cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zipr++: Exceptional Binary Rewriting

Current software development methodologies and practices, while enabling the production of large complex software systems, can have a serious negative impact on software quality. These negative impacts include excessive and unnecessary software complexity, higher probability of software vulnerabilities, diminished execution performance in both time and space, and the inability to easily and rapidly deploy even minor updates to deployed software, to name a few. Consequently, there has been growing interest in the capability to do late-stage software (i.e., at the binary level) manipulation to address these negative impacts. Unfortunately, highly robust, late-stage manipulation of arbitrary binaries is difficult due to complex implementation techniques and the corresponding software structures. Indeed, many binary rewriters have limitations that constrain their use. For example, to the best of our knowledge, no binary rewriters handle applications that include and use exception handlers-a feature used in programming languages such as C++, Ada, Common Lisp, ML, to name a few. This paper describes how Zipr, an efficient binary rewriter, manipulates applications with exception handlers and tables which are required for unwinding the stack. While the technique should be applicable to other binary rewriters, it is particularly useful for Zipr because the recovery of the IR exposed in exception handling tables significantly improves the runtime performance of Zipr'ed binaries-average performance overhead on the full SPEC CPU2006 benchmark is reduced from 15% to 3%.
Socially competent navigation planning by deep learning of multi-agent path topologies

We present a novel, data-driven framework for planning socially competent robot behaviors in crowded environments. The core of our approach is a topological model of collective navigation behaviors, based on braid groups. This model constitutes the basis for the design of a human-inspired probabilistic inference mechanism that predicts the topology of multiple agents' future trajectories, given observations of the context. We derive an approximation of this mechanism by employing a neural network learning architecture on synthetic data of collective navigation behaviors. Our planner makes use of this mechanism as a tool for interpreting the context and understanding what future behaviors are in compliance with it. The planning agent makes use of this understanding to determine a personal action that contributes to the context in the most clear way possible, while ensuring progress to its destination. Our simulations provide evidence that our planning framework results in socially competent navigation behaviors not only for the planning agent, but also for interacting naive agents. Performance benefits include (1) early conflict resolutions and (2) faster uncertainty decrease for the other agents in the scene.
The use of novel epitope-tagged arenaviruses reveals that Rab5c-positive endosomal membranes are targeted by the LCMV matrix protein.

We report the development of recombinant New World (Junin; JUNV) and Old World (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; LCMV) mammarenaviruses that encode an HA-tagged matrix protein (Z). These viruses permit the robust affinity purification of Z from infected cells or virions, as well as the detection of Z by immunofluorescent microscopy. Importantly, the HA-tagged viruses grow with wild-type kinetics in a multi-cycle growth assay. Using these viruses, we report a novel description of JUNV Z localization in infected cells, as well as the first description of colocalization between LCMV Z and the GTPase Rab5c. This latter result, when combined with our previous findings that LCMV genome and glycoprotein also colocalize with Rab5c, suggest that LCMV may target Rab5c-positive membranes for preassembly of virus particles prior to budding. The recombinant viruses reported here will provide the field with new tools to better study Z protein functionality and identify key Z protein interactions with host machinery.
Molecular Simulations of the Hydration Behavior of a Zwitterion Brush Array and Its Antifouling Property in an Aqueous Environment

We carried out umbrella sampling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate molecular interactions between sulfobetaine zwitterions or between sulfobetaine brushes in different media. Simulation results show that it is more energetically favorable for the two sulfobetaine zwitterions or brushes to be fully hydrated in aqueous solutions than in vacuum where strong ion pairs are formed. Structural properties of the hydrated sulfobetaine brush array and its antifouling behavior against a foulant gel are subsequently studied through steered MD simulations. We find that sulfobetaine brush arrays with different grafting densities have different structures and antifouling mechanisms. At a comparably higher grafting density, the sulfobetaine brush array exhibits a more organized structure which can hold a tightly bound hydration water layer at the interface. Compression of this hydration layer results in a strong repulsive force. However, at a comparably lower grafting density, the brush array exhibit...
On Automated Feedback-Driven Data Placement in Multi-tiered Memory

Recent emergence of systems with multiple performance and capacity tiers of memory invites a fresh consideration of strategies for optimal placement of data into the various tiers. This work explores a variety of cross-layer strategies for managing application data in multi-tiered memory. We propose new profiling techniques based on the automatic classification of program allocation sites, with the goal of using those classifications to guide memory tier assignments. We evaluate our approach with different profiling inputs and application strategies, and show that it outperforms other state-of-the-art management techniques.
In defense of meta-analysis

