cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-Surgical Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is an entity most commonly discussed as a consequence of diabetes mellitus. However, diabetes is a factor in only about a third of patients who present with this clinical problem. Gastroparesis can be debilitating, resulting in poor quality of life, recurrent hospital admissions, and often multiple medications and procedures. Historically, postsurgical gastroparesis was diagnosed after surgical treatment of peptic ulcer disease with vagotomy to reduce gastric acid. Although acid-reduction surgery is significantly less common today, symptoms of gastroparesis following procedures like sleeve gastrectomy or fundoplication are a known cause of postoperative morbidity. This chapter addresses gastroparesis occurring in the postoperative setting. It explores the natural history of this clinical entity, reviews possible mechanisms, and discusses available treatment options.
Early postoperative drain fluid amylase in risk-stratified patients promotes tailored post-pancreatectomy drain management and potential for accelerated discharge.

Abstract Background First postoperative day drain fluid amylase (DFA1) Methods Patients with DFA1/DFA3 values after pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy were identified. Patients were risk stratified as “low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy,” “high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy,” or “distal pancreatectomy.” Receiver operator characteristic analyses yielded clinically relevant sensitivity thresholds for International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery grade B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas. Results From October 2016 to April 2018, 174 patients were preoperatively stratified as low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 78, 45%), high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 51, 29%), and distal pancreatectomy (n = 45, 26%). B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas developed in 3% (n = 2) of low-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies, 37% (n = 19) of high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomies, and 24% (n = 11) of distal pancreatectomies (low- vs high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy P Conclusion Preoperative risk stratification results in unique DFA1/DFA3 thresholds to exclude B/C postoperative pancreatic fistulas, thus allowing for safe drain removal and potential for accelerated discharge. Rather than applying generic DFA cutoffs based on national databases, we propose institution-specific DFA1 and DFA3 values tailored to 3 replicable postoperative pancreatic fistula-risk pathways.
Fidelity, Infidelity, and Non-monogamy

Infidelity is relationally defined. Each couple defines the boundaries between their relationship and other people, whether they choose to be monogamous or non-monogamous. However, boundaries are sometimes assumed and unspoken. Partners may not recognize the gray areas of infidelity until they experience a betrayal. What one person thinks is “no big deal” can be hurtful to their partner. What one couple thinks is wildly exciting, another couple might never consider. While open communication is key in clarifying and establishing expectations, negotiating these boundaries can be complicated. Vignettes from the authors’ clinical work illustrate how to assess and intervene with issues of infidelity and non-monogamy.
A Rare Case of Bronchomediastinal Pulmonary Vein Fistula due to Fibrosing Mediastinitis.

Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare condition with extensive proliferation of fibrous tissue in the mediastinum usually happens few years after Histoplasma infection. FM usually occurs years later after presentation of Histoplasma infection, and usually what makes patients seek medical attention are symptoms from compression and occlusion of vital mediastinal structures, such as the central airways, superior vena cava, pulmonary arteries, and veins. Rarely, heart, pericardium, coronaries, and aorta are involved. We report a case of 39-year-old-male who was admitted with fever and cough. The patient's condition worsened despite being on broad-spectrum antibiotics, with worsening encephalopathy and a new onset lower extremity weakness. Brain imaging showed multiple strokes suggestive of embolic event. CT chest/abdomen was suggestive of FM along with cavitary lung nodules and pneumomediastinum. Splenic and renal infarcts were also noted. Infective endocarditis was one of the top differential diagnosis due to multiple embolic infarcts, and hence a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was pursued. TEE showed a mass along with air bubbles entering the left atrium from the pulmonary vein. On re-evaluation of CT chest images, a fistula was seen extending from the mediastinum to the left main bronchus and the left upper pulmonary vein. This supported the diagnosis of FM with erosion of lymph node into the left main bronchus and left upper pulmonary artery, leading to fistula formation and subsequent systemic air embolization. The diagnosis of FM requires a multimodality approach, high clinical suspicion, and accurate history taking. Treatment mainly aims at managing the mechanical complications.
Plasma homocysteine concentrations and depression: A twin study.

