cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pricing-based decentralized rate allocation for multiple video streams

We consider rate allocation for multiple video users sharing a constant bitrate channel. Previously, overall quality of multiple users was improved by exploiting relative complexity. Users with high complexity video benefit at the expense of video quality reduction for other users with simpler videos. The quality of all users can be improved by collectively allocating the bitrate which requires sharing video information with a central controller. In this paper, we present an informationally decentralized rate allocation for multiple users where a user only needs to inform its demand to an allocator based on its video complexity and bitrate price. Simulation results show that all users improve their quality by our pricing-based decentralized rate allocation method compared to their allocation when acting individually and the results are comparable to the centralized rate allocation.
Photochemical covalent binding of urocanic acid to polynucleic acids.

Abstract Photolysis of E -[ring-2- 14 C]urocanic acid (UA) with native or denatured calf thymus DNA leads to covalent binding of the radiolabel to the nucleic acid. A similar observation is made upon photolysis of the labeled UA with the polyribonucleotides, in which case a strong preference is observed for binding to poly[U]. DNA or poly[U], which had been reacted with UA and purified by dialysis and multiple precipitations, releases UA upon further irradiation with 254 nm light (as expected for cyclobutane adducts). Quantum efficiencies for binding of the UA to native DNA have been measured at 308 and 266 nm and are 0.30 × 10 −5 and 1.3 × 10 −4 , respectively, at comparable reactant concentrations. The large increase at the shorter wavelength (where DNA absorption is more competitive) is taken as evidence for the primary role of a DNA excited state in initiating the binding reaction(s).
Venture capital and economic growth in the local markets

Entrepreneurship involves mobilising resources in pursuit of opportunities in the founding of new businesses. During the entrepreneurial process, resource acquisition, especially financial resources, are crucial for bringing innovative ideas into reality. As professional investors and important financial intermediary, venture capitalists are recognised for financing innovative entrepreneurial companies and providing a significant share of the total pool of risk capital for new firms with high growth potential. While there is a growing sense among academic researchers that the US economy especially benefits from a strong and prosperous venture capital industry, empirical evidence, however, of such benefits are still scant. This paper, therefore, provides empirical examination of the real effect of venture capital investments. It finds supportive and robust evidence of significant effect of such investments on US regional economic development.
A Forced March for Failing Schools: Lessons from the New York City Chancellor's District.

In the mid-nineties, the New York City Schools Chancellor created a citywide improvement zone to take over a significant proportion of the city’s lowest performing schools whose local community school districts had failed to improve them. This “Chancellor’s District” defined centralized management, rather than local control, as the critical variable necessary to initiate, enforce and ensure the implementation of school improvement. This large-scale intervention involved both a governance change and a set of capacity-building interventions presumably unavailable under local sub-district control. Our study retrospectively examined the origins, structure and components of the Chancellor’s District, and analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of the elementary schools mandated to receive these interventions. Our longitudinal analysis compared Chancellor’s District schools to New York City’s other state-identified low performing schools, based on a schoollevel panel of performance, demographic, human resource, and expenditure data
5 Toward an Archaeology of Secrecy: Power, Paradox, and the Great Gods of Samothrace

The mystery cult of the Great Gods of Samothrace offers productive material for theory building with respect to the archaeology of secrecy in ritual contexts. The social practice of secrecy builds political power and relies on communicative strategies that simultaneously conceal and reveal, employing culturally specific codes involving abstraction, ambiguity, metaphor, and allusion. Samothrace increased its secrecy as it grew in prestige: archaeological materialization of this secrecy includes euphemistic inscriptions and magnetized iron rings used as tokens of initiation. The rings use myth, philosophy, and ritual practice to communicate the initiate's status while emphasizing the rites’ resistance to disclosure.
Four Loci on Abnormal Chromosome 10 Contribute to Meiotic Drive in Maize

We provide a genetic analysis of the meiotic drive system on maize abnormal chromosome 10 (Ab10) that causes preferential segregation of specific chromosomal regions to the reproductive megaspore. The data indicate that at least four chromosomal regions contribute to meiotic drive, each providing distinct functions that can be differentiated from each other genetically and/or phenotypically. Previous reports established that meiotic drive requires neocentromere activity at specific tandem repeat arrays (knobs) and that two regions on Ab10 are involved in trans-activating neocentromeres. Here we confirm and extend data suggesting that only one of the neocentromere-activating regions is sufficient to move many knobs. We also confirm the localization of a locus/loci on Ab10, thought to be a prerequisite for meiotic drive, which promotes recombination in structural heterozygotes. In addition, we identified two new and independent functions required for meiotic drive. One was identified through the characterization of a deletion derivative of Ab10 [Df(L)] and another as a newly identified meiotic drive mutation (suppressor of meiotic drive 3). In the absence of either function, meiotic drive is abolished but neocentromere activity and the recombination effect typical of Ab10 are unaffected. These results demonstrate that neocentromere activity and increased recombination are not the only events required for meiotic drive.
Evidence-based analysis of the worldwide abuse of licit and illicit drugs.

