cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching undergraduates to analyze systems in multiple domains using modeling and simulation exercises: tutorial presentation

There is increasing need to expose undergraduate computer science students to multiple application domains and to improve their skills in system analysis and design. Our experience in developing a computer simulation course has shown that simulation exercises are an ideal way to accomplish these objectives. Our simulation course is designed for breadth in application domains, modeling techniques and use of toolkits. Students must change context rapidly, learn multiple modeling languages and gain proficiency in multiple tools. To accomplish this, the course has evolved from a lecture and homework format to a directed collaborative exercise format and the focus has shifted from implementation towards modeling. The new format allows students to learn more rapidly by sharing knowledge and has opened the course to a wider audience. The tutorial will use exercises from the course to illustrate what we expect students to learn and how they work collaboratively towards that objective.
Impact of Baseline Characteristics on Future Episodes of Bloodstream Infections: Multistate Model in Septic Patients With Bloodstream Infections.

Background Studies have described risk factors for infections caused by resistant bacteria looking only at the index infection. We hypothesized that septic patients with bloodstream infections may transition across states characterized by different microbiology and that their trajectory is not uniform. We have also hypothesized that baseline risk factors may influence subsequent blood culture results. Methods All adult septic patients with positive blood cultures over a period of 7 years were included in the study. Baseline risk factors were recorded. We followed all survivors longitudinally and recorded subsequent blood culture results. We separated states into bacteremia caused by Gram-positive cocci (GPC), susceptible Gram-negative bacteria (sGNB), resistant GNB (rGNB) and Candida spp. Detrimental transitions were considered when transitioning to a culture with a higher mortality risk (rGNB and Candida spp). A multistate Markov-like model was used to determine risk factors associated with detrimental transitions. Results 990 patients survived and experienced at least one transition with a total of 4282 transitions. Inappropriate antibiotics, previous antibiotic exposure, index bloodstream infection caused by either rGNB or Candida spp were associated with detrimental transitions. Double antibiotic therapy (beta-lactam plus either an aminoglycoside or a fluoroquinolone) protected against detrimental transitions. Conclusion Baseline characteristics including prescribed antibiotics can identify patients at risk for subsequent bloodstream infections caused by resistant bacteria. By altering the initial treatment we could potentially influence future bacteremic states.
PREDICTIVE VALUE OF HEMOGLOBIN A1C FOR SYSTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND DIABETES MELLITUS: 2D STRAIN STUDY

Mechanisms and determinants of myocardial dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy are poorly understood. Diabetic cardiomyopathy can present in continuum of ejection fraction. We hypothesized that diabetes mellitus is associated with reduced systolic function and myocardial fibrosis even in patients
Applications of weakly-coupled few-mode fibers [Invited]

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) has attracted significant attention in recent years because larger transmission capacity is enabled by more degrees of freedom (DOFs) in few-mode fibers (FMFs) compared with single-mode fibers (SMFs). To transmit independent information on spatial modes without or with minor digital signal processing (DSP), weakly-coupled FMFs are preferred in various applications. Several cases with different use of spatial DOFs in weakly-coupled FMFs are demonstrated in this work, including single-mode or mode-group-multiplexed transmission, and spatial DOFs combined with time or frequency DOF to improve the system performance.
12 – Developing Software

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of software which is not so much the emergence of a product as it is a process. Good software development comes through individuals working themselves into positions in which they can produce the software. Software reflects the personality and intelligence of the developer. The computer is a medium through which clinicians can practice their profession more efficiently. It is also a means by which clinicians can provide others with a model program that can be replicated in any setting with a computer. Software developers in communication disorders did not evolve according to a master plan conceived in advance. The most important skill in developing clinically useful software is clinical proficiency. Developers must be intimately familiar with the clinical process that they are trying to program, and must be particularly understanding of the population for which they develop software. Clinicians developing software must also have other skills. They must have the ability to stand back from the clinical process, analyse it, and understand how it operates. They must be able to formulate algorithms that solve clinical problems. In this regard, they must be able to translate clinical insight into a definable process which can be broken down into steps. A good software package is not only good for the developer; it is good for the people in the field.
CTLA-4 Blockade, during HIV Virus-Like Particles Immunization, Alters HIV-Specific B-Cell Responses