Arguments that medical decision making should rely on a variety of evidence often begin from the claim that meta-analysis has been shown to be problematic. In this paper, I first examine Stegenga’s (Stud Hist Philos Sci Part C Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 42:497–507, 2011) argument that meta-analysis requires multiple decisions and thus fails to provide an objective ground for medical decision making. Next, I examine three arguments from social epistemologists that contend that meta-analyses are systematically biased in ways not appreciated by standard epistemology. In most cases I show that critiques of meta-analysis fail to account for the full range of meta-analytic procedures. In the remainder of cases, I argue that the critiques identify problems that do not uniquely cut against meta-analysis. I close by suggesting one reason why it may be pragmatically rational to violate the principle of total evidence and by outlining the criteria for a successful argument against meta-analysis. A set of criteria I contend remain unmet.
Bringing the University to City Hall: The Master of Public Affairs in City Hall

As more supervisory and management staff reach retirement age, local governments are realizing the challenges they face in finding qualified individuals to fill vacant positions. To best plan for succession, local governments need a pool of talented, educated staff from which to draw. This article discusses the approach taken by one university to address the educational needs of local government staff through a creative approach to the delivery of graduate classes in public administration.
18 – Regulation of immunoglobulin gene transcription

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses recent advances in understanding the regulatory elements that control heavy and light chain immunoglobulin (Ig) gene transcription. It also considers the specific proteins that bind to the regulatory elements and how these elements function within the context of B-cell development. Ig genes are expressed only in B-cells and are differentially expressed at different stages of B-cell development, their regulation allows mechanisms of both tissue and stage specificity to be explored. Ig gene transcription provides a useful paradigm for understanding general mechanisms of gene regulation in eukaryotes. Ig gene transcription is critically important because of its involvement in mechanisms for humoral immunity: Variable (V), Diversity (D), Joining (J) recombination, isotype class switching, and somatic hypermutation of V genes. The chapter also presents a summary of consensus sequences of established protein binding sites in Ig light and heavy chain genes, and description of transcriptional regulators affecting Ig gene transcription.
Hydroperoxidation of Unsaturated Fatty Esters

Much work has been published on the hydroperoxides of unsaturated lipids. Only recently has significant progress been made, however, to clarify the mechanism and stereochemistry of lipid hydroperoxidation. Although there is considerable information available on the chemistry of lipid oxidation, the biological effects of lipid oxidation products are not well understood. Studies on the source of volatile oxidation products and on their physiological importance are still controversial and difficult to interpret.
Organization of the Spinothalamic Tract as a Relay for Cardiopulmonary Sympathetic Afferent Fiber Activity

Sympathetic afferent fibers originate from a visceral organ, course in the thoracolumbar rami communicantes, have cell bodies located in dorsal root ganglia, and terminate in the gray matter of the spinal cord. Sympathetic afferent fibers from the heart transmit information about noxious stimuli associated with myocardial ischemia, i.e. angina pectoris. Previous reviews have described the characteristics of cardiovascular sympathetic afferent fibers (Bishop et al. 1983; Malliani 1982). This review summarizes that work and focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying the complexities of angina pectoris.
An Internet for Some threatens health for All: What effects could the repeal of net neutrality in the USA have on individual and population health?

In the United States of America, the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of the popular Open Internet Order (a.k.a ‘net neutrality’) has yielded pointed criticism from many different sectors...
Phantom Sensation—Underreported Sensory Outcome Following Intercostal-to-Musculocutaneous Nerve Transfer

Background Intercostal-to-musculocutaneous nerve transfer is commonly performed in patients with brachial plexus avulsion injuries. As techniques have improved since its inception in 1963, most patients now experience some level of motor function improvement of their affected arm. While motor outcomes are well described, there is a paucity of literature describing sensory outcomes. It is thus difficult to gauge surgical success with respect to sensory function, and there is a necessity to share clear expectations with patients regarding intended or unintended postoperative sensation. Case Description In this case report, we describe an unintended sensory outcome of this procedure. Three years after the operation, our patient experiences a “phantom sensation” on his chest when he is touched on the lateral forearm in the distribution of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. This outcome can be explained with review of the anatomy before and after the operation. The persistence of this adverse outcome suggests limitations in sensory cortical neuroplasticity. Conclusions It is important to be aware of potential sensory complications in intercostal-to-musculocutaneous nerve transfer. Although this complication is known, it is often overlooked and underreported. Complications such as this should be emphasized in order to set expectations for patients and guide evaluation of sensory outcomes in a future study.
The SEC and ICOs: Connections Between Digital Assets and Citrus Groves