Background Homocysteine is an amino acid formed during metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine that plays an important role in energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to both depression and cardiovascular disease, however studies of depression have not always been consistent, possibly related to differences in methodology among studies. The study of twins in clinical research can be useful in controlling for confounding factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between depression and plasma homocysteine in a study of twins. Methods Homocysteine concentration was assessed in twins (N = 202) from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry, including twin pairs discordant for the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and twin pairs without MDD. Self reported depressive symptom levels were also measured as a continous variable using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results The average homocysteine concentration was 7.9 μmol/L (2.1 μmol/L SD, range of 2.0-17.1 μmol/L). There were no within twin pair differences in homocysteine concentration within twin pairs discordant for MDD and within twin pairs that differed for BDI score. There was a significant pair-level relationship between depressive symptoms as measured by mean BDI score and homocysteine concentration, such that the higher the mean BDI score of the twin pair, the higher the mean homocystein of the pair (p < .001). Every 10 point increase in BDI score was associated with an 0.8 μmol/L increase in homocysteine concentration at the pair level. Conclusions These findings are not consistent with a causal role for elevated homocysteine in the development of depression, but rather point to familial confounding or other factors that are shared by twin brothers and that contribute to both depression and homocysteine levels.
Intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging analysis for diagnosis of placenta accrete spectrum disorders: A pilot feasibility study

Abstract Background Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders occur when the placenta adheres abnormally to the uterine myometrium and can have devastating effects on maternal health due to risks of massive postpartum hemorrhage and possible need for emergency hysterectomy. PAS can be difficult to diagnose using routine clinical imaging with ultrasound and structural MRI. Objective To determine feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis in the diagnosis of the placenta accreta spectrum disorders in pregnant women. Methods A total of 49 pregnant women were recruited including 14 with pathologically confirmed cases of PAS and 35 health controls without prior cesarean delivery and no suspected PAS by ultrasound. All women underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with an 8 b-value scanning sequence. A semi-automated method for image processing was used, creating a 3D object map, which was then fit to a biexponential signal decay curve for IVIM modeling to determine slow diffusion (Ds), fast diffusion (Df), and perfusion fraction (Pf). Results Our results demonstrated a high degree of model fitting (R2 ≥ 0.98), with Pf significantly higher in those with PAS compared to healthy controls (0.451 ± 0.019 versus 0.341 ± 0.022, p = 0.002). By contrast, no statistical difference in the Df (1.70 × 10−2 ± 0.38 × 10−2 versus 1.48 × 10−2 ± 0.08 × 10−2 mm2/s, p = 0.211) or Ds (1.34 × 10−3 ± 0.10 × 10−3 versus 1.45 × 10−3 ± 0.007 × 10−3 mm2/s, p = 0.215) was found between subjects with PAS and healthy controls. Conclusions The use of MRI, and IVIM modeling in particular, may have potential in aiding in the diagnosis of PAS when other imaging modalities are equivocal. However, the widespread use of these techniques will require generation of large normative data sets, consistent sequencing protocols, and streamlined analysis techniques.
Second-Position Clitics and Prosodic Recursion

Recent work suggests that prosodic structure has the capacity to retain significant information about recursive syntactic constituency. This paper presents a novel argument for this view from the domain of second-position clitic linearization. In Mandar (Austronesian, Indonesia), many second-positon elements are linearized in domains which correspond to functional projections along the clausal spine (TP, vP). The process which positions these clitics is irreducibly postsyntactic in nature. This observation suggests that TP, vP, and other 'functional' phrases must remain constituents at a prosodic level of representation. This conclusion provides further evidence for the view that under ideal circumstances, syntactic phrases map to prosodic equivalents in a one-to-one fashion.
Radiographic Cam Morphology of the Hip May Be Associated with ACL Injury of the Knee: A Case-Control Study.

Purpose To evaluate femoral and acetabular morphology in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively collected ACL registry was performed to identify patients with pelvis radiographs before undergoing either primary or revision ACLR between January 2010 and August 2020. Alpha angle (AA), head-neck offset ratio (HNOR), lateral center edge angle (LCEA), and crossover sign (COS) were measured on the operative side. Values were compared to a negative control group that did not significantly differ in age, sex, or body mass index. Univariate analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to compare groups with significance defined as P < .05. Results In total, 114 patients were included (ACL, n = 38; control, n = 76). Eleven primary and 27 revision ACL reconstructions were identified. The mean AA in patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction was higher than control (67.45° ± 11.30° vs 51.5° ± 10.8°, P < .001). A significantly elevated AA was also found in those undergoing revision ACL surgery (61.8° ± 7.51° vs 51.5° ± 10.8°, P < .001). In addition, the HNOR was significantly lower in the ACL group (0.12 ± 0.03 vs 0.14 ± 0.04, P = .0304). Acetabular morphology was similar between groups (LCEA, ACL 31.97° ± 5.04° vs control 30.01° ± 5.17°, P = .0549; COS, ACL 9 of 38 (23.7%) vs control 18 of 76 (23.7%), P = 1.00). Conclusion An association exists between radiographic cam morphology of the hip and patients who previously underwent ACLR. Level of Evidence III, retrospective comparison study.
Case 88: A Tribal Conflict

