cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Minimal-Path Routing in 2-Dimensional Torus Servernet San

Wormhole routing techniques are widely used as a low-latency message passing mechanism in parallel computers and System Area Networks (SAN). SAN is the new high-performance computing trend, providing a low cost-performance ratio. Server Net (Compaq) and Myrinet are providing COTS (routers, PCI interface cards and software drivers) for building high-speed scalable SAN, based on wormhole routing techniques. Different regular topologies can be built with COTS. One of them is the 2D-torus network topology. In this paper a fault-tolerant adaptive wormhole routing algorithm for the 2D-torus is proposed. The algorithm uses two virtual networks North Last and Torus North (NL/TN) and is deadlock-and livelock-free. In a fault-free torus the method provides minimum path routing for 97% of all source-destination pairs. The algorithm can tolerate up to N-1 node and link faults in a N × N 2D torus. In the connected 2D torus all fault-free nodes are reachable. The algorithm is decentralized and does not require global knowledge about the status of the networks. The simulation results present the effect of the network size, the request generation rate, the number of faults, and the fault pattern on the performance characteristics — throughput, latency and saturation point.
Subtidal Benthic Invertebrates Shifting Northward Along the US Atlantic Coast.

Numerous marine and terrestrial species have shifted their ranges poleward in response to warming from global climate change. However, few studies have examined range shifts of subtidal benthic communities in estuarine and nearshore waters. This study examined 20 years (1990–2010) of occurrence and abundance data of soft-bottom, benthic invertebrates along the Atlantic coast of the USA. Data from two biogeographic provinces (Carolinian and Virginian), which spanned 15° of latitude from mid-Florida to Cape Cod, were extracted from a national coastal assessment program. Mean water temperatures increased significantly during the study period, bottom water by 1.6 °C and surface water by 1.7 °C. Of 25 species with significant changes in centers of abundance (out of the 30 most prevalent), 18 (60%) shifted northward and 7 (23%) shifted southward. Species that shifted north moved an average distance of 181 km, in contrast with 65 km for species that shifted south. The southern limits of 22 species showed significant northward shifts; because there was little change in northern limits, this resulted in an average 25% range contraction. Community composition changed during the study period, most notably in southern latitudes. Five Carolinian species surmounted their northerly biogeographic boundary. Consequences of these range shifts include changes in benthic community structure and function, which have strong implications for ecosystem functioning and services including changes in fisheries dependent upon benthic prey.
Order of multiphoton excitation of sulfonium photo-acid generators used in photoresists based on SU-8

Multiphoton lithography (MPL), Z-scan spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations were employed to investigate the order of multiphoton excitation that occurs when femtosecond laser pulses are used to excite two sulfonium photo-acid generators (PAGs) commonly used in photoresists based on the cross-linkable epoxide SU-8. The mole-fractions of the mono- and bis-sulfonium forms of these PAGs were determined for the commercially available photoresist SU-8 2075 and for the PAGs alone from a separate source. Both were found to contain similar fractions of the mono- and bis-forms, with the mono form present in the majority. Reichert's method was used to determine the solvatochromic strength of the SU-8 matrix, so that results obtained for the PAGs in SU-8 and in solution could be reliably compared. The PAGs were found to exhibit a minimal solvatochromic shift for a series of solvents that span across the solvatochromic strength of SU-8 itself. Sub-micron-sized features were fabricated in SU-8 2075 by MPL us...
Common challenges managing bed and staff availability on labor and delivery units in the United States: A qualitative analysis

Background Managers of labor and delivery units need to ensure that their limited supply of beds and nursing staff are adequately available, despite uncertainty with respect to patient needs. The ability to address this challenge has been associated with patient outcomes; however, best practices have not been defined. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of 96 interviews with nurse and physician managers from 48 labor and delivery units across the United States. Included units represented a diverse range of characteristics, but skewed toward higher volume teaching hospitals. The prior study scored management practice based on their proactiveness (ability to mitigate challenges before they occur). Based on emerging themes, we identified common challenges in managing bed and staff availability and performed an analysis of positive deviants to identify an additional criterion for effective management performance. Results We identified four key challenges common to all labor and delivery units, (1) scheduling planned cases, (2) tracking patient flow, (3) monitoring bed and staff availability in the moment, and (4) adjusting bed and staff availability in the moment. We also identified "systematicness" (ability to address challenges in a consistent and reliable manner) as an emerging criterion for effective management. We observed that being proactive and systematic represented distinct characteristics, and units with both proactive and systematic practices appeared best positioned to effectively manage limited beds and staffing. Discussion Labor and delivery unit managers should distinctly assess both the proactiveness and systematicness of their existing management practices and consider how their practices could be modified to improve care.
An Internet-Based Radiology Course in Medical School: Comparison of Academic Performance of Students on Campus Versus Those With Absenteeism Due to Residency Interviews