In recent years, the growth of cryptocurrencies and products associated with them have grown from a fringe fad to an international phenomenon that has captured the imagination of millions. Cryptocurrencies and the blockchain platforms associated with them have given companies the ability to raise large amounts of money through the use of Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) and the Tokens that they produce. The rampant growth of ICOs and the money they bring with them have, predictably, attracted the attention of hackers, fraudsters, and several other bad-faith actors who are just as excited to cash in on the latest trends in digital asset financing. While billions of dollars have been raised by ICOs, these offerings have not provided investors with the kind of protection one would expect to find in financial markets: until now. ICOs have recently come under heavy scrutiny by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) in the wake of several stories of public investors who were taken advantage of by fraudulent Token offerings. First, this note will provide a basic understanding of the technology behind ICO Tokens and will lay out a brief history of their growth. Second, it will examine the SEC’s investigation into Tokens offered by the Decentralized Autonomous Organization as well as two cases it has filed to halt the ICOs of AriseBank and PlexCorps. Third, this note will evaluate the arguments and counter-arguments concerning the classification of ICO Tokens as securities subject to federal securities laws. Finally, this note will examine the potential consequences for private companies wishing to raise capital through ICOs, their lawyers who may have their legal advice come under scrutiny, and ICO Tokens in general if this form of cryptocurrency is recognized to be a security.
Internal information quality and patent‐related innovation

This study investigates how the quality of information available within a firm affects patent‐related innovative activities. Relying on recent theoretical and empirical research, we use externally observable information attributes to proxy for the quality of internal information. Our empirical results indicate that firms with higher internal information quality generate more patents and patent citations. Cross‐sectional analyses show that this positive effect is greater when firms are susceptible to greater internal information frictions due to firm decentralization, short management team tenure, and long product development cycles. We also document that firms experience an increase in patents and patent citations following an improvement of internal information quality proxied by internal control weakness remediation. Overall, our results suggest that the positive relation between internal information quality and task performance extends to patent‐related innovation, a non‐routine type of task that may rely on information originating from sources other than firms’ formal internal information systems.
Brown Carbon Production by Aqueous-Phase Interactions of Glyoxal and SO2

Oxalic acid and sulfate salts are major components of aerosol particles. Here, we explore the potential for their respective precursor species, glyoxal and SO2, to form atmospheric brown carbon via aqueous-phase reactions in a series of bulk aqueous and flow chamber aerosol experiments. In bulk aqueous solutions, UV- and visible-light-absorbing products are observed at pH 3-4 and 5-6, respectively, with small but detectable yields of hydroxyquinone and polyketone products formed, especially at pH 6. Hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), C2, and C3 sulfonates are major products detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) at pH 5. Past studies have assumed that the reaction of formaldehyde and sulfite was the only atmospheric source of HMS. In flow chamber experiments involving sulfite aerosol and gas-phase glyoxal with only 1 min residence times, significant aerosol growth is observed. Rapid brown carbon formation is seen with aqueous aerosol particles at >80% relative humidity (RH). Brown carbon formation slows at 50-60% RH and when the aerosol particles are acidified with sulfuric acid but stops entirely only under dry conditions. This chemistry may therefore contribute to brown carbon production in cloud-processed pollution plumes as oxidizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) interact with SO2 and water.
Polymer-Leather Composites V. Preparative Methods, Kinetics, Morphology, and Mechanical Properties of Selected Acrylate Polymer-Leather Composite Materials

This paper reviews an extensive study of largely reported work on polymer-leather composite materials (1–4). In this work two methods were utilized, for depositing selected acrylic polymers into the leather matrix by free radical polymerization (1). In one method polymer was introduced by emulsion polymerization into expanded hydrated panels. In the other, polymer was formed by bulk or solution polymerization in unexpanded acetone-dried panels. The widest feasible range of composite compositions was investigated for both methods. The kinetics of the emulsion process (2), together with the morphology (3) and mechanical properties (4) of both types of composites, were also investigated. In the present paper we attempt to combine the more important aspects of these detailed works into a comprehensive whole and to integrate this peripheral area of composite material science into the main body of work in the field.
Airborne Residues and Human Exposure

