cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of intersession variation in negative pain-related affect and responses to thermally-evoked pain.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether session-specific measures of negative pain-related affect would account for longitudinal variability in the ratings of the evoked thermal pain. Pain-free subjects rated pain evoked on the posterior leg using thermal stimuli of 45°, 47°, 49°, and 51°C on 3 occasions, each separated by 2 weeks. Session-specific negative pain-related affect measures were also collected. Ratings of pain decreased significantly with repeated testing, demonstrating a systematic change in rating from the first to second sessions that ranged from a mean of 5.3 at 47°C to 9.1 at 49°C. In addition, large random variation occurred across all sessions, resulting in minimal detectable change ranging from 14 to 27. The least variability occurred when a mean rating of the 4 temperatures was used. Session-specific measures of pain-related affect decreased with repeated testing; however, the significant between-subject variability in both rating of pain and pain-related affect were not related to each other. No associations were identified between psychological measures and variability in rating of evoked pain. Future studies of the variability in ratings should consider other factors such as attentional focus. Perspective The individual variability in thermal rating was not explained by individual variation in session-specific measures of negative pain-related affect. The results of this study support the use of repeated baseline measures of thermal stimuli when feasible. When this is not possible, the variability in ratings of thermal stimuli over multiple sessions is reduced when the mean of multiple temperatures is used.
The not-so-silent X.

The X chromosome has been thought to be mostly silent after meiosis in males. A new study reports that this is not the case for a set of multicopy genes often arranged in giant palindromes and highly expressed in spermatids.
Development of useful power from nuclear fission

THE DEVELOPMENT of nuclear fission as an important source of useful energy is one of the great scientific and technological challenges of the world today. Here is a source of energy which is potentially capable of supplying the world's needs for hundreds of years; yet the problems of developing and proving the technical feasibility and economics are beset with peculiar difficulties, for the solution of which very little precedent exists. First and foremost is the problem of secrecy and security. The fuel for nuclear power plants is also the explosive material of atomic bombs, and the consequences of this fact have a far-reaching effect on every aspect of the task. The political problems of atomic energy are, of course, paramount, but this article will be confined to the scientific phases of the problem.
Multivariate visual explanation for high dimensional datasets

Understanding multivariate relationships is an important task in multivariate data analysis. Unfortunately, existing multivariate visualization systems lose effectiveness when analyzing relationships among variables that span more than a few dimensions. We present a novel multivariate visual explanation approach that helps users interactively discover multivariate relationships among a large number of dimensions by integrating automatic numerical differentiation techniques and multidimensional visualization techniques. The result is an efficient workflow for multivariate analysis model construction, interactive dimension reduction, and multivariate knowledge discovery leveraging both automatic multivariate analysis and interactive multivariate data visual exploration. Case studies and a formal user study with a real dataset illustrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Misconduct in the Analysis and Reporting of Data: Bridging Methodological and Ethical Agendas for Change

Fraudulent analysis and reporting of psychological data have the potential to contaminate the scientific knowledge base and eventuate in the unjustified expenditure of public money and scientific effort (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 1998). Traditionally, the field has relied on quantitative methodologists to educate researchers in proper analysis and reporting practices, and to examine these via peer review. The field has also relied on psychologists with training or board service in ethics to establish standards and implement strategies to discourage misconduct. However, this division of responsibility for examination, standard setting, and deterrence is shown to compromise the effectiveness of methodologists' and ethicists' respective gatekeeping efforts. Methodologically and ethically trained specialists instead need to coordinate efforts to safeguard analysis and reporting procedures. Researchers also need to increase self-monitoring. Potential obstacles to achieving these ends are considered, and three t...
Age and sexual behavior of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

The sexual behavior of the Arashiyama West troop, a natural semi-free-ranging troop of Japanese macaques, was studied during the 1973–1974 and 1974–1975 breeding seasons. The troop was transported intact from Japan to its current location in South Texas. There they have been free to move about in a 42.2-hectare electric fence enclosure. This report describes the relationships among age, aging, and sexual behavior. Males beginning at the age of 2.5 years were observed to series-mount estrous females in the double foot clasp mount position. Mounting in series in the double foot position is the normal pattern for Japanese macaque males. The ejaculation of semen with concomitant body movements indicative of orgasm begins at age 4.5 years at the earliest and continues until death. Males 4.5 and 5.5 years of age, sexually mature in the physiological sense, were not consistently sexually mature in the behavioral sense. The oldest male displayed traits that appear analogous to traits observed in aging human males. Females begin to experience estrus at 3.5 years of age. However, like pubescent males, pubescent females display behavioral patterns of sexual immaturity. The oldest female of the troop has remained sexually active. The attainment of sexual maturity by adulthood can be viewed as a learned process leading to efficiency and prowess, followed in old age by sexual involution.
Effect of the Range of Interactions on the Properties of Fluids. 2. Structure and Phase Behavior of Acetonitrile, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Formic Acid

