cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model-based segmentation of the brain from 3D MRI using active surfaces

Traditional, bottom-up segmentation approaches have proven inadequate when faced with the anatomical complexity and variability exhibited by biological structures such as the brain. A 3- D extension to the 'snakes' algorithm has been implemented and used to segment the skin and brain surfaces from MRI image volumes of the head in an effort to investigate model-based, top-down segmentation strategies. These active surfaces allow closed surfaces of complex objects to be recovered using a prior knowledge in the form of initial conditions and applied external 'forces'. Preliminary results suggest that active surfaces may be initialized according to a preconceived model and adaptively deformed by image data to recover the desired object surface.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Predictors of alternative antidepressant agent initiation among U. S. veterans diagnosed with depression.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES Naturalistic studies comparing differences in risks across antidepressant agents must take into account factors which influence selection of specific agents and may be associated with outcomes. We examined predictors of antidepressant choice among VA patients treated for depression. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of VA patients with depression diagnoses and a new start of one of the seven most commonly prescribed antidepressant agents between 1 April 1999 and 30 September 2004 (n ¼ 502 179). We examined the relationship between patient and facility characteristics and new starts of bupropion, citalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. We also examined factors associated with new starts only among patients starting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). RESULTS Thirty-three percent of patients starting mirtazapine had at least three outpatient mental health visits in the prior year, compared to � 24% of patients prescribed other antidepressants. Patients starting mirtazapine were also most likely to have received at least two other psychotropic medications in the prior year. Of the four SSRIs, 40% of the patients receiving sertraline and only 31% of those receiving fluoxetine were 65 years or older. A comorbid anxiety disorder (other than post-traumatic stress disorder) was diagnosed in 21% of paroxetine patients compared with � 15% of other SSRI patients. CONCLUSION Choice of antidepressant medication for depressed VA patients was associated with important differences in demographic and clinical variables, including psychiatric illness severity, older age, and likelihood of a comorbid anxiety disorder. These findings emphasize the importance of controlling for selection bias when using observational data to compare risks from or effect of mental health treatments. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The significant structure theory applied to halobenzenes

Abstract Just as molecular structure, as revealed by X-ray diffraction, can be interpreted in terms of intuitive models, so liquid structure can be interpreted in terms of a model which leads to a partition function giving the Helmholtz free energy in terms of volume, temperature, and composition. From this explicit expression for the Helmholtz free energy all thermodynamic properties are calculable and can be compared with experiment. Absolute Rate Theory permits the prediction of transport properties from this same model, providing still further insight into liquid structure. Here, Significant Liquid Structure Theory has been applied to twelve substituted benzenes and the results compared with experiment. A single equation is derived for the twelve substances differing in ten of the cases only in three parameters having to do with the solid-like part of the liquid. For simple liquids these properties are those of the solid at the melting point. These properties are the energy of sublimation, molar volum...
A Comparative Evaluation of Adaptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with Autism, Down Syndrome, and Normal Development.

The adaptive behaviors of 20 autistic, 20 Down syndrome, and 20 developmentally normal children were compared using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale. Unlike previous studies, we included a comparison group of very young normally developing children and matched subjects on overall adaptive behavior as well as several pertinent demographic characteristics. Findings revealed that, relative to children with Down syndrome or normal development, autistic children displayed significant and pervasive deficits in the acquisition of adaptive social skills, and greater variability in adaptive skills. These findings underscore the need to longitudinally assess the development of socialization in autistic children and further highlight the utility of the Vineland in operationally defining the nature of social dysfunction in autistic children.
Generalized graduated nonconvexity algorithm for maximum a posteriori image estimation

An energy function for maximum a posteriori (MAP) image estimation is presented. The energy function is highly nonconvex, and finding the global minimum is a nontrival problem. When constraints on the interactions between line processes are removed, the deterministic, graduated nonconvexity (GNC) algorithm has been shown to find close to optimum solutions. The GNC model is generalized. Any number of constraints on the line processes can be added as a result of using the adiabatic approximation. The resulting algorithm is a combination of the conjugate gradient (CG) and the iterated conditional modes (ICM) algorithms and is completely deterministic. Since the GNC algorithm can be obtained as a special case of this approach, the algorithm is called the generalized GNC or G/sup 2/NC algorithm. It is executed on two aerial images. Results are presented along with comparisons to the GNC algorithm. >
Recovery of Anastomosis Groups of Rhizoctonia solani from Different Latitudinal Positions and Influence of Temperatures on Their Growth and Survival