Publisher Summary Significant quantities of pesticides enter the air during pesticide-related operations that precede spraying, during the spraying itself, and through the weathering of postspray residues. Airborne pesticides represent a potential source of exposure for farm workers, applicators, and anyone in the general vicinity of treatment sites. In addition, low-level exposure may occur within the general population to the more persistent pesticides that enjoy a substantial usage. Supporting evidence has been provided by sampling near pesticide formulators, mixers, loaders, applicators, and flaggers; the assessment of drift during spraying; the assessment of evaporative loss following application sampling of air in heavy use are as and urban locations; and studies of pesticide degradation pathways in the atmosphere.
Prevalence of Cardiac Arrhythmia in Myasthenia Gravis (P7.057)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of arrhythmia in Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients and its association with clinical characteristics of MG patients. BACKGROUND: MG is an autoimmune post synaptic neuromuscular junction disorder characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue. Few studies showed presence of cardiac involvement in MG in the form of heart failure, arrhythmia and myocarditis. Some myasthenia gravis patients have antibodies that bind in a cross-striational pattern to skeletal and heart muscle tissue sections (striational antibodies),which are found mainly in patients with Thymoma. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted retrospective chart review of patients from 2000-2010 with diagnosis of MG. We reviewed all the patients for presences of any cardiac arrhythmia significant to require intervention. The data was analyzed using P value and odds ratio (OR) to check association of arrhythmia in MG patients with Thymectomy, Ach receptor antibodies, bulbar and generalized weakness. RESULTS: Total of 100 patients were included in the study. Average age of our patients was 69 years. 54 patients were male and 46 were female. 16 patients had arrhythmia- 11 had atrial fibrillation/ flutter and 5 had sick sinus syndrome requiring pacemaker implantation. There was significant correlation between thymectomy and presence of arrhythmia (P=0.02 and OR=0.18) and patients with generalized weakness (P=0.04, OR= 0.30). There was no significant association noted between presences of bulbar weakness, presence of AchR antibody with arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows 17[percnt] of MG patients had cardiac arrhythmia which might suggest autoimmune target for both skeletal and cardiac muscles in MG. Also, patients with MG who had thymectomy were less likely to have cardiac arrhythmia which suggests possible protective effect of thymectomy in MG patients in preventing arrhythmia. Study Supported by: none Disclosure: Dr. Gandhi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boddepalli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Govindarajan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salgado has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity from Belvoir Media Group.
Challenges to Research and Innovation to Optimize Deceased Donor Organ Quality and Quantity

Solid organ transplantation is encumbered by an increasing number of waitlisted patients unrequited by the current organ supply. Preclinical models suggest that advances in deceased donor management and treatment can increase the quantity and quality of organs available for transplantation. However, the science of donor intervention and the execution of high quality, prospective, multi-center, randomized-controlled trials are restricted by a myriad of logistical challenges mired in regulatory and ethical ambiguity. By highlighting the obstacles to conducting research in deceased donors, this report endeavors to stimulate the creation of a multi-disciplinary framework to facilitate the design, implementation and supervision of innovative trials that increase the quantity and/or quality of deceased donor organs.
Technology and Social Control

One aspect of modernization is the use of science-based technology in rule enforcement. In the ‘engineered society,’ an ethos of rationalization is seen in the application of means to ends. The events of 11 September 2001, and the war on terror have brought increased attention to the question, but the increased use of technical means for control reflects continuity rather than disjuncture. Six social control strategies are discussed and illustrated: target removal, target devaluation, target insulation, offender incapacitation, offender exclusion, and identification of offenses and offenders. In complex settings in a democratic society, relying primarily on technology to control human behavior has clear social and ethical limitations.
FABRICATION EXPERIENCES AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE U. S. SCMS SUPERCONDUCTING DIPOLE MAGNET FOR MHD RESEARCH

The U.S. SCMS superconducting dipole magnet system consists of the superconducting magnet and its cryostat, a helium liquefier and refrigerator/liquefier facility, helium storage dewars, the transfer line, power supply, and a complete system for magnet instrumentations and control. The magnet system has been designed [1–3] and built by Argonne National Laboratory. The entire magnet system was successfully tested to full design field in May 1977. It was then delivered to Moscow in June 1977, and the first energization of the magnet system is expected in early 1978.
Object Lesson: Discovering and Learning to Recognize Objects

Abstract : Statistical machine learning has revolutionized computer vision. Systems trained on large quantities of empirical data can achieve levels of robustness that far exceed their hand-crafted competitors. But this robustness is in a sense "shallow" since a shift in context to a situation not explored in the training data can completely destroy it. This is not an intrinsic feature of the machine learning approach, but rather of the rigid separation of the powerfully adaptive training phase from the final cast-in-stone system. An alternative this work explores is to build "deep" systems that contain not only the trained-up perceptual modules, but the tools used to train them, and the resources necessary to acquire appropriate training data. Thus, if a situation occurs that was not explored in training, the system can go right ahead and explore it. This is exemplified through an object recognition system that is tightly coupled with an "active segmentation" behavior that can discover the boundaries of objects by making them move.
Pharos: a scalable distributed architecture for locating heterogeneous information sources

This paper presents the design of Pharos: a scalable distributed architecture for locating heterogeneous information sources. The system incorporates a hierarchical metadata structure into a multi-level retrieval system. Queries are resolved through an iterative decision-making process. The first step retrieves coarse-grain metadata, about all sources, stored on local, massively replicated, high-level servers. Further steps retrieve more detailed metadata, about a greatly reduced set of sources, stored on remote, sparsely replicated, topic-based mid-level servers. We describe the structure, distribution, and retrieval of the metadata in Pharos to enable users to locate desirable information sources over the Internet.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome induced by pazopanib for renal cell carcinoma.