Background: Imaging and its optimal use are imperative to the practice of medicine, yet many students don’t receive a formal education in radiology. Concurrently, students look for ways to take time away from medical school for residency interviewing. Web-based instruction provides an opportunity to combine these imperatives using online modalities. Objective: A largely Web-based course in radiology during the 4th year of medical school was evaluated both for its acceptance to students who needed to be away from campus for interviews, and its effectiveness on a nationally administered standardized test. Methods: All students were placed into a structured program utilizing online videos, online modules, online textbook assignments, and live interactive online lectures. Over half of the course could be completed away from campus. The Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology test exam bank was used as a final exam to evaluate medical knowledge. Results: Positive student feedback included the freedom to travel for interviews, hands-on ultrasound training, interactive teaching sessions, and quality Web-based learning modules. Negative feedback included taking quizzes in-person, a perceived outdated online textbook, and physically shadowing hospital technicians. Most students elected to take the course during the interview months of October through January. The Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology final exam results (70.5%) were not significantly different than the national cohort (70%) who took the course in-person. Test scores from students taking the course during interview travel months were not significantly different from students who took the course before (P=.30) or after (P=.34) the interview season. Conclusions: Students desire to learn radiology and often choose to do so when they need to be away from campus during the fall of their 4th year of study to accomplish their residency interviews. Web-based education in radiology allows students’ interview traveling and radiology course objectives to be successfully met without adversely affecting the outcomes on a nationally normed examination in radiology. A curriculum that includes online content and live Web-based teleconference access to faculty can accomplish both imperatives.
Abstract 12984: Long-term Therapy With Elamipretide Normalizes Protein Levels of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in Mitochondria of Left Ventricular Myocardium of Dogs With Chronic Heart Failure

Introduction: The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has recently been identified in mitochondria (MITO) of cardiomyocytes (mSTAT3). In STAT3-/- cells, the activities of MITO complexes I and II of the electron transport chain (ETC) were significantly reduced suggesting that mSTAT3 is required for optimal ETC function. In the heart, mSTAT3 activity is modulated by the heat shock protein H11 kinase (H11K) previously shown to be reduced in MITO of dogs with HF. We showed that long-term (3 months) therapy with elamipretide (ELA, Bendavia TM ), a novel MITO-targeting peptide, improves LV systolic function and to normalize MITO respiration, rate of ATP synthesis and H11K levels in MITO of LV cardiomyocytes of dogs with heart failure (HF). Hypothesis: This study tested the hypothesis that the level of mSTAT3 is reduced in LV myocardium of dogs with HF and that long-term therapy with ELA restores levels of mSTAT3. Methods: LV tissue was obtained from 14 dogs with microembolization-induced HF (LV ejection fraction ~30%) randomized to 3 months therapy with subcutaneous injections of ELA (0.5 mg/kg once daily, n=7) or saline (Control, n=7). LV tissue from 6 normal dogs was used for comparison. Protein levels of mSTAT3 and porin; the latter a MITO protein unchanged in HF (internal control), were determined in isolated MITO fractions from LV tissue using by Western blotting coupled with chemiluminescence. Protein band intensities were quantified in densitometric units (du). Results: Protein levels of porin was similar in all 3 study groups (NL:0.24±0.01; Control: 0.22±0.01; ELA: 0.23±0.01 du). Levels of mSTAT3 were 0.82±0.05 du in NL, decreased to 0.29±0.03 du in Controls (p Conclusions: mSTAT3 level is reduced in MITO of from LV myocardium of HF dogs and restored after chronic therapy with ELA. Normalization of mSTAT3 by ELA likely contributed to the observed improvement in MITO function following therapy with ELA in dogs with chronic HF.
Endophthalmitis caused by enterococcus faecalis: antibiotic selection and treatment outcomes.

Abstract Purpose To investigate clinical settings, treatment strategies, and visual acuity outcomes of endophthalmitis caused by Enterococcus faecalis and to determine antibiotic sensitivity and resistance patterns. Design Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. Participants and methods Records were reviewed of all patients with culture-positive endophthalmitis caused by E. faecalis evaluated at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2001. Main outcome measures Associated prior surgical procedures, clinical features, treatments administered, antibiotic sensitivity and resistance patterns, and final visual outcomes. Results Endophthalmitis caused by E. faecalis was identified in 29 eyes of 29 patients. The mean follow-up was 17.8 months (range, 0.1–86.7 months). Endophthalmitis caused by E. faecalis was associated with, in order of decreasing frequency, cataract surgery in 12 of 29 eyes (41.4%), trabeculectomy in 8 of 29 eyes (27.6%), penetrating keratoplasty in 4 of 29 eyes (13.8%), combined cataract and trabeculectomy in 3 of 29 eyes (10.3%), seton implantation in 1 of 29 eyes (3.5%), and pupilloplasty in 1of 29 eyes (3.5%). Resistance patterns among the isolates were the following: vancomycin in 0 of 23 eyes (0.0%), linezolid in 0 of 29 eyes (0.0%), ciprofloxacin in 1 of 14 eyes (7.1%), gentamicin (minimum inhibitory concentration >8 mg/l) in 8 of 16 eyes (50.0%), high-level gentamicin (minimum inhibitory concentration >500 mg/l) in 5 of 29 eyes (17.2%), cefazolin in 7 of 8 eyes (87.5%), and quinupristin and dalfopristin in 29 of 29 eyes (100.0%). Preinfection baseline visual acuities ranged from 20/30 to hand motions. Visual acuities on presentation with endophthalmitis ranged from 2/200 to no light perception. Final visual acuity was better than or equal to 20/50 in two cases (6.9%), 20/60 to 20/400 in three cases (10.3%), 5/200 to hand motions in 10 cases (34.5%), and light perception to no light perception in 14 cases (48.3%). Conclusions E. faecalis often is resistant to gentamicin and cephalosporins but was sensitive to vancomycin in all isolates tested. Endophthalmitis caused by E. faecalis usually is associated with poor visual outcomes.
Michelle Obama: Flight vs. Fight