Multinucleate Rhizoctonia solani isolates were recovered from soybean fields from five locations at a range of latitudes from 33 to 46°N. Out of 143 multinucleate isolates recovered, 51 isolates were anastomosis group (AG)-1 (35.6%), 9 were AG-2-2 (6.2%), 40 were AG-4 (28%), and 15 were AG-5 (10.6%). The remaining 28 isolates (19.6%) failed to anastomose with any of the testers (AG-1, 2-2, 4, or 5). Among the four AGs, AG-1 was found mainly in the more southern latitudes in contrast to AG-2-2, which was found mostly in the more northern latitudes. AG-4 and AG-5 were distributed across all latitudes. Effects of temperature on growth, sclerotia production (range from 5 to 30°C with 5° increments), and saprophytic survival using infested straw (range from -10 to 30°C with 10° increments) were studied with representative isolates from AG-1, AG-2-2, AG-4, and AG-5 isolated from different locations. Results indicate differential effects of temperature on growth rate and sclerotia production among the isolates within each AG. Optimum temperature for growth rate of all isolates tested from the different AGs was between 25 and 30°C; whereas, for sclerotia production, it was 25°C. Isolates from AG-1 had the highest mean sclerotia production. Saprophytic survival of isolates from all AGs tested declined linearly over time and with decrease in temperature in the survival study. Saprophytic survival of all isolates irrespective of AG collected from the southernmost location was lower at low temperatures than that of isolates collected from higher latitudes. Our results suggest temperature dependent response among isolates within different AGs of R. solani.
Enhanced spectrum sensing techniques for dynamic spectrum access cognitive radio networks

Spectrum access protocols permit secondary users to utilize frequency bands when the bands are not in use by the primary owners. To determine if a frequency band is in use, spectrum sensing techniques (e.g., energy detection, feature detection) are employed by the secondary radios. Such techniques require that the secondary radios cease transmitting in the band during spectrum sensing periods. We propose a technique whereby cognitive radios that are secondary users of a frequency band can monitor the band for the emergence of primary signals while communicating. This enhancement permits more efficient use of spectrum by the secondary network, which results in increased channel utilization.
Am I losing it

Complaints of memory loss are frequent as one ages. Individuals worry about the presence of Alzheimer’s disease, but the presence of other intact intellectual abilities is reassuring to these people. We do not know the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. There are now 5.4 million confirmed cases in the United States. We know that the disease is an age-related, non-reversible brain disorder that develops over many years. Investigation is helped with the use of structural imaging (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography). Functional imaging is also valuable. Therapy for the problem involves various drugs; these help but do not cure the difficulty.
A Critical Practice Analysis of Response to Intervention Appropriation in an Urban School

This qualitative case study focuses on factors mediating an urban school’s enactment of Response to Intervention (RTI). Over one school year, we (a) observed weekly RTI meetings, (b) debriefed observations weekly, (c) interviewed RTI team members, and (d) examined procedural documents. Analyses included post-observation debriefing and coding fieldnotes and interview transcripts; categorical meaning and themes were coded recursively. Informed by critical policy studies research and theory, findings indicated limited supports and minimal technical understandings of RTI. Educators appeared to replicate pre-RTI special education eligibility determination processes, manifested in scripts about student diagnoses based on minimal “interventions” and deficit-laden representations of students/families. Findings highlight challenges with urban schools’ RTI enactment and justify future critical qualitative research regarding learning in schools shifting practice under policy directives. Although the study focuses on...
Twilight Irradiance Reflected by the Earth Estimated from Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Measurements

Abstract The upward shortwave irradiance at the top of the atmosphere when the solar zenith angle is greater than 90° (twilight irradiance) is estimated from radiance measurements by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. The irradiance decreases with solar zenith angle from 7.5 W m−2 at 90.5° to 0.6 W m−2 at 95.5°. The global and daily average twilight irradiance is 0.2 W m−2, which is three orders of magnitude smaller than the daily and global average reflected irradiance at the top of the atmosphere. Therefore, the twilight irradiance can be neglected in global radiation budget estimate. The daily average twilight irradiance, however, can be more than 1 W m−2 at polar regions during seasons when the sun stays just below the horizon for a long period of time.
Federated queries of clinical data repositories

Display Omitted Small regional federated data networks are used today for clinical research.National data networks with 100+ hospitals are being built.A conceptual framework was developed for evaluating networks of different sizes.A real four site network was compared to an imagined 4000 site network.Large networks have limitations but can take advantage of their heterogeneity. Federated networks of clinical research data repositories are rapidly growing in size from a handful of sites to true national networks with more than 100 hospitals. This study creates a conceptual framework for predicting how various properties of these systems will scale as they continue to expand. Starting with actual data from Harvard's four-site Shared Health Research Information Network (SHRINE), the framework is used to imagine a future 4000 site network, representing the majority of hospitals in the United States. From this it becomes clear that several common assumptions of small networks fail to scale to a national level, such as all sites being online at all times or containing data from the same date range. On the other hand, a large network enables researchers to select subsets of sites that are most appropriate for particular research questions. Developers of federated clinical data networks should be aware of how the properties of these networks change at different scales and design their software accordingly.
Breast Cancer Cell Lines Exhibit Differential Sensitivities to Microtubule-targeting Drugs Independent of Doubling Time.

