cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cue utilization in the product authentication process: a framework and research agenda for product counterfeit prevention

Scholars suggest that consumers rely on heuristics to evaluate products. They employ both extrinsic and intrinsic cues to evaluate product quality and utilize the same cues to differentiate between...
A behavioral profile of two dystrophic mouse strains.

Samples of the spontaneous activity of individual mice of two dystrophic strains (129/ReJ dy/dy and C57BL/6J dy/dy), their littermates (heterozygous or normal), and parent-strain animals were intermittently recorded on video over a 24-h period. Twelve behavioral categories were derived from all behaviors observed. Dystrophic mice showed significantly higher numbers of grooming-related seizures and instances of feeding than their unaffected controls. The frequency of each of these behaviors increased during the dark portion of the laboratory light cycle. Hard and moist food consumption was also measured in dystrophic and control animals of both strains. Young dystrophic animals ate considerably more hard food (relative to body weight) than controls, while older, severely dystrophic mice ate less. However, when given moist food, the latter animals increased their food intake over that of controls. Spontaneous seizures, observed only in affected mice, appeared to be a neurological component of murine muscular dystrophy. In addition, the 129/Re strain showed potentially lethal audiogenic seizures that appeared to be a strain-related phenomenon not directly associated with the disease.
Motor Learning as It Relates to the Development of Skilled Motor Behavior

This article provides an overview of pertinent literature on the development of motor learning as it relates to several aspects of motor skill performance. Specific parameters including speed and accuracy; anticipation; knowledge of results and kinesthesia; practice and strategies of action are presented. Future directions for research in motor skill acquisition are suggested.
Language constructs for message handling in decentralized programs

The current interest in distributed computer architecture (as found in networks and loosely-coupled multiprocessors) makes it relevant to consider the kinds of programming language constructs necessary to take advantage of the resultant decentralized environment. One approach is to construct decentralized programs as collections of disjoint processes which communicate and exercise control via messages. This paper presents several high order language message handling constructs and describes their use in writing decentralized programs. Particular points addressed are immediate and deferred message interpretation and content-based communication.
Hemorrhagic Complications of Optic Nerve Drusen

We found hemorrhages in 13 eyes of 57 patients with optic disk drusen. In seven eyes, the hemorrhages originated in peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes. In the other six eyes, no neovascular membrane was present. Hemorrhages that occurred in the absence of choroidal new vessels caused no visual symptoms in any patient. All resolved without sequelae. Hemorrhages originating in choroidal neovascular membranes commonly caused visual symptoms; however, six of seven eyes retained visual acuities of 6/12 (20/40) or better without any therapy. Thus, despite potential submacular hemorrhage, we do not recommend routine photocoagulation for peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to optic disk drusen.
The role of selenium in the placental transfer of vitamin E in the rat.

SummaryTransfer of tritium-labeled α-to-copherol across the placental membrane was significantly lower (p<0.005) in rats receiving dietary selenium supplementation than in a selenium- and vitamin E-deficient group. Approximately equal fetal uptake of radioactivity was observed in groups receiving either supplementary selenium or vitamin E, while the lowest placental transfer occurred in rats receiving coincidental dietary supplementation with both selenium and vitamin E. Whether these differences in transfer of α-to-copherol to the fetuses relate to a sparing effect of selenium for vitamin E in the fetal tissue, or are due to variations in the amount of maternal tissue retention of the administered dose, thus limiting the amount available for fetal uptake, remains to be determined.
Total lymphoid irradiation: Critical timing and combination with cyclosporin A for immunosuppression in a rat heart allograft model

Abstract Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), a standard radiotherapeutic technique for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease, is immunosuppressive. TLI has been used for clinical renal transplantation in conjunction with pharmacological immunosuppression. The optimal recipient treatment protocol is not known. Using ACI (RT-1a) rat heart allograft survival in Lewis (RT-11) rat recipients as a measure of treatment efficacy, we have determined the importance of radiation fractionation, the optimum dose per radiation fraction, the effect of delaying transplantation after completion of TLI, the effect of pretransplant versus post-transplant TLI, and the effect of combining TLI with a pharmacological immunosuppressant, cyclosporin A (CsA). Median heart allograft survival in untreated rats, in rats given 1000 rad (single dose), and in rats given 1000 rad in five fractions pretransplant were 6, 9, and 26 days, respectively. Median allograft survival in rats given 1000 rad in 5 fractions was 10–14 days. A dose fraction of between 125 and 250 rad was optimal. Heart allografts transplanted immediately after 2600 rad TLI (13 × 200 rad) survived 57 days; survival was shortened to 20 days if transplantation was delayed 1 month. Postoperative TLI alone did not prolong allograft survival. CsA (1.25 mg/kg/day) alone, in combination with preoperative TLI (5 × 200 rad), and in combination with postoperative TLI (9 × 200 rad) resulted in median survival times of 15, 96, and 60 days. Both the sequential and concurrent combination of TLI and CsA have synergistic effects on heart allograft survival. For optimal results, TLI should be fractionated preoperatively and transplantation should be performed soon after completion of radiotherapy. Post-transplant TLI is effective only if used in combination with pharmacological immunosuppression.
DAPs of black and white juvenile incarcerates.

