cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portraying the Dynamics of Concurrent Programs

Just as designers of concurrent programs and algorithms for multiple-process programs with shared variables may find the analysis or portrayal of the behavior of these programs clarified by using a simplified model of the shared-memory multiprocessor (eg, the PRAM), designers of concurrent programs and algorithms for multiple-process programs that operate by message passing can benefit from using a simplified model of the message-passing multicomputer. My students and I have developed informally what we believe is a reasonably pleasing and physically credible model of the execution of reactive message-passing programs. This sweep model is described in detail in [1], and its essentials are summarized in [2].
Treatment of Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism.

GUIDELINE TITLE American Society of Hematology 2018 Guidelines for the management of venous thromboembolism: treatment of pediatric venous thromboembolism DEVELOPER: The American Society of Hematology multidisciplinary subcommittee RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2018 FUNDING SOURCE: American Society of Hematology PRIOR VERSION: N/A TARGET POPULATION: less than 18 years of age.
Lower Bounds for Non-Convex Stochastic Optimization.

We lower bound the complexity of finding $\epsilon$-stationary points (with gradient norm at most $\epsilon$) using stochastic first-order methods. In a well-studied model where algorithms access smooth, potentially non-convex functions through queries to an unbiased stochastic gradient oracle with bounded variance, we prove that (in the worst case) any algorithm requires at least $\epsilon^{-4}$ queries to find an $\epsilon$ stationary point. The lower bound is tight, and establishes that stochastic gradient descent is minimax optimal in this model. In a more restrictive model where the noisy gradient estimates satisfy a mean-squared smoothness property, we prove a lower bound of $\epsilon^{-3}$ queries, establishing the optimality of recently proposed variance reduction techniques.
Medical Record Documentation About Opioid Tapering: Examining Benefit-to-Harm Framework and Patient Engagement.

Objective Guidelines recommend that clinicians make decisions about opioid tapering for patients with chronic pain using a benefit-to-harm framework and engaging patients. Studies have not examined clinician documentation about opioid tapering using this framework. Design and setting Thematic and content analysis of clinician documentation about opioid tapering in patients' medical records in a large academic health system. Methods Medical records were reviewed for patients aged 18 or older, without cancer, who were prescribed stable doses of long-term opioid therapy between 10/2015 and 10/2016 then experienced an opioid taper (dose reduction ≥30%) between 10/2016 and 10/2017. Inductive thematic analysis of clinician documentation within six months of taper initiation was conducted to understand rationale for taper, and deductive content analysis was conducted to determine the frequencies of a priori elements of a benefit-to-harm framework. Results Thematic analysis of 39 patients' records revealed 1) documented rationale for tapering prominently cited potential harms of continuing opioids, rather than observed harms or lack of benefits; 2) patient engagement was variable and disagreement with tapering was prominent. Content analysis found no patients' records with explicit mention of benefit-to-harm assessments. Benefits of continuing opioids were mentioned in 56% of patients' records, observed harms were mentioned in 28%, and potential harms were mentioned in 90%. Conclusions In this study, documentation of opioid tapering focused on potential harms of continuing opioids, indicated variable patient engagement, and lacked a complete benefit-to-harm framework. Future initiatives should develop standardized ways of incorporating a benefit-to-harm framework and patient engagement into clinician decisions and documentation about opioid tapering.
DIGOXIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED TRANSPLANT-FREE INTERSTAGE SURVIVAL IN HIGH-RISK BUT NOT LOW-RISK PATIENTS WITH HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME (HLHS)

Digoxin use has been associated with lower interstage mortality in infants with HLHS and variants. The NEONATE score was developed to risk stratify patients for interstage mortality or transplantation; risk factors included type of stage 1 palliation (S1P)—Norwood with BT or Sano shunt vs. Hybrid
Screen Mesh Size for Exclusion of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Citrus Production

Huanglongbing is a citrus disease that reduces yield, crop quality, and eventually causes tree mortality. The putative causal agent, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Rhizobiales: Rhizobiaceae), is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. Disease management is largely through vector control, but the insect is developing pesticide resistance. A nonchemical approach to vector management is to grow citrus under screen cages either as bags over individual trees or enclosures spanning many acres. The enclosing screen reduces wind, alters temperature relative to ambient, and excludes a variety of pests that are too large to pass through the screen. Here we evaluated the potential of six screens to exclude D. citri. We conclude that screens with rectangular openings need to limit the short side to no more than 384.3 µm with a SD of 36.9 µm (40 mesh) to prevent psyllids from passing through the screen. The long side can be at least 833 µm, but the efficacy of screens exceeding this value should be tested before using in the field.
Outlier-Aware, density-Based gaze fixation identification