Background: Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are a mainstay in breast cancer treatment, yet patient responses differ. The underlying mechanisms of these differences are unknown. While MTAs are mitotic inhibitors, recent evidence highlights that non-mitotic effects of these drugs can contribute to their anticancer effects. It is critical to identify the non-mitotic mechanisms that could contribute to differences among MTAs. However, it is not clear whether rapidly dividing cells in culture are optimal tools to address these mechanistic questions in interphase cells. Materials and Methods: Detailed concentration response curves for five MTAs in a panel of diverse breast cancer cell lines were generated. Results: Substantial differences among both drugs and cell lines, consistent with the clinical scenario, were observed. Importantly, these differences do not correlate with cell doubling time. Conclusion: The interphase actions of MTAs are critical to the full spectrum of their effects in cancer cells, even in cell culture models. * These authors contributed equally to this study.
Effect of ventricular injections of ribonuclease on learned discrimination and avoidance tasks in the rat.

Behavioral studies relating ribonucleic acid (RNA) to performance dependent on memory have involved humans and lower animals. It has been reasoned that introduction of ribonuclease, an enzyme which breaks down RNA, would modify this RNA structure and the long-term memory which it stores. However, evidence is contradictory regarding its effect on intact tissue and regenerating tissue. Corning and John (1961) from their work on transected conditioned planarians reported that only the regenerating tissue appeared to be affected by the ribonuclease. This contrasts with unpublished observations by E. R. John, B. Wenzel, and R. Tschirigi (personal communication, 1963; cf. Corning & John, 1961) of a decrease in performance on pattern discrimination for food but no decrease in the conditioned avoidance response to visual or auditory cues when a ribonuclease solution had been injected into the lateral ventricle of cats. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of such lateral ventricle injections of ribonuclease on avoidance and/or discrimination tasks in the rat. In an effort to replicate the study of John, er al. using rats, parallel procedures were designed. Eight rats were trained to discriminate visual patterns and obtain food by pushing open a door in the pattern and to avoid shock upon the presentation of visual and auditory stimuli. Cannulas were then permanently implanted into the lateral ventricles of the brain and injections of the ribonuclease solution introduced through the cannulas. Analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in number of correct discriminations, number of avoidance failures, or avoidance latencies following ribonuclease injections. The fact that a high concentration of ribonuclease in combination with a volume of solution which approached the maximum for one injection, led to no significant decreases in either a learned pattern discrimination task or avoidance task suggests that such single injections of ribonuclease into the ventricular system do not cause losses in retention in rats within a short time span. Thus, our results do nor replicate those of John, et al., in which the effect was noted within a shorr rime after the injection, precluding the assumption that the ribonuclease interfered only with transmission to newly formed brain tissue. Our results with rats constitute negative evidence for such modification of RNA within intact tissue.
On Fitting Gamma Distrubution to Synthetic Runoff Hydrographs

Twelve methods of fitting the two-parameter gamma distribution to unit hydrographs are evaluated using experimental data. Five of them are the methods of moments (MOM), cumulants (MOC), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), least squares (MOLS), and principle of maximum entropy (POME). The remaining seven are based on specification of different point and planar boundary conditions. It is found that of the later seven methods, only one is satisfactory; the other six are inaccurate and should be abandoned for purposes of achieving a mathematical fit. The first five methods are reliable, easier and efficient, and should be preferred.
Research of NURBS Real-time Direct Interpolation Based on STEP-NC

In order to solve the problems of feed speed fluctuation in the process of NURBS curve real-time direct interpolation in the STEP-NC CNC system,on the basis of in-depth analysis of the interpolation principle and feed speed fluctuations,a adaptive interpolation algorithm was proposed. First using second-order Taylor expansion to calculate the initial value of interpolation point coordinates,then use the constructed correction formula for correction for the initial value. The fixed number was corrected adaptively according to the needs of interpolation cycle and the interpolation precision,in meet the requirements of the real time interpolation,significantly improve the interpolation precision. The simulation results show that the method effectively reduces the interpolation feed speed fluctuation problem.
Could Britain Respond Strategically To Russian Aggression