This essay examines former First Lady Michelle Obama’s advocacy for Black females in her role as First Lady of the USA. By examining her life from growing up in the South Side of Chicago, to attending Harvard and Princeton, and becoming the First Lady, I acknowledge that Michelle Obama is the most qualified and powerful women to relate and advocate for Black girls. Her attention to education and its importance reflects in her Reach Higher and Let Girl’s Learn Initiatives. While Michelle Obama has indirectly impacted the lives of Black girls through these initiatives, I conclude that this is not enough since young Black girls have been abused in schools during her time in office. I present scenarios in which the former First Lady Michelle Obama has advocated for Latina and South East Asian girls in a way she has not advocated for Black girls, though the needs of Black girls are the most critical and relatable.
BFLOAT MLP Training Accelerator for FPGAs

This paper describes the architecture of a FPGA-based high-performance training accelerator for neural networks. Our accelerator uses a hybrid embedded floating point and soft logic approach to implement truncated floating-point datapaths, including bfloat16 and bfloat14. The proposed multi-layer perceptron (MLP) training architecture is the highlight of a general methodology for developing high-performance accelerators written in OpenCL and incorporating a systolic-array GEMM engine with off-chip memory interfaces. The accelerator is capable of 5 Tflops on a mid-range FPGA device and achieves over 90% of the peak efficiency during training, thus demonstrating the versatility of using FPGAs as neural network training accelerators.
Language, Creation, and Mlk

There are two aspects of writing I would like to mention before making brief remarks about “Monarch Waiting”: the developmental and the highly personal. By the former, I refer to organization, balance, pace, timing, point of view, alliteration, internal and end rhyme, level of formality, occasion, length, timing, sincerity, mockery, dialogue, the sound of words, variety, length of line, use of breaks in the text, the numbering of such breaks, and other such features, all of which should, of course, interact.
Folding at the Microscale: Enabling Multifunctional 3D Origami-Architected Metamaterials

Mechanical metamaterials inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding have gained considerable attention because of their potential to yield deployable and highly tunable assemblies. The inherent foldability of origami structures enlarges the material design space with remarkable properties such as auxeticity and high deformation recoverability and deployability, the latter being key in applications where spatial constraints are pivotal. This work integrates the results of the design, 3D direct laser writing fabrication, and in situ scanning electron microscopic mechanical characterization of microscale origami metamaterials, based on the multimodal assembly of Miura-Ori tubes. The origami-architected metamaterials, achieved by means of microfabrication, display remarkable mechanical properties: stiffness and Poisson's ratio tunable anisotropy, large degree of shape recoverability, multistability, and even reversible auxeticity whereby the metamaterial switches Poisson's ratio sign during deformation. The findings here reported underscore the scalable and multifunctional nature of origami designs, and pave the way toward harnessing the power of origami engineering at small scales.
Centromedian thalamic responsive neurostimulation for Lennox‐Gastaut epilepsy and autism

The RNS System is not approved in patients under 18, although a critical need for novel treatment modalities in this vulnerable population persist. We present two pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy secondary to Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treated with the RNS System. Both patients have experienced 75-99% clinical seizure reductions in >1 year of follow-up. We illustrate that children with diffuse onset, multifocal epilepsy, including frontal and thalamic circuits thought to exist in the generation of LGS seizures, can be treated with responsive neurostimulation safely and effectively, targeting thalamic networks, and avoiding palliative disconnections and resections.
Nhũ’ng Cô Gái Quán Bar Sài Gòn, 1975 (A translation of Yusef Komunyakaa, "Saigon Bar Girls, 1975)