In order to place the issues of drug abuse in a proper perspective and to allow rational, evidence-based decision-making, an analysis of the international data on the use of illicit drugs and the misuse of legally prescribed psychotropic drugs was undertaken. The data show that by far the most widely abused drug is cannabis, followed, according to region, by amphetamine-type stimulants or cocaine. While opiate abuse is far less widespread, it accounts for a disproportionately large proportion of medical and social problems. The illicit use of licit medicines is a very small, and declining, problem. The implications of these data for physicians, politicians, regulators and administrators are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Action Spectra for Ultraviolet Light-induced Transformation of Human Cells to Anchorage-independent Growth

We have determined action spectra for transformation of human embryonic skin and muscle fibroblasts to anchorage-independent growth. Tests under our experimental conditions indicate that reciprocity holds for photon rate and exposure time and that all the dose-effect curves in the wavelength range of 248 to 297 nm are smaller. These data can be used to construct action spectra with a maximum at about 265 nm, which do not implicate moieties other than nucleic acids as absorbers in the transformation process.
Mechanism of Ventricular Rate Control After Radiofrequency Modification of Atrioventricular Conduction in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background Modification of atrioventricular (AV) conduction during atrial fibrillation (AF) may be achieved by radiofrequency ablation in the posteroseptal region of the tricuspid annulus. We tested the hypothesis that elimination of the posterior atrionodal input rather than direct damage to the compact AV node accounts for the decrease in ventricular rate after AV nodal modification. Methods and Results Twenty-four patients with the typical form of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) underwent selective radiofrequency ablation of the slow AV nodal pathway in the posteroseptal tricuspid annulus. AF was induced before ablation (phase 1), 30 minutes after ablation (phase 2), and during follow-up 24 hours after ablation (phase 3), both with and without concurrent infusion of isoproterenol (4 μg/min). Successful elimination of AVNRT was achieved in all patients. During phase 3, 11 patients (46%) had residual dual pathway physiology. AV nodal Wenckebach cycle length (AVNW-CL) increased progressively during...
Selected physiologic variables are weakly to moderately associated with 29 biomarkers of diet and nutrition, NHANES 2003-2006

The physiologic status of an individual may influence biomarkers of nutritional status. To help researchers with planning studies and interpreting data, we assessed the associations between common physiologic variables (fasting, inflammation, renal function, and pregnancy) and 29 biomarkers of diet and nutrition measured in blood or urine in a representative sample of the adult U.S. population (aged ≥ 20 y; pregnancy variable and iron indicators limited to women aged 20-49 y) participating in NHANES 2003-2006. We compared simple linear regression (model 1) with multiple linear regression [model 2, controlling for age, sex, race-ethnicity, smoking, supplement use, and the physiologic factors (and urine creatinine for urine biomarkers)] and report significant findings from model 2. Not being fasted was positively associated with most water-soluble vitamins (WSVs) and related metabolites (RMs). Some WSV, fat-soluble vitamin (FSV) and micronutrient (MN), and phytoestrogen concentrations were lower in the presence of inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥ 5 mg/L), whereas fatty acids and most iron indicators were higher. Most WSVs and RMs were higher when renal function was impaired [estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/(min · 1.73 m(2))]. Most WSV, FSV and MN, and fatty acid concentrations were higher in pregnant compared with nonpregnant women, but vitamins A and B-12 and most iron indicators were lower. The estimated changes in biomarker concentrations with different physiologic status were mostly small to moderate (≤ 25%) and generally similar between models; renal function, however, showed several large differences for WSV and RM concentrations. This descriptive analysis of associations between physiologic variables and a large number of nutritional biomarkers showed that controlling for demographic variables, smoking, and supplement use generally did not change the interpretation of bivariate results. The analysis serves as a useful basis for more complex future research.
State-of-the-art microelectrodes for in vivo voltammetry

A comprehensive view of in vivo electrochemistry (voltammetry) is presented with a detailed evaluation of electrodes and waveforms. Special attention is given to specific kinds of electrode fabrication. The article is presented in an historical format to emphasize both the progression of the electrochemical technology and the inherent stability of the technique. Future prospects relevant to voltammetry are discussed, and 189 references are included.
An efficient code update scheme for DSP applications in mobile embedded systems

