cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collaterals: An Important Determinant of Prolonged Ischemic Penumbra Versus Rapid Cerebral Infarction?

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator is the mainstay for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in patients presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Studies have demonstrated that treating patients early leads to improved long term outcomes. MR imaging currently allows quantification of the ischemic penumbra in order to better identify individuals most likely to benefit from intervention, irrespective of “time last seen normal.” Its increasing use in clinical practice has demonstrated individual differences in rate of infarction. One explanation for this variability is a difference in collateral blood flow. We report two cases that highlight the individual variability of infarction rate, and discuss potential underlying mechanisms that may influence treatment decisions and outcomes.
An “evolutionary” interpretation of Van Huyck, Battalio, and Beil's experimental results on coordination

This paper proposes an adaptive interpretation of the results of some recent experiments with repeated tacit coordination games. These experiments revealed several behavioral regularities, including a systematic discrimination between strict Nash equilibria in certain games, that appear to be driven by strategic uncertainty, and are not explained by traditional equilibrium refinements. The observed patterns of discrimination correspond closely to predictions based on Maynard Smith's notion of evolutionary stability. An adaptive model, in the spirit of the evolutionary dynamics but recognizing the important differences between learning in human populations and evolution, promises to yield a unified explanation of the results. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: 020, 026.
Reconstruction of three-dimensional particle trajectories in flows through curved circular tubes

An automated technique is described for reconstructing three-dimensional trajectories of tracer particles in curved circular ducts. Individual particles are tracked in real time by a rotating camera under computer control. A digital imaging system enables the computer to locate the particle, adjust the speed of rotation, and store position and calibration data. By viewing the tube from approximately orthogonal directions, three-dimensional information on the position of the particle is obtained. Its precise location is calculated by tracing rays from the camera to the interior of the tube. This technique yields detailed three-dimensional position and velocity data along a trajectory.
Error training: Missing link in surgical education

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES. Human error is inevitable and must be anticipated, especially in environments where novices are developing new knowledge and skills. In medical education, faculty members are charged with supervising their residents to minimize chances of patient care errors. This is no small challenge for faculty given the consequences of errors to patients, the psychological cost to learners, and the ramifications for the faculty member and hospital from the fiscal, resource, and medicolegal perspectives. Yet, if decisionmaking and technical errors are bound to occur during a physician’s career because of human infallibility, and residents have uneven and limited exposure to errors because of responsible faculty oversight, how will they graduate fully prepared to recognize and manage an error when one does occur? Satava explained that faculty members spend so much time teaching residents how to do the correct thing that they forget to explicitly teach how to avoid errors or fix it when one has occurred. Residents encounter errors during their residency but this ‘‘catch as catch can’’ strategy cannot provide a sufficient and balanced array of opportunities to hone the perceptual, cognitive, and technical skills needed to prevent, recognize, or manage the range of potential errors. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) justify the importance of integrating planned instruction about errors into surgical residency curricula
Conductance, spectral and viscosity data for isopropanol solutions of tin chlorides

Abstract Here are reported conductance (5, 20 and 45°C), spectral and viscosity (20 and 45°C) data for solutions of SnCl 4 .5H 2 O in isopropanol or in isopropanol-carbon tetrachloride. The values are compared with those for methanol systems. Experimental difficulties with SnCl 2 ·2H 2 .O-isopropanol systems are discussed.
Bragg scattering of free electrons using the Kapitza-Dirac effect.

Bragg scattering has been observed for free electrons using a standing wave of light. Both the rocking curve and the angular electron distribution have been measured. The results of a numerical simulation to the Schrodinger equation are consistent with our experimental data. Unlike the diffraction regime which uses thin crystals, the Bragg regime requires the use of thick crystals. We point out several applications in atom optics that could be realized in electron optics.
Dissociating gas as a working fluid for space plant

Abstract An inert gas Brayton cycle requires a larger radiator than does a Rankine cycle operating at the same temperature. For power plants in the megawatt range operating between 5 and 500 psia and under 4000°R, replacing the inert gas with a dissociating gas would reduce the Brayton cycle radiator area by a factor of four. Nevertheless, the Brayton cycle must still operate at somewhat higher temperatures to be competitive with the Rankine cycle when radiator area is the primary consideration.
Lipid content and energy density of forage fishes from the northern Gulf of Alaska