Serving his country as a correspondent and managing editor of the Southern Cross during the Vietnam War, winning a Bronze Star, Yusef Komunyakaa draws upon his experiences for works such as the collection, Dien Cai Dau (1988), which won the Dark Room Poetry Prize. Beaucoup dien cai dau is a Vietnamese-French term regarding how the Vietnamese people during the war saw American soldiers, translating to "crazy in the head." The collection is presented through the lens of personal experience, especially centering the positionality of Black soldiers and the landscape of Vietnam. Despite the countless awards to compliment an immense oeuvre, "Saigon Bar Girls, 1975" from the aforementioned collection stands out as a poignant, slice-of-life snapshot of postwar life in Vietnam through the eyes of Vietnamese prostitutes, which exists as a powerful mode of bringing Vietnamese subjectivity to the fore of how the war is remembered in the global consciousness.
The Association of Unfairness with Mental and Physical Health in a Multiethnic Sample of Adults: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Two psychosocial constructs that have shown consistent associations with negative health outcomes are discrimination and perceived unfairness. Objective: The current analyses report the effects of discrimination and unfairness on medical, psychological, and behavioral outcomes from a recent cross-sectional survey conducted in a multiethnic sample of adults in Michigan. Methods: A cross-section survey was collected using multiple approaches: community settings, telephone-listed sample, and online panel. Unfairness was assessed with a single-item previously used in the Whitehall study, and everyday discrimination was assessed with the Williams 9-item scale. Outcomes included mental health symptoms, past-month cigarette use, past-month alcohol use, past-month marijuana use, lifetime pain medication use, and self-reported medical history. Results: A total of 2238 usable surveys were collected. In bivariate analyses, higher unfairness values were significantly associated with lower educational attainment, lower age, lower household income, and being unmarried. The highest unfairness values were observed for African American and multiracial respondents followed by Middle Eastern or North African participants. Unfairness was significantly related to worse mental health functioning, net adjustment for sociodemographic variables, and everyday discrimination. Unfairness was also related to self-reported history of depression and high blood pressure although, after including everyday discrimination in the model, only the association with depression remained significant. Unfairness was significantly related to 30-day marijuana use, 30-day cigarette use, and lifetime opiate use. Conclusions: Our findings of a generally harmful effect of perceived unfairness on health are consistent with prior studies. Perceived unfairness may be one of the psychological pathways through which discrimination negatively impacts health. Future studies examining the relationships we observed using longitudinal data and including more objective measures of behavior and health status are needed to confirm and extend our findings.
Selecting a method/tool for risk-based decision making in complex situations

Abstract After a risk assessment has been completed and feasible risk reduction measures have been reviewed, decisions must be made to select the most appropriate safeguards and/or a decision taken to determine as to what residual risk would be conditionally accepted. The straightforward way is to set up a binary decision tree and compare for each event scenario, the risk reduction gain versus cost of two or more acceptable alternatives. However, often many contributing factors must be considered, such as: the nature, importance, and context of the risk, availability of the measures, procurement and maintenance costs, the impact to personnel and particularly to the public near the hazardous area, vulnerability of the environment, determination and weighting of important contributing safety factors, and uncertainties inherent to the available information. In such more complex cases, the decision problem takes the form of building argumentation for a preferred solution with a team of experts, or making a choice from a number of options and selection criteria using the independent opinions of experts/stakeholders. The former is known as the Toulmin model of argumentation, the latter are Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods or Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. In the latter case, one criterion is weighted as more important than another by experts of which in turn opinion can be weighted based on, e.g., education and experience, together resulting in a ranking of the alternatives. Where the Toulmin model will squeeze out explicit rational arguments sharpened by rebuttal ones, in MCDM/MCDA methods due to the weighting and mathematical processing, the best compromise ranking of the options will result, despite experts’ opinions are intuitive. Well-known is the simple linear model of the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP), but a number of more sophisticated methods will be briefly described in this document. In Multi- Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) utility is a guiding principle, hence economics dominate. A number of methods will be selected for working out an example and comparing results.
Making Tort Law: What Should Be Done and Who Should Do It

Charles Fried and David Rosenberg note that the system of tort liability in the United States seeks to achieve a variety of aims: to compensate individuals injured by the risky business activities of large entities; to create incentives for those entities to take into account the dangers of their activities in the design of their processes, products, and services; and to allow individuals who feel powerless to make their grievances felt against large, impersonal, and sometimes unresponsive organizations. The authors contend, however, that our current tort system is almost certainly not the best possible way to achieve those goals. At best, they claim, tort compensation represents an uncertain, delayed, and expensive form of insurance. In addition, the disciplining effect on business is haphazard. Fried and Rosenberg assess the comparative advantages of courts and legislatures in taking the initiative of changing tort law to further the social objective of optimally managing accident risk. They conclude that the nature of the change involved-particularly the function that the change would serve and the means that would work best-strongly suggests that the legislature should play the major role in designing tort reform. And they contend that automobile and other nonbusiness-related accidents should be eliminated from the tort system.
Natural Frequencies of Layered Beams Using a Continuous Variation Model