Studies have shown that blockade of CTLA-4 promoted the expansion of germinal center B-cells in viral infection or immunization with model antigens. Few studies have evaluated the immunological consequences of CTLA-4 blockade during immunization against relevant vaccine candidates. Here, we investigated the effects of CTLA-4 blockade on HIV virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccination in a C57BL/6J mouse model. We found that CTLA-4 blockade during HIV VLP immunization resulted in increased CD4+ T-cell activation, promoted the expansion of HIV envelope (Env)-specific follicular helper T cell (Tfh) cells, and significantly increased HIV Gag- and Env-specific IgG with higher avidity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) capabilities. Furthermore, after only a single immunization, CTLA-4 blockade accelerated T-cell dependent IgG class switching and the induction of significantly high serum levels of the B-cell survival factor, A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). Although no significant increase in neutralizing antibodies was observed, increased levels of class-switched Env- and Gag-specific IgG are indicative of increased polyclonal B-cell activation, which demonstrated the ability to mediate and enhance ADCC in this study. Altogether, our findings show that CTLA-4 blockade can increase the levels of HIV antigen-specific B-cell and antigen-specific Tfh cell activity and impact humoral immune responses when combined with a clinically relevant HIV VLP-based vaccine.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Satirical News Detection via Language Model Differentiation.

Satirical news is regularly shared in modern social media because it is entertaining with smartly embedded humor. However, it can be harmful to society because it can sometimes be mistaken as factual news, due to its deceptive character. We found that in satirical news, the lexical and pragmatical attributes of the context are the key factors in amusing the readers. In this work, we propose a method that differentiates the satirical news and true news. It takes advantage of satirical writing evidence by leveraging the difference between the prediction loss of two language models, one trained on true news and the other on satirical news, when given a new news article. We compute several statistical metrics of language model prediction loss as features, which are then used to conduct downstream classification. The proposed method is computationally effective because the language models capture the language usage differences between satirical news documents and traditional news documents, and are sensitive when applied to documents outside their domains.
Comparison of mortality and medical complications between older and younger malignant melanoma inpatients.

Previous studies have identified older age as a negative prognostic factor in malignant melanoma patients. To compare comorbidities, medical complications, and inpatient mortality between younger and older malignant melanoma inpatients. All adult patient encounters with a diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma were identified using the 2003 to 2012 National Inpatient Sample database. Concurrent comorbidities and inpatient medical complications were queried. Comparisons were made between older and younger adults, defined as ≥65 years and 18 to 64 years, respectively. In total, 8153 patient encounters were identified in the database (51.6% older and 48.4% younger). Older adults had a higher prevalence of numerous comorbidities, including chronic pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, peripheral vascular disease, and pulmonary circulation disorder (P < .001). In contrast, younger adults were more likely to have obesity (P < .001) and coagulopathy (P = .005). On multivariable analysis of medical complications, older adult inpatients were more likely to experience urinary tract infection (OR = 1.54, P = .021), but less likely to experience acute respiratory failure (OR = 0.46, P = .012) and venous thromboembolism (OR = 0.44, P = .026). Notably, inpatient mortality did not significantly differ. Older adult inpatients with malignant melanoma have different comorbidities than younger patients and have a larger overall comorbidity burden. Surprisingly, however, the odds of most inpatient medical complications and mortality were found to be similar in younger vs older patients.
Treating MS after surviving PML: Discrete strategies for rescue, remission, and recovery patient 1: From the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Case Conference Proceedings.

A 38-year-old woman with MS receiving natalizumab presented to the neurology clinic with the complaint of a new neurologic symptom. ### Clinical course The patient had a 6-year history of clinically stable MS, albeit exhibiting radiographic progression despite strict adherence to daily
Travel, Treatment Choice, and Survival Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Analysis

Background: Travel distance to care facilities may shape urban–rural cancer survival disparities by creating barriers to specific treatments. Guideline-supported treatment options for women with ea...
Temporal Occurrence of Plusiinae on Soybean in the Mississippi River Delta.

The subfamily Plusiinae of the moth family Noctuidae is made up 400 species worldwide. Two species of the subfamily, the soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are important defoliating insect pests of various field crops and have been the subject of previous Plusiinae surveys in the Southern U.S. Soybean fields were sampled in the Mississippi Delta from 2010 to 2012 to determine the temporal occurrence of various Plusiinae species on soybean. As in previous surveys, C. includens was the most common Plusiinae species in soybean during the 3-yr survey, especially in late season collections (July-September). Rachiplusia ou (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the predominant species observed in early season collections (May-early July). Populations of R. ou during the first sample dates during 2010 were much higher than those observed during the other years of the survey. Only three collected larvae successfully developed into T. ni adults, one each collected during May, June, and July. Although R. ou was not commonly reported in previous studies on soybean, it occurred in low numbers during June and July during the 3-yr study. The temporal occurrence and species composition followed a predictable pattern in all 3 yr of the study.
Protecting the Supreme Court: Why Safeguarding the Judiciary’s Independence is Crucial to Maintaining its Legitimacy

