cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Typical event sequences as licensors of direct object ellipsis in Russian

Abstract This paper extends the computationally-oriented theory of ellipsis presented in McShane’s A Theory of Ellipsis (2005) by introducing the feature typical event sequence. It is argued that, in Russian, the presence of a typical sequence of events in a pair of clauses can be the key feature licensing the ellipsis of the latter’s direct object. The linguistic analysis contributes to a larger cognitive modeling effort aimed at configuring language-endowed intelligent agents with human-level language understanding capabilities.
Chasing Zero Harm in Radiation Oncology: Using Pre-treatment Peer Review

Purpose: The Joint Commission has encouraged the healthcare industry to become "High Reliability Organizations" by "Chasing Zero Harm" in patient care. In radiation oncology, the time point of quality checks determines whether errors are prevented or only mitigated. Thus, to "chase zero" in radiation oncology, peer review has to be implemented prior to treatment initiation. A multidisciplinary group consensus peer review (GCPR) model is used pre-treatment at our institution and has been successful in our efforts to "chase zero harm" in patient care. Methods: With the GCPR model, policy-defined complex cases go through a treatment planning conference, which includes physicians, residents, physicists, and dosimetrists. Three major plan aspects are reviewed: target volumes, target and normal tissue dose coverage, and dose distributions. During the review, any team member can ask questions and afterwards a group consensus is taken regarding plan approval. Results: The GCPR model has been implemented through a commitment to peer review and creative conference scheduling. Automated analysis software is used to depict color-coded results for department approved target coverage and dose constraints. About 8% of plans required re-planning while about 23% required minor changes. The mean time for review of each plan was 8 min. Conclusions: Catching errors prior to treatment is the only way to "chase zero" in radiation oncology. Various types of errors may exist in treatment plans and our GCPR model succeeds in preventing many errors of all shapes and sizes in target definition, dose prescriptions, and treatment plans from ever reaching the patients.
Exploring Changes in State Interest Group Systems:Replications and Extensions of the ESA Model

How have interest group populations in the fifty states changed in the 21st Century so far, and have factors like population growth, changing state ideology, economic performance, legislative professionalism, personal wealth, and shocks like the Great Recession shaped these changes? Using new data on state interest groups originally gathered by the National Institute for Money in State Politics, which I cleaned and introduced at last year, combined with several other measures of state politics, economic performance, and demographic change, I study these questions. With data covering the years 2006 to 2015 allowing for cross-state, as well as time-series, analysis, I explore the extent to which change in economic, political, and social variables lead to changes in state interest group systems, some of which replicates Gray and Lowery’s work. Their work holds-up well in the replications, but new extensions are also explored, including a new “capacity” term for the ESA model.
The Role of Innate Immunity in Regulating Rotavirus Replication, Pathogenesis, and Host Range Restriction and the Implications for Live Rotaviral Vaccine Development

Abstract Rotaviruses (RVs) are important causative agents of viral gastroenteritis in the young of most mammalian species studied, including humans, in which they are the most important cause of severe gastroenteritis worldwide despite the availability of several safe and effective vaccines. Replication of RVs is restricted in a host species-specific manner, and this barrier is determined predominantly by the host interferon (IFN) signaling and the ability of different RV strains to successfully negate IFN activation and amplification pathways. In addition, viral attachment to the target intestinal epithelial cells also regulates host range restriction. Several studies have focused on the role of the innate immune response in regulating RV replication and pathogenesis. The knowledge accrued from these efforts is likely to result in rational attenuation of RV vaccines to closely match circulating (and host species-matched) virus strains. In this chapter, we review prevalent models of RV interactions with innate immune factors, viral strategies employed to regulate their function, and the implications of these findings for improved RV vaccine development.
SiOC functionalization of MoS2 as a means to improve stability as sodium-ion battery anode

The development of feasible, scalable, and environmentally-safe electrode materials that provide stable cycling performance are critical for success of beyond lithium rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. With respect to the sodium-ion battery (SIB) anodes constituting of transition metal dichalcogenides such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), poor cycle stability and fast capacity degradation, due to low electronic conductivity and dissolution of chemical species in the electrolyte, hinders use of these promising layered materials as SIB anodes. Herein we report chemical functionalization in MoS2 nanosheets with polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide or SiOC with the aim to preserve MoS2 from dissolution in the SIB organic electrolyte, without compromising its role in sodiation and desodiation processes. Our results suggest that a MoS2-SiOC composite electrode is effective in bringing improved cycle stability to sodium-ion cycling over neat MoS2 even after 100 cycles.
FPGA IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM FOR QRS COMPLEX DETECTION

Due to the rising number of cardiovascular diseases death, the monitoring of cardiac patients has become a primary objective in the world. In this context, a fully FPGA-based system, for ECG signal...
A template of information needs for decision-making about delaying remediation on contaminated lands to protect human health.