Two groups of male juvenile incarcerates were separated on the basis of race, matched in terms of age, recidivism, and intelligence test scores, and given a human figure drawing task. Figures drawn were male and female. The drawings were scored on 14 emotional indicators. The results of the present study offer little consistent or conclusive support for the hypothesis that differences influenced by race can be found in the projective drawings of black and white subjects. The commonly held impressions that there are more incidences of neurotic or psychotic features in the projective tests of black subjects and that the projective drawings of black subjects are generally inferior to the projective drawings of white subjects were not supported by the present study.
Interactions between calcium and barium on the spontaneous release of transmitter from mammalian motor nerve terminals.

Electrophysiological monitoring of transmitter release from nerve terminals in rat diaphragm muscles showed that substitution of Ba for Ca produced an initial transient increase in miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) frequency, followed by a decline in frequency to a rate expected in Ca-free solutions. When Ba is added to solutions with up to 2.5 mM Ca, Ba increases MEPP frequency. Part of this acceleratory action of Ba is probably due to its membrane depolarizing action. At higher concentrations of Ca, Ba reduces MEPP frequency. A direct action of Ba in accelerating MEPP frequency is observed when membrane potential is stabilized at higher Ba concentrations in the presence of Ca. It is concluded that Ba is a poor substitute for Ca in accelerating MEPP frequency in Ca-free solutions, but Ba ccelerates release if Ca is also present.
Comparison of fat-free mass and body fat in Swiss and American adults.

Abstract Objective No current studies have compared North American with European body composition parameters, i.e., fat-free mass (FFM), body fat (BF), and percentage of BF (%BF) in large populations. This study compared FFM, BF, and %BF values derived from two bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equations (Geneva and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES]) in Swiss subjects and compared FFM, BF, and %BF values of white Swiss with those of white North American adults with the same BIA equations. Methods Healthy adults (3714 men and 3199 women), ages 20 to 79 y, in Switzerland were measured by single-frequency BIA and compared with means and standard deviations for body mass index and body composition parameters obtained from the NHANES III study (United States; n = 2538 men, 2862 women). FFM was calculated with the Geneva and NHANES equations. Results Mean FFMGENEVA values did not differ from FFMNHANES values in men but was significantly lower (−1.5 kg) in women. FFM and BF values in American men, who weighed 4.2 to 12.0 kg more than the Swiss men, were significantly higher (+2.1 to +6.0 kg and +1.5 to +6.4 kg, respectively) than those in the Swiss men. FFM and BF values in American women, who weighed 2.3 to 12.1 kg more than the Swiss women, were significantly higher (+1.3 to +2.1 kg and +4.8 to +11.8 kg, respectively, except FFM in subjects ages 20 to 29 y and BF in those ages 70 to 79 y) than FFMGENEVA values in Swiss women. FFM in American women was significantly lower (+1.3 and +1.9 kg) and non-significantly higher than FFMNHANES in Swiss women. Conclusion NHANES and Geneva BIA equations estimate body composition equally well in men, but further research is necessary to determine the discrepancies in FFM between BIA equations in women. The greater weight of the American subjects yielded higher values for FFM, BF, and %BF in American than in Swiss men and women.
Label-free oxygen-metabolic photoacoustic microscopy in vivo

Almost all diseases, especially cancer and diabetes, manifest abnormal oxygen metabolism. Accurately measuring the metabolic rate of oxygen (MRO2) can be helpful for fundamental pathophysiological studies, and even early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Current techniques either lack high resolution or rely on exogenous contrast. Here, we propose label-free metabolic photoacoustic microscopy (mPAM) with small vessel resolution to noninvasively quantify MRO2 in vivo in absolute units. mPAM is the unique modality for simultaneously imaging all five anatomical, chemical, and fluid-dynamic parameters required for such quantification: tissue volume, vessel cross-section, concentration of hemoglobin, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and blood flow speed. Hyperther- mia, cryotherapy, melanoma, and glioblastoma were longitudinally imaged in vivo. Counterintuitively, increased MRO2 does not necessarily cause hypoxia or increase oxygen extraction. In fact, early-stage cancer was found to be hyperoxic despite hypermetabolism. C 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). (DOI: 10.1117/1.3594786)
Shotgun Proteomic Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Using Off-Gel Electrophoresis as the First-Dimension Separation

