cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A program debugger for a systolic array: design and implementation

The Warp machine consists of a programmable linear systolic array connected to a general-purpose workstation host. Warp can be accessed either locally from this host or remotely from a large number of workstations connected to a local area network. Since the linear arrangement of the cells in the array restricts direct input and output with the host to the boundary cells, a source language debugger is important for program development. The Warp debugger is integrated into the Warp Programming Environment (WPE) which provides a uniform interface to the Warp machine. The debugger presents a conventional debugging model that includes breakpoints for individual cells as well as the inspection of the local state of each of the cells in the array. Although this user model is fairly simple, the implementation had to overcome several problems resulting from the parallel architecture of the machine and the distributed architecture of the programming environment.
Efficacy and safety of desvenlafaxine succinate in the treatment of major depressive disorder

Venlafaxine is a serotonin–norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) with a well-established efficacy, safety and tolerability profile. Desvenlafaxine succinate is the succinate salt monohydrate of O-desmethylvenlafaxine, an active metabolite of venlafaxine, and, like its parent compound, is an SNRI. A sustained-release form of desvenlafaxine succinate 100 mg/day has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of adult major depressive disorder in large multicenter trials. Desvenlafaxine succinate has a good overall safety and tolerability profile, with adverse effects comparable with those of other SNRIs. The most frequent side effects of desvenlafaxine succinate include nausea, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, somnolence, anorexia and sweating. The primary advantage of the sustained-release formulation over other SNRIs based on current information is related to its minimal metabolism via the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) pathway and its minimal impact on CYP450 enzyme systems. Its low potential for d...
Rapid Communication The glutamate transporter, GLT-1, is expressed in cultured hippocampal neurons

There are multiple subtypes of Na+-dependent glutamate transporters. Several studies suggest that EAAC1 and EAAT4 are expressed in neurons, while GLT-1 and GLAST expression is thought to be restricted to glia. In the present study, expression of GLT-1 and EAAC1 was examined in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using single cell mRNA amplification and immunocytochemistry with subtype specific antibodies. GLT-1 and EAAC1 mRNAs were observed in all neurons examined. Neuronal phenotype was confirmed in these cells by expression of neurofilament (NF-L) mRNA and absence of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA. EAAC1 immunoreactivity was observed in essentially all cells which expressed neuron specific enolase (NSE) and GLT-1 immunoreactivity was detected in the majority (approximately 90%) of NSE-positive cells. Consistent with the glial expression of GLT-1, GLT-1 immunoreactivity was also observed in NSE-negative cells. These studies provide evidence that GLT-1 expression is not intrinsically restricted to glial cells, but can occur in neurons under certain circumstances.
A study based on the factorization-tree approach for parallel solution of power network equations

Advance in the development of distribution computer architecture, parallel processing systems have the potential to become useful for power system applications by simultaneously solving the independent functions of a given task. A power system is separated into as many subnetworks, referred to as a bordered block diagonal form (BBDF) matrix, as the processors of a parallel computer. Balance loading on all processors is essential to ensure the success of any parallel approach. In this study, a novel method involving the factorization tree approach on the basis of calculating the maximum number of fill-in and the degree of every node as the cutest block nodes is proposed. Using the proposed approach, the number of nodes in each subnetwork is more uniform and the computation time is saved. Simulation results of the IEEE test systems and the Taiwan Power Company 288-bus system are presented to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach and its capability to implement parallel computing for load flow analysis.
Factors influencing the periodontal referral process.

Background: General dental practitioners (GPs) assess the periodontal status of patients and make decisions to treat patients or refer them to a periodontist. There is little information available regarding this process. The purpose of this study is to identify significant factors that GPs consider important in selecting a particular periodontist. The findings were compared and contrasted with responses of periodontists to gain perspectives from both groups involved in the referral process.Methods: Data from an online cross-sectional survey of GPs (n = 533) and periodontists (n = 533) who practice in the southeastern region of the United States (from the databases of the American Dental Association and American Academy of Periodontology member directories) were obtained.Results: The specialist's clinical skill was identified as the most important factor influencing periodontal referrals by GPs, whereas periodontists identified a previous positive experience between a GP and periodontist as the most import...
A test for regression function adequacy

A generalization of the mean-square-successive-difference statistic is used to detect lack of fit in the multiple linear regression model. The distribution of the test statistic is approximated with Pearson Curves. A numerical example is used to illustrate the procedure and compare the test with the usual F test and a nonparametric test.
The effect of calcium sulphate concentration on the adsorption of a superplasticizer on a cement: Methods, zeta potential and adsorption studies

