cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moving Beyond Branching: Evaluating Educational Impact of Procedurally-Generated Virtual Patients

Electronic virtual patients (VPs) are interactive screen-based computer simulations of real-life clinical scenarios that are widely used for the purposes of health sciences education. VPs allow for safe and supportive experiences for health sciences students to practice problem solving and diagnostic skills without endangering real patients.Our previous work investigated the feasibility of procedurally generating virtual patient cases that leverage Bayesian network (BN) models learned from EMR data to present clinical scenarios and control outcomes of learners’ decisions within the context of a presented VP.In this paper, we describe an experiment that compares a VP case based on a BN model to one created using a traditional narrative-branched VP system across multiple categories.Our results show that the narrative-branched VP case was rated significantly higher than its BN-based counterpart on reflecting the learning objectives, introducing/reinforcing clinical skills, attitudes, and behaviors relevant to sepsis treatment, providing formative feedback for choices/outcomes, and being more effective in teaching the subject matter to novice clinical practitioners. The BN-based VP case was rated significantly higher than the branched-narrative version on representing clinical variations associated with sepsis, on realism, and on learner engagement.
The Continuity of BCI-Mediated and Conventional Action.

Rainey et al. (2020) in making a distinction between executive and implementational control, argue that action mediated by brain computer interfaces (BCIs) is different from conventional action bot...
Impact of foot arch type and minimalist footwear on static postural stability

Intrinsic factors such as foot arch type and extrinsic factors such as footwear are among the main contributors for a higher lower extremity injury incidence due to their impact on postural stabili...
Magnetic (electric) drop deformation in uniform external fields: Volume averaged methods and formation of static and dynamic conical tips

Analytical relationships describing droplet deformation in external magnetic (electric) fields rely on spheroidal and ellipsoidal shape approximations. We show that the ellipsoidal shape approximations that assume a uniform internal magnetic field are only valid for small deformations (aspect ratio a/b ≈ 4). For large droplet deformations, the non-uniformity in the field within the droplet becomes substantial, rendering such approximations to be invalid. To overcome the limitations of ellipsoidal theory, we perform numerical simulations to determine volume averaged demagnetization factor and fields. Based on the numerical simulations, we propose semi-analytical relationships to describe small and large deformations for magnetic droplets using volume averaged methods. We test and validate our results with the existing experimental results and find an excellent agreement between our model and experimental studies. We extend our analysis and investigate static and dynamic droplets with conical tips. We show that droplets with conical tips could be defined solely by the characteristic half cone angle. We analyze unstable droplets with extremely high susceptibility χ → ∞ and find that conical tips with a half cone angle of θc ≈ 30° and an aspect ratio of ≈3.7 are formed prior to breakup, in agreement with the prior experimental studies of charged electric droplet breakup. We show that the volume averaged methods derived for droplets with finite tip curvature are also valid and in good agreement with the computational and previous experimental studies of magnetic droplets with conical tips.
3D Architected Carbon Electrodes for Energy Storage

The ability to design a particular geometry of porous electrodes at multiple length scales in a lithium‐ion battery can significantly and positively influence battery performance because it enables control over distribution of current and potential and can enhance ion and electron transport. 3D architecturally designed carbon electrodes are developed, whose structural factors are independently controlled and whose dimensions span micrometers to centimeters, using digital light processing and pyrolysis. These free‐standing lattice electrodes are comprised of monolithic glassy carbon beams, are lightweight, with a relative density of 0.1–0.35, and mechanically robust, with a maximum precollapse stress of 27 MPa, which facilitates electrode recycling. The specific strength is 101 kN m kg⁻¹, comparable to that of 6061 aluminum alloy. These carbon electrodes can reach a mass loading of 70 mg cm⁻² and an areal capacity of 3.2 mAh cm⁻² at a current density of 2.4 mA cm⁻². It is demonstrated that this approach allows for independent design of structural factors, i.e., beam diameter, electrode thickness, and surface morphology, enabling control over Li‐ion transport length, overpotential and battery performance, not available for slurry‐based electrodes. This multiscale approach to design of electrodes may open substantial performance‐enhancing capabilities for solid‐ and liquid‐state batteries, flow batteries, and fuel cells.
On the Convergence Rate of Off-Policy Policy Optimization Methods with Density-Ratio Correction.