Shotgun proteomic analysis usually employs multidimensional separations with the first dimension most commonly being strong cation exchange (SCX) liquid chromatography (LC). SCX-LC is necessarily a serial process for preparation of multiple samples. Here, we apply a newly available tool, off-gel electrophoresis (OGE), for first-dimension separation of peptide mixtures from digests of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a complex and low total protein-containing sample. OGE first-dimension fractionation enabled identification of a total of 156 unique proteins compared to 115 identified in previous work using first-dimension SCX fractionation. OGE can be used to process multiple samples unattended with easy retrieval of the separated fractions. Thus, shotgun analysis using OGE as the first-dimension separation offers a significant advantage both in terms of sample throughput as well as increased numbers of identified proteins.
Crank-Nicolson-Galerkin model for transport in groundwater: Refined criteria for accuracy

The Crank-Nicolson-Galerkin model (CNGFEM) is reported to be accurate in predicting advective-dispersive transport when the product of the mesh Peclet number (Pe) and the Courant number (Cr) is less than, or, equal to 2. However, numerical experimentation involving the application of the CNGFEM to simulate contaminant transport in groundwater has shown that the model prediction can be oscillatory for some values of the Peclet number. Furthermore, the accuracy of prediction has also been found to be a function of the source definition. The objective of this paper has been to develop refined criteria for the CNGFEM to provide oscillation-free accurate results for contaminant transport in groundwater from different types of sources. The refined criteria require that Pe=<50, PeCr=<5, and Cr=<1 for continuous sources. And for pulse sources, oscillation-free accurate results are obtained when Pe=<20, PeCr=<5, and Cr=<1.
The history of science and the history of microscopy

In 1865 medical historian Charles Daremberg considered the microscope the consummate instrument of positivism (Daremberg 1865, pp. 300– 301). By 1973 historian of the microscope Brian Ford could conadently declare: “Microscopes are everywhere” (Ford 1973, p. 11). Just a few years earlier Savile Bradbury noted the symbolic power of the instrument: “Of all the instruments used by the scientist, the microscope is perhaps the one which most aptly symbolizes this profession to the non-scientist” (Bradbury 1967, p. ix). And he comments that it is strange that such an important symbol of our technology has been largely overlooked by historians of science. From the 1860s to the 1960s the microscope was a dominant symbol of biomedicine—a readily identiaable scientiac icon. Yet, curiously, historians of science showed little interest in microscopes and microscopy. They were pursuing other research agendas. Of course, every historian of science knows about the arst great era of microscopy, the late seventeenth century, and the ave classical microscopists: Robert Hooke, Nehemiah Grew, Jan Swammerdam, Anton van Leeuwenhoek, and Marcello Malpighi. Most standard accounts of the Scientiac Revolution, traditional or revisionist, devote at least some attention to microscopy: the discoveries of Leeuwenhoek, Malpighi’s discovery of the capillaries, Hooke’s Micrographia, the key role of the Royal Society in the era of classical microscopy—just to cite the principal points.1 It is also common knowledge that this outpouring of microscopical activity was not sustained after the death of the classical microscopists. Sure, some naturalists and physicians used the microscope in the eighteenth century, but most of the activity was among amateurs. With a few notable exceptions,
Bacterial resistance after short-term exposure to antibiotics.

Purpose: To determine if there is a difference in antibiotic sensitivity to coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) cultured from the host versus the donor cornea at the time of corneal transplantation. Then to apply this knowledge to preoperative preparation of patients undergoing eye surgery. Method: A total of 923 donor corneas stored in Optisol and 895 host corneas with no preoperative antibiotic exposure were cultured. Forty-two CNS positive cultures grew from the donor corneas and 40 from the host corneas (P = .5). Results: There was an increase in resistance in the bacteria cultured from the donor compared with the host. The most striking changes occurred in host versus donor to: ciprofloxacin 27.5% (P = .0033); gentamicin 27% (P = .0113); tobramycin 31.6% (P = .059). The combination of polymixin, bacitracin, and neomycin (P/B/N) was significantly better than ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin or the combination of ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin (C/G/T) (P = .0007). Conclusion: The combination of C/G/T exhibited the highest change to resistant bacteria. P/B/N was the most effective commercially available preparation. These results should be considered when making the decision about which preoperative antibiotic to use, if any.
802.11a transmitter: a case study in microarchitectural exploration

Hand-held devices have rigid constraints regarding power dissipation and energy consumption. Whether a new functionality can be supported often depends upon its power requirements. Concerns about the area (or cost) are generally addressed after a design can meet the performance and power requirements. Different micro-architectures have very different area, timing and power characteristics, and these need RTL-level models to be evaluated. In this paper we discuss the microarchitectural exploration of an 802.11a transmitter via synthesizable and highly-parameterized descriptions written in Bluespec SystemVerilog (BSV). We also briefly discuss why such architectural exploration would be practically infeasible without appropriate linguistic facilities. No knowledge of 802.11a or BSV is needed to read this paper.
Evidence of Landlocked Chinook Salmon Populations in California

