cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boundary dual of bulk local operators

We provide a procedure to determine if a given nonlocal operator in a large-$N$ holographic CFT is dual to a local bulk operator on the geometry associated with a particular code subspace of the CFT. This procedure does not presuppose knowledge of the bulk geometry. We are able to pick out local operators in a large region of the bulk, called the ``localizable region,'' that can extend beyond event horizons in certain cases. The method relies heavily on the quantum error correcting structure of $\mathrm{AdS}/\mathrm{CFT}$ and, in particular, on entanglement wedge reconstruction. As a byproduct of this machinery, we are able to reconstruct the metric in the localizable region up to a conformal factor. This suggests a connection between our program and the recent light-cone cut approach to bulk reconstruction.
Miniaturizing 3D assay for high-throughput drug and genetic screens for small patient-derived tumor samples (Conference Presentation)

Three-dimensional growth conditions reflect the natural environment of cancer cells and are crucial to be performed at drug screens. We developed a 3D assay for cellular transformation that involves growth in low attachment (GILA) conditions and is strongly correlated with the 50-year old benchmark assay-soft agar. Using GILA, we performed high-throughput screens for drugs and genes that selectively inhibit or increase transformation, but not proliferation. This phenotypic approach is complementary to our genetic approach that utilizes single-cell RNA-sequencing of a patient sample to identify putative oncogenes that confer sensitivity to drugs designed to specifically inhibit the identified oncoprotein. Currently, we are dealing with a big challenge in our field- the limited number of cells that might be extracted from a biopsy. Small patient-derived samples are hard to test in the traditional multiwell plate and it will be helpful to minimize the culture area and the experimental system. We managed to design a suitable microfluidic device for limited number of cells and perform the assay using image analysis. We aim to test drugs on tumor cells, outside of the patient body- and recommend on the ideal treatment that is tailored to the individual. This device will help to minimize biopsy-sampling volumes and minimize interventions in the patient’s tumor.
Normal mode analysis of isotopic shifts in Raman spectrum of TNT-d5

Abstract A combined experimental-computational study was conducted on the Raman spectrum of TNT-d5 in the present study. It was found that among the 24 hybrid density functional theory (DFT) methods, O3LYP, tHCTHhyb, and B3LYP simulations yielded the strongest Raman bands which were closest to those measured from experiments. Simulations of hybrid DFT methods did not show that deuterium replacements alter orientations of 2- and 6-nitro with respect to phenyl ring, considering a larger size of the methyl group. However, the deuterium replacements apparently changed the reduced masses for all deuterium related vibrations. Although no difference of structural parameters was shown between TNT and its deuterated analogue, discrepancy was indicated in vibrational zero energy from our simulations. O3LYP simulation exhibited 24 deuterium involved vibrations, which were coupled into seven Raman bands of TNT-d5. This phenomenon can account for the experimental Raman band shifts or split of TNT-d5 when compared with the corresponding bands of TNT. The present study and its outcomes provide in-depth microchemical insights of Raman characteristics of TNT and may facilitate the design of nano-structures of SERS substrates for detection of TNT and its degradation products. All intensities displayed in this study were calculated from numerical simulations.
Bounds on geologically current rates of motion of groups of hot spots

It is widely believed that groups of hot spots in different regions of the world are in relative motion at rates of 10 to 30 mm a−1 or more. Here we present a new method for analyzing geologically current motion between groups of hot spots beneath different plates. In an inversion of 56 globally distributed, equally weighted trends of hot spot tracks, the dispersion is dominated by differences in trend between different plates rather than differences within plates. Nonetheless the rate of hot spot motion perpendicular to the direction of absolute plate motion, vperp, differs significantly from zero for only 3 of 10 plates and then by merely 0.3 to 1.4 mm a−1. The global mean upper bound on |vperp| is 3.2 ± 2.7 mm a−1. Therefore, hot spots move slowly and can be used to define a global reference frame for plate motions.
Cutting Dwarf Pirates Down to Size: Amphibious Warfare in 16th-Century East Asia

The 16th century was the golden age of piracy in East Asia. Raiders known pejoratively as wokou in China, wako in Japan and waegu in Korea raided the coasts of all three lands with reckless abandon. Helped by governmental lassitude in China and a lack of a central political authority in Japan, these international pirates enjoyed their greatest success in the middle of the century, after which time tactical and organisational improvements in China, the restoration of political order in Japan and the lifting of Ming China’s formal ban on overseas trade all conspired to bring an end to widespread piratical activity. Utilising a variety of primary and secondary sources, this paper examines the nature of amphibious warfare in 16th-century East Asia, focusing particularly on strategy and tactics while also considering the developments that led to the end of widespread piracy in East Asia towards the end of the century. In particular it discusses the tactical innovations pioneered by the famous Ming general Qi Jiguang (1528–88), whose methods became the blueprint for anti-pirate defence throughout East Asia. The chapter’s conclusion discusses the social, economic and political ramifications of piracy within the larger context of late 16th-century East Asia, including how the experiences of the Chinese and Koreans in the middle of the century shaped their tactical responses to the Japanese invasion of the Asian mainland at the end of the century.
Palliative care in end-stage valvular heart disease

