cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superfluid density and compressibility at the superfluid-Mott glass transition

Systems of disordered interacting bosons with particle-hole symmetry can undergo a quantum phase transition between the superfluid phase and the Mott glass phase which is a gapless incompressible insulator. We employ large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of a two-dimensional site-diluted quantum rotor model to investigate the properties of the superfluid density and the compressibility at this transition. We find that both quantities feature power-law critical behavior with exponents governed by generalized Josephson relations.
Review of Musicians in Transit: Argentina and the Globalization of Popular Music, by Matthew B. Karush

Musicians in Transit: Argentina and the Globalization of Popular Music by Matthew B. Karush, Duke University Press, 2017.
Where Black Feminist Thought and Trans* Feminism Meet: A Conversation

This conversation meditates on the ways in which Black Feminism and Trans Feminism relate to one another, how they speak to and supplement one another, and how they are in fact constitutive. Consid...
Challenges to evaluating US military policy on sexual assault and sexual harassment

US military policy has come under fire by critics who charge that it does not do enough to prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault, to support and protect victims, and to hold perpetrators acc...
GNOTOBIOTICS IN RELATION TO SPACE BIOLOGY

The prospect of examining the moon and neighboring planets for the presence of living forms certainly provides one of the most interesting phases in the development of man’ s knowledge. There is some evidence of life on Mars and it seems likely that the first examination of specimens will be made by soft-landed robots (Technical Panel on the Earth Satellite Program, 1958). However, someone with a training in biology will have to actually explore the planet to obtain a thorough knowledge of its biota. This adventure imposes staggering demands upon a great many sciences and technologies and forces development of the in-between areas. The possible returns from such an adventure are also imposing, not only in terms of the knowledge gained about extraterrestrial nature but through the effort required to get there. The fields of electronics and metallurgy already have been enriched as a result of the basic research required by their participation. A prolonged space voyage will require a much greater insight into bioecology (Tobias, 1959) than we now possess and the design of a probe will require a reexamination of the fundamental properties of living matter, to mention two areas in which biology will profit from the preparation required.
Molecular configuration and glomerular size selectivity in healthy and nephrotic humans

We studied eight healthy volunteers and eight nephrotic subjects to compare the glomerular sieving coefficients (theta) of dextran, a linear polymer of glucopyranose, with those of Ficoll, a spherical polysucrose. Over a molecular radius (rs) interval of 20-70 A, theta for a given Ficoll was uniformly lower than corresponding theta for a dextran of equivalent rs. For each macromolecular species, the theta of molecules with rs > 50 A was selectively enhanced in nephrotic vs. healthy subjects. Analysis of either dextran or Ficoll sieving curves with pore theory revealed the glomerular barrier to have a bimodal pore size distribution: a lower mode of restrictive pores with a lognormal distribution of radii and an upper mode of large shuntlike pores. Nephrotics differed from controls in that the lower mode was broadened and shifted to pores of smaller mean size, but the prominence of shuntlike pores was enhanced by an order of magnitude. Both the mean radius of restrictive pores and the magnitude of the shunt pathway were substantially smaller when estimated from Ficoll than dextran sieving. We interpret the more realistic values for pore parameters derived from Ficoll than dextran sieving to indicate 1) that the normal glomerular barrier prevents albuminuria by virtue of a combination of both charge- and size-selective properties and 2) that a combined impairment of both barrier charge selectivity and size selectively are required to account for the observed level and composition of proteinuria in our nephrotic subjects.
Breastfeeding considerations of opioid dependent mothers and infants

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a long-standing recommendation against breastfeeding if the maternal methadone dose is above 20 mg/day. In 2001, the AAP lifted the dose restriction of maternal methadone allowing methadone-maintained mothers to breastfeed. The allowance of breastfeeding among mothers taking methadone has been met with opposition due to the uncertainty that exists related to methadone exposure of the suckling infant. Methadone-maintained mothers are at higher risk for abuse, concomitant psychiatric disorders, limited access to healthcare, and financial hardship. Breastfeeding rates among methadone-maintained women tend to be low compared to the national average. This manuscript will discuss the implications for healthcare practitioners caring for methadone-maintained mothers and infants and associated risks and benefits of breastfeeding. This population of mothers and infants stands to obtain particular benefits from the various well-known advantages of breastfeeding.
Spatial Ability and the Limitations of Perceptual Systems