Abstract The role of calcium sulphate on the zeta-potential (ZP) of portland cement in the presence of a superplasticizer was studied as a function of hydration time. Also the influence of calcium sulphate upon the adsorption of a superplasticizer was studied by UV-spectroscopy as a function of hydration time. The data indicate that the amount of superplasticizer adsorbed decreases as the calcium sulphate concentration increases. The same influence is seen on the ZP, which when compared with the UV-absorption results shows that an increase in calcium sulphate concentration decreases the double-layer thickness thereby decreasing the amount of superplasticizer adsorbed, and therefore the ZP.
The heterotrophic bacterial response during a mesoscale iron enrichment experiment (IronEx II) in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean

The response of the heterotrophic bacterial community to iron addition was determined during the mesoscale iron-enrichment experiment conducted in the eastern equatorial Pacific during May-June 1995 (IronEx II). Bacterial abundance and 3 H-leucine incorporation rates were measured for samples collected from the middle of the mixed layer (15 m) over the course of the iron-induced phytoplankton bloom and its decline. Bacterial abundance and productivity increased 1.7- and threefold, respectively, compared to un-enriched waters. Specific growth rates of heterotrophic bacteria increased three- to fourfold. These results demonstrate that iron addition to this high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll region affects both autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms and that bacterial carbon demand can be potentially met by the fivefold increase in photosynthetic productivity in the mixed layer.
Isolation and characterization of a new mouse mammary tumor virus from BALB/c mice.

Abstract A novel mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been isolated from mice of a subline of the BALB/cCrl Med mouse strain designated BALB/cV. Whereas breeding females of the parent BALB/cCrl Med colony have a mammary tumor incidence of 1%, 47% of the breeding females of the BALB/cV subline develop mammary tumors before 10 months of age. Foster nursing experiments demonstrated this virus, termed MMTV (BALB/c), was transmitted only by milk. The novel MMTV isolate was shown to be immunologically related to, but distinct, from the MMTV variants of C3H, GR, and RIII mice by a series of competition radioimmunoassays for the MMTV 28,000-dalton major core protein (p28), and the 52,000 (gp52)- and 36,000-dalton (gp36) major envelope glycoproteins. Monoclonal antibodies directed against MMTV gp36 were also used to clearly distinguish MMTV(BALB/c) from MMTV(C3H), MMTV(RIII), MMTV(GR), MMTV(C3HfC57BL), and MMTV(A). MMTV-specific proviral DNA content of mammary adenocarcinomas arising in the BALB/cV subline was examined with restriction endonucleases and the Southern blot technique, and compared to the MMTV proviral DNA content of BALB/cAnDe mammary tumors. The virus arising from these latter tumors has been termed MMTV(O). Analysis of Eco RI digests of high-molecular-weight DNA from both types of mammary tumors demonstrated additional MMTV-related proviral sequences when compared to the DNA of normal BALB/c tissues. The patterns generated with the restriction endonuclease Sac I distinguished the additional MMTV-specific proviral information in the mammary tumors of the BALB/cV mice from the proviral information in tissues containing the GR, C3H, or RIII MMTVs, as well as from the proviral information in the BALB/cAnDe mammary tumors. These immunological and molecular studies thus define MMTV(BALB/c) as a novel MMTV variant.
The computer/plotter and the 17 ornamental design types

Every possible repetitive design in the Euclidean plane belongs to one or the other of 17 types of design, each with its own characteristic group of isometries. This report deals with the use of a comprehensive plotter program, written in FORTRAN, which permits one to create designs by specifying a motif and selecting one of the seventeen types, into which the motif will be incorporated.
Fluxes of dissolved and particulate calcium in selected tissues of Crassostrea virginica

Rates of calcium incorporation by selected tissues of Crassostrea virginica increased in a step-wise fashion from lowest values among organisms exposed to ambient total calcium concentrations of 45 mg l-1, intermediate values among oysters exposed to 135, 225, and 315 mg l-1, to highest rates for oysters exposed to 360 mg l-1. Although excised visceral mass tissue had highest rates of calcium incorporation relative to mantle, muscle, and both organic and inorganic portions of the shell, mantle tissue appeared to have the most dynamic response to changes in ambient calcium concentrations. Rates of dissolved calcium incorporation from ambient water were approximately two to three orders of magnitude higher than comparable rates from ingested algal food. Behavioral response to concentrations of selected inoic, species in the ambient environment may have been responsible for observed differences in rates of calcium incorporation.
Semantic memory deterioration in Alzheimer's subjects: evidence from word association, definition, and associate ranking tasks.

The nature of semantic memory impairment in 23 persons with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) was studied using three semantic tasks: word association, definition, and associate rank ordering. U...
Selectivity in the natural diets of acartia tonsa dana (copepoda: calanoida): comparison of juveniles and adults

Abstract Selective feeding in nature was compared for adults and two stages [Nauplius VI (NVI) and Copepodite I (CI)] of juvenile Acartia tonsa Dana collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to compare the concentrations of four carotenoid pigments from copepods in incubating chambers to those from the surrounding water column. Adult copepods ingested significantly more pigment than the juveniles, however no difference was found between the relative proportions of pigments ingested by the three stages. Adults were shown to feed selectively in 50% of the experiments, while juvenile stages fed selectively in 75 %. The results suggest that conclusions derived from studies on natural feeding of adult copepods cannot always be extrapolated to juveniles ofthat species.
Effect of levan on transmitted mouse leukemia and on Ehrlich ascites tumor implants.