Valvular heart disease (VHD), particularly aortic valve disease, is prevalent with increasing incidence. When surgery is not possible, or when risks outweigh benefits, percutaneous treatment options may offer effective alternatives. However, procedures may not always go as planned, and frail patients or those whose symptoms are caused by other comorbidities may not benefit from valve intervention at all. Significant effort should be made to assess frailty, comorbidities and patient goals prior to intervention. Palliative care (PC) should play a critical role in the care of patients with severe valve disease. PC is specialised medical care that aims to optimise health-related quality of life by managing symptoms and clarifying patient values and goals of care. It should be implemented at the time of diagnosis and continue throughout the disease course. Because of the paucity of studies dedicated to the provision of PC to patients with advanced VHD, further research is needed.
Characterization of common videos with statistical features extracted from frame transition profiles

The availability of a tremendous amount of videos on Internet nowadays raises a research question of how to automatically classify and label the videos in terms of their contents so as to allow people a quick access based on a particular interest in the types and characteristics of the videos. Organizing video clips into proper categories will make the process of content-based search on large number of videos much faster and improve the accessibility. Also an ability to detect and identify the originality and the creator (author/source) according to the unique shooting characteristics of the videos will be useful in certain applications. A profile created by extracting the features of shot transitions at which the contents of video frames exhibit special patterns of changes helps categorizing videos in different types. The research of this paper experimented on three types of videos (News, Sports, and Music) to show that a content profile built on a new set of frame transition parameters and corresponding statistical measurements could be applied to reveal the specific characteristics and distinguish the different types of videos.
Bribery: Am I a Criminal? Implications of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act in the Outsourced FM Environment

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the de facto international anti-bribery/anti-corruption (ABAC) standard and how facility managers can unwittingly fall afoul of it. Its conclusions will help FM practi...
A case of remission from multifocal motor neuropathy following rituximab (P2.435)

Objective: To describe a case of a prolonged remission of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) following treatment with rituximab Background: MMN is a rare, chronic, immune-mediated neuropathy that presents with asymmetric distal limb weakness, atrophy, and fasciculations. Most patients improve with IVIG and require maintenance treatment, but the response diminishes over time, typically after 3–7 years. Second line treatment options include cyclophosphamide with plasma exchange, rituximab, cyclosporine, and azathioprine, but no placebo-controlled studies exist. Design/Methods: Case report and literature review Results: A 36 year-old man presented in 1992 with progressive right hand weakness and atrophy of his distal forearm and intrinsic hand muscles. Electrodiagnostic testing demonstrated motor conduction block in the ulnar nerve and slowing of the median and ulnar motor nerves with normal sensory responses. GM1 antibodies were negative, and the patient was diagnosed with multifocal motor neuropathy. Strength improved after the initial course of IVIG, but over the next ten years, he had a slow decline despite interval doses of IVIG. In October 2009, at the age of 53, he was treated with rituximab 2g/m2 given over two doses, two weeks apart. The last dose of IVIG was prior to treatment with rituximab in mid-2009. At three months, he had significant improvement in strength. Symptoms remained stable without decline in strength for the following 8 years, requiring no additional treatment of any kind. Conclusions: MMN is typically a slowly progressive disorder with initial response to IVIG and subsequent slow decline. While shorter remissions have been reported in the literature, our patient who was previously IVIG-dependent had a prolonged remission of 8 years without any treatment following rituximab. This suggests that rituximab may be an effective second-line agent for the treatment of MMN in select patients. Study Supported by: NA Disclosure: Dr. Gonzalez has nothing to disclose. Dr Juel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zivkovic has nothing to disclose.
Clinging to Traditional Reference Services: An Open Invitation to Libref.com.

ities (as a part of our overall public services) and determine at what level to fund them for the next year. Making this assessment is typically difficult, since the circum stances of reference are increasing ly complex and ambiguous. The complexity derives both from the continuing digitization of pub lished knowledge and the advent of distance learning (which has begun to separate the reference librarian and the user). I admit that making an assessment is also diffi cult because I intuitively believe that reference service is important but find it increasingly out of touch?so the assessment process is a struggle between my heart and my head. What I will share with you here is my current view, as an administrator, of reference services in an academic library setting. A Current Assessment of Reference
Evolutionary Rate Variation in Organelle Genomes: The Role of Mutational Processes