Our reason for participating in this symposium is to share what we know and discover what we do not know about the spatial ability of humans, and to become clearer about what we need to know. There are many ways to seek an understanding of spatial ability, and the approach I have chosen is to consider the performance of a task that depends on spatial ability, and the results of efforts to build electronic devices to facilitate the performance of that task. The task I have in mind is the task in which blind pedestrians engage when they travel independently, and the electronic devices are the electronic travel aids (ETAs) that have been designed and evaluated over the past several decades. I will discuss both the task and the ETAs shortly, but first I would like to set the stage by indicating the importance of independent travel to blind pedestrians, and by reviewing briefly the history of efforts to develop techniques and tools which, when properly used by blind pedestrians, will afford at least a measure of independence in travel.
Teamwork using strain imaging in the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular systolic function: A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging correlation study.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate whether conventional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) systolic function can be improved by the addition of RV strain imaging. Additionally, we also aimed to investigate whether dedicated reading sessions and education can improve echocardiographic interpretation of RV systolic function. METHODS Readers of varying expertise (staff echocardiologists, advanced cardiovascular imaging fellows, sonographers) assessed RV systolic function. In session 1, 20 readers graded RV function of 19 cases, using conventional measures. After dedicated education, in session 2, the same cases were reassessed, with the addition of RV strains. In session 3, 18 readers graded RV function of 20 additional cases, incorporating RV strains. Computer simulations were performed to obtain 230 random teams. RV ejection fraction (RVEF) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was the reference standard. RESULTS Correlation between RV GLS and CMR-derived RVEF was moderate: Spearman's rho: 0.70, n = 19, P < 0.001 (first two sessions); 0.55, n = 20, P < 0.05 (third session). Individual readers' assessment moderately correlated with RVEF (Spearman's rho first session: 0.67 ± 0.2; second session: 0.61 ± 0.2; and third session: 0.68 ± 0.09). Team estimates of RV systolic function showed consistently better correlation with RVEF, which were improved further by averaging across all readers. RV strain parameters influenced echocardiographic interpretation, with a net reclassification index of 8.0 ± 3.6% (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS The RV strain parameters showed moderate correlations with CMR-derived RVEF and appropriately influenced echocardiographic interpretation of RV systolic function. "Wisdom of the crowd" applied by averaging echocardiographic assessments of RV systolic function across teams of echocardiography readers, further improved echocardiographic assessment of RV systolic function.
Calcium oxalate mineralisation in the algae

ABSTRACTThe morphology, anatomical and cellular localisation, abundance, and taxonomic distribution of calcium oxalate deposits in algae are described. Comparisons are drawn to the same features of...
Association of Treatment of Chorioamnionitis with Non-Beta Lactam Antibiotics and Postcesarean Infectious Morbidity.

Objective Chorioamnionitis (CAM) is associated with postcesarean (CS) infectious morbidity (IM). Beta-lactam antibiotics (BLA) are used to treat CAM. It is uncertain if women who cannot receive BLA attain similar benefit from treatment of CAM with non-BLA. Study Design Retrospective cohort of women with CAM is delivered by CS in the maternal-fetal medicine units CS registry. We compared IM in women who received BLA versus women who received non-BLA. The primary outcome was a composite of endometritis, wound complication, necrotizing fasciitis, septic pelvic thrombophlebitis, and pelvic abscess. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios for the association of non-BLA treatment with IM outcomes. Results A total of 3,063 (93%) women received BLA, and 232 (7%) received non-BLA. Groups had similar rates of composite post-CS IM (10.6 vs. 12.1%, p = 0.5). After adjusting for confounders, treatment of CAM with non-BLA was not associated with post-CS IM (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6–1.7), endometritis (AOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7–1.8), or wound complications (AOR 1.2, 95% CI 0.5–3.2). Conclusion Women with CAM who receive non-BLA and require CS may not be at increased risk of postoperative infections complications, compared to women who receive BLA.
Black Woman at Work: A Narrative both Personal and Political

AbstractThe story of Black/African descent women in academic leadership is laced with challenging and triumphant narratives, including mine. Here, I share narratives of family, research inquiry int...
Credit reporting agencies: playing the long game

Abstract The leading edge of criticism taken seriously by CRAs comes from the state attorneys general, highly political and often governorship-seeking officials who know the public resents CRAs. The CRAs, being businesses, accommodate complaints jointly so long as it does not cost them money nor give one or another of the CRAs advantage over the others. Among these accommodations is the National Consumer Assistance Plan, announced as a generous settlement by all CRAs jointly, which amounts to erasing virtually all collection and lien data from the credit reports. Charts are provided to show how this data is being erased. Neither consumers nor accuracy-interested modelers have a say in these settlements.
In Vivo Delivery of Nucleic Acid-Encoded Monoclonal Antibodies

Antibody immunotherapy is revolutionizing modern medicine. The field has advanced dramatically over the past 40 years, driven in part by major advances in isolation and manufacturing technologies that have brought these important biologics to the forefront of modern medicine. However, the global uptake of monoclonal antibody (mAb) biologics is impeded by biophysical and biochemical liabilities, production limitations, the need for cold-chain storage and transport, as well as high costs of manufacturing and distribution. Some of these hurdles may be overcome through transient in vivo gene delivery platforms, such as non-viral synthetic plasmid DNA and messenger RNA vectors that are engineered to encode optimized mAb genes. These approaches turn the body into a biological factory for antibody production, eliminating many of the steps involved in bioprocesses and providing several other significant advantages, and differ from traditional gene therapy (permanent delivery) approaches. In this review, we focus on nucleic acid delivery of antibody employing synthetic plasmid DNA vector platforms, and RNA delivery, these being important approaches that are advancing simple, rapid, in vivo expression and having an impact in animal models of infectious diseases and cancer, among others.
Glycation alters the mechanical behavior of kidney extracellular matrix.