This work involves the determination of the bending natural frequencies of beams whose properties vary along the length. Of interest are beams with different materials and varying cross-sections, which are layered in cells. These can be uniform or not, leading to a configuration of stacked cells of distinct materials and size. Here the focus is on cases with two, or three cells, and shape variations that include smooth (tapering) and sudden (block type) change in cross-sectional area. Euler-Bernoulli theory is employed. The variations are modeled using approximations to unit step functions, here logistic functions. The approach leads to a single differential equation with variable coefficients. A forced motion strategy is employed in which resonances are monitored to determine the natural frequencies. Forcing frequencies are changed until large motions and sign changes are observed. Solutions are obtained using MAPLE®’s differential equation solvers. The overall strategy avoids the cumbersome and lengthy Transfer Matrix method. Pin-pin and clamp-clamp boundary conditions are treated. Accuracy is partially assessed using a Rayleigh-Ritz method and, for completeness, FEM. Results indicate that the forced motion approach works well for a two-cell beam, three-cell beam and a beam with a sinusoidal profile. For example, in the case of a uniform two-cell beam, with pin-pin boundary conditions, results differ less than 1 %.
Non-uniform spatiotemporal fractionation schemes in photon radiotherapy

Fractionation decisions in radiotherapy face the tradeoff between increasing the number of fractions to spare normal tissues, and increasing the total dose to achieve the same level of tumor control. In that regard, the ideal treatment would fractionate in normal tissues while simultaneously hypofractionating in the tumor. Interestingly, this is possible to a limited degree by delivering distinct dose distributions in different fractions. The dose distributions have to be designed such that similar doses are delivered to normal tissues while delivering high single fraction doses to parts of the tumor. In this paper, proof-of-concept is provided that this concept may lead to an improved therapeutic ratio for rotation therapy treatments using conventional photon beams. An idealized model of a large tumor treated in two fractions is considered. Fractionation effects are modeled via the biologically equivalent dose model. It is shown that the optimal treatment delivers the dose to the center of the tumor in a single fraction, while the second fraction delivers dose only to the rim of the tumor. The approach may potentially be interesting for large tumors embedded in a dose-limiting organ treated with stereotactic regimens.
BODIPY Fluorophore Toolkit for Probing Chemical Reactivity and for Tagging Reactive Functional Groups

The photophysical and synthetic studies of new tether-functionalized boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophores as probes for chemical reactions are described. These compounds differ from typically reported probes in that they provide a way to tag and indicate chemical reactions without chemical transformation of the BODIPY core itself; instead the dyes are spectators. The introduction and modification of the tether has expanded the available chemistry and yet these new BODIPY derivatives have similar photophysical properties to their parent substrates. As a result of the chemistry enabled by these probes, a single step of a multistep metal-catalyzed reaction was revealed by a change in the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal. The fundamental knowledge of quantum yield, FRET efficiencies, and reagent compatibility is critical to enabling the broader application of fluorescent probes to study chemical reaction mechanisms by cutting-edge microscopy techniques.
Time-varying sampling functions to improve dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

In dynamic MRI, extra information can be obtained by changing the sampling function from time frame to time frame. The method "unaliasing by Fourier-encoding the overlaps using the temporal dimension" (UNFOLD) provides a way to obtain such extra information, and convert it into desirable features (e.g. increase in temporal resolution, artifact suppression). This paper focuses on UNFOLD and its applications. Compared to the original presentation of the method, the description has been broadened here to account for recently proposed applications. A cardiac example is presented where UNFOLD is merged with the parallel imaging method "sensitivity encoding" (SENSE) to substantially reduce the artifact level.
Effects of a Cold-Dip Treatment on Natural Durability of Wood-Base Building Materials Against Decay and Dimensional Change

A standard ASTM method was used for evaluation of decay resistance and dimensional durability on 13 commercial wood-base building materials. Both treated and untreated specimens were exposed in decay chambers to Lenzites trabea and Poria monticola for 16 weeks. The results of the average decay resistance of untreated specimens indicate the importance of wood species and board composition rather than board type. All treated specimens exhibited excellent decay resistance and dimensional stability. However, the preservative treatment failed to retard the thickness swelling of particleboards. Phenol-formaldehyde bonded particleboards were dimensionally stabler than urea bonded particleboards in the decay chamber. Due to the inherent absorbability, specimens of fiberboards, particleboards, and plywoods appear to be more suitable for cold-dip treatment than those of lumber to protect from decay. However the decay resistance, dimensional changes, and absorption of solution all depend on the wood species, fiber structure, adhesives, panel construction, and specific gravity that made up the wood-base materials.
Oxidative stress-induced corticosteroid insensitivity is reversed by formoterol via inhibition of PI3K signalling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with COPD and severe asthma