DSP processors usually provide dedicated address generation units (AGUs) to assist address computation. By carefully allocating variables in the memory, DSP compilers take advantage of AGUs and generate efficient code with compact size and improved performance. However, DSP applications running on mobile embedded systems often need to be updated after their initial releases. Studies showed that small changes at the source code level may significantly change the variable layout in the memory and thus the binary code, which causes large energy overheads to mobile embedded systems that patch through wireless or satellite communication, and often pecuniary burden to the users.In this paper, we propose an update-conscious code update scheme to effectively reduce patch size. It first performs incremental offset assignment based on a recent variable coalescing heuristic, and then summarizes the code difference using two types of update primitives. Our experimental results showed that using update-conscious code update can greatly improve code similarity and thus reduce the update script sizes.
Sublimation growth of aluminum nitride on silicon carbide substrate with aluminum nitride-silicon carbide alloy transition layer

The advantages of depositing AlN–SiC alloy transition layers on SiC substrates before the seeded growth of bulk AlN crystals were examined. The presence of AlN–SiC alloy layers helped to suppress the SiC decomposition by providing vapor sources of silicon and carbon. In addition, cracks in the final AlN crystals decreased from ≈5 × 106/mm2 for those grown directly on SiC substrates to less than 1 × 106/mm2 for those grown on AlN–SiC alloy layers because of the intermediate lattice constants and thermal expansion coefficient of AlN–SiC. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of pure single-crystalline AlN upon both AlN–SiC alloys and SiC substrates. X-ray topography (XRT) demonstrated that strains present in the AlN crystals decreased as the AlN grew thicker. However, the XRT for AlN crystals grown directly on SiC substrates was significantly distorted with a high overall defect density compared to those grown on AlN–SiC alloys.
Topic Control During Shared Storybook Reading: Mothers and Their Children with Language Impairments

This study reports descriptive findings concerning the discourse patterns of shared reading interactions between mothers and their children with a language impairment. Specifically, control of disc...
Relationship between fiber fineness, break draft, and drafting force in roller drafting

In this study, our objective is to investigate the role of fiber denier in a drafting process by measuring drafting force and sliver irregularity for different fiber fineness values and break draft...
Optimal observations for minimum variance filtering

Consider optimal filtering for a linear, discrete-time, dynamical system with scaler state x k and observation variance nk 1 at time t k . Then the error variance P(k|j) corresponding to the minimum-variance estimate of x k given the observations through t j , k \geq j , is a convex function of (n 1 . . .,n j ) on the nonnegative orthant of Ri.
Backstepping control of chemical tubular reactors

Abstract In this paper, a globally stabilizing boundary feedback control law for an arbitrarily fine discretization of a nonlinear PDE model of a chemical tubular reactor is presented. A model that assumes no radial velocity and concentration gradients in the reactor, the temperature gradient described by use of a proper value of the effective radial conductivity, a homogeneous reaction, the properties of the reaction mixture characterized by average values, the mechanism of axial mixing described by a single parameter model, and the kinetics of the first order is considered. Depending on the values of the nondimensional Peclet numbers, Damkohler number, the dimensionless adiabatic temperature rise, and the dimensionless activation energy, the coupled PDE equations for the temperature and concentration can have multiple equilibria that can be either stable or unstable. The objective is to stabilize an unstable steady state of the system using boundary control of temperature and concentration on the inlet side of the reactor. We discretize the original nonlinear PDE model in space using finite difference approximation and get a high order system of coupled nonlinear ODEs. Then, using backstepping design for parabolic PDEs we transform the original coupled system into two uncoupled target systems that are asymptotically stable in l2-norm with appropriate homogeneous boundary conditions. In the real system, the designed control laws would be implemented through small variations of the prescribed inlet temperature and prescribed inlet concentration. The control design is accompanied by a simulation study that shows the feedback control law designed with sensing only on a very coarse grid (using just a few measurements of the temperature and concentration fields) can successfully stabilize the actual system for a variety of different simulation settings (on a fine grid).
Epigenetic regulation of polyomavirus JC

Background: Polyomavirus JC (JCV) causes the CNS demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which occurs almost exclusively in people with immune deficiencies, such as HIV-1/AIDS patients. JCV infection is very common and usually occurs early in life. After primary infection, virus is controlled by the immune system but, rarely when immune function is impaired, it can re-emerge and multiply in the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brain and cause PML. Thus a central question in PML pathogenesis is the nature of the molecular mechanisms maintaining JCV in a latent state and then allowing reactivation. Methods: Since transcription can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, we investigated their role in JCV regulation by employing inhibitors of epigenetic events. Results: The histone deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate powerfully stimulated JCV early and late transcription while the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine had no effect. Analysis of JCV mutants showed that this effect was mediated by the KB element of the JCV control region, which binds transcription factors NF-κB p65, NFAT4 and C/EBPβ and mediates stimulation by TNF-α. Stimulation of transcription by p65 was additive with TSA as was cotransfection with transcriptional coactivators/acetyltransferase p300 whereas depletion of endogenous p65 by RNA interference inhibited the effect of TSA. EMSA with a KB oligonucleotide showed p65 expression, TNF-α stimulation or TSA treatment each caused a gel shift that was further shifted by antibody to p65. Conclusions: We conclude that JCV is regulated epigenetically by protein acetylation events and that these involve the NF-κB p65 binding site in the JCV control region.
Supervised Learning in Sensor Networks: New Approaches with Routing, Reliability Optimizations