Abstract Eye tracking is an advancing technology holding significant promise to improve our understanding of human behavior and decision making. Gaze data gathered by eye trackers contain events known as fixations. Fixations indicate visual attention and awareness, and are identified by algorithms that parse eye-tracking data into a sequence of gaze point clusters. While great potential exists, eye-tracker imprecision often results in noisy gaze data, such as what arises from calibration errors, erratic eye movements, or other system noise. Noise can cause inaccurate identification of fixations in eye-tracking applications, resulting in misleading behavioral interpretations and conclusions. Therefore, fixation identification algorithms should be robust against data noise. To resolve such inaccuracies, we propose FID + : outlier-aware fixation identification via fixation inner-density. We represent the problem of detecting outliers in fixation gaze data through a novel mixed-integer optimization formulation, and subsequently strengthen the formulation using two geometric arguments to provide enhanced bounds. We show that neither bound dominates the other, and that both are effective in reducing the overall solution runtime. Our experiments on real gaze recordings demonstrate that accommodating for the reality of fixation outliers enhances the ability to identify fixations with greater density in reasonable runtime.
Mindfulness: Mechanism and Application

Mindfulness meditation or mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to have beneficial effects on health, well-being, and a number of clinical disorders, including anxiety, depression, addiction, stress-related symptoms, and chronic pain. In this article, we focus on the mechanism and application of mindfulness meditation. We propose an integrative framework for mindfulness and discuss its clinical applications. We take one form of mindfulness meditation – the integrative body–mind training – as an example to demonstrate the possible brain mechanisms. We summarize the key components and skills for effective mindfulness practice. The challenge in mindfulness field is also discussed.
Simultaneous cell lysis and DNA extraction from whole blood using magnetic ionic liquids.

Conventional DNA sample preparation methods involve tedious sample handling steps that require numerous inhibitors of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and instrumentation to implement. These disadvantages limit the applicability of conventional cell lysis and DNA extraction methods in high-throughput applications, particularly in forensics and clinical laboratories. To overcome these drawbacks, a series of nine hydrophobic magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) previously shown to preconcentrate DNA were explored as cell lysis reagents. The MILs were found to lyse white blood cells from whole blood, 2-fold diluted blood, and dry blood samples while simultaneously extracting human genomic DNA. The identity of metal ion incorporated within the MIL appears to cause hemolysis while the cationic component further reduces the cell’s integrity. Over 500 pg of human genomic DNA was isolated from 50 μL of whole blood using the trioctylbenzylammonium tris(hexafluoroacetylaceto)nickelate(II) ([N8,8,8,Bz+][Ni(hfacac)3−]) MIL, and 800 pg DNA was isolated from a dry blood samples using the trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium tris(phenyltrifluoroacetylaceto)nickelate(II) ([P6,6,6,14+][Ni(Phfacac)3−]) MIL following a 1-min vortex step. A rapid, one-step cell lysis and DNA extraction from blood is ideal for settings that seek high-throughput analysis while minimizing the potential for contamination. Graphical abstract
Dialysis After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Purpose Renal replacement therapy (RRT) post-LVAD implantation is often needed due to post-operative complications from AKI and pre-implant cardio-renal syndrome. RRT can assist with post-operative renal function recovery, but long-term use is associated with complications and poor outcomes. Identifying risk factors that increase the likelihood of RRT initiation and withdrawal post-LVAD can help multi-disciplinary teams risk-stratify patients to improve outcomes. Methods A retrospective chart review from 2018 to 2019 was conducted on 26 LVAD recipients (53.9% INTERMACS Class I) in our program. Patients on RRT prior to LVAD implantation were excluded. Clinical, laboratory, and outcomes data were compared between RRT (n=11) and no RRT (n=15) patients and between RRT recipients who continued (n=4) and withdrew (n=7). RRT withdrawal was defined as stopping RRT before hospital discharge. Bivariate analyses performed with T-test, Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test, Chi-square, and Fisher's Exact test. Logistic regression with backward elimination used to predict RRT initiation and withdrawal. Results Patients on RRT were less healthy compared to patients not on RRT. More patients on RRT had hypertension (p=0.01) and history of myocardial infarction (p=0.05). Patients requiring RRT had longer mean hospitalizations (50.5 vs 30.3 days, p =0.01). Pre-operative renal function characterized by BUN, Cr, and eGFR were worse among RRT recipients (p=0.02, 0.04, and 0.04), respectively. Adjusting for age and sex, our reduced model identified a 12% increase in RRT initiation for each 1mg/dL increase in BUN prior to LVAD implantation (p=0.03). Patients withdrawing or continuing RRT post-LVAD were similar in terms of co-morbidities and hemodynamics. INTERMACS Class I was not associated with RRT initiation or withdrawal. Patients withdrawing from RRT had better renal function than those who continued. A serum biomarker, LDH (U/L), was elevated after (p=0.01) LVAD implantation among patients who withdrew from RRT. Conclusion Pre-operative renal function was significantly worse among LVAD recipients requiring post-implantation RRT. LVAD recipients may benefit from optimization of renal function and identification of serum biomarkers prior and after surgery, which may reduce the number of patients requiring RRT after LVAD implantation.
Development of the Simulation-Positive Learning Evaluation (SIM-PLE) rubric for use in medical-surgical nursing high fidelity simulations.

