cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of direct methods for sparse linear systems

Wilkinson defined a sparse matrix as one with enough zeros that it pays to take advantage of them.1 This informal yet practical definition captures the essence of the goal of direct methods for solving sparse matrix problems. They exploit the sparsity of a matrix to solve problems economically: much faster and using far less memory than if all the entries of a matrix were stored and took part in explicit computations. These methods form the backbone of a wide range of problems in computational science. A glimpse of the breadth of applications relying on sparse solvers can be seen in the origins of matrices in published matrix benchmark collections (Duff and Reid 1979a, Duff, Grimes and Lewis 1989a, Davis and Hu 2011). The goal of this survey article is to impart a working knowledge of the underlying theory and practice of sparse direct methods for solving linear systems and least-squares problems, and to provide an overview of the algorithms, data structures, and software available to solve these problems, so that the reader can both understand the methods and know how best to use them.
Construct validity in TOEFL iBT speaking tasks: Insights from natural language processing

This study explores the construct validity of speaking tasks included in the TOEFL iBT (e.g., integrated and independent speaking tasks). Specifically, advanced natural language processing (NLP) tools, MANOVA difference statistics, and discriminant function analyses (DFA) are used to assess the degree to which and in what ways responses to these tasks differ with regard to linguistic characteristics. The findings lend support to using a variety of speaking tasks to assess speaking proficiency. Namely, with regard to linguistic differences, the findings suggest that responses to performance tasks can be accurately grouped based on whether a task is independent or integrated. The findings also suggest that although the independent tasks included in the TOEFL iBT may represent a single construct, responses to integrated tasks vary across task sub-type.
Honeycomb and sandwich testing

There are many tests that can be used to obtain the mechanical properties and structural integrity of honeycomb cores and sandwich panels. This chapter discusses the various tests and explains some of the statistical methods used to analyze the results.
Extraordinarily Large Renal Cell Carcinoma With Metasynchronous Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Ileocecal Valve: A Rare Presentation of Disease

A 71-year-old female presented with a large, protuberant abdominal mass, and was found to have both a left renal mass and a biopsy-proven neuroendocrine tumor of the ileocecal valve. Ultimately, right hemicolectomy revealed a well-differentiated and low-grade neuroendocrine tumor of the ileocecal valve, whereas left radical nephrectomy revealed a 23 cm × 22 cm × 15 cm renal cell carcinoma, chromophobe-type (RCC-CT) weighing 3564 g. RCC-CT represents a small portion of diagnosed RCC, and generally portends a more favorable prognosis than other variants. Modern reports of renal tumors exceeding 20 cm are exceedingly rare. In spite of massive size, favorable histology may allow for surgical cure.
Effects of Reynolds and Womersley Numbers on the Hemodynamics of Intracranial Aneurysms

The effects of Reynolds and Womersley numbers on the hemodynamics of two simplified intracranial aneurysms (IAs), that is, sidewall and bifurcation IAs, and a patient-specific IA are investigated using computational fluid dynamics. For this purpose, we carried out three numerical experiments for each IA with various Reynolds ( to ) and Womersley ( to ) numbers. Although the dominant flow feature, which is the vortex ring formation, is similar for all test cases here, the propagation of the vortex ring is controlled by both and in both simplified IAs (bifurcation and sidewall) and the patient-specific IA. The location of the vortex ring in all tested IAs is shown to be proportional to which is in agreement with empirical formulations for the location of a vortex ring in a tank. In sidewall IAs, the oscillatory shear index is shown to increase with and because the vortex reached the distal wall later in the cycle (higher resident time). However, this trend was not observed in the bifurcation IA because the stresses were dominated by particle trapping structures, which were absent at low in contrast to higher .
Quickest change detection in multiple on-off processes: Switching with memory

We consider the quickest detection of idle periods in multiple on-off processes. At each time, only one process can be observed, and the observations are random realizations drawn from two different distributions depending on the current state (on or off) of the chosen process. Switching back to a previously visited process is allowed, and measurements obtained during previous visits are taken into account in decision making. The objective is to catch an idle period in any of the on-off processes as quickly as possible subject to a constraint on the probability of mistaking a busy period for an idle one. Assuming geometrically distributed busy and idle times, we establish a Bayesian formulation of the problem within a decision-theoretic framework. Basic structures of the optimal decision rules are established. Based on these basic structures, we propose a low-complexity threshold policy for switching among processes and declaring idle periods. The near optimal performance of this threshold policy is demonstrated by a comparison with a genie-aided system which defines an upper bound on the optimal performance. This problem finds applications in spectrum opportunity detection in cognitive radio networks where a secondary user searches for idle channels in the spectrum.
Effectiveness of a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Booth at Farmers Markets