Abstract The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are important in maintaining normal physiological function, and changes in ECM mechanics drive disease. The biochemical structure of the ECM is modified with aging and in diseases such as diabetes. One mechanism of ECM modification is the non-enzymatic reaction between sugars and ECM proteins resulting in formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Some AGE reactions result in formation of molecular crosslinks within or between matrix proteins, but it is not clear how sugar-mediated biochemical modification of the ECM translates to changes in kidney ECM mechanical properties. AGE-mediated changes in ECM mechanics may have pathological consequences in diabetic kidney disease. To determine how sugars alter the mechanical properties of the kidney ECM, we employ custom methodologies to evaluate the mechanical properties of isolated tubular basement membrane (TBM) and glomerular ECM. Results show that the mechanical properties of TBM and glomerular ECM stiffness were altered by incubation in glucose and ribose. Mechanical behavior of TBM and glomerular ECM were further evaluated using mechanical models for hyperelastic materials in tension and compression. Increased ECM stiffness following sugar modification corresponded to increased crosslinking as determined by ECM fluorescence and reduced pepsin extractability of sugar modified ECM. These results show that sugar-induced modifications significantly affect the mechanical properties of kidney ECM. AGE-mediated changes in ECM mechanics may be important in progression of chronic diseases including diabetic kidney disease.
The experience of transportation to visit a nursing home resident: A case study

Maintaining social connections in the community can be accomplished through transportation access and opportunities. This includes relationships between family and residents in nursing homes. Previ...
Progress in the research of enterovirus 71

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the main pathogens of hand, foot and mouth disease resulting in severe neurological complications and fatality. In fact, EV71 has been regarded as the most important neurotropic enterovirus after eradication of poliovirus. This paper reviews predisposing factors of EV71 infection and progress in the research of EV71 vaccine, thus pointing out the way for prevention and control of EV71 infection. Key words: Enterovirus; Hand, foot and mouth disease; Infection; Vaccines
On the eigenvalue problem for a class of Kirchhoff-type equations

Abstract We study the eigenvalue problem for the general Kirchhoff's equation − M ( ∫ Ω | ∇ u ( y ) | p ( y ) d y ) div ( | ∇ u ( x ) | p ( x ) − 2 ∇ u ( x ) ) = λ | u ( x ) | q ( x ) − 2 u ( x ) , for suitable M, in the context of variable exponent Lebesgue spaces. We prove that given a bounded domain Ω, there is a solution u with ∫ Ω | ∇ u ( x ) | p ( x ) d x = r , for any r > 0 . A class of related problems is also treated via the same methods.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: Implementation and students’ perception of a criterion-referenced standard setting in a therapeutics course

Objective: To implement a criterion-referenced method to set standards for grading written tests in a didactic course and to assess students’ perceptions of the implementation. Methods: The Angoff method, a criterion-referenced method, was implemented in a therapeutics course with a letter grading system. Students were surveyed on their perceptions of the method including stress and test anxiety level after the course. Results: Of 122 students enrolled, 118 responded. More than 60% of respondents felt that the criterion-referenced method was fairer and reflected competency better than a norm-referenced method. The percent of respondents who felt that the new method increased the level of stress and test anxiety was higher than that of those who did not. Conclusions: A criterion-referenced method was successfully implemented in a pharmacy didactic course with a letter grading system. The implementation was overall favourably received by students although it may have increased the level of stress and test anxiety.
On collaborative reinforcement learning to optimize the redistribution of critical medical supplies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective This work investigates how reinforcement learning and deep learning models can facilitate the near-optimal redistribution of medical equipment in order to bolster public health responses to future crises similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods The system presented is simulated with disease impact statistics from the Institute of Health Metrics (IHME), Center for Disease Control, and Census Bureau[1, 2, 3]. We present a robust pipeline for data preprocessing, future demand inference, and a redistribution algorithm that can be adopted across broad scales and applications. Results The reinforcement learning redistribution algorithm demonstrates performance optimality ranging from 93-95%. Performance improves consistently with the number of random states participating in exchange, demonstrating average shortage reductions of 78.74% (± 30.8) in simulations with 5 states to 93.50% (± 0.003) with 50 states. Conclusion These findings bolster confidence that reinforcement learning techniques can reliably guide resource allocation for future public health emergencies.
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder of the control of breathing, usually emerging during the newborn period and classically manifesting as severe alveolar hypoventilation and a monotonous respiratory pattern during sleep. While the principle clinical manifestation of CCHS is a ventilatory defect, many affected patients also exhibit broader autonomic dysfunction. CCHS is caused by mutations of the gene PHOX2B, with a range of mutations yielding a spectrum of clinical severity in both the ventilatory and autonomic dysfunction. Early detection and management of this disease may prevent adverse neurocognitive and cardiorespiratory outcomes for affected patients. The sleep medicine physician with autonomic expertise is central in the diagnosis and effective longitudinal management of this rare but clinically impactful disorder.
Multivariate quadrature of a singular integrand

