cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains clinically determined, based on evidence for lesions disseminated over time and space. Evidence of multifocal disease can now be obtained through paraclinical tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging and evoked responses. Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities may facilitate diagnosis. The disease is extremely protean in its manifestations, although early in the course, sensory symptoms, motor weakness, and optic neuritis occur most frequently. Once a diagnosis is established, patients should be so informed by their physician, so that they will be prepared to engage in dialogue about available treatment options. The diagnosis is not difficult in straightforward cases, but a large differential exists, which varies depending on the temporal and spatial profile of disease with which the patient presents.
The effects of microcrystal size and shape on the one phonon Raman spectra of crystalline semiconductors

Abstract Small physical dimensions of the scattering crystals lead to a downshift and broadening of the first order Raman line through a relaxation of the q = 0 selection rule. We consider the effect of the exact shape of the microcrystal and show that there are significant differences between spherical, columnar and thin slab microcrystals. The relationship between the width, shift and asymmetry of the Raman line is calculated and is in good agreement with available experimental data.
Cultures of print : essays in the history of the book

How did people in early America understand the authority of print and how was this authority sustained and contested? These questions are at the heart of this set of pathbreaking essays in the history of the book by one of America's leading practitioners in this interdisciplinary field. David D. Hall examines the interchange between popular and learned cultures and the practices of reading and writing. His writings deal with change and continuity, exploring the possibility of a reading revolution and arguing for the long duration of a Protestant vernacular tradition. A newly written essay on book culture in the early Chesapeake describes a system of scribal publication. The pieces reflect Hall's belief that the better we understand the production and consumption of books, the closer we come to a social history of culture.
Livedoid dermatitis and severe necrosis (Nicolau's syndrome) after intramuscular hydroxyzine injection

Nicolau's syndrome, also called embolica cutis medicamentosa, is characterized by well- circumscribed livedoid dermatitis with aseptic necrosis after intramuscular injection. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with severe necrosis of the thigh several days after a routine intramuscular injection of hydroxyzine who was transferred to and treated at our Regional Burn Center. Although there has been one case report and numerous voluntarily reported instances of intramuscular hydroxyzine-induced necrosis to the Food and Drug Administration Spontaneous Reporting System, this phenomenon is rare.
Direct patterning of intrinsically electron beam sensitive polymer brushes.

The fabrication of patterned polymer brushes has attracted considerable attention as these structures can be exploited in devices on the nano- and microscale. Patterning of polymer brushes is typically a complex, multistep process. We report the direct patterning of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PIBMA), poly(neopentyl methacrylate) (PNPMA), and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PTFEMA) brushes in a single step by electron beam (e-beam) lithography, to obtain nanopatterned polymer brush surfaces. PMMA, PHEMA, PIBMA, PNPMA, and PTFEMA brushes were grown on silicon substrates via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. Surface analysis techniques including ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the thickness, hydrophilicity, roughness, and chemical composition of the polymer brushes. Tapping-mode AFM imaging con...
Near-Surface Geophysics in Geomorphology

Near-surface geophysical methods can provide information on subsurface structure and stratigraphy that is critical to understanding surficial processes. Gravity, magnetics, resistivity, electromagnetics, ground-penetrating radar, and various seismic methods are applied across a range of process domains, including faulting, volcanism, topography and weathering, hillslope processes, coastal and sea-level change, aeolian and fluvial processes, and glacial and periglacial processes. Gravity and magnetic methods have long been used to image faults and other tectonic and volcanic features, and they have also been used to document weathering patterns. With the development of multi-electrode resistivity systems, resistivity profiling has become a staple tool to map the structure and water content of slope deposits and volcanic features. Ground-penetrating radar studies have been crucial to understanding of geologic features as varied as the internal structure of aeolian dunes, coastal and fluvial deposits, the structure and volume of glaciers, the spatial distribution of sinkholes, and the geometry of tephra and lahar deposits. Key to successful studies are calibrations against direct observations and/or uses of multiple complementary methods. Increased efficiencies in geophysical data acquisition and positioning in recent years have made possible very-high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) or quasi-3-D imaging of subsurface structures. However, there is still a mismatch in the typical spatial scales of large remote-sensing-based studies and smaller geophysical surveys. Bridging this disconnect with new geophysical acquisition techniques and new instrumentation such as terrestrial laser scanning should improve our understanding of the role that subsurface structure plays in the evolution of topography.
Glucose Availability to Individual Cerebral Structures Is Correlated to Glucose Metabolism

Regional cerebral glucose influx was measured using quantitative autoradiography after the intravenous infusion of [2-14C]glucose for a period of 10 or 20 s. Glucose influx varied considerably among structures over an almost threefold range. When compared with rates of regional glucose utilization, a significant correlation by region was found between glucose influx and utilization, demonstrating that the glucose supply to individual cerebral structures is closely matched to their metabolic needs.
Hepatitis C and the heart: to beat or not to beat.