SummaryInjections of levan intraperi-toneally into C58 mice did not alter the course of transmitted leukemia. Levan injected by tail vein or intraperitoneally failed to inhibit and did not apparently enhance establishment of a solid phase tumor at the site of inoculation of Ehrlich Ascites Tumor cells. The direct action of levan on the tumor cells injected immediately or after a 5 minute delay did not result in inhibition of either solid phase tumors or the ascites tumor.
The Influence of Auxin, Cacodylic Acid, and Amitrole on the Abscission of Petiole Explants

The influence of indoleacetic acid, cacodylic acid (hydroxy-dimethylarsine oxide), and amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) on the petiole explant abscission rate was studied in three species. Indoleacetic acid increased the abscission rate in both bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney) and Coleus (Coleus blumei Benth) at 10−3 and 10−4m but had no effect on abscission in privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium). Cacodylic acid was found to stimulate abscission in explants of beans and privet, but not in Coleus. Amitrole did not stimulate abscission under any circumstance tested. In no case was the abscission rate dependent on the time at which any of the chemicals was applied. These data do not support the two-phase response of explants to applied auxin.
Age, Rumination, and Emotional Recovery From a Psychosocial Stressor

OBJECTIVES Exposure to psychosocial stressors often elicits increases in negative affect and blood pressure (BP). Rumination, or thinking about a stressor after it passes, is associated with delayed recovery. Given that older age is associated with greater BP reactivity to psychosocial stressors, rumination may be more detrimental to the recovery of older adults than younger adults. The current study examined this question. We hypothesized that prolonged distress resulting from rumination has greater effects on the recovery of older than younger adults. METHOD Fifty-two older (M = 69 years) and 61 younger (M = 21 years) adults were exposed to a lab stressor. Afterwards, participants were randomly assigned to a rumination condition (n = 58) or a no-instruction control condition (n = 55). RESULTS Older participants in the rumination condition had delayed BP recovery relative to those in the control condition and all younger adults. Rumination did not influence affective recovery among any of the groups. DISCUSSION Rumination delays BP recovery among older adults, suggesting age-specific risks associated with different types of emotion regulation strategies.
Flexible part-feeding system for machine loading and assembly. Part II. A cost-effective solution

Abstract The cost to feed parts to a robot for either machine loading or assembly has been recognized to be excessively expensive. To reduce the cost, the design of a fully integrated vision-guided part-feeding system has been developed and constructed. The integrated vision system, which is designed to combine maximum flexibility and reliability with minimum cost and cycle-time, is a flexible computer-controlled system which takes maximum advantage of retroreflective vision sensing for feeding parts onto machine tools or assembly processes. Since the retroreflective material has a distinct surface reflectance that is not commonly found in nature on man-made objects, it enables reliable digital images of high object-to-background contrast to be obtained without a prior knowledge of object geometry and surface reflectance. As will be depreciated. these attractive features enable the location and the orientation of the part to be determined with relatively simple, high-speed computation without the need for a detailed reflectance map of the parts to be handled. In this article, the design principle, the functional structure, and the operation procedure of the integrated part-feeding system are presented. The concept feasibility is demonstrated experimentally using a prototype integrated vision system.
The yeast PRP6 gene encodes a U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) protein, and the PRP9 gene encodes a protein required for U2 snRNP binding.

Abstract PRP6 and PRP9 are two yeast genes involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Incubation at 37 degrees C of strains that carry temperature-sensitive mutations at these loci inhibits splicing, and in vivo experiments suggested that they might be involved in commitment complex formation (P. Legrain and M. Rosbash, Cell 57:573-583, 1989). To examine the specific role that the PRP6 and PRP9 products may play in splicing or pre-mRNA transport to the cytoplasm, we have characterized in vitro splicing and spliceosome assembly in extracts derived from prp6 and prp9 mutant strains. We have also characterized RNAs that are specifically immunoprecipitated with the PRP6 and PRP9 proteins. Both approaches indicate that PRP6 encodes a U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) protein and that the PRP9 protein is required for a stable U2 snRNP-substrate interaction. The results are discussed with reference to the previously observed in vivo phenotypes of these mutants.
Local and landscape effects on the butterfly community in fragmented Midwest USA prairie habitats