Consider an integral with a point singularity in its integrand, such as ρ−α or $\log \rho $ . We introduceand discuss two methods for approximating such integrals, in both two and three dimensions. The methods are first introduced using the unit disk as the quadrature region, and then, they are extended to other regions and to three dimensions. The error behavior of the numerical integration for singular points near to the boundary is examined.
Physicians' perceptions about narrative note sections format and content: A multi-specialty survey.

Abstract Objective To assess physicians’ perceptions about narrative note sections format and content commonly reported in visit notes to inform future research and EHR development. Methods We conducted two online surveys with a multi-specialty panel of outpatient physicians from a large health system to collect their perceptions of the usefulness of three narrative formats and the relevance of content reported in the note sections history of present illness (HPI) and assessment and plan (AP). Survey questions were responded with a 7-point Likert scale and include two open-ended questions for comments on challenges and suggestions related to electronic clinical documentation. Results Eighty-eight physicians completed the surveys. The most preferred format for HPI was story (i.e., coherent paragraph), followed by list without categories (i.e., non-categorized sentences) and list with categories (i.e., categorized sentences). The most preferred format for AP was list with categories, followed by story and list without categories. The most relevant type of content in HPI was temporal information and finding/condition. The most relevant type of content reported in AP was intervention and reasons and justifications. Challenges frequently mentioned include suboptimal note creation interfaces and bloated notes, and the most common suggestions for improvements are related to note entry facilitators and organizational improvements. Conclusion Physicians’ input is extremely valuable to inform improvements to EHRs. More effective clinical documentation systems should include less intrusive, more intuitive and automated user interfaces for note creation, smarter autopoluation functionality and linkage between note content and data from other parts of the record.
Palliative Surgery Outcomes for Patients with Esophageal Cancer: An NCDB Analysis.

ABSTRACT Introduction Many patients with esophageal cancer are not candidates for surgical resection with curative intent, given the advanced stage of disease at presentation. Palliative surgery is one treatment option, but relative survival of palliative surgery has not been described. This study aims to describe the outcomes of palliative surgery in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods We used the National Cancer Database to identify patients with esophageal cancer who received palliative surgery or non-surgical palliation—which consisted of palliative radiation and palliative chemotherapy without any surgery. The outcome of interest was overall survival. Characteristics of patients were compared between the palliative surgery group and the non-surgical group using rank sum test or chi square test. Survival differences between groups were compared using Kaplan Meier estimate and log rank test, and Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 14,589 patients were included in the analysis, including 2,812 (19.2%) receiving palliative surgery and 11,777 (80.7%) receiving non-surgical palliation (6,512 palliative radiation and 5,265 palliative chemotherapy). Median overall survival in palliative surgery patients was 5.5 mo, shorter than non-surgical palliation (6.4 mo, P = 0.004). However, when correcting for age, sex, nodal status, metastases, Charlson score, histology, academic center, and private insurance, there was no difference in survival between palliative surgery and non-surgical palliation in Cox proportional hazard modeling (HR 1.03 (0.975-1.090), P = 0.281). Conclusions Palliative surgery in advanced esophageal cancer is associated with poor overall survival but is similar to other palliative modalities. Palliative Surgery for esophageal cancer patients should be used sparingly given these poor outcomes.
Collagen bundle orientation explains aortic valve leaflet coaptation

The aortic valve owes its strength and durability to a network of collagen fibers within the leaflets. However, the pattern of these fibers and their role in valve function is not well understood. We imaged and quantified the macroscopically visible pattern of collagen fibers in seven porcine aortic valves with particular attention to measuring this pattern in the unstrained leaflet. We then used a structural finite element model of the aortic valve to study the effect of the observed collagen pattern on the configuration of the loaded valve. Results showed that collagen is oriented oblique to the free edge over much of the leaflet in its unstrained state, and simulations suggest that this architecture plays an important role by enabling adequate valve leaflet coaptation. Simulation results were validated by comparison with images of a porcine aortic valve under load.
The Twelfth Chapter

Now followeth in order the seventh trumpet-blowing, or the pure declaration of Christ’s joyful tidings for the last age of the church under the seventh seal-opening, with the wonders and marvels that thereafter ensueth.
Evidence for an Active Site Persulfide Residue in Rabbit Liver Aldehyde Oxidase