Piscivorous predators can experience multi-fold differences in energy intake rates based solely on the types of fishes consumed. We estimated energy density of 1151 fish from 39 species by proximate analysis of lipid, water, ash-free lean dry matter, and ash contents and evaluated factors contributing to variation in composition. Lipid content was the primary determinant of energy density, ranging from 2 to 61% dry mass and resulting in a five-fold difference in energy density of individuals (2.0-10.8 kJg(-1) wet mass). Energy density varied widely within and between species. Schooling pelagic fishes had relatively high or low values, whereas nearshore demersal fishes were intermediate. Pelagic species maturing at a smaller size had higher and more variable energy density than pelagic or nearshore species maturing larger. High-lipid fishes had less water and more protein than low-lipid fishes. In some forage fishes, size, month, reproductive status, or location contributed significantly to intraspecific variation in energy density. Differences in quality are sufficient to potentially affect diet selection of breeding seabirds, especially when transporting food for their young to the nest site.
Photoluminescence Lifetime of Lead Selenide Colloidal Quantum Dots

The photoluminescence (PL) lifetime of PbSe colloidal quantum dots (QDs) is investigated. At room temperature, the surface ligands have a dominant effect on the PL lifetime of PbSe nanocrystals emitting photon with energy between 0.55 and 0.72 eV. Above 0.75 eV, the decay rate follows approximately a linear relationship with PL energy. At low temperature, the lifetime increases from 200 ns to nearly 1 μs, but the PL efficiency does not increase significantly. The model of dipole energy transfer to the ligands vibrations accounts rather well for the observations.
Signal persistence of bispectral index and state entropy during surgical procedure under sedation.

Introduction. Bispectral index (BIS) and state entropy (SE) are prone to artifacts, especially due to electrocautery (EC). We compared the incidence of artifacts in BIS and SE during surgery under local anesthesia and sedation. Methods. 28 females undergoing breast surgery under local anesthesia and sedation were studied. Simultaneous BIS and SE measurements were recorded every 10 seconds. Artifact was defined as a failure of the device to display a numerical value while the electrodes remained appropriately attached to the patient&#x2019;s forehead. Ratio of artifact to good signal was compared between BIS and SE in the presence or absence of EC use. Results. 7679 data points were collected from 28 patients. Overall, artifact incidence was similar in BIS and SE (6.2&#x25; and 6.3&#x25;, resp.). In the presence of EC (1370 data points), BIS had significantly more artifact compared to SE (18.6&#x25; versus 6.4&#x25;, 𝑃l0.0001). Without EC (6309 data points), BIS had significantly less artifact compared to SE (4.1&#x25; versus 7.3&#x25;, 𝑃l0.0001). Discussion. BIS and SE were comparable for incidence of artifacts in patients under sedation. Use of EC lead to more artifact in BIS than SE. Conversely, BIS had fewer artifacts than SE when there was no EC use.
Methadone and buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence in pregnancy

This article provides an overview and discussion of the collective maternal, fetal and neonatal outcome research on women maintained on methadone or buprenorphine during pregnancy. Its focus is on an assessment of the comparative effectiveness of methadone and buprenorphine pharmacotherapy, with particular attention given to recent findings from the literature. Recommendations for clinical practice are outlined, and directions for future research are presented. Findings from comparative studies of methadone and buprenorphine underscore the efficacy of both medications in preventing relapse to illicit opioid use in the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant patients, as well as the simplicity of induction onto methadone and patient retention while receiving such therapy. Fetal monitoring suggests that buprenorphine results in less fetal cardiac and movement suppression than does methadone. The clinical implications of these findings need future exploration. For the neonate, evidence from studies using a wide range of designs, including retrospective chart reviews, prospective observational studies, and randomized clinical trials, show consistent results, with prenatal exposure to buprenorphine resulting in less severe neonatal abstinence syndrome relative to methadone. Any medication given to pregnant women should be prescribed only after considering the risk: benefit ratio for the maternal-fetal dyad. Medication choices for each opioid-dependent patient during pregnancy need to be made on a patient-by-patient basis, taking into consideration the patient’s opioid dependence history, previous and current treatment experiences, medical circumstances and treatment preferences. Moreover, for a full remission of opioid addiction to be sustainable, both post-partum and across the lifespan, treatment providers must not rely solely on medication to treat their patients but should also utilize women-specific comprehensive treatment models that address the underlying multifaceted complexities of their patient’s lives.
Outage-Based Throughput in Wireless Packet Networks

With the increased competition for the electromagnetic spectrum, it is important to characterize the impact of interference in the performance of a wireless packet network, which is traditionally measured by its throughput. This paper presents a unifying framework for characterizing the throughput in wireless packet networks. We analyze the throughput from an outage perspective, in which a packet is successfully received if the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) exceeds some threshold, considering the aggregate interference generated by all emitting nodes in the network. Our work generalizes and unifies various throughput results scattered throughout the literature. Furthermore, the proposed framework encompasses all types of wireless propagation effects (e.g, Nakagami-m fading, Rician fading, and log-normal shadowing), as well as traffic patterns (e.g., slotted-synchronous, slotted-asynchronous, and exponential-interarrivals traffic).
Elevated carbon dioxide and water stress effects on potato canopy gas exchange, water use, and productivity

