cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Satellite NO2 retrievals suggest China has exceeded its NOx reduction goals from the twelfth Five-Year Plan.

China’s twelfth Five-Year Plan included pollution control measures with a goal of reducing national emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 10% by 2015 compared with 2010. Multiple linear regression analysis was used on 11-year time series of all nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pixels from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) over 18 NO2 hotspots in China. The regression analysis accounted for variations in meteorology, pixel resolution, seasonal effects, weekday variability and year-to-year variability. The NO2 trends suggested that there was an increase in NO2 columns in most areas from 2005 to around 2011 which was followed by a strong decrease continuing through 2015. The satellite results were in good agreement with the annual official NOx emission inventories which were available up until 2014. This shows the value of evaluating trends in emission inventories using satellite retrievals. It further shows that recent control strategies were effective in reducing emissions and that recent economic transformations in China may be having an effect on NO2 columns. Satellite information for 2015 suggests that emissions have continued to decrease since the latest inventories available and have surpassed the goals of the twelfth Five-Year Plan.
Predictors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and internal dose in inner city Baltimore children.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the by-products of incomplete combustion of organic materials, are commonly found on particulate matter (PM) and have been associated with the development of asthma and asthma exacerbation in urban populations. We examined time spent in the home and outdoors as predictors of exposures to airborne PAHs and measured urinary 1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide (1-OHPG) as internal dose of PAHs in 118 children aged 5–12 years from Baltimore, MD. During weeklong periods (Saturday–Saturday) in each of four seasons: daily activities were assessed using questionnaires, indoor air nicotine and PM concentrations were monitored, and urine specimens were collected on Tuesday (day 3) and Saturday (day 7) for measurement of 1-OHPG. Time spent in non-smoking homes was associated with significantly decreased 1-OHPG concentration in urine (β=−0.045, 95% CI (−0.076, −0.013)), and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposures modified these associations, with higher urinary 1-OHPG concentrations in children spending time in smoking homes than non-smoking homes (P-value for interaction=0.012). Time spent outdoors was associated with increased urinary 1-OHPG concentrations (β=0.097, 95% CI (0.037, 0.157)) in boys only. Our results suggest that SHS and ambient (outdoor) air pollution contribute to internal dose of PAHs in inner city children.
Thermal Neutron Cross-Section Measurements of U233, U235, Pu240, U234, and I129 with the ORNL Fast Chopper Time-of-Flight Neutron Spectrometer

The neutron total cross sections of U233, U235, Pu240, U234, and I129 were measured with the new ORNL fast chopper time-of-flight neutron spectrometer over an energy range from approximately O.02 t...
Fission yeast myosin Myo2 is down-regulated in actin affinity by light chain phosphorylation

Studies in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have provided the basis for the most advanced models of the dynamics of the cytokinetic contractile ring. Myo2, a class-II myosin, is the major source of tension in the contractile ring, but how Myo2 is anchored and regulated to produce force is poorly understood. To enable more detailed biochemical/biophysical studies, Myo2 was expressed in the baculovirus/Sf9 insect cell system with its two native light chains, Rlc1 and Cdc4. Milligram yields of soluble, unphosphorylated Myo2 were obtained that exhibited high actin-activated ATPase activity and in vitro actin filament motility. The fission yeast specific chaperone Rng3 was thus not required for expression or activity. In contrast to nonmuscle myosins from animal cells that require phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain for activation, phosphorylation of Rlc1 markedly reduced the affinity of Myo2 for actin. Another unusual feature of Myo2 was that, unlike class-II myosins, which generally form bipolar filamentous structures, Myo2 showed no inclination to self-assemble at approximately physiological salt concentrations, as analyzed by sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation. This lack of assembly supports the hypothesis that clusters of Myo2 depend on interactions at the cell cortex in structural units called nodes for force production during cytokinesis.
Measuring the migration of subgrade fine particles into subbase using scaled accelerated flexible pavement testing – a laboratory study

Pavement structure typically consists of an asphalt concrete or concrete surface layer, underlying granular layers (subbase and/or base) and compacted subgrade soil layer. During wet seasons when the subgrade becomes saturated, cyclic traffic loading may result in pumping of fine particles from the subgrade up into the granular layer, which may lead to failure of the pavement. The objective of this research is to investigate occurrence of migration of fines and to determine the magnitude and rate of such migration. A one-third scale accelerated pavement testing device is utilised to simulate the cyclic traffic loading on two geometrically scaled flexible pavements representing typical collector roadways and interstate highways. The pavement sections are constructed on partially saturated aggregate subbase overlying non-plastic saturated silt as subgrade. The lab testing reveals that, under cyclic loading conditions, a considerable amount of fines migrated into the subbase. The subgrade fines migration in ...
Transient model with interchangeability for dual-gate ambipolar CNTFET logic design