Christopher Coker establishes the essential challenge for anyone peering into the future when he poses the question; “what future are we interested in?”1 In that context Britain’s ability to act strategically requires a state to possess a whole series of imponderables all of which are context dependent; sufficient capability, influence, political will, and strategic know-how to influence the choices of other great powers in line with their national interests. On 9 February, 1936, the Oxford Union passed a motion that stated; “This House will in no circumstances fight for its king and country”. Given that several of those who voted for the motion went on to hold high office in British governments the vote came as a shock to many given the Nazi aggression of the time. A casual observer of contemporary Britain might think that similar currents of pacifism and appeasement are afoot in a country that seems to have lost not just its strategic bearing, but in many ways its will to compete. Rather, Britain seems lost in a sea of politically-correct, health and safety irresolution in which to many, all the faults of the world are somehow Britain’s fault.
Bonding in Simple AX n Molecules

The molecular orbital treatments of diatomic molecules (Section 6.1) and molecular geometry (Section 6.2) are brief reviews of essentials assumed as background. These review sections are not intended as introductions to the topics. For that purpose, consult a basic inorganic text. Molecular orbital theory is applied, after the review, to simple molecules for which adequate valence bond or electron dot structures can be drawn.
Electrical conductivity of anisotropic poly (paraphenylene-benzobisthiazole)

Since the quantitative characterization of nonohmic behavior of the polymer would aid in understanding the conduction mechanism we made a series of measurements at different voltages (7). For a fiber (PPBT 28555-19-2) with an effective length of 200 µm, the axial current was quite linear up to 0.12 MV/m (the highest field available on this sample because of a design feature of the Keithley 642 electrometer which limits the maximum voltage that can be used). In future experiments still higher fields will be tried.
An FPGA-based portable real-time obstacle detection and notification system

There are abundant accounts of research relating to obstacle detection using vision sensors. Finding a solution that is low-power, easily portable, low-cost, and still effective is a challenge. Overcoming this challenge will help millions whether it is through improving assistive technology for the visually impaired, autonomous robot navigation, or another application. This paper presents the design and implementation of such a system. The architecture consists of an array of ultrasonic sensors to survey the scene, FPGA chip for data processing, and, in this scenario, vibration motors to indicate the obstacle direction. The system will be attached to a belt that can be used by a user. The FPGA is used to process the data coming from the ultrasonic sensors to detect the surrounding obstacles' distances. Accordingly, the FPGA will send the signal to the corresponding vibration motors to indicate the direction of the nearby obstacles. The experimental results validate the proposed system.
Comparative Burden of Subclinical Tremor in a Cohort of Normal Individuals Stratified by Familial Risk for Essential Tremor.

BACKGROUND The burden of mild (i.e., subclinical) tremor within essential tremor (ET) families is not fully understood. We assessed the burden of mild tremor in a cohort of 287 adults, none of whom reported tremor or were diagnosed with ET. METHODS We recruited adults in 2 groups based on the familial risk for ET: 244 high-risk individuals (i.e., reporting one or more first-degree relative with ET) and 43 low-risk individuals (i.e., reporting no relatives with ET). Tremor was objectively assessed on 4 hand-drawn spirals (total spiral score = 0-12). Mild tremor was defined using 3 different cut points. RESULTS The prevalence rates of mild tremor among high-risk individuals ranged from 41.4 to 98.4% and were highly dependent on the cut point. Above a certain threshold (i.e., a total spiral score ≥5), 1-in-5 (i.e., 19.7%) high-risk individuals exhibited mild tremor, whereas no low-risk individuals did. High-risk individuals were 3.09-4.50 times more likely than low-risk individuals to exhibit mild tremor. CONCLUSION The burden of ET extends beyond the boundaries of the clinically defined disease, and partially expressed forms of ET are abundant in ET families. This fact greatly complicates gene-finding studies and epidemiological studies whose goal is to detect disease-linked associations.
The Impact of Molecular Interactions on Atmospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing

Abstract We review the chemical physics of nucleation and its connection to atmospheric aerosol radiative forcing. The scientific community has demanded a comprehensive investigation of aerosol radiative forcing of climate. Particular emphasis has been placed on gaining the fundamental knowledge necessary to accurately predict aerosol formation and growth and their subsequent radiative affects on climate. The chemical physics of the molecular clusters underlying nucleation will be outlined and future developments towards modeling multi-component nucleation in the atmosphere discussed.
Learned and cued distractor rejection for multiple features in visual search