The eight-bed ICU in your hospital in the province of Natal in South Africa has suddenly become completely full of severely injured men. All belong to one tribe and have gunshot wounds. Some need intubation and ventilation. These injuries were caused by a tribal conflict about land ownership. You are told there was an ambush.
Congenital Portosystemic Shunts: Diagnosis and Percutaneous Management

Congenital portosystemic shunts, first described in 1793 by London surgeon John Abernethy, are rare congenital communications between the portal and the systemic venous system. These shunts are caused by the anomalous development of the hepatic vasculature during the embryologic period. Congenital absence of the portal vein is thought to arise due to an early involution of the periduodenal vitelline veins. Shunts between the right portal vein and systemic systems are thought to arise due to persistence of the right vitelline vein. Shunts between the left portal vein and systemic circulation are thought to be due to persistence of the left vitelline vein.
The impact of pre-therapy extraperitoneal surgical staging on the evaluation and treatment of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE The use of extraperitoneal surgical staging prior to treatment in patients with bulky or locally advanced cervical cancer allows the detection and treatment of disease beyond the standard pelvic radiation fields. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of extraperitoneal surgical staging in the treatment and outcome of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. METHODS 51 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated between 1985 and 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Information on morbidity, usefulness, and results of surgery and patterns of disease recurrence were obtained. Survival distributions were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS All 51 women were surgically staged by an extra-peritoneal approach. Preoperative CT scans (n=27) when compared with surgical findings showed sensitivity for pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis of 39%, specificity of 88%, positive predictive value of 39% and negative predictive value of 88%. Lymph node metastases were found in 30/51 patients (59%). There were no significant treatment delays or surgical morbidity as a result of extra-peritoneal surgical staging. In 21 patients (41%), the highest level of involved nodes was in the pelvis and they were treated with pelvic radiation. The para-aortic nodes were involved in nine patients (18%) and were treated with extended field radiation. All patients also received concurrent radiosensitization with chemotherapy. The estimated survival for the entire group was 60% at 5 years. For node negative patients, estimated 5-year survival was 67% while it was 54% for all node positive patients (p=0.17). Analysis according to anatomic site of involved nodes showed that the estimated 2-year and 5-year survival for those with pelvic nodal involvement was 81% and 64%, respectively. However, in the group of nine patients with para-aortic nodal disease, the estimated 2-year survival was 44%. Five (56%) were dead of disease with a median time to death of 16.0 months and four patients (44%) were alive with a median duration of follow up of 16.1 months. There was a statistically significant difference in survival for the group of patients with positive pelvic nodes only compared to the group with positive para-aortic nodes (p=0.03). The estimated 5-year survival by FIGO stage was 80%, 70% and 51% for stages Ib, II, III, disease, respectively. Factors that did not significantly affect survival included age, histology and type of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Pre-therapy extra-peritoneal surgical staging resulted in treatment modification in 18% of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. The morbidity from surgery and subsequent radiation therapy was acceptable. The procedure is recommended to allow for individualization of treatment in patients with local-regional cervical cancer.
How to retrain movement after neurologic injury: a computational rationale for incorporating robot (or therapist) assistance

This paper develops an adaptive Markov model of sensory motor control, and then uses the model to examine the putative role of external mechanical assistance from a robotic device or therapist in promoting neurologic recovery. The model assumes that: 1) the CNS probabilistically interprets proprioceptive information in real time in order to generate motor output; 2) sensory-motor pathways become more reliable with repetitive activation in a sort of Hebbian learning; 3) normal sensory input sometimes elicits abnormal motor output following neurologic injury due to disrupted neural organization. The model predicts the best movement recovery when an external trainer intervenes to correct errant movements on an "as-needed" basis, compared to no or continual assistance. The model thus provides a computational rationale for incorporating mechanical assistance on an as-needed basis during neurorehabilitation therapy.
HIFU Hemostasis of Liver Injuries Enhanced by Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Our objective was to investigate whether High‐Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) hemostasis can be achieved faster in the presence of ultrasound contrast agents (UCA). Incisions (3 cm long and 0.5 cm deep) were made in surgically exposed rabbit liver. Optison at a concentration of 0.18 ml/kg was injected into the mesenteric vein, immediately before the incision was made. The HIFU applicator (frequency of 5.5 MHz, and intensity of 3,700 W/cm2) was scanned manually over the incision (at an approximate rate of 1 mm/s) until hemostasis was achieved. The times to complete hemostasis were measured and normalized with the initial blood loss. The hemostasis times were 59±23 s in the presence of Optison and 70±23 s without Optison. The presence of Optison produced a 37% reduction in the normalized hemostasis times (p<0.05). Optison also provided faster (by 34%) formation of the coagulum seal over the lesion. Gross observations showed that the lesion size did not change due to the presence of Optison. Histological analysis showed that lesions consisted of an area of coagulation necrosis in vicinity of the incision, occasionally surrounded by a congestion zone filled with blood. Our results suggest the potential utility of microbubble contrast agents for increasing efficiency of HIFU hemostasis of internal organ injuries.
Resolving Object and Attribute Coreference in Opinion Mining