To complete the study on the effect of the long-range part of Coulombic interactions on properties of complex polar and associating fluids, we have investigated in detail three compounds with extreme features: acetonitrile for its unusually large dipole moment, hydrogen fluoride with very strong hydrogen bonding, and formic acid for its potential formation of different n-mers in liquid and gaseous phases. The effect of the long-range Coulombic interactions on both the structure and thermodynamics of the homogeneous phase, and on the vapor-liquid equilibria has been examined using the same decomposition of realistic potential models into a short-range part and a residual part as in the previous paper [Kettler, M.; et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 7537-7546]. The present results fully confirm the previous findings that the properties of polar and associating systems are determined primarily by the short-range interactions regardless of their nature, i.e., contributions arising from the long-range interactions constitute only a small portion of the total properties, and thus that the short-range potential counterpart of full realistic models can be used as a convenient reference for a successful perturbation expansion.
Hearing differences among Hawaiian squirrelfish (family Holocentridae) related to differences in the peripheral auditory system

1. Auditory sensitivity as a function of frequency has been behaviorally determined for two species of fish from the teleost family Holocentridae which is characterized by marked variation in peripheral auditory structures. 2. Best sensitivity measured forMyripristis kuntee was -50 dB re: 1 dyne/cm2 for frequencies between 300 and 2,000 Hz, while best sensitivity measured forAdioryx xantherythrus was -28 dB at 500 Hz (Figs. 1 and 2). 3. Both species can detect sounds at 100 Hz while the high frequency end of the auditory range extends up to 3,000 Hz forM. kuntee and to 800 Hz forA. xantherythrus (Figs. 1 and 2). 4. It is hypothesized that these differences in auditory capabilities are related to differences in sound transmission characteristics of the peripheral auditory system.
Oxidative phosphorylation of heart tissue from vitamin E deficient rabbits.

Summary1. An assay system is described for the direct measurement of the ability of heart preparations to couple esterification of phosphate with oxygen uptake. With this system a high efficiency of phosphorylation is obtained with normal rabbit heart tissue. 2. Heart tissue preparations from rabbits made dystrophic by lack of vit. E showed no decrease in the ability to carry out oxidative phosphorylation.
Designing reduced-order linear multivariable controllers using experimentally derived plant data

An iterative numerical algorithm for simultaneously improving multiple performance and stability robustness criteria for multivariable feedback systems is developed. The unsatisfied design criteria are improved by updating the free parameters of an initial, stabilizing controller's state-space matrices. Analytical expressions for the gradients of the design criteria are employed to determine a parameter correction that improves all of the feasible, unsatisfied design criteria at each iteration. A controller design is performed using the algorithm with experimentally derived data from a large space structure test facility. Experimental results of the controller's performance at the facility are presented.
On the real central part of the proton optical model potential

Abstract The recent results of Perey and Perey on the analysis of 11 MeV proton differential elastic scattering and polarization data are shown to have a simple interpretation, not requiring an energy dependent geometry as suggested by these authors.
Transport and phosphorylation of glucose, fructose, and mannitol by Pseudomonas aeruginosa☆

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa, when grown on d -glucose, was shown to possess both a specific glucose transport system and a high level of glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2; adenosine 5′-triphosphate: d -glucose 6-phosphotransferase). Growth on d -fructose resulted in the induction of fructokinase (EC 2.7.1.4; adenosine 5′-triphosphate: d -fructose 6-phosphotransferase), and a transport system for fructose was formed. Growth on mannitol resulted in the induction of (1), mannitol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.67; mannitol:inicotinamide-adenine-dinucleoide oxidoreductase); (2), a high level of fructokinase; and (3), a transport system for mannitol. Mannitol-grown cells also exhibited a slower rate of fructose uptake and oxidation. Fructose uptake by mannitol-grown cells was not mediated by the mannitol transport system but, apparently, occurred by simple diffusion when coupled to phosphorylation and subsequent catabolism. Similarly, simple diffusion of fructose and mannitol into glucose-grown cells was also observed, but these substrates were not concentrated or further catabolized due to the absence of specifically inducible fructokinase and mannitol dehydrogenase. The phosphoenolpyruvate:hexose phosphotransferase system was not detected in cell-free extracts from this organism. Instead, the sugar phosphorylation reactions detected were dependent upon adenosine 5′-triphosphate and enzymes in the soluble fraction of crude extracts. Mannitol, methyl α-glucoside, methyl β-glucoside and N-acetylglucosamine were not phosphorylated in cell-free extracts from cells grown on glucose, fructose, or mannitol when either adenosine 5′-triphosphate or phosphoenolpyruvate was supplied as a phosphoryl donor. Methyl α-glucoside, methyl β-glucoside, and N-acetylglucosamine were not transported by resting cells that were grown on glucose or fructose. It could not be discerned from the experimental evidence whether carrier mediated transport of carbohydrates was due to active transport or to facilitated diffusion. These data support the conclusion, however, that carbohydrates are transported in an unaltered state by P. aeruginosa and are trapped intracellularly by phosphorylation via specific kinases.
A novel synthesis of PP-b-PMMA copolymers via metallocene catalysis and borane chemistry

