of a strict glycemia control.
Infrastructure Communication Reliability of Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we consider the problem of modeling and evaluating the infrastructure communication reliability (ICR) of wireless sensor networks (WSN). Our approach is progressive and based on reduced ordered binary decision diagrams (ROBDD). Due to the nature of the ROBDD and the reduction scheme used in the progressive process, the approach is computationally efficient and is easy to implement. We also incorporate the consideration of common cause failures (CCF) into the reliability analysis of WSN. We illustrate the application and advantages of our approach by working through the analysis of an example WSN.
Tidal utilization of nekton in Delaware Bay restored and reference intertidal salt marsh creeks

Large-scale marsh restoration efforts were conducted to restore normal salt marsh structure and function to degraded marshes (i.e., former salt hay farms) in the mesohaline lower Delaware Bay. While nekton response has been previously evaluated for the marsh surface and subtidal creeks in these marshes, little effort has been focused on intertidal creeks. Nekton response in intertidal creeks was evaluated by sampling with seines to determine if restored (i.e., former salt hay farms restored in 1996) and reference (i.e., natural or relatively undisturbed) salt marshes were utilized by intertidal nekton in a similar manner. The overall nekton assemblage during June-October 2004-2005 was generally comprised of the same species in both the restored and reference marshes. Intertidal creek catches in both marsh types consisted primarily of Fundulus heteroclitus and Menidia menidia, with varying numbers of less abundant transient species present. Transient nekton were more abundant at restored marshes than reference marshes, but in insufficient numbers to cause differences in nekton assemblages. In both marsh types, low tide stages were characterized by resident nekton, dominated by F. heteroclitus, while high tide stages were characterized by a variable mix of transient and resident nekton. Assemblage level analyses indicated that intertidal creeks in restored and reference marshes were generally utilized in a similar manner by a similar nekton assemblage, so restoration efforts were deemed successful. This is in agreement with multiple comparative studies from the same marshes examining fish, invertebrates, and vegetation in different marsh habitats.
Specific issues in small animal dosimetry and irradiator calibration

AbstractPurpose: In response to the increased risk of radiological terrorist attack, a network of Centers for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation (CMCR) has been established in the United States, focusing on evaluating animal model responses to uniform, relatively homogenous whole- or partial-body radiation exposures at relatively high dose rates. The success of such studies is dependent not only on robust animal models but on accurate and reproducible dosimetry within and across CMCR. To address this issue, the Education and Training Core of the Duke University School of Medicine CMCR organised a one-day workshop on small animal dosimetry. Topics included accuracy in animal dosimetry accuracy, characteristics and differences of cesium-137 and X-ray irradiators, methods for dose measurement, and design of experimental irradiation geometries for uniform dose distributions. This paper summarises the information presented and discussed.Conclusions: Without ensuring accurate and reproducible dosimetry t...
The experiences of Japanese elementary-school children living with ‘developmental disabilities’: Navigating peer relationships

This article focuses on children’s experiences of the evolving Japanese special education system. Relatively little disability research has focused on non-Western children, which restricts our unde...
Use of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy for Transrectal Ultrasound-guided Prostate Biopsy Prophylaxis in the Setting of Community-associated Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli Rectal Colonization

Objective To study the use of ertapenem delivered in an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) hospital-based unit setting for targeted transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPBx) prophylaxis in the setting of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli rectal colonization. E coli is the pathogen most commonly associated with post-TRUSPBx complications, and there is increasing prevalence of community-associated MDR E coli. Methods Prospective data analysis of all patients admitted to the OPAT unit for administration of intravenous antibiotics for prophylaxis for TRUSPBx over 18-month period was performed. Patients had identification of MDR E coli in rectal swab cultures and/or intolerance to available oral agents. Microbiologic data and tolerability of administered antibiotics and outcome after TRUSPBx were tabulated. Results Nine patients (median age 74 years) were referred because of antibiotic-resistant E coli from rectal swabs (all fluoroquinolone resistant, 7 MDR). All patients received ertapenem 1 g intravenously 1 day before TRUSPBx and the day of the procedure before TRUSPBx. None of the patients experienced infectious complications immediately after TRUSPBx or several weeks or months later, and no patient was lost to urologic follow-up. Conclusion Increasing worldwide reports of prostatitis, urinary tract infections, and septicemia after TRUSPBx because of MDR E coli suggest rectal screening before procedure may be useful in decreasing complications. Targeted prophylaxis in these instances is necessary. Although carbapenems are used for treatment, they are not routinely used for prophylaxis. We report successful use of ertapenem delivered in a hospital-based OPAT unit for TRUSPBx prophylaxis.
Control of multiple networked passive plants with delays and data dropouts

This paper provides a framework to synthesize l2 m-stable and L2 m-stable control networks in which m strictly-output passive controllers can control n - m strictly-output passive plants. The communication between the plants and controllers can tolerate time varying delay and data dropouts. In particular, we introduce a power junction which allows even a single controller (typically designed to control a single plant) to accurately control the position of multiple plants even if the dynamics of the plants are different. An illustrative simulated example shows the position tracking performance of the system. We conclude the discussion with two questions for future research.