Coreference resolution is a classic NLP problem and has been studied extensively by many researchers. Most existing studies, however, are generic in the sense that they are not focused on any specific text. In the past few years, opinion mining became a popular topic of research because of a wide range of applications. However, limited work has been done on coreference resolution in opinionated text. In this paper, we deal with object and attribute coreference resolution. Such coreference resolutions are important because without solving it a great deal of opinion information will be lost, and opinions may be assigned to wrong entities. We show that some important features related to opinions can be exploited to perform the task more accurately. Experimental results using blog posts demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique.
Delta velocities and propulsion requirements for east-west and north-south station keeping for spacecraft in GSO

The satellite in geostationary orbit is subjected to various forces which tend to move it from its assigned GSO orbital position. This movement is primarily in the east-west direction and north-south direction. The latter causes an increase in inclination from the desired orbit in the equatorial plane where inclination equals zero. Station keeping is therefore required and is implemented by on-board thrusters. This note illustrates how compenstation is achieved and what velocity changes are required and the fuel consumption necessary.
Association of Ignitable Liquid Residues to Neat Ignitable Liquids in the Presence of Matrix Interferences Using Chemometric Procedures

In fire debris analysis, weathering of ignitable liquids and matrix interferences can make the identification of ignitable liquid residues (ILRs) difficult. An objective method was developed to associate ILRs with the corresponding neat liquid with discrimination from matrix interferences using principal components analysis (PCA) and Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) coefficients. Six ignitable liquids (gasoline, diesel, ultra pure paraffin lamp oil, adhesive remover, torch fuel, paint thinner) were spiked onto carpet, which was burned, then extracted using passive headspace extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both light and heavy burn conditions were investigated. In the PCA scores plot, ignitable liquids were discriminated based on alkane and aromatic content. All ILRs were successfully associated with the corresponding neat liquid using both PCA and PPMC coefficients, regardless of the extent of burning. The method developed in this research may make the association of ILRs with corresponding neat liquids more objective.
Direct 3D Printing of Shear‐Thinning Hydrogels into Self‐Healing Hydrogels

Supramolecular hydrogels are used in the 3D printing of high-resolution, multi-material structures. The non-covalent bonds allow the extrusion of the inks into support gels to directly write structures continuously in 3D space. This material system supports the patterning of multiple inks, cells, and void spaces.
Developmental venous anomaly with symptomatic thrombosis of the draining vein: Report of 2 cases

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are generally considered a benign and asymptomatic finding on CT and MR imaging. The authors report 2 cases of spontaneous thrombosis of the draining vein of a DVA depicted on CT and MR imaging. One patient presented with a nonhemorrhagic transient ischemia, which was successfully treated with anticoagulant therapy. The second patient presented with ischemia complicated by hemorrhagic conversion.
Stability and compatibility studies with the inorganic explosive 2-(5-Cyanotetrazolato) pentaamminecobalt (III) perchlorate (CP)

Abstract 2-(5-Cyanotetrazolato) pentaamminecobalt (III) perchlorate (CP) is an inorganic secondary explosive that has been developed for applications involving
Abstract interpretation: testing at scale without testing at scale

In scientific computing, scaling issues frequently occur as more processors are utilized and/or the problem size is increased. Applications that run well on small problems and small machines, don't necessarily work well, or at all when executed at larger scale. It is desirable to avoid using expensive supercomputer time for discovering and correcting problems; instead, we would like to do this beforehand using analysis and/or testing.In this position paper, we discuss testing and problem and target platform specific static analyses of scientific programs developed using the Super Instruction Architecture, a parallel programming environment for computational chemistry. In particular, a set of tools which perform abstract interpretation, allow us to answer questions about resource usage and computation time for specific "scaled-up" inputs and machine configurations without needing to run the full program on the target platform.
Risk factors for subclinical carotid atherosclerosis among current smokers.