In this paper, we study the convergence properties of off-policy policy improvement algorithms with state-action density ratio correction under function approximation setting, where the objective function is formulated as a max-max-min optimization problem. We characterize the bias of the learning objective and present two strategies with finite-time convergence guarantees. In our first strategy, we present algorithm P-SREDA with convergence rate $O(\epsilon^{-3})$, whose dependency on $\epsilon$ is optimal. In our second strategy, we propose a new off-policy actor-critic style algorithm named O-SPIM. We prove that O-SPIM converges to a stationary point with total complexity $O(\epsilon^{-4})$, which matches the convergence rate of some recent actor-critic algorithms in the on-policy setting.
Thanks, but No Thanks: Unpacking the Relationship Between Relative Power and Gratitude:

Power and gratitude are universal features of social life and impact a wide range of intra- and interpersonal outcomes. Drawing on the social distance theory of power, we report four studies that e...
Demonstrating Conical Pendulum Stable and Unstable States

This article analyzes and experimentally verifies the stability behavior of the equilibrium states of a conical pendulum. An analysis of the motion presents that the equilibrium states of the pendulum are determined by the pendulum angular speed. For a given pendulum length there exists a critical angular speed that determines stability conditions. Experimental results obtained using a variable speed rotator confirm the relationship between angular speed and equilibrium state conditions. An initially at rest pendulum has a stable equilibrium position that is vertically hanging straight down; however, it is shown that when gradually increasing the speed of a mechanical rotator to approach and surpass the pendulum critical speed, the initial stable equilibrium state becomes unstable. Furthermore, the pendulum, now in an unstable equilibrium, moves to a new stable equilibrium position that did not exist at speeds below the critical speed.
Repeated reversals of concurrent olfactory discriminations in rats: A search for functional equivalence.

Abstract Equivalence class formation has been difficult to demonstrate in nonhumans, but one method that has been successful is a simple discrimination procedure in which contingencies associated with two sets of arbitrary discriminative stimuli are repeatedly reversed. Pigeons and sea lions shift responding after encountering the newly-reversed contingency with only a few set members, showing evidence of functional equivalence. We used this strategy to determine whether similar findings would occur in rats using olfactory stimuli. Rats were trained to nose-poke in the presence of six stimuli arbitrarily designated as members of the positive set; responses to the six members of the negative set were not reinforced. When discriminative performance was established, contingencies associated with each set were reversed and re-reversed each time subjects met a performance criterion. All subjects successfully acquired the concurrent simple discriminations and were exposed to between 12 and 60 reversals, but none showed clear evidence of functional class formation until a final procedure in which the stimulus sets that had been in place were arbitrarily rearranged. Acquisition with these new stimulus sets was impaired, showing that class membership generated by the original stimulus sets interfered with learning the new ones, thus providing evidence of functional equivalence.
A Simulation Analysis of the Effects of a Product Tax on the Packaging Waste Output of Selected Food Products

This country is currently faced with an ever growing solid waste problem. A significant amount of total solid waste may be traced to origins in the packaging industry. Various policies aimed at rectifying this problem have been proposed. One policy alternative that is currently being given consideration is taxation of a product based upon the amount and type of packaging waste associated with that product. Taxation is believed to be a policy tool that could be used to internalize the cost of collection and disposal of each product's packaging waste. In effect, those that generate solid wastes would pay. The effects of such taxation implementation on various economic phenomena are unknown, but of critical importance to its feasibility.
THE INDIGENOUS ORAL FLORA OF MAN. I. THE NEWBORN TO THE 1-YEAR-OLD INFANT.

Abstract Oral samples obtained from a group of fifty-one newborn and fortyfour-month-old infants and repeat specimens collected from the latter group at the ages of 8 and 12 months yielded a total of 153 oral specimens. The incidence of thirteen bacterial genera was determined. Only species of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Veillonella and Neisseria were constantly present by 12 months of age; Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, Nocardia and Fusobacterium species were cultured in more than half the subjects at this age, while Bacteroides, Leptotrichia, Candida, Corynebacterium species and the coliform types were isolated from less than half of these infants. Quantitatively, the average total bacterial counts were of the order 10 4–5 per milligram of sample. Streptococci were dominant but the percentage diminished from 98 per cent to 70 per cent of the total by the end of the first year of life. The accretion of filamentous and branching forms was found to occur with advancing age but did not appear to be solely dependent upon tooth eruption since these forms could be isolated from predentate infants.
The surface reconstructions of the (100) crystal faces of iridium, platinum and gold. I. Experimental observations and possible structural models

Abstract The structures of the reconstructed Ir(100), Pt(100) and Au(100) surfaces have been investigated. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) patterns are analyzed and LEED intensity versus energy data are measured. A variety of structures is observed by LEED: Ir(100) exhibits a relatively simple (1 × 5) pattern; Pt(100) shows a series of closely related patterns, a typical representative of which has a ( 14 1 −1 5 ) structure; Au(100) usually exhibits a c(26 × 68) pattern, often inaccurately described in the literature as a (20 × 5) pattern. The reconstruction of Au(111) is also considered for comparison. Various plausible structural models are discussed, while laser simulation is used to lessen the number of these models. The analysis is completed in a companion paper where LEED intensity calculations are reported to determine the atomic locations.
[SOUND CONTACTS] Transcendence and immortality in Busoni’s "Doktor Faust"