The stability of the Supreme Court’s size and procedures is a critical source of legitimacy, but reforms might protect the Court’s independence from politics. Perceptions among members of the public that justices are political actors harms the rule of law. This report by Fordham Law School's Democracy Clinic discusses reforms to ensure that each president receives the same number of appointments to the Supreme Court. The report also considers how to guarantee each nominee a Senate hearing and reforms to the retirement stage of justices’ tenures.
Zero Exclusion Sectors for Some Polynomials with Structured Coefficients

A polynomial with nonnegative coefficients does not have zeros in a sector around the positive real axis. It is shown that other polynomials with different sign restrictions on their coefficients s...
An Adaptive Machine Learning Method Based on Finite Element Analysis for Ultra Low-k Chip Package Design

Machine learning (ML) is widely used for building data-driven models that are highly useful for optimization. In this study, a finite element model-based adaptive ML method is presented for chip package reliability prediction and design optimization. This ML method employs a validated multi-scale finite element model for training data generation. An adaptive sampling scheme is developed to optimize the training process with a steepest descent algorithm. The developed method was used to optimize ultra low-k chip package design. The effects of ten key design parameters on chip packaging reliability were considered. Multiple ML algorithms were evaluated for model development. It is shown that the adaptive sampling method performs much better than existing sequential sampling methods and that the finite element-based ML model can be used to achieve improved prediction accuracy for chip package design optimization.
Cardiogenic shock

In the setting of acute myocardial infarction, the timely recognition and treatment of cardiogenic shock are essential in reducing the incidence of death. Patients with cardiogenic shock should be treated aggressively with a combination of pharmacologic agents and mechanical support devices to achieve stabilization. Once stabilization has been achieved, the ultimate goal should be the restoration of flow in the infarct-related artery. This is best achieved with angioplasty or bypass surgery. In those centers not equipped for these procedures, thrombolysis should be performed, and the patient should then be transferred to a higher-level facility.
MicroRNA-206 promotes the recruitment of CD8 + T cells by driving M1 polarisation of Kupffer cells.

Objective Kupffer cells (KCs) protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by communicating with other immune cells. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of this process is incompletely understood. Design FVB/NJ mice were hydrodynamically injected with AKT/Ras and Sleeping Beauty transposon to induce HCC. Mini-circle and Sleeping Beauty were used to overexpress microRNA-206 in KCs of mice. Flow cytometry and immunostaining were used to evaluate the change in the immune system. Results Hydrodynamic injection of AKT/Ras into mice drove M2 polarisation of KCs and depletion of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and promoted HCC development. M1-to-M2 transition of KCs impaired microRNA-206 biogenesis. By targeting Klf4 (kruppel like factor 4) and, thereby, enhancing the production of M1 markers including C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), microRNA-206 promoted M1 polarisation of macrophages. Indeed, microRNA-206-mediated increase of CCL2 facilitated hepatic recruitment of CTLs via CCR2. Disrupting each component of the KLF4/CCL2/CCR2 axis impaired the ability of microRNA-206 to drive M1 polarisation of macrophages and recruit CTLs. In AKT/Ras mice, KC-specific expression of microRNA-206 drove M1 polarisation of KCs and hepatic recruitment of CTLs and fully prevented HCC, while 100% of control mice died from HCC. Disrupting the interaction between microRNA-206 and Klf4 in KCs and depletion of CD8+ T cells impaired the ability of miR-206 to prevent HCC. Conclusions M2 polarisation of KCs is a major contributor of HCC in AKT/Ras mice. MicroRNA-206, by driving M1 polarisation of KCs, promoted the recruitment of CD8+ T cells and prevented HCC, suggesting its potential use as an immunotherapeutic approach.
The economic impact of new regional trading developments in the ESCAP region

In this paper the results of a number of numerical simulations of possible trade liberalization scenarios in the ESCAP region are presented. The scenarios considered include: expansion of existing trade blocs to encompass new members; consolidation and deepening of existing trade agreements; and a region-wide free trade area. The simulations were conducted using the model of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) and were based on a projection of the database to 2010.
Morpheme Boundaries within Words: Report on a Computer Test

For the science of linguistics we seek objective and formally describable operations with which to analyze language. The phonemes of a language can be determined by means of an explicit behavioral test (the pair test, involving two speakers of the language) and distributional simplifications, i. e. the defining of symbols which express the way in which the outcomes of that test occur in respect to each other in sentences of the language. The syntax, and most of the morphology, of a language is discovered by seeing how the morphemes occur in respect to each other in sentences. As a bridge between these two sets of methods we need a test for determining what are the morphemes of a language, or at least a test that would tentatively segment a phonemic sequence (as a sentence) into morphemes, leaving it for a distributional criterion to decide which of these tentative segments are to be accepted as morphemes.
Laser ultrasound system with embedded fiber optic interferometric sensor

