cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Imminent Aggression Onset in Minimally-Verbal Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Preceding Physiological Signals

We test the hypothesis that changes in preceding physiological arousal can be used to predict imminent aggression proximally before it occurs in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are minimally verbal (MV-ASD). We evaluate this hypothesis through statistical analyses performed on physiological biosensor data wirelessly recorded from 20 MV-ASD youth over 69 independent naturalistic observations in a hospital inpatient unit. Using ridge-regularized logistic regression, results demonstrate that, on average, our models are able to predict the onset of aggression 1 minute before it occurs using 3 minutes of prior data with a 0.71 AUC for global, and a 0.84 AUC for person-dependent models.
Evaluation of Indoor Localisation Systems: Comments on the ISO/IEC 18305 Standard

Indoor localisation systems have been studied in the literature for more than ten years and are starting to approach the market. The absence of standard evaluation methods is one of the obstacles to their adoption outside of customised environments. Specifically, the definition of benchmarking methodologies, common evaluation criteria, standardised methodologies useful to developers, testers, and end users is an open challenge. The need for common benchmarks has been tackled by some initiatives in recent years: EvAAL, EVARILOS, the Microsoft competition and the IPIN competition. The first formal attempt at defining a standard methodology to evaluate indoor localisation systems is the ISO/IEC 18305:2016 International Standard, which defines a complete framework for performing Test&Evaluation of localisation and tracking systems. This work is a first critical reading of the standard, intended to be a key contribution to the activities of the International Standards Committee of IPIN.
Slav Outposts in Central European History: The Wends, Sorbs and Kashubs: Stone, Gerald, New York: Bloomsbury Academic 408 pp., $35.95, ISBN 978-1-4725-9209-5 Publication Date: December 2015

Gerald Stone has provided us with a valuable history of the other Western Slavs—in the first instance, the Wends and, then, the Sorbs and Kashubs—from medieval times to the end of the twentieth cen...
Quantitative Mapping of Endosomal DNA Processing by Single Molecule Counting

Extracellular DNA is engulfed by innate immune cells and digested by endosomal DNase II to generate an immune response. Quantitative information on endosomal stage-specific cargo processing is a critical parameter to predict and model the innate immune response. Biochemical assays quantify endosomal processing but lack organelle-specific information, while fluorescence microscopy has provided the latter without the former. Herein, we report a single molecule counting method based on fluorescence imaging that quantitatively maps endosomal processing of cargo DNA in innate immune cells with organelle-specific resolution. Our studies reveal that endosomal DNA degradation occurs mainly in lysosomes and is negligible in late endosomes. This method can be used to study cargo processing in diverse endocytic pathways and measure stage-specific activity of processing factors in endosomes.
BreakCA, a method to discover indels using ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq reads, finds recurrent indels in regulatory regions of neuroblastoma genomes

Abstract Most known cancer driver mutations are within protein coding regions of the genome, however, there are several important examples of oncogenic non-coding regulatory mutations. We developed a method to identify insertions and deletions (indels) in regulatory regions using aligned reads from chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) or the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC-seq). Our method, which we call BreakCA for Breaks in Chromatin Accessible regions, allows non-coding indels to be discovered in the absence of whole genome sequencing data, out-performs popular variant callers such as the GATK-HaplotypeCaller and VarScan2, and detects known oncogenic regulatory mutations in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. We apply BreakCA to identify indels in H3K27ac ChIP-seq peaks in 23 neuroblastoma cell lines and, after removing common germline variants, we identify 23 rare germline or somatic indels that occur in multiple neuroblastoma cell lines. Among them, 4 indels are candidate oncogenic drivers that are present in 4 or 5 cell lines, absent from the genome aggregation database of over 15,000 whole genome sequences, and within the promoters or first introns of known genes (PHF21A, ADAMTS19, GPR85 and RALGDS). In addition, we observe a rare 7bp germline deletion in two cell lines, which is associated with high expression of the histone demethylase KDM5B. Overexpression of KDM5B is prognostic for many cancers and further characterization of this indel as a potential oncogenic risk factor is therefore warranted.
Transformed ECG Signals Highlight Similarities Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Apnea due to Seizure-Induced Laryngospasm.

CITATIONStewart M. Transformed ECG signals highlight similarities between obstructive sleep apnea and obstructive apnea due to seizure-induced laryngospasm. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(12):1859.
Chapter 7 – Psychosocial Stress: Neuroendocrine and Immune Effects

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on psychosocial stress and how it affects endocrine, neural, and immune activity, particularly in humans. The psychological characteristics of individuals are part of what determines how changes in social and nonsocial conditions affect the individual's psychological equilibrium. Activation of the pituitary—adrenal axis is a defining characteristic of stress, although individual differences in the extent of such activation exist. The research on primates illustrates the impact of social context. Subjects who have a lower rank in the social group have higher levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. The experience of individual animals can be drastically different even within a relatively stable hierarchy. For instance, an individual of intermediate rank that is subjected to frequent challenges by lower ranking individuals will tend to have a higher cortisol level than the lowest ranking individual. Stress causes changes in the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and more generally the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The Revolution in Investment Advisor Regulation

Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) have been engaged in radical revisions of their respective regulatory regimes for investment advisers that provide advice to retail clients. In contrast, most of the discussion in the United States has focused on whether broker-dealers should be subjected to some form of fiduciary duty and whether investment advisers need their own self-regulatory organization. The reforms in Australia and the United Kingdom have been particularly radical in severely restricting the types of compensation that can be paid to an investment adviser by a financial institution that has created the product that the investment adviser is advising a retail client to purchase. Other important reforms have been suggested in Australia and enacted in the UK that involve investment advisers, but this article focuses on changes to compensation paid to an investment adviser by a retail client for advice.
PUMA gene in cancer treatment

PUMA (p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis) is a recently discovered Bcl-2 family member which could be rapidly induced by p53 and has strong pro-apoptotic effects.PUMA has attracted much attention in the research of life science.PUMA expression results in potent growth suppression of some cancer cells through induction of apoptosis.PUMA can also significantly sensitize some cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation through induction of apoptosis.PUMA is potentially useful in gene therapy of tumor.But recently,researchers have also found that PUMA participates in the process of carcinogenesis and possessed important biological functions. Key words: Apoptosis; Neoplasms; Gene therapy; PUMA gene
Stoicism (as Emotional Compression) Is Emotional Labor

The criticism of “traditional,” “toxic,” or “patriarchal” masculinity in both academic and popular venues recognizes that there is some sense in which the character traits and tendencies that are associated with masculinity are structurally connected to oppressive, gendered social practices and patriarchal social structures. One important theme of criticism centers on the gender distribution of emotional labor, generally speaking, but this criticism is also particularly meaningful in the context of heterosexual romantic relationships. I begin with the premise that there is a gendered and asymmetrical distribution in how much emotional labor is performed, but I also consider that there might be meaningful and informative distinctions in what kind of emotional labor is characteristically performed by different genders. Specifically, I argue that the social norms around stoicism and restricted emotional expression are masculine-coded forms of emotional labor, and that they are potentially prosocial. Responding to structural and interpersonal asymmetries of emotional labor could well involve supplementing or better cultivating this aspect of male socialization rather than discarding it.
Reduced Poleward Transport Due to Stratospheric Heating Under Stratospheric Aerosols Geoengineering

By injecting SO2 into the stratosphere at four latitudes (30°, 15° N/S), it might be possible not only to reduce global mean surface temperature but also to minimize changes in the equator-...
Ottoman-Iranian Borderlands: Making a Boundary, 1843–1914

Introduction 1. The Kurdish frontier in Ottoman-Qajar relations 2. Laying the ground: the concert of Zagros 3. The long journey of the first survey commission 4. The borderland between the Crimean War and Berlin congress 5. Sunnis for the sultan: the Ottoman occupation of northwestern Iran, 1905-12 6. Boundary at last Conclusion.
Peridynamic modeling of bonded-lap joints with viscoelastic adhesives in the presence of finite deformation

Abstract This study concerns damage initiation and its progression in bonded-lap joints with adhesives under quasi-static loading conditions. The weak form of peridynamic (PD) equilibrium equation is derived based on the nonlinear response of elastic adherends and viscoelastic adhesives. The peridynamic deformation gradient tensor is evaluated in the bond-associated domain of interaction using the PD differential operator. The fidelity of this approach is established in the absence of failure by comparison with benchmark solutions for relaxation and creep response under simple loading conditions. Subsequently, the PD predictions in a domain of two dissimilar elastic and viscoelastic materials are verified against the finite element predictions. Finally, a double-lap and a single-lap joint are considered for failure initiation and growth. The PD predictions successfully capture the deformation response and damage initiation sites and propagation paths.
Electromechanical Wave Imaging With Machine Learning for Automated Isochrone Generation

Standard Electromechanical Wave Imaging isochrone generation relies on manual selection of zero-crossing (ZC) locations on incremental strain curves for a number of pixels in the segmented myocardium for each echocardiographic view and patient. When considering large populations, this becomes a time-consuming process, that can be limited by inter-observer variability and operator bias. In this study, we developed and optimized an automated ZC selection algorithm, towards a faster more robust isochrone generation approach. The algorithm either relies on heuristic-based baselines or machine learning classifiers. Manually generated isochrones, previously validated against 3D intracardiac mapping, were considered as ground truth during training and performance evaluation steps. The machine learning models applied herein for the first time were: i) logistic regression; ii) support vector machine (SVM); and iii) Random Forest. The SVM and Random Forest classifiers successfully identified accessory pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White patients, characterized sinus rhythm in humans, and localized the pacing electrode location in left ventricular paced canines on the resulting isochrones. Nevertheless, the best performing classifier was proven to be Random Forest with a precision rising from 89.5% to 97%, obtained with the voting approach that sets a probability threshold upon ZC candidate selection. Furthermore, the predictivity was not dependent on the type of testing dataset it was applied to, contrary to SVM that exhibited a 5% drop in precision on the canine testing dataset. Finally, these findings indicate that a machine learning approach can reduce user variability and considerably decrease the durations required for isochrone generation, while preserving accurate activation patterns.
Coupling Shared and Tunable Negative Competition Against Winner-Take-All Resource Competition Via CRISPRi Moieties