The categorization of the many musical and literary works inspired by the Faust legend is based on their two possible conclusions: Faust ends up in hell or is redeemed and attaints heaven. Busoni’s work is often categorized in terms of the redemptive form. I will analyze a third possibility: during the last part of the nineteenth century, philosophers conceptualized that man’s feelings of unhappiness came from his confinement into an eternal recurrence and that life doesn’t end with the death. Scholars tend to ignore the links between Doktor Faust and these philosophical thoughts because of Busoni’s explicit denial of such intentions. And yet Busoni wrote that an opera is the highest form of artistic expression, where music gives words to the unspoken. Therefore I will argue that Busoni characterizes Doktor Faust as a hybridization of the new philosophical theories with literature and music. Busoni’s depiction of the main character in this opera may not be intentional, but the composer summed up all the qualities of Nietzsche’s Ubermensch, D’Annunzio’s Superuomo, and Pascoli’s fanciullino in Faust. Faust discovers his own transcendent power, which is independent from the material universe and yet belongs to nature’s laws that are beyond God and the evil. Doktor Faust’s attainment of immortality does not pray for divine redemption and wins out over everything: in this opera, Faust is neither redeemed nor damned. Faust becomes aware that death is nothing but the means that lead to rebirth: “ich, Faust, ein ewiger Wille”.
A Review of “Blueprint for Disaster: The Unraveling of Chicago Public Housing”

Alas, Chicago public housing is not one of the great understudied issues of urban planning. Perhaps you share my sense that texts on this topic occupy what marketers might call a saturated market: ...
Teatro y sociedad

El teatro colombiano de los ultimos anos se ha diversificado y ampliado con la presencia de grupos no capitalinos y con la participacion de mujeres en el rol de directoras y autoras
A ferrocene-perfluoroarene molecular complex

Abstract Perfluorophenanthrene and decamethylferrocene cocrystallize as a molecular adduct in monoclinic space group P21/c with a = 8.842(2), b = 11.262(1), c = 30.695(8) A, β = 95.89(2)°, V = 3040.3(8) A3, Z = 4. The structure was refined to R = 0.0537 for 1567 observed reflections. The perfluoroarene is twisted and chiral; the crystal is a racemate, however.
Dynamics of North American sector ionospheric and thermospheric response during the November 2004 superstorm

Abstract We present a study of ionospheric and thermospheric response during a November 9–10, 2004 major geomagnetic storm event (DsT ∼−300 nT). We utilize the North American sector longitude chain of incoherent scatter radars at Arecibo, Millstone Hill, and Sondrestrom, operating as part of a coordinated international mesosphere/lower thermosphere coupling study experiment. Total electron content (TEC) determinations from global positioning system (GPS) ground receivers, ground magnetometer traces from the Canadian CANOPUS array, Defense Meteorological Satellite Platform (DMSP) topside data, and global convection patterns from the SuperDARN radar network are analyzed to place the detailed radar data in proper mesoscale context. The plasmaspheric boundary layer (PBL) expanded greatly in the dusk sector during ring current intensification to span more than 25° of magnetic latitude, reaching as far south as 30° invariant latitude. Strong sub-auroral polarization stream velocities of more than 1 km/s were accompanied by large upwards thermal O+ fluxes to the overlying magnetosphere. The large PBL expansion subsequently exposed both Millstone Hill and Sondrestrom to the auroral convection pattern, which developed a complex multicell and reverse convection response under strongly northward IMF conditions during a period of global interplanetary electric field penetration. Large traveling atmospheric and ionospheric disturbances caused significant neutral wind and ion velocity surges in the mid-latitude and tropical ionosphere and thermosphere, with substorm activity launching equatorward neutral wind enhancements and subsequent mid-latitude dynamo responses at Millstone Hill. However, ionosphere and thermosphere observations at Arecibo point to significant disturbance propagation modification in the post-dusk sector PBL region.
MTI dense-cloud mask algorithm compared to a cloud mask evolved by a genetic algorithm and to the MODIS cloud mask

In support of its dual mission in environmental studies and nuclear nonproliferation, the Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) has enhanced spatial and radiometric resolutions and state-of-the-art calibration capabilities. These instrumental developments put a new burden on retrieval algorithm developers to pass this accuracy on to the inferred geophysical parameters. In particular, current atmospheric correction schemes assume the intervening atmosphere is adequately modeled as a plane-parallel horizontally-homogeneous medium. A single dense-enough cloud in view of the ground target can easily offset reality from the calculations, hence the need for a reliable cloud-masking algorithm. Pixel-scale cloud detection relies on the simple facts that clouds are generally whiter, brighter, and colder than the ground below; spatially, dense clouds are generally large, by some standard. This is a good basis for searching multispectral datacubes for cloud signatures. However, the resulting cloud mask can be very sensitive to the choice of thresholds in whiteness, brightness, and temperature as well as spatial resolution. In view of the nature of MTI’s mission, a false positive is preferable to a miss and this helps the threshold setting. We have used the outcome of a genetic algorithm trained on several (MODIS Airborne Simulator-based) simulated MTI images to refine an operational cloud-mask. Its performance will be compared to EOS/Terra cloud mask algorithms.
A Grid Based Integral Approach for Quasilinear Problems