The reduction of aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1) by the substrate N1-methylnicotinamide under anaerobic conditions is a biphasic reaction. In the present work we present evidence that this behavior is due to the presence, in standard preparations, of active and inactive enzyme, the former being responsible for the fast reaction and differing from the latter by the presence of a persulfide group. It is also demonstrated that the earlier reported inactivation of the enzyme by cyanide is due to cyanolysis of this persulfide group.
Repeat as Necessary: Historical IRS Policy Weapons to Combat Conduit Captive Insurance Company Deductible Purchases of Life Insurance

The life insurance community has a long and tortured history of seeking the Holy Grail of insurance schemes: the tax-deductible life insurance premium. Nearly every year around tax planning season, life insurance agents attempt to boost year-end sales by offering some kind of tax-deductible premium plan — the newest of which is the small business Captive Insurance Company (“CIC”) as an investor in life insurance. In this transaction, a small business deducts premium payments for business risks to an IRC § 831(b) CIC; the CIC is permitted to receive up to $1.2 million of premium income tax-free; and the CIC uses a substantial amount of the tax-free premium immediately to purchase life insurance on the small business owners who often also own the CIC. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) already loses a substantial amount of otherwise collectible tax revenue due to the existing tax-breaks afforded life insurance policyholders, such as tax-free internal build-up inside life insurance policies and the receipt of policy proceeds tax-free at the death of the insured. Therefore, the IRS has historically staunchly defended the loss of additional life insurance-oriented tax revenue that may derive from tax-deductible life insurance premiums. In furtherance of this defense, the IRS has brought cases against individual taxpayers and promoters, designated certain abusive life insurance arrangements as listed transactions, and imposed accuracy-related taxpayer penalties.The IRS is likely to view an arrangement where a small business owner funds a CIC for the primary purpose of obtaining deductions on owner-insider life insurance premium payments as similarly abusive to prior listed transactions involving I.R.C. § 419 plans, I.R.C. § 412(e)(3) plans, and I.R.C. § 831(b) Producer Owned Reinsurance Companies (“PORCs”). They will also likely view this as a violation of its historical tax enforcement policies against discriminatory insider tax benefits and improper uses of key man life insurance. The IRS should view the use of an entity as a direct conduit for achieving an impermissible tax-deductible premium payment in the same manner as it would the taxpayer taking the deduction directly. This article discusses (I) the history of using taxation as a motivation for sales in the life insurance business, (II) the IRS enforcement and tax policy in combating improper tax uses of life insurance, and (III) evaluates the likely success of applying these historical arguments to establish that insider life insurance premiums are not deductible, nor should any tax-deducted funds be used to purchase such policies.
Generalized multiuser QAM based cooperation strategy and an optimal two-user scheme

A two user cooperation strategy based on QAM information symbols, known as the self-information canceling linear (SCL) scheme, was recently proposed by the authors. The SCL scheme achieves the full diversity order of 2 and the full multiplexing gain of 1 inherent in the system. However, the diversity versus multiplexing gain tradeoff (DMT) of the SCL scheme was not shown to be optimal. In the first part of this work, we propose a new two user cooperation strategy that achieves the optimal DMT curve for the two user cooperative diversity system. This scheme is obtained by a suitable modification of the original SCL scheme. The modified SCL scheme is also a practical cooperation strategy based on QAM information symbols and the present analysis accounts for the inter-user communications errors. The modified SCL scheme is, thus, established as a specific coding scheme to achieve the information theoretic limits within the DMT framework. In the second part of this work, we generalize the original SCL scheme to the case of m users for any m > 2. The generalization leads to a practical multiuser cooperative scheme based on QAM symbols that provides the full diversity order of m, fair rate allocation among the users and potential for achieving the full multiplexing gain.
The design and implementation of an automatic computer-controlled infusion pump

We describe the design and implementation of an automatic computer controlled infusion pump for administering oxytocin to a woman in labor, with emphasis on the hardware and software safety issues. The infusion is applied by means of timed pulses, as opposed to the more usual continuous infusion method. The basic study of the system and its efficiency was described by R.J. Willcourt et al. (1894), while the mathematical algorithms employed were described by D. Pager and R.J. Willcourt (1995), and a patent for the system was granted earlier this year (D. Pager and R.J. Willcourt, 1996). The software safety issues encompass the detection by the system of various kinds of undesirable patient parameters, such as excessively high intrauterine pressure, constant intrauterine pressure, the occurrence of series of contractions closely following each other whose amplitudes are all exceedingly high. The hardware safety issues relate to the reliability of the system, and measures for ensuring that malfunctions are intercepted without the possibility of inappropriate infusion actions.
Charge-transfer-efficiency (CTE) measurement techniques applied to proton-irradiated linear charge-coupled devices