Many farmers markets are now accepting federal nutrition assistance benefits through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), allowing program participants to use their benefits for purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables. Select farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits offer nutrition education through recipe testing, cooking demonstrations, and recipe cards for market patrons. Minimal data, however, have been collected to determine the effectiveness of the educational materials used at farmers markets. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) program through Utah State University Extension collected initial and follow-up data from farmers market patrons through directly administered questionnaires. These questionnaires measured the impact of the food samples, recipe cards, and produce information posters shared with SNAP and non-SNAP participants at six Utah farmers markets in 2014 and 2015. Farmers market vendors were also surveyed to determine the influence of the SNAP-Ed booth on food sales and market value. Results of this study show that SNAP participants ( n =140) are significantly more likely ( p <0.05) than non-SNAP participants ( n =917) to be influenced by the educational strategies utilized at the SNAP-Ed farmers market booth. Market vendors also reported increased produce sales as a result of having the SNAP-Ed booth at the market. Offering nutrition education at farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits is one way to educate low-income shoppers on how to select, store, and prepare local produce; it may also increase the overall amount of produce purchased at the market.
Responses to reductive stress in the cardiovascular system

There is a growing appreciation that reductive stress represents a disturbance in the redox state that is harmful to biological systems. On a cellular level, the presence of increased reducing equivalents and the lack of beneficial fluxes of reactive oxygen species can prevent growth factor-mediated signaling, promote mitochondrial dysfunction, increase apoptosis, and decrease cell survival. In this review, we highlight the importance of redox balance in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis and consider the tenuous balance between oxidative and reductive stress. We explain the role of reductive stress in models of protein aggregation-induced cardiomyopathies, such as those caused by mutations in αB-crystallin. In addition, we discuss the role of NADPH oxidases in models of heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion to illustrate how oxidants may mediate the adaptive responses to injury. NADPH oxidase 4, a hydrogen peroxide generator, also has a major role in promoting vascular homeostasis through its regulation of vascular tone, angiogenic responses, and effects on atherogenesis. In contrast, the lack of antioxidant enzymes that reduce hydrogen peroxide, such as glutathione peroxidase 1, promotes vascular remodeling and is deleterious to endothelial function. Thus, we consider the role of oxidants as necessary signals to promote adaptive responses, such as the activation of Nrf2 and eNOS, and the stabilization of Hif1. In addition, we discuss the adaptive metabolic reprogramming in hypoxia that lead to a reductive state, and the subsequent cellular redistribution of reducing equivalents from NADH to other metabolites. Finally, we discuss the paradoxical ability of excess reducing equivalents to stimulate oxidative stress and promote injury.
An Exploration of Service Delivery in Early Intervention over the Last Two Decades

Throughout much of the 1990’s in the United States, early intervention services were often provided through a center-based therapeutic or medical model. However, today we recognize the natural environment is typically the most developmentally appropriate setting for all children to learn. Therefore, programs now aim to serve children in their homes, child care settings or places they spend the majority of their days. This investigation will examine current studies and literaturepertaining to early intervention service delivery, and compare the findings to similar studies conducted over the last two decades. By getting a clearer perspective on how service delivery has changed and evolved over the years, we can work toward meeting each family’s unique needs.
HYPERTHYROIDISM INCREASES THE RISK OF TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY AMONG HOSPITALIZED U.S. PATIENTS

Background: The association between hyperthyroidism and Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTCM) has only been reported in isolated case reports and a single center study with inconclusive results. It is known that elevated thyroid hormone causes an increased sympathetic modulation of heart rate. It has also
Low-molecular-weight heparin in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis.

Abstract Traditionally, acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is treated with intravenous heparin followed by oral anticoagulants. With the advent of the low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), this strategy is changing dramatically. LMWHs are compounds derived from standard unfractionated heparin that offer distinct clinical advantages over unfractionated heparin, including better bioavailability, longer half-life, and a more predictable anticoagulant response that obviates the need for laboratory monitoring. The common side effects of unfractionated heparin, including bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and osteoporosis, may be less common with LMWH. For the treatment of established venous thromboembolism, LMWH is at least as safe and effective as unfractionated heparin. Recent studies demonstrate that home therapy of DVT with LMWH, compared with inpatient therapy with unfractionated heparin, produces comparable clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, with dramatic cost savings. With careful patient selection, home therapy of venous thromboembolism is quickly becoming the new standard of care.
Short breast MRI screening trial in women at high-risk for breast cancer.

e13049Background: The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends yearly breast MRI (BMRI) in addition to mammography for women with high breast cancer risk. However, standard BMRI protocols have a lo...
Precipitation during cooling of 7XXX aluminum alloys