A localized fiber optic interferometric sensor was embedded in an epoxy plate for the purpose of detecting ultrasound. The sensor embedded was a low finesse Fabry-Perot, which was actively stabilized by tuning the laser frequency. The embedded sensor was used to detect ultrasound generated by a range of techniques which included: i) a 5 MHz piezoelectric transducer, ii) surface laser generated ultrasound, iii) laser generated ultrasound using an embedded fiber generator, and iv) a simulated acoustic emission event (lead pencil break). The frequency content of these signals ranged from the hundreds of kilohertz to beyond 5 MHz. The embedded FOFP was able to detect all of the signals generated, indicating its utility as a broadband ultrasound detector.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Statistical Methods for Semiconductor Manufacturing

The sections in this article are 1 Statistical Distributions 2 Hypothesis Testing 3 Experimental Design and Anova 4 Response Surface Methods 5 Categorical Modeling 6 Summary
Demographic, psychosocial, and objective risk factors related to perceived risk of skin cancer.

Background and Methods. The present study examined the ways in which demographic, psychosocial, and objective risk factors were related to perceived risk of skin cancer among 384 hospital employees...
The Oracular Constraints Method

Constraint satisfaction and combinatorial optimization form the crux of many AI problems. In constraint satisfaction, feasibility-reasoning mechanisms are used to prune the search space, while optimality-reasoning is used for combinatorial optimization. Many AI tasks related to diagnosis, trajectory tracking and planning can be formulated as hybrid problems containing both satisfaction and optimization components, and can greatly benefit from a proper blend of these independently powerful techniques.We introduce the notion of model counting to bridge the gap between feasibilityand optimality-reasoning. The optimization part of a problem then becomes a search for the right set of constraints that must be satisfied in any good solution. These constraints, which we call the oracular constraints, replace the optimization component of a problem to revive the power of constraint reasoning systems.
Interactions of Substrates, Inhibitors, and Coenzymes at the Active Site of Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Abstract 2,2-Bipyridine chelates 2 zinc ions of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase with a dissociation constant of 4.0 x 10-4 m. The complex shows an absorption maximum at 308 mµ with a difference extinction coefficient of 1.1 x 104 m-1 cm-1 per zinc ion. Because bipyridine binds the enzyme less tightly than o-phenanthroline, and because the principal absorption maximum of the difference spectrum appears at longer wave lengths, this reagent is preferred as a tool in the determination of the binding constants of inhibitors, substrates, and coenzymes. The dissociation constants for binary complexes of enzyme with alcohols, aldehydes, mercaptans, carboxylic acids, and amides, as well as with imidazole and pyrazole, have been determined by measuring the diminution that they cause in the intensity of the enzyme-bipyridine spectrum. The competitive inhibitors ADP-ribose, AMP, ADP, and 4-biphenylcarboxylic acid do not interfere with the enzyme-bipyridine spectrum, whereas the coenzymes NAD+ and NADH diminish this spectrum. These results confirm the conclusion, previously advanced by Yonetani, that the nicotinamide moiety of the coenzyme lies near the zinc ion of the active site, and that this zinc ion is part of the substrate-binding site. Ternary complexes of enzyme, coenzyme, and inhibitor have been detected from the changes in enzyme-bipyridine spectrum; these complexes therefore require the enzymic zinc ion at the active site, or form near it, or both.
The Impact of Obesity on Postoperative Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Pulmonary Valve Replacement.

Objective The impact of obesity on surgical morbidity in adults with congenital heart disease is currently unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease undergoing reoperation for pulmonary valve replacement. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed assessing the influence of obesity on surgical outcomes. Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Results The mean body mass index of the cohort was 25.9 ± 6.9 kg/m2. The cohort included 71 patients with 17 patients (24%) being obese. There was no postoperative mortality. Obese patients had a longer hospital length of stay (6.6 vs. 4.7 days; P 5 days (odds ratio [OR] = 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5–18.2, P = .01) and with increased postoperative arrhythmias (OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.7–40, P < .01). Conclusions Obesity is associated with increased morbidity in adults with congenital heart disease undergoing pulmonary valve replacement, including longer hospitalization and higher risk for postoperative arrhythmias.
Karen E. Ferree, Framing the Race in South Africa: The Political Origins of Racial-Census Elections

From the first sentence of Framing the Race in South Africa, author Karen E. Ferree hooks the reader by laying out the popular storyline that “post-apartheid South African elections bear an unmistakable racial imprint: Africans vote for one set of parties, while whites support a different set of parties . . .” The brilliance of her argument, however, is in how quickly she challenges this notion and asks, “What role can persuasion play if voters simply register their social identity when they enter the polling booth?” Proceeding from this question she shows how persuasion functions, framing her debate around political party strategies, party images, and the neverending yet never-lasting party marriages.
Puerto Rican Abusive and Non-Abusive Mothers' Beliefs About Appropriate and Inappropriate Child Discipline