This study characterized the determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in a large contemporary sample of current smokers. Associations between risk factors, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid plaque presence were determined by multivariable regression. Participants included 1504 current smokers (58% female) who were a median (interquartile range) of 44.7 (38–53) years old and smoked 25 (15–40) pack-years; 55% had plaque. Pack-years, age, male sex, nonwhite race, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, small low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and total high-density lipoproteins were independently associated with CIMT (model R2=0.434, P<.001). Pack-years (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 per 10 pack-years; P=.001), age (OR, 1.75 per 10 years; P<.001), body mass index (OR, 0.91 per 5 kg/m2; P=.035), and small LDLs (OR, 1.11 per 100 nmol/L; P<.001) were independently associated with carotid plaque presence (model χ2=210.7, P<.001). The association between pack-years and carotid plaque was stronger in women (OR, 1.09 per 10 pack-years, Pinteraction=.018). Prev Cardiol. 2010;13:166–171.©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neurofilament proteins are preferentially expressed in descending output neurons of the cat the superior colliculus: A study using SMI-32

Physiological studies indicate that the output neurons in the multisensory (i.e. intermediate and deep) laminae of the cat superior colliculus receive converging information from widespread regions of the neuraxis, integrate this information, and then relay the product to regions of the brainstem involved in the control of head and eye movements. Yet, an understanding of the neuroanatomy of these converging afferents has been hampered because many terminals contact distal dendrites that are difficult to label with the neurochemical markers generally used to visualize superior colliculus output neurons. Here we show that the SMI-32 antibody, directed at the non-phosphorylated epitopes of high molecular weight neurofilament proteins, is an effective marker for these superior colliculus output neurons. It is also one that can label their distal dendrites. Superior colliculus sections processed for SMI-32 revealed numerous labeled neurons with varying morphologies within the deep laminae. In contrast, few labeled neurons were observed in the superficial laminae. Neurons with large somata in the lateral aspects of the deep superior colliculus were particularly well labeled, and many of their secondary and tertiary dendrites were clearly visible. Injections of the fluorescent biotinylated dextran amine into the pontine reticular formation revealed that approximately 80% of the SMI-32 immunostained neurons also contained retrogradely transported biotinylated dextran amine, indicating that SMI-32 is a common cytoskeletal component expressed in descending output neurons. Superior colliculus output neurons also are known to express the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, and many SMI-32 immunostained neurons also proved to be parvalbumin immunostained. These studies suggest that SMI-32 can serve as a useful immunohistochemical marker for detailing the somatic and dendritic morphology of superior colliculus output neurons and for facilitating evaluations of their input/output relationships.
The development of an understanding of comforting messages

This study investigates the relationships between two developmental variables (physical development and intellectual development) and two comforting variables (comforting message construction and understanding of comforting communication). It also examines the interrelationship between the two comforting variables, and then studies the relationship between these two variables and two related measures of peer acceptance. Eighty‐two subjects (ages seven to nine) rated their classmates using a roster‐and‐rating sociometric measure, responded to a hypothetical situation in which a same‐sex friend was experiencing emotional distress, and matched the values 1 through 9 to a randomized listing of Burleson's (1984) nine age‐appropriate comforting responses. Analyses indicated significant correlations between the developmental variables and the comforting variables, significant correlation between the two comforting variables, and a significant difference in the understanding of comforting messages between accepte...
Localization by electric fields in one-dimensional tight-binding systems.

We show that upon including an electric field within the class of one-dimensional single-orbital, nearest-neighbor, tight-binding models for a general nonperiodic potential, all eigenstates are localized. Irrespective of the details of the potential, the energy eigenstates show factorial localization and the eigenvalue spectrum is discrete, characterizable as a Stark ladder with nonuniform spacing. As an example, all eigenstates of the Aubry model become localized by the electric field, whatever the strength epsilon-c/sub 0/ of the incommensurate potential, whereas in the field-free case this occurs only if epsilon-c/sub 0/ exceeds the Aubry critical value. We also present detailed results for the Koster-Slater single-impurity model in an electric field. We indicate briefly some necessary conditions for observing field-enhanced localization.
Structure of a Domain-Swapped FOXP3 Dimer on DNA and Its Function in Regulatory T Cells

The transcription factor FOXP3 is essential for the suppressive function of regulatory T cells that are required for maintaining self-tolerance. We have solved the crystal structure of the FOXP3 forkhead domain as a ternary complex with the DNA-binding domain of the transcription factor NFAT1 and a DNA oligonucleotide from the interleukin-2 promoter. A striking feature of this structure is that FOXP3 forms a domain-swapped dimer that bridges two molecules of DNA. Structure-guided or autoimmune disease (IPEX)-associated mutations in the domain-swap interface diminished dimer formation by the FOXP3 forkhead domain without compromising FOXP3 DNA binding. These mutations also eliminated T cell-suppressive activity conferred by FOXP3, both in vitro and in a murine model of autoimmune diabetes in vivo. We conclude that FOXP3-mediated suppressor function requires dimerization through the forkhead domain and that mutations in the dimer interface can lead to the systemic autoimmunity observed in IPEX patients.
Mantle: a programmable metadata load balancer for the ceph file system