The contamination legacy of industrialization, militarization, and nuclear arms race poses current or future risks to populations and the environment. Responsible parties and regulators make decisi...
Highest Obesity Category Associated With Largest Decrease in N‐Terminal Pro‐B‐Type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) constitutes half of hospitalized heart failure cases and is commonly associated with obesity. The role of natriuretic peptide level...
Manufacturing Tail Risk: A Perspective on the Financial Crisis of 2007-09

1. Introduction. 2. How Did We Get There? 3. The New Banking Model of Manufacturing Tail Risk. 4. Alternative Explanations of the Financial Crisis. 5. Conclusion. Appendix. References.
Lumbar Disc Herniation

When treating patients with low back pain, it is important to differentiate the nature of the pain as it may be complicated by radiculopathy, defined as pain radiating in the distribution of a single lumbar or sacral nerve root with or without motor or sensory changes. Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common cause of radiculopathy in adults with an estimated annual incidence ranging from 1.6 % in the general population to 43 % in certain occupations. The symptoms of radiculopathy are due to the direct mechanical compression on a nerve root as well as the inflammatory mediators present when disc material enters the spinal canal.
Toward moral pathways to motivate wildlife conservation

Abstract Endorsing the intrinsic value of nature fosters a moral obligation within humans to support wildlife conservation. Although recent evidence indicates that individuals contribute to conservation based on their moral commitments, empirical studies that evaluate various sources of moral motivation for conservation are rare. Drawing from theories in moral psychology, we developed a moral motivation for conservation model, where beliefs about whether nature is included in one's moral circle (i.e., moral expansiveness to nature), the extent to which morality is central to the self (i.e., moral identity), and empathy for wildlife each predicted support for conservation. We assessed the hypothesized model using data collected from students attending a large public university in the U.S. (n = 1278) and structural equation modeling. Participants who expanded their moral consideration to nature expressed greater support for conservation. Empathy for wildlife increased wildlife conservation support directly and by elevating moral consideration for nature. Also, the extent to which individuals internalized morality as part of their identities raised their support for conservation. Moreover, we classified the participants based on their identification with social groups supportive of hunting and those advocating animal rights. Although those identified with animal rights scored higher on our morality constructs, multigroup comparisons revealed that similar psychological mechanisms drive moral motivations for conservation among hunter and animal rights advocate groups. We discuss our findings in light of the emerging literature in moral psychology and conservation research and suggest pathways to foster conservation.
Functional electrical stimulation as a promising intervention for polymyositis-related weakness: a case report

Background/aims Polymyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterised by chronic and progressive muscle weakness. This case report discusses a 61-year-old African-American man with polymyositis. E...
Chinatowns Lost? The Birth and Death of Urban Neighborhoods in an American City:

This article historicizes and links the ways in which ethnically segregated neighborhoods are born and die in American cities. Based on a historical ethnography of five Chinatowns in Los Angeles fr...
Teaching spanish‐speaking caregivers to implement EMT en Español: a small randomized trial

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using the Teach-Model-Coach-Review approach to teach Spanish-speaking caregivers from low-income households to implement EMT en Espanol with their young children with language delays. A secondary purpose was to explore the effects of the caregiver-implemented intervention on children's vocabulary. A final and more exploratory goal was to gain insight into caregivers’ perceptions of the intervention. 21 caregiver-child dyads participated in the intent-to-treat randomized control trial. Their children were 30-43 months old with language delays. Dyads were randomly assigned to receive 24 caregiver training sessions delivered at home in Spanish or a wait list control group. Pre, post and 3-month follow assessments included observational measures of caregiver-child interactions and child standardized vocabulary assessments. Caregivers completed surveys rating their perception of the intervention. Caregivers in the intervention group had significantly higher percentages of matched turns, expansions, and targets at post-assessment and of expansions and targets at follow-up compared to the control group. Overall, children in the intervention condition had significantly higher receptive vocabulary scores and performed better than children in the control condition on observational measure of their lexical diversity, with moderate effect sizes for most outcomes. Caregivers perceived the intervention as effective and culturally appropriate. Teach-Model-Coach-Review is effective in increasing Spanish-speaking caregivers’ use of EMT en Espanol strategies with their young children with language delays. The intervention also appears to be effective for child vocabulary outcomes and acceptable to caregivers.
NASA refan program status