Rationale: COPD patients show a poor response to corticosteroids which has been linked to oxidative stress. Here we show that the long-acting β2-agonist formoterol (FM) reversed corticosteroid insensitivity after oxidative stress via inhibition of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) signalling. Methods: The responsiveness to corticosteroids dexamethasone (DEX), budesonide (BUD) and fluticasone propionate (FP) was determined as IC50 on TNFα-induced IL-8 release in U937 monocytic cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with COPD or severe asthma. Results: PBMCs from patients with severe asthma and COPD are less sensitive to DEX compared to healthy volunteers. Although both FM (10-9M) and salmeterol (SM, 10-8M) reversed DEX insensitivity in PBMCs of severe asthma, only FM shows this effect in COPD. In U937 cells, exposure to H2O2 decreased BUD and FP sensitivity and increased Akt phosphorylation as a footprint of PI3K activation. FM restored sensitivity to BUD and FP while the effects of SM were weaker and not statistically significant, and FM but not SM, partially inhibited H2O2-induced Akt phosphorylation. H2O2 also decreased SM-induced cAMP production in U937 cells but did not affect the response to FM. The reduction of SM effects by H2O2 was reversed by pre-treatment with a PI3K inhibitor. Conclusion: These results suggest that FM restored corticosteroid sensitivity via inhibition of PI3K signalling and that a combination of a corticosteroid with FM may be more effective than that with SM in conditions of high oxidative stress, such as in COPD. Funded by AstraZeneca
Dissent Versus the (Online) Surveillance State: Measuring Authoritarian Control of the Internet

Scholarship on the threat Internet communication poses against authoritarian regimes has been mixed: some theorists propose the Internet's distributed architecture allows democratic movements to flourish and ultimately challenge authoritarian barriers, while others contend authoritarian regimes maintain technical and social advantages over their own Internet architectures. This paper proposes that despite technical and social controls, the porous nature of Internet communication reduces the effectiveness of Internet filtering efforts and increases citizen protests. Using logistic regression and simulations measuring both technical and social-based filtering techniques, this paper finds that while authoritarian regimes do have some success in mitigating Internet-driven dissent, increasing Internet user bases ultimately reduce the ability of regimes to control online communication.
Effect of high dose norepinephrine versus epinephrine on cerebral and myocardial blood flow during CPR

Several animal studies have demonstrated an improvement in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and myocardial blood flow (MBF) after the administration of epinephrine (E) 0.20 mg/kg during closed chest CPR. The administration of norepinephrine (NE) in doses of 0.12 and 0.16 mg/kg demonstrated a trend toward improved CBF and MBF during CPR over that seen with E 0.20 mg/kg in the same animal model. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a higher dose of NE 0.20 mg/kg to E 0.20 mg/kg to determine if increasing doses of NE would demonstrate further improvement in CBF and MBF during CPR. Fourteen immature swine were anesthetized and instrumented for regional blood flow and hemodynamic measurements. After 10 min of ventricular fibrillation (VF), CPR was begun using a mechanical thumper. After 3 min of CPR, the animals received either E 0.20 mg/kg (n = 7) or NE 0.20 mg/kg (n = 7) through a right atrial catheter. CPR was continued for an additional 3.5 min and defibrillation was then attempted. CBF (ml/min/100 g), MBF (ml/min/100 g), myocardial oxygen delivery (MDo2; ml O2/min/100 g), myocardial oxygen consumption (MVo2; ml O2/min/100 g), and myocardial oxygen extraction ratios (ER, MVo2/MDo2) were measured during normal sinus rhythm (NSR), during CPR, and during CPR following drug administration. Following drug administration, CBF, MBF, MDo2 and MVo2 rose while ER fell in both E and NE groups. There were no significant differences between groups in CBF, ER, or intravascular pressures following drug administration (P greater than or equal to 0.07). The NE group demonstrated significantly higher MBF (118.9 +/- 73.1 vs. 62.2 +/- 45.3, P = 0.04), MVo2 (14.2 +/- 7.7 vs. 7.0 +/- 3.8, P = 0.05), and MDo2 (19.9 +/- 13.4 versus 9.4 +/- 6.3, P = 0.05) compared to the E group following drug administration While NE improved MBF and MDo2 over E during CPR, there was a trend toward lower resuscitation rates with NE (57.1% vs. 85.7% P = 0.56). Any benefit of higher MBF and MDo2 with NE 0.20 mg/kg appears to be offset by proportionately high MVo2 and a trend toward lower resuscitation rates in the NE 0.20 mg/kg animals.
Number language and number reversal learning.