As CMOS technologies reach their physical limits, advanced devices and circuit structures are needed to enable compact circuit design. Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) are compelling alternatives to MOSFETs, and their ambipolarity provides a route to reduce device count through higher expressive power with dual-gate CNTFETs. However, previous models do not permit switching of the device polarity and the full leveraging of these properties. In this paper, we present the first model that enables the transient simulation of dual-gate ambipolar CNTFET circuits in which the CNTFET polarities can be switched between n- and p-type. This model is based on experimental behavior and is shown to provide an interchangeable source and drain. The utility of the model is then demonstrated through the simulation and analysis of cascaded XOR logic gates and a one-bit full adder that utilize the ability to switch the CNTFET polarity. This model therefore enables the further development of ambipolar CNTFET logic circuits towards their potential replacement of CMOS.
Remote sensing of the cryosphere in high mountain ASIA

High Mountain Asia (HMA), often referred to as the “third pole” of the world because its high elevation glaciers, contains the largest amount of fresh water outside the polar ice sheets. The region's hydrology is strongly controlled by variations in the timing and distribution of runoff from snow and glacier melt. Recent improvements in remote sensing technologies and atmospheric / land surface models provides new approaches for assessing the HMA cryosphere. A recently-funded NASA program aims to apply these tools to advance understanding of HMA cryospheric processes. Here we present an overview of planned team activities during the three-year project.
Big Data and Deep Brain Stimulation

Abstract Surgeons, neurologists, researchers, and patients have lacked the technology-based tools to facilitate sharing the tremendously valuable data about patients’ treatment and research in regard to what is working and what is not. Today, only 9% of patients who could benefit from complex therapies to address neurologic conditions actually receive them, and the medical information for each patient who does is hidden away in disconnected databases. To optimize and accelerate our understanding of the brain, we need to gather intelligence around every case, every research subject, every study while connecting that information through a unified, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)-compliant network that leverages technology and harnesses the Internet to drive advancements and better connect patients to their care teams. In this chapter, we highlight the key aspects needed to fulfill the requirements of a robust, HIPAA-compliant archive for brain data and highlight the impact of normalization on the accuracy of statistical analyses.
Bioinformatic Methods and Resources for Neuroscience Research

Students majoring in life sciences are seldom exposed to the use of bioinformatic tools in their regular coursework. Exponential growth of data in the biomedical research disciplines, including neuroscience, warrants the need for training undergraduate and graduate students in the use of bioinformatic and neuroinformatic tools. Two main objectives of this chapter are to provide an overview of important bioinformatic and neuroinformatic resources and to explain the usage of the commonly used bioinformatic data analysis tools. For each major tool, the theory behind the methodology is briefly described to enable the user to understand how the program works. The bioinformatic resources described in this article refer to the most commonly used tools and databases for sequence homology search, multiple sequence alignment, protein domain analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, pathway analysis, and interaction network analysis. In addition to the general-purpose tools and databases, a list of neuroinformatic specific resources is provided.
Analysis of Skin Burns

The burn injury constitutes one of the most commonly encountered types of trauma. The average number of burns reported annually in the United States is in excess of 2,000,000,(1) which represents a source of morbidity and mortality of major concern. About 50% of these burns or scalds are severe enough to require medical attention and restrict physical activity; 25% of the burns necessitate confinement to a bed.(2) Burns resulting from fires and explosions are the most frequent causes of fatal accidents among children and the elderly. Accidents occurring in the home are responsible for more than three-fourths of these deaths.(3) The concentration of burns among the younger portion of the population results in a disproportionately large social cost in comparison with other serious pathologies, such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke, which tend to be contracted at a more advanced age following a useful, productive life. From these statistics, it is obvious that burns constitute a major injury entity to modern society.
The effect of posture on Cheyne-Stokes respirations and hemodynamics in patients with heart failure.

HEART FAILURE IS A SERIOUS DISORDER THAT AFFECTS 4,700,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.1 DESPITE ADVANCES IN THERAPY, MORBIDITY AND mortality remain high. Cheyne-Stokes (CS) respirations have been observed in 40% of patients with heart failure 2,3 and are felt to be an independent risk factor for death in these patients.4,5 Further research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of CS respirations and to identify possible modifying factors that may, in turn, impact heart failure morbidity and mortality. Orthopnea is a cardinal symptom of heart failure and may affect the patient's sleeping angle. In spite of this, not much is known about the effect of sleeping angle on CS respirations and hemodynamics. In 1958, Altschule studied 6 waking subjects with heart failure and found that changing the patient's posture from 60° to 0° caused or exacerbated periodic breathing.6 Altschule studied a heterogeneous small group of awake subjects. The aim of this investigation is to study the response to posture of a larger group of well-described sleeping subjects using modern noninvasive methods of assessing respiratory and cardiac function.
Resistance Control of SnO2 Films by Ion Implantation