The objective of the refan program is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of substantially reducing the noise levels of existing JT8D powered aircraft. The program consists of the design, manufacturing and testing of the refan engines and modified nacelles and airplanes. Experimental testing was completed for the refan engine both at sea level and at altitude conditions. Ground testing for the B727 side- and center-engine installations and flight testing of the DC-9 with refan engines and acoustic nacelles were performed. Preliminary results presented show that substantial noise reductions were achieved.
Plant expansins: diversity and interactions with plant cell walls

Expansins were discovered two decades ago as cell wall proteins that mediate acid-induced growth by catalyzing loosening of plant cell walls without lysis of wall polymers. In the interim our understanding of expansins has gotten more complex through bioinformatic analysis of expansin distribution and evolution, as well as through expression analysis, dissection of the upstream transcription factors regulating expression, and identification of additional classes of expansin by sequence and structural similarities. Molecular analyses of expansins from bacteria have identified residues essential for wall loosening activity and clarified the bifunctional nature of expansin binding to complex cell walls. Transgenic modulation of expansin expression modifies growth and stress physiology of plants, but not always in predictable or even understandable ways.
Chemical Mechanisms for Mobilizing DNA

Different types of elements, and their associated recombinases, continue to be discovered and characterized. Studies of two major classes of these recombinases have advanced to the point that detailed molecular mechanisms can be discussed. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms of protein-catalyzed recombination by these two classes to provide examples of how the chemistry of DNA mobility is catalyzed and controlled. Central to both types of DNA rearrangements are protein-catalyzed polynucleotidyl transfer steps. The chapter focuses on the likely catalytic functions of several active-site residues. The key to understanding the catalytic mechanisms used by transposases is knowledge of how the different DNA segments are positioned and repositioned within the active sites as recombination progresses. The characteristic of recombinases is related to two important biological features that distinguish the proteins from traditional enzymes. First, the physiological demand on the reaction rate for phosphoryl transfer in recombination is usually very low, with many reactions occurring less than once every cell cycle. Second, the physiology also frequently demands that essentially all substrate molecules are converted to product, even when the "substrate" and the "product" are nearly isoenergetic. The structural organization of recombination complexes is intimately related to the mechanisms used for biological control. Perhaps one of the most satisfying aspects of the continued understanding of site-specific recombination and transposition is that, as the details of the protein-DNA complex structures and catalytic strategies are elucidated, they provide insight into the molecular basis of regulation.
Technical Tips: Year 2000 Compliance and its Effects on the Electroneurodiagnostic Laboratory

ABSTRACT.This article presents a basic understanding of the year 2000 problem, and its effects on the electroneurodiagnostic (END) laboratory. Most of us in the field of neurodiagnostics have probably not even given it a thought, and many may not have even heard of it. The following manuscript is intended to give some general guidelines for the recognition and diagnosis of the problem. The major goal for all of us at this point is to begin to address the problem.
Distributed Algorithms for Nash Equilibria of Flow Control Games

We develop a mathematical model within a game theoretical framework to capture the flow control problem for variable rate traffic at a bottleneck node. In this context, we also address various issues such as pricing and allocation of a single resource among a given number of users. We obtain a distributed, end-to-end flow control using cost functions defined as the difference between particular pricing and utility functions. We prove the existence and uniqueness of a Nash equilibrium for two different utility functions. The paper also discusses three distributed update algorithms, parallel, random and gradient update, which are shown to be globally stable under explicitly derived conditions. The convergence properties and robustness of each algorithm are studied through extensive simulations.
Was the Downsizing of Older, Well-Educated Males in the 1990s Caused by Firms Reneging on Implicit Contracts?