Summary What is known and Objective Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can be the result of acute hypertension, eclampsia, renal failure and the use of immunosuppressive or cytotoxic agents. We report a case of PRES as a result of the use of pazopanib, a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor used for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Case summary A 76-year-old man treated with RCC develops PRES shortly after the initiation of pazopanib. What is new and conclusion There are no known reports of the association between PRES and pazopanib. We postulate that pazopanib can disrupt the normal endothelial function of the brain leading to the development of PRES.
A planet more, a planet less?

Further observations of an object dubbed 2003 UB313, which lies beyond Neptune, show that its diameter is around 3,100 kilometres. This makes it larger than Pluto, the smallest ‘traditional’ Solar System planet. The discovery of the trans-neptunian object 2003 UB313 in July 2005 has rekindled the debate over which objects should be called planets. Popularly but not officially known as the ‘tenth planet’, its optical brightness suggests it is larger than Pluto, but without knowing its surface reflectivity (albedo) it is not possible to determine size from optical data. But now a pretty accurate measure of its size has be made, based on thermal emission data obtained using the IRAM 30-metre radio telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain. UB313 is about 3,000 km in diameter, compared to Pluto's 2,000 km. Its albedo is similar to Pluto's, consistent with a highly reflective icy surface rich in methane.
The office of technology assessment and forecast industry concordance as a means of identifying industry technology origins

Abstract This paper examines the difficulties encountered when one attempts to link patents to data on such variables as R & D expenditures in the industries where the patents originated. A comparative experiment using U.S. OTAF industry assignments based upon patent class codes only and a ‘manual’ procedure using much richer information reveals a high rate of disagreement as to origin industries. Alternative means of obtaining better information on origin industries are considered.
Theory of the zero-temperature polaron propagator

The zero-temperature propagator of an intermediate coupling theory polaron is formulated diagrammatically. This propagator, unlike the electron propagator, is found to have a pole for both piezoelectric-acoustic and polar-optical systems.
Escrow accounts and the value of mortgage servicing contracts

Trading of mortgage servicing rights exploded during the 1980s. The secondary mortgage market created a large volume of standardized servicing contracts, and computer technology made it profitable for smaller originators, who are less efficient servicers, to sell servicing contracts to larger, more efficient servicers. Resolution Trust Corporation liquidation of thrifts at the end of the decade further boosted servicing sales, as did the FIRREA requirement that thrifts mark purchased servicing to market quarterly. The recent reduction in the tax advantage to" retained" servicing over purchased servicing will further accelerate trades. This paper identifies and documents the major economic and business risks of buying mortgage servicing contracts. Our analysis begins with the economics of the mortgage banking business. The business includes loan production (locating and qualifying buyers and producing the mortgage), secondary marketing (hedging and funding until sale) and loan servicing (collecting payments and foreclosing on nonpayers). What matters to the profitability of the mortgage banking business is the combined return on these three activities, not the return on any single one. If the loan and servicing contract are subsequently unbundled and sold separately, a greater share of the gross revenue than is economically necessary is by industry convention assigned to the servicing contract, which thus sells for a positive value. This value protects mortgage investors and guarantors by providing a continuing incentive for servicers to service troubled loans. The offset to the value of the servicing contract is a lower loan price, resulting in an "accounting loss" on the production part of the mortgage banking business. The value of a servicing contract depends on the servicing fee, the costs of servicing, interest earned and paid on escrow account balances, expected prepayment and foreclosure experience, and the seasoning of the mortgages. Simulation analysis is employed to determine the sensitivity of servicing contract value to these and other factors. The second largest source of servicing revenue (next to the basic monthly servicing fee) is the earnings
Responses of plasma human atrial natriuretic factor to high intensity submaximal exercise in the heat.

No data exists regarding responses of human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) to exercise in the heat. The purpose of this study was to examine the responses of plasma ANF to high intensity submaximal (71%±0.9 $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2 max}}} } $$ ) exercise in the heat over an eight day acclimation period. Fourteen healthy males volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects performed intermittent exercises on a treadmill (0% grade) during 50 min of each 100 min trial in an environmental chamber maintained at 41.2±0.5° C, 39.0±1.7% relative humidity. Blood was obtained from an antecubital vein after standing 20 min in the heat prior to exercise, and immediately after exercise. Measures were compared on days 1, 4 and 8. ANF did not change pre- to post-exercise nor did it change over the eight day heat acclimation period despite other heat acclimation adaptations. Conversely, plasma aldosterone (ALDO), renin activity (PRA) and cortisol (COR) all increased (p<0.05) pre- to post-exercise on each day but again no changes were observed over the eight day period. These data support that ANF may not increase when ALDO and PRA increases are observed.
Compound action potentials recorded intracranially from the auditory nerve in man