Abstract Precipitation during post-homogenization cooling has been studied. A Particle Size Distribution (PSD) based numerical model has been developed to predict diffusion based nucleation, growth and coarsening of plate-like precipitates. The precipitation of S (Al2CuMg), η(MgZn2), T(Al2Mg3Zn3) and θ(Al2Cu) phases is predicted for an Al-6.2Zn-2.3Cu-2.35Mg-0.13Zr alloy. These phases have been experimentally observed in a lab-scale furnace cooled sample. The effect of cooling rates and compositions on the precipitation reactions during cooling are studied. A cooling rate >500 °C/h which lead to precipitates
Experimental and analytical investigation of end zone cracking in BT-78 girders

Abstract In the past decade, with a growing interest in long span bridge girders, designers are using an increasing number of prestressing strands. This scaling up has led to cracking issues in the end zone of narrow stemmed bulb-tees and I-girders, impacting the service life and possibly design capacities in case of excessive cracking. In a project funded by the Alabama department of transportation (DOT), a 180 ft long girder design was developed by modifying a standard Bulb-Tee girder and using a 10 ksi self-consolidating concrete mix. The new girder is 78 in. deep and has 66–0.6 in. strands. The impact of the draping angle and debonding on the end zone cracking was first evaluated using a 3 D finite element model (FEM) developed in ABAQUS. Subsequently, the critical stresses were monitored during the detensioning process of four 54 ft long full-scale girders with different end zone details. It was found that the combination of limiting the draping angle and debonding the strands resulted in minimizing the end zone cracking. The detailed FEA model which was developed is also verified using experimental field data. The results of this experimental and analytical investigation will be presented in this paper.
Spatial coherence of oriented white matter microstructure: Applications to white matter regions associated with genetic similarity.

Abstract We present a method to discover differences between populations with respect to the spatial coherence of their oriented white matter microstructure in arbitrarily shaped white matter regions. This method is applied to diffusion MRI scans of a subset of the Human Connectome Project dataset: 57 pairs of monozygotic and 52 pairs of dizygotic twins. After controlling for morphological similarity between twins, we identify 3.7% of all white matter as being associated with genetic similarity (35.1 k voxels, p 10 − 4 , false discovery rate 1.5%), 75% of which spatially clusters into twenty-two contiguous white matter regions. Furthermore, we show that the orientation similarity within these regions generalizes to a subset of 47 pairs of non-twin siblings, and show that these siblings are on average as similar as dizygotic twins. The regions are located in deep white matter including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the optic radiations, the middle cerebellar peduncle, the corticospinal tract, and within the anterior temporal lobe, as well as the cerebellum, brain stem, and amygdalae. These results extend previous work using undirected fractional anisotrophy for measuring putative heritable influences in white matter. Our multidirectional extension better accounts for crossing fiber connections within voxels. This bottom up approach has at its basis a novel measurement of coherence within neighboring voxel dyads between subjects, and avoids some of the fundamental ambiguities encountered with tractographic approaches to white matter analysis that estimate global connectivity.
The Psychological Content of Lucid versus Nonlucid Dreams

In a review of Stephen LaBerge’s (1985) Lucid Dreaming, David Foulkes (1985) asked a key question: How are lucid and nonlucid dreams different? He pointed out that such a consideration may be the most interesting implication for ordinary dreaming. The issue is, Foulkes notes, what else changes when you change ordinary dreaming by adding a self that intends and reflects. The focus of this chapter is to review research relevant to these concerns. That is, beyond the obvious difference of awareness of dreaming while dreaming, do the psychological contents of lucid and nonlucid dreams differ in other respects?
xStream: Outlier Detection in Feature-Evolving Data Streams

This work addresses the outlier detection problem for feature-evolving streams, which has not been studied before. In this setting both (1) data points may evolve, with feature values changing, as well as (2) feature space may evolve, with newly-emerging features over time. This is notably different from row-streams, where points with fixed features arrive one at a time. We propose a density-based ensemble outlier detector, called xStream, for this more extreme streaming setting which has the following key properties: (1) it is a constant-space and constant-time (per incoming update) algorithm, (2) it measures outlierness at multiple scales or granularities, it can handle (3 i ) high-dimensionality through distance-preserving projections, and (3$ii$) non-stationarity via $O(1)$-time model updates as the stream progresses. In addition, xStream can address the outlier detection problem for the (less general) disk-resident static as well as row-streaming settings. We evaluate xStream rigorously on numerous real-life datasets in all three settings: static, row-stream, and feature-evolving stream. Experiments under static and row-streaming scenarios show that xStream is as competitive as state-of-the-art detectors and particularly effective in high-dimensions with noise. We also demonstrate that our solution is fast and accurate with modest space overhead for evolving streams, on which there exists no competition.
Current strategies in stroke therapy: Temporality, pharmacological agents and endovascular treatments