Abstract Background: Many enteroviruses as well as hepatitis C have been increasingly found in association with cardiomyopathies, even though, the evidence has been inconclusive. Methods: From 1998 to 2001, at the liver clinic of our community-based hospital, in the cohort of hepatitis C patients, infection evidence by PCR confirmation and echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) function were obtained. Results: One hundred-eight patients were identified. Fifty percent of them have echocardiographic abnormalities. Patient's mean age was 55±10 years; 45% women, 55% men; 32% had LVH, 13.8% had high right ventricular systolic pressures, and 4% displayed contractility abnormalities. No cases of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomiopathies were found. Conclusions: Echocardiographic abnormalities are not uncommon findings associated with hepatitis C infection, however all these findings can easily be explained by existing co-morbidities. High right ventricular systolic pressure, suggestive of pulmonary hypertension, which may be secondary to portal hypertension, is an independent finding for hepatitis C.
Prepartion of sphingolipid fatty acid methyl esters for determination by gas—liquid chromatography

Sphingolipid faty acids are first convrted to a mixture of free acids and their n-butyl esters by heating the specimen at 82°C in aqueous butanolic hydrogen chloride; the butyl esters are then saponified with methanolic potassium hydroxide. After acidification and extraction into hexane, the fatty acids are extracted into a very small volume of aqueous trimethyl(m-trifluorotoylyl)ammonium hydroxide (TMTFTH) injection of an aliquot of the TMTFTH extract into the gas chromatograph yields the fatty acid methyl esters by pyrolytic methylation of the quartenary ammonium salts of the fatty acids. The preparation of a specimen ready for gas—liquid chromatographic(GLC) analysis with quantitative recovery of teh sphingolipid fatty acids can be accoomplished in less than 2 h. By comparison, none of a number of well-accepted techniques for the release of sphingomyelin fatty acids by hydrolysis or methanolysis released the fatty acids quantitatively in less than 3 h, and all required additional manipulations before GLC analysis.
Relaxation and Guided Imagery: A School-Based Intervention for Children with Asthma.

Asthma, a disease of the respiratory system, is the most common chronic medical condition among children. School-aged children with asthma evidence increased absenteeism, decreased school performance, restriction of various activities, poor peer relationships, and emotional and behavioral difficulties. Asthma can be triggered and exacerbated by emotions and stress, and therefore, it has been treated with psychological interventions. Relaxation and guided imagery (RGI), an intervention based on the theoretical position that the mind and body interact in determining health, has been shown to be effective in improving mental and physical health outcomes with a myriad of medical conditions, yet it has not been adequately studied with childhood asthma. This investigation analyzed the effect of RGI on lung function [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow 25–75 (FEF25–75)] and anxiety by employing a multiple baseline design across four middle school students with asthma. With the introduction of the intervention, it was found that FEV1 improved and anxiety decreased in all students. FEF25–75 improved in three of the four participants. The effect sizes for the four participants ranged from −0.98 to −1.88 for FEV1, 0.20 to −1.93 for FEF25–75, and 2.19 to 4.06 for anxiety. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 657–675, 2003.
Preplanning: The Key To Conducting a Successful Accreditation Evaluation:

A well-organized self-study program is the key first step in a successful accreditation evaluation process. Practical advice in how to organize such a program is offered here.
Universal Transition State for High-Pressure Zinc Blende to Rocksalt Phase Transitions

First-principles density functional calculations show that the high-pressure transitions of different semiconductors from zinc blende to rocksalt go through a transition state, which is universal in the sense that its position along the path and the corresponding geometry is independent of the chemical components of the semiconductor. This is explained using a Landau-like model expansion of the free energy in cosine functions of atomic position.
Surveillance as casework: supervising domestic violence defendants with GPS technology

Academic discussion about surveillance tends to emphasize its proliferation, ubiquity, and impact on society, while neglecting to consider the continued relevance of traditional approaches to human supervision, an oversight insofar as surveillance is organized through practices embedded in justice system-based casework. Drawing from a multi-site study of pretrial personnel utilizing global positioning system (GPS) technology for domestic violence cases in the U.S., a comparative analysis is offered to illustrate how the handling of a “problem population” varies across community corrections agencies as they implement surveillance regimes. In particular, the study finds that surveillance styles reflect whether an agency is directed toward crime control and risk management, providing treatment and assistance, or observing due process. These programmatic thrusts are expressed in how officers interact with offenders as cases, both directly and remotely. In contrast to the ambient monitoring of environments and populations through data-banking technologies, the interactive surveillance styles described in the present study highlight the role of casework in surveillance.
Calcitonin-like immunoreactivity in serum and tissues of the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo.