Abstract This article presents the findings of a study conducted with a purposive sample of 40 abusive and non-abusive island Puerto Rican mothers about their knowledge and use of disciplinary practices. The mothers were interviewed using open-ended questions and vignettes. The questions required them to identify the behavior problems they most frequently confronted in their children; their knowledge of different disciplinary practices; and their assessment of the appropriateness or inappropriateness of child disciplinary practices. Mothers were then presented with the ten vignettes and asked to respond to the following questions: (1) How do you think each of these described situations should be managed? (2) Have you ever confronted such a problem? and (3) If so, how did you handle it? Both abusive and non-abusive mothers knew and used a wide repertoire of disciplinary practices that combined verbal-rational and punitive-controlling methods. Differences between abusive and non-abusive mothers were noted w...
High-Resolution, Wide-Field Imaging of the HL Tauri Environment in 13CO (1-0)

We present a high-resolution image of the region near HL Tau in 13CO (1-0) over a region of 3' made with the BIMA array, supplemented by data from the NRAO 12 m telescope to include emission structures with low spatial frequencies. We find evidence for a shell of dimensions ~2' ? 15 (~0.08 ? 0.06 pc), with XZ Tau being the closest known source to its center. The 13CO map is consistent with an expanding bubble that has blown out on the far side from earth. Portions of the bubble wall are seen in optical scattered light. HL Tau is situated in the bubble wall; the evacuated region corresponds to the truncation in the reflection nebula northeast of HL Tau. Although it is thought that a remnant protostellar envelope is still infalling onto HL Tau, the existence of the expanding bubble makes it difficult to interpret the geometry and kinematics of the HL Tau circumstellar material. Our results demonstrate the importance of including low-spatial frequency emission for the interpretation of interferometer maps.
Spatial interpolation via GWR, a plausible alternative?

Spatial interpolation can be done through either univariate methods that rely solely on the spatial structure of the data or by combining the spatial information and attribute information. Geographically weighted regression, although is used primarily in modeling the spatially varying relationships, falls within the category of combining both spatial and attribute information to interpolate unknown values. Using both artificially generated data with predefined parameters and actual house data from the City of Milwaukee, this study evaluates the interpolation accuracy of the univariate interpolation method represented by ordinary Kriging and multivariate interpolation represented by regression Kriging and GWR interpolation. It is found that by including relevant auxiliary variable(s), RK and GWR interpolations yield more accurate results than the univariate interpolation method, though the subtlety of how the spatial structure is assumed produces slight difference between RK and GWR. This study suggests GWR can serve as a useful alternative interpolation method in data analysis in addition to providing more detailed understanding of the spatially varying relationships between target and auxiliary variables.
Ethylenimine derivatives of some 1,2,4-triazines

The first 3-ethylenimino-1,2,4-triazines (9) have been synthesized from the corresponding 3-(β-chloroethyl)amino-1,2,4-triazines (8). In addition some 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-b]-1,2,4-triazines and imidazo[1,2-b]-1,2,4-triazines were obtained. The stability, properties and potential therapeutic value of these compounds are discussed.
Retention of appetitive instrumental behavior: the Kamin effect.

Five experiments examined retention of an appetitive instrumental response. In Experiment 1, separate groups of thirsty rats received one water reinforced trial in a short runway followed by a single retention trial 0.05, 0.5, 1, 6, or 24 hr later. Retention performance was a nonmonotonic (U-shaped) function of the training—testing interval (TTI), i.e., an appetitive “Kamin effect” was observed. The results of Experiment 2, which employed several additional control procedures, replicated this finding and also indicated that the effect was not a function of the animals' level of motivation or activity. In Experiment 3, a Kamin effect was observed using a procedure involving no deprivation with sugared milk serving as reinforcement. Experiment 4 ruled out the effects of uncontrolled nonassociative variables as being responsible for the observed appetitive Kamin effects. Finally, in Experiment 5, the appetitive Kamin effect was shown to attenuate with more extended training. The results of these experiments strongly suggest that the retention function for appetitively and aversively motivated responses is highly similar and also indicate that the Kamin effect is due to associative rather than nonassociative processes.
Conservative signal processing architectures for asynchronous, distributed optimization Part II: Example systems

This paper provides examples of various synchronous and asynchronous signal processing systems for performing optimization, utilizing the framework and elements developed in a preceding paper. The general strategy in that paper was to perform a linear transformation of stationarity conditions applicable to a class of convex and nonconvex optimization problems, resulting in algorithms that operate on a linear superposition of the associated primal and dual decision variables. The examples in this paper address various specific optimization problems including the LASSO problem, minimax-optimal Alter design, the decentralized training of a support vector machine classifier, and sparse Alter design for acoustic equalization. Where appropriate, multiple algorithms for solving the same optimization problem are presented, illustrating the use of the underlying framework in designing a variety of distinct classes of algorithms. The examples are accompanied by numerical simulation and a discussion of convergence.
Dietary methionine intake and neural tube defects in Mexican-American women.