Ignoring distracting information is critical for effective visual search. When individuals are cued to ignore a stimulus, they first attend the to-be-ignored stimulus before learning to reject it. Individuals can learn to overcome the initial distraction produced by the explicit cues, although this cued distractor rejection appears for only one distractor feature. Multiple distractor colors cannot be rejected effectively, even with extensive experience. We asked if this apparent limit on distractor rejection was caused by a restriction on the number of different features (i.e., colors) that could be learned and rejected as distractors. To explore this potential capacity limitation, we asked if attention can learn to reject the smallest possible number of multiple distractors, namely, two. In four experiments examining cued distractor rejection, individuals searched through heterogeneously colored arrays containing reliable, non-target color information. In Experiments 1 and 2, we explicitly cued individuals with which of two colors (both colors in Experiment 1 or one color in Experiment 2) could be safely ignored. Cued distractors were not reliably rejected, replicating previous findings. Additionally, in Experiment 2, we presented a to-be-ignored color without explicit cues and we found that these “uncued” distractors were reliably rejected. In Experiments 3 and 4, we presented the to-be-ignored color information without explicit cues; individuals learned to reliably ignore multiple distractor colors without explicit cueing. These results suggest that learned distractor rejection is better suited to experience-driven learning than explicitly cued distractor learning: Explicit cueing reliably interferes with learned distractor rejection.
Investigation of the limits of the Lens Maker’s formula using an experimentally verified mathematical model to determine the focal point of a convex lens for arbitrary angle of incidence

Abstract While several studies have presented experimental research and simulations in tracking the focal point, a closed form mathematical model to understand the movement of the focal point of a convex lens when light is incident at an arbitrary angle is missing. Such closed form mathematical solutions allow significantly faster computation than numerical simulations. In addition, they provide significant physical insights that cannot be obtained from simulations or experiments. This work presents a closed form mathematical solution based on analytic geometry for calculating the position of the focal point of a convex lens at an arbitrary lens orientation and arbitrary angle of incidence. Results obtained from this method are verified using Lens Maker’s formula for thin lenses. The theoretical model presented here also agrees well with the experimental results. The verified method is then used to determine the criteria for the validity of thin lens approximation. As a consequence, the paper presents an explicit requirement on the radius of curvature of the lens in terms of its length, refractive index and four dimensionless constants for thin lens approximation to be applicable.
Experiences With Chiropractic Care for Patients With Low Back or Neck Pain.

Background:Musculoskeletal disorders are the second leading cause of disability worldwide.Objective:Examine experiences of chiropractic patients in the United States with chronic low back or neck p...
13. EVALUATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEAMWORK, ORGANIZATION, CULTURE AND BURNOUT AMONG RESIDENTS

Rationale Little research has explored in depth the relationship between organizational, individual, and program factors contributing to burnout, and the resident perspective on how best to address burnout. Objective The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was administered to residents and focus groups were conducted to explore how organizational, individual and program factors affect burnout in a medium sized, urban, academic pediatric residency program. Methods A constant comparison analysis was used to derive themes from focus groups until achieving thematic saturation. Residents completed the MBI following a department wide saturation in training model of the Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety program. Burnout was defined as a high subscale score for the burnout domain (>27) and/or the depersonalization domain (>10) on the MBI. Results 3 focus groups of 10 total residents were conducted and 31 residents completed the MBI. 4 themes were identified from the focus groups. First, at a program level, offering an individualized approach to wellness is important. Second, ensuring residents feel appreciated prevents feelings of lack of personal achievement. Third, from an organization perspective, teamwork training boosts interdepartmental relationships, but may not provide adequate reinforcement and should be supported by frequent debriefings to promote positive team culture. Lastly, getting residents back to the bedside and reducing documentation burden is key. Quantitative data supported qualitative findings, with 61% of residents meeting criteria for burnout. Conclusions A multifactorial approach to addressing burnout in pediatric residents requires the development of organizational infrastructure and program level interventions to support residents. It is essential to create a culture that ensures residents can prioritize clinical education, develops effective communication and reflective skills through team training and debriefing, and gets residents back to the bedside. Program interventions should give residents autonomy around wellness and educational activities.
A computationally efficient method for selecting a split questionnaire design

Split questionnaire design (SQD) is a relatively new survey tool to reduce response burden and increase quality of responses. Among a set of possible SQD choices, a design is considered the best if...
Examining posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of treatment response to dialectical behavior therapy.

Objective This study examined the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a predictor of treatment response to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) across the primary outcomes of interest within DBT (i.e., borderline personality disorder [BPD] symptoms, deliberate self-harm, emotion regulation [ER] difficulties) and PTSD symptoms. Method Participants (N = 56) were consecutive admissions to an outpatient DBT clinic that completed diagnostic interviews at intake and self-report outcome measures at intake and every 3 months throughout the treatment. Results Patients with (vs. without) a PTSD diagnosis did not report greater clinical severity at intake on most outcome measures, with the exception of PTSD symptom severity and, among older patients only, ER difficulties. The presence of a PTSD diagnosis was not associated with poorer treatment response to DBT. Instead, PTSD was associated with better response on the measure of BPD symptom severity. Conclusions The results suggest that patients with PTSD can benefit from DBT.
Exploring Influences of Policy Collisions on Transfer Student Access: Perspectives From Street-Level Bureaucrats:

States and institutions increasingly rely on articulation agreements to streamline vertical transfer, although the effectiveness of those policies on transfer student outcomes remains unclear. To b...
Sensory Circumventricular Organs, Neuroendocrine Control, and Metabolic Regulation.