Competition for cellular resources often indirectly creates unintended connections between otherwise independent genetic modules, leading to loss of modularity and impairment of intended circuit function. Both global and local negative feedback control strategies have been widely-used as attempts to mitigate the undesired effects of resource competition. However, these controllers demonstrate limited tunability and scalability with increasing circuit complexity. Our previous work attempting to achieve two successive cell fate transitions via cascading bistable switches demonstrates how resource competition can lead to winner-take-all (WTA) dynamics that deviate from the intended behavior. Here, we attempt to remediate these issues by synthetically introducing a shared and tunable system of negatively competitive regulation (NCR), incorporating repressive CRISPR moieties to free up cellular resources from the winner module to a degree proportional to its activity. This system punishes transcriptional modules that take up more than their fair share of resources while having minimal effect on modules operating within normal activity ranges. We compare this novel mode of regulation to global and local negative feedback controllers and demonstrate the significantly increased efficacy of controlling WTA resource competition NCR can achieve. Thus, we provide an alternative strategy for controlling resource competition.
Estimating drift and minorization coefficients for Gibbs sampling algorithms

Gibbs samplers are common Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms that are used to sample from intractable probability distributions when sampling directly from full conditional distributions is possible. These types of MCMC algorithms come up frequently in many applications, and because of their popularity it is important to have a sense of how long it takes for the Gibbs sampler to become close to its stationary distribution. To this end, it is common to rely on the values of drift and minorization coefficients to bound the mixing time of the Gibbs sampler. This manuscript provides a computational method for estimating these coefficients. Herein, we detail the several advantages of the proposed methods, as well as the limitations of this approach. These limitations are primarily related to the “curse of dimensionality”, which for these methods is caused by necessary increases in the numbers of initial states from which chains need be run and the need for an exponentially increasing number of grid points for estimation of minorization coefficients.
Variations in Nuss Procedure Operative Techniques and Complications: A Retrospective Review

Introduction The Nuss procedure is the most common and preferred operative correction of pectus excavatum. Surgeon preference and patient factors can result in variations in Nuss procedure technique. We hypothesize that certain techniques are associated with increased risk of complications. Materials and Methods We performed a single-center retrospective review of Nuss operations from 2016 to 2020. Variations in intraoperative techniques included sternal elevator (SE) use, number of bars placed, and usage of bilateral stabilizing sutures. Patient demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were reported as median with interquartile ranges or percentages. Statistical significance (p Results Two hundred and sixty-five patients were identified. Patients repaired with two bars were older with a larger Haller index (HI). Patient demographics were not significantly different for SE or stabilizing suture use. Placement of two bars was associated with significantly increased risk of readmission. Similarly, SE use was associated with increased risk of pleural effusion and readmission. Finally, the use of bilateral stabilizing sutures resulted in less frequent slipped bars without statistical significance. Conclusion Older patients with a larger HI were more likely to need two bars placed to repair pectus excavatum. Placement of multiple bars and SE use are associated with significantly higher odds of certain complications.
Therapeutic use of intravenous eptifibatide in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: acute coronary syndromes and elective stenting.