BACKGROUND Nutrients other than maternal folic acid are also thought to play a role in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). Evidence suggests that methionine interacts with folic acid and vitamin B12 in the methylation of contractile proteins involved in closing the neural folds. The role of dietary intake of methionine in NTD risk has not been specifically studied among Mexican Americans, a population with one of the highest prevalences of NTDs in the United States. METHODS We conducted a case–control study of 184 Mexican American women with NTD-affected pregnancies (case women) and 225 women with normal offspring (control women) who resided along the Texas-Mexico border. The average daily intakes of methionine were calculated from periconceptional food frequency questionnaire data. Women were categorized according to quartiles of daily methionine intake, based on the control mothers' distribution, and the risk for an NTD-affected pregnancy was calculated using the lowest quartile of intake as the referent. RESULTS With adjustment for income, body mass index, hyperinsulinemia, and diarrhea, the odds ratios for increasing quartile of methionine intake were: 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48,1.90), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.46,1.84), and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.30,1.45). Some evidence of interaction between dietary methionine and serum vitamin B12 was noted particularly at higher levels of both components. CONCLUSIONS This study was limited by a small sample size but examined this association in an exclusively Hispanic population. Results were suggestive of a potential protective effect for NTDs with increasing maternal dietary methionine intake. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the distribution-free newsboy problem with some non-skewed demands

We consider three cases of the risk-neutral newsboy problem in which the probability distribution of random demand is only known to be non-skewed with given support, mean and variance. In particular, we derive some closed form formulas for the worst-case and best-case order quantities when this distribution is symmetric, and symmetric and unimodal. Extensions of our results are indicated.
Mouse Hepa-1 tumor is rejected by H-2Db-restricted CTL despite decreased MHC class I antigen expression.

Abstract It has recently been hypothesized that tumor cells with reduced levels of MHC class I antigens are more susceptible to NK-mediated lysis and are rejected by NK cells, whereas tumor cells with normal levels of class I are rejected by tumor-specific CTL. We have tested this hypothesis using a mouse hepatoma system. The Hepa-1 tumor is a spontaneous H-2K b loss variant that arose from the BW7756 tumor, when BW7756 was adapted to growth in culture. Our studies have shown that despite the loss of H-2K b antigen, Hepa-1 is not more susceptible to NK lysis than its H-2K b -transfected variants. These studies also suggested that NK cells were not responsible for rejection of the Hepa-1 tumor. The Hepa-1 tumor, therefore, appears to contradict the hypothesized linkage of MHC levels and NK susceptibility. Because NK cells are not involved in immunity to this tumor, we have sought to identify the effector cell responsible for Hepa-1 rejection. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte assays demonstrate that in vitro , Hepa-1 cells are lysed by Hepa-1-specific H-2D b -restricted CD4 − CD8 + T lymphocytes. Footpad assays demonstrate that in vivo , Hepa-1 rejection requires CD4 + CD8 − and CD4 − CD8 + Hepa-1-primed splenocytes. These results indicate that immunity to Hepa-1 is T cell mediated. Hepa-1 is therefore an example of an unusual tumor in that down-regulation of MHC class I antigen expression is associated with increased CTL susceptibility.
Reflection and transmission of scalar waves by a periodic array of screens

An exact solution has been obtained for scattering of a plane scalar wave by a periodic array of screens. By taking advantage of the geometrical periodicity, the problem statement has been reduced to a singular integral equation for an unknown field discontinuity over a single screen. The singular integral equation has been solved by expanding the unknown quantity in Chebyshev polynomials and solving the coefficients from a set of algebraic equations. The scattered field consists of a superposition of wave modes, each with its own cut-off frequency. A reflection coefficient has been defined in terms of the coefficient of the zeroth-order scattered wave. This coefficient has been computed as a function of the frequency for various geometrical configurations. The exact results have been compared with three approximations.
Dango: Japan's Price-Fixing Conspiracies

This paper addresses two questions about collusion in the Japanese construction industry. First, what mechanisms are used for enforcing the collusive agreement, for dividing the spoils, and for preventing the entry of new firms seeking a share of the collusive profits? Second, how much are prices raised as a result of the collusion?
Sensitivity of emergency bedside ultrasound to detect hydronephrosis in patients with computed tomography-proven stones.