For non-homogeneous and nonlinear problems, a major difficulty in applying the Boundary Element Method is the treatment of the volume integrals that arise. A recent proposed method, the grid-based integration method (GIM), uses a 3-D uniform grid to reduce the complexity of volume discretization, i.e., the discretization of the whole domain is avoided. The same grid is also used to accelerate both surface and volume integration. The efficiency of the GIM has been demonstrated on 3-D Poisson problems. In this paper, we report our work on the extension of this technique to quasilinear problems. Numerical results of a 3-D Helmholtz problem and a quasilinear Laplace problem on a multiply-connected domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions are presented. These results are compared with analytic solutions. The performance of the GIM is measured by plotting the L2-norm error as a function of the overall CPU time and is compared with the auxiliary domain method in the Helmholtz problem.
A 1 mW delta-sigma modulator for multichannel applications

A new oversampled A/D design methodology is proposed to significantly cut the power and area budget per channel of an oversampled analog-to-digital converter. The design and implementation of this low power and area, efficient delta-sigma modulator, which is the crucial building block for a multichannel system, is presented.
Quasi-dynamic two-phase locking

Among the plethora of concurrency control algorithms that have been proposed and analyzed, two-phase locking (2PL) has been adapted as the industry de facto standard concurrency control. In accord, current research in concurrency control is focusing on enhancing the scalability of 2PL performance in highly concurrent and contentious environments. This is especially needed in future on-line transaction processing systems, where thousand Transaction Per Second performance will be required.Static locking (SL) and dynamic locking (DL) are two famous adaptations of 2PL that are used under different degrees of data contention. In this paper, we offer our observation that 2PL is indeed a family of methods, of which SL and DL are extreme case members. Further, we argue for and verify the existence of other 2PL member methods that, under variable conditions, outperform SL and DL. We propose two novel schemes which we categorize as quasi-dynamic two-phase locking on account of their behavior in comparison with dynamic/static two-phase locking. We present a simulation study of the performance of the proposed schemes and their comparison to dynamic and static locking methods.
Integration and generalization of kappas for multiple raters.

J. A. Cohen's kappa (1960) for measuring agreement between 2 raters, using a nominal scale, has been extended for use with multiple raters by R. J. Light (1971) and J. L. Fleiss (1971). In the present article, these indices are analyzed and reformulated in terms of agreement statistics based on all
Assessing the reliability of change: A comparison of two measures of adult attachment

Abstract Recently attachment researchers have become interested in how attachment changes within an individual due to social or cognitive context fluctuations. Such analyses of process are limited by unreliability of change scores. Traditional estimates of between-person reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) are not informative about how reliable a measure is at capturing within-person change. In two longitudinal studies, we examined the reliability of the State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM; Gillath, Hart, Noftle, & Stockdale, 2009 ) and the Experiences in Close Relationships scale (ECR; Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998 ), in capturing attachment change. We used generalizability theory analyses to estimate the between- and within-person reliabilities of both scales. Even with fewer items, the reliability of change for the SAAM was higher than that of the ECR.
Effects of narrow-free-spectral-range etalons of mode-locked lasers

Abstract The effect of etalon frequency selectivity on homogeneously broadened mode-locked laser in the limit of low finisse and narrow free spectral range has been calculated. The etalon does not affect the mode-locked pulse width, but modulates the frequency spectrum and causes small secondary pulses. Significant perturbation occurs when the etalon discrimination is one to two orders of magnitude less than the depth of mode-locking modulation.
Historical overview of breeding for durable resistance to maize streak virus for tropical Africa

Maize streak virus (MSV) was first studied by Storey in Kenya in the 1920s and resistance transferred into East African maize in the 1960's. Yet the majority of farmers of East Africa are still growing streak-susceptible maize. At the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria, an effort to incorporate streak resistance as an integral part of a holistic maize improvement program was begun in 1975. By 1979, usable resistance had been found and methods of large scale field challenge devised, and used routinely in the development of populations targeted at three major ecological zones in tropical Africa. Methods were continuously improved and resistant open pollinated varieties and hybrids produced that are now used on a large scale by farmers in West Africa. The strategy for success was based on: 1) Avoidance of virus strain specificity; 2) Large scale vector rearing and field infestation to ensure early infection; 3) Selection only for tolerance when infected; and 4) Not separating v...
Comparison of two different methods of quantitative coronary angiography in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

The minimal cost algorithm (MCA) commonly used for quantitative coronary arteriography has limitations in definition of complex lesion morphology. A gradient field transform (GFT) algorithm has been designed for the better analysis of complex lesions. We compared MCA with GFT in angiograms of 125 patients in the Myocardial Infarction with Novastan and t-PA (MINT) trial. Lesion border definition was rated as one (poor), two (good), or three (very good). While MCA- and GFT-derived reference diameters (RDs) were similar, GFT yielded smaller minimal lumen diameter (MLD) than MCA by 0.22 ± 0.31 mm (P < 0.01), and the difference between GFT- and MCA-derived MLDs increased with decreasing MLD. Mean percent diameter stenosis (% DS) was 9.1% ± 11.1% greater by GFT (P < 0.001). Lesion border definition in simple lesions was similar (not significantly different). However, in complex lesions GFT performed better (2.49 ± 0.61 vs. 2.11 ± 0.74; P < 0.05). Thus, GFT appears to improve analysis of complex lesions compared to MCA. GFTs role in angiographic trials and clinical practice deserves further study. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;55:442–449. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
T-Cell Growth Factor (Interleukin 2) and Terminal Transferase Activity in Human Leukemias and Lymphoblastic Cell Lines*