The central nervous system is critical in metabolic regulation, and accumulating evidence points to a distributed network of brain regions involved in energy homeostasis. This is accomplished, in part, by integrating peripheral and central metabolic information and subsequently modulating neuroendocrine outputs through the paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. However, these hypothalamic nuclei are generally protected by a blood-brain-barrier limiting their ability to directly sense circulating metabolic signals—pointing to possible involvement of upstream brain nuclei. In this regard, sensory circumventricular organs (CVOs), brain sites traditionally recognized in thirst/fluid and cardiovascular regulation, are emerging as potential sites through which circulating metabolic substances influence neuroendocrine control. The sensory CVOs, including the subfornical organ, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, and area postrema, are located outside the blood-brain-barrier, possess cellular machinery to sense the metabolic interior milieu, and establish complex neural networks to hypothalamic neuroendocrine nuclei. Here, evidence for a potential role of sensory CVO-hypothalamic neuroendocrine networks in energy homeostasis is presented.
A reduced-input cohesive zone model with regularized extended finite element method for fatigue analysis of laminated composites in Abaqus

Abstract A cohesive zone model (CZM) for fatigue crack propagation was integrated within the Regularized eXtended Finite Element Method (Rx-FEM) discrete damage modeling framework. This CZM constitutive model, which is formulated in terms of S-N stress-life curves rather than the more usual rates of crack propagation described with a Paris law, can predict both crack initiation and propagation by relying on the intrinsic relationships between S-N and the Paris law. This feature of the model is of significant practical interest since S-N curves can be synthesized with few parameters and simple engineering assumptions, while the experimental characterization of the Paris law parameters for all required stress ratios, mode mixities , and material interfaces in a composite structure is very difficult and often impractical. Used in combination with the Rx-FEM method, this CZM can predict mesh-independent crack networks in composite structures subjected to cyclic or quasi-static loads. The Rx-FEM methodology for fatigue damage was implemented in Abaqus using two superimposed sets of standard Abaqus elements to represent the enriched displacement field. The capabilities of the proposed methodology are demonstrated by comparing the experimental and predicted response of a mixed-mode bending (MMB) test, as well as a Clamped Tapered Beam (CTB) sub-element designed to study matrix crack initiation, delamination propagation, and subsequent delamination migration from one ply interface to another.
Are white-collar prisoners special? Prison adaptation and the special sensitivity hypothesis

Abstract Objectives: This study examines the behaviors of people convicted of white-collar offenses to determine if white-collar prisoners are truly distinct from those who were found guilty of other types of offenses. Method: Using data from a large Midwestern state we identified 1867 prisoners convicted of white-collar offenses and compared them to 55,756 prisoners who were not convicted of white-collar offenses. Binary logistic regression models were used to control for the effects of potential confounders. The likelihood of being found guilty of various types of misconduct and forms of recidivism were calculated. Results: White-collar prisoners were found to have significantly different characteristics than other types of prisoners, but the multivariate models found that they were not significantly different in terms of their likelihood of being found guilty of most types of misconduct (i.e., resistance to orders, property misconduct, drug-related misconduct, or other misconduct). White-collar prisoners were not more or less likely to return to prison for any reason. The only significant distinction between white-collar prisoners and other types of prisoners was their reduced likelihood of being found guilty of violent misconduct.
On Mitigating Channel Time Variation Effect in Acoustic OFDM Systems

OFDM systems are challenged by the time variability of mobile acoustic channels where the Doppler effect can be high enough that the received signal experiences non-negligible residual frequency offset, as well as channel time variability, which cause intercarrier interference (ICI). To mitigate these effects, we introduce an efficient yet computationally manageable two-stage algorithm that counteracts the frequency offset as well as the time selectivity of mobile acoustic channels. In the first stage, frequency offset is compensated using a practical approach based on differentially coherent detection which keeps the receiver complexity at a minimum and requires only a small pilot overhead. In the second stage, a method referred to as partial FFT demodulation is used to tone down the time variability of the broadband acoustic channel. Towards this goal, the time interval of one OFDM block is divided into several partial intervals, giving the channel less chance to change over each shorter interval, and demodulation is performed in each interval separately. The partial demodulator outputs are then combined before applying a coherent detection algorithm where refined channel estimation and data detection take place. Using the experimental data transmitted over a 3–7 km shallow water channel in the 10.515.5 kHz acoustic band, we study the receiver performance in terms of data detection mean squared error (MSE), and show that the proposed algorithm provides excellent performance, surpassing all our previously tested approaches.
Disjunctive cuts for cross-sections of the second-order cone