AbstractNatural reproduction of adfluvial Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha has been documented in their native and introduced range but not in California, the southern end of their native range. A combination of anecdotal evidence and survey data suggests that successful spawning by Chinook Salmon reared in California reservoirs could be common. The planted juveniles are often from different basins and are genetically distinguishable from local salmon populations below reservoirs. Consequently, the possibility of behavioral and genetic interactions may lead to complications of restoration efforts via trap and haul programs. The full extent of this phenomenon needs to be documented before trap and haul programs are initiated to reintroduce salmon above reservoirs.
A Note on Learning Vector Quantization

Vector Quantization is useful for data compression. Competitive Learning which minimizes reconstruction error is an appropriate algorithm for vector quantization of unlabelled data. Vector quantization of labelled data for classification has a different objective, to minimize the number of misclassifications, and a different algorithm is appropriate. We show that a variant of Kohonen's LVQ2.1 algorithm can be seen as a multiclass extension of an algorithm which in a restricted 2 class case can be proven to converge to the Bayes optimal classification boundary. We compare the performance of the LVQ2.1 algorithm to that of a modified version having a decreasing window and normalized step size, on a ten class vowel classification problem.
Phylogeography of the marine interstitial nemertean Ototyphlonemertes parmula (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea) reveals cryptic diversity and high dispersal potential

We conducted a phylogeographic study of the meiofaunal nemertean Ototyphlonemertes parmula, an apparent species complex from the littoral zone of coarse-grained beaches, using a 494-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 3 gene (cox3). Six populations from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida, two from New England, and one from the Caribbean were sampled in March and August 2005. Three major lineages were identified, separated by cox3 sequence divergence of 16–18%, with partially overlapping ranges. Tests for hybridization using ISSR markers detected nuclear gene exchange within but not between the major mitochondrial lineages, indicating the presence of cryptic species. One lineage dominating the Atlantic coast of Florida shows no evidence of geographic structuring. Another lineage shows a phylogenetic break between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, suggesting that unsuitable habitat may act as a barrier to dispersal. Long-distance migration is evidenced by shared haplotypes between Florida and the eastern Caribbean. Overall, the widespread distribution of individual haplotypes and lack of structuring within geographic regions contrast with O. parmula’s strongly sediment-bound lifestyle. We speculate that dispersal of adults by storms and/or sediment transport may be more important than few and potentially short-lived planktonic larvae to explain geographic diversity in O. parmula and may be important for meiofauna in general.
Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji associated with an indolent CD3(-), CD4(+), TCR(-) peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji (PEO), a rare skin disorder fi rst described by Ofuji et al . in 1984, is a pruritic eruption of fl at-topped papules in a background of erythroderma characteristically sparing skin folds ( “ deck chair sign ” ) [1]. Th e disorder usually aff ects Asians with a mean age of 73.4 years. Classic laboratory fi ndings include peripheral eosinophilia, lymphocytopenia and increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) [2]. Malignancy is commonly associated with PEO, with some reports stating an association as high as 54.5% [3]. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the second most common malignancy associated with PEO after gastric cancer [2]. We report a case of PEO complicated by a peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specifi ed (PTCL-NOS) with the uncommon phenotype of CD3 /CD4 /T-cell receptor (TCR) null. A 51-year-old Japanese male with a long history of atopic rhinitis reported a 6-year history of pruritic, red-brown papules and plaques that began on his legs and then spread to his trunk and arms but sparing skin folds (Figure 1). He also had a 5-year history of secondary Staphylococcus aureus infection of the skin treated with cephalexin and topical mupirocin. Th is was accompanied by hypereosinophilia ( 2500/L) and an elevated IgE level (1980 – 3980/L) as well as a skin biopsy that showed a lichenoid dermatitis with a normal epidermis, perivascular lymphohistiocytic infi ltrate with eosinophils and papillary dermal edema. He was given the diagnosis of severe atopic dermatitis and possibly a hypersensitivity reaction. Th e rash did not respond to any topical steroids or antihistamines. Th e extreme pruritus was temporarily controlled with steroids orally, topically and intramuscularly. His eruption fl ared after aspergillosis infection and had remission with itraconazole. However, a year later, his rash worsened, and he developed lymphadenopathy and subcutaneous nodules on his right elbow. Th e fi ne needle aspiration (FNA) of a nodule showed atypical lymphocytes with scattered eosinophils, suggestive of lymphoma. Flow cytometry demonstrated a T-cell population representing 75% of atypical lymphocytes with the abnormal phenotype: CD1( ), CD2( ), CD3( ), CD4( ), CD5(bright), CD7(partial), CD8( ), CD25( ), CD26(dim),
Impact of a community pharmacist-directed clinic in improving screening and awareness of osteoporosis.