Abstract This paper describes a novel route to prepare polypropylene diblock copolymers, such as PP-b-PMMA, which comprise a polypropylene and free radical polymerized polymer segment. The chemistry involves a transformation process from metallocene catalysis to borane chemistry. Firstly, polypropylene with chain end unsaturation was prepared by metallocene catalysts, such as Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO. Secondly, the olefinic chain end was hydroborated by 9-BBN to produce borane terminated PP. Thirdly, the borane group at the chain end was selectively oxidized and interconverted to polymeric radical which then initiated radical polymerization to produce diblock copolymers. Despite the heterogeneous reaction conditions, the overall yield and structure of diblock copolymers are quite satisfactory. In addition, the chain extension process, showing no significant broading in molecular weight distribution, implies a ‘stable’ radical polymerization.
Simmel's epistemic road to multidimensionality

Abstract Simmel's critique of historical realism constitutes the foundation of his sociological theories. Confronting the crisis of European thought at the turn of the century, Simmel extends the Kantian critique to the realm of history and society, and advocates a sociological relativism that rejects both historical materialism and historical idealism. Consequently, he arrives at a multidimensional theory of action and rationality through his epistemological critique of historical realism. This epistemological construction of multidimensionality differentiates Simmel from the functionalist attempt to base multidimensionality on the analysis of the problem of order. Advocating an epistemological definition of unity and reality, and rejecting the theory of historical empiricism, Simmel radically negates the possibility of structural-historical laws and construction of any universal history.
COMPARISON OF DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION AND BIOPSY RESULTS WITH THE RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMEN

AbstractPurpose: Digital rectal examination is integral to staging prostate cancer. Ultrasound guided biopsy establishes the diagnosis, and it may provide useful information regarding disease grade and extent. Treatment decisions are largely based on information gained from digital rectal examination and biopsy but this information is only useful if it correlates with the radical prostatectomy specimen and prognosis. We correlated digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy results with a detailed analysis of the radical prostatectomy specimen.Materials and Methods: The accuracy of an abnormal digital rectal examination for predicting the location and extent of cancer was assessed in 89 patients thought to have clinical stage T2 disease. We evaluated 155 patients with clinical stages T1c and T2 disease to correlate the were completely sectioned at 2 mm. intervals, and tumor extent and location were recorded.Results: In 85 patients a unilateral lesion was suspicious on digital recta...
FUSE OBSERVATIONS OF INTERSTELLAR AND INTERGALACTIC ABSORPTION TOWARD THE X-RAY-BRIGHT BL LACERTAE OBJECT MARKARIAN 421

High-quality Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) observations at 20 km s-1 resolution of interstellar and intergalactic absorption from 910 to 1187 A are presented for the X-ray-bright BL Lac object Mrk 421. These observations are supplemented with FUSE data for the distant halo stars BD +38°2182 and HD 93521 near the Mrk 421 line of sight, in order to obtain information about the distance to absorbing structures in the Milky Way toward Mrk 421. The FUSE ISM observations provide measures of absorption by O VI and many other species commonly found in warm neutral and warm ionized gas, including H I, C II, C III, O I, N I, N II, Fe II, and Fe III. In this study we consider the O VI absorption between -140 and 165 km s-1 and its relationship to the lower ionization absorption and strong absorption produced by O VII and O VIII at X-ray wavelengths. The O VI absorption extending from -140 to 60 km s-1 is associated with strong low-ionization gas absorption and originates in the Galactic thick disk/halo. This O VI appears to be produced by a combination of processes, including conductive interfaces between warm and hot gas and possibly cooling Galactic fountain gas and hot halo gas bubbles. The O VI absorption extending from 60 to 165 km s-1 has unusual ionization properties in that there is very little associated low-ionization absorption, with the exception of C III. This absorption is not observed toward the two halo stars, implying that it occurs in gas more distant than 3.5 kpc from the Galactic disk. Over the 60-165 km s-1 velocity range, O VI and C III absorption have the same kinematic behavior. The ratio N(O )/N(C ) = 10 ± 3 over the 60-120 km s-1 velocity range. Given the association of O VI with C III, it is unlikely that the high-velocity O VI coexists with the hotter gas responsible for the O VII and O VIII absorption. The O VI positive velocity absorption wing might be tracing cooler gas entrained in a hot Galactic fountain outflow. The O VII and O VIII absorption observed by Chandra and XMM-Newton may trace the hot gas in a highly extended (~100 kpc) Galactic corona or hot gas in the Local Group. The low resolution of the current X-ray observations (~750-900 km s-1) and the kinematical complexity of the O VI absorption along typical lines of sight through the Milky Way halo make it difficult to clearly associate the O VI absorption with that produced by O VII and O VIII. A search for metal lines associated with the Lyα absorber at z = 0.01, which is situated in a galactic void, was unsuccessful.
Impairment of retention for a conditioned response by ether anesthesia in mice.