Abstract We describe the characteristics of the compound action potentials recorded from the intracranial part of the auditory nerve in man and the ralation between this potential and the various peaks in the auditory brain stem evoked potential. Recorded using a monopolar electrode, the shape of this potential varies from subject to subject. It often has a triphasic shape as can be expected of the field potentials of a long nerve. The main negative peak occurs 3.0 to 3.8 ms after the onset of a 2000-Hz stimulus tone at 90 dB. Recordings from two sites on the nerve have a similar wave shape. The difference in the latencies of these two recordings is associated with the estimated conduction velocity of the nerve. The latency of the main negative peak in the compound action potential of the auditory nerve was found to match the latency of the second mastoid-positive (vertex-negative) peak of the brain stem evoked potentials recorded from the scalp.
Produção de raízes de mandioca e propriedades química e física do solo em função de adubação com esterco de galinha

The cassava crop extracts large amounts of nutrients from the soil and, as a result, nutrients in adequate amounts in the soil favor its yield. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the influence of laying chicken manure on cassava roots yield and morphological characteristics, as well as on soil chemical and physical properties. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with six replications, and treatments consisted of laying chicken manure doses (0 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1, 12 t ha-1 and 18 t ha-1) incorporated into the soil. It was observed that the crop reacted to the soil fertilization by increasing its yield per area and plant unit. Roots individual fresh matter, diameter and length remained constant with treatments. The soil pH and organic matter were raised with the addition of manure. Concerning soil nutrients, there was an increase in the P, Ca and Mg contents. The soil bulk density decreased, while the total soil porosity increased proportionally to the addition of manure. The addition of chicken manure up to 18 t ha-1 provided a higher cassava yield, due to an increase in the number of roots per plant and improvements in the soil chemical and physical properties.
Continuous growth of epitaxial CeO2 buffer layers on rolled Ni tapes by electron beam evaporation

Abstract A reel-to-reel, electron beam evaporation system has been developed to continuously deposit epitaxial CeO2 and other oxide buffer layers on meter long-lengths of rolled Ni tapes. The deposition system includes two interconnected electron beam evaporation chambers and a chamber in which as-rolled Ni tape is in situ annealed to develop biaxial texture. An integral reel-to-reel system with tension control enables motion of the tape with little or no plastic deformation. When depositing epitaxial oxides on Ni, the formation of unfavorably oriented NiO needs to be avoided. Oxide-free, {100}〈100〉-oriented Ni tapes are prepared by control of the partial pressure of H2 during Ni annealing. In situ annealed rolled Ni tape over 70 cm long and 1 cm wide has been deposited with an epitaxial CeO2 buffer layer. Critical current density as high as 700 000 A/cm2 at 77 K in self-field has been achieved for YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) films deposited on short segments of these buffered substrates. X-ray in-plane φ-scans have been performed as a function of length to determine the crystallographic consistency of the epitaxial CeO2 over length. Results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations of the CeO2 buffer layer microstructure are presented.
“Haldane's Dilemma” and the Rate of Natural Selection

The conclusion that most new genes must be more or less without selective effect can be supported in the face of recent criticism.
The role of efferent inhibition in human auditory attention: an examination of the auditory brainstem potentials.

This study examined whether the efferent olivocochlear bundle (OCB) functions to attenuate irrelevant auditory stimuli during visual attention. Subjects either counted 8000 Hz, 50 dB SL target tone pips, or target letters flashed rapidly on a visual display. The target stimuli were randomly interspersed among nontarget stimuli to prevent the subjects anticipating their occurrence (Naatanen, 1975). The auditory brainstem potentials were tape recorded for separate analyses of the target and nontarget tone pips. The nontarget tone pips were not significantly affected suggesting they were attenuated in the auditory task (intramodal effect) as well as during the visual task. During focused visual attention, the auditory nerve component to the target tone pips was significantly reduced in amplitude by 37.4% and increased in latency by 90 μsec. Wave V generated partially from the inferior colliculus was also reduced in amplitude by 12.9%; however, this decrement was not statistically significant. The use of 8000...
SU-E-I-32: Improving Vessel Delineation in Brain Using Susceptibility Weighted MRI and Group Sparse Reconstruction