Rationale, aims and objectives There is a need to increase screening and awareness of osteoporosis risk in order to prevent fractures and related morbidity. Although one in two women are at risk of developing the condition, only one in five receives bone mineral density screening. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of an osteoporosis screening and awareness programme directed by a pharmacist in the community setting. Methods The study design to test for improved awareness was a prospective, pre–post trial with no control group. The level of awareness of risk was assessed both before the screening and following an educational intervention on osteoporosis provided in the pharmacy. Based on assessed risk level, a recommendation was made for follow-up with a doctor for a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and/or pharmacotherapy. Patients at medium or high risk were also surveyed as to their intention to follow-up with lifestyle modification recommendations. Results There was a significant improvement in tested awareness from pre- to post-intervention at 26%; as well in self-rated awareness. There was also a significant correlation between self-rated and tested awareness. Participants indicated satisfaction with the pharmacist interaction and with their role in improving awareness. A large percentage of participants indicated that they intended to follow-up with the pharmacist's recommendation for calcium intake, exercise and/or consulting with their doctor. Conclusion The results indicate that the community pharmacist can successfully screen individuals for risk of osteoporosis and improve their awareness about steps to prevent or delay fractures.
Ischemic Cell Death in Brain Neurons

This review is directed at understanding how neuronal death occurs in two distinct insults, global ischemia and focal ischemia. These are the two principal rodent models for human disease. Cell dea...
Evaluation of aircraft separations observed in radar data of terminal operations

The advent of satellite-based surveillance technologies including automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) as well as the transition to a performance-based National Airspace System (NAS) are expected to result in improved ATC surveillance accuracy and aircraft navigational precision. Within the framework of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), this evolution is envisioned to pave the way for reduced separation minima as a beneficial way to improve airspace capacity and operational efficiency. The development, approval, and validation of reduced separation standards that safely support future capacity gains require quantitative information of aircraft separations applied in actual operations that reflect the entirety of operational factors. This paper outlines the analysis capabilities developed for NAS-wide evaluations of aircraft separations observed in ATC surveillance data. It describes the analysis approach taken to enable quantitative comparisons and presents examples of evaluation results of terminal radar data recorded at key United States (US) airports. The comparisons illustrate characteristics of aircraft separations found in actual terminal operations and identify separation signatures that pinpoint geographic areas and altitudes where separation standards represent the most significant operational constraints.
Altered release of prostaglandins contributes to hypoxic/ischemic impairment of NOC/oFQ cerebrovasodilation.

This study was designed to determine if altered release of prostaglandins contributes to impaired pial artery dilation to the newly described opioid, nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOC/oFQ), following hypoxia/ischemia in newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Global cerebral ischemia (20 min) was induced via elevation of intracranial pressure, while hypoxia (10 min) decreased P(O(2)) to 35+/-3 mmHg with unchanged P(CO(2)). NOC/oFQ (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) modestly increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 6-Keto PGF(1alpha) and TXB(2), the stable breakdown products of PGI(2) and TXA(2), in sham animals (1199+/-39 to 1704+/-104 and 299+/-9 to 409+/-12 pg/ml for control and 10(-6) M NOC/oFQ 6-Keto PGF(1alpha) and TXB(2), respectively). In 1 h post ischemia/reperfusion (I+R) animals, basal levels of 6-Keto PGF(1alpha) and TXB(2) were elevated. NOC/oFQ-stimulated release of 6-Keto PGF(1alpha) was blocked while such release of TXB(2) was enhanced (526+/-15 to 822+/-36 pg/ml for control and 10(-6) M NOC/oFQ CSF TXB(2)). Similar, though more pronounced, changes were observed in hypoxia/ischemia/reperfusion (H+I+R) animals. Pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.) or SQ 29,548 (10(-4) M), cyclooxygenase and PGH(2)/TXA(2) receptor antagonists, partially restored attenuated NOC/oFQ pial artery dilation 1 h after I+R (9+/-1 and 18+/-1 vs. 3+/-1 and 6+/-1 vs. 8+/-1 and 13+/-1% for 10(-8) and 10(-6) M NOC/oFQ in sham, I+R, and I+R - SQ 29,548 pretreated animals). In contrast, NOC/oFQ-induced vasodilation was reversed to vasoconstriction in H+I+R animals and indomethacin or SQ 29,548 similarly partially restored such pial vasodilation. These data indicate that altered stimulated prostaglandin release contributes to hypoxic/ischemic impairment of NOC/oFQ-mediated pial artery dilation.
Modulation of Chromatin Boundary Activities by Nucleosome-Remodeling Activities in Drosophila melanogaster