Abstract Clinical nurse educators in a BSN program developed the SIM-PLE (Simulation-Positive Learning Evaluation) rubric to evaluate student performance in simulation. A pilot study was conducted over two semesters with junior level medical-surgical classes made up of approximately 110–130 students each semester, and the tool was revised and re-evaluated. Inter-rater reliability testing utilized 69 SIM-PLE rubric student evaluations (N = 69). Inter-rater reliability was assessed with comparison of lead faculty with three other instructors utilizing two raters for each simulation experience. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) suggested high inter-rater reliability. The t-test difference was not significant. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference in the Collaboration subcategory score. Univariate ANOVA indicated both raters scored consistently with each other overall and that they both scored JR1 differently than JR2. The pilot study and testing of interrater reliability of the rubric revealed positive findings. The role of the rubric in providing formative feedback during debrief sessions empowered students to analyze their own performance and/or experience to self-correct or improve their future practice based on these experiences.
Study on the Origin of Bird Flight

The origin of bird flight is a disputed issue in the field of evolutionary biology over past decades.The initial study mostly focused on the discussion of the evolutionary path(e.g.,the cursorial versus arboreal hypothesis)for bird flight,and more recently,more studies have been made concerning the transitions of key flight structure such as skeletons and muscles in the process of the origin of the flight of birds.A brief introduction of the history of the study of bird flight and a summary of some recent studies in this area are provided in this paper. Also, a summary introduction in the recent progress and existing debate from the two aspects mentioned above are given.
Enhancing Mindfulness and Well-Being in Higher Education.

This article outlines the steps taken to establish the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well-Being. Major historical components include: gaining momentum; securing funding; developing mission and vision statements; launching the Pruitt Center; and recounting the services, programs, and impacts achieved to date. Through outlining experiences and lessons learned, others in higher education looking to enhance the well-being of their campus communities could benefit, regardless of whether creating a center is their goal. The process and rationale for creating and adopting the PERMANENT Model of Well-Being is also provided. Comparisons are made regarding the similarities and differences between the PERMANENT Model and two existing models: the PERMA Model and the Universidad Tecmilenio Well-being in Happiness Ecosystem. Also depicted is the intention concerning: 1) describing each domain of the PERMANENT Model of Well-Being, including Present Moment Awareness, the model’s foundation; 2) the meaning behind the PERMANENT acronym, inspiring the notion of long-lasting well-being; 3) including the greater community; and 4) the model’s process of learn, experience, reflect, and repeat, a reminder that all learning takes effort and practice. This process is supported by current mindfulness and well-being research, specifically as it relates to higher education.
Rare variants in the endocytic pathway are associated with Alzheimer's disease, its related phenotypes, and functional consequences.

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is the most common type of dementia causing irreversible brain damage to the elderly and presents a major public health challenge. Clinical research and genome-wide association studies have suggested a potential contribution of the endocytic pathway to AD, with an emphasis on common loci. However, the contribution of rare variants in this pathway to AD has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we focused on the effect of rare variants on AD by first applying a rare-variant gene-set burden analysis using genes in the endocytic pathway on over 3,000 individuals with European ancestry from three large whole-genome sequencing (WGS) studies. We identified significant associations of rare-variant burden within the endocytic pathway with AD, which were successfully replicated in independent datasets. We further demonstrated that this endocytic rare-variant enrichment is associated with neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and age-related phenotypes, increasing the risk of obtaining severer brain damage, earlier age-at-onset, and earlier age-of-death. Next, by aggregating rare variants within each gene, we sought to identify single endocytic genes associated with AD and NFTs. Careful examination using NFTs revealed one significantly associated gene, ANKRD13D. To identify functional associations, we integrated bulk RNA-Seq data from over 600 brain tissues and found two endocytic expression genes (eGenes), HLA-A and SLC26A7, that displayed significant influences on their gene expressions. Differential expressions between AD patients and controls of these three identified genes were further examined by incorporating scRNA-Seq data from 48 post-mortem brain samples and demonstrated distinct expression patterns across cell types. Taken together, our results demonstrated strong rare-variant effect in the endocytic pathway on AD risk and progression and functional effect of gene expression alteration in both bulk and single-cell resolution, which may bring more insight and serve as valuable resources for future AD genetic studies, clinical research, and therapeutic targeting.
Is more autonomy better? How school actors perceive school autonomy and effectiveness in context