Eptifibatide, a molecule isolated from the venom of the southeastern pygmy rattlesnake, selectively inhibits the platelet receptor IIb/IIIa. The safety and clinical efficacy of eptifibatide in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was first evaluated in the Integrilin to Minimize Platelet Aggregation and Coronary Thrombosis (IMPACT) trial. In this study, the primary combined endpoint (composite of death, myocardial infarction [MI] or target vessel revascularization [TVR] at 30 days) occurred in 9.6% of the patients assigned to eptifibatide bolus followed by the 4-hour infusion versus 12.2% in the placebo group (p = 0.67). In the IMPACT-II trial, two different eptifibatide dosages were studied in 4011 patients undergoing elective PCI. The primary endpoint (death, MI, TVR or stent placement for threatened vessel closure at 30 days) occurred in 11.6% in the placebo group versus 9.1% in the 135/0.5 eptifibatide group (p = 0.035) and 10% in the 135/0.75 eptifibatide group (p = 0.18). The Enhanced Suppression of Platelet IIb/IIIa Receptor with Integrilin Therapy (ESPRIT) trial studied a dose of eptifibatide 3- to 4-fold higher than that used in IMPACT II trial in patients undergoing non-emergent coronary artery stenting (two 180 μg/kg bolus doses 10 minutes apart). The 6-month composite endpoint (death, MI, TVR and ‘bailout’ eptifibatide use) occurred in 18.3% of patients in the placebo group versus 14.2% in the eptifibatide group (p = 0.008) and was maintained at 12 months (22.1% in the placebo group vs 17.5% in the eptifibatide group, p = 0.0068). The Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in Unstable Angina: Receptor Suppression Using Integrilin Therapy (PURSUIT) study in 10 948 patients was designed to study the effect of eptifibatide in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) using two different dosages (180 μg/kg bolus followed by an infusion of either 1.3 μg/kg/min or 2 μg/kg/min. The primary endpoint, a composite of death or MI at 30 days, occurred in 15.7% of placebo-treated patients and 14.2% of eptifibatide-treated patients (p = 0.042). This difference was maintained at 7 days (11.6% in the placebo group vs 10.1% in the eptifibatide group, p = 0.016) and at 30 days (15.7% in the placebo group vs 14.2% in the eptifibatide group). In the eptifibatide studies, the rates of major bleeding were 0.7% (0.5% in the control group) in ESPRIT and 2.1% (1.3% in the placebo group) in PURSUIT. The incidence of intracranial bleeding was 0.2% in ESPRIT (0.1% in the placebo group) and 0.7% in PURSUIT (0.8% in the placebo group). Significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20 000/μL) was reported in 0.2% of the patients receiving eptifibatide in the ESPRIT trial (0% in the placebo group) and in <1% in PURSUIT (<1% in the placebo group). In summary, several clinical trials have demonstrated a clear-cut reduction in a variety of ischemic events in patients receiving eptifibatide as adjunctive pharmacotherapy during PCI.
Corticotropin-releasing factor: long-lasting facilitation of the acoustic startle reflex

Intracerebroventricular infusion of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) (0.1–1.0 micrograms) produced a pronounced, dose-dependent enhancement of the acoustic startle reflex in rats. This excitatory effect began about 20–30 min after infusion, grew steadily over the 2 hr test period, and lasted at least 6 hr. Higher doses of CRF (10 micrograms) often produced marked facilitation and then inhibition of startle that oscillated repeatedly with a period of 10–20 min. CRF- enhanced startle did not result from an increase in sensitization produced by repetition of the startle stimulus or from a blockade of habituation. Peripheral injections of the autonomic ganglionic blockers hexamethonium (10 mg/kg) or chlorisondamine (3 mg/kg) slightly attenuated the magnitude of CRF-enhanced startle, suggesting a partial role of peripheral sympathetic activation. Intracerebroventricular infusion of the CRF antagonist alpha-helical CRF9–41 (alpha hCRF; 25 or 50 micrograms) blocked CRF-enhanced startle when infused 5 min prior to CRF, indicating a central site of action. CRF-enhanced startle also was reversed when alpha hCRF was given 90 min after infusion of CRF. This suggests that exogenously applied CRF remains in the brain for a very long time after administration or that CRF given exogenously initiates a process that results in a long-lasting activation of endogenous CRF. Because the startle reflex is elevated by both conditioned and unconditioned fear, these data lend further support to the idea that CRF infusion produces a behavioral state that resembles fear or anxiety. Because startle is mediated by a well-defined neural pathway, CRF-enhanced startle may provide a useful behavioral assay to analyze the neural systems upon which exogenous CRF acts to produce its behavioral effects.
A factor present in fetal calf serum enhances oncogene-induced transformation of rodent fibroblasts.

Abstract Our previous studies indicated that addition of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or teleocidin to Dulbecco modified Eagle medium supplemented with calf serum enhanced T24-induced focus formation in both the murine C3H 10T1/2 and rat 6 embryo fibroblast cell lines. In the present studies we have found that fetal calf serum (FCS) is more potent than 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in enhancing T24-induced focus formation, in terms of the number and size of the foci, in both C3H 10T1/2 and rat 6 cells. Time course studies indicate that FCS can exert this enhancing effect when it is added several days after the transfection with T24 DNA. In rat 6 cells, an 11-fold increase in T24-induced focus formation occurred when the transfected cultures were maintained for only 1 day in 5% FCS, starting 4 days after the transfection. Several known growth factors, including epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factors alpha and beta, insulin, and platelet-derived growth factor, did not enhance T24-induced transformation in these cell systems. Fractionation studies indicate that the factor present in FCS has a molecular weight of about 1,300, is not lipid soluble, and is acid, base, and heat stable. These findings suggest that a factor(s) normally present in serum may enhance the emergence of tumor cells in vivo, by acting in concert with an activated oncogene, during the multistage carcinogenic process.
Optimized 60-V Lateral Dmos Devices for Vlsi Power Applications