Chromatin boundaries facilitate independent gene regulation by insulating genes from the effects of enhancers or organized chromatin. However, the mechanisms of boundary action are not well understood. To investigate whether boundary function depends on a higher order of chromatin organization, we examined the function of several Drosophila melanogaster insulators in cells with reduced chromatin-remodeling activities. We found that knockdown of NURF301 and ISWI, key components of the nucleosome-remodeling factor (NURF), synergistically disrupted the enhancer-blocking function of Fab7 and SF1 and augmented the function of Fab8. Mutations in Nurf301/Ebx and Iswi also affected the function of these boundaries in vivo. We further show that ISWI was localized on the endogenous Fab7 and Fab8 insulators and that NURF knockdown resulted in a marked increase in the nucleosome occupancy at these insulator sites. In contrast to the effect of NURF knockdown, reduction in dMi-2, the ATPase component of the Drosophila nucleosome-remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex, augmented Fab7 and suppressed Fab8. Our results provide the first evidence that higher-order chromatin organization influences the enhancer-blocking activity of chromatin boundaries. In particular, the NURF and NuRD nucleosome-remodeling complexes may regulate Hox expression by modulating the function of boundaries in these complexes. The unique responses by different classes of boundaries to changes in the chromatin environment may be indicative of their distinct mechanisms of action, which may influence their placement in the genome and selection during evolution.
Optimization of phosphoric acid based limited-source-diffusion to obtain high quality emitter for screen printed contacts

Limited source diffusion using commercial dopant sources have been used for obtaining high quality emitters for high efficiency cells. In this work, the effect of gas flow on the quality of limited source diffusion is investigated. An emitter is diffused using an in-house prepared limited phosphoric acid dopant source. The effect of gas flow in this process is studied by measuring the uniformity of sheet resistance and emitter saturation current density. In addition, to improve these two parameters, an alternate diffusion process was developed which involves the use of a short in-situ oxidation at a lower temperature (700 °C) before the actual diffusion that resulted in excellent J oe OC of 648 mV and a J SC of 37.5 mA/cm2.
A prima facie duty approach to machine ethics and its application to elder care

Having discovered a decision principle for a well-known prima facie duty theory in biomedical ethics to resolve particular cases of a common type of ethical dilemma, we developed three applications: a medical ethics advisor system, a medication reminder system and an instantiation of this system in a Nao robot. We are now developing a general, automated method for generating from scratch the ethics needed for a machine to function in a particular domain, without making the assumptions used in our prototype systems.
The Power of Research We Can Reverse the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

We know that research has the power to shape the strategies and policies that will help us solve our nation’s most threatening health problems. Childhood obesity certainly falls into that category, and researchers have taken note, using their knowledge and skills to explore the role that both physical activity and healthy eating can play in turning back the epidemic. But as we interpret data to inform policy, let us also remember the incredible toll that physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and obesity take on so many people’s daily lives. Recently, I was contacted by my cousin, who still lives in the same neighborhood where we grew up in Washington DC. My cousin’s teenaged daughter had just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and he called me for advice. I could hear the concern in his voice when he explained how he was searching for answers to help his daughter and also to prevent his younger son from going down the same debilitating path. During our talk, I gave him the name of a pediatrician who’s a friend of mine, but our discussion about prevention was not as easy. I told him what he already knew: Our old neighborhood lacks safe places for kids to play and be active, the community has no grocery stores that stock fresh foods, and the local school environments are equally as unhealthy. I also explained that things have changed a lot since we were kids: fewer kids walk to school, and most don’t have daily physical education (PE); too many kids spend more time in front of a television, computer, or videogame than they do engaging in physical activity; and foods and drinks are served in larger portion sizes. I could tell that he thought this was unfair—and that he believes the obstacles to raising healthy children in his neighborhood are great. Like all parents, my cousin wants his children to live full and healthy lives. Even though I was able to reassure him that there’s a movement building to address these problems, somehow I still felt unsatisfied by our conversation. It is stories like these that keep me awake at night— and inspire us, at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), to tackle this most pressing threat to the health of our children and families. Today, more than 33% of children and teens—about 25 million kids—are
Intellectual History, Probability, and the Law of Evidence

This review essay discusses the relationship between the intellectual history of the reasonable doubt standard and the question of current function of the reasonable doubt standard.
I:move

I:move is a performance / installation series that explores how we perceive movement. It embeds daily activities into formal choreography and is being developed for public spaces that are bottlenecks of human motion. It has been shown at MIT's IM Pei archway and the DTW gallery space.Pedestrian traffic is tracked and transformed into 2-dimensional shadow play. Continuous motion trails occur like reliable yet unpredictable weather patterns. I:move captures and processes these daytime patterns, imbedding them into video projection. Pedestrians become performers. Live motion folds into the piece, revealing layers of text or motion streams that echo earlier daytime movements in the space. Through i:move, your motion reveals varying speeds, rhythms and dynamic patterns occurring at the site, over a 24-hour cycle. I:move encourages dancers and novices to explore their own movements, in relation to the routine, theater, and ritual of cycles in a public space.I:move considers human movements over multiple time scales, perspectives, and magnifications. Video processing is used to enhance contrast, reveal coincidences, and layer time-coded realities. Interactive video is used to engage viewers in playful experimentation. Audiences create and perform inside the motion projections. In this way, i:move celebrates the personal and collective movements of each day.The i:move series is rendered entirely by a stream processing lisp dialect called Gooze. Gooze is a concise, powerful, and efficient expression of time-oriented computing allowing highly profitable domain specific optimizations. It is a unique design, combining movementcentric parameters to extract the perceptual features of motion from video.
A vortex array model of the unsteady wake of a pitching airfoil