Purpose: To optimize small vessel delineation on non-contrast enhanced susceptibility weighted MRI protocol for MRI guided intervention in the brain. Methods: Multiple 5mm slices of the brain in a healthy volunteer were acquired with a 16-echo gradient echo sequence and a 32 channel head coil on a 3T scanner. K-space was under-sampled by a factor of 2. Images were reconstructed using 1) the vendor ASSET algorithm, 2) sparsity enforcing TV regularization applied to each slice and echo individually, and 3) group sparse reconstruction on each slice individually but all echoes simultaneously. The group sparse reconstruction increases the signal-tonoise ratio SNR of later echoes by utilizing the shared edges of brain structure between the echoes, which include the blood vessels. Quantitative PPM maps are computed from the complex images and are post processed by a method that removes background off-resonance effects. Magnitude images and corrected PPM maps are compared. Results: PPM maps show blood vessels with high contrast. The magnitude images and ppm maps using method 1 appear blurry compared to methods 2 and 3 because of anti-ringing filters. While small vasculatures appear very sharp in the ppm maps of methods 2 and 3, method 3 appears to have less smoothed magnitude images. Conclusion: To obtain useful blood vessel delineation, low noise susceptibility weighted images are needed. Standard methods like SWI or SWAN require the combination of several slices using a minimum intensity projection to delineate vessels. The method considered here delineates vasculature with high spatial resolution and high SNR in a single slice. Iterative reconstruction methods have superior image quality but also require much more computation time. By reconstructing all echoes simultaneously, group sparse reconstruction produces the sharpest and clearest images.
Aliasing in remote sensing imagery

Aliasing due to undersampling is commonly present in all digital imagery. The imaging characteristics of the sensor, including optical blur, detector integration blur and electronic filter blur, determine the potential for aliasing in the digital images produced by that sensor. The actual extent of aliasing in any particular image depends on the scene spatial content. In this paper, we analyze the potential for aliasing in imagery from some current remote sensing systems, including the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper + (ETM+), Terra MODIS and EO-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI). A metric is proposed and calculated for the aliasing potential of each sensor. The results show that the EO-1 ALI is the most susceptible to aliasing because of its relatively high MTF compared to that of ETM+ and MODIS. Real image examples are used to illustrate aliasing, including the use of aliasing to measure the sensor spatial response from certain types of targets.
A clinical and molecular study of mosaicism for trisomy 17

Trisomy 17 has never been reported in a live birth. We present a case of mosaic trisomy 17 in a male presenting with mental retardation, seizures, attention deficit hyperactivity and autistic disorders, hearing loss, growth retardation, microcephaly, and minor anomalies. Although peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosomes were normal, trisomy 17 was present in the skin fibroblasts. The percentage of abnormal cells appears to have increased from 18% in an initial skin biopsy at age 3 years 8 months to 80% at age 8 years 8 months. Molecular analysis using 13 highly polymorphic markers spanning the length of chromosome 17 demonstrated the extra chromosome 17 in the skin to be of paternal origin. Three alleles were never seen in the trisomic cell line, suggesting that the extra chromosome arose through a mitotic duplication error after conception. Uniparental disomy was excluded in the euploid blood sample. Although Smith-Magenis syndrome involves a deletion of proximal 17p, some of the clinical features of this mosaic trisomy 17 patient, such as decreased REM sleep and increased tolerance to pain, are suggestive of phenotypic features observed in Smith-Magenis syndrome. We speculate that there are dosage-sensitive genes located in 17p11.2 that produce these phenotypes for either deficiencies or over-expression of their gene products.
Spatial and temporal stability of the dominant frequency of activation in human atrial fibrillation

Abstract Purpose Intraoperative activation sequence mapping during atrial fibrillation (AF) is difficult because of the complexity of the data. The data analysis is time consuming, and picking activation times can be ambiguous. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mapping in the frequency domain during AF can be used to rapidly locate the region and assess the stability of the dominant frequency. Methods In 33 patients, epicardial bipolar electrograms were intraoperatively recorded from 250 sites during AF. For each electrogram, a power spectrum was calculated using a fast Fourier transform. The peak frequency below 11 Hz was determined from the power spectrum for each electrogram. Results Isofrequency mapping demonstrated that 91% of the patients exhibited a distinct region of maximum (dominant) frequency at least once during the recording period. Nine percent had no distinct region of dominant frequency. A distinct region of stable dominant frequency was located in the left atrium 30% of the time and the right atrium 12% of the time for the entire recording period. The location of dominant frequency changed during the recording period in 48% of the patients. The dominant frequency was highest in patients with chronic AF (8.29 ± 1.0 Hz) compared to those with paroxysmal AF (PAF) (6.54 ± 0.62 Hz, P = .001). The dispersion of frequency was higher in the patients with persistent AF (1.03 ± 0.4 Hz) than in those with PAF (0.6 ± 0.3 Hz, P Conclusion Frequency mapping rapidly and accurately identifies the region of dominant activation frequency. The frequency is faster and more variable in persistent AF than in PAF. The location of the dominant frequency was unstable, changing during the recording period, in half the patients. The location of the dominant frequency was independent of the type of AF.
Minimizing embedding impact in steganography using trellis-coded quantization