Calcitonin is a 32-amino acid peptide hormone that is best known for its actions in maintaining skeletal integrity and calcium homeostasis in mammals. Calcitonin also appears to function in regulating certain aspects of animal reproduction, but the nature of this role remains unclear, particularly in nonmammalian vertebrates. The present study investigated the relationship between calcitonin and reproduction in the bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo), a well-studied member of the oldest living vertebrate group (i.e. elasmobranchs) known to possess a calcitonin-producing organ. Serum calcitonin concentrations were measured in 28 reproductively mature female S. tiburo using a heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Sites of calcitonin immunoreactivity were detected in tissues of mature female and embryonic S. tiburo using immunocytochemistry. Significant increases in serum calcitonin concentrations of mature female S. tiburo occurred during early stages of gestation, a period characterized by yolk-dependency of developing embryos. Immunoreactive calcitonin was detected in the duodenum and pancreas of embryonic S. tiburo sampled during the same period. The results from this study suggest that calcitonin obtained from endogenous and/or maternal sources may function in regulating yolk digestion in embryonic S. tiburo. Therefore, the association between calcitonin and reproduction in elasmobranchs may reflect an important role for this hormone in embryonic development.
Static and fatigue failure properties of thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies and their relation to regional density

This study investigated (1) whether a characterization of the macroscopic architecture within the vertebral centrum would improve predictions of vertebral strength, (2) if regions in the centrum where least bone loss with age occurs are more predictive of vertebral strength, and (3) whether different patterns of the macroscopic architecture are predictive of static as compared to fatigue strength. To characterize the vertebral macroscopic architecture, a regional bone mineral density (rBMD) technique was used that estimated the cancellous density distribution (in 18 specific regions of the vertebral centrum) for vertebrae T7-L4, from spines of 20 female cadavers. Static and fatigue failure properties of whole vertebrae were obtained, and predictive models of static and fatigue failure properties of whole vertebrae were examined. We found that (1) vertebral failure properties were better predicted by combinations of vertebral regional cancellous density (multiple linear regressions) rather than by any individual region of cancellous density alone (simple linear regressions); (2) models using regions of density that demonstrated minimum decline with age [from the data of Flynn and Cody (Calcif. Tissue Int. 53, S170-S175 (1993))] resulted in better correlations with ex vivo vertebral static failure properties than models using density regions that showed maximum decline with age, and (3) static and fatigue characteristics required different density regions to reach significance. (A comparison of models predictive of static and fatigue failure properties revealed that anterior density regions were most often included in predictive models of the static properties while posterior regions were more predictive of the fatigue properties).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
S-wave velocity structure beneath the High Lava Plains, Oregon, from Rayleigh-wave dispersion inversion

Abstract The High Lava Plains (HLP) “hotspot” track is a prominent volcanic lineament that extends from the southeast corner of Oregon in the northern Great Basin to Newberry volcano in the eastern Cascades. With the age of silicic volcanism decreasing along track to the northwest, the HLP and Newberry volcano are a rough mirror image to the Eastern Snake River Plain and Yellowstone but, in the case of the HLP, at an orientation strongly oblique to North American plate motion. Since this orientation is incompatible with plate motion over a fixed hotspot, other proposed origins for the HLP, such as asthenospheric inflow around a steepening slab, residual effects of a Columbia River/Steens plume, backarc spreading, and Basin and Range extension, relate it to various tectonic features of the Pacific Northwest. To begin distinguishing between these hypotheses, we image upper-mantle structure beneath the HLP and adjacent tectonic provinces with fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves recorded by stations of the USArray Transportable Array, the recently-initiated HLP seismic experiment, the United States National Seismograph Network, and the Berkeley seismic network. We estimate phase velocities along nearly 300 two-station propagation paths that lie within and adjacent to the HLP and cross the region along two azimuths, parallel to and perpendicular to the HLP track. The dispersion curves, which typically give robust results over the period range 16–171 seconds, are grouped by tectonic region, and the composite curves are inverted for S-wave velocity as a function of depth. We also fit a single plane wave to phase delays across the region to identify laterally homogeneous subregions. The resulting variations in upper-mantle structure correlate with variations in surface volcanism and tectonics. The lowest velocities (∼ 4.1 km/s) occur at ∼ 50 km depth in the SE corner of Oregon, where there has been extensive basaltic volcanism in the past 2–5 kyr, and suggest uppermost mantle temperatures sufficient to produce basaltic partial melting. While the seismic velocities of the uppermost mantle beneath the volcanic High Lava Plains are low relative to the standard Tectonic North America (TNA) model, they are only slightly lower than those found for the adjacent northern Great Basin and they appear to be significantly higher than upper-mantle velocities beneath the Eastern Snake River Plain. Our results provide no evidence for a residual plume signature beneath the HLP region, leaving open questions as to the origin of the HLP volcanic track itself.
Orientational behaviors and EAG responses of male codling moth after exposure to synthetic sex pheromone from various dispensers