Although policies aiming to increase school-based autonomy are commonplace, we know little about how school actors use autonomy to improve organizational performance in varied contexts. This paper surfaces perspectives from school leaders and teachers on the effectiveness of autonomy and describes how these perspectives vary across schools. We use contingency theory to guide our analysis of case study data from eight schools in the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district which vary in school governance, performance, and demographics. We interviewed school principals, teachers, teacher leaders and other charter and district administrators in the 2016–17 school year, totaling 53 participants. School cases consistently reported high levels of accountability pressure from the district central office to improve student test scores that, in turn, informed their mission and goal setting. Schools also reported different levels of autonomy that varied according to school governance model and consistently described these levels as optimal for achieving school goals. Several internal and external contingencies shaped these perceptions albeit in different ways depending on autonomy level. Relevant contingencies included task uncertainty in each school’s mission, teacher organizational fit, school leadership, support from intermediate entities, and procedures to coordinate decision-making across school actors or organizational sub-units.
Influence of Scleral Microstructure on Lamina Cribrosa Strain - A Computational Study

Purpose: The biomechanical behavior of ocular tissues such as the peripapillary sclera and lamina cribrosa (LC) may be involved in the onset and development of glaucoma. The microstructure (e.g., collagen orientation) of these tissues will undoubtedly play a major role in determining the ability of these tissues to protect the delicate optic nerve passing through the scleral canal. Our purpose here was to implement experimentally derived microstructural information into a microstructurally-based finite model of posterior ocular head tissues and use this model to parametrically investigate how alterations in scleral microstructure affect LC mechanical strains.
A comparative analysis of use case relationships

Use case relationships are used to manage the complexity of use cases. The UML defines the three types of use case relationships: include, extend, and generalization. The appropriate use of the use case relationships, however, is one of the most contentious areas. We found that the suggestions of various authors overlap but conflict, leaving room for dissension. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of the use case relationships discussed in eleven literatures, including the UML 2.0 specification. For a coherent approach for applying use case relationships, we present three rules derived from the review of the literatures and our own experience and illustrates the rules with examples. Our rules are based on the analysis of preconditions, postconditions of use cases, and characteristics of the behaviors being separated.
Networks and games

The Internet is the first computational artifact that was not designed by a single entity, but emerged from the complex interaction of many As a result, it must be approached as a mysterious object, akin to the universe, the brain, the market, and the cell, to be understood by observation and falsifiable theories The theory of games promises to play an important role in this endeavor, since the entities involved in the Internet are interacting selfish agents in various and varying degrees of collaboration and competition. We survey recent work by the speaker and collaborators considering networks and protocols as equilibria in appropriate games, and trying to explain phenomena such as the power law distributions of the degrees of the Internet topology in terms of the complex optimization problems faced by each node.
Speech processing by a model of the auditory periphery

A composite, computational model of the auditory periphery, from the tympanic membrane to the synaptic junctions between hair cells and Eighth Nerve fibers, is discussed. The model includes linear and nonlinear processing steps known to occur in the periphery. Synthesized acoustic signals are converted into a population of responses that can be directly compared with neural data. Although components of the model have been previously tested only with simple acoustic signals, the model correctly predicts many properties of neural responses to vowels. In particular, the simulated rate responses saturate at moderate stimulus levels, while remaining strongly synchronized to vowel formant peaks.
Oscillator strengths of ultraviolet Ni I lines from hook-method and absorption measurements in a furnace

Measurements of the oscillator strengths of the ultraviolet lines of neutral nickel obtained by the use of the combined hook and absorption technique are reported. A total of 221 transitions in the range 1964-4094 A was measured for nickel atoms from a high-temperature graphite furnace (2000-2500 K) using a continuum background source, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a 3-m Czerny-Turner spectrograph. Hook and absorption measurements are presented, and radiative lifetimes are derived from log gf values. Comparison of the present values with previous results indicates only those of Bell et al. (1966) and Lennard et al. (1975) to consistently agree with the data presented, although the reliability laser-excitation technique of lifetime measurement is supported over that of Hanle methods.
Is Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Effective in Changing Driver Behavior