In this study we investigate the ability of a simple, vortex-array model to represent the unsteady velocity field in the wake of an airfoil undergoing harmonic as well as non-harmonic pitch oscillation. To this end, the model predictions are compared against existing experimental data of the streamwise velocity in the near wake of an oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil at a chord Reynolds number of 11,000 and a range of reduced frequencies extending up to approximately 10. The results show that the model predictions are in agreement with the experimental observations. Moreover, the model yields the transverse velocity profile, which is not available from the experimental data used here. This enables computation of the mean streamwise force acting on the airfoil from application of the integral momentum equation. Comparison of the model-predicted force coefficient and its dependence on the reduced frequency are found to be consistent with published experimental and computational data.
Utility of Wing Length, Tail Length and Tail Barring in Determining the Sex of Barred Owls Collected in Michigan and Minnesota

Barred Owls (Strix varia) exhibit sexual size dimorphism with respect to wing and tail length (Ridgeway 1914, Earhart and Johnson 1970, Karalus and Eckert 1974, Mueller 1986); however, there is no method to sex this species using either of these measurements (Anonymous 1980). Furthermore, published measurements were based on small samples containing individuals collected from widely separated geographic locations. Thus, apparent sexual differences may be partially due to geographic variation. Differences in the number of complete tail bars has also been suggested as a possible method for sexing Barred Owls (Barrows et al. 1982). Here I examine the utility of wing and tail length and the number of complete tail bars in determining the sex of Barred Owls collected in Michigan and Minnesota.
Individual Differences Research and Hearing Aid Outcomes

This article provides a brief overview of the individual differences approach to research. This approach is first compared with the more familiar group-based approach to research. Following this comparison, some of the procedural and statistical issues central to individual differences research are noted. Ultimately, individual differences research has the potential to be of the greatest benefit to practicing clinicians; professionals who always deal with individual patients rather than the “average” or “typical” patient.
Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography Imaging of Three-Dimensional Flow Structures and Solids Concentration Distributions in a Riser and a Bend of a Gas–Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed

Electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT) is a newly developed imaging technique that can quantify three-dimensional (3D) multiphase flows in a complex, geometric flow field. In this study, the 3D phase distribution images inside a gas–solid circulating fluidized bed (CFB) are obtained using ECVT. Specifically, measurements are made at a riser section and a 90° bend-shape riser exit section of the CFB. Inside the vertical riser, a symmetric core–annulus structure with a low solids holdup in the riser center along with a high solids holdup near the riser wall is observed. The average volume solids holdup and the thickness of the annulus decrease with the superficial gas velocity. A core–annulus flow structure is formed both in the vertical and horizontal parts of the bend. The annulus structure is noncentro-symmetric in the horizontal part of the bend. The solids holdup in the annulus near the top wall area in the bend is higher than that in other locations of the annulus. At a higher superficial gas...
Pilot Study of the Electro-Magnetic Compatibility of Converter for HL-2A power Supply

It is very important to analyze the electro-magnetic compatibility(EMC) of HL-2A power supply because the system harmonic will be increased when HL- 2A operating at higher parameters.The pilot study of (EMC) of the converter of power supply is presented and the Ac and DC harmonic characteristics of HL-2A ohm power supply are analyzed.It also gives some methods for sup- pressing the harmonic.
Using Simulated 3D Surface Fuelbeds and Terrestrial Laser Scan Data to Develop Inputs to Fire Behavior Models

AbstractUnderstanding fine-scale variability in understory fuels is increasingly important as physics-based fire behavior models drive needs for higher-resolution data. Describing fuelbeds 3Dly is critical in determining vertical and horizontal distributions of fuel elements and the mass, especially in frequently burned pine ecosystems where fine-scale fuels arrangement drives fire intensity and resulting fire effects. Here, we describe research involving the use of highly resolved 3D models. We create fuelbeds using individual grass, litter, and pinecone models designed from field measurements. These fuel models are distributed throughout the fuelbed to replicate fuel distribution in rectified nadir photography taken for each plot. The simulated fuelbeds are converted into voxel arrays and biomass is estimated from calculated surface area between mesh vertices for each voxel. We compare field-based fuel depth and biomass with simulated estimates to demonstrate similarities and differences. Biomass distri...
A computational approach for estimating stability regions

In this paper, we propose a computational approach for estimating the stability region of an asymptotically stable equilibrium point. The stability region is estimated through an iterative process specified as an algorithm. Reachable sets are used in the estimation algorithm for checking the invariant property of the initial estimate of a stability region and for representing the enlarged stability regions. The convergence of the estimation algorithm can be shown by considering the sequence properties of the reachable sets. Level set methods are used for representing reachable sets and tracking the evolution of the boundary of a reachable set since they can be used to effectively represent complex continuous sets and, furthermore, there exist efficient computation methods for computing the evolution of reachable sets for nonlinear systems. The proposed approach allows natural extension to higher dimensional systems and enables the computation to be carried out in a parallel manner. ReachLab, a model-based tool, is developed to enable rapid prototyping of the algorithm, and to allow the use of various computation methods for implementing the algorithm on a cluster of parallel computing machines. The accuracy of the proposed approach is compared with another accurate approach. The computation results for three nonlinear systems are presented.
Hookah Use Among Florida High School Students, 2011-2014.