The effect of brief pheromone exposures on responses of codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) males was tested by flight-tunnel and electroantennogram (EAG) studies. Males were preexposed to pheromone for up to 3 min as they sat in release cages or for shorter times (a few seconds to several min) upon initiating flights or orienting in plumes. Brief exposures to Isomate-C Plus dispensers nearly eliminated moth orientations to 0.1 mg codlemone [(E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol] and 0.1 mg three-component (codlemone/12OH/14OH, 100:20:5 ratio) lures 15 min later. However, there was no associated change in EAG responses between preexposed and control moths. Behavioral responses of Isomate-C Plus-exposed males were normal 24 hr following exposure. The reduced sexual responsiveness observed following exposure to Isomate dispensers appeared to be associated with an elevation of response threshold. Brief preexposure to 0.1 mg codlemone and three-component lures also reduced orientational behavior of males 15 min later, but to a lesser degree than when preexposed to Isomate-C Plus dispensers. Male behavior following preexposure to a 0.1 mg codlemone/pear ester [(2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate] lure (1:1 ratio) was no different from exposure to codlemone only. Orientational disruption in plots treated with 10 dispensers of Isomate-C Plus per tree was 88.3 and 95.9% for 1.0 and 0.1 mg codlemone lures, respectively. Some males did orient to 0.1 mg codlemone lures so we caution that flight-tunnel experiments on preexposure may overestimate the actual pheromone exposure dosage received by feral moths in treated orchards. Importantly, this work documents that a portion of feral males within a population has the capacity to overcome communicational disruption by high densities of Isomate-C Plus dispensers.
Response of cortical bone to antiresorptive agents and parathyroid hormone in aged ovariectomized rats.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether PTH has anabolic effects on cortical bone in aged ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated during the late stages of estrogen depletion. Groups of OVX rats were untreated for 1 year posto-variectomy followed by treatment for 10 weeks with vehicle, estrogen, the bisphosphonate risedronate (NE-58095), calcitonin (CT), PTH, PTH + estrogen, PTH + NE-58095 or PTH + CT. A group of sham-operated control rats was treated with vehicle alone. Cross-sections of the tibial diaphysis immediately proximal to the tibiofibular junction were subjected to quantitative bone histomorphometry. In comparison to vehicle-treated control rats, the following structural changes were detected in cortical bone of vehicle-treated OVX rats: increased cortical bone tissue area, increased bone marrow area and a significant decrease in cortical width. Indices of endocortical bone formation were also significantly increased in vehicle-treated OVX rats relative to vehicle-treated control rats. Treatment with the antiresorptive agents estrogen, NE-58095 or CT prevented the decrease in cortical width in OVX rats, but failed to increase cortical bone area. In comparison to vehicle treatment of OVX rats, estrogen and CT decreased both periosteal and endocortical bone formation, whereas NE-58095 decreased endocortical, but not periosteal, bone formation. In contrast, treatment of OVX rats with PTH alone increased cortical bone area and width as well as decreased bone marrow area compared to vehicle treatment of OVX rats. The PTH-induced increase in cortical bone mass was associated with a marked increase in periosteal and endocortical bone formation. Concurrent treatment of OVX rats with PTH + estrogen, PTH + NE-58095 or PTH + CT did not have a greater anabolic effect on cortical bone than treatment with PTH alone. The results indicate that PTH, in contrast to estrogen, NE-58095 and CT, stimulates cortical bone formation and augments cortical bone mass in the tibial diaphysis of aged OVX rats. Therefore, cortical bone of aged OVX rats retains its ability to respond anabolically to PTH even during the late stages of estrogen depletion.
High-resolution fracture aperture mapping using optical profilometry

[1] Fractures play an important role in the Earth's crust, often controlling both mechanical and transport processes. Developing a mechanistic understanding of these processes requires quantifying the roughness of fracture surfaces and the contacts and void spaces between fracture surfaces at high spatial resolution (10s of microns) over a broad range of scales (centimeters to meters). Here we present a scalable method for measuring fracture surfaces and reconstructing fracture aperture fields using an optical profilometer. We evaluate the method by measuring two fractured limestone cores; one is a tensile fracture with strong cross correlation between the surfaces and the other is a saw-cut, sand-blasted fracture with negligible cross correlation between the surfaces. Results of repeated measurements of these two fractures suggest that well-correlated surfaces, where the correlation between the surfaces can aid reconstruction, can be reproduced with local uncertainties with median standard deviation of 8 μm . Poorly correlated surfaces, where reconstruction relies solely upon the precision of the placement of the halves of the core on the profilometer stage, can be reproduced with local uncertainties with median standard deviation of 20 μm . Additionally, we quantified the accuracy of the technique by comparing calculated aperture profiles of a fractured concrete core to thin sections cut from the core after impregnating it with epoxy. The median deviation between the two measurements, which includes errors due to residual misalignment of the profiles, was 29 μm supporting the accuracy of the method. Our results emphasize the potential for using noncontact surface measurement techniques to accurately and precisely reconstruct fracture apertures over a wide range of length scales.
A new free-access collision resolution algorithm based connection request procedure for land mobile satellite systems