In this paper we study general two-term disjunctions on affine cross-sections of the second-order cone. Under some mild assumptions, we derive a closed-form expression for a convex inequality that is valid for such a disjunctive set, and we show that this inequality is sufficient to characterize the closed convex hull of all two-term disjunctions on ellipsoids and paraboloids and a wide class of two-term disjunctions-including split disjunctions-on hyperboloids. Our approach relies on the work of Kilinc-Karzan and Yildiz which considers general two-term disjunctions on the second-order cone.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy burden associated with leukoaraiosis: A positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging study

Objective We hypothesized that vascular amyloid contributes to chronic brain ischemia, therefore amyloid burden measured by Pittsburgh compound B retention on positron emission tomography (PiB PET) would correlate with the extent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) white matter hyperintensities (WMH; or leukoaraiosis) in patients with high vascular amyloid deposition (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]) but not in patients with high parenchymal amyloid deposition (Alzheimer disease [AD]; mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) or in healthy elderly (HE) subjects. Methods Forty-two nondemented CAA patients, 50 HE subjects, and 43 AD/MCI patients had brain MRI and PiB PET. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the independent association between PiB retention and white matter disease volume, controlling for age, gender, apolipoprotein E genotype, and vascular risk factors within each group. Results CAA patients were younger than HE and AD subjects (68 ± 10 vs 73.3 ± 7 and 74 ± 7.4, p < 0.01) but had higher amounts of WMH (median = 21 vs 3.2 and 10.8 ml, respectively, p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Global PiB retention and WMH showed strong correlation (rho = 0.52, p < 0.001) in the CAA group but not in HE or AD. These associations did not change in the multivariate models. Lobar microbleed count, another marker of CAA severity, also remained as an independent predictor of WMH volume. Interpretation Our results indicate that amyloid burden in CAA subjects (with primarily vascular amyloid) but not AD subjects (with primarily parenchymal amyloid) independently correlates with WMH volume. These findings support the idea that vascular amyloid burden directly contributes to chronic cerebral ischemia and highlights the possible utility of amyloid imaging as a marker of CAA severity. Ann Neurol 2013;73:529–536
Introduction to the Synthesis and Purification of Oligonucleotides

Modern nucleic acid synthesizers utilize phosphite triester chemistries that employ stable phosphoramidite monomers to build a growing polymer. These robust reactions allow easy generation of specific oligodeoxyribo- and oligoribonucleotides with a variety of labels, modified linkages, and nonstandard bases. Strategies are given for the maximization of synthetic yield, the generation of sequences containing site-specific modifications, and the isolation of synthetic oligonucleotides. Protocols describe monitoring the progress of synthesis via the trityl assay and methods for deprotection.
Congress, the Supreme Court, and Enemy Combatants: How Lawmakers Buoyed Judicial Supremacy by Placing Limits on Federal Court Jurisdiction

By turning a statute limiting court jurisdiction into a delegation of power by Congress to the Supreme Court, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld1 is a political masterstroke. In the pages that follow, I explain why “the least dangerous branch” felt empowered to ignore congressional limits on its authority, repudiate presidentially created military tribunals, and conclude that the Geneva Convention applies to Guantanamo detainees. In so doing, I will use the Court’s Hamdan ruling to extend my contribution to last year’s Minnesota Law Review Symposium on the future of the Supreme Court. In that Essay, Should the Supreme Court Fear Congress?, I examined recent proposals to strip court jurisdiction on divisive social issues and concluded that the Supreme Court has little reason to fear a backlash from Congress.2 For identical reasons, the Hamdan Court had no reason to fear Congress. Congress never challenged judicial independence when it enacted legislation limiting federal court jurisdiction over enemy combatants. In making this point, I will look at the politics both surrounding the 2005 Detainee Treat-
Classification and Regression Tree Methods

A classification or regression tree is a prediction model that can be represented as a decision tree. This article discusses the C4.5, CART, CRUISE, GUIDE, and QUEST methods in terms of their algorithms, features, properties, and performances. Keywords: cross-validation; discriminant; linear model; prediction accuracy; recursive partitioning; selection bias; unbiased
Program model checking as a new trend

This paper introduces a special section of STTT (International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer) containing a selection of papers that were presented at the 7th International SPIN workshop, Stanford, August 30 - September 1, 2000. The workshop was named SPIN Model Checking and Software Verification, with an emphasis on model checking of programs. The paper outlines the motivation for stressing software verification, rather than only design and model verification, by presenting the work done in the Automated Software Engineering group at NASA Ames Research Center within the last 5 years. This includes work in software model checking, testing like technologies and static analysis.
Protein Synthesis in Relation to Sporulation and Meiosis in Yeast