Introduction: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) is widely regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis of urolithiasis in emergency department (ED) patients. However, it is costly, time-consuming and exposes patients to significant doses of ionizing radiation. Hydronephrosis on bedside ultrasound is a sign of a ureteral stone, and has a reported sensitivity of 72-83% for identification of unilateral hydronephrosis when compared to CT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in sensitivity related to stone size and number. Methods: This was a structured, explicit, retrospective chart review. Two blinded investigators used reviewed charts of all adult patients over a 6-month period with a final diagnosis of renal colic. Of these charts, those with CT evidence of renal calculus by attending radiologist read were examined for results of bedside ultrasound performed by an emergency physician. We included only those patient encounters with both CT-proven renal calculi and documented bedside ultrasound results. Results: 125 patients met inclusion criteria. The overall sensitivity of ultrasound for detection of hydronephrosis was 78.4% [95% confidence interval (CI)=70.2-85.3%]. The overall sensitivity of a positive ultrasound finding of either hydronephrosis or visualized stones was 82.4% [95%CI: 75.6%, 89.2%]. Based on a prior assumption that ultrasound would detect hydronephrosis more often in patients with larger stones, we found a statistically significant (p = 0.016) difference in detecting hydronephrosis in patients with a stone ≥6mm (sensitivity=90% [95% CI=82-98%]) compared to a stone <6mm (sensitivity=75% [95% CI=65-86%]). For those with 3 or more stones, sensitivity was 100% [95% CI=63-100%]. There were no patients with stones ≥6mm that had both a negative ultrasound and lack of hematuria.Conclusion: In a population with CT-proven urolithiasis, ED bedside ultrasonography had similar overall sensitivity to previous reports but showed better sensitivity with increasing stone size and number. We identified 100% of patients with stones ≥6mm that would benefit from medical expulsive therapy by either the presence of hematuria or abnormal ultrasound findings. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(1):96–100.]
Flow-through sequential extraction approach developed from a batch extraction method.

Sequential extractions of contaminants from a soil or sediment have been shown to be cost-effective contaminated site assessment tools that provide information on contaminant partitioning within an environmental matrix. Such information is necessary for defining remediation alternatives and mitigation strategies. The typical sequential extraction approach involves a batch method, and known limitations include the possibility of contaminant readsorption to the remaining soil or sediment. In this work, a flow-through reactor was constructed and tested for application in a sequential extraction scheme. The sequential extraction scheme used was one developed for actinide-contaminated materials. The flow-through approach gave partitioning results that were similar to the batch method for uranium. We also monitored the extraction of stable Ca, K, Fe, Al, Zr, and Sc and obtained partitioning results generally similar to those observed with the batch extraction, except for Ca. Our results indicate readsorption of...
Piercing random boxes

Consider a set of n random axis parallel boxes in the unit hypercube in ${\bf R}^{d}$ **image** , where d is fixed and n tends to infinity. We show that the minimum number of points one needs to pierce all these boxes is, with high probability, at least $\Omega_d(\sqrt{n}(\log n)^{d/2-1})$ **image** and at most $O_d(\sqrt{n}(\log n)^{d/2-1}\log \log n)$ **image** . © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 38, 365–380, 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intermetallic compounds as bulk getters

Abstract A brief history of “gettering” is given and a short discussion of the potential use of intermetallic compounds as bulk getters is presented. Specific studies of Zr(V1−xFex) 2 alloys were started and data on three different alloy compositions were obtained. The materials examined thus far are multiphase and exhibit non-Sievert's-type behavior. An approximately linear correlation of the dissociation pressure of the hydrogenated alloys with the iron content of the substituted alloys was observed. Preliminary indications point to these materials as useful practical getters; however, more specific data on their gettering properties remain to be determined.
Graphene/graphane interface energy and implications for defects

Recent theoretical work has shown that electronic properties of graphene sheets can be systematically modified by the partial hydrogenation of the sheets. Two possible perfect and distinct graphene/graphane interfaces (called zigzag and armchair) have very different but potentially useful electronic properties, which are nevertheless likely to be affected by the presence of defects. In an effort to evaluate their relative energetics and their potential for defects, the structure and energies of the zigzag and armchair interfaces have been computed for infinite sheets of periodically alternating stripes of graphene and graphane ribbons of various widths. The presence of an interface causes significant strains in both the graphene and graphane regions, with both shear strains and area strains typically close to $1%$. The associated large strain energies may lead to defects that relieve the strain but disrupt the lattice. The energies per unit length associated with the interfaces alone are approximately 0.12 eV/\AA{} for the zigzag interface and 0.11 eV/\AA{} for the armchair. The large misfit strains and energies suggest that formation of strain-relieving defects at the interface should be highly favorable.
Adverse outcomes associated with contact precautions: A review of the literature