In testing the hypothesis that ether anesthesia immediately following a single conditioning trial impairs the retention for the response thus conditioned, six groups of 20 mice were tested. Three groups were conditioned in a single trial and three groups served as controls. An experimental group and a matched control group were either: (1) anesthetized with diethyl ether immediately following the response (2) anesthetized one hour following the response or were (3) not anesthetized. The results showed that immediate ether anesthesia was effective in impairing the retention of the avoidance response. One hour postconditioning etherization had no apparent effect on retention, and ether anesthesia did not alter the responses of control subjects.
Modeling Variation Propagation of Multi-Station Assembly Systems With Compliant Parts

Products made of compliant sheet metals are widely used in automotive, aerospace, appliance and electronics industries. One of the most important challenges for the assembly process with compliant parts is dimensional quality, which affects product functionality and performance. This paper develops a methodology to evaluate the dimensional variation propagation in a multi-station compliant assembly system based on linear mechanics and a state space representation. Three sources of variation: part variation, fixture variation and welding gun variation are analyzed. The proposed method is illustrated through a case study on an automotive body assembly process.
Survival of Liver Transplant Recipients With Hemochromatosis in the United States

Background & Aims: Earlier studies have suggested that patients with hemochromatosis have poor post-transplantation survival. We aimed to compare patients with hemochromatosis to those with other causes of liver disease with regard to post-transplantation survival. Methods: We compared the post-transplant survival of patients with and without hemochromatosis using data provided by the United Network for Organ Sharing on 50,306 adult, cadaveric liver transplantations performed in the United States between January 1, 1990, and July 18, 2006. Results: During 1990–1996, the post-transplantation survival of patients with hemochromatosis (n = 177) at 1 year (79.1%), 3 years (71.8%), and 5 years (64.6%) was lower than the average 1-year (86.4%), 3-year (79.5%), and 5-year (73.8%) survival of all other transplant recipients (hazard ratio for death, 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.71). In contrast, during 1997–2006, patients with hemochromatosis (n = 217) had excellent 1-year (86.1%), 3-year (80.8%), and 5-year (77.3%) post-transplantation survival, which was not different from the 1-year (88.4%), 3-year (80.3%), and 5-year (74.0%) post-transplantation survival of all other transplant recipients (hazard ratio for death, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65–1.22). Adjustment for donor and recipient characteristics did not substantially change these results. Compared with recipients without hemochromatosis, those with hemochromatosis were more likely to die of cardiovascular diseases and less likely to die as a result of graft failure. Conclusions: The post-transplantation survival of patients with hemochromatosis, which was previously reported to be poor, has been excellent in the United States during the past 10 years.
Late Perforation by Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Leads: Clinical Presentation, Diagnostic Clues, and Management

Late intracardiac lead perforation is defined as migration and perforation of an implanted lead after 1 month of cardiac electronic device implantation. It is an under-recognized complication with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly if not recognized early. Two patients with late perforation caused by passive-fixation leads are reported and the clinical features of their presentation and management are reviewed. We conducted a thorough review of the available English language literature pertaining to this complication to draw relevant conclusions regarding presentation, diagnosis, and management. Early recognition of this complication is important as the indications for and numbers of patients who receive cardiac implantable electronic devices continue to expand.
Mechanical properties of mixtures of two compatible polymers

The properties of mixtures of poly(2, 6-dimethyl p-phenylene oxide) and poly(styrene) have been measured by DSC, density gradient, dynamic mechanical response, and tensile testing. The mixtures are found to have single glass trasitions that vary continuously with the composition. They also have small negative excess volumes of mixing, indicative of strong polymerpolymer interaction. The dynamic mechanical response of the mixtures shows that the low temperature secondary relaxations are suppressed whereas those at high temperatures are enhanced. These observations imply that mixing on the segmental levc l has occurred. A plot of tensile strength vs composition at different strain rates reveals two regions of failure behavior. The high PS, high strain rate region is brittle, and the high PM2PO, low strain rate region is ductile. When the tensile yield data are treated according to the Ree-Eyring equation, the addition of PS to PM2PO is found to reduce the flow volum, e of the mixture. The overall effect on mechanical properties of adding small amounts of one component to the other is similar to that of anti-plasticization. Our experimental observations are consistent with the shifting of the relaxation mechanisms to longer times due to the negative excess volume of mixing.
Infantile choriocarcinoma: A characteristicsyndrome