Migrating resources is a useful tool for balancing load in a distributed system, but it is difficult to determine when to move resources, where to move resources, and how much of them to move. We look at resource migration for file system metadata and show how CephFS's dynamic subtree partitioning approach can exploit varying degrees of locality and balance because it can partition the namespace into variable sized units. Unfortunately, the current metadata balancer is complicated and difficult to control because it struggles to address many of the general resource migration challenges inherent to the metadata management problem. To help decouple policy from mechanism, we introduce a programmable storage system that lets the designer inject custom balancing logic. We show the flexibility and transparency of this approach by replicating the strategy of a state-of-the-art metadata balancer and conclude by comparing this strategy to other custom balancers on the same system.
The Declining Economic Role of the Mediterranean Tuna Fishery

ranean tuna fishery-an activity that has provided sustenance and a way of life for thousands of inhabitants along the Mediterranean since early antiquity. The Mediterranean Sea, a name derived from "medius" and "terra," is in fact a great inland waterway exceeding 2,300 miles in length and covering more than 1,100,000 square miles. Consisting of a series of basins several thousand feet deep, influenced by a well-defined climate, and isolated from the oceans of the world except for the water passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean is characterized by distinctive oceanographic conditions. The water at different levels typically is of a higher temperature than that found in the Atlantic Ocean. Lack of rain during the summers in the Mediterranean basin contributes toward evaporation exceeding precipitation and water runoff. As a consequence, the degree of salinity of water in the Mediterranean Sea is relatively high. In sum total, the resultant complex of conditions is such that the nutrient content of the water tends to be low and fish life is less diverse and less abundant than that found in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, or several other large bodies of water.1 There are few fishes of economic importance in the Mediterranean; of these, the tunas rank among the most important.
Production, dissociation, and gas phase stability of sodium fluoride cluster ions studied using electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract A Finnigan LCQ-Deca™ was used to produce and characterize ions derived from solutions of sodium fluoride. As with sputtering experiments involving the same salt, electrospray produces an extensive series of positively charged cluster ions based on repeating units of NaF with a pendant Na cation. In addition, a series of doubly charged ions corresponding to multiple (NaF) units modified by the addition of two Na cations was observed. We found that the general peak intensity distribution in the mass spectrum of NaF was sensitive to the temperature of the heated capillary used in the LCQ to desolvate ions after formation by electrospray ionization. At temperatures greater than 200 °C the doubly charged ion signal disappears. At temperatures above 275 °C, a distribution of singly charged cluster ions is produced that is similar to those observed in sputtering experiments conducted using sector or quadrupole based mass spectrometers, including the increased intensities at well-known “magic numbers” that reflect the stability of structures reminiscent of the solid-state structure of NaF. As in earlier investigations, our tandem mass spectromery experiments show that the preferred dissociation channel is the loss of one or several (NaF) units and that the fragment ion intensities are influenced by the tendency to produce product ions with magic number compositions. The doubly charged cluster ions “fission” to produce singly charged fragment ions in a process analogous to that shown for sodium chloride cluster ions by Zhang and Cooks [Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 195/196 (2000) 667]. We found that the ion trap mass spectrometer is capable of performing dissociation experiments up to and including MS 8 for most cluster ions with m/z values greater than 401. In addition, collision-induced dissociation profiles provide information about the relative stability of inorganic cluster ions in the gas phase. For instance, we show for several cluster ions that the dissociation profiles and, in particular, the shift in activation amplitude required for dissociation, are consistent with expected differences in stability due to the adoption of magic number conformations.
Relationship between Perceived Somatotype and Body Cathexis of College Males

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if males grouped according to self-perceived somatotype differ significantly in body concept, while a subordinate purpose was to identify the perc...
The comparison of generic model predictions with chernobyl fallout data on the transfer of radioiodine over the air-pasture-cow-milk pathway

Data have been collected on concentrations of 131I in air, vegetation and milk from numerous locations receiving Chernobyl fallout. Time-integrated concentrations derived from these data are used to compare predictions from generic models used for routine environmental radiological assessments. In general, the models markedly overestimated the transfer of 131I over the air-grass-cow-milk pathway. The reasons for this overestimate appear to be related to a combination of different factors, among which overestimation of the dry deposition velocity assumed for elemental 131I, overestimation of the interception and retention of wet-deposited 131I by pasture vegetation and overestimation of the cow's diet-to-milk transfer coefficient appear to be most important. The low transfer of Chernobyl 131I from air to milk indicates that the direct inhalation of contaminated air by humans may be more important in determining the 131I exposure to large populations than the consumption of contaminated cow's milk. Radiological assessments conducted prior to the Chernobyl accident have typically assumed that 131I exposure would be dominated by the consumption of milk. The consumption of milk, however, is still of dominant importance for the exposure of critical population subgroups composed of infants and small children.
Measurements of carrier transport in MOSFETs with bottom-up nanowire channel as a function of the nanowire diameter