Abstract Despite the agronomic importance of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.), the interaction of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2 ]) and drought has not been well studied. Two soil–plant–atmosphere research (SPAR) chamber experiments were conducted concurrently at ambient (370 μmol mol −1 ) and elevated (740 μmol mol −1 ) [CO 2 ]. Daily irrigation for each chamber was applied according to a fixed percentage of the water uptake measured for a control chamber for each [CO 2 ] treatment. We monitored diurnal and seasonal canopy photosynthetic ( A G ) and transpiration rates and organ dry weights at harvest. Plants grown under elevated [CO 2 ] had consistently larger photosynthetic rates through most of the growth season, with the maximum A G at 1600 μmol photons m −2 s −1 14% higher at the well-watered treatments. Water stress influenced ambient [CO 2 ] plants to a larger extent, and reduced maximum canopy A G , growth season duration, and seasonal net carbon assimilation up to 50% of the control in both [CO 2 ] treatments. Water use efficiency increased with water stress, particularly at elevated [CO 2 ], ranging from 4.9 to 9.3 g dry mass L −1 . Larger photosynthetic rates for elevated [CO 2 ] resulted in higher seasonal dry mass and radiation use efficiency (RUE) as compared with ambient [CO 2 ] at the same irrigation level. This extra assimilate was partitioned to underground organs, resulting in higher harvest indices. Our findings indicate that increases in potato growth and productivity with elevated [CO 2 ] are consistent over most levels of water stress. This work can support various climate change scenarios that evaluate different management practices with potato.
DAYA: a system for monitoring and enhancing children's oral hygiene

Oral diseases are major public health problems that impact people from early childhood. However, children's oral hygiene in China remains a severe problem due to inadequate education on oral hygiene behavior and parents' lack of knowledge about their childrens' dental condition. To address these problems, we propose DAYA, a system consisting of a tooth-brushing game for children and a monitoring application for parents. The game is designed to enhance the efficacy and experience of tooth-brushing in children, and the application leverages data collected in tooth-brushing to help parents monitor children's dental health and behavior.
Bridging the Moore's Law Performance Gap with Innovation Scaling

The end of Dennard scaling and the tyranny of Ahmdal's law have created significant barriers to system scaling, leading to a gap between today's system performance and where Moore's law predicted it should be.I believe the solution to this problem is to scale innovation. Finding better solutions to improve system performance and efficiency, and doing this more quickly than previously possible could address the growing performance gap.In this talk, I will highlight a number of simple (and not so simple) ideas to address this challenge.
Systems Biology of Group Decision Making

Systems biology of decision making focuses on understanding the structures, dynamics, and evolution of complex interconnected biological mechanisms that support decision making by individuals and social animal groups. In this article, an experimentally validated mathematical model of the nest-site selection process of honey bee swarms is introduced. In this spatially distributed dynamical feedback process individual bee actions and bee-to-bee communications combine to produce an emergent "consensus" nest choice. The process has connections to neurobiological cognition systems, especially at the behavioral level: the swarm can effectively discriminate between different quality nest sites and eliminate from consideration relatively inferior distractor sites. Simulations indicate that individual-level bee decision-making mechanisms have been tuned by natural selection to provide a balance between the need for fast and accurate decisions at the group level. Theoretical analyses of the properties of the dynamics of swarm decision making are outlined, and potential implications in engineering are briefly highlighted
The 100-Mile Diet: A Community Approach to Promote Sustainable Food Systems Impacts Dietary Quality

Locally produced foods are perceived by some consumers to provide important societal, environmental, and personal benefits. In this pilot study, 19 adults living in Virginia attempted to consume a ...
Kinetic studies and biochemical pathway analysis of anaerobic poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid synthesis in Escherichia coli.

Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) was synthesized anaerobically in recombinant Escherichia coli. The host anaerobically accumulated PHB to more than 50% of its cell dry weight during cultivation in either growth or nongrowth medium. The maximum specific PHB production rate during growth-associated synthesis was approximately 2.3 ± 0.2 mmol of PHB/g of residual cell dry weight/h. The by-product secretion profiles differed significantly between the PHB-synthesizing strain and the control strain. PHB production decreased acetate accumulation for both growth and nongrowth-associated PHB synthesis. For instance under nongrowth cultivation, the PHB-synthesizing culture produced approximately 66% less acetate on a glucose yield basis as compared to a control culture. A theoretical biochemical network model was used to provide a rational basis to interpret the experimental results like the fermentation product secretion profiles and to study E. coli network capabilities under anaerobic conditions. For example, the maximum theoretical carbon yield for anaerobic PHB synthesis in E. coli is 0.8. The presented study is expected to be generally useful for analyzing, interpreting, and engineering cellular metabolisms.
Scw1p antagonizes the septation initiation network to regulate septum formation and cell separation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Cytokinesis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is regulated by a signaling pathway termed the septation initiation network (SIN). The SIN is essential for initiation of actomyosin ring constriction and septum formation. In a screen to search for mutations that can rescue the sid2-250 SIN mutant, we obtained scw1-18. Both the scw1-18 mutant and the scw1 deletion mutant (scw1 mutant), have defects in cell separation. Both the scw1-18 and scw1 mutations rescue the growth defects of not just the sid2-250 mutant but also the other temperature-sensitive SIN mutants. Other cytokinesis mutants, such as those defective for actomyosin ring formation, are not rescued by scw1. scw1 does not seem to rescue the SIN by restoring SIN signaling defects. However, scw1 may function downstream of the SIN to promote septum formation, since scw1 can rescue the septum formation defects of the cps1-191-1,3-glucan synthase mutant, which is required for synthesis of the primary septum. A major function of the cell cycle and mitosis is to achieve accurate allocation of the two sets of duplicated sister chromatids to each daughter cell. At the end of each cell cycle, physical separation of the two daughter cells, a process known as cytokinesis, occurs and marks the completion of the whole cell cycle. It is key for the cell to execute all of these events in the correct order, at the right time, at the right place, and with high fidelity. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe provides an
On the Photonic Implementation of Universal Quantum Gates, Bell States Preparation Circuit, Quantum Relay and Quantum LDPC Encoders and Decoders

We show that any family of universal quantum gates can be implemented based on a single optical hybrid/Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)/directional coupler (DC) and either a highly nonlinear optical fiber or a tap coupler with an avalanche photodiode. We further show how to implement Pauli gates, which are needed in quantum error correction, using the same technology. The use of Bell states in quantum teleportation is essential. We also show how to implement the Bell states preparation circuit. To extend the transmission distance of quantum teleportation systems, the use of quantum relays is necessary. We show how to implement the quantum relay in integrated optics as well. We further study the implementation of encoders/decoders for sparse-graph quantum codes and show that the encoder/decoder for arbitrary quantum sparse-graph code can be implemented in integrated optics as well. We also study the performance of sparse-graph codes and demonstrate that entanglement-assisted sparse-graph codes from balanced incomplete block designs significantly outperform the corresponding dual-containing quantum codes. Finally, we provide several theorems that can be used in the design of entanglement-assisted (EA) quantum codes that require only one qubit to be shared between the source and the destination.
Tracking the optic nerve head in OCT video using dual eigenspaces and an adaptive vascular distribution model

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel ophthalmic imaging modality generating cross sectional views of the retina. OCT systems form images in 1.5 seconds by directing a superluminescent diode (SLD) beam over the retinal surface. Involuntary ocular motion may occur, however, causing incorrect locations to be imaged. This motion may leave no obvious artifacts and thus go undetected. For glaucoma monitoring especially, knowing the measurement location is crucial. The commercially available OCT system displays a near-IR video of the SLD beam traversing the retinal around the optic nerve head. We developed a prototype system to detect the nerve head and SLD beam position in this video, and report the actual scan path relative to the nerve head. This system must cope with low image contrast and few reliable retinal features. In its adaptive model generation phase, the system directly detects vasculature and the nerve head and builds an individual model of the vascular pattern. The nerve head identification is multi-tiered, using a novel, dual-eigenspace technique and a geometric comparison of detected vessel positions and nerve head hypotheses. In its operational phase, a correspondence is achieved between detected vasculature and the model. The system was evaluated on video of three subjects not used to form the eigenspaces. The system located the optic nerve head to within 5 pixels in 99% of 2800 video fields manually inspected, and was thus able to determine the true scan path relative to the nerve head.
Efficient sparse target tracking algorithm for navigation with UWB-OFDM radar sensors

There is a great need to develop non-GPS based methods for position and navigation in situations where GPS is not available. This paper presents orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) radar signals. Originally designed as a broadband communications device, the OFDM radar will serve an additional function as a navigation system. The paper focuses on the development of a signal processing method for using to the OFDM signal in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) configuration, for potential use as a navigation sensor.
Green River Formation, Wyoming: A Playa-Lake Complex