In this paper, we propose a practical approach to minimizing embedding impact in steganography based on syndrome coding and trellis-coded quantization and contrast its performance with bounds derived from appropriate rate-distortion bounds. We assume that each cover element can be assigned a positive scalar expressing the impact of making an embedding change at that element (single-letter distortion). The problem is to embed a given payload with minimal possible average embedding impact. This task, which can be viewed as a generalization of matrix embedding or writing on wet paper, has been approached using heuristic and suboptimal tools in the past. Here, we propose a fast and very versatile solution to this problem that can theoretically achieve performance arbitrarily close to the bound. It is based on syndrome coding using linear convolutional codes with the optimal binary quantizer implemented using the Viterbi algorithm run in the dual domain. The complexity and memory requirements of the embedding algorithm are linear w.r.t. the number of cover elements. For practitioners, we include detailed algorithms for finding good codes and their implementation. Finally, we report extensive experimental results for a large set of relative payloads and for different distortion profiles, including the wet paper channel.
Instruments for Evaluating Shared Medical Decision Making A Structured Literature Review

The author conducted a structured literature review of instruments for evaluating shared medical decision making. She included relevant instruments that were generalizable beyond specific situations and had been formally evaluated and organized them by domains of values or preferences, information and communication in decision making, and other aspects of decision making. For values or preferences, the author identified 11 instruments, mostly on preferences for roles and information. For information and communication, she found a systematic review of instruments for observational assessment of decision making, 3 additional observational instruments, and 3 questionnaires. For other aspects of decision making, the author identified 3 instruments in domains such as decision self-efficacy and 4 multidimensional instruments. Although instrument development tended to cluster in several areas and there were clear gaps in the literature, the diversity of instruments demonstrates the broad range of constructs involved in assessing shared decision making.
Novobiocin and nalidixic acid target proteins in yeast

Abstract Novobiocin (and its related drug, coumermycin A1) and nalidixic acid are specific inhibitors of DNA gyrase in bacteria. These drugs inhibit many enzymatic activities in yeast; such as DNA polymerase activity in crude extracts, in vitro 2-μm plasmid DNA replication, purified DNA polymerase I and II, and topoisomerase I. Therefore, the inhibition by these inhibitors in yeast is not specific for a particular enzyme.
Western Atlantic species of the Parapagurus pilosimanus complex (Anomura, Paguroidea, Parapaguridae): description of a new species and morphological variations

ABSTRACT A review of the deep-water hermit crabs of the genus Parapagurus has shown that 10 of the taxa assigned to this genus, and an additional new species, represent a group of closely related species defined herein as the P. pilosimanus complex. Four species of the complex occur in the western Atlantic: P. pilosimanus, P. nudus, P. scaber, and P. alaminos, new species. These species are diagnosed or described and morphological variations evaluated and illustrated. Results of this study provide an indication of the range of variations that could be expected in species of the complex in general. Diagnostic characters at the specific level have been found in the branchiostegite, antennal acicle, left cheliped, propodal rasp of the fourth pereiopod, uropods, and telson. SEM micrographs of the scales constituting the propodal rasp are included. The right cheliped is shown to be affected by size and sexual dimorphism, and is not useful in distinguishing the species.
Effect of exercise-training on the metabolic manifestations of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the rat

Streptozotocin-induced insulin deficiency of a moderate degree was produced in exercise-trained and sedentary young rats, and determinations made of subsequent changes in plasma glucose, triglyceride, and insulin concentrations. Exercise-training attenuated the rise in both plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations associated with insulin deficiency. Plasma insulin levels were, if anything, lower in exercise-trained rats. Thus, the beneficial effects of exercise-training on plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations could not be due to the preservation of endogenous insulin secretion, and appear to be secondary to enhanced insulin sensitivity.
Injective and flat covers, envelopes and resolvents

Using the dual of a categorical definition of an injective envelope, injective covers can be defined. For a ringR, every leftR-module is shown to have an injective cover if and only ifR is left noetherian. Flat envelopes are defined and shown to exist for all modules over a regular local ring of dimension 2. Using injective covers, minimal injective resolvents can be defined.
The "Dialogue of the Savior" and the Mystical Sayings of Jesus

Le processus d'immortalisation est le theme qui ressort du Dialogue du sauveur. Ce texte tente de fournir au lecteur une interpretation correcte des paroles mystiques de Jesus, une interpretation qui pourrait garantir sa transformation divine. Dans le Dialogue du sauveur, l'auteur affirme au lecteur qu'il peut anticiper une experience similaire a celle qui est decrite dans l'evangile de Thomas. Le lecteur se trouve alors face a face avec la force puissante de ces espoirs. A la difference du schema soteriologique de Thomas qui insiste sur une experience pre-mortem, le dialogue comprend l'ascension comme un evenement post-mortem