Routing in sensor networks maintains information on neighbor states and potentially many other factors in order to make informed decisions. Challenges arise both in (a) performing accurate and adaptive information discovery and (b) processing/analyzing the gathered data to extract useful features and correlations. To address such challenges, this paper explores using supervised learning techniques to make informed decisions in the context of wireless sensor networks. In consideration of the unique characteristics of sensor networks, our approach consists of two phases: an offline learning phase and an online classification phase. We use two case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. In the first, we present MetricMap, a metric-based routing protocol that derives link quality using our classifiers when the traditional ETX-based approach fails. In the second, we present SHARP, an extension to the PSFQ protocol, which uses knowledge gathered in the training phase to control its caching policy for saving constrained storage space. Evaluation is performed on a 30-node real-world testbed and a multihop sensor network in our lab. Our results show that MetricMap can achieve up to 300% improvement in data delivery rate for a high data-rate application, without compromising other performance metrics; SHARP can reduce the memory footprint of PSFQ by 46.4% with a modest increase of 4.7% in fetch miss rate
Isotope source table for a 25 M⊙ supernova

Abstract— We present a table giving the yields of 103 isotopes in eight distinct zones in the ejecta from the explosion of a 25 M star. Each zone in the ejecta is distinct isotopically due to the evolution and explosion of the star. Thus the table not only gives the yields of isotopes in the different zones of the ejecta but also provides information about the chemical environments in which each isotope is injected into the interstellar medium. The table is a summary of the nuclear yields from a single numerical model of the explosion of a massive star. The yields from a real supernova will vary from those in this table because of uncertainties in the input physics to the numerical model and because the real star may differ in mass, mass-loss rate, or metallicity from the modeled star. We argue that these uncertainties and variations, for the most part, will not change the direction of the largest isotopic effects in the different zones of the ejecta. This means that the table is quite generally applicable as a guide to understanding the ejecta of supernovae and as a characterization of possible chemical environments in which isotopes are injected into the interstellar medium.
A study in vitro of components in the transmission cycle of swine influenza virus.

Swine lungworm extracts and suspensions of swine lungworms contain receptor-like substances capable of adsorbing influenza virus, a result consonant with the hypothesis (5–8) that the lungworm may be involved in the swine influenza cycle. Yet no evidence for multiplication of virus or even persistence of infectious virus in lungworms at undimished titer was found. Clearly much more information is needed, and it is hoped that the present demonstration of the practicality of studying the components of the transmission cycle proposed by Shope, will provide important tools requisite for further investigation of this problem. Studies on the role of the earthworm in the transmission of swine influenza suggest that, at best, that role would be a passive one.
LTL PRICING: LOOKING BACK TO THE FUTURE

Numerous LTL carriers struggled during the recent recession as customers demanded lower prices. This study is designed to qualitatively evaluate the data gathered from three industry segments regarding LTL pricing. Researchers used semi-structured interviews to conduct an in-depth investigation with over two dozen industry experts who represented shippers, carriers, and 3PLs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory coding technique. Five major themes emerged from the interview transcripts. These themes are used to describe possible future adjustments to industry pricing structure.
A selected bibliography: a beginner's guide to usability testing

Many people who are interested in learning about usability testing have trouble finding an entry point into the literature in the field. This briefly annotated bibliography addresses their needs by identifying recent, reasonably accessible articles and books organized in the following categories: general introduction to usability testing; usability testing of documentation (the process and general methods and tools); print documentation (discussions and examples of tests); and online documentation (discussions and examples of tests); the human-machine interface (the process, general methods and tools, and discussions and examples of tests); and textbooks on research design. >
Content and Attributions of Caregiver Racial Socialization as Predictors of African American Adolescents’ Private Racial Regard

The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of adolescents’ beliefs about socialization from caregivers (“attributions”) on the link between racial socialization and private regard. This research addresses the paucity of literature on adolescent attributions as a context for the relation between socialization and private regard. The independent roles of racial barrier, racial pride, and self-worth messages were examined. Adolescents’ attributions were defined as beliefs that race-based messages were coming from a parent-child relationship characterized by love, autonomy, and care. Moderation analyses on the sample of 88 African American and biracial youth (ages 11-14 years) revealed that for adolescents who placed more emphasis on a positive relationship quality as the purpose for receiving socialization, self-worth messages were associated with higher private regard. The findings support the importance of attending to adolescents’ attributions for socialization and the impact that ...
A combinatoric superposition method for constructing low density parity check codes