High-performance, 60-V, Lateral DMOS (LDMOS) devices have been studied for VLSI intelligent power applications, where, along with high analog and logic density, high-power density is also required. Through proper optimization with 2-D process and device simulations, a specific on-resistance of 1.24mΩ-cm^2 has been realized, using a minimum feature size of 1μm. This is the best reported performance level for an LDMOS device in this voltage range. The device uses a conventional structure which allows several isolated devices to be integrated on the same chip, permitting the fabrication of high-side, low-side, and H-bridge drivers for automotive and electronic data processing applications.
Molecular diagnostics of neurodegenerative disorders

Molecular diagnostics provide a powerful method to detect and diagnose various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The confirmation of such diagnosis allows early detection and subsequent medical counseling that help specific patients to undergo clinically important drug trials. This provides a medical pathway to have better insight of neurogenesis and eventual cure of the neurodegenerative diseases. In this short review, we present recent advances in molecular diagnostics especially biomarkers and imaging spectroscopy for neurological diseases. We describe advances made in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington's disease (HD), and finally present a perspective on the future directions to provide a framework for further developments and refinements of molecular diagnostics to combat neurodegenerative disorders.
Accelerated education program in biomedical engineering

This paper describes a new nine-month, non-degree accelerated engineering program for displaced engineers and scientists being offered by the University of California, Irvine. This program began in the fall of 1994 as part of the Technology Outreach Program in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. The curriculum includes regular engineering as well as custom courses covering subjects expected to be known by practicing engineers, such as engineering economics, statistical design and state-of-the-art technology issues. >
Sterility in Wild Roses and in Some Species Hybrids.

Page 423, line 5, for "II 6" read "IV 6." Page 423, line 12, for "IV 13, IV 15" read "IV 14, IV 16." Page 427, line 6, for "II (6)" read "II (4)." Page 428, line 1, for "son" read "daughter." Page 428, line 11, for "add myopia" read "and myopia." Page 8, footnote, for "1\_\_\_|\\_\__| ex2/2σ2
Building business processes using a state transition model on World Wide Web

Describes a state transition model to build a business process using the World Wide Web (WWW) as the user interface. A process is modeled as a collection of states, with each task represented by one state and several types of transition between states. The workflow model proposed in this paper allows the user to execute tasks concurrently, thus reducing the overall execution time. The design of the system to support integrated workflow and implementation issues using ODBC and WWW is discussed in the paper. This system allows users to collaborate on a job in distributed environment.
The use of breast conserving surgery: linking insurance claims with tumor registry data

Background The purpose of this study was to use insurance claims and tumor registry data to examine determinants of breast conserving surgery (BCS) in women with early stage breast cancer.
Many good choice Axioms: When can many-good lotteries be treated as money lotteries?

Abstract Without the Independence Axiom, a weaker substitution axiom, “ADI”, is necessary for the preferences over money lotteries induced by the money metric utility function to be well behaved. Given ADI, the agent's preferences over many-good lotteries can be reconstructed from knowledge of preferences over money lotteries and over sure multivariate outcomes. Moreover, other substitution properties of underlying many-good lottery preferences are inherited by the money lottery preferences. We analyze the formal and intuitive nature of ADI and conclude that analysis of choice under uncertainty without ADI cannot be one dimensional.
Phenotypic and functional characteristics of FIV infection in the bone marrow stroma.

Abstract Human (HIV) and feline (FIV) immunodeficiency virus has been reported to infect bone marrow (BM) and stroma, followed by a loss in normal hematopoiesis. However, the magnitude and nature of HIV and FIV pathogenesis of the BM/stromal network are still unclear. In the current studies, pathogenesis of stromal cells was evaluated using the FIV model. Fourteen specific-pathogen-free cats inoculated with the four different strains (FIV UK8 , FIV Bang , FIV Shi , or FIV Pet ) were monitored for FIV infection in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), BM cells, and stromal cells. All inoculated cats became positive for FIV in the PBMC by 7 weeks p.i. and 13 of 14 cats had FIV in the BM cells by 7–13 weeks p.i. FIV was detected in macrophages and stromal fibroblasts from FIV UK8 -, FIV Bang -, and FIV Shi -infected cats but not from FIV Pet -infected cats and only transiently in cells from FIV Shi -infected cats. The ability of the supernatants from FIV-infected stromal cells to sustain the growth of uninfected BM cells was decreased 35–46% when compared to the supernatants from uninfected stromal cells. These results suggest that the FIV infection of the stroma alters normal hempatopoietic function(s) and that the infected stromal cells can also serve as a reservoir for FIV infection.
An Automatic Apparatus for the Evacuation and Filling of Several Anaerobic Jars Simultaneously

1 An apparatus is described that will automatically evacuate and refill with gas up to four standard anaerobic jars, simultaneously. 2 The control valves can be switched manually when large anaerobic vessels, such as modified milk churns are in use.
Tight bounds on plurality

We show that (n-1/2) pairwise equality comparisons are necessary and sufficient (in the worst case) to find a plurality in n colored balls.
“Will the Internet Ever Replace Colleges and Universities as We Know it Today?” An Internet Discussion about the Future of Higher Education