Choriocarcinoma arising in the placenta and metastasizing to the infant is unusual.Experience with such a case and review of similar cases reveal that this form of malignancy presents a relatively characteristic clinical picture. If the diagnosis is established, attention should also be given to the possibility of occult disease in the mother.
PHARMACOKINETICS OF INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN E IN PRETERM INFANTS

Pharmacokinetics of vitamin E (E, mg/dl) were evaluated in 28 preterm infants following intravenous infusion of doses of dl- tocopherol (Hoffmann-LaRoche) administered over a period of 8 hours. Blood samples were obtained from a central line immediately prior to, and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 hours after E infusion. Dosages were: Group I, (n=4), (BW=1218 ± 216, GA=29.5 ± 2.6) = 5 mg/kg; Group II, (n=6), (BW=1091 ± 165, GA=28.5 ± 1.2) = 10 mg/kg; Group III, (n=7), (BW=1078 ± 267, GA=27.5 ± 1.2) = 15 mg/kg; Group IV, (n=6), (BW= 941 ± 115, GA=27.5 ± 1.2) = 20 mg/kg; Group V, (n=5), (BW=1040 ± 193, GA=30.8 ± 3.7) = 30 mg/kg. Pharmokinetic parameters were obtained by independent analysis of E concentration-time profile. Mean ±SD values for serum harmonic E half life (T1/2, hrs), volume of distribution (VD, L/kg), and serum clearance (sc, ml/kg/hr) for the groups are: Infants in Group I and V had additional supplemental E (multivitamin in hyperalimentation) resulting in fluctuation of baseline values and alteration of apparent half life. These data should be useful for determination of dosage recommendations.
Optically Derived Signal Set For Phased Array Antennas

An optical system is described which provides a set of microwave signals to be applied to elements in a phased array employing solid state TR modules. The set is globally controlled by two sinusoids to permit beam formation in the 2D angle space of the antenna for both transmission and reception. Experimental results are shown. The basic conceptual design is described in terms of lightwave components which is extended to monopulse beam formation and wideband waveform beam steering which counteracts the intrinsic dispersion of arrays.
A man and a metaphor: Characterizing a nation

Fifty years ago a skinny young crooner named Frank Sinatra popularized the words of Lewis Allan and Earl Robinson's patriotic ballad. I can still hear him singing, "The house I live in. My neighbors, white and black. The people who just came here, or from generations back. The town hall and the soapbox. The torch of Liberty. A home for all God's child rentha t ' s America to me." The words evoked a special feeling of inclusion, especially for many of us who were the children and grandchildren of immigrants. The colorful star-spangled paean spoke to our idealized America. It is still the America of Lawrence H. Fuchs, a stubborn believer in the possibility of achieving "the more perfect union" in a society whose principles are rooted in the spirit of liberty, justice, and reform, and supported by a political structure that, he argues, has repeatedly if often grudgingly met the challenges brought by exploited and disenfranchised groups and sympathetic confederates. Their protests, legal and extralegal, have forced the country to honor its own vaunted ideals by recognizing increasing diversity, encouraging ever greater participation, enhancing achievement, and perhaps most important of all, providing ever-better mechanisms for righting historic wrongs.
New uniplanar subnanosecond monocycle pulse generator and transformer for time-domain microwave applications

This paper presents the development of a new monocycle pulse generator and pulse-to-monocycle-pulse transformer operating in the subnanosecond regime. These circuits employ Schottky diodes, step recovery diodes, and simple charging and discharging circuitry, and are completely fabricated using coplanar waveguides. Simple transient analysis and design of the circuits are presented along with their operating principles. The pulse-to-monocycle-pulse transformer converts a 1 V 300 ps pulse into a 0.7-V 350 ps monocycle pulse. The monocycle pulse generator produces a monocycle pulse having 333 ps pulsewidth and more than 2 V from an input square wave of 10 MHz repetition rate. The generated monocycle pulses have very symmetrical positive and negative portions and low ringing level.
Beneficiary activation in the Medicare population.

OBJECTIVE Patient activation questions from a major national Medicare survey are used to highlight characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with low activation. We demonstrate that Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data is an untapped resource for further research on patient activation within Medicare beneficiaries and programs. DATA SOURCE Data are from the 2012 MCBS Access to Care file and include 10,650 beneficiaries. METHODS Patient Activation levels were derived by taking the weighted average responses to the Patient Activation Supplement. Cut points for high, moderate, and low activation were assigned at +/- ½ standard deviation of the mean. Data were analyzed using SAS survey procedures. Within group comparisons were tested using chi-square tests with post hoc pairwise comparisons. Logistic regression identified predictors of low patient engagement. RESULTS In a multiple logistic regression, beneficiary characteristics associated with low activation included Hispanic origin, being widowed or never married, select age groups, male gender, fair or poor health, difficulty with an IADL or ADLs, and having no usual source of care, with failure to complete high school as the strongest predictor (OR=2.22, p<.001). Utilization and costs were also examined in descriptive analyses. DISCUSSION Overall, findings on the characteristics of low activation patients in the Medicare population resemble previous research. In a regression analysis, less education and no usual source of care are the strongest predictors of low activation levels in Medicare beneficiaries. The MCBS Patient Activation Supplement is a rich resource for examining patient activation in the Medicare population, and can be used for a wide range of analyses.
Unifying type checking and property checking for low-level code