Transparent-conductive SnO2 films have been prepared by means of ion implantation. An appropriate amount of Antimony atom is implanted into CVD polycrystalline SnO2 films. Using this implantation doping, the sheet resistance of CVD SnO2 films can be controlled precisely at any desirable values. A dose of about 1 × 1016 Sb ions/cm2 brings down the sheet resistivity to such a low value as a commercial goal of 500 Ω/sq, no matter what initial sheet resistivity value is used. A tentative control equation is proposed from the experiment. The Sb atom distribution implanted into the polycrystalline SnO2 film is also investigated by an ion microanalyzer. The peak is a typical amorphus one and the projected range is around 250 A at 60 keV. An annealing at 650 °C does not appreciably affect the distribution of implanted atom.
Heterogeneous Multi-core Processors: The Cell Broadband Engine

The Cell Broadband Engine™1 Architecture defines a heterogeneous chip multi-processor (HCMP). Heterogeneous processors can achieve higher degrees of efficiency and performance than homogeneous chip multi-processors (CMPs), but also place a larger burden on software. In this chapter, we describe the Cell Broadband Engine Architecture and implementations. We discuss how memory flow control and the synergistic processor unit architecture extend the Power Architecture™2, to allow the creation of heterogeneous implementations that attack the greatest sources of inefficiency in modern microprocessors. We discuss aspects of the micro-architecture and implementation of the Cell Broadband Engine and PowerXCell8i processors. Next we survey portable approaches to programming the Cell Broadband Engine and we discuss aspects of its performance.
Classical Theory of Molecular Vibrations

Normal vibrations are characterized as having particle motions which are all either in-phase or out-of-phase at the same instant in time, in other words, for a given normal vibration each atom in the molecule oscillates along a line at the same frequency. For a diatomic molecule only one vibration occurs, only one vibrational energy level pattern exists, and only one fundamental transition occurs. The frequency of this transition is proportional to the force constant and the reduced mass of the vibration. For a polyatomic molecule there are 3N-6 normal modes of vibration (or 3N-5 for a linear molecule) and the vibrational energy level diagram can be very complicated, and overtones, combination and difference bands may be observed. It is necessary then to see how the frequencies of these transitions can be used to determine the force constants and provide an understanding of how the molecule vibrates.
Preterm Labor – Chapter 34 Chestnut’s

This chapter discusses preterm labor. It lists the risk factors and various tocolytic therapies. It discusses specific tocolytic drugs and contraindications to these drugs.
Representation of Acoustic Stimuli in the Presence of Background Sounds: Adaptation in the Auditory Nerve and Cochlear Nucleus

The difficulties involved in reconciling the wide intensity range over which the auditory system operates with the limited dynamic range of auditory-nerve fibers are well known (Evans, 1980). An interesting aspect of this problem is the neural representation of narrowband stimuli presented with broadband masking noise. High levels of background noise produce uniform excitation of auditory nerve fibers of all best frequencies; as the discharge rate produced approaches saturation, rate changes in response to narrowband stimuli are reduced or eliminated (Rhode and Geisler, 1978; Geisler and Sinex, 1980; Sachs et al., 1983). Yet many measures of auditory performance such as speech discrimination (Borg and Zakrisson, 1973) and intensity discrimination (Viemeister, 1974; Moore and Raab, 1975) do not show marked degradation in the presence of background noise at intensity levels up to 80–100 dB SPL.
Accelerated Cooling of Optical Fiber

A novel apparatus for accelerated cooling of optical fiber has been used at different fiber speeds using Nitrogen and Helium as the cooling gases. The gas flow was counter to the direction of the fiber motion inside a small diameter tube. The experimental results show significant improvement over natural cooling, as well as over available transverse cooling.
Non-invasive Fibrosis Assessment of Patients with Hepatitis C: Application of Society Guidelines to Clinical Practice

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection remains a significant global public health burden and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to complications of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are associated with high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR). Pre-treatment assessment for liver fibrosis remains of high importance as it may impact treatment choice, treatment duration, and signal the presence of cirrhosis for which variceal screening and HCC surveillance are warranted. Non-invasive fibrosis assessment tools have largely replaced gold standard liver biopsy in routine clinical practice. Herein, we review key modalities of noninvasive testing with serum and imaging biomarkers, summarize current guideline recommendations, and propose an algorithm for real-world application in clinical practice. Careful history and exam, laboratory assessment, liver imaging, and a two-test noninvasive fibrosis strategy can reliably identify cirrhosis in patients with CHC infection.
Protein C inhibits endocytosis of thrombin−thrombomodulin complexes in A549 lung cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells

We investigated the effect of protein C on the endocytosis of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes. We previously showed that exposure of umbilical vein endothelial cells to thrombin stimulated the internalization and degradation of thrombin. A similar internalization was stimulated by a monoclonal antithrombomodulin antibody. We have repeated these studies in the presence of protein C and found that endocytosis of 125I-thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes, but not 125I-antithrombomodulin-thrombomodulin complexes, is inhibited. Activated protein C did not inhibit endocytosis of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes. Protein C inhibited both internalization and degradation of 125I-thrombin and diisopropylphosphoryl (DIP) 125I-thrombin in human lung cancer cells (A549). These effects were observed at protein C concentrations found in human plasma. Protein S had no effect on the inhibition of endocytosis of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes by protein C. We propose that protein C may regulate the rate of endocytosis of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes in vivo and thereby control the capacity for endothelium to activate protein C.
An efficient numerical method for one-dimensional hyperbolic interface problems

In this paper, we develop an efficient numerical scheme for solving one-dimensional hyperbolic interface problems. The immersed finite element (IFE) method is used for spatial discretization, which allows the solution mesh to be independent of the interface. Consequently, a fixed uniform mesh can be used throughout the entire simulation. The method of lines is used for temporal discretization. Numerical experiments are provided to show the features of these new methods.
Varieties of VAT pass through

This paper exploits a unique dataset (monthly observations on consumer prices and VAT rates for around 70 commodity groups in 17 Eurozone countries over 1999–2013) to identify the extent of pass through for several types of VAT change—including (a key concern, previously unaddressed) in the standard VAT rate. The impact on consumer prices proves to vary systematically and sharply across these different types of VAT reform. For example, the usual presumption of full pass through is broadly confirmed for changes in the standard rate, but pass through for reduced rates appears to be generally noticeably lower. The results are robust against endogeneity and attenuation bias.
The Endocardium and Heart Valves

Endocardial cells are specialized endothelial cells that, during embryogenesis, form a lining on the inside of the developing heart, which is maintained throughout life. Endocardial cells are an essential source for several lineages of the cardiovascular system including coronary endothelium, endocardial cushion mesenchyme, cardiomyocytes, mural cells, fibroblasts, liver vasculature, adipocytes, and hematopoietic cells. Alterations in the differentiation programs that give rise to these lineages has detrimental effects, including premature lethality or significant structural malformations present at birth. Here, we will review the literature pertaining to the contribution of endocardial cells to valvular, and nonvalvular lineages and highlight critical pathways required for these processes. The lineage differentiation potential of embryonic, and possibly adult, endocardial cells has therapeutic potential in the regeneration of damaged cardiac tissue or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Causal modeling refutes Hockett’s hypothesis that bite configuration affects human sound evolution

Blasi et al. (Research article, 15 March 2019) argue in support of Hockett9s hypothesis -- that languages of hunter-gatherers are less likely to develop labiodental sounds than those of agricultural societies due to the former9s heavy-wear diet that favors edge-to-edge bite, thereby decreasing likelihood of labiodental articulation. We reanalyze the data in Blasi et al. and find little to no support in favor of the Hockett9s hypothesis. The negative association between labiodentals and hunter-gatherers instead appears to be an artifact of labiodental decline with increasing distance from Africa, which is a general trend of language phonemes.
The Moderating Role of Ethnic Identity on the Relationship between School Climate and Self-Esteem for African American Adolescents.

Positive self-esteem is linked to academic success for K–12 students. However, self-esteem declines during adolescence, especially for African Americans. Positive perceptions of school climate are ...
Transvalvular Ventricular Unloading Before Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract Background Myocardial damage due to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a significant global health problem. New approaches to limit myocardial infarct size an...
A dual frequency 183/380 GHz receiver for airborne applications

A sensitive, dual-frequency millimeter-wave Dicke radiometer has been developed for use aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Using this receiver on the KAO observations were made of the 3 13 →2 20 and 4 14 →3 21 transitions of water vapor at 183.3 and 380.2 GHz in Orion and on Venus. The instrument uses quasi-optical techniques for beam guidance and injection of local oscillators and has cryogenically-cooled GaAs Schottky mixers. Calibration is by ambient and LN 2 -cooled aperture loads. The receiver can be used in either a beam-switched or load-switched mode. The SSB system temperature is 600 K and 1800 K for the 183 and 380 GHz channels, respectively.
Prediction of Plantar Shear Stress Distribution by Conditional GAN with Attention Mechanism

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are known to have multifactorial etiology. Among the biomechanical factors that lead to plantar ulcers, shear stresses have been either neglected or unmeasured due to challenges in complexity and equipment availability. The purpose of this study is to develop a software that predicts plantar shear stress using plantar pressure and temperature distributions. Thirty-one subjects, 8 of them at risk of developing DFUs were recruited, and plantar thermography, pressure and shear stress distributions were collected. We introduce the conditional generative adversarial networks (cGAN) for shear stress distribution prediction and propose an attention mechanism to improve the model’s accuracy. The networks can learn the mapping from pressure to shear stress distribution. The attention mechanism can merge temperature distribution into GAN without resizing or aligning it manually. We then test on our dataset with 185 groups. The predicted anteroposterior shear stress distributions give \(72.97\%\) accuracy on peak location prediction and 14.12 kPa on global root mean square error. Our initial results are promising in terms of feasibility of our approach in predicting plantar shear stresses and this approach may benefit to address the DFU risks before ulceration.
Assessing the relation of chemical and non-chemical stressors with risk-taking related behavior and adaptive individual attributes among adolescents living near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site.