With the ever-expanding availability of DNA sequence data, it has become increasingly clear that genes and genomes can evolve at very different rates. Organelle genomes, in particular, provide dramatic examples of variation in nucleotide substitution rates across species, which in many cases reflect variation in underlying mutational processes. In this chapter, we review the evidence for variation in organelle mutation rates and discuss the evolutionary causes and consequences of this variation. We suggest that the existence of mutation rate variation across diverse phylogenetic scales makes organelle genomes an ideal system for investigating the interplay between mutational processes and the evolution of genome architecture.
Blame Assignment in Organizations: A Quality of Work Life Approach

One source of subjective well-being for individuals is the blame they potentially receive for failures. This paper reviews the research literature on responsibility assignments, integrates recent research on blame contagion, describes how this process can affect employees’ willingness to take risks and report errors, and examines how these processes can impact an organization’s capacity to learn. I integrate these findings in a model of blame assignment in organizations, proposing structural and cultural interventions that may help to address some of the problematic outcomes of blame attributions for Quality of Work Life.
Effects of Compressive Loads on the Heat Flux Through Multilayer Insulations

Compressive loads—either caused by atmospheric pressure or developed during the application of multilayer insulations—are already known to reduce the overall effectiveness of insulation. Figure 1 shows the effect of compression on the heat flux through 15 multilayer insulations. The increase in heat flux after a compressive load of 2 psi has been reached is of comparable magnitude for all insulations tested. When compressive loads up to 2 psi are applied, the majority of the insulations show a heat flux about 100 times greater than the no-load condition.
Advances in the management of endometriosis in the adolescent.

Purpose of reviewThe present article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying adolescent endometriosis and advances in both medical and surgical management.Recent findingsMolecular and cellular features of endometriotic lesions differ from eutopic endometrium. There is altered est
Structural basis for murine norovirus engagement of bile acids and the CD300lf receptor.

Murine norovirus (MNoV) is closely related to human norovirus (HNoV), an infectious agent responsible for acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Here we report the X-ray crystal structure of the dimeric MNoV VP1 protruding (P) domain in complex with its cellular receptor CD300lf. CD300lf binds the P domain with a 2:2 stoichiometry, engaging a cleft between the AB and DE loops of the P2 subdomain at a site that overlaps the epitopes of neutralizing antibodies. We also identify that bile acids are cofactors enhancing MNoV cell-binding and infectivity. Structures of CD300lf–P domain in complex with glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) reveal two bile acid binding sites at the P domain dimer interface distant from receptor binding sites. The structural determinants for receptor and bile acid binding are supported by numerous biophysical assays utilizing interface residue mutations. We find that the monomeric affinity of CD300lf for the P domain is low and is divalent cation dependent. We have also determined the crystal structure of CD300lf in complex with phosphocholine, revealing that MNoV engages its receptor in a manner mimicking host ligands including similar metal coordination. Docking of the cocomplex structures onto a cryo-EM–derived model of MNoV suggests that each virion can make multiple CD300lf engagements, and thus, infection may be driven by the avidity of cell surface clustered CD300lf. These studies identify multiple potential modulators of norovirus infection that may act to regulate the interaction between the viral capsid P domain and its cognate cellular receptor.
Predictive Modeling of Anti-Cancer Drug Sensitivity from Genetic Characterizations

Accurately predicting sensitivity of tumor cells to anti-cancer drugs based on genetic characterizations is a significant challenge for personalized cancer therapy. This chapter provides a computational procedure to design predictive models from individual genomic characterizations and combine them to arrive at an integrated predictive model. Integrated modeling employs the complementary information from heterogeneous genetic characterizations to improve the prediction error as well as lowering the error confidence interval.
Moving Object Search with Multiple Agents

In this paper, we study the problem of searching for a moving object with multiple agents where each agent can access only a subset of a discrete search space at any time. We develop necessary conditions for an optimal search plan, extending prior results in search theory. Using these necessary conditions, we develop a forward-backward algorithm based on coordinate descent techniques to obtain solutions. For the case where agent's probabilities of detection depend only on the cell being searched, each iteration can be reduced to solution of a network optimization problem. To avoid local minima, we derive a convex relaxation of the dynamic search problem and show this can be solved optimally using coordinate descent techniques. The solutions of the relaxed problem are used to provide random starting conditions for the iterative algorithm. We also address the problem where the probabilities of detection depend on agents, time periods and locations. We reduce the problem to a submodular maximization problem over a matroid and give a greedy algorithm with performance guarantees. We illustrate the performance of our algorithms with experiments and compare the results with alternative algorithms based on combinatorial techniques.
Risk Management for Power Purchase Agreements