Stroke, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, remains an active venue for discovery. Advances in stroke neurology include prevention, treatment, and detection, in addition to rehabilitation. In terms of treatment, vast strides have been taken since the five major intra-arterial treatment trials, with extension of the treatment window in addition to the use of imaging for better patient selection. Treatment of hemorrhagic stroke has also improved in the past decade with better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, establishment of guidelines for blood pressure control and monitoring, treatment of coagulopathies in addition to surgical interventions. Several ongoing trials are being conducted to further elucidate the utility and efficacy of minimally invasive surgical options in deep intracranial hemorrhage.
Improving interpretability of deep learning models: splicing codes as a case study

Abstract Despite the success and fast adaptation of deep learning models in a wide range of fields, lack of interpretability remains an issue, especially in biomedical domains. A recent promising method to address this limitation is Integrated Gradients (IG), which identifies features associated with a prediction by traversing a linear path from a baseline to a sample. We extend IG with nonlinear paths, embedding in latent space, alternative baselines, and a framework to identify important features which make it suitable for interpretation of deep models for genomics.
(63) Demographic Characteristics, Interventions, and Outcomes of Hospitalized Children with Myasthenia Gravis

Background Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a relatively rare autoimmune disorder in children. Prevalence, course, and outcome of children admitted with MG are sparsely published. Objective To describe current demographics, interventions, and outcomes of hospitalized children with MG using the 2012 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Methodology …
The digital continuum: the influence of ownership, access, control, and Cocreation on digital offerings

Digital offerings have provided new ways to experience what once were physical products. Such offerings have upended business processes by being less costly for firms to produce, store, and distribute. The ways in which consumers access them and interact with them have called into question traditional notions of ownership, access and control. This paper extends the thinking about digital offerings by proposing a Digital Continuum framework: a conceptual model anchored at one end by Digital Products and at the other by Digital Services. We discuss the benefits and costs that accrue to both consumers and firms along the Continuum that result from differences in ownership, access, control and customization/cocreation.
Contribution of Marijuana Legalization to the U.S. Opioid Mortality Epidemic: Individual and Combined Experience of 27 States and District of Columbia

Abstract Background Prior studies of U.S. states as of 2013 and one state as of 2015 suggested that marijuana availability reduces opioid mortality (marijuana protection hypothesis). This investigation tested the hypothesis with opioid mortality trends updated to 2017 and by evaluating all states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). Methods Opioid mortality data obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to compare opioid death rate trends in each marijuana-legalizing state and D.C. before and after medicinal and recreational legalization implementation and their individual and cumulative aggregate trends with concomitant trends in non-legalizing states. The Joinpoint Regression Program identified statistically-significant mortality trends and when they occurred. Results Of 23 individually evaluable legalizing jurisdictions, 78% had evidence for a statistically-significant acceleration of opioid death rates after medicinal or recreational legalization implementation at greater rates than their pre-legalization rate or the concurrent composite rate in non-legalizing states. All four jurisdictions evaluable for recreational legalization had evidence (p Conclusions The marijuana protection hypothesis is not supported by recent U.S. data on opioid mortality trends. Instead, legalizing marijuana appears to have contributed to the nation’s opioid mortality epidemic.
Chemogenomic profiling to understand the antifungal action of a bioactive aurone compound

Every year, more than 250,000 invasive candidiasis infections are reported with 50,000 deaths worldwide. The limited number of antifungal agents necessitates the need for alternative antifungals with potential novel targets. The 2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3-(2H)-ones have become an attractive scaffold for antifungal drug design. This study aimed to determine the antifungal activity of a synthetic aurone compound and characterize its mode of action. Using the broth microdilution method, aurone SH1009 exhibited inhibition against C. albicans, including resistant isolates, as well as C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis with IC50 values of 4-29 μM. Cytotoxicity assays using human THP-1, HepG2, and A549 human cell lines showed selective toxicity toward fungal cells. The mode of action for SH1009 was characterized using chemical-genetic interaction via haploinsufficiency (HIP) and homozygous (HOP) profiling of a uniquely barcoded Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant collection. Approximately 5300 mutants were competitively treated with SH1009 followed by DNA extraction, amplification of unique barcodes, and quantification of each mutant using multiplexed next-generation sequencing. Barcode post-sequencing analysis revealed 238 sensitive and resistant mutants that significantly (FDR P values ≤ 0.05) responded to aurone SH1009. The enrichment analysis of KEGG pathways and gene ontology demonstrated the cell cycle pathway as the most significantly enriched pathway along with DNA replication, cell division, actin cytoskeleton organization, and endocytosis. Phenotypic studies of these significantly enriched responses were validated in C. albicans. Flow cytometric analysis of SH1009-treated C. albicans revealed a significant accumulation of cells in G1 phase, indicating cell cycle arrest. Fluorescence microscopy detected abnormally interrupted actin dynamics, resulting in enlarged, unbudded cells. RT-qPCR confirmed the effects of SH1009 in differentially expressed cell cycle, actin polymerization, and signal transduction genes. These findings indicate the target of SH1009 as a cell cycle-dependent organization of the actin cytoskeleton, suggesting a novel mode of action of the aurone compound as an antifungal inhibitor.
Primary Arthrodesis for Diabetic Ankle Fractures