This paper presents work conducted as part of an evaluation of the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) III program of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The goal of the TACT program is to reduce the contribution of aggressive driving behaviors to crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. In the present study, camera-based detection methods were used to identify the incidence of following too closely within the context of prevailing commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle volumes, speeds, and lane position both before and during TACT program enforcement operations. The data suggest that enforcement under the TACT program may have differential effects on the following distances of cars and trucks. An increase in the following distances of commercial motor vehicles was observed in the rightmost lane of an Interstate facility. A slight decrease in the speeds of commercial motor vehicles was also observed during the enforcement period, but no significant changes in speeds or vehicle following...
Predicting the responses of repetitively firing neurons to current noise.

We used phase resetting methods to predict firing patterns of rat subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons when their rhythmic firing was densely perturbed by noise. We applied sequences of contiguous brief (0.5–2 ms) current pulses with amplitudes drawn from a Gaussian distribution (10–100 pA standard deviation) to autonomously firing STN neurons in slices. Current noise sequences increased the variability of spike times with little or no effect on the average firing rate. We measured the infinitesimal phase resetting curve (PRC) for each neuron using a noise-based method. A phase model consisting of only a firing rate and PRC was very accurate at predicting spike timing, accounting for more than 80% of spike time variance and reliably reproducing the spike-to-spike pattern of irregular firing. An approximation for the evolution of phase was used to predict the effect of firing rate and noise parameters on spike timing variability. It quantitatively predicted changes in variability of interspike intervals with variation in noise amplitude, pulse duration and firing rate over the normal range of STN spontaneous rates. When constant current was used to drive the cells to higher rates, the PRC was altered in size and shape and accurate predictions of the effects of noise relied on incorporating these changes into the prediction. Application of rate-neutral changes in conductance showed that changes in PRC shape arise from conductance changes known to accompany rate increases in STN neurons, rather than the rate increases themselves. Our results show that firing patterns of densely perturbed oscillators cannot readily be distinguished from those of neurons randomly excited to fire from the rest state. The spike timing of repetitively firing neurons may be quantitatively predicted from the input and their PRCs, even when they are so densely perturbed that they no longer fire rhythmically.
Classical and quantum reaction probabilities and thermal rate constants for the collinear H+H2 exchange reaction with vibrational excitation

Abstract Classical trajectory calculations for the collinear H+H2 exchange reaction were performed using the same potential energy surface previously adopted for exact quantum mechanical calculations. Reactions of both ground state and vibrationally excited state reagent were considered, over a relative kinetic energy range sufficient to produce vibrational excitation of products. At energies close to threshold the classical and quantum mechanical reaction probabilities differ sufficiently to cause a major difference in the corresponding thermal rate constants at low temperatures. Effective reaction thresholds differ by 0.07 eV for ground state and 0.09 eV for excited state reagent. At energies substantially above threshold the quantum reaction probabilities oscillate around the corresponding classical ones. However, some classical curves also show oscillatory behavior, suggesting caution in the assignment of oscillations in the quantum curves to quantum effects.
Words for Behavioral Description in Performance Appraisals

Szmzmary.-Words used to describe behavior at work have strong emotional and behavioral implications for rhose being judged by them. Words used to describe work behavior in assessment of work activities express measurement of performance on appraisal forms as objective or subjective. Work descriptors taken from performance appraisal forms from 47 of 100 hospirals, 35 of 480 management textbooks, and 22 of 150 journal arucles were placed in three levels of objective to subjecrive for frequency of use. More work descriptors were subjecrive than objective. Work descriptors from journals presented many subjective traits but used more objective than subjective traits while textbooks included many subjective traits as objective descriptors. Use of subjective work descriprors in the journals and textbooks encourages subjecuve assessment of workers. To be objective performance appraisals must use objective words to describe and assess work in graphic rating forms. General Appraisal of Performance Behavioral science researchers and managers wish to understand how to best assess work behavior. Accurate and objective information about behavior on the job is essential for employees' retention, raises, training, promotion, disciphary measures and, if necessary, dismissal. Hospitals llke other large organizations must meet this challenge. Words are the power behind obbctive and fair evaluations of work performance. Wihs, ~eck, and Maltsby and other cognitive behavioral therapists have suggested the importance of words in enhancing or influencing various behaviors. Through self-communication and word choices in personal cognitions, both workers and supervisors develop perceptions of people and the work environment. Health care organizations require performance appraisals and aim to develop fair and workable performance appraisals, yet many lawsuits are filed over personnel matters and unfair performance evaluations (Goddard, 1989). This study addressed issues of performance appraisals includrng use of objective and fair words in describing work. To assess which words are best used to assess performance a three-phase research project was conducted. First, actual phrases for work, descriptors, and words in graphic rating scales used in hospitals were categoried. Second, words in textbooks and, third, articles on performance appraisal in journals were tahed.
Two-dimensional photonic crystal nanocavities for light localization