It is widely believed that in the 1990s the U.S. experienced a period of widespread corporate "downsizing" in which firms lay off workers - often well-educated workers with high tenure - to an extent far greater than in the past. Recent empirical studies have lent some support to this belief. I argue that this phenomenon can be understood in light of the well-known theory developed by Lazear (1979). The theory argues that implicit contracts in which low tenure workers are underpaid relative to marginal revenue product and high tenure workers are overpaid relative to marginal revenue product can be understood as an incentive device designed to combat principal-agent problems in environments where worker monitoring is costly. There is substantial empirical support for the existence of these Lazear-style implicit contracts (LSICs). But there is also evidence of a decline in the formation of new LSICs with recent cohorts of young workers (Balan, 2003). This has important implications for high tenure (overpaid) workers who are party to LSICs. If firms are no longer entering into LSICs with young workers, then they need no longer be concerned with their reputations for trustworthiness and are free to renege on their obligations to high tenure workers by laying them off. I test for this reneging using a multi-year (1984-1998) sample of high tenure workers from the Displaced Worker Supplement to the Current Population Survey. I introduce five proxies for the probability that a particular worker is party to an LSIC. For all five of the proxies, probit regressions indicate that the effect of a one-unit increase in the proxy on the probability of layoff is negative at the beginning of the sample period. In other words, being more likely to be party to an LSIC made a worker less likely to be laid off. For four of the five proxies, this effect diminished over the sample period. For two of the five proxies, the effect of a one-unit increase in the proxy on the probability of layoff is positive by the end of the sample period. Furthermore, multinomial logit regressions provide some evidence that this trend is concentrated among the types of layoffs that can be interpreted as "downsizing." The standard errors on these coefficients are quite large, so these trends are not statistically significant. If, however, the trend is real, then it is consistent with the proposition that in recent years firms have been reneging on their implicit contracts with high tenure workers.
Organization of the regulatory elements and nuclear activities participating in the transcription of the human apolipoprotein B gene

The human apolipoprotein B (apoB) promoter region (-150 to +124) is transcriptionally active in HepG2 and CaCo-2 but not in HeLa cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that transcription of the human apoB gene in hepatic cells is achieved through the interaction of proteins that bind to five regulatory elements, I (-118 to -98), II (-112 to -94), III (-86 to -62), IV (-72 to -53), and V (-53 to -33). Elements I, IV, and V can bind to bacterially expressed enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) although with different affinities. In addition, elements I, IV, and V interact with at least two other heat-stable nuclear factors, designated NF-BA2 and NF-BA3, that are distinct from C/EBP. These activities have been separated by ion exchange chromatography and shown to produce footprints in elements I, IV, and V that are similar to those obtained with C/EBP. Element II is recognized by three activities designated NF-BCB1, NF-BCB2, and NF-BCB3, which have been separated by heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Saturation mutagenesis of the region established that they belong to a family of proteins recognizing the same motif, 5'-AAAAGCAAACAG-3'. Substitution mutations in element II that abolish binding of all three activities in vitro also reduce hepatic transcription in vivo to 10% of control, indicating that the binding of NF-BCB1, NF-BCB2, and NF-BCB3 activities is required for efficient transcription of the apoB gene. Furthermore, element III is recognized by the previously characterized nuclear factor NF-BA1, the binding of which is essential for the transcriptional activation of the apoB gene in hepatic and intestinal cells.
Geomechanical Model for Rock Foundation Settlement

A geomechanical model is proposed for estimating the settlement of foundations on rock masses. Included is a rock mass model for reducing rock material properties to rock mass properties and an RQD model to correlate RQD with discontinuity frequency. The models are used with anisotropic elastic solutions to evaluate settlements on isotropic, transversely isotropic, and orthogonally jointed rock masses. An extensive material property summary is included for initial estimations, and design examples are included.
Hierarchically-constrained optical flow

This paper presents a novel approach to solving optical flow problems using a discrete, tree-structured MRF derived from a hierarchical segmentation of the image. Our method can be used to find globally-optimal matching solutions even for problems involving very large motions. Experiments demonstrate that our approach is competitive on the MPI-Sintel dataset and that it can significantly outperform existing methods on problems involving large motions.
Procoagulant effect of phenobarbital in rats

Abstract Daily administration of phenobarbital, 75 mg/kg ip for 4 days, to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats produced a pronounced increase of prothrombin complex activity (PCA) in plasma, i.e. a decrease of the prothrombin time. This effect persisted for 4 to 5 days after the last dose of phenobarbital. The rate constant for the decline of PCA after administration of a PCA synthesis-blocking dose of warfarin was not affected by treatment with phenobarbital but the rate of synthesis of PCA was increased appreciably. Thus, the phenobarbital-induced increase of PCA was caused by increased synthesis of one or more clotting factors.
The Cincinnati prospective study of low-level lead exposure and its effects on child development: protocol and status report.