Background:Treatment of ankle fractures in patients with diabetes is associated with increased complication rates. Ankle arthrodesis is considered a salvage procedure after failed ankle fracture fi...
Comparing the predictive utility of trait affect and average daily affect for the prospective prediction of health outcomes

In preregistered secondary data analyses, we compared the predictive utility of trait affect and average daily affect for predicting three health outcomes across nine years (N = 1,376). Trait positive and negative affect were assessed using a 25-item dispositional questionnaire. Average daily affect was assessed as the mean of eight daily diary reports of the same items. Trait affect and average daily affect both had medium associations with self-reported general health and chronic health conditions. Moreover, both types of affect predicted mortality when adjusting for baseline health and demographics. Effect sizes were comparable for trait compared to daily affect. These findings demonstrate convergent predictive validity of trait and daily affect measures.
The emerging market for “Delebs” (dead celebrities) - An ethics-based, sustainability analysis of key stakeholder positions

The market for dead celebrities (“Delebs”) is large and growing. According to recent estimates, it is now worth $2.25 billion in annual licensing and royalty revenues. The practice is now so preval...
The logical strength of K\"onig's edge coloring theorem

Konig's edge coloring theorem says that a bipartite graph with maximal degree $n$ has an edge coloring with no more than $n$ colors. We explore the computability theory and Reverse Mathematics aspects of this theorem. Computable bipartite graphs with degree bounded by $n$ have computable edge colorings with $n+1$ colors, but the theorem that there is an edge coloring with $n$ colors is equivalent to WKLo over RCAo. This gives an additional proof of a theorem of Hirst: WKLo is equivalent over RCAo to the principle that every countable bipartite $n$-regular graph is the union of $n$ complete matchings. We describe open questions related to Vizing's edge coloring theorem and a countable form of Birkhoff's theorem.
Wind energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the basic concepts pertinent to wind energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials. The emphasis is on describing physical phenomena such as motion-dependent unsteady aerodynamic forces. Aeroelastic instabilities can arise due to these forces, resulting in limit-cycle oscillations in the structure from which bonded piezoelectric elements extract energy. The instabilities are described under three broad categories: flutter, galloping, and vortex-induced vibration. The piezoelectric electromechanical coupling is described along with feasible upper bounds for energy extraction. The role of nonlinearities in enhancing the energy extracted is also discussed.
A Framework for Addressing the Risks and Opportunities In Al-Supported Virtual Health Coaches

Virtual coaching has rapidly evolved into a foundational component of modern clinical practice. At a time when healthcare professionals are in short supply and the demand for low-cost treatments is ever-increasing, virtual health coaches (VHCs) offer intervention-on-demand for those limited by finances or geographic access to care. More recently, AI-powered virtual coaches have become a viable complement to human coaches. However, the push for AI-powered coaching systems raises several important issues for researchers, designers, clinicians, and patients. In this paper, we present a novel framework to guide the design and development of virtual coaching systems. This framework augments a traditional data science pipeline with four key guiding goals: reliability, fairness, engagement, and ethics.
WHEN TIME FLIES: STATE AND TRAIT BOREDOM, TIME PERCEPTION, AND HEDONIC TASK APPRAISALS

An abundance of empirical research has established that a robust, positive association exists between feelings of boredom and the illusion of temporal slowing. Although state and trait forms of boredom are distinct constructs, the way these variables interact with one another to impact time perception is unknown. To further explore the association between boredom and time perception, a modified replication of a study that examined the impact of discrepancies between expected and perceived time progression on hedonic appraisals was conducted. The paradigm was extended through the inclusion of validated measures of trait and recent state boredom. Seventy-two participants ( N = 72, aged 18-52, M = 23.06, SD = 5.73) were led to believe that they would perform an intrinsically unengaging task for 5 (Time Drags), 10 (Real Time), or 15 minutes (Time Flies). Consistent with previous findings, participants in the Time Drags condition reported time as progressing significantly slower than participants in the other two conditions. Moreover, participants in the Time Drags condition rated the task as significantly more aversive than did participants in the Time Flies condition. This association remained significant even when controlling for levels of trait and recent state boredom. However, the Real Time and Time Flies conditions did not differ from one another in terms of task ratings or perceived time progression. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Pressure-Shear Plate Impact Investigation of Dynamic Shearing Resistance of Polycrystalline Pure Magnesium at Elevated Temperatures: Twinning and Dislocation-Slip Rates