A novel connection request procedure for a land mobile satellite system (LMSS) is described. The procedure is based on a binary-feedback free-access collision resolution algorithm (CRA) operating over a number of parallel channels. This protocol is shown to achieve a much higher stable throughput than the previously recommended modified slotted ALOHA protocol for making connection requests. The complexity involved in implementing such a protocol is inherently low. Furthermore, this protocol is superior to other multiple-channel obvious blocked-access CRA protocols. By interleaving the time slots among individual channels, it can be applied to multiple-channel land mobile satellite type systems. Simulation results are obtained that demonstrate stable performance up to capacity. Moreover, the delay throughput characteristic is extremely flat over a wide range of traffic input rates. >
Percutaneous revascularization in women with coronary artery disease: We've come so far, yet have so far to go

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has traditionally been thought of as a disease that predominantly affects men. Women, however, are more likely than men to die from a myocardial infarction (MI). In this article, the data on access to cardiovascular care, treatment of stable and unstable coronary disease, and outcomes in women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will be reviewed. Despite increased awareness of heart disease in women, and improved outcomes after PCI, women with MI have more mortality and delays to treatment than men. Women with CAD have symptoms that differ from men with CAD. Improved understanding of the symptoms of CAD in women by patients and health care providers may improve treatment and outcomes in women with CAD.
Validity of self-report of lipid medication use: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Abstract Objective To evaluate the validity of self-reported lipid medication use in an epidemiological study. Methods We studied medication self-reports compared with inventoried lipid medication containers at the fifth visit of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study in 2011–2013 (n = 6370). To assess the validity of self-reports, we computed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values. We used multiple logistic regression to determine whether validity varied by participant characteristics. Comparisons were made with visit 4 (n = 11,531), to determine if there was a change in validity as the pattern and types of lipid medication used changed over time. Results The prevalence of lipid medication use, according to medication containers was higher at visit 5 (56%) than visit 4 (14.3%). Statins were increasingly used. The percentage of participants reporting use/non-use accurately was 91.8% at visit 5, lower than visit 4 (97.3%). The unadjusted kappa coefficient of agreement was 0.83 (95% CI – 0.82 to 0.85) at visit 5 and 0.89 (95% CI – 0.88 to 0.90) at visit 4. Agreement was higher, compared with their counterparts, for women, younger and more educated participants, and those using fewer total medications. Conclusion In this population sample, self-reported lipid medication use was highly accurate and therefore likely would be for similar epidemiological studies or clinical settings collecting this information.
Rhodopsin as a glycoprotein: a possible role for the oligosaccharide in phagocytosis.

Abstract Isolated bovine photoreceptor outer segment preparations are capable of transferring both galactose and fucose from the appropriate sugar nucleotides to rhodopsin. Both manganese chloride and Triton, a non-ionic detergent, are required for full activity. A further stimulation of transfer is produced by ATP. No effect is produced by cyclic-AMP, cyclic-GMP, taurine or calcium chloride on either galactose or fucose transfer. The incorporated radio-active sugars co-migrate with rhodopsin on agarose chromatography. Intact retinas incubated in vitro also incorporate galactose into opsin and rhodopsin. Visual pigment labeled with galactose by either method can be purified on agarose columns and hydrolyzed, releasing 94% of the label which co-chromatographs with authentic galactose in two solvent systems. Neither fucose nor galactose is found in rhodopsin but may be added to rhodopsin as a prelude to disc shedding, thereby providing a new recognition site which allows the pigment epithelium to initiate phagocytosis.
Test-driven repair of data races in structured parallel programs

A common workflow for developing parallel software is as follows: 1) start with a sequential program, 2) identify subcomputations that should be converted to parallel tasks, 3) insert synchronization to achieve the same semantics as the sequential program, and repeat steps 2) and 3) as needed to improve performance. Though this is not the only approach to developing parallel software, it is sufficiently common to warrant special attention as parallel programming becomes ubiquitous. This paper focuses on automating step 3), which is usually the hardest step for developers who lack expertise in parallel programming. Past solutions to the problem of repairing parallel programs have used static-only or dynamic-only approaches, both of which incur significant limitations in practice. Static approaches can guarantee soundness in many cases but are limited in precision when analyzing medium or large-scale software with accesses to pointer-based data structures in multiple procedures. Dynamic approaches are more precise, but their proposed repairs are limited to a single input and are not reflected back in the original source program. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid static+dynamic test-driven approach to repairing data races in structured parallel programs. Our approach includes a novel coupling between static and dynamic analyses. First, we execute the program on a concrete test input and determine the set of data races for this input dynamically. Next, we compute a set of "finish" placements that prevent these races and also respects the static scoping rules of the program while maximizing parallelism. Empirical results on standard benchmarks and student homework submissions from a parallel computing course establish the effectiveness of our approach with respect to compile-time overhead, precision, and performance of the repaired code.
Automated sample preparation for regulated bioanalysis: an integrated multiple assay extraction platform using robotic liquid handling