The fragmented landscape of the Midwest USA includes prairie remnants embedded in an agricultural matrix, potentially impermeable to dispersing individuals. We examined butterfly responses to local (environmental variables measured within the prairie fragment itself such as vegetative characteristics) and landscape (environmental variables measured up to 2 km surrounding the fragment, but not the fragment itself) factors at 20 prairie remnants in Iowa. Our objectives were to: 1) document how the composition and configuration of the landscape affects butterfly community within the fragment, 2) determine whether explanatory power is gained by including both landscape and local variables rather than only local variables, and 3) analyze differences in butterfly community composition between linear and block shaped fragments. Results from partial least squares regression suggest there are significant effects of the landscape on butterfly community composition at all spatial extents investigated. The local variable that was most highly correlated with butterfly community response was percentage litter, while percentage of roads was the most important variable at all landscape spatial extents. Ordination diagrams clearly separate linear from block sites based on butterfly community composition. Variance partitioning using partial canonical correspondence analysis indicated that landscape variables at all spatial extents add additional explanatory power beyond local variables with little overlap in percentage of variation explained. Our results suggest that butterflies are making decisions based both on the local and landscape environmental factors, thus land surrounding prairie remnants should be included in management decisions.
Using Visualization to Detect Plagiarism in Computer Science Classes

This paper introduces a number of general methods for visualizing commonality in sets of text files. Each visualization simultaneously compares one file in the set to all other files in the set. These visualizations, which can be computed in O(n) time and space, are explained and then applied to the problem of detecting plagiarism in large computer science classes. A case study is presented and sample visualizations are provided. Finally, a new interactive tool that can be used to produce and manipulate these visualizations is presented.
Corticosterone induces rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase mRNA but not enzyme protein or activity.

Glucocorticoids induced ADH activity and mRNA 2- to 4-fold in rat hepatoma cells (H4IIE and H4IIEC3), but were reported not to alter ADH activity in rat liver. The failure of corticosteroids to induce ADH may have been due to the short-term treatment of the rats or the dose of steroid used. To reevaluate the effect of glucocorticoids in vivo, we studied animals 4.5 weeks after adrenalectomy so that ADH activity and mRNA should have reached a new steady-state level; the dose of glucocorticoid used was estimated to provide physiological replacement. Male Wistar rats were injected with a single daily dose (10 mg/kg/day) of corticosterone-21-acetate or vehicle subcutaneously for 10 days. Liver extracts were assayed for ADH activity, ADH protein, and ADH mRNA. Nuclei were isolated for nuclear run-on assays. Adrenalectomy did not reduce the activity of ADH in liver. Subsequent corticosterone treatment did not alter ADH enzyme activity, nor did it affect ADH protein levels as analyzed on Western blots. However, Northern blot analysis of ADH mRNA indicated a 2-fold increase in ADH mRNA in the treated animals when the data were normalized to the level of the 28S ribosomal RNA or CHO-B mRNA. The rate of transcription of the ADH gene in nuclei isolated at the end of 10 days of treatment from corticosterone-treated adrenalectomized rats was not statistically different from that in the oil-treated adrenalectomized ones. The disparity between ADH activity and protein levels and the mRNA level may have resulted from other effects of corticosterone, e.g., stimulation of protein degradation or effects on translation.
Long-term angiographic results of coronary endarterectomy

Abstract Background . To evaluate the long-term patency of endarterectomized coronary vessels, we studied patients having recatheterization after coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods . Forty-one clinical and angiographic variables were analyzed in 97 study patients who had coronary endarterectomy (CE) and in 154 control patients who did not have CE but who had repeat catheterization after coronary artery bypass grafting. Results . Ninety-seven patients had 132 CEs. The right coronary artery was the most commonly endarterectomized vessel (73 of the 132 endarterectomized vessels). At a mean of 7.1 years of follow-up, significantly fewer bypass grafts to endarterectomized vessels were patent compared with nonendarterectomized vessels (40% of endarterectomized vessels compared with 58% of nonendarterectomized vessels in study patients and 65% in control patients, p = 0.0003). The only predictor of long-term CE graft patency is age-adjusted body surface area ( p = 0.0068). Patency in grafts to nonendarterectomized vessels is diminished by hypertension ( p = 0.046) and current cigarette use ( p = 0.024) and improved by use of mammary artery grafting ( p Conclusions . These results show that long-term patency in bypass grafts to endarterectomized vessels is less common than in nonendarterectomized vessels and that this patency is related to larger body size. Patency in nonendarterectomized vessels is reduced by risks of arteriosclerosis. This suggests that CE should be used with caution in smaller patients and that aggressive control of risk factors for atherogenesis is particularly important in patients who have CE. On the basis of these results, we speculate that the extent of disease is advanced in patients who require CE.
A View to a Kill: Structure of the RNA Exosome