This paper presents a combinatoric method for constructing low density parity check (LDPC) codes. Two classes of LDPC codes are constructed and they perform well with iterative decoding. Codes in one class are quasicyclic which can be encoded in linear-time with simple shift-registers.
Brief of Amicus Curiae Complex Litigation Law Professors in Support of Respondents: Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, No. 14-1146

This brief addresses the first question presented in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, No. 14-1146, which concerns the use of statistical techniques in class actions. The brief informs the Supreme Court of the appropriate uses of statistics and other inferential proof in class actions. It also shows that statistical techniques can be used by courts while allowing a defendant to assert individual defenses. Courts can do so by utilizing bifurcation or similar trial practices.
Focal Radiation Therapy Dose Escalation Improves Overall Survival in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Induction Chemotherapy and Consolidative Chemoradiation

Purpose To review outcomes of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients treated with dose-escalated intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with curative intent. Methods and Materials A total of 200 patients with LAPC were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation between 2006 and 2014. Of these, 47 (24%) having tumors >1 cm from the luminal organs were selected for dose-escalated IMRT (biologically effective dose [BED] >70 Gy) using a simultaneous integrated boost technique, inspiration breath hold, and computed tomographic image guidance. Fractionation was optimized for coverage of gross tumor and luminal organ sparing. A 2- to 5-mm margin around the gross tumor volume was treated using a simultaneous integrated boost with a microscopic dose. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), local-regional and distant RFS, and time to local-regional and distant recurrence, calculated from start of chemoradiation, were the outcomes of interest. Results Median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (BED = 59.47 Gy) with a concurrent capecitabine-based (86%) regimen. Patients who received BED >70 Gy had a superior OS (17.8 vs 15.0 months, P =.03), which was preserved throughout the follow-up period, with estimated OS rates at 2 years of 36% versus 19% and at 3 years of 31% versus 9% along with improved local-regional RFS (10.2 vs 6.2 months, P =.05) as compared with those receiving BED ≤70 Gy. Degree of gross tumor volume coverage did not seem to affect outcomes. No additional toxicity was observed in the high-dose group. Higher dose (BED) was the only predictor of improved OS on multivariate analysis. Conclusion Radiation dose escalation during consolidative chemoradiation therapy after induction chemotherapy for LAPC patients improves OS and local-regional RFS.
Machine Perfusion and Innovations in Liver Transplant Preservation

The use of ex vivo machine preservation/perfusion (MP) remains investigational in clinical liver transplantation. MP is a platform that provides continuous circulation of nutrients and metabolic substrates and oxygen during the ex vivo period. Over the last few years, several groups worldwide have been actively translating MP into the clinical arena for liver transplantation. Groups are investigating ex vivo MP at various temperatures and with various perfusates and devices. There have been several promising preliminary clinical series of liver hypothermic MP (HMP) published over the last 5 years. Normothermic MP (NMP) is currently undergoing clinical investigation in Europe with promising clinical reports. There has been excellent clinical experience with HMP in small series including those recovered from extended criteria donors and donation after cardiac death donors. While some variability exists in technique, all clinical HMP series to date have reported improved outcomes with reductions in early allograft dysfunction, biliary complications, and reduced hospital length of stay. These benefits, together with the development of innovative portable MP devices and further adoption by more centers worldwide, have “broken the ice” for more widespread use of HMP and subsequent expanded elucidation of the benefits of MP in liver transplantation. Optimal temperatures and protocols are still a topic of debate.
Current Understanding of Drug Resistance Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancers

A subset of breast cancers is marked by overexpression of HER2 receptor and activated HER2-mediated signaling. Targeting HER2 offers a unique therapeutic approach for the treatment of such breast cancers. Trastuzumab, lapatinib, and, more recently, pertuzumab, have been approved by FDA to treat HER2 overexpressing breast cancers. Although the drugs effectively target HER2 leading to a favorable clinical response in patients initially, a majority of patients turn refractory to HER2 targeted drugs as early as within a year of administration. Trastuzumab, being the first HER2 targeted drug, has been investigated in detail in relation to acquired resistance, and emerging reports are evident for such drug resistance in lapatinib treated HER2 overexpressing breast cancers as well. This chapter takes a look at the progress of treatment options in HER2 overexpressing breast cancers with focus on mechanisms that are believed to be responsible for drug resistance. We also discuss the current strategies being investigated to overcome drug resistance.
Axillary artery compression as a complication of a shoulder dislocation.