We present a unified approach to type checking and property checking for low-level code. Type checking for low-level code is challenging because type safety often depends on complex, program-specific invariants that are difficult for traditional type checkers to express. Conversely, property checking for low-level code is challenging because it is difficult to write concise specifications that distinguish between locations in an untyped program's heap. We address both problems simultaneously by implementing a type checker for low-level code as part of our property checker.We present a low-level formalization of a C program's heap and its types that can be checked with an SMT solver, and we provide a decision procedure for checking type safety. Our type system is flexible enough to support a combination of nominal and structural subtyping for C, on a per-structure basis. We discuss several case studies that demonstrate the ability of this tool to express and check complex type invariants in low-level C code, including several small Windows device drivers.
Revealing the invisible: using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to identify minute remnants of color in Winslow Homer's colorless skies

The fading of pigments in items of importance to cultural heritage, such as paintings, works of art on paper, and textiles, is a ubiquitous problem. Tools currently available that can detect and identify organic colorants in severely degraded works of art are rare, given the heavy deterioration and restricted availability of the sample. Recently, however, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has shown great promise in detecting and identifying mass-limited samples. The art conservation field has seized upon the opportunity opened up by this powerful analytical technique to enable the identification of microscopic amounts of organic molecules used as artists' colorants in complex matrices, such as biomaterials (i.e. dyed natural textiles, linseed oil biofilms present in oil paintings, etc.), a possibility that was previously precluded due to interfering fluorescence and small sample size. Here, we report SERS spectra recorded directly on single particles of red lake pigments from an important historical watercolor by the American master Winslow Homer (1836–1910) that suffered some degree of fading. The accurate colorant identification provided by SERS, enhanced by comparison with reference samples of historical watercolors, has thus enabled important discoveries regarding the materials and intended meanings behind artworks from one of the most influential American watercolor painters. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction of epoxy and vinyl ethers during photoinitiated cationic polymerization

A kinetic study of the independent and simultaneous photoinitiated cationic polymerization of a number of epoxide and vinyl (enol) ether monomer pairs was conducted. The results show that, although no appreciable copolymerization takes place, these monomers undergo complex interactions with one another. These interactions are highly dependent on the epoxide monomer employed. In all cases, the rate of epoxide ring-opening polymerization is accelerated, whereas that of the vinyl ether is depressed. When highly reactive cycloaliphatic epoxides are subjected to photoinitiated cationic polymerization in the presence of vinyl ethers, the two polymerizations proceed in a sequential fashion, with the vinyl ether polymerization taking place after the epoxide polymerization is essentially complete. A mechanism involving an equilibration between alkoxy-carbenium and oxonium ions has been proposed to explain the results. In addition, the free-radical-induced decomposition of the diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator also takes place, leading to a decrease in the induction period. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4007–4018, 1999
Mycoplasma agassizii causes upper respiratory tract disease in the desert tortoise.

The desert tortoise is listed by the United States government as a threatened species in part of its range. A major contributing factor in the decline of this animal has been the presence of an upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) which is characterized by a chronic disease which eventually leads to severe occlusion of the nares with viscous exudate and destruction of the respiratory epithelium. Electron microscopy of infected tissues demonstrated the presence of a mycoplasma-like organism attached to the respiratory surfaces. The mycoplasma was isolated and designated as a new species, with the proposed name Mycoplasma agassizii. The current study was designed to fulfill Koch9s postulates and determine if M. agassizii was the etiologic agent of URTD. Clinically healthy animals with known antibody status were infused intranasally with pooled exudate (n = 8) from ill donor animals, with M. agassizii alone (n = 9) or in combination with Pasteurella testudinis (n = 8), with P. testudinis alone (n = 9), or with sterile broth (n = 12). The pooled exudate was culture positive for M. agassizii. Tortoises which received exudate or M. agassizii alone or in conjunction with P. testudinis were significantly more likely to develop clinical disease (P
Naturally Occurring Organofluorines

Although 3700 naturally occurring organohalogens are now known to exist, only relatively few contain fluorine. The presence of several fluoroalkanes in volcanic and other geothermal emissions is well documented, although exactly how these compounds are produced remains a mystery. Also unknown is the impact that these natural fluoroalkanes have on the global atmospheric budget compared to their anthropogenic counterparts, since the concentrations of the natural compounds vary widely depending on the source. The remarkable ability of a few plants to sequester and convert fluoride into the highly toxic fluoroacetate and other fluorocarboxylic acids is well recognized, and the mechanisms for their formation are becoming understood.
Stability Optimization Method Based on Virtual Resistor and Nonunity Voltage Feedback Loop for Cascaded DC–DC Converters