Abstract Reversal optional shift performance with cardinal and ordinal number dimensions as relevant was studied in relation to number language knowledge, use of verbal cues, and performance in a coordinate cardinal and ordinal number task with 144 first grade S s in two experiments. The experiments differed in stimulus materials and showed optional shift behavior to be highly sensitive to shift design and stimulus components. Shift performance was unrelated to number language test performance and verbal training in the reversal task itself. Number language knowledge as here measured was related, however, to the coordinate cardinal and ordinal number task.
EFFECT OF CIMETIDINE ON CIRCULATING PARATHYROID HORMONE IN PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

In twelve patients with primary hyperparathyroidism the raised parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels consistently returned to normal with cimetidine ("Tagamet"), 300 mg four times a day, orally. As PTH levels returned to normal, signs and symptoms improved. Reduction of hypercalcaemia varied with the time, dose, and route of administration of cimetidine. Whenever cimetidine was discontinued, there was a rebound of PTH levels to approximately twice the initial value, which suggests that cimetidine blocks the synthesis and/or secretion of parathyroid hormone, so that parathyroid hormone or its precursor accumulates in the gland. A solitary parathyroid adenoma has been confirmed surgically in the five patients so far operated on. In all surgical patients the PTH levels were brought to normal by cimetidine preoperatively; these levels were maintained postoperatively. The adenomas were unusually large, firm, and congested; there was no atrophy of the rest of the glands. These last two observations further support our hypothesis that cimetidine blocks the synthesis or release of parathyroid hormone; they also support the concept that in primary hyperparathyroidism the parathyroid adenoma becomes autonomous or there is an abnormal hormone.
Intravitreal Effects of Pimaricin in Experimental Fungal Endophthalmitis

Evaluation of 25, 50, and 100 mug of pimaricin given intravitreally to albino rabbits with Aspergillus endophthalmitis revealed that 25 mug of pimaricin, while nontoxic to the retina, was ineffective in inhibiting the fungal process. A dose of 50 mug was significantly more effective in inhibiting fungal disease but also caused significant retinal damage with loss of retinal function and iridoplegia. Dosages above this level resulted in vitreous retraction and degeneration, iridoplegia, and retinal detachment. Twenty-five micrograms of pimaricin given in three dosages spaced three days apart may be effective in inhibiting fungal endophthalmitis.
Prospects for inherently safe reactors

Abstract Public fears over nuclear safety have led some within the nuclear community to investigate the possibility of producing inherently safe nuclear reactors; that is, reactors that are transparently incapable of producing a core melt. While several promising designs of such reactors have been produced, support for large-scale research and development efforts has not been forthcoming. The prospects for commercialization of inherently safe reactors, therefore, are problematic; yet possible events such as further nuclear reactor accidents and superpower summits, could alter the present situation significantly.
Sequential scanning electron microscopy of a growing plant meristem

A two-step replica technique has been developed for sequential study of the epidermal cell pattern of a living plant by scanning electron microscopy. This method is nondestructive, allows periodic high resolution observation of the same developing tissue, and can precede use of any destructive technique, such as transmission electron microscopy. The replicas can be trimmed allowing observation of occluded surfaces, such as the areas between leaves, which are inaccessible in continuousin vivo studies. Here we study the developing leaf primordium ofGraptopetalum and discuss potential uses of the technique.
THE INTERACTION OF MONETARY POLICY AND STOCK RETURNS

The “irrational exuberance” of the stock market in the late 1990s led to a discussion of the appropriate policy response by monetary authorities. Any response would be contingent on the stock market reaction to policy shocks. In this study, I employ a structural vector autoregression to estimate the response of the stock market returns to innovations in the federal funds rate. The role of the stock market in the Federal Reserve policy rule can also be examined empirically.
Sharp estimates for inner radii of systems of nonoverlapping domains and open sets

We study extremal problems of the geometric theory of functions of a complex variable. Sharp upper estimates are obtained for the product of inner radii of disjoint domains and open sets with respect to equiradial systems of points.
A least squares formulation for state estimation

Abstract A general formulation of least squares estimation is given. An algorithm with a fixed-size moving estimation window and constraints on states, disturbances and measurement noise is developed through a probabilistic interpretation of least squares estimation. The moving horizon estimator has one more tuning parameter (namely, the horizon size) than many well-known recursive filters. This parameter allows for a compromise between the computational advantages of recursive filters and the improved performance of the batch least squares estimator. Specific issues relevant to linear and nonlinear systems are discussed, with comparisons made to the Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter (EKF), and other optimization-based estimation schemes.
Dimensions of Register Variation: A Cross-Linguistic Comparison

Douglas Biber's new book extends and refines the research and methodology reported in his ground breaking Variation Across Speech and Writing (CUP 1988). In Dimensions of Register Variation he gives a linguistic analysis of register in four widely differing languages: English, Nukulaelae Tuvaluan, Korean, and Somali. Using the multi-dimensional analytical framework employed in his earlier work, Biber carries out a principled comparison of both synchronic and diachronic patterns of variation across the four languages. Striking similarities as well as differences emerge, allowing Biber to predict for the first time cross-linguistic universals of register variation. This major new work will provide the foundation for the further investigation of cross-linguistic universals governing the pattern of discourse variation across registers, and will be of wide interest to any scholar interested in style, register and literacy.
On the use of enriched finite element method to model subsurface features in porous media flow problems

In this paper, a new enrichment scheme is proposed to model fractures and other conduits in porous media flow problems. Inserting this scheme into a partition of unity based method results in a new numerical method that does not require the mesh to honor the specific geometry of these subsurface features. The new scheme involves a specially designed integration procedure and enrichment functions, which can capture effects of local heterogeneity introduced by subsurface features on the pressure solution. The new method is also capable of modeling fractures with low as well as high conductivity. Another feature of the proposed scheme is that, even though two enrichment functions are used to model the permeability change at the two rock/fracture interfaces of a fracture, only one element partition is made for numerical integration. To demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed approach, production problems for wells that were stimulated or completed by longitudinal fracture, transverse fractures, and perforations are studied.
Visual field-cerebral hemisphere differences in perception of visual nonverbal stimuli.