The exosome is a 3′ to 5′ exoribonuclease central to many cellular processes, including mRNA decay. Liu et al. (2006) now present the biochemical reconstitution and crystal structure of the eukaryotic exosome. This remarkable achievement provides key insights into the composition and assembly of the human and yeast exosomes, revealing functions of individual subunits.
Written exposure as an intervention for PTSD: A randomized clinical trial with motor vehicle accident survivors

The present study examined the efficacy of a brief, written exposure therapy (WET) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were 46 adults with a current primary diagnosis of motor vehicle accident-related PTSD. Participants were randomly assigned to either WET or a waitlist (WL) condition. Independent assessments took place at baseline and 6-, 18-, and 30-weeks post baseline (WL condition not assessed at 30 weeks). Participants assigned to WET showed significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity at 6- and 18-week post-baseline, relative to WL participants, with large between-group effect sizes. In addition, significantly fewer WET participants met diagnostic criteria for PTSD at both the 6- and 18-week post-baseline assessments, relative to WL participants. Treatment gains were maintained for the WET participants at the 30-week post baseline assessment. Notably, only 9% of participants dropped out of WET and the WET participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with the treatment. These findings suggest that a brief, written exposure treatment may efficaciously treat PTSD. Future research should examine whether WET is efficacious with other PTSD samples, as well as compare the efficacy of WET with that of evidence-based treatments for PTSD.
Window-consistent replication for real-time applications

Two widely-studied approaches for structuring fault-tolerant services are the state-machine and the primary-backup replication schemes. For a large class of soft and hard real-time applications, the degree of consistency among servers can be exploited to design replication protocols with predictable timing behavior. This is particularly useful in applications such as automated process control, in which one can trade off the quality or precision for timely availability of data. This paper presents the architecture and prototype implementation of a primary-backup replication service that employs window consistency semantics between the primary data repository and the backups. A client registers a data object with the service by declaring the consistency requirements for the data, in terms of a time window. The primary ensures that each backup site maintains a version of the object that was valid on the primary within the preceding time window by scheduling update messages to the backups. Decoupling the transmission of updates to the backups from the processing of client requests permits the primary to handle a higher rate of operations and provide more timely service to clients. The non-blocking semantics free the client from waiting for updates to the backups to complete. Furthermore, real-time scheduling of update messages can guarantee controlled inconsistency between the primary and backup repositories. >
Minimal, deadlock-free routing in hypercubic and arbitrary networks

In this paper we consider the problem of creating minimal, deadlock-free routing algorithms, where a routing algorithm is said to be minimal if it uses only shortest paths. In particular we examine the possibility of creating scalable algorithms that use only a constant number of buffers per node. Minimal, scalable, deadlock-free routing algorithms are known for many important networks including meshes, tori, trees and hypercubes. In addition, it is known that a scalable, deadlock -free routing algorithm exists for every network. However, it is unknown whether or not a minimal scalable, deadlock-free routing algorithm exists for every network; and no such algorithm is known for the de Bruijn or shuffle-exchange networks. We present three main results. First, we prove that there is no minimal, scalable, deadlock-free routing algorithm for the hypercube that uses only the standard Ascend (dimension-order) paths. Second, we prove that there exist networks for which no minimal, scalable, deadlock-free routing algorithm is possible. Third, we create minimal, scalable, deadlock- free routing algorithms for the de Bruijn and shuffle-exchange networks. The algorithm for the de Bruijn network appears to be of practical interest, as it uses only four buffers per node. Our results apply to oblivious and adaptive store-and-forward and virtual cut-through routing algorithms, and to oblivious wormhole routing algorithms.
Using a Modified Constant Prompt-Delay Procedure to Teach Spelling to Students with Physical Disabilities.

Current research suggests that constant delay is an effective means of teaching students through near-errorless learning. The current study examined how procedures used in previous research may be modified so that constant delay can be implemented with students who have physical disabilities that prevent them from engaging in fluent academic responding. A multiple baseline design with probes was used to assess the effectiveness of a modified constant-delay procedure in teaching spelling to students with physical disabilities. This procedure was found to be effective for all 3 students.
What We Know that Ain’t So

Human reasoning usually involves two different kinds of cognitive processes: looking backward to understand the past, and looking forward to predict the future. While the two modes of thinking are interdependent, they are conceptually different.21 For example, while one may be able to explain how the eclipse of the sun occurs, most of us would not be able to predict when the next eclipse will occur. On the other hand, drivers may accurately predict the rattling sound that occurs every time they depress their car's gas pedal, but may not be able to explain it.
Radiation dose incurred in the exclusion of vascular filling in transforaminal epidural steroid injections: fluoroscopy, digital subtraction angiography, and CT/fluoroscopy.