Public Private Partnership (P3) is used globally in the power sector. It is usually called Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) in the Power sector. It is a relatively new delivery method in infrastructure project. It is an updated version of the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) delivery method. Renewable energy PPA are very common because of the high construction cost. They have low operation and maintenance cost which make the overall life cycle cost is low. It gives a way for the developer to get their investment back with a reasonable profit. It helps the owner get the power with low or no initial cost. The risks associated with the PPA method are different from traditional delivery methods. Identifying and understand such risks is a key in the success of PPA projects. It can make such method a viable option to many countries. This paper presents and analyzes different risks in P3 projects in addition to solutions to mitigate such risks.
The downside to big data: What triggers a backlash response in consumers to marketing?

The idea of target marketing evolved from the 1960s change in business thinking that resulted in companies focusing on the customer instead of production and efficiency. The use of big data in marketing coupled with advances in technology since that time have afforded companies new ways to communicate increasingly targeted messages to their customers. These marketing efforts have been received both positively and negatively by the customer and have uncovered a variety of issues. Messages that connect with a self-identity of the consumer or make a connection to a reference group are well received. In addition, when a company receives permission to send targeted messages the consumer responds favorably. However, when the consumer perceives a violation of privacy occurred, or the message propagates a racial stereotype, consumers tend to respond negatively. This paper reviews the major issues that trigger positive and negative responses along with factors that trigger a backlash. Recommendations for future research are provided which include how different generations respond to target marketing as well as how companies respond to consumer backlashes.
Responses of the Roanoke Bayhead Delta to variations in sea level rise and sediment supply during the Holocene and Anthropocene

Abstract The response of bayhead deltas to changes in the rate of sea-level rise and sediment supply is difficult to predict, but important to understand because these changes can lead to submergence and erosion of deltaic sediments and loss of important habitat. Here, we show that the Roanoke Bayhead Delta in North Carolina, USA experienced two episodes of retreat during the past 6000 years based on core descriptions and radiocarbon and 210Pb geochronologies. The first event occurred around 3700 BC as sedimentation could not keep up with the rate of sea-level rise and a prominent flooding surface separating delta plain, below, from interdistributary bay, above, formed. Afterwards, sedimentation rates were keeping up with the low rates of sea-level rise until the mid-1600s AD, when the first European settlers began to clear forest and farm the drainage basin. During that time, the delta rapidly accreted and the interdistributary bay filled with legacy sediment from increased agricultural runoff. Regression was also facilitated by the low rates of sea-level rise at that time (−0.01 to 0.047 cm/yr). The second episode of bayhead-delta retreat initiated during the 19th century and continues today. Improved agricultural practices and dam construction decreased the amount of sediment delivered to the bayhead delta. Additionally, the rate of sea-level rise increased to 0.21 cm/yr at that time. Under these conditions, the delta entered an erosional phase and during 1954–2012 the rate of delta loss was 2469 m2/yr and that loss is easily recognized by cypress trees stranded in adjacent Albemarle Sound. This study emphasizes that human-induced modifications to the sediment budget and changes in the rate of sea-level rise strongly influence bayhead-delta evolution.
Abstract 756: Sunitinib-Induced Cardiotoxicity in an Engineered Cardiac Microtissue Model With Dynamically Tunable Afterload

Introduction: Anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have efficacy against many solid neoplasms. Unfortunately, their on- and off-target effects frequently cause hypertension (HTN) and h...
Factors associated with survival of <27 week infants in an all-referral neonatal intensive care unit

Objective: Transport of infants born at the threshold of viability (<27 weeks) may negatively impact outcomes. Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an all-referral unit, and therefore all patients have been transported. This study examined survival rates and the factors that influenced survival in this specific population of extremely premature infants. Study design: The study setting was at an all-referral tertiary care NICU within a children's hospital. Data were collected from December 2004 to August 2008, and included 227 patients. Results: Overall, the survival-to-discharge rate for these infants was 78%. The primary causes of death were sepsis (41%), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (27%), respiratory failure (18%), and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (10%). By logistic discrete time hazard analyses, patients receiving dopamine (p < 0.01) or insulin (p < 0.01), with NEC (p < 0.05), or of gestational age 22, 23 or 24 weeks (p < 0.01) were more likely to die; while those born in the same county as the NICU (p < 0.01), receiving patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) treatment (p < 0.01) or peripheral intravenous central catheters (p < 0.01) were more likely to survive. Within the group of survivors the rate of cerebral palsy was 9% and the mean scores on the Bayley-III at 18 months corrected age were 95 ± 13, 90 ± 15, and 92 ± 14 in the cognitive, communication, and motor scales respectively. Conclusion: Infection, NEC, and respiratory failure were the primary causes of death among extremely premature infants in an all-referral NICU. New approaches to preventing infection, NEC, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are needed for this population.
Olfactory conditioning of the butterfly Agraulis vanillae (L.) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) to floral but not host-plant odors