Polycrystalline magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have been widely investigated in order to better understand and improve their mechanical properties. However, significant questions remain as to how these materials behave under ultra–high strain-rate loading conditions, especially at elevated temperatures. In view of this, in the present study, elevated temperature combined pressure–and–shear plate impact experiments are employed to investigate the dynamic shearing resistance of polycrystalline commercially pure (99.9%) magnesium at strain-rates in excess of 105 s−1, temperatures up to 500 °C, and shear strains > 100%. The results of the study provide important insights into the shearing resistance of polycrystalline pure Mg under extreme thermomechanical loading conditions and its relationship to the evolution of various inelastic deformation modes – dislocation-mediated slip, deformation twinning, and geometric strain softening – with different mechanisms becoming dominant at different levels of inelastic strains and test temperatures.
Forward Λ Production and Nuclear Stopping Power in d+Au Collisions at RHIC

Using the forward time projection chambers of STAR we measure the centrality dependent A and Ā yields in d+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV at forward and backward rapidities. The contributions of different processes to particle production and baryon transport are probed exploiting the inherent asymmetry of the d+Au system. While the d side appears to be dominated by multiple independent nucleon-nucleon collisions, nuclear effects contribute significantly on the Au side. Using the constraint of baryon number conservation, the rapidity loss of baryons in the incoming deuteron can be estimated as a function of centrality. This is compared to a model and to similar measurements in Au+Au, which gives insights into the nuclear stopping power at relativistic energies.
Urban-scale Testbed Infrastructure for Data-driven Wireless Research

Analysis of wireless traffic in urban environments accelerate solutions to challenging problems, such as pedestrian localization for safety monitoring and traffic optimization and device identification for marketing outreach. Many wireless testbeds provide rich experimentation capabilities. However, most are complex, expensive, and slow to deploy due to the advanced knowledge needed to configure the infrastructure. We present a solution that addresses these challenges. The testbed described in this paper provides infrastructure that is easy to adopt, inexpensive, and includes streamlined support for conducting largescale urban wireless traffic collection. We leverage infrastructure designed for the ongoing Mobility Intelligence Project in the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. Since its original deployment, we have discovered and addressed numerous system stability, data processing, and storage challenges. In this paper, we describe these enhancements and several testbed use-case scenarios.
Use of Auxiliary Information: Probability Proportional to Size and with Replacement (PPSWR) Sampling

Through the previous chapter we have seen that the proper use of auxiliary information at the estimation stage for estimating any population parameter results in a gain in the efficiency of the resultant estimators. For example, the product and ratio estimators of the population mean remain better than the sample mean when the correlation between the study variable and the auxiliary variable lies in the interval [−1.0,−0.5) and (+0.5, + 1.0], respectively. In this chapter we shall show that the auxiliary information can also be used to select a sample which can provide better estimators of population parameters. In other words, the auxiliary information can be used at the sample selection stage as well as at the estimation stage. A sampling scheme with replacement in which each sampling unit has unequal probability of selection, the probability being proportional to the size of the auxiliary variable associated with the particular unit, is called probability proportional to size and with replacement (PPSWR) sampling scheme.
What have we learned from research on grief counselling

Abstract Dale Larson and William Hoyt respond to Robert Neimeyer and Henk Schut's articles in this issue. They argue that Neimeyer and Schut's more pessimistic conclusions about the effectiveness of bereavement counselling are drawn from large meta-analyses of many different approaches, with different populations, recruited in a range of different ways at different times following bereavement, and followed up over different periods of time. They restate their assertion that we should continue to be cautious about accepting unquestioningly such generalised findings based on broad-brush inclusion criteria as the research in fact provides more grounds for optimism than these meta-analyses suggest.
Fuzzy vault and template-level fusion applied to a binary fingerprint representation

The fuzzy vault is an error-tolerant authentication scheme that stores data in a privacy-preserving way. It allows to hide and retrieve a secret by presenting a set of elements that can slightly differ. This paper aims at applying the scheme to a transformation-invariant binary fingerprint representation. We also show how to perform multi-finger fusion with no extra space requirement and perform fuzzy vault in this case. Our results are quite encouraging with respect to the inherent constraint of decreasing False Accept attacks on template protection schemes in order to ensure higher privacy.
Electromagnetic Induction by Sq Ionospheric Currents in a Heterogeneous Earth: Modeling Using Ground-based and Satellite Measurements

We have created a database consisting of hourly means of the geomagnetic field components observed on quiet days in years 2001–2002 on ground observatories, and Orsted and CHAMP satellite measurements covering the same time intervals. In the first part of our study, we use the potential method to estimate the model of external inducing field. Following 3-D simulations are used to evaluate the effect of heterogeneous surface conductance map on Orsted and CHAMP satellite measurements and to compare the results with observations. Improvement of up to 15% with respect to the best 1-D model was observed in surface observatory data as well as in the Orsted and CHAMP measurements.
Supercongruences between truncated 2F1 hypergeometric functions and their Gaussian analogs