Objective This study seeks to measure the radiation dose incurred in the evaluation of vascular filling during transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) using conventional fluoroscopy (CF), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and multislice, pulsed computed tomography fluoroscopy (CT/F). Methods Three portable C-arms and a fixed multipurpose C-arm were evaluated. The radiation dose rate was measured using an anthropomorphic phantom during CF and DSA in anterior–posterior positions for cervical and lumbar TFESIs. Effective doses were calculated for 5-second exposures. The effective doses incurred in the cervical and lumbar spine during two CT/F exposures were calculated based on the reported volume CT dose index and dose length product. Results DSA imaging increased the effective dose incurred over CF with portable C-arms (medium dose rate) by 2.5–4.3 fold for cervical TFESI and 2.3–4.2 fold for lumbar TFESI. The incremental dose incurred with DSA ranged from 4.0 to 7.7 μSv in the cervical region and from 22–38 μSv in the lumbar spine. CT/F increased the incurred dose 19-fold in the cervical region and 8.0-fold in the lumbar region (incremental doses 49 μSv and 140 μSv, respectively) relative to CF. Conclusion The use of DSA imaging to exclude vascular uptake during TFESI increases radiation dose over CF. CT/F incurs additional dose beyond most DSA. Minimizing radiation dose by limiting DSA and CT/F use to spine segments or clinical situations involving higher risk may be desirable. However, the incremental radiation doses incurred by DSA or CT/F are of such low magnitude that health risks cannot currently be estimated.
Large-Head Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty Using the Durom Acetabular Component at Minimum 1-Year Interval

Large-head metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty represents novel technology, and outcome data are lacking. We prospectively compared the performance of a nonmodular metal-on-metal acetabular component (Durom; Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) with a modular titanium component (Trilogy, Zimmer). All Durom components placed at our institution with minimum 1-year follow up (n = 63) were compared with an age- and sex-matched Trilogy control group (n = 100). Failure defined as revision or persistent moderate/severe groin pain was significantly higher for the Durom (11.1%) compared with the Trilogy group (0%) (P = .002). Although all acetabular components in both groups appeared radiographically stable, no significant bone ingrowth was noted at the time of Durom revisions. We could not identify any patient/surgical-related factors predictive of failure. Further study is needed to determine the scientific basis for these observations.
Processing and Characterization of Dry-Etch Benzocyclobutene as Substrate and Packaging Material for Neural Sensors

Electrode substrate is one of the most important factors affecting the recording or stimulation efficiency and long-term stability of chronically implanted neural sensors for laboratory research. Various biocompatible polymers have been investigated as potential substrate and packaging material for neural sensors in neuroscience research applications. Dry-etch benzocyclobutene (BCB) is one candidate due to its desirable combination of electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties and its biocompatibility. In this paper, processing techniques were investigated to control the uniformity and pin-pole density of dry-etch BCB film. Dry-etch BCB film as thick as 25 mum with a surface roughness less than 1000 A and a pinhole density less than 1.5 x 10-3 mm-2 has been acquired using an optimized coating and curing recipe. A traditional surface micro-machining technique was used to form the metallization and etch masks during the fabrication of the neural electrode based on dry-etch BCB substrate. Special consideration was given to the study of dry-etch BCB thin film patterning using plasma reactive ion etching dry etching. The optimized plasma etch condition shows that greater than 1 mum etch rate and 65deg via angle are the most suitable for the packaging and patterning of the neural probes. The results show that this fabrication process is optimal for chronically implantable neural sensors based on dry-etch BCB thin film as substrate. The process may find applications in other devices using BCB as substrate.
On-Orbit Calibration of Photodiodes for Attitude Determination

A method is presented for the on-orbit calibration of photodiodes for sun sensing in an attitude determination system. The calibration estimates the scale factors and alignment angles of the photodiodes, resulting in a higher attitude determination accuracy than achieved with the preflight calibration parameters. The calibration is accomplished through the simultaneous estimation of the spacecraft attitude and calibration parameters. This approach, as opposed to an attitude-independent method, enables the calibration of an arbitrary number of photodiodes mounted in any orientation on the spacecraft and facilitates the use of an attitude-dependent Earth albedo model. The method is formulated within both an extended Kalman filter and an unscented filter. The filters are demonstrated by application to flight data from the Radio Aurora Explorer satellites and result in an average angular improvement of 10 deg in sun vector measurements with the photodiodes. Attitude determination accuracies of below 1 deg in ...
Relativistic kinetic theory of the large- amplitude transverse Alfven wave

Relativistic kinetic theory of large amplitude transverse Alfven wave, discussing propagation in collisionless plasma
The Virtual Short Physical Performance Battery