Mononuclear blood cells from patients with different types of leukemia, and from controls as well as cells from established lymphoblastic cell lines were analyzed with respect to terminal transferase (TdT) activity and T-cell growth factor (TCGF; Interleukin 2, IL-2), to determine the significance of TCGF production and response as functional markers for human leukemias. The data obtained so far suggest that the aberrant proliferation and lack of maturation observed in these leukemias may be associated with or be the result of a break-down in cellular-mediated control of proliferation.
Electron transfer. 102. Some oxidations by bromite (BrO2

Bromite, BrO2−, in aqueous carbonate or borate buffers (pH 9–11), reacts rapidly with H3AsO3, with the tartrate complex of Sb(III), and with the EDTA complexes of Sn(II) and U(IV). Each reaction yields Br−, even when BrO2− is taken in excess. Reaction rates with Sb(III) and Sn(II) are independent of pH, but the acidity pattern observed with As(III) points to competing bimolecular reductions by H2AsO3− and H3AsO3 having specific rates 3.4 and 1.2 M−1 s−1 (25°C, μ = 0.5M). Reduction by U(IV) is strongly inhibited by carbonate; data for carbonate buffers are in accord with the operation of two contributing reaction paths (specific rates 0.45 and 6.3 M−1 s−1) with the activated complex for the slower featuring one more carbonate than that for the rapid. Reactions of BrO2− with single electron reductants, or with reagents that can undergo both 1e and 2e changes, are generally complicated by variable induction periods, inhibition by O2, catalyzed decomposition of BrO2−, or combinations of these. The much smoother reductions by 2e− reagents must pass through OBr−, which reacts much more rapidly than BrO2− in each case. An inner-sphere path, operating through an oxygen-bridged transition state and culminating in oxygen atom transfer, is proposed for the 2e reductants. Hypophosphite, despite its highly negative formal potential, is not oxidized by BrO2− under our conditions. Here it is likely that the substitution-inert character of the coordinatively saturated P(I) center rules out formation of the precursor required for redox.
Competitive primaries and party division in congressional elections

We examine the effects of competitiveness and divisiveness in the 2010 congressional election, as the emergence of the Tea Party resulted in many competitive Republican primaries and highlighted significant divisions within the party. We find that competitive Republican primaries and competitive Democratic primaries increased turnout in the general election. The presence of divisiveness in the Republican Party has no discernible effect on turnout on its own, but actually increases the vote share captured by the Republican Party in November. Additionally, we find that while either a competitive primary or the presence of a Tea Party candidate was advantageous to the Republican Party, the presence of both in the same election was no more beneficial than if there was either a competitive primary or a division in the party.
The North Indian Ocean circulation and its variability as seen in a numerical hindcast of the years 1993–2004

Abstract A 12-year hindcast of the physical state of the North Indian Ocean has been carried out for the period 1993–2004, using a data-assimilative, primitive equation, multi-level circulation model that assimilated altimetric sea surface height anomalies and weekly MCSST, and was driven by 6-h ECMWF winds. This period encompasses the anomalous wind events in 1994 and 1997–1998 that led to anomalous oceanic state including anomalous sea surface heights and sea surface temperatures, especially in the equatorial regions. Since the in situ database in the Indian Ocean is rather sparse, the hindcast provides an alternative means of examining the state of the ocean, including its interior, during these anomalous years, as well as normal years during this period. By comparison with observations available during this period, it is shown that the model possesses reasonable skill to be useful in the description of various events in the North Indian Ocean. In this paper, we examine the circulation and its variability over the 12 years of the hindcast. We discuss equatorial events, as well as events in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, including the Somali Current system. The heat and mass fluxes are examined. Finally, the hindcast is repeated with QuikSCAT wind stress fields available from July 1999 onwards. Comparison of the 2000–2004 hindcasts forced by ECMWF winds and QS wind stresses shows that in the former, the currents and fluxes are underestimated by 20–30%, but the circulation patterns are roughly similar.
Application of Current Source Inverters in UPS Systems

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) fed from-current sources have so far received very little attention. Utilization of current sources with UPS is shown to enhance system reliability without compromises in circuit complexity and/or system performance.
Categorizing Introduced Fishes Collected from Public Waters