Background Contact Precautions (CP) are a standard method for preventing patient-to-patient transmission of multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in hospital settings. With the ongoing worldwide concern for MDROs including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and broadened use of active surveillance programs, an increasing number of patients are being placed on CP. Whereas few would argue that CP are an important tool in infection control, many reports and small studies have observed worse noninfectious outcomes in patients on CP. However, no review of this literature exists. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature describing adverse outcomes associated with CP. We identified 15 studies published between 1989 and 2008 relating to adverse outcomes from CP. Nine were higher quality based on standardized collection of data and/or inclusion of control groups. Results Four main adverse outcomes related to CP were identified in this review. These included less patient-health care worker contact, changes in systems of care that produce delays and more noninfectious adverse events, increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, and decreased patient satisfaction with care. Conclusion Although CP are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an intervention to control spread of MDROs, our review of the literature demonstrates that this approach has unintended consequences that are potentially deleterious to the patient. Measures to ameliorate these deleterious consequences of CP are urgently needed.
Compact & Portable In Vivo Multiphoton GRIN Endoscope

We present a compact, portable, multiphoton GRIN endoscope system capable of imaging a field of view of 200 µm at 4 frames/s. In vivo images of unstained rat kidney, colon and liver are shown.
Semantic perception for ground robotics

Semantic perception involves naming objects and features in the scene, understanding the relations between them, and understanding the behaviors of agents, e.g., people, and their intent from sensor data. Semantic perception is a central component of future UGVs to provide representations which 1) can be used for higher-level reasoning and tactical behaviors, beyond the immediate needs of autonomous mobility, and 2) provide an intuitive description of the robot's environment in terms of semantic elements that can shared effectively with a human operator. In this paper, we summarize the main approaches that we are investigating in the RCTA as initial steps toward the development of perception systems for UGVs.
Fairness concepts and the intrahousehold allocation of resources

Abstract How do parents allocate scarce resources among their children? While much research has focused on investment strategies, parents' preferences for equity may also play a role in the household allocation of resources. While the studies that incorporate equity define it in limited terms, in this paper, several fairness concepts are applied to the problem of intrahousehold distribution. Comparing food allocations and health outcomes across fairness concepts indicates that each concept results in a different allocation of food and a different health outcome. The implications of this result for empirical studies of intrahousehold distribution and policy interventions are discussed.
Intracellular distribution of carbonic anhydrase in spinach leaves.

Abstract Intact spinach chloroplasts, capable of high rates of photosynthetic CO 2 fixation contain 44.3% of the total leaf carbonic anhydrase (carbonate hydro-lyase, EC′ 4.2.1.1) activity. The intact chloroplasts upon increasingly severe osmotic shock treatment lose progressively larger amounts of carbonic anhydrase activity. This loss parallels the removal of the envelope membranes and soluble material from the stroma. Correction for this leakage from the fraction of damaged chloroplasts present in the intact chloroplast preparations yielded a maximal value of 63.0% of the total leaf carbonic anhydrase activity being found in chloroplasts. This carbonic anhydrase activity was associated with the stroma portion of fractionated chloroplasts, and it exhibited a distribution pattern similar to that of ribulose diphosphate carboxylase, a known stroma enzyme. It is suggested that an association between carbonic anhydrase and ribulose diphosphate carboxylase activities occurs in vivo .
Delineating the “Ease of Doing Business” Construct within the Supplier–Customer Interface

SUMMARY The current research provides insight into the “ease of doing business” construct. Factor analysis of survey responses of supply managers in the electronics industry was used to test the proposed “ease of doing business” construct, which includes the three dimensions — information and material services, financial contract services and personal relations services. Results support a link between a customer's assessment of a supplier's “ease of doing business” and the amount of business conducted with that supplier. The attributes supported by this research provide the means for managers to improve and grow business with customers.
Sources and cognitive appraisals of acute stress as predictors of coping style among male and female Chinese athletes

Abstract The purposes of this study were to determine the extent to which sources of stressful events and cognitive appraisal of those events predict coping style and to determine differences in coping style between 138 (ns = 74 females and 64 males) Chinese college athletes at the elite level and 253 (ns = 60 females and 193 males) non‐elite athletes who had competed on their high school sports team, and currently engage in recreational (intramural) sports as college students. Two fivepoint Likert‐type inventories were developed for this study, the Sources of Acute Stress in Sport Inventory (SASSI) and the Coping Style in Sport Inventory (CSSI). The Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM; Peacock & Wong, 1990), a validated measure used extensively in the non‐sport literature, identified the athletes’ cognitive appraisals. Results of a discriminant analysis indicated that three stress sources, verbal‐abuse‐by‐others, coach‐dissatisfaction, and environmental‐sources, and two cognitive appraisals, control‐by‐self an...