The associative learning capacity of male and female nymphalid butterflies, Agraulis vanillae, was investigated. Both males and females were conditioned to chemical stimuli of amyl acetate and butyl acetate, but not of host-plant volatile emissions, although our EAG recordings demonstrate that Agraulis can detect host-plant aroma as well as both acetates. More female than male Agraulis were conditioned. Female butterflies reared in the laboratory generally exhibited a higher percentage of conditional responses than those collected in nature. The number of conditional responses on the first day of experiments was significantly smaller than on the ensuing 2–7 days.
Mind the gap: natural cleft palates reduce biting performance in bats.

ABSTRACT Novel morphological traits pose interesting evolutionary paradoxes when they become widespread in a lineage while being deleterious in others. Cleft palate is a rare congenital condition in mammals in which the incisor-bearing premaxilla bones of the upper jaw develop abnormally. However, ∼50% of bat species have natural, non-pathological cleft palates. We used the family Vespertilionidae as a model and linear and geometric morphometrics within a phylogenetic framework to (1) explore evolutionary patterns in cleft morphology, and (2) test whether cleft morphological variation is correlated with skull shape in bats. We also used finite element (FE) analyses to experimentally test how presence of a cleft palate impacts skull performance during biting in a species with extreme cleft morphology (hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus). We constructed and compared the performance of two FE models: one based on the hoary bat9s natural skull morphology, and another with a digitally filled cleft simulating a complete premaxilla. Results showed that cleft length and width are correlated with skull shape in Vespertilionidae, with narrower, shallower clefts seen in more gracile skulls and broader, deeper clefts in more robust skulls. FE analysis showed that the model with a natural cleft produced lower bite forces, and had higher stress and strain than the model with a filled cleft. In the rostrum, safety factors were 1.59–2.20 times higher in the model with a filled cleft than in the natural model. Our results demonstrate that cleft palates in bats reduce biting performance, and evolution of skull robusticity may compensate for this reduction in performance.
Why the Stress-Disease Connection Matters and How to Respond.

Emotional health and physical health are deeply intertwined, and patients who have experienced difficult events or persistent stressors may struggle to cope in a healthy way. Helping our patients recognize the connection between physical and mental well-being allows us to validate patients' underlying feelings and promote healthier coping practices.
Endovascular Repair of a Large Hypogastric Aneurysm Following Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

A large hypogastric aneurysm following remote open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm was treated with coil embolization of the outflow arteries from hypogastric aneurysm and by deploying the covered stent (iliac extension limb).
Unfinished business: deinstitutionalization and Medicaid policy

Deinstitutionalization heavily implicates Medicaid policy since waivers for home and community-based services have provided the means to realize the community integration mandate of the Americans w...
Efficacy of an Integrated Hands-On Thyroid Ultrasound Session for Medical Student Education

As ultrasound has gained popularity with improving technology and ease-of-use, a push has been made to integrate ultrasound into the medical school curriculum. Many institutions are reporting one- to four-year integrated ultrasound curricula to augment anatomy and pathophysiology teaching. Our goal was to integrate a thyroid ultrasound scanning session into the endocrinology block of our institution's medical school curriculum to enhance medical student understanding of thyroid anatomy and pathophysiology. We conducted a prospective, single-center cohort (pre-experimental) study to evaluate student performance and knowledge acquisition using a pretest-posttest design. These multimodal sessions, consisting of a didactic, hands-on scanning sessions, and knowledge integration tests, covered ultrasound technique and thyroid evaluation and advanced to diagnosing an abnormal thyroid and working up a thyroid nodule. There were 26 to 27 second-year medical students per session who rotated between three stations proctored by credentialled physicians. Students participated in hands-on scanning of patients with or without thyroid pathology at each station. Out of the 209 students who participated in the ultrasound sessions, 114 (54.5%) consented to participate in the research project and completed both the pretest and posttest. Test data from the 114 students showed a mean pretest score of 57.5% ± 14.6% and the mean posttest score of 73.9% ± 17.4%. They had a 16.5% ± 19.6% (p < 0.001) increase in score between the two tests. Our study demonstrates that a multimodal thyroid ultrasound scanning session is an effective tool to augment the medical school endocrinology curriculum and to improve students' knowledge of thyroid anatomy, pathophysiology, and diagnostic workup of thyroid nodules.
The Complier Average Causal Effect Parameter for Multiarmed RCTs.