Summary form only given.Optical resonant cavities formed from 2D periodic high-index contrast dielectric slabs may be used to effectively guide or trap light in spatial volumes of a few cubic half-wavelengths. 2D Bragg reflection in the plane of the slab along with strong index guiding in the vertical direction provide the necessary confinement for high Q factor electromagnetic modes. Lasing action has recently been demonstrated in such a cavity in which a single hole was removed from the photonic lattice, thus providing a local energy well for photons. Due to the ability to lithographically define such cavity mode properties as emission direction, wavelength, polarization, mode volume, and quality factor these nanocavities are interesting for a variety of laser/detector applications, as well as for optical filters and switches. For the same reasons these photonic crystal based optical cavities may find use in cavity QED experiments. Apart from the obvious reduction in optical mode volume, the same functionality that makes this technology interesting for lightwave communication may also prove useful for experimental measurements of atom-photon interactions. Through the addition of input and output waveguide channels based on the same planar photonic crystal geometry one may efficiently probe and detect the cavity modes. Also, one may adjust the number of periods of photonic crystal in order to obtain vertical or in-plane emission depending on the application. We present recent room temperature laser results, as well as tuning of the cavity modes through adjustments in the local defect region, and the splitting of the cavity mode degeneracy into a pair of x and y polarized modes. Progress to date and limitations in terms of obtainable cavity Q and fabrication tolerances are also addressed.
Decline in bee diversity and abundance from 1972-2004 on a flowering leguminous tree, Andira inermis in Costa Rica at the interface of disturbed dry forest and the urban environment

Abstract Long-term monitoring of bees in specific sites provides information on changes in species diversity and abundance, especially in areas close to human habitation. Evaluations of this monitoring data combined with relevant measures of anthropogenic activity can aide in interpreting emerging patterns of bee pollinators. In 1972, we sampled bees visiting flowers of a population of the leguminous tree, Andira inermis (W. Wright) DC in a dry forest site adjacent to the town of Liberia, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. Slightly more than 800 bees were recorded on the average per tree site, with an overall bee diversity among the trees of approximately 70 species. Standardized bee samples were taken again from the same population of A. inermis in 1996, 1999, and 2004. In each of these years average abundance level per tree was greatly reduced, as was overall species diversity. Andira inermis trees were also observed to have variable attraction for large anthophorid bees versus honey bees. Some trees attr...
Origin of ferroelectricity in perovskites: The principal problems from a theoretical perspective

Much progress has been made in understanding perovskite ferroelectrics and ferroelectric phase transitions, and the number of theoretical and experimental studies continues to mushroom. We now know that the origin of ferroelectric phase transitions in oxides is due to the underlying anharmonic potential surfaces which are caused by softening of the short-range repulsions by covalent hybridization so that the atoms can move off-center and towards each other. Nevertheless, we are still far from our goals of usefully predicting ferroelectric behavior. There is also now much experimental and theoretical support for the eight-site model in perovskite oxides. An understanding of the fundamental origins of ferroelectric behavior should lead us more rapidly towards the ability to predict and tune ferroelectrics from first-principles.
DNA Replication through G-Quadruplex Motifs Is Promoted by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pif1 DNA Helicase

G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures are extremely stable four-stranded secondary structures held together by noncanonical G-G base pairs. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to determine the in vivo binding sites of the multifunctional Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pif1 DNA helicase, a potent unwinder of G4 structures in vitro. G4 motifs were a significant subset of the high-confidence Pif1-binding sites. Replication slowed in the vicinity of these motifs, and they were prone to breakage in Pif1-deficient cells, whereas non-G4 Pif1-binding sites did not show this behavior. Introducing many copies of G4 motifs caused slow growth in replication-stressed Pif1-deficient cells, which was relieved by spontaneous mutations that eliminated their ability to form G4 structures, bind Pif1, slow DNA replication, and stimulate DNA breakage. These data suggest that G4 structures form in vivo and that they are resolved by Pif1 to prevent replication fork stalling and DNA breakage.
Red cell exchange transfusion for babesiosis in Rhode Island