Fernando Rodriguez-Villegas has conjectured a number of supercongruences for hypergeometric Calabi-Yau manifolds of dimension d less than or equal to 3. For manifolds of dimension d = 1, he observed four potential supercongruences. Later the author proved one of the four. Motivated by Rodriguez-Villegas's work, in the present paper we prove a general result on supercongruences between values of truncated F-2(1) hypergeometric functions and Gaussian hypergeometric functions. As a corollary to that result, we prove the three remaining supercongruences.
Management of high-grade stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium: Hysterectomy following low dose external beam pelvic irradiation

Sixty-eight patients with FIGO stage I, grade 2 or 3 adenocarcinoma of the endometrium were treated according to a protocol involving 10 Gy external pelvic irradiation, prompt hysterectomy with surgical staging, and postoperative therapy individualized according to surgical-pathologic findings. Five-year survival for the entire group was 78%, 87% for those with grade 2 disease, and 59% for those with grade 3 disease. For patients whose disease was found to be confined to the uterus, surgical stage I, the 5-year survival was 98%. Patients with surgical stage I, grades 2 and 3 disease had 97 and 100% probabilities of surviving 5 years, respectively. Five-year disease-free probability was 96% for all patients with surgical stage I carcinoma, 97% for patients with grade 2 disease, and 94% for patients with grade 3 disease. Myometrial penetration influenced survival; no patient with less than 50% myometrial penetration died or suffered a relapse, while only 40% of patients with deeper penetration survived 5 years. Twenty-three percent of patients with surgically confirmed disease spread beyond the corpus survived 5 years; 29% remained disease-free at this interval. Ten of the 68 patients developed recurrences, none has had a known pelvic recurrence. Two major complications, one requiring surgery, were seen, both in patients receiving postoperative external beam irradiation. The rationale behind low-dose, preoperative external pelvic irradiation is described, and an approach to high-grade, FIGO stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium is outlined.
In vivo neutron activation analysis: State of the art and future prospects

From the inauspicious beginning arising in the aftermath of a reactor accident in 1957, in vivo analysis of body elements by neutron activation has become an important tool in medical research. In particular, it provides a much needed means to make quantitative assessments of body composition of human beings in vivo. The data are useful both for basic physiological understanding and for diagnosis and management of a variety of diseases and disorders. The paper traces the development of the in vivo neutron activation technique in the past quarter of a century from basic systems to the present state of the art facilities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the various systems. A scan of some of the numerous clinical applications that have been made of this technique reveals the broad potentialities of in vivo neutron activation. The paper also considers alternative routes of future development and raises some of the questions now faced in making the techniques more widely available to both medical practitioners and medical investigators.
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase activity of calcineurin in rat striatum: effect of kainic acid lesions.

Abstract Calcineurin, a Ca2+ and calmodulin (CM)-dependent phosphatase, has been shown to be present in high concentrations in the striatum. Using inhibitor-1(phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase) as a substrate, we found Ca2+/CM-dependent phosphalase (calcineurin) to be more than 2-fold higher than non-Ca2+/CM-dependent phosphatase in the rat striatum. In order to determine the cellular localization of calcineurin, striatal kainic acid injections were used to destroy neurons whose cell bodies are present at the site of injection. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity was measured as an indicator of destruction of striatal GABA-ergic neurons. After intrastriatal injection of 1 and 2 ug of kainic acid, there was a significant decrease of both calcineurin and GAD. However, injection of 0.5 ug kainic acid into the striatum reduced GAD activity by 81%, but had no effect on calcineurin phosphalase activity. Thus calcineurin does not appear to be equally distributed among all types of striatal neurons, but rather may be concentrated in neurons that are less sensitive to kainic acid than the GABA-ergic neuron.
Validation of a microfluidic platform to measure total therapeutic antibodies and incurred sample reanalysis performance.

Background: A microfluidic platform-based assay was validated to measure a humanized or fully human IgG in rat serum samples. Materials & methods: The cumulative assessment for accuracy and precision was performed with three accuracy and precision runs. Results: The inter-assay accuracy (mean %bias) ranged from −4.3 to 3.8%, and inter-batch %CV ranged from 5.0 to 9.2%. The method acceptance criterion was determined as 15% total error. The assay dynamic range was 50 to 10000 ng/ml. Incurred sample reanalysis passed with 95% of samples meeting incurred sample reanalysis acceptance criteria. Potential carryover effect was not observed. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the need for evaluating additional platform-specific processes when new technologies are employed to ensure the reproducibility of a successfully validated microfluidic platform method.
Exposure of ribonucleic acid at both ends of tobacco mosaic virus by extensive protein stripping