The dependence upon protein synthesis of physiological and biochemical events occurring during yeast sporulation was investigated. Protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide. There was an early, irreversible sensitivity to inhibition with respect to cell viability and ascus formation; inhibition was reversible only if the cells were inhibited after, but not prior to, 2 to 3 h in sporulation medium. Interruption of protein synthesis of any time during sporulation inhibited all measurable metabolic and sporulation-specific processes except protein breakdown and, to some extent, ribonucleic acid synthesis. The time interval between the occurrence of an event and the protein synthesis necessary for that event was determined to be 2 to 3 h for ascus formation, ≤30 min for deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, 1 h for tetranucleate cell formation, ≤30 min for ribonucleic acid breakdown, 1 to 2 h for glycogen synthesis, and 2 to 3 h for glycogen breakdown.
A randomized trial of a screening, case finding, and referral system for older veterans in primary care.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether a system of screening, as-sessment, referral, and follow-up provided within primarycare for high-risk older outpatients improves recognition ofgeriatric conditions and healthcare outcomes.DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial with 3-year follow-up;intervention versus control group allocation based on prac-tice group assignment.SETTING: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ambula-tory care center.PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred ninety-two community-dwelling patients aged 65 and older identiﬁed by postalscreening survey.INTERVENTION: The intervention combined a struc-tured telephone geriatric assessment by a physician assist-ant,individualizedreferralsandrecommendations,selectedreferral to outpatient geriatric assessment, and ongoingtelephone case management.MEASUREMENTS: Main outcomes were VA medical re-cord evidence of recognition and evaluation of target ger-iatricconditions(depression,cognitiveimpairment,urinaryincontinence, falls, functional impairment), functional sta-tus (Functional Status Questionnaire, FSQ), and hospital-ization (VA databases and self-reported non-VA usage).RESULTS: Intervention participants were more likely tohave target conditions recognized, evaluated, and referredto specialized services within 12 months of enrollment, al-though there were no significant differences in FSQ scoresor acute hospitalization between intervention and controlgroups at 1, 2, or 3 years follow-up. Subgroup analysessuggested improvements in depression symptoms and func-tional impairment at 1-year follow-up in intervention par-ticipants with these problems at baseline, but these ﬁndingswere not evident at later follow-up.CONCLUSION: The intervention increased recognitionand evaluation of target geriatric conditions but did notimprove functional status or decrease hospitalization. In-novative screening methods can identify older people inneed of geriatric services, but achieving measurableimprovement in functional status or hospitalization rateswill likely require a more-intensive intervention than a pro-gram involving primarily unsolicited referrals and short-term consultations. J Am Geriatr Soc 55:166–174, 2007.Keywords: geriatricassessment; elderly; health screening
Atkins v. Virginia: National Consensus or Six-Person Opinion?

Introduction 362 I. Background 364 A. Facts and Procedural History 364 B. Mental Retardation 366 C. Case History: Penry v. Lynaugh 367 II. Court’s Analysis: National Consensus or Six-person Opinion? ...368 A. Majority Opinion 368 B. Flaws in the Majority’s Reasoning 371 C. Chief Justice Rehnquist’s Dissent 372 D. Justice Scalia’s Dissent 373 E. Purposes Underlying Capital Punishment 375 1. Retribution 376 2. Deterrence 377 F. Weaknesses, Strengths, and Surprises 378 G. Predictability of Justices’ Decisions 380 III. Significance and Aftermath of Atkins 382 A. Implications 382 B. Recommendations 386 Conclusion 388
Phytohemagglutinin-induced Lymphocyte Transformation: The Relationship to Prognosis of Hodgkin’s Disease

Forty-three untreated patients with Hodgkin’s disease were evaluated between 1965 and 1967 with PHA-stimulated peripheral leukocyte cultures. No correlation was found between PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation at the time of diagnosis and the clinical course of the patient’s Hodgkin’s disease. There is also no correlation between lymphocyte transformation and the histologic pattern of nodular sclerosis. Although PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation appears to be a general index of immunologic status, it has not proven of value as a prognostic sign in Hodgkin’s disease.
Comparison of three rapid methods for detection of antibodies to streptolysin O and DNase B.

Three commercial systems were compared for ability to detect antibodies to streptolysin O (ASO) and DNase B (ADB). Streptozyme (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, N.J.) exhibited high sensitivity (100%) for detecting ASO but low sensitivity for ADB (22.2%). The LeapStrep (Organon Teknika, Malvern, Pa.) and Check-Spectra (Diagnostic Technology, Hauppauge, N.Y.) tests had low sensitivities for detecting ASO (35.3 and 21.4%, respectively) and ADB (22.2 and 33.3%, respectively).