Abstract This paper explores a nearly 400-comment online discussion regarding higher education and the impact technology and the Internet has or will likely have on its future. From “I predict only 200 research brick and mortar universities will be alive and provide online programs” to “online education is growing, but the early research shows that blended learning is the best for students”, the diversity of comments provides a varied spectrum of thought concerning the future of higher education. The results of the discussion of over 50 professionals on a Linkedin discussion group of higher education professionals suggests that technology will play a major in higher education role but traditional institutions will continue to be around for the foreseeable future.
Targeting of tetraspanin proteins — potential benefits and strategies

The tetraspanin transmembrane proteins have emerged as key players in malignancy, the immune system, during fertilization and infectious disease processes. Tetraspanins engage in a wide range of specific molecular interactions, occurring through the formation of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs). TEMs therefore serve as a starting point for understanding how tetraspanins affect cell signalling, adhesion, morphology, motility, fusion and virus infection. An abundance of recent evidence suggests that targeting tetraspanins, for example, by monoclonal antibodies, soluble large-loop proteins or RNAi technology, should be therapeutically beneficial.
Long-term semi-permanent catheter use for the palliation of malignant ascites.

Abstract Background. Malignant ascites is a common complication of advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer and multiple other neoplasms, causing significant patient morbidity as well as a large treatment obstacle for the physician. While multiple methods of peritoneal drainage have been reported, including large volume therapeutic paracentesis, peritoneogastric, peritoneourinary, and peritoneovenous shunting procedures, peritoneal port-a-catheter placement and hemodialysis catheter drainage, all have their associated limitations and adverse effects. Case. We report off label semi-permanent catheter placement in a patient for treatment of malignant ascites that functioned effectively with drainage of 2 l daily for approximately 18 months, the longest reported use in the literature. Conclusion. Long-term semi-permanent catheter use is a potentially valuable modality for the palliation of malignant ascites.
Theoretical Studies of the Mechanism of the Gas Phase Reaction of the Hydroperoxo Radical with Carbon Monoxide To Form Hydroxyl Radical and Carbon Dioxide

A previous study of the proposed intermediate chain free radical, HOOC•O, in the reaction HO2 + CO → OH + CO2 is refined and extended. Standard ab initio methods are used to establish transition states and their energies and geometries. Confidence for the methods is reinforced by finding that our value of ΔH°298 = 242.7 kJ for reactants → products is very close to ΔH°298 = 246.1 ± 8.4 kJ obtained from thermochemical tables. We obtain an energy for the transition state to form the radical of 92.9 kJ mol-1, in good agreement with the experimental value of 96.0 kJ mol-1 derived from high-temperature data. Part of this high activation energy comes from the strength of the O−O bond in HO2, which may be stabilized by three-electron bond resonance. The ground state HOOC•O radical is at 48.5 kJ mol-1 and the transition state from radical to products is at 79.8 kJ mol-1 above the reactants, so once the intermediate is formed, an activation energy of only 31.3 kJ mol-1 is required to form the products of the reacti...
Structure-activity relationships among aromatic analogs of trail-following pheromone of subterranean termites.

A series of 12 substituted (Z)-4-phenyl-3-buten-l-ol (PBO) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for trail-following activity in five species of subterranean termites in the generaCoptotermes, Prorhinotermes, Reticulitermes, andSchedorhinotermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). The unsubstituted parent PBO was the most active for all species, and electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups both reduced potency. Sensitivity to substitution in the ortho position suggests steric inhibition of binding by the 2'-substituted analogs. Different sensitivities to these pheromone analogs were found among the five species, withR.flavipes andS. lamanianus showing the highest level of trail-following activity for the PBO analogs.
Two Case Studies on Data Sensitivity of Wireless Sensor Network Algorithms and our Proposal on Scalable, Synthetic Data Generation

Sensor network research is still in its infancy. There is a large volume of exploratory research. From lack of experimental data and sophisticated models derived from such data, many sensor network publications continue to use data generated from simple models in their algorithm evaluation. It is commonly agreed that data processing algorithms in sensor networks are sensitive to input data. However, no previous efforts have been devoted to quantitatively characterize the range of the algorithm performance when evaluated using different data input.
Synthesis of poly(phosphonosiloxane) and its cyclic monomer via hydrosilylation and Phosphonylation of vinylbenzyl chloride

Phosphonylation of polysiloxane and cyclosiloxane oligomers is described. Hydrosilylation of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) with a poly(methylhydrosiloxane), or its cyclic monomer, followed by phosphonylation with triethyl phosphite leads to the production of stable phosphonosiloxanes that are characterized by SiC and CP bonds. The polymer, which is a liquid with a glass transition temperature of −38.3 °C, is soluble in alcohols and an alcohol and water mixture. The phosphonylated siloxanes dissolve and chelate uranyl nitrate and transition metal salts. The hydrosilylation of VBC yields α and β isomers: SiCH2CH2 and SiCH(CH3); the ratio between these two depends upon the type of solvent and the reaction conversion. A kinetic study of the hydrosilylation reaction of VBC suggests a second order in respect to the reactants. The reaction rate is dependent upon the catalyst concentration and temperature. Hydrosilylation of vinylbenzyl phosphonate could not be accomplished with the platinum (complex) catalyst; this is attributed to the presence of phosphoryl groups that are strong electron donors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4043–4053, 1999
Development of an optical trap as an ultrasensitive analytical tool