Abstract When protein is removed from tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) rods by controlled, linear degradation with heat and detergent, at first almost all the rods are stripped only from the 5′-linked end. As stripping proceeds, however, protein is removed from both ends of more than half of the rods. A sharp increase in percentage of rods with two ribonucleic acid (RNA) “tails” occurs after half of the protein has been removed from a preparation as determined by Folin analysis or mean rod lengths in electron micrographs (EM). This increase in two-ended stripping after half of the protein has been removed from the rod is evident also when individual length classes are assessed. RNA tails are clearly visible on TMV rods which have been partially stripped of protein and photographed under conditions reported below. Isolated particles in electron micrographs were assessed, and the distribution of 0, 1, and 2 RNA-tailed particles was noted after stripping treatments. An estimate of the amount of protein removed from each end can be made from measurements of the RNA tails. This is only an approximation, however, as the amount of extension of the exposed RNA chain varies considerably. There is a decrease in the extension with increase in stripping. RNA length measurements on exposed RNA attached to stripped rods showed that protein is removed from approximately 50 mμ of the rod length from the short-tailed end of those rods which are stripped from both ends.
Significance of mid-Mesozoic peridotitic to dioritic intrusive complexes, Klamath Mountains–western Sierra Nevada, California

A mid-Mesozoic plutonic suite ranging from ultramafic-gabbroic rocks to dioritic rocks and commonly intruded by younger granitoids is widespread in the Klamath Mountains–western Sierra Nevada, California. The ultramafic-gabbroic rocks are clinopyroxene-rich and commonly vary from wehrlite to olivine-hornblende clinopyroxenite and melagabbro. Associated dioritic rocks include biotite–two-pyroxene diorite–monzodiorite, and the granitic rocks typically range from tonalite to granodiorite. These plutonic complexes are coextensive and broadly coeval with a suite of weakly metamorphosed volcanic rocks ranging in composition from basalt to basaltic andesite to andesite. The volcanic rocks are chiefly volcaniclastic and are characterized by several distinct phenocryst assemblages: clinopyroxene + plagioclase (± olivine or hornblende). The plutonic complexes and the associated volcanic rocks are restricted to terranes that lack continental (sialic) crust and that, at least locally, contain juvenile ophiolitic crust generated adjacent to the locus of magmatism. Thus, their petrogenesis may be related to recurrent fracturing and magmatism within a rifted ensimatic arc.
Effect of inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis on growth and sexuality of Pythium and Zygorhynchus.

Seven commercial inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis were tested for their effect upon vegetative growth and sexuality in Pythium acanthicum and Zygorhynchus moelleri. Five compounds (SKF 525, Chlorpropamide, Tolbutamide, Benzmalacene, AY 9944) inhibited both growth and sexuality of both fungi and two (SKF 7732 and SKF 7997) were ineffective. Pythium was more sensitive to the activity of the inhibitors than was Zygorhynchus. None of the compounds tested inhibited sexuality without similarly reducing vegetative growth.
A Balanced Consistency Maintenance Protocol for Structured P2P Systems

A fundamental challenge of managing mutable data replication in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) system is how to efficiently maintain consistency under various sharing patterns with heterogeneous resource capabilities. This paper presents a framework for balanced consistency maintenance (BCoM) in structured P2P systems. Replica nodes of each object are organized into a tree for disseminating updates, and a sliding window update protocol is developed to bound the consistency. The effect of window size in response to dynamic network conditions, workload updates and resource limits is analyzed through a queueing model. This enables us to balance availability, performance and consistency strictness for various application requirements. On top of the dissemination tree, two enhancements are proposed: a fast recovery scheme to strengthen the robustness against node and link failures; and a node migration policy to remove and prevent the bottleneck for better system performance. Simulations are conducted using P2PSim to evaluate BCoM in comparison to SCOPE \cite{SCOPE}. The experimental results demonstrate that BCoM significantly improves the availability of SCOPE by lowering the discard rate from almost $100\%$ to $5\%$ with slight increase in latency.
Development of the mare regolith - Some model considerations

This investigation uses results obtained in an earlier Monte Carlo study by Oberbeck et al. (1973) to shed light on the consequences of mare-regolith origin by impact comminution of primarily local basaltic rocks by evaluating regolith growth and mixing as a function of time. The study demonstrates that regolith growth is self-regulated and has the same trend and nearly the same terminal growth rates whatever the history of bombardment: rapid initial accumulation followed by diminishing rates of growth. Mixing and all other processes investigated are growth regulated. Mixing increases as growth slows, but never to the extent that the regolith is homogenized. Because the average regolith is never homogenized, products of growth-regulated processes are preserved in the stratigraphy. This model indicates that deeper levels contain thinner depositional units, lesser quantities of meteoritic and exotic components, and more debris derived from shallow levels in the mare basalts than material in near-surface layers.