Recent observations in the Green River Formation suggest that ancient “Lake Gosiute” was a playa-lake complex (Eugster and Surdam, 1973). In this paper, the new playa-lake model is tested in a basin-wide study of surface and subsurface observations. The rocks deposited in and around “Lake Gosiute” can be divided into three distinct facies: (1) marginal silt and sand, (2) carbonate mud flat, and (3) lacustrine. Each lithologic facies has a characteristic carbonate mineral assemblage. The marginal facies is characterized by calcite concretions and calcareous cements. The mud-flat facies is characterized by calcite and (or) dolomite. The lacustrine facies is characterized either by trona (sodium carbonate) or by oil shale (either calcitic or dolomitic). The regional distribution pattern of lithologic facies and mineral zones in the Green River Formation of Wyoming is identical with that of modern playa-lake complexes. Moreover, in the Tipton Shale Member, once supposed to have been deposited in a large, deep, open, fresh-water lake (Bradley, 1963), there is strong evidence demonstrating large fluctuations in the position of the shoreline and progressive increases in salinity and alkalinity of the lake water. By mapping the regional distribution and types of lateral changes characterizing individual stromatolite units, the fluctuations in shoreline position can be quantified. The vertical distribution of fossils and ooliths in the Green River Formation allows an evaluation of water chemistry. In addition, the assemblage of sedimentary structures in the Tipton Shale Member is compatible only with a sedimentologic model characterized by shallow-water deposition and frequent subaerial exposure. Thus, the deep-water stratified-lake model is untenable not only for the Wilkins Peak Member but also for the Tipton Shale Member of the Green River Formation. In contrast, the playa-lake model is consistent with the physical, chemical, and paleontologic aspects of the Green River Formation of Wyoming.
A Multidimensional Analysis of a Written L2 Spanish Corpus

The present study adds to our understanding of how learners employ lexical and grammatical phenomena to communicate in writing in different types of interlanguage discourse. A multidimensional (factor) analysis of a corpus of L2 Spanish writing (202,241 words) generated by second- and third-year, university-level learners was performed. The analysis uncovered four significant clusters that can be considered distinct discourse types with two main stylistic variations: narrative (characterized by verbal features) and expository (characterized by nominal features). Results also provide examples of the multiple ways that stylistic sophistication and linguistic complexity occur in the L2. Although the Spanish learners’ discourse did not show signs of syntactic complexity (e.g. frequent use of relative clauses, subordinate clauses, use of clitics), the frequent use of nominal features affects informational density due to the presence of numerous derivational morphemes. Inflectional complexity in the form of marked forms was not predominant in the data set. Still, the learners’ verbal inflections did vary, which is a sign of L2 development (Howard 2002, 2006; Collentine 2004; Marsden and David 2008).
A review of research: an investigation of the impact of data quality on decision performance

While the effects of information quality and the importance of information have been studied in Information Systems (IS) literature, little evidence and understanding of the impact of data quality on decision performance has been documented in the IS literature. Therefore, the research aim of this paper is to examine the underlying theoretical and empirical support for the relationship between data quality (DQ), as defined by the framework of data quality [29], and decision performance. Explicit literature review of the impact of data quality on decision performance may lead to the specification of influences on decision performance. That is, this study proposes to provide a basis for predicting whether data quality, especially contextual, representational, and accessibility data quality, influences decision performance.
Understanding Interface Engineering for High-Performance Fullerene/Perovskite Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells

Interface engineering is critical for achieving efficient solar cells, yet a comprehensive understanding of the interface between a metal electrode and electron transport layer (ETL) is lacking. Here, a significant power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement of fullerene/perovskite planar heterojunction solar cells from 7.5% to 15.5% is shown by inserting a fulleropyrrolidine interlayer between the silver electrode and ETL. The interface between the metal electrode and ETL is carefully examined using a variety of electrical and surface potential techniques. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements demonstrate that the interlayer enhances recombination resistance, increases electron extraction rate, and prolongs free carrier lifetime. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is used to map the surface potential of the metal electrode and it indicates a uniform and continuous work function decrease in the presence of the fulleropyrrolidine interlayer. Additionally, the planar heterojunction fullerene/perovskite solar cells are shown to have good stability under ambient conditions.
Smart Structures in Structural Health Monitoring

This chapter introduces smart materials for problems related to structural health monitoring and diagnostics. Specifically PZT based materials form a natural actuator and sensor for impedance based to structural health monitoring.
Racism, Conservatism and the Obama Administration

This paper examines the relationship between President Barack Obama and Republican leaders in the United States Congress between 2008 and 2012. This paper examines the extent to which conservative members of the United States Congress opposed policies and programs introduced by the Obama Administration. This is of particular concern in cases where a variant of the policy or program was initially introduced by a Republican President or conservative member of the United States Congress. The premise of the thesis in this study is that opposition by conservative members of the United States Congress to policies and programs introduced by the Obama Administration were politically and in some instances racially motivated. In addition, the level of opposition by conservative members of congress against policies and programs introduced by the Obama Administration are unprecedented in contemporary presidential politics.
A Study of Chinese Reverse Mergers in United States Capital Markets