This project attempts to integrate information on exposure history, cognitive and behavioral development, and health and social functioning in order to delineate the association between chronic, low-level lead exposure and behavioral development. A dose-response analysis will be made seeking to relate the frequency with which effects occur to degree of lead exposure.
Irreducible representations of the unitary and Lorentz groups

Abstract The irreducible representations of the unitary and Lorentz groups are derived by a method, in which the generators are treated by means of differential operators, while the irreducible tensors are expressed as polynomials by using the components of two basic vectors as independent variables. Our treatment is simpler than the earlier derivations of the irreducible representations, since it completely avoids the use of the complicated mathematical apparatus of the standard group theory.
Perceptions of a University Environment by Social‐Political Action Leaders

Leaders of campus social-political action groups were compared with the leaders of four other categories of student leaders on the basis of perceptions of the prevailing campus environmental press as measured by the College and University Environment Scales. Significant differences among the five categories of group leaders were observed on four scales of the inventory. Three of the scales, Community, Awareness, and Scholarship, appeared to differentiate social-political activists from leaders of other types of campus groups. Significant differences between liberal and conservative leaders of social-political action groups were also observed on three scales of the CUES and between male and female leaders across all group categories on four scales.
Transabdominal ultrasound in the evaluation of prostate size

This paper stresses the value of transabdominal ultrasound that utilizes basic ultrasound equipment in evaluating the size of the prostate. We performed ultrasound examinations on 43 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and in 33 of these, sonography was done prior to surgery in an effort to compare the size of the prostate estimated by ultrasound with that of the postoperative specimen. In the vast majority of these patients, the difference between the estimated size and that of the specimen was insignificant. Ultrasound examination is easy, fast, noninvasive and reasonably accurate.
Advanced Avionics and Processor Systems for a Flexible Space Exploration Architecture

The Advanced Avionics and Processor Systems (AAPS) project, formerly known as the Radiation Hardened Electronics for Space Environments (RHESE) project, endeavors to develop advanced avionic and processor technologies anticipated to be used by NASA s currently evolving space exploration architectures. The AAPS project is a part of the Exploration Technology Development Program, which funds an entire suite of technologies that are aimed at enabling NASA s ability to explore beyond low earth orbit. NASA s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) manages the AAPS project. AAPS uses a broad-scoped approach to developing avionic and processor systems. Investment areas include advanced electronic designs and technologies capable of providing environmental hardness, reconfigurable computing techniques, software tools for radiation effects assessment, and radiation environment modeling tools. Near-term emphasis within the multiple AAPS tasks focuses on developing prototype components using semiconductor processes and materials (such as Silicon-Germanium (SiGe)) to enhance a device s tolerance to radiation events and low temperature environments. As the SiGe technology will culminate in a delivered prototype this fiscal year, the project emphasis shifts its focus to developing low-power, high efficiency total processor hardening techniques. In addition to processor development, the project endeavors to demonstrate techniques applicable to reconfigurable computing and partially reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). This capability enables avionic architectures the ability to develop FPGA-based, radiation tolerant processor boards that can serve in multiple physical locations throughout the spacecraft and perform multiple functions during the course of the mission. The individual tasks that comprise AAPS are diverse, yet united in the common endeavor to develop electronics capable of operating within the harsh environment of space. Specifically, the AAPS tasks for the Federal fiscal year of 2010 are: Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Integrated Electronics for Extreme Environments, Modeling of Radiation Effects on Electronics, Radiation Hardened High Performance Processors (HPP), and and Reconfigurable Computing.
Plasma cytokines and chemokines in primary graft dysfunction post-lung transplantation.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation causes significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the role of cytokines and chemokines in PGD. This is a multicenter case–control study of PGD in humans. A Luminex analysis was performed to determine plasma levels of 25 chemokines and cytokines before and at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h following allograft reperfusion in 25 cases (grade 3 PGD) and 25 controls (grade 0 PGD). Biomarker profiles were evaluated using a multivariable logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. PGD cases had higher levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)/chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) and interferon (IFN)-inducible protein (IP-10)/chemokine CXC motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) (both p < 0.05), suggesting recruitment of monocytes and effector T cells in PGD. In addition, PGD cases had lower levels of interleukin (IL-13) (p = 0.05) and higher levels of IL-2R (p = 0.05). Proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IFN-γ decreased to very low levels after transplant in both PGD cases and controls, exhibiting no differences between the two groups. These findings were independent of clinical variables including diagnosis in multivariable analyses, but may be affected by cardiopulmonary bypass. Profound injury in clinical PGD is distinguished by the upregulation of selected chemokine pathways, which may useful for the prediction or early detection of PGD if confirmed in future studies.
Estimation of Salt Base Depth Using 3d Gravity Modeling: a Case History From the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Recent sucesses in sub-salt plays in the Gulf of Mexico can largely be attributed to advances in sub-salt imaging technology, specifically the use of large volumes of 3D pre-stack depth migrated seismic data. However, despite recent advances in hardware and software, this remains an expensive and time consuming technique for studying the salt base. Any technology which allows rapid, and inexpensive, imaging of the broader features of the salt base can assist in planning for the optimum expenditure of a seismic exploration budget. This study shows that three dimensional gravity modeling, used in conjunction with available 2D seismic and density data is an inexpensive and effective way to image the broader features of the salt base. The salt structure described in this paper lies approximately 90 km due south of Galveston, Texas, on the continental shelf, in the northern northern Gulf of Mexico (Figure 1). The salt mass is sub-circular in shape, with a diameter of approximately 7 km, and the upper surface of the salt lies within 100 m of the surface where it is shallowest. A data set, consisting of 42 sea bottom gravity stations, three sea bottom gravity profiles, six 2D seismic lines, eighteen suites of well log data and two regional scale density depth functions was used to produce a full three dimensional gravity model of the salt structure.
Radar waveform design for detection of weapons