Author(s): Vieira, Veronica M; Levy, Jonathan I; Fabian, M Patricia; Korrick, Susan | Abstract: BackgroundEarly life exposure to neurotoxicants and non-chemical psychosocial stressors can impede development of prefrontal cortical functions that promote behavioral regulation and thereby may predispose to adolescent risk-taking related behaviors (e.g., substance use or high-risk sexual activity). This is particularly concerning for communities exposed to multiple stressors.MethodsThis study examined the relation of exposure to mixtures of chemical stressors, non-chemical psychosocial stressors, and other risk factors with neuropsychological correlates of risk-taking. Specifically, we assessed psychometric measures of both adverse behavioral regulation and adaptive attributes among adolescents (age ∼ 15 years) in the New Bedford Cohort (NBC), a sociodemographically diverse cohort of 788 children born 1993-1998 to mothers residing near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site. The NBC includes biomarkers of prenatal exposure to organochlorines and metals; sociodemographic, parental and home characteristics; and periodic neurodevelopmental assessments. We modelled exposure mixtures using multi-dimensional smooths within generalized additive models.ResultsChildren of younger mothers with lower IQ who were exposed prenatally to higher polychlorinated biphenyls and lead had poorer anger control. This pattern was not apparent for children of older mothers with higher IQs. Direction of associations between increased hyperactivity and prenatal levels of organochlorine mixtures differed by maternal age and depression symptoms. Higher cord blood Pb levels, in conjunction with poorer HOME scores, were associated with poorer self-esteem when mothers had fewer depression symptoms.ConclusionsAnalyses suggest that prenatal chemical exposures and non-chemical factors interact to contribute to neuropsychological correlates of risk-taking behaviors in adolescence. By simultaneously considering multiple factors associated with adverse behavioral regulation, we identified potential high-risk combinations that reflect both chemical and psychosocial stressors amenable to intervention.
Examining the Relationships Between Lingual Strength, Perihyoid Strength, and Swallowing Kinematics in Dysphagic Adults: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of clinical measures of lingual and perihyoid strength with displacement swallowing kinematics and swallowing safety in a heterogenous...
Multi-modulation Scheme for RFID-Based Sensor Networks

RFID technology is playing an increasingly more important role in the Internet of Things, especially in the dense deployment model. In such networks, in addition to communication, nodes may also need to harvest energy from the environment to operate. In particular, we assume that our network model relies on RFID sensor network consisting of Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform (WISP) devices and RFID exciters. In WISP, the sensors harvest ambient energy from the RFID exciters and use this energy for communication back to the exciter. However, as the number of exciters is typically small, sensors further away from an exciter will need longer charging time to be able to transmit the same amount of information than a closer by sensor. Thus, further away sensors limit the overall throughput of the network. In this paper, we propose to use a multi-modulation scheme, which trades off power for transmission duration. More specifically, in this scheme, sensors closer to the exciter use a higher-order modulation, which requires more power than a lower-order modulation assigned to further away sensors, for the same bit error rate of all the sensors’ transmissions. This reduces the transmission time of the closer sensors, while also reducing the charging time of the further away sensors, overall increasing the total network throughput. The evaluation results show that the RFID sensor network with our multi-modulation scheme has significantly higher throughput as compared with the traditional single-modulation scheme.
Lameness in Cattle

Lameness remains a major cause of morbidity and economic loss in dairy, cow-calf and feedlot operations. The majority of bovine lameness involves structures of the digit, with digital dermatitis (hairy heel warts), sole ulcers, white line disease, subsolar abscesses and interdigital necrobacillosis (footrot) being among the most common disorders of the digit. Given that owner-initiated diagnosis and treatment appear common in many areas, veterinarians are well positioned to help owners develop protocols for lameness treatment. Application of a few very simple rules of thumb may aid owners in discriminating between cases appropriately managed by farm personnel versus those that warrant prompt veterinary examination. This review will cover guidelines for on-farm diagnosis and treatment of routine lameness cases as well as methods for prompt identification of problematic cases which may require veterinary examination.
A Federal Appellate System for the Twenty-First Century