In this paper, we establish that bottom-up, vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) grown silicon nanowires can be used to build MOSFETs with characteristics and performance equivalent to contemporary planar FETs. Since VLS nanowires have smoother surfaces and more uniform diameters as compared to top-down fabricated nanowires, we studied the carrier transport in n-FET and p-FET channels made with VLS nanowires having channel diameters down to 3.5 nm.
An Introductory Course that Can Turn the Enrollment Tide

Low enrollment continues to plague many foreign language programs, especially those without effective requirements. This article describes an introductory course called “Basic Conversational Spanish,” which has raised enrollment by more than forty percent in two years. Although it is not highly innovative, its success suggests that other programs would benefit greatly by offering similar courses. It is a three-hour, one-semester course designed especially for students who desire a basic knowledge of spoken Spanish but lack the time and interest required by traditional elementary courses. Its brevity accounts for most of its appeal to the impatient, fast-food generation that vacillates considerably when confronted with any project requiring more than a few weeks. This course is also more attractive to fainthearted students whose fear of failure has prompted them to avoid foreign languages in the past. Many who take it enroll later in the regular elementary courses.
Editorial: Welcome message from the new Editor-in-Chief

Dear Authors and Readers of MBR: On behalf of the entire community of Molecular Biology Reports, its Authors and Readers, I would like to thank the outgoing Editors-in-Chief, Drs. Gary S. Stein and Andre J. van Wijnen, who have graciously edited and nourished this Journal since March 2000. The Editors deserve a big round of applause for the enormous time and effort they have invested in this Journal, encouraging its growth in the field of Molecular Biology. As the incoming Editor-in-Chief, I am very excited about this journey. Life is a journey with huge challenges and I accept the challenge to lead Molecular Biology Reports. I am committed to improving the quality of publication by becoming more selective in the acceptance of articles, increasing the Journal’s Impact Factor, and keeping the Journal relevant in the field. Working alongside a dynamic Editorial Team consisting of a brilliant, internationally diverse Editorial Board and our Springer Publishing Editor, Ky’esha Hammond, we will achieve and exceed our goals! Starting in 2014, the following new sections will be featured in MBR: • Short Communication • Podcasts by Leading Scientists • Special Issues • Comprehensive Invited Reviews • Methodological Reviews
Iterative inversion of the Radon transform

In many problems in the field of medical imaging, one needs to reconstruct a 2D object or image from its projections. This process is equivalent to computing the inverse Radon transform of the projections. This is the basic problem of X-ray tomography, and the imaging step in magnetic resonance imaging can also be so formulated. The authors have recently developed techniques that use wavelets to perform localized low-pass filtering. They have shown and statistically justified how thresholding can be used to determine the regions in the wavelet domain where wavelet coefficients may be set to zero, affecting spatially varying filtering. Alternatively, a priori information about the image can be used to identify such regions. The authors then use these zero wavelet coefficients as constraints, and compute the minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) image that satisfies these constraints. The distinction between this approach and previous use of wavelets to affect spatially varying image filtering is that by using the wavelet constraints on the image reconstruction process, one is able to improve the reconstructed image not only in regions where the wavelet domain constraints are applied, but also in regions where they are not applied! This is possible since the Radon transform is not a unitary transform, so that constraints applied in a given region effect projections outside that region, which in turn affects the reconstructed image outside the constrained region. Here, the authors briefly illustrate these techniques, minimizing the number of equations, and then present for the first time new results of an iterative implementation of these techniques. The idea is that at each iteration one uses the image reconstructed at the previous iteration as the source of wavelet constraints for the next reconstruction. This is similar to iterative Wiener filtering, except that the iterative filtering is spatially varying, while Wiener filtering is necessarily spatially invariant. The authors' technique allows the advantage of spatially varying low-pass filtering to be applied iteratively. The results are that at the third iteration, the root-mean-square (rms) error is reduced by more than twice as much as in the authors' previous results, while high-resolution image features are preserved.
Metal Catalyzed Living Radical Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated with Sulfonyl Chlorides

Novel catalytic and initiating systems based on CuBr/2,2‘-bipyridine (bpy), CuCl/bpy, Cu2O/bpy, and CuO/bpy, in the presence of alkyl, alkylsulfonyl, and arenesulfonyl halides, for the living radic...
Glucose as a precursor of amino acids in the intact dairy cow.