16 subjects were tested for differences between left and right visual fields in accuracy of recognition for paired verbal and nonverbal stimuli presented at below threshold duration and at minimal intensity. Performance on the visual recognition task was also compared with scores on a written n-Ach test. The data clearly indicated superior recognition of physiognomic stimuli presented in the left visual field and above-chance-level performance of subjects' manual responses for these be low-threshold stimuli. The data also hint at a possible relationship between n-Ach and accuracy of visual recognition in the left hemisphere.
Free-hand placement of iliac screws for spinopelvic fixation based on anatomical landmarks: technical note

Background The placement of iliac screws is a biomechanically sound method for the stabilization of long multi-segment lumbar constructs. Traditional techniques for the placement of iliac screws often involve either substantial iliac muscle dissection for visualization of screw trajectory based on bony landmarks, or alternatively the use of intra-operative imaging to visualize these landmarks and guide screw placement. We describe an alternative free-hand method of iliac screw placement, one that needs neither significant muscle dissection nor intra-operative imaging. Methods We performed this technique in 10 consecutive patients. Patient demographics, spinal pathology, post-operative complications, and screw hardware characteristics are described. Results We have successfully used this technique for the placement 20 iliac screws based on anatomic landmarks in 10 consecutive patients. There were no cortical breeches of the ileum and no penetrations into the acetabulum on post-operative imaging. There were no instances of hardware failure. Two patients developed deep vein thromboses after surgery, 1 had a pulmonary embolism. Conclusions Based on our limited experience to date, free-hand placement of iliac screws is both easy to perform and safe for the patient. Further study and validation using this technique is warranted.
Intracellular Na^+ Modulates the cAMP-Dependent Regulation of Ion Channels in the Heart

Abstract The cAMP-dependent regulation of ion channels was studied by using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. In isolated cardiac ventricular myocytes, the beta-adrenergically regulated Cl- current (ICl) exhibited an unusual dependence on Na+, such that replacement of extracellular Na+ with compounds such as tetramethylammonium, choline, Tris, or N-methyl-D-glucamine resulted in a reduction in current amplitude without changing the reversal potential. Replacement of extracellular Na+ with tetramethylammonium also reduced the magnitude of the beta-adrenergically enhanced Ca2+ current and delayed rectifier K+ current, suggesting that removal of Na+ was affecting the cAMP pathway that regulates all three currents. Replacement of extracellular Na+ also reduced ICl that was stimulated by (i) direct activation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin, (ii) inhibition of phosphodiesterase with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, (iii) exposure to the membrane-permeable cAMP derivative 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, or (iv) direct phosphorylation of the channel with protein kinase A catalytic subunit. This suggests that the Na+ dependence is at a point beyond the activation of protein kinase A. The Na+ dependence of ICl regulation could not be explained by changes in intracellular Ca2+. However, the sensitivity of the ICl to changes in extracellular Na+ depended significantly on the intracellular Na+ concentration, suggesting that intracellular Na+ plays an important role in the cAMP-dependent regulation of ion channels.
Effects of a quantitative progressive rehabilitation program applied unilaterally to the osteoarthritic knee.

Abstract Decreases in muscular strength, endurance, and angular velocity have previously been demonstrated in the elderly. Osteoarthritis (OA), especially of the knee, may cause further reductions in these parameters and lead to functional limitations. This study measured the effects of a quantitative progressive exercise muscle rehabilitation program (QPE) that was added to a physical therapy (PT) program. Forty subjects (20 men and 20 women) with OA of the knees were randomly selected from a group of volunteers (N = 437) for the 3-month program. Measurements of strength, endurance, angular velocity, and the Jette Functional Status Index were determined before and after 1, 2, and 3 months of the program. The QPE program was composed of isometric, isotonic, isotonic with resistance, endurance, and speed contractions prescribed in a progressive sequence. Muscle strength (14% and 29%) and endurance (38% and 43%) increased significantly ( p
Dewetting dynamics of nanofilled polymer thin films

We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the dewetting dynamics of nanofilled polymer thin films on a substrate. We find that the addition of nanofillers can significantly retard the dewetting of polymer films. Our results show that to prevent dewetting the ideal situation is one in which the fillers are confined to the substrate/polymer interface, in agreement with previous experimental results. We find that the mechanism that controls the dewetting is not purely a result of a pinning effect but is also affected by the mobility of the filler particle, the interaction between the filler and the polymer, and the size of the nanofiller.