The use of an optical trap for the quantitative detection of small numbers of radioactive atoms is featured. Presently under construction is a system consisting of a high-efficiency magneto-optical trap (MOT) coupled to a mass separator. Mass-separated samples will be implanted into a thin platinum foil, subsequently released from the foil by heating, and resonantly trapped in the MOT. The number of atoms in the trap will be quantitatively deduced from the amplitude of the fluorescence signal. Measurements for different isotopes are planned by appropriately shifting the trapping and repumping laser frequencies of the optical trap. Our initial investigations will concentrate on the determination of trace amounts of {sup 135}Cs and {sup 137}Cs.
The Use of Lifestyle and Behavioral Modification Approaches in Obesity Interventions for Black Women A Literature Review

The alarming obesity prevalence in Black women is well documented yet poorly understood. Obesity interventions for Black women have failed to produce long-term reductions in weight. Recommendations to incorporate a lifestyle and behavioral modification approach have been made to address obesity in this population. The purpose of this article was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature to identify lifestyle and behavioral modification obesity intervention studies for Black women. We included articles published between February 1992 and January 2013. This search identified 28 articles from the PsycInfo, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases. Results of these studies were summarized primarily into six categories. The importance of modest improvements in health outcomes that result from adapting healthier behaviors was highlighted. Future research is required for identifying the most salient intervention component or combination of components that lead to the best outcomes for ensuring intervention success and minimizing weight regain postintervention.
An Off-Axis Cassegrain Optimal Design for Short Focal Length Parabolic Solar Concentrators

The present work addresses an off-axis Cassegrain optical concentration system. The specific primary collector analyzed, a short focal length parabolic concentrator, is at the University of Florida`s Energy Park. A secondary hyperbolic reflective element was designed to redirect the solar radiation from the primary focal plane to an off-axis target on the polar axis of the primary concentrator. This ground level target will be required for planned experimental work. The analysis was performed using a numerical ray tracing procedure that incorporates both random and systematic errors due to slope and surface irregularities. The optimization process varied secondary element size, curvature, and offset angle, and yielded information required for optimum design. As a single secondary element was found impractical, three elements were designed for use at various time of the year. The numerical analysis predicts that typically 70 to 75 percent of the solar flux incident on the primary concentrator aperture was focused within a 0.5-meter radius. During the design, it was found that this type of compact concentration system is a practical alternative. The optical system is also shown to have advantages that are generally applicable for problems involving short focal length primary concentrators, or when the solar apparatus ismore » to be placed outside the primary collector aperture.« less
Silicone thorax: a complication of tube thoracostomy in the presence of mammary implants

Rupture of silicone breast implants is usually either iatrogenic or due to trauma. We present a case of blunt chest wall trauma in a patient with bilateral breast implants. Emergency chest tube thoracostomy resulted in rupture of one of the prostheses and caused subsequent migration of silicone into the chest cavity, where it led to empyema. The patient ultimately required a thoracotomy to evacuate the silicone and decorticate the lung. Review of the literature and methods to avoid this complication are described.
Heavy bottom squark mass in the light gluino and light bottom squark scenario

Abstract Restrictive upper bounds on the heavy bottom squark mass when the gluino and one bottom squark are both light are based on the predicted reduction of R b (the fraction of Z hadronic decays to b b pairs) in such a scenario. These bounds are found to be relaxed by the process Z→b b g / b b g , which may partially compensate for the reduction of R b . The relaxation of bounds on the top squark and the scale-dependence of the strong coupling constant are also discussed.
SMALL‐SAMPLE EQUATING WITH PRIOR INFORMATION

This report proposes an empirical Bayes approach to the problem of equating scores on test forms taken by very small numbers of test takers. The equated score is estimated separately at each score point, making it unnecessary to model either the score distribution or the equating transformation. Prior information comes from equatings of other test forms, with an appropriate adjustment for possible differences in test length.
SU(3) projection operator as a polynomial in the generators

Abstract Any problem involving the projection of a state of definite SU(3) weight onto an arbitrary irreducible representation is equivalent to a problem involving projection onto the identity representation. Simple expressions are obtained, as power series in the generators, for the operator which performs this latter projection onto the identity representation of SU(3).
Genetic mouse models of Huntington’s disease: focus on electrophysiological mechanisms