This article examines Chinese reverse mergers (RMs), historically a popular method for Chinese companies to enter the United States capital markets. The authors develop a regression model to identify the characteristics associated with successful Chinese RM companies and compare their long term performance to other benchmarks, to include U.S. reverse mergers, Chinese cross-listed firms and the Russell 2000.
Application-level caching with transactional consistency

Distributed in-memory application data caches like memcached are a popular solution for scaling database-driven web sites. These systems increase performance significantly by reducing load on both the database and application servers. Unfortunately, such caches present two challenges for application developers. First, they cannot ensure that the application sees a consistent view of the data within a transaction, violating the isolation properties of the underlying database. Second, they leave the application responsible for locating data in the cache and keeping it up to date, a frequent source of application complexity and programming errors. This thesis addresses both of these problems in a new cache called TxCache. TxCache is a transactional cache: it ensures that any data seen within a transaction, whether from the cache or the database, reflects a slightly stale but consistent snapshot of the database. TxCache also offers a simple programming model. Application developers simply designate certain functions as cacheable, and the system automatically caches their results and invalidates the cached data as the underlying database changes. Our experiments found that TxCache can substantially increase the performance of a web application: on the RUBiS benchmark, it increases throughput by up to 5.2× relative to a system without caching. More importantly, on this application, TxCache achieves performance comparable (within 5%) to that of a non-transactional cache, showing that consistency does not have to come at the price of performance. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
In vivo effects of dexamethasone and sucrose on glucose transport (GLUT-4) protein tissue distribution

Tissue-specific changes in GLUT-4 were compared in the following three different rat models by inducing varying degrees of hyperinsulinemia with or without hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia: 1) sucrose feeding (Suc), 2) subcutaneous dexamethasone administration (Dex), and 3) a combination of both treatments (Dex/Suc). Suc raised circulatory insulin and triglyceride levels without affecting plasma glucose, whereas both Dex and Dex/Suc induced significant hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. In adipocytes and skeletal muscle, Suc feeding was not associated with any change in total cellular GLUT-4 levels. However, Suc induced a sevenfold increase in fat cell plasma membrane GLUT-4 levels in the basal state and inhibited GLUT-4 translocation in response to insulin. Administration of Dex or Dex/Suc diminished GLUT-4 expression in fat cells, increased it in skeletal muscle, but did not induce any change in heart. Similar to Suc feeding, Dex and Dex/Suc also increased the amount of GLUT-4 detected at the plasma membrane of adipocytes in the basal state and inhibited GLUT-4 translocation in response to insulin. These results emphasize the specific regulation of GLUT-4 in insulin-sensitive tissues.
Modeling Internal Flow Through a Rotating Duct Using Quasi 1-D Euler Equations

A numerical model of the internal flow in a duct rotating about one end is described. One-dimensional Euler equations are solved inside the duct using a finite volume formulation in which the advective fluxes are calculated using the advection upwind splitting method. The model was developed as a fast design tool for helicopter rotor blades with internal spanwise flow. To this end, centrifugal as well as Coriolis effects, frictional losses, duct sweep, and time-dependent duct boundary conditions are modeled, and a spanwise flow control valve can be included. The model is used to explore the behavior of a 2-m-long duct with a circular cross section, rotating at tip speeds of up to 260 m/s. The effects of centrifugal pumping, duct friction, duct sweep, and a flow control valve on the spanwise pressure and velocity distribution, mass flow rate of air through the duct, and torque required to spin the duct are discussed.
Prevalence of walking impairment in young, healthy adults.

- ment outcome is often improvement in real-life (i.e., "community") waking abhty. Regensteiner, Steiner, Panzer, and Hiatt (1990) created the Peripheral Arterial Disease Walking Impairment Questionnaire to measure patients' selfreported community wallung distance, speed, and coexisting medical problems which might affect walldng. The questionnaire was originally validated by comparing exercise treadmill results for symptomatic patients. This study reports responses from a sample of normal undergraduate students, thereby providing an empirical benchmark or severity measure with which to gauge the magnitude of disability relative to a diverse population of vascular patients. Drawn from the Psychology Department's subject pool of an urban state university, 64 students voluntarily completed the questionnaire in exchange for class credit. Students attained a mean of .88 (SD = .15) on the four-item scale of wallung speed, and a mean of .93 (SD = .17) on the seven-item scale of walking distance (on both scales, maximum possible performance score = 1, minimum possible score = 0). Assessed via t test and a sequentially rejective Sidak Bonferroni-type of multiple comparison procedure (experimentwise p< .05; Maxwell & Delaney, 1990), the self-reported mean walking speed for the students was significantly greater than the corresponding mean score of Regensteiner, et al.'s group of seven presurgical patients (.18), ten exercise rehabilitation patients (.35), and nine nontreated patients (.31). In contrast, although the self-reported mean waking distance for students was significantly greater than the corresponding mean for the presurgery group (.25), it was not significantly greater than the corresponding means for
Duality and Multilevel models in the Optimal Design of Adaptive Structures and Mechanisms