We present waveform design based on signature exploitation techniques for improved detection of weapons in urban sensing applications. We consider a single-antenna monostatic radar system. Under the assumption of exact knowledge of the target orientation and, hence, known impulse response, matched illumination approach is used for optimal target detection. For the case of unknown target orientation, we propose waveform design based on subspace decomposition of the target impulse response matrix corresponding to the various aspect angles. Numerical electromagnetic modeling is used to provide the impulse responses of an AK-47 assault rifle for various target aspect angles relative to the radar. Simulation results depict an improvement in the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) at the output of the matched filter receiver for both matched illumination and subspace waveforms as compared to a chirp waveform of the same duration and energy.
Changes in lipophorin composition during the fourth to fifth instar molt of Manduca sexta

During the feeding stage of the fourth instar of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, lipophorin has a density of 1.144 g/ml and is comprised of 55% protein and 45% lipid, mainly diacylglycerol and phospholipid. These values are similar to those found during the corresponding period of the fifth instar. However, during the intermolt period the lipid composition of lipophorin changes to 45% protein and 55% lipid and the density decreases to 1.112 g/ml. The onset of these changes in lipid content correspond to the increase in ecdysteroid titer which signals the beginning of molting. At the end of molting both the lipid content and density return to those characteristic of the fifth instar. These data further confirm the complex nature of lipophorin metabolism in M. sexta larva and suggest that ecdysone may be the trigger for lipid mobilization during the intermolt period.
Serotonin reveals ineffective spinal pathways to contralateral phrenic motoneurons in spinally hemisected rats.

Serotonin reveals ineffective (subthreshold) pathways from the C2 lateral funiculus to ipsilateral phrenic motoneurons in spinalized rats. The objective of the present study was to investigate serotonergic modulation of crossed-spinal pathways to contralateral phrenic motoneurons. Rats (n = 10) were anesthetized (urethane), paralyzed, vagotomized, and artificially ventilated. The spinal cord was hemisected at C1–C2 and, on the intact side, a tungsten stimulating electrode was placed ventral to the C2 dorsal root entry zone in the dorsolateral (∼ 1.1 mm) or the ventrolateral funiculus (∼2.2 mm depth). Single shocks (100–750 μA, 0.1–0.5 ms, 2 Hz) elicited a short-latency (∼ 1.0 ms to peak) excitation in the ipsilateral phrenic nerve, but usually evoked little or no response in the contralateral phrenic nerve at either stimulus site. Following systemic injection of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline (25 mg/kg) and the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5–10 mg/kg), complex responses were revealed in the contralateral phrenic nerve, including; (1) spontaneous tonic activity; (2) a short-latency (∼1.0 ms to peak) evoked excitation; and (3) two long-latency (∼2.2 and 7.8 ms to peak) evoked excitations. The longest latency excitation was expressed only when the stimulating electrode was positioned in the dorsolateral funiculus. Contralateral evoked responses were blocked by systemic methysergide (2–6 mg/kg), a broad-spectrum serotonin receptor antagonist. These results indicate that serotonin converts ineffective crossed phrenic pathways in the spinal cord to effective pathways. It remains to be determined whether serotonin is both necessary and sufficient in this modulatory process, or if it is a nonspecific result of increased phrenic motoneuron excitability.
Positive Antecedent and Consequent Components in Child Compliance Training