In December 1998, the Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals issued a report and recommendations for Congress and the President. The commission resulted from ongoing controversy over splitting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit The commissioners clearly suggested that the circuit remain intact but proposed three regionally based adjudicative divisions for the appeals court. However, the commission did not adduce persuasive empirical evidence that the Ninth Circuit experiences difficulties that are sufficiently problematic to warrant treatment, particularly with the essentially untested divisional arrangement Accordingly, the Ninth Circuit should continue to experiment with promising measures. The Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals recently issued its report on the intermediate appellate courts and recommendations for their improvement and submitted the report and suggestions to Congress and the President. 1 This commission, which Congress authorized the Chief Justice of the United States to appoint a year ago, had an invaluable opportunity to assess the appeals courts and develop helpful proposals for change and, thus, to influence appellate justice as the twenty-first century opens. The commission resulted from lengthy, continuing controversy over the advisability of dividing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The commissioners clearly and strongly rejected the idea of splitting the Ninth Circuit and endorsed the alternative of creating adjudicative divisions for the Ninth Circuit now and for the remaining circuits as they increase in size. The publication of the commission's report and recommendations is significant because the appeals courts are at a critical juncture. The federal appellate system has served Congress, the federal courts, and the nation very well for more than a century. However, the circuits have experienced a striking increase in appeals, which has transformed the courts since the 1970s; this crisis of volume could threaten the system. * Professor of Law, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I wish to thank Peggy Sanner for valuable suggestions and Eleanor Davison for processing this piece. Errors that remain are mine. 1. Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals, Final Report (Dec. 1998), available in [hereinafter Commission Report].
A knowledge collaboration network model across disciplines

We propose a theoretical framework for the optimal collaboration among researchers in a knowledge network in which researchers are not limited to a single discipline and in which multiple modes of communication, including communication via the Internet, are available. We introduce a novel concept of distance to measure not only the communication distance but also the distance between disciplines. We formulate the knowledge network collaboration model as a variational inequality problem whose solution yields the optimal allocation of effort/time of the researchers as well as the associated opportunity costs.
Cognitive Decline Is Associated with Progressive Grey Matter Disease in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (P2.175)

OBJECTIVE: To show neuroanatomical differences in grey matter (GM) between individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ALS with mild cognitive impairment (ALS-MCI), and ALS with dementia (ALS-FTD). BACKGROUND: ALS patients have shown a spectrum of cognitive impairment, ranging from cognitively normal to severe problems with behavior, executive functioning, and language. GM atrophy also is present in these patients, but few studies have examined whether atrophy tracks the entire spectrum of cognitive difficulty in ALS. DESIGN: We assessed 55 consecutive patients with varying levels of cognitive impairment (no impairment=31, MCI=8, FTD=16) and a matched group of healthy controls (n=35). Each participant had high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that we used to analyze GM density. We performed two-sample t-tests in SPM8 to compare groups. Clusters with a height threshold of p<0.01 (uncorrected), a cluster extent of 50 voxels, and a peak voxel threshold of p<0.001 (uncorrected) were considered significant. RESULTS: All ALS groups showed GM atrophy relative to a control group. ALS-MCI and ALS-FTD had atrophy relative to controls focused in prefrontal cortex, with ALS-FTD atrophy also extending both dorsomedially and laterally in prefrontal cortex, as well as extending to inferior parietal cortex and superior temporal cortex. ALS-MCI patients had reduced GM in orbitofrontal and ventromedial-prefrontal cortices relative to ALS, and ALS-FTD had more GM atrophy than the ALS-MCI, including medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and lateral prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional studies showed that greater cognitive difficulty tracks progressive GM atrophy in ALS, ALS-MCI and ALS-FTD. Atrophy of cognitively impaired ALS patients was focused in frontal cortex, extending into temporal and parietal lobes as cognition in ALS declines. Study Supported by: NIH Grants AG17586, NS44266, AG15116, AG32953, NS53488 and the Wyncote Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Olm has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elman has nothing to disclose. Dr. McCluskey has nothing to disclose. Dr. McMillan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has received personal compensation for activities with Allon Therapeutics.
Low-temperature synthesis, structure, and stability of Ba2+yCu3O6

Single-phase powders of Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6} have been prepared at 620{degrees}C under 1 atm of oxygen using freeze-dried nitrate precursors. Calcinations utilizing a precursor with a 1:1 Ba:Cu stoichiometry produced a two-phase mixture of BaO{sub 2} + Ba{sub 2} Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6} and confirmed the stable, oxidized barium cuprate exists with a metal ion ratio close to 2:3. Diffraction studies suggest that Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6}(Ba{sub 0.67}CuO{sub 2}) crystallizes in a structure closely related to the linear chain KCuO{sub 2} and NaCuO{sub 2} cuprates. It is proposed that the reduction of copper and accompanying loss of oxygen observed above 620{degrees}C are accommodated by an increase in the Ba content of the structure and the formation of Ba{sub 2+{gamma}}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6} with O {le} {gamma} {le} 0.25. Above 710{degrees}C, the high-{gamma} end member is metastable with respect to BaCuO{sub 2}, although it decomposes slowly even at elevated temperatures.
Selective perception for robot driving