Introduced plants and animals have been a prominent worldwide environ- mental issue for decades; however, considerable debate and confusion remain over how to list and otherwise categorize these species. This paper describes a process for categorizing exotic freshwater fi shes that have been found in public waters. The basis of this process has been used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for nearly 30 years. Reproducing exotic fi shes are grouped into three subcategories (established, possibly established, and localized) using species-spe- cifi c biological and population characteristics resulting in a list that is helpful for prioritizing research and management activities. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate interest in standardizing processes for categorizing introduced species based on how well they adapt to new environments.
Functional and phylogenetic approaches reveal the evolution of diversity in a hyper diverse biota

Ant communities in tropical forests may be governed by varying assembly mechanisms, depending on the particular habitat investigated. We compared phylogenetic diversity and structure across two forest biomes (dry and humid) and two vertical layers (arboreal and terricolous) in ant communities in Madagascar, and assessed the infl uence of invasive species on this community structure. We estimated phylogenetic signal and correlated evolution for habitat and several functional traits and tested for conservatism in relevant functional and habitat traits. Ancestral states were reconstructed to illuminate the evolution of habitat traits. All analyses utilized phylogenies estimated from newly generated data from three nuclear markers for 290 Malagasy ant taxa. Dry forests, although lower in species richness, were found to support equally high lineage diversity as humid forests. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity was much lower in arboreal than in terricolous communities. We observed signifi cant phylogenetic clustering in the combined humid forest and in the arboreal – humid, arboreal – dry and terricolous – humid communities, whereas the combined dry forest community was overdispersed. Among ant communities in Madagascar, overdispersion and competition therefore may be more prevalent in dry forest, and habitat fi ltering may be more dominant in humid forest. Excluding invasive ant species had little overall eff ect on community structure. All investigated traits showed low to intermediate conservatism; strong support for correlated evolution was found for increased eye size and an arboreal lifestyle. Habitat transitions from humid to dry and from terricolous to arboreal occurred more frequently, and ancestors of most lineages were predicted to be terricolous or humid-forest adapted. We conclude that most Malagasy ant clades fi rst colonized humid forests and subsequently transitioned into dry forests, indicating that previous hypotheses on the evolution of Madagascar ’ s hyperdiverse biota may not apply to ants and other arthropods.
Neuroendocrine control of moulting cycle in mealworms: bioassay of moulting hormone.

Abstract The moulting hormone content of mealworm homogenates was determined by injection of partially purified fractions into abdomens of mature larvae of Musca domestica . In mealworms with a 12-day interval between ecdyses, moulting hormone was at a maximum at 8 days.
Fault Secure Encoder and Decoder for NanoMemory Applications

Memory cells have been protected from soft errors for more than a decade; due to the increase in soft error rate in logic circuits, the encoder and decoder circuitry around the memory blocks have become susceptible to soft errors as well and must also be protected. We introduce a new approach to design fault-secure encoder and decoder circuitry for memory designs. The key novel contribution of this paper is identifying and defining a new class of error-correcting codes whose redundancy makes the design of fault-secure detectors (FSD) particularly simple. We further quantify the importance of protecting encoder and decoder circuitry against transient errors, illustrating a scenario where the system failure rate (FIT) is dominated by the failure rate of the encoder and decoder. We prove that Euclidean geometry low-density parity-check (EG-LDPC) codes have the fault-secure detector capability. Using some of the smaller EG-LDPC codes, we can tolerate bit or nanowire defect rates of 10% and fault rates of 10-18 upsets/device/cycle, achieving a FIT rate at or below one for the entire memory system and a memory density of 1011 bit/cm2 with nanowire pitch of 10 nm for memory blocks of 10 Mb or larger. Larger EG-LDPC codes can achieve even higher reliability and lower area overhead.
Interpretation of charcoal morphotypes in sediments from Ferry Lake, Wisconsin, USA: do different plant fuel sources produce distinctive charcoal morphotypes?:

We describe five common charcoal morphotypes observed in late-Holocene lake sediments from northern Wisconsin and compare them with charcoal produced by burning modern plant material. Our experiments show that grass cuticle, conifer wood and leaves of some broadleaved taxa all produce recognizable charcoal types that are preserved in sediments. We use the identification of charcoal morphotypes to enhance our interpretation of a previously published charcoal record from Ferry Lake, Wisconsin. The occurrence of the different charcoal morphotypes changed as the vegetation and fire regimes changed over the past 2300 yr. Charred grass cuticle was more common before 1300 cal. yr BP when small charcoal peaks were frequent and the pollen assemblage suggests that an open oak savanna surrounded the lake. Charcoal with bordered pits produced from burned conifer wood was more common after 1300 cal. yr BP, when red/jack pine pollen increased and the frequency of charcoal peaks decreased, suggesting a switch from a sur...
Visual Scan Patterns of Rhesus Monkeys Viewing Faces