Charge-transfer-efficiency (CTE) is a parameter that is associated with the optical performance and radiometric accuracy of a charge-coupled device (CCD). While modern CCDs are typically quoted as having CTE > 0.99999, we show that a) this efficiency can be degraded by exposure to energetic protons and b) the measured efficiency, at least in the case of irradiated devices, is dependent on the size of the signal being transferred. A comparison of two techniques of CTE measurement is presented, with emphasis on a 55Fe x-ray charge-generation and collection technique tailored especially for use with linear CCDs. While our technique follows the same general x-ray method widely used to characterize area CCDs, its implementation, including the processing of the resulting experimental data, is somewhat novel. The x-ray technique requires no special device circuitry or equipment and, in our configuration, may be used on virtually any linear or bilinear CCD; the same general technique is used on area arrays. It is shown that the technique is appropriate for characterizing small-signal CTE with or without a high background. It is also shown that the electrical injection CTE, while requiring the injection circuitry to be designed and built-in to the CCD structure, is more appropriate for large-signal CTE measurement. Data are presented showing experimental pre- and post-irradiation CTE measured as a function of signal level and background level for a two-phase linear CCD. Additionally, it is shown that in our tests, the CTE degraded even at very small accelerated doses, but further degradation was at least partly compensated by an enhanced background due to increasing dark currents.
Design of a 2.5μW 1GHz low phase noise pierce oscillator with nanowire NEMS resonator

Nanowire (NW) resonant nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) with integrated electronic signal transduction are attractive for realizing ultra-low-power nanomechanical radio-frequency (RF) signal processing. A major challenge lies in the high motional impedances of electrostatically-transduced high-frequency NW NEMS resonators. In this digest paper, we describe a technique for realizing oscillators that can achieve stable and low phase noise oscillations with such characteristic high motional impedances in NW NEMS. The technique is based on the basic theory of designing CMOS Pierce oscillators with low phase noise and low power consumption. We further design an oscillator with 1.5V power supply, which features a phase noise level of -104dBc/Hz at 10kHz offset from a 1GHz carrier, and consumes only 2.5μW power. Cadence circuit simulations on oscillator performance demonstrate the theoretical insights from this study may be important for designing oscillators based on challenging nanoresonators with high motional impedances.
Wave function renormalization constants and one-particle form factors in Dl(1) Toda field theories

Abstract We apply the method of angular quantization to the calculation of the wave function renormalization constants in D 1 (1) affine Toda quantum field theories. A general formula for the wave function renormalization constants in ADE Toda field theories is proposed. We also calculate all one-particle form factors and some of the two-particle form factors of an exponential field.
Modeling Airline Frequency Competition for Airport Congestion Mitigation

Demand often exceeds capacity at congested airports. Airline frequency competition is partially responsible for the growing demand for airport resources. We propose a game-theoretic model for airline frequency competition under slot constraints. The model is solved to obtain a Nash equilibrium using a successive optimizations approach, wherein individual optimizations are performed using a dynamic programming-based technique. The model predictions are validated against actual frequency data, with the results indicating a close fit to reality. We use the model to evaluate different strategic slot allocation schemes from the perspectives of the airlines and the passengers. The most significant result of this research shows that a small reduction in the total number of allocated slots translates into a substantial reduction in flight and passenger delays and also a considerable improvement in airlines' profits.
SREB, a GATA transcription factor that directs disparate fates in Blastomyces dermatitidis including morphogenesis and siderophore biosynthesis.

Blastomyces dermatitidis belongs to a group of human pathogenic fungi that exhibit thermal dimorphism. At 22°C, these fungi grow as mold that produce conidia or infectious particles, whereas at 37°C they convert to budding yeast. The ability to switch between these forms is essential for virulence in mammals and may enable these organisms to survive in the soil. To identify genes that regulate this phase transition, we used Agrobacterium tumefaciens to mutagenize B. dermatitidis conidia and screened transformants for defects in morphogenesis. We found that the GATA transcription factor SREB governs multiple fates in B. dermatitidis: phase transition from yeast to mold, cell growth at 22°C, and biosynthesis of siderophores under iron-replete conditions. Insertional and null mutants fail to convert to mold, do not accumulate significant biomass at 22°C, and are unable to suppress siderophore biosynthesis under iron-replete conditions. The defect in morphogenesis in the SREB mutant was independent of exogenous iron concentration, suggesting that SREB promotes the phase transition by altering the expression of genes that are unrelated to siderophore biosynthesis. Using bioinformatic and gene expression analyses, we identified candidate genes with upstream GATA sites whose expression is altered in the null mutant that may be direct or indirect targets of SREB and promote the phase transition. We conclude that SREB functions as a transcription factor that promotes morphogenesis and regulates siderophore biosynthesis. To our knowledge, this is the first gene identified that promotes the conversion from yeast to mold in the dimorphic fungi, and may shed light on environmental persistence of these pathogens.
Why are thin films different from the bulk