We report four cases of clinically severe tick borne babesiosis treated with chemotherapy and adjunctive red cell exchange (RCE) at two Rhode Island hospitals from 2004 to 2007. All RCE procedures were performed using a Cobe Spectra device and were well tolerated without complications. The volume of allogeneic red cells used in the exchange was determined using the algorithm in the apheresis device with the input variables of preprocedure hematocrit, weight, height, an assumed allogeneic red cell hematocrit of 55 and a desired post procedure hematocrit of 27. The preprocedure level of parasitemia varied between 2.4% and 24% and the postprocedure level of parasitemia between 0.4 and 5.5% with an average overall percent reduction in parasitemia of 74%. Retrospectively, application of a new formula to calculate red cell mass appeared to correlate better with the percent reduction in parasitemia. Previous reports of RCE in babesiosis were reviewed. The reported reduction in parasitemia varied from 50% to >90%. Although a preprocedure level of parasitemia of 10% is sometimes used as a threshold for RCE in clinically severe babesiosis, this threshold does not have a firm empirical basis. No postprocedure desired level of parasitemia is indicated nor the mass of allogeneic red cells needed to achieve such a level. We conclude that current estimates of the dose of allogeneic red cells used in RCE are probably inaccurate, advocate a new formula to estimate this dose and suggest that a 90% reduction in parasitemia should be the minimally desired target of RCE in babesiosis. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The “lonely gamer” revisited

Abstract World of Warcraft ( WoW ) is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) supporting rich and complex social interactions among over 8 million players worldwide. In this study, we explore implications of the pervasive “lonely gamer” stereotype, which portrays online gamers as socially isolated and addicted young people, usually male, with few real-life (RL) social ties. This is the first study to directly address the stereotype quantitatively, focusing on assessing the extent to which WoW players interact in the game with other people with whom they share a RL social relationship. Most previous studies of the interaction between online gaming and sociality have focused solely on either in-game or RL social interactions, without seriously taking into account today’s large and growing opportunities for hybrids of both. An online survey (in English and Chinese) collected data from 2865 WoW players from multiple world regions: Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the US. Consistently across regions, the large majority of respondents reported that they do play with others they know in RL (friends, family members, a spouse or romantic partner), and do not only play alone or just with others they know online. Moreover, sizable percentages of players in each region reported making new RL friends in the virtual world. These findings lend no support to the “lonely gamer” stereotype, but suggest instead that playing World of Warcraft may serve to enhance , rather than diminish, RL social interactions. This paper provides benchmark estimates of the prevalence of in-game sociality with RL friends, family members, spouses and partners, and co-workers for world regions not previously explored, and some intriguing cross-cultural patterns and issues for further research.
Mechanical injury modulates AMPA receptor kinetics via an NMDA receptor-dependent pathway.

Alterations in glutamatergic transmission are thought to contribute to secondary neuronal damage following traumatic brain injury. Using an in vitro cell injury model, we previously demonstrated an apparent reduction in AMPA receptor desensitization and resultant potentiation of AMPA-evoked currents after stretch injury of cultured neonatal rat cortical neurons. In the present study, we sought to further characterize injury-induced enhancement of AMPA current and elucidate the mechanisms responsible for this pathological process. Using the patch-clamp technique, agonist-activated currents were recorded from control and injured neurons. Potentiation of AMPA-mediated currents occurred quickly, within 15–30 min following injury, and persisted for at least 24 h. Stretch-injury slowed the activation and desensitization of AMPA mediated currents recorded from excised outside-out patches. The co-application of 100μM AMPA and 20μM thiocyanate enhanced AMPA receptor desensitization in control neurons and restored ...
Love's lost in Othello: What ‘the base Indian’ is founded on

(1995). Love's lost in Othello: What ‘the base Indian’ is founded on. English Studies: Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 140-142.
Defect generation and analysis in mechanically alloyed stoichiometric Fe-Ni alloys

Abstract FeNi, with the chemically-ordered L10 tetragonal structure, is a promising material for next-generation rare-earth-free permanent magnets. Due to the extremely low atomic Fe and Ni mobility below the critical chemical order/disorder temperature of 320 °C, no conventional metallurgical methods are able to induce its formation. Diffusion rates could be enhanced with the creation of excessive vacancies. High-energy mechanical alloying was employed to produce a nanocrystalline Fe–50 at.%Ni alloy. The high energy mechanical milling is expected to change the defect characteristics that would be used to study the effect that mechanical alloying has on the defect concentrations. X-ray diffraction revealed that over the entirety of the milling period, the Fe and Ni powders formed an fcc solid solution. The Williamson–Hall equation and Scherrer equation revealed that reductions in grain sizes were caused during alloying. The initial increase in internal strain, and by extension dislocations, was followed by a decrease in strain with further alloying, which was due to the combination effect of creation of dislocation from mechanical deformation and annihilation of dislocations at increasing grain boundaries. Doppler broadening positron annihilation spectroscopy (DB-PAS) showed that the overall number of open-volume defects decreased with increased milling time. Finally, changes of relative permeability, for the mechanically alloyed FeNi phase, were explained by the pinning effect of dislocations.
Immunologic Uniqueness of the Genital Tract: Challenge for Vaccine Development