Introduction Adolescent use of hookah continues to increase in the U.S., even in states that have reported decreases in traditional cigarette use among youth. Hookah use typically involves smoking a moistened, loose, sweetened tobacco product with charcoal as the heat source. Methods Data from the 2011–2014 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey were analyzed in 2016 to determine trends in the prevalence of lifetime hookah use (at least once in the adolescent’s lifetime) and current hookah use (used in the past 30 days) among high school students (grades 9–12). Results In 2014, a total of 22.5% of Florida public high school students reported ever smoking a hookah, up from 18.2% in 2011. Current hookah use was reported by 11.6% of high school students, an increase from 8.0% in 2011. Female high school students had an increase in use whereas male students’ prevalence was relatively stable. Hispanic and non-Hispanic black students reported significant increases over time. Conclusions The increase in hookah use among adolescents needs continuous monitoring given the recent increase after relatively stable patterns. Efforts are needed to reduce the appeal and use of hookah by young people.
Effectiveness of variable bit-length power analysis attacks on SHA-3 based MAC

Keccak is the hash function selected by NIST as the new SHA-3 standard. Keccak is built on sponge construction, and it provides a new keyed Message Authentication Code (MAC) function called MAC-Keccak. The focus of this work was to apply the power analysis attacks that use Correlation Power Analysis (CPA) technique to extract the secret key. Our attack methodology utilizes simulated power consumption waveforms and is applied to the Keccak high-speed core hardware design from the SHA-3 competition. 1-bit, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, and 16-bit CPA selection function key guess size attacks are performed on the waveforms to compare and analyze computational effort of successful key extraction on MAC-Keccak. Our experiments confirm that the larger the selection function key guess size is used, the better the fewer traces are needed to retrieve the key, but using more computation time.
A Hybrid Systems Approach for Distributed Nonsmooth Optimization in Asynchronous Multi-Agent Sampled-Data Systems*

Abstract: We study the problem of robust distributed nonsmooth optimization in a network of sampled data systems with separable response maps but coupled dynamics. Each agent of the network is assumed to have an individual clock and an individual nonsmooth output function, as well as set-valued internal dynamics that are coupled with the internal dynamics of its neighboring agents. In order to achieve robust convergence and stability of the optimal point of the response map of the entire network, we design a distributed deterministic model-free logic-based hybrid controller that globally and robustly synchronizes the clocks of the sampled data systems, while at the same time optimizes the response map of every agent by using only sampled measurements of their individual outputs. We present numerical simulations illustrating the results.
Characterization of Planned and Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions Following Vascular Surgical Procedures:

Objective Thirty-day readmission is increasingly used as a quality of care indicator. Patients undergoing vascular surgery have historically been at high risk for readmission. We analyzed hospital readmission details to identify patients at high risk for readmission in order to better understand these readmissions and improve resource utilization in this patient population. Methods A retrospective review and analysis of our medical center's admission and discharge data were conducted from October 2012 to March 2015. All patients who were discharged from the vascular surgery service and subsequently readmitted as an inpatient within 30 days were included. Results We identified 649 vascular surgery discharges with 135 (21%) readmissions. Common comorbidities were diabetes (56%), coronary artery disease (40%), congestive heart failure (CHF; 24%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%). Index vascular operations included open lower extremity procedures (39%), diagnostic angiograms (35%), endovascular lower extremity procedures (16%), dialysis access procedures (7%), carotid/cerebrovascular procedures (7%), amputations (6%), and abdominal aortic procedures (5%). Average index length of stay (LOS) was 7.48 days (±6.73 days). Reasons for readmissions were for medical causes (43%), surgical complications (35.5%), and planned procedures (21.5%). Reasons for medical readmissions most commonly included malaise or failure to thrive (28%), unrelated infection (24%), and hypoxia/CHF complications (21%). Common surgical causes for readmission were surgical site infections (69%), graft failure (19%), and bleeding complications (8%). Of the planned readmissions, procedures were at the same site (79%), a different site (14%), and planned podiatry procedures (7%). Readmission LOS was on average 7.43 days (±7.22 days). Conclusion Causes for readmission of vascular surgery patients are multifactorial. Infections, both related and unrelated to the surgical site, remain common reasons for readmission and represent an opportunity for improvement strategies. Improved understanding of readmissions following vascular surgery could help adjust policy benchmarks for targeted readmission rates and help reduce resource utilization.