Robots performing complex tasks in rich environments need very good perception modules in order to understand their situation and choose the best action. Robot planning systems have typically assumed that perception was so good that it could refresh the entire world model whenever the planning system needed it, or whenever anything in the world changed. Unfortunately, this assumption is completely unrealistic in many real-world domains because perception is far too difficult. Robots in these domains cannot use the traditional planner paradigm, but instead need a new system design that integrates reasoning with perception. Our research is aimed at showing how a robot can reason about perception, how task knowledge can be used to select perceptual targets, and how this selection dramatically reduces the computational cost of perception.
Cognitive-Behavioral Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Prevalence, Progression, and Impact on Patients and Caregivers (P1.222)

OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe the prevalence and progression of cognitive-behavioral deficits (CBDs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and (2) investigate the association between CBDs and disease progression, patient quality of life, and/or caregiver burden. BACKGROUND: ALS is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease. Although motor weakness predominates, up to half of patients develop CBDs during the disease course. The progression of CBDs and their association with patient and caregiver-reported outcomes has not been rigorously characterized. DESIGN/METHODS: As part of an ongoing prospective cohort study evaluating progression of CBDs in 100 patients over 6 months, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients enrolled to date. Normative cut-offs for the ALS Cognitive-Behavioral Screen™ were used to identify patients with mild and dementia-level impairment. Additional clinical features were measured, including pseudobulbar affect (CNS-LS), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), quality of life (MQOL-SIS), caregiver burden (Caregiver Burden Scale), and disease stage (ALS FRS-Revised). Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the association between CBDs and disease stage, patient quality of life, and caregiver burden. RESULTS: The study is ongoing (current n=36). Based on the cognitive screen, 47.8[percnt] meet criteria for cognitive impairment and 2.2[percnt] meet criteria for frontotemporal dementia. By caregiver report, 8.70[percnt] were behaviorally impaired and 19.6[percnt] fulfilled behavioral criteria for frontotemporal dementia. There was no significant correlation between cognitive impairment and patient QOL or disease stage. However, caregiver-reported behavioral symptoms and caregiver burden were significantly correlated (Pearson’s r=-0.35, p=0.04). At the conference, we plan to present updated cross-sectional and longitudinal data for 80-90 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We hope to better characterize the natural history of CBDs in ALS and its impact on patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes. These data will be critical to facilitate future genotype/phenotype studies and targeted interventions to optimize quality of life for patients and caregivers. Study Supported by:UCSF-CTSI Grant# TL1 TR000144 Disclosure: Dr. Bock has nothing to disclose. Dr. Duong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has received research support from SanBio, Inc. Dr. Murphy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lomen-Hoerth has nothing to disclose.
Validation of the Pinnacle3 photon convolution-superposition algorithm applied to fast neutron beams

We evaluate a photon convolution-superposition algorithm used to model a fast neutron therapy beam in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). The neutron beam modeled was the Clinical Neutron Therapy System (CNTS) fast neutron beam produced by 50 MeV protons on a Be target at our facility, and we implemented the Pinnacle3 dose calculation model for computing neutron doses. Measured neutron data were acquired by an IC30 ion chamber flowing 5 cc/min of tissue equivalent gas. Output factors and profile scans for open and wedged fields were measured according to the Pinnacle physics reference guide recommendations for photon beams in a Wellhofer water tank scanning system. Following the construction of a neutron beam model, computed doses were then generated using 100 monitor units (MUs) beams incident on a water-equivalent phantom for open and wedged square fields, as well as multileaf collimator (MLC)-shaped irregular fields. We compared Pinnacle dose profiles, central axis doses, and off-axis doses (in irregular fields) with 1) doses computed using the Prism treatment planning system, and 2) doses measured in a water phantom and having matching geometry to the computation setup. We found that the Pinnacle photon model may be used to model most of the important dosimetric features of the CNTS fast neutron beam. Pinnacle-calculated dose points among open and wedged square fields exhibit dose differences within 3.9 cGy of both Prism and measured doses along the central axis, and within 5 cGy difference of measurement in the penumbra region. Pinnacle dose point calculations using irregular treatment type fields showed a dose difference up to 9 cGy from measured dose points, although most points of comparison were below 5 cGy. Comparisons of dose points that were chosen from cases planned in both Pinnacle and Prism show an average dose difference less than 0.6%, except in certain fields which incorporate both wedges and heavy blocking of the central axis. All clinical cases planned in both Prism and Pinnacle were found to be comparable in terms of dose-volume histograms and spatial dose distribution following review by the treating clinicians. Variations were considered minor and within clinically acceptable limits by the treating clinicians. The Pinnacle TPS has sufficient computational modeling ability to adequately produce a viable neutron model for clinical use in treatment planning.
Role-Modeling Cost-Conscious Care—A National Evaluation of Perceptions of Faculty at Teaching Hospitals in the United States