In randomized controlled trials, the complier average causal effect (CACE) parameter is often of policy interest because it pertains to intervention effects for study units that comply with their r...
Hip Labral Reconstruction with Capsular Autograft Augmentation.

Abstract Multiple treatment options are available for patients presenting with a torn or deficient acetabular labrum. Biomechanical studies have demonstrated that the acetabular labrum may play a role in decreasing the risk of osteoarthritis and in maintaining long-term hip kinematics and stability. As such, repair or reconstruction of the labrum is often preferred over resection or debridement. In instances of a hypoplastic labrum, labral reconstruction or augmentation may be necessary even in a primary setting. Although reconstruction is a technique that should be in any hip arthroscopist’s toolkit, allografts can be expensive and may not always be available when needed. In this Technical Note, we describe a labral augmentation with capsular autograft that diminishes donor-site morbidity associated with fascia lata autografts. This technique enables incorporation of healthy capsular tissue that allows for the recreation of the suction seal while avoiding some of the technically challenging aspects and costs of the conventional allograft labral reconstruction.
Finite-Bit Quantization For Distributed Algorithms With Linear Convergence.

This paper studies distributed algorithms for (strongly convex) composite optimization problems over mesh networks, subject to quantized communications. Instead of focusing on a specific algorithmic design, we propose a black-box model casting distributed algorithms in the form of fixed-point iterates, converging at linear rate. The algorithmic model is coupled with a novel (random) Biased Compression (BC-)rule on the quantizer design, which preserves linear convergence. A new quantizer coupled with a communication-efficient encoding scheme is also proposed, which efficiently implements the BC-rule using a finite number of bits. This contrasts with most of existing quantization rules, whose implementation calls for an infinite number of bits. A unified communication complexity analysis is developed for the black-box model, determining the average number of bit required to reach a solution of the optimization problem within the required accuracy. Numerical results validate our theoretical findings and show that distributed algorithms equipped with the proposed quantizer have more favorable communication complexity than algorithms using existing quantization rules.
On the suitability of MPI as a PGAS runtime

Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) models are emerging as a popular alternative to MPI models for designing scalable applications. At the same time, MPI remains a ubiquitous communication subsystem due to its standardization, high performance, and availability on leading platforms. In this paper, we explore the suitability of using MPI as a scalable PGAS communication subsystem. We focus on the Remote Memory Access (RMA) communication in PGAS models which typically includes get, put, and atomic memory operations. We perform an in-depth exploration of design alternatives based on MPI. These alternatives include using a semantically-matching interface such as MPI-RMA, as well as not-so-intuitive interfaces such as MPI two-sided with a combination of multi-threading and dynamic process management. With an in-depth exploration of these alternatives and their shortcomings, we propose a novel design which is facilitated by the data-centric view in PGAS models. This design leverages a combination of highly tuned MPI two-sided semantics and an automatic, user-transparent split of MPI communicators to provide asynchronous progress. We implement the asynchronous progress ranks approach and other approaches within the Communication Runtime for Exascale which is a communication subsystem for Global Arrays. Our performance evaluation spans pure communication benchmarks, graph community detection and sparse matrix-vector multiplication kernels, and a computational chemistry application. The utility of our proposed PR-based approach is demonstrated by a 2.17x speedup on 1008 processors over the other MPI-based designs.
Pulmonary Embolic Disease

Pulmonary embolism is a serious medical condition in which blood clots (thrombi) are released into the venous circulation and eventually find their way to the pulmonary vascular bed. Most of these clots originate in the leg veins as the result of an episode of phlebitis. The larger the volume of blood clot in the pulmonary circulation, the greater is the obstruction to normal blood flow through the lungs and the greater the circulatory compromise. Massive pulmonary embolism is often fatal. Keywords: pulmonary embolism; pathophysiology; diagnosis; treatment
Peeping tom in the neighborhood: keystroke eavesdropping on multi-user systems