Background: A novel approach for regulated bioanalytical sample preparation has been developed to combine multiple types of extraction techniques into one integrated and automated sample-preparation suite that pairs a graphical user interface with the Hamilton Microlab® STAR robotic liquid handler. Results: The multi-assay sample-preparation suite is composed of three bioanalytical extraction techniques: protein precipitation, solid-phase extraction and liquid–liquid extraction. Validation data provided highly reproducible and robust results for each respective automated extraction technique. Conclusion: The user-friendly graphical user interface and modular method design provide a flexible and versatile approach for routine bioanalytical sample-preparation and is the first fully integrated multiple assay sample-preparation suite for regulated bioanalysis.
Incidental moderate mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Update on guidelines and key randomized trials

Incidental moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients presenting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is not only common but also probably adversely affects clinical outcome. The echocardiographic evaluation of incidental MR must be comprehensive and integrated, as it remains a cornerstone in management decisions. Current guidelines support surgical mitral intervention in this setting as a reasonable option, reflecting clinical equipoise towards moderate MR in the setting of planned CABG. There are currently 2 major randomized trials in progress that will test whether surgical correction of moderate MR combined with CABG improves major clinical outcomes as compared to CABG alone. These landmark trials will be completed in the near future. In the interim, significant progress in the fields of cardiac resynchronization therapy, transcatheter mitral valve intervention, and minimally invasive mitral valve surgery promise to affect the management alternatives for moderate MR in patients undergoing CABG regardless of operative risk. It is likely that in the coming decade there will be less tolerance for incidental moderate MR given its already known outcome effects and the multimodal interventions that continue to mature with better safety profiles.
Cablegation: automated supply for surface irrigation

As competition intensified and water sources became limited, successful irrigation farmers reduced labor input and increased application efficiency of their irrigation. Sprinkler systems, such as the center pivot, enabled them to do both. While energy costs were low, the economic feasibility of sprinkler irrigation was sound. But energy costs have risen without comparable increases in prices of farm products. Rising energy prices drastically reduce the net returns of farmers whose systems consume large amounts of expensive energy. The limited supply of fossil fuels and their rate of depletion signify eventual shortages and continuing increases in energy prices. Consequently, assessments were made of where energy was being used in irrigated farming systems. Between 30 and 45% of the nonsolar energy involved in raising a crop of sprinkler-irrigated corn or wheat in the western United States is consumed in irrigation (Pimmental, 1980) when pumping from surface water. For crops such as beans or alfalfa, which require little or no nitrogen fertilizer, the energy used to pressurize water for sprinkling can be as high as 60 to 80% of the total. The energy required for sprinkler irrigation is commonly three to five times that required for operation of trucks and tractors on the farms. It became apparent that irrigation methods requiring less energy input must be developed if irrigated farms are to remain economically viable. Substantial headway has been made toward decreasing the energy input to sprinkler irrigation. However, practical considerations indicate that a lower limit of energy consumption of about 40% of the original levels will still be necessary for sprinkler irrigation. Farmers who can achieve desired application efficiencies with improved surface irrigation systems will avoid one of the major energy costs involved in their farming operations. In 1979 funds were appropriated to the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture to develop systems and management practices which would reduce the vulnerability of irrigation farmers to increasing energy costs. Cablegation is a product of that research. It is currently in use on over 70 fields in eight of the western United States.
Educational Characteristics of Adolescents With Gifted Academic Intrinsic Motivation: A Longitudinal Investigation From School Entry Through Early Adulthood

The construct of gifted motivation was examined in a contemporary, long-term, longitudinal investigation. Adolescents with extremely high academic intrinsic motivation (i.e., gifted motivation) wer...
Seismic anisotropy in the core–mantle transition zone