BACKGROUND Little is known about how well faculty at teaching hospitals role-model behaviors consistent with cost-conscious care.
‘The Focus Has to be on Helping People Make a Living’: Exploring Diverse Economies and Alternative Economic Spaces

The last decade has brought forth substantial growth in the study of diverse economies and alternative economic spaces within the field of geography. The publication of Gibson-Graham’s (1996) groundbreaking work The end of capitalism (as we knew it): a feminist critique of political economy was essential for creating a space in which researchers could explore economic alternatives and bring into being the diverse economies research program. In this article, I first explore the ‘birth’ of the diverse economies research program. Then, I examine the critical mass of scholarship in which geographers, as well as researchers in other fields, have begun ‘reading for difference’ in the economic landscape. Finally, I consider criticisms of this literature as well as new intellectual pathways for research, focusing primarily on the role of the state and circuits of value. In many ways, literature on diverse economies and alternative economic spaces may seem polarized between believers and skeptics. However, this polarization has been fruitful. In essence, it has prevented ‘blindness’ in this field of study. Geographers continue to refine what constitutes a diverse economy and alternative economic space, and there is recognition of continuing need for further development of ideas and refinement of existing knowledge.
Cell death during crisis is mediated by mitotic telomere deprotection

Tumour formation is blocked by two barriers: replicative senescence and crisis. Senescence is triggered by short telomeres and is bypassed by disruption of tumour-suppressive pathways. After senescence bypass, cells undergo crisis, during which almost all of the cells in the population die. Cells that escape crisis harbour unstable genomes and other parameters of transformation. The mechanism of cell death during crisis remains unexplained. Here we show that human cells in crisis undergo spontaneous mitotic arrest, resulting in death during mitosis or in the following cell cycle. This phenotype is induced by loss of p53 function, and is suppressed by telomerase overexpression. Telomere fusions triggered mitotic arrest in p53-compromised non-crisis cells, indicating that such fusions are the underlying cause of cell death. Exacerbation of mitotic telomere deprotection by partial TRF2 (also known as TERF2) knockdown increased the ratio of cells that died during mitotic arrest and sensitized cancer cells to mitotic poisons. We propose a crisis pathway wherein chromosome fusions induce mitotic arrest, resulting in mitotic telomere deprotection and cell death, thereby eliminating precancerous cells from the population.
Pollution Comes Home and Gets Personal: Women's Experience of Household Chemical Exposure.

We report on interviews conducted with participants in a novel study about environmental chemicals in body fluids and household air and dust. Interviews reveal how personal and collective environmental history influence the interpretation of exposure data, and how participants fashion an emergent understanding of environmental health problems from the articulation of science and experience. To the illness experience literature, we contribute a framework for analyzing a new category of embodied narratives—“exposure experience”—that examines the mediating role of science. We update social scientific knowledge about social responses to toxic chemicals during a period in which science alters public understanding of chemical pollution. This article is among the first published accounts of participants' responses to learning personal exposure data, research identified as critical to environmental science and public health. Our findings raise the importance of reporting even uncertain science and underscore the value of a community-based reporting strategy.
Positive Deviance Approach for Identifying Next-Generation System Engineering Best Practices☆

Abstract Systems Engineering practices, methods, and processes are rapidly evolving to keep pace with the accelerated advances occurring in complex systems development. Often, Systems Engineering curricula reflect methods and processes proven over time and as such don’t necessarily convey the changes occurring at the forefront of complex system development. This paper explores an alternative approach - Positive Deviance - for researching and identifying next-generation Systems Engineering best practices at this knowledge horizon. Positive Deviance has over two decades of proven use in social sciences disciplines as a means of identifying behavioral patterns. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate a method for maintaining a continuously refreshed repertoire of leading edge best practices to supplement traditional training curricula in Systems Engineering. This paper presents a proposed model (DISCO Model) for the integration of the Positive Deviance approach into current knowledge elicitation processes used to capture Systems Engineering best practices. This paper focuses on providing an exploratory discussion of useful steps and guidelines that prospective educators could use to capture next-generation Systems Engineering best practices for inclusion in their training and education curricula.
Performance specifications are needed for electronic control

The establishment of performance specifications are a necessity not only to specify anticipated performance but also to establish the limits of responsibility between the user of the device and its manufacturer. Included in performance specifications are a device's operational characteristics, its limitations, and its rating.