Background. P erformance-based and self-report instruments of physical function are frequently used and provide complementary information. Identifying older adults with a mismatch between actual and perceived function has utility in clinical settings and in the design of interventions. Using novel, video-animated technology, the objective of this study was to develop a self-report measure that parallels the domains of objective physical function assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)—the virtual SPPB (vSPPB). Methods. The SPPB, vSPPB, the self-repor t Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability, the Mobility Assessment Tool-short form, and a 400-m walk test were administered to 110 older adults (mean age = 80.6 ± 5.2 years). One-week test–retest reliability of the vSPPB was examined in 30 participants. Results. The total SPPB (mean [± SD] = 7.7 ± 2.8) and vSPPB (7 .7 ± 3.2) scores were vir tually identical, yet moderately correlated (r = .601, p < .05). The component scores of the SPPB and vSPPB were also moderately correlated (all p values <.01). The vSPPB (intraclass correlation = .963, p < .05) was reliable; however, individuals with the lowest function overestimated their overall lower extremity function while participants of all functional levels overestimated their ability on chair stands, but accurately perceived their usual gait speed. Conclusion. In spite of the similarity between the SPPB and vSPPB, the moderate strength of the association between the two suggests that they offer unique perspectives on an older adult’s physical function.
Wait Not, Want Not: Factors Contributing to the Development of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa:

Eating disorders have grown to epidemic proportions in our culture. The purpose of this literature review is to examine prevalence and incident rates of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In addition, this article will review the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of an eating disorder. Finally, different treatment approaches will be discussed in relation to their effectiveness in addressing anorexia or bulimia.
Observation of network structure in Amazon.com

Amazon.com is among the largest bookstores on the internet. It provides the sales rank of each book. Our hypothesis is as follows: if a book has low sales rank (i.e., it is well-sold), the related book also has a low sales rank. In the small world principle, if a network is connected, any two nodes are connected with relatively small number of links. If this hypothesis is true, any book can link to a bestseller book with small number of distance by linking some related books. In this paper, we design an algorithm to ascertain our hypothesis, and analyze the network structure of Amazon.com.
Mena–GRASP65 interaction couples actin polymerization to Golgi ribbon linking

In mammalian cells, the Golgi reassembly stacking protein 65 (GRASP65) has been implicated in both Golgi stacking and ribbon linking by forming trans-oligomers through the N-terminal GRASP domain. Because the GRASP domain is globular and relatively small, but the gaps between stacks are large and heterogeneous, it remains puzzling how GRASP65 physically links Golgi stacks into a ribbon. To explore the possibility that other proteins may help GRASP65 in ribbon linking, we used biochemical methods and identified the actin elongation factor Mena as a novel GRASP65-binding protein. Mena is recruited onto the Golgi membranes through interaction with GRASP65. Depleting Mena or disrupting actin polymerization resulted in Golgi fragmentation. In cells, Mena and actin were required for Golgi ribbon formation after nocodazole washout; in vitro, Mena and microfilaments enhanced GRASP65 oligomerization and Golgi membrane fusion. Thus Mena interacts with GRASP65 to promote local actin polymerization, which facilitates Golgi ribbon linking.
Informing the Public: Fiscal Returns of Biomedical Research

The total annual health bill for the United States is in the neighborhood of $160 billion; yet, the total funding for research and specialized health care delivery is only approximately 2% of that amount. This seems fiscally irresponsible. Any corporate manager running a $160 billion-a-year enterprise would, I suggest, devote at least 5% of his total budget to fundamental research. This figure (5% of health costs) would be a reasonable one for NIH research, since the benefits to be derived will touch many if not all present and future citizens.
Dose Response for SSRIs.

Previous research based on either individual studies or meta-analyses has been unable to demonstrate a clear doseresponse relationship for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), leading to the conclusion that there is a flat dose-response curve for SSRIs.Themajority of the individual studies comparing doses were not specifically designed to assess dose-response differences and included limited sample sizes. Previous meta-analyses often included doseescalation studies or were based on a smaller number of clinical trials, making it difficult to definitively evaluate the dose-response relationship. The article by Jakubovski et al. (1) in this issue of the Journal addresses this important question of whether higher doses of SSRIs can lead to better efficacy. The authors evaluated 40 randomized controlled trials that included a placebo and 49 active treatment arms. While the results are modest, they do show greater efficacy for higher doses of SSRIs in major depressive disorder. This slight benefit is coupled with a reduction in tolerability. This study overcomes a number of shortcomings from previouswork by incorporating three critical elements. First, it uses continuous outcomes to evaluate efficacy. Second, it includes studies not previously added in the meta-analyses. Third, it restricts the analysis to studies designed to evaluate multiple dose levels as opposed to flexible escalating dose trials. Using these methods, the authors demonstrate that there is a modest but clear dose-response effect for SSRIs. The study also provides an analysis of the dose-related sideeffect burden. However, results point to the likelihood of important individual differences that are masked by group effects in traditional efficacy trials. Resultsmay also argue for aneed to assess specificbiomarkers to carefully identify those who are likely to needhigher doses to achieve the best benefit with the least side-effect burden. Whether biomarkers associatedwith specific side effects (e.g.,CNSversusperipheral side effects) could help tailor treatment in clinical practice was not assessed. One clear limitation of the study is themodest effect of the higher dose of SSRIs. In the absence of a clearmetric that can be easily translated by clinicians to practice and the “small” incremental benefit of the higher dose in terms of efficacy, coupled with the added burden of side effects, generalizability of these results is limited. Themagnitude of this effect is further compromised by the slightly higher effect of adverse events. Furthermore, the dose-response relationship within the narrower 100 mg and 250 mg equivalent doses suggests a more robust dose-response curve. Finally, this meta-analysis combines a number of SSRIs despite the fact that there are pharmacological differences among the SSRIs, which may not have identical dose-response relationships and may be masking higher effects for certain specific SSRIs at specific doses.
Cyclic Fatigue-Crack Growth in Si3N4-Ceramics