Figure 1 Chest radiograph from the trauma bay is consistent with a shoulder dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. Previous reports have described axillary artery lacerations and pseudoaneurysms after anterior-inferior shoulder dislocations. An 86-year-old man with temporary upper extremity ischemia from axillary artery compression by the humeral head after an anterior-inferior glenohumeral dislocation was recently treated at our institution. This episode illustrates the value of having a high index of suspicion for arterial compromise in the context of an elderly patient presenting with this pattern of shoulder dislocation. Definitive treatment of axillary artery injuries ranges from simple shoulder reduction to open vascular graft placement. Decreasing the time to limb reperfusion reduces the risk of future disability and associated complications.
An agent-based simulation model of sponge: algae symbiotic relationships

One of the most important ecological interactions that occurs in shallow tropical habitats worldwide involves trophic (feeding) interactions between symbiotic dinoflagellate algae and a variety of invertebrate and protistan hosts, such as sponges and coral. The algal symbionts, known as Symbiodinium, reside within the host cells, and have long been recognized to be of vital energetic importance to the host. Unfortunately, the dynamics of the associations (e.g., symbiont population growth behavior, loss of symbionts from the host, competition among different symbiont types, host responses to symbionts of different quality) are poorly understood. This paper presents an agent-based simulation model for studying the symbiotic relationship between algal symbionts and host sponges. Initial results demonstrate realistic behavior by the model and suggest important future research directions, coordinating model extensions with experiments to be performed in tropical habitat field work.
“Acid” Phosphatase Activity of the Serum of Normal Human Subjects

ConclusionIn addition to “alkaline” phosphatase, blood serum contains minute amounts of one or more “acid” phosphatases of the type classified by Folley and Kay as phosphomonoesterase A2
How Dopants Can Enhance Charge Transport in Li2O2

The performance of high-capacity Li/O2 batteries is limited by the high overpotential associated with the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charging. These losses have been attributed to sluggish charge transport within the solid lithium peroxide (Li2O2) discharge phase. Recent experiments have shown that use of Co3O4-containing Li/O2 electrodes enhances rechargeability, but the mechanism responsible for this effect is unclear, as are the general prospects for the promotion of the Li/O2 OER. Here first-principles calculations are combined with continuum-scale transport theory to build a multiscale model which demonstrates that the incorporation of trace Co into Li2O2 is a plausible mechanism for OER promotion. These calculations suggest that doping at equilibrium levels (tens of ppm) can enhance charge transport by shifting the balance of Li-ion vacancies and hole polarons. This mechanism could rationalize the improved rechargeability observed in Li/O2 electrodes containing Co. On the basis of a comp...
Formation of Polymer Stabilized Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals using a Fluorinated Diacrylate

Ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) have shown great potential for use in electro-optic and display technology due to their inherently fast switching speeds and bistability. Recently, considerable research has been devoted to FLCs mechanically stabilized by a polymer network. The network is formed typically by in situ polymerization of a monomer dissolved in the FLC. Because of the inherent order in the FLC, the polymerization behavior may be significantly different than what might be expected in solution polymerizations. These deviations result largely from the segregation properties of the monomer in the liquid crystal. One class of monomers, namely fluorinated acrylates, is a likely candidate for inducing novel segregation, polymerization and electro-optic behavior in polymer stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (PSFLCs). The use of fluorinated moieties has a significant impact on the phase and polymerization behavior of liquid crystal systems. This study focuses on the polymerization of a fluorinated diacrylate, octafluoro 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (FHDDA), to form PSFLCs and the consequent impact of the polymerization on the ultimate performance. Interestingly, as the temperature is increased and the order of the system decreases, a dramatic increase in the polymerization rate is observed. This increase is especially prominent for polymerizations in the smectic C* phase for which the rate is more than five times that exhibited at much higher temperatures in the isotropic phase. As with other monomer/FLC systems, the segregation of the monomer plays a role in this polymerization behavior as the monomer segregates between the smectic layers of the liquid crystal. The segregation properties also significantly impact the ultimate electro-optic properties. Both ferroelectric polarization and response time of the PSFLC change markedly with different polymerization temperatures, and approach values very close to those of the neat FLC under appropriate polymerization conditions. This behavior not only provides a unique mechanism for rate acceleration in PSFLCs, but also paves the way for new methods to optimize performance in these materials.
Thermal Stability of Reflection Multilayers on p-AlGaN/GaN contact of deep-UV Light Emitting Diodes

Thermal stability of reflection layer (Ni/Au/Al/Ti/Au) on p-AlGaN/GaN of deep-UV flip chip LEDs has been studied. We observed that at 280 °C for 45 s, bonding temperature has no degradation effect on device forward voltage.
Evaluation on effect of health education about vaccination among parents of children in the community