Although the genital tract is considered to be a component of the mucosal immune system, it displays several distinct features not shared by other typical mucosal tissues and external secretions. Both male and female genital tract tissues lack inductive mucosal sites analogous to intestinal Peyer's patches. Consequently, local humoral and cellular immune responses stimulated by infections [with e.g. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, papilloma virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)] are weak or absent, and repeated local intravaginal immunizations result in minimal humoral responses. In contrast to typical external secretions such as intestinal fluid that contain secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) as the dominant isotype, semen and cervico-vaginal fluid contain more IgG than IgA. Furthermore, irrespective of the route of infection, humoral immune responses to HIV-1 are dominated by specific IgG and low or absent IgA antibodies in all external secretions. Because a significant proportion of IgG in genital tract secretions is derived from the circulation, systemic immunization may provide protective IgG antibody-mediated immunity in the genital tract. Furthermore, combined systemic and mucosal (oral, rectal, and especially intranasal) immunization may induce protective humoral responses in both the systemic and mucosal compartments of the immune system.
An Objectively Optimized Earth Observing System

This paper describes one vision for future Earth observing systems. New in this vision is the desire for symbiotic communication to dynamically guide an observation system. An earth observation system which is not just a single satellite acting on its own but a constellation of satellites, and sub-orbital platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground observations interacting with computer systems used for modeling, data analysis and dynamic observation guidance. An autonomous objectively optimized observation direction system (OOODS) is of great utility for earth observation. In particular, to have a fleet of smart assets that can be reconfigured based on the changing needs of science and technology. The OOODS integrates a modeling and assimilation system within the sensor web allowing the autonomous scheduling of the chosen assets and the autonomous provision of analyses to users. The OOODS operates on generic principles that could easily be used in configurations other than the specific examples described here. Metrics of what we do not know (state vector uncertainty) are used to define what we need to measure and the required mode, time and location of the observations, i.e. to define in real time the observing system targets. Metrics of how important it is to know this information (information content) are used to assign a priority to each observation. The metrics are passed in real time to the sensor web observation scheduler to implement the observation plan for the next observing cycle. The same system could also be used to reduce the cost and development time in an observation sensitivity simulation experiment (OSSE) mode for the optimum development of the next generation of space and ground-based observing systems.
Neural Correlates of Fast Pupil Dilation in Nonhuman Primates: Relation to Behavioral Performance and Cognitive Workload

Pupil dilation in humans has been previously shown to correlate with cognitive workload, whereby increased frequency of dilation is associated with increased degree of difficulty of a task. It has been suggested that frontal oculomotor brain areas control cognitively related pupil dilations, but this has not been confirmed due to lack of animal models of cognitive workload and task-related pupil dilation. This is the first report of a wavelet analysis applied to continuous measures of pupil size used to detect the onset of abrupt pupil dilations and the frequency of those dilations in nonhuman primates (NHPs) performing a trial-unique delayed-match-to-sample (DMS) task. A unique finding shows that electrophysiological recordings in the same animals revealed firing of neurons in frontal cortex correlated to different components of pupil dilation during task performance. It is further demonstrated that the frequency of fast pupil dilations (but not rate of eye movements) correlated with cognitive workload during task performance. Such correlations suggest that frontal neuron encoding of pupil dilation provides critical feedback to other brain areas involved in the processing of complex visual information.
Multiphase resonant inverters for bidirectional wireless power transfer

A multiphase resonant inverters for bidirectional wireless power transfer is proposed in this paper. Two identical coreless inductors with series resonant capacitors are used to create a wireless power link. In order to provide bidirectional operation, a symmetrical structure with inverters on both sides of the wireless power link is implemented. Both inverters are identical and were designed as two-phase full-bridge inverters with a common resonant circuit. A hybrid phase-frequency control method is implemented to provide a wide range output regulation. Finally, the proposed topology and a control strategy is verified by experiments. A prototype of the proposed bidirectional wireless DC/DC converter has been designed, built, and tested with an output power up to 1.8 kW.