This study evaluates the effects of positive antecedent (effective instruction delivery and time-in) and consequent components (contingent praise) on the compliance of 4 children in a clinic setting. Results suggest that the use of effective instruction delivery alone increased compliance above baseline levels for the 4 children and that the additions of time-in and contingent praise further increased compliance for 3 of the 4 children. All three positive treatment components resulted in compliance greater than 80% for all children. Compliance levels were maintained at 1-month follow-up for 2 children. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits to using all of the positive components in compliance training.
Appendix B: Potential Effects on Children's Performance of Features of the Research Design

In addition to the variables of interest in this research (namely, age, delay, sequence type, mode of experience, and verbal reminders), children's performance may have been affected by a number of features of the research design. This Appendix is a report of the results of analyses of three potential influences on the children's performance. First, we examined the possibility that the particular experimenter who conducted the session might have affected the children's performance. Second, we examined the possibility that conclusions regarding children's recall of the event sequences were qualified by specific event sequence effects. Third, we examined the possibility that differences in the lengths of the child-controlled response periods might account for the patterns of effects observed. Although in each case some effects obtained, in no case did the findings present substantive qualifications to the major patterns described in the body of the text.
A methodology to determine margins by EPID measurements of patient setup variation and motion as applied to immobilization devices.

Assessment of clinic and site specific margins are essential for the effective use of three-dimensional and intensity modulated radiation therapy. An electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based methodology is introduced which allows individual and population based CTV-to-PTV margins to be determined and compared with traditional margins prescribed during treatment. This method was applied to a patient cohort receiving external beam head and neck radiotherapy under an IRB approved protocol. Although the full study involved the use of an EPID-based method to assess the impact of (1) simulation technique (2) immobilization, and (3) surgical intervention on inter- and intrafraction variations of individual and population-based CTV-to-PTV margins, the focus of the paper is on the technique. As an illustration, the methodology is utilized to examine the influence of two immobilization devices, the UON{sup TM} thermoplastic mask and the Type-S{sup TM} head/neck shoulder immobilization system on margins. Daily through port images were acquired for selected fields for each patient with an EPID. To analyze these images, simulation films or digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR's) were imported into the EPID software. Up to five anatomical landmarks were identified and outlined by the clinician and up to three of these structures were matched for each referencemore » image. Once the individual based errors were quantified, the patient results were grouped into populations by matched anatomical structures and immobilization device. The variation within the subgroup was quantified by calculating the systematic and random errors ({sigma}{sub sub} and {sigma}{sub sub}). Individual patient margins were approximated as 1.65 times the individual-based random error and ranged from 1.1 to 6.3 mm (A-P) and 1.1 to 12.3 mm (S-I) for fields matched on skull and cervical structures, and 1.7 to 10.2 mm (L-R) and 2.0 to 13.8 mm (S-I) for supraclavicular fields. Population-based margins ranging from 5.1 to 6.6 mm (A-P) and 3.7 to 5.7 mm (S-I) were calculated for the corresponding skull/cervical field and 9.3 to 10.0 mm (L-R) and 6.3 to 6.6 mm (S-I) for the supraclavicular fields, respectively. The reported CTV-to-PTV margins are comparable to a value 7-15 mm based on traditional Mayo margins, but in some cases exceed the default values established in RTOG Head and Neck studies. The data suggests that the population-based margins provide sufficient coverage for the majority of the patients. However, the population-derived margins are excessive for some patients and insufficient for others, suggesting that a re-evaluation of current treatment margins for individual patients is warranted. Finally, this methodology provides direct evidence of treatment variation and thus can demonstrate with confidence, the superiority of one technique over another.« less
Childhood fitness: what is happening? What needs to be done?