Two rhesus monkeys viewed black/white photographic slides depicting rhesus, human, chimpanzee, and schematic faces with direct gazes. Eye-track apparatus was used to assign visual fixations to one of four facial regions: the two eyes, nose, or mouth. Results showed that the eyes of stimulus faces received a disproportionate number of fixations from both observers across all stimulus face types. Stimulus faces depicting rhesus and human facial gestures shifted scan patterns somewhat, but did not disrupt the preoccupation with eyes. When the features of schematic faces were rearranged into non-facelike configurations, fixations directed to schematic stimuli were typically reduced in number.
Slip-induced plastic flow of geomaterials and crystals

Abstract A microscopic plasticity model for dilatant, pressure-sensitive, work-hardening materials undergoing rate-independent slip is presented. A variant of Coulomb's yield criterion is applied which includes the effect of hydrostatic pressure on slip. Dilatation is assumed to occur by expansion normal to the slip plane, as well as equally in all directions. Explicit relations are derived for the double-slip plane deformation of elastically isotropic materials under biaxial loading. Noncoaxiality of the stress and deformation rate tensors is examined with special attention paid to conditions which result in coaxiality.
Plasma β-endorphin, pain thresholds and anxiety levels across the human menstrual cycle

Abstract Nine normally cycling women and seven other women employing oral contraception were tested during five phases (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, luteal and premenstrual) of their menstrual cycle. The procedure consisted of administration of an anxiety inventory and determination of pain detection and pain thresholds in response to electric shock and the cold pressor task. Venipunctures were also performed and the plasma of normally menstruating women later assayed for β-endorphin. Analyses revealed that the variance but not the mean levels in peripheral β-endorphin levels significantly differed ( p
On the suitability of Gallium-Nitride (GaN) based automotive power electronics

This paper aims at discussing the possibility of using GaN power devices in automotive power electronics applications. The major issues with current silicon-based devices are highlighted in this paper. Furthermore, the paper also discusses the possible solutions offered by wide-band gap semiconductors, specifically Gallium-Nitride (GaN). The fundamental steps in designing GaN devices includes choosing the substrate, the dimensions of each layer, the length of gate, drain, source, and the distance between them, selecting materials for contacts, and finally, optimizing passivation layer. Moreover, to achieve higher breakdown voltages, field plate technology has to be executed. High voltage, high current, and high temperature operation of previously fabricated GaN devices are studied and summarized. It can be concluded that GaN definitely has the potential to dominate the next generation of automotive power electronic systems. However, certain issues, such as normally-off and vertical operation have to be thoroughly elucidated.
Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis. A variant of malignant histiocytosis

This report describes a patient with cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis in which the aggressive use of chemotherapeutic agents resulted in an apparent remission. The histiocytic nature of the process was confirmed by immunohistochemical techniques. There are many similarities with malignant histiocytosis, and it is believed that this entity should be regarded as a variant of malignant histiocytosis.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: the Role of Exercise

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both the upper and lower motor neurons. Given the deterioration of skeletal muscle function, historically there has been concern regarding exercise and its affect on ALS. This article reviews and explains current research, helping patients, caregivers, and providers be equipped better to make decisions regarding the treatment of ALS with exercise.
New Horizons in Medical Anthropology: Essays in Honour of Charles Leslie

1. Introduction - From documenting medical pluralism to critical interpretations of globalized health knowledge, policies, and practices Mark Nichter and Margaret Lock 2. Governing bodies in new order Indonesia Steve Ferzacca 3. Too bold, too hot: Crossing 'culture' in AIDS prevention in Nepal Stacy Leigh Pigg 4. The social relations of therapy management Mark Nichter 5.Making sense out of modernity Marina Roseman 6. A return to scientific racism in medical social sciences: the case of sexuality and the AIDS epidemic in Africa Gilles Bibeau and Duncan Pedersen 7. 'We five, our twenty-five': Myths of population out of control in contemporary India Patricia Jeffrey and Roger Jeffrey 8. Establishing proof: translating 'science' and the state in Tibetan medicine Vincanne Adams 9. Notes on the evolution of evolutionary psychiatry Allan Young 10. Utopias of health, eugenics, and germline engineering Margaret Lock 11. Killing and healing revisited: on cultural difference, warfare, and sacrifice Margaret Trawick
Long-Term Climate Sensitivity of Grazer Performance: A Cross-Site Study

Climate change will affect grasslands in a number of ways, but the consequences of a warmer, drier world for grazers is uncertain. Predicting future grazer performance is complex since climate change affects both the quantity and quality of forage through a combination of processes that occur over a range of time scales. To better predict the consequences of climate change for grazer performance, a dataset was compiled of over a quarter million bison weights distributed across 22 US herds that span a large range of climates. Patterns of bison body mass among sites, age classes, and sexes were analyzed with respect to differences in geographic patterns of climate and interannual variation in climate. While short-term effects of climate variability are likely to depend on the magnitude and timing of precipitation during the year, grazers will be negatively affected by sustained hotter, drier conditions most likely associated with reductions in forage quality. Short-term, little effect of high temperatures on bison performance is observed, which suggests that the long-term effects of higher temperatures are likely to accrue over time as nitrogen availability in grasslands is reduced and forage quality declines. If relationships observed for bison are general for cattle, the economic consequences of higher temperatures due to decreased weight gain in US cattle could be on the order of US$1B per 1°C increase in temperature. Long-term monitoring of forage quality as well as native and domesticated grazer performance is recommended to better understand climate change effects on grazers.
PO-0304 SAFETY OF THE MANCHESTER TRIAGE SYSTEM IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS: DOES IT RECOGNISE THE CRITICALLY ILL?