To achieve a true measure of optimality in the sizing, shape and topology design of structures and compliant mechanisms, including those with adaptive members, the original space of possible topology configurations has to be very large. However, such high dimensionality models are very difficult to solve using conventional approaches. In recent literature, there has been tremendous progress in applying the methods of mathematical duality for the case of maximum stiffness (i.e., minimum compliance) design of mechanical structures. Our recent work has shown that the class of problems where such techniques from convex and nonconvex duality can be applied is much larger than has been studied so far, and this paper presents some recent results in this direction.
Protection of Wheat Seed with Hardwood Tar Oil in a Dust Formulation

Hardwood tar oil is a byproduct obtained in the manufacture of charcoal. Dusts impregnated with this oil have been used for more than a decade in some southern States to treat seeds before planting to repel birds after seeds are planted in the field. Also, treatment of seeds prior to storage was alleged to be of value in preventing rodent damage. Both kinds of vertebrate pests cause extensive damage which is diffcult to estimate accurately. Unfortunately, the apparent successful use of hardwood tar oil in practice has been based on “grower satisfaction” rather than on experimental data, so the future of this product for agricultural use may be uncertain. Yet, the potential for use of a natural product applied only once for protection of seeds against a wide range of agricultural pests offers interesting possibilities in developing a program for protection of seeds in storage and in the field after planting. This paper presents a summary of results obtained from laboratory tests made to determine effectiveness of hardwood tar oil in preventing 3 species of grain beetles from damaging wheat seed.
Phase I Trial Results of Iodine-131–Labeled Antitenascin Monoclonal Antibody 81C6 Treatment of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Malignant Gliomas

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of iodine-131 (131I)–labeled 81C6 antitenascin monoclonal antibody (mAb) administered clinically into surgically created resection cavities (SCRCs) in malignant glioma patients and to identify any objective responses with this treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase I trial, newly diagnosed patients with malignant gliomas with no prior external-beam therapy or chemotherapy were treated with a single injection of 131I-labeled 81C6 through a Rickham reservoir into the resection cavity. The initial dose was 20 mCi and escalation was in 20-mCi increments. Patients were observed for toxicity and response until death or for a minimum of 1 year after treatment. RESULTS: We treated 42 patients with 131I-labeled 81C6 mAb in administered doses up to 180 mCi. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed at doses greater than 120 mCi and consisted of delayed neurotoxicity. None of the patients developed major hematologic toxicity. Median survival for patients with ...
Section 8. Coastal Ocean Carbon Cycle from the Last Glacial Maximum into Late Preindustrial Time

![Figure 8.1][1] Figure 8.1 Leah May Ver of the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. May is a former Ph.D. student of Fred’s and collaborator of Andreas. May’s Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Hawaii dealt with the
Ultrametricity of Dissimilarity Spaces and Its Significance for Data Mining

We introduce a measure of ultrametricity for dissimilarity spaces and examine transformations of dissimilarities that impact this measure. Then, we study the influence of ultrametricity on the behavior of two classes of data mining algorithms (kNN classification and PAM clustering) applied on dissimilarity spaces. We show that there is an inverse variation between ultrametricity and performance of classifiers. For clustering, increased ultrametricity generate clusterings with better separation. Lowering ultrametricity produces more compact clusters.
Indications and outcomes for Draf IIB frontal sinus surgery.

Background Extended frontal surgery techniques are often required when maximal medical therapy and standard endoscopic surgical approaches fail in patients. Although outcomes of the Draf III (modified Lothrop) procedure have been widely reported, postoperative outcomes and indications for the Draf IIB frontal sinusotomy have been relatively underreported. We presented our institution's experience with the Draf IIB procedure. Methods Patients who underwent the Draf IIB frontal sinusotomy between 2007 and 2012 were identified by retrospective chart review. Data collected included demographics, imaging, sinus patency, and Sino-nasal Outcome Test 20 scores. Results A total of 22 Draf IIB frontal sinusotomies were performed in 18 patients. Thirteen of eighteen patients had previous frontal sinus surgery. The most common indications for the extended approach were chronic frontal sinusitis due to lateralized middle turbinate remnant (8 patients), mucocele (6), postoperative synechiae (5), and frontal sinus mass (3). Sinus ostium patency was maintained in 20 of 22 sinuses over an average follow-up period of 16.2 months. No complications were reported. Conclusions The Draf IIB frontal sinusotomy is a relatively safe procedure, with multiple indications. Long-term sinus ostium patency was maintained in >90% of operated sinuses, which indicated that the Draf IIB procedure may present an acceptable alternative to more aggressive extended frontal sinus approaches in selected patients.
Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations

Solve the simultaneous equations Ax = b Introduction In this chapter we look at the solution of n linear algebraic equations in n unknowns. It is by far the longest and arguably the most important topic in the book. There is a good reason for this – it is almost impossible to carry out numerical analysis of any sort without encountering simultaneous equations. Moreover, equation sets arising from physical problems are often very large, consuming a lot of computational resources. It is usually possible to reduce the storage requirements and the run time by exploiting special properties of the coefficient matrix, such as sparseness (most elements of a sparse matrix are zero). Hence there are many algorithms dedicated to the solution of large sets of equations, each one being tailored to a particular form of the coefficient matrix (symmetric, banded, sparse, etc.). A well-known collection of these routines is LAPACK – Linear Algebra PACKage, originally written in Fortran77. We cannot possibly discuss all the special algorithms in the limited space available. The best we can do is to present the basic methods of solution, supplemented by a few useful algorithms for banded and sparse coefficient matrices.
Forms of Historical Disruption

Historical materialism has always been confronted with the events that have placed one of its central precepts, the unity of history, in severe jeopardy. Marx’s scheme — according to which changes in the mode of production may be taken as the markers of different historical periods — operates at a level of abstraction so broad as to render its analytic value doubtful when faced with concrete historical developments. On the one hand, the mode of production is supposed to be constituted by antagonistic but mutually-dependent social classes. On the other hand, all issues such as culture and ideology are understood in their relation to the social totality, to the specific historical period of which they are a part. For Marxism, capitalism is a world system that tends towards uniformity on the basis of the hegemonic weight of commodity relations, and consequently its form of rationality.
Bleeding Diatheses: Approach to the Patient Who Bleeds or Has Abnormal Coagulation

Many complex elements contribute to normal hemostasis, and an imbalance of these elements may lead to abnormal bleeding. In addition to evaluating medication effects, the hematologist must evaluate for congenital or acquired deficiencies in coagulation factors and platelet disorders. This evaluation should include a thorough bleeding history with careful attention to prior hemostatic challenges and common laboratory testing, including coagulation studies and/or functional platelet assays. An accurate diagnosis of a bleeding diathesis and selection of appropriate treatment are greatly aided by a basic understanding of the mechanisms of disease and the tests used to diagnose them.
A kinetic model to study the regulation of β-catenin, APC, and Axin in the human colonic crypt.

The Wnt/ $$\beta $$ -catenin pathway plays a crucial role in stem cell renewal and differentiation in the normal human colonic crypt. The balance between $$\beta $$ -catenin and APC along the crypt axis determines its normal functionality. The mechanism that deregulates this balance may give insight into the initiation of colorectal cancer. This is significant because the spatial dysregulation of $$\beta $$ -catenin by the mutated tumor suppressor gene/protein APC in human colonic crypts is responsible for the initiation and growth of colorectal cancer. We consider a regulatory function that promotes APC synthesis within the cell and its effect on the accumulation of the Wnt target protein, $$\beta $$ -catenin. It is evident that an APC gradient exists along the crypt axis; however, the mechanism by which APC expression is regulated within the cell is not well known. We investigate the dynamics of an APC regulatory mechanism with an increased level of Axin at the subcellular level. Model output shows an increase of APC for a diminished Wnt signal, which explains the APC gradient along the crypt. We find that the dynamic interplay between $$\beta $$ -catenin, APC, and Axin produces oscillatory behavior, which is controlled by the Wnt stimulus. In the presence of reduced functional APC, the oscillations are amplified, which suggests that the cell remains in a more proliferative state for longer periods of time. Increased Axin levels (typical of mammalian cells) reduce oscillatory behavior and minimize the levels of $$\beta $$ -catenin within the cell while raising the levels of APC.
Linear theory and measurements of electron oscillations in an inertial Alfvén wave

The physics of the aurora is one of the foremost unsolved problems of space physics. The mechanisms responsible for accelerating electrons that precipitate onto the ionosphere are not fully understood. For more than three decades, particle interactions with inertial Alfven waves have been proposed as a possible means for accelerating electrons and generating auroras. Inertial Alfven waves have an electric field aligned with the background magnetic field that is expected to cause electron oscillations as well as electron acceleration. Due to the limitations of spacecraft conjunction studies and other multi-spacecraft approaches, it is unlikely that it will ever be possible, through spacecraft observations alone, to confirm definitively these fundamental properties of the inertial Alfven wave by making simultaneous measurements of both the perturbed electron distribution function and the Alfven wave responsible for the perturbations. In this laboratory experiment, the suprathermal tails of the reduced elect...