Split S waves observed at Hockley, Texas from events in the Tonga–Fiji region of the southwest Pacific show predominantly vertically polarized shear-wave (SV ) energy arriving earlier than horizontally polarized (SH) energy for rays propagating horizontally through D″. After corrections are made for the effects of upper-mantle anisotropy beneath Hockley, a time lag of 1.5 to 2.0 s remains for the furthest events (93.9°–100.6° ), while the time lags of the nearer observations (90.5°–92.9° ) nearly disappear. At closer distances, the S waves from these same events do not penetrate as deeply into the lower mantle, and are not split. These observations suggest that a patch of D″ beneath the central Pacific is anisotropic, while the mantle immediately above the patch is isotropic. The thickness of the anisotropic zone appears to be of the order of 100–200 km. Observations of shear-wave splitting have previously been made for paths that traverse D″ under the Caribbean and under Alaska. SH leads SV , the reverse of the Hockley observations, but in these areas the fact that SV leads SH in the HKT data shown here suggests a different sort of anisotropy under the central Pacific from that under Alaska and the Caribbean. The case of SH travelling faster than SV is consistent with transverse isotropy with a vertical axis of symmetry (VTI) and does not require variations with azimuth. The case of SV leading SH is consistent with transverse isotropy with a horizontal axis of symmetry (HTI), an azimuthally anisotropic medium, and with a VTI medium formed by a hexagonal crystal. Given that (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite appears unlikely to form anisotropic fabrics on a large scale, the presence of anisotropy may point to chemical heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle, possibly due to mantle–core interactions.
The POWER7 Binary Floating-Point Unit

The binary Floating-Point Unit (FPU) of the POWER7 processor is a 5.5 cycle Fused Multiply-Add (FMA) design, fully compliant with the IEEE 754-2008 standard. Unlike previous PowerPC designs, the POWER7 FPU merges the scalar and vector FPUs into a single unit executing three floating-point instruction sets: the single and double precision scalar set, the single precision VMX vector set, and the new single and double precision VSX vector and scalar set. Due to a compact buffer-free floor plan and several optimizations in the data and control flow, the streamlined POWER7 FPU achieves a factor of 2 area reduction over the POWER6 design, beyond the normal technology shrink. This results in a very power and area efficient FPU design, supporting a chip frequency of 4.14GHz. A single 64-bit FPU instance measures only 0.26mm2 in 45nm CMOS SOI.
Fragility of reconstructed temperature patterns over the Common Era: Implications for model evaluation

Climate field reconstructions(CFRs) enable spatially resolved estimates of past climates, providing important insights about climate variability over the Common Era. In particular, a reconstructed “La Nina-like” pattern during the transition from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) to the Little Ice Age has been widely tied to medieval droughts in southwest North America. This pattern is now used as a key benchmark for global climate model simulations of the last millennium, which have yet to reproduce it. Here we test the pattern's robustness by using four different CFR methods and two proxy networks. With the older network, we find the reconstructed patterns to be highly method-dependent, with the La Nina-like pattern not reproduced by two of the CFR methodologies. With the updated proxy network, a globally uniform MCA emerges with all methods, in agreement with simulations from the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project Phase 3 ensemble. Our results caution against drawing dynamical interpretations from a single CFR and affirm the importance of developing CFRs through improved statistical methodology and community-driven proxy syntheses.
Intrinsic Diffusion of Hydrogen on Rutile TiO2(110)

The combined experimental and theoretical study of intrinsic hydrogen diffusion on bridge-bonded oxygen (BBO) rows of TiO 2(110) is presented. Sequences of isothermal scanning tunneling microscopy images demonstrate a complex behavior of hydrogen formed by water dissociation on BBO vacancies. Different diffusion rates are observed for the two hydrogens in the original geminate OH pair suggesting the presence of a long-lived polaronic state. For the case of separated hydroxyls, both theory and experiment yield comparable temperature-dependent diffusion rates. Density functional theory calculations show that there are two comparable low energy diffusion pathways for hydrogen motion along the BBO from one BBO to its neighbor, one by a direct hop and the other by an intermediate minimum at a terrace O. The values of kinetic parameters (prefactors and diffusion barriers) determined experimentally and theoretically are significantly different and indicate the presence of a more complex diffusion mechanism. We speculate that the hydrogen diffusion proceeds via a two-step mechanism: the initial diffusion of localized charge, followed by the diffusion of hydrogen. Both experiment and theory show the presence of repulsive OH-OH interactions.
Switched capacitor networks for focal plane image processing systems

The use of switched capacitor (SC) networks as an alternative to large resistor networks for performing computations in VLSI circuits for real-time machine vision and image processing systems is investigated. A mapping can be made from any resistor network to an equivalent SC network that has the same node voltage solution in steady state. However, it takes several switching cycles for a charge to be distributed in the SC network before steady state is reached. Results indicate that SC networks can be used in moderate resolution systems (250*250 pixels) operating at video rate. A chip that implemented several switched capacitor networks for spatial smoothing of images in one dimension was fabricated and tested. The amount of spatial smoothing can be adjusted when the clocking scheme applied to the network is varied. >
Dexfenfluramine and norfenfluramine: comparison of mechanism of action in feeding and brain Fos-ir studies

Dexfenfluramine (dF) and dexnorfenfluramine (dNF), its metabolite, are anorectic agents that release serotonin (5-HT) and may have a direct postsynaptic action. The effects on the anorectic effects...
Classification of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients with and without Cognitive Decline Using Non-invasive Carotid Plaque Strain Indices as Biomarkers.