This review discusses three fundamental factors that foster film-bulk differences, namely: (1) unusually varied microstructures produced by serial atomistic deposition and subsequent nucleation and growth processes, (2) the effect of interfaces on either film surface, and in particular, the nature and implications of the film/substrate interface, and (3) arbitrary thinness in one dimension which enables unique size effect phenomena (e.g., optical interference, quantum effects, nonlinear mass transport) to be exhibited in single film or multilayer structures.
First-person action experience reveals sensitivity to action efficiency in prereaching infants

Do infants learn to interpret others’ actions through their own experience producing goal-directed action, or does some knowledge of others’ actions precede first-person experience? Several studies report that motor experience enhances action understanding, but the nature of this effect is not well understood. The present research investigates what is learned during early motoric production, and it tests whether knowledge of goal-directed actions, including an assumption that actors maximize efficiency given environmental constraints, exists before experience producing such actions. Three-month-old infants (who cannot yet effectively reach for and grasp objects) were given novel experience retrieving objects that rested on a surface with no barriers. They were then shown an actor reaching for an object over a barrier and tested for sensitivity to the efficiency of the action. These infants showed heightened attention when the agent reached inefficiently for a goal object; in contrast, infants who lacked successful reaching experience did not differentiate between direct and indirect reaches. Given that the infants could reach directly for objects during training and were given no opportunity to update their actions based on environmental constraints, the training experience itself is unlikely to have provided a basis for learning about action efficiency. We suggest that infants apply a general assumption of efficient action as soon as they have sufficient information (possibly derived from their own action experience) to identify an agent’s goal in a given instance.
Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas in Women. IV. Pituitary Function in Amenorrhea Associated with Normal or Abnormal Serum Prolactin and Sellar Polytomography*

An analysis of anterior pituitary function with respect to abnormal or normal serum prolactin (hPRL) concentrations (normal, <20 ng/ml) and sellar polytomography was performed in 84 amenorrheic women to determine whether those with hyperprolactinemia and abnormal sellar polytomograms could be distinguished from amenorrheic patients without elevated hPRL levels or abnormal tomograms. Patients were categorized as follows: group A, normal hPRL levels (mean α SEM, 9 α 1 ng/ml) and normal sella; group B, normal hPRL levels (11 α 1 ng/ml) and abnormal sella; group C, hyperprolactinemia (52 α 9 ng/ml) and normal sella; and group D, hyperprolactinemia (251 α 83 ng/ml) and abnormal sella. Group D was comprised entirely of patients with histologically confirmed pituitary adenomas. Anterior pituitary function tests included the hPRL responses to TRH (200 exg, iv) and L-dopa (250 mg, orally), LH and FSH responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 eg, iv) and GH and cortisol responses to insulin-induced hyp...
Complete and reversible block by ω-grammotoxin SIA of glutamatergic synaptic transmission between cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Abstract ω-Grammotoxin SIA (ω-GsTx SIA), a peptide isolated from tarantula venom, inhibits synaptosomal Ca2+ influx and neurotransmitter release, and blocks N-, P-, and Q-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The whole-cell patch-clamp was used to record glutamatergic excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by extracellular stimulation of presynaptic neurons in primary rat hippocampal cultures. EPSCs displayed rapid kinetics and were blocked by CNQX. ω-Conotoxin (1 μM) GVIA inhibited EPSCs by 46%, while 30 nM and 1 μM ω-agatoxin IVA produced 12% and 69% inhibition, respectively, consistent with coupling of N-, P- and Q-type Ca2+ channels to glutamatergic synaptic transmission. ω-GsTx SIA (1 μM) rapidly, completely, and reversibly blocked glutamatergic EPSCs, but did not affect currents evoked by bath application of kainate. Thus, ω-GsTx SIA blocks glutamatergic synaptic transmission by blocking presynaptic voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. ω-GsTx SIA is the only agent that blocks selectively and reversibly the Ca2+ channels coupled to glutamate release. ω-GsTx SIA provides a unique and powerful tool for experiments requiring recovery of function following presynaptic block of synaptic transmission.
Frontal gray matter atrophy in middle aged adults with type 1 diabetes is independent of cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes complications

Abstract Aims To determine if regional gray matter volume (GMV) differences in middle-aged adults with and without type-1 diabetes (T1D) are localized in areas most vulnerable to aging, e.g. fronto-subcortical networks; and if these differences are explained by cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes complications. Methods Regional GMV was computed using 3 T MRI of 104 adults with a childhood onset of T1D (mean age: 49 ± 7 and duration: 41 ± 6 years) and 151 adults without diabetes (mean age: 40 ± 6). A Bonferroni threshold (n = 45, p ≤ 0.001) was applied to account for multiple between-group comparisons and analyses were repeated in an age- and gender-matched subset of participants with T1D and controls (n = 44 in each group, mean age [SD] and range: 44.0, [4.3], 17.4 and 44.6 [4.3], 17.0, respectively). Results Compared to controls, T1D patients had smaller GMV in the frontal lobe (6% to 19% smaller) and adjacent supramarginal and postcentral gyri (8% to 13% smaller). Between-group differences were independent of age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting total cholesterol and smoking status and were similar in sensitivity analyses restricted to age- and gender-matched participants. Associations between GMV and diabetes complications were not significant. Conclusions These findings extend the notion of accelerated brain aging in T1D to middle-aged adults. The pathophysiology of frontal gray matter atrophy and its impact on future development of disability and dementia need further study, especially as middle-aged T1D patients progress to older age.
22 GROWTH IMPAIRMENT ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERCORTISOLISM: RESPONSE TO GROWTH HORMONE THERAPY