The micromechanisms and characteristics of fatigue crack-growth in Si3N4 ceramic microstructures are reviewed. The potent toughening derived from weak grain/matrix interfaces and elongated β-Si3N4 grains is discussed in the context of enhanced crack wake bridging and microcracking phenomena. Under cyclic loads, the wear degradation of frictional grain bridges is modeled to provide quantitative predictions of fatigue crack-growth behavior. Next, the effect of crystallization of grain boundary phases employed to enhance high temperature mechanical strength and creep resistance in Si3N4 microstructures, is found to leave ambient temperature fracture and fatigue crack-growth properties intact. Finally, the effect of elevated temperatures (T < 1000°C) on the micromechanisms of fatigue and corresponding crack-growth rates are discussed and compared to experimentally measured behavior.
A social network analysis of supportive interactions on prenatal sites

ObjectiveThe purpose of this exploratory study was to validate and extend previous research on social support by identifying which dimensions of social support are most commonly exchanged on health...
EMG activity of selected rotator cuff musculature during grade III distraction and posterior glide glenohumeral mobilization: results of a pilot trial comparing painful and non-painful shoulders.

Objectives: The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate rotator cuff activity that may be present during grade III distraction and posterior glide mobilization of the glenohumeral (GH) joint, as well as to examine any differences in response between painful and non-painful shoulders utilizing these techniques.Methods: EMG data were collected using Delsys EMGworks® software and Trigno® mini-wireless electrodes for the supraspinatus, infraspinatus and upper trapezius musculature during grade III GH distraction and posterior glide mobilization. A total of 20 shoulders (10 painful, 10 non-painful) were recruited from a sample of convenience. Submaximal voluntary dynamic contraction against gravity was used as reference for each of the three selected muscles. Participants underwent two trials of each mobilization, and the mean results for each group were assessed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and effect size.Results: Both the painful and non-painful groups exhibited conside...
Reasons for using flavored liquids among electronic cigarette users: A concept mapping study.

Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) aerosolize liquids often containing flavorants for inhalation. Few studies have examined the role of flavors in ECIG use. This study’s purpose was to examine reasons for flavored ECIG use using a mixed-method approach, concept mapping (CM). Methods Forty-six past 30-day adult ECIG users recruited from vape forums/conferences completed three online CM tasks. Participants brainstormed responses to a prompt: “A specific reason I use flavored e-liquid in my electronic cigarette product is…”. The final 107 brainstormed statements were sorted by participants into groups of similar content. Participants rated each statement on a 7-point scale (1-Definitely NOT a reason to 7-Definitely a reason) based on a prompt: “This is a specific reason why I used flavored e-liquid in my electronic cigarette product in the past month.” A cluster map was generated from participants’ sorting and ratings using CM statistical software. Cluster mean ratings were compared. Results Analysis revealed five clusters of reasons for flavored ECIG use including Increased Satisfaction/Enjoyment, Better Feel/Taste than Cigarettes, Variety/Customization, Food Craving Suppression, and Social Impacts. Statements in the Increased Satisfaction/Enjoyment and Better Feel/Taste than Cigarettes clusters were rated significantly higher than statements from other clusters (ps Conclusions Flavored ECIGs are used for many reasons. Some statements suggested flavors may increase the rewarding and possible addictive effects of ECIGs. These results support continued examination of the role of flavors and ECIG use behaviors.
The effects of traditional news, partisan talk, and political satire programs on perceptions of presidential candidate viability and electability

ABSTRACTThis study examines how exposure to network news, partisan opinion talk, and political satire programs during the 2012 Iowa presidential caucuses affected viewers’ perceptions of candidate viability (likelihood of capturing the party nomination) and electability (likelihood of winning the general election). Programs representing these genres—ABC World News, Fox News’s Hannity, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart—all framed the same candidate as the front-runner for the nomination, though each framed this candidate’s general election prospects in distinctive ways. A randomized field experiment assigned respondents to view one (or none) of the three programs as they aired. Assessments of the front-runner were significantly shaped by assignment to view television coverage, hence demonstrating the potential importance of all three media genres for the presidential nomination process.