This paper proposes a stability optimization method based on virtual resistor and nonunity voltage feedback loop for cascaded dc–dc converters. Oscillating phenomenon or instability would occur occasionally with two or more closed-loop dc–dc converters in series. The virtual resistor and nonunity voltage feedback are used to modify the feedback loop instead of only a direct voltage feedback to improve stability and get rid of oscillating behavior. Based on the stability analysis of dc–dc converters with distributed parameters, several cases have been derived. After that, relative to different cases, two modified methods based on virtual resistor and nonunity voltage feedback loop are proposed to stabilize the overall system. With these methods, no extra power loss would be generated, and it is easy to embed them into any conventional control system. Experimental results verified the theoretical analysis and feasibility of the proposed control methods.
An experiment of surface recognition by neural trees

The recognition process of objects represented by range data is based on the description of their surfaces. The most popular method for doing that consists in decomposing the surface into regions holding the same differential properties. After successfully performing that task, a high level vision procedure for relating the various morphological segments has to be constructed. The decomposition of the surface is generally performed by calculating the functions K and H in any point and labeling the surface pixels according to the values of those functions. This paper describes the main lines of a surface recognition system based on computing structures called neural trees. Encodings of local samples of surfaces are used as input to a neural tree generator which is subsequently used to forecast global contours from local samples. Various noise levels are used in the training exercise. Experiments in varying the training order, the tree structure and the surface sampling method are performed in order to determine the resilience of such structures as global recognizers. Tree fan-out is studied in some detail. Binary and multi-class tree organizations are studied as well as a hybrid tree structure which combines sub-nets which perform n-way classification followed by binary sub-nets which deal with classified and misclassified patterns.
Speckle-Shearing Interferometric Technique: a Full-Field Strain Gauge

An improved speckle-shearing interferometric method is presented that allows simultaneous determination of derivatives of surface displacements of a structure with respect to four different directions. The technique relaxes several limitations associated with conventional interferometry and thus is adaptable to nonlaboratory environments. The relevant theory is presented, and the method demonstrated by determining spatial derivatives of in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of statically loaded and vibrated structures.
Cough and Swallowing Dysfunction

The symptom of cough may result from a multitude of etiologies involving different parts of the aerodigestive tract. This article focuses on the association of cough and swallowing dysfunction in the sense that cough may be an indicator of swallow dysfunction and in the importance of cough in preventing aspiration and aspiration-related disorders. Whereas these associations have been known for a long time, research is starting to connect the dots, allowing targeting of strategies aimed at diagnosing and preventing illness in certain dysphagic patients.
A conceptual framework for simulation experiment design and analysis

The paper summarises a conceptual framework for computer-assisted Simulation Experiment Design and Analysis (SEDA). We argue that this SEDA framework is a good one based on its properties. A prototype SEDA CS, which is not described in the paper, is under development for demonstrating the feasibility and appropriateness of this framework.
Oclusão do Apêndice Atrial Esquerdo: Alternativa ao Tratamento a Longo Prazo com Varfarina em Pacientes com Fibrilação Atrial

fibrilacao atrial (FA) e um importante fator derisco para acidente vascular cerebral. O trata-mento padrao atual e a anticoagulacao a longoprazo para diminuir esse risco. Ha forte evidencia deque a maioria dos acidentes vasculares tromboemboli-cos associados a FA tem origem no apendice atrialesquerdo (AAE). Isso constituiu a base para a hipotesede que o fechamento do AAE pode ser nao-inferior aanticoagulacao, o que foi demonstrado no conhecidoestudo PROTECT AF, usando o Sistema WATCHMAN
Effects of Maternal Distraction Versus Reassurance on Children's Reactions to Injections

Manipulated experimentally mothers' verbal behavior during a routine intramuscular injection in order to help clarify the role of nonprocedural talk (distraction) and parental reassurance on children's reaction to the injection. 42 child-mother dyads were recruited from a general pediatric primary care clinic and were randomly assigned to a parental reassurance, parental nonprocedural talk (distraction) or minimal-treatment control group. Children in the maternal distraction condition exhibited significantly less distress during the immunization injection than those in the reassurance and control conditions. Specifically, children in the maternal distraction group exhibited less crying than children in the other two groups. Children in the reassurance and control groups did not differ from each other in terms of behavioral distress. The present findings serve further to bolster the evidence for the efficacy of maternal distraction as a way to ameliorate child distress during invasive medical procedures.
Evolutionary search strategies for efficient sample-based representations of multiple-basin protein energy landscapes