Vascular cognitive decline may be caused by micro-emboli generated by carotid plaque instability. We previously found that maximum strain indices in carotid plaque were significantly correlated with cognitive function. In the work described here, we examined these associations with a larger sample size, as well as evaluated the performance of these maximum strain indices in predicting cognitive impairment. Ultrasound-based strain imaging and cognition assessment were conducted on 75 human patients. Patients underwent one of two standardized cognitive test batteries, either the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) or the National Institute of Neurologic Disorder and Stroke-Canadian Stroke Network (NINDS-CSN) Vascular Cognitive Impairment Harmonization Standards (60 min). Scores were standardized within each battery to allow these data to be combined across all participants. Radiofrequency signals for ultrasound strain imaging were acquired on the carotid arteries using either a Siemens Antares with a VFX 13-5 linear array transducer or a Siemens S2000 with an 18 L6 linear array transducer. The same hierarchical block-matching motion tracking algorithm developed in our laboratory was used to estimate accumulated axial, lateral, and shear strain indices in carotid plaque, with inclusion of adventitia regardless of the ultrasound system and transducer used. Associations between cognitive z-scores and maximum strain indices were examined using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Maximum strain indices were also employed to predict cognitive impairment using receiver operating characteristic analysis. All correlations between maximum strain indices and total cognition were statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating that these indices have good utility in predicting cognitive impairment. Maximum lateral strain indices provided an area under the curve of 0.85 for symptomatic patients and 0.68 for asymptomatic patients. Our results indicate the important relationship of maximum strain indices to cognitive function and the feasibility of using maximum strain indices to predict cognitive decline with inclusion of the adventitia layer into the segmentation of plaque.
Epilepsy and Fine Motor Function

Investigators at Kocaeli University, Pediatric Neurology OP Clinic, Turkey, studied the relationship between fine motor skills and seizure and treatment parameters in 44 children with rolandic epilepsy (RE) and compared to 44 healthy controls.
Antituberculous activity and toxicity of lupulon for the mouse.

SummaryLupulon, a fat-soluble antibiotic derived from hops, has relatively low in vitro activity (1:40,000) as compared with other antituberculous agents. Despite this observation, lupulon (given orally or intramuscularly) was active against experimental mouse infections of M. tuberculosis. Following intramuscular administration, significantly lower numbers of acid-fast organisms occurred in lesions of treated animals. The approximate numbers relative to the control were: In the liver, 34 to 1; heart, 8 to 1; spleen, 4 to 1; and lungs, 4 to 1; but not in the kidneys. In orally treated animals the ratios were: Liver, 10 to 1; heart, 3 to 1; spleen, 10 to 1; lungs, 5 to 1, and kidneys, 2 to 1. The over-all difference was a reduction of approximately 4 to 1 by either route of administration.Lupulon given intramuscularly within its effective range produced some foci of degeneration in renal tubules. Such pathologic changes were not observed in infected animals given this antibiotic orally in effective doses. ...
Atrophy of the lymphoid tissues of mice induced by extracts of the submaxillary gland.

SummaryInfarction of the submaxillary glands of male A/Jax mice or the administration intraperitoneally of an extract of these glands induced atrophy of the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph node and a moderate degree of lymphopenia of A/Jax and C3H mice. The observed response was also noted following adrenalectomy and following ultrafiltration or ultra-centrifugation of the extract and is not attributable, therefore, to a stress reaction or viral infection, but rather to the presence of a factor which inhibits lymphoid tissues.
Preconditioning Methods for Multiphase Flows

The objective of this study is to develop a preconditioning method for a multiphase compressible fluid flow solver using a homogeneous equilibrium mixture model. The mathematical model for fluid flow going through phase change uses density and temperature in the formulation, where the density represents the multiphase mixture density. The change of phase of the fluid is then explicitly determined using the equation of state (available via NIST REFPROP) of the fluid, which only requires temperature and mixture density. The method developed is based on a finite-volume framework in which the numerical fluxes are computed using either Roe’s approximate Riemann solver or the modified Harten, Lax and Van-leer scheme (HLLC). A preconditioner, based on a generalization of Eriksson’s preconditioner, is derived which possesses a well conditioned eigensystem for multiphase flow simulations. Multiphase capabilities of the solver are evaluated in cryogenic and non-cryogenic conditions. For cryogenic conditions the solver is evaluated by predicting cavitation on a quarter caliber hydrofoil in a tunnel using liquid nitrogen as the working fluid. For non-cryogenic conditions, water near boiling conditions is used to predict cavitation on a one caliber ogive. Cavitation predictions in both cryogenic and non-cryogenic cases are shows to agree well with available experimental data.