[Objective]To evaluate the effect of health education about vaccination among parents of children in the community of Lubei District of Tangshan City. [Methods]241 parents whose child had received the vaccination in Community Health Service Center of Lubei District from March to August 2011 were randomly divided into control group and intervention group. The control group was given the routine education on vaccination day,and the intervention group received the health education through various ways. After one year,the awareness rate of vaccination knowledge,the satisfaction toward vaccination service,the qualified vaccination rate of Type Ⅰvaccines and the complete vaccination rate of five vaccines were compared between two groups.[Results]The awareness rate of the types of vaccines against infectious diseases,transmission routes of infectious diseases,vaccination contraindications,vaccination precautions,the adverse reactions and treatment among the parents in the intervention group was respectively80. 99%,63. 64%,64. 46%,71. 90% and 77. 69%,which were higher than those in the control group( 39. 17%,42. 50%,29. 17%,35. 83% and 32. 50%) significantly( all P 0. 01). The satisfaction rate of community vaccination service in the intervention group( 98. 35%) was higher than that in the control group( 90. 83%) significantly(χ2= 6. 67,P 0. 01). The qualified vaccination rate of Type Ⅰvaccines( 95. 86%-99. 17%) and the complete vaccination rate of five vaccines( 95. 04%) in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group. Except BCG,all differences between two groups were statistically significant( P 0. 01). [Conclusion]The community vaccination health education can improve the awareness rate of vaccination knowledge and the satisfaction toward vaccination service among parents,and enhance the qualified vaccination rate of TypeⅠvaccines and the complete vaccination rate of five vaccines among children.
TORn in Two Over Breast Cancer Drug Resistance.

Knowing the genetic makeup of patient tumors permits the development of new DNA-based diagnostics, such as BEAMing and PARE. By incorporating these new tools into future trials, we should be able to concurrently learn about drug resistance and significantly improve patient responses.
Culex pipiens and Aedes triseriatus Mosquito Susceptibility to Zika Virus

To the Editor: Zika virus, genus Flavivirus, has spread nearly uncontrolled since its introduction into the Western Hemisphere; autochthonous spread has occurred in >39 countries and territories, including several US territories. Transmission of Zika virus is usually by the bite of infected mosquitoes, and potential for emergence in areas with competent mosquito vectors is high (1). Future spread of Zika virus is unpredictable; however, eventual local spread in the United States is possible. As of July 13, 2016, a total of 1,306 travel-associated cases had been reported (ArboNET, https://www.cdc.gov/zika); substantial populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) mosquitoes exist in >16 states in the eastern, southeastern, and southwestern United States; and Ae. (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) mosquitoes inhabit >28 states and continued expansion throughout the northern United States is probable (2). Mosquitoes of these 2 species have demonstrated the ability to transmit Zika virus (1).
A phase II study of temozolomide in the treatment of adult patients with supratentorial low-grade glioma.

2022 Background: Optimal adjuvant management of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) remains controversial. Radiotherapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival compared to observation, but carries the potential for substantial late toxicity. In an effort to delay or obviate the need for radiation, there has been increasing interest in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in LGGs. However, there is a dearth of prospective studies with long-term follow-up evaluating the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy without radiation in patients with newly diagnosed LGGs. Methods: Patients over the age of 18 with histologically proven supratentorial LGG (WHO grade II) who underwent subtotal resection or biopsy were eligible for enrollment. Daily temozolomide (TMZ) was administered at 200 mg/m2 for 5 days, and repeated every 28 days for up to 12 cycles or until disease progression. Patients were assessed for radiographic response and progression with MRIs every two months during and after treatment. The primary outcome was ...
Far Infrared Imagery

Imaging experiments in the far infrared are described. Transmission data are presented for several common media. Far infrared pictures of metallic objects are presented. The practicality of a far infrared imaging system is discussed.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sales force behaviour and best practice pricing drive a product's return on investment

A causal model is proposed that defines the relationships between safes force behaviour and effectiveness, current pricing compared to a new way of setting pricing benchmarks, and a product's return on investment (ROI). The purpose of this paper is to investigate what drives consistent pricing decisions and financial performance, and introduce a new benchmarking metric. Sales agents and pricing executives for business-to-business (B2B) manufacturers in the durable goods industry were surveyed. A price adherence fraction (PAF) is defined that measures current pricing decisions against the best (i.e., highest logit probability out of ten pricing situations) pricing decision for that particular product-firm-market pricing situation. The structural equation model that tested if the actual survey data fit the hypothesised causal model was reasonably acceptable while a more parsimonious multiple regression model was statistically valid in all respects at predicting a product's return of investment.
A single-institution retrospective cohort study of first-line R-EPOCH chemoimmunotherapy for Richter syndrome demonstrating complex chronic lymphocytic leukaemia karyotype as an adverse prognostic factor.