Abstract Background . There is some controversy as to the fitness levels of U.S. school-age youth. Some experts claim that U.S. youth are fit. Others feel that there has been a decline, despite a recent adult fitness boom. Methods . The purpose of this article is to examine the research conducted on the cardiovascular endurance and body composition levels of U.S. youth. Research studies noting the activity patterns of youth outside and during physical education are presented. The frequency and duration of physical education requirements are also reviewed. The effects of these patterns and requirements on cardiovascular endurance and body composition are presented. Results . U.S. youth do not engage in physical activity, within or outside physical education, sufficient to develop cardiovascular endurance. Our youth are, therefore, at risk of developing a myriad of diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. Conclusions . Exercise is known to have a prophylactic effect on disease, death, and disability. Young people must be instructed and encouraged to be involved in lifetime fitness activities if we are going to control health care costs, reduce disease incidence, and improve the overall quality of life of our citizens.
Of Mice and Pen: Effects of Input Device on Different Age Groups Performing Goal-Oriented Tasks

Convertible tablet PCs can use a pen or a mouse for input. The pen is better suited than the mouse for some tasks because of its interaction properties, and research has shown it may ameliorate age-related decrements in performance. This study compared the pen and mouse on a series of realistic tasks for older (55–69) and younger (18–30) adults. Precision tasks were better served by the mouse, while ballistic tasks with strong analogs to real-world actions were served equally well by the pen or the mouse. Older adults were slower than younger adults on both devices, but contrary to the research hypothesis, no benefits were observed specifically for older adults with the pen. This study reinforces findings regarding the importance of task demands when selecting input devices. Younger adults seemed more willing than older adults to embrace the pen.
Chemical bonding and charge distribution at metallic nanocontacts

We present results of electronic structure calculations for aluminium contacts of atomic size, based on density functional theory and the local density approximation. Addressing the atomic orbitals at the neck of the nanocontact, we find that the local band structure deviates strongly from bulk fcc aluminium. In particular, hybridization between Al 3s and 3p states is fully suppressed due to directed bonds at the contact. Moreover, a charge transfer of 0.6 electrons off the contact aluminium site is found. Both the suppressed hybridization and the violated charge neutrality are characteristic features of metallic nanocontacts. This fact has serious consequences for models aiming at a microscopic description of transport properties.
High-performing scale-out solution for deep packet processing via adaptive load-balancing

We propose a scale-out solution for deep packet processing (DPP) appliances, which uses a standard Ethernet switch in combination with a load balancing controller. The majority of the data-plane traffic is distributed via the switch's built-in traffic distribution function and no connection state is kept. If the load balancing controller detects a skew in the load of the DPP appliances, it updates the traffic rules in the switch to redirect new connections to less busy DPP appliances. This adaptive solution is beneficial for load-balancing at high data rates because state is kept for only the redirected connections. For typical traffic patterns, our solution reduces the packet drops with minimal connection redirection. We show an example capture, where we are able to improve the packet drop rate by 94.8% with only 3% of the connections being redirected.
Identifying Factors, Barriers, and Solutions Related to Food Insecurity in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania

Due to the increasing food insecurity in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, a needs assessment was implemented to explore the contributing factors to food insecurity and discuss possible solutions. Ten focus groups were conducted with low-income county residents (N = 89). Coding, horizontilization, and clustering of meanings were used for data analysis. Three main themes emerged: (1) food accessibility amid local food assistance; (2) the economy has an enormous impact on food insecurity; and (3) food shopping follows similar patterns. These findings will inform the development of a comprehensive plan to become a hunger-free community and to serve as a model for other communities.
Data Flow Supercomputers

Programmability with increased performance? New strategies to attain this goal include two approaches to data flow architecture: data flow multiprocessors and the cell block architecture.
Net Interval for Calculating Absorption Spectra

The integration-net size required for computing absorption spectra is determined by how accurately the relative positions of the lines are known and by the line half-widths. When the half-width is not too much greater than the uncertainty of the line position, a net size equal to the half-width will usually suffice for Lorentz and Doppler lines, but atmospheric lines may require net intervals of a quarter of the half-width.
Syndromes of behavioural and psychological symptoms in mild Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and are associated with significant distress for patient and carer. Certain behavioural and psychological symptoms have been associated with each other, leading to the suggestion that differences in symptom patterns among patients with AD may represent different syndromes within AD. The purpose of this study is to see if patients with AD could be meaningfully classified into syndromes, based on the relationships between their BPSD. Methodology The sample was recruited through a memory clinic. Two hundred and forty first visit patients with a diagnosis of very mild to mild AD were included. BPSD were assessed using the BEHAVE-AD. Latent class analysis was used to assess for different classes or groups of patients within the sample, based on their behavioural and psychological symptoms. Results Three classes were identified; Class 1 with a low prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms; Class 2 an anxiety/depressive symptom class and Class 3 an aggressive symptom class. Conclusions The three classes (or groups) of patients obtained by LCA in this sample may be explained by a ‘latent’, as yet, unidentified factor. Further research is required to determine if these classes are stable over time, and to identify possible latent variables. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.