Hypercortisolism decreases responsiveness to GH, leading to impairment of growth. The 24-h integrated concentration of cortisol (IC-F) proved to be an accurate diagnostic procedure for hypercortisolism. In children aged 7-18 yr (n=26) of normal stature, the IC-F, mean ±1SD, was 5.9±1.6 μg/dl. In Cushing's disease, the IC-F was 20.2±4.7 μg/dl (n=13)(JCEM 54:1072, 1982). We have identified 5 children (ages 10-14 yr) who presented with short stature (less than 5% for age), slow growth (less than 4.5 cm/yr) and bone age delay (greater than 2 SD for age). All were euthyroid and their stimulated GH and 24-h IC-GH were normal. None of the patients were obese, had striae, or other classical physical findings of Cushing's syndrome. However, their IC-F ranged from 13.2-17.2 μg/dl, clearly in the range of patients with Cushing's syndrome. Two of the children were treated for 8 months with GH (0.2 U/kg three times per week) and had increased growth rate of 10.6 and 8 cm/yr respectively. A third child who was treated with less GH (0.1 U/kg three times per week) increased her growth rate from 4.5 to 5.7 cm/yr. Conclusion: 1/Poor growth associated with hypercortisolism may occur in children who do not look Cushingoid. 2/Such children are responsive to GH therapy.
UPLIFTS—University of Pittsburgh linear file tandem system

A series of computer programs has been developed and is now operational for processing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration linear file system on an IBM 1401-7090 combined data processing system. The programs are noteworthy in that they create fixed length logical records and fixed length blocks from variable length source data, and format the output for optimization of processing on the IBM 7090 system. The programs are completely self-checking and test for both validity and accuracy of the input materials as provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Tracking disease outbreaks

Scientists have come one step closer to tracking outbreaks of bartonellosis, a potentially fatal vector-borne disease. Outbreaks of the disease, which was once thought to be found primarily in the high Andes Mountains of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, may be related to El Ni˜no events, according to researchers with NASA and the U.S. military. In findings reported on 17 January, climatology and disease prevention researchers said a study conducted in two regions in Peru points to a strong potential link between the 1997–1998 El Nino and an increase in sand flies, which are thought to be the disease host carriers.
Anchored opportunity queueing: a low-latency scheduler for fair arbitration among virtual channels

Many wormhole interconnection networks for parallel systems, and more recently system area networks, implement virtual channels to provide a number of services including improved link utilization and lower latencies. The forwarding of flits from the virtual channels on to the physical channel is typically accomplished using flit-based round-robin (FBRR) scheduling. This paper presents a novel scheduling strategy, anchored opportunity queueing (AOQ), which preserves the throughput and fairness characteristics of FBRR while significantly reducing the average delay experienced by packets. The AOQ scheduler achieves lower average latencies by trying, as far as possible, to complete the transmission of a complete packet before beginning the transmission of flits from another packet. The AOQ scheduler achieves provable fairness in the number of opportunities it offers to each of the virtual channels for transmissions of flits over the physical channel. We prove this by showing that the relative fairness bound, a popular measure of fairness, is a small finite constant in the case of the AOQ scheduler. Finally, we present simulation results comparing the delay characteristics of AOQ with other schedulers for virtual channels. The AOQ scheduler is simple to implement in hardware, and also offers a practical solution in other contexts such as in scheduling ATM cells in Internet backbone switches.
Error concealment in MPEG video streams over ATM networks

When transmitting compressed video over a data network, one has to deal with how channel errors affect the decoding process. This is particularly a problem with data loss or erasures. In this paper we describe techniques to address this problem in the context of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. Our techniques can be extended to other types of data networks such as wireless networks. In ATM networks channel errors or congestion cause data to be dropped, which results in the loss of entire macroblocks when MPEG video is transmitted. In order to reconstruct the missing data, the location of these macroblocks must be known. We describe a technique for packing ATM cells with compressed data, whereby the location of missing macroblocks in the encoded video stream can be found. This technique also permits the proper decoding of correctly received macroblocks, and thus prevents the loss of ATM cells from affecting the decoding process. The packing strategy can also be used for wireless or other types of data networks. We also describe spatial and temporal techniques for the recovery of lost macroblocks. In particular, we develop several optimal estimation techniques for the reconstruction of missing macroblocks that contain both spatial and temporal information using a Markov random field model. We further describe a sub-optimal estimation technique that can be implemented in real time.