Richter Syndrome, an aggressive lymphoma occurring in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), has a generally poor prognosis and anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapy regimens designed to treat de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieve modest clinical benefit. R-EPOCH (rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin) has demonstrated greater activity against aggressive B-cell histologies but has not been studied in Richter Syndrome. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 46 Richter Syndrome patients treated with first-line R-EPOCH at our institution between 1 January 2006 and 31 May 2014. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3·5 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 2·0-7·6] and median overall survival (OS) was 5·9 months (95% CI: 3·2-10·3). Toxicity was high and 30% of patients died without progression or response. Patients with a complex CLL karyotype had significantly shorter PFS and OS (P = 0·005 and P = 0·002, respectively). Multivariable analysis identified complex CLL karyotype as the most significant predictor of decreased survival [Hazard ratio (HR) 2·72, 95% CI: 1·14-6·52, P = 0·025], adjusting for number of prior CLL treatments (P = 0·036). Richter Syndrome patients with complex CLL karyotype experience poor survival with R-EPOCH treatment and novel approaches are needed for these patients. In contrast, survival of patients without a complex CLL karyotype was similar to patients with de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Race and Social Media

Discussing race and social media can be touchy business. “Usually, the only way people talk about race in their lives is when they’re feeling defensive about it,” points out W. Kamau Bell (in King, 2012). Or, we might add, when laughter is involved.
CELLULAR AND METABOLIC CONSEQUENCES OF CHRONIC ISCHEMIA ON KIDNEY FUNCTION

Approximately 15% of end-stage renal disease is attributable to chronic ischemic nephropathy from renovascular disease, representing significant patient morbidity and sizable medical costs. Although the pathophysiology of both ischemic acute renal failure and renovascular hypertension are under intense study, there have been little data obtained on the pathophysiology of chronic ischemic injury to the kidney. Data from studies of renovascular hypertension demonstrate the primary dependence of the stenotic kidney on angiotensin II in maintenance of glomerular filtration rate, although other vascular regulators, such as endothelium-derived nitric oxide and endothelin, may also play a role. Clues to the pathophysiology of cellular injury in chronic ischemic nephropathy can be found in acute models of ischemic injury to the tubules, toxic models of chronic decreased blood flow such as cyclosporine, and from recent pathological studies showing immunologic alterations. Because there are very little data on the cellular mechanisms of chronic ischemic injury to the kidney, this is an important area for laboratory investigation, particularly because the techniques developed both in studies of acute renal ischemia and chronic renovascular hypertension are readily available. Further understanding of the cellular mechanisms of chronic renal ischemia may eventually lead to medical interventions for patients with ischemic nephropathy too ill to undergo major abdominal surgery.
Privacy-Preserving Friends Troubleshooting Network.

Content sharing is a popular use of peer-to-peer systems because of their inherent scalability and low cost of maintenance. In this paper, we leverage this nature of peer-topeer systems to tackle a new problem: automatic misconfiguration troubleshooting. In this setting, machine configurations from peers are shared to diagnose misconfigurations on a sick machine. The key challenges are preserving privacy of individual configuration data and ensuring the integrity of peer contributions. To this end, we construct the Friends Troubleshooting Network (FTN), a peer-to-peer overlay network, where the links between peer machines reflect the friendship of their owners. Our FTN manifests recursive trust rather than transitive trust. To achieve privacy, we use the general scheme of a historyless and futureless random-walk for routing, during which search is carried out simultaneously with secure parameter aggregation for the purpose of troubleshooting. Our design has been guided by the characteristics of a real-world friends network, the MSN Instant Messenger (IM) network. We have prototyped our FTN system and analyzed the tradeoff between privacy and protocol efficiency.
SYMMETRIC BINOMIAL GROUP-TESTING WITH THREE OUTCOMES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes symmetric binomial group-testing with three outcomes. It presents the classification procedure RS for N < ∞ and a procedure RS∞ for N (countably) infinite. It illustrates the concept of procedure RS by a simple numerical example. The chapter also highlights a few of the properties of RS. It discusses upper bounds for the expected number of tests under the optimal procedure. One application of the formulation discussed is to test electrical devices such as conductors. These conductors are connected both in parallel and in series, and the results for these two arrangements are obtained separately by throwing a switch. If current is obtained for the series configuration, then all are good. If there is no current for the parallel configuration, then all are defective. In the one remaining case (no current for the series configuration and current for the parallel configuration), there is at least one good unit and at least one defective unit.
Merrill’s Algorithm

We will call the algorithms we have developed so far first-generation algorithms. They all suffer from computational inefficiency, caused by the following two features: (i) we must choose a particular grid size with which to work throughout the algorithm; and (ii) we must start outside the region of interest.