Abstract A lactating dairy cow was injected intravenously with 2.9 millicuries of uniformly 14C-labeled glucose. The specific activity was determined for plasma glucose and for amino acids of casein during the subsequent 34 hours and these data were used to evaluate glucose as a precursor of amino acids. Glucose carbon was transferred most rapidly and in largest amount to the three carbon amino acids, alanine and serine. Our calculations indicate that 25% of alanine and serine, 10% of aspartic and glutamic acids, and 7% of glycine was derived from plasma glucose. Proposed pathways for the transfer of carbon from glucose to the amino acids are discussed. The amount of glucose carbon transferred to the amino acids via the plasma carbonate pool was evaluated. This indirect pathway, via carbonate, was of minor importance for the non-essential amino acids but was the major pathway for transfer of carbon to the essential amino acids.
Ethical robots in warfare

It is a thesis of my ongoing research for the U.S. Army that robots not only can be better than soldiers in conducting warfare in certain circumstances, but they also can be more humane in the battlefield than humans. It is my contention that robots can be built that do not exhibit fear, anger, frustration, or revenge, and that ultimately (and the key word here is ultimately) behave in a more humane manner than even human beings in these harsh circumstances and severe duress. People have not evolved to function in these conditions, but robots can be engineered to function well in them.
Evaluating the magnitudes of financial transactions costs on risk behavior

Abstract The model presented in this paper relies on financial constraints and transactions costs to operationalize model of behavior akin to safety rules. The decision maker is taken to maximize long term (40 period) expected wealth in the presence of financial transactions costs. The model allows exploration of the implications of these constraints and transactions costs for measurable choice patterns over risk. The optimization analysis demonstrates very rich behavior despite the restrictive assumption of risk neutral preferences. The optimal decisions show instances of “risk aversion” with willingness to pay less than a risky option's expected value, and of “risk preference” or plunging with willingness to pay greater than a risky option's expected value. These varied behavioral patterns in the presence of risk depend on the individual's financial standing, the magnitude of the random outcomes, the underlying distribution, and the farm policy environment.
Testing asynchronous circuits: a survey

Asynchronous circuit design has been studied for decades, but it has only recently been feasible to construct large and efficient asynchronous systems. The inherent differences between asynchronous and synchronous circuits, primarily that asynchronous circuits do not have a global clock, necessitate a review of the testing techniques used for synchronous circuits and a re-evaluation of the trade-offs involved. This paper surveys different techniques for checking whether an asynchronous circuit has fabrication defects. These techniques include approaches to self-checking design, methods for test generation, design for testability, and delay test of asynchronous circuits.
Managing innovation: 15 minutes of fame

In this paper we will describe a methodology used to encourage innovation and break-through thinking within our organization. This methodology is easily implemented in any team or organization with little impact to productivity.
Summary of aldicarb monitoring and research programs in the U.S.A.

Abstract Since 1979, over 130,000 soil and water samples have been collected and analyzed for aldicarb in monitoring and research programs conducted in the U.S.A. Comprehensive field research studies have been conducted on 40 plots located in 14 states and involving eight different crops. In addition, exploratory studies have been conducted in eight states including three in which field studies were not conducted at a later date. Drinking water samples have been collected in 39 states. Many laboratory studies have been performed to better define degradation mechanisms and rates. Modeling simulations have been performed to interpret field data and to properly apply the results to other situations. The movement and degradation of aldicarb residues in the unsaturated and saturated zone in a complex process affected by soil and hydrogeological properties, climatic conditions, and agricultural practices. These studies show that in most areas aldicarb residues degrade in the upper portion of the unsaturated zone. In the few areas where aldicarb residues reach groundwater, the combined effects of the primarily lateral movement of groundwater and the continuing degradation usually constrain aldicarb residues to shallow groundwater neat treated fields. Most of the cases where aldicarb residues in drinking water have occurred in excess of the EPA (and WHO) health advisory level of 10 μg L−1 (a MCL of 7 μg L−1 is being proposed by the EPA) resulted from applications made at planting to potatoes. Generally, these instances of drinking water residues have been in the Northeast and Wisconsin: however, above guideline residues in drinking water wells have occurred as result of applications to lily bulbs in northern coastal California, sugar beets in Wyoming and citrus in central Florida. Management practices have been implemented to eliminate the occurrence of aldicarb residues in drinking water wells from future applications. These management practices have consisted of changes in application timing, application rates, and restrictions on applications near shallow drinking water wells in areas with vulnerable soils and shallow water tables. Almost all of the residues in drinking water wells currently exceeding guidelines are the result of applications made prior to the adoption of these management practices.
Most favorable orientation for vibrational transitions in asymmetric diatomic molecules

Abstract Dependence of the probability of vibrational transitions on molecular rotations is investigated with a four-center interaction energy. A strongly angle-dependent expression of the vibrational transition probability is obtained for asymmetric diatomic molecules. As an example, the HBr-HBr collision is chosen. For this system it is shown that the molecular vibration is most efficiently excited when the velocity of relative motion is along the colinear direction of Br-H H-Br. The colinear direction H-Br Br-H is shown to be least efficient.