A multi-user system usually involves a large amount of information shared among its users. The security implications of such information can never be underestimated. In this paper, we present a new attack that allows a malicious user to eavesdrop on other users' keystrokes using such information. Our attack takes advantage of the stack information of a process disclosed by its virtual file within procfs, the process file system supported by Linux. We show that on a multi-core system, the ESP of a process when it is making system calls can be effectively sampled by a "shadow" program that continuously reads the public statistical information of the process. Such a sampling is shown to be reliable even in the presence of multiple users, when the system is under a realistic workload. From the ESP content, a keystroke event can be identified if they trigger system calls. As a result, we can accurately determine inter-keystroke timings and launch a timing attack to infer the characters the victim entered. We developed techniques for automatically analyzing an application's binary executable to extract the ESP pattern that fingerprints a keystroke event. The occurrences of such a pattern are identified from an ESP trace the shadow program records from the application's runtime to calculate timings. These timings are further analyzed using a HiddenMarkovModel and other public information related to the victim on a multi-user system. Our experimental study demonstrates that our attack greatly facilitates password cracking and also works very well on recognizing English words.
Generalized symmetric and generalized pseudo-symmetric functions

We introduce generalized symmetric and generalized pseudo-symmetric functions which can be represented as regular two-dimensional linear arrays. It is possible due in part to generalized symmetries, which can be used when functions are represented using exor-based decompositions. We also identify and use local symmetries. Therefore, a large group of non-symmetric functions can be implemented using the same efficient regular locally-connected structures which are used for totally symmetric functions. Because of the regularity, layout parameters such as area, interconnect length and delay can be very accurately estimated during the prelayout synthesis stages, which is critically important for deep-submicron technologies.
Rate of Metal Deposition from Aqueous Solutions

The electrodeposition of metal ions from aqueous electrolyte solutions has been a well-known process for the last half century. With numerous industrial applications such as electroplating, electrowinning and electrorefining, the kinetics of electrochemical reactions involved in the process has been extensively researched. Arrhenius-type rate equations, the Butler-Volmer equation, and the empirical Tafel equation are among the most important models to explain the rate of electrochemical reactions. The study of the kinetics of metal deposition is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms through which a certain morphology of metal deposit is formed on the cathode. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the influence of experimental parameters such as pH and additives on the rate and the reaction mechanism determining the rate limiting step of the electrodeposition reactions.
The Political Sociology of Foreign Direct Investment

Theory and research in sociology and political economy have revealed important elements of the structure of world capitalism, but its dynamics remain both more controversial and more opaque. This study uses quantitative cross-national regression analysis to analyze the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which originates in core (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) nations and is placed in noncore nations. Based on the theory of global capitalism, which contends that in a new stage of capitalism, First World manufacturing investment seeks Third World labor which is more docile and less costly than that in the older industrial regions, this study finds support for the hypotheses that labor control and, to a lesser degree, labor cost are determinants of FDI, net of level of development.
An Architecture for Web-Based Interaction and Steering of Adaptive Parallel/Distributed Applications

This paper presents an architecture for web-based interaction and steering of parallel/distributed scientific applications. The architecture is composed of detachable thin-clients at the front-end, a network of web servers in the middle, and a control network of sensors, actuators and interaction agents at the back-end. The interaction servers enable clients to connect to, and collaboratively interact with registered applications using a conventional browser. The application control network enables sensors and actuators to be encapsulated within, and directly deployed with the computational objects. Interaction agents resident at each computational node register the interaction objects and export their interaction interfaces. An application interaction gateway manages the overall interaction through the control network of interaction agents and objects. It uses Java proxy objects that mirror computational objects to enable them to be directly accessed by the interaction web-server. The presented architecture is part of an ongoing effort to develop and deploy a web-based computational collaboratory that enables geographically distributed scientists and engineers to collaboratively monitor and control distributed applications.
A novel biocompatible biomaterial for on-demand generation of three-dimensional oxygen gradients in vitro

Oxygen gradients play essential roles in many in vitro cell, tissue and organ experimental models. This paper reports a novel biocompatible biomaterial for on-demand generation of three-dimensional oxygen gradients in vitro. By exposing the oxygen-consuming biomaterial consisting of glucose oxidase and catalase enzymes to the cell culture media or gel, precisely-controlled oxygen gradients (2.5 mmHg per 100 µm distance) that closely mimic in vivo hypoxia can be generated. This biomaterial will serve as the basis for a new generation of experimental models previously impossible or very difficult to implement by simplifying and refining the control of in vitro microenvironments.
Single-lung ventilation in a pediatric patient using a pediatric fibreoptically-directed wire-guided endobronchial blocker

Purpose The pediatric wire-guided endobronchial blocker is a new device for single-lung ventilation through small diameter endotracheal tubes. In this case report we will discuss the use of this blocker in a pediatric patient.
THE EVOLUTION OF CONTINUOUS VARIATION. III. JOINT TRANSMISSION OF GENOTYPE, PHENOTYPE AND ENVIRONMENT