Protein function is the result of a complex yet precise relationship between protein structure and dynamics. The ability of a protein to assume different structural states is key to biomolecular recognition and function modulation. Protein modeling research is driven by the need to complement experimental techniques in obtaining a comprehensive and detailed characterization of protein equilibrium dynamics. This is a non-trivial task, as it requires mapping the structure space (and underlying energy landscape) available to a protein under physiological conditions. Existing algorithms invariably adopt a stochastic optimization approach to explore the non-linear and multimodal protein energy landscapes. At the present, such algorithms suffer from limited sampling, particularly in high-dimensional and non-linear variable spaces rich in local minima. In this paper, we equip a recently published evolutionary algorithm with novel evolutionary search strategies to enhance the sampling capability for mapping multi-basin protein energy landscapes. We investigate initialization strategies to delay premature convergence and techniques to maintain and update on-the-fly a sample-based representation that serves as a map of the energy landscape. Applications on three proteins central to human disease show that the novel strategies are effective at locating basins in complex energy landscapes with a practical computational budget.
156 Survey of Patient Knowledge and Expectations About Freestanding Emergency Departments

Objectives. A free-standing emergency department (FSED) is defined as a facility that is structurally separate and distinct from a hospital and provides emergency care. Nationally, the number of FSEDs continues to grow, but the general public may have limited knowledge about the costs and services associated with FSEDs. The purpose of this paper is to survey patient knowledge and expectations about FSEDs. Methods. A convenience sample of patients presenting to a FSED was given a 19-item survey to complete. Results. 187 surveys were collected; 126 were included for analysis. 40% of respondents thought they could be seen by a specialist at the FSED, and 55% of patients did not know they had to be transferred for hospitalization if required. Most patients did not know that the cost of services at the FSED would be the same as that at the traditional ED. Convenience and perceived shorter wait times were the primary reasons patients selected the FSED for care. Conclusion. In general, patients do not have adequate knowledge about the costs and services associated with FSEDs. Education through marketing and advertising may be helpful in creating more public awareness about FSEDs.
Values, Attitudes, and Behavior

Defining and measuring attitudes involves a bandwidth-fidelity tradeoff (Cronbach and Gleser, 1957). On one extreme are broad attitudes toward physical objects (Y osemite National Park, Tower of London), racial, ethnic, or other groups (Blacks, Muslims, gays), institutions (European Union, Catholic Church), social issues (abortion on demand, violence on TV), belief systems (Communism, religion), and other broadly defined targets. Latent disposition of this kind can be broadened further by assessing general values that may underlie attitudes toward general targets, such as freedom, equality, achievement, power, hedonism, conformity, and so forth. Broad bandwidth attitudes and values can predict a wide range of behaviors but they do so with relatively low fidelity, that is, low accuracy.
How unipolarity impacts Canada's engagement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

This article argues that the advent of a unipolar world following the end of the Cold War changed Canada's relation to and participation in NATO. It demonstrates how Canada's engagement in NATO combat operations since 1992 has been motivated primarily by a need to please the United States. It explores Canada's role through NATO in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and Libya. The desire to be a strong ally to the United States is the major driver of Canada's shift from the role of peace keeper to peace supporter. It explores the reasons why Canada did not join the US-led coalition to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003, a decision that is an anomaly in post-Cold War Canadian foreign policy.
Report on the Workshop on Accelerator R&D for Ultimate Storage Rings

This report summaries the workshop on accelerator R&D for ultimate storage ring, held in Huairou, Beijing, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2012.
Digital Dispute Resolution: Internet Domain Names and WIPO's Role

For several years now, WIPO has played a leading role on issues involving Internet domain names and their relationship to intellectual property rights. One area, in particular, has received a great deal of attention during the last year: the establishment of a new international dispute-resolution procedure available for trademark holders to resolve their domain name disputes. The article elaborates the background of WIPO's dispute-resolution services under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), poses this dispute-resolution system as a model for the future, and outlines several issues concerning domain names where there is more work to be done.
Heat stress causes oxidative stress but not inflammatory signaling in porcine skeletal muscle

Heat stress is associated with death and other maladaptions including muscle dysfunction and impaired growth across species. Despite this common observation, the molecular effects leading to these pathologic changes remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which heat stress disrupted redox balance and initiated an inflammatory response in oxidative and glycolytic skeletal muscle. Female pigs (5–6/group) were subjected to thermoneutral (20 °C) or heat stress (35 °C) conditions for 1 or 3 days and the semitendinosus removed and dissected into red (STR) and white (STW) portions. After 1 day of heat stress, relative abundance of proteins modified by malondialdehyde, a measure of oxidative damage, was increased 2.5-fold (P < 0.05) compared with thermoneutral in the STR but not the STW, before returning to thermoneutral conditions following 3 days of heat stress. This corresponded with increased catalase and superoxide dismutase-1 gene expression (P < 0.05) and superoxide dismuta...