The discovery of the HD (Huntington's disease) gene in 1993 led to the creation of genetic mouse models of the disease and opened the doors for mechanistic studies. In particular, the early changes and progression of the disease could be followed and examined systematically. The present review focuses on the contribution of these genetic mouse models to the understanding of functional changes in neurons as the HD phenotype progresses, and concentrates on two brain areas: the striatum, the site of most conspicuous pathology in HD, and the cortex, a site that is becoming increasingly important in understanding the widespread behavioural abnormalities. Mounting evidence points to synaptic abnormalities in communication between the cortex and striatum and cell-cell interactions as major determinants of HD symptoms, even in the absence of severe neuronal degeneration and death.
Importance of Calcium for Acetylcholine-evoked Salivary Secretion

ONE of the functions of the chemical transmitter acetylcholine is to evoke secretion. How it does this is unknown; but recent evidence1 indicates that, at one of its sites of action, the adrenal medulla, acetylcholine stimulates secretion through some calcium -dependent process. Thus, the stimulant effect of acetylcholine on catecholamine release was found to vary with the extracellular calcium concentration over a wide range, and calcium itself in certain circumstances proved an adequate stimulus for secretion. These observations considered along with the known ability of acetylcholine to increase membrane permeability at various sites led to the suggestion that acetylcholine evokes catecholamine secretion by promoting the influx of calcium into the chromaffin cells1. This idea gains support from experiments showing that acetylcholine increases the uptake of calcium-45 by the adrenal medulla2.
Doubly resonant intracavity generation of second harmonic of 1153-nm radiation with stabilization on hyperfine structure components of 127 I 2

A novel composite cavity laser containing an He–Ne plasma tube, a heated LiNbO3 crystal, and a cell of iodine vapor has been used to generate 1153-nm (260-THz) radiation in a single mode and to double the frequency of this radiation into the yellow part of the visible spectrum at 576 nm (520 THz). By resonating the yellow light in the cavity, Doppler-free hyperfine structure components of the P(62) line in the strong 17-1 band of 127I2 are readily observed in saturated absorption and used for stabilization.
Some genetic traits in Solomon Island populations. III. Relative toe length

Among 1,605 Solomon Islanders from four tribes, there was no sex difference in relative length of the first and second toes. In three of the tribes, longer first toes were slightly more frequent in persons over the age of 45. The percentages of longer first toes in the groups as a whole were 60.5% for Baegu, 66.4% for Nasioi, and 72.1% for Kwaio. These frequencies, resembling those reported for white Americans, Europeans, and single small samples of New Caledonians and Vietnamese, were much below those for Africans. The fourth tribe, the Lau, had only 37.1% with a longer first toe, the lowest percentage reproted so far around the world. No simple mode of single-gene inheritance was apparent, and polygenic inheritance is proposed.
Quadrature phase sampling of a fibre interferometer by input-polarisation switching

A technique for the generation of quadrature phase components at the output of a fibre interferometer using input polarisation modulation is described. This approach allows a passive path-balanced sensor interferometer to be remotely interrogated using a simple concept based on polarisation switching of the input state of polarisation coupled to the interferometer.
Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of diols and tetrols from reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon epoxides with hemoglobin

We have evaluated both electron ionization (EI) and negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) methods for the analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives of a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) alcohols including styrene diol, benzo[e]pyrene diol and tetrols, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene diols, benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-diols, chrysene tetrols, benz[a]anthracene tetrols I and II, and syn- and anti-benzo[a]pyrene tetrols. NICI is the more sensitive method for all compounds except styrene diol. Detection limits are compound-dependent and range from 1 fmol for cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene diol to 1 pmol for benzo[e]pyrene diol. The EI detection limit for styrene diol is 60 fmol. PAH alcohols related to the compounds listed above were observed following hydrolysis of hemoglobin which had been reacted with PAH epoxides in vitro. Benzo[a]pyrene tetrols and a chrysene tetrol were observed following hydrolysis of hemoglobin isolated from human smokers' blood. Hydrolysis of styrene oxide treated hemoglobin in 18O-labeled water revealed at least two mechanisms of ester hydrolysis, including the BAL 1 pathway.
Autogravity waves in a polytropic layer

Abstract We study nonlinear waves in polytropic slabs under the joint influence of both self-gravitational and externally imposed gravitational fields. In the long wavelength limit, these obey nonlinear evolution equations akin to the Boussinesq and the KdV equations, with modifications resulting from the effects of self-gravity, or autogravity. We present pole solutions of these equations, including, in particular, a travelling solitary wave. These are surface gravity waves that we call autogravity waves because they are excited by selfgravity.
A solar hydrogen house

SYNOPSIS This paper presents preliminary design considerations of a solar hydrogen system for energy supply of a single family house. With such a system, a house can be energy self-sufficient using a photovoltaic array on the roof as the only energy source. All household energy needs, including fuel for an automobile, can be met by adequate architectural design, using environmental heat, solar produced electricity and hydrogen.
Long term storage of relativistic particles in the solar corona

Long term storage of relativistic energetic electrons and protons in solar corona from IMP 4 and Pioneer 8 observations related to delayed emission from flares