Evolutionary models of continuous traits are developed. The models are based on the ideas that: (1) the phenotype is the result of the interaction between genotype and environment; (2) the phenotype is the object of natural selection; (3) not only the genotype but also environmental variables and even phenotypes can be directly transmitted. The phenotype of an offspring at birth is a linear combination of its genotypic value, the phenotypic values of its parents, and their environmental values, all measured on the phenotypic scale. The genetic effects are additive polygenic, and a mutation contribution to the within family variance is admitted.-The values of the offspring phenotype and environment before selection are each linear combinations of these values at birth, the coefficients defining what we call "development." Selection is mostly stabilizing of the Gaussian type, but directional selection is introduced using a Gaussian fitness function with a large variance and a mean far from the current population.-Assortative mating for both phenotype and environment are considered. The analysis in all cases is made by iteration of the means, variances and covariances of the trivariate random variable (genotype, phenotype, environment) whose changes over time completely specify the evolution. In most cases numerical methods are used. The problems of estimating the relative roles of each of the variates in the parents in determining the variates in the offspring are discussed. The major results concern the relative magnitudes of the variances and correlations of the three variates, genotype, phenotype and environment, in a variety of selective, developmental and assorting situations with complex transmission in which G-(genetic), F-(phenotypic), E-(environment) inheritance mechanisms operate jointly. The transmission rules and development patterns (i.e., interactions between phenotype and environment during development) are of major importance in determining qualitative features of the equilibrium distribution.
Learning Styles and Technology in a Ninth-Grade High School Population

AbstractThis study explores whether a technology-rich environment that promotes a constructivist approach to learning has a significant effect on the learning styles of freshmen high school students. Two high school freshmen classes were pre- and posttested on a learning-style inventory. One high school has a technology-rich environment and uses a project-based approach to learning, while the other school has a more traditional curriculum that is not technology rich. Six variables from the inventory were analyzed in this study. The results suggest that a technology-rich environment that promotes collaborative, project-based learning can have an effect on learning style. This study suggests that the environment contributed to the differential in effect size that was found at posttest time.
Dynamic prescription maps for site-specific variable rate irrigation of cotton

Abstract A prescription map is a set of instructions that controls a variable rate irrigation (VRI) system. These maps, which may be based on prior yield, soil texture, topography, or soil electrical conductivity data, are often manually applied at the beginning of an irrigation season and remain static. The problem with static prescription maps is that they ignore spatiotemporal changes in crop water status. In a two-year study (2012 and 2013), a plant feedback system, including a wireless sensor network of infrared thermometers (IRTs), was used to develop dynamic prescription maps to accomplish adaptive irrigation scheduling for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). One-half of a center pivot field was divided into manually and plant feedback-controlled irrigation treatment plots. Irrigation treatments were at three levels, 75, 50 and 25 percent of full as defined by either replenishment of crop water use to field capacity or by the equivalent threshold of the IRT sensed crop water stress. The system accepted user input to control irrigation for the manual treatment plots (I75M, I50M, and I25M), and calculated and compared a thermal stress index for each plant feedback-controlled treatment plot (I75C, I50C and I25C) with a pre-determined threshold for automated irrigation scheduling. The effectiveness of the plant feedback irrigation scheduling system was evaluated by comparing measured lint yield, crop water use (ETc), and water use efficiency (WUE) with the manually scheduled treatment plots. Results for both years indicated that average lint yields were similar between the manual and plant feedback-control plots at the I75 level (181 and 182 g m−2, respectively, in 2012; 115 and 103 g m−2, respectively, in 2013) and I50 level (146 and 164 g m−2, respectively, in 2012; 95 and 117 g m−2, respectively, in 2013). At the I25 level, average lint yield was significantly greater for the plant feedback-compared with the manual-control treatment plots (142 g m−2 and 92 g m−2, respectively), but the mean amount of irrigation was twice that of the manual-control plots. Mean water use efficiencies (WUE) within the same irrigation treatment levels were similar between methods. Importantly, the automatic plant feedback system did not require the time consuming and expensive manual reading of neutron probe access tubes that was required to schedule the manual treatments. These results demonstrate that the integration of a plant feedback system with a commercial VRI system could be used to control site-specific irrigation management for cotton at higher irrigation treatment levels, i.e., I75 percent and I50 percent of full. Such a system can facilitate the use of a VRI system by automating prescription map coding and providing dynamic irrigation control instructions to meet variable crop water needs throughout the irrigation season. As of yet, further research is required to maintain automatic deficit irrigation at a level equivalent to 25 percent replenishment of crop water use relative to field capacity.