Background Triage is an important method to manage patient flows safely at the Emergency Department (ED), by prioritising patients according to their clinical urgency. To date, no studies have assessed the safety of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) to identify critically ill children. Objective To determine how well the MTS identifies critically ill children as reflected by ICU admission, and to identify areas for improvement. Methods In this observational study, we collected routinely available electronic data of all children Results During the 7-year study period, data on 44 476 ED-visits were collected of which 837 (1,9%) were from patients admitted to ICU. Of all ICU admissions, 251 (28.3%) were assigned to low MTS triage categories. Risk factors for under triage were young age, non-surgical presenting problem and general illness, gastrointestinal or respiratory complaints (all p Conclusion The MTS under triages an impressive amount of paediatric patients. Adaptations of the MTS based on risk factors for under triage are needed to improve the safety of the MTS.
Effects of thyroid hormone deficiency and replacement on rat hypothalamic growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone gene expression in vivo are mediated by GH.

The role of thyroid hormone and GH in the regulation of hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone (GRH) gene expression in the rat was examined after the induction of thyroid hormone deficiency by thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy resulted in a time-dependent decrease in hypothalamic GRH content, which was significant by 2 weeks postoperatively, and a reduction in pituitary GH content to 1% of the control level by 4 weeks. In contrast, GRH secretion by incubated hypothalami under both basal and K+-stimulated conditions was increased after thyroidectomy. Hypothalamic GRH mRNA levels also exhibited a timedependent increase, which was significant at 1 week and maximal by 2 weeks after thyroidectomy. Administration of antirat GH serum to thyroidectomized rats resulted in a further increase in GRH mRNA levels. T4 treatment of thyroidectomized rats for 5 days, which also partially restored pituitary GH content, lowered the elevated GRH mRNA levels. However, comparable effects on GRH mRNA levels were observed by rat GH treat...
Antisocial behavioral syndromes and DSM-IV drug use disorders in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Abstract Background Antisocial behavioral syndromes, including antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), syndromal adult antisocial behavior (AABS) without conduct disorder (CD) before age 15, and CD without progression to ASPD (“CD only”) are highly comorbid with drug use disorders (DUDs). Among patients in DUD treatment, antisocial syndromes are associated with greater severity and poorer outcomes. Comparative data concerning associations of antisocial syndromes with clinical characteristics of DUDs among general population adults have not previously been available. This study describes associations of antisocial syndromes with clinical characteristics of lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual—Version IV DUDs in the general U.S. adult population. Methods This report is based on the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (n = 43,093, response rate = 81%). Respondents (n = 4068) with lifetime DUDs were classified according to whether they met criteria for ASPD, AABS, “CD only,” or no antisocial syndrome. Associations of antisocial syndromes with clinical characteristics of DUDs were examined using logistic regression. Results Antisocial syndromes were significantly associated with the phenomenology of DUDs, particularly ASPD with the most severe clinical presentations. Associations with AABS were similar to those with ASPD; those with “CD only” were weak, inconsistent, and not statistically significant. Patterns of associations differed little between men and women. Conclusions Both ASPD and AABS, but not “CD only,” appear to identify greater clinical severity of DUDs among adults in the general U.S. population.
Characterization of thymidine kinase and phosphorylation of deoxyribonucleosides in Chlamydomonas reinhardti

Using gel filtration chromatography, we find a single peak of deoxythymidine phosphorylating activity in Chlamydomonas reinhardti. This activity has characteristics of a thymidine kinase, in that (1) it will utilize ATP (or dATP) or CTP (or dCTP) as phosphoryl donor, but not AMP or phenyl phosphate, and (2) it is inhibited by dTTP (and less so by dTDP, dUTP, and dUDP) but is unaffected by 3′–5′ cyclic AMP. Partially purified Chlamydomonas thymidine kinase has a pH optimum near 8.5, and a molecular weight of 80,000 to 85,000 daltons. Kinetic studies indicate a ping-pong mechanism with a Km for thymidine of 1.5x10-7 moles per liter. 5-Bromo-and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine, and to a lesser degree deoxyuridine, are competitive inhibitors, but significant phosphorylation of these nucleosides could not be demonstrated in vitro by thymidine kinase. While thymidine is phosphorylated to dTMP by crude Chlamydomonas extracts, greater than 80% of the product formed by the partially purified enzyme is dTTP. Further, the gel filtration elution position of the single deoxythymidylate kinase activity present in cell extracts coincides with that of thymidine kinase. These results suggest that a multifunctional enzyme, rather than three separate phosphorylating activities, may be responsible for dTTP formation.